[Author's Note: Rurouni Kenshin and all of the characters within (obviously) do not belong to me, and never have. ^_^]

A Rurouni Night Before Christmas.


Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the dojo,
Not a student was stirring
Except for Yahiko.

His bokken rested
By his futon with care;
He was sure an intruder
Was on his way there.

Ayame and Suzume
Were asleep in their beds,
While visions of kushi-dango
Danced in their heads.

Kaoru in her bedroom
And Kenshin in the back,
He was loading up presents
Into his huge sack.

One fell on his foot
And there arose such a clatter
That Yahiko ran out
To see what was the matter.

Away through the dojo
He flew like a flash
Tore open the shoji,
Ran out at a dash

The moon bright reflection
On the new-fallen snow
Gave the illusion of peace
To objects below.

When, what to his wondering
Eyes did appear
But a miniature sleigh,
And eight tiny reindeer.

With a really short driver
(Though his hair was bright red)
"Get ready to fight!"
Young Yahiko said.

More rapid than an eagle
The young student attacked,
But "Santa" refused
To let his good plan be wrecked.

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the dojo! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before
The wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle,
Mount to the sky,

So up to the roof-top
Like lightning he flew,
With his bag full of toys,
Which was quite hard to do.

And then, in an instant
Yahiko heard his foe
Who was slipping and falling
With a patented "Oro?!"

As he drew up his bokken
And jumped up to the roof
"Santa" was swirly-eyed
And looked like a goof.

He was covered in presents,
From his head to his feet,
And his clothes were all
Tarnished with ashes and soot.

His bundle of toys
Which were flung on his back,
Were nothing more now
Than an upturned old sack.

His eyes – once opened
Were sheepish but happy
The smile that he wore
Was almost...well, sappy!

He drew himself up
But got bonked on the head
"Say, 'Santa'," said Yahiko,
"Why's your hair red?"

The guilty man blinked
Then looked down at the ground.
"I forgot my hat," he then
Said with a frown.

In a moment he smiled
And his cheeks were blushed
"Well done, you've caught me!"
His voice, it was hushed.

Yahiko, with his bokken
Still in his hand
Couldn't help but to laugh
And watch his older friend stand.

A wink of his eye
And a twist of his head,
Fake Santa said, "Shh...
Kaoru-dono's still in bed."

He spoke not a word,
But went back to his work,
Jumped off of the roof-top
And proceeded to lurk

Then, laying a finger
Aside of his nose
He gave a quick nod
Then abruptly froze.

Kids sprang from their room
And tackled him down
"Kenshin-nii!" they proclaimed
Kaoru appeared, in her gown.

Kenshin sat up smiling
And looked at his friends
"Yahiko, Kaoru,
The fun never ends!"

Light broke out the window
And Kenshin blinked. "Oro?
Well...merry Christmas to all,
and to all a good...morrow!"


[AN: ^_^]