Christmas Eve with the Flu: Seto and Kisara

Hello everyone and welcome to "The First Christmas," a series of tales of a few couples in the Yugi-verse. This series was suggested by The Rainwalker and I am pleased to honor her request. This particular tale is tied into the Yugi-verse I have established with 15animefreak15, and it's also lightly based on real life events. It sucks to be sick on Christmas, but if you have someone with you who loves and takes care of you when you're sick, it isn't so bad.

So to everyone out there, Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy Boxing Day, and Happy Kwanzaa to all of you! Sorry this is a little late.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise. I just own my stories and any OCs I happen to establish.

Author's note: This story happens a few months after "Whisper," my story in which Yugi attempted suicide. Seto and Kisara started dating and things heated up. Thank you. Author's further note, added June 9 2012: Winter Wonderland, despite being published in 1934, is still under copyright.

It was a few days before the Christmas of 2006 in Domino, and Seto Kaiba was making a phone call. It had been six months since the blue-eyed, brown haired CEO of Kaiba Corporation had met and fallen in love with a young prodigy doctor named Kisara Hammond. Within a month of their first meeting, they were dating seriously and on Seto's 19th birthday in late October, he asked her to marry him. They shared an ancient past, and now it appeared that they would share the future together. So today, he was calling her house to make a special request.

"Hello, Hammond residence. This is Darren," a warm male tenor voice answered. Darren was Kisara's father, a tall balding man with brown hair and bright blue eyes and the build of a football player gone to seed. "Oh, hello, Seto," he said when the boy identified himself. "What can I do for you?"

"Darren, Kisara mentioned that you, Gigi and Eddie are going to be gone over Christmas and New Year's and Kisara has to stay here thanks to her schedule. I was wondering if it would be all right if I invited her over to the mansion to stay. We have plenty of room and I know Mokuba and I would be glad to have her over for Christmas," Seto explained, offering and feeling a touch nervous. He had no ulterior motive for having his fiancée over, but if he thought like a father, he would have to admit that he might not grant the permission. However, Darren surprised him.

"Of course, Seto, that'd be great. The truth is, we were feeling a little edgy about leaving Kisara alone…She's scheduled at the hospital through Christmas Eve and we hate for her to be alone. I know she's grown up, but still…you always worry more about a daughter than a son, I guess," Darren admitted.

"Darren, I promise you that…wait, you said yes?" Seto asked in shock, amazed that he didn't have to defend his request and convince Kisara's father to let her come to the mansion.

"Of course I did, Seto. Kiddo, we trust you, and you two are engaged. Until you, she never had a boyfriend, remember? I mean, she had crushes, but they were never reciprocated. And then you came and you've been nothing but a gentleman with her. She's never felt uncomfortable with you and she trusts you. And Gigi and I trust you with her. So you three kids have fun. When Kisara comes over, she'll bring presents from us. We wish you all could come with us up to Seattle…"

"Yeah, I know," Seto answered. "She misses not being able to go back with you, but she knows she has a duty to her patients. We'll have fun and we can call you on Christmas. I'll make sure she doesn't work too hard and that we have a little fun. The house is huge and she won't be alone. And again…"

"Seto, Gigi and I trust you completely. And besides, you and she are now adults and engaged. What you two do is between you and the Almighty. So relax, all right?" Darren said with a smile. "I'll have Kisara call you when she gets home if she wants to stay over with you…" About an hour or so later, Kisara was home and agreed to come over to the mansion. The white-blonde blue-eyed female showed up at the mansion that evening as her parents and brother flew to Seattle the next morning. Mokuba, Seto's little brother, was naturally thrilled that Kisara would be spending Christmas with them, and there was a certain light in his gray-blue eyes.

"Hey, babe," Seto said when she arrived, looking a bit haggard. "You okay?"

"Hi, big sister!" Mokuba whooped, borderline tackle-hugging the young woman. "You're actually staying here?"

"Yes, I am, sweetie," she answered, hugging him. "And yes, Seto, I'm okay…I'm just feeling really worn out. It's been a rough few days at the clinic. We have had a bunch of flu cases and people have been coming in, expecting miracle cures."

Seto moved close and pulled his fiancée into a hug, as well as his brother. "Well, you don't have to worry about that here, babe. Mokie and I are both healthy and you can relax. You can chill out here after work. The servants will make sure you don't lift a finger while you're here and on Christmas Day, all we have to worry about is having the gang over for a bit, but that's okay. You still won't have to do a thing."

"That sounds good," Kisara smiled, still happily in the three-way hug. "Why don't we have some…"

"Dinner?" Mokuba finished the question for her, smiling. "Seto had the cook make your favorite, barbequed roast beef marinated in red wine so the outside of the roast is crispy, twice-baked potatoes with lots of cheese, asparagus and fresh French bread. And for dessert, we're having chocolate cake! Does that sound good?"

"You two are going to fatten me up," the girl sighed, laughing. She was looking forward to the next two weeks…

YGO

On the morning before Christmas Eve, Kisara headed to Domino Children's Hospital to see a few patients. She wasn't feeling great and chalked it up to tiredness. And so when she came home to the mansion from work, she got a bath, got her pajamas on and enjoyed a quiet dinner with her fiancé and his brother.

"Babe, are you sure you're feeling all right?" Seto asked after she sang Mokuba to sleep with "O Holy Night," one of her favorite Christmas carols. The young man couldn't help but notice how pale his love was and worried about her. True, some of that worry was due to knowing how their ancient past love affair turned out, but his modern self knew that she was overworking herself. "You look really worn out, Kisara."

"I am tired, honey," she answered, feeling the tiniest bit queasy as well, "but I think I'll be okay. I got through today and should get through tomorrow, and then I can rest tomorrow night and Christmas Day."

"Dr. Carter was amazed that you handled your internship hours like you did," Seto said, referring to his personal doctor that he'd hired a few years previously and that had been the doctor on the blimp during Battle City. "He said since you were so young, he was surprised you tolerated the lack of sleep."

"I just managed. That's probably partly why I had that breakdown," she sighed as they headed to their rooms. "Anyway, I think I'll be all right. I just need to sleep for a bit."

"Okay. Call me if you need anything, babe," Seto answered, pulling her into a loving hug and kissing her forehead. "Love you…"

"Love you too," she answered softly, and then they released. Seto went to his bedroom and got his blue silk pajamas on, then got into bed. Meanwhile, in one of the many guestrooms, one that was decorated in various shades of purple, Kisara snuggled down in her bed. She ached all over and was beginning to feel lousy, but she figured a good night's sleep would do her good.

In the morning, Seto and Mokuba Kaiba awoke at 6:02 AM to the sound of a droning alarm. The two young men came out of their rooms, exchanged worried glances and followed the sound of the alarm clock to Kisara's guestroom. "Babe?" Seto called as they came into the room.

"Big sister?" Mokuba called softly. "Are you okay?" And then they heard a soft moan.

"Kisara?" Seto asked, moving closer to the bed, "Babe, are you not feeling well?"

The white-blonde girl lifted her head slightly, looking pale, sweaty and definitely sick. "I…have to…get to work…Ooh…"

Seto sat gingerly on the bed and laid his hand on Kisara's forehead. She felt hot, very hot. "Mokie, go get the thermometer, okay? Kisara's got a fever. And bring the phone, since I have to call her clinic. Babe, you are not going in this way. You're sick. You're not going into work today."

"But," she began protesting, and he cut her off.

"No. It's cold out there, and you'll do your patients no good if you're like this. So stay here with us. I'm not going into the office, there's no school for Mokuba and we can take care of you, okay, babe? It's Christmas Eve and you need to feel better." Kisara might've argued, but then remembered that she had reminded her fiancé about not working too hard and not working when he was sick. In fact, she mused, she had used a similar argument with him when he'd been sick with the stomach flu in early November. "You're thinking about November, aren't you?" he asked gently. She managed a nod as Mokuba returned with the thermometer and the phone. Seto took her temperature, called Kisara's office and then called his own office to let them know he was staying home and couldn't be called to the office except in an extreme emergency. "You've got a fever of 102. Kisara…I think you've got the flu."

"Big sister, you need to stay in bed," Mokuba agreed with his brother. "And I'll help make sure you do!" he added with a very determined look on his face. "Should we get her some breakfast, big bro?" he asked.

"Sounds like a good idea," Seto answered. "Kisara, I'll get you some juice and some oatmeal. That might make you feel better."

"Okay," she sighed, lying back in the cool pillows. She closed her eyes and must have drifted off, because the next thing she knew, Seto was shaking her shoulder gently. "Huh?"

"Babe, let's get something in your stomach, okay?" he asked, gently easing her into a sitting position.

"Okay," she answered. "Where's Mokuba?" she asked, realizing he was no longer on the bed or in the room.

"He's in the media room, playing video games. I thought it'd be better that way," Seto answered gently. "Let's get you fed." He made her comfortable and then spooned up some oatmeal. She ate most of it and drank some grape juice, and then she had to go to the bathroom. Seto helped her out of the bed, and then…disaster struck.

"Seto," Kisara groaned, feeling her stomach go into reverse.

"Babe, are you..?" he asked, getting ready to rush her to the bathroom, but unfortunately, the time for that sort of gallantry had passed. Kisara threw up all over him. "Oh, man…babe…let's get you cleaned up," he soothed, feeling the warmth of his fiancée's vomit on his pajamas.

"Honey, I'm sorry," she moaned softly as he half-carried her to the bathroom. "I couldn't…"

"Just relax. I'll get the tub filled up and we can clean you off, okay?" he soothed further. They went into the bathroom and he sat her in a soft chair in the huge room. He turned on the hot bath water and then went to work getting her vomit-covered clothes off. "I'm sorry you're feeling so punk," he murmured, removing her purple flannel pants and then getting her purple cotton top off. His own discomfort with her barf all over him didn't matter at the moment; he just needed to get her in the tub. He completely disrobed her and then helped her into the tub. "That feel all right?"

"Yeah," she answered gently. "Oh, honey, you're a mess…"

"I'll get my stuff off. The laundry will get done today," he answered, smiling and stripping down to his boxers. He then sat down on the edge of the huge sunken tub, watching her. He liked what he saw, and if she'd been feeling better, he might've kissed her and seen where it led. But to make such a move today wouldn't be right. She was too sick. "Want me to wash your hair?" he asked.

"Okay," she murmured. He nodded and reached for the shampoo bottle on the side of the huge tub…and lost his balance. With a huge splash, he fell into the tub. "OH! Seto!" Kisara exclaimed. "Honey? Are you all right?" she asked when he came up, coughing.

"Y-yeah," he answered when he was able to speak. "Sorry, babe. I…"

"Hey, it happens. Well, I guess we can clean off together," she sighed. "No point in you not doing that now that you're in here." She knew that if Seto was an ordinary guy, she might have reason to be apprehensive that she was in a state of undress and he was about to be clad in nothing but his birthday suit and in the tub with her! I'm getting an unusual Christmas gift, she reflected through the haze of her fever.

Seto, for his part, was a little nervous about this, but he didn't like being in wet boxer shorts, and he wanted to help Kisara too. This was the first time that they'd been unclothed together and insanely, he wasn't paying attention to it. Once the boxers were off, he slid into the tub next to his sick fiancée. "Okay, babe, let's get you cleaned off." He took the shampoo bottle again and placed some of the liquid in his hands and then gently rubbed it into her long, silky hair. The stuff smelled like vanilla and mint and made her smell wonderful. After that, Seto took a lather puff and loaded it with lavender-scented body wash, foaming it up in his hand. "Should I scrub you off?" he asked softly. She nodded weakly and he gently cleaned her off. "Does that feel better?" he probed when she was clean.

"Yeah," she murmured tiredly. That was so nice, she thought, thinking of his touch. "Thanks, honey…can we just sit here for a minute?"

"Yeah," he answered, putting an arm around her as they shifted position in the tub. He was sitting next to her now and keeping her upright. He noticed the light stretch marks on her body from growth in pre-adolescence and in her early teen years, and the slimness of her body, right down to her willowy, muscular long legs. "I'm sorry you're feeling so bad on Christmas Eve, babe," he murmured as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"It could be worse," she murmured back. "I could've been home alone and sick without a wonderful husband-to-be to take care of me."

"Yeah…that would've been a lot worse," he agreed softly. "It'll still be a good Christmas…Oh, darn…We'll have to call off the gang. They shouldn't…"

"No, it's all right. This should be a twenty-four hour bug. I'll feel a little woozy tomorrow, but with your help, I'll be okay to hang with the group…" They might've continued talking, but then the bathroom door opened.

"Seto, how's Kisara feel—AUGH!" Mokuba yelped, seeing the couple together in the tub. "You guys? You were?" He was visibly stunned and horrified and as was normal, he jumped to conclusions about what his brother and future sister-in-law were doing in the bathtub, and proceeded to leave the room and head to his own, looking more than a bit horrified.

"Oh, crud. He saw us and I know what he thought," Seto groaned as he now quickly helped Kisara out of the tub. He got a bathrobe on her and then on himself, took her back to her bed and put her in fresh pajamas (the staff had cleaned up while the couple was in the tub). "Maybe I should've locked the door," he sighed as he made her comfortable and warm.

"Then he would've thought we did something," she sighed. "Seto, get your clothes on and then why don't you bring him in here? We can both talk to him and help him understand…"

"Good idea," he answered. Seto went and got dressed in a sweater and jeans in his own room, and then headed to Mokuba's bedroom. The small boy was sitting on his bed, playing a handheld video game. "Mokie, mind if I come in a minute?"

The boy looked up from his game, pausing it. "Go ahead. I'm sorry I walked in on you guys. I mean, it was your first time," he said, managing to sound both embarrassed and frustrated at the same time, the frustration directed at himself for walking in on them.

"Mokie, we didn't do anything," Seto explained.

"Sure you didn't," Mokuba responded, clearly not convinced.

"We didn't…for one thing, we want to wait, and another thing, she's too sick. I wouldn't be close with her like that when she's feeling like this," the older boy explained. "And she wanted me to bring you into the room to explain that, all right?"

Mokuba's eyes were wide now. "You really didn't?"

"No, Mokuba, we didn't," Seto answered, face really softening. "It wouldn't have been right for us and if we were planning to do that, we would've locked the door so you couldn't get in."

The smaller boy snickered at his big brother. "Good point. I guess you guys aren't ready to give that gift to each other yet." Seto had patiently explained to Mokuba that the first time was a gift to be given to one very special person and when you were really ready to give it. So Mokuba referred to it as such.

"No, not for a while." And so they headed down to Kisara's room, where the young physician was relieved to know that Mokuba wasn't upset anymore. He gently climbed up on the bed and gave her a big hug and reassured her that everything was okay.

"Are you sleepy, Kisara?" Mokuba asked, noticing her expression.

"A little bit, sweetie," she admitted.

"Could I sing you a Christmas carol, so you fall asleep?" he asked. "You sing for me when I'm not feeling good."

Kisara smiled weakly. "Okay, honey. Sing what you'd like to sing, all right?" And so Mokuba sang Silent Night, and within a few minutes, the white-blonde girl was sound asleep.

"Thanks, kiddo," Seto whispered to his brother. "I think that's just what Kisara needs. She'll sleep for a bit and then we'll see if we can get her to eat without throwing up again."

"Oh! She said something about a surprise for us, big brother! And she said she'd bring it out tonight. Do you think she'll be able to do it tonight?" Mokuba whispered back softly.

"I hope so," Seto sighed. "Let's just let her sleep, okay?" And so they let her rest. By the early afternoon, they were able to wake her and give her some chicken soup. Kisara kept the soup down and by dinner time, she was sitting up and feeling better. She still had a temperature, but didn't feel like her stomach was about to explode.

After dinner, Kisara went to the closet in her bedroom and pulled out a cardboard box. "Grandma Hammond sent me this a few weeks ago and when you two invited me, I thought I'd bring it with. Seto, would you mind if I put up a Nativity scene?" she asked, opening the box to reveal several tiny ceramic statues, including one of a baby lying in what looked like a bed covered with straw.

"These are beautiful," Seto said. "She sent this?"

"Yeah. She made these," the girl answered.

"Seto, what's a Nativity scene?" Mokuba asked.

Seto and Kisara exchanged glances, Seto realizing he'd never really told Mokuba the Christmas story. "Mokuba, a Nativity scene shows us the story of Christmas and why it happened. It has nothing to do with Santa Claus and everything to do with that baby in the manger," Seto said, holding the baby statue.

"Oh, yeah. Baby Jesus. Seto, I know the story," Mokuba answered. "Joey told me last year when I hung out with the guys. He took me over to St. James and showed me the big scene at the stable. He didn't say Nativity scene, though."

"Good, then you know the story?" Kisara asked gently.

Mokuba then proceeded to tell everything he'd read and been told about the Christmas story, including mentioning that "I've seen the Charlie Brown Christmas special, big brother."

"Wow…Well, Mokuba, I'm glad you know," Seto said finally. "I guess I didn't know how to tell you…"

"It's okay, Seto," the small boy answered, smiling and examining the statues of the three Magi.

YGO

That night, the couple and the little boy followed the tradition of Kisara's family. On Christmas Eve, back in Seattle, Kisara's family would gather at her Grandpa Hanson's house and open presents. So tonight at the Kaiba mansion, the young couple and small boy sat in the spacious living room on the couch in front of a roaring fire. They had opened their Christmas gifts to each other and now Seto sat between the two people he loved the most. Mokuba was fast asleep now on Seto's left and Kisara was cuddled against the teen CEO's right. All three were covered with a warm royal blue blanket and the couple was sipping a hot Scandinavian drink called glögg.

"You're cooler, babe," Seto smiled softly as he sipped the hot juice mixture. "Think you'll be up to the party tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Since I kept stuff down, I'll be okay for Christmas Day," she answered, smiling back as he kissed her still-warm forehead. "Honey, thank you for taking care of me," she murmured.

"My pleasure, babe…and this time next year, I'll be taking care of you as your husband," he murmured back. And so the couple, with the small boy next to them, sipped their hot drinks and dreamed of happiness to come. And as they did, they thought of the lyrics of Winter Wonderland.

And so, that's the first Christmas for Seto and Kisara. I'm inclined to have the next tale be a Polarshipping tale, which is Joey and Mai. So, shall I do another tale, everyone? Please read and review! Thank you!