Author's Note: They deleted this story and I don't even know why. Anway, I reposted the whole thing again. I'll update it soon as well.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.

"talk"

'thoughts'

flashback

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Tea stood in church, clasping hands in front of her, her eyes closed. Everyone had left, even the father.

"Please God, help my uncle. I don't want him to experience such pain, but I can't do anything else either. Please, ease his pain somehow. Also, give me strength and courage to face the consequences of my decisions." She whispered. Her prayer was interrupted by a cold voice.

"You'll need more then that to face me."

Tea quickly turned around to find Seto standing behind her, his arms crossed.

"Hello Gardner." He said calmly and walked towards her.

"Kaiba. What are you doing here?" She said, trying to hide her nervousness.

"I'm here to get some answers."

"Good. Well, I'll leave you alone then." She said and started walking away, but he grabbed her arm and turned her to face him.

"I want answers from you." He glared. Tea gulped.

"Why do you want answers from me?" She asked, feigning surprise.

"Stop acting so innocent. I know the truth." His words caused her eyeballs to pop out.

"What? What are you talking about?" Tea quickly replied, continuing the act.

"You know what I'm talking about. It was you. You were the one who took care of me and not that whiny Wheeler. You were the one." He nearly yelled.

"I have no clue what you're talking about." Tea said and tried to walk past him, but he stood in her way.

"Stop trying to fool me. I know the truth. I know that your uncle is sick, your parents are missing or is that all a coincidence?"

"It could be." She weakly said.

"Really? Then explain how you and the girl were missing at the same time and for the same duration of time." Seto smirked when she didn't have an answer.

"Ever since Serenity told Yugi and the others about the us dating, I noticed a change in you. You were sad, upset, and depressed about something, and now I know why." He gently said. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she spoke.

"Then why are you here?"

"I want to know why. Why did you do it? Why didn't you tell me? Why did you hide it?" He asked. He just coulddn't figure out why she would do this.

"I don't have to explain anything to you." She said, trying agian to move past him, but he blocked her again, looking furious.

"Yes you do. You had no right to come into my life like that. You had no right to make me experience emotions I had never felt before. You had no right, but you did all that anyway. So I believe I have the right to get answers. Tell me, why did you hide from me?" He said intensely.

"Because I didn't want you to know who I was. I knew you'd push me away if you knew I was Yugi's little cheerleader." She replied in a small voice, her insecurities reflecting in her eyes.

"Okay. But why hide it in the end? When I was having my bandages removed, why did you run off and send Wheeler in your place?" This was what had confused him the most.

"Because I didn't want to get hurt by you." She screamed and broke down in tears. He was shocked.

"What? I don't understand." He slowly said.

"I knew how much you hated me. And I thought when you'd find out that it was me, you'd be angry with me. You'd insult me and I didn't want that."

"I'd never have done that. You should have known. During the time we spent together, I started liking you. I didn't care who the person was. My feelings wouldn't have changed with the face." He whispered kindly to her.

"I didn't know that. I was afraid that I'd get hurt so I ran away." She looked away in shame.

"Tea, you're a strong person and I say that because I have seen you handle many tough situations without fear. Then why did this scare you so much?" Was he really that intimidating and fearsome?

"I may be strong in mind and body, but I'm very weak when it comes to my heart." She whispered.

"Tea, I wouldn't have hurt you." He said, holding her chin up to meet her crystal blue eyes.

"You wouldn't?" She asked with the innocence of a little child.

"Never. During those two weeks, I got to know you as a person and not as Yugi's little cheerleader." He said and she finally smiled.

"Thanks. It means a lot to me." She said and stepped away from him. Seto grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going?" He asked her mischievously.

"I'm going to the game shop." She replied calmly, freeing her arm from his grip.

"But we are just getting to know each other." He smirked, stepping closer to her.

"We already know all we need to know." She said and tried to walk past him, but he wasn't done with her just yet.

"You're right." He said and moved forward to capture her rosy lips ion a searing kiss. But she stepped back.

"Kaiba. You have the wrong idea. I don't feel that way about you." She said, looking at the floor. Seto was surprised at her response.

"What are you saying? That didn't seem like the case in the bedroom, or in the bathtub." He said, remembering their little encounters.

"Mistakes. Misunderstandings. Believe whatever you want." She quickly said. This aggravated him to no end. At first she denied her identity and now she was denying her feelings. What was wrong with her? Had she lost her mind?

Nothing was wrong with her, and she hadn't lost her mind either. She was thinking of Serenity. That girl had been talking about Seto 24/7. She was crazy about him.

(Flashback)

Mai, Serenity and Tea sat in Tea's living room. Serenity had told Mai about her and Seto's "relationship". Mai had come over as soon as she could.

"So Serenity, how does it feel to be the lucky lady?" Mai teased Serenity who blushed.

"It's nothing really." Serenity replied, but the wide smile on her face said otherwise.

"Sure, not for you. But I bet there are millions of girls who would die to be in your spot." Mai said.

"Mai, stop it. You're embarrassing me." Serenity was fire-engine red in the face now. Mai chuckled at the young girl's embarassment.

"Serenity and Kaiba. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it Tea?" Mai asked Tea, who was startled by the question.

"Umm, yeah. I guess." She mumbled. Mai gave her an odd look but then shrugged and turned back to Serenity.

"So Serenity, is kaiba a good kisser?"Mai teased and Tea's heart seemed to stop. Had he kissed her?

"I don't know. We haven't kissed yet." Serenity slowly answered and Mai seemed surprised.

"What? How many dates have you been on?"

"One."

"That's odd. Kaiba should ask you on more dates and send you presents if he is serious." Mai said thinking.

"Mai, he is a busy man." Tea said, not knowing why she was defending him.

"Yeah. But he asked her out. He should commit to it." Mai said.

"I don't care. I love him." Serenity said, shocking both Tea and Mai.

"Hun, that is a big confession." Mai said cautiously. "You have barely begun dating. You don't even know him well enough to trust him, let alone declare your love for him."

"I know how I feel." Serenity seemed sure of her feelings. "I've never felt this way before. Every time I see him, my hearts flips. It's only been a few days, but I feel like I can't live without him. Sometimes, I feel like I wouldn't be able to go on without him. I think about him all the time. I love him so much." Serenity's words rang in Tea's head. She was very serious about Seto.

"But sometimes, I think he doesn't feel the same way." Serenity said sadly. "He doesn't call me or talk to me, or want to se me. If I go to see him, he says he's busy. He doesn't smile at me or shows signs of affection. He behaves around me like he behaves with everyone else. I don't know what that means. I mean, I know he likes me. That's why he asked me out, right?" She looked at her friends for confirmation and support.

"Of course he must like you." Mai quickly said. "Like you said, that's why he asked you out in the first place. But Kaiba is a busy man. He must be too involved in something else."

"You're right." Serenity said, thinking deeply. "He is very busy. I have seen him work so hard, and he seems so stressed, as if he's trying to solve a problem."

"Well there you go. He is just very busy to be a romantic boyfriend at this moment." Mai said with a smile.

"But he seems to find time for Mokuba. It's just me who has to take the back seat to everything else in his life." Serenity said with tears in her eyes. Mai hugged the girl.

"Calm down Serenity. It'll be fine. Kaiba's probably taking his time. It's his first relationship too and maybe he doesn't know how to deal with it. It'll get better with time." Mai assured her.

"I really do love him. I can't imagine being without him, and I'll do anything to make this relationship work." Serenity said, wiping her tears.

(End flashback)

That night, Tea saw how serious Serenity was about Seto. She would be devastated if she found out he didn't feel the same way. And to find out that he liked Tea over her would kill her inside. No, she couldn't do it to Serenity. She was the one who caused Serenity to be in this position, and now she must pay the price. She would have to deny her feelings for Seto.

"I don't have feelings for you." Tea repeated herself, hoping Seto would believe her. But he was Seto Kaiba. He didn't believe anything unless he could see it with his own eyes.

"You're lying." He said plainly.

"No I'm not. I don't feel the same way about you. Just because I kissed you doesn't mean I have a romantic interest in you." She said.

"Those were no ordinary kisses. I know they meant something to you, so don't think you can fool me. Why are you torturing me like this Tea? I have had several sleepless nights trying to find you, and now that I have, you're telling me that I never had you. What kind of game is this?" He demanded in frustration.

"This is no game. You're imagining things." She said.

"Imagining? Don't insult me." He scoffed. "You have feelings for me. It's obvious."

"I don't."

"Then prove it." His words caught her off guard.

"What do you mean?" She was confused.

"Look into my eyes and say that you don't care about me." He said. He was a businessman and knew from experience that no one could lie to him while staring into his intimidating icy eyes. He had tried that method on duelists and successful businessmen and it never failed. He just hoped it wouldn't fail now.

Tea was having second thoughts about this "proving" concept. She wanted him to believe her and knew he would if she did what he said. But would she be able to look into his eyes and lie? She wasn't a very good liar. But she had to try, for Serenity's sake.

She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his and as soon as she did, she was lost in them. She could see the emotions that swirled in them. She could see the stress he had experienced after finding out that Serenity wasn't her. She could see the problems he faced in finding her identity. She could see the pain he felt when he found out that someone cared about him but left him, like everyone in his past. And she could see the pain he was feeling now because of her denial.

How could she lie to him? How could cause him more pain? But what about Serenity? No matter what she did, she would end up hurting someone.

"I…" She began. His eyes begged her to tell the truth.

"I… I…" She tried but it seemed impossible. Words refused to come out of her mouth.

"Go on." He encouraged, his eyes boring holes into hers. "Tell me you don't care about me. Tell me that you never did. Tell me that our kisses were mistakes."

"I… I can't do this." She said in a shaking voice and turned away from him. He smiled truimphantly and moved to stand in front of her.

"I knew it. Now it's my turn." He said. Before Tea had a chance to think, he pressed his lips against her soft ones in a gentle kiss.

Tea's mind went blank as soon as their lips touched. All worries of Serenity disappeared and all she knew was how much she had missed this. She kissed him back, and as soon as she did, he unleashed his true passion. His kissed her hungrily, proving to her how much he had missed her. His arm brought her closer to him and crushed his body against hers.

Tea locked her hands in his hair, pulling him closer to her. His tongue brushed against her lip and she parted them to allow him access. Her own tongue got involved along with his, to please him. They kissed for what seemed like an eternity, neither one wanting to pull away and end the blissful moment. But lack of oxygen caused their lips to part. Both were breathing hard.

"So, do you still want to deny it?" He asked with a smirk on his face. Tea blushed.

"I can't anymore." She smiled and he pulled her closer to him again.

"I'm glad you finally came to your senses." He whispered. Tea's face fell.

"Seto, we can't do this." She said and he was surprised.

"What do you mean?" Was she playing hard to get?

"We can't do this to Serenity." She said and he understood it immediately. That's why she had denied their love. She was thinking of Serenity.

"What about her? I never liked her. I'll tell her right away that I know the truth. She doesn't have to pretend anymore." He said causally, caressing Tea's cheek.

"No, you can't. You won't tell her anything. I don't want her to get hurt." She immediately said.

"Then what do you suggest we do?" He asked.

"We forget about this." She said, looking away.

"Forget about this? Are you insane?" Seto nearly screamed.

"Yes I'm insane." She screamed back. "I was the one who pushed her into this mess Seto. And now, she loves you. She is crazy about you and would do anything if she finds out about us. She would get hurt, and I don't want that. I lost my chance at love but I won't make her lose hers as well."

"What about me?" He demanded. "I don't like her. I want you. What am I supposed to do? Act as if I care about her? Because I won't do it. I will tell her and the rest of the geek squad today." Seto said determinedly. "I have already lost you once and I won't lose you again."

"Seto, please try to understand. They'll blame me if Serenity does anything rash. They'll hate me." Tea revealed her biggest fear.

"I understand." Seto slowly said. He could only imagine Joey's reaction. He would do anything for his sister.

"So let's just forget about this whole thing." She said.

"No." He said plainly. "I can't forget about this. I won't let you go. For you, I won't leave Wheeler, but I won't leave you either." Tea eyes widened at his suggestion. Did he mean a secret relationship?

"But Seto." She began but he silenced her by a passionate kiss that she couldn't resist.

"We both want this." Seto whispered against her lips.

"But what if anyone finds out?" She asked.

"No one will find out." He assured her. "Wheeler isn't the brightest of the bunch. She'll never know and soon will tire of my ignorance and leave. Then we can tell everyone." Seto said and Tea smiled, liking the idea. That way, no one would get hurt.

"Okay." She said smiling. "Well, I better go. The guys will be waiting for me. And I also have to look for a new job."

"Leave? I think not." He said with a smirk. "I just found you, and I'm in a mood for a celebration. Come with me to my mansion. I have a special room where we can celebrate. My bedroom." He whispered the last part and she blushed.

"I have to find a job." She tried to excuse herself.

"Don't worry about it. I already have a job for you. Trust me." He said and they walked out of the church.

Unknown to them, someone else had entered the church during their conversation and had heard everything. When they left, he chuckled and sang in a singsong voice.

"Kaiba and Tea sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. Hiding from Serenity. This will make me a lot of money."

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