A/n: Hokay! Now we move on to the romance! Whoo hoo! Note that this is in Tea's POV Newbies, remember that this is a sequel! SxT are already a couple.

Insert standard disclaimer here.

It All Starts with an Apology

Tea's POV

Hangovers. They are the worst thing to exprience in the world. Not only do you feel incredibly nauseous, your head feels like it's being split apart by a ball-ping hammer. It pulsates at your nose and pushes your very brain up.

This and more greeted me when I woke. Highly disorientated, in a wrinkled t-shirt and wrapped up in a sheet like a cocoon. I just hoped I would sprout wings like a butterfly, and take flight as my headache passed.

But ah, being human, a human girl no less (did male butterflies cocoon?) I was less inclined to flutter anytime soon. "Mmgh . . . " I winced.

"How're you feeling? Better?" He held out two aspirin, wrapped in a cloth.

The words sliced into my head. "Please, don't talk so loud," I whispered, rolling and taking the medicine gratefully, downing it with water.

"I am whispering, you know. You've been out for two days." He switched the medicine jar to two other fingers, and took back the glass of water. "Uh-uh. Only two," he said, when I tried to take more medicine.

"Two days!" I shot up, and was immediately struck in the nose of the forceful headache. "Ah . . . " I smelled like throw-up.

"Welcome to Hawaii." He got up and moved out of my vision; the room I was in was dark and shady and I could barely see. I shook my bangs out and my vision cleared; I could hear cheering outside as well as the sound of rushing waves. Hawaii, indeed.

"Thanks," I murmured, snuggling back into the covers.

"Uh uh. If you stay any longer, you'll starve."

Starving sounded good. Death sounded good. Any relief from this constant band playing in my head. "What happened? I can't remember," I said; as the pounding in my head blocked any thought.

"Maybe it's best that you didn't," I heard him murmur, as if thinking out loud. Then I took a good look at myself: wearing underwear, and not much else.

"Hey! Who changed me?"

I saw him smirk.

"You . . . didn't . . . "

"You have a very nice legs."

"Very funny!" I threw a pillow at him; it hit someone else.

"Relax. Just kidding. My maid, Keiko, helped." A curvy sort of woman in a black dress smiled and curtisied; I realized we were not alone. Probably doesn't know any English. "We're at one of my properties in the States."

Properties? States? He might as well been speaking Mandarin Chinese. Then I remembered: the graduation, his invitation, the collision, the concussion . . . you get the idea.

"I remember," I whispered. Must he talk so loud?

"Good. Now, why don't we go out to eat on our first - er, third day of our vacation." I watched him lift his wrist. Seto Kaiba probably has a Rolex. "It's dinnertime."

"But - but - oh." He was already gone. Dinnertime? I glanced out the picture window and saw darkness. Oh, how could he be so perfect and neat about things: 8 AM, takeoff. 9 AM, hijacking, followed by a short intermission and fruit. I remember the fruit. and Noon, Tea gets stinkin' drunk and we all crash. Right on schedule. Oh, and then we go out for drinks afterwards.

I remember Kaiba said he stole that jumbo jet from Pegasus. Stupid Pegasus. I should known better to have touched the "fruit juice." Stay away from the fruit juice. Fruit juice; my ass.

Letting a long sigh that ended on a groan, I place my bare feet on the stone-cold floor. I could hear typing on the other side of the room, and I saw Kaiba with his back to me, sitting at a tiny desk with his computer. I had grabbed a terry robe before.

"If you're going to eat at the restaurant like that, I'm afraid the Americans will throw a fit," he said with turning around.

"How do you know, you didn't even see . . . " I faltered as he turned around just then. " . . . yet."

He was wearing his usual blue suit, kind of like the school uniform we had at the high school, only not. "I saw your reflection through my mirror."

I realized his "mirror" was the reflection of his laptop. "What are you doing, on that?" I said, changing the subject and nodding to it.

I didn't think that he would tell, but he did. "Answering some rather, uh, unfriendly e-mails your peonic friends have sent me."

I stepped to it; he turned it to me like he wanted me to have a look. " . . . " There were some with urgent! exclaimation points next to the inbox, all with the gist of, What are you doing over there! Give her back now, you kidnapper!

I straightened up again, slowly. "Um . . . " I had to admit, they did sound crazy. And more than mildly overprotective.

" 'Um,' indeed," said Kaiba, with a kind of smile. I knew that he was just waiting for me to admit what I had thought earlier, about my friends being a tad overprotective. But I wouldn't, and he knew that. "I expecially loved the one about coming over to - how did they put it- save you from the big bad wolf."

"Well-well-" I sputtered, turning as he walked a little off toward the main door, "I did leave without any notice. They're just worried."

"I expect so - you don't look like Red Riding Hood." He glared through the peephole. "Ah, speak of the devils." On 'schedule'!

"Hey! Wait!" I yelped, leaping forward in front. "It'll be SO much worse if you answer the door." I don't know what I was thinking. I should've stopped at the point when he stilled obediently; or, when his voice turned from it's usual harsh rasp to falsely cheery. I mean, Seto Kaiba, "cheery"? The only time he's ever sounded cheery with me was when my pride was about to be sorely ashamed. Boy, are we a strange couple.

Anyway, I should've guessed. Should guessed not to answer the door with only a robe over my t-shirt, with my feet bare and everything. Plus, my hair was all messed up and sticking in a dozen different directions. And have him smirking behind me. I could feel the ray from the smirk on my heated neck. Yup, I should've thought twice about looking like I just rolled out of bed in front of my friends.

And not just my "close" friends, either. Noo, God had decided to send Yugi, Joey, Yami, Ryou, Bakura, Marik, Tristan; plus, all of the girls: Ishizu, Serenity, and Mai, and even a couple from thepep squad from school. All of them were staring at me and him.

Oh, boy. What do you say to explain? What do you do in that situation?

"So . . . " Kaiba said in this mellow voice, "Have a nice trip, chums?"

This seemed to unleash an uproar. "I knew it! You did kidnap 'er, ya big-kidnapper!" Perdictably Joey leapt forward. "And we ain't yer friends, you-big-"

"Kidnapper?" supplied Kaiba. I had enough. He wasn't even looking at him. I could see sparks flying between his and Yami's eyes.

"You guys, it's-it's not what you think," I pleaded, speaking before Mai could disgree. "Please, just check into the hotel next door, and-and we'll straighten it all out tommorrow." I belt my robe as shut tight as I could. "I have a terrible hangover-I mean, headache! Headache!"

Too late. "Ah HA!" This time Tristan joined in the cavorting. "Got her drunk, did you? Already? You fiend!"

This time, Kaiba lost his smile. "I suggest you follow my girlfriend's directions and buzz off," he said in his most nasty tone before slamming the door in their faces. But not before I had seen their looks: pure horror. I would've berated him right then for his rudeness, but let's just say that my mouth was too busy occupied with hanging open.

Girlfriend?

Later
I decided that his comment was because of that fact that my friends were right there, and making him mad. Heat of the moment, one might suggest. I didn't think it was because we were-you know. I mean, we didn't even go out on a date yet! Well, maybe one - that school dance - which had ended in disaster; he had confessed his feelings to me and told me that he had saved me just to impress - anyway, it's a long story. Look at the prequel.

The word "girlfriend" weighed heavily on my mind no matter how I tried. I rummaged through my suitcase - which was so badly damaged it was unrecognizable, from the crash - found some clothes that didn't seem too bad, took to the bath, and showered. Grateful though I was for the bathroom being equipped already with towels, soap, and shampoo - they were all in little package samples you might get in the mail - I felt unsettled. As I stepped out of the tub and dried quickly - since there was little time - I checked my body out in the full-length, gold-edged mirror. I was still pale - I hoped to get at least, a tan in Hawaii - but other than that, everything seemed to be in proper working order. I had a good fat chest - if I were to jump, I would...bounce - maybe not as much as my good friend Mai, but...Oh man, Mai...she's gonna tease me about this for agesI could just picture it: two old women, and she's still teasing me "...about that incident in Hawaii..."

Clucking my tongue, I finished blow-drying my hair - it had gotten longer, so now it brushed my shoulders gently when I swung my head just this way. My body type was more pear-shaped than an hourglass, my thighs and rounded stomach had always been a cause of misery for me. I settled with a long breezy skirt, for the occasion, and a sleeveless white blouse to emphasize my long neck and left my hair loose. I wanted to look casual, which I did; not too dressy because I didn't want to look too good. To make him get too tongue-tied was a bad thing, because I wanted to hear him talk; and say good things.

Anyway, I finished with some apprehension, of what the night would bring us, and met him just outside the cabin. He'd been waiting for me, for a long time by his expression - (he looked spent). I saw how he straightened when he saw me - a very good sign. I knew I looked good-!

"It's about time, Gardener," he said with a smile, "I was about to eat next night's dinner."

"All good things are worth the wait," I said wisely, taking his offered arm and we walked down the cabin's steps. And by I mean cabin I mean more like an estate. At least, it looked big. "Remember that, Kaiba."

We didn't say another word until we had reached our seats, and even that took a very long time. I was busy cringing about the scene earlier, with my friends barging in and disrupting everything-almost ruining- that I concentrated an extra long time flattening my napkin over my lap and taking everything in. The scenery was beautiful - lush, rolling greenery, the quiet roar of the nearby ocean, private lantern-lit balcony of the restaurant. It was already night.

"Nice night," I began.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Hunh?" I said, taken aback. For a minute there, I thought he was going to say some cheesy line.

Strangely, he looked sad; I could barely see anything with the low light, but I was aware. I was totally shocked. "I wanted this weekend to be...special and memorable, in a good way." He let out a long fateful sigh while putting his fingertips together on the table. "So far, it had been anything but just."

Memorable . . . It certainly has been.

I couldn't help thinking this. "Don't worry about it." I didn't want for the issue of my friends to ruin our relationship. I wanted to say-add, but didn't. I think he got the point, because he softly sighed again and stared away, over the balcony.

"Those 'friends' of yours...I don't think I'll ever get used to them."

"They're not-that-bad-"

"Just meddling." He superiorly straightened his collar of his jacket- which was kind of like our school uniform, except it was a dark charcoal gray. Instead of blue. "But . . . whatever! Let's talk about something else-!"

"Good idea," I agreed, but before we could, the waitress came in - or over, I should say since we were outside - and took our orders. I was feeling still a little nauseous, from my hangover, so I ordered little. Anyway you don't want to seem like a glutton. I couldn't believe the little voice. I had never been this self-concious on a date before, in my whole life. But I was.

Just chill.

"Look over there," I said pointing, over to the left of his shoulder. "We ought to get you one of those shirts." I was talking about a man on a far table wearing a neon-green, white, and orange Hawaiian print shirt. It was pretty wild.

He shook his head disbelievingly. "I'd rather die than get caught in one of those tacky shirts."

"Aw..." I made a mock face. "I'd think you'd look cute. You wore a lei, when we first got here." Or landed, I should say.

"It's not the wildness of it," he said, "it's the public part."

"'Wildness?'" I traced the condensation that dripped of the water glass, "I wasn't aware that that was a word. Did you learn that in Honors English...?"

"Ha, ha," he said, "You were there. You should know."

My smile dropped slightly. "What are you going to do, now that you're out of," I couldn't say country, but I almost did. "Highschool?"

There was a pause. I tapped my foot nervously under the pink tablecloth and bit my lip as I awaited his answer. I could see he was thinking about it, like he hadn't thought about before. But of course he must have. He was just stalling, I figured. That means it's bad.

I knew. Men always stall when they're about to tell you an answer that you didn't want to hear in the first place.

"I guess I'm just going to play it by ear," he finally said, lazily. "I don't really have a game plan yet. This was impulsive. I'm just going to see what happens."

I was surprised, and said so. "That doesn't sound like the practical, pragmatic aiming Kaiba we know and love." I said love, mind you, with a tiny, fake smile so he could take it as a joke, if he wanted to.

"Yes; well, there's going to be lots of things that will surprise you, about me," he said with the same kind of smile, smirking.

"Hmm..." I was intrigued, as I took a sip of my drink, keeping my eyes on him. I believe he isn't lying...there's always something about Kaiba that continually surprised me. The waitress returned with our drinks, our real drinks; a cocktail and a sherbet. I was enthused by the colorful umbrellas poking out of them; he was amused by it.

"Tell you what," he said, bending over so I could hear,if-I'll wear that hideous shirt, the one you've mentioned, if you wear what the waitress is wearing

I looked over while the waitress was just leaving, feeling his breath on my face. Minty. "I don't think so. No way," I said, putting my sherbet drink down. She was wearing a grass skirt and a coco-bra, over a common waitresses' uniform: trousers and a shirt. "...I'll settle for the lei, but not the skirt."

He laughed and settled back; I was relievedly glad; my heart had started to pound tight, little pounds. I was still a little leery about the way he affected my heart, I'll admit. It could be easily broken. I smiled cynically. Here I was, jaded about guys and relationships at sixteen, while he was about everything else at seventeen. Two sides of the same coin.

A quietness passed over us and my eye fell on the table. The table was pretty small, overcrowded slightly with our dishes -I wasn't that hungry, my stomach was still a little queasy, so I didn't eat much of the grilled shrimp he'd ordered. Neither did he. There was also a vase with a single flower on it, curled up. Along with silverware, glasses and candles, it was a pretty romantic setting. I noticed his hand was resting on the table too; a big white bandage across his palm. "What happened to your . . . hand?" Isaid, piqued.

He took my hand, studying his own for a minute, "Got it cut from the debris, when the plane crashed." We got up and walked over to the balcony - it was later than I'd first thought - and leaned on it, our elbows barely touching.

For a while, we said nothing. I took my time staring out over the ocean. It seemed too quiet for a place like Hawaii. I'd always imagined it'd be bustling and lively. Sure I could hear voices, but they sounded very faint and far away. Like as if they were imaginary. It was so still I could feel my own heart in my chest pound softly. This whole thing, this experience; it felt unreal. I'd just been in Domino a few mintues ago it seemed.

Not wanting any more quiet - something about stillness unsettled me, especially when he was - I turned my head slightly so I was just inclined towards him. "So, you've never visited Hawaii before."

"Once. When I was a kid." There was an unreadable expression on his eyes.

I remembered that time when I had stolen a picture of him when he was a kid. What an adorable little boy.

"What were you like when you were a kid?" I wondered aloud.

A small chuckle, so tiny it might've been imagined. "The same. Tall and serious."

I thought of my childhood: lively and excitable. I tried to picture him when young, though only Mokuba really knew. I knew all about the orphanage and the adoption. It was hard for me to put what he said and my picture together. "That sounds like something your brother would say about you."

"No," he said fondly, "Mokuba would probably describe me as heroic and outgoing."

I laughed; the little boy did have a warped sense when it came to his brother. "You did leave him with a babysitter?" He nodded, glancing at me. "Surely you were more exciting when you were young. Unless you were too sad."

He shook his head, denying it, lips tight.

"You never . . . teased anyone or bullied them?"

"Nope. Usually I hated it when bullies used to go after Mokuba; so, I very rarely did the same to anyone else."

I could tell that he was sincere. Boy, he's really not kidding when he'd said I would be seeing a whole new light. I traced the wood lines, on the banister, with my finger. " . . . what would happen to the bullies that chased Mokuba?"

I saw him smile, geniunely. " . . . They would never be seen from or heard from again. Mysteriously."

I can very well imagine. "'Mysteriously', eh? So you grew up like that?"

"No," he said with certain. "I'm not mysterious. I'm an open book."

Yeah, if the book is the hieroglyphics. I didn't say that aloud though; I knew how touchy he was about "scary" Egyptian History.

. . . he was smiling at me. Teasingly. I knew that he knew how hard he was to read, and he reveled in it. Postively reveled in it. And made it hard for girls like me. Cute smile. It was weird, because usually I don't go for the guy's smile. I go for a guy's eyes, but this time I . . . liked his hair more. It was so thick and shining.

I shook my head hard, to rid myself of these thoughts, and looked down. Asked hesistatingly, "Did you . . . did you ever think, a year ago, that we'd," I pointed to myself and him, "be right here?" I held my breath and waited for his answer.

He paused thoughtfully, staring out on the starry sky now. "No," he said chuckling, "I sure didn't."

" . . . oh," I said. Notexactly theromantic answer I was hoping for, but - at least he's honest!

Sometimes he wastoo honest. For, he went on: "Nope, surely not. I remember that night, in the rsetaurant, such as this one," he gestured around; it was amazingly similiar, "You, doing that ridiculous impression of me-"

My face burned, but only a bit.

"And," he went on, people were starting to look over, "the only thing I could think of was, why is she doing this to someone like me?" he asked the heavens innocently.

"I wasn't proud of it," I began suddenly. "Because - I didn't - like you - then - that's why."

He went on, with the air of someone playing the victim, then sobered. "And then I saw you choking." He started tracing the wood like I had earlier, muttering dismissively, "Whether it was on your chicken salad, or your own spit, I don't know-"

"It was a piece of ice!" I remembered it because I'd had compared him to it. Many times before. Countless times with my friends.

I'm sure that very same ice would've melted on my face, that's how hot my face is. I knew what was coming next. My dad yelling, offering to sell me in gratitude-

"And then the only thing I could think of was getting to you."He turned his head towards me and I was taken aback at how serious his expression was."And then when I saved your life, I couldn't stop thinking about it, Tea"

Oh. I moved my eyes down to the vicinity somewhere beneath his collar. I felt my cheeks heat up again, but this time not from embarrasment but from pleasure.

"Or you."

"R-really?" I ventured. I had remembered how I had gotten the stupid, formidable crush on him and even dreamed of him, once. "S . . . same here."

"There's something about . . . saving a person's life that makes you committed to them," he said, gazing out the balcony, " . . . I guess it makes them indebted to you. But vice-versa as well, since their life is your responsibility." I was too busy berating myself for acting and being so silly back then and almost missed what he'd just said. "Do you know what I mean?"

"So . . . you started liking me for that?" I said while turning his arm back to me and smiling while tilting my head up.

"No, I started to like you after you kept trying to kiss and missing me," He grasped my chin, lightly tickling smiling that smile again. My heart started to pick up despite what he'd said.

"-It's because you were too tall. I didn't have heels on," I improvised, stuttering because he was. "But now I do." I held one foot out, my toes neatly and professional-manicured - thank you, Mai. He admired my ankle, which had a silver bracelet.

"It won't make that much a difference!" He started to laugh, a deep laugh that came from his belly. "I doubt it." Now, usually that would've got me riled since I don't like it when boys laugh at me - it's one of my pet peeves. But then the wind ruffled our hair - we were pretty high up - his lovely hair and I was able to acknowledge the fact that I had acted silly and ridiculous back then when we spent all that time together.I was even able to smile about it. Finally.

I grabbed him around the neck and brought him close enough to kiss, smelling the cologne that swam around his collar. "Maybe I'll be the one to surprise you." I murmured, with our mouths centimeters from each other.I was pretty spunky, anyway."Why did you bring me here?" I stared into his eyes. "Seto?" It was the first time I had said his first name; I barely noticed though. Male butterfly.

"I doubt it," he repeated, tugging my hips closer. "And I brought you here to relax; you'd looked stressed out," he said generously. "You're going to get the royal treatment, Tea." He wrapped his hands around my waist, whispering, "Do you know what I mean?" in my ear so it lightly hit my cheek. I murmured no, closed my eyes and leaned aganist him and opened them lightly, watching him. He took that incentive and encouragement to kiss me deeply then, parting my lips further gently with his own. I stared up at him and knocked on wood, for luck, behind him as he held me -from falling, it seemed - while we stood there, I couldn't help it. Hoped nothing else would "drop" in on us and that we would use this chance to get to know one another. It was the perfect way to start a weekend in Hawaii, despite all that happened already and what was to happen.

TBC!

-

A/n: Oh yeah; luck you need that and a lot. There, a nice fat chapter to make up for time. Well, I tried to romance you all! Dun worry more romance to come. Oh yeah this might have some minor pairings, since the gang's all here. Tell me your ideas for pairings thatyou like. Oh well, Review. Some pple seem to have lost heart on this, sigh . . .