Happy New Year Folks! TotenWelt here. I bet you didn't expected another chapter like that huh? Well, i've been making this since Christmas and i wanted to release it on Christmas because Toradora is my Christmas tradition, but then i got sidetracked because of family and all of that, so i decided i would make this before New Years, but i got sidetracked with traveling, repairing my house, etc. causing me to not have enough time. Finally now i've found the time to finish up this chapter.

Anyways, another thing you might be asking: "Is this a start of afterstory?" and to that i have to say, yes and no. Technically it is a start of part two because it recaps the events of original story and well, tells a story a year later. But it doesn't push the plot and it's only really a fluff filler. So in a way, it's more or less a tie in for the two parts so people wouldn't be confused what's happening and all that when i release first part of After Story.

Speaking of which, Oh What A Beautiful Dream! will return soon enough, right now i'm in a middle of creating something else so i can't put my full focus into it, but i'll try creating a new chapter in like a week or two, so be on the look out for that.

Anyways, that's all from me right now, have a good time folks reading this chapter!

Shoutouts:

Dreamer15147

I wouldn't be able to finish this story if it weren't for people like you supporting me on every step of the way. Of course, this is not the end of the story, no this is only the beginning. Like i said above i'm going to start writing After Story soon enough, I hope you'll read it. Now, as for the personalities i kind of didn't liked how some interactions turned out, i thought that maybe they weren't so good. But i'm glad that you think otherwise! Anyways, Thank You for reading this story all the way up until now and for being such a active viewer. I really cannot express how much that means to me.

Uniscold43

Thank you! I am glad that i have entertained and kept you invested through out the whole part. That's the biggest achievement any writer could do, so again thank you from the bottom of my heart. Anyways, as i have mentioned before i will return to this soon enough, just you wait. Anyways, i'm glad you like the fluff bits, they're pretty hard to write because they can sound rather (as much as i hate that term) cringy, which makes me rewrite them until they sound good enough, and even then i'm not exactly happy with how they turn out. Anyways, I hope you will enjoy reading this fluff chapter.

And lastly, you the person reading this. Thank you for reading my story all the way up until now

Beginning of the story

Ryuuji sat in his chair looking out the snowy outsides through his window, there was something beautiful about that sight of snowflakes hitting his window gently, it reminded him of himself and his girlfriend Taiga, but somehow they met and fell in love in each other despite how unique they all were. It made Ryuuji genuinely smile as he reminisced about how he met his beautiful lover.

It was almost a year ago when he rescued her from a horrible storm when she got lost, she was his friend in the past but more and more he realized that he wanted her to be more than friends, and thankfully for him she felt the same way as she kind of confessed to him as he was rescuing her, but she didn't knew that because for all she knew it was but a dream, he confessed his feelings back to her that night. The morning after she was very nervous at first about something, but soon enough Taiga was treating him like the boyfriend that he was. They spent few days cuddling and spending time with each other, but soon unfortunately that didn't last long as her mother called her back so she had to go away for a few days.

That was a start if his less pleasant memories, but they were worth remembering for what they represented, he was a shell of a man during that time as he missed her that much that he felt empty and like nothing was worth to him anymore besides her. But that was just the beginning of the problems, as soon he would find out that his female friend Ami Kawashima and Taiga's mother were inspiring against the two, both having some reason or another for wanting them breakup. They almost succeeded, but thankfully Ami had a change of mind and redeemed herself, she helped them get together and foiled Taiga's mother's plan, unfortunately with that Ami left and wasn't heard of since.

All was right in the world ever since then, Ryuuji moved in with Taiga to her giant apartment few months in dating with her, as it was getting a bit clustered living together with both his Mother and his girlfriend, plus he wanted to well live for himself a bit more as any person his age would, of course he still made food for his mother every day and visited her daily, but he just wasn't living there anymore. Of course it made Yasuho very sad, but on the other hand she was happy as a mother that he was standing on his own. Amongst other things they continued to study at the highschool as they did before, though this time their ranks in class were a bit thinner as aforementioned Ami left, not much is known about what happened or where she was, but people have been noticing her in magazines as a model, so she probably started modeling again.

Other than that, nothing really notable happened since that time, they both hit 18 and just lived their lives normally as students preparing to graduate.

Fast forward to today, it was a Christmas eve of 2009. Takasu was sitting in a chair in the living room of his and Taiga's apartment looking out the window, waiting for his lover to come back home, because Taiga was meeting her mother that day. Taiga at first despises her Mother for supporting their break up, but eventually Ryuuji convinced her to forgive her, which she did but she still didn't talked to her mother all that often ever since so she decided to spend some time with her on that day, because Christmas is a family holiday and all.

Ryuuji sat back in his chair as he kept looking out the window with a cup of hot chocolate in hand and his scarf around his neck that Taiga gave him back, because it lost his smell after months of her wearing it, of course she didn't wanted to say it out loud, but Ryuuji understood and started wearing it again.

Truly, he almost reached the peak level of comfiness, if only he had Taiga snuggling besides him would it be perfect.

But it was enough comfiness for him to eventually fall asleep looking out the window.

Takasu's body lied still resting on the chair as Taiga's small hands opened the doors to her apartment with bag in her hand and giant smile on her face, amongst meeting her mother she also got him a great present that she couldn't wait to give him.

"Hey Ryuuji! I'm home! " Aisaka greeted him, not knowing he was in a deep slumber. Taiga pouted that he didn't greeted her or went to hug her as he always does when she comes home.

"Hey Ryuuji! You're sleeping or what?" Taiga shouted a little agitated, because she was used to receiving a lot of loving from Ryuuji all the time. She dropped her bags and walked over to her boyfriend still with a pouty look on her face, because she thought he was teasing her even though he never really did that even when he had a plenty of chances to do so, it just wasn't up his alley to tease her because he knew how much it irritates her.

"Hey, stop teasing me!" Taiga lightly shouted at him with almost tears in her eyes as she shook his shoulder a bit, still getting no reaction she walked over to the front of the chair to see what was going on with him.

Only there did she realize that he was still asleep, despite her shouting her lungs out at him seconds before. Ryuuji looked so peaceful and cute in Taiga's eyes when he slept, of course she had seen that face countless of times, but that look on his face never got old in her eyes.

Taiga stopped pouting and decided she would join him in the chair as she sat on his lap and wrapped her hands around him as she always did in her free time, Ryuuji once more didn't noticed as she was very light, light as a feather infact.

But that sensation of feeling her hot breath tickling his neck as she hugged him made Ryuuji slowly but surely open his eyes, he did not expected Taiga to jump on him so suddenly so he stuttered a bit

"H-hey Taiga, sorry I fell asleep so suddenly, I just got done cleaning so I thought I would sit back and relax for once" Ryuuji greeted her as he hugged her back. Taiga upon hearing him talk withdrew herself from the hug so she could see his handsome face once more.

"Hey Ryuuji, it's okay I don't mind." Taiga smiled as she her face came close to Ryuuji's and as it did their lips made contact with each other, it was a pleasant kiss as they haven't had the chance to do so for almost a whole day. They both lost each other to the pleasure of each other's lips, so much so that they broke the kiss only once both of them were out of breath.

Taiga still had her arms around Ryuuji even as they broke the kiss, but this time she was just using them to support herself so she wouldn't fall off the rather unstable chair.

"So, how did you enjoy hanging out with your mother?" Ryuuji asked curious, after all they haven't hanged out for so long in a very long time.

"And it went pretty well, I'm glad I got to meet my mom after what happened to us last year, I sent the packages to the children as I always do, but I'm most happy that I got you something special!" Taiga smiled from ear to ear, happy for she reminded herself of what she bought him, a present that was both pragmatic and meaningful, which she knew he would really like as he is that sort of person, and for that she was beyond happy that she got it for him.

Ryuuji's eyebrow raised itself as he was really interested as to what his beautiful girlfriend got him.

"Oh that's really nice Taiga, what is it?" Ryuuji asked trying to sound normally, but inside he was really excited upon hearing she got him something, but he didn't wanted to seem like a annoying kid that's hyped to see the Christmas presents.

"Not telling you! You have to wait until Christmas!" Taiga said in a playful tone that she began doing only to tease Ryuuji, and seeing by his bashful expression it worked out well.

"Okay, i'll wait until Christmas then" Ryuuji said normally, though it was aparent that he was disappointed. Hearing that made Taiga genuinely sad, so to cheer him up she once more hugged him as tightly as she could.

"I'm sorry Ryuuji, but let's make this Christmas special okay? It's the first time we're spending together after all" Aisaka whispered gently in his ears, instantly making his mood better.

"I know Taiga, it's okay. Speaking of which I also got you a present and I hope you'll like it" Ryuuji whispered back to her softly, upon hearing that Taiga's eyes lit up like the lights on a Christmas tree that they set up near them few days before.

"What is it Ryuuji?" Taiga asked him as she once more separated herself from him to look him in the eyes, whilst he tried to hide his excitement upon hearing the news Taiga did no such a thing.

"You said it yourself right? I can't tell you Taiga, you have to wait until Christmas" Takasu denied Taiga the pleasure of knowing what present prepared for her.

It was the same necklace that he wanted to give her just before the accident with her and Ami happened, but as things got worse and worse he put that necklace away in a box and forgotten about it, but as he was moving to Taiga's place he found that box and it's contents, one of those things included that old Dragon/Tiger necklace that he bought to her all those months ago and never got around to give her. Ever since that day he tried to find a perfect way to give it to her, and since he knew just how much she loved Christmas, what better time to give it to her than that?

"Hmm, fine" Taiga pouted as she looked down looking disappointed, she looked just like a little kid who her parents told her that she couldn't get the toy that she wanted, which Ryuuji found really cute, and made him smile a bit.

Seeing him smile made Taiga get even more agitated

"Stop treating me like a brat" Aisaka once more pouted as she punched Takasu's ribs with a somewhat of a force behind it, she really disliked when he treated her like a child, or atleast when it seemed like he did, in reality he never did, especially when they started dating, she just wanted to be on par with Ryuuji. Despite everything she was still insecure about her appearance, she was already 18 but she looked like a 11 year old, who wouldn't be insecure in her boots?

Ryuuji surely didn't expected that punch, so he squealed in pain from the punch, it didn't hurt much he just didn't expected is all, she toned down her violence towards him quite a lot, but sometimes she still hurt him when he did something that would agitate her accidentally.

"I'm sorry okay? I didn't smiled at you because you were acting like a kid, I smiled because I found you really adorable okay? That's it" Ryuuji looked down embarrassed as he apologized to Taiga for something he didn't really meant.

She stopped pouting after seeing Ryuuji being so hurt, and instead she just hugged him passionately

"It's okay, I know you didn't meant it Ryuuji, and I'm sorry for hitting you in the first place, I really can't wait to see your present" Taiga said as she smiled and once more kissed him, though this time the kiss didn't lasted as long as the one the one before because she pulled away from his lips as they still had a lot of things to prepare, because it was Christmas afterall!

"C'mon Ryuuji let's go to Yasuho's, I bet she's worried sick by now!" Taiga lead the charge holding Ryuuji's hand with one hand and the second carrying the bag with all the presents with both Yasuho's and Ryuuji's presents.

Ryuuji simply nodded, picked up his presents for both Taiga and his mother and they were on their short way to Yasuho's home.

It felt really special to Taiga, as she got used to spending Christmas alone in her giant apartment, but this year, finally after spending Christmas alone for so many years she would be spending it with people that love her: her boyfriend and his mother who was so close to her that she took her as own mother, truly it was going to be a festive time in the soon-to-be Takasu house holds.

Ryuuji knocked on the door of his old house where only Fugly and Yasuho kept on living in. Thd young couple was greeted by Yasuho who was thrilled to see both of them, as she was very happy that the pair decided to spend time with her. They both greeted her back, and got into the apartment.

Ryuuji started to make food immediately as it was getting rather late outside by the time they went to Yasuho's and Taiga joined him as well, because Taiga wanted to learn how to cool so that she could be at least somewhat of a good housewife, which Ryuuji had no problem with teaching her.

Yasuho on the other hand just hanged around the house finishing setting up Christmas decorations to really make the festive mood.

After like 2 hours both Ryuuji and Taiga reappeared in the living room with a Christmas themed cake and Christmas Wagashimi in their hands, it was the most beautiful looking cake Ryuuji ever made and that was by a long shot, something about it was just perfect his usual cakes lacked the look, it almost always looked so bland and generic, but this time it looked very festive and overall pleasant to the eye, all courtesy of Taiga who overlooked the decoration of the cake.

Yasuho stood there completely shocked for she never saw a cake that fancy looking. Excited to eat it Yasuho turned off the lights, leaving them only with candles and the lights from the Christmas tree as their only source of light, but it had such a great ambiance and overall feel to it that it was just so perfect, one couldn't put it in words. They all sat down and started to feast on the cake and the wagashimi, after like a half an hour they finally ate all of the food and decided to make their way over to the presents which were nicely put under the tree by Yasuho when Ryuuji and Taiga were baking the cake.

There were only a few presents there, but all of them had a meaning behind them, they all served a point.

Normally Taiga would run up to the Christmas tree and start unwrapping her present the second she had the chance, but not this time, this time she was waiting for something, a reaction to her gift that she bought Ryuuji. She was still unsure if he would like it so she didn't wanted to disappoint him. Seeing Taiga not rush to the tree like a child gave him a hint that she wanted him to go first, so Ryuuji complied and did so. Taiga was looking at him really nervous and worried, wanting to see how he would react to the gift she bought him.

Ryuuji picked up a present from underneath the tree, it was a small, light package with "For Ryuuji" written on it, by the handwriting it was apparent it was a present from Taiga, Ryuuji carefully tore removed the wrapping so that it wouldn't make a mess, uncovering a small inconspicuous black box. Takasu opened it lifting the upper half of the box, in it lied a golden pocket watch of some sorts. It had "RT" engraved onto it with a heart outside of the initials. Ryuuji gulped as he was really impressed as to what she got him, and he also felt really bad because of the gift he was going to give her would definitely disappoint her compared to her gift. Ryuuji looked to Taiga who still was really tense and wanted to see his reaction to the pocket watch. She specifically chose that present because how well it tied back to him, first he is a very timely person as he has to do everything on time, and also she found out through Yasuho that his grand father used to wear golden watches as well, so she thought it would be a great gift, not to mention what lied inside of the watch, yes it was expensive on her part but it was worth it to see that shocked reaction that Ryuuji kept on though out the time investigating the watch.

Takasu brought his eyes back to the watch as he proceeded to open it to see if she left something, and it did.

It included a picture on one side of the watch of non other than his lovely girlfriend Taiga Aisaka with a quote "There are many things that get older as time goes on, but my love for you isn't one of them" written on it. Ryuuji once more stood there completely shocked, it was so adorable he couldn't handle it. Taiga looked at him more excited than ever, as she wanted to see what his reaction would be to it.

Ryuuji simply walked over to Taiga and hugged her tightly, surprised at first she threw her hands in the air a little bit, but then she placed them around his body and hugged him tightly back.

"Thank you so much Taiga for that present, it means so much to me, I love you" Ryuuji whispered in her ear, which made her so happy that he liked it so much. In response she snuggled uo against his chest and hugged him ever tighter with a smile on her face

"I love you too Ryuuji, I'm happy you like it" Taiga replied back simply as they both stayed in each other's embrace smiling in the process. They would stay that way forever if it weren't for the fact that they still had more presents to unbox.

Yasuho just looked at the young couple with a giant smile on her face, it reminded her past and how she was when she met Ryuuji's father.

They eventually let go of each other as Taiga looked at Ryuuji once more with a smile and walked over to the Christmas tree, there she picked up the present that looked like Ryuuji's because of his handwriting on the wrapping that had "For Taiga" written on it.

Aisaka wasted no time and ripped off the wrapping because of how excited she was, leaving quite the mess of torn wrapping on the floor. Taiga looked at the package that lied underneath the wrapping, it was a small wooden box with something inside it. She opened it by pulling the lid of the box and separating it from the rest of the package, there a neatly folded letter is lying on top of something underneath it.

Taiga picked up the letter and started reading it

"Thank you Taiga for a incredible 2009, I'm so happy that I get to date you, it's been a long road getting here, but here we are. As a token of my love I bought you this, I hope you like it. I love you and Happy Christmas - Ryuuji" Just reading that letter made her almost cry, never has she heard more sweeter sounding words from anyone else, truly she felt like she was the luckiest girl on the entire planet because she found her knight in the shinning armour. Of course she held back tearing up because she hasn't seen his gift yet, she decided if she was going to cry she was going to do it after that.

Taiga's small hand placed the letter in her pocket because she wanted to read it again later, exposing a beautiful looking necklace, the main ornament on it was a tiger and a dragon both standing on a balanced weight with "You're a Tiger, and I'm a Dragon. For centuries only dragons and tigers have been considered equal. So even if I am not there I will I'll transcend space and time so I can always be with you. And my feelings will never, ever change." engraved on the back of the necklace, little to Taiga's knowledge Ryuuji engraved that himself in his little spare time that he had over the year.

As Aisaka held that necklace in her hand and read the engravings she put her hand over her mouth and just kept looking at it very touched, then she turned over to Ryuuji, ran up to him hugged him tightly as her tears fell down from the corner of her eyes.

Ryuuji was taken back for a second, because he was expecting some sort of reaction from Taiga but not that strong, though it was pleasant feeling that he made her that happy, it filled him with happiness too as he hugged her back, tightly as ever.

Truly, it was a Happy Christmas for all.

"Hey, that's not fair you two are the only one getting hugged all the time! I want to be hugged too!" Yasuho pouted like a small kid as she ran up to the two and hugged the young couple, now with smile on her face.

After that they opened the rest of the presents, watched some movies, cleaned up and went to sleep.

Finally, after so long Taiga and Ryuuji were able to properly spend Christmas together. It was a unforgettable Christmas for the couple, and only the beginning of their memories together.

To be continued.