Dble A/N: Hey you all this didn't upload well ( my computer's screwed ) so here's the new edition.
A/N: Hey you guys it's been a while since I've been doin' romance fics ( a year in fact ) and boy am I tired. Show must go on! Plus it's mega cool to have 500+ reviews too - the most I've ever had with all my fics combined. Well, not really, but y'all get my drift . . .
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Disclaimer: I need a button for this. 'I don't own YGO.'
Chapter Twenty Six: A Night To Remember Part VIII: The Things Unsaid
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Brr . . . thought Serenity, what a cold night to pick for running away. Her skin felt stiff on her face and on her bare legs and arms and under her dress. She was crying soundlessly, tears rolling down her cheeks. Even the tears, frozen rivers, felt like they were dripping and dangling, like icicles from her chin.
But she didn't stop running. It was old, and childish habit, she knew from childhood. Childish being the key word. She was used to it, and it served her well. No big deal.
Meanwhile, Kaiba called out to her but she didn't appear to hear. So he called back"Mokuba! I'll be back, in a few minutes! Tell the cleaning crew that just arrived I want this place spic and span by the time I return!" He took a deep breath in. "Did you hear me!"
"Yeah sure!" Mokuba continued to absorb the TV, then stopped. He'd heard the fighting downstairs. "Okay, you guys, hup two three four . . ." Kaiba slammed the door.
He caught up to Serenity, finally. It had taken more than just a few minutes. She really could sprint, especially in those strappy, delicate, pointy tortue chambers women called shoes. More like sandals. In the middle of winter; come on!
Everybody should wear long coats and boots, summer or winter.But then he was glad she didn't, for she still looked like she was going to kick him. Her eyes were blazing, and plus, cars were swerving around them; they had stopped right in the middle of the street. What an ugly little scene to play in front of the neighbors.
"Come on."
"Let go of me!"
"Where do you think you're going!"
"Back home." Cars beeped over the sound of rushing water splashing.
"That's two miles away! Are you crazy! You'll be solid by that time; you're already freezing." Her arm felt like a cold metal slab.
"I know how long it is; No, I'm not crazy; and I know I'm freezing!" She was shouting at him. "Do you think I don't have feelings!"
Obviously. "I know you have feelings!" he shot back. "But soon, you won't have 'feeling', in your fingertips." Taking her hand, he pulled her away from the traffic; an oncoming car received a dirty look; Serenity's dress received a dirty splash as it went by. "Why are you acting this way!" All the time?
"Leave me alone." She distangled her ear.
"What do you want me to say, more? I already said I was sorry."
Lie. "I don't want you to do anything! Like I said."
"I said we could talk "
"Would you listen!"
"- as long as it's a girl. That's what you've said, right?" He came closer so she could hear it. "it's a girl? Girls are okay."
That was the exactly wrong thing to say. She quieted, and the air seemed to shimmer with the tension around her. "You know what? I don't know!" she took in a breath sharply, "and I don't care. I don't care if - if it's a boy -" - he flinched- "-girl, or if it's green, or three-headed, or if had no head at all!"
"If it was born with no head, like you said, it'd be dead," he said, crossing his arms and generally looking unimpressed by her speech.
Completely missed the point. Thank you, my Dr. Seuss boyfriend. "Oh . . . and you would just like that, wouldn't you!" She swelled up like a balloon. "Maybe I should just throw myself at one of those cars! Save you the trouble. Two birds with one stone. Me and the baby; what a nice and neat package!" she cried hysterically.
"Don't say that!" He seized her arm; just in case. It felt chilled, bone-chilling, but not as much as her words. "How can you say those things? I only want- " his voice dropped into a whisper. "- what's best for us."
"Us," she repeated sadly. There is no us. Unless he meant the baby too, which she knew him by now that he didn't. She squirmed away. "Let me go! I don't want to talk to you anymore about this."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm too angry ! I need some time to cool off . . . and to give birth to our - to our " She couldn't say it. "I mean MY baby! Without any more aggravation!" She stalked off, then broke into a run, headed in the opposite direction she had been in the first place. Definitely a stalk, not a walk.
He stared after her, feeling de ja vu - this had happened before. Intial shock faded and his own temper began to simmer. "Oh, its yours now, is it! You're going to take care of it"he yelled sarcastically into the now damp, deserted street. "Good luck! Doubtful you'll be able to raise a kid, all by yourself; just wait until it needs diapers and nannies and then you'll be begging for expenses! " He gritted his teeth when she didn't turn back and shot after her. Stupid girls. Don't they know a good bluff when they hear it!
(a/n: Oy vey)
(a/n: ...and he chased her back into his house and she threw all his stuff out of the window. J/K! Just kiddin'! Don't eat me meep)
Meanwhile
Mendy's Restaurant and Bar
Girl's Restroom
Tea felt uncharacteristically uncertain, as she brushed her wood brown locks. Somebody had soaped up the mirrors in the bathroom, above the vanity; it hadn't been like this when she came over to help earlier with Serenity. I wonder how's she's doing?
Sighing, Tea unfolded her own mirror - she had the kind that was on the stem of her hairbrush - by unfolding her brush, while tucking in her shirt at the same time. Her mirror was soaped up too. "What the- " Tea murmured aloud, frowning on her pretty face. She felt a sharp stab of dread, a common sharp stab of dread that could mean nothing good.
The bathroom door slammed shut quickly. "Hi!" said a sugary, chirpy voice.
"Oh! Rebecca." Tea said. "You gave me such a scare " Then she remembered what she had done to Yugi. Rebecca pushed a present towards her, a wrapped gift.
"I'm sowwy for what happened earlier."
"Uh . . . " Tea looked suspicious. "You should be apologizing to Yugi, not me"
"Uh, I already did!" Rebecca impishly rocked back and forth, hands behind her.
"Okay . . . " Tea unwrapped it like it was a time bomb. Inside was a plastic car. "What is it" Well Rebecca is what, 12? I guess she plays with these? "Uh, thanks?"
"Oh, but that's not all of it." Rebecca smiled wildly.
"It's not?"
"Nope" Rebecca aimed a gun. "Like your car, Barbie" Tea's eyes went wide with pure shock. "Have a car wash!" She pulled the trigger, and wet stuff sprayed all over Tea - her hair, jacket, sweatshirt, pants. Hardly any on the car. "Oops missed the car! Mwa ha ha!" The blonde pigtailed girl dashed out. The lock clicked.
Sputtering, Tea stood staring for a minute, then tried to rationalize, for the little girl's sake. Maybe she got drunk at the party Kaiba threw earlier and she doesn't know what she's doing. She tried to let go of the car, which was a plastic pink Corvette, but it wouldn't. It was Crazy glued to her hand. Shaking it, Tea tried to fix her hair again as best as she could. Water, but without a mirror it could've been anything.
Cursing, Tea tried to wrench it off, but it was stuck to her pinky ring. She was pulling it off when her cell rang. "Hello?" she grumbled. Whoever's on the other line better watch out because I'm soooo not in a good mood!
Static. Thinking Rebecca, Tea shouted, "I'm not in the mood for pranks, R- "
"Tea, dear? You have to come quick - I'm -" More static, then click!the phone went dead.
"That wasn't Rebecca's voice . . . Mai?" Tea said. I'd better call Joey, I would go, but I'm sort of busy right now! She dialed the phone. Joey's number was busy. "Come on, come on . . . dammit." She hung up and glanced about. A hallway led outside; it didn't take a genius to realize Rebecca had locked her in. Seeing an open window, she had no choice. I'll be back, I hope!
Setting the plastic car down, finally, she crawled through the open window, shivering as her breath came out in puffs. Maybe I should've called the police instead . . . oh well, I'm already at Mai's house, too late!
She knocked on the door, jumping from foot to foot to keep warm. "Mai! Is everything all right?"
"Tea! Thank God you're here!" Mai, dressed in a dressing gown and elegant slippers, threw something at her face. "Tell me, what does this look like?"
Tea stared stupidly at it. It was a sleeper jumper, the kind that babies wore. There was a pattern crocheted on it. "A . . . lion? Did you make this, Mai?"
"Yes!" Mai cried triumphantly. "It's for Serenity, and her baby. There, you see? I'll let you live - I camera phoned it to Joey, and he called it a jellyfish! A jellyfish, Tea!" She shook the sleeper jumper dramatically. "It's a lion!"
"Ok, ok . . . this is what you called me for, Mai!" Tea couldn't believe it. "You said it was an emergency!"
"I never said it was an emergency. What's the big deal, anyway? You are already done with your date, anyway, aren't you? It not like you have anything else to do, do you?"
"No, I wasn't done!" Tea shot up, picturing wrapping her fingers around her friend's throat and squeezing very, very hard.
"You aren't?" Mai said mildly, unaware. "You left right in the middle of your date, Tea?" She made a tsking sound. "That's very bad - very bad date etiquette."
Tea's fingers curled and she stalked around Mai's vision; from behind.
"And you went out lookin' like that? Sweats and wet, stringy hair is so not done, dear. You should've let me do you over. Poor Yugi. He must've been frightened out of his wits when you saw you." Mai's phone chirped out a ringtone. "Hello?" Mai said, turning her back to Tea. " Oh it's you. - it's a lion- no, don't call me, Joey - Why? Because I'm not talking to you- Well, because you're talking to me!"
Must. Not. Strangle. Deciding it would be very bad friend manners to strangle/asphyxiate one's fiancee when talking to them, Tea muttered, "I'm out of here!" and headed for the door.
"Bye, Tea!" Mai chirped, her cozy cottage littered with magazines and photos, many espresso cups from her cappacino machine: mocha latte, french vanilla. Tea opened the kitchen door just as Serenity came barreling in smack dab into her. "Serenity!" Is everyone dropping by and what?
"Oh, Mai!" Serenity said, obviously thinking Tea was Mai, clutching onto her, as if for dear life. She was dirty and wet, and sobbing and out of breath. She looks even worse than Tea does! Mai rose from the couch.
"Um . . . d'you want me to call your mother, Serenity?" Tea said uncertainly, as Mai came forward.
"No . . . she's out of town . . . Oh, it's you, Tea. Hi."
Mai took charge. Hanging up her phone, she ushered Serenity upstairs like this happened everyday, while Tea stared dumbfounded. "Oh, you poor, poor thing . . . you're about to freeze! So not good for the baby." Behind them, she called back, "Tea, dear, could you please close the door?"
"Uh, sure." Tea did so, then hurried upstairs, where Serenity and Mai were talking, Serenity in the low queen sized bed with throw pillows everywhere; embroidered. Who knew that Mai was so domestic? Tea thought, watch Mai fuss over her young charge.
She sat down, making herself comfortable, and Serenity spilled. "I - I don't know Mai-I just SNAPPED, you know-I was so ANGRY..." She sniffled as Mai handed her a paper tissue; she nodded her thanks. "I've never been that angry before in my LIFE. And I...I just couldn't stand to be in there a minute longer, listening to his lies..." She choked some more things Tea didn't catch; angry chokes, of outrage. "So I r-r-r-ran..." she wailed. "And-and then I just took off!"
She was incoherent. Tea leaned forward as Mai said soothing things like, "Oh...c'mon dear...you're freezing cold from outside...Don't tell me you were running around in that? Even I don't run in heels..."
"What did he say to you?" Tea spoke calmly, as she could when Serenity was settled with an afghan thrown around her slender bare shoulders. Mai shot her a warning glance that said, Don't make this harder, Tea.
"He said..." Serenity told them tearfully that he wished they had never met.
"Shoot...if any man ever told me that, I'd call him a jackass and got the hell of there!" Mai declared, flipping her hand and rocking back slightly.
Tea's reaction was more fierce. Or, it started, but then Serenity, after a stunned silence, burst out"JACKASS! I couldn't-even say. That! Right!"
She dove under the covers, sobbing piteously. Tea looked bewildered at Mai, but Mai smiled knowingly, afte a moment. Apparently Serenity had called him whatever she had called him many times before, in the past. She patted the tiny girl and rubbed her back. "C'mon, Seren, hon; don't fret too much; it's not good for the baby. You just go and cry it all out."
Don't fret; but cry it all out? Tea decided not to comment on that, for the sake of non-arguement. "Shoot...At least she didn't call him a Whole Ass." Tea said. Mai chuckled deeply.
"Oh...you say that most amusing things, Tea...that's what I like about you. You're so blunt." Mai looked up at the security cameras outside with a bite of her lip. "There's Kaiba."
Sure enough, pounding came at the door. Three hard poundings.
"I'll get it." Tea picked up a bat Mai used for stalkers.
"Oh really, come now Tea" Mai pushed her gently on the shoulder. "What are you going to with THAT! Bash him! Don't be so insensible. Listen, Serenity dear, we'll be back, okay? You can stay the night at my house if you wish. Is that what you want? Okay." To Tea, as she dashed downstairs, she added, "Besides, you can't hit him . . . . . . . . . you'll go to jail."
But Tea didn't put the bat back. Mai sighed, then pushed her aside, blocking her with her body as she opened the door. Being taller than the brunette, Tea had to keep hopping up and down to look over her well groomed shoulder. Mai had such poofy hair! Too much volume! And h-h-hairspray . . . achoo! thought Tea sulkily. It took up all the remaining doorway space. She stood up on her tiptoes, and only then she could see him. Mai was right, for a change.
"Boy, Kaiba...you really did it this time, didn't you?" Mai was saying, as Tea pushed against her and made snarling faces. She stopped mid-snarl when she got a better look at him. He looked a wreck, like he never did before. Wrinkles around his face and eyes were even more pronounced, like they were very deeply etched. The harsh streetlight from Mai's front porch light made it all the weird.
Wow...he actually looks human...who knew? Tea thought, stifling a quiet cough. Ignoring Mai's question, Kaiba said, "Oh look it's the Defense Brigade." in an acid tone. Same old, same old. Well, I'm not going to let him say any more hurtful things to Seren! She got enough problems.
"Yeah?" Tea shouted over Mai's shoulder, jumping up and down to see. Kaiba barely spared her a glance.
"Did you really tell her that you didn't love her anymore?" Mai asked, scandalized.
"That's NOT what I said!" he yelled, suddenly. "Move out of the way, Valentine, and let me in. I know she's in here." He made to move past her, long gray coat swishing.
Mai put her her hand to the side, blocking him. Tea made snarling growling noises and raised the bat up higher. Mai found it very difficult to be a wall that kept these two from getting where they wanted to be without getting hit. "Hey, be still, Tea! I'm not letting you in Kaiba, until you apologize . . . to both of us." Mai declared.
"Apologize! For what!" It was weird how that "what" sounded so much highed and bigger than "apologize."
"Yeah!" Tea shouted again. She wasn't sure what Mat was talking about either, but didn't he need to just apologize? For everything in the world that's bad? "Well?" she said to Mai. "For what?"
"For..." Mai took in an exaggerated breath, apparently about to sigh. " . . . Calling us liars, when we both told you the truth about -"
"Yeah!" Tea said, interrupting. She actually tried to stick the bat between Mai's shoulder and the door frame, and poke him in the nose but no dice. "We tried to help you. "
"Well maybe if you done a better job." Kaiba crossed his arms.
"-the baby." Mai finished unecessarily. Tea saw, with amazement, pity in her violet eyes. It was because Kaiba flinched, at the mention. There was a short but pointed silence as he made growling noises behing heavily gritted teeth, apparently fighting to urge to use force and not lose his temper.
"Fine! Whatever! I apologize, blah, blah, blah. Etc., etc., etc. Now move aside!" He began backing up"Or I'll have to use force."
Mai looked a bit uncertain; he looked like he really meant it. Tea held the bat up head length so he'd charge right into it with his forehead behind Mai. "Wait-are you thinking straight? What are you going to do? You can't just barge in there!" Mai shouted, all pretense of playing gone. "Think!"
"Probably call her 'fat' next?" Tea suggested. One of Mai long, blonde hairs tickled her nose. "Aah...aah..KACHEW!" She let out one of her worst, spewing sneeze.
Mai whirled. "Ew! TEA! You - just - sneezed - all - over me!" She began to flap around, as if that would rid the virus released in the air. Now I'm going to be sneezing on my wedding day . . .
"Sorry." Tea apologized, with a sniffle. Then, "- Hey, he's getting away!" she called as a blue streak swam past them both and went purposefully upstairs, steps thundering.
The girls followed, Mai still wiping her face with a soft terrycloth from the kitchen. The hallway seemed darker, than before. Even Mai's pictures on the wall, in a line, Tea couldn't tell who were in them. Barely did Kaiba reach the first door in the left, he began immediately pounding on it.
"What is your problem?"
Oh, yeah, like that won't scare her. When in doubt, always go for the direct problem. Tea heard him shout a bunch of other stuff, like "Get out here!" and "I want to speak with you now!" She clutched her arms after blowing her nose. He was pounding so loud; Serenity was saying something back, but no one could tell from all the pounding. It did sound like "Leave me alone!" though. Tea glanced back at Mai, on the third step, to see how she was reacting to this. He's totally doing damage to her door. Suddenly, with a ringing silence, he stopped.
Nobody moved. Suddenly, he threw a table, which crashed on the end of the hall, said something, and swept away. Both heard the slamming of the kitchen door as it shivered on it's hinges.
"Hmph. Always blaming others." Tea muttered loudly as Mai asked what he said. "Something about 'this is all your two fault' and 'stupid girls.'" Mai grunted her disapproval, as well. It did sound like him. Tea moved towards Serenity's closed door about to check on her. Mai stopped her, and shook her head. She didn't think Serenity would take to visitors now.
"He'll be back." Mai said quietly, crossing her arms..
"I doubt it." Tea sniffed. They went back downstairs in mutual somber silence. They could hear Serenity weeping upstairs. Miraculously, the door was still in one piece. Tea looked at Mai. "Though, I'm kind of surprised you let him leave mad. Aren't you always the one who's playing matchmaker? And Make-Up Person?"
"I deal with makeup all right." Mai agreed. "But in other couples' fights; I stay out of, hon. Wise advice I learned long time ago. Besides," she stared in the direction of the kitchen door, "Old Kaiba has to learn a lesson; so I'm not going to help him this time! Heh."
Tea cocked her head, her expresion saying, "What ARE you talking about." I guess she's right though. Neither of us can fix other people's problems. The only thing, we can do is...She sighed cynically, mimicking Mai's distant gaze. Be there for one another. She heard Serenity still weeping upstairs and turned away. Mai didn't seem to hear, she was still staring at the kitchen door. I feel so bad.
But then another pressing matter, a much bigger pressing matter occured. "Omigod!" she screamed so loudly that Mai jumped. "I forgot! Yugi's probably wondering where I am." She threw the bat she didn't know she still had; it landed on some couch cushions. " I gotta go!"
"Wait; at least fix your hair. And change your jacket." Tea's nose was bright red and running. "Oh, and let one of my drivers drive you; it's raining again."
Tea let her drive her.
Meanwhile
Mendy's Restaurant
Dining Room
"She sure is taking a long time in the bathroom," Tristan observed unneccesarily. His comment did nothing to soothe Yugi's nerves; in fact, made them worse. "But you've prepared your speech already, right man? You what to say?"
Yugi looked uncertain and miserable.
"Wait; you are going to confess your feelings for her! Didn't you already! Man, it's ten o clock at night" The waiter was already glaring omniously at them and tapping his watch; it was about to close. "Hey it isn't that big a deal." Tristan again spotted. "Hey! Where are you goin'?"
Yugi looked nervously at him. "I . . .Ican't do it."
"What? Oh, it's just nerves talkin'. Everybody gets 'em! Even me." Tristan said easily. "Why, I remember Joey was just like you, a nervous wreck, when he confessed to Mai. But now, look, see! Everything worked out all right for them!" Tristan said proudly.
Yugi sat down again. He drummed his fingers on the table, making his bracelet clink. "It did? He was?"
"Sure, man! Didn't you know!"
"No. I mean, he never talks to me." Yugi looked a bit sad. "About that stuff."
"Well, she oughta be here any sec. Then you can make your move." Tristan glanced at the girls' room again. "Any second . . .and second, now."
"Monsieurs, it iz time to close!" said the snooty waiter, coming over to them.
Yugi flushed as Tristan said, "But our friend! She's still in the bathroom. We think something bad happened to her."
"We do?"
"Wouldn't be the first time."
"I vill send someone to check." The snooty waiter disappeared.
"She's not there." Yugi said suddenly, looking crushed.
"Don't lose hope man!" Tristan said fiercely. Despite his loud, overbearing tough guy demeanor, he really was a softie for a mushy romance. "It ain't over till the fat lady sings." Yugi's head sunk lower and lower, until only the pointy tips of his black hair showed - he didn't use magenta anymore. "Don't wimp out! When she comes walking through that door, you confess! Do you hear me soldier!" He barked just like an army drill sergeant.
Well, he did go and join the army right after high school. "Yes" Yugi meeped. "But . . . "
"No buts! Ah, look the woman the waiter sent is back."
"This is the only girl I found in there." The heavyset woman said in the now nearly deserted restaurant. It was Rebecca. "Is she your little friend, cutie?" The woman winked.
Yugi was too shocked to notice. "Rebecca!" So I did see her earlier. . .
"Umm . . . hi Yugi." Her job done, the woman walked away, leaving them alone.
Yugi felt a stab of dread. "What did you to do Tea?"
"Nothing."
"Oh, then what's this?" Tristan lifted a squirt gun and a tube of Crazy Glue from the little girl's hands, behind her back. "Hmm . . . looks like she glued Tea together and . . . used the gun to wash her down the toilet!"
"RIght idea, Sherlock! Not!" Rebecca kicked him in the shins. Yugi crossed his arms. "Um . . . I didn't do anything ! I mean, um." Huge tears started rolling down her under her glasses.
"Rebecca, tell the truth." A new voice joined them. It was Mr. Hawkins with a stern expression on his old white face.
"Ok, ok. I . . . squirted sum watta . . . " Rebecca mumbled so low they had to strain to hear. "And glued her hand to my car. But that's it! Grampa caught me coming back from the bathroom, and made me go back at 'pologize." She glanced up at him. "But when I went back, she was gone! I swear, I didn't have nothing to do with it" Momo, help me . . .
She started sobbing pitifully, and her Grandpa put his hand on her shoulder and led her away, bidding the two stunned boys a good night. Tristan spoke first; his voice was uncharacteristically solemn. "You think . . . you think something bad happened to her? Like she's been kidnapped?"
"Maybe." Yugi said hopefully. Tristan gave him a funny look. "I mean, not that that's great or anything, but -" That means she didn't stand me up! Hope rose . . .
"Well. I can't really see someone as tough as Tea being hauled off like that." Tristan said, dashing all his hopes. "So . . . that means . . . "
"Vee are closed! Get out!" screamed the snooty waiter. They shuffled out. Yugi felt numb, and it wasn't because of the cold. A fine mist started falling, turning his hair white.
"Do you want a ride or something?"
"No, no . . . thanks, but I'll walk." Watching him shuffle off, coatless, Tristan couldn't help clench his fists. I so thought Tea wasn't like that! Like one of those girls that just runs away without even a goodbye! Anime rivers starting flowing.
Water was dripping off Yugi's nose too. It wasn't that far to his house, maybe five miles, or so. Maybe a few months ago, he would've been more optimistic. He kind of didn't want to be alone right now, but couldn't stand the pity on others' faces. His black leather pants started sticking stiff. He could barely walk.
I guess I should go to Tea's Buick, the one she left at KaibaCorp., and wait, I guess. But before he could, it passed him.
"Hey, Yugi!" Tea beeped the horn. Right in his startled face. "There you are; I checked the restaurant, but it was closed."
He smiled weakly. He didn't move. He didn't look that happy to see her . . .
"Get in." She pulled over. Like it was nothing. He hesistated, then sighed. Then he opened the side door.
Tea smiled at him as he got in. "I bet your wondering what I'm doing here." And why I didn't come back. He sat silent, staring directly ahead. His breathing was calm, too much so. "Are you mad at me?" she demanded, setting the car on park after pulling up in front of the Mutou's home.
"No" he said quietly and meekly, picking at his thin, black sleeveless shirt.
"Don't you even want to know? You know, it's okay for you to tell me when you're upset." He flinched and she thought she was being too hard on him. "Sorry Yugi. I didn't mean to harsh on you. I guess I'm just in a bad mood, after all that's happened tonight." She filled him in on where she was. He was completely silent, but listened. "So anyway. What happened while I was gone?"
"Tristan came . . ."
"To nose around I bet."
"Yeah, I guess." He smiled slightly, and she was relieved. He's not mad at me, at least!
"Well, anyway, in conclusion, I guess we'll have to take a rain check " She pointed at the cloudy sky, and he nodded.
"Guess so."
"So what did our nosy friend say." she said with a grin. Despite the fact she was as wet as he, and her eyes were a little too bright and red-rimmed, she looked very pretty; especially with her long dark brown hair hanging around her face.
Was she crying? "Oh, um . . . this and that. Advice . . . on love." He couldn't help to squirm at that, at the intimatacy of the word. He noticed the radio was playing softly. Feeling very nervous he pointed at something in her hand. "What's that."
"Oh, this? A parking ticket." Tea sighed. "As if that would make this night any better." She stared out the window for a moment. I am so fighting this ticket!
YUgi knew what she was thinking about. She always got that look when she was thinking about something serious or something that really mattered to her. "Serenity's in bad shape, eh. I feel guilty. I was thinking I should let Kaiba win. I still think I should've."
Tea laughed. "I swear, Yugi. You would feel guilty even if the guy held you at gunpoint and forced you to lose." She paused thoughtfully. "Actually, I think he did do that."
She sure looks cute when she cocks her head like that . . . Encouraged, he went on"Actually, I never told you this, but it was his fault that Grampa died."
She looked shocked, but not as much as he; for saying the words. "Grampa" and "died." Then Tea shook her head ruefully. I don't even want to go there! "One day, he'll get his comeuppance. That's all I'm saying." She made an expectant look, and he said What? with his expression. "Well, it is a date after all . . ." she smiled as he turned into a red Chirstmas light"I'm just kidding. I would kiss you good night, but I'm getting a cold." She sniffled. And then reached over for a hankie in the glove compartment.
He reached out and grabbed her arm, even more encouraged now. "Tea, I- " Just then, the two things he wanted to say mixed together and made no sense in his mind. I love you and Don't go. Both of them made his tummy squirm, like he'd eaten a bunch of butterflies. He stopped, afraid some of them would fly out if he opened his mouth.
"Don't, Yugi." she said seriously. Don't what? He saw a glitter of tears in her eyes and underneath her nose, and didn't know whether she was talking about stopping her from going back to NY, or from getting a hankie. She smiled quickly to break the silence. "I'll see you tomorrow." Later, she would wonder why she'd had said that. She kissed him on the cheek on second thought. "Bye, Yugi."
"O . . . okay . . . bye." He pulled open the door handle, slid out, and waved, but he never touched ground as he floated upstairs back to his room.
To Be continued
A/n: Awww... you know how you just float? When your crush...well you know. Luv when that happens. :D Well, next: More organized chaos! It sounds like an oxymoron, but it's really different from, say, random chaos. Ooh, why did I meantion that! Tell me! X( Finally, normal chappies... RR, will you.