Note, song lyrics are enclosed in slashes like this /..../ Also, I don’t know who sang any of these songs -- they’re from a mix CD a friend gave me, so apologies to whomever the lyrics belong to. Traditions “The main roads are being cleared by snowplows but private roads have not been cleared. Travelers are advised to remain where they are until the snow stops. And now back to our thirty minute music set with the station with light rock and less talk, K-RAS.? /I’m dreaming of a white Christmas..../ The gentle strains of the classic Christmas song were met with a scowl and a wordless growl. Akira Sendoh flipped off the radio and flopped bonelessly onto the couch. “Bah humbug.?He glared out the window where swirls of snow slashed across the frosted windowpanes, and the sharp wind rattled the shutters. Sendoh groaned. Damn, he was stuck until the plows could clear out the road leading to his family’s cabin. He was stuck alone, on Christmas Eve, because he had wanted an extra day on the ski slopes. Damn damn damn! Christmas was the most important holiday in the Sendoh family, full of expectations and traditions. He knew precisely what his family would be doing. His mother would be shooing everyone out of the kitchen, as the wonderful aromas of baking waft around the house, insinuating tendrils that sneak into every corner. His father would be preparing his famous roast “a la Sendoh,?with his secret marinade. His sisters would be running around frantically cleaning the house and putting up last-minute decorations (the main decorations went up right after Thanksgiving). His brother would be seeking out the Christmas presents that their parents had hidden so ingeniously.... And... Kaede would be there. He could guess what Kaede would be doing... either asleep in a corner after being plied with sweets by his mom and sisters, or trying to avoid his hysterical sisters by escaping to their backyard basketball court. He still remembered the first time they met -- even then, Kaede had displayed interest in only those two activities. ****** The door banged open with a crash. Sendoh glanced casually at the panting boy framed in the doorway. They were the same age, though Koshino was a year higher because Sendoh had taken a year off to travel before going to college. They had known each other since middle school. “Yo, Koshino, wassup?? “Sendoh, coach just got back from the airport with your new roommate. I heard that he was the best high school player in all Japan. Coach totally went ape when he heard this kid applied to come here.? Sendoh raised an eyebrow and shrugged, turning back to the textbook he was studying. “Sendoh, aren’t you even curious a little curious about how good he is?? Without looking up Sendoh shrugged again, “Yeah, well, being best in a Japanese high school is one thing. I mean, kids there are probably at most 5? or whatever. He’s probably just got height over ‘em or something.? Koshino cleared his throat, but Sendoh continued, “Let’s see how well he does against Americans before we start worshipping at his feet, y’know.? The throat-clearing became frantic. “You okay, Kosh--? He looked up and the words died in this throat. His eyes met the coldest glare he’d ever seen. “One on one.? The glare belonged to a boy whose voice dripped icicles. “Huh?? Sendoh blinked. “Er... hi, my name’s Akira Sendoh. I... um...? His words trailed off as the chill intensified in the boy’s gaze. He winced slightly, remembering what he’d said just before the boy’s appearance. Well, he thought to himself defensively, he certainly has the height.... The boy was at least six feet tall, with tousled black hair, those cold, cold eyes, and an aggressive tilt to his chin. “One on one.? The boy repeated. “Um, look,?Sendoh searched his mind frantically for the name Coach had told him, “Kawaru, right? It’s eleven p.m. and the gym’s closed, I’m tired, and you just got off the plane. We’ll play tomorrow, okay?? For a second he looked like he wouldn’t respond, but then he nodded sharply, threw his duffle on the floor, and stretched out on the bed on the empty side of the room. Within seconds he was asleep. Sendoh and Koshino looked at each other incredulously. Koshino looked at the tag on the duffle and said, “Yo, Sendoh, you dope, your roommate’s name’s Rukawa. Kaede Rukawa.? “Well, hey, I got close.?He protested. ****** For the longest time he kept calling Rukawa “Kawaru?because he never spoke up to correct him. It wasn’t until he deliberately massacred it and called him “Kawaii?that Rukawa spoke up, with, of course, his trademark glare. Sendoh won their first game of one on one, but Rukawa was certainly not the pushover he had expected. At the first practice, Sendoh watched with aesthetic appreciation as Rukawa trounced several starters on the team. Coach watched with a wide smile of predatory delight, almost rubbing his hands together in anticipation of winning the national championship. Sendoh slid a CD into the stereo, needing some distraction from the ceaseless howl of wind. He pulled a thick comforter around his shoulders and stared broodingly at the fire burning merrily in the fireplace. The CD was a personal mix of Christmas songs, compiled by Rukawa. Sendoh had received it last Christmas with particular pleasure, as he had been the one to teach Rukawa about the American-style Christmas. ****** “You’re kidding me. You’re staying in the dorm over winter vacation?!? Sendoh exclaimed, wide-eyed. Rukawa shrugged, eyes closed, getting ready to take a nap. “It’s just two weeks.? “But it’s over _Christmas!_? Sendoh almost wailed. He sat down with a thump on the bed opposite Rukawa’s. Four months of living together had, at least, slightly thawed Ruakwa’s icy exterior. Surprisingly, he’d forgiven Sendoh his original insult immediately after their game of one on one. Not that he’d said it in so many words, but his antagonism had visibly lessened after Sendoh had won decisively. He still didn’t talk much, even after being in constant company for four months. Originally Sendoh had chalked it up to the language barrier, but after he’d tried his rudimentary Japanese on Rukawa, he’d discovered that the other boy was simply reticent by nature. However, as Rukawa learned from experience, it is extraordinarily difficult to ignore a six-foot-something tall, gregarious, and persistent presence with whom one shared living space. “Hm, I guess two weeks isn’t worth it to fly all the way back to Japan. Man, it totally bites that Coach is making us come in two weeks early for training. Otherwise, you could go back for an entire month and spend Christmas with your family.? Without opening his eyes, Rukawa muttered, “My family doesn’t celebrate Christmas together anyway.? Stunned silence greeted this pronouncement. Rukawa took advantage of the sudden and unusual quiet to doze off. He realized his mistake when he woke up and found his duffle bag packed and Sendoh announcing in no uncertain terms that he was spending Christmas break with Sendoh’s family, who lived just two hours away from school. He had resisted with stubborn silence, until Sendoh tempted him with the promise of a backyard basketball court and daily practice. /I wanna see Christmas through your eyes. I want everything to be the way it used to be... back to being a child again..../ Sendoh glanced at Rukawa with a secret smile of pleasure. In place of his usual glare, there was wonder in his eyes as he looked at the picture Sendoh’s home presented. Nestled in dark, wooded hills, the large, oak-timbered house was ablaze with Christmas lights. The sky above was clear, with brightly gleaming stars scattered like a handful of diamonds on silk. A heavy dusting of snow across the eaves and treetops completed the picturesque setting. Sendoh let the car idle for a few minutes to let Rukawa absorb the peace and beauty of the scene before grabbing their bags and hustling him to the door. “Merry Christmas!? A petite, matronly woman threw open the door as soon as they walked up the drive. She pulled Sendoh down for an enthusiastic kiss on his cheek, and then to Rukawa’s shock, grabbed him and repeated the procedure. Since he wasn’t as obliging as Sendoh, the kiss landed in the vicinity of his chin. “Akira, couldn’t you bring home shorter friends next time?? She asked with mock exasperation. Sendoh couldn’t reply, as he was laughing too hard. Rukawa stood there with a hand pressed to his chin, and indignant expression in his eyes. “It... ha... it’s the mistletoe.? Sendoh choked out while trying to stop laughing. “Mistletoe?? Rukawa frowned at him. Sendoh pointed upwards silently, a suppressed grin on his face. Rukawa looked up at the innocuous-looking leaves tied above the doorway. “If you stand under the mistletoe with someone else, you have to kiss that person. It’s tradition.? Mrs. Sendoh explained. Rukawa looked at the mistletoe, then at two standing in front of him with warm smiles on their faces, up at the mistletoe again, then back to the people, as if trying to process the idea. He wasn’t quite sure if this was a joke Sendoh was playing on him (there was plenty of precedence for this idea to take hold) but he figured Mrs. Sendoh wouldn’t play a trick on him like this. He looked up again and shrugged, sighing. These Americans had some odd customs, but when in America.... He turned and grabbed Sendoh and kissed him. Unprepared and off balance, Sendoh turned around completely so the kiss landed on his lips... though to call it a “kiss?would be charitable. It was more a bumping of lips and noses. “Ow.? “Ite!? Both grabbed their noses. Mrs. Sendoh laughed and held up a hand as Rukawa turned to her to do his duty. “Lightly, lightly.? She presented her cheek for a more graceful peck. Mrs. Sendoh and Rukawa turned to look expectantly at Sendoh. He blinked at them. “Wha.... Oh.? He bent and kissed his mother, then brushed a kiss against Rukawa?cheek. ****** Sendoh pressed a finger against his lips. Even now, four years later, he could still feel Rukawa’s soft skin against his lips. The kiss hadn’t meant anything to him then, just another joke played on a naïve kid, but for some reason it had made an impression on him.... Perhaps it was the soft exhalation of warm breath against his ear, or the clean scent of that silky dark hair, or the way the lights reflected in his eyes mirrored the stars in the sky that night. Whatever it was, that light, meaningless kiss was etched indelibly in Sendoh’s memory. /It’s the most wonderful time in the year, with the kids jinglebelling and everyone telling you be of good cheer, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the hap-happiest season of all. With those holiday greeting and gay happy meetings when friends come to call... there’ll be much mistle-toeing and hearts will be glowing when loved ones are near, it’s the most wonderful time of the year./ And it was. Rukawa usually went back to Japan for the summer, but Christmas was always spent with the Sendoh family. He had memories of the concentrated look in Rukawa’s eyes as he put the stuck candy on his first gingerbread house, a smudge of frosting on his nose; memories of a tousled and sleepy Rukawa being dragged out of bed early Christmas morning to open presents; memories of said boy dozing off during the present-opening frenzy (and a great photo of Rukawa falling asleep on his kid sister’s giant teddy bear).... Memories upon memories.... There was a time when Sendoh and Rukawa were dragooned into chaperoning his little sister’s choral group for Christmas Eve caroling at the local hospital’s Children’s ward. Rukawa couldn’t keep a tone if it was locked in a safe, so he stubbornly refused to open his mouth and join in the singing. Sendoh and his little sister, having suffered through his attempts in the past, agreed vehemently. The choral group, determined twelve-year olds, insisted that he must participate in some way. Since trying to get a “ho ho ho?out of Rukawa was even more difficult than coaxing out a “fa la la la la,?the girls muttered amongst themselves for several minutes and vanished, dragging a bewildered Rukawa with them. Sendoh, the default Santa, stepped out of his dressing room with a hearty “Ho ho ho,?only to collapse laughing after one glance at the vision before him. A morose Rudolph, big clown’s nose stuck to his face and HUGE Styrofoam antlers listing off his head, glared at him as he tried to look inconspicuous in a crowd of chattering pre-teens. It didn’t help that the antlers protruded a foot above his already six-foot plus height. That sight had more than made up for the indignity of chaperoning his kid sister while wearing a Santa suit. Sendoh smiled at the memory, then sighed. He particularly treasured the memories of Rukawa at Christmas. It wasn’t that he didn’t have other memories; memories of their successes together on the court, their late night conversations in the darkened dorm, of fleeting smiles. But Christmas, Christmas was always a particular time of discovery, of seeing new sides of Rukawa, of private memories that weren’t shared with others at school, when Rukawa allowed himself a break from his obsessive focus on basketball. As to why those memories were so treasured, well... that was no one’s business but his own. He certainly couldn’t tell that beautiful but naive young man how he felt. He couldn’t even articulate to himself when his feelings for his friend had changed to something more than friendship. It had been four years since they’d first met, and though they had taken separate paths out of college, they’d remained close. Alone in the cabin in the mountains, alone with the ache in his heart, he could admit one thing, that he loved Rukawa. But to actually admit it to Rukawa took more courage than he could muster. /I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know. Make my wish come true. All I want for Christmas is you./ The door slammed open, letting in a blast of cold air. Sendoh leaped up as a snow-covered figure stumbled in, pushing the door shut behind him. The figure slumped against the door, gasping for breath. It took only a split second for Sendoh to realize who it was ?Rukawa?! A quick assessment of the shivering figure convinced Sendoh that questions could come later. He pulled him closer to the fire and pulled off his snow-encrusted coat. His clothes beneath it were sweat-soaked and cooling against his skin. Sendoh stripped him to his boxers and sat him down in front of the fire, then wrapped his arms around him, pulling the comforter over them both. Sendoh warmed him gently until the shivering was less pronounced, then turned him around to face him, tucking the blanket securely around him. “What in the world are you doing here?! How did you get here?? “Drove.? Short, succinct, and utterly unhelpful. “The road is cleared?? Sendoh asked, surprised. “I walked from the main road.? “You.... You.... Are you nuts?? You walked here in THAT weather?? His voice skipped an octave. Rukawa shrugged nonchalantly, or as nonchalantly as one could when shivering uncontrollably. Akira waved a frantic hand towards the window, through which one could see that the howling blizzard hadn’t abated one whit. His heart skipped a beat as he imagined all the things that might have happened.... “Kaede Rukawa you complete and utter idiot, what the hell did you think you were doing?? He howled, gripping Rukawa by his shoulders and giving him a good hard shake. ?..?Rukawa looked away, a faint blush rising to his cheeks. Sendoh’s eyebrow quirked up, amazed by the unusual sight, but undeterred from his original question. “Well?? “It’s Christmas Eve.? Muttered reluctantly. Sendoh waited a minute before he realized that that was the entire reply. Exasperated, he asked further, “And?? “You weren’t there.? Silence while Sendoh processed this oblique response. “You mean you drove up here in this crazy weather, then walked all this way, because I didn’t come back for Christmas Eve? Why the heck do you think I didn’t make it? It’s because of this blizzard that I didn’t want to risk my neck driving home! Do you think I would want you to do it?? He gnashed is teeth together in frustration at Rukawa’s stubbornness. Rukawa looked down, shoulders hunching slightly. Sendoh instantly regretted his raised voice. “I’m sorry, I just... geez.? He ran a hand through his hair. “You worry me, you know. What was so important that you had to drive 50 miles in a snowstorm?? Rukawa slanted an unreadable glance at him, and dug into his coat pocket, scattering ice. He held out his arm, his fist clenched tight. Sendoh regarded him curiously, and extended his had. Rukawa opened his fist. Sendoh looked incredulously at the crumpled leaves in his hand. It was... it was.... “Merry Christmas.? Before Sendoh could comprehend what he held in his hand, Rukawa leaned over and pressed his lips to Sendoh’s. The kiss was over before Sendoh could react, chaste because he hadn’t time to make it more. Not that his mind was working any better now. In fact, all thought stuttered to a halt. “I... You... You... I...? Dark eyes looked at him directly, and the clarity of emotion expressed in ebony depths struck him to the core. “In Japan, Christmas is for lovers.? /Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we’ve no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..../ “How appropriate,?Sendoh murmured with a smile, his lips pressed against warm skin. Rukawa just sighed in his sleep and tightened his embrace. Sendoh kissed him tenderly. Rukawa’s declaration had finally jump-started his stalled brain. He’d carefully set aside the sprig of mistletoe and spent the next few hours teaching Rukawa the definition of “lovers,? starting with a lot of instruction on kissing.... Looking at the peacefully slumbering boy in his arms, Sendoh felt as if every one of his Christmas wishes had been granted. Oh, yes, let it snow. They’d find ways to keep warm. ¡K