Kumori: And, here I am again. Trying to catch up to myself.

Kagayami: She wanted to have all these chapters done by December, so she could post them up as she needed to. But no…she got lazy.

Kumori: Not lazy…I just lost track of time…and anyway, I'm getting it done, so shut up!

Kagayami: Here's the next chapter, everyone. Enjoy!

Day Nine

"Oh my gosh, Yugi!" Anzu squeaked, "You are so lucky!"

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Yami sniggered as he reclined on the couch, stretching his legs out. "Because you are, aibou." He responded nonchalantly, resting one hand behind his head, "Romance is dead to most."

Yugi smiled and raised one eyebrow. ::Is that your way of telling me you're jealous?::

The smallest of blushes tingled in Yami's cheeks. ::No! I'm just saying, is all.::

::Not even a little bit?::

Yami refused to meet his light's gaze. ::I am not jealous.::

Yugi put his hands up defensively. "Okay, okay."

"Could you not use your mind link when we're here? It's weird when you guys start talking out loud in the middle of a conversation and we have no clue what happened." Mai teased, pulling Shizuka closer to her side on the loveseat. The smaller Jonouchi just blushed and leaned her head on her girlfriend's shoulder.

Yugi opened his mouth to respond when there was a loud knock on the door. "I'll get it," he murmured absently, mind already working. There was an off-chance that it could be one of his friends stopping by…but he had a feeling he knew exactly who was going to be standing there.

"Special delivery for a…Yugi Mutou."

He smiled politely at the delivery boy standing there. He'd been right. He stared at the brown paper package in the boy's hands, absently signing the clipboard shoved under his nose. "Merry Christmas," he called as the deliverer ran down his front walk and climbed into his waiting truck.

"Oh! What is it, what is it?" Anzu squealed as he reached the living room again, package clasped in his small hands.

Yugi barely heard her and barely noticed all four pairs of eyes in the room land directly on him as he tore at the light brown paper. It went flying in all directions, leaving in its wake a simple box, taped shut.

He didn't bother with scissors. Impatience got the better of him, and Yugi ran his fingernails along each crease. The tension in the room mounted, most not even daring to breathe.

"Well…what's inside?" Mai asked, craning her neck to try and get a peek.

Yugi blinked. And blinked again. "It's…four tins of…hot chocolate mix." He stuttered, removing the cans from the box and lining them up on the coffee table before him.

Anzu wrinkled her nose. "That doesn't sound very romantic…"

"Wait…wait, there's another note…" Yugi delved back into the box and brought out a small card, white with black writing, yet again.

"Yugi, angel,

These aren't nearly as sweet as you are, but I know you love it. Enjoy.

-Eternal"

Anzu grinned and squeaked. "I retract my statement! That's so sweet!"

Yugi couldn't help but smile. "Yeah…yeah it is." He whispered to himself.

Later that night, after a few mugs of hot chocolate, Yugi bent over his desk and the sounds of pen scratching filled the air. Then, with a mighty yawn, he crawled into bed, knowing that the warmth he felt inside wasn't completely from the cocoa.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my stalker gave to me,

Four tins of cocoa,

Three lighted candles,

Two helpful letters,

And a sprig of mistletoe.

LINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINE

Kumori: Love you all! See you later!