This is Lotus

This is Saiki

~Thoughts of others~

Saiki Claus? - Santa and His Merry Elf

As the days rolled by before anyone knew it, it was Christmas time.

Ethan and Violet had been on a redecorating spree, decking the halls out to the max. In Ethan's home country Christmas can't come soon enough and starting the first week of December people were already setting up their decorations, an eagerness he's brought into the Yamaguchi household. Violet and Lotus were more than happy to include Ethan's holiday traditions.

A Christmas tree was up and several holly bushes decorated the home. The home looked like something out of a Christmas magazine. But the Yamaguchi abode wasn't the only thing decked out.

"Ta-da! What do you think?" Ethan asked

Sir Henry was in a little Christmas sweater vest and Yami sported a new collar that was designed to look like a Christmas wreath, the wolf also had a pair of antlers on his head.

"They look great Ethan. So festive!" Violet cheered

"~I'm not keeping these on.~" Yami said

"You have no choice!" Lotus laughed

"I've got outfits for us too," Ethan said

"Oooh! What do I get to be?" Violet asked

Ethan smiled handing a garment bag to Violet. "It's a surprise, but I made it to complement every beautiful inch of you."

Violet let out an "Aww"' as she and Ethan Eskimo kissed before heading to her room to change.

"Here's yours Lotus," Ethan spoke holding out a second garment bag.

"Thank you," Lotus said

"It might seem a bit ridiculous to others, but I enjoy dressing up like this. Plus I love sending the photo to Mom and Dad."

Lotus exited her room adjusting her outfit. This year she was a Christmas elf, a classic. She wore a long-sleeve green dress with a flaring skirt that stopped just above her knee. The skirt also had red and white ruffles at the bottom, and the cuffs of the dress were rimmed with white faux fur. A red belt with a gold buckle was secured around Lotus's waits, and her legs were clad in red and green tights. She had a white fuzzy collar with a holly pin attached to the side and to top it off she wore green shoes that curled at the toes.

"Oh, Lotus you look so cute! The best elf I've ever seen!"

Lotus found her sister standing down the hall, she too was dressed in her costume. Violet looked like a prima ballerina, with an intricate and sophisticated corset top. She had light purple wings on her back and a crown on her head.

Violet smiled giving a little spin. "I'm a sugar plum fairy."

"Cool, I wonder what Ethan is?" Lotus said

The two headed downstairs where they found Ethan waiting. He wore a military-style uniform, there was a fake beard on his face and his cheeks were painted rosy red.

"You're a nutcracker!" Violet said

Ethan beamed brightly, hands on his hips.

"I finished setting up the camera. You ladies ready for the photo?" He asked

"Yup!"

"Let's do this!"

Violet took her place in front of the Christmas tree and Lotus gathered up Sir Henry and Yami, getting the animals in position, so they could be in the picture as well. When she was done Lotus took her place on the opposite side of the tree, leaving an empty space for Ethan.

"Alright, the timer is set for ten seconds and it's gonna take five photos. Ready?" Ethan asked

"Ready."

"Okay...and go!"

Ethan pressed a button on the camera and ran over to the tree taking his spot. The family smiled brightly as the camera took its first photo. After that, the family started to get in varying poses, a new one for each shot.

When they were done everyone was all smiles and giggles and Yami finally managed to shake his antlers off.

"Now that, that's taken care of its time that Violet and I be on our way," Ethan said

"Oh, where are you guys going?" Lotus asked

"Especially dressed like that."

"Christmas party," Violet said

"Okay, you two have fun now. I've still got plenty of baking left to-Oh! I promised Saiki-okaasan that I'd bring over some of the cookies I made."

Lotus ran into the kitchen then came back out a few seconds later holding a box.

"I'm gonna run these over to the Saiki house!"

Lotus was out the door before Violet or Ethan could say anything.

"Did she just say Saiki-okaasan? How cute!" Violet said

Lotus rang the doorbell of the Saiki home and waited patiently for the door to be opened. When it did open, Lotus blinked as her brows scrunched in confusion.

"Huh? Saiki-Claus?" Lotus said

"No."

~~~ 20 Minutes Earlier ~~~

"Hello, Kusuo I'm Santa Claus! I'm gonna deliver presents to all the good boys and girls in the neighborhood."

Saiki stared blankly at his father, the man wearing a Santa outfit with a large sack thrown over his shoulder.

"You finally cracked, Dad?"

"I told the neighbors about how your Dad dressed as Santa every year, and they all asked if they could come to their houses too," Kurumi explained

"Don't spread our family shame."

"Everyone is waiting for a visit from Kuniharu Claus."

"You're a lost Clause."

"I'm off now! See ya!" Kuniharu said

He threw the sack back over his shoulder, but then a low crunching noise resonated through the room. Kuniharu gasped before dropping to the floor just like the sack he had over his shoulder.

"Honey what's wrong!?" Kurumi cried out

"My back! It's my back! I did it! I really did it this time!" Kuniharu exclaimed

"Enough with the 'I did it'."

"Fix this Kusuo," Kuniharu said

"Good grief. Guess I have to. Oh wait, I can't. I already turned back time on you this morning."

Kuniharu had stubbed his toe on the corner of a table and Saiki fixed it by turning back time on his father.

"Oh no! Kusuo you have to deliver these presents for me!" Kuniharu said

"No way."

"Please I'm begging you Santa Kusuo!" Kuniharu said

"Don't ever call me that again."

"I'll do it! Just leave it to me!" Kurumi said

Kuniharu and Saiki both looked to her and were stunned to find her dressed like Santa, but with a skirt vs pants. She looked great but it's definitely not something a son would want his mother to wear.

After a replay of the earlier events, Lotus nodded her head understanding why Saiki was now wearing a Santa outfit.

"Oh I get it," Lotus said

"As a son, it's my duty to stop my mother from walking around our neighborhood in a sexy Santa costume."

Lotus chuckled lightly. "Oh, I can join you. I am dressed as an elf after all."

Saiki glanced down at Lotus and finally took note of her outfit.

"Looks good."

Lotus smiled bigger, blushing from the compliment.

"Let me just drop these cookies off inside, and we can get to work!" Lotus said

In a rather normal-looking home, a wife and husband sat at a table with their son sitting across from them. The couple appeared rather happy while the son wore this blasé look, his arms crossed.

"There's no such thing as Santa."

"Don't be silly, of course, there is," The Mother said

"Santa is very real Taku." The Father said

"Ken said he's not," Taku said

The little disagreement was interrupted by the family's front doorbell ringing.

"Sounds like you got a visitor."

"It may be Santa."

"I bet it's just a delivery guy or something," Taku said

He got up from his seat jogging to the front door. He opened the door and there stood Santa along with an elf.

"Whoa Santa Claus and an Elf too!...Yeah, right as if I'd react like that. Did my parents put you guys up to this? Nice effort. So can I have my present now?" Taku said

"Cheeky brat."

Saiki pulled out the present lightly bonking the kid on the head with it, before disappearing with Lotus.

"They disappeared! Mom that was Santa! He's real! He even had an elf with him!" Taku shouted

Saiki and Lotus reappeared floating over the kids' house. Lotus had her arms hooked around Saiki just as a safety precaution, but it'd be a lie to say neither of them wasn't enjoying the contact. They floated down to a roof nearby and Lotus pulled out a list.

"Alright, that's another house down."

"I just wanna get over this quickly."

"Well flying sure does make things faster. Plus it makes you seem more like the real deal," Lotus chuckled

"Come on, let's go."

Lotus rehooked her arms with Saiki's, and they took off, roof hopping to the next house on their list.

"Dad, will Santa be here soon?" A young girl's voice spoke, her words filled with excitement.

"Yes of course."

"Goody! When he comes I'm gonna ask him to give me a hug!"

"If it's for a kid I have no choice."

Lotus smiled as she and Saiki landed outside the home.

"When Santa gets here he's gonna come down the chimney, isn't that right Dad?"

"Hmmm, I don't know about that."

"What? Santa wouldn't just walk up and ring the doorbell."

"But honey, the chimney is dangerous."

"Not for Santa. If he comes through the door I'll be severely disillusioned."

"Disillusioned? Where did you learn that word?"

Lotus looked to Saiki, and she could see the words "Good grief" just floating over his head. He got on the family's roof and dropped down the chimney, entering the home with a loud bang accompanied by a cloud of dust and cobwebs.

"Santa's here? Santa!"

The girl hopped off her father's lap running over to Saiki, but then stopped when she saw the state he was in from his chimney entrance.

"Yikes."

"Don't look so disillusioned kid. Here's your present."

"Can you please leave it under the tree and go."

"Another brat."

"Weren't you going to ask Santa for a hug?"

"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to decline. I appreciate all your hard work, sir."

"Cut the polite talk."

Saiki left the house rejoining Lotus.

"Wow, you sure got dirty. Guess that family doesn't clean their chimney huh?" Lotus chuckled

"Good grief. What a bunch of lousy kids."

As Saiki and Lotus got to their next house, Saiki was glad to see this one had no chimney.

Lotus rang the doorbell and not even a second later a terrified-looking kid answered the door.

"Hello! What do you want? Who are you guys?!"

"Oh come on you must know Santa and his elves?"

"If you're looking for my mom she's not home! Please go away!"

"Wait, if his mom isn't home, why did he answer the door?"

"You don't recognize me? I'm Santa Claus."

"What? What?! Santa Claws!"

"I didn't say that!"

"No, I'm Kanta!"

"That close to Santa."

The kid started to freak out and bawl his eyes out. Saiki just set the present down before he and Lotus departed.

"Well, that was awkward."

"Parents teach your kids about Santa or at least tell them I'm coming."

Lotus and Saiki continued their work until they finally got to the last name on their list.

"The last house. After this, I can go home and eat some cake."

"Oh, I made a great sponge cake. You can come over and try some. And Violet planned on making her homemade hot chocolate. It's a family recipe and a mug of pure heaven," Lotus said

Lotus's words almost sounded like music to his ears.

"Are you serious? You're going to the office now? But why?"

Lotus and Saiki paused when they heard the loud voices from the home filtering into their heads.

"It couldn't wait."

"What about the party? Think about poor Kenta."

"It's work! I have to go!"

"This seems like a bad time."

Saiki approached the door about to lay the present down.

"I'm just gonna leave the present by the door-"

"~Dear Santa. I don't need any presents this year so please just let mom and dad stop fighting, so we can have our Christmas party together. Please, Santa! Please!~"

"That's not how it works. You're praying to Santa Claus, he's not God or Buddha you know. You shouldn't expect too much from a guy who takes 364 days off a year. Good grief, what a pain."

Lotus smiled and took Saiki's hand, the psychics blasting off into the air.

The couple inside the home continued to argue until the man started to make his way out the front door.

"I have to go now. I'll make up for it later!"

"Ugh! I can't believe you!"

The man's cell phone started to ring, and he turned from his angry wife to answer the phone.

"What? Everythings' been taken care of? What the heck? How? Wait what, slow down. Santa and one of his elves showed up and did it all?"

The little boy gasped picking something up that was laying on the doorstep.

"Mom, Dad, look! It's a present, Santa left it for me! And he helped you out to Dad so you can stay here with us! Thank you, Santa!"

"Good grief, that was a long night. No wonder Santa has to take 364 days off."

"I think you were the best Santa tonight Saiki," Lotus said

Saiki readjusted his grip on Lotus's hand to intertwine their fingers, she smiled as they flew through the night heading home.