Chapter 6

"You like Yami don't you?"

"What?" Alex yelped as she dropped the shoebox she was holding. Tea giggled when Alex winced at the bang it made when it landed.

"Sorry I didn't realize you were trying to be subtle. It's pretty obvious," Tea said perusing a rack of shirts on sale.

Alex blushed. "Oh. Well, I guess I do like Yami a bit…" Tea turned to look at her and raised an eyebrow. "Ok, yeah I like Yami a lot."

Tea grinned. "Well I'm happy for the two of you."

Alex frowned slightly. "That's not weird to you? That I'm crushing on the spirit that inhabits the body of your boyfriend?"

The words hung in the air for a moment before both girls burst out laughing. "Well I have to say I never expected to say those words all together in a sentence," Alex giggled.

Tea wiped the tears from her eyes. "In all seriousness though, no it's not weird for me. Yugi and Yami are different people, similar as they are. They're like brothers. Who happen to live in the same body."

Alex thought about it and nodded. She didn't feel any jealousy when she saw Tea and Yugi together, so she supposed it was the same for Tea. "Wait a second," Alex said. "Did you say you were happy for the two of us?"

Tea rolled her eyes. "Honestly Alex, it's painfully obvious he likes you back. Joey and Tristan have a bet on when the two of you will finally get together."

Alex turned bright red. "I-"

"Big Sister!" Alex was cut off as she was suddenly engulfed in lanky arms and a mop of black hair.

"Hey Mokuba," Alex grinned patting his back as best she could with her arms pinned. "Do you think you can put me down?"

He did and Alex stepped back so she could look up at him. He had grown a lot of the last few years, he was almost as tall as his brother now. "Oh hey Tea," Mokuba said when he saw her. "Where's the rest of the gang?"

"Probably at the arcade. We're having girl time right now," Tea said. "We were just discussing Alex's new beau."

"Tea!" Alex hissed.

"What!? Wait does Seto know about this? Has he run a background check yet? What's this guy's name?" Mokuba demanded.

Alex sighed. "Thanks Tea." Tea just grinned and went back to browsing. "It's Yami." She finally admitted.

Mokuba's jaw dropped. "Wait what?"

"I have a crush on Yami," Alex said.

"And he likes her back!" Tea's voice came from behind another rack of clothes.

"You are really not helping right now Tea," Alex shouted back.

"How did you find out about Yami?" Mokuba asked with a frown. "And you didn't answer my question about whether Seto knows."

"It's a long story and no I haven't told him. Everyone told me about how Seto doesn't believe in Yami," Alex sighed.

Mokuba snorted, "Oh he knows, he just refuses to admit it."

Alex grinned. "Yep, that sounds like Seto."

Mokuba checked his watch. "Well, I was just in the area to pick up some soda. I have to head home and get some homework done."

"Ok, you be good and make sure you listen to Seto ok?" Alex said giving him a hug.

"Yes, Big Sister," Mokuba said.

Alex rolled her eyes as he trotted away and went to find Tea.

It was close to dinnertime when Tea and Alex left the mall with one shopping bag each. "Do you think we could convince the guys to meet up with us at Burger World?" Alex asked already texting them.

"I don't think it'll take that much convincing," Tea snorted.

They walked in silence as Alex finished sending the message and got confirmation from Yugi. Putting her phone away and looking up though, she saw the gorgeous sunset. "Look at that Tea," she said.

Tea wasn't watching as the sun fully slipped behind the horizon though. Her eyes were darting around their surroundings. Noticing this, Alex asked, "Are you ok Tea?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah. I just thought I heard something," Tea replied but she stayed alert.

"If you're sure," Alex said looking at her.

"Yeah I'm- Eep!" Tea yelped as a hand darted out of a dark alley and yanked her in.

"TEA!" Alex screamed. She ran in after her friend only to see her tussling with another person so fast her eyes barely even keep up. Instantly she had her phone out and pressed the speed dial for Yugi.

"Hey Alex! Where are-"

"Yugi!" Alex cut him off urgently. "We're a block away from Burger World on Emerson Street, Tea got hauled into an alley and is fighting-"

Suddenly Alex was slammed into a wall and her phone flew out of her hand. "Well, well, well. What a pretty little thing I've caught." A voice breathed against her neck. Alex froze for half second before she started fighting to free her wrists from either side of her head. She didn't move an inch. "I wouldn't bother trying to get away sweetheart. I'm three times stronger than you," The man said leering down at her. "Don't worry I'll take real good care of you."

"I'd like to see you try," Alex spat and brought her knee up as hard as she could. He groaned as he keeled over, but he didn't let go of her.

"You little bitch!" Alex didn't even think to catch herself as he slapped her so hard her head snapped sideways and she fell on the ground. "I was gonna make this fun for both of us," he said gripping her chin roughly. Alex struggled to figure out which of his three heads was the real one. "But now, I'd rather not." Then there was a twin sting on her neck before her world exploded in pain.

She was being cut with a thousand knives. She was being burned alive. She was hit by a truck. Distantly Alex thought she heard the worst scream of pain she could ever imagine. It wasn't a tenth of the pain she felt.

Then there was a new sound. An enraged roar. A pressure was lifted off of her and the pain stopped. Alex gasped as she tried to get her bearings. Finally there was silence in the alley. "Alex!" There were warm hands cradling her. Strong and firm, but so gentle. "Alex! Alex, please open your eyes!" Were her eyes closed? When did that happen? And why did this seem so familiar?

Something was pressing against her mouth. "Alex drink this," the voice commanded. She struggled to swallow the liquid dripping into her mouth, but after a sip or two it became easier and she opened her eyes.

"Alex," Yami breathed as he pulled his bleeding wrist away.

"Hey," she murmured back. "What happened?"

"Tea was attacked by a vampire. You managed to call me before the second one attacked you. Tristan, Joey, and I ran as fast as we could. One of the vampires was… he was…" Yami struggled to get the words out.

"He fed on you," Tristan said quietly from over Yami's shoulder.

Yami's eyes were shut tight and he struggled to get his breathing under control. "We got him off you and the four of us got rid of them."

Alex waited for a moment but Yami seemed like he was done talking. Finally she prodded him, "And I was drinking from your bleeding wrist because…?"

Yami's lips quirked slightly but it didn't last. "Vampire blood has healing properties. At the very least you had a little blood loss but I'm pretty sure you had a concussion too."

"Insta-cure for all ailments. Cool," Alex nodded. Then she frowned. "Wait am I going to turn into a vampire now?"

Everyone laughed at that. "No," Yami said with a chuckle. "He only managed to take a few sips from you and I only gave you a few sips. It'd take a lot more than that to turn you."

"Oh. So it's only through blood then? Not saliva?" Alex asked innocently.

"No," Yami said shaking his head.

"Hey Tea?" Alex called over Yami's shoulder. "Are you positive about what you told Mokuba and I in the store earlier?"

Tea smirked. "You're having doubts right now?"

Alex observed her position. She was sitting in Yami's lap cradled in his arms and his eyes held so much concern and fondness that she felt her heart swell. No, she didn't have any doubts that Tea was telling the truth.

"Good," Alex smirked turning back to Yami. Then she surged up and kissed him.

Yami froze, eyes wider than dinner plates. He thought about pushing her away. Tried to remember that it was far too dangerous for them to have anything more than friendship.

Then Alex realized Yami wasn't responding and started to awkwardly pull away.

You'll lose her forever.

He didn't even know if the thought was his own or Yugi's. It didn't matter, he couldn't lose Alex, not now that he had her. He swiftly cradled her face and brought her lips back to his.

Distantly they heard Tristan and Joey wolf-whistling and Tea smacking them for it, but they ignored it.

"Hey," Tristan elbowed Joey in the ribs. "You know what today's date is?"

"Course I do. It's October 29th man," Joey said looking at him like he was crazy.

Tristan grinned like a shark. "Exactly. You owe me fifty bucks."

Joey blinked. "Aw man!"