*Author's Note & Disclaimer*

Hiii Everyone! I'm finally here after 9 months with Chapter 6! It's been a harsh several months, but I'm coping. I hope you guys are safe & well rested at home during this COVID-19 Pandemic. As I'm writing this, it is May 14th, 2020 today. I'm currently on Day 60 of the QUARANTINE/LOCKDOWN in the TriState (NY, NJ & CT) in America. Sending my prayers for patience & strength to all of you at this time! I updated Chapters 1-5 (in case you saw the email notifications popped up in your inbox today) because Google Drive now has Grammar & Spell Check available. So I had to do some revisions. Chapter 6 below will be a bit longer, depending on the device that you are using to read this, as it will involve Seto & Téa finally meeting! I hope you enjoy reading this! :)

Some popular places mentioned here from New York City are:

-Empire State Building (located in Midtown Manhattan)

-Au Za'atar (Popular Lebanese restaurant located in East Village)

-NYU Langone Medical Center (located in Kips Bay by FDR Drive nearby Midtown Manhattan)

All copyrighted characters solely belong to Kazuki Takahashi, Rumiko Takahashi, & Tetsuya Nomura as well as all copyrighted products & consumers used within this story rightfully belong to their respective Companies & Affiliates. All original characters, themes, & plots being used & written solely belong to Taz Tehrani. Any changes towards names, locations, or objects is only used for fictional purposes, with or without alphabetical translations of other languages. Viewer Discretion is strongly advised. Please feel free to review & comment. To get to know more about me, please go forward to my bio & visit my Instagram page xoladytaz. Thank you!

"Talking/Quotes"

'Thoughts/Flashbacks'

Songs/Translations

Location/Date/Time

"Emphasis"

-Social Media/Text Messages-

Chapter 6: Royal Blue

Domino City, Tokyo, Japan

May 11th, 2018, 6:15am

Seto packed the last of his clothes in his suitcase just as Noah walked into his room. "So you're really going to go after her?"

Seto looked up at his younger brother. "Yes I am. I think it's high time I make sense of these flashbacks from the past & see where life goes with her. If I don't, I'm sure I'm bound to get tortured by my own dragons."

Noah smirked at the thought. "Yeah, pretty sure ol' blue eyes would strike you with her own lightning blast. Do you think she might also be having any of these flashbacks of the past herself?" He went over next to Seto to help him pick up one of the luggages he was taking with him. Seto went still for a minute to take it all in. He would hope she wasn't having flashbacks. Only because it would sort of ruin all his plans to see her during this trip.

"I can't say for sure if she does or doesn't have the same flashbacks. But I'd prefer it if she really isn't. The point of this trip would become shit." He surveyed the room to see if he was missing anything to take with him. Everything he'd need on the plane was in his metal briefcase & the rest of his outfits & such were in his luggages. Seeing nothing else important to take with him, he turned to leave his bedroom with Noah. "Can you possibly keep Mokuba grounded while I'm gone?"

Noah walked with him towards the stairs to go to their foyer downstairs, & huffed, "Please! He wouldn't even stay grounded if you locked him up in the space station. You should've left him up there instead if you didn't want him to be up to anything. I'm not the one that actually needs a babysitter. He does!"

"I know you don't. Except he can't stay away from you since I brought you back. So you two peas in a pod are stuck together while I'm gone." He heard Noah groan in annoyance next to him as they stepped into the foyer. & then a bark. Then the shuffling of paws. Then a cry of whimpering. He looked down when he felt the furball attached to his right leg & peered at bright amber gold eyes that looked just like the Taisho's in their humanoid demon forms. He really didn't need this right now. "Not now, Spike…."

Spike Kaiba, the current Kaiba family's 3 month old purebred German Shepherd puppy. Much to Seto's dismay, he knew there'd be a dog in the house after he brought Noah back, remembering Noah's flashbacks in the Virtual World of him having his own cyber puppy that Gozaburo gave him. He just didn't think it'd be so soon. Though Seto was not a fan of half the canine species, their little furball grew on him when Noah brought him home. It took a week at most, as well as Seto threatening to cut their allowances while they're away at Balamb Garden, but Seto gave up trying to give the dog back when all 3 of them gave him the sad puppy eyes. All 3 meaning Mokuba, Noah, & Spike, at the same time.

Noah smiled at the little pup. "Come on, Spike. He'll be back soon, with puppy gifts in tow for you." Spike barked with joy, his fluffy tail wagging, tongue slightly out. He looked back up at Seto. "It's too bad you can't fly on the Blue Eyes Jet or any of the Kaiba Corp planes in comfort going towards New York City."

Seto placed his metal briefcase down & held his hands out for Spike to jump in them. The furball happily obliged & Seto picked him up. "They were way overdue for a refresh & renovations. Besides, they'll be done by the time I decide to come back after Téa's graduation. I have to work on KaibaLand in America, so being at the headquarters in New York is convenient. I can ride in our own plane when I'm coming back to Japan."

He poked at Spike's snoot, the puppy giving his finger a lick. "You!" Spike gave a second lick. "You better not shit all over the house & rip any of the furniture with your teeth while I'm gone. Do you understand?!" He tried to sound as intimidating as possible for the pup, but Spike ignored his intimidation by biting lightly on Seto's finger. He groaned & turned back to Noah. "Noah, if he doesn't learn how to stop biting by the time I come back, he's going to Balamb Garden with both of you."

Noah looked at him skeptically. "They don't allow pets in the dorms over there. I read it in the Garden's manual."

Seto took his finger out of Spike's mouth & started massaging the puppy's ears. Spike relaxed into his touch & nestled closer in his arms. Seto resisted the cuteness. The puppy had to learn very soon as he was starting to get bigger. "So what? Angelo's there & no one kicked her out."

Noah sweatdropped because he knew it was not Angelo that Seto disliked, but rather the Australian Shepherd's owner. "Oh come on! You know Angelo won't get kicked out because Rinoa is Squall's girlfriend." Seto really disliked Rinoa Caraway-Heartilly with a passion for many reasons, & at times, even tells Squall not to trust her so much throughout the years. Though Noah thinks it's a bit much to loathe a Sorceress, not many people in Balamb & Esthar really even liked her either….since she was annoying.

"Heartilly couldn't even keep herself together when they battled Ultimecia. Not to mention she almost kills her dog trying to feed her white chocolate. Any sane person with common sense knows not to feed chocolate to any domestic dogs today." Yup, Seto really hated her.

"Sesshomaru, Inuyasha & the rest of the Taisho family eat chocolate!" Noah chastised.

"They're all dog demons. Not domesticated dogs. And Inuyasha has human blood running in his veins as well. So it wouldn't bother him in any way at all." Seto quipped back. "Heartilly is just a spoiled fucking bitch. Her true colors will show & I hope Squall realizes it sooner than later. Sesshomaru's not fond of her either." Remembering Sesshomaru's & Inuyasha's words that she had started to smell like another person's scent on her body sometimes made things uneasy. The one time after Sesshomaru mentioned this in front of Squall, Rinoa learned to be careful about washing the unknown person's scent off of her before coming around the Taisho's.

Not to mention her attitude & spoiled princess nature annoyed them all. Squall would've been better off with any other woman in the world instead of Rinoa. They find it hard to understand how Squall even tolerates Rinoa the past 6 years. They even knew of her father, General Fury Caraway, who has a strong dislike of Squall & Squall's family altogether. General Caraway even wanted Rinoa to break it off with Squall, but she wouldn't budge even if her treatment towards Squall was wrong in their eyes.

Noah knew he had to talk to Squall about having Spike with them when they would stay at Balamb. He just wasn't sure if he would be allowed to by Headmaster Cid. "I'll talk to Squall about it later when he comes over the weekend. Just ease up on Rinoa a bit, will ya?"

Seto glared at him. "Never. That bitch can drop dead. She's not important or even relevant to the prophecy. So that makes her Sorceress status complete bullshit. Especially when she didn't earn her powers through hard work. It was just passed on to her so that she can be used."

Both heard a loud sleepy yawn come from the top of the stairs & a soft plush violet blanket covering the person's black mop of hair & body. Mokuba walked down the stairs gingerly, heavy sleep still evident in his walk & yawn. He wanted to sleep in before going late to school, but he could never miss saying bye to Seto whenever Seto flew off for longer than a weekend. Spike barked in Mokuba's direction. "Morning to you too, Spikey." Mokuba yawned loudly again.

"Your breath still smells like last night's dinner." Noah covered his nose, trying to swat away the air from Mokuba's mouth. "You should lay off the onions, Mokie."

Mokuba let the plush blanket fall from his head, revealing very messy, frazzled, black hair. "You can't eat lamb gyro over rice without onions. It's just uncalled for." Any type of gyro meat topped on top of saffron rice with falafel, white sauce, pita bread, onions, & salad has been a favorite of his since he went to New York City the first time several years ago. "The crunch of the onions is perfect in every bite of the meat & rice."

Getting out of a meeting with Seto one day had made Mokuba's eyes look across the street at the many street food vendors & his stomach started growling so bad. He told Seto off that he was getting food at that very minute & ran quickly across the street to the halal gyro stand. After ordering his combo gyro platter of lamb, falafel, & chicken along with the rest of the side items, he paid for his food & Seto's before he rushed back across the street to where Seto & their limo were waiting. They ate their gyro platters in the limo while being driven back to their hotel. Mokuba fell in love with the taste of the gyro platter. Seto wasn't too far from the same thought. But Mokuba loved it to the point where he'd eat it every day while he was in New York City. Seto liked the taste just as much, but did not choose to eat it daily like him.

"Yeah, but you use way too much onions any time you put gyro on your own plate. A few rings is enough. Not half of the whole onion." Noah quipped back. Spike barked in agreement, scrunching his snoot away from Mokuba & into Seto's chest.

Seto looked sternly at Mokuba. "You're going to get ready for school after I leave & actually make it to school on time today." He heard Mokuba whine. "Save it. You're graduating in a few weeks. Make the last days of high school last, PROPERLY. Study for your finals too." He put Spike down & signaled the butler to take his luggages to Roland.

"Ok, as long as you start going out with Téa & finally get it on, then I will." Mokuba grinned at him. Seto narrowed his eyes at him & lightly smacked the back of Mokuba's head. "Come on, big bro! Take it easy. I'll study for the finals. Besides, you planned several babysitters for me anyway." Mokuba started massaging the back of his head where Seto smacked him.

"I'm warning you, Mokuba. Behave. Especially with Squall & the others. & nothing less than straight A's for your final grades." Seto warned him. It was too early for his kid brother to be a pervert. The butler came back in along with Roland.

"Master Kaiba, we're ready to leave. No flights are delayed at Narita & the skies are reported to be cleared of storms." Roland told him. "You should land on time at JFK airport by 10am eastern time."

"Thank you Roland. Now as for you two," he turned back to his brothers, "Get ready for school, behave, study, train Spike, & NO HOUSE PARTIES. Is that clear?" Noah & Mokuba groaned, but nodded their heads in yes. Spike barked in agreement. Noah bent down to pick up the pup before he could escape going outside. "Good. I'll call later before I get on board." Both gave him a one arm hug, no thanks to each carrying something in their arms & Seto walked out.

"Bye Seto!" They both yelled out, closing the door to the mansion.

New York City, New York, United States

May 11th, 2018. 1:14PM

The city was bustling with people as the weekend was going to start. Thankfully the skies were clear of rain clouds with the sun casting down warm rays at the city of five boroughs inhabiting more than eight million residents. Téa was ecstatic having finished the last final of the week this morning. The weather report said it was going to be a very sunny weekend with temperatures from the high 60's to low 70's Fahrenheit. The warm air breezed around her, fluttering her dress lightly.

She chose a great day to wear her new sundress. An off the shoulder, short-sleeved royal blue top that was attached to a waist-to-mid-thigh flared white skirt printed with blue roses on it. To finish her outfit look, she paired it with strappy nude heels & pale gold jewelry. She even wore light makeup consisting of ash brown smokey eyeshadow, thin black winged liquid eyeliner, HudaBeauty lashes, mascara, light bronze contouring, ivory highlight, & honey pink matte liquid lipstick. Elena did a really nice job doing her makeup this morning before they left for school.

Speaking of Elena, they were supposed to meet for lunch after Téa got out of her Physician's office. She looked up & noticed she was two blocks away from the Empire State Building. While walking towards the famous building, she pulled out her iPhone to call her.

After a few rings, Elena finally picked up. "Hey hun! Sorry about that. I just finished up work over here. How did the doctor's appointment go?" Elena asked.

Téa sighed. "Hiiii! It went well. Apparently they want me to start the pill rather than me trying to get the metal rod in my arm. Because I've never been sexually active yet, I should start with a simple method first to get my body to ease into it. How was your final?"

"It was a drag. I hated it. I just want to know why the person who invented math ever thought it'd be a great idea to implement that shit into everything in our lives?! Like seriously. Why torture us like that with equations of numbers & letters put together that's going to be so fucking useless in our lives after we get out of school?" Elena complained. Téa can hear the intercom of the cardiac building at NYU Langone Medical Center fading out as she heard Elena leave it. "You hungry after all of that today?"

"Yes I am. We both need food. I'm craving Lebanese food so bad. Plus we're dressed up very nicely for today's weather with an awesome lunch." Téa grinned in delight. Ever since they saw Instagram posts of the tableside shawarmas trending at Au Za'atar, they've made it their plan to finally try it out when both of their finals were finished for their last semester in undergrad. "We don't necessarily need a reservation there, do we?

"No, not now at least. I don't think that they're so busy around this time over there. They'll probably be busier around 4pm when everyone starts getting out of work." The images of tableside shawarma, mezze platters, & mixed grilled meats had Elena's mouth salivating since she woke up this morning. She made it her mission to snap perfect angles of all their food for social media. "We also have to discuss our flight plans for Japan, too. I'm two blocks away."

It was now close to mid May. It didn't occur to Téa's mind that they'd have to purchase their tickets soon before they'd start skyrocketing prices in June. But the problem was that she had been so busy studying when she got out of school & work to even pay attention. "I hear you. At least we can clearly look at it now without worrying for finals anymore. Do you have any specific date when you'd like to leave?"

"Yes, preferably mid-June for me. You already know why." She groaned.

Téa felt bad that just when they could start enjoying their time after graduation, Elena had to start fasting. She was used to it in the years that she's lived with her over here. But during graduation season, it sucked because that's when most people feel relieved to celebrate their hearts out. Poor Elena.

Elena continued. "I mean, it won't be hard to fast. But it would just delay my time to have fun."

"No worries, Elena. The only sad part on your end is that you don't get any caffeine for thirty days." Téa giggled. "I'll be prepared for the bitchier side of you!" She can picture Elena sweatdrop on the other end.

As she kept walking to the front of the Empire State Building entrance, she didn't notice the weirdo being chased by the police behind her. Nor did she notice the familiar figure coming out near her side. She was oblivious to everything but her phone call at the moment, only hearing Elena's voice on the other line.

"Not funny, Téa. You know how much coffee means to my soul. Anyways, I'm very close right now. So I'll han-" Téa didn't hear Elena's finishing sentence when a passerby screamed out loud in front of her field of vision.

"MISS! WATCH OUT!"

Téa stared in confusion because there were plenty of people walking around her. But as she tried to turn her head to see if they meant it to someone else behind her, she didn't get to fully see who it was as she got shoved really hard out of the way. Her heels couldn't keep her balanced on the ground, & her hair flew all around her face & body. Her tote bag loosened from her arms as she was falling & she reflexed her arms to guard her face before she hit the concrete on her skull. Panic struck her as the voices around her blurred out & her eyes didn't see the strong masculine arms that came out to catch her from hitting the ground.

She was zoned out & couldn't feel reality for what felt like hours. But it must've only been a minute. She was shaking, not realizing she didn't feel concrete under the skin of her forearms. The figure holding her held her closer when he felt her shaking. Her mind was a blur, til she heard a voice. Distant, yet near.

"Ma'am, are you ok?" The masculine figure asked her. She still had her face covered by her arms & her hair. He was sure she still was panicking. Something felt very familiar about her.

Téa slowly clutched at the suit covered chest & opened her eyes, her face still obscured by her bangs & long hair. She steadied her breathing & tried to get her senses to come back to a normal level. She saw white, and blue, and even more white. Her vision cleared, seeing it was a business suit with a white blazer, blue shirt, & a white tie. The voice of the figure was slowly registering in her mind. Her eyes went to the blazer's pocket. 'K...C..?' Her mind flashed with memories of someone familiar who wore this same suit in the past, at an event. 'KC...Grand Prix...Kaiba Corp Grand Prix. ….Kaiba Corp.. Kaiba…?!' Everything started to come together in her head. Her mouth could only utter a name. "...Kaiba…?"

The masculine figure, stunned at hearing the sound of her familiar voice saying his name, loosened his hold on the woman in his arms just a teeny, tiny bit. Now he really took a look at her. Her height at just below his head & neck. The color of her shoulders, slender arms, & manicured hands looking a healthy, warm-toned shade of fair. Her hair, her straight chocolate colored hair.. & bangs..? His mind flashbacked to the only woman who could have these features that he had paid attention to… 'It couldn't be….? His heart started beating fast at the thought & feeling. "...Gardner….?"

She looked up at hearing her name, her azure blue eyes looking into the man's own azure blue eyes, which were equally surprised looking at her. Eyes that she knew by heart & memory. She clutched at the blazer a bit tighter. "Kaiba!" The one & only person she's been haunted by in her dreams & thoughts was right here in front of her.

"Gardner, are you ok?!" Seto felt Téa's hands clutch tighter at his blazer, feeling she was still panicked by her fall. He stood up straighter, taking her with him, noticing their posture was awkward when he caught her from hitting the concrete.

"...I…I'm….I'm not on the ground.." She must've been shoved way too hard due to her inability to form a full coherent sentence in front of the man who she thought of a lot lately.

Seto raised his eyebrow at this. Trying his best to drown out the voices of the people around them, he took another look at her. No scratches or bruises from the hard shove on her face, shoulders, or arms. He remembered she was about to turn around to look behind her, but he didn't recognize her at that time until now. "Yes, I caught you on time. Are you feeling dizzy? Or lost? Do you know where you are?" He asked.

Téa got her mind to focus. She was walking. Talking on the phone with Elena to come meet her here in front of the Empire State Building. A person screamed in front of her. She was shoved hard. Kaiba caught her from falling. "I'm not hurt...I was talking….Empire State Building. Elena was coming. I'm not hurt..I'm ok." She stayed looking into his eyes. Her heart wanted to jump out of her chest.

Seto still looked with concern at her. "Good. Your speech is coming out normal. Were you coming here?"

She noticed how hard she was holding on to his white blazer. "Oh my god! I'm sorry, Kaiba!" She let go & tried to smooth out the wrinkles her hands made. Now she was panicked & freaking out.

"Gardner, don't worry about it. Now were you com-", he didn't get to finish his sentence when he heard a voice call out her name.

"TÉA!" They both turned their heads to the direction of the voice. Both see a woman running towards them, with her hair flying wildly behind her. "OH MY GOD, TÉA! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"

Téa called out to the woman. Seto watched on, realizing this was the woman Téa mentioned. "Elena!"

Elena stopped running when she came two feet close to them. Trying to catch her breath, she tried to speak again. "I saw what happened when I was about to hang up on you. Holy shit, are you ok?" Still catching her breath, she crouched a bit, put her hands on her thighs, & steadied herself, no thanks to her also wearing high heels for work today.

Seto looked at the woman named Elena. Parts of his flashbacks of the past popped up in his mind. He took in Elena's features. Long dark brown hair, light-medium chai colored skin, donned in an olive knee-length midi dress with nude heels that hugged her curvy figure. She was about the same height as Téa, but what shook him were her eyes. Icy gray eyes. Just like the woman that had appeared in his past life along with Téa. '...She looks just like her. Even the name is similar. Is she….really alive?'

"Elena, I'm fine. I'm ok. I didn't know there were people behind me chasing someone." Téa let her know.

"Shit, those cops were really after that guy. They jumped him at the end of the block, too," she pointed backwards behind her, "right when I started running towards you." She looked down for a minute, noticing Téa had dropped her iPhone in the midst of her fall. She bent down a bit to pick it up, & stood up inspecting it. "Guess your iPhone is fine too. Only the screen protector is cracked. But it's better than your actual screen being broken & shattered."

Téa sighed in relief. "Great. I'm saved from getting a new one."

Elena took in that moment to notice that her best friend was being held by some guy. In his arms, no less. Though it looked more intimate rather than platonic. He was very tall. If they weren't wearing heels, she was sure that they'd be much shorter standing next to him. He had soft chestnut brown hair, sun kissed complexion, noticeable muscle definition underneath his white suit attire. But his eyes. She noticed they were also the same shade of azure blue as Téa's but his eyes held some coldness to them. His suit definitely matched his eyes. & with Téa's outfit as well. 'Now that's ironic.'

"...Um...Hi! Thank you for catching my best friend from falling on the ground." Elena told him.

Seto shook off the thoughts going on his mind, seeing that the woman Elena was actually talking to him. "It's no problem." He turned back to Téa, not realizing he was still holding her in his arms. "Who would've known that the next time I'd ever see you, I'd have to save you again, Gardner?"

Elena blinked her eyes at him. "'Gardner'? Who are you?" She looked to Téa. "Do you know him, Téa?"

Téa started laughing nervously. 'Why me?!' She could feel a blush starting to bloom on her cheeks underneath her makeup. "..Hehe..Yes.. I know him.." She felt more nervous by the second. "Kaiba, this is my best friend & roommate, Elena Shadowze." She turned from Seto to Elena. "Elena, this is Seto Kaiba."

Elena gasped very loud. Putting her hand over her busty cleavage & her eyes widening in shock. Seto looked at her, surprised that she really didn't know who he was. Téa silently prayed for Elena to not say something sarcastic. "Oh my god!" Elena laughed. "Wow! You are right! He is very fucking beautiful!"

It was at this moment that Téa really wished she would've fallen on the concrete instead. 'WHY ME?!'