Estelle's part of this chapter is based on the time I got sick days before Christmas Eve last year.
Special thanks to CitrusUnshiu who is my beta-reader and suggested ideas for this chapter!
The chapter begins in Crow's point of view.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 10: A Christmas by another Name
The cold air tickled my throat every time I took a breath while I drove on the highway on my Duel Runner. The roads were pretty much empty as I headed toward my hometown. The police academy decided to give the cadets a two weeks' vacation. I was looking forward seeing my friends and the kids after I've been away for months.
I missed them so much. I had facetimed the kids a couple of times and I could tell through the screen they have grown a lot. I couldn't wait and see how tall they were now compared to when I left the city. Perhaps I should buy them new clothes as Christmas gifts? Or new cards? I've heard a new collection had recently been released, so I should take the chance and get some booster packs.
I found my way through the busy streets of New Domino City and made it safely to the Fountain Plaza. The plaza was empty of people and the fountain was dry. Café la Geen was open, but they had removed the tables and chairs outside of the shop since it was too cold to sit outside.
I drove past Zora's house and down the driveway in slow speed, noticing the garage shutter was up. I wanted to surprise Yusei, so I parked my Runner outside and got off it before I carefully peeked inside. Yusei was nowhere to be seen, but his Duel Runner was there so he was probably at home. I walked inside and took a deep breath before opening my big mouth.
"Hey, babe! I'm hooome!"
I snickered at my own joke, hoping I gave Yusei a jump scare. I didn't know what kind of nicknames Yusei and Estelle had for each other, so he would clearly react at the "babe" nickname, probably assuming it was his girlfriend calling.
The metal staircase clattered as Yusei walked down from the living room and turned around the corner. He swiftly blinked his eyes before a smile erupted on his face. "Crow!"
"Hey, Yusei! Long time no see!" I grinned widely with a soft wave of my hand.
"I had no idea you were coming home", Yusei said as he walked down the last step of stairs. We then did our secret handshake, bumping fists and hooking arms.
"I wanted to surprise you", I explained and placed my hands on my hips. "The academy sent everybody home for vacation."
"That's nice of them", Yusei nodded. "It's great seeing you again."
"Same", I chuckled. "Do you know if Jack's coming home for Christmas?"
"I haven't heard from him yet, so I've got to ask him", Yusei shook his head.
"Something tells me he's going to prioritize training over Christmas and New Year", I mumbled and rubbed my chin, feeling the tiny stubble I had grown for the last few days. My lips twitched into a smirk as I was reminded of the question I had in mind. "Have you and Estelle made plans for Christmas Eve next week?"
"Yeah", Yusei replied with a soft smile. "We're going to a restaurant and then take a stroll around the city and exchange Christmas gifts."
"Oooh, sounds like you've already prepared a gift for her, hmm?" I teased and lightly elbowed Yusei.
Yusei released a soft chuckle and playfully shoved me back like how we used to play when we were kids. It was great seeing him so relaxed for once. He became so stiff and stoic after Kalin got imprisoned and Jack betrayed him. It was like he had shut the gate to his heart close and rarely expressed any emotions. He almost became a robot that was programmed to do the daily needs to survive. It was painful to watch. No one had the key to unlock his heart until Estelle appeared out of nowhere and removed the shackles wrapped around him freeing the human within him.
"What are your plans for Christmas, Crow?" Yusei wondered while we pushed my Duel Runner into the garage.
"I've got a Christmas date with Martha and the kids", I replied immediately and lowered the kickstand. "So don't worry about leaving me alone here in the garage."
"That explains why Martha rejected my suggestion of me and Estelle showing up at her house briefly during our date", Yusei said in realization before he went to a crate and grabbed a cover large enough for my Runner.
"Yeah, she didn't want to bother you two", I explained while I grabbed my bag that was strapped on the back of my Runner. "What about Aki, Sherry and the twins?"
"Aki is going to a Christmas party and the twins' parents are coming home to celebrate the holidays with them", Yusei replied before we teamed up to cover Blackbird. "Sherry and Mizoguchi can't make it, so I assume the next time we'll see them is on graduation day for Aki, Leo and Luna."
"Sounds like everyone's got plans", I nodded before I felt a blow of cold air rush inside the garage. "Why'd you keep the garage open, Yusei? It's freaking cold outside!"
"I was airing the place", he explained while he lowered the garage shutter. "Estelle came over the other day coughing, so I wanted to make sure the germs are no longer swirling around in here."
"Uh-oh… That sounds awful", I said concernedly before I started walking up the stairs carrying my bag. "Hope she doesn't get worse. Some of the cadets were complaining about sore throats and coughed left and right, so I hope I didn't get infected."
"Yeah, it's not fun having the flu", Yusei agreed, following me up to the living room. The table was covered by books he was studying for the exams. He had always been a diligent worker, but now he was taking one extra step further.
I briefly remembered he got sick in January and I had called Estelle over to take care of him while Jack and I were away working. "Well, if Estelle gets sick, you can take care of her, just like how she took care of you last time", I playfully suggested.
"I doubt that-"
A bird chirp erupted from the table before Yusei could finish his sentence. I turned around in time to see him pick up his smartphone to check what had just been sent to him. His eyes read the message from left to right before his mouth formed into a small o, a highly concerned expression pasted on his face.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Yusei sighed and pocketed his smartphone in his pants, his eyebrows narrowing into a grimace. "Estelle caught the flu."
"What?!" I exclaimed in disbelief at the timing. "How bad is it?"
"She's got a high fever."
"Oh no!" I felt the blood rush from my face. "I didn't mean to jinx it, Yusei! I swear!"
"I know, Crow. Don't worry about it", Yusei said and patted my shoulder with a disappointed face. "I was looking forward to the date, but I guess I have to cancel the reservation now." He let out a sigh and silently walked up the stairs to our bedrooms with his sinking shoulders.
"Damn…", I mumbled sadly, feeling awful for both of them.
I silently walked the rest of the stairs up to my bedroom. I gently shut the door behind me and left my bag in a corner. I threw my winter jacket on top of the bag and dropped myself onto my bed on my stomach, suddenly feeling a little apathetic. Maybe I was mentally exhausted after all the training in the academy and now I could finally get some rest.
I turned around on the soft bed so I rested on my back and just stared at the ceiling for a brief moment with an empty mind. So much had happened since I started attending the police academy. I did get bullied by some of the tougher cadets at first. They said criminals had no reason to become officers and protect the people, but I proved myself after I defeated them in practice runs and duels. You could say I was redeeming myself after living a life of a criminal back in the old days when I had to steal stuff in order for me and the kids to survive. Give back what I stole during my delinquent years.
I noticed a small pile of letters on my desk and decided to go through them. I had asked Yusei to send forward any important letters but keep the rest at home. I sorted through them and saw there were a few letters from different professional Duel Leagues. It was kinda expected to get invitations from these leagues since our team won the Grand Prix, but I was ignoring them for now.
I went to the last letter which the address was written in letters and not in Japanese writing system. I turned to check who the sender was on the back of the envelope. It was from Brave! Huh, that was an unexpected surprise.
I eagerly ripped open the envelope and pulled out a store-bought folded Christmas postcard. I opened it and read the clumsy message written in a mix of Japanese and Swedish.
Hi, Crow!
This is my first time writing Japanese, so I hope you can read my kråkfötter (chicken scratching) lol.
I hope you'll have a great holiday with friends and family. God jul! (Merry Christmas!)
/Brave
P.S. I look forward challenging you to a duel. ;)
I chuckled at the large wink doddle Brave had drawn next to the reminder of our future duel. His sense of humor was hilarious, but it was one of his charming points. It was probably a little too late to send a postcard now, so I went to my laptop and switched it on to write a brief email to him thanking him for the card and wishing him and his little nest happy holidays.
XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV
Leo and Luna's apartment was getting decorated with colorful ornaments and glitter garland by the kids and their half a dozen caretakers while a radio played Christmas songs to enlighten the mood. Christmas was only couple of days away, so the twins wanted to decorate the final part of their home before they could send the caretakers away.
The children may look excited for Christmas, but they were only hiding their true feelings beneath the fake façade. Last year their parents couldn't come home because of their work in London, so Leo and Luna had written and begged their parents to come home this year, but their prayers didn't get answered. The adults had once again other plans for the holidays.
The twins gave envelopes with bonus checks to their caretakers before they dismissed them. The adults were reluctant leaving the kids alone, knowing they were feeling lonely without having their parents around. They had spent more time with Leo and Luna than their own parents so they understood the twins. Even so, the children sent them off with big fake smiles that they dropped as soon as the elevator closed its doors.
Leo sighed deeply and relaxed his body, relieved he no longer had to act like he was a cheerful boy looking forward to Christmas. "Finally they're gone…"
"Yeah…", Luna nodded and turned around, taking light steps toward the living room. Her brother followed her as their footsteps echoed in the large apartment.
A lone spruce tree dominated the center of the living room, spreading its unique scent that enhanced the depressing Christmas atmosphere. It had been saved for the last to decorate. The twins wanted to decorate the tree with their parents just like how they used to when they were much younger before the adults got extremely busy with their jobs.
Kuribon's spirit appeared next to Luna as she sadly stared at the tree, sympathizing with the siblings. "Kurii…"
"I don't like this type of Christmas…", Luna mumbled, her eyes reflecting the loneliness within her.
"Me too", Leo said with his hands on his hips as he stared at the tree with the same sadness as his twin sister. "I wish we could have the same Christmas as last year…with everyone."
"Mm-hm…", Luna hummed with a soft nod, suddenly yearning to hug a stuffed animal for comfort. "It's sad everyone is busy or sick…"
"Mm-hm…"
(Insert: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey)
The radio was playing the next song and the notes got a little loud, cloaking the ding coming from the elevator that opened its doors for the arrivers. Kuribon did catch the sound from the elevator and turned around to see who had entered the twins' home. The Duel Spirit chirped out in surprise which caught Luna's attention. "What's wrong, Kuribon?"
"Huh?" Leo turned to his twin sister with a questioning expression. "Did Kuribon freak out over something, Luna?"
"Isn't it about time you two stop having imaginary friends?" a masculine voice chuckled behind the children.
"I agree, George", a soft feminine voice spoke next with the thud of a suitcase being placed on the floor. "You two are big enough to no longer have imaginary friends, Leo, Luna."
The twins froze at the familiar voices. They had only heard them through video calls, but hearing them in real life was better than the Christmas bells. Leo and Luna quickly turned around so fast you could get whiplash and gasped out in shock.
Their mother Lindsey stood before them with a smile greatly resembling Luna's. Her long thick blonde hair flowed down her shoulder blades with soft curls, her gray-gold eyes matching the twins' glittering eyes that were flooded by fresh tears. Her husband George brushed his teal bangs from his brown eyes with a small toothy smile that Leo usually showed whenever he was feeling confident.
"Mom! Dad!" the twins shrieked out in joy and rushed to their parents, their tears flying off their faces. George crouched down and picked up Luna into a hug, the girl cuddling against her father's neck. Leo hugged Lindsey around her waist and cried onto her abdomen soaking her sweater with snot and tears, feeling no shame of acting like a crybaby. Kuribon smiled at the family reunion before she decided to return to the Spirit World, giving the twins quality time with their parents.
Lindsey crouched down and brought her son into a hug. Leo returned it by wrapping his arms around her shoulders, burrowing his face on top of her bust. He held onto his mother's sweater with such a grip that he feared she would leave if he let go.
"W-We missed you so much!" Leo looked up at Lindsey with a soiled face, letting out sobs as he tried to calm down. "W-Why didn't y-you tell us y-you were coming h-home…?!"
"We wanted to surprise you", Lindsey said and caressed her son's head. She now felt bad for not telling her children about her and George's plans of surprising them with their sudden appearance.
"Is that why…you didn't reply to our emails?" Luna asked, wiping her tears off her face with her knuckles.
"Yes", George nodded and helped Luna wipe her tears with the sleeve of his jacket. "We managed to schedule a few days off from work to celebrate Christmas with you two. Sorry we gave you such a big shock."
Luna shook her head after the last tear was gone from her eyes. "It's okay, dad. We're so happy you made it this year."
Leo grabbed the handkerchief Lindsey gave to him and blew his nose. His mother used another handkerchief to wipe his face clean. She glanced up and saw the decorated apartment. "Did you two decorate all by yourselves?"
"N-No, we got help from our caretakers and gave them a bonus", Leo replied, his eyes a little red after bawling his eyes out, a tiny sob escaping his lips.
"We saved the Christmas tree for the last", Luna explained while George settled her on the floor, her eyes just as red as her brother's. "We want to decorate it with you, mom, dad. Just like how we used to…"
George and Lindsey glanced at the spruce tree and spotted a cardboard box resting next to it, a piece of a silver glitter garland sticking out from the box like it was telling the adults to let it find its place on the Christmas tree. The mother smiled softly and turned to her children with a smile of promises. "Then let's dress it up together. Just give me and your father a couple of minutes to change clothes and we'll join you by the tree."
"Yay!" the twins cheered eagerly simultaneously, lightly bouncing on their feet.
The atmosphere in the Collins apartment brightened up with the smiles and laughter from the family as they dressed up the spruce tree with ornaments and electric lights. George carried Luna on top of his shoulders so she could put the Christmas star on top of the tree, the last piece of ornament.
Now the twins were feeling so much better getting their Christmas wish come true. Seeing their smiles made their parents hold back the news they had for their children. That had to be postponed around the time Leo and Luna graduates the sixth grade.
XXXXXXXXXX – Aki's POV
It was quite the surprise that I got an invitation card by Ran to her Christmas party. The last time I saw her was during the Grand Prix when her family industry sponsored one of the competing teams. She had congratulated my team for coming in third place before she flew back to America to continue her studies. And now she had returned to host a party with friends and family.
It was a big party and I didn't know any of the guests, even though my family had a large social circle. I only went with my parents if it was absolutely necessary for the entire family to join a dinner party. I sat on a couch in a corner with a champagne flute of ginger ale and observed the guests, trying to find some familiar faces. Ran was busy chatting with some represents of companies who were collaborating with Kobayakawa Inc. We had briefly greeted each other when I showed up, but Ran had to greet the other guests and promised she would come to me later.
Time ticked by and nothing interesting happened. There were a couple of men who had asked me for a dance which I accepted out of courtesy. That whole time I imagined dancing with Sherry, her strong hands holding me carefully, her beautiful blonde hair flying around us like a protective veil and emerald eyes burning with passion piercing my soul.
I let out a soft sigh. Truthfully, I felt lonely without Sherry. It's so unfortunate that she couldn't visit me, even though there were vacations in Europe. Chatting with her isn't the same as talking to her, but I guess it's the only option I have for now. I grabbed my smartphone from my purse and opened the LINE app. It should be around noon in France, so Sherry should be preparing for Christmas with Mizoguchi.
Aki: Merry Christmas, Sherry! How are you?
I was hoping she would have time to answer my message. I wasn't sure how Sherry celebrated Christmas; we never had a conversation about this topic before after all. Asking her directly seemed a bit insensitive; after all she had to flee from Iliaster basically her whole life. Now that the manhunt was over, Sherry could hopefully take all the time to relax and enjoy this season.
A ping brought me out of my trance as I took a sip of my drink. I instantly checked my phone and saw Sherry had sent a reply.
Sherry: Merry Christmas, Aki! I'm good thank you. Mizoguchi and I are preparing some stuff for the evening. How has your Christmas been so far?
It made me smile to know Sherry and Mizoguchi were enjoying themselves with the preparations for a Christmas dinner. I recalled Estelle's Christmas party last year of how she introduced some classic Swedish dishes and confections the Swedes usually have on the dining table. Now I got curious what kind of French dishes Sherry was preparing with her guardian.
Aki: I was invited to a Christmas party hosted by Ran, remember her? It's a little boring here, so I decided to check up on you. What kind of dishes are you making?
It didn't take long before she responded.
Sherry: I remember her. She was the sponsor for Team Mantis and a self-proclaimed rival of yours. They didn't last long in the Grand Prix.
Sherry: We're having smoked salmon. And then we're finishing the meal with a bûche de Noël that Mizoguchi is currently baking. I'm helping him with the frosting.
Aki: Sounds delicious! Wish I was there to join your dinner.
Sherry didn't reply for a few minutes, which made me nervous. Did I write something wrong? Was my wish to be there with her uncalled for? A ping brought my attention back to my phone.
Sherry: Wish you were here too. Your presence brightens up the room.
My heart beat fast in my chest as I read her message. "Wish you were here too" so that means she wants me to be there during Christmas with her? Christmas is a cherished family holiday in Europe, does she see me as family or am I just being delusional here? Probably the latter. Sherry must probably feel down because of her deceased parents. Just imagining her sad expression and sorrow makes me wish I was right by her side giving her a hug and assuring her she wasn't alone anymore.
Aki: Then… Maybe next year, I can come over to your place for Christmas Eve?
Was it bold of me asking that? No, we were friends and teammates, so it shouldn't look weird of me asking her if I could join her and her guardian next Christmas.
Sherry: I would love having you come over, but isn't it difficult to travel from Japan to France just to spend one day here with me?
I stared a bit too long at the word love. She'd love to have me come over? She was right though, since there are no vacations during Christmas in Japan, it's difficult to come over to Sherry. I sighed disappointingly.
Sherry: That reminds me. Your exams for the uni are in next month, right? Do you feel ready to face them?
The change of topic was good, as it made me think of something else than not being able to spend the day with Sherry. I couldn't resist smirking proudly as I typed my reply.
Aki: I'm ready to ace them!
Sherry: That's what I wanted to hear! Have you told your parents about your ambition yet?
That's right. I had told my friends about my future plans before revealing the truth to my parents. I had only recently told mom and dad about my desire of becoming a doctor.
Aki: I have.
I remembered that evening couple of days ago when I asked my parents to sit down in the living room with me so I could confess something important to them. Mom and dad were first a little surprised about my ambition and sad by the fact I was going leave them so soon. We hadn't spent much time to make up for the lost years, but they respected my wishes since they had noticed my increased enthusiasm of biology and medical books I borrowed from the library and my regular visits at the hospital to check on Haruka. I deeply appreciated my parents' support which gave me fuel to continue doing my best.
Aki: Tbh, I was worried about their reactions, but they took it well.
"I hope I'm not interrupting your important text chat, Aki."
I snapped my head up from the smartphone and saw Ran in front of me. She was dressed in a light blue mermaid dress with a deep cut by the cleavage and held a champagne flute of her own. She gave me a knowing glance before she took a sip of her drink.
"No, not at all, Ran", I told her before I swiftly typed one final message to Sherry. She was still typing her reply for the last message.
Aki: Gotta go, Sherry. Ran just showed up. Merry Christmas again!
I put away the phone in my purse while Ran sat down next to me and crossed her legs. She leaned against the couch and let out a deep tired sigh. "Finally I get a break from greeting the guests."
"I know what you mean", I nodded, sympathizing with my senior. Whenever my parents host a party, the three of us greet the guests with big smiles even for the people we don't feel comfortable with.
Ran took another sip of her drink and sighed in relief. "That hits the spot. Now then, how has things been since the Grand Prix?"
"It's been good", I replied. "I keep distracting myself with my studies and hang out with my friends whenever I need a break."
"It sounds like you've got a goal set in stone", Ran said and sloshed her drink. "Let me guess. You want to become a professional Turbo Duelist?"
"Actually, no", I replied. "I want to become a doctor."
I heard the noise of a message being sent to my phone, but I ignored it.
"A doctor?" Ran repeated with a surprised voice. She blinked her eyes before they softened after the tiny shock faded away. "That surprisingly suits you. Working in the medical field takes lots of effort. You think you're ready for the obstacles?"
"I am", I nodded and stared at my palm. "I want to use my own power to treat and heal people from the pain inflicted on them. If I can make the world feel a little safer like what my friends do, then it's worth it." I clenched my hand into a fist, feeling the determination to fulfill my ambition grow within me.
"That's the spirit", Ran encouraged me and raised her glass. "A toast to our future?"
I smiled and grabbed my champagne flute from the small table next to the couch. I touched it against Ran's, a soft clang echoing from the crystal glasses. "A toast to our future."
We talked for a while before I started feeling a little tired, so I called for a cab. Ran wished me good night and merry Christmas before I left the party. I put on my winter jacket before I stepped outside to the white wonderland and waited for the cab. I exhaled a sigh seeing my breath in front of me as the cold tickled my cheeks.
I stared at the Christmas lights and ornaments the city had used to decorate the streets. It gave me a warm feeling thinking of how we Signers didn't have to worry about threats aimed at New Domino City anymore. We could finally enjoy our lives and challenge ourselves with new goals and fulfill our dreams.
I picked up my smartphone to read the messages Sherry had sent after I put it away when Ran came over and talked to me.
Sherry: Your parents care a lot about you, so I'm glad to hear they respect your decision.
Sherry: No problem, Aki. The cake needs to get out of the oven now before it gets burned. Merry Christmas.
I smiled at the messages just as the cab pulled up. I tucked the smartphone back into my purse and got into the vehicle, eager to return home and spend the remaining couple of Christmas hours with my parents.
XXXXXXXXXX – Sherry's POV
Christmas Eve.
Once a joyous holiday I spent with my parents when our family was living in peace with no fear in our lives.
Now I loathed it because it was just a painful reminder of what I have lost. I had no desire celebrating it while on the run with Mizoguchi and there was no difference now that we had eliminated Iliaster. We came to a mutual agreement only buying an artificial Christmas tree in the size of a potted plant to decorate the coffee table and cook a small dinner.
I was in the middle of helping Mizoguchi with a homemade bûche de Noël when my smartphone signaled of an incoming message. I put down the bowl with hand-whisked frosting and picked up the phone from the counter.
My mood perked up when I saw Aki had sent me a message wishing me merry Christmas. I leaned against the counter with one of my arms crossed while I started having a conversation with her. I smiled slightly at the comment of Aki complimenting the dishes we were making, but her next sentence really affected me.
The apartment felt a little dark and cold with the mood not being the best. It was time like these I felt the need to be Aki and her classmates Sakura and Mei so I wouldn't feel so alone even though I had Mizoguchi. Being a part of a bigger team after having spent almost all of my life on the run just with Mizoguchi really helped me. Especially spending time with Aki helped me open up little by little. "Wish I was there to join your dinner", oh how I wished she was here as well.
Sherry: Wish you were here too. Your presence brightens up the room.
I wasn't lying. She could light up a whole garden in the middle of the night with her bright and tender smile.
Aki: Then… Maybe next year, I can come over to your place for Christmas Eve?
My heart skipped a beat reading her sentence. I couldn't help but wonder how it would be to have her here with us, maybe helping us bake the cake and decorate it. But she was in Japan and I was in France, two countries so far away from each other. I sighed slightly, which made Mizoguchi turn his attention to me on his way out of the kitchen, but I ignored it.
Sherry: I would love having you come over, but isn't it difficult to travel from Japan to France just to spend one day here with me?
Maybe using the word love wasn't the best idea as she didn't write back to me. I slightly slapped my face. Don't overthink this, Sherry! Maybe changing the topic helps.
Sherry: That reminds me. Your exams for the uni are in next month, right? Do you feel ready to face them?
She instantly wrote back.
Aki: I'm ready to ace them!
I smiled proudly at her response.
Sherry: That's what I wanted to hear! Have you told your parents about your ambition yet?
I recalled Aki had told me and the others about her dream first before her parents. She mentioned she wanted to wait to inform them so she could spend a little more time with them before revealing the truth.
Aki: I have.
Aki: Tbh, I was worried about their reactions, but they took it well.
Knowing her parents, they would support her decisions as a way to make amends for the lost time. I was in the middle of typing another text when she sent me one last message.
Aki: Gotta go, Sherry. Ran just showed up. Merry Christmas again!
I still continued writing the first message before I wished her merry Christmas again with my final text.
Sherry: Your parents care a lot about you, so I'm glad to hear they respect your decision.
Sherry: No problem, Aki. The cake needs to get out of the oven now before it gets burned. Merry Christmas.
I rested my smartphone against my chin and thought how the next Christmas Eve might turn out if Aki really managed being part of it. My lips curved into a tiny smile until the egg timer started ringing. I put down my phone on the counter and grabbed a pair of stove mitts before I carefully pulled the baking sheet out of the oven. The sweet scent emitting from the sponge cake spread through the apartment as I put the sheet on the counter.
"Is the sponge cake thoroughly baked?" Mizoguchi wondered as he stepped back into the kitchen.
I poked the cake with a toothpick and only got tiny crumbles stuck to it. "Yes, Mizoguchi."
"Good. Then we just need to cool it down before we can ice and decorate it", my guardian nodded after he inspected the sponge cake himself.
My mood got a little better for the rest of the day as I helped Mizoguchi assemble the bûche de Noël. It didn't turn out picture perfect, but it still felt like a small accomplishment, something we should be proud of.
XXXXXXXXXX – Jack's POV
I had just woken up in the early morning of Christmas Eve in my hotel room in Lima and took a hot shower. I still felt myself quite drowsy and I only had myself to blame. I was training until late in the evening last night for my next Turbo Duel against Greiger after New Year. I almost forgot it was Christmas and I had made some promises before I left Japan.
I swiftly dried myself and got dressed before I stomped out to the small kitchenette and grabbed a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Instant coffee wasn't my favorite drink, but I couldn't afford any luxury with expensive coffee like Blue-Eyes Mountain right now. I had to save my money, even though my team split up the large amount of prize money from the Grand Prix fair and square.
I walked to a desk where my laptop was waiting for me and sat down on a chair releasing a deep sigh, my brain still not awake with the large gulp of coffee in my system. I booted up the laptop and opened the Skype program, scrolling down the list of friends registered. I found Martha's name and clicked on the video call icon. I impatiently drummed my fingers against the hard wood surface, watching the loading icon swirl around on the screen in a hypnotic manner. I shook my head trying not to fall asleep. I took another large gulp of coffee before the screen finally opened a window revealing Martha's face. A large Christmas tree was visible in the background with a few Christmas lights still glowing in the dark dimmed living room.
"Jack!" Martha smiled widely, although I could see the dark bags under her eyes. "I was getting a little worried you wouldn't call me."
My frown softened at the sight of my foster mother. She looked tired but emitted a bright aura which could easily affect anyone, even me on my grumpy days. "Hi, Martha. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too, my little boy. Look at you traveling around the world", Martha gushed. I felt a little awkward with that nickname of hers.
"I'm not little anymore, Martha…", I muttered, pinching my nasal bridge.
"Nah, we're always gonna be Martha's little boys, Jack", Crow's voice cackled in the background before his face appeared on the screen.
"Just great…", I groaned and massaged my forehead, feeling an incoming headache. "What are you doing there, Crow? Aren't you supposed to be in the police academy?"
"They sent the new cadets home for vacation", Crow grinned widely before he got a questioning expression. "Didn't Yusei tell you?"
"No. I haven't had time checking my emails", I retorted and leaned against the chair, crossing my arms. "I'm busy training all day long."
"Are you taking enough breaks, Jack?" Martha switched into mother mode. "You cannot overstrain yourself or else your body will protest and shut down."
I slowly lowered my head and tried listening patiently while she kept lining up the list of what I should do in order to look after myself in the best way. "I get it, Martha…", I hissed out, containing my frustration.
"Good!" Martha smiled and clasped her hands. "You know I just want the best for you while you're out there exploring the world."
"I've traveled around the world before, Martha", I reminded her. I got a bitter taste in my mouth, not because of the coffee, remembering the old days when I was just a fake King of Games. "I can take care of myself."
"But you'll come back in March, right?" Crow asked. "You better not miss Aki and the twins' graduation."
"I'll be there in time", I retorted and took another sip of my coffee. "Enough about me. How have you guys been? You're not overworking yourself, Martha?"
"Of course not, Jack. I'm doing okay, but the kids caught the flu", Martha sighed. "Kokoro, Hikari, Taiga and Daichi were forced to stay in bed."
"That's where I came in dressed up as Santa Claus and gave them their presents", Crow grinned brightly and scratched his chin. "The fake beard tickled, though, so I held on until the kids went to sleep. They have no idea I've come home, so I'll show up again tomorrow and surprise them."
"Sounds a lot like you", I could help but chuckle. Crow really had that great instinct of taking care of kids. It almost made me a little envious of how easy he made it look. "How's Yusei?"
Crow's eye lit up mischievously and shared a knowing smirk with Martha. "Yusei left the garage hours ago saying he had some…errands to deal with", my foster brother responded.
"Errands? On Christmas Eve?" I arched an eyebrow, not buying the excuse. "I thought he had a date with Estelle."
"Oh, they do have a…different kind of date", Crow said.
"I'm not going to ask further questions", I retorted nonchalantly, not interested hearing the details.
I spoke a little more with Martha and Crow before I excused myself, saying I had plans video chatting with somebody else. Of course they wanted to know who that person was, but I wished them good night and abruptly ended the call.
I sighed deeply, already feeling exhausted by their shenanigans, so I took a big sip of my now lukewarm coffee. It tasted already awful so I drank the rest of the beverage to not waste it. I wiped the corner of my lips with my thumb the final drop that missed my mouth just as I clicked on the next video call.
This time I didn't have to wait that long before Carly's sleepy face and messy bedhead popped up on the screen. "Hello…? Who is it?" she yawned and lifted her glasses to rub her eyes. I instantly noticed she was wearing white pyjamas with chibi heads of me and Red Dragon Archfiend scattered all over the shirt. Clearly it was one of my old merchandises that were sold before my faux career came to an end.
"It's me", I replied, holding back a tiny grin. I hated to admit it, but she looked cute in that pyjamas.
Carly froze for a brief second to process my voice before she panicked and brushed her hair until it no longer looked like a bird nest. "J-Jack! I'm so sorry you had to see me like this! I waited for your call throughout the evening, but I got tired, so I went to bed when it got late."
"I never break a promise, Carly", I firmly told her. "I called Martha to check on her first before you."
"Of course, she's your family", Carly replied, shaking her hands reassuringly. "Family should always come first…" She suddenly got a sad curve on her lips. I couldn't see her eyes, but I knew she had a gloomy gaze behind those thick lenses. She hadn't spoken much of her family. From the sound of it, she had very little if not zero relationship with her blood family.
"You know…", I began, drumming my fingers against my crossed arms. "Martha said she wouldn't mind you visit her every now and then."
"Really?" Carly's voice perked up, the sad expression swiftly fading away from her lips.
"She adores you like you are one of her daughters. I'm sure she will welcome you with open arms if you drop by tomorrow. Crow's going to be there, so watch out for his antics."
Carly giggled softly at my warning, although I was very serious. That birdhead loved teasing me about my relationship with Carly. "I'll keep that warning in mind. What do you think would be the perfect gift for Martha? I don't want to go there emptyhanded."
"Medicine", I instantly answered.
"Medicine?" Carly tilted her head softly.
"The kids she's looking after caught the flu. She looked exhausted, so I'm certain she'll appreciate some help."
"I'll go buy the best supplies tomorrow and help her and Crow with the children!" Carly pumped her fists with a determined expression. "Should I buy some groceries too? Chicken soup works against colds and flus! Although I'm not that good with cooking."
"Do whatever you want", I retorted calmly. "Just don't cause more trouble for Martha."
"I won't trip and make a mess!" Carly puffed her cheeks like a squirrel. My lips twitched lightly as I fought to not smile at her cute reaction.
I hid the incoming smile by clearing my throat, relaxing my face muscles before Carly could notice something. "Anyway, I've got some new material to share with you."
Carly's eyes sparkled behind her glasses by the news. "Really? I'll go grab my notebook, one sec!" She left the screen for a couple of seconds before she returned with her notebook and a sharp pencil. She settled down and started taking down notes of my tale.
I had fun reciting my previous conquests, feeling the pride inflate my chest for each accomplishment. More so because Carly was working on a secret project that only the two of us knew about. We spent the next couple of hours talking until I noticed Carly was barely holding herself awake, her eyelids dropping and body nearly falling over her desk. I urged her to go straight to bed and wished her good night and merry Christmas before I ended the call.
I stretched my arms and legs after sitting for hours and looked out the window. The weather seemed pleasant, so I grabbed my trench coat and went out on a walk of solitude, reflecting upon my thoughts and future plans of becoming the true King of Games. And in order to achieve that, I needed to defeat my first and best rival after challenging the remaining Turbo Duelists I had left on my personal list.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I couldn't remember the last time I got the flu, but it was a painful reminder of what I was forced to endure. My fever had gone down in the last few days, but I was still coughing up mucus and my body felt like overcooked pasta. I had looked forward to the Christmas date with Yusei, but because of my carelessness I got sick and bedridden. I got the best medicine available which tasted so bitter it almost made me throw up every time I took it.
Today was Christmas Eve, but I was still in bed. I barely had any strength to walk around in the large mansion. My brain also felt mushy like it had melted into a puddle. I had tried concentrating on some notes for the upcoming exams, but the words just couldn't get stuck in my head.
I had enough strength in the morning to send messages to my friends and wish them merry Christmas. I wrote a separate message to Yusei telling him to spend Christmas Eve however he'd like. I didn't want to infect him with the flu; he needed all his strength to study to pass the university exams next month.
Almost everyone in the staff was away from the mansion spending the vacation with friends and loved ones. Goodwin had to work a couple of hours in Sector Security and Ish was still in Peru. I almost felt a little frightened being in the mansion alone. It was too quiet and eerie. I felt like a child left alone in the big house scared of something sudden to happen.
I needed to go to the bathroom, so I got out of my bed and slowly walked to my destination. My legs were weaker than I thought, so I had to lean against the wall and furniture to make sure I wouldn't lose my balance.
I did my business and coughed up some mucus before I walked back to my bed. I felt so tired so I wasn't watching where I was going and hit my foot against the nightstand. I hissed by the tingling pain and nearly lost my balance before somebody caught me. Arms wrapped around my waist before I could crash onto the carpeted floor.
"That was close", a familiar muffled voice spoke in my ear. "Are you okay, Estelle?"
"Huh…?" I replied tiredly and looked up, making eye contact with my boyfriend who was wearing a facemask. "Yusei…? What are you doing here?"
"I came over to see how you were doing", he replied and helped me get into bed before he sat down on the edge of the furniture.
"You shouldn't have…", I sat up against the headboard with the help of a pillow before I felt my nose running. I rapidly snatched a tissue from the tissue box on my nightstand and blew my nose, soaking it with a large heap of thick yellow mucus. "You could get sick too…" I wiped my nose with the remaining dry part of the tissue and threw it in a trash can right next to my bed.
"I know, so I won't stay for long", Yusei said. Now I noticed he carried a small fabric bag on his lap and a red ribbon was poking out from it. "Has your fever gone down?"
"Yeah…", I replied with my raspy voice and turned away, coughing a little to get rid of the mucus that tickled my throat. "Only the mucus is left in my system…" I sensed a new clot of mucus coming up my throat, so I snatched another tissue and turned away to spit it out onto the thin paper.
"I can tell your voice sounds a little clearer compared to the other day", Yusei pointed out.
I coughed softly and turned back to throw the tissue into the trash can. "The medicine helps a lot…", I nodded, my eyes turning a little moist by the internal pain. "Hopefully I will be healthy before the exams… I don't want to miss them because of the flu."
"That's the last thing any student wants happening to them before the exams", Yusei replied and lightly brushed my bangs to the side. His fingers were a little cold, but they felt so nice against my warm forehead I couldn't help but sigh in relief.
His eyes softened as I sunk a little against the pillow. My body was now sending alarms to me to lie down and get more rest, but I couldn't do that just yet. I wanted to give Yusei his Christmas present. "Yusei…"
"Yeah?"
I pointed toward the coffee table where I had placed his present wrapped in silver paper and a dark blue ribbon. "Your Christmas present…is over there."
He got up from the bed and walked over to the table to grab the present. He held it carefully like there was something very fragile behind the wrapper. He settled down on the bed again and gave me a curious glance. "Can I open it?"
"Of course…", I turned away and coughed a small session.
Yusei gently unwrapped the present and tucked the wrapping paper and ribbon into his bag before he held a small rectangular box. He removed the lid to see the silver shooting star keychain I bought. I knew I had to buy it for him the second I found it in a jewelry store couple of weeks ago in the shopping mall where I probably caught the stubborn flu.
"Wow… A silver shooting star", Yusei said in a genuine awe voice as he inspected the keychain.
"I thought of you and Stardust Dragon the moment I saw it…", I spoke softly.
Yusei pulled down his facemask, revealing his smiling lips to show he was very happy receiving his present. "Thank you, Estelle. I really like it."
"Glad to hear that…", I smiled tiredly, leaning my face against the headboard.
He put the keychain back to the box and put it inside his bag before he pulled out his present to me wrapped in Christmas pattern paper and red ribbon. "I had a similar thought process when I saw this", he explained as he handed the present to me.
"Really…?" I repeated confusedly, now a little eager to see what he got for me. "Can I open it?"
"Yes", Yusei replied.
I started removing the paper with care, not ripping the wrapper apart. I took off the ribbon with the paper and was greeted by a square box that was the size of my two palms together. I opened the box and saw a yellow star-shaped perfume bottle resting against a black cushion.
I carefully picked up the glass bottle and checked every corner of it. It was very fine craftsmanship making the bottle look like it had been carved out of crystal. I was stunned that Yusei bought this to me.
"It's…beautiful", I mumbled in delight and removed the protective lid to try getting a sniff of the scent. I had no idea if my sense of smell was messing with me or the scent was actually weak. "Thank you, Yusei…", I smiled weakly. "I'll wear it once I get better…" I turned away and coughed another session when the mucus tickled my throat for the umpteenth time. "S-Sorry…"
"It's okay", Yusei gently caressed my back, giving me a little comfort as the coughing calmed down.
XXXXXXXXXX – Yusei's POV
It pained me to see Estelle suffer by the flu and coughing so much that her voice had become so coarse. Her bloodshot eyes were glassy and reflected the pain she suffered from. Her hair was messy and her skin was paler than usual, almost transparent. She had lost weight you could see her bone cheeks sticking out.
"Y-You should go now…", she insisted and softly pushed me with her weak knuckle. "I don't want you get sick…"
"Okay." I helped her lie down on her bed after she removed her glasses and tucked her in before she instructed me to place the box with the perfume bottle on the coffee table instead on her nightstand. She didn't want to accidently bump it off the furniture.
"Thank you for coming, Yusei…", Estelle coughed softly as she turned on her bed, her eyes closing as she was slowly falling asleep. "Sorry for this…awful Christmas…"
"It's not your fault, Estelle", I reassured her and patted her shoulder that was tucked under the cover. "Rest a lot now."
"Will do…"
It didn't take long before Estelle fell asleep. I wanted to give her a proper goodbye, but it was best not to have any intimate touches with her. I whispered a soft merry Christmas in her ear before I quietly left her bedroom. I waited to remove my facemask until I was several meters away from her door.
I was on my way down the stairs with my bag when Goodwin returned home with one person I had least expected. "Goodwin? Ish?" I heard from Estelle before that Ish couldn't make it to Christmas this year, but I guess she was falsely informed. Or rather, it was kept as a surprise from her.
"Ah, Yusei", Goodwin greeted as he gave his winter coat to his head butler. "Good evening. I just got word of you visiting Estelle."
"I wanted to see how she was doing", I replied as I reached the couple.
"How is she?" Ish asked concernedly as she straightened out her long skirt. Another maid had taken her suitcase and carried it up the stairs with another butler. "I heard she is very ill."
"She fell asleep just now after we exchanged Christmas gifts", I explained, holding up the bag with my gift and the trash I was going to throw away once I got home.
"Oh… Then I should cook my special soup when she wakes up later tonight or tomorrow", Ish thought loudly.
"Estelle will surely appreciate it", I nodded. "I'm about to leave, so…merry Christmas to both of you."
"And to you too, Yusei" Goodwin replied. "I hope you will have a splendid evening."
I left the mansion and drove back to the city after I had brushed the fresh snow off my Runner. There wasn't heavy traffic, but I still took my time admiring the Christmas lights. I saw couples walking down the sidewalk hand in hand enjoying themselves in each other's company. It could have been me and Estelle, but sometimes things don't turn out the way you want them to.
I drove to the viewpoint to watch the grand city glistering in the cold winter night and stayed there for a while. My plans for the date with Estelle were to have a nice Christmas dinner, walk around the city and then exchange our gifts here in the quiet wilderness and far away from peeping eyes. I knew she would have appreciated it, so perhaps we could come back here another time.
I looked up at the sky where the snow clouds made a small opening, exposing the starry sky with glowing silver stars. I grabbed the keychain I received from Estelle and attached it to the zipper on my black leather wallet. The keychain fit perfectly with my wallet like the icing on the cake. I stared at the stars again briefly imagining Stardust Dragon being one of the million stars of the universe guiding Santa Claus and his sleigh to the hundred million people living on the planet bringing joy to children and adults alike, leaving a trail of magic glitter behind with the fading sound of Christmas bells.