Chapter 3

'You actually saw Tristan?' Téa laughed in shocked amusement. 'As in saw him, saw him? All actually out in the real world and everything. Hell it's been so long since I've actually seen him I've practically forgotten what he looks like.'

'Don't you talk to him anymore?' Serenity frowned at her.

'Sure, on the phone, when he's in the right mood for me, but nobody actually sees him anymore. Well nobody but Kaiba and Mokuba that is.'

'How come?'

'You'll have to ask him about that.'

'Do you never arrange to meet up with him?'

'Yeah, all the time, but it's always cancelled at the last minute.'

'Does he say way?'

'He's never the one who cancels it,' Téa shook her head.

'So then who does?' Serenity stared at her.

'Kaiba,' Téa's whole expression exaggerated the word, 'I swear he thinks he owns Tristan or something.'

'Why? I mean, Joey said something about the two of them being friends now, but he was pretty weird about it.'

'Of course he was. We're all pretty weird about it, especially now the two of them are living together and Kaiba thinks he has the god given right to control Tristan's every move.'

'They're living together?' Serenity looked more than a little surprised.

'Didn't Joey mention that one?'

'No,' Serenity shook her head. 'So they're friends and their living together, that isn't that weird, is it?'

'It's a lot weird when Tristan's allowing himself to be controlled because of it,' Téa folded her arms as her face pulled with an expression of disgust. 'And it's just so... frustrating, it really is. I mean, I know me and Tristan haven't exactly been getting on recently, but there are times when I'm on the phone to him and it's almost like old times again. He'll laugh and talk and joke around as if the last year never happened. Then I'll say something which makes him act all weird and he'll just rush off the phone like he's allergic to talking to me or something. And what makes it worse is that half the time the thing I say to make him act all weird has been prompted by something he said,' Téa gave a heavy sigh. 'I just don't get him anymore.'

'Maybe he just doesn't know how to act around you guys anymore,' Serenity lowered her gaze, 'Joey said something about him being... ill not long ago. Maybe he's just finding it really hard to adjust.'

'That's what I keep telling myself, but Tristan has this way of making me feel like I'm the one with the problem,' Téa pulled a face, 'he has done ever since the Battle City tournament ended. There might be times now where things are normal between the two of us, but there's still a lot of... I don't know; he's just not always in the mood for me I guess. Still, never mind Tristan, I bet you're excited about seeing Crovell tomorrow.'

'Of course I am,' Serenity grinned. 'I've been looking forward to it ever since I heard about him. I just wish I could get here sooner.'

'You're just going to die when you see him; Crovell is the cutest baby ever.'

'So he must take after Ahna for looks then,' Serenity laughed. 'Speaking of which, what is Ahna like?'

'Uh...' Téa hesitated, 'well I don't really know her that well. If I'm being honest with you I kind of avoid talking to her. It makes me feel like I'm being disloyal to Mai or something. I mean, I know the two are getting on a lot better now, but still...'

'I guess that's understandable. So how is Mai doing?'

'She's just glowing every time I see her,' Téa grinned, 'I take it you know she's pregnant, right?'

'I had to wait a week to find out my nephew had been born, but pretty much the day he found out Mai was pregnant he was on the phone to me,' Serenity's face filled with an amused look. 'I'm so excited for them.'

'We all are,' Téa smiled. 'So do you know what time your brother's expecting us tomorrow?'

'Sometime in the afternoon I think, he said he'd arrange the details properly in the morning once everyone was up.'

'Good,' Téa clapped her hands together, 'that means we'll have time to do some shopping first.'

Tristan was stood in the middle of the main living room, staring intensely at the clock sitting on the mantle when Kaiba came across him. It had been nearly three hours since the two of them had last spoken and Kaiba was more than a little surprised to find Tristan still awake.

'I thought you were tired,' Kaiba folded his arms and leant against the door frame.

'I was wondering why I was in bed,' there were subtle tones in Tristan's voice which made him sound like a pre-teen.

The sound of it made an involuntary sigh pull its way out of Kaiba; he knew what that voice meant.

'How long have you been staring at that thing for?'

'A while,' Tristan shrugged and continued to keep his gaze focused on the time piece, 'I'm trying to remember what it does.'

'How...' Kaiba hesitated; he always hated asking this question, 'how much have you forgotten?'

'How much have I forgotten,' finally Tristan's eyes turned towards him, 'that's a funny question, how would I know the answer to it?'

'Do you remember who I am?'

'You're Seto Kaiba.'

'And what about who you are?'

Tristan hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

'Will it come back to me?'

'Yeah,' Kaiba averted his gaze slightly, 'it usually does, but since you can still remember some things not all of it will come back right away.'

'Why not?'

'I don't know; it's just the way it seems to work. I...' Kaiba hesitated. 'You shouldn't have allowed yourself to get so worked up earlier,' he gritted his teeth; almost ashamed of his inability to admit he was in the wrong too, 'heightened emotions makes it worse.'

'I was worked up earlier?' Tristan stared at him in confusion. 'Why?'

'I... It doesn't matter.'

'Seto...?'

His sentence was cut off by the sound of screaming. Tristan instantly clamped his hands over his ears and Kaiba wasn't sure he blamed him; the sound was horrific. After a long couple of moments the scream fell silent.

'Lus braysta's in pain, isn't he Seto?' Tristan's voice was small as he lowered his hands.

'You remember who he is?'

'I think I do. Do you want me to go comfort him?'

'No... No I should deal with him,' Kaiba sighed and turned away, 'I know you want to help but it'll just upset you and that won't help anyone.'

'But right now lus braysta frightens you,' Tristan crossed the room and placed a hand on Kaiba's arm. 'Let me help you Seto, I want to help.'

He hummed quietly to himself as he lifted the binoculars to his eyes and used them to get a better view of the room. He could see his prize just lying there on the table, totally unguarded. It was beautiful; much more so than the last time he'd seen it. It was almost ready now too. Soon... soon it would be ready and ripe for the plucking; he just had to wait a little bit longer.

'I won't let you do this,' a voice sounded from behind him.

'As if you have a say in the matter,' he kept his gaze trained on his prize.

'Your behaviour is frightening me; it's not like you.'

'Shut up.'

'I thought maybe you were just going through some kind of phase, but now I think you're losing your mind. You need help.'

'Shut up.'

'No, I won't shut up, not till you listen to me.'

'Shut up.'

'I told you I won't shut up. Something's happening to you. Something bad and you need to get help, before it's too late. Please, let me help you.'

'Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. SHUT UP!' He spun round to face his companion, but no one was there. 'Shut up, leave me alone,' he crammed his hands over his ears and squeezed his eyes shut. 'Just leave me alone!'

'Good evening.'

The soft and gentle warmth of Joey's lips pressed against hers as she slowly started to rouse.

'Evening?' Mai yawned as she stretched. 'Have I really been asleep that long?'

'Yep.'

'What time is it?'

'Late.'

'That doesn't really answer my question,' she yawned again.

'I know. So how are you feeling?'

'Tired,' she half closed her eyes again, 'I don't care how long you say I've been asleep for, I don't feel like I've had any at all.'

'Give yourself a chance to wake up first,' he laughed, 'nobody I know is full of energy the second they wake up. Maybe a little food will help rouse you, I was thinking about a late supper in bed.'

'I suppose I am a little hungry,' she pressed her lips together in thought.

'So you should be, you are eating for two,' he smirked as he kissed her. 'I wish I had that excuse.'

'Like you need it.'

'True,' he grinned. 'So do you want me to get something to eat then?'

'Yeah, just don't take too long; I'm not sure if I can keep my eyes open much longer.'

'Sure,' he kissed her for a third time as he got up from the bed. 'Just try and stay awake whilst you wait.'