It's 4.04am and I am very tired. This was originally going to be one long fic but I decided to split it into two halves so you get this bit now and the next bit tomorrow as long as I get enough sleep!

So this is a special thanks to Sorryll. I want to thank her for encouraging me to keep going with it and for getting me to start in the beginning. So here you go. The first part of my first multicoated fic. I hope you enjoy it!

The bits about the characters back stories I made up to fit the story. If it's the same as the real thing then it was a lucky guess and go me! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and I make no profit from this story.

Chapter one

It was Christmas Eve, the one day a year that went the slowest because it was the one day that work finished early and everyone was out, relaxing and getting ready for a fun packed family Christmas that everyone pretended would not be stressful and time consuming.

It was five in the afternoon but that was hard to tell seeing as the small grey room didn't hold much, not even a clock, but then again it was only used on a few very rare occasions and only by two people. Two people that tried not to let ties of any sorts get in the way of their business so photos of any sort was frowned upon and the only evidence that people ever used the room was the piles of crisp white paper on the two desks and the permanent smell of smoke that seemed to follow Hotsuma ever since he had discovered that burning files he was meant to read and hiding the remains was the best way to get out of desk work.

Shusei smiled as his pen worked quickly over the sheet of paper in front of him. His last report for Takashiro before he could go home for the weekend and Christmas and celebrate yet another year survived against the Duras and in the fast moving world that he was involved in.

Hotsuma smiled softly at the image before him, his friend sat at the desk. Sat scribbling frantically, occasionally glancing either at the clock to see how long he had left before he could leave, or at the window for the first signs of this year's Christmas snow. Shaking his head Hotsuma continued his task of controlling the small flame that licked the edges of the file that had been dropped onto his desk that morning. Like hell was he going to do someone else's work just because they wanted to go home early for Christmas.

Shuffling from the other desk alerted him that Shusei was finished with his task and he raised his eyes to see what the other was doing. He was carefully shuffling papers into a neat pile, oddly neat hand writing in perfect lines on the unlined pieces of paper, his writing as usual looking more like calligraphy than a work report. Including the rushed parts. Shusei's abilities he was sure would never cease to amaze him.

"Finished?" He muttered after he realised he'd been staring at his friend again. His eyes swung back to his own work, or the half a page that was left as ash dropped into the bin beside his desk.

"Yes," came the soft but somehow cheerful reply. Hotsuma looked up from beneath his fiery bangs in order to watch his friend stand and gather his belongings into a messenger bag. "Have you got anything plan-." Shusei paused for a minute and then shook his head, looking up at Hotsuma with a teasing smile on his face. "I always forgot that you hated Christmas, if you're not careful they are going to start calling you the Grinch." He commented as he continued packing, practically throwing his pen and paper into his bag in a rush to get out the door.

"That's right. There is no point to the silly celebration. If people want to worship a guy, who was actually born in the summer, by giving each other presents than that's no skin off my nose." Dropping the remains of the paper into his bag where it drifted to the base of the bin like snowflakes. Then he looked up towards Shusei. "But I would rather not be a part of it." His voice was hard and closed, not allowing Shusei any room for arguing.

He watched as his friend's shoulders slumped and for a second he felt somewhat guilty for snapping at his closest friend in such a way. Just because he wasn't into it didn't mean he had to snap at his friend. His pride however stopped him from apologising. Normal he would have done but on this particular subject, the matter was better off closed with regard to him. With a shake of his own head he got to his own feet, gathering his phone and wallet from the table and stuffing them in his pockets. He decided to try and lighten the mood.

"What have you got planned anyway?" He asked. Maybe if he got Shusei to think more about his own plans then he could bring the smile back to his face. He hated being the cause of his distress or sadness.

"I'm going to see my sister." He said simply and almost straight away. Already Hotsuma could hear the smile back in Shusei's voice as he walked around his own desk to join his friend by the door. "She is throwing a big Christmas dinner for all her friends and she has invited me along." He shouldered his bag and opened the door. "I think she is planning on trying to set me up with her neighbour again."

Hotsuma had heard this story more than once before. Shusei's sister was convinced that he was lonely and therefore tried to set him up with the strange girl that lived two doors down from her. She was convinced that they would be perfect for each other and yet every year Shusei returned looking just as smug as the last for being able to escape the girl's clutches. "She'll get the message that I'm not interested eventually." He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Locking up the small office was a quick and easy job between the pair of them and Shusei continued his plans all the way to the front of the building where he stood and faced his friend, looking happy but with a concern in his eyes that Hotsuma was all too familiar with. It was the same light in his eyes when he was sure that Hotsuma had been hurt in a fight and was refusing to tell him. They'd always able to read each other like open books. Crossing his arms over his chest Hotsuma raised an eyebrow and awaited what he knew was coming from Shusei. The same thing that he heard every year.

"Well, have a good weekend Hotsuma."

It took all of his effort but he just about managed to hide the shock he felt inside. Where was his yearly invitation to join him for Christmas? Where was the puppy eyes as he tried to coax Hotsuma into attending the family lunch that he had never experienced for himself. Was this all he got. He just about managed to keep his voice even as he replied.

"Yeah, you too Shusei."

Both were silent for a minute, staring at each other like something had been left unsaid but who was meant to say it neither of them really knew. Instead there was a tense silence before Shusei gave him a small nod like he'd made up his mind and turning, started off down the street, swinging his arm like he hadn't a care in the world.

Hotsuma frowned as he watched his friend leave, as normal Shusei didn't look back and as normal Hotsuma stood and watched to as he walked down the street until he was barely a pinprick on the horizon. Maybe he has given up after all. Turning his back to the pinprick he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets before starting off down the street himself, heading towards his apartment black.

Ever since he had known him Shusei had been aware that Hotsuma had no one. He had never really gotten on with his family and where they were now he had no idea. All that he knew was that his brother lived in Tokyo somewhere but never tried to get in touch. What it meant was Hotsuma spent every Christmas alone. Cooped up indoors with leftover pizza from the night before, a thriller film and an early night. Exactly the same way he spent every other night he had off. It also meant that every year Shusei invited him out to his family's get together that he was forced into attending every year. And every year was the same answer.

Without his noticing the corners of his mouth began to curve upwards. The silly arse really cared about him and that more than anything was enough to cheer him. He would never say he had an awful lifestyle and neither would he openly admit that he couldn't remember the last time that he celebrated Christmas but it wasn't because he felt sorry for himself, far from it. It was that he did not want the pity from those around him for something that he didn't really care about. If you never really had it then it's not there to miss, and when you don't really want it then there is nothing to get jealous over. That was the way he saw things.

Shusei on the other hand was the opposite. He hated seeing Hotsuma upset, angry or withdrawn and had more than once gone out of his way to make sure that he was not completely grumpy on things like Christmas. Yes, he didn't celebrate Christmas but he was still looking forward to waking up in the morning to find a Christmas card on his door mat just because Shusei couldn't take a simple no.

He kept those Christmas cards every year, put the new one up above his television and displayed it proudly every year. Not because it was a Christmas card but because it was from Shusei and showed just how much the bugger wouldn't give up.

It wasn't long before he arrived at his own home again. His feet had known exactly where to take him and it hadn't taken long for him to end up outside his own front door. The third floor apartment of a large block that had recently been built. It wasn't an expensive place but it was his and he could afford it. The inside was all the same colour, cream walls and red carpet throughout apart from the kitchen and bathroom where the floor became black and white squared lino. One year he'd attempted to create a giant chess board on his own kitchen floor, unfortunately he'd been one line of squares out on the edge.

With a sigh he shut his front door behind him. Listening to the satisfied click of the front door that symbolised the end of yet another busy week and the beginning of a long lazy weekend that required no work or stress.

Dumping his keys on the small coffee table between the TV and the black sofa he slumped down into the right hand cushion of the two man seater, remote at the ready. So this would be yet another Christmas. The same position, the same programmes and the same Christmas films as last year. Frowning to himself he pushed his thoughts from his mind. He would not regret the decision to stay home this year. He hadn't been invited anywhere so he didn't have anywhere to go anyway. No, he would be here, just like last year and probably like next year.

Not long after sitting down for his television marathon his eyelids had started to droop. Slowly at first but then after a while he could feel his brain start to melt and shut down on itself. Oh well, tomorrow was Christmas. There'd be ample opportunity to catch up on missed television episodes.

It was the letter box that awoke him the next morning. A dull rattling that alerted him to the presence of the many bills that would undoubtedly have to pay before the end of the week. Groaning loudly he rolled over in his awkward position, shifting as much as he could until he was sat in the centre of the sofa. He'd stiffened up over night and he rested his head in his hands for a second as he rubbing the remains of sleep from his eyes. It was after all Christmas.

Christmas.

The word had him on his feet faster than he had thought possible and across the room so that he could scoop up the mail that lay on his mat. It had to be here, they came every year. Bill, bill, window cleaner, bill, Car washer advert. Wait… it wasn't here?

Dumping the letters onto the small table that sat beside the front door he yanked the locks back in what many would call a desperate action although he would have just called it a small hurry to catch the postman. Yanking the door open he stepped out into the corridor.

"Hey! Hello there?" He shouted down the corridor.

A man down the other end of the corridor turned around, blinking in surprise that someone was up this early in the morning. He was obviously trying not to wake anyone and that would goto hell now that Hotsuma was up.

"Is this it? I'm expecting something." He continued to shout.

The man blinked a moment. He looked confused before he started fumbling around in his bag again, muttering something that Hotsuma couldn't hear from the other end of the corridor. He felt anxious, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he waited for the verdict. There had to be a card, it was there every year, without fail.

"Ah yes, sorry , Sir. I didn't see it." The man started back down the corridor, a red envelope in his hand, arm fully extended towards Hotsuma as if he didn't want to get to close. But Hotsuma was faster and had covered this distance in almost half the speed it would have taken the postman.

He snatched the envelope from his hand, mumbling his thanks before rushing back into his apartment, shutting the door behind him with a solid bang. He lifted the letter to his face. Not ever bothering to look at the writing on the front. Instead he tore into the red paper, feeling it rip easily beneath his strength. Fumbling with the card he pulled it from the tight fighting envelope, only casting a cursory glance at the front before he opened it and read the inside.

Dear Apartment 501

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

From Terry

The Landlord

His breath caught in his throat momentarily as he stared at the inscription inside. So this wasn't the card, it hadn't come. Shusei truly had given up on him. A smile he hadn't realised had crept onto his face slid off in exactly the same moment, leaving nothing but a tight lipped expression, his eyes as dry as sand paper. That was fine, he didn't need the card anyway.

Tossing it to one side he didn't care where it landed, only that it wasn't in his hand. It was only Christmas after all, nothing to get excited about. Yes, it was the first Christmas card he'd received from his landlord but that was okay. He go the same one for his birthday except with slightly different text in the middle.

Okay so read and review this bit for me and the next bit will go up tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed it. REVIEW and I will send you mental hugs.