Chapter 4 - A Dancer in New York

"Téa… Téa! Hear me!"

Téa moaned, tossing and turning in her narrow bunk.

"Téa, please listen! You're in grave danger!"

"Atem?" she murmured, but no, it couldn't be him. He was gone. She turned again, pressing her face into the increasingly insufferable pillow.

"Téa…" he reached towards her across the unfathomable distance, stars strewn out behind him, those warm violet eyes breaking her heart exactly as they had in Egypt when she'd lost him forever. "Téa…I've never forgotten you…"

"Please…" she whispered. " Please stop…I know you're gone, it's okay…"

The Pharaoh stretched out his hand, if she reached back she might touch him. Her silver cartouche snaked between them like a lifeline but the darkness surrounding them was too vast.

"Atem?" Téa sat bolt upright, blinking as her dark bedroom in Meredith Willson Residence Hall resolved around her. "Of course…" she sighed. Stupid…just another dream…

She eased back into the sweaty sheets, conscious of her roommate's snoring competing with traffic and shouts of the City that Never Sleeps.

3.45 a.m. the clock ticked reproachfully at her.

Great! …At least there's no class tomorrow…Téa grabbed the pillow, pressing it into her gritty eyes then started, feeling wetness. She held it up, catching a stain in the neon glow of the clock.

Tears? I was crying?

She sighed again and lay back, trying to push the cobwebs of the dream from her mind.

It was so real…she thought. He looked just like he did in the Memory World…

It had been nine months and she was half a world away at Juilliard no less, fulfilling her ambition. And she was happy. It had taken time but it had been weeks since she'd last thought of him, this term's assignments had been taxing but so exhilarating that she'd had room for nothing else.

I'm becoming the dancer I've always wanted to be, she told the ceiling, I've moved on. I love it here! So why am I dreaming about him again?

"Téa…I've never forgotten you…"

"Ugh!" She hid her face in her hands, stomach flipping like it used to when she saw him duel. That voice, the way he said her name like a caress, like no other man could. "I can get over this, I did get over this!"

"Téa!" Britney stirred and Téa felt the impact of another pillow. "Shut the hell up and go to sleep!"

I can't believe she did that!

She threw the pillow back but it missed and Britney snorted, turning over and resuming her wheezing snores.

Can't believe I even woke her up anyway… Usually nothing does…

A door slammed on the floor below and she heard excited chatter, then the rubble of a bass beat. Well that's it…no going back to sleep now…

It was Spring Break tomorrow and the partying had already started. Téa wished she had something to look forward to other than more shifts at the diner and practicing in empty studios while everyone else was away. She closed her eyes and prayed her next dream, if it came, would be less troubled.

"Morning sleepy-head!"

Something bounced on her bed. Zero guesses as to who.

"Have I mentioned I hate you today?" Téa mumbled and stuffed her head further under the covers.

"First time of the day, I expect it to increase," Britney crowed and pulled the covers off her causing her to squeak. "Come on Gardner, it's 9 a.m. already! Get that cute butt in the shower, you only have me for one more day."

"Shame…" Téa croaked into the pillow before Britney poked her. "Ugh come on! I didn't sleep that well last night." She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

"Yeah I know," the blond girl said, irritatingly perfect despite last night's late finishing party. Téa always thought she looked like a cross-between Penny from Dirty Dancing and her pop namesake, whose poster competed with Rihanna and Lady Gaga on Britney's side of the room. "You woke me up, what's the deal?"

"I woke you up? You keep me up every night!"

"Ooh steady on, honey!" Britney raised her brows suggestively, "you're pretty hot but you're not my type. Especially with that bed-head…"

"Ugh…" Téa dragged herself up, and dodged out of the way of her friend's hand. Given half a chance Britney would have smacked her behind and since she'd already had a pillow to the face and been rudely awakened today, she could avoid further assault by being nimble. "Okay, okay I'm awake."

I need food and a shower…and eight more hours of sleep….

At least she'd avoided most of the alcohol last night, having learnt her lesson at the start of the year. She yawned again and stretched.

"Wanna talk?" Britney said, "that dream sounded pretty stressful."

"Oh, it's nothing…" Téa lied.

She'd started several times during the first term to explain Yugi, the gang and Atem, but even the most innocent retellings sounded bizarre so she'd left it. She glanced guiltily at the photo-frames beside her bunk. Her family, including Mr Snuffles the cat, stared back, plus various cheesy shots of her, Britney and their friends here, but of the Domino crew there was no trace.

"I need the bathroom, is one of them free?"

"Better be quick, Corinne's packing and Elena's been in the right-hand one for ages."

"Doing what?"

"Hell if I know, drama students are weird."

Rolling her eyes Téa leapt up and dove out of the room. Chaos met her as she almost fell over a large suitcase and several bags in the hall. "Corinne!"

"Watch my stuff!" a sharp voice called from another room over the retro croons of the Backstreet Boys.

"Ugh fine!" She loved these girls, well most of them, thankfully Estelle had left the afternoon before, but God could they be messy and good luck getting into a shower early in the morning.

She returned refreshed fifteen minutes later, having fought off Britney's mountain of cosmetics in the bathroom, and found their owner throwing clothes onto her bed.

"Hey! I told you before not to do that!" Téa said as she rubbed her damp hair with a towel.

"Who's Atem?" Britney turned round with a glint in her eye.

"Who?" Téa blinked.

"The name, at least I think it's a name, you kept moaning last night."

Téa turned and riffled through her wardrobe. "I don't know what you mean…" she said, hoping the door would hide her red face.

"Is that the guy you talked about on our first night out? You remember-"

"I remember," Téa cut in. "I remember the toilet bowl more clearly though."

Britney snorted. "It's not my fault you're a lightweight! Besides, you make a cute drunk."

"Was that before or after I puked?"

"Don't change the subject, Gardner!" Britney snapped the wardrobe door shut with a grin. "Wasn't that his name? You never mentioned him again…"

"…It's not important," Téa said, vigorously towelling her hair until she was sure her expression was blank. "I need to change so can you give me some room here?"

"Okay, okay…I'm just saying, you know it's my quest to get you the perfect boyfriend and so far you've turned down every hot guy that's shown an interest-"

"I don't need a boyfriend, Britney, I told you," Téa said, turning to her, "I'm happy as I am and besides I love hanging out with you girls. Who else is going to help me watch endless re-runs of Dirty Dancing?" she smiled, looking up at the beloved poster that hung pride of place over their desks.

"True, the Swayze has probably ruined other men for you," Britney replied sagely. "But, I dunno, I just want you to have fun! You're the sweetest, most romantic person I know Téa, and I want you to find a guy that appreciates you."

"Not all of us can have Chazz, or Chad, whatever his name is," Téa replied with a grin.

"It's Brad actually and it was just the once, well twice, but actually I've got my eye on Markus in the second year, ugh have you seen him doing ballet? No, no," she said suddenly as Téa pulled out some comfortable sweats, "we go full Flashdance, legwarmers and all. Corinne spotted Cruella still prowling around even though it's the end of term and I'm tired of being looked down on by that bitch."

"Britney!" Téa chided. Her roommate could be so full-on at times!

"Okay, sorry, but if Miss 'Former Prima Ballerina' turns up her nose one more time at my 80's style I'm going to strangle her with my headband! She can't say anything now, term doesn't start again for another two weeks. We're emancipated women!"

Téa giggled, Britney's vendetta against their severe ballet tutor was already legendary despite only being two terms into the first year. "Just remember to 'work the core!'" she replied in a clipped British accent as she slipped on some more acceptable clothing. No leg-warmers though, no matter how cold it is outside!

Britney flexed her thighs and abdominals obscenely. "Indeed, 'work the core, Miss Gardner, work it!' She's not even British," she continued, releasing the stretch and falling on her beanbag with a bounce, "she just puts it on for effect."

"Probably," Téa agreed, brushing out her hair and thinking of her British friend Bakura and how polite he was. I wonder if he's doing okay? The last she'd heard from their private chat group (ironically named 'the Dweeb Patrol') was that he was studying Psychology in England. It was so like Bakura to lay his own shadows to rest by helping others with theirs.

"So are you sure you're going to be alright?" Britney said, thankfully forgetting the previous enquiry about Atem.

"I'll be fine," Téa said as she shifted bundles of skimpy lycra and sweaters and dumped them back on her friend's bunk. "It's just two weeks, plus I need to practice. You know I struggle in Latin class."

"And ace every other. Hon, you'll be fine! You sure you can't make it to Cali with me? My parents have a house by the beach. It's not going to be as hot as Florida, but it'll be a damn sight better than here."

"I love New York," Téa retorted, "besides you know I don't have the cash. This city's expensive, the scholarship only covers so much."

"So you're going to spend your first Spring Break slaving away in a diner and leaving me all alone?" Britney pouted, curling upside down on the beanbag like Mr Snuffles when he wanted his belly rubbed.

"I'm sure you'll find some nice company to keep you amused," Téa grinned.

"Hey maybe you will too, never know," Britney winked back.

"Or she could try and sneak into Swan Lake," Corinne said from the doorway, brandishing her hair straighteners. They both turned to look at the manicured Latina girl. "The premiere's in a few days."

"There's no way she'll get into that, it's completely sold out for weeks. Not even the tutors can get tickets, let alone to the premiere," Britney replied. "It's disgraceful, just a bunch of oldies and corporate suits going, bet they don't even appreciate ballet while us students need to see it."

Téa glanced sadly up at another poster on her side of the bedroom. Ndreka Ezemonye - the Nigerian ballet star that had taken the world by storm - perched on one toe, caught in a moment of perfect balance as if suspended from the ceiling. The stark white of her swan dress contrasted with her black skin, a single diamond glittering from her ear. Everything Téa longed to be. There was no chance she would see that show for months, if at all.

Her phone rang, interrupting the dour mood.

"Mokuba?" Téa said, reading the call ID over the cheery notes of Pharrell Williams' 'Happy'.

"A boy?" Britney tried to peer over her shoulder as she and Corinne jived to the ringtone.

"A twelve-year old boy." Téa gave her a flat look and marched out of the room to get some space.

"Cougar!" Corinne called after her and Téa gave them both a disgusted glance over her shoulder. She picked her way through the lounge before finding a clear spot that wasn't occupied by suitcases, clothes or discarded rubbish from last night's revels. They're going to leave me with this mess, aren't they? "Hey Mokuba! How are you? This is a surprise!"

"Hey Téa!" came the sing-song reply as Mokuba's face lit up the phone screen. "I'm great! Guess what? Seto's back!"

"That's amazing!" Téa gasped. "You must be so happy! Is he okay?"

"Perfect as always!" Mokuba beamed.

"See, I told you," she said. "I knew he couldn't leave you forever." Long enough though…

Mokuba's grin was almost splitting his face. "You were right as always. Annnd we have even better news!"

"Tell me," she said as she shifted some empty pizza boxes aside and lay on the couch.

"We're coming to New York!"

"No way!" Téa almost dropped the phone, "how come?"

Mokuba shrugged, "Seto's got some big new project. He's keeping it close to his chest though."

"Already? I thought he'd want to rest first."

"You know my brother!" Mokuba laughed. "He's not happy unless he's doing something."

Téa chuckled. "That's sounds like him! So will you have any free time? Can we meet up?"

"I hope so. But I don't know how much time I'll have and you know…" he looked awkward, "I have to prioritise Seto. He's just got back and-"

"You don't have to explain that to me, Mokuba," Téa said. "You take as much time as you need. If it turns out you can't meet up then I'll just be glad to know a friend is close by."

Mokuba squeezed his fists in earnest. "Téa I promise I'll do my best to see you! Okay, promise!"

"Pinky promise?" she smiled.

"Pinky promise!" He held out his little finger and she waggled hers at the screen. "We'll be there in a day or so and have to get settled in, but I call or text you, okay?"

"I look forward to it. But remember - no pressure."

He grinned at her again and she couldn't help laughing at the joy in his little face. All the months of anxiety and doubt had melted away and it was as though the sun itself shone through him. I can't help wanting the best for you, kiddo, she thought. "Take care!"

"See ya!"

The call ended and Téa lay there still smiling. The Manhattan skyline stretched out before her through the lounge window, sunlight breaking through the overcast February sky. Maybe my Spring Break might not be so bad after all…

Oh Téa…all I can say is that it's going to be…eventful…

I hope you enjoyed my take on Téa's new life and friends in New York. I had a lot of fun looking into Juilliard and remembering my own arts training as well as previous visits to NYC.

Author's Note: (Damn these things are getting long!)

1) Updates - Sadly I'm finding I can't keep to the current schedule, I'm living in a stressful home situation which isn't helping my health, and also I'm not being able to work on my original writing as this fic is trying to turn into 20/25+ chapter beast. Updates may be sporadic so follow this fic if you don't want to miss them. I'd really like to finish this or at least make major progress on it so if you are enjoying it, please let me know! I can't tell you how inspiring it is, esp in times like these, to get your positive feedback and encouragement.

2) Kaiba's characterisation - I wanted to clarify why he may seem a little petty/immature at times. First a reminder that I am blending the manga and anime, sub and dub. The manga is the primary basis for DSoD where Kaiba is harsher as a character. I agree that while I loved many elements of DSoD, his regression in character development compared to the anime can feel disappointing.

Secondly, the creator Kazuki Takahashi specifically said in an interview for DSoD that Kaiba had regressed somewhat due to Atem's departure, he needs a foil to work against and has lost that counterpoint. Someone also made an excellent point on Reddit that feeling betrayed/abandoned by Atem was a major unconscious factor influencing Kaiba's behaviour during DSoD. Kaiba never wanted to make friends, he actively fought against it for much of the series, but Yugi/Atem in particular kept lambasting him with the Power of Friendship TM and in the end he did form a deep if combative bond with Atem and changed a lot as a result. Then in the* manga* Atem left without a word. He not only left, he chose someone else to defeat him after affirming to Kaiba in Battle City that their rivalry would continue on. Given that Kaiba's history is formed of everyone he cared about or trusted (bar Mokuba and Roland) abandoning (dying) or betraying him, I actually think that hit very deeply and partly explains his inability to let go of the need to defeat Atem as much as their Egyptian past.

Finally I'm also working off the premise of how he would react if he did everything in DSoD, got to the Afterlife and still lost. Basically what I'm saying is if he seems petty and immature in this area then there is a deeper reason for that ;)

3) Rules of the Game - Several of you have raised excellent points about how Kaiba seems clueless about the irony of attempting to seduce Tea despite the fact he has no experience and poor social skills…yeah it's Seto Kaiba - his ego is not going to let him think otherwise, esp in that department! He is 100% that guy that looks down on intimate relations but knows he could be a stud if he wanted to be. To be fair he does seem to have a natural aptitude for most things and well… he is gorgeous and wealthy which seems to work for most people…However he's chosen Téa - who not only knows him and dislikes his bullsh*t, but has extremely strong emotional intelligence and integrity. We'll see what happens there…Oh and lol he's decided he's def going to win on the wooing front against ATEM - the guy that spends his whole time when he isn't playing card-games making soulful pronouncements as well as being voiced by DAN GREEN. Can't say Kaiba doesn't love a challenge!