Chapter Forty-Six: Blanca Navidad

"Before you say something stupid like 'Holidays got you feeling sentimental?' or some shit, they don't," Ash mocked.

"I wasn't going to say that-"

"Cuz they don't! This has been on my mind a while now and it has nothing to do with some arbitrary date, okay!?"

"Relax, those were your words, not mine. I know you're not the type to call on a whim," said the smooth, calm voice on the other line.

"Whatever," he said bitterly. He then forced himself to take a deep breath and remember what he and Iku-san had talked about. This was for him. This was for closure. He couldn't let himself turn back into an angry teenager. That would yield no benefits, it would only cause wounds to fester further. "Where are you anyway? It's windy as fuck on your end." His tone was still hostile, but less so. At least he wasn't yelling.

"I'd rather not say over the phone, but rest assured, I'm wearing sandals," he said humorously.

"So you have retired then?"

"I suppose you could say that."

Ash heard a door slide shut on the other end of the line and the roaring wind ceased. He imagined Blanca had been standing on a balcony when he first answered the phone, probably looking out to the ocean somewhere in the Caribbean.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I no longer accept contracts, but I do still have some lines of communication open in New York. I keep an eye out for you and Mr. Okumura."

Ash stood from the desk he'd been sitting at and began to pace his office. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Ash," he said steadily, hoping to calm the fiery blond on the other end, "It means that I make sure no one gets wise to your 'death.'" He sighed, "But honestly, at this point, I think it's fair to assume you're safe. Your rivals from Arthur's gang have a new boss now and he has rivals of his own. They've long since given a thought about Ash Lynx."

"Oof, wow, Blanca, that's cold," Ash joked. Having his name forgotten, or at least glossed over, was what he wanted. Still, he'd give Blanca a hard time for the way he'd phrased it. "But...thanks...I guess." Ash cleared his throat. "And my guys? And Max? Do you keep an eye on them too?"

"Yes, Ash, everyone is doing fine."

An awkward silence fell as Ash tried to muster up the courage to say what he wanted to say. He opened his office door and began to pace the upstairs hall.

"So, look, I called for a reason."

"Go on."

He inhaled a ragged breath. "I'd rather do this in person, but it looks like I don't really have a choice in the matter."

He stopped his pacing and sat on the first stair of the steps, looking down into the silent house below. He could see Buddy curled up by the front door, fast asleep in a red and white Christmas sweater Eiji had bought him. Ash thought it looked ridiculous on a dog who was already covered in a fur coat provided by nature and evolution, but he also looked ridiculous in the doggy backpack, so he could hardly talk.

Ash took a deep breath and spoke quickly, "Look, what you did to me this summer was beyond shitty. You shouldn't have surprised me like that, especially around Eiji's family. And you sure as fuck shouldn't have stalked me or dated my therapist or read my file. That's so over the line it's not even funny. There are things in there I've told to no one else. You had no right."

"If it makes you feel any better, I didn't read it all. I skipped over a lot of the stories from your past, I was more-"

"Yeah, I bet you did!" Ash spat. "Couldn't stomach it, huh? Just looked over it like you did then?"

"Ash. I know you're angry and rightfully so, but let me finish. I skipped those stories to respect your privacy. Besides, I was more worried about you now. I wanted to know you were healing. And you obviously are."

Ash stood angrily, and walked to the bottom of the stairs and then back up. Buddy watched him with perked ears and tilted head.

"Can't you just admit what you did was wrong?!" He shouted into the phone. "You didn't have to spy on me! You could have just made contact and asked me how I was doing! You could have just asked me! Just apologize, Blanca!"

Blanca was quiet for a moment. On the other end, Ash was fuming. His face was red and splotchy from shouting. Had he been a cartoon character, he would certainly be steaming. Buddy was on the stairs beside him now, looking up with all the concern a dog was capable of.

"You're right. Absolutely right. I was out of line. I'm sorry, Ash. Really, I am sorry."

Ash puttered back down to the end of the stairs and now began to pace the living room. There was now a kotatsu set up between the fireplace and the sofa, both of which warmed the room and created a cozy atmosphere. However, it was much too warm at the moment. He walked barefoot through the living room and out onto the engawa, or wrap-around, covered porch that partially lined the house. Despite the chilling 35* F air, Ash stood outside without any more than a sweater, and it was actually refreshing.

He took a deep, steadying breath. "I didn't- I didn't just call to chew you out," he said finally. "I um- God, I don't know if I can do this," he muttered to himself. "Look, Blanca, I-" His voice trailed off, leaving his sentence unfinished.

Despite the outside air, he was still boiling. He anxiously rolled his sweater sleeves. His face was now red from leftover anger and the cold December air.

"You were good to me, Blanca," he began again, "at least that's what I always thought. Ha," he huffed, "You didn't rape or assault me, the bar was pretty low. But you also saved me, more than once, from Marvin and even Dino. I wanted you to rescue me and even now I wish you would have...but I think I get it now. You couldn't. Dino would have just got me back, probably killed you, and then there would have been no one to protect me. And then Dino would've hired another teacher and they'd be just like all the rest and they'd rape me and it would all just start again. So, I think I get it now. I'm still angry, but I get it."

He inhaled another deep breath and sat on the engawa. "And fourteen-year-old Ash would want me to forgive you. Because you untied him from a hotel bed and held him through a panic attack instead of 'taking your turn' like others would have. Because you not only fought shits like Marvin for him, but you taught him how to fight for himself. Because you were the first adult to ever talk to him like an actual fucking human. Because you lied to Dino for him to get him out of that bedroom for the night. Because in some strange way you cared for him and he cared for you." He rubbed at his eyes which were now bloodshot and teary. "I- I-" he stopped and cleared his throat. "I forgive you, Blanca," he said steadily.

Blanca was silent for a moment. Then, after thirty seconds that felt like an hour, he said, "You made me tear up, Ash." Ash could hear the tears in his voice as he laughed. "Thank you. Those words mean more to me than you could ever know. And...I'm sorry, truly, from the bottom of my heart I am sorry. I always wished I could do more for you. I don't deserve your forgiveness. Thank you."

Finally rid of his rage, Ash yanked down his sweater sleeves as the cold finally penetrated through his skin. He did not, however, step back inside.

"Hey, I'm sorry too. I know I caused you a lot of trouble and obviously a lot of guilt." He rolled his eyes at the absurdity of apologizing to Blanca. "I didn't ever think I'd apologize to you."

"Ash. Please. Don't apologize to me."

"Well, shit, treasure it, cuz you're only gonna hear it that once, got it?"

"Alright, alright." Ash couldn't see it, but Blanca still had tears in his eyes as Ash's words made him smile. "I'm glad you're happy with Eiji. You deserve something good for once."

Ash began to shiver on the engawa but still remained outside. Wind suddenly whipped through his hair, bringing the beginnings of an early winter snow along with it. Ash shielded the phone's microphone with a cupped hand.

"Well, Ash, I appreciate the call-"

"Wait," Ash interrupted. He still had one more thing he wanted to say before Blanca hung up on him.

"What is it?"

Ash huffed and sank into a sitting position, his knees pulled to his chest to conserve body heat. "Listen- you can say no- but I was hoping that you'd come to me and Eiji's wedding in the spring."

"Hmmm…"

Ash pursed his lips and held his breath in anticipation.

"Only if you can promise Mrs. Okumura doesn't punch me this time," he finally said humorously.

Ash released a little laugh laced with expelled anxiety. "Ha, oh I cannot promise that. She's built a good life with a loving family, I don't dare question a thing she does."

Blanca smiled and more seriously said, "I'd be honored to come, Ash."

Ash collapsed under the warmth of the kotatsu after he finished his phone call with Blanca. Buddy snuggled up on the ground beside him. Outside, Ash noticed it had begun to snow. It was predicted to continue snowing for the next several days until Christmas. If the weatherman was accurate, they'd have at least 6-8 inches by the holiday. Ash smiled as he watched the flakes fall. Eiji was so excited to have a white Christmas. Ash didn't care about such things, but he was happy for Eiji's sake. The sound of the fire burning and the clink of icy snowflakes against the window began to blur his consciousness. With a couch cushion under his wind-whipped hair, he fell asleep, emotionally exhausted.

By the time Eiji returned home from work, he was fast asleep with pink cheeks warmed from the heat of the fireplace and the kotatsu. Buddy ran to greet Eiji at the door, thankfully, not waking Ash. Eiji smiled as he spotted fast asleep. Instead of waking him, he simply began making dinner, knowing the smell would wake him eventually. He decided to make curry udon to warm them both, although, with another glance at Ash, he wasn't sure he would need any warming. As Eiji portioned out their meals, he heard Ash stirring.

"Curry?" Ash asked sleepily with a yawn.

Eiji joined him at the kotatsu. "Yep." He slid Ash his bowl.

"Thanks."

"This might not be the safest place to sleep," Eiji said with a gesture to the kotatsu.

Ash shrugged, "It's worth the risk of burning myself in my sleep."

Eiji smiled, "Sometimes I think you were a cat in a past life," he teased.

"And you were a pigeon," he teased back sleepily.

"I knew you were gonna say a bird...but a pigeon?"

Ash nodded, "Yeah, they're cute and puffy."

"You think I'm puffy?" Eiji pretended to be offended, but could not keep the smile from his face.

Ash reached a hand across the table and fluffed Eiji's hair. "Your hair is."

"Okay, that's fair."

They ate in silence for a few minutes before Ash said, "I called Blanca today."

It was only a partial surprise. Ash had been wanting to call him for weeks but kept putting it off.

A solemnity washed over Eiji. "How'd it go?"

Ash shrugged, "Good. I yelled a bit, chewed him out, and then I forgave him. Cuz, ya know, I couldn't let him off that easily." He sipped his water. "Oh," he began to add with a wave of his spoon, "and he said he'd come to our wedding."

Eiji's smile returned. "So you worked things out."

"Iku-san calls it closure," Ash smirked. "But yeah we did."

They finished their meal, casually making conversation about their day. When they finished, Ash moved from the warmth of the kotatsu just long enough to do the dishes while Eiji put on a kettle of tea. Then, with a blanket around his shoulders, he returned to the Japanese table's warmth. With the tea Eiji made, they both relaxed with a good book, a cozy fire, and one another as company. After only fifteen minutes, Eiji set down his book and moved to the sofa.

"I'm too tired to read," he complained. "I'm just gonna fall asleep if I keep reading."

Ash smiled at him from the floor. "Ever read Gatsby?"

"What's that?"

"The title of the book. F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby."

"That's the title?" Eiji asked with innocent, foreign confusion.

"The Great Gatsby is the title," Ash clarified. "Fitzgerald is the author."

"Ohhh, Fitzgerald. That author you've been reading. Sorry, my brain isn't working right, that curry put me to sleep."

"Soooo, I'm assuming you haven't read it?"

Eiji shook his head as he smiled from the sofa. He looked so sweet, Ash thought, with just his shoulders on up sticking out of a fluffy white blanket.

"Well, I've only just started it. I'll read to you if you'd like." He smirked, "I'll even start it over for you."

"You don't have to start over."

"No, it's a good one. An American classic. You'll like it. Besides, I was only a chapter in."

Eiji smiled sweetly. "Okay."

Propped up on several pillows, Ash read from the floor with his lower half still tucked under the warmth of the kotatsu. Eiji, who had been so close to sleep, was intrigued by Fitzgerald's writing style and was now more awake than he'd been before he laid down. Ash defined words for Eiji as he read, since the book used many words that native English speakers don't use on a regular basis, such as 'unobtrusively' and 'infinitesimal,' both of which caused Eiji's eyebrows to draw closer in confusion.

'Inside, the crimson room bloomed with light. Tom and Miss Baker sat at either end of the long couch and she read aloud to him from The Saturday Evening Post - the words, murmurous and uninflected, running together in a soothing tune,' Ash read.

Eiji smiled and interrupted him saying, "I'm glad you don't read all monotone like that. You do voices and put feeling into the narration. I've always loved that."

Ash glanced up at him, blushed, and continued reading. 'Then I heard footsteps on a stairs, and in a moment the thickish figure of a woman blocked out the light from the office door. She was in the middle thirties,'

"How come the grammar's all weird?" Eiji asked curiously.

A small smile twitched the corners of Ash's mouth as he considered the question. "I dunno, I guess people just talked differently in the '20s"

Eiji seemed satisfied with the answer, so Ash continued on, 'and faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can.'

Eiji chuckled. "I love the way he describes things," he remarked. "Today we'd just say, she was short and curvy...but he...he paints a better picture."

Ash smiled a full smile this time. "Mmmm, I think so too. That's one of the reasons I like him so much."

They continued on like this, Ash reading a few paragraphs at a time, explaining words as he went. Then Eiji would interrupt with a question about the writing or comment about a character. To Ash, it was infinitely more entertaining than anything on TV. Ash read until the middle of chapter three. His eyes began to flutter close with fatigue.

"But we haven't even gotten to the Gatsby guy it's named after," Eiji complained as Ash put a bookmark between the pages.

"I'm falling asleep. And besides, he doesn't come in for like, I dunno, ten more pages?" Ash said dubiously through a yawn.

Eiji frowned. "Aww, okay," he relented. "Can we read more tomorrow?"

Ash gripped his chest dramatically as he moved into a sitting position. "Uhh! Eiji, marry me!" He said goofily as if the question alone had won him over.

Eiji smiled. "Been a while since either of us has said that," he remarked.

"Mmmm," Ash agreed vaguely with a grin. He turned off the overhead light so just the glow of the fireplace cast shadows about the room. "Scoot," he said to Eiji as he weaseled his way under his blanket on the couch. From the couch, they could see the snow still falling outside the window. "Wanna sleep here?" Ash asked.

Eiji nuzzled close to him, "Mmmm, that would be nice."

Ash kissed his forehead. "I thought so too."

The following morning, which just so happened to be Christmas Eve, when they woke, there was more snow outside than predicted. There was supposed to be 6-8 inches total come Christmas Day, but they were already looking at six and a half. Eiji got a call from work telling him the company was closed for the day due to the inclement weather.

Since they were both already awake, they decided to make coffee, for Ash, and tea, for Eiji. Upon Eiji's request, and much to Ash's joy, Ash continued reading Gatsby as they sipped their hot beverages. Eiji squealed with joy as the elusive Gatsby finally made an appearance.

Ash read for hours and finally, around noon, they realized what time it was and decided to eat something. After eating, Eiji insisted they bundle up and play with Buddy in the snow. After some grumbling, Ash gave in and pulled on a heavy coat and a pair of boots that Eiji insisted he buy last year for the winter season. Ash had argued that he managed just fine with his converse in New York, to which Eiji just responded 'tough' and ordered Ash a pair in his size.

Bundled in a gorgeous chunky-knit grey sweater, his fur-lined green coat, a matching cream-colored scarf, glove, and hat set that Obachan had made him, and winter boots, Eiji looked like the poster child for winter. Ash declared that it would be a mortal sin not to capture it on film.

"Get Buddy too," Eiji instructed as he set up his camera on self-timer mode.

With slightly more difficulty now due to his weight, Ash picked up Buddy who was also dressed festively in the Christmas sweater Eiji bought him. They stood in the living room with the fireplace glowing behind them and smiled as they waited for the picture to take. For once, it wasn't Ash who squirmed as the camera flashed, but rather Buddy.

"I set it to take five, thirty seconds apart," Eiji said after the first flash.

Ash held Buddy still as the camera flashed a second time. Alarmed by the flash, he began to bark at the camera. Ash set him down, in no hurry to upset his Little Man. He ran off into another room.

The camera flashed a third time, this time capturing only Eiji and Ash. And then, boldly, Ash kissed Eiji in the fourth picture. A proper kiss on the lips, with his hand inching into his hair despite the winter hat. Laughing centimeters from Ash's lips, Eiji caught his hat with one hand as the camera flashed for a fifth and final time.

They took a minute to view the photos on the camera's small screen.

"Can we print that one?" Ash asked as they viewed the fifth picture.

"We can print them all if you want. I can put them together to look like they were taken at a photo booth," Eiji suggested.

Ash smiled, "Too bad we didn't do this sooner, we could have been one of those corny couples to send out Christmas cards."

"It's not too late," Eiji argued.

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, it kinda is. It's Christmas Eve, in case you forgot."

Eiji shrugged, "So we'll send one to Max and blame it on international postage."

Ash stared at him dubiously. Then after a moment of consideration, he said, "Yeah, alright."

"Come on, let's go outside, I'm about to sweat to death in all these clothes," Ash said. He whistled for Buddy. "Outside!" Ash called in his high-pitched voice that never failed to excite Buddy. They heard his claws click against and dig into the floor as Buddy came running, completely forgetting about the camera. Buddy raced excitedly into the backyard the moment they opened the door.

Eiji brought his camera out to snap more pictures. Only this time, he turned off the flash so Buddy wouldn't be spooked. The snow was bright enough without it anyway. He took pictures of Buddy eating snow and rolling in it, as well as many of him playing with Ash. Then, they switched and Ash took several of Eiji. Another wave of flurries began as they were outside. Eiji snatched his camera back and took a few close-ups of Ash with shimmering snowflakes on his eyelashes and hair. Then, Ash got some of Eiji doing snow angels like the actual angel Ash already thought he was.

Poof! A snowball splattered against Eiji's scarf-clad neck, sending snow onto his skin and lashes. Ash snapped a picture of him red-faced and laughing.

"I am SO gonna get you for that!" Eiji squealed. He kneeled in the snow and gathered up a snowball much larger than the one Ash had thrown at him.

"Eiji! Wait!" Ash chirped. "Your camera!" Just in time, he shoved it under his coat as the snowball made contact with his chest. Laughing, Ash retreated into the house and returned without the expensive camera.

"Okay, It's on, Okumura!"

"Show me what you're made of, Lynx," Eiji taunted.

They acted like children, screaming empty threats at each other as they pelted one another with icy bullets. Eiji accidentally hit Ash squarely between the eyes at one point. Ash groaned and fell to the ground, deciding to play it up. Eiji ran quickly to his aid.

"Sorry, Ash! I was aiming for your chest, I swear!"

SPLAT!

The second he was hovering over Ash with concern, Ash retaliated with a snowball of his own, only he threw his much softer to make up for the short-range.

"ASSHOLE!" Eiji laughed! He tackled Ash back to the ground as he tried to stand.

Ash caught one of their neighbors watching them from an upper window of her home. She looked worried at first, but then she smiled. Ash assumed she'd likely fled anxiously to the window upon hearing their screams, only to realize it was simply two grown men acting like children who'd never seen snow before.

They wrestled on the ground like actual children. Buddy joined, creating a literal dog pile. Ash yelped out in pain as Buddy pulled at his hair, unaware of his own strength. Hands weakened from cold and laughter, and inhibited by gloves, Eiji did his best to pull Buddy off Ash. Once they were both finally free, they sat in the snow laughing for several minutes.

Every inch of exposed skin was now wet and red from the snow. Ash's ungloved fingers were numb and swollen, rendering them practically useless.

They finally ventured back inside. The second Eiji pulled off his scarf, Ash obnoxiously placed his ice-cold hands on Eiji's neck. He squealed and fell to the ground just to escape.

Ash fell against the kitchen counter, laughing at his own shenanigans.

They shed their wet clothes, replacing them with warm, dry ones. Ash opted for sweatpants and a long-sleeved t-shirt, while Eiji settled on pajama bottoms and a sweater with fuzzy socks.

"Eiji," Ash tsked, "a little early, isn't it?"

Eiji looked down at his own pajama pants. "Well, I doubt we're going anywhere in this weather."

"No, I mean, it's too early to be looking that cute," he teased lovingly.

Eiji blushed. He raised to his tiptoes to peck Ash's cheek, and then his lips.

Downstairs, a knock at the door at the front door stole their attention away. Ash answered it to find a large box and a delivery man requesting his signature. He signed away and lugged the package inside.

"What'd you order?" Eiji asked excitedly as he scanned the box, trying to guess what could possibly be inside.

"Any guesses?" Ash asked.

"Mmmm," he stared at the box. It was an odd shape, about eight feet long and fairly skinny. Eiji shook his head in confusion, "I really have no clue," he admitted. "Something for Buddy?"

"Noooo," he drawled. He fetched a knife from the kitchen and sliced it open. "I figured…" he pulled open the flaps, "we could use a tree."

Eiji looked at him quizzically. "A tre- OHHHH A CHRISTMAS TREE!"

"And I got some lights and ornaments hidden away upstairs. They arrived first," Ash added.

"I've never had a tree! That's not really a thing we do here- at least not in our homes."

"I know, and I haven't had one since I was young, so I thought it'd be fun." He stepped closer to Eiji and swallowed him up his arms, his face inches from Eiji's. "And somehow, I just knew you'd love it."

Eiji smiled sweetly, "You sure waited till the last minute for it to arrive."

"People put them up obnoxiously early in America, I didn't want to be one of those people."

"You still didn't have to wait till the day before."

"Ehh, more of a surprise this way."

Eiji gave him an excited kiss before wiggling free from his arms. "Can we put it up now?" Ash nodded. Eiji raced to the kitchen, sliding in his socks as he went, "I'll make cocoa!"

By the time Eiji finished making the cocoa, Ash had begun to assemble the branches. Eiji turned on American Christmas music and they assembled the rest of the tree together. Then, Ash retrieved the lights and ornaments. Eiji set the camera up on self-timer mode to document the assembly process.

Around five, after the tree was a beautiful, glowing display of lights and shiny glass balls in their living room, they ordered in food and ate in front of a movie.

"What was that fantasy you told me about a while back?" Eiji asked softly after the TV screen flickered off.

Eiji could see the memory come back to Ash.

'Christmas evening, in front of the fireplace, on the floor. That's one of my fantasies,' Ash had told him once.

"I said Christmas evening. Not eve," Ash teased.

"Ehh, what's one day early?"

"Good things come to those who wait, Ei-chan."

"I've been waiting since you told me that months ago."

Ash raised a brow. "Have you, now?"

Eiji nodded, without a hint of embarrassment.

"Well, gosh, if you put it like that…" Ash leaned in to kiss Eiji.

As snow continued to fall gently outside, there in the darkened room, illuminated only by the fire and the Christmas tree, they declared their love for one another in ways in which words could never suffice.

Ash remembered from last year that Christmas wasn't celebrated the same way in Japan as it was in America. It was considered a romantic holiday, akin to Valentine's Day in America, in which couples exchanged gifts and spent time with one another as well as family. But the craziest part, Ash thought, was that the traditional food for the day was none other than the greasy American 'cuisine,' if you could even call it that, that was Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Eiji woke Ash early on Christmas morning. When Ash managed to pry his eyes open, he found Eiji leaning over him excitedly dressed in Christmas-themed pajamas that Ash let him open early last night. Eiji almost refused to open something early, but Ash insisted he'd enjoy the gift more if he opened it then. Eiji understood as soon as he pulled them out of the clothing box. The matching set was red with a pattern of white reindeer, polar bears, and arctic seals. Ash jokingly said they look like they're for children so he knew Eiji would love them.

With Buddy on their heels, Eiji pulled Ash downstairs where they had piled their presents for each other under the tree before going to bed the night before. They took a sleepy selfie to document their first Christmas in their new house. Ash grabbed them both coffee and then they began opening their gifts, Eiji going first.

Ash gifted Eiji several new, beautiful sweaters. One pink, one cream, one a stunning emerald green, and one black cardigan that looked like something a grandpa might wear, but, of course, Eiji adored it. He slipped it on over his pajamas. He also gave Eiji a new camera lens he'd seen him admiring, a set of luxurious bath bombs, a new pair of running shoes, and a set of three gold floating frames featuring pressed flowers. In the first was lavender and diamond frost, the second held moonbeam coreopsis and burnt orange zinnias, and in the third was purple allium and baby's breath.

"These are gorgeous! Were these from our garden?" Eiji asked.

Ash nodded, "Our first garden immortalized in glass."

Eiji's lip quivered as he tried to smile. "Ash, that's so sweet." He wiped at his eyes. "I'm gonna cry."

He gave Ash a hug and kiss. "Now your turn," he said after he composed himself and fetched his first gift for Ash.

Ash took his time and truly appreciated each gift as he opened it. First from Eiji, he received a variety of books he thought Ash would like. He bought him War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (a book which was on a list of novels loved by Ernest Hemingway), Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and a collection of twenty great early American short stories. Eiji also gave Ash a cookbook that contained recipes from around the world, an attractive set of quality spices, and a pasta-making attachment for the stand mixer they already owned.

Finally, Eiji gave him a framed photo that Miyuki had taken of the two of them and Buddy at the beach during one of the last weekends of summer. Ash sat upon a blanket with Buddy asleep in his lap and sunglasses cooly upon his face. With a smirk, he held up a peace sign towards the camera. Eiji's head rested at a tilt against Ash's bicep. He was smiling as he sipped a smoothie out of a hollowed-out coconut. Ash was slightly sunburnt and Eiji was gloriously tanned. Ash was clothed in a white t-shirt and pale green swim trunks patterned in dark green monstera leaves, while Eiji wore coral swim trunks patterned in clownfish and only a red and white towel draped loosely around his shoulders. At the edge of their blanket sat Miyuki's sunhat, sandals, and beach bag, serving as the only concrete proof that she was there as well.

Ash smiled fondly at the photograph. "It's beautiful, Eiji, thank you. This was such a fun day."

"You like it?" Eiji asked with a smile even though he already knew the answer.

Ash leaned over and kissed his cheek. "It's gorgeous. I love it. I love you."

With everything opened, they made and ate breakfast together. Ash read a little more of Gatsby, which eventually led to a mid-morning nap on the couch. Later that day, they put on real clothes and drove to Aki's for dinner, naturally, bringing Buddy with them. It took Ash nearly a half-hour to scrape the ice and snow off his car before they left. He drove slowly and carefully down the still snow-covered road. Shun came to town for Christmas, and together they had a lovely dinner of KFC, a concept which Ash still found quite odd. They did not exchange gifts with each other, as it wasn't the custom, but the evening was lovely all the same. In fact, Ash preferred it. It took the focus off consumerism, an aspect of Christmas he never jived with, and put it instead on being with the ones you love. Since Buddy was with them, Ash and Eiji decided to stay the night in Eiji's old room.

"Ash, did you not get the memo that this is the big holiday for couples in Japan?" Miyuki teased as the three of them walked up the stairs. " I figured you'd want to have some big romantic evening at home. I didn't expect you to spend the night, tonight of all nights."

She was trying to fluster him to earn a point in their everlasting game, but Ash wasn't about to fall for it. Instead, he'd do what he always did, get to her instead.

Ash shrugged, "Ehh, I think we celebrated well enough last night."

"Ash!" Eiji gasped.

Miyuki turned bright red and stomped down the hall to her room. "Gross!"

"You shouldn't bring up things you don't wanna talk about," he said in a sing-songy voice.

"GOOD NIGHT!" She shouted as she slammed her door.

Buddy barked at the door and Eiji and Ash laughed in the hall and then made their way to their own room.

"Did you have a good Christmas, lovely?" Ash asked as they snuggled into the bed that now felt tiny, especially with Buddy at their feet.

"It was perfect, Ash. Did you?"

"Well, my stomach is still gurgling from all that grease," he said comically, "I mean really, this is supposed to be the big lover's holiday and that's what you choose to eat? How is anyone supposed to have sex after eating all that?"

Eiji laughed, completely shocked by Ash's words. "Well, I guess it's a good thing we 'celebrated' last night if that's how you feel."

Ash chuckled, "Yeah, good thing we didn't wait." He sighed contently. "But seriously, it was lovely. All your gifts were so thoughtful and I loved spending the day with you and the family."

Eiji's head rested in the crook of Ash's neck and he tangled their limbs. "I love you," he sighed happily.

Ash kissed his hair. "Love you too."