New Chapter in record time! Woohoo! I would've gotten it up a LOT faster except Mahado and Mana fought me tooth and nail for a long time and I had to struggle with the outfits, but more on that later.
I'm on fire, and I'm not stopping until I finish this story!
Warning: Lemons, hot gorgeous naked dripping wet boys that might cause dehydration due to drooling: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A WATER BOTTLE
Kuri: (reads paper) S2Teennovelist, also known as the Queen of Plottwists is not responsible for dehydration caused by her work, anyone with a problem with it will face the wrath of the Kuribohs (Kuris all hold up their weapons: See Deviantart comic The K-T Attack Force.
Disclaimer: Yugioh and all its characters belong to Kazuki Takehashi, the Frost Fairies were inspired by the Japanese myth about the Yukki-Onna; costumes were inspired by the images seen below.
As always Thanks to all my fans and reviewers, especially my Beta Espi, for helping me through the section with Mahado and Mana that gave me hell. Thanks so much hun! Also thanks to Toya and Keara for help with the Kimono designs ^-^ Thanks guys! I hope you like the final results!
Review, comment, critique, ask questions and go nuts. Any and all flames MUST have a reason!
Song for this chapter: At Last I see The Light-Tangled (play it for the end of the chapter: TRUST me it makes a HUGE difference)
Part XIV
Yugi was in paradise. There was no other word for it. Vaguely, he felt the gentle stroke of feathers brushing his shoulders. Though his body slept and his eyes remained closed, his mind slowly returned to wakefulness. He fought with all his might to remain asleep, not wanting to leave his paradise just yet, but reluctantly opened his eyes.
Instead of the glaring lemon lights punishing him for his stubbornness with burning eyes and a painful headache, he was instead met with a soft cloudy canopy. Only bits of soft light leaked through, highlighting the feathery shapes with shadows and lights. At first he thought he truly was in paradise, until he rolled his head to the side and was greeted with the sleeping face of the Frost King, as peaceful and loving as he'd been each time they'd made love. Yugi smiled at the sight and blushed giddily at the previous night's memories.
Though he'd fallen asleep on his side, he'd awoken on his back, realizing he must've rolled over in his sleep. And yet the Frost King had not released him. Yami still slept on his side, one arm draped tightly around Yugi's waist while the other lied across the pillow just above Yugi's hair. His right leg draped across Yugi's hip with a knee wedged between his legs, making the young man's blush deepen. He soon realized Yami's wings had formed a canopy over them both, keeping the warmth trapped inside and the sunlight out. Yugi shuffled closer to his King and rolled back onto his side facing Yami's bare chest. Yami's skin felt lukewarm as opposed to the cold chill it had been the previous night, but Yugi didn't mind. He snuggled deeper into the firm chest of his Frost King and folded his arms between them. He closed his eyes and let the darkness and warmth of Yami's wings, the rising and falling of Yami's chest against his cheek, and the rhythm of Yami's heartbeat lull him back to sleep.
Just as Yugi was about to retreat into sleep, he felt his pillow shift under him and felt a gentle hand vigilantly shake his shoulder. He responded with a pitiful wine of displeasure and clamped his arms tightly around Yami's chest and tried to burry himself back in the warmth, laziness urging him back to sleep.
An amused chuckled caused the chest to vibrate. Yugi felt someone stroking his hair and back, lulling him awake, but he stubbornly kept his eyes closed.
"Love, it's time to awake," Yami's deep voice summoned gently, reluctantly pulling away from Yugi's soft, warm body. Yugi groaned with a high pitched screech and pulled the covers over his head when Yami pulled his wings away allowing the brutal light, pouring in through his glass roof, to spill inside. His body immediately protested the movements and he hissed loudly when a twitch of pain raced up his backside and lower abdomen.
Yami sighed and shook the lump Yugi had formed a little harder. "Come on love, the Winter Solstice begins at sundown and we must herald the beginning of the Solstice at Twilight."
"Too early," Yugi mumbled under the blankets.
"I disagree, little one, it's past midday" Yami corrected.
"Don't care," Yugi grumbled. "Wanna sleep."
"Alright, little one, I warned you." The cocky tone was the only foreshadowing before the covers were yanked away and Yugi was hoisted into Yami's arms. Yugi cried out in objection and thrashed in response causing Yami to drop him in shock. Yugi winced loudly in pain when his bottom made contact with the cruel bed. He hand flew to rub the abused area with a pitiful whimper.
Yami's stare of shock quickly transformed into concern. Carefully, he turned Yugi onto his side and placed his arms behind Yugi's back and under his knees, allowing Yugi to wrap his arms around his neck and gently hoisted him into his arms. Yugi winced at the movement.
"Sorry," Yami kissed his forehead in apology. "I didn't mean to be so rough with you."
Yugi snorted and shrugged. "Don't apologize, I'm sure not complaining." He leaned his cheek against Yami's shoulder to emphasize his point. "Besides, we would've been sore anyway so…wait a minute!" Yugi shot up and looked the King over, who looked just as perfect as he was the day before: not a displacement of hair, no marks or scratched on his frosted skin, no slouch to his posture, not a hint of fatigue.
"Why aren't you sore like I am?" Yugi demanded.
Yami blinked then chuckled with a hearty laugh. "I'm not human, Yugi," Yami explained. "My body is naturally stronger and more durable than a human's; therefore my stamina allows me to recover at a faster…"
"I don't understand a word you're saying." Yugi admitted.
Yami flashed him an annoyed looked, then smirked. "I'm a fairy with a body like ice. Because of that I can recover energy and stamina much faster than you can," Yami's smirked curled, devilishly. "It makes pleasurable acts much more enjoyable. Did you ever notice why fairies are so promiscuous?"
Yugi's eyes bulged in shock. He snorted in narrow-eyed annoyance. "That is not fair. Why am I the only one that has to be sore after we have sex?" Yugi crossed his arms and pouted.
Yami resisted the urge to laugh and settled for a snicker instead. "I'm sorry love, but perhaps a nice hot bath will cure your pain." Yami suggested shoving aside the curtains that led to his sleeping quarters. Yugi hadn't noticed it before but the small hallway, with exception of the spiral limestone staircase, was much like that of a traditional Japanese hallway. The floors were smooth, polished parallel wooden beams, the walls were made of bamboo, and beams crafted the ceiling. Adjacent to Yami's room were two pale yellow bamboo doors with paper windows. Yami glared at the doors and flapped his wings. They slide backwards horizontally, revealing the secret room it contained.
Yugi turned his head to peek and his eyes bulged. The entrance was a small deck made of bamboo with an overhead canopy. Wicker baskets in the corners acted as holders for clothes and possessions while a large wooden box held thick, fluffy towels. Beneath the deck the floor was sunken in and made of flat slate surrounding a ring of different sized stone, littered with bowls and glass bottles filled with different fragrances and oils. The well's steamy waters were a pale amber color and gave off a sweet, earthy smell.
Water entered the well, clean and clear, from a huge waterfall pouring over the side of the wall which Yugi assumed came from the hot springs in the hills by the palace. The spring's entrance was a smooth rectangular stone. Between two large rocks was a small stream leaking beneath a shallow wall of stone and glass. A waterfall raced down the slope of the castle's hill. Half the wall was glass but the other half was open air, allowing the heavy steam to pour outside and offered the most beautiful view of the mountains Yugi had ever seen.
"Is this…yours?" Yugi asked unable to remove his eyes.
"It only used for ceremonies or when I don't have time to use the hot springs, but yes this is mine," Yami explained walking down the steps and towards the spring. Yugi shivered when the cold winter air of the outside bit his naked skin, but the steam immediately made him sweat as well.
Suddenly, Yugi felt his support vanish and he screamed when he felt himself drop and crash against the water of the large spring. The soft, squishy moss cushioned his abused bottom, but still sent a sting of pain up his back. Fortunately, the spring was not very deep and the water didn't go past his neck in his current position.
Yugi shot to his feet, exposing his drenched skin to the cold air. Immediately, he regretted it and shot back into the warm water and covered his shoulders. "You jerk!" Yugi screamed with a flaming blush on his face. His face contorted to a scowl and crossed his arms in an angry pout. He turned away when Yami strolled down the steps, his frosty white body vanishing beneath the steamy, amber waters and waded towards the middle of the tub where Yugi was plopped.
Yugi squeaked, splashed, and ducked beneath the water when Yami came closer. Yami tried to reach for him, but Yugi evaded his hands.
"My little one, what's the matter?" Yami soothed. Yugi continued to glare and wade away from him. Yami's eyes lit up at the challenge. He chuckled at Yugi's persistence but continued his pursuit. Intent on catching him, Yami mock pounced, forcing Yugi to escape into a corner. Seizing the opportunity, Yami pounced and trapped his little one against a large flat rock that was pushed against the side of the pool.
"D-don't come near me, I'm mad at you!" Yugi warned but the stutter in his voice made Atem smirk. He could hear the hint of desire in Yugi's voice before it was smothered. "I don't like being dropped on my ass in a tub of water, again." Yugi growled, suddenly realizing he'd backed himself into a corner and looked for a way to escape. His arms shook at his sides and he blushed at Yami's confident smirk, but kept his glare. "You said this was supposed to make me feel better!"
"And it will," Yami soothed, reaching out a hand to stroke Yugi's cheek. "The water in this bath is much warmer than the other springs and it is rich in pulverized apple cider and cayenne pepper to relax aching muscles for those days when the King needs to relax from a hard day's work or his consort needs to recover from an enthusiastic liaison." His wink made Yugi's blush darken and sink deeper into the rock. Thinking quickly, Yugi ducked under the water and tried to swim away, but Yami caught him and hoisted him up by his underarms. He pulled the struggling boy into his arms, enjoying the touch of Yugi's soft skin against his naked body.
Yugi protested fiercely against being held by pushing against the King's chest. He tried and failed to ignore the growing hardness pressed against him, determined to be mad at the King. When he heard the King moan, he fought down a blush, knowing Yami must've felt him start to harden. Immediately, he stiffened. "Don't even think of trying to seduce me! I'm still mad at you."
"I'm sorry, Yugi," Yami apologized sincerely and wrapped his arms around Yugi pinning the boy's hands against his arms and nuzzled his face in Yugi's hair contritely. "What must I do to earn your forgiveness, my precious little one?"
Yugi growled trying not to succumb to the tender words. Yugi smirked and flashed his biggest, widest, wettest, sweetest eyes. Yami bit his lips when Yugi's lip started to tremble. His eyes softened and his grip weakened at the pleading look. Yami's defeated face nearly made Yugi break his concentration but he wasn't about to lose. "Convince me you're really sorry."
The combination of those pleading eyes and the sweet insistence behind each word sent a bolt of desire straight to his groin. Surrendering to his desires, he trapped Yugi in a heated kiss. Yugi's expression broke and immediately he melted into the kiss, Yami quick to catch him. The Frost King's fingers slipped behind Yugi soaking them in one of the bowls of oil. With Yugi distracted by the kiss, he slipped his oil-soaked fingers beneath the water and slipped them inside Yugi's moist entrance and started scissoring it open. Yugi shuddered, his back arched and broke the kiss to cry out: his loins on fire and his arms immediately wrapping around Yami's neck. "Do that again!" he demanded.
"Demanding little Yugi," Yami smirked and crashed their lips together. "I think I like this side of you." His fingers probed deeper, preparing his little one gently, though his kisses and touches were rough. When he was finished he pushed Yugi flat against the rock and unwove Yugi's arms from around his neck to pin them against the wall.
Yugi panted heavily, his eyes half-lidded with desire and impatience. Eagerly, Yugi braced his knees on either side of Yami's hips, trapping him between Yugi's thighs. "Don't tease me!"
His possessiveness and desire fueled at those words. Yami released Yugi's wrist, hiked his free arm under his knee, wedging Yugi's thighs further apart and glided into Yugi's tight warmth. Yugi responded with a high pitched wail of delight and pain. He threw his head back, his eyes fluttering closed, his back forming a permanent arch and his free hand seizing Yami's shoulder so hard his nails scraped the icy skin. Yami hissed in delight, the combination of pain and Yugi's tight, burning softness galvanized his entire body. He wasted no time and started a rough, fast pace. Yugi hips bucked to meet his thrusts. The moved against each other; Yami driving in an out of his lover with force and Yugi screaming and bucking his hips to meet each thrust with just as much stamina. Water splashed in response to their movements. Their wet skin slapped against each other. Steam and sweat coated their bodies in a light sheen.
Yugi's fingers clenched Atem's hand deeply while the nails of the other sank into his chest. He hissed and arched harshly with each movement, putting Yami deeper, harder, inside him. Despite his frosty skin, Yami hissed at the force of Yugi's nails, the pain only increasing his pleasure as he pounded harder into Yugi.
Then suddenly, Yugi couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The oxygen was zapped from his lungs and he couldn't move. Yami's smirk curled in wicked pleasure. "I've found your sensitive spot." He announced and adjusted the angle of his thrust striking Yugi's prostate. "Yami!" Yugi screamed in delight. His entire body melted from the pleasure. Yami shifted his hips striking Yugi's prostate at different angles, grinning at the feeble state his lover had been reduced to.
"Oh, Yami, Yami! Harder…there…please!" Yugi begged and screamed, and tried in vain to keep up with Yami's pace but found his body succumbing to the torturous pleasure. Yami chuckled and trapped his panting love in another kiss, their fingers tightening around the other's hand. Yami's free arm wrapped around Yugi's back, pulling him closer, while Yugi wrapped his free arm around Yami's neck. Their pace increasing in speed and power with each movement. Yugi weakly rose his legs and tightened his thighs around Yami's hips, while the Frost King's free hand moved to the small of Yugi's back keeping him upright.
Yugi clung tighter to Yami, his moans increased as he felt Yami's growing hardness pound into him. Feeling the end approaching, Yami's wicked hand instinctively rose to wrap around Yugi's own hardening member and started to stroke it in time with his thrusts. The combination of the two points of pleasure made Yugi lose all control. He screamed and thrashed his limbs, bulking harshly against Yami making him hiss from the force of their colliding hips. His own pace increased fiercely until he knew Yugi could take no more. With a final thrust and stroke, Yugi exploded. He was still screaming as his release coated Yami's hand, and was still leaking as Yami continued to pound into him. Yugi clenched tightness increased Yugi's vulnerability as well as Yami's pleasure until Yami finally felt his own release burst free with a mumble of Yugi's name. He pinned Yugi against the wall and buried himself as deeply inside him as he could, determined not to let a single drop of himself escape his little one.
Yugi, who'd become limp as a doll following the force of his own release, let Yami do as he pleased. Moans replaced his pants as the luxurious feel of Yami's essence cooled his burning insides. Finally, Yami's shaking arms could no longer support him and he collapsed in Yugi's lap, his grip on the boy's arms not faltering. They both lied panting and unable to move for a few moments and Yami took the time to clean his hand of Yugi's essence in the existing stream. He felt Yugi's insides start to loosen around himself and weakly slipped out of his lover.
"Yami…" Yugi moaned in a horse voice and tried to sit up, but his body objected the movement. Yami carefully lifted Yugi into his lap and carried him towards the waterfall where the water was warmer and deeper. Yugi succumbed to the loving touches and pressed his head against Yami's chest. The hot water felt wonderful against his skin and now sore muscles. "That was wonderful" Yugi said, kissing Yami's cheek.
Yami smiled and kissed Yugi's forehead in agreement but he wore a frown of remorse. "Indeed it was, but I must apologize regardless, my love. The point of this bath was to decrease your discomfort not make it worse."
"Oh stop that," Yugi smiled and nuzzled back into Yami's chest. "I'm certainly not complaining." He looked up and met Yami's unconvinced eyes with a smirk and folded his chin in his hands. "And just between us, making love in a private hot spring has always been a sexual fantasy of mine."
"Has it?" Yami's eyes lit up. He arched an elegant eyebrow and pressed his forehead against Yugi's. "Now I'm curious to see what other sexual fantasies you have." He trapped Yugi in another kiss, which Yugi put up no resistance against. Their arms instinctively wrapped around the other's frame. Their bodies carefully instinctively moved into the familiar position their love making had established.
Just as they'd situated themselves in preparation to make love again, the doors to the bath house were forcibly thrown open with surprising force. The resulting sounds wrenched the bath's two occupants from their tranquility and the both screamed in fear and horror, being caught off guard in such a compromising position.
Mana stood in the doorway with her fingers digging into the doors with a scowl of rage on her face. Next to her, Mahado stood with his arms at his side and a face torn between shocked disbelief and mortified rage. Realizing the position they'd been caught in, Yugi's face went ruby and he ducked into the water to hide his shame.
Yami turned to his siblings, his face red with rage and his angry fingers digging into the rim of the tub and his four wings unfurled to their full length, flashing with fury. "What the hell are you two doing here!" he demanded, furiously.
Mahado's features immediately melted into infuriation. He stomped past Mana and pointed an accusing finger at his youngest sibling, screeching "You slut! Do you have any idea how worried we were about him?" He pointed a shaking figure at Yugi with wide eyes wet with angry tears. "I mean we looked everywhere, you could've at least told us you had him in your room. Nobody would've cared if you were sleeping together."
Yugi's face burned even redder. He sank as deep as he could beneath the amber waters, wishing more than he ever had in his life he could disappear. It wasn't like he wanted to keep it a secret, but was it really necessary to broadcast his sex life?
"There was no need to tell you," Atem snorted irritated eyes and a smile that spoke of barely concealed rage. "Now if you don't mind, we were preparing for the solstice before you two rudely invaded our privacy." His arm wove around Yugi's waist and pulled the flushing boy against his chest, knowing the action would comfort Yugi, but irritate his noisy siblings further.
Mana groaned and smacked her forehead. The daylight bounced off her hair flipping the normally dark locks a sunbeam gold. She rose her head and turned to Yami with a half angry, half pained expression. "You're a jerk, Yami! Do you have any ideas how many alterations I still need to make for him? And were so not getting ready, his hair's not even wet." She pouted.
Mahado blinked at her words and leaned past her. At Yugi's cute, flushed, and almost pathetic expression, Mahado's entire demeanor changed. His eyes suddenly lit up with delight. "That's right! I have to get you ready for the Solstice, Yugi hold still, I'll wash your hair for you."
"Oh no you won't!" Two different speakers said at once. The first was Yugi, how sprang free from Yami's arms and retreated to the other side of the tub, much to Yami's confusion.
"The last time you have me a bath, you nearly skinned me alive! I barely survived the first time!" The boy screeched, flashing a defiant face, his hands digging into the stone and his back pressed against the glass.
The second voice was Mana's who'd cuffed a handful of Mahado's silky mantle and pulled him back. "Do you know how long it took me to make that, Mahado?" the Seamstress scolded. "I barely finished it in time for the festival; I'll kill you if you get it dirty, or wet!"
At that moment, the Frost King and his companion noticed that both Mahado and Mana were dressed in ceremonial attire. A pale pink dress akin to a kimono decorated with black plum blossoms, donned Mana's petite figure. A huge pink and black striped obi bow was tied about her waist. The halter-like top exposing her shoulders, back and under arms. A half-moon opening in the front revealed her upper chest. Long triangular sleeves fell to her ankles and were decorated with black plum blossoms. A chocker identical to the obi tied around her neck held with a plum blossom pin. Identical ribbons tied her hair into two pig tails. Mahado stood crowned from head to toe in his favorite royal purple: form fitting purple pants and purple shirt, with a darker, looser, silkier material bunched over the shoulders and sleeves and matching long mon-tsuki skirt topped with heavy armored purple boots. Their wings bristled to life behind their backs. Yugi's eyes widened at this. He'd never noticed it before, mostly because of the heavy mantled and robes they'd both worn when they first met, but seeing them both in less layers, Yugi learned that both Mahado and Mana, like their youngest sibling, at four large wings. In the daylight, however, their wings all seemed to glitter with a certain color that reflected a mesh across the glassy feathers: Mahado's was purple, Mana's was pink and Atem's, when Yugi looked at the man's back, was red like the sunset.
Mahado growled at his sister and swatted her hands away, her annoyance more from the fact that she had stopped him rather than that she had scolded him like a child, and rose to his full height to make himself more intimidating. "That's not fair, Mana!"
I don't care," Mana countered, meeting his eyes, looking quite fierce despite the obvious difference in their heights. "I worked too hard on that outfit for you to ruin it!"
Yugi didn't know if he should laugh or break up the unusual argument. Instead, he blinked, his face contorted into one of blank bewilderment.
Yami chuckled at the cute face. "It's alright, Yugi" Yami explained. "I assure you they are always like this." Yami waved his hand across the water sending a small wave of water at his siblings, causing a small puddle to splash at their feet. They both jumped. Mana stumbled and grabbed the door to keep herself from falling onto her rump.
"Yami!" She shrieked angrily.
Yami smiled innocently in response. "If you two are done, Yugi and I would like to finish our bath then you can dress and do his hair to your heart's content."
The two siblings stopped arguing and shot around, their faces blank with shock.
"Um…" Mahado mouthed. Mana's mouth was agape.
"That could work," Mana chirped and flapped to leave, she stopped in the door and whirled around with a scary look on her face. "But you two better be out by the time I get back! And don't even think of trying anything when I leave, Mahado." She bellowed behind her.
Mahado grunted and turned towards the two in the tub, but Yugi growled defiantly. "Don't even think about, I'll tell her!" He pointed after Mana. "You know I will!"
"Oh, fine!" Mahado stomped his foot. "I'll wait."
When he left, Yugi expelled a breath of relief and slid into the water. "That was terrifying." He opened his eyes and turned to Yami who sported an amused smirk. "How do you stand those too fussing all the time?"
Yami chuckled and reached for one of the vials, unclasped it, and poured it contents into his hand. "I'm used to those to two, to be honest." He rubbed his hands together and proceeded to wash Yugi's hair. Yugi jumped at the action but quickly relaxed into touch. "I won't deny that one of you is painful enough, but both of them I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," Yugi mumbled and moaned, too lost in the gentle touch of Yami scrubbing his hair. Yami's fingers danced across his skin massaging away the previous day's dirt and oil. The talented fingers rubbed his skin and gently worked their way through the tangled locks until each one was thick and white with soap. Yugi groaned when Yami pulled his fingers away and motioned for Yugi to dunk his head. The boy closed his eyes and obeyed.
He rose quickly and shook his head. "That felt nice."
Yami nodded. "I'm glad, but I'm afraid we must rush the rest of our bath, unless we wish to further irk my siblings' wrath and I assure you even the most terrible of souls would rather face damnation than that." He smiled and grabbed a ruby glass vial and pulled out a sponge made of moss and lathered it with the liquid. He proceeded to scrub Yugi's back and shoulders. Yugi obeyed and lifted his arms so Yami could wash his arms and chest. They proceeded to wash one another and Yugi let Yami rest his head in his lap so he could wash his hair. They rinsed themselves off in the waterfall and reluctantly left the spring.
Yugi's arms flew to his shoulders the moment he stepped out of the warm water. Yami swiftly came to his rescue and wrapped him in a large fluffy towel before proceeding to dry Yugi's hair, the King having no fear of the cold. Through the window he could see the sun just above the mountains showing they had only an hour left before twilight.
"Come little one, we must hurry before the solstice starts" he took Yugi by the hand and guided him back to his room, grateful that Mahado and Mana hadn't arrived yet. Yugi finished drying himself off, towel dried his hair as best he could, and looked for his clothes but found they'd been cleared away. "Um, Yami," he turned to a very naked Frost King, and tried with all his might not to be seduced by the beautiful being. "Um…what exactly do I wear for the festival? And, is it cold out, I mean cold obviously doesn't bother you but I don't wanna freeze or anything."
"Oh it's cold out," Yami chuckled. "I think even the hot springs are getting frost."
Yugi gulped. "This is gonna suck."
Yami lifted Yugi's bowed head and smiled, wrapping a towel around Yugi's naked form. "Not to worry love, if I know Mana, she'll have taken your situation into consideration when she created your clothing and you will be plenty warm."
"I hope so" Yugi sighed sitting down on the bed, shivering a bit since the towel only covered his lower half. He watched Yami fish around the room for something, enjoying the view of the King's frosty, naked flesh.
"Ah, here we are." He returned with two pairs of thermal under-wear and dropped them in Yugi's lap. "Put those on, they'll keep you nice and warm."
Yugi nodded and put them on, smirking when he felt the Frost King leering at him. The cloth fit snugly; the material was light but trapped the heat against his body. He's just finished putting them on when Mana and Mahado burst into the room. Yugi barely had a moment to turn around before he was whisked behind the wall to change. He flashed the King a pleading look that screamed "help me", but Yami could only flash him an apology when Mana thrust a collection of clothes into Yami's arms and found himself in Mahado's clutches. In a flash, Mana had Yugi in her clutches and the two vanished behind the changing wall.
Minutes later, Yami found himself standing in front of his mirror with his older brother fighting in vain to do something with his hair and applying the palest of blue eye-shadows to his eyes. Yami spied himself in the mirror and smiled at his sister's work. Once Mahado was confident the Frost King's look was finished, he sprinted behind the wall to join Mana, evident by Yugi's squeaks of protests.
Yami shuddered but turned his attention back to the mirror. The costume consisted of loose, silky pants, in the palest of blues. Ultramarine ribbons wrapped from his calves to ankles, disappearing into his white ankle boots, which were decorated with gold accents and a large sapphire on the tenant. Over a long-sleeved white shirt he wore a long a kimono-like robe, the sleeves and hems were outlined in white. The bottom half split at the hips forming two pieces that wove about his legs. The seams of the kimono were outlined in white and made of criss-crossing celeste blue ribbons that ended at his lower thighs. About his waist was a snow white obi decorated with silver wing pins encrusted with sapphires. Instead of being tied in a bow, the long tail spilled to his ankles. The excess tails and the ribbon trains spiraled about his legs as he moved. The sleeves were circular as oppose to the square shape of most kimonos, and tied together with a similar criss-crossing ribbon pattern. His wings fit snuggly through the slits in the back, reflecting the multiple shades of blue. Customary to his status as King, the robe was a rich royal blue.
He finished off the look with a series of rings ranging from simple silver to silver encrusted with different blue and black jewels. Mahado wove his hair into a low ponytail tied with a white ribbon and set a crystal drop on each of his bangs. A crown made from an explosion of ice, crystals and jewels completed his image.
An arrogant smile crossed the King's lips as he admired himself in the mirror. "Excellent work, Mana, as always" he complimented.
"Of course!" Mana cheered. "And if you liked that check out my best work!" Yami turned around just in time to see Mana pull Yugi out from behind the wall, fully dressed in the outfit she'd created for him.
Yugi blushed when he saw Yami in his outfit, looking every inch like a Japanese fairy tale prince. Suddenly subconscious he held his hands behind his back and looked at the floor. "How so I look?" he asked shyly.
Yami's eyes widened immensely. Mana has created a kimono-like costume for Yugi. The color was a pale shade of lavender and decorated on the hems and sleeves with crimson Japanese maple leaves blowing in the wind. It fit Yugi snuggly, but thickly, but the material looked smooth and satiny and had a subtle sheen in the light. The sleeves were trimmed with lilac blue ruffles and hemmed with gold ribbons. The wrists were cut and tied with a gold ribbon. The top was like a jacket that flared over slim hips and was tied with a thick black obi belt, decorated with Japanese maple leaves that were poorly stitched into the fabric with black thread. The bottom of the outfit was a wavy flouncing skirt, mid-thigh and layered to his feet with an under layer of lilac ruffles. Beneath, Yami could see he was wearing soft purple tights and heavy snow boots lined with black fur. Each wrist was adorned with a bracelet; one was a simple pale blue feather speckled with different shades of white and gray and clasped at each end with silver. The other was a braid of two feathers the colors of the sunsets interwoven with a gold chain.
Mahado had taken care of Yugi's hair and make-up to match the outfit. Pale lavender eye-shadow highlighted the deep purple of his eyes. His eyelashes were outlined with kohl making them look fuller and thicker. Mahado has brushed his hair dry so its natural shape was softer and more curved. A touch of Mahado's fingers had suspended his bangs like the wind was perpetually blowing them. Each one had a tiny crimson maple leaf suspended from each bang. A pair of black fur earmuffs cutely kept his ears warm and formed a headband that held his bangs in place. A pair of berets made of a cluster of Japanese maple leaves pinned the base of his star shape spikes. Black leather gloves filled with fur warmed his hands, completing the look.
Yami licked his lips with delight. The outfit fit Yugi's body perfectly, highlighting every curve of Yugi's body: his lean, firm chest, his slim waist, the small muscles of his arms and legs. The cute blush on his face completed the image.
Yami stared longingly at him for a few moments before strolling over Yugi and lifted his chin. "You look beautiful."
Yugi's blushed deepened and he smiled. "Thank you." He wove his hands in Yami's revealing a pair of rabbit fur black gloves. "So, do you really like my outfit?" Yugi looked himself over. "It's not too girly?"
Yami shook his head. "It's perfect for you. Were we not rushed for time, I'd send them away and proceed to show you just how much I like it, but we must leave." He darted his eyes towards his giggling siblings before returning his attention to Yugi.
Yugi chuckled with a deep blush and followed Yami. He had little doubt, were the solstice not about to start, that he'd be naked and on Yami's bed. "Thanks Mana."
"Actually I can't take the credit for that one," the seamstress admitted. "Syrus made it. He was adamant about making you something for the festival, all four of them were! I finally agreed to shut them up."
"What?" Yugi's eyes widened. "As in Syrus, Chazz, Jaden, and Jesse made this for me?" He asked, stunned.
"Well, Syrus made it, Chazz designed the obi, the leaves are sewed on with his hair," Mana chuckled crossing her arms. "But sewing's not his strong point, so his fingers probably have more holes than the stitches do." She laughed. "Jaden and Jesse chickened out when they saw him bleeding so they opted to make something from their feathers instead." She pointed to his wrists.
Yugi blinked and looked at the feathers about his wrists.
"That explains it," Yami mumbled.
"Explains what?" Yugi asked.
"Why Chazz's fingers were bandaged yesterday. He tried to hide it, but I saw them. I didn't think it was because he was doing something craftworthy," Yami explained with a dark chuckle, unable to believe he could've missed such a thing.
Yugi hadn't heard him though; he was still looking at his wrists. Jesse and Jaden's feathers, Syrus' craft, and Chazz's hair: the entire costume had been crafted from the children's love of him. He suddenly felt guilty for not being able to spend time with them with the last few days. "Hey Yami," he turned to the Frost King, who met his eyes with an attentive expression. "After the Ritual, how about we spend the Solstice with the boys, just the six of us." Yugi asked with a smile.
Yami grinned and nodded. "I'd like that very much." He turned and searched the room. "Now where's Silver Fang? He wasn't here last night."
"I wonder why?" Yugi laughed, just as the silver wolf poked his head from under the bed with a loud snort.
Once outside the palace, Yugi was surprised to find almost the entire town at the base of the hill, everyone was dressed in holiday festive kimonos with the court, consisting of Shadi, Ishizu, Mahado, Mana and the boys, Luna was nowhere in sight. Jaden, Syrus, Jesse and Syrus all wore lovely kimonos in colors of royal blue and purple marking them as the King's children, but were lavishly decorated with symbols of pine trees, bamboo and plum blossoms. Everyone was holding a star or flower-shaped paper lantern. Spotted throughout the crowd people held hanging flower shaped lanterns lit with a bright white light like a fallen star, illuminating a path and others carried flutes or lyres of drums.
Yami took Yugi's hand and led him to the front of the crowd, Silver Fang at their side standing proud as the King's familiar. "Welcome my loyal subjects and artisans." He whirled around and pointed to the setting sun. Twilight had dyed the sky a series of deep purples before fading into midnight blue. "Tonight is the First Night of the Winter Solstice, the First Day of Winter and the Longest Night of the Year!" The crowd erupted in cheers. They silenced when the King held up his hand. "And this Solstice is even more special, because this year…" He wove his hand into Yugi's and gently pulled him forward. "I, the Frost King, will not be carrying out the Ritual of the Setting Sun alone, I present to you, Yugi Mouto, the first human to visit our kingdom in almost forty years, will be acting as my Consort."
The crowd burst into cheers, their hands clapped with glee, their eyes and smiles bright with happiness. All while Yugi tried so hard not to blush from the attention. He gave a friendly wave. His heart pounded with excitement. His spirit felt livelier than it had in years.
"Now," Yami turned around. Two fairies brought forth two star-blossom shaped lanterns and offered one to Yami and the other to Yugi. Yami gestured his head. Yugi followed his gazed to a small path indented in the snow. The pure white snow sparkled in the fairy light sparkling as if it were still day.
Everyone lifted their handmade lantern into the air, Yugi copied Yami, still lost on what to do for the Ritual. Yami winked at him and turned around and whispered in Yugi's ear. "Watch carefully, little one, we're about to be shown the way."
Yugi obeyed and watched as the last light of the sun landed on the path before them. The snow sparkled in the fading light then suddenly the wind started to blow. Wisps of snow burst into the air like white winds dancing in a spiraling tunnel. The fairies with instruments started playing, filling the area with a soft melody. Mystified by the spectacular, Yugi walked as if in a trance through the tunnel with the lantern held delicately in his hand. Yami followed at his side. Silver Fang chased after him, upon the King's request when Yugi picked up his pace and burst into a run. The boys took that as their cue, and started the parade by marching through the tunnel. Snow danced and fell in tune with the music. Soon the entire village took part in the parade and chased their King and his consort up the snow brick path, spiraling up the mountain that housed the Frost King's palace.
Yugi followed the pale and paused when he found himself coming to a small stream at the base of a waterfall, steam and mist pooled into the air transforming the snow into crystal droplets. Briefly Yugi wondered if this was the stream that came from the Frost King's path. Silver Fang jumped in front of him and lowered his chin into the water, then howled into the sky. Rings of water echoed from the touch. Several more appeared and transformed into a pathway of circular stones. Yugi hopped across them, Silver Fang by his side. Once on the other side, Yugi found the path spiraled to what looked like a small clearing high at the top of the castle illuminated by the last ray of twilight.
He raced up it, the beat of Yami's wings and the muted thunder of Silver Fang's feet not far behind him, but he pressed on determined to learn the secret of the Setting Sun, the surprise Yami wanted him to see. Finally, he reached the top of the palace, and found the most stunning view of the mountainside. But even more magnificent was a tree so large the moment Yugi entered the clearing he found himself standing in the shadow of its branches. Familiarity swept over Yugi when he spied the roots. The limbs of its trunk contorted and penetrated the ground deeply, spread and penetrating the snow, the frost and the ground to the rich water and soil beneath. Vividly, Yugi recalled the roots that bore moondrops not far beneath the King's room which if Yugi's geography was correct was beneath him a few meters to the left.
His eyes left the roots and followed up the thick, woody trunk where an enormous knothole formed a triangular shape so large, a person could fit inside of it. Briefly, Yugi wondered that if he looked inside of it, he might see another world. The heavy branches exploded like arms reaching towards the heavens: each of its leaves was shaped like a maple star but was frosted over giving it a crystalline appearance. But what struck Yugi, were the pale pink buds at the base of every cluster of leaves. His eyes stayed transfixed on them like they were summoning him. The jingle of the crystal leaves and the soft hum of the buds created a hauntingly memory that enthralled him like the hypnotism of a bird sun. Gently, Silver Fang nudged his side. When Yugi looked at him, the wolf pointed his nose towards the far west where the sun had just about set. Yugi followed, just in time to see the last ray of twilight strike the tree at the right angle.
The lights reflected off the crystal leaves like a labyrinth of mirrors. They burst to life with rainbow sparkles, igniting the entire tree with crystal fire. Then Yugi saw it: the pale pink buds move and rise. Their flower petals unfurling like the feathers of a peacock revealing the secret they kept hidden beneath: pale silvery-pink blossoms that lit with a pale gleam like a pitch pearl star. Finally, one of them fell from its perch, falling elegantly like a falling star to the ground. Instinctively, Yugi burst forward to catch it. The flower landed in the heart of his lantern. The petals of the lantern suddenly closed like a Venus flytrap then burst open again, only this time the bloom had transformed into a pale silver flame that lit Yugi's face with moonlight.
"Magnificent," Yugi breathed, a small tear falling down his cheek. Now he knew why Yami wanted this to be a surprise. It was such an honor to be the first one to see this magical, beautiful tree, the proudest and most glorious symbol of nature's magnificence at the single moment where she shed her outer shell and revealed her true beauty.
"You did it, Yugi." He felt the King place a hand on his shoulder. "Congratulations." The two turned to the village which had all been watching the tree sparkle and bloom with the same admiration and respect that had transfixed Yugi. Then, Silver Fang released a loud howl into the sky marking the setting of the sun and the beginning of the night.
"The First Flame of Winter!" Yami shouted, happily. Instinctively, Yugi help up his paper lantern, boasting the proud silver flame. The valley filled with the cheers, cried and sounds of delight. A short moment mater, the rest of the blossoms started falling. Yami wove his hands and the air, a shallow wind emerged from the still air quick to catch them. The flowers remained suspended until Yami folded his hands behind his head and swung his arm and body in a thirty degree angle. The wind followed carrying the flowers. Knowing what to do the villagers, court, and the children held their lanterns towards the heavens. Yami stopped and stood straight, holding his hands level with his head, his arms forming a ninety degree angle. Then he raised his arms into the air and spread them wide. The wind broke, each flower fell elegantly into a lantern before lighting them with a bright flame.
With his part of the festival over, Yami rushed back to Yugi, who handed him his own lantern. His sons rushed over, each holding an empty lantern and rushed to catch one of the flowers. Yugi leaned up to kiss the King's cheek in thanks, before the two held their glowing red and blue lanterns. When all fours of the King's sons' returned each holding a colorful lantern lit by a silver flame of their own, the six of them raised their lanterns into the year. They released them and watched them float away. The villagers soon followed.
A ribbon of lanterns in a variety of colors filled the sky with a rainbow galaxy of stars. Flowers, cylinders and sphere shapes danced in the pitch black sky filling the longest night of the year with colorful lights.
The Winter Solstice had begun.
I'm so proud and happy with this chapter! I hope you all took the warnings into consideration.
I did a lot of research on kimonos, winter designs, and Winter festivals for this chapter, and i'm so proud of how they came out. Winter kimonos have specific colors, patterns and designs, and though modern Japan only wears kimonos at festivals and male kimonos are a lot more plain than the females ones I wanted to do something different while keeping this fateful to the Japanese culture since this was inspired by the Yuki-onna. In the end, I kept Yami's look royal blue and Yugi's lavender, while keeping the blues and purples for the royals. The patterns on the boys kimonos are the most popular for winter kimonos, Mana's was based off the picture below, but I switched the roses to plum blossoms: ironically, Japan is one of the few countries that doesn't like to rose: they prefer flowers that's petals fall off one at a time instead of all at once in a clump like the rose does: such flowers include lilies, daisies and the plum blossoms which are the first flowers to bloom after winter. These flowers thus symbolize rebirth, and longetivity.
Yugi's Kimono inspiration: http:/ www dot cosmates dot jp/shop/images/products/fpf/CT00076 dot jpg; http:/ www dot cosmates dot jp/shop/images/products/fpf/CT00076_5 dot jpg
Mana's kimono inspiration: http:/ 30 dot media dot tumblr dot com/tumblr_kzmrq9hNHR1qzdieio1_500 dot jpg
Mahado's Kimono inspiration: http:/ elfbean dot com/artgallery/mahado_foliagesprites dot png
Yami's kimono inspiration: http:/ media dot photobucket dot com/image/Mouryou%20kiden/Phantom_Toshi92/kid3 dot jpg (remember to remove the spaces and change dot to .)
The part with Mahado and Mana was a PAIN to write, and the first time i wrote them, as Espi pointed out they just didn't seem right. Given this is the first time they've been scene since their first appearances I wanted them to keep their loving if overzealous personalities while still having their sibling spats. I actually had fun writing them spat with Yami, ah sibling rivalry...
The Festival of the Lights, despite the similarities and the theme song was NOT inspired by Tangled, quite the contrary Tangled was most likely inspired by the Japanese tradition of Japanes flying lanterns which are very possible at festivals. They're usually used at summer festivals but I thought's they'd be a great way to light up the longest night of the year. I had a huge debate about how Yami and Yugi would lead the parade to the top, at first i thought of a race, then i thought of them racing each other but I wanted something more mythical and in the end this is what i came up with, and I'm glad. The idea of the tree at the top was always plans, and in case you haven't guessed, yes, its the tree that bears the moon fruit and its got another important role that will be hinted at more next chapter.
As always, read, review, ask questions and enjoy! The Solstice celebration and the fun stuff will be next chapter...(evil grin) as well as something else i know you will all REALLY hate.
IMPORTANT: I Started a NEW poll on my page for my Robin Hood Fic that i think will yield better results than my last poll did so PLEASE VOTE! You can vote for up to THREE choices this time, so again PLEASE VOTE.