First, thanks for reading my crappy oneshots, even though I mostly overload them with fluff xD

Second, thanks for reading this author note, even if it's not –important-.

Third, thanks for reviewing, favouring me or criticising my work.

Lastly, thanks for encouraging me becoming better.

This is a gift for everyone who wants it.Especially for darling Awin-chan, who shares my sadness of the slow death of AtoRyo on the fandom...TT

Anyway, all of you, enjoy!

-Be my Santa -

Ryoma felt his eyelids close drowsily as he gazed at the snow that gently covered Tokyo. December knew just how to introduce Christmas to everyone, he mused. No words could explain the endearing beauty the place got once it got all white.

Admiring sleepily the snowflakes dance between their way between the sky and the ground: that's what Ryoma was doing at the exact moment when an annoying tune rang, coming from his cellphone.

Actually, it was more Atobe's phone than it was his own, but the diva had insisted he had it. Keigo even went as far as to program the worst song ever to be sure the brat would answer when called.

Answer he did.

"Monkey King," he sighed wearily into the tiny thing, finally removing his eyes from the window in order to focus on the conversation. "What do you want?"

There was a snort before a haughty voice replied. "I'll get straight to the point, then. I want a Christmas gift from you. You will make it yourself."

Ryoma rolled on his back, giving his interlocutor a humourless laugh. "Yeah, right."

"It wasn't a question. We've been dating for three years; you can't pretend to forget anymore."

"Hey, it's not my fault," the tennis prodigy protested, scoffing. "You get me drunk the day before… every single time."

When Atobe retorted, the smirk was evident in the older boy's voice.

"Heh, I was offering you great nights as a birthday gift."

His mind functioning with extra speed, Ryoma searched for some counter attack.

With all the practice he got whenever he challenged the diva, it didn't take too long.

"And I gave myself to you each of these nights… as your Christmas gift."

"I want something I can be awed of, this year. Heard me?"

Ryoma smiled. Of course his lover wouldn't be affected by his previous sentence, even less blush. Sometimes, Ryoma wondered if Keigo forbid himself to act shy or to blush, simply because that's what Sakuno did.

"Alright… but don't forget you're going out with a mere commoner."

And with that, Ryoma hung up so he could resume his former activity- there were still many snowflakes to watch.

--

"Atobe, why did you even ask him that?" Shishido narrowed his eyes at his friend, not understanding the logic inside the boy's brain. "It's Echizen. Echizen."

The grey haired boy breathed out a suffering sigh but did not answer. He, himself, wondered why he hoped the brat would give him anything. Gracefully sitting into his overly large couch, he rested his head in his hands.

"Hope," he hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper. "Good ol' hope. There's a voice in my heart saying, go ahead, Keigo, you have the right to request this small favour…"

Shishido eyebrows raised high on his forehead; didn't Atobe believe he had EVERY right?

Fortunately, his vis-à-vis had his head buried in his palms and couldn't see the mocking surprise on his teammate's features.

Upon seeing his comrade so miserable, Shishido shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Why do you even care? You have all the money in the world to buy you whatever you need… no, scratch that, to fulfill you're most ridiculous whim!"

This did not seem to cheer up Atobe at all. "But I want HIM to offer me something!"

Here we go again, Shishido grunted. Why was he friend with the drama queen again?

Oh, yeah.

He was quite fond of drama himself.

"Well, if he doesn't give you anything, break up with him. That way, he'll realize your importance!"

An indistinct groan answered him and he could only make out a few insulting words. Not taking offence the least, he demanded his interlocutor to repeat himself.

"I said: I already tried that. The first year."

Shishido couldn't help but bursting out laughing. And then he gave some lame advices to his companion, while believing none of it. Atobe didn't seem to listen much anyway, so that's why the capped boy gaped in surprise when Keigo shot up and declared, "You're right!"

And then, Shishido wondered what he was right for.

--

"Stop it, Karupin! You bad, very bad kitty!"

Nanjiroh chuckled lightly, knowing that Ryoma didn't scold his cat often. The mood was pleasant, jovial even. For once, Rinko was home for the day and vowed her free time to nothing but housework and married mother life.

"Son!" the man yelled, a grin itching his mouth. "Come downstairs for a family bonding session!"

He waited some second before the boy simply shouted back a "Can't!" that unsealed the annoying part of the father.

"Kid, you've been locked up in your bedroom for a week already! Throw whatever you've been doing aside!"

No reply.

The old man patience decreased oh so very much. "I order you to do so, brat!"

"I already have orders," Ryoma informed him, groaning inwardly. Why was everything so hard in the first place?

Staring at his lousy work, he wished the monkey king continued abusing is wealth and just left him alone already.

But fair was fair. Atobe Keigo did deserve a gift… though Ryoma wasn't sure he deserved something as bad as what he was fabricating.

'Oh well. He asked for it'

Hours later, a loud "DONE!" echoed through the Echizens household, making Nanjiroh smile softly… he hoped that Keigo would at least appreciate the effort his offspring put into it, whatever the thing was.

One more day till Christmas.

--

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way

Oh what fun is it to ride in a one horse open sleigh, eh!

I'm nervous as hell, I want to curl up and die.

It was the first sentence that would come to Ryoma's mind every single time a maid came to him and questioned him on whether he was fine, if the mood was alright and, did he like the appetizers?

God, why wasn't Keigo already by his side?

His grasp firm on his awkwardly wrapped package, Ryoma counted the minutes.

Rudolph the red-nose reindeer… had a very shiny nose

Damn Christmas carols. His boyfriend should come, Ryoma would embarrass himself by giving him his crappy gift and then they'd throw a party because Ryoma was now sixteen.

"Ryo-chan."

Instantly, the boy looked up and nodded slightly. "Monkeigo," he shot back, smirking at his newfound nickname.

Not bothering to acknowledge the appellation, the older teen glanced at the box his lover held.

This was the moment, Ryoma knew. Bowing his head, he offered his gift to Atobe, mumbling some Christmas wish, waiting for humiliation to fall upon him.

Fall it did.

"Ryoma… what is this thing?"

"The handmade gift you requested."

There was a pause where Atobe drew sharp breath out of his gorgeous person before he continued. "And you knitted me a scarf?"

A nod.

"Which I appreciate… the effort is sincere, I guess, but, orange? You went with the cheaper wool; it even has holes in it. Not to forget it'sorange."

The short boy winced quietly. Alright, perhaps he should have chosen it another colour, but Karupin destroyed every other ball. Orange was the only survivor of his pet's attacks.

"Orange! Honestly, brat… and you didn't make up for it in quality either."

There was something about the diva's tone that hurt Ryoma.

"I told you that you could buy your own gift, you baka!"

Furiously, he threw the empty box at his beloved and stormed off.

Darn that Monkey King. If he wasn't going to say thanks, he wouldn't be seeing Ryoma for the whole vacations.

--

Dring. Dring. Dring.

A soft sigh escaped Ryoma's lips when his cellphone started ringing- yes, that's right, ringing. He had been only too blissful to change the settings of it, and now, the traditional Nokia tune purposefully aware him whenever he got a call.

"Yes?" The greeting, or lack of, sounded rude due to the fact that the boy was standing in a crowd.

Fortunately, his caller didn't seem to mind. "Brat, you've changed the tune."

Eyes widening in shock, Ryoma mentally listed every phone numbers he blocked in order to avoid his boyfriend's attempt to reason him.

Ryoma didn't like to be reasoned.

"You forgot I was incredibly rich, Ryoma," voiced Atobe smoothly, as if reading his friend's thoughts.

Said friend frowned. "Are you spying on me?"

There was a chuckle on the other line.

"Yes," Atobe finally replied, amusement clear. "Since you're being a complete, useless and immature brat, I understood I had no other way of seeing you."

"Monkey King, you're a jerk. For laughing at my scarf and for following me. Where are you, anyway?"

"In the crowd."

Echizen narrowed his eyes and exhaled a sharp breath in exasperation. "Can't you be more specific?"

"You want to see me, now?" The teenager didn't answer and his silence was interpreted as a yes. "You can't miss me. I'm wearing the ugliest scarf ever. It's orange."

Echizen Ryoma gaped audibly, and then there was this long, complete silence.

"You're smiling and you have your eyes close. Snap out of it, brat!"

"Wait," Ryoma spoke, opening his eyes to scrutinize the faces of the various boys and girls passing by. "If you saw me, then you're in front of me, somewhere…"

But he couldn't see anything orange.

"Wrong."

A hand tapped on Ryoma's shoulder, and, you've guessed it, when the boy turned around, he saw Atobe Keigo standing before him, flipping his cellphone closed.

The image rendered Ryoma speechless. Of course, Atobe seized the occasion to talk and value himself.

"You see, brat, Ore-sama doesn't need to see your face to know whenever you're smiling. And I would have appreciated it if you had the decency to hear me out completely, at Christmas, because I wasn't done…"

"Che. You love the sound of your voice too much, Keigo."

And before the older boy could take offence, Ryoma grabbed the scarf and pulled Atobe into a kiss, pouring everything he had into it.

When they broke apart, both were panting.

Though Ryoma was a bit surprise to see that his kissing mate glared at him in an annoyed way, he pretended he did not feel insulted- in only asked what the problem was, out of curiosity.

"Ryoma, I just told you I never finished my Christmas rant," Keigo gritted through his teeth. "You interrupted me and look at the damages of your actions."

Lamely, he pulled out his scarf.

Ryoma laughed throatily at first, then burst out into shaking laughter.

"It's not funny!" But Atobe seriously had to suppress a snicker. "It proves just how cheap it is. You tore the scarf apart!"

When Ryoma was able to talk again, he could only utter a small, "Yeah, so?"

That was the end of the deal.

Atobe never requested any other Christmas gift from the young Echizen, but Ryoma made a point of giving his boyfriend a scarf every December, 24th.

Why, not to irritate him, far from it:

"I'm just too full of Christmas spirit," Ryoma smirked.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Don't you think a review would be great? And totally appropriate, since it's Christmas time?