"The first thing of Christmas that's such a pain to me...is finding a Christmas Tree!"
In hindsight, bringing Ritsu along while trying to find a Christmas tree might not have been the best decision. But he had looked so lonely, and Tohru could not just leave him behind! Besides, she had been able to pick up the subtle, or not so subtle, hints that Shigure had dropped about being left alone. At first, Tohru had offered to bring Shigure along, expressing how his presence would be very welcomed on the tree hunt, while Yuki and Kyo had voiced their displeasure. But the Dog had just smiled and waved a dismissive hand, stating that he could not leave Hatori alone.
The reason for Hatori being at Shigure's house in the first place was still muddled in confusion. Tohru could not quite figure out what had happened between Hatori and Shigure that left the Dragon passed out on the couch with an empty cup on the floor. Shigure had feigned innocence at his cousin's obvious peril, and Tohru had worried for a moment that the Dragon had fallen ill.
When she had expressed her worry, Kyo had just scoffed.
"Darn idiot let his drink get spiked," the Cat had muttered.
Tohru had blinked at Kyo's statement. "Eh?"
"Nevermind that, Miss Honda," Yuki had said simply, gently grabbing her shoulders while shooting a glare at the mischievous Dog who was smirking. "Let us go and find that tree of yours."
These thoughts and memories filled Tohru's thoughts as she trudged up the snowy hill that displayed many pine trees in little stands or buckets. Her red cheeks were flushed, but her smile was bright as she walked alongside her two friends with the Sohma cousins trailing closely behind.
"How 'bout that one?" Arisa asked, gesturing to a tall and lean tree with a lazy wave.
"It is tall, but the branches are thin," Hana pointed out simply.
Kyo scoffed as he stuck his gloved hands in his pockets. "So? It'll die anyway, and we'll be throwing it out."
"It's the experience that counts," Yuki said with a sigh.
"We didn't even ask for your opinion, Carrot-Top," Arisa said with a smirk, knowing that her statement would rile Kyo up.
As expected, Kyo took the bait as he bristled. "Darn Yankee. You didn't even have to come!"
"I was invited, just as you were," Arisa said simply. She pulled Tohru close in a protective embrace. "Besides, someone needs to protect my precious Tohru from you creeps."
Tohru blinked while turning red as her friend held her. "P-protect?"
Kyo also turned red, but more from rage than embarrassment. "Creeps? Who are you calling a creep? You darn little-"
"You are letting her get to you," Yuki said with a sigh. "Stupid Cat."
"Please don't fight," Ritsu said with an anxious frown, wringing his hands nervously. "Please-"
"Why are you butting in!?" Kyo roared, glaring at the older cousin.
Ritsu immediately paled as his eyes went wide. Yuki, at that moment, looked around for a sturdy tree to bang his head up against at his cousins foolish behaviour. "Idiot," he muttered.
Kyo's eyes widened as he too, realized his mistake. His mouth was open to either deliver a verbal jab at Ritsu, or say anything to calm down the hyperventilating man.
But he was not fast enough to come up with anything to prevent the Ritsu meltdown.
"I'M SORRY!" Ritsu screamed, falling to the snowy ground and at Kyo's feet. "I APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR MY-"
"Yeesh, will you pipe down," Arisa said. "Your volume is going to cause an avalanche."
Although she had meant the last part in jest, Ritsu took it quite literally and started scrambling around in a blubbering, frantic mess. "I'M SO SORRY! I APOLOGIZE TO THE SNOW! I APOLOGIZE TO THE SNOW GODS! I-"
Ritsu was suddenly cut off abruptly when a snowball smacked him in the face, sending him collapsing to the ground in a heap. Everyone directed their mixed gazes to Yuki who calmly wiped the snow off of his gloves.
"You are welcome," he stated simply. "Now," he glanced at Kyo. "Tis the season to spread good will towards men. Let us try to be civil, if you can manage such a thing while we attempt to look for a tree for Miss Honda."
Kyo balled his hands into fists, enraged. "I can be civil! I can much more civil than you! And it's good will towards men, not rats!"
"I am sensing hostile, extra waves coming from you two," Hana murmured suddenly. She cocked her head. "Interesting."
Her sudden statement caused both Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru to freeze, a sudden move that was not caused by the cold.
"Um...Oh! Look! More trees!" Tohru exclaimed frantically in the hopes of redirecting her friends from the cursed cousins and their odd spiritual waves.
"What about him?" Hana asked, gesturing to the passed out Ritsu.
"Eh," Kyo muttered, disinterested as he stomped on through the snow. "He'll be fine."
Tohru skipped merrily down the aisle that displayed many trees, both short and tall, wide and thin. "Oh!" she exclaimed, coming to a stop. "This is so tall and beautiful!"
Yuki nodded, coming to stand beside her. "That it is. But we will need one that will fit in Shigure's house," he stated thoughtfully.
Tohru frowned as she stared at the tree. "I suppose you are right. That tree was just so lovely, though. But someone else will find it." She continued walking, her merry spirits soaring high. "I am so delighted that we will be decorating this year! Can you imagine what the house would look like with all the lights and decorations? Not to mention the smell of the pine needles the tree will bring in."
Yuki smiled at her enthusiasm while Kyo's face softened slightly.
"Ha!" Arisa said suddenly. "Tohru, get a look at this." She gestured to a three foot tall tree with thin little branches. "It's a Charlie Brown Christmas tree." She laughed. "We just need a red ornament to send the poor thing crumbling down."
"Aw," Tohru cooed, getting on her knees to look at the tree. "It's so cute!"
"But it won't hold most of the ornaments," Hana stated.
"I think it's...cute," Kyo agreed reluctantly, getting on his knees to observe the little tree. "We can get two trees," he declared, picking the tree up and holding it carefully.
"Great!" Tohru exclaimed happily. She then gasped, scrambling up. "How about this one?" she asked gleefully, stopping in front of a tree and gesturing to it.
"Ah," the salesperson said with a smile, appearing out of nowhere and coming over with an easy smile. Yuki and Kyo were on the alert, eyeing the scruffy man wearily. "You, little lady," the salesman continued. "Have an amazing eye. I can name the price right here and now and have you on your way."
Arisa frowned from behind the tree that Tohru had so happily chosen. "Really? So would we get it half off since we are getting half a tree?"
The man frowned, glaring his beady eyes at the tall, blonde teen. "What do you mean?"
Arisa gestured to the back of the tree, which was bare with dead, orange branches. Arisa raised an eyebrow. "Trying to rip us off, eh?"
Kyo growled, grabbing Tohru and dragging her away from the stuttering man while still holding his Charlie Brown tree. The group went to a different part of the nursery, and it was then they found Ritsu wandering around helplessly. The Monkey then proceeded to apologize for the past five minutes for getting lost and worrying them, ignoring Kyo's blunt, rude statement of "We weren't worried."
"Oh!" Ritsu exclaimed, trying to be helpful in the tree hunt. "This looks nice."
Tohru smiled, coming over to him. "You found one!"
Ritsu faltered. "Oh! I apologize, did you want to find one? I will forget I ever saw this one and give you all the credit!"
"Um," Tohru stuttered. "N-no. You're fine. I think it is a beautiful tree!" She glowed as she stared at it. "It's perfect!"
Ritsu smiled brightly as well. "I think so too! Look Kyo! Isn't it beautiful?"
Kyo shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose."
"Is this the one?" Yuki asked with a small smile.
Tohru nodded her head quickly. "Yep! I think this is the one!"
"Good," Kyo said, setting his Charlie Brown tree down carefully and striding forward. "Time to buy this tree and go home then, 'cause I think my eyes are freezing up."
Ritsu gasped in horror. "Your eyes are freezing? Here! Take my scarf!"
In that moment, several things happened at once. Kyo crouched down and tried to swat Ritsu's flailing hand and scarf away. The sudden, sharp movement sent Ritsu stumbling back into a small pine tree, sending the tree falling off its stand. Ritsu attempted to save himself from falling, trampling over the Charlie Brown tree in the process and leaving nothing but a dead, broken tree.
Kyo's strangled cry as he stared at the tiny tree could barely be heard in all the chaos.
Yuki grabbed Tohru out of the way, but Tohru tripped in the process and fell into Yuki's arms. The Rat of the Zodiac could only widen his eyes before he vanished in a puff of smoke. Arisa was trying to sturdy the tree while yelling at Kyo, who was hollering back at her.
Hana was just standing by, eating a bag of potato chips.
Tohru let out a startled gasp when she glanced at the pile of clothes before her. "Oh no!" she exclaimed, searching frantically in the snow for the now transformed Rat.
"I'm sorry!" Ritsu exclaimed, almost sobbing.
"Stop apologizing and back away from us!" Kyo yelled.
Ritsu nodded frantically and backed up rapidly with a sharp 'zoom.' In was then Kyo realized his mistake. "No! Wait-"
Ritsu slammed into another tree, sending it toppling down and into another tree, creating a domino effect. All around them, trees continued to fall. Ritsu was a sobbing mess while Kyo was tearing his hair out in frustration. Arisa was staring in bemused shock while Tohru continued to dig around frantically in the snow.
Hana continued to munch on her chips.
Kyo ceased his hair-pulling actions when he noticed Tohru in the snow. He opened his mouth to inquire what she was doing when he noticed the pile of clothes around her.
His bright, orange eyes widened when he realized what had just happened, and why Yuki was missing.
Oh no.
There were witnesses. There could not be witnesses!
Time to get rid of the 'witnesses.'
He reacted quickly, lunging forward with his arms outstretched, pushing Hana down a small, snowy slope. The dark haired girl's eyes narrowed as her chips went flying and she tumbled down the hill, not letting out a sound of protest. Kyo then turned to do the same to Arisa, but he tripped over the sobbing heap that was his pathetic monkey cousin. He let out a curse as he head butted with the blonde girl, sending them both to the ground.
His training kicked in and he braced his arms on the ground, preventing him from touching Arisa and activating his transformation. Arisa blinked as she looked up at him before a look of annoyance flashed on her face. But then, that look of annoyance vanished, and she smirked.
"Well, didn't know you felt that way, Carrot-Top," she stated.
It was then he realized how close their faces were, and he was about to pull back frantically when he noticed Tohru hold up a bundle of snow that strangely had purple eyes.
"Found him!" she exclaimed. She then let out a startled shriek when a puff of smoke filled her vision and Yuki transformed back into an unclothed human.
Arisa was turning her head at the sound of her friend's excited exclamation. Kyo's swift actions kicked in, and he quickly leaned in, capturing Arisa's lips with his in a quick, passionate kiss.
Arisa's eyes widened, but Kyo did not see her startled reaction as he had his eyes squeezed shut, almost terrified to see her scathing reaction at his abrupt actions.
A sharp smack sounded in his hearing as Arisa smacked him, and he pulled back with a yelp. Rubbing his cheek, his eyes widened when he noticed the fist coming in his direction. He scrambled out of the way, tumbling down the hill as Arisa chased after him. So consumed in her rage, she did not notice the frantic Yuki and blushing Tohru as the dark haired boy frantically got dressed.
"Ow! Woman! Let me go!" Kyo howled as Arisa threw her boot at him.
"Arisa!" Tohru exclaimed, noticing the Cat's predicament as her friend proceeded to strangle Kyo with his own scarf. "Please...don't hurt him!"
Arisa ceased for one moment before launching her last boot at Kyo. She then stormed over, raising an eyebrow as Yuki shrugged on his coat and tried to look normal.
"Where's Hana?" Arisa asked, surveying the chaotic mess.
"Here," Hana said as she trudged up the hill. "Kyo shoved me down a hill."
Arisa stared at Kyo who was still rubbing his cheek. "What is with you? You push her down a hill and then you kiss me?"
Tohru blinked, cocking her head. "You kissed Arisa?"
Kyo's face turned red. "It was-"
"Well," Tohru chirped, clapping her hands. "I'm so happy for you both!"
"Stop being so happy! There's nothing to be happy about!" Kyo exclaimed. "It's not like what you think!" He let out another strangled cry as he scooped up the remains of his Charlie Brown tree, holding it close.
"Will you kids just buy a tree and get off of my property!" the salesman yelled, throwing his hat down in frustration. "I should charge you for this damage."
"Oh pipe down," Arisa snapped. "It's just a bunch of toppled down trees and ruined snow. Nothing to blow a fuse over."
"Will this suffice?" Yuki sighed, flashing his wallet at the man whose eyes widened. The man cleared his throat and composed himself before taking the offered money. "I think this will cover it," he agreed.
"Good," Yuki nodded. "We will take that tree."
"And this one," Kyo said firmly, still holding his Charlie Brown tree. A branch snapped off at that point, but no one dared to comment on the pathetic state of the tree.
Yuki narrowed his eyes. "Spend your own money. I am not wasting anything on that...broken down stump."
"Maybe we could fix it with tape!" Tohru said hopefully, picking up the fallen branch.
"Maybe we could find another one," Hana stated quietly. Yet the salesman heard her, and his eyes widened in horror.
"No!" he exclaimed, shoving the teens and the trees out of the nursery. "No more looking! No more damage! Take your trees and leave me be!" With that last declaration, he shoved them out and locked his gate with a firm 'click,' leaving them all blinking in shock.
"Um," Arisa stated as they all stood outside the nursery. "Aren't we forgetting someone?"
Tohru gasped in shock. "Ritsu! He's still in there!"
"Oh well," Kyo stated, grabbing Tohru's arm and dragging her away while Yuki sighed and followed after them. A moment later, the gate opened up again with Ritsu being flung out by a red faced salesman.
"I'M SORRY!" Ritsu exclaimed as he tumbled down the hill, his apologies vanishing as he unwillingly took the quickest route to the car.
"Well this was exciting," Hana said calmly, crinkling her potato bag.