(A/N: Thank you everyone for reading The Road to Darkness! m(_ _)m I am so glad I have made it this far! XD Thanks for supporting me and I hope you enjoy this special bonus chapter! Have a Happy New Year! :) )


CHAPTER 10.5: HOLIDAY SPECIAL

The doorbell rang on a chilly December morning, breaking the unusual silence in the Nakahara mansion.

Sunako stumbled to the door, still feeling groggy from sleeping in. She was up until three in the morning watching gruesome horror films, basking in the luxury of being home alone; the guys had all gone out that night. They all came back around the time Sunako was watching the last movie of the night, "Paranormal Activity 3".

Opening the door, Sunako noticed with pleasure that the person at the door was Ojou-sama. "Tama-chan!"

"Sunako-san." Kikunoi graciously smiled. "I'm sorry for not stopping by sooner. There was that terrible snowstorm and I was busy yesterday, attending to business."

"That's okay!" Sunako assured her. "Yes, the snowstorm was pretty bad" She remembered how Kyouhei and the others were groaning about it: Kyouhei, because he couldn't go to his job and earn money; Oda, because he could not see Noi; Yuki, because he could not meet with Machiko,; and Ranmaru was annoyed because he could not go on dates with different women. Sunako did not like how Mori was so inconsiderate of Tama-chan's feelings, and she hoped Oujou-sama would meet a nicer man.

"Well, come in!" Sunako invited, opening the door a little wider.

Dusting off the snow from her coat, Kikunoi obliged. "Thank you, Sunako-san."

"Sunako-chan, is it a girl with short, curly black hair?" Ranmaru asked, coming into the scene. "She left her necklace in the hotel last night..." He froze in his tracks, spotting Kikunoi.

"Oh...Ojou-sama..."

Kikunoi stared at him, her expression frozen on her face. "Hello, Ranmaru-sama..."

"Uh...Forget I said anything," Ranmaru mumbled, ready to retreat.

"Wait!" Sunako commanded, grabbing his wrist and bonking him on the head. "Apologize to Tama-chan!"

"...Sorry," Ranmaru muttered. He seemed to be gentler around Ojou-sama lately, although he was still the same player as always. "Sorry," he repeated, more loudly.

The rich young lady's cheeks reddened. "...It's alright." Her stotic face could not completely seal her flustered emotions.

"Uh... ."

"Tama-chan," Sunako interjected, interrupting the awkward silence. "Do you want to help me bake some cake? Noi-chan is coming to and I wanted us to all celebrate the New Year's together."

"Of course!" Kikunoi exclaimed, elated to be included in the celebration.

As Ranmaru turned to leave for the living room, Oda came in, blushing like a teenage girl. "Noi-chi is coming?"

Sunako nodded. Then turning to Kikunoi, in chibi mode, she said, "Let's go, Tama-chan."

"Okay. I am not very good at cooking, though," The girl confessed.

"That's okay, I'll teach you."


Once the cake was in the oven, Sunako and Kikunoi headed out of the kitchen.

"Do you want to watch a movie? I just rented out "Devil" yesterday." Sunako suggested.

"That'd be wonderful!" Ojou-sama exclaimed.

Yuki, Oda, Ranmaru, and Kyouhei (who were all in the living room after eating the breakfast Sunako had heated up while making the cake) shivered, remembering the episode where Kikunoi turned into another Sunak, trying to relate to her.

"I don't think..." Oda started to speak when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it."

"N-noi-chi!" He exclaimed happily when he saw who it was.

"H-hi, Takenaga-kun." Noi smiled.

"Do you want to watch a movie with me and Tama-chan, Noi-chan?" Sunako asked.

"Yay! Okay!" Noi headed down the hall to Sunako's room with the other girls.

"Oh yeah, where is Saori-san?" Noi asked.

"Oh, she is staying at her relatives' place for the winter with Sato-san.." Sunako answered, her voice fading away as she went farther away from the living room.

The boys sighed.

"I guess there's no helping it..." Oda said sadly.

"When is she ever going to be a lady?" Kouhei grumbled.

No one answered, unable to answer.


Sunako came out after a few hours, saying, "The cake's ready!"

Everyone seemed more lively after hearing those words!

"Yay, cake!" Yuki exclaimed.

Just then, the doorbell rang once more.

"It must be Machiko-chan!" Yuki said in excitement.

Sure enough, Machiko came in and waved to everyone. "Hi! I'm joining the party!"

"Hi! You're just in time for cake," Noi told her.

After Sunako cut all the pieces, she gave everyone a plate. "Help yourselves."

"Yum!" Everyone exclaimed, taking a bite.

"Hey wait," Ranmaru said. "Doesn't it taste a bit strange?"

Sunako nodded.

Kikunoi gasped. "Oh no! It must not have been water. I thought the it smelled a bit strange..."

"Was the water in a tall glass bottle?" Sunako questioned.

"Yes..."

"That was the sake bottle, Tama-chan..."

Realization struck the teenagers.

"You...accidently...put sake in the cake?" Oda asked.

Kikunoi bowed deeply. "I'm so sorry, everyone. It was entirely my fault for ruining the cake."

"No, it's okay, Tama-chan!" Sunako assured her. "I'm just a little dizz-" Sunako collapsed, and fell towards Kyouhei, who jumped in surprise.

"Geez, damn woman...you scared me," he said quietly. He moved the gloomy girl beside him, and Sunako slid to the side until her head was propped against his shoulder.

"I'm a...lil' sleepy too..." Noi said drowsily.

"Ah! Sit down," Oda instructed worriedly. He led his girlfriend to the couch.

"I will go get some water," Kikunoi offered.

"Okay, thanks Ojou-sama." Oda said gratefully.

"Well...I...um brought movies to watch guys!" Machiko piped up as Kikunoi turned to leave. Yuki's girlfriend help up a plastic bag full of DVDs.

"Good idea, Machiko-chan!" Yuki said.

Kyouhei took one out and grimaced. "Are these romance movies?"

In unison, everyone glanced at Sunako.

"Eh, she's asleep." Ranmaru said, shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't like them either!" Kyouhei protested.

"You can try to fall asleep then," Noi retorted quietly.

"Here is the water," Ojou-sama said, coming back with a water pitcher and a tray of glasses.

"Ojou-sama, come watch a movie with us," Yuki invited.

Kikunoi smiled and set the tray down on the coffee table. "Thank you." The young lady looked around for a place to sit.

Ranmaru patted the vacant spot next to him. "You can sit here," he mumbled.

"Th-thank you." Ojou-sama said, happiness surging inside of her.

"Okay, we're watching "50 First Dates"*!" Machiko declared, slipping in the disc.

The room grew silent.


"Mmm.." Sunako woke up, rubbing her eyes.

She looked around to see everyone had fallen asleep. Noi and Oda were snuggled up together on the couch with a blanket wrapped around them. Machiko and Yuki were sprawled on the floor, and Kikunoi and Ranmaru were leaning against each other, holding hands.

Sunako could feel weight on her shoulders and turned to see Kyouhei right beside her. She turned away because of the radiance, and looked up to see a movie was playing. The gloomy girl made a face. It was a romance movie and a couple was kissing.

Sunako sighed. This was not how I imagined the year to end...Oh well. At least we got to spend time together.


(The * means I do not own anything. It is another work that I referred to in my story. :P)
(A/N: Thanks for reading! ;) Hehe. Hope you liked it~! R&R and have a wonderful holiday season! Happy New Year! XD)