Disclaimer: "I do not own Yugioh."

"talk"

'thoughts'

...

Tea got her book and was about to leave the building when some shadowy figures blocked the exit. She stopped dead in her tracks. The figures revealed themselves to be… her old "friends".

"What do you want?" She said in a cold voice, much like Seto's.

"Tea…" Yugi began but he seemed to be having trouble finding the right words.

"We need to talk." Joey finished.

"Talk about what? We have nothing to talk about." Tea said and tried to walk away from them.

"Tea, please. Give us a chance. At least listen to what we have to say." Yugi pleaded.

"I don't care. Did you give me a chance? Did you listen to what I had to say?" Tea asked them.

"Tea… that's what we want to talk about." Tristen said.

"You see…"

(Flashback)

Mai walked towards Joey and Tristen who were trying to talk to serenity. Mai didn't understand why was Serenity so angry. She tapped Joey on the shoulder.

"Joey Wheeler, explain…now."

"I'll explain it to you Mai, as soon as we get home." Joey said and led Serenity towards the car. Mai reluctantly followed. Tristen went inside to get Yugi.

Joey left serenity at his place and then went to Yugi's game shop to talk. Serenity had wanted to come but he was insistent that she stay home and get rest. He didn't want her to be upset again.

"Now, tell me what this is all about?" Mai asked impatiently when they were all inside and seated.

"What do you wanna know?" Tristen asked.

"I want to know everything that has happened between you guys and Tea. Why was she not with you and with Kaiba? Why was she looking at you like that?" Mai said.

"Because she preferred him over us." Joey said angrily, but Mai could detect a hint of sadness in his voice.

"What? Tea would never do that." Mai said in disbelief.

"She did. She…" And then Tristen and Joey explained everything that they knew, including the lies Serenity had told them.

"WHAT?" Mai yelled after listening to the whole story. "That's impossible. How could you?" She yelled at them. Joey stared at her with wide eyes.

"How could we what?" He asked her.

"How could you do that to her? How could you hurt her?" Mai said.

"Mai, look at what she did to us." Tristen said.

"Oh yeah? You tell me what she did. She gave away Joey's strategies huh? Last I checked, Joey never had a strategy when he dueled. In fact, Joey doesn't even bother to plan one before a duel even if he has a chance. Tell me Joey, what is your strategy before a duel?" She pointed at him, who just stared at her slightly dumbfounded.

"Nothing. That's your strategy, nothing. Your mind is filled with nothing but determination to win before a duel. And as you draw cards, strategies form in you head. Am I right?" Joey slowly nodded his head so Mai continued.

"Then how could Tea give them away to Kaiba? If they are in your mind, how could she know them? How could anyone know them if they don't exist?" Mai screamed in frustration. "Unless they are psychic. And Tea in not psychic guys. She is not psychic." They guys looked away guiltily. The logic of Mai's words hit them like bricks.

"Are you saying that Serenity lied to us?" Tristen asked.

"I never said that. But why can't she? She is a human like all of us. She can make mistakes. Maybe she saw something else and thought of it as something else. And why the hell would Tea help Kaiba anyway? She has been with you guys since I can remember. She has supported you through thick and thin. Even in dangerous circumstances, when her own life was at stake, she thought of helping you first. Even when she was scared, she acted brave for you. She would never even think of betraying you. And I know she didn't." Mai stopped there to look at their faces. They were filled with shame and regret.

"And after all she did for you, what did you do to her? You didn't even listen to her. You didn't bother to give her a chance to explain and brutally attacked her like animals." Tears started flowing from Mai's eyes.

"You hit her. You attacked a defenseless girl who was your friend, who trusted you with her life. You hurt the person who cared about you the most. You are all animals. You are even worst then animals. You are the most vile and disgusting creatures I have even seen."

"Mai, lis-." Joey began but Mai interrupted him.

"Don't you say my name Joseph wheeler. You disgust me. You bragged about friendship and sticking up for your friends, but what did you do to your best friend? You nearly killed her. And you Yugi." She glared at the small boy, who had his back to her. "You care about your monsters. Your heart is full of love and compassion for those holograms and cards but there is not even a drop of pity for a human. What kind of a person are you?" She screamed as her body started shaking with rage.

"Mai. Please." Joey got up and extended his hand to touch her, but she shrank away from his touch.

"Don't touch me." She said. "I don't want anything to do with some coldhearted, girl beating bastards. I don't want anything to do with you. If that's how you treat your best friends, I don't even want to think what you can and will eventually do to me." She yelled and ran out of the game shop, crying.

(End flashback)

"We realized that we shouldn't have done what we did." Yugi said, ashamed.

"Oh, so you realized when someone told you and explained it to you. But when I tried to tell you, you refused to listen." Tea said.

"We were blinded by rage then Tea. We couldn't think straight. You know how we are." Joey said.

"I didn't know how or what you were before, but I do know now." She said coldly and walked away from them.

"Tea, please listen to us. Tea-." Tristen pleaded.

"NO." She screamed. "I don't want to listen to your lies anymore. I don't wanna get hurt again." She said as tears started to flow from her eyes.

"Tea." Yugi slowly said, but was interrupted.

"What the hell is happening here?" Seto stood in the hallway, glaring daggers at the gang.

"Kaiba, we were-." Yugi started but was silenced by Seto's glare.

"Shut up midget. I can see what you were planning to do. Too bad your plan failed. I showed up. Maybe next time, you should pick the same alley to do the dirty job." He sneered at them.

"Kaiba, we weren't going to hurt Tea." Tristen said defensively.

"Sure. Like I would believe that. Let's go Tea." Seto said and walked away from them. Tea turned to give one last look of loath to the guys and followed him.

Tea sat in the study room, reading a book. She had finished her homework and had also helped Mokuba with his. Now, Mokuba was at his friends place and Seto was in his office.

She may be acting like she was reading a book, but her mind was wandering to the conversation that had happened in school. Their words kept ringing in her ears, their regretful faces flashing in her mind. She wanted to believe they were lying, but a little part of her heart didn't want to believe that. Just then, her cell phone rang. She picked it up.

"Hello." She said.

"Hello Tea. It's me Mai." Came the voice from other side.

"Oh." Tea said, not sure how to react. She and Mai were friends, and she knew Mai had knocked some sense into the guys, but she didn't know how to talk to Mai now. A part of her didn't want to confront Mai after what had happened and after what Mai knew. Tea had always defended her friends and her friendship to Mai, and now the same friends had treated her so horribly. She felt like such a fool.

"Tea, can you meet me at the Sundown Café in half hour?" Mai asked.

"Umm, I-." Tea didn't know if she should go or not.

"Tea please, it's important." Mai pleaded. Tea had no choice but to agree. Mai never begged for anything.

"Okay, I'll meet you there." She said and hung up. She had decided to go. Now to tell Seto.

"Umm Seto?" she said as she entered his office. He looked up from his laptop.

"Something you need?" He asked and she smiled. He had become even more caring and concerned, if that was possible.

"No, I… I was really bored and was thinking that maybe I can go for a walk?" She said.

"If you want to, then go. I'll send Jeff with you just in case." He said. Jeff was a bodyguard.

"No need. I don't want any attention, and an armed man following me will get plenty of attention. Besides, you trained me. I can take care of anyone who even dares to look at me." Tea said proudly and he smiled.

"Sure, if that's what you want." He said. He wanted her to be happy.

"Thanks, I am taking my cell with me in case you want to call me. Okay?" She said and walked out of the office. Seto just sighed to himself, hoping she would be fine. This was her first outing alone, and he hoped she wouldn't meet her friends.

Tea entered the café and scanned the area for a familiar face. She found one, sitting in a corner. She walked up to her.

"Hello Mai." She said slowly. Mai looked up and smiled faintly.

"I'm so glad you are here Tea. We really need to talk." Mai said and motioned her to sit in the opposite chair.

"What do you wanna talk about?" Tea asked.

"I have already heard the boy's side of the story. Now I wanna hear yours." Mai said. Tea's face fell and she looked away.

"I don't want to talk about it Mai." Tea said, not wanting to remind herself.

"But Tea, I need to know. Please." Mai begged. Tea sighed and told her everything, including her conversation with Serenity and why she did that. At the end, Mai looked horrified.

"I knew someone was behind this, I never expected it to be Serenity." Mai said.

"Me neither." Tea said honestly.

"So now, you live with Kaiba?" Mai asked.

"Yeah." Tea said. "I was only supposed to be there till I got better, but I haven't thought about leaving. Seto and Mokuba haven't mentioned it either. I had some stuff brought over from my place after I gained consciousness, and now it feels like I actually live there." She admitted, but she didn't Tea Mai that she was living in Seto's room, sharing his bed. Even though nothing happened between them, it wouldn't translate as that. Mai would assume something was going on, and at this point, Tea wasn't sure if something was or not. She was confused about her feelings for Seto and some of his actions were not making it any better. She wanted to sort through this mess herself before she told someone else.

"Don't you miss the guys… and the moments you spent with them?" Mai asked.

"I don't." Tea said plainly, but Mai knew she was lying.

"Oh really. Because I know someone who still remembers." Mai said. "In fact, it's a couple of people that you know Tea."

"Who?" Tea asked.

"Why tell you when I can show you. Then you can decided for yourself." Mai said and led Tea out of the café.

"Where are you taking me Mai?" Tea asked as Mai continued to drag her.

"You'll see soon." Mai said. Soon, they were standing outside the Turtle Game Shop.

"Why did you bring me here?" Tea asked coldly.

"To show you what has happened since you left." Mai said and pointed to the inside of the game shop. Tea glanced through the glass window and found two figures lying down; one on the couch and the other was sprawled on the floor. A closer look revealed them to be Joey and Tristen.

"What are they doing here?" Tea asked.

"They have been here all day, drinking." Mai said, pointing to the bottles of beer on the floor. A bottle was held in an unconscious Joey's hand and some drops were falling on the carpet.

"That's what they have been doing, even though they are underaged and they could get in trouble if discovered. But they feel guilty every day and this is how they try to get rid of the feeling. They are trying to forget what they've done, and in the process, they are forgetting themselves. You know that Joey's dad is an alcoholic and that was the reason that ruined his life. Now Joey is doing the same. He is drinking with no care of the future. What saddens the most is that he will probably die of alcohol poisoning before he reaches the same age and fate as his father." Tea was shocked at what Mai said. She stared at Joey once again.

"And Tristen is acting no different. The money that he wanted to spend on a new bike is now being spent on alcohol." Mai continued. Tears welled up in Tea's eyes at her friends' condition.

"Wh… where is Yugi?" She asked.

"Over there." Mai pointed in a dark corner. And Tea saw him, sitting there like a statue, not moving at all.

"Oh my God." Tea whispered.

"He's been like that since the day they…" Mai didn't finish the sentence. "He doesn't eat or drink, just sits like a statue. He has taken the most damage. He tried to stop Yami, but Yami was so enraged. He didn't listen to him and shut him out. Yugi watched helplessly as they hurt you. He felt every blow you felt. What is killing him inside is that he couldn't stop them. Yami has been in the same condition. He now believes he is a dark individual and has secluded himself to the puzzle. He has shut off the mind link with Yugi." Mai explained.

Just then, grandpa came from the back. He went to Yugi first and said something to him, but Yugi didn't even blink. Grandpa tried again but no use. With tears in his eyes, grandpa shook Yugi, but to no avail. He didn't receive a reaction from the game king. Grandpa wiped his eyes clean and went to Tristen and Joey. He picked up the empty bottles first and then nudged them, to wake them. They groaned but didn't get up. After several tries, grandpa gave up and walked back from where he came. He returned shortly with some pillows and blankets.

"I guess they're are sleeping here... again." Mai said sadly.

Grandpa placed one under Joey's and Tristen's head each, and covered them with blankets. Then he went to Yugi and pushed him down on the floor. Yugi offered no resistance. Grandpa covered him with blankets and left the room. Even though Tea couldn't see his face, she could tell he was crying. His shoulders were slumped in defeat and he didn't look like the energetic man who ran the shop. All this because of her. Tea felt the guilt crawl up in her chest. Small sobs escaped her throat. She quickly turned away and ran blindly. She couldn't bear to see it anymore. Mai ran after the disturbed girl and caught up with her.

"Tea, are you okay?" She asked gently.

"I caused them to be this way Mai. I am ruining their life and future." Tea said between tears and sobs.

"But Tea, you can change that." Mai said. "I hate them for what they have done to you and I am not very close to them. You're the one they hurt and I know it's harder for you. But think of the good times you had with them and try to forgive them. You don't have to be friends with them and be all smiles if you don't want to, but please, stop them from throwing their life away like that. You're the only one who can do it." Mai said, her eyes shining with tears.

"Oh Mai, I want to… I really do… but when I think about… it's hard." Tea admitted.

"I know it's hard for you Tea, and I'm not forcing you. I didn't want you to feel guilty by showing you all that. I just wanted you to see the truth before it's too late. But there is no pressure. They deserve it. But still, if you can find it in your heart, then try to forgive them." Mai pleaded. Tea slowly nodded and started walking towards the Kaiba mansion.

She lay in the bed, all the thoughts jumbled up. She couldn't forget what she saw at the game shop; the blank look on Yugi's face, the sad and tired look on grandpa's face, Joey's and Tristen's condition and Mai's pleading eyes. All that made her feel even more guilty. But what should she do? Should she forgive them? Should she forget all they did to her? Should she forget the pain and nightmares that they caused her to experience?

"What's on your mind?" Seto's voice from beside her broke her train of thoughts.

"Nothing." She lied.

"Doesn't look like it, but if you say so. Go to sleep or you'll get sick." He murmured sleepily and placed an arm around her. She snuggled into his welcoming body and closed her eyes.

She couldn't forget the pain and mental torture they caused her. But she also couldn't forget the fun they had together, the many adventures they shared, and the many times they had saved her life. And she couldn't bear a grudge for too long anyway. Still, one thing still bothered her.

Would gaining her friends mean losing Seto?

...

...

this chapter is kind of sad. but it needs to be added there. I have been focusing on tea and seto and i think it's time I show the guys life a little bit. what do you think? review and let me know please.