Christmas at the Kurans

AN: I don't know if vampires celebrate Christmas but I thought it would be fun write! I wanted to do something nice and light-hearted. My Japanese is limited to about three words, so it isn't consistant throughout the story. Hope you enjoy it and please review! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight. Life is cruel....

Kaname stared at his parents as they sat around the table. Juuri cleared her throat and glanced at the clock. Haruka smiled reassuringly at his five year old son.

Tick, tock, tick, tock.....

Kaname wiggled in his seat. At that moment the doorbell rang. All three leapt to their feet. Juuri straightened her dress. Kaname sighed. This Christmas would be a disaster.... Kaname vividly remembered last years festivities... who could forget Rido ojii-sama and the exploding Christmas pudding? It had taken a whole afternoon to clean up the mess.

"RIDO!!!" Juuri screamed. "Five bottles of brandy on the pudding?! Are you insane??"

"Don't be ridiculous, Juuri! I drank two myself", Rido slurred.

Yes, it had been an entertaining dinner, but Kaname wasn't sure he wanted to relive it this year.

He could hear his parent greeting uncle Rido in the hall. Kaname braced himself and followed them out. "Hello, Rido ojii-sama. Merry Christmas", he said quietly. Rido turned to regard his nephew. He struck an intimidating figure, standing over six foot tall, dressed casually with his dark hair its usual unruly mess. "And to you", he replied evenly. Then he suddenly couched down so he was at Kaname's level. He eagerly held out a shoebox. "Happy Christmas, Kaname", he said cheerfully. He stood up again, hovering expectantly. Behind their brother, Haruka and Juuri exchanged alarmed glances. "Go on", Haruka encouraged. Rido looked gleeful. Kaname gulped and with trembling fingers, he opened the box. Inside was a small, furry brown lump. "It's a pet", Rido crowed, his grin stretching from ear to ear. Juuri let out a small shriek. It was a mouse. A dead one. "Umm... ojii-sama? I think it's dead", he stammered.

Rido peered at the present. He shrugged. "It was alive when my cat brought it in". For a moment everyone was silent. "Ahh.... well.... umm, let's go into the dining room, shall we? Kaname. What do you say?"

"Thank you ojii-sama for my present. It is lovely". Haruka nodded in approval. He gestured to the dining area. "Shall we...?" There was unanimous agreement. Rido loped in first and flopped down in the chair nearest to the door. "Okaa-sama, he is in otou-sama's chair", Kaname whispered to his mother. "Shhh", she replied, smiling gently.

Haruka and Juuri began fussing about table arrangements and bringing out food dishes. "I'll pour the wine", Rido declared, standing up. He placed four glasses, one in front of Kaname, and proceeded to fill them. "Umm... ojii-sama? I am five years old", Kaname whispered. Rido raised his eyebrows. "So?"

"Well, umm... I cannot drink wine yet".

"But didn't I give you a birthday card for your last birthday saying that you were twelve?"

"Hai, ojii-sama".

"Why didn't someone tell me you were five?"

"We assumed you knew your only nephew's age", Juuri said coldly.

"Well, I always thought you were puny for a twelve year old."

They all lapsed into silence while Haruka quickly removed the offending wine glass. "Well, I can't be expected to remember everything, can I?" Rido scoffed. "Hai, ojii-sama".

"Well!" Haruka smiled awkwardly. "Ahm, we are very lucky to have such a lovely family-"

Juuri made a face at Kaname.

"-and are very grateful that Rido onii-sama has joined us."

The adults clinked glasses and took a sip. Except Rido, who knocked all of it back in one gulp.

"Hmm... just Hio Shizuka sama, now", Juuri murmured. They were silent.

"Do you go to school, Kaname?" Rido asked with mild interest.

"Of course I do, ojii-sama", he replied quietly.

"What do you enjoy?"

"Poetry and history."

"How dull. You are quite a tedious child."

Silence.

"Hai, ojii-sama."

The doorbell rang again and Haruka leapt to his feet and practically ran from the awkward atmosphere of the dining room. "This must be Hio sama", Juuri murmured.

"Kaname!!!!!"

Kaname looked up, startled. "Takuma san! What a surprise". Relief flooded through him at the thought of a relatively normal guest. "Merry Christmas, Kaname! I brought Christmas crackers", Takuma said practically shivering with excitement. "Grandfather is away on business, so Haruka-sama invited me. I have never had Christmas crackers before! Grandfather says they are frivolous! Do you know how to use them?"

"Yes, Takuma."

"Ha-ha! That's a relief!" Ichijou paused as he noticed the prescence of Rido. He glanced nervously at Kaname, who promptly introduced his uncle. "Takuma san, this is Rido ojii-sama".

"Hajimemashite, Kuran Rido sama".

"Well Takuma san! This is a very pleasant surprise", Juuri glanced pointedly at her husband, who grinned sheepishly. "Are there any more unexpected guests?"

Haruka was saved from answering this question by another ring of the doorbell. "Now this must be Hio-sama", Juuri muttered.

"Kaname sama! Merry Christmas!"

Kaname was suprised yet again by Aido, Ruka and Kain. Juuri gaped at her husband. He shrugged innocently. "Kaname doesn't socialise enough", he muttered. Juuri set three more places at the table.

The five youngsters sat at the end of the table, eying Rido nervously. "This is Rido ojii-sama".

"Hajimemashite". The quite murmur rippled through the three newcomers. Rido seemed perplexed by this increase in small children. "Goodness, Kaname. I had three times as many friends when I was five", he said earnestly. "Hai, ojii-sama."

"Well!"

Everyone turned at the new voice.

Shizuka Hio stepped gracefully into the room. "I rang the doorbell three times, but no one answered. "

Juuri glared daggers at Haruka. "I'm terribly sorry, Hio Shizuka, we had a few unexpected additions to the dinner table", Juuri nodded towards the end of the table. Shizuka stared at the children like they were exotic beasts one might see at the zoo. "Ah... children." She glanced icily at Rido and nodded her head in greeting. "Rido."

He beamed at her and jumped to his feet, rushing around the table to pull out a chair for her. Shizuka gawped at him. "Merry Christmas!" Rido cried, plucking mistletoe from his pocket and dangling it over their heads. "What the-" Rido silenced her by promptly kissing Shizuka full on the mouth.

Aido, Kain and Ruka giggled and Takuma's jaw dropped. Kaname kept a straight face. This is going to be such an awkward dinner, he thought.

Thanks for reading! I'll add the final chapter in a few days. I wanted it to be a facimilae of an awkward family Christmas with a few extra additions! Rido was portrayed as an eccntric uncle, while Haruka was the peace-keeper and Kaname was supposed to be patient and amiable with uncle Rido. Completely AU, I know, but please review!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading!