This is a sentimental chapter for Musaki and this is the first time to use Kage in this fic. Hope I did Kage cool, klonoakazeno! Enjoy!

Chapter 10: First Christmas Memory

Shortly after being at home after the Christmas party, most of them were sleeping and others were getting ready for the Christmas Day. Musaki, on the other hand, looked at the Christmas tree and saw how beautiful it is. While looking, he saw a decoration of a teddy bear with black eyes, brown and orange fur and a necklace on it.

He started to be very familiarized with the bear and touched it to feel its presence, like it's a memory of some sorts. He sighed and whispered, "Sparky...."

He thought about that name and why was it familiar to him for some reason. He never seem to know about it and it felt like he's forgotten about it since he got adopted to the Orphange.

Sooner or later, two figures of Ichi came towards him. Musaki looked up and didn't know what to make of that. He asked, "Ichi, who's that dude?"

"Well, this is another side of me, Kage."

It's a like another version of Ichi, only a little darker and somewhat the same height as Ichi. Musaki looked at him and said, "Nice to meet you."

"Same here."

"So, why did you say it's another side of you?"

"Well, it's like my shadow or something like that. It's also the first half of my name and my name's on the end of it."

"Seriously?"

"Don't get your hopes too high, kid. I only have one life and that's all I can live with." Kage said.

"How so?"

"Well, he kinda appeared out of nowhere just a few seconds ago and I told him a few things about yourself."

"Like how?"

"Dude, this kid has been talking about you nonstop for five freakin' minutes and I can tell that you're like his brother. Why couldn't that make it easier for me?"

"So, why are you here?"

"Why did you just name a Christmas ornament 'Sparky'?"

Musaki scratched his head and told him, "Well, from the looks of that ornament, it all looked very familiar to me, like I've had it before and it wasn't an ornament, like something close to me when I was young."

"You mean....?" Ichi asked.

"You don't think?"

Kage sighed heavily and said, "I can see where this is going. Your first Christmas memory, right?"

(Flashback)

Musaki, Ichi and Kage were in Musaki's hometown of Shanghai Valley somewhere in China and Musaki looked around and said, "Where am I?"

"Kid, this is--well, was--your hometown where you were born."

Musaki sees the snow falling on the ground and seems very familiar with it. He never seemed to notice his memory of Christmas, until he sees a young panda running around the snow and chasing the snow down on the ground.

"Mama, come on!" the young panda said.

"Coming, sweetie."

"Who's that?" asked Musaki.

"That was you, when you were younger. About a year and half old, I think."

Musaki looked at the young panda and saw those blue eyes and realized that it really is him. He gasped silently and asked, "That's me?"

"Yep."

Young Musaki saw the snow fall down and chased after it, growling playfully, leaping up and down, laughing like he was having fun. He leaped up the air and tried to catch the snow with his paw.

"I caught it! I caught it!"

"Caught what, dear?" asked his mother.

Older Musaki dropped his jaw and asked, "Is that my mom?"

"Yep. That's her."

"Wow. She looked beautiful."

"I didn't know that this was your mom." Ichi said.

Young Musaki caught half of the snow and his mother came in and saw the snow in his paw and said, "You caught the snow."

"Yes, mother."

"That's wonderful. Seems as though you like snow."

"I love snow. I wish it would never go away."

His mother chuckled and then, she came towards him and hugged him affectionately. He gave the hug back and they were just happy to be together and his mother kissed him in the cheek, which made Musaki giggle and said, "I love you, mama."

"I love you too dear."

The older Musaki chuckled softly and saw those memories finally being relived. He didn't know how much fun that he had before his parents died when he was three. He said, "I was so young."

"Yep. Let's fast forward to what happens next."

Later on, Young Musaki and his mother were walking in the cave and they saw his father, Sakamoto, in the cave awaiting for Musaki's gifts. Sakamoto patted Musaki's head and told him, "Okay, son. We've got some gifts for you."

"Oh, goody, goody! I can't wait!" Young Musaki said.

Then, his father handed him a teddy bear and he gasped and squeezed it affectionately. His father told him, "It's my gift to you and I hope you like it."

"I love it! Thank you, papa!"

"You're welcome."

"I'm gonna name you 'Sparky', cause you've got spark."

Older Musaki chuckled and looked at him in a younger version of himself. He said, "Oh, man. That was so cute."

"Now it's my gift to you." his mother said.

His mother came in and gave him a golden red and blue necklace and Musaki gasped and said, "Oooh, pretty."

"Yeah, it's been worn for many generations. It's been passed down to me, my father, my grandmother, my cousin, my grandmother's mother, and my father's father. Now it belongs to you."

Musaki lowered his head and then, his mom puts the necklace on his neck and on the back of the necklace, some writing. He asked, "What's it say, mama?"

She held the necklace and said, "You Are Not Alone, for I am here with you. Though you're far away, I am here to stay. For You Are Not Alone, for I am here with you, though we're far apart, you're always in my heart, for you are not alone."

Older Musaki looked at the necklace and saw the entire inscription on the back and it was the same. He was surprised that it wasn't in his memory and that it stayed with him.

"As long as your wear this thing, know that we will always be here with you, through the good times and the bad."

"It's pretty. Thanks, mama."

"You're welcome, my son."

Musaki hugged her tightly and his dad came in and told him, "Merry Christmas, my son. We will always be together for many years and when you grow up, you will always have this sense of family and the love that you feel here. Don't ever forget, that we love you very much and we will always stand behind you no matter what."

Musaki said, "Okay. I will."

"We promise you to have a great life for you and that you need supporting parents to be with you, no matter what. And you are in our hearts."

Musaki touched his stomach and feels something there. He asked, "Is it there?"

"Yes, Musaki. Your heart is right there and it will always stay with you until the end of time."

"I understand now, mama. I love you."

"We love you too."

Musaki climbed on his mom's back and fell asleep there. His mother chuckled and whispered, "Good night, my little Musaki."

Older Musaki got teary-eyed and wiped the tears from his eyes and saw everything that when he was young to his first Christmas. He never knew that it was something he couldn't have been forgotten even after his parents' death from Tai Lung.

"So, what did you think, kid?" asked Kage.

Musaki was still in tears and crouched himself in a little ball, covered his face and started crying. Though, for the first time, it wasn't a cry of sorrow, suffering and loneliness. They are tears of joy and happiness that he got a chance to se what he looked like when he was younger and his parents were alive, knowing that Musaki has been and always will be loved.

He sniffled and raised his head and looked at Kage and Ichi with tears still in his eyes and said, "I never knew my parents loved me that much, even when I was a cub. How could I forget that this was my Christmas memory? It was really awesome to see them again."

"Hey, kid. Your parents really loved you and gave the whole world to you, even before they died. They gave their lives for you and so far, this holiday memory will be the one you will always cherish."

"I just don't know what to say, except...thank you."

"Don't mention it, seriously don't."

"Let's go back."

(Back to reality)

"I believe my work here is done."

"Kage is kinda cool, I think."

"Well, that's the other side of me, but I was lucky to realize that you do have a great family. When I see you, I see you more as a great friend. You're like my best friend." Ichi said.

"I am? I'm your...best friend?"

"Yep. Since day one."

Musaki smiled and didn't know that he would actually have a best friend like Ichi and he said, "That's cool, because you're my best friend too."

They both hugged each other, even on the Christmas tree and it seems as though that they are best friends forever. Jo was the one looking at both of them and noticed that they were friends. Then, the door opens and Musaki and Ichi saw Jo standing there.

"Hey, Jo? What are you doing up?"

"Just walking by, then I saw you guys hugging each other." Jo said.

"We are best friends, though." Ichi said.

"Best friends?"

"Yep."

"Wow. I wish I had a best friend."

"You do. You have me and Ichi and Fu and Kaguya and Po and most of the Five..almost." Musaki said.

"Really?"

"Dude, you know you and I will always be friends."

Jo smiled and noticed for a fact that for the first time ever, he, Musaki and Ichi are all best friends forever. He chuckled and said, "Always."

"This Christmas is probably the best days I've ever had in my life. And I hope to treasure that forever."

"You will, Saki. You will."

Shifu all of a sudden came out of nowhere and saw the whole thing with Po, who's wiping his eyes. Musaki and Ichi groaned softly and they said, in unison, "Seriously, again?"

Po sniffled and said, "I'm sorry, but that was so sweet that you guys are best friends."

"We're cool, Po." Musaki said.

"Yeah, why do you always cry? I mean, you do that after I sing a song or something."

"He does that?" asked Jo.

"That's not the half of it."

"It shows great emotion with that friendship. Don't be ashamed of it." Shifu said.

"We won't."

"It's getting late. Time for you all to get to bed."

"Yes, master."

Aww, that's so sweet! Please read and review! Stay tuned for Musaki's first Christmas Day with his adopted family.