Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter 27: I Love You

Tea's brain went blank for a second. What had happened? Oh yes: these mind-blanks were becoming more and more frequent. Tea recognized the blank as a switching of souls. So…what was she doing at the moment?

What had Teana been doing?

Kissing Seto of course.

And now what was Tea doing?

Kissing Seto Kaiba of course.

And how was she going to react to this? That, my friends, is a question even I, the author of this fiction, cannot answer. Let us see how fate takes its course….


Seto Kaiba "jumped" back into his body. He felt something pressing against his lips….

Holy Crap.

It was impossible. Was he really kissing tea Gardner? Sure, he had kissed her back at his party…but now? After all she had against him? Was he really kissing her? Or was it that spirit? Now that he thought about it…Tea probably would never kiss him like that….

Nevertheless, he took his chances. Tea still hadn't let up on the kiss yet. Did she even realize what was going on?

So, Seto slowly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her a little closer. Tea still wasn't responding, except by kissing him.

And that's when the unexpected happened.

Much to Seto's desire.

Tea's arms tightened around his neck, and he was pulled closer to her. Could things get any better?

Well…no, actually. That was about as good as it got.

Soon after this little action had been done, Tea quickly began regaining her sense of surroundings. When she opened her eyes a tad, she noticed just exactly what she was doing.

Thus, because of her current grudge, she shoved him off.

"What the rap are you doing, Kaiba? Didn't I tell you off enough earlier? Goodness! Guys and their hormones," Tea muttered, standing quickly, and walking around the couch to go visit the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face.

What had she been thinking? Why hadn't she shoved him off sooner? He probably thought she cared now…like she used to. Tea stopped in the hallway…for two reasons. One: she felt a load a guilt being dumped on her. Two: Mai was slumped over in the middle of the hall.

Tea gasped and knelt down beside her friend, "Mai! Mai, wake up!" Tea shook her friend's shoulders. Mai barely groaned. Kaiba came over to see what the commotion was about. He rolled his eyes when he saw Mai unconscious. He bent down on the other side of Mai, and tried to help Tea wake up the girl.

"Mai? Come on, quit sleeping!" Tea slapped her face a bit too hard.

"Ow!" was the sudden reply.

"Good, you're awake," tea affirmed.

"What…happened?" Mai inquired, rubbing her head, where it was quite sore.

"I dunno. I just found you here, lying in the hallway," Tea responded.

Mai looked back and forth between Tea and Kaiba. Had that really been a dream? Or was she just imagining things? They didn't look like they had been kissing. On the contrary, Tea looked ever…flustered about something. She looked like she was in another one of her Kaiba fits.

"Um…I was…dreaming…when I saw you two-" Mai didn't even finish her sentence before Tea was energetically nodding yes. Mai felt relieved then. Everything was alright.

Yet it wasn't.


That night, after Tea returned home, she immediately trudged up to her room and finished her other schoolwork. After completing that, and having dinner, she returned to her room and collapsed on her bed, burying her face in her pillows.

Her parents had been worried at dinner. Tea hadn't seemed like her energetic, usual self. And now…she was moping around her room.

What was wrong?

Seto Kaiba.

That's what was bothering the poor girl.

She cried into her pillow, Why can't I get that stupid man out of my head! I've "forgotten" him for six years…and he chooses now to come back and haunt me with that…that stupid kiss! ARGH! Am I just supposed to assume that one kiss will bring me back into his arms? Most certainly not! We have nothing between us anymore, and we never will! That kiss was purely accidental! It was all- Tea stopped. She narrowed her eyes, though they were still staring at pillows.

Teana, speak with me, if you will.

Yes, Tea? Teana's timid voice popped into her mind. Tea had momentarily forgotten about the yami's presence, and had cried her whole heart out. Teana had heard everything. However, it was partially her fault that Tea was in this mess.

Teana! How could you do such a thing! You know how much I hate Kaiba! Yet you…set me up with him!

I do not know of what you speak: setting up, Teana fibbed lightly. In truth, she didn't know the true meaning, but she had a pretty good guess as to what Tea was saying.

You know exactly what I mean! Why? WHY DID YOU MAKE ME KISS SOMEONE I HATE!

Do you, Tea?

What?

Do you REALLY hate him?

Tea's eyes narrowed even more, What's that supposed to mean?

Tea, I have feelings towards whomever you have feelings…or their "yami" per say. And I must admit…I had forgotten all about King Yami…whilst Seto was around me. What I'm trying to say, Tea, is that…. She sighed, Okay. I may have spent many a grand and sometimes romantic time around Yami…but I don't think it really matters. My heart, I believe is leading me towards the high Priest…. She paused. We may not have come together on the best of terms, or times, I should say…if I remember correctly, which has a high chance of doubt, Teanareferred to Seto and her, but I-…. I really think that he Is the one I truly love. Maybe a little more time will tell. And deep down, Tea, I really think you love Seto Kaiba "too."

Tea froze. It wasn't possible. She couldn't…. Teana HAD to be lying!

JUST SHUT UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE! Tea screamed in her mind and abruptly cut off their link. Teana was taken aback, but in her heart, she knew she had expected this reaction.

Very well, Tea, the princess said to herself, I will leave you to collect your thoughts…memories…and feelings. In time, you will see what I mean. I guarantee it.


Kaiba sighed, and propped his elbows upon his desk as the computer began a loading process.

She hates me. She really does. I just know it. There's nothing I can do about this anymore, he reasoned.

Come now: are you one to give up so easily, Seto inquired.

Face it: I've lost and she's won. I've given in to the face of defeat. I know when I'm beaten.

Well if that isn't a hypocritical statement.

What's that supposed to mean?

I've dug into your memories, dear boy. You still have some sort of grudge against this…Yugi…for a…King of Games title? Even though you have been proven to be beaten many a time.

Shut up.

As you wish.

Good. Now leave me alone.

I think not. I'm telling you: don't give up so easily. How do you know she hasn't had the least little change in her today?

Love doesn't just re-spark like that, Seto snapped his fingers to express his emotion.

How do you know? It happened to Teana-

And how do you know that!

Seto scowled, I have a few memories….

Well, times are different now. We don't go running off with every girl we see! Well…some do…but that's off topic! Everything has changed since that time! Why am I even talking to you about this! Why are you even in my life! Argh, that's IT! NO MORE! I WON'T STAND FOR THESE…PUT-DOWNS AND HUMILIATIONS ANYMORE! I'M FORGETTING HER AND THAT'S FINAL!


A couple weeks had passed since the designated day. The Egyptian project had passed, and their group had indeed attained an A. Everything else was also going smoothly. Much too smoothly, Tea pondered.

Seto Kaiba hadn't said "Boo" too her for the past couple of weeks. All in all, he was pretty much ignoring her, as he did her friends. She kept watching him for any sign of care, but he showed none. All he gave her was the cold shoulder.

He barely said anything anymore. Of course, Seto Kaiba never said anything. He had just seemed a little more talkative during his re-infatuation with Tea. That…sadly…was no more, so it seemed.

Yet something tugged at Ta's mind. Why in the world was she having problems seeing whether this was a good thing…or not? Shouldn't it flat out be that this was a good thing?


Tea sat on her bed on night, pulling up her knees and resting her chin on them. She wanted to collect her thoughts.

Okay, she thought out, What's wrong with me? I thought that Se-er-Kaiba ignoring me would be just fine and dandy. He used to do that all the time, before that party. Then, he became…reattached to me. And I hated him for it.

But did I hate him? I guess…I never fully took into account that tug on my heart every time he looked at me with that hint of longing in his eyes. Tea sighed. It was very tear-jerking.

Why can't I come up with a straight answer? I vowed to forget him six years ago…so I should. Nothing happened between us…SO WHY CAN'T I FORGET HIM? ARGH!

Tea fell back against her pillows. A couple tears leaked out from her eyes. Great…now the emotional waterworks are starting. But WHY? Seto! Why are you torturing me like this! A whole new and fresh wave of tears spilled forth. So preoccupied with the tears, Tea didn't even scold herself for calling Seto Kaiba 'Seto' in her mind.


The next day, Tea walked to school with her head down. She barely realized where her feet were taking her. It seemed as if they had a mind of their own. But she didn't care. Her thoughts were elsewhere.

She didn't even see herself bump into Yugi until she stumbled backwards.

Tea fell on her backside, "Oomph…" she sighed, dejectedly.

"Tea, are you alright?" Yugi stood quickly and held out a hand.

"Yeah…" she sighed, taking his hand, and having him help her up.

Yugi looked at her eyes carefully, "No, seriously. Are you okay? You seem…sad."

"No, I'm fine, Yugi. Just didn't get much sleep last night. One of those nights, you know?" Tea gave a small smile.

"Yeah…" Yugi said, trying his best to believe her. But his heart wouldn't take in a word she said as truth.

"Come on, we best get inside before we're marked tardy," Tea started walking towards the school. Yugi looked at his watch. They still had twenty minutes left before school officially started. What was up with her today?

Never mind that, Yugi reassured himself, you're finally going to tell her today. And that's final.

"Tea!" Yugi ran up next to her. She looked over at him.

"Yes, Yugi?"

"I need to talk to you after school," Yugi blurted out rather quickly.

"Okay…why not now?" Tea pressed.

"I just…it'd be better after school," Yugi blushed slightly.

"Okay. Later, Yugi," Tea nodded, walking inside the school. Yugi's eyebrows furrowed.

"But Tea! We have the same first-period!"

"Guys, I'm worried about Tea," Yugi confessed at the lunch table, while he, Joey, Tristan and Mai waited for their friend.

"You would be, wouldn't you?" Joey sniggered.

"That's not funny…nor what I meant!" Yugi hit him upside the head. Joey's face landed in his pile of spaghetti.

"Eat up, pal," Tristan patted his back, while holding in a laugh.

"Guys, I'm serious," Yugi pleaded. "Tea's not right today. She's completely out-of-it."

"More-en usual?" Joey inquired, stuffing some spaghetti in his mouth without bothering to wipe it off his face.

"That's not funny, you idiot," Mai whacked him upside the head this time.

"Jus' kiddin', geez," Joey rubbed the back of his sore head.

"Really. She was totally fazed out this morning. What do you think is bothering her?" Yugi asked.

"Kaiba," the other three remarked.

"What about Kaiba?" Tea suddenly appeared at their table.

"Is he bothering you or something? Not…physically…but mentally?" Mai phrased out.

"You could say that, I suppose…" Tea set her tray down and leaned on her elbow on the table, with a droned and bored expression on her face.

"Cheer up, kiddo. He'll be off your mind in no time!" Mai reassured.

Hope so, tea thought. But will he?


"Alright Tea, I really need to speak with you right now," Yugi pulled Tea aside, near the front brick fence of the school. There were no peering eyes here. Yugi had made sure of it.

"What's on your mind, Yugi?" tea inquired, doing her best to smile. "How can I help?"

Yugi took in a large breath of air, and heaved it out slowly. "Tea…we've been friends for a long time…-"

"Yes," tea nodded, "and?"

"Well…we've been best friends for a long time, right?"

"Of course. What are you trying to say, Yugi?"

"What I'm trying to say is…what I'm trying to say is…" Yugi began shaking slightly. This was really difficult. "Tea…I-I-"

"You, what?" Tea cocked her head. "Please tell me, Yugi. You can tell me anything."

"Tea, I love you!" There. He had said it. After years of nagging in his mind, Yugi had finally spilled the beans.

Tea blinked. "W-What?"

"I said I loved you Tea," Yugi suddenly rushed forward and hugged her tightly. Tea's jumped slightly, but slowly wrapped her arms around him to return some affection. Some.

"Oh Yugi…" she whispered. Tears began coming to her eyes. This was just like one of those sappy romance movies she always cried over. "Yugi…I don't know what to say." Yugi backed away from her.

"You don't?" he looked stricken. "Well, I mean…I guess I understand. It is sort of sudden…. And we've only acted as friends for most of our lives, so I'll understand if you need more time. I just had to…get this off my chest."

"Yugi," Tea eyes were brimming with tears. What would she say to him? What could she say? "I-" Tea stopped. Something in the corner of her eye caught her attention.

Seto Kaiba was walking back to his limo: still cool and stiff as a board.

Something in Tea's mind suddenly clicked and a burst of emotion suddenly rushed out.

"Yugi…I'm so sorry," she looked down at him, her tears falling now, "but…I can't love you. Not…Not like that. As my best friend, yes, but…oh Yugi, I can't love you like that!" Tea suddenly ran off around the wall.

"Tea, wait!" Yugi reached out for her and was beginning to run, when something stopped him.

Yugi, wait. Let her go. She gave you her answer, now you must accept it. She doesn't love you for the sake of love, but as a friend. Be happy with that, at least. Let her collect her thoughts. She's had a rough time lately. I'm sorry…for you…but you must let her have some time alone.

Hello! I'M the one who just got rejected here! Tears were now in Yugi's eyes. I'M the one who told her I loved her! SHE'S the one who told me that she didn't!

She told you she loved you as a friend.

I know, but-

LET IS REST YUGI!

Yugi was taken aback by Yami's sudden tone of voice. A-Alright, Yami. I'll let it go. But maybe…just maybe…one day, she will…love me. The way I love her. And with that, Yugi turned around and ran home in a state of sadness, and a spark of hope.


"Seto!" Tea cried out, running to him. Calling him Seto was both an act of getting attention and an act of-

Love.

It had taken Yugi's confession for her to finally figure out that she really loved Seto. Buried underneath that whole grudge, she was truly head-over-heels for the man. Not a very mature prospect of love, but all love started out that way. "Seto! Wait!"

Seto kept on walking. He barely flinched. It was only when she said his name did he barely react.

"Seto, please!" she suddenly came up behind him and grabbed the sleeve of his blazer.

"What!" Seto turned his head around and shook her hand off his jacket. Tea recoiled and put her hands near her chin, folded together. She stopped, and looked back into Seto's eyes, looking for any hint of the love she had seen there for weeks, but had failed to return out of anger.

Yet what reflected back was anger; jealously; disgust; and possibly even hatred.

Tea's previous tears had failed to leave, however, still more began coming on, once she saw Seto's loveless and cold-as-ice eyes looked back at her own. Her eyes welled up immensely.

"Oh Seto! I'm-I'm so SORRY!" suddenly, she put her head in her hands and dashed away from him, leaving the boy slightly taken aback and quite confused.

Seto's head whipped up, watching her fleeting form. He blinked a couple times. His mind was acting quite slowly at the moment.

Sorry for what?

Tea had also failed to take notice of the remorse and hidden love that had also shown through his eyes.


Ah, so sad. Well, I do believe the next or chapter after that will be the last one. I was trying to wrap everything up ere, as you might have seen. I do believe it was quite a pathetic wrap up. Not very good at all…. God potential, I must say, but not enough patience. I'm really just losing ideas, and needed to end this story soon, so that's why this chapter must seem so crappy. But you tell me what you think. PLEASE REVIEW!