All I (Don't) Want for Christmas, part II

-o0o-

Tyki Mikk had never quite understood this festive season thing. He appreciated the food, duh, but the company? Meh, not so much. And truth to be told, the others didn't really seem to appreciate his presence either. Well, Sheril did, but Sheril was Sheril.

As for the rest of the family, Tyki was pretty damned sure that they mostly just wanted him around to have someone to poke fun at. Sheril meanwhile rarely wasted an opportunity to harp on Tyki's choice of lifestyle, even while indirectly facilitating it with his fairly regular donations. And Adam, well…

"Tyki-pet, I heard that you have been planning on skipping out this Christmas, so I was planning on going to fetch you in person… but I'm relieved to see that you decided to act like your age for once and come without being summoned."

Even though it was a phone call, not a video one, Tyki offered up a very forced smile, vividly recalling the events of the previous year. He had no doubt that the family patriarch did too. "I managed to rearrange my schedule at the last minute," he told the family head, lying through his teeth. "But I'm leaving for New Years, just so you know."

For Barcelona, but he sure as heck wasn't planning on telling the rest of them that. Odds were that they would find out anyway, knowing their track record.

Because really, Tyki was not planning on sticking around any longer than necessary. Because, last time he had got conned into attending some sort of family event, he had spent the greater part of it helping Road out with her math homework. Tyki wasn't even good at math, not even remotely.

At times, he had the distinct impression that to the family, he was only really good for two things; to serve as a deterring example and to run odd errands that could just as easily been run by one of the multiple servants employed by the family, servants that knew how to be discreet and not to spill sensitive information. Which was not to say that Tyki himself did not know how to do any of those things; he simply did not think that it was his job. Speaking of odd errands– "A bike? You mean like a motorbike or like a bicycle bike?"

The voice on the other end was silent. Another voice, definitely Lulu Bell, clarified. "Yellow bicycle. Shall I send a picture of it, milord?"

"Do that. Send GPS-coordinates as well," the family patriarch instructed her. "We all do know just how easily Tyki-pet gets lost…"

"That's because I do it on purpose," Tyki thought, flagging down a taxi.

-o0o-

"Just to this intersection?"

"Yep."

The driver's face remained a polite mask, but there was no mistaking the somewhat weird look sent his way.

Tyki didn't mind though, because he imagined it was a pretty weird destination. On the other hand– "Unless… it'd be possible to pick up a bike without much extra cost, I suppose?"

The man's eyebrow climbed slightly. "A motorbike, sir? Or a bicycle?"

Right. "Yellow bicycle. Not entirely sure about the size though."

-o0o-

As it turned out, the bike wasn't too big, and the taxi driver proved all too willing to put it in the backseat, despite the oddness of the request. Thus, Tyki arrived at his final destination without much hassle, and he made sure to tip the driver for it. Because walking up the driveway with a bicycle was entirely different from having to walk through the chilly night from that intersection to the manor. And in the middle of the night at that.

Looking at his cell phone, Tyki confirmed that it was already past midnight. It had been a long day, especially so considering the 10+ hour flight, and him lazing around at the airport for a number of hours, trying to delay the inevitable. Besides, Haneda Airport had a whole lot of entertainment to offer if one had some time and money to spend.

In the time in-between his arrival in Japan and the call, Tyki had played some Pokémon Go, then some racetrack, then he had operated a flight simulator, crashed, tried again, and crashed again before realising he was not cut out to be a pilot and moving on to outstare a bunch of seal plushies and to buy some very unnecessary souvenirs…

Tyki had also encountered a wall filled with small plaques detailing people's wishes. Vaguely recognising the practice from last year's visit to some shrine, he had even brought one for himself and scribbled down some futile wish that he might actually get to enjoy his birthday for once.

After that, he had wandered aimlessly through a shopping district, sampled some food, and then, right when he was contemplating catching a movie or something, there had been the call, and now, here he was, staring up at the manor looming in the distance.

"Huh, weird."

There were no Christmas decorations, not outdoors at any rate. Odd, and not a very promising sign. The family patriarch was very into Christmas, and also Halloween. Road was more into Halloween, with her style and all, but she was typically more than ready to assist him, and Sheril, as per usual, was more than willing to facilitate her. The rest of the family usually participated to some degree, but Tyki was almost always forced to tag along, whether he liked it or not. Thus, Tyki was pretty clear about one thing; he liked the food. But Christmas? No.

In any case−

He reached for the intercom. He had barely even pressed it though before a door was slammed open, revealing Sheril who then made a beeline for the gate. "Tyki, thank God you're here! We desperately need your help!"

O−kay?

-o0o-

Whatever he might have been expecting, this definitely wasn't it.

"Tyki! You're here!"

"We've missed you! So much!"

"Hey Tyki, you've got mad poker skills, right? Do us all a favour and kick this guy's ass!"

Tyki looked from the family members who appeared genuinely delighted to see him to the guy they apparently wanted him to beat. The guy – boy, Tyki mentally corrected – looked up from his cards. Road, Tyki noted, looked to be taking the boy's side. Quite literally. It was no wonder Sheril looked just about ready to throw a hissy fit.

Tyki cleared his throat. "Could anyone explain to me what's going on here? I kind of wanna to know what I'm getting into," he said, turning his attention back to the boy. "First of all, who're you?"

"He's Allen, my new bodyguard!" Road swiftly announced.

Tyki stared. Then he shifted his gaze towards Sheril, who had hidden his face in his hands. With all due likelihood, Road had asked him if she could have anything for Christmas and Sheril had answered something along the lines of "Of course, Road, of course you can have whatever you want", and Road had asked to have this… boy installed as her new bodyguard, for reasons unknown, something Sheril did not like but could not deny her. Still−

"Now, now, that has yet to be decided," chuckled 'Santa', ruffling Allen's hair with seeming affection. "But I'm certain that young Allen will be staying with us for some time nonetheless."

The boy looked like he was fighting a strong urge to slap the hand away. Tyki found that he could very much relate. "Do I get a say in that?" the boy muttered.

"Nope," Road said, and 'Santa' just smiled widely.

Tyki found that he could definitely relate.

-o0o-