Dedications: This one is dedicated to the guys I have 'nearly' kissed lol haha for all the 'inspiration' for this chappie lol and they don't even know mwahahaha lol sorry I'm a lil' hyped up right now:D
Disclaimer: I'm starting to run out of these now...ummmm...Well for this chapter I guess I'll just have to stick with; I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh...
A/n: Hey guys, I know it's took me a while to get this up but my computer had some serious issues and everything had to be wiped off so for a while I had to use stupid notepad because Microsoft office hadn't been installed!. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and lucky for you my favorite one that I have written so far is out next...Chapter 7! So hopefully it won't be a long delay 'coz I won't be able to wait! He he have fun!
One Door Closes, Another Opens
Nearly
"He'll be so exited to have his own body...even I'm exited for him so I can't imagine how he must be feeling. Can you believe it? He's actually gonna be one of us...all the time, well obviously not all the time 'coz he can't be with us like, twenty four- seven but well you know, and-" Tèa cut off Yugi, who was babbling meanlesly due to the excitement and nervousness building up inside him.
"Yugi, Yugi calm down" She laughed. "I know he will be a completely different person to you now...he's been waiting for the opportunity to get a body for years now. There's gonna be so many people happy to see him and you next to each other as in...Two people...One of the gang..." She trailed off in cheery voice but it was just a face...really, she wasn't that happy about it all, or excited.
She was just confused. Confusion, fear, happiness, excitement and embarrassment all bubbled up inside her over the fact that the Seto Kaiba had just kissed her...Poor little Tèa Gardner.
"Yeah, especially you." Seto hissed from the other side of her bedroom door 'not' listening on her phone conversation to the oh so famous Yugi Moto.
The way she spoke to him seemed so...happy. Even just after their kiss or any time he and Tèa had ever spoke, she'd never sounded like that. Seto felt a foreign emotion build up inside him, little did he know that it was jealousy. Seto Kaiba was once again jealous of Yugi. Well, who could blame him? He had just more or less admitted to Tèa that he had feelings for her and no sooner had he kissed her, she was on the phone sounding like the happiest person in the world, talking to her 'crush'.
"Well Yug, I better go." She said, the smile on her face fake.
"Okay, take care. Bye."
"Bye." She put down the phone straight away and put it on the bedside table and her smile turned into an irritated frown.
Seto turned sharply on his heal and strode downstairs, passing many of his scared employee's on his way. He sat on the plush black couch in his office and stared blankly into a book.
I kissed her! He thought. I like her…She likes him! I knew that and now I've made a fool of myself! Although he appeared to be reading, he was just staring. Even if he wanted to, he just couldn't concentrate. As usual, she stopped him.
Knock Knock
Seto lifted up his head and expected the knocker to be Mokuba.
"Come in." He said softly.
Mokuba, and sometimes Tèa, were the only people in the Kaiba mansion that he spoke to with at least a little respect but right now he wasn't planning on speaking to Tèa at all. He wasn't even going to look at her. Just avoid her.
Tèa stood outside Seto's office door, amazed by the kindness in his voice, especially when he didn't even know who it was at the door. Maybe he was still in a good mood. Tèa smiled and turned the brass knob on the door, entering the room. Kaiba noticed her shadow and frowned. It was much taller than Mokuba's and so he knew it was her. So much for him ignoring and avoiding her. He should have known it wasn't going to be that easy. He would have to resort to the only thing he knew well. Coldness.
"What do you want?" He snapped
"Back to normal then?" She sighed
"And what's that meant to mean?"
"It means" She began. "Since I've got here you've been okay with me, pretty civil, maybe even nice." She paused when a smile crept onto her lips and her cheeks blushed a deep pink, thinking about what had happened between them not long ago.
Seto saw her and turned away, smiling as his cheeks did the same. He tried to hide it but failed as Tèa noticed. She walked over to the young CEO and turned his head to the front so he was looking at her and she stared deep into his saphire eyes. Her fingers crawled up his chest and she ran a hand through his soft brown hair, smelling his cologne as she did so.
He closed his eyes and thought about what he was doing, the voices of reason in his head getting louder.
She's only using you until Yami's home The first one insisted. No she's not! The second defended. But look how she left you- in the middle of a kiss no less, to talk to the midget. Just shut up They argued but eventually, the first won.
"Don't bother Gardener." He pulled her hand away from him and got up, walking to the other side of his office and sat in front of the computer, leaving Tèa standing there, looking at the back of his head.
She stood still in the middle of the room, mouth wide open. How could she ever get to understand him? First he's a prick to her (as usual), then caring, then kissing her, then silent and now he's back to his old cold self!
"But…I…Seto…I thought that you-" He cut her off before she had chance to finish. Hearing her voice like that, almost scared. Hearing her call him Seto. Seeing her face look so…confused. He knew that if he didn't stop her then, he would never have been able to.
"Well you thought wrong, okay?"
She couldn't reply. Did he really feel something? Anything? Then or now? She really didn't want to think about it.
"Well…fine" She stuttered but her last word was final. She stormed upstairs into her room and lay on her bed. She was so thankful it was only Tuesday. She didn't feel up to spending a whole weekend with Kaiba! She relaxed and drifted into a blissful sleep, the cream curtains on the roof of her four poster, the last thing she saw.
……
"How you feeling?" Yugi asked quietly, trying not to wake up his Grandpa.
The Pharaoh's spirit came out of the millennium puzzle and he stared worriedly at Yugi
"Scared" He replied, nervously
"Don't be Pharaoh! This time next week you'll be…you…not me. Sorta. Okay, what I'm saying is don't be scared, be excited! You're gonna be Yami, not Yugi!" The small boy reassured him.
"No, it's that, that I'm scared of…I'm…I don't like planes…or heights…or anything to do with flying."
Yugi laughed as the spirit re-entered the puzzle. He looked out the window at the clouds going past. He hoped Tèa was okay, and had she told Joey yet? What had he said? Is Kaiba driving her mad? His mind buzzed and questions that couldn't be answered that popped up, one after another.
Relax Yugi! I'm sure she's fine. Yami told him
Well I know she can take care of herself and that but what if Joey over reacted when she told him who she was staying with? This really isn't the time for her to be falling out with her friends! Her Mums funeral is on Saturday! He replied, worried
Joey is her friend, Yugi. Even if they have had words, which I'm sure they haven't, he'll make sure things are okay for Saturday. He won't let her do it on her own!
Yeah, you're right Yugi had relaxed at Yami's words and so decided to try and get some sleep…although he wasn't sure if was possible with these stupid…uncomfortable airplane seats!
……
The next few days were hard for Tèa. She had so much school work to do, help and encourage Mokuba to do his, play with Mokuba and finalize the funeral plans for her Mum. She had tried not to think much about what had happened because it only got her all upset. Since Tuesday, she and Kaiba had, had no awkward moments in terms of kisses but sometimes found themselves in rather…Tight, circumstances. But other than that, if the CEO wasn't to busy, stressed out or pissed off he would usually comfort Tèa. Not only that but he helped out a lot with the funeral planning.
Only last night, Tèa was in her room and Seto wanted to talk. When she let him in he'd told her he had 'made some calls' and the funeral cars were all booked. Tèa was so thankful of him. She hadn't even asked but if she'd have tried to do it on her own it would have turned out a disaster whereas he seemed to know how to do anything and it was always perfect.
……
"Tèa Tèa! Wake up! You're gonna be late!" Mokuba jumped up and down on the bottom of her bed.
"Okay, I'm up." She raised her hands in defeat.
Her and Mokuba rushed around the house trying to get ready on time whilst Seto sat in the kitchen, sipping his coffee, ready over an hour early, as usual. Friday morning had come by fast and Tèa had been living with them for nearly a week now. Although they hadn't argued and she hadn't gotten on his nerves nearly half as much as he had predicted, Mokuba was the one who enjoyed her company the most.
"Morning" She greeted the daydreaming teen.
"Hello" He replied simply.
To have such a under enthusiastic reply from any other person, Tèa would have been rather offended but as means as it was Kaiba she counted herself lucky and knew she was one of the few who got a polite greeting off him.
The two ate breakfast in silence until Tèa spoke.
"Will you come?" She asked casually
"Come? What do you mean?"
"Tomorrow, to the funeral. I mean, like if you're to busy working or you have some meeting or you're too tired than you don't have to come I just-" Her calm question had gone out the window and she had started babbling. Seto cut her off.
"Of course I will. You need the support. I know you've got the gee-…Your friends but it's a different kind of support you need." His voice was caring and made the tears in Tèa's eyes go away. She knew he did care but he wasn't usually so open about it.
Oh great job Kaiba! Go make a fool of yourself, again! Yeah let your guard down. Oh just shut up you! She needs someone to look after her, not to tell her things will be okay when if it wasn't for Mokuba, they wouldn't be! This time the second voice one and silenced the first.
"Thank you so much Se-…Kai-…Thanks." She didn't know what to call him.
The last time she had called him Seto he had coldly pushed her away and she didn't want that at the moment but she didn't like calling him Kaiba. She felt she was the closest thing to a friend he had right now, and if he classed her as one too, she would prefer not to have to call him by his last name.
"It's okay. If you need anything for tomorrow whether it be money or anything, just ask."
"Well I think i've got everything sorted now but about the cars-"
"Don't worry, it's all sorted. Or is it because you want another one? I mean, I don't think Yugi and the mutt would approve of seeing you arrive with me…"
"To be honest, I don't care what they approve of. You took me in and are helping me out, a lot, through all this, in a way they can't, and besides, Yugi isn't coming. He his Grandpa and Yami will still be in Egypt."
"They've left you? Some friends…" Kaiba received a death glare off Tèa and quickly went onto something else.
"So, have you told Taylor that you're here?" He grimaced; he hated knowing that one of the nerd herd's names was being mentioned under his roof. But the strange thing was, before last week, he would have felt the same way about saying Gardner.
"No, I haven't personally, but I assume Joey has." Seto nodded and took out his cell.
"One minute" He said to Tèa before leaving the room.
"Roland."
"Yes Mr. Kaiba, sir?"
"Make sure everything is sorted and the Limo's are outside here at 11:45am, got that?"
"Yes Mr. Kaiba, sir" Roland repeated
Seto put down the phone and re-entered the kitchen.
"Well we better get going." Tèa said as she slapped her hands on the table.
It was obvious that she was trying to hide all the pain that she felt inside and that, even though it had to be said, their conversation hadn't helped the matter, any.
"Yeah" Was all Kaiba replied. He was lost in his thoughts…her as usual.
I've been so nasty to her. She's one of Yugi's friends. Who cares? I care! She's not like them; she knows how much I detest Yugi, Taylor and the Mutt but still manages to treat me like anyone else…like a friend. And on top of all that she manages to keep her life in tact after everything she has been through. Why would you want to be her friend? You don't need friends. Besides, all her 'strength' is just a front. She's weak really… His thoughts trailed off.
"C'mon Mokuba, hurry up! You're gonna be late!" She called up the stairs.
Mokuba came running down and was caused to halt by an awaiting hug from Tèa at the bottom. He jumped into her arms and she hugged him tight. The eleven year old had never had a mother figure in his life. No female influence. Tèa wanted nothing more than to look after him the way a Mum or a sister would.
The way my Mum did me… She thought.
Seto stared across the entrance hall at his female guest and younger brother. Sure, Mokuba liked Tèa and all her friends but if someone new came into his life, he usually kept well away. He was much like Seto, afraid of what would happen if that person left them. But with Tèa he was quite the opposite. It was as if he was making the most of every minute with her.
As for Tèa, she looked so comfortable with him. Any nannies Seto had hired in the past found it difficult to handle Mokuba. Not because he was naughty but because he had had a rather lonely childhood. When he and Seto were adopted, the small boy was pushed aside and from then on had had it tough. All he wants now is some company. The nannies couldn't be with him whenever he wanted but Tèa seemed to manage it, no problem, even with her schoolwork and everything going on with her Mum. Seto thought she looked so sweet as he watched her give Mokuba his lunch box and he ran out the door. Tèa and Seto followed suit and entered the limo after Mokuba.
"You'll make a good Mum some day." He told her.
She smiled at him but felt a little creeped out. Only minutes before she had been hoping something along the lines of that and he had just said it. It felt as though he could read her mind. She sat there thinking and before she knew it they had pulled up outside domino high.
……
Seto and Tèa walked into first lesson, Seto a few meters ahead, as usual.
"Hey, Tèa!" Joey called her over. They'd spoken this week but not like normal, like this, since that phone call. The conversations had been awkward. 'Hi' 'hi' and that was about it.
"Hey Joe" She replied.
The blonde hugged Tèa who hugged him back. Seto Kaiba saw from a few tables across but quickly looked away.
You're jealous! The reasonable voice spoke.
No I'm not! Yes you are! No! Yes! N-
"Just shut up!" Kaiba hissed quietly to himself.
……
"I was really out of order earlier this week. I'm so sorry Tèa, am I forgiven?" Joey pouted.
"Yeah" Tèa beamed. It would make things so much easier not being so awkward with Joey.
Seto Kaiba shook his head as Tèa sat in between Joey and Tristan.
"They don't deserve her." He mumbled.
……
Last lesson didn't take long to come and for a change, Tèa wasn't thankful. The faster that day went, the sooner tomorrow would come.
"So, how's Mr. Moody arse lately?" Joey smiled, pointing at Kaiba
"Joey!"
"What?" Joey put on his innocent face as Tristan sat grinning next to Tèa.
"Seriously, he's not all that mad…or moody actually. In his own house he's pretty laid back. He can be funny at times."
"Yeah, funny looking"
"No!...Like, you know, he tells jokes and that, ones that make me laugh…"
"Tèa, a rich mans jokes are always funny." Tristan added, smirking.
"Oh, you guys, that's not nice! I mean, sure we argue, but I'm really grateful of him, he's done so much for me." Her voice became quiet and she could feel his stare on her.
Seto could hear their whole conversation and once again, she was defending him. Only a few hours ago, he had said that Joey and Tristan didn't deserve her;
…But do I deserve her?
Tèa turned her head slightly and looked at Kaiba, causing Goosebumps to emerge on her skin. She reluctantly broke their eye contact and turned back to her male friends.
"Yeah, I spose he has, but I just can't bring myself to trust that guy." Tristan spoke hesitantly, hoping not to offend him too much in front of Tèa.
"I don't expect you to, just try not to…provoke him, he has been civil with you guys lately…" She lowered her head. Joey wrapped his arm around her and hugged her tightly.
"You scared?" He asked.
"Mmm Hmm"
"'Bout tomorrow?" Tristan questioned
Tèa nodded her head and relaxed in the comforting embrace that was Joey and Tristan.
Seto stared across the room at the three. He found himself wanting so much, to be the one holding her. He didn't shake the thoughts away but turned around from the view to continue with his work. The bell rang shortly after Tristan and Joey had cheered Tèa up. The class filled out quickly and left Joey, Tristan and Tèa packing the last of their belongings away. The school day had gone so fast and Tèa was dreading tomorrow and its depressing events.
"So…errr…What time do you want us to come and pick you up tomorrow?" Joey asked.
"Pick me up? Oh, no! I don't need you to! I…errr…I got a lift" She said quickly before trying to escape from the room but Tristan's hand grabbed her wrist tight to prevent her from leaving.
"A lift? Off who?" He inquired
"Erm…Kaiba, Kaiba's coming with me and he sorted out some cars and so I'm going with him. I don't wanna argue about this, guys, so please, don't cause a scene tomorrow and be at the church for five to eleven. Thanks." She released from Tristan's grip on her wrist and exited the class.
She was crying again and leaned up her locker, blowing onto her face to cool it down and make the redness fade. She closed her eyes and but then felt a strong but soft hand wipe the tears from her face.
"I told you before not to cry." Seto whispered.
When she opened her eyes he was smiling kindly. She smiled back and melted at the sight of him. She closed her eyes again and leaned in to kiss him. Her lips grazed his slightly as his hands traveled to the small of her back.
Mrs. Kindle, Tèa's, Seto's, Yugi's and the rest of the group's English teacher, looked out of the window in her office and noticed Seto Kaiba press Tèa up the wall. For a moment, the blonde teacher was about to go out and stop it until she noticed the look on Seto Kaiba's face. The young CEO was not the nicest teen to be around and many of the teachers felt intimidated by him at times but watching him with Tèa, Mrs. Kindle noticed a different side to the boy. His face looked so gentle and she smiled as he closed his eyes. She turned back round to mark the paperwork on her desk.
Joey and Tristan exited the classroom and headed for the school gates.
"What was that?" Kaiba asked, startled, as he pulled away and stopped their very nearly second kiss.
"I dunno." Tèa shrugged, sighing, and slid under Kaiba's arms which were now, one either side of her head, palms on the locker doors.
Why does he not want to be seen around me? Is it embarrassing? Is he scared? Is it just me? Am I just being stupid? She thought.
When she opened her eyes, Kaiba was gone. She rolled her eyes and looked down in the direction of the double doors and saw him heading towards them.
"Bye" She said sarcastically. She turned back round only to be face to face with Joey and Tristan.
"Yaaaa! Ya!" She exclaimed, shocked. "Oh my god! You bloody scared me!" She continued, hitting Tristan's arm playfully.
"Oh, sorry" He laughed, pouting and rubbing his arm.
"Anyway, what ya still doin' ere?" Joey asked her
"Me? Oh! I…errr…I had to-" She pointed at her locker. "And Kaiba's gone-" She pointed towards the exit. "And now I gotta" She smiled suspiciously and headed for the exit.
Mrs. Kindly glanced back out of her window to see the worried Tèa spouting out lousy excuses and laughed to herself.
"Young love…" She mumbled. "Next English class will be so much fun"
Joey and Tristan looked at each other, one eyebrow raised confused. They both raised an arm, gesturing an under enthusiastic wave.
"Bye" They said together.
…………
Heya! Hehehe lol I'm really hyper and me and my two mates are talking about Jesus crosses lol. So, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, as I keep mentioning, I can't wait for the next chapter…lots of fluff! XD lol R&R!