She was nervous.

Though Teppei postively bounced in anticipation beside her, Fumino could not get past the embarrassment at being seen in such an attire. Though, there was a small part of her that enjoyed when Sensei fawned over her in the scandalous clothes, liking how it felt when he looked at her with that naughty look in his eyes. "Buncha!" Teppei drew her from her thoughts, grinning wildly up at her. She had to admit, he looked adorable in his Santa hat and jammies, both of which Sensei had given to him that morning. Fumino looked down then, giving herself yet another self conscious glance, a hand rising up to adjust her own Santa hat.

Of course her attire was much different than Teppei's, aside from the hat that was. It was a baby doll style red piece of lingiere, tied together at her bust with a small red ribbon. The fur trim matched the trim on her hat and was soft when she ran her hands along it. She still had a hard time imagining that Sensei liked looking at her in such a thing, especially when she still yet lacked the womanly curves she thought most men enjoyed. Sure, she had turned eighteen that year, but it felt like her body was never going to grow up.

The door knob was turning then, catching her and Teppei's attention, and they both turned to face the door as it swung open. "Welcome home!" Teppei was on his feet a moment later, scrambling free from Fumino's grasp to run headlong at Kazuma as he came through the door. "Ma-kun!" He was calling as Kazuma scooped him into his arms, closing the door with a bump from his hip. Fumino could not help but to smile as she witnessed the exchange between her brother and their caregiver... Well, if that's what you might call Kazuma. It was then that Kazuma was turning to look at her, his eyes dark behind his glasses, a look she'd seen in them many times before. "Ma-kun, Buncha says it's almost Christmas!" Teppei was excitedly talking as Kazuma returned him to the ground, allowing the six-year-old to lead him further into the house.

"That's right. It's two days from now." Kazuma grinned down, taking in the full sight of the pair of adorable siblings as Teppei rejoined his sister on the floor. "You two are so cute I could just eat you up." His gaze lingered a moment longer on Fumino, who blushed furiously beneath his gaze, turning away as if scalded by his stare. He reminded himself she was still not yet his to snatch up but he could not fight back against the arousal building within him. It was not the first time he found himself thankful for Teppei's presence, for he might not be able to hold back had they been alone. "Do I smell... Cookies?" Kazuma drove the conversation elsewhere, grinning down at Teppei as the child shot back to his feet in excitement.

"Yes! For Santa! Buncha helped me!" He proudly led Kazuma towards the kitchen, chattering on and on about the cookies that had been precariously baked that afternoon. It was well known that cooking wasn't one of Fumino's strengths... In fact, she left the cooking almost entirely up to Kazuma. In their time together, he'd managed to teach her to throw together a few things, but overall... They all preferred when Kazuma cooked. "Look Ma-kun!" She could hear Teppei's excited little voice as he explained every single cookie that they had baked together, from its type to the design it was cut into.

From where she stood in the doorway, Fumino could not help but be a bit disheartened by his reaction upon coming home. Usually Kazuma responded with much more enthusiasm than he had that night... And considering their current situation, wasn't this his chance to be a bit more vocal about how he felt? Or perhaps it was as she had always worried... He'd found another woman. One who was tall and thin, but with all the womanly curves she so obviously lacked. One who was elegant yet sexy, a stark contrast to who Fumino was. Pain gripped her heart and she sucked in a breath, fearful that this stable life she'd come to love would become disrupted now that she was comfortable. That the man she truly had come to love would leave her for someone older and far more beautiful than she.

And worse yet... Would he not be leaving soon after Christmas? Away he was being sent by his father and they would begin a life of long distance. She feared while away, he would come to realize he enjoyed being alone, without her or Teppei bothering him. Or perhaps he might resent her for being the reason he was being sent away. She could not help to fear for what it would mean if Kazuma truly ever wanted to be rid of them. Fumino again tried to tell herself that she was being stupid, that Kazuma would never do such a thing to her or to Teppei... But how could she not be fearful when she knew what beauty there must be beyond their own city? How could she not help but to worry when every other family had grown tired of them at some point, too? Perhaps she'd allowed herself to become too comfortable and this was her own punishment.

But then Teppei was turning to her and she put on a smile, because it was for Teppei, and for him she would do anything. Even brave the heartbreak of the loss of Kazuma that was sure to come.

[ x x x ]

She felt miserable.

Teppei had gone off to bed a little while before, still clutching his Santa hat when Fumino had tucked him beneath the blankets. She could not shake the feeling that everything around her was going to crumble. Fumino tried to tell herself that she was overreacting, that Kazuma truly cared about her and Teppei both, but... Those stupid insecurities would not stop badgering her.

"Fumino?"

Kazuma's voice broke into her thoughts and she looked up from where she still yet sat at the dinner table. The dishes had long since been cleared away, but they had shared some tea and cookies together there in the time since Teppei had gone off to bed. "You're awfully quiet, is something bothering you?" Fumino's gaze snapped back up, a brow arched in surprise before a little sigh escaped her lips. It often still surprised her at how well it was that Kazuma knew her.

But how... How did she admit to him the truth? It felt silly now that she was compelled to speak on it. Something told her to just say it, to just speak the words that had been running through her mind since his return home that evening. "I..." She began, looking away then, shame flooding her features. She just couldn't say it! But then she felt it, the warm touch of his hand against hers and when she looked up, Kazuma was smiling at her. That was all the encouragement she needed to go on. "I thought you didn't like how I looked." She admitted, her voice small. "I thought perhaps... You might have found someone who looks better than me in such a thing." She continued, gesturing down at the getup she still yet wore. Fumino wished the floor would open up and just swallow her whole. Heat rushed to her cheeks, filling them with color, leaving her fidgeting beneath his gaze. There, at least she'd said it. Unable to sit there before his gaze any longer, Fumino jumped to her feet to cross the kitchen, folding her arms across her chest as she turned her back to him. Her eyes were smarting, tears clinging to her lashes as she fought to maintain control over her emotions.

For several long moments, Kazuma could not find the words to say. He was surprised by her admission, for had he not time and time again expressed his adoration of her? Had he not told her over and over again just how enchanted he was by her? That for the last two years it was all he could do to control himself around her? But then he was reminded again that she was but a young woman, full of insecurities that he could not quite fathom as a man. A fond smile twitched on his lips then and he rose up to follow her across the kitchen. Reaching out, he put a hand to her shoulder, encouraging her to turn back to face him. "Fumino..." He put a thumb to her cheek, swiping away the single tear that had escaped to trail the curve of her soft skin, proof of how deeply she felt what she had said to him. "You misunderstood, sweetheart." He spoke honestly, cupping her face with his palms as he looked deep into her beautiful eyes. "All the things I wanted to say to you then... I couldn't say them with Teppei there." His hands slid further down, past her shoulders, down her arms further and further until they fell into place upon her hips. Leaning over her, he put his mouth to her ear, lips pressing the smallest of kisses against her lobe. "Should I say them now?" His voice was a whisper against her skin, sending chills racing down her spine. A wicked sort of smile graced his features as he pulled back to face her and at once Fumino's cheeks surged with color, bringing a chuckle from his lips. "There is no woman alive that could look better than you." His honesty brought her gaze back to his face and he tugged her closer, one arm snaking around her slim waist. "There is no woman that could turn me from you, Fumino." A smile was beginning to bloom on her lips and Kazuma tipped his forehead down to meet hers. "In truth, I should like to unwrap you in the morning." Their lips hovered dangerously close and Kazuma longed to capture her perfect mouth with his own. Just... Not yet.

Suddenly, he was drawing back, his hand taking hers. "I have something for you." He tugged her along towards the living room, where they had put up their Christmas tree a few weeks before. Fumino had been painstakingly wrapping gifts day by day, placing them beneath the tree as Christmas drew closer. Kazuma stooped down, retrieving from beneath the tree a small, thin box she had not noticed before. He handed her the package, neatly wrapped in gold and red wrappings, a grin curving on his lips. "Go on, open it." He encouraged with such bravado that Fumino could not stop herself from opening the beautiful package. Once the wrappings had been shed, she was left with a black velvet box and it was with slightly shaking hands that she tipped back the lid.

Inside, nestled in silk, was a diamond bracelet; it was a simple strand of them, tiny little white diamonds that would fit perfectly around her wrist. It took her breath away and for a moment, Fumino could not find the words to say to him. "It's beautiful..." She breathed, finally finding her voice as she looked up at him, eyes shining. Kazuma reached for her hands then, taking from the box the bracelet with one hand, the other grabbing her by the wrist. With nimble fingers he clasped the bracelet around her wrist and grinned as Fumino extended her arm, inspecting the gems in the light from the tree. "Thank you!" She gushed, suddenly rushing into his arms, tears of joy gathering upon her lashes. Never before had she been given such a beautiful gift!

Kazuma held fast to her, marveling at how perfectly she fit against him, and it was then that he was hit so hard with his love for this girl that it took his breath away. How was it that he was so lucky... So truly blessed to have such a creature of perfection as his own? That in her and Teppei he had found the family he'd always ached to have. She was looking up at him then, her beautiful eyes shining with the love he knew she felt for him and his heart melted. He wanted nothing more than to hold onto her forever but for now this moment would have to do. And so he leaned in, his mouth finding hers without hesitation. She reacted at once, her hands on the move, one in his hair, the other on the back of his neck. Kazuma felt chills race the length of his spine and as he broke the kiss, it was to smile, every beat of his heart for her. Everything he did was for her and for Teppei, for a future they could look forward to. He knew their time together was coming close to an end, for soon he'd be sent away as punishment by his father... He would make the most of every moment with her, that was for certain. "I love you, Fumino." His voice was thick, full of every single emotion he felt in that moment, every ounce of love he felt for her showing on his face.

It was as she opened her mouth to respond that they both heard it, the little pitter patter of feet rushing towards them. "Buncha!" Teppei was crying as he flung himself into the safety of his big sister's arms, who had broken from Kazuma the moment she'd heard his frightened voice. He was crying into her shoulder, voice breaking as he fought to explain to her the jumbled picture of his nightmare, one which had woken him and left him terrified. After some more tears and comforting words from Fumino and Kazuma, Teppei was finally tempted to return to his bed, only after the promise of them joining him was secured.

And so, they slid into the big bed in Kazuma's room, Teppei squished between them both, warm and safe as he drifted off back to sleep. Fumino felt her cheeks warming with color... It was still not that often that they'd shared a bed... And even with Teppei between them... She enjoyed knowing he was just there, still within her reach. "Fumino..." Kazuma's voice was soft in the dark and she looked up, smiling as their eyes met. He reached for her over Teppei's head and she threaded her fingers with his, wishing she could find the right words to say. But as always, it was Kazuma who knew just what to say. "Good night, sweetheart." His soft words were full of love and she knew, without a doubt, she would never have to doubt his feelings for her as long as she lived.

And that... Was the best Christmas gift she ever could get.