"The sixth thing of Christmas that's such a pain to me...facing my in-laws!"

"Um, I'm so sorry ma'am," Tohru said quickly. "I...I wasn't watching where I was going, and it's my fault that-"

"I asked you a question," the woman said sharply. "How do you know my Yuki?"

Tohru paused, eyes wide. "Y-you know Yuki Sohma?"

"I'm his mother," the woman said stiffly, as if it should be obvious.

Tohru brightened up. "Oh! How wonderful!" She bowed quickly. "A pleasure to meet you, ma'am. Yuki has never mentioned you before...but I am sure there is a good reason enough for-"

"So you're the little wretch who is living with my son," the woman said, her eyes unreadable.

"She does all the work and cooking and cleaning in the house," Momiji said defensively, standing in front of Tohru while Haru was a looming shadow over the dark haired girl.

"We were Christmas shopping!" Tohru explained. "And I was finishing up my list of presents for the Sohma's."

"She got rutabaga pie," Kisa said softly.

"Oh," Yuki's mother said. "A peasant's dish. I should not be surprised that my son has stooped so low. The ungrateful brat had scorned Akito's wonderful, generous offer to stay at the Sohma Household, and instead decided to rid himself of everything I had worked so hard for." She sniffed. "He never fully did appreciate what everyone sacrifices for him. Including me."

"Well, you must not have sacrificed enough," Hiro commented with a wry smirk, earning a startled gasp from Tohru.

"Anyway," the Sheep of the Zodiac continued. "We do have a lot to do. Presents to find, food to cook, witches to melt, that sort of thing."

"It-it was a pleasure to see you Mrs. Sohma!" Tohru said as Haru dragged her away. But no sooner had she been dragged away then did she bump into someone else.

"You have got to be kidding me," Hiro grumbled.

But Tohru brightened up at the pleasant face she saw. "Kazuma Sohma!" she said brightly.

Kazuma blinked before smiling at who he saw. "Miss Honda," he said, adjusting the shopping bag he was holding.

Haru nodded. "Sensi."

Kazuma's smile widened when he noticed the Ox. "Haru, it is a pleasure to see you." He turned his attention back to Tohru. "And what might you all be doing here?"

"Shopping!" Tohru said, holding up her bag.

"We got a rutabaga pie," Kisa said with a smile.

Kazuma frowned, curious. "Rutabaga? I will have to try that sometime."

"You can come over for dinner tonight!" Tohru said with excitement. "Oh! That is, if you are not too busy."

Kazuma smiled. "Of course, I would be delighted."

"It seems as if she's inviting the whole Sohma family," Haru commented, folding his arms with wry amusement.

"Do you think you have enough food?" Kisa asked, tugging on Tohru's sleeve.

Tohru smiled. "Of course! Besides, Yuki is already preparing the dinner ahead of time to help me."

Haru, Hiro, Momiji, and even Kazuma looked alarmed at this declaration, but they said nothing else. Kazuma plastered a smile on his face. "How...wonderful," was all he managed to say.

"Yes," Haru agreed with a grimace. "Wonderful." Despite how much he cared for Yuki, even he had to agree that the Rat was not exactly talented when it came to cooking.

That was a nice way of putting it.

"Interesting," a sudden voice said, startling them.

Tohru squeaked, turning with wide eyes to regard a dark haired girl who was standing behind them.

"Hana!" she exclaimed with a wide smile. "W-what are you doing here?"

"Shopping," Hanna said simply, holding up a chip bag. "Kyo made me lose my last bag when he pushed me down the hill, remember?"

Tohru blinked before a light blush came across her face. "O-oh. Yes, I remember." She remembered all too well the tree hunting incident that involved several damaged trees, a bruised and battered Kyo, and a frost bitten Yuki.

Kazuma frowned, confused. "Kyo pushed you down a hill?"

"Yes," Hana said, though her expression softened when she saw Kazuma, and her eyes seemed to shine as she pushed a strand of dark hair back behind her ear. "Though I am unsure why."

"He might have wanted to play!" Tohru said quickly, trying to divert attention away from Kyo, as well as all the cursed Sohma cousins that were at risk of being discovered by Hana. It did not go unnoticed by Tohru how Hana's eyes kept observing Haru, Hiro, Momiji and Kisa. No doubt, she was sensing their strange waves.

Kazuma seemed to understand the situation, and he directed Tohru and the other cousins away. "Miss Honda," he said smoothly. "Why don't you finish up your shopping, and I will see you all at dinner tonight?"

Tohru smiled, relieved to have a polite excuse to leave her friend, even though she really did want to spend some time with Hana. "Alright," she agreed. "I will see you later, Hana!" With that, she and the Sohma's beat a hasty retreat, not looking back.

"Have you come to do a bit of Christmas shopping too?" Kazuma asked, trying to distract Hana from the retreating Sohma's.

Hana looked away from where Tohru and the others were leaving and focused her attention back on Kazuma. She smiled, her expression lighting up her face. "Not really. I am not shopping for anything in particular."

He smiled back. "Perhaps we can grab a quick cup of coffee if you are not too busy."

"Wonderful," she replied. "I will just have to drop my brother off."

Kazuma frowned, confused. "Your brother?" he echoed.

She nodded. "Yes." She moved out of the way, and it was in that moment that he realized that there had been a young boy standing behind Hana. He had the same dark hair and dark eyes as his sister. Even their expressions were similar. It was unnerving to say the least.

Kazuma blinked before he grinned. "Ah, I can see the resemblance."

"Really?" Hana asked, glancing at her brother who had yet to look away from Kazuma. "Because I do not."

"We do not look anything alike," her brother said blankly. He then looked up at his sister. "Oh, look Hana, your chips are there."

Hana blinked before looking in the direction her brother was pointing. "Ah, you are right." She drifted off, leaving Kazuma and her brother alone for a brief moment.

It was all the moment her brother needed.

"My sister likes you," he stated, startling Kazuma. "If you do anything to hurt her, I will curse you."

Kazuma's frown deepened. Being a Sohma, he knew plenty about curses, and he had no intention of being put under one. "You can do that?" he stated.

"I know your name, it is all I need to place a curse," he said simply.

Kazuma nodded, a bit put off by the boy's threat. "I see." He was all too relieved when Hana came back with her chips, and he was relieved that her brother would not be joining them for coffee.

Kyo struggled with the tree on the car, cutting at the rope that was keeping the tree tied together. In response, the tree swung out and smacked him in the face. He let out a yelp, sputtering and spitting out needles as his face became scratched from the sharp needles

"You should have seen that coming," Yuki commented from the other side of the car as he too was struggling with the tree.

"Shut up," Kyo muttered. He was glad that Ritsu was inside, still sorting through the bills. He would have had to have listened to his pathetic apologies all over again.

But the darn Rat's company wasn't any better.

"Alright," he muttered. "We are getting this tree inside."

Yuki nodded, although Kyo could not see it.

"Are you listening to me?" Kyo demanded.

Yuki sighed, rolling his eyes as he grabbed the tree. "Yes, you stupid Cat," he muttered.

Kyo grunted. "Alright, on three."

But the countdown didn't matter as they wound up dragging the tree off of the car instead of whatever plan they had thought up. After much shuffling, branch slapping and scratching, the tree was finally off of the car.

It was then they both noticed the damage on the car roof.

Kyo swore while Yuki rubbed the back of his neck tiredly. Both teens looked at each other before shrugging.

"Oh well," Yuki said simply. "Not our car."

Kyo opened his mouth to respond before a very loud voice caught his attention and caused him to freeze in fright.

"KYO!" a female voice shrieked, accompanied by the sound of thudding feet.

"Oh no," Kyo muttered, breaking out into a run. He barely got three steps before Kagura collided into him.

"MY LOVE!" Kagura exclaimed, hugging him. "Why didn't you invite me over for the holidays? Why?" she weeped. Soon, however, her weeping turned into rage. "WHY? Do you not want to spend time with me?"

"K-Kagura!" Kyo gasped as he struggled to breath. He tried to avoid her flying fists as she attacked him.

"Kagura," Yuki stated calmly. "We still need Kyo to finish up with the Christmas tree."

Kagura stopped, eyes wide. "Christmas tree?" she repeated.

"Yep," Kyo groaned as Kguara finally released him. "We have a lot of work to do and-"

"So that's why you didn't have time to visit me," Kagura said softly. "Oh Kyo! You've been working so hard on the holidays! You will make a wonderful provider for our family!"

"I ain't becoming a provider for your family!" Kyo yelped.

"Yes you will! You are already great husband material! Look at how much you are slaving over that firewood!" she exclaimed.

Both Yuki and Kyo blinked. "Fire wood?" they both echoed. It was then they noticed she was pointing to the Christmas tree.

Kyo scoffed. "With all the trouble it's been causing us, I am looking forward to the day I get to chop it into little pieces."

"Kagura," Yuki said suddenly. "Would you like to help Kyo with this tree? I am sure that is what an amazing wife does for her...wonderful provider of a husband-"

He needn't say anymore as Kagura hastily snatched up the tree with incredible strength that left both Yuki and Kyo shocked. "I WILL ASSIST YOU MY LOVE!" Kagura screamed as she launched herself at Shigure's house with the tree, mowing over the front door.

"It appears we will need a new door," Yuki commented. He then glanced at Kyo with a smirk. "You are welcome."

"Shut up," Kyo muttered. Though he had to admit, manipulating Kagura to do the heavy lifting, literally, had been a good idea.

But that was where Kagura's helpfulness ended. Kyo and Yuki could not coordinate with the Christmas tree lights, and Kagura tried to be the 'perfect housewife.'

"No!" Kyo exclaimed. "There are not enough lights on the bottom of the tree! It is going to look naked!"

"Stop your fussing," Yuki snapped back. "I'm working on it."

"Not fast enough!"

"Kyo darling!" Kagura sang as she waltzed in with a tray. "I made you some hot chocolate. You must be hungry after all this work."

Yuki frowned before his eyes widened. "Food! I forgot to make dinner!"

"Darn Rat," Kyo muttered as he struggled once more with the lights. "Only you could mess that up. Kagura makes a better housewife than you!"

Kagura's eyes widened at Kyo's statement. "You are right my love!" She set the tray down before racing after a frantic Yuki. "Hold up Yuki! I will show you how to prepare a proper meal." She glanced at Kyo with a look. "Like a proper wife!"

"I am not trying to be a wife!" Yuki exclaimed as he started pulling pots and pans out at random with no clear idea of what he was doing.

"Step aside," Kagura said, hip-butting Yuki. "I shall teach you how to make dinner!"

"Kyo," Ritsu said unhelpfully, creeping towards the Cat. "Do you-?"

"I'm trying to rig up these lights!" Kyo roared, sending Ritsu stumbling back.

"Gotta make 'em dinner!" Kagura sang happily while Yuki moaned and banged his head on the wall.