To answer a quick question. These are 'drabbles' by definition as they are snippets of a longer story - not chapters, per se, as they would likely be longer, and have a stronger running plot-line. Myself and a few friends had a debate over what constituted as a drabble, and that was our final answer. So this will be a series of 24 linked drabble, with a sort of winter/Christmas theme. These are all pretty old too, so I'll be uploading them quickly.

Hopefully I'll be able to finish some of my longer one-shots soon. So look forward to them, I guess.

Ryoma didn't wake up to his alarm in the morning, nor to the soft pawing of Karupin, who usually tried to get his attention if he wasn't up before ten am. No, this Saturday Ryoma woke up to the incessant ringing of his mobile phone. It wasn't even eight am yet. Who in their right mind would be up so early on a cold, winters morning, when there was no school. Someone insane, Ryoma assumed.

He rolled over and grabbed his phone off his desk, not bothering to check who was calling on the ID - he wouldn't have been able to focus on it anyway, having just woken up.

"Whoever this is, it better be good," Ryoma said, his voice still laced with sleep, and sounding rather cranky.

There was a chuckle from the other end, then a long drawl that was unmistakable. "Ah, Echizen. You sound tired, did I wake you?"

"Yes, you asshole. What do you want?" Ryoma spared no pleasantries for him, as the weekend was the only time he could actually lie in. Being captain of Seigaku meant that he had to be in school extra early, something he hated because he'd never been good at waking up in the mornings.

"Now, now, be nice. In case you'd forgotten, I have your hat."

Ryoma had forgotten, if he was completely honest. He'd rushed home so quickly the day before that he hadn't remembered chucking his hat at Atobe in anger. Now he did though, and he wanted it back. "Are you holding it to ransom?"

Atobe actually laughed at that. "Don't be ridiculous, you can have it back." There was a long pause, and then he added. "As if I'd want to be in the presence of such a monstrosity any longer."

"Hilarious." Ryoma contemplated hanging up on him, turning over and going back to sleep. He doubted that Atobe would leave him alone though. He knew that this was annoying him, so he'd keep at it.

"Meet me in the town centre. Nine thirty. Don't be late." Atobe didn't even wait for confirmation before he cut off the line. Ryoma groaned at the sound of the dial tone and pulled the covers over his head.

Great.

---

A series of events followed that assured Ryoma that he would not be in the town centre for nine thirty.

Number one was that Ryoma had fallen back asleep. It wasn't his fault really. He'd been rudely awakened and had his sleeping pattern disrupted, it was only natural that his body demanded at least ten more minutes of glorious slumber. That, of course, made Ryoma re-awaken at about five to nine, and the following rush had him pulling on his shirt backwards. He corrected it once he realised - it would only give Atobe prime ammunition for taking the piss.

Number two were the buses. He'd missed the one at ten past nine, because his Mum had insisted that he at least had some toast before going out. He'd shoved it in his mouth whilst grabbing his coat, scarf and gloves from the cupboard and running out. There was nothing that made you curse more than having run all the way to the bus stop, only to see it driving away as you arrived.

Finally, there were the crowds. When Ryoma had got on the next bus at twenty past it was like being a sardine in a can. He got pressed against the other people none too gently, and stood on far too many times to count. The sheer amount of people on the bus meant that they stopped for longer to allow them to actually get off. It was all right for Atobe. He had his own personal chauffeur and limousine to ferry him god knows where.

The crowds, of course, didn't magically disappear once he got of the bus. He had to fight his way through hoards of people, getting trodden on every five seconds, and shoved just as often. He hated the Christmas rush, and it was only the second day of December.

Ryoma eventually found Atobe sitting on a bench, reading something, and wearing-

He was wearing his hat. Of all the nerve.

He walked over there and snatched the hat straight off his head. Atobe was startled and almost dropped his book. "Not funny," Ryoma said, using the hat to smack the back of Atobe's head.

"You're messing up my hair, brat. Stop it." Atobe composed himself pretty quickly, despite the shock, and brought his hands up to smooth down the hair that Ryoma had knocked out of place. When he was done Ryoma didn't think it looked any different.

He shrugged and sat down on the bench next to Atobe. "You did it yourself by putting my hat on."

"Well, you have to admit, I make that hat look good," Atobe said, smirking. Ryoma wasn't going to tell him so, but the hat had looked good on him. Maybe he could get him one for Christmas - though he doubted that Atobe would appreciate that as a present.

"You're so full of yourself, monkey king." Ryoma smirked in return, and leant back on the bench.

Atobe closed his book and placed it inside a bag that Ryoma hadn't noticed before. "That vile name again, Echizen? Aren't you ever going to tire of it?"

"Never."

"Anyway, you're late. It's past ten. I thought I said nine thirty." Atobe didn't sound angry at him being late, more... amused. He must have expected that Ryoma wouldn't turn up on time, why else would he have brought a book to read?

"You didn't account for public transport. It sucks," Ryoma told him, sounding nonchalant and entirely unapologetic at having made him wait.

Atobe stood, shaking his head. "I want some coffee. Come on, brat."

Ryoma watched as Atobe started to walk away, heading towards a little coffee shop on the edge of the town centre. He tugged his hat on, and there was something distinctly different about it. It was still warm from being on Atobe's head, and smelt like a mix between vanilla and coconut. It was nice.

Then a thought hit him, and he stood too, hurrying to catch up to Atobe. "Wait. How did you know my phone number?"