Christmas morning. Ah the joy of it. But not when you have three kids who fight most of the time. Well, it was usually two against one, or one on one with the youngest sitting out wondering what was going out. And also with a husband that ruined all the joy of the holiday with his complaining that the tennis court was snowed in.
Actually, it was quite strange that this year it had snowed. Oh, it's not that uncommon in America but that family lived in Florida. And this year, of all years, it had snowed. The kids were overjoyed. Nanjirou Echizen? Not so much. And his wife, Rinko, decided being neutral was the key to a sane holiday.
So the kids woke up early this morning to open their gifts. In the process of running down the stairs and yelling who would be first, Najirou woke up. Angrily while grumbling, he put on his robe and stomped downstairs, a chuckling Rinko followed calmy.
"WOULD YOU KIDS STOP ACTING LIKE ANIMALS?" He bellowed angrily.
"Yes, dad!" the kids nodded furiously, clearly afraid of the 'morning Najirou'.
"Now open your presents," Najirou chuckled, his face softening.
"Yay!" little Ryoma yelled and unwrapped his presents happily.
The three siblings got satisfactory gifts and they were satisfied when they thought all the gifts had been opened. That was also when Nanjirou walked into the living room with three long but flat boxes. He handed each child one then grinned. "Go ahead and open them."
The surprised children opened the boxes hesitantly and when they were done they found a tennis racket in each one.
"They're for when you almost master the game," Nanjirou explained, "You can't use them until you're older. Ryoga, we have a couple more lessons then you can use yours."
"Sweet!" Ryoga examined his blue racket.
"Thanks dad!" Rin hugged her dad while holding her pink racket.
"Mom, does this mean more torture?" Ryoma asked with his puppy eyes as he hugged his red racket.
"Where did you learn that word, Ryoma?" Rinko asked curious her lips curling into a smile.
"Ryoga," Rin answered for the five year old and the whole family laughed happily.
Later on the fine Christmas Day, after an early dinner, a knock was heard on the door.
"I'll get it!" Rin jumped up out of her seat and ran to the door.
"Ryoga, go with her," Rinko ordered, and a grumbling Ryoga got up and followed
Rin opened the door slowly and carefully, but grinned when she saw who the visitor was. "EIJI!"
She jumped on him, giving him a tight hug, "Merry Christmas!"
"Hey, Rin! Merry Christmas to you!" the boy who was the same age as Rin with messy red hair hugged her back.
"Come in its cold!" Rin grabbed his hand but he took it back to pick up two boxes on the ground. "Ooh, what are those?"
The boxes looked more like carrying cases for animals.
"Gifts!" Eiji grinned as he walked in and Rin closed the door after him.
Ryoga just now reached the door, "Yo."
"Hi, Ryoga," Eiji replied, still grinning.
"Oh, Eiji, it's nice to see you again," Rinko smiled at the boy. "Do you want some hot chocolate?"
"No thanks," Eiji politely refused. "I just stopped by to give these gifts."
"What's in it?" Ryoma asked curiously as he appeared next to his sister and her friend.
"Why don't you find out yourself?" Eiji gave him the carrier with the blue bow.
Ryoma opened the door cautiously and a white Himalayan kitten with a grayish tail jumped out and onto this hand. "It's a kitten! Look sissy!"
"It's so cute!" Rin giggled as she opened the other carrier and a black Himalayan kitten with a white tipped tail jumped out.
"What are you going to name them?" Eiji asked eagerly.
Rin and Ryoma thought for a moment before replying, Ryoma first.
"Karupin (or Kalpin, I don't know which it it)," Ryoma said the first thing that came to mind.
"Ella," Rin smiled then playfully punched Eiji, "you know like, Cinderella."
"Please don't mention that again," Eiji pleaded.
