A/N: From XxStarryHeavenxX.

So I realize a few of my readers probably don't celebrate Christmas so I decided not to make a chapter about that. However, in the spirit of the holidays, have a short little winter-y, fluffy one(?). I hope Hanukkah was fantastic, Merry Christmas, and Happy Kwanzaa whenever that starts...and for anyone who doesn't celebrate anything, just have a wonderful day~! Also happy any-holidays-I-missed-accidentally... :)

Haha it doesn't snow where I live.

I don't have much time to write right now so I hope this is enough lol.

24

White Winter

White winters are the best.

Winter means no school, no responsibilities. White means snow, lots and lots of snow. Put the two together and you get the holidays, pretty lights, romantic moods, gifts, booze, playful Duels on tabletops without any holograms to pass the time, and a ton of hot chocolate.

Winter means cute coats and woolly hats and ugly sweaters and earmuffs, boots, and mittens. White means snow, always snow, so much snow one could be buried in it, snow to toss at your enemies and friends alike.

Winter means the Arclight's visit Heartland. White means snow - Rio gets to fling snow at IV's face. That's her favorite part about this time of year, actually.

And of course, when IV trudges up to their door and knocks because he promised he would visit, Ryouga answers and invites him in and they all awkwardly greet each other because they're on fairly good terms now. They drink their hot chocolate since that's a very important part of winter, especially white winters. They watch a movie and catch up on each others' lives and laugh and eat and go outside to watch the lights flicker on as the sun sets over a snowy, city horizon.

Rio bends down when IV and Ryouga aren't looking, quietly shoveling snow into her gloved hands. Quickly, she has made two snowballs, picking them up and taking a proper throwing stance.

"Oi~"

She yells it and when the boys turn around in confusion they are greeted with a fistful of snow each smacking into their faces, as was planned.

IV is surprised and Ryouga immediately reacts by ducking down to grab more of the frozen, cold substance, chucking what he can grab at his sister as she runs. Rio slips behind a tree and kneels to gather more snow as rapidly as possible.

Someone slams into the tree from the other side and snow on the branches above Rio shakes loose and rains down on her in clumps, nearly swallowing her, and when she tries to get up to escape, she's to covered in the stuff to move very far. IV grabs her arm as she falls and they both tumble into a drift, laughing some more.

Ryouga takes advantage by prancing over with an armful of more snow, always more snow, and dumping it all on top of their heads.

White winters are Rio's favorite.

They bring everyone together, she realizes as IV and Ryouga pelt each other with what are probably ice chunks now. They make people happy.

And then the moment is gone - more of that goddamned snow hits her between the eyes and goes up her nose and into her mouth and she spits it out violently and whips around to glare at whoever threw that.

IV and Ryouga are both glancing at each other in horror stupidly, and both instantly hide their hands behind their backs. There is a minute of silence.

Rio rolls her eyes and swoops down to get ammunition and the two idiots bolt and she chases them until the sky is too dark to see them. The three go inside and they thaw their numb fingers and toes and heat up the remaining chocolaty drink. They share a single couch and Rio wonders when they all got so close - they hadn't done this for so long, not since before the 'accident'.

Rio smiles and wraps her arms around her friend and her brother and they tense, then relax, and they're just three morons sitting there, shivering and giggling from tiredness and Rio doesn't think she's ever been happier.

~Finish~