Rukawa was walking down the living room when suddenly; Mitsui and Kiyota ran past him. They were laughing and running away from an agitated Miyagi.

Meanwhile, Sendoh and Koshino were getting ready to launch their plan. They saw Rukawa down the living room and they saw Sakuragi walking up to them. Sendoh grinned. He nodded at Koshino and they walked behind Sakuragi.

As Rukawa approached the couch where Fujima was sitting, Fujima gave a thumbs-up to Sendoh, signaling he was ready. Sendoh and Koshino got ready to 'accidentally' push the redhead.

Fujima stretched out his leg and grinned as Rukawa walk towards him But then, Kiyota suddenly ran past Rukawa and instead of Rukawa tripping, Kiyota tripped on the leg instead, just at the time Sendoh and Koshino push the redhead, sending Sakuragi flying forward.

"Sendoh, wrong person!" Kori shouted, too late. Keax gaped.

"Rukawa, behind you!" Miyagi shouted as he saw the redhead flying forward. Rukawa dodged in time, and Sakuragi fell on Kiyota instead and...

... Their lips met, to the shock and surprise of everyone.

"Shimatta!" Yureko slapped her forehead. Sendoh, Koshino and Fujima stared, wide-eyed.

"What the...?" Nikki could hardly find the right words to say.

"It almost succeeded!" Ryuu felt like strangling the Kainan monkey. Rumiko just stared, unable to say anything.

"Kami-sama..." Ayako was stunned as well, like Kogure and Jin, who just stared, jaws wide open.

Hanamichi was just as shocked. He quickly got up. He blushed and his face turned as red as his hair. The other players gathered around and look at them in shock. Nobody moved from their position. Nobody, except the Ice Prince, as he walked out of the house, a strange expression on his face.

Yureko nudged Ryuu who was beside her. Ryuu looked at her and she pointed to the direction in which Rukawa has exited through. Then she whispered something to Ryuu whose frown slowly turn into a smile. And then, Ryuu turned and whispered to the other girls.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rukawa sat down on the front porch. He sighed and felt the cold wind blowing against him. He pulled his jacket tighter and watched as the snow fell.

'The snow is so pure... Like him...' His thoughts turned to a certain redhead and he sighed again as he recalled the kiss he had witnessed several moments ago.

"Rukawa Kaede!"

Rukawa turned his head and saw the two girls who claimed to be Sendoh's sister and Ayako's cousin. He glared at them icily.

The two girls ignored his icy cold glare and settled down next to him, one on each side.

"It's cold here, isn't it? What are you doing here?" Ryuu asked casually, looking as the snow continues to fall. Rukawa snorted. Yureko frowned.

"We'll just get straight to the point, Rukawa! Why don't you just confess to him?" Yureko looked at him calmly. Rukawa looked at her strangely.

"You know what she is talking about, Rukawa! Why don't you just confess your love to Hanamichi?" Ryuu sighed.

'How on earth did they know?' Rukawa thought.

"Of course we know, baka! Anyone who was looking at you in the room just now would see the longing you have on your face." Yureko stated, matter-of- fact.

'She reads minds?' Rukawa thought again.

"No, she doesn't! And neither do I, just in case you suspect I read minds as well. It's just that you have said it out loud." Ryuu looked at Rukawa, trying to hide her amusement.

"You won't understand!" Rukawa started. Yureko and Ryuu arched their eyebrows.

"What do we not understand? You and Hanamichi are perfect for one another! You are meant for one another! Get it?" Yureko sighed. She was getting exasperated.

"He won't accept me."

"You won't know until you try, Rukawa!" Ryuu tried to encourage him.

"Are you crazy? We are both guys!"

"Does that matter to you, Rukawa? Do you even bother about those minor details?" Ryuu turned serious.

Meanwhile...

"They seem to be doing fine over there." Keax grinned, as she looked out of the window, overlooking the front porch.

"Yeah... They are... But I don't think we are doing fine here." Kori frowned in the direction of the redhead.

"He's stubborn! No wonder Yureko and Ryuu wanted us to stay and convince him. He is so much tougher to talk to than Rukawa." Nikki sighed, as she saw the redhead rejecting what Ayako was trying to say.

"Well... Let's go back there and help them convince that ahou!" Rumiko shook her head and walked towards the dining table with the other girls following her.

At the front porch...

"Rukawa, you can do it! Ryuu's right. You never know until you try. But if you don't try, you will never know how he feels towards you as well! Come on! We know you are not a coward. We have faith in you." Yureko smiled and patted Rukawa. Rukawa nodded slightly.

"Well... We'll leave you to think it through. Remember! Chances don't come by easy. Grab it!" Ryuu and Yureko stood up and walked towards the door.

"Chotto matte!" The two girls turned around and glance at Rukawa.

"Arigatou." Rukawa said softly. The two girls broke into a grin.

In the dining room...

"Sakuragi, you know you like him! We can see it from your face when Rukawa walked out of the house just now." Ayako gritted her teeth. She was getting impatient.

"Don't deny your feelings anymore, Sakuragi!" Kori was exasperated.

"You and him are a perfect match!" Nikki chipped in.

"You two are meant for each other." Rumiko sighed dreamily.

"You can't do without him, Hanamichi!" Keax tried to convince the stubborn redhead.

"Sakuragi, happiness doesn't come by easy. When you know happiness is crossing your path, grab it before it's gone!" Fujima adviced.

"Yeah! You will regret if you allow this opportunity to pass just like that!" Sendoh smiled.

Sakuragi started to consider the advice given to him.

"We'll leave you to think about it, Sakuragi. Your happiness is just outside the door." Kogure smiled and patted his kohai.

The group walked away just as Yureko and Ryuu entered the room. They walked up to him.

"Ganbaru, Hanamichi!" Yureko and Ryuu smiled at him. Then they walked off to join the others in the kitchen. They found them preparing food and champagne and Nikki standing in a corner with Jin, Maki, Hanagata, Kogure, Akagi and Uozumi.

"Anou... What are you guys doing?" Ryuu stared.

"Oh well... We are preparing for a celebration!" Keax grinned.

"And to think they are so solemn at the table just now. I was so touched by the words they say. And the moment they stepped into the kitchen, they search for food and drink like some starving animals." Nikki rolled her eyes. Yureko laughed.

"Aw... Nikki... We are soooo hungry and thirsty after the talk ne!" Rumiko pouted.

"Yeah... It wasn't easy convincing Hanamichi." Kori took a drink out of the fridge and started drinking.

"I suspected all along that you guys were hiding something from us. We never expected it to be you trying to bring the two nemesis together." Mitsui chuckled, stacking up on his sandwich.

Yureko smiled and walked out of the noisy kitchen. Moments later, she barged in.

"Hey guys! Hanamichi has gone out to the front porch!" With that, everyone dashed out of the kitchen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sakuragi stepped out quietly and saw Rukawa sitting quietly on the steps.

'Let's just get this done and over with!' Sakuragi took a deep breath.

"Rukawa, I need to talk to you." Sakuragi started. Rukawa immediately turned around. He stood up and faced Sakuragi.

"Anou... Rukawa, I want to confess something." Sakuragi was suddenly at a loss for words.

'Is he going to say what I think he's going to say?' Rukawa cocked his head.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Stop pushing me!"

"I can't hear what's he's saying!"

"Shut up! I'm trying to listen!"

The group was crowding by the slightly opened window, trying to listen through the curtains what Sakuragi and Rukawa are saying.

"Urusai!" Everyone shut up immediately when Ayako glared at them. No one wanted a taste of her fan.

"Can you hear what they are saying, Yureko?" Nikki looked at the girl, crouching by the window

"I think Sakuragi said something about wanting to confess to Rukawa." Yureko muttered. Everyone look at one another excitedly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Say it then." Rukawa answered monotonously.

"Anou... Rukawa..." Sakuragi stammered. 'Kuso! This is tougher than I thought.'

Rukawa looked at him expectantly.

"Anou... Rukawa..." Sakuragi started again. 'Might as well get it out!'

"I like you, Rukawa!" Sakuragi heaved a sigh the moment he got it out.

Rukawa arched his eyebrow.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"He said it! He said it!" Sendoh looked at them excitedly. Everyone almost shouted.

"Wait! Let's listen some more." Fujima hushed the group.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rukawa hid the smile that was showing on his face. He stepped forward and grabbed Sakuragi. Then he pressed his lips against Sakuragi's.

Sakuragi returned the kiss with as much intense and both of them stayed at the front porch, kissing and exploring each other's mouth, for as long as their lungs allowed them to.

When they finally broke away, Rukawa looked at Sakuragi, with eyes that are no longer icy, but filled with love.

"What took you so long to say that?" Rukawa eyed Sakuragi lovingly. Sakuragi just laughed nervously and scratched his head.

"I love you too, Hana!" And with that, he gave Sakuragi another peck on the lips.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inside the house, everyone was celebrating and opening champagne. When the new couple stepped into the house, everyone ran up to them.

"Aw... That was so sweet!" Kiyota teased. Sakuragi blushed. Rukawa just looked at them, a blank expression on his face.

While everyone crowded around the two, six girls stood in the background, looking satisfied.

"We finally succeed!" The six girls congratulated one another.

"For a moment, I thought we have to stay here forever, trying to fix them up." Kori grinned.

"Well... Everything's going on fine now!" Rumiko laughed.

"We should leave now!" Nikki smiled.

"Nikki, can't we stay and try to put some activities into their lives, say... Introduce them to some lemon?" Keax suggested.

"No! They are still a new couple. Let them explore for themselves, Keax! Much as we wish to introduce them lemon, I think we have to wait for another day. It's getting late." Ryuu explained.

"Yeah! We have enough fun for today. Let's head for home!" Yureko tried to usher them out of the house.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Ayako stopped the six girls before they stepped out of the house. They turned around and saw everyone looking at them.

"You have not told us your identity!" Fujima smiled.

"Oh... We?" Rumiko smiled.

"Figure out yourself!" With that, the girls disappeared into the night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Late that night, as Sakuragi cuddled in bed beside Rukawa, something poked him. He pulled the covers aside and saw a mistletoe. The girls had chucked it there after their third attempt with it.

"What's that?" Rukawa peered beside Sakuragi.

"Mistletoe." Sakuragi said, absent-mindedly. He did not notice the evil grin on Rukawa's face. Then he saw it.

"Oh Kaede... You can't mean it?" Sakuragi looked at his lover warily.

"What if I do, Hana?" Rukawa drawled lazily.

"Kaede, I..." He did not get to finish his sentence as Rukawa pulled him into a kiss and dragged him under the covers.

What a Christmas!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yureko: Waiii! I finally finished my Christmas fic!

Sakuragi: What are we doing here? *enters with the other SD characs and looks around the room*

Ayako: Hey! Isn't that Yureko?

Sendoh: *bounces towards Yureko* Hey! What are you doing here? And do you know why we are here?

Fujima: So do you know why we are here? And why are you here as well?

Yureko: Oh simple! This is my workstation. I don't know why you are here though.

All: YOU DON'T KNOW?

Yureko*covers ears*: YES! I DON'T KNOW!

Maki *arches eyebrow*: Who are you girls anyway?

Yureko: We? Oh well... Guess it's time to tell you anyway.

*Five girls suddenly appear in front of them*

Nikki: I'm Nikki Hiiragizawa.

Ryuu: Selphie Mitsui or just call me Sylph-chan.

Keax: You know my name. I'm Keax.

Kori *yawning*: I'm Ice-chan. You can also call me Ice-saka or Korilin.

Rumiko: Rubez here.

Yureko: I'm Yureko Fujikawa. Also known as Yureko Fujima. Call me Yure- chan.

Six girls: WE ARE FANFICTION WRITERS! *the five girls disappeared, leaving Yure-chan alone*

SD Characs: Fan fiction writers?

Sendoh: Ok! I got that... But... WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

Yureko *covers ears*: I think I know why. It just dawn on me. *All looks at her expectantly*

Yureko: You are in my fic!

Sendoh: Then how are we getting out of here? *looks at Yure-chan hopefully*

Yureko: I don't know.

*Stares and more horrified stares*

Yureko *yawns*: Look here. I really don't know! I'm not the one who brought you here! I need my sleep. I've had a hard time finishing up this fic. I've got some spare rooms if you guys want to sleep though. *points to six empty bedrooms* Leave one for the new couple. Oyasumi! *exits the room*

Rukawa: ZZZzzzzzzz