Yes, I know I'm late, but at least it's only a day! Ha! I actually finished! Enjoy the last chapter you guys!

Hiyono rubbed her hands together, her expression full of gleeful malice, "Everything's almost in place. Rio, are the decorations ready?"

Rio exhaled exhaustedly, climbing down the ladder, "Why do I have to be the one to do the decorations while you and Ryoko take care of stuff on the ground?"

Hiyono didn't answer, but turned to Ryoko, who was just finishing setting the tables, "Is everything else ready, Takamachi-san?"

Ryoko nodded, "Everything but us!"

With that, they made some final touch-ups and headed for home to get ready before the Party would start.

Now, Hiyono's biggest task was to drag Ayumu to the party without him having any idea where he's going. That would be the difficult part. Sometimes she hated the fact that her best friend was a genius and there was nothing she could hide from him.

As she walked to her house, she pondered how easy it would be to get him out of his.

---

Ayumu rolled over in disgust. It had been two days since he had slept in his bed, and now it smelled like Hiyono. Why was it that, no matter what he did, he couldn't get away from the quirky little newsreporter? Thinking of which, he was beginning to wonder if that suit of his father's had some kind of mind-altering chemicals in it or something. He honestly had no idea what had happened to him that previous day. Maybe there were some kind of drugs or chemicals laced in that suit.

After replaying the previous day so many times in his head, his brain had numbed it to the point that he could barely remember exactly what happened anymore.

He buried himself in the covers and pillows, trying to get away from anything, even thoughts, that resembled Hiyono.

Until the phone rang.

The brunet had no idea why he got up to answer the phone. He knew who it was. Still, he rolled off the bed, slowly stood and trudged over to the phone and picked up the reciever, "Hn."

Sure enough, "Narumi-san! Are you still sleeping? It's almost seven o'clock at night!"

"What do you want, stupid?"

He could hear her growl over the phone, "Narumi-san, it's Christmas Day! You need to be happy! And not sleep the entire day!"

"Is that what you wanted to say?"

She huffed, "Of course not. I called to remind you that you're taking me out for dinner in a half an hour and you can just meet me in the lobby of-" He heard the rest of her sentence, and maybe it was because he was so tired that he didn't realize it was the building that Eyes Rutherford lived in.

That suit was seriously laced with something. He had no idea what else could posess him to put the suit back on along with his trademark fluffy-necked coat and a pair of boots, because of the snow.

What had convinced him to walk to that building, he would never know.

---

Hiyono glanced around, trying to make sure everything was perfect. All twelve sweet-smelling candles were lit on the tables and around the room, making the room feel warm and quite home-like. Eyes had popped in a few minutes ago to make sure nothing had blown up yet and left without a word. No one had arrived yet, it was still pretty early. The strangest thing for Hiyono was her mind second-guessing her entire plan for the night. The past couple days had thrown her so out of whack that she could barely think straight anymore. Luckily, she was able to get into her dress with no trouble.

Rio popped in first, wearing a knee-length forest green dress, green ribbons in her hair. Both girls began talking and admiring each others' dresses. After double-checking everything, including everything for Hiyono's plan, they sat down at one of the small tables, pretty bored.

"Rutherford-san did a good job, didn't he?"

Rio raised her eyebrows. "You mean renting the place and the sound and light equipment? 'Cuz we did the decorations, believe me, I won't forget that." she rubbed her side where she had bashed her ribs against the ladder. It had jolted her and if it were up to Ryoko or Hiyono, she would probably go to the hospital to get it checked out because of her previous rib incident, but Rio refused.

The next to arrive was Ryoko, alone. Hiyono rushed up to her and asked her if everything was all right. Ryoko didn't answer and changed the subject. Both Hiyono and Rio noticed that Ryoko kept glancing at the door every now and then, as if she was waiting for something.

They saw her perk up when the door opened, but she slouched again when Ayumu came in, looking quite annoyed. Hiyono bit her lip and crouched behind the table to keep him from seeing her, for some reason she suddenly felt afraid and anxious at the same time.

She scrunched her eyes closed for a while, hoping he wouldn't see her if she didn't see him. Finally she stood to her feet, but turned her back to him so she couldn't see him. When she heard the music begin to play, she tried to convince herself that Ayumu wasn't in the room and began to twirl, since that was pretty much all she could do in her dress.

The young reporter twirled until she teetered and swayed, clearly dizzy. She tried shaking herself out of it, but she failed, falling up against something solid. When she looked up, what she had fallen up against was Ayumu Narumi, his auburn hair coated with flakes of snow and his coat still on. He spoke in his low voice that always made him sound annoyed, "Don't even think that this means I'm going to dance, stupid girl."

Hiyono barely noticed the gulp in his voice as he looked at her. Her tawny sorrel locks were left down and curled, cascading over her shoulders in full ringlets. She wore a sleeveless dark blue dress, almost as dark as his suit. The torso fit snugly on her waist, but the skirt flailed out in billows. It was slightly full, but not to the point of what she would wear to a high school prom. After his mahogany eyes scoured over her for a few minutes, he commented, "You look like something out of the English Renaissance."

In response, she smirked, "And you look like some kind of pompous CEO of some big company, that is, if you'd take your jester's coat and boots off, you're tracking water all over the floor."

He looked down at his boots, then glared up at her. It didn't take him long to walk to one of the tables and sit down, taking his coat off and putting it on the back of the seat before taking his boots off. When the food finally came, Hiyono didn't wait, even with the pretty dress on, to dig in. Ayumu stared at the food once and pushed it away from him, suddenly no longer hungry.

As Hiyono was chewing, her mouth clenched in its place and, if this was a dorky cartoon, steam would be coming out her ears. Her face grew noticeably red as she jumped up from her seat and rushed into the kitchen. Inevitably, Ayumu slowly rose to follow her to make sure she didn't make anything explode, except her brain, of course.

Hiyono went rushing into the kitchen as fast as her feet could take her. When her feet hit a wet slippery floor, they slipped out from under her and she unavoidably went sliding across the floor.

When Ayumu heard the loud crash, he sped his pace from slug to a slight jog. When he arrived at the kitchen door, he went through carefully, noticing the wet floor. He heaved a great sigh and followed the wet slide marks to a scramble of limbs and fabric he could only qualify as the remains of Hiyono Yuizaki.

He briskly walked over to her, bending down to lift the groaning heap of reporter to her feet. When her feet continued to slip, he gripped her back and the back of her knees to carry her over to a counter. He quickly elbowed all the pans and junk off the counter and sat her up there. She gently groaned, "I'm sorry, Narumi-san, I didn't mean-"

He reprimanded her harshly, "Sh. Don't talk, stupid."

Ayumu took out a cloth from a drawer that he somehow knew where it was, wet it in the sink, and brought it to her face, blotting a bit of blood from her temple. She watched him with her golden hazel eyes, an apologetic expression on her face, "Gomen, Narumi-san."

He concentrated on cleaning the blood from a few cuts, "I told you, don't apologize."

Hiyono sighed, staying silent. Now a bit worried at the silence, Ayumu inquired, "You want me to make you something to eat?"

To his surprise, Hiyono shook her head, "No thanks, Narumi-san."

After another moment of silence, he gently lifted her from the counter and set her back down on her feet, "Do you want to go back to the table?"

Hiyono nodded against his chest and finally let herself stand on her own. Slowly, both walked back to the table, Hiyono with her wet hair and rumpled dress. Before they reached the table, a slower song began to play over the speakers. Ayumu glanced at his friend, his eyes inquiring about going out on the dance floor.

Again, Hiyono shook her head, "I don't really feel like dancing OR eating, Narumi-san."

Ayumu grabbed her hand and tugged her toward a back exit, after putting on his shoes, muttering, "C'mon, you need fresh air. There's something seriously wrong with you."

Hiyono looked over at Ryoko, still staring at the door. When she finally gave up, the door slowly opened as a slightly dejected-looking redhead slipped into the room. Rio, looking strangely annoyed, raised her head from her sulking and tapped Ryoko's shoulder. Ryoko slowly turned around. When she saw Kousuke, she rose to her feet, but did not come forward. She wore a long, slim scarlet red halter-top dress, the length of the flowing skirt-piece making her look even taller. Kousuke wore a dark green jacket and black dress pants, contrasting his hair and his partner's dress in a kind of complimentary contrast. He took his time in walking up to her, but when he made it, he pulled her into an embrace. Ryoko buried her head into his shoulder and stood there. They appeared to make a little conversation, but Ryoko quickly ended it with a punch to Kousuke's head.

Hiyono smiled, glad that her friends had gotten over whatever happened. When she turned back to face Ayumu, he stared at her, still waiting for her to come outside.

Hiyono caved and let him lead her outside into the dark blue night, lit by a nearly full moon. When Ayumu closed the door behind them, he turned to her and watched her. She slowly lifted her glassy moonlit eyes up to him, "I'm really sorry, Narumi-san."

When she said it, he clasped her by the shoulders and looked her in the eye, "Stop. Now."

Hiyono looked at the snowy ground and said no more. Ayumu turned his eyes to the sky and dropped his hands from her shoulders, "It's snowing."

She lifted her eyes to see the snow falling, among something else that was being held over her head. Suddenly remembering, she quickly looked over to the top of the doorway to find it empty. Shocked, she turned back to the male figure holding the item above her head. Finally, she stammered, "But Narumi-san! I-I thought-you said it was s-stupid!"

With his free arm, he pulled her closer, the look in his eyes knowing and almost devious, "It's only stupid when you're the one who came up with it."

She glanced up at what he was holding, her mouth agape. Ayumu took the opportunity and tugged her body close to his, his eyes slowly sliding closed. He leaned down, but did not fully kiss her, simply lingering his hot breath over her mouth. Flustered, Hiyono could only close her eyes and rest her hands on his chest. With that, Ayumu began to doubt what he was doing. He began to think about the logicity of it all. He began to pull away.

However, Hiyono whispered, her voice almost pleading, "Narumi-san..."

Ashamed that he had second-guessed himself, he leaned forward and kissed her lips with such gentle tenderness that Hiyono nearly gasped. If he ever did kiss her, Hiyono expected that it would be short and forced. Ayumu fully shut his eyes and wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around her back. He interlocked his lips with hers and massaged them with pent-up sweetness that most would think did not exist. As the mistletoe fell out of his hand and onto the fresh-fallen snow, Hiyono shivered, barely able to believe that this was Ayumu Narumi. Ayumu rose one hand up to cradle her cheek and brush her hair from her face and he jerked his head forward once, showing her a chaste glimpse of some unknown warmth and fervor that he did not even expect from himself. Just as she was beginning to forget everything that she had planned to do, she heard a giggle and a strange gushing sound. Ayumu reluctantly but quickly pulled out of his kiss not quickly enough for either to escape the river of blue paint dumped on them from the bucket above the doorway.

With that, Rio scampered as fast as she could away into the darkness, having a giggling fit, "Merry Christmas! And to all a good night!"

Hiyono growled and Ayumu scowled, both covered in blue paint and giving the same response. They knew that it would be at least a few more Christmases. For now and at least another few years, it was just a Merry Christmas.

That suit seriously had to be laced with something.

What'd you guys think? And no, the suit wasn't laced with anything, it's just Ayumu in denial of what he does, and blaming it on the suit. I would have left it off at what Rio said until I realized that people could take it like something dirty, and I didn't want that, I like fluff, so I added the last part. I was trying to imply a marriage factor, but I don't know how well that went. The title of the Twelve Candles refers to the part in the beginning, but it also has to do with the mood of the entire chapter and how those candles kind of affect Ayumu's, Hiyono's, and even Ryoko and Kousuke's moods. Anywho, a little shout-out to my reviewers on my last chapter! I love you guys! And everybody else too!

Julia: Alas! It is finished! I hope you like it! Thanks for the reviews!

SasuNaruxAyumHino: Thanks for your support for my stories! I hope you like the story!

putrisha94: Haha, nobody's plans worked as they had initially planned! I do hope you like the ending!

Justme and Justmeagain: Awww! I'm so flattered! Thank you so much for hanging in there with me! I hope the ending suffices!

big dreamer girl: I finished the day after Christmas at least! Tell me what you think! Hiyono's plan sorta went to kapootie, wherever kapootie is.

El Taco: Thank you! I appreciate all your support! I hope it turns out well! I would try to put tacos in there somewhere, but tacos and Christmas don't quite match as well and I was too lazy to do anything other than what I had to to finish it.

Dee: Thank you very much! Hehee, Last chapter! Tell me what you think!

Me: Oh yes, snowing and fluff is very very good. So good that I have decided to do a strictly winter snowy fic sometime in January. I is updated! Do give me feedback! Hehee.

I love you guys! Tell me what you think and I'll see you later! I'd also love any feedback or ideas! That'd be pretty cool!