That festive season was fast approaching. Thanksgiving was over and black Friday hand come and went as well as Cyber Monday. Most of the guy's hand got their Christmas shopping done for the yuletide season, now all that was left was wrapping gifts and the annual secret Santa exchange.   

For some god-awful reason, Kenshin hand come to the present wrapping party Masamune hand planed this year for the secret Santa exchange. The only consolation to coming was he hand been told Amber would be there. The fact he had pulled her name out of the punch bowl at Thanksgiving was still a thorn in his side.

Kenshin knew next to nothing about buying a gift for a woman so this year's present hand to extra special. in years past he hand always lucked out and gotten one of the guys from either Nobunaga’s Azuchi house or his place Kasugayama House.  

It’s not that he didn’t like the yule time it was more he despised having to wrap presents. If there was one thing in this world he was not good at it was wrapping a gift. And this year secret Santa gift meant more to him than in years past as it was for the lovely Amber.

Amber hand growing on him like a vine of ivy growing on a tree over the years.  She had the personality of  Mitsuhide linking to teases other . and Oh she was good at it. she was the only one that could get that crafty foxes goat ever damn time.

Kenshin liked that about her, as well as she was easy going and laid back. Amber could even handle him when he was his worst, wan his temperament was the blackest. She was always there with a kind soothing word for him wan she tried to cowl him out of his foul mood.

And that right there is what made him fall in love with her and why he had not yet acted on his feeling for her. He knew how he was wan it came to relationships. Overbearing, overprotective, and at times he could be downright possessive.       

  So yes this year the warping paper hand to be something special that fit Amber and the wrapping of said gift for her hand to be exquisitely done nothing less would do.

in Kenshin mind, anything less was not an option at all for Amber's gift.

---  

Kenshin hand lost count how many time he had tried to wrap the gift sitting in front of him. How many time he hand threatened Shingen and Yukimura for giving him a hard time for the total and utterly failed attempts at gift wrapping.

“That looks like a four-year-old wrapped that Kenshin “ Yukimura hand said between fits of laughter at one point and time.

To the witch, Kenshin replay was to flip the scissors he was using like a throwing dagger. they had gone whizzing by Yukimura’s head catching a few stray hairs before planting into the wall behind him

“I’ll kill you if you don’t stop laughing “ he snapped out

That even hand even sobering Shingen up

.

“ getting a bit stabby there Kenshi “ was all the redhead said after watching the scissors go flying.

Now the three sat in complete silence around the table wrapping their gifts.

At one point Hideyoshi hand come over and offered to help teach him how to wrap a present the right way.  but Kenshin had turned him down stating

“you would not be the first to offer that kind of help “

he gave a slight scowl “ I'm just hopeless at this kind of thing “

Kenshin now ground his teeth in his last attempt at wrapping his gift. He rolled out the wrapping paper from the roll. There was not a lot left of the pretty paper on the roll. This was the last usable bit if he failed this he felt he might just die right there on the spot.

He looked up from what he was doing his two-toned eyes giving a quick scan around the room. Ever one was done wrapping there gifts and now most were enjoying themselves all but him and the two still sitting at the table watching probably for their own amusement.

“They call me the god of war but after this, they call me the god of gift wrapping “ he muttered to himself as he looked back down to cut the wrapping paper.

But before he could even close the blades to the sharp scissors a soft even claim voice came from behind him. And he knew who it was how could he not.

“Mind if I lend a hand bunny lord “ came Ambers gentle soothing words.

Kenshin ground down more on his back teeth “ I got this “ he said as calmly as he could

“ And what have I told about calling me that “ he quipped out next “ just because I so happen to raises rabbis as a hobby “

Her melodious laughter cut him off “well if your little white pets didn’t follow you around I would have no need call you that “ she chided back to him her face coming into his view now.

All he could do was open and close his mouth. Because anything he could say as a come back to that would just end up with him sounding like a complete ass, or a total jerk or a complete asshole.

“Aww what's wrong the rabbits have your tongue bunny lord, “ she asked with that dam sly smile she had.

The one he knew she always got wan poking fun at him, while also trying to pull him out of one of his foul moods.

God, that smile drove him crazy and the way she spoke the words. softly in that even calming tone of hers. Even if she was poking a bit of fun at him for his rabbits it was doing the trick and lighting his mood just a bit.

Finally, he gave a soft sigh in resignation and nodded his head. “If you think you can help me “

 Where Hideyoshi hand failed earlier in offering Kenshin help Amber hand succeeded.

“Look like someone owes me Benjamin “ Yukimura blurted out from his seat at the table.

Oh that got the young forest ranger a scathing look from Kenshin

“ you do know I brought my swords Yukimura “ heterochromatic eyes narrowed and shot blue and green dagger at the ranger sitting across from him.

“ cair to go outside and test  your skills “

That hand got everyone's attention for that split second all eyes were on that part of the room.

Then Amber spoke up then “no need to get all stabby bunny lord “  she softly taped Kenshin nose every other word.

This seems to calm him right down all he could muster now was a disgruntled look.

“Come on Yuki let's give the lord of bunnies some space “

Shingen had said the word as he looked at Amber and giving her wink. Kenshin had been biting backs words that would make him sound jealous and possessive of her. But he had kept his mouth closed and didn’t utter a word.

Once the reformed playboy and forest ranger left Amber guide Kenshin throws the art of wrapping a present. Witch he had to say once done he did a damn fine job. The thing looked as if he had paid someone to do it. Even the bow that was on it looks like a pro hand done it.

---

Later that night everyone gathered around the large and overly decorated Christmas tree. Everyone was here now Sasuke and Kennyo hand been the last two to show up. Seeing as Kennyo and put off buying his Secret Santa gift until the last possible minute.

Nervously Kenshin wanted for the time that presents would be handed out. And it showed as he had down three cups of the bourbon flavored eggnog.

He was on his fourth cup wan Amber sat next to him on the couch. She had a hot spiked cider, her hands were wrapped around the mug as she sat with her feet tucked up under here next to him.

“ who you get this year bunny king “  she switched up her wording as she took a sip from her mug.

“You know I can't tell you that  princess “ he stated oh so matter-of-factly

“Calling me princess now are you? “ she asked wiggling her brows as she chuckled softly with a soft smile to her lips  “ whatever for? “

“Because you are the princess of gift wrapping, “ he thought it was a nice cover for the slip he made in calling her princess.

“Oh I see, “ she said as she leaned in a bit closer to him

she spoke softly, “ so for no other reason”  she was teasing him again that much was clear with her choice of words.

“Well, you do call me bunny lord a lot “ he needled back at her.

Amber gave a thoroughly hearty laugh to what he said. And that smile he so loved to see graced her face making it light up and glow.

His heart came to life every time he saw that smile. Letting him know he was living and his cold heart was not yet dead.

“You know I only speak the truth, “   she said tauntingly to him as her hand raised and ruffled his platinum blond locks.

As her fingers rand throw his hair for that fleeting moment he turned his eye of blue and his other of green to her eyes. And oh when they met he could have gotten lost in her blue-green hazel eyes.

Time stood still at that moment just for a beat or two of his heart. And all too soon  Amber lifted her mug to her lips and took a heavy draw from her drink. Where her cheeks slightly flushed and as she looked at him from her lashes as she took a heavy a drink.

“Umm, I think it’s time to hand out the presents “ her voice sounded softly husky as she spoke.

“Oh is it “  that had come out sounding all too filled with disappointment even to him.

---

 Masamune handed out the presents as he sat under the tree. His blue Santa hat flopping over his eye patch making him look like a man-child.  Summer as his helper elf that didn’t help that image. seeing those two were a lot alike and now an idiom, but everyone was laughing and smiling as present were handed out.

Soon enough every one hand there gifts. all but the  Secret Santa ones. they were always the last ones handed out after they had opened all the rest of the gifts.

And then it was time. One by one Masamune called out a name handed the present to Summer who passed it along to the person it was for. Of course wan he got to Amber's gift he had to say

“ well, I know why the god of war was so worked up about wrapping this “ Masamune even hand the nerve to stick his tongue out at Kenshin peevishly. Beforehand the gift off to Amber.

“you know it’s called  Secret Santa for a reason Masamune, “ Amber said without missing a beat “

“Oops, my bad“Masamune said as he brought his hand to his lips in a mocking gesture saying sorry but not sorry.

Amber just rolled her eyes at the overgrown man-child.

Kenshin just gave an ironic snort to Masamune than turned to Amber

“I hope you like it princes “

Amber turned her eyes to  Kenshin

”I'm sure I will” she hesitated in her words  “l  I would like to open this later tonight if it’s all the same to you   Kenshin“ she finally half stated half asked.

“ it’s fine, “ he said flatly not know really how to respond to her request or event how to deal with the over welling feeling of disappointment he felt.

---

The night pressed on slowly at times. more so when his foul temper was starting to show itself. By some grace of the gods, Amber hand always shown up by his side just at the right moment and quickly brightened his mod.

At present most everyone had turned in for the night the only ones left up was Amber, Hideyoshi and himself. Amber was trying to get Hideyoshi to head off to bed and stop cleaning. She had gone as far as to remind him Jess was waiting for him. Finally, she got to him relent by reassuring him everything would be clean come morning.

“Well, Ma'am Yoshi finally off to bed “  came her words so close to his ear. Kenshin could feel the breeze of her breath wash over his ear. And oh it shot down through him like wildfire.

“You know princess, “ he said turning to face her “ you have a gift for talking others down “

She gave him a smart ass look “oh you don’t say “ she purred out “if that so minds helping fish up here should only take forty minutes tops “   

How could he say no with her looking at him like that? So  Kenshin found himself helping her with the last bit of cleaning.

As they both clean they talked… well, most she talked. She opened up to him that they had something in common. They both shared in the tragic loss of their first loves. He never knew she lost her first boyfriend to a drunk driver. It came as a shock to him but it also explained a lot as well. the way she knew how to handle him when his moods would shift and the why she even put up with when him at his worst moments.

He learned for the longest time she blamed herself for her boyfriends death.she said “ for the longest time I blamed myself “  he could tell she still felt guilt  just by the way she spoke “ if I hadn’t asked him to come to pick me after that fight with my mom “ and god that look on her face when she spoke about it, he just want to take all that hurt and pain on to himself.

“Enough of  me being all  emo”

she said and took him by the hand and lead him to the couch

“I have a present to open “

Kenshin could help but smile and give a soft chuckle in how exuberant she was in that moment.  He followed her gladly to the couch and watch her flop down on it and pat the open spot next to her present in her other hand.

Gladly he sat down just like she was criss-cross applesauce and faced her.

“ you never cease to amaze me in how you can change the mood  princes“

He watched her pick at the bow he had so meticulously tied. At that moment he knew that something was bothering her. She only picked at things like that when something was eating at her her

“ Everything alright, “he asked

She looked up at him and smiled ‘ya I'm fine “ she took a breath “ I… I just don’t like talking about it “ she started  then stopped to take a breath before going on

“ the weak smile you have on says otherwise princes “Kenshin brushed the back of his finger over her cheek.

Her breath hitched softly as she spoke “but I need to talk about “  her words came with her normally reassuring smile however it looks as of tears were starting to well up in her eyes

“ the accident happened right around this time of year “  she took his hand who’s finger hand just brushed her cheek and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Now I'm done being Emo time to open this “  she waved the present in front of his face forcing down her tears.  

Kenshin took her at her word that she was fine and didn’t press it seeing as she was trying to change even her own mood right now.

Like a kid at Christmas seeing Santa Claus in there living room.  Kenshin watched Amber open his present to her. A lopsided goofy smile on his lips.

Amber took her time slowly pulling at one of the tails of the bow in untell it came undone. And with slow grate cair she lifted the tape piece by piece in tell she had the present unwrapped.

She stopped and look up at Kenshin before opening the white box that held the gift.

‘No bunnies or swords are going to come popping out at me “ she asked with a cheeky smile

Her question hand caught Kenshin off guard “I'm not  Mitsuhide ‘ was all he could say before he would start laughing and might ruin this magical moment.

She gave him the stink eye but in the most impish playful way

“Good or I would have to kill you “  she turned his all too often go to words on to him

That got him to laugh and wan he did she joined him in laughing.

“You think you're funny don’t you princess “ came his word on a  chuckle

“well are you going to open it the rest of the way or not “

he waved his hand at the present and his words showed he was growing impatient with excitement.

“Yes “ she simply said on a soft giggle

Just like before she took her time with the tape holding the lid down. Leisurely she slipped a nail and ran it under each piece of tape untell it snapped up. Then she took her time lifting the lid, stopping and looking at him suspiciously as she crept it up and off.

He watched her with great joy and amusement in her antics as she took her dam sweet time. But  Kenshin knew it was worth it once she saw what was in the box. He watches her pushed back the crate paper and her eyes go wide as she looked in to see her present.

Her breath caught in her thought and she forgot to breathe  Amber Looked at the 50 millimeters round amethyst crystal ball in the box.

“I love it, “ she said all choked up tears once more filling her eyes.

“ and you way overspent the set price limit for secret Santa Kenshin “

He just gave her a warm soft smile one she had never really seen on him before now.

“Not for the woman I'm in love with I didn’t “ he could not hold himself back any longer. he has been waiting all day and most of the dam night for this moment to happen.

“What, “  she asked her eyes probing his to see if he was pulling her leg

“I'm in love with you Amber I have been for a long time now “ he croaked out softly. his eye of blue and eye of green peered back at her with all the intensity of his feeling for her. And then,  then he was kissing her for all that he was with.

The kiss started soft and slow on her lips and she gladly took it and moved with it as it grew in its calming need. It took her breath away.

Once Kenshin broke the kiss did she say something “ I love you too bunny lord “  came to her breathy husky words agents his lips.

That was all Kenshin need before he swept her up into his arms and kissed her in tell they both were breathless and gasping for air.