Well, here it is, have fun.

Chapter 6: Love Like You'll Never Get Hurt

Tao Ren knew enough to not call the bartender right away, and to wait a while to make himself appear less desperate than he really was, but he waited so long that he forgot to call him the day after. Of course, he was thinking about Horohoro all the time, according to his new watch, but too many things were happening at once. There was a staff meeting about taking the Christmas decorations back down and putting the New Years decorations up, about how long Christmas break was, and what to recommend the customers to buy for last-minute presents and party gifts. Yoh never stopped inviting Ren to Christmas parties, which he declined with more and more force each time.

He hated being home, it made him feel empty and alone, but the memory of the bartender comforted him. Finally, on the day of Christmas Eve, Ren remembered to call Horohoro just as lunch ended, but the number was busy. A short message of, "Happy Christmas" and "I hope you do something fun" replaced a conversation and Ren hung up absently.

The large department store closed at ten o'clock and the employees exchanged gifts and "Happy Christmas" as they rushed home to their families and lovers. Ren was left alone, walking the long way home, but he didn't want to go home, though he didn't have anywhere else to go.

It took the Chinese boy half an hour to get to the bridge that linked the city and the suburban neighborhoods together. The snow was falling in swirls and wisps, very much unlike how it used to fall. More gentle, Ren thought, and less cold, but it was still freezing and his feet were slowly getting number. Reaching out a hand, Ren felt the frozen metal beneath his leather glove, and stopped to look down at the river, with its ice chunks still drifting along.

Despite everything in his life that had been selfish and wrong, he looked down at the river and sniffed his runny nose, hoping that through some miracle he didn't have to go home to all of his emptiness, which had become his only bedfellow. Loneliness pulled at his heart and Ren's eyes began to water as he leaned more heavily against the dark metal bridge, only a few lone cars passing by every now and then.

He had no Christmas cheer, no Christmas dinner at home, no tree, no bright lights, no presents, and no one special waiting for him. It was a vain dream that he would be able to see the bartender when he needed him the most, but still, the Chinese boy hoped. The river below looked beckoning and comforting, and soft enough to cradle Ren if he should fall… or jump. Sadly, he turned away and just kept walking, leaving the river behind him with its miniature icebergs and evil thoughts.

Without a friend around, Ren walked the white sidewalks piled up with grey sludge from the streets, and looked at the houses he was passing. Every window was lit from a warm light within, family and friends were sitting around and eating wonderful dinners, music and laughter filtered out from the windows and doors to dance around Ren's head. Each house he passed reminded Ren of all the lack of cheer that waited at his own house.

A group of carolers walked past Ren, chanting "O Holy Night" and not a single one paid him any mind. Ren just bent his head. All he felt like was one lonesome blur in the world. He was nothing, he was lonely, and he would be spending a cold Christmas Eve all alone. A tear fell down his cheek.

The gold eyes could hardly believe the view when he approached his out house. It was the only one without any light or laughter radiating from it. Darkness and emptiness dripped from the dark window, like his gold eyes. Nevertheless, the Chinese boy budged his door open with a grunt and turned on his house lights.

A yell escaped his lips as four people jumped out from his rooms into his hall. Christmas music was playing on his stereo and there was the distinct smell of turkey wafting from his kitchen, and four people were yelling, "Happy Christmas, Ren!" Faust had a green apron with a few brown blotches on it; Christmas lights surrounded Yoh; Manta smelled like pine, and Horohoro… Horohoro was wearing a red ribbon around his head instead of his headband.

At once Ren was pulled into the living room, which had been transformed into a priceless scene. There was a tall Christmas tree in the corner, covered with decadent balls and tinsel, with piles of gifts stuffed under it. Lights lined the top trim of the walls and the windows of the entire first floor, and Manta had obviously done something more: there was nicer furniture and better rugs throughout the house. Tears came to Ren's gold eyes as he was ushered around his house, which now was alive and full, no emptiness remaining. His dining room had a new table and chair set with beautiful Chinese symbols embroidered on the tablecloth, and then into the kitchen, where Faust had an entire banquet laid out. There was turkey in the oven, pecan and pumpkin pies, mashed potatoes, jasmine rice, and much more. It all looked so beautiful as Ren looked around at his new surroundings and people in his life, that he tilted his head over and began sobbing uncontrollably.

Faust, Manta and Horohoro stared at Ren, not knowing what to do, or why he was crying, but Yoh knew better. Yoh smiled and began laughing gently. Reaching his arms out, Horohoro held Ren close, rubbing his back as he cried.

"Thank you," Ren choked out, burying his face in the bartender's shoulder. "But why-?"

"Because we wanted to," Yoh said happily. "And Horohoro thought it might be nice for you. Well, we all sort of came up with it. Manta funded it." Yoh wrapped his arms around Manta's neck and kissed his cheek happily.

Manta smiled and admitted, "I wanted to do something for you."

Ren leaned his head against Horohoro, as he looked around at his other three friends, not knowing what to do.

"Something for both of you," Faust added knowingly.

A blush came over Ren's cheeks and the bartender's as well. Had this all been a plan set up by Yoh and Manta to get them each someone? It seemed unlikely… but not impossible. Suddenly, Ren burst out laughing, tear still falling down his cheeks. It was the first time anyone had heard him that happy and joyful, including himself. So, everyone else began laughing, and proceeded to sit together that night and talk, eat, and exchange more thoughtfulness than presents.