Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.

"Talk"

'Thoughts'

Flashback

...

"What? Dad you can't be serious. I can't." Tea yelled in horror.

"Why are you freaking out Tea? You have to get married someday. Seto kaiba is the perfect man for you." Her father said, trying to calm his panicking daughter. He had expected her to put up resistance and argue, but he hadn't expected this level of intensity.

"Dad, you never told me anything and made all the decisions by yourself. You said I was supposed to make that decision any time I wanted." Tea said with accusing eyes.

"Yes Tea. I had said that. But you are 24 years old, and most girls your age are married or are planning to. You haven't even thought of it. You are a carefree person, and I respect that. But I worry about you. I want to see you get married and have kids. I want to play with my grandchildren before I die. You are my only child, and I want only the best for you. To be honest with you, when the Kaibas picked you, I was flattered and relieved because I know Seto Kaiba. He is a very good man and I know he will keep you happy." Her father tried to reason with her.

"I appreciate what you are doing for me dad. But I don't want to marry him."

"Why is that? What is wrong with him?" Her father said, getting slightly agitated.

"Because… I… I already have a boyfriend." She slowly said.

"What? Why didn't you tell me?" Her father yelled.

"I was afraid you wouldn't approve of him. He is just an average man." She replied.

"And how did you meet him?" He asked with a displeased frown.

"It was through some friends, but dad, I love him and he loves me too." She didn't tell him that she had seen him at her university, talking to the professors sometime, asking them to give him some notes. At first, Tea didn't understand why he did that, but learnt later on that he had quit university because he couldn't afford it. However, he was continuing to study on his own, and came to speak with his old professors when he needed help. Needless to say she had been impressed with him after learning that about him, and had offered him her notes, and the rest was history. But she couldn't tell her dad that he was a university drop-out.

"You are a fool to think you will be happy with him. You said it yourself that he is an average man." Her father said.

"Money isn't everything dad. I will adjust. You should meet him and then you'll see that he is a nice guy. I didn't pick a loser off the streets." She said.

"Okay Tea. I will meet that man for your sake." Her father said and a relieved look appeared on her face. She knew her father would understand. "But on one condition." He continued, and suddenly, Tea didn't feel so relaxed anymore. "If he is not the right choice for you, then you will forget about him and marry Seto Kaiba." Her father said.

"Dad." Tea wanted to protest but her father raised his hand to silence her.

"Tea, I have given my word to him. It's a matter of my honor." He said.

"Okay." She sighed. All her hope was on Marik now, hoping he would impress her dad just enough to keep her from marrying Kaiba.

"Marik." Tea yelled through the streets, calling his name. She knew he was here somewhere. He hung out around that area with his gang buddies. She had told him times and times again to stop spending so much time with them, but he refused. They were his friends, and despite the fact they they were gang members, he couldn't break ties with them. She found him hurriedly walking towards her.

"Tea, you okay? Why are you running? Is someone after you, trying to hurt you? Tell me. I will kill that bastard." Marik said angrily, holding her in his arms.

"No one is after me. But Marik, can I talk to you, privately?" She said. Marik stared at her for a second and then walked into an alley. His gang members just stared at them as they disappeared. Suddenly, the sound of a yelling Marik ripped through the air, startling them. They exchanged looks but knew that they wouldn't be welcomed if they tried to intervene in whatever was happening. Marik was very protective and possessive of his little princess.

"He can't do this to you. You are an adult, and he can't force you. You don't have to marry Kaiba." Marik growled in anger.

"Marik, you don't understand. My father gave Kaiba his word. He didn't know about you then, but he does now." Tea said.

"What? You told him?" Marik was surprised.

"I had to. He has agreed to meet you so don't screw up. If you behave, he may even cancel my marriage to Kaiba." Tea said.

"What do you mean behave?" Marik asked her with a distasteful scowl.

"I'll tell you how to "behave" in front of my dad. Now listen…" She said.

Tea fiddled nervously with skirt, waiting for Marik to arrive. She had bought him a suit to wear since he didn't wear anything else but jeans. He wasn't happy about it but she convinced him to wear it. Also, they had a long talk about her dad, and they even practiced how they were going to behave in front of him. She had tried everything she could, and now, it was up to Marik. She just hoped he wouldn't screw up. She knew he was less than pleased with the act he would have to put up in front of her dad, but Tea gave him no choice. Even though it was against his pride to do all she had told him to do, she had promised him that once the ordeal was over, they would be able to be together. She sincerely hoped it was enough to keep him in line.

The bell rang. She ran towards the door and was shocked when she opened it. It was Marik all right, but he wasn't wearing the suit she bought him. Instead, he was wearing a black shirt and with that, he was wearing blue baggy jeans. His hairs were still in his usual spiky hairstyle, not combed down in a "decent" hairstyle. He hadn't done anything she had asked him to. He had chosen to ignore her advice and help, and arrived looking like the kind of individual her father disliked greatly. He had screwed up.

Tea was still in shock and wanted to say something but her dad came.

"So, you are Marik?" he said with a hint of disgust in his voice as he studied the young man from head to toe.

"Yea sir, I am Marik, your daughter's boyfriend. It's a pleasure to meet you." Marik said. He extended his hand for Tea's father to shake, but he didn't accept it. Instead, he turned around and walked into the living room. Marik stared at his extended hand for a while before stuffing it in his pocket. Tea put her hand on his shoulder and gave him a weak smile. They followed Mr. Gardner into the living room.

"What do you do for a living?" Her father asked Marik before he was even seated.

"I am a clerk." Marik replied, taking a seat besides Tea.

"And how much do you make each year?"

"About 20 to 25,000 a year."

"And you think you can support my daughter on that amount of money? Fool. I give three times the amount of money you make to my daughter for shopping alone." Her father said arrogantly.

"Dad, what are you-." Tea began but her father interrupted her.

"No Tea, he should know his place. How dare he even think about you? He has no right. He doesn't even deserve to look at you, that pathetic excuse for a human." Tea was worried now. Marik was beyond any control when it came to his pride and her father had just attacked there.

"Dad, please stop. Marik, he doesn't mean-." She tried but Marik interrupted her this time.

"I know exactly what he means Tea. You", He pointed a finger at Tea's father, "are the lowly excuse for a human, not me old man. I have been listening to your racket only for Tea's sake or I would have shut you up for good." Tea gasped. Her father's mouth was wide open at the insult. Rage consumed him at the nerve of that pathetic young man.

"How dare you?" Her father yelled. "How dare you speak to me like that? You need to learn manners and respect for your superiors boy, or you'll end up in the gutter, not that you already aren't there."

"How dare you say such things to me? You are blinded by the glimmer of your wealth old man. You think that your money is everything but too bad, it's not. I can get as much money as I want, but I am not greedy bastard like you. And as for keeping your daughter happy, she will be happy with a real man and not some coward who hides behind his money, like you." Tea got up and grabbed Marik by the arm, trying to drag him out of the room. But Marik wasn't finished yet.

"Yeah I am poor. I work for assholes like you who depend on men like me. You can't be anywhere without people like us. Even before I entered this house, I knew what kind of a bastard you would turn out to be, but still I decided to give you respect for Tea's sake. But it didn't take you long to show your true colors, and now, I despise you more then anything else. Now I think I should have given you the "respect" you really deserve."

"That's enough Marik." Tea yelled and dragged him out of the room. Once outside, she glared at him.

"He asked for it Tea. You know how I am when people insult me." Marik said, still huffing with anger.

"Why didn't you wear the suit I gave you?" Tea demanded. "Why didn't you do any of what I asked you?"

"I am not ashamed of who I am." Marik said plainly.

"I know but you saw how my dad was." Tea said with frustration. "That's why I warned you. I tried to help you and prepare you for this meeting. I tried to make sure what just happened wouldn't happen, but because of your stubborness, you ruined my plan."

"He would have treated me the same even if I was wearing a suit of gold." Marik spat.

"Marik, you have to get out of here, now." She said. She could hear her father yelling for the guards to "escort" Marik off his property. Knowing the guards ways, and Marik's temper, she knew the situation would only get worse.

"I am not running away. I can take those losers down." He said confidently. "Let me show your dad what I am made of."

"I know you can fight them, but just go for now. I don't want to see you get hurt. Please go now." She begged him.

"Okay, I will go, but promise me that you will come to met me." Marik said.

"Yes, yes. Just go." She said trying to get him out of there.

"Promise me Tea." He insisted.

"Okay, I promise I will meet you tomorrow. Now please leave." She pushed him out of the door and quicklyran back, trying to calm her father.

(After two hours)

Tea was sitting in the living room with her dad, who was still angry at Tea and Marik.

"Tea, you have seen what a horrible man he is. No manners at all. He didn't know how to speak to his elders.. You are not getting married to him." Her father told her.

"Dad, please listen to me. He is actually a very nice guy. I know him more then you do and-." Tea began.

"I know how nice he is. After you told me about him and then went to inform him of our meeting, I sent Jeff after you. He found out all about Marik. Tea, I can't believe you would support him after knowing his background and his current situation. He is a former gang member. His friends are gang members with criminal records, and it's only a matter of time before he ends up in jail as well. " Her father said.

"Dad, he is changed now. He is nothing like his friends." She tried to reason with her dad, but she knew it would be impossible to convince him now that he knew all about Marik's past. "Please, just give him a chance." She begged him.

"No Tea. I met him and I don't like him one bit. You may think you will be happy with him but you won't be. He can't provide you with the basic necessities of life, let alone a future. And what will happen when you have kids? They will grow up like him, uneducated and ill-bred. Have you thought about that? Listen to me Tea. Seto kaiba is the best man for you. This is a matter of your future, and I won't let you make a mistake that will destroy your life and future." Her father said.

"But…" She began.

"No butsTea. That's final. You will get married to Seto Kaiba." He left, leaving a sobbing Tea behind.

"Where are you going Tea?" Her father asked. She was all dressed up, and ready to step out of the house.

"I am going to meet Marik." She wasn't going to hide it now. There was nothing left to hide.

"I thought you realized what was good for you." He said with a tone of displeasure and disappointment. Tea had tried numerous times yesterday to convince her father to give Marik another chance, but he had been solid on his refusal. Instead, he had managed to get his point across to her, convincing her to see his point of view.

"I know dad. I promised you that I would never do anything to bow your head in shame. But I also promised Marik that I would meet him today. I have to go." She stepped outside and walked towards the alley she knew Marik would be in, probably hanging out with his gang buddies. She found him there, as usual. He came running to her and hugged her, relieved to see her.

"Tea, I am so glad to see you. I thought that old man wasn't going to let you come." Marik said with a relieved smile.

"Marik, he is my father. Don't call him an old man." Tea said seriously, squirming out of his hug.

"Okay. I won't. I am just happy that you chose me instead of him." He said happily.

"I didn't." She said, looking away. "I am … I am marrying Kaiba."

"What? Tea no. You can't." He said, horrified by her answer.

"I have to." She replied.

"No you don't." He argued. "You don't have to do it because your dad said so. You can refuse. You can come to me. I'll deal with him and everyone else."

"I have no other choice." She said, tears forming in her eyes.

"But you do. You have me. We will go away from here. Far away, where he can't find us." Marik assured her, taking her in his arms again.

"No. I won't run away. I can't." She said against his chest. "I promised you I would meet you and I have fulfilled that promise. Now I have to fulfill another promise to my dad." She said, moving away from him. "Good-bye Marik. I will never forget you." She started running away from him, crying. She didn't turn around when he called her name. She would never turn towards him ever again. She could still hear him yelling behind her.

"Tea, this isn't over. It can't end this way. I will come back for you. I will come to take you with me forever. And then no one would keep us apart. I promise."

Mokuba was standing in front of Seto, putting his bow tie on him. Seto looked nervous. It was his wedding day after all. He was also a little excited and happy that he would get to see Tea again. He hadn't seen her since their meeting and he longed to make her his. He never believed in love in first sight but after meeting her, he was ready to believe in anything. He couldn't get her out of his mind. Her laugh, her twinkling eyes, her rosy lips, her slender figure, her voice, he loved it all.

He couldn't believe that she had agreed to the wedding as well. He had expected her to want to go on more dates, or at least wait a few months before getting married. But her father had conveyed her agreement to the wedding, and then had done all the wedding planning as well. From what Mokuba had told him, Tea had been minimally involved. But Seto figured it was probably because she wasn't into such matters, just like him. He was just glad that he was marrying her.

"Don't be nervous Seto. It will be perfect. Trust me. You should be happy you get to see your dream girl again." Mokuba teased.

"Shut up." Seto said.

"Okay, you're ready. Let's go." Mokuba said laughing.

"I hope everything is perfect." Seto said. And it was.

Tea looked gorgeous as ever. Media was covering the whole event, and Seto knew that for the next few days, everyone will be talking about their wedding. Sure it wasn't a big wedding because both sides had very few relatives, and the guests were mostly business associates. But it had been classy and charming.

After the wedding, all the guests bid them good luck and left. Tea was led to Seto's bedroom by a maid as Seto finished saying goodbye to his associate. She sat on the corner with tears in her eyes. Seto soon came. He threw his coat on the chair but held something in his hand. He went to her and opened the box, kneeling before her. She saw that it was a ring, with the biggest diamond she had ever seen, and to top all that, it was blue, the most rare of them all.

"This all happened so fast, and we didn't get a chance to know each other. So I never properly proposed to you or give you a ring." He said, looking at her beautiful face. "It's too late for proposal now, but at least I can still give you the ring." He finished with a smile.

He held her hand and slid it on her finger. She didn't respond. He figured she was nervous, but he was going to welcome her in a way she would love. He didn't let go of her hand, and moved forward to kiss her but she moved back, shocking him.

Tea found it very sweet of him to get her the ring, but she couldn't kiss him. She didn't love him. She still loved Marik. She saw the look in his eyes and felt guilty. He had every right to do anything he wanted. She had agreed to marry him, and he was her husband.

"I am sorry." She whispered.

"No. There is something wrong. Feel free to tell me." Seto said, his expressionless mask back on.

"It's nothing." She lied, looking away from his piercing eyes.

"That's what I thought before. But I know something is not right here. Tell me. You don't look so happy. Didn't you want to marry me?" He asked. This was the first thought that came to his mind. He had often questioned himself as to why she had agreed to marry him without dating him or getting to know himm. Now, he would get his answer.

"No. It's not that I didn't want to marry you. It's just that I didn't want to marry just yet. I don't think I was ready." She said. He quickly pulled back.

"I allowed this marriage to proceed only after hearing your consent. I didn't know that you weren't ready for this commitment. If I had known that you had the slightest of doubts or discomfort, I wouldn't have proceeded." He said, looking away.

"I am sorry." She said again.

"No. It's not your fault." He took a pillow and went to the couch. "I can't leave the room because it will arise suspicion and rumors. But I will sleep on the couch tonight. We can discuss the situation further tomorrow and try to find a solution."" He walked away, leaving a shocked Tea behind.

She just stared at him. He lay on the couch, his back turned to her. She was surprised at him. Based on what she had heard about his ruthlessness and use of power and position to get whatever he wanted, she had expected him to at least be angry at her. But he had been so reasonable and understanding. He wasn't like the other rich guys she had dealt with and come to dislike. He was different, very different. She may not love him but she could grow to like him. In fact, he already had made some space in her heart by his kind gesture. She changed and fell on the bed, quickly falling asleep. Unknown to her, someone was still awake and thinking of her.

Marik.

He couldn't sleep, not with the images of Tea's wedding in his head. He had sneaked into the wedding, just to take one last look at her. She had looked beautiful, wearing the white dress. He had just wanted to kiss her and take her away from there, but he couldn't. He had just stood there, watching Seto kiss his Tea.

His blood boiled, but there was nothing he could do. Not now at least. But he wouldn't give up. Tea was his and nothing changed that, not even her wedding. He wiped the tears that came to his eyes and stood up, grabbing his bag. He boarded the plane and took one last look at the city before saying, "I will come back for you Tea. You are mine, only mine."

...

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