Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter 15: Secrets Revealed

Tea watched as Seto slept soundly. She hoped he would feel better soon. She had started to get worried with the recent change in temperature: it had taken a great leap.

It probably sky-rocketed because he just HAD to roam around; play the piano –dang, though he is a really good player- and dance with me. He's not a bad dancer either….

She sighed, and looked at him once more. Still asleep. She wondered what his brothers would think if they saw him in this condition.

Heck, what were they thinking now? Seto hadn't come home this whole weekend! He hadn't called or anything. They're probably worried sick, Tea thought, unlike most of my family, probably.

Don't say that, Tea, another voice in her head reprimanded, Of course they miss you. Your aunt surely does. Just because you may not get along with your uncle and cousins all of the time doesn't mean they don't miss you.

True, Tea sided. Still, it made her wonder just how much her family missed her. As she bent down to feel Seto's forehead once more, she noted, I wonder how much I would be missed if I were say…part of the Kaiba family. He still felt very warm. Don't be absurd, Tea, what on earth are you thinking? Part of the Kaiba family: ha! As if. The only way that could ever happen is if I married-

She told herself to stop thinking at that moment. Nothing more was to be thought of about the Kaibas. Especially marriage.

She sat back in her chair and took out a notebook out of her backpack. Now probably wasn't the best time to write down thoughts she wanted to get rid of, but if she put them down, chances were they would remain in the pages, and be free from her mind. It would be as if the thoughts flowed right through the fingertips in her hand through the pen and stuck to the pages of the notebook.

Tea cracked open the notebook on the page she had left off and saw her previous entry. She winced as she saw the doodle she had drawn in her sadness and anger from a few days ago.

Her uncle had just taken a round with her and ended by "accidentally" pushing her to where she scraped her upper arm on the side of a sharp edge of a nightstand.

Her doodle portrayed herself sitting huddled in the corner of the page with her hand over her arm, yet –using a red pen- she had managed to draw bits of blood seeping through the fingers.

Tea turned the page to a blank one. That was what most of this notebook was full of: nasty thoughts that she did not want to visit. One day – because all of the thoughts were bound in here, she was only going to take out the pages with good entries, and burn this book.

"You can rot in the Devil's Lair for all I care," Tea stared at it with loathing, "I may pent out all my energy into you, but it doesn't mean I like you," she talked to the book as if it were real.

She turned back to the page she wanted to write on and wrote.

Sunday, October 15, 2005

It's been a few days. Guess what? I'm stuck at school. The stupid teacher –Mr. Kamiah- forgot all about the detention! I'm sure he was running after the nurse again. Forgot all about Kaiba and me in detention!

Yes, that's the other surprise: I'm stuck here with Seto Kaiba. We've made it through the rest of Friday, Saturday, and now it's Sunday. He's sick. Can you believe it? Seto Kaiba has a fever! And I have to take care of him. The fool didn't think he was sick before, but I think he knows now.

But you know…even while sick, he played the piano and danced with me and everything. He really is talented. Yes, yes, I know: he can be an air-head at times…most times…but he really does have a heart. He does care. Surprisingly, I told him a lot of stuff about me. He calmed me down as I never had imagined he would have! He's been trying to cover up that spot of him that he showed to me, but he can't do it. He showed his really self to me, and I'm not going to forget it.

If I have to, I'll dig through him until I unearth that Seto Kaiba fully. He really can be a nice guy.

And it's strange. I was just mulling over my family, you know? I was wondering if they really missed me. I can't help but to wonder HOW worried they are. Frantic? Aunt Rika probably, but not the others. Anxious? Possibly. Just…worried? Most likely.

And then I got to thinking that Seto's –yes, SETO…I like his first name. If I can't say it to his face, then I'll write it. It's a nice name, and I don't see why he has to hide behind his last name. I thought he hated everything to do with his stepfather – and he was the original Kaiba: not Seto. Seto can be so confusing…. But he's had a pretty hard life from what I know. Humph. Join the club.

Anywho: that's not the point. What I was getting at was that I was wondering how much Seto's brothers miss him. I figured they were probably the frantic ones. I wonder how all-out they're going to find him. Imagine when Seto comes back on Tuesday, saying he's only been stuck in this stupid school?

Anywho: I'm getting off topic again. As I said, I wondered how much they were going to miss him. And then a most absurd idea came into my head: I wondered how much I would be missed if I was part of the Kaiba family! Isn't that the most ridiculous thing EVER? I told myself: the only way that would EVER be possible was if I were to marry one of them. Yes, you see: I got even MORE absurd in my ideas! This school is starting to take its toll on my mind. I mean…MARRY one of them? I would think the two younger ones are out of the question: they're far too young. Although Noa technically is as old as I am…but never mind. Anyway, the only other option would be Seto. Think about it…. Gosh, I'm starting to scare myself. I can't imagine what would happen if I did that! Goodness! I've got to stop thinking about that.

It's not that I LIKE him or anything. I mean: as a person, he's fine. But to really LIKE him…like THAT? I don't think so. And, NO, I'm not denying anything! I DO NOT LOVE SETO KAIBA.

And I end with that strong exclamation. Later.

PS: It kind of feels nice though…not having Uncle Kaz yelling at me at all this weekend. And don't get me started on how it feels to be with Seto. That will have to wait…later.

She placed the pen in the notebook, and stood up, putting the notebook far back on the chair. She was getting hungry –it was past noon- and she was sure that Seto wouldn't mind if she got some lunch. He didn't want any: that was for sure.

Tea left the clinic.

Seto groggily woke up and looked around the room. He saw Tea's heel just leave the room. Wonder where she's going, he thought sluggishly as he looked up at the clock. It was past midday.

Probably eating lunch, he answered himself. He laid back on the cot and felt his forehead. It still felt far too warm. He desperately wanted to take his jacket off, but he just…couldn't. Not with Tea around.

She's gone for now though. I can always put it back on when she starts to come back.

So it was decided. He took off his jacket and gratefully threw it near the book he had thrown aside earlier.

So what was he to do now? He wasn't hungry. He didn't want to go to sleep again. There was nothing else to do! Well, he could read….

"I am NOT reading that book again until I get out of here," he told himself. "I'll just get more disturbing dreams."

Oh come now, another voice said in his head, the only part disturbing about it was that tea was dying in your arms.

No, Seto replied to himself, it was the fact that she was even in my head at all: and especially in the context of romance! He sighed and looked over at her chair.

There was a notebook lying on top of it. He had seen that notebook before….

"Don't tell me," Seto sat up quickly and reached over for it, just wanting to see if he was right. "Don't tell me she keeps a diary…."

He opened the front page and found doodles all over it. Happy, sad, angry and hurt ones. She had doodles of herself all over the front page: all doing something different.

He turned to the next page. "There," he stated. She did keep a diary. Of course: the first entry was very short.

Saturday, March 3, 2000

I swear: I'm going to burn this book the minute I stop needed to pent out my hurt and anger into paper. I'll burn it like there's no tomorrow! Fire! Bonfire! I'll be a pyromaniac! YES! MUWHAHAHA!

Seto's eyebrows disappeared into his bangs. The Tea Gardner from five years ago seemed very…immature. Then again, she had been thirteen –Seto had barely known her then- and all teens seemed to have some sort of liking for…fire. But what struck him was the fact that she had had this book for five years, and it was only getting close to full.

Perhaps she isn't obsessed like other girls who write in these things everyday. Unconsciously, he turned the page.

March 20, 2000

I'm back. My first real entry…. I can't believe eighth grade is coming to an end in a few months. Then I'll be in high school! Wow! I hope I'll have a better time there than ere. Uncle Kaz is really pushing me to my limits. Not only do I have all of this end of the year work coming, but he really wants the computer program to be special! What does he use them for anyway? Just to grade them? I know he wants me and my cousins to be smart, but THAT smart? Sometimes, I wish he would just leave me alone. Especially when he gets really angry….

Why, just two days ago, I got back a test, with a C+. Yes, I know: astounding for me to even get that, but the content had been rather difficult, and I had totally forgotten about the test until lunch! I crammed. Not the best way to go.

And because of that C, he got sooo angry at me. Why does he pick on me? Rae and Kari get C's more than I ever will! But he never yells at them for it! He never pushes them into walls, or threatens them! Sometimes I wonder who my real uncle is:

A nice, smart and wise man –

Or a drunk "abuser."

Seto narrowed his eyes. So this abuse she had been receiving had been going on for years. How had she kept it all inside of her? Heck, Seto at least had had Mokuba to tell when Gozaburo hurt him those many times. But Tea didn't seem to have anyone. She didn't seem to get along with her cousins as well as she wanted to.

There was another entry on the page next to it.

May 1, 2000

Yes, yes, I know: it's been a while. I've been really, really busy. I've been up so late these past nights. Homework; studying for tests and exams: and making what I hope to be a grand computer program. I hope Uncle Kaz appreciates it, whatever he does with it. I hope he gives me that compliment he gave me last time:

"It looks good enough to sell." Wouldn't that be cool if he really sold it? The family would probably get lots of money!

Seto felt a twinge of guilt. Kaz had been selling those programs directly to Kaiba Corp. He, Seto Kaiba, had bought Tea's work, without even knowing. Tea deserved so much more than what she was receiving….

He randomly flipped through pages, stopping to notice little doodles in the corners. Some were happy ones – like the ones that told her and her friends: becoming friends; Duelist Kingdom; Battle City and the like. But more frequently, there were little doodles of a cartooned Tea with steam coming out of her ears, or her supporting a wound of some sort.

Many times, the same sentence appeared: I'm going to burn this book when the pain stops.

Another phrase often popped out: Aunt Rika cares, but how much do the others care? I wish I was in a family that cared….

And Seto's heart actually felt for her, as he had experienced mush of them same: I wish my parents were still alive. But how do I know what they were like? I don't even remember them. One year of life and they were gone…. Maybe they were like Uncle Kaz. Maybe I'm better off with Aunt Rika. After all, Uncle Kaz says the only reason he pushes me so hard is that my father would have wanted me to be as smart as possible. Uncle Kaz says my father was a genius. Maybe he is thinking about my father.

Or maybe he just wants to brag about a smart kid in the family: since his children obviously aren't that smart, no offense to them. I think he gave up on them. They're only obsessed with the "hots" of today. One of their new obsessions is this "Seto Kaiba" who supposedly overthrew his father in gaining control of Kaiba Corp. What's so great about him? I go to school with him: he's no day at the park. Just sits in the corner all day and reads, as if he thinks he didn't need to be there.

I could do that too at times, if I really wanted to. But I actually have respect for my elders.

Even when those elders hurt me.

Seto flipped towards the last two entries written. The second to last one had a picture of her sitting in a corner, with her hand cupping a large gash on her arm. Seto frowned. He had helped to re-bandage that wound. This Kaz character – he couldn't believe he actually did business with him! If he hurt Tea like this….

And what was really amazing was that Seto found himself caring about Tea in this situation.

He turned to the last entry and looked at the date.

She had just written in it. Seto knew he had seen enough. He knew he shouldn't have peered through her thoughts, but everything she was keeping inside of herself needed to be released.

But of all the people in the world, he knew that she would regard him as the last person on earth to whom she would relate these feelings to.

Nevertheless, he found his eyes at least scanning what she had written. This passage was the sole one that jumped out at him more often than not.

It was probably because he could relate to the situation.

Then again, it was also half dedicated to him.

He agreed with her wholeheartedly on the subject of school. And then she started talking about how he was ill. He had to agree with that too. And she had complimented him? Impressive….

What he didn't like was the fact that she aid she wasn't going to fall for his cold act anymore. She was determined to find the inner Seto again. He scowled. That was what he had been trying to avoid! He continued however, just to learn what she thought about him. He continued to skim the thoughts.

She was talking about his first name? Weird…. But she…liked his first name? That…was pretty cool. Then it got down to the part where she wondered how much her family missed her. Seto was beginning to wonder just how much love was in Tea's family.

He stopped reading for a minute. He began to wonder if she should have been put into some other family. The way this book made it seem: the family –save her aunt- wasn't all that loving. He thought over possible places where Tea could have stayed instead of at her own home.

Yugi would take her in: that was for sure. It was just the matter of having her move into that small home. They would probably find a way.

The Wheeler's house seemed out of the question. If Tea was being hurt at her own house, imagine what a drunk might do!

Tristan, he didn't know that well. All that he knew was that Tristan was left to live with his mother, as his father had died a few years ago. That possibly wasn't the best place to go….

Ryou lived by himself in an apartment. Probably not the ideal choice either….

Duke was moving back and forth from Domino to San Francisco at many times during the year. That was a big NO too.

Who else was there? …Them? He shook his head. What an idea! What an absurd idea! Her staying with his family? That had to be the most ridiculous idea he had ever come up with! But, he had to remind himself, he was only thinking "what if" thoughts. It would never happen anyway.

His eyes wandered back down to the page. Surprisingly, he found, she had thought up the same idea.

When she said that his brothers probably missed him a whole lot, he did start to feel slightly guilty. But for what reason? It wasn't his fault he was stuck in this school! It was the teacher's fault! Then again…if he hadn't gotten stuck in detention with Tea, he wouldn't be here.

His brothers probably were going all-out to find him.

His eyes next read about what she thought about in staying with the Kaiba family.

Only her thoughts were slightly altered.

Tea really has gone off her rocker to think this up! Seto read the marriage part. Marry one of us? Good gravy… …MARRY ME! WHAT THE HECK! Wait…it's not like she wants to. Yes…says so right here. Just another "absurd idea" from Tea Gardner.

His eyes picked up a new sound.

Footsteps.

He panicked and shoved the pen that had fallen out back into the page of the notebook. He tossed it back onto her chair, and turned over to feign sleep. Something felt wrong though….

His jacket! He quickly bounced up and reached for it. It was just out of his grasp….

There!

He suddenly felt a sensation of lightheadedness as he fell forward and off the cot. Quickly though, he threw his coat over his shoulders and managed to get his left arm in the sleeve before Tea walked in.

"Whoa: hello," Tea stopped in the doorway. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing," Seto replied, turning his back on her and laying down again. He hadn't gotten his other arm into the jacket, but as long as his jacket covered his arm up, it was fine.

He continued to stare out the window as Tea walked over to her chair. She stopped.

Seto gritted his teeth. What had he done? Had he put anything in that notebook out of place?

"Did you touch my notebook?" Tea asked, looking at it on the chair.

"What notebook?"

"This one on the chair."

"If I didn't know it was there, would I have touched it?" he lied.

"I suppose not," Tea answered, sitting down. She dropped the notebook back into her backpack.

For both of their sakes, it was probably best that Seto Kaiba had not had time to read the last two paragraphs of that entry:

"It's not that I LIKE him or anything. I mean: as a person, he's fine. But to really LIKE him…like THAT? I don't think so. And, NO, I'm not denying anything! I DO NOT LOVE SETO KAIBA.

And I end with that strong exclamation. Later.

PS: It kind of feels nice though…not having Uncle Kaz yelling at me at all this weekend. And don't get me started on how it feels to be with Seto. That will have to wait…later."

Otherwise, things might have gone awry from that point on.

Seto drifted off back to sleep, with nothing to do. He hadn't really meant to, but he was just so gosh darn tired…. And he supposed it would help his fever more. He had been feeling far too warm lately….

Tea sighed as she put down Seto's book that she had been reading. It was boring being stuck here in this school. She had absolutely nothing to do: especially since she had to take care of Seto like this.

She looked over his again. He was sweating slightly.

She sighed once more, Goodness. Can't he just take off his jacket? It would be so much easier! Maybe I'll just take it off for him….

It was decided. Tea knelt down next to the cot and peered over Seto's shoulder. His breathing was still regular as he slept.

Tea was trying to figure out how to take the jacket off without him waking up, when she noticed something. He didn't have his right arm in the sleeve. This made things a whole lot easier. He was lying on his right arm at the moment, trying to face his back to her. All she had to do was gently tug it out from under him. She could easily slip off the other sleeve.

And so she started. The jacket came out rather easily from under him – especially when he helped by shifting in his sleep. Not only had that loosened it greatly, but it had also freaked Tea out magnificently.

Now to get the other half, she told her self. Gently, she started peeling the jacket slowly off his arm. It was coming down towards his hand and he wasn't waking up.

Good…steady now, she replied. It seemed quite funny to her that she was worried about taking off his blazer. Then again: this was Seto Kaiba. The man who didn't want his jacket to come off for some reason.

She pulled his hand through the sleeve and – THERE! It was off. She laid the uniform part aside, and looked back at him.

It was then that she noticed why he didn't want his jacket off.

Oh…my…God…. She had noticed that he had previously rolled up his sleeves slightly past his elbows. Then his T-Shirt had covered up the rest of his arm. But that didn't stop Tea from seeing the end of a long scar emerging from the edge of the sleeve.

She gasped. Where had that come from? Cautiously, she scooted his sleeve up a little more. The scar continued. With every centimeter that she uncovered, her face paled. Surely he hadn't given those scars to himself!

That unnatural scar continued onto his back, when Tea found that she couldn't roll up the sleeve anymore. It looked so…wrong to be on those perfectly sculpted arms. That horrible scar….

Where had it come from? She rolled his sleeve back down quickly, and tried to have it cover up as much of the scar as possible. She didn't want Seto to know that she had seen that. It was no wonder he wore that jacket constantly.

Where had it come from, she asked herself again. What could do that to someone, besides a knife?

A numbing pain reached her shoulder. She winced and looked at her own shoulder, and rubbed it tenderly.

It hit her. That was it! The same thing had happened to her! Her head spun back around to Seto.

Had he been abused too? Tea knew that his stepfather had been a cruel old man…but had he abused the poor boy too?

Tea's heart ached with pity for him. She knew exactly what it was like for that to happen. And knowing that that scar of Seto's hadn't' healed in at least four years, it seemed she was bound to have her own mark on her shoulder.

Wait though…. Then maybe that was the only reason he helped me. Because of pity. Maybe I was wrong about him having a softer side for others. Maybe…it was just pity…. Maybe I just had too much hope for him.

Nevertheless, she leaned over the cot and placed her hand gently on his arm. Tea gazed back down into his sleeping face. It seemed so peaceful now. Not angry; not hurt; not anything except peacefulness.

"Who are you, Seto Kaiba?" she asked softly, lying her head on his shoulder. "Are you really just a nice guy, deep down? …Are you a pity-person? Or are you the cold-hearted jerk we all take you to be. …Why can't you tell me…show me who you really are? I want to know…. I want to know…" she asked in a whisper, before her drooping eyes closed fully and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

Not the greatest chapter, but we're getting to the good moments! Just you wait! They're getting somewhere, can't you tell? Well, see you next time! Hope you enjoyed it! PLEASE REVIEW!