Both Seto and Tea walked back into the mansion later that night. Kaiba was rubbing at the bandage wrapped around his wrist and Tea shook her head at him.

"I still don't understand how you did that to yourself."

With a slight smile he sighed. "I already told you. I wasn't really thinking and it just sort of happened before I realized it. Believe me. I didn't want this to happen."

Rolling her eyes she put her hands on her hips and stared at him. "I can't believe you wouldn't notice something like that."

"I did notice. just kind of after, that's all."

Continuing to walk inside the house they went into the kitchen where a head of pink hair ran up and hugged Kaiba.

"Yay! You're back!"

Taking his hand Seto put it in Mokuba's hair and pulled it up as the stuff stuck to it. "Mokuba, what happened to your head?"

With a sheepish grin Mokuba backed up and looked at them. "Well it's actually sort of funny. You see when you guys left I was really worried and stuff so I ran around the house a couple of times and then called Yugi, and after that I found this packet of gum in the cabinet and-"

"That's gum?"

With another tiny smile Mokuba stared at the ground and kicked his feet. "Um. yeah."

Seto ran his hand down his face. "Oh my god." He sighed, "I'll get the scissors."

Mokuba watched his brother walk out of the room and looked at Tea with despair. "What is he getting the scissors for?"

"For you."

"F-for me?" His eyes grew wide. "He's not gonna cut this junk out of my hair is he?"

She shrugged and smiled slightly. "What else can we do? There's just too much of it to take out normally. We have to cut it out."

Seto then returned with the scissors and walked over to Mokuba. "Okay kid. Sit down, let's get to work."

Mokuba reluctantly walked over to the chair and sat down with a pathetic face that expressed EXTREME dislike of what was going to happen.

Kaiba poked his finger at the sticky gum again and sighed before he took the scissors and started snipping away at the gooey mess that had planted itself in his brother's hair.

**************

About half and hour later Mokuba got up out of the chair and looked into the mirror Tea had gotten for him, on the verge of tears. "My hair. it's all gone."

Seto patted him on the head. "Come on little guy. Don't be so sad. It's not ALL gone, you still have at least an inch or two."

This comment caused Mokuba to break out crying. "I want it back!" Running up the stairs into his room he slammed the door and plopped down onto his bed.

**************

Downstairs Seto sighed. "It doesn't look that bad. Does it?" He glanced over at Tea who shrugged.

Walking over to him she slid her arms around his neck and smiled. "Don't worry about it. Hair grows, and he'll probably actually like the change after a bit."

Shaking his head Kaiba sighed again. "Hope so. The one bad thing about gum. It's practically impossible to get out any other way."

((Hehe, I'm sorry peeps about this, it's kinda out of the swing of things. but I think a little humor never really hurt anybody, right? And Mokuba's crying at least, hehe, is that a good thing? ::shrugs:: Awe well.))

***************

The next day at lunch at school Kaiba went over to his normal corner as usual. Still rubbing at his wrist just as a sort of nervous habit he sent his gaze over at Tea's table and watched the merry crew chat away, of course, merrily. ((Erg, I think I drank too much Coca-Cola)) Sighing slightly he thought about how Mokuba was doing with his new hairstyle. He had insisted upon wearing his hat so as to hide it, but Seto wasn't quite sure how long he'd be able to wear that for. Chuckling slightly he smiled and closed his eyes as he thought about how last night had gone into play. He accidentally cuts his wrists and calls Tea over, she shows up and rushes him off to the hospital, they have a pretty good time talking considering they're in an emergency room and start bonding again, and then when they come home little Mokuba has covered himself in chewing gum. It was kind of humorous actually, who would think that from something bad that something good could come out of it. 'Maybe life isn't so bad after all.' He continued smiling and kept looking over at Tea. 'Do I dare?' He shrugged and stood up. 'What the hell. I'm feeling optimistic, maybe it won't be so bad.'

Walking over to the table that had been attracting his attention he slid down into the seat next to Tea as they continued with their conversation not noticing him.

"Grandpa just got in a new shipment of duel monsters cards today, do you guys wanna check them out?"

Joey shrugged, "Sure, why not. Maybe I'll even be able to snag a few, still trying to get my deck as good as yours Yug."

Yugi smiled at this. "The only reason my deck is so good is because Grandpa gave it to me. You'd have a good deck too if he gave you more cards, but you're still are a pretty decent duelist even without the best cards Joey."

Tristan grinned. "He's definitely a lot better than he was when he started."

'Fido used to be worse? How pathetic.' Seto continued listening as the conversation progressed.

"Hey, it wasn't my fault. Gramps did help a lot by teachin' me though."

"It took long enough for all of it to sink into that thick head of yours though." Tea giggled.

'You can say that again.' Kaiba gave a little smile.

"Come on, I wasn't that bad. It just kinda took a bit to actually understand what all that stuff was about." The blonde looked over at his short friend. "How'd you learn so quick Yug?"

He shrugged. "I guess it just didn't seem that complicated to me."

'Little runt. Wait, think of Tea. Think of Tea.'

"I don't understand how you can pick up all these games and I can't."

Another shrug. "Just lucky I guess."

Tristan grinned again. "Maybe it's just that blondes are dumber."

Joey smacked him on the back of his head. "Shaddup you. It's not like you're any better at it."

Bigger grin. "Do you really wanna test that?"

"Yeah, why not."

Tristan nodded over at Yugi. "Hey can I borrow your deck?"

"Hey. That's cheatin'! You can't use Yugi's deck!"

"But I forgot my cards." Innocent little smile.

"No you didn't, I saw you shuffling them five minutes ago."

"Um. those were my baseball cards?"

"Baseball cards my a-"

Just then the bell rang and Kaiba got up and walked inside as Joey's gaze suddenly noticed him. Looking back at the gang he pointed his thumb. "Was he here the whole time?"

Yugi looked after him. "I dunno, I didn't see him."

Tristan shrugged, "Me neither."

Tea shrugged as well and went to throw out her lunch bag before she headed back to class as she smiled to herself. 'I knew he was there.'

****************

As soon as Tea got home that day she picked up the phone and punched in the number, as she lay down on her bed with a big smile on her face.

"Hello?"

"Hiya Seto!"

"Um. hey. What's up?"

"Just thought I'd call, and oh yeah. It was nice having lunch with you today."

"Heh, so you noticed, huh?"

Her smile grew wider. "I thought it was nice."

"You guys have weird conversations."

Tea giggled a little. "Maybe so. but they're always good for a laugh or two."

"Do you guys always pick on Joey?"

"Generally. It's all in fun though."

"It's too bad."

She cocked her head. "What is?"

"That it's in fun, or else I'd join in."

Shaking her head she continued smiling happily. "Nobody said you couldn't join in anyway."

"Mm. yeah. I think it might be a little awkward though."

"Probably. Awe well. So hey, do you wanna come over?"

"Um. sure. Give me ten minutes?"

"Okay, see ya in a bit."

"See ya."

**************

((You know something that would be very interesting to know? Where on earth are Tea's parents?! I don't know. I guess they just sort of disappeared, now I would just make them magically reappear and they were on vacation or something. but I don't think I wanna just yet. or ever. But ok, sorry for my interruption again, the little voices have still had a little too much Coca-Cola and I haven't slept at all. Ooooooooh, hey look! It's almost 6 o'clock ::waves at the sky:: Hello Sun! ^_^ I'll shut up now and try to not interrupt the fic anymore ::smacks herself:: Bad Englasu! Ok. shutting up, here you go.))

***************

Walking up to the front door Seto rung the doorbell and waited for Tea to answer. A few moments later she pulled open the door and smiled at him.

"Hey, come on in."

Stepping inside he stood in the front hall silent.

Tea smiled and stared around the room. "."

Seto leaned against the wall and waited for a couple of minutes until finally, "So.?"

She shrugged. "I dunno."

Sighing he rolled his eyes and smirked. "Anything new been happening?"

"Not especially, it's been kinda dull. 'Cept for that little stunt you pulled last night."

"I didn't pull it. It was an accident. I told you."

"Suuuuuuuure it was." She smiled a little and went and pulled him into the living room where they both sat down on the couch. There was another long silence as they both sat there uncomfortably until Kaiba spoke up.

"Um. so. what now?"

"Well, we could go out and do something?" She glanced over at him and bit her lip and watched him smile where she then cocked her head to the side. "What is it?"

"Oh. nothing."

She stared at him. "No really. what is it? Tell me."

He smiled again and leaned back into the couch corner. "You look kind of cute when you're unsure."

She cocked her head again. "Really?"

With another smile he chuckled a little. "Yeah, you really do."

Sliding over on the couch she leaned down in his lap and smiled. "That's a nice thing to know. I guess I'll have to be unsure more often."

Brushing her hair away from her face gently with his hand he continued smiling. "Yeah, I guess you will."

Closing her eyes, Tea sighed. "So what do you want to do?"

"This is nice." His smile grew slightly as he gazed down at her and continued sliding her hair through his fingers.

Opening her eyes she grabbed his hand and looked at it. "You know what?"

"What?"

"You have really nice hands."

This caused another chuckle and he rubbed her hand with his thumb. "So do you. And you know something else?"

She shrugged and he locked eyes with her and took his other hand and started twirling her hair again.

"You have really beautiful eyes." He lowered his voice to a point of soothingly low and then leaned down to meet his lips with hers.

Pulling herself up and wrapping her arms around his neck she lengthened the moment. Then resting her forehead on his she smile. "You know what else, else?"

"What?" He bobbed noses with her,

"You're a reeaally good kisser." She pulled him into another kiss as she sighed and closed her eyes as they pulled each other close and tried to make it last for as long as they possibly could until they both pulled away breathing a little heavily.

Seto looked at Tea with his eyes half closed and smiled a slightly playful smile as he pulled his legs up onto the couch so they were both laying horizontally on the cushions. Wrapping his arm around her waist he leaned his head onto hers. "Tea.?"

"Mm?"

"What made you like me?"

She leaned her head against his chest and ran her finger along his shirt collar. "A couple of things."

"Like?"

"I guess the main reason was when I saw you lying on the couch all depressed. You sorta became a normal person then."

"Oh."

She looked up at him. "Is there something wrong with that?"

He shook his head. "No, not really. no."

"Are you sure?"

"Y-yeah. It's fine. just fine."

"Okay, tell me. What is it?"

"I was just thinking that maybe you only sort of like me. out of pity." He flashed a brief smirk and glanced sideways at the floor.

"Oh."

He shook his head and shrugged. "Yeah, just forget about it. It was stupid, I shouldn't have even mentioned it." He leaned his head back atop Tea's and sighed.

Blinking slowly Tea thought about what he'd said for a minute before shaking it out of her head. 'No. That's silly.'

"Hey, I have another question."

She looked up at him again. "And that is?"

"Where are your parents?"

((Well so much for forgetting about them. awe well. I guess it was just bugging me a little too much ::shrugs:: ))

She giggled some, "Oh yeah. They're taking a cruise right now."

"How long for?"

"About for two months or so I think. They'll probably be back in like a we- "

((^_^ I'm so evil))

The door slammed. "Tea?! We're home honey!"