Hello, and welcome to the final installment of "A .Hack Christmas Carol." But first off, I'd like to apologies for this one being late. My life took some very unexpected turns, since the last installment. I'd like to thank everyone whose read this, who will read this, and who is reading this right now. And also, take a look at my other stories and tell me what you think, I'm always opened for suggestions.
Together
Out of breath, Tsukasa lied in his bed and looked at his hands, clenching and unclenching them.
"I'm alive!" he bellowed joyously.
He rolled out of his bed, bursting with delight and quickly reached under his bed and grabbed the box. He opened it and looked at his treasure, but the money didn't shine like it use to. He looked at the box for a while, why should he keep such a thing, he thought, when it brought him no joy at all anymore. He thought and thought, his mind finally remembering all those who didn't even have a fraction of what he had. He knew what he had to do; he had to set everything right.
Jumping to his feet, he franticly threw his pants and shoes and coat on. He then grabbed the box and rushed out of the apartment.
Upon bursting onto the streets, he was greeted by a canvas of untouched virgin white snow. He ran to the left, colliding with someone as he rounded the corner. Tsukasa began to get up and brushed himself off, and then proceeded to pick the boy up.
"Sorry about…" Tsukasa stood in shock at the boy. "Sora!"
"Who are you," said Sora looking at Tsukasa with no recollection.
"It's me, Tsukasa," said Tsukasa.
"Tsukasa," said Sora taken back, just as shocked as Tsukasa at this point. "How the hell did you know it was me!"
"Umm..." said Tsukasa searching for an answer, for he and Sora never met in the real world. "…Bear told me about you," Tsukasa looked around. "Where's Lin?"
"Sora, wait up!" cried little Lin as she tried to catch up with her brother.
"Why hello Lin!" said Tsukasa.
"Who are you?" asked Lin.
"I'm Tsukasa," he said. "I'm a friend of your brother."
"How come he never told me about you?" asked Lin.
"Well umm…" Said Tsukasa looking for the words. "I've been away for awhile, you could say."
"Well merry Christmas Tsukasa," said Lin as she and Sora continued their walk.
As they began to leave Tsukasa was suddenly struck with an idea. "Wait," he cried as he ran to catch up with them. "Do you know any good toy stores?"
About this time of day Jimmy would be fast asleep, and today was no exception. Jimmy lied and dreamed in his bed contently, until he heard a tapping at his window. At first he ignored it and went back to sleep, but then, an enormous crash filled the room as the wind swept through the now broken window. Jimmy stood to find a rather large rock at his feet, which he gathered, came from outside. Jimmy grabbed the stone and rushed to the window, red face and all. "Who the hell threw this," he screamed as he scanned the streets.
"Oh, sorry about that," said Tsukasa, from the streets.
"See," said Lin to Sora. "I told you it was bad idea to throw rocks!"
"It woke him up, didn't it?" said Sora.
As the two kids bickered, Tsukasa tried to continue the discussion with Jimmy.
"Are you Jimmy of 'Jimmy's Toy World,'" asked Tsukasa.
"Yes! And if you don't fuck off I'm gonna call the police!" cried the enraged Jimmy.
"Oh, sorry about your window," said Tsukasa as he grabbed a little something from his coat. He then tossed it to Jimmy. "That should cover it."
The little something that Jimmy held in his hands was a wad of cash. Shocked, Jimmy began to pitch himself in an effort to wake up from this dream.
"Now if you come down and let us have a look around in your shop," called Tsukasa. "There'll be plenty more of that waiting for you."
Before Tsukasa was finished, the doors to Jimmy's Toy World, which was directly under Jimmy's apartment, swung open revealing an out of breath Jimmy. "Come on in," said the happy, but still red faced, Jimmy.
A few odd and frantic moments passed as toys where stuffed into bags and money exchanged hands. Until finally Tsukasa, Sora and Lin left as briskly as they entered.
Jimmy, now alone, watched as a dashing figure in red walked down the street with two little kids trailing him like elves. Jimmy locked the door and turned to the neat little pile of cash next to his register.
"Ha, Ha," laughed Jimmy. "And here I was giving up on Santa Claus."
Meanwhile, back at the orphanage, the children gathered around what few toys were donated this year. A cluster of boys tossed around a beat up football, several girls took turns with a doll, but most lied in their beds, just trying to sleep through it all as if it were just any other day.
But then, as if in a dream, a red figure carrying a sack, crashed through the doors and bellowed "Ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas!"
All the children stopped and stood gaping. Even the sleeping ones roused up to look upon the great Santa Claus.
The atmosphere of silence was broken as several children ran towards Santa and began begging for gifts.
"Now, now," said Tsukasa, beneath the fake Santa beard. "There's plenty for everybody."
Tsukasa continued, with the help of Sora, to pass around all the gifts to the children who were now in ecstasy.
One of the orphanages, a small girl, came before Tsukasa and asked, "Santa, how come you didn't come last night?"
"Well, it slipped my mind, but fortunately Mrs. Claus reminded me," answered Tsukasa.
"Mrs. Claus?" asked the little girl.
"Why yes, she was even here last night visiting all you," said Tsukasa.
"You mean, Mimiru!" cried the little girl.
"Shh…" said Tsukasa, "you mustn't give her secret away."
"What did she tell you," whispered the little girl.
"That, you and your friends where some of the nicest and sweetest children she ever had the privilege of meeting. And that if I didn't come straight here to deliver all these presents, she would never forgive me."
"I can't believe it," said the little girl.
"Oh, but you must, for it is the truth," said Tsukasa, who proceeded to reach into his bag and pull out the final gift for the girl. "Now take this and run off, because I do believe your friends are waiting for you."
With that, the girl dashed off with her present in hand and joined her friends.
Tsukasa turned to Sora, "You think you can take care of things for awhile?"
"Yeah sure," said Sora. "But where are you going?"
"Just to visit a friend," said Tsukasa. "By the way, where's Lin?"
"Over there," said Sora as he pointed to Lin, who was surrounded by dozens of children as they giggled and played with one another.
"Well," said Tsukasa, "I'm glad she's having fun."
Tsukasa sneaked out the doors and walked through the halls of the hospital. Passing rooms full of families spending Christmas morning with their less fortunate loved ones.
Finally Tsukasa came across what he was looking for. He gently pushed opened the door and entered. Inside, a small, fragile looking girl, laid in bed reading a book. Tsukasa watched her, until he finally found the nerve and spoke. "Merry Christmas, Subaru."
Subaru's eyes lifted from her book and she almost fainted at the sight before her.
"Tsukasa," said Subaru.
"Don't say any thing," said Tsukasa as he pulled up a chair and sat besides Subaru.
"I just have to say a few things, then you can tell me to go to hell and I'll never bother you again." Tsukasa said franticly as Subaru just stared.
"I know I haven't exactly been the nicest friend, or even person, in the world. But that doesn't matter, actually it does but……. Whatever. I just wanted to apologies to you and say I'm sorry for everything." Tsukasa took an enormous breath before continuing. "And if there's anything I can do or say to make up for it………"
"Tsukasa," said Subaru.
"I…. I just…." Stuttered Tsukasa.
"Tsukasa, I'm dying," said Subaru.
"What?" said Tsukasa, shocked.
"The doctor's say I'll be lucky to see next year," said Subaru. "But it's alright now…"
"No! No! No!" said Tsukasa franticly. "You can't die. Your family needs you, your friends need you…" Tsukasa paused for a moment to before delivering what he said next. "I need you."
"Shh…" said Subaru soothingly. "I'm not scared any more, now that you're here."
"Subaru…" said Tsukasa.
"You know," said Subaru. "I was in love with you for the longest time." As Subaru said this, a slight smile came across her face. "From the first day I saw you, I couldn't get you out of my head."
"I didn't know…" said Tsukasa.
"How could you, you had Mimiru," said Subaru. "Yes, you and her were always together. It drove me mad, seeing you two like that. And even when I got you alone, I could still feel her presence." Said Subaru before continuing, "Even now, it feels as if she's standing right besides you, and I simply can't see her."
"Subaru, forgive me," begged Tsukasa.
"Only if you forgive me," said Subaru.
"But why, you did nothing wrong?" asked Tsukasa.
"But, I did," said Subaru. "I longed for you so much, I tried to push Mimiru away from you. I tried to make her hate you, to forget you even, but she couldn't. Just as I could never forget you."
Tsukasa gently glided his hand and held Subaru's. He looked into her eyes, those blue eyes and said "I forgive you."
"And I forgive you," said Subaru. "But you must promise me one thing."
"Anything," said Tsukasa.
"Please, take care of Mimiru," pleaded Subaru. "Don't let this happen to her."
"I promise," said Tsukasa.
Subaru smiled, and a single tear fell from her eye. She then closed her eyes and curled up. "So much excitement today," said Subaru. "I feel like I can finally rest."
With that, Subaru drifted off to sleep. Tsukasa watched over her, admiring her beauty in the morning sunlight that drifted through the window and danced across her face.
Tsukasa gently rose from his seat and began to leave. But, within no more than five steps he quietly turned around, remembering what he had come to do in the first place. He reached into his bag and pulled out a simple wooden frame and placed it atop Subaru's nightstand, right next to Mimiru's painting.
Tsukasa made his way slowly back to Sora and Lin, but all the while thinking back to what Subaru had said.
"I'm dying," echoed through his mind.
Tsukasa knew before she said it, the image of her gravestone still fresh in his memory. But he could not bring himself to truly believe that the future was unchangeable. The fates were going to take her away from him, just as he was beginning a new life. A life that needed her.
Tsukasa quietly entered the orphanage, and was immediately greeted by Lin.
"Hey Tsukasa," said Lin as she joyously rapped her hands him. "What happened?"
"Nothing," said Tsukasa as he brushed his hand across his eyes. "I just had to say good bye to a friend."
While still unnoticed by the orphans, Tsukasa quickly applied his hat and fake beard. Sora went over to him as he was doing this.
"Yo," said Sora.
"Ah, Sora just the man I wanted to see," said Tsukasa. "Listen, we need to leave, so gather the kids."
With that Sora made his exit and began rounding up the orphans
"Ho, ho, ho," said Tsukasa, fully in character now. "I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for allowing me some extra time to deliver your presents. Most children wouldn't have given me a second chance, but you all did, and for that I wanted to say thanks." Tsukasa paused and looked at the beaming faces. "Most people never get second chances, and when they do they usually waste them like their first chances. Which is what I really wanted to talk to you all about. You see, like you I was an orphan, and I know what it is to be alone and to feel unloved. But I was fortunate enough to meet some people who were kind enough to call me 'friend.' It is in their memory that I deliver gifts to people like you, and to say this. No matter who you are, what you have done, where you are; there are people who love you, who care for you, who will always be there for you. What I'm trying to say is, that even though you may not have been born into a family or even if you have lost one, there will always be one ready to take you in as their own."
The room was silent and Tsukasa began to walk away with Lin and Sora waiting at the door. He turned his back at to the crowd and walk several steps until he felt a tug on his back. He turned to see the little girl from before, the one who asked about Mimiru. Tsukasa knelt down to her and said, "Yes?"
"Thank you," said the girl, before giving a him a kiss. The girl began to cry then.
"What's wrong child," asked Tsukasa, "is there something wrong with your present, I can get you a different one?"
"No, it's not the present. No one has ever been this nice to me before. And now you're leaving."
"Shh, shh…" said Tsukasa as he held the girl close. "Don't worry, I'll be back."
The girl could still only weep in front of Tsukasa.
"Listen," said Tsukasa. "Sometimes, people have to leave for a little while, only to come back again. Do you understand?"
"But why can't you stay?"
"I wish I could, but out there is another girl just like you. She's alone and sad, all because of me."
"Because of you?"
"Yes."
"But what did you do?"
"It's not what I did," said Tsukasa, "it's what I didn't do. I didn't care about her, I didn't protect her, I just acted like a fool and tried to push her away. Yet, she wouldn't leave me, no matter what I did she still was there for me, I just didn't realize it."
"Will you go see her now?"
"Yes, I'm going to go see her, and beg for her forgiveness, and hope she will take me back and love me like she use to."
"I understand, but can I ask for one more gift?"
"Anything."
"Take me with you."
"I can't."
"But why?"
"Why? Because I can't take you from your family."
"My family, I don't have a family."
"Of course you do, why they're all right there, behind you."
The girl turned to see all the orphans.
"But we're orphans, we're not related."
"Blood doesn't make a family, love does." Tsukasa gave the girl a final hug, and said "I have to go now, but don't forget anything I've said."
"I won't," said the girl, "Good bye."
"Good bye."
With that, Tsukasa exited the hospital with Sora and Lin and began heading down town. It wasn't till they crossed several blocks that Tsukasa finally took off the Santa Clause outfit and put his own coat back on.
"Where are we heading now?" asked Sora.
"Shimakita, and then we'll see what's what from there."
Shimakita wasn't too far and to the good fortune of Tsukasa, the store was still open. Tsukasa left Sora and Lin outside and in no less than two minutes he was back out with a wrapped small squarish looking thing under his arm.
"Now," said Tsukasa. "I need to leave you now, but I have to ask a favor of you."
"What is it now?" asked Sora.
"I need you to deliver this to Mimiru, you know where she lives right?"
"Of course we do," said Sora.
"We're gonna see aunt Mimi!" cried little Lin.
"Yes, and make sure she gets this," said Tsukasa as he thrusted the package into Sora arms.
"Wait," piped Lin. "Where's our presents?"
"Oh I almost forgot," said Tsukasa as he hit his forehead with an open palm. "How silly of me, but don't worry I saved the best for last. Now close your eye and put out your hand."
Lin did as she was told, only to feel something hard and jagged in her hand. She opened her eyes to see nothing more than a collection of keys in her palm. "Keys?"
"Not just any keys," said Tsukasa. "Those are the keys to my home and all my chest and cabinets, they're all yours."
"Everything?" said Lin wide eyed and in disbelief.
"Yes, I give to you my home and all my belongings, I have no need for them."
"What's the catch," said Sora.
"No catch, save for one," began Tsukasa. "After the holidays, both of you will start school and live in my home until you grow up."
"But where will you live?" asked Lin, concerned for the well fare of her new found friend and benefactor.
"That's what I going to take care of right now. But the both of need to get to Mimiru's right away, you understand?"
"Yes sir," said Sora.
"Please, call me Tsukasa."
Ring… ring… ring. Was what woke Mimiru on Christmas Day. Her hand blindly searched for the phone, finally grabbing it and pulling it close.
"Hello," croaked Mimiru.
"Mimiru, I can't believe you pulled this off without telling us." said the voice on the other end.
"What?" said Mimiru finally opening her eyes. "Who is this?"
"It's Jill over at the orphanage."
"Oh hey, what's up?"
"What's up, is how did you afford a Santa Clause and gifts for all the kids?"
Mimiru stood up immediately and any trace of drowsiness left her. "A Santa Clause? I didn't hire a Santa Clause."
"Then who did? Cause I sure didn't pay this guy came in with a boat load of presents for all the kids."
A knock at the door made Mimiru get up. "Listen, someone's at the door, I'll talk to you later."
Mimiru put the phone down and grabbed her robe as she went to the door. She opened it and saw Lin and Sora waiting for her.
"Lin!" bellowed Mimiru with joy.
"Aunt Mimi," cried Lin as she leapt into Mimiru's arms.
"What are you two doing here?" asked Mimiru carrying Lin inside with Sora trailing behind.
"We came to bring you this," said Sora as he handed Mimiru the package.
"Why a gift, you didn't have to," said Mimiru.
"It's not from us," said Lin.
"Not from you, then who?"
Before Lin could answer, Sora quickly put his hand over her mouth and said, "Hey Mimiru, mind if we make breakfast, it's been a weird day."
"Umm, sure," said Mimiru. "Just don't burn anything."
"Thanks," said Sora as he lead Lin into the kitchen, leaving Mimiru with the package.
Mimiru held the gift in her hands and glided her fingers across it, trying to figure out what it was and who would have gotten it for her. She began to tear the wrapping paper away, until she was left with something she thought she would never have. It was an ordinary looking messenger bag, save for its texture which felt tough and metallic, but smooth and light at the same time. Mimiru was breathing heavy now, as she played with the little missile logo on the flap, trying to stop from breaking down right there in her home. Her hands finally enter the bag and felt something thin. Too afraid to peer in, she turned the bag over and poured everything out. A great storm of money rained down on her floor, fluttering through the air like snowflakes. Yet, Mimiru didn't see the money, she only saw the tiny little white note atop the mountain of cash, like the snow capped peak at the apex of Mt. Fuji. She silently bent over to pick it up, and with her last once of strength turned it over to read the few words scribbled down on it.
I love you.
That was it. Three little words. Three words she had prayed for, three words she had hoped against hope for. Three little words that brought her to her knees and made her weep.
Finally finding the strength to rise up and wipe the tears away, Mimiru dashed into the kitchen.
She quickly grabbed Sora and said, "Where is he?"
"What?"
"Don't do this to me," begged Mimiru. "Where's Tsukasa, where did he go after he gave you the bag?"
"All he said was that he had to take care of a few things."
Mimiru quickly dashed to her bedroom and began throwing on her clothes. As she struggled to put her boots on, Sora came in.
"Where are you going?" asked Sora.
"I have to find him," said Mimiru as she stood up and tossed her coat on. "Now, listen, stay here until seven, then go straight to Uncle Bear's. Got it?"
Before Sora could answer Mimiru was out the door and out of sight.
Tsukasa walked through the empty massive building, it's giant entrance reminded him of a cathedral. After ascending to the top in the elevator, Tsukasa causally walked to the end of yet another dark and empty hall to only other person in the building, the sectary behind the desk.
"I'm here for the meeting," said Tsukasa flatly.
"Oh, you must be Tsukasa," said the sectary. "Go right in, they've been waiting for you."
Tsukasa passed through the two giant doors and into the board room, to be greeted by a table full of business men in dark suites.
"Hello Tsukasa," said one the men, "it's been awhile."
The man took his hand and Tsukasa took it, "Hello Mr. Warren." Mr. Warren being the CEO of CC Corporation, and also one of the most wealthy and powerful man in business today. "How's the family?"
"Oh they're fine," said Mr. Warren, looking down at his watch. "They're probably opening their presents as we speak," he ended with a chuckle.
"Why aren't you with them?" asked Tsukasa.
"Oh," said Mr. Warren with a shrug, "I think this meeting is a bit more important than one morning with my family."
"I disagree," said Tsukasa.
"What," said Mr. Warren, taken back.
"What in God's name are all of you doing here on Christmas Day?" asked Tsukasa to the group. "Don't you have families, or friends to see?"
"What are you talking about?" said Mr. Warren. "We're here to swear you in, to make you one of us."
"One of you?" said Tsukasa. "I already was one of you."
"What?"
"Tell me," said Tsukasa to the group who all stared at him as he began to circle around them. "Where are you children right now? I'll tell you, they're at home ripping through wrapping paper to get a gift that your sectary got for them, because you were too busy at the office."
The group began to murmur amongst itself, trying to figure out where Tsukasa was going with this.
"Tell me," said Tsukasa. "What was your favorite part of the Christmas, growing up? The toys, the clothes, the lights, the trees, what? To me it was my family. Seeing relatives, who loved you so much that it didn't matter that they only saw once or twice a year. Relatives, who slaved over a stove to make me the one decent meal I would get all year, the meal I dreamt about and savored over. And it was about my friends, who didn't care I didn't have enough money to buy gifts, but were glad just to see me with a smile , at least for once. That was what Christmas was for me."
The group was quiet now, all seemed to shocked and ashamed to say anything. Most tried to conjure a memory where they were happy with their family. Others thought back to their childhood, or their favorite Christmas that was somehow different and special, one that they couldn't, or wouldn't, recreate for their own families.
Tsukasa began to walk out, but Mr. Warren interrupted his escape. "What about our deal?"
"Deal?" said Tsukasa.
"You said you would join us and help us develop a new World, in exchange for a controlling share of the company."
"Ahh, yes. As I recalled you wanted to do to the all the players what you did to me. Imprisoning them, cutting them off from the real world."
"That's one way of putting it."
"Well I have a deal for you. First, you're going to publicly apologize to the world for what you did to me and the other 36 players like me. Next, you're going to compensate all the families of those 36 players for what you did to them."
"This is absurd!" cried Mr. Warren.
"I'm not finished!" said Tsukasa coldly, quickly silencing Mr. Warren. "Finally, you are going to issue a total recall for every World console there is. That, Mr. Warren is my deal."
"And what if I don't?"
"Why, I'll go to the press. Tell them everything, every dirty secret I've choked on for the past three years, every horrific detail of what I went through while trapped in the World. And every scrape of cash your tried to bury this information for so long."
"We'll deny everything, it's your word against ours."
"Really," said Tsukasa, before reaching into his coat and throwing down a dossier. "In that final you will find every log record of myself and the other 36 players who experienced a coma while playing. Fascinating that even while comatose and with their console destroyed, they were still logged in."
Mr. Warren was quickly going through each file, his eyes bulging at every piece of paper.
"Next you will find Harold Hyuek's last memo, the one he wrote before disappearing mysteriously prior to the launch of the World. Where he discusses the original testing of the game and how in extreme case it effected the behavior of the testers and even induced seizures on one of them. Where he also voices the idea of holding the World from shelves indefinitely until these problems could be fixed, an idea you quietly snuffed out."
The others had come to gather around the documents, shaking their heads or pacing nervously at the news of this potential scandal. Mr. Warren in fact, took the papers and began tearing into them like a child towards a gift's wrapping paper.
"Oh, no don't do that," said Tsukasa coolly. "Those are your copies to keep, the originals are at home."
Bear was in the midst of pulling a monstrous turkey out of the oven when the phone began to ring. He quickly set the bird down and threw off his oven mitts and grabbed for the phone, saying, "Hello."
"Bear, it's me Crim."
"Oh, Crim," said Bear. "Is everything alright, you and BT are still coming over, right?"
"Yeah, yeah," said Crim franticly. "Listen, turn on your TV right now."
"Ok," said Bear, as he followed his friends instructions and flipped his TV on. "Which channel."
"Any of them."
"Any of them?" said Bear perplexed until the images on the screen came alive.
"Sorry to interrupt your programming," said the anchorman. "But this is ground breaking news. CC Corporation, the makers of the popular video game the World, have announced today, that they are recalling every last one of their consoles. We go live to CC Corporation, downtown were a press conference is being held."
The TV cut to a large press room, filled to the brim with every major news crew. Lights flashed as Mr. Warren fielded questions and made the announcement from the podium.
"First off," said Mr. Warren, who looked pale and tired. "I wish to publicly apologize to the 37 players and their families that experienced seizure which resulted in comas. We at CC Corp never intended to harm anyone. In order to truly redeem ourselves of this grievous tragedy, we are prepared to offer one hundred million dollars, that will be divided amongst the 37 families that underwent this traumatic and regrettable experience."
Bear nearly fainted at the news, but there was more to come.
"Mr. Warren," piped a news woman. "Are the 37 comatose players the main reason behind the recall?"
"It is one of the main reasons but there are several. Obviously we at CC Corp have our customers' best interest at heart, in all of our endeavors. But another reason for the recall, is that it's in the memory of Harold Hyuek, the chief architect of the World and one of the founders of CC Corp. Harold was the heart and soul of CC Corp, and worked tirelessly on the World and countless other projects, many of which he never finished, before disappearing mysteriously many years ago. It is in his name that we try to right this wrong, this defilement of what should have been his masterpiece. And it is our hope that we can finish the World that Harold started."
"How long will the recall last?" asked another reporter.
"Indefinitely."
Bear switched off his TV and silenced ruled until Crim broke it. "What do you think?"
"Impossible," said Bear. "He wouldn't."
"But he could, he's the only one that could," said Crim.
Tsukasa wandered the streets alone as night crept upon him, delivering a fresh snow fall. Tsukasa eyes drifted all along the sky as he watched each snowflake glide through the air, gently landing on the ground around him, blanketing the city in the purest white he had ever seen.
It wasn't much further now, Tsukasa's final destination. He past through the gates to the cemetery, crossing statues of giant gargoyles and other such beast. He past by the countless graves and headstones, until finding the one he knew that was waiting for.
"Hello mother," he said as he knelt down before the headstone. "It's been a while."
Silence was all there was. He started to weep, thinking back at what he witnessed the night before. "I messed up. I ruined everything, and I tired to set it right, but I don't know if it worked or not, or if I'll ever be happy…" He paused to gather his breath. "Oh mother, I'm sorry. You gave me everything… even your life, and for what, just so I could waste it and do nothing but hurt the ones I love."
Tsukasa whaled and whaled, for even though he did much good today, he still felt he could not redeem himself for all the sins he committed in his former life.
"Shh…" said a voice as warm hands embraced him, "Don't cry, everything gonna be fine."
Tsukasa opened his eyes, and looked down at the tiny amber hands that encircled his body. He turned and saw Mimiru before him, gazing at him with her jade eyes.
"It's alright," began Mimiru, as she pulled Tsukasa closer. "You didn't ruin anything, you fixed it. You fixed everything."
"What about Subaru," wept Tsukasa. "She's gonna die and I can't do anything. And Bear, I haven't spoken to him in years." He paused looked into Mimiru's eyes, peering deep within her. "And you, how can you ever forgive me, how can I make things like they were?"
"It doesn't matter any more, now that you've back. We can change all that. We can start over, together."
Tsukasa brought her close, as if trying to drown himself in her embrace. Her hands found their way to his eyes and cleansed them of his tears. For a moment, all they could do was gaze at one another. Until they closed their eyes, and like two planets being pulled together, their lips collide as one.
"Don't ever leave me," begged Tsukasa as they loosened their grip on one another.
"Never," said Mimiru.
"Thank you," said Tsukasa as they walked together hand and hand through the cemetery and into the deserted streets.
As they walked Tsukasa looked back at the trail they made. Two pairs of footsteps, as if they were alone together in an empty world. As he gazed back he saw something that made him stop. Mimiru went two steps before she stopped as well.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," said Tsukasa. "Just wait here, I forgot something."
He said as he ran back into the cemetery to be consumed by the darkness. As he ran deeper and deeper into the cemetery, a light in the distance grew brighter and brighter. He finally reached it, to be greeted by site not of this world.
"Hello Tsukasa," said Harold.
"Harold your chains!" said Tsukasa, referring to the chains' absence and Harold new upright posture.
"Yes they are gone now and forever," said Harold with a smile. "All because of what you did today."
"Are you ready," said a soft voice behind Tsukasa, who turned to see the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future behind him.
"Yes, I'm ready," said Harold.
"Where are you taking him?" asked Tsukasa.
"Why up there of course," said the Present as the Future pointed upwards with his staff. "With all the other saved souls."
"Good bye Tsukasa," said Harold as he ascended the heavens with the other spirits. "And never forget what we showed you."
Tsukasa left the cemetery and return to Mimiru, who quickly wrapped her arm around Tsukasa, bringing him closer to her.
"Where are we going," asked Tsukasa.
"To see Bear of course," said Mimiru.
A little while later Mimiru and Tsukasa were at the doorsteps of Bear's home, which was alive with all sorts of sights and sounds that echoed through the night and found their way to Tsukasa and Mimiru's senses.
Mimiru opened the door and Tsukasa followed, inhaling the rich aroma of turkey and ham, while growing dizzy with the sound of laughter and joyful banter. Mimiru enter the dinning room, but Tsukasa held back in the hallway.
"Come on," she said as the guest stared. "They're all waiting."
There was dead silence as Tsukasa entered, first looking at the ground, until summoning the courage to look at all the guest, many he had seen the night before in his visions. It took him along time to speak, finally saying to Bear, "I was just wondering… if perhaps… you had room for one more guest?"
"Of course," said Bear nearly jumping out of his seat and pulling out a chair for Tsukasa.
Tsukasa sat down directly across from Bear, and next to Crim and BT to his left while Mimiru pulled next to his right.
"Is that really you Tsukasa?" asked Crim.
"Yes," said Tsukasa quietly.
"I'm Crim," he said. "And this is my wife BT."
"How do you do," said Tsukasa.
BT burst into tears. "My God it's really him."
"Honey," said Crim as he held BT. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," said BT. "It's just I'm so happy. To finally meet the man who brought us together. Who brought us all together." BT finally stopped crying and finally said, "Tsukasa, I was wondering if you Mimiru could be the God parents to our child, who we were going to name in honor of you?"
"It would be my pleasure," said Tsukasa.
At the other end of the table, past multiples of friends and family, came a voice, a voice so quiet and delicate it sounded as if it would fall apart in the air. "God bless us, each and everyone of us," said little Lin as he sat next to her brother Sora, who had to fight the tears back.
In the coming years there would be many gatherings celebrations among this group of friends. Also tragedies as Subaru would die later that year, surrounded by her friends in her final moments as she left the material world. Yet, in all their years, and in all the years to come, everyone, if asked, would say that this Christmas, the one in which Tsukasa came back to them, was the greatest of them all.
Well, that's it. Sorry this final chapter took like two years. It's just that life, like many things, took a few odd turns. But thanks to all reviewed this, it was you guys that made me keep going, you guys who inspired me to finish this yarn. It is to you that I dedicate this story to. Thank you, and have happy holiday and a wonderful New Year.
EVS.