Last Christmas

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Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own the Ronin's and I don't how the song. That's by wham though it's been re done but lots of others in the past years. Wham's is the best version. But Jaya is and always will be my character so please do not use her. Also any other characters mentioned or made reference to do not belong to be but to their perspective owners so don't use them either. Merry Christmas '00 everyone. *Jaya*

Last Christmas
Started: 11/25/00
Finished: 1/1/01
By: Jaya

Ryo sat in the corner of the room on the bed. He watched the snow flakes fall out side the window. He was rather surprised that it was snowing at all. Usually it didn't snow here, but then again nothing was ever really normal when it involved them. A faint smile played across his face, and then died away.

"It's almost Christmas." Ryo whispered softly his deep blue eyes sad. "Almost Christmas again... Only this time a year later."
The dark haired man could hear Nasuti rummaging around down stairs in the kitchen. Out of all his friends he was the only one who still lived in the Mansion. Though Jun would be back to visit soon but that was different. Even the once young boy was a growing man, he was now attending Tokyo University and had an apartment in Toyama. Ryo was proud of the boy who's once been their young charge but it was also sad in a way to see how much he'd grown up over the years. It still felt like only yesterday, and yet it was years ago when they'd all been together.

Shu and Shin currently owned one of the best restaurants in down town Tokyo and also had one in Toyama and were thinking of opening up a couple of others. They were happily settled, and enjoying their life together. They were also working on getting the adoption papers to go through for a little girl named Sari, who was from some place in India, if Ryo remember right.
While there was the other group, consisting of Seiji, Touma, and Jaya. He'd never thought that they'd get together as a three some. At least it had never crossed his mind in the beginning, and when it had happened... It had been a coincidence.

/It had to be.../ But Seiji ran the Date Dojo now, Touma and Jaya were working on publishing a book together, while Touma worked at the local news paper. While she let the two men take care of the financial income for the moment, Jaya was still attending a few classes at Tokyo University, finishing her schooling, having started a year after most of the others.

/And then there's you Ryo... Ryo Sanada, Ryo no Rekka, Rekka no Ryo.../ He sighed.
/Who the hell are you?/

~~~ * ~~~

Jaya hummed to herself, as she finished hanging up the last garland of glittery tinsel, and shimmering beads. Carefully she stepped back down off the latter, and admired her handy work, it wasn't the best. But it would work. She decided with a little smile. Jaya twirled a strand of hair in her fingers, the red/gold substance shimmered in the weak winter sun light that shown down through the window across the living room. The walls of the room were a off white cream color and the carpet was a dark blue. There were pictures all over the wall and it was splattered with a dark green pattern. At the one end there were two large windows framed with curtains to match the floor and the wall.

Jaya turned, and headed into the other room. She glanced over at the still bear christmas tree, and smiled. Seiji and Touma had made her promise to wait for them to get home before decorating the tree. They always decorated the tree together. It was just something they had started doing in the beginning that very first christmas night so long ago.

/What was it five or six years ago?/ She wondered to herself.

/Six, that's what it was I remember now./ She nodded her head as she moved a couple strands of lights out of the way before heading towards the kitchen.

/They won't be home for another couple hours./ Jaya smiled to herself. /That gives me time to find something for dinner./

~~~ * ~~~

"There." Jaya stepped back and eyed the table grinning to herself. Three candles glowed softly in the early evening dim that would soon be dark. Darkness coming across the land earlier and earlier these days as the days grew shorter as they do this time of year.

Reaching over Jaya straightened one of the napkins on the plate, so that it was straight. There was a vase of ever green near the middle of the table, and the rolls were almost done. On the stove top a pot of rice boiled. Wrapped up in tin foil and ready to go, she had some salmon she'd bought a while ago and had been saving for a special occasion. Along with the salad she'd just finished which sat on the edge of the table now.

Flipping her tape over Jaya pressed play again. She yawned before turning the oven down taking the rolls out and sticking the salmon in. That done she headed up the stairs, to take a quick shower and change into something else for dinner.
~~~ * ~~~

Seiji chuckled as he climbed out of the car, winking at Touma who was grinning from ear to ear like a cat that had just caught a mouse. Shivering the blue haired archer, opened the back and grabbed a couple of bags.

"Can you get the rest Seiji-kun?" He asked.
"I'll get the door."
"Yeah sure go on." Seiji smiled waving him on. "I'll be in, in a sec. You keep Jaya buys."

"No prob." Touma grinned as he darted towards the house. He usually enjoyed the cold more then his two friends and lovers. But right now it was even just a little bit too cold for him.

Seiji watched Touma head inside the house with a wry grin. He tossed his blond hair out of his face shivering in the wind.
/It is freezing out here./ He thought opening up the truck and grabbing the rest of the stuff they'd gotten. Along with the special package he'd picked up for Touma and managed to get out there without the Archer noticing it. Seiji grinned, slamming the trunk shut he darted towards the open garage to dispose of the christmas stuff in a safe place before heading inside.

~~~ *~~~

Last Christmas I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away
This year to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

~~~ *~~~

"Ryo?" Nasuti asked as she gently knocked on the door. "Mmmm..." He glanced up towards the door with a tired sigh. "Come in Nasuti."

She pushed open the door and stepped into the darkness with a worried look on her face. The brunet woman glanced at Ryo, who was still sitting on the bed with his head in the corner. A tired look on his face.

"Ryo what's wrong?" She asked softly. "Nothing Nasuti." He stood up. "Just thinking. This time of year always makes me think."

"You know you can talk to me if you want Ryo." Nasuti put a hand on his shoulder, before she gently pushed him towards the door. "But come on down for now I have super ready, and I think you need a breath of fresh air, you've been in that room all afternoon."

"I guess." Ryo shrugged pulling the door to his room closed behind Nasuti.

/If only you knew.../ He thought sadly to himself. /If only I hadn't been sucha fool before.... But it doesn't matter any more there's no chance now../ Ryo stuck his hands deep in his pockets. /Not for me anyway. I tried a long time ago, but I if I ever do again. It'll be someone special./

~~~ * ~~~

Seiji glanced at Touma who was standing in the kitchen eyeing the table and the candles. He meet Seiji's gaze, and then shrugged.

"Looks like Jaya's been busy." He said. "Smells good." "Yeah it does." Seiji agreed heading towards the oven to take a peek.

"Oh no you don't." Jaya said from the stairs with a mocking glare. "Go put your goodies away and get cleaned up. It'll be ready when your done."

"Wow." Seiji and Touma eyed the long black dress she had on and then glanced at each other.
"Nice dress." Touma said with a cheeky grin.
"You look lovely Jaya." Seiji added winking at Touma.
"Yeah Yeah Yeah." She laughed.
"Go clean up."
"Race you." Seiji said to Touma as he darted up the stairs.
"HEY NO FAIR!" Touma yelled after him.
"I HAVE THE BAGS!"
"Well just bring them up with you." Seiji replied grinning back over his shoulder...

Rolling his eyes, Touma winked before heading up the stairs after the blond. He paused at the top and shook his head laughing as Seiji made a face at him from the end of the hall. Brushing his indigo colored hair out of his eyes, Touma headed into their room. Closing the door behind him and stuck out his tongue at Seiji who was already in the bath room.

"We're should we put this stuff?" He called setting the two bags on the bed. "How bout the closet." Seiji suggested. "What about Jaya?" "There's nothing in there for her is there?" The blond stuck his head out the bathroom door. "I don't think so." Touma said peeking into the bags.

"Then just stick it under the table in the corner. No one ever looks under there and the table cloth will hide 'em."

"Ok." Picking up the two bags again Touma, headed to the corner of the room to hide the bags. "Hey Touma?" "Yeah?" "Wana dress up?" Seiji grinned. "Jaya did. Let's surprise her."

"Like we aren't going to later anyway?" Touma asked with a smirk. "Sure. But we'll have to hurry or she'll come up here ta check on us." Touma replied grinning back.

"I think we can do it?"
"Course we can. Stop talking and start getting undressed."
"Pervert."
"Your the one that took it that way!"
"You got the suits?"
"Ya just a sec."
"Mm'k..... HURRY UP!"
"SHhhh be quite she'll hear you."
"Yeah Yeah Yeah.... your taking forever."
"Here, now drop it and get dressed!"
*snickers*
"Get your mind outa the gutter."

~~~ * ~~~

It was cold outside, dead cold. Anubis shivered, and rubbed his hands together, trying to get warm. His dark blue hair was no longer cropped quiet so close to his head. In fact it could almost classify as long. Though not exactly.

/And they say that the Youja Kai has no freakin seasons./ He thought to himself stamping his feet a couple times as he hit the door bell again. /Oh man come on Rajura it's freezing out here, and I'M TRYING TO BE POLITE!/

A few minutes later the white haired man, opened the door. He had on a dark red robe, and looked like he'd just gotten out of bed. Yawning Rajura blinked at Anubis who pushed pasted him into the house closing the door for his friend.

"What took you so long it's cold." Anubis muttered grinning anyway. "And what happened to you? Stay up to late or have too much fun my friend?"

Rajura yawned again. "Little bit of both." He replied running a hand through his tangled white hair. "What brings you here, anyway? You usually don't visit without a reason, specially not this time of year."

"I don't suppose you ever thought I got lonely sometimes." Anubis arched an eye brow at his friend, slipping off his black jacket he hung it on one of the pegs next to the door. "Missed ya Rajura, boy."

"Yeah, things just an't the same without you around either." Rajura said, smiling as he gave Anubis a quick hug. "Have you thought about what happened when I came to visit you last?"

Anubis nodded. "That's part of the reason I wanted to come, Rajura-kun." He shrugged. "But come have you got anything warm to eat or drink? I'm famished, and I always was a better cook then you."

Rajura chuckled softly. "I'm sure you can find something in the kitchen, that is if you feel like making something. I'll get the tea ready? How does that sound?"

"Sounds like a plan to me." Anubis answered putting his arm around Rajura's shoulders as the two friends headed into the kitchen.

~~~ * ~~~

Jaya stood in the window, staring out into the cold winter night, as Seiji and Touma came down the stairs. The two men, glanced at each other, grinning. In the back ground, the soft tones of Whams: Last Christmas, were playing either on the radio or from the tape player on the counter. The sad, Christmas lyrics echoing off the white walls of the kitchen and dinning room. Really only one room, and yet big enough and almost like two.

She turned with a little smile. "You two look nice tonight." "Nothing could, look more radiant then you." Replied Touma, with a bow. Jaya laughed lightly. "You and your find words, they'll get you into trouble some day." "And I thought you liked my sense of poetry." He pouted sticking out his lower lip.

"You do go over board a bit Touma-kun." Seiji teased, brushing Touma's cheek lightly with his finger tips, as he pulled back a chair at the table for Jaya... "It's quite endearing." He added as Touma sent him a glare.

"I don't know, I think I like you better when your straight forward, and forceful." Jaya grinned winking at Seiji as he pulled back a chair for Touma as well, who pulled out Seiji's for him before sitting down in his own. "Though, talking in riddles can be fun, sometimes."

"You two are good at that." Seiji comment, with an innocent look. "I cooked." Jaya commented, smirking. "Seiji..." "Touma..." Jaya picked up her napkin and placed it on her lap. "Touma and then Seiji."

The two eyed each other and then shrugged. They bowed their heads as the two male members at the table, said grace. That formality out of the way, Jaya put some salad on her plate.

"Anyone else want some?"

~~~ *~~~

Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby, do you recognize me?
Well it's been a year it doesn't surprise me (Happy Christmas!)
I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying "I love you"
I meant it Now I know what a fool I've been
But if you kissed me now
I know you'd fool me again

~~~ *~~~

Ryo glanced over at Nasuti who was standing over the sink, working on something under the water. Though he couldn't see what she was doing. He admired the way her auburn hair fall down her back and about her face. Free. Quickly he blinked turning away, her soft humming reaching his ears, as if it were the only sound in the room.

"Glad you decided to join me for dinner Ryo." She said quietly, turning to him with a smile. "I just finished the rice. I hope you don't mind Stir Fry and left over fried rice from last night. I made some extra in case the left overs weren't enough."

"Smells good Nasuti's." He said quietly, forcing a soft smile. He felt the dark hungry fire of inferno ragging inside his soul. Turning to his plate, Ryo toyed with his fork, watching the way the light reflected off the shinny metal surface. Like the light when it shines on the armor, before the battle.

"Rice?' Ryo blinked, shaking his wild dark head slightly. "What? "Would you like some rice?" Nasuti'ss asked again eyeing him quietly. "Everything all right?" "Yeah, just fine."

Placing a spoon full of rice on his page. "You seem awfully quiet tonight, Ryo-chan." She dumped some stir from on top when he made no move to stop her.

"Thoughts." Ryo meet her gaze, but quickly looked away. "Are the others coming over for christmas this year?"
"Of course, we get together every year." She put food on her own plate, taking a sip of her drink before she began to eat.

~~~ * ~~~

The two of them headed into the kitchen, Rajura watching Anubis as he moved about the kitchen. They had shared this apartment before, and the blue haired Masho, still knew where everything was. Well, because Rajura had never bothered to move anything. There was no point. Not that he cooked much either, usually one of the other spirits of the nether realm took care of that for him.

Rajura having never been one who liked to do house work. Much preferring the quite of his study, and his books, to other things. Reading some ancient scroll, or text. Perhaps something else, of little importance to any other then himself. Yet sometimes there were things in the old documents that were in this place... They told of the future and of the past and so much more.

Though always cryptic, never coming right out and saying the obvious. No of course not that would be too easy. Nothing could ever be straight forward and simple... Speak in riddles, and they will answer you in the tongues of the gods. Though no mortal may understand.

"Earth to Rajura?"
"What.. oh sorry."
"Space, head. Where did you go this time."
"Just something I read last night... before I fell asleep."

"You fell asleep as your desk again didn't you?" Anubis tisked at him, wagging his finger. "You should know better then that by now. Doesn't anyone around this place, have the never to wake up Master Rajura and tell him to go to his bed room to sleep?"

Rajura chuckled. "No ones ever around her, except to fix meals, since you know damn well I can't cook." He pulled a couple of mugs out of the cupboard. "That's the way I like it. Quiet."

"Booaarriinngg!" Anubis cracked a couple of eggs into the pan, dumping the left over rice into the mix. "Rice and egg's, sounds good."

"Smells good." Rajura comment, opening another cupboard. He shuffled around, looking for some hot drink to make. "Tea? Coffee? Or... Hhmm I think this is cocoa. I can't tell."

"Tea, please." Anubis responded, searching through the draws for something to season the eggs and rice with.
"Told, you, you wouldn't find much." Rajura said, brushing his white hair out of his face.
"Enough to make at least one decent meal; for two. Though I think you could use a shopping trip sooner then later."
"Haven't had to bother before, don't need to now."
"Old Phony." Anubis grinned sticking his tongue out at Rajura.

He was still slightly amazed at the fact, that he was hear, that he could be here. With this man. Talking, joking, teasing like this. It was all so strange and yet, not at the same time. Anubis had always revered if not worshiped the older man. He was more refined then the other Masho had been, with more of a sense of fashion. Sure Sh'ten had always had a charm of his own, younger then the others. Naaza, was a character. But he had always been a pall.

But Rajura. Rajura was in a class all by himself. "Hey Anubis?" Anubis blinked as he suddenly realized he'd been staring blatantly at the other.

"Yeah?"
Rajura grinned, filling up the tea kettle. "Nothing."

~~~ *~~~

Last Christmas I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away
This year to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

~~~ *~~~

Jaya smiled as she came back down the stairs, shaking her head in amazement, realizing that her two companions and friends had cleaned up the kitchen, while she'd been up stairs changing. She yawned running a hand through her red gold hair, now wearing a pair of black cut off sweat pants, and an old green/blue sweat shirt that was ten sizes too big.

"You guys didn't have to clean up the kitchen." She said smiling.
"Are you complaining. Besides you fixed supper, we figured we might as well do the dishes."
"Course not I'm just saying you didn't have to." ... "Thank you."
There was a pause, and then they all laughed looking sheepish.
"Shall we go decorate the tree?" Seiji asked smiling at the two people he loved most in the world.
"Sounds like fun to me." Touma grinned.

Jaya stepped over to the counter. "You two go on in the other room, I'll be on in, in a second, I wana get some music first. We can't decorate the tree without christmas music."

"Wouldn't dream of it!"

~~~ * ~~~

Dinner was done, dishes for two were in the dish washer, and the left overs were in the fridge. Nasuti glanced over her shoulder at Ryo's hunched shoulders. The moody, dark haired, dark skinned man still sat in his chair, staring at the table. -I wonder what's been bothering him.- She thought quietly. -I do wish he'd tell me... Oh well.-

"Ryo would you come in the other room with me please?" She asked drying her hands off on the dish towel, before hanging it back on it's peg on the side of the cabinet next to the sink. "I think we should talk."

"There's nothing to talk about." Ryo replied glumly. "So what's the point."

"No I have something I want to talk to you about." She answered, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Please Ryo, just come and listen to me. If you don't like what I have to say I promise I won't ever bring it up again."

He looked up at her, a strange expression on his dark face. Then with a shrug he stood up. "Why not." So saying he headed into the living room. A large fire was burning in the fire place, making the room nice and warm. it felt good after the coolness of the kitchen. -Shin always did like it cooler in the kitchen.- The thought came unbidden to his mind. With a sigh Ryo flopped down in the large arm chair.

He glanced back at Nasuti as she entered the room, sitting down in the catch next to him. "So?" He asked eying her, half way curious about what she had to so.

~~~ * ~~~

A crowded room, friends with tired eyes
I'm hiding from you and your soul of ice
My god I thought you were someone to rely on
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Now I found a real love you'll never fool me again

~~~ *~~~

"Breakfast is ready." Anubis said with a smile, as he set the pan of fried rice and eggs down on the table, heaping a generous amount onto Rajura's plate. "Enjoy it. Cause you sure don't have much else worth cooking in here."

"Smells almost divine." Rajura replied leaning forward to smell his food.

Anubis burst out laughing, Rajura gave him a hurt look. "What did I do?" The white haired man asked glancing down at his dark robe to see if there was anything on it.

Anubis blinked back tears. "Did you just smell your food Rajura-kun?" "Well, I suppose I did." He looked clue less." It smells good."

The dark haired former Masho shook his head. "No.. no it wasn't that it wast he look on your face." He grinned. "You had that sort of, look. The sorta look you get when your about to do something you know you shouldn't."

Rajura eyed him, glanced at Anubis's tea. "I wonder what I put in that." He muttered, picking up his fork. "It's pretty good." Anubis commented, taking a sip of his tea. "I never knew you could make sucha good cup."
"There are lots of things you don't know about me, young man." Rajura commented.
"Oooo... I'm hurt." Anubis took a bite of his eggs and nodded. "Yet definitely good. I know I'm good."
"You know you shouldn't praise your own cooking."
Anubis stuck his tongue out at Rajura." Just because you can't cook doesn't mean I can't."
"I know perfectly well you can cook.." Rajura's voice trailed off, he rolled his eyes. "Ahh.. what's the point."

~~~ * ~~~

Nasuti sighed, looking from the fire to Ryo, and then back down to her hands in her lap. Finally she leaned back against the sofa, crossing her legs and meeting his gaze. Their eyes locked for a few seconds, before Ryo looked away. Gazing deep into the roaring blaze of the fire. -So much like my soul. Like Wildfire and Inferno... Only no wear near the intensity. Why do they continue to consume my soul so? There is no need for such things, and yet... I feel like a car out of control, with no direction and no propose.- ... -Damn you Ryo, what are you doing here?-

"Ryo are you listening to me?" "What... Oh I'm sorry. Nice fire." "Thanks." She paused. "You see Ryo... We've known each other for a long time right?" He nodded. "Yeah, I guess we have. Though it seems like only yesterday, the whole thing started."

"I know what you mean." Nasuti smiled sadly. "And yet now, look at us. We've all grown apart. It's strange when it ended I never thought we'd end up apart. I somehow thought that you'd all stay here in the mansion that..." her voice trailed off. "Ahh girlish fantasies I guess. I never liked change much, always liked to hold on to what I have, when I have it. Never wanting it to change. Foolish me."

"Nasuti?"
"Yes?"
"Where are you saying?"

She blushed and looked down at her hands, and then moved onto the floor. On her knees in front of the chair in which he sat. For a minute Nasuti knelt there, watching the fire light play across it's creation's face. For it was the fire that had somehow created him, changed him, made him what he was now. Torn, and yet whole. Quick to anger, and yet gentle like a kitten, quick to judge, and even quicker to defend those he cared about.

"Ryo...." Moving up Nasuti kissed him gently on the lips, before he could stop her. Silently in the fire light, Ryo kissed her back, softly. Then she broke away.

"That... that.. Ryo is what I was trying to tell you." The tall woman stood up. "I... I love you."

~~~ * ~~~

"It looks lovely." Jaya commented standing back with a grin. "I think we out did our selves this year, what do you two think?" "Don't think we could do better if we tried." Touma replied slipping his arms around her.
"But theirs always next year, to try." Seiji added, holding both of them.
"Come on it's picture time."
"I'll get the...."
"I already got it." Seiji smirked, swinging the camera back and forth in front of her. "Go on get over there, you two first."
"Awe... But Seiji! I hate pictures."
"No buts." Touma grabbed her arm pulling her back over to the tree. "We always take pictures with the tree."
"I know still don't like pictures." Jaya muttered.

~~~ *~~~

Last Christmas I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away
This year to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

~~~ *~~~

Anubis followed Rajura out of the kitchen and into the hall way. Having just finished eating, Rajura had told him to leave the dishes, that one of the Nether spirits would clean it up later. Not that it mattered really anyway. The two of them had talked more seriously through the meal, about many things.

"So you'll come?" Anubis asked quietly turning to face, the white haired Masho. "You promise you'll come?"

"I promise I'll come, if you promise to come back and visit again some time." Rajura answered, tweaking Anubis's nose. "You've already asked me twice Anubis-kun. You never were nervous like this before." "I...." Anubis shrugged. "I wish I could stay longer.. but...."

"You can't. I know." Rajura stepped closer. "We'll see each other again soon. Don't worry." Reaching up the white haired Masho brushed his finger tips gently across Anubis's cheek. Running his thumb over his lips, and then as Anubis looked up their eyes met.

"Rajura I love you." Anubis said quietly. "I love you."

"I know you do." Rajura replied softly, leaning forward, to brush his lips against Anubis's. He started to pull away, when the blue haired Masho reached up, slipping his arm behind Rajura's head. Pulling him back for another one. Neither one of them noticing the blue Nether Spirit that floated in the air about them, holding a sprig of Mistle-toe.

"Something to think about." Anubis whispered with a grin, giving Rajura a peck on the cheek, as he grabbed his coat, and headed out the door. "Remember you promised you'd come visit sometime."

"Wha..." Rajura blinked, as he watched Anubis leave the house closing the door behind him. Slowly the white haired Masho, turned away from the door, shaking his head. Still slightly dazed from the kiss, slowly he smiled. -Oh don't you worry, Anubis-kun, you'll see me sooner then you think.-

Rajura, headed into the other room, a gleam in his eye. -Yes sooner then you think.- Smiling he slipped off his robe, placing his eye patch on top of it. Shaking his hair back, the white haired Masho, picked up a towel. The kiss still fresh in his mind, he headed into the bath house.

Setting the towel on the bench, before he slipped into the warm water, that filled the in ground pool, big enough for more then one.

~~~ * ~~~

Jaya smiled, carefully un wrapping the tin foil star that Jun had given them their first christmas together, it seemed like forever ago. Now the once little boy was all grown up, in collage now. "Shall we?" She asked brushing her finger tips gently across the wrinkled silver surface.

"Together." Touma said quietly, pulling one of the chairs over, next to the tree.
"Together." Seiji and Jaya echoed, with a smile.

She brushed her hair out of her face, handing the special star to Seiji. Jaya climbed up on the chair, shorter then the other two, who were just tall enough that they could reach the top of the tree without assistance. She glanced from Touma, to Seiji and then back. -I love them both.-She thought quietly to herself. -Lord what would I do without them... Perhaps it isn't write, but it's the truth.-

"Ready?" Seiji asked, the silver star still in his hands. "Ready." Touma nodded, reaching up from the other side.

"Yeah, ready." Jaya finished with a smile, as together all three of them slide the silver start onto the very top of their christmas tree. "Merry Christmas Touma, Seiji. Seiji. Touma." She said jumping lightly off the chair, pushing it back into place.

"Merry Christmas you two." Seiji said, smiling at both of them, with a gentle light in his violet eyes. "I love you."

"I love you to." Touma agreed, giving Seiji a kiss on the cheek. He reached over to pull Jaya over, kissing her on the cheek as well. As the three wrapped their arms around each other, in a group hug. "Merry Christmas, to us all." Touma said softly.

~~~ * ~~~

Ryo sat in the chair for a long time, even after Nasuti had turned and left the room. He'd seen the tears in her soft blue eyes, and the hurt look on her face. Hurt that he hadn't said anything, even though he had responded to her kiss. Ryo simply sat there staring into the fire.

Finally he stood up, walking over to the fire. Picking up the poker that hung on it's hook next to the large fire place. The bearer of Rekka. Rekka no Ryo. He poked at the pieces of wood burning wood, sending a shower of sparks up the chimney. Setting the poker aside he, placed some more wood on the flames, causing it to roar to life. Slowly, he knelt down there before the fire. It's heat flushing his dark skin, gleaming in his blue tiger eyes, reflecting off his ebony colored hair, pulled back in a loose pony tail now.

He reached out, holding his hand closer and closer to the fire. He could feel the heat searing his skin, like the hear of the armor that seemed to own his heart and soul. Yet not nearly so intense. Every time it burt its self into his body, eating at his flesh, searing him. It took a piece of Ryo with him, a peace of who he was, changing him in ways that no one could understand. Even now in the time when there was no need for the armor. Still, it was there, lurking in the back of his mind, tormenting him.

Silently Ryo pushed it away, he stood up turning towards the stars. Perhaps sleep would come tonight, and perhaps memories would haunt him yet again. Memories of that night so long ago. Memories of the night he had offered himself to another, opened his hart to afraid. Only to have it turned away, like Nasuti had done tonight. He almost felt sorry for her, knowing what it was like to be turned away.

Ryo nodded. "It's time for me to leave." He said quietly. "It's time I moved on..."

He paused at the top of the stairs, looking back down upone a place that held so many memories. Some like all things good, and some bad. That was the way of things, always the two, never one nor the other. Both.

"Good by Touma-kun." He whispered blinking back tears. "I'm glad your happy..."

The end.
Jaya