I literally found this chapter missing from the actual story on both sites (FF and Archive). Relieved at the sight of my audiobook recording posted on my Youtube channel, I could finally re-write the missing chapter where GGG leave the See Garten resturant and head over to Kritter's place while we check on Demyx and Emily's side in Kaisten.
Welp, let's get it on!
"17 franks for a UNO card set?" Yu stated in disbelief as Tsubasa sighed and guided the blonde's arms to place the box back on the rack. "What kind of a ridicoulous country is this!?"
Gingka chuckled while helping Madoka grab two bottles of Nestle Mango Ice Tea out of the freezer, "It's something you have to live with. Strange as it seems, they consider this country to be the happiest country on earth- which I highly doubt to believe it."
"You know Gingkie?" Esther started, only to be cut off by a fuming Yu, "Hey! That's my nickname to the Pegasus Blader!"
"Relax, Yu. She can call me whatever she likes." Gingka replied with an understanding tone as he guestured her to continue with a smile, "Go on."
"Okay, anyway, while I was at St. Gallen, the university purposely placed a large banner over thier hall, the meaning to it is so ironic." Esther finished with pure sincerity.
"Like what?" Masamune wondered after placing back a Hot Wheels die cast toy back on the shelf, completely shocked towards the sky high price for a such a small entertaining toy.
"Well, it said 'Happiness is Expensive." Esther glacned at Gingka, his face concerned with a considerable discussion towards the irony. "And it all relates towards money."
"You know? That perfectly matches up with the country we live in." Gingka suggested, Madoka approached him, interested in their talk. "If rich people live here in a sea of money, then to them, it's considered happiness. But what is life without money? That's normally their saying. But to us, normal people who want to earn a few but do more for HIM, that's happiness."
Madoka shockingly gasped upon the exaggeration of HIM said in Gingka's explanation, "Don't tell me you've changed into a new Gingka now!"
The Pegasus blader exchanged confused looks with Esther and GGG, "What do mean by that?"
Madoka suddenly hugged Gingka's legs while kneeling down in tearful joy, "I'm so happy that you've started believing in Him! It's rare to see my friends read His word and praise it every night!"
Standing up, she glanced at her surroundings to make sure no one was watching the joyful scene, "Oh Gingka! I'm so happy that this is happening!"
"Ok, Madoka. You can let go of me now." Gingka stood closer to Esther while Madoka stared into his brown eyes, keeping her mouth agape in awe.
"But please tell me one thing." Madoka whispered, Esther leaned closer to listen in. "You've left behind the Fain culture that you believe in, right?"
"F-Fain?" Esther repeated with a confused tone, Making Gingka nervously smile and cover her mouth, only to get a slap on the hand in return by a bashing Ms. Fike.
"Ow, Gingka countered with a wince as he nursed his red hand.
"Serves you right, Gingka, for shutting her mouth!" Masamune laughed, giving Gingka to growl back at him.
"Whoa! 12 Franks for a Beyblade toy!?" Yu started with shock in his voice which brought everyone's attention with silence.
"Yu? Please don't remind us about these things. They're gone and we can't do anything else about it." Madoka held up her hand and sighed, glancing down at her shoes.
"She's kinda right if we bump into this kinda situation." Tsubasa helpfully added, flicking his silver hair back over his shoulders, and grunting softly with his eyes closed, "Let's just head over to where Gingka wants us to take us and experience the lovely tour hosted by our redhead, right?"
Giving out a friendly look towards the Pegasus blader, he quickly helped Madoka pay for the groceries before they shot off towards Kritter's House for the Fondue Dinner.
Demyx bounced around his seat as if the front passenger seats to his Pilot was now made of cactus, green with various needles all over pricking his butt.
Emily sighed as she eyed Demyx's newly ordered mystery meal, the lobster boy refusing to take a single bite off of the steaming broccoli. He was one heck of a stubborn guy but she had to deal with him numerous times. Silently praying that Demyx won't cause a havoc at the fondue dinner, the Pilot's headlights faced her mother's house, a ceramic angel stared back while hanging at the front door.
Aria got out with a shivering start, patiently waiting for the other two to hop out.
"Oh Mee GAWD! I can't wait!" Demyx excitedly said with a whisper that sure got him hyped up for more food.
Emily sweeped snow off of the bumper before lifting up the trunk to take out their groceries, "I heard that Dem. No fondue for you."
Demyx stomped a foot of snow in anger. "But you promised!"
Aria giggled, "It's your fault you didn't eat dem veggies!"
"Sometimes I wish I was back home with the Organization." Demyx muttered to himself so that Emily wont catch his words. But it was too late for lobster boy to react as Emily smiled in a devious way.
"Oh, enjoy your life as a Dusk, Dem. I'm pretty sure Saix will be completely overwhelmed with your words of disobedience, believe me." Climbing down the short flight of oak stairs, Emily settled the bags by the couches as Demyx flopped on the middle one, neslting in comfort.
"No Dem. Down. Now." Emily ordered as she welcomed Aria to feel right at home.
"Wow Emily, your mother has a true heart in collecting stuff from WWII." Aria yawned as she stole Demyx's place, glancing at the Netherlands shield carved out of wood, placed against the wall of white, the heraldic lion raising it's flag for victory.
"Just some stuff her grandpa left behind." Emily smiled as she took out the contents of her groceries to help her mother prepare for the fondue dinner night.
Emily's mother came upstairs, wondering what the sound of rustling bags were about, "Why, hello there, Emily. All set for the cheesy feast?"
"Yup." Emily replied as he took the contents downstairs to the kitchen, only for her to drop her bag in surprise. "Mom? You never told me you had more guests over."
"Why I-" Emily's mom halted mid speech, her eyes widened in surprise as her daughter hugged a tall slim man in his 30's.
"Where were you the whole time? It's been ages since we finally met!" the guy exclaimed with joy.
Now, Emily wondered why there was a silver VW Jetta parked next to the Pilot, the Graubunden shield gleaming in the winter light.
"Kenny, I apologize. It's been years since I last saw you as a 10 year old. I got caught up into a HUGE adventure when I finally lived in the states-"
"The states you say? HUGE adventure? What a blast! I bet you had tons of fun in Ohio and Florida!"
"You knew where I lived?" Emily caught the sentence as if it was suspicious.
Kenny laughed as he led Emily to a patio room lighted by candles and LED string lights giving out a warm hue to the chilly evening environment.
Sitting on wooden chairs with white faux fur trimming the holiday feel to it, he calmed down and quickly glanced at Emily's mother, her daughter doing the same. "Your mom told me about it after Skyping you overseas. Yup, news spreads fast like lightning. I'm glad you were able to make it."
"Don't bother. Besides." she held up her ring finger, containing the only tool and symbol of marriage, "Didn't I tell you yet?"
Kenny's eyes jumped back in surprise, "Why, don't tell me you're-"
"Here comes my childish husband." Emily muttered as Demyx yawned, suddenly shocked to see his wife with another man.
"Em, who's that?" Demyx started in confusion, Kenny looking at him up and down, weirdly.
Emily laughed as Aria took her seat two chairs away from Demyx, "Why, that's my cousin! Meet Kenny Welles!"
"Nice to meet ya, Mr. Demyx. Hope we can aquiantance ourselves just fine." Kenny shook hands while Demyx lazily muttered, "Thanks."
"Introductions are over! Time to eat!" Emily's mother came in with a pot of steaming melted cheese, a wooden spoon already dunked in to be stirred with.
As soon as the pot was settled down on one of the induction mats, Demyx couldn't help but take a whiff of the smell, the smoked cheese with a hint of red wine trickled his nasal calliparies in satisfaction.
Emily kept a watchful eye on Demyx, "I know that smells so good to you Dem, but I would patently wait until everyone else is seated around the table."
"She's right lad." Kenny bucked up while pouring himself a glass of mineral water, "Be patient until the treasure's revealed."
"I like what you said right there!" Aria smiled as she stirred the cheese, slightly bubbling across the rim of the pot, hypnotizing poor Demyx while his tongue lolled out like a starving dog.
"Needless to say, Emily, I live in Graubunden. So, while you enjoy your stay here, care to hit up a visit by my house one day?" Kenny offered while grabbing the bowl of evenly diced bread from Emily's mom who retreated back in the kitchen to get a bowl of salad.
"Sure, why not?" Emily replied with a friendly shrug, making Aria giggle to herself, when Emily's mom came in with a bottle of wine and a tray of wine glasses clinking together to chime into the lovely night.
Everybody got into comfort, waiting for Emily's mom to take her seat and equip a family silence hushing above them all.
5 minutes later, it was destroyed by Demyx's wails heartlessly howling through the patio room.
"Behave or you'll spend your night sleeping in snow!" Emily hissed a warning towards the mullet teen, but Demyx continued his low moans of starvation.
"Is he alright, Em?" Kenny asked concerned while scooping up dozens of pieces of bread and lobbed it into his plate.
Emily suppressed a timid smile and awkwardly laughed, "Well, he is a bit crazy for food so I try my best to stop him from eating-"
Words halted as everyone's eyes widened in shocking awe.
"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Standing up in his chair, Demyx roared for the pot, and rudefully brought it up to his mouth, gobbling up all of the melted cheese creating hell in his mouth all the way down to his stomach. Trails of cheese lined down the side of his cheeks and oozed across his sandy colored signature strands limped against the front of his ears.
Once he licked the remnants of the fondue, he lobbed the pot, making the bowl spin clockwise towards a speechless Kenny, while Aria laughed hard to herself, Emily about to burst the temper and wildly break the WHOLE table in half.
Emily's mom could not bear the horrible behaviour and muttered some words as she stood up and entered the kitchen.
Emily aggressively spun towards Demyx, who maintained to control his huge burp, "You didn't learn to share and you made my mother disgusted from what she saw based on your childish behaviour! I'm sick of you Dem! I don't want to see your face ever again!"
With tears softly running down her cheeks, Emily made her decision and climbed upstairs to comfort her mom.
"But... But..." Demyx whined as he covered his face in shame and began sobbing like a five year old who just lost his toy.
Aria sighed while Kenny toyed with a piece of bread around his plate, all of them accepting this as a canceled family fondue night.
I love it when Demyx messes up over food.
Falco276 out! :D