It was the day of the Christmas party, and everyone was getting ready to head to the main house.
With Akito & Shigure:
"Are you ready for the party?" Akito questioned Shigure.
"Oh, you know it. When is everyone supposed to arrive?" Shigure replied with a stupid grin before asking.
"Around one. But you already know that." Akito answered, frustrated.
"I just like to hear answers out loud." Shigure answered out loud.
"Of course, you do." Akito grumbled.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in." Akito told whoever was knocking at her door.
"Miss Akito, your guests have started arriving." A maid informed Akito.
"Who is here so far?" Akito questioned.
"Master Kureno, Lady Arisa, Master Ayame, Lady Mine, Master Ritsu, and Lady Mitsuru." The maid answered.
"Ok. Take them to the room and have them wait for us there. And then please, come get us when everyone else has arrived. And make sure the others know not to disturb Shigure and me right now." Akito instructed, watching the maid.
"Yes, Miss." The maid obeyed.
"Really now? What does my god have in mind?" Shigure mischievously inquired.
"Oh, shut up. We don't have time for play right now. So, if you wish for my help with your problem and whip it out for me." Akito ordered, getting on her knees in front of Shigure.
With Kyo & Tohru:
"We might as well get this done and over with." Kyo grumbled, getting dressed after getting out of the shower.
"Oh, come on, Kyo; it will be fun." Tohru insisted with her usual smile.
"I know you're friends with Akito—and I'm glad you're able to be friends with her, but I can't stand to be around her for more than what we have to be around her today." Kyo seriously told Tohru.
"But at least you're not excluded from the family gatherings like previous cats were. You get to be involved—and not in a negative way." Tohru insisted with a worried smile.
"Yes, I know." Kyo sighed, running his hand through his damp hair.
"Now, if only you'd learn to get along with Yuki." Tohru spoke with hope in her voice. Yet, she knew what Kyo's response would be.
"No chance in Hell. I don't care where he lives; I will never get along with that damn rat.' Kyo retorted, annoyed. Still, he had a smile for Tohru.
"Where is Yuki anyway? I haven't seen him all morning." Tohru questioned, watching Kyo.
"He and Machi just stepped outside and are waiting for you two. Come on before we're late. Don't forget your Secret Santa gifts." Kazuma informed Kyo and Tohru before instructing and heading out.
"Fine. Come on; let's go." Kyo grumbled, leading the way.
"Yay." Tohru enthusiastically cheered, making Kyo smile—only a little.
With Yuki & Machi:
Knock. Knock.
"Come in." Machi called after Yuki knocked on her door.
"How are things coming in here?" Yuki asked Machi, looking around.
"You know... How are things going in your room?" Machi questioned, blushing a little.
"The same." Yuki answered with a smile.
"It was very nice of Master Kazuma to let both of us live here with him and the others." Machi awkwardly told Yuki.
"Yeah, Kazuma is one of the best. I'm just thankful Tohru—and even Kyo lives here. What I mean by that is they both know how to cook and won't burn the place down. At least the stupid cat is useful for something." Yuki replied with a smile, ending in a grumble.
"I know how to cook too." Machi determinedly declared.
"I know you do. But how often do you like to cook?" Yuki questioned in that teasing tone.
"Once a week maybe." Machi bashfully replied.
"Well, I'm sure if you talk to Tohru, she would gladly take a day off." Yuki insisted with a smile.
"Who else lives here besides us?" Machi inquired, changing the subject.
"Kazuma, Kyo, Tohru, Rin, Nina, Arisa, and now you and me." Yuki answered.
"Oh." Machi replied, stunned; she didn't know that many people lived at Kazuma's home.
"Yuki, Machi; it's time to go. Don't forget your Secret Santa gifts." Kazuma informed the two, walking past Machi's room.
With Haru & Rin:
"You're not trying to bail out again, are you, Rin?" Haru questioned, startling Rin by showing up around a corner.
"Jesus, Haru! What are you doing here?!" Rin screeched, holding her chest.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to scare you." Haru apologized, watching Rin.
"You didn't scare me. I was just a little startled as I made my way to the main house." Rin lied.
"But the main house is in the other direction. And what about your Secret Santa present?" Haru pointed out.
"Uhh… I guess I forgot it at home. I'd better get it." Rin insisted, getting ready to turn around.
"Don't worry about it. I have your Secret Santa present here." Haru insisted, holding out Rin's Secret Santa present.
"What? How? How did you know I was trying to run again?" Rin questioned, realizing she had been caught. I mean, she knew right when he found her, but still…
"Tohru called and told me she was concerned because you barely ate anything for breakfast—and she said you were acting strange. So, I went by your place to check on you. Sensei told me you left a few minutes prior but left your gifts behind. I offered to bring them back to you." Haru explained.
"Of course, they did. Well, let's get this over with." Rin grumbled, knowing she had no other choice.
"That's the spirit. Come on." Haru happily replied, taking Rin's hand.
With Kisa & Hiro:
"Are you ready to go to the Christmas party, Hiro?" Kisa softly inquired as she and Hiro walked down the street.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Hiro muttered.
"Don't you think it will be fun? I heard Tohru and Emiko made cookies and cakes." Kisa questioned, taking Hiro's hand.
"I honestly don't know. You know me; I'm not big into parties and stuff like that. I only go because I have to. But I suppose if Tohru and Emiko baked the goodies, it won't be too bad; they can both bake." Hiro answered, trying to show an interest.
"Yes. I'm actually very happy Akito decided to have a Secret Santa Christmas party this year. We rarely ever get to do anything fun for Christmas." Kisa agreed before admitting.
"This is true. But we're usually all with our families for Christmas." Hiro reminded Kisa.
"I know. But this will be the first year that everyone is in a happy relationship. Maybe that's why Akito decided to do a Secret Santa Christmas party this year." Kisa dreamily spoke.
"Who knows? But as long you're happy and have fun, I'm happy." Hiro insisted with one of his rare, just for Kisa, smiles.
"Oh, I love you, too, Hiro." Kisa happily hugged Hiro.
With Momiji & Nina:
Nina and Momiji were still in bed in the sixty-nine position:
Momiji was lying flat on his back with Nina on top of him.
„Oh, Momiji – ich komme bald." ("Oh, Momiji—I'm going to cum soon.") Nina informed Momiji as she started withering beneath him.
„Ich auch." ("Me too.") Momiji replied against Nina's wet pussy.
Both were on edge when…
Knock. Knock.
"Momiji, Nina, it's time to go! Akito's crows just brought your reminder. So, now please." Momiji's father told the teens.
"Seriously? We need a few minutes!" Momiji retorted in a strained tone.
"Now, Momiji! You don't want to keep Akito or the others waiting!" Momiji's father sternly told Momiji.
"Just a few more minutes—please!" Momiji pleaded, just about there.
„Jetzt werden Momiji oder ich die Tür öffnen und Fotos machen. Und dann wird dein Vater die Tür entfernen, während du weg bist!" ("Now, Momiji or I will open the door and take pictures. And then your father will remove the door while you're away!") Momiji's mother firmly told Momiji.
„Bußgeld." ("Fine.") Momiji grumbled just as he and Nina barely came.
„Das nächste Mal machen wir das bei Ihnen." ("Next time, we do this at your place.") Momiji groaned, sitting up.
„Das glaube ich nicht. Wenn wir etwas zu tun haben, kann Kazuma genauso aufdringlich sein. Ganz zu schweigen davon, dass Kyo, Tohru, Arisa und Rin auch dort leben. Oh, und Yuki und Machi sind gerade erst eingezogen." in den letzten Tagen. Zumindest hier kommt niemand einfach vorbei, wenn er will." ("I don't think so. If we have something we have to do, Kazuma can be just as pushy. Not to mention, Kyo, Tohru, Arisa, and Rin live there as well. Oh, and Yuki and Machi just moved in over the past few days. At least here, nobody just pops in when they want.") Nina responded, wiping her mouth before getting dressed.
„Ich nehme an." ("I suppose.") Momiji grumbled, getting dressed.
„Nun, lass uns gehen. Du hast dein Geschenk für wen auch immer du hast?" ("Well, let's go. You have your gift for whoever you got?") Nina told Momiji before asking.
„Ja." ("Yes.") Momiji grumbled.
„Sei nicht so, Momiji. Bitte sei fröhlich, und vielleicht habe ich heute Abend ein ganz besonderes Geschenk nur für dich und deinen Schwanz. Nein, vielleicht nicht. Ich weiß, dass ich ein besonderes Geschenk nur für dich und deinen Schwanz habe." . Ich werde ihn zum Weinen bringen. Aber du musst ein guter Junge sein – ein besonders guter Junge." ("Don't be like that, Momiji. Please cheer up, and maybe tonight I'll have a super special gift just for you and your dick. No, not maybe. I know I have a special gift just for you and your dick. I'll make sure to make him weep. But you have to be a good boy—an extra good boy.") Nina seductively whispered to Momiji, teasing him as she pressed herself against him before lightly nipping at his neck.
„Ja, Ma'am." ("Yes, Ma'am.") Momiji stupidly replied, unlocking his door.
„Jetzt, Kinder." ("Now, kids.") Momiji's mother ordered, not realizing they were already out the front door.
With Kureno & Arisa:
"What do you think they will be for food?" Arisa asked Kureno as they walked to the main house.
"I don't know. With Akito you just never know." Kureno answered with a smile.
"I suppose." Arisa replied, sighing a little.
"You say that, but you love the food made for these parties." Kureno told Arisa with that same smile.
"I know. Say, who did you get for Secret Santa?" Arisa inquired, walking next to Kureno.
"You know I can't tell you that now that we've bought and wrapped the gifts. If you wanted to know, you should have asked before we bought gifts." Kureno told Arisa, only half serious.
"Yeah, I know. But a girl can try, can't she?" Arisa replied, "pouting" a little.
"Of course, you can. Who did you get?" Kureno replied before cheekily asking.
"Oh, no you don't. Nice try though." Arisa retorted, playfully pushing Kureno.
"I thought so. And hey, a man can try, right?" Kureno teased Arisa.
"Yeah, yeah." Arisa replied with a smile.
"I can tell you I didn't get you." Kureno informed Arisa after a minute or two.
"Awesome. Can I tell you a secret?" Arisa requested.
"Of course. You can always ask me anything." Kureno replied, not seeing the smirk on Arisa's face.
"I didn't get you either." Arisa told Kureno with a smile.
"I love you." Kureno told Arisa, pulling her to him.
"Aww. I love you, too." Arisa replied before he leaned in to kiss her.
With Hatori & Emiko:
"How are you feeling today?" Hatori asked Emiko.
"Really good today." Emiko honestly answered with a smile.
"Ok. Are you about ready to go then?" Hatori inquired, watching with a small smile of his own. It always warmed his heart to see Emiko smiling.
"Just about. I just need to get my Secret Santa gift and the gifts for Kazuma." Emiko answered.
"Ok. Well, go on. You have about ten minutes. I have something I need to get in my office, so I need a few minutes." Hatori informed Emiko.
"Okey-dokey." Emiko cheerfully responded, walking to her room.
Hatori stood in the same spot for a few minutes before going to his office—the one room Emiko never enters unless he calls her.
"I can't give this to her until after the Secret Santa exchange—or in front of certain people without people thinking I'm asking her to marry me; I have to wait until we're away from everyone. But I also can't give it to her before because questions will get asked—and I know for certain that specific idiots and a few others won't let it go. But I have to give this to her tonight: that much is for sure." Hatori spoke to himself, holding a small box.
After much contemplating, Hatori put the box in his pocket and returned to wait for Emiko.
"Here, let me help you. Do you have everything?" Hatori insisted, taking the gifts from Emiko before asking.
"Yes." Emiko answered with a smile.
"What's wrong?" Hatori questioned, seeing something in Emiko's eyes.
"MmmMmm. It's nothing important. I'll talk to you later about it. We have to go or we'll be late." Emiko insisted with that same smile, now heading to the door.
"Are you sure?" Hatori questioned, concerned.
"Yes. It's just that I don't know how to bring it up and ask what I want with this. So, I want to ask some of the others for their advice. I promise it's nothing bad—as far as I know." Emiko explained, seeing the concern on Hatori's face and hearing it in his tone.
"Ok. You'd tell me if it were important, right?" Hatori inquired as he and Emiko left the house.
"Most definitely." Emiko swore, hugging Hatori so that he knew how sincere she was.
"Ok. Let's go before it starts snowing too hard, and we can't see where we're going." Hatori insisted, hugging Emiko in return.
Ayame & Mine:
"We will most certainly be the best dressed at the party!" Mine determinedly declared.
"Of course, we will be. Nobody can hold a candle to us—or our fashion. There is nobody as fabulous as us!" Ayame enthusiastically boasted.
"Right." Mine agreed with a smile.
"Now what?" Mine asked after a few minutes of standing still in silence.
"We get dressed and ready to go! Akito and our loyal subjects await our arrival." Ayame quickly answered.
"Right. Oh, and we mustn't forget our Secret Santa gifts and the gifts for Kazuma." Mine replied, looking around.
"Absolutely correct! Let's get ready. Our outfits won't wear themselves." Ayame declared.
"I just hope they like our gifts." Mine spoke.
"I know they will absolutely love our gifts!" Ayame confidently declared with a smile.
"You're right. Let's go." Mine cheerfully replied before insisting.
With Ritsu & Mitsuru:
"Are you two ready to go?" Ritsu's mother asked her son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. A date was set for Spring.
"Yes." Ritsu and Mitsuru calmly answered.
"Do you want me to come with?" Ritsu's mother offered.
"No, thank you, Mom. Ahh! I'm sorry! What I mean to say is Kureno and Arisa are meeting us up the road! I'm soo sorry for the miscommunication!" Ritsu panicked after answering his mother.
"Thank you, Ma'am." Mitsuru politely thanked Ritsu's mother.
"Oh, Dear, please don't call me Ma'am. You're marrying Ritsu, so you can call me Mom. I would like you to call me Mom." Mitsuru's mom insisted with a smile.
"Yes, of course—Mom." Mitsuru bashfully obliged with a smile and a blush.
"You two go, have fun, and I will see you when you return home." Ritsu's mother insisted with a smile.
"I do hope they like our gifts." Ritsu apprehensively confided in Mitsuru.
"I'm sure they will. I'm just glad I didn't get the devil." Mitsuru responded with malice, indicating she was talking about Shigure.
"I'm sure Shigure would love and appreciate whatever you would have gotten him, had you gotten him." Ritsu insisted with a smile.
"Yeah—after he got done ridiculing me." Mitsuru grumbled, linking her arm with Ritsu's arm.
"I'm so sorry." Ritsu calmly apologized.
Ritsu was so much calmer with Mitsuru; she's been good for him—and him for her.
"Hey! They're you two are! Come on, you slowpokes!" Arisa called, getting Ritsu and Mitsuru's attention.
"SORRY!" Ritsu and Mitsuru panicked, rushing over to Kureno and Arisa.
With Kagura & Kodi:
Knock. Knock.
"Coming!" Kagura called, making her way to her front door.
"Kodi—what are you doing here? I thought I was coming to get you." Kagura questioned.
"That was the plan, but I had to get away from my parents and younger sister; they were driving me crazy. Mom and her overprotectiveness. Dad and his constant "help." My sister and her constant questions and picking. Not to mention, them trying to figure out who I got for Secret Santa and trying to figure out what I got. Gracie even went so far as to steal the gift and try to open it—three times. I just had to get away." Kodi explained, watching Kagura.
"Come in. Give me a few minutes to get my gifts and we can be on our way." Kagura told Kodi, inviting him inside.
"I'm sorry for disrupting or disturbing you." Kodi apologized, standing by a wall.
"Oh, no. Don't be sorry; you're not disrupting or disturbing me. I was just finishing my makeup when you knocked. I was just about to get the gifts and come get you." Kagura sincerely replied.
"Oh. Ok." Kodi replied, watching Kagura.
"Is something wrong?" Kagura questioned, concerned.
"Honestly? I'm not sure. I think my parents are about to divorce—which is fine by me. I'm nineteen now, but Gracie is only twelve; this would be hard on her—especially since my mother is spiteful and would keep custody just to keep her away from Dad. And like Mom dotes on me, Dad dotes on Gracie. Though, Mother's version of doting is smothering. There's no easy way to say this, but my mother wants me to break up with you—mainly because you're cursed with the boar of the Zodiac Curse and are tethered to Akito." Kodi answered and explained.
"You're breaking up with me?" Kagura questioned, sounding hurt.
"No. God, no. I started looking around for places to live the other day to get away from my family and her hate." Kodi explained.
"I could ask my parents if you could stay with us." Kagura offered.
"Thanks, but that's the first place my mother would look. I don't want her disrupting your family." Kodi replied.
"You could always ask Master Kazuma; he still has a few rooms." Tohru spoke up with a smile, hearing their conversation along with Kyo.
At The Main House:
Knock. Knock.
"Enter." Akito called after brushing her teeth.
"Everyone has arrived, Ma'am." A maid informed Akito.
"Thank you. Shigure, go now; I'll be there shortly. Tell everyone where to set their gifts." Akito thanked the maid before ordering Shigure.
"Yes, Ma'am. Master Shigure, please follow me." The maid replied before having Shigure walk out ahead of her.
"Well, hello everyone." Shigure cheerfully greeted everyone.
"Hey." Kyo, Hatori, Mitsuru, Hiro, Kureno, Arisa, Yuki, Machi, Haru, and Rin greeted Shigure.
"Hello, Shigure." Tohru, Emiko, Ritsu, Kisa, Kagura, Kodi, Momiji, Nina, and Kazuma politely greeted Shigure.
"Oh, Shigure!" Ayame and Mine jumped to meet Shigure.
"Miss Akito would like you to place your gifts on the far table over in that corner." The maid explained, bowing a little before excusing herself.
"How is everyone?" Shigure questioned, having not seen the others in a few days.
"Fine." Everyone but Ayame answered in different tones:
Kyo, Yuki, Machi, Hiro, and Rin were annoyed.
Mitsuru, Momiji, and Nina were dull.
Kazuma, Hatori, Kureno, Kodi, Ritsu, and Kisa were polite.
Tohru, Emiko, Kagura, and Mine were cheerful.
Arisa and Haru were indifferent.
"We're great! We've been preparing for this day for weeks now!" Ayame enthusiastically boasted.
"How are you, Shigure?" Tohru and Emiko inquired with smiles.
"I am very well, thank you." Shigure politely replied.
"Where is Akito?" Haru questioned, looking around.
"She had something she had to finish taking care of; she'll be here shortly." Shigure answered with a mischievous smile.
"Oh, Shigure! You naughty, naughty boy!" Ayame loudly announced, "chastising" Shigure.
"Why is he naughty?" Emiko, Tohru, and Kisa questioned, confused.
"Oh, well…" "NO!" Shigure started, only for Hatori and Kyo to yell and smack him over the head.
"I'm confused." The girls spoke, watching Shigure, Hatori, and Kyo.
"Shigure's an idiot; he and Ayame are playing one of their stupid games." Hiro quickly told the girls—mainly Kisa.
"It's nothing for you to concern yourselves over." Hatori insisted, pulling Emiko to him.
"Come on, Tohru." Kyo dragged Tohru to Arisa and Kureno.
"Welcome to the first ever Zodiac Secret Santa. What the—what did Shigure do or say this time?" Akito greeted everyone before questioning after seeing Shigure holding his head.
"He was being an idiot." Yuki mumbled…