Malik: *reads ahead*.....I hate you.

WSJ: ^^v I knowit. :p And I don't really care.

Ryou: ^^;; Don't mind SJ. She's hyper. As usual... *sigh*

WSJ: :p Hah hah! Everyone thinks it's Pegsy who's going to visit Mai, eh? .... *snicker* You'll see. And about who Malik gets caught under the mistletoe with, I was thinking either Gwen or Serenity, but Trupana came up with a better suggestion then I could have ever dreamed of. ^^v So the Malik-and-*coughnottellingyet* scene is all Trupana's inspiration! *laughs* You'll see what I mean...

Malik: *x* I want my mommy...

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OCs, whom I'm not going to list again. ^~ Broody-chan owns her OCs too. And, just to make things clear, Kawari, Kaeru, and the Negative Realm all belong to High Crystal Guardian from her fics. ^~ She borrowed my Elements for her story, so I decided to return the favor with her awesome OCs. *hisses and beats away all the other Kawari-fans with a big stick* Mine! Mine I say! Mine!

Kawari & Ryou: *sweatdrop*

WSJ: Oh, someone asked me if Mai was my favorite character. Actually, no. Ryou is (duh), and if you were talking female character then I'd have to say Shizuka/Serenity. ^~ But Mai's past is unknown, which leaves it open to angst in a way that not even Tea and Tristan's do. And you all know how I can't resist a bit of angstyness...

Ryou: H'oah boy, do I ever...

WSJ: ^^

()()()()()

Yamis of Tokyo U: Freshmen

Chapter 11: Love is a Battlefeild

Mai yawned and rolled over, squeezing her eyes shut against the bright sunlight that was streaming through her window. She smiled, and realized that that was the best sleep she'd gotten in weeks. Hey, the room may be pink, but it was home.

A knock came at the door, startling Mai so that she rolled out of bed and landed in an ungraceful, cursing heap on the floor. The knocking stopped, and her mother poked her head in. "Oh dear Madeline, are you all right?"

Mai winced at the use of her full name. "It's Mai, Okaasan, we've been over it before."

Her mother frowned. "I named you Madeline, I did not name you Mai," she said the name as if it were a curse. "Your father gave you that silly nickname, and then Cece picked up on it even after he left." She sniffed. "How abominable. Come along then Madeline, and get dressed. Chloe will have breakfast on the table soon." With that Mrs Valentine left, closing the door with a decisive thud after her.

Mai and her mother had never gotten along, especially after Mr Valentine had run off and Cecelia went to get married to Pegasus, and then even more after she died. The two were as opposite as possible. Mostly, they had pretended to get along for Cecelia's sake, and after she died they'd stopped even pretending. Mrs Valentine was proper and haughty and everything Mai wasn't. Mai was rebellious and spunky and pretty, unlike her mother.

Mai sat on the floor for another minute or so, rubbing her bruised butt and muttering obscenities. Then she hauled herself upright, picking up the pillow and the tangle of sheets that had fallen off with her. She started to put them in their proper places on the bed, and stopped. Something was sitting at the head of the bed, where her pillow would have covered it, had she not fallen out of bed and knocked it off. As if in a dream she picked it up, turning it over and over in her hands as she walked toward the window.

She leaned her elbows up against the sill and licked her dry lips, her heart trying its best to tap-dance out of her chest. A tear slid down her cheek, followed by another as Mai clenched the little gold bauble close to her. She recognised it. Oh how she recognised it...

It was a locket, a small gold heart hanging from a fine silver-and-gold chain. On the front it was etched with a small, intricate scrollwork, and on the back were the initials CCVP. Cecelia Valentine-Pegasus. Mai didn't have to open it to know that inside was a picture of Pegasus on one side, Mai herself on the other. After giving it to Cecelia on her sixteenth birthday, Mai had never seen her without it. A chill went down her spine what Mai remembered that Cece had been buried with it around her neck.

Merry Christmas Mai...

Mai blinked at the whispered words, and in front of her eyes the snow outside blurred. She sniffled a little, and then clasped the locket around her neck. She turned and glanced once at Pegasus's painting before going to her dresser to find something to wear until it was time to start getting ready for the party that night.

"Merry Christmas to you too Cece..."

~*~

Bakura yawned as he trudged down the stairs, absently wondering if Ryou, who was most usually the first one up, had gotten the coffee going. Over the years the yami-turned-mortal had become increasingly addicted to it, so he couldn't start a day now without it.

He entered the livingroom on his way to the kitchen and stopped, wondering how this particular event could have slipped his mind. Ryou and his father, Shen, were kneeling next to a small round table, where two candles were sitting. Shen was muttering a prayer as Ryou lit first the one, and then the other. Bakura had seen them do this before, and knew why.

Five days out of every year had two candles sitting on that little table, which was brought out just for that purpose. On Christmas, Amane's birth and death days, and Angeline (Ryou's mother)'s birth and death days Shen and Ryou lit candles for them. Whether it was a Shinto thing or just a memorial sort of thing Bakura didn't know.

Slowly he backed out of the room, and for reasons he wasn't quite sure of Bakura went into the kitchen and took two candles out of the drawer that held them. Then he went back into the livingroom and quietly kneeled next to Ryou. He lit both the candles he was holding and then set them down next to the two Ryou had lit.

Bakura wasn't sure why he was doing this. After all, Ryou and Shen had done it plenty of times before. But for some reason, on this day of all days, Bakura felt that the two he held closest to his heart should be remembered as well.

Ryou smiled softly as he felt the heat from the additional two candles on the back of his hands and the shallow sadness in Bakura's aura. Quietly he began the chant that he always said when they lit the candles.

"One for Amane, my sister dear. With her watching over me I've nothing to fear."

Shen, his eyes slightly misted, said his own part, his mind thinking of memories past. "One for Angeline, beloved wife of mine. Without her smile, her touch, my life has no shine."

Both of them were startled slightly as Bakura spoke too, his eyes fixxed on the two dancing candle flames that represented all he had left of his old life. "One for Jonathon, brother of my soul. In his noble death he has made me whole." He was silent for a moment, and his next words were spoken very, very softly.

"And one candle more for my little lost Anjil, my tomb robber girl."

~*~

Mrs Valentine gasped from her place at the head of the diningroom table as Mai came in. "Madeline!"

Mai grinned cheekily and waved at her mother before seating herself at the opposite end of the table. What had shocked her mother was her clothes. She was wearing a belly-bearing red sweater with little brown reindeer prancing across the front, a green mini-skirt, and tall black boots with white fur trimming. The ends of her sleeves and the ankles of her boots had little jingle bells on them that chimed when she moved. She also had a santa hat perched on her head, and the night before she'd streaked over the blue and purple in her hair with green and gold instead.

"Miz Mai!"

Mai laughed happily and stood up to hug the matronly old woman who was coming toward her. "Chloe! I've missed you!"

"Of course you have," the cook and head housekeeper said, winking slightly at her. "Everybody misses old Chloe." She lowered her voice, but made sure it was still loud enough for Mrs Valentine, who sat fuming in her seat, could hear. "And honey, I love your outfit."

"Thank you." Mai said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "I don't know whether to keep the hair like it is after New Years or go back to blue and purple. What do you think?"

Chloe, whose hair was short, wirey and jet black with hints of grey here and there, laughed out loud. "You really want my advise? Stick with the blue. It goes better with your complection."

Mai bowed dramicly to her oldest friend. "You bet, oh wise woman of the mountain. Now what's for breakfast? I'm starved!" Chloe laughed again and turned to go back into the kitchen without answering, and Mai sat back down. She caught her mother's look and grinned. "No Okaasan, this isn't what I'm wearing to the party tonight. I just thought I'd be festive until it's time to get ready." She readjusted the santa hat on her head, and then smiled thoughtfully. "Although, I may keep the hat."

Mrs Valentine choked and glared at her daughter, then abruptly stood up from her seat. "Tell Chloe I shall take breakfast in my room. Good day Mai, I shall see you at the party."

"Of course mother," Mai said, smiling sweetly as her mother stormed off.

Chloe entered from the kitchen, shaking her head. "You really don't get along with her, do ya' Miz Mai?"

Mai snorted and crossed her arms, causing the bells on her sleeves to tinkle. "Gee, is it that obvious?" she asked sarcasticly.

Chloe sighed and shook her head again. "You're lucky Miz Mai. If my daughter did that to me, I'd hit her behind the ear."

Mai grinned, her face brightening. "I know you would. And speaking of your daughter, how is Michelle?"

And conversation turned to other matters.

~*~

"So who all is coming?"

Yugi looked up at Ryou and grinned. "Practically everyone."

It was just after one in the afternoon, and the two boys were at the Game Shop, getting ready for the party the Motos would be holding that night. Ryou was floating up near the ceiling, hanging streamers without fear of anyone seeing. After all, the shop was closed for Christmas, and Grampa was busy in the kitchen. Yugi was standing below him, tossing rolls of red, green, and white creat paper up to him when he needed them. Bakura was with Grampa in the kitchen, and Yami was in the attic, trying to find the Moto's boxes of Christmas lights.

"Who's everyone?"

Yugi frowned slightly in thought. "Us, obviously. And the Ishtars and Shaadi, and the Wheelers, and Tristan and Tea, and Gwen, Amoura, and Hiro, Duke and Mako and Mai, Kaiba and Lisa and Rebecca. I think that's it."

"Mai can't come though, right?"

Yugi blinked and slapped himself on the forehead. "That's right, I forgot. Her mom's throwing a party tonight too, so she can't come."

Ryou whistled through his teeth as he gestured for Yugi to throw him another roll of streamers. "That's still a lot, though. Can we all fit?"

"Sure, the Game Shop's big, and we're using the whole first floor of the house too."

"You mean we have the entire livingroom, den, and kitchen to decorate yet?" Ryou said, groaning slightly. "I already have a headache."

"Then come down, don't tire yourself out. We'll get a step ladder, like normal people." Yugi's voice turned from concerned to impish. "Besides, I think Serenity would be very disappointed if you slept through the whole party."

Ryou blushed slightly as he let himself down to the ground. "Yugi..."

Yugi laughed. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry Ryou. But really, you two are the perfect couple!"

"Well..." Ryou allowed himself the luxery of a wry grin. "I somehow doubt that Joey sees it that way..."

"Ah, big brother syndrome," Yugi said, nodding. "Don't worry about it. He'll get over it eventually."

"I hope so," Ryou said, fiddling with a lock of his hair. "Serenity's the sweetest girl I know. I've said it before, but I'm ready to say it again, her aura is one of the most beautiful I've seen. She's kind and gentle, not to mention the fact she's saved my life twice now. Yugi, I think I really love her!"

Yugi, who hadn't known that Ryou's crush on Serenity was anywhere near love, blinked, then blinked again. "If that's the case Ryou then just go for it! Tell her how you feel. Serenity loves you too, I know it."

Ryou sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping a little bit. "It's not that easy... Serenity already knows how I feel about her, for the most part. It's just that She thinks she's too young to really be in love. It's like she's treating me like a silly high school crush or something. But I know I love her! I just need to show her somehow..."

"What did you get her for Christmas?"

"It's-It's not exactly the most wonderful gift in the world..."

"It doesn't have to be," Yugi assured him. "As long as it comes from your heart!"

"....."

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me."

"....I'd rather not."

"Fine with me," Yugi said, even though it wasn't. He wanted to see Ryou and Serenity together as much as he did Joey and Mai.

The two moved into the den, Yugi dragged a step ladder from the storeroom, and they worked in silence for some minutes more until Ryou said "So when is everyone supposed to get here?"

Yugi glanced at his watch and blanced. "Any minute actually. Want to run in and tell Bakura and Grampa to wrap it up? I'll go upstairs and get Yami." Ryou nodded and headed for the kitchen door just as the doorbell rang.

~*~

Mai hummed to herself as Chloe helped her with the last few bits of primping for the party. As she'd threatened/promised, the santa hat was still on her head. She was dressed in a long, form-fitting green gown with a wide gold sash and white gloves, which had jingle bells on the wrists. She didn't know why, but there was always something about Christmas that made Mai want to wear jingle bells. Chloe called it "jingle syndrom". As a final touch she picked up her sister's locket and hung it around her neck. Then she went downstairs, where the party had already begun.

She'd always hated these formal occasions. Stupid men and their giggly ladies talking about the most boring subjects in the world and all the while getting drunk on champein. Whoop-dee-doo. She sighed and hovered in the shadows behind the buffet table, trying to hide from her mother, who was looking for her. She managed to accomplish this for about fifteen minutes, until someone behind her said "Hiding again, pretty lady?"

Mai jumped slightly and whirled around, then she blinked. "Scott? What are you doing here?"

Indeed, it was Scott Anius, decked out in a formal tuxedo with a glass of non-alcohalic punch in each hand. He offered one to her, which she gratefully took, trying to keep from blushing. Why had she never noticed how good looking Joey's cousin was? His dirty blond hair had been cut recently, but still managed to flop into his eyes in what seemed to be a family trait. His green eyes sparkled as he grinned at Mai. "Well, Yugi invited me to go to their party at the Game Shop, but I don't feel like I know anyone (except Mako, Joey, and Serenity) well enough to go." He shrugged. "I thought you might like the company."

"That's nice of you," Mai said, looking down at the floor. "But really, you didn't have to-"

Scott chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Actually, I kinda did. Dad got invited, and dragged me along..."

Mai chuckled. "Well, it was sweet of you anyway." They stood in silence for a few minutes and listened to the music as they sipped their punch. Mai wondered, breifly, why she was so flustered around Scott suddenly. And just as quickly, the answer came to her. He reminded her of Kale. And she'd fallen in love with Kale because he, in turn, had reminded her a lot of Joey...

Mai bit down on that thought, stuffing it away to the back of her mind. She didn't want to think about Kale, or Joey, not tonight.

But of course, the memories came anyway. Dancing with Kale on the night that would be their last, kissing Joey at the Battle City afterbash, how she felt like her heart had been ripped in two when both of them ended up leaving her alone...

She shook her head to clear it as Scott broke the silence a few minutes later. "That's a nice locket."

Mai automaticly reached up and curled her fingers around the small golden heart. "It was my sister's."

Scott raised an eyebrow. "Was?"

"Cecelia's been dead for almost seven years."

"Oh," he said, deflated slightly. "I'm sorry."

She realized the band was playing a new song, a waltz, and turned to him with an almost too-bright smile. "Dance with me?"

Scott smiled at her and took her hand as she led him out to the dancefloor. Mai smiled back, still that same forced, slightly-frozen smile. No thinking about Joey, no reminicing about Kale. Not tonight. Tonight, she was with Scott.

~*~

The Motos' party was in full swing too, and was rather more relaxed then the Valentines'. Grampa, Shen, Isis and Shaadi were in the kitchen, discussing various archilogical things that no one else really cared about. Bakura and Ishtar were up on the coffee table jamming to the music, which was both loud and rock. It was in English, so they had no clue what it meant, but hey, it was cool! And besides the fact, both of them had had just a bit too much eggnog, especially since Grampa had mistakenly bought the alcohalic kind.

Gwen, on the other hand, whose CD it was, knew the lyrics by heart and loved them to death. She was up on the couch singing into a soupspoon like it was a microphone. "We are young! Heartache to heartache, We stand. No promises, no demands! Love is a battlefield!" Rebecca was singing with her, since she'd been a fan of Pat Benatar for a long time.

Amoura and Tea were off to one side, laughing and pretending they didn't know the two crazy Americans and the two insane Egyptians who were making fools of themselves. Serenity was nearby, talking with Lisa.

Yami and Kaiba were currently engaged in a tag-team duel against Joey and Mako, with pretty much everyone else looking on.

"I sacrifice Alligator Sword so Panther Warrior can attack, destroying your Battle Ox! And I summon Garoozies!" Joey said, grinning confidantly as he slapped his cards onto the counter with such force that it almost put a hole in the glass.

Yami sweatdropped and looked over at Kaiba, who was beginning to sweat. "Are we losing?"

Kaiba blinked, then blinked again. "Hai," he finally admitted grudgingly.

"Come on Ryou, just talk to her!" Yugi urged his friend. The two were standing near the door that connected the Game Shop to the house, and Ryou was obviously nervous, clutching a wrapped package in one hand.

"I can't Yugi! What if she laughs at me?"

"She wouldn't laugh," Yugi assured him, then stopped as something caught his eye. "Hold that thought Ryou. Malik has mistletoe."

Ryou face-faulted. "Mistletoe?! Where's he going with it?"

"The kitchen, I think."

"But the only girl in there is Isis." Both of them thought about that for a moment and sweatdropped. "Ewwww..."

Yugi snorted suddenly. "Hey, does Duke still think you and Malik are girls?"

"I think so," Ryou said, scratching his head. "Why?"

"Because Malik just hung the mistletoe over the kitchen door, hasn't moved yet, and Duke is headed his way."

Ryou snickered. "Do you have a video camera around?"

"Already on it!" Yugi assured his friend, darting off through the crowd.

~*~

Mai lost herself in the music as it swirled around her, carrying her away. She felt that if someone poked her just now, she'd float away on a cloud of bliss. She was much closer to Scott then she'd intended, but for the moment she didn't care. She leaned in closer to him, and felt his arms tighten around her waist in response.

For now, if only a few moments, she was happy. Thoughts of Joey and Kale, which usually haunted her at times like this, were mere shadows in the back of her mind. It occured to her breifly that this wasn't the time, nor the place, and that she shouldn't be using Scott to forget about the ghosts (some more literal then others) of her past, but for now she didn't care.

For now, she just didn't care.

Which is why it really didn't surprise her when Scott leaned in to kiss her. But, as seems to be the norm in Mai's life, just when she was happiest something arrived to pull her back down into the mud.

This time it arrived in the form of her mother.

~*~

Malik froze as he heard the voice from behind him. No, no, oh Ra no! Shoot! Crap crap crap! This isn't happening! But, of course, it was. Duke Devlin was standing behind him, and he was still under mistletoe.

"Fancy meeting you here, my dear Mahala," Duke was saying in a coy voice as he stepped forward.

Over Duke's shoulder Malik could see Yugi, Ryou, and several others whom they'd beckoned over, all of them snickering. And Yugi, Ra blast him to hell, had a video camera. Malik glared at them, only causing their stiffled laughter to increase. Duke took another step forward, and Malik took another step back, only to find himself backed up against the door. His hands groped behind him, and he grabbed something without really thinking about what it was.

After that, four things happened in very quick succession. Since Malik had grabbed the doorknob, the kitchen door swung open, allowing Isis, Shaadi, Shen, and Soloman to witness the sick drama unfolding before their very eyes.

Duke leaned in for the kiss.

Isis screamed.

And Malik, being Malik, bit Duke's nose.

~*~

"Madeline Valentine!!"

Mai jerked away from Scott as if she'd been burned, turning to face her mother as she approached. Both their faces were a bright red, Mai's from embarrassment and anger, Mrs Valentine's simply from anger. As if a signal had gone out, the crowded dancefloor cleared in a hurry. Even Scott backed away in bewilderment.

"What do you think you were doing young lady?" Mrs Valentine asked her daughter.

"Me? What about you mom? Do you have any right at all to meddle in my personnal affairs?!"

Mrs Valentine's eyes narrowed and she bared her teeth in a snarl. "I have every right, after what happened last summer, and you know it!"

"Last summer is the past!" Mai practically screamed. "It was over and done with months ago! Don't you even have the decency to let dead dogs lie?"

"Dead dogs?" Mrs Valentine's scowl grew. "I'm sorry, I thought the dog was your first boyfriend. The one you had last summer was a monkey."

And at that moment, something deep down inside of Mai, the bit of her that still loved both Joey and Kale, and was quickly falling for Scott, snapped.

"You have no right to talk about Kale and Joey like that! Not now or ever!"

And then Mai hauled off and slapped her mother across the face.

Chloe, watching from the door to the kitchen, covered her eyes with her hand. "Oh here we go..."

~*~

WSJ: *snicker* I was going to end it here, but since Harmony is cooperating and actually givng me ideas today, I'd figured I'd better take 'em as they come. ^^v So enjoy!

~*~

Yugi sweatdropped as he looked over at Malik, who was franticly trying to wash his mouth out. "Kneeing him in the nuts was a bit much Malik..."

Malik snorted. "Jerk. I bit his nose and he still tried to kiss me. He deserved what he got."

'He' was, of course, Duke Devlin, who was currently lying on the couch and groaning somewhere in the sotto soprano range with an ice pack between his legs and a band-aid over his nose. Bakura, who'd recovered the camera out of the chaos, was filming all this with a saticfied grin on his face. "This tape shall be passed on from generation to generation..."

One good thing seemed to have come from the excursion. In running to her brother's rescue, Isis and Shaadi had gotten caught under the mistletoe, just as Malik had originally intended.

They hadn't come up for air in five minutes.

Serenity sweatdropped as she watched them. "Is that even possible?!"

"I suppose," Ryou said, shrugging. "Anything's possible."

"Oh, I know that," Serenity said off-handedly, still googling at the two Egyptians.

"It doesn't surprise me," Bakura said as he wandered over, camcorder still in hand. "Back in Egypt they were married, after all."

Ryou blinked. "Married? Isn't it forbidden to marry when you're a preistess? Or priest, as the case may be?"

Bakura sweatdropped. "Okay fine, so they weren't exactly married. They did have plenty of kids though." The tomb robber snickered again and moved off to find something else embarrassing to tape. Serenity noted with slight worry that he was headed toward where Gwen and Hiro were sitting next to each other on the couch, and that his step was rather unsteady. Gwen had, in fact, just put Pat Benatar's All Fired Up on full volume, and couldn't have gotten any closer to Hiro if she was sitting on his lap.

And then Serenity saw something even more worrysome.

There was another sprig of mistletoe, one that Yugi had hung up over the counter, and Kaiba, Mokuba for now, was sitting right under it. Rebecca was closing in with a strange glint in her eye.

Ryou must have sensed her embarrassment, because he chuckled and took hold of her elbow, guiding her toward the door. "Let's step outside for awhile."

Serenity nodded in relief, stopping by the closet to retrieve their coats. Ryou put his on, then helped Serenity on with hers, and then they slid out into the night. They walked in silence for a few minutes, headed nowhere in particular, their breath forming frosty clouds in the cold December air and their feet crunching on the thin layer of snow. After about twenty minutes, when they'd circled the block and were nearly back to the Game Shop, Ryou reached out and caught Serenity's hand, drawing her to a stop.

They were standing under a street lamp, and Serenity couldn't help but notice how the light made a halo out of Ryou's hair, which was beginning to come out of the braid he'd put it in and was hanging in his face. His cheeks were rosy from the cold, and his ears were bright red, as Serenity was sure her own probably were. His eyes, blank and brown, were sparkling slightly, and his breath seemed quick as it condenced in front of his mouth. "Sere'..."

"Hai Ryou-kun?" Serenity was sure she was blushing, and out of a desperate attempt to avert her gaze from his face, handsome as she'd ever seen it, she looked upward. "Oh Ryou-kun! It's snowing!"

Ryou laughed along with her and stuck out his tongue, catching one of the decending flakes on the end. "Hm... Could use more salt."

Serenity laughed and stood on her tip-toes, flinging her hands up toward the stars and spinning around on one foot. "I feel like I could fly! It's so beautiful out! Oh!!" Her feet slid out from under her suddenly, and she let out a breif scream as she fell. But warm arms were around her then, keeping her from hitting the ground.

She turned her head, her breath quickening and her face blushing redder then it already was, to look into the face of Ryou as he held her steady on the patch of ice. Slowly he set her back onto her feet, but kept his arms around her. She herself seemed too frozen, and not from the cold, to move. "You should be more careful..."

"Yeah, I should..." she said faintly.

As if he'd just realized what he was doing, Ryou stepped away from her, his arms dropping to his sides. Serenity's face wrinkled in slight disappointment. "Ryou..."

"Serenity-chan," he said hurridly, his face down. "This is for you." He thrust a package wrapped in green and silver paper at her, and she took it in surprise.

"You didn't have to get me anything!" She couldn't tell if the redness on his face was from a blush or the cold, but she was suddenly feeling hot all over. When he said nothing she began to unwrap the present, which was vaguely box-like. Her mouth formed a little 'o' as the paper fell away to reveil a beautiful wooden music box. "Ryou-kun, you shouldn't have-"

"Yes I should." he interrupted her. "...It was my sister's." he said a moment later. "It plays the song that she loved the best. I gave it to her when we were just kids, and I thought it'd be appropriate to give it to the girl who's taken her place in my life."

"Amane," Serenity said quietly. "Bakura told me about her once. She died, didn't she?"

Ryou nodded mutely. "Hai, she did. A long time ago."

"So all I am to you is a little sister, an imouto-chan?" Serenity asked, suddenly upset.

"No!" Ryou said in surprise. "Oh no! So much more!" He stopped, embarrassed. "Open the box Serenity-chan..." he murmered.

Serenity did so, and smiled at the soft strands of Enya's Lothlorien that drifted out. It was her favorite too. But what caused her to gasp was the little gold necklace sitting on the red-velvet bottom. The chain was rather short, it was ment to be a short necklace, but not a choker, and the clasp was delicate. It was one of those necklaces that the pendant part is a word, usually someone's name. But this one wasn't.

It said 'agape'. I'd do anything for you. I'd die for you. That's what the Greek word ment.

Serenity looked up at Ryou in surprise, her eyes wide. "Ryou, what-"

"This isn't from Amane-chan." Ryou said, lifting the necklace out of the jeweralry box. "This I bought just for you." Stepping closer her reached up and facined it around her neck, letting it rest gently in his fingers for a moment before he stepped away again. "I'll have you know Serenity, that I'd do anything for you."

"You've already proved it," she answered, tears in her eyes. "You've saved my life..."

"And you mine," he reminded her. "Now don't cry, you'll get frozen tears all down your cheeks-" He stopped as Serenity threw her arms around him, and smiled into her hair as he slid his around her waist. "So I guess I didn't have to wait a year, huh?"

Serenity grinned as she 'accidentally' knocked the music box gently into the back of his head. "Baka!"

"Itai..." he said good-naturedly, his mouth curving up into a smile. "Can I get a kiss to make it better?"

Serenity smiled coyly. "If you want..."

They had just shared their second kiss when the door to the Game Shop opened, sending light spilling onto the street. "Oy!" they heard Tristan yell. "I found them! Hey Joey, your sister's making out with Ryou!"

"Tristan!!" The two on the street chorused with a laugh, pulling away from each other. They headed for the Game Shop, Ryou's arm around Serenity's waist, and they couldn't help but grin at the music, yet another Pat Benatar song.

We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder,
We belong to the sound of words we've both fallen under.
But whatever we deny or embrace for worse or for better,
We belong, we belong, we belong together...

"Merry Christmas Ryou."

"Merry Christmas to you too Serenity."

()()()()()

WSJ: :p I love fluff! ^__^ Other then that I only have one other comment...

PAT BENATAR RULES!

Chapter 12: Everyone either heads home or crashes at the Game Shop, but they're roused early the next morning by a frantic Scott and a hysterical Chloe, who can't find Mai anywhere. A city-wide search is carried-out, and Mai's found unharmed. Mostly. ^~ Joey decides to give a peice of his mind to Mrs Valentine.

God bless minna-san!!!