Skeleton-T is in the middle of a tea ceremony. Unfortunately, others didn't get the memo and continue interrupting him. Requested by jellipuddi on tumblr!

Tea Ceremony Blues

"Gyokuro," Skeleton-T whispered, crossing his legs and clutching his knees, "one of the finest teas in the world. The heavenly green tea that's shaded for three weeks. Shaded longer than kabuse, and that's what makes it so grand."

He sighed, the scent of seaweed rising from the burning kettle. He watched the fire flicker underneath the kettle, the popping flares sounding like true music. Each fiery crackle brought him closer to the perfect heat needed, and as he watched the flares underneath the shady coolness of a tree, he knew nothing could go wrong.

It wasn't like he had anyone around to bother him. After his misadventure in Suzuran, he found home more preferable to hold tea ceremonies. The girls with the curly red hair and large Puyo hat simply couldn't appreciate his dedication to his tea craftsmanship, and with Arle and her companions exploring different worlds, it was the best time to make tea.

With no distractions, no bothersome Puyo battles, Skeleton-T found himself in a paradisiacal state of mind.

Then, he smelled it. The offputting, toxic stench that rose up from the grass behind the tree had wafted around him. It was the stench of muck and garbage mingling together, and he slapped his hand over his face, jerking his head around for the source of the horrible smell.

"Ocha! You!" he barked, storming around the tree.

Zombie rose up from the ground, spinning once before landing perfectly on his feet. "Oh, I ended up here? This place isn't Panotty and Harpy's concert."

"What do you think you're doing interrupting my tea ceremony? I can't be distracted! Away with you!"

"I guess I took a wrong turn at the magic school." He rubbed the back of his head. "What are you doing anyway?"

"I just told you! A tea ceremony! It took me twenty days to make sure the tea leaves were shielded from the sun to ensure their perfection! In the heating process, I can't be bothered!" He huffed and crossed back over to his kettle. Sitting down, he ignored Zombie grumbling to himself as he dug back underground.

Heaving out a sigh, Skeleton-T knew he shouldn't have been harsh. Zombie was never the best with directions. He recalled how he once spun right into the bamboo flooring of his humble abode, evidently lost on his way to Satan's castle for a Puyo tournament. Deciding to apologize after his tea ceremony, he clutched his porcelain cup. He wiggled his bony fingers and reached for the kettle, believing enough time had passed for him to pour.

Before he could reach out, a puff of black smoke shot in front of his eyes. He yelped, rapidly slapping at the air and dispersing the strange ebony smog. If he had lungs, he would have choking, but his primary concern was his tea, and he ducked down, finding his kettle perfectly safe.

"Ah, the upper world is still so calm." A voice, composed and young, hit him between his ears.

"Oh, great, I thought I left teenagers back in the other world," he groaned as the smoke vanished.

Demon Servant hummed and crossed his arms. He had ventured from the various layers of Hell to the surface to see if it was worth conquering. He also had his grudge against a certain martial artist to settle, but that could wait compared to exploring the realm and seeing what he could use to his advantage.

"Move out the way! You might knock over my kettle!" Skeleton-T barked, waving his fists.

Raising his eyebrows, he glanced at his feet and gasped. The fire had clipped part of his cape, which was now quickly burning. Wrenching it off, he rapidly blew on it and shook it wildly, panic streaking across his expression.

More concerned with guarding his kettle, Skeleton-T snatched the handle and ripped it away. He yelped as a precious splash of tea spilled out of the spout. If he had tears, he might have cried, but watching Demon Servant desperately fan out the flames on his cape eased his shock.

"Ha! That's what you get for barging in like that! Now, get going or that fancy cape won't be the only thing burned!"

Snarling, Demon Servant clutched his cape and knew Rulue would mock him for having singed clothes. "This isn't over, you bony gremlin. I'll be back for you later!"

In another fit of smoke, he was gone. Sighing, Skeleton-T tightly pinched his fingers together. All he had to do was simply pour the tea into his cup, and he would be golden.

He checked around once more. Peering behind the tree, looking across the field, he wanted nothing to distract him from the most precious moment of the ceremony. Ensuring that he was perfectly alone, Skeleton-T returned to his spot on the grass and clutched the handle. He raised the spout over his cup and poured, the sweet tea aroma guiding his movements.

With a sigh, he set the kettle back down onto its metal stand. Leaning back, he cupped the bottom of his drink and set the rim to his mouth. Smiling, Skeleton-T gingerly sipped.

A massive hole ripped through the ground, scorching the earth and shooting a clump of dirt at his hands that knocked the cup onto the grass.

Zoh Daimaoh burst through the ground, his body flaming and temper reaching a critical boiling point. "Zoooooh! Where are you, Merrow? How dare you attempt to steal my legs? Where have you gone?"

Water burst up from the hole like a small tornado. The wicked waves spun in place before slamming down on Skeleton-T. He simply picked up his cup and continued drinking the remaining tea with a blank expression. Despite being fully wet and aching from the watery blow, he appeared as rigid as a statue.

Huffing, Zoh Daimaoh jerked his head over his shoulder and barked, "You! Have you seen a pink-haired mermaid?"

"Why would I? This is a field. If she's a mermaid, then she lives in the sea," he replied, remarkably calm.

"Zoh?" He hummed, slowly nodding. "Ah, that...does make sense. When she tried stealing my legs, she did swim away."

Standing up, Skeleton-T dropped his cup and bowed. He took a breath, raised his head, and when Zoh Daimaoh looked into his eyes, he flinched.

There was nothing but cold darkness in those sinister depths.

"Super Dynamic Ocha Bomber!" he roared, lunging at Zoh Daimaoh and rained down merciless blows, eighteen strikes in total on the poor elephant king who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Miles away, interrupting Panotty and Harpy's concert and Merrow's underwater getaway, some say they could hear his wailing across dimensions.