#kagefics

The world was just too cruel.

Shintaro swore he would never forgive the world for screwing him over like this. It was his own mistake for believing that having friends was bad, yet when he was proven how wrong he was on this belief, Haruka was taken away from him.

He was the worst. Shintaro wanted to badly to please his first friend with the news he was returning to school for him. After all, Haruka was the first one to actually cause him to rethink on his belief on friends, yet not be disgusted to the point ignoring Shintaro completely. Instead, he was still patient and kind, even offering to play video games with him. It was all so new, that Shintaro grew to be fond of Haruka.

Subconsciously he felt that they could feel the same from his presence too, even through under his crafted mask. Well, it’s not like he was trying much or had enough energy to hide it anyway.

It really seemed like it’s going to be this way the whole holiday season, until one innocent question was suddenly asked out loud, pulling out the rest three from their trance-like state.

“What is… ‘Christmas’?”

The trio suddenly stopped dead whatever they were doing (namely- nothing, or being even more specifically just empty activities intended to keep their minds occupied, like listening to music or mindlessly reading) and simultaneously turned to the little Medusa with completely dumbfounded expressions on their faces.

“They’ve kept talking about it in TV for a few weeks now. Is it some sort of a game…?”  

The question may had seem simple, but all three just sat there in silence for a couple of seconds. They were alternately exchanging hesitant looks, unsure of what to say and looking down at their own feet, reluctant to be the first one to take the floor. Well, at least until Kano got an idea, seeing the opportunity created by Mary’s innocent ignorance. Suddenly a wide grin appeared on his face, wiping off any traces of previous confusion and dreariness.

“Well, Kido,” he said affectively bringing their Danchou attention, even if with still a little disoriented expression on her face, “it looks like we just got the new mission.”

~~

“Is… here, ok?” asked Kano barely being able to speak. His body was stretched out from the tips of his toes that barely touched the stool underneath him to the tips of his fingers that in the contrast were holding tightly the bright green-red ornament to the wall and he was afraid that every false move could cost him hard landing on the floor. Even the move of his mouth.

Yet he still had took that risk as well as now when he shifted his gaze carefully behind him. With the corner of his eyes he could see unsatisfied grimace on Kido’s face (something he could guess was there even without seeing).

“Hmm a bit to the right.”

“What?! You just told me to move it to left!”

“But you moved it too much! A bit to the right.”

Kano sighed deeply, but obligated. He knew better than to oppose Kido (plus he really needed to get off that stool as fast as possible).    

“How about now…?” he asked, but even though this time he didn’t turn to see her face, with every silent second  he could feel something is wrong again.

“…You know what, it looked better before.” At her words Kano couldn’t help but grumble.

“Kido-samaaa~”

“Ok, ok, just hang it up there and leave it.” The little feel of guilt must had made her finally gave in Kano’s whines and he didn’t hesitate to use it as he did as she ordered and quickly jumped off the stool before she could change her mind.

“Maybe it could be a bit higher though…” Kido started thinking aloud and it made Kano stop dead in his track, cold sweat already forming on his forehead.

“Eh, we’ll just ask Seto to do it when he comes back if there’ll be a need.” She said under her breath and if Kano wasn’t so relieved by her decision maybe he’d be offended. Maybe. “He should have done it from the beginning.” He thought, but then remembered that fairly, he wouldn’t be able to do the taller boy’s task in the exchange.

Kano looked over at Kido to be sure if he was indeed finally safe. She was still contemplating over decorations, but the longer she was looking the more her expression changed from focused grimace to soft smile. For a second there, Kano thought that all of that was worth it and even forgot about the pain in his back and legs.

They were staring like that for a moment, Kido at decorated living room and Kano at Kido (and only one aware of their own action) until a loud beeping was heard.

“Ah, cookies!” Kido exclaimed in the voice so high and bright Kano hadn’t heard from her since they moved out. He giggled silently and wanted to comment it, but she didn’t even notice it, nor tried to hide it and almost bounced to the kitchen. In the end Kano just sighed fondly and trailed after her like a stray cat.

By the time he joined her in the kitchen, she had already took the cookies out of the oven and Kano was welcomed with the heave spicy sweet scent that quickly permeated the room. Kido laid the baking sheet on the table and Kano watched like her expression changed from fairly satisfied to the death glare directed (as expected) at him.

“Don’t even think about eating one before dinner.” He snickered and raised his hands in defense.

“Don’t worry. It’s not why I came here, I swear~” It didn’t ease her suspicions or glare, but she did give eventually him a silent permission to stay, as she sighed and finally looked away from him.

“I won’t need your help though, so you might get bored.” She said as she turned around to the prepared by her earlier frosting that rest on the countertop. “But I appreciate your…” she turned back around and abruptly stopped in her track. “You ate a cookie!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He replied with the innocent tone and matching it smile.

“Cut it! Who else could take it?” she pointed at the visibly empty spot on the baking sheet. “Besides, you can change the appearance of yourself, but you can’t hide the crumbs near you!” she moved her hand to point at them laying on the table near Kano and then quickly to his cheek as she leaned across the table and pinched it.

“Au! Au! Ouch! Ok! I confess! It was me! Can you please stop pinching my cheek? I have still some remains stored there.” He cried out and suddenly his cheeks became more puffy, his voice less smooth and more indistinct compared to before.

“Hmpf, why do you always do that?” she asked after she finally showed him mercy and let go. Kano laughed, rubbing his cheek from pain. “It’s honestly not my fault! You shouldn’t have made them so good-smelling and good-looking~ Also as found out delicious.” He added the last sentence after licking his fingers. Kido just shook her head at his antics (even though his complements did leave a faint blush on her face).

“Ehh, whatever. Just don’t do that again.”

“Ok, ok!~”

“Kano…”

“This time seriously! I promise.”

Kido sighed and decided to believe him (she always seemed to do that too often, but even so she had never trusted him even one time too much). Even if he did lie though, he wouldn’t be able to steal another cookie from before her eyes anyway. With that optimistic thought she finally proceeded to decorate the (already mostly chilled out) cookies like she originally intended.

Kano, like Kido said before, wasn’t much needed there and throughout the whole process just watched like she focused was covering the cookies with the frosting, adding on each one a different pattern. While doing so she had a partly stuck out tongue and Kano couldn’t help but think how adorable that was. But the main charm wasn’t even that, but a soft smile that would appear on her face from time to time.

It was so different to her gloomy look from a few days ago. Those days had been really depressing. They had been for him too, but what really had made them so unbearable was seeing his two childhood friends dried out of the joy and energy that had been always present in their eyes the previous years. Bringing back the light to their eyes was all he was wishing to accomplish by their “mission” and looking at the lovely picture before his eyes, it seemed like he had succeeded.

Seeing her so happy did make him feel so weirdly satisfied. He felt like helping her fix this Christmas was the only thing he ever did that matter.  

And sitting in this kitchen with her, he decided that this Christmas wasn’t so different from the ones in Tateyamas after all. Kido with the way she supervised everything and how she was solicitously working in the kitchen and how she was singlehandedly managing everything in here really reminded him of Ayaka. The way the living room was decorated in the kind of western, but also very random and very inconsistent style, the way the kitchen smelled at the moment, it all reminded him of home. In the spirit of Christmas were even his antics with Kido- they reminded him of Kenjirou and Ayaka…

Kano suddenly stopped his thought-train, too embarrassed to go further. His embarrassment manifested in a bright blush that formed on his face and which he quickly covered up with his ability before Kido could notice it (which, incidentally speaking, would probably take a moment, since she didn’t seem to take her gaze from the cookies anytime soon) and he out of panic changed the subject that was never even there.

“H-hey, don’t you think that Seto and Mary are taking a little too long? They were supposed to just get a tree, right?”

Kido paused for a moment and spared a glance at Kano before returning to her work, this time with less vigor and her expression changed to slight concern.

“They did… You think so? How long they’ve been out?” “Crap.” He didn’t wanted to make her worry.

“A-ah! I don’t really know! It just kinda feels like it’s been long, but I guess this kind of task does take time so maybe…” Just as Kano was beginning to doubt if he should be worried about them too or not, suddenly a sound of unlocking door was heard followed by a few footsteps and a loud, vibrant as always (even though this time clearly tired) “We’re back!”

Kano and Kido just looked at each other and didn’t waste much time nor words before simply getting up and going to welcome their roommates back.

“Heey! Look what we hunted down!” exclaimed Seto when he saw his two childhood friends and motioned his head at the tree he was still holding. “It looks very healthy, doesn’t it?” he asked proudly.

“Seto, that’s not something you should say about the dead tree.” Kano thought, but then he guessed the dark-haired boy knew more about nature anyway. In comparison Kano couldn’t say about the tree nothing else other than that it was pretty small, which was actually a good thing. Looking at Seto though, he seemed like he was able to carry even a much bigger one.

He was wearing his paned out-to-woods coat, the one that a bit tattered from assumingly sharp branches and needles, below he was wearing his working trousers and boots (the latter so covered in mug they were barely visible) and on his head was a fur hat that prevented his hair from being snown on only partially as big drops fell from his frosted bangs. In one of his dressed in fingerless gloves hands he was holding a ax and with the other he was balancing the tree (that should be an actual center of their attention) on his shoulder.

If he only had a beard he would look like a real lumberjack.

And he most probably didn’t need Mary’s help (if anything she was the first suspect in the case of their delay), but she was excited to accompany him and in the end… the trio had decided to send Mary where she would disturb the least.

Speaking of Mary, she finally emerged from behind Seto’s back with a pleased smile.

“Doesn’t it? It will make a perfect sacrifice for the evil red Christmas goblin!” to her words Kano and Kido looked at each other in confusion] and then at Seto, expecting explanation, but he just gave them a look that said “don’t ask”.

~~

Seto could never forgive himself for this sin he had for Mary.

He had strong feelings for the pure, innocent girl. So strong that he wanted to protect Mary for the rest of his life. Let nothing taint her. Let her always smile and never fear anything that could possibly harm her. Because he would always be there for her.

…However! How could he desire to kiss her!? Sure, he liked her that way, however imagining himself pressing his chapped lips to her soft pink ones sent his mind screaming for the hills. The idea of him kissing her made him fear he would scare away the timid girl!

As Ayame’s big sister, it was frustrating for Mika to watch her precious little brother to not make a move with a certain sleepy girl.

She knew for ages the two had a thing for each other, but it was so frustrating to watch them dance around and each other in utter awkwardness. Mika knew Ayame was a smart boy, but how could he not get the idea of Aika liking him a lot more than just friends (and as her favourite pillow?) He should know it! Because he always reverted from cool leader of the new Mekakushi-Dan back to the shy patoot he was really was!

And Aika! Aika was just as guilty! She was always so quiet, with her small replies to anything her and the gang suggest! Aika should say something if she liked Ayame so much! Not just sleep on him!

Making a frustrated growl, Mika stomped off to where Mitsu and Toyo was. She was going to set Aika and Ayame together if it was the last thing she would do. And she was going to make her parents proud because they totally shipped those two together anyway. Auntie Ayano too, but she never understood why Uncle Shintaro objects so strong to Aika being with Ayame.