Feliz Navidad, people! This is Pixie, bringing you another YYH fanfiction! I know I have a ton of OTHER ones to finish… cough cough But with all of my school work and such, I have no time to do them! This will be a very short fiction, though, probably only 3 chapters long. It is based around the true meaning of Christmas and how a cold soul finally finds his heart…
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or its characters. I do own this fanfiction.
Warning: This fiction is based around the Christmas holiday, which means around the Catholic Religion and ones that branch from it. If you do not feel comfortable reading something like this because it goes against your religion, I'm sorry. However, if you still read this story, I do hope that you receive the message behind it, for it is universal for everyone.
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The Warmth of Heart
By Pixie Ayanami
Chapter 1: Someday At Christmas
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In the beautiful time of year of Christmas the snow flies by in happy gales, brushing by the faces of joyful people who walk down the busy streets. The cities were fringed with colors of dark reds, greens, golds, silvers, and of course, white, and are seemingly endless rows of buildings and trees are pinked with lines of sparkling and flashing lights. There is some sort of gold star at every turn of a head that dazzles any of the holiday-loving folks.
And Kurama could not get enough of this wonderful holiday.
The young human was the busiest at this time of year, despite all the other times of year where he had midterms and tests, even the missions he did for Koenma could not compare. During the end of November and beginning of December, Kurama spent his time decorating the house with strands of light (since his mother was too weak to do so), putting up the tree, baking, and then buying presents for family. However, he was most excited about this year, since it was the first year that he could actually spend it with real friends.
His human father was part American and introduced the beautiful holiday of Christmas to the once Youko. When he was younger, Kurama would only concern himself about what gifts he would get from this so called "Santa Clause". However, no matter how late he stayed up, he would never see this incredible man! No sense of spirit, no tangible form, no nothing! That Santa must have been a powerful being that could greatly compete to his own Youko powers. But however much he thought about it, why would that Santa use his power to be so charitable to others while he could probably obtain more riches for himself? It made no sense!
Being older, Kurama now understood the whole Santa experience. Santa Clause was nothing more than a symbol for younger children, to give them hope that if they're good, they would receive whatever their hearts desired. Now just because he knew this didn't change a thing. If Santa wasn't real, who's to say he couldn't be like Santa? Since he figured this out, Kurama had used all of his humanly power to grant the wishes of those dearest to him. And so Kurama did his best to make everyone's Christmas enjoyable.
However, this year would be more of a task. There was so many people he needed to give presents to! Yusuke, Kuwabara, Keiko, Botan, Genkai, Yukina, Shizuru, his mother and relatives, and even Koenma and George the demon (if they wanted one). Could spirits celebrate Christmas? Of course! Anyone could celebrate Christmas, even if in their hearts. But there was one more; the one he thought of first and knew would be the most difficult.
What of Hiei?
What on earth would Hiei want? There was hardly anything he could give the fire koorime in which he would be satisfied with. Hiei was the tricky one, one who would probably not even care for this, as he would say, "useless" holiday. After all, Hiei probably didn't even have a heart himself….
Kurama would then scold himself for saying this. Of course Hiei has a heart! Deep down inside, covered by fire and darkness, his heart resides. Hiei just has a harder time finding it. And even so, Hiei was the most important on Kurama's list. However, there was still plenty of time to think of the younger demon. He'll take care of the other, easier, loved ones first before reaching to the most important.
On this day of December 3rd, Kurama had just reached his house after a few hours of Christmas shopping. He decided to take care of the girls firs, sure of himself that they wouldn't mind receiving practically the same thing. For Keiko, Botan, Yukina, and Shizuru he bought four (trendy) sweaters. Keiko would receive the blue one, Boton the pink, Yukina the beige, and Shizuru the red. They were the kind of sweaters that came with the matching scarves. Kurama figured those four would love them.
Deciding to wrap the presents later, he saw that the tree wasn't set up! Busily putting the gifts upstairs in his room, he ran down to the basement to retrieve the Minamino's fake tree. Fake, but it would still do. He picked up the heavy box (he was struggling, mind you), and dragged it up the stairs where it would be set up in the living room. With his mother weaker than she once was and no other man in the house, Kurama would have to do the tough work of setting up the tree himself.
Pouting, the young man opened the box and stared at the three sets of tree branches. He didn't know where to begin… and the instructions were lost a long time ago. Running a hand through his hair, he wondered to himself, "What am I supposed to do…?"
His mother, Shiori, walked into the living room at that point concern full on her countenance. "Need help Shuichi?" she asked, stepping next to him and staring at the box as well.
Kurama laughed. "Yes, Mother, you can help by going and making me some hot chocolate while I take care of the tree," he said, leading his dear mother away from the work.
"Oh, Shuichi are you sure…?"
"Yes, Mother, now please go take care of that chocolate," Kurama insisted, still pushing her towards the kitchen.
"Oh alright, if you're sure, Shuichi…" his mother said, slowly walking back into the other room. Once she was gone, Kurama looked back at the box, picking up a branch set and shaking it out. It wasn't pointy enough to be the top of the tree. Was this the bottom or the middle? Kurama was so confused over such a simple process.
After about a half hour of this, Kurama finally figured out what the base was and set that out on the floor. He was just now putting the middle piece on and spreading out the cramped up tree limbs, once in a while drinking his hot chocolate. As Kurama did this, he heard a light rapping upstairs. Making sure his mother was busy in the kitchen (she was making gingerbread men), he lightly stepped upstairs to retrieve the young demon. Another helping hand wouldn't be so bad, and besides that, Hiei had never experienced Christmas, had he?
Reaching his room, he walked directly over to the door where, sure enough, Hiei stood waiting. He opened it and greeted, "Good afternoon, Hiei!"
Hiei nodded back to him before stepping right in his room. He looked around as if he never seen Kurama's room before and sniffed the air. "What's that smell?" he asked, scrunching his nose up in the whole unusualness of it.
"My mother is baking gingerbread cookies. You should stay and have some, they're quite tasty," Kurama explained. Hiei shrugged.
"Whatever. Sure."
"Wonderful!" Kurama exclaimed, then taking Hiei's sleeve, "Come downstairs with me, I'm putting up the tree and could definitely use some help."
As the two walked to the stairs, Hiei asked, "Tree? What tree? Why would you need my help with something that deals with your own power?"
Kurama laughed in response. "Not that tree, silly. The Christmas tree. It's fake, and it has to be decorated. You'll see, it's kind of fun," Kurama said as they made their way down the steps.
When the two reached the living room, Hiei scrutinized the tree with a great look of disgust. "Kurama, that's one sad looking tree," he remarked sardonically. Kurama pouted.
"Like I said, I need help," he replied, lightly saddened. Hiei walked over to the tree and tugged at the branches.
"Why are you setting a tree inside your house? That's weird," Hiei remarked again, nonchalantly separating some of the branches that were still squished. Kurama walked over and helped him do that.
"It's a long-time tradition of Christmas, Hiei," Kurama replied, moving to retrieve the last tree piece. Moving Hiei out of the way, he placed the third piece on top of the middle one, clicking it into place. The two of them separated the branches again until the whole tree looks as though it was almost real. Hiei still didn't think so, though. "Ok, I'm going to go get the decorations now," Kurama said, bring the tree boxes downstairs when he went to fetch the other ones. Hiei waited for Kurama to come back, and at that time, Shiori walked in.
"Oh hello, there," Shiori greeted, "You must be a friend of Shuichi. Are you giving him a hand of putting up the tree?"
Hiei nodded, not really wanting to talk to her, though he did soften his eyes for Kurama's sake. Shiori, if she wasn't suspicious of his black robes, would probably dislike the cold glares he gave most people. She smiled sweetly at the little demon, and he couldn't help but think of how much she reminded him of Yukina…
"How about I make you some hot chocolate? The gingerbread cookies are almost done…" Shiori offered to the demon, who agreed with a quick nod. With that, Shiori left again and Kurama returned with a rather large box that jingled with ever step he took.
"Well these red balls were the most I could find for decorations," Kurama mused as he walked into the living room, "That and the star. I'll have to go out later and buy some garland for the house and tree."
"Kurama, I noticed that the whole house was decorated in bright lights outside," Hiei said as Kurama opened the box, "as well as other houses, and now all of this… What is the meaning of these things?"
"Like I said, Hiei, it's a celebration called Christmas. Loved ones gather together and give gifts for the sake of showing you care," Kurama replied, adding a lighter note to the end of his sentence. With a hint of a mischievous idea, he then added, "Oh, and Santa Clause also comes at this time of year to give presents to the good girls and boys."
Hiei seemed to become interested. "Santa… Clause? What's that?"
Kurama acted a fake gasp. "You don't know Santa Clause?! Oh my…"
"Oh please," Hiei interrupted, "I mean seriously. I'm a demon, I don't know of this human acquaintance you speak of."
Kurama giggled. "Very well then, I'll tell you. Santa Clause is a jolly fat man who lives in the North Pole, and spends his whole year making presents for good boys and girls. Then, on Christmas night, he goes through the chimneys of houses, setting the presents under the trees of all the children of the whole world! And he does this in ONE night."
For a few moments, Kurama could have sworn he saw amazement stricken on Hiei's face. But moments later, it was gone, replaced with a snarl instead. "I don't believe you. Why would anyone waste their time on such foolishness? It's pathetic and stupid," he growled. To Kurama, it sounded like he was trying hard to sound upset. Kurama smiled cleverly, gingerly taking the ruby-red, shiny ornamental balls out of the box.
"Believe what you want. This just means Santa won't get you anything for Christmas," he then said, slight mocking in his voice. Hiei growled louder.
"I won't stand to be lied to, fox, you know that," Hiei then said, making a bee-line for the door, "I don't care what any 'Santa' would do for me. No one but yourself matters in any world. I'm sure you already know that."
"That's not what Christmas says," Kurama said to him, "Christmas represents the caring and giving for others. Can't you do that freely, just this once?"
Hiei turned around quickly and opened the door, letting a freezing burst of wind fly through. "Christmas is useless. I'm leaving."
As the door slammed shut, Kurama looked forlornly at it, as Shiori came back into the living room with a tray full of gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate. "Shuichi, I have the food for—where's your friend?"
"He… had to go. Would you like to finish this with me? Kurama asked as he picked up a gingerbread cookie and start munching on it.
"I'd love to, Shuichi," Shiori agreed, picking up an ornament to decorate with him.
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Someday at Christmas men won't be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December our hearts will see
A world where men are free
Someday at Christmas there'll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life's really worth
There'll be peace on earth
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas we'll see a Man
No hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning people will share
Our world where people care
Someday at Christmas there'll be no tears
All men are equal and no men have fears
One shinning moment my heart ran away
From our world today
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmas time
Someday at Christmas man will not fail
Take hope because your love will prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmas time
Someday at Christmas time
--The Temptations
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So there you have it, the first chapter. It's just about 6 pages long. I'm doing my best to make this a non-romance, but judging by how I love Hiei/Kurama-ness and am a sucker for romance, my attempt will probably not work. ;
I think I'm going to pick a significant Christmas song at the end of each chapter. This one, by the Temptations originally I do believe (if I'm wrong, please tell me), means a lot to me. Christmas… as much as I'd love for it to be… won't be the same this year. My cousin had been killed in Iraq back in July. Obviously that will do something to our Christmas time this year.
Someday all people will be created equal and love one another for who they are, no matter how far-fetched it may sound…
I love you, Little John. Merry Christmas.
Please review!