Kurama and Hiei arrived at the mall, and after battling for a parking spot, went to go in. Yoko came with them this time, because it was getting dark, and without the sun to keep the temperature in the car regular, it would get freezing cold. Hiei carried a purring Yoko in his arms, and Kurama chanted the names of those he had to get gifts for under his breath.

"Yusuke, Kuwabara, Yukina, Genkai, Shizuru, Keiko, Atsuko, Kaa-san, Oji-san, Bā-san, Ojii-san, Otōto, Oba-san, Tsuru-chan, Kiki-chan, Miryoku-chan, Chō-kun, Honoo-kun, Hana-chan, and Tenshi-chan." He softly said. He repeated this mantra until Hiei poked him in the shoulder.

"Yes, Hiei?" Kurama asked.

"Stop talking to yourself." Hiei said. "There's a gift for the detective." Hiei pointed to a t-shirt with Tough Guy on the front that was hanging on a rack outside a nearby store.

"Yes, but do we know his size?"

"Hn." Hiei said.

"Hiei, remember when you asked about Santa?" Kurama asked.

"Yes."

"Well he's here."

"Really? Hn, even the fat man in red has to come to these stupid malls."

"Hiei, it's not the real Santa Claus." Kurama said. He saw the sign that said 'Pictures with Santa'.

"Come on, I'll show you." Kurama pulled Hiei toward the giant green chair where Santa Claus sat with a small child on his lap as the child's mother watched, and a woman in an elf suit took a Polaroid picture.

"So this is Santa?"

"Yes, this is Santa. Do you want to sit on his lap and tell him what you want for Christmas?"

"No."

"Oh, come on Hiei."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you'll get a picture of it, and I'll never hear the end of this."

"You know you want to." Kurama had snuck them into line, and a friendly brunette in an elf suit took Hiei's hand.

"Are you going to sit on Santa's lap?" The brunette asked. Hiei opened his mouth to tell her to buzz off, but Kurama cut him off.

"Of course he is. He's just shy." The brunette smiled and nodded, leading Hiei to Santa and hoisting him onto the big man's lap. Hiei looked about to kill.

"Ho ho ho! And what do you want for Christmas, little boy?" Santa Claus asked, rather jolly. Hiei looked thoughtful.

"Other than for you to not call me little boy, nothing."

"Surely there's something." There was a twinkle in St. Nick's eye. "I can keep secrets rather well." Hiei whispered in his ear.

"I want nothing more than to find the perfect gift for Kurama." Hiei whispered.

"Ho ho ho! What an unselfish wish! Why, in all my years I haven't met a single child within whom the spirit of Christmas is so alive! What's your name?"

"My name is Hiei."

"Well, Hiei, I'm glad to meet you! And I'm sure your Christmas wish is going to come true. You keep that Christmas spirit, you hear me? Smile for Daniella, Hiei." Santa Claus pointed at the brunette, who was holding a Polaroid camera. Hiei just stared at the camera as Daniella took a picture. Hiei jumped off of Santa's lap.

"Remember, just keep that Christmas spirit." Santa winked. Hiei walked back over to Kurama, who was holding a small booklet containing the picture, and the two of them walked away.

"So, what did you say you wanted?" Kurama asked. "Whatever it was certainly impressed Santa."

"Hn."

"Well, let's finish what we came here to do." Kurama said.

Six hours later

"Kurama, we've been here for six hours." Hiei said from underneath a stack of boxes and bags that he was carrying precariously.

"I know that. We won't be here much longer. We just have to get a few more gifts." Kurama said, shifting the two bags he was carrying.

Two hours later

"I think we have everything." Kurama said, shifting the two boxes and two bags he was carrying. Erstwhile, poor Hiei was buried underneath so many boxes and bags that he couldn't carry them all. Hiei mumbled something from underneath the pile, but it was unintelligible.

"Come on, Hiei. Let's go." Kurama said, starting for the door to the outside. Yoko mewed from inside Kurama's parka.

After fighting to cram everything in the car, Hiei resigned to sit in the passenger seat. Kurama started the car and let it warm up for a while before starting for the grocery store.

"Now where are we going?"

"We're going to get the food for our Christmas celebration, Hiei."

"That's a week from now."

"Exactly. But what if the store is out of what we need? We know we'll get everything we need if we go today."