Rika: Enjoy the first chapter! Remember, italics are either emphasis or flashbacks! '=_'s POV=' is when we switch their POVs, naturally!

Sora: Rika, save that for the bottom!

Rika: Mm, fine... *pouts*

December 23

2:00 P.M.

Shopping District

=Rin's Point-of-View=

"How about this yellow shirt?"

"I got ten sets of those from Kaito last Christmas."

"Hey, how about that toy road roller?"

"Rin… I'm fourteen, remember? And besides, Miku got me fifteen of those last Christmas."

"Okay… How about this baseball glove? Look, it's yellow, and very… expensive."

"Luka gave me one box of that last Christmas."

"… Damn those rich bastards."

"Eh, why are they…? Whatever, anyway, I gave away most of them since I didn't need them all."

"Still… why must you make gift searching so… hard?"

"You say something?"

"No…"

Ugh, we've been here at the mall for about half the day and we still haven't found anything! And apparently, anything I've set my eyes on was already given to Len as a Christmas present! And I can't exactly give him a homemade gift; last time I tried that, my house had to be renovated. Don't ask what happened. So, we're here, sitting on some bench in the shopping district, empty-handed.

"Hey, Rin," Len asked me as he shifted uncomfortably next to me on the bench, "I think it's better if we split up, you know.

Ugh, I'm so tired, I can't even argue anymore. I nodded.

"Well, let's get something to eat for now…" He murmured.

3:00 P.M.

Shopping District

= Len's Point-of-View =

"Hey, how about that toy road roller?"

"I want a real one. The life-sized, working one."

"Er… I'm not sure how I can afford that… hey! How about a new phone…?"

"Neru gave me five last Christmas…"

"… Damn those rich bastards."

"Eh, how come I feel like we've had this conversation before?"

"Still… why… must you make gift searching so… hard?"

"… no, seriously. Hey, did you say something?"

"Nah, c'mon, let's continue searching."

She's not making it any easier for me, now is she?

"Hey, Rin," I said. She didn't look at me. What was she looking at? Ah… a jewelry store. Maybe she wants something from there?

"You wanna go there?" I asked. She shook her head.

"No, I, uh, just thought of how pretty that topaz pendant looked." Rin replied.

Hm… maybe I will check that store out later.

"Well, I'm off." She said. I waved my hand in response.

"Sure, see you later." I said, smiling. Ah, there she goes. I better get moving. I approached the jewelry store, the sign saying, "England's Finest!"

"Welcome, sire!" A boy around my age said with an accent. Somehow, he wore a sailor captain's outfit, had bandages around one of his legs, and there was a bird perched on his hat.

"Uh… yeah… Are you, by any chance, the store owner?" I inquired.

"Ah!" The blonde-haired boy squeaked. He wore a name tag that said, 'Oliver'. I get the feeling he's not really Japanese.

"N-No, but I am the owner's son! I shall take over for today! Tell me what you need, and we'll give you the finest jewelry from our birthplace!" He added. Well, he certainly is nationalistic. And proud of his country.

"Ah, yes, may I please see that topaz pendant?" I asked.

He showed it to me. It was a silver chain with a round, mirror-like shape at the middle, and an orange topaz was embedded on its center. The price tag was 5, 000¥. Well, I think I could afford that much, but I'd be left with only enough money for going home. It's alright with me, if it's for Rin's Christmas present.

"It's perfect!" I said. "I want to buy this pendant. Can you wrap it?" He nodded.

"Hm, certainly, sire. What would you like its chain length to be?"

Eh, wha? "N-No, not for me, it's for a girl…" I mumbled.

"Ah, I see! For a girlfriend, I suppose!" He answered with a jolly tone. I blushed.

Hehe… 'girlfriend'… I like the sound of that…

"Ah, then I believe the chain's length would be enough for a girl's neckline." He said to me.

I handed him the money and he placed it inside the cash register, handing me some change. He then went to the back of the store, probably to get some wrapping paper.

He came back and started wrapping the pendant with some beautiful orange gift wrapping paper. After he had carefully wrapped the pendant, he handed it to me in a brown paper bag.

He tapped me on the shoulder. "That girl must be very lucky to have you!" He chuckled. I blushed.

"Well," he said, "since you're giving it as a Christmas present, how about I let you off this time? Tell you what, I'll price it at 5, 000¥ and I won't charge for the wrapping fee." The boy said.

I smiled at him. "Thank you so much, kind sir!" I said.

"No, no, it's no problem at all, sire. And call me 'Oliver'!" Oliver replied.

"Thank you again so much, Oliver." I said. "Well, don't make her wait now; Merry Christmas!" He replied.

"And a Merry Christmas to you, too!" I said. I bowed at him and he bowed back before I left his store. Well, that's one gift down, one more to go…

Author's Notes:

Sora: Now you can say whatever you want.

Rika: Mu, sorry... I'm new at this.

Akagi: Alright, alright, nothing too much of a bother, though. Whatever. Thank you to whoever took their time to read Rika's story.

Rika: Reviews and criticisms are very much appreciated! :D

Sora: Until the next chapter! Next up is Len's Birthday Gift!

Akagi: Yes, it seems confusing that Len is shopping for Rin's Christmas gift and Rin is shopping for Len's birthday gift, but remember, it's a bit of a plot point, plus the fact that the Kagamines' birthday is on the 27th of December!

Rika: Advanced happy birthday to them! See ya next time!