~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 6 ~*~*~*~*~
Ding-dong!
Kurama woke up to the sound of the doorbell. He yawned and looked briefly at the digital clock at his bedside. The red numbers blared 6 a.m. Kurama sighed and closed his eyes once again. It was too early for company.
Ding-dong!
Kurama groaned and rolled over determined to ignore it.
Ding-dong!
Kurama defiantly smashed a pillow to his ears and closed his eyes tightly.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
Kurama at last gave in and sat up wearily. With a very reluctant groan, Kurama rolled out of bed and trudged down the hallway to the front door. The doorbell was still blaring incessantly. Putting on his most perturbed face, Kurama unlocked the door and swung it open. He was greeted with the smiling faces of Botan and Keiko.
"Hi, Kurama-Oh!" Botan's cheeks suddenly became a fierce shade of red and her eyes grew to the size of saucers. She clapped a hand over her mouth. Kurama's eyebrow's furrowed bemusedly at looked over at Keiko who was in a similar state. Both of them were looking down. Kurama followed their gaze and saw immediately what was the cause of all this. Blushing an even brighter shade of red. He squeaked a quick "Excuse me." And walked as swiftly back to his room. Leaving a very shocked Botan and Keiko in the doorway.
After a long silence Keiko coughed. Botan answered with another cough. "Well..."
"That was..." Keiko coughed.
Botan nodded, "Roses."
Keiko blinked, "What?"
"His boxers had roses on them." Botan said with unease.
Keiko nodded, and then looked at her, "Really? All I saw were red dots..."
Botan shrugged, "I was closer than you were."
"Oh."
A clicking signaled that Kurama had finished dressing and he walked back out to greet them. He smiled apologetically, "Sorry about that. I wasn't prepared for company this early in the morning." He gave a swift bow, "Do come in."
Botan and Keiko both grinned and stepped in, Keiko shutting the door behind her.
"So, what do I owe the honor of this visit?" Kurama said pleasantly.
"Simple, Kurama-kun!" Botan said exuberantly, unloading a large bag on to the floor.
"As you know today is Christmas Eve," Keiko said, unloading a similar bag.
"And you are the only one of us who owns a house;" Botan continued slinging an arm around Kurama's shoulders.
"So..." Keiko reached into the bag she'd been carrying.
"We decided to have the party at your house!" They said simultaneously, Keiko pulling out a banner that had the words "Merry Christmas" on it in red and green.
If Kurama had had anything to choke on, he would have, "WHAT?" Kurama staggered.
"Please, Kurama!" Keiko and Botan pleaded.
"But-"
"Please, Kurama!" Both of them had gotten onto their knees and were looking up at him imploringly.
Kurama gave a resigned sigh, "Oh, all right..."
They sprang to their feet and threw their arms around him, "Thank you so much! You're the best!" They squealed excitedly and released him. Kurama nodded still a little reluctant about the entire thing, "Don't think anything of it. I'll just make some tea while you decorate." Kurama turned to the kitchen.
"Okay! But first...." Keiko said and Kurama turned around, "Where's the tree? I need to put this angel on top of it." She said pulling out an angel tree-topper from her bag.
Kurama shrugged, "There isn't one."
Keiko started to hyperventilate. Botan grabbed a paper bag and made Keiko breathe into it. After she'd calmed down a bit, Keiko ripped the bag from her face and yelled at Kurama, "What do you mean you don't have a Christmas tree? You always buy a tree at Christmas!"
Kurama stepped back, "They're didn't seem to be a point-"
"No point?" Keiko screeched.
Botan grabbed Keiko, "Calm down! We'll go get one!" Botan said trying to abate her friend's anger.
Keiko nodded, "Okay, but go with him! Who knows what he'll pick out..."
Botan patted her friend on the back, "Okay; we'll be back soon."
Kurama was too bewildered to do anything, forcing Botan to find the keys to his car and drag him out of the door.
When it shut, Keiko's frown dissipated into a triumphant smile, "Ha! They fell for it! Keiko, old girl, you are quite the actress. And I thought getting them alone would be hard."
~*~*~*~*~
Kurama and Botan got into his car. Kurama slid the key into the ignition and backed out of his driveway.
"So, where's the nearest tree lot?" Kurama asked. There was two reasons he asked this: The first was that he truthfully had no idea where the tree lot was and the second was he wanted to break the silence.
"It's only a block away. Take a right, here." Botan directed.
Kurama did as directed.
"Sorry, about Keiko exploding like that. She's become somewhat of a perfectionist."
"Really? I hadn't noticed...."Kurama said sarcastically.
Botan laughed, "You should have seen her yesterday! She was screaming at me because I put too much red food coloring in the Christmas cookies!"
It was Kurama's turn to laugh.
"I said four! I didn't say twelve! I just said four!" Botan imitated Keiko.
Kurama laughed even harder.
"She won't let me near the food coloring anymore!"
Kurama was near hysterics, "Is this it?" He managed to stop laughing enough to say.
Botan nodded, "Yup, this is the place."
Kurama pulled into the parking lot and they both got out. They entered the tree lot and started looking around.
"How about you go down this aisle and I'll go down this one and if either one of us finds something we'll holler, okay?" Botan suggested.
Kurama nodded and went down his assigned aisle of Douglas Firs.
Botan smiled and went of in search of the perfect tree. She probably should have been paying more attention to where she was walking than to the trees for she accidentally walked right into someone.
"Umpf!" Botan said as she smashed into a man looking at the trees. He made a similar noise. Botan was knocked to the ground as well as the man.
Botan shook her head, "Are you all right?" She asked looking at the man she'd bumped into.
The man rubbed his neck and nodded, "I think so...You?"
Botan nodded.
He got up and offered her a hand. She took it and he pulled her up.
"Sorry about that!" Botan apologized.
"Hey, no problem!" The man waved a hand vaguely; "I wasn't paying attention either."
Botan grinned. She looked at the man. He was surprisingly pale. He looked as though he'd never see the sun. Even his hair was white! Botan tried to hide that she found his looks odd by saying a quick goodbye and turning to leave.
"Wait!" She heard him say.
She turned around.
"There's a very nice tree over there." He pointed.
Botan grinned, "Thanks." And went to look at the tree he was pointing to.
It was truly beautiful. She would never have found a better tree in her life. It was perfect in shape, not a single brown needle in sight, and the perfect size!
Botan grinned excitedly and clapped her hands together with glee, "Kurama! Over here!"
~*~*~*~*~
The tree was bought and paid for and was strapped securely to the car roof. When they arrived back at the house, they discovered that Keiko been quite busy. The entire house was festooned with Christmas decorations. Banners hung everywhere. Little Santa and reindeer figurines were placed in just about every open space. The coffee table was covered in snack trays. The counter had plastic plates and utensils piled and ready for anyone to use. The Christmas turkey was already in the oven.
Keiko immediately ordered them to put the tree in one corner of the living room. Botan and Kurama lugged the tree to its respective place and collapsed on the couch, only to be ordered up again and forced to decorate the tree. Both, however, were relieved of the job after they broke a few bulbs.
They were then told to call up everyone and tell him or her what time the party was. Botan handled most of the calls except when it came to Hiei. She then graciously handed the phone over to Kurama, who to her surprise, simply dialed the pay phones at the park. What Botan heard of the conversation went something like this:
"Hello?"
There was a slight pause and Kurama answered, "There should be a short man behind you wearing black. Please give the phone to him."
Another pause.
"Hello, Hiei."
Pause.
"Botan and Keiko are having a Christmas party over at my house and they wanted you to come."
Kurama waited for Hiei's response.
"Yes, and please don't call her that."
By the disapproving look Kurama was giving the phone, Botan could only guess that Hiei had called either Keiko or herself something nasty.
"You're supposed to be here around 6."
Slight pause.
"Goodbye."
Kurama hung up and smiled at Botan pleasantly, "Hiei said he'd be here."
After that they helped Keiko however they could. Keiko gave them several tasks with explicit instructions that she insisted were followed to the letter. After all was done all three of them sat on the couch and admired their work. Kurama was amazed at just how unrecognizable his house was. Everything was Christmas themed, including the bathroom. All the red and green was making him dizzy.
At last everyone showed up, all bearing little packages for the Secret Santa. The packages were set in a little pile under the tree. When everyone had arrived they all sat in a little circle around the tree. And everyone waited patiently to receive his or her gifts. Kurama seated himself on the couch with Botan on his right and a disgruntled Hiei on his left. Keiko sat on the floor and pulled the first gift from the pile and read the name.
"This one is to Kuwabara."
Kuwabara grinned and snatched the gift away from Keiko. He ripped the paper off in frenzy and wrenched the lid off.
"What is it?" Inquired Yukina.
Kuwabara's smiled and pulled a furry cat figurine, "It's so cute!" He exclaimed and actually hugged the cat figurine; "It looks exactly like my kitty!" He then proceeded to pet the figurine.
Kurama heard Hiei mutter, "Baka," under his breath.
Keiko smiled though she looked slightly put off by Kuwabara's behavior. (He was now stroking the cat and purring.) She cleared her throat and pulled out a rather large gift from under the tree.
"Yusuke."
"All right!" Yusuke kneeled down in front of the box, "What's in it?" Yusuke asked shaking the gift.
"You have to open it first!" Keiko chided.
Yusuke scoffed and opened the box and revealed a punching bag.
"Oh, cool!" Yusuke lifted the bag from its box and looked at it admiringly.
Keiko smiled approvingly and pulled out the next box, "Oh! This one is for me!"
She tore off the paper and glanced and her gift.
"Cookie cutters!" Keiko gasped and pulled out Christmas tree and gingerbread man shaped cookie cutters.
Botan leaned over and whispered in Kurama's ear, "It was the only thing I could think of." Kurama chuckled.
Keiko pulled out more presents and gave them to whose name was written on it. Kurama received a lovely flowerpot, Shizuru was given a lighter, and Yukina enjoyed her new set of hair ties. Whether Hiei appreciated his new pair of black boots he didn't say. He did have the courtesy to try them on though. How whoever gave him the boots knew his shoe size is a mystery. And then came the moment that Kurama had been both dreading and awaiting.
Kurama pulled out the last package (Which was rather small.) and didn't bother reading the name but simply handed it over to Botan. Kurama held his breath as she slid the box out of its wrapping paper. It became obvious to everyone as they saw the box that the gift was jewelry. They craned their necks to see what the box held. Botan lifted the lid and gasped. Inside the box was a necklace. It was the most beautiful necklace she'd ever seen.
She gripped the delicate gold chain with her thumb and index finger and held it up for everyone to see. From the chain hung a charm in the shape of peony. Botan let the peony rest in the palm of her hand and leaned forward for a closer look. The exquisiteness of the peony was breath taking, with petals of gold and silver. Botan was in awe.
"It's...." Botan could not find a word to describe the absolute magnificence of the necklace, "...beautiful."
It was all she could think of. Though the word hardly did it justice. She found the clasp and undid it and fastened it around her neck. She fingered the peony charm lovingly.
"Wow." Keiko said at last and stood up to get a better look at it, "That's fantastic, Botan!"
Botan nodded speechlessly.
"Well, it's time for dinner!" Keiko exclaimed and waved everyone to the dining room.
Kurama could hardly keep from smiling. She'd liked it! He knew she did. All through dinner her hand often went to her necklace, her fingers tracing the petals of the charm. Resisting the urge to tell her it was he who had given her the necklace was unbearable. Every time her hand went to it, he wanted to tell her. Every time this urge came he stuffed even more food into his mouth.
Dinner was over and everyone mingled. Shizuru plopped down on the couch and entertained herself with the many Christmas specials. Kuwabara was showing off his cat. (Which he had named after Yukina.) Yukina (The person not the cat.) was probably the only one paying attention to him. Hiei had put on his new boots and was enjoying himself in on of the rooms many corners. He looked upon the room with a scrutinizing gaze and kept mumbling things to himself that sounded an awful lot like "Baka." Yusuke had been trying to convince Keiko for the past 20 minutes to let him go home and try out his new punching bag. Keiko was standing firm in her decision that he would stay until the end of the party. Kurama spotted Botan standing off to the side admiring her necklace.
"Enjoying yourself, Botan?" Kurama said so suddenly that Botan jumped.
"Yup!" Botan said with a sense of smugness, "I love Christmas. It's always been my favorite holiday."
"Mine as well." Kurama grinned; "Your present is lovely."
Botan nodded vigorously, "Oh! Yes, I just wish I knew who had given it to me so I could thank them!"
Kurama wished very much that he had something to stuff in his mouth right now. Luckily, Botan continued.
"But that would ruin the entire point of Secret Santa, now wouldn't it?"
"Indeed it would." Kurama agreed.
Keiko had given up her argument with Yusuke and wondered over to them, "Hey, you two."
"Hello, Keiko!" Botan responded. Kurama merely nodded pleasantly.
Keiko smiled mischievously, "Look up!"
Kurama and Botan did so. Hanging from the roof was a small plant with white berries.
"Mistletoe," Kurama remarked.
"Uh-uh! You two have to kiss now!" Keiko smirked.
A sudden knot tied itself in Botan's stomach. She looked at Kurama. He was smiling cheerfully. Before she knew it, he was leaning towards her. She inhaled but forgot to exhale. Why was she so nervous? Her cheeks were burning and the knot in her stomach was becoming tighter.
Her eyes slammed shut.
Something brushed her cheek.
"Hey! You were supposed to kiss her on the lips!" Botan heard Keiko protest.
"You didn't specify." Kurama said whimsically.
Botan opened her eyes. He'd already kissed her?
Keiko scoffed indignantly and stalked off. Kurama watched her leave, flashed a smile at Botan, and went to speak with Hiei. And there stood a very confused Botan.
Her hand cupped the cheek Kurama had just kissed. It was still warm. The knowledge of how to exhale came to her. But the knot still remained. A new and unfamiliar feeling was invading her mind. Her eyes kept wandering to Kurama. And every time she looked at him, she blushed. Why?
At last she couldn't stand it anymore. She walked out of the party without a word to anyone, got in her car, and drove back to her apartment. Keiko would just have to find an alternative way home.
As she got ready for bed, images of the party kept flashing in her mind. But the most dominant memory was with Kurama. She seeing him lean forward. She kept feeling the warmth of his lips on her cheek.
She defiantly pushed this memory aside. She did everything to muffle it. She even turned on the radio to drown it out. She switched the radio on and played with dial until a decent station presented itself. The DJ's voice came booming through the speakers.
"That was something wasn't it? I tell you whenever I hear that song I get all choked up. Reminds me of when I was a little kid growing up in Tokyo. Oh, what memories! This next song is for all you lovers out there."
Music pored out through the speakers. A man started singing:
"I'm sleeping
Right in the middle of a good dream
And all at once I wake up
From something that keeps knocking at my brain
Before I go insane
I hold my pillow to my head
And spring up in my bed
Screaming out the words I dread
I think I love you!"
Botan roared and switched it off. She fell unto the bed and buried her face in the pillows. She was furious with the song. It just had said what she had been refusing to admit to herself ever since the party.
She loved Kurama.
~*~*~*~*~
Merry Christmas! Your Christmas gift is an extra long chapter! And now to answer the questions asked of me!
Bura-chan: I would love to make Kurama jealous! i think I just figured out how too! How? I'm not telling you!
Kage1586- YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF A PEONY? It's the coolest flower ever. Though, I understand why you haven't heard of it. I, myself, never heard of it until I looked it up on Google. It's now my favorite flower!
And much thanks go out to mstheatre for coming up with the design of the necklace!
One more thing. HAVE YOU SEEN PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN? It's the coolest movie ever!!!! It rocks! If you haven't seen it. I suggest you do. NOW! It's so amazingly awesome! It's the best movie I've seen since The Two Towers! (Coincidentally both movies have Orlando Bloom in it. ^_^)
Also, the song at the end is I Think I Love You by David Cassidy. I love that song. Almost as much as much as Pirates of the Caribbean. Not really, Pirates of the Caribbean was way cooler but... I love that song just the same.
-Mogget, GO SEE IT NOW!