Chapter 4

"He'll be fine," Chosokabe assured the others when he came out. By now he was completely composed from what had just happened.

"That's good," Mori said.

"You're back," Chosokabe didn't seem to surprise to see him.

"I want to apologize to Masamune if it's not too late."

"I'm not sure how he'll take to it."

"It's almost midnight," Keiji said excitedly.

"There's still five minutes left Keiji," Matsu chided.

"I know but its stills exciting!" Keiji beamed. This was the first time they were open presents right on Christmas. It was a tradition that Masamune and Kojuro had and they wanted to continue it.

"Why can't we just open them all at once," Yukimura whimpered.

"Stop acting childish," Sasuke sighed.

Masamune came out two minutes before it was time, accepting Mori's apology dismissively. Other than that he seemed to be in a pretty good mood. There was a light silence in the room as they waited for last few minutes to tick by.

"It's killing me; can't we just open them now?" Kasuga snarled.

Sasuke shook his head, "There are only thirty seconds left."

The clock finally slipped to twelve and everyone was ready to pounce.

"Wait!" Chosokabe yelled. "I have an important gift to give, and I want to give it first."

"You better make this quick," Sasuke huffed, holding Yukimura by his ponytail so he wouldn't charge.

He pulled out a small box from the top of the pile and handed it to Masamune. He grinned at him encouraging him to open it. Masamune in turn, took his time. The pirate crept a bit closer using his presence to pressure the dragon into moving faster.

"I know what this is," Date said, "If you have to ask you're an idiot."

"Yeah, but if I were to drag you to town hall and just make you sign a marriage contract you would punch me in the face."

Masamune grinned giving him a quick kiss, "Let them open their present so Yukimura stops acting like a wild animal."

"You could at least see what it looks like first. I all but had to give a kidney to get that thing."

"You know I don't like diamonds."

"It's not a..." Chosokabe was ready to pull his hair out, "Open it."

"It's not gold right? I'm allergic to it."

"Open it,"

"Alright," he said in English tearing off the wrapping paper. It was silver band with a dragon engraved into it, "Nice."

"Can we..?" Yukimura begged pointing at the stack of boxes under the tree.

"Go ahead," Masamune waved them off as Motochika placed the ring on his finger.

"I also have something I would like to give to someone," Sasuke said pushing the tiger cub back down. He threw a small silver object in Fuma's direction. The other caught it without much effort.

"Keys?" Kotaro said. It might be the only words he ever uttered in their presence.

"Move in with me?" Sasuke shrugged.

"You guys are dating?" Yukimura asked.

"Just open your presents," Sasuke gave Yukimura a starting push.

"Wait he didn't answer," Yukimura argued.

"Yes he did. Just go."

Everyone else had already picked something and was starting to un-wrap them.

"Kojuro you have to open this one," Masamune gave him a sizable box.

"Is it another apron?" the retainer asked.

"You won't know if you don't look in the box."

"That's a yes," Kojuro sighed opening it, "Ah...I see."

"I had to make friends with the old lady who lives down the street from us in order to get these things, and she's fucking weird so you better like it."

"Language," Kojuro warned, "How many..."

"She raises a lot of fruits and vegetables. I mentioned that you liked to garden and begged her for a sample of all her seeds."

Kojuro smirked, "Thank you. I plant them once the gardening season starts."

"Remember how we first started this little tradition?" Masamune smiled. "The first day I ended up staying with you after my mom gave me up. I was crying so you took me to the toy store to pick something, and it just happened to be Christmas morning." He smiled at the memory. "I'm glad she gave me up. You raised me better than she ever would have."

"Masamune..."

"Seriously, you're like the father I never had," he hugged him, "Thank you."

The next morning they finished what they started around the tree. Masamune sat on the couch in his sleep kimono. Chosokabe was next to him as they watched everyone else. Motochika held him his fiancé close kissing the top of his head. The dragon was dozing against him while sipping a small cup of tea.

"I'll let Mori stay," Masamune said.

"You never said you were kicking him out," the pirate was legitimately surprised at what was being said.

"I thought about most of the night. It's obvious that he's mooching off of us. I found one of his pay stubs on the coffee table this morning. He's making more than enough to sustain himself for a while now. I don't know why he chooses to stay as long as he has, but eventually he'll get tired of sticking around when he realizes that nothing is going to happen between the two of us."

"I still don't see what you're saying. I don't think Mori has it in him to have emotions like that," Chosokabe mumbled.

Masamune just sighed, going back to watching everyone. Sasuke was currently talking with Fuma as he continued to struggle with the wrapping paper of his presents. Kasuga was with them as well. Keiji was gushing over the things Matsu and Toshi had gotten him, and vice versa. Kojuro was contending with Yukimura who seemed to want nothing more than the older man to open the present he'd gotten him. Mori seemed to be watching everyone contently. Once in a while he would glance over in Chosokabe's and Masamune's direction.

He had the most longing look on his face, leaving Masamune to wonder how dim Chosokabe could be when it suits him. Still, he didn't have it in his heart to just kick Mori out, no matter how much of a jerk he was. He would tough it out for as long as Mori felt he could do the same.

Right now he just wanted to enjoy the holiday. Kojuro was supposed be showing him how to make some tradition dish or the other. He hadn't said what it was, but supposedly the yield was enough to feed everyone here instead of going through the trouble of making a ham or turkey. Yukimura already challenged him to a duel that they planned to have sometime during lunch, and he promised to show Motochika's family around town now that all the shops were lit up with decorations.

It was going to be a good day, and not even Mori could ruin it.

I know the ending sounds really rush, like the rest of my stories. This one I've been working on for a few months. It wasn't supposed to be a Christmas fic nor a multi chapter story, but it ended up that way after I looked over it and decided to separate some parts out. As for the Christmas thing...I don't know.

Sorry if I upset any Mori fans.

I hope you enjoyed this little story anyways