Chapter 21: Shopping!

A wry smile threatened to break upon Lei's lips. He allowed himself to sink on the couch, Lei closed his eyes allowing exhaustion to wash over him. He didn't expect doing that to be so draining, true it did relieve him but it also felt…wrong. He shook his head, guilt? Possibly, he brushed the thought aside.

"I bet you enjoyed that didn't you." Pyre muttered in a low voice.

Lei wiped the sweat on his brow. "Yeah, very much."

"Your fly's open."

Lei looked down at his crotch and zipped it up. "Next time, I would appreciate it if you told me earlier." he stretched his arms into the air. "I mean, if the girls saw—" he was cut-off when the bird shook it's cage violently. "Are you going to let me out!" it screamed. Lei placed a finger in his temple, he smiled and said. "In a few days."

"What!" Pyre said in an aggravated tone.

"Do you know how exhausting it was to chase you put you there in the first place." he said with a cocky grin.

"But it's stuffy!" the bird complained.

Lei looked at the night sky. he had a lot to think about. That mysterious Natalie, Ai, the girls, and how much longer could he hide the truth from his friends.

"I still believe you couldn't do it. GAY! Friggin gay!" Pyre muttered.

Lei rubbed his temples. "You really wanna die don't you Pyre?"

The break of dawn is usually followed by the chirping of migratory birds then a silent calm. But in the case of Lei Fu Yang…

Azami slammed her fists unto the table. "I can't believe such a lie!" she roared. She massaged her head, for some reason her recollection of yesterdays events were vague at best. Not to mention she was coping with such a severe hangover. "So you're trying to tell us that we drank the whole night through." she exclaimed.

"Yes, how many times do I have to tell you." Lei replied with an aggravated tone.

"I still find it hard to believe I can barely remember anything!" Azami retorted.

Yukino sighed and tugged Lei's robes. "Are you sure my sister didn't do anything reckless?" she asked. Lei normally didn't like to lie, especially to someone as nice as Yukino but he already lied so many times morning alone than he usually would in a week's time, he figured another wouldn't hurt. "Yes, she just passed by and said hi." he lied.

Azami tapped Rae's shoulders. The latter however was too busy counting the coins in the pouches from yesterday's fair to care. "Help me out here!" Azami said. Rae ignored her, she continued to count the coins and take notes. "If I do this, I can get a tenth more than them!" she muttered under her breath. Azami pulled Rae towards her. "Are you even listening?" the kendo girl asked.

A devilish glint flashed in Rae's eyes. "Yes, if I take in that discount for that new top ill save—" she looked at Azami with a dumfounded expression. "Yeah? You were saying?" Rae asked. Azami rolled her eyes. "Nevermind." she exhaled.

"Say Azami, what did you get for the Christmas ball?" Rae asked, she did nothing to hide the excitement in her voice.

Azami crossed her arms and asked. "What are you talking about?"

"You mean you haven't picked out anything to wear for the Christmas ball!" Yukino uttered, surprised at Azami for forgetting such an occasion. Azami sucked her fingers. 'It must've slipped out of my mind!' she thought nervously. "I'm not going…" Azami said weakly.

"You really should! It'll be loads of fun!" Yukino exclaimed with a soft giggle.

"I'm not sure… If I can wear my kimono, I suppose—" Rae suddenly spoke out of turn. "You can't wear that! Your supposed to wear a western dress! You'll look like an idiot wearing a kimono." The redhead argued.

Yukino suddenly brought both of her hands together. "How about we help you choose a gown! There should be stores open at the market district by this hour—" Yukino paused. "--Oh I can't… I have to talk to some people from the drama-club." she said weakly.

Rae smacked her head with an open palm. "I have someone to talk to today as well."

Azami frowned, if she could help it, she wouldn't even talk to him, but, Azami turned around to face Lei and bowed. "Would you help me?

Lei cursed his luck, the first snow of the season and he forgot to get a warmer coat. He looked at Azami. The girl was only wearing the standard pleated skirt, which were cut at the thighs, knee length socks and the standard blouse. Lei noticed that she was shivering a bit so he removed his muffler and draped it around her.

"Thanks…" Azami nervously said, he noted the slight blush on her cheeks. He quickly averted his eyes from her face. "No problem." He replied.

Lei and Azami had been looking around for almost two hours and still no luck, they even accidentally stepped inside a strange store, which to Lei's misfortune sold all sorts of pornographic magazines to sextoys, that earned him a very painful slash from Azami's katana. Tired, the two decided to take a break at a nearby bench. Lei couldn't help but let his eyes wander over to her smooth silky legs, Azami suddenly stood up, Lei closed his eyes and raised his arms protectively but the attack never came.

Lei risked opening his eyes and what he saw was Azami leaning over him with two hotdogs in one hand. "A-Are you hungry?" she asked nervously. Lei nodded and forced a smile.

As the two silently finished the snack Azami looked over to Lei. "I'm sorry for troubling you." she said. Lei shook his head. "Not at all." Azami suddenly stood up and took Lei's hands in her own, he pointed a finger towards a store not too far from where they sat. "I think that's the store were looking for!" she exclaimed, she quickly ran towards it pulling Lei with her in the process.

Lei couldn't help but smile, he was in high spirits. For once Azami wasn't acting cold and indifferent towards him. She opened the door and walked inside, Azami sighed in relief, this was the right store. She was about to approach the counter when a personell came to them. "You two!" the young girl called out.

"Huh?" Azami and Lei muttered in unison.

"You're the first couple who came in this store today, since it is the holidays you get a special prize!" she said.

Azami shook her hands. "A-A Couple?"

The girl nodded. "Yes… wait are you two foreigners?"

"Well not really, but we didn't grow up here…" Lei explained.

The girl giggled. "So you two don't know about our tradition concerning that mistletoe above your heads?"

The two shook their heads, Lei stared at the strange ornament hanging on top of the door.

The girl beamed at the two of them. "Well, if a guy and a girl are under mistletoe, the two will have to kiss!" she explained and clapped both hands together. "I'm sure you two won't mind, since you two are already a couple and all."

Azami and Lei slowly turned their heads towards each other. Their eyes met and…