AN: Here is a Christmas story. I will be writing more as I am in the mood but wanted atlease chapter one out before Christmas. I hope you like the story. Everything belongs to Four Leaf Studios.
I wake up to another cold winter day. I debate about weather or not to climb out from under the nice warm blankets but today is the last day of school for two weeks. Christmas Eve, Hanako & I will be staying with my parents during the break. Hanako & I talked about asking my parents if Lilly & Akira would be able to join us. Akira has two weeks off but she & Lilly had no real plans for the holidays plus Hanako always spent Christmas with them since they met. Granted that was just one year but why stop a good thing. I finally crawl out of bed getting ready for class. Before I do I decide to call my mother. I don't really think she will answer but I can leave a message.
I thumb down to my Mom's number pushing the send button. It rings twice before surprisingly she picks up.
Aira
"Hello Aira Nakai speaking. How are you doing Hicchan"
Hisao
"Wow Hello Mom. I'm fine I didn't expect you to pick up."
Aira
"Is everything OK? What did you need to talk to me about?"
OK this will be easy a direct answer without having to wait all day.
Hisao
"Well Hanako & I were wondering if it would be OK to bring our friends Lilly & Akira. Their only family here is each other & Lilly is mine & Hanako's best friend. It would be nice to spend Christmas Break with them."
Aira
"We only have the one guest room."
I ready myself for the no.
Aira
"But I think we can work something out. It will be an honor to have your friends join us."
I'm relieved she said yes.
Hisao
"Great that will also help with travel since Hanako & I wont have to take the train this time. Akira has her own car. I'll let Lilly know hopefully we will all see you when we get home."
Aira
"I look forward to it see you later Hicchan.
I hangup & head off to class. Hanako is at her desk when I enter. She smiles to me as I walk to her desk.
Hisao
"I talked to my mom this morning she said it would be OK to bring Lilly & Akira with us"
Hanako
"Th-that's great. We sh-should let them know as soon as class if over."
As if on cue Mutou enters the room. I quickly go to my desk sitting down. I start to day dream as Mutou begins his lectures. I pay attention as much as I can but the thought of spending two weeks with my Parents, My Girlfriend, & our closest friends is too good a prospect.
It feels as though class drags on forever but finally the bell rings singing the song of freedom & the start of Winter break. Luckily we leave our class just as Lilly is leaving hers. I guess with the break starting her Class Representative duties are over till we return. Hanako in excitement rushes to her.
Hanako
"Lilly! H-Hisao's parents s-said you & Akira can come s-spend Winter Break with us."
Lilly smiles when she hears the news. I've come to tell the difference between her normal smiles & the ones of real happiness, at lease sometimes.
Lilly
"My that will be nice to spend the season with you two. I'll be sure to call Akira as soon as I make it back to my room."
Hisao
"Yeah we should all get ready & pack our things. If Akira decided to come you think she would mind driving us?"
Lilly
"I couldn't see why she wouldn't I'll let you all know what she says as soon as I get a hold of her."
We all head to our rooms to pack our things for the holiday. It should be easier than Summer break was seeing as it is only two weeks this time. After I pack up enough warm clothes, my medication, gifts (for Hanako, Lilly, Akira, My Parents & Yoshi) & the small travel chess set I head over to the Girl's Dormitory to meet Hanako & Lilly. I knock on Hanako's door first. No answer but I hear the door behind me open up. Turning around I see Hanako peaking out of Lilly's room.
Hanako
"Hisao, w-we are almost ready c-come in."
She steps aside opening the door letting me in. I close the door behind me. Lilly turns her head in my direction as the door clicks shut.
Lilly
"Hello Hisao. I called Akira she said she will grab some things & be by to pick us up."
Hisao
"That will be great."
I sit down while Hanako & Lilly finish their packing. Not sure how much time passed before a loud knocking starts on Lilly's Door.
Lilly
"You can come in Akira I know it's you."
The door opens reviling it is indeed Akira. She flashes us her wide grin.
Akira
"I can't wait for this two week vacation. Hey Hisao thanks for the invite."
Hisao
"No problem it should be fun"
After everything is packed we load all of our stuff into Akira's car starting our trip to my house. I give directions & manage not to get us lost. We arrive just as the sun is starting to set. It doesn't appear that my parents are home yet.
When we park I get out of the car. Going to the door I unlock it allowing everyone in before we unload the car. Hanako & Lilly takes the room Hanako stayed in last time. Akira takes the couch & of corse I take my room.
Akira
"I normally sleep in the nude but seeing as you're a good host I'll make due with t-shirt & shorts."
Lilly
"Akira! That is not proper thing to joke about with a man who has a girlfriend."
Akira
"Calm down Lils I wanted to see if Hisao would turn red."
I get some pillows & blankets from the linin closet for Akira placing them on the couch. It's too late to go out to get something to eat so I heat up some things. Can't really say it's cooking but it's something. No one seems to mind the meager offerings. After our snack we head back into the living room to watch some TV while we wait for my parents to get home. Just as the half hour show is wrapping up we hear my parents car pull up parking next to Akira's.
The door opens as my parents come in. We stand up as they step into the house.
Aira
"Hello Hicchan & Hanako are these your friends?"
Hisao
"Yes this is Lilly & her sister Akira."
I motion to each as I introduce them. They bow as they are introduced.
Lilly
"Thank you for welcoming us for the holiday season."
Senzo
"When they were here for Summer both Hisao & Hanako spoke highly of you two."
Aira
"Yes it will be a pleasure having you."
Senzo
"I Assume you all have settled in alright?"
Hisao
"Yes Hanako & Lilly will be sharing the guest room & Akira will be staying on the couch."
My dad nods as I tell him the arrangements we made.
Senzo
"Sounds like you have everything worked out."
Mom heads to the kitchen to start dinner. It isn't long before the meal is done. In honor of us being here for our break mom made my favorite. Curry & Rice & Miso Soup. We eat in relative quiet. After dinner on suggestion of Akira & Lilly (& supported by my Parents) Hanako & I take part in a Christmas eve tradition neither of us have been able to in the past.
We walk through my neighborhood quietly talking. Hanako is on my left side holding on to my arm as we look at all the beautiful lights. I take out a photo our classmate Misaki Kawana took a few days ago. Looking at it I show Hanako. It is Hanako, Lilly & me in the park on a Sunday. The sun had already set & it started snowing. The photo shows me pointing to the sky describing the scene to Lilly with Hanako looking up as well. I remember her acting a bit weird at the time but didn't know why until I was given the Photo.
Hisao
"Is that gift in your hand why you were all nervous & fidgety?"
She looks at the photo. The gift in her hand clearly viable in it. Turning red she nods a bit.
Hanako
"I-I wanted to give it to you e-early but I c-changed my mind at the last minute."
She lets go of my arm long enough to pull the same gift in the photo from her coat pocket. Handing it to me. As I take it I notice her hand go up to the necklace I gotten her on the last day of our past visit here. She hasn't worn it much at school keeping it in a box on the shelf above her bed. I unwrap the gift reviling a pocket watch. It's not just any pocket watch either. It is the one I was looking at the last time Hanako & I went to Othello's Antiques.
I can't help but smile as I wind it up listening to the ticking. I place it in my pocket then pull out a small box handing it to her.
Hisao
"Thank you I love it. I hope you like what I got you."
She takes the box from me opening it, It is a pair of hair clips they are fake gold but will never lose their color on each one is a small flower one with green peddles & one with Purple both having a yellow center.
Hisao
"I thought it would be nice that sometimes when we are alone you could wear them to pin back your hair."
She looks up into my eyes like it is the worse idea I ever had in my life.
Hisao
"I like seeing your whole beautiful face."
Her look changes to one of happiness almost looking like she might cry.
Hanako
"I do l-like them they are beautiful. I'll wear them n-next time we are alone or at a tea party w-with Lilly."
I smile kissing her on the head.
Hisao
"I'll like that."
She places the hair clips into her pocket then wraps her arms around mine. We head back to my house, as we walk she lays her head on my shoulder nuzzling in. As we walk in we notice only Akira & Lilly are up. My parents having gone to bed after a long day of work. Hanako & I sit down telling our friends of the gifts we given each other. Hanako is the first to pass her gift to Lilly. Lilly runs her fingers over the hair clips feeling every curve & detail.
Lilly
"My they are beautiful Hanako are you going to wear them?"
Hanako
"S-sometimes. Hisao said he likes to see my wh-whole face."
I then pass my pocket watch to Lilly after she hands the clips back to Hanako.
Lilly
"I'm glad Hanako finally gave you the pocket watch. She told me about it after she bought it."
Hisao
"Yes I like it very much."
After we talk we all decide to head to bed. We bid Akira good night as Hanako, Lilly & I head up stares to our rooms. I tell the two good night giving Hanako a kiss before heading into my room. I pull out my bottles of medication counting out the right amount before taking them in one swallow chasing with a glass of water from my night stand.
Today was a great Christmas Eve. I am glad Hanako & I got to participate in the couples tradition. It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be in the past. I guess actually having a girlfriend makes all the differences in the world. I fall asleep with a smile on my face.
Christmas day & it is almost time for my parents to get home. I'm glad that during school breaks they get to come home early so we can spend time together. Not a lot has happened today. Hanako, Lilly, Akira, & myself went to the market to buy the groceries we need for dinner tonight. As with almost everyone else in Japan we are having fired chicken with Christmas Cake for desert.
We all decided it would be best to have dinner here at home instead of going our to a restraint. Much to Akira's annoyance Lilly talks about how her family use to have a western style Christmas when they were younger. Sitting under a big tree all decorated, opening up gifts from each other before sitting down to a big meal of ham & pie & a lot of other dishes.. It sounded a lot like we do in here in Japan during New years.
We are broken from our laughing & talking by the sound of my parents coming home. Hanako & Lilly help mom with the dinner while Akira, dad & I fix the table for everyone. I take a deep breath at the smell of frying chicken & baking sponge cake. Even though normally me or Hanako makes my Lunch it is nice to have something away from school with all the smells of home cooking.
With the meal all cooked & the table set we sit down to eat as one big family. Instead of a quiet meal which is the norm we talk & laugh. We tell different stories about the past. Mom tells Lilly & Akira stories about me I wish she would have kept secret. Then Akira tells us about the time when Lilly was four or five accidently pulling off Santa's Beard then crying & yelling that he was a fake. I never seen Lilly want to sink under a table in embarrassment before I think that made Hanako & I laugh even more.
Lilly puffs out her reddening cheeks at the laughter.
Lilly
"It wasn't funny."
Akira
"It was great except the old man wasn't to happy. I say it was my favorite trip to Scotland."
Even Hanako tells us a story how Santa would visit the kids in the orphanage. She use to bake him a small Christmas cake special for him. He would spend time with her since she was never one for dancing though she did enjoy playing the games. I wonder if she was as competitive of those ones as she is with pool & chess.
After dinner is done we sit a while longer still talking. Today is a good day. After clearing the table I wash the dishes with Hanako helping me out. Dishes aren't this exciting but I know the real reason she insist on helping me. Why would I say no to her wanting to spend more time with me being just us.
Soon the dishes are washed dried & put away. Everyone is tired from all the work, errands & laughing that we all did. Next week Yoshi is suppose to come over to spend New years with us. It was hard picking out a gift for her so I hope she likes it. After we all get ready for bed I lay in mine looking at the pocket watch Hanako gave me. It looks like one my grandfather Nakai use to have. When he passed away it was passed onto Yoshi's Dad since he was the older son
I place the watch back on my nightstand switching the light off. Rolling over I fall right to sleep. These next two weeks will be a lot of fun. I wonder what Akira will do to make them even more unforgettable.
AN:Just for the people that didn't know. Christmas isn't the big day of Gift giving in Japan. Christmas Eve couples go out for walks looking at lights & give each other small gifts. Then on Dec 31st to Jan 4th is the big gift giving time frame. They normaly eat Chicken (Mostly from KFC) & a cake called christmas Cake on Christmas. Let me know what you think please.