4: Christmas

Christmas. It's…well, I don't hate it, but it's not exactly my favorite time of the year, either. It's sort of a mixed bag.

Once upon a time, I was a little girl with a family, and we celebrated Christmas. And then, suddenly, I didn't have a family, and there was no one to celebrate the day with. It was just a reminder that I was alone.

And now I have a family again. I have Shizuru, who loves me, and actually gives a damn what happens to me. I have my newly acquired little sister, Alyssa, and while it's true that we don't know much about each other, Christmas seems like a perfect time to get to know one another. And with Alyssa, we have a live-in android, Miyu, who is ostensibly Alyssa's bodyguard, but is probably closer to being her sister than I am, right now. And I have another half-sister, though that's a can of worms I'd like to let lie until after the holiday is over.

And I have friends, too. In fact, right now we're at a little get-together that was thrown together by Mai. She invited all of us, of course, and most of us have shown up. There's Akira and Takumi. He's doing pretty well after the heart transplant. Good for him. Sakomizu, Fumi, and I made sure that some of District One's funding made its way into the accounts of the various HiME to take care of some of their problems. Like paying for Takumi's operation, for one thing. Mai earned the right to be free of that concern, after all. Tate is by her side. They don't argue as much these days. Is that evidence that their relationship has improved, or cooled? I wish I knew. I'm still not all that good at this relationship stuff. Shizuru has been patient with me, but I've been avoiding these concerns since I was seven, so it's a sharp learning curve for me, now.

Kanzaki is there with Mikoto, and Mikoto is torn between her usual position of glomming onto Mai or going after the huge helpings of food that have been piled up on the table. Mai told us the meal would be "pot luck" and everyone had to bring a dish.

"It can be store-bought," Mai had said in the invite, "Just so long as there's enough for everyone."

I couldn't help but feel that might have been directed at my own kitchen skills, but I can't be sure.

In any case, Shizuru and I each brought a dish, me because I had a point to make, and Shizuru because she thought it would be fun.

Nao is here. Crap.

It's not like I'm trying to avoid her. After the Carnival she and I set aside our differences. And she's even made it a point to be civil to Shizuru when she's in my presence. But…I don't want to tell her what I know, but she's bound to sense if I'm being evasive. But if I avoid her altogether, she might think that I'm dwelling on our old bad blood.

"So," Nao looked around, "Anyone seen Karauchi and Higurashi?"

"Those two took a trip to a ski resort for the holiday," Aoi Sennou smiled cheerfully at her roommate.

"And Sister?" Nao looked around.

"Little Shutaro is colicky," Fumi joined us, "Sister Yukariko is home with him."

"Where's Doc Suguira?" I quip.

"She and Sagisawa-san are enroute," Fumi said, "There were some treats I asked them to pick up."

"So, uh, Kuga…" Nao fidgeted, "Can we talk? In private?"

Shizuru looked at me, worried. She knew the same thing I knew, of course. She bit her lower lip in thought, and I shook my head. If she was thinking of trying to lighten the mood with her teasing, now was not the time. Thankfully, she seemed to sense that from me.

"I'll set a plate aside for you, Natsuki."

"Thanks, Shizuru."

Nao and I head over to a dark corner.

"What's wrong, Nao?" I ask, hoping I don't already know the answer.

Nao inhaled sharply, then exhaled slowly. She looked tired, and a little defeated.

"I…we got a visit from a guy in a suit the other night. He…I've seen him in some old pictures of my Mom's. He and Mama talked for a bit, and then, Mama said she had to tell me something. She said…she said that the man who came to visit was really my father, not Kentaro Yuuki. Kuga, I think he was your Dad. Mama kept calling him 'Kuga' when she talked to him."

"Genichiro Kuga," I said flatly, "His name is Genichiro Kuga. And I just got this letter in the mail from him," I pull it from my jacket and show it to her.

She read it, then passed it back to me.

"I'm going home. Tell Tokiha that I'm just not up for a party."

"Nao?"

She looked at me, "Were you going to tell me?"

"I was," I said. She looked me in the eyes, then sighed.

"Yeah, I guess you would have. Well, sorry, Pup, but I'm not really sure how to handle this, right now."

I reach out and put a hand on her shoulder. She shrugs it off. I'm reminded of the battle between Mai and Shiho, and the aftermath. I take the same action I took then, and embrace Nao.

"Nao," I speak in the calmest, most soothing voice I can muster, "I don't know much about how to handle this sort of stuff, but there is one thing I do know. It's not good to try to handle it alone."

She turns, her eyes narrowed in a suspicious slant, her mouth twisted in a viscious smile. I see tears in the corners of her eyes.

"It's alright, Nao," I said, "We don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to. But don't go off alone. Please."

Her face relaxed, and she sighed, "Well, you saved my life, once, Pup, so I guess I owe you."

"Nao, you don't owe me anything. And if you want to pretend that this information doesn't exist…I'll understand. Our lives are pretty complicated as is. But…if you want to acknowledge the stuff in this letter…I'm fine with that, too. I'll leave it up to you, and I'll respect whatever you choose."

Nao gave me a surprisingly soft look, "I'm not sure I can accept this information. See, if I do, I'm going to inherit this mayo obsessed busy body of a pup for a sister. I'm not sure I can handle that."

"Yeah, I can't say I blame you," I smile, stretching, "I mean, the girl who you'd gain as a sister is probably a real pain. She's crabby. Rides a motorcycle. She's dating another girl, too, so she's like a total butch stereotype. You don't want to have to put up with someone like that, I'm sure."

"Well, now," Nao grinned, "I have it on good authority that she's actually kinda kick ass and cool, so, setting all those other things aside, for a moment, it might be nice to have a big sis who's looking out for me. And even though she's a total butch, she's actually kinda gentle and forgiving. And she sticks up for other people, even if they maybe inconvenienced her a little bit."

"You tied me up with webs and trashed my apartment," I reminded her.

"You did cost me an eye, at one point," She reminded me, looking at the nails on her splayed fingers.

"Well, how was I supposed to know that a nun was lying to me?" I objected, "Besides, Duran was firing wild at that point."

"He was still your CHILD. That makes him your responsibility," She said flatly.

"So…" I sighed after a moment, "You and Sister ever patch things up?"

"More or less. Though she still yells at me when I try to have fun in my role as Fuuka Chapel's current nun."

"I'm sure she just has issues with your interpretations of Scripture," I smirk.

"At any rate," Nao started walking back towards the table with the food, "I'll think it over. I could do worse, for sisters, I imagine. Though I hear you already have one to take care of."

"That reminds me," I followed her, "Mai and Alyssa are going to perform some traditional Christmas songs. Alyssa knows quite a few, and she's actually been teaching Mai to sing in English for a few of them."

"Oh? This might be amusing."

"Oh, Natsuki, welcome back. Did you and Yuuki-han have a nice chat?"

I looked at Nao, then at Shizuru, and smiled, "Nothing's been decided, but it was productive, nonetheless."

She handed me a plate, "Ara, but try this. It's one of the dishes that Suiguira-han and Sagisawa-sensei brought. They said it's called 'Boston Cream Pie'.

I looked at something that appeared to be two layers of cake with a thick layer of yellow custard between then and a heavy slathering of chocolate on top. It did not look like the sort of dessert that a Fujino would be sampling, so I wondered what blackmail or manipulation Midori had engaged in to get Shizuru to try it. I cut off a small piece with the edge of a fork and took a tentative bite.

Now, I will admit to having a bit of a sweet tooth. But it was like someone had blown up a sugar bomb in my mouth.

"That'll jumpstart an engine," I remark.

Just then I saw Alyssa take the stage. She cleared her throat, and then began to sing "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear."

I was mesmerized. It was as if a heavenly choir had descended and chosen to harmonize through the voice of one small girl. I don't know why Searrs thought it was a good idea to train her to sing. Maybe it had something to do with their plans for the HiME Star. Maybe it was just a good cover story. Either way, it was clear that Alyssa knew how to sing, as her voice lifted not only into the night, but also elevated our very souls to hear her song.

"Well," Nao sidled up to me, "If I do choose to join your little family, dibs on being Alyssa's favorite."