Sleigh Ride

A/N: Heh heh. Bit late for this, eh? Sorry! DX Anyway, here's some Raikim fluff to make up for my absence. I'm not sure whether or not you can get sleigh rides in New York, but you can in other big cities, so I'm just going to go ahead and guess. Sorry again!

"Ahh, Christmas shopping. The best part of the holiday," Kimiko sighed, smiling. She and Raimundo were walking down one of the many crowded New York streets, on a quest for Christmas presents for the others. Emma had gone off on her own, and Clay had taken Omi to a different mall. That way everybody could get everybody else's presents in relative secrecy.

"It's definitely a hassle when you have as many brothers and sisters as I do," Raimundo said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Still, I guess it's okay." He was used to shopping en masse with his family, and while part of him was relieved to not have to deal with the noise and mess, another part missed it. Kimiko noticed this, and gave him a gentle shove. "Hey, cheer up! If we get all our presents bought first, we can beat the others back to the Temple and start decorating early." Raimundo laughed and nodded. Decorating was definitely more fun than shopping.

After about an hour of running around New York, they had decided that all was in order. Raimundo carried his three bags, as well as Kimiko's seven, and Kimiko walked briskly ahead as he struggled behind. "Come on, Raimundo, we don't have all day!" Raimundo muttered under his breath about how chivalry was dead and why was he stupid enough to volunteer to do this? "Oh, Rai, look!" Kimiko's exclamation caught the Brazilian's attention and momentarily stopped his grumblings. Kimiko was pointing to an elegant white horse-drawn sleigh, like something out of an old movie.

"Can we ride on it? Oh please oh please oh please?" Kimiko asked, turning around and giving him her best puppy-dog look. Raimundo was used to fending off such looks from his sisters, but with Kimiko, he simply couldn't. Besides, it would be a nice reprieve from carrying all the heavy bags. "Yeah, why not?" he replied. Kimiko squealed and ran up to the carriage, giving the driver the requested amount of money. She climbed in, followed by Raimundo, who gladly dumped his bags on the floor. The driver, an older man with graying hair covered by a warm hat and glasses, chuckled.

"All set?" he asked. Raimundo and Kimiko nodded and the man turned around, flicking the horse's reins and starting them off. He flipped on the radio, holiday music beginning to play. "I've always wanted to ride in one of these," Kimiko admitted, smiling. "It always looked so magical, like something out of a storybook."

"Heh, heh. Look at you, miss sophisticated, gettin' all mushy 'cause of a carriage ride," Raimundo said, grinning mischievously. "Who'd have thought?"

"Shut up," Kimiko said, punching him in the arm. Raimundo just laughed and leaned back. Then a song came on and Kimiko's face lit up. "Oh! Raimundo, listen! What a coincidence!" Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling too. Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you. "Want to sing it with me?"
"Uh, no. I don't sing." Kimiko rolled her eyes and turned back to the front. However, in a moment she began to sing, and Raimundo had to hold back a chuckle. "Outside the snow is falling, and friends are calling yoo hoo. Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you," she sang, sending Rai a coy glance. But he was too busy staring at a display in a sports store. Kimiko frowned and continued to sing.
"Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling too. Come on it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you. Outside the snow is falling, and friends are calling yoo hoo. Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you!" Raimundo glanced back at Kimiko, who grinned hopefully, but he just rolled his eyes and turned back to his side. She huffed and continued, hoping he'd join in.
"Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, let's go! Let's look at the show. We're riding in a wonderland of snow. Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, it's grand, just holding your hand. We're gliding along to the song of a wintry fairy land." Raimundo just crossed his arms stubbornly- and felt something cold land on his nose. He looked up and realized that it had indeed begun to snow. Kimiko grinned and began the next verse.
"Our cheeks are nice and rosy, and comfy cozy are we. We're snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be. Let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two! Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you." Raimundo felt Kimiko scoot closer, and shook his head. Then he put an arm around her, which made her smile even bigger.
"Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, let's go! Let's look at the show. We're riding in a wonderland of snow. Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, it's grand, just holding your hand. We're gliding along to the song of a wintry fairy land." Raimundo sighed and shook his head again.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," he muttered to himself. Then he raised his voice and sang the next verse, making Kimiko pause in surprise. "Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling too. Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you." Kimiko positively beamed, and they sang the last verse together.
"Outside the snow is falling, and friends are calling yoo hoo. Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you. Oh yeah, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you." The driver pulled over to the side of the road, and Kimiko and Raimundo realized with surprise that they were right back where they had started.

"I hope you enjoyed the ride," the driver said, smiling at the teens as they disembarked. "We sure did," Kimiko replied, returning the smile. "Thank you, sir!" The man nodded and tipped his hat. She glanced at Raimundo, who was struggling to balance all the bags. Kimiko took four from his arms and slung the handles over her elbows. Raimundo sighed in relief and took three bags per hand, heading down the road with Kimiko.

"Okay, I admit it. That was fun," he said.

"It was, wasn't it? We should do it again next year." Raimundo went pale, making Kimiko laugh. "Okay, okay, I won't make you sing in public." He breathed a sigh and thanked her, making Kimiko laugh again. "That part can be every other year."

"H-hey!"