A Tiger and Bunny Christmas Carol Chapter 2

FEAST YOUR EYES

DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER

ENJOY YOUR YULETIDE SEMANTIC ARGUMENTS

DO NOT OWN TIGER AND BUNNY

SWOOSH!

Lloyds landed on his face in a pile of creamy substance he hadn't allowed himself to enjoy since his teen years. Before he could figure out who would place a perfectly good strawberry shortcake on the floor, a booming voice laughed and pulled him to his feet. Surrounding the old skinflint were enough mince pies, turkeys, and candied fruits to feed a small nation. Joyfully laughing at his expense was a great, barrel-chested man with tan, healthy, rosy skin, great, strong arms and a wide, gleaming smile. He wore a green robe with white trim and a crown of plenty on his head.

"Alexander Lloyds! Stand not amazed! Look on this bounty with your greedy little eyes" boomed the giant of a man, gesturing to the gleaming food around him.

"I don't know who your caterer is Sir, but I would make it worth your while to do business with him" said Lloyds smoothly, while surveying the glorious food.

"AAAAhhhaaaa!" laughed the giant genially, shaking the room with ease. Lloyds fell behind this time. "This is no mortal feast! This is the fruit of generosity, which you have long denied your fellow man."

"Is that so?" said Lloyds sarcastically "If they had any complain bad enough to merit all of this, then I should have heard from my lawyer by now."

"LLOYDS!" barked the jovial spirit "You have ignored the plight of those around you for far too long. If you continue then, mark me, your own SOUL will bear the weight of ALL that sorrow through ETERNITY!" bellowed the giant, knocking over the mince pies for emphasis. "Come with me now. Hold on to my robe, and see what I see, and know what I know."

This time, the spirit and Lloyds were lifted into the streets, light as a gust of wind. They flew over the trees, hilltops, stop signs and train stations without notice. On and on they flew until they came to a small Japanese-style house nestled into the hilly, barren range. The spirit planted Lloyds' feet right outside the Kaburagi's window. He peered inside.

The whole house was warmly lit from top to bottom. A green sash tied to two of the kitchen posts read: Welcome Home Dad! In yellow and black. There were a scarce few small things under the tree. When Lloyds craned his neck he could see the Christmas dinner cooking in the kitchen.

"Can they really afford all this every year on this salary?"

"With how much you pay? No, Lloyds. They have another benefactor this year. Shall we look inside?"

Both of them phased in through the outer wall. Lloyds decided he didn't quite like the sensation.

"Hey dad! You're on your way, right? Oh…..so, but…you asked him right?" said a small feminine voice. Kaede Kaburagi paced out of the kitchen, phone in ear, wiping her hands on her floured apron as she sat down on the couch. Lloyd's stomack found an interesting new knotting sensation with every word. "But he said-….no, I know Dad, I just want you home-*gasp* Oh!-is he doing okay? Kaede's voice shot from disappointed to worried instantly. "What's going on? Yeah, we have the heated blanket…Grandma keeps some cold medicine but….uhuh…okay, I'll be right at the door…yeah, I'll set up the spare room-how far away are you?...okay…I know dad…love you too, buh-bye." Click.

"Grandma I'll be in the spare room for a minute, it's important!" called Kaede across the house to the kitchen. Anju stopped cooking to come in and listen to her obviously stressed granddaughter.

"Kaede honey, is everything alright?"

"Dad called, he said Barnaby isn't feeling good. Says it hurts him to breathe and he's coughing up stuff. He has a fever and chills now. And they're on their way over. He needs to rest when he gets here. And on Christmas Eve too! And dad…
Kaede looked at Anju who looked back at her knowingly.

"He's the only one who can really take care of Barnaby to make him feel better."

"What exactly does she mean by that?" asked Lloyds obliviously. "I was under the impression Barnaby hated the man. He certainly asked enough times for me to scrap the idea of being partners at all" said Lloyds. The spirit laughed again.

"It seems your veiled generosity has evolved into a great friendship. Few people will ever know how much Barnaby needs Kotetsu, especially in the state he's in now with the uncertainty concerning Jake."

Kotetsu opened the door carefully, calling out a 'Merry Christmas Everyone!" to the whole house. Barnaby clung to his shoulder, white as a sheet. He managed a weak 'Merry Christmas' and 'very sorry' mixed with incoherent mumbling toward Kaede, Anju and Muramasa through his face mask.

"What's wrong with Barnaby?" asked Lloyds immediately to the scowling spirit.

"Do you remember when he asked for Holiday Leave two days earlier than he intended? It wasn't for the holiday season. He couldn't hide his sickness very well anymore. He knew the likelihood of it getting approved. What he truly needed was rest. But he can do that on his own time, can he not?" Lloyds looked down slightly. "Now he is gravely ill in the middle of the countryside. And on Christmas no LESS!" boomed the Bull Tank of the West in a severe tone.

"Mister Barnaby, Merry Christmas! I'm really sorry you feel bad! Dad, the room is ready, and everything you asked for is in there."

Kotetsu ruffled her hair affectionately, grateful for her understanding.

"Thank you sweetheart. This could take a minute so how about you go help Grandma? Daddy couldn't be any prouder of you if he tried" Kotetsu says, slowly making his way to the back room amidst the worried glances of his family.

Curious, the pair followed Kotetsu and Barnaby to the spare room. "Uh-ah.." gasped Barnaby, his knees buckling slightly

"Allright that's enough of the tough act, Prancer" chided Kotetsu. He picked Barnaby up easy with his hundred power, not batting an eye as his partner shivered, coughing into his chest. Only the spirit and Lloyds could make out a low sigh of 'thank you' down the hallway.

"Does Kotetsu always take care of Barnaby this way?"

The great ghost seemed to swell with pride every time he looked in Kotetsu's direction.

"Lloyds," he said "If you started giving from tomorrow forward, for the rest of your life, it would still be a crumb next to the Feast of Spirit in that man's heart. I only pity you that you can't see it." The ghost of Christmas Present clamped a strong hand on Lloyd's shoulder and phased him into the room.

"Tetsu-please, g-go back and see everyone, I'll be fine now" Barnaby wheezed.

Kotetsu shook his head almost in laughter as he tucked him in, turning the electric blanket on 'High'.

"This is what happens when you don't take care of yourself, too Bunny. Family comes along and fixes it for you."

Barnaby smiled for a few seconds. Not long after taking the medicine Kaede had prepared, he made a few terrible choking sounds. Lloyds looked away, somewhat repelled by the sight of sickness. Kotetsu held the sick hero, thumping his back while keeping him close for warmth. The cold air outside didn't do him any favors, for sure.

"Tet-suu…m..sorry…"

"For what Bunny?" answered Tiger in a voice that chided Barnaby for apologizing about being sick. He wrapped another warm blanket around the sick hero and rustled through their family box of medicines.

"I wanted to…have fun at Christmas again…to forget the past, and be thankful for the people in my life…this year" whispered Barnaby before his breathing finally calmed down to a soft wheeze. "And I'm…hkackk!"

Kotetsu calmed him down with small, patient circles in his back again. Lloyds had never seen as genuine a smile as the one Barnaby gave Kotetsu in return.

"We will, I promise Bunny. I'm just sorry you have to spend Christmas Eve sick like this. If I could, I'd give us two whole weeks off" sighed Kotetsu, giving an exasperated look at the wall.

"….I know..and….Kot-tetsu?"

"Yeah, Bunny?"

"You're still the best gift that ever…ahappened to me-please….please don't leave.." Barnaby breathed.

Kotetsu's eyes furrowed as he watched Barnaby drift slowly into an uneasy sleep.

"I'm right here." Kotetsu whispers gently.

"It sounds like Pneumonia" said Lloyds disdainfully. "I'm sure as heroes they've seen much worse before. Although I still dispute your obvious accusation that Barnaby getting sick is my fault, I'll call as soon as possible and order him to see a doctor."

"It won't do any good" said the ghost disdainfully. Lloyds stopped trying to find his phone to make a mental note for when he got back. He seemed to be filled with outrage, shame, fear or a mix of the three.

"Battling sickness without morale from the ones you care about most is like fighting without armor. The smallest hit can….defeat you" said the spirit carefully. Lloyds stiffened at the tone of ghost Rock Bison's voice.

"Are you telling me that he will actually die within the night if Kotetsu specifically isn't there to take care of him?

The ghost looked away.

"I see…an empty chair at this table."

"What!?" stammered Lloyds like a reflex. "This-This is not a joke anymore. Whatever you call yourself if you claim to be good, you won't…let him die?"

"No? But what is dying to you?" countered the ghost. "Would you have the spirit of people around you die instead? Out of loneliness, sorrow, despair? When it's in your power to change that? You may as well kill him yourself. It would be a kinder fate" ended the spirit darkly.

Lloyds looked back at the Kaburagi's, weighing his options.

"I can't give them anything I don't have to give. The company is-"

"LLOOOOOYDS!" yelled the passionate ghost, clearly losing patience. "Don't you understand!? What is well in your reach to give you withhold for nothing but selfish gain! For the sake of humanity, think LESS like a business man, and more like a MAN!" thundered the giant, going out of focus.

"Spirit, I understand now I've fallen to the wayside in my expectations of people, and theirs of me, but that can be changed so easily. I'm not so bad at all, really, I-Spirit? Hello?"

A swirling darkness enveloped him, leaving his feet cold and senseless in the ground before a dimmer, snowier version of the Kaburagi residence.

Kotetsu opened the door soundlessly. His face was red from cold, or tears, or both. The life was drained from his posture. If he were any colder than he looked, he would have dropped on the spot.

Anju walked in the living room to see who came in the house. Her eyes met the ones of her broken son. His tie was missing and his shirt was ruffled. One sleeve was higher than the other, and his entire frame trembled. She never thought she would have to see that heartbroken look again, the same as those many years ago. Kotetsu looked down, falling to his knees at the doormat. The tears fell heavy on the 'Welcome' letters on the doormat. He pulled at his neck as though it itched, as though he had to get something away from himself to keep from choking. And then the tears stopped for a single second. From under his collar, his long fingers pulled slowly and deliberately on the end of the chain and held it, like a small bird, in his hand. Unfolding like a dream in his calloused palm, was a single, black ring.

Anju came forward, embracing him. There was hardly a sound, but Lloyds knew somehow, exactly what was said:

"I, I lost him, mom….I lost him, just like I lost her…" he sobbed into her shoulder.

"I know son, I know, shhh, shhhh….." mumbled the older woman, tears falling as freely as Kotetsu's.

"He looked so scared, I-drove as fast as I could but-it was too late."

"Shhh"

"He told me not to cry….that he loved me too much to see it…that it broke his heart-and-"

"And what, Kotetsu sweetheart?"

"Merry Christmas. He said-hic, oh, Barnaby….n-no…"

Kotetsu couldn't speak anymore, clutching the ring into his palm until blood dripped onto the wooden floor. Without knowing it, Alexander Lloyds had begun crying as well. Truly, he had his head in the sand these past few years. But was it really destined to be this way?

"Spirit! Where are you!? Tell me!" he yelled "Tell me if it's true! If these are things that will be, or that may be! PLEASE!

Darkness took him again, and Lloyds found himself even colder, face to face with the headstones of outer Stern Build. Lloyds dragged himself up from the ground, his eyes dim with recognition.

In place of the genial giant was a hooded figure, cloaked in colors of icy blue, steely gray, and a face hid in shadow. The figure gestured to the hill of gravestones, wrought with ice and frost. Lloyds looked around for anything in the area that didn't spell death.

"What? That sign! The street sign! I know this place….Barnaby would always tell me that he's going to Stonewall to get lunch for a bit, and-I don't see any restaurants in sight-"

A paperboy cap walking uneasily in front of his nose shut him up. Tiger carried a small plastic bag and clutching paperwhites in his other hand. Taking his time, he stepped in front of the new, black headstone set to the right of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks. He sat down.

"I brought your favorite" he said in a casual voice. Only someone who knew Kotetsu would know how raspy it sounded. A bystander wouldn't notice the difference. This new voice had been tried too often and too long with lament and occasional screaming. Lloyds looked on carefully as Kotetsu arranged the paperwhites, their bright presence complimenting the snow and ice.

Kotetsu ate in silence, letting the wind carry away any sound of his quiet sobbing, munching, talking, or being there, at all. Lloyds shook his head over and over, this vision burning itself into his brain. "I don't understand….Why? Why Barnaby? Why death!? This shouldn't happen, it's not-This can't happen, it, it would destroy them both! Something this small! I can't believe it! Spirit! I understand now! I can change this, just give me the chance!"

The spirit said nothing but violently pointed at Lloyds with all the menace of a viper. Lloyds' heart jumped into his throat. It was then he realized that the spirit was pointing behind him, to a freshly dug grave. The headstone was well carved and ornate. Snow covered the inscription. Lloyds turned as white as that snow.

"S-Spirit, you have to answer me, whose…grave is this?"

The spirit glowed blue and in a sudden fiery blue blast of light, the snow flash boiled away from the headstone, leaving the name: Alexander J. Lloyds blaring in the sun.

"It belongsss….." whispered the ominous figure "to the man who forsake the gift of life"

Lloyds could only see a bright blue hand threatening his life. His heels teetered on the edge of the grave.

"no…NO! No Spirit! Spirit please! I will change! Keep Christmas alive in my heart! Give everything I have to give and cherish it! I will have new renewed faith in my fellow man! Another chance is all I ask! I can CHANGE!"

"Then…let justice be done."

All of the headstones in Stern Build Cemetery were bathed in blue light.