A/N: Hello readers, I'm back from my NFL Draft weekend and better than ever! (So I hope)
Yugi: Um, Carlos...Why are you wearing full body armor?
BDB: Well…um…read Linkin Phoenix's review…he sounds kind of angry.
Yugi: Why? Because he criticized your crappy writing? He brought up some good points about your obsession with the comma and your spacing.
BDB: Watch your mouth, diminutive one! It is I who will decide your fate! I RULE ALL HERE! HAHAHAHAHA!
Yugi: (shakes head) You really need to get out more….
BDB: You're right…anyway, here's the mailbox:
Alaskan Tiger: Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Don't worry, Mai will get hers in the end, and Kaiba definitely will!
Lady Phoenix: I did catch the NFL Draft, and I was a little surprised by my team's selections. Anyway, the story will get a little less confusing (I hope) in the coming chapters as more people's emotions and actions become clear. Thanks for reading!
Anime Ruthless: Oh, as far as the rapping goes, I just signed a monumental record deal with P. Diddy and will go on tour this summer! Joking. The rap was just a little thing I did to poke fun at both Randy Savage and Kaiba.
Daemon Zanza: New Reader! I appreciate your, um, enthusiasm in reading the fic. I'm not sure what the hot fire blast was all about, but thanks for reading.
Tate-wichippi: New Reader! Thanks for the interest, but I'm just a little surprised you threw Mai under the bus like that. We all make mistakes when it comes to matters of the heart, don't we? I like how you think it's a Seto/Serenity conspiracy here and that could have very well may have been what happened. (Of course I'm not saying it did or didn't)
The Broken Bow: Thanks for reading! Don't worry about ole me; just get your stuff done! Just get back on board when you can, OK?
Linkin-Phoenix: I appreciate the criticisms, man. I want people to be upfront as to how I can make my writing a little better. I've been flamed before and probably will again before it's all said and done, so that doesn't bother me. First of all, as bad as it may look, TEA WILL SURVIVE! You have my word. Second, Tea was pretty drunk when the whole dancing incident occurred last chapter. Anybody could make a mistake when they aren't sober and thinking clearly. Next, the whole "Phoenix Rising" thing, purely coincidental. Trust me on that. Ellipses? I'm not sure what you mean by that, so let me know in the next review. And put that sword away! I have enough problems ducking all of these Seto Kaiba fan-girls on my case! Thanks for reading. (And say hello to your Yamis for me)
Linkin-Phoenix also brought something back to my attention that I was worried about also: chapter length. I'll try to make them a bit longer, but I can't promise anything due to my hectic update schedule. With no other objections in sight, let's press on with the fanfic!
Test Of Friendship
Chapter Eight
Tea walked through the busy streets of Domino City alone. Last week, she and her friends would walk these streets together. They would tell jokes, make fun of each other, and help each other with their problems. That time was gone now. To Tea, it seemed so long ago.
This is like a sick nightmare or something. I've got to talk to Yugi and see if I can sort this out before things get really out of hand.
While she gathered her thoughts, Tea did not notice where she was wandering and bumped into a woman slightly taller than herself. She was blonde, curvy and carrying six shopping bags.
"Tea. So nice to see you dear. Not scooping up anyone else's boyfriends, are we?" Mai's tone was polite yet bitterly cold.
"Hello, Mai. Is everything alright with Kaiba?" Tea tried to smile a little and be civil, but Mai was trying her patience.
"Of course. Kaiba is a wonderful man, better than anything Joey could ever dream of being."
"Why? Because he has money?"
"No. Because he cares about me. Because he takes care of me."
Tea shook her head at the blonde's stupidity. "Joey loves you. You know that! Kaiba doesn't love you, he just bought himself a trophy girlfriend!"
This comment earned Tea an angry slap across the face. "Don't ever call me that again, you disgusting little bitch!"
By now there had been a decent-sized crowd around the two young women.
Tea turned to walk away, but was grabbed by the arm. "Running away again?"
"Let my arm go." Tea wouldn't look her in the eyes, her voice almost a whisper.
"Not until you apologize for talking to me like that!"
"I SAID LET MY ARM GO!" Tea jerked her arm loose and decked Mai with a fierce left hand, knocking her over onto the ground. The expression on Mai's face was one of pure shock as she checked herself for blood.
"I pity you, Mai. You see what Kaiba is trying to do to our circle of friendship, yet you go along with it like his little lap dog. The Mai that I knew wouldn't do such a thing evenif her life depended on it." For a moment Tea just glared at her victim, her eyes burning like coals.
"That's it! You're going to jail, little girl! I'm calling the police to charge you with assault!"
Tea walked away, hearing all of the insults and threats being heaved at her. She was smiling for the first time all day.
Domino City Park
"Hey, Serenity! You said you wanted to talk about something?"
Yugi and Serenity had decided to meet in the small but peaceful city park after school. It was your average city park with serveral open areas for jogging, sports, and other activities and a walking trail for people just looking to take a quiet stroll.
"Yeah. How are you feeing after everything that happened today? I know it must have been pretty hard."
Yugi's mood darkened a bit at the question, but he kept a small smile on his face. "Yeah."
"Yugi...there's something I need to tell you. I...I...think you're a great friend."
Yugi looked over at the girl, a little confused. "I thinkyou're a great friend too, Serenity."
"There's a problem with that though, Yugi." She inched closer to him.
"And what would that be?" Yugi could smell the sweet scent of her perfume, and was blushing wildly.
"I want more than that." Serenity gently pulled him closer, and pressed her lips against his. "So much more."
Sorry, that's all for now. I have an announcement up on my profile about when I'll be updating all my stories from now on, starting May 2. It should help me as far as the length of the chapters goes, as I won't be updating any stories twice a week anymore. Thanks for reading, and any advice or suggestions are welcome.
BDB...out.