AN: AHAHAHAAAAA! Someone tell me why I write the most when I have no free time? Someone say something. I really wanna know. /dies. That being said, it's great to be back! And I've finally gotten a one-shot out for the first time in forever. Woot woot! I hope you guys are alive and kicking out there so you can enjoy this bit from me. :)

Thank you's for the last chapter:

Ann: Thank you~ I'm so surprised because I think that story got the most demands for a sequel. I can't promise anything but I would like to write it. Maybe one day... Haha.

nureen: Thank you! Actually everyone is demanding one but I don't know. I wish someone else could write my stories, tbh. Haha!

Summary: For my HitsuKarin Secret Santa exchangee poketninja. Stripper club!AU. It's his friend's bachelor party and he's one of the groomsman, but unlike his friends, he doesn't have much interest in the so-called entertainment. But a pretty waitress with a sassy mouth just might make his night.

Warnings: I went with a western style wedding to fit the purpose of this fic so most of the traditions here aren't Japanese. Also, the theme given was 'eve' and so I used it in the very loosest sense. The definition that inspired this story was, 'the day or period of time immediately before an event or occasion.' Also based on a tumblr post because of course.

January 2016: Eve

"C'mon, don't look so glum, Kira. It's your bachelor party!"

Already light skin paled further and Toushirou swore the groom-to-be was losing blood just thinking about their destination. "A-ah, I know... But, I, ah, well... Momo-san wouldn't like for us to—"

"Didn't your fiancee practically wave you out the door thirty minutes ago?" Hisagi pointed out, hands on the wheel as he sped along the street towards the red light district of the city. "She even gave you money for a lap dance."

"God, I need a wife that cool. And cute," Renji sighed from the backseat. "Not only is she sweet as hell, Hinamori is quite the looker. She was really popular back in college, wasn't she?"

"Un. There were many guys after her," Izuru replied, just a little bit of a smile on his usually stoic face.

"And she settled on you. Pity."

"Oi, watch your mouth," Hitsugaya scolded lightly but kept his eyes focused on the passing scenery.

Having known Kira since high school, he'd been friends with the blond and well aware of his crush on Momo since the moment he saw them together. At the time, his older sister had shown little interest in dating and had politely labeled him her friend, much to Izuru's chagrin. But years of patience—and a horrible break-up with a man Toushirou wouldn't mind stuffing in a sack and throwing it into the bottom of the ocean—had paid off, and now the two were sickeningly in love.

And with that love came all the necessities of courtship, proposals, and the eventual marriage. Which was why a line of cars were currently making their way down the busy streets towards the more notorious area of town. It was a typical Saturday night and thus the perfect time for a man's last night of freedom, one that most of their single friends had been looking forward to since the announcement of their engagement.

Except Toushirou wasn't really feeling the idea that he'd have to babysit his sister's fiance while he fended off a bunch of scantily dressed women with glitter and grabby hands. If it wasn't for Kira's obvious discomfort he would've balked the invitation, citing work or some other excuse. But for all of Momo's good will, she had that look in her eye as she escorted them out that said, 'Watch my future husband like a hawk and kick his ass if he gets too crazy.'

Done and done.

"Hey, hey, slow down! We're almost there!" Madarame called out, pointing out the flashing lights in the distance. The rock in Hitsugaya's insides seemed to grow as they parked and filed out. He could hear the hoots and laughter coming from their friends, excitement rolling off them as much as the testosterone in their veins.

For the record, the place wasn't some shady, dingy hellhole that he'd been expecting. Akira had been picky, scouring reviews online and asking around about the best place to hold a bachelor party. And while a club had been the most popular choice, there was something about a strip club that screamed good times. Well, to everyone else at least.

With every step closer, however, the reservations he started with seemed to multiply, leaving him deeply discomfited as they entered. The dim lighting and maroon-colored walls said that his doubts were well justified.

"Good evening, gentlemen, and welcome to Eve," the beautiful hostess winked from her station. Hitsugaya was fairly surprised to see her fully clothed, the uniform fitting but hardly what one would call indecent. It was a pleasant surprise.

"Hello. We've reserved a few tables for my friend's bachelor party. It's under the name Kira Izuru," Hisagi said, pushing the reluctant celebrant towards her. "Excuse him, he's a little shy. But we're very, very excited to be here at your fine establishment."

He was surprised no one heard his snort of disbelief. "And we are honored to have you all, especially you, Kira-san. Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials."

"Th-thank you. I truly do love her, you know..." His blush was fierce, as was the laughter of his friends and co-workers all patting him on the back reassuring him that he wasn't doing anything wrong. Even their greeter smiled, eyes sparkling as she watched him.

"I'm sure you do. She's a very lucky woman." Stepping out from behind the counter, the brunette motioned towards the curtained entrance, the clap of her heels against the tile followed by their own footsteps.

Past the flimsy barrier was a world no one was quite ready for.

"The theme for tonight is Moulin Rouge, as you can see," the woman said, her sparkling black dress glittering amidst the overhead spotlights. "The wait staff aren't quite as dressy as our performers but we've all tried to stay in costume to fit tonight's festivities."

"I hope none of your performers are dressy at all," came a quick quip from the back and the men chuckled like young boys at a dirty joke. From where he stood, Toushirou didn't see much of a difference.

Feeling someone come up beside him, Toushirou noticed Kira sidling up to him, looking even more sullen than usual. "You okay?"

"I'm just not... I feel a little guilty about this, Hitsugaya-san," he spoke formally, despite being older than his future brother-in-law. His genius made him intimidating to most, and while Kira had always treated him as a friend there would always be a slight distance between them because of it.

"Don't be. Hinamori would want you to enjoy yourself." Just not too much, he thought as they were shown to prime seats near the front of the main stage.

Off to the sides were smaller elevations and women on them, already stripped down to sparkling bras and feathered panties. Dangerously high heels balanced long, toned legs and swaying hips, hands wrapped around metal poles as they smiled and flipped their hair for their customers. And while Toushirou was the last to judge someone's merit based on their looks, even he had to admit that they seemed to only choose the most attractive women for their services. That, plus the obvious elaborate decorations strewn across the walls showed that this place had money to burn and a reputation to uphold.

"I know but... This really isn't my style, y'know? I've never even been to a place like this before," he gesticulated at the room, frown crumpling the edges of his lips. "I'm supposed to be celebrating my last day of 'freedom' or whatever, but this feels more like a punishment than a party. And I would never hurt Hinamori in any way that would make her consider not being with me."

A little sympathy blossomed in his chest as Toushirou squeezed his friend's shoulder. "Then don't do anything. Sit back, eat a little, drink a lot. If you say you're not going to do anything to ruin it for you guys, then I believe you. So just let everyone have their fun and just sit back and relax."

"Yeah, yeah, I guess you're right," Kira nodded before smiling gratefully at him, "Thank you. I really needed to hear that."

"Besides," Toushirou smirked to himself, "the bacehlor party is never for the groom. It's for all his single friends who can't get laid."

"Excuse you, Hitsugaya, but none of us are desperate. If anyone here needs help, isn't it you and your terrible attitude that keeps women away?" Abarai called from another table, causing a stir amidst their group.

Reaching for his water, Hitsugaya watched his friend with cool eyes. "Ah, is that so? Well if a woman can't find the confidence to talk to me, then why should I exert effort to chase after her?"

"Because beds are cold when you only have your pride to keep you warm."

The feminine voice broke through the little group, causing male eyes to wander over to the source. An angelic face with a sarcastic smile, their waitress was dressed in a flouncy skirt and corset top to fit the occasion. Her heels were significantly shorter than the dancers' but she was on the taller side to begin with. It seemed that a pretty face was important to work at Eve in any capacity.

"I don't know who you are but I like you already," Renji grinned, eyeing the newcomer with interest.

"Anyone willing to take Hitsugaya down a notch is cool with me," Madarame cackled.

"Well then I'm honored," she said easily, pink lips dipping into a more courteous expression. "Welcome, gentlemen. I am Kurosaki, your server tonight. If any of you need anything or just have questions, please don't hesitate to ask."

"If I ask you to sit on my lap, will you?" someone's slurred voice broke out, making Hitsugaya cringe as boisterous laughter joined in. He knew they'd been pre-gaming even before they'd left but to be this hammered so early in the evening. God, he hated babysitting.

"Hey, that's-" Kira started but was interrupted.

"I apologize, sir, but the sad truth is that none of you can afford me," Karin shrugged, face only a little smug as she balanced on one hip. "That's why I'm waiting tables. While I certainly don't mind people taking off their clothes for money, my price is out of your budget. Sorry."

Instead of being offended, the round of tables laughed and lauded, clapping their hands together as they grinned wildly at each other. With a mere sentence this girl managed to tame an entire crowd of professionals and businessmen and have them eating out of their hand. And while he might not like her, even Hitsugaya had to admit she was an impressive force of nature.

"So what can I get you fellas?" She tapped her fingers against her hip as she smiled an easy smile.

Copious amounts of alcohol were ordered and food came in a distant second, an afterthought as the group lost interest in their dinner and switching to the show that was scheduled for the night. Crisp bills lined already thick pockets but Hitsugaya couldn't imagine slipping one into a a woman's underwear, let alone having one crawl all over him. He didn't understand the appeal, though he could appreciate a beauty when he saw one.

With all focus on an uncomfortable Kira, he was free to lounge in his chair as the lights dimmed and the stage grew brighter, a booming voice sounding over the loudspeakers as they introduced their opening act. He could see Renji already prepared with some cash in hand while Shinsui talked up a passing performer with a charming smile.

For politeness' sake he stayed for the first dancer, a gorgeous brunette who had a thing for sequenced, well, everything. Her outfit hurt his eyes even at this distance but it didn't matter much when she stripped herself down to nothing with a shimmy of her hips and a come-hither smile. The crowd of grown men cheered over her slight figure, her body swaying to the cabaret music in the background.

It was easy to sneak away as the next performer came on stage and while he certainly couldn't leave Hitsugaya wasn't interested in fully bared women tonight. Unless they were coming home with him but he wouldn't dare with so many of his colleagues there to witness the transgression.

He stole into an empty bar stool, most unoccupied with the show ongoing. He'd plied himself with enough food that the earlier buzz of alcohol had waned and he needed something stronger. He waited for the absent bartender as he drummed his fingers against the wooden lacquered counter.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Ladykiller."

Looking up, he was surprised to see their waitress holding a glass and wiping it down. His question must've been apparent because she answered even though he hadn't said a word.

"I'm the head bartender here, actually. I'm just helping out because we were short staffed tonight," she explained as she set the glass down. "This is a jack of all trades kinda job. If you're not dancing then you better being doing everything else."

He wasn't sure how to respond. "Ah, is that so?"

"Yup. Not that you could possibly have any interest in what a poor student does when she works at a strip club. I mean why would you? There are far more interesting things to hold a man's attention."

And yet here he was finding her the most fascinating person in the room. But he'd hardly say so. "A rum and coke is my only idea of fun right now."

"Why? You gay?" she inquired impolitely. He was glad he didn't have his drink or he would've aspirated on it.

"No! No..." he repeated, just a little more gently. "Why would you even ask?"

"Oh come on, it's not like it's an insult, grandpa," she chuckled as she poured him his drink, "It's a perfectly legitimate question when you see what I'm up against."

"And what exactly are you up against?" Hitsugaya growled as he took the proffered glass and slammed it back. He had a feeling he was going to need a few of them if he was going to get through this night in one piece.

She gave a low impressed whistle but continued on. "Do you look at yourself everyday? A clean-cut, attractive man in a suit who has no interest in female strippers and leaves his buddy's bachelor party to make small talk with a waitess-slash-bartender. Sounds like a scene from a movie than real life if you ask me."

"Nobody asked you." And he wouldn't ever again if she was going to dole out bullshit like that.

Even if she was offended, the bartender wasn't visibly fazed. "So, what? You got a problem you need sorting out?"

"You want to play therapist at a strip club?"

"Hey, I don't make the rules. I'm the old, wise barkeep and you're my down-on-his-luck patron. At least until the show is over," Kurosaki pointed out. She even pretended to wipe down the bar with a dramatic flare.

As much as he tried not to be, Toushirou was amused by her antics. "'Old, wise barkeep,' huh? You'll forgive me if I think you're a bit too young and unruly for that illustrious title, won't you?"

"Oh wow, your vocabulary is way too intact right now. You need another drink so that maybe we'll both be able get through this all right," she nodded sagely as she poured another glass, this time with more rum than coke.

"And what exactly am I getting through that would require me to be drunk on my feet?"

She raised a brow at him, her head falling to rest against her arm propped on the freshly cleaned counter. "Who says it's just for you? Perhaps I'm terrified of you and your problems, stranger."

Hitsugaya had a feeling that this woman feared nothing and no one. However, he was still sober and so his manners had full control over him. So he tilted his glass towards her in a toast and knocked it back, letting it burn down his throat as it washed away the dance music, stage lights, and others' voices.

They talked the whole night, playing twenty questions as she served him with a smile he shouldn't have been so fascinated with. Her lips were pink and glossed, turned up as if she was hiding a secret. The more he sat with her, the more he wanted to find out every one of them.

Apparently she was a graduate student, one who didn't like living off her father's stable but modest physician's pay. It was with begrudging respect that he listened to how she made ends meet by renting out a single-room apartment and lived off convenience store food. She seemed like the type to want independence and would do anything in her power to maintain it. But as the alcohol began clouding his clear mind, all he could do was stop himself from saying he really wanted to talk to her for the rest of the night.

It was late by the time his friends were ready to leave and all of them were far past the point of no return. His own vision was hazy from drink but his head pleasantly light. He knew he was looser, less inhibited, and his partner across the bar knew it too. Just because he didn't have the energy to reprimand her for laughing at him didn't mean he didn't see it. Unfortunately the only glare he could muster was one where his eyes fell to half-mast, glazed in alcohol-induced laziness.

She wondered if it would be okay to tell him he had pretty bedroom eyes.

By the end of it, Toushirou was too drunk to do more than wave goodbye to the bartender as he stumbled out the door. She watched him with a cheery little grin, wiggling her fingers as she told him to come back soon. If he wasn't so far gone he would have given her a glower but just couldn't manage it. The other guys had done little better, some passed out and others sinking to the ground while the few sober ones took care of them with unhappy grumbles.

Climbing into a seat, he leaned his head against the glass and knew that his hangover would be a monster the next morning. He also knew he'd spent far too much money—though not as much as his friends who'd probably emptied their wallets on as many lap dances they could afford. But still, he'd have nothing to show for his night out except a massive headache and a therapy session with his toilet. But as slumber hit him like a freight train, he couldn't quite shake the dark, knowing eyes that followed him into dreamland.

Only two weeks since the bachelor party but somehow he couldn't stop thinking about the dark-haired bartender with far too many secrets.

It was less of an obsession and more of a quiet mist in the back of his mind. Her memory played there like the last song a person heard on the radio, repeating the same three lines over and over because while they only knew so little, what they did know was as addictive as it was toxic. There were so many times he considered going back to the strip club and getting her name, maybe even her phone number. And for every time he thought about it there were an equal number of times where he stopped himself, mentally shaking off his perpetual insanity.

Whether it was serendipity, fate, or maybe both, they met unexpectedly one day in a little bookshop not too far from his work. A small, secluded place, nothing like those franchises that sold expensive coffee and had a massive selection of anything and everything. It was a homegrown business, lacking the fresh luster that big business had but with an organic charm all its own.

While browsing for a new novel, Toushirou saw her sitting by the window as she poured over blank pages and an open textbook. Somehow he was surprised to see the thin frames resting over her nose as she concentrated on the words. She was dressed in plain jeans and an oversized sweater with a comfortable pair of tennis shoes. He didn't know why but he'd never imagined her in plain clothes. Just went to show that he knew nearly nothing about this girl.

To be honest he had no reason to talk to her. Outside a one good conversations they had in the seedy area where she worked there was no relationship between them. For all he knew she had a boyfriend or at least someone she liked. And that man probably wasn't some salary man who lived by himself, occasionally going on dates but unable to make a real connection. How a young woman had him wrapped around her pinky was both insulting and unexpected, but as he approached her table, it wasn't wholly unwanted.

Standing at the edge of her table, he look down at her awkward. "Hey there."

She visibly jumped as she gazed up at him with surprised eyes. "Oh, Mr. Ladykiller, it's you," she sighed, calming down as her features smoothed out. "Don't you know better than to sneak up on grad students studying for finals? Geez."

"I know it's generally polite but you're not the kind that seems to follow back when it comes to courtesy," he shrugged while looking over her books. His eyes widened at the material. "Computer engineering, huh? For some reason I saw you as the kind more interested in life sciences." But he was impressed nonetheless and she read it on his face.

"I don't just mix drinks and look cute for a living, you know. I have big plans for my life," she pointed, smugly lifting her chin into the air. "I'm gonna do something great, just watch me."

"I never had any doubts about you, Kurosaki."

The praise was gentle, subtle, and completely unexpected. Fire burned her cheeks, the back of her ears, the nape of her neck, until the point she felt her toes warm. The silence that encompassed them was strangely peaceful, not at all awkward the way first dates or random meetings tended to be. But when it came to him, nothing ended quite the way she expected it to.

Immediately Toushirou was struck with the idea that he should ask her out. Not to some seedy bar or dark club but someplace where they could talk freely, where he wasn't still in his work clothes and she wasn't studying so hard so she could graduate on time.

Momo and Kira's wedding came to mind and immediately he opened his mouth to ask. But then he wondered if that was too forward, bringing a girl he just met to meet basically all his family and friends. Not to mention what his friends would say about picking up a girl at a strip club, even if she had nothing to hide. If the pay was good, even he could understand her reasons.

She glanced up at him then, face bare of make-up and with dark circles under her eyes, her insomnia a choice rather than an illness. He found her incredibly endearing this way, wanting to wrap her in a warm blanket and put her to sleep. The idea was dangerous, so out of character that he had to tear his gaze away and fixate it on some point in the distance.

In his turmoil, he panicked. "I have to get going. I have... things to do."

"Oh." Making a sound of understanding, she looked back down at her work and pretended to be busy. Unfortunately Hitsugaya was too observant, failing to miss the hurt that filled her face. Against his better judgment, he walked away without another word. But even as he did, he regretted it.

The shame from their last meeting still ate at him even as he climbed through the doors of Eve. A statuesque redhead was the receptionist tonight and she greeted him with a polite, if not slightly nervous, smile.

"Welcome, sir. If I remember correctly you were here not too long ago." Not even a month since his first visit, but this time he had a different prerogative. In hindsight, he knew he should've asked Kurosaki out when he had the chance, and so he came tonight specifically to invite her as his date to the wedding, his friends' taunts and whistles be damned.

"Yes, for my friend's bachelor party," he shrugged, not sure why he felt the need to explain himself.

Nodding, she came around the greeter's podium and gestured towards the entrance. "Shall I show you to a table?"

"No, no that's fine. Actually I'm really just looking for someone tonight. Can you tell me if Kurosaki-san is working tonight? I have something I want to discuss with her."

"Ah, Kurosaki?" she squeaked out. "I-I'm afraid, ah... She's not, um, uhh..."

"She's not what? Here?" Had she changed her schedule since the start of the month? He'd waited until Saturday specifically so their timing would match. "Then can you tell me when she'll be back?"

"The thing is... she won't be back."

"What?" A weight fell into his stomach and crashed into his knees. "Wait, what do you mean? She's putting herself through school, isn't she? She mentioned it to me before."

"Actually, Kurosaki-san is graduating this year and she'll be job-hunting starting in the spring. Not that she'll have to look very far. She's already had some offers."

"So she's not coming back here?"

Frowning at his defeated tone, the woman shook her head. "I'm very sorry, sir. It was a bit of a sudden decision, I admit, but Kurosaki is very level-headed. Something must have come up for her to decide to leave so quickly."

Regret tasted like bile and acid but he swallowed it down as best as he could. He could manage little more than a curt nod before he turned on his heel and exited, berating himself for not acting quicker. He was the kind to trust his instincts and because of that he had very few regrets in his life. Because he felt that the choices he made, regardless of their outcomes, had always been the right ones. Until this one.

The ceremony went off without a hitch and everyone was smiling, sniffling, or both as they watched the happy couple enter the hall for the reception. Momo was glowing in her wedding dress, a blushing bride who looked as if her happiness would split her face in two as she gazed up at her new husband. Kira, for the most part, held his composure but the color across his face and the curve of his lips softened his usual seriousness.

Food was served in courses, the head table lined with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Light music played in the background to help drown out the chatter and shutters of cameras as people wined and dined over the next hour.

Sitting with his sister at the main table, Hitsugaya kept his eyes low as he ate in silence, uninterested in the current topics of conversation around him. Usually he'd try and at least be civil but he'd been in a mood all week, which had everyone tiptoeing carefully around him. While he didn't like it, he did find it better than pasting on a pleasant expression and making small talk.

The sound of the wedding planner's voice echoed through the speakers as she announced that the bride and groom would be tossing the bouquet and garter. A collective buzz of mixed excitement and sighing acceptance filtered through the room as the couple stood up but having eyes only for each other.

Momo went first, giggling as she turned back and wished all the girls good luck. Honestly he was a bit embarrassed by the determination in some of the women's faces, like they were facing their own death and were determined to win against it. He didn't even bother watching the ensuing tussle, instead running a hand through his hair and then over his eyes in boredom. Maybe he could slip out early...

"Oi, Hitsugaya, you sister's calling for you," Renji nudged him. Glancing up, he saw a very irritated bride glaring at him and gesturing at the crowd of men in the middle of the dancefloor. Apparently Kira had taken the garter off his wife—something Toushirou was grateful he didn't have to watch—and all the single men were huddled before him.

"She can't be serious," Toushirou muttered but he stood up all the same, throwing the napkin on his lap onto his chair as he made his way towards them.

"Very serious. Good luck with that, Hitsugaya." He could feel Abarai's amusement but knew better than to murder a man in plain sight. Besides, Momo would kill him if he ruined her wedding or, even worse, her very expensive dress.

Situating himself somewhere in the middle, he wondered if he could sneak out in the aftermath of all the excitement. It was tradition for the lucky man and woman who won to share a dance afterwards. While everyone's attention was on them he could make his way to the exit and cite a headache tomorrow. Who would notice one empty space at the main table anyway?

He spoke too soon.

"Fuck." It wasn't appropriate language for the time or place but it certainly described his attitude.

A few guys patted him on the back, a silent 'good going, buddy' but none of them seemed too sorry about missing the lace wrapped up in his hand. All those years of martial arts and kendo lessons had gone from pleasant memories to immediate regrets in less than six seconds.

"Congratulations to the sister's brother for catching the garter! How wonderful!" the announcer giggled into her microphone. "Well now, can we please call the young lady who caught the bouquet? Oh, and a chair for her to sit on as well."

Closing his eyes, Toushirou could feel the exasperation as the organizer explained the tradition. Apparently whoever caught the garter now had to place it on the leg of the one who caught the bouquet and for as many inches as it went past the knee were the number of decades the two of the would be together. Not that he believed a word of that.

"Hey there, stranger. I haven't seen you in a while."

Breath catching, Hitsugaya felt the world close in on itself for just a second, blurring at the edges when she came into focus. Dressed in amethyst and silver, Kurosaki was a vision he thought he'd never see again. But instead of costumes or casual clothes, she was a breath of fresh air that filled his tired lungs.

"Kurosaki," he spoke but her name was a tight breath at best.

She smiled slyly. "Don't look so spooked to see me. You'll hurt my feelings."

"Never." He wasn't sure if he meant that he never meant to or that he would never do so again but when she turned away to take a seat on the newly delivered chair he knew that it was both.

Staring at the cloth in his hand, Kurosaki had the wryest smile on. "You sure you can handle this? You look as white as a sheet. Or your hair, I guess."

The thought of touching her in any capacity seemed like a good idea right now. "I think I'll manage," he muttered as the host pumped up the cheering crowd. The room rumbled with gigging and good vibes as Toushirou bent down on one knee and carefully threaded her shoe and ankle through the band.

His fingers skimmed slim, strong calves and soft skin and it took him more than a few reminders that he shouldn't be enjoying this so much. There was a crowd of people watching, many of which who knew him personally, and he couldn't be acting like some lovesick schoolboy with a crush on an upperclassman.

However, the reprimand was in vain as his hand traveled further up her leg, past her knee and slowly but surely further and further up her thigh. And though he wasn't quite sure how high it'd gone, going by the blush on Kurosaki's face, it was far past what was decent.

Before he could figure out just how high he could go, there was that feminine voice congratulating them on a job well done and then the thunder of polite applause. Taking away the chair, the older woman pushed them together for the next dance and promptly began inviting others onto the dancefloor with pushiness that would've grated his nerves on another day.

But with her arms wrapped around him, Hitsugaya couldn't find it in him to be mad.

"You know..." Kurosaki began after regaining her composure, glaring up at him beneath her lashes. He tried not to be distracted by the fingers playing at the base of his neck or the fullness of her lips colored red. "You think with all that time we spent together that night that you'd ask me my name."

"I could say the same for you." Although he said that, he blushed at his own lack of manners.

"Oh, is that how it's gonna be? I have to make the first move because you can get all the girls without any of the work." She chuckled as she took a step back and her hands fell to his shoulders.

"I never said that," he reasoned, slipping his hands around her hips and pulling her against him, far too intimate for a family affair like this. But if either of them noticed the scandalized looks, neither said a word. "I meant that I'll be happy to tell you mine as long as you tell me yours."

"Smooth," she snorted playfully. "And if I refuse?"

"Then I'll just have to ask everyone in this room until I figure it out."

"You wouldn't." The challenge in her eyes shone but her smile was beguiling. It was the first time in his life that he'd ever been so captivated by one woman before.

"Watch me."

And then she really laughed, an uncontrolled, happy sound that made even his cool demeanor thaw. There were so many other things he wanted to know, so many questions he wanted to ask, and a few things he wanted to do that he had a feeling wouldn't be well received in current company.

But when she curled her arms around him and pulled his face down to his, with the name 'Karin' reverberating on his lips, he really couldn't care any less.

AN: Man, I don't think this was holiday-themed at all but I had such a blast writing it that I don't care. LOL I hope everyone (especially you, poketninja!) like it. It's always fun writing the 'first meeting' fics, especially with these two. It's always so fresh. Haha.

Thanks for reading, everybody! Until next time~