Disclaimers: Yeah… what? Urm… whatever.
Warnings: Randomness, rather pointless… oh wait, this is what I say all the time…
Other: A really, really, really pointless Christmas chapter set in this setting thingy… but, like… seven months after Waning Moon? (Although that makes no sense as they do split after this…) Just needed something Christmas-related because I couldn't do anything else. Enjoy?
000
"When they meet again, something more terrifying and evil will awaken. Something long since sealed away will break free: leaving death and destruction in its wake. Will they be able to handle it again? Or is this the end of the road?"
Special Phase: Celebrate Christmas (or something similar to that…)
"What? You don't know what Christmas is?" Daisuke stared at the vampire like he'd grown another set of fangs or another head or… well, something. That or he was just surprised that the blunette didn't know a thing about the huge, gigantic holiday-whatever-it-was and all that. Satoshi shrugged, slightly uncomfortable at the look the redhead was giving him.
"How would I know? Aside from being a vampire and shunned by the majority of the population, my family live in a secluded area and do squat aside from fighting among ourselves and drinking blood." He replied.
"Kyuu!" With bounced around the two aimlessly, trying to get rid of too much energy and hyperactivity.
The daemon tamer sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair. It had been half an hour ago since Krad and Dark had gone to collect firewood and who-knew-what-else and he was beginning to worry if they'd been eaten by a bear or something similar to a bear-like figure.
This little not-knowing-how, on the other hand, also seemed to occupy a good part of his mind and he wasn't about to let it go. So he sat down next to the vampire, who was now watching in warily; like he was about to do something dangerous and insane. But the redhead just smiled at him and winked.
"What is it?" Satoshi began to edge slowly away, but the mortal grabbed him by the wrists to stay put in his sitting position.
"You have got to come the Christmas party at my place!" he decided there and then, "It'll be fun, Satoshi-kun! Krad and Dark can come as well, now that I think about it. And With needs to find a way to get rid of all that energy…" he waved a hand vaguely at his familiar, who 'kyu'-ed and bounced around in reply.
Scowling at this, the vampire shook the boy off, staring at the patch of cleared dirt in front of him, ready for the firewood. Where were Krad and Dark anyway? "I doubt I'd really want to be there. You do remember that almost your entire village wanted me dead the last time I was there."
"Not almost. All of them." Daisuke corrected him, smiling. He got a light hit on the head for that.
"Don't bother trying to correct me about people who wanted to put me on the stake, okay? How many people are going to be there, anyway?"
"Well, there's the festival for the entire town and I'm sure they welcome travelers and stuff. I doubt they'd recognize you anyway. Daichi, aunt and uncle and Hikaru will be there, yeah. Any other relatives I have live too far away to get here on time, and without the threat of monsters gnawing on their faces, you know? Oh, and Argentine-kun and his family, of course."
Satoshi sighed, "I was kind of hoping that, if I was forced to go, they wouldn't be around. They scared the shit out of me last time…"
"They're not that bad," the redhead shook his head, "you just have to get used to their odd… behavior."
"Not about to happen."
"Kyuu!" the daemon-bunny seemed to completely agree with the vampire and Daisuke pouted.
"See? They weren't making out after all; you owe me."
"Damn!"
Both boys turned to see Krad and Dark walking towards them, arguing and talking loudly, as per usual. It seemed to have become daily routine for them, despite being boyfriend and girlfriend and whatever, so yeah. The purple-haired 20 year old, of course, was carrying all the firewood; which wasn't much, actually, so it was all fine and dandy in the end.
"Were you making another bet?" Daisuke asked in disbelief, his face a perfect example of exasperation. "Can't you just drop it already, Dark?"
Dark scowled at the redhead, dumping the dry timber and stuff on the ground near them, "No, and I just hate the fact that despite everything, you STILL don't do anything! Even when you're alone and all that and still!"
"I never thought you'd actually be so enthusiastic about two guys making out," Krad commented, taking a seat opposite the other two, "I'm beginning to question your priorities and all. Besides, how far have we gotten, hm?"
"… Whatever."
The blonde smirked knowingly, "He's just annoyed that I keep winning every bet he throws at me."
"Yeah, well," Daisuke frowned at the two of them for a moment before commencing on actually getting the fire built. Satoshi and Dark had gotten into a glaring contest while Krad dug through their packs for something edible. "It would be nice we had a little privacy once in a while. And why were you two taking so long? How hard can it be to find firewood?"
She shrugged nonchalantly, "We found it fine before we were attacked by a giant something or other. Then Dark made his bets and we decided to give you two some time alone to see what would happen. But I am beginning to wonder why you two are so slow…" Krad smirked teasingly at the younger boy, whose face flushed just slightly.
"We just want to go slowly, okay?" he spluttered, and Krad leaned forward to poke him on the nose.
"Right… as far as I know, you two have only shared one kiss, right?"
"So?"
"So if either one of you had Dark's personality, you'd be insane, right?" she pulled back, "Anyway, why are we going back to your aunt's village and stuff? I don't see the point unless you want them to kill your boyfriend over there."
"They probably won't recognize him unless he goes on a blood lust spree," Daisuke shrugged; that was the least of his worries at the moment.
"Yeah, well, seeing as you're the only one he takes blood from, he might want a change, won't he?"
"Nah…" actually, that was something bordering on his mind as well, "Wait, you don't know why we're going back? Do you know what date it is today?"
Krad blinked, "No."
"How about if I told you it was December?"
"What's so special about it?"
Daisuke hung his head; it looked like he'd also have to explain the occasion to the others, otherwise there'd be no point. With seemed equally surprised, but it wasn't as defined; being a rabbit and all.
The silence was broken as Dark lost the glaring contest and cursed at the night sky.
000
"Hey, Daisuke…"
"Hm? What is it?"
Satoshi glanced down at the boy snuggled next to him. Due to dangers of monsters attacking them and the fact that Krad needed a tent for herself (duh, she was the only female), they obviously posted guards, and as no one could ever sleep with Dark around (who snored; loudly), the two younger boys tended to share watch duty together.
"I was wondering… why is this day so important to you, anyway?" he knew it sounded kind of rude, but also knew that the redhead would probably take it as ignorance, "I mean…"
"It was something I always celebrated with my parents when I was young," Daisuke shrugged slightly, "I can't remember all the details, but my mother used to tell me about the giant star and angels and stuff. I guess the tradition just stuck to me, and now it's just… well, a time to have fun and co-exist and stuff with the others. A time for giving and receiving. It's a fun time to be around the people you care for."
Well, that definitely explained a lot. Seeing as his parents had died at a young age… "Sorry."
The tamer laughed softly, "For what?"
"… Nothing. Get some sleep already."
"Fine." Daisuke closed his eyes, getting as close to Satoshi as possible, "'Night." It didn't take long for the boy's breathing to even out as he drifted off into the realms of sleep and the vampire unconsciously began to stroke his hair.
It was so obvious that Daisuke wanted him (and the others) to attend to this celebration; so how the hell was he going to deny fate? How the hell could he refuse such a simple request?
Simple for the redhead, that is; not the vampire.
000
Pulling the flaps back to her personal tent (which, in truth, was no different from any other tent), Krad hit her boyfriend/whatever their relationship was, where he had been crouching for the past half-hour. "What the hell are you doing loitering out there?"
Dark shot her an indignant-hurt look, "What, can't I even visit you anymore? I miss you."
"Idiot, we've been traveling together for eight months now and see each other everyday; give it up. And no, you're not allowed in here," she hit him over the head again for emphasis, "What's with you and hanging outside my tent every night anyway?"
He frowned lightly at this, mock-thinking (because, as they all knew, he rarely thought about anything as "his head would explode" (quote Satoshi)), "Because I love you?"
"Nice, but I don't honestly care," another hit, this time harder, "Leave and get some sleep before you do watch and fall asleep halfway through it." That had happened 20 times, by her count.
"Fine, fine," grumbled Dark, looking put-out, "By the way, did you hear what the other two were talking about before?"
"Which part of it?"
"… All?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I dunno. I thought that if anyone could find a reason for listening in, it'd be you. Ah well, whatever," he leaned forward to give her a kiss on the nose, "Goodnight then."
"Bastard," Krad shot back, but was smiling as she allowed the tent flap to fall back into place.
000
After three days of (rather quiet) traveling, they caught sight of the small town that had been (and still was, in a way) Daisuke's home. Well, he had been living there for eight or so years. What caught them all by surprise was the fact that a familiar someone with fiery red hair came up to greet them. Or tackle Daisuke, anyway.
"Oh god, save me already!" was the first thing that escaped her mouth, "Aunt and Uncle have gone nuts on me again!"
"Daichi…" he managed to pry her off slightly to get a good look at her, "Did you get bad grades in your school report again?"
His twin shrugged at this, recovering some sense of dignity, "I did perfectly fine. Average, yes, but still fine. I don't see why they should be complaining."
"Uh-huh… so how did you know I was going to be here?"
She shrugged, brushing her hair back, "I didn't. I was just looking for a place to hide for a bit and no one else I know had naturally red hair anyway, so it was plain assumption. And why is it that you only come now and THEY are still with you?"
Her focus on the word 'they' was entirely related to Satoshi, who just raised an eyebrow at her in reply. Daisuke stood up and shook his head.
"They're my friends; why else would I be traveling with them?"
"Hmph, doesn't mean that I have to like it. Oh well, come on then. Aunt and uncle should be happy to see you again. They still have to deal with me and Hikaru all the time."
"Kyuu!"
"With! You're still alive as well!"
"Kyuu--"
Daisuke shook his head just slightly, "And you probably haven't improved with the summoning, have you?"
A shrug, "I had to give up before I completely decimated the town. What more can I say?"
"Obviously not a lot."
"Shut up, Dai-chan."
"Kyuu!"
"You too, With."
Krad smirked at this as they made their way back to where the village/town was located. Dark was preoccupied with looking around him for some reason, Satoshi was probably scowling at the girl's back, and Daisuke had fallen into an argument with his twin. It was all good, rather pointless, and a hell of a lot of fun.
"Hey! Daisuke's back!" Daichi called, slamming the door to their house open. There was a curse down where the kitchen was located and a smashing noise. The redheaded girl winced, "Sounds like Hikaru's pottery classes aren't working all that well."
"Damn you, Daichi!" shrieked the brunette as she stormed down the hallway, but calmed down when she noticed the guests, "Come in. Oh yeah, Daisuke, you've got a ton of mail from people. So… you might want to plough through that."
This actually being the first time for Krad and Dark coming to Daisuke's house, decided to have a look around while the redhead tramped upstairs to check the mail with Satoshi following behind him and With bounced out to the garden which seemed to be his haven for peace… and food. Daichi was forced into the kitchen to help her cousin with the mess in there now, and they were informed that the adults were out to help arrange the festivities and would be back later. That and the fact that the actual event was only in two days.
Looking around the lounge room, and getting the sense that the person next to her was plotting something evil, Krad poked Dark in the back, frowning; "What are you planning this time, hm?"
"Whatever are you talking about?" he shot back, trying to smile innocently.
"I'm not stupid. What are you going to sabotage this time?" she snapped back, giving him another poke for being the jerk he was and always would be.
Dark stepped out of poking range and then held up something. It looked like a plant… thingy… ur… "What?"
"It's mistletoe," he claimed.
"… What?" clearly, Krad had no interest with backyards, plants, or anything vaguely related to them.
"Well, I heard from Risa ages ago about how when you catch someone under the mistletoe, you have to kiss them. Are you following me?"
"Yeah, but… wait, why would she be talking about that… three months ago? That doesn't make any sense."
"I know, but she was always a bit odd in my opinion."
"Good for you."
"Hey, don't be sarcastic."
"So what are you planning with that… thing?" the blonde crossed her arms and gave her boyfriend a long look, waiting for him to explain what the hell was going on.
He grinned at this, "We'll catch the other two under it, that's what!"
"Uhm… have you ever considered the fact that they're both guys? What do you think the rest of them are going to think when they see it?"
"Well, if that's a problem, we'll just catch them in a secluded place, okay? Seriously, they're so slow in this relationship business…"
"Right; you do know that Satoshi will end up killing you if he finds out that you're behind all this."
Dark leaned forward to kiss Krad lightly, "Then we're just going to have to make sure that he doesn't find out, right? Come on, Krad, you're the one with the intelligence."
She could only shake her head, "I can't believe I'm letting you go ahead with this now…"
000
"Wow…" Daisuke blinked, staring at his bed and desk, "I knew she said a lot of mail and to plough through it but…" he bowed his head in frustration, "I bet most of them are just telemarketers or something."
"Or your friends. Although why they would send you mail if you all live in the same village, I will never know," Satoshi commented. As it was, the room that was one the twins but now Daisuke's was practically submerged in letters, all shapes, sizes and colours. It was going to be a long time before they could even dig out the bed.
Picking up a letter at random, Daisuke stared at it, "Maybe I should just throw this all in the compost… it's not going to be much help, seeing as I'll be leaving after all this anyway…"
The vampire continued to look around himself, before sighing, "Well, let's just get this over and done with, okay?"
"Eh? But…" the redhead seemed appalled at the idea, "You're a guest here! Uhm… take a seat?" there really wasn't one they could see and he shrugged, "I can deal with this fine, so…"
Satoshi smirked at this as he wrapped his arms around the tamer's waist, "You don't really expect me to stand or sit around, right? And there's now way I'm going to hang around the other two, and your sister doesn't like me; I'm happy where I am."
"Uhm… okay…" that still wasn't the best way to explain what they had to do next, "I don't have an overdue library book! What are they talking about?"
"Ever heard of that title before?"
"… DAICHI!"
A faint yell in reply; "What?"
"Did you take out a book in my name?.!"
"What? Oh, shit, so I did!"
"Daichi! Don't use language like that!" reprimanded Hikaru's voice.
"Damn you!"
"Where is it?" Daisuke called.
"Don't know! I'll find it later!" Another smash, "Screw this!"
"Daichi!"
The vampire glanced over to the redhead, "Are they always… that loud?" He was beginning to get a headache, despite the fact that they had had to live through Dark and Krad's own rather pointless arguments that tended to be a lot louder and violent than what they were witnessing.
Smiling in embarrassment, Daisuke closed the door, muffling the yelling, "Sorry about that. They always seem to be full of energy that they put into fighting, so… yeah."
They had been cleaning around for a good few minutes, and managed to unearth the bed, the desk, and light was finally able to filter through the window, before they decided to take a break. Satoshi sat on the chair, staring blankly out the window without much though, while Daisuke occupied the bed, apparently very interested at the ceiling. Yes, it was indeed beyond interesting and he was having the time of his life.
The sound of both girls arguing, later accompanied by Dark's and Krad's, soon proved that they were all getting along pretty well, as the redhead took loud conversation as good conversation. When he had first put out that theory, the blonde had believed him mad.
"We're home!" came a muffled call from downstairs. The arguing stopped immediately and Daisuke bounced off his bed.
"That'll be Aunt Aya," he muttered, seemingly to himself, before waving a hand at the vampire, "Come on, Satoshi-kun!"
"Right… but I don't like the sound of this."
"Don't worry," laughing at the hesitation he was receiving, Daisuke grabbed Satoshi's wrists and dragged him unwillingly out of the room.
000
Silence fell on the town, as the final preparations were dealt within houses and in meeting rooms. Both Daisuke's aunt and uncle nearly squeezed him to death upon seeing him, and welcomed his friends to stay the night (not knowing the fact that Satoshi was a vampire; and the very one they tried to rid of nearly four years back). So Krad shared with Daichi and Hikaru (who argued long into the night), while Satoshi and Dark took Daisuke's room to share. Right after Krad incinerated all the mail in there, anyway.
Dark was snoring loudly, as per usual, and Satoshi was out to prey for some damn stupid animal that would wander across his path unawares. Well, he still had to find a way to sustain himself, didn't he? Daisuke drifted off, wondering how big they were planning the festival would be.
And yes, the purple-haired 20-year-old was actually plotting in between snores, so one had to wonder what was going on.
000
The night of the festival/celebration/whatever made the town look like the place had exploded with greens and reds and yellow. Whether that be crepe paper, foil, cellophane or concrete. There was definitely a lot of noise, and somehow Daisuke and Satoshi ended up separated from Dark and Krad; although that really honestly come as a shock, but no one gave much of a damn.
As the redhead had explained to the vampire the night before, Argentine and his family did have to work for a living, and their own little performance that involved summoning things and doing hat tricks seemed to amuse everyone immensely.
Yet the thing that seemed to amaze Satoshi (as his lack of emotional reactions made it hard to decide anything at all) was of the giant Christmas tree that had been decorated and surrounded by what looked like pixies… kinda freaky, actually. That was definitely not a good sign at all.
And, of course, loud noises was something the vampire was no accustomed to and soon had to be led back home by a worried Daisuke.
000
"Are you sure they're going to go up here at all?"
"Well, it's either that or staying in a living room full of tinsel and sickening pink stuffed animals everywhere."
"You told me to get those."
"Yes I did. Now shut up, I think they're coming. I knew Satoshi couldn't stand the crowds for long."
"Hey, after this, can we take a look around. It sounds fun."
"Yeah, yeah…"
000
Tramping up the stairs, Daisuke was indeed put-off by the amount of pink and tinsel explosion in the living room. Whatever Daichi had been thinking, it hadn't been good. And there she was, telling them that she was fine; really! Physically, maybe, but mentally… urm… he decided not to think too much about it in case she decided to try her hand at summoning again.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked Satoshi, who just blinked at him.
"I could have gotten here on my own. You didn't have to leave the festivities because of me," he finally replied, turning away and messing with the collar of his shirt.
"And what happens if you collapse or something?" Daisuke shook his head as he pushed the door to his room open, "And I don't know what Daichi was thinking with all that pink and stuff downstairs… sorry about that…"
"Never mind…" something swinging on the top door post caught Satoshi's attention, "What's that?"
"Huh? What?" perplexed, the tamer looked up and his face immediately flushed, "It's nothing." He made a swipe at the mistletoe above him and it swung merrily, almost like it was taunting them.
"Really? Then what's with the face?"
"He's just embarrassed."
Both boys started as Dark and Krad switched the lights on in the room. Dark was smirking widely and Krad was looking out the window, like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Wait… you did this?" Daisuke demanded, pointing an accusing finger at Dark, who shrugged.
"It's not a bad thing, anyway. Besides, you've done it once before, right?"
"Yeah, but…"
"Too bad! You two've gotta kiss! I already did it with Krad so…"
She hit him over the head to shut him up, "To put it simply, when you pass over that… plant… thingy, you have to share a kiss. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Damn, they should have one where they make out…" muttered Dark.
"I'd rather not think about that," she shot back, hitting him again.
Daisuke was blushing furiously by this point (although it might have been something about kissing in front of someone) but Satoshi's rather blank look had been changed to something more… er… smug.
"Well, if that's all…" he began calmly.
000
"Hey, do you know where Daisuke is?" asked Daichi. Argentine shook his head, while his sister Aine was more vocal in replying.
"He had to take Satoshi home because he didn't seem to be doing too well," she explained, juggling the knives in her hands deftly, "Not that I really expected much else from him."
"Urgh… and I finally found something to give him as a present," the redhead muttered, turning away, "Well, if you see him, tell him I'm looking for him then."
"Right. Merry Christmas to you, then."
"Same."
000
Daisuke pointed, "See that really bright star out there?"
Satoshi nodded silently. It wasn't hard to locate it anyway.
Having finally kicked Dark and Krad out of the house, the two boys were finally given some piece. Sitting in Daisuke's room, the silence was actually quite peaceful.
"Well, they say that when He was born, it appeared."
"Hm… I'd say you're making it up, but it doesn't really matter, does it?" the vampire leaned forward for a kiss. "Merry Christmas."
"Yeah…"
Of course, the vampire still honestly had no idea that reasoning behind it all. Oh well, maybe he'd ask Daisuke to explain it to him in detail one day. But for now…
000
Krad crossed her arms as Dark stared at the thick, bulking book in his arms. "Read away, my dear Dark."
"Aw… but there's too much…"
"Whatever…"
"Kyuuuu!"
"Yes, and a Merry thingy-ma-bob to you, too."
"Dark, stop avoiding the subject."
000
Yes… I know, it's random. Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for your comments! (hands out gingerbread men and other Christmas-related things)
ginny brenn: It's all part of the really, really confusing plot XD You noticed that, too? Yeah, I'll be explaining that for the next chapter (looks around)… hope you'll hang around! Yay! Cookies! (goes hyperactive)
Mria: Aw… thanks XD Dark's just been like that his whole life (maybe I should explain that in the later chapters?) but don't worry, there will be fluffy moments between Dark had Krad (as long as I don't chicken out lol) And thank you so much for the review-!