The damp fire demon opened the balcony slider quietly, watching his crimson-haired life-partner happily put the finishing touches on what Hiei understood was a 'Christmas Tree.' Kurama was humming some sort of song that had lots of 'fa-la-la-la-la's' in it, giggling furiously when he got to the part where he was to 'don' some sort of apparel. The cold breeze moved the tinsel hanging from the bows and Kurama turned around with a big smile.

"You're home!"

"Hn. And I'm cold and wet, fox," Hiei grumbled, peeling off his snow-laden cloak, hanging it over a chair. "I don't know why you like this season so much. You can barely grow anything, and it makes you sick." He brushed the remaining flakes of that annoying frozen water from his trousers. After slipping out of his boots, he padded over to his lover, giving him a light hug.

"Arigatou for coming home, koibito," Kurama said, kissing the tip of Hiei's red, frozen nose. "Let me warm you up." The youko began rubbing Hiei's arms briskly, but the Koorime squirmed out of his embrace.

"I'll do that, fox," Hiei groused, as he gave himself a small burst of ki. He immediately was warm again, but the heat now caused the snow in his hair to melt and trickle down his neck, making him shudder. Kurama chuckled, pulling the cursing fire demon into the bathroom for a towel.

"Yukina is expecting us anytime, so as soon as you're ready, we can go," Kurama announced, toweling his lover's spiky hair back into place.

"I'm just gonna' get cold and wet again," the Koorime complained, following Kurama back into the living room. Hiei eyed the 'tree,' noticing little trinkets hanging from different branches and a long string of popcorn that seemed to wrap endlessly around the bows. It was kind of pretty, but Hiei would never admit it.

"C'mon, Hiei," Kurama said, putting on his coat, grabbing an umbrella. "It'll be romantic, walking in the snow with you."

"Hn," Hiei responded, pulling his damp boots back on with a growl. "I'll hold that thing, if you don't mind. Last time we tried this you forgot to open it up."

"I didn't forget, koibito," Kurama grinned, giving his lover a wink. Hiei rolled his eyes, closing the apartment door behind him.

Kurama behaved himself on the delightful stroll to his sister-in-law's house. Well, he thought it was delightful, enjoying the crunch their feet made on the fresh snow; the crisp, clean air filling their nostrils; how pretty everything looked with a coating of white that glistened in the streetlights. Hiei managed to only poke Kurama twice with the umbrella, being so much shorter, but the kitsune didn't mind. The snow had stopped about half-way to Yukina's, and Hiei found himself absent-mindedly twirling the umbrella on his arm.

Yukina had sensed their arrival and was waiting at the door with a big smile and a hug. "It's so nice of Mukuro to let you have some time off, niisan. Thank her for me, ne?" the little ice demon said as she helped remove the couple's damp coats. "Now make yourselves comfortable. Our Christmas Dinner is just about done."

The aroma of turkey and trimmings filled the house wonderfully, as Kuwabara came down the stairs carrying little Kori. The miniature ice demon looked exactly like her kaasan, except she had her touchan's freckles. Yukina had dressed her in a cute holiday outfit which she promptly spilt juice all over, so Kuwabara had been changing her for the second time when his brothers-in-law arrived.

Kuwabara looked up over their heads as they stood in the living room archway and smirked. "I guess you guys are gonna'...you know..." "Hmm?" Kurama asked, looking up. "Oh," he smiled. He then pulled Hiei closer to him and gave him a quick kiss. Hiei's eyes popped open in embarrassment. "Oi, fox!" he shouted, stepping away suddenly. "Not in front of these guys!"

"But you're standing under the 'mistletoe,'" Kurama said, pointing up at the little plant. "It's a Christmas tradition that if a couple stands under some mistletoe they have to kiss."

"Doshite?" Hiei grumbled.

"Because it's a tradition, that's all. Oh, you're just an old Scrooge!" Kurama laughed, reaching out and grabbing Hiei by the back of the neck, squeezing it a little.

"What's a 'Scrooge?'" the blushing fire demon asked, brushing the kitsune's hands away, straightening himself.

"I'll tell ya' later, Hiei," Kurama said, shaking his head, following Kuwabara into the living room. Hiei looked up and frowned at the small green leaves hanging by a string. "Hn," he grumbled, and in anyone else's house he would have given it a blast of ki, turning it to ashes. He sat down next to Kurama who was drinking something creamy looking that Kuwabara had poured for him. "It's called 'eggnog', Hiei. You drink it at Christmastime. Want some? It's very good," the redhead said, offering the fire demon a taste. After a tentative sip, Hiei nodded his approval.

"So, the bionic bitch gave you a little time off for good behavior?" the large carrot-top young touchan asked. "Gave ya' a Christmas break, ne?"

"Hai."

"This is Kori's first Christmas and Yukina wanted to show her what it was all about," Kuwabara said, placing Kori on the floor. She immediately crawled towards the large Christmas Tree in the corner, where gifts of every size and shape were wrapped and placed underneath. Kuwabara jumped up to grab her before she could start tearing the presents apart. "Now, you know the rules, Kori-chan. You have to wait for Santa," he explained to his musume, falling of course on deaf ears. He sat her on his lap for safe keeping.

"What's a 'Santa?'" Hiei asked. Kurama and Kuwabara looked at each other and smiled.

"You'll have to forgive Hiei, Kuwabara-kun," the kitsune said, gently stroking his lover's hand. "He doesn't know much about Christmas."

"Oh, Christmas is cool. You get lots of presents, and tons of cookies, and stuff yourself with really good food," Kuwabara explained, more to Kori than to Hiei.

"Presents? Like...gifts?" Hiei asked, frowning at Kurama. "I didn't know..."

Kurama smiled, waving his hand. "It's okay, Hiei. I bought a little something for Kori the other day and had Yukina put it under the tree. Don't worry about it." Hiei quietly sipped his eggnog, looking around the room. He noticed for the first time that there were 'stockings' hung by the fireplace, and that the staircase was decorated with garland and small flickering lights.

"Dinner's ready!" Yukina announced, proudly carrying in a tray that looked like it weighed as much as she did. She placed the delicious looking bird in the center of the table,

"Oh, it looks great, honey!" Kuwabara beamed, placing Kori in her highchair. "Mmm!" he sniffed, the bird, rubbing his hands together, then picked up the large carving knife and fork. "Who wants a leg?"

"Just a little white meat, dozo," Kurama said politely, sitting down next to Hiei, who frowned at the incredible amount of food presented to so few diners. "Yukina-san, you outdid yourself," the redhead added, passing a plate to his roomie. Yukina smiled sweetly, cutting up a few bits of food for Kori.

The rest of the evening was spent digesting the huge meal and watching Kori open some of her presents. Hiei listened quietly as Kuwabara read Kori 'The Night Before Christmas,' wondering if he'd ever seen this 'Santa' demon in the Makai. Yukina had rented an old version of 'A Christmas Carol' for the adults to watch. Hiei sat on the floor, leaning against Kurama's legs, studying the television set intently. He liked all the scary visitors this 'Scrooge' character had, especially 'Death,' but didn't like the way Scrooge wimped out at the end of the movie. It was getting late and Hiei's time away from Mukuro was running out. The human/youko and the Koorime bid their farewells, thanking their hosts for a lovely evening.

It had just started to snow lightly as Kurama and Hiei walked slowly home. The streets were quiet, but they could see lights on in a lot of the houses, and some with Christmas trees glowing in the windows. When they got to their apartment building Kurama stopped, letting the snowflakes fall on his eyelashes and cheeks. He stuck out his tongue, catching some of the frozen treasurers, licking his lips. Hiei tilted his head and frowned.

"What are you doing, kitsune?"

Kurama closed his eyes, wrinkling up his nose at the cold sensation. "Catching snowflakes."

"Doshite?"

Kurama laughed, shaking his head. He looked at his lover with glistening cheeks. "Because it's a tradition when it snows. And, besides, it's just fun!" Hiei shook his head.

Kurama suddenly pulled Hiei by the sleeve. "C'mon, koibito!" he shouted, dragging the fire demon behind their building, into the garden behind their balcony. "I'll show you another tradition!"

Hiei watched curiously as Kurama made sure no one was looking, then fell back into the soft, thick snow. Hiei's eyebrows rose in wonder as Kurama began spreading his legs back and forth, and moving his arms up and down in the snow.

"What in the Makai are you doing?" Hiei asked, incredulously.

"I'm making an angel," Kurama replied, relaxing into the snow, his red hair looking incredibly bright against the pure white snow. He carefully got up, brushing the snow off his body, shaking his crimson mane. He turned to look at his handy work. "Ah, perfect!"

"Ningens have the strangest traditions," Hiei muttered. "Does catching pneumonia also count as one of these traditions?"

Kurama chuckled. "I guess I am kinda' wet," he observed, running his gloved hand over his damp hair. "Come inside and dry me off," he said with a wink.

"I really don't have time, fox. Mukuro's expecting me soon," the Koorime grumbled, walking with Kurama into the apartment the 'traditional' way. The snow finally stopped for the evening and a brilliant moon shone in the black sky. Once inside, he placed his snow-moistened cloak over a chair, following Kurama into their bedroom. "I'll just be a minute, koibito," Kurama said, walking into the bathroom. "I want to get out of these 'wet' things." Hiei laid back on the futon, resting his head on his hands. Kurama emerged from the bathroom wearing his robe, but as he walked towards his lover, Hiei noticed a strange crinkling sound. The Koorime propped himself up on his elbows and starred at Kurama.

"What's that funny noise?"

"Oh, that's another tradition I just started, koibito," Kurama said seductively. "It's your Christmas present," he winked, opening his robe, revealing a huge red bow wrapped around his body. And that was all he was wearing. Well, that, and a big smile. Hiei grinned back.

"I think I'm gonna' like this tradition, fox."

After 'unwrapping' his Christmas present, and finding that it fit just right, Hiei lay snuggled in Kurama's arms, listening to his lover's breathing. More than anything, he would have rather stayed right where he was, but being true to his word, he rose from their bed and began dressing for the trip to the Makai.

Kurama's eyes twinkled in the darkness, as he watched his lover prepare to leave. Hiei closed the last clasp on his cloak, securing his katana in its sheath, and looked down at his fox. "Sayonara, kitsune," he whispered, slid open the balcony door, and carefully climbed out onto the tree. Kurama sighed, snuggling their quilt around his naked body. A cold breeze from outside came rushing in the open window. The kitsune looked up and realized Hiei had left the sliding glass door open. Grumbling, he grabbed his robe, then rose to close the door. When he got to the slider he thought he saw something just outside their window on the ground. In a blur of snow, it was gone. Kurama tiptoed out onto the sheltered balcony and looked down. There, in the snow right next to Kurama's angel, was a smaller, less than perfect angel. Kurama felt his cheeks warm as he smiled, looking up into the ebony sky, stars sparkling down on him. "Arigatou, koibito. Hurry home." He looked back down at the pair of snow angels, then went inside. Sliding back under the warm quilt, Kurama fell asleep, while visions of fire demons danced in his head.