Chapter 2

Téa stared out at the water as the ferry chugged along. She stood alone leaning on the railing, watching the passing landscape. The night was still, and the stars shone brightly in the sky. A lone tear rolled down her cheek as her thoughts whirled in her mind. The fact that Atem was truly gone had just begun to sink in. She might never see her friend again. Her heart ached at the thought and she angerly brushed aside more tears as they fell.

"This seems familiar, although the roles were reversed last time," a deep voice said from behind her.

Téa turned around to see Seto Kaiba standing in the doorway, his arms crossed across his chest.

Téa turned back to the horizon. "Leave Kaiba."

"That also sounds familiar."

She rolled her eyes as his footsteps came closer. She tensed as he came up next to her and placed his hands on the railing, the situation feeling eerily familiar. Every time she thought back to the night of the Kaiba Land party, she wanted to smack herself. She made out with Seto Kaiba. And she liked it.

Téa had no idea what came over her. At first, she had just been trying to get under his skin, to show him that he was a human, the same as the rest of them. But he had done something she hadn't expected which looking back on, really wasn't that shocking. She had challenged him. Of course, he was going to play her game. The guy literally ran a gaming company. But when they kissed…Téa stopped that train of thought quickly.

The conversation with Yugi had been extremely awkward. She had explained that the kiss hadn't meant anything, and it just happened. But that seemed to only make Yugi's sad face become even more down turned. She had managed to convince him not to tell Joey or Tristan, but sometimes she still caught Yugi staring at her and she couldn't help but think it was because of what he witnessed.

Kaiba observed Téa from the corner of his eye. He could see that she had been crying, obviously upset by the Pharaoh's departure. He tapped his finger on the railing, the sound echoing in the quiet night. He couldn't get that night of the party out of his head. She had beat him in a whole new kind of game. And he was determined to even the score.

He turned and leaned back against the railing; his head turned towards her as she focused on the view.

"Why aren't you with the rest of the geek squad?"

"I needed some space."

He chuckled. "That's rich coming from the Friendship Queen herself. I'm surprised you're not in there coddling the pipsqueak."

"Are you serious?" Téa snapped, her head whirling to face him. "We just lost a friend and you're making jokes about it?" She grits her teeth as anger burned in her chest. She couldn't believe he was being so callous.

Kaiba shrugged. "Atem lost so he could move on. Isn't that what you all wanted?"

Téa leaned back at his words. It was what Atem had wanted. To be at peace. While they all respected his wishes…his absence still hurt.

Téa turned back to the water. "That doesn't mean…that doesn't mean that we won't miss him. Or that it doesn't hurt that he's gone." She could feel the tears start to rise again.

She sniffled and Kaiba felt his apprehension rise. This was not the way he wanted this to go. Crying women, he would admit, was not his forte. Usually he would just fire them, but he couldn't exactly do that here. He would need to change his strategy.

"Hmm and here I thought that you were going to tell me that your friendships could withstand anything including different dimensions and even though he's no longer here, you and the dork crew will always be connected," he said sarcastically, lips twitching to refrain from becoming a smile.

A sharp burst of laughter escaped Téa's mouth.

There were still tears brewing in her eyes, but when she looked back at him, she was smiling. "I suppose you're right, Kaiba."

In his own annoying way, she recognized that Kaiba's words were true. Atem would always have a place in her heart. Their friendship was something she could never forget. Even if he wasn't there...she knew that what he had taught her would remain stay with her for the rest of her life. Kaiba's words, surprisingly, brought her some comfort.

The corner of his lips twitched. "Could you say that again for me?"

She rolled her eyes, but her smile remained.

"I'm not saying it again."

"No, really I'd love to hear that again."

"You're such an ass."

Kaiba let out a chuckle which caused Téa to blink in surprise. Kaiba could laugh? Scratch that, Kaiba could smile?

"I've gotten you to admit that I'm right, which I always am by the way, and I've gotten you to swear. Another accomplishment to add to my long list," Seto said, smirking.

"And I got you to laugh. An accomplishment to add to mine," Téa teased.

There was a beat of silence as they smiles died away. Blue gazes locked on each other. Hearts picked up their pace. The wind whipped silently around them as the ferry moved through the water.

Téa cleared her throat and broke the connection. Nervousness fluttered in her stomach. She tried to push how he tasted to the back of her mind.

"You know," Kaiba said, bringing Téa's gaze back to his, "You should be more careful about showing your emotions. It can be dangerous." Kaiba reached out his hand and stroked the apple of her cheek softly. His hand trailed down her jaw until two of his fingers rested under her chin.

"Kaiba..." she breathed.

Téa's breath hitched at the intensity of his gaze. She followed the guide of his hand, lost in his trance and leaned forward. His head bent down to meet hers. Their lips were a hairbreadth away from meeting when an abrupt yelp came from the doorway.

Kaiba shut his eyes and exhaled loudly through his nostrils in frustration. He turned to see Yugi standing in the doorway.

"Really Yugi? Again?" Kaiba said sarcastically. Yugi's cheeks were bright red and Kaiba noticed that Téa's were as well.

Yugi opened his mouth but Kaiba interrupted him before he could speak. "Let me guess, you were looking for Téa?"

Kaiba heard the mutt yell "Did you find her, Yugi?" Kaiba rolled his eyes and dropped his hand from Téa's chin. Joey joined Yugi in the doorway and he looked back and forth between them confusedly.

"Téa, what are you doing out here with him?" Joey asked, eyes narrowed.

"Uh…we were…uh" Téa stammered, glancing back and forth between Joey, Yugi and Kaiba.

Kaiba raised a perfectly shaped brow at her before looking back to Joey.

"We were about to make out before you interrupted us," Kaiba said bluntly.

All three mouths dropped as they stared at him in shock. Kaiba smirked proudly.

"You…and…what?" Joey gaped at them.

Kaiba turned back to Téa. "Come find me when they gather their brain cells again. I understand that it may take a while."

Kaiba pushed off the rail, trench coat billowing behind him, and strolled past Joey and Yugi, both still staring in shock at him as he pushed past them.

Joey and Yugi both turned back to Téa who was stilling gawking at Kaiba's back by the rail.

"KAIBA?!"

Apparently, I'm awful at writing one-shots because I wrote another chapter for this and for my other story Hauntings. So those chapters are going to go up soon. I'm not as happy with this second shot as I was with the first one but it kept bugging me to write it so I did.