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Chapter 4

        Tea was surprised at how quickly her discomfort faded once she and Kaiba were actually together.  She had spent most of the morning convincing herself that it wasn’t a date, just two friends getting together for lunch to catch up.  She had finally succeeded, and, fortunately, Kaiba’s attitude when he appeared seemed to confirm her argument.  But somewhere deep inside she was a little disappointed.

       Currently they were sitting in a quiet little café finishing off their sandwiches.  Funny, Kaiba had never struck her as a sandwich kind of guy.

       “So, are you enjoying being back in Domino city?” he asked casually.

       “Oh yes, I missed it a lot when I was away.”

       He nodded, “Still, I’m sure you learned some things in the New York.  That was always your dream wasn’t it?”

       She sat back, a bit surprised, he knew about that?  Did he remember, or had Yugi told him?  He had never seemed to pay much attention to her in their teen years.  In fact, he had seemed to go out of his way to ignore her existence.  She didn’t even merit insults like Joey, or snubs like Tristan.  She was a nonentity except when she made herself impossible to ignore.  And even then he had refused to look at her.

       She realized he was watching her, waiting for her answer.  “Oh, um, yes.” She said quickly, “but I realized that my friends were more important to me than that dream.  I love to dance, but I can do that here too.  I don’t need a grand stage, or huge audiences. As long as I’m dancing I’m happy.”

       Kaiba set down his napkin and pushed his chair away from the table. “Speaking of which.” He studied her intently, “Are you interested in charity work at all?” He asked casually.

       “I thought I was doing charity work.” Tea joked.

       Seto smiled at her, “Ah yes, the glories of the public school system.”  He gave a deep chuckle.  “Wonderful institution isn’t it?” his eyes were sparkling.  He leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands in front of him casually.  “Actually,” he said more seriously, “I was thinking more along the lines of a weekend activity.”  She arched a brow at him.  “I recently acquired an after school club, a children’s center, the kind for children whose parents cannot afford a babysitter.  Children whose parents aren’t around much.” For a moment his eyes deepened with pain and her heart went out to him.  He had had such a hard childhood.  “On Saturdays we have classes, and I thought, perhaps, you would be willing to teach dance.  The younger girls would love it.” He said earnestly.

       Tea’s lips twitched in amusement as she read the excitement in his eyes and his voice.  This was really important to him.  Who would have thought the man who became a hardened CEO at the tender age of thirteen would invest in something like this – and be happy about it.        

       “Doesn’t sound as though you’re making much money off this venture Kaiba.” She teased.

       He sat back in his seat and shrugged, “I’m losing money.” He stated calmly.

       Tea’s eyes widened deliberately in mock surprise, “That doesn’t bother you?” she teased.

       He held her gaze seriously and all teasing faded from them both.  “It would have, a few years ago.” He said frankly, “But that was the old Seto Kaiba.”

       Tea smiled.  Yes, the old Kaiba.  She saw nothing of that cold and bitter boy in the man before her.  He had changed so much.  She sent a silent thank you to Carl Rhine wherever he was.  The man had truly worked a miracle.  

       “Well, if that’s the truth, then I’d be happy to help you Kaiba.”

       He smiled back, “Great, and it’s Seto.”

       She barely suppressed her surprise, “Seto,” she amended extending her hand as she stood.

       He stood as well, taking her offered hand, once again holding it just a bit longer than necessary, but it didn’t bother her.

       “Thank you Tea, you’ve no idea what this means to me.”

***           

       “So, an after school club?” Yugi sat down across from Tea.  “That should be fun.”

       He handed her a soda.

       “A Children’s Center” she corrected automatically, “And yeah.” She stared down at the can, plinking the tab with one finger.  “I guess.”

       He eyed her curiously, “Tea, you’re not worried are you?  I mean, they are just kids.  And you teach teenagers everyday.”

       “Yeah,” she said quietly, “It’s nothing; I guess I’m just a little out of it.” She smiled weakly at him.

       “I think it will be a wonderful experience.  For you and the children.” Yami said firmly.  She looked up and his gaze held hers.  “You’re a wonderful person Tea.  They will see that.  And they will love you for it.”

       “Thanks.” She grinned then popped open her soda.  “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”

       Yugi laughed and chucked his napkin at her.  But he wondered if she was really alright.

***

       <Okay Tea, breathe>

       Tea stood alone in a large room at the Children’s Center.  For three weeks she and Kaiba had been preparing, planning, and this was the day.  The first day of class.  She would begin with the basics and move up slowly.  The plan was that in three or four months the children would be able to put on a small performance.  Nothing major, just something fun to give them a sense of accomplishment.

       She walked absently around the room.

        She had to admit Kaiba knew his stuff.  The lower eight feet of the wall was covered in mirrors all the way around the room.  On the two side walls were railings of various heights. The floor was tile, but the back, left, corner had a large matted section.  It was the perfect dance studio.  Wonderful for beginners, and growing children…

       She rubbed her sticky hands together at the thought.

       <Good grief!  They’re only kids!> she scolded.  <They aren’t going to bite you!>

       She liked kids, really, but the prospect of being alone with twenty or thirty, or even only ten, excited elementary age children frightened her.

       <You’re a teacher for heaven’s sake> she reminded herself.  Still, she couldn’t remember the last time she had been so nervous.

       A warm hand rested on her shoulder from behind.

       “You’ll be fine.” Seto’s deep voice spoke quietly.  His face was so close to her ear that she could feel his breath.  It almost made her shiver.

       She turned to face him, taking a step away as she did so.  She threw him an unsteady smile.

       “Thanks.”

       He smiled reassuringly at her and reached to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear.  His gaze locked with hers, “I mean it.”

       Tea resisted the urge to close her eyes and sigh.  The temptation to lean into his touch was so great.  She pulled back slightly in embarrassment.  What was she?  Some lovesick teen?

       They were adults, partners in this charity program, and friends.  But it was nothing more. 

       True, in the weeks they had worked on the plans for this class they had become rather close.  She felt she knew him, could trust him, respected his opinion.  Next to Yugi and Yami he was probably her closest friend.  But that was it.

       Wasn’t it?

       But then, why did she respond like this… <involuntary physical reaction> her conversation with Yugi, weeks before at the party, echoed for the umpteenth time in her head.

       Yes, that was it.  She wasn’t interested in him.  It was just a natural physical response.

       Seto cleared his throat.  “I believe your first pupils have arrived.”

       She jerked her head toward the door.  There stood three girls.  She smiled, they looked as nervous as she felt.  Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

       Kaiba squeezed her hand lightly.  “Good luck.”

       She glanced at him quizzically, “You aren’t going to stay?”

       His eyes widened in surprise.  “I suppose I could.  I hadn’t really thought about it.”

       She smiled sweetly, “Please?”

       He nodded, “Okay, and you’ll be fine.   Trust me.”

       She grinned then turned, tossing her hair and squaring her shoulders.  Cheerfully she went to greet her new students.  All her earlier discomfort had been replaced by confidence and a radiant warmth.

       Seto shook his head in amusement and went to sit in a chair by the back wall.  What had gotten into her anyway?  The Tea he had seen when he entered the room had bee nothing like the Tea he knew.  His Tea was warm, kind, and gentle, but strong and confident.  That Tea had been lost, uncertain, even frightened.  And of children no less!

       He remembered that Tea was an only child and had spent much of her time alone.  She had worked from the time she was very young, lying about her age.  She didn’t really have friends until high school.  Maybe that was why they were so important to her.  But she had had very little normal interaction with children, especially once she had become an adult.  Maybe that was the problem.

        He shrugged his thoughts away and smiled as he watched Tea patiently showing the kids a few stretches.  Whatever it was she was clearly over it now.    

***

       “Very good Analisa.  Just a little higher.  There!”  Tea shared a smile with the third grader as the finally extended her leg straight over her head.

       “Oh, careful Hina!” she warned, catching the gangly ten year old before she toppled into another student.  “What say we try it on the bar a few more times first?” she said gently.

        Hina sighed and dutifully returned to the bar.  Tea watched her with a smile.  The classes had been going very well, and they would definitely be ready for the performance in 10 weeks.  She could hardly believe she had been teaching this class for  over a month and a half!  It was a wonderful experience, just as Yami had said it would be.  She found herself increasingly excited over the children’s performance. 

       The class had begun with nine girls and, by the third week, had grown to include 17 children – three of them boys.  That had surprised her.  Elementary age boys weren’t often into dance.  But she wouldn’t dream of sending them away.

       “Ms. Gardner?”

       Tea turned to see Analisa tugging on her sleeve.  “Yes, Analisa?” she carefully removed her sleeve from the young girl’s grasp.

       The little girl lowered her voice to a whisper.  “He’s watching you.”

        Tea looked around at the small cluster of children and then back at Analisa in confusion, “Who is?”

       The girl giggled, “Mr. Kaiba.” She whispered.

       “What?” Tea stood quickly looking toward the door.  Sure enough, there was Seto Kaiba, watching her with a smile.

       Analisa tugged her back down.  Cupping her hands she spoke into Tea’s ear, “He watches you lots.  And most times you don’t see him.”

       “I’m sure he enjoys watching you kids having fun.” Tea told her.

       Analisa laughed and gave her an ‘I know better’ look before turning back to her practice.  Tea gave a few more gentle corrections to various students before heading over to Seto.

       “Hello.” He greeted warmly.

       “Hello.  Been here long?”

       “Not very.” He smiled as he looked back at the children.  “They’re doing well.”

       “Yes.” She agreed.  She didn’t take her eyes off of him though.  “Did you need something?”

       He looked at her, amused, “No.  Why?  Do I need a reason to drop by?”

       She grinned, “Of course not.  I was just wondering.”

        “I see.” He looked back at the children again.  “You’re doing a great job.”

       His praise made her feel good.  A little too good in her opinion.  She blushed lightly, “Thank you.  I, uh… I better get back.”

       “Right.” He turned away, “See ya!” he tossed a wave over his shoulder as he walked away, muttering something about grammar and Joey’s bad influence.

        Tea shook her head, smiling wryly and returned to her class.  It still amazed her how different he was.

***

       Tea slipped back into her shoes and locked the classroom door behind her.  She walked at a leisurely pace through the empty halls Domino High.  The teens were all out in the courtyard or cafeteria, eating.

       Her free period was the period just after lunch, and since she had nothing to prepare (not much paperwork as a dance teacher) she effectively had a two hour lunch.  That’s why she usually went out with friends, but not today.  She entered the teacher’s lounge and sank wearily into a chair pulling out her tuna sandwich and bottle of water.  She probably should have packed some yogurt too, but she hadn’t even thought about it. 

        What with the Children’s Center she was effectively working two jobs – for half a job’s pay.  Sometimes things got hectic.

       Another teacher entered the room.  She was probably about a year and a half younger than Tea, slim, with long black hair.  She pulled a few dollars out of her back pocket and stepped over to one of the vending machines.  Sliding a dollar into the slot she slid open the door and removed a burrito.  Then she scooped up her change and moved over two machines to the soda machine.  She placed two dollars inside and selected a cherry coke.  Grabbing that, and the change, she set it on a nearby table, stuck the burrito in the microwave, and moved back to the middle machine.  She slid in a dollar and punched in the number for a bag of chips.  She grabbed it and her change and then put all the change into the machine.  She paused for the first time, deciding which candy bar to select.  Finally settling on a Twix she punched in the selection, and grabbed the Twix.  By now her burrito was done and she grabbed it before sitting down.

       Everyday Tea had seen her the young woman went through this same routine.  She did it all so quickly and efficiently with hardly any pause, no wasted movements.  It was so graceful.

       Tea nearly snorted and shook her head. How could one use a vending machine gracefully?

       Still, she was envious.  How could the woman eat like that everyday and stay so thin?  If Tea weren’t a dance teacher she was certain she’d blow up like a balloon.  A little depressed now she turned back to her sandwich.  Boring.

       A noise from the direction of the door drew her attention.  Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Seto standing there.

       “Seto!” she stood quickly and his searching eyes fell on her.  He came toward her.

       “Is something wrong?” she asked, worried; he had never come to the school before.  Certainly not in the middle of a work day.  “With the program, I mean.” A fear gripped her, “It isn’t one of the children is it?”

       “No, no.” he was quick to reassure her, placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling gently.  “Nothing like that.”

       She looked at him in confusion, searching his face for some clue, “Then what?”

       He shrugged, “I had some free time and I was passing by.  I remembered that it was your lunch and I though I’d stop in and see if you’d like some company.”

       She blinked up at him, he was very close.

       “So, would you?” he prompted.

       “That’s it?” she asked in disbelief.

       He grinned “That’s it.” He affirmed with a nod.

       She relaxed and gave him a smile, then she reached out and swatted the side of his arm.

       “What was that for?”

       “Don’t you ever scare me like that again!” she scolded.

       He chuckled.

***

       It was a lovely lunch period, possibly the best she had ever had.  She was pleased he had come to see her.  She was also a little confused.  He had been ‘passing by’?  From where? 

       She shrugged the thoughts away, thanking him for coming and excusing herself to go to class.  He walked with her, offering her his arm.  As they walked away, arm in arm, Tea noticed the young teacher staring at her enviously.  She smiled, warmth flooding through her.  Sometimes it was nice to be on top…