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Extravagant was putting it mildly - Every nook and corner was decorated with meticulous care and thought. The holiday coloring came as no surprise, the bulbs dancing with bright hues. It brought atleast some manner of peace, even though he knew it was just for afew days.
Brushing his hands against the apron to wipe the flour off, Rai heaved a sigh bordering on fatigue. The entire kitchen was brewing with activity. Delectable food was laid out on the table, appealing desserts of all kinds caused the oddball of the group to water at the mouth. "Who made what?" Rivalz asked, intrigued at all the food spread before him as he sat down more aromatic food.
The silver-haired boy turned his head with a weak smile, "Those? They were made by Shirley" Rai answered Rivalz. The other boy looking rather disappointed. "Oh, that's too bad." Rivalz shrugged, The orange-haired girl did a 180-degree turn, pointing a spantella at her blue-haired friend. "My cooking isn't that bad!" She told him adamantly.
"Shirley the food..." Shirley tilted her head towards Rai, who seemed to rise in tension. "What?" Shirley asked with her curiosity piqued, both Rivalz and Rai point their fingers at the pan behind her. Only then did it dawn on her smoke was beganning to produce from behind. With panic, she scrambled back to her position and began to tense with her increasing failure in culinary.
"Have Lelouch teach you." The pale boy stated, bending over to check the oven. Shirley stiffened, Rivalz grinning sheepishly. "Oh Lulu, could you help me learn to cook so I could impress you?" the boy imitated with a shrill, girlish voice that irritated both Rai and Shirley. The former chuckled as the latter blushed, yet again becoming distracted while she began to stutter. Rai slipped on mittens, taking out a tall cake, Rivalz whistled at the spectacle of Rai's achievement.
The flustered girl looked at the boy with envy, nearly pouting at his talent. "Where are we going to put that?" the girl asked the two boys, Rivalz waving his hand dismissively, "Next room, Prez made room if we ran out" Rivalz directed Rai with the gesture of his left hand, strolling over to pick up the dirty dishes.
The boy balanced in his hands the cake, giving a final smile to Shirley, who seemed anxious at the sight of him. He nodded his head, azure eyes showing sympathy. "The food." was all he said, and further panic rised as Shirley attempted to rescue her food yet again. When he left, he heard the defeated grunt of Shirley.
Entering into the next room, the boy saw three others he knew. Walking over to the table to place the meticulate cake, the brown-haired friend looked dumbfounded at it. "Who cooked this?" Suzaku asked, Rai folded his arms. A cocksure smile grew, "I did." he stated proudly, the girl at the desk and the girl playing with the cat looked at it.
"That's Rai for you, he is great with his hands." Suzaku looked up at Rai, and gave an acknowledging look. The glasses-wearing girl blinked, joining her hands, averting her gazer. "I wish I could cook..." Was Nina's only response, trailing off in thought. Kallen halted playing with Arthur, raising an eyebrow, their gaze met. The cat looking up as well, "How do you know it's any good?" the feeble girl challenged with a rather meek voice.
The pale boy collapsed his shoulders, acting defeated. Suzaku being the only one that bought the act, Nina continued to be lost in thought as Kallen simply ignored Rai's attempts. After a brief moment of silence, Suzaku spoke. "I'll try it" he volunteered. A cackle of giggles entered the room, bearing tablewear and plates.
"Let's make this a contest!" Milly spoke with undisguised enthusiasm. Placing the assorted near the cake. "Get everyone else here, too. Get Miya, Nevik and Casey too!" Milly flung her arms happily, everyone else feeling overbeared at their president's happy-go-lucky attitude.
Not before long they all assembled, plates and forks at the ready, Rai holding his in a regal and steady manner, everyone else not looking too sure at the food placed in front of them. The raven-haired boy looked dumbstruck at the obsidian meat. "Who cooked this? Kallen?" Lelouch looked at the rest of the group, Nevik and Rai pointed at Shirley, who only flustered at her embarrassing failure. The mentioned girl seemed offended at the least, glaring at the vice-president in hidden contempt.
"Nevik is correct, Shirley cooked this." Rai took a bite out of his, his body shuddering briefly before he gritted his teeth. "...There is always next time?" Rai consoled the orange-haired girl, who smiled as Lelouch took a bite out of his. A moment passed as everyone else followed, making disapproving glances at it or simply not feasting on it.
"I think you did good" Lelouch smiled, placing the rest of it down. Milly melded into the scenery, holding up a sign that clearly said '2'. They assembled to taste Rai's cake next, a stern look on both Shirley and Kallen. Casey taking a bite as Miya followed, both girls waved their forks in ectasy. Suzaku fell silent after taking a bite, nostalgia taking ahold. "It's been so long.. Since I've had anything edible..." He said cryptically, being reminded of the onigiri with blueberry jam.
Silence fell as everyone ate the cake, The silver-haired boy taking notice of the only person not eating, he placed his chin into the palm of his hand, which was still donned with the mitten. "Aren't you allowed cake?" He asked, Kallen, who shot him a brief glare before falling feeble yet again. Looking back at the slice and Rai, the redhead finally deciding to taste it.
Not before long after, Kallen looked onward at the rest of the cake with a weak rose-colored blush, seeming befuddled at it's quality. "It's good?" She questioned, Rai switched from Kallent o everyone else, a feeling of triumph enshrouding him. "Is it good?" He quarried, they all approved, excluding Shirley and Kallen -- who could only stare.
From behind Rai, the blonde-haired president held up a sign that clearly read '9'
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They were all full, for better or for worse. Milly handing her present to Rai with a smile, taking it into his bare hands he stared at the cute wrapping. "Marry christmas~" she looked at her friend in antacipation, who only gazed at the small box. "...Open it?" she suggested after a moment of awkward silence.
Rai meticulously unwrapped it, taking the lid off to stare at the present inside. Everyone paying attention as he unfolded it from the paper and revealed it: A picture frame that housed a familar photo. Nostalgia greeting him as he remembered the school trip, the picture being the same one they took that night. Where everyone was ligned up in kimonos to view the fireworks.
It was a surreal feeling, but he didn't let it show. Holding it closer to take in every detail, smiling wholeheartedly, now addressing Milly. "Is this all I got? I suppose it will do" he half-cocked. Ruffling happened all around him, other's getting into their presents as well. Rai losing his posture when Shirley held up a red and gold wrapped gift, "This is for Kallen" Shirley handed it to the girl who sat on the couch, looking puzzled at Shirley. "Is this from you?"
Shirley shook her head, "It's from Rai." Shirley announced, Rivalz and Casey turned their heads sharply to pay attention to Kallen. "A gift from Illusionary Adonis? Who would've thought" Rivalz milked the situation shamelessly, Rai bringing his hands up in defense. "Wait!"
Kallen unraveled the wrapping and the beautiful white ribbon, stunned at the gift. Nevik was forced to do a double-check as Lelouch chuckled, Nunnally tilted her head, "What did Rai get her?" she asked her brother, who looked at her with a tranquil feeling. "A plushie, Nunnally."
"I didn't think you had it in you" Milly grappled her left arm around Rai's neck, who forced himself back into his usual mannerism. "If you don't like it, say so." Nevik and Rivalz rolled their eyes, Shirley blushed as she took the little features in. "It's Tabata..." Rai nodded, silence following before Kallen giving him her answer.
"It's... Fine." Her gaze fell back on the Tabatachi plush, an inexpensive gift that was given to her by someone she thought was simply a taciturn and sarcastic person. Rai balanced himself, bringing his hand up further to adjust the collar Milly eroded. A simple gift was given to her, and they both felt awkward about it.
"This is where Shirley gives her present to Lelouch." the mentioned boy looked at Shirley, who only tensed up and seemed to shrink. It took a moment before she built the courage to walk over to the boy and present her with the gift. "Here you are... Lulu" she spoke with a meek, low tone. He took it, and blanked, "Alright."
Suzaku looked sympathetically at Shirley as his best friend unwrapped the present, taking out its content to reveal a heart shaped pendant. Casey sighed at the orange-haired girl, who brought her index finger up afterwards. "That isn't something you give a guy, Y'know?" Teasing, Shirley looked down feeling naive. The boy smiled at the pendant, and at the girl. "Ah, It's a nice gift. Don't worry about it."
Rai contained a chuckle as Lelouch wore it, the fenimine locket hanging on the red string Shirley presented it on. With the moment of quietesse came Milly, who buried it with excitement. "To commenorate the gifts we have gotten and the gifts we will recieve... I hereby recommend us taking a picture!" The blonde theatrical held up the camera, all attendants staring at their mad president. Rai shrugged, submitting to the carefree girl first. "I'll take the picture then."
In no time at all they lined up at the couch, their gifts evident as they were held by their respectives. Bringing the camera over his right eye, Rai zoomed in. "Nunnally, make certain to smile. It won't be very memorable if you don't." Rai saw the disgruntled look that briefly graced Lelouch's visage, to only acknowledge the statement as innocent afterwards. Casey poking Kallen's side. "Hold it up, and I don't mean hide your face."
Kallen brought the Tabatachi plushie into full view, the green otter standing out amongst the rest of the accessories or gifts. From the corner of her eye, she saw Nunnally beam with a smile, holding up a paper crane, it's sky-blue color reminded her of--
"Smile~" with only a second to get ready, everyone did. A brief moment of viewing the picture, Rai acknowledged it. "No blurs or flashes. It's a great picture." the silver-haired boy proclaimed, the blonde zipped from the foundation of the couch to Rai's side to see it. Taking ahold of the corner of the camera, she stared at the picture. "Good job, though I wish we could get a picture of you." Milly teased, sticking out her tongue to tease her impersonal friend.
"There is plenty of time for that later, President. For now, I think we should enjoy the holiday. It comes only once a year, afterall." Rai sat the camera down on the table, next to the half-gone caked he baked with artisan care.
Extravagance wasn't all that bad, the dancing light and the holiday colors was serene and sentimental, even though the rest of the world was at war, they at least had a day of peace. Though the rest of the world was duress and callous, he'd make his time memorable.
All that's good doesn't last forever.
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A/N: First chapter to Devilish Adonis Chronicles finished. Karai and Shirlulu to my best. I was going to make Devilish Adonis independant, though I've been wanting to do this chapter for awhile. I was motivated to write 'A time of love/peace'. Some of the christmas pictures of CG also helped me with this.
Although I hope I did good? :heh: There you go, anyways. I've been writing this for at least a week and it probably came out all wrong. Still.. I tried? :heh:
FYI: Casey and Nevik Samoht are OCs. I don't usually write them, but I am horribly strewed up on keeping a promise. While their initial role was going to be in a much more twisted story, I decided to make them students instead.
