Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Christmas Time ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter Three: Exchanging Gifts

Five days later, I found myself back in Yusuke's world, a sack full of presents in my hands. I was at Yusuke's front door, trying my best to knock on the door and hold the sack so the presents didn't fall out. Luckily, Yusuke answered the door very quickly.

"Good, you finally arrived," he commented, smiling. "Everyone else is already here."

"I'm sorry if I'm late. I hope that I haven't kept you guys waiting too long," I said, feeling guilty. I thought that I had left the house at a quarter till two. Perhaps my clock had been off.

"Don't worry about it," Yusuke told me. "Everyone was just stupid enough to arrive early. It's their own faults."

"Okay then," I blinked, amazed. I had been expecting Yusuke to be angry at me or at least a little displeased. Something was up. Was it possible that Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei had been planning something? I wasn't sure, although it was possible--not very likely--but possible.

"C'mon in, Kaline," Yusuke said, stepping aside so I could go through the doorway. I followed the spirit detective the living room. The others were all there with their presents. All turned their heads to look at me when I entered the room. Perhaps I shouldn't have worn that tight shirt. I hadn't even worn a jacket. I had just teleported from inside my room to Yusuke's front door.

"Sorry for being late," I apologized immediately.

"You're not late," Botan said insistently. "Everyone just got here ahead of schedule."

"Oh," I said, taking a seat on the floor by Botan. "Are we going to hand out presents now?"

"I was hoping that you would ask that," Yusuke said eagerly. He had obviously been looking forward to getting gifts.

"Yusuke, you're sure acting childish," Kuwabara said, although I could hear anticipation in his voice as well.

"Here's your gift, Botan," I said, handing her the well-wrapped gift. I wanted to avoid the debate which was sure to come. "And you, Kuwabara." I pulled out the presents on the top, working my way to the bottom. Yusuke got his present last, and by the time I had finished handing him the gift, I had a pile of presents by my feet just like everyone else did.

"Shall we begin to open our presents on the count of three?" Botan suggested, smiling. Everyone agreed, so Botan counted, and when she hit three, all began tearing wrapping paper. Ribbons and bows went flying through the air as a few over-enthusiastic boys quickly opened their presents.

I opened mine a bit calmer. The first present I unwrapped was from Kuwabara. It was a set of pencils and pens that I could use for my art work. I never would have thought that he would actually remember how much I loved drawing.

I opened the present from Botan next. It was an adorable t-shirt with the cutest picture of a kitten (which was my favorite animal) I had ever seen on it. It was blue in color, and the kitten was pure black. Had these people memorized my list of favorite things or something? I had never met anyone who had such a good memory. It was strange that I knew two people like that.

Next came Hiei's present. Inside a medium size box were at least a hundred pictures and a note.

Kaline-

These are pictures of spirit world. Don't waste them.

-Hiei

Interesting. Very interesting. I hadn't thought that Hiei could think of something so nice. He had remembered my interest in the spirit world. It was a rather sweet gift, and I smiled brightly as I looked at all the pictures. It took a great force of will to tear my attention away from Hiei's gift to another one.

Yusuke had gotten me a scarf and an art book full of pictures of different, beautiful places. The scarf was a midnight blue that shimmered silver. He had noticed that the only item of clothing missing from my ensemble was a scarf. It was amazing that even Yusuke had put some thought into the gift.

Finally, I picked up my gift from Kurama and slowly opened it, wondering what he had gotten me. I was surprised to find an incredibly beautiful necklace in a small box with a pair of matching earrings. Flowers made of diamonds were intricately attached to each other, making up the majority of the necklace. The earrings were diamond flowers as well, perfectly matching their counterpart.

Completely in awe since I hadn't expected such an obviously expensive gift, I turned my head to Kurama who was sitting next to me, the necklace around my neck. "Kurama, will you please fasten this? I can't seem to get it," I asked him, smiling as brightly as I could.

"Of course," he said, turning to face my back. As he fastened the necklace, he spoke up once again. "Do you like them? The necklace and the earrings? I was hoping you would."

"I love them, Kurama!" I assured him, voice sincere. "I have never seen any jewelry as beautiful as what you got me." I put the earrings in, talking to Kurama as I did so. "I can't believe that you got these for me. They're precious. I can't even begin to imagine how long you must have searched to find the necklace and earrings. Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome," he replied, sighing lightly in relief. "And thank you for the caricature and little figure as well. The picture of me is amazing, but what is the figure for? I can sense your magic, but I can't tell what you did to it."

"Oh, forgive me," I said with a laugh. "I forgot to explain what I had done to a few of your gifts. Kurama, I spelled the figure for good luck, since it reminded me of you so much. The punching bag I got Yusuke is also spelled so that it won't break no matter how hard he punches it. Kuwabara's aloe vera got changed into a strong healing balm."

I looked around the room as I talked. Hiei had already changed sheaths, putting his katana in the sheath I had gotten for him and placing the old one on the floor. Kuwabara was examining the cat figurine and the balm, Botan had put on the bracelet and ring. She even had a necklace to match. Yusuke had already put up the punching bag in one corner of the room. He gave it a few hard, experimental punches. The punching bag held up perfectly.

"Absolutely astounding!" Botan commented, holding up her arm so the amethyst bracelet flashed in the light. "Thank you, Kaline."

"You're welcome, Botan," I told her. "Hiei, Botan, Yusuke, Kuwabara... thank you so much for your gifts as well. I liked them all very much."

They all decided to respond at once, their words meshing together.

"No problem."

"Hn. Forget it."

"You're welcome."

"I'm glad you like it."

More thank-yous went around the room as the people examined their presents. Yusuke had gotten an assortment of training equipment, just as Kuwabara had.

Hiei had gotten stuff to sharpen and clean his sword with, while Kurama had gotten a variety of things.

Kurama had received a hairbrush from Hiei (I couldn't figure out why Hiei had decided to give Kurama that), a pair of boxing gloves from Yusuke, a button down shirt from Botan (she must have bought everyone's present from a clothing store, because everyone else seemed to have a clothing item as well), a book on picking locks from Kuwabara, and the caricature and good- luck charm from me.

Botan had gotten an assortment of jewelry and hair accessories.

For the next few hours, the six of us talked and laughed. We were having such a good time that, when Yusuke's mother came home to fix dinner, we weren't quite ready to leave. It was six o'clock though, and it was supper time for a few of us.

Kuwabara left first, thanking everyone once more for his presents. Then Hiei departed through the window. After a little while, Botan left, heading to the spirit world. Kurama and I walked down the hall to the front door. Both of us were reluctant to leave. At least, he seemed reluctant to leave.

"I did forget to mention one thing," Kurama said right before he opened the door. "The jewelry serves a purpose. The necklace and earrings have been enchanted. The necklace will help give you a powerboost and such, so it will be easier for you to use your magic. The earrings can be used to contact me--or anyone else--at any time from any place. It should even cross the dimensional barriers."

"Thank you again, Kurama," I told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm sure they will come in very handy."

"There is one thing I want to ask you," he drifted off, a slight blush spreading across his face. Since when did Kurama blush? Interesting. "If you don't have to go home right now... could you... would you... like to go out to dinner with me?"

I stared at him for a moment, very surprised. That was not what I had been expecting from him, although it was a welcome surprise. "I would love to go out to dinner with you."