So not many read around this time I guess but I still feel the need to write for Christmas.
So Thanks Baldore, Demoness Kneesocks, x, and PokeKing Charizard for your review. Merry Christmas to all and Have a Great New Year!
Thank you for the gift KakaAnko. Updating today for you:) Also check out her great rendition of the HOLIX kids on her deviantart site:
anina-sensei dot deviantart dot com/art/Holix-Kids-580234747 (the dots mean period in between)
I don't own.
"I can't wait to see Santa!" Kenji said excitedly. Six stood next to his 4 year old son in an insanely long line to see a fat man in a red suit.
"Where's mommy?" Kenji noticed that his mother was not around.
"To change your sisters. They decided to both go at the same time." Six answered flatly.
"Do you think Santa came on his sleigh?" Kenji had already forgotten his original question.
"He probably took the red-eye." Six muttered looking critically at the disheveled mall Santa..
"I've never seen a reindeer. Do you think they have red noses?" Kenji continued.
"Only if they've been in the liquor cabinet." Six was not in the best of moods. He hated being out in a crowded mall being jostled by other kids and adults.
"I hope Santa likes the card I made him. Oh, daddy, we're almost next." Kenji was oblivious to his father's poor humor. He gripped his father's hand excitedly. They had been almost next for the last half hour. Six peered down at his excited son and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He reflected that this was not for him. It was for his son who was innocent enough not to notice that Santa's clothes were a little loose and his beard was more grey than white. Kenji was just in the moment and he was happy.
Six scooped him up and put him on his shoulders. Kenji, surprised by the sudden height, squealed in delight.
"Daddy, I can see the tree, the people, everything." Kenji proceeded to list all the things within his line of sight.
Six's face lost its tightness and allowed his son to ramble on… until he heard Kenji say, "And there's a lady with pink hair carrying a guitar." Six stiffened. It can't be. He lightly put Kenji down. He knelt down to Kenji's level.
"Where did you see the pink haired lady?" He asked his son in an even tone.
"Over behind the tree." Kenji said pointing.
"Kenji, can you stand in line by yourself while daddy checks something out?" Six asked softly.
"Sure daddy! I'm a big boy now." He straightened up.
"I'll only be around the tree." Six got up and moved around the tree quickly. Sure enough his worst fears were confirmed. "Five, what are you doing here?"
The pink haired rocker turned around lazily. "Oh Six, fancy meeting you here in a mall, love. Doing some last minute shopping?"
Six was not fooled by her idle chatter. "What's your game?"
"No game, love. Just looking for a gift like everyone else." Pink answered rather nonchalantly.
"Five, you don't waltz into a mall to shop." Six insisted. "You better not be here to cause any trouble."
"Six, you wound me." She said with mock indignation. "Would I come here to cause problems?"
"Were the Star Wars prequels awful?" Six threw back at her.
Then there was a sudden explosion. People began running and screaming.
"Oh, that's my signal. Gotta go. It's been nice chatting with you, love." She disappeared among the people running and screaming. Six gritted his teeth debating whether to go after her or to check on Kenji.
"Daddy, everyone's running around after that big boom. Santa left before I could give him my card." He said disappointed.
"Come on Kenji, we need to go." Six scooped up Kenji under his arm and ran in the direction of the explosion.
Six maneuvered his way through the crowd. He saw smoke come out of the jewelry store. Putting Kenji down, his blades popped out. Turning to Kenji he knelt next to his son.
"Kenji stay here, out of sight." He instructed him.
"Okay, daddy." He hopped onto the bench and swung his legs.
"Good boy." He glanced at the jewelry store and ran into the smoke filled shop. Covering his nose and mouth with the crook of his arm he looked over the store. In the far corner, he made out a large shadow.
"Stop!" He ordered. Trey wearing a Santa hat stared at him.
Six felt someone behind him. He moved just in time as a guitar came down past him barely missing his head. Bringing his blade up, he knocked the guitar back.
"I knew you were up to something." Six growled.
"I said I was shopping. I didn't say I was going to pay for it." She smirked as she did a low sweep. Six hit the ground with a sickening crack. Five leapt over him.
"Come on Trey!" She yelled.
"Aww, shucks. Shouldn't we finish off him?" Trey asked.
"No time. Let's just get out of here with what we got." From the arm of her guitar a grappling hook shot out to the skylight. Both She and Trey hung onto the bottom as the hook pulled them up.
Six got up feeling slightly disoriented. He was sure he had a minor concussion but he had to stop them. Grabbing the string of fallen Christmas lights he tied it to one end of his blade. He chucked it like a javelin so that it stuck into the high ceiling. He gave a tug to make sure it would hold his weight and began climbing. When he reached the skylight, he climbed through the open window. With only one blade he went after Five and Trey.
Stopping he rolled out of the way as a knife flew at him.
"Can't a girl do a little shopping in peace?" Five asked haughtily.
"As long as you pay!" Six snapped. He was knocked forward by a massive blow.
"I'm telling you, girl's got no taste. I say we should've gone to the mega-mart to shop." Trey loomed over him. He bent over and picked up Six by the front collar. Bringing Six close to his face, he pulled his fist back to knock him out.
"Santa?" A little boy's voice called out.
Six and Trey turned to look in the direction of the voice. Kenji's face peeked out from the skylight.
"Santa? Why are punching my daddy?" He asked as he lifted himself onto the rooftop.
"Daddy?" Both Trey and Five exclaimed.
"Kenji! I told you to wait for me!" Six frantically tried to extract himself from Trey's grip.
Kenji frowned. "I thought I saw Santa go up. I wanted to give him my card. Here, Santa." Kenji walked over to Trey and his father.
"No, Kenji stay away." Six was terrified what these cold-blooded mercenaries would do to his son.
But Kenji was not frightened. "Santa, don't hurt my daddy. I made you a card. Merry Christmas." He held out his little homemade card to the massive man.
Trey hesitantly reached out and took the card from the boy.
"Tis for me?" He asked quietly.
"Sure, I want to thank you for giving me gifts." Kenji said enthusiastically.
Obviously touched, Trey dropped Six in a heap on the floor.
"Trey, what are you doing?" Five asked exasperated.
"Is that your helper, Santa?" Kenji asked innocently.
"Uh, yeah." Trey said uncertainly.
"Oh," Kenji looked crestfallen. "I didn't make her a card but you can have my candy cane. I was saving it for later but I want you to have it. He held out his candy to Five who was taken aback.
"You're giving this to me?" Five asked with surprise.
"Sure, you help Santa so this is a thank you." Kenji nodded. He walked closer to her so she could get it.
Five looked silently at the child.
"Thank you." She said quietly. Then to Six's surprise, she put down the bag she was holding. "Hey, kid, can you do us a favor? Give this back to your da."
"Okay." Kenji scooped the bag up and sauntered over to his father who was getting up off the floor.
Five and Trey walked over to the edge of the roof.
"Some other time, Six." Five said her usual bravado returning. Trey leapt off the roof. Five stood at the edge as well. But before jumping off, she turned with a smirk at Six, "Good work. Didn't mess it up this time." Then she was gone. A second later a hover jet blasted away.
"Daddy?" Kenji pulled on Six's jacket tail.
"Yes, Kenji?"
"Santa really let himself go."
"Let's go home." Six took the bag out of Kenji's hand and they walked to the skylight together.