Christmas at the SOS

The days leading up to Christmas were passing like the wind. School had been let out, which for Kyon, meant not having to go to club every afternoon. But the thing was, after kissing Haruhi that night on her bed, Kyon was looking for an excuse to see her again, and the club would have been perfect for that. It was strange, kissing someone then not seeing them for a few weeks. He wasn't sure if kissing her was the right thing to do, but at the time it seemed like the only thing to do. And it wasn't like he didn't want to...

A festive ring tone woke Kyon from his afternoon nap. Cursing himself for picking such a stupid tone, Kyon shuffled over to his desk and picked up his phone. The caller I.D. told him it was Haruhi so he snapped the phone open and answered it.

"Hello?" He stammered, still tired from his nap.

"Kyon, we're meeting up at the mall. Be there!" Haruhi's voice commanded, hanging up before he could reply.

After pulling on a jacket gloves and a hat, Kyon made his way for the mall. It was a cold overcast day, the sun still hiding under its blanket of clouds, refusing to get up. A thin layer of snow carpeted the sidewalks in a beautiful white sheet. Kyon could see his breath in the air as he hurried for the mall, hopping to get there before the other club members so that he could spend some time with Haruhi alone. As he opened the door to the mall, a warm blast of stale air hit him right in the face, driving out the chill that had settled in his bones.

"You're late!" He heard Haruhi's voice call to him.

"But, if I'm late, then where are the others?" Kyon retorted, looking around for Mikuru and the other club members, whose names he couldn't remember.

"Others?" Haruhi said aloud, "I never mentioned others... It's just us."

Was this a date? Kyon couldn't be sure, but after kissing her... it might be. Afraid to ask, Kyon decided to pretend this was just a normal get together, until he was told otherwise.

"So, what should we do?" Kyon asked nervously.

"I want to go to the greeting card shop, they've got a sale on decorations." Haruhi replied, grabbing Kyon's hand and pulling him towards the shop.

He wasn't sure what was going on, surely she could have gone to that store on her own, and she didn't need him around for that. And since they were holding hands, it could be a date. As they marched through the store, browsing various trinkets, Kyon smiled as he felt her warm hand in his. If this is what a date is, Kyon was beginning to like it. Sure, the store was boring and Kyon couldn't stand being in a crowd, but watching Haruhi's face light up as she held a tiny glass kitten really put a smile on his face. As she pulled him from display to display, Kyon finally took the time to notice what she was wearing. It was still strange to see her out of her school uniform, even after all the adventures they had outside of school. She was wearing a festively green cardigan over a white T-shirt and her fuzzy red Christmas hat. She had on a red and white skirt and had on brown stockings, giving off the effect of a walking Christmas tree. Kyon drooled a little when the thought of what kind of presents might be under this tree, but he quickly shook the thought from his head. Haruhi saw him shaking his head and pouted.

"What, you don't like it?" She said, sounding bummed.

Cursing himself, Kyon shook his head and looked at what she was holding. It was a snow globe that had a team of kittens pulling a cat Santa's sleigh. "No, I like it. I was just thinking about something else."

"What about?" Haruhi asked half heartedly, still playing with the snow globe.

The thought of unwrapping Haruhi's panties as his Christmas present flashed though his mind, but like hell he was going to say that. So instead he said, "Um, I was just thinking of what the other club members are doing right now."

"Oh them," Haruhi answered, "I called them but there were all busy. Koizumi's out of town, Mikuru's with her family and Yuki's probably reading something. You were the only one who showed up."

All Kyon could do was nod as she spoke. So it wasn't a date. The boredom seemed to sink in as he was pulled from place to place. Without the chance that this was a date, everything seemed so pointless. The hours dragged on for what felt like days but eventually she pulled him out of the shop, after making him pay for the snow globe. Then, when he thought it was finally over, Kyon found himself being pulled in to another shop. Thankfully this stop wasn't as long.

When she was finally done shopping, Haruhi pointed them to a coffee shop and they sat down for a cup of tea to warm them before heading back in to the snow. As they sipped their tea, Kyon still couldn't help but think that they were on a date. The cafe was filled with couples their age and they all seemed to be in the Christmas mood, or just in the mood, their lips touching their partner’s lips as often as their coffee.

"Look at them. How undignified." Haruhi breathed.

"Yeah, but they’re all on dates, so I guess that's normal." Kyon pointed out, feeling a sharp ping of annoyance.

"Yeah, but so are we. And you don't see me with my tongue down your throat." Haruhi muttered, scowling at the closest couple.

"Oh, so this was a date." Kyon said in disbelief.

"Still is." Haruhi snapped at him. "Just because it wasn't supposed to be, doesn't mean it can't be."

"But, shouldn't I have asked you out or something?" Kyon asked, bewildered.

"No need, if I say it's a date, then it's a date, right? I mean... you did kiss me the other day, right?" There was a since of accusation in her words.

"Fine, then it's a date." Kyon said, getting out of his chair and sitting down next to Haruhi.

"What are you doing?" She asked flatly.

"I don't know..." Kyon answered truthfully.

They finished their tea and headed back in to the snow. Kyon wanted desperately to reach out and hold her hand, but feared having his ripped off. She had said it was a date, but Kyon knew her all too well to try anything like that, she just wasn't the romantic type. When they got to her house, Kyon turned to walk away, but was stopped by a bit of snow hitting him in the back of the head.

"What was that for?" He exclaimed, wiping the cold wetness from his head.

"Where do you think you're going?" She yelled at him, apparently made about something.

"Home." He replied, hopping that was the right answer... it wasn't.

"Is that how you treat a lady? Drag her all around the mall, give her tea, but don't kiss her good night?" Her voice seemed a little higher than normal.

Kyon wanted to tell her that she was the one dragging him everywhere, but decided he wanted to continue living. With and awkward few steps he approached her, reaching out his trembling hands to her shoulders. He leaned in and pecked her lightly on the lips.

"Good night..." He mentioned quietly, turning to leave. He was stopped by a tug on his shirt.

"Thanks for helping me with my ankle the other day..." There was a strange hesitation in her words.

Kyon could see the battle going on in Haruhi's eyes. He wasn't sure what it was she was considering, but he could tell she had decided something. She pulled Kyon back towards her, kissing him with wild passion. He could feel her lips trembling, but he knew better than to ask her what was wrong. He knew if she wanted to tell him what was wrong, she would just say it. So, with a single look goodbye, Kyon headed home, feeling extremely good and strangely warm.

To be continued


Author's notes
Sorry no sex this chapter, I'm trying desperately, but I can't justify them having sex on the first date. Maybe next time.