Christmas Day
As usual Odd awoke on Christmas morning before any one else. He had to wait for his parents before opening presents, so he pulled out a video game to occupy himself. When the rest of the Della Robbia family got up, Odd joined them in the living room.
For the Della Robbia family opening Christmas Presents was a no holds bar free for all. In fact Mr. & Mrs. Della Robbia were surprised that there had never been any injuries requiring medical attention. Once they dug in all one could see was a cloud of wrapping paper.
Odd's sisters were not amused by the dog collars with tags with each of their names on them, that he had given them, particularly since he knew they didn't have dogs. Odd however greatly enjoyed the joke. His father had to suppress the urge to laugh. He enjoyed a good joke gift as well, but he knew that for the sake of family peace he'd better not laugh openly. However, his sisters were not lacking in revenge, since they each gave Odd a can of dog food. However their revenge failed since Odd knew he could use it for Kiwi.
Odd got a video game from his father, but it was a mental exercise game. "Dad, while I appreciate the gift, you do know that this not the type of game I play," asked Odd. "I know, but if you give this type of game a try, it might help you study," Odd's father said. This didn't help Odd any. "Not only should playing it help sharpen your mind, but it could help you make a game out of studying. That would make studying easier. Try it and, if you can get your average up to at least a C+ I'll buy you a game you want," continued Odd's father. "Nothing like a little bribery as a motivator, it's a deal," replied Odd.
After all presents were open the Della Robbia family ate breakfast.
At the Ishiyama home, Hiroki was up first but had to wait for every else. Once every one was up they first had breakfast and then when it to the living room to for the presents. In accordance with Japanese tradition they took their presents in to private rooms to open them. Ulrich just stayed in the living room.
Ulrich first opened his present from Yumi; it was new pair of seekers. She had clearly noticed the poor condition of his old ones. Next he opened Hiroki's it was framed photo of Yumi. "Why am I not surprised," said Ulrich. However, he had to admit that he liked it. When he came to his father's present; his mother had put it and hers in his suit case; he as half afraid to open it. He jokingly thought of submerging it in water, but he opened it any way. It was day planner, typical of his father. Ulrich had to laugh when he opened Odd's present; it was a pack of pencils but with erasers at both ends.
Mean while Yumi was opening her present from Ulrich. It was a DVD set of her favorite anime program in the original Japanese. She knew that it could not have been easy to find. Hiroki's present turned out to be a framed picture of Ulrich.
When they all came back into the living at one point Hiroki was thanking Yumi for his new cell phone. "So Hiroki did look at the speed dial yet," asked Yumi. "No, I haven't had the chance yet," answered Hiroki. "Why don't you look now?" said Yumi. So he did and he found one name already in it: Milly Solovieff. Hiroki just blushed.
After the noon meal of a typical Japanese Christmas dinner, Ulrich asked Yumi to go for a walk. She asked her parents telling them she had to walk Kiwi anyway. Her father said, "OK, the two of you can go, and walk the mutt.
As they left the house and were heading down the street they started talking. "Hiroki, really getting annoying with that mistletoe bit," said Ulrich. "There is one way to get him off our backs, and that is to give him what he wants" replied Yumi. "But that would be a …." Ulrich responded. They both turned red at the thought.
Later that evening Hiroki once again pulled out his mistletoe on a stick placing it over Ulrich and Yumi. This time Yumi turned and kissed Ulrich on the lips, before he knew it he was kissing back. "Finally," Hiroki said. However Ulrich and Yumi were oblivious to him.
At the Belpois home Jeremie and Aelita where up dressed before his parents awoke. When his parents came down stairs the two of them were sitting on the couch talking. They eat breakfast then proceeded to take turns opening presents. Jeremie's Mom had her camera ready to record reactions. The others had agreed that Aelita should open the fist present.
She opened the one from Jeremie, It turned out to be a copy of the new Sub Sonics CD. It had a couple of tracks of her mixing on it. When she saw it, Aelita planted a great big kiss on Jeremie, just as his mother snapped a picture. "You know that you really didn't have to do that Jeremie, after all it was Odd's responsibility to replace my complementary CD, since Kiwi was the one who ruined it," said Aelita. "I know, I just wanted to do it for you," answered Jeremie. This result it a big long hug from Aelita.
Next Jeremie opened a present from Aelita, it was a key board cover for his computer back at the dorm. "It's designed so that you can type through it," said Aelita with smiled. "Also the next time you fall asleep while working on your computer this will keep you from getting key marks on your face," continued Aelita. Jeremie smiled and gave Aelita a big hug, resulting in yet another picture.
Jeremie's mother was next. She opened a present from Aelita. It was small alblum with space for four pictures. Three of the pictures were of Jeremie and one was of both Jeremie and Aelita. Aelita explained that Jeremie had helped her pick out the pictures. Jeremie's mother simply smiled as while holding up the alblum, as Jeremie's father took the picture.
Jeremie's father was next; he opened a present from Jeremie. It was a DVD of his favorite move. His smile was the next picture.
Next was Aelita again. This one was from Yumi, and it was a Japanese fan similar to those Yumi used on Lyoko. Aelita held it up with a smile so Jeremie's mother could take a picture. "It's from our Japanese friend Yumi," said Aelita.
After several rounds of this they were down to the two identical presents for Aelita and Jeremie that his mother had said needed to be opened at the same time. Jeremie and Aelita removed the paper from their respective presents to reveal ….
To be continued.
