A/N: I was going thru my old fics, and I came across this one, which I have to say is my personal favorite. I plan to edit the old version and repost this with two chapters every week until XMas.



Ryu cupped his hands over his mouth, blowing air into them, so he could warm them up. Tokyo was chilly late-December. After feeling a restlessness burn the pit of his stomach, he decided to leave the dojo and walk around in the city for a while. He glanced around. The streets were teeming with shoppers. Christmas, he thought, was highly overrated. It was just a season of people receiving and giving gifts. He never understood the actual purpose of Christmas. So many people of the world celebrated it for different reasons. The birth of Christ, the spirit of giving and generosity….

A young man and woman bumped into him. Ryu murmured an apology, but realized that his words were lost on a couple so tuned into each other. They whispered to each other and laughed, holding hands, their heads close together. Ryu stared after them for several minutes. He couldn't be feeling lonely, could he? That was ridiculous! Maybe it was this love and holiday cheer that was getting to him. Holidays had a way of getting to your head.

He turned and pulled his jacket lapels over his ears as a chilly wind shifted dark bangs that gently fell over his forehead. The outfit he was wearing was different than his usual gi and trousers. Most of the common clothes he had were from Ken and the other friends he had made during the World Warrior tournament. On this particular cold day, he decided to wear a white turtleneck, green sweater and black jeans. The denim had been a gift from Ken, the shirt and sweater from Cammy on his thirtieth birthday – eight years ago. Both had been presented with great teasing. He smiled wryly. Come to think of it…on that particular birthday, all he had received were clothes. 'Time you stopped looking like a bum!' Yun had said. He supposed that everyone had been on a conspiracy to get him dressed in normal clothes. He had to admit, the clothes were helpful and much appreciated.

A man dressed up as Santa Claus bumped into him. He appeared to be about sixty years old, with a pale complexion.

"I'm sorry, young man," St. Nick declared.

"That's all right," Ryu responded, bending to pick up the sack St. Nick had dropped.

"I sense a lack of holiday cheer," the jolly man observed, taking his sack.

Ryu feigned a smile. "Well, I - "

"Why are you not with your family and friends?" St. Nick interrupted.

"I have no family," Ryu admitted.

St. Nick's eyes narrowed slightly. "But you have friends. This I know."

"Listen, I - "

St. Nick placed a strong hand on Ryu's shoulder. "You have many tasks that have yet to be settled. Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits. Listen to what they have to say, for you may find yourself enlightened."

Ryu frowned. What was he talking about? As nice as he was, Ryu didn't know how to deal with the man's strange words. Ryu didn't even want to attempt holiday cheer. This Santa Claus was acting just plain crazy. St. Nick smiled knowingly, as if he could read his mind.

"Remember what I said. Merry Christmas, Ryu." St. Nick moved away.

Ryu froze in shock at the sound of his name. He turned. "Wait. How did you know my name…?" he trailed off, noticing that the Santa Claus was gone.

He couldn't just disappear into thin air or run off in less than five seconds…not a man of that size. And the sidewalk was full of shoppers…yet they all blended together. A man in a red suit would have been as conspicuous as a person wearing white at night. Ryu frowned in thought. He just remembered something. When St. Nick spoke of friends and family, he had blue eyes that actually twinkled like the stars in a night sky…