When Yuki kept refusing to look at her Eternia got frustrated too. She imitated Yuki's pose.
"Alright." she said. "One minute you say I'm not your sister anymore, next minute you say you came to take me back. I won't move until you make up your mind and tell me what you actually want."
"I will not go back to Mir alone, and that has nothing to do with how I feel about you!" Yuki stated promptly.
"So you expect me to come with you?"
"Hmpf!"
"Or do you want to stay here with me?"
"What makes you think I'd want that?!" Yuki said loudly, but at least she looked at her sister now.
"Well, you didn't come with one of the others and you felt the need to wear a ridiculous costume. What's up with that anyway?"

"I sneaked on the ship of a traveling circus to come here, now don't change topic!" The young girl waved her arm. "What difference does it make if I stay with you or you come with me? We'll have to find the gem and then Mir will take us all back to the shrine!"
"We'll see about that."
Yuki gasped. "Tahome... you don't plan to leave the clan for good, do you?"
"Sorry that I was so selfish. I should have asked you if you wanted to join me before I left."
"Tahome..." The girl looked horrified.

"I understand if you want to stay with Arashi and the others," said Eternia flatly. "Surely things will go back to normal once the gem is back in place, so you don't have to worry. You won't need me."
Tears welled up in Yuki's eyes. "Of course I need you! You're my sister!"
"Aw..." Eternia took the crying girl into her arms. "It's alright, things will work out... somehow." She managed to keep her voice calm but she was glad that Yuki couldn't see her own tears.

"Mir letting go of one of her senior ninjas?" Elizabeth was thrilled as she visualized the scene in her head. "How very likely! What's next then? Lucifer showing up in a pink tutu?"
"Shut up!" Eternia tried not to sniffle.
"You're barking at the wrong tree here, my dear. I'm not the ancient you want to go against." The vampire's lips curled. "In fact, I have to wonder if a senior ninja would knowingly spoil her chances with a valuable ally. Are you sure you're not still in the junior ranks?"

"My sister is the best..." Yuki yelled but she was interrupted by a soft poof and a blinding white light.
Seconds later Libra appeared in a whirl of sparkles.
"Hey, what are you guys still doing here?" The faerie looked annoyed. "You should be outside!"
"Been there, done that," said Eternia grumpily.
Yuki was more civilised. She wiped away the tears and asked: "Why should we be outside, lady faerie?"

"Well, isn't it obvious?" Libra smiled, and for once it was a warm smile. Seemingly she liked teenagers better than adults.
"This is a Christmas party. First you guys write a wishlist as thick as a phonebook and then you're not there when it's time for gift giving."

"Gosh! With all the stuff going on I totally forgot about the gifts!" Eternia looked truly shocked.
Yuki pouted and said in a sad tone: "Then you better go outside and fetch your presents, sister. I'll wait here."
"No way, you're coming too!" countered Libra.
"But... My costume is all wet. I have nothing to wear."

"No problem. Take these, they are from the wardrobe hall." With a snip of her fingers a coat, socks and a pair of sneakers showed up. "It's not a proper outfit but I think it'll do as long as nobody tries to peek under your skirt." The faerie grinned. When Akshi clucked leerily Libra added: "No, of course it's not a genuine fur, you dumb hen."
"Gagock!"

Some minutes later Yuki was dressed up and Eternia put on her bonnet. "This feels strange," Yuki complained.
"What? Stranger than a bear costume?" inquired Eternia with a grin.
"At least that had pants!"
"I don't know your pant size!" Libra was clearly in the process of abandoning her acceptance of teenagers. "It's just for some minutes, so it will do."
"Why shall I come anyway? I won't get any presents."
"You can help me carry mine!" Eternia whistled and took her outside.

Dolltopia Archive 55 <-- # --> Dolltopia Archive 57