Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Learning Christmas ❯ Chapter 10

Chap. 5

The next day they went to the temple early evening. Walking up the steps they were greeted by the others. Yusuke wore a green sweater and Kuwabara wore a green and red stripped sweater that made him look stupid. Keiko wore a cute sweater with a Christmas tree on it and Yukina wore blue kimono with snowflakes on it Kurama was sure she made for this occasion. Shizuru, Genkai, and Koenma wore their regular clothes. The only person who went all out on the Christmas clothes was Botan. She wore a red outfit with a red skirt, black boots and a red cap perched on her sky blue hair. She wasn't embarrassed by what she was wearing and nobody paid attention. It was normal for them to see Botan wear strange clothes.

"Hello Botan, nice clothes," said Kurama.

"Thanks, Kurama," she said and went back to attacking the concession table.

"Oi Kurama, Hiei, look at what you're under," yelled Yusuke pointing above the door, laughing. Kurama looked up to spot the mistletoe. He chuckled and kissed Hiei. The onlookers giggled or sighed, Kuwabara turned red; though he didn't oppose to their relationship he wasn't comfortable with it yet.

"Fox!" yelled Hiei pushing away. "Not in front of them!"

"Mistletoe, Hiei. It's tradition that when two people are under the mistletoe they have to kiss."

"Hn, baka kitsune. That's stupid."

Kurama shrugged and walked to the tree, setting his presents under it, and then walking to the concession table and set his cookies there. Yusuke and Kuwabara immediately grabbed two handfuls and shoved them in their mouths.

"You sure can make good food, Kurama," said Yusuke when he could speak properly. "Better than Keiko."

"BAKA!" SLAP!

Yusuke lay on the floor with a hand imprint on his face, his girlfriend towering over him.

"ARE YOU SAYING MY COOKING ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU?! WELL, SEE IF I EVER COOK FOR YOU AGAIN! HMMPH!" she screamed, shaking her fist, and marched off while their friends sweat dropped, except Hiei. He just pretended he didn't see anything.

"Aw, come one, Keiko, you know I didn't mean it. Keiko!" said Yusuke getting up from the floor, print still on his face, and running after his girlfriend. The others didn't get into it. They know that even if those two fight like they were already married they will forgive each other. And, sure enough, half an hour later, Yusuke had his arm around Keiko's shoulder and she had hers on his waist.

They sang songs while they waited for midnight to open their presents. Kurama tried to teach Hiei some but the fire demon refused and told the fox to have fun. Kurama didn't want Hiei to be left out and wanted to involve him in something that he could do with everyone.

"Hey Kurama, how about a story," said Genkai. She knew the fox's trouble and had a quick answer.

"Yeah, a story!" agreed everyone.

"Night before Christmas?" suggest Keiko.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas," suggest Kuwabara.

"I have another story in mind," said Kurama and took a Bible down from a shelf. Everyone sat in a semi-circle around the human-youko, Yusuke, Keiko, Kuwabara, Yukina, Koenma, Botan, Shizuru, and Genkai. Hiei sat next to Kurama, leaning on him a little. They sat next to the nativity scene Yukina set up next to the fire place.

"Now we all know that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was visited by an angel from the Lord to bring her a message that she was carrying the Savior," started Kurama opening the book and read. "And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to register with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child."

No body talked or moved, afraid to disrupt the calming peace that filled the room. Even Hiei was captivated by this strange story that he wasn't born to. Kurama read the story so well it was like they were really there, living out the decree that Caesar Augustus sent out and traveling with Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Kurama continued to read.

"So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and in glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!"

"So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Lets us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made know to us."

"And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, And the Babe lying in a manger."

He read on, retelling the visit of the wise men and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. He also told of Mary and Joseph flight from the city with baby Jesus after Augustus' decree all the new born babes in the city be killed. He told of Jesus' young life of learning carpentry from Joseph and him being baptized by his cousin, John, and how he calmed a storm at sea. He stopped there for he was out of breath from reading for two hours.

"Why'd you stop, Kurama," asked Botan.

"Yeah, why'd ya stop, Fox?" asked Hiei. "What happens next?"

"Many things happen next, with many more stories to come, Hiei, before and after the birth of Christ, but my voice is getting dry," said Kurama and he accepted the glass of eggnog Keiko handed him.

"It doesn't matter anyway," said Genkai. "It's time to open the presents."

They looked at the clock and saw that she was right. It was midnight on the dot. Kuwabara and Yusuke cheering and leading the way they all marched to the tree and the guys handed out the gifts. Kurama got a lot of books, clothes and some seeds, Hiei got a hunting knife from Yusuke and other survival equipment from the others. Yusuke finally managed to find a gift for Keiko at the last minute, a beautiful diamond necklace. When she opened it she squealed and threw her arms around him, covering him with kisses.

"Why didn't I think of that in the first place," he asked Kuwabara when she dislodged from him and ran to show the girls her new piece of jewelry. Kuwabara shrugged.

After that was done they decided on one last song before the end the party. They suggested many before they decided on one. Kurama taught Hiei the words so the fire demon could sing too, Kurama not wanting his love to be left out on the last song. Hiei had caught onto the lyrics and melody quickly. They all song the last song, and it was almost like their voices filled the air. They gathered around the tree and turned out the lights so only the tree and the fireplace's light filled the room.

"Hark! The heralds angels sing

Glory to the new-born King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

Join the triumph of the skies,

With the angelic host proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! The heralds angels sing

Glory to the new-born King!"

As they sang, Hiei noticed snow falling out the window. It looked like it had been snowing for hours by the way it cover the roof, trees, and courtyard. Everything was cover in white from top to bottom.

"Hey Yukina, did you use your ki?" he asked.

"No, why?"

"It's snowing."

Everyone looked at each other for a second then the guys ran to the door, Yusuke opening it to reveal the winter wonderland. The whole land was covered in the cold powder. There wasn't a single spot untouched. Yukina laughed and ran out into the snow. Being an ice demon gives her a connection with winter.

"Isn't it beautiful!" she said happily.

"It sure is," said Genkai as the rest of the gang joined her to dance in the snow, Hiei being dragged by Kurama and Yukina.

******

"So Hiei, how was your first Christmas?" asked Kurama when they got into bed.

"It was okay, but probably won't be doing it again anytime soon."

"Well you have a whole year to get ready."

Hiei laid his head on Kurama's shoulder and listened to his lover's heart beat. Christmas wasn't a bad holiday, infact he kind of liked it. Through he learned a lot about this silly ningen holiday in the past two days he learned the most important one. The season of Christmas was the happiness of spending time with your loved ones, no matter if you were a `Grinch' or a `Scrooge'; that he learned from Yusuke and Kuwabara. They called him that during the party and he asked what it meant. He stole a brief glance at the bound book on Kurama's desk. Before he left Genkai gave it to him, telling him to read from it to learn more about ningen religion.

"I can't take this," he said as he accepted the Bible she handed him.

"Don't worry. I have extras."

"Hey, Kurama," he said. The fox was half asleep so he uttered a simple, "Huh?'

"Next time there is a ningen holiday I should know about, warn me in advance."

Kurama chuckled.