Hello everybody and welcome back to "Cards and Dragons". As I said in the beginning of this story, I would not be posting updates for this particular story every week as I want to focus more so on my Avengers story (which I will be posting the next chapter soon). Please enjoy this chapter.

I do not own Yugioh. It is owned by Kazuki Takahashi.

Chapter 3 Gardens

~Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean… Uncharted Isle…~

The cloaked figure looked out over the waters of the Pacific and smiled crookedly. He muttered to himself, "All will be under my rule in the next year and no one will be able to deny my orders…" A great black dragon rose from behind him as he laughed maniacally into the wind as an approaching storm came.

~Duelist Kingdom… Gardens…~

Down in the gardens, Kagome and Cecelia giggled and laughed, talking of their past and now renewed friendship. They recalled time of sadness and times of good. They were overjoyed to have Cecelia alive again, to live life anew with Maximillion together with Kagome in their lives. Jason was overwhelmed and in awe to see his sister alive again as he came after them in the gardens to guard them. He cried on her shoulder, causing both Kagome and Cecelia to cry with him.

"Jason, I am alive! I am here! Don't beat yourself up over my death since I am now alive again," Cecelia cried out, hugging him to comfort him. He clung to her as if letting her go would make her disappear again.

Kagome patted his back, knowing he blamed himself, and comforted him, "Jason, she's right, don't blame yourself for her death. She's alive and back in our lives again."

Jason seemed to finally relax and slowly, his tears dried up and disappeared. He pulled back and stood tall, though his normal rough and rigid security detail self was gone, replaced by a gentle and humble man one would not want to be on his bad side. There were tear stains on his face still, he faced his sister who smiled and she pulled out a personal handkerchief from her skirt pocket. \

He wiped away the tears, "Thank you Cecelia. You are always prepared for everything. Sorry to unload on you both, but seeing you alive has made me so happy." He hugged Cecelia again, saying, "I best be getting to walking the garden. Pegasus made it clear he wanted me to guard the two of you as you talk." Kagome and Cecelia hugged him, and he left to circuit the garden to make sure they were safe from any threats.

After he had gone, Kagome and Cecelia walked over to a bench in the gardens, admiring the flowers. Kagome watched as her crew work the gardens, happy they were doing a great job at keeping the grounds clean, beautiful, and pristine. The lupine they had planted several months ago at the beginning of spring had taken and were blooming in full. Kagome smiled even more because she specifically chose varieties that were purple and pink for Cecelia. And for herself. She herself was partial for the purple lupine.

Kagome was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Cecelia ask, "Kagome? What happened after I died? To you? To Max? To our families?"

Kagome sighed and looked to her best friend and she saw a hesitant curiosity, yet fearful tone underneath it all. Kagome turned away and looked into the sky, sorrow filling her. She spoke in a quiet tone, though loud enough for Cecelia to easily hear, "After you died… I… I went back home and grieved for a few months. I had graduated from college several weeks prior to your death and I had plans to surprise you and Max with my presence.

"But when I had everything ready to go and packed, I heard the news you were extremely sick and were close to death. I had gotten accepted by Maximillion to be his gardener just after graduation as he was dually impressed with my presentations and plans. When news that you died reached my ears, I broke. It sent my down a dark path for a few weeks before I was called to Duelist Kingdom. I figured that being close to Max, physically anyway, would help heal my heart. Not only that he had you buried here on the island, so having access to your grave helped me to grieve."

Cecelia poked Kagome's shoulder, gently asking her, "How did Max take my death?'

Kagome let out a sad sigh, "Max on the other hand searched the world for ways to resurrect you, eventually landing in Egypt where he met Shadi and eventually Isis. He gained the Millennium Eye as we know. He figured that the Millennium Items were the key to resurrecting you. After he became somewhat a hermit here on Duelist Kingdom, researching the different ways to use the Millennium Items."

Cecelia gasped, causing Kagome to turn to her in fear of her getting harmed. Instead Cecelia was as pale as a ghost. Kagome asked fearfully, "What is it, Cecelia? What's wrong?"

"The Millennium Items! Where are ours? Are they safe? Are they secret?" Cecelia asked in worried panic, grabbing Kagome in fear, afraid.

Kagome suddenly relaxed, and relief came to her face, "Relax, Cecelia. The Millennium Items of ours are secrets and they are safe. As you know, as I do and most everyone who he trusts, he has the Millennium Eye. Shadi has the Key, Isis has the Necklace, and I have the Rod and the Scale. As for the Ring, I do not know its location or its owner. But I believe it still is in the evil hands of Bakura, though I don't know for sure. The Millennium Puzzle is with Yugi Moto, who I believe is one of the people Max is inviting to the Island soon."

Cecelia relaxed, knowing that most of the items were still safe. She inquired, "Could you take me to your quarters? I would like to see your personal room…"

"Sure! Come my dear friend," Kagome smiled and she nodded at Jason and his guard followed ever so subtlety, giving them almost, if not downright, unnecessary protection. Kagome led Cecelia through the halls of Duelist Kingdom, to the servants' quarters. Her room was located on the first floor with a door leading to the outdoors, to the courtyard facing south.

Her room was simple and to the point it was painted sage green with brown wood floors. A queen bed, a dresser, an armoire, and a desk were arranged with good interior design to use the space wisely. A walk-in closet acted as a smaller area for storage and a personal bathroom was closed off by a nice oak door. A book shelf filled to the brim, took up much of the western wall. What topped it all off was that the room had plants everywhere, making it all lively and almost impossible to move in the room without touching at least two or three at a time.

Cecelia looked around the room and smiled, thinking, this is such a Kagome room if I didn't see one. She even has the plants to match everything to her likes. She gasped and approached a plant, her favorite, the rare South American orchid that was a beautiful shade of blueish-violet. It had a beautiful scent as well, which was very rare for orchids to have. Though all the plants made the room look like a beautiful jungle garden, giving it a calming feel.

"Many of these plants I acquired from friends and acquaintances across the globe. Some of them are from Max, but they are unique to their types. Also, I got some from different agricultural studies and travels from around the world. Many of them are rare and rescued. They do well here in my room under my care," Kagome explained as she watched Cecelia smell the orchid.

Cecelia smiled over to her friend, "It's all calming and beautiful. Your bookshelf looks like it is going to burst at the seams. Care if I look through it sometime and snag a book off it?" At Kagome's nod, Cecelia squealed, "Thank you so much! With being a society lady, I will need things to distract me, like you, books, plants… Max…" Blushing, Cecelia ducked her head in embarrassment. Kagome laughed.

At Cecelia's glare, Kagome sobered, saying, "Oh come now, Cecelia! It's just so nice to see you falling hard, head over heels, for your husband still to this day. And I am glad… no elated… that you two have been reunited! Besides… who wouldn't desire Max! He is quite the handsome one!" At that Kagome laughed, Cecelia giggled at Kagome's statement.

Both flopped onto her bed, laughing and gasping at Kagome's comment. Though both unnoticed the man who went on blushing hard in the doorway. Only when Kagome and Cecelia stopped laughing did they notice Maximillion in the doorway. Kagome went red as a tomato, so embarrassed that he heard that, and Cecelia started to laugh even harder.

"You… you should see… see your face, Kagome… You… you are red… red as a tomato!" She let out in between giggles until she cried.

Kagome went redder and then paled both in embarrassment and worried at what Max would say about the comment. Maximillion, on the other hand, was shocked/ To hear from Kagome and not just from Cecelia, that she thought him attractive was a boost to his pride… and his manhood… Though he only had eyes… um… an eye for one woman. And said woman would be Cecelia. Though he was just as embarrassed as the two women in the room.

Seeing his face go beet red, Cecelia burst out laughing again, "Oh Max… Seems I have some competition. From my own best friend!"

Max went redder, where as Kagome just went on laughing with Cecelia. The two laughed tears running down their faces at Maximillion's embarrassment. Kagome took some deep breathes to get back to reality. She spoke, "Cece… Seems we finally silenced our mind reader! I haven't seen a man blush so much since my parents gave me the talk when I was twelve!" She started to giggle uncontrollably with Cecelia again when Max peddled backwards and sat down on the chair at the desk. Maximillion turned to them, a look of pure mortification on his face from her words…

"You… think me… attractive, Kagome?" Maximillion asked in a whispered voice.

Cecelia and Kagome sobered instantly. They glanced at each other and then to the seated man with knowing looks. Cecelia smiled, nodding as Kagome gently answered, "Yes, I do, Max. But…" When Maximillion sat down heavily, she stuttered, quickly trying to explain, "I find you attractive, and not just physically. But I just want you as a friend and nothing more. Cecelia is your wife and love."

Maximillion sighed in relief, not at all comfortable with being in the middle of a love triangle, which it wasn't. "Good…" Cecelia smiled, seeing under veiled eyes his relief, trying his best to conceal her desire for him. She failed as Kagome had noticed unbeknownst to Max. Kagome blushed, saying, "Well… Seems everything has been sorted out. Just one question for each of you." When the two love birds looked to Kagome in question, she questioned, "Cecelia, do you love Maximillion Pegasus?"

Cecelia stuttered, but Kagome frowned, "Don't overthink it, Cece! Yes, or no?"

Cecelia nodded vigorously, "YES!"

Kagome nodded, and turned to Maximillion and asked, "Do you, Maximillion, love Cecelia?"

Maximillion sneered, growling out, "You know damned well I do, Kagome-san!"

Kagome smiled the biggest smile yet, though was worried, "I suggest that it is a sure thing, if you demonstrate it here in front of me, I won't be able to look, speak, or hear you for the next few months. Nor will you, Cecelia! Plus, with who's outside the room… They may think it turned into a threesome… something I loathe to be apart of ever." She shuddered in revulsion. Cecelia went white and Maximillion sat down again.

Kagome stood and straightened her clothes, dusting them off. Going over to Max, she bent down to meet him eye to eye, nose to nose, one hand on an arm rest and the other on his chest. Kagome hummed, "I must warn you, Pegasus. If you dare to hurt Cecelia, in any way as she is like a sister to in everything but blood, there is no place on this earth, dark enough or far enough for you to hide from me and my wrath and vengeance. Are we clear?"

Maximillion was shocked. Kagome had gone from a sweet, humble woman to a dark, threatening, sensuous assassin. Speechless, Maximillion nodded as he stared into the eyes of Kagome, for once in his life scared, fearful, knowing he had it coming to him. But in his entire life, he was truly scared of Kagome. No one had truly scared him… aside from Yugi Boy… but no one else.

Kagome narrowed her eyes before hissing, "Do we have an understanding?"

Maximillion gulped, nodding, "Yes, I do believe we do, Lady Kagome." He looked up to Cecelia, who watched with an impassive face. "Cecelia, I am sorry."

Cecelia blinked rapidly, before mumbling out, "No, it's alright, Kags. It's just that I have never heard you speak so darkly before today."

Kagome let out a mirthless chuckle, "I suppose not. But before I leave you two lovebirds alone… Cecelia, do you remember our dare from many years ago? That if I ever had that chance, I got to kiss Max, regardless whether you two married?"

Cecelia blanched and blushed beet red again, remembering their dare and if Kagome ever asked, she would allow it. She was fine with it since she knew where Max's heart lay. Nodding, Cecelia lay on the bed and rested, not watching as Kagome turned to the man in the chair. Maximillion looked helpless as Kagome smiled evilly as she turned on him and he went white.

Max looked to Kagome, who had him trapped and then to Cecelia, "Aren't you going to do anything, Cecelia? My darling? Help!"

Cecelia looked up and shook her head, "No, my dear. I made that deal with Kags years ago when we were much younger. It was at a time where we were old enough to know of the Millennium Items though and they held us to that deal. Have fun with him, Kags."

Cecelia watched as Kagome kept her prisoner trapped beneath her. She leaned in, and Max closed his eye as she did so. Kagome's lips met his and he responded in kind and it surprised him to no end. Her lips her soft and accepting. The kiss was gentle and sweet. It was polite and chaste. She kept it short and sweetly pure.

Pulling back, Kagome blushed. She was surprised to learn he was a great kisser just as Cecelia had told her. Turning to Cecelia and then back to Max, she paled in fear, "I am so sorry." Backing up from Maximillion, Kagome ran to the door and disappeared into the hallway, leaving Cecelia and Maximillion alone in her room, wondering what just happened, confused to no end.

Hope you all like this chapter. I will be a while with this story… Meanwhile check out my other stories. And please leave a review. Tell me what you all think!

Yours truly,

WS. Z.