Dreaming of a White Christmas

Seishun Gakuen's Fuji Syuusuke - Christmas Feast

"Wow…" turned to her boyfriend of three months with a delighted expression. "You made it?"

Fuji Syuusuke, with his normal closed-eye smile, nodded and placed his hands on her shoulders. He gave her a gentle push towards the table, "Just for you, and with some help."

"Syuusuke…" Her eyes were becoming a little damp as she remembered answering his casual question about her Christmas present over two months ago when they had just begun to go out.

"?" Fuji's voice was soft in the slowly disappearing dusk.

"What is it?" The two were walking back to 's house after school.

He smiled down at her, "What would you like for Christmas?"

"A home-cooked dinner." Even as she answered, the dark-haired girl flushed and tried to change topics, "Christmas is still ages away. Why did you want to know?"

His smile was as innocent as ever, "Nothing. Just a thought that crossed my mind."

"Ah." Neither of them said anything more on the subject.

turned and buried her face into his jumper; she couldn't believe that he remembered something like that. She was still overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness even though they had been together for quite a while now.

Fuji's smile didn't waver but his eyes opened to display stunningly blue irises. Gently, he removed her from his embrace and took her hand, leading her to her seat.

The table was covered in various Christmas treats including an entire roasted turkey, cake, pudding and table settings for quite a lot of people. The room was decorated tastefully with lots of streamers, lights and the occasional mistletoe.

"Who's here for tonight's dinner, Syuusuke?" loved the feeling of being spoiled by her prince. Fuji pushed her chair in for her and took the seat beside hers.

"Lots. But they won't be back until later." Another smile appeared and Fuji moved a little closer. "Much later."

's eyelashes fluttered closed as Fuji leaned in. It was a perfect Christmas present. For her. And for him.

**********

Fudomine Chuu's Ibu Shinji - Gifts

"How am I supposed to know what to get her? It's not as if I know what she likes or something. Am I supposed to ask her? Akira should know; they're in the same class. But then, would it be cheating if I asked him what she likes? I'm only going to give one present this year and I don't think…" Ibu Shinji's muttering trailed away into nothing when he realized that someone was regarding him with an amused smile.

"Hello, Shinji-kun." 's voice was soft but her smile was bright. She walked into the abandoned classroom that Shinji had apparently taken refuge in. "Who were you referring to before? Is it her?" She referred to the mysterious girl that Shinji apparently had a crush on.

Shinji looked down and retained his silence. sat down next to him and smiled again, suppressing a slight feeling that just may have been sadness, "I don't think she'd mind what you got her, as long as you gave it to her."

She leaned closer to him and Shinji started a little and leaned back. A hand reached out and touched his chest, where his heartbeat could be felt thumping away steadily. "As long as it comes from there."

Their eyes met and a smile of understanding lit Shinji's face for the first time that day. He grabbed his bag and headed out, "Thank you -chan."

's eyes followed Shinji's process out of the classroom with a resigned smile on her face. She could never gather enough courage to tell him that she liked him.

Later that week, as she walked with Shinji, Kamio and An to Fuji's Christmas party, she gave Shinji a sideways glance and poked him gently.

"What?" Shinji's mumbling monologue came to an end and he gave her his full attention.

A slightly forced smile was on her face, "Did you get it for her?"

"Huh? What? Oh…" The blue haired boy's confused expression turned into a slight smile, "Yes. Thank you for the advice."

"Is… is she going to be at the party tonight?" 's voice could barely be heard over the gusts of light wind.

"Yes." Shinji answered simply.

"Oh." Making herself appear cheerful was becoming harder and harder. 's anticipation of the upcoming party all but diminished.

There was a slight scuffling sound which involved An, Kamio and Shinji but paid them very little attention. Then…

"-chan?" Shinji's quiet voice sounded from right beside her. "Are you alright?"

"I… I'm fine." was quite surprised to find that she had stopped in the middle of the path and that Shinji had stopped with her. Kamio and An were already quite a ways in front.

The way he watched her was slightly unnerving. "Shinji-kun?"

He fumbled for something in his bag and held it out to her. "This is for you."

Silence.

stared at the carefully wrapped present in front of her and then stared at Shinji, "What?"

He moved forward two steps and placed the small package in her hands wrapping them around it. "It's for you." He mumbled again, this time a blush was visible on his cheeks.

"But… but… Isn't this the present you were going to give her? The girl you like?" 's cheeks felt like they were burning too, despite the coolness of the afternoon air.

"Yes, it is." Shinji said no more and looked at the ground instead.

The realization dawned, along with a sense of her own stupidity. flung her arms around Shinji. "Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me."

He held her gently. "I might understand, you know. Probably as much as giving it to you means to me."

Shinji tucked the box into 's pocket and they continued on their way, their hands entwined together, just like they were meant to be.

**********

St. Rudolph Gakuin's Kisarazu Atsushi - Chocolate Pudding

"Pudding… Why does it have to be me?" Kisarazu Atsushi muttered under his breath. He glared at the assortment of utensils and baking materials scattered on the kitchen bench.

Ryou, his twin brother, poked his head in. "Oi, Atsushi, is that pudding ready yet?"

"No," was the growled answer from his irritated brother.

"Ah." A mischievous smile lit Ryou's face. "Guess you're in luck, then. -chan's just arrived."

At the mention of his girlfriend's name, Atsushi immediately brightened. Not only was as sweet as chocolate pudding herself, she was an expert cook.

"Atsushi!" She shoved Ryou out of her way and immediately jumped into Atsushi's arms.

A smirk lit Atsushi's face as he watched the aggrieved look on his twin's face; his arms were firmly around .

"Missed you as well," he teased her, looking away from Ryou.

She wriggled out his grasp and surveyed the hideous-looking mess spread out on the table. "What is this?" pointed at the failed attempt that was Atsushi's pudding.

Atsushi had the grace to look embarrassed, "Chocolate pudding."

gave him a scandalized look and tied on an apron. "You're trying to tell me that this is edible?" She asked incredulously, poking at the brown-black lumps with a fork. The lumps didn't budge, no matter how hard she prodded and poked.

"Erm. Yes?" Atsushi moved away slowly.

"Mmm…" was already absorbed in creating a pudding mixture from eggs and self-raising flour. "You boys go play, I'll finish this off."

Just as both twins were about to exit, pointed the cooking spoon forbiddingly at them. The boys looked up to see her with a grim expression on her face, "You'll both be back here in an hour to clean."

"Aww…" Ryou whined a little and pouted, "-chan…"

Turning resolutely away from the puppy dog look given, pointed the spoon at the door this time round, "Out and be back in an hour."

"Aww…" Both boys walked out. They hated clean up duty.

Later that night at the party:

"Was it worth the cleaning up to eating this?" asked Atsushi as he took another bite of her chocolate pudding.

He nodded vigorously and managed to swallow, "Of course."

Taking a forkful of the delicious pudding, he fed it to her, enjoying the slight flush that appeared.

"It's not bad, is it?" tried looking the other way to hide her slight embarrassment.

Atsushi put an arm around her and suppressed a grin at the darker pink that invaded her cheeks this time. He raised his fork again, "Open wide."

Obediently, opened her mouth and allowed him to feed her. She felt like she was the luckiest girl alive to be able to spend Christmas with her friends.

And with him.

**********

Yamabuki Chuu's Sengoku Kiyosumi - Christmas Tree

"Kiyo!" stomped her foot and resisted the urge to kick her boyfriend, Sengoku Kiyosumi. She wished he could be slightly serious for once. They were standing in the living room of his house, getting prepared for the upcoming party.

Well, was getting ready. He and Minami Kentarou, the Yamabuki captain, however, were currently in stitches over his so-called tree. Fuji Syuusuke, Seishun Gakuen's tennis genius, had invited them to join him for a Christmas party along with several other people. However, he had requested that each of his guests bring at least one festive item for the party.

Sengoku had chosen to bring a Christmas tree, despite Fuji's saying that he already had one. The Seigaku boy had finally conceded to Sengoku's request but asked him to keep the tree small.

The orange-haired boy slung an arm around and ruffled her hair, "Don't be like that ! You can't tell me you don't think this is funny." He gestured at the badly-drawn pine tree on an A3 page of paper.

"KIYO!" She did kick him this time round.

"Ouch." Even Minami winced at the solid thump of her foot connecting with Sengoku's shin.

"…" He pouted but she turned her back on him.

"I wish you could just be slightly serious for once." Her voice was soft and there was a slight quaver in it. Minami and Sengoku exchanged a glance and shortly after, Minami exited the room, leaving it to the couple.

"." He said her name so softly and hugged her so gently from behind that the tears which had gathered in her eyes dripped down.

Feeling the moistness on his hand which held hers, Sengoku held her tighter to him.

"Sometimes… sometimes I don't know if you're even serious about me." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

His breath tickled her ear before his lips brushed across the side of her neck, ". I'm always serious about you. You and you only." He whispered gently to her ear. Then he turned her around.

"Come with me." Sengoku, unusually serious, pulled his girlfriend into his bedroom. Leaving her at the door, he crouched on the floor and reached for something under his bed. Finding whatever he meant to find, Sengoku placed it on the table before .

Looking down, saw the most beautiful miniature Christmas tree decorated with lots of multicolored hearts.

With a shaking hand, she lifted a pink heart and read the message written on it. Tears filled her eyes again. placed her head against Sengoku's chest and his arms came around her to hold her to him.

"I'm sorry." She whispered to him but he only shook his head and stroked her hair.

The hearts on the tree fluttered from the wind coming in through his slightly open window. The pink heart swung around a couple of time and Sengoku smiled over 's shoulder at it, re-reading the message he had inscribe on it.

As long as an evergreen is green, I'll be by your side, loving you.

**********

Hyoutei Gakuen's Hiyoshi Wakashi - Carols

Hiyoshi Wakashi scowled at his teammates who were definitely having a good laugh at his expense. He could see Mukahi Gakuto giggling with Akutagawa Jiroui. Oshitari Yuushi was smirking as usual and Atobe Keigo had the same amused look he wore when he was entertained. Only Ootori Choutarou looked somewhat hesitant.

"Shouldn't we let Wakashi-kun and -chan decide whether they want to sing or not?" Ootori's voice was gentle but the remainder of the group shook their heads.

"Of course not!" Jirou sounded scandalized by the idea. "Their names were drawn out of the hat, they have to sing."

"Yeah! A Christmas carol!" Gakuto bounced up and down on his seat.

"Carol! Carol! Carol!" Jirou took up the chant.

With a resigned sigh, Hiyoshi took his place at the front of the room along with a highly-embarrassed , their team manager. Trust Atobe to think of having a 'fun' day-out for the team at a karaoke bar, in a private room of course, before joining Fuji Syuusuke's party later that evening.

"You can choose, -chan." Hiyoshi's voice was gentle as he handed his classmate and close friend the song list.

"Thank you." reached out for the song list but before she could choose, Oshitari had already pressed a song for her.

The opening tune of Twelve Days of Christmas began. Hiyoshi and exchanged a look, obviously both uncomfortable with the song choice.

"You can take turns," Atobe told the pair standing stiff and ungainly in the very front.

Hiyoshi gripped his microphone tighter and said nothing. still looked highly embarrassed.

"Hey -chan, relax! It is your Hiyoshi up there with you anyway. Go for it!" Gakuto yelled out to the now flaming-red second-year.

Hiyoshi looked surprised but a flush spread on his face as well. He directed a questioning glance towards his classmate before changing his mind and sending a glare Gakuto's way instead.

was so red by now that she looked fit to burst. Dropping her microphone, she rushed out of the room and into the corridor beyond. Hiyoshi and the remainder of the Hyoutei team stared after her for a moment before Oshitari prodded Hiyoshi. "Don't you think you should go after her?"

Realizing the fact of his senpai's words, Hiyoshi dropped his microphone and walked out as well. Shishido picked up the two microphones and handed one over to Jirou. "Come on Jirou, I challenge you. What song did you want to do?"

Jirou bounced to the front of the room, "We wish you a merry Christmas!"

"That is so gekidasa! Let's do Frosty the Snowman instead."

Outside, in the corridor, Hiyoshi had caught up with . "Hey -chan, wait up."

To his relief, she stopped and appeared to wait for him.

" -chan, I…" His words trailed off when he noticed her wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "What's wrong?" Hiyoshi's tone took even himself back by surprise at the concern in it.

"I… I… I like you Hiyoshi-kun!" The sudden statement stopped Hiyoshi in his tracks.

"What?" He blinked and tried to comprehend what he just heard. "What did you just say?"

flamed up once more and tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to say that out loud. I…I'll just go now. Goodbye." She turned to escape but didn't even manage to take two steps before Hiyoshi caught her hand.

She tugged at it but to no avail. Hiyoshi held on tighter, "Tell me once more."

Bowing her head down, repeated her words from before, "I like you, Hiyoshi-kun."

"Wakashi."

"Huh?" It wasn't the rejection she had feared. Peeking upwards, found Hiyoshi regarding her with a smile playing around his lips.

"Call me Wakashi." He repeated, smile growing just a little wider.

"W...Wakashi-kun." His name sounded so sweet on her tongue.

Noticing her suppress a shiver from the cold, Hiyoshi took her hand and tugged her along, "Come on, let's go for something hot. Then we can go to Fuji-san's party. Together."

She smiled at him then. It was a promise.

**********

Rokkaku Chuu's Kurobane Harukaze - Mistletoe

Kurobane Harukaze, or Bane to his friends, carried the box filled with decorations reluctantly. When Fuji Syuusuke had invited the Rokkaku team to his Christmas party, the tensai's only request was to have them bring some decorations for the party. Not exactly a hard task.

"So why am I the one stuck doing it all by myself?" Bane muttered to himself irritably.

"Bane-senpai! Bane-senpai! " A musical voice called his name from behind.

"Eh?" Bane turned around to find , the pretty second-year from Amane 'Dabide' Hikaru's class, waving at him vigorously.

"-chan! What are you doing here?" He asked her, slightly surprised. Bane hadn't known she had come along to Tokyo too.

"Ah." She flushed lightly and looked away. "I had something to do around here. So, Dabide gave me a lift."

Bane fought down a surge of jealousy. He already knew that Dabide and were an item although both of them denied it. They spent too much time together for them not to be. However, it didn't lessen his feelings towards her. Bane had found it difficult to believe that he had fallen in love with his best friend's girlfriend.

She watched him quizzically and wondered why he looked so sad all of a sudden. "Bane-senpai?"

Bane gave a big smile and shrugged his thoughts off, "Ah. It's nothing. Let's go."

"Sure."

When they reached the Fuji residence, Fuji Syuusuke greeted the two and gave them free rein of his living and dining rooms. "You guys decide what sort of theme you want; I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

With a final smile, Fuji left the two to it. Bane and decided quickly on their theme and begun decorating. Half an hour later, both stepped back to admire their handiwork.

"Looks pretty good." mused taking a few more steps back. Bane followed her path, also backing up a few paces.

"It doesn't look too shabby at all. Maybe we should go into this business together." Bane turned to her with a ready smile. It faded when he saw her impish one. "What?"

pointed upwards. With mixed emotions, Bane looked up to see a mistletoe hanging directly above their heads. She leaned towards him and tilted her chin up, closing her eyes. Looking down at her, Bane was insanely tempted but held back at the thought of Davide.

Finally, he backed away a couple of paces, "I… I can't."

's shoulders slumped a little and she turned away. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to force you."

Bane bit his lower lip and his mumbled words managed to become audible, "You're Dabide's girlfriend. Dabide's my best friend. I can't do that to him, no matter how much I like you…"

had frozen for the first part but came alive at his last sentence. She turned and flung herself into his embrace. "You like me… Bane-senpai likes me."

He couldn't resist the need to hold her tighter and tugged her closer with both arms around her possessively. She looked up at him, "I like you, too, Bane-san."

"Dabide… He…" Bane tried reasoning with himself and her.

"Dabide and I are just friends," told him, not lifting her face from his shirt. "I don't get why you don't believe us."

"But… You're always together and look like you're sharing some secret." He still couldn't believe it.

pressed her face deeper into his chest, as a result, her words were muffled but still quite easy to make out. "That's because Davide guessed that I liked you and he decided to help me out by getting me closer to you."

"Oh." Bane fell silent. Almost half a year of agony over nothing?

Her smile appeared again, "Look up."

He obliged and this time he didn't hesitate. Leaning down, he kissed her firmly.

The plant dangling from the ceiling swung around and around happily. Just like the new couple beneath it.

**********

Rikkai dai Fuzoku Chuu's Yagyuu Hiroshi - Shooting Stars

"Hiroshi! Look, it's a shooting star!" 's eyes were wide as she watched the path of the bright streak of light.

She turned to her closest friend of three years and grabbed his hand, "Quick, close your eyes and make a wish, Hiroshi!"

never noticed Yagyuu's slight stiffening when she touched him or the strange light that lit his eyes when he watched her. Turning his gaze away, Yagyuu did as he was told, closing his eyes and clasping his hands together as she had.

The star passed and 's voice sounded again, "What did you wish for?" Her lips were curved in a pleased smile.

"I thought that telling people your wishes nullified them." He remarked with a slight tilt to the corner of his mouth.

"Oh I forgot about that." Her dark-eyed gaze went back to the night sky, searching for another passing shooting star. They sat side by side on the balcony of Fuji's house. The party was still in full swing inside, but both and Yagyuu had felt the need for a breath of fresh air.

Yagyuu's gaze was drawn back to his best friend. They had met in their first year of Rikkai and become fast friends despite having completely different personalities. She was cute and bouncy; he was handsome and serious. She always thought the best about a situation; he weighed the pros and cons of everything. She made his day brighter; he was a solid rock for her to rely on.

He didn't know when he had begun liking her as more than a friend. Yagyuu had begun to feel that he had always wanted them to be more than friends.

"Look! Look!" 's excited voice drew him back to the present. "Hiroshi! It's snow! The first snow of this winter." A sigh entered her voice, "It's so romantic."

Yagyuu's heartbeat jumped erratically at her last comment but he showed nothing of it on his face. However, even he couldn't keep up an expression of indifference when scooted closer and leaned her head back against his shoulder.

"It's so beautiful. I want it to be like this forever." Her quiet comment voiced exactly the same sentiment that Yagyuu held. She felt so warm against him. And so soft, too.

snuggled even closer, "Hiroshi? Will you tell me someday what you wished for tonight?"

His hand touched her hair briefly before falling onto hers and holding it. "One day."

One day, I'll tell you that I wished to be by your side. Always.

**********

Shitenhouji Chuu's Oshitari Kenya - Snow

"Kenya-kun!" made a beeline for Oshitari Kenya as soon as the blond entered the dining room.

"-chan!" He hugged her tightly before giving her a quick once over. "Looking good, how have you been lately?"

She flushed slightly at his praise but smiled with pleasure at being with him again, "Nothing much. You didn't write as much as you promised." She pouted a little and Kenya took her hand.

"There wasn't exactly a lot of time to write. I'm sorry, ." He tapped her nose playfully and she giggled softly.

Oshitari Yuushi stood with his counterpart from Seigaku, Fuji Syuusuke watching the scene with a slight smirk. "Thanks for including Kenya in on the guest list for this party."

Fuji smiled genuinely. "It was no problem, besides, now we're even. Are we not?"

Oshitari nodded his agreement. "Now I just have to make sure my dear cousin doesn't mess up again. was broken-hearted when Kenya stayed in Osaka instead of coming here to Tokyo."

"Ah…" The two geniuses watched the couple in question with interest, mixed with just a little amusement.

Kenya wondered where the evening had gone. One moment he was being greeted by in the living room. Now…

They were standing in the backyard watching the snow fall around them. Night had fallen already and it was quite cold in the night air.

danced amidst the falling snowflakes, spinning circles and laughing out loud in pure joy. Kenya couldn't suppress a smile of his own when he saw her like that. She was as beautiful as he remembered, as compelling as he remembered and he was still attracted to her as ever.

A soft shriek sounded and Kenya spun around to find sprawled on the ground in a heap. She had obviously tripped and fallen quite unceremoniously on her behind in the slightly snowy grass. He smiled and scooped her off the floor and into his embrace.

"Kenya." Her voice was barely above a whisper and she leaned in towards his warmth. His arms went around her and gathered her close.

"I've missed you, ." He spoke quietly, directly into her ear.

She turned away at this.

"?"

Her gaze was aimed at the ground, "You left me last time. Are you going to leave me again?"

Kenya hugged her tightly from behind, grasping both of her hands in both of his. "I never left you. I thought about you everyday." He turned her around and placed her hand onto the left side of his chest.

felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "You were there with me when I gained my regulars' spot. You were with me when I went to Nationals. You were with me everyday and every night. Here."

Kenya's hand covered hers. "I have to go back to Osaka, but I'll always come back to be by your side."

Tears gathered in 's eyes, "Kenya…"

The snow continued to fall around them, enveloping them into a world of their own. A small smile lit his face, "Like this snow." They both looked up and watched the floating flakes that slowly came to rest on the ground.

"I'll come back to your side. When you see the first snow, you'll know that I'll be coming. And once I finish school," Kenya raised her hand to his lips, kissing it gently, "I'll come back for good."

"Promise?" 's eyes filled with tears and with hope.

"It's a promise." A more crooked smile appeared on his face, "Remember , a promise made in snow can never be broken."

She looked at him suspiciously, "Why not?"

Kenya drew her close and pressed a kiss onto her lips gently, "Because it's one that's been made between you and me."

##########

December 24, 2006
Written by: Linc
Edited by: linchpin