Chapter 1: Gift Hunting
Author: spicedtea
Disclaimer: All of these characters are Konomi-sensei's brilliant work of art. The ideas came to us while shopping for cosplay stuff. Enjoy? And Merry Christmas? Happy Holidays?
Fuji adjusted the brim of his hat in the mirror, before he stepped out the door. There were only a few more days left to do shopping, facing the daunting crowds that plagued the Christmas-decked halls of the mall. If he had to endure such torture, why not just share it with his dear brother? Crossing the hallway towards Yuuta's room, he rapped the back of his hand on the door waiting for a response from his younger brother.
No response. That was expected. Every year was the same thing; Yuuta was quite the Grinch when it came to Christmas shopping, and the holiday itself.
"Yuuta" Fuji called softly in a cheerful voice through the door. "I know you're in there. No point in hiding it." After nothing but silence from the other side of the door, Fuji clasped his hand around the doorknob, and opened it to find an enormous lump 'hidden' under a set of bed covers. And beneath that, there was a whisper of 'baka aniki'. He'll forget it this time. "Yuuta, let's go shopping." Fuji walked over to the side of Yuuta's bed taking a seat on the edge.
"Go away." He muttered beneath the sheets. "Christmas is stupid." The same line he said every year, but even still he was always the first to run down to the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.
"Ahh, is that so?" The same response came from Fuji's lips, 5 years running. No point in proceeding any further with this conversation, he realized from previous experience. "I'll be sure to bring you back something good then."
"Don't need anything." Yuuta shifted under his covers, intentionally spreading out his arms and legs to push Fuji off the edge of his bed. An attempt that would have been successful if Fuji hadn't already stood up.
"Something pink," Fuji beamed, already lost in his own imaginary world. "Or maybe red, like Santa."
"No!" said Yuuta in alarm. "Just go buy presents for your stupid friends okay?"
"I'll be sure to," Fuji hummed, flashing him a charming smile. "Hmm... now who else could I pick for my shopping date..."
"Anyone but me is fine," Yuuta grumbled, relieved when his aniki finally drifted from the room.
Fuji flashed through the numbers on his cell phone, he stopped when he found 'Mitsu-chan :D' and immediately pressed dial. The phone rang a few times before he heard the click sound of his call being received.
"Ah, Kunimitsu, would you like to go shop-"
Beep.
Frowning, Fuji looked down at the screen that blinked 'Call Ended.' That's funny, he thought, It's almost as if Tezuka hung up on me. But he wouldn't dare to do that. He called back, this time getting an answering machine. "Mitsu-chan, it sounds like your phone's having problems. Call me back when you get this message, okay?" His voice was sweet but the whole time his eyes were open, sharp blue orbs staring at the image of Tezuka formed in his mind.
In another house in Tokyo, a bespectacled brunette with a stony expression spilled his tea.
Sad that his boyfriend of four months wouldn't be joining him, Fuji dialed the next best person he could think of.
"Nya-ho, this is Kikumaru! Hoi hoi, Fuji, what's up?"
Hearing the cheerful voice on the other line, Fuji smiled and collected his things, knowing the other boy would not turn him down. "Eiji... shall we go do a little shopping?" A devious smirk appeared on his lips, as the clockwork in his brain began to tick and turn. "For Christmas gifts of course."
Oblivious to the thoughts running through the other's mind, Eiji accepted Fuji's proposal in a heartbeat. "I'll meet you at the station nya!" The redhead clicked off the phone before Fuji could even respond, probably so that he could run upstairs to brush his teeth one last time before heading out.
With only a smile spread across his lips, Fuji flipped his phone closed, as he headed down the stairs towards the exit.
The clock had sounded once, as Fuji found the redheaded tennis player standing by the statue in front of the plaza.
"You're here early." Fuji noted, glancing down at his watch.
"You're here late!" Eiji whined, but he forgave his best friend instantly upon being handed a miniature candy cane Fuji had been handed as a sample.
"Shall we go then?" A small smile spread across the tensai's lips, as he looped his arm through that of an equally excited Eiji. "Have you gotten anything for Oishi for Christmas yet?"
"Un! A teddy bear and a snow globe and a tennis ball signed by Ochibi and chocolate hearts with caramel inside and new boxers cause I ruined his and a Christmas tree ornament and a mini bamboo, but nothing special, nya," he pouted, listing all the things he'd collected over the year but hadn't had the excuse to give to his partner yet. "This year's gift has to be perfect. It's our anniversary nya!"
Fuji could have pointed out that every Christmas Eve was their anniversary, but instead he smiled and pointed to a store display hidden in the back corner of a hallway. "Well it must be something different, that's for sure. Hmm, how about that store?" Fuji smiled, quite amused by the lavishly displayed mannequins in the window.
Lace.
Belts.
Whips.
White fluff.
Chemises.
Christmas thongs.
Holiday lingerie store.
"Oishi would surely enjoy that gift, ne?" Fuji grabbed Eiji's hand, dragging him through the shadiest hall in the entire mall.
The redhead looked wide-eyed around the narrow store, a curious blush filling his cheeks. Fuji waved at the salesclerk as if he knew her, before flipping through the nearest rack.
"Unya, this one's like Santa!" The acrobat pulled out a strapless teddy with red velvet around the body and fluffy white trim that circled the chest and thighs. He held it up against himself to see how it looked, turning towards Fuji for an opinion.
"Ahh, that ones looks nice. But isn't this one even better?" Fuji pulled out another one that flowed like a short dress but was completely see-through. Holding it up in front of Eiji, he gave a bright smile of approval. "Oishi would definitely like this one."
"Shopping for your friend's girlfriend?" The store worker asked Fuji, who smiled in response.
"Something like that. Which do you prefer?" Fuji asked her opinion, as she glanced at the two pieces of lingerie in the boys' hands.
"Hmm, depends on what type of person she is. Daring?" She asked, glancing over at Eiji and then back at Fuji.
"Hmm, well maybe you can say that. She likes to try new things." Fuji glanced over at Eiji, an amused expression in his eyes.
"Well, whatever you decide. I'll hook you up with a discount. My treat to you." She smiled, as another set of customers entered the door.
"Hm, Yuuta would look nice in this one," Fuji mused to himself, running his fingers along the edge of the fabric.
As he looked through the rest of the Santa-themed lingerie, Eiji started giggling, earning himself a raised eyebrow from Fuji. "I was just thinking," Eiji snickered, "wouldn't Ochibi look cute in this one?"
"He definitely would. It's just his style." Just then a light bulb lit in Fuji's mind, but Eiji beat him to the words.
"We could give one to all the couples!" Eiji exclaimed. He loved giving gifts, and who didn't love receiving them?
"Exactly my thoughts, Eiji…exactly." Bringing a hand to his chin, the tensai chuckled under his breath at the thought of all the torturous ... errr, gentle ways he would persuade his friends to actually use the gift. "Excuse me, miss," he waved the sales clerk over. "Do you think we could arrange a group discount? We'd like to buy...mm, twelve."
End Chapter 1