They had planned, and prepared, and worked for this day, and finally, they found it suddenly upon them. Christmas Day. And just like the day they went to find their tree, everyone soon found that this day would begin early.

It all started with Ale pulling Li Amaru around to get everyone up, though like usual, the only two who they found still asleep were Kairi and Riku. It didn't take long to get Kairi up, as the instant her eyes opened she knew what day it was, and was up before Ale had even finished yelling, "Merry Christmas!"

Riku took a bit longer, but now they had Kairi helping them out, and he was up faster than he wanted to be. Dyme was already up, of course, and was serenading them all with his own rock versions of carols, flashing a cocky smile at any member who passed.

Asi and Ansem, for their part, had decided to not even try to fight them off, as they had actually been expecting to see Ale at three in the morning, and were fully surprised that he waited until five. Though he wasn't sure, Asi had a feeling that Li Amaru was behind the wait, fearing that too many people would get mad at them, and on Christmas.

For whatever reason, the Heartless and their two newest members found themselves up by five thirty, all gathered around the tree they had searched to find.

"I want a present first!" Dyme called, actually getting on his knees before the tree, reaching for the present closest to him.

"You can take any one you want, Dyme, but that one's for Li Amaru." Asi said nonchalantly, Dyme scowling and making a move to throw the present away from himself, until a glare from Riku and one from Kairi stopped him. Instead, he mumbled a few words, and handed Li Amaru the gift, the other Heartless taking it shyly, looking to see who had gotten him a present. After his good deed, Dyme went to pulling all the other gifts out, searching for one that would be his, placing them all in a pile on "his side" of the tree.

When he was satisfied he had found all of his, he began tearing into the paper, just as everyone else began picking their first gift to open.

"Hell yeah!" Dyme cried, holding up his new microphone, just as Li Amaru happily pulled out a new outfit, and Ale squealed as he held up his new boxed writing pen.

The morning continued in that manner, Dyme exclaiming similar cries every time he opened a gift, until he got to Riku's, finding nothing but a piece of coal inside, to Dyme's anger.

Unfortunately, it was immediately after this that Dyme found his brand new weapon from Asi and Kairi, turning on Riku at once, Asi quickly handing Riku his new weapon, the boys trying them out.

For his part, Asi was happy with all of his gifts to, though along with every gift there was some sort of gift card, and Asi had a suspicion that Ansem was the one who had put everyone up to that. But Asi was very willing to let that prank go, seeing as before they had joined everyone else, Ansem had told him that he'd get his present from him later that night. Oh yes, Asi was in a very forgiving mood indeed.

He had also received a personalized journal from Kairi, which was filled with poems the girl had written herself, along with various other gifts from her, all which he found he loved.

By the end of that morning, all of the presents under the tree had been opened, the Heartless playing with various gifts that they now had, though Dyme and Riku still seemed to want nothing more than to try to best one another.

"Is that all?" Dyme choose to say instead, glancing around. Asi smiled, glancing at Ansem, who nodded.

"Not quite, actually. Kairi hasn't gotten her gift from us yet."

Dyme rolled his eyes, still not used to hearing Asi use that name, though he had been for the whole week. Kairi, on the other hand, smiled.

"I get another present? Where is it?"

Asi stood and walked out of the room, returning a minute later with three different gifts, laying them down before the young girl. Smiling, Kairi picked up the first one, opening it quickly. She stopped once she had opened the lid though, staring down at the shining silver before her.

Gently, she lifted the jeweled crown from the box, the light catching it all over, throwing the fragments around the room softly. In the middle, the silver twisted to form the emblem of the Heartless.

Kairi turned her gaze to look at Asi and Ansem, but Asi merely motioned to the next gift. Kairi laid the crown down gently, before turning the next gift. Within it, she found a sparkling scepter, the Heartless emblem on the end, a jewel within it. She held it up for a moment, before lying it down as well, and then opened the last gift. From within it, she pulled a sword, its blade fine and easy for her to handle, the hilt showing their emblem, shining with an invisible light.

"What's all this for?" She asked, glancing up at them again.

"They're for you." Ansem said, as Asi leaned down to pick up the crown, placing it on Kairi's head.

"But why?"

Asi laughed.

"Because you're our Princess, of course."

Kairi nodded, still staring at the other two gifts, before putting her sword down and jumping up, hugging Asi and Ansem in turn. She pulled away from them smiling, before taking her sword and tying it around her waist, then holding her scepter to her. It was with this attire that she turned to face Dyme and Riku, smiling mischievously.

"Now what was it you were saying the other day, about my power not having any meaning?"

Both boys had already picked up their newly obtained weapons, a dangerous look in their eyes. They were actually wary of this girl… Ale and Li Amaru merely watched the display before them. Kairi took a step towards the boys, Dyme and Riku stepping back, holding their weapons up. With a happy laugh, Kairi abandoned all pretenses, holding her scepter up smiling, then running at the boys, both of who turned and ran, Kairi now the one chasing them. Li Amaru sighed, but Ale laughed happily, before turning back to Li Amaru, playing with his new camera.

Asi laughed at the scene, sitting down in his spot beside his Master once more, smiling wickedly.

"I don't think they'll forgive us until next Christmas."

"If they survive that long."

Asi nodded, leaning over some, that wicked smile never leaving his face.

"Of course, this Christmas isn't over yet."

"No, it isn't."

"I told you it'd be fun to celebrate Christmas."

"Though, somehow I remember saying that this didn't include me."

If anything, Asi's smile became all the more wicked.

"Oh honestly, what would Christmas be without all of us? You couldn't have believed that I wouldn't force you into this."

"No, I didn't. I know you too well."

"Lucky you."

Asi laughed as Ansem sighed, turning to watch Ale and Li Amaru, listening to the sounds of the fight that was taking place not far from them. A strange Christmas for one's with strange lives, there was no arguing that. Asi sighed, leaning on Ansem once more.

"It's kind of odd, really. A family of five Heartless, a boy who's in between, and a Princess of Heart…"

Ansem laughed, as Asi smiled.

"That's true. But really, what else would you expect from us?"

"Nothing else…"

And despite the strangeness of the life he now lived, Asi would never have liked it any other way.