Kaiya POV

"Eh? Kaiya I thought you usually study for finals with Ran and Sonoko." Conan came into Agasa's house where I was studying.

"Well... Sonoko is a great friend but when it comes to studying...." I trailed off.

- flashback -

(at the school library)

"Kaiya, Ran how do you solve this math problem?!" Sonoko thrust a book in our faces.

"Umm well... if you factor this.... and multiply that... then you should be able to solve for x." I explained.

"But the teacher taught it this way." Ran pulled out a copy of her notes.

"I guess that works too but I probably learned it differently since I did most of my schooling in America." I explained.

"Agh you both are confusing me!" Sonoko groaned in frustration. "Which way is the right way then?"

"Shh!" the librarian gave us a disapproving look.

"Sorry..." Ran and I sweatdropped. Yikes, librarians are scary...

- flashback ends -

"So yeah... that's how our study session turned out." I told Conan.

Conan and Haibara laughed at my story.

"Ya know, you have to take the finals too, Kudo-kun." I reminded him.

Conan 's smile faded and his expression turned to one of panic. "That's right!"

I sighed. "You're lucky Ran prepared something for you." I went into my backpack. "She made a study guide and wanted me to give it to you."

"This is so thorough!" Conan read through the pages. Of course it was thorough... Ran was worried because Shinichi missed a lot of classes so she took extra notes and made a study guide for him. But he was pretty smart anyways so I'm sure he'll be fine.

***********************

(a week later)

After a whole week of finals... we were finally on break. Shinichi managed to make it through the week by taking the antidotes before school.

"Ahh we're done with finals!" Sonoko cheered. "That was exhausting!"

"We should hang out over winter break!" Ran said and Masumi and I nodded.

"Do you have any plans over break?" Masumi asked.

"Probably reading murder mystery books as usual." I replied.

"Those books are really good." Masumi agreed.

"My family's going skiing over the weekend! You guys should come with!" Sonoko urged us.

***********************

"Whoo hoo!" I shouted as I skiied down the slope. Sonoko managed to get a cabin for all of us so we went skiing. It was certianly a beautiful resort, like a winter wonderland. I laughed as we had snowball fights and built snowman. I haven't seen snow in so long! The resort also had amazing hot chocolate with peppermints and marshmellows.

**********************

(back home)

"Kaiya-chan, we must go Christmas shopping!" Yukiko told me eagerly.

"Just be careful not to over do it." Yusaku reminded Yukiko.

"We're all going Christmas shopping so it's fine!" Yukiko declared.

"We're going as well?" Shuichi and Yusaku looked at each other.

**********************

"Oh my gosh, look at all of these Christmas trees!" Yukiko gushed. "We should totally get one, I meant to put up Christmas decorations earlier but we were out of town." She ran to another section as well. "And these ornaments are so pretty! And these Christmas lights!" she motioned for Yusaku to come. "Which one should I choose? They are all so pretty!"

"We're probably going to spend a few hours at this department store." Yusaku sighed. "Christmas is Yukiko's favorite holiday."

I walked around around the store, thinking about what presents to get everybody. I need to get something for the Kudos, Shuichi, Ran, Sonoko, Shinichi, Amuro, the detective boys... agh Christmas shopping is more stressful than I imagined.

And in case you were wondering... we did end up staying at the department store for a long time...

**********************

"It's almost Christmas!" I greeted the detective boys as they came to hang out at Agasa's house.

"I can't wait for Santa to come!" Ayumi cheered.

"But Santa's not -" Conan begin before I cut him off by clearing my throat.

"They don't need to know that yet." I muttered.

"They're still kids." Haibara agreed.

"What about Santa?" Genta asked.

"Umm what Conan-kun meant to say is that Santa's not here yet, but I'm sure he'll bring lots of presents." I grinned.

"Yay!" the detective boys cheered.

"In the meantime, I have a quiz for you!" Agasa appeared in a Santa suit.

"It'd better not be a lame quiz." Mitsuhiko said.

"I bet this one is a good one, ho ho ho!" Agasa chuckled and handed out Santa hats to everyone.

**********************

(Christmas Eve)

"Tada!" Yukiko came to the living room eagerly. "I bought everyone matching pajamas for Christmas!" she held up red shirts that said Merry Christmas and pairs of red plaid pants.

I blinked at the colorful clothing as Yukiko handed an outfit to everyone.

"If I'm wearing these, so are you." I turned to Shuichi, who looked relucant to wear it.

The pajamas were so comfy though so it was actually a pleasant surprise.

**********************

"You're unusually quiet today." Shuichi commented as we hung the ornaments on the Christmas tree.

"Well... it's just that since it's the holidays... I miss my parents more than usual." I sighed.

"You're not alone in feeling that way." Shuichi replied.

"Do you think we'll ever take down the Organization?" I asked quietly.

"Don't make that kind of face. I know we will." Shuichi stated. "But it would do you some good to put that off your mind and enjoy the holidays."

"Like calm before a storm?" I questioned as I turn on the TV.

"If you think of it that way, yes." Shuichi said.

"Ooh what Christmas movie are watching?" Yukiko and Yusaku came in.

"Let's see, there's Home Alone... or Elf.... or the Santa Clauses... and the Polar Express!" I browsed through the selections.

"The Polar Express is a classic." Yusaku stated.

"Then let's watch that one!" I smiled.

**********************

(Christmas Day)

"Kaiya, open your present first!" Yukiko exclaimed.

"Me?" I pointed to myself.

"Yes, go ahead and open it!" Yukiko nodded as Yusaku and Shuichi watched from behind.

I saw a box with wrapped paper and slowly lifted it, and I gasped in surprise as a small fluffy white and ginger kitten poked her head out curiously.



"Oh my gosh, she's adorable!" I squealed in delight and pet the kitten. I've always wanted to have a kitten!

"You should name her." Yusaku suggested.

"How about... Mizuki?" I looked at the kitten with her adorable beady eyes.

Mizuki meowed in agreement and curled up on my shoulders.

"Thank you for everything." I smiled gratefully at everyone.

***************

"Mizuki-chan, where are you? We have to take you to the vet." I called. "Mizuki-chan?" I paused when I saw Mizuki curled up on Shuichi's lap on the sofa.

"She's sleeping." Shuichi motioned for me to be silent.

"Akai-san... don't tell me you like cats too?" I asked with a smile.

"They're... alright." Shuichi replied. "However, it's a lot of responsibility to have a pet."

"Aww just admit that you like cats! I'm so happy to have found another cat lover!" I grinned.