MERRY… HANUKAH?

Okay guys. It's the season of celebration; the season to give to one another, the season to do kind deeds.

The season for long lines and no parking. Not to mention eating junk.

Well, my friends, we're closing in on a story chapter I've wanted to write for forever… the Christmas edition. I know, in the story, it's July. BUT… I like to jump ahead. With Christmas being so near, I can't help but want to!

I'm just not sure when I'll jump ahead. Perhaps three or so chapters from now. Or maybe, I'll calm myself and make myself wait until later to write the Christmas version. I DUNNO!

But, I have a poll for you guys. Not everybody out there is Christian, huh? So, here's the poll. Send in your votes for who you want to be Jewish, or otherwise, out of these people:

1) Xigbar

2) Zexion

3) Sora

4) Leon

5) Kairi

6) Larxene

OR

7) Goofy … yes, Goofy.

SO SEND IN YOUR VOTES!! Merry What-ever-You-Celebrate!

(Unless you like, worship evil demons or something. Freak.)

It was black. Light was dimly flowing through, and he groaned, urging his eyes to open…

"How are you feeling?"

The boy opened his eyes. He was in the sick ward, and Dr. Kadowaki was standing over his bed… that was right. He and Seifer had been training… his hand rushed to his forehead. A bandage was wrapped around his forehead and the bridge of his nose, right where Seifer had slashed him across the face.

"…"

"Take it easy next time", Dr. Kadowaki insisted. "You hear?" The boy nodded sleepily, blinking his eyes. The doctor nodded.

"Look's like your eyes are focusing. You should be fine. Say your name for me."

"… Squall." Dr. Kadowaki smiled and nodded.

"Why don't you take it easy in training?" The doctor asked as he stood and walked to the computer. "Next time you might not be so lucky."

"Tell that to Seifer." Squall moaned, leaning back in bed.

"That Seifer… won't listen to anyone. Why don't you just ignore him?"

"I can't run away." Squall mumbled, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"You wanna be cool, huh? Just don't get hurt in the process." Shaking his head, the doctor approached the phone. "Let's see, your instructor is… Quintis! I'll call her now." Squall didn't respond. The boy was in a sort of daze.

This younger version of the warrior was about seventeen. His body was a bit leaner, and only a bit shorter. The dark hair covering his eyes was thinner, and shorter, but messy as usual. All in all, his features were more child like, but his eyes were still deep pools of brooding.

"Quintis? Come get your student. Yes, yes… his injury's not serious. It'll probably leave a scar… Right. Now please come by."

Squall wasn't paying attention. He was in his own world.

And there, by his bed and beyond the glass wall, in the hallway outside, stood a girl.

"Squall, we meet again." The girl spoke in a dreamy, faraway voice. Jolted awake from his dreams, Squall turned to look at her. She wasn't there…

He couldn't have imagined her, could he?

The doorway outside, leading into the hallway, came open. A woman with blonde hair piled onto her head, clear glasses and a sharp look came in dressed in the Balamb uniform. Stepping into Squall's room, she shook her head.

"I knew it'd be either you or Seifer!"

Squall sat up, shaking his head. The wound on his nose burned… the doctor was right; he'd probably have that scar his entire life. Damn, Seifer. He never knew when to hold back.

"Come on, let's go. Today's the field exam."

The group was dead silent. Even Vexen, enthralled in his discovery, did not have the will to speak. He and the other top four members of the organization were with Cloud, Tifa, and Vincent in the front of the large gummi ship.

Silence choked the room, and Xaldin couldn't stand it. "Who's in charge of the Garden at the moment?" He asked.

"I left Cid in charge." Cloud spoke concisely. The silence came again.

Outside this room of the gummi ship, three people found silence was impossible. Sitting on a bench out in the hallway, looking out the window at the stars, was a group of three. A very uncomfortable group of three.

Axel was sitting OFF the end of the bench. He was barely sitting on the last inch of the metal seat. Eyebrows twitching and arms crossed uncomfortably, he glanced over nervously at his companions.

Lexaeus was sitting on the bench comfortably, reading. And between Lexaeus and Axel… was Zexion.

Zexion huffed and glanced at Axel. As soon as he did, Axel glanced away, sweat dropping, seemingly entranced with the ceiling. Rolling his eyes, Zexion frowned.

The blue haired man moved barely a centimeter towards Axel. Axel scooted two centimeters away, almost off the bench. He was sweating and his teeth were chattering. Zexion grumbled under his breath.

Lexaeus laughed kind heartedly. "He'll calm down soon." Zexion's eyebrow twitched angrily.

It stayed like that for a moment. Axel nervously twittering, Zexion glowering, and Lexaeus simply reading contently on the bench.

Zexion crossed his legs and arms. Axel twitched, eyes still jittering up and down as they stared unbelieving at Zexion. And Lexaeus continued reading, oblivious to it all.

When Axel twitched for the ninth time, Zexion grimaced and leapt to his feet, steaming and infuriated.

"GET OVER IT MAN! I'm HERE, I'm QUEER! GET OVER IT!"

Lexaeus smiled at Zexion's outburst and playfully shook his head. As for Axel, the poor man got one look at Zexion's inflamed, determined stance and the flames dancing around his body and glaring eyes, and fell off the bench completely.

Snickering as quietly as he could, Lexaeus sat still in the scene of Zexion and Axel as they stared at each other.

Clearing his throat as best he could, Axel composed himself slightly and brushed himself off.

Standing, Axel stared at Zexion, who was slowly calming down, but still sweating from his burst of energy. Axel blinked.

In a blur, Axel spun around, grabbed his butt with both hands, and began running down the hallway. Of course, this was an awkward movement, as anyone would know if they'd ever tried running while holding a tight grip on their buttocks.

Sweating and practically freaking out, Axel continued to hold tight to his ass as Zexion and Lexaeus stared at the weird sight, heads cockeyed in confusion.

"DON'T STARE AT MY ASS!" Axel screamed to the men behind him, now in an utter panic. He was so panicky, Axel didn't notice the doorway in front of him open and the Superior step out until number eight bumped into him.

Xemnas recovered and turned to retort on Axel's stupidity when he turned and got a look at the man.

Axel held tight to his buttocks as he stared wide eyed at his leader. Xemnas looked like a deer in headlights. Far behind them, Zexion and Lexaeus were doing their best to not crack up.

"Umm… number eight?" Xemnas began, trying to understand the situation as his voice cracked. "What… what are you doing?" Composing himself stoically, Xemnas did not laugh; he was fighting back a smirk.

"…" Axel didn't respond.

"…" Xemnas waited for a response.

"… It was on fire." He stated dumbly. Zexion couldn't hold it back. He cracked.

"It… as in… your ass?" Xemnas inquired. Axel nodded. "Your ass… was on fire?" Axel nodded again as he slowly inched around his leader, and then bolted away.

As Xemnas stared after Axel confounded, Lexaeus and Zexion roared.

It was lightly raining by the riverside where they stood, dousing the trio lightly as the girl who stood between the two boys leaned over and touched the water's surface.

Lilies and beautiful flowers floated across the surface of the river, and "pyre flies", which looked a lot like what you'd imagine a soul to look like, danced about in the rain unfazed. It was beautiful as the stars reflected on the river beside the moon.

"'A great river that flows into the sea. It overflows with glowing plants and fire-fly like insects, hence the name. Even though it's a river, the waters are truly deep, and treasures supposedly lie on the bottom. It was formed by shifting of land plates which changed a great canyon'." Namine spoke softly, in awe. Riku nodded, taking a step towards the river. "That's what I read about it. They call it the Moonflow."

The sun was falling behind the mountains as darkness made its decent and night came. When it did, the stars hit the river and the flowers glowed a beautiful green as the pyre flies danced across the surface. It was more than beautiful. It was ethereal.

"… What is this?" Riku stuttered in awe. Namine laughed, spinning about to face the boys, both of whom had their mouths open in shock.

"I told you. This is the Moonflow River. On the planet Spira!" She smiled. "Yuna's home world!"

Dumfounded, all Riku could do was nod as he spun about to take it all in.

Roxas beside him couldn't move. It was too awesome; he felt he might awaken and find it was all a dream if he so much as breathed! Finally though, he took a step forward, and the river did not disappear.

With a wild grin, Roxas took off his cloak. Namine looked to him in confusion, just in time to watch him throw his undershirt to the side.

"What are you doing?" Riku chuckled in amusement. Roxas began taking off his boots.

"I need to forget." He whispered happily. "I just need to live… and forget everything else! For a little while!" Sweeping his shoes to the side, Roxas leapt into the beautiful river, swimming out towards the middle.

"Roxas!" Namine laughed, grinning at him.

"Come on!" He waved to her. "Come in with me!"

"I'm in all white!" She protested with amusement, her smile one of amazement.

"This is what he needs." Riku muttered to her. As he collapsed to the ground, his now naked feet resting in the water, he smiled. "This is what we all need."

Namine looked down to the boy. "Oh, yes, he needs it. We All need it." Smirking, it seemed she was taking Riku's comment in a perverted way. Riku laughed.

"You know what I mean." Namine smiled and nodded.

Grabbing Roxas' cloak and wrapping it around her shoulders, Namine zipped it up and leapt into the beautiful dark waters. The ripples made the flowers dance about and when Namine came up a pyre fly glanced passed her head.

"Namine." Roxas called. The girl looked forward, and swam to Roxas.

The how I can't recall

The water splashing about made the stars dance on its surface. Namine came up to Roxas, drowning in the cloak even more than she was in the water. When the girl came up to face him, Roxas reached up and plucked a pyre fly from the air, gently holding it in his cupped hands.

The pyre seemed to dance as energy rolled off it, as it sparkled and shined, and Roxas' already bright expression glowed in the light of the creature. Namine looked it over as its light bathed her face as well.

"Beautiful", Namine whispered. Roxas nodded in agreement.

"Something so beautiful should be free." He muttered, looking deep into Namine's eyes.

But I'm staring at what once was the wall

The girl seemed a bit in thought, as a meaningful smile came to her lips. "Yeah. It should."

Roxas grinned, and let the creature go. The pyre fly bounced across the surface of the river and floated again amongst its fellows.

Separating east and west

"They say treasure rests at the bottom of the river, and it's a really deep river!" Namine told number thirteen.

"Too bad Demyx isn't here, huh?" He laughed. Namine shrugged.

"We could… look for it!" She giggled, swimming about. Roxas followed her with his eyes, turning about.

"Okay." He nodded, smirking. The girl stopped swimming. Roxas came up to her, closing in on Namine, both of them able to feel the body heat of the other. Neither minded the close presence.

"Let's go." Roxas spoke.

"Okay." Namine nodded and let herself go under, taking a deep breath. Roxas looked down as she went, and then felt a tug on his boot. The pull dragged him under, and in surprise the boy took in a bit of water. Namine silently giggled, hand over her mouth.

Grinning, Roxas came down beside her, took her hand, and began the descent, diving down to the treasures below. But certainly, none of the treasures could amount to the treasure growing inside of both "nobodies".

Now they meet amidst the broad daylight

Riku chuckled to himself as he watched them play about in the water. His eyes trailed after the beautiful pyre flies. The boy had heard Auron talking about them once, for the man had been born on Spira.

Sighing, Riku leaned forward, looking at his reflection. A flower floated up to his foot as a pyre fly flew by his head.

"Maybe he's here." Riku mumbled. "Maybe not. It doesn't matter. … I don't want to find him… I just want to get away… for a while…"

As his eyes drifted to sleep, Riku's body relaxed and he fell to the side by the river as the water caressed his sleeping form.

So this is where you are

And this is where I am

Somewhere between

Unsure and a hundred

Laughter was heard outside the board room as Xemnas stepped outside. Ignoring the noise outside, Cloud looked to his fellows.

It's been a long time." Vincent commented quietly. Tifa nodded.

"For you all, you're going home, aren't you?" Xaldin asked. Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, Tifa nodded.

"Gaia's our home. And Edge is our city, our place, as rundown as it is. You know…" Tifa began, changing subjects. "Maybe we should call Sora and them."

Vincent nodded. "Yeah. It'd be nice to introduce them to the kids."

"Kids?" Xigbar asked.

"We take care of orphans." Cloud told him. Leaning back laxly in his chair, Xigbar nodded.

Sighing, Cloud cursed the silence. Did Leon's situation sober them up so much?

"He's digging his own grave." Vincent muttered. Everyone looked up. Vincent explained.

Dwelling on the past…

Chasing after a fleeting shadow of a lover lost…

Driving himself to exhaustion and tearing his heart to pieces…

What Leon is doing to himself now…

Is so much like what you did to yourself Cloud… only so long ago…

"I know." Cloud admitted with eyes full of embarrassment and pity. "That's what scares me."

A chill passed through the room. Not one of fear, but rather, realization.

"You are… afraid?" Tifa muttered.

"Yeah." Cloud chuckled. "The past scares a lot of people, I guess."

The silence raged on. Her footsteps didn't make a sound. Every step she took, pyre flies flew in her wake, as she stepped up towards the beautiful, tortured gate. Sulhadahne stepped beside her.

"What are these things…?" Sulhadahne whispered in awe, dancing about as she absorbed it all; the pyre flies floating about, the darkness surrounded the precipice they walked on, and the gate standing at the top. "Where are we…?"

"The Gate of Midnight. It has to do with your father's research." Rinoa explained quickly. She was in pain, being so near the gate. Every step seared her body.

Her footsteps slowed as Rinoa's mind became dark, brooding; much like that of her lover… odd… she had always been the carefree one…

Laughing, Rinoa looked up to the gate. "Come on, I want you to meet someone."

Looking curiously to the woman before her, Sulhadahne rushed up to her mentor.

Rinoa smiled at the gate as it thrashed about, determined to open. Sulhadahne stepped back in surprise, looking about.

Rinoa sat cross legged.

"You said something about my father's research… what do you know?" Sulhadahne asked.

"Well… it started as both Crive, and Even's, research. But when Even became Ansem's apprentice, Crive took it as his own.

It began as a question. You see, your father was once a deep, brooding person. And he and his brother wondered what it was that dreams came from. In the end though, Even went into the research of the heart. But dreams were what intrigued Crive.

So, he wondered about the mind, and all the metaphorical things of the universe.

Where do all the lost things go?

Where do dreams exist?

He pondered it for a long time. And he began research. He traveled, and that was how he met your mom. The two of them began researching together. They came to a place…" Rinoa paused. "They came to a place called Zanarkand. And they learned a lot.

You see, a dream has a soul, too. And sometimes, when a person dies, or forgets about a dream they once treasured dearly, the dream takes a life of its own. That's what happened to people like Tsuki. As for me, well…

Crive found out what happened to things that get lost. People, places, things… when they're lost, they go somewhere, right?"

"I guess…" Sulhadahne stuttered. It was cold!

"Well, lost things go were you use to live."

Sulhadahne snapped wide awake. But she did not say a word.

"When you ran away from your dad, you wanted to be lost; you wanted him never to find you. So, you ended up on the other side. In the place were dreams are born. We call it 'Somnuim'."

"Xemnas was there before, right? And Tsuki too?" Sulhadahne asked.

Rinoa nodded. "I don't know why Xemnas was there, but Tsuki had come from an abusive family. She wanted to be lost… she ended up in Somnuim. As for me… well, I don't know. I was running and one day I woke up somewhere else. I don't know… what I was running from."

"Why is this gate connected to the Door to Sunrise?" Sulhadahne asked. Rinoa shook her head.

"I can't give you all the answers."

Sulhadahne looked closely at Rinoa. "Why are you still running?" She sighed. When no answer was given, Sulhadahne motioned for Rinoa to continue her story.

"I wandered out of the Somnuim, but found myself in darkness. I wandered everywhere, looking for a way to be free."

"How'd you get out?" Sulhadahne mumbled in awe.

Rinoa smiled at the memory. "I made a new friend. With his help, I managed to escape by being found. Tsuki found me. But, my friend was locked behind the gate. I promised I would help him escape one day. So, here we are."

Sulhadahne gasped, and looked up at the gate. It had stopped moving. But footsteps were approaching from inside the gate.

A blonde came up to the gate. He had a muscular build, a cocky smile, and a kind look in his blue eyes. He stood tall and extended his hand through the bars of the gate to shake Sulhadahne's hand.

"Hi", He began. "My name's Tidus."