Just wanted to let you know that this Advent isn't like the last two years, if it feels like it's filler to you then it probably is – mainly because my plan for this year was 'No idea what to do – just NO ANGST – Italy? Ski? If at all possible then get these two characters to hook up. If not get those two characters to hook up. If impossible screw it and say that you meant it to be like that.'
...maybe I shouldn't have told you the last part...
ANYWAY! The main focus of this is humour, the romance isn't central. At all. And with that goes all the angsty does s/he doesn't s/he...cos I cannot bring myself to write something depressing. I just finished a month of Hell and I'm not going back there!
So yeah, there won't be a plotline until...like...day 10 or something...and even then...so if that bores you then I don't mind if you don't want to read anymore because I set out to amuse people. If anyone finds this story amusing then I'll feel like I've done something right.
And this fiendishly long author's note wasn't to hit out at anyone – I just thought I should explain what my reasoning's were and why most of it seems like filler after I received a review. I put it off for six days...¬¬
Blonde-Existentialist: Outdoor hot tubs, you say! You, Sir, have read my mind (If you can believe that!) Ha ha :P
Warning: slight OOC-ness – though I try to keep it as IC as possible.
Disclaimer: The characters in this chapter are not mine – the story is though.
Beta'd by Aerisiera
Advent 09
December 7th – 18 days to go
They were at breakfast; Kyoko had been dreading this moment for most of the night and had tried to put it off for as long as possible. It felt like she was taking advantage of Lory's hospitality.
After all, she was supposed to be here for work.
She glanced at Lory for the fifth time in ten minutes then caught Kanae's glare and looked back down at her plate.
How hard was it to ask just one simple question? To explain to the man what had happened and hoped he understood?
She had a good chance; Lory always seemed to understand any kind of predicament that she got into, but still...
She sighed almost silently, working up her courage. Straightening her spine she looked towards Lory again and opened her mouth to speak...
...and was immediately interrupted.
"Girls," Lory began, showing no signs of knowingly interrupting Kyoko, "I have decided that to just have you working here is a waste of an opportunity."
Both the girls blinked.
"So that's why," he continued, "I've booked you in for skiing lessons! No need to thank me."
Kanae and Kyoko stared at him.
Well, Kyoko thought, that takes care of asking...
"You may want to hurry though," he mused, looking at his wristwatch, "the classes start in half an hour at the bottom of the mountain. Ren? Could you point out the way?"
"Of course."
Kanae and Kyoko looked at each other for a moment as Lory's words sunk in, stood abruptly, hastily bowing their thanks and apologies and bolting out the room to get ready and somehow find a way to cut an hour long journey down to thirty minutes or less.
Lory just chuckled at their antics. "Ah, to be young and full of energy."
"It is certainly something that one misses, don't you agree Ren?" Yashiro asked.
"I wouldn't know." Ren said shortly, ignoring the way Yashiro winced.
Maria's eyes flicked between them as she took another mouthful of food. Something would need to be done soon.
---/---
"Oh God, oh God, oh God..." Kanae murmured under her breath as she skidded another ten feet, narrowly missing a tree; her grip slipping on the skis and poles in her grasp.
"Come on! It's just through that gap!" Kyoko called out from her place twenty feet in front, her own equipment slung over her shoulder as she carefully took another few steps.
"I don't know how you managed to talk me into this!"
"It's a short-cut. It cuts off thirty minutes if we just go straight instead of following the road. I saw it on the map Ren showed us of the place."
"Yeah well," Kanae let out a small scream as the ground suddenly disappeared from under her and she fell three feet, "at least the road won't kill us!"
"Nothing's going to kill us...oh. Damn."
Kanae struggled over to where Kyoko was standing on a ledge, looking down to the ground ten feet below them.
"Now what?" Kanae asked moodily.
Kyoko thought for a second then turned slowly to face Kanae, "Well...there is a snow bank..."
---/---
"I hate you. I hate you. I hate you." Kanae whispered, trying to get the snow that was melting from inside her jacket.
Kyoko was looking much the same, shifting uncomfortably from not only the snow that had made its way beneath her clothes from the jump, but also from the snow Kanae had shoved down the back of her jacket for being pushed.
"But the short-cut worked. Look," Kyoko pointed to a figure standing next to a pole with a red flag on it. "That's the instructor there. We're right on time. Maybe we should use that route more often?"
"Try it," Kanae hissed, "and I will fill your bed with snow."
Kyoko shivered, "Just kidding!"
"Kyoko!"
Kyoko's head shot around so fast that Kanae thought she might have given herself whiplash.
"Oh no," Kyoko groaned quietly.
Kanae followed her line of sight to find that the figure that they had thought was the instructor was actually Sho. Kyoko had stopped walking; stubbornly digging her heals into the ground. Kanae gave her a sharp shove from behind.
"I didn't let you drag me down the mountain for you to change your mind now." She hissed in Kyoko's ear. "Just ignore him if you really hate him that much."
"The instructor hasn't shown up yet," he said smiling, "so we should just wait here until he does show."
Kanae returned his smile weakly, to his credit; he honestly did seem to be excited about this.
"Well, well, well! What's this I spy?"
"Reino." Sho growled, "What are you doing here? Come back for more?"
Reino laughed. Completely decked out in white and with his silver hair, Kanae thought that he looked like some sort of snow deity...or a homicidal snowman. She couldn't quite made up her mind.
"I think not, Fuwa." Reino smiled, showing just a few more teeth than necessary. "I know how to ski."
Sho visibly ground his teeth together. "Well I know how to ski too!"
Reino raised his eyebrow and looked pointedly at the flag.
"I'm teaching them."
"Oh really." Reino smirked, gliding closer until he was mere inches away from Sho's face. "Liar."
Sho scowled. "No I'm not, I'm..." he fished around for an excuse, "working on becoming an instructor, that's all."
Reino's lips quirked and he pushed himself backwards. "Then I must...commend...you. I guess I'll see you on the slopes soon then." He smirked one last time before turning and skiing away in the direction of the ski lifts.
Sho noisily exhaled, "God, that jerk makes me so angry..." he turned around and faltered when he saw the look of fury on Kyoko's face. "Er...?"
"So you're the one teaching us now?"
Sho held up his hands, panic flashing in his eyes, "It was just to make him go away!"
Kanae sighed, "Kyoko, leave him alone. Men are idiots."
"Kyoko-chan. Is Fuwa bothering you?"
"Bollocks," Sho grumbled under his breath, "another person I can't stand."
Kanae smothered a smile and turned to face Ren who had skied over to their small group sometime during the confrontation.
"Tsuruga-san!" Kyoko smiled brightly as Sho scowled. "No, no. He can't bother me anymore."
"Indeed." Ren turned and shot a venomous look at Sho who bristled. "And what did I hear about Sho teaching you?"
Kyoko turned and glared at Sho who shifted uncomfortably under both the looks.
"Well then," Ren smiled, "maybe tomorrow you wouldn't mind coming out with me on some easy runs?"
"Well, I..." Sho started nervously, then caught himself, his spine straightening. "Yeah then. We'll see you tomorrow."
Ren's smile increased in politeness. "Wonderful."
Kanae swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. Just what was she getting into here?
---/---
The lessons took up the rest of the day. To Kyoko and Sho's chagrin Kanae turned out to be a complete natural at everything the instructor taught them. This was why she was in an infinitely cheerful mood that evening as they walked back up the mountain from the baby slopes where their lessons had taken place, Kyoko muttering at her side.
"Oh, cheer up."
Kyoko pouted a little more and adjusted her grip on her skis and poles.
"It's not the end of the world," Kanae smiled.
"It's hopeless!" Kyoko wailed, "Even Sho is better than me!"
"So you don't get skiing on your first try." Kanae shrugged. "That's what practise is for. Besides, I've never known you to just give up after one go."
Kyoko paused, thinking that statement over, "That's true..." she grinned suddenly. "Ok, tomorrow I'm going to practise until I bleed! I won't give up until I'm the best skier out there!"
Kanae shook her head fondly as Kyoko rushed past her, filled with new enthusiasm. "Whatever floats your boat."
Like someone who has been skiing has never taken a short-cut down the mountain as almost brained themselves on a tree...
Granted, the ten foot fall was onto thorn bushes and not a snowdrift...and I didn't jump per say - more like couldn't stop in time...but I decided that fiction did not have to be as cruel as reality! :D
I'll say it again – this story is light-hearted and mostly without plot at all. If this isn't your cup of tea then you don't have to read any further.
If you find it amusing so far and wish to be amused another day at least then I'll see you tomorrow!
DS