To love in winter
-A Christmas story by Arybeth-
Disclaimer: Shaman King doesn't belong to me… That's about it…
Chapter I – The first snowflake
It had begun in the morning, and it hadn't stopped yet. It had been snowing hard for the last hours, and the garden path was already covered with a thick coat of snow. The sky was icy, there was no wind, and everything looked peaceful and calm. At least it was, outside…
"Yoh Asakura! I thought I told you to help Shorty and Ryu with the cooking."
"Yes, Anna, I'm going…" mumbled Yoh disappointedly, abandoning the mistletoe he had followed her with.
As always, Christmas Eve in the Asakura house was fun, but chaos. Anna gave all of them strict orders that they had to follow with no exceptions. This year they had the whole group round, including Jun and Lyserg.
Anna, of course, was watching everyone closely, examining all they were doing. Even so, everyone was cheerful and in a good mood. Amidamaru and Bason were even singing carols. Everyone was laughing, and Anna even gave a hint of a smile. A hint, but it was there, nonetheless.
She had assigned Yoh, Manta and Ryu with the cooking. Tamao and Pirika, helped by Jun and Pailong, were in charge with decorating the Christmas tree and HoroHoro and Ren were decorating the house. Horo was giving a bit of a personal touch with the help of Kororo, by hanging icicles on the ceiling and at the doorframes.
Chocolove had been sent out to clean up the snow that covered the garden path. At first he had protested hard, but the look on Anna's face had convinced him to go, for his own good. Mic had gone out with him to help and keep company.
The only one who was sitting in a corner, watching quietly, was Lyserg. He was used to the people around him, he considered them good friends, but he still found it hard to be like them. He wanted so much to be able to have fun as they could…
His thoughts were interrupted by an authoritative voice.
"And why are you standing around? You'd better make yourself useful, if you want any dinner tonight. Get some music on."
"Yes, miss Anna" Lyserg smiled in his usual polite manner and went to get some CDs with carols, as Anna wandered off to stop Amidamaru and Bason, who had been exaggerating a bit.
"No, not there, you blue-haired rooster!"
"If your pointy head can think of something better, then you do it!"
"Of course I can do it better than a blue-haired Neanderthal!"
"Shut up, Tao Ren! You modesty is overwhelming!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just get that tinsel and hang it!"
"Are you saying I'm arrogant?"
Ren and HoroHoro continued arguing. Tamao smiled, while hanging a little golden star in the tree. She loved to watch them fighting, they were always so funny! She redirected her attention to decorating, as Anna was getting closer.
Pirika sighed, still watching the two fighting. Tamao suppressed her giggles. She knew why Pirika stared at Ren so often, and vice-versa. But then, HoroHoro was cute too… He had been more polite lately… Especially with her around… She liked his hair… He was so good at snowboarding; it was the thing he really liked, his passion…
Tamao suddenly flushed at her own thoughts. She loved Yoh. Of course she did. Why would she doubt that? Why would she be confused?
"Tamao, if you don't stop day-dreaming, it'll be Christmas with no Christmas tree!"
"Yes, miss Anna. Sorry, miss Anna. It's almost done…"
Anna gave her a severe glance and went to the kitchen to check on Ryu and Manta.
Tamao sighed and took two steps back, admiring their work.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" said Jun.
"Yeah…"
"Cute. So cute…" mumbled Pirika, but she was still watching Ren.
Tamao and Jun laughed. Horo's sister flushed and cast them an angry look, turning her head.
"What are you laughing about?" she squealed in her high-pitched voice. "I don't laugh when you stare at my brother for hours, Tamao!"
Everyone went quiet. Tamao's face went pink. She couldn't say a word, she was petrified. HoroHoro was looking at her strangely.
Pirika saw the look on the pink-haired girl's face and realized what she did was wrong.
"Tammie, I…"
She couldn't finish, because Tamao had already left the room, tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry…" Pirika said.
Tamao went past Chocolove, who had just entered the room, wet and full of snow.
"Hey, what's up?"
Nobody answered.
"Well, if anybody bothers to tell me…"
"Drop it, Chocolove!"
Tamao was sitting on the bench in the garden (she had went to her room first, to get dressed, of course, it was cold!)
She was not angry with Pirika; she knew she didn't mean it. But Tamao was confused. It was true, she used to stare at HoroHoro lately. Even if she loved Yoh, she couldn't help but thinking he was cute. Maybe Horo was a bit of a pig sometimes, but he was sensitive, deep down, even if he didn't show it. He loved nature; his biggest dream was to save the Koro Pokkuru…
What if this was her chance to forget Yoh? After all, he was Anna's… The problem was, did HoroHoro feel anything for her?
Tamao shook her head. It was all too complicated. She wanted to forget about it and just continue her life.
She watched a snowflake fall on her glove. She loved winter. The falling snow made her think of all the beautiful things in this world. It was wonderful, yet so fragile… like one's feelings. Her cherry eyes shined with a sudden unexplainable happiness. She had that feeling deep inside: the feeling that told her something wonderful was about to happen.
Curiosity stirred within her. Impatience, interest, wonder… She knew it was close; she had experienced things like this before. It was one of her shamanic powers.
A feeling of elation exploded in her chest. What was it? What was the wondrous thing that was so close to happening?
"Tamao!" cried a voice suddenly.
Tamao almost fell over. She rapidly tried to turn to the owner of the voice but slipped and fell straight in the snow. Her heart was beating fast, her feelings mixed. What was wrong? What was the thing that had to happen? Did it happen yet, anyway?
"What," she whispered to herself, trying to ignore the pain she felt right in her… ahem, posterior, "was I supposed to fall?"
"Sorry? Didn't catch that."
"Huh?"
It was HoroHoro. Tamao blushed, remembering the scene in the living room.
"Tamao, are you okay?"
"Yeah…"
HoroHoro stretched his hand to help her get up. The girl blushed even more, but took his hand.
"Sorry I scared you" the boy smiled. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"F-Fine… I'm fine. You didn't scare me, it was…" she began.
"What?"
"N-Nothing" said Tamao, changing her mind. The idea of explaining everything she felt didn't seem a good one, yet she didn't know exactly why.
She suddenly noticed that HoroHoro was still holding her hand. She started panicking, having no idea what to say. She felt dizzy, almost like fainting. But she liked it… Tamao never experienced such a feeling before, but she really liked it.
What was HoroHoro doing? His image was so clear in her view… Fragile snowflakes were falling in his hair. He was just like them: gracious, gentle, free and happy. She couldn't explain herself how one could see the falling snow without seeing HoroHoro with it. They were inseparable, one part of the other…
'Part of me…' she found herself thinking, to her own annoyance.
"I love Yoh!" she cried out loud, tears in her eyes.
As the words sprung through her mouth, Tamao realized she made a big mistake. HoroHoro let go of her hand suddenly, taken aback.
"Oh…" he said coldly. "I see…"
"HoroHoro, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that!" Tamao panicked.
"But what you said is true, isn't it?"
The girl could not answer. She didn't look at him, but her eyes shined with sadness.
"Nothing is certain…"
"To me, something is certain. Too bad Yoh doesn't bother to give you much attention, even though you would deserve it…"
A tear appeared on the girl's cheek.
"I wouldn't do that to you." HoroHoro said bitterly, turning away. "See you later, Tamao."
The blue-haired boy returned inside the house. Tamao watched him, and hated herself for what she had done.
"I am so stupid!" she said quietly, sitting back on the bench.
Somewhere inside, two voices singing in unison told that Amidamaru and Bason had once again started caroling.
End of Chapter I
Author's notes: Well, maybe it's a bit late for Christmas stories, but I was a bit busy so I'm sorry for not submitting this earlier. About the chapter title: you'll find out later why I called it that way, if you pay attention to the story. So please review and tell me what you think. Thx!