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I tried, but I could not bring myself to wait to post this even a couple of days.

And they'd thought the decorations in the hall had been bad. The cheer radiating from the mansion's halls on Christmas morning was enough to send even Shinobi running to hide up in his room - not like he was expecting to get any gifts, anyway. Well, besides the one he'd ordered for himself.. which meant that he had something he needed to do. With a long, slim box in hand - devoid of wrapping paper - he eyes the door to the basement, taking a deep breath. It's practically noon, Shinobi.. you won't be waking her up. Up comes a hand, and despite the lack of success he had last time, he lightly raps a fist against the door.

Sarah is, in fact, sleeping. The fact that the rest of the mansion is bustling with excitement doesn't change the fact that the basement is always quiet, and the room is dark. Rolling over, she pulls her blanket tighter. "What is it?"

"Have that present I promised you," Shinobi offers, after opening the door just enough so that he doesn't have to speak through it. "But, er.. I can come back, if you're enjoying the quiet too much right now."

She sighs. Really, she'd like to tell him to fuck Christmas, to go the hell away because she's sleeping. What a wonderful Christmassy mood. Instead, she stretches out and props herself up on her elbow. "Come on in."

"You sure?" Sometimes, he's just too damn nice, isn't he? Shinobi winds up ducking inside anyway, mostly because he heard the pitter-patter of footsteps rounding the corner, and quickly closes the door before anyone can decide to come pry Sarah out of bed. "Bloody kids.." He looks over his shoulder, pausing and looking rather apologetic. "I woke you up, didn't I?"

"Yeah, it's okay." She sounds tired still. Finally she sits up and curls her legs beneath her, wrapping the blanket around her like a cloak. "Well come on, show me what you've got."

Briefly frowning to himself, Shinobi nods slightly, casting a brief little look around - probably looking to see if Jono is in the room, too - before obediently crossing the room, offering the box with a slight shrug. "I thought you might like it.. whether it gets me back on good terms with you or not."

A vague smile crosses Sarah's expression, whether Shinobi can see it or not. "Thanks." She takes the box with both hands, the blanket falling down around her waist except for a corner that catches and clings to a bone protrusion on her shoulder. Sarah doesn't really notice it, and begins to open the box very carefully.

It's likely just as well that Shinobi's averted his eyes just the same, his hands crammed into his pockets as he casts a look back towards the door. "Least I could do.. and I really *am* sorry. Wasn't thinking." It doesn't take an educated eye to be able to tell, just by looking at it, that the katana contained within the box must have cost a small fortune. But most importantly, it's shiny. Very shiny.

Sarah's eyes widen when she sees what's inside the box. A katana. He bought her a fucking katana for Christmas and he's sorry over something stupid... She looks up at him. "Sit down already. You're making me feel bad."

"Huh?" Blinking once, he looks to Sarah again when she speaks, surprised enough that he hasn't yet noticed the state the sheet's in. "Oh.. didn't mean to." With a faint grin and a sheepish shrug, he obediently steps over so that he can sit on the edge of the bed, leaving as much personal space as he can without being out of comfortable conversation range.

"This is gorgeous," she breathes, like she's scared that she's dreaming again and doing the wrong thing will make everything go away. "I can't believe you bought me this." She looks over at him, a faint glimmer of the thrill of Christmas in her expression. "Thank you."

"I thought you might like it.. sharp and pointy, and all." Shinobi shrugs, loosely clasping his hands in his lap and glancing to her with a faint smile. After just how sincere she seems to be actually sinks in, his smile warms considerably, and he inclines his head. "You're very welcome."

She puts the lid carefully back on the box, resting her hands over it. "You didn't have to, you know." She felt really bad now. She'd threatened to kick his ass, and he'd gotten her a katana. He was either very sweet, or incredibly stupid. The thought nearly makes her laugh out loud.

"I know. I wanted to." Shoulders lift in another shrug, and Shinobi returns his gaze to the floor, studying the oh-so-fascinating patterns that exist there if he pretends hard enough.

"Why?" The way she says it is nearly incredulous, with a little half-laugh thrown in. "Why buy the monster in the basement something that she doesn't deserve?"

"You *aren't* a monster, first of all," Shinobi states firmly, quickly looking back towards Sarah with a faint frown. "And you do deserve it, as far as I'm concerned. Deserve more than just a silly little sword. Just.. can't buy everything else, I guess." Briefly making a face at himself, he shrugs helplessly, reaching up to rub at the nape of his neck. "Besides," he adds after a moment, his voice a bit more quiet, "You're.. quite honestly my best friend, and the only one I've ever had. So I wanted to get you something. Even if it was just a stupid sword."

Sarah watches him, not quite sure what to say. There's a long silence before she takes a deep breath and scoots a little closer. "I'm sorry," she whispers.

"For what?" Now it's Shinobi's turn to sound incredulous. He slowly shakes his head, looking to his lap and loosely curling his arms around himself. "You don't have anything to be sorry for, Sarah. Honestly."

"For not being able to take compliments and gifts gracefully, for one." A small smile accompanies this, and then she shrugs. "And sometimes I'm a real bitch to people who don't deserve it. I think I can be sorry for that."

"Grace of all kinds takes practice," Shinobi agrees quietly, looking to her sidelong with a faint grin. "And I still don't think you have anything to apologize to me for, but if you insist.. apology accepted."

She smiles, hugging her knees to her chest with the katana box still there, in the gap between her legs and torso. "I don't suppose you'll take a raincheck for a Christmas gift? I wasn't expecting to care this year...like always."

"If you really want to get me something, sure," Shinobi blinks, looking a bit stunned as he turns his head to eye the girl next to him. "You really don't have to, though.. I mean, I'm happy just having your forgiveness and occasional company for a smoke on the porch."

"Don't get too excited," she adds quickly, "we're probably talking a poem or somesuch nonsense I've written on a piece of notebook paper in the middle of class. You're not getting a katana from me."

Laughing, Shinobi shakes his head, finally allowing himself to crack a genuinely pleased grin. "That's alright. A poem or somesuch nonsense would be perfect, if you really wanted to."

"Yeah," she nods, "I do." She rests her head on her knees, head turned to keep facing him. "Merry Christmas," she adds with a smile.

His grin briefly twitching at the sight, Shinobi nods his head slightly, returning his gaze to his lap with another bashful rub at the nape of his neck. "Merry Christmas," he echos, and for perhaps the first time in his life, he actually means it.