Author: TippierCoffee

Disclaimer: I do not own—nor do I claim the rights to—any of the characters from the show Codename: Kids Next Door. All credit goes to rightful owner: Mr. Tom Warburton.

In Denmark we have these annual shows (sometimes re-aired and sometimes all-new) of twenty four episodes that run from December first throughout December twenty fourth. In Danish they're called a Jule kalender, which I believe translates to Advent calendar in English. So I decided I would write my own Christmas-themed advent calendar, updating one chapter a day, twenty four chapters in total. I hope you will enjoy it :)

Ps. Their age in this fiction is thirteen (going fourteen) and they're in seventh grade.

A/N: Started in 2012


Saturday December 1st

Kuki Sanban lay in her bed, sound asleep and contempt, her consciousness starting to wake up and put her into a state in which she would be slumbering while waking up. Feeling the tingle of wake creeping into her brain she gave out a little sigh, pulling her legs closer into her body while curling up and tugging the blanket up under her chin. She was glad today was a Saturday and she therefore didn't have school and wouldn't need to get up extremely early, yet she still had that nagging feeling that her alarm would go off in five minutes time, letting her know it was ten thirty a.m. She always had it set like that on weekends to make sure she wouldn't miss the precious day ahead, and overtime between the ages of twelve until now, she had developed the strangest habit of waking up five minutes before her alarm went off. Though waking up could hardly be the description for it, she thought. She would still be filled with the mind numbing drowsiness of sweet slumber, kindly embracing her and making her comfortable.

Effortlessly, with her eyes still closed heavily, she shuffled around a bit, feeling for her orange Fun-With-Fruits Rainbow Monkey, which—when embracing it as she fell asleep—would make her feel comfortable and safe, lulling her to sleep much faster than when she was without it. Although, it did feel like she was forgetting about something today. Maybe not something super important, but there was something regardless. Other than the cold and the late rising sun which always accompanied late autumn and winter. Winter… Her alarm went off just as she got struck by the realisation.

"—come to new audience on this lovely morning, nearing afternoon. My name is Conrad Perkins and you are listening to Radio Atmosphere. Maybe some have forgotten to check out their calendars, I know I have for a while, and boy did I get a surprise this morning when I looked at it just to see it's already December first. You know what that means audience, Christmas eve is getting closer, and we here at Radio Atmosphere will be trying to help getting you into the spirit. So here's to Shaking Seven's Merry Christmas every one, which will hopefully help you along the way on your journey to cheer."

December first! That was right, it was the month of December. Even though Kuki at a younger age had often wondered why Christmas seemed to be such a big deal world wide every where, when not everyone was Christian, she still enjoyed it nonetheless. Having been brought up in a household by parents who believed in the Buddhist teachings, although they would never be labelled religious by anyone they knew—and they didn't have any ornaments of Buddha or any such thing in their house—she'd had a few incidents where people asked her why she cared about Christmas—not completely being a follower of Jesus and all. It was always hard for her to explain even though she knew the answer well. It was the whole atmosphere surrounding Christmas she liked the most, the lights being lit on the street and glowing constantly, making everything seem so warm even though December was usually cold. It was the way people would seem to smile more at each other and wish other people they might not even know Merry Christmas, happy holidays, or whichever version they preferred. It was the concept about giving rather than receiving, being selfless and thinking of others before thinking of one self. It was the way all the troubles of the world would seem to cease exiting, if nothing else then for just a short period of time. It was the way people would seem to have an overall positive attitude, and the gratitude connected with the whole holiday.

It was not something she could put into simple words, not something she was sure if she could ever fully explain—not because she thought people stupid or anything like that. It just was, and it felt good. She didn't even care how childish she would seem during this month, compared to the rest of the year. She would let herself go, immerse herself in the mood and everything around her, noticing every single little detail and smell.

While the song played merrily in the background Kuki found all of her tiredness had abandoned her completely, and though she felt a gentle chill tugging around her as she got out from under her covers, once out of bed she still proceeded with great energy to shower, dress and brush her towel-dried hair before heading downstairs where her mother was already stationed in the kitchen.

Because of her many hours extra at work, Genki had more or less been ordered to take the week off by the CEO. She had scoffed at the idea back then for two reasons. One, because she was a bit of an over ambitious COO and she knew she was a good enough candidate to be the CEO's right hand, or even be the CEO; and two because she didn't need time off of work. It was by far her favourite thing to be ordered to take vacations or minor breaks, because she was a woman who was very devoted to her work. Nonetheless, both Mushi and Kuki had convinced her around Tuesday to try and enjoy it, so in the end she had softened up a little. Actually a lot. Kuki could hardly remember the last time her mother had been humming while making breakfast, or even making breakfast much for that matter. Cereal had always been the go-to kind of breakfast in their home, not Rainbow Munchies either, but stuff like rolled oat with berries, or chopped up apples, or dried banana. All of it usually put in a bowl of natural yogurt. No fat, no sugar—safe for the sugar from the fruits.

"Ohayo gozaimasu." Kuki smiled, walking up to her mother and looking curiously to the small American-styled pancakes she was preparing. Pancakes!

"Good morning." Genki greeted back, sending Kuki a little smile while serving her pancakes, which Kuki still could hardly believe her mother had made for them.

Genki Sanban, COO, well known for her dominant business-type persona, both at work as well in the house. Although she certainly didn't discipline by smacking her children, and although she also didn't try to make every decision in the house, more than often it seemed she was the one wearing the pants around here. She was always the one to give the final orders, the one to rearrange their bills into a binder after Kani had spend hours calculating their finances and she was a woman who had a strict belief in a healthy diet. Which meant breakfast was not sugar coated and filled with all sorts of dyes. Making pancakes for breakfast, and even having gone out of her way to find the smallest bottle possible of maple syrup, went against everything Genki held high as far as Kuki was concerned, and while Kuki definitely didn't mind being allowed to have this for a change it still seemed surrealistic to her in ways.


12pm

"Mum," Kuki asked, catching the attention of her mother "Would you mind if I went to Mr. Hanson's shop and helped him out a little with putting the decorations on display like I always do?" In the corner of her eyes, Kuki saw how Mushi—who had only just awoken—rolled her eyes in annoyance, before her mother replied to her.

"Of course," Genki stated, fixing her hair-bun a bit "but remember the rules, Kuki. Home before dark."

"Will do." Kuki called, putting on her purple duvet coat and her warm boots, then she stepped outside to the streets while burying her hands deep into her pockets and started humming a tune while skipping carefully.

A look to the sky, which looked a light shade of grey, mixed with blue, mixed with pure white, made her both happy and a bit upset. Happy because it looked so bright and fresh, and because the sun was still shining down on her. Upset because she knew this greying sky was already the beginning of the dark, which would most likely start taking its full affect somewhere around four in the afternoon. She gave out a sigh calculating the time until she would reach the little shop Mr. Hanson always had in the month of December. It was a leasing store so there were never really the same things in there, and the longest anyone had had it, was for about half a year, but in December Mr. Hanson always had it booked years in advantage. Kuki remember having stumbled upon it sometime last year while she was out doing buying presents most likely—though to whom she couldn't recall.

She could, however, recall her curiosity at the store because it was the first time she had seen it, although when she had started talking to the middle-aged man who was the owner she'd been told it was his third time here. It had been a wonderful accident to stumble upon such a store, which was full of little trinkets and other ornaments all suited for the season. From little angels made out of tin, to houses for a pixie village, to Christmas balls and stars for the tree. She had been so immersed in everything she had kept coming day after day for the next couple of days back then, helping out because she had felt like it and because it gave her a perfect excuse to spend time in there. Kuki had never really been able to point her finger at it, but something about the whole atmosphere inside that shop was just warming and welcoming. Cosy.

Before long Kuki had reached her destination, a straight walking street with small shops on either side on her. Between the buildings garlands made of thick, fake pine hung, each having rows of lights in. Somewhere at the centre of the garlands hung an ornament, and they had been placed down the streets in such a way s every other garland had a red heart and the other garland had a yellow star. Before her, down three stone steps, was a worn out wooden door, which had once been painted a dark green, though that colour was now fading and chipping off. On the grand window to the street, in white big letters stood the very original name Mr. Hanson had decided to give the shop while it was his: Hanson's Shop. She went down the stairs, opened the door and was greeted by the chime of a little bell above the door.

"Hello Mr. Hanson." She greeted, sending a smile to the man when he lifted his head and returned her smile.

"Well, if it isn't Kuki." He smiled "Hello to you too. That will be three dollars and seventy cents ma'am. Have a nice day."

Kuki stepped aside for the customer who Mr. Hanson had just spoken to and then observed as he started putting ornaments in place from boxes scattered around. She had been wondering about them when she entered, though, if she had to just give it a guess she'd say Mr. Hanson hadn't come here until today, which meant it looked a bit difficult to move around inside the shop at given moment.

"Do you need any help Mr. Hanson?" Kuki asked, noticing the man limping a bit on his right leg. It wasn't just because of that though, it was because she had developed a pretty good relationship with Mr. Hanson last year; he was almost like a grandfather Kuki thought.

"I would very much like that Kuki." Mr. Hanson smiled, walking behind the cashier "If you could unpack the things Kuki, I just need to sit here for a while. Seems I've got a bit of gout in my right knee, not severe but it bugs me every once in a while."

"Yay!" She chirped, excited to see especially the new Christmas balls, pixie figurines, penguin figurines, reindeer figurines and pixie village houses.

She wondered about the other ornaments too, although she definitely knew the tin angels would be an ever returning trinket in Hanson's Shop. While Kuki took care of the ornaments Mr. Hanson sat behind the counter, serving the last few costumers for now. When they had left the room he waited for about twenty seconds, making sure no one else was there, then he cleared his throat which he hoped would call Kuki's attention to him. It didn't have the desired affect though.

"Say, Kuki." Mr. Hanson tried, which made her turn her head and look to him with curious eyes "How would you like to earn some money this season?"

"How do you mean?" Kuki asked curiously, fiddling with stacking little boxes containing pixie village houses as she spoke.

"I mean, work for me officially as an employee; part time of course. Earn a couple of bucks each week, use it on whatever you want. Of course it won't interfere with your school work in any way."

Kuki stopped everything she was doing, her heart speeding in her chest. It felt like her stomach did a somersault within her and her cheeks burned as a smile spread across her lips. Her, having a job? She couldn't believe it! She could earn money and buy nice presents for her family and all of her friends, it would be something absolutely amazing. She could already picture the smiles on their faces when they received something picked just for them, something that reminded her of their personalities, something she hoped they would all love.

"I would love to!" She blurted "Oh, but I have to ask my mum first, if that's okay?"

"Of course, no problem Kuki." Mr. Hanson smiled, greeting a customer who had just entered "Just answer latest by Monday, and if your mother wishes to work out details with me personally then we can surely figure out something like that too." He turned his attention to the customer who stood and fiddled a little in front of the cashier "If you need any help related to the ornaments, you may also ask my young assistant down there," he gestured to Kuki "she is very polite and helpful."

Kuki smiled and felt a certain wave of pride sneak into her body by being called Mr. Hanson's assistant. If her mother said yes she could get a part time job, which in her mother's eyes surely would mean she learnt about responsibility, which her mother was a big fan of. Her mother just had to say yes, she just had to!


End of chapter one, I hope you enjoyed it.

Criticism and/or advices on improvement is/are highly appreciated and welcome :)

~*~TippierCoffee~*~