NOTE: Sorry, it's been a while. Haven't had the initiative to write this story as much as the others. But! I DO know what's going to happen. Oh, and I'm expecting to finish this by the end of summer vacation, so hold tight! It's coming to an end! WAH!

Still: The chapter you have all been waiting for! LET IT COMMENCE!

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

Chapter 17: Let There Be Love

Tea tensed herself up in the hallway. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. This was the truth she had been fearing as of late. This was the truth…. Seto Kaiba needed someone to…say…"look after him…."

And Tea felt that she needed to be the one to do so.

I can't believe I'm saying this. This is absurd! He doesn't need me! Mr. I-Can-Do-Everything-Myself DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT need the likes of me to help him with ANYTHING. He's PERFECTLY happy in his own little business-like world that would just come crashing down if I stepped into it. Tea: he doesn't need you…and you don't need him.

…Do you?

Tea slid to the floor and clutched her head. "What's going on with me?" she murmured to herself, "It's Sunday…. I've been stuck with him for about forty-eight or so hours, and I'm going completely berserk because I've fallen in l-" She stopped herself just in time.

Was I just about to say that I've fallen in love with Seto Kaiba! No! No, I couldn't have! It's not possible! So we've been stuck in each other's faces…somewhat literally at times, I might add…kind of a nice feeling too- blah! I mean, we've been stuck with each other for hours on end, so…what? It doesn't matter! FEELINGS CANNOT DEVELOP THAT FAST! Can they? I mean…there is that love-at-first-sight thing, and that takes about two seconds flat, so it's possible, right?

NO, NO, NO, NO! I will NOT give in to this! I can't…dare I say it…love him! He's…he's conceited –but what man isn't?-; he's ruthless –but his stepfather beat that into him…literally, so he can probably revert back to his old self: he already started the transformation this weekend! Wait! I'm getting my hopes up! Or is it down? I don't WANT to fall in love with him, right?

But I want him to change.

But I would want that so that I could actually have a reason for liking him.

But there are many reasons I…or anyone else- could like him! I mean, he's a softie at heart…just gotta dig around the ice a little. He's trustworthy…for the most part…and honest! Honesty is the key to a good relationship!

BUT WHY DO I WANT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM! I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM!

…Right?

Alright, that's it, Tea stood up, There is only one way to solve this, and I'm going to do so now. I have to see the man face to face and confront my feelings there. THEN, we shall see what happens.

Tea started walking back towards the clinic. Her hands began sweating with anxiety and nervousness. Right before she reached the doorway, she remembered something.

He DID tell me to go away…so perhaps I should keep to my word. Maybe I'll come back later. Yeah, I'll do that! Tea smiled and ran as fast as she could, away from the room Seto Kaiba was lying in.

Lord…why am I so tired? Sick…that's right. I don't want to open my eyes. Just want to lay here…. Can't even form complete sentences in my thoughts…. Must be really sick…. What's my temperature again? I don't want to get up and look for the thermometer. Why can't someone else take my temperature? …Where's Gardner the one time I want her?

Seto heard footsteps approaching. Yes! She's coming! Wait…is that a good thing? Do I REALLY need her help? …Yeah, I suppose. I'm just being lazy…but that IS a man's job after all, when he's sick. To be lazy…. Wait. Where did her footsteps go? They're receding…. Gardner, come back! Ugh…. Might as well try to call for her…. No, that would be showing weakness. Can't show weakness….

Am I just being hypocritical of what I just said? Oh, never mind….too much thinking…hurts my head…already too overheated….

Seto shrugged all covers off the cot and rolled up the sleeves on all of his clothing. A couple minutes later, chills were running down his back. Dang it…I can't win. If I get the blanket, it's too warm. But with sickness comes "the chills." Grrrrreat….

I can't WAIT to get out of this hel-

"'Lo there," Tea bowed to an imaginary person in the auditorium. "Good evening, sir," she talked to another figure.

She was practicing, yet again, for the big party that she was going to attend with her family for her father's business associate.

She could just imagine it all:

She would be in her new sky-blue dress that softly encircled her neck and fit in a relaxed, yet shapely way, against her body and fell to her knees, ending in airy cuts that were trimmed to rounded points. Her hair would be done up in a bun tied to the back of her head, with a few strands of hair fall against her cheeks. She would wear the necklace her mother had left her after she had died.

And she would dance.

With a guy, presumably. Maybe she would find someone suitable enough to, say…get to know better….

Ah, here's someone now, Tea smiled as she played her little mind games. Hey, it was a way to pass the time in the stupid school.

And to NOT think about Seto Kaiba.

Ohh….she shouldn't have thought that…..

"Hello there," Tea greeted softly, curtsying a little. Her imaginary man bowed. As she took his pretend hand, and he put a pretend arm around her waist and "they" began to dance, Tea tried to imagine what her imaginary guy would look like.

Blue eyes….

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Tea Gardner," she replied audibly.

Short brunette hair…but overhanging bangs to make his eyes all the more mysterious and catching….

"And yours?" Tea laid her head on "his" shoulder.

"You know me."

"I do?"

Tall…over six feet…yet still very graceful.

"Yes," he replied.

Polite too, in public areas, from what I would be able to assume.

"Who are you then?"

Soft lips…such a familiar feel….

"Why, Seto Kaiba, of course."

Tea stopped and broke away from "Seto" and turned around, crossing her arms. "I don't dance with jerks;" she said, as if he was really there. Then, more came tumbling out of her mouth, "who still you invade my privacy while you're ill! WHY! Why can I not stop thinking about you? WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS IN MY MIND!"

Her eyes suddenly widened. All that she had said…

…Matched exactly what the symptoms of "the L-word" were in those romance novels she was always reading.

"Oh man," she sunk to the ground once more. "This can't be happening. It just can't be…."

Maybe it's time to go face my feelings. …Let's go check up on Seto Kaiba….

Tea cautiously entered the clinic. Seto didn't budge. Either he was dead, or he was sleeping. Hopefully, Tea thought, it was the latter of the two.

She crept over to him and knelt by his side. He was breathing. That was a good sign. Since he didn't seem to be awake, she decided to take it upon herself to see how he was doing. She took the thermometer that was lying on the counter and checked his temperature. Lucky for her, he did not wake up.

She checked the reading:

One-hundred five point three.

Tea almost screamed out loud, but caught herself just in time, WHAT! IT KEEPS GOING UP! This can't be…I'm checking again!

So she did. And the reading the next time was:

One-hundred five point three.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING! He's resting –for once-, has the blankets off; I gave him that medicine hours ago, and…argh! This thing must be broken! Tea set the machine down rather loudly.

She looked back at Seto and felt his forehead. He was burning up, still.

WHY! I've done ALL I can, is it not enough? Why can't I help him! I WANT to help him!

Tea suddenly felt hot tears streaming down her face. She was powerless against this virus. Why couldn't she help him! Did God not understand her? SHE WANTED TO HELP HIM! SHE WANTED TO!

Falling onto Seto's arm, she hid her crying eyes in her arms and sobbed. Seto slept on.

Why can't I help him? Why won't he get better? I'm sure his body is trying! WHY CAN'T I HELP HIM TO GET BETTER! She cried some more.

God, good Lord, if you're there, and I know you are, PLEASE help him! If he gets any worse…I don't know what I'll do! I want to HELP him!

She looked up and down at his flushed face. Slowly drawing some hair from his eyes, she couldn't help but to feel just how warm he was. I want to help him…. But if I can't help him…I should suffer with him. I want to help…but if I can't do that, well…I want to suffer with him as well….

But how could she suffer with him?

I'd have to get the germs passed onto me…. Some way…. Just being around him isn't enough. Contact is the key….

She looked at his face once more and noticed his lips, slightly open, in order for him to breathe.

What if…I kissed him? I'd be bound to catch what he has. Unconsciously, she lowered her head just a little more towards his. I want to attain his fever…so that we can be sick together…because he doesn't deserve this…and if I can't help him, I don't deserve to be healthy at the moment either. We should be ill together….

But why did she want to suffer his illness? Why did she want to be ill with him?

I want to be with him…

I want to feel his pain….

I love him.

"K-Kaz Gardner! Y-You have some e-explaining to do!" Rika Gardner stumbled into the kitchen. She had just woken up in bed with a TERRIBLE headache, and she barely remembered anything from the night before.

She knew the symptoms.

She had been stoned.

And where had these drinks come from?

"KAZ!" she yelled around for him, "WHERE ARE YOU, YOU-"

"No need to shout, Rika, dear, I'm here," he suddenly came into the kitchen.

"WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE DRINKS!" Rika yelled in his face and poked his chest as soon as he was in range. She stumbled forth a bit, but caught herself in time, "I WANT THE TRUTH! AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING DOWN THERE! YOU DON'T DRINK!"

Kaz opened his eyes, after finished his wincing sequence. She could be very loud when she wanted to be. "I…I-"

"ANSWER ME!" she shouted.

"I…buy some, from time to time-"

"WHY!"

"To help vent out my anger-"

"WHEN ARE YOU EVER ANGRY!"

"Well…um…you know, that's a good question…. I don't really remember myself-"

"BECAUSE YOU GET DRUNK! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! YOU GET MAD AT THE KIDS, DON'T YOU? DON'T YOU? WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING "NOT UP TO YOUR STANDARDS" YOU GO AND GET DRUNK, AND THEN WHAT! NEXT YOU'LL TELL ME YOU ABUSE THEM!"

"Now Rika, I don't think that even when drunk I would do such a thing-"

"THEN WHERE DO ALL OF THOSE CUTS AND BRUISES TEA GETS COME FROM! DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM! AND THEY'VE ONLY BEEN ON HER! NOT KARI; AND NOT RAE! JUST TEA! AND ALL SHE TELLS ME IS THAT SHE'S TRIPPED OR SOMETHING? SHE'S LYING! I KNOW IT! SHE'S COVERING UP FOR YOU, THAT'S IT! I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WOULD! SHE SHOULD COME OUT AND SAY THINGS! SHE'S TOO SWEET FOR HER OWN GOOD! GETS IT FROM HER MOTHER! KAZ, IF THAT' THE TRUTH, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! KILL YOU!"

"Rika, I really don't think-"

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Seto, I'm going to kill you," Noa muttered as he typed away feverishly on the computer. Suddenly, both the office and his cell phone rang.

He whipped out the cell phone saying, "Noa Kaiba speaking, one moment please." He put the face down on the table and while still typing, and thinking, Why did I complain to Seto about wanting my father's company back? Why? He can KEEP IT for all I care! I just want my life back! He picked up the office phone and answered it, "Noa Kaiba speaking."

"Hello Mr. Kaiba-"

Noa sighed. It was an associate. This meant an hour long conversation about nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

"Hang on one second, would you please? Thanks," Noa put down the phone and reached for the cell phone, "Hello there-"

"Noa? It's Mokuba! Where are you? Dinner's gonna be here in like…ten minutes!"

"Take out again?"

"Well, since the cook is on vacation and Seto is gone…yes."

"Ugh…I mean, well, I'll probably be home in about an hour or something. I just got a phone cal from an associate-"

"Iiiick," Mokuba drew out, "That's going to take a while."

"Don't I know it. You're lucky you aren't here."

"Well, hurry up. Try to get home as soon as possible. Chinese take-out is waiting-"

"Chinese take-out? Why didn't you say so? Mokie, I'll be home ASAP!" He shut the phone off.

"Hey there…Mr. Koshwall, is it? Listen, can I get back to you tomorrow? I need to be somewhere in the next ten minutes, okay? Thanks, bye," Noa said in a hurry, before the associate even said anything.

"Thank God," Noa sighed, turning of the computer and straightening up Seto's desk. "Time for some good old Chinese food…."

As he closed the office door, he took one last peek in and frowned. "Seto, you had better come home soon. Wherever you are. And I hope it's a safe place at that…. I hope you're alright."

With that, Noa closed the door and ran to the elevator to rush home as quickly as he could.

There! Rather short update, I know, but I GOT the point across! TEA HAS CONFESSED, to herself, HER LOVE HER SETO! YEAH! FINALLY! WHAT WE ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! PLEASE REVIEW!