Simple Songwriter: Oh no! The votes are tied! Well, I said I'd unfreeze everything...(unfreezes everyone)

Tea: No way...Tied votes? Do you know what that means?

Bakura: You just saved a bunch of money on car insurance by switching to Geico?

Simple Songwriter: No silly! ANYTHING GOES!

Ryou: And Bakura has two million pies...

Bakura: Really? Whoa! (turns to Simple Songwriter) Now it's on! (throws a pie at her)

Simple Songwriter: EEEP! (gets hit by the pie) NO! STICKINESS HAS OVERCOME MY BEST PAIR OF JEANS!

Ryou: (throws two pies at Bakura)

Bakura: (getting hit by the pies) AIIIEEE! Not the custard pies! They're the goopy-est!

Everyone Else: DIE! (starts bombarding Bakura with pies)

Bakura: YIPE! (runs around trying to dodge the pies while screaming like a little girl)

Ryou: (finds a shipment of two million pies addressed to him on the doorstep) Yeah! The fight is ON!

Tea: Who's it from?

Ryou: I dunno. But who cares! Let the pie fight go on! (He and Tea chase after Bakura)

Simple Songwriter: Go get'm you two! Now in the meantime... Here's chapter 7! Hope you like it! (throws a pie at Bakura)

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-Oh!

Chapter 7: Admitting Feelings

"(This is not good…cough…The smoke—it's too strong…) Tea strained to stay conscious. But the smoke had thickened into a heavy, black cloud and every breath she took was filled with it. "Cough…cough…B—Bakura, are you okay?"

"Depends on your definition of okay…" he replied.

"Not funny…" she replied hotly. Then something had occurred to her. "Um…Can you move your hands?"

"Barely. Why?"

"Don't you have that pocket knife of yours on you?"

"Oh yeah!" He desperately tried to reach into his hoodie and fish out his knife. But to his dismay, he was unable to retrieve the knife. "Damn! I can't—cough…get it!"

"Sigh…Oh well."

"S—Sorry T—Tea…"

"It's okay. Just…have…hope…" She closed her eyes and let the darkness take over once more.

"(What's wrong with me! I'm apologizing left and right! Is my light THAT persuasive?)" He shook his head disapprovingly. "(I have to find a way to get out of this place, and fast before I pass out!)" The smoke was really getting to him. "(Only one thing to do now…) HELP!"

The fire had moved down the hallway and into the other rooms on the second floor. Half of the room Tea and Bakura were in was already burnt to a crisp. It seemed as though nothing would be able to save either of them.

"Yami?"

"Yes Ryou?"

"You go for help. I'll see if anyone's in the house."

"Okay." They both ran in their separate directions.

"(I hope they're alright…)" Ryou wondered as he ran up the front steps. He tried to open the front door, but was unsuccessful. "(Damn! They must've locked it. Okay…Remember what Kura taught you…)" He took a deep breath. Then with all his might, he kicked down the door. Almost instantly, the smoke surrounded him making his eyes water.

"Ack!" He gagged as the smoke started to invade his lungs. Ryou used one of his arms as a shield from the harmful environment. "Is anyone in here?" He heard no reply and decided to check upstairs. "Hello!"

"Light! Is that you? Cough…cough…"

"KURA! Where are you?"

"I'm upstairs in the room farthest down the hall!"

"I'm coming!" He found his way to the stairs and took the steps three at a time. When he reached the top of the stairs, the smoke was so thick that he was forced to crawl down the hallway. He had finally reached the room and was able to see the two teenagers helplessly tied to the main support. But before he was able to enter, a large pile of burning wood and other debris fell down and blocked the door.

"NO!" Bakura yelled as the doorway barricaded itself. "That's not good…I'm done for…" He turned his head around to check on Tea. "Tea? Tea! Are you alright?" She didn't answer. "Crud…She must've inhaled a lot of smoke. Cough cough…RYOU!"

"Yeah?"

"Get us outta here!"

"Don't worry, I'll find a way to save you guys!"

"And hurry! Your petty-crush is dying from smoke inhalation!"

"No…" He immediately started to kick down the debris. "(I'm not gonna let them down again…C'mon! Why won't this thing break?) Cough…cough…Must—hurry…"

He had a sudden vision. He had seen Tea. She was lying on the ground and blood was oozing out from the side of her head.

"(No…I'm not gonna let her die…I WON'T LET THE LOVE OF MY LIFE DIE!)" He shook the thought from his mind.

Then with all the strength he could muster, he kicked down the burning debris. He put his arm over his mouth and ran inside. There he again saw Bakura and Tea tied to the support.

"Kura!" Ryou yelled as he ran over and started untying the two teens. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. Just a bit of—cough—smoke inhalation."

"Thank Ra it's just that." He finished untying them and gave his yami a big hug. He was quickly pushed off though.

"Now's not the time for that Ryou. Grab the girl and let's scram!"

Ryou bent over to pick up Tea, but his attention was drawn to a nearby window. He looked down and saw Yami with a bunch of firefighters. They were raising a ladder up to the window.

"Kura! Open the window! I'll get Tea."

"Huh? Okay." He opened the window just as the ladder reached it.

"Mmm…Cough—cough…R-Ryou?" came a familiar voice. The young girl tried to stand up and leaned on the support beam.

"Tea! You're awake!" He rushed to her side and caught her as her knees gave way.

"Yes…cough—cough."

"Are you okay?" asked Bakura somewhat worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm good." She replied weakly.

"Don't worry. Help is on the way—er—it's actually right outside."

Suddenly, the ceiling next to the window collapsed and Bakura jumped out of the way just in time.

"ARGH!" He yelled as an ember fell onto his shoulder.

"KURA!" Ryou gasped as his yami's shoulder lit up. "Stop drop and roll already!"

Instead of doing as his hikari suggested, he ripped off his black hoodie and stomped the flame out. Then with a twisted grin, he put his black hoodie back on.

"If you're done staring at me you two, I believe we ought to get out of here now."

"Yeah…C'mon Ryou, Bakura. We have to get outta here." Tea stood up and tried to walk to the door. Her knees gave out on her and once more, Ryou was there to catch her.

"Tea, you're too weak to walk."

"Then leave me here! You and Bakura can go."

"No way! I've come too far to let you go like this! I—I'll carry you out!"

This made Tea blush. "No. Just leave. If you carry me down, you'll be risking your life too!"

Ryou smirked. "Try and change my mind…" Without warning, Ryou bent down and picked Tea up princess style. Her face lit up like a Christmas light. She didn't put up much of a struggle though.

"You suck." She said playfully. Ryou smiled mischievously. "Oh no…What're you thinking?"

"Nothing…" he lied. "Bakura's already left! We have to get out too."

"Fine. Let's go."

Ryou walked to the door and tried to walk through the door, but was unsuccessful.

"Oww! Ryou, that was my foot!"

"Sorry." He said sympathetically. "Hmm…" He set Tea down on the floor and then got down on all fours. "Get on me!"

"WHAT! Ryou, now is NOT the time for THAT. We need to get out of here!"

"Eh…? I beg your pardon…?"

"Oh…OH!" She blushed furiously. She got on his back. He put his arms through her legs and she wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. Then he stood up and started walking downstairs. Tea gently set her head on Ryou's soft hair.

"However Tea," he started. "If you ever want to, I'll be more than happy to oblige…"

"Uh…I'll take that into consideration…? (I guess…)"

"You will!" His face lightened up.

"I—uh…Whatever."

"(Yes!)" Ryou had gotten to the bottom of the stairs. He kicked the front door down and walked outside.

"Tea!" Yami shouted as he ran past some firefighters desparately trying to extinguish the flame.

"Yami!" she exclaimed. "How are you? Cough—cough."

"I've been so worried about you ever since that chat online. I started driving back here as soon as you logged off."

"That's so sweet of you!" she beamed. "Um Ryou, can you please put me down? I want to try and walk."

"Of course." He allowed her to climb off of him.

Tea steadied herself and hobbled over to Yami. When they were face to face, they just stood there for a minute gazing into each other's eyes; she into his crimson orbs and he, into her cerulean orbs.

"Will you come into the woods so we can talk?" he asked her.

She looked back at Ryou. He gave her a nod and walked over to check on Bakura.

"Okay Yami." They walked into the woods. After they were a little ways in, Yami pointed to a tree and they both sat down. "What did you want to about?"

"Ryou told me about what your dad did to you."

"Oh…"

"I just wanted you to know that I will always be there for you."

She smiled and hugged him. "Thank you…" She whispered in his ear.

"Bakura, are you alright?" Ryou asked as he sat down next to his yami.

"I'm fine. And you?"

"I'm worried about you and Tea. You really scared me today."

"Why?"

"I thought I'd lose you forever in that fire…"

"Nah… I can withstand that…" He looked at Ryou, who was now in tears. "Aww…damn it Ryou. Don't start THAT again…" He wrapped his arms around him. "Hmm…Your friend Tea has been gone for quite a while now. It's already dark out."

"Yeah, but I can trust her with Yami."

"WHAT?! She's with the Pharaoh? That's not good."

"Why not? She's his best friend, besides Yugi that is."

"Do you know how long he's wanted to be with her?"

"So he has a crush on her. What's wrong with that?"

"He's wanted to make her his b—"

"I SAY THAT ALL THE TIME!"

"You never let me finish, hikari…"

"Sorry."

"He said he wanted to make her his by any means necessary."

"I'm afraid I still don't understand what you mean Kura…"

"Are you that naïve? Sigh… Yam—err—The Pharaoh has wanted you to be…well…'In her pants' for a LONG time. And since they're alone in the woods…"

"No way…Yami wouldn't rape her…"

"(It's not rape if you like it…)" Bakura thought mischievously. "Listen…I know you've liked this girl for a long time, but so has he."

"Will you please just get to the point already?"

"If you don't hurry up, find her, and tell her your feelings, then she will belong to someone else!"

"Oh…" he sighed. "Oh Ra! I gotta find her before it's too late" He dashed off into the woods.

"Tea…" Yami started.

"Yes?"

"I've got something that I need to get off my chest."

"What is it?"

"I—I love you. I have for a very long time. And I was wondering if you'd go out with me."

"I'm sorry. I'm in love with someone else right now…"

He frowned. "Do you think you'll ever love me the way I love you?"

"I'm sorry Yami…"

"Okay…If you don't mind me asking, who is it that has captured your heart?" he asked sadly.

"Ryou Bakura…" she replied.

"He's a very lucky man to have you Tea." He stared at her body in awe. "(A very lucky man indeed…He's getting a great package…)" His eyes stopped at her breast. "(D—Damn…I wish she was mine. Correction…I wish THOSE were mine…)" He resisted the urge to grab one of her breasts.

"Yami?"

"Yes Tea?"

"I'd like to leave now."

"Of course. I must go find someone anyways."

"Thank you for the talk and everything."

"No problem. That's what friends are for! I should know; you've given a friendship speech almost everyday!"

"Ha! Well, I guess I'll see you around." She kissed him on the cheek and then walked away leaving him speechless.

"TEA!" Ryou cried out.

"I'm right here." She replied.

"ACK! Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry."

"Okay. Must say something right now."

"Yeah."

He took a deep breath. "I love you Tea…Will you…"

She placed two fingers on his lips to silence him. "I would love to be yours, Ryou."

"Really?"

"Really." She leaned forward and met his lips in a passionate kiss that would make even the Heavens cry out in bliss.

"Marik. She turned me down…I didn't grab the check…We can hold her hostage…Send Kaiba to get her then. Excellent!" Yami hung up his cell phone. "You'll be sorry you every turned me down Tea Gardner!"

Bakura: Aww man... I'm done for! (is about to pull up a white flag)

Chained and Torchered: Wait Bakura! (appears out of nowhere) I'm here to help you! I brought my Pie-Shooter-Deluxe 5000! And here's one for you to use. It'll launch five pies at once.

Bakura: (is almost brought to tears) Thank Ra! You're the best. (hugs)

Chained and Torchered: (blushes) Thanks! (both load the Pie-Shooter-Deluxe 5000) Dodge this Simple Songwriter!

Simple Songwriter: Huh? (gets hit by ten pies) EEEK!

Ryou and Tea: SIMPLE SONGWRITER! (runs to protect Simple Songwriter and attack Bakura)

Simple Songwriter: Why have you joined his side?

Chained and Torchered: Because I like him...

Simple Songwriter: (shrugs) Meh... You can't argue with that, I suppose... (gets hit by a pie thrown by Ryou) HEY!

Ryou: Sorry about that! (grabs Tea; backs into corner with Simple Songwriter)

Chained and Torchered: Ha! Now we've got you cornered!

Bakura: Surrender!

Simple Songwriter: Never!

Chained and Torchered: Sigh...Okay then...(shoots pies all over Simple Songwriter, Ryou, and Tea)

Simple Songwriter: Fine! I...I...(Chained and Torchered & Bakura get covered with pie) Huh?

Chained and Torchered: (wipes some cherry pie out of her face)Who did that?

Tea: It's a bird!

Ryou: It's a plane!

Simple Songwriter: No! It's...time for you to read and review! Find out who shot the mystery pies next time!