I own nothing. But that's okay! I own Dani, her dad, Takeno, and Shizu!

Chapter Nine:

The First of Many

Or

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

"Where are we going, Mori?" Dani asked. Mori had arrived at Rosecliff that evening, taken Dani's wheelchair, and put her in his limo to be whisked away somewhere. The worst (or best? She couldn't decide yet) part was she was sure that her father and the entire household knew exactly what was going on too, since she had been dressed with utmost care when she'd gotten home that Friday, two days before Christmas.

"Surprise," was all the answer she got. Dani scrutinized him, but only for a moment, because she started blushing after a while when he turned and smiled a little at her. She played with her fingers, trying her hardest to control the blush. She looked out the window at the frozen scenery and wondered what snow looked like. Then she realized that she was staring at extensive, perfectly manicured gardens. Eyes wide, she whirled around and caught sight of an enormous Japanese style manor, spread before her. And the limo was stopping in front of it!

"Welcome home," Mori stated simply. He climbed out and got her wheelchair and held out his hand to help her out. Dani continued to gape.

"Y-you live here?" she managed to gasp out. Mori smiled again and nodded. Slowly she inched her way over for him to hook his arms under her knees and pulled her out so gently it was almost like flying instead of being transferred. Naturally, she blushed.

He wheeled her inside. "I'm home," he announced, and almost immediately a bang sounded somewhere in the house, followed by running footsteps. A sliding door to their left banged open and Dani found herself staring at what looked like a miniature Mori. Mini-Mori grinned brightly.

"HI, TAKASHI! WHO'S THIS?" he exclaimed excitedly. Dani bit her lip and wished she could hide, but she wasn't in luck; she couldn't stand.

"Dani Oelrichs," Mori answered, and Dani's heart flipped over hearing her name said like that. Mini-Mori bowed so enthusiastically he nearly keeled over, and then he took her good hand, and pumped it up and down happily.

"HI DANI-SEMPAI IT'S REALLY NICE TO MEET YOU ARE YOU IN THE HOST CLUB WITH TAKASHI ISN'T HE COOL I THINK HE'S THE COOLEST AND BEST HOST NO OFFENSE TO THE OTHER GUYS BUT TAKASHI'S SO POPULAR IT'S BECAUSE HE'S SO COOL AND I LIKE HIM AND WANNA BE JUST LIKE HIM WHEN I GROW UP MAYBE I'LL EVEN JOIN THE HOST CLUB THAT'D BE FUN BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO OH I'VE GOT AN IDEA YOU CAN TEACH ME HOW TO BE A HOST I BET YOU KNOW EVERYTHING SINCE YOU HANG OUT WITH TAKASHI AND EVERYTHING AND THAT ALSO MEANS YOU'RE COOL BECAUSE TAKASHI HAS THE COOLEST FRIENDS EVER AND THEY'RE ALL IN THE HOST CLUB SO THAT MEANS YOUR IN THE HOST CLUB WHICH HOST ARE YOU?" Satoshi asked, still smiling brightly. Dani stared at him with wide green eyes and tried to wrap her mind around the miniature Mori who spoke so fast and smiled so widely that she couldn't keep track of the conversation.

After a second of feeling like an idiot, she responded. "Huh?"

"Which host are you?" Satoshi repeated, not at all fazed by her inability to keep up with his trains of thought.

"O-oh. I'm the artistic host," she replied. Satoshi's smiled got wider.

"THAT'S SO COOL!" he exclaimed excitedly (which seemed to be the pattern). "CAN YOU PLAY GUITAR? I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY GUITAR MAYBE THE ELECTRIC GUITAR THAT'D BE FUN BECAUSE THEN I COULD ROCK OUT WHENEVER I WANT BUT I DON'T WANNA BOTHER TAKASHI BECAUSE HE'S COOL AND I DON'T WANT TO DISTURB HIS COOLNESS OR MAKE HIM ANNOYED!" Dani looked up at Mori and smiled a little at the look on his face; clearly, Mori would never be annoyed or sick of Satoshi.

"Electric guitar is fun to learn," she told Satoshi bracingly. "If you learn your scales and chords, you will progress quickly from there." Satoshi grinned even brighter but was prevented from speaking by the arrival of Mori's parents. Dani immediately blushed and bowed as well as she could in the wheelchair.

"Takashi, welcome home," his father said, nodding to his son smartly and smiling gently. His mother smiled widely. Her smile was just like Satoshi's, but Mori had her beautiful black eyes.

"Father, Mother," Mori answered, bowing. "This is Dani Oelrichs."

Dani ducked her head shyly. "Pleased to meet you," she whispered, her nerves making her Spanish accent thicker. Mori's mother gasped.

"Oh, you're foreign!" she exclaimed softly. Dani flushed and fidgeted shyly. She nodded. Mori's mother came behind the wheelchair and started to push her into the house. Mori, Satoshi, and Mori's father followed. They ended up in a lovely Japanese sitting room where Dani was parked carefully by Mori's mother, and Mori knelt next to her, his hand brushing hers momentarily.

"I'm Yui Morinozuka, and this is my husband Akira. You've met Satoshi already," Mrs. Morinozuka introduced. Satoshi grinned widely from where he bounced on his heels with pent up energy. Mr. Morinozuka smiled kindly at Dani.

"Oelrichs? Is that German?" he asked. Dani bit her lip and shrugged.

"I'm not sure. I just recently took on the surname. I lived with my mother before I moved here with my father, you see," she explained. Mr. Morinozuka nodded in understanding and Mrs. Morinozuka let out a soft "ah!" of understanding.

"Where did you live before?" Mrs. Morinozuka asked.

"Mexico City." And on the conversation went. It wasn't nearly as awkward as Dani imagined it to be as Mrs. Morinozuka smiled the entire time, Satoshi's undivided, devoted attention was on her, and Mr. Morinozuka had an easy, charismatic air about him making him easy to talk to. Mori sat next to Dani the entire time, and Dani could practically feel the pride radiating off of him. But whom he was proud of was a mystery to Dani.

Dinner was announced and Mori wheeled her into a Japanese dining room where he arranged a napkin on her lap and filled a plate of food for her when she pointed and asked politely (albeit extremely quietly).

"It's so nice that Takashi brought a friend to dinner. You two young men seem so close!" his mother asked. Dani took a bite of the sashimi and nearly died when it practically melted on her tongue. Their cook was outstanding.

"She's my girlfriend," Mori stated simply and Dani choked. The room was still and silent as Dani hacked into her napkin and his parents and brother stared at them. Mori merely patted Dani on the back until she regained her breath, and then continued eating as though nothing had happened.

"Girlfriend?" Satoshi asked, puzzled. "But…isn't 'Danny' a boy's name?"

"It's short for 'Danica'," Dani explained, her eyes wide with surprise, shock, and hopeful pleasure. Satoshi continued to stare at her before his eyes traveled to her chest in curiosity. Mr. Morinozuka smacked him upside the head for it.

"Sorry! She doesn't look like a girl!" Satoshi exclaimed. His mother smacked his arm.

"She's not supposed to," Mori answered. Dani blushed deeply.

"Why not?" Mrs. Morinozuka asked, looking extremely concerned. Dani fidgeted with her chopsticks.

"Protection against bullies," she whispered, flushing red again. Mori patted her foot in consolation. Mrs. Morinozuka gasped.

"Oh, you poor thing! That's just awful, I'm so sorry! Well, you shouldn't have any more problems with bullies anymore, not with the host club," Mrs. Morinozuka declared. Dani smiled, pleased, and exchanged a glance with Mori. His eyes shone with repressed happiness. They returned to eating, and Mr. Morinozuka smacked Satoshi again for looking for Dani's breasts once more.

After dinner, Mori and Satoshi disappeared and Mr. and Mrs. Morinozuka kept up an amiable conversation with Dani without alluding to Mori's sudden declaration. After a while, Mr. Morinozuka wheeled Dani into the dojo where Satoshi was enthusiastically hacking away at a dummy, and Mori was practicing in the middle of the floor, his entire body exuding concentration. Dani watched fascinated as he stepped with purpose and swung with strength and grace. The shinai was an extension of his arm; he moved as naturally as he breathed. Dani watched with the eyes of an artist, and slowly, a portrait painted itself in her mind, and a song began to play in her heart. When she caught flashes of his eyes, she saw determination, passion, and deep concentration reflected to her. The eyes that were so complex finally revealed to her a heart full of passion, full of life, and full of love. She could only imagine that it was how she looked when she sang.

Mori called Satoshi over, and they began to spar. Mori obviously had much more experience and outranked his younger brother, but Satoshi made up for that with his enthusiasm and measured strikes, always making sure his hit counted. He was shorter than his older brother and he didn't have the experience, but he held potential and he was determined to be just as good as his beloved older brother. Dani admired the bond they shared as they danced around each other, landing hits and blows before Mori ended the match with a fast smack to the head. They bowed and Satoshi removed his helmet, grinning ear to ear.

"That was great, Takashi!" he exclaimed. He turned to Dani. "What'd you think, Dani-sempai? Wasn't it a good one?"

Dani looked at Mr. Morinozuka who looked immensely proud of his sons. "I uh, actually don't know. I don't know anything about kendo," Dani admitted. Mori removed his helmet, causing her to choke on her next words. "But to me it looked amazing." Mori smiled slightly at her, which made her heart flip flop around.

Later, Mori plopped a small dog into Dani's lap, balancing a chicken in his other hand, and Dani squealed excitedly. They spent most of the evening playing with Mori's pets, and Dani slowly felt herself falling even more in love with him.

"Mori?" she asked in the limo as he took her home, sometime after midnight. He glanced over. "Um…did you mean what you said earlier? When you told your parents I was your girlfriend?" Dani was glad it was dark. She was sure her face was achieving shades of red previously unknown to man!

Mori slowly laced his fingers with hers, making her heart beat faster. She looked over and was surprised to see him blushing too. "Yeah." He turned to look at her, and even though it was dark, Dani saw the hope that was shining in his eyes. "Only if you want to."

"I do," she answered. Then she smiled. Mori smiled back, a genuinely happy smile and cupped her face. Dani's heart swelled and pounded as he leaned in closer.

The limo stopped, ruining the moment. Mori froze where he was, and then backed away, still blushing, but also still smiling. The chauffeur opened the door, letting Mori out first, and then Mori gently moved Dani from the limo to her wheelchair. At the door, he kissed her hand for a long moment. Then he looked straight into her eyes, stealing her breath away.

"Buenas noches, Dani," he murmured and Dani's heart nearly stopped. Before she could reply, he was back in the limo, and Oelrichs was opening the door, grinning widely. Dani turned beet red.

"I'm guessing it was a success, Dani?" he asked slyly. Dani stuttered incomprehensively as her father roared with laughter, wheeling her into the mansion. She gazed at all the beautiful decorations, and smiled. She was excited for her first Christmas with her father.

"Dad tomorrow is Christmas Eve!" she exclaimed. Her father wheeled her into the ballroom where an enormous tree stood, decorated in gold, silver, and red.

"Well, technically it's today, but yes it is!"

"Can I go to Mass?"

"Of course. I was going to go myself. However, we're going to an earlier Mass instead of midnight."

"Really? Why?"

Oelrichs winked at her. "It's a surprise." And he presented her with some marzipan.

.*.*.*.

"Hi Dani! We're here to take you shopping!" the host club declared the next morning on her front step. Dani stared at them, and the disgruntled Haruhi.

"Oh, no you're not!" Dani declared. "It is Christmas Eve, and I am going to spend it like a good Catholic! Praying, fasting, wrapping last minute gifts and going to Mass!"

"What? Why?" the twins asked. "Since we cancelled the Christmas party because you can't dance—"

"I can so dance! Just not in a wheelchair!"

"—we have nothing better to do! So we decided to bother you instead. And bring Haruhi along." Haruhi heaved a sigh.

"Well, I guess it's better than being alone. Dad has to work tonight," she muttered. Dani looked at her sadly.

"I guess you guys might as well come on in, it is pretty cold out," Dani said, opening the door wider and letting them in. Hunny bounced in immediately with Usa-chan, matching hats and scarves on both little person and bunny. Tamaki and Kyoya followed, and then the twins dragging Haruhi, and Mori who stooped to kiss Dani on the cheek. She turned scarlet.

"So what's the big deal about Christmas with Westerners anyway?" the twins asked. They gazed at the Christmas decorations in boredom. Dani gave them a look.

"It's the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ," she explained. "Didn't I tell you guys this back around Halloween?"

"Yeah, but why would we be bothered to remember it?" Hikaru asked. Kaoru smacked him. Haruhi followed suit.

"It's a big deal for me. It's my first Christmas with my dad, so I want to make it special," Dani said in a small voice, fiddling with her cast. Mori took her hand.

"Did I hear 'first Christmas with the most amazing father in the entire world'?" Mr. Oelrichs asked, coming out of his office. He nodded at the host club. "Hi guys."

"Well, you heard the 'first Christmas' part right," Dani joked. Oelrichs chuckled appreciatively.

"I have a last minute errand to run, so you kiddies behave while I'm gone, you got that? Dani, remember Mass is tonight at seven, we want to be there by six. You already went to Confession yesterday, right?"

"Yup! I'm all set! Though I want to go after Mass again."

"Okay fine, do that, but make it fast. You don't want your surprise to forget about you right? Oh, hello Hidalgo!" The puppy came running down the hallway at full speed and skidded to a stop in front of the host club. Tamaki's face lit up and he knelt to pet him. Hidalgo barked and proceeded to lick her face. The host club showered the puppy with affection before Tamaki dumped him in Dani's lap where he wriggled around and licked her face even more, his tail moving so quickly his entire hindquarters shook too. Dani laughed and Hidalgo plopped down on her lap, ready to stay there with his mistress. He looked at the host club as if to say I got the best seat! Tamaki laughed.

"He reminds me of my dog, Antoinette!" he exclaimed. Haruhi deadpanned. Dani gave her a questioning look and Haruhi replied with a look that said clearly you do not want to know.

"I am assuming, Dani, that with your injuries and your preparations for your holiday, you haven't written any more songs," Kyoya stated from where he was inspecting somewhat interestedly a German nutcracker holding a scepter.

Dani blinked for a moment and blushed. "I…actually have another one."

"Really, Dani-chan? Can we hear it?" Hunny asked excitedly. Dani avoided Mori's eyes, and nodded. Mori took her wheelchair and wheeled her into the music room where she directed him to the guitar. The twins plucked Hidalgo from Dani's lap and she placed the guitar in her lap, placing the pick on the grand piano.

"This is 'Itsumo Gawa ni'," she said softly, and with her fingertips, began playing a simple, plain melody that resonated through the room. She began to sing. "Nani mo iwazu ni sugu soba ni iru yo / Donna toki mo / Kanashii omoi wa sotto tsutaete yo / Kiiteru kara / Umaku iezu ni kimi o komarasete / Shimau no nara / Hitomi o tojite sotto yudanete yo / Dakishimeru kara / Sugite yuku kisetsu no naka de ima / Kono mune ni tashika na mono wa hitotsu sa / Anata o mamoru tame nara / Nani hitotsu oshiku wa nai / Donna itami de mo boku ga kawaru kara / Zutto soba ni iru yo / Kimi no kimochi ni kizukezu ni ita to / Shitta toki wa / Boku no chikara de dekiru koto subete / Todoketai kara / Itsu datte kimi to hohaba awase / Kore kara mo kawaranai omoi ga aru kara / Dakishimeta sono nukumori ga / Itsu made mo kienai you ni / Koboreta namida wa boku ga nuguu kara / Zutto soba ni iru yo / Anata o mamoru tame nara / Nani hitotsu oshiku wa nai / Donna itami de mo boku ga kawaru kara / Zutto soba de hohoendete / Dakishimeta sono nukumori ga / Itsu made mo kienai you ni / Koboreta namida wa boku ga nuguu kara / Zutto soba ni iru yo." The hosts clapped loudly and Dani looked up blushing. She sought out Mori's eyes and smiled at him. He looked surprised for a moment, then realization dawned on him and he smiled and blushed, pleased. Dani put her guitar away.

"That was awesome, Dani-chan! Who was that for?" Hunny asked, but Dani caught the sly look that flashed across his eyes. Dani flushed.

"That was Mori's song," she answered as casually as she could. The room was quiet and Dani saw Tamaki and Kyoya exchange knowing glances and the twins shared identical knowing grins. Haruhi was the only one who tried to hide the fact that she suspected it all along. Hunny kept on smiling like the evil little mastermind he was. Mori and Dani blushed simultaneously.

Finally Tamaki moved to the piano and sat at it. He played the opening chords, and Dani recognized the famous French carol. Dani opened her mouth to sing along, but Tamaki beat her to it by singing in French. "Ah! Quel grand mystère! / Dieu se fait enfant. / Il descend sur terre, / Lui, le tout-puissant! / C'est bien le Messie, / Roi de l'univers, / Qui nous rend la vie / En brisant nos fers. / Alleluia! Alleluia! / Chantons Noël! / Chantons le Roi du Ciel!" He grinned over top of the piano at Dani who could not for the life of her figure out what he was singing.

"Way to go, boss!"

"Yeah! Sing it!"

"For the love of God, Tamaki, please stop making that infernal racket."

"Keep playing, Tama-chan!"

"That was actually pretty good, sempai."

"THANK YOU, HARUHIIIIIII!" Tamaki declared, jumping up and twirling away from the piano in happiness. Dani wheeled over and began to play a Mexican carol she'd sang since she was a little girl.

"La Virgen se está peinando entre cortina y cortina. / Los cabellos son de oro y el peine de plata fina. / Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río. / Pero mira cómo beben por ver a Dios nacido. / Beben y beben y vuelven a beber. / Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer." She grinned. Then the twins opened their mouths.

"DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY!" they began, enthusiastically bouncing around the room. Hunny joined in. "FALALALALA! LALALALA! / 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY! / FALALALALA! LALALALA!"

Eventually, everyone joined in and most of the day was spent singing Christmas carols, loudly, badly, and off-key. When Dani looked at the grandfather clock around four, she gasped.

"Alright, everyone out! I have to start getting ready for Mass!" she announced, shooing everyone to the door. Tamaki, the twins, and Hunny all let out identical "aaaaw"s.

"Wait, wait Dani-chan! Can we come with you?" Hunny asked. Dani was surprised.

"Che? Really? You want to come?" Her accent got thicker. It often did when she was caught off-guard.

"Yeah, we wanna see what the big deal is," the twins agreed.

"I have no problem with that," Kyoya acquiesced. Tamaki nodded.

"It's been a while since I've been in a church," he stated, a faraway look on his face. Dani saw Haruhi watching him unknowingly.

"It beats staying at home," Haruhi muttered, sounding a bit relieved that she wasn't going to be alone.

"Yeah," Mori added, his eyes never straying from Dani's face. The twins snickered and made "ooooooh!" noises, prompting Dani and Mori to blush.

"W-well, if you guys want to come, then go home, put on a suit, and come back here by five forty-five sharp," she told them. The twins grinned wickedly, grabbed Haruhi, and disappeared. Tamaki ran after them protesting and crying, Kyoya followed disinterestedly, Hunny bounded out with them, humming a Christmas carol out of tune. Mori kissed Dani's hand—prompting a violent blush—and disappeared into the night. Takeno came in the room, grinning like her birthday had come early (instead of Christmas, which was the next day anyway).

"If you even try to deny liking Mori back, Dani, I'm going to leave you in the shower by yourself," she warned, still grinning. Dani's blush intensified.

"I uh, w-well—I um…I…I," Dani trailed off and Takeno patted her shoulder.

"I understand. Now let's get you ready for Mass, yes?"

An hour and a half later, Dani was staring at herself in the mirror, speechless. She was wearing a beautiful, deep forest green silk dress, edged in gold with diamond studded earrings and a single diamond set in gold about her neck, settling in the hollow of her throat, high above the V of dress's neckline. The dress was sleeveless and the A-line skirt avoided her casts, the fit hugging her every curve lovingly, and Dani never felt more beautiful in her entire life. Even her shoes were gold, her makeup was gold, and she had gold and diamond barrettes in her hair and hair extensions. The green dress felt as if it were made for her.

"You look so beautiful, Dani-chan," Takeno remarked, smiling behind her. Dani's eyes flicked to the nurse's.

"You're amazing, Takeno. I don't know if I'd ever be able to look this pretty again," Dani commented. Takeno gave a small laugh.

"Oh Dani, you're such a flatterer. I just enhanced your natural beauty. Now stop blushing, you're making all that hard work go to waste," she teased. Dani opened her mouth to retort, but the doorbell rang, and the front hall was full of the sound of hosts. Dani grabbed her mantilla and a heavy coat, and Takeno took her downstairs.

All the hosts were dressed for the occasion. Tamaki looked festive in his black suit with a red button up shirt under it and black tie. Kyoya wore a pinstripe suit and looked very dashing. The twins wore tweed suits and were teasing each other about looking like Dr. Who (whoever that was), and Hunny was wearing a dark olive green suit, still carrying Usa-chan. Haruhi was breathtaking in a simple, burgundy and silver dress with a wig, makeup and heels (which she awkwardly clunked around in), but Mori was who stole Dani's breath away. He wore a simple black suit also, but a forest green shirt was underneath, and he had a white poinsettia in his lapel. Dani blushed. Mori straightened from tying a red and gold bow around Hidalgo's neck, and smiled at Dani. Oelrichs came down the stairs, and looked around at everyone, smiling.

"Everyone ready to go?" he asked, and they all piled into the Oelrichs limo. Mori discreetly held Dani's hand the entire way there.

At the church, the hosts couldn't stop looking around and exclaiming over the smallest things. Haruhi sat quietly, squished between Kaoru and Tamaki who were twisting around, looking at the stained glass windows. Dani sat in the aisle because of her wheelchair. Oelrichs sat at the edge of the aisle, occasionally smiling at her, and Mori was on his other side, flipping through a missal interestedly.

"So Dad, what's the surprise?" Dani asked Oelrichs quietly. Oelrichs smiled and winked at her.

"You just have to wait until after Mass. Besides, I don't want to spoil it for your friends either," he answered.

Mass began and Dani shushed the hosts, lighting her candle, and singing along to the opening hymn in Japanese; familiar from Christmas Eve Masses in Mexico. She and Mori locked eyes, and smiled at each other.

When Mass was over, Oelrichs pointed out the window and grinned. "Look, Danica. Your first snowfall."

Dani whipped her head around, and sure enough, there were little white flakes drifting by the windows and beginning to stick to the sidewalk. Dani gasped ecstatic; she'd never seen snow.

"¡Papá, llévame fuera!" she exclaimed and her father wheeled her outside where Dani put her hands out and tried to catch the snowflakes, watching them melt quickly in her warm hands. She laughed happily.

Back in Rosecliff, Oelrichs ushered everyone into the dining room, and waited, looking excited.

"Dad, is this your surprise?" Dani asked, puzzled. Oelrichs nodded. Mori's hand brushed Dani's under the table, making her blush, but they laced their fingers together anyway.

"Yes it is, Dani! Every year, back in the States after Christmas Eve Mass, my family and I would have their Christmas Eve dinner. A very special Christmas Eve dinner." The doors to the kitchens opened, and the kitchen staff filed out, all holding platters of—"Chicken wings!"

Dani's eyes went wide as a small mountain of delicious-smelling hot chicken wings, smothered in hot sauce, looking deliciously crispy and crunchy and spicy. "This was your Christmas Eve dinner?" Dani asked, picking a chicken wing up and staring at it.

"Yup! It's been a tradition for years. Dig in!" Oelrichs declared, and happily began to munch on the first chicken wing. The hosts looked around at each other, and followed suit. The room was full of the sound of surprised, pleased noises of satisfaction, and Dani nearly had a heart attack the wings were so good.

"Dad, where did you get them?" she asked, starting on her ninth wing. Oelrichs was filling his plate again.

"Had them flown in fresh from the Anchor Bar today. That's where hot wings were invented, actually. Best wings in the United States!" he declared. Hunny was making squeaking happy noises to his left, and Tamaki was making loud "OM NOM NOM" noises on his right. Even Kyoya, Mori, and Haruhi were happily munching on their Mountains of Amazing.

Dani glanced across the table to Haruhi who was smiling gently. Haruhi looked up and they shared a smile. A smile that contained hundreds of words that meant happiness.

They ate nothing but chicken wings until they were all stuffed, and then washed them down with milk and sugar cookies, which was strangely enough quite delicious.

After dinner, Oelrichs shooed everyone into the ballroom where they took Christmas photos in front of the enormous tree in the ballroom, gifts stacked beneath it, and boughs hung with Christmas lights and decorations. The hosts took pictures, then Oelrichs and Dani. When the clock struck midnight, the hosts all filed out, wishing Dani and Oelrichs a Merry Christmas, except for Mori who stayed behind for a moment. Oelrichs slipped away, smiling knowingly, and Dani blushed.

"Your first Christmas in Japan," he started, taking her hand. Dani nodded, face redder than Haruhi's dress.

"It was beautiful," Dani sighed, unable to avert her eyes from Mori's no matter how badly she wanted to. She was still so shy. "But don't you spend it with your family?"

"Not a big deal in Japan," he told her and Dani nodded. That's right. Catholics were a minority in Japan.

"Did you like it?"

Mori nodded. "Yeah." He fished in his pocket for a moment and brought out a long, slender black velvet box. Dani stared, heart racing. She was trying not too hope too much. "Your Christmas present," he said, and opened it.

Nestled on the black velvet in the box was a delicately exquisite, emerald and diamond gold bracelet, shining and sparkling in the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree. Dani gasped.

"Oh Mori," she breathed. He took it from the box and wound it around her wrist, clasping it firmly. One of his hands traveled up her arm to caress her cheek and he smiled at her. Dani smiled at him and reached around the Christmas tree, gently tugging one of the gifts free. She handed it to him. He opened it to see one of the most lifelike oil paintings he'd ever seen. His eyes widened and his cheeks flushed pink in pleasure. It was an oil painting of him, sparring, and the shinai almost imperceptible because of how fast it was brought down. It was as if she had taken a photograph of him in action, and then painted it. It was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his life.

"Feliz Navidad, Mori," Dani whispered. Mori turned to look at her and Dani found herself lost in his beautiful eyes again. His fingertips again brushed her face until he cupped it in his hand, gently guiding her.

Mori's lips gently brushed hers, then touched, and finally pressed to hers in a sweet, gentle, timid kiss. Fire, ice, electricity and something hot shot through Dani's body, pumping through her veins and sending her heart into overdrive. Dani's brain shut down as she kissed him back, her eyes sliding closed and a hand brought tentatively up to touch his face.

The kiss ended after a few seconds (or was it a few years?), too soon for both of them. Dani blushed even more intensely, but her eyes sparkled with happiness, mirroring Mori's. He kissed her again, longer this time.

"Merry Christmas, Dani," he whispered. He kissed her hand, took up the gift she had given him, and was gone.

Dani sat in the empty ballroom, alone except for the tree, dark except for the Christmas lights, and she touched her lips, smiling. Her first kiss. Mori had kissed her.

MORI HAD KISSED HER!

Dani was quite sure she was on her way to falling desperately in love with him if she wasn't already. And as she lay in bed that night, nearly asleep, she realized she really couldn't have asked for a better, more beautiful Christmas.

I love Christmas.

I think it was about time for Dani to meet Mori's family! I know nothing about Mori's mother, or if he even has one, so I made one up. I love Satoshi. He's such a fun, awesome little bugger—I mean brother.

Dani's first Christmas with her dad! Aw, how sweet. I love Christmas so much; it really is the most wonderful time of the year. And with the hosts, it's also probably the craziest time of the year.

Dani wrote Mori's song! Finally! Mori's character song is my favorite out of all the hosts' songs. So simple and beautiful.

The Christmas carol Tamaki sings is a 19th century French carol called "Ah! Quel grand mystère!" Not sure who it's by. The one Dani sings is "Los Peces en el Rio", a traditional Mexican carol. And everyone knows "Deck the Halls". Although, sung by Japanese, the "falalalala" would probably be "farararara" instead. XD

NEXT WEEKEND IS ANIMEUSA AND I AM SUPER FREAKING EXCITED!

The chicken wing tradition is something my family has done for years. We love it. It's one of our favorites. We get home from Mass, take pictures, change into our pajamas, and go to town on chicken wings and Mexican hot chocolate. Then we leave out cookies for Santa. Yes, I'm a 21 year old woman who leaves cookies out for Santa.

I wasn't actually going to have Mori kiss her until much later, but it fit here too well to not put it in. OMG THEY FINALLY KISSED!

Hey guys, please review! I'm super happy with this chapter and I want to know what you think! So leave a review on your way out! I probably won't be able to update for a while, so leave a review to help motivate me!

Oh, by the way, Dani is making an appearance in SelestynaArpa364's story Short. Go read it! Dani is in it! *excited squealing*

Until next time, my friends! REVIEW!

~La Principessa Dell'Opera

P.S.

Buenas noches- good night (Spanish. Dani totally would freak out if Mori started speaking Spanish)

Ah! Quel grand mystère! / Dieu se fait enfant. / Il descend sur terre, / Lui, le tout-puissant! / C'est bien le Messie, / Roi de l'univers, / Qui nous rend la vie / En brisant nos fers. / Alleluia! Alleluia! / Chantons Noël! / Chantons le Roi du Ciel!- Oh! What a great mystery! / God makes himself a child. / He comes down to Earth, / He, the all-powerful! / It really is the Messiah, / King of the universe, / Who gives life back to us / By breaking our chains. / Hallelujah! Hallelujah! / Let us sing Christmas! / Let us sing the King of Heaven (French carol)

La Virgen se está peinando entre cortina y cortina. / Los cabellos son de oro y el peine de plata fina. / Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río. / Pero mira cómo beben por ver a Dios nacido. / Beben y beben y vuelven a beber. / Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.- The Virgin is combing her hair between the curtains. / Her hairs are of gold and the comb of fine silver. / But look at how the fishes in the river drink. / But look how they drink in order to see God born. / They drink and they drink and they return to drink, / the fishes in the river, to see God being born. (Mexican carol)

Che- what (Italian)

Mantilla- a veil women use to cover their heads in churches as a sign of respect. Mostly unused practice, but I still wear one myself.

¡Papá, llévame fuera!- Daddy, take me outside! (Spanish)

Feliz Navidad- Merry Christmas (Spanish)

P.P.S.

Thanks for the well-wishes guys! My arm is getting much better! Best thing though, no cast!