a/n: No real action in this chapter. I wanted to work on relationships some what…but it leads up to action for the next chapter

Chapter Six: Season Greetings!

It had been months from since the Heartless Raid. Lulu, among all of them, was the one that was getting the most suspicious.  After all, when something dangerous is going on, Lulu's senses would go into over drive of protection. Yet, Yuna begged her guardian to calm down. It was now winter on the island of Besaid, but it still felt like summer. Everyone had Christmas lights up, and some had even decorated local palm-trees.

Donald and Goofy were not into the idea of spending a Christmas away from the Palace, and refused to help (well Donald refused, and made Goofy stick up). Sora loved the idea of spending a Christmas with his old friend, and new friends. He was always out buying food for Rikku and Yuna to cook, helping Kimahri and Tidus put up the Christmas lights and adding season decorations around the house with ribbons and angels.

Sora entered the kitchen, it smelt of pie. He walked up to Rikku. "What are you cooking?"

"Naaa, just some apple pie!" Rikku smiled. She looked down at him. "So, Sora, glad that Lulu isn't barking out orders about preparing for the Heartless?"

Sora looked a bit torn. "Well she has a good point, we should keep ready…but then Christmas is coming up and we should all spend time together." There was a still silence. "Need help?"

"Naa! Go on and see if Tidus might…I don't trust him with that hammer." Rikku laughed.

"You don't trust him with any tool." Yuna said, looking up from her cook book.

"You're right, I don't."

Sora laughed and walked from the kitchen to the foyer. Tidus stood on the steps, adding a garland to the railing. "Tidus, do you need help…" Sora was cut short by Tidus falling over the banister, on his butt, and the garland coming down with him. Sora opened his eye and laughed.

Tidus laughed to, standing. He stretched his back. "Yea, I'm ok. I don't see why I have the garland though. No one trusts me with a tool, but they trust me enough to have a sword." He smiled. "Weird, uh?"

"No, it makes prefect sense." Sora said. "You are a better swordsman the house decorator." Tidus lifted an eyebrow. "You've trained to be a swordsman, not a art deco."

"Then why do they let me hang the garland up?"

"Maybe because they don't want you to hear you wine?"

"Yeah..hey….wait…I wine?"

Lulu turned to look at Donald. The two stood at the docks of the town. The wind blew, bringing the smell of the sea. "It has been to long, and the others are not doing anything about this, Donald-san."

"They are taking a vacation, though they shouldn't." Donald agreed, walking up to her. "The thing that worries me is, not the getting ready for….but the celebration."

"Nani?" Lulu asked.

"If the Heartless are after hearts, think about it." Donald replied. "More people gathered together, more hearts to collect."

"You are right." Lulu said, looking up at the sky. "I think we should warn the others…." She looked back as she heard a crash. "Saa, dousuru(now what?)"

"Naaa!! Tidussss!! You are supposed to hang the garland on the banister! Not the stairs! Move over and lemmie do it!"

Donald laughed. "Sounds like Rikku had something to say."

"Hai, Rikku-san needs to become more focus on the tasks ahead." Lulu sighed. "Come on, we should go in before Yuna-sama starts having to deal with the Police…"

"Not another last week's episode…" Donald sighed. He followed the Black Magic Woman up the steps and into the house, and looked at Sora. "Sora, we need to train."

Sora looked at him. "Aw, but Donald, where is your holiday spirit?"

"Out the window!!" Donald jumped up and down in frustration. "The Heartless are going to swipe through this town easily unless we do something!"

"Donald…they haven't been seen in months." Tidus said. "What can we do? There is nothing to train against….and I don't trust Lulu's voodoo Kupo things."

"Baka." Lulu mumbled.

Rikku looked at them all. "Perhaps we should train, like every other day…just to be safe." They all looked at her in confusion, shock, and awe. Rikku never cared for battles or anything, so why all the sudden was she? They all looked at one another, then back to Rikku. She turned and continued hanging the garland in silence.

Yuna came out from the kitchen, seeing everyone in their states. "Did I miss something?"

"No, nothing to important." Tidus said. "So how is that turkey casserole coming?"

"You mean we might actually get to eat some of it this time?" Sora asked, and ducked from a nuggie that Tidus was trying to give him.

Yuna smiled. "Yes, you will. Tidus is going to get the least"

"Aww man." Tidus said, and everyone laughed. Lulu looked out the window again, seeing that it was starting to get ruff on the waves and the sky was darkening…..