Zakoru seemed as bemused as Keiichiro was as to how she had suddenly appeared in the way of the young man.

"Oh...hello, Keiichiro."

The two just stared at each-other for a moment in complete and awkward scilence. The only sound that could be heard was the soft song-lyrics in the background.

Last Christmas

I gave you my heart

But the very next day

You gave it away

This year, to save me some tears,

I'll give it to someone

I'll give it to someone

Special


Keiichiro was not a very violent person; he wanted to dismantle and burn the radio.

Okay, the Christmas songs are sooo not helping me talk to him...
Zakoru could see dough for making Christmas cookies on the counter next to the cake supplies.

"Can I help?" She pointed towards the cookies.

Keiichiro, grateful the opressive scilence had been broken, smiled. "Of course!"

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The two worked in scilence, but it was a welcoming scilence, more peaceful than awkward or uncomfortable.

Keiichiro would roll out the cookie dough and cut shapes with the cookie cutters. Zakuro would put the cookies in the oven, and decorate the ones that had finished baking.
The team was quite efficent and soon they had made more cookies than either of them could count.

It was relaxing work, and Zakuro had quickly gotten over her nervousness about talking to Keiichiro.

"Glad you're better." She spoke up.

It was the first sentence Keiichiro had heard come out of her mouth scince the 'Can I help' about half an hour ago.
"Thanks...How has everybody been while I was gone?"

"Fine."

"Thats good."

More scilence. Conversation did not rear its ugly head untill two long minutes had blow by.

"How have you been?" Keiichiro asked good-naturedly.

"Fine."

"It's December, right?"

"Yes."

"Thats funny...." Keiichiro seemed thoughtful.

"What?"

"Its not all that cold."

"Yet."

"Good point."

Like a general, the clock marched five long minutes off the edge of the day, faithful to thier suicide mission.

"Are you going to do anything for the holidays?"

"Probably not. You?"

"Probably not."

These breaks of scilence are getting harder and harder to take...I should probably bring up what I wanted to talk about now...Keiichiro will probably be very polite about the whole thing, I'm sure, if he dosen't return my feelings....
Zakuro gathered her confidence.

"Keiichiro?"

"Yes?" The young ma smiled.

"I...Well, you probably already know this, but I have feelings for you, and would like to know if you return them."
The Wolf Mew looked Keiichiro strait in his silver-blue unreadable yes.

"I....I..." Keiichiro suddenly started to sway slightly. "I...."

I'm feeling really light-headed....

"I..."

Crud, headache!

"I..."

Keiichiro dropped to the floor.

"Ryou! Ryou!" Zajuro started running toward the lab.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hey, everybody! Sorry, it's the holiday season 'round here in the USA, and I've been so busy I just haven't really had time to write....
O.o Christmas eve is tommorrow!!! panic
Scince its that time of year, I tryed to fit in some hoilday stuff....Hope everyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas has not gotten offened by my referances to that holiday. If you have, I apologize. I mean to offence.

Anyway, hope that was epic enough for you all and caused a lot of suspence.
Maybe Ryou will have figured out what's up with Keiichiro by next chapter, maybe not....
I might make you all wait...ehehehehe...

Well, thats all for now, except maybe the annoying reminder to comment, but you already know all about that one, don't cha...
If you have any theroys about what'll happen next, feel free to tell me, I might end up using your idea.....:D
Got to go, though, folks.

I bit thee a farewell and a great Holiday season!
~Endwithabang