Happy Holidays
Chapter Five: Not so secret santa
Disclaimer: I could give a shit because you already know what I'm going to say.
(A/N: I guess the title is self explanatory. To sum up, people get people presents and Yuffie has a stalker. Do I need to say anything else?)
Yuffie strolled down the street, glancing into each store, looking for something. That morning, they had drawn names for secret santa, she had gotten Cloud. And she had absolutely no idea what to get him. Even though that was the only person they were allowed to buy presents for, she was going to get Leon something; what, she didn't know yet.
As she reached the end of the street, and the line of stores stopped, she sighed, and sat down on a bench; it was hopeless. She watched the noon shoppers go in and out of stores, eating, conversing, and shopping. Then her eyes strayed to the fountain that stood in the middle of the square; a maiden stood with arms reaching over her head; with two dolphins on either side of her, water rising around the dolphins. Yuffie loved to look at it, it was so beautiful. Her eyes dropped down to the bottom of it, and noticed a young man staring at her, when she looked at him; he dropped his eyes back to his newspaper that he was "reading". She began looking around again, watching various people, when her eyes came back to the young man, he was staring at her again. Her eyes widened, and he smiled. Ooh, Yuffie thought rudely, looking away.
"Cute cute, real cute" She muttered to herself. She looked back to find him walking toward her.
"Goddammit, now I have a stalker." She murmured as he neared her. She suddenly grinned, imagining Leon if he were here. She stopped chuckling as he walked up to her.
With a fake, big smile, he brought his hand out; she looked at his outstretched hand then back to his face, and with a forced smile, slowly shook his hand. Before she could remove her hand from his grasp, he brought it up to his mouth, and gently kissed it. She ripped her hand from his grasp, and laid it under her bag, secretly whipping her hand on her shorts.
"Do I, know you?" She asked slowly as he sat down next to her.
"No, my name is Fernand." Grimacing at his heavy French accent, she looked around for Leon, or at least Cloud.
"And you are?" She looked back to him, thinking quickly, she replied, "Um, Rose." Her eyes widened as he closed his eyes.
"Rose, Rose, Rose, such a beautiful name." Getting ready to puke, she turned her head away, concentrating on looking through crowds for a familiar face.
"Vat are you looking for?" She grinned, bingo, Cloud. She turned back to him, gathering up her stuff.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I must go. And even though we're having so much," she paused, "fun, I must depart." With that she stood up.
"I hope to see you again!" She heard what he said as she walked away.
"God I hope not." As she got closer to Cloud, he turned to see her, and smiled, then frowned as he watched the French guy follow Yuffie. Seeing his frown, she stopped and turned to see Fernand following her. Now getting pissed, she hurried to Cloud, and then grabbed his arm with her free hand.
About to ask who the hell was that guy, she interrupted him, "Come on, hurry up." Weaving through the dense crowd, he managed to stay on their heels. Finding an alley, she pulled Cloud into an alley, and sighed as the man walked past without noticing. Finally releasing her death grip on Cloud's arm, she breathed a sigh of relief as she rested against the wall.
"Who the hell was that?" She looked over to him, "Apparently my new stalker, come on."
She carefully walked out of the alley, pulling Cloud with her, both still panting; they looked around, but didn't see him.
Leon walked out of a store, and his eyes widened as he watched Yuffie and Cloud walk out of an alley, panting, and looking around. He watched her stand up straight, say something to Cloud, resulting in Cloud laughing, and then they proceeded into the street, with Yuffie still holding his arm.
"You can let go now." She looked back to him.
"What?" His eyes darted to his arm and back to her own. She blushed and let go.
"Sorry, I was getting scared there for a moment," she stopped as she saw Leon making his way towards them. When Leon reached them Cloud was about to open his mouth when Yuffie grabbed both of them, and yanked them in front of her, then pulled them into the alley. About to ask what the hell she was doing, Cloud noticed that guy walking by, and not looking happy. Now thoroughly confused, Leon turned to Yuffie when she let go of them.
"Oh, um, I have a stalker." She smiled pathetically, and then watching Leon's face go red, she quickly said, "Just kidding, I just didn't want to stay out in the street." His face went back to normal color, and he sighed, "Come one, let's go." She looked at Cloud as Leon put an arm around her shoulders, he looked to Leon and back to her, but she silently pleaded with him, and he sighed. She smiled, and then continued walking with them out of the alley.
SORA'S POV:
I sighed as I looked down at the little piece of paper that read the name Zephyr. I didn't have the slightest clue as to what to get her for Christmas. God, I hate secret santa, it's such a stupid thing; I can't believe I did this. I stopped as I reached a shop that read "Weaponry of the Worlds" on a sign. I walked in, and was simply amazed. There were weapons from very world, of every size, and varied from pocket knives to broad swords. I walked to each shelf, examining each item, trying to find something that fit Zephyr's weaponry choice.
I looked up as a very obese man walked in from a back room. He was unshaven, almost bald, and smoking a cigarette. I winced as he looked over to me. He walked up to me, and I was positive there was an earthquake going on somewhere. He reached me, then took a long drawl from his cigarette, then blew the smoke in my face.
"Whatcha lookin fer?" He asked huskily, his breath smelt strongly of tobacco and alcohol. Trying to breath, without choking to death from the man's odor, I looked back to the shelves.
"Something small, but can do a lot of damage." The man made a low chuckle, and motioned for me to follow me. He led me to a back room, which was full of more weapons. He looked around, continuously smoking his cigarette, and finally found what he was looking for. He walked over to me, and handed me a small, long wooden box; the wood appeared to be mahogany. It had carvings of horse heads on the lid, their manes flying wildly; in such detail. I carefully opened the lid and found a small knife. The handle was carved out of ivory, and had a carving of a herd of horses running through a field. The handle was about 7 or 8 inches long, and the blade itself was about 5 inches. The blade came out straight, and at the top curved slightly, kinda like an elf shoe. The sharp side of the blade came out like a razor. I just stood there, staring at it. I couldn't believe I found it. I carefully put it back in the little box. Then I looked up to the fat guy.
"I'll take it."
Riku smiled to himself, as he looked down at the silver shurikens. They were a very strong type of silver, and looked a lot better than hers.
"She's gonna love them." He said to no in particular. He looked up to see Zephyr walking toward him. He slid the star he had been looking at back into the package. She reached him, looking quite pissed.
"I hate secret santa." She turned around, and continued walking with him.
"Why?" He asked her confused.
"Nobody will tell me who has me."
"Well, you're not supposed to know anyways."
"SO! Wait, do you have me?" She asked looking at him suspiciously.
"No! For the last time, I do not have you!"
"Well who do you have?"
"That's for me to know, and for you to find out."
"When?"
"When I give her my present."
"Ha! So, it's a she. Hmmm, that rules out Aerith."
"Why Aerith?"
"Because Leon has her name."
"How do you know that?"
"He told me."
"How in hell did you get him to tell you?"
"Simple, I told him who has Yuffie."
"Yo-you-"
"Okay, I already know you have Yuffie, I was just messing around."
"How did you find out?"
"Sora told me!"
"Dammit! I told him not to tell anybody!"
"Why not tell anybody?"
"It is supposed to be SECRET SANTA!"
"Geez, okay, chill."
"Do you know who has my name?"
"No, but I intend to find out."
Yuffie turned around as Sora walked up to her.
"Can I ONLY get my secret santa a gift?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"I thought you were the rule person."
"Okay then, yeah, sure, but you still have to get your secret santa something."
As he walked away, he yelled to her, "I already got my present!"
"Well, shit, I wish I could just ask Cloud what he wants. It would make my life so much easier."
"So, you have Cloud?" Yuffie screamed as Leon walked up next to her.
"Don't do that! God! You scared me to death! Yes I do have Cloud."
"Well I have Aerith, and I have no clue what to get her."
"Why did you tell me? It's supposed to be secret santa."
"Well, too late for that, I told Zephyr who I have, and then she told me who has you."
She turned to him, "Who has me? Who has me? Who has me? Who has me?"
He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her, "I thought it was SECRET santa?"
"Please tell me? Please?" He sighed.
"Riku."
"Please switch me! I'm begging you! Please?"
"No! I'm not switching you! For the last time no!"
"I know you don't want Leon, and I don't want Cid! You know Cid better than I do!"
"Point is? Hey! You wouldn't know what to get Leon if your life depended on it!"
"Well, you- I could ask Yuffie!"
"Got a point there." Zephyr stood thinking for a moment, and then sighed.
"Okay, I'll switch you, here." She handed Kairi her little piece of paper that read Leon, and took hers that read Cid.
"Thank you thank you thank you!"
"Just how much caffeine did you have today?" Zephyr asked her as she jumped around excitedly.
She stopped, "Oh, shut up."
"Hey Sora!" Sora turned around to meet Yuffie.
"You've gotten your secret santa something already right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I have no idea whatsoever to get Cloud. Can you help me find something? Please?"
"Don't you give me those puppy eyes, no stop it! Sto-okay, okay, you win, I'll help you."
Yuffie danced around him, "Yay! Yay!"
"So, where do we start?"
"I'm just going to tell you a couple of stores that I know, if they don't work out, come back to me okay?"
"Okay!" She waited as Sora wrote down 3 stores on a piece of paper, and then handed them to her.
Squealing, Yuffie ran off in search of the stores. Sora watched her skip off and sighed. He turned around and made his way back to the hotel. He stopped and his eyes widened and he saw someone through the window in a store. It was. . .
"Mandolyn," he breathed.
"What in hell am I supposed to get a 16 year old boy for Christmas." Cid muttered to himself as he made his way to the café for dinner. As he entered the café, "There's Another Santa Clause" met his ears. Grimacing, he made his way to the bar. As he sat down next to Yuffie, he noticed three empty shot glasses in front of her.
"Yuffie? You drink?" She looked up to him, and then squinted.
"I do now, Cloud? That you?" Cid rolled his eyes as he ordered a beer.
"I'm Cid, not Cloud, and how in hell did you mix us up?" After ordering another shot of whiskey, she turned to him, then after drinking the whole thing said, "I have no idea."
Before she could order another drink, he stopped her.
"Don't drink anymore, its not healthy."
"You drink 24/7!"
"Three things, one, I'm 46 years old, two, your 18."
"And three?"
"I don't come home to Leon."
"Good point." She set down the glass then her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out.
Leon looked up as the door opened, and Cid came in carrying a sleeping Yuffie. Leon shot up, and ran over to him, taking Yuffie gently from Cid, cradling her in his arms, he looked up to Cid.
"What happened?"
"She had a little, okay a lot to drink."
"Thanks for bringing her over."
"No problem." Cid said as he closed the door.
Leon carefully laid Yuffie on the bed, taking off her coat, and then took off her shoes and socks. He pulled her up to the pillows, and then put the covers over her. She rolled over, opening glazed over eyes.
"Le-Leon?" She asked, and then passed out again.
Christmas Eve, they all sat around a table in the hotel. The gifts were in front of each person, with there name on it. But not all of them were wrapped; Sora's is a paper bag, taped close, of course, what more could you expect from Cid? Everybody was looking around at each other, everyone knowing who their sec-, well, santa was. When nobody moved, Yuffie sighed, and reached out to her present, and started unwrapping it. Once she got it unwrapped, she opened the small package; she gasped as she took one of the shurikens out, she looked up to Riku, with a surprised face.
"Thank you." He shrugged his shoulders, looking everywhere but her. Sitting next to Yuffie, Leon grabbed his present. Ripping it open, he looked up uneasily at Kairi, and carefully took it out. It was a bracelet with spikes, the spikes hot pink against the black bracelet. He forced a smile at Kairi, and made a strained thank you.
"So much for asking Yuffie, Kai." Zephyr muttered, getting a glare from the older girl.
Zephyr carefully picked her small present up, and examined it. Glancing over at Sora, she noticed he was blushing and staring at the table top. She looked back to the gift, and carefully removed the shiny light blue wrapping paper. And gasped as she looked upon the wooden box with the horses, she glanced up at Sora, he was bright red. With shaking fingers, she undid the latch, and cautiously opened it up. As she laid eyes on the knife, her eyes were wide, she had not expected it. She looked up to Sora with misty eyes; he was, if possible, a brighter shade of red. She carefully brought it out examining it. Aerith gradually reached out to the badly wrapped present; which was wrapped from a cut up paper bag. She opened it to find about fifty candy canes. Trying not to laugh, she thanked Leon.
Sora, grabbed the, paper bag, looking around and gulping, he tore the tape of, then slowly, and ever cautiously opened the bag. He pulled out a beer, and a pack of condoms. Sitting next to Cid, Aerith swatted him.
"Cid!" She screeched.
"What?" Cid asked innocently. Sora was chuckling as he set them back in the bag. Cloud reached for his, it was wrapped in snowflake paper, and was a circle. He tore off the paper, then opened the circular tin, then looked up to glare daggers at Yuffie. She grinned then shot up as Cloud started running after her. When he jumped out of his seat, a big padlock fell out of the tin. Ignoring Cloud and Yuffie who were running around the table; Kairi took hold of her present, which of course was wrapped neatly with beautiful purple paper. She carefully, not ripping the paper, took the paper off, and then opened a small box. After thanking Aerith for the pretty earrings; she set them back in the box.
Cid grabbed his present, it made a clinking noise, like to bottles bumping each other. He opened the bag, and found two beers, and a bottle of pills for drunken people, he grinned, and thanked her.
Last but not least, Riku grasped his present. He tore off the paper, and burst out laughing, then laughing so hard, he fell out of his chair, red in the face from laughing; he put it in his jacket pocket so nobody can see it.
"Let us see it! Come on!" Everybody made a mad dash to tackle Riku, but he scrambled out of his chair, and sprinted from the room, with everybody but Leon and Yuffie, laughing on his heels. Yuffie sighed, and then took something from her pocket. She handed Leon the small wrapped box. Then he handed her a present too. Leon opened his first, his eyes widened as he looked up to her; he smiled as he looked back down to the necklace. She in turn opened Leon's present, it was a folded up picture. She carefully unfolded it and gasped in shock; it was a tiny collage of her mother and father, standing behind Cloud, Aerith, Riku, Zephyr, Kairi, Sora, Leon and Yuffie, and they were standing in front of Yuffie's house in Hollow Bastian. She looked up to him, with tears running down her cheeks, he wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her face in his shoulder. Leaning back slightly, she said to him in a quiet voice.
"Thank you, it's the best present I've ever gotten." They kissed, and then they walked over to the window, and watched Riku being chased by everybody except Cid, who was watching. They were all laughing, and then Zephyr caught up to him, then side tackled him, they went laughing to the ground, then everybody else started a dog pile. As they were watching them, Leon took the necklace out of the box, and then put it around his neck. The small lion pendant bounced once off his chest. Then he put his arm back around Yuffie's shoulders as she pressed the picture of her family and friends to her chest. She smiled as she watched them down below. No, she thought, their all my family.
(A/N: Gags Sappy ending, and sorry for not including Mandolyn very much, I apologize.)