Sorry this is late guys, but Christmas sure took over.
I watched the Muppets Christmas Carol with my brother the other day and the idea came to me so I wrote a story based on that.
Sousuke recieves a visit from the Ghosts of Christmas.
"Come on Sousuke it's almost Christmas."
"No." Sousuke scowled deeply at his red-headed roommate. "There's no way I want anything to do with Nanase."
"Just because he's throwing the party doesn't mean you have to speak to him " Rin rolled his eyes in hopelessness, "What's he done to you anyway?"
"I'm not going and you can't make me." Sousuke snapped, falling back onto his bunk silently waiting for the door to close. The teal eyed man let out a frustrated sigh and glanced at the shut door, he didn't really understand the clear irritation towards Haruka Nanase, only that whenever the boy was near either him or Rin his blood would boil. Plus it was Christmas and Sousuke was never a fan of the particular holiday. It brought up several awful memories that Sousuke wanted deeply to forget. Closing his eyes, Sousuke turned to his side and drifted slowly into a light sleep.
Sousuke woke with a jolt when a loud thump echoed through the room. Thinking it was Rin, the butterfly swimmer smirked readying himself not laugh at the drunken boy. Teal eyes widened dramatically, for, before him was none other than Nagisa Hazuki. There was something off about him however that had Sousuke questioning his sanity. The boy was floating off the ground, covered in a white shimmering glow.
"Hazuki what the hell?!"
"Hey, Sou-chan." Nagisa waved enthusiastically. "You ready?"
"Ready for what?"
"Well I'm the Ghost of Christmas Past, so we're going back."
"You're the ghost of what? I'm not going anywhere."
"Oh come on Sou-chan, live a little."
"Hazuki-" Sousuke began to speak, his voice full of denial before Nagisa intercepted by pulling the man from his bunk with exerting force.
"Alright! Let's go!"
"Hazuki where are we going?"
Sousuke watched as Nagisa pouted and tapped his chin in curiosity. "I don't know Sou-chan it's your past, not mine."
When the two finally stopped and were able to get a sense of their surroundings Sousuke grimaced. The house before them was his childhood home. The all too familiar feelings were flooding back and he silently walked to the window. There sitting, smiling ready by the Christmas tree was none other than himself as a boy. He watched as young Sousuke heard the news that his father wasn't coming home. The boys face contorted to sadness, a deep festering sadness that would later mould to fury and rage.
"Hazuki I don't want to see this."
"Okay, come."
Sousuke followed Nagisa into a small glow and he smiled slightly at the familiar smell of chlorine and talcum powder.
"A swim meet."
He caught eye of himself walking sternly towards a raven haired boy Sousuke recognised too well. Nagisa followed Sousuke as he walked closer, watching young Sousuke began to pull dominance over the child Haruka. When baby Sousuke had walked away Sousuke's eyes were pulled to the small raven boy. Those ocean blue eyes were narrowed, showing a slight fear towards the retreating boy.
"You weren't very nice to Haru-chan." Nagisa scolded, "Why was that?"
"I just found out that my dad was marrying another woman. My mother locked herself in her room for two weeks straight." Sousuke watched young Haru slowly fade into the distance as Nagisa pulled him away. "Rin had mentioned Nanase several times, I was actually looking forward to meeting him. I guess emotions got in the way and I exploded."
"Hey Sou-chan, Where is past Sou-chan going?"
Sousuke glanced to where Nagisa was pointing and watched his older self, walk around a corner. Sousuke knew this scene, he had played it over in his head multiple times, knowing he had done wrong, revealing his emotions once again. The vending machine made a thump sound as Haruka was pushed back, the hulking body of Sousuke narrowing him in. As the teal-eyed man walked away, anger still fresh on his features, Sousuke frowned in guilt as he watched the mix emotions flow over Haruka's face. Nagisa placed a hand on Sousuke's shoulder and suddenly they were back in his dorm, his bed before him, untouched.
"We're back Sou-chan," Nagisa called out to the distracted Sousuke. The teal eyed boy shook his head and turned his attention to the blonde.
"Are you going to explain why we just did all that?"
"I'm sure you'll figure it out," Nagisa shrugged, "Well I'm off, the Ghost of Christmas Present is up next, Rei-chan and I are going to the movies. Bye Sou-chan."
"Err bye?" Sousuke spoke to his empty room after Nagisa vanished in a puff of smoke. "I'm definitely dreaming."
A crash had Sousuke spinning around, gaping as Makoto stood by his door, picking up a lamp that he accidently knocked. The brunette's panicked face turned to a smile when their eyes met and Makoto walked over.
"Hi Yamazaki-san, I'm the Ghost of Christmas Present."
"Tachibana?"
"Ghost of Christmas Present." Makoto corrected, "Come, we have much to see."
Sousuke eyed him sceptically, sighing in defeat at Makoto's determined eye and let the teen touch his shoulder. They warped to an unknown house. Sousuke rose a brow, it sounded rather lively inside. He glanced to Makoto for permission to get closer, receiving a solid nod Sousuke approached the door and went inside. When he saw the familiar people he instantly knew who's house this belonged too.
"Why have you brought me to Nanase's house?"
Makoto glanced over his shoulder and motioned to the two bodies sitting outside, watching the stars from the porch. "I wanted you to see this."
Sousuke crept forward, knowing his presence was invisible still didn't stop him from hiding behind the wall. The two figures became clear as his inched forward, one red the other raven. Rin and Haruka were silent staring up into the night sky. A sudden question had Sousuke freezing, his ear sensitive to the conversation.
"Why didn't Yamazaki come?"
"Oh, he wasn't feeling well."
Sousuke knew he was lying, as did Haru apparently, who sighed and gazed at his feet. Rin's name was called from indoors and Rin excused himself from Haru's company, leaving the ravenette alone. Sousuke's body moved on its own accord, planting himself beside the teen, analysing his features. Haruka's eyes gleamed with doubt, his lip turned down, his bottom lip pouting slightly. Sousuke was startled when Haru began to speak.
"Why don't you like me?" He glanced at the sky, the stars twinkling in torment. "What did I do to make you hate me? "
Haru's mouth continued to move but his voice was gone and he was growing more distance. Sousuke yelped in protest wanting to know what the male was saying and glanced behind him to see Makoto looking stern, seeing his best friend upset was unsettling.
"Take me back," Sousuke demanded, standing once again in his room. Makoto shook his head and bowed.
"it's my turn to take my leave. The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come is close." Makoto smiled sweetly, tilting his head to the side. "Merry Christmas Yamazaki-san."
Sousuke watched as Makoto faded out, his piercing green eyes last to go, sending a shiver down the butterfly swimmers spine. A sudden cold swept the room, darkness settling in. Sousuke glanced around and gulped, before him stood a cloaked figure, his face hidden by the shadow of the cowl. The figure suddenly sneezed and the cowl slipped back.
"Ryugazaki?"
"Sorry, that wasn't supposed to happen," Rei flushed, "It was supposed to be dramatic and elegant."
"I thought you were going to the movies with Hazuki?"
"We have been." Rei adjusted his glasses. "Now the future. I'm a scientist and don't believe in spirits, ghosts and so forth. So let's get this out of the way so I can go study."
"Okay." Sousuke shrugged, ready to leave this behind him. "Where too?"
"A funeral."
Sousuke was about to ask who's when the scenery changed and he stood among twenty or so people standing silently. Among the mourners, a group of teens caught his eye. Makoto, Nagisa, Rei and Rin were huddled together sobbing. Momo and Nitori were clutched together weeping over, who? Sousuke glanced to the coffin and his eyes widened in horror. In the picture, non-chalont as always was Haruka Nanase.
"What happened to him?" Sousuke rounded onto Rei who stood motionless.
"He committed suicide. Having his life threatened more than once was more than Haru-senpai could take."
"Are you saying, I killed Nanase?" Sousuke's blood ran cold, his eyes watched as Rei nodded, legs failing him Sousuke fell to the ground, a small humming sound began to play causing Sousuke to cover his ears. The scene changed and he was in the hospital. His glanced up to see himself. Teal eyes went straight to the wrapped shoulder and awaited an explanation from the purple haired boy.
"You pushed yourself too hard after Haru-senpai's death and you tore your shoulder beyond repair. You lost the use of your right arm."
"What?" Sousuke spoke with despair, watching as the future Sousuke attempted and failed at moving any part of his right arm swiping his lunch tray with his left in anger causing a loud clatter and a rush of nurses.
"There you have it. The future."
"I can change this future, though?"
"Scientifically no. Unless you invent a time machine. But I don't want to see my senpai die so if you don't change this timeline I'll make sure you live a painful life."
Sousuke hadn't known that Rei could be so protective of his upperclassman and nodded in agreement out of fear. They were suddenly back at Sousuke dorm and Rei turned to go but was stopped by Sousuke's voice.
"I'm a bad person, aren't I?"
"Not much as bad, more misunderstood." Rei vanished in a blinding light and Sousuke stared ahead. Everything ran in circles in his brain, his childhood, Haruka and their relationship. Suddenly knowing what needed to be done Sousuke grasped his winter jacket and gloves and headed to the train station.
A knock on Haruka's door had Nagisa skipping, happy to welcome whoever has turned up. Opening to find Sousuke was something Nagisa hadn't expected and he suddenly wrapped his arms around Sousuke's waist.
"I'm glad you're here Sou-chan"
"Same. Now, where's Haruka?"
"Outside." Nagisa pointed behind him, finishing at that not daring to speak of Sousuke calling Haru anything but Nanase.
"Thanks, Nagisa."
Sousuke pushed past the confused but ecstatic blonde and eventually found himself standing inches away from Haruka. He coughed to get the boys attention causing Haru to jump in fright and glance behind him to see Sousuke standing awkwardly.
"Yamazaki, what are you doing here?"
"I was invited wasn't I?" Sousuke spoke, attempting to keep it cool. Haru just rose a brow before turning back, staring off into the distance. Sousuke sat beside him and spoke again. "I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you these past few years."
Haru kept his composure despite wanting to shake the teal-eyed male asking if he was feeling okay. Maybe Rin was right, Sousuke really was sick. He glanced to Sousuke as he kept speaking.
"I didn't mean to do the things I did. I wasn't myself and I definitely hadn't meant to make you miserable. I hope you can forgive me."
"Already forgiven."
Sousuke let a smile break over his features as Haruka smirked slightly. Sousuke wrapped the boy into a hug and sighed in satisfaction. He's alive and well, his heart beating a bit faster than usual but hey it's a party after all. The two boys eventually broke apart and Haruka was astonished yet pleased with the outcome. They headed back inside and froze when Nagisa yelled out at the two of them.
"Mistletoe!"
The two teens peered up and sure enough, the two were standing beneath a mistletoe, its small white berries almost teasing the two males. Now Haru was sure that wasn't there before and scowled at the blonde knowing it was him along with he was sure Makoto lent a helping hand.
"Kiss, kiss, kiss." Chanted through the room, getting louder with each repeated word. Haruka was about to retort when Sousuke grasped his shoulders turning the freestyle swimmer to him. Their eyes met and Haruka seemed to calm, his eyes fluttered closed as Sousuke leant forward. A holler of excitement swept through the room as the two kissed. They broke apart and Haru was flushed to his feet, Sousuke seemed unfazed but his heart was beating rapidly. They gazed into one another's eyes knowing that their newly found friendship had taken a turn perhaps for the better.