AN: Chapter 8 - "I Saw Santa On The Rooftop" and "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer"
Chapter 9- "T'was The Night Before Christmas"
As you can see, I have to cut down on the number. Now I'm just shooting for 12, though if I write more, I'll just change the title again.
I still have the other Christmas story to write and another chapter of HtYnE to finish. I also have a 6 day week at work (this is my only day off this week D:) and a lot of other stuff to do. And cookies to make! Oh the cookies I need to make for presents! (chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar, date nut, and maybe snicker doodles if I have time).
Hope you enjoy this one. It's a bit less silly this time! Thank you for reading and reviewing! *puts out a box of Blue Eyes White Dragon plushies with Santa hats on*
Ryou carefully wrapped a framed photograph of himself in layers of bubble wrap and carefully packed it in the box atop a fleece blanket. Next he added a angel and a sprig of mistletoe before pouring in small S-shaped styrofoam pellets.
"What in Zorc's name are you doing now, yadonushi?" Bakura asked his host irritably as his translucent form appeared beside Ryou.
"Dad can't make it home for Christmas this year," Ryou stated, grabbing a bag full of fake snow.
"This surprises you because...?" the spirit queried. Of all the mortals he had sent to the shadows or trapped within game pieces, none deserved it more than the father of his host. For years he watched as Ryou had grown up virtually alone, his archaeologist father too busy poking around Egypt to come home more than once a year if that. True, he sent money and gifts to his son, but Ryou was far from materialistic. Even Bakura could see what the boy lacked for a loving family. It reminded him so much of his youth: growing up alone with no one to turn to for advice.
Well, at least Bakura gave Ryou advice, not that the boy listened to it.
"...I guess it doesn't..." Ryou admitted sadly, tossing in a handful of the glistening cellophane bits. "But...I really don't have anyone else to celebrate Christmas with so it always feels a little better at least when I send dad something. Usually it's cookies or something small, but this year I..." Ryou trailed off, his shoulders sagging. "Just...let me enjoy Christmas this year, alright? It's the first year I've actually had friends."
"That midget and his band of goody-two-shoes are hardly worthy of being your friends," the thief spat. "Yugi has the Millennium Puzzle, which I want, and also plays host to the spirit it houses. The time will come when I kill him, so don't get too attached."
"That's the problem...I want to be friends with Yugi, Honda, Anzu, and Jounouchi, but you won't let me. How is that even fair?" the teen asked, raising his voice a bit. Bakura raised a brow.
"Fair?" Ryou shrank back from the spirit, muttering apologies. With a sigh, Bakura rolled his eyes. "You're too weak, yadonushi." He was silent for a moment before folding his arms over his chest. "You can have your frivolous holiday, but the day after it's finished, I will expect your obedience."
Ryou looked up, startled. "You'll...I can celebrate with my friends?" the teen asked hopefully.
Bakura rolled his eyes. "You can do as you please."
"Until...until January second?"
"Don't push your luck, yadonushi," the thief growled. "I, in the mean time, will stay in the Ring until these festivities cease. Don't try anything funny, I will be watch-" Bakura grunted as Ryou attached himself to his waist. He wanted to be annoyed with his host for touching him, but he found himself at a loss for words.
"For however much time I have, thank you, Bakura," Ryou said softly.
"Che, stupid yadonushi," the thief muttered, petting the teen's hair. Realization of what he was doing set in and he vanished into the Millennium Ring, Ryou losing balance and crashing to the floor.
With a smile, the teen was back on his feet. He finished sealing the package for his father and ran off to mail it as well as to buy presents for his friends.
At the Kaiba mansion
"Alright, let's see here," Jounouchi hummed to himself, looking over the table.
"I found a box, Jounouchi!" Mokuba called, rushing toward the blond.
"That's perfect, Mokie! Should hold everything."
"Yeah...I wish Seto could be home for Christmas though..." the raven haired teen sighed, seting the empty box on the table and starting to pad it.
"Me too," Jounouchi sighed, shaking his head. "Heh, listen to me, soundin' like a woman or something when I've only been dating Seto for two months."
"That shows you really care though, despite the stupid fights you still get in," Mokuba laughed.
"Well, it wouldn't be normal for us to not fight I guess," Jounouchi laughed. "Now then, we've got gingerbread cookies, some candy canes..." he started to pack the items in the box.
"Here's his stocking!" Mokuba chimed. "And I filled it with his favorite Christmas candies!" He packed it into the box as well.
"Well then, there's not much ass he'd want, is there?" Jounouchi asked.
"Oh! I almost forgot! The kitchen staff made him a fruitcake. It should be read to pack too! I'll get it!" Mokuba raced off to the kitchen.
"Yuck, fruitcake?" Jounouchi stuck out his tongue. Once he was certain that the younger teen was out of sight, he smiled and pulled a small, slightly crushed envelop from his back pocket. With a smirk, he grabbed a pen and scrawled on the back "Merry Christmas from your favorite fruitcake". "Gods, I've gotten so mushy in jus' two months," he chuckled, quickly tucking the envelope into the box.
A few days later in New York, NY, USA
"Mr. Kaiba, there's a package for you from Japan," the woman at the hotel desk called to him as he was leaving. The CEO came to the counter and lifted the box, a faint smile touching his lips for a moment before fading.
"Thank you," he muttered, continuing on his journey to the limo awaiting him outside. Once seated, he felt the smile gracing his lips once more as he cut open the packing tape and inspected the contents. Upon finding the envelope, he opened it as well, finding a Christmas card. He had never been fond of the idea of greeting cards, finding them a waste of time and money.
This was, however, the first one he had ever been the recipient of. After reading the personal note Jounouchi had written him, he immediately reached for his cell phone, his fingers stilling before he could dial the familiar numbers to call home. Grasping the limo's phone, he gave the driver a few instructions and made several other phone calls. By the time he arrived at his new destination, he had transferred the contents of the package into his briefcase and tucked the card into his trench coat.
At the Kaiba mansion the next day
"Thanks for coming guys. Christmas Eve just wouldn't have been the same without you," Jounouchi grinned at his friends. Mokuba had insisted on inviting Yugi, Honda, Anzu, and Ryou over to the mansion for a small get together and so they could exchange gifts and stories.
Unbeknownst to those in attendance, Yami and Bakura had even arranged a silent truce in light of the holiday season their hikari's valued to greatly. They floated near the Christmas tree, both questioning why having a tree cut down, set up indoors, and covering it with sparkley lights and decorations was part of the tradition.
"Thanks for inviting us," Yugi smiled.
"Man, how can Kaiba abandon you at Christmas time?" Honda griped, slouching back on the leather couch.
"Seto's really busy this year," Mokuba cut in. "The duel disk system is really popular and he has to make sure everything is running smoothly."
"Yeah," Jounouchi nodded. "I heard it's outselling the new game consoles that came out. If he could be home, he would be."
"Feh, I still don't see what you see in him Jounouchi," the spike-haired brunette grumbled.
"Love if funny sometimes," Ryou laughed softly, fingering the ring under his sweater thoughtfully. "Sometimes you just can't question why or who you love, you just have to enjoy it."
Bakura eyed the back of Ryou's head.
"And sometimes love just sort of falls into your lap, right?" Yugi added, cupping the Millennium Puzzle in his hands. Atem smiled, resisting the urge to hug the short teen from behind.
"Really, Pharaoh? Have you no restraint?" Bakura mocked the other spirit.
"Say what you will, but at least I am not blind," Yami shrugged.
The thief hmphed and crossed his arms irritably. "Were it not for our truce and my promise to Ryou, you would be dead right now."
Yami shrugged, turning his gaze to the entrance of the den. "Did you hear that?"
"I can't hear anything over your obnoxious prat- oh, look," Bakura nodded his head toward the entrance.
Mokuba leapt off the couch, rushing toward the figure framed in the doorway. "Seto!"
The CEO set his briefcase down and caught his brother up in a hug. "Seem I made it home in time for Christmas," he sighed.
Jounouchi grabbed the brunette once he had released Mokuba, kissing him warmly despite Honda's groan of protest and Anzu and Yugi giggling. "Heh...caught ya," Jounouchi smirked. Seto looked up to see a sprig of mistletoe over his head. "Always wanted ta do that..."
AN: And there we go. Fear the cuteness! Fear the Christmas Special...ness...
Hope you enjoyed it!