"Ok here we go!"
Lexy came back with a tray of steaming mugs, setting them on the table as her and the woman began to pass them out.
Olivia handed Kakuzu's his with a smile, "With a touch of cinnamon just how you like it." He smirked and took it, stroking her hand tenderly, "Thank you."
"Hidan, lots of marshmallows and a straw." "Thanks babe, I hate it fucking burning my lips all the time."
Lexy blushed when she gave Kisame's his and he asked amused, "How did you know I like a small peppermint stick in mine?" She giggled, "A little birdie told me."
The teen went to Itachi with the same expression, giving him the extra chocolaty one. Tobi and Deidara thanked the girls for theirs as did Madara and Zetsu, who liked both the hint of cinnamon and peppermint in theirs.
"Here's a bag of marshmallows if anyone wants extra." "Ok Loo-Loo!"
Itachi took a few sips, sighing in content before going back to his place in the book but was interrupted when someone pecked at the door.
"Who's that? We're not expecting anyone else are we un?" Madara shook his head, "I don't believe so."
Tobi went to answer it with a silly chuckle as a certain girl came through with a grin. Zetsu about tackled her on the spot, "My puppy!"
"Uh, hey Zetsu." Olivia and Lexy were the next to hug their friend. "I didn't know you were coming over Husky!" "How long are you staying?" "Well, only for one night but at least I can spend Christmas with you guys."
Kakuzu covered Hidan's mouth before he could yell 'jashinmas' as Zetsu glanced at his lover, "You planned this didn't you Tobi?" "Yes Tobi did! Surprise!"
Madara jerked the girl next to him, handing her his mug with a sly smirk, "Have some hot chocolate while Itachi resumes the story."
She was about to ask what until Zetsu scooted next to her, squishing her in-between him and the elder raven, whispering the details until Itachi began the next chapter. This time Olivia sitting with her lovers.
All hushed instantly and was eager for the story to continue where it left off.
The bell sounded upon the hour one. Light flashed up in the room upon an instant, and the curtains of his bed were drawn aside.
It was a strange apparition, almost like a child and yet not quite a full grown man, more like an older adolescent. His hair was golden yellow and hung about his neck and down his back, covering his left eye like a sheet of silk.
His face was young yet wise, smooth like the tenderest blossom.
His tunic was pure white and around his waist was bound a beautiful lustrous belt, he also held a branch of green holly in his hands; and, in singular contradiction of that wintry emblem, the dress was trimmed with summer flowers.
But the strangest thing about him was, from the crown of his head there sprung a light, by which all this was visible. He was beautiful to behold.
Deidara beamed, "That's me un!" Itachi nodded, "This ghost suited you best."
Hidan was about to comment about the dress part but his small lover shut him up with a quick kiss so the raven could begin again.
"Are you the spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me?" "I am un."
The voice was soft and gentle. "Who and what are you?"
"I am the ghost of Christmas Past un." "Long past?" "No, your past."
Scrooge dared to ask it to put on its cap to dim the light a little but the ghost told him he was there for his welfare and if capped now, there would be no reclamation.
"Bear but a touch of my hand there, and you shall be upheld in more than this un." Kakuzu took his hand, the spirit taking him into his past.
He saw his entire childhood flash before him, a rather lonely time being neglected by his father, who blamed him for his mother's death having died in childbirth. That is until he saw his beloved sister.
A little girl, much younger than the boy came darting in and wrapping her arms around his neck happily. "I've come to bring you home dear brother! To bring you home!"
"Home, little Husky?" His pet name he gave her since they were children.
The girl grinned, "Hey! I thought you didn't know I was coming so how am I in the story?"
Itachi shrugged, "I improvised and it'll do Kakuzu good to have a sibling." The miser snorted, "Very amusing indeed."
"Father is so much kinder than he used to be thank heavens, so I gathered my courage to ask him once again if you may come home and he said yes you should! We'll be together all the Christmas long and have the merriest time in the world."
The spirit exclaimed, "Always a delicate creature, whom a breath might have withered but she had a large heart un."
Scrooge nodded, "That she had." "She died a young woman and had, I think, children un." "One child." "Your nephew un."
Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind and answered briefly, "Yes."
Once more time went forward, to his apprenticeship and his mentor's Christmas celebration, then onto when he was older, a man in the prime of his life.
He was not alone, but sat by the side of a fair young girl in a mourning-dress: in whose sapphire eyes there were tears, which sparkled in the light that shone out from the specter.
Kakuzu murmured her name softly with regret, "Olivia."
Lexy glanced over at her, having a good idea why she was chosen for that part but saw the frown on the miser's face and grip on her waist, he knew where this was going.
"It matters little, to you very little. Another idol has displaced me; and if it can cheer and comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried to do, I have no just cause to grieve."
"What idol has displaced you?" he rejoined.
"A golden one."
"This is the even-handed dealing of this world. There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth."
"You fear the world too much," she answered gently, "I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master-passion, Gain, engrosses you. Have I not?"
He retorted, "What then? Even if I have grown so much wiser, what then? I am not changed towards you."
She shook her head, "Our contract is an old one. It was made when we were both poor and content to be so, until, in good season, we could improve our world fortune by our patient industry. You are changed. When it was made, you were another man."
"I was a boy."
"Your own feeling tells you that you were not what you are, but I am. How often I wished for those times which promised happiness when we were one. Tell me, would you seek me out and try to win me now, a poor dowerless girl? Ah, no!"
He seemed to yield but said with a struggle, "You think not."
"I would gladly think otherwise if I could. I release you Kakuzu. May you be happy in the life you have chosen."
She left him and they parted.
"Spirit. Show me no more. Conduct me home." "One shadow more un." "No more!"
The blonde had shown him what he gained, but now he would show the miser what he had lost.
There she was, happily holding a baby as other children surrounded her. Beautiful children, each once like her and yet not. What a brood though to have five to six offspring, but she looked just a lovely as he remembered.
It wasn't long before a man with long dark hair came in, arms full of presents as him being called father.
Going to his wife and kissing her with a smile, "I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon my dear." "Who was it?" "Guess?"
"I don't know Madara dear, um, Mr. Scrooge?" "Yes it was, he was shut up dismally in his office, I could scarcely help seeing him. He looked quite alone in the world."
Scrooged exclaimed, "Remove me from this place at once spirit!"
"I told you these were shadows of the things that have been. That they are what they are, do not blame me un."
"Remove me! I cannot bear it!"
In the struggle with no visible resistance, he seized the extinguisher cap and pressed it upon the spirits head, pressing down with full force until he found himself in his bed, before he sank into a heavy sleep.
Madara was beaming up a storm but the same couldn't be said for the zombie pair. Hidan blurted, "What the fuck was that? Why did you put Madara with Olivia?"
Itachi rubbed his eyes, "It seemed fitting, not to mention you'll understand why in the next chapter." "I fucking doubt it."
Tobi cuddled against his lover, "This is sad." "I know Tobi, but not every story is a happy one." Husky nodded and noticed Kakuzu taking his lover out into the hallway.
"Kakuzu?" He growled, "I'm not amused with the characters. Is this some kind of test to teach me a lesson about my greed?"
She held his hand and murmured, "It's just a story Kuzu, and me playing the part of the lover you lost suited it. I'm sorry it upset you but it's nothing like that."
He growled in frustration and tried to go into his room but she stopped him by hugging his middle. "Kakuzu, I love you. I know you wouldn't ever replace me with money so please don't think that I do ok?"
The miser sighed and glanced down at her, already seeing the tears forming with sincerity and he quickly leaned down to kiss her warmly, ravishing the soft lips and not desiring to stop anytime soon.
Her and Hidan both were his golden idols in a manner of speaking, no amount of money could take them away from him.
TBC:
REVIEW! XD
CAST:
Scrooge: Kakuzu
Ghost of Xmas past: Deidara
His sister Fan: Husky
His lost lover Belle: Olivia
Belle's new love/husband: Madara