A/N: Wheee, got another one, another HUGE one, done. Hooray! Pigs have flown, cause I didn't think this would be done for today! Now, enjoy everyone!
Review Responses:
Dragonlady222: Heh. We couldn't have a day where EVERYTHING goes to plan, could we? And it's nice to see you feel so indignant on Az's behalf... Don't worry, she's on it... Heh.
Willowwind: Poor random people... Ahem! I updated! Now you can stop! Or... (Joins in poking random people) And I love the word 'Kawe'! It made me happy 'cause my fic made you invent a word. And I may have to steal it.
Well, it seemed like you guys (All two of you) really liked the last chapter! Well, so did I. It's my favorite so far, although, I quite like the ending (Read about 17-18 pages down and you'll see) of this one...
Disclaimer: Blah blah blah. Song lyrics, to all the songs used in the show, apart from my own crummy ones, at the bottom.
And now, we address the question: Why shouldn't eleven year olds read newspapers? The start of this chapter happens almost directly after the end of the last, btw.
Thirteen: Mistletoe-on-a-Stick!
November
Mokuba was still up when Seto returned home. But, just before he went to bed, he had some more advice for Seto.
"You know…" He said. "I read in the paper this morning that girls really like it if you phone them up a few hours after you go out to tell them you had a good time…"
Yes, an eleven year old reading the papers. In my defence, he is Seto's brother. And now, to stop breaking the fourth wall.
"Mokuba." Seto replied, exasperated. "Have you been reading The Star again…?"
"Well, yes, but…"
"No buts!" Seto told him, sternly.
"It's free- they drop it through the door! And-"
"No buts!" Seto repeated. "How many times do I have to tell you? We are a Times household!"
"I know…" Mokuba replied, rolling his eyes. "Still, it had some pretty good points. It was a list, see, and-"
"Goodnight, Mokuba." Seto said wearily, ending the age old argument.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Azreal was warm again, though still not entirely dry, as she came out of the shower. A moment later, she was in her pyjamas and ready to crash.
She was feeling suddenly feeling very sleepy. It was a warm, fuzzy, safe feeling, very similar to the one she'd had when she and Seto had-
She leapt onto her bed, sprawling headlong, burying her face in her pillow. If she started mentally reliving that, she'd never get any sleep. Yawning, she tried to roll over with as little movement as possible, so she wouldn't fall asleep on her face and end up eating her pillow. She should really get up and turn the light off, but she didn't want to move.
What a day… She sighed happily, metamorphosing into a yawn half way through. What a wonderful…lovely… beautiful…
Her thoughts were cut off abruptly by her phone, set on silent, but still managing to vibrate noisily on the shelf above her bed. Groaning, she reached up and found it.
"Hello?" She asked, keeping her voice low as she flopped back down, stifling a yawn.
"Hi." Seto's voice came. She was instantly alert.
"Seto? What's wrong? We only just said goodbye…"
"No, nothing." Seto replied hurriedly. "I hope I didn't wake you up…"
"No, I was just about to turn in." Azreal replied. "What's up?"
"I…uh…just wanted to… say that I had a really good time tonight." Seto said, awkwardly.
"So did I." Azreal replied, smiling. "But since when have you read The Star?"
Seto began muttering. She couldn't make much out, but it seemed to be directed at Mokuba.
"Seto." She interrupted. "Seto! Thanks."
"Thanks?" She could almost hear him blinking. "What for? You know I- or rather Mokuba- got it out of the paper."
"Seto," She said, gently. "If you're so anxious to make me happy that you take relationship advice from a free paper and your eleven year old brother, then there's nothing to worry about. In fact, I think it's rather sweet."
"Oh…" Seto was still embarrassed. "Ah. Good."
She laughed. "You are so good, Seto. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She put the phone down, but stared at it for a moment, before putting it back on the shelf. Then she sighed happily, sunk into her bed, and slept.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
December
The entire school was in a rather festive mood. After all, it was the last day before the Christmas holidays. Fun and frolics for all. Today was the concert. First and Second periods were dedicated to the stand-alone acts. Periods three and four was dedicated to the Battle of the Bands segment, and there was no fifth at all. But no-one out in the playground was nervous or worried. Everyone who was performing would be in one of the schools empty classrooms backstage, rehearsing till they were on, or watching the other acts from the wings. So no-one outside was worried.
Except Téa.
"I just don't get it…" She almost wailed. "Where are they?"
Ryou and Azreal still hadn't turned up, and she was almost having a heart attack.
"Well, Anna's always late…" Yugi pointed out. "No logic says she won't be today."
"And Ryou's always ill." Tristan added.
"Nice to know you care." Joey said, rolling his eyes at Tristan's indifferent tone.
"Like you're so loving yourself." He snorted from behind Joey. They all turned on a sixpence and stared.
"What?" He asked, blinking. "Do I have something on my face…?" He wondered, rubbing at it.
"Duke!" Téa yelled. "You're here!"
"You seem surprised."
"Of course she is!" Yugi shouted. "You haven't been in school all year!"
Duke shrugged. "I've been in America. I'm back, I'm rich, I was going to stay a little longer… But I had to come back today, didn't I? I have a public to please!"
Joey sighed. "Singing again?"
"As always." Duke responded, nodding. "Later." He swanned off in the general direction of backstage, almost every girl who saw him descending upon him and 'welcoming him back'. He didn't seem to mind, particularly.
"That is so like him…" Téa growled in frustration. The bell for form rang, and they headed in.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Duke was the last one on, near the end of second period. He wasn't a particularly great singer- perhaps he could carry a tune a little better then some- but his main quality was defiantly charisma. It was obvious he was going to win the stand-alones just from the screaming girls in the audience half way through his first, and only, song. And by all the girls from bands and from earlier acts lining the wings, so obsessed that they wanted an autograph. Or an excuse to talk to him.
Finally shaking them off, (Though no paper, book, photo or inanimate object went unsigned, or any girl unsweetened) Duke entered the corridor that was serving as the exit and entrance for the stage, still buoyed up on his assured success. Not looking where he was going, he banged into a girl, hurrying the other way with sheets of paper. Duke began to help her gather them up, so he didn't look at her.
"Oh, sorry!" She said. "You were good, by the way. I could hear part of it back here…"
That voice was worryingly familiar, but he couldn't place it…
"Thanks." He smiled, quickly scribbling his name on the paper and handing it back to her.
"Uh, thanks," She said, bemused. "But I think that you just signed Ryou's guitar tabs."
That voice really was… He looked up, and saw the bespectacled face. He remembered it. He remembered the voice. But who…?
"Azreal!" He yelped, suddenly. "Wha- what are you doing here!"
"Making sure Ryou doesn't pull a Houdini. I could ask you the same thing, but I know you'll just say the USA…"
"No, no, not here as in here here! Here as in Earth here!"
"Ssh!" Azreal screamed, checking to see no-one was within ear shot. "Keep it down a bit, would ya! Anyways, it's a long story, not very interesting. Have you seen him?"
"Who?" Duke asked.
"Ryou!"
He looked at her blankly. "Ryou?"
"Oh, forget it, I'll find him myself!" She huffed, striding away.
Duke blinked after her. What was she doing here?
And worse was yet to come: He hadn't found out she was dating Kaiba yet. He couldn't leave them alone for five minutes…
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Azreal eventually found Ryou sitting alone in an empty classroom. Opal was reading a book and waved when her sister came in. Azreal glared at her. Wasn't inspiring Ryou her job?
"Ryou!" She said, sitting down on a desk near him. "I've been looking all over for you! Here, you left these in the wings." She passed the tabs to him.
"Thanks." He said. "Um… why does this one have 'Duke' written on it?"
"I think he thought it was an autograph."
"Riiiiiiight."
Silence fell, apart from Ryou aimlessly tuning his guitar. Azreal wasn't even sure if electric guitars needed tuning.
Which was probably why she had been so bad at it.
"Nervous?" She asked him.
"Not really…" Ryou answered vaguely. "I'm more worried about when Téa finds out we didn't tell her we were in the band."
"Wait! We were in the band!" Azreal asked, surprised.
"I meant I. Sorry." Ryou replied.
"Oh, thank goodness…" Azreal sighed in relief. Ryou laughed that just a little slip in words could cause so much panic.
"So, why are you sitting in here all alone?" Azreal asked. He wasn't all alone, but he didn't know that. Besides, he was lying. He was obviously as nervous as anyone had ever been.
"This is where I was meant to meet the others." Ryou sighed. "Only they haven't showed yet…"
"What!" Azreal demanded. Ryou shrugged.
"They're not here. I've looked everywhere. Maybe they're just not going to show." He sighed. Azreal shot a look at Opal, who shrugged. She had no more idea then they did.
"Perhaps it'd be for the best, though." Ryou said roughly. "There's a lot of hopes riding out there. When Tom- their first guitarist- was going to leave, they were going to disband. They always said that they had started together and end together. But he told them that they had to win, just once, first. So they got me, and now they're not here. Maybe they know they can't win."
"Don't you ever, EVER, say that again!" Azreal yelled, as Opal hastily did… something. Hey, Azreal had never been a model Muse. "They chose you because you're the best, and if they're going to chicken out, it's not your fault!"
Ryou blinked, a little taken aback at the anger. "Uh… okay."
"Thankyou." Azreal huffed, sitting back down.
They stayed in that room for the rest of the morning, talking, sitting in silence, practising his songs aimlessly (Though she still hadn't heard him sing) and at one point, just after the stage hand had come to tell them they were on next, Azreal even tried to bring about the festive mood by singing some Christmas Songs.
For some reason, she chose 'A Fairytale of New York.'
"What?" She demanded, as Ryou started laughing.
"Very festive." He chuckled.
"You could help me out here." She pouted. "Come on… I know you know the words, everyone does…Besides, Greg made you learn loads of Christmas songs in case you won…"
"Uh-uh. No way. It's bad enough that I have to-"
"Guys!" Greg yelled, bursting into the room. "Come on! We're on!"
"Where were you!" Azreal demanded, as Ryou stood up, grabbing his guitar.
"Wondering whether to come or not." He smiled. "But never mind! We're on! Let's go and win this!"
"I'll be watching from the wings!" Azreal promised, as they ran towards the stage. "Cut it a bit fine, didn't you?" She hissed at Ruby and Emerald, the first of whom shrugged apologetically.
"Anna! Come on!" Greg hissed. "Too late to Chicken out now!"
"Huh?" She blinked.
Greg blinked to, then ran a hand through his hair. "Just come on! I'll explain on the way!" He began to pull her along.
"Hey, hey!"
"Ryou! You said you asked her a week ago!"
"Oh." Ryou tapped his chin. "Must have slipped my mind. Sorry."
Greg growled. "Fine. Anna, you've practised with us enough. We want you to play your harmonica for us. The melodies help."
"Well, I-"
"You have it with you?"
"Uh, yeah, but-"
"Great! Thanks!" They had reached the wings now. "Oh, by the way, you're singing Otherworld first for us."
"What!"
"You did say that the Black Mages' version was sung by a woman. Wait here. I'll introduce you two. New members and all." It was too late for Azreal to argue. He, Craig, and Matt were already taking their places on stage. The amps and drums had been left there, as the hardest to get on stage, but the other instruments the band had to bring on.
"This is revenge for making you sing, isn't it?" Azreal sighed quietly.
"Possibly." Ryou smiled gleefully.
"…But we're back, and with two new members who are hiding back stage… come out here, you two!"
"Point of no return." Azreal muttered.
"Don't be scared."
"Easier said then done."
"Actually, I was talking to myself."
They stepped out. A ripple of surprise went around the audience.
"Guess we found out where those two went…" Yugi muttered. Duke hadn't told them where he had seen Azreal. He'd just demanded to know what she was doing back.
"I don't believe it…" Téa muttered. "They didn't even tell us…"
"Yeah, well they don't look too happy about it…" Tristan commented.
"And now," Greg was saying. "We're going to start with a song one or two of you may know; it's called Otherworld. Anna's going to sing it, but she only knew about it a second before we came on stage, so hopefully she hasn't had time to get nervous… So, here goes."
Before she knew what was happening, the opening bars were over, and she didn't have time to think before she was opening her mouth and singing like she never had before.
"Go, now, if you want it! An Otherworld awaits you! Don't you give up on it, you bite the hand that feeds you…"
Seto, who had been paying absolutely no attention all day, suddenly snapped his head up. He had finally got his phone back, but he wasn't working on it. Not that he'd ever admit it, but in actuality, he had been playing Snake. Then, he heard that voice, the singing voice that had previously been heard only by him, coming across the hall. Sure enough, Azreal was on stage. Seto's snake crashed into itself one point away from the maximum score.
"All alone, cold fields you wander… Memories of it, cloud your sight. Fills your dreams, disturbs your slumber…" Azreal suddenly became very glad she knew all the words. "Lost your way, a fallen knight…"
Greg and Matt exchanged looks, knowing they'd made the right decision. Anna was not the best singer in the world, and not the best female singer in the school by a long shot. She even looked like she'd rather keep her lips firmly clasped around a harmonica. But she wasn't horribly out of tune, and she certainly had the passion. With that and Ryou playing better then ever before, you could feel the crowd getting hyped. Azreal had been right about playing this song first…
"Hold, now, aim is steady, An Otherworld awaits you! One thousand years, you ready? The Otherworld it takes you!"
"Ryou's playing it with his eyes closed." Duke noted in amusement.
"What a show off." Joey half-laughed.
"Actually, Joey…" Yugi whispered. "I think he just doesn't want to see how many people he's playing in front of."
"Oh."
Azreal gladly stepped back to let Greg handle the next bit.
"Go into the sand and the dust and the sky…" He commanded. "Go now, there's no better plan then to do and to die…"
Blinking, Azreal suddenly realised what she was doing. And began to shake like a leaf. She had to get a hold of herself before Greg finished…
"Free me, pray to the fayth in the face of the light, feed me, fill me with sin and get ready to fight… You know you will, you know you will, you know it, you know it, you know it, you know it, that you will! You know it, you know it, you know it, you know it, that you will! Fight, fight, fight…"
Well, there was three of them. There were twelve 'fight's to come before she was on again.
"Fight, fight, fight…"
She was beginning to think it was trying to tell them something…
"Fight, fight, fight…"
She felt sick. She didn't know if she could do this…
Never Surrender.
Fight…
"Fight, fight, fight!"
Azreal took a deep breath, then stepped forward to sing the final two verses.
"Hope dies, and you wander…"
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
The song finished, to Azreal's great relief. And, to her surprise, if the sounds coming from the audience were anything to judge by, it had gone down rather well. Amazing. She could hear a lot of people screaming at Ryou, actually…
She felt someone staring at her, which was odd. There was a lot of people watching, but she was sure… She scanned the hall, and there, near the back, she met Seto's cold eyes.
He smiled, just for a second. But she was sure it had been there... She smiled back as she slunk further back into the shadows.
Amnesia, judging by how the cheers undoubtedly reached fever pitch when the instrumentalists began the opening bars, really was a favourite. Greg, in his awesome voice, began to sing the familiar words.
"I see your eyes, I see your face, I hear your words, so full of false regret as you ask me to forget… Forget what you did to me, forget what you said, to believe you were mixed up inside your head, but you ask because you know I will, so weak-willed… when it comes to you, you know I have… Amnesia."
As he paused, waiting for the bridge, Greg shot her look. Right between the bridge and the chorus, that's when he wanted her to come in…
"Who am I? Who are you? I'm beginning to wonder… what we were and what we will become before this Amnesia is done."
Okay, Azreal thought to herself. This is it. This is a song everyone loves, and you're about to come in and practically help remix it… don't screw this up…
Ryou, who had finally opened his eyes, shot her a look, continuing to play out the bridge a little while she pulled herself together. She gave him, and she, Ryou, Matt, and Craig all launched into the main instrumental until the end of the song.
And if there was anyone who didn't approve of her and Ryou joining yet, they did now.
The cheers, and, again, screams for Ryou, who was going red but somehow managing to keep his playing up, nearly drowned out the chorus.
"Forgive and Forget, Forgive and Forget, Forget and forgive, and forget and forget and forget…" Greg sang in a vain attempt. But it worked, as, suddenly, everyone began to sing along. "Forgive and Forget, Forgive and Forget, Forget and forgive, and forget and forget and forget and forget… Girl, for you, I'd get Amnesia!"
The lyrics were silly, they had no real meaning or significance, but it didn't matter. It was the kind of song that sold itself. Greg smiled. The crowd were really going for it this year, the band were playing better then ever as Matt gave the drums a serious pummelling, Craig kept up a steady beat, faster then ever, Azreal whooped up and down the small instrument, and Ryou navigated his way around the fret board with ease, undoubtedly the star of the show.
Greg was still smiling as he began the second verse. "Your eyes, your face, your words, I'd never let them go despite the lies, I'll forget what you did, forget what you said, I'll believe you were crazy inside your head, I'll be blind, not see a thing, keep hiding in… Amnesia. Who am I? Who are you? I'm beginning to wonder…"
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
There was no doubt about it. They were a hit.
"We rocked!" Greg yelled, once they were 'back stage' again. "We absolutely rocked them! And we're going to win because, guess what? We rocked!"
"I think he's pleased." Matt laughed.
Ryou and Anna weren't joining in the celebration. In fact, Anna was sprawled on the floor and Ryou was sitting on the desk. Both were shaking. Both looked like they were about to be sick.
"Did we really just do that…?" Azreal asked shakily.
"I think so…" Ryou replied.
There hadn't been enough time within the show to get nervous. So they got nervous now. Suddenly, Greg was among them.
"You two were great to! You rocked!" He screamed happily.
"He's really getting repetitive now…" Craig sighed.
"Who cares?" He laughed. "We've won, we must have! And even if we haven't, which we have, people aren't going to forget that performance! Moshing in Otherworld! Singing along to Amnesia and Paint! Melting in She's the One! And the laughs in Supreme!" He finished, looking happy.
"He's right you know." Azreal said to Ryou. "I don't think there was a girl in that audience who didn't think you were singing 'She's the One' for her; and not a guy who didn't secretly think that you were summing up their feelings…You were awesome, all of you!"
Ryou went red and stammered something modest. And then, they had to go back to the stage for judging.
'Judging' was rather a silly word for the actual process. It was more like 'Scream for your favourite'.
And, just as there were no prizes for guessing who would win the stand-alones, there were no prizes for guessing who would win the Battle of the Bands. Even the other bands cheered for them. (A/N: Oh, come on. You all knew they were going to win…)
So, only a few minutes after they had got off the stage, they had to get back on.
Still, at least all they had to do was let Greg make a little speech, play a Christmas song of some sort and bask in the applause.
"I have an announcement to make…" Greg said, a little sadly. Then he told them of their decision to disband, to go out with a blaze of glory.
Of course, that didn't mean that they wouldn't be back, with Tom, in a few years…
"Now, all that remains to be done is play a Christmas song…Now, I could just stand here and sing one…" He pretended to think about it. "But, of course, we all know who you really want to hear…" He looked at Anna and Ryou who shook their heads firmly. No way. Uh-uh. They'd done enough singing today.
But you can't argue with popularity. Or strong drummer's arms pushing you from behind.
"Are you sure?" Azreal asked anxiously. "This'll be the last song you guys ever do…"
"Just do it." Greg grinned. "A Fairytale of New York.So you can't pretend not to know the words."
They could have argued. They wanted to. Azreal looked at Ryou. Surely he wouldn't…
"It was Christmas eve, babe, in the drunk tank…" She glared at him, surprised. He shrugged, like it had to be done. "An old man said to me, won't see another one…And then he sang a song, the rare old mountain dew, I turned my face away and dreamt about you…"
Azreal just had time to think Ryou! Greg! I'll kill you both! Well, if Seto doesn't get to Ryou first…before Ryou had finished the opening and she was on. Rolling her eyes, because she couldn't believe she was doing this, Azreal continued it.
"They've got cars big as bars, they've got rivers of gold, but the wind goes right through you s'no place for the old…"
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
"And the bells were ringing out for Christmas day…"
Just then, as the song finally drew to a close, the bell really did ring, and they got out of there to positively thunderous applause.
"Hey, Ryou!" Azreal yelled, as the Brit hurried away. "Where are you going in such a hurry! You'll miss the celebrations!"
"Actually," Ryou confessed "I was hoping to get away before the others got let lose…"
Azreal couldn't help but see the sense in that. Bidding the others goodbye- and a Merry Christmas- she caught up with him and they headed out.
They almost made it.
Almost, but not quite.
They had just reached the gate, other students pouring out of the hall, and then they heard Téa calling them.
"Hey, guys, wait up!" She yelled.
"Should we hide and live to fight another day, or face her now?" Azreal asked. They couldn't pretend not to have heard her, they'd already stopped- a stupid mistake.
"Oh, hide." Ryou decided nervously. "Never do anything till it's too late- that's the British way, my Nan always said…"
"Well, you're on your own, mate." Azreal said, going to revert to her Muse form.
She couldn't.
Her breath caught in her throat. Not already! No way!
But Téa, the others in tow, were already upon them.
"You guys were great!" She yelled happily. "Why didn't you tell us!"
Ryou and Azreal exchanged looks.
"Well, uh, I didn't know till about two seconds before I went on stage…" Azreal tried. Téa nodded and she was therefore off the hook.
Ryou, however…
"Uh… I wanted to surprise you…?" He said, lamely.
"Oh, Téa, leave them alone…" Tristan said tiredly, pushing her out the way. "Well, Ryou mate, I never knew you had it in you."
"Uh…"
Yugi nodded. "Yeah! They say the Dire Straits had the best guitarist in the world, but I bet you could give him a run for his money!"
"No, I…"
"You listen to the Dire Straits?" Azreal asked Yugi in surprise, and he nodded. "Wow! I just love-"
"Money for Nothing!" They chorused.
Meanwhile, Joey was still talking to Ryou. "And that song you sung! I bet you could give Duke a run for his money to!" He smirked, elbowing the Die master in question.
"Guys! Would you just listen-!"
But they would not. Still, at least they were barraging Azreal now.
Eventually, they managed to get out the gates, and the whole group walked home together for the beginning of the Christmas holidays, talking about plans and hearing Duke's tales.
Not knowing that Seto had been watching the entire time, not wanting to interrupt.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
TO: Merry Christmas!
Alright, Ryou? Ollie finally let me on the computer, it's a miracle. Only one thing to report- your presents arrived today. We haven't opened them, although it was hard work stopping her. I had to hide them. Won't say where, she's bound to read this, but that's neither here nor there. Your present should be arriving in a few more days, we hope. I don't think you'll ever guess what it is.
Well, I'll E-mail you again before the 'big day', but Merry Christmas anyway.
Hmmph. Ollie is telling me that I need to write more. Like what, exactly? Just because I fail to see the point in blathering on
Ow. I'm going to send before she gets the keyboard. And where did she get the idea to use Kitchen Implements, of all things, against me! Whoever it was, I'm going to sue…
- Seb
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Seto eventually crashed into the house, exhausted. It was late, really late. Combine that with everything before he got to work, and you start getting stupidly long, 20 or so hour days, between when he got up and when he went to bed. And the idiots that worked closest to him were starting to complain! It wasn't like Seto was enjoying himself either!
He would be glad when the holiday season was over. Kaiba Corp. products were always in demand at this time of year, and couple that with the Christmas Duel Disk give away, and you had one serious workload.
Sighing, he made his way into the kitchen. He needed a coffee. And who cared if the caffeine would keep him awake? It wasn't like he would sleep anyway. He was too stressed.
He was standing next to the fridge, so he decided to go for the milk first. Not to put in his coffee, you understand. He always had that black. No, it was because he hadn't had anything to eat since lunch, and the quickest thing he could think of was cereal.
Cereal and Coffee at two in the morning. Welcome to the life of a billionaire.
As he was taking the milk out, the phone rang loudly, causing him to drop the bottle. He was suddenly glad he'd started having the plastic bottles as opposed to the glass ones. Still, it was an annoyance.
Cursing, Seto went to find the phone. Who would be ringing at this time?
"Yes?" he asked, sharply. Instantly, his ears were assaulted by an angry American voice, speaking English. Evidently he had just found out about Kaiba Corp's sudden generosity. Seto rolled his eyes, and, refusing to speak anything other then Japanese replied. "Check your contract. The disks are mine to do with what I will to January."
"You lied to me, boy! No one will want them by January!"
"Then that's your problem. And, I think your soon-to-be fired lawyer will tell you that I did not lie at all."
"You deceived me! You must think you're so smart-"
"No. Just smarter then you."
"Listen to me, boy! This isn't the end of it, you hear! I'll bankrupt you! You'll be pummelled into the dust! I'll do everything in my power to outdo you at anything and then I'll buy you up at rock bottom prices! I'll grind you beneath my boot, right into the dirt w-"
"Oh, shut up." Seto sighed in frustration, slamming down the phone in extreme annoyance. Then he took it off the hook.
Now he was even more annoyed. And, relatively, he needed that coffee even more.
He opened the cupboard and pulled out the bag of coffee, ready to pour it into the machine. To his surprise, it had a bright yellow Post-it note stamped onto it. And who else would it be from but Az? Seto peeled it off and read.
Ha, so you are in the coffee after all. I thought you might be, somehow, and that probably means you had a bad day. I missed you at school today, but I figured you'd need me to grab Mokuba anyways. Well, I had to go home, but it's the first night of the holiday, which means pulling an all-nighter and all, so phone me if you want to vent. If not, just cheer up, okay, and I'll speak to you soon! Az
He wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to speak to her, and she knew it. A moment later, using his mobile due to 'problems' with the landline, he had dialled her number and continued to make his coffee while waiting for her answer. He didn't have wait long.
"Hello?" Her voice came eventually "If you don't know who this is, wrong number."
"Hi." Seto replied.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Azreal was stretched out on her bed, reading. Everyone else was in bed, but she was going finish this book before she went to bed or bust.
She was feeling a little happier now. Her Musing powers were weaker then ever, but they were still there. It must have been the nerves she'd felt after the show. She had heard of it affecting powers…
Suddenly, her phone began to ring. Being as it was about ten past two in the morning, it was probably Seto. Getting to the end of her page and marking it, Azreal reached up and grabbed it.
"Hello?" She said, smiling. "If you don't know who this is, wrong number."
"Hi." Seto's voice came.
"Hmm, Coffee at 2am." Azreal commented. "It must have been a bad day. What, can't you sleep?"
"Actually, I just got in." Seto told her.
"Woah. Really bad day."
"You don't know the half of it." He sighed. "Besides having to double our production for the holidays, it's this give-away. Everyone's having to put in extra hours, which is costing me a ton in overtime pay and I've got the Worker's Union on my back because it's beginning to look like they might have to work over Christmas. They're supposed to get a week off, and if they don't I could be seeing strike action, and if they don't at least get the three days off, it'll be illegal. Of course, it means that I'll have to do a lot of leg work myself and I won't get any time off at all either…" He paused. "And, oh yes, I just got a phone call off that American. Apparently he's going to bankrupt me."
"I guess I won't be seeing much of you this holiday then." Azreal said, slightly disappointedly.
"No." Seto agreed. "Unfortunately not. I thought you were really something today. Or yesterday, I suppose."
The abrupt change of subject surprised Azreal and it took a second for her to click that he meant the show earlier. "Thanks. But Ryou was the real star."
Seto laughed. "Yes, he was certainly popular with the girls. And I don't think that song helped him much…"
"No, I guess not." Azreal laughed in agreement.
"You were good together." He said suddenly. "Doing that duet. You suited."
Azreal giggled nervously. "I really, really hope you're just speaking musically."
"I just can't help but think… all of these people, not just him… That they're all nicer then me. And none of them have to work. That you'd better off with them."
"Seto? Are you feeling inadequate?" Azreal asked, in mock surprise. "Because you shouldn't be. I knew what I was getting into when I kissed you on your doorstep. And I still know, and it's wonderful…" She considered how to put it. "You're like Christmas. I don't see you all that often, but it makes it all the better when I do."
Seto laughed. "You have a truly bizarre way of explaining things."
"Well, it worked, didn't it?" Azreal pouted. "Say, hasn't that coffee of yours boiled dry yet?"
Seto cursed at the other end of the line.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Christmas Eve
"Seto…?" Mokuba called tentatively. "I finished the tree… but you have to come and put the Angel on the top, okay?"
"Okay. I'll come in a minute." Seto replied, hating himself. Like he hadn't been saying that for days. But his prediction had come true. He had had to finish the work himself. The give-away may have been well under way by now, but there was still the aftermath to deal with. Namely, accounts. Now, his company, even minus expenses, would not be in the red, but they had lost some money, perhaps three or four percent less then normal. He had expected to be able to get that back over the next few years after the boom in popularity that was bound to follow, but with inflation as it was, everything getting more expensive, he'd have increase prices or let some workers go, and then the others would have to work longer hours…
Oh, screw it. His weekly income was measured in Oku. If needs be, he could pay for any losses himself and not notice.
Now, why shouldn't he have a Christmas? And Mokuba, to. He'd go and admire the tree that his brother would undoubtedly be overly proud of, and he'd help him put the fairy or whatever on the top, and he'd- can we have a shocked gasp please- relax and enjoy himself. It was only once a year, for heaven's sake, and he wasn't a complete Scrooge!
Azreal had told him that James, Doug and Ruby were all at Ruby's mother's for Christmas eve. The grandparent that didn't like Azreal, so she stayed at home. Doug's parents, who found Azreal to be perfectly pleasant and rather liked her, would be coming over for Christmas day.
Which meant she'd be all alone today.
Hmm… Perhaps Mokuba would like to go visiting later on…
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Azreal was surprised to open her door to find not one, but both, of the Kaiba brothers on the doorstep.
"Seto!" She yelped. "Mokuba! Uh, Hi!"
"Hi!" Mokuba replied happily.
"Hey…I thought you hated coming here?" She said to Seto.
"I do." He half-laughed. "When your dad is around to commend me for not taking advantage of you."
"Excuse me!"
"Never mind." Seto smirked. "Anyway, we figured we'd come to you for once."
"Oh, ah, right…" Azreal said, casting a worried glance back towards the living room.
"Is this a bad time?" Seto asked suspiciously.
"Oh, no! Course not! You know you're welcome anytime, Eheheh…"
"And yet," Seto raised an eyebrow. "You are still deliberately blocking the doorway whilst trying to look like you aren't."
"I suspect she's trying to avoid an argument…" Yugi said, tentatively, sticking his head around the living room door. "Uh… hi?"
Oh, great.
"Let's work on the assumption that the others are hiding around here somewhere." Seto said, wryly as Mokuba greeted Yugi enthusiastically.
"I am." Téa said, coming out of the living room to.
Oh, hooray.
"As am I."
"And me."
"Me to."
"And I just kinda gate crashed."
They were joined by Ryou, Duke, Tristan and Mai.
Wow, awesome.
"Wait…" Seto's eyes narrowed as he counted them mentally. "Okay, where's the other one?"
Joey promptly fell out of the cupboard under the stairs.
"Oof." He declared.
Oh, it just got better and better.
"…I'm not even going to ask." Seto decided. "Sorry, Az. We didn't realise you had company." He turned and began to walk away.
"Wait." She said softly, catching his arm. "There's room for two more, you know."
Seto looked at her. Did she really think that there would be no trouble if he and Mokuba- okay, he was let in? Especially with Wheeler sniffing around?
Suddenly, someone started to giggle.
"What?" Azreal asked, as Yugi suppressed a snort. Suddenly, the others were giggling to, at what, they still did not know. "Seriously, what!"
Seto wasn't sure either at first. Then his awesome Big-Brother-Senses or whatever distinctly picked out Mokuba's giggle within the others. He turned quickly, to see his brother laughing and holding a stick upright like a fishing rod. Dreading what he was going to see, Seto followed the stick up, and up, to a piece of fishing wire…
Oh, dear.
Azreal followed his gaze upwards, and had to see the funny side of it.
"MISTLETOE-ON-A-STICK!" Mokuba declared loudly, laughing. At the end of the piece of fishing wire, the Mistletoe bucked and swayed as he moved, but never from over their heads.
"How did you manage to hide that!" Seto demanded.
"That's not important!" Téa declared. "You two have to kiss now!" She laughed.
"It's tradition!" Mai nodded solemnly.
"It's bad luck not to." Joey cried, still laughing.
Well, he'd changed his tune.
Seto went red. Azreal was cracking up.
"Out here in the street?" She asked, giggling "Can't we at least come inside first?"
"Nope!" Mokuba said cheerily. "You have to do it where you were caught! That's the rules of Mistletoe-on-a-stick!"
"There are no rules!" Seto protested. "You just made it up!"
"Therefore, I make up the rules!" Mokuba declared gleefully.
"I am not kissing out in the street for the entertainment of you perverted freaks." Seto said flatly, making them all laugh harder.
"Why?" Joey asked. "It's not like we haven't already se-" Téa stamped on his foot. "Seen people kissing on TV." Joey amended quickly.
"For pity's sake, Seto, it's just mistletoe." Azreal said, rolling her eyes. "Grow up! You're so immature sometimes…"
"Why? Because I don't want to cheapen our relationship?" Seto smirked.
"Awww…" Téa and Mai chorused. Seto glared at them.
And whilst he was looking the other way, Azreal reached up and got him on the cheek.
"That's cheating." Seto glowered down at her. "You surprised m-ummph!"
Azreal pulled away from his lips, giggling. "Looks like I just did again."
"Hmmph." Seto tried to keep a straight face. "I'll get you lat-mmumph!"
"Like now?" Azreal asked, also fighting serious giggles as those behind her were practically hysterical.
"Okay, seriously." Seto said in mock sternness, backing away. "Stop that."
"Guess now we know how to shut him up." Joey smirked.
"Well, if you want to kiss Kaiba, Joey…" Yugi said, perfectly seriously. "Of course, I think you'd have to talk to Azreal first…"
"Oh, I don't mind." Azreal shrugged. "Joey can't help it."
"I am irresistible." Seto said, good naturedly, but unable to suppress an eye-roll.
Joey chocked, going very red, and, at last, they all trooped back inside.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Although no-one could quite fathom out how Mokuba had managed to hide the Mistletoe-on-a-stick, it made several appearances that night, sneaking up on unwary sets of people talking or eating or playing various board and card games, Christmas music in the background; and catching them in it's trap, coming each time with a cry of 'Mistletoe-on-a-stick!' from whomsoever happened to be wielding it at the time.
The first to be caught in the trap, after Seto and Azreal, was Yugi and Téa. Reddening, she had pecked the positively crimson Yugi on the cheek. If possible, he went ever redder.
Next up, Joey and Mai. This one was interesting. They leant in, with trepidation at first, but then they kissed, and, as everyone turned away, they showed no signs of letting up until Yugi, who had been in possession of the stick at the time 'accidentally' dropped it on their heads.
When Mokuba reclaimed the stick, you knew it was trouble. He waited, biding his time, then 'Swoosh!' Azreal found herself underneath the mistletoe again with, of all people, Joey.
"Eh, I'm not sure if I'm more scared of the bad luck or your boyfriend…" Joey laughed.
"I suggest you choose wisely, Wheeler." Seto commented, watching the proceedings carefully.
"Ah." Azreal laughed. "I'll just give you a hug instead." She did, then turned to apprehend their attacker. "As for you… I believe you're under here to, are you not?"
Uh-oh… Mokuba began to giggle, backing away. "That's against the rules…"
"Oh, I'm not going to kiss you. Eww. No offence, but you're a little young. HOWEVER," She continued, raising a hand slightly. She was a hand-talker. Big deal. "I am going to tickle you till you beg for mercy."
"Uh… I'm not ticklish?" Mokuba lied. Azreal continued to back him into a corner.
"Really?" She asked. "Shall we put that to the test?"
As she grabbed him and began to tickle him mercilessly, the others excluding Seto laughing and coming to wreak their revenge as Mokuba called out breathlessly to his older brother to help, and the older brother in question stood by and watched.
And then, the doorbell rang, and they all froze.
"I wonder who that is…?" Azreal frowned. "Hold that thought." She instructed, as the others straightened up slowly and Mokuba took the opportunity to get as far away as possible.
Looks like Carol singers… She thought, seeing the two hazy figures through the glass. Or tax collectors. Well, I don't have anything to give carol singers. Tax collectors can have a punch in the face…
As it turned out, it wasn't tax collectors, or carol singers.
It was, in actuality, a girl and a boy, asking for directions.
"I'll help if I can." Azreal shrugged. "Where are you looking for?"
"Oh!" The girl said, "I have it written down here…" She dug in her pockets. "Somewhere…"
The guy sighed. "Don't worry. I have a spare. I knew you'd lose it…" He handed Azreal a slip of paper. She looked at it, eyes narrowing. She recognised this address immediately…
She looked up at the people again, and recognised them from the picture she'd been shown. It was them, she was sure of it. It had to be.
Now, there was a turn up for the books.
"Uh, Ryou?" She called uncertainly. "It's for you! I think…"
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Ryou ambled out into the hall, his eyes widening in recognition. "Ollie? Seb? Oh, my life… What are you doing here?"
"Don't call me Ollie." She responded.
"We figured no-one should have to spend Christmas alone. Not you, and not us." He replied.
"Mom's away working again." Olivia explained.
"However," Seb said, raising his eyebrows as Téa, Yugi, Mai, Duke, and Tristan appeared, coming to investigate. "You don't appear to be having that problem."
"Well, uh…" Azreal said, not entirely sure of what was going on. "You'd better come in…."
"Mistletoe-on-a-stick!" Mokuba bellowed in the living room.
"Come in faster!" Azreal yelped, hurrying into the front room to find out what was going on, and couldn't help but laugh. It seemed Mokuba had finally succeeded in his ultimate goal-
Now Joey and Seto were under the Mistletoe.
Oh, dear. Surely, all hell was about to break lose…
Seto calmly reached up and pulled on the offending plant till the wire holding it snapped. Then he equally calmly wrenched the stick out of his younger brother's hands, broke it in two, and handed it back.
"Problem solved." He said.
"Ah, Seto, you broke it…" Mokuba pouted.
"Yes, a necessary sacrifice, but it will be greatly mourned." Seto replied evenly. Then he noticed the crowd in the doorway.
"Oh, Seto, Joey, Mokuba…" Azreal said, gesturing at the respective people. "Meet…" She waved vaguely at the two new comers. "Actually, I don't know who they are. Who are you?" She demanded, turning round.
"Friends of mine…" Ryou informed her, still sounding surprised. "Very old friends of mine…"
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
"In short," Sebastian concluded, wrapping his hands round the mug of hot chocolate- Anna's speciality, apparently- "It would seem we owe you a lot."
It had been back in October when Olivia had had the brainwave that they should go and spend Christmas with Ryou, and Seb really hadn't had much of a choice in the matter. Their mom was in the US anyway, and they were almost as rich as Seto, from the sounds of things, so getting to Japan was no problem. Finding Ryou's house, however, proved to be much harder. You'd think numbered streets would make it easier, but no, there seemed to be no logic in the numbers at all…
Anyway, as Azreal's house had been the only one with lights on, they'd decided to rely on the occupier's good heart for directions and, lo and behold, found Ryou here.
Olivia nodded. "Without you guys, we'd never have got back in touch with Ryou, and we wouldn't be here."
Téa nodded. She had listened aptly throughout the tale. A story of friendship prevailing was her kind of story.
Olivia yawned suddenly, and her brother looked ready to join in. A nine hour time jump was not to be sniffed at.
"We'd better go back to mine." Ryou said, standing up. "It's not far to walk, so we needn't bother with a taxi. Come on, Cas." He called to his sleeping dog.
"Oh, wait!" Azreal cried, leaping up. "I have to give you your present first! Wait here!"
Sheep slippers flip-flopping behind her, she ran up the stairs.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
She was crouched down, kneeling on the floor, digging through the bin liner, now half falling out of her wardrobe, getting steadily more stressed. In this bag were all her presents, for her friends and family, and it was nigh-impossible to find Ryou's. Like a needle in a haystack. Like a plectrum in a pile of presents, in fact.
Sighing, she ran a hand through her hair, and then resumed her digging.
But, then, lying next to her hand, was…
"Mistletoe?" She wondered aloud, picking it up.
"Rough day?" Seto laughed sympathetically.
"No, no, it's been great." Azreal smiled. "But, I'm telling you, I'll be ready for bed tonight!"
Seto raised an eyebrow. "Ah. And if your dad heard you saying that to a guy standing in your bedroom…"
Azreal laughed. "Oh, no, he trusts you implicitly. I'm sure he thinks the sun shines out of your rear end, sometimes. But won't the others miss you?"
"I'm hoping they'll think I've gone to met sanitary requirements." Seto shrugged. "In the meantime, I came to meet other requirements- namely, getting you back for the Mistletoe incident on the porch."
"Ah." Azreal smirked. "And how are you intending to do that?"
"In a very traditional way…" Seto mirrored his smirk to hers as he sank down to his knees next to her, leaning towards her…
"And how's that?" Azreal teased, so close now she could feel his breath.
"It's very simple." Seto replied quietly. "First I get you close, like this, and then…"
"Then?"
"Then I hit you with the flour I stole from your kitchen." Seto replied easily.
Azreal's eyes widened, but there was no time for further reaction before he tossed some of the hidden flour at her.
"You…" Azreal coughed, resembling nothing more then a snowman. He smirked. "You… Oh, there's not even a word for it!"
Seto laughed. Pity, because he should have been paying attention.
Azreal kept talcum powder in her cupboard.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
"Hey, Azreal?" Yugi called, climbing the stairs. "You've been a while… Ryou needs to leave… Is there anything wrong?" He stuck his head round the ajar door and found Seto and Azreal, covered in white, as was the carpet and, well, most of the room, littered with an empty flour packet and what looked like a talcum powder bottle, and the two in question pocking each other feebly with their fingers.
They stopped when Yugi came in. They looked at him.
He looked at them.
They looked at him.
Suddenly, Azreal started to giggle. "Sorry, Yugi… Be there in a minute… I'll just bring the whole bag down, and you can all have your gifts…"
"Uh… Okay…" Yugi looked like he couldn't wait to get out of there.
As Azreal and Seto came downstairs, dirty from the epic flour-talcum war, no-one commented. They were probably dying to know what exactly had happened, but declined to comment, politeness preventing them.
Azreal dished out the gifts, feeling a little like Santa, and got several back in return. In fact, it seemed like, as they wouldn't met up tomorrow, everyone was swapping presents.
After that, the guests gradually left, Mokuba, stifling yawns, going with Ryou. Ryou lived close to Azreal, so therefore, close to Seto.
Eventually, only he and Joey remained. Seto because he had to help clean up the mess upstairs, and Joey because…he hadn't left yet.
"Well," He said, heading out into the hall. "Bye, you two. Merry Christmas."
"See ya, Joey." Azreal replied. "And a Merry Christmas to you to."
"Yeah." Seto added. "Merry Christmas, Mutt."
His tone surprised Azreal. Could it be… not sarcasm, but friendliness?
Joey looked surprised to, but he laughed. "Merry Christmas, money bags." He responded easily, giving one last wave and heading out into the waning snow.
Azreal shut the door behind him, and turned towards Seto.
"You surprised me." She admitted. "You were perfectly civil, tonight, even to Joey."
"You would've chucked me out if I hadn't…" Seto pointed out. "Anyway, it's Christmas. You know, Peace on Earth, Good will to all men… and Beasts."
Azreal laughed, and right now, he really wanted to kiss her, right there in the hall, standing next to the coat rack. But as he leant in, she pressed a hand gently against his mouth, pushing him away.
"Ah, ah, ah…" She warned. "Not until we've cleaned up my room." She said, starting to head up the stairs. She grinned. "Vacuum's under the stairs."
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
A/N: Ah, poor Seto. Ah,the epicflour-talcum war.By the way...Seb and OliviaDO have aback story, but it probably won't be in this.Actually, they were in a Plot Dragon I had a while back for a one shot. Might write it when it really IS Christmas.Heh. Now Lyrics…
--Otherworld---
Go now, if you want it
An otherworld awaits you
Don't you give up on it
You bite the hand that feeds you
All alone, cold fields you wander
Memories of it, cloud your sight
Fills your dreams, disturbs your slumber
Lost your way, a fallen knight
Hold now, aim is steady
A n otherworld awaits you
One thousand years, you ready?
The otherworld, it takes you
Go into the sand, and the dust, and the sky
Go now, there's no better plan, than to do or to die
Free me, pray to the fayth in the face of the light
Feed me, fill me with sin, and get ready to fight
You know you will
You know you will
You know it, you know it, you know it, you know it, that you will
You know it, you know it, you know it, you know it, that you will
You know you will...
Fight, fight, fight
Fight, fight, fight
Fight, fight, fight
Fight, fight, fight!
Hope dies, and you wander
The otherworld, it makes you
Dreams, they rip asunder
The otherworld, it hates you
Free now, ride up on it
Up to the heights, it takes you
Go now, if you want it
An otherworld awaits you
---She's the One---
I was her she was me
We were one we were free
And if there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
We were young we were wrong
We were fine all along
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
When you get to where you wanna go
And you know the things you wanna know
You're smiling
When you said what you wanna say
And you know the way you wanna play
You'll be so high you'll be flying
Though the sea will be strong
I know we'll carry on
Cos if there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
When you get to where you wanna go
And you know the things you wanna know
You're smiling
When you said what you wanna say
And you know the way you wanna say it
You'll be so high you'll be flying
I was her she was me
We were one we were free
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
Yeah she's the one
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
She's the one
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
---Love Supreme---
Oh it seemed forever starts today
All the lonely hearts in London
Caught a plane and flew away
And all the best women are married
All the handsome men are gay
You feel deprived
Yeah are you questioning your size?
Is there a tumour in your humour,
Are there bags under your eyes?
Do you leave dents where you sit,
Are you getting on a bit?
Will you survive
You must survive
When there's no love in town
This new century keeps bringing you down
All the places you have been
Trying to find a love supreme
A love supreme
Oh what are you really looking for?
Another partner in your life to
abuse and to adore?
Is it lovey dovey stuff,
Do you need a bit of rough?
Get on your knees
Yeah turn down the love songs that you hear
'Cause you can't avoid the sentiment
That echoes in your ear
Saying love will stop the pain
Saying love will kill the fear
Do you believe
You must believe
When there's no love in town
This new century keeps bringing you down
All the places you have been
Trying to find a love supreme
A love supreme
I spy with my little eye
Something beginning with (ah)
Cocked my back up
And now she's screaming
So I've got to turn the track up
Sit back and watch the royalties stack up
I know this girl she likes to switch teams
And I'm a fiend but I'm living for a love supreme
When there's no love in town
This new century keeps bringing you down
All the places you have been
Trying to find a love supreme
A love supreme
Come and live a love supreme
Don't let it get you down
Everybody lives for love
Repeat...
---A Fairytale of New York----
It was Christmas eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won't see another one
And then he sang a song
The rare old mountain dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you
Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I've got a feeling
This year's for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true
They've got cars big as bars
They've got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It's no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On that cold Christmas eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me
You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging,
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night
The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day
You're a bum
You're a punk
You're an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Merry Christmas your arse
I pray God it's our last
The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day
I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you
The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day
There! Heh. Happy Christmas, everyone! XD
