Chapter 3: Christmas Day (Dec. 25th)
Pernia, Mai and Arora have decorated the house and now the Christmas party is on!
Christmas Eve around 7pm
Arora and Pernia are at the end of spreading the food out among the table, while Mai places the cookie dough on the cookie sheets, preparing them to be baked.
"Ok, all done here." Arora announces, looking over the table. Upon her inspection, Arora notices a bowl of shrimp sitting next to the brownies.
"Um Pernia." Arora speaks out to Pernia. "We have a slight problem."
"Yes Arora?" Pernia responds to Arora, walking up to the table.
"I don't remember us putting shrimp on the party list." Arora says to Pernia as Pernia joins Arora at the table. "The caterers brought something we didn't ask for."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you." Pernia begins. "I ordered the shrimp as an extra. I haven't had them in a long time, so I figured now of any would be a good time to have them since we're having a party."
Arora doesn't have a comment to Pernia's statement.
"Plus, if I think you would love them." Pernia says to Arora. "They are very delicious."
"I'll take you up on that offer later." Arora says to Pernia, as she adds another stack of napkins to the table.
The three continue setting up in the kitchen, for when the doorbell rings.
"I'll get it." Noah announces, jumping off the couch and running to the door. Upon reaching the door, Noah opens it and sees Yugi and Yami holding presents in their arms.
"Hey guys, come right in." Noah greets to them.
Yugi and Yami walk in, with Noah closing the doors behind them.
"Are those presents for us?" Noah inquires to Yugi.
"Yes they are." Yugi answers him with a smile, handing Noah the gifts he's holding. "Merry Christmas to you."
"Cool, thanks Yugi." Noah thanks him. "Merry Christmas to you as well."
"Where do I set my stack down?" Yami inquires to Noah.
"Oh, under the tree over there." Noah answers Yami, pointing to the tree. "Are those for us as well?"
"That, they are." Yami answers Noah. "I especially hope Kaiba likes the one I picked out for him."
"I'm sure he will." Noah says to Yami, now placing the gifts Yugi handed to him, under the tree. "He may look hard to please, but he really isn't."
Yami lets out a laugh at Noah's statement.
"Well, I'll remember that for the future." Yami speaks.
Yugi removes his coat and hangs it on the rack, along with Yami.
"The food is almost ready so please take a seat and something should be out in one minute." Noah says to them as he leaves the living room and begins heading to the kitchen.
Yugi and Yami do as instructed and takes a seat on the couch.
Kitchen
Mai and Pernia have the cookies baking in the oven, and Arora has the table all set up, with the food being ready to be served. Noah runs into the kitchen.
"Ok, our first guests are here." Noah announces.
"Who's our first guests?" Pernia inquires, as she continues mixing the fruit punch.
"Yugi and Yami." Noah answers her.
"Yugi and Yami are here!" Mokuba practically yells, running out of the kitchen and now running to the living room. Once he reaches the living room, he slows down and smiles to Yugi and Yami.
"Hi Yugi and Yami, I'm glad you guys could make it." Mokuba greets them with a smile.
"Thanks for inviting us." Yami greets back to Mokuba, as Yugi nods in agreement.
"Ok, the food is ready, but the cookies aren't done yet." Mokuba says to them. "Would you guys like something to drink until the food is served?"
"Sure." Yugi answers him. "I would like a coke."
"Some fruit punch would do." Yami says to Mokuba.
"Alright, be right back." Mokuba says, leaving the living room and now heading back to the kitchen.
Kitchen
Pernia is done mixing the fruit punch and now tastes it.
"I don't think it has enough sugar." Pernia speaks. "I can still taste some of the bitterness from the concentrate."
Mai gets a straw and tastes the punch herself.
"It tastes fine." Mai says to her. "If you add any more sugar, you will drown out the flavor, plus get a lot of people hyper tonight."
"Alright if you say so." Pernia agrees with Mai. "And I don't want that."
Mokuba runs into the kitchen and heads over to the table, grabbing a few cups. Heading over to the punch bowl, Mokuba grabs the ladle and begins scooping some fruit punch from the bowl and into one of the cups.
"Mokuba, did you tell Yugi and Yami everything would be out in a minute?" Pernia inquires to Mokuba.
"Yep, I did." Mokuba answers her. "I'm getting them something to drink right now."
"Too bad Joey couldn't make it, he would have enjoyed making a pig of himself tonight." Mai comments. "But no, he had to be a man and take that dare and look where it landed him."
"Like I said, talking to men sometimes is like talking to a brick wall, they don't hear anything you say, until after they're sorry." Pernia adds in. "Seto is like that sometimes."
"I'm going to go greet my Yami." Arora says to Pernia and Mai. "Be right back."
Arora leaves the kitchen and heads to the living room and once she reaches it, she spots the back of Yugi and Yami's heads on the couch.
"Hey Yugi and Yami." Arora greets the two, now coming around to the front of the couch and taking a seat next to Yami.
Yugi and Yami turn to her with a smile.
"Hey Arora." Yugi greets with a smile.
Yami doesn't say anything, but leans down and kisses Arora on the lips.
"How's my baby?" Yami inquires in a seductive tone.
"I'm doing fine." Arora answers him, in the same tone. "I was helping Pernia and Mai in the kitchen with the food."
"I can tell. You're still wearing the apron." Yami says to Arora, making her giggle.
"Well the food is done, but the cookies will be another 5 minutes." Arora tells them. "Do you guys want anything while we wait on the cookies?"
"What do you have ready?" Yami inquires to Arora.
"Well, we have Hot dogs, hamburgers, Pizza, Shrimp, Brownies, and a lot of others that I would have to be in the kitchen to name to you." Arora explains to them. "It's a lot of food."
"I'll take a slice of Pizza." Yugi says to Arora.
"Ok, gotcha Yugi." Arora says to Yugi. "Anything for you Yami?"
"No, not right now." Yami answers her. "I'll wait until everything is done, then I'll place my order."
"Ok, I'll be back with your slice of pizza Yugi." Arora says, kissing Yami once more on the lips and stands, now leaving the living room and heading back into the kitchen. Once Arora reaches the kitchen, She enters with Mokuba coming out, holding two cups.
"Ok, I got your drinks guys." Mokuba announces now entering the living room area. Coming around to the couch, Mokuba hands Yugi and Yami their drinks.
"Thanks Mokuba." Yugi thanks him, as Yami nods in approval.
"Any time guys." Mokuba says to them. "All of the food is done, but the cookies will be another 5 minutes."
"We know, Arora told us." Yami says to Mokuba.
"Ok, Can I get you guys anything else?" Mokuba inquires.
"No, Arora is bringing Yugi a slice of pizza and I'll wait until everything is done before getting anything." Yami answers him.
"Alright." Mokuba says to him.
Arora comes out of the kitchen with Yugi's slice of pizza on a paper plate and is now heading to the living room. As Arora reaches the living room area, the doorbell rings.
"I'll get it." Mokuba announces, running to the door. Arora heads to the couch and hands Yugi his slice of Pizza.
"Thanks Arora." Yugi thanks her, with a smile.
"Welcome." Arora replies, with a smile.
When Mokuba reaches the door, Seto comes down the stairs. Mokuba opens the door and sees Tea, with three gifts in her hand.
"Hey Tea, come on in." Mokuba greets her.
"What is she doing here?" Seto begins fuming as he walks off the last step.
"Merry Christmas to you too." Tea greets to Seto.
"She's here for the party, Seto." Mokuba informs him, closing the door behind Tea.
Seto snorts and walks away from the front door, now heading to the living room. When he reaches the living room area, he suddenly stops, now seeing the back of Yugi and Yami's heads on the couch.
"What is the pharaoh doing IN MY HOUSE?!?!?!" Seto yells, getting Yugi's and Yami's attention.
"Oh, Merry Christmas Kaiba." Yami greets to him.
"Don't you Merry Christmas me!" Seto yells. "The question is, what the hell are you and Yugi doing in my house?"
"Seto calm down." Mokuba cuts in. "The reason they are here is because I invited them over for the Christmas party. Now stop asking why they are here!"
"Even on the holidays, I can't enjoy myself." Seto begins complaining as he leaves the living room and heads back upstairs. "It was bad enough Arora showed up and now I had to see the face of the pharaoh?!"
"Ignore him Tea." Mokuba says to Tea. "Are those for us?"
"Yes, these gifts are for you and your family." Tea answers Mokuba, handing the gifts to him. Mokuba begins looking over the presents and notices that one is missing.
"Um Tea, there isn't a gift here for Seto." Mokuba informs her. "But there is one for everyone else."
Tea stares at him, trying to remember where she placed Seto's gift. Now remembering, Tea begins looking on her person for the gift.
"Oh, I didn't forget Seto, I got him something." Tea says, reaching in her pants pocket and pulling out an envelope. Handing it to Mokuba, Mokuba opens the envelope and takes a look at what's inside. Mokuba pulls the content out and stares at it.
"You got Seto a gift certificate for a year's supply of pain killers?" Mokuba inquires.
"Well, I didn't know what else to get for him and since he yells a lot, then those will really come in handy and for when the company stress finally gets to him and he catches one killer headache." Tea says to Mokuba. "Just tell him that's from me."
Mokuba doesn't know what to say.
:::::Maybe she got him the right present.::::: Mokuba mentally tells himself. ::::He does fire a lot of people and he yells way too much, plus the company's stress does get to him sometimes.:::::
"Hey, Where's Tristian?" Yugi inquires to Tea.
"Oh, that's right." Tea begins, now remembering and hanging her coat up on the rack. "He called me right before I left the house and told me he felt like he was coming down with something so he won't be able to make it."
"That sucks." Yugi says. "I wonder what happened."
Kitchen
The timer has just gone off for the cookies and they are now ready to be taken out. Grabbing the oven mitt off the counter, Mai opens the oven and pulls the cookies out, now resting them on top of the stove.
"Ok, the cookies are done." Mai announces.
"Alright, Now we can begin serving all of this delicious food." Pernia announces. "Arora, go to the stereo by the staircase and look in the DVD compartment. There will be a stack of Christmas CD's, please put one on."
Arora nods and leaves the kitchen, now doing what Pernia instructed.
"Ok, let's get these party guests fed and get this party started right." Mai states, picking up the pizza platter.
"You just took the words right out of my mouth." Pernia says to Mai, picking up the platter the hot dogs and the hamburgers are on.
Mai heads towards the exit of the kitchen, with Pernia following her. They both now exit the kitchen and are now heading to the living room to begin serving the guests.
Living room
Tea, Noah, Mokuba and Yugi and Yami are having a conversation among themselves for when the smell of hamburgers and pizza lurks into the area everyone is sitting in, catching Yugi's nose as well as everyone else's.
"I smell hamburgers and Pizza." Yugi speaks. "And the smell is very strong."
"Ok, who's hungry?" Pernia announces as her and Mai come into the living room with their platters.
Having put on a Christmas CD, Arora goes back to the kitchen and grabs the brownie tray. Now having grabbed that, Arora heads out to the living room where Pernia and Mai are serving the others. Now entering the living room, Arora notices where Pernia and Mai set their trays, which are on the stretch table by the stairs, which are facing the front door. Setting the trey of brownies down, Arora notices the paper plates aren't on the table.
"They forgot the plates." Arora says to herself. "Can't serve the guests if you don't have plates to serve them with."
Leaving the living room, Arora heads back into the kitchen for the paper plates.
Mai, who is cutting the pizza into slices, looks onto the table next to the platter of hamburgers and hot dogs, and now notices they forget the paper plates.
"Hey Pernia, we left the kitchen and forgot to grab the plates." Mai says to Pernia.
"Already taken care of." Arora announces coming back to the living room and setting them on the table.
"Good catch, Arora." Pernia says to Arora.
Mai, Pernia and Arora begin serving the food and drinks, with Tea's and Mokuba's help. With the Christmas music playing on the stereo, the Christmas party that Arora helped Pernia plan, was definitely going on.
10 pm
The Christmas party has come to an end, with most of the food devoured, everyone having had their fill and very few Christmas cookies remaining. Now there is a clean up job that has to be done.
"Thank so much for your help, guys." Pernia thanks Mai and Arora as they clear the table off in the living room. "This party turned out great."
"Hey, anything to help out a friend." Arora says to Pernia, tying up the garbage bag she's holding.
"Yeah, it was no problem at all." Mai agrees with Arora.
"Thanks so much for inviting us Pernia." Yami thanks Pernia. "We really appreciated it."
"Hey, you guys are friends of mine." Pernia says to Yami. "It was my pleasure."
"Merry Christmas to you." Yugi says to Pernia.
"Thank you, same to you as well." Pernia says to Yugi. "Oh, before you two go, I have something to give you and Yami."
Setting the garbage bag down that she is holding, Pernia walks over to the tree and begins looking through the stack of presents under the tree for Yugi's and Yami's. Continuing to look, Pernia spots quite a few with their names on them.
"Well, there are quite a few of them here for you both." Pernia says, now picking the gifts out. When she has finally grabbed all of their gifts, she hands them to Yugi and Yami.
"Merry Christmas to you both." Pernia says to Yugi and Yami.
"Same to you." Yami says as he and Yugi head towards the door. Already having their coats on, Yugi and Yami exit the house and are now heading home.
"Well, I better get going as well." Tea announces. "It's getting late."
"Alright, Thanks for the help." Pernia says to Tea.
"I had a really nice time." Tea says to Pernia. "I hope we can do this next year."
"If all goes well, we will." Pernia replies. "Oh before you leave, I have something to give you."
Heading back over to the tree, Pernia spots Tea's gift in front of the stack and grabs it. Pernia walks back over to the table and hands Tea her gift.
"Merry Christmas Tea." Pernia says with a warm smile.
"Thanks a lot Pernia." Tea thanks Pernia, hugging her. Pernia returns the hug. After releasing Pernia, Tea then leaves the house.
Mai and Arora take the remaining garbage bags to the kitchen and throws them away, now having cleaned up the table in the living room. Coming back to the living room, Mai and Arora take a seat on the couch.
"This is a night to remember." Arora speaks closing her eyes.
"Yep, that it is." Mai agrees. "I really had fun tonight, but too bad about Joey. He would have loved this and whatever happened to Tristian?"
"Oh I heard Tea say that he felt like he was coming down with something." Mokuba informs them as he wipes the table off. "That's why he didn't show up tonight."
"Yep, he wasn't excluded from the flu when he and Joey both pulled that prank together." Mai says sitting forward. "Some how I knew, he wouldn't get away with not getting sick."
Pernia laughs a bit.
"Well, ladies it was fun, but I have to run now." Arora speaks as she stands. "This was real fun Pernia. Thanks."
"Yes it was and you're welcome." Pernia agrees with her. "Oh before you go, I have something to give you and Mai and Mai, I have Joey and Tristan's gifts as well."
"I'll take it to them tonight, along with Joey's plate of food here." Mai says to Pernia.
Pernia heads back to the tree and looks under it, searching for Mai, Joey's, Tristan's and Arora's gifts. Taking one look, Pernia finds the gifts and picks them out of the stack. Heading back to where Mai and Arora are, Pernia hands Arora her gift and Mai hers, along with Joey and Tristan's.
"Thanks Pernia." Arora thanks her.
"No problem." Pernia says to Arora.
"Thanks for the gift." Mai thanks Pernia as well.
"Hey, anything for my friends." Pernia says to them.
"Well, before it gets too late, I better get going." Arora says to heading towards the coat rack.
"I better get going as well." Mai says. "I am so full, I can flop."
"Well I hope you ladies have a very merry Christmas." Pernia greets to them.
"Same to you." Mai and Arora say in Unison. Fastening up their coats, Arora and Mai wave to Pernia and head out the door, now heading on their way home.
"This was one great evening." Pernia says to herself quietly. Looking ahead of her, towards the fireplace, Pernia notices Noah has fallen asleep on the floor with his head leaning against the foot stool to the arm chair.
"He partied himself all out." Pernia says walking over to the fireplace and leaning down, picking Noah up. "I'm taking him to bed, which would be his charger."
Pernia leaves the living room and is now heading towards the basement to put Noah on his charger for the night. Mokuba has finished cleaning up the kitchen and is now heading up the stairs to get ready for bed. After putting Noah on the charger, Pernia heads upstairs to go to bed herself. As Christmas Eve comes to a close, a much bigger and more exciting day was rapidly approaching.
Christmas day
9:36 am
The sun has risen over the Domino City, shining it's rays high above the city. Many of the recipients of the city have arisen and have begun opening the wrapped surprises that have been covered to their eyes since the first day of December. For those who have begun opening their gifts are truly surprised at what they waited all month to get, but for some, the wait wasn't that long.
Kaiba Manor
Everyone is out of bed and down in the living room, opening up their gifts and being awed by the sight of what they couldn't wait to see.
"Ok, Pernia, this one is for you." Mokuba says, handing Pernia her 7th gift. Pernia takes the small boxed shaped present from Mokuba and takes a look at the label.
"To Pernia, from Noah." Pernia reads out loud. Pernia excitedly tears way the wrapping paper. Upon tearing away the paper, Pernia sees a small black suede box. Opening it up, Pernia's eyes tear up at what she sees. Sapphire earrings.
"Oh my god, these are beautiful." Pernia says, now shedding happy tears. "Thank you so much Noah."
Noah walks through the pile of wrapping paper on the floor and over to Pernia, now embracing her in a hug. Pernia returns the hug.
"Here, Mokuba open this one." Pernia says to Mokuba, handing him his 5th present. Mokuba takes the large gift from her and begins tearing away the wrapping paper. Once he gets the paper torn away, he sees a Chemistry Set.
"My very own Chemistry set." Mokuba says happily. "Thanks….uh, who bought this for me?"
"I did." Seto answers him. "I know how much you like to mess with the elements."
"Thanks so much big brother." Mokuba thanks him.
"Here, Noah open this one." Seto says to Noah, handing him a large box. Noah takes it from Seto and begins tearing away the wrapping paper. Upon getting the paper open, Noah can see Seto bought him that long lasting battery.
"OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!" Noah begins screaming. "You got me that long lasting battery I always wanted. Now I don't have to spend so much time on the charger."
"That's right." Seto says to him. "I knew just what to get for you. Now you can be off the charger longer and get to enjoy more of being a human cyborg."
"Thanks brother, you're the best." Noah thanks Seto.
"Ok, time to open this one from me, Seto." Pernia says, giving Seto his gift. Seto takes the gift and tears away the paper. After getting the paper off, Seto can see Pernia got him a Rolex watch.
Seto goes speechless and his eyes go wide at what he sees.
"I knew you would like it." Pernia says giving Seto a kiss on the lips. "Merry Christmas dear."
Seto returns the kiss, making his longer.
"Thanks so much honey, and this one if for you." Seto says, handing Pernia her present. Pernia takes it and removes the wrapping.
"Another black box." Pernia giggles a bit. She opens the box and sees a sapphire necklace, shimmering as the sunlight hits the gems.
Pernia goes speechless herself and her eyes get wide.
"You……got…me… a….sapphire…necklace…" Pernia speaks, as she stammers happily. "I love it, love it, love it, love it."
"Now it will match the earrings Noah got for you." Seto says, leaning over and kissing Pernia on the cheek. "Merry Christmas dear."
"Here, Noah, this one is from Pernia." Mokuba says handing Noah the small gift. Noah takes it and tears away the wrapping. Noah's eyes get big at the sight he sees. Pernia got him more emotion chips for his mechanism.
"Thanks so much Pernia." Noah thanks her.
"No problem." Pernia says to Noah, continuing to stare at the necklace Seto bought for her. (She is stunned beyond words)
"Ok, and this is for me, from Pernia." Mokuba says, tearing away the wrapping paper. Upon getting the paper torn away, Mokuba sees that Pernia got him that horror DVD he wanted, Resident Evil: Return of the dead.
"You remembered Pernia." Mokuba says clutching the DVD. "Thanks so much."
"This has truly been a great Christmas." Seto speaks.
"It isn't over just yet." Mokuba says continuing to clutch his DVD. "We still have plenty of presents to open."
They begin opening the rest of the gifts that are still wrapped.
Moto Residence
Yugi and Yami are awake, opening the gifts they have received. Arora has come by to see Yugi and Yami, having not opened her presents from them yet, but having opened the others that were given to her from Pernia, Mai, and her father.
"Ok, this one is from my woman." Yami smiles, tearing away the wrapping paper. After tearing away the wrapping paper, Yami sees that Arora got him a Rolex watch.
"Arora, a Rolex watch." Yami says happily. "Thanks so much, babe."
"I knew you would like it and you're welcome." Arora says to Yami, kissing him on the lips. "Merry Christmas."
"Did you open the gifts that me and Yugi gave to you?" Yami inquires to her.
"Not yet, I wanted to be around to thank you guys after I opened them." Arora replies.
"I think you are going to love what I gave you." Yami says to her.
Arora begins tearing away the wrapping paper and once she gets it open, She sees a little black box. Opening the black box, Arora sees a diamond ring. Her mouth runs dry and she becomes speechless.
"Yami….a….diamond….ring.." Arora stammers as she begins trying to find the right words. "Yami…I…I.."
Yami turns to her and gets on one knee.
"Arora, there is something I want to ask you." Yami begins. "Will you marry me?"
Arora begins shedding happy tears.
"Yes, Yes, YES! I will!" Arora answers Yami, hugging him. Yami kisses her on the lips.
"Thanks so much." Yami thanks her.
"I hope you like mine Arora." Yugi says to Arora. Yami releases Arora and Arora begins tearing away the wrapping paper from Yugi's gift. Once it's open, she opens the suede box and sees a diamond Bracelet. Arora goes speechless again.
"Thanks so much Yugi." Arora finally speaks, taking the necklace out of the case.
"Hey Yugi, I hope you like what I bought for you." Yami says to Yugi as he tears away the wrapping paper to one of Yami's gifts. Upon getting it open, Yugi can see Yami bought him a laptop computer.
"A laptop, you bought me a laptop." Yugi says, happily clutching the box. "Thanks so much Yami."
"You're welcome." Yami answers Yugi. "You still have plenty left to open."
Yugi begins opening his other presents, finding a new surprise behind each color of wrapping paper.
Throughout the morning and during the day, everyone opened their gifts and enjoyed the surprises they had waiting for them. Phone calls of thanks and emails of praise were sent to everyone who gave and received. This was truly another happy Christmas for the City of Domino.
A/N: Ok people EOS (End of Story). I hope you all liked this fic. This is a Christmas present to all of you Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, from me, Alisi Thorndyke. I would like to wish you all and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Merry Christmas to you all!
Review Please!