It's Good To Be Back

by xo.Kyorii

Three stories, three authors, and three Christmas parties, made at three in the morning.

1. Jomatto

Hi.

I am Jomatto, and I am here to announce that I have successfully hijacked Kyorii's account for the express purpose of trolling all of you. I bet you all cheered when you saw she updated. Nope. How did I crack the account? Funny you should ask, because it's a long story, but I'll be glad to—

Okay, jokes aside, I am pleased to announce a three-way collaboration between myself, Kyorii, and Redeeming Endeavor. No, you are not dreaming, so stop pinching your cheeks already. You're gonna hurt yourself at that rate. I assure you, this is, indeed, reality. And yes, we're just as excited as you are.

I would dare dub ourselves as the dream team, the miracle trio, and the trifecta of amazing. Putting the three of us together would surely tear the fabric of the time-space continuum, but because we're so awesome, we managed to keep the universe from spiraling out of control.

We each wrote a holiday-themed one-shot with several recurring elements, and I have the distinct honor of going first. After me is Redeeming Endeavor, and for the finale, Kyorii. Feel free to jump to your favorite author and start reading!

But, if you ask me, I'd advised you to read this one only and skip the rest. ;p

Without further ado, I present to you:

An (Almost) Dramatic Return

That's not a smell you wake up to every day.

Breakfast; it reminds me of school. Every morning, I'd wake up and my nose would be filled with the sweet scent of eggs and toast while my brain was just totally toast, filled with stress about tests, essays, and homework. What a grind. That was a long time ago though, and the years have certainly flown by.

I throw the covers off and swing my legs over the edge. It takes a frightful amount of effort to pull through, but I manage it miraculously. I'm a late riser, and this bed is way too big for me—more accurately—I'm way too small for this bed.

I lick the inside of my mouth and grimace. Disgusting. Not only does my mouth taste like shit but I probably look like it too. There's only one person I'll allow to see me like this and that's my brother, Sora—who, incidentally, is the one cooking breakfast—and the owner of this apartment. My feet touch the hardwood floor tentatively. It's warm, not cold. I almost forgot; this is Destiny Islands. Hot year-round and warm at worst. I'm home again.

You'd think I'd welcome the heat but I prefer the cold of Radiant Garden where I've lived for the last decade. I moved there for college and never left. It snows there, unlike here, so the holidays actually feel like the holidays. Spending cold winter nights next to the heater wrapped up in a blanket is my idea of a good time, not this warm tropical climate. I can't change where I was born. For better or worse, this is my home away from home.

A visit to my hometown was long overdue. Seasonal greeting cards can satisfy my parents for only so long. I shouldn't have been surprised when they sent Sora across the ocean to come fetch me. I'm not complaining. I'm fine anywhere as long as I've got internet and a big bowl of caramel popcorn. I'll fire up my dramas, laugh, cry, and experience gut-wrenching emotional catharsis. The reason I haven't visited in so long isn't because I hate my parents or anything like that. The real reason is pretty simple: I'm lazy.

It takes more than twelve hours to fly from Radiant Garden to Destiny Islands. Yeah, I ain't having none of that unless absolutely necessary. Sure, I can catch up on my dramas during the flight, but I need my candle-scented bubble baths too.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I smooth over my short hair and rub out the crust in my eyes. My stomach grumbles fiercely. Between making myself presentable or satisfying the most basic of all human urges, the choice is clear, and I leave the room to make way for the kitchen.

My soft footsteps catch Sora's attention. I lean on the counter and he shoots me a big, white, toothy grin. His blue eyes sparkle marvelously. How he manages to be so energetic in the morning has always eluded me. He's been chipper since the day we became siblings. "XiXi, you're awake."

XiXi, my nickname, is short for Xion. Only Sora can get away with calling me that—well, him and Terra. Who's Terra? Only the most magnificent male specimen to ever grace a television screen and the preeminent leading man of all the best dramas. I'll spare you the delicious details. I don't like to share, especially when it comes to my one and only.

"You're still wearing those old pajamas?" he asks. They're moogle-patterned and extremely comfortable. He was the one who bought me these. If I recall correctly, they were a holiday gift too.

"Of course." I've been rocking these pajamas since high school. My body hasn't changed one bit. I'm still the same: short, skinny, and compact. I hate it. Why did I have to get the short end of the DNA strand?

He laughs. "It's just weird to see you still wearing that. Anything I buy for Kairi, I see her in it once. After that? It disappears into her closet forever."

Kairi is Sora's girlfriend, and she's pretty, with auburn hair and a dazzling smile. I thought they were living together but I haven't seen her since she greeted me at the airport. The only traces of her are the things lying around the apartment, which Sora is quick to hide.

"Glad to have a girl around who actually appreciates you?" He puts out a strained smile. Oops. I may have touched a raw nerve. "Where is she anyways?"

"You know… busy with work." He coughs. "Hey, how about some brunch?"

"Serve it up. It smells great." Just like how mom used to make it. That's the thing about Sora; he will do every and anything to make you happy. He genuinely enjoys taking care of people. He's the better half of the Sora-Kairi combo. Any man willing to inherit recipes from his mom for his girlfriend is a definite keeper.

If you ask me, she's the one dragging him down. I'm not being fair though. I've known Kairi since high school, and if you know someone long enough, their faults are easy to spot. She leans on my brother like a crutch for the smallest things. He takes care of the cooking, the cleaning, and even the scheduling.

Practically speaking, Sora makes anyone a better person by virtue of freeing them up from the stress of living. If he could, he'd probably massage my throat just so I don't have to worry about breathing. We're worlds apart in that regard. If I wanted to partake in the joy of taking care of others, I'd just buy myself a cat.

I don't think Kairi's a bad person though. Every girl has a certain level of bitch to her—even me. My best friend in Radiant Garden is probably the biggest bitch I know. Her name's Larxene, and she is straight up insane, but I love her for it. On the scale of mildly crazy to balls out insanity, let's just say the phrase "calm your tits" applies literally. Keep in mind; she was drunk when she lost her shirt that one time. Then again, she's always "under the influence and high on life"—whatever that means.

A plate of hot toast slides before me. "Here you go." I marvel at the crisp golden texture, the bread fibers interwoven and glued together by gooey yolk. The slice floats in a puddle of sweet maple syrup. I pick it up and it melts in my mouth. Oh my god… It's so light and fluffy. Amazing—absolutely amazing. I can get used to this. "Next time you visit, you should stay and make me breakfast...for the rest of my life."

His head tilts in amusement. "Or you can move back home."

I shake mine. "Not happening."

"At least visit more often. It's not gonna be another ten years before I get to see my little sister again?"

"I can't make any promises." The thought is usually more painful than the reality. First steps are hard; like waking up in the morning, going on a jog, or saying "hello" to that one hot guy you always see at the coffee shop but you're too lame to approach. "As long as you keep improving your cooking, it'll give me something to look forward to."

"Demanding as ever." We finish up brunch and he takes my plate after I've licked it clean.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I ask. The plan for yesterday and the day before that was sleeping. Now that I've shaken off the jetlag, I can do more than wilt like a sad sunflower.

"Mom and Dad want to see you for dinner. As for tonight...well, there's this party." Still as popular as ever, I see. Maybe "popular" isn't the right word. Sora has a knack for getting along with anyone. You can be his worst enemy and he'll still treat you like his best friend.

"Then you'll drop me off before heading over to the party?" He looks at me like I'm stupid. Maybe I am. "What is it?"

"I'm not going to leave you alone. You're coming with me." Typical Sora. I wouldn't be alone anyways; not when I have Terra to comfort me.

"Am I even invited?"

"If I'm invited, then you're invited."

"They're your friends, not mine. They probably forgot about me."

He shakes his head strongly. "Nobody's forgotten about you. You just moved away for a while. They ask me about you every day." I find that hard to believe.

"Then you can tell them all about me at the party tonight. Leave me out of it."

"Look, just show up and say hi at least, and then you can forget all about them. You may not consider them friends, but they do."

"Fine." I don't know why I bother putting up a fight. In the end, he always wins.

"Great! You should probably wear something nice."

"What, my moogle pajamas aren't good enough?" I'm sent to my room to find something respectable. I realize that most of my clothes are too warm for the Islands. I packed sweaters, jackets, and cardigans for the trip because that's all I had. I decide on a mauve turtleneck and pale jeans. No need to go all out. My clubbing outfits are safely tucked away at home in the vault. God knows how Larxene gets me to wear those. We all want to feel sexy sometime. Oh, and before I forget, I pick up the gifts I bought for Mom and Dad. I don't want to arrive empty-handed. I still have my manners, mind you.

I enter Sora's modest vehicle and we start our trek down memory lane. The sights and sounds have been seared into my brain. It's hard to muster the enthusiasm to be excited by familiar surroundings. I don't get homesick. I go with the flow. I'm adaptable. It doesn't matter where I am. Spend enough time in one place and I'll wax nostalgic about it the next day.

We fly past a park that Sora and I used to play in when we were kids. We loved climbing up those trees. I still remember the time when the branch snapped and he fell on his head. He cried like a baby for hours. I'm surprised he got a bump on his head at all, considering that massive brown cushion called "hair." If it wasn't for that, he might've cracked his skull.

We pass another standby, the old ice cream shop. I bought sea salt popsicles from there all the time. I don't enjoy them like I used to. In middle school, the boys started giving me weird looks whenever I sucked on one. It wasn't until later did I realize why. I should've charged them for the show.

And, of course, who can forget about the last bastion of civilization in this uncivilized world: Destiny High, where many a dream died. As an institution to prepare us for the "real world," it did a terrible job. I don't feel any different since I graduated. Maybe once I get married and have a few kids, I might feel differently, but I'm fine right where I am. I'm still dreaming and I don't feel like waking up yet.

We pull up to the driveway of our old house. It's a classic single-story with an immaculate lawn lined with patches of wild flowers. A cobblestone path leads up to the front door. The house has gotten a new paintjob. It used to be green but now it's blue. I pick up my parents' gifts and exit the car.

"A little different on the outside but same on the inside," Sora comments. We arrive at the entrance and he opens it with his key. "We're here!"

When I come in, I'm met with an old sight: Mom in the kitchen and Dad on the TV. This is home, alright.

"You're back!" my mom greets. She comes out, apron on and all, and wraps me in a big warm hug. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Same here." Mom is awesome. She's the traditional "my kid can do no wrong" type. She took care of me too well. It might've crippled my independence a bit. It took me all of college to finally figure out how to live on my own. "Here, for you." I pull out the bouquet of flowers I was hiding behind my back. "They're all special flowers indigenous to Radiant Garden. I thought you might like it."

"These are wonderful." My mom's a florist. She likes flowers. The gift was a no brainer. "Thank you."

"And what about me?" my dad says, having gotten up from his comfy couch.

"For you, Dad, I got you this." I pull out a keyblade keychain, modeled after the mascot for the Destiny Islands blitzball team, the Keybladers. My dad is a fanatic. It'll be another trinket in his extensive collection of team memorabilia.

"Thanks. Be honest, you bought this at the airport, didn't you?"

"They don't sell these where I live, sadly." The flowers and the keychain are just small tokens. The real gift here is the pleasure of my company.

Dad hugs me and laughs. "I miss you. Good to see you back." The crowd suddenly erupts from the television. My dad lets go immediately and runs back to the TV. "Son of a—are you kidding me? I go away for one sec and the Nobodies score?! Get over here, Xion. It's bad luck for everybody to be at the front door." Dad and his crazy rituals; but some of my warmest memories are of us watching blitzball games together. He'd tried to arrange us in specific seating positions in hopes of a goal. It was like new age feng shui, but for sports success. I plop myself on the couch beside him.

"Have you already eaten?" Mom asks.

"Sora made brunch for me."

"Great. Dinner will be ready in a few hours. Make yourself comfortable. This will always be your home."

I'm in the Sunday afternoon of my youth. Pot roast in the oven, sports commentary in the air, and the lazy rays filtering through the backyard glass door, and in the reflection, I see myself whittling away the hours on my cell phone.

That reminds me, I have to update my photo of Sora. I can easily pull one off his MoogleBook page but he hasn't updated it since high school, and all his pictures have Kairi in it. When Larxene wanted to know what my brother looked like, she asked if he was still going out with high school girls.

I aim my phone camera at Sora to see him staring longingly at his cell phone. I snap the photo and the shutter sound prompts him to look up.

"What are you doing?"

"I have a friend who's interested in you."

"You're not trying to set me up, are you?"

"Lord no, unless…"

"I'm good," he says quickly. Too bad. He and Larxene would've made an intriguing combination. "Actually, there's something I want to talk to you about." He eyeballs dad. "But not here." This is new. I've never been one to offer advice. It's usually the other way around.

"Is my room still my room?"

"Why don't you go find out?"

I will. I get up to my dad's dismay—"Wait twenty more seconds, they're in striking distance!" —but for old time's sake, I indulge him and sit down, at which point, the Keybladers turn over the blitzball. "On second thought; leave, immediately."

"Love you too, Dad." Sora follows me into the hallway and I open up the old bedroom. It's still the same. "Creepy. It's like I died and mom doesn't want to let go."

Sora chuckles as he makes his seat on my bed. "There's no reason for them to touch this room, except to clean off the dust."

I sit down on my old chair and give it a whirl. It's all coming back to me, the late nights, the last second study sessions, and the wondrous naps. I don't have school anymore, but the idiots at work still stress me out. I'm a secretary, and as secretary, I have the thankless task of making sure people don't slack off. My co-workers especially appreciate it when I remind them that their assignments are several days overdue. Truth is, life doesn't change that much. Incompetence and slackers thrive wherever and whenever.

Sora makes himself comfortable, lying down with hands behind his head. "What ails you, brother?"

He stares at the ceiling for a few moments in confusion. "What does it mean when a girl ignores your texts?"

"That you're being creepy?" I get random texts every few weeks. At first, I wondered how my number was leaking out to strangers but I figured out that it was Larxene. Anytime I get a weird text, I block it instantly. She swears they're all upstanding young gentlemen, but asking me about the color of my panties is out of the question. They're white, for your information.

"She's my girlfriend," he deadpans.

"Even creeps have girlfriends."

"Be serious."

"Some context would help."

"That's the thing. I can't really think of anything that's changed. Everything seems to be fine. The only thing I can think of is that she's bored of me."

"Don't sell yourself short. Sure, you're a rock, but that's what makes you so...you. If she's bored of you, that's her problem, not yours." My words have no effect. I've never been good at pep talks. "Have you talked to her about it?"

"I can't talk to her because she's not talking to me." He sits up and squares his shoulders. "But maybe she'll talk to you."

"Why would she do that?"

"One: you're a girl, so you both have that in common." A brilliant observation. "Two: you're both close to me, and I hope you both care about me as much as I care for you two." Debatable. "And three: you're an outsider. With you, she doesn't have to worry about word getting out. You remember Selphie, right? She keeps secrets like a leaky faucet." I remember. She's even more annoying than Kairi, if that were possible. She acted so damn bubbly and enthusiastic about everything. It didn't help when she jumped to conclusions all the time, and as a result, inadvertently spread dumb rumors. I don't think I'll ever shake off the shame of being associated with Rai. Like, seriously?

"I think you're overestimating my value as a confidante."

"I trust you. She should be coming to the party tonight."

"Should be?"

"She's picking up Riku at the airport today. I would've taken care of it but she insisted, saying that I should spend more time with you."

Riku. The childhood crush of my dreams and the crusher of my childhood dreams. Riku was Sora's best friend, and as such, we spent a lot of time together growing up. He was also a gorgeous boy who became a gorgeous teenager, and I'd imagine, a gorgeous man. Someone that beautiful would be wasted on me. He's probably living it up and snorting coke off the bellies of supermodels. I'm nothing more than his best friend's sister. The dream is dead. "He doesn't live here?"

"Nah, he moved to Twilight Town a couple years ago for a job. The offer was too good to pass up."

"How is he?"

"Still my best friend. We keep in touch and, unlike you, he visits often."

"If you're trying to guilt trip me, it's not working." So Kairi's picking up Riku at the airport. I don't think she's the type, but I have to ask anyways. "Have you considered that there's someone else?"

"You mean if she's cheating on me?" He shakes his head vehemently. "That's impossible. She's not like that."

"Famous last words."

"You don't go out with someone for a decade and not know something like that. Being distant is one thing, but cheating? No way."

I shrug. I've watched too many dramas to see that kind of reasoning fall apart, but that's fictional. Reality is a lot more reliable. "Alright, if I see her at the party, I'll ask her about it. I'm warning you though, don't expect any miracles."

"Give it your best shot." He gives me a sly smirk. He knows me too well. I may give off the impression that I don't care, but in reality, what meager effort I offer is proof that I actually do give a damn, and that's certainly more than can be said for most people.

A familiar voice echoes through the house, "Dinner's ready!" Sora's cooking was great, but it's no match for the real deal. I'm already salivating.

"Let's eat." We arrive at the dinner table and I spot my dad looking bubbly. Guess the Keybladers won. Thank god. He would've gone on and on about why they lost if they hadn't. Mom lays out the plates and my stomach dances at the sight. It's a scrumptious feast. Forget grace, I dig in, as do the rest of my family. I would've liked to enjoy the food in silence but no homecoming meal is complete without an interrogation about work and my non-existent love life. Nothing exciting to report in both categories, I'm afraid.

"I'm good at the moment."

"You know, when I was your age, I already had the both of you," Mom states matter-of-factly.

"Those were different times. It's a new generation. We like to take things slow. No need to rush."

"I'm not saying you need to rush, it'll just be a load off my mind to know you're taken care of." I'm not even in my thirties yet. Let's not hit the panic button yet, okay, Mom?

"I can take care of myself just fine." I'm not looking for anything serious, but I can use someone to fluff my pillow, clean my sheets, and make my bed—and no, those aren't euphemisms. I'm a sloppy sleeper. When I wake up, half my face is covered in drool. Boyfriend? No. Manservant? Taking applications.

"Take all the time you need," my dad says, interjecting himself in the conversation. "Mom just wants to see some babies already."

I laugh. "If you want grandkids, you should look at Sora, not me."

Feeling everyone's eyes on him, Sora flusters. "Not my decision."

"Don't settle for anyone. Make sure he's the right guy. Bonus points if he's a Keyblader." If you're a fan of the team, you're A-Okay in Dad's book.

"In any case, Xion, the only way you'll find yourself a good man is if you look for him. I hope you'll find him sooner rather than later." I have more important things to worry about than finding a good man, like paying off my student loans, rent, car payments, and all the other bullshit that they forgot to tell you about when you grow up. The taxes in Radiant Garden are criminal.

"I'm still young." I get carded all the time when I go out with Larxene. I have mixed feelings about that.

Mom smiles at me weirdly. "Be happy." Be happy, she tells me. I don't know why, but to hear that is kind of annoying. Does she think I'm not happy or something? Whatever. This food's going to waste. Just eat.

I help Mom with the dishes afterwards and she tells me about the flower shop. It's doing well. She also tells me that Dad's gotten a promotion. He works for a toy company—more specifically, the shipping department of a toy company. He's manager of the warehouse now. Good for him. Only five more years before the house is fully paid off. Ah, the joys of homeownership.

"Any chance I'll inherit the house?" I ask cheekily.

"Get married and we'll think about it," Mom jokes. "Since you brought it up, Dad and I are thinking of moving to a smaller place. Since you two moved out, it's not like we need a big house anymore."

"Thinking of selling?"

"No. It's been a wonderful home." It really has. Many a memory was made here. "I hope you'll get to raise your kids here too." She never lets up, does she? She hums a familiar song as she wipes away the suds. Simple and clean.

Sora comes into the kitchen. "It's time to go."

"Go on. I can take care of the rest," my mom assures.

"Okay then." I wash my hands and dry them on a towel. "I'll visit again later."

"Make sure you enjoy yourself at the party."

On the way out of the kitchen, I wave to my dad in the living room. "Goodbye, Dad."

"Don't give me that." He gets up and squeezes me for dear life. "Great having you here. Come back soon."

"I'll make sure she does," Sora says. They see us out of the house and into the cool night air—cool by Island standards anyways. Sora shivers as we make our way to the car.

"This is barely room temperature for me."

"Just get in the car."

I'm cold blooded. It's taken a move to a completely different city to realize this, but I'd rather be cold than hot. I've had too many traumatic experiences waking up in a puddle of sweat during the scorching summers of past.

Sora backs out of the driveway and I realize that I have no idea where we're going. "Where's the party?"

"You remember Pence?" I attach the name to an obsessive gamer back in high school. He'd fit the prototypical definition of "loser," but I've long since discarded my petty notions. I admire their passion. We need more burning hearts, fist pumpers, and fiery eyes in this world.

"Vaguely."

"Believe it or not, he's the most successful out of all of us. I'm talking six figures annually."

"What the hell does he do?" He's probably a hotshot at Moogle or something.

"He runs a MoogleTube channel. He talks—more like rants—about video games. He's an internet celebrity, basically." The world truly is unfair. I take back what I said about passionate people. Burn him, burn him at the stake!

"Good for him."

"You remember that holiday party years ago in my senior year? Seifer's party." I remember it like it was yesterday, a painful reminder of opportunity loss. It was in that party that I stumbled in on Roxas and Naminé making out.

To make a long story short, Roxas was a boy I was close to and thought I might be falling for. The only reason I liked him was because he reminded me of Sora. Maybe I dodged a bullet with that one. One Sora's enough for me. Still, I recall being quite broken up about it. I gorged myself on chocolate-covered cashews and curled up on the floor with the sound of thunderstorms playing in an endless loop from my computer. Teenagers do have a flair for the dramatic.

"What about it?"

"Pence was emphatically not invited to that party. This year's party is revenge, made all the sweeter by a bigger house and hot tubs."

"He's got a hot tub?"

"No, he's got hot tubs. Plural."

"Can't say I'll miss Seifer." He was obnoxious, the sort whose life peaked in high school. They are forever doomed to the past, chasing after memories and unable to make new ones. Welcome to reality, we're all hamsters running in place.

"Pence has always been...what's the word? I don't know—enthusiastic. Ever since his channel took off, he's adopted a persona. It wasn't so bad in the beginning. They were clearly two different personalities but over the years, they've sorta...blended together. If he comes off as a little weird, now you know why."

"Did the success go to his head?"

"He's handled it about as well as any one of us could." If I was pulling in that kind of cash, that manservant position would be filled multiple times over. I'll even expand the job description to include other…benefits.

"Any old names I should be aware of?"

"I didn't know you cared," he says with mock surprise.

"I have great memory. It's a curse." I don't hate them; I just didn't care enough to stay connected.

"Let me think… If Pence is there, then Hayner's guaranteed, and if Hayner's there, then Olette probably won't show."

"Why's that?"

"Bad breakup between them."

"They were together?" I knew Olette. She was a nice girl and very studious. As for Hayner, I don't know him well.

"Yeah. Very hot and cold, on and off type deal. I wouldn't bother him too much. He and Pence have been hanging out a lot lately. Remember Wakka?"

"Who doesn't?" Even though he was born and raised on Destiny Islands, he spoke with the strangest accent. It wasn't even native.

"He and Lulu got married. They have a kid on the way."

"Wow. Guess one of us is living life on the fast track." Odd to think someone my age is having a kid. I still feel like one myself.

"Then there's Tidus and—oh, right, Axel too."

"Axel? I love that guy!" Him, me, and Roxas used to be best bros. Axel was the X-factor. With him around, you'd never know when a night might turn legendary. He reminds me a lot of Larxene, actually. Go figure. I might have a thing for the crazies.

"Roxas and Naminé. They're a matched set, always coming in a pair."

"All these years and still going strong?"

"You say that like I haven't been with Kairi since high school."

"You're not exactly going strong now, are you?"

He frowns. "We haven't split up...yet. My relationship's riding on you. Help a brother out!"

It always seemed like a waste for Sora to get tied up so young. He's a great guy and he would've fetched a premium price on the free market. Think of the possibilities. There's a lot of potential for him to have crazy love adventures. It would've been fun to see all the different girls he could've gone out with. Instead, they're all just Kairi. Boring.

"Sounds like a full house. This includes Riku and Kairi too?"

"Yup. Should be fun." Despite his words, he's awfully cagey—probably worried more about his relationship status than anything else. Our partying days are long behind us. I got over that phase in college. You can wake up with a hangover so many times before the charm of intoxication wears off. I hope it's a classy affair. Champagne and hor d'oeuvres, please.

We turn into a nice neighborhood where the houses are bigger, the cars faster, and the overall vibe richer. I've never been in this part of Destiny Islands. Two stories seem to be the bare minimum, with the standard being three. Huge balconies, classic columns, and lawns that are more like parks abound. If you wake up and look outside to see this, that's when you know you've hit the big time. "Which one is Pence's?"

"Guess."

"The one we're pulling into?" It's a big driveway with enough room to cram in ten cars. Past the driveway is the house, which is obscenely large compared to my apartment in Radiant Garden, but modestly sized compared to the neighbors. There's always someone better. "It looks really nice."

Pence went nuts with the decorations. The house is outlined by the usual string of lights, but where things get crazy is with the animatronic Santa sled that actually rolls across the roof, replete with "hohoho" sound effects and a train of bouncing reindeer. It may not be the biggest house, but it's definitely the flashiest.

"Wait till you get inside." Sora turns off the engine and reaches into the backseat, picking up what looks like a gift. It's wrapped in Sora's trademark sensibilities. The bow is tight, the pattern clean, and the box perfectly square. "This is our ticket in."

It's a short walk to the front door. Sora pushes the doorbell and a jingle plays. It sounds like a video game sound effect. I couldn't tell you what game though. The door swings open to reveal Pence. I gotta say, the years (and money) have been good to him. He looks great.

"Welcome to the party!" he greets. His eyes go from Sora to me, which prompts a few confused blinks, and then, the flash of recognition. "Oh Xiiiiiiii…" Ugh, I hate it when people do that. That got old since middle school.

"Hello, Pence." He spreads his arms out for a hug but I sidestep him. He shrugs it off like a champ.

"What, no love for the host?"

"No hug without just cause, I'm afraid."

"Cold as ever. I love it. Glad to see you haven't changed one bit." The comment doesn't sit right with me.

"I'm not that cold, am I?" I look at Sora, but his averted gaze tells me otherwise.

"It's fine, it's fine. I'm not starving for attention. I've got more than I can handle. Come on in. Must be cold outside." Depends on who you ask. I think it's quite warm. "Wait, Sora. You got your gift? I can't let you in without it."

"Right here." Sora holds up the shiny box to Pence's delight.

He welcomes us in graciously. The interior is nothing special. Carpet, some posters on the walls, but nothing like my imagination painted. I was expecting marble floors and hanging chandeliers. He seems to have retained the decorative sensibilities from his days as a regular Joe. We follow him into the living room where the other guests are.

"Feel free to do whatever. My house is your house, as long as you don't wreck the place." There are television screens everywhere, some showing TV and others hooked up to video games consoles. It's like a mini arcade. Snug in the corner is a huge tree decorated with random tchotchkes and unfamiliar decorations. It's almost as if the tree is screaming out, "I'm different, look at me!" What a hipster.

"And over here, we have the food." Pence points us to a table filled with fine catering. There are pigs in blankets, oysters, carrot sticks, mushrooms, and all manner of high-end appetizers. Too bad I already ate dinner. "Try the punch. It's special."

"That's a throwback," says Sora. "Seifer spiked his punch too, didn't he?"

"Yeah, but this is the good stuff. I'm talking top shelf quality. None of that bottom of the barrel shit that passed for alcohol before we knew any better. It's delicious. One of my fans recommended the recipe to me. Calling it punch would be a disservice."

"Sora did tell me you were a net celebrity. How does that work exactly?"

He smiles broadly, almost licking his lips in anticipation. I have a feeling he loves answering this question every time he gets it. "The key is to be yourself."

"I'm not so sure about that," Sora sneaks in snidely.

"Okay, the key is to be an amplified, more awesome version of yourself. People on the internet aren't looking for something deep. They want personality. That's what I offer. It also helps that I know my shit like no one's business. I don't take it for granted. I know I'm in a good spot. I can't thank my fans enough." He takes a swig of the punch. "That hits the spot! What about you, Xi? After you went off to Radiant Garden, you literally dropped off the face of the earth. We haven't heard from you in years!"

"Well, you know… I've been eating, been sleeping, been breathing—living, basically."

"She's a secretary, presently single and not in the mood for socializing," Sora explains for me. He sticks his tongue when I look at him.

"That's great." I raise an eyebrow at Pence. Sounds like I should be glad that I'm alive at all. "Life doesn't have to be a roller coaster to be fun. As long as you enjoy what you're doing, it's all good."

"And what if we don't enjoy it?"

"Then find something you do enjoy, and hold on to it and never let go."

"If we can all only be as fortunate as you." He offers a sympathetic smile.

"If all else fails, latch on to the most successful guy you know." He winks. "Would you like a free ride on the Pence Express?"

Before I can decline politely, someone decides to step in. "Trying that line again? Her brother's right there, man!" It's a bit shocking to see the kids in your memory as full grown adults. In some cases, they look the same, and in others, they might as well be completely different people. The only reason I'm able to recognize this man as Hayner is because of his voice. He doesn't fare so well compared to Pence, but I'll chalk it up to a bad breakup.

"I'm just joking," Pence says.

"Don't be fooled by him, the dude's a beast."

"A beast?"

"Once you become a celebrity, that's when the bitches start lining up. The internet done got Pence laid."

"You're stretching things a bit," Pence argues. "The internet didn't get me laid, okay? I got myself laid."

Hayner laughs it off. "You think I don't know about your list of 'number one fans?' You should throw me some of those numbers. Don't hog all the action for yourself." Pence, for all his confidence, begins to show signs of embarrassment. Who'da thunk it? Pence, out of everyone, is living the life: getting paid and getting laid.

"I'm happy for you, Pence, even though I'm a little jealous, but who wouldn't be?"

"Thanks, Xi. That means a lot coming from you. You don't get to be popular without getting a bunch of haters too. My fans are my fans, but friends are friends. We may not have been close, but there's no doubt that we're friends." I like the sound of that. The video game jingle rings out loud and clear over the music. "New guests. Gotta play the part. I'll catch up with you guys later." He's off to greet the newcomers, leaving me with Hayner.

"How's it going?" He seems to be drunk. Breakups are hard. I've gone through a couple myself but it's nothing a drama marathon couldn't fix. Okay, maybe two drama marathons, and with lots of ice cream.

"I'm doing just fine. What about you?"

He shoves his hands into his pockets and wobbles. It could pass for a new type of dance, the Pocket Wobble. "I don't know if you've heard, but I just broke up with Olette recently."

"Sorry to hear that."

"Yeah, well, it is what it is. What can I do about it, you know?"

"Nothing much." He shuffles awkwardly. Does he want my advice or something else? "You know what I like to do after a bad breakup?" He shakes his head. "I like to take a mental vacation. Get my mind off things and watch some dramas."

He considers the thought seriously. "I don't know if I'll be in the mood for that."

"The mood doesn't matter. Dramas exist to arouse our imagination, and they highlight the absurdity of fantasy against our dull reality. It's the contrast I find most interesting. The worse you feel about life, the more dramas have to offer. You'd think it'd make you feel worse about the world, but what it actually does is give me hope. It's a guide to a world that can be, outlined in all the situations, the moments, and the reactions. It has the words for those times when you have no words. And when everything comes together in the end, despite the hardships, the conflicts, and against all odds, that's when you know that there's light at the end of the tunnel."

His mouth opens and closes like a goldfish. "Umm… Which one would you recommend then?" I begin compiling a mental list of all my favorite dramas but my face must've tipped him off. "On second thought, what was the last one you watched?"

"Mister Cinderella. It's about a rich guy who pretends to be a poor guy because the girl he falls for is—"

"Okay. I think I'll start with that."

I suddenly feel very embarrassed. This is the only topic in the world that gets me fired up. Once I get going, it's hard to stop. "Sorry, I get carried away when it comes to—"

"Nah, it's fine. I think it's cool. Reminds me of Pence, actually."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is," he says, smiling softly.

"Sorry about Olette though. You'll get over her soon."

"Yeah, it's not like it's the end of the world. It's just as setback. Not like… she was supposed to be my soul mate or anything like that…" He makes an odd noise, like choking on a sniffle. "Hold that thought, I'm gonna get some more punch." I think he wants to be left alone. I'll happily oblige. I think things will turn out well for him though. Someone new will come along and blow his mind, among other things.

I turn around, and to my surprise, Sora's not there. I've gotten used to his overbearing supervision. I spot him on the couch with his eyes glued to his cell phone. I feel sorry for him. He can't enjoy this great party without Kairi hanging over his head like a guillotine.

It's time I partake in some of the refreshment. I take a ladle and pour myself a cup. Pence didn't cheap out on the party favors. The cups are made of glass, not out of red plastic. I sip a sample. Whoa. It lives up to the hype; it's the tastiest punch I've ever tasted. The word "punch" doesn't quite do it justice.

Thanks to Larxene, I've learned that my tolerance for alcohol is remarkably high. She probably isn't the best measuring stick though. The same amount that gets me a bit tipsy has her tripping over her own panties. Don't ask me how they dropped.

The new guests are Wakka and Lulu, and like Sora mentioned, she is plainly pregnant with a baby bump that, despite Lulu's best effort, will not be restrained by belts. I'll never understand her fascination for buckles, but I'd imagine their bedroom hijinks to be quite kinky. Trailing behind them is Tidus, who makes a straight line for me—correction: a straight line for the punch. The thirst is real. It's only when he brushes against me on accident does he realize I'm here.

"Oh, sorry about that." When he sees my face, a brief glimmer of recognition flits across his eyes. "Wait… You're...Xi...Xi…?"

"Xion," I fill in for him.

"Oh yeah. Sora's little sister." That's the reaction I'm expecting. Remember me not as I am, but only as Sora's little sister.

"That's me."

"Wow. I thought you like, died or something." I find that mildly offensive.

"Fortunately, I am alive and well."

"Cool. Did you like, just come back recently?" He grabs a cup, inspects it for a second, looks around, and grabs a bowl instead. Does he actually plan to drink out of that thing?

"Just for the holidays."

"How long has it been since you were here?" He doesn't even use the ladle. He scoops the punch wholesale with the bowl.

"Bout ten years, I'd say."

"Damn." He looks over at Wakka and Lulu. "You ever get the feeling there's a lot of catching up you have to do?" His words hold a tinge of regret.

"What do you mean?"

"All the people that you used to know...getting married, having kids, a career—the works. I feel like nothing's changed for me since high school."

"That's not a bad thing." Because I'm the same too, and it's not like my life's been a disaster—just uneventful.

"I just don't want to be left behind."

"You still have a lot left to look forward to. I'm sure you'll find someone, get married, have kids, retire, and then travel the world." That's usually how it goes, right? I left out the part where he gets divorced and pays alimony for the rest of his working life.

"Yeah," he says, almost scoffing. "Well, nice talking with you." He leaves with his bowl filled to the brim. I would love to see him face-dunk it. I'm not the friendliest person around, I admit, but he was kind of a dick, no?

I scan the room and pin old names to new faces. There's Selphie, who looks surprisingly comfortable being alone. I thought she'd be surrounded by guys considering how hopelessly romantic she was. I see Yuffie busting out dynamic dance moves in front of a TV. She was a dedicated athlete back in school. Glad to see she hasn't lost a step. Then there's Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, who used to play in a band together called The Gullwings. The rest I barely recognize and while there's the potential to get to know them better, I'd rather focus on the sweet taste of this out-of-this-world punch.

"Holy shit," a voice cries from behind. I spin around and my jaw drops; it's Axel! "It's really you!" I give him a big warm hug. Unlike Pence, he deserves it. We actually hung out together. Imagine that; friendly treatment for old friends. He's retained his unruly red locks and teardrop tattoos. It always did give him a roguish charm.

"Are you a respectable gentleman or still as crazy as ever?"

"I can't be both?" If any guy can pull it off, it's him, although it's hard to see how. "Damn, Xi. All this time and you never ring me up?"

"Was I supposed to?"

"Nah, but it'd be nice to hear from you once in a while." I like to take my friends for granted. It doesn't matter whether it's been one day or one decade. I'll treat you like it was yesterday. "Knowing you, I should be lucky if I crossed your mind once in a blue moon."

"Plenty of blue moons on Radiant Garden," I say, smiling. Axel and Roxas were my two best friends back in the day. Roxas and I were pretty similar. We were cranky, sarcastic, and lonely pretenders. Axel, however, was the breath of fresh air. He wanted to do crazy things and dragged us along for the ride. I was a little more willing than Roxas to go the extra mile though.

"It's just too bad that you left before I had a chance to cross one off my list." Ever the forward thinker, Axel had put together his bucket list by junior year. He struck out many tasks during high school; I'm hard pressed to think of anything he hasn't already accomplished.

"What do you have left?"

"This one is a very special one since it involves you, me, and Roxas." His devilish smirk tells me there's more. I don't like where this is going.

"Should I even ask?"

"The tricycle, Xi! Come on, haven't you ever wondered—fantasized about it? And who better than your two best buds?"

"I shouldn't be surprised but… Wow. Seriously? No. Besides, Roxas is already attached."

"Fine, throw in Naminé too." His eyes light up. "That's even better! The more, the merrier!"

I shake my head in disbelief. I know he's only half serious, but that's more serious than I'm comfortable with. "How long have you been thinking about this?"

"Ever since you left, babe."

"Yeah? Well, you better stop thinking about it because it's never going to happen."

He accepts defeat gracefully. "Worth a shot. Had to see what you'd say before crossing it off. It was only your absence that kept hope alive."

"It doesn't have to be me, does it? Aren't there plenty of girls around?"

"Sorry, you're the only one allowed."

"Says who?"

"Says my girlfriend." Stop the presses. Axel, crazy Axel, has a girlfriend? I can barely believe he can hold down a job, much less a relationship.

"You're shitting me."

"How did you think I became a respectable young gentleman?"

"Through practice and timely epiphanies?" I search the room with my eyes. "Is she here?"

"Unfortunately, she's home for the holidays, and home isn't here."

"You have to introduce me to her sometime. I wanna see the girl who whipped your ass. She's either insane or a real prim and proper type. I bet she's a princess." That's the formula. The wild guy is tamed by the conservative girl and they both rub off on each other. I can see the scenario so clearly. It's just like in that one drama where—

"Keep guessing. The only way you'll find out is if you stick around."

I offer an apologetic smile. "Good luck with that."

"Who needs luck? I'm looking for a miracle. There's gotta be a way to keep you here forever. Should I bust out the rope and chains?"

"Keep it in the bedroom," I joke.

Our esteemed host took this opportunity to make an announcement. "Attention, good friends! I'm pleased to announce that everybody on my guest list has officially been accounted for—meaning, it's time to get down and dirty."

I look to Axel for answers. "Down and dirty?"

"I heard that!" Pence yells, jabbing his finger in my direction. Now that's just rude. "Can you say," he slips on a red hat with a fluffy ball at the end, "Secret Santa?"

Before he can continue, a familiar figure tugs on his sleeve. It's Roxas. I almost choked on my spit when I saw him. Where the heck did he come from? To my dismay, he looks good—surprisingly good—glowing even. I can almost discern a divine halo surrounding him. So that's what a man in love looks like. Where's that goddamned punch? He whispers something in Pence's ear.

"Wait a sec, there's still one more announcement. Take it away, Roxas."

The blond looks over the audience, eyes drinking in the presence of good friends and acquaintances. His eyes widen when they fall on me. He recovers quickly, however, and clears his throat perhaps more harshly than intended. "Hi everybody, I just wanted to make a simple announcement. Nine years ago, on this day, Naminé and I got together in a wonderful relationship that's still going strong to this day. I wanted to take things to the next level, so I proposed to her. She said 'yes.' We're getting married!"

Cue the celebratory cheers. Everybody whoops, hollers, and yells like my dad when the Keybladers score a goal. The news isn't that exciting. Anyone with half a brain could see this coming from a mile away. The true surprise is that it didn't happen sooner. Each of the guests pour out their heartfelt congratulations.

Suddenly, I feel a profound connection with Tidus. I need to find myself a bowl. I guess I should be happy for him, but I'm finding it hard to muster the kindness. That's life for you. People get together, people split, and others, like me, watch it all unfold. The lucky girl emerges from the crowd and joins her fiancé as the center of attention. Bask in the glory while you still can. Don't come crawling to me when you've maxed out your mortgage trying to pay for three kids, a minivan, and marriage counseling sessions because you're all feeling trapped in a dead-end relationship. Okay, so I'm a little bitter. Who wouldn't be? I need me some more punch.

A hand lands on my shoulder. "Xi."

I put on my best smile before turning around. "Congratulations, Roxas."

"Thanks. Hey, I know it's been a long time, but I was just wondering if we were still friends?" That's the first thing he says when he sees me? Not even a "hello" or a "great to see you!"?

"Sure. Why wouldn't we?" He's not worth the effort of hating, and it makes me feel really bad too. I breathe in slowly and try to calm myself down. Relax, Xi, don't flip out and tear his head off.

"It's just—after you left for Radiant Garden, I never heard from you. Even before that, you were distant."

Not like you tried contacting me either. Guess you were too busy screwing Naminé. "I wanted to give you two lovebirds room to grow. Guess where it brought you? Into holy matrimony. I think I made the right choice."

"That's not what I… Can I ask you something? Did you ever… have feelings for me?"

"It was so long ago, I don't remember anymore."

He looks hesitant. "If you did—"

"Roxas. There are times when a man must shut up and this is one of them. You just announced your engagement. Enjoy it! And forget about everything else." Because I'm certainly trying to. I down another gulp and slap him on the back. "Congratulations."

"But—"

Axel comes barreling in with the save. "Hey, Roxy. Congrats. Tell me all about it! Did you get on one knee and pop the question? Walk me through the whole thing…" Axel winks at me and I nod my head gratefully. Even if my romantic feelings evaporated, it's natural to feel jilted. My role as best friend got stolen by Naminé. She pretty much replaced me whether he realized it or not. Two loners can only be together as long as they're both loners. He ceased being one once Naminé stepped into the picture.

I should call it a night. Where is Sora? I need a ride. After a quick gander, I spot him with—oh, they're here: Kairi and Riku.

Riku looks amazing. He's still a magnificent creature made even more dazzling with his silky smooth suit. Only he could pull off an all-white outfit. It oughta be a crime to be that handsome. He needs to be locked up with his hands tied behind his back and forced to crawl on all fours for, er—punishment purposes. It's the law!

He can totally get into the drama biz if he wanted to. I can't even imagine a collaboration between him and Terra. Film would not be enough to contain such pure unadulterated joy. I sigh, abandoning my delusions, and walk up to the group. I immediately sense a tension between the "couple." Sora wasn't lying.

"I must be seeing things, Sora, because I see your little sister coming this way." Riku rubs his eyes dramatically. "This must be heaven."

"Hello to you too, Riku."

"I thought you were dead. Nice to see you again." Out of nowhere, he squeezes me like a little toy. I barely suppress a squeak—or was it a squeal? Whatever it was, it's suppressed! "I've missed you."

"We all do," Kairi says, pitching into the conversation. Go away. This is between me and Riku, alright? Go make up with my brother already. Then I remember that Riku thinks of me only as a little sister. Why did we have to grow up together? Why couldn't we have met today and have that dramatic moment in the first episode of a new series called "Black and White," featuring me and Riku, in an epic tale of a beautiful man sweeping a modest girl like myself off her feet? It would've been a perfect set up, but no! Freakin' Sora had to be best friends with him since childhood.

"I hear you've been gone yourself," I reply. "What was the job?"

"Nothing exciting. Just advertising."

"Like...modeling?" I can't think of any other occupation.

"No. I mean, actual marketing, planning, writing up campaigns, and executing them."

"Oh…" Such a waste of his natural talent. Any job that doesn't require him to take off his shirt is a waste. A goddamned waste, I tell you.

"So… How about you and me catch up?" Sora says to Riku. He gives me a pointed look and jabs his head in Kairi's direction. This is going to be fun.

"In that case, would you mind keeping me company, Kairi?" I hope it came out earnest. I put all my acting ability into that one.

Her mouth widens happily. "Sure."

For all the bad things I've said about her, she's always been nice to me. She has her good qualities. For one, she's smart, and driven, and about as ambitious as any modern woman. It's gals like her that pave the way for gals like me. Thank you, Kairi. But that doesn't mean we're going to be sisters even if my brother proposes to you.

I try leading her into a nice quiet corner where we can talk easily but she gravitates towards the punch bowl, the MVP of this party. This is what? My fifth trip? As Larxene would always say, "One more, please!"

"How's the trip so far? Does it feel like home yet?" She pours herself a modest amount with the ladle and downs it quickly.

"The weather, the city, and the people are familiar, but it doesn't feel like my heart is in it yet."

"I know what you mean." Does she really? Oh wait, is this one those subtle hints that girls like to drop when they skirt around an issue? I see that shit all the time on TV. It's so annoying.

"Like with Sora?"

"What?"

"Wh-I didn't say anything. What I'd say?" Guess not. That's a misfire on my part, sorry.

She tilts her head and giggles. "Did Sora ask you for advice?" I told you she was smart. She pours herself another round.

"Yes," I confess. "Be a dear and help me out, will you? Or maybe you can use a little help yourself."

"We were never really close, were we?" she says, staring at the bottom of her empty glass. I can tell she's thinking about getting more.

"No. Not really." We acted only as friendly as we needed to be. We just never clicked. I guess she wasn't crazy enough for me.

"Then you can keep this a secret? Can I trust you?"

"Trust is my middle name. What's the problem? Are you bored with him? The routine gotten stale? Doesn't have enough moves in bed?"

She bursts in a bout of uncontrollable giggles and her face glows the same shade as her hair. She's a lightweight. I stare at her for what feels like an eternity before she settles down. "Sora and I… We agreed on a plan. Until we're secure financially and career-wise, we wouldn't think of anything beyond that. But after being with him for so long, it's almost as if… it doesn't matter anymore." She tilts back and the punch slides down her throat easily.

"…Then you're not cheating on him."

"What? No. Of course not!" Score one for Sora. He knows his girlfriend well. "Then why are you giving him a hard time?"

"I don't mean to… I wanted to see if I could…like...live, but without him, you know?"

No, I don't know. It sounds stupid to me, but whatever. "Okay. How did that work out?"

"I miss him. I'd remember all those moments and all the things he's done for me. I've taken him for granted. He irons my cloths—my underwear, and even goes out to buy me tampons when I need them. Is he even human?" Her eyes shine with glassiness. "I'm a lucky girl, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are. What exactly is the problem here?" This is like pulling teeth from a rock. I'm aware rocks don't have teeth, which underscores how maddening this situation is.

"It's just… he's too good to me. It's almost like I don't deserve it. Every time I wake up to him cooking breakfast, every time he does something thoughtful without me having to ask, I feel...guilty, like I'm not living up to my end of the bargain."

Screw you and the high horse you rode in on. This is like first-class first-world problem trolling right here, folks. I can't believe my ears. "You're kidding. Let me get this straight: the problem you have with Sora is that he's too good of a boyfriend? What's wrong with you? You've got it made. That's the dream! You know what? This is actually pissing me off. He thinks he's not good enough for you anymore—wow, this is just hilarious. Bitch, go out there and make it up to him. Give him all your moves. Make my brother happy, damn it."

She stares at me, wide-eyed and stunned. Then she breaks down in a fit of maniacal giggles. "You're so funny, Xion!" She's hopeless. I can confidently tell Sora that he has nothing to worry about. He's sure made his bed with a weird one though. After she calms down a little, she looks at her glass. I confiscate it immediately.

"Take it easy, Kairi. You've had enough."

"I'm so glad we had this heart-to-heart." More like a punch to heart, but whatever works. "Remember, don't tell Sora about this, okay? I hope he misses me a little." Her eyes suddenly go wide. "Wow, I've been a bitch, haven't I?" And the award for understatement of the year goes to…

I pat her on the back. "Just make it up him. He'll forgive you." I think my job is done here. On that note, how about some more punch?

"Attention, everyone!" says Pence. "Let's not lose sight of the main event here. I've got all your gifts with me, and for those who didn't bring gifts, services must be rendered in place of product." He looks to me and wags his finger. "That means you, Xion."

"I never asked for this," I say in protest.

"It's not fair if you get something for free," he argues.

"Then I'll excuse myself from the exchange."

"Hold on, I can't do that. This is my party and everybody here is getting a gift whether they like it or not. Don't worry; I've already made a gift for you." He whips out a piece of paper. "This is a massage ticket. The lucky person who receives this will have the pleasure of having you give them a massage." This is why I hate parties. Throwing one does not entitle the host to dictatorship powers.

"I didn't come here to—"

"I brought her along against her will. It's not fair to hold her to that," my brother says, interrupting me. "I'll give the massage in her place."

"Whoever gets it, trade it with me, okay?" Kairi announces. She just unwittingly made Sora's massage a hot commodity.

Pence is about to deny Sora's idea but I aim my strongest most powerful glare at him. He thinks better of it. "Fine. Y'all sucking the fun out of my party, yo." That's why I'm here: to suck the fun out of parties.

Having excused myself from this dog and pony show, I take a seat on the couch, hoping that the alcohol will carry me to sleep. I hear something about a lottery, a spinning wheel, and bouncing balls. Then the room erupts like it was the Destiny Islands stock exchange. Everybody's yelping, screaming, and making backroom deals. I even pick up some hardcore statistical analysis on the odds of receiving Pence's gift, which is apparently a car. Instead of keeping me up, their collective moans, gasps, and ecstatic celebrations lull me into a deep meditative state. I think back from the start of the day to this moment. Even though it's just one day, it's been an exhausting journey.

"And for the lucky person who will get a free massage, it's… RIKU!"

Every ounce of fatigue abandons me and a rush of energy shoots through my arm. "I'll do it!" I've got my hand high in the air and everybody's looking at me. I'm not dreaming?

Pence grins. "I knew you'd come around."

Riku snatches the ticket from Pence's hand and approaches me. "Whew, for a second there, I thought I was gonna get a massage from Sora. I like the guy, but not like that."

"Your loss. Sora's got the magic fingers," Kairi says mysteriously. I try not to read into it much.

"So, when do you want to redeem your massage ticket?" I ask sweetly. I'm still a little bewildered by the situation. Everybody else has apparently moved on to the next lottery draw.

"Would now be too much trouble?"

"Not at all!"

"You can use any of the free guest rooms," Pence offers. It's almost like they set this up. As much as I'd relish the opportunity to rub my hands all over Riku, there comes a point when a joke begins to straddle the line between funny and awkward. Someone might get the wrong idea—like me. It's all fun and games until someone's feelings get hurt. But I'm an idiot, so I follow Riku into an empty bedroom. It has everything necessary for us to get it on, not that I'm expecting us to get it on—but that bed is awfully inviting.

"You're not seriously expecting a massage, are you?" I'm not suggesting any other recreational activities in place of one. I'm just speaking to my inexperience.

"Wouldn't be much point in rigging the draw otherwise," he says, shrugging nonchalantly.

"What? How and why?"

"I asked him and he agreed. Besides, I wanted to talk to you before you bailed. This is probably the last time I'll see you for a long time." Is that really the impression I give? Granted, the last time we got together I left early, and yeah, I abandoned the island for nigh on ten years, but that doesn't mean running is my first option.

"Just for you, I'll stay an extra day." He doesn't believe me. Even I don't believe me. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I have a theory I want to test out, but before that, do you mind?" He shows me his back and points to his broad shoulders. I'd be dumb to turn down this chance even though I've never given a massage in my life. We settle on the bed and I began squeezing his shoulders, rubbing my fingers in circles and odd directions. I have no idea what I'm doing, but he sure feels nice to touch.

"You're pretty bad at this."

"Sue me. I'm not a licensed professional." I'm fulfilling my obligation with the bare minimal effort required. "Mind telling me about this theory of yours?"

"My theory is that you like me."

"Yeah," I say, scoffing. "Me and every other girl who's laid eyes on you. That's not an earth-shattering hypothesis." I concede the point only because it's obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes. I'm sure even the blind would agree with me.

"Do you still like me?" I love how me liking him is a foregone conclusion—which it is. Don't give a hopeless girl like me hope, that's too cruel.

"Shouldn't you be riding a tricycle right now?"

"A what?" I pinch his neck. "OW! What was that for?"

"What's with the questions? Did you realize you actually love me after all these years or something?" It sounded funnier in my head, but I'm afraid he might take it seriously. Oh god, I can't believe I said that out loud.

Before I can take it back, he replies, "Is the idea really that crazy?"

"Don't play with me, mister."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Sorry, I'm not trying to." He's not trying hard enough. Seriously, stop acting like such a girl. Come out and say it already.

"Okay. What happened? Sora asked you to keep me company or something? No, wait, it's a bet. I bet it's totally a bet." She's All That. It's a classic.

"It's nothing like—look, do you remember that cartoon we used to watch when we were kids?"

"Cartoon? Now I know you're just playing around."

He takes my hands off his shoulders and turns around. We sit facing each other, hand in hand, with my body running a little warmer than usual. "I'm being serious here. It was called the Legend of the Keyblade." I vaguely recall something about a hero jumping from world to world and solving problems. "My company recently took on the franchise as a client; merchandising, toys, blu-rays, and video games. Naturally, as a professional, I did my research. So I'm going through all these old episodes again. Surprisingly, the show is still fun to watch. Guess we had good taste, even as kids. Anyways, I reach this one episode, and it reminded me of this one time when I visited you guys when you were both sick. Sora was asleep, which is pretty rare for him, and you were the one taking care of him for once."

I have no idea where he's going with this. My mind is desperately trying to scrape together the pieces for this memory, but I'm coming up blank.

"It was just you and me, and we decided to watch this show. Same episode and everything. Nothing special about it. Just a bad guy and the hero kicks his ass. But I remember that you were falling asleep. You were pretty much leaning into me. I didn't notice because I was really into the show. The hero busted out this new move and it was crazy. When I turned to see what you thought of it, you were already dozing off. That's when you said it."

"What did I say?" I ask nervously.

"Marry me."

I flush immediately. "Damn it, Riku. I was just a kid. How do you even remember that? I don't even remember that. Are you making this up? Or maybe you're the one that's dreaming?"

He taps his head. "I remember it clearly after watching that episode. I didn't realize what you were saying at the time."

"Typical. You always were an insensitive jerk." When acting lovesick gets me labeled as "weird," that sort of sours my prospects for love.

"It just got me thinking about our time together growing up. That's when all the signs finally started to register. Looking back, it should've been obvious, but I never really noticed."

"And why should you? I've got zero appeal." A look in the mirror every day is enough to remind me that I'm lacking in both the top and bottom departments. I'll eventually fill out, my ass. You lied to me, mom!

"You're wrong. When I saw you again, I couldn't help thinking about how insanely cute you are." Oh my, I love the way you lie to me.

"Keep going…"

"You look amazing, and I've never met someone as wonderful as you, as mesmerizing, as graceful, with a beauty so divine, that only the word gorgeous can describe your fantastic existence. You are dazzling, enchanting, stunning—simply put: you are perfection."

"Okay, now you're just going overboard. But keep going." Just because I don't buy it doesn't mean I won't accept it. I love accepting compliments. Shower me with them. Make it rain!

He chuckles. "It's called an ad-train. It's an exercise we like to do at work. Try to create a line stuffed with as many 'action' words as possible. I've been waiting to try it out on you. There's just one problem with it though."

"None of it's true?"

"Nah, it doesn't do you justice."

"Okay. Now you're just being corny. Be honest, how many times have you dropped that line?"

"You may be shocked to hear this, but I haven't been in a relationship for years. My last one was in college."

"Why are you wasting your youth like that?"

"Girls just got annoying." He says it like it was some life-altering revelation. You should've realized that the day you met me.

"I'm a girl."

"No, you're a woman, and an amazing one at that." I can never get tired of hearing that. "I'm not trying to trick you. It's just—I realized that there's more to life than appearances. No shit, right? If I think about the times when I was happiest, it's gotta be with you guys. I didn't realize how much I missed you until you left."

"I'm sure you had no problem keeping yourself busy."

He looks abashed. "All this time, I wondered whether you'd come back a completely different person. I'm glad you're still you." See? Vindication. I'm fine just the way I am.

"Very smooth, Riku."

"I try. But it's not like you believe half of what I'm saying anyways. I can see it in your face."

"Because unlike the women of your troubled past, I possess a modicum of intelligence."

"Would you believe me if I kissed you then?"

My heart skips a beat. Even he's just messing around; this is something I can use on those cold lonely nights in the bathtub. "Depends on how good you kiss."

"I've been told it's literally breathtaking." Damn it. When he's on, he's on, and ain't nothing gonna stop him. I don't care if he's done this dozens of times, because it's my time to shine, damn it.

"Show me."

He stands me up and gently holds onto my shoulders. Hey, wait a minute; this isn't actually happening, is it? It's gotta be staged, make believe, a drama. Where are the lights, the cameras, and the production staff? I can't hear anything except for the beat of my pounding heart. It's relentless, erratic, but somehow… rhythmic, like a tribal ceremony heralding my ascension into the wondrous peak of womanhood. Take me to heaven, take me away! I'm not even going to close my eyes for this. I wanna see this the entire way through. He's close, so close. Our lips are mere inches apart…

The door bursts open. It's Pence. "FI—whoa, sorry to interrupt, guys, but there's a FIRE in the house!" Reality comes crashing down on us, and Riku and I exchange a look of disbelief. "I'm serious! It's the tree. We tried to put it out using the punch, but it made it even worse. Get outta here, guys!"

And just like that, my perfect scene was ruined by a fiery holiday tree of all things. It must be a message from god. I got it loud and clear: you hate me. We shuffle out of the house to the tune of fire sirens in the distance. All the guests are lined up on the lawn, watching the smoke rise into the night sky. It's beautiful in a bizarre way. Santa's riding his sled on the smoke and the lights are blinking madly. What a blaze of glory.

"Shit, are you insured?" Hayner asks out loud.

"I sure hope so."

"How did the fire start?" I wonder.

Everybody looks at Axel. "What the hell? It wasn't me! I've crossed that one out a long time ago." I love him so much.

"It's probably electrical. With all the machines and lights you got running, it was just a matter of time," Sora hypothesized. Everybody starts talking about possible causes and about plans on what to do next. I pull Sora aside.

"Time to go home then, I guess." The fatigue hits me like a tsunami. Physically, I'm a little tired; it's the emotional and mental exhaustion that's got me praying for quick and bottomless sleep. Too much excitement for one day. My limbs are still tingling from what almost happened. I feel like crying.

"Are you staying at Sora's?" Riku asks.

"Yeah. You?"

"Got myself a fancy hotel room. Do you want to…?"

"You didn't get that far." He grins mischievously in response. "But, if you want, you can take me out for dinner this week. And hey, maybe you can show me that episode. It might jog my memory a little." I gotta have standards. You'll have to buy me a drink before I take off my clothes. Okay, that's not the real reason. I only turned him down because I know I'll fall asleep right away, and I'd rather wake up to Sora cooking breakfast than Riku being disappointed that he didn't get any. I mean, unless he wants to screw a corpse, but I wanna be awake to enjoy it at least. Wait, did I actually just think that? God, I need my sleep, fast.

"Sounds great. I'll see you later then?"

"Only when you name the restaurant." If he's running ad-trains in Twilight Town, then he can afford a nice dinner for me, plus dessert, and some chocolates and candy too, oh, and those crazy breakfast waffles at the Guardian Grill—can't forget about that.

He laughs. "Fine. Till next time."

"You're going to take him?" Sora asks Kairi. I don't know if they made up yet but they seem to be on alright terms.

"Yeah. I'll see you back at the apartment." She leans in for a cursory peck on the cheek and we part ways.

Sora and I head towards the car.

"Did you two make up?"

"You tell me." It looks like it's still up in the air. Maybe Kairi is just saving herself for a surprise at home? I hope I'll be asleep by then. I'm not in the mood to hear my brother grunt and moan and making all sorts of weird noises. That's just…wrong.

"All I can say is: you have nothing to worry about. Just keep doing what you're doing," I advise.

"Are you sure?" His hand hangs on the door, as if opening it might lose him the opportunity to learn more.

"Well… This is just me, but I think she wants you to propose."

"What?! D-did she say this to you?"

I clamber into the passenger side and he follows suit. "Nah. Just a feeling."

"Just a feeling? You seem pretty sure for just a feeling."

I giggle. "Not really. Wouldn't hurt to start looking for rings though."

"I hope you're not leading me on."

"I wouldn't dare dream of it." He probes my face for deceit and shakes his head. He pushes his keys into the ignition and the engine roars to life. I prefer white noise when I sleep. It blocks out my thoughts and I can relax easier. I close my eyes, images of Riku flashing briefly, and drift into a nice dark abyss.

The thought is always more painful than the reality. It was annoying to get my butt dragged from one end of the world to another, but now that I'm here, back home, in my somewhat natural habitat barring few exceptions (like the weather), I feel surprisingly comfortable. Even the people, my "old friends," weren't that bad. There's still a ton of catching to do, but all in due time.

Don't take it the wrong way, I'm not saying that I've changed or anything like that, but I feel like my world's gotten a little bigger. There might even be room for another person, but that's contingent on a constant stream of compliments, dinners, gifts, and of course, breakfast in the morning. Either that or take me up to heaven, repeatedly, over and over, and—okay, it's going to be long lonely bath tonight.

One thing's for sure, this is one night I'm not forgetting anytime soon. Sometimes all it takes is one crazy night to change everything. I should know, because it happens in dramas all the time.

"What about you and Riku? Something happen I should know about?"

"Nothing much," I whisper, my consciousness fading away. "But you know what?"

"What?"

"It's good to be back."

---

I hope you enjoyed the story. If it is not to your liking, I apologize, but I would like to point out that there are two other stories in this collection that might better serve your tastes.

I'm a smokescreen, if you will, for the scandalous, sexy, and downright vulgar proceedings that are sure to follow (I know, because I've read them—lucky me, right?). If you are craving a little more heat, a little more skin, and a little more saliva, then soldier on, my good reader.

You'll find several common elements across our stories but I'll leave it to our closer, Kyorii, to explain to you what those elements were, and what challenges we gave each other for a little fun extra twist.

Don't forget to vote for which story you think is best. I'm kidding, there is no poll, but do leave a review. Let us know if you want us to join forces again for another universe-shattering collision.

We had a lotta fun making this, and if you want to know how much fun, you can gaze upon our madness through a link in each of our profiles. It goes to our GoogleDoc page, which we used to compile our ideas, rough drafts, along with some chat highlights. It's been amazing working with writers who are passionate, clever, funny, and right in all the wrong places in the head.

Thanks for reading!

Happy Holidays! Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!