Snow drifts lazily down to earth, covering the ground in a beautiful layer of pure white and made the Hanabusa manor blend into the land around it. The howl of the wind emphasized the chill of the air as it blew through the silver locks of the girl walking towards the mansion. She was bundled up to keep warm and had her arms full of grocery bags.
"I think this ought to do it..." She mused to herself with a small smile as she opened the door.
"Mahiru? What were you doing? Its freezing outside" Rang a familiar voice, echoing around the main hallway like a soft melody.
"N-Nothing!" Mahiru jerked to a stop only halfway inside the doorframe, frozen in place with her eyes on the ground.
"Well don't stay there, come in and close the door" Sumireko smiled sweetly at the timid girl as she did as she was asked.
"I...I-I thought you weren't coming back until tomorrow morning" the silver haired girl voiced the statement at the ground.
"That was the plan, however, I wanted to be home for all of Christmas and not just most of it" Sumireko's footsteps sounded out around the room until Mahiru felt one of the bags in her arms being taken. "Allow me to help you."
"O-Oh, but..." She tried to argue, but Sumireko was already heading for the kitchen with the other bag. Mahiru quickly tailed behind her and entered the kitchen just as she was setting the bag on the counter to empty it.
"If there was something you wanted you could have asked and I would have picked it up for you" the heiress glanced over her shoulder at her as she went to unpack the bag.
"No!" Mahiru yelled suddenly, shocking herself and the blond, making her turn around slowly to face her. At the realization of what she had just done the silver haired girl took to staring at the floor and fidgeting with her feet. "I-I mean...I needed to get it myself..."
"All right..." Sumireko spoke slowly and calmly, her ice blue eyes observing the girl in front of her "Can you tell me why?"
"It...I-It w-was..." the silver haired girl took in a deep breath then looked up at her shyly "it was supposed to be a surprise...for when you came back tomorrow..." at the last part she looked to the side.
A warm smile bloomed on the heiress's face as she listened to her speak and she slowly walked over to her "I see. That's why you didn't ask me to get the items you wanted" she cupped Mahiru's cheek gently, making her look her in the eye "I understand, so I'll let you take it from here okay?"
"O-Okay..." Mahiru smiled up at her, blushing at the contact. Purple eyes followed Sumireko's movements until she was completely out of sight from the kitchen. Once she was sure that she was alone and out of ear shot Mahiru let out a loud, long, sigh of relief before moving over to the counter.
"That sure was unexpected eh?" Shinya chimed in from the back of her mind.
"Yeah...I didn't think she would come back early..." the shy girl responded to her other half.
"Well can't be helped. Least you managed to keep what we're maken a surprise, good goin Mahiru" the boastful tone told her that Shinya was grinning and this made her smile.
"Yeah...better get to work" Mahiru voiced this aloud before taking off her gloves and jacket, rolling up her sleeves she began to unpack her bags.
Today was Christmas Eve and she had to get her gift for Hanabusa ready, she had planned to do it tonight so it would be ready before her return on Christmas day. The fact that she came back early certainly threw Mahiru, but it was not an unwelcome surprise. She would get to spend more time with the girl that she loved and that was enough to make her spirits soar.
It did unnerve her a bit though, she wasn't confident in her choice of gift, however it was the only thing that she could think of to give her. After all what does one get for a powerful and wealthy woman like Hanabusa for Christmas? She has everything that she could ever want or need and if she didn't have it already then, she could get it with ease. So, it took weeks of Mahiru and Shinya putting their heads together to come up with a plan.
There were two things that Hanabusa always had at some point in the day, tea, and pastries. Both are things that Hanabusa enjoys so they thought it would be a wonderful idea to make her a cake from scratch. Something sweet and beautiful, like the heiress who had done so much for the two of them. She took Banba in, she puts up with both sides of her daily and she does everything that she can to make sure that their happy.
It didn't take much for her to capture Banba-san's heart, both halves of it, and they wanted to show how much she meant to them. Confess even, if she could bring herself to do it, but if she couldn't out right she was sure between her and Shinya both it could be done. First things first though Mahiru needs to get the cake baked, that was going to be the easy part though as Banba was confident in her baking skills. She just hoped that Hanabusa would like it and accept her gift.
Hanabusa was absolutely glowing as she left the kitchen to go sit in her study. Mahiru was making her something for Christmas, she just knew it. Why else would she not want her to see what she bought? Yes, that had to be it!
She had to go off on a business trip a few days ago, to her dismay with it being so close to Christmas. There was trouble with getting a proposition to go through with the board, however Sumireko managed to convince them to proceed. It took longer than she would have liked and she was to stay in the city until Christmas morning because it was getting late when she finally finished the paperwork. However, she simply didn't want to, because she had someone she wanted to spend all her Christmas time with and now that person was cooking in the kitchen.
"I wonder what it will be?" Sumireko smiled to herself, opening the right draw of her desk to pull out a small box. It was wrapped in bright red wrapping paper with a silver ribbon tying it shut with a bow on top. The heiress had picked out her gift for Banba months ago, and had wrapped it herself as soon as it had arrived. She wanted it to be the perfect gift for the silver haired girl downstairs.
"I do hope she likes it..." She thought absentmindedly as she kissed the corner of the box before placing it back into its hiding spot. Since the moment, she laid eyes on Banba she had fallen in love with her. When she learned of her split personality it didn't throw her off in the least and she has come to love both halves of Banba just as they are. Each is different and sweet in their own way and she was glad to know them both, wanting to be special to them both in the way they were to her.
“I’m genuinely looking forward to Christmas tomorrow” Sumireko smiled to herself as she turned to look out the large window beside her, watching the snow as the sunset.
Once the lights went off in the kitchen all noise in the house had ceased and night had long since fallen. It was passed midnight and a loud yawn echoed through the empty hall as Shinya made her way up the stairs to bed.
“Man, it sure is tiren baking…” she grumbled to herself, scratching the back of her head “be worth it though if Hanabusa likes it.”
“W-Well…we’ll find out tomorrow…” Mahiru piped up from the darkness, fiddling with her fingers.
“Ah, it’ll be fine Mahiru. Nothen to worry bout” Shinya grinned, putting her arms behind her head “We’ll give it ta her and she’ll be head over heels.”
“Yeah…” her other half smiled happily and Shinya could feel her relax as they laid down, before drifting off to sleep. They had put too much effort into thinking up their gift and then actually making it for Hanabusa to not love it. Even if Mahiru wasn’t sure about the gift Shinya was positive that she would love it, and they would be able to convey their feelings to her without a hitch.
Morning came quickly as the sun rose to shine through the windows and into Banba’s room, awaking her with its warm rays. She got up quickly, feeling giddy with excitement at what the day would bring her. After getting dressed the silver haired girl practically skipped down stairs to the main room, where the Christmas tree was on display. Mahiru smiled up at the decorated pine as she walked in, looking at her reflection in the many shiny orbs hanging from the branches.
“Good morning Mahiru” her name seemed like a song as it floated through the air.
“O-Oh, good morning!” the shy girl spun around, just now noticing the roaring fire in the fireplace and the heiress sitting in the chair next to it.
“I trust you slept well” Sumireko smiled as she motioned for her to sit in the chair next to hers.
“Yes, I did…” Mahiru nodded as she slipped into the chair across from her. Sitting next to Hanabusa’s chair was a small table that had a tray with some tea on it. She watched her as she took a sip of her drink then took to staring at her hands in her lap.
“I have something for you” these words caught her attention and purple orbs jerked up to meet ice blue crystals. Hanabusa lifted the small box that she had had in her desk and handed it to Banba, who hesitated a little before taking it. “I do hope you like it” she smiled.
Mahiru stared at her a moment then looked to the gift as she slowly undid the ribbon so she could open the box. When she did, she felt her breath catch in her throat for a moment at the beautiful necklace laying inside. It had a silver chain and in the center of it was two flowers fused at the center by an amethyst star. One of the flowers had black petals with a white center and its twin had white petals with a black center. Mahiru ran her fingers over the cool metal of the necklace slowly, before slipping it on and smiling to herself at how pretty it was.
“Thank you…its lovely…” her words were softer than usual, but filled with such delight that Hanabusa couldn’t help but feel proud of the gift she had chosen.
“I’m glad you like it Banba-san” Sumireko beamed as the girl looked back at her with a small smile. They held one another’s gaze for a few minutes until Mahiru suddenly bolted to her feet, hands flying around at her sides.
“L-Let me go get your present!” she stammered out then rushed out of the room, heading straight for the kitchen. Once inside the room she grabbed the cake that she had worked so hard on just the night before and started on her way back. Mahiru had crafted a yellow layer cake with a fluffy cream in the center that was accompanied with some delicious fruit and frosted in Christmas-y green with white snowflakes.
“I-I made this for you…I hope you-“ Banba cut off as in her rush to return to the room and with the heavy shaking in her legs from her nerves, she tripped. As she tumbled down to the floor the cake went soaring straight up and landed perfectly…all over Mahiru. Her dress was smothered in cake, frosting and fruit along with the floor surrounding her.
“Mahiru!” Sumireko jumped from her seat to check on her “Are you all right?” she leaned down just as the poor girl burst into a crying fit.
Tears ran freely down her cheeks as a mix of emotions ran rampant inside her, anger, frustration, sadness and more threw a tantrum. She had messed it up, the cake that she worked so hard on, and right in front of the person that she wanted to have taste it. If she hadn’t been such a nervous wreck and slowed down…it was too late though and everything was ruined.
Hanabusa kneeled and pulled the silver haired girl to her feet, asking her gently “I take it that cake was my gift?” She asked the question only to be sure that was what had upset the girl so much, however, it caused more tears to spill from her “It’s okay, please don’t cry Mahiru.”
“I just…c-couldn’t think of anything good to get you…” Mahiru sniffed, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes “but…I wanted to give you something, Shinya did too…”
“Oh Mahiru…” Sumireko’s face erupted into a smile as she wrapped the girl in a comforting hug “you needn’t worry about that. I have everything I need.” At her words the heiress felt Banba stiffen up and a new wave of tears started streaming.
“I-I know…and…and I made something stupid…” she was clawing at her tears to try and rid herself of them, shaking in her arms. Hanabusa blinked in confusion, until it dawned on her that she had used very poor wording that her beloved was misunderstanding.
“No, no.” The blonde was sweet, but firm as she cupped her cheeks to force her to look at her. “That isn’t what I meant at all. I have everything that I need, because I have you and Shinya-san. That’s all I could ever need or want for Christmas, but the cake was a splendid gift idea. I only wish it hadn’t been ruined.” She gently wiped away her tears with her thumbs, while leaning down to touch her forehead with Mahiru’s own.
“M-Me and Shinya?” Mahiru sniffled a bit, staring into her deep blue eyes as a familiar warmth filled her cheeks.
“That’s right…I love you Banba-san” Sumireko slid one hand from her face to grab one of hers and interlace their fingers. “Getting to spend time with you is the greatest Christmas gift I could have ever received” she stepped back just enough to be able to see all Mahiru’s face clearly, watching her expression.
“I-I…” Mahiru’s mind swirled frantically at this new information and she was quickly lost in the warm mush that her brain had become.
“C’mon Mahiru, we got this” Shinya grinned, grabbing her hand in the space that was their shared mind “we can tell er, right?” she gave a thumbs up.
“Right…” the shy girl returned the thumbs up to her other half and took a deep breath.
As her hand, gripped Shinya’s tighter the both spoke at the same time, though Hanabusa only heard it from Mahiru “I love you, too…” she smiled, even as she turned a hundred different shades.
The heiress felt her heart jerk violently in her chest as she took in what was just said and heard it ring like an echo around her. However, she snapped out of it with a smile and gently pulled the silver haired girl even closer as she connected their lips for the first time. Soft trembling lips met firm, kind, lips as they melted together into a warm embrace. Sumireko wrapped both arms around Mahiru’s waist as they kissed and smiled more as she felt two arms cling to the front of her shirt; almost as though she would disappear.
“Merry Christmas Banba-san” she kissed her forehead and watched as a smile formed.
“Merry Christmas Sumireko…” Mahiru leaned her head down on her chest, nuzzling her lightly as they stood there.
Hanabusa petted her head lightly for a minute then hummed in her loves ear “Come on, Christmas isn’t over yet and we need to get you cleaned up.”
“Okay” she smiled up at the heiress, pure joy dancing in her purple orbs. It wasn’t the gift that she thought she would be giving to Hanabusa and it certainly wasn’t the gift that she thought she would receive, but it was the best present of all.