The eleventh thing of Christmas that's such a pain to me...stale TV specials!
Kyo finally stood back, eyeing everything around him with a warning glare.
If anyone, and he meant, anyone, tried to mess with his tree and lights, they would find themselves in a very shallow grave.
Somehow, even without words, his message was understood and everyone stayed a safe distance from the tree, including the pathetic Charlie Brown tree.
However, that did not stop Shigure and Ayame from commenting on the small stump.
"It looks so sad," Ayame commented, tilting his head as he regarded the Charlie Brown tree.
Shigure nodded, mirroring Ayame's movements. "It will be the first to go. Not much firewood on that one."
"You will not be tossing my tree into the fire," Kyo grouched as he snatched the remote and clicked the TV on.
Ayame clapped his hands joyfully when he noticed what was on the TV. "Oh! I know this Christmas special! The Grinch that Stole Christmas!"
Shigure beamed, elbowing his cousin in the ribs. "Remember how we convinced Ritsu that the Grinch had eaten Santa to take his place? Ha! We traumatised him for sure!"
Kyo scowled and flipped to a different channel, trying to find something remotely different.
"Kyo," Shigure started curiously. "Why are you not in the kitchen assisting Kagura and Yuki?"
Kyo shot him a look of disbelief. "Kagura and Yuki; need I say more?" He turned back to the television. "Besides, they kicked me out."
Shigure blinked. "I would have thought Yuki would have been kicked out by Kagura for his...lack of talent in the kitchen."
Ayame sighed. "That is something I will have to personally teach my brother! It will strengthen our brother bond!"
"Shut up," Kyo snapped. "I am trying to listen!"
Ayame frowned, glancing at the TV. "To Christmas Vacation?"
"Oh that's my favorite!" Shigure exclaimed. "My favorite is the one with that hot model in the red bathing suit." He whistled. "Sizzling hot!"
Ayame playfully shoved him, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Oh Gure, how your dirty mind works."
Shigure smirked. "You still got those gift cards for the ladies?" he asked.
Kyo frowned at that. "Gift cards?" he asked, turning to look at them. "What gift-?" He paused when he saw the gift-cards that Ayame flashed to him. His eyes widened and he choked. "Why would you get...what is wrong with you?" He hoped they hadn't got one for Tohru. If they did, they were both dead.
"Oh, they're not for us," Shigure said simply. "I think they would look better on a woman anyway."
"On the contrary," Ayame declared. "I think I could pull it off!"
Kyo looked sick.
"Those lacey patterns and nice, elegant designs!" Ayame droned on.
Kyo turned a bright shade of red, gagging.
"Don't forget how it-" Shigure started.
"ALRIGHT!" Kyo shouted frantically, changing the channel once more.
Both Shigure and Ayame brightened up considerably when they saw what was on next. "Oh! Scrooged!" they both squealed happily.
"Haven't seen that one in years!" Shigure said with a wide smile.
"Oh! This is my favorite scene," Ayame said, leaning forward eagerly.
His favorite scene, as Kyo would find, was the skimpy women at the office party giggling around leeching men. One lady was sitting on a printer with her skirts-
Nope! Kyo quickly changed the channel, his face a whole different shade of red at this point. Both Ayame and Shigure whined as the screen changed.
But then they both brightened up at the next Christmas special that showed up on screen.
"Everytime a bell rings, an angel gets its wings!" a little girl on the TV exclaimed.
"It's a Wonderful Life!" both Shomas said happily.
Kyo tilted his head, seeing no problem with this particular Christmas special. Unfortunately, it seemed to be coming to an end as the credits rolled on. Perfect, just when he thought he had found something decent.
"Such a shame," Shigure sighed.
"Such a classic," Ayame agreed.
Kyo sighed, annoyed that he was being foiled at every single attempt at watching something. Maybe he should just pick up a book and read. Reluctantly, he clicked to the next channel with a bored expression.
"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
You really are a heel!
You're as cuddly as a cactus,
You're as charming as a eel."
"Shigure," Ritsu started, coming in with his eyes focused on a notepad he was holding. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but-" He stopped when he saw the green grinch on the TV screen, the cartoons wide, famous grin startling him.
Ritsu dropped the notepad, eyes wide with terror as a scream unlike anything Kyo had ever heard tore out of the Monkey's throat.
"HE ATE SANTA!" he screamed, pointing an accusing finger at the TV. He then gasped, covering his mouth. "I'm too loud! I ruined the movie! I am so sorry! I apologize!"
"Shigure! Ayame!" Kyo hollored to the other two Sohmas. "Do something!"
The two just looked at each other with similar smirks, and it was then that Kyo realized his mistake.
"Poor Santa," Shigure sighed sadly.
"The Grinch really did a number on him," Ayame said with a hand on his heart.
Momiji looked around the parking lot with confusion, a frown on his face.
"And Hatori did not tell you where he had parked?" Hiro demanded, hands on his hips.
Momiji placed a finger on his lips, looking thoughtful. "Um, I assumed he would come pick us up."
"How could he pick us up if he didn't know where we were?" Haru stated.
Momiji sighed, pulling out his phone. "I'll just call him," he muttered.
However, after waiting several moments to the ringing phone, and receiving no answer whatsoever, Momiji felt a small bit of fear worm its way into his heart.
As Tohru waited patiently, she brightened up when she noticed a certain blonde woman. "Arisa!" she exclaimed happily, waving her hands happily to catch her friends attention.
Airsa blinked and pushed her blonde hair out of the way as she approached Tohru and the others. "What are you doing wandering around the parking lot?" she asked, blinking as she glared at everyone but Tohru.
Tohru smiled brightly. "Trying to find the car."
Arisa's frown deepened. "You lost your car?"
"Not really our car," Momiji said quickly. "Our cousin is actually picking us up, but we don't know where he parked."
"He normally drives a black car," Haru stated, as if to be helpful.
Arisa glanced around the parking lot, where cars of all sizes and colors were parked. She raised an eyebrow. "Good luck," she answered. She looked back at Tohru. "Are we still on for Christmas carols tonight?"
Tohru blinked before she let out a startled gasp. "I completely forgot about that! I am so sorry! I got so caught up in the shopping and decorations and-"
"Tohru," Arisa laughed. "Relax, we still have time." She leaned over to pick up one of the bags at Tohru's feet. "I'll help you with your bags to the car."
It took them awhile to find the car, and it had been Haru who had stopped them all by casually pointing out Hatori snoring in the car.
"Found him!" Momiji exclaimed happily. He went to pull open the door, only to frown and realize that it was locked. He started pulling on it frantically, until Haru gently pushed him out of the way. Sticking his hands through the halfway open window, he unlocked the car with ease.
"Hope you find the house easier then you find the car," Arisa commented as she helped load up the groceries. "Be sure to take a look at the carols we'll be singing."
Tohru nodded quickly in understanding. "Thank you Arisa! I'll see you tonight!"
"I look forward to it," she said with a smile. Her smile, however, turned into a smirk. "But if you do see Kyo again, tell him to where chapstick next time he kisses a girl. His lips were a bit chapped."
As she walked away, everyone stared at her, then back to a blushing Tohru. "Wait," Momiji started, confused. "Kyo kissed Arisa?"
"Details for later," Haru said, though his curiosity was certainly aroused. "You can tell us in the car," he said, looking at Tohru who grew increasingly uncomfortable.
"Yo, Hatori," Hiro said, tapping the doctor on the shoulder. "Wake up!"
But Hatori just rolled over in the seat with a tired sigh, not listening to any of them. He seemed dead to the world, uninterested in anything but sleep.
"Poor Hatori," Tohru sighed. "Having a hangover must be really bad."
Haru looked at her sharply. "Hangover?" He shrugged. "Oh well. Then it can't be helped." With that, he shoved Hatori into the passenger seat and slid into the driver seat. Hatori did not even grunt as he was pushed aside, but rather, curled into himself and sighed tiredly.
"Get in," Haru said to the others.
"Yay!" Momiji cheered, jumping into the back seat with Hiro, Kisa and Tohru. "Haru's going to drive!"
"Um, do you have a driver's license?" Tohru asked nervously as she buckled up.
"I have my permit," Haru said simply as he started the car.
Hiro frowned. "Don't you need an adult in the car with you to drive?"
"We got one," Haru said, jerking a thumb at the slumbering Hatori.
"I'm pretty sure they have to be awake and sober," Hiro said. But he shrugged and buckled up as Haru pulled out of the parking space.
Tohru squeezed her hands nervously as Haru began to drive. But she soon let out a sigh of relief when everything went a bit smoothly.
She was soon rethinking that train of thought when they drove onto the street and Haru hit the gas. Everyone let out a yelp as he speed up, and Tohru's eyes widened in horror. "H-Haru!" she exclaimed. "You went through a red light!"
"We have ice cream in the back," Haru replied simply as he cut off another car to get into the left lane.
"So what?" Momiji yelped at the sounds of many horns honking at Haru's reckless driving.
"So, the ice cream will melt if we do not hurry," Haru explained calmly. "And Hatori has no problem with this speed."
"Hatori is asleep!" Momiji exclaimed. "Haru! You're supposed to slow down for a yellow light!"
Haru frowned. "Really? I was told you were to speed up for a yellow light."
"What idiot told you that?" Hiro demanded as he held onto Kisa's hand tightly. "You're going to get pulled over!"
No sooner had Hiro said those words then did the sound of police sirens reach their ears. Haru glanced into the rear view mirror with a bored expression. "It can't be for us," he said.
"It's for us," Momiji said tiredly. Tohru just squeaked, sinking into her seat as she turned pale.
Haru pulled over at the officers suggestion. He then calmly reached into the glove compartment and pulled out dark sunglasses. He reached over and placed them on Hatori's face. With a satisfied nod, Haru turned to look at Momiji. "You know what to do."
Momiji sighed. "Yes, I do." Without saying anything else, he discreetly gripped Hatori's shoulders, straightening up the slumbering doctor.
Haru rolled the window down as the officer approached thateem. "Good evening officer," Haru stated blandly. He then looked up, eyes wide with recognition. "Hey, aren't you the same cop from the store?"
The cop scowled when he noticed Haru. "You are making this a bad day."
"I'd like to think I am having a wonderful day," Haru stated simply, passing his permit to the cop.
"Then you are making me have a bad day," the cop snapped, taking a look at the card Haru had given him. He glanced in the car and noticed Hatori in the passenger's seat. He frowned. "Is he alright?"
Haru glanced at Hatori casually. "Him? Oh yeah. He's just sensitive to light. Plus he's mute."
At that moment, Hatori decided to snore, causing Tohru to squeak and Hiro to groan. Kisa just sat still, eyes wide as Momiji's face turned red.
"And how do you explain that?" the cop demanded.
"He's a smoker," Haru explained. "So he has lung problems." He leaned towards the cop, whispering. "He's sensitive about it."
The cop did not seem to buy it, but he also looked like he wanted to get as far away from Haru as possible. With a sigh, he looked up. "Where do you live?"
"Just up the road," Haru said simply, pointing.
Letting out another sigh, the cop rubbed his face. "I'm going to let you off with a warning and spare myself the headache."
Haru smiled. "How kind of you."
"And stay out of trouble, or I'll be doing more than just give you a warning," he said, shaking his finger at Haru who nodded quickly.
Hiro leaned in towards Kisa, whispering, "The electric chair." Kisa squeaked, looking at Haru with intense worry.
"You're free to go," the cop said finally, snapping his notepad shut.
Haru smiled once more, starting up the car. "And a Merry Christmas to you too."