Me: Hi guys! Merry Christmas Eve! I've got this cute little one-shot to share with you guys in response to the Christmas season. Enjoy! :)
I DO NOT OWN YUMEIRO PATISSIERE.
Christmas Miracles
Michael: 10
Lynne: 5
Dylan: 2
XxXxX
"Ah!" Dylan reached upward, trying to grab his mother's hat once again. However, Ichigo was too quick for him and pulled his arms down.
"No Dyl-Dyl, that's Mommy's hat, don't touch," She chastised softly to the little boy. He frowned, clearly unhappy.
Scrunching up his eyebrows, he said, "Bu' Mama..."
"No buts," She told him.
"Mama!" Lynne pulled on her mother's jacket, "Are we there yet?"
Ichigo looked down at her, "Soon sweet heart."
The Kashino family were walking down a shopping street in Ichigo's hometown. It was the Christmas Eve and many people were there as well. Ichigo and Kashino were taking them to a Christmas store called, 'Just Christmas'. It had been one of Ichigo's favourite shops as a little girl and she couldn't wait to show it to the kids too.
"Mom, I'm bored," Michael complained, his hands jammed in his coat pocket. Ichigo knew he was itching to get back into the car, she had made him leave his gameboy there and she was certain that's why he was so moody.
"Come on, we're here to have fun!" Ichigo chirped happily, trying to lighten his spirits, "The Just Christmas shop is amazing!"
"Your mother is right," Kashino agreed, "She's taken me there more times than I can count, but it's enjoyable every time."
"How come Daddy?" Lynne asked, pulling on her coat collar. She was wearing a navy blue jacket with pink plaid stripes, it was zipped up and buttoned which made the collar tickle her neck.
"Because," He said, looking up to the sky. Christmas lights were stung over the buildings and across the streets, almost as if there were fairies floating up above, "It's just a magical place. It feels different every time you go."
Lynne herself was mystified by this and stopped to contemplate what the store might look like. She pictured a life sized gingerbread house, with gumdrop steps and sugar candy windows. She licked her lips, wondering if would be edible...
In reality, she came face to face with the actual Just Christmas store. It was a simple homey sort of building, with cobblestone walls. It was glittering with little pearly lights, the humble wooden sign reading, "Just Christmas," in fancy lettering. In through the big glass window, Lynne saw the massive Christmas tree and shelves upon shelves of Christmas decorations. "Ooh!" She cooed, excited.
Ichigo herself was excited as well, and it made her all the more happy to see her little girl excited as well, the bright lights reflecting in her innocent eyes. "Let's go in and take a look around," Ichigo told her daughter, who happily took hold of her free hand. Dylan babbled from his resting place in his mother's arm, his focus constantly shifting at the different glittery ornaments and household garnishes.
Kashino meanwhile proceeded in getting Michael excited, as he had outgrown the little kid mentality of Santa Claus and magic. The boy shoved his hands deeper inside his pockets and looked around. Maybe it was pretty nice and many things were interesting. Kashino began noticing Michael's interest in different things and smiled to himself. No matter how grown-up he pretended to be, he was still a child inside.
Lynne continually squeezed her mother's hand, "Mama! Mama, look!" She squealed excitedly, pointing to a particularly shiny ornament or cozy looking Christmas pillow.
Together, the Kashino family walked through the store. Most families had family traditions such as putting the star on the tip top of the tree, or maybe snuggling up in Christmas sweaters and opening presents on Christmas Eve. But this was theirs, and it was absolutely perfect.
After a while, Lynne began becoming increasingly fidgety, wanting to let go of her mother's hand and explore on her own. However, Ichigo would not allow her to, as she didn't want her to get lost.
A store clerk, sensing their problem crossed over to them and squatted down to Lynne's height, "What seems to be the trouble dear?" She asked the five-year-old.
Lynne stared at her, she looked to be older than her mother was, though not by much. Her hair was a light shade of brown, with little hints of gray. She had glasses perched at the tip of her nose and a warm smile. Ichigo gestured Lynne to answer, "I wanna explore the store," Lynne explained, "Bu' I can't let go of my Mama's hand."
"How about I tell you a story instead?" The employee asked her. Lynne continued to stare almost blankly at the employee. Ichigo again squeezed her daughter's hand in an attempt to get her to answer.
"Uh.. Sure," Lynne replies finally, "What story?"
"About Santa Claus little one," The employee laughed softly, "Do you know about Santa Claus dear?"
Lynne nodded feverishly, since she was little, Santa had come to her house on the night of Christmas and left her presents. How could she not know about Santa Claus?
"Well, did you know we are helpers of Santa Claus?" The employee asked Lynne gently.
"You are?" Lynne breathed, in awe, "H-how?"
By this time, Kashino and Michael joined Ichigo, Lynne and Dylan, listening in on the story.
"Have you ever broken a toy?" The employee asked, "And been super sad about it?"
Michael snorted, "Oh yeah. Man, when I was little, Lynne broke so many of my toys."
Lynne blushed at this. It wasn't her fault she was a curious kid. "Well, sometimes Santa's elves break toys too," The employee told Lynne, "And when they're broken, they are in no condition to give out for Christmas, are they?"
Lynne slowly shook her head, "No one wants a broken toy fo' Christmas." She responded.
"Nu-uh!" Dylan added.
The employee began leading them down to the back of the store, "Right. So Santa sends us all the broken toys so we can fix them up and get them back to him. Then he is able to give them to good boys and girls for Christmas." She took a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door in the back that was labeled, employees only. She swung the door open and the Kashino family was introduced to a new piece of the Christmas store that neither Kashino nor Ichigo had seen.
Behind the door, 3 or 4 of the other employees at the store were seated at a wooden table working away on toys. All around them were boxes of toys, some labeled 'For Donation' and others, 'To Put Back On Shelf'. Both Lynne and Dylan gasped at the sight of a room teeming with toys, though Michael didn't seem as interested.
In all the years Ichigo had been going to the Just Christmas store, she had never seen this. She saw her daughter's eyes dancing with delight as she saw the boatload of toys in front of her. Particularly at the fuzzy brown teddy bear one of the workers were fixing. It had curly chocolate coloured fur and a red bow tied around the neck. It has on a little chef's hat and held a cupcake in its left paw. Ichigo had to admit, had she been a child, she would have wanted it too.
Dylan meanwhile, tugged on his mother's hair, "Ma!" He exclaimed, pointing at a wooden train in the 'To Put Back On Shelf' box, "I want!"
The train was about the size of a McDonald's happy meal toy, yet was decorated far nicer and was of much better quality. It was made of red stained cherry wood and the wheels were made with a metal that looked as copper. Dylan cooed over it, straining over to reach it.
Ichigo began blushing as the employees turned to look at all the noise, "No Dyl, that's not yours... You can't take it."
The employee smiled, picking the toy up and handing it to Dylan, "No, it's quite alright, he can play with it if he would like."
Ichigo thanked her, squinting at her nametag, "T-thank you, Misu-san."
"It's no problem," She responded, "Lynne, would you like to see the teddy bear?"
Lynne's eyes shot open wide and she nodded quickly. The employee finished off sowing the tear on the back and handed it to Misu, who gave it to Lynne. The little girl immediately started smiling and snuggling with the fuzzy little bear.
Kashino bent down to be at her height, "Remember, that's not yours. You have to give it back after."
Lynne stared at it sadly before nodding, "Yes Dad."
Misu looked at Michael, who was just casually looking around the room, "What about you boy?" She asked him, "See anything that interests you?"
"My name is Michael," He replied, not trying to be rude, "Uh... I guess... I do like that." He pointed to a display of Pokémon cards in the donation box. They had been bent, but smoothed out by the employees.
Misu took them off the shelf and Michael hungrily scanned them over, examining the information critically.
Kashino and Ichigo looked at each other. They didn't want the kids to get too attached to their newfound discoveries. They weren't their own after all.
"Well, we really must be going," Ichigo mumbled, too kind-hearted to make her kids give the toys back, "Thanks for everything."
"Kids, give them the toys back please," Kashino instructed, "Thank you for showing us all this by the way."
The kids stared at their father with disbelief, it was obvious they didn't want to give the toys back. Kashino sighed, "Come on kids. We have to go."
They all seemed sad, but each handed back their toy to Misu. Ichigo took the train out of Dylan's hand and he began to whine, wanting it back. "We should really be going," Ichigo said, it seemed as though Dylan might cry, so she wanted to get out of there, "Thank you for everything."
Misu smiled sympathetically at the children, "It seems like it's time to go home! I hope you come back soon kids, there's so much stuff I'd love to show you."
"Okay," Lynne replied sadly, still looking at the teddy bear in the woman's hands, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas child," Misu replied.
XxXxX
Throughout the car ride, Kashino and Ichigo were aware of the kids sadness upon having to leave the toys behind. Dylan was asleep in his car seat, as he was easily upset in cars when awake. Lynne was staring out the frosty window, glumly watching the streetlights pass. Michael had gone back to his video games, though there was the obvious tension in his expression and willing himself not to show his parents that he was upset.
Ichigo was very bothered by the fact that her kids were upset on Christmas Eve, but there was nothing she could do about it as of then. Kashino quietly reached over and took hold of her hand, while keeping his other hand on the steering wheel. He squeezed gently, to reassure her. She sighed before leaning back in her seat.
XxXxX
When they arrived home, Kashino and Ichigo got the kids ready for bed and into bed. "Mama?" Lynne had asked, "Would it be too late to ask Santa for the teddy bear at the store?"
Ichigo had replied, "Of course not. It's Christmas Eve though, so Santa must already be getting presents out."
"Oh."
Ichigo sat down on the couch beside the Christmas tree, tired from the day, and wishing she had done something at the toy store to make her kids happy. Kashino walked into the room with a plate of cookies and glass of milk, "The kids prepared this in the morning," He told her, "For Santa."
Both knew Santa was not real. Instead, every year when the kids set out the milk and cookies, they waited until they were asleep and ate it themselves. As they snacked on the cookies, Ichigo finally said, "I wish we had done something at the toy store."
Kashino sighed and took a sip of milk, "I do too. But those weren't even on sale, there was no way we could've done anything."
"That's true I guess," Ichigo replied, taking the glass out of her husband's hand and taking a sip herself, "But they looked so sad, it broke my heart a little. If Santa did exist, I would ask him to get us those presents for the kids somehow."
"I would too Ichigo. I would too."
Just as they were speaking these words, there was a small knock at the door. Both parents turned to where the door was, a figure standing there. It looked as though they were wearing a Santa hat. "No way..." Ichigo's eyes were wide, "Makoto, you don't think..."
"Don't be ridiculous Ichigo," He rolled his eyes, "It's probably just one of those stupid carolers again." Together they tiptoed across the room as to not wake the kids and opened the door.
"Misu-san!" Ichigo exclaimed in a sharp whisper. The lady from the Just Christmas store was there, standing at the doorstep with three wrapped presents in her arms.
"Hello Kashino-sans," She said, addressing them both with a smile, "I brought you these! They are for your children."
Ichigo took the gifts, confused. Kashino eyed them carefully, "These couldn't be..."
"The toys from the store?" She finished his question, "Yes they are."
Ichigo's jaw dropped, "Oh Misu-san! You didn't have to..."
"Oh but I did Ichigo dear!" She replied, "You've been coming to the store for as long as I can remember. You deserve this for your kids hun, they are just the sweetest little things."
"Thank you," Kashino said finally, "This is so nice of you..."
"All in the Christmas spirit!" Misu agreed happily, "Well then, I'll be off. Good night to you both." And then she walked down the steps and back into her car. As she drove off, Kashino and Ichigo exchanged glances.
"You don't think she really does work for Santa, do you?" Ichigo asked finally.
"Oh come on Ichigo..."
"B-but we were talking about asking Santa for the gifts and then..."
"Just give it a rest," He laughed softly, before ruffling her hair and kissing her softly.
XxXxX
The next day, all 3 children came down the stairs, eager to open presents first thing in the morning. Lynne held Dylan's hand as they went down and Michael was behind them.
"Merry Christmas!" Kashino and Ichigo greeted them.
"Mewwy Chwistmas!" Dylan chirped back happily.
The three kids crowded around the tree, which had piles of present sitting around it. "Which should we open first?" Michael asked.
Kashino and Ichigo looked at each other before nudging each kid the gift Misu had dropped at the house for them last night. "How about these?" Ichigo asked.
As each child opened their own gift and saw what was inside, they gasped in excitement, smiling wide. Kashino and Ichigo couldn't think of anything that could have made their Christmas any better.
Me: Who follows me on tumblr? If you recall, this is the story I started about 2 months ago. I actually finished it in time! SUCCESS!
For those of you who still haven't seen it, check it out! The link is on my profile!
THANKS FOR REVIEWING :3
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PLEASE REVIEW!
Merry Christmas,
~Mikashi-chan :)