A/N: As promised, I released this chapter on 25th December! Either way, MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!~ Jesus bless you guys always~ XD

"Stay"

"Santa Clause won't make me happy; it's just you and only you." -Anonymous

Chapter 11: Christmas Day!

Shrugs, shrugs, shrugs…

"Nngh…"

Shrugs, shrugs…

"Ugh… I can't go back to sleep…" The black-haired beauty muttered under the blanket. She knew she needed more sleep and that she does have time to go back to sleep, but this is the usual habit of hers. Once she woke up, once there's something made her open her eyes, once she snapped to the reality, it's just not that easy to go back to sleep.

She let out a sigh as she once again shrugging and turns her position to see her companion under the same blanket. She frowning a little, but soon it was replaced with a smile.

You never failed to get my attention to your peacefully sleeping face, Ritsu.

That sudden thought crossed her mind all of a sudden as she brings her hand through Ritsu's brown locks. The blanket was now half revealing Mio's body, because of the shrugs she made. Mio could feel wind flowing and shivers her body. She pulled the blanket over their bodies, but somehow it doesn't give as much warmth as she wished it would, so one last thing for sure, she moved herself closer to Ritsu's.

Ritsu, on the other side, as if knowingly what Mio wants or what crossed in her mind, responded to Mio by wrapping Mio with full of her arms. Mio sighed contently, enjoying the warmth from Ritsu's body and slowly, Mio felt sleepy again.

Mio wanted to sleep, but when she was about to close her eyes, she felt Ritsu's hand stroking her finger under the blanket. The only thing Mio did when she knew that was smiling and checked it by looking under the blanket. Once both Ritsu and Mio were fully under the blanket, Mio just couldn't stop staring at her own finger. No, she can't stop staring at her own engagement ring. "Morning, hun…" Ritsu greeted sleepily.

Chuckling as she heard the sudden morning greet. "Do we have to start talking with each other using that?" Was the first question Mio asked, instead of greeting back at Ritsu.

"Yeah… maybe… I mean, you'll have a hard time when the time comes, so I'm just helping you out…"

"There's no need, Ritsu. I will get used to it when the time comes. Let's just talk as usual… you know… using names, instead of nicknames…"

Ritsu sighed; she knew she can't argue with Mio when she acts like this. "Alright… whatever… Just say that… I'm so excited of this…" She pulled the blanket out of their heads, and then pulled Mio's hand slowly. She brings Mio's hand in front of her face for like ten seconds and just staring at it with a smile on her face. "…You're my fiancé now, Mio…" Ritsu muttered in a very low tone.

Hearing that statement, a sudden realization hit Mio hard. "…Y- yes… you… you t- too… Ritsu…"

Silence came upon them while Ritsu couldn't take her eyes off of the ring on one of Mio's fingers. It is as if the time had stop for Ritsu, she took her time staring with that admiring look on her face. There's no single word she could say to express what she felt at the moment. It's the second time after she felt the urge to have someone she always loves. Sometimes Ritsu even confuse about her relationship with Mio.

She keeps thinking about it, even now, she's still thinking about it. About how could someone—a girl—made her fell in love less than a day? It was that one moment when Ritsu had rescued Mio, usually she would just ignore. She could just ignore, though she doesn't even know who Mio is that time. Instead, she quickly got off the car and helped her. What crossed her deepest mind that Ritsu thought she had to rescue Mio?

Even Mio couldn't find the answer. At least that's what Ritsu thought. Never in Mio's life that she would have someone like Ritsu to neither be her lover nor even she fallen in love with someone like Ritsu. The moments Mio thought about it, she's suddenly remembered her parents. She was about to ask to Ritsu about it, but Ritsu had said it last night.

"Let's forget it. I want us to forget about those matters. You know no matter what their decision is… it wouldn't make me stop."

They're alive. Mio's parents are still alive and she had the chance to meet them. However, just like what Ritsu had said, even though she get to get back with her parents, even though they're against Mio and Ritsu for being together, even though that means her parents would disallow her. Mio would never leave Ritsu, not even a single thought like that ever crossed her mind.

"I know what you're thinking…" Softly said, Mio doesn't realize that Ritsu had already sat up on the edge of the bed.

"Ritsu…"

"Everyone's probably waiting downstairs by now. Let's go and—" Ritsu was stopped by arms wrapping around her middle, as if indirectly ask her to stay.

"They wouldn't mind if we stay here a bit more." Was the only thing Mio said with a slight blush on her face She lessens her arms around Ritsu and letting the brunette turned around and face her. Mio bit her lower lip and lowered her head as she felt Ritsu's eyes focusing on her with a bit frown. "W- What is it…?" Mio asked, stuttering.

Ritsu noticed that blush and embarrassed act Mio made. It was obvious that Mio put lots of efforts to say those words without being so shy. "Merry Christmas, Mio."

The black-haired girl's eyes fell on Ritsu's trap. "M- Merry Christmas too, Ritsu…" This was the sight Ritsu can't resist, so one thing she did for sure; she found herself and Mio under the blanket again.

As what they will call it in the future, "Early Breakfast"

Living Room, Downstairs.

"Ui!~ Where's my breakfast now?~" The air-headed girl whined out while slumped her head on the table lazily. Then something snapped her mind. "Eh? Where's Azunyan?"

"Azusa-chan was helping Ui-chan to prepare the breakfast, remember?"

"Sokka… when are we going to get our presents?~ I'm so eager!"

"Later, Yui-senpai~ Gee… I'm also eager, but if it's not Ui who forced me to be more patient, I would've unwrap my gifts secretly last night~"

In this kind of situation, someone has to come to the rescue. "Ne. why don't we just have some tea while we wait for them to finish then we can get our presents right after?" The Ojou-sama suggested, then poured the tea with her usual sweet smile.

"Uwaaa~ Mugi-chan's tea in the morning? Best Christmas!" She took a sip on her tea. "Mou, Sawa-chan is so lucky to date you~"

"Yui, I can hear you clearly from here." The familiar voice echoed from the kitchen's direction.

Mugi giggled happily, Sawako slurps her tea slowly, while Yui pouting her mouth. No, she wasn't going to admit that Azusa's tea is worse than Mugi's. Deep in her mind, she was curious to taste Azusa's tea. Come to the think of it, Azusa had never made a tea for her or even anyone. Not only Azusa; after all this time, she only tasted Mugi's and Ui's tea. She had never tasted other tea then those two.

Finally, she came up with her final decision. "Azusa, can you make me a tea now?" Yui's tone changed when she requested Azusa to make a tea for her. Frowning as she heard what Yui asked; Azusa walked out of the kitchen to make sure she doesn't hear it wrong.

"Did you just ask me to…" Before she finishes her words, she was answered by a nod from the air-head. "B- But why? There's Mugi-senpai's tea on the table. Just take that. Besides, Mugi-senpai's tea is way better than mine."

"Eeeehh? But I want a tea made by you!~ C'mon, it's not that hard to make a tea, is it?"

"But I-"

"I can help you a little, if you don't mind. Though I know Ui-chan should be able to help either." Mugi once again suggested.

Azusa sighed in defeat. "Alright…" With that, Azusa walked back to the kitchen and prepares the tea.

Somewhere in Japan.

"Thank you… for last night… the party… everything… thanks." The girl said shyly as she stared down at the ground from her embarrassment.

The guy chuckles over the girl's nervous act. He managed to look at her while sending her his warmest smile. "It's okay. You're worth it for that, besides, I'm not just your personal doctor. Perhaps, from now on, you wouldn't feel all nervous around me anymore."

"After last night, I know it wouldn't be that hard."

"See? You do understand! Haha~ anyways, remember to see Kaeda-san later in the afternoon."

"Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me that. I almost forgot it…" She went silent, though the guy did the same, both fell silent for like five seconds until the black-haired girl finally continue her words. "Uhm… y- you're going to go back now?" That question came out all of a sudden. She doesn't even know what crossed her mind to blurt out like that. When she noticed her question, her face turned to pinkish color.

When he was about to answer the question, he was stopped by a phone ringtone. "Uh… excuse me for a minute…" And he got off the motorcycle and took a few steps away from the girl.

"Ugh, what was that? Why I'm being nervous all of a sudden? Thirty minutes ago I'm on one motorcycle with him, so why am I acting like this?"

"Hey there, uh… sorry… that was my friend calling just now, she invites me to celebrate Christmas along with her friends-" He sighed, then continued it quickly. "-Anyhow, I guess I have some spare time today, heck, you could say I have a holiday today. So, I was wondering, if you're not planning on to go back and sleep… maybe we-"

"YES! Uh… I mean, I'm sorry… I was just going to say that I'm- uh… uhm… err… I-"

"Mio, You can change first, you know, I'll be waiting here." He casually cut Mio. Giving her a smile and it was returned with a sweet smile and a nod.

"A- Alright… I… I won't take long."

"You better be~"

Back at Mugi's Villa: Up on the mountain.

"No, you don't do it like that… it supposed to be like this- no, ugh, put this finger… there-"

"Ok! Breakfast is ready!" The younger Hirasawa announced from the kitchen. "Oh, before we all have our breakfast… I don't see Ritsu-san and Mio-san downstairs yet."

"Don't about that, Ui-chan. Perhaps, they got too exhausted, so let's just let them be." Mugi casually said as she helped Ui to bring the food to the dining room. The blonde-haired girl noticed those weird stares from everyone, probably a frowning look. She sighed, "I'm not taking any peak, I was just guessing. Besides, I'm sure enough if you're in their place, you guys don't want to be disturb in the morning."

Jun was the first one to move and nodded her head in a total agreement with Mugi. "Mugi-senpai's right. We need to give them time, y'know, take care of themselves and all~" She finished awkwardly.

"Last night doesn't enough for them?" One and only becspectacled woman disagreed.

"W- Well, I agree with Mugi-senpai on this."

"Mou~ Ricchan and Mio-chan got to wake up in the afternoon~ Why can't I?" Yui gave out her pouting face in a childish manner, but she stopped when she felt glares from the direction of her girlfriend. "Ehh? That's Mio-chan!" Yui noticed the other black-haired girl walked down the stairs with… short pants and…

…Ritsu's shirt, which is odd, cause it's somehow got bigger on Mio's body.

Everyone's went silent as they watched the girl walking straight to the kitchen to get a hot water to drink. Soon, the other girl walking down the stairs, wearing her t-shirt and long pants. Not like the first girl, the second one sending a peace sign with her fingers and said, "Yo, morning, everyone~" It was obviously half asleep.

"We won't ask, but Mio-senpai was surely acting quite… odd just now." The usually pig-tailed girl said. There's something different and rare from this kouhai. This morning, her hair was unusually not tied up.

A sigh escaped someone's lips as Mio walked from the kitchen to the dining room. "I'm sorry, everyone. Just getting pretty thirsty… well… I guess I haven't missed the breakfast yet." Once again, Mio drank her water and everyone noticed the thing circled in one of Mio's fingers.

Frown turns into curved smile.

"Can I have a drink?" Ritsu asked. Everyone was still a bit shock when they noticed Ritsu was already stood there, behind Mio. This was a rare sight, for all of the people. These two girls, this couple, this newly enganged couple, was taking their very attention in the morning. All the interactions, the emotions, the movements and those expression written on their faces was just new for them.

Then something broke it.

Knock, knock, knock!

"I'll get that!" Azusa quickly stood up from her chair and made her way to the front door.

"A- Are you sure it's okay? I mean, it's your friend, Rizu-"

"Oh! You're here Iss- hmpt!" The guy's hand made contact with the shorter girl's mouth to shut her up. He then signaled the younger girl to see who's standing next to him at the moment. She nodded, then the guy got his hand off of her mouth slowly. "G- Gomen… Rizuki-senpai… E- etto… you are…?"

"She's the one that I'm talking about the other day, Azusa." The guy quickly answered and the girl next to him bowed down.

"My name is Mio, Akiyama Mio."

A/N: Less than I thought and you wished. Late than what I promised and what it should be. I gotta be honest, I got sick, fever, whatever you called when someone is unhealthy. So my parents kept me away from computer and internet until I get better. Thank God! I got better tonight and be able to release this just like what I promised, in 25th December!