Title: Our First Noel

Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine

Rating: T

Summary: see chapter one

Warnings: see chapter one

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. Any and all unrecognizable characters belong solely to me and are not to be touched. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the sole intent to entertain.

A/N: Ever noticed that my disclaimer isn't exactly (grammatically) correct? A friend of mine asked me this yesterday while reading my notes. I'm well aware of the fact but still keep it the way it is because it reminds me of the good old days (I first used it for Untold Truths, my first fan fic ever posted). Nostalgia is a wonderful thing, ne?

Owie!

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

…

Damn it!

"Forgive me, dear."

"No problem."

…

Ack! High heels!

"Sorry, coming through."

I've noticed.

Squeak…shuffle, shuffle…Squeak…shuffle, shuffle…

Uh oh. Little old lady at nine o'clock with one of those push cart thingies old people hobble around with, usually loaded with antiques younger than them. Those wheels are huge and she's moving in fast. If I don't—

Gaaaah!

"Shit!"

"Did someone call my name?" she asks, looking up through thick glasses that make her eyes look like an owl's.

A few women are giving me stinky eyes because I've just cursed in front of a senior citizen, but my foot is sore as it is from being stepped on and now she's got that cart push thingy parked on my big toe. It wouldn't be that bad if she didn't have that ten ton oxygen tank strapped on it, adding even more weight.

"No, ma'am," I say extra politely around a wince, just to appease the women. Honestly, I don't see why people always get all pissy when you say bad words when in the presence of old people. Are you telling me that they have never cursed once in all those many years they've lived? Pfft.

She moves on, muttering about what a lovely lad I am and how she wished others teenagers could be just like me. Gay, perverted and continuously wishing for the death of my pink childhood friend; oh yeah, I'm such a good role model.

Sighing, and making a note to start wearing reinforced steel shoes, or walk around on stilts, I tighten my fingers around the handgrip above me though with my balance I could go without using it. However, since the carriage is so full and people are constantly brushing by, and mistaking my foot for an empty soda can, I need ground myself otherwise I'll be swept away with at the next get-offs.

Speaking of 'getting off', Kai's here too.

Yup, it's a new day and we are both on the subway that is taking us to the heart of Tokyo for a fun filled day of shopping just three days before Christmas. I have never been in a big city during the holidays so this is my first time and already I've learned a valuable lesson: Make sure you are not in a big city during the holidays. Next year I'm buying my presents in July. It took us half an hour just to get on the metro and so far I've been stepped on, bustled about and mistaken for someone's long lost girlfriend by a man named Melvin. A guy finally pays attention to me and his name is Melvin? Sigh. The train is so full that there isn't even a place to stand, much less sit. We're near the back against the side panel. I'm gripping the overhead support rack for dear life while Kai is leaning against the glass pane window, arms crossed as he looks out at the flickering lights in the tunnel as they pass.

Kai. How does he do it? And for once I'm not referring to him being genetically lascivious. We're in a packed compartment with smelly armpits a plenty but he still has his three foot radius of personal space! People are holding on to each other in order to not stumble into the sacred circle around his feet. It's like some sort of force field; a few people tried to come close to him but were repelled, mainly by his glare. I envy him so.

Goddammit!

"Sorry, buddy," the man says without much conviction, carrying a huge box (a television, unless someone stuck the word 'television' on it just for kicks), which isn't giving him much of a view. So naturally mine is the foot he steps on.

"It's nothing." Which is basically what my foot is feeling right now. I may have to have it amputated by the time we get off.

Hey, there's Kai! My mind just automatically links him to anything remotely sex-related. Because I'm such a horny kitty. Naughty, naughty, Ray. Santa's probably got me on his naughty list and if I don't start behaving soon he might spank me. Okay, ease up, tiger. I'm starting to make myself uncomfortable with these thoughts. Elves in spandex just don't fit in with the whole holiness of the Christmas season. Then again, I got a front-row view of Papa G in leotards; you just can't get any worse than that.

"Uh oh."

That's a sound I don't like hearing. Turning I see the ominous shape of that guy's television towering unstably above me. This guy isn't what I'd call buff, or even fit. Probably doesn't even know what a gym looks like on the inside, except for what he's seen on television. Mariah could beat him in an arm-wrestling match in her sleep, really. So what is this joker trying to do? Funny you should ask; he's trying to maneuver through the crowd while carrying said box above his head. And I just so happen to be in his way. I'd move if I could, but there is no way to go. Unless…

Some people look at me with great admiration as I step over the holy line and cross into Kai's personal space. Don't think they know that we're together, though that means that they haven't recognized or even know us, for which I am surprisingly grateful; making a run for it to escape fan girls would be hard in this crowd. Hulk over there is wobbling even more than ever so I slide right over to stand next to Kai, our shoulders almost touching.

"Mind if I join you?"

"If you must," he answers flatly though takes his eyes off the dull view and pins them on me instead.

"Whoa!"

CRASH

"I did," I flinch, looking behind to find the spot I have just vacated now filled with a crumpled box, a few shards of glass having managed to tear their way through the cardboard.

"Aw, I don't believe it! Goddamn, motherfucking piece of shit! I'm fucking sick and tired of this fucking piss! Fuck it!" For a scrawny guy with a bald spot on his head he sure can cuss like the rest of them. Angrily kicking the box, his face is bright red as he continues to shout, making quite a scene. "Piece of crap! No good cock-sucking…!"

Everyone is giving him stinky eyes, but he doesn't care. Honestly, what has that poor television ever done to him? They've only just met since it looked (emphasis on 'looked') to be brand new. That relationship was doomed anyway. Good thing it ended before things got out of hand.

"Calm down, man," another passenger says crossly, his hands covering his young daughter's ears. "There are other people on this train."

So now we have two grown men arguing. Bloody merry Christmas spirit. Can you feel the love? The train turns a corner and though I am stable my shoulder does brush against Kai's. I could pull away…but Christmas is only three days away. So I push my luck and don't move, waiting to see if Kai will shift and break the contact or ask (read: demand) me to step back. He doesn't, red eyes instead on the two who are still arguing nearby. I wonder if they remind him of Bryan and Tala. They weren't in the dojo by the time I woke up but I don't know if they left together; Kai didn't look too happy when we met so I'm guessing that things are still a bit rocky between those two. Rocky…? Why can't I get that stupid theme song out of my head?

An arm suddenly throws itself across my chest! Kai's arm. What on earth? Is he making the first move? I know Kai is naturally dominant but jumping me in a very crowded public transport medium is just too good to be true. And it is. He isn't hugging me or even cupping a feel, he's bracing me. For what? For that now busted television in a box that had been sliding towards my already abused feet. Its disgruntled owner had kicked it away blindly, still shouting with the other passenger, and had it not been for Kai it would have collided with my shins. Smashed or not, television sets traveling at any speed are bad for one's health. It is now immobile, though. Kai had put out a booted foot, stopping it in its slide towards me. My knight in shining armor! Or, at least, steel toed boots. I'm gonna be extra careful not to vomit on those.

But Kai isn't done yet. Glaring at the man, he kicks the heavy box back at it owner. It shoots across the small space and nails the guy in the back of his knees, bowling him over and he falls back onto the box, landing awkwardly on the shambled remains of his only friend in life. The stunned silence doesn't last long and a loud round of applause goes off along with hoots and whistles of appreciation from the other metro-goers. Goodwill to all men, apart from those domestic (appliance) abusers.

"Watch it," Kai answers the man's incensed stare. "You could have hurt my friend."

There is a chance that I could have dodged the box at the very last minute (must be some faulty wiring in my senses this morning), but I'm content with the idea that Kai just protected me and is now letting everyone know that he did. My hero. Garland can stuff his honor code. The man manages to get to his feet and shuffles off with the now severely deformed box, now drastically reduced in size, under his arm. I hope he loses his grip and drops it on his toe. Naughty thoughts, but not perverted. Santa can't blame me for that.

"Thanks. I wouldn't have been able to get any shopping done with a broken foot." Again, I could have walked away from that unharmed, but then I wouldn't have an excuse to lean in close and whisper that to him, pretending that the noise in the carriage would make it hard for him to understand me if I didn't. "You do know that this is the third time you've saved me?"

He rolls his eyes, leaning back against the glass and our arms are touching once more. I bite my lip, quickly looking down to calm myself. Frustrating. That's what this is. I've got him to myself (as in, away from our friends), he's being friendly (for Kai, anyway), our bodies are making contact, but I can't do anything about it! My mating instincts are commanding me to snuggle up against him and purr but outside of the village instincts have done me bad than good. I still haven't come up with a valid excuse to explain to Bruce why I had been playing so intently with a ball of yarn a few days back. It didn't help that I had been laying on my back and juggling it in the air above me. I'm part cat; I couldn't just leave a darn good ball of yarn laying on the floor alone. That to a neko-jin is like leaving a starving child on the streets.

We reach the station without any more incidents. Since I traveled the rest of the journey in Kai's inner ring (…giggle. Sorry, couldn't stop myself) I have not suffered any more crushed toes. I could be a man and push my way through the throng of people between us and the now open doors, or I can be lazy and just follow in Kai's wake. People are practically climbing onto each other's shoulders to give him room to walk. I choose the second option unsurprisingly. No force needed and a view from behind; why would I do otherwise?

The streets are a feast for the eyes. Lights are strung between buildings and wrapped in garland around lamp posts. Lit statues stand on every block and blinking frames pepper the windows in ever direction. We've got a dozen or so Santa's walking about with bells while mothers try to explain to their confused children that Santa has brothers, or that he can magically duplicate himself, or that he moves so fast there appears to be more than one. Many stores have shoved some of their staff members outside to advertise while wearing elf or reindeer costumes. And one in ever five shopper is wearing a Santa hat. Nothing like Christmas in Tokyo. I've come to appreciate this city and its customs so different from the dullness back home in the mountains where the only big occasion is the annual pairing ritual. If all goes wrong Mariah and I will be the guests of honor in a couple of years. Save me, Kai. I don't want to lose my virginity to Mariah; I want to actually feel my first shared orgasm and live to enjoy it.

We decided early on not to walk in the open streets, even though they have the shops with the most bargains. Instead we are heading for the large indoor shopping center a block away from the station. Walking through the crowd, our boots stepping in muddy snow, we stick close. I stick closer to Kai than he does to me, but I have a bunch of excuses should he ask: I don't want to lose track of him; I don't want to slip; I don't want him to slip; I thought I saw a fan girl; There's something on his jacket and I was going to pick it off; Large crowds make me nervous; it's bloody chilly. Pick an excuse, any excuse. That last one it true, though. The sky is clear and bright blue but the air is freezing my pores shut. I hope we'll stop for something warm to drink and/or eat for lunch. How long is it going to take, anyway?

Let's see now. My folks sent money down with Lee and Mariah (don't know why they didn't just send the cash and Lee down) so I am no longer broke. I have quite a lot of money on me right now, enough to get something for everyone. I have to get Brooklyn something that's living, so I'd better leave his gift for last. While I'm getting actual presents for the rest of the Bladebreakers, Hillary and Kenny included, Lee and Mariah, I want to buy some of those little Christmas gift baggies for the rest, if it is possible. Lee's the easiest; he's been talking about getting a new vest for weeks. Mariah (I'm obliged to get her something) loves anything I buy her so she's also no problem (strange, never thought that possible). Something fluffy and pink should suffice.

Along that line, Hillary comes to mind. She's more of a studious type (when not coming up with stupid ideas) so I figured she'd like a cute schoolbag or something. Kenny, oh boy. If its technological it will do. That or Nag Nag's latest CD. I have to consider that one very carefully. Tyson has gotten a fetish for lame gag merchandise. Max could do with some decent colored clothes. Hey, I'm not the only one who hates his wardrobe; I once looked into his closet; all the moths inside had committed suicide. Daichi, ever the video addict, would be happy with a new cartridge for his Game Boy Advance. Oh yeah, I also want to get something for my partner in crime, a.k.a. Hiro (most likely sunglasses) and Bruce (who really likes books), since he's just a cool grown-up. I was going to get Papa G something, but his inconsiderate appearance yesterday will not go unpunished.

And that leaves Kai. What do you get the guy of your dreams that will show that you consider him as someone very special, but isn't too obviously mushy? Nothing lame like scarves (even though he is very attached to his) or gift certificates. He doesn't listen to music. He isn't interested in any sport other than beyblading. He only wears designer clothes, which I can never afford. And he doesn't have any quirky hobbies to which I could attribute some equipment. What to do? What to do?

"What are we going to do?" I ask instead as the front of the mall comes into view. "Do we stick together or would you prefer we split up and do our separate shopping?"

"The point is that we have to stay together," he recites Hillary's parting words/threats from this morning.

"We'll just walk by the stores and if we see something we can buy we go in," I brilliantly solve our dilemma. No thanks necessary, all in a day's work.

Kai shrugs in accord. He's usually (or rather, has been as of late) more talkative to me, as in speaking more than one sentence, but not today. I'm positive its because of the demonic duo. Man, I know that they're going through a rough…something, but even when they aren't around they still come between me and Kai. This mysterious ongoing argument of theirs is really driving me insane; I wanna know what's happening too! If it got Tala and Bryan punching each other than it has to be something good, I mean, bad, I mean, you get what I mean. I hope. Not really sure myself if I know what I mean anymore. Everything's so confusing. But it's Tala and Bryan, what did you expect?

It's a lot warmer inside. Not warm as in hot, warm as in temperature that won't give me frostbite. I unwrap my scarf and unzip my jacket. I could really go for some hot chocolate, or even luke warm tea, but we should get some shopping done first. Kai at my side (dopey sigh) I grab one of those outlet maps. Based off of my own list I'm going to have to find a supply shop (Hillary), clothing store (Lee and Max), gift shop (Tyson), technology specialists (Kenny and Daichi), bargain sale store (Mariah, hee hee), bookshop (Bruce), a sports shop (Hiro, he only wears sports sunglasses), a pawn shop (wonder how much I'd get for Papa G's outfit) and a pet shop (Brooklyn). I could just find a stray and starving cat in a dark alley, he'd love it anyway, even it was covered in fleas and missing an eye with an abnormal growth on the side of its head, but I want to show Hiro my gratitude by giving his boyfriend something nice. I'm still stumped about Kai's gift.

Hot breath brushes past my ear and I start, almost butting heads with Kai, who is looking over my shoulder at the map, also planning his course of action. Our mouths came this close. Grrr! Wonder if I can trick him into getting that close again and then make sure we 'accidentally' swap ChapStick flavor. His smells like mint. I love mint. Even more than chocolate right now.

"So?" he asks, unbuttoning his jacket. Should I play some strip tease music for myself? Da Da Da-Da--Cut it out.

"I think we'll find a lot of things in the big department stores," I say, killing the night club lights in my mind. "It's better than going from shop to shop in this crowd."

The nearest outlet is JC Penny. Agreeing silently, we move onwards, Kai leading (as always) while I follow closely (as always), paying close attention to the movements of his butt (as always). Maybe we should stick to the stores; lots of walking there, with Kai in front of me. I really should think my plans through.

Since Hillary (giving her the benefit of the doubt and considering her reasonable) can't possibly expect us to shop for others and not reveal what we buy with our shopping buddy right next to us all the time, we split up with the agreement that we'll stay on the ground floor of the store and that we'll meet back at the entrance in half an hour. Kai heads off towards the…make-up section? I've just realized that I don't know who he's being secret Santa to, which is the whole point actually.

"Care to try our fragrance of the day?"

Oh no. Scary sales girls armed with perfume.

"No thanks." I've learned my lesson about accepting anything offered to me by these subspecies.

"Try it, it smells lovely," she insists.

"Isn't that a woman's perfume?" It's all pink and flowery.

"You can try it on for your girlfriend."

"I don't have one," I say, beginning to back away.

"Just one little spray?"

"I said no."

Ookay, not so friendly anymore. What the fu--!

"Try it!"

PPPSSH

"What happened to you?" Kai blinks as I walk up to where he is timely awaiting me at the entrance. I glare at the perfume sales girl who is still smiling smugly. Cow. Mean cow. And that blue eye shadow is doing nothing for you either, honey. He steps back when the full stench reaches him, almost making his eyes water. "Is that cologne?"

"Manly cologne," I emphasize, switching the shopping bags to one hand. "Manly cologne that does not smell like bubble gum."

"You smell like a brewery."

"Perfect." Anything but the putrid stench of strawberries and cotton candy that smells disturbingly like Nag Nag's brand of hand lotion. "I had to buy and use two whole bottles of Old Spice."

You know, I'm not so sure I like it that Kai finds amusement at my expense. Even if that smile he is trying to hide looks so gosh darn cute.

"Got anything else?" he asks, coughing softly. Yeah, like I don't know that your dying of laugher inside.

"I got something for Lee, Kenny, Hillary, Max and Hiro."

"Hiro?"

"Hiro."

Ha! Now it's my turn to be all mysterious and secretive. Doesn't really have the desired effect since Kai merely shrugs and picks up his own stuff, amongst which is indeed a bag with logo of some make-up brand on it. Why can't I ever have one over on him? Why, I ask? And what possessed me to really buy Nag Nag's latest world tour on DVD? Do I really like Kenny that much, or do I just hate myself?

"What about you?" I ask, motioning to his own collection of bags.

"Tyson, Bryan, also Max, Daichi and you."

Aaaawww! He got me something already! I never knew that Kai was such an effective shopper. Wonder what it is. Is it something practical or something a bit more personal? I should have started dropping hints weeks ago but…Wait. Tyson…Bryan (shudder)…Max…Daichi…Me…Five guys? What the hell did he buy in the cosmetics department and who did he buy it for? Now I really hope that he's playing Secret Santa for one of the girls. If not then there's someone amongst us (and it sure as heck isn't me) who has some explaining to do. Bryan and lipstick…Maybe he and Tala are currently fighting over who stole who's mascara. In that case I'm betting on Tala; I knew those lashes of his were too long to be genuine.

"Where?" Kai asks, slinging the bags over his shoulder. Way cool and hot at the same time.

"There's bookstore over there." Whew! I lift my arm and I can still smell cotton candy on my sleeves. I knew I should have bought three bottles. "Tyson's dad is always reading books about archeology and traveling."

Kai doesn't walk as close to me as before since I am almost setting off fire alarms with the amount of cologne I'm wearing. I think I smell rather masculine, but I could just be fooling myself? I do that a lot. At least now I have a force field of my own. I am clearing the path right, left and center. I wonder if this works against clingy pink fur balls…

I end up buying two pretty heavy but fascinating books that I'm sure that Bruce will love. Kai, who is pretty loaded (with cash, though I'm sure he's well equipped in other departments as well) pays a near-fortune for a massive twenty-four volume encyclopedia set that will be delivered to the dojo by tomorrow, since walking with those slabs of leather cover and paper would be simply exhausting, even for him. That makes me both awestruck and nervous; no doubt they're for Kenny, so if he is getting such an expensive gift then what did Kai buy me? I'm not being self-confident, but I'm a lot closer to Kai (though not as close as I like) then Kenny is. Crap, how can I possibly compete with that and buy him an equally worthy gift? I've never really given much thought on his wealth; Kai isn't exactly cruising around in a Lamborghini with a lot of bling-bling, but his family is stinking rich. Though his clothes don't look all fancy, they are all brand names. That's the only give away. What's he saving all that cash for? He probably doesn't know what to do with all.

Next stop is a small but well-stocked sport store where I find the perfect pair of sunglasses for Hiro plus leather fingerless gloves. He's got a motorcycle so I'm sure he can always do with gloves. Again, Kai buys something too. This time it's a sled. Who could it be for? The only people I'd consider buying a sled for are either Tyson, Max or Daichi, but he said he already got them presents back in JC Penny. I can't imagine Hillary really getting kicks out of it. I really can't imagine either Tala or Bryan (Kai could buy two presents for him; being rich and his friend and all) sliding down small hills on that thing. Unless they use it to run over people. That will give them hours of fun. Or maybe he's one of the guys Secret Santa. But then that brings up the troubling question of who's gift he bought in the cosmetics section.

It's almost one p.m. so we stop for something to eat in the food court. Since the place is so packed and we'd like to get this over and done with we just buy something in a little café, which isn't so packed because of the prices. How can something as big as a Crappy Cup cost seven dollars? That's Starbucks for you. Kai orders something that I cannot pronounce, let alone repeat, it's caffeinated and let's settle for that. Going over the menu board while thinking that one cup of tea costs twice as much as I am willing to spend on Mariah's gift, I suddenly find a large mug of hot chocolate milk with whipped cream studded with red and green mini marshmallows placed before me on the counter. That is the cutest beverage I have ever seen. And it comes with a complementary cookie! Aaaw.

"I didn't order this."

I said it was cute, I never said that I am willing to pay twenty bucks on something I'm going to flush down the toilet by tomorrow.

"I did," Kai says, putting away his wallet and picking up his mocha-choca-loca-whatta; I need a spell checker. "It's on me."

"Really?"

Yeah, as if Kai would ever make a mistake like that; "Oops, sorry Ray, I meant to order you some hot water with an old tea bag. Let me change that for you." So this is mine. How about that? Kai has just bought me my first Starbucks. I've heard that drinking Starbucks is something like a coming of age ritual in some places. Not where I come from, naturally. We don't get neat stuff like marshmallows slightly submerged in creamy goodness. Instead, we have to resign ourselves to one long night with oversexed girls like Mariah. God bless modernization. They can keep Mariah, I'm going to enjoy this cute, hot drink with my equally, no, even cutter and hotter shopping buddy.

"Thanks," I say, taking a sip. But damn, this tastes awesome! Well worth five of Mariah's gifts, not that I'd ever buy her that many. "Do you come here often?"

"Best place for coffee when not at home."

He's barely home. I'll take that as a yes. A Starbucks waitress stops at our little chest-high table and places two plates with gooey sticky buns before us. That's one name that has always made me snicker, even before I met Kai. She leaves us alone, but only after asking us for out autographs for 'her little sister'. Like I've never heard that one before. We sign the napkin nonetheless and she is pretty giddy for someone who only asked for it as a favor. But back to the dubiously titled pastries. Oh wait, Kai's put down his patty-pat-latté (good grief, I'm only getting worse) and is reaching for his sticky buns. Ha ha, I kill me. That name must have been thought up back when people's minds were still proper because…Holy moly-mocha! Is this what I think it is? It is! It's Kai eating a sticky bun! Well, it's not you can do anything else with them (out here in public, hint-hint), but sticky buns are covered in sticky cinnamon and icing, and sticky things tend to stick (Yeah, I was the best in my physics class) and sticking things must be removed with force. In this case, the sticky thing is the sticky icing, the thing it's sticking to is Kai's lips and the thing that is being used to remove it is his tongue.

…...

Sorry, that was me zoning out as my brain had a total melt down. I neglect my adorable cup of hot cocoa as I watch the terribly erotic act that is Kai eating that pastry, unaware of my staring because he's lost in thoughts as he watches the shoppers go about, giving me a perfect profile of his face and those lips as he licks them clean of sweet white icing. People eating isn't normally a very exciting event, take Tyson for example, but I'm expecting the security guards to tackle Kai to the floor at any moment and arrest him for having sex with an inanimate object in a public building.

"Aren't you going to eat that?" he asks, finishing the bun and licking the remnants of icing and gooey cinnamon off his fingers. If I say no, will you eat it? Please say you will.

"Ray! Kai!"

Actually glad for distraction, I don't even want to think of what I would have done or said otherwise, I search the crowd to see two blond heads coming towards us. Considering that everyone is in town doing shopping I'm surprised it has taken us so long to come across another pair. Max breaks through, lugging shopping bags in both hands but drops them once he reaches us where we stand. I'm hoping that that isn't my present I've just hear crack in one of those bags. Miguel comes into view, carrying a big box. What is it with people and big boxes? Why don't they just have those things delivered like Kai does? Simpletons.

"How's the shopping going? Bought me anything yet?" Max smiles but his eyes soon fall upon my sticky bun (I swear, that joke will never get old). "Hey, I'm starved! Mind if I have it?"

Making sure that Kai won't mind (I don't want another Swiss-chocolate-epic on my mind), he merely stares back. Yes, then. Might as well. I'm craving Kai so badly I've lost my appetite for ordinary food and I don't think I can actually control myself through another bun-eating scene. Max happily accepts the saucer I slide over though he uses the small plastic knife that had come with it to cut it in half, giving one piece to Miguel. That was nice. I would have stuffed it in my mouth without even considering the fact that my buddy might also be hungry; I've got to spend some time away from Tyson.

"What's that smell?" Miguel asks after swallowing a mouthful, nose wrinkling.

Max sniffs, tracing the air back to me.

"Whoa!" he coughs, fanning the air as he pulls away. "Go easy on the drinks, pal."

"It's cologne," I roll my eyes. I see you, Kai! Don't think you can hide your smirk behind that cup. "I got blasted back in the department store by a perfume-wielding asylum escapee."

"We also ran into someone like that," Max discloses.

Miguel shivers at the memory, wiping his mouth clean with a napkin.

"A lady tried to get us to take a free pedicure. She pulled my shoe off!"

"But your toe nails do look really great," Max laughs.

"You promised not to tell!"

"It's only Ray and Kai," he assured, patting me on the shoulder. "Ray can keep a secret and Kai doesn't talk to anyone anyway."

"Hn." You tell him, Kai. Don't hold back. Let him have it.

"I'm still hungry." Max has been around Tyson for too long as well. "Come on, Miguel. There's a Burger King around here somewhere. I can smell it! We'll see you guys back at the dojo, 'kay?"

And there he goes. Makes me wonder what he was like as a kid. Judy must have gotten some work-out chasing him around the place. I don't know why she didn't enlist him in her team; he could have been the sprinter.

"Thanks for the schnecken," Miguel says, groaning as he lifted the box and shuffles after Max.

"Gesundheid," I call after him.

"He meant to cinnamon roll," Kai says.

"What about it?"

That probably wasn't my most intellectual moment, but Kai drops the subject so I am still clueless as to what sticky buns have to do with sneezing. Finishing his drink (like I'm even going to attempt getting the name right), he reaches into his pocket. His cell phone must be on vibrate (don't you even dare it, Ray…) mode and he answers it in Russian. Tala or Bryan. Somehow I can't picture Bryan with a cell and actually use it; he'd probably re-wire the thing to suddenly cut off all telephone connections leading out of Japan and make electronic things like toasters and waffle-makers attack us and overthrow the government. I don't think I want to be around when his gift is opened. Not without a gas mask and nuclear-tested body suit. Drinking the rest of my hot chocolate, well, now barely warm since it cooled while I had been drooling over Kai and his sticky bun (funny!). Just as I am scooping out the marshmallows with my spoon, Kai hangs up.

"Everything okay?" I ask politely, licking the spoon clean. Damn good hot cocoa.

"For now."

So does that mean that Tala and Bryan are no longer trying to make the other prematurely lose their teeth? Maybe they've sorted it out. Three cheers for civilized discussion.

"Ready?" he asks this time, checking his watch.

"Yup," I smile. See, Kai? I'm a nice person. Why hang around with Tantrum Tala and Bully Bryan when you can be with Relaxed Ray? Lame, I know. I'll stop now before we both hurt me. "We're expected back at the dojo at six for dinner, so we'd better get the rest of the presents and get the hell out of this place before things get really hectic."

"Too late."

Following his stare, I freeze. There, hiding behind a rack of Christmas cards and the fat lady admiring them, is a mass of eyes, pens, cameras and giggles. Fan girls. Christmas-hyped, boyfriend-desperate fan girls. The kind that can rip a guy to shred if he didn't seek higher ground or have at least a dozen overly muscled body guards around him.

"Don't move," Kai orders me when I begin to take a step back. "They sense fear."

"That's not funny."

"I'm serious." What a revelation. "Slowly pick up your bags. Don't make any sudden movements."

We both gather our things carefully. One of the girls twitches but they remain where they are, all those eyes following our every move. It was like watching a massive water balloon with a tiny leak; sooner or later the tension will break and we'll regret being caught in the down pour. Kai usually doesn't care about them, but this is one big group; he knows the danger of such large numbers.

"Get ready."

"Ready for what?" I ask, sweating bullets.

"When I say go, we leave the court."

He has never lead any of us wrong, so I trust him enough to not question him again. His plan soon comes into view. One of those indoor golf carts, you know, the ones with the twirling lights that make that annoying beeping sound, carrying two plump janitors slowly maneuvers through the crowd, stopping to collect the trash in the bins. Their next target is the bin located before the card stand and the fan girls. See now, I myself wouldn't have been able to make that connection, but Kai has always been miles ahead in the planning arena. We both wait and as if coordinated, the janitors stop their golf-cart right in front of the fan girls, blocking our view of them.

"Go," Kai orders, giving me a light push in the back to get me moving. We abandon Starbucks' little court and make an escape while we hear the cries and whines of the fan girls as they try to follow but we are too quick. Andnow I realize that I didn't even get a chance to eat my complementary cookie that had come with my hot chocolate. I hate fan girls.

I'm bushed! My feet are sore, my back is killing me and I think I'm getting a rash from all the cologne I splashed on me hours ago. And women find it fun to spend all day walking in the mall? In high heels, no less. Then again, they usually sucker (or blackmail) their husbands or lovers to come with them to carry the shopping. I don't have that luxury. But I do have Kai! And he is holding my bags for me! But back to reality, he's only doing it temporarily at the front of our last store for the day; the pet store. I'm walking around, trying to decide what to get Brooklyn. Let's face it, if I were to save a cockroach from a roach trap and put a bow on its antennae and hand it to Brooklyn on Christmas morning he'd be beside himself with joy. But I'm terrified of cockroaches (and all things creepy crawly that cling to your skin; like Mariah) so I'm not about to go crawling around on all fours just to save myself fifty bucks. I wouldn't touch a cockroach for all the money in the world. Maybe for Kai, but what would he do with a cockroach? Probably give to Bryan who would then amuse himself by pulling off its wings and legs.

I can't buy Brooklyn a dog, because they cost more than fifty bucks, plus it will be pretty hard to hide it in the dojo till Christmas. I wouldn't mind picking a kitten. Wonder why. But then I'd have to buy it a litter pan and litter and right now I'm in no mood to carry that all the way back home. So now I'm leaning more towards the birds. Nah, too common. Why would Brooklyn spend time with one canary when he can mosey down to the park and get an entire flock of pigeons eating out of his hand? It's got to be something a little less familiar in Japan's natural habitats. That's it! An alligator! What am I thinking? I don't think it's a good idea for me to be making choices on my own right now. Should I go call Kai? We're not supposed to let our shopping buddies know what we're buying, but it's not like I can purchase anything in a pet shop and expect to keep it a secret from Kai. So then, a gold fish? Not very cuddly. Then again, you never know with Brooklyn. It should be something that Hiro can get along with too. Nothing too small because small animals are always either mistaken for mice when they escape and stomped flat, or they are sucked up into the vacuum cleaner.

"Are you looking for anything specific, young man?" asks a clerk.

"Something for a…friend of mine," Why not? "I can't spend more than fifty dollars on it but it has to be special. Something you can hold and pet and feed, and that lives longer than two years." Brooklyn can then bring it with him when he moves in with Hiro. I think of everything, don't I?

"I have the perfect thing," he says, motioning me to follow him to the back. "We just got the shipment in this afternoon so you're in luck. Here we go."

I look at the large glass tank that is covered with shaggy carpet but otherwise empty. Is this guy for real? Aren't I a little too big for wanting imaginary pets?…Hey, did the carpet just move? Egad! What the hell is that! Eeew! Don't touch it!

"Angora rabbits," he smiled, holding it out to me. It's brown, round and hairy. Reminds me of an uncle of mine. My least favorite one, at that.

"What is it?"

"One of the oldest breed of rabbits."

Rabbit? I've seen hairballs with more definition than that.

"They are perfectly adaptable, must be kept indoors and are rather hardy creatures. All they need is daily grooming to keep their fur from matting and attention."

No quails there. Brooklyn spends more time talking with animals than he does with people. But…Is that a bunny? I'm sorry, I don't see any relations. Where's the trademark tail? Or the head, for that matter. Wait, I think I see an eye. Oops, my mistake. It's just a pellet of poop stuck in its fur. What a dilapidated creature.

"Just hold it. I'm sure you'll love it."

That roach-idea is sounding pretty good right about now. At least I can tell head from tail on a roach. Think this thing will even scare Bryan. Heh, that actually be worth buying it then. Still…Hey, if this a rabbit then where are the ears? Ha! Got you there.

"As you can see, their ears are soft so they don't stand upright but instead hang on either side of the head. And when kept well brushed the fur is extremely soft, just like a duckling."

I could take a jab at this thing being like the ugly duckling, but that would be insulting to the duckling. Besides, I now have to resist the urge to whimper as he walks over, carrying that with him. Think of it this way, Ray, if you can handle Mariah, you can handle a mutant bunny. Problem is, I can't handle Mariah, I just pretend to. Well then, I'll pretend now. Nothing would be more embarrassing that Kai running over at the sound of my terrified shrieks to find me holding a man-eating bunny, though I'm still doubting if this thing really is a rabbit. Here goes. I hold out my hands. He places it in them.

Well, it is soft. And I can actually feel a body through all that fur. And there's an actual eye, so the other must be nearby. Unless it really is a mutant bunny… Up close it does resemble something akin to a rabbit. The clerk uses his hands to brush away the fur facing me to reveal both eyes and a little nose that is twitching. Aw, this thing is kinda cute. Scary to look at from a distance, but cute up close. Hey, a paw! This is like one of those discovery kits. Hopefully I'll be able to find another by the time we reach home. Yes, I am considering taking it. However, since I was considering an alligator earlier I'd better get that second opinion. Holding bunny against my chest, I walk to the front of the store towards Kai. He's busy sending a message on his cell (does Tala have separation anxiety or something?) and glances up briefly at me before going back to what he's doing.

"What's with the pompom?

"I'm thinking of buying it for Brooklyn." Kai has most likely figured out that I am his former rival's secret Santa; who else would want to get something that will require work as a present?

"You're paying for that?"

"It's a bunny."

Kai doesn't seem to believe me so I come closer, lifting it till he's eye-to-eye (at least, I hope he is; I could have mixed up the two ends already) with it.

"Not much to look at, but it's really cuddly. Brooklyn will have a great time taking care of it."

"Is it a male or a female?"

Wouldn't be surprised if this thing is of the 'third kind'. Ha! There's another paw. I might have it all figured out in time for Christmas morning.

"So, what do you say?" the clerk asks, standing behind the counter.

I look down at it, then at Kai, then at the clerk, then back down at it. Heck, why not? If anything it will be a good laugh when I come out with this thing when everyone is gathered around in the living room come December the 25th.

"I'll take it."

Kai is still trying to find any identifiable body part, but I'm confident that I've made the right choice. It sure doesn't look like a native of Japan (or even planet earth) but that should make it even more appealing to Brooklyn. He's strange, it's strange; a perfect match. They can go off and be strange together. Wonder what he'll call it. Probably some nature-themed name like Rocky (there's that theme again) or Autumn or Glacial. Or, and now I'm only doing this for amusement's sake, he can call it Sea-spray or Flutter-leaf or Sunset.

Paying the guy and getting change, I get a small carton box to bring it home in plus I sign a sheet that will provide me with a cage, food and bedding, which will all be delivered tomorrow. I tell him to let them drop it off at the gas station around the block so that no one figures it out. I'm going to have to keep him in my room, which means I'm going to have to tell Lee since I don't want him discovering this thing on his own; don't want to put my best friend through something like that. He'd throw the entire box out the window and that would be a waste of money, as well as a present.

"Done," I say proudly, carrying bunny back to Kai.

"Good because we have to catch the next subway or we'll be late."

What a day this has been. I'm glad it's over because it has been exhausting, but sad because this means that my time with Kai is over. We'll go back to the dojo where he'll return to refereeing Tala and Bryan's fights while I have to go back to pretending that I don't want to stab out my throat as Mariah uses me as an armchair. Well, at least it happened. It will be a nice memory. And I have a funky momentum to remember it by; bunny. Nothing sums up this day like the ball of fur I am toting around in this box; more than a bit strange at first glance, but nice and cuddly if you dare to look closer.

3 days left and the shopping is done. Hillary has already planned something for tomorrow but I wasn't listening so I guess it will stay a surprise till then. I do love surprises.

…Oh crap! I haven't found anything for Kai yet!

Tbc…

A/N: 'Schnecken' is the original name for 'sticky buns'. Mariah was supposed to show up in this chapter, but I changed my mind.

Read & Review, please.