Note To Readers: Hey everyone! Sorry for the wait. Writing these chapters takes time. {As per Several requests, i'll be starting a new Shokogeki No Soma {Food Wars} fanfiction for all Megumi and Soma lovers that are just as disgusted with manga as I am right now. Which will feature some of My characters in this fanfiction as well! Soumegu "France Is Where The Heart Is" A Soma and Megumi Fanfiction. Which the first chapter will be out shortly} For those of you just coming on board welcome! I hope everyone's had some time to catch up. This chapter will mainly focus on Bloom and Cupid so just bear with me for you guys who are wanting to see more of the other characters ^^ ok? Alrighty! Chapter 102 HERE WE GO!
Chapter 102: Protecting Her Smile
After she tried herself off Bloom placed on the Yukata that the hotel provided for her and made her way out of the bathroom. The faerie paused as she cracked the door open. Just listening to Cupid the redhead could slowly feel her heartbreaking. Gathering her courage Bloom slowly made her way toward the bed and sat down beside him. Gently the faerie picked up Cupid's head and placed it in her lap. The red head's eyes widened as he felt Bloom's gentle touch tensing up as she moved him. For all people to catch him in this sorry state it had to be her. He cursed his wretched luck.
"It's ok...you can turn your head I promise I won't look..." Bloom's softened voice assured him as he averted his gaze from hers. Softly he felt the faerie stroke his hair in a rather calming manner. Just how long had it been since someone had patted his head like this? Not since his mother was taken from him. Slowly Cupid closed his tear-rimmed eyes as he tried to relax. "You know it always helped when my mom would let me rest my head on her lap and stroke my hair...my adoptive mother...so when I found my real mom I was surprised when she did it too...when Sky my first Fiance broke off our engagement...I was so upset that I cried for hours...but it meant a lot that no matter what she was there when I needed to talk...so...I don't want to pry...however if there's something that's bothering you...you know you can always talk to me about it...that is...if you want to..." Bloom told Cupid whom only twisted his mouth.
"How? How could he possibly begin to describe what he was feeling right now? That he was cursed? That his only chance of lifting it was to seal away her powers? It was utterly impossible. After a moment of silence passed between them, Cupid finally broke it. "...Let me ask you a question...if Kaiba's feelings for you were...say forgotten...would you be willing to do almost ANYTHING to get them back?" the redhead questioned. Bloom paused surprised at the question as her mind was nearly taken back in time. "Well, when someone you love acts like they don't know you...it definitely hurts..." the faerie began. "The fiance I talked about earlier. His name was Prince Sky. He invited me to a celebration for his kingdom when it happened. He told me that he wanted his whole kingdom to know that I was the one he wanted to be with forever...but his former fiance with a Wizard named Baltor's help cast a powerful spell on him...and no matter how hard I tried my voice couldn't reach him..." Bloom told Cupid.
"I started to doubt that he loved me at all...I still remember how devastated I was when he called out the other girl's name...and even after the spell broke...I always felt so uncertain and anxious...I guess if I was completely honest with myself...those feelings of doubt never truly went away...I even started to wonder if it had been easier if we'd never met...but if I hadn't then I would never have understood what love's true form was. I'll admit it does scare me...that the same thing could happen again...i'm so terrified...I can't stand it!" Bloom wept as tears fell down her face falling onto Cupid's cheek below her. Slowly the redhead looked up as his eyes widened. She always looked so happy wearing a smile as she laughed. Had she been feeling this way the entire time?
A frown manifested onto Cupid's face before he eased himself off of her lap and pulled the faerie into his arms. Comforting her like she had done for him. No matter how hard she tried Bloom couldn't stop her tears trembling as the redhead held her close to him. Why? Why?! Why did seeing her cry cause him to feel so much pain in his own chest?! "I-I'm sorry..." Bloom choked out. "H-Here I am supposed to be comforting you...not the other way...a...around..." the faerie sobbed. But Cupid only shook his head softly. "I'm the one who's sorry...I didn't mean to make you upset..." the redhead apologized. "S-So...if you...wanna talk...I'll listen...or if you don't...you don't have to say anything that's ok too..." Cupid told her before Bloom lifted her head upwards
"...Really?...I can trust you...?" Bloom asked Cupid as she looked up at him with her blue eyes glistening with tears. "...Yes..." the redhead finally answered her as he took out a white and red hankardshiff offering it to her. "T...Thank you..." the faerie sniffed before she gently took it and wiped her eyes. "...Actually...before we went on this trip...I accidentally eavesdropped on Raeger and Seto when I went outside to see if Kaiba had returned from his board meeting at Kaiba Corp...but when I did...Seto told Raeger...that he wanted...to learn the truth...about who he really is...and up until now...i've been perfectly ok with it...I mean...I remember how it was for me...when I had no idea who I was or where I came from...it's only natural to want answers...right...?" Bloom began as she felt overcome with emotion."Learning who I was however...didn't change me...but what if...what it changes Seto!?
"Never forget who you are." "Those were Raeger's exact words to him...and when he said it...Raeger almost seemed scared...when Seto asked him why he acted that way...Raeger said he couldn't tell him...you see...i've gotten to know several sides of Kaiba...but even so...The Wizards Of The Black Circle and Bakura seem to know a part of him I don't! So...so...what do I do if he finds himself and leaves everyone...including me behind...?" Bloom wept uncontrollably as she clenched the handkardshiff in her hands. "All of our memories...everything we've been through...will it be forgotten? I don't know...if my heart can take the answer...and the farther apart we are...the more frightened I am of him slipping away into the darkness...like Sky did...even back then...I didn't have the power to save him." the faerie confessed as she choked on her tears.
"Bloom -Chan..." Cupid murmured softly as she broke down in front of him. All this time he had just assumed that falling in love was something that caused great happiness but who knew that loving someone could also bring such a great amount of pain as well. If he followed Bakura's whims then taking advantage of her in her fragile state would be easily accomplished. But did he really want that? Was his happiness worth the cost of hers? He didn't know the answer. All he did know was that he was willing to do almost anything to cheer her up. "You're thinking about him aren't you? As long as you keep him close in your thoughts...the warmth of your feelings will always be able to reach him." the redhead answered. "B-But how?! How will I know?!" Bloom asked Cupid. "You don't believe me? Then take a look at this." he mused and summoned a pink sphere into his hands that showed Kaiba and Kenshin as he spoke of the reason he wished to learn of his origins. All to protect her.
"See? He's thinking about you right as we speak!" Cupid winked playfully. "Yep you can trust a deity of love on that!" the redhead exclaimed Bloom only stared at the orb and covered her mouth as tears of joy replaced the ones filled with fear and doubt. She was so relieved and so happy that she just didn't know what to do with herself. Her voice could STILL reach him. Cupid nearly found himself taken by surprised as the faerie abruptly hugged him tightly before gently releasing him and only looked at the redhead with a tear-filled smile. "Thank you...Thank you so much..." Bloom managed to say through almost a loss of words. Cupid returned her smile. He knew one thing for sure. He wanted to protect that bright and beautiful smile on her face. No matter what the cost.
Bloom paused as her stomach's growl echoed throughout the room before Cupid bursted out in laughter. "You're actually hungry? The way you scarfed down nearly all 10 pizza buns i'd have thought that would have been impossible." the redhead teased with a grin. "S-Shut up!" the faerie cried as her face reddened and grabbed a pillow chucking it at him, it hitting Cupid in the face both throwing pillows back and forth at the other laughing as they did. Good, she seemed back to normal. Bloom thinking the same thing about him. "Well, then i'm just gonna order some tasty grub for our energetic stomachs." the faerie informed him and picked up the phone dialing the number. Once she finished they receive their order shortly after it being light sandwiches not wanting to eat anything too heavy before bed.
"By the way..." "Hmm?" "I'm REALLY sorry about getting all emotional back there! I'm sure you don't need any more things to worry about..." Bloom apologized to Cupid. "Nah! It's fine! What's a deity of love for than to listen to a troubled heart?" the redhead mused. "Teeheee...I guess that's true...though I have to say I was surprised...you always seem so silly that you wouldn't think you could be serious. But if talking about your own feelings no matter how brief helped you...then i'm glad I was here to listen...though I guess I did more of that huh?" Bloom giggled softly with a smile as Cupid felt his cheeks grow hot and grabbed a beer can opening it and drinking it along with Bloom. They stayed up for awhile drinking and playing karaoke that they had at the hotel. Enjoying the night just being silly. Of course, Bloom was the first one to pass out. It didn't take long for Cupid to feel what he had drunk too.
Silently Cupid looked at the faerie as she slept on the opposite side of the bed. Sleeping away as if she didn't have care in the world. She really was naive but it was kind of cute at the same time. Just how long had she been hiding under that smile of hers anyway? The tears she kept within. The redhead pondered as he slowly closed his eyes drifting asleep only to wake up in the middle of the night with Bloom clinging to him like a boa constrictor wrapped tightly around its prey. His face buried in her chest. "...Aw man...this feels so good...but...I...can't...breathe..." Cupid gasped. "Anyways...I need to separate...myself..." the redhead reasoned but just as he managed to break away she grabbed him again her legs rubbing again all the wrong place. Eventually, Cupid had no choice to tap out giving in to inevitable fate as a human pillow until the morning came.
"AHHHH! GOOD MORNING! I haven't slept that good in a while!" Bloom stretched before she looked over at Cupid who looked worse for where his hair messy beyond belief. "G-Good morning..." Cupid twitched. "...Boy you don't look so good...did you get any sleep at all?" Bloom questioned. "...A tiny bit...until I had to grapple with a man's temptation last night..." the redhead replied. "...A...man's...temptation?" the faerie questioned as she blinked a few times. "N-Never mind..." Cupid dismissed the subject. It was probably best she didn't know. "I'm going to go get dressed after that we can get outta here and hail a taxi to Supporo," Bloom told Cupid before she went to the bathroom. Afterward, they checked out of the hotel and made their way to their original destination.
"WOW!" Bloom exclaimed as they finally arrived at Supporo. The snow fell all around them as booths were set up all around the area with diffrent types of food with an ice pond being used as a skating rink in the middle of the Odori Park. Ice sculptures of all shapes and sizes crafted and displayed for all viewing pleasure and to see it all from the sky was a large tower that you could ride or walk up to the top. Even the ice bar which Avalon had told them about was there. "It's incredible! But with all these people all over the place, we're going to have trouble finding The Hotspring Resort..." Bloom frowned as she looked around. "Hmm...where there's that tower over there...wanna go check it out?" Cupid suggested. "Yeah! Oh but first!" the faerie paused as she ran over to a food cart nearby and grabbed two melon breads.
"Ok! Ready when you are!" Bloom exclaimed before she followed him to the tower. "So...do you think we should take the stairs or the elevato-" the faerie began before he gasped feeling herself being carried upwards Cupid flying Bloom and him to the very top of the tower. "Going up!" the redhead grinned before he placed her down landing beside her putting his wings away afterward. "Next time you're going to do that...warn me first...I nearly had a heart attack!" Bloom cried. "Hehehe my bad." Cupid apologized before the faerie held out to him one of the two melon breads. It was a bread that was made with bread mixed with cookie dough and melon pulp. "Here! We kinda forget to eat breakfast before we took off like we did." Bloom giggled softly.
"Oh! You're right! Whoops!" Cupid chuckled and carefully took the bread. "Thanks!" "You're welcome!" Bloom smiled and went right to chowing down on hers. "Mmm! I just love that the cookie dough is just underbaked. But being fresh out of the oven is even tastier!" the faerie exclaimed as Cupid caught himself gazing at her before Bloom looked at him noticing he wasn't eating his. "...Do you not like melon bread? I can get you something else if you want." the faerie mused. The redhead only shook his head nervously. "N-No, in fact, i'm starved!" Cupid exclaimed and began to take a big bite out of the melon bread. "See?! Delicious! I love it!" the redhead told Bloom with his mouth full as the faerie only giggled."Oh, Cupid you have crumbs all over your face." "Oh...do I? eheheh..." Cupid chuckled in return as Bloom reached up to wipe them off. Not knowing Roxy and Raeger were on the tower already.
"Raeger take a look at the view from here!" Roxy called over as the Guild Master lagged behind nearly out of breath from climbing all those stairs huffing. "P-Phew...that was quite the climb..." "You're just outta shape." the faerie teased. "You just might be right about that." Raeger chuckled as he walked over to the edge with her. "By the way thanks for sneaking out with me. I don't think I could've taken another minute of Stella's rantings about Bloom. She's a nice girl but SUCH a drama queen!" Roxy exclaimed. "Yes, she is rather noisy when it comes to voicing her opinions." The Guild Master agreed. "I'll say!" the faerie giggled before her cheeks slightly reddened."Um...you know...i've actually been wanting to talk to you...for a while now...about...what happened back with The Wizards...and Aura..." Roxy began as she fidgeted with her fingers nervously. "O-Oh...?" Raeger questioned as his own cheeks grew hot.
"S-So have I...but the timing just didn't seem ri-" "...Raeger?...Everything o-holy molly!" the faerie cut herself off as both she and The Guild Master caught sight of Cupid and Bloom on the other side of the tower. Both of them laughing and eating. Slowly Roxy inched closer Raeger not far behind her. "I don't care how you look at it. That LOOKS like a date to me!" the faerie exclaimed in a loud whisper. "...Don't you think that's jumping to conclusions slightly?" The Guild Master questioned. "Right or not we're going to follow them!" "...I was afraid you were going to suggest that..." Raeger sighed before the two followed Bloom and Cupid down the tower. Bloom paused as she stopped looking behind her before Roxy and Raeger quickly concealed themselves behind a nearby building.
"Is everything ok Bloom-Chan?" Cupid questioned. "...Uh...yeah I think so. I just got this weired feeling...like we were being followed. But it's probably just my imagination!" Bloom laughed it off as they continued onward towards the hotel. The redhead couldn't help but allow his gaze to waunder downwards towards the faerie's hand within inches of his. What was this feeling? It was so bizarre. It was as if no matter for how long he just wanted to be near her. He wanted to feel the warmth of Bloom's hand. He must've seriously been going mental. Even so, that desire lingered as he felt blush creep up on his face. The faerie only looked towards Cupid concerned. But just as she opened her mouth to inquire about his strange behavior Cupid spoke up first.
"...B-Bloom-Chan..." "Hmm? What is it Cupid?" "...M...Might I ask you...for a...favor...maybe...?" Bloom only offered a soft smile. "Go right ahead." "...Oh...well...it's...that is...errr...w-would you mind...if I...held your hand...until we reached the hotel...?" the redhead barely managed to utter. The faerie paused taken by surprise before she smiled in turned and offered her hand out to him as her answer. A small smile crossed Cupid's face as he gently took her hand in his as they walked through the snow falling down on them. Bloom knew she couldn't do much to help ease the demons that had taken a hold of his heart. So just this once. Cupid nearly froze in place as the faerie leaned over and planted a kiss on the red head's cheeks. {Thank you...} Bloom whispered to him in her heart as she gently broke away and entered the hotel's doors. Him just as stunned as Cupid grasped at his chest. What was this feeling...that was piling up inside of him...? He questioned before he slowly followed after her. Raeger and Roxy only able to watch the events before them unfold.
"OH THIS IS SO BAD!" Roxy cried almost in a panic. "Raeger what are we going to do!?" the faerie questioned. "I-I have no idea..." The Guild Master replied at a loss as well as she. "Well, we have to do something! If this keeps up and Kaiba comes back he's going to put an end to him cursed or not!" Roxy cried. "T-Then what do you propose we do Roxy?" Raeger questioned. "...I guess...we're just going to have to make sure Cupid and Bloom don't spend ANY more time together! Got it!? Now let's move!" Roxy cried as she grabbed The Guild Master and hurried into the hotel. Nearby Bakura only smirked. "Try as you might your attempts are in vain..." the snow-haired male mused. The fun was only beginning after all.
Bloom meanwhile with Cupid made her way into the hotel lobby only to be greeted by Nathaniel whom offered them a warm smile. "Why, Miss Bloom good morning..." the gentlemen greeted. "Good morning! Sorry, we're late. We had a bit of trouble with the transit system..." the faerie laughed nervously. "But anyways thank you for the lovely invitation to stay at your Hotspring Resort! Everyone including me are REALLY looking forward to it!" Bloom thanked Nathaniel whom only smiled in return. "I am pleased to hear that...although I am truly sorry about what happened...I ask humbly for your forgiveness Miss Bloom." Nathaniel bowed. "Oh come on. There's no need to be so down. Besides everything turned out ok, didn't it? Besides, because of that, I was able to get The Phoenix's ashes. So I won't hear another word about it!" the faerie told him."Very well then. Thank you." Nathaniel smiled softly.
"Oh! By the way where are the others? Are they still asleep? I know how Stella loves to sleep in!" Bloom giggled. "Hmm, I don't recall..." Nathaniel replied before he noticed Raphiel coming around the corner with a tray of green tea. "Oh, Raphiel could you spare a moment?" the gray-haired male mused. "Certainly." the blonde offered a smile and slowly made his way over. "Do you need something?" "Yes. Would you happen to know if Miss Bloom's party is currently still present in their hotel room?" Nathaniel inquired. "If I remember right there were two individuals that I saw leaving the room but I couldn't say who they were. Sorry." Raphiel apologized.
"That's ok! I'll just have a look see for myself! Thanks for the help!" Bloom exclaimed. "Come on Cupid let's go! To room 204 on the fifth floor!" the faerie urged. "We're going to wake those sleepy heads! Boy will they sure be surprised to see us!" Bloom giggled as Roxy and Raeger waited in the shadows as the two approached the elevator pressing the buttons to open the doors. "Ready?" Roxy asked Raeger in a whisper "As i'll ever be..." The Guild Master responded. "...1...2...3!" they counted before Roxy grabbed Bloom pulling her into one elevator while Raeger grabbed Cupid and pulled him into the other one. Cupid and Bloom could barely turn around to look at the other in confusion before the door closed behind them.
RATE AND REVIEW! Reviews Are Love! {I know it's much shorter but this part was important to write out}