Kumori: Oh my God! I must write like I've never written before!

Kagayami: Okay, for those of you who don't know, it's now December 14th, and Kumori wanted to get two chapters for two different Christmas fictions done for today…and she hasn't started yet!

Kumori: Oh my God, I had the week from Hell! Now I'm so behind…but mark my words, I'll have these chapters up by tonight! ..:: is typing furiously ::.. Oh…and Early Merry Christmas!

Day Twelve

Yugi sniffed at it hesitantly and wrinkled his nose. He cocked his head to one side furrowed his brows.

"Yugi…staring at the poor plant won't answer anything…"

The tri-colour-haired youth sighed and grinned. "I know that Ryou…it's just weird, is all…"

The plant in question was in fact a sprig of mistletoe, wrapped neatly in red tissue paper and lying in a pristine green box.

Eighteen year old Yugi's eyes shined as he leaned back into the couch and folded his legs beneath him. With Christmas only twelve days away, he seemed more radiant than ever, alabaster skin almost glowing in the light streaming through the picture window, lined in garland. An ocean of gifts sat strewn beneath the tall, gold-decorated Christmas tree in the corner, and here and there a bit of tinsel was hung, or a wreath, or a snowflake.

"Who sent it?"

Yugi shook his head, surveying the deep green box. "It doesn't say, Malik."

He had to admit, it was a little awkward opening such an odd (and bold) gift in front of all his friends. Jonouchi, Seto, Malik, Ryou, Marik, Bakura, Yami, Anzu, Mai, Shizuka, Otogi, and Honda were all situated in different places throughout his livingroom, a tradition that had come about just the year before. "Twelve Days of Friendship," as Anzu called it. For twelve days leading up to Christmas, they promised to see at least on of their friends each day. And to kick it off, everyone had stop by Yugi's place to make plans, drink eggnog, and bathe in the warmth of companionship.

It was meant to be the perfect afternoon. But of course, Yugi just had to get the mail, and now this little doozy had fallen into his lap.

"Well…who's it for?" The voice belonged to Jonouchi, who leaned forward in anticipation, trying to get a better look at the object of everyone's fascination.

"It doesn't say that either. Who sends just some mistletoe with no explanation?" He resorted yet again to studying the little white and green sprig, letting his bright amethyst eyes taking in every contour of it. Maybe it had been sent to the wrong address…

Wait. There. A glimpse of white caught the hikari's attention and he reached slender fingers beneath the crimson paper. He ruffled about…he was sure he'd seen something…

The room was deathly silent. For people who usually couldn't shut up, they could be surprisingly quiet when a potential crush was on the line…

…After all, it had to be a crush. Why else would it be a plant meant to be an excuse to steal a kiss?

Finally, Yugi pulled a small, white card from beneath the sea of vermillion and raised his eyebrows. "Found something…"

Malik rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we can see that. What does it say?"

Yugi blinked. "Um…it says…" He squinted. The lettering on the card was in neat, small script, and written in fine black ink. It was almost difficult to read in its perfection, each ebony, handwritten word flowing into the next.

Yugi. I love you. And I'm going to show you. Keep this little gift…you'll need it in exactly twelve days.

Let the Twelve Days of Yugi begin.

Until tomorrow, my angel.

- Eternal

A brilliant blush painted the boy's cheeks, and the card fell from his now-loose fingers. His jaw dropped and he was quite sure he looked akin to a fish at the moment.

He had a secret admirer? Who in their right minds would choose him? Maybe the person had misspelled 'Yami.'

He didn't notice when Mailk swooped down and retrieved the fallen note…until he heard it being read aloud.

"…'Until tomorrow, my angel.' It's signed 'Eternal.'"

Anzu swooned. "It sounds so romantic!"

Otogi raised on eyebrow. "It sounds kinda creepy."

Mai crossed her arms under her chest. "It sounds like you have a stalker."

Yugi ran a hand through his hair. This was impossible…it just was. This kind of thing didn't happen to him…he didn't need this for Christmas. He just wanted to spend a nice, quiet time with his friends, family, and Yami. But now…

…he couldn't decide if he was angry or excited.

"'The Twelve Days of Yugi?'" he recited, mulling the whole thing over in his mind, "So I've got eleven more days of this kind of stuff? What if on the twelfth day this person shows up…and it's some creepy old guy or something?"

::I don't know…he doesn't really sound like that.::

Yugi nearly jumped out of his skin at the voice in his head. ::Ra, Yami! Warn me next time!::

He looked over at his dark, sitting beside him on the couch. The taller boy gave him an impish grin. ::After three years of my voice in your head, you should be used to it.::

Yugi blinked. ::Touché.::

Yami chuckled. ::I really don't think this guy is a threat, Yugi…and even if he was, you know I'd protect you.::

The small duelist gave Yami a perplexed look, purple locking on to crimson. ::…How do you know it's a guy?::

The King of Games simply shrugged. ::It's easy really. If it were a girl, there would probably be some flowery words written on pink paper with a gel pen and sprayed with perfume. It could be a girl, but I'm guessing not.::

Yugi's eyes widened, almost to the point of pain. It wasn't really the fact that it was a boy…all of his friends knew he was gay, and since the bulk of them were also in relationships with someone of the same sex, they really didn't care…but it was the fact that a male seemed scarier in this position. If an obsessed fangirl pulled him into some alley and tried to…deflower his rose…he at least stood a chance of escape. But with a guy…

::Don't worry, aibou. Try to make the best of it…I promise, we'll all make sure you're safe.::

A rush of air passed through the boy's lips before he smiled brightly. "You're right, Yami. 'Tis the season!"

"I'm guessing that means you're going to accept this?"

Yugi shrugged and nodded vigorously to Ryou, biting his lip. "Pass me that pen on the side table, will you Yami? And the note pad?"

Yami raised an eyebrow as his did as he was told and watched his hikari scribbled furiously. "What are you writing?"

He didn't receive an answer as Yugi's scratching came to a finish and he dropped the pen in his lap. He couldn't help but smile as he leaned over to see what was written in small, neat printing across the top of the page.

"Well…come on, Yugi, what did you write?" Malik's lilac orbs shone and he tried to lean over the shorter boy and read up-side down.

Yugi looked up, eyes absolutely shimmering and an impish grin on his face. "On the first day of Christmas, my stalker gave to me, a spring of mistletoe!" he sang.

To Be Continued…

Kumori: Phew! One down…one to go.

Kagayami: Expect an update on this fiction every day leading up to and including Christmas.

Kumori: Not my best work…it came out a little worse than I planned, but hey! Not bad for writing the whole thing in forty minutes.

Kagayami: Past bedtime on a school night while stressing over some other stuff…but she loves you, so she shall persevere!

Kumori: Indeed! Anyway, see you tomorrow! And be sure to check out "The Twelve Lemons of Christmas" if you're feeling saucy!

Kagayami: This one, however, will stay rated G.

Kumori: Later days!