"I've only heard of snow in stories." Marshall said. "But how come it's snowing in a ship? I know how the ice rink is here, but according to the stories it's not supposed to snow inside."

"I guess this is Sel....I mean Sakura's doing. I guess she wanted something special for us to experence" Amelia replied.

Marshall blinked, but decided not to pry on Amelia's near-slip-up. "Well, it's pretty." He said, catching a snowflake on his palm. "It's not even cold!"

"I know right? Should we go somewhere else or give this skating ago again?" Amelia asked.
Shoot, I nearly gave it away she thought All he knows is this. Selena Kuro is dead. I can't let him know That Sakura Kamikaze is Selena.

"Either's good with me." Marshall said, pulling himself to his feet and offering a hand to Amelia.

---

Haine about groaned. This day wasn't getting any better. "So, we still don't have everyone we need." She said. "Can this day get any worse?" Takano opened his mouth to make a comment, but Haine cut him off. "Don't answer that."

To answer that question, Laria brought out a hat.
"We're going to do an old earth traditon. Something called Secret Santa" she said.

---

Amelia giggled and took his hand.
"But it was you who asked me to hang out" she said.

"What's the point of Earth traditions? I mean, it's not like it's a planet." Haine said. Everyone looked to her, incredulous. "Look, I admit that Earth must've existed at some point, considering how we're all the same species here...well, except for the floaty guy over there by Yuma. But it doesn't anymore; Earth was destroyed millennia ago."

"It's still there, though! We're from Earth!" Yuma protested.

"Because you're from a different point in the time stream." Haine explained. "Earth is dead. End of story."

"No, it's not dead" Laria said sternly, "Its still run over by the Earthbound Immortals. Ask Kamazasi here, she knows. Anyway, the tradition goes, you pick a name out of this hat, and the name you get, you have to buy, or make a present for them. However, this time, Kamazasi has put what part of the circle they are. There is no budget on this one, so you have free range. There is one more other thing. It MUST help them on their quest."

---

Few minutes later, the two got the hang of the skating, and is skating around the rink.
"This is a lot of fun" Amelia said.

Ryoga audibly groaned. "This again?" He asked. "No way. I'm not getting involved with this."

---

"Yeah, once we can stop falling on our butts." Marshall said with a smile.

"You are doing it and that's final" Laria scolded at Ryoga, which made him slump into his chair, "If this one was the fun kind, then it would be an option, but it's not. Anyway, there are 4 of each kind on the peices of paper: Angel, Dracomancer, Swordsman, and Wizard. Then decide what can help them in any way, shape or form. And no take backsies either."
"Fine, whatever, now can I go back to figuring out how to use these stupid rings already?" Rei snapped. She was in a bad mood, pissed that she still wasn't able to activate the rings.

---

"You got that right" Amelia replied, "But we got a hang of it at the end, didn't we?"

"I'll work with you on that once this meeting's done." Selena said. "Don't worry about it."

"And mine, too?" Kaito asked.

"No, because you're heading back to the medbay when we're done." Selena replied, making Yuma snicker.

"Shut up, you idiot!" Kaito said, whacking Yuma over the head with his fist.

"Enough! Or I'll ground the both of you!" Selena barked. Both boys cut it out.

---

Marshall nodded. "Though I think I might've cracked my tailbone."

"You sure?" Rei asked "There is no WAY you be able to do that."

---

"We go the sickbay when we come back to HQ. Ok?" Amelia said.

"You'd be surprised what I'm capable of, Rei Honda." Selena said with a smile. "You're not the first magick-user I'll have trained."

---

"Right." Marshall agreed. "And then lunch! My treat."

"But is it you always saying that you are a physic, not a mage? Hm?" Laria pointed out, making Selena embarrassed right on the spot.

---

"Why not the other way round" Amelia said, "there is a chance that you might not be released to take me to lunch."

"Psychics and mages do have skills in common, controlling their aura being one of them." Selena replied, feeling her face redden. "It's true that I can't teach her all the skills as a mage, but I can give her a good start, starting with those rings."

"Wait, Sakura," Yuma said. "You said that you've trained mages before. Who were they?"

Selena gave him a quirked-up eyebrow and a mischievous half-smile. "Spoilers."

---

"That'll work too," Marshall said. "My tailbone will hate me, but it's no worse than Yurine hitting me over the head with her wrench."

Amelia nodded.
"Shall we go?" she said, then notice that Marshall had a box in his hand.
Oh no....I hope it's not form Kaimiri.... she thought

Marshall looked down to where Amelia was looking. "Oh, this! I didn't know when your birthday was, so...I picked this up in the drifter colony, before the crap hit the fan." He said. He handed her the package. "Go ahead, open it!"

Amelia took it and opened it the package. Then she gasped.
"Marshall. You shouldn't have" she said as she took out a bracelet, with obsidian and rubies weaving through it.

Marshall shrugged. "Well, like said, Yule is coming up and I didn't know when your birthday was, so...."

Amelia hugged him.
"Thank you" she said, "this is the first time anyone been this kind to me like that."

"Well, you deserve it." Marshall said. "I mean it."

After she put it on, the two headed to a cafe, holding hands.
"You are so, sweet" Amelia said.

Marshall laughed. "Thanks. Usually I'm just an idiot." He said. "Ask Yurine. Or Jiyann. Or Aotori."

"Oh? It seems that they don't know you as well" Amelia said, "You are sweet, kind, and thoughtful."

Marshall smiled his usual soppy grin. "I think there's things all of us don't know about the others." He said. "Yurine hasn't told anyone why she's got so many anger issues. Jiyann hasn't said why he can't feel emotions. And Aotori...well, none of us know what 'species' Aotori is. He's weird."