Author's Note: I'm sorry for the long delay in the update. My computer screwed up. I had to reprogram/reinstall the whole shit, and that took some time. I'm just happy I saved all my stories on a drive before the crap. Now I saved it back on the computer. Anyway, this is the long awaited chapter. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.
"talk"
'thoughts'
flashback
...
"I think I should stop paying for porn. This is way better." Keith's snickering voice caused the lovers to spring apart abruptly. Tea's face became red with embarrassment while Seto growled at being interrupted.
"What the hell are you doing here, without permission?" Seto said, trying to keep his voice calm. How did he manage to come to his office without an appointment or warning? His secretary should have informed him of the arrival.
"I got bored so I came here looking for entertainment. Glad to say, I found it." Keith said. His hungry eyes trailed over Tea's revealed skin. Seto noticed his lustful gaze and removed his hands from under her shirt and from her thigh. Tea straightened her clothes and hurriedly walked out of the office, the eyes of both males following her every move.
"What is your purpose of coming here Keith?" Seto demanded.
"I need more money."
"What?" Seto yelled? "I gave you $5000 a week ago. Where did that go?"
"I spent it." Keith replied shrugging his shoulders.
"You gambled it." Seto concluded. "How much more do you want?"
"$5000." Keith said with greedy eyes. Seto grumbled and started writing the check.
"Don't look so glum. You earn ten times as much in one day." Keith said, taking the check.
"I work ten times as hard too." Seto sneered.
"I can see that." Keith smirked. "Besides, this amount is nothing compared to the prize you have." He said with a leer.
"Get out." Seto said through clenched teeth.
"Relax man. I'm just saying that she's frickin' hot. I'd do anything to grab her-." Keith would have continued had it not for Seto's punch to his face.
"Don't you even dare to think about Tea you filthy mongrel." Seto growled, his eyes full of fire. Keith wiped some blood that escaped from his mouth and glared at Seto.
"I'd watch myself if I was you Kaiba. Right now, I hold all the cards and if I want, I can ruin your little love story." Keith threatened.
"Get out or I'll call security." Seto said in a warning tone. Keith decided to leave. Seto slumped back in his chair, rubbing his temples in frustration. What Keith had said was true. As much as Seto hated to admit it, Keith did have power in this situation, and he was using it to blackmail him. He'd have to do something about that and soon. He could not keep giving his hard earned money to someone as undeserving as Keith.
The same thoughts occupied Tea's mind. She was dancing in the dance studio, practicing as usual. Her eyes were tightly shut and a look of deep thought was upon her beautiful face. She had learnt about the reason of Keith's visit to Kaiba Corp., and the amount he took.
'It's all because of me. It's my fault that Seto is losing his money.' She thought with guilt. But that wasn't all. Fear of her friends finding the truth was present strongly in her mind. The reason: Mai's visit.
Mai had been thrilled ever since Serenity had told her about her and Seto. So as soon as she found some time from dueling tournaments, she came to Domino. Serenity told her 'everything that had happened'. Mai had wanted to meet Seto after hearing such romantic stories. And then Serenity told Mai about Seto's suddenly 'changed' behavior.
(Flashback)
"He's seems distracted lately." Serenity whispered to Mai, who was listening intently. "It's like he doesn't love me any more."
"From what you told me before, it seemed like he loved you dearly." Mai said. "But then, something caused a change in his behavior. Right?"
"Yeah." Serenity vigorously nodded.
"Maybe it's because you spend a lot of your time with Tristen and Duke and Kaiba is angry with you." Mai suggested. "He must know about their feelings for you, and might be feeling threatened or jealous. And because he is so proud, he doesn't want to admit it, but it's showing in his sour attitude and cold behaviour." Tea, who was listening, felt the urge to speak but remained silent.
"I thought that too, and so I stopped spending so much time with them. But still, he doesn't even look at me anymore. He never wants to talk when I try. He never wants to meet me anymore. He's always ignoring me, even when I'm in front of him." Serenity said, breaking down in tears.
"Really?" Mai seemed surprised and upset. How could he have changed so dramatically? He had really liked Serenity before, hadn't he?
"He never let's me touch his stuff or enter his room. I don't know anything about him Mai, except that he's Seto Kaiba. I haven't seen him in a week, or talked to him." Serenity continued to bawl her eyes out.
"This is weird. He shouldn't be doing this… unless there's someone else." Mai said suggestively. Tea's heartbeat increased. Mai was curious and would definitely try to find the truth.
"I think so too. And I think I know who the person is too." Serenity said. Sweat appeared on Tea's forehead. Could Serenity have figured it out already?
"Wh… who?" Tea chocked.
"Mokuba." Serenity said confidently, much to Tea's relief and shock.
"Mokuba?" Mai was surprised as well.
"Yes. He hates me. From the very first day I stepped in their house, he has been hostile towards me. He ignores me and often makes fun of me." Serenity said.
"Mokuba would never do that." Tea defended him.
"You don't know Tea. I have been in that house with him. I bet he's the one who turned seto away from me. He's the one who told seto to ignore me and hurt me." Serenity said determinedly.
"Mokuba does have a lot of influence on Kaiba. Kaiba would do anything for Mokuba, even listening to him regarding his personal life." Mai said. "It is very likely that if Mokuba didn't like you and wanted you out of Seto's life, he could easily get Kaiba to agree." So Mai was siding with Serenity.
"No. Mokuba is a very sweet kid. You're wrong about him." Tea said. She knew Mokuba hadn't been very happy at his brother "dating" Serenity, but she knew he wasn't the type to bad-mouth someone behind their back.
"Mokuba may act innocent but he's not. He's the worst kid I know of his age." Serenity said angrily.
"Mokuba isn't like that. He is very nice and kind. You just don't know him yet." Tea said. She felt compelled to defend him since he was taking the blame for Tea's selfish actions.
"How can you be so sure Tea?" Mai asked suspiciously.
"I… I… because I know him better then you guys." Tea said. It wasn't a lie. Among the three of them, Tea had the best relationship with Mokuba.
"Mokuba likes her more then me." Serenity said with a hint of jealousy in her voice. "He even got her a job at Kaiba Corp. as Seto's personal secretary."
"Oh really? No wonder she's so bent in defending him." Mai said with accusing eyes.
"I'm not Kaiba's personal secretary. I am an assistant to his secretary." She clarified. "And I'm defending him because he is a very sweet kid." Tea said with a frown.
"Sure. You are going to say that. He even brought Seto to your dance competition." Serenity said spitefully. Mai's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Kaiba came to your competition?" Mai asked Tea.
"And he never told me he was going. He said he had important work to do." Serenity added.
"Mokuba was the one who wanted to come to the competition. Kaiba came because he didn't want to leave Mokuba alone." Tea quickly said.
"Mokuba prefers you over me." Serenity said with a jealous sneer. "He'd have loved to have you as Seto's girlfriend instead of me." Tea opened her mouth to argue but nothing came out. She just stared into their accusing eyes and frowning faces.
"I can't listen to you guys any more." She finally said and left to join Yugi and the others.
(End flashback)
Even though she had left Mai and Serenity, her attention had been focused on them, watching as they continued to talk, whispering to each other. Tea even noticed them staring at her with accusing eyes. She ignored their looks at the moment, but feared the worst to come. And the worst came. Mai promised Serenity that she would not leave Domino until her love life was perfect 'as it was before.' So now, Tea faced guilt from both sides. Serenity's continuous tears and Keith's continuous blackmailing was all because of her.
The song ended along with her practice. The studio fell silent, save the sound of clapping. She quickly opened her eyes and scanned the area for the source of clapping. Could it be Seto? He always surprised her by showing up when she least expected it. But she knew he was busy today. Then who was it?
"I never knew watching ballet could be so… entertaining." The unmistakable voice of Keith came, along with his form.
"What are you doing here?" Tea asked in an apprehensive tone. She did not feel comfortable being alone with him. She did not trust him one bit.
"Nothing, nothing. Just enjoying myself." Keith said. His eyes hungrily took in the sight of her leotard-clad body, lingering over her shapely legs and chest. Tea felt uncomfortable under his gaze and reached for a towel, imitating to wipe the sweat. Even then she could feel his eyes undressing her.
"You are an excellent dancer and your beauty only makes you all the more exotic." Keith complimented.
"Why are you here?" Tea demanded in a stern tone. He snickered.
"You look even hotter when you try to act angry."
"I'm not acting."
"Feisty. I like it." He slowly licked his lips, disgusting and scaring her.
"You already got your money, so leave me alone." She said, trying her hardest not to sound scared and desperate.
"Yeah. I got the money from Kaiba, but I never got anything from you." Keith said.
"Wh… what?" She was shocked. Keith noticed her fear and stepped towards her. Unconsciously, she stepped back, until her back was pressed against the wall. Keith continued to advance until he was standing a few inches from her.
"When I first saw you in duelist kingdom, I wasn't sure what to feel about you. I disliked you for the fact that you were with Wheeler. But when I saw your courage and feisty attitude, I admired you. But that was a long time ago. You have grown since then." His finger lazily rested on her cheek and traced the path to her neck.
"What do you want with me?" Tea shakily asked, squirming away from his touch.
"Kaiba doesn't realize your true value. He thinks he is buying you with money." Keith whispered.
"No. Seto actually cares about me. I am not going to listen to your lies." She said hotly. She wasn't going to be fooled by his lies. Keith smirked.
"No wonder Kaiba is willing to pay any amount of money for you. You are worth more then he can ever pay." Keith's hand caressed her cheek. Tea had had enough of him already. She slapped his hand away.
"If you are here to bother me, then you have accomplished that. So now leave." She said, walking away from him. He grabbed her arm, refraining her from doing so.
"Leave me." She said, trying to yank her arm from his grasp. He held on tightly, watching her struggle with amusement.
"What do you want from me? Just say it already." She yelled.
"I want a lot from you." He said in a lecherous tone, which made Tea want to throw up. "But a date will do for now."
"What?" She yelled "A date? Have you lost your mind? I am already with someone, in case you forgot."
"Yeah. I know you've been having fun with Kaiba, but let me show you what a real man is like."
Tea wanted to slap him, kick him, punch him, and kill him if she could. How dare he say that? How dare he think she would go out with him after all he did to Seto? Even if she did agree, Seto would be furious if he found out…. That's right. Seto would be furious. He considered Keith his worst enemy as of now, and if she was to go out with him, he would consider it a huge betrayal. He'd be angry and he would obviously yell at her and they would fight. He might even hate her for it.
This was too perfect. Seto might break up with her. She corrected herself there. They weren't going out so he'd go back to being cold and cruel to her. Maybe then, his affection would shift to Serenity. With Serenity happy, Mai would see no need to "help" her, and no one would find out about her and Seto's secret relationship. Then she won't have to worry about her friends finding out either. Keith would no longer have a reason to blackmail Seto.
This really was perfect. Everyone would be happy, Seto because he won't have to give any money to Keith, Serenity because she would get "her" Seto back, Mai because she would have "helped" Serenity and "fixed her love life". Everyone, except her. She'd be miserable without Seto. Would she be able to look at him the same way again? Would she ba able to live on without his presence in her life? Would she be the same again?
"What do you say?" Keith's voice broke her thought stream.
"Ok. I'll go out with you." She said, much to his and her own surprise.
"I know you couldn't resist." Keith boasted. Tea smirked and lazily placed her finger on his chest.
"But you have to promise to be better then Kaiba." Tea said in a childish voice, a pout on her face.
"I am better then him so you don't have to worry about that." Keith confidently said, though he was feeling suspicious of her sudden change in attitude.
"Ok then. I look forward to what you have in store for me." She said in a seductive voice and walked towards her stuff, hips swaying in a sexy way. Keith's mouth went dry and he licked his lips. All the suspicious thought of her agreeing too soon disappeared from his mind at the sight.
"I'll pick you up at 7pm tomorrow." He said.
"No. I don't think I can wait that long. Today at 8pm is what I want." Tea said. Keith smirked. This was too good to be true.
"Ok then. See you in 3 hours." Keith said and walked out of the studio, a triumphant smile on his face.
Tea sighed and slumped on the floor. It wasn't that she was eager to go out with Keith. She had picked today because she had to meet Seto at his mansion at 8pm. She knew if she were late, he would inquire and would eventually find her with Keith. That would be her chance to do something regretful that would make Seto hate her.
She hated to do it to Seto. He cared about her deeply, and she cared about him just as much. But her love was costing him too much already, and would continue to cost him if they stayed together. Also, the fear of her friends finding out and reacting in a negative manner was ever present in her mind. This way, everyone would be happy. Yes, even her. She would learn to adjust to watching Seto kiss another girl. She would have to. Besides, she was living a happy life before Seto became a part of it, and she believed she could continue to live a happy life, even with Seto missing from it.
Wouldn't she?
...
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