Chapter 25 – Holidays

"Ready to go?" Jeff asked putting on his shoes.

"Huh? Oh yeah," Anna responded absent mindedly.

Jeff watched as she just grabbed her purse, put on some shoes and grabbed a sweat shirt. "Okay, so what gives? You've been all mopey lately."

"Ehh…"

"Don't 'ehhh' me." He said getting into the car. "Come on, you know you can't help but talk…Hey, put on your seatbelt!"

"Okay okay," it clicked shut. "Kyoya called me."

"Uh-oh… dun dun duuuuunnnnnn."

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?!"

"Wait a minute. You're the one who's mopey and then you said Kyoya called. If it were good, wouldn't you feel a little differently?"

"Okay! He called and asked for a break."

Jeff nearly slammed on the breaks. "What?!"

"I know!"

"Well he didn't just say 'I want a break' did he?" Anna gave him a look. "Hey, Kyoya doesn't strike me as the guy to pull something like that without reason."

Everyone just loves Kyoya when I'm mad at him. "Fine, he said he needs time because he's busy."

"Do go on," he said, doing his best impersonation of a British investigator.

"How do you know there's more?"

"Because you're a dramatic girl and he's a level headed guy."

Knowing that Jeff wouldn't let her get away with playing the victim, she told him everything. She finally finished when they pulled up to a "Paint your Own Pottery" store.

"Anna, that's hardly anything bad. Sucky, sure; bad, not so much." He patted her on the head and she swatted at him.

"Do you know what you're going to paint this year?" Anna asked pulling on her apron.

"I was thinking a serving dish…"

"Ooh, that's a nice change of pace…"

"…with my feet in it!"

Anna gave Jeff a deadpan stare, but he was already taking off his shoes. Maybe I should make a mug for Kyoya?

Anna and Jeff paint their pottery and continue with the rest of their shopping day. He asks about her private tutor and Anna explains that she's starting shortly after New Years. As of now, she has no intentions of visiting Kyoya in Japan, worried that she might upset something if she arrives unannounced or may interfere with the amount of work he has to do.

"It's kind of like dating my dad."

"Ewe," Jeff added, cringing.

"Not like that! I mean the whole 'I'm here but I'm not. I love you but I'm busy.'"

"Ehh, well you sorta knew it was going to be like that though...Hey don't give me that face. All I'm saying is that when you are in a certain socio-economic stratus, you kinda accept the things that come with it."

[The time difference in Japan is ahead of the US. So when it's Tuesday morning there, its Monday afternoon…assuming an East Coast time.]

IN JAPAN

Tachibana looked at the small rectangular box debating what to do with it. I shouldn't open it… this isn't like one of Tamaki's gifts… I'll just place it near his laptop. Tachibana looked up at the sound of footsteps from above.

Kyoya was looking at his phone as he emerged from his room and headed down the stairs. "Change of plans, apparently we're going to the Hitachiin's mansion instead of Tamaki's."

"Yes."

Kyoya quickly patted himself down to make sure he had everything… maybe I should send Anna a quick email… He glanced over at his laptop, noting the box, he looked at Tachibana. Conveniently, his back was turned. Okay? "I presume this is mine," he asked walking over.

Tachibana said nothing, but Kyoya lifted the box. It was wrapped in plain brown paper with no markings indicating a giver, nor was there a card. He placed it back down beside his laptop.

Damn. "You're not going to open it, Master Kyoya?"

Kyoya paused, quickly picked it up and continued walking out of his wing. "Let's go, we're going to be late."

Tachibana nodded as Kyoya passed him.

In the car, Kyoya thoughtful and carefully turned the package over. All the seams were taped shut, but surprisingly, all the seams of the wrapper were at the edges of the package. Did they want this opened or to irritate me? He picked at the tape but it wasn't giving. "Tachibana, do you have a knife?"

Of course he did, a small pocket knife, which he handed over his shoulder to Kyoya, in the back seat. Kyoya punctured a seam and ripped open the wrapper. Inside was a plain brown box. He chuckled despite himself. It was all rather drab.

Tachibana stole glances from the rear view mirror, watching Kyoya open the box. That's it. He thought triumphantly.

Kyoya had emptied out the straw like stuffing and out slid a Japanese style tea cup (no handles). On one side was a stick figure of a brunette girl in a red skirt. On the direct opposite of the cup was a stick figure with glasses. Kyoya smiled. Between the two were the sun and the moon. Brightness where the sun was, and deeper tones where the moon was. Both of the figures were on little green mounds, a flower where the girl stood, a small tree where the boy stood.

It was the first time he ever received anything like it.

Inside, he saw a small business sized card.

My love, my light, my sky… I love you, hurry back to me. All my love, Anna

He flipped the card over and she saw he wrote washing and drying instructions: DISHWASHER SAFE.

He laughed out loud. Oh Anna, I love you.

IN THE US

The Chois and Stevensons spend Christmas together, enjoying the quiet time they have. Anna ended up making a plate with a stick figure scene of him on a beach with palm trees. "You know, to highlight your retirement...or lack thereof..."

Elrik laughed, "This is quite ironic actually..."

"What, are you not retiring?"

Elrik looked thoughtful and took a moment. "No, but I am flying out the day after New Years on a business trip."

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Composure Anna. This is hardly out of the ordinary..." He paused. "Aren't you even going to ask me where I'm going?"

"No," she said plainly, "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn.*"

Elrik chuckled, "Alright, if you say so."

Sun and Elrik got up to move the dishes to the kitchen and to wash the plates. "I can't believe you made a serving dish with your feet," Sun said, pretending to drop the plate.

"Hey, remember when you thought it was adorable to have my feet marks on things?"

"You're not so cute now son...I think that stopped around when you were 2..."

"Aww come on dad, what changed?"

Sun laughed "You talked a whole lot more!"

"Oh, don't forget the stockings," Elrik called from the kitchen. He poked Jeff, and they silently put their plates down and peaked around the corner from the kitchen. They saw Anna, still on the floor, and Jeff bringing over their stockings.

"Mine is suspiciously light!" Jeff called to his father, shaking the sock.

"Jeff, you're supposed to wait!" Anna said feigning being appalled.

"Oh, go ahead without us, we're in the kitchen anyway..." Sun called, winking at Elrik.

"You sure?"

"Yep, it's fine dear..." Elrik answered back.

They watched Anna as she upended her stocking and out tumbled a small smooth black box. Thinking nothing of it, she popped it open and froze. In shaking the box, the pendant had turned and she saw Kyoya's name in Japanese.

"Ooooh..." Jeff teased, crawling closer to take a peak... "What you go?"

Anna put her foot up and pushed him away, gently pulling out the board it was displayed on. There's a note...She looked up and saw Jeff holding out his hand. She took the pendant off the display board and handed it to him and pulled her hair up. He slid around her and fastened the necklace as she read the note.

Anna, I wish I could have been there to give you this. Forgive me, but know that I am with you always: my thoughts, my feelings, and my heart. Yours faithfully, Kyoya

"That damn bastard…" she said, almost crying.

"What?"

"I can't ever stay mad at him."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "And this is why you girl suck; always looking for drama when there is none."

Watching them, Sun sighed.

"What is it, friend?" Elrik asked.

"Hrm? Nothing… so," he said, returning his attention to the dishes, "when are you going to tell Anna you're going to Japan?"

NEW YEARS

Elrik had decided to leave earlier, and this time bring Sun with him, to celebrate New Years in another country, because, well frankly, because they could. Anna shrugged it off mentioning it's not much different from how things have been currently. Despite that she received one picture message from Kyoya with the host club, thanking her for the gift… but that was all. In speaking with Jeff, he mentioned that maybe his phone was being tapped, or he could have just been really 'stupid busy.'

Anna reluctantly agreed not to get upset and to shift her focus to school. She helped Jeff catch up with his homework while they prepared a small meal of "yummies" for their new year celebration.

All day, she had been hoping to receive something from Kyoya…an email, a text, a voice mail, anything. She resigned herself into thinking that Kyoya would text her after New Years her time.

She was becoming obsessive. She had Kyoya within arms reach for months and with him gone she didn't know what to do with herself. She was slightly maddened by how much she needed to hear from him. She wasn't like this before. She didn't know if she liked it.

"What's the matter?" Jeff said, not looking up erasing his proof** .

She stopped pacing, "Huh?"

"You were pacing," he said, getting up to get a glass of water. She leaned with her back on the counter and rested her head on his shoulder.

"It's soooo tough. And I hate what I'm becoming."

"It is really that bad," he said, leaning his head on hers.

"I don't even know how to be mad at."

"Your dad and Kyoya? Or my dad for sneaking off with yours?"

"Maybe all of it?" she laughed half heartedly and wrapped his arms around him. "I need a hug!"

Jeff laughed. "Man, you haven't been this needy since that boy dumped you in middle school." He complied, hugging his best friend. "You know, being loved by a lot of people isn't a bad thing. It's not like you're chasing after someone who doesn't want you…or doesn't realize you want them."

Anna was already out of Jeff's arms and went to put the "yummies" on a plates. "Thing would be so much easier if you and I were together," she laughed, stealing a bite of food.

"Hey, those are my favorite!" he made a grab for the plate, but she pulled it out of reach.

"You're the only one," she swallowed the last bit, "that I know that isn't like my dad or Kyoya. Ya know?"

Jeff pulled the plate from her hands, rested his forehead on hers, and quietly but firmly said "I know."

Anna's cheeks flushed and her heart raced slightly as she realized she was pinned against the counter, his arms on either side of her body, his body close to hers. "Jeff?" There was slight panic in her voice.

He sighed, kissed her gently on her forehead and began walking out of the kitchen. "Don't be in such a rush to get mad at Kyoya. He's doing everything for you. Be patient."

"Jeff?" He didn't stop walking and began putting on his shoes. "Wait, where are you going?"

"It's almost New Years, I'm going home to celebrate," he said flatly as he closed the door, leaving her alone.

What just happened? Anna fell to the floor as tears welled up in her eyes. Oh Kyoya… Jeff… oh God, what happened?

* Ref: gone with the wind reference

** Ref: math proof…get your answer, but show your work as to how you got there.

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