WHITE CHRISTMAS part1

Late afternoon winds in mid-December were always too damn cold. He was sure it would really be snowing soon. Snow always held a special meaning for him not because it has the same elements as the weapon he was destined to hold but because of a courageous yet gentle woman who has always been a permanent resident in his heart. She passed away though, and the only strong memory he has was how she always enjoyed the first snowflakes of the season. Her eyes would sparkle at the pure white spectacle. It's like sugar plum fairies dancing in the air without a care in the world. She would say. He clenched his fist. He wanted to protect her so much but it the end it was him who was saved by her own bloody hands.

"Tokiya-kun?" the ensui user paused from his wonderings to seek the source. He knew who that voiced belonged to. He waited for the healer to catch up.

Yanagi ran towards him, her breath came in puffs due to the cold.

"What is it Yanagi-san?" He asked.

"I just wanted to thank you for helping me earlier." Her face was rosy although he could not tell if it was because of the weather.

"It was nothing. You were carrying to many books. I was glad to help."

"Um…yes…well." She tried to start.

"Come to think of it isn't Recca supposed to help you with those?"

"Oh, about Recca." She paused then. "He was feeling a little gloomy lately but I'm sure he will be just fine." The chocolate haired girl smiled.

"Yanagi-san, I trusted him to take care of you but how can he if he cannot even take care of his own damn self." The girl tucked some stray strands behind her right ear. "Everyone has their bad days Tokiya-kun. I'm sure you have them too." Mikagami tucked the rest of her strand behind her other ear. Yanagi stared at her feet and lightly shivered.

"What's wrong?" he gently placed his thumb and index finger under her chin to lift her face up. He was not surprise when he saw tears falling down her cold cheeks. "I probably look like a crybaby but I'm really worried. I want to help him but the only ever use I can give is healing wounds. The heart is much harder to…" Mikagami grabbed her by the shoulders as gently as possible and pulled her in for a hug. "You have your own pains too princess even though you try to act strong. If your knight can't rescue you then perhaps your prince can." He heard her gasp and when he looked up at his surroundings he saw the cold white flakes falling down from the sky. His sister was right. It really looked like fairies performing a gently dance. He again returned his attention back to the girl. She was smiling. Just like her. She slowly turned towards him and with her face redder than before she said

"It's going to be a white Christmas after all." And she buried her face on his chest."

The irony….

………………………………..

They were already on the busy commercial streets. Lights and Christmas carols can be heard and seen miles away. It was a cheerful atmosphere despite the Christmas rush. The season can give that feeling of joy and sometimes when you know it's just around the corner despite the grueling task of gift shopping you can't help but have a light and happy feeling.

…Although not much can be said for the two males, traveling at an awkward pace.

It felt like there was a dark cloud hanging above them and a thick barrier preventing the Holliday aura from infecting them as well.

"It's alright to talk you know I'm not going to slice your head off. Geez this silence is killing me." Domon looked at his companion. Silence was far from it. The streets were bustling with sounds. He wanted Recca to accompany him with Christmas shopping. Asking Fuuko for help would just prove the fact that he had indeed forgotten to buy her a present. He looked at his friend who was silent as he ever seen him. His face was really devoid of emotion that it could rival a rock. 'Maybe I should have just asked him to go home.'

"I know it's stupid of me to ask you this but are you…"

"I'm fine." The flame caster cut him off. "You act as if I'm going to die any moment."

"But…" The taller man paused. What could he say that would not make the situation worst anyway? He was at loss for words. He decided to remain silent.

"It's ok. You don't need to make sure I'm fine." Recca started. "We came here to buy presents and that is what exactly what we came here to do." Recca folded his arms behind his head. "Christmas will come before we know it and I don't want to celebrate it empty handed." He grinned. "Plus I don't want to get beaten to a pulp by Fuuko. And besides…" he turned to give a mischievous smile at the giant. "I was not exactly dumped you know."

………………………………………

"Did you find him?"

"Yes though I was not allowed to meet with him. For his protection they say."

"Buy him off."

"That might raise a lot of suspicion sir."

"We need the kid. I think he knows where Kurei is. He is the only one who would willingly help that filth. Who is in charges of that stupid case?"

"He said his name was Takehiko Asato."

There was a slight pause then…

"I see. I want you to find out where his staying on the Holidays."

"Yes sir."

"You're very useful. Looks like that so called blacksmith has his uses."

Raiha placed the phone down. He was in a hotel room and the lights were out though his madougu, Raijin shone an eerie glow.

……………………...

Having to experience the holiday season at a public plaza was something he never knew he's missed. Her adoptive mother took him at this exactly same spot when he was young before that evil man found out he could cast flames. At first the actual thought of going here seemed like a crazy idea. The people after him were obviously on the move and he needed to be extra cautious. He was worried about Kaoru but he knew that the boy took his instructions seriously to go straight home when he called that he might come home late and a promised present for Christmas. He blew warm air to his cold hands. The snowfall was light. Not enough to cause danger. It was perfect atmosphere for the holidays.

It would not hurt to buy presents. He actually found himself wanting to. The people at the station, Yoshino-san, Takehiko-san, Kaoru, Recca…. Recca. He stopped in mid stride causing the person behind to bump into him.

"I'm sorry."

"No it's alright." The stranger said and then added happily a "Merry Christmas."

Would Recca want a present from him? He wanted to but would his brother accept it after what he had done? Nevertheless he would try. He spent a reasonable amount of time with Recca to know what the latter likes. But he wanted to give something special to him for all that he had done. What can he find in this pace at such short amount of time?

Then as if guided buy fate herself something caught his eye on the store window.

………………………………..

Recca and Domon sat on the park bench with a warm hot chocolate on their hand and a couple of bags, evidence of their exhausting trip. Domon stared at his friend. 'He seemed to be in a lighter mood. I guess the buying of gifts thing took over his mind.' He thought.

"So…" the larger man started "I hope that you got everything you need co'z my feet are killing me man.

Recca laughed. "Unfortunately not, I still have one more present to find." He said with a gentle smile and this got his friends curiosity.

"We have been to almost every shop here. This person must be really hard to please."

"No he isn't but still I would like to give this person something special." Recca's hold on his cup tightened. "You can go home ahead if you like. You're mom's gonna kill you if you stayed any later."

The other shivered. "Don't remind me." Domon finished the last contents of his cup and threw it in the bin. "Sorry about this man but I do gotta go."

"Not a problem." Recca assured and he waved his friend goodbye. Domon picked his bags u and went home. Not long after Recca gathered his things and walked alongside the shops.

He wanted to buy something for his brother. Despite their unsteady situation he was still determined to give a gift for his brother. He found himself in front of a familiar shop. He grinned at entered.

"Welcome to…Oh Recca-kun." Recca was immediately encircled in a hug by the manager Yoshino. "Here I was thinking you forgot about me."

"I'm sorry Yoshino-san." He smiled sheepishly. "Enough of that what brings you here?"

"I was having a little difficulty for my brother's present. I was wondering if you have an idea since he shops here often." He blushed at the woman's grinning face. "How cute. But I'm sure you want something unique huh?" the teen nodded.

"Kurei is a bit difficult. He has no interest in material things." She tapped her cheek in thought. "Hmm. You could get him something to remind him of you. That always works."

"Um…I really don't know."

"Well you're free to browse maybe you'll find something that captures your eye." She said with a glitter in her eyes.

Recca took his time to explore the shop. It hadn't change much since he has last been here but he still looked around. She was right though. What could he possibly get Kurei when the man didn't show much interest in anything? He sighed. He walked towards the loveseat to think when something caught his attention. He slowly went towards it.

Behind the jewelry section was a pendant and a chain. It was a carved black marble that had a very odd but familiar shape. Pieces of platinum metal were holding it together and some dents. Marbled are very hard to shape especially if it is in small pieces this guy must be really good. It looked incomplete however, like a piece of a puzzle and its true form could only be seen when the pieces are put together.

"Caught your eye?" Recca almost jumped out of his skin in surprised. "Yoshino-san when you got this?" he pointed to the displayed item.

"That? Oh A man brought it here this morning. He asked if I could sell this piece. It seemed odd though because he only brought one item. But he did tell a very interesting story about it."

"A story?" this got Recca's curiosity.

"He came here and told me if I could sell it to the first person who got attracted to it."

"Why is that?"

"He said that he is a traveling craftsman but besides that has a passion for fate itself. And here's the interesting part. He said that he only made two of this pendants one in white marble and the other in black. He entrusted the pendant to me for some odd reason and the other one in another shop. When I ask why he just smiled and said it was interesting that some things are meant to be."

"What does that mean?"

"I have no idea. But since I haven't been able to sell this thing I guess I got played."

"Could I buy it?" The boy asked.

"Yeah I guess but I don't know why you would want it. It's just plane weird if you ask me though the craftsmanship is almost impossibly good." She took out a key to the glass display and pulled out the pendant chain. "It 12,000 yen the chain included."

"That's pricey."

"Well excuse me for earning a living." She joked. Recca sighed. To be honest he did not have that much amount of money left but he really wanted the pendant it was almost like it was calling out to him. He sighed and Yoshino did not miss the gesture.

"Are you buying this for your niisan? How cute!" She grinned and Recca could not help but blush. 'Damn that woman and why am I BLUSHING!' Did he really plan to give this to Kurei? When he saw the pendant he just wanted to have it but he did not know why. He looked at it again and the pendant just lay there. Yes he did want it to give to him. He nodded his head slowly.

"I wish I had a cute little brother I would just melt in his cuteness." If Recca got any redder that this he was sure that he would end up shaming Rudolf.

"Tell you what I'll let you pay in installments and even give you a box to place it with."

"Tha-thank you!" He was not able to stop himself from hugging the woman. "Wow now. Don't get carried away."

"So-sorry." Yup Rudolf would be ashamed.

"Let me wrapped this up." Recca waited patiently for the parcel and when he got it he immediately placed it inside his coat pocket. "Well it was nice Recca-kun. Here let me accompany you outside."

Outside Recca and Yoshino took notice of the busy streets. "Hmm…Christmas is really just around the corner neh Recca-kun?" but the boy did not respond. Worried she took a glance at the younger only to find him staring at the direction of the café. She turned to look and could not help but smile. To shops away was Kurei though his face was covered with a scarf and sunglasses she could tell it was him right away. HE was holding a hot coffee on one hand and shopping bags on the other and he starred directly at…Recca? She could not tell from the glasses. Then she saw, no more like felt Recca trembling and unshed tears threatening to fall.

"Niisan."

TBC

Hooray! Finished nyahaha cliffie. I'm sorry for the long wait and for the lack of review response but I will after I finish part two I promise! Also I am very sorry if you guys don't like Mikagami and Yanagi's moment. I guessed I should have asked you guys huh? That was very rude off me it's just that in the manga Mikagami really likes Yanagi and I need that part very much. But still thank you so much for reading and reviewing I will try much harder.

Here prieview:

The older one wiped that tears cascading down the others soft cheek. He did not like to see this person cry it was like a stab to the heart only worse because you cannot die instantly because of it. He wanted his smile. "Spend Christmas with me Recca."