Me: Chapter 11! Sorry, it's a little short. Mostly talking. But it's important.
Estelle: Uh-huh. Sylph owns nothing.
Chapter 11: Christmas Day...
Outside, precisely at five thirty, you could hear a roar of, "GET UP, BIG BROTHER!!!" from the residence of Kyo, Tohru, Katsuya, and Kyoko Sohma. Then, it was followed by a, "GET THE HECK OUTTA MY ROOM!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT FREAKING TIME IT IS?!"
Then, their father bellowed, "SHUT UP!!"
Okay, you got the picture.
Kyoko urged and urged Katsuya to get up until he finally did, then Katsuya got into the spirit, and both were debating on who was going to try and wake their mother and father up first. It ended up being Kyoko, and Katsuya watched from the doorway. He grinned and pushed her in. Kyoko gave him an evil glare, then tip-toed inside. She muttered, "Mom? Dad?"
Tohru moaned and said, "What is it?"
"Christmas. Time to get up. Please?"
"In a minute, sweetie." Tohru turned on her side.
Kyo murmured, "Which means in an hour."
Kyoko groaned and walked out. They waited fifteen minutes, and Katsuya went in next. He sighed, "C'mon, guys, get up."
Kyo threatened, "I'm gonna throw you outside in a minute. Another ten minutes, okay?"
"Well, to throw me out, you'd have to get out of bed." Katsuya grinned.
"Smart-aleck."
Tohru then sat up and turned on the lamp beside her bed. She rubbed her eyes, "Okay. I'm up. I'll be out in a second."
The Cat left and grinned triumphantly at the Horse, who frowned. Normally, it took them three times, but, their mother was probably catching on.
---
Estelle looked at the snowy sky, "Christmas day."
Koji nodded, "I regret that our children will never have a real Christmas."
"If only we could change back. Even if only once a year for Christmas. It would be a great time for them."
"Watch out. The road." Koji called to their children.
Kai, being the oldest, stopped his siblings, and sniffed around, listening carefully to hear if there were any cars approaching. There weren't. They moved quickly across the road. The Shiina's were making their way to a nearby wolf reservation that they had. Yuriko frowned, "Aren't we almost there?"
"Almost. Just a little farther." Estelle assured, "We should get there by midday."
Then, off in the distance, they heard faint bells and music. Rika blinked, "What's going on? Is it a celebration?"
The parents had a twinge of guilt. Koji told them, "It's Christmas day."
"Christmas?" Takuto blinked.
They went into discussion as they moved, and when they were done, Kai growled, "And you never told us?!"
"We didn't think-"
"No, you didn't think!" Toya burst.
The teen pups all gave them hurt and angry looks. Kai leading, they all ran off. Koji called, "Hey! Where're-"
Takuto barked, "Leave us alone!"
Estelle and Koji ran after them.
A twig snapped.
Three traps set off.
Cages slammed.
Tires squealed.
And another slam.
---
Kyo, Tohru, Katsuya, and Kyoko were making their way to the Sohma Estate, Kyo and Tohru still a little sleepy. Kyo muttered, "The one day that I want to always sleep in...and it gets ruined."
"C'mon, Dad, you outta be used to it by now." Kyoko grinned.
"Uh, no."
"Here we are." Tohru pointed out, not feeling like putting up with a morning argument.
"Hey! You're finally here!"
They all looked at the entrance, seeing the bearer of the spirit of the Dog. He had Shigure's hair color, but with more dark brown eyes. He was around 7 years old. Kyoko waved, "Hey, Hajime!"
"I was wondering when you were getting here! Nari's in there already, and she's anxious to see a certain someone!" Hajime winked at Katsuya.
The Cat hissed, "Ya know, for two kids, you act older, but more childish than your age."
"We're just good that way. Now go see your girlfriend." Kyoko pushed him towards the door. Katsuya felt his cheeks warm up when she said that, and he shoved her off, "Let go, Kyoko. I'm going in, you see?"
Just as Katsuya was about to open the door, it opened with a loud 'wham!' Ayame stood there, laughing, "Oh, Katsuya! I'm glad you're here! Nari has been waiting quite some time, and it's not nice to make a lady wait on a date! Come now, in, in!"
"Ayame..." Katsuya groaned. You could practically see the vain throbbing in his head from all this.
"Ayame, leave him alone."
"As you wish, 'Tori! Ahahaha!" Ayame bounded away.
Katsuya banged his head on the doorway, and walked inside, his parents, sister, and relative behind him. With a 'thud', Katsuya laid all his presents on the floor, as did the other three. Sakura, still looking good, but with longer blonde hair, came up and patted Katsuya on the shoulder, "Merry Christmas, kid."
"Hey, Sakura. How are you?"
"I'm good. Aside from the fact I have to put up with bouncing kids at eight in the morning, I'm good." Sakura rolled her eyes. "By the way, have you seen Tomoyo?"
"No, I just got here." Katsuya shook his head.
"Oh. Oh, well. I'll just go look for her some more."
"Alright. See ya."
"Later!"
Sakura walked off, looking for the Cow.
"Big brother Katsuya!"
"Oh, no..."
Katsuya was nearly tackled to the ground by the 8-year-old Monkey spirit, "Merry Christmas!"
"Goh, get off of me..." Katsuya pushed him off, then wished him a happy holiday. Then, he brought up, "I heard you got in trouble with Hatori because of school."
"Oh, yeah, that...it was an accident." Goh looked at the ground.
"Yeah, well, just be a little more careful. This is who we are, and we have to deal with it."
"Yeah, you're right...WHAT'D YOU GET ME?!"
"That's for later."
"Oh, man..."
"Go help Sakura look for Tomoyo in the meantime or something."
"'Kay!"
Katsuya sighed. He began to look for Nari, wishing the rest of his large family a Merry Christmas. At last, he found her, out in the backyard, sitting on top of monkey bars on the children's playground. She turned once she heard the door shut, and smiled, "Hey, Katsuya. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Nari." Katsuya grinned back, getting up beside her. "How are you feeling?"
"Ah, I'm good. I'll be okay. Just need to take it easy for a little while. Yippie." Nari glared straight ahead of her.
"I share my sympathies."
"If you did...hmm...well, I was gonna remark, but I'd need to think of one."
"Hahaha..."
They sat there for a while, watching the gentle snow falling. Nari cocked her head, "I wonder what Estelle and Koji do for the Christmas day."
"I dunno..."
"Ow!"
Estelle and Koji slammed against the wall.
"I hope they're doing okay."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
Humans hands grabbed at Yuriko and Rika.
"No! Leave them alone!" Koji leapt forward, biting at the hands.
"Nari, I have something for you..." Katsuya felt in his pocket.
"What?"
"Hurry! Get him!"
"Ahh! Dammit, it hurts! Ah, damn, don't touch it!"
"Yuriko! Rika!"
Katsuya brought the ring case out of his pocket. He jumped down from the bars, and helped the Dragon down.
"What is it? Katsuya, is something wrong?"
"No...everything's fine." the Cat kneeled.
"Leave. Them. ALONE!!" Estelle jumped at the humans, as well.
"Hurry! Leave them! Just shut the door before they get out!"
"You can't keep us in here!!"
"Katsuya?..." Nari breathed.
Katsuya opened the case.
Nari held her breath.
"Nari, you are perfect...would you be closer to me?"
"Let us out! You can't do this!" Koji bashed the door repeatedly with the side of his body.
Then, tapping was heard. They turned, panicked.
"I could, Katsuya..."
"Will you?"
"I will."
"What is this?..."
Katsuya slipped the ring on her finger, and picked her up, twirling her around.
Then, he set her down, "You know this doesn't already mean marriage?"
"Yeah, I know. You just want to show your love."
"And I do love you, Nari."
"This can't be..."
Humans behind glass...tapping it...
They turned, and saw everyone staring through the glass doors. Kyoko chanted, "I knew it!!!"
"Shut up, Kyoko!"
"Well, c'mon! We're ready for presents!"
And so, they walked in, exchanging gifts, the girls awing over Nari's ring.
"No...no..."
Kyoko frowned, "Where's mine, Katsuya?"
"I knew that would come up. Follow me, everyone."
Everyone walked out, following Katsuya back to their house and into the woods. The building came into view. Kyoko gaped, "What is this?"
"HELP US, SOHMAS, AURIONS!!!"
"A barn, just for you. Two horses, inside. C'mon."
Katsuya showed them, and Kyoko was speechless. Then, she pointed at the white one, "Yuki, meaning snow, and..." she looked at the black one, "Kieran, for dark skinned."
"That's wonderful names." Shin grinned.
"Thank you, big brother! I love you!" Kyoko hugged Katsuya. He returned it, "I love you, too, lil' sis."
Koji: Hey! What's going on with us?
Me: That's for the next chapter.
Estelle: I hate you.
Me: I'm sorry to hear that.
Estelle: Whatever. Good for Katsuya, though.
Koji: Yep. Read and review.
Pleasey? Me give you cyber cookie.
Hammie: I like a cookie.
Me: You no get cookie.
Anyway, you get da point! .
