NOTE: Hi ya! Wow, this chapter came out fast! I'm just too anxious to give y'all what you want and get rid of the Serenity/Noa thing. Well…most of you, that is. I think you'll be quite surprise by the action she takes to see whether she loves him or not….

Okay, people! I totally forgot about the standings last chapter! Not that it really matters, since not many people have re-voted. But, here they are, nonetheless!

TEA:

Seto- 4

Yugi- 0

Noa- 0

SERENITY:

Mokuba- 3 or 4

Duke- 0

Tristan- 0

Punches air. Yes! Everything's working out according to plan! Yeah! Yes, well…now that I've regained composure, on with the NOTE!

Remember people, Ishizu is totally out of the picture! As is Marik. And Ryou isn't doing the whole "love shenanigan" this summer. I'll explain why in a chapter, when I remember to…. AND REMEMBER TO KEEP VOTING/.RE-VOTING!

So, I also see we have some…thoughts as to who this mysterious "Takanaka" guy is…. Smirks evilly and laughs manically. I'll just have to leave you hanging there for a while, but I'm sure that I can't fool you guys for too long…. You'll see. Maybe Ch. 14?

Ack, you just keeled over at that thought, right? Since we're only halfway there with that thought? Oh well! More hints will come on! And I'm thinking up new stuff for that category! Now, onto the reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Otherwise, if I did, nobody would have ever heard of it. It probably won't surprise you that I'm not the most popular person….

Chapter 7: Truth Be Told

July 4

"HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, NOA!" Mokuba bounced on top of him, at about 6:30 in the morning. Sure, he may have been 15…and mature for his age at times, but it didn't mean he had lost his kid-ish charm and ways.

Noa groaned and rolled over, putting the pillow on top of his head, a trait he had adopted from Seto, "Go away…. What's so special about the 4th of July anyway?"

"It's Independence Day, in America!" Mokuba replied happily.

"So? We're in Japan…" Noa murmured, peeking at the clock beside him. Six thirty? How insane was this kid? Of all the things he shared with Seto, as a blood-related brother, he certainly didn't share the same sleeping patterns.

"Well, Seto and I used to live there, for your information. We used to celebrate it," Mokuba pouted.

"I know. Daddy told me…" Noa mumbled the last part, not really wanting to remind Mokuba of Gozaburo, "The Americans may be awake now, celebrating this glorious event, but it doesn't mean I have to. Now, if you're gonna stay up, go away," Noa pleaded, though the sound was muffled, as his head was still under the pillow.

"Tch, fine," Mokuba plodded out of the room, "He can be so unreasonably grumpy in the morning," Mokuba muttered, as he shut the door.

"I heard that!" he heard his stepbrother reply through the door. Mokuba sighed. He walked down the hall to the stairs. Suddenly, someone popped out from a doorway. Mokuba turned around; to greet the person the same way he had greeted Noa. To his surprise, that person said the same exact thing.

"HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!" Mokuba and Tea yelled at the same time. They laughed after their outburst.

"What do you know about the 4th?" Mokuba inquired to Tea.

"Oh that's right. You were unaware that I used to live in America. Plus, my dad's an American, so he keeps the tradition up," Tea said, still laughing.

"Really? We lived there too! At one point…" Mokuba replied.

"I suppose that's how you came to know about it, then?" Tea inquired.

"Yep! Seto and I!" Mokuba smiled.

"Really now…" Tea answered.

"TEA! MOKUBA!" shouts came from down the hallway, to the left of the staircase. A "GARDNER!" had also been heard in the midst. (Seto wasn't about to yell at his brother like that.) Everyone was poking their heads out of their rooms now, with very irritated looks on their faces.

Ryou suddenly came up the stairs, looking around, "Did I miss something?"

"You only missed Tea and Mokuba waking us up!" Joey yelled from his doorway, rubbing his eyes.

"Again with waking me up! Dang it, Gardner!" Seto shouted.

"Why are you two even up at this ungodly hour?" Tristan inquired.

"I'm surprised Noa hasn't come out," Seto muttered.

"Oh, he's up. I…woke him up," Mokuba looked at the floor.

"Geez, Louise!" Duke spat. Everyone then slammed their doors shut, to try and get back to bed. Tea and Mokuba turned to each other and shrugged their shoulders. Ryou walked over to them.

"So, I guess it's us three for a few hours," he said.

"Guess you're right," Tea replied.

"What should we do then?" Ryou inquired.

Suddenly, a small rumbling filled the hallway. Tea and Ryou looked down at Mokuba. He blushed.

"How 'bout some breakfast?"

Serenity grumbled and slipped back into bed. Those two had woken her up, just as she had been say:

"Mokuba…"

"Yes?"

"I…I-"

"HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!"

Serenity scowled. AGAIN with waking her up when she was just about to say…what she had to say. What was she going to say?

Oh well, she thought, almost everyone else is going back to bed. Maybe the dream will come to me again….

"What now?" Mokuba inquired, softly, walking p the stairs, with Ryou and Tea.

"I don't know…it's only 7:00," Tea replied.

"Anything we can do outside? Television? A movie perhaps?" Ryou offered suggestions.

"Hey! A movie just might do the trick! If we can find one…" Tea answered.

"Oh! Seto said something about like…programmed movies and whatnot in the TV or something…" Mokuba's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Ah, digital," Ryou replied.

"That works! I think I read something about that too…. They said it was free…I think," Tea retorted.

"Let's go then!" Mokuba ran back down the stairs to the television in the lobby area.

The three sat on the couch, Ryou grabbing the remote. He switched the TV on, and brought the volume down lower, as to not wake those upstairs. Immediately, a channel popped up revealing all sorts of movies and shows available.

"Sweet…" Tea looked at it in awe.

"This is pretty neat," Ryou replied.

"I think we have something like this at home…yeah!" Mokuba reached over and took the remote from Ryou, "Here, I'll show you how to do it!"

The three ended up picking the movie, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which only Ryou had seen as of yet, surprisingly. But he was just fine with it. It was in fact, a great movie.

About three and a half hours later, the movie ended. This meant it was about 10:30. Tea stood up and stretched.

"That was by far the greatest of the three! And that's a really tough record to beat!"

"I'll see you to that," Mokuba gave two thumbs up.

"It's even better the second time," Ryou replied.

"Ryou, I'm surprised you've even seen that before," Tea laughed.

"Hey, just because I'm from Britain and have all sorts of 'weird ways' to you guys, doesn't mean I don't like a good action movie, here or there," Ryou smiled.

"Okay…so now what?" Mokuba inquired.

The three thought for a moment. No one else was up yet.

Then, Tea's face lit up with a smile, "I think it's time we get our friends up and moving. Be right back," she called, running up to her room.

"I don't like the sound of this…" Ryou stated.

"What's she doing?" Mokuba asked. Tea came back down holding something sizeable in her hand. Mokuba's eyes widened, and his smile reached up to his ears. Ryou looked a little confused.

"Tea…what are you doing with that? Here…?" Ryou asked, concerned.

"Just for the occasion, my dear Ryou, just for the occasion," Tea's smile turned into an evil grin.

The three walked out to the parking lot. They walked a good distance away from the three, parked cars, but still were on the black pavement.

"Tea, I still want to know why in the world you brought a fire-rocket to the beach!" Ryou was still asking.

"Duh, it's the fourth of July!" Tea retorted, setting down the "Big Kahuna."

"Yeah! They always shoot off fireworks on the 4th!" Mokuba replied.

"But guys, this is JAPAN! We're not supposed to really celebrate America's independence, unless you're an American yourself or something," Ryou rolled his eyes.

"I'm half American," Tea replied, "Remember? My father's one. My mom's Japanese. So, since I couldn't celebrate today with the family…who all went to America for a couple weeks, as usual, I'm going to celebrate here. It's custom, Ryou! I would think someone such as yourself, would know about custom!" Tea retorted.

"Yeah! And I haven't seen a real celebration of this sort in a few years! I wanna see it again!" Mokuba replied, smiling.

Tea suddenly stood and looked Ryou square in the eye, "Speaking on celebrating out of country holidays…don't you celebrate some of that stuff from Britain? Like all those Bank Holidays and Boxing Day?" Ryou reddened slightly at this mention. "So who are you to tell me I can't celebrate America's Independence?" Tea smirked, knowing she had won.

"Fine," Ryou sighed.

"Yeah!" Mokuba bounced up and down. Tea whipped out a light from her pocket.

"You brought a lighter for just one fire-rocket?" Ryou looked at her strangely, "I' sure the kitchen would have a match or something-"

Tea smiled, as she motioned for the three to stand back a ways, as she lit the firework. She high-tailed out of there when it had lit, and said, "Not one, Ryou, oh no. I brought a lighter because tonight…I'm putting on a show. I brought a whole bag of them…."

Ryou's eyes widened, and he turned his head up to see the firework launch just as he did so. It exploded with a loud BANG! Mokuba's smile couldn't get any larger. Ryou was in awe of how big a firework made for non-professionals, could actually be. Tea was smiling; remembering the memories, and wondering what her parents and relatives were doing right then….

Joey was dreaming….

He and Mai's faces inched closer. His hands were pulling her forward by her waist. They were a millimeter away….

BANG!

"YAH!" Joey suddenly yelled, falling out of bed. He heard a "thunk" from next door, supposing Yugi had done the same. Joey rushed to his window, just in time to see a large red firework light up the sky. He growled, "TEA!"

Serenity was there again:

"Mokuba…"

"Yes?"

"I…I l-"

BANG!

"WHO THE CRAP IN HECK!" Serenity suddenly jumped up in bed, grabbing the covers for life. She ran to the door, wondering if they were being bombed, or something!

She came out to see everyone scrambling down the stairs. Even Seto Kaiba was walking down. Calmly, yet quickly, so he could get his hand on whoever had made that noise.

Joey and Tristan were the first to burst through the door.

"TEA!" they both shouted out. No one was there. The two ran over to the parking lot, where Joey had seen the firework come up. He hadn't seen the three down there though, when he had looked.

The rest came up behind him.

"Joey, what happened?" Mai inquired.

"What's going on?" Serenity asked her big brother, worriedly.

"Why can't anyone let me get some decent sleep today?" Noa mumbled, holding his head in his hand.

"Search the lot!" Duke suddenly yelled out. Everyone…except Seto, fanned out. He just stood there, scanning the area with his eyes. Why should he look like a fool, and go everywhere searching, when his eyes were just as good at seeing things from a distance?

There weren't any footprints around, in the sand, meaning…. Seto smirked. They had used the sidewalk…that led to the patio. He slowly walked down that walk.

"You think they'll find us here?" Mokuba inquired, leaning against the wall of the bar, under the bar itself.

"Dunno," Tea replied, "If Joey's leading the search party, then we'll be safe."

"And if he's not?" Mokuba pressed on.

"Depends…"

"On?"

"Who's leading instead," Tea looked a little guilty.

"Why are we even hiding anyway?" Ryou interrogated, "Why not just face them? They can't be that angry."

Mokuba and Tea glared at Ryou, "You don't know them when they've been woken up," Mokuba stated.

"You don't want to be the one who's on the receiving end of the glares and threats," Tea replied, knowing her share of those experiences, having woken up people loads of times.

"So, if they don't find us, we have a better chance of them forgetting everything and everything turning out okay!" Tea smiled.

" I don't see the logic behind that," Ryou stated.

Tea glared at him, "Just shut up already."

"Whatever you say," Ryou replied.

"Hey, Kaiba! Where ya goin'? You're s'pposed to be helping looking for dose troublemake'es!" Joey called at him.

"Tch, I am helping mutt…because I know where they are," he retorted.

Joey stood up, "You do?"

"The patio."

Tea, Mokuba and Ryou still sat under there, waiting. They hadn't heard any shouts or movement from them for a couple minutes. They finally heard the door shut.

"You think they went inside?" Mokuba inquired.

"That's what it sounds like," Tea replied.

"Or, it could be a-" Ryou was stopped, as Tea lifted him up. The three stood up, and stopped, staring straight at a mob of angry people.

"What were you saying, Ryou?" Tea inquired, softly.

"I was saying that it could be a trick…in which I was obviously right," Ryou went on.

"Shut up," Tea retorted.

"H-Hey, big brother," Mokuba stepped out from behind the bar, "what brings you out on such a fine morning?"

"YOU THREE FREAKS WOKE US UP!" Duke yelled at them.

Ryou and Mokuba immediately pointed to Tea, saying simultaneously, "It was her idea!"

"Gee, thanks for the support, guys," she said, with a very annoyed look on her face.

"Why, Tea? WHY WON'T YOU LET US SLEEP TODAY?" Mai pulled at her hair.

"Well, the first time was an accident-"

"Sure," Seto muttered.

Tea glared at him and continued, "And then it started getting late, so I decided that you all should get up right about now. I mean, why waste the day sleeping, unless you really need it? Also, I know someone who has to get up and moving" tea glanced quickly at Serenity. The girl then realized that Tea was talking to her.

Tristan sighed, "Fine. You've got us up. Now, what's with the firework?"

Tea smiled and looked at Mokuba, each one suddenly erupting with an, "IT'S THE FOURTH OF JULY!"

"Oh yeah…that thing you always celebrate, Tea," Yugi thought aloud.

"What? It's that day already?" Seto looked at his watch, then turned around, "I'm going back to bed."

"Seto! Why do you always say that, every year?" Mokuba looked at his retreating brother, imploringly.

"I just do," Seto returned. Mokuba ran over to his brother.

"But you used to love that holiday!"

"That was a long time ago, Mokuba," Seto continued walking.

"But you used to love spending that holiday with A-" Mokuba's mouth was covered immediately with Seto's hand. Everyone began staring at the two.

Seto almost sweat-dropped, saying, "Mokuba, I need to talk with you, inside," and he quickly dragged his little brother inside, still covering his mouth, and up to the older Kaiba's room.

Hey Noa, any idea what that was about?" Serenity asked, then remembering her plan, with what she had to do.

"Not a clue," he answered. But he was going to find out….

"Mokuba, what have I told you about talking about that past? And especially out in public!" Seto exclaimed.

"But Seto, it slipped! You used to love this holiday! But then, after we were adopted, you hated everything to do with America!"

"Exactly. That's why I never want anything relating to that place ever brought up in conversation again, do you understand me?" Seto retorted.

"I'm not a little kid, anymore, Seto! You don't have to order me around like one!" Mokuba protested.

"Well, you sure don't show it," Seto replied, regretting the words the second they came out.

Mokuba stared at him, shocked, "Y-You…you really mean that, Seto?" Mokuba was on the verge of tears.

"No, no, of course not!" Seto walked over to Mokuba, who backed away.

"Why should I trust you? Everything else you say to everyone is a complete lie. Seto, you're living a lie! You're denying what you've had and that you've ever been happy! Give it up! Just go on with life, in a trustworthy way! Everyone has a past, Seto, and they all talk about it! Start being one of those people! Maybe it'll change you for the better! Maybe it will make you smile again!" and with that, Mokuba stomped out of the room, slamming the door shut. Seto heard another door slam in his shocked phase.

He couldn't move. It had completely rattled him at the argument he and Mokuba had just had. Sure, they disagreed at times, but never this harshly.

Seto looked at his clenched hands. Was he really living a lie? Must he really open up more? Was he going to lose the friendship and support of his brother?

Seto cringed at the thought. That would leave him with only one other person in the world that loved him. Noa. And what if he lost that brother too? What would happen then? He'd be completely alone….

"Mokie?" Noa knocked on the door, softly. Sure, he had a key, but he had heard sniffs inside, and wondered if he should just leave, or if Mokuba would have him come inside.

"W-Who is it?"

"It's me…Noa," he replied.

"You've got a key…come in," Mokuba answered. Noa opened up the door, and shut it. He walked over to the bed, where his brother sat, his arms wrapped around his knees, and his head down. Noa sat next to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

"S-Seto and I just…had a fight…. A big one," Mokuba replied, sniffling.

"I see…. It'll pass, don't worry. I'm sure whatever he said to upset you, wasn't true," Noa replied. This just made Mokuba's eyes well up even more. If it continued, the tears would be spilling over any minute.

"That's…that's what half of it was about…. But for once in his life…I think he was actually telling the truth," Mokuba said, burying his head into his knees.

"Ah, don't worry about it. Like I said, it'll all pass. I'm sure, by tonight, you two will be best friends again."

"Wanna bet?" Mokuba replied.

"I've got $50 in here somewhere…" Noa prodded along. Mokuba looked up.

"I wasn't serious!" Mokuba laughed. Noa smiled. His mission had been accomplished.

"Still, I'm going to bet $50 on it!" Noa replied.

"Yeah, well, so will I," Mokuba responded, "However, I'm gonna be the one with fifty extra bucks come tomorrow morning," he added, a tad mournfully.

"Noooooo, because I'm going to win this bet," Noa smiled.

"Wanna bet?" Mokuba smirked. The two laughed, seeing how it had started all over again.

Noa exited the room half an hour later. He had left Mokuba to do some things on his own. By the looks of it, Seto was still cooped up in his room. So, what was he to do, now?

Suddenly, seeing someone, Noa remembered exactly what he had to do. Of course, she had the exact same idea.

"Noa!" Serenity called out.

"Serenity!" Noa said in unison with her call. Noa ran over to her. "Hey, could I talk-"

"Noa, I need to talk with you…in private," Serenity interrupted him, and dragged him down the stairs. She rounded the banister, and went down the hallway, into the guest Laundry Room. No one was there. She closed the door there.

"Serenity, what-"

"Noa, I need to ask you a favor," Serenity got right to the point.

"What? Oh…sure…but I need to talk to you afterwards," Noa replied.

"Good. Now…um…this is going to seem a little whack, but…uh…well…" Serenity stuttered. Could she do this?

"What do you need me to do?" Noa inquired, wondering what all this was about.

"I need you to hold still," Serenity returned. Noa gave her a funny look, but did as he was told. Serenity then walked right up to his face. "This…I'm sorry for this, but it's sort of…a test. It doesn't count, or mean anything. I just…I need to know. And…I'm sorry if I offend you in any way, but…." Serenity suddenly cupped her hands on Noa's jaw, brought his head forward, and kissed him. Smack dab, rooty tooty on the lips.

(Okay, I have no idea where in the world "rooty tooty came from, but it went along with it. So just bear with me, okay?)

Noa was shocked still. He couldn't believe what was happening. He hadn't expected this to happen…well, at least not now…. So that's what she had meant by, 'it doesn't count. It wasn't supposed to count as a first kiss or anything. And what had she said about offending him? Well, he supposed that came in two directions. One: she didn't want to offend him by kissing him in the first place. Second: she didn't want to hurt him; having said it was a test; sort of like he was a guinea pig or whatnot.

But he wasn't offended. He didn't have enough feeling left to be offended. All the feeling had turned into shock and surprise. However, with some of his feeling left, he sort of kissed her back to make her test worthwhile. After a minute, she pulled away, breathing hard. Noa's eyes were about to pop out of his skull…still.

"I…I'm sorry about that. But, I had to know," Serenity replied.

"Hey, this is exactly what I wanted to talk about," Noa said, in return, getting his voice back.

"About what, exactly?" Serenity inquired.

"About you. Why…why were you hanging around me all yesterday? I hate to ask this, but…you haven't…developed…some…feeling…for me…have you?" Noa asked, quite slowly, forcing each word to come out. It was a very difficult question to ask.

Much to his surprise, Serenity smiled, "That's what this whole test was about. Truth be told, I thought I liked you…two days ago, and yesterday. But…something happened that made me reconsider. Turns out…I'm not fond of you in that way." She stopped, and then made a hasty remark, "I didn't hurt you at all, with that comment, did I?" she asked, concerned.

"No…not at all. This is what I had also wanted to say. See, if you had said you…liked me…well…I would have had to tell you, that…I don't feel the same. But, now, I can say that I do!" Noa laughed slightly. Serenity giggled too. She walked over to the door.

"Well, I'm glad that worked out," she smiled, turning the doorknob, when she stopped. She smirked, and turned her head to face him, "Just answer me this: is it because…there's someone else?" Let's just say that Serenity hadn't paid much attention to that scene he had, on the day that they arrived at the beach.

Noa turned redder than Tea's firework had, "I…uh…well…" he scratched the back of his head, all the while, his blush growing deeper, and deeper, if it had at all been possible.

Serenity giggled, "I thought so…yes, I see. I won't ask who it is though. Someone…Tea, taught me that," she said. At the mention of tea's name, somehow, someway, Noa turned ten shades even redder. He put his head in his hand to try and hide the color change, but it was too late. Serenity had noticed.

Her eyes widened, "Ohhh…I see, said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw," she said, repeating an old phrase her mother used. He eyes suddenly widened even more, and her mouth turned into an O. "Oh, boy," Serenity muttered, looking down, as she chewed her bottom lip. This was bad: both Yugi and Noa had feelings for Tea. That would not be a pleasant battle…while all the while she chased her dream kid, that Takanaka guy, or whoever he was.

Noa, still quite embarrassed, said, "I…have to use the restroom, please excuse me," he slurred, and walked right past her, into the door on the other side of the hall. Of course, he was only trying to hide until he got his color under control. The bathroom was only an excuse….

Serenity smiled, when she suddenly heard a yelp, and a large clunk. She even swore she had heard a little "splash." Serenity neared the door.

"Noa, are you alright?"

"Yeah…yeah, just slipped, that's all…ow," Noa mumbled.

"Okay," and just for a joke, she threw in, "Don't go falling in."

"Uh…yeah…won't…fall in…" Noa replied. Though she couldn't see him, his face was completely guilty looking, as he…sat in a way…while his shorts were completely soaked….

(Yes people, he fell in! Not…another way you would think…ew…never in a million years….)

Dinner was almost over. Everyone was just finishing up the last of their meals. It was growing quite dark outside. Tea had finished quite early, actually. It was just when everyone was on their last scrap of food, did she come back in.

"Ladies and gentlemen, guys and gals. I require your presence outside in approximately five minutes," she smiled, and turned to go back outside.

Joey looked over at Mai, "What was that about?"

"I have no idea," she replied.

"I think I have an idea as to what she's doing…" Ryou said, slowly.

"What's she doing?" everyone, save Seto and Mokuba inquired at once.

"Isn't it obvious?" Mokuba said.

"Just wait," Ryou laid back in his chair, "You'll see."

Seto threw down his napkin, "I don't have time for this. I'm going up to my room." He stood up.

"Seto, wait!" Mokuba started. Seto's gaze wandered down to his brother, wondering what he was going to say now….

"Won't you come outside, please? Have some fun, for once? Isn't that what vacation is about? Having fun?" Mokuba pleaded. Seto looked very unsure at the moment.

On one hand, he didn't want to go out and waste his time with whatever Tea was planning. On the other hand, he didn't want to go upsetting Mokuba and putting even more of a rift in between them, supposing the first one hadn't already been mended. Otherwise, Noa would have fifty dollars more in his pocket.

Seto looked at Noa, for some sort of help or encouragement. All he got was a glare, and a quick nod in Mokuba's direction. Seto sighed.

"Fine…I'll come see what stupid thing Gardner has planned. Only because…it's you," Seto said a little more softly, more to his brother. Then, louder, he added, "Happy?"

"You bet!" Mokuba smiled. He hugged his brother, "You're too kind." Seto hugged him back, slightly, not wanting to cause a scene in the room. Too bad he already had. Joey and Tristan were "aww"ing in the corner, and Mai and Serenity were looking at them sweetly.

"Alright, let's not get too mushy here," Seto muttered to Mokuba. Not wanting to cause another fight, Mokuba obeyed the implied command.

Suddenly, someone tapped Mokuba on the shoulder. He turned around. Everyone watched as Noa held his hand out, smirking.

"I believe you owe me fifty dollars," Noa smiled mischievously.

Mokuba sighed, "Fine," he dug into his pocket and pulled out a fifty. He slapped it into his brother's hand.

(Oh, I figured out that 111 yen equals one dollar! Yeah me! But, I don't care. I'm still sticking with dollars. Too much math…don't want to think about that subject until Monday the 9th, when I have it for class…poo.)

Everyone looked a little confused. Joey couldn't believe they just carried and slapped money around like that. However, they were rich…. Seto was wondering what on Earth they had bet on.

"What did you two-"

"Y'ALL COMING?" Tea shouted from the doorway to the beach house.

"YEP!" Joey called back. Everyone plugged their ears. That hadn't been pleasant. Joey reddened, "Sorry."

Everyone was seated on the patio outside. Some sat at tables, while others sat at picnic benches. The three Kaibas had a bench to themselves. Tea finally approached them.

"Alrighty then. Thanks for coming. As you all should know, today, is, the Fourth of July. Now, before any of you open your mouths, and complain about this being Japan and all that crap, remember, that I do usually celebrate it.

"Now, as some of you may have guessed, I'm going to put on a fireworks show for you! Why, you ask? Well, it just so happens, that if we hadn't come on this little vacation together, I would be in America right now, putting on a small, backyard fireworks show for the rest of my family, as it is my year to do so.

"However, due to the fact that I am here, I cannot, of course, put one on as scheduled, over there. So, I'm still going to fulfill my duty and put one on for you guys, just as a spark of fun!" there were little laughs and giggles coming from the audience as of Tea's pun. "Now, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! I guarantee, this is one amateur show that you'll enjoy! But first, I need a couple helpers. Ryou, Mokuba, would you do the honors? I have a couple more lighters…."

Seto suddenly sat up, "You're not putting him near a lighter!" he gestured to Mokuba.

Mokuba gave a look of embarrassment, "Seto…I'm fifteen, I don't play with fire anymore. Remember that little talk we had…."

But before Mokuba could continue, Seto shushed him up, "Fine, fine, just get going," he leaned back. Mokuba and Ryou walked up to meet Tea. I'm betting this won't even match the "amateur" fireworks shows I've seen before, Seto thought, now those were worth it…even though they were put on by kids, and such.

Thus, the show began.

And Tea did a spectacular job with it. She had set up fireworks everywhere. Sometimes, she, Mokuba and Ryou lit fireworks up at the same time, causing three to go, instead of just one or two. Such as when Ryou and Mokuba lit up Sunflowers, while Tea lit up a fountain in the middle of the two. After running back, the two Sunflower discs zoomed up into the air, emitting colorful sparks this way and that, while the Fountain in the middle sprayed off a colorful show of sparks, and made crackling noises.

Everyone was impressed, even Seto. Somehow, it was a lot like the shows he had seen a long time ago…. This one wasn't half bad, he thought. She actually did do something pretty worthwhile.

Everyone else, was enjoying the show thoroughly. They had never really bought fireworks and set them off on their own. They had seen some go off in their time, but not many.

Sometimes, Tea would go and light one of the larger fireworks, while Mokuba and Ryou lit Fountains, or Sunflowers, or other smaller fireworks. Tea had a show of the firework Cars spinning around, and a "battle" of Pooping Chickens. For the finale, she, Mokuba and Ryou rushed around as fast as possible, without getting too close to the already lit fireworks, and lit the Big Kahuna's, sending three or more at a time into the air, creating a professionally small finale effect.

When the show was over, everyone gave a hardy applause (well, Seto lightly patted his hands together), while Tea, Ryou and Mokuba bowed. It had been quite the show.

"Thanks for attending everybody!" Tea said, graciously, "You made me feel like I really was back with my family, doing this sort of stuff."

"Tea, that was great!" Serenity smiled.

"YA! DAT WAS DA BOMB! Pun intended!" Joey laughed, punching his fist into the air.

"That was really awesome!" Tristan called.

Seto stood up and walked back to the beach house. However, on his way, he passed Tea, and while he passed, he whispered to her, "Impressive." Tea blushed slightly at the compliment. Never in a million years would she have expected Seto Kaiba to give her such a tribute. Of course, being that it was pitch black outside, no one could really see her blush, which, she thought, was a good thing.

Hey! It's done! Sorry if the chapter seemed sort of pointless, but hey, I gave you an update. I figured, "Hey, it's Fourth of July, and I can't just ignore a date like that." Sorry if any of you reading this aren't from the US, but, heck, I am, so, we'll just have to deal with it. Besides, it had some key factors in there…with the Seto thing and all…. Giving you clues…I think you know what I mean. Anywho, hope you enjoyed it at least a little bit. PLEASE REVIEW! Thankies!