'Til dept do us part'

Chapter 10

December 25, 2005

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**Dooshik's POV**

Christmas was always the same with Shenjiro. Since we live together, we ended up spending the day together, doing practically everything side by side. It wasn't something I minded... usually.

"Hey... excited for your birthday tomorrow?" Shenjiro asked, sipping tea with an unsettling twinkle in his eyes.

"I guess," I muttered, knowing what was coming.

"Ehh?! 'I guess'? Don't make me kick you, Shiky! On that day, an *angel* was born!" Shenjiro declared, somehow managing to create sparkles around himself, like some sort of money-loving saint.

We moved to the table for breakfast, which Shenjiro had somehow prepared without burning the place down. "Let's exchange gifts after breakfast~!" he chimed, plopping down beside me.

"Sure thing, boss," I replied, trying to hide my nervousness. It had become an unspoken rule to eat first before opening gifts, and I hoped, just this once, my gift didn't fall flat. He had everything-what do you give someone who could literally buy the moon if he wanted to?

As I watched Shenjiro open my gift, I could feel the sweat trickle down my back. My palms were damp, heart racing-what if he didn't like it?

He gasped.

My heart dropped. *Oh, no. I blew it.* I was mentally kicking myself when suddenly Shenjiro stood up and slowly walked over to me.

"M, I'm sorry, if you don't like it, I understand-"

I was cut off by a hug. "I love it," he whispered, squeezing me tighter.

*He loves it?* My brain malfunctioned for a second. *He LOVES it!*

I couldn't help it. I hugged him back, probably tighter than I should. "I'm glad!" I exclaimed, my heart soaring.

Then Shenjiro pulled back, holding up the necklace I'd given him. "520, huh?" He smirked mischievously. "You know that means 'I love you' in number code, right? Is this your way of confessing?"

Panic mode activated. "Well, uh, you see, the thing is..."

"Lighten up, Shiky! Haha! You should see your face. You're as red as a Christmas ornament!" Shenjiro laughed, completely shattering my heart. Of course, he was just messing with me. I must've looked ridiculous.

"Would you mind putting it on, though? I kinda like it, ya know," he said, flipping his hair out of his messy bun, letting it cascade down like something out of a shampoo commercial. He looked beautiful, more than usual, and I could feel my pulse picking up again.

"Cute," I accidentally muttered.

"Hm? You say something?" Shenjiro asked, oblivious, as he tied his hair back up, making me snap back to reality.

"N-No! Nothing!"

Suddenly, he handed me a small box. "Great minds think alike," he said with a knowing grin.

I opened it to reveal a gold necklace with the number '1437' on it.

*1437?* I almost choked. Did this mean...? "So... do you like it?" he asked nervously, almost uncharacteristically shy for a second.

"I love yo-I mean it! I love the gift! Haha!" We both laughed awkwardly at my blunder. But this was... everything. My heart was doing backflips as I slipped the necklace on. It fit perfectly, just like everything with him.