Along Came the Holidays
By Saltwater Romance

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Countdown #15: I'm Not a Robot

But inside, you're just a little baby
It's okay to say you've got a weak spot
You don't always have to be on top
Better to be hated than love, love, loved for what you're not
- Marina and the Diamonds

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Dedicated: To last Christmas and Civics class because without those two events to inspire me... This chapter would be nonexistent.

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Perspiration dribbled from their hairline and collected at their foreheads with their faces wrinkled up in concentration. Well actually, the description only applied to one of the three since the other two were lounging on the couch with affable gossip. His teeth grinded together, until finally… Finally, he threw up his hands in ephemeral victory, "Yes! I'm officially winning!"

His dear friend Nonoko's lips tugged downward as she pointed at the screen, "No, Ruka… Hotaru's winning. I think you're looking at the wrong screen."

Ruka's gaze was piercing as he surveyed at her messy bun that was thrown up with a nearby pencil, her usual bangs clipped up, and her glasses on for a change, he shook his head vehemently, "I assure you that I'm winning."

Hotaru smirked as her curled legs unfolded and propped on his shoulders, "You're in last place."

When he had no retort for her, she continued to playfully taunt the one that she claimed to love, "You dare call yourself a man? You're losing to two women."

"Au contraire, I am gallant in nature," he threw her a defiant glare, "I don't ever beat two ladies, whether it may be physical or in the realm of video games. Though, you might refer to you as YOUR man."

Hotaru rolled her eyes as her fingers skillfully danced on her controller, "Hardly. I consider you a child. A mere genderless child that I chose to date out of pity."

"Cold words," Nonoko whistled, "Though… Ruka… Since you are Princess Peach in the realm of video games, shouldn't you try to attempt some feminism and beat us?"

"Never," Ruka coughed lamely, "Despite being a woman… Wait! Why AM I playing as her? Anyway, I still am a gentleman of chivalry."

"Because you aren't a real man, so you must suffer with playing as Princess Peach," Hotaru laughed righteously, " And chivalry died when the Medieval Ages came and gone."

"Then consider this the revival," he grimaced, not appreciating of being laughed at.

"Whatever you say," Hotaru responded back airily, "I see that you're trying to tend to your man pride, yet you're still… A mere genderless child."

"I'll show you what a 'man' looks like," Ruka hissed through gritted teeth, all but Nonoko forgot about the video game.

"Oh?" Hotaru raised her eyebrow, egging him on.

"Yes."

"No guts," Hotaru taunted.

Ruka glanced at the third party in the room as he griped his belt, "Nonoko, please look away."

"Gladly," she rolled her eyes, not wanting to pry into the couple's matters. Plus, by the seem of it… Ruka might be dropping his pants shortly. Not Nonoko's consideration of a good leisurely spent Saturday.

Hotaru held up a hand, "No. Nonoko. Watch him intently with me. He has no guts. Look at how his face turns red. Look. Point. Mock him."

Nonoko couldn't help, but to giggle.

"This is not awkward," the latter commented after a pregnant pause.

"Yeah," Hotaru yawned, "Ruka. You're so full of it for having nothing. Seriously, even if I squint… I see nothing…"

Nonoko nodded in agreement, "Sorry, hun. But Hotaru's right…"

Ruka rolled his eyes, not ashamed of their critical appraising, "Shut up… Feel it… Seriously. It's amazing, isn't it?"

Hotaru reached out courageously and ran her fingers on top of the body part before shaking her head, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"EXACTLY!" Ruka shouted in triumph, "I don't have fat arms like you."

"You do realize that the skinner the arms and legs… The smaller in size… The female's endowments?" Nonoko snickered without a moment's hesitation seeing Ruka caught off-guard, "I'd rather prefer fat arms compared to noodles on boys."

"Agreed," Hotaru nodded her head, then pasting on a stoic look, "I'm breaking up with you."

"You don't mean that…" The only male of the room playfully swatted her arm. A gust of wind made the three recoil closer to the fireplace when the door swung open to make the appearance of a very agitated, albeit handsome, boy.

The boy thundered, "Ruka Frances Nogi. I have come to settle the score with you!"

Ruka rolled his eyes at the theatrics, while adding bits of his own to the melodrama, "Kill me, Hotaru. Please. Kill me."

"You're not getting away with it this time! I haven't seen you in three years! You have been in hiding!"

"You make it sound like I'm Anne Frank," Ruka jested before adding his explanation, "Yeah because you are foul. You're such a sore loser."

But the crimson eyed would've hear of it, "I demand a rematch!"

Hotaru stared incredulously, "Wait… You actually lost to Ruka? The child with noodles for arms?"

Without a comment to input, Hotaru began to prod, dangerously stepping closer to Natsume, as if to build suspense to striking him, "And why did you barge into my house? How did you find out where I live? I'm calling the police."

"Natsume. Hyuuga. How dare you break out running down two blocks, leaving me behind?" an indignant brunette huffed with her cheeks pink from the exertion of her efforts to keep up with the long strides of her partner's.

Natsume darted into the house as Hotaru quipped dryly, "It's because Natsume dearest has another girl in mind…"

"Huh?"

Hotaru gestured to the two boys embracing, " The girl is none other than Ruka. Natsume couldn't wait to get his hands on her. Look at the shameless couple!"

Ruka stared in disbelief, "Uhh… He's kinda choking me to death."

"An act of love, I assure you my dear," Nonoko snorted sarcastically, laughing from her unmoved position on the couch.

Natsume shook the blonde by his shoulders, "REMATCH ME TO MARIO CART NOW!"

Hotaru whistled, "Wow. If you actually lost to Ruka in Mario Cart…. You must be an even worst player than him… That's not a compliment at all…"

"No. Ruka is just insanely good!" Natsume wouldn't hear more of how badly Ruka is at video games, not wanting to belief that he is worse than the worst player in the history of video game players.

"Really?" Nonoko asked, "Then how can you explain me winning against him?"

Mochu breezed on inside Hotaru's house and shut the unclosed door at last, ending the period of the chilly weather, "Pwned."

Everyone in the house, stopped what they were doing to stare at the new body in the house, "Where did you come from?"

"My mommy," he chirped brightly, "She makes the best pancakes…"

Hotaru waved him in, holding the bridge of her nose.

Mochu, not getting the fact that she already answered his unasked question, clarified for everyone else, "I live next door and say… Hey Hotaru, can I use your toilet? My little brother's hogging mine and I got to pee sooooooo badly!"

"Go ahead… Piss away…" she mumbled loud enough for him to hear, wondering how he made it to high school and had a girlfriend despite his lack of tact.

Mikan blinked, "You actually let him into your bathroom?"

Hotaru groaned, "Trust me… The last time that he asked and I slammed the door in his face… He peed all over my yard. It was summer. It smelt SO bad."

Natsume interrupted, getting back to the topic at hand, "I want a rematch."

Ruka finally conceded, "Fine…"

Ten minutes later, three bowls of popcorn, and over a handful of snide comments, directed to both of the two who were playing at the experience level of easy.

As soon as the game ended, Natsume shouted in rage, "I'm going to KILL you!"

As if his fears came to life, Ruka closed his eyes and braced himself, "Greaaat…"

Hotaru snickered at Natsume, "Fancy that… There actually IS a worst player than Ruka."

Nonoko blinked, "And Natsume lost to a boy that have noodles for arms…"

But Ruka didn't hear the rest of the conversation because Natsume was chasing him around outside, trying to beat up the kid who destroyed him at Mario Cart.

Fin.

Author's Sidenote:

Dear Saltwater Romance,

I can't believe that you kicked some guy in the balls for not letting you win playing COD. And remember that little kid who used to trash you at Mario Cart? And within the next half hour, you managed to beat him? Yeah. Good job. Besides that, you gotta be thankful for the cheerleaders in your Civics class since one of them gained muscle, and we all had a muscle comparing contest. I'm happy to say that you definitely won with your speech about "not having fat arms."

I'm happy that you take in our polls and ideas into consideration, although a snowball fight is yet to occur. We know that you meant to add it in, but that would involve details... You're too pooped to even consider writing a lengthy chapter. Good luck editting tonight.

I'd like to inform you that my favorite book currently is *insert title and author* I heard that you officially gave Wuthering Heights two thumbs up. I'll forgive you this time for spending all of your time reading tat book instead of paying attention to the needs of me, the reader.

Hoping you luck for shopping for the Angel Giving Tree tomorrow,
Your friend from the freshwater.