The Game of Life
By: Rogue Fox
Part Twenty-One... Hot Chocolate and Cookies
*+*+*Mai*+*+*
There are singes on some of clothes where I was caught in the crossfire when Himeko decided Yami needed to be punished. I had one outfit totally ruined when Yuki had a surge. I'm used to it. Some of my best friends are not exactly normal. I've been in a lot of situations that I'd rather not have been in because of them. But to make up for it, they are great friends. Yami's brave, Yugi's loyal, Himeko's fun, Yuki's sweet, Ryou's caring, and Bakura's... Well, Bakura is Bakura. Sometimes they're sickeningly dependent on each other, but they all really care for each other. And about the people around them.
Sometimes I get a little jealous of them. Each one of them has someone that understands them so completely, it's like the most ideal soul mate. And as though that's not enough, they all seem to complete each other. Yami's seriousness is balanced out by Himeko's sense of fun, and vice-versa. Bakura's devil-may-care attitude keeps Yugi's fretfulness in check. Himeko's rough and abrasive personality is checked by Ryou's gentle caring. Each one is checked and balanced out by the others. Sometimes I wish that someone out there fits into the curves and jags of my personality like Himeko fits into Yuki's. I've always wanted a sister. Yuki got a sister, a mom, a best friend, and a protector all in one.
" Too cute! You look absolutely adorable!" I squealed as a blushing Yuki stepped into my view.
" I don't know, Mai." Yuki said, biting her lip.
" Himeko, back me up on this one." I said, turning to Himeko, who was sprawled in a chair. She was sitting so that the back of her chair was in between her legs.
" You look good. And I wouldn't lie to you." She said, giving Yuki a playful wink.
" You really do look good, Yuki. Good job, Mai. I think you've outdone yourself." Anzu complimented me.
" Aw, it just looks so good cause it's on Yuki. Did you ever think of going into modeling, Yuki?" I asked. I had finally gotten Yuki to model some of the outfits I made. They were a little big, but I could fix that. I found that odd. I had taken her measurements a few months ago, and I knew I'd gotten them right. I figured she had a lost a little weight. But Yuki was already very skinny... She had Himeko's slight frame. She had started out broader and definitely larger than Himeko, but now, her waist couldn't have been bigger than Himeko's. I didn't think it was healthy for her to be losing weight. But maybe I was overreacting. Maybe I had just been a little off with the measurements.
" No, not really. I don't think I could do it. I don't like having my picture taken as it is." Yuki said, tugging self consciously at the hem of the dark blue skirt she was in. I smiled.
" Get over here. I need to know what alterations to make." I said. Yuki obediently came over. The outfit she was wearing at the moment was a dark blue skirt that came down to just above her knees (Yuki's very conscious of her thighs, and I knew she'd be more comfortable in something a little longer than what Himeko and I prefer), and a cute light blue spaghetti strap top with a white long sleeve shirt underneath. Yuki never wears anything like that. She's more likely to wear one of Kaiba's school uniforms than wear her own.
" Mai, where would I ever wear this?" she asked me.
" How about on a date with Honda?" Himeko suggested slyly. Anzu snickered from her position lounging on the couch in my living room. My mom was on another one of her trips. Yuki turned an interesting shade of red.
" Arms up." I directed. Yuki conceded quickly. " Yuki, Honda likes you. You like him. There's nothing wrong with that." I told her. " No reason to get embarrassed."
" Easy for you to say. You don't have a sister constantly teasing you about it." Yuki grumbled, glaring at Himeko, who smiled innocently. Sometimes I can't believe she can smile like that at all.
" Sure, Mai. You can say that when it's someone else. But how about when I ask what you're wearing on your next date with Jou?" Anzu asked.
" Jou and I are just friends." I said calmly.
" Yeah, sure." Himeko said, rolling her eyes.
" You only spend every waking moment together." Anzu added.
" I don't see him here now." I reminded her.
" One out of a million." Anzu retorted.
" Ow! Mai, you poked me!" Yuki cried suddenly, startling me.
" Sorry!" I cried, jumping back and setting down my pins. " Anzu was distracting me." I said in explanation.
" More like embarrassing you." Anzu interjected.
" You think you're so funny." I said, rolling my eyes.
" Now, now, children. Do I have to send you to separate corners?" Himeko asked dryly. She seemed to be in one of her sadistic moods. I've noticed that yamis tend to be much more moody than their lights. They're quicker to anger, more easily depressed, and their mood changes as quick as they can change their expression.
" Hey, you don't get to call us kids just because you're a little older." I protested.
" A little? Define little." Himeko asked. " Cause if you define 'little' as about 5000 years, then yeah, I'm a little older."
" With age doesn't always come wisdom. Or maturity." Yuki said in her soft, philosophical manner. With a sly grin. Even Yuki is full of surprises. That light, easy, warm air around her can change to a coy, playful one as quickly as Himeko can get angry.
" You're a funny one." Himeko growled sarcastically. Yuki smiled brightly.
" That means so much, coming from you. Yami calls you a barrel of laughs all the time." she said innocently, seemingly unaware of Himeko's sarcastic tone. Sometimes I wonder exactly how much Yuki really does and doesn't get.
" Well, at least I have a sense of humor. Certain older brothers need to acquire one." Himeko muttered, taking a long swig from a bottle of water.
" Yami's got a sense of humor. It's just... a little different." Anzu said quickly.
" Turn." I told Yuki, who spun obediently.
" Oooh, someone's got a crush!" Himeko teased.
" Anzu, you still like Yami?" I asked.
" Still?!" Himeko cried, sitting up straight. " Why doesn't anyone tell me these things? He's my brother!" Anzu was blushing profusely, and had managed to fall off the couch.
" Aren't you the possessive one? He's my brother too." Yuki said calmly. " And of course Anzu likes Yami." She added. We all stared at her. " Why would she hang out around him if they weren't friends?"
" Oh, Yuki." Himeko moaned, slapping her forehead.
" What I wouldn't give for your naivete." I muttered.
" I don't like Yami! Like that!" Anzu finally protested.
" Then why are you all red?" I asked slyly.
" Anzu, are you hot?" Yuki asked, still not comprehending. Himeko moaned again.
" I'm not related to her, I swear!" she cried.
" What'd I do?" Yuki asked, completely bewildered.
" At this point in time, I will conveniently change the subject." I declared. " Christmas is coming up, and I want you all to know that I've already raided the mall."
" Oh, Christmas! I haven't even thought about it yet." Anzu muttered.
" I have to wait till Seto puts his wallet down long enough for me to borrow his credit card before I can go shopping." Yuki said.
" Why don't you just ask him?" Himeko asked.
" Because then he'll go into his Scrooge mode and bah humbug me to death. Seto doesn't like Christmas as much as he should." Yuki explained.
" Wonder why?" I thought out loud. Yuki blushed.
" Long story." She muttered.
" I have to raid Yami's wallet before I can shop. Of course, he knows better than to put it down. And Yugi hides all his money." Himeko growled.
" I thought Grandpa was giving you three allowances." Yuki said.
" He is. I just already spent mine when Tepe, Ryou, and I went to the movies." Himeko said. " Ryou still thinks Tepe and I need a chaperon." She muttered as an afterthought. I knew better than to tease Himeko about Bakura. That was a very touchy subject for her. I know because the last time I had made a remark, she yelled at me and nearly burst into tears.
" Maybe he just wanted to get out of the house. I wouldn't blame him. That's an awful big house to be all alone in." Anzu said. Himeko shrugged.
" Okay, Yuki, you can go change now." I said. Yuki sighed and rushed off to my bedroom to change.
" That's the last one, right?" she called as she shut the door.
" Yeah." I called back. " I'll make the alterations and they'll be ready in a week."
" Oh, Mai! My uniform skirt ripped in the back, and there's no way I'm wearing it like that with those boys on the loose." Anzu said, standing up and rummaging through the bag she brought with her. She handed me her skirt a minute later.
" Oh, it's just a torn seam. I can fix this in a few minutes." I said, sitting at my sewing table.
I love sewing and making clothes. I don't like cooking, and I sure hate cleaning. But I love sewing. I don't mind playing tailor to my friends. I rather enjoy it. They bring me rips, tears, popped seams, lost buttons, and all sorts of apparel problems. The toughest out of all of them is the leather Yami, Yugi, and Kaiba seem to be fascinated with. I've become something of an expert with it. Although, I had turn Yugi away when he came to me with a totally demolished leather shirt. His story? The poor shirt happened to be in the washer when Yami decided it would work better if he gave it a "boost." The Motous just purchased a brand new washer, and Yugi is one leather shirt short. Also lost in the incident were one of Himeko's favorite skirts, a jacket Yami himself was fond of, and one of Himeko's few pairs of pants. Yami was more upset about the loss of the pants than Himeko.
How could a girl like me not be happy? I had an exciting life, wonderful friends, and Jou. Granted, there were times when I would wish that I could have a normal life. Then I look at Himeko and Yami and all of them, and I think about all the nice things they've done for me, and I decide that having such an abnormal life has its good points. After all, I haven't got it nearly as bad as some of them do. I don't have to keep my emotions under control for fear my super powers will blow up and possibly hurt someone who just happened to be standing near me. That's the reality some of my friends live with. Ryou once told me it was their gift, and their curse. He said that it's wonderful to know there's someone there who understands him fully, but at the same time, he has to live with knowing that he's only half of one soul. So I definitely could have it worse.
The girls left after a while, Yuki toting a few new outfits. I made her promise she would let me take her shoe shopping. After all, you can't have new outfits without having shoes to match them. That girl just doesn't get that two pairs of shoes will not do the trick. So I was left all alone in my apartment. Bored out of my mind. I thought about calling Jou, but I decided not to bug him. I couldn't expect him to always drop what he was doing and keep my company when I was bored. So I picked out my favorite romance movie and popped it in.
Usually, that movie keeps my attention perfectly. But that day, it wandered. I was still trying to figure out, after all this time, exactly what my purpose was. Was I destined to just stand on the side lines? I knew what happened in my past life. I was killed in the crossfire between struggling titans. I was killed then because I was trying to get in there and help my friends. That desire brought about my death, and the death of the man who loved me. I blushed a little. The guy that Jou was reincarnated from died trying to protect the girl I was reincarnated from. Trying to avenge her death. It was a stupid, impulsive thing I could definitely see Jou doing. But here, in this life, Jou was just my friend, and I couldn't see my purpose here.
I hate cheerleaders. I like Anzu as a person, but I hate her cheerleader- ish tendencies. I refuse to be anyone's cheerleader. Even Jou's. I like Himeko a lot, and Himeko is no cheerleader. She's more likely to be the one others cheer for, as opposed to being the one doing the cheering. Yuki just does what she needs to. If she needs to encourage someone, she will. If she needs to make a big boom, she'll do that too. So, what was my purpose? Just a cheerleader? I didn't think I could take that. But, I was just a mortal. Mortal. That sounded so degrading. I used to think of it as a fact. I was mortal, and I would get old and die someday. Now, it was like a slur. Mortal, without any special abilities. I knew they don't mean to, but Yugi and Yuki and the rest of them do sort of segregate us all. Mortal and not mortal. If you listen to them, it's usually "Protect the mortals," or something like that. But then, some of the things they deal with are pretty far over my head.
I sighed, and stepped out into the daylight. It was a lovely winter day, but I could smell the coming snow in the air. The thought excited me. Soon, it would be Christmas. Yuki, Anzu, and I were already planning a big get- together on Christmas Eve. I like decorating and getting ready for big things like that, Anzu just loves throwing parties, but Yuki just loves having everyone together and near her. Himeko does what we ask her to, but she's more of a party-goer, not a party-thrower. In any case, I could always count on Yuki to be willing to lend an ear when I'm bored.
I worry about Yuki. I think everyone does, for their own reason. Like everyone else, I'm concerned about her weak spells and loss of weight. But I also worry about her as a person. Yuki's lived her life in service of others. She's so innocent, she's incapable of seeing when someone is taking advantage of her. And people do, even if they don't realize it. Himeko is the only one who doesn't, really. Even I do. I was doing it right then, going over to the mansion to talk to her. I wasn't going cause I thought she would need someone to talk to, I was going because I needed someone to talk to. So I worry about her always serving others, never doing anything for herself. A girl needs to be selfish every now and then, it's just our nature. I looked around myself, spotting one of my favorite day spas.
" Well, there we go." I muttered, jogging across the street.
I got to the mansion a little later, a gift certificate for a full spa day made out to Yuki tucked in my purse. I had to state my name and business into the security intercom, but that's just because Yuki and Kaiba are nervous. They're really protective of their loved ones, and I don't blame them. After the whole incident in Egypt, I'd be protective too. I found Yuki in the kitchen, mixing hot chocolate.
" Oh, hi!" she called. She seemed happy to see me. But Yuki's always happy to see anyone.
" Hey." I greeted her, sitting down at the table. " What in the world are you doing?" I asked.
" I'm making hot chocolate for the boys when they get in from playing outside." Yuki explained, placing a tea pot of water on the stove. I sniffed the air.
" Mmmm... What smells so good?" I asked. Yuki looked pleased with herself.
" Chocolate chip cookies." She told me. " They'll be ready in a little bit. This is what I love about this time of year. Warm cookies and good things to drink waiting for you when you get in from the cold." A sort of spacey look passed over her face. I cocked my head.
" Did your mom used to make hot chocolate for you when you went out in the cold?" I asked. Yuki blushed.
" Um... Yeah, she used to... That was a long time ago, though." She murmured. " Didn't your mom make it for you?" she asked.
" No, not really. If I wanted it, I made it myself. My mom wasn't around much when I was a kid. She had to go on business trips a lot." I said, looking down at my hands. Suddenly, a steaming mug was set in front of me.
" Hot chocolate's good for the soul. My great-grandma used to say that." Yuki told me when I looked up at her questioningly. " So, if you don't mind me asking, who took care of you if your mom was gone?"
" I don't mind. My dad did for awhile, but then, he and my mom split up, and he ran off and married a model. They live in the Caribbean now." I told her, sipping from my chocolate.
" I'm sorry." Yuki said, looking genuinely apologetic.
" It's no big deal. That was a long time ago. I take care of myself." I said. " You know, it just occurred to me, I really don't know much about you. You know, your family and where you come from." I said.
" Um, well... My dad was a Japanese businessman, and he met my mom when he was in America for a vacation. He fell in love with her and they got married. Then he took her to Japan to meet his grandmother, and I was born while they were there." Yuki said, looking a little flushed.
" So you were born here? I'm sorry, I must seem really nosey. If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay." I said, suddenly embarrassed.
" It's fine." Yuki said, smiling. " Yes, I was born here. I was born in the same hospital Seto was. My father named me Yuki because it was pure luck that he and my mom met. They went back to America and bought some land in Oklahoma, and that's where I grew up. We lived pretty far off the beaten trail, but I liked it. Yoshi was born when I was four, and I met Seto when I was nine. My father died in a car accident when I was eleven, just after Yukio was born. My mom and I ran the family business together, with Seto's help. Umm... That's when she stopped making hot chocolate. She was too busy. I had to take care of the boys." Yuki looked down at her mug. " My mom died just after I turned fifteen." She finished. I stared at her.
" Do you miss them? Your other family?" I asked. I had always thought of Yuki as the kind of girl who naturally fell into the niche of being protected, despite her awesome power. But in reality, no one had been able to protect her.
" Yes... Sometimes." Yuki said, then forced a smile. " But I've got a new family now. You guys are my family. I'm happy here." She said. I wondered why I couldn't quite believe her. Just then, though, the boys came in.
I learned a lot about caring for others, spending that day with Yuki. I learned that her serving others had nothing to do with not being strong enough to make her own demands. It was something she did simply from love. It was sort of like my mending clothes. I did it because I cared about the people that brought me the clothes, and I wanted them to be happy. Yuki made cookies and hot chocolate because she loved her brothers. And I got into the spirit of it. There's something satisfying about watching a ten- year-old scarf down cookies you helped make, grinning and telling you with a full mouth how good they are. And of course, Yuki and I helped ourselves to the cookies and the dough. I helped Mokuba with his homework (that kid is smart!), and I played hide-and-seek with all of them in the house. When Kaiba got home, I saw a side of him I didn't even know he had. He was smiling and happy. He let Yukio use him as a jungle gym without a word of complaint. He actually looked happy. If Yuki was the caregiver in their little family, then Kaiba was the one the boys went to for fun. Yuki made cookies, Kaiba helped eat them. Yuki mended boo-boos, Kaiba helped make them. And for that one night, I felt like I was a part of their family.
" Alright, monsters, bedtime!" Yuki called, giving Yoshi and gentle swat on the rear. Yukio looked up, from his position on the floor with me. We had been coloring the pages of his new coloring book.
" Aw, Yuki!" Mokuba moaned.
" Do we have to, Seto?" Yoshi wailed.
" Do what your sister says." Kaiba said, tolerantly shoving Mokuba off him.
" Mai!" Yukio wailed pitifully.
" Get going." I said, trying to act stern. I wondered how Yuki remained so solid with those adorable faces. All three boys moaned and started up the stairs to their rooms. Kaiba stood from the couch and stretched, spreading his hand out over his head and starting to count down from five. The second he pulled the last finger down, a cry erupted from upstairs.
" Yuki! Seto!" Yukio wailed, appearing at the top of the stairs. " Yoshi pushed me!"
" I did not! Mokuba did!" Yoshi cried indignantly, also appearing.
" Liar!" Mokuba shrilled angrily from somewhere out of my line of sight.
" Yukio, toughen up. Yoshi, keep your hands to yourself and don't point fingers. Mokuba, don't call people names." Yuki said, straightening the pillows on the couch as she spoke. The three boys left again, grumbling.
" You can always tell who did it, because the one that points the finger first is almost always the one." Kaiba informed me. I giggled.
" You two are good at this." I said.
" You learn as you go." Yuki told me, smiling. " Do you want a ride home, or do you want to sleep here?" she asked.
" I guess I'll crash here, if that's okay with you guys." I said with a shrug. Kaiba shrugged as well and said it didn't matter to him, so long as Yuki and I didn't keep him awake. Then he said goodnight to Yuki and I and went to his own room. According to Yuki, he'd stay up another few hours and work at his computer, then go to bed.
I slept on an air mattress on Yuki's bedroom floor that night, arms behind my head and thinking about the day I had spent with her. Thinking about all I had learned. It was like a whole new world had been opened up to me. The prospect of having a family was something I had never considered. But now, it was something new and bold. I guess every girl imagines that someday she'll have a fairytale wedding to Mr. Right, and they'll have a beautiful baby and live happily ever after. I did, when I was younger. But I suppose I wrote it off as a dream. Now, it seemed possible. I blushed a little and tried to imagine what my Mr. Right would look like. Jou in a tux flashed in my mind, and I blushed more, trying to chase that thought from my head. I couldn't imagine myself as a bride, or a mother. I could imagine Anzu as a blushing bride, Yuki as a proud mother. I could imagine Himeko as a career wife who loved her husband. But I couldn't imagine myself in any of those roles. I know, I was being very stereotypical. But, oh well.
" Mai! Mai, wake up! We slept in!" Yuki's voice suddenly cut through the haze of my sleep. The words "We slept in" jarred me from the nice dream I was having, about my own husband and family. When I tried to remember what they looked like, I found I couldn't.
" Damn it! I hate school!" I cried, leaping up and making a mad dash to the closet. I keep some of my clothes in Yuki's closet, just incase I decide to sleep over without warning. I keep spares in Anzu's closet, and Himeko's too. So I pulled on my spare uniform and started to yank it on. After that, Yuki and I ran downstairs to find the boys eating cereal, already dressed and ready. Kaiba barged into the room just behind us, snagged a mug of coffee one of the cooks offered to him, and gulped it down. Yuki ate a bite of toast. Just a bite. I don't eat breakfast, so it was no big deal to me. I was too busy applying my make-up anyway.
" Mai, could you go get the newspaper?" Yuki asked suddenly. I nodded and stood up. " Mokuba, did you even try to brush your hair?!" Yuki asked in exasperation as I left the room. I didn't hear Mokuba's reply, but I chuckled anyway.
I got to the front door and pulled it open. Cold December air blasted my face. The sky was blue, tinted with the rosy hues of morning. I shivered a little and looked at the ground, trying to locate the newspaper. The sight that greeted me would change not only my life, but all our lives forever.
A/N: Ah, the beginning of a new saga. Betcha can't guess what Mai found on the doorstep! I don't expect you to, at least. This part was written entirely in Mai's POV because she's going to play a major role in this saga and the next one. Just trying to get myself in the "Mai-mode." Well, thank you for reading and please review!
*+*+*Special Christmas Scene for your reading pleasure*+*+*
Yami: Please note that Christmas will be celebrated in TGOL, just not yet.
Yuki: Ah! They're here?! Yukio! Yoshi! Mokuba! GET IN HERE!
All three boys: (run up to Christmas tree, which is huge)
Himeko: Damn, Seto. Don't think you overdid it, do you?
Seto: Overdid it? No way.
Mokuba: Hey, Yoshi, this big one's got your name on it! (points to large present)
Yoshi: Sweet!
Yukio: I can't read yet! Waaaah! ;_;
Bakura: Where are Ryou and Malik? (A/N: Yes, Malik's here)
Isis: I dunno.
Yugi: Yay! I luv Christmas! ^_^
Anzu: I'm gonna die if you don't quit being so cute, Yugi!
Mai: Keep it up, Yugi!
Anzu: That was so not funny.
Mai: ^_^
Honda: (holds mistletoe over Yuki's head) Merry Christmas! (leans in for kiss)
Yuki: Yoshi! Don't shake the presents! You don't know if they're breakable or not! (walks away, and Honda ends up kissing the floor)
Seto: (finds Honda's misfortune hilarious)
Yami: And what's so funny?
Seto: (snicker) Aside from your face, nothing.
Yami: (tackles Seto. Fight starts)
Malik & Ryou: We're here!
Malik: Ta-daaaa!
Himeko: Finally! Everyone line up!
Mai: How's my hair look, Jou? Do I look okay in this dress with these shoes? And does my lipstick clash with the rest of the outfit?
Jou: O_O?
Grandpa: Alright, everybody ready? Malik, quit giving Yami bunny ears!
Yami: Hey! (tries to murder Malik)
Yugi: Down, Yami!
Bakura: (snicker)
Grandpa: (gets behind camera) Okay, everyone, this our first Christmas together. Let's remember it fondly, okay?
Yami: Better get Malik out of the picture, then.
Everyone: Yami!
Yami: ^_^;
Malik: Ha! I am loved! (grins happily)
Grandpa: (gets ready to take picture) Say "Merry Christmas!"
Everyone: (big smiles) Merry Christmas!
(picture is shown. The front row shows Yugi, Ryou, Yuki, and Malik all sitting Indian style. In front of them, Mokuba and Yukio lay on either side of Yoshi, all laying on their stomachs. Behind the front row, Yami, Bakura, Himeko, and Isis all kneel on their knees behind their respective Hikaris/brother. Behind that row, Mai, Jou, Honda, Anzu, and Seto all stand and smile real big. At the bottom of the picture, the words "Our First Christmas" are written in red ink, with a smiley face next to it.)
By: Rogue Fox
Part Twenty-One... Hot Chocolate and Cookies
*+*+*Mai*+*+*
There are singes on some of clothes where I was caught in the crossfire when Himeko decided Yami needed to be punished. I had one outfit totally ruined when Yuki had a surge. I'm used to it. Some of my best friends are not exactly normal. I've been in a lot of situations that I'd rather not have been in because of them. But to make up for it, they are great friends. Yami's brave, Yugi's loyal, Himeko's fun, Yuki's sweet, Ryou's caring, and Bakura's... Well, Bakura is Bakura. Sometimes they're sickeningly dependent on each other, but they all really care for each other. And about the people around them.
Sometimes I get a little jealous of them. Each one of them has someone that understands them so completely, it's like the most ideal soul mate. And as though that's not enough, they all seem to complete each other. Yami's seriousness is balanced out by Himeko's sense of fun, and vice-versa. Bakura's devil-may-care attitude keeps Yugi's fretfulness in check. Himeko's rough and abrasive personality is checked by Ryou's gentle caring. Each one is checked and balanced out by the others. Sometimes I wish that someone out there fits into the curves and jags of my personality like Himeko fits into Yuki's. I've always wanted a sister. Yuki got a sister, a mom, a best friend, and a protector all in one.
" Too cute! You look absolutely adorable!" I squealed as a blushing Yuki stepped into my view.
" I don't know, Mai." Yuki said, biting her lip.
" Himeko, back me up on this one." I said, turning to Himeko, who was sprawled in a chair. She was sitting so that the back of her chair was in between her legs.
" You look good. And I wouldn't lie to you." She said, giving Yuki a playful wink.
" You really do look good, Yuki. Good job, Mai. I think you've outdone yourself." Anzu complimented me.
" Aw, it just looks so good cause it's on Yuki. Did you ever think of going into modeling, Yuki?" I asked. I had finally gotten Yuki to model some of the outfits I made. They were a little big, but I could fix that. I found that odd. I had taken her measurements a few months ago, and I knew I'd gotten them right. I figured she had a lost a little weight. But Yuki was already very skinny... She had Himeko's slight frame. She had started out broader and definitely larger than Himeko, but now, her waist couldn't have been bigger than Himeko's. I didn't think it was healthy for her to be losing weight. But maybe I was overreacting. Maybe I had just been a little off with the measurements.
" No, not really. I don't think I could do it. I don't like having my picture taken as it is." Yuki said, tugging self consciously at the hem of the dark blue skirt she was in. I smiled.
" Get over here. I need to know what alterations to make." I said. Yuki obediently came over. The outfit she was wearing at the moment was a dark blue skirt that came down to just above her knees (Yuki's very conscious of her thighs, and I knew she'd be more comfortable in something a little longer than what Himeko and I prefer), and a cute light blue spaghetti strap top with a white long sleeve shirt underneath. Yuki never wears anything like that. She's more likely to wear one of Kaiba's school uniforms than wear her own.
" Mai, where would I ever wear this?" she asked me.
" How about on a date with Honda?" Himeko suggested slyly. Anzu snickered from her position lounging on the couch in my living room. My mom was on another one of her trips. Yuki turned an interesting shade of red.
" Arms up." I directed. Yuki conceded quickly. " Yuki, Honda likes you. You like him. There's nothing wrong with that." I told her. " No reason to get embarrassed."
" Easy for you to say. You don't have a sister constantly teasing you about it." Yuki grumbled, glaring at Himeko, who smiled innocently. Sometimes I can't believe she can smile like that at all.
" Sure, Mai. You can say that when it's someone else. But how about when I ask what you're wearing on your next date with Jou?" Anzu asked.
" Jou and I are just friends." I said calmly.
" Yeah, sure." Himeko said, rolling her eyes.
" You only spend every waking moment together." Anzu added.
" I don't see him here now." I reminded her.
" One out of a million." Anzu retorted.
" Ow! Mai, you poked me!" Yuki cried suddenly, startling me.
" Sorry!" I cried, jumping back and setting down my pins. " Anzu was distracting me." I said in explanation.
" More like embarrassing you." Anzu interjected.
" You think you're so funny." I said, rolling my eyes.
" Now, now, children. Do I have to send you to separate corners?" Himeko asked dryly. She seemed to be in one of her sadistic moods. I've noticed that yamis tend to be much more moody than their lights. They're quicker to anger, more easily depressed, and their mood changes as quick as they can change their expression.
" Hey, you don't get to call us kids just because you're a little older." I protested.
" A little? Define little." Himeko asked. " Cause if you define 'little' as about 5000 years, then yeah, I'm a little older."
" With age doesn't always come wisdom. Or maturity." Yuki said in her soft, philosophical manner. With a sly grin. Even Yuki is full of surprises. That light, easy, warm air around her can change to a coy, playful one as quickly as Himeko can get angry.
" You're a funny one." Himeko growled sarcastically. Yuki smiled brightly.
" That means so much, coming from you. Yami calls you a barrel of laughs all the time." she said innocently, seemingly unaware of Himeko's sarcastic tone. Sometimes I wonder exactly how much Yuki really does and doesn't get.
" Well, at least I have a sense of humor. Certain older brothers need to acquire one." Himeko muttered, taking a long swig from a bottle of water.
" Yami's got a sense of humor. It's just... a little different." Anzu said quickly.
" Turn." I told Yuki, who spun obediently.
" Oooh, someone's got a crush!" Himeko teased.
" Anzu, you still like Yami?" I asked.
" Still?!" Himeko cried, sitting up straight. " Why doesn't anyone tell me these things? He's my brother!" Anzu was blushing profusely, and had managed to fall off the couch.
" Aren't you the possessive one? He's my brother too." Yuki said calmly. " And of course Anzu likes Yami." She added. We all stared at her. " Why would she hang out around him if they weren't friends?"
" Oh, Yuki." Himeko moaned, slapping her forehead.
" What I wouldn't give for your naivete." I muttered.
" I don't like Yami! Like that!" Anzu finally protested.
" Then why are you all red?" I asked slyly.
" Anzu, are you hot?" Yuki asked, still not comprehending. Himeko moaned again.
" I'm not related to her, I swear!" she cried.
" What'd I do?" Yuki asked, completely bewildered.
" At this point in time, I will conveniently change the subject." I declared. " Christmas is coming up, and I want you all to know that I've already raided the mall."
" Oh, Christmas! I haven't even thought about it yet." Anzu muttered.
" I have to wait till Seto puts his wallet down long enough for me to borrow his credit card before I can go shopping." Yuki said.
" Why don't you just ask him?" Himeko asked.
" Because then he'll go into his Scrooge mode and bah humbug me to death. Seto doesn't like Christmas as much as he should." Yuki explained.
" Wonder why?" I thought out loud. Yuki blushed.
" Long story." She muttered.
" I have to raid Yami's wallet before I can shop. Of course, he knows better than to put it down. And Yugi hides all his money." Himeko growled.
" I thought Grandpa was giving you three allowances." Yuki said.
" He is. I just already spent mine when Tepe, Ryou, and I went to the movies." Himeko said. " Ryou still thinks Tepe and I need a chaperon." She muttered as an afterthought. I knew better than to tease Himeko about Bakura. That was a very touchy subject for her. I know because the last time I had made a remark, she yelled at me and nearly burst into tears.
" Maybe he just wanted to get out of the house. I wouldn't blame him. That's an awful big house to be all alone in." Anzu said. Himeko shrugged.
" Okay, Yuki, you can go change now." I said. Yuki sighed and rushed off to my bedroom to change.
" That's the last one, right?" she called as she shut the door.
" Yeah." I called back. " I'll make the alterations and they'll be ready in a week."
" Oh, Mai! My uniform skirt ripped in the back, and there's no way I'm wearing it like that with those boys on the loose." Anzu said, standing up and rummaging through the bag she brought with her. She handed me her skirt a minute later.
" Oh, it's just a torn seam. I can fix this in a few minutes." I said, sitting at my sewing table.
I love sewing and making clothes. I don't like cooking, and I sure hate cleaning. But I love sewing. I don't mind playing tailor to my friends. I rather enjoy it. They bring me rips, tears, popped seams, lost buttons, and all sorts of apparel problems. The toughest out of all of them is the leather Yami, Yugi, and Kaiba seem to be fascinated with. I've become something of an expert with it. Although, I had turn Yugi away when he came to me with a totally demolished leather shirt. His story? The poor shirt happened to be in the washer when Yami decided it would work better if he gave it a "boost." The Motous just purchased a brand new washer, and Yugi is one leather shirt short. Also lost in the incident were one of Himeko's favorite skirts, a jacket Yami himself was fond of, and one of Himeko's few pairs of pants. Yami was more upset about the loss of the pants than Himeko.
How could a girl like me not be happy? I had an exciting life, wonderful friends, and Jou. Granted, there were times when I would wish that I could have a normal life. Then I look at Himeko and Yami and all of them, and I think about all the nice things they've done for me, and I decide that having such an abnormal life has its good points. After all, I haven't got it nearly as bad as some of them do. I don't have to keep my emotions under control for fear my super powers will blow up and possibly hurt someone who just happened to be standing near me. That's the reality some of my friends live with. Ryou once told me it was their gift, and their curse. He said that it's wonderful to know there's someone there who understands him fully, but at the same time, he has to live with knowing that he's only half of one soul. So I definitely could have it worse.
The girls left after a while, Yuki toting a few new outfits. I made her promise she would let me take her shoe shopping. After all, you can't have new outfits without having shoes to match them. That girl just doesn't get that two pairs of shoes will not do the trick. So I was left all alone in my apartment. Bored out of my mind. I thought about calling Jou, but I decided not to bug him. I couldn't expect him to always drop what he was doing and keep my company when I was bored. So I picked out my favorite romance movie and popped it in.
Usually, that movie keeps my attention perfectly. But that day, it wandered. I was still trying to figure out, after all this time, exactly what my purpose was. Was I destined to just stand on the side lines? I knew what happened in my past life. I was killed in the crossfire between struggling titans. I was killed then because I was trying to get in there and help my friends. That desire brought about my death, and the death of the man who loved me. I blushed a little. The guy that Jou was reincarnated from died trying to protect the girl I was reincarnated from. Trying to avenge her death. It was a stupid, impulsive thing I could definitely see Jou doing. But here, in this life, Jou was just my friend, and I couldn't see my purpose here.
I hate cheerleaders. I like Anzu as a person, but I hate her cheerleader- ish tendencies. I refuse to be anyone's cheerleader. Even Jou's. I like Himeko a lot, and Himeko is no cheerleader. She's more likely to be the one others cheer for, as opposed to being the one doing the cheering. Yuki just does what she needs to. If she needs to encourage someone, she will. If she needs to make a big boom, she'll do that too. So, what was my purpose? Just a cheerleader? I didn't think I could take that. But, I was just a mortal. Mortal. That sounded so degrading. I used to think of it as a fact. I was mortal, and I would get old and die someday. Now, it was like a slur. Mortal, without any special abilities. I knew they don't mean to, but Yugi and Yuki and the rest of them do sort of segregate us all. Mortal and not mortal. If you listen to them, it's usually "Protect the mortals," or something like that. But then, some of the things they deal with are pretty far over my head.
I sighed, and stepped out into the daylight. It was a lovely winter day, but I could smell the coming snow in the air. The thought excited me. Soon, it would be Christmas. Yuki, Anzu, and I were already planning a big get- together on Christmas Eve. I like decorating and getting ready for big things like that, Anzu just loves throwing parties, but Yuki just loves having everyone together and near her. Himeko does what we ask her to, but she's more of a party-goer, not a party-thrower. In any case, I could always count on Yuki to be willing to lend an ear when I'm bored.
I worry about Yuki. I think everyone does, for their own reason. Like everyone else, I'm concerned about her weak spells and loss of weight. But I also worry about her as a person. Yuki's lived her life in service of others. She's so innocent, she's incapable of seeing when someone is taking advantage of her. And people do, even if they don't realize it. Himeko is the only one who doesn't, really. Even I do. I was doing it right then, going over to the mansion to talk to her. I wasn't going cause I thought she would need someone to talk to, I was going because I needed someone to talk to. So I worry about her always serving others, never doing anything for herself. A girl needs to be selfish every now and then, it's just our nature. I looked around myself, spotting one of my favorite day spas.
" Well, there we go." I muttered, jogging across the street.
I got to the mansion a little later, a gift certificate for a full spa day made out to Yuki tucked in my purse. I had to state my name and business into the security intercom, but that's just because Yuki and Kaiba are nervous. They're really protective of their loved ones, and I don't blame them. After the whole incident in Egypt, I'd be protective too. I found Yuki in the kitchen, mixing hot chocolate.
" Oh, hi!" she called. She seemed happy to see me. But Yuki's always happy to see anyone.
" Hey." I greeted her, sitting down at the table. " What in the world are you doing?" I asked.
" I'm making hot chocolate for the boys when they get in from playing outside." Yuki explained, placing a tea pot of water on the stove. I sniffed the air.
" Mmmm... What smells so good?" I asked. Yuki looked pleased with herself.
" Chocolate chip cookies." She told me. " They'll be ready in a little bit. This is what I love about this time of year. Warm cookies and good things to drink waiting for you when you get in from the cold." A sort of spacey look passed over her face. I cocked my head.
" Did your mom used to make hot chocolate for you when you went out in the cold?" I asked. Yuki blushed.
" Um... Yeah, she used to... That was a long time ago, though." She murmured. " Didn't your mom make it for you?" she asked.
" No, not really. If I wanted it, I made it myself. My mom wasn't around much when I was a kid. She had to go on business trips a lot." I said, looking down at my hands. Suddenly, a steaming mug was set in front of me.
" Hot chocolate's good for the soul. My great-grandma used to say that." Yuki told me when I looked up at her questioningly. " So, if you don't mind me asking, who took care of you if your mom was gone?"
" I don't mind. My dad did for awhile, but then, he and my mom split up, and he ran off and married a model. They live in the Caribbean now." I told her, sipping from my chocolate.
" I'm sorry." Yuki said, looking genuinely apologetic.
" It's no big deal. That was a long time ago. I take care of myself." I said. " You know, it just occurred to me, I really don't know much about you. You know, your family and where you come from." I said.
" Um, well... My dad was a Japanese businessman, and he met my mom when he was in America for a vacation. He fell in love with her and they got married. Then he took her to Japan to meet his grandmother, and I was born while they were there." Yuki said, looking a little flushed.
" So you were born here? I'm sorry, I must seem really nosey. If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay." I said, suddenly embarrassed.
" It's fine." Yuki said, smiling. " Yes, I was born here. I was born in the same hospital Seto was. My father named me Yuki because it was pure luck that he and my mom met. They went back to America and bought some land in Oklahoma, and that's where I grew up. We lived pretty far off the beaten trail, but I liked it. Yoshi was born when I was four, and I met Seto when I was nine. My father died in a car accident when I was eleven, just after Yukio was born. My mom and I ran the family business together, with Seto's help. Umm... That's when she stopped making hot chocolate. She was too busy. I had to take care of the boys." Yuki looked down at her mug. " My mom died just after I turned fifteen." She finished. I stared at her.
" Do you miss them? Your other family?" I asked. I had always thought of Yuki as the kind of girl who naturally fell into the niche of being protected, despite her awesome power. But in reality, no one had been able to protect her.
" Yes... Sometimes." Yuki said, then forced a smile. " But I've got a new family now. You guys are my family. I'm happy here." She said. I wondered why I couldn't quite believe her. Just then, though, the boys came in.
I learned a lot about caring for others, spending that day with Yuki. I learned that her serving others had nothing to do with not being strong enough to make her own demands. It was something she did simply from love. It was sort of like my mending clothes. I did it because I cared about the people that brought me the clothes, and I wanted them to be happy. Yuki made cookies and hot chocolate because she loved her brothers. And I got into the spirit of it. There's something satisfying about watching a ten- year-old scarf down cookies you helped make, grinning and telling you with a full mouth how good they are. And of course, Yuki and I helped ourselves to the cookies and the dough. I helped Mokuba with his homework (that kid is smart!), and I played hide-and-seek with all of them in the house. When Kaiba got home, I saw a side of him I didn't even know he had. He was smiling and happy. He let Yukio use him as a jungle gym without a word of complaint. He actually looked happy. If Yuki was the caregiver in their little family, then Kaiba was the one the boys went to for fun. Yuki made cookies, Kaiba helped eat them. Yuki mended boo-boos, Kaiba helped make them. And for that one night, I felt like I was a part of their family.
" Alright, monsters, bedtime!" Yuki called, giving Yoshi and gentle swat on the rear. Yukio looked up, from his position on the floor with me. We had been coloring the pages of his new coloring book.
" Aw, Yuki!" Mokuba moaned.
" Do we have to, Seto?" Yoshi wailed.
" Do what your sister says." Kaiba said, tolerantly shoving Mokuba off him.
" Mai!" Yukio wailed pitifully.
" Get going." I said, trying to act stern. I wondered how Yuki remained so solid with those adorable faces. All three boys moaned and started up the stairs to their rooms. Kaiba stood from the couch and stretched, spreading his hand out over his head and starting to count down from five. The second he pulled the last finger down, a cry erupted from upstairs.
" Yuki! Seto!" Yukio wailed, appearing at the top of the stairs. " Yoshi pushed me!"
" I did not! Mokuba did!" Yoshi cried indignantly, also appearing.
" Liar!" Mokuba shrilled angrily from somewhere out of my line of sight.
" Yukio, toughen up. Yoshi, keep your hands to yourself and don't point fingers. Mokuba, don't call people names." Yuki said, straightening the pillows on the couch as she spoke. The three boys left again, grumbling.
" You can always tell who did it, because the one that points the finger first is almost always the one." Kaiba informed me. I giggled.
" You two are good at this." I said.
" You learn as you go." Yuki told me, smiling. " Do you want a ride home, or do you want to sleep here?" she asked.
" I guess I'll crash here, if that's okay with you guys." I said with a shrug. Kaiba shrugged as well and said it didn't matter to him, so long as Yuki and I didn't keep him awake. Then he said goodnight to Yuki and I and went to his own room. According to Yuki, he'd stay up another few hours and work at his computer, then go to bed.
I slept on an air mattress on Yuki's bedroom floor that night, arms behind my head and thinking about the day I had spent with her. Thinking about all I had learned. It was like a whole new world had been opened up to me. The prospect of having a family was something I had never considered. But now, it was something new and bold. I guess every girl imagines that someday she'll have a fairytale wedding to Mr. Right, and they'll have a beautiful baby and live happily ever after. I did, when I was younger. But I suppose I wrote it off as a dream. Now, it seemed possible. I blushed a little and tried to imagine what my Mr. Right would look like. Jou in a tux flashed in my mind, and I blushed more, trying to chase that thought from my head. I couldn't imagine myself as a bride, or a mother. I could imagine Anzu as a blushing bride, Yuki as a proud mother. I could imagine Himeko as a career wife who loved her husband. But I couldn't imagine myself in any of those roles. I know, I was being very stereotypical. But, oh well.
" Mai! Mai, wake up! We slept in!" Yuki's voice suddenly cut through the haze of my sleep. The words "We slept in" jarred me from the nice dream I was having, about my own husband and family. When I tried to remember what they looked like, I found I couldn't.
" Damn it! I hate school!" I cried, leaping up and making a mad dash to the closet. I keep some of my clothes in Yuki's closet, just incase I decide to sleep over without warning. I keep spares in Anzu's closet, and Himeko's too. So I pulled on my spare uniform and started to yank it on. After that, Yuki and I ran downstairs to find the boys eating cereal, already dressed and ready. Kaiba barged into the room just behind us, snagged a mug of coffee one of the cooks offered to him, and gulped it down. Yuki ate a bite of toast. Just a bite. I don't eat breakfast, so it was no big deal to me. I was too busy applying my make-up anyway.
" Mai, could you go get the newspaper?" Yuki asked suddenly. I nodded and stood up. " Mokuba, did you even try to brush your hair?!" Yuki asked in exasperation as I left the room. I didn't hear Mokuba's reply, but I chuckled anyway.
I got to the front door and pulled it open. Cold December air blasted my face. The sky was blue, tinted with the rosy hues of morning. I shivered a little and looked at the ground, trying to locate the newspaper. The sight that greeted me would change not only my life, but all our lives forever.
A/N: Ah, the beginning of a new saga. Betcha can't guess what Mai found on the doorstep! I don't expect you to, at least. This part was written entirely in Mai's POV because she's going to play a major role in this saga and the next one. Just trying to get myself in the "Mai-mode." Well, thank you for reading and please review!
*+*+*Special Christmas Scene for your reading pleasure*+*+*
Yami: Please note that Christmas will be celebrated in TGOL, just not yet.
Yuki: Ah! They're here?! Yukio! Yoshi! Mokuba! GET IN HERE!
All three boys: (run up to Christmas tree, which is huge)
Himeko: Damn, Seto. Don't think you overdid it, do you?
Seto: Overdid it? No way.
Mokuba: Hey, Yoshi, this big one's got your name on it! (points to large present)
Yoshi: Sweet!
Yukio: I can't read yet! Waaaah! ;_;
Bakura: Where are Ryou and Malik? (A/N: Yes, Malik's here)
Isis: I dunno.
Yugi: Yay! I luv Christmas! ^_^
Anzu: I'm gonna die if you don't quit being so cute, Yugi!
Mai: Keep it up, Yugi!
Anzu: That was so not funny.
Mai: ^_^
Honda: (holds mistletoe over Yuki's head) Merry Christmas! (leans in for kiss)
Yuki: Yoshi! Don't shake the presents! You don't know if they're breakable or not! (walks away, and Honda ends up kissing the floor)
Seto: (finds Honda's misfortune hilarious)
Yami: And what's so funny?
Seto: (snicker) Aside from your face, nothing.
Yami: (tackles Seto. Fight starts)
Malik & Ryou: We're here!
Malik: Ta-daaaa!
Himeko: Finally! Everyone line up!
Mai: How's my hair look, Jou? Do I look okay in this dress with these shoes? And does my lipstick clash with the rest of the outfit?
Jou: O_O?
Grandpa: Alright, everybody ready? Malik, quit giving Yami bunny ears!
Yami: Hey! (tries to murder Malik)
Yugi: Down, Yami!
Bakura: (snicker)
Grandpa: (gets behind camera) Okay, everyone, this our first Christmas together. Let's remember it fondly, okay?
Yami: Better get Malik out of the picture, then.
Everyone: Yami!
Yami: ^_^;
Malik: Ha! I am loved! (grins happily)
Grandpa: (gets ready to take picture) Say "Merry Christmas!"
Everyone: (big smiles) Merry Christmas!
(picture is shown. The front row shows Yugi, Ryou, Yuki, and Malik all sitting Indian style. In front of them, Mokuba and Yukio lay on either side of Yoshi, all laying on their stomachs. Behind the front row, Yami, Bakura, Himeko, and Isis all kneel on their knees behind their respective Hikaris/brother. Behind that row, Mai, Jou, Honda, Anzu, and Seto all stand and smile real big. At the bottom of the picture, the words "Our First Christmas" are written in red ink, with a smiley face next to it.)