Neko on the Christmas Tree
Part 1—Late Night Guest
by YYY
"Good morning!" Kazahaya greets everyone as he gets down the stairs of the Midori Yakkyoku. He beams when he sees Kakei putting up an X'mas tree.
"X'mas tree!" Kazahaya cheers.
"Good morning, boy. You like the tree?" Kakei says.
"Yes! It's so green!" Kazahaya beams more.
"Green?" Saiga asks.
"How about I put you in charge for decorating the tree? Do you like that?" Kakei asks Kazahaya.
"Yes! I love that!" Kazahaya continues his cheering.
"Are you sure you want him to be in charge of the tree? He might make it looks awful." Rikuo says.
"You're so mean! I'm not talking to you." Kazahaya pouts and turns away from Rikuo. The mascular boy likes to teases Kazahaya because Kazahaya looks very cute when he is annoyed.
Kazahaya heads to the store room where they keep all the X'mas decorations. Rikuo follows Kazahaya to the back room and says to the petite boy, "the decorations are on the top shelf, let me take those down for you. You're gonna hurt yourself doing that."
"I don't need your help!" Kazahaya says. Right after he said that, the box falls down from the shelf. Rikuo catches it before it hits Kazahaya's head.
"You were saying?" Rikuo smirks. Kazahaya makes a face and says to Rikuo, "I could have caught it!"
"Then I guess I can leave you here by yourself and let you get the rest of the boxes." Rikuo says. It is just taunting words, Rikuo will never let the petite boy get those boxes. Even as Rikuo speaks, he is reaching for the boxes on the top shelf.
"You can leave the star on there. I have something else for the top of the X'mas tree. " Kazahaya says when Rikuo tries to get a star that is sitting on the shelf.
"What are you planning to put on top of the tree?" Rikuo asks.
"You'll see!" Kazahaya beams.
After Rikuo gets the decorations for Kazahaya, Kazahaya spends the whole morning decorating the tree. "That kid surely love the tree." Says Saiga as he yawns and leans toward Kakei.
"He does." Kakei smiles.
Saiga rests his head on Kakei's shoulder and asks Kakei, "what's that thing on top of the tree?"
"A cat." Kakei says.
"Cute." Saiga closes his eyes and falls asleep on Kakei's shoulder.
Rikuo looks to the top of the X'mas tree. There is a stuffed white toy kitty in an angel outfit standing here. The kitty must be really important to Kazahaya or Kazahaya won't put the kitty on top of the tree.
(When did he get that cat? I don't remember seeing him buy it.) Rikuo thinks.
Afternoon comes and the store starts to get busy. Kazahaya stops decorating the tree and starts taking care of the customer. Before the gang knows it, evening has come and it's time for dinner already.
"Why don't you close up the store, and I will go and get dinner ready." Rikuo asks Kazahaya.
"Sure." Kazahaya says.
"I need to get something at the back. I'll be right back." Kakei says as he heads to the back. Saiga follows Kakei.
Kazahaya takes out a bucket of water and mobs the floor. (I think I'm going to pop some popcorn to make a garland for the X'mas tree.) The boy thinks. He can't wait til after dinner when he gets to decorate his tree again.
Suddenly, a man who is covered in blood rushes in. "Help! Someone is after me!" The man shouts. Before Kazahaya can ask anything, a group of Yakuza rushes in with guns in their hands. Kazahaya stands there stunned.
"You think you can get away from us?" The Yakuza asks the man.
"Wow, this is for real…" Kazahaya mutters.
"What?" The Yakuza asks.
"For a second there I thought I jumped into a Riki Takeuchi movie." Kazahaya says.
"They're trying to steal my computer disk. My disk contains very important information and it'll be dangerous if the disk falls into the wrong hands." The man says as he falls to the ground. Kazahaya catches him.
"There is nothing you can do. Just give us the disk and we'll give you a quick death." The Yakuza says.
The man shoves the disk into Kazahaya's hand. "Run!" The man shouts.
"But…" Kazahaya wants to help the man. But there are too many Yakuza for him to face alone.
"Go!" The wounded man shouts.
"Hang on! I'll come back for you!" Kazahaya runs up the stairs. The Yakuza run after Kazahaya but the boy is too fast for them.
TBC…