Author's Note: Woot! I'm back! Now I know why people get so giddy when they get reviews...Thankies so much for the reviews! They've made me so happy...When I look at them, I can't help but smile...:D Welp, here ya go!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. Square-Enix does. If I did own it, it wouldn't turn out as the great game it is now.
The Magic of Three
Chapter 2: Lavender Boxes and Drifting Snowflakes
"Over here, Kairi!"
The small girl meekly followed the chestnut-haired boy to the core of all the hustle and bustle. It seemed that all the adults were rushing to put the finishing touches on the booths and tables or quickly completing the final preparations for the upcoming festivities. Carefully wrapped gifts were lugged by people of all ages to the "Giving Tree".
Finally, finally...Kairi was finally going to experience her very first Christmas at Destiny Islands.
"The festival's starting!" Sora said cheerfully as his gaze fixed itself upon the twinkling lights of the island decor. "It's like the island's one huge star, dont'cha think?"
Kairi nodded. It did look like the island had been transformed into a bright, beautiful star. A light to remind them that there's always a way...
"Hey, the booths are opening up!" Filled with excitement, Sora pointed to a row of booths filled with holiday games and prizes. "You know, Riku'll probably get mad if we start playing without him. Maybe we should wait till he comes."
Kairi started drawing circles in the sand with her shoe. "Could we do something in the meantime?"
"Well, we can't eat since the feast hasn't started yet," he said thoughtfully. "...Maybe we can walk around and look at the lights. Would that be okay?"
"Sure!" Kairi replied, wondering why her response came out so...excitedly.
They took a short yet equally bright path. The tropical plant growth seemed to be glowing against the Christmas decorations. They continued walking, neither of them speaking.
"So...what happens at the festival every year?" the seven-year-old girl said, in hopes of breaking the awkward silence.
"Well...every year, the townsfolk decorate the whole island. Most of the adults just like to walk around and look at all the lights. We play games and eat tons of Christmas goodies. Near the end, we gather around the "Giving Tree" and pass around the presents."
Looking confused, Kairi asked, "Umm...How does that work?"
Sora tore a leaf off a nearby fern and started shredding it to little pieces. "The Giving Tree?...Well...first, everyone brings the gifts to the tree beforehand. It piles up after a while. We put on a tag to say who it's supposed to be given to, but we don't say who it's from. Somehow, everyone gets a gift. But it has to be anonymous. That's how it works, I guess..."
"Oh..."
Both children slowed to a stop. Sora seemed to be trying to avoid Kairi's gaze.
"Sora...? What's wrong?" she asked, worry starting to show on her petite face.
He rubbed his head, trying not to meet Kairi's eyes. "It's kind of...embarrassing...I don't know if I want to do this..." he mumbled.
"Sora, you don't need to be embarrassed around me."
For a while, silence hung in the air. Sora seemed to continuously shift from foot to foot.
"I got something...but I didn't want to put it under the Giving Tree because...I wanted you to know it was from me...So I decided...I'll give it to you now..."
Digging into his pocket, he pulled out a small lavender box with a matching bow. He stared at the precious item before quickly looking over his shoulder, checking to see if there was anybody there.
"I...Um...He-here," he said quietly as he held out the box with his trembling hand.
Kairi carefully picked it up from his outstretched palm and gently pulled the bow. Lifting the lid, she sapphire eyes fell upon a small, golden jewel. It was a necklace.
A lump seemed to get caught in her throat. "Thank you..." she said, her voice shaking.
Sora shoved his hands into his pockets. "You're welcome."
"It's really pretty..."
"Just like you."
"...Hmm?"
"Nothing..."
Again, the awkward silence followed.
"I think Riku might be waiting for us. Maybe we should head back," Sora said, motioning towards the ongoing festivities.
"Yeah..." Kairi fiddled with the necklace as they turned around to walk back.
Sora noticed this and tilted his head a bit. "Why don't you put it on? It'll look prettier when it's on you."
"You think so? Okay..."
They continued down the path, both looking shyly away from each other.
Sora smiled that goofy grin of his and finally locked eyes with Kairi.
"...Merry Christmas, Kairi."
"Merry Christmas to you too Sora."
Kairi's hand shot up to feel for her necklace.
It's still there...It's still there...There's no need to worry...
For some reason, Kairi felt that her necklace would vanish any moment now. She didn't understand it...Just a while ago, she was filled with a warm feeling...That something good was going to happen. But feeling like you'd lose your most precious possession was definitely not a good feeling.
Next to her, Selphie was animatedly yapping away about how she would finally convince Tidus to dance with her this year. "I can't wait till the festival starts!" she squealed, hopping along. "It's going to be the best Christmas ever!"
Selphie and Kairi were strolling down the road to Tidus' house. It was decided that they would stop by his and Wakka's home and go to the festival together.
"Ohhh, I'm so excited! There's so much new stuff added to the festival! Plus, my buddy Kairi's finally coming along!" She playfully poked Kairi stomach, causing Kairi to swat her hand away.
"Promise you're going to have loads of fun?"
Nodding, Kairi replied, "Promise."
"'Kay then. Oh, and I'm glad you wore the outfit I gave you. It looks awesome!" Grinning, Selphie gave a double thumbs-up.
She smiled to herself as she brushed some lint off her lavender skirt. Her reply was, "Thanks..."
"Hey! There's Tidus' house!" Happily, the brunette skipped ahead to the porch and repeatedly pushed the doorbell.
"I'm coming! Hold on!" came a muffled voice from inside the house.
Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding.
"Alright! Alright! Sheesh!" Tidus angrily swung the door open, only to see Selphie still pressing the doorbell.
"Stop it! You're going to get me grounded!...Wha...?...What in the world are you wearing?" Tidus seemed to be gaping at her.
Striking a pose, she announced, "I'm going to the festival as Rudolph! The girl version! What'cha think?"
Tidus quickly shook his head, ridding himself of that odd faze. "I think that red nose looks stupid," he said flatly.
Kairi giggled as Selphie crossed her arms and did that ever-famous pout. "You're one to speak, elfy-boy," she snorted.
Actually, Kairi didn't notice it before. Tidus was wearing a very green elf costume complete with pointy ears made out of a type of felt cloth.
"I like your jester clogs," Selphie said sarcastically.
"They're not clogs! And my mom made me wear this!"
"You're sixteen and your mom still has to tell you what to wear?"
"Hey!"
Kairi shook her head, smiling at the scene. What next? Wakka dressed up as a snowman?
"Okay Wakka, that's just plain weird."
"Whadja say Selphie?"
"I said that's just plain weird."
Tidus was laughing so hard he had to clutch his stomach to help it not to hurt.
"Th-thaaat-hahahaha-loooks sooo-hahahaha-duuumb-hahahaha!"the blonde guffawed, pointing at the orange-haired, three-layered snowman.
Wakka looked down at his styrofoam 'stomach'. "I thought it looked very original," he mumbled, making sure the tall, black hat was securely placed on his head.
"It's okay, Wakka!" Selphie piped up as she prodded the styrofoam. "The little kids are sure going to be chasing you, tubby! I can just imagine them singing! 'Wakka, the snowman! Is a-'"
"Okay, okay. I'll try to avoid the little kiddies. Let's just get to that festival!"
"I don't see how you could run in that!" Tidus snickered, trying to hide behind Selphie.
"Oh, be quiet man!" Wakka snapped, adjusting his hat once more.
So the four teenagers headed out to the middle of the island. The sun was starting to set. Kairi noticed the many lights decorating all the plants. They weren't turned on yet, but they would be pretty soon. What a sight it'd be.
The auburn-haired girl had never realized how much fun Selphie and the guys could be. She had never noticed. All she did was 'talk' to Sora and Riku...
Rubbing her necklace slightly, Kairi sighed. It seemed that her feet were walking on their own. She knew this path so well. This path held so many memories...
A tug. Someone tugged on Kairi's sleeve. Her head whipped to her side. Nobody was there...Was it her imagination?
No...no one was there...It was her imagination. She just hoped that pretty soon, she wouldn't have to pretend that her friends were there.
Quite unexpectedly, snowflakes began to drift down from the stars. Kairi slowly looked up, her sapphire eyes watching one snowflake melt on her palm. It had never snowed before...Maybe it was a gift from the angels...Maybe because it was her third Christmas since she had last seen Sora or Riku...Her lucky number three...
"Hey, Kairi! It's snowing! It's the first time our island has ever had snow!"
"Snow looks better down here than in the mountains. It's actually very pretty."
"What do you think Kairi?"
A small smile began to tug at her lips. "It's beautiful..."she whispered.
Author's Note: Eeep...That took longer than usual. Welp, that's chapter 2! All wrapped up, just for you guys! Hope ya guys liked it. Again, thank you so much for the reviews! They've made my day! And again, comments are welcome.
I don't think that I'm going to finish before Christmas...So much stuff is going on...but I'm still going to update! Don't worry! I'll just try my best to finish by Christmas (although that seems impossible right now..)
Anyways, hope to see you soon! Merry early Christmas!
