Chapter Ten

"What about this one?"

Duke leaned over to look at the listing David had brought up on his tablet. "Five bedrooms and two bathrooms?" he read in surprise.

"Definitely not usual to find an affordable house with that many bedrooms," David said.

Duke gave a thoughtful nod. "We should check it out."

David watched him in hopeful relief. By now he had calmed down, and he had definitely been receptive to spending time shopping for housing possibilities virtually. David had hoped that would distract him from the traumatic memories.

He had hoped he could distract himself too.

"How big are you comfortable going with?" he asked.

Duke paused. "Probably not too overwhelming. But since I won't be there alone, it feels a lot less intimidating even when thinking of a big house."

David smiled. "I will take that as a compliment."

"Good," Duke shot back. He leaned into the couch. "Maybe we can look at some places right after Christmas. Do you think your parents will really be able to accept this?"

"I hope so," David said. "I'm not changing my mind."

Duke's eyes flickered with his gratitude. ". . . You really should be getting back to them now," he said. "They'll probably be a lot less receptive if they're kept waiting so close to Christmas, and because of me."

"Will you be alright here?" David asked. He would invite Duke to come with him, but considering the past problems with his family, it would probably only stress him all the more, and he badly needed to unwind.

"I'll be okay," Duke said. "Lumis and Umbra are here. Serenity will be for a while too." He stared down at his tablet. "I hate to think how she felt when she came in and saw me. . . ."

David laid a hand on his shoulder. Duke reached up and gripped it.

When David went downstairs, Tristan was still awkwardly standing and talking with some of the others. They all looked up.

"How is he, David?" Serenity asked.

"He's doing well," David said. He purposely didn't look at Tristan; he really wasn't sure how to feel about him now and didn't want to risk making a scene in front of so many of them.

"I should go to him," Serenity determined.

David nodded. "That would be good. I wish I could stay, but I need to get back to the house, at least to check in. And I want to tell my family what happened and see if they'll be agreeable to me bringing Duke to join our Christmas."

"That's a nice idea," Serenity smiled. "If they don't agree, you know he's always a part of ours."

David smiled. "I know." He nodded to the others on his way out but wasn't sure what to say. Merry Christmas seemed laughable and trite under the circumstances. Finally at the door, he looked back and said, "Thank you for coming."

"We couldn't do anything else," Yugi said. "We wouldn't have wanted to."

David placed his hand on the door. "I appreciate it, and I know Duke does as well." He stepped outside.

He was just getting his car unlocked when Tristan suddenly appeared at his side. "Hey, so . . . thanks for not blowing up at me in there," he sighed. "I know you probably hate me. I . . ." He looked away and shoved his hands in his pockets. "I don't even know what to say. . . ."

David straightened. "I'm afraid I don't either," he admitted. "While of course I'm grateful beyond measure that you fixed what you helped cause, it's the same pattern as before, just worse." He placed one hand on top of his car. "You lash out at Duke, put him in a dangerous situation, and then feel bad about it."

Tristan glowered at the snow. "You mean the blimp."

David nodded. "The fight was of course just teenage immaturity. You didn't really want to seriously hurt Duke, but for some reason you didn't stop to think how dangerous and stupid it was to fight on top of a blimp. Today, you wanted to hurt Duke again, and I'm not sure how badly. But you let Brutus gain power from your feelings, even knowing he wanted to kill Duke. It's . . . hard to know how to feel about that. Am I a monster, a hypocrite, if I can't immediately forgive you?"

"No." Tristan looked up again. "I'm the monster."

David sighed and looked away. "I don't know if I'd go that far, but you clearly have issues you need to work out. The first time, Duke almost died. The second time, he did. I don't want to know what would happen a third time."

". . . I finally forgave Duke," Tristan said. "I know that probably sounds hollow, but . . . the only way to bring him back was to purify the dagger, and . . . I guess forgiving him was the way to do that. Forgiving myself is what's hard now."

"Well," David said finally, "I guess we'll both have to work on that. It definitely helps to hear this, though. Duke didn't mention it. Does he know?"

". . . No," Tristan realized. "He was just told that I broke the spell. He wasn't told the details."

"You need to tell him," David said. "It would mean a lot to him."

"Maybe by now it would sound hollow, though," Tristan lamented. "Sure, I finally forgave him, but . . . what I did to him was so much worse than anything he did to me."

David couldn't disagree. But he still said, "He needs to know anyway."

"I'll see that he's told," Tristan said.

"You need to tell him," David insisted. "He needs to hear it right from you."

"He probably doesn't want to see me," Tristan said. "He was afraid of me after the mind-control incident, and how much worse was this?!"

"Then just stand in the doorway and don't get too close until you know it's okay," David said. "But just let him know."

Tristan nodded and stepped back. ". . . Okay." He hesitated. ". . . It's stupid, but I used to be jealous of you. I thought Duke was doing us wrong by being closer to you than us."

David folded his arms. "And now?"

"That time you blew up at us and let us know how left-out and isolated Duke felt, well . . . I was mad at first, but then it really squared me away. I realized you were right, and that Duke had every right to hang out with someone who really appreciated him and treated him better than we were doing."

David nodded in approval. "I'm glad."

Tristan shifted his position in the snow. "I guess . . . you don't really even like being around any of us because of the past. I can't blame you, when I have so much trouble forgiving too."

David paused, looking to him in surprise. "It's not that so much. I just don't feel like I fit in." He hesitated. As long as Tristan had opened this can of worms, maybe it was time to fully come clean. "And I don't feel like I'm really wanted either."

Tristan stared at him. "Why?!"

"You tell me." David looked back evenly. "Maybe some of it's because I don't seem interested, but I'd be more interested if I felt more welcome. It's a vicious cycle. Which came first? Who can say."

Tristan rocked back. ". . . Have we been doing the same thing to you that we did with Duke?" he asked in dismay.

"It's not the same, but it hasn't been happy either," David said. "I'm rarely spoken to or greeted." He sighed. "But then I've been the same way with all of you, so I haven't done right myself." He started to get into his car.

"Then I guess there's room for all of us to improve," Tristan said.

"I think so," David said. "I'll try to be friendlier."

"I'll talk to the others and we will too," Tristan said.

"Duke's happiness is more important than mine, though," David said. "Talk with him first."

Finally Tristan nodded. "Alright. I will." He paused. "Merry Christmas."

". . . Merry Christmas," David returned in some surprise.

He drove off feeling like his burden was much lighter than before.

xxxx

Inside the store, Oreo and Mr. Muffin were slowly getting acquainted. They played briefly, until Mr. Muffin decided to loaf on one of the gaming tables.

"Not up there!" Melody exclaimed. "You'll shed all over the game pieces!"

Mr. Muffin gave her a blasé look and blinked.

Téa was amused. "You know, the bikers have a cat too," she said. "I think theirs is also a Ragdoll."

"Bikers?" Melody blinked.

"Alister, Valon, and Raphael," Joey said. "You'll probably end up meeting them if you hang out with us."

"Melody would like that," Melody said. "Melody loves to meet cat owners!"

Téa watched as Melody busied herself with petting Mr. Muffin's long fur. ". . . Are you doing okay, Melody?" she asked. "You saw something awful that most people don't see."

Melody didn't look up. "Melody is alright," she said. "Melody is glad Duke is okay. . . ." She swallowed hard. "Poor Duke. . . ."

Mr. Muffin rubbed her hand.

"Unfortunately, things like that happen around us," Mai spoke up. "Do you think you can handle that?"

Melody bit her lip. "Melody isn't sure," she admitted. "But Melody would like to help make sure it doesn't happen again!"

"That sounds great to me," Joey said. "And hey, what're you gonna do about . . ." He quaked. "All your other ghosts?!"

Melody sighed. "Melody would like them all to leave," she said. "But that's harder if they're not evil, isn't it?"

"Sadly, yes," Angelique said.

"Melody guesses we're stuck with them then," she said.

"Well, I'm sure it's not impossible to get rid of them," Mai said. "We just haven't figured out how yet. Although there are people who claim to be able to help ghosts be ready to cross over to the afterlife. Maybe someone like that could help."

Melody perked up. "Melody likes this idea!" she exclaimed. "Melody will try to find one."

"I wonder if her parents would go along with it," Crump muttered under his breath.

Lector certainly hoped so. It seemed the best solution.

"If anybody needs a ride home, we can take them," Crump offered aloud. "Most of you probably have plans with your families, right?"

Melody's eyes widened. "Oh . . . yes! Melody needs to get home."

"Most of us do, yes," Mai said.

"You're with us, Mai," Joey said. "And . . . Duke too, if he wants. . . . It could take David a while to convince his family to let Duke join them."

Mai smiled. "Well, thank you, Joey. I'm happy to accept. I'm sure Duke will be too, unless he'd rather be alone, and I doubt that." She tossed her hair.

"We're still here," Lumis objected. "Mr. Devlin could join us."

Umbra nodded in agreement. "Of course."

"Or you guys and Duke could all join us," Joey said.

Umbra's eyes flickered in surprise. "Thank you," he said.

"Do you think your mother would appreciate that?" Lumis wondered.

"Eh. It's fine," Joey shrugged with a wave of his hand.

"We need to get home too, I must admit," Bakura said.

"Me too," Tristan admitted as he came back inside. "But I can walk."

"It's not a problem," Nesbitt insisted. "Let's go."

Tristan looked tempted to still refuse, but then thought better of it. He had caused enough havoc today; he didn't want to hold everyone else up while this matter was debated. He did, however, realize one thing.

"At least I shouldn't go in the same car as Duke," he said. "I'm sure that would be way too awkward for the both of us right now."

"And Duke's probably too shaken up to drive," Téa realized.

"We'll take Mr. Devlin and Serenity home," Umbra said. "We have our car."

Joey relaxed. "Good deal! Okay then, folks! Let's all head out!"

Most of the group began moving towards the doors. Tristan hesitated, looking up the stairs. He had told David he would let Duke know he was forgiven. Was this really a good time to get into that, though? Serenity knew the whole story and she was up there with Duke now. She would surely tell him.

It wouldn't have the same impact coming from someone else, though. And Tristan doubted he would see Duke again before Christmas.

Finally, heaving a sigh, he headed up the stairs. "Hold off just a minute," he called. "I'll be right there."

At the top of the stairs he listened for voices and followed them to David's office. The door was open and he approached it slowly, still wondering if this was a mistake. Duke and Serenity were on the couch, their hands on each other's shoulders.

"I know it must have been horrible for you to see me like that," Duke was saying quietly. "And you'll probably never get over it. I still can't get over remembering David shoving me out of the way of a stray bullet and then . . . his already-wounded body giving out on him. . . ." He swallowed hard.

"I'll just keep remembering that you're alive and well now," Serenity said firmly. "That's what I've had to do with Joey."

Duke nodded. "David being alive now is the only way I can deal with things at all," he admitted.

"If Joey were gone, I never would be able to deal with it," Serenity agreed. "It would just be too horrible. And that's how I feel about you too, Duke. . . ."

Tristan's heart twisted in guilt and shame. He started to turn to leave without speaking, but the floor decided to loudly announce his presence anyway.

Both Duke and Serenity looked up with a start at the creak. Duke visibly froze when he saw Tristan, but he drew a shaking breath and tried to hide it. ". . . Tristan. . . ."

"I won't stay," Tristan said. "I just wanted to . . . to say how sorry I am, Duke. . . . You too, Serenity. . . . Nothing can take back what I did, and nothing you ever did was worth what I put you through, Duke. . . . I . . ." He swallowed hard. "I had to forgive you to purify the dagger. I . . . just wanted you to know that. . . ."

Duke stared at him in shock. "Really, Tristan?"

Tristan nodded. "Really. I . . . I won't cause you trouble anymore. I am so sorry." He turned away.

"Tristan!" Duke called after him. "Thank you." He started to get off the couch. "Merry Christmas."

Serenity nodded in agreement with a smile. "Merry Christmas!"

Tristan looked back. Finally he smiled too. "Merry Christmas, both of you."

He headed down the stairs.

xxxx

Lector was happy that he and the others could settle down to a peaceful evening after taking everyone else home and returning to his. The cooks had already prepared a delicious dinner, and he and his family gathered around the dining room table to enjoy it.

"I'm so glad this can really be a happy holiday meal," Evangeline exclaimed. "With everything that happened today, it could have been a tragedy."

"Yeah, and you know, Mai's right," Crump said. "We havta go through too many near-tragedies!"

"It really doesn't seem like that peace Shadi promised will ever be forthcoming," Johnson said. He couldn't fully keep the bitterness out of his voice.

Lector sighed. "I suppose we all have to find moments of peace wherever we can."

"That's become my policy," Gansley agreed.

"I guess it will need to be ours too," Angelique said.

"There's still time before Christmas," Nesbitt gruffly said. "Maybe the rest of the time can be quiet."

"We're all hoping for that, I'm sure," Gansley said. "Perhaps our hopes will not be in vain."

"I know there was already a Christmas party, but is everyone planning to have a little gathering or something when it's Christmas Eve?" Evangeline wondered.

Lector smiled. "I believe so. We all want to exchange gifts."

"It will be nice to see everyone then," Evangeline said. "I hope Tristan will be feeling at least a little better."

"It's hard to say," Nesbitt said. "There are good days and bad days for things like this."

"It seems like there are so many things that everybody feels bad about," Evangeline sighed. "The bad guys have tried all kinds of things to pit us against each other or other cruelties. It needs to just stop!"

"Yeah, but it's not going to any time soon," Nesbitt said in disgust. "That's one of the problems with people having close ties—their enemies are always trying to exploit that."

"Although Tristan and Duke certainly aren't close," Johnson said. "In this case, the villain tried to use that against them, thinking Tristan could be manipulated into hurting him because of his feelings."

"Which he actually was," Gansley said. "The villain just wasn't counting on Tristan actually having a conscience and feeling horrible about it."

Nesbitt averted his gaze. In his case, Yami Marik had no doubt realized that Nesbitt would be devastated to be mind-controlled against his friends and had quite counted on it.

Lector looked to him sadly. He was sure that the past had come back very painfully to his dear friend, but he doubted Nesbitt wanted to talk about it with the girls there, if at all. If asked, it was likely he would say he was fine, or outright say he didn't want to talk about it.

Sure enough, Evangeline soon spoke with, "Are you alright, Mr. Nesbitt?"

And Nesbitt replied, "Yeah, fine."

Lector quickly realized something else. The girls didn't know about the mind-controlling incident. The last thing Nesbitt wanted to say was that he had been mind-controlled into hurting Evangeline's beloved brother—his dear friend.

Crump looked about to say something when the same thing occurred to him. He immediately decided to remain silent.

Conversation swiftly turned to lighter topics. It was only after dinner was over and Nesbitt escaped to the balcony that Lector followed him out to talk. "Nesbitt?"

Nesbitt was gripping the railing and looking out blankly at some nearby Christmas lights on a house. He gave a weak shrug of acknowledgement.

Lector went over next to him. "I know what happened today must have been very painful for you," he said. "It's never easy to be reminded of past horrors and heartaches."

Nesbitt grunted. "Tristan said at least I hadn't had my angry feelings manipulated against me. I still don't know that wasn't the case, at least somewhat."

Lector laid a hand on his shoulder. "Were you ever really that angry with me?"

"I was frustrated," Nesbitt said. "Maybe not actually angry. And I never wanted to hurt you. But maybe my frustrations were twisted the same way Tristan's anger was warped into a murderous force for Brutus to command."

"I suppose we'll never know that," Lector admitted.

"I can suspect it pretty strongly," Nesbitt countered. "When Yami Marik put all of us under his spell, he warped our feelings to suit his purposes."

". . . That's true," Lector remembered, his heart heavy. He tried not to think about that time, as he had enough of a burden remembering things he had done without Yami Marik's help, but it was impossible not to think about it sometimes.

"So there's really nothing that can be said," Nesbitt said.

Lector drew an arm around Nesbitt's shoulders. "At least I can remember that you couldn't be made to actually seriously hurt anyone even with your feelings warped," he said. "Yami Marik had to do it himself. That was the case with the warehouse calamity and also with what happened to me. And it's also the case with Mr. Taylor today."

Nesbitt grunted. "Yami Marik torched the warehouse on his own, but he was still controlling my body when you were hurt. I couldn't get control. . . ." He shut his eyes tightly. "If Evangeline knew what I did. . . ."

"She would understand that no one could be more haunted than you are," Lector said. "She knows you love me."

Nesbitt sighed. ". . . I guess a lot of us are like Kalin, aren't we? Haunted by things we did that we can't take back?"

"At least we handle things healthier than he does," Lector said.

"I wonder how Tristan's going to handle it," Nesbitt said.

Lector sighed too. "Only he can show us that. But I can hope for the best."

A light snow began to fall. Nesbitt watched as the flakes landed on his face and hands. "It's been a weird Christmas season," he commented.

"And a painful one, in some ways," Lector said. "But there's been nice things as well."

"Hey, I just realized." Nesbitt looked over at his friend. "We haven't even shown the girls Penguin World yet."

"That will be on the agenda tomorrow," Lector vowed. "As well as showing them all over Domino City. There's a lot to love here."

"I wonder if they'll ever move here," Nesbitt said.

"Evangeline still loves New Orleans and considers it home," Lector said. "I don't think that will change. But . . . I would most certainly be happy if it would."

"I know," Nesbitt said. "Out of all of us, you're the only one whose family doesn't live in town. That must be tough."

Lector smiled at him. "Most of my family lives here."

Nesbitt went a bit red, but smiled back.

Lector shivered as the snow continued to fall. "Shall we go inside?"

Nesbitt nodded. "Yeah."

They turned and went inside the house to join the others.