On Trees, Hot Chocolate and

Why Stop-Motion Christmas Specials Are Evil

Part VI

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Fluff goes away for now... but not long! And I will finish this!

DISCALIMER: Not mine . . . yet.

Watanuki had been having a wonderful time. He had forgotten all about his previous reluctance to come to the fair, and was now busy drawing a Christmas picture for his parents. His twin had run off somewhere with Sakura after finishing his own picture, a scribbley drawing of a decorated tree. Watanuki was a lot more meticulous... he put time into his work, careful where every crayon line fell on the sheet of red construction paper. It was a snowy landscape, with little green fir trees and hills and a bright sun... he considered it, not bad, though the red paper completely ruined the affect of snow he decided. Oh well, it was green or red, and he'd wanted the trees to show up. He then picked up a new black crayon and started to write his name- his whole name, Watanuki Kimihiro Fluorite. His brother couldn't manage his whole name, Li Syaoran Fluorite, and Watanuki prided himself on the ability.

"Oh, look, its little Kimi-chan! Hello Kimi!" a familiar voice said.

Watanuki glanced upwards, "Hello Doumeki's Grandpa," he said, "You can't call me that."

The man nearly laughed at the brash declaration, and the misuse of his name, "Really, why not?"

"Because, that's Mommy's name for me... and Daddy said that your second name is only for your family and friends to use."

"Aren't we friends?" Haruka asked.

Watanuki scrutinized him a moment, thinking, "You can call me Kimihiro," he finally decreed, "but not Kimi-chan."

That earned him a warm smile, "That's wonderful, we have permission to call him Kimihiro now, Doumeki."

That was the first time Watanuki noticed the boy standing next to his grandfather silently. "Oh, no," he said, "You can, he can't!"

"And why not?"

"Because," Watanuki answered logically, "I'm not his friend!"

"That's not very nice; Shizuka is always nice to you."

"No," Watanuki declared, glaring at the boy, "He's annoying."

Doumeki shrugged, like it didn't bother him at all if he were declared annoying.

"Well, then, I guess we'll go, and leave you to your art work. Come on Shizuka," the man said, leading Doumeki away.

Watanuki watched as his most hated enemy left, and then turned to gather up his drawing, that of his brother and the various plastic nick-knacks he'd won for prizes. His intent was to go find the table his parents were at again, and show them the drawings, and the plastic ring, bracelet and lizard he'd managed to obtain. He set off rather confidently, sure he knew the way, even thought he was at the back side of the games tent.

That was when he was sure he saw something shining, just beyond the tent in the nearby bushes out of the corner of his eye. When he turned to face them, he was certain, there was something there. Watanuki hesitated, knowing he wasn't supposed to leave the tent, but still possessing a child's natural curiosity. In a moment, he went of toward the bushes.

And of course, that was when he screamed.