The Christmas Shoes - co-authored by Neko

[Yue-chan]

Well, its that time of the year again. Christmas is only a few weeks away, and its time for Neko and I to write our annual Christmas Fanfic. This year's fanfic is based off of the story/song 'The Christmas Shoes'. Please enjoy.

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


Chapter One


A heavy blanket of snow covered the ground as more snow fell from the dark clouds that hung low in the sky. What wasn't covered in snow was frozen in a thick layer of icy frost. The only colors that dotted the landscape were white, blue-grey, brown, and black.

Enzan stared at the bleak winter landscape from the window of his father's study, where he had been told to wait. From the window the little boy could see only a small part of the property that was the Ijuin Estate. Though with all of the snow, there really wasn't to much to look at.

Sighing loudly, Enzan moved away from the window and started pacing around the study. He didn't want to be in this room, he wanted to be with his mom. She had been sick for a very long time, and, as young as he might be, he was smart enough to know that she wasn't going to get better, or she would have been better a long time ago. Which meant that every moment he had with her was precious. And that times like this, when the doctor came to check on her and Enzan was banished to the study would drive the small boy nearly mad.

After what seemed like an eternity, Enzan heard his father and the doctor murmurring out in the hallway, and then the doctor leaving. A few moments later Enzan's father opened the door to the study and walked inside. Enzan stood completely still as the tall, fierce looking man walked past his and sat down behind the large desk. He began typing at his computer a bit, ignoring his son while Enzan waited silently for his father to dismiss him. Finally Shuuseki looked up at his son, who stared back respectfully.

"You may leave now, Enzan," He said tonelessly. "But mind that you are not loud. Your mother needs her rest."

"Yes, Sir," Enzan replied, nodded.

"Then you may go." The older man turned his attention back to his computer, ignoring his son's presense completely.

Enzan didn't wait any longer, he left the study as quickly as he could. And as expected, went straight to his mother's room. After all, his father had said that he couldn't be loud, he hadn't said Enzan couldn't see her. Once he was down the hall a ways the little boy broke into a run. His mother's room was around the corner and at the end of that hall, and he made it there in short order, though he was slightly out of breath.

The door to the room was slightly ajar, and Enzan pushed it open a bit more so that he could slip in. The room was dimly lit by a single small lamp that was sitting on a little table next to the bed. Lying in the middle of the queen sized bed, propped up by several pillows and covered by several heavy quilts was a tired looking woman. It was clear that she had been sick for quite some time, and yet, at the same time, had not lost one bit of her beauty, for she was clearly a lovely woman. She smiled when she saw her son come into the room, and waved him over to the bed.

Smiling happily Enzan trotted over to the bed and crawled up next to his mother, lying his head down on her shoulder. She smiled back and wrapped her arm around him, hugging him gently.

"Hello, sweetie. Is it still snowing out?" she asked.

"Yeah. It looks really pretty outside. I wish you could go out and see it with me."

"Well, I'm sure you'll find some way to show it to me, anyways. You're a creative little boy, after all." She tickled Enzan's ribs, making him squirm and giggle.

"Yeah. I'll find some way to show you, I promise.." Enzan said in a determined tone. He'd do anything to make his mother happy.

"You know, you haven't told me what you want for Christmas yes, young man," said Enzan's mother in a mock-stern voice.

"I just want to spend it with you, Momma," Enzan said softly, cuddling against her.

"I'll do my best to make sure that happens, love," she said, wiping a tear from her eye.

A knock on the door interrupted the pair, and they both looked up to see one of the maids standing in the doorway, dressed in her winter clothing. She curtsied to them and stepped into the room.

"Sorry for disturbing you, Miss Cecilia, but I was running into town for a few things, and wanted to check on if you needed anything."

"No, I am fine," Cecilia said faintly, leaning back against the pillows. "But why don't you take Enzan with you, he could do with a little trip out of the house. It isn't good for a growing boy to be couped up all the time. I think I shall take a small nap while you're out."

Enzan wasn't happy about having to leave his mother just when he had started to visit. However, perhaps a trip into town would be a good thing. He still hadn't figured out just what to get her for christmas, and he had a little bit of money in his piggy bank, enough for a small gift, so he hoped. Maybe he would see something in the stores that would be perfect for his mother. Something that would make her smile for a little while. She didn't seem to smile as much any more, and he figured it was because she was so sick. He wanted her to get better, but he knew in his heart that that wasn't going to happen, so he wanted to do something that would make her happy, at least for a little while. So, while he would have rather stayed with his mother, he nodded and slid off of the bed and left with the maid.

~*~*~*~*~*

The various shops that Enzan and the maid visited were very busy with everyone out and about, buying gifts and decorations and a variety of other things to the fastly approaching holiday. Most of the stores were crowded and loud, and gave Enzan a headache. And he had yet to see anything he thought his mother would like. He wanted it to be something really special, and nothing in the stores they visited seemed to fit his idea of 'special'.

The maid, seeing his gloomy look, asked, "What's wrong, Enzan?"

"Nothing," Enzan said glumly.

"Oh, come now, something must be bothering you. Its your mother, isn't it?" She said, her tone kind and understanding.

Everyone in the household felt upset about their mistress's loosing battle with her illness, and they all dreaded the day when it would finally take her. Which was why they were trying to make this holiday extra special for her, knowing that it would most likely be her last.

Enzan nodded and looked up at the maid, tears in his eyes. "I want to find Momma a special present for christmas, but I haven't found anything yet. I'm afraid that I won't be able to find something in time."

"Well, with an attitude like that you won't, little master," the maid admonished. "You can't give up just because you haven't found anything yet. You just have to keep looking. Now come along. We're not even done shopping yet. You may find something at the next store, or the one after that. Just don't give up."

The advice was good advice, because in the next store, the perfect christmas gift for his mother all but jumped out at Enzan. The maid had taken him to the shoe department of a large store, needing to buy new shoes for her own son, and while she looked for a pair for him, Enzan decided to take a look around for himself. And sitting out of sight behind a corner of the large display shelf, Enzan spotted them. A pair of beautiful dress shoes, decorated with images of sprigs of holly and ivy. And they were just his mother's size.

He knew immediately that she would love them, and he knew that he just had to get them for her. He picked them up to look at the price, and right away ran into a snag. They cost more than what he had in his piggy bank, and he knew that his father wouldn't give him the money for them. He didn't want to ask the maid for the money, because he wanted the present to be from him alone. What was he going to do?

"Enzan? What have you got there?" The maid asked, coming over to his side. "Oh, what lovely shoes."

"Yeah, I want to buy them for Momma, but I don't have enough money. What can I do? I know she'd love them, but how am I supposed to buy them?"

"Don't give in just yet, Enzan," the maid said, taking the shoes from him and setting them back in the corner. "Its only the first of December, and you have another 24 days yet to buy them."

"But I don't have enough money, and I want to get them myself. I don't want to ask someone else for the money to get them."

"So, why don't you do what my sons do when they want to earn some money to get something they want?"

"What do they do?" Enzan asked, intrigued. He'd do just about anything to get those shoes.

"They collect cans and take them to the recycling plant. The recycling plant gives them a nickle for each can they bring in. That can add up pretty quickly if you can find enough cans. Think its worth a shot?"

Enzan nodded vigorously. Even if he had to collect every can in the city, he was going to get his mother those christmas shoes.
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"Life is like a video game; the final bosses always suck." -twinling

[feepitsrule]

THis is cute, but I have 1 little question: Since when was Enzan creative?
I wonder how he will collect all those cans. ^_^ 10/5(yay for improper fractions!)
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[SereneEXE]

This is so fluffy and cute at the same time! It's such a sweet story too.
20/10

[Kitty-Chan]

This is adorable; yay for Yuletide fluff!! ^_^
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Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*

[Neko]

Chapter 2

Enzan returned home in high spirits about the shoes. He was so happy that when his mother summoned him to her room he didn’t frown as the doctor left with a small tremble in his lips. He pushed open the door softly and poked his head in. “Hello?” he called.

His mom smiled and beckoned him over with a quick wave of her arm. Enzan smiled and padded over softly, climbing into bed and curling up next to her on her large, comfortable bed. “You look happy,” she said with a soft smile as she lifted up his boyish face to look at hers. “What’s the occasion?”

Enzan giggled and snuggled deeper into the sheets next to her. “It’s a secret,” he whispered.

His mom feigned surprise, “Really?” she gasped. “Well then, best not tell it. Secrets are meant to be kept, aren’t they?” she asked him.

Enzan nodded fervently. “Yeah,” he agreed. “And it’s a special secret too.”

His mom patted his head, “Well now, a special secret, such an important burden for my little boy.”

Enzan giggled and hugged his mother tightly. She smiled and gathered her little boy into her arms, stroking his hair gently and humming softly.

“Mommy?” Enzan asked her.

“Yes?” his mom replied.

“Can you promise me something?” Enzan asked.

His mom frowned then squeezed him tightly. “I’ll do my best, love. Now, what do you want me to promise?”

Enzan looked serious, but didn’t try to wiggle out of her grasp. “I know… you might have to go away soon, but…” he frowned and buried his face into her chest. “Can you promise you’ll stay with me through Christmas, mommy? That’s all I want.”

The sick woman smiled and held her son close to her as if she’d never let go. “I can promise you that, sweet. I promise that I will stay with you through Christmas, no matter what.”

Enzan blinked back tears he did not understand and nodded his head in an effort to mask them. “Thanks,” he replied in a shaky voice.

His mom smiled and set him back onto her lap. “Now you have to promise me something,” she said with a soft smile.

Enzan hastily rubbed away the hot tears from his eyes and did his best to look grown up. “Yes?” he asked.

“Promise me, when I go away that you’ll be a good boy, and no matter how difficult your father may get, promise me that you’ll always love him,” his mom said with a small smile as she pushed white bangs from her son’s eyes.

Enzan made a face, then nodded, “I promise, mommy.”

His mother smiled and gathered him into her embrace again, “That’s my boy,” she cooed softly. “That’s my precious boy.”

Enzan sniffled and lay quiet as his mother rocked him until she was too tired to any longer. When she drifted off to sleep he put the covers around her and fluffed her pillow; then he walked out of her room, closing the door with a soft click.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

The next morning and mornings after he wandered all over town during his free time looking for empty cans. A pop bottle here, an empty can there, they slowly accumulated in a small plastic bag in the car shed his father no longer used and where his mother’s car rested, abandoned by its owner. It wasn’t something he enjoyed doing, of course. Hunting all day for some silly metal things in the lower city wasn’t exactly his definition of fun, but it got him closer to getting his mother those beautiful shoes and for that he would give anything.

The more he searched the more he knew in his heart that he probably wouldn’t have enough. But because he was five and idealistic he trudged through the holiday slush to look for more cans.

Finally, he had accumulated many cans in three bags, and the it was Christmas eve morning. He knew he had to act fast if he was going to get those shoes.

Without a word to anyone he took his baggage and strolled out of the mansion grounds to the place where on his way home at the beginning of the month he had been shown where he could trade them in for money.

He stepped inside the cold little building and pulled the heavy bags over to a nice looking lady. He stopped and waited politely until she noticed him. “Hello?” she asked with a start.

Enzan bowed politely, “I want to turn these in for money so I can get mommy a present,” he explained in what he hoped sounded like a professional voice.

The woman chuckled softly and took his hand. “I know exactly where to go, follow me.”

Enzan frowned, “Where do the bags go?” he asked.

The woman nodded at them, “My friend will get them and bring them to the office. We can’t have a little boy like you lugging all that around.”

“I’m not little,” Enzan stated.

The woman smiled and swallowed a laugh. “I’m sure you’re not.”

Enzan watched as they weighed the bags and the woman counted out some money. “Here you go,” she said handing him the cash with a wink. “Plus a little extra, just to make sure your mom gets a nice gift.”

Enzan bowed again in a polite way and smiled at her courteously, just as he was taught. “Thank you,” he said and walked out of the door.

“Cute kid,” she said with a laugh.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Enzan hightailed it out of the small booth and ran as fast as he could to the store that carried the shoes. He ran into it, running into a kindly looking man wearing a lab coat and glasses. He uttered a rushed apology and ran into the store.

He went over to the shoes and looked at the price again. Then he counted the money. He bit his lip in an effort to mask the disappointment that was welling up in his chest.

It wasn’t enough.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There, see Yue, that wasn't so hard XD
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[feepitsrule]

T_T It is so sad. WHY COULDNT IT BE ENOUGH!! I feel soory for little Enzan. This is great work! You actually get the reader to FEEL something. (i lack emotion in my fic.) I hope his mom doesnt go kaput. Oh dear, that would e bad.
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[Neko]

[DjangoSP]

I almost cried when I read this. T_T I haven't felt this emotional since I last read Sailor Moon!! :D T_T Great piece of work, Neko! I hope U write more soon! ^_^
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I am Solar Boy Django! TAIYOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!



Credit goes to X-Zero EXE for the uber-cool sig!!! :D

[Kitty-Chan]

Aww, don't worry, Enzan. So, is the guy in the lab coat Yuu or Meijin? God I love yuletide fluff. ^_^
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Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*

[Neko]

Enzan grabbed the shoes and took them up to the register. He watched the lady check them out and saw the numbers come up on the small electronic window. His eyes widened when he saw the final price and looked down at the meager bills in his hands. The lady held out her hand for the money and he sheepishly put it into her hand. She counted it out and frowned, “Kid, you don’t have enough.”

Enzan frowned and looked at the gorgeous shoes, “B-but…” he said softly.

The clerk shook her head, “Look, kid, not enough is not enough, I’m sorry but unless you can pay you’re going to have to get out of line before a too many people get in it.”

The man he had run into earlier looked down at the small boy who was trying not to cry. Given the circumstances most other children would have but he stood his ground, blinking away the stinging tears and looking as resolute as a six year old possibly could.

The man kindly set down his shopping bags and put his hand on the child’s head. Enzan jumped and looked up into the man’s kind brown eyes. “Trying to get a present?” he asked him.

Enzan nodded solemnly, “Mommy’s not going to make it through tonight,” he said softly. “She’s leaving soon but I wanted to get her one last present. Only… it wasn’t enough,” he bit his lower lip to keep it from trembling.

The man’s brown eyes became sad, “I see,” he murmured. “I have a son too,” he told the child. “Right around your age, maybe a little younger. Most kids look forward to presents from their parents not the other way around.”

Enzan looked resolute, “I want to make mommy smile…” he said in a whisper. “One more time.”

The man nodded and smiled at the cashier, “I’ll pay for the rest,” he told her.

She looked surprised, then nodded. “Sure,” she said slowly.

The man pulled out his wallet and paid the substantial difference. The clerk bagged the shoes and handed them to Enzan with a smile. “Good luck, kid,” she said with a wink.

Enzan nodded at her then turned around and bowed to the man politely. “Thank you sir,” he said quickly and dashed out of the store.

The man smiled and turned back to the clerk to purchase his own items, including a small blue bandana on the top of the pile.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Enzan ran into his house and hurriedly took off his shoes. He knew he didn’t have time to wrap the present nicely so he merely took the shoes out of the box and ran upstairs as fast as he could. A nursemaid saw him and breathed a sigh of relief, “There you are, Enzan-sama. Your mother is calling for you.”

Enzan took in a deep breath and nodded. “I’m ready,” he said softly.

The nursemaid nodded and Enzan went into the dark room.

His mother lay on her bead with her dark hair splayed around her pillow. Her face was almost as white as the sheets as she took in shallow breaths. When Enzan saw her, he once again bit his lower lip to keep himself from crying out to his mother. He held the shoes in trembling hands and stepped forward, “Mother?” he asked softly.

His mother’s kind eyes opened a little and she smiled. “Enzan?” she called out.

Enzan ran over to his mother’s side and held out the shoes, “I couldn’t wrap them…” he said softly. “But merry Christmas!”

His mother gazed at the shoes, then at her son and smiled broadly. “I…truly was blessed,” she said shakily while lifting her hand to stroke Enzan’s hair, “to…have you.”

Enzan sniffed and his lip trembled even more violently.

His mother smiled and lifted his chin up, “Don’t cry,” she told him with a wink. “I don’t want… to see my son… sad or upset. I want… you to be.. happy.”

Enzan nodded and walked closer to his mom. She patted the bed and nodded, “Stay with me?” she asked softly.

Enzan set the shoes down and crawled next to his mother on her bed. She placed her feeble arms around him and stroked his hair while humming a lullaby she used to sing to him all the time. “Don’t cry,” she breathed again. “My little Enzan.”

Enzan shut his eyes tightly and curled into her embrace. She held him tightly and continued to stroke his hair while her own tears fell into her dark hair. “Don’t cry… don’t cry…” she murmured over and over to herself.

“Mommy?” Enzan asked.

“Hm?” she replied.

“Do you like the shoes?”

“Yes,” she said with a smile. “I wish to wear them… always…”

Enzan nodded and hugged his mother tightly. She hugged him back and kissed the top of his head. “Can you… promise me… something?”

Enzan nodded as he continued to hold back his tears.

“Promise me… you’ll be a good… child. I want… you… to be… happy…” she said quietly.

“I promise,” Enzan said in a quivering voice.

“Thank… you…” she said and held him again. “Stay… with… me…”

Enzan obliged and stayed in her embrace while she stroked his hair and continued to hum until she had no voice left. Eventually Enzan fell asleep on that cold night, some time after midnight he guessed.

The next morning he was awoken by a loud cry from the nursemaid. “Lady!” she gasped.

“Mommy?” Enzan asked sleepily.

The nursemaid gathered Enzan in her arms and shook her head. “Don’t worry Enzan-sama… just come with me…”

“Mommy?” Enzan asked again, more loudly this time.

“Enzan-sama…” the nurse protested as he squirmed. Enzan finally got free and he ran over to where his mother lay peacefully, as if sleeping.

He reached out a tentative hand and touched her face. “Mommy…” he whispered. It was cold and unnatural, he knew then that she would never wake up again.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

At the funeral, the nursemaid saw to it that Lady’s last promise was kept. When Enzan peered over the coffin to say his last good bye to her she was dressed in a beautiful white gown and she was wearing the Christmas Shoes her son had worked so hard to earn for her.

“Lady looks like an angel,” the nursemaid said softly.

Shuuseki turned away from the scene and stared at the floor from his seat.

Enzan shook his head, “No,” he protested. “She looks like my mother.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I haaaaate writing death scenes... no matter who it is, if it's not a bad guy it makes me cry.

GAH!

Anywho, here's the last bit for you guys.
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Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[DjangoSP]

*sniff* *sniff* WAAAAH! T_T T_T T_T This was soo beautiful!! I've never read something as soulful and meaningful as this. You've done a great job, Neko. You've got a future in writing dramas...
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I am Solar Boy Django! TAIYOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!



Credit goes to X-Zero EXE for the uber-cool sig!!! :D

[SereneEXE]

*sob**sob* This is such a sad story....WAAAAAAAAAH! T_T You two potrayed the story so well. The ending was *sob* so emotional! Awwww... that was nice of Yuu to help Enzan out.

[Yue-chan]

*wipes the tears from her eyes* You did the ending real justice, Neko. Great job.
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"Life is like a video game; the final bosses always suck." -twinling

[kuro-kitsune]

;_;

AH~ This is so sweet and heartwarming and... and... AH!!!

The last line you wrote for Enzan was absolutely brilliant! BRILLIANT!! So childish yet mature... I feel sad yet warm and fuzzy on the inside. *hugs Sempai*

~kuro-kitsune~

[Kitty-Chan]

Sad yet fluffy. Poor Enzan-kun! T_T
_________________
Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*