Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King or the holiday of Christmas.

Comments: Sorry I haven't written anything in a while. I've been in a bit of a slump. Well there's nothing like an angsty B-day fic to get the creative juices flowing again. I just hope the characters aren't OOC (or too much), I haven't watched any SK in over a month.

As for the technical details, according to the character profile in my graphic novel, Ryu's B-day is Dec 24. He's 17 at the beginning of the manga but I have no idea how much older he gets. Also, I don't if it snows in Patch village, but it does now.

Remember Me

Bokutou no Ryu walked briskly down the streets of Patch village while shielding his face from winter's harsh winds. Today was the big day. It wasn't Christmas. It was only the day before, Christmas Eve. But this day held a special significance for Ryu. It was the day of his birth, 18 years ago today.

Some had tried to tell him how lucky he was to have a birthday so close Christmas, he looked back at this and laughed. How was he lucky? By this time, everyone's too caught up in the 'spirit of the season' to even remember him. If he were back in Tokyo, his friends would throw him a big party that would last through the night. It really depressed him to think that there was a whole ocean separating them. All he wanted to do right now was ride his bike and vent off his frustrations, but even that was in Tokyo. Today wasn't looking like a happy day.

He had managed to best the weather long enough to arrive at the nearest store. Instead of aisles packed with crazed shoppers doing last minute shopping he was shocked to find the place next to deserted. Was he the only person crazy enough to go outside today? Probably, but with shaman fights eating up most of his time he had no other choice. A good hour was spent wondering around contemplating gift ideas. He had no idea how hard it would be to shop for his friends. When the final decisions were made, he entered the nonexistent check out line to pay for everything.

"That comes to a total of a hundred twenty-seven dollars and ninety-five cents," the cashier, who just so happened to be Silva, stated. "For only an extra five dollars I can wish you a merry Christmas."

"No thanks," Ryu replied flatly. At that he picked up his bags and left with hopes of it letting up outside. But that was shot down as soon as he saw an extra inch or two of snow on the ground.

Finally, he made it back to the lodgings that he shared with all of his companions who he had bought gifts for each of them, even Ren and Horo Horo. Though there was one gift he couldn't resist buying, even if he might never get an opportunity to give it.  If there was even the slightest chance of seeing the boy again he had to have something for him, for Lyserg-chan.

His return was announced with a knock on the door to which Yoh was overly eager to answer. If he could have just one wish this day, it would have been Lyserg on the other side of that door waiting for him.

"Welcome back Ryu!" Yoh greeted with an unusual amount of life in his voice. "Guess what. We managed to talk Anna into letting us open presents today, isn't that great?"

"Yeah… just great." That was it, the verbal slap in the face that confirmed his fears. They had forgotten him.

Once everyone gathered in Anna's room (it wasn't negotiable) and sat around the small plastic tree they had set up, the unwrapping began. It was almost more than Ryu could take, listening to all the laughing and joking. He must have been the only one that wasn't enjoying himself.

"To: Ren, From: Ryu," the pointy haired boy read aloud. "This should be interesting…" After ripping off the paper and sifting around the stuffed contents of the box his hand produced only a single piece of paper. "Free Rage-a-holics session," Ren read again. "Kisama! Are you implying that I have anger problems!?" Horo Horo had tackle him to the ground once he brought out the kwan-dao.

Normally such a spectacle would have given Ryu quite the laugh, but all he could manage to do was sigh. That's when there was a soft knock at the door. With all the commotion Horo and Ren were making on the floor no one seemed to notice. "I'll get it," he offered, but that too went unheard.

Ryu wondered who it could be. Who would bother them on Christmas Eve? He turned the knob and opened the door cautiously. It could be anyone, even Hao or those shitty X-laws for all he knew. What he wasn't expecting was for there to be no one at all. It wasn't until he looked down that he noticed something, a box with only a green bow and the word 'Ryu' on top.

He didn't hesitate to open it and what he found inside almost made his heart stop. On the bottom of the box laid a small diamond shaped crystal attached to a golden chain. When he held it up, it was like a pendulum. But there was more, underneath there was note folded in two. It read: "Thinking of you, hopefully when you look at this you'll do the same." The whole thing caused his mind to race. "Could it be…?"

"Happy Birthday Ryu-san," the green haired boy whispered to himself as he sat alone, emerald eyes full of tears.

- End -

Yay, finished with two hours 'til x-mas eve. Hope you enjoyed it. In case you're wondering, the ending kind of has to do with my theory that Lyserg isn't happy in the X-laws. Sorry if you're opposed to that.

For only a review I will wish you a Merry Christmas.

I kid, I kid. Merry Christmas Everyone ^^