IT'S RENOVATION TIME PEOPLE! In other words, I'm re-vamping this fic! though the whole plot will remain, you'll only find some… uh… quirks amuck the chapters!
Disclaimer on everything that I don't own!
Absences of Love,
By Winterwing3000
Téa sat down on the wooden bench after talking a NICE long walk around Domino Park. The sun was already near the tip of the horizon, casting fiery orange and black shadows all over the places it didn't touch. It was already August… how things can fly past in a blink of an eye.
Her other friends had just departed, though Yugi chose to stay with her. He decided that she would need someone to look over her for the time being, being in the state that she is now.
Téa was already five months into pregnancy and there are only four more to go. Her stomach, under the thick blue summer dress, was already bulging and it was giving her difficulties to walk for a long time. But her mother, though still arrogant and stern at times, was now always there for her.
Anita had taught her not to bend over to pick up things, not to climb up stairs, not to eat certain things, not to lift heavy things, not to shout or yell… it might damage the baby's sense of speech, not to wear certain things (its considered bad luck), and all sorts of things that just makes her motherhood so BORING. However, Téa knew that her mother was merely trying to keep them both safe and healthy.
She had visited Dr Smith, her obstetrician, just last week and now, the baby within her was about the size of her fist. The only thing is… the gender was still unknown and she's planning on not knowing… even though she already knew that her baby would be a she.
Sighing, Téa bent her neck up, looking at the sky. Every color present in the air was dimmed with shadows. They weren't as exuberant or cheerful. It seemed that the blackness of the setting sun was dampening everyone's moods.
But it was more like she was bringing everyone's moods down. Her constant pains of walking long distances, her whining of cravings at certain times (inconvenient ones too), and a whole lot of other things… and her craving of seeing HIM.
It's been five months, two weeks and six days. Probably she should make it three weeks, since the sun was setting already. Joey kept on reminding her on forgetting him. Téa was happy that her friend was always there, trying to help her in every possible way in cutting him permanently out of her life, but… How can she let go of someone that she loved so dearly in so little time?
Every time she flipped through the channels of her cable television, there would be at least more than ten channels of showing his face. Every time she goes down town, there would be these large poster stands up on buildings, displaying his products… his NAME. Every time she was waiting for her turn at the obstetrician, she would look through the magazines and find at least some interview of him with an image of his sharp face.
Her crystal blues eyes started misting. How did thinking of him have such a great affect on her?
"Téa? You alright?" Asked a worried voice next to her.
Turning her face to the source of the voice next to her, Téa found her best friend sitting down, gazing at her with anxious eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just… thinking…" said Téa, giving a somewhat wistful smile to Yugi.
"It's getting late. And I think my grandfather is starting to worry, you mother too. So why don't I walk you home?" Her friend inquired, standing up and stretching his back muscles.
"HEADS UP!"
Immediately, Téa shielded her face and body. Yugi went to stand in front of her to catch the rapidly flying baseball. The ball soared over to them and smacked into the spot near wear Yugi was sitting earlier.
"I'm SO sorry! My friend… YUGI? TÉA!" A boy with a mane of black hair, roused and a bit dusty, and large innocent plum colored eyes. He was wearing ordinary clothing with an addition of a pair of baseball gloves and a wooden bat.
"M-Mokuba?" The girl stuttered, eyes wide with astonishment. She hadn't seen this boy in ages! Even though he did send some letters every month or so…
"Hey Téa! Oh, sorry about that Yugi… my friend has bad aim and I sorta whacked the ball over the fence." The boy thumbed over his shoulder to where another boy was standing with a baseball glove in hand.
"Are you okay Téa? You look a bit… um…" The younger Kaiba asked, suddenly noticing how round the older girl was around the midsection.
"I'm fine… it's just that I'm having a baby." Téa cocked her head to the side and gave him a cheery smile. And you happen to be the uncle… she thought gravely.
Did Kaiba bothering telling his brother why she and he weren't seeing each other anymore?
"Really! When?" Mokuba asked excitedly, forgetting that his friend was waiting for him to return to the game.
"I'm not sure… maybe December?"
"Oh, can you call m-…?" Before he even got to finish the sentence two shadows over crossed their vision.
"Mokuba… you've ignored what I've told you not to do." A cold cut voice said, demanding the boy to turn around.
Breath caught, Téa squeezed her eyes sight, fingers digging into the material of her dress. Not now…
"Kaiba, I suggest that you leave here." She heard Yugi said with dislike. Heck, she could already see the glare coming off him.
"Where I stand or go is none of your concern Yugi. Mokuba, let's go." Seto said coldly, regarding her with a blood-chilling glare of his own.
"Um… all me when you have the baby okay?" Mokuba said hesitantly, turning over his shoulder to look at Téa.
She gave him a small nod and waved him goodbye, which he returned.
Yugi gave a long sigh of relief before returning his attention to her, holding out a hand. "Well, as I was saying, let's get you home. It about nearing six and I think you'll be hungry. So let's go?"
"I'm fine by myself Yugi! You should go home and check up on your grandpa. He's not as young as he thinks." She added dryly, remembering last time he tried showing off his 'youth hood'.
"But!" He protested, deeply concerned of his pregnant friend. Walking alone! At night, nonetheless! When's she's like this! He'll surely take his own head rather than doing that!
"But nothing Yugi. You guys did enough for me and I really think you should check on your grandpa. I… I would really like to be alone for a while… you know, to… think about things." Téa said tentatively.
Still unsure, Yugi took out his cell and handed it to her. She hadn't brought a handbag with her or anything, since she only wanted a stroll through the park with her friends.
"Call Joey or anybody if you need help. And PLEASE don't wander off anywhere, I'm going to kill myself if I learn that you've disappeared and somehow ended up in danger." He pleaded; letting his brotherly side, show. He was saying this as if telling her not to attract any trouble… well, at least not to let trouble attract her, since it seemed that it was always Trouble finding them.
"I will. Don't worry about me too much Yugi." She pulled him into a hug and kissed his cheeks in thanks.
Walking down the almost empty street, Téa bowed her head and clasped her hand together behind her back, cell phone in between her fingers.
That confrontation… wasn't as pleasant; wasn't as… heart warming. It broke her heart even more to see him under such circumstances. Now, from what he said, he's probably forcing Mokuba not to even talk to her again. That 'bastard' really knew how to keep a damn grudge.
And she still hadn't healed. That glare from him didn't help it either. It just cracked her further into heartbreak. It just wasn't fair… why did her love life had to be so complicated? Why couldn't she just have chose a more opened up and caring kind of guy rather than that… that… obnoxious, bull-headed, woman-hater, computer-nizer, people person-hater, coffee-addicted… icicle!
Growling in frustration, Téa kicked at the pebble by the sidewalk and watched as it skidded out into the street and got smashed and crumbled into tiny little pieces of minerals as a truck overran it.
So much like her. Just one kick at her, it sends her into pieces.
Sighing, she shook her head sadly.
How did Seto Kaiba manage to break her so easily? The 'spitfire' cheerleader who was filled with optimism (way to much of it), the one who gives 'friendship' speeches to keep her friends' spirits higher than an eagle could fly, the one who would defend anyone with the right morals (anyone who is not psychotic in other words) and the one who now is the biggest (well, one of the biggest) worries of her family and friends.
"Hey little lady. What'cha doing out all alone at this time of night?" A drunken slurred speech was thrown at her.
Not even bothering to turn around, Téa hurriedly walked away from him as fast as her legs allowed her to in her state. She clutched tightly on the cell, flipping it and dialed in some numbers, hoping that she put in the right ones and pressed send.
Why was it she who would always be in center stage? This was getting really old! It's her … fourth time facing all these things! And in one year nevertheless!
"Hello? Joey?" She spoke into the cell only to receive dial tone and the operator.
"MFPH!" Téa shouted desperately as a hairy hand, which reeked of addictive toxic, clamped on her mouth and the other hand snaked around her growing waist. She clawed fruitlessly at his hands as the man tightened his hold on her stomach, was this the end of her?
"I suggest you unhand Missy before the cops get to you." A cool collected voice said.
"Uh huh. Or else, I'll kick your ass!" A more childish and girly voice intoned.
Seto looked up into the darkening skies. The clouds were dusty and the stars were faint, the moon gave no approving shine. The streetlight gave a upsetting flicker before going out completely.
His dark form in the nightlife of Domino made him look like some black assassin waiting for the kill as he killed some time strolling through the streets, checking for anything suspicious or anything that would ruin his mission.
His black trench coat blended him with the shadows. Practically his whole attire was shouting gothic
What was he doing walking out in the city anyways? And woman's scream and a pair of blue eyes flashing through his mind reminded him.
Oh… right…
To vent out his anger and hate.
His fists inside his trench coat pockets tightened as his dull nails dug into his skin. Damn her!
Just seeing her ONCE after all this time triggered so many painful memories.
"HIIYA!" A feminine shout disturbed his turmoil emotions.
Lifting up his head, Seto managed to catch a glimpse of what was happening.
A girl, at least the person looked like a girl with her height and long hair, had just socked the overly sized man in the face with her left foot and flipped backwards. If he hadn't known better, he would've said that the girl walked right out from the Chinese Kung Fu movies from all the complex yet learnable moves.
In other words, she must've had practice.
Nearby, two bystanders watched them fight. Though the blurry man was most likely having the beating of his life since he barely exchanged her blows with his. Turning his attention to the two people, he caught the outline of a man about his height holding onto another woman, though she looked somewhat round in the middle…
"Humph, men are nothing but trash these days. Don't you agree, Youko? Anyways, miss? Are you okay?" The girl bounced over to the woman, who was kneeling on the ground, dusting her hands off as she took care of the drunken man.
"Y-yes, I'm fine. Thank you." The woman stuttered, and was able to get up with the man's help.
"You shouldn't be walking alone at night Missy. Its dangerous." Said the man that Seto confirmed as Youko.
"Chisa, do you mind if you go home yourself? I would walk you the rest of the two blocks but I think Missy would need my assistance." Youko said, drawing the girl close to him.
"No problem. Just don't forget to call me!" Chisa kissed Youko on the cheek before bounding down the street, nearly knocking him over, without a single apology given.
"Now, Missy. If you could tell me your name… and address, I'll be more than happy to escort you home." The man with a shock of blond hair held out an elbow to her.
"Um… I'm Téa, Téa Gardner. I just live about six blocks away from here… And you are?" The woman said, slipping her hand through his crooked elbow.
"Worry naught Missy. My girlfriend, Chisa Holmes, has a leash on me. I'm Youko Masters." Youko said charmingly, causing a light bubble of giggles from Téa.
From a far, Seto finally heard it. Her name… coming from her mouth.
Rage and hate grew within him every second he saw her with that stranger. What the hell was she doing with that man? She was HIS and no one ELSE'S!
The young CEO shot the Western Dog(1) a death look, and if looks could kill like many say… then the poor Youko would've died a hundred times over.
As if sensing his glare, Youko looked up from where he was and quirked his brows at him, challenging him to come over to where he was. Daring Seto Kaiba to get over there and take back what was rightfully HIS.
Seto's chipped blue eyes only narrowed further into slits. Somehow… he had a feeling that that man knows something… something between her and himself… but how? Clenching his teeth, he walked up to them as they started their descent down the street.
Téa's head was bent, thoughts flowing like water in her head.
It seemed that she wasn't paying any attention to where she was going… until she felt a jerk on her arm, which was looped through Youko's. They stopped walking… but for what reason…?
The girl found herself staring at a pair of black shoes in front of her… was someone blocking their path?
Lifting her head to meet the stranger's gaze, Téa immediately regretted that action as she breathed in sharply.
"Kaiba…" whispered she, turning her gaze elsewhere.
"It seems that you've made Missy uncomfortable sir. Would you please step aside so I could bring her home without any discomfort along the way? As you can see… I doubt that she would like to talk in the dark streets after being attacked. Now please excu--!" Youko said only to feel an iron grip on his upper arm.
Téa winced as she felt his cold hand on her own hand. It was so wintry despite the summer's warmth. "K-Kaiba… please let go…"
"Now listen here… Kaiba," The American said with distaste, rivaling Seto's glare with his own as his arm was twisted away from Téa's. "Release Missy before someone gets hurt."
"And that someone would be you if you don't shut your trap." Seto hissed venomously at him.
"I would never fight in a presence of a woman however, there are times where I have to ignore that." Youko snarled, aiming a kick at Seto only to be deflected by connecting with his knee.
"Please… no…" The brunette girl struggled in Seto's strong hold and had wrung her hand free, now taking a step back from the breakout brawl.
Seto's hand on Youko's arm had tightened to a bone-crushing situation. Growling in pain, Youko made an attempt to knock the man off balance with a Dragon Tail Sweep and successfully tripped the CEO.
The hold on his arm lessened and Seto fell with a thud. Soon, the brunette male retaliated with a Side Jaw Trap, locking Youko's feet with his own and brought the other male to the ground with him.
"Stop…" She whimpered… nerves scattered. "STOP THIS! NOW!"
There, she had finally kicked herself and shouted at them, very woman-like too…
When they had not stopped, Téa's face twisted into annoyance and decided to step into this fight, even meaning that she might get hurt… along with the child. Wrapping her hands around her stomach, she stepped into the battle, and tried avoiding a few blows.
"I SAID STOP IT!" She cried, eyes flaring.
Just as Seto was about to land a blow on Youko's face, a blur stopped his fist's crash. At the moment he saw her, his hand stopped, dangerously close to her face. Her eyes were glaring at him as she stood in front of that… that… American Scum, protecting him!
How dare she! Wasn't she his FRIEND? Lover? Whatsoever?
"Kaiba… just stop. You wanted to never be part of my life, remember? You… you…" Her voice was becoming dry and raspy. Tears were springing from her pained eyes.
A heavy but comforting hand landed on her shoulder, a friendly gesture for showing a shoulder that she could lean on. Heaving a choked breath, she whirled around and leaned her head on Youko's shoulder, seeking comfort from a stranger.
"Come on Missy." Youko patted her shoulders and wove their way around the still Seto, shock clearly written in his eyes.
Brushing past him, Téa murmured some words that triggered new emotions.
"I'm sorry… Seto."
As the two went their way… the boy fell onto all fours, eyes turning wet, unknown to him.
(1): I'm NOT trying to offend anyone or imply anything at all! This is a mere term that my grandmother said that my great great grandmother used to refer to the Americans or the 'gwei lo's from the other side of the world. (The Eastern world is of Asians… so they found no problem accepting them… however, due to their strangeness, in skin and speech, and advancement in technology and life-style, the Chinese saw them as aliens.)
AN: Bwhahah! I'm done with another chapter! And as you see… I've sped things up. I'm seriously NOT going to be writing all nine months of her pregnancy… I'll be a lunatic by then… since these chapters are so… hard to put down. It didn't flow as smoothly as I planned, but its out and I'm not changing it! Welp, there's only about… five to eleven chapters till the story comes to a close. And there's gonna be an epilogue to it so, there's not going to be a sequel. I'm murdering myself here people, and if you want a sequel, then plan my funeral for me…! Anywho, Review please?
Crystal Koneko: Chu! –huggies- thanks for loving this story!
Peeps: LOL! Major guilt trip for Seto huh? Well, as you see… none in this… His guilt consciousness hasn't gotten through his thick skull apparently… However, I'll take it up! Just need to find a place to put it… and how's this for soon? And yes, plenty more twists and turns for the coming chapters! There's already a big one in this chapter…! Chu! –huggies-
The lady winged Knight: WEEE! No crying on New Years! Bad luck will befall! Chu! –huggies and tissues- I'm glad that I could at least pull some strings on emotion… I thought it was just plain bare… lol. Don't you dare be cursing Anita or Seto! You bring more bad luck on you! Then –sniff- then me be really SAD! And yes… poor Téa! But it cannot be helped!