Chapter 2

On the 2nd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

Kaoru woke up with a big Cheshire cat smile on her face as she recalls the finished piece a friend of hers completed for her as the 5th item in the lyrics she chosen as the gift exchange theme song. Tairen Kenma or Ken for short, is a tough cookie when it comes to making and committing promises to anyone, especially flowery favors girls hoped from the bishounen. But she managed to get the redhead to sway after using endless wheedling and bribery on her part. He concurred but at a price. A kiss on his lips under a mistletoe. Privately, she finds the surname that sounds like 'Tyrant' suits him when he wants to be one.

Kaoru mentally shrugged when she shook her hand with his on the deal, at her insistence. She still feels the urge to rub the area of her hand where he had kissed as a form of greeting. Ken is a soprano in an art university just next to her collage. His specialty is in metalworks sculpture. They have gotten to know of each other through a mutual friend of theirs. Sometimes, Kaoru gets the urge to introduce Ken to Musashi, who's into construction work, just to see what kind of fireworks she might get from their interaction.

She continues to curl up in her bed like a cat, refusing to get up for school even though it's Thursday. (A/N: I'm following the days of this Dec 2006 calendar, so don't start pulling out your fingers and toes to count.) Well, she's entitled, since today's her birthday. Moreover, it's way past her lesson time so she forgets the trouble of getting up. Ever since she started collage, not once had Kaoru ever made a mistake of telling anyone the day when she first arrives into the world. She saw what happened to those poor unfortunate souls that did. The college grounds pranksters can give Hiruma a run for his money when it comes to tormenting people.

Her phone rang as she continues her lazing, her eyes looking at the canopy above her. Her answering machine picked up the call after several rings. 'Hi, you have reached a private number of Shadow Moon, freelance P.I. Leave a message after the melody.' Then the song of Maksim's version of 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence' starts to play. A normal sane human would have hung up before the three minutes plus song ended; only a persistent fool with imperative needs will stay on. (A/N: I like his music, it's cool. So sue me.)

It wasn't a client that answered after the recording starts. She bolted upright and dashed for the handset when a voice said 'Mushi, mushi? Zen! She's not home!' blared out from the machine's speaker. "Hello? Wait! Don't hang up!" She quickly pressed a few buttons to stop the recording and change it back to the cordless phone she's holding.

"Goku? It's school day, why are you calling my business line? You know my residence and handphone number." The teenager at the other side cried a greeting and immediately handed the receiver over. "Neko, Zen here. Meet us downstairs in two hours time. Dress smart casual." The line cut as the guy named Zen hang up on the other side. She blinked at the inanimate object in her hand, her mind processing the message left by a voice she hadn't heard since after her first year in junior high.

Two hours later…

Kaoru stood at the entrance of her apartment, waiting for a black sports car to appear. It's been a while since she met them, especially him and Kaoru wants the first impression to wow him over. She's no longer the tomboy he met back then. Sleeveless silk top with a neck plunging collar matched with knee length skirt that flutters as she moves, both in deep amethyst color. Black sandals with satin ribbons that intertwined around her calves complete her outfit. She left her neatly trimmed shoulder-length hair slicked back with hair spray, giving her a natural but firm hold of her wayward mane. An earring dangled from one side of her ear, glittering under the soft glow of the streetlamp.

Soon, a Ferrari halted just beside her, and a guy of the same age as her hopped out of the car. The golden-eyed brunette gave her a bear hug, nearly crushing up her rib cage. "Kaoru, it's been a very long time since I've saw you. Man, have you turned out great! Wait till Zen sees you, he'll have his eyes knocked out of his sockets!"

"Seen what to have my eyes knocked out of my sockets, saru?" The violet-eyed girl turned and faced at the pair of eyes that shared the same color as her. They are still as cool as ever, those gazes always acted as a barrier, separating him from the rest of the world. Luckily, with Goku as his ward, there is little chance he can retreat into the cold remote place in his heart.

That same pair of eyes that Kaoru commented in her mind, widens a little as he took in the change she has made to herself four years after their last encounter. Realizing that he's staring at her, Zen hmphed and nodded, "That will do neko. Saru, move to the back seat of the car. You will sit in front."

"Just a sec, Zen. Goku, why did you wait for the melody to end to get to my recording? And off all the numbers, why my P.I. number?"

"I can answer that for you. I made the saru to call it. It's the only one that you will listen to regularly." Kaoru turned to look at the blond man before turning back to confirm with the brunette. He smiled and nodded, "Plus, you always change the melody, I like listening to them." She groans softly, shaking her head. Kaoru peep from the side of her eyes at the juvenile and smiled at him.

"Next time, don't do that. If you want the songs that I uploaded, come pay me a visit and you can borrow it from my collection." The adolescent leaped in joy and grasps her hands to dance around. The momentum caused her to lose her footing and collapsed onto Zen. He didn't even shift under the impact and his hands gripped her arms to steady her. Dear lord, his hands are so warm…

Zen noticed he's holding her too tightly and loosen his grip. Subconsciously, he gently strokes the area he held her, causing shivers down Kaoru's spine. Immediately, he took a step back and pointed the car, "Get in, and you, saru. One more stunt like that and I'll whack you like a 5 year old child."

Both nodded meekly at his growl and she got into the front seat after Goku slide into the rear. The engine purred as Zen released the hand brakes and switch gears to drive off.

Unknown to them, a figure was standing at a distance, and he saw everything that occurred. The earlier stance that the man took as he steadied her, shouts possessiveness, causing him to frown as he rubbed an area of his chest where his heart is. He left the present in her mailbox that he has access to and send a text message to her phone.

By the time Kaoru got home, it was midnight. She quickly opened the mailbox after reading the text message. The place she went earlier didn't allow the customers to bring in their personal phone in with them so she had to leave it with the management. Kaoru quickly open the silver wrapped box and gasped in her astonishment. Inside was a pair of turtle doves, size of pennies, frosted in white. Both birds' center is hollow, in each lays a small emerald gem. It's one of the special editions she heard from her class that's launching on the 21st this month as a lover's present for Christmas. Orders have been placed months in advance just to get the jewelry. How on earth did Youichi manage it?

She stood there, staring at the gift that makes the 2nd verse of the song, and chewed her lips. Seems like Youichi has just took the dare into another level.

…2 turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.