Alright, here's a little information before we start. Yes, this is based on the song. Traditionally, the twelve days of Christmas start on the twenty-fifth, but I thought it would be more fun to have it lead up to Christmas. There are different versions of the song, but we went with the original lyrics. Len and I will take turns writing each day until Christmas. But I do wonder why half of the gifts are some kind of bird. -Rin
Day 1 - A partridge in a pear tree
It was December 13th, and the holiday break was tantalizingly near. One more week of school, albeit with the torture of midterms, and the students of Seishun Gakuen would be free. With the weeks of freedom so close (and yet so far), no one was focused on reviewing and studying. Instead they discussed their plans for the break, or he holidays they would be celebrating. Eventually, somehow (inevitably), the topic turned to Christmas songs.
"What's a partridge, anyway?" Momoshiro Takeshi wondered aloud in the direction of the group. The ichinen trio shrugged collectively. Ryoma sighed.
"It's a bird, baka-sempai." Katou and Kachirou were awed at their friend's knowledge. Horio bragged about his two years of bird-watching experience. Before Momo could protest the nickname, Ryoma spoke again.
"I think I'd like to see a partridge in a pear tree some day." He looked pensive.
It was in that moment that Momo decided to make it happen. If his boyfriend wanted to see that, he would make it a Christmas present.
Momo searched online when he got home that day. After explaining his plan to his parents (his mother cooing about how sweet her little baby was), he bought the necessary materials with their credit card, and while marveling at the sheer variety of what could easily be bought online, he chose the overnight shipping option.
The next day his supplies arrived, and Phase One of operation Be A Really Awesome Boyfriend (or BARAB, for short) began. This phase involved finding a good place for The Surprise to happen, and setting it up. After far too much scouting around, Momo finally decided on his backyard. No one else would let him use their space, and he didn't want to put it out in a public place to get damaged or stolen.
Now it was time for The Set-up. Momo dragged the potted pear tree around from his driveway through the back gate, positioning it smack in the middle of the yard. He dug up some old Christmas lights and strung them on the tree. Now for the bird.
Getting the partridge out of its cage was quite the undertaking. It had no desire to go sit in Momo's pear tree, and fought back every chance it got.
Eventually (after donning a pair of his mom's gardening gloves and a hockey mask he'd found in the garage) he wrestled it out of the cage. Now all he had to do was get it in the tree. But, if he let go of it, it would fly away.
"Come on, can't you just sit in the tree for a little while?! It's got pears." He added, as if that would convince the bird. The time for implementing Phase Two was rapidly approaching. Finally Momo decided to tether it to a branch of the tree, like people did with falcons or whatever.
"Don't worry, I'll let you go after he sees you." Momo tried to give the bird a pat on the head, but it snapped at him with its beak. Satisfied with his work, he went inside to call Ryoma.
After getting Ryoma to agree to come see his Surprise, he hopped on his bike and went to pick him up. After promising Echizen Nanjirou that he'd bring his son back mostly intact, he headed for their favorite burger place, to pass the time until darkness fell.
After reassuring Ryoma that, no, burgers were not The Surprise, they went in and ate enough junk food to kill a normal human being. Each.
Next stop was the street courts. Momo had found a court that didn't require that everyone played doubles, and they played until the fluorescent streetlights flickered on.
Finally the time had come. Back on the bike, Momo rode home to reveal the culmination of operation BARAB (on second thought, maybe he'd just call it operation Be Really Awesome. That would be easier to say. But wait...then it would be operation BRA. Nevermind.).
He picked Ryoma up the second his feet hit the driveway, dropping his bike in the grass and carrying the smaller boy to the backyard (with much protest from said smaller boy at being carried). He set him down at the gate.
"Do you trust me?" Ryoma nodded. "Close your eyes, then." Momo grabbed Ryoma's hand and led him to the tree.
"Okay, you can look now. Ta-daaaa!" Momo gestured at his gift, already counting operation BARAB (or BRA) a success. Then he realized the partridge was eating the pears.
"Hey, stop that!" He waved his hands around in an effort to shoo the bird away before remembering it was tethered to the tree. The startled bird squawked at him before resuming its meal. Ryoma laughed.
"Is that a partridge in a pear tree?" Momo forgot the bird for a moment and nodded proudly.
"Yep! You said you wanted to see one, so here it is!" Ryoma blinked in surprise. He hadn't meant he wanted to see it immediately, but he was pleasantly surprised at the effort Momo had put into the gift.
"Merry Christmas, Ryoma. It's kinda early, though." Momo hadn't waited very long at all, putting his plan into action immediately. It was only December 14th. But Ryoma hugged him anyway.
"Thanks, Takeshi." It wasn't the most eloquent statements of gratitude, but Ryoma didn't have to say much to get his feelings across (the rare use of Momo's real name certainly helped).
Of course, now he needed a return gift...