Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh

A/N: Yes, I know, it's horrible how late this is. Still, I hopeguys will enjoy it! Oh, and guess what? Next chapter is the last one! I hope things look like they are winding down. I'd also like to say that this chapter is a birthday present to Emily who's birthday was just a few days ago. Please read and review!

Chapter eleven The Light That Cannot Be Diminished

Entering school the next day posed as a very awkward situation for Tea. She hadn't spoken to either Kaiba or her friends since yesterday, and quite truthfully, she wasn't too eager to do so. The brunette was sick and tired of being the one who was always trying to do something–the one always meddling and making things worse. She shouldn't have confronted Kaiba about his diary. She shouldn't even have picked it up.

But most of all, she shouldn't have developed this feeling for him.

And yet she couldn't help it. The scene kept playing over and over before her eyes, trailing out longer and more significant each time, as though someone had broken into her mind and was content to press an imaginary "replay" button every time the memory had finished. First, there was Kaiba, eyes hollow and face pale, shouting that the world was empty and black next, her brain's notional camera would turn to face Tea, shaking with rage and confusion, demanding him to admit what he had written. And then things became blurred and surreal, the CEO dropping his head to hands and muttering things she hardly understood. Tea had felt guilty and speechless, yet she still had been able to utter a single word.

Seto...

Never even once in her entire life had she ever called him Seto. He had always remained the cold, conceited boy that he was, sneering at her words and friends, pushing away any small attempts of friendships they had offered. But now things were different. He was different. And yet...maybe she had just never truly seen him before. Maybe she had only witnessed Kaiba's mask, instead of looking into Seto's soul.

All she really knew was that only one other person had ever called Kaiba by his first name, and that was his little brother. Mokuba loved Seto. What did that say about her?

&&&

The clock was ticking softly beside him, large red numbers flashing from 8:08 to 8:09. Mokuba pulled at the large covers on his bed, yawning sleepily and curling into a more comfortable position. As his gray eyes drifted hazily towards his alarm clock a jolt of horror suddenly took him, quickly seeping through every fiber of his being.

"My alarm clock didn't go off!" he gasped in a panic-stricken voice . "I'm late for school–I'm an hour late!"

He darted out of his room, not even bothering to pull on a pair of slippers as he tumbled down the long staircase.

He came to an ungraceful halt at the foot of the stairs, scrambling over to a familiar butler that happened to pass by.

"Jennings, what's going on? My alarm clock didn't go off!"

But instead of looking confused or worried, the butler's wide, kindly face split into pleased smile. "Don't fret, small sir. Mr. Kaiba called you in sick today."

Mokuba blinked. "Why?"

Jennings' warm expression transformed into a mild interest. "I'm not too sure, myself. Why don't you go ask him?"

The young Kaiba nodded, his heart now thumping in curious excitement as he swiveled around the corridor intotheir rather cavernous living room. Seto's voice floated through the next room's open doors, leaving Mokuba able to catch small bits of the unfinished conversation.

"...No, I won't be coming in to work today. I still expect the prototypes to be finished–do I have to dictate everything to you? Yuroshi had all the details on the errors go to him once you get to the main building. Yes, straight away..."

The young boy plopped down on the plush sofa and waited for his older sibling to finish, a faint, almost surreal hope pulsing through him.

Seto entered the room moments later, an impassive, slightly confused look settled on his face. Almost like a silent resignation, thought Mokuba, though he was certain there was a ghost of a smile hovering weakly over his lips.

"Hey, kid. You're already up?"

"Seto, what's going on?" Mokuba asked immediately, unable to conceal the uneasiness in his voice. "Why aren't you going to work? How come I'm not at school?"

The CEO brushed his umber bangs off his face, though the action seemed to take longer than was needed, as if he were actually stalling for time.

"You wanted a Christmas tree, didn't you?"

&&&

The day proved to be just as dissatisfactory as the brunette had expected. Joey remained distant and clinical, as though afraid he may catch some sort of deadly germ from her. And even worse, he seemed determined in making sure Yugi did not catch whatever sickness must be plaguing her as well; he dragged the clueless boy away whenever Yugi merely caught her eye.

Tea was beginning to fear that her friendship with Joey might actually end. How long could he possibly hold a grudge? She had never seriously thought how the boy would take her sudden feelings for the CEO and should have realized that the situation would not mesh with one, Joey Wheeler.

The words she had preached so many times suddenly sounded false and meager, like something you might hear in a fairytale–something that was not real. She had ducked behind her math book during second period, swallowing the painful lump in her throat and wondering if this was how Kaiba felt whenever he heard her speak of companionship's strong bond.

She had noticed he was not in school today and wondered vaguely if he was avoiding her too.

The classes inched by agonizingly slow, and Tea suppressed the urge to jump for joy when the life-giving bell finally rung. She slammed her locker closed and rushed outside, her heart lifting very slightly when she realized it was once again snowing. The powdery dust settled atop the crunchy black ice and masked the town in a gentle beauty.

She pulled her jacket tighter and made her way down the block, enjoying the twinkling lights of green and red that shimmered softly in the cold afternoon breeze. Her troubled mind had almost been entirely forgotten of until she caught sight of them only half a block away.

Yugi trotting alongside Joey and Tristan, their voices muffled against the winds, but happy and carefree. Something cold and hard gripped around Tea's heart, crushing it between strong fingers. Every word she had ever uttered about friendship was now pounding loudly in her ears, almost taunting her as she remembered, staring straight ahead.

You were wrong, weren't you? A cynical voice whispered darkly in her ear. They're not always there for you, are they?

Something inside of Tea crumpled. Her insides, writhing in angst, disappeared completely, leaving her empty and hollow, except for a resounding ache that seemed to echo through her entire body. She had never once believed that her friends would abandon her–and she was not going to start now. She had always trusted they would love and understand her, and she shouldn't begin to doubt that trust now, no matter what the odds were.

"Hey, guys!"

Yugi turned around immediately, beaming as he thrust his hand over his head and waved brightly. Tristan gave a weak, faded smile, but Joey didn't even turn around, head bent low as his brown eyes blared down at the powdery snow.

Sick hurt and disappointment seeped through the girl at the sight of his reaction, but she shoved it aside, determined in settling the matter once and for all.

"Hi, Tea," Yugi replied, apparently oblivious to the others reactions. "I didn't see you so much today, is everything okay?"

Her insides had returned, and they were now squirming uncomfortably in nerves and guilt.

"Everything's fine..." she mumbled. "But Yugi, there's something I need to tell you, all of you, and I hope you'll understand."

Slight confusion clouded the boy's innocent face, but he nodded, still looking up at Tea with curious, purple eyes.

From the doubtful, almost expecting look on Tristan's face, Tea was certain that Joey had informed him of their last meeting. They had evidently kept information from Yugi in an attempt not crush his spirit's even further than they had already been downtrodden.

She took a gasping breath, fixed her eyes upon Joey's unmoving back, and spoke, "I know that some of you are angry at me. And I won't deny you have a right to be; I should have trusted you all and told you everything–but I haven't felt exactly normal lately, and I never meant to hurt any of you-"

"Never meant ta hurt any uh us!" Joey exclaimed, swiveling around and glaring hard at her. "So what did ya mean ta do by dumpin' Yugi for Kaiba?"

The words cut swift and sharp through the air, leaving a permanent imprint on her ears and heart. Yugi's already bewildered eyes seem to literally dim in hurt as he stared at her, mouth falling slightly open. His hurt hit her soul in vibrant pangs, until she could feel its intensity just as clearly as he was feeling it, throbbing painfully through every bit of her.

"It's not anything like that," she explained in an almost shrilly voice. "I really like you, Yugi, and I seriously would have gone to the dance with you, I mean it. But for some reasons the words wouldn't come out, and I didn't know why. I was horrified at how obviously blind I was to everything around me, but as much as I'd like to, I couldn't say what I would have loved to."

Yugi's eyes were wide and blank, but they held no loath or skepticism as they gazed upon her, only a distant sorrowing. And yet something about that sorrow–that painful understanding–was worse than even the strongest form of hatred Yugi could ever hope to give off. She felt both vile and shameful, as though she were crumbling an innocent soul. The quavering emotion that was slowly piling up inside her was reaching an alarmingly high level, and she was sure that if he uttered one word it would burst forth and ruin everything.

"So instead I said I'll think about it," she continued, her voice unnaturally high and shaky. "And–and you guys knew what I was basically trying to say, and it was horribly selfish of me. I've been very selfish lately, and not just to all of you."

She heard Joey let out a low, dark snort, but ignored him, her insides still squirming painfully.

"I shouldn't have read Kaiba's diary. I tried to apologize to him, Yugi, just like you told me to. But he's so extremely stubborn that I don't think he'll ever realize how sorry I am. But one thing's for certain–he's not who I thought he was. He's been through...a lot," Tea added vaguely, "and he's more complex a person than I could have ever thought. Money didn't make his life perfect, and after reading everything he wrote, I know deep down he's not all ice. I know it's foolish, but I have this strange feeling that he...that he needs me."

Half the words that had escaped her lips she had not meant to say, though she did not regret them once spoken. They were all true. It was as though in her desperate attempt to explain to her friends, she, Tea, was beginning to understand.

"But I shouldn't have gambled our friendships with lies and secrets," she spoke strongly, her lips twitching into a guilty, but loving smile. "I swear, our companionship means more than that to me. I...I know it's difficult. I don't expect you to understand. But please, trust me. I never meant to hurt you, Yugi. Or any of you guys, Joey and Tristan."

Her cerulean eyes flitted across her friends' emotionless faces, a meager ounce of hope gurgling in her throat. Perhaps she had gotten through to them...perhaps there was a glimmer of light in this massive black curtain...

But Joey did not even blink as he turned away, eyes drained of all warmth and compassion–transforming them into brown chips of stone, devoid of all feeling. Tea tried to call out to him, but her vocal cords tightened up against her, and all she was able to do was muster a feeble cry as Tristan turned to follow.

She thought a cold draft must have blown over her mind, leaving it numb and icy. The images passing before her eyes were dim and flickering, like a failing movie, something that was false and surreal. Words were pounding in her ears, her own words, but they were loud and chaotic, foreign to her ears. She could no longer understand them.

Panic suddenly leaped in her chest, all the air escaping from her lungs. A thought struck her–if she stayed here a moment longer, she would surly die. The glints of snow that flew all around her would build up and suffocate her; and as loud as she called out, no one would ever hear her...

She began to walk away.

"Tea, WAIT!"

The girl turned around, a strange emotion crashing over her. Yugi Mouto was rushing towards her through the fluttering snowflakes, his large eyes wet with tears. He flung his arms over her, wrapping her in a tight embrace, eyes squeezed shut tight.

"You were with me all throughout Duelist Kingdom and Battle City, and never once did you try to leave or abandon me. You always stood there by my side, encouraging me and making me stronger. Tea, you're my friend and nothing could ever change that, no matter what. I trust you, and if you say that you never meant to hurt me, and if you say Kaiba's got a heart, I'll believe you."

For some reason it took the brunette a long time to realize she was crying as well, and she dropped to her knees, ignoring the wet snow that soaked them, and hugged her best friend back.

There came the crunching of footsteps and she looked up, Tristan standing before her. His eyes were no longer hard and impassive, but guilty, even if a slight confusion still mingling inside of them.

"Yugi's right," he stated strongly. "You've been with us through all this time, and we shouldn't let something as stupid as this get in the way of our friendship. I believe you too, Tea." He held out his hand for her to grab it.

Now only one person stood alone, a few feet away, his thick blonde hair flecked with dots of snow. Every fiber of his being was quivering with emotion, though he was not sure what the feeling was anymore. Anger? Guilt? Sadness? Or was it simply all of those things, rolled into one? He suddenly felt foolish and selfish, but more pronounced than ever, alone. He had never felt so alone.

"Tea!" Joey Wheeler called out, rushing over to meet his friends. "Listen," he started, stumbling to a halt and reddening with shame. "I don't like Kaiba and I never will. I think anybody who believes he's gotta speck of emotion is outta their minds, but I'll make an exception, okay? I'll make an exception for ya."

Tea's face broke into a watery smile as she took his hand and shook it, sniffling with tears of unsuppressed joy. And as the teenagers gathered around her, eyes warm and smiles comforting, she seemed to only just discover that she could never have asked for better friends.

&&&

Strange, but as the CEO padded through the store, bustling with customers, her voice was still ringing in his mind. But with Mokuba tugging on Seto's sleeve, eyes alight with joy, the words suddenly seemed less faltering and more real. Maybe the world was not as bad as he thought.

But every time this thought entered his mind, the nagging remembrance of how it could be diminished, like so long ago, entered his brain as well, and he suddenly realized that he could not deal with that loss again. He could not fall again.

But then Gardner's voice returned, loud, yet kinder than he had remembered, speaking of Mokuba, and how Seto thought of him separate from the world's dark cruelty. And it was true. Mokuba was different, very different. But why was that? What made him so divided from everything else?

Because Mokuba was always there for you, a voice inside his mind spoke. Mokuba never left–he understands. Mokuba is the light that cannot be diminished.

Seto blinked as his little brother led him over to a particularly large tree, shattering his train of thought.

"What about this one, Seto? It's really big, so I think it will look nice in the living room. Kind of like the one at the Tree Lighting, right?"

The CEO's eyes took the pine in, the salesperson ringing his hands nervously besides it. It was tall and strong, the rich, dark green of its leaves bright and blaring. It did resemble the one at the Tree Lighting--dull and dead, yet waiting for its moment of glory, where bright colors would emerge all around it, and it would shine. Just like the day Seto Hashishima had gone to see it with his mother, back when he was only four. Seto Hashishima would have liked the tree that stood before the CEO now. And yet, maybe the orphan was not dead at all. Perhaps he was still here, standing right before this tree as well.

"Alright," Seto replied, looking over at his little brother. "If you like it."

Mokuba grinned widely as the salesperson eagerly began mentioning prices.

&&&

"It was over-priced you know. That much for a tree?" The car came to a halt and Seto stepped out, Mokuba scrambling up besides him.

"Come on, Seto, loosen up. It's not like we couldn't afford it or anything," the boy answered, rushing towards the mansion. "I'm gonna get Jennings and the others to help us carry the tree inside!"

Seto couldn't suppress smiling as Mokuba ran through the front doors. He had never truly realized how simple it was to make his little brother happy.

The clatter of footsteps crunching against the snow broke his concentration, and he turned around, his heart ceasing to beat when his eyes fell upon who was walking down the block.

Gardner's face was red and blotchy, and her teary eyes gave off the distinct impression that she had been crying. Still, she was beaming at the snowy mansions around her, and her smile was brighter than Seto had thought possible.

As soon as she saw him, however, her grin faded, eyes widening in shock. She fumbled with her fingers, and Seto knew she was thinking about what he had told her yesterday.

"Don't ever try to talk to me again!"

The words rang clear and hard in his memory, and even as they spoke, a prickle of anger ran through him, recalling all the memories she had shoved in his face, and all the lies she had spouted about being sorry for reading that damn journal in the first place.

But then he caught hold of her eyes, crystal blue and shining. Like a light, he suddenly thought. A light just like Mokuba, something world's cruelty can't diminish...

"Sorry," Tea muttered, looking down at the floor and walking passed him. "Excuse me."

"You have nice eyes," Seto said abruptly. The words had already escaped him before he could even think of stopping them. "They're different from the rest of the world. They aren't cruel and sadistic."

Tea whipped her head around, astonished, but a small smile lit her face before she spoke, "Thank you."

As she turned to walk away, Mokuba came tumbling down the stairs, followed by a few of their burliest employees.

"Come on, Seto, I want to get this decorated! Hey–was that Tea?" he asked, peering down the block. All that was left of the girl was a shrinking silhouette.

"Never mind," the CEO muttered, helping Jennings heft the large tree-trunk over his shoulder. "You want to get this inside, don't you?"

It didn't take too long to get the pine into the living room, though some of the maids winced when they saw all the needles it dragged across the floor. Mokuba jogged hastily upstairs to get Christmas decorations and almost spilled half the box when he tripped on a loose string of tinsel.

As the day dwindled down into dusk, Seto was unable to avoid the pronounced surrealism that every hour had given off. Even the soft, glistening lights of newly owned tree felt false and alien to the house. But most unreal of all was Gardner, smiling lightly and thanking him, her eyes beaming brightly. Why had he said that to her? The cold-hearted Seto Kaiba would never say such a thing. And yet he couldn't ignore the fact that every blue decoration Mokuba had pulled out of the dusty box had reminded him of her.

He sat there, fiddling with the golden star that was supposed to be placed on top of the tree when a memory struck him. He stood up, stuffed the star in his trench coat, and called over Mokuba.

"Yeah?" the boy asked, dusting loose pine needles off his pants. He yelped madly as Seto boosted him onto his shoulders, teetering wildly.

"Seto!" Mokuba gasped. "What-what are you doing?"

He had thrown his arms around his older brother's neck, clutching it so tightly he was almost choking him.

"You're the youngest," Seto replied. "You have to put the star on top."

Gripping his little brother's leg firmly with one hand, he pulled out the decoration and handed it to Mokuba.

The boy placed the star onto the tree and clambered onto the floor, rushing over to every lamp in the room and extinguishing it.

Standing in the dim room, Mokuba's broad smile was the only light brighter than the shining tree, Seto had to admit it felt like Christmas.

A/N: There we have it. Only one more chapter left--hopefully coming up soon! I'm getting very excited. Please read and review!