20

Hey there. We've finally caught up to date… somehow. Ichigo still has to solve her writer's block, but I´ll help her, so it should be overcome quickly. Anyway, I don't own Kamisama Kiss and would like to remind you to send the answer to the riddle below as a PM so no one can cheat. Have fun ^^

Decoration and guests

"Why the hell did you invite them over?", Tomoe wanted to know. In his eyes a tengu and snake had nothing to do with decorating the shrine he was familiar of. Nevertheless the current female human land god had invited the two demons over to help. For Tomoe two things were absolutely sure: Mizuki was always doing something wrong and prefer to take care of his sacred sake. Kurama on the other hand would surely prefer to spend the day with his countless fans.

"Why did you invite them to help?", Tomoe rephrased his question. His god whirled around, long brown hair nearly whipping him in the face. Nanami gave the fox demon a cheerful smile: "But Tomoe, we need all the help we can get. The guests are coming in a few days. We need to be prepared. Mizuki and Kurama will be of great assistance."

"Thank you Nanami-chan", a white haired boy smiled broadly at her. "Mizuki", the teenage girl squealed in delight. "You've finally made it back from your shrine!"

"Don't forget me", another male voice said, as a dark angel landed on the ground with flapping black wings. "Kurama", Nanami exclaimed before hugging him as well. "Oh great, at least now we know, who is going to put all the lanterns up into the trees.", Tomoe huffed, while his white fox ears twitched in irritation. It's not that I don't like them, they are my friends of some sort, but why do they always have to cling to Nanami? The red haired teen turned its intense gaze towards the kitsune. "Now, now, now. Don't be so rude, Tomoe.", Kurama said. He showed his grey claws in a playful threat, as the demons all were somehow befriended with each other. More or less…

Nanami skipped about, already trying to explain Mizuki her plans for the shrine. "The trees up to the shrine will be covered in colourful lampions and lanterns, some lights to highlight the roof of the house. We need a stage, where we give presents to the children with someone playing Santa Claus and all. Next to it stands a Christmas tree with shining stars and glittering balls and cute little angels, as well as some fake presents underneath it."

"And we all need to do that today?", Mizuki interrupted her. "Why haven't you started earlier?"

"Because there was school and then the first days of the holidays – let's just say I wasn't in the mood to do anything.", Nanami shrugged her shoulders. Suddenly she felt a presence behind her back. Slowly the girl turned around to stare directly into Tomoe's purple eyes: "Oh really? I haven't noticed at all. I just needed to take care of all your godly duties for you, as a certain familiar", his stare turned to Mizuki, "Was drunk all the time from his own sake and then left for his old shrine." Oh dear… Tomoe is still upset about it? Why so, it has been some days. Mizuki and me were obediently following our duties since then…, Nanami thought. A topic change would be for the best. Otherwise he's bound to get even more upset without any reason.

"How about we get down to business? We need to decorate the whole shrine!" The female land god looked around her friends, who were slightly staring due to her sudden and too cheerful suggestion. Only Tomoe caught up with her thoughts, giving her a look. "Sure. Why don't you show them the decoration, while I prepare the lanterns and lampions?" Nanami nodded her head, although she didn't know, what the look on her first familiar's face meant. He's up to something. But to what? She shrugged it off as something she would take care of later on. "Okay you guys follow me. We have everything in the shed. "You lead the way", Kurama simply said.

"This is what you give me to work with?", the red haired teen held an old and tarnished Christmas tree ball next to his face. "Well, I've seen worse", Mizuki pulled cobwebs from the star that was supposed to be the top of the Christmas tree. He picked the webs off it, but threw he star to the floor screaming as the spider, who was master of the cobweb came from within the star to see, what was happening to her wonderful trap. The white snake screeched in horror, only for Kurama to shoo the spider away. "You're such a girl at times."

"And you're a crow demon. Shouldn't you love to eat spiders?"

"No. I am a fallen angel. They do not eat spiders."

"A fallen angel. As if"

"No arguing boys. We need to turn this all into a silk purse.", Nanami said from the other end of the shed. "Now here we have the angels and stars I wanted to put onto the tree." Kurama and Mizuki came over to her with boxes in their arms. "And now?" Nanami sighed: "Isn't that obvious? We'll have them washed and dried, primped and polished till they glow with pride.", she noticed the uneasiness in her friend's faces, "Trust my recipe."

"Okay then, lead the way land god.", Kurama motioned for Nanami to go first. The girl nodded in acknowledgement, leading the way towards the water Tomoe had prepared for them. The fox himself was already working on putting the lanterns up into the trees. He sure is swift… Maybe even as swift as a coursing river., Nanami placed her boxes down next to one bowl. "Okay now, we need to clean them with a tiny bit of water to not ruin the material.", Nanami looked up to see Kurama glaring up at Tomoe. "Do you have to be somewhere?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I only thought I would be the one to put the things into the trees."

"Then go ask Tomoe, if he wants to change with you.", Mizuki grinned. "I'll stay with Nanami for sure." Kurama only lifted one brow at the snake demon, but turned away to talk to the kitsune.

Tomoe's ears twitched long before Kurama landed beside him on the branch. "What do you want?", the fox asked. "Who spit in your bean curd?", the tengu wanted to know. Tomoe only gave him a sideways glance. "What do you want?", he asked again. "Simple", Kurama shrugged. "I wanted to ask, if we could change tasks. You are more experienced with cleaning and I am much faster with the things up in the trees. You know, I have wings."

"Then get happy with it", Tomoe hopped down to the ground and walked away. I don't care, which job I have to do. As long as we get it done quickly. Just thinking about these guests Nanami invited makes my head hurt. How could she invite him – a copy of me? And his mate… She is so much like Nanami herself, only she is a Miko and not a land god.

"Tomoe" Someone waved a hand in front of the fox's eyes. He blinked and found himself face to face with Nanami, Mizuki sitting a little bit farther away, grinning at him. "Is something the matter?", Nanami wanted to know. Worry shone in her brown eyes. "You are so distant ever since I told you about my cousin visiting us."

"And now put two and two together", Mizuki mumbled. But Nanami either didn't hear him or choose to ignore him. "Come on Tomoe, it'll be so much fun! They were so nice last time we visited them." Of course it was… The boyfriend of your cousin would glare at me the whole time. The more I talked to him the more parallels I found between us and this really annoys me. He would brag on about how special he was – I don't like such people. And as I told him, he started cursing at me – which I hate even more.

Without noticing, Tomoe had cleaned all the articles in the boxes around him and Nanami and Mizuki already moved them to decorate the Christmas tree. Mizuki using his snake to put the star on top of the tree, and secure the upper balls, smaller stars and angels among the thinner branches. On the other side Nanami crouched down, putting the bigger Christmas tree balls on the lowest branches along with some other glimmering things. She even pushed the fake present boxes beneath it. "Tomoe look! Isn't it pretty?", she turned around smiling. The fox looked up from the last star he was currently cleaning. Seeing the Christmas tree glowing in the shine from the setting sun and the lights from within the shrine, he merely nodded in agreement. "The candles are missing.", Kurama noticed, flying above the tree. "I'll get them. Just wait a minute."

"Already done with the way up to the shrine?", Mizuki tilted his head. "I thought it would take longer with all those trees and bushes and-"

"I am done with it.", Kurama said with finality in his voice. "Thank you", Nanami beamed up at him. "You were a big help. Thank you very much." Although I am still surprised he was so quick with it… Nah, there's nothing to worry about. Kurama has wings to fly from tree to tree. It's only logical he is faster that way.

"What else is missing?", Tomoe asked his lady. "Just the lights for the tree?"

"Yes", Nanami nodded her head. "It's the last thing missing." She looked up to admire her beautiful Christmas tree, then turned to see the trees leading up to the shrine being enlightened by lanterns and lampions in all kinds of colours. "Then I'll play a song for you!" Mizuki pulled his flute from somewhere under his clothes. "Oh please don't", Tomoe muttered. However Mizuki was already 'playing'. "Pffffffffffffffffffffff"

"I think, I heard an actual note in between.", Kurama joked, as he came back with the electrical candles. "Really?", Mizuki asked, as he had overheard the sarcastic undertone. "Nope", Kurama replied, setting the first candle on one of the branches. Mizuki pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. Oh dear, he's such a child at times…, Tomoe rolled his eyes. But I guess that's what Nanami likes about him. They both are such kids.

"Tomoe", Nanami whispered close to the fox. "Are you still mad at me for being lazy during the past days and inviting my cousin over without asking you first?"

"No, not really", the familiar responded calmly. "After all there is nothing I could do about it. They're your family and everyone wants to spend Christmas with their relatives. I'm just glad you only invited your cousin and her boyfriend." Nanami looked at the side of his face: "The rest of my family wouldn't be happy to find out I am a land god and live with two male demons. Though I guess the male part would be more shocking to them than the whole demon thing. After all my cousin is with a half demon."

"Hm", Tomoe nodded his head. "Now Kurama is finished, let's try to switch on the candles." The fox sprang to his feet, dragging Nanami up with him and turned on the candles. The whole Christmas tree shimmered and gleamed against the falling darkness with a warm yellow light. The stars glimmered golden and silver, the angels danced with themselves and the balls reflected red spot onto the ground. It was the most beautiful Christmas tree Nanami had ever seen and only because she had decorated it with her friends. She began humming the joyful melody of her cousin's favourite Christmas song, while admiring their work.

Riddle: Who do you think could be Nanami's cousin?

Please solve the riddle via a PM so no one can cheat.

Also check out the other short stories we have uploaded so far. In order:

1 The Lord of the kitchen

2 The tale of the handsome commander

3 Miroku's wish list

4 Dream beaches

5 How to not freeze to death

6 Surprise surprise

7 I'm going into town, Tomoe

8 No one ever calls me to simply drink coffee

9 Tigers and Badminton

10 Geography with Myoga

11 Preparations

12 The other way to fight

13 Meeting Tomoe

14 That's not an emergency, Foaly

15 Hn

16 For my dearest friend

17 Magical Folders

18 coming soon

19 Things and hot springs