Christmas Advice

"Oi! Kuwabara!" Yusuke shouts, jogging over to Kuwabara, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jean jacket and his breath coming out in little puffs of steam.

Kuwabara glared at Yusuke over the top of Yukina's head. "What do you want, Urameshi?" He asked, clearly angry with him for disturbing his time with the ice maiden.

Yusuke glanced down at Yukina and then up into a snow-covered tree. "Can I talk to you?" He glanced at the tree again. "Er, alone?"

"Why do you need to talk to me, Urameshi? Can't you say it in front of Yukina—or is it about that stuff?"

Yusuke relaxed in a second and let out a short breath, relieved. "Never mind. Hey, listen I need some advice." A blush covered Yusuke's cheeks, mixing with his already pink cheeks turning them a fiery red.

"What, you embarrassed, Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked smiling, just to make fun of him.

"Dumb ass!" Yusuke shouted. A few people turned to stare, but after seeing who had caused the outburst, went about their Christmas shopping.

"What is it you need help with, Yusuke?" Yukina asked, smiling kindly at him, trying to be helpful.

Yusuke hesitated for a moment before answering. "I need help figuring out what to get Keiko for Christmas."

"Baka!" Kuwabara yelled. "It's Christmas Eve!"

"Yeah, so?"

"And you're just now thinking about this?!"

Yusuke's blush, having formally disappeared, rose up again, ten-fold. "Well, no," he admitted. "I've been thinking about what to get her for over a month now."

"And you didn't decide on anything?"

"…There was one thing. It was beautiful and perfect—almost as much as she is. But I can't afford it, and they would never in a million years even think of selling something like that to me." His blush deepened as he realized he had just called Keiko not only beautiful, but perfect.

Kuwabara smiled, a true, genuine, smile, one that made it blatantly obvious that he wasn't making fun of him. "Don't get her anything," he said.

"What!? Kuwabara, I can't do that!"

"No, I mean tell her how you feel, baka." Kuwabara said gently, but not without amusement in his voice.

"I—I don't feel anything for her! She's just my friend!" Yusuke said, but the blush on his face made it obvious.

"Right." Kuwabara said blandly. "Anyway, you know how we're all spending Christmas at Genkai's? Well…"

"Rudolph the red nose reindeer, reindeer, you'll go down in history—LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON/YOKO KURAMA!"

Everyone laughed at Yusuke and Kuwabara's version of last line of the song, and even Hiei smiled.

They started talking again, having sung that song because it was on the radio, and Yusuke walked over to Keiko.

"Keiko, can I talk to you? Outside?" Yusuke asked.

"Sure Yusuke!" Keiko said cheerily. Yusuke shot Kurama a meaningful glance before leading Keiko outside.

"What's up?" Keiko asked once they were outside.

Yusuke took a deep breath wondering where to begin. "Keiko, all my life my Christmas's have… well, sucked. This year has been the best year I could have possibly asked for, surrounded by all of my friends who are as close to me as family. Now, I was wondering if you could make it even better and look up."

Confused, Keiko looked up and gasped. Above the two of them was a clump of living mistletoe that had not been there before.

Yusuke grinned before leaning down and kissing her deeply.

They separated, each of them breathless, and Keiko smiled.

"I love you, Keiko." Yusuke said.

Eyes shining, Keiko looked up at him with a look that simply made him melt. "I love you too, Yusuke."

Yusuke's grin widened and he leaned down for another kiss.

Above their heads, slithering away unnoticed by the two turtledoves, was the mistletoe, its job done, to its master's hand.

Merry Christmas, everyone!