Hey! Look who hasn't died! I know, I'll get back to work on my stories later (what can I say, I'm busy every day of the week). This little ditty just popped into my head while making cookies for Santa. I was originally going to draw this, but I can't draw to save my life. So you get a story instead (but if someone wants to doodle this up, I'd be psyched!).

"Hey guys?" Yamato asked as he and his friends were hanging out.

"Hm?"

"Are we gonna go holiday shopping together this year?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't we?"

"I dunno. But it's gonna be weird without Rune."

"Maybe we should invite Murayama-kun instead?"

"Does he even know what Christmas is?"

"Yes." Regula chimed in, "Eko…we taught he last year. There's a good chance he doesn't remember, though. It'll probably be a repeat of Halloween."

"Oh, man, that was hysterical. 'I though it only happened once every few years?' 'What do you mean it's going to be just like last year?'"

"Don't be mean!"

"Hahaha, yeah. Let's go ask him!"

"What, if he knows about Christmas?"

"No, if he wants to go shopping with us."

"LET'S GO!"

Musashi had just pulled the final batch of dough out of the fridge when there came a loud pounding sound on the door.

"It's open!" He called, eyebrow raising as Yamato, Oume, Kiyose, Akitsu, Sayama, and the douji came spilling in through the opening, some more willingly than others. He turned away and began to flour the already dusty countertop.

"Murayama-kun!"

"Do you!"

"Christmas!"

"Sushiyama!"

"Shopping!"

"Together!"

He grabbed the rolling pin and began to roll out the dough.

"Like, right now?" Musashi asked. He was met with a chorus of yeses.

"Sorry guys, I'm busy right now." He gestured to the flour bag.

With this began the torrent of complaints, name calling, mention of the Christmas spirit, and possibly even a Bible verse (he wasn't quite sure, though) (Please note, I'm not trying to endorse or promote Christianity.)

"You're always busy!"

"Is sushi really that important?"

"Don't be such a hard-ass!"

"You Grinch!"

"You're such a Scrooge!"

"Yeah! Where's your Christmas Spirit?"

Sopia chose this moment to walk into the room and see if he was done yet.

"Five more minutes, I just put the last batch in."

"Five more minutes of what?" Yamato asked right as Ultimo skipped in, holding a crudely frosted sugar cookie.

"Yamato-sama!" The douji exclaimed.

"Ulti? What are you doing here?"

"Would you like a cookie?"

It was now that everyone could see into the next room, where the Ekodas were decorating what appeared to be hand make cookies.

"You guys are welcome to join," Musashi added softly.

Sayama was the first to recover. "Of course."

They all stood up, starting with Slow, and entered the small room.

"Oh! You must be Musashi's friends!" Yuu said joyfully. A few minutes later, Musashi came in with the final tray of cookies to be decorated.

"So, are you going to come shopping with us?" Pardonne asked.

"Yes? I don't see why not." Musashi replied while snatching the sprinkles from out of Saishinsaku's reach.

"Hey, big brother! Give it back!" The nine year old said indignantly.

Musashi smiled and placed the cylinder on the boys head. Saishinsaku stuck his tongue out at his 'big brother'.

Yamato and company ended up staying for a Christmas movie marathon, chugging eggnog by the gallon and alternately exclaiming over that fact that Musashi hadn't seen this movie or didn't know about that tradition.

He fell asleep with a smile on his face that night.

I had no idea how to end that. And crappy drabble is crappy. Happy holidays, guys!