Chapter 1

Just before dawn. What a lovely time. That meant that soon, the crisp winter sun would peep above the horizon, the whole world would be waking up, and most importantly, it would soon be breakfast time. Sure enough, the smell of chocolate chip pancakes started drifting through the house. Kyo rolled over in bed, smiling slightly. Then, he realized that he wasn't going to get any if he didn't get out of bed and go down to the kitchen. He tried to roll out, but got stuck in the covers. He flipped upside down out of bed and hit his head on the floor.

"Damn!" he cursed quietly. He untangled himself and threw on a sweatshirt and jeans. Stumbling down the stairs, he made his way to the kitchen where he found Tohru flipping pancakes.

"Oh, hi, Kyo-kun! What are you doing this morning?" Tohru peppily asked, while spilling chocolate chips on the floor.

"Unngh," he responded.

"Oh... that's nice! Don't you like chocolate chip pancakes?" She inquired the sleepy cat.

Of course, he didn't respond, but that instant Shigure popped into the room.

'Helooo all! Guess what? We're having everyone over for Christmas! AND THE FIRST ONE TO ARRIVE IS GOING TO BE...OH LOOK HE'S HERE!" he yelled with glee.

"What the hell... it's Christmas already? Are you kidding me?" a confused Kyo asked.

"But of course, Kyon-Kichi! It's the 23rd! Didn't you know?" At that instant, Aaya popped into the room.

"Oh my gosh... WHAT SORT OF RETARDS NEVER TOLD ME IT WAS CHRISTMAS?" Kyo screamed to the people surrounding him in the kitchen.

"We thought you were smart enough to figure it out for yourself, but apparently you're more of an idiot than we though," said Yuki, who had just appeared in the kitchen.

"Sohma-kun! Would you like some pancakes?" Tohru cheerfully asked.

"Sure... they look very good, Miss Honda," Yuki replied.

"Oh, I bet they aren't that good- I had to make them in a rush because you know, it's two days until Christmas and I have to get the house ready and buy my presents and make the food and and and... OOH! AND! AND! I have to remind Uo and Hana to come! They're staying, right?" Shigure nodded, while Tohru started to get out of breath.

"ALL RIGHT EVERYBODY!" Shigure yelled. (He's Aaya-hyper) "This is how we're going to do things. We are going to have the following in rooms together: Tohru, Uo, Hana, and Kisa; Yuki, Haru, Momiji, and Kyo; and the one and only Mabudachi Trio!"

"WHY THE DO I HAVE TO SLEEP WITH THAT EFFING YUKI?" Kyo yelled.

"Really, Kyon-Kichi, all that yelling isn't good for your blood pressure or complexion... I see no reason why you wouldn't want to sleep with your little friends... of course, you can always sleep with us..." Aaya said.

"I've had it! I'm leaving!" Kyo grabbed his wallet from the counter and stormed out the door, muttering "SOB…sneaky underhanded SOB…" under his breath. (yeah, sorry, I loved that line from the manga…)

"Well um... Miss Honda? Is there anything that we can do to help?" Yuki asked.

"If it isn't too much trouble, I was going to have Shigure and Aaya do the groceries, and I was hoping you could stay here to help me with putting up the decorations," Tohru piped up.

"WHY OF COURSE I'LL GO WITH AAYA FOR FOOD! Come, come, Aaya, we must go get food!"

"Yes, we must! And we must also buy lots of candy! Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots and lots! And I need a new hairbrush, too..." Aaya and Shigure bounced out of the door to Aaya's car (duh, Shigure doesn't have one, he doesn't even have a license).

"So... let's get started! I think there are some boxes in the basement that have stuff in them," Tohru told Yuki. "And Shigure left some pine garlands that he bought the other day right here. I'll start hanging them up!"

Yuki went down to the basement to take the boxes up. When he came back up, Tohru was dancing to a Christmas CD in the stereo set while hanging up the garlands. She kept tripping over herself, and more than once she fell over the ladder. Yuki sighed and went over to help her up.

"Oh, thank you, Yuki-kun!" Tohru exclaimed breathlessly.

For the next hour, they went around putting up holly and pine garlands and little snowmen on the tables. Occasionally, they would both sing to the CD. Then, just before noon, when the first of the guests were supposed to arrive, Tohru's favorite song played: "I'll be home for Christmas". Yuki was outside, putting a wreath on the door, when he heard Tohru crying.

"Why are you crying, Tohru?" Yuki asked.

"Well.. Sniff... this was my Mom's favorite Christmas song.. it always makes me think of her when I hear it... because it made her feel like Dad was coming back. I guess it was because she really truly loved him that she felt this way," Tohru cried.

Yuki came towards her through the doorway. "It's okay... you're fine. This was always my favorite song, too... it made me feel like- Akito..." Yuki cut himself out and looked up to hide his tears. Then he realized where they were.

"Tohru... look up..." He whispered.

She looked up, and hanging above their heads was mistletoe. Yuki slowly pulled Tohru closer to him, and they drew nearer together until their lips were touching. Tohru put her arms around his neck, and they walked backwards into the living room. They sat down on the couch. Suddenly, the bells on the front door rang.

"Tohru? Are you here?" Two sets of footsteps entered into the hall. Tohru and Yuki pulled away from each other, and Tohru hopped up and ran to the door.

"UO-CHAN! HANA-CHAN! I thought you two might forget to come!" Tohru screamed happily.

"Why on earth would we do something like that? Hana drove us here," Uo answered, pointing to the shiny new black-you guessed it, Honda- sitting in the driveway. "Where should I put my stuff?"

Tohru showed Uo and Hana to their room. Hana chose the bed with a black comforter, and Uo took the one next to it. Then, Uo's bag accidentally tipped over, and Tohru saw what was in it- she had presents for everyone, but there were three wrapped in gold foil. That was strange. She normally only wrapped presents for people who she really cared about in gold foil- the only people who used to get them from her were Hana, Tohru, and Kyoko when she was alive. But now, Kyoko was gone, so... who was the third for? Uo hurriedly packed it back up, and Tohru ran out of the room when she heard the front door ring again.

This time, Momiji, Haru, and Hatori had arrived. Momiji ran up to Tohru and tried to hug her, but Hatori pulled him back by the fuzzy pink collar on his bright yellow coat. Haru said hi to Tohru, and went over to Yuki and started talking with him. Tohru went over, and pulled Haru away so she could show him where their room was.

"Haru and Momiji will be in here with Yuki and Kyo, and Hatori, you'll be in here with Shigure and Aaya!" Tohru happily explained.

"TOHRU! GUESS WHAT? I have a really cool Christmas present for you! You'll never guess what it is!" Momiji hopped up and down with excitement.

Everyone went down into the kitchen to greet Shigure and Aaya as they returned, and Uo and Hana helped Tohru with making dinner. Momiji thought he was helping- he only realized after 10 minutes that sprinkling salt on everything with glee didn't help the dinner-making process. Kyo returned half an hour later, looking flustered. He didn't have anything with him, which was strange- after all, he had taken his wallet with him. But the morning's events were all forgotten, and everyone happily left dinner feeling satisfied to their rooms… for a very wild night.

a/n: how did you like it? was it good? pleez pleez pleez review!

Next on "A Christmas Carol": What happens when high-school boys get incredibly hyper? And what happens when almost lets out the Sohma secret? Find out next on "A Christmas Carol"!