Sorry for the wait, I was away at university. I know this is short but a new chapter should be out soon and this chapter has a lot more romance.

Thank you to all who reviewed and/or read this story so far.

There was no sound as they drove on in silence. Tea shifted her gaze to the landscape and let her mind drift, riding the wave of euphoria that came with the single thought, 'We did it, Mokuba's freed'.

This sense of bliss was only destined to last for about ten minutes as Tea slowly became aware that the spirit seated opposite her was shooting furtive glances in her direction.

With a mental sigh Tea turned her attention to dealing with the twin problems that were Marik and Bakura. 'There has got to be something I can do. It can't be a direct confrontation - they out match me in strength and magic. The only things I've ever been good at are dancing and being a cheerleader, as Seto puts it, and it's not like...' Tea paused, an idea suddenly coming to her. 'Maybe it could, when I first befriended Joey and Tristan...and Duke and Mai for that matter they weren't the nicest people but having friends helped draw out the good in them. Marik and Bakura are in a completely different league but I'm sure I've seen little flashes of decency in them. If I start being friendly towards them I might be able to get them to ease up and the more they like me the less closely they'll watch me so I can help my friends.' She stifled a small sob, 'and Auntie Bea -there has got to be something I can do for her. I'll appeal directly to Marik if I have to.' Tea felt quite pleased with herself, she had a plan. It may not be perfect and a lot of it was chance but it had potential.

She was just finished mentally congratulating herself when the drivers voice crackled over the intercom. "My Lord we are five minutes from the airport but the plane will not be ready for another two hours. What would you like me to do?"

Tea almost jumped for joy, here was a chance to put her plan in motion. Turning she addressed Bakura. "We could stop for lunch, I saw a cosy little cafe back there that looked good."

Bakura felt something flutter to life in his chest but he masked it by sneering at her with raised eyebrows, "You want to have lunch with me?"

Tea ducked her head, picking her words carefully, aware that coming on too strong would make him suspicious, "I just wanted to do something I used to, to feel normal again for a little while."

The spirit continued to watch her so intently that she began to shift uncomfortably, "We could get something hot to drink, warm you up."

This seemed to cinch it and Bakura nodded. Smiling, Tea reached over and hit the button for the intercom informing the driver of their plans and giving him directions back to the little coffee shop on the corner that had looked so inviting.

People stopped to stare as the car bearing Marik's symbols pulled up to the curb. Even more people gathered as Bakura's distinctive white hair became visible. He straightened up and glared around him at the crowd. Everyone quickly bobbed curtsies or bows and hurried away. When he was satisfied that he'd scared the gawkers off he reached a hand in to help Tea out.

The girl was rather surprised to see a hand appear in the doorway. Of course she hadn't been privy to the conversation going on between Ryou and Bakura as soon as she'd mentioned lunch.

Ryou had sat bolt upright in his soul room. He'd been slightly let down when he heard Bakura question her motives but at her response he'd felt the spirit waver. 'Accept,' he urged, 'If Tea's willing to try you should to. It could make up for the way you dragged her off just before.'

He watched as Tea smiled and spoke to the driver when felt an odd emotion start in his chest. 'I'm nervous? That doesn't seem right, unless it's not me... Bakura?' The last part was projected to the Yami.

"What?" the answer was snapped back rapidly.

"Are you...are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know...you just seem a bit nervous."

"Why would I be nervous?" the spirit blustered, "Because of the girl? It's lunch!"

"I thought you might see it as something like a date."

"I do not!" Ryou flinched at the strength of his reply, "And even if I did, it wouldn't matter. I have courted more women than you could count."

Ryou steeled himself to reply to that, "Yes, but when you say 'court' do you mean romanced for a long period of time or were you just trying to get them into bed for the night?"

Silence greeted this remark so Ryou continued, "Who were these women anyway? Do you know how to treat ladies like Tea?"

More silence. Ryou smiled to himself. Knowing that Bakura would never ask for help himself he started to offer some advice. "If you want to impress her you have to be a gentleman -help her out of the car, hold the door and her chair. As for topics of conversation I would try to avoid the whole global domination/imprisoned friends thing and any mention of violence."

His only response was the mental equivalent of a grunt but when the car stopped Bakura did step out first and offer Tea his hand. Ryou's face split into a goofy grin when Tea slipped her hand into the spirit's.

A bell hanging over the door jangled quietly as Bakura stepped inside and held it open trying hard to ignore the curious and slightly confused look on Tea's face as she passed him.

The girl at the counter did what would have been a very comical double take and then rushed out the back. Tea glanced around the shop, there were no other customers. When the girl reemerged with an older man who was wiping his hands on a tea towel she addressed them.

"I'm sorry, are you closed?"

"No, no, no," the man hastened to assure them, "we would be honored to serve you. Ange," he indicated the girl "will show you to your seats and take your orders."

Tea frowned, "Don't we order at the counter?"

"For such honored guests? No"

He bowed and disappeared out the to the kitchen while Ange directed them to a small table in the corner. Tea laid one hand on the back of her chair but was stopped when Bakura moved into her line of sight and replaced her hand with his own.

"Allow me." The soft, courtly words sounded odd in his gravelly voice.

Tea sat, still feeling confused, but smiling a thank you at Bakura anyway, 'He's treating this almost like a...no way. Tea that's just crazy.'

Bakura sat down opposite, waiting until he was sitting to wipe his suddenly sweaty palms on his slacks . Ange took out a pen and paper.

"Ummm." murmured Tea, "To drink I'll have a hot chocolate. Bakura?"

For a second the spirit almost panicked until he heard Ryou murmur, 'Try a mocha.'

"I'll have a mocha"

Ange nodded, noting this down.

"I'm not sure what you have to eat, would you recommend anything?" asked Tea

Ange considered, "For starters we have soup of the day which is chicken noodle and a mud cake has just come out of the oven."

Tea nodded, "I'll have that, but do you have anything with meat in it?"

"We have our famous steak sandwich."

Bakura smirked, "That but rare, and the cake."

Ange curtseyed then hurried to the kitchen.

Tea looked at Bakura and asked something that had been bugging her, "How does everyone know who you are?"

Bakura smiled, "Marik has weekly broadcasts to countries in his domain. I feature in those and other publications."

Tea nodded, "I was wondering why everyone was so cautious around you."

"I'm used to it. In Egypt I was recognized as well."

Tea was surprised, "You remember Egypt? Yami didn't remember very much."

The albino thought for a few seconds, "I don't remember my whole life. Most of the big events though."

"Like what?" she realized she might have over stepped her bounds and hastily added, "If you don't mind"

'She wants to know? Fine' thought Bakura "I remember when the Pharaoh attacked my village, I was the only survivor."

Tea gaped in horror, not even noticing that Ange had returned with their drinks. "Yami did that?"

As much as Bakura would have liked to taint her view of Yami something made him tell the truth, "His father, I was only a boy at the time."

"Why would anyone do that?"

"To create the millennium items" replied Bakura, taking a sip of his drink.

Tea remained silent, she could just imagine a little boy, lost and all alone. With a start she realized tears were gathering in her eyes. she blinked rapidly to clear her vision and looked up to see Bakura watching her with what looked like wonder. 'She's crying. For me.'

Tea felt exceedingly embarrassed and picked up her drink to try and hide it. In fact she was so distressed it was only after their food arrived that she felt comfortable enough to talk.

She searched for something to say 'ummm, well if I'm going to do anything about Aunt Bea I'll have to tell him about talking to Mum and Dad. He seems to be in good mood.' She watched the spirit smile in satisfaction at his steak, obviously it was done to his specifications.

She cleared her throat, "I spoke to my parents at the Watsons'." She stopped, waiting for his reaction and taking a sip of her soup, it was delicious.

He hiked an eyebrow, "Oh, what did you tell them?"

"That I was okay and that I loved them."

"Anything about me?" He realized that he was holding his breath in anticipation.

"I said that I was staying with you and Ryou. That you'd rescued me and that I was safe."

Bakura suddenly had to repress an impulse to smile, properly, for the first time since he could remember.

Glad that he'd not been angry Tea quickly changed the subject to something neutral, the food. Before they knew it dessert had arrived, it was the same as the rest of the meal - fantastic.

Tea took a bite and then closed her eyes in pure bliss. Humming to herself in pleasure she rocked slowly in her seat.

Bakura watched, seeing her so innocently happy and knowing it was because of him brought back the urge to smile. This time he gave in. It was small, just an upturning of the corner of his lips, but it was genuine and the first time in to long.

Having missed this extraordinary event Tea continued eating in blissful ignorance. When they were both finished Bakura stood up getting ready to go. Tea suddenly stopped, her hand going up to her mouth as she gasped.

"I don't have any money."

Bakura was about to respond that it didn't matter, they wouldn't be stopped but Ryou's voice drifted into his head. "Gentlemen pay, and being a good tipper usually impresses."

Just because he'd enjoyed himself didn't mean that he liked paying for things he could just take. Sighing heavily he stomped outside to the car and stuck his head inside the drivers window. He returned a few moments later and handed a stack of notes to Ange, who'd reappeared. Her eyes went wide and she stammered out a thank you and curtseyed shakily.

Tea stood and thanked her as well then followed Bakura outside. As he held the car door for her she stopped and turned to him.

"Thank you Bakura, I really enjoyed that."