The Perfect Present

Hi there! This is my first piece I've done here on . So I decided to start with something that I've always wanted more of, a little RitoXYui :) So please, read and review, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Rito was struggling. There was no hiding it and he knew he was most likely screwed. Christmas day was tomorrow and he only had one present left to buy. Rito sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes, relieving himself of a little strain at least. He'd been through everyone he was close to and had finally managed to find a present that was near enough perfect for all of them. Hell he'd even found Tenjouin-senpai something that he considered pretty good.

But Kotegawa was a mystery to him, he was even beginning to think that the whole thing was a bad idea.

"Damn you, Honegawa-sensei." Rito mumbled to himself. "What kind of homework even is this, anyway?"

On the last day of the school term Honegawa-sensei had told the class to buy a present for everyone that you're close to or see regularly. Apparently, this was to 'strengthen relations between us'. Rito only had to think for a few seconds to know that he was going to spending a lot of money this holiday, but he never knew it would be this hard. 'Get in, get out' was basically what he thought it'd be like and he'd never been so wrong.

But he never knew that Kotegawa's present was going to be so elusive. Something cat-related was all he knew she'd like. He thought back to when he'd been in her room when she was ill, the amount of cat memorabilia she had was bordering on obsessive. If he went down this cat route, he'd have to be very careful that he didn't buy something she already had. Maybe a notebook? As a part of the Disciplinary Committee she must write things down all the time. No, no. He can't buy her something school related, that's insensitive. He'd even considered calling her just to ask her what she might like. It might not've been a surprise anymore but at least he'd have a gift he knew she'd like. The idea didn't really seem satisfactory to him so he ruled it out.

Sighing once again, he told himself just sitting around the house was no good, he had to get this done. Standing up, he stretched, grabbed his coat and was fastening up his trainers when Lala pranced downstairs and saw him getting ready.

"Rito?" She asked with a tilt of her head. "Where are you going?"

"I've got to buy one last present for someone." Rito said. "I don't know why, but I just can't let this go."

Lala looked even more confused.

"But I thought that you'd already got my present?" She asked innocently.

Rito looked up at her childish face and laughed.

"I've got yours Lala, wrapped and waiting for tomorrow." Rito smiled and Lala squealed and jumped around just like a little kid. "All you have to do now is go to bed, I promise you'll love it."

"I can't sleep, Rito!" She complained. "I'm too excited now."

Rito laughed and stood up.

"Alright, alright." He chuckled. "I don't mind you staying up, but just don't wake anybody else up with your bouncing around O.K.?"

"Sir, yes, sir!" She said with a cute salute. "But where are you going to get a present now? It's 7 o'clock on Christmas Eve, no shops will be open."

"Yeah, it'll be troublesome, but I'll have to make do." He opened the front door and took a single step out but Lala called him back. "What is it?"

Lala stepped out barefoot in to the shallow snow and she flung her arms around Rito's neck, much to his surprise. He yelped and tried to squirm away but her grip was too tight.

"It's cold out here, Rito." She breathed in his ear. He stilled instantly. "You have to wrap up warm."

She slid her arms back and he saw that she'd put a scarf around his neck. He blushed and he knew it wasn't from the cold. Sometimes, he really did love this girl. She tied the scarf properly around his neck and patted it down when she was done. When she looked up he couldn't help but notice how much brighter her eyes looked in the snow.

"Thank you, Lala." Rito said fondly.

Lala shifted from foot to foot and he wondered if she was getting cold but before he could blink she'd wrapped her arms around his ribs in a tight embrace that only lasted a couple of seconds before she scurried back in to the house and waved to him.

"I love you, Rito." She said as she began to close the door. "Hurry back!"

The door closed and he was left speechless once again by that amazing alien. He smiled before turning in to the night and starting his own little quest.