It had been two months since that fated day when Yami threatened Koga, and matters haven't improved much. Joey, Tristan, and Duke have stopped talking to Tea altogether, and have even taken her dating Koga so far that they won't even spare a glance in her direction. This didn't phase Tea, however. She continued to see Koga, even despite the pleading of Yugi. Yami remained isolated within the Millennium Puzzle, only emerging to talk with Yugi late at night. It was late one night that Yami came to a decision when Yugi was overloaded with homework.
"Yugi, I have something important that I need to ask of you."
Yugi scratched his head before looking at Yami. "Sure, but can you help me with this problem?"
"Alright. What is it that you're having trouble with?"
"Okay here goes: If A and B are real numbers, and the surface of Line XY is the summit, then Triangle ABC denotes the open interval of A, if C is the first point of interval, then: 1) The triangle of ABC is a to D (X,Y minus A,C) which is included in surface of (A,B), or 2) If (A,B) moves around 1, then A becomes the greatest number of (A,B) then (X,Y) are less than the combined area of the triangle. What do you think it is Yami, 1 or 2?"
Silence.
More silence.
Finally Yami opened his mouth. "…um…uh…how's a 5,000-year-old pharaoh supposed to know that?"
Yugi stared at him for a few minutes before laughing nervously. "Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to. I'll just put down 1 and hope it's right. So what is it that you wanted to ask me?"
"ARE YOU SERIOUS!" Yugi shouted.
Yami tried to make him lower his voice. "Yes…I think it's time. But you have to keep this a secret. Don't tell anyone, not even your grandfather."
"Can you handle this? After all, it has been a while since you-"
"I know that. But after these years that I have spent with you and everyone, I feel that it would be for the best."
"Okay, but only if you're sure Yami. I doubt that this is one of those things that can be reversed."
"I'm sure Yugi. Now, you need to get back to your homework. We'll discuss this matter once school has let out."
"Yeah, but-"
"No buts. Your schoolwork is more important." Yami stated, ending the conversation at that.
The days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and before the seniors at Domino High knew it, they were preparing for their graduation. Although, there were some that slept in even on their big day, too tired from staying up late at night studying for their last exams.
"Yugi! Yugi! Yugi get up now!" Mr. Mutou's voice echoed in the hallway, as he stopped at Yugi's door. "You need to get up now or you'll be late! Did you forget what today was?"
Yami was even having a hard time trying to wake Yugi up. "Yugi, get up! You'll be late for school!" Yami's response was Yugi rolling over in the bed and yawning. A vein in the side of his head started to throb. "Yugi, get up NOW!" he shouted, pulling the blankets, and Yugi, off the bed, ending with a loud THUMP!
Yami stood drumming his foot on the floor and holding the blankets under one arm as Yugi collected himself from the floor. Yugi looked up at the Pharaoh, and was about to say something before Yami cut him off.
"You can get mad at me later Yugi, but your grandfather and I have been trying to wake you up for the past ten minutes. If you don't get dressed now, you're going to be late for school!"
Realization struck Yugi and he was in his closet, pulling out his uniform and stuffing books into his book bag. Yami just shook his head and sighed.
Meanwhile, at Joey's…
Duke and Tristan had stayed over at Joey's the previous night, celebrating the fact that they had squeezed by on their exams. However, the one thing they forgot was their graduation, which was going to start within the hour. But, they were to report to school earlier, say, in 15 minutes? The alarm clock continued to attempt to make itself known until the sound of the phone ringing drowned it out.
Joey's mind eventually got the message and heaved himself up off of the couch to answer the phone and shut off the alarm clock. "Hello?" he asked groggily.
"Joey? Where are you?" came a feminine voice on the other line.
Joey knew who it was at once. "Serenity! What's wrong? You sound worried about something."
"Were you asleep? Joey did you forget what today is?" Serenity sighed over the phone. She should have known better.
"Why, what's today?" he asked, still half-asleep.
"YOUR GRADUATION JOEY! DO I HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU! THE SCHOOL CALLED ME ASKING WHERE YOU, TRISTAN, AND DUKE ARE! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE SCHOOL IN LIKE…TEN MINUTES!" Serenity shouted into the receiver, annoyed at her big brother's lack of memory.
"Holy crap, that's right! Thanks for reminding me, sis!" Joey said and set the phone down, thinking he had hung up. Serenity could hear the shouts of her brother trying to get Tristan and Duke up, and then the shrieks and shouts of all three trying to change clothes and get what they needed before she hung up.
Meanwhile…at Tea's house…
An arm peeked out from under a sky blue comforter to bring about the unfortunate demise of a five-dollar alarm clock. Brown hair that was normally neat was at the moment a mess. A slender body clad in black pj pants and a white tank top lifted its owner from the comforts of bed and over to where the busted clock lay. Blue eyes widened in shock as the mind of Tea Gardner realized that she was late for her last day of school.
"Oh hell!" She cried. "I'm late! I'm late!"
Running around the room like a mad woman on menopause trying to free herself from the worst hot flash in history, Tea hastily pulled on her skirt and blouse with one hand while she tried to brush out the tangles in her shoulder length hair as she stumbled around the room looking for her left shoe with the other hand.
When she was certain that she had everything she thought she would need, she stopped short as she realized that Koga was asleep on her bed! Quickly she kicked him awake and told him to hurry up because they were late. A million questions running through her mind, she started to drill Koga as he moved about the room.
"What are you doing here? What happened last night? Did we do what I think we did?" she asked frantically.
Koga stopped and turned to look at her. "It was late last night and you, not in your state of mind at the time, told me that I could spend the night. We stayed up partying and you had a little too much wine to drink. We were celebrating the end of our high school days. No, we did not. I would have liked to, but you strictly stated that you were waiting for the right person to come along. I asked if it was me, and you just stared at me and passed out on your bed. Despite what you have heard about me I am a gentleman, so I slept above the covers while you slept under them. We did nothing but have a little wine, eat junk food, and watch movies. Like you said, we need to get to school."
"Right." Tea said, following him out of her room. "Good thing that the school is only minutes away from here."
At Domino High…
The seniors were bustling around talking about anything and everything as the faculty and staff were making last-minute preparations before the ceremony. Many were planning Graduation parties, some were heading to the beach, others back home to celebrate with family, some going home to just hang out with their closest friends.
Yugi was sitting at a table waiting for the others to show up, when he saw Tea and Koga come into the room. Tea spotted Yugi almost immediately and waved out to him. She was about to come over to the table and sit down when Koga grabbed her arm and stopped her. Yugi couldn't hear what he said to her, but when he did let go she walked quickly over and sat down beside Yugi, a look of frustration and worry on her face.
"Tea, is something wrong?"
"Wha- oh, sorry. Why do you ask?"
"It's just that you're never late for school, and today you were nearly late for your own graduation!" He laughed, trying to ease the mood. It raised his spirits some when she cracked a smile and started to laugh as well.
"That's true. Did you wake up late as well, Yugi?"
"Yeah…Grandpa was in the hall yelling for me to get up, but it took Yami to get me up. He actually jerked the covers, with me still in them off the bed!"
Tea laughed at the mental image. "Say, how's Yami doing? I haven't seen or spoke to him since he and Koga were talking outside my house. That was what, four months ago?"
Yugi sighed. "Uh huh," he mentally recalled Yami's tirade when he got back from Tea's that afternoon. She still had no idea what Yami threatened to do to Koga, much less know that he threatened him. "Tea, what was it that made you wake up late? I still haven't caught up on all of my sleep since exams." He asked, trying to change the subject.
Tea shifted uncomfortably in her chair. How could she tell Yugi without him or Yami getting mad at her? She certainly couldn't lie to them. But what would Koga do if they confronted him about it? These among other questions became a whirl in her head as Yugi stared at her, waiting patiently for an answer. She leaned forwards slightly, motioning for Yugi to do the same.
"Please Yugi, don't tell anyone, not even Yami." Tea whispered.
"Is something wrong Tea? Are you in trouble?" Yugi asked, his voice lowering to match hers.
Tea paused for a brief second before continuing. "If Koga finds out, yes. Anyway, last night, Koga was over at my house. We were celebrating the end of exams, and he brought some wine."
"But you're too young to drink, what were you thinking!"
"I know that. But I wasn't thinking last night, which scares me. I guess I was just glad that those exams were over with. As I was saying, we were eating junk food and watching movies as well. Then Koga asked me…he asked me…"
"He asked you what?"
"…if-if I was…if I was ready to…you know…"
"You didn't, did you?"
"No. I told him that I was waiting for the right person before I gave it away. Then he asked me if he was that person."
"What did you say?"
"I didn't say anything. It was that moment that I passed out in my bed. Koga told me that he wouldn't do anything without my permission, which is…somewhat comforting. Anyways, he fell asleep on my bed, on top of the covers, I was under them."
Yugi's jaw nearly hit the floor as Tea was telling the story over to him. For one thing, he couldn't believe that Tea would be so reckless.
"Yugi, listen to me," Tea pleaded quietly, "don't tell anyone. Don't tell Joey or Tristan or Duke. Don't even say anything to your grandpa or Yami for that matter. And especially don't tell Koga what I told you. There's no telling what he'll do if he finds out."
"Alright, alright, I won't. Will Koga get mad if he finds out that you told?"
"I don't know. That's why he stopped me earlier. He told me not to say anything about last night to anyone, and that includes you. But…I just had to tell you; I couldn't lie to you."
Yugi smiled and placed a comforting hand over hers. "I'm glad that you told me Tea." He was cut short by the shouts of Joey, Tristan, and Duke, who had finally arrived and were walking over to them. Yugi noticed that Tea's expression turned from friendly to cold at the arrival of three ex-friends.
"Sorry we're late Yugi," Joey said, scratching his head.
Tristan slapped him on the shoulder. "It's all this doofus-brain's fault that we're not on time. We would've been earlier but he kept us up until two in the morning."
Duke set his bag on the table, ignoring the ensuing argument and nodding at both Yugi and Tea. Tea, however, didn't return the gesture. This didn't surprise Yugi or Duke.
"What's with the silent treatment, Tea? Still sore about what we said months ago?" he asked politely.
"Actually, yes, I am. Why do you ask?" she said through gritted teeth.
Duke held out his hand. "Well, unlike those two behind me, I've gotten over our little spat. Do you think you could forgive me, even if you can't Joey or Tristan?"
Tea stared at his hand. "Why so sudden a change in views, Duke?"
"It's graduation, and I just don't want to have one of my fellow seniors and best friends mad at me for some stupid things I said at least four months ago. Am I forgiven?"
"Sure, after all, that was a heartfelt apology you gave me. I forgive you, Duke, but can you forgive me for all of the stupid things I said?"
"Of course. The past is behind us. Even though we cannot change the mistakes that were made in the past, we can at least learn from them and carry on with life." Duke said, shaking her hand, saying that all was forgiven between the two.
"But what about those two?" Yugi asked.
"They're stubborn, so it will be longer before you can get an apology out of either of them." Duke mused, watching the two grumble at each other in confusing ramblings.
The room became silent when the teachers called the students together to prepare them for their graduation ceremony. As the students got into place, Yugi said "See you guys after graduation! Let's meet back at the Turtle Hut this afternoon."
"Here's to finally making it out of high school!"
"And to your futures in the road ahead! May your paths continue to cross in the years to come!" Mr. Mutou toasted.
The sounds of glasses clinking echoed throughout the room. As agreed, everyone met up back at the Turtle Hut later that day. Yugi called and asked them to come over later than he had planned because 'something had come up that he needed to take care of.' This left them puzzled to no end, especially when Yugi excused himself not long into the party.
Once Yugi was back in his room, he looked around and couldn't find his 'excuse.' But then he heard grumbling and turned around.
"So there you are. Well, it's time. You ready?"
"I'm not sure."
"How can you say that? You knew what would happen, you know, no turning back?"
"Yes...but now, now it's an odd feeling I'm having. Everything's going to change from this point on."
"Yeah, I know. But things are supposed to change, for better or worse." Yugi sighed.
The silence swept through the room like a tornado. Yugi rocked back and forth on his heels before finally breaking the barrier of silence.
"Let's just hope it's leaning more towards the better," he laughed nervously, before leaving the room.
"So how are things going with you guys?" Tea asked.
"Fine with me. People really like Dungeon Dice Monsters. Some have even told me that they would rank it up there with Duel Monsters. Now all I have to do is talk with Kaiba about finding a way to combine his duel disks with Dungeon Dice Monsters...think he'll go for it?"
"It's hard to say knowing him." Tea replied.
"Did you just hear a voice Tristan?" Joey asked, looking around.
"I think so, you mean besides yours?" Tristan asked, looking around as well.
Tea refrained from pulling their throats out. "I'm just trying to carry on a civilized conversation here, would you two mind cooperating?"
"Okay, okay. We get it. We can be civil; we're still peeved about what you said to us, and we haven't forgiven you yet, but maybe we can talk like normal people." Tristan said. "Isn't that right, Joey?" he finished, elbowing him.
"Yeah, what Tristan said." Joey said, nodding.
"Well, just so you know, I haven't gotten over what you two told me nor have I forgiven either of you."
"Well good, now that that's out of the way..." but Duke never did finish his sentence. His line of thought trailed off as Yugi came back downstairs.
Yugi cleared his throat. "Guys, I think there is someone that you'd like to meet." He said, disappearing again to pull someone clad in a black sleeveless shirt, black leather pants, adorned with the occasional buckle and chain. The most peculiar thing about him was the all-too-familiar spiked hair and bangs.
"Say hello," Yugi said, going behind Yami and pushing him forward.
"Hello." the taller figure said. The way he said 'hello' seemed to strike a flashback in Tea. She recalled the day Yugi asked her to help out the Spirit of the Millenium Puzzle and when he threw a hissy fit when Yugi switched with him, fussing at the puzzle because it wasn't a duel.
It couldn't be...could it? She thought.
"No way...no freaking way..."
Well well well...who could it be, who could it be? Yall probably got a good idea, but I'm gonna stop it here just to drive you wonderful readers crazy! Anyways, hope you enjoyed chapter 2! Elfbrat18