Johan sighed, staring down at the sterling silver locket in the palm of his hand.

"Hey, Johan!" Asuka greeted him. "What are you doing out here? It's way too cold to be standing around outside moping on Christmas Eve."

"Oh, hi Asuka." he said, forcing a smile. "I'm fine. You know, just thinking a little."

"About that thing in you hand?"

"Huh?" he looked down at his hand again. "Oh! This? Yeah, one of my friends from back home sent me this for Christmas. But what was she thinking!? Do boys even wear lockets?"

Asuka crossed her arms and thought about it a second before answering. "Well, maybe she thinks you'd be able to put the picture of someone special to you in it. That's what a locket is for, after all."

"That's what you were thinking about, right? You wouldn't be out here thinking so hard just because you got a present you didn't want." she went on.

Johan blushed so hard he could have sworn he felt steam coming off his face in the cold air. "How did you-"

"I'm not the top girl duelist in this school for nothing." She put a finger to her lips. "But don't worry. You secret's safe with me." she promised, strolling away with a little smile on her face.

Johan turned away and clenched the locket tightly in his fist, still staring at the fine chain that spilled out from between his fingers and stirred in the breeze.

"Tonight's a good night." he whispered. Then he took a step and started down the road.

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"Huh? Who could that be?" Judai wondered at the slightly erratic knocks that were coming from his door.

He turned the battered old knob and pulled it open, almost stumbling over a misplaced shoe on the way.

"Hey, Johan, I-" He balked at the strange look on the normally upbeat boy's face.

Disheveled and flushed, Johan was averting his eyes, as if he suddenly found the side of the doorframe to be intensely interesting.

"Judai, I want to ask you something." He made himself look his best friend in the eyes.

Judai would have normally made a joke, but he suddenly felt nervous and found himself wondering why his heart was beating so fast.

"Sure, Johan, you know you can ask me anything." He smiled reassuringly.

"Will you…" He held the locket up, letting it dangle by the chain. "…be the person I can put in here?" He looked down at his feet, biting his lip.

"Johan…" He felt his whole body heat up and he suddenly realized why his heart was racing.

"I'm sorry if that was a weird question."

"No. How could it be weird? Because that would make me really happy!" He lunged forward and broke the serious atmosphere by giving Johan a big hug.

"Now, just let me see if I can find a good picture of myself. I always look so funny in pictures."

Johan smiled and wiped away a little tear that had escaped his eye. This just might turn out to be the greatest Christmas yet. he thought, watching Judai search through a drawer.

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A/N: Merry Christmas! I got a locket for Christmas too. Maybe I can ask the person special to me if I can put his picture in it? ^_^;

You're all so awesome for reading this!