Love's Occasions
Arrhythmic: And the final chapter is here. I thank all the people who have been reviewing this so far, and sticking with me! Here's your Christmas present: the sugar and waff loaded last chapter of Love's Occasions!
Chapter Five: All I Want for Christmas Is You
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
Kamui let himself back into the apartment, humming a little song that he had heard playing in the shops and on the airwaves. It sounded really cheerful, and he felt like dedicating it to Subaru. Christmas present shopping had been done already, and he was looking forward to the boisterous company of the other Seals, especially Yuzuriha and Karen.
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
Unconsciously, his fingers- those not holding the log cake- stole to the ring on the necklace, the present given to him on his birthday, hanging just next to his heart on a thin chain.
Later that would change.
They would be going over to Yuuto's bachelor pad, as he put it- only that after he married Karen, after their one year of flirtation and talks, he wouldn't be much of a bachelor any more. 'Isn't it time to go?' Kamui asked, popping his head into the living room, where Subaru sat, reading a book.
'Oh, alright,' Subaru said, getting up from his spot. 'Would you like to walk, take the train, or just go for a traditional building-to-building sprint?'
'The train will be absolutely fine,' Kamui said mock-sternly, grinning cheerfully back at Subaru. 'I'll just go get ready?'
When Kamui re-exited the bedroom, Subaru couldn't quite find the difference between half a second ago.
Of course, the onmyouji suddenly realized it when Yuzuriha latched onto Kamui, smiling widely. Subaru nodded to Kusanagi, seeing that they had all met each other getting off at the train station. 'Kamui-chan! Subby! Merry Christmas... and a Happy New Year!' she sang the last portion, grinning happily as Inuki's tail wagged like a metronome, keeping time to Yuzuriha's singing.
'Christmas songs are nice, aren't they?' Kamui asked agreeably, letting Yuzuriha link hands with him. 'I liked the one called-'
'Eh? Kamui-chan? When did you start wearing a ring?' Curiously she held up their linked hands, revealing the silver ring gleaming in the glare of the street lamps as they winked on in the falling twilight, laughter and warmth emitting from the apartment blocks around them, people laughing and toasting each other with 'Merry Christmases', fitting comfortably on Kamui's ring finger.
Kamui directed a small, private smile at Subaru as he looked curiously at the younger Ten no Ryuu. 'Just today,' Kamui told Yuzuriha offhandedly.
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true...
All I want for Christmas is...You
'Merry Christmas!' Yuuto called, bringing the red wine round the table and eagerly filling the glasses even as Kamui tried to protest. 'You're old enough to get drunk,' Yuuto said dismissively, pouring it next into Subaru's glass.
The dinner was informal; the food all set out on one table with paper plates and spoons at the side. Karen sat with them, entertaining them with stories from the soapland. Kusanagi had given Yuzuriha a sideways look, as if to suggest that Yuzu should not be listening to stories of dirty old men who liked to dress up as women, but she blithely ignored her protector, smiling as she egged Karen on. Karen paused only to say, 'Ah, Kusanagi, she's old enough to hear this. Stop worrying.'
Apparently Karen and Yuuto shared incredibly similar sentiments.
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
(and I) Don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
'Do you believe in Santa Claus, Kamui?' Yuzuriha asked. 'I wonder how he'd be able to get from house to house, considering that now people don't really have fireplaces...'
'Maybe he comes in through the windows?' Kamui guessed.
Subaru laughed low, a soft sound that gave Kamui an odd tingly feeling in the pit of his stomach that was definitely not induced by the wine. 'He had better not be arrested for breaking and entering. Imagine the millions of children who wake up to find nothing in their stockings because Mr Claus was stuck in some dingy jailhouse trying to explain that no, it isn't stolen goods in his sack.'
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
The entire party laughed along with them, and Karen took a sip of the wine. 'So, would Kamui-chan like to be one of the bridesmaids at my wedding?'
Kamui flamed scarlet as he crept closer to Subaru, the laughter of his friends ringing pleasantly in his ears even as they teased him playfully. Yuzuriha didn't help but rather compounded the problem, grabbing Kamui's hand and holding up the ring for inspection. 'See! Kamui-chan's wearing a ring! You gave it to him, didn't you, Subaru?'
'Oh ho,' and Karen sounded distinctly like she was cackling, as if she were some wicked witch. 'So, planning to get married any time soon, Kamui-chan?' she asked, winking blatantly at Subaru.
'No, not until his age of majority rolls around,' Subaru replied almost languidly, a wicked twinkle in both eyes. All seven of them were entirely silent for a moment, staring in unadulterated shock at Subaru before they all broke into loud, happy laughter.
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you...
Subaru gave a small smirk to Kamui, who figured that his plan had just managed to backfire on him.
Much later at night, they were all joking when Yuzuriha, apparently a little drunker than she appreciated, dug a sprig of mistletoe out of her pocket and raised it above Kamui and Subaru. 'Now, we all know about the mistletoe tradition, don't we?'
Yuuto raised an eyebrow and noted idly, 'Wine seems to have the same effect on Yuzuriha as Pocky. She gets all high and hyper.'
Apparently, it also made her hearing better, because she chirped, 'Yup! That's right!' turning back to a rather tensed Subaru and Kamui, she grinned evilly. 'Nyah! Don't be shy, both of you!'
Suddenly Subaru found his arms full of Kamui as the younger boy recklessly pressed his lips against Subaru's own. Scenting the tang of liquor on his lips, Subaru figured that the violet-eyed youth was just as drunk as Yuzuriha, a pale blush decorating his face both from the drinking and the sudden kiss. Maybe it's Destiny, as they like to say, Subaru thought, pulling Kamui closer before the younger boy withdrew and probing soft, full lips with a gentle tongue. Kamui made an odd noise, and then both of them broke apart.
The room broke into enthusiastic, if slightly drunk, applause.
Kamui staggered slightly, weaving as they made their way up to the apartment, giggling slightly as Subaru attempted to keep the younger boy upright, distracted from the task of sliding the key into the lock by Kamui suddenly latching hands around his waist and nuzzling Subaru's shoulder with his nose. 'Subaru?'
'Yes, Kamui?' Fiddling with the lock, the door finally gave and Subaru stumbled in with Kamui following after. 'Your present's in the bedroom, Subaru,' Kamui slurred, all but putting his full weight on the taller onmyouji as he leaned against him. 'Merry Christmas.'
'You're totally drunk, Kamui,' Subaru insisted, shutting the door and picking up the younger boy, intending to get him to bed. Mental note: never again allow Yuuto to give Kamui alcohol. 'Come on. Let's go to bed, shall we?'
Kamui obediently nodded acquiescence as Subaru deposited him on the bed and began the search for pajamas, efficiently stripping Kamui of the button-down shirt, pausing only to run a tender finger down the scars of the younger boy, tracing the patchwork of thin and thick lines before pulling on the pajama shirt.
Tucking the younger boy into bed and carelessly throwing his own trenchcoat to the desk chair, Subaru picked up the case on the bedside table, already knowing what was inside the whimsically shaped bear case. A ring, the exact twin of the one Kamui was already wearing on his ring finger- except that this one didn't come with its own chain.
He should have seen this coming; really, Subaru mused, fingering the platinum bands before putting the ring on his finger and falling into bed.
It's time to let go of the past, isn't it, Hokuto? So... this is goodbye to you and Seishirou, I suppose. Kamui lives and I want to give him my attention. I want to love him like I loved the two of you.
Beside him, Kamui rolled over in bed and mumbled a snatch of the song Subaru had heard him whistling earlier. 'All I want for Christmas is you.'
Arrhythmic: Alright, bad ending! Kill me now. Working under a deadline just drives me mad. I hate deadlines. They are bad. At least this one is over. I woke early in the morning to finish this... man, I am sad.
Thanks again to all of you who liked this story and reviewed it! (doesn't mean you're off the hook, though, read and review this as a Christmas present for me!) - Merrrrrrrrry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!