HIDDEN SECRETS

"I'll be right back," Tea said, looking at Joey. "Stay right here and don't move."

Joey shrugged, watching her run upstairs and out of sight. " Got more important things ta do den see what ya weird boyfriend is doin up dere." He mumbled, before he eyed his completed sandwich with starry eyes, devouring it in two whole bites.

"Ah, dat hits da spot."

Oh.My.God! Tea thought, throwing the door to her parents' bedroom open to see Celtic with his right fist buried in the wall, the mirror that hung just nearby, over her mother's make-up vanity, shattered in pieces on the floor by his feet.

"Celtic..." Her eyes settled on him. "W-What's going on here?"

Ignoring her, he yanked his fist from the wall, leaving a deep indent where his fist had collided with the walls surface.

She rushed to his side, wary of the glass on the floor, reaching for his bloody hand instantly, ready to nurse his fingers that were bruised near the knuckles, but he pulled his hand away before she could check the damage.

"Celtic--" She started.

Leave me; I am fine.

She swallowed hard; he didn't sound at all pleased with her. She stared at him nervously, noting the tenseness in his posture. She never knew this violent side of him, and, personally, she liked him better when he was indifferent and lethargic when it came to anything and anyone.

But now. It's like...like he's experiencing feelings. Could it really be possible? Could Celtic, who was once a card, be feeling anger? Hate?

She took another step closer to him, her eyes focused on his face, admiring his perfect profile in vain as he turned his head further to the left, blocking her view.

"What's wrong? Are you...mad?" She didn't know why, but the thought of him being mad at her made her panicky.

Leave, Ignoring his voice, she grabbed his forearm, forcing him to turn and face her, desperate to find out what was wrong with him.

"I won't leave," She said confidently, tilting her chin back, showing him she was determined to stay. But the minute her eyes met his, she regretted looking into them.

She searched his eyes, as he allowed her to, unable to decipher the jumbled emotions that burned in them, making them darker than normal.

"Something's wrong, and I want you to tell me what it is." She managed, finally, finding her voice.

He shut his eyes and turned at an angle where his face was directed toward the wall.

You side with him...why?

His voice was loud and clear in her mind, and she did all she could to resist reading the emotions buried just beneath the surface of them.

"I didn't side with anyone." She defended, faintly getting angry. "I just didn't want him to see you." She reasoned.

You're ashamed of me. It was more of a statement than a question.

She nearly jumped at the accusation. "I'm not ashamed of you!" She cried, incredulous, lowering her voice when she remembered Joey was downstairs, and he could be listening to everything.

"I just don't want Yugi to take you away." Shemumbled sourly, blushing. He probably didn't understand anything she was feeling right now.

"I really...enjoy your company." She continued, turning her back to him.

"You've grown on me, and I don't know why." She bowed her head, fisting her hands in her pajama shorts. "At first you were nothing but a card to me. But now..."

She shook her head. "Forget it, you wouldn't understand." She bit her tongue from saying anything else.

Understand? Without looking, she felt him turn to her, his eyes staring deeply at her from behind, making her fidget uncomfortably

"You have feelings for me." He stated, surely, in that deep, monotone voice.

"I..." She scowled at him. Why did he look so sure of himself? The nerve! Honestly, who does he take me for?

"What?" She demanded, when he continued to look at her.

He said nothing, but did not look away from her. She blushed at the intensity of his stare.

She gave the side of her head a light jab. What am I thinking? I've just known him for a few days, and already I can't stop blushing every time he looks at me like that...

She put a hand to her chest, feeling it pound beneath her fingers. And every time I'm around him, my heart speeds up. This didn't mean she loved him. Did it?

No, she loved Yugi. Yugi. Not him. Not Celtic.

She gave her head a wild shake. "I see you as a friend." She confessed, but kept her eyes away from his. She was afraid if she looked at him, he'd see her own doubt.

Celtic isn't...he isn't even real. The minute he's found out, he'll be a card again. She bit her lip. Am I selfish for not telling Yugi? Joey? The guys? Am I

She twiddled her fingers. What if he wants to go back to being a card, and I'm holding him back? She shut her eyes tightly. I don't have a right to keep him here with me. But...

"Yugi's away; I'm just looking out for him till he comes back. That's all." She reasoned aloud.

She finally looked up at Celtic. No, you're not being fair, Tea. You've not once asked him who he's wanted to stay with. For all you know, he'd be better off with Yugi's grandpa.

"Celtic, I..." She fumbled around nervously with her wording. "Maybe you'd be safer at Yugi's place, with Mr. Mutou."

She spread her arms out slightly. "I don't know anything about taking care of a ca---" She quickly stopped, then corrected herself. "...you. In fact, I don't know anything about taking care of someone else other than myself."

She bowed her head. "What I'm trying to say is...maybe you should--"

I refuse. His voice hissed in her mind, huskier than normal.

She let out an exasperated sigh. "Just listen to me, okay?"

She stomped her foot when he turned his back to her. "Don't ignore me! I'm trying to be serious here! I'm trying to think about what you want. Not me."

She gasped the instant the last two words left her mouth. Idiot! How could you let that slip?

It was all thanks to that dumb kiss. It was giving her all these headaches, and now everything was confusing.

First Yugi leaving to America. Now this She couldn't handle the responsibility anymore. Keeping Celtic a secret was just too much to bare on her shoulders.

"Celtic." She called, but he kept his back to her, ignoring her presence all together. "Celtic!" Ohh! This is really frustrating! I can't believe he's ignoring me like this! Of all times!

Her cheeks puffed out, and her face turned red in anger. He's being totally unfair. He won't even listen to me!

"If you're going to act like this..." She hesitated, but when he didn't turn she gave up, and just let it out.

"I'm not taking care of you anymore!" She shouted, turning on her heel.

Before she was fully out of the room, she looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Get all your things. We're going to Yugi's."

No.

Her mouth hung open in shock. "W-What?" Did I hear right? Did Celtic just say no?

She turned around to scold him, do anything in her power to convince him otherwise, only to find herself wrapped up in his arms.

Tea blushed the instant she felt his body come into contact with hers, the heat, emanating from him, comforting and, oddly enough, soothing her frantic thoughts.

"Celtic? What are..."

I will not leave. He said firmly in her mind, moving his arms tightly around her shoulders.

Lowering her eyes, she stared blankly at the fabric of his shirt, faintly inhaling its sandalwood scent. His scent. The scent she'd secretly grown to love.

"But I...I can't do it Celtic." She said, desperate to get him to understand. "I'm not the one who should be watching over you."

"It should be Yugi. Or...or Yugi's grandpa. Maybe even Joey or Tristan. But not me. I'm just not cut out for this." She confessed, willingly letting it all come off her shoulders.

What had she been thinking the minute she took Celtic to her house? Oh, right, nothing. I was so freaked out I just did what came natural.

She bit her lower lip. She got to know the real Celtic. Not just the fighter for duels. But that aloof, indifferent elf that was protective and caring deep down. The elf she was slowly, undeniably, falling for.

What am I saying? This is crazy! I'm not falling for Celtic! I don't even know him that well! He doesn't even know me that well! We're two, totally different people.

It just wouldn't work out. Even if she did, one day, come to admit it, which she wouldn't-- because she was not falling for a card, elf, duel monster, whatever he was!--they were too different.

She found her own arms moving around his waist, pulling him closer to her. But I can't help want to enjoy him while he's still here...still real.

She buried her face more firmly into his shirt. It doesn't mean I like him. Just because I like having him around doesn't mean I like him as beyond a friend.

"I like Yugi." She assured herself aloud, the words muffled by his chest. Don't I? She stared up at Celtic, barely managing to look him in the eye with their bodies so close together. She wondered what he was thinking about. Rather...

What's he looking at? She followed his gaze to the open door...

Where Joey was standing.

A/N: -.- I know what you're all thinking. Cruel, cruel authoress. But I couldn't help it! It just seemed to end good there. So I just thought, eh, what the heck, might as well have a cliffy! -o- My first good one too. O.o

I honestly don't know when I'll be updating guys. College starts on Monday for me, and I'm going to be crowded with work. BUT, I'll try my hardest to keep updating this fic. As well as my others, which I've delayed in as well. I can't help it! Blame writer's block! Lol.

Well I hope you enjoyed the chappy. And, could Tea really be falling for Celtic? So soon? Does he feel the same?

Celtic: Isn't it obvious?

Tea: You're so confusing! And why did you punch my wall? What am I going to tell my parents?

Celtic: --walks off--

Tea: --waving a fist in the air-- Hey! I'm talking to you! Don't ignore me! Argh!

-0- Well...you know the drill guys! READ AND REVIEW! And who knows, maybe Celtic will stop ignoring Tea, and give her a little something else. ;P