Shandy: REVIEW!
Candy: What?!
Shandy: Alright- Bravemaridin, thank you so much for reviewing!
Candy: And thank you for the complements! Yes, he is an a**.
Shandy: To the story!
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Mali stared out of the window of her temporary bedroom as the snow fell outside. She hadn't been allowed outside at all and she didn't like it. Joey's father was giving them the cold shoulder, as Joey assured was the same with most of his friends. His mom was really cool, telling them some sweet stories from her youth- namely avoiding any bad ones with their parents. But she wanted to go out and play in the snow! If you went out in the Snow in South Japan, it had to be really important or you were going to be victim to a snowball ambush. Here, she was hoping to try some new things, like Snowman building and snow angels and maybe even a friendly snowman fight-
The bell rang and Mali jumped, turning to look at the door of her room.
"Come in." She said after a moment, and the door opened to show Joey all done up in his winter clothes.
"Uhh, mom and dad want to meet you and Atlas down in the living room." He said. "I'll go and tell him now."
"Alright, thanks for letting me know, I'll be down in a bit." Mali smiled a little and Joey nodded, closing the door and leaving her be. Mali sighed and, deciding to look less I-Just-Woke-Up and more I've-been-up-for-a-while by putting on a light purple tank top and a black jacket. She threw on some khaki pants before leaving the room and walking down to the living room (Two story mansion, so many empty rooms, and she still felt somewhat claustrophobic).
"Hi, Mal'." Josephine said when she came down. Then she smiled. "Wow."
"What?"
"Ya look just like ya parents in that outfit." Josephine laughed a little. "Always admired ya mother for having the courage to wear the outfits she did."
"What did mom wear?"
"Hold up, I think I got an example here-" She pulled out a photo book from a pouch on the chair she had been sitting in and flipped a few pages as Mali walked over. "There we go." That's ya mother there, and you're father's right there." Mali looked over her shoulder and gaped.
"THAT's what my mom wore?" Mali asked. (It's just the outfit during battle city only for females.)
"Ya, your mom was very daring." She said.
"And that's Yugi… and Atem… and Aunt Ryou…" Mali pointed to all of the faces she could see. "And Uncle Akeifa… and you?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"You totally looked like a guy! How on earth did you do that?" Josephine shrugged.
"I don't know. Made me look tougher, didn't it?"
"Yeah." Mali paused. "Where's Pegasus and Dartz?" Josephine paused, but then continued.
"You see… they were the ones who kidnapped and lost Atem in Japan." She said. "They didn't really want to, their boss, Zork, told them to and they followed. We defeated Zork, he died in the electric chair before Japan's downfall. Seto and Atem still hold a lot against them and your parents because they were hypnotized and put under Zork's control too. And then the rules we had set up to protect everyone prevented anyone who was first sent over there from ever coming back. To most of us, their forced betrayal didn't hurt a lot. It was different for your mothers."
"Oh. They never told me that. Dad and Uncle Akeifa just said that they always hated your parents." Josephine laughed.
"That part's true. The only reason why they're in this picture is because of Yugi, Ryou, and Malik."
"Why didn't they fight back?" Mali asked unconsciously.
"Well, they know what Justice is. When the law came to send those who had done bad, they knew that it included them and they went." She said. "They respected that the laws were one of the only peaceful ways to help Japan get back on it's feet. I think your mom and Ryou had some convincing to do as well. No matter how you put it, your parents had a sense of morals and what was right and wrong, even if they did bad things."
"Wow." Mali sighed. "I should give my parents more respect."
"Shouldn't we all." Josephine said. She put the photo album away as Joey and Atlas came into the room.
"You wished to speak with us?" Atlas asked.
"Yes." She smiled at them. "Seto's going to be in one of those all-day meetings, so Yugi, Serenity, and I decided that I would take you all out shopping for winter clothes."
"Really?" Mali asked, excitedly. They would be able to go outside!
"Yes." She chuckled a little and stood up. "So come on, to the car."
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"Ammon~" Two twin voices called out. The said teen froze in terror, reminding himself not to show fear. He guessed he still needed the practice, as he had never talked directly to their father, who he only supposed would be scarier…
"Ah, hello Nour, Keket." He said, not liking the smirks the twins had on their face. "Um… do you need something?"
"Yes!" The two instantly went to his side and grabbed his hands, preventing any form of escape, secure in their supposedly 'innocent' and loose grasp.
"We need someone to play hide and go seek with us!" Keket explained.
"But Amara and mom are masters and always win, and papa is always busy." Nour finished, giving him the look that he knew would be the death of him one day- the puppy eyes.
While hide and seek sounded very safe, whoever was it used a toy gun, and if they shot you, then you were out. Could he just say that those Nerf bullets hurt?! And if he was it, the two little devils in disguise tag-teamed to distract him with false noises and clues. He had absolutely no idea how Amara was able to find the two- ever. He only supposed that she had memorized their hiding places and had an aim better than his own.
Was this the result of two game masters having kids who are twins?
"Uhh-"
"Hate to disappoint you two-" Ammon was saved by the angel and only one who had the ability to deny the twins anything (except their mother) came. "But Ammon's going to come with me for the rest of the day." He thanked his lucky stars and guardian angel as Amara began to carefully remove her younger siblings from his arms.
"Are you two going out on a date?" Nour asked hopefully, her eyes (which she got from her mother) shining hopefully. Another thing Ammon didn't really like about the two devils- they were persistent on how the two were a couple.
Ammon really didn't mind that, but he had absolutely no idea how Amara felt about the matter.
"No, we're going to hang out with some friends."
"But Amara!" Keket whinned. "You need to go on a date with your boyfriend! Unless…" Keket gained an evil glint in her crimson eyes as she smirked. "Papa hasn't given you two the talk yet." If Ammon wasn't red before he sure was now.
"That's not-"
"That's absolutely-"
"We're not-"
"We'd never-" The two kept on stuttering out a reply. Keket, satisfied with her work, took Nour (who was terribly confused) and began to walk away.
"I-I'm so sorry." Amara finally managed to get out, and Ammon turned to look at her adorable red face. The only problem was that she looked so… sad.
:No- It's fine, I'm sure that if my older sister was here, she would be the same.: Ammon signed slowly enough for Amara to understand.
"You have an older sister?" Ammon actually winced, and began to walk forward. Amara quickly followed, curiosity spiked.
:Yeah… but she's not here anymore.:
"Did she move out?" Amara asked. Ammon laughed a little.
:Nah, she never would've done that.:
"Then wha- oh. Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry! I had no idea!"
:Don't worry about it, I don't remember all that much anyway.: Ammon shot her a smile that he was often told was like his mother's smile- the one that made everyone feel like they did something right, even if they didn't. He was pleased when she calmed down, even managing to smile back at him.
"Do you know what she was like?"
:Dad always said that Amane looked just like mom, only with violet eyes.: Ammon described after a moment. :He said that she was a feisty little thing and always knew the best comeback. She was ready to pick a fight and often came out on top, but she also had a heart of gold. Mom told me that, once, she started a project at school and got everyone in on it. It was to help find all of the cats and dogs in South Japan a good home- even a few of the kids living on the streets.:
"Sounds amazing." Amara said softly.
"Yeah." He said slowly, surprising Amara for a moment.
"Such an amazing person shouldn't have died." She said even softer. Ammon actually laughed.
"She's such an amazing person because she died." He explained when Amara gave him a weird look for laughing. "She ran into an apartment building to save five kids and two babies before the building crashed down. Atlas's older brother, Damion, had gone in with her to help. They saved all of them, at the cost of their own lives. In our town, we even have a small memorial day for it. So many more people were given the courage to stand up and help, even though their parents were bad."
"Really?" Ammon nodded. "Wish I could've met her."
"I don't really see a need to." He admitted. "After all…" He looked her in the eye and smiled at Amara, and Amara could've sworn that a wind had blown rose petals past. "From what little I remember, you're just like her."
The moment was ruined when Ammon, realizing what he had said, blushed profoundly and coughed, looking away. "Come on, we don't want to keep our friends waiting."
"Y-Yeah, of course!" Amara said. "We should go- don't want- waiting on us." She stuttered out as they began to hurry down the hall.
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"I don't think we should, Claire."
"Oh, come on, it'll be fun! We just go over there-" Claire pointed over to Ammon and Amara, who seemed to be talking very animatedly to each other. Ammon struck a pose and Amara stroke a different dramatic pose before the two laughed, and then signed to each other. Who knew some ice cream could get reserved people to open up? (Me: *raises hand* Happens all the time)
"Ammon will see it happen before we could do anything."
"I agree with Mali on that." Atlas said with a smirk. "But it would be worth it to try."
"Well, someone besides Tyson should be the voice of reason." Mali said, and the said boy blushed. Tyson looked every bit like his father, besides his hair and eyes. His hair had been pulled back into a ponytail (reaching just past his shoulders), was a dark reddish brown (more brown than red). His eyes were grey like his mother's.
"But they should get together!" Claire insisted. "Joey, back me up here."
"They should get together-"
"Yes!"
"But I don't think we should intervene." He finished. Claire huffed.
"You're all traitors." She grumbled. "Atlas is my only friend."
"I wouldn' mind gettin' in on dis." Josephine told the other with a certain look on her face that would've creeped the normal person out as she rubbed her hands. "But I got a better plan."
"Mom!" Joey groaned.
"I'm all ears." Claire said, just as devious. Josephine leaned in and began to whisper a plan of some sort.
"I suddenly feel very sorry for Ammon and Amara." Mali said as she looked over at the two. They suddenly seemed very serious at the moment. "Maybe I can save them if I go over there."
"I'll come with you." Joey and Atlas said at the same time. They stared at each other in almost complete shock before something seemed to click in their heads. And they continued to stare. The energy coming off of them was almost physical tension, too thick for even scissors to cut.
"Alright, if you want to." Mali shrugged, a bit creeped out that her two best friends had done things at the same time. She shrugged it off, though, and walked over to Ammon and Amara.
"Oh, hi Mali." Amara greeted. "We were just talking about what could be done to help South Japan thrive, and then hopefully reunite the two."
"Really?" Mali asked. "That sounds like it would be very complicated." Then she paused, staring at Amara for a moment. "Why do you wear sunglasses?" Ammon and Amara stared at her and she then realized just how bluntly she had said it. "Sorry, I didn't mean for that to sound so insensitive. I've been told I have a blunt mouth." She laughed awkwardly. "But it's really peaked my curiosity several times- you even wear them at night! It must be pretty hard to see."
"Well, I wear them because my eyes aren't like yours." She said with a small smile. "I used to go to public school in Elementary, but then some kids decided to poke fun at how my eyes were different and my parents pulled me out. I just never grew the interest to go back until now."
"Wow, I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. I figured the question would come up sooner or later." She laughed. "And yes, it is very hard to see sometimes."
"W-Well…" Ammon blushed, almost forcing himself to look Amara in the eye. "If you want, whenever you need, I-I could be your eyes."
"Really?" Amara asked hopefully, a blush on her face as well.
"O-Of course!" Ammon smiled and Amara opened her mouth to say something, only for her face to become a tomato color.
"Then… could I be your ears?" Ammon seemed to lean down, with a soft smile, despite his own blush.
"I would love it if you would be my ears, Amara." It was so magical, all Mali could do was stare in shock at just how magical it was.
But then that magic spell was ruined when the click of a photo being taken was heard. All three of them turned to look at Claire, who held her phone and was now doing what one could only describe as fangirling. Ammon and Amara instantly took five VERY big steps back, their faces so red that the color hadn't even been invented yet.
"Claire!" Mali shouted.
"I don't care, that was so cute!" Claire replied, sticking her tongue out as Tyson laughed. Mali turned to the two who couldn't even glance at each other and sighed.
"Just ignore the fangirl queen. I'll take care of her later." She said to the two of them. They nodded mutely. After a few moments of silence Mali sighed.
"Alright, I'm done with the lunch break, who else is?" Joey and Atlas glanced down from their staring contest at the food they still had on the table, and so did Claire, Josephine, and Tyson. Ammon and Amara were the only ones done. "Alright- you two come with me, we'll meet up with the rest of you later."
"Wait-"
"Don't bother." Atlas sighed as Mali led Ammon and Amara away. "Trust me, when it comes to getting people to stop being awkward around each other, It's Mali, and as long as she's alone, everything will be fine."
"You mean she planned that?" Joey asked, surprised.
"No." Claire corrected. "She probably saw something in a store and wanted to try it out. But she never goes alone. If no one was done with lunch, she probably would've waited impatiently for one of us to be done and then drag us off."
"Why wouldn't she go off on her own?" Tyson asked.
"It's dangerous- especially if you're a girl, to wander South Japan all by yourself." Was all that Claire said.
"Oh. Right, I can see that."
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"I know I saw it somewhere…"
"Saw what?" Ammon asked, giving the other a side glance as he looked at some belts. He focused his attention back onto them. Which one would be the best to alter…
"A scarf. I wanna get Christmas gifts for everyone and Claire has that weird love for scarves. There was one that would be absolutely perfect here when we walked past the store earlier…"
"What about this one?" Amara held out an infinity scarf with different shades of purple and blue on it. Mali placed her judgemental eye on it and shook her head.
"Nah, she doesn't have anything that could match that." Mali turned back to the scarf rack and Ammon pulled out a black studded belt and a smaller black belt, observing them closely.
"Then what would match?" Amara asked. Mali paused for a moment, thinking.
"Maybe something green… but it would have to be the right shade, she hates bright colors…"
"Then why not this one?" Mali looked toward Amara again who was holding a nice looking scarf. It was a soft parakeet green color with subtle and small mahogany red details that you wouldn't see unless you looked closely. There were also some pear green aftertones that made the darker green stand out. In short- it was gorgeous.
"That's perfect!" Mali touched the piece of fabric with reverence. "And it's perfect for casual wear. You're amazing Amara!"
"I-It's nothing, I just picked it out." Amara said softly.
"Still, I probably wouldn't have seen it." Mali turned around to look at Ammon. "Do you have what you want?"
"Yeah." He stopped observing the belts. "I have what I wanted."
"Alright- to the next store!" Which was… literally the next store.
"I have no complaints what-so-ever." Amara said as she admired a new game that had come out. "But why are we here?"
"Atlas." Mali said simply, looking through some games. "He's got a collection of gaming figures, and there's one that he really wants… yes!" Mali picked up a small action-figure looking guy who had spirals around the base where he stood. "The Hypnotist!" She checked the price tag. "And I have just enough money! This is perfect!" She rushed to the counter to buy it.
"She actually found it?" Ammon asked a little late as Mali came back humming with a gift bag. "And bought it?"
"Yeah." Amara said after a moment. "I'm glad that she was able to, but I hope she was able to get what she wanted."
"She probably planned ahead and managed to get more money. She does that- plan all year what she's gonna get everyone for christmas, estimates that amount, and then gets it for them." He paused. "Of course she would steal it if she couldn't afford it as long as it was in the store. But if she could buy it, she would."
"So… what do you want for Christmas?" Amara asked.
"Nothing really."
"Oh."
"Except…" He paused, a little embarrassed. "I wouldn't mind able to read my mother's favorite book series. It was lost during the move."
"What is it?"
"Harry Potter." He said.
"Mother said it was really good, but I don't remember ever reading it." Amara commented, almost to herself.
"What about you Amara?"
"Hm?" Amara looked at Mali.
"What do you want for Christmas?"
"Oh, uh…" She blushed, looking down. "It's nothing important."
"No, tell us!" Mali insisted.
"Oh, fine." Amara sighed and mumbled something.
"Sorry, what did you say?" Ammon asked a little bit. When Amara mumbled it again, Ammon decided to sign. :What do you want?: Amara paused, reading the message. She held her hands up hesitantly.
:I want to be able to take my glasses off in front of my friends.: Ignoring Mali's confused look, she focused on Ammon a little more. :I hate how I don't feel comfortable showing my eyes to everyone. I try every year, but I never do it.:
:I wish you the best of luck then, and if you can't, that's okay too.: Ammon signed. Amara smiled.
:Thank you.:
"Ok, what's going on?" Mali asked. "My mom might've taught Ammon, but I have absolutely no idea what's going on."
"Don't worry about it." Ammon turned to Mali. "Is there anyone else you need to shop for?"
"Amara and Joey." Then she snapped her fingers. "Dang, I forgot to ask Joey. Guess I'll do it next time." She looked at Amara again. "What do you want?"
"Whatever you choose to get me is fine." She answered. Mali deflated.
"That's what I'm supposed to say!" She sighed. "Oh well, I'll think of something."
"Come on, I just had a present Idea for Atlas." Ammon said suddenly, leading them away from the store.
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