Author's Notes: HI! It's me again. This time I wrote a Christmas Special and it's going to be good…I hope; Well, anyway, aside from Christmas, it's also Yukito's Birthday! YAY! So I hope all of you will like this chapter.
Disclaimer: Me no own CCS
Note: The time setting will be the day before Christmas. And since it's Yuki's b-day, it'll also be Yume's as well.
Chapter 2: Kurisumasu Omedeto
Though it was cold outside, the sky was bright and blue, and everyone was cheerful. Many people were out shopping for gifts. Stores were crammed with families here and there, all trying to the perfect gifts for their loved ones this Christmas.
"Look at that cute kitten, Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura ran over to the pet shop window where five small kittens were playing and chasing each other around. Tomoyo and Syaoran, who was already carrying five shopping bags full of presents, followed her to the store.
"Isn't it cute, Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura said, pointing to the kitten that was licking its paw, away from its other siblings, chasing around.
"Oh, it's so cute, Sakura-chan. Do you want to have it?"
Sakura's smile faltered as she sighed. "I'm afraid I can't. I already spent most of my money buying presents, and I only have few left."
Syaoran studied his sister and noticed how she really wanted the kitten. He hasn't bought her a present yet, and he still has enough money. Maybe he could-
"That's too bad, Sakura-chan. Maybe next time, you'll be able to buy it." With that, Sakura smiled. Suddenly, her stomach growled. She knew she should have eaten her breakfast this morning.
Sakura laughed nervously. "Hehe…Sorry, I haven't eaten my breakfast."
"Let's go buy some snacks, then." Tomoyo said as she smiled "My treat."
"Thank you, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura began to follow Tomoyo but turned back again to ask Syaoran. "Aren't you coming with us, Syaoran-kun?"
Syaoran shook his head. "I think I'll stay behind for a while. You two go ahead. I'll catch with you later."
"O-ok, we'll see you at the shop over there." Sakura said, pointing to the shop just across the street.
Syaoran nodded. Making sure Sakura couldn't see him, he entered the pet shop and asked the owner.
"Um, can I buy that kitten over there?"
Sakura and Tomoyo were sitting on a table eating their snacks. "Tomoyo-chan, what's your wish this Christmas?"
Tomoyo looked up from her food. She smiled at her friend. "My wish this Christmas would be that the person I love most will be happy."
Sakura looked across the table at her best friend, thinking about how Tomoyo always seem so contented.
"I'm sure that the person you love is happy, Tomoyo-chan."
"You think so?"
"I'm sure of it!" Tomoyo's smile grew to match her best friend's.
"Domo arigatou, Sakura-chan."
A quiet dark-haired boy sat on the sofa, concentrating on the package in front of him. He carefully wrapped the box in a red shiny paper with a yellow bow tied around it.
He was focusing too much in wrapping the gift that he barely heard the footsteps coming towards him. He didn't even notice the figure creep up from behind. Almost instantly, a loud shrill voice met his ears.
"TOYA-KUN!" He winced, and then sighed. Not this again.
"Tsukishiro, can you-"
He wasn't able to finish his sentence as Yume suddenly hugged him, hard, nearly suffocating him to death.
"Ts-tsukishiro…c-can't…b-breath…ch-choking…me"
Yume released him. "Oops, gomen Toya-kun"
Touya merely glared, not even bothering to forgive her. Yume eyed him as he went back to work. She just couldn't understand him. Does he not have a sense of humor? Probably not, because if he did, then why isn't he smiling?
Not once in her whole life had she seen her friend smile. He smirked a few times but that doesn't count. Not even when they go out to picnics, or attend parties. But Yuki once said he saw Touya smile. He said it was one of the most amazing things ever, because it was so rare and unusual. He even teased that his smile was so expensive that even the richest person in the world couldn't afford it.
Since then, Yume had always wanted to see Touya smile even just a little. She was envious of Yuki because he got to see it. She was a very impatient girl, so if Touya doesn't wanna smile then she'll make him do it. Unfortunately, everything she does doesn't seem to work.
She tried playing tricks but he was just too ill-tempered. She tried making jokes but he just wouldn't listen. Sometimes, she even wonders if all he thinks about her is just a stupid annoying brat, which is definitely not true! Well, at least she thinks so…
Touya always thought of her as the annoying-hugging-maniac-who-has-a-banana-as-a-stupid-excuse-for-a-brain. Sigh. Maybe that's what I'll always be to him, a stupid airhead. She thought, watching Touya as he added a newly wrapped gift to the pile beside him.
She hesitated before she asked. "Ano, Toya-kun…"
Touya ignored her as if she wasn't there. Nonetheless, she continued, knowing he was really listening to her. "Toya-kun, why do you keep calling me Tsukishiro?"
For once, Touya looked up, slightly startled by the question.
"But that is your name." he replied, a bit reluctantly.
"Yes, I know that. But we've both been friends for years and you still call me that."
"Then what else am I going to call you?" Touya saw her lower down her head and fidgeting with her fingers. After a while, she looked up and spoke in a somewhat reluctant voice.
"Call me Yume." Her voice was so soft that Touya almost didn't hear it nor could he believe that it was she that had spoke up. She always spoke so loudly that a person a mile away could hear her. But now, it was exactly the opposite.
Touya looked into her eyes and saw something he wasn't quite expecting to see. Deep into those amber orbs of hers, he could see hesitation, fear, and most of all, hope. He couldn't quite comprehend what she was feeling. He had never once before seen this part of her. She was actually vulnerable, and afraid.
His train of thoughts was soon broken as he noticed Yume look away from him, preventing him from seeing her eyes. He also noticed a few tears running down her cheeks as sobs unwillingly escaped her mouth.
He went to wipe her cheeks but before he did so, she started speaking. "Do you know what my wish this Christmas is about, Touya?"
Touya shook his head; quite surprised that she addressed him as 'Touya' and not 'Toya-kun' like she usually did.
"Well, I was hoping that maybe this Christmas, you'd begin to call me by my first name. It's just not fair you call my brother 'Yuki' and you always call me 'Tsukishiro'. It makes me feel that you don't want me as your friend." She looked down again, letting her hair hide her eyes.
Touya felt really guilty, and he was not happy at all about it. Before, he never really cared about her at all. But now, all her words, what she's saying, really made him feel so guilty, and above all, stupid. He'd make up to her somehow, and he would start right now.
"Listen, I'm really sorry, Ts-Yume."
Yume looked up, surprised. It felt so strange hearing him speak her first name for the first time. What more, he even spoke her name so delicately like it was fragile glass.
But what Touya did next surprised Yume even more. Touya smiled at her! He never did that! She smiled, finally getting her wish
Tomoyo and her mother went to the Kinomoto's to celebrate Christmas Eve together. They arrived at the front door with Fujitaka greeting them.
"Good evening, Sonomi-kun, Tomoyo-san."
"Good evening, sensei"
"Good evening, Kinomoto-san. Merry Christmas."
Just then, Sakura grabbed Tomoyo, dragging her to the living room. "I'm so glad you could come, Tomoyo-chan!"
"I'd never miss an opportunity to tape you, Sakura-chan." Tomoyo said that with stars in her eyes. Sakura just sweat dropped.
Yukito entered the living room with Touya and Yume, and then noticed the newcomer. "Hello Daidouji-san."
"Hello, Tsukishiro-san. Oh, and Happy Birthday, you and Yume-san"
Yume grinned and went to hug Tomoyo. "Tomoyo-chan! You made it. Where's my cake?"
Sakura looked around as if looking for someone. She then turned to Touya. "Onii-chan, have you seen Syaoran-kun?"
Touya looked at his sister, quizzically. "I thought he was with you."
Sakura shook her head. "No, not since after we went shopping."
"Try the terrace. Maybe he's there. You know how he hates social gatherings." Touya turned away, muttering something like 'can't blame him'.
Sakura started to head for the terrace when Tomoyo called her from the kitchen. "Sakura-chan, can you come over here? I need you to taste the cake I brought with me."
Sakura sighed. I guess Syaoran will have to wait.
After Sakura was done in the kitchen, Tomoyo insisted she would tape Sakura wearing the new outfits she just made. Being her best friend, Sakura agreed.
She put on various clothing, a pink dress, then a red one, and even a costume like Santa Claus's. Of course, in many parts, Sakura refused to wear them so Tomoyo had to use her ultimate weapon, the puppy eyes. It works every time. Sakura just couldn't resist it.
After what felt like an eternity, Tomoyo finally let Sakura go. She quickly head off towards to the terrace. When she got there, Syaoran was waiting for her, which made her surprised.
"Ano, were you waiting for me?" He smiled.
"Yeah."
"But, how did you-"
"I just knew."
Sakura then noticed he was hiding something behind his back. "Syaoran-kun, what are you holding? And why are you hiding it from me?"
"Uh…" Syaoran slowly showed her a large basket with a blanket covering it. "Look inside."
Sakura looked at him curiously but nonetheless took the basket. She carefully took the blanket off and was surprised to see a kitten inside. It was the same one in the store. She turned her head to her brother, who was waiting patiently for her response.
"Ano, Syaoran-kun, did you buy this for me?" Syaoran nodded his head.
"What will you name it, Sakura?"
Sakura watched the kitten inside the box. Her fingers began to stroke its fur, and the kitten purred in response. Sakura giggled.
"Why not call it 'Keroberos'?" Syaoran suggested. "I read about it in one of Otou-san's books."
Sakura eyed her brother, giggling. "You can't call a cat 'Keroberos'."
Syaoran raised his eyebrow, questioningly. "Why not?"
"Because it's too long and not cute at all."
"Then what will you call it then?" He looked at her in the eye as if challenging her.
Sakura thought for a while. "What about 'Kero-chan'?"
Syaoran huffed. "What kind of name is that?"
She glared at him. Then, as if sensing its owner, Kero-chan bit Syaoran's finger.
"Oww! That hurts. Get this cat off me." Sakura pulled Kero-chan away. Syaoran's finger was visibly red.
"I hope that cat doesn't have rabies." He said as he rubbed his finger.
"Hmph! Serves you right for teasing Kero-chan."
Syaoran quickly turned his back, muttering. "shouldn't have bought her the cat."
Sakura, hearing this, giggled and patted Kero-chan. "That's a good kitty."
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A/n: how was it? Did you like it? I hope you did.
Thanks to all who reviewed!
Merry Christmas, minna-san!
Haruko Shinohara
