Ryo could not help but smile a little as he, Hiro, and Shuichi struggled with the Christmas tree. The stubborn artificial plant had not changed any since he had first bought it, and he felt more than a little grateful the singer had decided to refrain from eating the candy cane his best friend brought to him earlier in the day. The confection would probably have been covered in fake pine needles, rendering it inedible until they were through fighting with the tree, though the thought of the peppermint-flavoured candy receiving any kind of attention from Shuichi sent a tiny surge of jealousy throughout the sandy-haired detective. It was irrational, of course, being envious of a candy cane, but, for as silly and as irrational as it was, the emotion was within Ryo nonetheless. He wanted to be the candy cane, he wanted to be the one Shuichi pressed his lips against and lavished attention upon, and he wanted Shuichi in ways he never imagined he could feel again. Only one other had ever brought such intense and emotions out of Ryo, something the detective believed he would live without once that person had left his life. After Dee and Bikky's deaths earlier that year, Ryo feared he would never find someone to love him for who he was and what he could never be. He also avoided thinking of the future and how it was turning out to be very bleak and very lonely.

Now Ryo could see he would not be alone, and he felt it was because of Dee and Bikky that he now had Shuichi in his life. It was a rather strange notion for the detective, especially since he was not a firm believer in ghosts, spirits, God, or anything else supernatural or religious in nature. However, he found himself thinking along such lines nonetheless. Someone had brought Shuichi to him and at a time when Ryo needed a friendly and unbiased face in his life. Now, because of Shuichi, Ryo was meeting more people and learning how to trust and to love again. His smile grew a little wider.

Roughly twenty-minutes later, the three men wrestled the artificial Christmas tree into its stand to Ryo's specifications – he liked things to appear nice and tidy – and they each slumped into a chair or the couch, breathing out sighs of relief. Ryo noticed Shuichi sat very close to him, heat radiating from the younger man's body to warm him. He reached over and brushed a few stray strands of hair out of Shuichi's eyes. The singer smiled in return then promptly snuggled himself against Ryo. Of their own accord, his arms wrapped around Shuichi in a gentle embrace.

"That was fun," the singer said. "For a little while, anyway."

"You would think that was fun," Hiro commented. Shuichi stuck his tongue out at his friend, causing Ryo to laugh a little. In a weird way, it was kind of like watching Dee with Bikky, only without the disrespect and the colourful name-calling. His adopted son and his lover had been like that at times, and it warmed Ryo's heart to know that, wherever the two were, they were watching over him. He hugged Shuichi a little then kissed the top of the singer's head.

"We'll decorate the tree in a few minutes," he said, interrupting any further verbal sparring. "Anyone want something to drink in the meantime?"

"No, thanks," Hiro said, shaking his head. He, too, was smiling, and he seemed rather please, in Ryo's mind, at seeing the current display of affection between Ryo and Shuichi. "I'm going to have go soon anyway. Before K decides to send an army after me."

"He wouldn't do that," Ryo said.

"Yes he would," Shuichi said. "K's crazy like that. You could always call him, though. Let him know you'll be staying a bit longer . . . can't you, Hiro?"

"I could," the guitarist conceded in a hesitant manner. "However, I thought I'd give you two some time alone. I've been here all day."

"You can stay longer," Ryo said. "I don't mind."

"I don't, either!" Shuichi chimed in. "Stay a little longer. Please?"

For a moment, Hiro stared at the two. His eyes were alight with many emotions, and his smile grew a little warmer. Then the guitarist shook his head.

"Not today, Shu," he murmured. "Besides, I'm picking Ayaka up at the airport later. I don't want K scaring the living hell out of her when she arrives."

From what Ryo knew, Ayaka was Hiro's fiancé, and she was traveling to New York for the first time. According to the guitarist and Shuichi, Ayaka hailed from a traditional family. The woman grew up as a shrine maiden, and her parents had arranged her marriage to one Eiri Uesugi, an arrangement Shuichi somehow managed to get called off. Ryo thought it was a lousy deal and rather selfish of Shuichi at first, but then Hiro explained Ayaka wanted Eiri to be happy. Since the now deceased novelist had been happy with the singer, she stepped to the side, and the breaking of their engagement had led Ayaka to Hiro. Shuichi and Ayaka actually liked each other once the formalities and the initial dislikes were out of the way, and the young girl had been among the first to comfort the singer after his partner's murder. Despite her traditional upbringing, Ayaka knew what she desired in her life, and Ayaka wanted to spend the upcoming holiday season with Hiro. Since he was in New York, she made the preparations to join him. Her flight was due to arrive within the next three hours. Hiro's reminder of Ayaka's impending arrival gave Ryo an idea.

"Bring her by," he said. Hiro tilted his head, a bit baffled by what the detective was saying.

"Come again?"

"Bring Ayaka by," Ryo replied. "If you want, Shuichi and I can wait until later to decorate the tree. You can bring your fiancé over, and she can help us with it. I'll even have food ready for when you get back."

"You sure?" Hiro asked, frowning. "I don't want to impose on either of you."

"Don't worry about it," Ryo said, his tone assuring. "Besides, I'd like to meet Ayaka while she's here. And I'm sure Shuichi wouldn't mind seeing her again, either."

"I wouldn't," the singer murmured. "I agree with Ryo. We can have dinner together . . . like a double date or something."

"All right . . . sounds good to me, and I'm sure Ayaka won't mind, either." Hiro's frown turned into a smile. He then rose to his feet. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Ryo said. "We'll see you in a few hours, okay?"

"Okay," Hiro said. "I'll see you in a few."

The guitarist then left, and Ryo glanced at the dark-haired man he held in his arms. Shuichi's eyes were glowing with love and happiness, and he shifted so he straddled Ryo's lap. His lips brushed against Ryo's in a faint kiss, and the sandy-haired detective caught a hint of peppermint from the singer's candy cane. Ryo returned the favour.

"Thank you," Shuichi murmured. "You don't know how much they mean to me."

"I think I do," Ryo replied, his hands resting on Shuichi's waist. He smiled. "In fact, I can tell from looking at you."

For a moment, Shuichi simply stared at Ryo. The love and happiness the detective had first noted were shining even brighter, and they were mingling with what Ryo believed to be adoration. Then the singer kissed him once again, this time a little more passionately, and Ryo found himself responding with a similar emotion, the taste of candy cane still on the singer's lips . . .