PA27: AH, I'm back!
MLM: Er......... How lucky of us.........
PA27: We all know that this is supposed to be MLM's chapter, but I'm writing it. Why?
MLM: Because you're a bossy perfectionist, and wouldn't let e write this chapter?
PA27: --' Okay, that's one way to put it.........I was going to tell them that I was bored and that you were too lazy to write it.
MLM: Which is a total and complete lie.
PA27: Well, the 'I'm bored' part is true.........
MLM: PA27........ Just get on with the chapter.
PA27: Fine, but first-
MLM: First what?
PA27: KARAOKE!
MLM: o.O NO!!!!!! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxx Ages:
Matt: 15 years old (The oldest) Kouji: 15 years old (The second oldest) Davis: 15years old (The third oldest) Ayumi: 14 years old (The fourth youngest/oldest) Orion: 14 years old (The third youngest) TK: 14 years old (The second youngest) Kari: 14 years old (The youngest)
Outfits:
Matt: Green tunic, jeans Kouji: Beige tunic, jeans Davis: Red tunic, jeans Ayumi: Sky blue servants' wear (cotton dress, ¾ inch sleeve blue cotton shirt) Orion: Lavender servants' wear (cotton dress, ¾ inch sleeve lavender cotton shirt) TK: Orange tunic, jeans Kari: Pink servants' wear (cotton dress, ¾ inch sleeve pink cotton shirt) Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"AYUMI! You're doing it, AGAIN! If you don't watch it, the biscuits will burn!" Kari's voice snapped Ayumi out of her reverie. Ayumi sighed and looked inside the dirt oven to check on her biscuits.
"Sorry. I was just thinking about Orion. She's been gone an awfully long time," Ayumi said as she closed the oven again. "She still has to cook dessert for tomorrow. I hope she lets us sample some of those cakes......... Remember last time we asked her to create something new and exciting, and she made 'Onion and Strawberry Cupcakes'? To tell you the truth they weren't half bad......... Okay, maybe they were HALF bad, but they weren't poisonous, like the time Davis threw up after her 'Sushi Brownies.' I don't think she has put raw fish and chocolate together since then........."
Kari looked at her friend over the punch she was making. "What wrong?" she asked Ayumi.
"Nothing," Ayumi lied, looking into the dirt oven again so she wouldn't have to look at Kari; she never was too good at lying. Deciding that they were ready, she brought them out, golden, hot, and smelling perfect.
"Ayumi, you babble when something's wrong," Kari said, still looking at Ayumi while adding a whole bunch of wine to the mix, wine that the girls had been reluctant to add, but Boris had insisted upon. Ayumi sighed again.
"Look, I'm just worried about this whole 'save the world before dinner' thing, okay? Sure, this place is worse than death, but at least we have a roof over our heads, and a fire to keep from freezing in the winter. Our there........." Ayumi put the biscuits she had made into the basket. "Look, I'm going out. I've already made fifteen dozen biscuits. That should be enough. I'll be in the stables, helping the guys groom the horses." Without waiting for Kari's reply, she turned and walked out of the kitchen. Instead of turning into the stables, however, she turned right. After a few minutes of climbing over mounds of snow and bushes that had built up in the forest, she hung back to admire her fountain, surrounded by the bare trees of the forest. She wrapped her rough wool shawl, the one Orion and Kari had given her for her birthday, tighter against her small frame. The water had frozen up into icicles that followed the water's usual path and dripped down the sides, making it look almost scary- but it wasn't, because the fountain, which was located in the far side of the forest that was behind the stable, was built conveniently built on a cliff with a steep drop. The sun was starting to get close to the horizon, even though it was not past three o'clock. Then Ayumi noticed someone, sitting on one of the four stone benches that surrounded each side of the fountain. Slowly, she approached him. "Davis?" Ayumi asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. Davis turned and motioned for Ayumi to sit next to him, which she did. "You know about this place?" she asked once she was settled. Davis nodded, looking at the frozen fountain, "Just because you never see me here, doesn't mean I don't know about it. In fact, I think Kouji come here too, sometimes. It's such a nice place, though. Great for thinking." Ayumi bit her lip, holding back a question that she knew was too nosey, but was biting at the back of her mind. Davis, sensing this, looked at her curiously.
"If you want to know something, ask. We're friends, right?" Davis asked. Ayumi nodded slowly.
"Davis, what do you come here to think about?" Ayumi asked, though she knew the answer. Davis smiled almost bitterly, very Un-Davis like.
"You know, Ayumi. I know that you know that I know that you know that I know that you know that I know that.........." Davis stopped suddenly, losing track of what he was saying. Ayumi couldn't help but giggle.
"Kari," Ayumi said, serious once again. Davis looked back at the fountain again. Ayumi half-suspected that it was because he couldn't meet her eyes. "Does it hurt?
Ayumi asked. Davis gave her a curious look.
"Does what hurt?" Davis asked, once again looking away from Ayumi. He wouldn't look at her. He would, he wouldn't, HE WOULD NOT.
"Kari and- you know, TK. I mean, she's so- so friendly. And so is he. I know you like her a lot, don't you?" Ayumi put her hand on Davis'.
"I don't know. I think I've gotten used to it. Ever since we've been I diapers, the seven of us, I've like Kari. And so has TK. I know when I've lost. I've been telling myself to move on, but I can't find someone else. There ISN'T anyone else to like. I don't have a chance with anyone," Davis said, still not meeting Ayumi's eyes.
"What do you mean, NO CHANCE? You're a great guy. You're a great person. Come on, Davis, be optimistic," Ayumi said as cheerfully as she dared, for, the usually light and casual Davis was looking more mournful that ever.
He gave another bitter laugh. "Who is there, then? Not Kari, I know that. Orion- well, I couldn't stand another one of her cooking inventions. Besides, Matt has dibs on her. She's too-"Davis struggled for the right word.
"Perfectionistic?" Ayumi offered. Davis nodded.
"Yeah, perfectionistic. She's too perfectionistic for me. That leaves you. First of all, you're my friend, and I don't want to lose that. Second, you like Kouji." Davis smirked as he saw Ayumi go red up to the roots of her black hair.
"Is it that obvious?" Ayumi asked shyly. There was a sudden rustle near the bushes, even though the winter winds had died down. Ayumi looked toward the movement; it was now HER turn to avoid Davis' eyes. Davis shook his head.
"I was completely clueless until Orion told me she suspected. Besides, I wouldn't dare move in on Kouji's territory. He'd kill me. He likes you, I think," Davis said. Ayumi stole a quick glance at Davis.
"Has he- has he said anything?" she asked in a near-whisper. Davis shook his head again.
"Just a little something I suspect, the way he always looks after you," Davis shrugged. "Anyway, that leaves no one."
"Don't worry. Like I said, you're a great guy. Let's get back. I hope Orion comes back soon," Ayumi said. Davis stood up and bowed stupidly low, offering his hand to Ayumi in a friendly but funny way. Ayumi took his hand and couldn't help but smile at his goofy-ness. She thanked god for such a great friend. Slowly, joking and climbing over the mounds of snow once again, they made their way back toward the stable.
After their voices had faded, a dark figure stepped out from behind the trees. He picked up the shawl that Ayumi had left on the bench and put it against his face, smelling Ayumi's scent of cherry blossoms against him. He smiled into the embroidered sky blue colored shawl. The fabric was embroidered with Kari and Orion's small stitches- cherry blossoms and sparrows, free as Ayumi's spirit. If someone had been there, they would have sworn they heard him say her name, but then again, it could have been tricks of the wind played again he turned to leave, carrying the shawl with him, still smiling slightly.
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Kari looked at Ayumi as she entered the kitchen again. "Good," Kari said, "you're here. I found the second part of the list that you lost. For some reason, it was in the sugar, but I won't ask why," Kari gave Ayumi a meaningful look, "because I don't want to know why. We still have a lot to do before tomorrow; the second part of the list I longer than the first one. I've finished the 20 bowls of fruit salad, but I've just only started on tuna the 15 tuna casseroles. We'll have to wait for Orion to cook the desserts, but you could always make egg rolls and fried dumplings. I've heard that there will be more people this year than last- 270 people, if I'm not mistaken. You had better make more of those biscuits, too." Ayumi sighed and fetched the ingredients for the egg rolls and dumplings.
"We are so behind schedule," Ayumi complained. "We'll be up all night, if we don't hurry." Kari nodded.
"I know. We'll already be up until midnights just to make sure the tuna casseroles are done and ready. Do you realize that we've been cooking for this for five days? I think Boris is making us serve food, too. I just can't wait to see the slutty outfits he makes us wear," Kari said sarcastically. Suddenly, they heard the stable door roughly opened. Abandoning their cooking, they rushed into the stables in a hurry, just in time to see Orion thrown in as they had been about six hours ago. They rush to her, checking for injuries.
"Don't forget these, said the guards before leaving, throwing three different colored outfits at them. "It's what you'll serve dinner at the festival in tomorrow." With that, he left.
"Are you alright?" Kari asked Orion, who had not moved at all since being tossed in. She nodded, eyes still closed, breathing raspy. "Sure?" Kari asked again. She nodded again.
"Hey, aren't you the one always telling us to cheer up? Well, cheer up!" Ayumi said as optimistically as she could manage, slapping Orion heartily on the shoulder. Instantly, Orion flinched, her eyes popping opened, sitting up abruptly.
"That shouldn't have hurt. What did he do to you?" TK asked worriedly. Orion shook her head stubbornly, moving herself against the wall. Ayumi and Kari grabbed hold of both her wrists, half dragging, half carrying her to the kitchen where she could take a shower (AN: Remember, there was no running water back then. They had to take showers by: A) pouring warm water over themselves in a bucket, not having to worry about getting the floor wet because it was usually made out of concrete or stone or B) Putting warm water into a large bucket or tub. The fountain works because-well, you'll find out later. I'm not telling you now or it'll spoil it!).
"What did he do to you?" Ayumi asked gently. Orion threw her arm around her friend, sobbing silently. Kari looked at Orion in sympathy. Just as suddenly as she started, Orion stopped and let go of Ayumi, her eyes wide.
"He suspects," she said, the expression in her eyes pure fright. Ayumi and Kari exchanged glanced.
"Calm down. He suspects what?" Kari asked in the voice that kindergarten teachers use when dealing with a student who is a bit slow.
"He suspects that we're going to escape. I think he has his Digimon," Orion said in a near-squeak. Kari and Ayumi both looked incredibly alarmed.
"First, take a shower, and then tell us what happened," Ayumi said soothingly. Then she frowned, "Is our shoulder bleeding?" Orion looked at her shoulder where Ayumi had slapped her earlier. Orion shrugged slightly.
"Doesn't matter," she replied. "It's not worse than we got last time." Ayumi and Kari both winced at the memory of Boris and his advisors 'relieving stress.' Nothing was worse than Boris and his corrupt cabinet after a stressful day. Nothing- or, at least, that was what they thought. Then again, the worse was coming.
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"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE SUSPECTS?" Kouji demanded as Orion finished talking. She winced slightly at his cutting voice.
"I mean, he said, and I quote, 'I know your plans.' What other plans do we have? Have tea with a rock?" Orion asked, annoyance clear on her face.
"You know, he could have just been scaring you. It could be possible that he has no idea, and he was just trying to frighten you," TK said reasonably. Orion nodded thoughtfully.
"Maybe. But, somehow, I don't think so," she said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "I don't know, I could be wrong. But there was something........." She trailed off, deep in thought. Suddenly Kari gasped.
"Oh my gosh. I forgot about the tuna casserole. It should be ready be now," Kari said, quickly rushing off. Orion looked confused.
"What tuna casserole?" she asked. "Did she find the second part of the list?" Ayumi nodded sheepishly.
"Yeah......... It was in the sugar. I guess I left it there on one of my sugar-eating days. Anyway, we have to get cooking, or we'll never finish. Come on, sis," Ayumi said as the two of them disappeared into the kitchen.
"Do you think he knows?" Matt asked breaking the silence after Orion and Ayumi disappeared. No one answered for a minute, apparently all deep in thought.
Kouji was the first to answer, "It could be possible. I mean, he knows almost everything we do against him, and them he punishes us. It could be possible."
"I think Orion might just be paranoid," Davis put in nonchalantly. No one said anything for a minute. Usually, it was Matt's job, as the oldest, to be paranoid, but everyone knew of Orion's tendency of being overly careful, always shaking out everyone's blankets in the loft before going to sleep so no one "slept on a cockroach." In the middle of winter, however, cockroaches were very unlikely in the extremely cold loft where the seven beds were.
"I don't know. I believe her," TK said thoughtfully. "Orion usually doesn't lie, and it's all too likely someone was eavesdropping when we made our plans." No one saw Matt's look of appreciation towards his brother, and if they did, they didn't say anything about it.
Davis shrugged and yawned, "I'm hitting the sack. Tomorrow's Christmas, and I can't wait to get presents!" He climbed lazily up the ladder that led to the loft.
"I think I'm going to sleep, too," Matt said as he, too, made his way up the ladder for a good nights' sleep. "We'll have a long day tomorrow, that's for sure." Kouji and TK sat in a comfortable silent for a while, both gazing into the fire.
TK broke the silence, "Kouji?" Kouji raised his eyebrow. Without waiting for Kouji's reply, TK plunged on. "It's about Kari. I don't know- I sort of like her, but she's like a sister to me. Then there's Davis........." Kouji's eyes glinted knowingly.
"You want to be a good friend to him, but he's also your rival, right?" Kouji looked at TK for a minute, studying him carefully. "You know, if you like her, go for it. Sometimes friends have to be rivals too- but if they're really your friends, it won't matter, now will it? Besides, the seven of us have been through so much that I don't think a little teenage rivalry over a girl will separate you," Kouji smiled a rare smile. TK nodded, still staring into the fire.
Finally, he said, "We should go and help them cook. After all, they'll need all the help they can get, or they won't be done until sunup. Besides, we haven't been helpful at all with this festival." Kouji nodded in agreement and they headed off toward the kitchen.
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"You two want to help?!" the three girls asked simultaneously, exchanging looks of alarm. Kouji and TK nodded innocently.
"Okay, that was funny. Haha. Now, what do you really want?" Ayumi asked, looking up from her egg rolls. TK frowned.
"We're serious," Kouji said with an edge on his voice. Again, the three girls exchanged glances. Orion cleared her throat, a small smile appeared on her face.
"Look, guys, that's very sweet of you, but we don't want to keep you up. Why don't you two just go to sleep?" Orion suggested, going back folding dumplings. "Or you could brush the horses again."
"We're helping and that's that," Kouji said stubbornly, daring anyone to defy him. TK nodded. The girls shrugged in defeat.
"Er......... Well, I'm making dumplings. Nothing you can help with here!" Orion said quickly, pretending to be busy. Kari caught on quickly.
"And there's nothing to do here. I'm just making mashed potatoes," Kari lied, even though they could've helped with the gravy she hadn't even started. Ayumi, who was stirring her cake batter and humming to herself looked up to see Kouji and TK both looking at her. She opened her mouth as if to say something but closed it again.
"Fine," she finally shrugged, glaring at Kari and Orion who both grinned apologetically in a hey-we're-sorry-but-at-least-WE'LL- finish- before-dawn look, "Fine. You can.........Er- You can........." Ayumi looked around helplessly for something to do. Finally, she put down her cake batter and opened a cupboard to get a cookbook. After blowing the thick layer of dust off of it, she handed it to Kouji. "We have to make twenty chocolate cakes. I've made the first eight. You can help make some of those. It's on page 26."
"Okay!" TK said excitedly. Ayumi looked at Matt and TK for one more second before turning to finish the cake she had started. She made sure that her back was to them before mumbling a prayer.
"Dear God, please don't let them wreck the cookbook or set anything on fire. Help them make the cakes edible, or at least non-poisonous. Or have them get tired so I can finish the rest in peace. Thanks," Ayumi mumbled under her breath.
Meanwhile, Kouji and TK were reading the instructions. "One pound of butter? How do you measure butter? And what does it mean, one hundred strokes to mix it? How much is a pinch?" TK shot question at Kouji who found them very confusing.
"Let's at least find the mixing bowl first. Er, TK? Do you have any idea what a mixing bowl is? And where are they?"
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"Well, I'm finished with what I had to do," Orion announced at ten 'til midnight. She yawned, "I'm hitting the sack. 'Night." She stopped for a minute to give Ayumi a sympathetic look before leaving. Ayumi winced as she looked at Matt and TK. Not only was her cookbook on fire, but the cake they two boys had started working on four hours ago looked terrible.
Sighing, Ayumi poured a bucket of water over her still smoking cookbook. She looked at the cake for a moment and sighed again, wincing. "Um, thanks Kouji, TK, I'll take it from here," she said taking deep breaths, trying not to do something she would regret later (like shoving the two off a bridge).
"Well, that's it for me," Kari said quickly, "I'm going to take Orion's lead and hit the sack. Good luck, Ayumi." Ayumi took another deep breath wincing at the fact that she had eight cakes left to go, not counting the thing that Kouji and TK made.
TK cleared his throat, "Um, I think I've done enough. I'm going to go now. Sorry about the cookbook, Ayumi!" He said quickly before following Kari out. Ayumi muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like 'no problem, I just enjoy having to stay up until morning to bake something I don't even like to eat.'
"Kari!" TK called after her. She stopped and turned. Seeing him, she smiled.
"What is it, TK?" she smiled as TK neared her, and felt her stomach squirm in delight. He smiled mysteriously and took her arm, pulling her toward the frozen lake.
"I have to show you something," was all he said before breaking out into a run. Kari struggled to keep up, rubbing her arms to keep warm. After running until she could run no more, TK stopped. They had entered the forest. It was a part that Kari had never been before. They stood in front of a cave, a quite dark one at that. TK reached into his pocket and retrieved a match and a tiny bit of candle, no bigger than a brownie (AN: What? Okay, I know I'm comparing candles to brownies, but I'm hungry and I want chocolate!). He lit the candle and took Kari's hand again. Slowly, they made their way into the cave.
"Is this safe? What if there are bears?" Kari asked in a hushed whisper. TK shook his head. There was a sudden whoosh sound. Kari jumped and she moved closer to TK.
"It's just the wind," he said soothingly. Together, they ventured deeper into the cave. Finally, after what seemed like hours, but really a little more than fifteen minutes, TK pulled them to a stop and pointed. Kari's eyes widened and she broke into a smile.
"They're so cute!" she said happily at the sight; there were four baby bunnies in all and a mother. All of them were black and white, and all of their noses wiggling, sniffing. "How did you know about this place?" Kari asked TK. He smiled.
"I explore. I found this cave months ago. Yesterday, I came here and found these rabbits. I though you might like them," TK said softly, smiling. Kari felt her stomach give another squirm. Kari took a step closer to the rabbits, kneeling near the nest they had built. She reached out to touch one of the bunnies. "Careful," TK warned, "they could scratch you if you're not-" He cut himself off as Kari stroke one of the babies, and the mother didn't even try to stop her. He looked at her, confused. "She scratched me when I touched them," he said in wonder. He kneeled next to her and she noticed a scratch running up his arm.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, taking his hand in hers. He blushed and shrugged. She smiled shyly and pressed her lips to the wound. TK's eyes widened. Kari let go of his hand and looked away.
"I don't think I'm ever going to wash my hand again," he said looking at the spot were her lips touched his skin. He reached his hand out to cup her chin, bringing her face back toward him. "You're beautiful, you know that, right?" he asked distractedly. Kari's eyes widened, but didn't pull away. She felt a dream sensation as TK's back came closer and closer to hers. She felt his lips on her own, and there was a tingly feeling up and down her back.
Slowly TK pulled away, still looked at her, searching her eyes for something, anything; something to reassure him or something to reject him. Kari smiled softly, touching her lips. She shyly looked at TK and then looked away with the same shy smile. "There's nothing like a first kiss, is there?" Kari said gently. (A/N: Can anyone tell me where I got that from? 'There's nothing like a first kiss.' I'll give you a clue- tomorrow I'll forget. No, I mean that's your clue. 'Tomorrow I'll forget.')
TK smiled as well, "Same here. What to go for a second?"
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"I really don't need any more of your help," Ayumi insisted. "I can do the last eight cakes by myself, I'm positive, Kouji, you go to sleep." Kouji frowned.
"No, I want to help," he insisted. Orion, who was stirring a bowlful of batter outrageously fast didn't say anything. "I really want to help."
"Well, you don't know how," Ayumi, who was beyond frustrated, snapped finally. "I won't let you help." Kouji's eyes flickered for a moment. He grabbed her wrist and her against him, with her looking fearful and startled into his eyes.
"Teach me, then," he said in a harsh whisper. "And never ever tell me you won't let me do something. What I do is none of your business." Ayumi looked at him for a moment like a cornered animal before pulling away forcefully, looking at the dirt oven with her back turned toward him. Uncomfortable silence dominated for a few minutes, and Kouji almost regretted doing what he did.
Taking a deep breath and holding back tears, she finally said, in an unusually high voice, "You measure butter with a special tool. One hundred strokes mean you stir it one hundred times to mix it. One pinch is a tiny bit; you estimate. Mixing bowls are in the second cupboard to the left from the door. The difference between a mixing bowl and a normal bowl is that mixing bowls are bigger and specially used for mixing. I'll show you how to make chocolate cake." She heard Kouji turn to get a bowl, and took the time to wipe away a tear. How could she be so stupid as to think Kouji saw her as anything more than a sister? She put on her best fake smile and turned to get the eggs.
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"Christmas day!" Davis was the first up, waking all the others up in the process. There were groans coming from the other bed, not wanting to wake up so early. Davis nearly jumped out of his pajamas and into his normal clothes, yelling "Wake up, wake up," over and over again.
"Let me get some sleep!" Ayumi said, tossing a pillow in Davis' direction. It hit him square in the face. With a mysterious smile, he picked up the pillow and stalked toward Ayumi's bed. Ayumi seeing this, sat up immediately. Davis threw the pillow at her, only she ducked and it hit Kouji, who grabbed it and threw it at Davis who ducked so it hit TK who threw it at Kari who threw it at Orion who threw it back at Matt who threw it at Kouji who threw it out the window.
"Aw, Kouji, stop being such a spoilsport," Davis said. Kouji looked at him grumpily and pulled the covers back over his head. Orion and Kari exchanged a mischievous grin.
"So, when did you two get to sleep?" Orion asked suggestively. Ayumi, who had just finished making her bed and getting dressed didn't even stop to blink.
"A little before dawn," she answered shortly. Before going downstairs, though, she fumbled with something under her bed, pulling out seven packages, each neatly wrapped in a cloth of a different color, tied with a ribbon. She put one on the bed of each person, not saying anything except, "Merry Christmas," before going downstairs.
"What's her problem," Matt asked grumpily, finally getting out of bed. Orion suddenly brightened. She, too, fumbled under her bed before pulling out packages, distributing them. Kari, then Kouji, then TK, then Matt followed her, and then, after inspecting each of his presents, Davis gave out his. By then, Ayumi was back, seven servings of breakfast in a tray. Davis, however, was too busy to eat his breakfast, for he was itching to open his gift.
"I think we should let Davis see what he got, or he might explode," Kari said jokingly. "And I don't think I can stand the suspense much longer either." So, with that, they opened their gift, one at a time.
Davis had given everyone a wooden comb, each bearing the receiver's name. "Hey, Davis, I didn't know you could carve," Orion said, feeling the wood of her comb with her fingers. Davis laughed sheepishly before opening more presents.
Kari had given everyone a leather pouch-like backpack. It was about half the size of a pillow, and very useful. "Where'd you get the leather for the bags?" Davis had asked. Kari smiled.
"Where do you think beef comes from?" Kari answered. Davis instantly grew pale, his eyes wide, as if suddenly realizing that beef was from a cow.
TK had given everyone a scarf, each a different color. His was orange, Matt's green, Kouji's navy, Orion's lavender, Kari's pink, Ayumi's sky blue, and Davis' red. "Where'd you learn to knit?" Kouji asked, his eyebrows raised. TK blushed and refused to tell.
Matt gave everyone a journal, small and leather bound. "I got them at the market, the last time we were in town," he said when Davis asked. He shrugged nonchalantly.
Orion had given everyone a cloak, each a different color. The inside was lined with rabbit fur, to which Davis, being his naïve self, asked, "Where'd you get the fur?"
Orion smirked and asked, "From the number of times we make rabbit stew each year. We're the ones who have to skin the rabbits, you know." Davis vowed never to ask were fur or leather came from again.
Ayumi gave everyone a hand stitched quilt, each a different color as well, bearing the person's name and embroidered with beautiful embroidery; Davis' (red with his name stitched in gold) included Midnight, a black horse that he took care of, his favorite horse, while the one Ayumi made for herself (sky blue colored with her name in navy) had cherry blossoms and swans all over it, long with cats, her favorite animals. Kari's quilt (pink, of course, with her name in cursive in a purple color) had lavender flowers, rabbits, and, around the edges, where tiny pink flowers. Orion's quilt, lavender with her name embroidered in silver, showed jasmine, doves, and, of course, wolves, her 'all time favorite animal of all time.' Kouji's quilt displayed a long dagger, his name embroidered into the navy-colored fabric in gold thread. Tiny stars dotted the surface, and the moon in the upper right corner was outlined in silver. Matt's quit, green with his name embroidered neatly in gold, as well, with a long sword through the front, miniature orange and yellow leaves around the edges.
"Ayumi! They're beautiful," Orion had exclaimed. "How long did it take you to make them?" Ayumi smiled sheepishly.
"All year," she had answered.
"I don't want to sound ungrateful," TK said, "but where did you two get the cloth for the cloaks and quilts?" Orion and Ayumi exchanged a look of mischief.
"Remember last year when Boris just had to replace his curtains to waste more of the kingdom's treasury? Well, needless to say, we managed to salvage some," Ayumi said, laughing lightly. Orion smirked.
"More like we grabbed all the curtains in the castle," Orion said, "According to Miss Ayumi here, the curtains couldn't go to waste; after all, the curtains are made out of better cloth than our clothes." Orion sighed.
But, Kouji's gifts, by far, where the best; they weren't the best in the kingdom, but they were beautiful. He had given each of them a dagger, made to precision, the hilt beautiful in every way, the handle molded with a different anima.
"Kouji, I new you could do metalwork, but these are spectacular," Kari gasped as she slid the blade out of the covering, which was molded into the bearer's name. Kouji shrugged and looked out the window.
"We'd better go get ready to serve dinner at the festival," Orion sighed, starting on downstairs. "We've got a long, long day ahead of us. I have a bad feeling about today, I really do."
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PA27: o.O Whoa......... That was long!
MLM: YOU WROTE ELEVEN PAGES?!
PA27: Blush Well, that's it for this chapter. OOO!! I did a little bit of foreshadowing!
MLM: Is there someone stalking Ayumi?
PA27: What will become of TK and Kari?
MLM: Does Boris really know about their plan?
PA27: What will happen at the festival?
MLM: AND HOW COME I DIDN'T GET TO SAMPLE A CHOCOLATE CAKE?!
PA27: --' Er......... You know what? Why don't you just write the next chapter?
MLM: OKAY!!!!
PA27: I have befriended an idiot.
MLM: Aw, don't talk about Vincent like that.........
PA27: I wasn't talking about him.........
MLM: Oh......... Whatever!
PA27: --' Review, readers!
MLM: Yes! REVIEW, or else.........
PA27: I think I need Advil or something; I've got a migraine.........
MLM: Smiles innocently I wonder how that happened.
MLM: Er......... How lucky of us.........
PA27: We all know that this is supposed to be MLM's chapter, but I'm writing it. Why?
MLM: Because you're a bossy perfectionist, and wouldn't let e write this chapter?
PA27: --' Okay, that's one way to put it.........I was going to tell them that I was bored and that you were too lazy to write it.
MLM: Which is a total and complete lie.
PA27: Well, the 'I'm bored' part is true.........
MLM: PA27........ Just get on with the chapter.
PA27: Fine, but first-
MLM: First what?
PA27: KARAOKE!
MLM: o.O NO!!!!!! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxx Ages:
Matt: 15 years old (The oldest) Kouji: 15 years old (The second oldest) Davis: 15years old (The third oldest) Ayumi: 14 years old (The fourth youngest/oldest) Orion: 14 years old (The third youngest) TK: 14 years old (The second youngest) Kari: 14 years old (The youngest)
Outfits:
Matt: Green tunic, jeans Kouji: Beige tunic, jeans Davis: Red tunic, jeans Ayumi: Sky blue servants' wear (cotton dress, ¾ inch sleeve blue cotton shirt) Orion: Lavender servants' wear (cotton dress, ¾ inch sleeve lavender cotton shirt) TK: Orange tunic, jeans Kari: Pink servants' wear (cotton dress, ¾ inch sleeve pink cotton shirt) Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"AYUMI! You're doing it, AGAIN! If you don't watch it, the biscuits will burn!" Kari's voice snapped Ayumi out of her reverie. Ayumi sighed and looked inside the dirt oven to check on her biscuits.
"Sorry. I was just thinking about Orion. She's been gone an awfully long time," Ayumi said as she closed the oven again. "She still has to cook dessert for tomorrow. I hope she lets us sample some of those cakes......... Remember last time we asked her to create something new and exciting, and she made 'Onion and Strawberry Cupcakes'? To tell you the truth they weren't half bad......... Okay, maybe they were HALF bad, but they weren't poisonous, like the time Davis threw up after her 'Sushi Brownies.' I don't think she has put raw fish and chocolate together since then........."
Kari looked at her friend over the punch she was making. "What wrong?" she asked Ayumi.
"Nothing," Ayumi lied, looking into the dirt oven again so she wouldn't have to look at Kari; she never was too good at lying. Deciding that they were ready, she brought them out, golden, hot, and smelling perfect.
"Ayumi, you babble when something's wrong," Kari said, still looking at Ayumi while adding a whole bunch of wine to the mix, wine that the girls had been reluctant to add, but Boris had insisted upon. Ayumi sighed again.
"Look, I'm just worried about this whole 'save the world before dinner' thing, okay? Sure, this place is worse than death, but at least we have a roof over our heads, and a fire to keep from freezing in the winter. Our there........." Ayumi put the biscuits she had made into the basket. "Look, I'm going out. I've already made fifteen dozen biscuits. That should be enough. I'll be in the stables, helping the guys groom the horses." Without waiting for Kari's reply, she turned and walked out of the kitchen. Instead of turning into the stables, however, she turned right. After a few minutes of climbing over mounds of snow and bushes that had built up in the forest, she hung back to admire her fountain, surrounded by the bare trees of the forest. She wrapped her rough wool shawl, the one Orion and Kari had given her for her birthday, tighter against her small frame. The water had frozen up into icicles that followed the water's usual path and dripped down the sides, making it look almost scary- but it wasn't, because the fountain, which was located in the far side of the forest that was behind the stable, was built conveniently built on a cliff with a steep drop. The sun was starting to get close to the horizon, even though it was not past three o'clock. Then Ayumi noticed someone, sitting on one of the four stone benches that surrounded each side of the fountain. Slowly, she approached him. "Davis?" Ayumi asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. Davis turned and motioned for Ayumi to sit next to him, which she did. "You know about this place?" she asked once she was settled. Davis nodded, looking at the frozen fountain, "Just because you never see me here, doesn't mean I don't know about it. In fact, I think Kouji come here too, sometimes. It's such a nice place, though. Great for thinking." Ayumi bit her lip, holding back a question that she knew was too nosey, but was biting at the back of her mind. Davis, sensing this, looked at her curiously.
"If you want to know something, ask. We're friends, right?" Davis asked. Ayumi nodded slowly.
"Davis, what do you come here to think about?" Ayumi asked, though she knew the answer. Davis smiled almost bitterly, very Un-Davis like.
"You know, Ayumi. I know that you know that I know that you know that I know that you know that I know that.........." Davis stopped suddenly, losing track of what he was saying. Ayumi couldn't help but giggle.
"Kari," Ayumi said, serious once again. Davis looked back at the fountain again. Ayumi half-suspected that it was because he couldn't meet her eyes. "Does it hurt?
Ayumi asked. Davis gave her a curious look.
"Does what hurt?" Davis asked, once again looking away from Ayumi. He wouldn't look at her. He would, he wouldn't, HE WOULD NOT.
"Kari and- you know, TK. I mean, she's so- so friendly. And so is he. I know you like her a lot, don't you?" Ayumi put her hand on Davis'.
"I don't know. I think I've gotten used to it. Ever since we've been I diapers, the seven of us, I've like Kari. And so has TK. I know when I've lost. I've been telling myself to move on, but I can't find someone else. There ISN'T anyone else to like. I don't have a chance with anyone," Davis said, still not meeting Ayumi's eyes.
"What do you mean, NO CHANCE? You're a great guy. You're a great person. Come on, Davis, be optimistic," Ayumi said as cheerfully as she dared, for, the usually light and casual Davis was looking more mournful that ever.
He gave another bitter laugh. "Who is there, then? Not Kari, I know that. Orion- well, I couldn't stand another one of her cooking inventions. Besides, Matt has dibs on her. She's too-"Davis struggled for the right word.
"Perfectionistic?" Ayumi offered. Davis nodded.
"Yeah, perfectionistic. She's too perfectionistic for me. That leaves you. First of all, you're my friend, and I don't want to lose that. Second, you like Kouji." Davis smirked as he saw Ayumi go red up to the roots of her black hair.
"Is it that obvious?" Ayumi asked shyly. There was a sudden rustle near the bushes, even though the winter winds had died down. Ayumi looked toward the movement; it was now HER turn to avoid Davis' eyes. Davis shook his head.
"I was completely clueless until Orion told me she suspected. Besides, I wouldn't dare move in on Kouji's territory. He'd kill me. He likes you, I think," Davis said. Ayumi stole a quick glance at Davis.
"Has he- has he said anything?" she asked in a near-whisper. Davis shook his head again.
"Just a little something I suspect, the way he always looks after you," Davis shrugged. "Anyway, that leaves no one."
"Don't worry. Like I said, you're a great guy. Let's get back. I hope Orion comes back soon," Ayumi said. Davis stood up and bowed stupidly low, offering his hand to Ayumi in a friendly but funny way. Ayumi took his hand and couldn't help but smile at his goofy-ness. She thanked god for such a great friend. Slowly, joking and climbing over the mounds of snow once again, they made their way back toward the stable.
After their voices had faded, a dark figure stepped out from behind the trees. He picked up the shawl that Ayumi had left on the bench and put it against his face, smelling Ayumi's scent of cherry blossoms against him. He smiled into the embroidered sky blue colored shawl. The fabric was embroidered with Kari and Orion's small stitches- cherry blossoms and sparrows, free as Ayumi's spirit. If someone had been there, they would have sworn they heard him say her name, but then again, it could have been tricks of the wind played again he turned to leave, carrying the shawl with him, still smiling slightly.
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Kari looked at Ayumi as she entered the kitchen again. "Good," Kari said, "you're here. I found the second part of the list that you lost. For some reason, it was in the sugar, but I won't ask why," Kari gave Ayumi a meaningful look, "because I don't want to know why. We still have a lot to do before tomorrow; the second part of the list I longer than the first one. I've finished the 20 bowls of fruit salad, but I've just only started on tuna the 15 tuna casseroles. We'll have to wait for Orion to cook the desserts, but you could always make egg rolls and fried dumplings. I've heard that there will be more people this year than last- 270 people, if I'm not mistaken. You had better make more of those biscuits, too." Ayumi sighed and fetched the ingredients for the egg rolls and dumplings.
"We are so behind schedule," Ayumi complained. "We'll be up all night, if we don't hurry." Kari nodded.
"I know. We'll already be up until midnights just to make sure the tuna casseroles are done and ready. Do you realize that we've been cooking for this for five days? I think Boris is making us serve food, too. I just can't wait to see the slutty outfits he makes us wear," Kari said sarcastically. Suddenly, they heard the stable door roughly opened. Abandoning their cooking, they rushed into the stables in a hurry, just in time to see Orion thrown in as they had been about six hours ago. They rush to her, checking for injuries.
"Don't forget these, said the guards before leaving, throwing three different colored outfits at them. "It's what you'll serve dinner at the festival in tomorrow." With that, he left.
"Are you alright?" Kari asked Orion, who had not moved at all since being tossed in. She nodded, eyes still closed, breathing raspy. "Sure?" Kari asked again. She nodded again.
"Hey, aren't you the one always telling us to cheer up? Well, cheer up!" Ayumi said as optimistically as she could manage, slapping Orion heartily on the shoulder. Instantly, Orion flinched, her eyes popping opened, sitting up abruptly.
"That shouldn't have hurt. What did he do to you?" TK asked worriedly. Orion shook her head stubbornly, moving herself against the wall. Ayumi and Kari grabbed hold of both her wrists, half dragging, half carrying her to the kitchen where she could take a shower (AN: Remember, there was no running water back then. They had to take showers by: A) pouring warm water over themselves in a bucket, not having to worry about getting the floor wet because it was usually made out of concrete or stone or B) Putting warm water into a large bucket or tub. The fountain works because-well, you'll find out later. I'm not telling you now or it'll spoil it!).
"What did he do to you?" Ayumi asked gently. Orion threw her arm around her friend, sobbing silently. Kari looked at Orion in sympathy. Just as suddenly as she started, Orion stopped and let go of Ayumi, her eyes wide.
"He suspects," she said, the expression in her eyes pure fright. Ayumi and Kari exchanged glanced.
"Calm down. He suspects what?" Kari asked in the voice that kindergarten teachers use when dealing with a student who is a bit slow.
"He suspects that we're going to escape. I think he has his Digimon," Orion said in a near-squeak. Kari and Ayumi both looked incredibly alarmed.
"First, take a shower, and then tell us what happened," Ayumi said soothingly. Then she frowned, "Is our shoulder bleeding?" Orion looked at her shoulder where Ayumi had slapped her earlier. Orion shrugged slightly.
"Doesn't matter," she replied. "It's not worse than we got last time." Ayumi and Kari both winced at the memory of Boris and his advisors 'relieving stress.' Nothing was worse than Boris and his corrupt cabinet after a stressful day. Nothing- or, at least, that was what they thought. Then again, the worse was coming.
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"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE SUSPECTS?" Kouji demanded as Orion finished talking. She winced slightly at his cutting voice.
"I mean, he said, and I quote, 'I know your plans.' What other plans do we have? Have tea with a rock?" Orion asked, annoyance clear on her face.
"You know, he could have just been scaring you. It could be possible that he has no idea, and he was just trying to frighten you," TK said reasonably. Orion nodded thoughtfully.
"Maybe. But, somehow, I don't think so," she said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "I don't know, I could be wrong. But there was something........." She trailed off, deep in thought. Suddenly Kari gasped.
"Oh my gosh. I forgot about the tuna casserole. It should be ready be now," Kari said, quickly rushing off. Orion looked confused.
"What tuna casserole?" she asked. "Did she find the second part of the list?" Ayumi nodded sheepishly.
"Yeah......... It was in the sugar. I guess I left it there on one of my sugar-eating days. Anyway, we have to get cooking, or we'll never finish. Come on, sis," Ayumi said as the two of them disappeared into the kitchen.
"Do you think he knows?" Matt asked breaking the silence after Orion and Ayumi disappeared. No one answered for a minute, apparently all deep in thought.
Kouji was the first to answer, "It could be possible. I mean, he knows almost everything we do against him, and them he punishes us. It could be possible."
"I think Orion might just be paranoid," Davis put in nonchalantly. No one said anything for a minute. Usually, it was Matt's job, as the oldest, to be paranoid, but everyone knew of Orion's tendency of being overly careful, always shaking out everyone's blankets in the loft before going to sleep so no one "slept on a cockroach." In the middle of winter, however, cockroaches were very unlikely in the extremely cold loft where the seven beds were.
"I don't know. I believe her," TK said thoughtfully. "Orion usually doesn't lie, and it's all too likely someone was eavesdropping when we made our plans." No one saw Matt's look of appreciation towards his brother, and if they did, they didn't say anything about it.
Davis shrugged and yawned, "I'm hitting the sack. Tomorrow's Christmas, and I can't wait to get presents!" He climbed lazily up the ladder that led to the loft.
"I think I'm going to sleep, too," Matt said as he, too, made his way up the ladder for a good nights' sleep. "We'll have a long day tomorrow, that's for sure." Kouji and TK sat in a comfortable silent for a while, both gazing into the fire.
TK broke the silence, "Kouji?" Kouji raised his eyebrow. Without waiting for Kouji's reply, TK plunged on. "It's about Kari. I don't know- I sort of like her, but she's like a sister to me. Then there's Davis........." Kouji's eyes glinted knowingly.
"You want to be a good friend to him, but he's also your rival, right?" Kouji looked at TK for a minute, studying him carefully. "You know, if you like her, go for it. Sometimes friends have to be rivals too- but if they're really your friends, it won't matter, now will it? Besides, the seven of us have been through so much that I don't think a little teenage rivalry over a girl will separate you," Kouji smiled a rare smile. TK nodded, still staring into the fire.
Finally, he said, "We should go and help them cook. After all, they'll need all the help they can get, or they won't be done until sunup. Besides, we haven't been helpful at all with this festival." Kouji nodded in agreement and they headed off toward the kitchen.
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"You two want to help?!" the three girls asked simultaneously, exchanging looks of alarm. Kouji and TK nodded innocently.
"Okay, that was funny. Haha. Now, what do you really want?" Ayumi asked, looking up from her egg rolls. TK frowned.
"We're serious," Kouji said with an edge on his voice. Again, the three girls exchanged glances. Orion cleared her throat, a small smile appeared on her face.
"Look, guys, that's very sweet of you, but we don't want to keep you up. Why don't you two just go to sleep?" Orion suggested, going back folding dumplings. "Or you could brush the horses again."
"We're helping and that's that," Kouji said stubbornly, daring anyone to defy him. TK nodded. The girls shrugged in defeat.
"Er......... Well, I'm making dumplings. Nothing you can help with here!" Orion said quickly, pretending to be busy. Kari caught on quickly.
"And there's nothing to do here. I'm just making mashed potatoes," Kari lied, even though they could've helped with the gravy she hadn't even started. Ayumi, who was stirring her cake batter and humming to herself looked up to see Kouji and TK both looking at her. She opened her mouth as if to say something but closed it again.
"Fine," she finally shrugged, glaring at Kari and Orion who both grinned apologetically in a hey-we're-sorry-but-at-least-WE'LL- finish- before-dawn look, "Fine. You can.........Er- You can........." Ayumi looked around helplessly for something to do. Finally, she put down her cake batter and opened a cupboard to get a cookbook. After blowing the thick layer of dust off of it, she handed it to Kouji. "We have to make twenty chocolate cakes. I've made the first eight. You can help make some of those. It's on page 26."
"Okay!" TK said excitedly. Ayumi looked at Matt and TK for one more second before turning to finish the cake she had started. She made sure that her back was to them before mumbling a prayer.
"Dear God, please don't let them wreck the cookbook or set anything on fire. Help them make the cakes edible, or at least non-poisonous. Or have them get tired so I can finish the rest in peace. Thanks," Ayumi mumbled under her breath.
Meanwhile, Kouji and TK were reading the instructions. "One pound of butter? How do you measure butter? And what does it mean, one hundred strokes to mix it? How much is a pinch?" TK shot question at Kouji who found them very confusing.
"Let's at least find the mixing bowl first. Er, TK? Do you have any idea what a mixing bowl is? And where are they?"
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"Well, I'm finished with what I had to do," Orion announced at ten 'til midnight. She yawned, "I'm hitting the sack. 'Night." She stopped for a minute to give Ayumi a sympathetic look before leaving. Ayumi winced as she looked at Matt and TK. Not only was her cookbook on fire, but the cake they two boys had started working on four hours ago looked terrible.
Sighing, Ayumi poured a bucket of water over her still smoking cookbook. She looked at the cake for a moment and sighed again, wincing. "Um, thanks Kouji, TK, I'll take it from here," she said taking deep breaths, trying not to do something she would regret later (like shoving the two off a bridge).
"Well, that's it for me," Kari said quickly, "I'm going to take Orion's lead and hit the sack. Good luck, Ayumi." Ayumi took another deep breath wincing at the fact that she had eight cakes left to go, not counting the thing that Kouji and TK made.
TK cleared his throat, "Um, I think I've done enough. I'm going to go now. Sorry about the cookbook, Ayumi!" He said quickly before following Kari out. Ayumi muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like 'no problem, I just enjoy having to stay up until morning to bake something I don't even like to eat.'
"Kari!" TK called after her. She stopped and turned. Seeing him, she smiled.
"What is it, TK?" she smiled as TK neared her, and felt her stomach squirm in delight. He smiled mysteriously and took her arm, pulling her toward the frozen lake.
"I have to show you something," was all he said before breaking out into a run. Kari struggled to keep up, rubbing her arms to keep warm. After running until she could run no more, TK stopped. They had entered the forest. It was a part that Kari had never been before. They stood in front of a cave, a quite dark one at that. TK reached into his pocket and retrieved a match and a tiny bit of candle, no bigger than a brownie (AN: What? Okay, I know I'm comparing candles to brownies, but I'm hungry and I want chocolate!). He lit the candle and took Kari's hand again. Slowly, they made their way into the cave.
"Is this safe? What if there are bears?" Kari asked in a hushed whisper. TK shook his head. There was a sudden whoosh sound. Kari jumped and she moved closer to TK.
"It's just the wind," he said soothingly. Together, they ventured deeper into the cave. Finally, after what seemed like hours, but really a little more than fifteen minutes, TK pulled them to a stop and pointed. Kari's eyes widened and she broke into a smile.
"They're so cute!" she said happily at the sight; there were four baby bunnies in all and a mother. All of them were black and white, and all of their noses wiggling, sniffing. "How did you know about this place?" Kari asked TK. He smiled.
"I explore. I found this cave months ago. Yesterday, I came here and found these rabbits. I though you might like them," TK said softly, smiling. Kari felt her stomach give another squirm. Kari took a step closer to the rabbits, kneeling near the nest they had built. She reached out to touch one of the bunnies. "Careful," TK warned, "they could scratch you if you're not-" He cut himself off as Kari stroke one of the babies, and the mother didn't even try to stop her. He looked at her, confused. "She scratched me when I touched them," he said in wonder. He kneeled next to her and she noticed a scratch running up his arm.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, taking his hand in hers. He blushed and shrugged. She smiled shyly and pressed her lips to the wound. TK's eyes widened. Kari let go of his hand and looked away.
"I don't think I'm ever going to wash my hand again," he said looking at the spot were her lips touched his skin. He reached his hand out to cup her chin, bringing her face back toward him. "You're beautiful, you know that, right?" he asked distractedly. Kari's eyes widened, but didn't pull away. She felt a dream sensation as TK's back came closer and closer to hers. She felt his lips on her own, and there was a tingly feeling up and down her back.
Slowly TK pulled away, still looked at her, searching her eyes for something, anything; something to reassure him or something to reject him. Kari smiled softly, touching her lips. She shyly looked at TK and then looked away with the same shy smile. "There's nothing like a first kiss, is there?" Kari said gently. (A/N: Can anyone tell me where I got that from? 'There's nothing like a first kiss.' I'll give you a clue- tomorrow I'll forget. No, I mean that's your clue. 'Tomorrow I'll forget.')
TK smiled as well, "Same here. What to go for a second?"
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"I really don't need any more of your help," Ayumi insisted. "I can do the last eight cakes by myself, I'm positive, Kouji, you go to sleep." Kouji frowned.
"No, I want to help," he insisted. Orion, who was stirring a bowlful of batter outrageously fast didn't say anything. "I really want to help."
"Well, you don't know how," Ayumi, who was beyond frustrated, snapped finally. "I won't let you help." Kouji's eyes flickered for a moment. He grabbed her wrist and her against him, with her looking fearful and startled into his eyes.
"Teach me, then," he said in a harsh whisper. "And never ever tell me you won't let me do something. What I do is none of your business." Ayumi looked at him for a moment like a cornered animal before pulling away forcefully, looking at the dirt oven with her back turned toward him. Uncomfortable silence dominated for a few minutes, and Kouji almost regretted doing what he did.
Taking a deep breath and holding back tears, she finally said, in an unusually high voice, "You measure butter with a special tool. One hundred strokes mean you stir it one hundred times to mix it. One pinch is a tiny bit; you estimate. Mixing bowls are in the second cupboard to the left from the door. The difference between a mixing bowl and a normal bowl is that mixing bowls are bigger and specially used for mixing. I'll show you how to make chocolate cake." She heard Kouji turn to get a bowl, and took the time to wipe away a tear. How could she be so stupid as to think Kouji saw her as anything more than a sister? She put on her best fake smile and turned to get the eggs.
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"Christmas day!" Davis was the first up, waking all the others up in the process. There were groans coming from the other bed, not wanting to wake up so early. Davis nearly jumped out of his pajamas and into his normal clothes, yelling "Wake up, wake up," over and over again.
"Let me get some sleep!" Ayumi said, tossing a pillow in Davis' direction. It hit him square in the face. With a mysterious smile, he picked up the pillow and stalked toward Ayumi's bed. Ayumi seeing this, sat up immediately. Davis threw the pillow at her, only she ducked and it hit Kouji, who grabbed it and threw it at Davis who ducked so it hit TK who threw it at Kari who threw it at Orion who threw it back at Matt who threw it at Kouji who threw it out the window.
"Aw, Kouji, stop being such a spoilsport," Davis said. Kouji looked at him grumpily and pulled the covers back over his head. Orion and Kari exchanged a mischievous grin.
"So, when did you two get to sleep?" Orion asked suggestively. Ayumi, who had just finished making her bed and getting dressed didn't even stop to blink.
"A little before dawn," she answered shortly. Before going downstairs, though, she fumbled with something under her bed, pulling out seven packages, each neatly wrapped in a cloth of a different color, tied with a ribbon. She put one on the bed of each person, not saying anything except, "Merry Christmas," before going downstairs.
"What's her problem," Matt asked grumpily, finally getting out of bed. Orion suddenly brightened. She, too, fumbled under her bed before pulling out packages, distributing them. Kari, then Kouji, then TK, then Matt followed her, and then, after inspecting each of his presents, Davis gave out his. By then, Ayumi was back, seven servings of breakfast in a tray. Davis, however, was too busy to eat his breakfast, for he was itching to open his gift.
"I think we should let Davis see what he got, or he might explode," Kari said jokingly. "And I don't think I can stand the suspense much longer either." So, with that, they opened their gift, one at a time.
Davis had given everyone a wooden comb, each bearing the receiver's name. "Hey, Davis, I didn't know you could carve," Orion said, feeling the wood of her comb with her fingers. Davis laughed sheepishly before opening more presents.
Kari had given everyone a leather pouch-like backpack. It was about half the size of a pillow, and very useful. "Where'd you get the leather for the bags?" Davis had asked. Kari smiled.
"Where do you think beef comes from?" Kari answered. Davis instantly grew pale, his eyes wide, as if suddenly realizing that beef was from a cow.
TK had given everyone a scarf, each a different color. His was orange, Matt's green, Kouji's navy, Orion's lavender, Kari's pink, Ayumi's sky blue, and Davis' red. "Where'd you learn to knit?" Kouji asked, his eyebrows raised. TK blushed and refused to tell.
Matt gave everyone a journal, small and leather bound. "I got them at the market, the last time we were in town," he said when Davis asked. He shrugged nonchalantly.
Orion had given everyone a cloak, each a different color. The inside was lined with rabbit fur, to which Davis, being his naïve self, asked, "Where'd you get the fur?"
Orion smirked and asked, "From the number of times we make rabbit stew each year. We're the ones who have to skin the rabbits, you know." Davis vowed never to ask were fur or leather came from again.
Ayumi gave everyone a hand stitched quilt, each a different color as well, bearing the person's name and embroidered with beautiful embroidery; Davis' (red with his name stitched in gold) included Midnight, a black horse that he took care of, his favorite horse, while the one Ayumi made for herself (sky blue colored with her name in navy) had cherry blossoms and swans all over it, long with cats, her favorite animals. Kari's quilt (pink, of course, with her name in cursive in a purple color) had lavender flowers, rabbits, and, around the edges, where tiny pink flowers. Orion's quilt, lavender with her name embroidered in silver, showed jasmine, doves, and, of course, wolves, her 'all time favorite animal of all time.' Kouji's quilt displayed a long dagger, his name embroidered into the navy-colored fabric in gold thread. Tiny stars dotted the surface, and the moon in the upper right corner was outlined in silver. Matt's quit, green with his name embroidered neatly in gold, as well, with a long sword through the front, miniature orange and yellow leaves around the edges.
"Ayumi! They're beautiful," Orion had exclaimed. "How long did it take you to make them?" Ayumi smiled sheepishly.
"All year," she had answered.
"I don't want to sound ungrateful," TK said, "but where did you two get the cloth for the cloaks and quilts?" Orion and Ayumi exchanged a look of mischief.
"Remember last year when Boris just had to replace his curtains to waste more of the kingdom's treasury? Well, needless to say, we managed to salvage some," Ayumi said, laughing lightly. Orion smirked.
"More like we grabbed all the curtains in the castle," Orion said, "According to Miss Ayumi here, the curtains couldn't go to waste; after all, the curtains are made out of better cloth than our clothes." Orion sighed.
But, Kouji's gifts, by far, where the best; they weren't the best in the kingdom, but they were beautiful. He had given each of them a dagger, made to precision, the hilt beautiful in every way, the handle molded with a different anima.
"Kouji, I new you could do metalwork, but these are spectacular," Kari gasped as she slid the blade out of the covering, which was molded into the bearer's name. Kouji shrugged and looked out the window.
"We'd better go get ready to serve dinner at the festival," Orion sighed, starting on downstairs. "We've got a long, long day ahead of us. I have a bad feeling about today, I really do."
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PA27: o.O Whoa......... That was long!
MLM: YOU WROTE ELEVEN PAGES?!
PA27: Blush Well, that's it for this chapter. OOO!! I did a little bit of foreshadowing!
MLM: Is there someone stalking Ayumi?
PA27: What will become of TK and Kari?
MLM: Does Boris really know about their plan?
PA27: What will happen at the festival?
MLM: AND HOW COME I DIDN'T GET TO SAMPLE A CHOCOLATE CAKE?!
PA27: --' Er......... You know what? Why don't you just write the next chapter?
MLM: OKAY!!!!
PA27: I have befriended an idiot.
MLM: Aw, don't talk about Vincent like that.........
PA27: I wasn't talking about him.........
MLM: Oh......... Whatever!
PA27: --' Review, readers!
MLM: Yes! REVIEW, or else.........
PA27: I think I need Advil or something; I've got a migraine.........
MLM: Smiles innocently I wonder how that happened.