Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Under the Mistletoe ❯ Here... ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Yu-Gi-Oh…but does a Duel Monsters deck that I own count? ^_~

Sharem: I know that this is early, but I wanted to try to write a Christmas story…all fluffy and romantic…I hope…^_^ *sweatdrops* Anyway, this story was inspired by "To Make the Season Bright" by Tsukino no Kodomo…it's one of the best Christmas stories that I have read…maybe that's why it's on my favorite stories list…^_^

Under the Mistletoe

Chapter One - Here…

Thursday - Day 10 and counting down…

Yugi sighed softly as he closed the book he was reading. It was a Thursday night and everyone else had gone out for the evening, including Yami. He felt very lonely ever since the ancient Pharaoh gained a physical body and started going out with their friends. It was entirely his fault, though. He did promise his grandfather that he would watch the game shop while the elderly man went on a trip to Egypt once again.

The young duelist rubbed his eyes a little as he glanced at the clock and grimaced at the time. It was only 8:00 pm and the shop was not scheduled to close until ten. 'Two more hours to go…man, this is boring,' Yugi thought to himself as he shoved the book back into his bag. He sometimes had a hard time believing that he was now going to Domino University and was still not very tall. He did grow a few more inches and no longer appeared to look like a child, however, the tri-color haired youth was still shorter than the average male.

Yugi decided to close up the shop early and was starting to put some things away when he heard the bells on the door chime. He knew that someone had entered and sighed again. There went his idea of closing early tonight. "If you need any help, just come up to the front," he called out as he found a box that was delivered to the store earlier that day. He proceeded to get a box cutter from underneath the cash register and he heard gentle footsteps approach the counter.

"I think that I need help," a gentle voice replied, causing the tri-color haired teen to look up. He smiled as he recognized one of his good friends, Mai Valentine.

"What can I do for you, Mai?" Yugi asked as he put the box cutter down and smiled warmly at his friend.

Mai appeared to think for a moment and then leaned onto the glass counter. "I know that you're Joey's best friend and I need your help," she answered. "If I tell you, please don't tell anyone."

Yugi nodded, his amethyst eyes showing concern for his friend. "I promise, Mai. I won't tell anyone."

The blonde duelist smiled and sighed in relief. "Thanks, Yugi. I really care for Joey but he is being so pig-headed and stubborn! I can't seem to make him notice me in the way that I want to be noticed. Do you know how I can get the idiot to ask me out? Hey, what's so funny?"

During Mai's confession, Yugi had a hard time in trying to control his giggles but failed miserably. He grinned apologetically at the woman. "Sorry about that, Mai. Of course I'll help you…Joey does like you, I'm sure of it. But I'm curious, why did you ask me and not Tea? Wouldn't it be better if you asked her?"

Mai just shrugged. "I suppose so, Yugi, but she's been busy with her going to dance school and the like."

The teen just nodded as he picked up the box cutter once again and proceeded to open the box from earlier. "I guess she's been too busy for any of us to hang around her anymore," he commented as he finished opening the box. "How about asking Serenity? She should know how to get to Joey since she is his sister, after all."

"That's true, Yugi, I didn't think of that," she responded as she peered inside the box. "Now how cute…did Mr. Mutou order that for you?"

Yugi gave Mai a strange look before glancing inside the box. Inside was a Dark Magician plushie and a small envelope. He carefully took the plushie out of the box and set it gently on the glass counter. He then picked up the envelope and turned it around. It had 'For Yugi' written on it.

"Oh, there must be a note inside," Mai exclaimed, her eyes showing interest in the envelope.

The tri-color haired duelist glanced at his friend before turning his attention back to the envelope. His name was written in an elegant calligraphy and the paper felt expensive. He gingerly opened to packet and pulled out a piece of parchment in a cream color. There was a note written on it in the same elegant writing.

'Dear Yugi,

I know that the Dark Magician is your favorite Duel Monster, so I thought that I'd make a gift of this plushie to you. Ever since I have met you, you have been a kind and wonderful person that I wish I could know you better. Unfortunately, this will have to do for now.

It is only a short time away before Christmas…I hope to meet you under the mistletoe on the Eve of Christmas. That is my dream. Just to have one moment to just give you a kiss. Just one moment so I can show you my feelings towards you. I need just one moment to tell you how much I have grown to love you. I wish I could tell you who I am right now, but I'm afraid that you might hate me for who I am. I'm afraid that you will hate me for what I am.

Then again, I know that you are among the most innocent of people. You have the kindest heart that I have ever known. I suppose that is just one of the reasons why I love you so much. You have captured my heart, Yugi Mutou, and I mean to capture yours. I know that your friends leave you alone much of the time, but I also know that it is neither their fault nor yours. They are busy with their lives and their significant others while you are busy with the game shop obligations. However, I do know that you are very lonely. People shouldn't be lonely during the holidays.

Come to think of it, it's only ten days to Christmas Eve, including today. That means you will receive a new gift for each day. And they will be something that will represent you in some way…and possibly represent me in some ways as well. There will be clues that will tell you who I am…but until the Christmas Eve party that will be thrown by Seto Kaiba for all duelists that participated in Duelist Kingdom and Battle City, my identity will remain unknown. If you do figure out who I am, you will not truly find out until you meet me under the mistletoe. I will see you then.

With all my heart,

Christmas Angel

Yugi just stared at the note for a few minutes and then handed it over to Mai. She skimmed it over and a large grin appeared on her face. She handed the paper back over to the shorter teen (AN: He may have grown a few inches by now, he is still the shortest one) and examined the Dark Magician plushie.

"Yugi, this is plushie is really of high quality," she remarked as she gave it a hug before returning the toy back to Yugi. "Someone spent a lot of money on it."

"I…I suppose so," he remarked quietly as he stared at the gift. He couldn't think of who could possibly have sent him the plushie and tenderly picked up the toy. He gave it a hug and a boyish smile graced his innocent features. "This is so soft, Mai. And it is a very thoughtful gift. I…I guess that I'll just have to try and figure out who this 'Christmas Angel' is and thank her personally."

The blonde female laughed and gave her young friend a knowing smile. "You know, Yugi, you are just too innocent despite the fact that you're in college now."

"What does that mean?" Yugi demanded as he put his plushie back on the counter. His amethyst eyes were shining with curiosity and inexperience.

Mai just chuckled and ruffled the young duelist's bangs. "Are you entirely sure that the person who sent that gift and note to you is a girl?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Oh? OH!" Yugi exclaimed as realization dawned on him. He blushed fiercely and had a sheepish look on his face.

"Yugi, you are just too cute for words sometimes," the blonde replied as she started to make her way to the shop's exit. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon, Yugi. We'll discuss our plans on getting Joey to notice me."

"See you later then, Mai," Yugi called out after the female duelist as she left the building. Once she was gone, he turned his attention back to the note and the plushie. His eyes softened as he caressed the toy lightly and tucked the note into his pants pocket. He no longer felt as lonely as he did earlier…the arrival of one of his friends and the unexpected gift made him feel much better.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A cloaked figure watched Mai leave the duelist and stealthily walked up to the window of the Kame Game Shop. (AN: That's the name of the store, right?) It watched how tenderly Yugi caressed the Dark Magician plushie and the gentle smile on the teen's face. No one could see the figure's face, but there was a smile. It was a smile of happiness and accomplishment.

"I'm glad that you like the first gift," the figure whispered softly to itself. "I just hope you like the other nine…they will show how much I love you." At that, the person left the window and walked down the street and disappeared into the night.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sharem: Yay! First chapter is done for my very first Christmas story…^_^ Anyway, I haven't decided if this story is going to be yaoi/shonen-ai or just a straight couple. I am a yaoi fan, that's for sure, but I like all types of stories…^_^ So, if you want this story to be yaoi or straight, please leave your vote in a review. I already have the characters in mind to use as the Christmas Angel if the story goes either way…^_^ Also, I don't know how often this story will be updated because I have a LOT of others that I do need to finish…^_^; But I do plan on it being finished in time for Christmas and it should be about ten chapters with a possible epilogue. AND I hope that the following chapters will be longer than this one. I do so love long chapters…*sweatdrops*