Yumiko smiled at Kanda. It was her final line of attack. After this, he and his defensive post would be left vulnerable. She knew he knew her plans, but she also knew he'd know she'd be unbeatable. I mean, how else would best friends spend their time together, right?

Allen took the key from Kanda and slowly approached the glowing doors. They were wooden, but looked as tall as the trees they were stripped apart from. Gold designs embed on the latch shined. The hinges glistened more than any other star anyone had ever seen. Yumiko expected Allen's hands to shake, but he held it firmly, like a priest with holy water in his hands. Without even glancing at him, she could feel Kanda rolling his eyes and hear Lavi snickering.

Yumiko smiled her casual out-of-nowhere smile. She did that often, mostly because there was nothing else to do in any given situation— unless she had a puzzle… If she had a puzzle, she'd smile her childish smile.

She felt Kanda's eyes dart at her. If she could read minds, she'd know he'd be thinking: "There's that smirk again..."

Finally, after what seemed like ages, Allen's hands held the latch, pushed, and pulled.

"Hurry in!" He yelled, ushering everyone inside as a roof came hurling down above them. It would be pretty, Yumiko thought, if it was on a house as it should be.

Kanda sneered, mumbling under his breath loud enough for only Yumiko to hear, "Don't tell me what to do, bean sprout."
She continued smiling, but it shifted to one with a different meaning. This one meant: 'that's nice, Kanda.'

As she took a further step inside, she felt her arms jitter. Yumiko took a peek at her lower shoulder when she rolled up her long sleeved uniforms and saw little hills and hair popping up from her skin.

Goose bumps!—there was only one time of the year where she got those.

Yumiko looked up, and her jaw dropped from the blow. It was beautiful! Overhead was an arching rainbow, a gorgeous blue moon, and wispy clouds curling and wrapping the oversized stars. Of course, it was wacky, but nonetheless it was something to be in admiration of.

"It looks like a child puked in here," Kanda looked around, disgusted as Yumiko dove face first in a pile of snow and rolled around with Lavi by her side.

"Kanda!" Yumiko perked up laughing. Clots of snow got stuck to her hair, and pieces of white strayed on her neck.

"Quiet, Yumiko," He snapped. Stern eyes told her to shut up, "He's here…"

A big dark blurry figure approached them in the distance. Mist twisted around him like vines tugging on a fence. The only thing Yumiko could make out of it all was a big coat.

"… Yuu! I think it's Santa!" She cried of happiness, her eyes closed and she wiped her face on Kanda's sleeve.
Kanda jerked his arm away from her, in pretend-repulsion.

"Don't wipe your stupid smile on my face," Kanda lectured her.
She pouted, like a child, "Yes, Yuu."

"Well, well, you guys again?" The voice from the mystery boulder spoke. They turned to face him. He was an ugly character, with bulging eyes and a cheek-to-cheek grin. His attire was tattered, but his belt stayed spotless.

"I never thought Santa could let himself go that much," Yumiko's eyes widened.
Kanda smacked her from behind, killing more of her endangered brain cells.

"Idiot! He's the guy going after our general. We—Well, I've encountered him before," He sneered.
"Where was I, Kanda?" She frowned, tugging on his sleeve, "I'm always with you!"
"You were with Marie on a mission!" Kanda sighed, looking over to the side in disbelief.

"You go on ahead," He said to Allen, who was looking quite perplexed. Did Kanda worry about him?
"N-no way! We're going to get through this! We said so earlier," Allen protested.
"Wrong," said Kanda smartly, "You told Lenalee you'd get through this together."

Everyone looked at each other briskly, concerned.

"And don't get me wrong," Kanda snapped, "I don't care if you live or die, but I have to do this for myself and my general."
"Our general," Yumiko interjected.
"Right, our general-," He stopped, and took a moment to look at Yumiko, "What are you saying? You won't be here with me."
"Why not Yuu?" She complained.
"Because," Kanda started, but stopped soon. He couldn't think of a rational reason. He just didn't want her here to be in this.

"I'm going to stay, Kanda," Allen said, eyes serious as he placed his hands on Kanda's right shoulder. Anyone could tell, that was the most wrong move he could make. It irked him, and he shrugged it right off coldly.

"Stay with you?" Kanda scoffed, "You wouldn't last, bean sprout."

"Wh-wha?"
"I'm doing this for my general," He said, reaching for his katana.
"H-hey, Kanda, what are you gonna do with that?"
"Get out of my way!" Kanda yelled, pointing his weapon at Allen's face.

"Beat it," He said, flexing his free hand. The bones cracked, making Allen's hair from the back of his neck stand up.

Everyone took five steps back, and toward the other door.

"O-of course my lord," Krory started crying for dear life.
"Whatever you want, Yuu!" Lavi smiled awkwardly, hands up in the air in defeat.

Kanda felt a tug on his sleeve, and looked down, knowing it was Yumiko.

"What is it?" He said quietly.
"I want to stay," Yumiko was about to say something else, but paused to think.
"I need to stay," She corrected herself.

A sigh escaped from him in defeat. She had won again.