A Bump in the Road (COMPLETE)

Chapter Nine

            "Thanks for the business I gave you extra!" the man behind the counter smiled at me.

"Thank you sir!" I smiled, taking my bags and walked out into the crisp air.

I was in the shopping arcade buying things for long island. It was December, so there were Christmas decorations all over.

"What do you want for Christmas"

"Anything you choose for me would be great. Where do you want to go?"

The couple walking down the street was discussing Christmas plans. They held hands as they looked at each other lovingly. Just when I remembered that I didn't have any real plans yet, my phone went off.

"Hello?"

"Hey, what are you doing right now?" Uncle asked through the phone.

"I'm just about done with shopping, why what's up?"

"Come to the bar when you're done ok? Everyone is here putting up Christmas decorations and I could use your help,"

"Sure! I'll head over there now,"

Smiling, I hung up the phone and began to make my way back down to Long Island.

"I'm here!" I called out once I was through the door.

"Hey, sorry to call you in on your off day," Uncle said, looking a bit guilty.

"No it's okay. I didn't have anything planned so I was free," I set the bags behind the counter and took a look at the decorations already up, "wow, that's a big tree!"

Looking up with me, we both admired the large evergreen tree that touched the ceiling. Everyone was putting up ornaments and I dug into the boxes to help. I had just picked up an ornament and was deciding where to put it as Yamato walked through the door.

"Yamato!" I smiled, running over to him as I gave him a big hug.

"Hey, I didn't think you'd be here," he smiled but I could tell that he was also tired, "I figured you'd be at home cooking,"

"So you wouldn't have thought to call her?" Aki said from the other side of the room.

"No, I would have called her, then gone over to pick her up," he glared at him as he hung up his coat, "man, it's getting cold out there,"

"I wish you'd wear a heavier coat since you're riding your bike," I frowned at him as he cupped his hands in front of his mouth, blowing warm breath into them, "and wear gloves,"

"I know, I know. Things are just busy at work,"

He wasn't kidding. He had been working long nights to try to get everyone ready for finals that were happening right after the holidays. I was starting to worry that we weren't even going to be able to celebrate Christmas.

"It's weird though; everyone is excited for Christmas but we're Japanese. Shouldn't we be more focused on New Year's?"

"That's true, but I like the jolly atmosphere Christmas brings. Not to mention it was always my dad's favorite holiday,"

"I see," he smiled softly, placing a hand on my cheek. He always got that way when I talked about my parents.

Ever since I told him about my parents, he always gave me this depressed look; almost like he expected me to fall to pieces right then and there and sob about them. Granted, at the beginning that's how I really was and after everything that happened to me a few months ago I wasn't surprised that he was still like that.