**My first Yu-Gi-Oh fic…be nice please

Chapter One:  A funny thing happened on my way to Isis' house

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            The streets of downtown Domino were exceptionally busy, even for a Saturday.  So busy that Tea Gardener had to bob, duck, weave and occasionally shove a person or two as she made her way to the Ishtar residence to meet with Isis, with whom she worked part-time.

            After the Battle City tournament, Isis, her brother Malik (I like this spelling better) and Rashid had gone back to Egypt, but returned a year later, minus Rashid, because Isis had said she missed running the Museum and the general environment of the city (she was a people person). Of course, Malik had to come as well because…well would you trust Malik Ishtar to behave himself on his own?  Yeah, neither did Isis.  So the two of them had purchased a cozy three-bedroom house near the Museum, Malik was attending Domino High with the rest of them, and Tea had gotten a job at the Museum with Isis. 

            Yugi and the others pretty much avoided Malik and as a result Ryou, because the two were best friends.  Yami was especially distrustful of Malik, mostly because of the repeated attempts at murder, and even though Malik wasn't evil anymore, he never really warmed up to the Egyptian boy.  Malik was also considered anti-social by the student body so Ryou Bakura was his only friend, and that suited him just fine.  Unlike her friends, Tea did occasionally encounter Malik and try at conversation, considering how closely she worked with Isis, Tea figured she should try to forgive and forget, or at least try to be nice.  Malik was civil enough to her because he knew Ryou liked her, but other than that, they were content to ignore each other unless it was necessary.  Tea's reasoning for not hating Malik was simple: if Ryou Bakura, the kindest, sweetest boy that ever lived could be friends with Malik Ishtar, the most psychopathic and deranged person who ever lived, then he couldn't be that bad.  That and Tea always thought that the two of them were rather attractive (she is a teenager after all).

            Back to the present, Tea was heading to Isis' house to discuss the set-up for a new exhibit for children at the Museum, and there still some details to work out before they met with the architect for the new wing.  As Tea passed by an alley, a faint sound caught her attention.  She paused, listened and heard it again, only it was a little louder.

            'Should I check it out?' she wondered.  The sound being emitted wasn't human, she knew that much, but she didn't know if she should risk it.  It was a dark alley after all.  The sound came again, and Tea's strong sense of compassion overrode her fear.  Whatever it was, it was in pain and she should help if she could.

            Taking a deep breath to steel her, Tea walked bravely and purposefully into the dark alley, hoping she wasn't walking into danger.

            The alley was narrow, and very dirty, but Tea wasn't about to let a little grime keep her from helping…well whatever it was.  She followed the sound almost halfway down the constricted path when she tracked the sound to a cardboard box.  The sound was loud now, and then suddenly ceased.  The silence was as painful as the sound itself.

            Tea leaned slowly over the top of the box, when it shook and something poked its head over the side, a furry head, and two small paws.  It was a puppy!  It was very small, perhaps the runt of the litter, and it was a golden retriever (A/N: Kawaii!!  I love golden retrievers!), covered in dirt, with a small nick in its ear, like it had been bitten.  Other than that, it seemed to be unhurt; the whimpering was most likely out of hunger.

            Tea, being the nice compassionate girl she is, and the fact that no one can resist puppy eyes, she carefully picked up the small creature, which squirmed slightly, then wagged its tail and settled in her arms (everyone giggle and yell "Kawaii!").  Tea sighed and decided she would take the puppy with her to Isis' and at least bathe and feed it before deciding what to do with…her.  With her new friend tucked gently under an arm, Tea emerged from the alley, and continued on to the Ishtar residence.

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Granted this was a very short chapter, but if I do this in small amounts, I'll actually get it done, unlike some of my other works.  I actually planned out most of the story beforehand. Did you like it?  That is a very stupid question…considering I only have one chapter and nothing has even happened yet.

Plans for the future:  this will either be Tea/Ryou, or Tea/Malik…your reviews will decide, I can go either way folks, but it won't happen for a few chapters so you have time.

Plus, I need suggestions for the puppy's name.