Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.

"talk"

'thoughts'

...

"Rrrriiiiiinnnnnnggggg." Tea's cell phone rang.

"Hello." She spoke.

"Hey Tea. I've got good news." Mokuba's happy voice came.

"Really. Then spill it mister." Tea replied with a smile.

"Seto is getting his bandages off today."

"WHAT?" Tea was shocked. The playfull mood had evaporated with Mokuba's news.

"Yeah. It's true. The doctor checked and said Seto had recovered completely. And it's all thanks to you."

"Oh… thanks." Tea managed to say.

"And now, you have to come. The doctor is going to take the bandages off at 7:30pm today. You still have 3 hours to get ready. Seto is going to want to see your face. He can't wait." Mokuba continued on excitedly. "So come soon. Bye." He hung up.

Tea sighed. So Seto was getting his bandages off. He would be able to see. And he wanted to see her face. This was good news for him, but bad news for her. She knew once he saw her face, he would be angry. He would feel embarassed at having depended on someone he disliked greatly, and in retaliation, he would humiliate her. He would call her a 'geek' and 'a member of nerd herd' among other nastier things. He had said all these things before too and they never bothered her before. But now, she knew they would pierce her heart. She cared for him… greatly, and couldn't bear to hear all that from him. She had to do something fast.

"Oh my God. So that's where you have been all this time. I can't believe it. You have been with Kaiba all along. Unbelievable." A shocked serenity exclaimed.

"Yeah. And now, he's getting his bandages off today." Tea said. She had finally confided in the shy and quiet girl. IT was better than telling them. She knew Serenity wouldn't tell the guys, and Tea hoped she might even be able to give some advice.

"That's so cool. Now he can see it were you who took care of him. And maybe he would feel bad for saying all the mean stuff to you." Serenity said and Tea sighed. Serenity was so naive. She hadn't interacted with Kaiba much, and so didn't know what the male was really like, especially in situations where he felt embarassed. He would rather drink poison than call her nice.

"It's Kaiba we're talking about here. He would rather die then admit that he was wrong. When he'll see my face, he would be shocked and angry. He would shut me off. He would tell me to leave. Knowing him, he would humiliate me, probably with his money and I don't want that." Tea said sadly.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Serenity asked and a small sheepish smile crept upon Tea's face.

"I thought maybe you could help me."

"What can I do?" Serenity was confused.

"He wants to know who was taking care of him. He would obviously go nuts if he sees me. He hates me. But he doesn't hate you." Tea had thought this through. Kaiba was barely aware of Serenity's presence. She hoped he wouldn't even recognize her and make the connection between her and Joey. And if he did recognize her, well, it wouldn't be as bad as with Tea.

"What? Tea, please tell me you're not thinking what I think you are." Serenity begged, her face turning pale.

"During Battle City, he ignored you and never said a single word to you. That means he doesn't hate you. So if you go, he would probably let you leave with a word or two." Tea said logically.

"No Tea. Please I can't do it. I am scared ofKaiba." Serenity said fearfully. "I get so nervous around him that I feel nauseous. I won't be able to do it."

"Please serenity. Just this one favor. I promise I won't ask for anything else. Please." Tea begged.

"Tea, I am Joey's sister, Kaiba's arch nemesis' sister. He is going to kill me." Serenity said.

"No he won't. I know he won't. The last time he saw was a while ago, so hopefully, he won't remember you as Joey's sister. Besides, he doesn't know you so he wouldn't have many insults. With me, it's different because we have knows each other for years. He has a lot of ammo against me, but you will be fine. It won't be so hard. All you have to do is stand there and let him believe it was you. Then you can leave. He won't say anything. End of story." Tea reasoned.

"But-."

"Please Serenity." Tea said clasping her hands before her.

"Ok. But I'm scared of him. I might get a heart attack and if I die, I blame it on you." Serenity said with a hesitant smile, half-seriously.

"Thank you so much Serenity. And don't worry, I'll say a lot of nice words on your funeral." Tea said hugging Serenity and the girls laughed.

"Ok, let's go now. I'll take you there and I'll explain everything to Mokuba too." Tea said and the girls walked towards the Kaiba mansion.

"Tea, have you lost your mind?" Mokuba asked Tea after he heard what she was planning to do.

"No Mokuba. I'm perfectly sane, and that's why I'm doing this." Tea said. They were inside the kitchen while Serenity sat in the living room.

"Tea, I can't believe you are chickening out. Why?" Mokuba asked her.

"After spending some time with you brother, I kind of grew fond of him. And I won't be able to take the usual insults from him." Tea admitted.

"But he won't insult you. He likes you and really wants to see your face. I'm sure once he sees your face, he will be surprised but happy. He would still respect you like he did when he had the bandages on." Mokuba tried to assure her.

"You know that's not true. Seto hates me and if he finds out it was me who took care of him, he would be extra angry. He would look at it as pity and I don't want him to think that. He would take it as a blow to his pride. He doesn't like being helped, especially by people who are related to Yugi in any way." Tea said and Mokuba nodded.

"So, you're gonna let Serenity take all the credit?"

"Yes. Seto doesn't hate her as much as he hates me. So he'll probably let her go easily." Tea said.

"Yeah and Seto doesn't know her either. I'm sure he never noticed her existence during the Battle City Tournament." Mokuba pointed out.

"Precisely. That's why he would believe that she was nice to him."

"My brother is smart and you know that. He would find out sooner or later." Mokuba warned her.

"It will be too late by then. And I'm sure he wouldn't bother to find out about some stupid girl." Tea said sadly.

"Tea, think it over one more time." Mokuba said, in a pleading tone. Just then a maid came.

"Master Mokuba, the doctor is here to take off the bandages." She said and walked away. Mokuba took a deep breath.

"Tea, listen to me. My brother may act like a jerk, but he is a nice person. You have seen it in the days you took care of him. He won't be mad." Mokuba tried one last time.

"I have already made up my mind. I know I am being a coward right now, but I don't want to get hurt." She quickly said and left. Mokuba watched her go and slowly whispered.

"He can't hurt you tea. He likes you a lot."

Seto awaited the doctor to start removing his bandages. He was happy and excited to finally be able to see. He wanted to see Mokuba, his room, his mansion, his company's progress, and his stocks. But most of all, he wanted to see her. How long had he waited for this day to come when he would finally find out who she was and what she looked like? Too long, he decided. Too long indeed.

He had already imagined her face in his dreams. He imagined her to have shinning blue eyes, like his. They would shine with concern, love, mischief, determination and anger. They would be deeper then the ocean and broader then the sky, endless where he would get lost. Her hair would be chocolate brown, like his hair. They would be silky and smooth. She would also have some bangs to cover her beautiful eyes whenever she blushed or was embarrassed. She would be tall, not as tall as him, but about 5'4 or 5'5. She would have a nice body, strong but delicate at the same time. The last one, he was quite sure about, having figured that out earlier.

He felt the doctor start removing his bands. His heart raced with excitement. With every roll, his heartbeat increased. Finally, the bandages were completely off. But his eyes were still shut. The doctor urged him to open them. He slowly opened them but closed them instantly. The bright light hurt his eyes. But he had to open them in order to see her face. He did and saw that he was in his room. He already knew that. He glanced to his left and saw Mokuba.

"Mokuba." He said and Mokuba came running to him. He hugged his brother tightly.

"I'm so happy for you Seto." Mokuba whispered and seto smiled. He had missed seeing his brother.

"I'm glad to be back too. Now, I can see what you have been doing all this time, and see how you managed the company." Seto said and Mokuba smiled. His brother was officially back. Seto's eyes glanced around toe room, trying to find another face, but he wouldn't see anyone.

"Mokuba, where…. Where is she?" Seto asked. Mokuba's face fell slightly.

"Umm, she is outside. She was scared to come inside." Mokuba said and Seto was surprised. Last time he checked, she wasn't afraid of him at all.

"Bring her in. Tell her I want to see her." Seto said. Mokuba nodded and left. Seto closed his eyes again. The light really did hurt his eyes. He knew it would take come time for his eyes to adjust to the light. He heard the door open and expected the familiar scent to reach his nostrils. But instead, came a different smell. His eyes snapped pen and landed on… Serenity Wheeler?

"What?" Seto managed to say. Clearly, he hadn't expect this. Not at all.

"H…h… hi." She finally said after much effort. Seto could see she was scared as hell.

He just stared at her in shock. It couldn't be her. She couldn't be the girl who took care of him, and who stood up to him. It was impossible. Wheeler's sister was the quietest person he knew. She was weak and pathetic. He heard about her duel with Nesbit and was disgusted. He knew she was dependant on those around her, not dependable. How could she have been the girl who bossed him around? How could she have the courage to face him, to tease him, to play with him? She wasn't the type to command. She was the kind to be commanded. It didn't make any sense. And didn't she live with her mother? Wheeler's parents were divorced but alive. The girl had told him her parents were dead. Was she lying? Only one way to find out. He turned to stare at her with an intense gaze. If she really was the girl who took care of him, she wouldn't be intimidated.

Serenity could feel her head spin with fear. He was glaring at her with those icy eyes. She just wanted to run away and hide from him. He was very intimidating. She fiddled with her fingers. She wanted to leave, to run, but was too scared to even move. She felt paralyzed and helpless under his penetrating gaze. She wished she hadn't listened to Tea and hadn't come here. Kaiba could do anything to her. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Seto noticed her discomfort and decided to speak.

"So you took care of me when I couldn't see?" He asked in a monotonous voice. She slowly nodded without looking up at him.

"Hmm. Why are you wearing a different perfume?" He asked her and she slowly looked up, confusion evident in her eyes.

"I… I always wear… this... this perfume." She stuttered.

"You wore a different one when you came here before." Kaiba said crossing his arms over his chest. Then it hit Serenity. Tea used a different perfume and he was talking about that one.

"Umm… I was using that so…. You wouldn't know who I was." She lied and he glared.

"Hmm. Is that so?" He said, not willing to believe her. "What did you tell your stupid, geeky friends when you came here?"

"I… I said… that I was at a friend." She lied and hoped he would buy it.

"I didn't know you could lie. I didn't think you had it in you." He said with a smirk. She didn't respond. Her behavior was agitating him. He expected her to say something, but she stood there like a statue, a nervous wreck.

"What else you told me was a lie?" He asked her suspiciously. He still didn't believe it was her who took care of him.

"Umm…. I…. Everything." She finally said. He just stared at her.

"Oh really." He said. "Why don't you get me my laptop? I have to check the stocks." He said. She didn't move.

"What are you waiting for?" He suddenly snapped, his agitation getting the best of him, scaring her out of her wits. She seemed like she was about to cry.

"I… don't… don't know… where is it." She said between stiffled sobs. He frowned.

"I can't believe you are behaving like this. You were so brave before." He said.

"I… I was … acting like that… because you didn't know me." She said. Seto sighed.

'Should have known. She was brave when I couldn't see her. Now that I can, she is scared.' He thought. 'Explains a bit.'

"Ok, since you did me a favor, it's only fair that I do something in return." Seto said with a smirk.

Tea impatiently waited for Serenity to return. She was worried about the girl. After she left the mansion, she felt guilty about leaving Serenity to confront Kaiba. The girl would faint from fear and it would all be Tea's fault. How could she subject her friend to something she didn't want for herself? How could she be so selfish? Numerous times, she thought of going back to the mansion and revealing herself, but she couldn't muster the courage to do it. Seto's sneering face kept flashing in her head and she couldn't find the strength to move. She truly was a coward.

She had been counting every minute; every second that passed by and hoped Kaiba didn't hurt Serenity. Suddenly, the door opened and in came a shocked Serenity. Tea ran to her.

"Oh Serenity, I'm so sorry for doing this to you. Please forgive me." Tea said and led Serenity inside her apartment. Serenity didn't say a word. This worried Tea even more.

"Serenity, say something. I said I was sorry." Tea said.

"He… he…" Serenity began. Tea's heartbeat increased. What did he do to her? It must be horrible to put Serenity in such a state. Tea felt even more guilty. She had let Serenity get hurt just so she could save herself some pain. Serenity didn't deserve what Kaiba did to her. She did.

"Oh Serenity." Tea whispered hugging the girl. Serenity didn't hug her back, but instead opened her mouth to speak.

"He… he asked me on a date."

...

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