Decided to make Winter Spirit into a series for you all to enjoy. You guys can skim through this chapter if you want - there's only a small amount of changes between this chapter and the first chapter of Winter Spirit.

Hope you enjoy!


There were many legends about the old Namimori Shrine; that it was the location of an ancient, spiritual ritual that went wrong, that if you confessed your love to someone on a full moon your love would be eternal, that if you prayed to the Guardian Spirit there, it would grant your deepest wish.

That last legend was the reason one seven-year old Sawada Tsunayoshi was currently kneeling in front of the old altar, trembling hands clenched together as he prayed to Guardian Spirit rumored to reside there. He had been kneeling on the wooden floors for what seemed like forever and his legs were starting to go numb and a blast of frigid winter air sent the brunet into a fit of uncontrollable shivers.

A tired whimper escaped from his trembling lips and the child slumped forwards in exhaustion. He had been wishing and praying to this 'Guardian Spirit' for the past few hours and so far, nothing had happened. Tears started rolling down the brunet's cheeks as a realization dawned on him:

No one was going to answer his wish.

Tsuna began crying even harder as he clutched the front of his shirt. His last hope had been hopelessly dashed. Exhaustedly, he pulled himself onto his feet and wearily made his way towards the shrine doors only to stop when they suddenly swung open.

"Oh! I-I'm sorry, I didn't know someone was in here," the newcomer said with a bashful duck of his head.

He was young – maybe a year or two older than Tsuna – with black hair, pale skin with a spattering of freckles here and there, and bright blue eyes. The boy was dressed in a blue kimono – a shade lighter than his eyes, Tsuna noted – with cream colored hakama, and a white haori thrown over his shoulders. A small wicker basket full of mochi, dried fish, oranges, salt, and water was in the boy's hands.

"Did I interrupt your prayer? I-I'm really sorry if I did!" The boy attempted a bow but the sudden movement sent a few items from his basket to the ground.

"I-I-I'll h-help y-you… um…?" Tsuna quickly bent down and picked up the fallen things.

"Utsunomiya. Utsunomiya Makoto is my name. Ah, thank you." Makoto extended the basket so Tsuna could return the items. "May I ask for your name?"

The brunet jolted in surprise and shuffled his feet awkwardly.

"Um… M-My na-name…? I'm… I'm S-Sawada T-T-Tsunayoshi!" Tsuna prepared himself for the oncoming sneers and jeers but to the brunet's amazement, none of that occurred.

"It's very nice to meet you, Tsunayoshi-kun," Makoto said with a graceful dip of his head. "Might I ask: what you were doing here?"

Tsuna looked away, embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "I… I was p-praying to the G-Guardian Spirit he-here…"

"I see," the dark-haired child nodded his head in understanding, "well, there's nothing to be ashamed about that, Tsunayoshi-kun, a lot of people come here to pray to the Gods."

"Wh-What are you d-doing h-here…?"

Makoto smiled brilliantly at the brunet, before stepping further into the shrine. "My family is in charge of taking care of the shrine – cleaning, fixing, and things like that. I'm here to offer up my family's thanks and appreciation to the Gods for blessing my family with such a prosperous year."

"A-Are those wh-what t-those offerings are f-for…?"

"That's right! These are all offerings my family has harvested or cooked for the Gods," Makoto replied as he began placing the items on the altar.

"… The Guardian Spirit didn't answer my prayer…" Tsuna admitted after a moment of silence.

Makoto knelt before the altar and clapped his hands together, words mouthing a silent prayer to the Heavens. "… That's understandable, Tsunayoshi-kun. The Gods and Spirits can be quite… fickle in their actions and answers," he said after a couple minutes.

"B-But w-why?! I p-prayed and w-wished so hard b-but n-n-nobody an-answered me!" Tsuna clutched his shirt once more and doubled-over, tears falling from his eyes. There was a rustling of clothes before a cool hand cupped the brunet's cheek, thumbing away his tears.

"… I wouldn't put too much faith into the idea of some Spirit granting your wish, Tsunayoshi-kun," Makoto murmured softly, gently. "After all, wouldn't it be better if you granted your own wish?"

"B-But I do-don't know h-how!"

"Yes, you do." Makoto's voice was strong with conviction. "I believe… no, I know you can grant your own wish, Tsunayoshi-kun, right here… right now."

The dark-haired child waited patiently as he watched Tsuna mull over Makoto's words. Realization suddenly dawned in the brunet's eyes as he ducked his head and began to fidget nervously.

"W…Would you be m-my f-f-friend…," Tsuna asked in a soft, hesitant, hopeful voice.

Makoto flashed another brilliant smile.

"It would be an honor, Tsunayoshi-kun."

A smile – one a touch shyer than the one on Makoto's face – blossomed on Tsuna's face as he beamed at the dark-haired child. "R-Really?!"

"Since we're going to be friends, you should know that I don't lie, Tsunayoshi-kun. My mother always tells me that it's not good to lie to your friends and family."

"O-Okay!"

Makoto withdrew his hand and began to usher the brunet towards the shrine doors with a comment of, "It's getting late out, you should probably head back home before it gets completely dark."

"Y-Yeah… you're right…," Tsuna stopped at the sight beyond the doors, "L-Look! It's snowing!"

Snow gently floated down from the clouds above and there was already a thin layer of white coating the ground.

"It really is winter, huh…?" Makoto murmured - his eyes locked onto the clouds above. A cold gust of wind broke the child from his thoughts as he turned to spot a shivering brunet. "Ah! You're freezing! Here! Take my haori!" Makoto quickly shrugged off his white haori and securely wrapped it around the other child.

"I-I c-can't t-take this," Tsuna exclaimed, "Wh-What if you get cold?!"

"Don't worry about me, Tsunayoshi-kun; I'm not the one wearing only a shirt and pants in the middle of winter." Makoto waved a dismissive hand.

Tsuna flushed in embarrassment and pulled the haori tighter around his body – it was really warm. "Bu-But still…!"

"It's fine, Tsunayoshi-kun," Makoto repeated, with a fond look in his eyes, "I'm going to let you borrow it – no, it's a gift from me to you!" Seeing Tsuna begin to protest, Makoto pointed a finger at the brunet. "No, stop right there, Tsunayoshi-kun! I'm giving you my haori as a gift and there's nothing you can say or do to change my mind!"

"… S-Still…," Tsuna mumbled, a dour look on his face.

"… How about this then," Makoto began, "since it's almost Christmas and since friends give each other gifts on Christmas, you just have to give me something in exchange, okay?"

"B-But I don't k-know wh-what you'd like…"

"I'm going to love whatever you pick out, Tsunayoshi-kun. No one can hate a gift that's given from the heart!"

"… Okay! I-I'll get you the b-best Christmas gift ever!" Tsuna nodded determinedly.

The dark-haired child smiled gently in response. "I look forward to it, Tsunayoshi-kun. Now… go home before you catch a cold or something!"

Tsuna let out a soft giggle at Makoto's semi-stern expression and began walking down the shrine steps before turning back around.

"… Will you be here tomorrow…?" A question, asked in an achingly tentative tone of voice.

Makoto smiled – this one more mysterious and other-worldly than his previous smiles – and said, "I will be here as long as you need me, Tsunayoshi-kun."