A/N: Greetings, beloved reader! I see that you have stumbled upon my Christmas story in progress, and I do hope you enjoy your time reading this! I wanted to focus on a pairing I love insanely, but haven't done much for, so here it is! I'm not sure at the moment how long this will be, but it will all be done by Christmas, I promise! In the meantime, get comfy, turn on some Christmas tunes, and put yourself in fluff mode!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, but I do envy Togashi for developing such an awesome series. I don't own much really, except the plot of this story. lol
Dedication: To my family and friends, whom I hope will have a wonderful Christmas this year! I love you all!
Chapter 1 : Practice, Perfection, & Presents
A cool, crisp breeze sifted through his hair as he waited on the roof of the quaint little home his most trusted friend and family resided in. The chilly weather in Ningenkai wasn't too uncomfortable for him to bear, but being forced to wait and fidget in it undetected was beginning to annoy him. Not that hiding was a problem for him, mind you, when it in fact was one of his greatest talents. However, he was itching to get inside and meet with Shiori before he would have to return to Makai for his daily duties. Only when Kurama left could he go inside and do what he wanted, otherwise the kitsune would never let him rest, much less forget the matter. Why did everyone have such a keen interest in his rare hobbies? It wasn't like he didn't do anything at all with his free time...
That was it, though - he did hardly anything at all with his spare time, thus explaining Kurama's curiosity. No doubt Kurama had felt Hiei's presence the last several days, but for some reason he didn't let on that he knew why the fire youkai was at his house. Instead, he would carry on with his daily schedule, which included his studies at the university along with another fellow friend of theirs, Kazuma Kuwabara. Hiei didn't see much in the fiery and yet shy young man for years, but slowly let Kazuma's caring disposition for Yukina get the better of him. The fire youkai supposed that if Yukina belonged with anyone, it would be her choice, not his. All that mattered was her happiness, so it made no difference to him who she chose to stay with for as long as life permitted, even if that cost him his sanity. Though love for a male was forbidden to her people, she had long since cast away the traditions and let love sweep her off her feet, and there was no better time to feel the joyous emotion than in the wake of the holiday season.
Despite Yukina still not being fully aware of her relationship with Hiei, he had recently alllowed their friendship to grow slightly. Her smile was enough for him to swallow his guilt, and he continued to please her in ways that a brother would show his concern for his sister, asking about her health and well-being from time to time. This was as brotherly as he could be without letting her discover his secret, and thankfully she never seemed to pick up on it. That at least was a relief on his part.
"Do you need anything before I leave for class, Mother?" Hiei's ears twitched just a bit at the sound of Kurama's soft voice speaking from below, the front door now open, hinting that he was about to leave and Hiei could finally go inside and meet with Shiori.
The faint shifting sound of her head alerted Hiei's finely tuned senses to her response, a pleasant sound to his ears, indeed. "You needn't worry about me, Shuichi. Now, to class with you before you're late!" she chided lightly, her motherly tone a delight to hear.
Slightly disappointed that he was no longer needed at the moment, Kurama gave a trademark sigh and hugged his mother farewell, waving to her as he strode down the sidewalk. His red hair blew freely with his deep green scarf as he ventured on out of sight, thus prompting Hiei to smirk once the kitsune had rounded the corner. He then leapt down from the roof and onto the little sidewalk leading up to the house, the front door still open and wide for him to step inside. Shiori stood with a smile, welcoming Hiei with open arms as always. Though he wasn't fond of the hugging traditions of ningens, he would allow her arms to encircle him, but would never respond similarly. He supposed that if it made her happy, he could tolerate it for her sake.
"You're so impatient, Hiei. Have you been waiting long for Shuichi to leave?" she asked him, inviting him into her little home that she shared with her husband, and two children, one a step-child by marriage, of course.
Hiei shook his head slightly, removing his white scarf to hang on the rack by the door. He usually didn't take it off, but since he had become acquainted with Shiori, he wanted to show at least some qualities of her beloved son. "I came on time as always, but he dawdles too much. At least you had the decency to make him rush off... You really didn't need anything, right?"
Shiori smiled, touched by Hiei's concern for her well-being. "No, I have some tea in kitchen, so I'll be all right. By the way, would you like some?"
"What kind?" he asked, a smirk begging to tug at his lips.
Her smile widened into a grin. "Peppermint."
The smirk he had been wanting to share finally appeared and he nodded his approval, Shiori promptly moving into the kitchen to fetch them two mugs of the herbal goodness. Meanwhile, Hiei removed his cloak and ventured into the den, sights of Yule-tide joy filling the room with a holiday glow. Various blooms of red flowers decorated the scheme quaintly, gold trim complimenting each masterpiece, as his gaze fell to the window. A light frost covered the edges, a sign of the first day of Winter being in full swing, and the glow of the twinkling lights of the tree behind him also glared on the glass. He turned around to take a good look at the tree, beautifully adorned with brass ornaments, rasberry red ribbon serving as garland, with white lights wrapped around the branches. And at the top of the green giant there was a glittering star, simple, yet picturesque in the way it completed the tree so well. Hiei couldn't help but smile to himself by how lovely it all looked, a pure reflection of Shiori's love for the Christmas season. If his mother had ever been born into this world, she likely would have found just as much joy in the season, too.
His faint smile faded as he sighed, walking over to the piano bench near the window, the black beauty shining as she always did in the twinkling lights. Not a single fingerprint was on her beautiful ebony body, his reflection just as clear as the previous day. Being careful not to damage the jewel for an instrument, he lifted the lid that covered the keys, and gently slid it into its storage compartment. The glossy ivory shine was just as pure as ever, too. It almost appeared as though the piano had never been played, when in fact it was quite the opposite. It had been played more in the past few weeks than it had in years, all thanks to Hiei and his sudden fascination with the instrument.
One day when begged to come to Kurama's house for an autumn celebration, Hiei almost felt like he was in love when he laid eyes on the work of craftsmanship left untouched by the residents of the Minaminno household. He didn't understand why no one dared to play it, so thus he asked Shiori what it sounded like. When she couldn't give him an exact reply, she decided to play a small tune for him, thus bringing the other party attendees into the room to listen. Hiei, needless to say, was impressed by the beautiful sounds he heard, each note its own song to his senses. He needed to know more about this piano...
So when in private with Shiori, Hiei inquired about whether or not she could teach him how to play, and though shocked by his request, she humbly agreed, and thus his piano lessons began the very next day. Though they were secret, they were lessons nonetheless, and in the time the two were now spending together, Hiei began to feel like Shiori was the mother he never had. She was always so loving and concerned about him, guiding him along in his tutoring gently, and teaching him everything she knew. It almost felt like she had adopted him over time. Not exactly a bad feeling, of course, but it was alien to him.
"Forgive me for taking so long," Shiori interrupted his reminiscing, hurrying into the room with two mugs in hand, the hot goodness steaming into the air. "I was trying to find the Christmas mugs, since today is the first day of Winter."
Careful not to spill the tea, she handed him a light blue mug, a painted snow man and other such figures on the side. He nodded his thanks and sipped it, blinking his eyes by the surprising taste. "Definately peppermint." he said quietly, voice being choked by the spicy treat.
Shiori giggled and sipped her tea as well, eyes fluttering closed by how wonderful it felt on her tongue. She sighed and looked outside, the giggling of young children being heard as they ran to and fro, shouting things of meaningless joy and laughter. "I love Christmas time, don't you? Everyone's always so very cheerful."
Hiei took another timid drink of his tea and replied with a sigh. "Can't say that my past holiday seasons have been as happy as the one's you're accustomed to. Christmas was never my favorite time of year."
"But you do intend to make this year a good Christmas, yes?" she asked, her smile not fading in the least.
He shrugged. "I suppose...as long as you're involved it should be good regardless." She blushed and swatted lightly at him with her free hand, making Hiei smile again that he managed to tease her in the simplest ways. "But I do want to make better memories, if that's what you mean."
"Like telling a certain someone that you love her, perhaps?" she teased, Hiei's rare smile retreating in a hurry and melting into a frown.
"I thought we agreed to drop that subject last week." he scowled lightly, glaring over the brim of his mug.
She laughed innocently and continued. "How can I drop it when you told me yourself that you wanted to learn a special song to play for her at the Christmas party? That's hardly anything but a brick to prove that you love someone. Now tell me who it is already. The suspense is driving me insane!"
Hiei growled lowly and gulped more tea, trying desperately to maintain his expression before laughing out loud at Shiori's now pleading face. "I said I wanted to learn some songs to play at the party for everyone, not just for her."
"Aha! So you admitted it! You are in love with someone!" Shiori shrieked happily, Hiei instantly blushing in return. Curse this woman for being able to determine things so quickly!
"And what if I am? What do you intend to do about it?" he suddenly felt like teasing, his smirk begging to re-emerge.
"Well, I don't suppose you'll let me play matchmaker, will you?" He promptly glared and shook his head negatively. "Very well, then how about I help you pick a nice, romantic song to play for her?"
Hiei liked the idea somewhat, but still felt uneasy by the proposal. "But what about the others? They would know, and then I'd never hear the end of it."
She smiled brilliantly and let her gaze fall to the window. "You know, it's supposed to snow in four days."
"...And how is it that you know that?" he asked, confused, yet amazed that she knew something beyond herself.
"Because it always snows on Christmas. If it didn't, then it wouldn't be the same." she replied, sipping a little more of her tea.
"So what's snow got to do with me playing a song for her at the party?"
Setting her mug on the little table to the side, Shiori reached for the book on the piano and began flipping through it as she replied. "If there's snow outside, then the others won't be able to resist going out to play in it for a while, thus giving you the perfect opportunity to play for her...privately."
He loved Shiori's surprising sneakiness! He had to admit that she was extremely clever in devising similar plans like this one, and this particular endeavor was indeed a winner. "All right, then. So what should I play? You've only taught me how to play...perkier tunes, and no 'romantic' songs."
"Play this one." she said in reply, setting the open book in front of him for him to look at.
An eyebrow raised curiously when he read the title, his gaze sweeping slowly back to Shiori in embarassed rage. " 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas'? How is that romantic? It sounds pathetic to me."
She shook her head and pointed to the words underneath the notes. "Read the lyrics and you'll see why I think this song would fit the occasion best."
Considering he had nothing more to lose while being tutored by Shiori, (he had lost his pride weeks ago) Hiei snatched up the book and looked at the words carefully, but they didn't seem to jump out at him the way Shiori obviously wanted them to. Getting a sneaky plan of his own, he set the book in her lap and smirked. "Sing it for me."
"Wh-what? Oh, Hiei, you know I can't sing." she protested.
"And this is coming from the woman who said that I was tall compared to some..." Hiei teased conveniently, Shiori sighing miserably. "Sing it."
Another heavy sigh left her lips as she conceded. "Very well, but you owe me a kiss under the mistletoe before you leave today." Hiei cringed as she reached over to the keys to play a starting note, humming it lightly before singing. "Have yourself a merry little Christmas. May your heart be light. From now on our troubles will be out of sight... Have yourself a merry little Christmas...make the Yule-tide gay. From now on our troubles will be miles away..."
While she continued to sing from memory, Hiei took back the book and followed her quietly as he fumbled slighltly playing the notes before him. Soon enough, he caught the basic rhythm and let it flow with ease as Shiori drew near to the end of the song, Hiei deciding to surprise her and sang a light harmony with the final lyrics. "...So please have yourself...a merry little Christmas now."
Grinning, she ruffled his hair playfully, wishing she could hug him out of sheer joy. "You can forget the kiss. The little bit of singing has repaid the debt." she said, Hiei sighing, almost in relief, when another idea crept into her mind. No doubt Hiei would scold her senseless for this. "Perhaps you should sing for her as well as play, too." she suggested.
Instantly, his eyes widened in fear of the mental image, not to mention the mere thought. "I don't think so." he replied grimly, trying to go over the rhythms quietly on the piano.
"Oh, but Hiei...you sounded wonderful just now. Couldn't you at least consider it? I'm sure it would make her heart melt." Shiori urged, her motherly tone begging for him to give in.
"No." he said back coldly, trying to ignore her as he played. "I refuse to sing for anyone. You had the rare pleasure of hearing me just now. She can sing it for all I care."
"But...what if she doesn't know the song? It's not that popular, you know."
Hiei gave up trying to play and turned to look Shiori straight in the eye. "Look, I don't know why I just sang a moment ago, but I have no intentions of doing it again. I don't even like to sing!"
Shiori grinned mischieviously. "And yet you sounded like a professional for claiming to not like singing." Hiei's glare slowly began to slip as she leaned forward to meet his intense stare, determination glowing in her brown orbs. "You really do have a lovely voice, Hiei. She would no doubt feel even more special if you sang for her, since it embarasses you so."
"Exactly. It's embarassing." Hiei hissed, snatching his mug to drink the last of his tea before it got cold.
"What if I sang with you? Would that make you feel better?" she pleaded, batting her eyelashes at him in a way no son, much less a man could resist.
Slowly but surely, his stone faced exterior faded and he sighed out of playful contempt. "Shiori Minaminno...you drive a hard bargain. You'll do well to remember that someday."
She grinned. "So you'll do it?"
He slumped his shoulders a bit out of regret for being so soft with his best friend's mother, but he couldn't resist that smile on her face. She was indeed the perfect mother. "I suppose so. It would make the situation feel much more...pleasant, I guess I should say." Hiei replied, turning back to the piano as she took his empty mug from him.
"Good boy! I knew you would cave in!" she teased, ruffling his hair once again as she stood up to walk out of the room. Hiei blew his bangs out of his eyes. Down they go! "While I'm in the kitchen, go ahead and practice it again. I want you to memorize it by Christmas night!"
"Memorize it? Why should I?" he retorted from across the house.
She promptly peeked her head out of the kitchen and stuck her tongue out at him. "It's not romantic enough if you're staring at the music the whole time!"
Though he was aggrovated by the assignment, Hiei had to admit that she did have a point. It wouldn't make much sense to have his eyes locked on the sheet music, instead of on her eyes. ...The eyes he could lose himself in for hours if given the chance, but that chance never presented itself out of fear and inner contempt for himself. Hopefully the Christmas atmosphere would give him the excuse to stare at her relentlessly, and then he could confess what was on his heart, despite the madness that raged in his mind. This was Hiei, the merciless youkai who killed and slew at will, slowly finding himself to be falling in love for the first time in his life.
And he was madly in love with a ferry girl who annoyed him, yet made him feel so warm inside. She was the sun on a cloudy day to him, a song amidst silence, a flower in winter... She was everything that was good and delightful to the senses, and just the thought of having her love him in return made him shiver subconciously. Love seemed so far-fetched to him years ago, but now... it was within reach, all thanks to the talents and patience of Shiori Minaminno, the mother he never had.
It wasn't long before Shiori strode back into the den, a small package in hand that was wrapped in green plastic wrap. "I have an early present for you." she said cheerily, handing it over to him as he looked it over curiously.
"What is it?" he asked, untying the ribbon eagerly. He unfolded the wrapper and instantly his senses were overcome by a delightful scent of sugar and chocolate. "What am I going to do with you?" Hiei sighed, shaking his head, but grateful just the same for the treat of cookies.
"You deserve them after all this practicing you've been doing lately. Just don't let them spoil your dinner." Shiori advised as he took a small piece from one of the cookies and nibbled on it. The "mmm" he elicited was thanks enough for her. He then re-wrapped the sugary delights, and returned to his practicing, Shiori keeping him in rhythm by counting out loud, singing occasionally during some parts. "One and two and three and four and...good. Watch that rest there. Good!"
When his lessons first began, he detested her remarks when he would play, the counting and everything else driving him insane and making him mess up from time to time. But when he slowly began to understand why she did it, he appreciated it immensely, finding that it helped keep him in rhythm easily. It was only annoying if he let it be, but it was in fact quite helpful.
"Try singing as you play." she urged as he started the song over again.
He shook his head in reply. "I'll do that on my own, thank you very much - ! ...Do you hear what I hear?"
Fighting back the aching temptation to say 'a song high above the trees', Shiori peered out the frosty window as Hiei hid himself behind the piano. "Shuichi? But he's supposed to be at class!"
Hiei growled and hurried away from the instrument. "Apparently not. Don't say a word to him that I was here." he told her, snatching his cloak and scarf to flee the scene before Kurama would walk in through the door. Without enough time to put them on, he grabbed the cookies Shiori gave him and scurried to the rear entrance, but not before being halted by Shiori's steady hand.
"Same time tomorrow?" she asked softly. Hiei nodded and let her hug him briefly. "Be safe tonight and practice your song in your free time!" With another nod, he was out the door just as Kurama walked in. "Shuichi, I thought you were going to class?"
Kurama was removing his scarf and coat as he replied, hanging them on the rack like Hiei had earlier. "Turns out that classes were cancelled today for the holidays, so I thought I'd come straight home. But Kuwabara did invite you and myself to go ice skating a little later, if you feel like it."
"I would love that, Shuichi! Let me get my coat, then we can be on our way!" she chirped happily, reaching to snatch her winter jacket and scarf when Kurama halted her.
"Mother, are you feeling all right?" he couldn't help but ask, sensing that something seemed different about her disposition these last several days. His gaze then swept over to the piano, noting that there was a book of sheet music open, thus causing him to assume she had been playing before he arrived. "Oh, were you practicing some music for the party?"
Though she didn't believe in lying, she couldn't let Hiei's cover slip, especially when he was so adamant about keeping it all a secret. Playing for the group in a few days was most likely his Christmas gift to everyone, since he couldn't afford individual presents. But then she remembered that Hiei had her sing a bit with him earlier, so hence she was practicing in a certain sense of the word. She smirked inwardly and replied. "Yes, I was actually. I haven't played for a while, so I thought I'd brush up on my Christmas songs a bit while I had the chance."
He smiled and directed her over to the piano, silently asking for her to sit down. "Do play a little for me, will you, Mother? I would like the chance to warm up a bit before we go meet with Kuwabara and the others."
"Well...all right, but just one! I still haven't had much practice, mind you." she chided, taking a seat on the bench and turned a page before beginning to play. Humming softly as she played, Kurama leaned against the hardwood body and followed along, harmonizing perfectly with his mother's soprano voice. Her fingers seemed to barely touch the keys she was so at ease that morning, notes resonating around the room like the way a church's bells echo to an entire town.
Hiei was standing in a nearby tree, listening with extreme interest to the way Shiori played. In an odd sense, it was inspiration to him, watching her enjoy herself so much, even when merely playing for her son. That's how he wanted to play for Botan in a few days. He wanted to pour everything he felt into every note, every gesture, every look... just so that it would be enough to convince her that he loved her senselessly. But how could he perform so well when he already felt nervous enough about it? Jitters would likely overcome him at the last second, and he would thus resign the thought to time, never to let Botan know of his feelings. No doubt Shiori would be disappointed, considering all the time and effort she had devoted to his lessons. It seemed rather hopeless fom his standpoint...
"...May your days be merry and bright..." Shiori's soothing voice echoed, touching every listener in each their own way. "...And may all your Christmases be white."
Kurama politely applauded his mother's talents and leaned over to kiss her cheek, Shiori equally delighted by his singing. "That was lovely, Mother. I don't think you will ever lose your touch."
"I see that you haven't lost yours either, Shuichi. I do hope you'll sing for us all at the party." she replied, standing up and walking towards the coat rack to snatch her winter affects.
He followed her and took her jacket as a gentleman would, letting her arms slip through it as he spoke. "It wouldn't be Christmas without song time around the piano, so of course I'll sing. As for the others... well, that's something else to worry about another day. Shall we go?"
Nodding and slipping on her gloves, Shiori let Kurama open the door and stepped out into the chilly air, instinctively wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm. A puff of her cold breath floated into the air, and she couldn't help but smile, despite the lack of snow on the ground. She knew it would snow on the expected day, so she didn't feel a slight hint of sadness at all in her heart as Kurama offered his arm to her. She accepted and allowed him to lead her down the sidewalk, the mother and son pair waving to their neighbors happily, sharing small bits of conversation here and there.
"Merry Christmas, Miss Shiori!"
"Happy Holidays, Shuichi!"
"The same to you! And a happy New Year!" they would reply joyfully, their cheeks a soft rosey color, making them seem to glow against the pale landscape of their neighborhood.
Sighing in absolute joy and glee for the Christmas season, Shiori leaned against her son's arm and began to hum the song she played earlier, Kurama smiling and following along. Other neighbors that they passed would join in as well, some shouting the tune blatantly, while others sang quietly as they added the last of their decorations to their lawns. Regardless, the holiday spirit was present in their humble city, even in the heart of the fire youkai watching the mother and son with a rare smile.
"I do hope you get your Christmas wish, Shiori, as I can only dream that I get mine, too." he whispered, disappearing in a blur of black to leave the scene.
L-a-t-e-r
"Woohoo! Dig this move!" Kazuma shrieked joyously, taking a daring leap into the air in hopes that he would land gracefully on the ice beneath him, when in fact, his hopes were quickly shattered. "Eee, this is cold! Ow ow ow!"
Yukina giggled and skated towards him to help him to his feet, struggling since he was almost twice her size. "Kazuma, you're so silly. Are you hurt?"
He promptly shook his head and grinned broadly. "Are you kidding? I'm made of iron! There's no way that I could get hurt!"
Shizuru appeared behind him and clocked him firmly on the back of his head, thus resulting in him crashing face forwards onto the ice. "Yeah right you're made of iron. If you were, you'd crack the ice when you fell." she teased, soon after offering him a hand to stand up again.
Growling under his breath, he stood back up to see a familiar red-head and a woman stand in line to rent skates at the sales stand. Recognizing them, he grinned again and waved exuberantly at the two. "Hey Miss Shiori! Glad you could make it!"
She replied with a friendly wave as Kurama asked for their skates. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Kazuma!"
After receiving the skates from the clerk, Kurama directed his mother to sit on one of the free benches, and helped her get her skates on first, then slipped his on as their friends skated over to join them. Yukina was the first to arrive at the edge, her picturesque form looking so cheerful as she proudly adorned a pale pink winter jacket, topped off with a white hat, scarf, and gloves. Shiori smiled brilliantly at the girl and spoke. "Yukina, you look so lovely! Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Very much so, Miss Shiori. I love winter time." the Koorime replied just as cheerfully. Kurama too looked at Yukina's adorable outfit, smiling to himself as he recalled her brother. If only Hiei could see her now... "I love your scarf! Is it hand made?"
Shiori looked down at her blue and white knitted scarf and nodded, Kurama helping her to her feet as they carefully walked towards the ice, her son all the while keeping her steady. "I made it a few years ago, and can't seem to get rid of it. It's just too pretty to throw away."
"You do look the part, Miss Shiori!" Kazuma beamed, offering Shiori a hand as he and Kurama helped her onto the ice. Blushing, she accepted and carefully stepped onto the slippery wonder, maintaining her balance with ease, then turned to see Kurama join hands instantly with Shizuru. She noted the blush that was turning his cheeks even redder, and she subdued a giggle for his sake. She had known for weeks that Kurama and Shizuru were dating, and thought it to be the sweetest thing to finally see her beloved son look like he was in love for the first time.
"So who's looking forward to the Christmas party this Saturday?" Shiori asked her companions, slowly beginning to skate in reverse.
"I am." Shizuru said in an almost dreamy fashion, regrettably turning her gaze away from Kurama's intense green eyes. "Ya know, I think your son already looks like he's ready for Christmas."
Kurama smiled, his arm linked with Shizuru's as they followed Shiori's lead, Kazuma and Yukina joining them, also as a pair. "And what makes you think that?"
Shizuru had to giggle as she tapped his nose with her gloved finger, loving the insatiable ability to tease him. "Because your eyes are green, and your hair's red. You're in the holiday spirit year-round!" Blushing, he tried not to let the pink on his cheeks darken even more from the cold and embarassment, even though the joke was purely harmless, as it made the others laugh lightly in response. "Quit being cute! You're going to make me slip!"
A sneaky grin played on his features as he intentionally pushed her forwards, catching her as she fell backwards into his arms like a bride and groom. She had allowed a surprised gasp to escape her when she realized that he was still gliding across the ice, her long brown strands flowing with his fluent strides. He turned his gaze from hers to note the staring of his mother and two close friends, each grinning in each their own way for his adorable actions. Shiori was especially pleased, wishing she had a camera to frame the picture forever. Even though she was without such, she instead engraved the moment in her mind, keeping it safe with her other cherished thoughts of old.
In response to the romantic antics of the other pair, Yukina leaned against Kazuma, her white gloved hands wrapping around his arm lovingly. Shiori sighed again, loving the atmosphere the holiday season provided, as it was a season of love and giving. So much joy seemed to sing in the air, drifting across the world in the form of a snowflake or Christmas carol, and touching the hearts of the cold and calloused. Even the most cruel of people felt some sort of happiness for this time of laughter and family, so there was no reason for anyone to be sad. There was no doubt in her mind that this would be the best Christmas ever.
Her piano lessons with Hiei had also seemed to boost her morale, as well, the blunt and determined young man bringing a certain and special delight to her heart every time she saw him give a wry smile. Something about his attitude beforehand had provided motivation for her to change his shy and cold nature, not necessarily for her, but she caught on that she was a primary influence. Perhaps he would one day tell her who this special girl was that he learned and strived for, just to please in at least one way. He was far too secluded, she knew to admit it openly. She would have to figure it out for herself...
"Hey guys!" a familiar voice said from a near distance. The group of five looked straight ahead to see a couple they all knew, and they each waved happily.
"Urameshi, I was wondering when you would show up!" Kazuma yelled across the frozen pond for a rink.
The raven-haired youth shrugged as he and his female companion quickly tied their skates, and slid out onto the ice, the young man being careful to not let his escort fall. "Ah, well I got delayed doing some last minute Christmas shopping. Keiko made me."
She scolded him by smacking her hand against his face, hearing him land with a hard thunk on the ice. "Made you? The gift was for your mother!"
The others looked a bit shocked that Yusuke seemingly forgot to buy his mother a present, but Shiori wasn't as appalled, much less offended by the gesture. "Well, she's hard to buy for! Can ya blame me?" he pleaded, having great difficulty in standing up on the slippery ground beneath him. Shiori was the first to arrive at his side and offer him a hand, hoisting him to his feet as he smiled radiantly in gratitude. "Aw, thanks Miss Shiori! You're the best mom in the world!" Keiko glared. "...Tied with my mom, of course."
Keiko nodded in approval, looping her arm around his as the group continued to skate on with ease, the chilly air long forgotten since they were enjoying themselves so much. They initiated various discussions, revolving around Christmas gifts, holiday plans, and past memories from their earlier years. Kazuma had brought up the memory of the group's first official Christmas together, a night of giggles and embarassment, as Yusuke and Keiko had been caught under the mistletoe on their way out the front door, and everyone eagerly awaited the moment of truth. Nervously, Yusuke pecked her lips in a gentle manner, but the next thing he knew, he had been tackled in the snow, Keiko's lips planted on his again. This time there was a photo to prove that the event had indeed occurred, and Kazuma was the one to snap the precious and embarassing moment with his camera.
As the late morning progressed into early afternoon, the group of friends found themselves drinking hot chocolate at the local cafe' just a short distance from the icy pond. Shiori, again was the first to initiate a new conversation. "Where is your friend Botan? I haven't seen her for quite some time."
They all exchanged nervous looks, not wanting to give away any information concerning Botan's true occupation. They all knew why the bubbly grim reaper couldn't join them - it was the Christmas season, and strangely enough, there were several deaths around this very time. It truly was disappointing to not have her around, as her jubiliant spirit was a welcome one, spreading holiday cheer to each and every one of them.
"She has a very hectic holiday job, Mother. I'm sure she'll be able to join us for the Christmas party." Kurama informed his mother in a soft tone meant to comfort and reassure.
"Oh, I see. Perhaps we should go visit her, you know, to give her a little break!" she beamed in reply, everyone's expressions paling in a hurry.
Yusuke was the first to voice his disapproval. "Nah, she's really, really busy! Let's just wait for her to come around to us."
Sighing disappointingly, Shiori nodded and plopped another spare marshmallow into her mug of warm chocolatey goodness. Yukina scooted closer to the woman she saw as an ideal mother, and hugged her tenderly, smiling as she spoke. "Don't be sad, Miss Shiori. Botan will come by soon, I'm sure of it!"
The older woman looked at the Koorime thoughtfully, so grateful for her youthful spirit that brightened her even more. "Thank you, Yukina. You're so dear to me, like you were my own daughter."
Yukina blushed and remained near Shiori for comfort purposes, sipping her cocoa, delighting in its rich, yet soft flavor. She glanced up at the clear sky, shielding her eyes from the white sun overhead. "Are you certain it will snow? I haven't seen a cloud in the sky for days."
They all looked up as well, some sighing, and some not knowing what to say until Shizuru broke the silence. "Ah, it always snows on Christmas. If it didn't, we'd have a major problem."
"And why's that? You don't need snow to have a good Christmas." Kazuma interjected, curious of why his sister seemed so supersticious.
"Because then Hiei wouldn't have an excuse to come inside from the cold." she replied with a laugh, the others doing the same. It was true, though. Since Hiei was of fiery descent, he was no more immune to the cold than a normal ningen, so therefore he would most certainly be at the party, instead of hiding out in a nearby tree. Shiori had to smile again, recalling his embarassment from earlier when she tried to interrogate him about the young lady he sought after so shyly.
Glancing around the picnic table at her companions, she eliminated them one by one. Shizuru obviously wasn't the girl, mainly since her son was already dating the independent woman, but also for the fact that Hiei couldn't stand being around her before losing his temper. Keiko wasn't the one, either, considering that she and Yusuke had recently gotten engaged. The last girl at the table besides herself was Yukina, and Shiori eliminated her quickly. Yes, the Ice Child was indeed a sweet and loving spirit, but Hiei was far too protective of her to be in love with her. That left only one lucky girl... Shiori smirked.
"Hey, Miss Shiori." Yusuke spoke up, alerting the elder woman to be snapped from her daze. "I have to get something else for my mom while we're out. Think you can help me find a present for her?"
With a grin, she nodded and stood up, Kurama taking her empty mug to return to the hot chocolate stand. "I'd be happy to, Yusuke. Would anyone else care to join us?" she asked her companions, each nodding in eager reply. So as each couple paired up, and Shiori took the free arm of her son, they strode back into the town to complete the last round of their holiday shopping.
M-e-a-n-w-h-i-l-e
Botan breathed a heavy sigh of relief as she tucked the last file away into its proper folder, wiping her brow to do away with the small beads of sweat forming underneath her bangs. She had been working hard and diligently all day, all the while knowing that the Christmas season was painfully near in Ningenkai, thus explaining her hefty workload. At this time of year, there were a surprising amount of deaths, primarily unhappy suicides that dampened the ferry girl's spirit on many occasions. She almost grew to hate Christmas since people seemed to take it for granted so much. Couldn't they understand the concept of fun and family?
She wanted so badly to truly experience the joyful singing without worrying about death constantly. She wanted to feel the happiness that would flood her upon opening her first present of the holiday night. She wanted to sense the warmth of the fireplace in the corner, or the warmth of another's arms as she sighed pleasantly...
Catching herself before her thoughts wandered off too far, she turned on her heel to see an exhausted secretary struggle to get his words out to her. "The filing for today is done. Koenma says you are free to go until called on again."
Her face lit up like a lightbulb, and she jumped up and down in joy. "Really? Oh yay! Now I can go Christmas shopping!" she twittered, bounding away with a sudden burst of energy, meanwhile the ogre sighed in relief, he too grateful for the end of the workday.
As she proceeded to a nearby balcony to fly away on her oar, a familiar voice stopped her. "Just a moment, Botan."
She fought back a growl and turned to face the toddler for a ruler with a desperate look for a vacation in her eyes. "Yes sir? What is it?"
"Don't get too carried away. It's only December twenty-first. Many more people could go suicidal in the days to come." Koenma informed her sadly, sensing the disappointment rise and fall in her mind. He knew how badly she wanted to get away, but she was his best ferry girl, always prompt and quick with her work. Though she deserved a long and grand furlough, he couldn't just hand out holiday paychecks to everyone and say 'See you after New Years'. Their job was demanding and there were no holidays off. Amazingly enough for them, the dead took top priority above the living.
"I know. I just want to try and get some shopping done." Botan replied, her expression becoming chipper with the mental images she got. A new necklace for Yukina... some manga for Yusuke and Kuwabara... oh no, what about the others? "I really have so many to buy for, Koenma. Please... if something comes up, can you please have another do it? I'll come back for duty as soon as I'm done!"
Unable to resist that pleading look on her face, Koenma caved in and waved her off in approval. "Very well, but don't be long." he informed as he began to walk off, muttering things of Hinageshi's clumsiness.
Giggling, Botan materialized her oar and floated up into the sky, soon after drifting into the other dimension of existence above Ningenkai. From her vantage point, it all looked so quaint; little homes all decorated with multi-colored lights, children running to and fro, and other people bustling along the crowded streets of the shopping district. The only thing that would make this look even more perfect was the presence of snow, which had yet to fall this holiday season. The absense of the fluffy delight was indeed noticed, the deity hearing the mutterings of various secretaries and other detectives about how much they wanted to see it over the past few days. Hopefully by Christmas night, the snow would cover the ground, encouraging children and adults alike to dive straight into the fun, ignoring age and weariness all the while. She smiled, loving the thought of being able to have another snowball fight with her friends like they did one year.
So many wonderful memories, and all because of a simple world-wide tradition.
When she realized that she was still in her thin pink kimono, Botan quickly used her spiritual aura to dress herself in a warm set of clothing. She had to admire her choice of attire; a white winter coat, red scarf and gloves, black pants, and an adorable red sweater with a black scottie dog at the bottom. Were she of Ningenkai descent, she would naturally fit into the mood of Christmas for sure.
Landing in a secluded part of the park, she took a deep breath of the crisp air, put a smile on her face, and started to walk the path leading into town. Along the way, she waved to playing children, a pair of twin siblings catching her eye in particular as they asked her where she was going. "Why, I'm going Christmas shopping, of course!" she replied, giggling at the mischievious brother and sister duo.
The little girl was first to speak after Botan responded. "This late? Wow, you must have only a couple people to get gifts for if you waited this long!"
Botan had paled considerably, embarassed to admit that she had yet to buy anything for any of her friends. "Well, I've been quite busy these last several days. It's better to do the shopping today instead of waiting longer, right?"
The boy grinned, nodding enthusiastically as he spoke. "Yeah, I guess. Well, good luck! Merry Christmas!"
"Yeah, merry Christmas!" his sister shouted as they bounded away to catch up with their parents.
Botan waved happily and responded similarly. "Have a good holiday, you two! Merry Christmas!"
As she continued down the sidewalk, arms swinging carefreely at her sides, she heard the pleasant sound of a Christmas band in the near distance, playing familiar songs that she had heard for years. How she loved this time of year! Ignoring all the staring eyes, she danced lightly to the tunes they were playing, soon after bumping into a group of people - quite literally. "Oh, I'm so sorry - ! ...Miss Shiori!"
When she recognized the charmingly attractive deity, Shiori smiled brilliantly and hugged her. "Botan, dear! It's so wonderful to see you!" she told the ferry girl happily.
Botan returned the hug with as much love and care, then proceeded to hug the others in the group, as they all inquired about her absense. "How's work been, Botan? Busy as always?" Yusuke asked.
She nodded and exhaled heavily. "Quite busy, indeed. Koenma's been working me to death!" All but Shiori caught the joke, but the elder woman laughed anyway, still entirely unaware of Botan's true occupation. "I finally got a break, so I decided to do my Christmas shopping while I had the chance."
"Oh, how convenient!" Shiori chirped. "We were going to do the same for Yusuke, so why don't you join us?"
"That would be great! Thanks so much!" Botan replied with just as much enthusiasm, grateful for the invitation as they proceeded on out of the park and into town.
As expected, the town was still bustling with people doing last minute shopping, mothers and fathers struggling to keep their children from wandering into the toy stores, and young couples facing the same difficulty when passing by a jewelry shop. Botan was careful to note what caught everyone's eye, watching how Kurama's eyes lit up when he saw a thick book with the title of Piercing the Darkness, and then when Keiko took a second glance at a creamy white colored sweater that looked like cashmere it was so fuzzy. Everything was going as she suspected it would, at least concerning the troupe she was with at present. Kazuma and Yusuke had been flipping through various volumes of manga, chittering back and forth about how one was better than the other and what-not, Yukina was admiring various bracelets and necklaces around her, and Shizuru found a breathtaking hand made quilt, the design of a nighttime scene carefully stitched into the fabric.
However, there were still two others that were proving difficult to buy for; Shiori and Hiei. Botan had thought that buying something for Shiori would be incredibly simple, but the entire time that they were out, the picturesque mother never pointed out anything that snagged her interest. Nor had anything jumped out at the ferry girl to give Hiei either. There was someone like this every year, too. Drat!
"Will you be able to come to the party Saturday, Botan?" Yukina asked as she admired the shimmering necklaces inside the glass case.
Botan shrugged, leaning a little closer to pay close attention to the Ice Child's expressions that would change when she saw something she liked. "I can only hope so, Yukina. I want to be there so bad, but you know how busy I've been."
Nodding her understanding, Yukina continued. "We really hope you can make it. It wouldn't be Christmas without you." Her eyes twinkled a bit when she saw the tear drop sapphire stone of a silver chained necklace, the gem small and simple, but still beautiful like a far off star. Botan saw that look of glee flash over the Koorime's features, and giggled inwardly, making a mental note to purchase the charming piece of jewelry when Yukina wasn't looking.
"So do you know who's going?" Botan proceeded to inquire, stealing a glance at Shiori who was on the other side of the store. Nope, she still hadn't found anything yet...
"I know all of us are, especially Kazuma and myself. He's been talking about it for months." she giggled, Botan doing the same as the Ice Child went on. "Miss Atsuko may be joining us, and I do believe Hiei is, too, though I can't be certain. We don't see much of him anymore."
"No one does, really." the deity said with a dismal sigh, recalling the past Christmases when Hiei just sat on the windowsill in quiet and never-ending silence. She had an inkling why Hiei didn't enjoy the holiday season, but let that remain a mystery for his sake. Digging deep into his personal matters was not her concern, even though she felt sad for him, especially since he was such a secluded person. However, this compelled her even more to get a gift he would at least appreciate, if not use at some point. But she was at a loss. About the only things Hiei liked were black and death. She had to giggle, since she was technically referred to as the grim reaper, meaning she was Death. So perhaps Hiei held a fondness for her in some way or another.
"Regardless, I hope everyone can come. Christmas isn't Christmas without your closest friends and family nearby." Yukina admitted with a grin, turning away from the glass case to venture over to Shiori who was examining a shelf of collectible teddy bears. Botan took her opportunity and slyly purchased the necklace Yukina had her eye on, tucking the small box into her pocket so that the Koorime wouldn't take note of the holiday purchase.
After she had hidden the object well, she strode back to be with Shiori, and dared to ask whether or not the older woman liked the furry objects before her. "Do you collect these, Miss Shiori?"
Shiori shook her head in reply. "Can't say that I do, though I have been considering such a hobby. They're such cute little things, aren't they?" she told the deity, Botan smiling and nodding in return.
"Yes, they are. Oh, look at this one!" Botan chirped, snatching a light brown bear with curly hair, and a small scarf tied around its neck.
"Oh, it's so adorable! I'm sure it will make some child happy this Christmas." Shiori said with a smile, admiring the soft wonder, while Botan's heart sank. She had hoped that the mother would like to have it as a Christmas present, even though she agreed that it could bring some lonely little boy or girl some joy this year. "You know, there's a toy drive going on down the street. What do you say we buy a couple of these and donate them?"
Botan agreed instantly, finding it as the perfect excuse to buy an extra bear to give Shiori in a few days. After the two women selected a few plush toys, Botan quickly excused herself from Shiori's company to venture off into other parts of the store so she could get the last items her companions had their eyes on. She was prompt in gathering the many items, and had to shoo Yusuke away so that he wouldn't spy on her purchases. The clerk, being just as quick as the deity was also lightning fast in bagging the items, therefore not granting Botan's friends to look at the gifts they were getting in a few days.
It wasn't long before they had completed their shopping, and had donated the teddy bears purchased earlier. Botan still had to buy something for Hiei, but now that her entourage was done for the day, she took the time to bid them farewell before they would return home for the evening.
"It has been so much fun, everyone! Thank you for letting me tag along." she beamed, hugging the kitsune last as he returned her embrace in his typically shy manner.
"Will we be seeing you soon?" he asked, releasing her from his hug.
While the others looked hopeful, she returned their glances with a wink. "If you all expect to get your presents, then I do believe so." she teased, waving to them as they began to walk away.
"Bye, Botan! Merry Christmas!" Keiko called, smiling jubiliantly as she linked arms with Yusuke.
Botan giggled. "Good-bye, Keiko! Don't be too hard on Yusuke!"
Keiko grinned sneakily and looked at Yusuke who flinched with that merciless glint in her eyes. "Oh, I'll try not to be."
And with that, they all disappeared out of sight, waving as they rounded the corner to leave the deity alone with the sun setting behind a darkening horizon. Botan sighed, glancing down at the bags she carried, happy that she had most of her shopping done, but sad just the same since there was one more gift to purchase. Why, oh why did Hiei have to be so hard to buy for? Well, it wasn't his fault that he had little taste in anything, but couldn't he at least hint that he liked some sort of object of interest? She had considered many things, but none worked, and so she found herself staring pointlessly at various trinkets in the last few stores left untouched, and nothing caught her eye.
And all the while she never knew that she was being watched by a familiar pair of red eyes that softened upon seeing her for the first time in weeks.
A/N: What do you think so far? Nice touch with the mother-son thing, ya think? I'm quite proud of it, myself, and I hope you like it just as much! Do review if you enjoyed the first chapter! Thanks for your time! There will be fluff and more pairing hints next chapter, I promise!
47th Light