NOTE: Now…we continue on! Hehe, I'm just prolonging your wait…. Even with the first scene, you'll see just how CRUEL I can be! (PS: We're halfway done with the story, if you notice the date below! I can't believe it! Can you?)

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or the song Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) by: Styx that I AM putting in this chapter, no matter what the lyric rule is. Hey, it'll be in quotes, because it's being sung, okay? Not bad. And I'm DISCLAIMING it! (PS: I dub it the "Seto Kaiba Song." Stupid, I know but…you'll see!)

Chapter 19: Romantic Endeavors and a Drink…or Five

July 16

Serenity cracked an eye open. She had heard Joey's untimely snore. Sure, she was used to them, having to actually live with the poor fellow, but that didn't mean that she slept through them.

Of course, when Serenity opened her eyes this time, something interesting came into view.

Seto Kaiba was standing up and walking rather quickly to the stairs that led up and out of the basement.

Now where could he be going, Serenity thought to herself. No better way to find out than to follow! So, daringly, Serenity Wheeler roused herself quickly and stood up. Carefully side-stepping sleeping bags, she slowly tip-toed over to the stairs.

But before she reached the staircase, she tripped.

Serenity bit down a scream as she flailed around, trying to jump away from the blankets. She ended up crashing down in the middle of one pile.

Interestingly enough, this bed was empty too.

What the? Serenity looked around. Seto slept over there, so who slept here? Serenity looked around and counted off people in her head.

Mokuba, Noa, Joey…Mai, Duke…who's the last person? It took her a minute…and then: TEA!

Serenity jumped up. Now things were getting interesting. Was Seto trailing after Tea?

Oh, how sweet this would be!

Serenity saw Seto shut the front door, and she quickly ran to it. Opening it ever so carefully, she slipped out through the smallest crack she could possibly squeeze through, and she shut the door gently.

Seto was making his way across the beach, really without a care where he was stepping.

Serenity could see by some shadows that there was debris all over the place. Perhaps he could see all of this?

Serenity then spotted Tea's silhouette not far off: just on the edge of the uprising in the beach.

She smiled. So he was going after her. How perfect! This had been all what she, Mai and Ryou had set out to discover!

But where was she to watch from? Back here, she could barely see anything. If she got too close to them, they would notice her. She looked around quickly, and spotted the path leading to the patio.

Perfect. It was the best undercover spot available.

Serenity stole over to the patio and sat down by the railing with the perfect view of the scene about to be played out. She could see across and down the beach. Everything was good to go.

Of course, Serenity was only expecting a rather simple, Tap, "Hello, there." "Oh, hi. What are you doing here?"… and so on.

But that was not the case.

Tea sighed resignedly as her thoughts traced back to the time. She had told herself she would only be out here for a moment.

Tea took a step backward, and hit something. She jumped around just as a hand landed on her shoulder, and gasped.

But before she could say anything, she felt herself flailing and falling backwards. For support, she grabbed the arm of the person behind her.

But instead, she just ended pulling him down with her, as he had not been expecting the sudden pull.

Tea landed on the sand, with the other person landing atop her, and she felt them rolling and sliding down the side of the sand back. Soon enough though, and very abruptly, they came to a stop at the edge of the beach, where the water ebbed.

Tea slowly pushed herself up –for she was straddled on the boy- and looked to see who it was.

"Kaiba!" she exclaimed in a loud whisper, "What are you doing here?" Her face was still rather close to his, so he could easily hear every word she said, even over the sound of the near sea.

"I was going to ask you the same question," Seto replied calmly, although he greatly despised the water rushing up to meet his body and soaking his hair. Now his clothes were all wet and his hair was salty and…ugh. "I was going to ask you that before you pulled me down here."

"Sorry about that," Tea replied, "But why did you sneak up on me like that!"

"I snuck up on you? Gardner, I was going to tap you on the shoulder! You're the one who ran into me."

He had a point. Dang it, Tea thought, He's right…again. "Well…you never told me what you were doing out here."

"I was coming to see what you were doing. We're about to be pulled back into a typhoon warning, if you didn't notice."

"I noticed. I just wanted some fresh air while I could have it."

"You seem to take nightly excursions out here. Is that always the reason?"

"Have you been spying on me or something?"

"Call it what you want-"

"Because I really don't think you're the type of guy to stalk people," Tea retorted, still in a soft whisper, upon being so near to him.

"Oh? And what makes you say that? Do you know what I do? Do you ever know my intentions?"

"No, but…you just…don't seem like that type of guy!" Tea turned her face away, feeling heat creep up into her cheeks.

"Uh huh…. And why is that?"

Tea's answer was all too quick, as though she had been thinking about it previously, "Because you'd probably be taking advantage of the situation we're in right now!"

Serenity gasped. Even she had heard that one.

Seto's eyes widened. A smirk crept onto his face, while his heart starting beating faster and harder. With Tea right on top of him, she could probably feel it too…. Using his index finger, he gently put his finger on her chin and turned her face towards his own, "So tell me…. How would I take advantage of the position we're in?"

"I-…uh-" Tea was at a loss for words. Not only had she not expected for her own words to come tumbling out, but she hadn't expected Seto to respond in this manner.

"Well," she said, leaning forwards just the slightest.

And that's all it took.

Seto raised his head slightly and quickly cupped her jaw to force her head down carefully; her lips right onto his.

Serenity's mouth almost hit the floor. Even she hadn't expected this. She could see every detail perfectly from her spot. They were making-out down there!

Tea could not believe what was happening! Well…only part of her mind could not believe that. Most of her mind was concentrating on kissing Seto and memorizing just exactly how he kissed: from how he turned his head to deepen the passion; how he gently prodded her mouth with his tongue; and how exactly he tasted in her mouth.

Oh goodness: she almost hated to admit it, but she was in heaven.

Seto did not feel that much more different to the situation. He actually felt in place in this situation. Like he should be here.

He also felt something tugging at his memory. Before, when they had just been lying there, on top of one another, something had flashed like a warning signal in his head. There had been something for memorable about looking into those eyes at this distance…and closing in on one another.

And it wasn't about remembering the kiss from a couple days ago.

Of course, while pondering this, he suddenly felt an absence from his lips and opened his eyes to see Tea throwing herself off him, and struggling to stand up.

Seto sat up immediately and stood. Tea was off running up the dune. Seto took off after her. What was wrong with her?

"Tea-"

"I'm sorry-" Tea started to apologize for some reason unknown to Seto, until she tripped and landed on a broken branch. She gasped out in pain and it slit part of her arm.

"Agh!" Tea cried out softly, slowly sitting and cradling her arm. She felt it stinging painfully, and put pressure against it incase any blood decided to show.

She son felt a bit of liquid against her fingers.

"Gardner, what happened?" Seto knelt next to her.

"It's nothing!" Tea turned her head away. She didn't want to look at him. What if they ended up…kissing again? Tea just did not know what to feel. There in the matter! But she couldn't help to wonder…why Seto sounded stood up again, "It's nothing. Just a scratch."

"You don't know that," Seto stood up with her, "How can you tell in this darkness?"

"Just leave me alone, okay?" she turned to him, "I don't…I don't want-" she couldn't tell him the rest of her thoughts.

"Come on," he pushed her along slightly by the small of her back, "You should go look at that." The wind began to pick up. "Before the storm comes in again."

"Yeah…yeah…but I can take care of it myself," Tea walked a bit faster to get away from him.

"Sure you can: running blinding in the dark is really taking care of yourself," Seto replied.

Strange enough though, Tea realized, it wasn't a sarcastic comment…but more with the tone of a joke.

What was going on inside Seto Kaiba? That was what she wanted to know….

"I don't believe this," Serenity shook her head, "It's impossible! Well…I expected something from that encounter…but that! Whoa!" she whispered to herself.

She jumped as she heard some leaves rustle outside the banister. She held her breath and looked to see someone crawling out of the bushes.

"Perfect!" a dark voice chuckled, "This is gold! This is the prize of my vacation. I'm rather glad my other self decided to go on this stupid vacation: I'm getting such great footage!" he laughed softly.

Serenity blinked. Was that…Ryou! Or Bakura? Probably Bakura…. BUT WHAT WAS HE DOING WITH HER CAMERA!

"BAKURA!" she hissed, jumping up straight. The spirit yelped and fell backwards into the sand. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY CAMERA!"

"What camera?" a softer voice answered.

Serenity stopped yelling and vaulted over the banister, landing beside the fallen figure, "Ryou?"

"Yes?" he inquired; standing and brushing himself off. "I see…Bakura's taken me on another midnight walk. Joy…."

"What's he doing with my camera!" Serenity fumed, pointing to the video cam in Ryou's hand.

"What?" Ryou looked at it, "Oh! I'm sure he was just borrowing it…for some reason. He's really been into technology lately. Your camera…Tea's computer-"

"Wait a second," Serenity stopped, "Tea's laptop has some special software on it…that lets you piece all of the video together into a movie…. Ryou! He's making some embarrassing movie, I'm sure!"

"Could have fooled me," Ryou sniffed, putting the camera into Play Mode and rewinding slightly. He then stopped it and let it run. Serenity looked over his shoulder.

They caught a glimpse of the last scene –which happened to be a sick Serenity making out with Mokuba in her room- and then it rolled into Tea and Seto's fall down the beach.

Ryou looked at her slyly, "Something you haven't told us, my dear?"

Serenity was blushing to her roots, "Oh. My. God. He caught that! Where is he getting all of this footage!" she grabbed the camera and started winding through it. He had caught many helpings of the Sunshine Treatment; the pranks he had pulled on everyone that one day; Joey and Mai making out a couple of times; Tristan talking to himself in the mirror and admiring himself, and much more.

"Wow…in the few days I've had this, he's really gotten quite a bit of stuff," she said. "Alright…I'll let it slide. Some of this is too good to miss," she snickered, "Let him make the movie, Ryou, but don't-"

"Let him put anything too embarrassing, or crude in it. I know. I'll try my best…" the boy sighed. "Did you want it back?"

"No, not now. He can borrow it for a little longer. Just a little longer. But make sure he shows that video to everyone."

"No doubt that was his plan in the first place," Ryou sighed. "By the way, Ren…what were you doing out here?"

Serenity stopped. Ryou raised an eyebrow, "Well…it's obvious, isn't it? …One gets curious…."

Tea stalked all the way up to the bathroom, and she could hear Seto following her.

"I said I didn't need your help!" Tea hissed.

"And I said, I don't care what you say," Seto replied, coming up to her pace.

Tea grunted and flipped on the bathroom light switch. She walked over to the mirror and looked down at her arm. "Oh boy…that's quit the scratch."

"Not a mere scratch, by the looks of it," Seto came up behind her.

"W-Would you leave me alone!" Tea snapped, "I can take-"

"Care of yourself, yes, I head you the first time," Seto replied, walking over to the medicine cabinet.

"Then why don't you listen?" she sneered, wetting her hand and trying to wash off the blood coming from the long, yet thin wound.

"Here: dry it, and then use this," Seto handed her a towel and a tube of disinfectant.

"Thanks," she muttered, involuntarily. She took the towel and began drying her arm quickly, so that the blood would not run onto it. Then, she took the tube of gel and squeezed copious amounts onto her finger, running it all along the gash.

"Now where are the bandages…?" Tea looked around for some.

To her surprise, she felt a slight pressure on her arm. She noticed Seto wrapping some white gauze around the wound. He was finished in a minute, fastening it with medical tape. "There," he stood back, "Just don't sleep on it." He began to walk out when Tea put a hand on his arm. He turned his head back and glanced at her.

"Thank you…" Tea whispered, and then slipped out past him. Seto watched her scurry back downstairs. He flipped off the light switch.

An unexpected thought registered in his mind, Not only is her touch soft…but her lips, too….

Tristan yawned and stretched as he woke up. He sat up and scratched his head, looking around the basement. The television was still on the weather channel, but everything was clear now.

And so was the basement. Not a soul in sight….

"Eep! Where'd everyone go!" Tristan jumped up and looked around frantically.

Duke suddenly came out of the bathroom, "Oh, hey, you're finally up."

"Where'd everyone go?" Tristan inquired.

"Upstairs, duh," Duke replied. "Probably out to the beach to clean up or something. I heard there was a lot of debris. Come on: we should go join them."

The two ran up the stairs and out to the front door. Upon opening it, they ran smack dab into a group of turned backs.

"Wah! What are you all doing, just standing in front of the door!" Duke stepped back.

Joey pushed his way up from the front of the crowd, "Ha! More suspects!"

"Suspects? Dude, what got jostled loose in your head?" Tristan knocked his knuckles' on Joey's skull. Joey swiped his hand away, "We're in an investigation here!" Joey pulled the two into what looked like a jail line. He straightened them up and then proceeded to walk back and forth in front of the line of confused vacationers.

"Alright," Joey sighed. "This morning has been very strange. First things first: I happened ta wake up early: I was da first one awake! Now, how weird is dat? I'll tell ya how weird: there was a callin' for me ta wake up! And do you what dat callin' was for?"

"Your insanity wanting to come back?" Mai rolled her eyes.

"RHETORICAL QUESTION!" Joey shouted, slamming his debris branch against the sand. "QUIET! Now…do you all know why you are suspects here?"

Nobody answered.

"Good," Joey nodded.

"This is pointless. I'm out of here," Seto turned his back suddenly and started for the door. He was yanked back by his collar and Joey pulled him back in line and threatened him with his tree branch waving under Seto's nose, "AND YOU ARE ONE OF DA TOP SUSPECTS, KAIBA! GET YOUR BUTT PLANTED IN DIS SPOT AN' STAY!" He let go of Seto's shirt and walked back to the front of the line. Seto was not going to give up that easily.

"Why you: you can't touch me like that-" Seto took a couple steps forward, and Joey suddenly pushed him back in line.

"WAH! DON'T CROSS THE YELLOW LINE!" Everyone started and looked down. A foot away from their feet, yellow tape had been laid down in a line.

"Alright-"

"Joey, why are we here?" Serenity sighed from the line.

"Dat's why!" Joey used his branch to point at the sand. Everyone peered closely.

"Joe," Tristan said, "It's a footprint."

"WRONG!" Joey shouted, "It's FOUR PAIRS of footprints!"

"So?" Mokuba replied, "Joey, can't we just go on the beach now?"

"Not until I figure dis out!" Joey whacked his tree limb in front of Mokuba. "Now," he stood straight and looked at everyone, "Everyone knows that last night, we had a major storm. All traces of prints on this sand should have been erased," Joey calculated.

"Using your brain for once?" Seto remarked. Joey ignored the comment, for once.

"So…who were da four people out here in da middle of da night!"

"Joey, does it really matter?" Mai inquired.

"Yes!" Joey said. "If you'll stay behind the yellow line and follow me, I shall show you why." He beckoned to the group, who reluctantly followed. Tea shot a glance over Seto's way, and found to her shock that he had glanced at her as well. She looked away. This was not looking good. Joey could be smart when he wanted to be….

"Behold!" Joey stopped and pointed, "Two sets of feet break off from the path here! One leads to the bushes…and the other to the patio." Serenity and Ryou glanced at each other.

Tea gulped. Had someone been watching them! Oh Lord….

"And if you will continue dis way," Joey walked along, "We see that the remained footprints lead to the edge of the beach and," he pointed down the hill, "it seems the two rolls down the sand bar."

"So?" Tea braved up, by speaking.

"So? SO! Look at da bottom Tea! Wherever dose bodies landed, heck, dey made quite an imprint in da sand! Heck, it looks like dose two coulda been makin' out or somethin'!"

"Why are you so intent on finding out if people where trading spit or not?" Noa asked Joey.

"Duh! Der are only three girls at this vacation spot! And," he coughed slightly, and murmured, just above hearing level, "One of dem is my girlfriend…so she's ruled out of da suspect list-"

"At any other time, I'd be glad to leave," Mai interjected, "Being cleared and all; but…this is getting interesting," she smirked. So…it was either Mokuba and Serenity…or Tea and some other lucky guy. Well, there was one way to find out.

Mai took a look at Serenity. She seemed rather worried. So it could have been her.

Mai looked over at Tea. She seemed worried to. What the? What was going on here! Two worried women? Unless….

One had been in the act, while the other spied! But who had done what? They were both guilty on one end. Serenity had spied on Tea (with Mai) and Tea had spied on Serenity (with Mai). Funny how Mai ha been in everything else, but missed this big moment!

"And how do we know you're not just going through this investigation because it was you and Mai who were out here making out last night?" Duke crossed his arms.

"BECAUSE I'M NOT THAT SMART TA COME UP WIT' DAT INTRICATE PLAN!" Joey waved his arms around.

"Lord in Heaven: he finally admitted it," Seto mockingly gasped. Tea stifled a snigger. Mai took in this fact. She had been the only one to react to Seto saying something….

"So!" Joey continued, "Ren, Tea: come stand up here please." The two girls reluctantly walked up to Joey. "Tea," Joey told her, "please place your foot in the smaller of the two footprint sets here."

"Why the smaller?" she tried to stall for time.

"Because girls generally have smaller feet than guys," Joey replied, looking at her strangely, "Duh. Come on! Put your foot there already! I'm not condemning you or anything-" he stopped. A smirk crawled up his face, "Unless you were here last night!"

"I WAS NOT!" Tea retorted a little too loudly. Joey raised an eyebrow.

"I was gonna keep quiet, but…where did ya get that large cut?" he pointed to a piece of gauze sticking out from under her sleeve. She pulled down her sleeve quickly.

"I got that days ago!"

"What happened?"

"I tripped."

"Likely story!" Joey replied, "Just put yer foot down!"

"Joey, this is stupid-"

"Fine den. I'll just say you were out here." Silence reigned. Those who knew the truth really couldn't bring themselves up to speak it. Joey looked around, "So…is it true den? You were out here, making out wit'-"

"Where did you get the idea that two people were making out down there!" Tea snapped.

"It's obvious," Joey set his face.

Serenity was getting worried. Tea's psyche was at stake here. She looked over at Ryou to see him holding his head and sweating. She bit her lip. Was Bakura trying to get control! That would spell the end of this investigation! Fight it, Ryou…fight him.

"Well then," Tea crossed her arms, "If we did assume I was out here –not that I'm saying I was- who were the other three people?"

Serenity stiffened. Seto remained unemotional. Ryou was still holding his head.

"Uh…I dunno," Joey shrugged, "That's why I'm doing dis." He stepped forward. "Anyone with any information please step forward!"

Ryou suddenly stumbled forth and straightened. He smirked mischievously and pointed to Tea, Serenity and Seto each in turn. "Those three were out of bed last night during the calming of the storm. And-" his voice was suddenly muffled as Serenity tried her best, while inconspicuously doing so, to cover his mouth.

"He doesn't know what he's talking about! It's Bakura talking! He's just trying to make trouble!"

"Well that's just it!" Tristan stepped forward, "To make trouble, this is the one time Bakura would tell the truth!"

"YES!" Joey punched the air. He immediately ran up to Seto, "I KNEW YOU WERE A BIG SUSPECT!"

"Prove it," Seto answered in a calm demeanor.

Joey looked at the ground, back and forth. "Well…the foot sizes seem to match-"

"That proves nothing, Wheeler," Seto replied.

"Ah," Joey suddenly smirked. "But there's more. Behold," he suddenly reached up and swiped his hand through Seto's hair.

"What the heck do you think you're doing!" Seto yelled. Joey suddenly smiled.

"Behold, peers," Joey held out his hand to Tristan, "The usually clean Seto Kaiba…has sand still in his hair! He was out here last night, rolling on the ground!"

Sharps intakes of breath were heard.

"Is it true, Seto?" Mokuba looked up at his brother, both jokingly and serious.

Seto looked slightly unhinged, "Of course n-"

"Hey!" Duke suddenly rushed forward. "Excuse me, Tea," he said, taking some of her hair in his hands, "Sand!" Tea winced.

The whole group stared at the two, astonished.

"You can't prove anything by sand!" Tea backed away, "It could have blown in our hair this morning!"

"No wind, Tea," Joey looked around at the still air.

A bell suddenly sounded, "Guests! It's lunch time!"

"Thank God," Tea muttered as the spell of the investigation broke, being replaced with the spell of hungry stomachs. "Saved by the bell."

"Hey, WAIT!" Joey stomped on the ground, "I'M NOT FINISHED YET! DON'T GO FOR SOME STUPID LUNCH NOW!"

"Dude!" Tristan called out, "It's hotdogs!"

"Wha'?" Joey stopped. "Hotdogs! Why didn't ya say so?" Joey rushed off, forgetting the whole ordeal.

Serenity had stayed outside for the moment and when everyone had gone in, she ran around tearing up the yellow line and running sand over the tracks. No need for the rest of this investigation to continue.

Joey was in a bad mood after lunch.

After all, he had never truly proved who had been outside. He had just had really good guesses.

"Alright, guys, remember we're leaving in an hour!" Mai announced, walking down the stairs.

"For what?" Yugi inquired.

Mai stopped, "Remember? I told you three days ago that we were going to Miho's party tonight!"

"Miho's!" Tristan jumped.

"Oh yeah," Tea nodded, "I remember now."

Mokuba sighed, "See y'all later, then."

"Kid, you're better off not going," Mai patted his head, "Believe me. But…we're forcing your brother to go."

"What!" Seto stood straight, "I will do no such thing!"

"What did we pack you, that's suitable for a party?" Mokuba dug through Seto's suitcase. A grumpy CEO sat cross-legged on his bed, scowling as his brother dug through his clothes to find something casual, yet party-ish for him to wear.

"I can't believe I'm being pushed around to go to this stupid thing," Seto sighed.

"Seto, you need to get out with people your age more often," Noa replied, picking up a shirt. "Hey! This'll do!"

"I like it," Mokuba nodded, glancing at it. "Here's a jacket to go with it!"

"Got any black pants in there?" Noa inquired.

"Pants?" Mokuba asked. "I don't know if we packed them…. Being at the beach and all…."

"We had to have packed at least one pair."

"Ah! Here! And what do you know: black!"

"Not like Seto wears any other color," Noa rolled his eyes. They threw the clothes at Seto.

"Now," Mokuba ordered, "Get changed, because you're leaving in fifteen minutes." They left and closed the door behind them.

Seto groaned and looked at the clothes that had been given to him.

Oh Lord, he hadn't worn these things in ages…. Well, the pants, yes, but these tops! Oh boy….

Seto stood five minutes later, looking at himself in the full length mirror. He had to admit: he didn't look too shabby. The black pants and casual jacket had really helped the beige, cotton, long sleeve shirt he wore. In fact…he wondered why he hadn't worn this stuff before….

Oh yeah. It made him look far too good for the general public to view him in. Nightmares of fangirls still hadn't evaded him.

He had showered beforehand and combed his hair in its usual fashion. He really did look good….

Seto opened the door to his room and stepped out, closing the door. He turned around and found Tea watching him from her doorway.

He walked past her and muttered something along the lines of, "What? Like what you see?"

Tea snapped out of it and suddenly glared, "No! I'm just…surprised you dress up so well," she slammed her door shut.

He himself had to admit she wasn't too bad herself. Gorgeous, in fact. She had on an azure blue vest with a mini-white top and a flared skirt that was just a couple shades darker than the vest. She had some slim, white, shin-high boots on, and she had a slim little white headband in her hair.

Beautiful.

They reached the bottom of the stairs where everyone else was waiting.

"Good! We'll make it there just in time!" Mai checked her watch. She herself had on a nice tube-top with a sparkling necklace and her hair done up a fashion which allowed her curls to fly out nicely. Her short shirt was violet, as usual, and she was wearing her violet high-heeled boots as well. "Now, you three," she turned to the younger ones who weren't joining them, "Behave," she looked pointedly at Serenity and Mokuba, "and don't wait up! We'll be back rather late," she smiled. She then leaned down and whispered into Noa's ear, "Make sure those two don't get too…clingy, if you get my drift."

He looked at her slyly, surprised that she knew about the two, but nodded.

"We'll take Yugi's and my car," Mai said, twirling her keys, "Let's go pile on in!"

The gang walked outside, and stopped before the two cars. Yugi spoke up, "Let's make this an even four and four. Which two guys are going into the girls' car?"

"I volunteer!" Joey walked forward.

"Suck up," Mai rolled her eyes.

"Don't send me back in there!" Ryou cowered behind Yugi: a very difficult thing to do. "Joey…you don't know what awaits you in there!"

"What?" Joey looked confused.

"Too horrible to mention," Ryou shook his head. Nobody else looked like they were going to volunteer….

"Good Lord, if no one else is going then I'll go already," Seto stomped forward angrily. He did not want to even be going, but did he have a choice? Nooo…. The faster they got to the party, the faster they left.

"You're a brave soul," Ryou whispered.

Soul? WHERE!

Shut up, Bakura, Ryou sighed, mentally.

Mai and Yugi jumped into the driver's seats. Joey took the passenger seat, of course, and Seto took a corner seat in the back, preferring to stare out a window the entire time.

Tea took the opposite corner of the car.

The other five jumped into Yugi's car, and they all headed off.

Serenity peeked through the windows and watched them drive away. She smiled and turned around, putting her arms around Mokuba's neck. "Now that we're alone…what do you suggest we do?" she let her pointer and middle finger crawl along his shoulder.

Noa noticed the action and raised his eyebrows, thinking. How much it too clingy?

"Hey, Noa?" Mokuba asked, trying to hold back from kissing his girlfriend for one minute, "You think you could…you know…lend us some space?"

Noa smirked and sat on a chair in the lobby, "Go get a room."

Serenity pouted and gave her best puppy-face to him, "But Noa…it's much easier if we just…stay here."

"And I was told to play watchful big brother on you two," Noa crossed his arms, "Which makes me rethink my last words. It's probably best if you don't get a room."

"Noa!" Mokuba looked at him, aghast, "Do you really not trust me that much?"

"Oh, I trust you," Noa stood up walking over to his stepbrother, "It's just your teenage hormones that I don't trust." Noa patted the boy's shoulder and walked upstairs. I'm sure they won't get too clingy down in the lobby. It's a private room I have to watch for….

The minute Noa disappeared behind the corner upstairs, Serenity had locked lips with Mokuba, who readily accepted the proposition, returning it with great favor.

It was mighty quiet in Mai Valentine's car. No one was talking really. Tea hated the unpleasant silence. Mai should have been talking away five minutes ago! She was sure this was all the doing of Seto being in the car.

But she had to start conversation somehow…. "So, Mai," Tea began, "Have you ever been to one of Miho's parties?"

"Oh, yeah, tons of times!" Mai replied almost enthusiastically. It seemed like she was ready to talk as well, "We've been friends forever and she has so many parties it's not even funny."

"So…what are dey like?" Joey inquired.

Mai shrugged, "Ah, music playing on tons of different radio stations so you don't know what comes next; you can go either out or indoors, but the upstairs is off limits-"

"Why's that?" Tea inquired.

Mai almost laughed at her naivety, "Because of the spiked punch, dear."

Tea got it immediately, but Joey was still unsure. "What's punch got to do with the upstairs?" Tea slapped her forehead. Mai sighed exasperatedly. "What!" Joey retorted.

Seto huffed, fed up with the boy's lack of knowledge, "Do you even know what spiked punch is?"

"Yeah-"

"Well think about it, Wheeler. If someone drinks just a bit too much, what happens?"

"Dey get tipsy? Drunk?"

"Exactly."

"I still don't see-"

"What if that person is with a date or something? Say they both get drunk. Bedrooms or other private areas are usually on the top floor, no?"

"Oh," Joey nodded, starting to understand. When he finally got the whole picture, he went, "OOOOOHHH!"

"And tell me how you graduated school again?" Seto shook his head.

Joey turned around in his seat, "Why don' you tell me just how you, Mr. Unsociable, got so knowledgeable on that kind of topic, eh? Personal experience?"

"If we weren't in a moving car, I'd strangle you for that comment," Seto threw back.

"Oh, I'm scared now," Joey hissed.

"GUYS!" the two women shouted. Mai swerved to the left a bit sharply upon losing slight control of the wheel. Centripetal force took its toll, and the occupants slid to the right in a sudden jerk. Mai kept her hold on the wheel; Joey bumped painfully into the knobs on the door; Seto held his ground as much as possible, and Tea hit Seto's shoulder with her own.

He looked down at her as she scrambled quickly to the other side of the car. She didn't want to touch him…. Just last night had showed what could happen if she did.

As for Seto…he had slightly hoped she wouldn't move away so fast….

Mai and Joey watched them from the rear-view mirror. Mai smirked to herself and Joey gritted his teeth.

Meanwhile, in the other car, Yugi could barely concentrate with all the noise.

Tristan and Duke were at it again; arguing about something pointless. Ryou sat next to Yugi, trying to relax against the seat. The radio was turned up full blast, yet the two serious boys could barely here the Classical Music station over the yelling of the two in the back.

"I'm tellin' ya, Serenity digs me!" Tristan declared loudly.

"I really don't think she does!" Duke retorted.

"What? You think she likes you!"

"I never said that!"

"But you're thinking it!"

"Who says I am!"

Yugi and Ryou looked at each other and sighed. This was going to be a long trip to Miho's beach house.

"You know…I almost think I'd rather be in the girls' car again," Ryou sighed.

"What did they talk about last time anyway?"

Ryou looked over at his spirit-holding comrade, "Girl stuff. Lots and lots of girl stuff I never thought I would ever know, and things I didn't ever want to know."

"It was that bad?"

"Some of the ride was okay. They included me in fine conversations at the beginning of the trip. But once that died out, they drifted into rather…unmentionable territory. Did you know our friends actually have memorized lists of who they think are the top five hottest men?"

"I'm not all that surprised," Yugi laughed. "They are girls after all."

"What surprised me the most was that they actually included Seto Kaiba on all of their lists. In different positions, of course."

Yugi jerked so suddenly that he sent the car turning right. Everyone fell towards the left.

It was at that moment that Mai's car hard careened left.

"We're going to hit them!" Ryou shouted among the panic.

"No, no, not again! Not my car!" Yugi swerved in the other direction, just in time. Mai seemed to get control of her car as well.

"It's a good thing we were on the opposite extremes of our lanes," Ryou observed, "Otherwise, that would have been an unavoidable crash."

"I wonder what happened to make them go out of control like that." Yugi asked no one in particular.

"We're here!" Mai stopped the car and turned around smiling. Tea immediately got out of the car. Yugi's BMW pulled up next to them. Ryou was out in an instant.

"I think I'll chance being in your car next," Ryou told the girls, "Those two are rather annoying!" he whispered, jerking a thumb back towards Duke and Tristan, who were still arguing.

"All right, gang," Mai pulled up in front of the group and gestured forward, "Come on! A night of fun awaits us!" She walked up the front walk to the front door, with the others in tow.

Mai rang the doorbell to the beach house and waited.

A lavender haired girl with a yellow ribbon in her hair opened it, "Mai! You made it!" she cried out. "Oooh! And you brought along the others too! Yeah! The more, the merrier!"

"How much of the school have you got in there?" Mai peered past her.

Miho put a finger to her chin, "Let's see…almost all of the senior class, most of the juniors, a couple sophomores and freshmen and just some other friends of mine."

"Such a small list?" Mai smirked.

"Just come in!" Miho laughed. They walked in single file. Miho watched each person who came in, and was surprised to see that they had actually dragged Seto Kaiba here!

As the last person walked in, Miho froze. "T-Tristan! I didn't know…you were coming," she fibbed slightly.

"Oh…hey Miho," Tristan blushed as she closed the door. He looked around quickly, "Looks like you've got quite the party going on here."

"Thanks," Miho turned her head away.

"Hey, Yugi!" a blond boy called out, running over to him.

"Hanasaki?" Yugi blinked. He didn't know the boy got out that often….

"Hey! I wanted to talk to you and Joey about some Duel Monsters stuff! Is that okay?"

"Sure! Let me grab Joe," Yug grabbed his friends, just as Mai was swept away by some old groupies from school.

"Well…I'm ready to leave," Seto declared quietly, looking around the guest-stocked party.

"I'm starting to agree with you, Kaiba," Ryou looked around, "Parties really aren't my thing…."

"Just keep Bakura in check and you'll be fine!" Tea laughed.

Duke was looking around the room when he spotted a group of girls in the corner, chatting away. "Excuse me, friends," Duke pushed away from the group and over to the feminine one. "Hello, ladies."

It was as if Mt. St. Helens had erupted. Except…instead of a lava flow, there was an eruption of squeals of delight.

Tea rolled her eyes. So he gave up on Serenity…and then went to find other victims!

"What do you say we take a walk outside, eh?" Ryou inquired. "Nobody seems to be running to us in here," he shook his head.

"And we're not running to anybody," Tea gave a glare in Duke's direction and then took up Ryou's invitation for the walk. Seto only joined because he had no where better to waste his time.

"Just a sec, though," Tea broke away, "I really need to get a drink."

The two boys stopped and waited for her. "I never thought Gardner would be one to drink spiked punch."

"Spiked!" Ryou jumped.

"That's what Valentine told us," Seto smirked, "We had quite an interesting conversation ion the car there."

"Please refrain from telling me," Ryou shivered.

Tea came back carrying two drinks. She shoved one into Ryou's hands, "There. You look tense. Lighten up some! It tastes great!"

Ryou blinked. Was the spiked punch already taking effect on her? Tea began walking off towards the outdoors when Ryou looked into the cup. He swirled around the contents and looked up at Kaiba. "You want it?"

Seto merely said, "I'd rather stay completely sober tonight. We need someone to drive the rest of the boozed out back to the house."

Ryou looked at the cup once more and back at Tea, who was waiting for them. He sighed, "I think I'm going to need quite a few of these to keep up with her for the night. Bottoms up," he gave Seto a defeated look and tipped the whole thing into his mouth. Seto raised his eyebrows as he watched Ryou drink the whole thing in one swab. He didn't know the prim and proper little Brit was capable of something so…well, non-British. After drowning the whole thing, Ryou licked his lips and looked back at Seto, "You know…she was right, actually. It's not bad."

"Thank you for enlightening me," Seto retorted monotonously. He walked off towards Tea.

Ryou looked at the cup again. "You know…a second drink wouldn't hurt…."

"And that's all there is to it!" Yugi finished explaining a special strategy to Hanasaki.

"Wow! Thanks you two!" Tomoya smiled.

"No prob, for a friend," Joey patted the smaller boy's back. "Say, what are you doin' here anyway? I didn't think you went to parties!"

"Well, Miho invited me, so I decided, hey, why not? Meet some people or get to know them, you know?"

"OH MY GOSH! IT'S YUGI MUTO AND JOEY WHEELER!" a group of girls shouted. "TWO OF THE BEST DUELISTS EVER!" they descended upon the threesome.

Yugi was rather uncomfortable with all of the shouts of, "Oh, he's so adorable!"

Joey looked rather happy in the midst of girls. "Well, girls, I'd love to join you, but-"

"But his girlfriend insists that he go with her," a hand suddenly yanked on his collar and he came free of the horde, and into Mai's waiting area.

The group stopped, "You two are going out?" one asked.

"Yeah," Mai responded, "So bug off, will ya?" She marched away with Joey still being dragged by the scruff of his collar.

"Mai! Choking…not breathing!"

"You'll keep choking until we get to a place where there aren't so many fans of yours."

"What? Are you jealous?" Joey smirked, as best her could under such conditions.

"Of course not!" Mai blushed, "I just…don't like seeing so many girls around you. I'm your girlfriend, after all."

"True-" he suddenly stopped as he ran into Mai, who had halted, "Mai! What gives?"

"Would you look at that," Mai said in a semi-awed voice, "I never thought Ryou would ever be one to drink that punch stuff there. He's against alcohol, isn't he?"

"All except wine at times," Joey filled in.

"Yeah, well, those two bums that are just walking away from the punch table are dragging along a couple empty bottle of margarita," Mai whistled, "And Ryou just let them pass. Heck, he's filling up his cup!"

"Uh huh," Joey picked something from his ear and suddenly said, "You know, I'm pretty thirsty myself. Want some punch, Mai?" he got out of her grip and walked over to the table.

Mai gaped, "Does he ever listen? Oh well: I won't complain. That punch is pretty good stuff!"

Tea leaned one the balcony that overlooked the beach below. She had the punch in her hand and was finishing it up. Seto was a few paces away from her, leaning on the rail as well, watching the boring volleyball game going on, on the beach below.

A light rock station was playing in the background, currently playing good old seventies songs.

"So…how's your vacation been so far?" Tea asked out of the blue. She wanted some conversation somewhere. Even if it was Seto Kaiba.

Seto looked over at her and raised an eyebrow, "Isn't it obvious?"

Tea swirled the last of her drink around, "No, not really. You've been very…how should I put this…well, you've seemed to have plenty of mood swings, sort of."

"I suppose that's one way of putting it," Seto turned his head back towards the beach, fighting back the urge to laugh.

Tea continued to absentmindedly swish her drink, while muttering to herself, "Grumpy one minute; happy and caring the next; cold one day; romantic the next-" she stopped herself and glanced up to see if he had heard that last one.

By the way he was looking at her, she had guessed he pretty much had.

"What was that last one?" he looked at her expectantly.

"Umm…phlegmatic…yeah. …W-Why? What'd you think I said?" she stuttered slightly. Goodness, she was a bad liar.

Seto rolled his eyes and turned away again, "Whatever."

"So…what's up for you, next?"

"What?" Seto looked at her, yet again.

"You know…since school's done and all. What are you going to do? Kaiba Corp. stuff for the rest of your life?"

Seto huffed, "Maybe not the rest of my life, but most of it, yeah."

"What will happen to it when you step down as president?"

"It will become some other Kaiba's responsibility," Seto glanced at her. He wondered what she was trying to pry out of him. What did she want to know any of this for? Curiosity? He doubted it.

"Who's? Mokuba's or something? Noa's?"

"By the time I decide to step down, they'll be almost as old as I will be. And that should be near retirement age, or more, mind you."

"So…their kids or something?" Tea spoke before thinking about what she was going to say.

Seto looked at her strangely, "Their kids? Whatever happened to the possibility of my child inheriting the empire? I am the president, after all…."

Tea suddenly noticed what she had gotten herself into. She suddenly tossed the almost finished drink into a trash can. It was already beginning to mess with her…. What was she saying! "I guess…I just never figured you as the type to father someone. Maybe adopt, but actually father…" she stopped before she got any further down the…well…personal lane….

And would this blush ever cease to quit! Why was she flushing anyway!

Seto was thoroughly interested in what she had to say now. This was getting to be somewhat…embarrassing, but for the most part, interesting. "And what makes you think that?"

Tea turned an even deeper red, if possible, and she turned her back to him, crossing her arms, "I don't know! I just…I never really thought of you as being like that, okay!"

Seto smirked, seeing some fun coming up. A good chance to embarrass Gardner to death…. Or scare her. Either would do.

He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He leaned down slightly and murmured in her ear, "Well, you never know…. If last night was any indication, why…I could father your child for all you know."

Tea's eyes widened and she practically jumped out of her skin. She spun around and threw his hands off her shoulders, only to see him laughing. "Kaiba! Don't scare me like that!" she hit his shoulder, "You freaked me out half to death! I thought you had finally cracked!"

"Relax, Gardner," Seto started recovering from laughing, "It was a harmless, yet still hilarious, joke!"

"Well your hilarious jokes need some serious work!" Tea huffed, "And what do you mean, it was harmless! Do you have any idea what that "joke" could do to my psyche!"

Seto looked at her both questioningly and amusedly, "Just what types of thoughts are getting into your head, Gardner?"

Tea gasped and blushed even harder (man, was she on a roll there!), "Kaiba! What are you…oh my God, stop it!" she started hitting his shoulder, "Stop messing with my head!"

"Um…am I interrupting anything?"

The two suddenly looked over to the doorway where Ryou was standing, holding another full cup, "As interesting as that all was…it was getting a bit disturbing," Ryou nodded, walking along, up to them.

Tea suddenly remembered something she wanted to talk to him about, "Ryou?"

"Yes?"

"Could I talk to Bakura for a moment?"

Ryou froze, "Why would you want to do that?"

"I need to know something."

Ryou sighed and held out his coup to Seto, "Could you hold this, please? I'd rather not have the risk of him dumping this on some poor passerby." He looked at Tea and narrowed his eyes slightly, "Remember…if he gets out of control…this is all your fault."

"I accept the responsibility," Tea held up her right hand. Ryou relaxed a little for a moment. When his head popped up, he had a more sinister look on his face, and his hair seemed a bit more…wild.

"Bakura?" Tea inquired,

"Who else?" he sneered, reaching for the cup in Seto's hands. Seto jerked it away. He knew what this spirit could do…. And to some of his better looking clothes, too! He sneered at the boy then turned to Tea, "What do you want? The bum in here," he jerked a thumb to his head, "Said you want to talk to me about something."

"Yes, yes I did," Tea nodded, walking up close to him. She leaned in, and Bakura leaned back slightly. She took a deep breath, and then: "WHY DID YOU OPEN YOUR BIG FLAP THIS MORNING ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW LAST NIGHT!"

Bakura jumped, taken aback slightly by her exclamation. He regained composure and looked her straight in the eye, "Well, someone had to shut that Wheeler idiot up! If his sister wasn't going to say anything, I sure as he-"

"WHAT!" Tea shrieked, "JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE LAST NIGHT!"

"I'm right here, you know," Bakura cleaned out his ear, "And to answer your question…just us two as far as I know."

"What were you two doing out there!" Tea growled.

Bakura narrowed his eyes, "Well, Serenity said she saw him getting up to go out," he pointed at Seto, "and decided to go see an entertaining show for free. Me, I pretty much had the same motives…. Just a little twisted though…" he smirked to himself.

Tea glared at him, "Well, for your sake, you're lucky nobody really believed you, because lunch was suddenly served. Otherwise," she held up her fist, "I'd deck you here and now. Although that would really hurt Ryou, but…."

"I'd like to see you try," Bakura sneered.

Tea made to punch his nose, but Bakura held up a hand to block her. However, she had perceived this and used her other fist to go for his gut. Bakura realized this was happening about two seconds before her punch would land him. Being the coward that he was…or just the cheat…he switched places with Ryou again.

Ryou yelped when he saw what was happening, and tensed. But there was nothing. He opened an eye and saw Tea snickering.

"I knew he would do that…. I wasn't really going to sock you, Ryou," she gave him a tree-hug.

"Thank you!" Ryou suddenly cried out, enveloping her in a full hug.

Seto suddenly heard the crack of plastic and looked down to see his hand clenched in an involuntary fist…breaking the cup of punch.

"So, Tristan…" Miho and Tristan were walking along the edge of the house in the back, near the beach. Miho was speaking.

"Yeah?" he inquired, a tad nervous from being around her. He had to admit…he still did have a crush on her. Especially since Serenity didn't really seem to be falling for him.

"I uh…" she reddened a little and suddenly sat on a log that was lying on the sand. Tristan sat next to her.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"Well…sort of…I mean…" Miho bit her lip. She suddenly spun around to face him and clasped her hands together, "Oh, Tristan, I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me when I declined your request to go on a date with you two years ago! Ever since then...well…I guess I've been revisiting my heart. Because the truth is, Tristan, I really, really like you! I'm so fond of you, that I could kiss you at this very moment-"

Tristan had a dazed look on his face. She…cared about him? She actually liked him! Heck, she was practically saying-

"I love you, Tristan!" Miho threw herself around his neck, pressing her lips against his.

They tumbled off the log and Tristan landed on the sand, with Miho on top of him, still kissing him.

He let her kiss him…wondering if he should kiss back. He did have a crush on her after all…. Okay, maybe more than a crush. And…she was very likeable and brave. Heck, she had been so forward with this!

Then he realized: they were a lot alike. Usually, it would have been him making the forward move!

So why wasn't he kissing her?

Well, once he had his hands in position on her back, sparks really were flying behind that log.
Yugi had evaded the fangirls and was currently looking out for his friends. He couldn't seem to find them! Mai had dragged Joey off to who knows where, and he hadn't seen Tristan since they had entered the party.

Duke was running off to random groups of girls (go figure) and he hadn't been able to find Ryou, Seto or Tea anywhere.

He was currently on the beach, looking around for his friends. Perhaps Tea was in the volleyball game? On second thought…she hated volleyball. Still, he looked, just in case, but couldn't find her.

He walked along the beach, looking around everywhere. Where was everyone? Come on! It couldn't be that hard to find at least one of seven other people on this small plot of beach land!

"Oh, Tristan! Quit teasing!"

"Who says I'm teasing?"

Yugi spun around, looking everywhere. He had heard Tristan's voice! He had heard it! Where was he!

He then looked in front of him and saw a hand fly up behind a log. He crept over slowly and gave a tiny peek, pulling back instantly. That was more of a…private moment for the two….

So…one down, six to go. Well, there was Duke, chasing a bunch of girls through the water. Five to go. He wasn't even going to try to find Joey and Mai. Since they were together…well, we'll just say they should be left alone.

Three to go.

He sighed and walked back under the balcony again. He wanted to find his friends. This party was rather dull without them….

"JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE LAST NIGHT!"

Yugi froze. That was Tea's voice! He went out from under the shadow of the balcony and looked up. He just spotted a whiff of white hair before it disappeared.

Oh, wait up, Yugi cried frantically in his mind, before running back inside. He had to get to the balcony!

He stopped in the front room and looked at the refreshment table. You know…all that walking and running had made him pretty thirsty. That punch with the ice cream and ginger-ale and God knows what else was starting to look rather pleasing….

The three were back to just leaning out over the balcony again.

Ryou sighed and looked at the volleyball game, "Anyone up to joining them?"

"I hate volleyball," Tea commented.

"Not on my life," Seto answered. Ryou shrugged. That took care of that. "What about sitting on the beach. Get your feet wet or something?"

Tea nodded, "Nothing better to do at this "hoppin'" party."

"You're not a party-person either, I presume?" Seto looked over at her.

"Well, let's see," Tea looked around, "As I said, I hate volleyball. Other people are making out with their dates –one of which I don't have- others are getting drunk of the heavily spiked punch –and I really don't feel like losing myself tonight-; others are flirting, and no one will catch me dead doing that, and then there are those groups that are just…talking. Like we sparsely are now."

"Behold all of my reasons for wanting to ditch this place," Seto responded.

"Next time Mai invites us all to a party…remind me to un-invite myself," Ryou sighed.

Tea ran her finger along the banister, "Who knows? Maybe it'll liven up later-"

"Helllllllllllllllllllllllloooooooo, guests!" Miho's voice suddenly rang out on a hooked up speaker system, "Thank you all so much for coming to my annual summer party! Now, I'd like you all to know that the slow dances for all of the couples will be starting in the main room momentarily! So…bring your boyfriends and girlfriends and come on down! Sober or not!" she laughed rather…drunkenly. Whether it was the punch or having been with Tristan too much, no one could really tell.

"Ryou, I'm taking you up on your offer to go down to the beach now," Tea turned around to start walking to the main room.

"But I thought you liked dancing, Tea," he replied.

Tea stopped and turned around, "Hello? Slow dancing? I don't think so," she turned away and muttered lastly, "Not that I have anyone to dance with…."

Ryou twiddled his thumbs and suddenly elbowed Seto in the arm.

"Ow, watch it!" Seto rubbed his arm.

Ryou looked at him, and jerked his head in Tea's direction. Seto looked confused. Ryou rolled his eyes and kept jerking his head towards her.

"For God's sake, just spit it out!" Seto hissed.

Ryou bit his lip. Bakura…one last plead for help, please.

Very well, mortal.

Ryou…or rather, Bakura, stepped behind Seto and gave him a violent shove in Tea's direction. Seto stumbled forward, turning around in mid tumble to glare at Bakura, "What the heck did you do-"

He stopped when he bumped into someone. He turned around to see Tea turning at the same time.

"Oh, hello there," she said. Seto turned his head back to look at Ryou, who was now giving him a thumbs up. Seto blanched. Oh, he got it now. The white-haired freak was setting him up with her! He would never go for it!

Tea felt that something strange was going on. She peered past Seto to look for Ryou, only to see him walking over to the punch table, where he had witnessed Yugi taking on the punch.

Tea shook her head and turned back around to get ready to walk to the beach. She froze. Dozens upon dozens of people were flooding into the room. There was no room to get to the door.

"Great!" she threw up her hands. "We're stuck in the middle of this mess!" Music started up: slow, calm, romantic music. Couples around them started taking hands, wrapping around necks and waists and dancing.

Seto sighed. Ryou would die soon…. "Might as well make the best of the situation. Instead of looking like freaks standing around in the middle of the floor, we can waste time while we have it." He held out his hand.

Tea looked up at him, with a smirk tugging at her lips, "Are you…asking me to dance…in Kaiba-language or something?"

An amused smile accidentally broke forth on Seto's features, "I suppose I am."

"Well now…how should I answer then?" she put a finger to her chin, smiling at him. "…Sure, why not? What's the worst that could happen?" she took his hand. He put his hand on her waist, and she raised her eyebrows as she put a hand on her shoulder. "Ah, so we're going to be of the minority."

"What do you mean by that?" Seto inquired, as they started to dance.

"Just look around us," Tea answered, "Not many people apart from us are really "ballroom dancing.""

"Only the more intellectual individuals who actually know what dancing is," Seto remarked. Okay…he had a point. It was the smarter kids that were dancing like they were. The preps were doing the "dub" dancing.

Tea continued, "Then again, I should have expected this. Seto Kaiba always has to be an individual, doesn't he?" she quirked a smirk, waiting for an answer.

"For someone who I barely talk to, you sure seem to know a lot about me," Seto said. "Is there something you're not telling me, Gardner?"

"Like what?" she retorted, "That I'm one of those idiotic stalkers of yours. You wish."

"Hmm," Seto answered, "Perhaps I do wish it."

Tea almost tripped due to her sudden freezing in motion. "What did you say?"

"Keep moving, Gardner, you're holding up the others," Seto pulled her away gracefully.

"Don't get off subject!" Tea exclaimed.

"Who's getting off subject?" Seto looked at her with mock innocence.

Tea rolled her eyes. Would she ever get through to this guy?

Ryou sat back against the punch table, watching the dancers. "How quaint," he said, taking a sip of his drink. His mind was feeling a little dizzy…but he was sure it was just the loud music. Nothing bad….

"Hmm?" Yugi asked, falling into place next to him, with a drink in hand, "Oh, quaint? Yeah," he replied, taking a swig of his sixth cup of punch.

"Good stuff, ain't it?" Ryou replied, using the foul slang he hated so much.

"I'll toast to that," Yugi held up his cup. Ryou bumped his into it, and both cups spilled a bit of overflowing punch before the two drank it.

Yugi looked at his cup before looking at Ryou, "You think we're having too much of this stuff?"

"Nah," Ryou waved his hand, "For one night, I'm sure it's fine," his hand flew into Yugi's head as it waved. "Oh, sorry 'bout that."

"No problem," Yugi nodded, then stopped. That really hurt his head…. "You don't think we're…addicted, do you?"

"Come on, Yug!" Ryou laughed, "It's a party! One night, and that's it! We're not…addicted," he looked at the punch bowl. It seemed to be calling out to him. "Okay…maybe addicted momentarily," he turned back to the spiky-haired kid, "But definitely not for life!"

"Yeah…yeah! I agree!" Yugi threw up his hand, hitting Ryou in the chin. "Sorry…."

"'S alright," Ryou gave his sentence a minor slur.

Yugi looked through the crowd and his eyes stopped on a couple. "Ryou? Is that…are they…are Kaiba and Tea…dancing together!" He rubbed his eyes. Maybe this spiked drink was having too much of an effect on his brain. He surely was seeing things.

Ryou peered through the crowd, "Well doggone it! He actually asked her! Haha! I knew he would, sooner or later. Even if I did have to push him to do it," Ryou smiled contentedly.

"You mean he didn't ask on his own free will?" Yugi inquired.

"Well, actually, he did. He just needed a bit of a…boost to get him to actually do so, you know?" Ryou laughed.

"Ah, I get it!" Yugi chuckled. "So…do you think they've got something for each other?"

"Oh, I'm sure of it, Yug," Ryou stated. "You should have seen them last night. I don't think it was on purpose, but the effects of it were outstanding!"

"What happened?"

"Remember Joey's little escapade this morning? The investigation?"

"Lord, yeah," Yugi rubbed the back of his head.

"Well let me tell you," Ryou leaned down closer to him, "That was Kaiba and Tea makin' out on the beach."

Yugi blinked and turned to face his friend, "You're kidding."

"Absolutely not," Ryou stood up straight. "I saw it all. Serenity did too. Just…don't tell Joey about it. Tea just got onto Bakura a little while ago for blabbing it this morning. He was lucky that we were called in for lunch, so no one really listened to him."

"Yeah, I remember now!" Yugi nodded, "He did say that, didn't he?"

Ryou looked up, "Speaking of Wheelers…I wonder where Joey is."

"With Mai…somewhere," Yugi swirled the last of his drink in his cup and then drowned it all.

"Mai…are you sure dis is okay?" Joey looked around their setting. There were behind the first line of palm trees. Mai had wanted to…spend some romantic time with her boyfriend.

"Joey, of course it is! Half of the people are doing this! If their not making out on the dance floor, they're all behind something!"

"I dunno, Mai-"

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know this spot was taken." Mai and Joey looked up at the intruder.

"Oh, hey Malchior!" Mai laughed, "What are you doing here?"

The intruding boy smiled, "Just looking for a spare and private tree. I take it this one is taken?"

"You bet," Mai entwined her fingers with Joey's.

"Gotcha. Back to the search then," he nodded and then walked away. They heard him talking to a girl a little ways away. "Sorry, Meira, that tree was taken. Let's try over there…."

"There," Mai turned to Joey, "Satisfied?"

Her answer was a big kiss on the lips.

After a couple minutes of kissing, Joey pulled back and said, "You know Mai…I'm not completely feelin' da romance here."

"Hmm," she answered, "You've got a point. It's just…kissing. We haven't actually gotten anywhere. I think it's because we're sober, you know? Too scared to pull anything out in public." She stood up, "Come on! Let go get a few rounds at the punch bowl and come back. Then we'll see just how romantic we can get."

"Sober? I like being sober Mai," Joey stood up. "'Cause…you know…I've seen my dad in his drunken moods. It's not pretty. And I've had alco-"

"Joey, it's just some spiked punch! If there's enough of it, it makes your mind just a tad tickly, okay? Nothing bad," Mai giggled. "Now, if you were to drink the stuff constantly this whole night, then you might have a slight problem…. But, heck? What do I know? Miho never spiked it that much…. Unless some of the bozos around here took spiking into their own hands…. But hey! What do I know? Come on, Joey!"

"Mai, I dunno-" he started. Suddenly, Mai was leaning on his chest and walking her fingers up his shoulder.

"Don't you want to spend time with me, Joey? Don't you want our relationship to go somewhere romantic for just one night at least? After all…how much can you do at that public beach house? We're alone…we should spend time together, no?"

Joey had to admit: she had her reasons down. "Well…alright. It won't kill me. I've had worse, after all."

Noa looked at the clock in his and Mokuba's room. It was past ten o' clock, nearing the half hour. The others still weren't back yet! Well…it was a party scheduled for seven to about two in the morning. They could be back at midnight for all he knew.

Still, he wondered how Seto was doing. The boy wasn't used to teenage parties: only business ones. How was he getting along? Was he dying of boredom? Probably….

Speaking of boredom: Noa wasn't having the most fun either. Mokuba and Serenity were somewhere in this house, doing who-knew what.

Speaking of which…he should probably give them a check-up. He had promised to make sure they didn't get too clingy, after all.

With those two lovebirds so…well, engorged in love, anything was bound to happen.

He exited his room. First, he would check if Serenity's room was occupied. He didn't even have to knock to know they were in there. He was just outside the door when he heard voices. Leaning up against the door, he could make out what they were saying….

Serenity giggled, "Oh, Mokuba…you have such a soft touch," she sighed.

"Well, you're even softer," Mokuba replied, quietly.

Noa raised his eyebrows. He would never have suspected his innocent little brother and sweet and shy Serenity to get so…romantic. He would never have guessed. This sounded like something Joey and Mai would be doing! Then again, Serenity was a Wheeler after all.

Still, too many things could be going on in there. He ought to check on them….

But how? It was rude just to knock. …Aha! He would try to pose as Joey! He had been mocking accents lately (it was a rather fun hobby for a bored person) so, he would try that! After all, no one knew when the others were coming home.

Noa cleared his throat quietly and tried to get his voice in the right range. It was still rather shrill in his older age, but it was deepening with the passing weeks.

There! He had hit it.

"Yep: dis is it!" Noa laughed to himself. He suddenly straightened and knocked loudly on the door, as Joey would do. "Ren? You in der?"

"Joey!" Serenity jumped halfway out of her skin from inside. Noa had to keep himself from laughing. The mock wasn't perfect, but it had fooled them.

Or maybe they just felt sort of guilty, hiding this relationship behind their older brother's backs; thus causing their awareness for Joey and Seto to be rather high…. Even if the accent still wasn't completely Joey's own .

There was some shuffling in around the room, and some whispering. Finally, the door started to crack open, and Serenity cautiously peeked out, "…Joey?" She froze when she saw Noa there, biting his lip to keep from bursting out in a fit of laughter.

"NOA!" Serenity threw open her door and glared at him. "THAT'S NOT FUNNY! Why did you impersonate Joey like that!"

"Well, I had to check up on you guys. You sounded rather…how should I say this? ...Intimate in there…. Mokuba came up behind Serenity.

"And is it your business what we're doing?"

"As your brother: yes it is. Can't have you two getting too rowdy, you know."

"Just what are you insinuating?" Serenity sighed, rather frazzled.

Noa looked them over. Their clothes were a bit wrinkled; their hair messed up and peered slightly into the room, he could see Serenity's bed was completely disheveled. At least the comforter was still on top.

Why not crack a joke while the time was ripe?

He sighed, putting his chin in his hand, "Looks like I might be too late…." He turned away and began walking towards the stairs. If this joke angered them any more, he was going to need a lot of room to run. And no dead ends….

"Too late for what?" Mokuba looked at him questioningly.

Noa threw up his hands and turned around to face them, already down a few steps, "Just what am I supposed to tell Seto and Joey when they find out they're going to be uncles! I daresay they won't sound too happy at first…. Maybe they'll reconcile if you have a boy and name it after them-"

Serenity's hands immediately went to her mouth as she turned beet red in embarrassment. Mokuba's mouth hung agape, and his face was coloring with anger.

"NOA! THAT'S NOT FUNNY!" Mokuba sped past his girlfriend and tore down the stairs, racing after Noa, who had had a head start.

Serenity was still shocked that Noa would say something like that! Then again, he wasn't far off. But it wasn't like they had been doing that! They would never- well…when they were married, yes…if they got married- but still! To insinuate something like that! Then joke about it!

Still…which does sound better? Joseph Seto Kaiba? Or…Seto Joseph Kaiba? I'll have to think about that one…for future reference….

"Hey, Joey!" Yugi stood up and smiled at his friend, waving as Mai and Joey entered the room.

"Hey der yourself!" Joey gave him a high-five…which Yugi completely missed the boy's hand. Joey looked at him skeptically. "Yug…are you drunk?"

"Drunk!" Yugi jumped, "What? Oh, no…" he shook his head, "Maybe a tad tipsy, but certainly not drunk!"

Joey looked at him queerly, "You sure don't look "just tipsy" to me…."

"Well hello there, old chap!" Ryou suddenly laid his arms over Joey's shoulders, holding his drink a good ways away, so as not to spill. "Good to finally see you 'round these parts!"

Mai was cracking up, "You two…are completely zoned out!" she laughed hysterically.

"We are not!" Yugi thrust a finger into the air, "Just…had a bit too much to drink…."

"Here, bum!" Ryou took a full cup of punch and tipped Joey's head up, "It's g-good for the soul! Ha! Bottoms up!" he thrust the drink down Joey's throat.

Joey sputtered as the punch forced its way down his esophagus. He swore any minute that the pink drink would come through his nose.

Ryou and Yugi were laughing wildly. They aimed to give each other a high-five and went through the maneuver. The both were half a foot off form each other's hand and both went careening down to the floor.

Mai continued to crack up.

"Miho, you throw a great party," Tristan complimented his dancing partner.

"Why thank you," she smiled, "But it's all the better since you're here, Tristan," she laid her head against his chest.

"This is great, Miho. But…shouldn't you be a good hostess and walk around with some of your other friends?"

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"O-of course not! I merely meant-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, cutie," she giggled. "They'll live. I see them all the time. But you... Tristan, this is a special night."

"Yes it is."

"Maybe we'll both go around later to some other guests, okay? If it'll make you happy."

"It will," Tristan replied, smiling. He tried stifling a yawn. He really wasn't one who stayed up too late. He liked to sleep. A lot. Early to bed and late to rise: that was his motto. Still, he promised himself to make it through the night as long as they were at the party. He didn't want to fall asleep on his new girlfriend after all: how rude!

Joey guzzled down some more of the punch. So Ryou had force fed him earlier: he had known what it tasted like! He had had some earlier. And now…he just wanted a little more.

"Remember, Joey," Mai hooked her arm in his, "Just a few cups, okay? We're not trying to hit ourselves too hard. Like those two," Mai jerked a slightly wavering thumb towards Ryou and Yugi who were laughing at each other's lame jokes.

"Who woulda thought," Joey shook his head, "that at a party, the two refined and proper guys of da gang would be da ones to get head ov'a heels drunk."

"Tipsy, remember?" Mai laughed.

"Riiiiiight," Joey laughed. They were watching the dancing couples pass by, and listening to the romantic playing songs. It really put the two in the mood.

Suddenly, Joey stood upright. What the-!

He swore he could see Tea and Seto Kaiba out there dancing…together!

He blinked and rubbed his eyes before opening them again. They were gone.

"Where did they go!" Joey stood on his tiptoes to look out over the floor. He couldn't find them….

"Where did who go?" Mai inquired.

"I'll tell ya," Joey rubbed his head, "I t'ink dis drink is goin' ta my head already! I swear ta God, I just saw Tea an' Kaiba dancin' ta'geth'a out der!"

Mai blinked, and smirked, "Really now? Are you sure?"

"Not anymore," Joey rubbed his head. "I'm not really sure of anything anymore…."

"I think that's enough punch then," Mai drank the last of her cup and tossed it into the trash can. "Finish that. Then we'll go back to our tree," she smiled seductively at him.

Joey looked at the half-filled cup. He smirked and looked at the two drunken spirit-holders. He held the cup up to them and said to himself, "Bottoms up!"

"I think after this song…we should stop," Tea declared.

"Alright. Why? Dizzy?" Seto in turn asked.

"Sort of…mostly just tired, I guess. It is getting rather late."

Seto checked his watch, "It's just past eleven-thirty."

"I rest my case," Tea sighed. The song was coming to a close. As it did so, Miho's voice rang out over the speaker system, "Alright, everyone! Now that you've had some time to dance as couples: next is a dancing contest! Groups, couples and singles are allowed! I'll have judges up here –although I will not be one of them- but let's just have fun! It starts in just a few minutes!"

Tea broke away from Seto, "And that is my cue to leave. For once, I don't feel like dancing." She looked for the nearest exit and saw a hallway that lead to another side of the balcony. She walked that way. Seeing a refreshment table next to it, she grabbed a random drink. She was quite thirsty after being out on the floor for so long.

And dancing with Seto Kaiba.

Especially Seto Kaiba.

Because he was Seto Kaiba.

…Because she had been in close contact with Seto Kaiba….

Yep: it was very overwhelming. His touch; his essence: everything! Okay…now she knew her mind was beginning to get muddled. Why was she thinking of him in this way?

Sure, he's very good looking…very hot; and he actually asked me to dance; and we were very close; and his hand had held mine; and- Okay! Moving on!

Seto followed her. After all, where else was he supposed to go? Right now, she was the only person around here that he was "close" to. And by close, he meant knew better than the lowlifes elsewhere. There was no getting back to the other side of the room where Ryou and Yugi were, seeing as the dance contest was starting, and people littered the floor. And…who would want to be around them anyway? In his opinion, even from afar, they looked rather…drunk.

"Who would have thought," he smirked sneeringly and grabbed a drink. Hey, he was thirsty too. And it was only a stupid punch drink after all. He wouldn't reduce himself to acting like those two lunatics.

Tea leaned against a the wall in the dark hallway. On one side, teens danced away. On the other, the large French doors looked out over the starry sky. She looked at this sky as she drank. It was so beautiful: all of the stars were lit up like lights in a city.

Like New York…where I hope to go. Speaking of which, she hadn't heard back from Julliard yet. She hoped that when she got home, there would be an acceptance letter waiting for her!

But she had back-up plans in case it didn't work out. But she didn't want to do those back-up plans. She wanted to dance. And she wanted to see her previous home country again.

Oh the memories…. She walked to the French doors and opened them, walking outside onto the deserted balcony. No one was out on the beach now, except for a few lovers, walking around or behind trees kissing.

She leaned against the wall of the house and sighed. It was nights like these that made her remember the wonderful times she had had in America. She had spent so much time, with her best friend –the Takanaka boy- and his brother. After all, they had both been something of outcasts to the rest of the kids, and she had been a newcomer when she had met them. Takanaka had been her first friend. Her best friend.

They used to sit on the hills behind the house looking up at the stars on nights like these. They would look for constellations. Takanaka knew them all by heart –he had been such an intelligent boy. Tea had always wished she could be just that intelligent.

People had always called Tea strange for having all guy friends, save Mai and Serenity. But heck, when they hadn't been there, it had always been the other four: Yugi, Joey, Tristan and Ryou. Well, she had always been that way. Takanaka had been her only real friend. Of course…his brother counted too, but he had been such a young thing: he just hung out with them when he had been old enough.

She sighed once more and slid down to sit on the concrete floor. She set her drink down and took out a special locket from under her shirt, and she began to finger it. She always wore this locket. It had been the last gift he had given her before he was swept away.

It had been on her twelfth birthday. As a gift, he had used his own money to go buy her a special locket (their family was quite obsessed with lockets for some reason). It was in the shape of a small heart, studded with blue-gems which he had said reflected her eyes. Well, he had actually said that nothing could ever match her perfect blue eyes, but this was the closest he could get to.

Wasn't he the sweetest thing ever?

That night, she had found her favorite picture of him (there were hundreds to choose from) and she had asked her uncle to digitally make it smaller, so that it could fit into the locket.

To this day, little Takanaka's picture still inhabited the locket. She wished she could find him again. It had been six long years without him…. He had meant the world to her. She wasn't afraid to admit that even back then she had had a strong affection for him. More than any ordinary crush at that.

She clasped the locket in her hand. She knew she still adored him…but just how much? It had been sic years…and this summer especially, she felt him slipping away from her even more than usual. Was someone else taking his place in her heart?

Of course not! No one could ever take his place in my heart. He just…may be being overrun a bit. New emotions? I don't know. I just wish…I could see him again. I want to see who he's become. Is he still the same boy I knew? Or is he someone completely different?

"Something wrong?" Tea jumped and looked up. A tall figure cloaked in shadows stood before her; his hands in his pockets. Tea chocked on her air. Sweet Lord, he looked exactly like Takanaka!

When he stepped from the shadows, Tea almost laughed. She must have really had the boy from her past in mind to think that Seto Kaiba was her old friend.

…Though she had to admit…he had looked a bit like him back there…. Okay, a lot like him.

"No, nothing's wrong," she answered as he sat next to her, "Just reminiscing."

"Ah," was his grand answer. He saw her fiddling with the locket, and curiosity overrode him, "What's that?"

"What?" Tea looked at him. He saw him looking at the locket hidden in her hand. She hastily dropped it back underneath her shirt, "Nothing. Just a necklace."

Seto rolled his eyes. Count on women to keep necklaces under their shirts! What good were they then? Unless they were barely wearing a shirt…. What would Tea look like then- Holy crap, where was this going!

Tea looked up at the stars again. She immediately found the Big and Little Dippers. Now what else could she look for? Orion? Leo? Sirius? Gemini? So many constellations to choose from; so many memories to go by.

"Do you like constellations, Kaiba?" Tea randomly asked.

"I'm fond of them, yes," he answered, looking up at the sky.

Tea took a drink before she looked over at Seto. Moonlight bathed his handsome face and a soft breeze blew his bangs a bit before hitting the wall behind them.

He really is very handsome. And behind those good looks is an equally good heart. You just can't find it right off the bat. It's hidden in there…but it's a big heart. Gosh, he really does look so…naïve right now. A soft face in pale light; a relaxed position…. Mokuba and Noa were right to bring him out for a vacation. He really needed it. I swear: the first day he was here, he looked so stressed out and tired. Now, he looks rather…alive.

Tea didn't know why she was thinking all of this. It just sort of…popped into her head: as if she was trying to reassure herself about something. She drank a little more, letting the sweet, yet tangy punch roll down her tongue and throat. There was something…different about the drink from the one she had had at the beginning of the party. There was a stronger…something in it, but she couldn't make out what it was. She drank the last of it and the tips of her fingers became slightly tingly.

Music drifted out from the hall behind them. Slowly, Tea recognized the tune. It was an organ playing, but she swore to God it sounded so much more like bagpipes! Well, she liked to think of them as bagpipes anyway. It always made the song more enjoyable. She bounced her head, thinking of the lyrics. "Gee, I love this song," she muttered to herself.

Seto looked over at her, recognizing the style of music, "You enjoy Styx?"

"Oh yes," she sighed, smiling. "They really rock. I don't know why all of the good bands were pretty much thrown away with the coming of the new decades. It really stinks for them. They've got some great music."

"I've never really listened to this song, but I've heard others," Seto replied. "What's it called?"

"Fooling' Yourself," Tea answered. Something suddenly snapped in her head. "Oh my gosh!"

"What?" Seto sat up, thinking something was wrong.

"That is so…weird!" Tea laughed looking at him.

"What is weird?" Seto raised an eyebrow.

Tea poked her index finger into his chest, "I swear, this song describes you to the umpteenth degree!"

Seto looked at her strangely, "It does?" Was that a good thing? Or a bad one?

"Yes! Just listen! Can you hear it well?"

"Sort of…" he wavered off. He wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the song now.

"Oh, I swear it fits you perfectly," she suddenly laid her head down on his shoulder and put a hand on his arm.

Seto almost jumped at her touch. Just what did she think she was doing! Not that her really minded…. It did feel rather relaxing after all…. But! Seto looked past her and noticed the cup. Ah. Just one drink too many. She was getting on the light-headed side, he was sure.

And just as the lyrics to the song started, he could hear her softly singing:

"You see the world through your cynical eyes.

You're a troubled young man, I can tell.

You've got it all in the palm of your hand;

But your hand's wet with sweat and your head needs a rest.

And you're fooling' yourself if you don't believe it.

You're kidding yourself if you don't believe it.

Why must you be such an angry young man;

When your future looks quite bright to me?

And how can there be such a sinister plan-

That could hide such a lamb:

Such a caring young man!

And you're fooling' yourself if you don't believe it.

You're killing yourself if you don't believe it.

Get up! Get up! Get back on your feet!

You're the one they can't be and you know it!

Come on: come on! Let's see what you've got!

Just take your best shot and don't blow it."

Seto was rather surprised. Did he really act that way to the outside world? Well, yes, he supposed he did. Cynical at times; troubled, definitely; yes he did have everything in his grasp, and yes he did need to relax.

That was what vacation was for, no?

Still…something about the chorus bothered him….

Of course his future looked bright: he had everything he could ask for! Right? …Did he have everything? Was his life as perfect as he made it out to be? Maybe there was something missing….

The pressure on his shoulder almost reassured him that someone was definitely missing.

But what disturbed him the most was this: Gardner had said the song described him perfectly. Well…what about the middle of the chorus? 'And how can there be such a sinister plan- that could hide such a lamb: such a caring young man!' What did she have to say about that? Since when could she back anything up along those lines? Yes, he did show affection for and cared for his brothers: but there were rare times where this was seen in public. What did she know?

And…why would she have him described as 'such a caring young man?' As aforementioned, he did care for his brothers; but if that was all…one couldn't call him completely caring, could they? What did she know about him?

He looked down at Tea, who was still gazing out into space, singing softly. She had been right, though, so it seemed. She knew him better than he thought she had!

"And you're fooling' yourself if you don't believe it.

You're kidding yourself if you don't believe it.

Get up! Get up! Get back on your feet!

You're the one they can't be and you know it!

Come on: come on! Let's see what you've got!

Just take your best shot and don't blow it."

She does have a beautiful voice though, he thought. The feather-soft lightness of it carried a sweet melody through the air: much softer than the rock inside.

She looked up at him as the song started coming to a close.

He was startled by her sudden movement, but didn't show it.

Her moonlit eyes gazed up softly at him, and he was enraptured. Amazing what the moon could do to something. It was so much more mystical and beautiful than the sun….

Tea still had a hand on his shoulder. Why was he looked at her like that? Was something wrong? He looked somewhat…confused.

But there was something else there that she couldn't pick out. Perhaps he was…hesitant?

Hesitant about what, she asked herself. Goodness, she didn't remember getting this close to him. Was she actually on his shoulder? Lord, what was she doing!

Still…from her point of view, it looked almost as if he wanted to-

Tea inched her head ever so closer to his; her eyelids slowly lowering.

Seto tilted his head and closed his eyes as their lips touched.

MIDNIGHT

Whoa. Whew! That was one LONG chapter! And another cliffie…. I'm sorry it took so long to get out, but can you see why? I mean, compared to some authors, I know this is nothing, but still! For me, THIRTY complete pages is A LOT. Geez…that took quite a while to write. But I hope it was worth it! I hope you all liked it! I'm sure you SetoxTea fans did! Whee! I loved writing those parts best! Well, duh, I always do…. This could be the last update for a while. I'm going on vacation in a few days and don't know if I'll be able to update any. I might…but I really don't know. Whoops…now I feel kind of bad for leaving that semi-cliffie there. Anywho, PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks!