Normally before the Blossom-viewing festival would begin Chaos and Mavis would spend the afternoon in their house together. Chaos would make lunch for the two then they'd play board games which he would always win mostly by cheating, but Mavis never figured it out. But today Chaos was busy preparing his little sister for her date or in his words a chance to severely weaken a Councilor making him easier to kill. He was having a difficult time with getting the young girl ready due to a difference in opinion on what was a good look for her
"Ow, stop doing that with my hair!" Mavis said holding her head in pain
"Well maybe if someone took care of their hair there wouldn't be so many freaking knots in it and we wouldn't be sitting here for so long!" Chaos said trying to comb her hair
"It's fine as it is!"
"Like hell it is you're in that weird zone between curly and straight pick a side and stick with it for the night"
"It's fine he didn't care last time why would he care now?"
"Because last time you were in the middle of a mission, everyone knows you don't ever criticize someone's appearance while they're in the middle of a mission." He explained "But everyone but you apparently also knows that if said person looks bad on the day of a festival you have every right to make fun of them!"
"What do you mean everyone? You're the only person I've ever heard make fun of anyone for how they look!" she fired back
"Fine you want to look like you just got out of bed be my guest!" Chaos said dropping the comb and walking away
"Wait you said were going to tell me which outfit looks good on me!" Mavis called out
"Find someone else" Chaos answered
"But you're the only person who understands what outfit looks best" she said
"Too bad kid you're going to look awful and you'll have nobody to blame but yourself"
"Ah crap what do I do… he's the one that always picked what I was going to wear all these years so I never bothered with learning about fashion myself. But I can't let him win this; I'll prove to him that I know just as much about looking good as he does… I just need to figure out what's in style this year" she said before looking for the fashion magazines her brother always subscribed to.
She began exploring the house for the magazines but she couldn't find them in the normal places her brother would keep them. As she searched the living room for the second time she noticed her brother watching her actions with a devious smile on his face. She wondered why before realizing he had probably hidden the magazines from her in order to make her beg for him to come back. She knew that if she confronted him about it though that he would mock her lack of fashion know how and make some other snarky remarks to her. She just smiled at her brother and made her way to the den with his eyes following her, when she left she could hear him laughing which made her annoyed at him.
"He's so immature about this" she muttered as she was getting sick of looking for the magazines
"Ha look who's calling me immature the girl who's so stubborn she won't admit she doesn't know crap about style!" Chaos called out surprising Mavis
"You can hear me?" she shouted back
"You're actually pretty loud when you're trying to mutter under your breath!" he answered
"Just tell me where the fucking magazines are you big meanie!" she yelled
"Language!"
"You use that word like once a minute why should I care?"
"Do as I say and not as I do, also because of this I'm not going to tell you where the magazines are so you can go and experience major disappointment on your first date… just like the rest of us" Chaos said tailing off with a deep sigh
"Fine I'm going to the guild and going to ask them for advice!" she declared
"Haha, good luck you're going to need it!" he said laughing as she stomped out of the house
Mavis made her way to the Tartaros main base as quick as she could to get as much time to get prepared for the date. She finally made her way inside the guild which was filled with activity; most of the mages were all planning to go together to view the sakuras trees and they were relaxing until then. Mavis began asking for their help but most of the advice they gave her was either stuff she didn't like the sound of or to ask her brother for help. She sat at the bar drinking some soda in despair, her date was about two hours away and she still had no idea of what to wear for the date, and still had no idea of how to act on one. Eventually both Catherine and Drexel noticed Mavis sitting on her own looking down cast and they sat down next to her.
"What seems to be the problem Mavis?" Catherine asked
"Hmm, nothing except that I don't know what to wear for my um-"
"Date?" Drexel finished
"Yeah that" Mavis answered
"So? If he likes you it won't matter how you look like" Catherine consoled
"Ha! That's complete and utter bullshit Catherine and you know it, both men and women care about looks first and foremost when evaluating a partner and hope that what's inside is pleasant enough" Drexel laughed
"That's not true!" Catherine objected
"Of course it is, if a guy dressed up like a slob when he came to pick you up you'd immediately think he wasn't worth it right?" Drexel asked
"Well I mean…" Catherine began unsure
"You wouldn't go out with him because his outside appearance dissuades you from finding out what inner beauty he might have. Don't act like you're any different when it comes to that regard, so Mavis you do have to look somewhat pretty" Drexel explained confidently
"Drexel you're not helping her out at all!"
"What I wouldn't be helping if I filled her head with lies and then have her be hurt later now would I?"
"It's alright you two; I think I'm just freaking out over nothing. I'll just put on something and have as much fun as I can" Mavis said getting up and heading out
"Teenagers are such complex creatures first she's miserable and wants our help and now she's leaving us" Drexel remarked
"We were all like that once remember?" Catherine asked
"You maybe I was busy assassinating people by her age same with her brother" Drexel answered
When Mavis made her way back to her house Chaos was still sitting in the living room watching her movements with his same smile.
"Did you get any help from the guild?" he asked
"The only help I got is that women are just as bad as men when it comes seeking a potential date" Mavis replied sitting down next to her brother
"I told you you'd need all the luck in the world to get any help from them"
"You just told me good luck!"
"It's the same… the festival starts in an hour you want my help or not?" he asked
"Fine…"
"The dress is easy just wear that lavender one I got you for your birthday"
"Ah… that make sense why didn't I think of that?"
"Because you have no idea what's in style this year and you never bother to figure it ou"
"Why should I care about that type of stuff?"
"Whether you like it or not appearances matters a lot more than 'inner beauty' judgments are made simply based off what you look like it's an unfortunate truth… and there's your life lesson of the day now go get ready the festival starts um quite soon actually"
Mavis nodded and hurried to get ready, she quickly changed into the dress her brother recommended and made sure her face looked alright before coming out. Chaos was waiting for her and they both left to go to where the Sakura Trees were. The guild and most of Magnolia was already there partying and waiting for the trees to change color.
"Hmm now where could Guran be?" Mavis wondered aloud
"Who knows there are a lot of people here maybe if you hadn't spent so much time freaking out we would have gotten here sooner" Chaos said
"I only took so much time because you didn't help me out when I needed it… that and every mage in the guild doesn't know crap about relationships!" Mavis muttered annoyed as they looked for the Guran
"Ah there he is!" Mavis said
"The kid with a giant staff?" Chaos asked
"That's him"
"Already compensating now are we? Well at least he's honest about his uh shortcomings" Chaos commented dryly
"What does that mean?" Mavis asked
"I'm not telling you till you're 18… well 17 maybe" Chaos said "now off you go have fun and just remember to be yourself" Chaos said leaving
"Hmm he was awfully nice" Mavis thought "Oh well, Guran!" she called
"Oh there you are Mavis"
"Did I keep you waiting too long?"
"No no I've only been here a few minutes it's okay. So umm ready to see the blossom trees?"
"Yeah I can't wait" Mavis said before stopping for a moment
"Anything wrong?"
"Nothing I just thought I heard someone laughing but I don't know who?"
Chaos had stuck around to hear what those two were talking about and couldn't help himself but laugh at them. He left to find the rest of the guild and join them in the partying before the trees would begin changing colors. He took his seat next to a few mages and quickly tried to get buzz going before the trees would change colors. The trees finally began changing colors and everyone stayed silent as the display of colors amazed everyone.
"There's nothing like it in the entire world" Catherine said
"Well duh how many trees become like a rainbow?" Chaos asked
"Oh hush, can you stop being sarcastic for once in your life?" Drexel asked
"Can you stop being so drunk for once in your life?"
"I'm not drunk I'm buzzed!"
"Shut up both of you, I just want to enjoy the damn colors!" Kazuo yelled out
"We could enjoy it if you'd be quiet" Jax offered
"Quiet all of you, the Master's right we should all shut up so I can see the colors I've seen before assembled into one glorious display" Kyro said
This caused the rest of them to be silent for once to watch the display of colors which was bringing sounds of amazement from everyone. Meanwhile Mavis and Guran were wordlessly watching the trees due to a lack of things to talk about.
"Like hell, we were just watching the trees in silence because we wanted to fully appreciate the changing colors" Guran yelled at Chaos
"No I'm pretty sure you were silent because you can't hold a conversation" Chaos replied calmly
"It's alright chairman you were only thirteen I don't expect you to be able to 'charm' the ladies at that age" Lahar consoled
"Whatever just get back to the story" Guan ordered testily
"As you wish your majesty"
"Hey anyone know where Chaos went? I swear he was just here" Catherine asked
"Good question, the answer is nobody cares" Drexel said
"Hey where'd my gun go?" One mage asked looking around him
Chaos had found where Mavis and Guran was sitting and was observing them through the lens of the gun he had borrowed from one of the mages. He was hoping that the lack of conversation was due to Mavis hurting Guran in some way but was disappointed to notice that both were looking at the trees happily.
"That's the last time I trust her to break someone's heart" Chaos muttered
"Give in to your desires and shoot him" a voice said ominously
"As much as I would love to do that I'd rather not scar my sister for life"
"How would you be scarring her?"
"I don't know has your date ever been shot in the face by your over protective sibling before?"
"Can't say that's ever happened to me"
"Exactly"
"Oh come just shoot him in the face already!"
"Kaizus I'm not getting myself arrested just so you can chat with me and then put me to death if I don't do what you ask"
"Wait the Chairman wanted you to kill me!" Guran exclaimed in dismay
"Oh yeah and I really wanted to do it too, but I figured that it wouldn't be a good idea" Chaos replied before going back to the story
"Damn it Chaos if I don' chat with you and make you join me I'll have to kill you when I become the ruler of this world"
"Or you know just leave me alone… that's also an option"
"I don't trust you enough, look this is my final offer what have you got to lose by joining me?"
"What little morality I can claim to have?"
"Since when has morality ever been an issue for you?"
"It's always been I live by the whole your actions must be for the greater good and your actions are not for the greater good… not by a long shot old friend. Now since those two aren't doing anything that I would object to I think I can safely leave them alone."
"They're only thirteen what the hell did you expect them to do?"
"We were pretty wild for thirteen your olds ourselves, well at least I was I didn't know you until a year later same with Jillhearts point is you never know."
"Sure… you've made your decision then?"
"Like I said you could just leave me alone instead of having to kill me but yes I won't be joining your mad fantasy ever, no matter what you do I won't join… okay there might be some things you can do to make me join but I don't think you'd be willing to meet those demands"
"Fine don't cry to me if you come to regret this decision, Jillhearts is probably wondering where I am right now"
"I doubt that seeing as she's drunk off her ass right now, I must say though your daughter is really taking it well" Chaos said with the gun pointed at Jillhearts
"Well then I really should get going then" Kaizus sighed before heading off
"Hmm I wonder" Chaos thought whil pointing the gun at Kaizus' head
"Just try it, I'll put you in jail then give you some of the Ancient's magic just so you can live forever and then have you sit there forever"
"Hmph, buzzkill" Chaos muttered before putting the gun down
He got up and left to join the rest of the Tartaros members most of whom had passed out only Kazuo and Jax were left standing although they looked ready to pass out. Chaos was also disappointed by the fact that nobody had left anything for him to drink so he lied down and took a nap waiting for Mavis to show up. After a few minutes he felt a few pokes to his face and opened his eyes to see his sister smiling at him.
"Someone looks happy"
"I had fun tonight, I always love this festival you know that"
"I mean someone looks happier than they normally do on this day"
"Not really I mean sure hanging out with Guran was nice although I don't think I made him fall for me if that's what you were hoping for"
"Nah I already figured that you wouldn't be able to do that so I just made sure nothing happened and chilled here for a while"
"I'm surprised you didn't get wasted like the rest of the guild did, do you think we should do something about them?"
"Nah, just let them sleep it off. Let's just go home I'm getting tired and today was our last day to relax before the real fun begins"
"Right I almost forgot we were supposed to be enemies with the Councilors, most of them seem really nice."
"They are a nice bunch of people this just happens to be a violent difference of opinions between me and Kaizus is all. But we're such good people that we decided to drag our friends and acquaintances into the fight with us" Chaos said for the first time feeling bad about harming others
"You didn't drag us in we came here willingly and we know what's at stake here, all you need to do is lead us to victory!" Mavis said reassuringly
"Easier said than done kid. I've got a lot of work to do"
"I'm sure you can do it, nobody's ever beaten you when it comes to planning for the long term or the short term for that matter"
"You know it, but the first thing I need to do is 'motivate' the guild and maybe some others to take on the Council"
"How're you going to do that?"
"I have my ways"