"All I want for Christmas.."
Christmas could always be a sore subject for some people. Some simply just don't have the spirit for the holidays, others have a bad memories that haunt them on this day. Then there were lonely people who felt like outcasts from those who had someone, or the stress of the holidays was too much to really handle so they would go without.
They could be the least likely of people at times. People no one would think would be like that on a holiday like Christmas.
Toujuro sighed as he sits on the balcony to his family's apartment while looking down at the phone on his lap. In his hand was a soda and he only wore his pajama bottoms and his hoody while watching everyone down below walking in the snow storm.
If anyone he considered a friend saw him like this right now they might have thought he was someone with blond and red hair.
The city looked so pretty on this Christmas Eve night as the blue, white, green and red lights were twinkling on the buildings around him as families could be heard laughing and seen through some windows sitting and watching tv. The young Rengoku took in a slow deep breath before he looked down at his phone to see the text notification from his father.
I won't be home until the 26th. I left food for you for tonight and tomorrow. Please be safe. I'm sorry I'll make it up to you.
He crushed the can in his hands before the teen pinched the bridge of his nose. Honestly he shouldn't have been surprised that his father was out of town at that Kendo convention while leaving him here alone to watch the dojo. He gave a slow and shaky sigh while slamming his phone down on to the ground and bowed his head. He did this every year...why was it always too much to ask that he stay home once on holidays like this?
Damn the holidays even, he just...he really wanted him around but ever since he took up the dojo and got so many students it felt like he kind of forgot about him...
"Sugar pie, honey bunch~ You know that I love you!"
It was think his ringtone for his boyfriend sounds. For a moment he was tempted to just let it ring out so he could just sit there in the cold and just wallow in his disappointment and indifference...
"I can't help myself! I love you and nobody else!"
With another sight, he picked up the phone and answered it, "Hello?"
"Toujuro! My dad talk me yours was stuck in Tokyo until the 26th! Are you okay?"
Of course. Of course his boyfriend's dad knows before him that his father was going to be away. He puts a hand over his eyes and just lies back with a grunt while looking up at the cloudy sky.
"...Yeah. I'm fine. Just sitting and watching the lights. He just texted me so don't worry."
He heard a heavy sigh from the other end, "Well then, Kanata and I can come over if you want! I'll even buy a cake and fried chicken for you and bring you your presents and and ...!"
"Why don't we...do that tomorrow evening? I just don't think I'm up for much company right now in all honesty..."
He already knew what Sumihiko was trying to do. It's something he always tried to do when stuff like this came up and as much as Toujuro appreciated him trying to fix things or make things better, sometimes Toujuro just had no energy to spare for it. Besides he knew that even if he agreed to it nothing would change the fact that he was alone on Christmas; his mother had left them on this day when he was a baby and then his father just lost himself in his work...
"But but...!"
"Sumi...please. I'm actually very tired from doing a lot of shopping today and as much as I enjoy having you here I just have no energy for anything other than cooking and watching old cartoons."
Even over the phone he could imagine Sumihiko's urge to protest. In fact he could picture his face perfectly right now, that cute one where he puffs his cheeks before huffing out his breath rather haughtily when he gives in. As if on cue he could hear him huffing on the other side.
"Fine...but...well. I just want to make sure you're okay...and well...what else do you want for Christmas? I'll get you whatever it is you want I promise no matter how last minute it seems!"
Toujuro's brows furrowed a moment as he sits there silently for a moment. He sighed slowly before closing his eyes and looking back at the sky with a frown on his face.
"..It's fine Sumi. Don't buy anything else for me. I'll see you tomorrow love."
"I...okay," He sounded so defeated now, sighing softly, "..I love you Toujuro. I'll see you tomorrow. Merry Christmas!"
"..I love you too. Good night," He hung up and then dropped his phone again.
Toujuro slowly spread his arms out and sighed as he felt an ache starting to form behind his eyes. His throat had a strange sensation of something rising from it as his vision started to blur. He released a soft hiss before he turned on to his side and slowly curled up with his knees pulled to his chest. He swallowed thickly as the lights blurred as well in his vision as the cold reaches him.
It wasn't fair...why couldn't his father just...drop everything just once to spend time with him? Was kendo all that mattered to him? Was that it? Did Toujuro remind him too much of his now ex wife, Toujuro's mother who left them?
Slowly he pressed his hands together in a small prayer. He knows deep down that any prayer he makes was one in probably millions, though maybe it might help him feel better for once...
"..All I want for Christmas...is my Dad to come home and spend the day with me..." He whispered as wet tears started to drip down his face.
They felt warm where the snowflakes had landed and melted on his cheeks. He wiped at his eyes weakly while slowly covering his head. It was an unlikely thing to happen but sometimes he hopes that his prayers would be answered some day.
He slowly crawled back inside the apartment, pulling his phone with him and used his foot to close the screen door.
After all it was foolish to wish for something seemingly impossible.