Winter

Winter was never the kindest time in Japan, but Haruhi loved the cold weather.

Bundled up, Fujioka Haruhi studied the shops and Hikaru complained about the weather being a poor time to show off his physique. Tamaki merely grinned through the fleece of his scarf and Kyoya readjusted the mufflers on Tamaki's ears with a loud grunt. Missing were the two seniors who had locked themselves away to study for exams coming in the next semester and the other twin who found himself more engrossed in decorating with their sister than going out that day.

Hikaru didn't mind, quite possibly he enjoyed it more than he would let on to the group as he pulled at Haruhi's hands exclaiming about something fantastic and expensive he saw in the window. Haruhi laughed nervously and nearly cried at the price, Tamaki howled at the chance of not seeing the expensive item first and Kyoya merely shook his head.

Their family outing was, indeed, strange but nothing made Haruhi happier.

Tamaki and Haruhi seemed to smile quietly to one another, Hikaru fumed and Kyoya merely noted the moments behind his barrier of glass.

However, all good things must come to an end and the pounding on the sidewalk made the hairs on their neck stand up in fear. Looking to their left, Jun Kurumi was in sight with her slit dark eyes and her red face smothered in scarves and mufflers; Looking far more unimpressed than ever. She gritted her teeth at the appearance of the Host Club, although she had made her amends there was still the palpable irritation that occurred when she saw them philandering in the streets. Groaning outwardly so they could hear her, she zoomed past them without a second look. Haruhi waved at her friend, understanding the foul mood she was presently in and Hikaru stuck out his tongue. Tamaki nearly cried at the disrespect and Kyoya could only chuckle.

She had most certainly made the most interesting impression, and she did this with every interaction.

Jun Kurumi was, also, never the biggest fan of the family holiday. She became extra crabby as she flung her coat over and pulled off her scarf. Her hair was let out for once, adding flair to her less than average appearance with striking black hair that reflected light rather nicely. She plopped herself down onto the restaurant seat and ordered at least a dozen cakes before resigning herself to staring out the window.

The Ayonakojis were in Switzerland that month, not that Kurumi went along, and she merely accepted the usual habit of coming to the same cake shop and indulging herself.

She was a Jun, not an Ayonakoji and she never forgot it.


Takashi lifted his eyes from his books, the scrawling of his notes was impossible to decipher and there wasn't a Rosetta stone in sight to help him.

Honey giggled from his papers, staring at Mori's lazy eyes. He saw the exhaustion on the larger man, the creases of his eyes and the slight irritation of being locked away with a much rowdier teen. Mori tilted back in his chair and resigned himself to the idea that this was going to be his Christmas and, like all the others before it, he had resigned himself to the lack of thinking space.

"Why not some caaaake?"

"Because you'll be hyper."

Mori replied curtly, knowing all well what Honey was insinuating in his questions. Honey wasn't a fool, he knew Mori was getting annoyed and attempted to please him with cuteness and requests. The smaller teen groaned loudly, holding his rabbit next to his books and rolled around.

"But Mooorrrri"

"No."

Yet somehow...

Mori stared inside the shop. A tinge of guilt shot through his heart, and he knew Honey had played him right into the trap.

He could just convince himself he got it because he wanted it, although he already knew the real season behind coming into the shop with his hands already reading for his wallet. He sighed loudly as he searched through the bills before peering up, the same stray cat girl looked out the window with the most uninterested expression on her face. At least ten cakes lay before her, a pot of hot chocolate and a book of revision strewed across the table.

"Miss Kurumi is our Christmas customer," the server started, an older gentleman in his late sixties as he noticed Mori's intense stare, "She's here every year around now by herself, I guess she just really likes the cakes."

He paused.

"Don't bother son, you can do better," he chuckled, winking with his joke at her looks, "Chinese girls just aren't cut out for a strapping Japanese fellow like you."

Mori clenched his cash and he looked at the man sharply. The server felt his blood run cold at the sight; Mori turned and walked over to Kurumi silently.

"Jun, was it?"

Kurumi looked up, her voice caught in her throat.

"I like the cakes."

"Is that your excuse every year?"

Kurumi was taken aback, she glared at him angrily, "and did you bring yourself over here to insult me? If so, you require a new hobby."

Mori smiled wryly at her verbal claws scrapped at him, her eyes narrowed and her hair seeming to stand on edge like a street cat prepping for a fight. The darkness of everything around her reminded him of a sewer rat in a way, but the resilience was something beautiful. He studied her for a moment.

"Was that rude of me?"

"Extraordinarily."

Kurumi was curt, her hair flipped as she raised her nose with a smug look, "Not that I need your apology."

Mori studied her.

"It must be quiet."

He didn't realize how wishful his voice sounded. Kurumi paused and studied him back; she used a spoon to stir in the hot chocolate and added a few more clumps of marshmallows.

"I spend every Christmas by myself."

"I wish I could spend at least one by myself."

Kurumi look at him curiously, prompting him to continue.

"Well… At least in a bit of quiet."

Kurumi poured the hot chocolate with a knowing smile; she lifted the glass to him.

"I'm really good at quiet."

The snow continued to fall outside, Haruhi and Tamaki shared a muffler and Hikaru hugged his brother on his entry back into his home. The twins patted their sister and Hikaru remarked on the beauty of the decorations, Kaoru merely smiled. Kyoya indulged himself on the windows of the shops and the lights and Honey sat, quiet and lonely for the first time.

Mori drank in the hot chocolate and the sight of Kurumi, but still found himself thirsty.