The Rare Moment Regifting is Good
L.A.: See. I told you I'd get back on schedule.
Amu: (pats L.A.'s head) I'm so proud of you. You deserve pie.
L.A.: I don't like pie.
Amu: (is shocked) That... can't... be... true.
L.A.: Anywho, I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Review Replies:
Darkness in shadowland: Thanks for the review! That is so cool that you name your mini tree Brutus!
Angel of Randomosity: Thanks for the reviews! Don't celebrate too soon. We're only just getting starting (evil laugh).
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. I can't think of anything witty to say today. I'm tired. I'll just leave it like that.
Seriously, she was the best at decorating Christmas trees. It was one of the few times Sira actually had patience to do something. She loved to sip apple cider while carefully weaving the lights in the branches and placing ornaments in the right spot.
It was an art form, really. Almost as great as writing. Sira frowned as she paused with an ornament dangling from her finger. She really should write. Ever since she got here, she had been procrastinating. Maybe she would buy a pencil and notebook the next time she was out. Do some free writing.
"Does it really take that much concentration to place one ornament."
Sira turned to see Tori, her arms ladened with presents, standing before her. Sira wrinkled her nose in displeasure. "You just don't understand my method."
"It's placing ornaments on trees," Tori started placing presents under the tree. "It's not that hard."
Sira gasped. "Blasphemy!"
Tori rolled her eyes. "If you say so." Her hand lingered over the last present.
Sira peered at the name. It was Kurama's present from Tori. Sira smiled at Tori. "He's going to like it."
Tori shrugged. "He might not. We were closer last time. We had a whole discussion about Dostoevsky, but now…"
"Yusuke remembered Brutus. Anything is possible." Of course Sira left out the part where she had grilled Yusuke about his knowledge of Brutus. He was so certain that she had said it earlier that day that Sira was beginning to doubt herself. Especially since no one else had been able to recall anything.
Tori set the present down as she stood up. "We'll see."
Sira hated to see Tori like this. The poor girl overthought things a lot more than Sira ever did. Sira grinned evilly. "Want me to sing my beautiful rendition of Christmas tree to make you feel better?"
Tori raised an eyebrow. "How does that make me feel better? That sounds like torture."
"Hey," Sira crossed her arms. "My voice is beautiful. People would come from miles around to hear it."
"Our high school music teacher said you were tone deaf."
Sira pursed her lips. "No, she said I had a unique way of singing."
"She thought you were joking because it was so bad. Like she couldn't believe how tone deaf you were."
"Meanie. You better be glad I have a big ego."
The sound of the door opening and closing startled them. Kuwabara entered with Yuskuke and Kurama in tow. Where Shiziru was, Sira had no idea. Sira had the distinct feeling she was avoiding them.
Glancing at Tori, Sira noticed she had perked up a bit. Poor Tori, Sira thought, she's as obvious as an open book.
Tori may not admit it to Sira or even to herself, but Sira knew that Tori was still smitten with Kurama. When the girl fell, she always fell hard.
Yusuke collapsed into a nearby sofa while Kurama and Kuwabara put the remaining presents under the tree. "Okay, we've got everything you wanted for the party."
Sira patted his head. "Good little errand boy."
Yusuke glared at you. "What I wouldn't give to shoot you."
Kurama stood up. "I must say, I am excited for this party." He glanced at Tori who shyly looked away.
Kuwabara nodded. "This is going to be fun. We haven't had a good break in ages."
Sira clasped her hands together. "And I get to introduce you to cinnamon bunnie goodness all over again."
Yusuke eyed her suspiciously. "Are you sure that we liked it last time?"
"Of course you did," Tori said, "why would you think we would lie about that?"
Yusuke jerked his thumb toward Sira. "Because I don't trust her. She probably poisoned it or something."
Sira looked offended. "I'll have you know I would never mess with the purity that is cinnamon buns." She grinned evilly. "Now as for the punch…"
Yusuke stood up. "I'm leaving."
"She's just joking," Tori shot Sira a glare. "Don't take her seriously."
Sira shrugged. She couldn't help if she like to harass Yusuke. It was just too much fun. "But seriously, I do need a head count on who all is coming."
It was important for baking. It's wasn't because she wanted to know if a certain fire demon was coming. She couldn't care less about him.
"Kieko and Botan should be coming later," Kuwabara said.
Tori grinned evily. "What about Hiei?" She looked pointedly at Sira. "Is he coming?"
If Tori wasn't her best friend, Sira could have killed her. She was making a bigger deal out of it than necessary. Sira couldn't care less about Hiei.
Yusuke raised his eyebrow. "Parties, colors, and happiness? Throw in a puppy and this is everything Hiei hates."
She should have known. Of course Hiei wouldn't come. He only came last time because Yukina was here. She didn't care though, it wasn't a big deal. Her eyes were just watery because of allergies.
"I'm going to go check on the cinnamon buns." Sira practically bolted from the room. She knew that it looked odd but it was better than the alternative. She wasn't going to let them see her cry, er, eyes water from allergies.
In the kitchen, she checked the oven, the cinnamon buns would probably be ready in a few minutes.
"You okay?"
Rubbing her eyes, Sira turned back to see Tori standing in the doorway. Sira forced a grin on her face. "Yeah, why?"
"Because you're crying."
"I am not." Sira resisted the urge to wipe her eyes again. "I'll have you know that it's just my allergies acting up again."
Tori smirked. "Pretty convenient, those allergies."
Sira glared at her. "Not really, seeing how I'm allergic to every tree, flower, grass, and pollen in existence."
"And yet you still want a live Christmas tree."
"Because it wouldn't be Christmas without a real one." Sira squinted at the oven again. Deciding they were ready, she pulled them out and set them on the counter.
"You sure you're okay?"
Sira waved her off. "Yeah, I'm fine. Now stop delaying and go give your present to Kurama."
Tori stiffened. "I'm not delaying."
Sira smirked. "Liar."
Tori glared. "You know, sometimes I really don't like you."
"You'll thank me one day," Sira called after her. As soon as Tori left, Sira dropped her smile. She wasn't sad. There was no way she was sad. She just had the winter blues. That was all she had even if she didn't fully believe it herself.
The feeling of nerves tingled throughout Tori's body as she approached the group. Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama were talking on the couch completely oblivious to her nervousness.
How was she going to pull this off? It would be weird to give only Kurama a present now. They would know something was up.
Her mind was still blank as she rounded the couch. "So guys…"
Yusuke and Kuwabara looked like kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Both were in the process of tearing into gifts.
Kuwabara grinned sheepishly. "Uh, hi?"
Tori glared. "Seriously?"
Kurama held his hands up in defense. "I tried to stop them."
Yusuke shrugged. "I told you I don't trust Sira. For all I know she put a bomb in mine."
"She doesn't know how to make a bomb."
Yusuke smirked. "See? You don't deny it."
Tori was beginning to feel as if she was with two toddlers. Tori raised an eyebrow. "Wait, does that mean you don't trust me?"
Kuwabara shook his head vigorously. "No, you seem safe."
"Well, that's reassuring." Tori cast a glance back at the kitchen. This could be her chance. She just prayed Sira would forgive her for starting the unwrapping of presents early. "Fine. You can open them."
"All right," Kuwabara said.
"Sweet," Yusuke added before he began to tear at his present.
Tori scooped up her present and handed it to Kurama. "You might as well join in."
Kurama raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
Tori motioned to the other two who looked like human Tasmanian devils. "We're already on a sinking ship."
Kurama nodded. "Good point."
Tori waited as Kurama opened his present. She didn't realize how tense she was until she looked down and saw that her knuckles were white from clutching her pants so hard.
"Notes from the Underground?" Kurama held the book out in front of him.
Tori self-consciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I heard you were a fan of Dostoevsky."
Kurama nodded. "Indeed I am. Thank you."
Tori studied Kurama's face for any sign of recognition. For that moment they had the first time she gave the present to him. But, there was nothing. No spark. No sense of warmth. Just the cordial politeness he always had.
Kurama frowned. "Is something the matter?"
Tori winced as she quickly look away. "No. I-"
"What the hell!"
Everyone stiffened as they turned to the kitchen. Sira stood in the entranceway. Oven mitts were still on her hands and she looked pissed.
"We were getting in the Christmas spirit," Yusuke said as he possessively clutched his new mini punching bag.
"Tori said you wouldn't mind." Kuwabara added as he unconsciously stroked his new cat bobblehead.
Tori held her hands out. "I didn't say that. I just said that since they started they should just commit all the way."
Kurama smiled apologetically. "I hope you don't mind."
"No, it's okay. I'm glad everyone is getting in the Christmas spirit." She grinned evilly. "Though I'd stay away from the punch if I were you."
"We're here," Botan called out from the front of the apartment.
Tori flinched. Apparently Grim Reapers knew how to sneak into locked apartments with ease. That's a disturbing thought.
Botan entered followed by Keiko. Seeing the wreckage of the presents, she glared at Kuwabara and Yusuke. "Seriously?"
Keiko smiled at Sira and Tori. "Sorry about the other day. If I had known."
Tori shrugged. "No harm. No foul."
Sira nodded. "I'm just glad it's not cause you thought we were crazy weirdos."
"You are crazy weirdos," Yusuke muttered.
Botan smacked him upside of the head. "Don't say that. That's mean."
Yusuke glared at her. "Don't act so righteous. You're only mad because we started opening presents without you."
"Um…" Everyone turned to see Yukina standing at the entrance. Her jacket was still on, and she shrunk under their gazes. "Where should I hang my jacket?"
Kuwabara stood up, his face eager. "Yu-"
"YUKINA!" Tori and Sira yelled as they raced toward her.
Yukina looked terrified. "Do I know you?"
They stopped dead in their tracks and deflated. "You know," Tori sighed. "This is getting really old."
Sira nodded. "Seriously, it take the wind out of your sails."
Yukina shrunk within herself more. "Sorry?"
Botan smiled warmly. "We'll catch you up later."
Taking advantage of the moment, Kuwabara darted forward and took Yukina's jacket. "Here. Let me help you."
"Wait." An evil grin spread across Sira's face. "If Yukina's here…" She raced toward the tree, grabbed her present, and ran toward the kitchen.
Yusuke raised an eyebrow. "Is she okay?"
Tori sighed. "Yeah, but she's probably going to kill us all." She slowly followed Sira.
Just as Sira had predicted, by the time she got to the kitchen, Hiei was already creeping through the window.
"Oooh, we have stalker."
Hiei glanced up at Sira but didn't halt in his progress. "What do you want, human?"
"To give you a present." Sira held out the present as Hiei straightened up.
Hiei eyed it as if he were deciding whether to set it on fire or not. "Why?"
"Because I have the Christmas spirit." When Hiei made no move to take it, she glared at him. "Now open it."
Hiei held the present out as if it was disgusting as he slowly unwrapped it. Moments later, he pulled out a stress relief martian doll.
"To help you with your anger issues," Sira snickered. The annoyed expression on Hiei's face was worth the do over.
"Stupid girl," Hiei said under his breath.
Sira acted offended. "How dare you call me stupid. Bitch, I'm fabulous! You should be groveling at my feet."
"Hn," Hiei flitted away before Sira could react.
Asshole, Sira thought as she turned away. Tori stood behind her with her hands over her chest.
Sira's eyes narrowed. "No."
"But it's so beautiful."
"Stop it." Sira said through clenched teeth.
Tori smirked. "The first stages of true love."
"It's not true love. The asshole forgot me. He's my mortal enemy again." Sira stomped off for emphasis.
Tori slowly shook her head. "If you say so…if you say so…"
Before Sira could make it out of the door, a loud crack rang out. Sira turned back. "What was that?"
"I don't know," Tori said as she glanced outside. Her face paled. " Uh-oh."
"What's wrong?" Sira asked as she glanced outside. "Shit."
The sky was purple. Glancing down, people were frozen mid-motion. "So," Tori said as Sira glanced back at her. "Guess that whole lying low thing isn't going to work for us after all."
L.A.: Dun...Dun... Dun!
Amu:(is still shocked)
L.A.: In case you are wondering, the "Bitch I'm fabulous" part is a quote. Brownie Points for anyone who knows the reference.
Amu: (is still shocked)
L.A.: Are you still pouting?
Amu: I don't even know you any more.
L.A.: You'll live. Anywho, you know what to do. Read and REVIEW!
