This is the 25th chapter of At Your Service. To tell you the truth, it was kind of weird to write about Christmas in the middle of the summer. I still hope everyone likes this chapter though.
Disclaimer: I don't own bleach.
At Your Service
Chapter 25-Remember
As Toushirou stirred up the hot chocolate, Karin stood beside him, smiling down at the hot liquid.
"Nothing better than hot chocolate on Christmas Eve" Karin cheered.
"Is this one of your traditions?" asked Toushirou before putting the spoon down and handing one of the cups of hot cocoa to Karin.
"Not really," she replied as she took the hot chocolate from him. "I mean, I always drink hot chocolate of Christmas Eve, but not with a person who I could call my boyfriend"
Toushirou picked up his cup before smirking.
"Well, spending Christmas with a person I call my girlfriend is a first for me, as well. Actually, ever having a girlfriend if a first for me" he admitted.
Karin looked at him, shocked.
"Me never having a boyfriend was mostly do to Ichi-nii and Kentoru scaring away any guy, beside you, to come within 2 feet of me. You don't have that excuse, so why haven't you ever had a girlfriend before now?" asked Karin curiously.
Toushirou took a sip of his hot chocolate before shrugging his shoulders. "No one, besides you, has ever interested me"
"You had girl throwing themselves at you! Shamelessly!" Karin exclaimed, still stunned.
"I know, and that's what annoyed me the most" Toushirou sighed.
Karin took a sip of her hot chocolate, expecting him to continue. He did.
"I just can't stand women who have no dignity for themselves; it's not fair for me or them. You can't imagine how I felt when you didn't act like them. How shocked I was when you insulted me"
Karin looked at him oddly.
"Well, try to help me imagine" she urged. Toushirou took a deep breath and set his hot chocolate on the counter nearby. He then faced Karin.
"I thought you were unapproachable, untamed, and ill-mannered for what you said, but it was shocking, refreshing, and oddly pleasing to know that someone could still gather up the nerve to call me an arrogant asshole…" he smirked as he looked into his girlfriend's violet eyes. "And I'm so happy you did, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten to know how remarkable you are"
Karin smiled softly before setting her hot cocoa down on the counter as well. She then reached up and wrapped her arms around Toushirou's neck as he leaned down and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Who knew being rude could get such a great guy" she murmured as Toushirou smirked before their lips made contact.
But before they could really enjoy themselves, they were rudely interrupted.
"Ahem" someone coughed loudly.
The two instantly parted and looked to the interruption to see it was none other than Kentoru.
"Two teenagers. Kissing. Without any mistletoe above their heads. Naughty, naughty" he replied while wagging his scolding finger at them.
"Get a life, Kentoru" Karin ordered.
"Your dad is ready to light up the Christmas tree. He wants you to see it if you're not too busy swapping spit with Toushirou" Kentoru informed with a broad smile.
And with that he disappeared around the corner.
"And I'd better not catch you two making out again without a single sprig of mistletoe above your heads" he shouted back after disappearing.
Karin shook her head at her best friend's antics.
"We really need to get him and Yuzu together" sighed Karin as she let go of Toushirou.
"I agreed" Toushirou responded before picking up his hot chocolate.
Karin did the same and then grabbed the Hitsugaya's hand as they made their way into the family room to look at the Christmas tree light up. Karin and Toushirou both stood in a corner of the room while everyone else sat down.
Toushirou watched as Kurosaki Isshin lit up the tree, and the plant sparkled and twinkled like never before. It shone throughout the entire room like a bright star. Toushirou had definitely seen Christmas trees before, who hasn't, but this one was different and Toushirou couldn't pinpoint why.
"Toushirou, do you see that star on top of the tree?" asked Karin as she pointed to the treetop, which pulled Toushirou out of his thoughts.
Toushirou looked up to the top of the tree to see the star. It definitely was not like other Christmas stars. It looked like a golden spiked ball. Toushirou looked at it oddly.
"Yeah" he finally replied.
"That used to be my mom's favorite star. She used to say that every spike represented another great reason she celebrated Christmas. Five points just weren't good enough for her" Karin explained with a soft chuckle.
Toushirou looked down at her before intertwining her fingers with his.
"I think that that star is perfect for today. It makes you remember all the reasons why today is so brilliant… and amazing" Toushirou noticed.
Karin laid her head on his shoulder as everyone else in the room 'ooh'ed and 'ahh'ed at the tree.
After the light show was over, Karin remembered something she wanted to show Toushirou.
"Toushirou, come on" she ordered as she ran over to her stairs. Toushirou looked at her, quizzically before cautiously following after her.
Karin walked into her room and opened the window. She handed her hot chocolate cup to the boy with sea-green eyes before progressing out of the window. Once she was out, she took both Toushirou's cup and her own and motioned for him to follow. Toushirou confusedly followed her out of the said window as he wondered what was so important that he had to escape out of a window at eleven o' clock at night.
"Look at this" she instructed once Toushirou was out.
Toushirou followed her gaze and looked up at the sky. There were so many stars! Even the lights from the various houses decorated in a Christmassy fashion couldn't shield the stars that outshone them.
"Aren't they gorgeous?" Karin asked as she handed him his drink.
"Extremely" he said, stuck in a daze from the stars.
Karin sat down and Toushirou did the same next to her as they looked up and watched. Soon their cups were emptied and they began to get tired. Karin and Toushirou laid down on the rooftop, Karin's head on Toushirou's chest and Toushirou's arm around Karin's shoulder, just talking until a fatigue filled silence took over.
"Toushirou?" asked Karin, breaking the silence.
"What?" he replied. Karin yawned.
"It's cold" she replied. Toushirou chuckled.
He then lifted up his other arm to see his wristwatch.
"I'm not surprised it's cold. It is Christmas morning after all" he reminded.
"Yeah, but- wait! What?" she asked, suddenly alert.
"I said its Christmas morning, so there's no doubt it's going to be cold" he answered, looked at the alert Karin strangely.
"It's Christmas, oh my gosh, Toushirou!" she exclaimed before getting up and running inside her room.
Toushirou quickly followed the once tired, but now excited, teenager. He followed her as she ran into the family room and straight to the tree. She fell to her knees in front of the colorful boxes.
"Karin" Toushirou hissed, knowing what Karin was about to do.
Karin immediately stopped her hyper rampage to look at the white-haired boy behind her.
"What?" she asked.
"What are you doing?" he questioned incredulously.
"Opening my presents, it is Christmas, right?"
"Karin, it is 12:30 in the morning"
"Christmas is Christmas, no matter how early it is"
"Why don't you wait till morning, like a normal person" he suggested.
"But I want to open my presents"
Toushirou rolled his eyes at her whine.
"Karin, you're acting childish"
"So?" Karin responded with a pout.
"Why don't you just open them later?"
"Because I want to open them now" she stated simply, like it was obvious.
"Karin-"
"Please, Toushi-kun" she cooed as she gave him the puppy dog face with her big violet eyes. Toushirou eyes narrowed at he tried to create a resistance to the cuteness. He, of course, failed at doing so.
"Fine, but only if you never call me Toushi-kun… ever again" he grumbled as he walked over and sat next to her.
Karin smiled brightly at him before she reached out both of her hands to grab all of her gifts.
"Just one" Toushirou added.
Karin sighed.
"I had a feeling you'd say that. Fine, then the first present I open, will be yours" she muttered as she reached for Toushirou's gift.
She grabbed Toushirou present wrapped in black and white ribbons. She ripped off the paper and the ribbons to see a velvet black box. Karin opened he box and gasped. There in the case was a thin silver chain. The charm on the chain was a group of several small autumn leaves. One leaf was gold, one brown, one green, and one red.
"My favorite season" whispered Karin as she took the necklace out of the box.
"Yeah, the season we first met, remember?" he questioned. Karin nodded. How could she not remember?
"Merry Christmas" Toushirou commented. He then got to his feet.
Karin got to her feet as well and held out the necklace to him.
Toushirou gently took the necklace out of her hand and placed it around her neck. Karin pulled up her hair so that he could lock the jewelry. After that, Karin gathered the four charms in her hand and looked down at them with loving eyes before turning to Toushirou.
She intertwined her arms around his waist and placed her head in Toushirou's chest, which was now her favorite place to rest her head. Toushirou wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He chuckled silently when he heard her even breathing and steady heartbeat. He knew she was about to loose consciousness whether she liked it or not. Toushirou adapted to sleeping late, Karin, unfortunately, didn't.
"Come on" he commanded.
"What?" she asked.
Toushirou scooped her up in his arms bridal style.
"Wha- what are you doing?" Karin sputtered, alert and confused, as she immediately threw her arms across his neck to keep herself from falling.
"Get some rest, Karin" Toushirou demanded as he walked up the stairs.
As Toushirou strolled, Karin smoothly drifted into sleep. Toushirou smiled as he heard Karin's soft snoring. He walked into Karin's room and laid the girl on her bed before pulling the covers over her body. He then looked down at his girlfriend's sleeping form and genuinely smiled.
He bent down to kiss the girl's forehead before leaving the Kurosaki household that morning.
Well, that was the ever fluffy 25th chapter of At Your Service. I hope you all loved it. Please review.