Chapter 6: Ceremony / Last Christmas Spent Together

(Daubeny POV)

Finally, making it to where the Gear Cells were contained and managed, we took separate sides of the room and walked by them for about an hour, observing their condition. This was necessary since the cells in this room were the most "pure." All Gear cells have a certain purity according to the times they have been replicated. They deteriorate their quality and make them inferior to their source material.

Making them alone was a tedious process of fusing human and animal DNA with Magic, which can take about two weeks to complete even the smallest pure cell.

Looking at the cells more closely, I thought that if I injected them, not one of my organs could live since integrating Gear cells into something's organs would vastly improve that organ. In this case, maybe, but that won't work— it's just a foolish fantasy.

Sighing loudly, Aira took her eyes off the cells she was watching to her brother and tilted her head uneasily, asking, "What's wrong? Is the pain back? If it is, you can head home; I can watch them myself."

Shaking my head, I said while keeping my eyes on the cells, "No, it's not that. I'm just thinking of a way at living."

Following Daubeny's stare, she saw him looking at the Gear Cells before looking terrified as she yelped out. "You can't! There hasn't been any research; we don't know what will happen."

"Aria's correct; I've only made a hypothesis as of now, but if the dead subject's data is correct, living subjects will experience the same outcome." Asuka's voice was heard as he made his way through the metal door. Asuka continued. "All of the dead subjects have been violent and aggressive with the completed Gear Cell as of now. And I doubt we'll be able to in the near future for either of you."

Aria went entirely silent when she saw him enter the room; her face was solum, as she said. "So you know, have you told Frederick?"

Asuka shook his head gravely. "No, I haven't. But I will be soon if you don't tell him."

She cast her head down to the ground, remaining silent. As Asuka determinly spoke. 

"I promise you both that we will continue working on the project. We'll find a solution to your illness, but if we don't, then I may have a solution. And please rest; both of you need it more than me."

Asuka stood there unflinching, and despite their protests, the siblings left the Gear Cells with Asuka. They went to their lockers and picked up their winter coats along the way to the exit. 

Aria shivered in the cold as they reached the facility's entrance and pulled her coat tighter around her body. "Guess we stayed in there longer than I thought, but it's strangely beautiful tonight." She said, looking up at the snowflakes falling from the sky.

"Yea—" Daubeny was about to voice his agreement, but his coughing interrupted him momentarily as they stepped out of the facility into the chilly air. Both of them coughed violently for a moment as they struggled to catch their breath. 

They quickened their pace, eager to get to their cars. When they approached the parking lot, a strange noise was heard, like something was rustling in the bushes by the wall. Daubeny's hand went into his pocket, where he kept a small supply of sand for any situation.

"Did you hear that?" Aria asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daubeny nodded, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. Suddenly, the flapping of wings came from the bush. An owl emerged from it, causing them to jump back in shock.

"Hoooooo!"

The bird flew past them and into the night sky, and they hurried into the parking lot to catch their visible breaths. They walked towards their cars, now feeling a bit more east. But before they left each other, Daubeny turned around and asked Aria, "So, is Asuka causing you any trouble? I know how he can get into anything."

"No, he hasn't gone through my things, but is that how he found out about our infection?"

"Ha, no. I think he found out by looking at my health worsening and yours, though I might have given him a weird rant about the past." Daubeny laughed embarrassedly. "But, a word of advice. Make sure you lock up anything you don't want Asuka finding. Sticking it behind a bookshelf or under your bed won't cut it."

"Sure, the strategy is to shelter my personal belongings." She gave a solider salute as they separated to their cars, driving away to get some sleep for the upcoming ceremony.

Before they knew it, they had reached the parking lot, and their conversation ended as they parted ways, each to get some sleep for the upcoming morning and ceremony.

-

Frederick and Asuka were awarded for their exceptional research and successful completion of their project on Gear Cells. Magical cameras were recording the event and broadcasting it. Among those watching the ceremony were Aria and Daubeny, both present and awarded, but the government needed icons for the public. However, neither of them were given that honor. It wouldn't be due to them being sick people who would die any day now, would it? But after all the awards were given out to the director of the project, Vince made his appearance.

Vince had been the director of the Ecosystem Evolution Project and for countless others over the decades. He had dedicated his life to each project, working tirelessly to ensure that they were a success. But as he approached his fifties these past years, he realized it was time for him to step down and pass the torch.

The audience, which consisted of scientists, government officials, and investors, stood up and applauded as Vince took his place on the podium. He cleared his throat and began to speak: "Good afternoon, everyone. As many of you know, I have been the director of the Ecosystem Evolution Project for the past ten years. During this time, I have worked with some of the world's most talented and dedicated scientists. Together, we have made significant progress in eliminating all human diseases."

Vince paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"However, as much as I love this project, I have decided that it is time for me to step down as director and hand over the reins to someone younger. Someone who can take this project to the next level. And that person is none other than Asuka."

The audience applauded as Vince gestured towards Asuka, sitting in the front row. Asuka stood up and went to the stage, looking surprised and grateful.

Vince shook Asuka's hand, and they thanked one another. Then, Vince walked off the stage and took a seat. 

Asuka stood up to the podium, his first words being the conditions he had listed the night before to the government. The heads of state were upset at this turn of events. Everything turned out great as the government accepted the conditions, which led everyone involved in the project to have two weeks of paid leave.

-

A week had passed since the ceremony, and snow was falling on Christmas day, blanketing the city in a pristine white. Daubeny, Frederick, Aria, and Asuka spent Christmas together at Daubeny's apartment. Each could be seen decorating the room at their own pace because finishing the Gear Cells current research had drained them of energy for the following days.

Now, though, Aria and Frederick could be seen hanging on twinkling lights and ornaments around the small Christmas tree near the Television, and the stockings were hung on the wall beside the TV.

"Come on, we have to celebrate our success, so what's wrong with putting up a few glass balls?" Aria asked Frederick.

"I don't care about all this, just spending time with everyone. But you should be more worried about those two." Frederick said, pointing his thumb toward Asuka and Daubeny at the table.

"Will you cut it out? There's nothing wrong with the way I eat!" Daubeny screamed as he shoved the fork Asuka held away from his mouth. A piece of spaghetti was about to fall to the ground.

"Not exactly. You shouldn't stab the fork." Picking it up and sticking it in Daubeny's bowl, he swirled it around. "Reel the fork like this."

Daubeny followed Asuka's instructions with his fork, twisting some noodles around it and sticking them in his mouth. Chewing the food, letting out an "ok."

Aria chimed in from across the room, "You should listen to him, Daubeny. If only to stop looking like a caveman while eating."

Daubeny scowled while turning his head to the side, away from everyone, as Frederick decided to speak. "Why should the way he eats matter? If that's how he wants to eat, let him."

Asuka and Aria exchanged a look, knowing they wouldn't win this argument. 

"Should I allow you to continue using the fork wrong, even if the outcome brings you more happiness?" 

"Really? You've turned how to hold a fork while eating noodles into a debate," Daubeny said, adding, "Then yes, you should because it's my right."

Asuka and Daubeny moved away from the table and onto the couch where Frederick and Aria were sitting, carrying cups of hot chocolate. The argument from before had concluded, and neither of them brought up the topic at the moment.

However, another storm brewed when Aria suddenly asked a few minutes later, "Do you guys think Santa's real?"

"What?" Asuka and Frederick asked with deadpan expressions, but Daubeny didn't mind the question. 

"There's no way you actually believe in Santa," Asuka said.

"Why is it every time I ask a reasonable question, all of you shove it away so fast?"

"That's not a reasonable question. Santa does not exist." Frederick stated.

"It's not?" Daubeny asked, looking confused.

"There's no way we're the same age," Frederick said, annoyedly groaning.

"But Santa's real! I saw him at a street corner the other day," Daubeny said, putting his hand underneath his chin.

"See, that's sound logic there." Aria butted in while pointing to her brother. "And if Santa's not real, then who ate the cookies every Christmas."

Asuka responded while not registering the effect his words would have. "Your parents, Daubeny."

"I never met my parents." Wearing a smile while saying.

Everyone was silent from those words. The atmosphere dropped from cheerful to somber as they awaited his response. All of their anxiety was washed away in the next moment.

"Ha! Since I never met them, that means Santa does exist." Daubeny snickered.

Aria said, trying to change the topic, "Daubeny's right; there are so many stories about him. And as of the age, magic exits, so he has to as well."

"No, I understand magic better than anyone in this room, and I can say with certainty that Santa does not exist," Asuka said.

Daubeny snapped his fingers to catch his sister's attention. He mouthed out a letter, and Aria's eyes opened slightly more before she said, "You are the magic expert here. If you don't believe he's real by that, then I guess I have no choice..." 

"Does that mean you're listening to m-". Asuka stopped in his tracks and was interrupted by both Aria and Daubeny striking a bizarre pose as their backs hit one another on the couch.

"But I refuse! One of the things I, Aria/Daubeny Hale, like the most is to find someone who thinks they're some hot shit, and say 'No' right to their faces!" They spoke in sync as they backed away to give each other a high five.

Daubeny's beaming smile plastered his face as he bear-hugged. "Thank you! I've always wanted to do that! That was the best gift I could get." Aria was under pressure from the hug and looked happy to see her brother happy.

"So, what are everyone's plans for Christmas tomorrow if we can't get together?" Daubeny asked.

"Aria and I have something planned for tomorrow, so we can't meet up," Frederick said, trying to keep his face from turning red at tomorrow's plan. 

"That's fine. I need to be researching how to complete a new project." Asuka said.

"Oh, yeah, that's too bad, but it is what it is."

Daubeny slinked away like a panther toward his bedroom while everyone was distracted talking. The sound of wood being scratched came from Daubeny's room, drawing their attention. 

"What is he doing this time?" Aria looked defeated while looking at the others.

"He could be making something for all we know." Frederick shrugged.

The door to Daubeny's room had opened to its full length, with a six-foot box-like Christmas present barely fitting its way through and being pushed to the living room as his cheeks were somewhat red from the effort. 

"Here is my gift to you, Asuka."

Ripping apart the wrapping paper revealed more paper, and more, and more, until reaching the bottom of the floor, where a small bonsai plant in a round pot was shown. Asuka picked it up and placed it on the table. 

"Thank you for the gift; unfortunately, I haven't had the time to find one that would suit you," Asuka said.

"That's fine. Just think of something later, and we'll call it even." Daubeny said, waving his hand.

Aria tapped his shoulder, pouting, "Did you forget about me, and after everything I did for you." 

"Don't worry, I haven't, I'll hand it to you and Frederick tomorrow." 

The party continued throughout the rest of the night, and everyone had a great time. Among the gifts Daubeny had made or bought for everyone, the two gifts he thought would be Aria's favorite were a metal jack-o-lantern-shaped mask and Frederick's gift, which would be two albums of Queen songs.

And as midnight approached, they bundled up and stepped onto the balcony to watch the snowfall. They stood in silence, taking in the beauty of the moment.

-

A/N: Do you believe Santa exists in Guilty Gear?