"The seventh thing of Christmas that's such a pain to me...Salvation Army!"


Haru did not know how to handle the situation that he was witnessing at this very moment. On the one hand, the punk before him who was dressed in green tights and a red apron was trying to swindle Tohru out of her money. The girl obviously felt guilty enough from running into Yuki's mother, leaving Hana behind, and now faced with the decision to donate.

"Oh, I-uh," Tohru stammered, red with embarrassment. "I...I don't have enough money to donate. I only have enough for my Christmas shopping."

The young man just looked at Tohru with a frown, as if confused, his eyes glistening with possible sadness. But in reality, the man knew full well what he was doing in guilt tripping her. "But think about all the other families who do not have enough money to even perform a simple Christmas shopping spree. They can't even afford one pie for the children."

Tohru blinked, horrified. "Not one pie?"

The man shook his head ruefully. "Not one." He sighed sadly, ringing his bell. "Those poor children, going without a warm, freshly baked pie."

"Here!" Tohru exclaimed, grabbing her wallet frantically. "I'll donate to the needy!"

"No you won't," Haru said sharply, snatching her wallet away. "Tohru, this is the same charity you've donated to twenty minutes ago."

"But it's a different man this time," Tohru protested. "He hasn't gotten anything to present to the needy! And he's standing in the cold!"

"What about Yuki and Kyo who are waiting for you?" Haru asked gently, staring at her with a penetrating gaze. He knew how she would react to his statement about Yuki and Kyo waiting on her.

Tohru blinked before sighing, just as he knew she would react. Yet she looked up with hesitation. "But-"

"I'll donate!" Momiji said happily, dropping a lollipop in the bucket before whisking a protesting Tohru away from the gaping charity volunteer. Haru could not resist smirking at the man's befuddlement.

"You know, your girlfriend is really dense," the man stated with a scowl.

"That's why I am here," Haru stated, disinterested. He didn't bother stating that Tohru was, in fact, not his girlfriend.

The man huffed. "It's a wonder the chick even made it this far in life."

"You don't know her," Haru said evenly, his eyes sparking. "As I said before, I am just here to make sure you didn't swindle her out of her money." His voice rose to a higher level, attracting some curious customers who were glancing in his direction.

The man's expression turned red at the frowns and stares he was receiving. "Stop trying to ruin my job!"

"Get a real job ya bum," Hau said simply as he followed the others.

To help with her guilty conscience she was still feeling over the charity event, Tohru bought everyone a lollipop while they shopped. Momiji and Kisa eagerly accepted thiers while Hiro muttered his thanks. Haru just raised an eyebrow at the lollipop he was given, eyeing the cow shaped sugar that was staring back at him.

"I think it looks cute!" Tohru exclaimed with a bright smile.

Haru just nodded, pocketing the wrapped candy for later. "Haru," Tohru asked hesitantly, catching his attention.

He cocked his head. "Yes?"

"Um," she started, nervously shifting around. "How...how do you feel about Yuki's mother?"

"She's a witch," Haru said blankly. "I hate her."

Tohru gasped, horrified. "B-but isn't that a bit...harsh?"

"Nope," he said simply. "There's a reason Yuki doesn't talk about his parents. Yuki's mother is the type of person I'd bury in the backyard."

Tohru squeaked, suddenly nervous at Haru's statement. But she paused, thinking it over. "She said Yuki was selfish."

Haru nodded. "Yep."

"But he's not," Tohru continued.

Haru shook his head. "Not at all." He looked up. "But I am glad that Sensi came along when he did."

Tohru brightened up. "Me too! It was wonderful to see Kazuma again. Won't Kyo be surprised when he shows up for dinner!"

"Kyo is very lucky indeed," Haru stated.

Tohru would have said more, but she stopped when she felt Kisa tug on her sleeve, catching her attention. The little girl looked up at her with knowing eyes, and it was then Tohru remembered part of her mission.

"Oh no," Tohru exclaimed suddenly, placing a hand on her forehead as if in distress. "I forgot the cinnamon!"

"Where is it?" Momiji asked, leaping forward as if coming to her rescue. "Haru and I can get it!"

Tohru sighed in relief, eyes flickering over to Haru. "Alright," she said. "They would be in the spices section, aisle...13, I think."

Haru frowned. "Why do I need to go-?"

"Come on Haru!" Momiji exclaimed as he grabbed Haru's hand. "Let us go hunt down that cinnamon!" Tohru, Kisa and Hiro both watched them leave, and a small smile spread across Tohru's face. "Alright Kisa," Tohru said happily. "Where did you see that plush toy cow?"

Kisa giggled in understanding as she led Tohru down the aisle with a frowning Hiro following.

"Wait, but you already have cinnamon," Hiro protested. "Or can you not read?"

"I can read," Tohru stated, oblivious to the jab. "Momiji is just distracting Haru so I can get him his present!"

"Here!" Kisa declared, stopping in front of the small shelf of plush animals. She pulled a small cow from the shelf, cuddling with it. "It's so fluffy!"

"I even got some piercings to put on the cows ears," Tohru said with a giggle. "We can decorate it later!"

Both girls giggled while Hiro groaned, closing his eyes in disbelief.


"Cin-o-men," Momiji said, staring at the shelf with narrowed eyes. "Sin-oh-myen." He blinked. "Cinny-oye-mehan."

"Found it," Haru stated, pulling a small, glass bottle from the shelf. "Cinnamon."

Momiji blinked, staring at the spice in Haru's hand. "Is it organic?" Momiji asked.

Haru frowned. "Does it have to be? And does it matter?"

"It matters," Momiji stated. "We might need organic cinnamon, or non-organic. We might even need whole sticks of cinnamon, or the grounded up version. I mean, the possibilities are endless! We could be here for hours-"

"I'll go ask Tohru what kind she needs," Haru interrupted, walking away with the cinnamon in hand.

"No!" Momiji declared, lunging forward and snatching the spice out of Haru's hand. "We...do not need to disturb her from her intense Christmas shopping concentration!" He stuffed the cinnamon in his pocket and folded his arms. "Now, we can finish this up rather quickly if we just focus.

"Just get the cheapest one," Haru said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He cocked his head when he noticed ground up cinnamon in a bottle, he reached his hand out to snatch the last one, only for someone else to reach for it as well.

"Hey, hands off," the man snapped, slapping Haru's hand away. Haru, however, frowned and snatched it away, causing the man to let out a protesting shout.

"It's the least expensive," Haru said as his way of explanation. He then blinked when he noticed that the scowling man was the same punk who had tried to guilt trip Tohru into giving her money to charity.

The man's scowl became deeper when he noticed Haru. "Least expensive? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"

"It is organic," Haru stated calmly.

"Organic is more expensive!" he protested. He stared disapprovingly at Haru, eyeing him up and down. "You're obviously rich, what with that hair job of yours."

Haru paused, eyes flashing. "What?" he growled warningly.

The man obviously did not notice the warning. "Or, maybe you're not as rich as I thought, since it looks like a poor dye job anyway. What kind of an idiot goes with white anyway? You look like an old dude. It looks really fake to me-"

He was cut off abruptly when Haru's fists went flying. Haru let the man fall to the ground before he picked him back up roughly by the shirt.

"Not so tough now, are you?" Black Haru growled, sneering in the man's face. "Now, what was it you were saying about my hair?"


Tohru looked up in confusion, worry forming in the pit of her stomach. She quickly did a mental count in her head. Kisa was by her side, and Hiro was trying to show Kisa the new games he had found.

"Um, shouldn't Momiji be back by now with Haru?" Tohru asked.

Hiro shrugged. "It's nicer without the Rabbit around. I can hear myself think for once." He scoffed. "And really, stop worrying so much Tohru. How much trouble can they both get into?"

"Clean up on aisle 17 and in aisle 18," an announcer said suddenly, causing everyone to freeze, eyes wide.

"You don't think-?" Kisa started.

"Nah," Hiro said, waving a dismissive hand. "He wouldn't be stupid enough to-"

"All employers, dispatched to aisle 19 and 20! This is not a drill people! True destruction is happening! Gather the mops, the brooms! EVERYTHING!"

"Oh no," Tohru muttered in fear as she and the Sohma's took off running in the direction of aisle 19 and 20.

"Evacuate aisle 21! The orange juice has spread!" the announcer shrieked.

"H-Haru!" Tohru started as they rounded the corner. "Haru- Eeep!"

What she saw before her was Haru, sitting on top of the poor volunteer who was literally drowning in orange juice. Haru nodded his head at Tohru as he chewed on the lollipop she had previously given him. "'Sup?" he stated.

"Haru!" Hiro exclaimed, aghast. He folded his arms. "Wait ta go. You finally got us in a fix."

"It's this punk who got fixed," Haru stated, whacking his victim over the head who let out a yelp.

Tohru knelt down in the orange juice next to the man, trying to speak with him as he drowned in juice. "I am so sorry for what has happened."

"Don't apologize, love," Haru stated, still chewing on his lollipop like a boss. "It was nothing."

"Here! I'll donate to your cause!" Tohru exclaimed, pulling out her wallet and thrusting it in the charity man's face. "If that will help," she amended.

"Trying to bribe the victim, eh?" a sudden voice said, causing them all to look up and see the manager scowling at them as an army of workers armed with cleaning supplies stormed by. "You will be charged for this, little lady," he continued.

"Oh boy," Haru scoffed, rolling his eyes. "There go my ears again."

"Eh, your ears not picking up what I said?" the man demanded.

"Nah, they're just bleeding from the stupid chatter," Haru growled. He got up from his victim, fists curled. "Now," he ripped the lollipop in half before spitting chunks of it out. "What was this about charges, ya jerk?"

"Oh no," Tohru muttered, eyes wide. "Black Haru!"

"He didn't mean anything about it!" Momiji started desperately. "The man was just being a jerk, and Haru put him in his place! No harm done." He ignored the juice soaked man that was struggling to rise, despite the fact that Haru's boot was placed firmly on his back.

"Is that so?" the manager jeered, grabbing Momiji and sticking his hands in Momiji's coat pocket, causing the Rabbit to yelp. "Not only do we have attempted murders-"

"That might be stressing it," Haru commented unhelpfully.

"But we have attempted thievery as well!" the manager continued, pulling out the cinnamon bottle Momiji had stuffed in his pockets.

Momiji blinked as he stared at the cinnamon. "Oh," he said sheepishly. "How did that get there?"

Ten minutes later, Haru and Momiji were sitting side by side in handcuffs. Momiji looked completely confused while Haru looked indifferent.

"You know," Haru confessed. "This is the first time I have actually gotten arrested."

"Please officer!" Tohru begged as she stood outside of the store with both Hiro and Kisa behind her. "Haru didn't mean anything by it! You see, he has a split personality that makes him turn violent because he is really sensitive about his hair color and he doesn't really mean to harm anyone and-Oh! I am so sorry for telling them about this Haru but I am trying to help you!"

"What is she babbling about?" Haru asked, blinking as Tohru launched into her rapid defense to the blinking officer.

"What are they going to do with Haru?" Kisa asked, concerned as she watched her older cousin with worry.

Hiro shrugged. "Eh, probably put him in the pasture, as they say." He chuckled at his own little joke.

Kisa blinked, confused. "The pasture?"

"Put him down," Hiro elaborated. "They might put him in the electric chair first. I've seen it in shows."

Unfortunately, so had Kisa. The very thought of Haru being condemned to the electric chair was so terrifying that it caused her eyes to well up with tears.

"No!" she cried out, rushing to the officer. "Please sir! Don't kill Haru! Don't put him in the electric chair!"

The officer frowned at the teary eyed little girl before him. "The electric-?"

"THE ELECTRIC CHAIR?!" Tohru screamed in horror. "Officer! Please don't do that! He's so young and didn't mean anything about it! How much do I need to bail him out? I'll do anything!"

The officer staggered back before tossing a key to Tohru. "Here! You can take him, but we will let him off with a stern warning."

"Oh, we were warned," Hiro said with a huff.

"Hey!" Momiji exclaimed as Haru walked away. "What about me?"

"Oh, we want that one too," Hiro stated, pointing at Momiji. All the Sohmas, plus Tohru, rushed away from the scene before any more destruction could happen.

"Well," Tohru commented as they walked down the street with their bags of groceries. "That was exciting! We only have one more stop, and then we are done!"

"Is it the toys and books for Kyo and Yuki?" Kisa asked happily.

Tohru beamed. "The toys and books!" she agreed.

"Wonderful," Hiro muttered as they approached the small, tiny store. However, they all froze when they saw a man in a red apron ringing a bell with a red bucket at his feet.

"Donate to the needy!" the man exclaimed to passing shoppers, ringing his bell.

"Is there anyway we can go in through the back?" Momiji asked, warily watching Haru who looked indifferent.