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Me: WOOH, IT'S CHRISTMAS! In the middle of Summer....hehe '^^

Mello: Excellent sense of timing, genius. How do you expect them to get in the holiday mood?

Me: Erm...Okay, EVERYONE TURN YOUR AC ON TO 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND EAT SOME COOKIES!

Matt: I LIKE COOKIES!

Mello: I'm surrounded by dumbasses...

Me: Oh shut up, what else could I do? Not update until it was actually Christmas? I'd lose all my reviewers!

Mello: Yeah, but then we wouldn't have to do these friggin' disclaimers anymore.

Me: Where's the benefit for me in that?!

Mello: -_- The world revolves around you, doesn't it?

Haruhi Suzumiya: Misseh does not own Death Note or its characters. And WRONG, the world must revolve around me!

Kyon: I feel like I'm always surrounded by retards who never...

Mello: Listen to what I....

Mello and Kyon: HAVE TO SAY! GASP!

Matt: And so the love affair begins.

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Act Fourteen: Mistletoe

Between the time from summer to fall, not much really happened. Time passed by quickly, and before you knew it, it slowly faded into the brisk cold that was winter; December, to be more precise. Christmas was just around the corner, and you felt like your entire neighborhood was alive with the spirit, decorating everything in sight with lights and trinkets so that by nightfall, the city was gleaming brighter than the very stars in the sky.

You hummed happily as you twirled in circles, hanging up wreaths as you went. Mello watched in amusement at how such a silly holiday could make you so cheery.

"What's so special about Christmas? Don't tell me you still believe in Santa Claus," Mello said with a smirk, licking a bar of chocolate. He didn't dare bite to avoid the pain of not being able to actually eat it.

"Well, it's Christmas! It goes without saying that it's one time to be happy. Besides…this would actually be my first Christmas with somewhat of a "family" since my parents died, so…yeah."

"AWWW It's ok Harmony, we LURV youu!" Matt cooed, hugging you from behind. Taking advantage of your submissiveness, Mello nearly pounced on you from the front, successfully forming what you liked to call "A Retard Sandwich."

"Ok, ok, enough with the pity, guys. I'm trying to set up for the celebration and you're getting in the way."

"Wait, you mean like…A PARTY?!"

"No, Matt. This isn't exactly like your kinds of parties. Just a little Christmas get-together; that's all."

Matt released his grip, crossing his arms with a huff. "That's boring. You're all boring! I'm going to think of something fun to do for the party while you guys read dictionaries or whatever."

You watched with a slight smile as Matt stomped to his room, like a spoiled child who didn't get what he wanted. "Hmm…I wonder what Matt will cook up. Anyway," you said, turning now to the empty Christmas tree in the corner. "I still have decorating to do. Want to help?"

"Why have a tree? There's nothing to put under it," Mello said with a bored expression. With a stroke of genius, you snatched up a bow and slapped it on his forehead.

"There!"

"What the hell was that for?!"

"It's a little Christmas present to myself."

"What, physical abuse?!"

Smirking, you leaned down and kissed his cheek, ruffling his hair before you walked away. "Never mind, you'll learn when you're older."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You quickly skipped over to the door as the bell rang, signaling your guests were here. Happily, you opened the door to Near who was accompanied by Halle.

"Hey guys! Merry Christmas."

Near quietly shuffled in with Halle soon to follow. She put her hands on her hips, taking a good look around.

"Humph. Tell Mello if he's around right now that he really didn't leave you with much. I mean, you deserve so much better, honey. I could've sworn we passed by at least two hookers on the way up here."

Those were probably Matt's, you thought jokingly as you gave a nervous smile. "Uh, Mello did what he could. He, erm, tells you to go to hell, and…a lot of other lovely things I won't repeat," you mumbled, ignoring the ranting blonde in the back of the room.

As time ticked by, the celebration began; presents were exchanged and refreshments were served, smiles a reoccurring image around the room. Things were going peacefully until Matt stumbled into the living room, nearly knocking over the tree in the process.

"Matt! Be careful, you idiot."

"S-Sorry. But I finally came up with something to do!" he cried with a wild smile. Ducking behind the tree, he pulled out a handful of ornaments that you recognized to be the terrible, almighty mistletoe.

Ah shit…

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At the sight of the floating mistletoes, you and Halle immediately ran for cover, going behind Near and using him as a human shield.

"Matt! We're not playing anything to do with those!"

"Oh c'mon!" he said, dangling the mistletoes from his fingers teasingly. "The name of the game is simple: All you have to do is avoid getting kissed until midnight. It's boys vs. girls; we'll be the hunters, and you both are the prey."

"Wait a sec, that is unfair on so many levels!" you cried in protest. "Two girls vs. three boys? Also, Halle can't even see two of you!"

"Life's unfair! And another thing, if you're caught….it's a kiss on the lips. Permanent rule!"

Halle crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "And if we don't want to participate? What then?"

Matt smiled evilly, bearing his canines. "I'll make it simple: One tequila, two tequila, three tequila-"

"Matt, you wouldn't!"

Matt smirked, heading for the fridge in slow motion. If he goes on another of those rampages…

"…A-Alright, fine! We'll play…," you mumbled, hanging your head in shame.

"Alright!" he shouted happily, tying a mistletoe around his head with a string. He proceeded to do the same with Near, and, after much wrestling, also with Mello.

"Better pucker up, because you girls are going to be crushed."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You and Halle sat huddled behind the couch, keeping an eye out for a possible attack.

"Any sign of someone yet?"

"No. Just Near, but he hasn't moved an inch from his spot in over an hour. Seems like he doesn't want to play."

You crawled army-style across the floor, Halle following. "I guess that means you may be flying blind, Halle. But don't worry, I'll help-"

When you turned around to Halle, however, she was gone.

"Halle?! Where'd you go?"

Panicking, you slowly tiptoed past Near as he continued to stare at the floor. Okay, good. He's not paying any attent-

"WHAT THE HELL?!" you cried as you felt yourself swish into the air by your ankles. As far as you knew, you were dangling by ropes in some sort of hidden trap from the ceiling, Near smiling smugly from his spot on the floor.

"As usual, I am the victor."

"Near, I thought you weren't playing!"

"I admit, it seemed childish at first. But I suppose temptation for the thrill of the game overcame me. I must say, you're perhaps a bit too gullible going into this; it was much like a spider in wait for his unknowing prey. Too gullible."

Twisting and turning, you tried desperately to reach for the ropes, but failed. "H-Halle! Help me!" you called.

"Don't bother. She chickened out and went home over five minutes ago."

"WHAT?!"

Ugh, that unreliable bitch! I swear, when I get back to work… Your thoughts were interrupted by the sound of padded feet across the carpet as Near walked over slowly, the mistletoe held high above his head.

S-Shit…

You closed your eyes, bracing yourself for what was to come, when you heard a sudden snap.

"Oww…" you moaned as you fell head-first onto the floor. Oh, the wire snapped!

Taking action, you immediately made your escape, dashing for the safety of your room. Once inside, you slammed the door, pressing your body against it.

However, when you faced forward, you had fallen into another trap.

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"M-MY GOD….THEY'RE…EVERYWHERE!"

You pressed your back against the door as far as you possibly could, your mouth agape in horror. The entire room was covered in mistletoe; on the walls, the ceiling, and even scattered across the floor.

Matt had also managed to make some sort of tunic out of mistletoe.

"There's no escaping now! You're stuck!" He smirked as he leapt toward you, pushing your shoulders against the door.

"Fun game, huh?"

"Hey Matt?"

"What?"

"What was that huge crashing sound?!"

"…Huh? What crashing sou-"

Matt's eyes widened beyond limits as he witnessed his DS snatched off the table and thrown across the room, out an open window.

"….N-no…..no….nono…..NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" he sobbed, falling to his knees in agony. Taking advantage of the situation, you rushed out the door….

…and right into Mello's arms.

"Ah, fuck…."

"Ok, sure!"

"WHAT?!?"

Mello dragged you by your heels into his room, locking the door behind him. He lifted the mistletoe between the both of you, smiling.

"You know the game."

"….Yeah, yeah. Technically I lost three times already."

"But have you been kissed yet?"

"Well, no…"

"Good."

In a swift motion, Mello leaned down and pressed his lips to yours, holding your face in his hands. You felt his hands move from your cheeks to the back of your head, wrapping something around it. When you pulled away, you realized he had tied a bow around your head.

"Huh? I don't get it."

"Let's just say, it's…. 'a little Christmas gift to myself.'"

You smiled, resting your head on his chest. "Okay, and what do you plan to do with your 'gift'?"

"You'll learn when you're older."

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In the end, it had struck Midnight, and you had lost Matt's little Mistletoe Game. Not that you were really all that upset about it, anyway. Christmas was shaping out to be great; a celebration just between you and your odd, knit together family.

With a satisfied smile, you walked over to the music player on the table and pressed play. A soft smile made its way to your lips as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" ran smoothly through the speakers.

You took a seat down on the couch, breathing deeply. Matt had proceeded to do the tango with Near, swirling madly across the "dance floor" that was the living room. Mello sat next to you, staring at you awkwardly.

"Uh, do you need something, Mello?"

"Tch….No!"

"…Okay, then why the stares?"

Mello paused, a soft shade of pink tinting his cheeks. "…Want to dance?" he asked, holding out his hand.

He acts just like a teenager with no experience. How…cute.

You took Mello's hand tightly in yours as you both stood up, making your way to the middle of the floor. Mello held your waist as you leaned against his chest, swaying slowly to the music.

As Matt and Near zoomed past, you had a sudden idea. Grabbing the nearest one you could find, you tossed a mistletoe between the two of them.

"Well, well, look who's caught!"

"WHAT?! You've got to be kidding!"

"You two are under! Like you said Matt, rules are rules!"

"…..Damn it…."