Author Notes: Thank you everyone whose been reading and reviewing! I love reviews! They brighten my day so much! I have few highs like this except for my "CU Family" the Maru's (guess where we got that one!)Please continue to read and review and I hope you enjoy this story! I realized when I wrote this chapter I had to change a few things in the 6th Day. Minor, such as Kenshin is the art student and the Christmas Party isn't the next day, but at Hiko's on Christmas Eve–an annual affair! And as a warning...I have come to notice I LOVE GAZEBOS!
And for those who might be interested, here is an excellent website explaining the origins of the 12 Day of Christmas. It will explain it is not the 12 days leading up to Christmas, as in the western version, but the 12 Days afterwards leading to the Epiphany. I do not own Kenshin, Christmas, or the song 12 Days of Christmas. I do own the idea to this story, 12 Days of Christmas though, and I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've liked writing it.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me: Seven swans a swimming
December 14
Kenshin looked down at the latest gift that would be given to Karou that evening. He had just placed the slim black frame around the picture that would be the second in the set of three charcoal pictures done for the 12 Days of Christmas theme.
"How did she like the first one?"
Kenshin looked up at his adoptive father, Hiko, as he entered the studio. "She loved it. Haven't seen you around here in a few days, what's been up?" Kenshin asked as he moved to one side, leaning against the art table he had been leaning over a few minutes ago as Hiko examined his work.
"I've been busy with the ending of the semester, as you well know. Not bad baka deshi. You have greatly improved your charcoal work. The work this summer helped immensely." Hiko said as he leaned over the finished piece of work.
"Yes, that it did." Kenshin answered as he looked at his father examining the details more.
"The use of color is great. The whole series is in these colors?" Hiko asked.
"Yes. Blue, Black and white."
"What days are you using these for?"
"Six, seven and eight."
"Hm. How are you doing eight maids a milking in blue black and white?"
"You'll have to see. It's a secret. The preliminary is sitting over there." Kenshin said as he pointed to the corner of the same work table.
"Interesting. It should turn out well. I will have ask Karou to see the entire set over break."
"I'm sure she'd be happy to oblige you."
"Everything else is planned as well?"
"Yes."
"Short answers tonight, Kenshin."
"I have plans to meet Karou at 7 for dinner and to give her the gift."
"Well, I will leave you to your plans then. Do call, I'd like to hear her reaction." Hiko said going to the door, stopping there he asked, "By the way, what did she say about the necklace?"
"She loved it, was speechless at first." Kenshin said, a smiling growing on his face as he remembered the other night when she gave it to him.
:-:
"Hey, I'm almost to the door, are you ready?" Kenshin asked Karou after she said hello over the phone.
"Yeah, I'm just grabbing my coat, I'll be up shortly." Karou said.
"Okay, see you in a bit. I love you."
"I Love you too. Bye." Karou said, hanging up the phone and grabbing her coat.
"Shouldn't you make him wait a bit?"
"No, not for tonight. That's for the Christmas party. I found the perfect dress in a store window this afternoon. I'm going to get it tomorrow if you'd like to join me." Karou said as she put her coat on and wrapped the scarf around her neck. Misao and Megumi both shook their heads yes and told her to tell them all the details later.
"Have a good time!" They yelled as she left the room.
Karou hurried up the stairs and out to the lobby, and was entering just as Kenshin came through the door. They kissed each other on the cheek and as they parted, Kenshin asked, "Do you want to drive or walk to the restaurant?"
"Let's walk. It's a clear night."
"Okay, sounds good to me." Kenshin said, as they walked out the door and towards town for dinner. "What do you feel like tonight?" Kenshin asked as they walked onto main street.
"Hm. I don't know. How about Sushi? We haven't had that in a while." Karou said.
"Sounds delicious to me." Kenshin said, wrapping the arm that had been holding her hand around her waist.
"It's so clear and pretty out tonight." Karou said after a few minutes. "The stars are so bright tonight. They look like diamonds on black velvet." Karou said, pointing to the stars.
"Mm? Oh yeah, they do don't they?" Kenshin responded. "Look, it's a shooting star." He said stopping and pointing it out to Karou.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Karou said, looking as the star crossed the sky.
"Its kinda dim tonight." Kenshin responded.
"How can you say it's dim? It's so bright against the black of the night sky!" Karou said, turning to him.
"You make it seem dim."
"You always turn it around like that." Karou said, grabbing his hand and leading him down the sidewalk to the Sushi place they were going to.
"But it's true." Kenshin said a few minutes later after they had been seated by a large window with the view the people walking by them on the street.
They ate their dinner speaking quietly of their day, the Christmas break coming up, and what their plans would be. Kenshin talked about the plans he knew about Hiko's party, Karou saying that she found the perfect dress.
"What's the dress like?" Kenshin asked after chewing his food.
"You'll find out Christmas Eve." karou said, smiling as she brought a piece of seaweed wrapped sushi to her mouth with her chopsticks.
"No fair!"
"Very fair." Karou said, looking over the table at Kenshin. "Almost done?"
"Yep." Kenshin said. They continued to talk about Christmas plans, Kenshin telling Karou what Sano, Yahiko and Aoshi had both gotten Megumi, Tsubame and Misao, Karou telling Kenshin what each of the girls had gotten each of the guys.
As they left the restaurant, Kenshin asked, "So you told me what Megumi, Misao and Tsubame got the guys, but not what your getting me."
"That, kind sir, is a secret. You will find out soon enough." Karou said skipping ahead of him down the road. They had reached the park when Kenshin caught up with her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the path that was just ahead of them. It led to the gazebo in the park, Kenshin pulled her up the steps. He started humming, grabbing her hand and pulling her into a dance.
"Kenshin what are you doing!" Karou asked laughing as she got use to the rhythm of the dance.
"We're dancing. What does it look like?" Kenshin said looking down at her and pulling her closer.
"Feels like dancing to me." Karou said, smiling up at him, and adjusting her hand in his, linking their fingers together, starting to hum the tune herself. They continued for several more minutes, then started another song after that. It was during this song that a guitar player came by that had been playing on a bench on the other side of the park. He had seen them dancing, and picking up the tune they were humming, started strumming the strings of his guitar. He continued to play as they danced. After a few more songs they stopped, and thank the guy, continuing on their way back to the residence hall.
"I have to get something out of the car, I'll be along shortly." Kenshin said as they walked into the parking lot.
"I'll wait in the lobby."
"Okay." Kenshin said stopping at his car. He watched Karou get to the building, making sure she got inside okay, then unlocked his car and got the picture out of the back seat. He walked over to Karou where she was sitting in the lounge area off the main lobby and sat down next to her, handing her the wrapped picture.
"Hm." Karou said, examining the package before she opened it.
"Trying to figure it out?"
"Yes. It's similar to Day 6. A continuation?" Karou asked, looking over at Kenshin. He just shrugged at her.
"You're a lot of help." Karou said, starting to carefully unwrapping the gift. She took the framed picture out carefully, looking at the charcoal picture that Kenshin had made for her Day 7 gift. She examined the details of the seven swans sitting in the snow on the riverbank or swimming in the river, some ice floating around them. She could see each feather, block of ice, even the detail of some of the snowflakes against the ice blue sky. The river was just a shade or two darker than the sky, and you could see the depth of the water, the legs of the swans just shadows, the ice shadows on the blue water.
"Kenshin, it's, it's beautiful!" Karou said, placing the picture down carefully next to her and reaching for Kenshin to pull him into a tight hug as she turned around.
"You like it than?" Kenshin said into her ear as they hugged.
"YES! It's beautiful." Karou said, leaning back to look at him.
"I'm happy than."
"It matches the other one." Karou said, picking the picture up once more.
"Part of series for you." Kenshin said.
"Is there going to be more?" Karou asked.
"Possibly. We'll see."
"I love you." Karou said as she leaned into Kenshin's body, holding the picture between them. "I don't deserve all these wonderful gifts."
"I love you, and I say you do deserve them. I'd give you the world if they'd let me. I asked, but they couldn't let me take over the world." Kenshin said, making Karou laugh, the smile on her face brightening the entire room.
"I can't believe you."
"You really think I'm gonna get you the world?" Kenshin asked. "I thought I was keeping that a good secret."
"NO! All of this, I just...I love you so much my heart is going to burst, then you do this, and I just want to cry."
"Heart busting is good, crying bad." Kenshin said leaning his forehead on hers.
"Good crying, happy crying." Karou said.
"Oh, well then, why didn't you say so. Happy crying is allowed." Kenshin said leaning down and kissing her forehead, nose, then a sweet slow kiss on her lips.