Seimei glared at Soubi's confused face, rubbing his temples.
"I'm telling you to get Ritsuka out of here for a while, I'm trying to do something!"
Soubi knit his brow together.
"So you want Kio and I to take him out? For how long?"
"Until I call you and tell you to come back, do you think you can handle that Soubi?"
Soubi frowned. "Is that an order?"
Seimei looked at Soubi incredulously.
"Why do you insist in trying me over and over, knowing that I'm trying my hardest to get along with you people!"
Soubi gave the Sacrifce a mischevious smile, tuning to head toward Ritsuka's room.
"I'll go get him."
XXXX
Ritsuka was busy trying to pull his black and pink striped shirt over his growing belly. He frowned, pulling at it's hem.
"Seimei, my pants won't button anymore." He whined, turning to his brother.
Seimei raised a brow, looking up from his book.
"Really? We can't have you running around with your pants undone. Come here let me have a look."
Ritsuka sauntered over to where Seimei sat, pouting. Semei just laughed, tugging at his little brother's waist.
"Hmmmm...this poses a problem, let me see what I can do..."
Seimei reached up and pulled the ruberband hold up Rituka's hair, he then looped it around the hole in the boy's jeans, hooking the band on his button.
Ritsuka grinned.
"You always know how to fix things Seimei." He trew his arms around Seimei neck, tackling his onto the bed.
Seimei laughed, tightening his hold around the boy's waist.
"You have to be careful my love, you don't want to squish the baby do you?"
Ritsuka shook his head avidly.
"Good now go get your sweater on, Soubi and Kio have been waiting forever for you."
Ritsuka nodded, getting up from between Seimei's legs. It took him more effort than he wanted to admit, but he shrugged it off, heading off into the livingroom.
"Ready yet Rit-chan! I'm getting old here!" Kio pipped, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. Soubi rolled his eyes.
"Don't listen to him, if you have to take forever then take for ever Ritsuka, it's fine."
Ritsuka frowned, pouting.
"I'm not taking that long...Seimei just had to fix my pants, I guess they're too small already."
Soubi looked down at the specially rigged waist band, and laughed.
"that's so cute! I guess we'll have to get you maternity clothes!"
"yay!!! Clothes shopping!" Kio chimed in, clapping.
Ritsuka just stared at them in horror.
"Ma-ma-ma-."
"Come let's go shopping!" Kio shouted, grabbing the catatonic boy's hand.
"BUt I don't want maternity clothes!" Ritsuka cried.
Kio shrugged, pulling him out the door.
"Maybe you shouldn't have gone all the way with your brother then."
Soubi shut the door behind them, shaking his head.
XXXXX
Seimei looked around the empty house sighing. He couldn't believe how empty it looked.
Seimei shook his head in disappointment. He understood why Soubi didn't celebrate Christmas, but why not Kio?!
"Ritsuka must be so sad..." Seimei whispered to himself as he walked out to his car. "I will take care of this."
He unlocked the car, pulling out a huge box of decorations, he stumbled backward, almost falling over.
"Holy hell!" He exclaimed, regaining his balance.
He lugged the box up stairs, carfully, trying not to fall over again.
He reached the apartemnt and tossed the bow on the ground, panting. Seimei went over to the radio hanging from the botom of the cabnet in the kitchen and turned it on, smiling.
"Good evening! And Meri-kurisumasu! It's Zen yasai, Kurisumasu (A/N Christmas eve) and we're playing the best in western music for you tonight., like a great rendition of Rudloph the akai hana Tonakai, and Chinchin Yobirin!" (A/N loosley translates to jingle bells)
Seimei smiles, wiping his brow. Maybe this would put him more in the christmas spirit.
He sighed pulling out his cell phone, he called a number and waited somewhat impatiently for the other line to pick up,tapping his foot.
"Kurisumaus Mastsunoki Senmu!" (A/N loosly translates to Christmas Pinetree Service -_-')
"I Need a tree...now."
The line was silent, and Seimei wasn't sure but he thought he heard laughing on the other end. He grit his teeth, rubbing his temples.
"Yes, I need a tree now, and I need it delivered."
He was sure he heard laughing now.
"You're crazy, it's Christmas eve and You expect us to deliver you tree this short notice? You must have a very big pocket book."
Seimei growled, he was really trying not to overreact, as Ritsuka put it, but he was passed his line of good judgment. He was mad now.
"God damn it, you bring me a tree right now or I'll come down there and purge your bodies of every drop of blood it posseses, until you all lay dry and brittle like a bunch of washed up, sun bleached, seaurchins!"
The man on the other line coughed nervously.
"Oh , excuse me sir, I didn't realized how urgent this was. If you have enough to cover the costs we'll be glad enough to bring the tree to your residence."
Seimei sighed, running his hands through his hair.
"If you get here fast enough I'll spare your lives."
XXXXXXX
Ritsuka walked out of the dressing room, blushing profusely. He looked down, averting his eyes from Kio and Soubi's stare.
"You look adorible Rit-chan! I think dresses suit you!"
Ritsuka looked up and glared daggers at his friend.
"Boys don't wear dresses, Kio."
Soubi raised his hand, smiling.
"Yes they do, Ritsuka, drag queens wear them all the time."
The boy gasped, his face becoming even redder.
"I'm not a drag queen!!"
Ritsuka retreated into the dressing room again, pulling the little black maternity dress over his head and throwing it to the floor. He reached for a grey v neck sweater and pulled it on, studying his refection in the mirror. This wasn't so bad, it looked like something he might wear if he wasn't getting bigger by the day.
He threw it in a pile with some jeans and a few shirts and vests he had picked out. It was his "keep" pile.
He sighed, putting his regular clothes back on, some of his clothes still had tail holes in them...so it was about time he went shopping anyway he shrugged. Ritsuka tried to slip on his shoes, but much to his dismay even they were getting tighter on his feet.
"Damn it all!" He exclaimed, bending over to pick up his "keep" pile.
Soubi knocked on the door, bending over to look into the small white stall. Ritsuka frowned at him.
"Why did you knock if you were just gonna use your hight to spy on me anyway?"
Soubi smiled, shrugging.
"To be polite?"
Ritsuka blushed, opening the door.
"I don't know why they make these things so damn small, this is a pregnant people store, they know how huge we all are!"
Kio raised a brow, taking Ritsuka's new clothes from his arms.
"You're not that big yet, Rit-chan, you'll probably get quite a bit bigger."
Soubi clasped a hand over Kio's mouth, shaking his head nervously.
Ritsuka gave a exasperated sigh.
"I love spending time with you guys, alot, and I really needed to get Seimei a gift...but forgive me if I'm missing him. I kind of just want to go home and spend Christmas eve with my brother. It's been so long since I have."
Soubi frowned, rubbing the back of his head.
"I understand, so um...what do you say we go find that gift for him and we'll head home. Ok?"
Ritsuka smiled widley, following Kio to the check out area.
"Really?! You guys usually make me shop until I can't bare to stand anymore!"
Kio laughed looking over to Soubi's grimace.
"are we really that bad?"
Ritsuka nodded, his face serious.
"Yes."
They left the depatement store and back out into the mall. It was fantasically decorated, seeming almost surreal, with it's gigantic velvet bows and gloden lights shimmering eveywhere. Every inch of the place glimmered with a soft glow and smelled lightly of fresh coffee and pine. Ritsuka gazed at all of the red and gold, he smiled when he saw teddy bears and rocking horses suspened before the crowd of people shopping.
He watched as happy couples strolled around, holding hands and conversating. They all seemed so relaxed, so proccupied with being happy.
He sighed, smiling lightly.
Soubi elbowed him.
"Hey wanna go into that store?"
Ritsuka turned to see two giant windows with a bunch of colorful boxes wrapped elegantly in silver ribbon. He was so busy marvling over the oversized oresnats he almost didn't notice that it was a childrens store.
They all walked over to the place that was called "Heads and Tails". Ritsuka blinked in wonder as he walked past all of the baby displays, each one with thier own theme. He stopped at a display with a exquiste crib, made with a light colored wood and covered in white lace ruffles. His head beat began to speed up as he stared intently at all of the little outfits.
"Th-they're so tiny..." He whispered, reaching out to touch one of the little white dresses.
"This your first?"
Ritsuka was interupted the soft sweet voice of a looked up suddenly, blushing profusly.
"H-Huh? What?" Ritsuka looked down and placed a hand intinctivley on his belly. "Oh...um yes...it's my first baby."
The woman was so pretty, she was quite a bite older than him, but she had a youngness about her. The way her auburn curles cascaded around her face made her look almost angelic. Ritsuka stared at her and then he could eel his face grow hot.
Oh, he thought suddenly, she looks like a older girl version of Seimei.
"Oh, let me se here...can I guess?"
Ritsuka looked up, blinking.
"Oh...you want to touch?"
The woman nodded sheepishly.
"Sorry I just love motherhood, it's why I work here. Hah, I have four of my own." She laughed softly, covering her mouth. She was a few inches taller than Ritsuka was. "I hope it's not too forward of me, Ma'am."
Ritsuka shook his head, removing his hands from his stomach. Ma'am?
"You can feel. It's ok."
The woman reached down and placed a hand on Ritsuka's tummy, looking concentrated.
"Hmmm I'm guessing about five or maybe even six months."
Ritsuka gaped at her, blushing deeply.
"I-I..." He thought for a moment before he remebered how quickly he was developing. "Oh...heh, you're right. F-five months."
She smiled broadly, removing her hand.
"Do you know what it is yet?"
Ritsuka looked at his shoes, shaking his head.
"My doctor said at my ultra sound that we couldn't see it. Had something to do with the angle and the baby's possition."
The beautiful woman frowned, arching her brow.
"That's too bad, I always look forward to that, knowing what it is." She grinned suddenly again, placing a hand on Ritsuka's shoulder. "I can tell you what it is! I'm pretty good at predicting."
Ritsuka smiled at the woman, nodding.
"Sure!"
The woman placed her hand on his belly again, feeling it at diferent angles. She then stood back with her hand on her chin, examining.
"Hmmm...judging on how you look...hmmm...I'd say you were having a boy!"
Ritsuka looked down at his belly, grinning.
"You think so? I'll have to come back and tell you after I have it, to see if you were right."
The woman nodded, laughing a bit.
"Of course!" She rubbed the back of her head, smiling bashfully. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Mikoko Saskia. Pleased to meet you Miss...miss?"
Ritsuka blushed again, placing a hand on his back.
"I-I'm Ritsuka Aoyagi."
XXXXX
Soubi reached through all of the toys in the very back of the children's store. he rifled through the clearance items, frowning.
"Do you think Seimei would like this?" Soubi held up a dingy looking jiggaly lizzard toy. Kio slapped it out of his hand.
"You can't be serious, Sou- chan. Why are you even getting that prick a present? I mean, come on, he stole Ritsuka from you, seduced him, got him pregnant, and then he started squating in our house!"
Soubi rolled his eyes at Kio, smiling.
"He can't steal something from me that was never mine in the first place, Kio-kun."
Kio frowned, picking up a light -up yoyo.
"What do you mean?"
Soubi sighed placing his arm across Kio's shoulders.
"I mean when Seimei took him, he had said somthing to me that I couldn't forget...I just couldn't stop thinking about it. He told me that Ritsuka was always his...and that he loved him. I didn't understand that until Ritsuka came home and we learned what he and Seimei had done. Then I understood it. I was always Ritsuka's protector and friend to him...and I could never be more than that because, Ritsuka and Seimei belonged to one another, since way before I had ever met either one of them."
Kio nodded, looking at his shoes.
"I guess that makes sense. But you know, i think you need something in your life that makes you happy...when have you ever had someone like that?"
Soubi looked down at Kio with startled features.
"What do you mean?! I've had someone like that for years!"
Kio made an incedulous face at him, his hands on his hips.
"I don't mean Ritsuka, he has Seimei you dork."
Soubi shook his head, frowning.
"You can be very slow sometimes Kio."
KIo looked up at his friend, studying his intent features.
"Slow?"
Soubi leaned down and softly covered Kio's mouth in a kiss. It was very sweet, intending only to show emmotion. He moved his mouth over Kio's slowly, tasting him just a bit.
Kio sood there with eye's like saucers, his face the deepest red. He gasped into Soubi's mouth with suprise. He let them moment sink in before he shut his eyes tightly, grabbing a fist full of Soubi's soft blond hair.
They kissed for a minute passionatly, before Soubi pulled away from him; Kio gasped.
"SOU-CHAN!"
Soubi laughed, putting his arm back around Kio's shoulders.
"Let's go get Ritsuka."
XXXXXXXXXXX
Seimei had just finished sliding a few more rolls of Sushi onto a ceramic place when he heard the key turn in lock. He smiled broadly, feeling excited.
After all of the work he had gone through to decorate the aparment and the tree, after cooking all of the cakes and making the sushi here was the moment he had been waiting for. He sure had gone through hell with that damn tree delivering service...those bastards left the tree next to the stairs, rang the door bell, and then took off in thier truck; leaving Seimei to pull the damn tree up the stairs by himself.
Seimei growled...they didn't even ask for their payment.
"Frosty the Konayuki Man" played in the background as Ritsuka entered the apartment. Seimei grinned as he saw his little brother's eyes widen, his lovley mouth slightly agape.
"Oh Seimei..." He breathed, looking around slowly.
The peanut gallery was silent for once as they stared at their newly transformed aparment, hand in hand.
Ritsuka dropped the presents in his arms and ran over to Seimei. his arms out stretched.
Seimei laughed sweetly as Ritsuka threw his arms around his waist.
"Oh I love it, I absoluslty love it! OH Seimei... are these the old decorations from our house...my god." Ritsuka sobbed happily into his brother's chest, going between laughing and crying.
Seimei pet his hair, leaning down to kiss his head.
"I couldn't let Ritsuka go through the holiday without a tree...Don't cry please."
Ritsuka looked up into his brother's eyes, blinking back tears.
"I don't know why I'm crying, I feel so silly...is that cake?"
Seimei looked behind him at the pink cakae adorned by robbons.
"Oh yes, I like sweets, You know that." Seimei wrinkled his nose and smiled down at Ritsuka's glimmering eyes.
Ritsuka nodded and took his hand.
"Let's eat brother, I'll tell you about my day...I met the most interesting woman."
Seimei walked with him over to the table, a satisfied look on his face.
"You'll have to tell me all about it."
Kio watched as the brothers laughed and smiled, forgetting the rest of the world exsisted.
"Is this what you meant, Sou-chan?"
Soubi nodded, his hand on Kio's lower back.
"Yes, but I realized after my revalation, that I was never alone...I've always had you, Kio."
Kio stared off smiling, his chest aching at his memories.
"Always."
Soubi smiled, looking down at his friend over his glasses.
"Thank you, Kio-kun. I've never had anyone better."
Kio frowned, looking up at his taller friend.
"Really, what about Ritsuka, or Minami...I know you were close to him."
Soubi shook his head, pulling Kio into a tight hug. Kio blushed, looking around, before he rested his head on Soubi's chest.
"You always took care of me...after Seimei faked his death...when I was at my worst. I-I can't ever repay you for that, but just know that I hold you deep in my heart."
Kio's eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around Soubi's waist.
"You know...you don't have to stay on the couch...you could always share my room with me."
Soibi raised a brow, looking down at Kio's head.
"Well, the couch is getting to be bit uncomfortable..."
Kio smiled, looking up to meet Soubi's gaze.
"You sure you want to eat sushi made by an evil axe murderer?"
Soubi shurgged.
"I heard they were the best cooks, I bet the tuna is spicey."
They both laughed in unison, still holding tightly to one another.