Note To Readers: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Sorry for being a few days late. was down and I couldn't post it. Also, Good chapters take time especially switching gears from intense to more light-hearted! But I think I managed pretty well lol. I love that you guys look forward to my new chapters. So this is my Christmas gift to you all! Chapter 88!
Chapter 88: When Tears Turn Into Snowflakes
Shortly after Kaiba consumed the Angel tea given to him by Raeger he fell asleep exhausted from battling against the darkness that threatened to consume him. Suddenly the CEO felt something poke his shoulder. Kaiba groaned and swatted at the hand as he felt it again. It took a third nudge before the blue-eyed male turned around only to discover Raeger was the guilty party. An irritated growl emerged from Kaiba's throat as his eyes met the Guild Master's.
"What the hell do you want now?...Haven't you already bothered me enough with your pointless questions?... Kaiba muttered. "My apologies for disturbing you. But I think you'll want to see this." Raeger apologized. The CEO only scoffed. "I highly doubt it..." the blue-eyed male retorted before he turned his gaze towards the window. Kaiba's eyes widened as he saw a certain red-head walking out in the snow.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Raeger teased the CEO as Kaiba's face slightly reddened. "For you to wipe that smug ass look off your face," Kaiba muttered as he grabbed the pillow out from under him and threw it at the Guild Master before the blue-eyed male quickly left the room. Raeger caught the pillow and chuckled to himself.
Kaiba wasted no time as he nearly clipped Joey and Duke as they carried a large tree through the doorway. Granny Emiko only giggled at the sudden rush. "HEY WATCH IT!" Joey yelled at Kaiba as he flew by them. "Yeah really!" Duke muttered before they placed the tree down in the living room
"You boys did a fine job." Granny Emiko applauded the two. "It's hard for an old woman like me to find such good help. I do so love our yearly tradition of picking out a Christmas tree. But putting it up and taking it down can be a real chore..." the old woman confessed. "Humph! Yeah Well, next time we oughta make rich boy help!" Joey grumbled. "No kidding...why the hell was Kaiba in such a hurry anyway?" Duke questioned. "...Oh...I believe he has a reason, dearies." Granny Emiko giggled.
Outside of the cabin, the glow of the Christmas tree's light in the center of the town caught Bloom's eye as Kaiba ran through the powdery white snow without any reserve. Just when she was was within his sight he used all of the air built up in his lungs to call out to her. "BLOOM!" a familiar voice echoed within the faerie's ears as she looked around for the source.
"Uh hello?" Bloom questioned as she continued to search before her eyes caught the CEO in the distance. "...Kaiba?..." the redhead began to wonder if she was seeing things clutching the egg in her arms tightly. However, even after rubbing her eyes, the image didn't vanish. There was only one explanation. She wasn't dreaming or hallucinating. Bloom felt the excitement swell in her chest and fumbled to place the egg in her backpack. Unable to stop herself the faerie began to run towards him using all of her reserve energy. Kaiba could hardly believe it as Bloom came into his sights and ran towards her as well.
"KAIBA!" Bloom cried out with sheer joy knocking him down into the snow underneath them. The redhead clung to him as if he would disappear from her forever if she let go. A smirk only crossed Kaiba's lips. "Well, that's certainly an interesting way to greet someone." the CEO mused. "Oh what? Is it really hard to believe that I missed you?" Bloom questioned. "In a matter of speaking, most people would jump at the first chance they got to be rid of me. Wheeler would a perfect example." Kaiba told the faerie.
"Yeah, only because you're a big bully who teases him relentlessly," Bloom told the CEO as a matter of factly giving him a playful tap on the tip of his nose. "Yeah Yeah." the blue-eyed male scoffed before their eyes both met each one exchanging an awkward smile. "...I REALLY did miss you...you know...when I told Mr. Moto he thought I was out of his mind." the faerie reiterated. "You mean Yugi's grandfather? And just what were you doing in Domino City much less at Yugi's grandfather's game shop? I thought the deal was that you were going to stay with your parents in Gardenia on Earth..." Kaiba scowled as he sat up.
"I know! But I was worried sick when I sensed something was wrong with you! So I hurried back to Covenant so I could be with you...with some assistance from Mokuba. But believe me when I tell you it wasn't easy." Bloom frowned it was obvious this wasn't going over well with her fiance. Kaiba took a moment to simmer down rather than explode all at once which is what his old self would have done. But yelling at her would serve no real purpose.
"...While I appreciate the sentiment, I am fully capable of taking care of myself." "...oh Kaiba i'm sorry...but you're not the only one who worries about the person they care about the most." Bloom murmured as he placed her hand on the blue-eyed male's face. "See? You're still feverish...you shouldn't be outside running around in this cold..." the faerie pouted. "I wouldn't worry yourself over me. I drank some special kind of concoction that steadily will restore my body to full health...it's YOU...that I am concerned about..." Kaiba confessed as he took the red head's hand from his cheek planting a soft kiss upon it.
"I'm feeling better. I find that if I avoid using my new Celestix powers that I don't feel so drained and weak all the time. So I've been able to recover by sustaining from using my magic. But I also know that I can't continue like this forever...not with the Wizards Of The Black Circle and Bakura still out there plotting their next move...and this...A.O.J leader everyone has worked up about... I've never felt so useless." the faerie frowned.
"Yugi and the Pharoah are out searching for The Phoenix's Ashes in order to restore the flame that gives you your powers. But it seems that the quest is taking longer than we originally thought. But don't lose hope just yet. Yugi ALWAYS follows through no matter what the challenge. You can trust me on that." Kaiba told Bloom as he turned her face towards him. "...Thanks, Kaiba...I needed to hear that..." the red head's blue eyes glistened in the dimmed colored light's glow as did the CEO's. Slowly the two drew closer to each other sharing a sweetened kiss right beside the Christmas tree as the snow gently fell down on them.
Reluctantly they broke their kiss before Kaiba got to his feet and offered his hand towards Bloom. The faerie smiled and took his hand the CEO pulling her upwards off the ground. There was so much to talk about but Bloom didn't want to ruin the moment either. Eventually she'd have to tell him about Kaiba Corp and Mokuba but for now, she just wanted to spend time with Kaiba. "Shall we return to the Cabin? I'm sure you want to see all of your little faerie friends." "...um...actually I was wondering if it would be ok if it could just be the two of us...at least for a little while longer...so?..." Kaiba paused as he felt his cheeks redden slightly averting his gaze. "Uh...sure whatever..." the blue-eyed male barely managed to utter before he found the redhead wrapped around his left arm with a smile on her face. Slowly he let her lead him away from the crowd gathered around the Christmas tree.
Back at the cabin, Joey found himself in a tangled mess, ensnared by the Christmas tree light's unable to move. Duke only snickered. "Hey, maybe we should just put a star on Joey and call it a night." the dice master teased before a horrified gasp escaped Flora's lips as she came upon the severed tree. The faerie of nature hurried over to the tree gently touching it. "How could someone do such a horrible thing!?" Flora cried out.
"...Oh yeah, I forgot...you're the one who actually cares about flowers and plants..." Duke sweatdropped. "It's a Christmas tree." the dice master explained. "But there's ALREADY a Christmas tree outside!" "Uh...you have gotta be joking...every year around this time everyone cuts down a tree and puts it up in their house and decorates it for the holiday season," Duke explained. "EVERYONE!? the faerie cried as she felt faint. The dice master only raised his brow.
"Why are you freaking out? You picked all those flowers to brew up some Angel Tea. So what's big the deal?" Duke questioned bewildered at her sudden hysterics. "Those flowers were used for medicinal purposes! It's not the same thing!" Flora argued as Amourette came out of the kitchen with a tray of hot chocolate with peppermint sticks in them. "I made hot chocolate for everyone!" the blunette beamed before she squeaked as she caught sight of poor Joey at the mercy of the Christmas tree lights.
"J-Joey-kun!" Amourette cried before she placed the tray on the table and hurried over to him. "N-Now just stay calm! I'll-I'll get you out of there!" the blunette told the blonde. But instead, she ended up hopeless tangled up herself. "Aw man..." Joey groaned before he puffed up his cheeks watching Duke and Flora go back and forth arguing. "I'm SO glad you an dice boy are havin such an interestin conversation...but if ya wouldn't mind...CAN YA GET US OUTTA DESE TINGS!?" the blonde yelled as he wiggled, even more, shaking Amourette up causing her to get dizzy."Oh! Sorry!" both Duke and Flora apologized before they attempted to play tug of war.
Cold air escaped inside the cabin as Raeger and Roxy returned with their arms filled to the brink with brown paper bags carrying baking ingredients inside them. "Phew...that was quite the trip..." Roxy sighed exhaustedly before they entered the scene. "WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!?" the faerie cried before Stella walked into the room just as baffled as she was. "I don't know what's going on here. But I don't appreciate being left out." Stella pouted crossing her arms.
"Uh...righhht...do me a favor and take these to the kitchen for me, please. I'm going to see if I can't help the guys fix this big mess." Roxy told the blonde and handed Stella the groceries bags. "Oh sure give ME the hard work." the faerie grumbled before she made her way to the kitchen following behind Raeger. Roxy and the others made a face as a crash was heard followed by a trail of profanity from the princess.
"...Ok...that didn't sound good..." Roxy concluded worriedly. "Yo! A little help Rox please!" Joey cried waving his free hand around. "Whoops! Sorry Joey!" the faerie apologized before with a shot of magic from the pink haired girl's finger the Christmas light's came undone and wrapped around the naked Christmas tree. "Phew! Thanks, Rox..." the blonde thanked her. "No problem. I'm just happy I could help." Roxy smiled in return. "But I better get back to the kitchen before Stella gets a hold of the mixer." the faerie told them and snuck off back into the kitchen.
"Eheheh..." Amourette laughed nervously at the thought of it. "At least that takes care of that mess." Duke wiped the sweat from his brow. "Maybe. But decorating the old fashioned way is a lot more fun." the blunette told Duke with a smile as a slight blush tinted his cheeks. The dice master began to open his mouth before it was interrupted by heavy breathing by an exhausted Cupid carrying a huge yet heavy box followed by Musa.
"Come on put your back into it Cupid!" Musa cheered before he collapsed. "U-Ugh...I can't take it anymore...i'm exhausted..." the redhead whined. "You know what, it's way too quiet in here. I know what we need! Some holiday music!" the faerie exclaimed before she snuck some magic into the radio resting on the fireplace and began to dance grabbing Cupid up off his feet spinning him around and around. "Ugh ..." the deity of love groaned as vertigo took over him. Musa only giggled at how silly Cupid was.
"Ahaha!" Amourette giggled as she clapped amused at the scene before her. "It is pretty funny," Duke admitted with a snort. "WOO GO MUSA!" Layla cheered as she came behind Cupid and Musa with another box and began to place tinsel on the walls and wreathes. Marik only took a seat on the couch as he picked up a cup of hot chocolate.
"Well I STILL fail to see the appeal of this holiday," Marik muttered as he took a sip of the cup in his hand. Without realizing he had acquired a foam mustache from the whipped cream. The dark-skinned faerie couldn't help but let a giggle slip out followed by the others. The tomb keeper only narrowed his eyes irritated by everyone laughing.
"What are you laughing at!?" Marik demanded to know. "Ah...Marik...ya...um...got a little somethin..." Joey began before the tomb keeper nearly went cross-eyed looking downwards. Marik huffed angrily and wiped off the foam from his upper lip. "I hardly think that's funny." "Alright. Come on grumpy bear I have a great idea to wipe that scowl off your face!" Layla tugged at the tomb keeper's arm. "And do I get a say in this?" "Nope! Besides, the hot chocolate will taste better if you run out in the snow for a little while!" the dark-skinned faerie giggled. "Come on! Come on!" "A-Alright..." Marik finally gave in and followed Layla reluctantly as she led him outside closing the door behind them.
Raeger chuckled as he watched Layla drag Marik outside through the kitchen window. Granny Emiko only smiled as he spread out the cookie dough in front of her with her rolling pin. Roxy preheated the oven as she found herself daydreaming about the future. Just watching Raeger and Granny smile and laugh together as they baked Christmas goodies seemed almost like a dream. One that one day she hoped to share with them. To think that she could be living in this cozy little cabin with Raeger and his grandmother and maybe more. It was almost too amazing to even think about.
"So, do you think we bought enough ingredients?" Roxy questioned Raeger. "If not we'll have to make do. People will fight hand over fist for Granny's baked goodies. Especially her famous apple cake." the Guild Master murmured. "Well, i'm no chef or baker...but an extra pair of hands couldn't hurt right!?" Roxy questioned with a smile. "Right." Raeger smiled as he placed his hand on the faerie's as she reached for the cookie cutter tool. Roxy giggled as she fought back the blush manifesting itself onto her face. Trying desperately to hide her embarrassment as she caught the Guild Master blushing as well. "Hoho..." Granny Emiko raised her eyebrows playfully before Loore came through the window.
"OOOOO! You two look suspicious..." the familiar teased Roxy and Raeger before the two quickly pulled back their hands. "Oh! Loore it's you!" the faerie exclaimed. "The one an only!" the familiar purred as she lept from the window to Roxy's shoulder shaking off the white snow from her black fur. "Gah!" The Guild Master and the faerie both cried as the cold wet snow touched their skin.
"Whoops, a daisy! Sorry about that." Loore apologized before Roxy gently scratched the familiar behind the ears. "So what are you doing here little one? I thought you were keeping an eye on Bloom for Yugi-I mean Atem." the faerie corrected herself. "I'm gonna have to keep that one a secret for now." Loore teased. Though Raeger and Granny seemed to know more than Roxy did. "B-But." "You'll see soon enough." the Guild Master assured the faerie of animals with a hidden smile.
Back in the living room, Joey began to place a red ornament on the tree before he heard "STOP!" Techna cried before the blonde froze in place. The faerie made her way over to the tree and scanned it with her cell phone along with the box of ornaments. Everyone in the room just stared baffled by what exactly the faerie was doing not even able to make a guess. The blonde headed knight was the only one brave enough to attempt to question the faerie of technology. "...Uh...so...just what exactly ARE you doing there Techna?" Bright questioned the faerie.
"What else? Techna is being Techna. What else is there to know?" Stella giggled. "It's simple really." Techna began. "The tree can only hold so many ornaments at once due to its mass added to the weight each ornament will be placed on the tree. So I'm using numbers based on that principle to calculate the exact amount of ornaments can be put on the tree until it's at maximum way I can formulate a plan of execution for the decoration execution." Techna explained.
"...Does she ALWAYS do dis?" Joey questioned. "Pretty much," Stella told the blonde. "I don't know about you but my head hurts from all that mumbo jumbo..." Cupid groaned as he held his head. "It's ok. Most of the time Techna has to translate it for us too." the faerie of music giggled. "...It's just placing decorations on the tree. It's not that complicated." Bright pointed out. Yuki's eyes shifted towards the bunch.
"I don't comprehend why Techna's method is considered unorthodox to you all...it only seems logical to me that one would take into consideration the height and mass of the tree...and use those statistics in order to deduce the number of decorations which can be placed on the tree before it collapses..." the Elementian mused as he took a seat on the couch itching his feet tucked warmly away in socks.
"...I...I don't even know what to say..." Duke muttered. "...For once i'm in agreement with dice boy..." Joey added. "...U-Um..." Amourette began. "The ornaments are light, so that's not really necessary eheh." "...What SHE said." Both Duke and Joey exclaimed at the same time as Yuki reached down and took a cup of hot chocolate from the tray stirring around the peppermint stick within it. "So that settles THAT!" Joey exclaimed and picked up another red ornament only for it to slip from his hand and roll over to the blonde's boot. A red one. Slowly Bright reached down and picked up the decoration.
It was no use. No matter how hard Bright tried he just couldn't stop thinking about Xuri. "...I need some fresh air..." the prince murmured and left through the front door. Flora only frowned. "Poor Bright...he must still be torn about his best friend not being here..." the faerie murmured solemnly. "I-I'm going to see if he's ok," Flora told Joey before she hurried out after him. Joey only grinned.
"Dat's one ting I love about Flo. No matta who it is, she's just so fricken sweet!" the blonde admitted as Amourette nodded. "I agree." the blunette agreed with a smile. "You guys seem ta be getting along better too...i'm glad..." "Me too." Amourette smiled. "Say, have you thought about what you're going to get Flora-Chan for Christmas?" the blunette questioned the blonde. "...Uh...well..." Joey scratched at his cheek. "No...but I've been thinking hard about it...I mean...I know she likes flowa's and plants but i'm still kinda learnin about her..." the blonde sighed.
"I wouldn't even know where ta begin!" Joey told the blunette as he wracked his brain. "Don't hurt yourself..." Duke teased. "Well, maybe one of Flora-Chan's friends might have an idea of what she might like," Amourette suggested. "...Yeah...dat just might work! Alright! It's worth a try! Tanks fer da idea!" Joey thanked the blunette as he caught sight through the window of Layla outside and left through the front door. But as soon as he walked outside a giant snowball started to head towards him.
"WAHHGAHA!" Joey cried and tried to flee only to find out what a cold shoulder was covered head to toe in snow laying face down in the white powdery mess. "Oops! Sorry, Joey!" Layla apologized as she helped him up wiping the snow off of the blonde. "BRRRR! What da heck are ya doin out here anyway!?" Joey asked the dark-skinned faerie. "I was trying to show Marik how to have a little winter fun. But it kinda got out of hand when the snowman got bigger than he was originally supposed to." Layla giggled.
"No kidding. Hey, I was actually hopin I could ask ya something. It's about Flo." Joey began. "Sure, but only one condition." the dark-skinned faerie teased. "And wat would dat be?" the blonde questioned as he raised his brow as Layla formed a snowball in the back of her hand. "If...YOU TAKE PART IN OUR SNOWBALL FIGHT!" the dark-skinned faerie cried out suddenly as she threw a snowball at Joey.
"HEY!"Joey cried before he was hit from behind nearly jumping three feet into the air. Marik had to admit that is was rather amusing to see the look on Joey's face when he got hit with the snowball. "COME AND GET US!" Layla laughed and threw another one at the blonde. "GAH! ALL RIGHT DAT DOES IT! JOEY AIN'T PLAYIN AROUND!" Joey exclaimed and started making his own snowballs all three of them chucking snowballs left and right into all-out snowball battle!
"SO! L-Layla!" Joey called out as he dodged oncoming snowballs in the process. "Y-Yeah Joey?" Layla questioned as she ducked forming another snowball in her hand. "I-I wanna get Flo a Christmas Pre-Present! B-But I-GAH! Have no clue...WOO Close one! What ta...WOAH!...Get her..." Joey cried as he ran around the front yard avoiding the snowballs flying at him.
"Well." Layla began as she chucked snowballs at the blonde. "Flora loves classical music...Romantic movies...and WOAH! YIKES! THAT'S COLD! OH! And reading and taking pictures of F-FLOWERS!" the dark-skinned faerie replying between getting hit from behind by Marik. "YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR THAT MARIK!" Layla exclaimed and laughed as she ran towards him forming snowballs in the air with her powers. Marik didn't stand a chance soon brought down by the barrage. Both of them laying down on the snowy ground out of breath. Along with poor Joey huffing. "T-Tanks...for da...advice...i'm going to go die now..."
Back at the Town Flora walked into she came upon the Winter Roses. No matter how far she walked, she couldn't seem to find Bright anywhere. "Please...Winter Roses of Covenant...i'm looking for a blonde male wearing blue and white...could you please point me in which direction he went..." the faerie pleaded to the flowers. Using their petals they showed her the way. "Thank you!" Flora exclaimed and walked following the flowers until she came upon the Christmas Tree she saw with Joey earlier.
The faerie frowned softly as she gazed at the severed tree and gently reached up her hand touching its bark. But she didn't sense sadness of pain from the tree. Instead, she could feel the tree overflowing with joy and warmth. To be looked upon by so many people, bringing them together in this season of peace and love. Flora finally understood why a Christmas Tree was so special. Looking upwards into the tree. Beyond the decoration, the faerie could see the blonde concealed within the pine.
"Please...take me to the one you hold in your branches..." Flora whispered. Gently the tree's pines gave the faerie a lift taking her up to Bright's level whom held his knees to his chest. Flora's gaze fell upon a crystalized cherry blossom clutched tightly in the prince's hand. Crying all alone in the warmth and protection of the Christmas tree. Praying the heavy snowfall would conceal him from the world's eyes as his crystal blue tears turned into snowflakes falling from his face.
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