Spoiler Alert!
It goes without saying that I don't own rights to either YuGiOh! or the animated series "Gargoyles".
. . . .
FORECAST HAS SOME FLUFF AHEAD!
Under 18 and hard shippers, here is your warning!
*Suntory is seen fanning herself with several folding fans, cheeks burning brightly*
Halloween 2021 FanFic Yu-Gi-Oh! X Gargoyles
When a Gargoyle Falls
Chapter 13:
Problem (Monster Remix)
"Is this some sort of joke to you?!"
"You bet your fortune it is!" Valentine grinned, her bright pink tongue peeking out between full lips as the clear protective box was slammed back over the book, effectively cutting her off from reciting the counter spell. Not that she had any intention to do so anytime soon since the fun was just beginning. The human had been so hung up on his high horse that it had honestly annoyed her, not to mention that she had to get revenge for the stunt he pulled on sending his goons after her, so in her eyes this was just what was needed. "It was the page that was open, Kaiba, you should have been more careful about leaving it open like it was if you didn't want me to cast anything."
"Change me back this instant, harpy!"
The rose colored gargoyle smirked, easily rising to the ceiling so that the dark azure hued gargoyle that had once been Seto Kaiba growled lowly. He reminded her of the strange Rookery brother she'd once had who left the clan to explore the outside world beyond the blistering sands; deep azure skin, wings that looked more like a fish's fin, ears that looked like unfolded fans, the lack of brown hair atop of his head revealed a spinal fin the color of aquamarine stones. Honestly he didn't look half bad as a gargoyle but it was clear by the expression of displeasure upon his face that he was not as amused as she currently was. "You did say it yourself that searching for this girl would all be easier if you yourself was a gargoyle so why look a gift horse in the mouth? Why not use this form while you have it?" She sighed when he glowered. "Aw, don't pout, I'll undo the spell before sunrise." A laugh rose up her throat as he glanced at his wings with subdued interest. "You have them, why not use them? Come on, let's go to the roof."
. . . .
A scream pierced the night air, causing the gargoyles conversing lowly to instantly make a dash to the nearby room where it had come from. The door was nearly reduced to splinters from Atem's claws as he wrenched it open, nearly falling backward as light exploded from the room's center. They each squinted and rubbed their eyes with strain when it finally subsided, stumbling as they entered the small space when they heard her soft cries.
"Atem, help me!"
The fear within her voice made his entire being heat with anger. A spell had been cast, that much he was sure of, but the one who knew sorcery shouldn't have possession of the book! It was lost all those centuries ago! The room was a blurry mess of white spots and multicolored blobs as he and the other gargoyles struggled to clear their vision. Their vision after all was nocturnal, meaning that they could see best with no light at all, so for them all to be faced with such a sudden explosion of bright light would probably leave them dazed if not blinded for a little while. Be it his genes or his luck, either worked, but he found himself speechless as his vision cleared and found her writhing within the room's center.
Teary cerulean met amethyst as she wobbled slightly while standing, expression becoming agony filled as her back arched in a mind boggling way, the sound of tearing cloth filling the air when it wasn't occupied by her pain filled cries. "I don't know what's happening! Where is everyone?!" Her hands wildly flailed as if she were trying to find him blindly. "Atem?!"
He quickly moved into the room to catch her, finding her pupils tiny slits that would explain how she couldn't see him, his eyes growing wider when a pair of wings unfurled from between her shoulders that were opaque and multicolored. A pair of small bumps now protruded from her temples, much smaller than his own, the newly healed fingernails now turned to claws, bare feet now resembling his own, a decorated tail of iridescent scales behind her. Gone was the sea foam curtain that had been wrapped around her and it was lucky for her that she had chosen to slip into one of the dresses hidden within the pile that was the color of what he had been told matched his eyes. Mirrors and glass had yet to be invented during their original time so he had simply taken other people's word for it when they showed him examples of what they looked like. He may have just found his new favorite color upon her. "Anzu, I do not know how, but you have become a gargoyle."
"I've always been a gargoyle." Her lips lifted into the brightest smile they had ever seen on her. "It's you all that have changed! This is great, now you all can join my clan!"
They gasped as their visions also cleared, taking in the sight of the once human girl as she fully embraced their violet leader, her tail wrapping around his own. That was one of the first signs a female of their species would showcase when they were presenting themselves as a potential candidate once reaching maturity, a clear sign that they were offering themselves as a partner to the one their tail was twisting around. Though she was under a spell, possibly a curse, for her to be acting like any other gargoyle from the clan was a sight to behold.
"This is so great, now we can spend more time together when the sun is down," she whispered into his ear, winking as she withdrew. "I could really go for flight right about now. What do you say? Wanna tag along?"
The lavender hued gargoyle was first to grasp onto the situation. Her memory and physical form had been altered. It was best to attempt to correct it as soon as possible. "It wasn't us that changed, Anzu, we've always been gargoyles." Yugi said slowly, as gently as possible removing Atem's oddly still tail from her own, and watching with concern as their speechless leader could only blink in response to anything she said. "You were, are, supposed to be a human."
"Even if that was true, then why do I have these to help me glide?" Her wings unfurled, causing a flurry of what they assumed to be pixie dust to fall from them. Anzu's head tilted when Atem didn't answer and nibbled her bottom lip when she found his gaze transfixed upon her form. He'd never looked at her this way. "Keep lookin' at me like that I'll think you might want to eat me. Gargoyles don't participate in cannibalism so you might want to find something else to munch on." she teased, nudging him with her tail as she walked past to stand before the others whose jaws looked like they had hit the floor. "Come on, seriously, what are you all looking at?"
"You!" They chorused. Yugi was the first to regain his senses, quickly ushering the other three from the room so that the pair could be alone. He had been brushed by the wings upon her back before moving back to stand with his fellow clan members, confirming that they were indeed real, and that this was no figment of their imaginations or dreams! It would probably be better that Atem dealt with this instead of the whole clan all at once.
No sooner had the door closed behind them that the violet leader found his voice and visibly shook himself of the daze that had taken hold of him in time to grasp her shoulders, turning her so that she was facing him fully. This whole situation of her turning into a gargoyle, one that threatened to leave him speechless, combined with her lack of memory accuracy was concerning. "Anzu, do you remember the night that we met?"
She blinked, head tilting to the left slightly. "I…I fell, off the palace wall…and…"
He encouraged her with a nod. "What did I say to you?" Atem lowered his voice when she struggled, extending his hand to her just as he had that same night.
"You said to take your hand." Her eyes widened. "I didn't want to die…so I took it and you saved me…" The left hand rose, almost painstakingly slowly sliding to meet his offered one, their fingers entwining and gasping softly when he gave their joined hands a light tug that brought her forward so that they were mere inches apart.
"If you've always had these wings, then why did you need me to catch you?" The violet gargoyle's gaze never wavered from her own as she struggled to answer his question. It was taking every ounce of his willpower to not let it wander over her new form as it had earlier.
Females of multiple shapes and sizes once made up the clan, Valentine being one of the prime examples of any other male gargoyle's definition of the perfect mate candidate, but they all now paled in comparison to the stunning creature before him. As human he had thought of her as pure, delicate, fragile…now it had all changed.
"Anzu, if you were always a gargoyle and I the human, how would I have come to this place before you?"
"You…you were turned to stone by a spell…" Her hand rose to comb through her chocolate locks. "And I was hired…to dance?" She broke away from his gaze, moving out of his hold to pace the room. "It's all starting to come back to me now. I'm really Anzu Mazaki; I'm twenty-two, my hometown is in Japan, I came here to pursue a career in dancing-" A gasp slipped from between her lips. "I was attacked by Toei! He left me to die and then you came- You saved my life- You brought me here-"
He nearly jumped when she suddenly appeared in front of him, her wide cerulean eyes staring up at him as if she were begging for him to tell her it wasn't true. His arms wrapped around her before she could move away, his claws careful to not slice her wings as one hand rose to comb through her hair and the other to rest upon her waist. "Calm down, Anzu," he whispered into her ear, his nose filling with the scent of apricots as she whimpered softly, "he cannot reach you here. Do you remember what I have promised you?"
"That I was safe," she whimpered into his shoulder, her own hands rising to cling to his back, "and you wouldn't let anyone else hurt me?"
"That is correct." He tightened his hold for just a second, asking if her memory had fully returned and offered her an assuring smile when they parted. "I am not one who breaks a promise or goes back on my word."
"Because you are leader and it's your job to protect us, the members of my clan, right?" A resounding facepalm sounded from outside the room where the others were waiting, earning a tilt of her head. "What?"
. . . .
"You better know what you are doing."
"It's second nature to a gargoyle to glide, hatchling, just let the wind do the hard part!" Valentine withheld a howl of laughter when the azure gargoyle rose a few inches then nearly face planted into the stone when his wings failed to catch the breeze. "Not even the elders could be as clumsy as you, Kaiba! This is true entertainment!"
"Shut up and help me fly already!"
. . . .
"Are you sure about this?" She gulped, attempting to swallow the lump in her throat as she nervously peered down the side of the palace wall that they were standing upon, her hand grasping onto Atem's with such a tight grip her knuckles were turning white. "I don't think I'm ready for this!"
The violet gargoyle returned her squeeze with a gentle one. "I will catch you if you begin to fall." Amethyst met cerulean, finding them filled with hesitance and lingering doubt, and with a tug on her hand he caused her to fall forward to meet his chest that was now covered by the new tunic, and wrapped his other arm around her shoulders as he allowed their combined weight to carry them over the side.
"What are you- aaaAAAAHHHHHH!"
Even as her high pitched scream filled the night sky his hold did not lessen, Atem almost finding it amusing that her eyes were clenched shut. "Open your eyes, Anzu, or you may miss the best part."
"Are you crazy?!" She clung to him harder. "No way!"
"The stars."
"What about them?!"
"They are here to greet us."
The breath in her lungs caught in a gasp. He'd said the same thing while bringing her to the palace. Her eyes cracked open, finding the tunic she had seen upon the makeshift bed of pillows now upon his being, and raised her gaze until it met his.
"Trust me, Anzu, I shall not steer you wrong." Amethyst shone brightly when she gave a nod as his hand slid up her spine to rest between the folded wings, his fingers lightly pressing against the soft spot of her shoulders, and they unfurled with a rain of sparkling dust as the wind changed. The fear vanished from her eyes as they leveled off, the wind carrying them higher than the palace wall that they had just fallen from, and he couldn't help the chuckle that rumbled within his throat as she gazed up in awe at the stars that looked close enough to touch.
"Oh, wow! Look at them!"
Atem couldn't bear the thought of looking away from her despite her excitement. As human, he had thought her beautiful, but now it was hard to remember just what her normal form looked like compared to what he saw now; elegant wings that reminded him of the butterfly or fairy wings he'd been shown in old story books, slender figure with skin the color of the fruit she shared a scent with. She was ethereal, unlike any other he'd ever laid eyes on, every graceful motion she made stole the breath from within his lungs. How could such a divine creature even exist?
Anzu felt his gaze, how could she not, and brought her eyes downward from the glittering stars to meet amethyst. It was just like that night when she noticed they looked more enchanting when viewed within his gaze. Somehow now that she had been caught under whatever this spell was, they looked even more so now as she found herself lost within their shifting crystalline depths. "You're staring again." She said softly, as if speaking above a whisper would interrupt whatever was going through his head. "Was I really so ugly before that it's only gotten worse now that I'm one of your kind?"
"I never insinuated such a thing." His tone gentled when a flash of hurt entered her gaze. "I stand by what I said, Anzu, you are… beautiful."
Her heart stuttered as the hand that was upon her back drifted to cup her left cheek as a look she'd never expected to see enter his gaze. An updraft suddenly caused them to shoot upwards, the hand entwined with her own keep her close but still allowing her to rise slightly higher than he when they came to a stop, their foreheads and noses brushing on her way up to hover above him, her breath catching as the nearly completed moon came out from behind the clouds to bathe them within its pale light. The soft tone he'd used, the breathy whisper of her name as his tail brushed against her own sent shivers down her spine.
Before she could ask him more, something collided into them with a force that was enough to knock them both off balance. Atem though was quick to regain his bearings and dove after her as she fell. He was thankful that her instinct was enough to unfurl her wings as the rapidly approaching courtyard came into view, his hands quickly collecting her as her descent slowed, and enclosed them both within his mighty wings as they met the sandstone with a crash.
The darkness surrounding them as not enough to hide themselves from the each other, a blush planting itself deep within fair cheeks as she found herself in a predicament she'd only read about in romance novels: each of her legs were on either side of his hips, as if she were straddling him, one of his hands resting upon her hip while the other arm was wrapped tightly around her shoulders that kept her so close that the beating of his heart was felt against her own slightly smooshed chest and his warm breath wafted her face.
"Are you alright?" His breathy whisper earned him a shiver from the female within his hold, the blood within his veins growing in heart as she shifted against him that caused the purring sound to rise within his chest.
Anzu could feel the quicken of his pulse, hear the faster rhythm of his heart, even the purring sound was back as she maneuvered so that their noses were brushing. "You caught me," she whispered back, "just like you promised." The heat within her face intensified as his gaze darkened. She pushing off against his chest so that she was upright, causing his wings to open and allow the cool night air to kiss their skin.
"Well, now, if you two were in the middle of something, please, do not let us hinder you."
She could have died in embarrassment alone when she discovered that the others had gathered to patiently await their emergence, each wearing a knowing or crestfallen expression that morphed into calm acceptance when she huffed while rising to stand. "Any idea of what crashed into me?"
"I'm going to slaughter that harpy when I get my hands on her!"
Cerulean met sapphire as a tail lashed out, causing her to stumble backwards against what nearly felt like a solid brick wall. They blinked for several seconds, each hit with a strange form of familiarity until she was snatched by Atem who regarded the male with a scrutinizing glare. "Who are you and how have you come here?" He growled, lip resisting the urge to curl when he found the newcomer's scent of fresh fallen rain lingered upon her being. It didn't make sense though, why was he so upset when the scent of other males were upon her?
The azure gargoyle stared daggers at the clan leader, his tone icy. "It's really none of your business, now is it, wannabe fashion reject?"
"You best watch how you speak to me, youngling," the violet gargoyle growled in warning, moving to stand face to face with him. "You may just find yourself between a rock and a hard place."
Though Yugi tried to stop her, it was never wise to stand between two males who were about to possibly fight, she wormed her way between the two with one hand resting upon each of their clothed chests. "That's enough, you two, no testosterone flexing or stick waving while I'm here!" Cerulean flashed dark lapis anger, blazing with a brilliant blue flame when the aquatic looking gargoyle made to forcibly remove her. "Hey! Test me like that again and you just might find yourself flat on your ass with a fist between your jaws as I rip out your tongue!"
"Daaaaaaamn- Ow!" Joey and Honda chorused, pouting from receiving a hearty whack by the elder on the upside of their heads. "What? She was the one who said it!"
Amethyst narrowed, ignoring the commotion coming from his clan members. "Normally, I am welcoming to any kin who happens to come across our threshold, but something tells me that you are not what you seem." He took a slight step back, ensuring that Anzu went with him as he did so. "I suggest you continue on your way, stranger."
It had been so long since she'd seen or heard such distrust and suspicion within his voice and eyes that it was almost shocking. She was internally grateful that he no longer looked upon her as if she were the enemy. Though that is how they had started, it was now as if he gazed upon her with acceptance and dare she call the sparkle she'd seen grow within their shifting purple depths happiness?
"Settle down now, boys, it was an accident on my part so there's no need to get your tails in a knot." All eyes fell upon the figure who landed deftly beside the azure gargoyle, her fingers taking hold of his left ear and giving it a tug. "I swear, you're more trouble that a hatchling who thinks he's a horse." Mauve and cerulean met, Valentine instantly recognizing the new female gargoyle as she stepped out of the violet clan leader's hold. "Well, well, look who we have here. Isn't this quite the predicament you're in," she growled, tail lashing as her hand that had been grasping onto the sapphire eyed gargoyle's ear extending as her claws lengthened. "Because now that I've seen you within his hold I cannot let you live!" Anzu barely had time to brace as the female gargoyle tackled her, causing them to barrel over backwards in a flurry of hisses and roars. Instinct was raging in within her chest as the rose hued female attempted to pin her to the ground, the image of Valentine standing beside the one she cared for causing bile to rise within the back of her throat.
"We must stop them!"
"Are you insane?!" Yugi, quickly grabbed hold of Atem's arm before he could intervene. "You seriously want to get in the middle of them right now?! You're already on bad terms with Valentine, who is your rejected mate, and Anzu is probably dealing with raging instinct that any normal human wouldn't have a clue of handling!" Both grimaced as they caught sight of their elder and the two other members of their clan watching with hanging jaws as the females battled. Solomon, with the telltale blush in his cheeks, had familiarized himself with plenty of sports casts and much to their disgruntlement he was giving a play-by-play of how the fight was going. "Anyway, that aside," he turned back to meet his leader's gaze. "You would only be making things worse. Don't tell me you forget how much Valentine favors you still, probably still will for a while yet, so if you were to show favoritism by rescuing Anzu right now it may turn her to become our enemy." Lilac eyes bore into amethyst. "We can't afford gaining anymore enemies right now, especially with him out there somewhere."
A sigh caused his shoulders to rise and fall, resting a hand upon the young gargoyle's shoulder as his arm was released. "You are right, in more ways than one, but perhaps you should consider Anzu's point of view in this."
Concentration filled the young lavender gargoyle's features as they turned their attention to the females. Then it became one of understanding as the honed rose warrior raised a hand. "You have a good point there." In unison, they leapt forward and each took hold of a female; Yugi grasping onto Anzu while Atem forced Valentine into submission with a twist of her body and warning growl. The gargoyles were surprised to find that the peach hued female had minimal scratches, hardly any at all, as did the feathered female. Had they really been fighting?
"Not too shabby for a hatchling," Valentine growled, huffing as her gaze met amethyst. "Release me, you traitor."
"Come on, I would have had you if they didn't break us apart." Chocolate and golden locks alike were messy as they combed their fingers through once freed from the holds of the males, each preparing for the worst as the females approached one another again. "You've got some cool moves yourself!"
The rose hued female blinked for a few seconds then surprised all by wrapping her arms around the smaller gargoyle. "Oh, you, how could I have guessed that you would be so cute!" Valentine's cheek rubbed against Anzu's, earning every male's wide eyed stare when a loud purr rose up her throat as the peach hued female returned the embrace.
"Females," Joey and Honda chorused, shrugging. "Can't live without 'em."
Atem though had refocused upon the azure stranger who had been watching as if he were bored. A connection was made within his mind and his fixed a narrowed glare upon the rose hued female. "The spell, Valentine, was it your doing?"
She shimmied behind the peach hued gargoyle, one of her arms falling to wrap around Anzu's waist and earning a blush as the other cupped her chin. "Aw, don't be cross! Look what became of it! That little human girl you've all grown so fond of has become one of us!" Her bottom lip stuck out slightly. "I thought you'd be pleased, clan leader, but if not I can change her back."
Anzu blinked then turned to meet the mauve gaze of Valentine. "Wait, so you know magic?!"
"I know all sorts of secrets, honey, stick around and you might see them all."
"But, I don't understand, I thought you hated my guts."
The rose hued gargoyle turned her around so that they were facing. "That was before I understood just how special some humans could be. I was betrayed by a close friend too, but now I have come to see that not all humans are like him." Her hand rose, cupping Anzu's left cheek. "Forgive and forget?"
"How can I when you're the one who was bathing me in the spring? I'm the one whose supposed to be thanking you!" Cerulean lit up. "I know! I'll make sure to take you all out on Halloween night! You won't have to worry about your appearances because everyone will be dressed up anyway! It'll be perfect and it's only a few nights away!"
Valentine was taken aback. "Us? Walk amongst humans?"
"It's actually not a bad plan." The azure gargoyle stepped forward, crossing his arms. "No one would even notice what they really are."
Anzu nodded excitedly, taking just a half second to meet his gaze with a tilt of her head before refocusing upon the other gargoyles. "You guys could finally get that tour of the city you've always wanted and I can show you all the best places!"
Alarm filled them all as sapphire widened, Valentine instantly catching onto their sudden tense suspension, and quickly drew the male away from the group. "That's sounds great, hun, I'll leave all the planning to you but for now we have to get going! Chao for now!" And they were gone with an updraft that carried them up into the night sky.
Silence fell for several minutes as Anzu stared after them. Where had she seen those eyes before? They were so familiar it was frustrating! With a huff, she threw her hands up and shook her head. Whoever that was she definitely would have remembered running into a scrawny tree-like gargoyle like that. "Well, that was exciting." She paused while stretching, taking note of how the males were eyeing her once more. "Seriously, guys, starting to get a bit creeped out here!"
Atem cleared his throat, earning startles from the three who had been transfixed, and was grateful that Yugi ushered them away with words of food or some television show that they liked, leaving only the two of them within the palace courtyard. Amethyst filled with concern when she shivered violently as he approached. "Anzu?" His eyes widened as she crossed the remaining space, her arms wrapping themselves around his upper torso as her face was buried within his tunic. He rubbed her arms, noting that her skin was quite a bit colder than his own. Her trembling slowly eased the longer she remained within his hold, the motions of his hands causing her to slowly relax against him as her body temperature rose to match his own. Atem blinked when she trembled like a leaf when his hands rested upon her shoulders. "What is it?"
"I don't know," she whispered, the tips of her claws lightly dragging down his back and earning a suppressed gasp from him as she took a step that forced him to take one backwards. "But whatever it is," a few series of quick steps that nearly caused him to lose his balance, "I don't want it to go away…" Her hands migrated to his face as the sandstone wall met his back, cerulean darkening as he called her name again.
A change had come over her, one that caused his blood to race as the scents of warm vanilla and apricot intermixed within his nose the more those claws of hers wandered across his being. He'd only experienced Valentine within heat once, that lone clumsy night they shared all those years ago a memory he still cringed at, but even that little bit of knowledge he wished to forget couldn't help him as Anzu tilted his head up and growled lowly as her lips met the same place they had earlier that night. The door he had slammed closed on his instinct's cage cracked open against his conscious will, his body pivoting so that instead of his back her own was against the palace wall. This was dangerous. If Anzu truly was in heat, which would explain the males of his clan being transfixed by her, then it would be best to distance himself until she was reverted back to her human form. Only one problem: it was getting harder for him to think clearly and logically with her lips peppering every inch of his skin that she could reach…the scent coming off of her intensifying so much that something was stirring within his lower abdomen…the feeling of her being pressed against his own as she purred when he pressed her more against the stone…
The purr rumbling within her throat turned into a moan as his hands rested upon her hips, the graze of his claws earning an arch of her spine that caused her chest to meet his fully. His breath teased the sensitive skin of her neck, the swirling heat within her growing when it hitched as her curious tongue peeked out to brush against his violet skin. She had become fond of his sandalwood scent, reminding her of the winter months were her father would light the wooden fire to help keep the house warm, but now that she was closer than ever before it had become laced with a spice her mother had often favored that now spread across her tongue. "Cinnamon…" she whispered, smirking as her lowered octave earned her a twitch of his lips that had met her own neck, "…your secret ingredient."
Amethyst flashed with a crimson ring around their slitted pupils, the instincts he had kept under lock and key roaring loudly within his own ears in attempts to force him into action. If he didn't stop now, there was no telling what possible harm he could unleash upon her. Mating was out of the question; she was only in this form because of a temporary spell. As a human, no, as someone he cherished greatly, he would not take advantage of the situation. "Anzu-" All thought of pulling away, to stopping this heated and hazed cloud of pleasure wracking his body, vanished when small fang points pricked his skin.
Elation filled her as the entirety of his being met her own, his own fangs meeting the sensitive point that was the junction of her neck and shoulder. She'd never experienced anything like this before, it made her feel almost animalistic. A part of her was shy, unsure of how to proceed, but the other, whatever had come with this strange transformation, encouraged her to use both fang and claw to farther rile the violet male whom she held affections for. His name left her lips in a breathless sound, his answer lost within the rumbling growl within his chest as her claws raked across his back just enough to leave faint trails within his skin but not enough to draw blood. A warm, wet heat was pooling within her lower abdomen as her hips ground against his own. Delicious mouth watering friction was building by the second as his hips, as if experimenting, returned the gesture, and elicited dual sounds of pleasure from each as their hooded gazes darkened farther by the dilation of their pupils. He was always so gentle with her when she was human that it was endearing but now that she was the same as him she didn't want to be coddled or handled like a porcelain doll. "More."
Something was on the verge of snapping within him at her growl, his sanity itself straining against the flood of instinct that was beginning to answer her command, but was slammed with reality as her features slowly morphed back until she had returned to her human form as the sky above their head lightened. The mental lock was reinforced upon the cage that housed his instincts as she grew limp within his hold, wings retracting into her back until only twin sized holes remained within the dress she wore. He adjusted his hold, carrying her as he always had been with one arm within the bend of her knees while the other around her shoulders to keep her close as the decorated tail behind her also vanished from sight beneath the dress's hem. "It appears that the counter spell has been cast. You are once again human, Anzu," he whispered, folding his wings around them so the breeze would not wake her as he moved away from the wall. "That was much too close for comfort."
She yawned, cracking an eye open in time for him to see the slitted pupil return to its normal shape, "Too bad she couldn't have waited a few more minutes."
The ring of crimson around his own pupils flashed for a moment then disappeared as she snuggled into his warmth. Had he heard her right? No, it must have been some mistake. She was clearly beyond exhaustion from the transformations that her mind must be confused, unaware of her own words. "I shall take you back to your room." A surprised sound rose up his throat when she suddenly shifted higher and her teeth caught upon the pulse point in his neck. Adrenaline and the lingering haze within his consciousness threatened to rise again when he caught sight of her cerulean gaze that was glittering with mischief before they drifted closed as she snuggled into his chest once more. "I believe you are what many call a tease," he chuckled, nuzzling the top of her head as his lips lifted into a small smile when her tongue peeked out. "Now I am certain of it."
The other gargoyles who watched from their perches each released a sigh; some of relief, maybe a few of disappointment, but there was a pair of lilac hued eyes that shone brightly with hope as he smiled fondly. Their leader deserved to find someone to care for in a different way than they could. Valentine, the appointed mate by the previous leader, had been rejected. This meant that Atem now had the freedom to allow his heart to chose who could stand by his side. Though he was worried about the difference of species but he was guilty of privately shipping them together anyway. As the humans liked to say in those sappy movies: "Love always seemed to find a way".
. . . .
"There, are you happy now?" She sighed, moving away from the book so the clear box could enclose around it. "I've returned you to your boring human self."
Kaiba glared down at the several thousand dollar suit that was now reduced to mere rags. "I could have gone without the adventure."
"Oh, come on, you learned how to glide. Can any normal human have experienced something like that?"
"That's why we have technology, to help us do things that we naturally cannot."
Her eyes narrowed as she evaluated the events of the past several hours, one in particular raising the question of why hadn't she just come out to tell the man the girl he had been searching for was right in front of him? Even she wasn't sure. Golden hair was flipped over her shoulder as she faced the window, her arms crossing as the image of Anzu standing beside Atem as a gargoyle filled her mind's eye. Even she had to admit, he had never looked so…content. She herself was a prime example of the perfect mate, minus the temper and vanity, but still! Valentine inhaled deeply through her nose, blinking as apricots tickled her senses as the corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly. Maybe, just maybe, having the little human girl around wasn't so bad. He was her clan leader, after all, and he should be given the opportunity to find the mate he was destined to be with even if it wasn't herself. "Think they'll make it?"
Sapphire met mauve within the glass's surface as the sky lightened farther from the sun nearing the horizon. "What are you talking about?"
"Never mind," she shook her head, leaning against the wall so her forehead rested upon the cool surface. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish them luck."
His motions halted as the rose hued female became stone with the first few rays of sunlight, her expression one of sadness as a single tear was trapped upon her cheek. The harpy-like gargoyle had always seemed headstrong, steadfast in her beliefs, cunning even. To see her with such a vulnerable expression, let alone see her shed a tear, was shocking. Seto Kaiba himself had no experience with matters of the human heart, being as he himself was a reserved and busy man, so the emotions he was witnessing from the gargoyles. Though they often created headaches for him to cover up with his influence there may be a usefulness for them yet. His clenched fist met the red call button that would summon his assistant. "Rolan, get me a new change of clothes."
See you next time!
