Disclaimers on everything that I don't own.
Afterthoughts,
By Winterwing3000
Anita looked up from her paper work as her cell phone rang from her purse. Funny… usually she doesn't call me.
Hesitantly, she picked up the phone and pressed a button for the caller id and found that it was private. When a small blinking icon of a black-cloaked man flashed on her screen, she immediately pressed 'talk'.
"What do you want now?" she asked impatiently.
"My my… such a rush, on your toes are you Mrs. Gardner? Anxious to get rid of your own flesh and blood?" the voice on the other line taunted.
"… What do you want!" Anita repeated demandingly, something in her heart twitched as he mentioned about Téa.
"Now, calm down. I'm only here to inform you of a small incident. Apparently, Fate has spun a new thread into their breaking up episode… and now, that causes a minor set back for us. The plan will be the same, however, there will be one small detail added into our victory.
"On the eve of January…you are to invite Kaiba to your dinner table, not as a hostile hostess, but a hospitable one. I've delivered something personally to you and it is waiting for you in your bedroom. The rest is on the note attach… understand, Mrs. Gardner?"
Anita's eyes narrowed a fraction, not liking the tone she was talked to. "So basically you want me to poison them… Hm… and why at the eve of January? Why not now?"
"Because, we need her child in order to succeed. And it seems that you are indeed the best of the best, Mrs. Gardner. Already knowing my plan before you learn of it. My, it seems that you are feeling wonderful just to rid yourself of that… daughter of yours, aren't you?"
Something caught Anita's throat… daughter… Téa was her own flesh and blood, her own daughter… what… what's wrong with her heart? She didn't need that piece of garbage, yet… Téa still managed to forgive her wholly for the past relationship they had as a mother and daughter. And she… she was pretending, holding up a façade in order to gain riches…
"Having second thoughts, Mrs. Gardner?" the voice mocked.
"… Hmph, you kids. Always underestimating the adult's minds. Just have the cash ready." She said harshly into the small phone, the other hand clenching tight.
"Very well, I'll prepare the rest. Oh, and one thing… I'll kill you personally…
Should you speak one word of it." the voice leered at her.
Not liking the man's attitude, Anita hung up and threw the phone at the wall of her office, ratting the awards.
"Hey, Téa, is it just me or are you glowing?" Mai asked, tapping her red manicured nails on her chin with one of her eyebrow rose, peering suspiciously at the brunette.
Téa's face colored as she sweatdropped. How is it that Mai knows all of these things? "Uh… I'm not sure…"
"I think Mai's right… you look radiant, more healthier, I mean." Chisa said, bending forward on her knees to have a better look.
"Uh… I think its just the sunshine! Now, who wants more cookies? I'm sure my mom has some in the cookie jar." The brunette said, edging out of her seat.
"Nuh uh, not so fast missy. Something happened yesterday and I wanna know what." Mai said pulling Téa back down into her seat on the sofa. Chisa nodded her green head and sat on the brunette's left while Mai took her right.
"Yeah, and you weren't home when I called you last night, before your dinner time!" Chisa said. "I think your mother told me that you were out somewhere…"
"AHA! So something did happen last night! And that would be…?" the blond trailed off, smirking.
"I just went over to the Kaiba mansion to tutor Mokuba and kinda bumped into Kaiba…" Téa whispered, fidgeting, while a smile creeping onto her face.
"Isn't he that guy that bro-?" Chisa was cut off then Mai made a shushing sound.
"No, its okay now guys. Kaiba and I forgave each other and we've made up. We're friends now…" the pregnant female told them, smiling happily.
"Oohhh, did you guys kiss and make up?" Chisa asked eagerly.
"Huh?" The two Japanese girls started at the American, who only blinked.
"I take it that you guys never heard of it… never mind, forget what I said. So are you guys going to get back together or something? Maybe even get married?" Chisa pressed.
"No! I mean, no. I don't think that marriage is an option. We… still need to rebuild our friendship, but we'll see how it goes." Téa nodded her head. "But, I know that… Kaiba will be helping me along the rest of the way. I saw it in his eyes… they were so… determined. He said that he wanted to take some responsibility… and even though I have no clue how we ended up like this, I'm kind of… happy that we did.
"It taught me a lot of things about how cruel life could really be and not everything ends up the way I want. And… my baby right here somehow… connects me to Kaiba, in a sense. Ah gosh, I'm ranting again, aren't I?" The brunette blushed and buried her head in her hands, flushing.
"There there, its only normal for you to have mood swings hon. Now, why don't you tell us about your little escapade with all the juicy details now?" Mai chuckled, patting her on the back.
"Oh big broothhhheeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr!" Seto Kaiba nearly groaned as he heard his little sibling sing out his call. That never meant anything good or nice was happening… sometimes he did almost wished that he could crawl under a rock and hide from Mokuba, but then again, that will never happen due to his large pride.
…One of the deadly sins.
"Seto?" A sly voice peeked into his room, along with a very dark mop of hair and some growing limbs.
"Yes Mokuba?" and he was hoping to get a good night sleep, damn it.
"I can't sleep." The young teen plopped onto his brother's bed, bouncing the both of them.
Silence hung as Seto sat staring at the ceiling and Mokuba side glancing his older brother. Once, Seto caught his gaze and already knew that something was bothering him. At least, there was something that he was really anxious to ask about.
"What's wrong Mokuba?"
"Well… I have a question about you and Téa. Are you guys… well… together again?" his younger brother looked curiously at him, tilting his head to one side.
"… I suppose so." And though we've figured this out… how the hell are we going to handle a kid as friends?
"Then can she come back here? I know she's living with her mother and all, but… does it hurt if she visits… daily?" Mokuba pleaded, missing the presence of Téa already.
"She can't be out as much as you like Mokuba. Don't forget that she is carrying a child. And god who knows what could happen to her like those other times…" Seto added under his breath.
"Huh?"
"Its nothing."
A couple weeks flew by as snow had yet to touch the ground. Téa had comfortably engaged herself with more activities with Mokuba and Seto, trying to develop their renewed friendship.
The guys had somehow found out that Téa and Kaiba had gotten it all back together, on a friendly basis now.
Joey and Tristan, at first were on a mad rampage, readying themselves to beat the lights out of Seto since they believed that the CEO is only manipulating their pregnant friend for some unknown purpose.
Yugi had been a bit untrusting at first, however, believed in his childhood friend's judgment and accepted the fact. Mai and Serenity, who had dropped by for her November break, phoned Duke who was out of town and in San Francisco. Ryou was also out of town and went back to England for some family business. So, no one reached him.
"Hey, Mom? Do you mind if I invite a friend over? He needs to be babysat." The brunette female asked, walking into the living room, where her mother was watching some soap opera.
"Hm… who's it? Yugi? Joey? That nice, England boy Ryou?" Anita asked, half her attention on the television, the other half to her daughter.
"Uh… I'm thinking more of a Kaiba…" Téa muttered.
"Kaiba! As in… that boy that brought you home last time?" Anita said, suddenly fully paying attention.
"Uh… yeah, but I'm babysitting his younger brother, Mokuba, while Kaiba's on a meeting trip."
"… Well, I suppose. How long is the boy going to be staying?"
"Couple of days, not too long. So… its okay?"
"Yes, just tell him not to make a ruckus and everything will be fine." Anita nodded and Téa smiled, picked up the phone and dialed away.
So, it was true. All those days that she had been going out, it was to the Kaiba mansion… a little bit of manipulation and soon, it'll be done. She thought, but something pulled in her chest when she remembered the smiles she was given.
AN: I've updated another chapter in a matter of a few days! Yesh! Now, only four more chapters to go (which includes the epilogue!)! So keep your hopes up, I'm working on the chapters of this fic almost daily now! I'm doing my homework, at least most of what I can in school now, so I could have some time with my baby here. –hugs- however, even though there is a small disappointment in the lack of reviewing, I'm still gonna update. I'm not the one to leave things unfinished, so updates will be frequent (close enough…) and I'll try to draw some of the scenes as an added bonus… hopefully! So stay by me readers and reviewers! Love ya!
To the Reviewers of chapter 21:
Raquel: thank you uber-duber-muchos! And there's no need to plea for a chapter now, as I said, I'm gonna stick by FMSK till the end! –hands cotton candy- want some?
ang3l-blue: thanks! and I love drama (tho' I don't take drama/theatre class… I have stage frights) And thanks for the praise!
inuyoukai-san: lol, definitely, not the first fanfic where Seto's has apologized to someone. You'll find plenty out there; it's just that it takes some time. Cruelty… why does everyone call me that? Lol, just kiddin'. Well, to answer your question, I wanted to show… the true face of the world (it is not always beautiful and happy!). And no worries, then epilogue's done and from what I know, there's nothing sad in it… -grins-
P.S. the only reason that this is so… short is because that it is an "Afterthought". Bon?