This is Christmas gift for Black witch of Autumn. I'm so sorry for not posting yesterday (or day before yesterday) I honestly got busy with the Christmas, and just got time to post this.

I'll read the fic tomorrow. Promise. But let's get on with the story now!

I remember a time when I spent every waking moment tagging with father and mother. They'd go on explorations, and take me along with them. Even when I was just a toddler. It seems funny how fast everything is, but all you have do is stand in a single place.

I heard the little sparrows chirping in one of my branches. They need food. But sadly, what can an unmovable thing like me can do to them except making my leaves give them a perfect shelter.

Ah, atleast they came. The mother sparrow comes with her mouth full of earthworms, and feeds her three chicks, one after another before darting off to find some more for her ravenous young.

The wind gently sways me, as if to say 'It is okay'. And what I feel might be real too. An open mind blossomed in me after the incident.

The sliding door near the garden I was in opened softly, as the person made me smile, if I had real teeth. With her orange jacket with her school logo on top of her black T-shirt, and grey track pants, she looked like she was jogging.

"Hello, . Good morning! And you too, little chirpies." She waved as her foot touched the grass. I would've greeted her, but for now a small wave of my branch should suffice. But she seemed to understand.

"Someone is active in the morning. It's nice to see that." The girl came, and took one of my green leaves in her soft palm. Rubbing it gently with her thumb, "You know, Christmas is near! I am so excited for it. You wanna know why?"

Her ruby eyes gleamed with excitement, as she continued, "My far away cousins are coming to our home! It's been," she thought a minute, counting with her fingers, "three years since we last met. That's exciting, right?"

She giggled to herself as she explained how she planned the perfect party, and chose their favorite dishes, drinks. Basically everything. Honestly, she was perfect. I wish I could be there, in my original form, in front of her. To atleast make her mad. It's interesting when the anger gets the better out of her.

"Hilary! Come inside! It's cold out there!"

"Coming, mom!" She turned back from the door, "Oh. Advanced merry Christmas. I'll give you a present too. And it's a secret." After uttering the words cheekily, she ran inside.

A present? For me? When was the last time I got presents? When I was six, I think. Or was it seven? Ah, I can't even keep the years straight. It's been thirty years, after I became like this. I sighed looking at my little oak leaves. It felt like ten or twelve years though.

It all happened when Goddess Konohanasakuya-hime cursed me. Yup, she did when mom and dad were analyzing samples at Mount Fuji. Dad and Mom accidentally destroyed a shrine, and angered her. As their worst punishment, I got cursed. I still remember that day like a it's been etched in my bark.

The beautiful goddess in her grandly designed, white kimono was floating on a cloud. A black cloud charged with electricity, filling the entire place with the smell of ozone. "This crime will not go unpunished, imbeciles. For this, a punishment that will break both of your hearts will be given."

A tiny version of myself cowered behind my mom, trying to hide myself. The angry goddess spotted me. "I decided my punishment. This little kid of yours will forever be transformed to a tree, standing on the same spot, only to be destroyed by someone seeking his wood. Just like the way you did with my shrine to get some rocks."

Mom started to wail, begging for the punishment to be given to her instead. "He doesn't even know the world yet. He is innocent." She argued, as Dad fell on his knees clapsing his hands together. "O Goddess of Fuji, and Life. We beg you let him go. Punish me for my crime." At that point, my limbs were turning numb. I could feel myself turn browner, and rigid.

The immortal being seemed to consider this. "Alas, I can't take back a curse. But this can be changed a little. He wouldn't die. He'll be an evergreen oak. And would never wither. He'll grow strong, and when-" That's when I could hear nothing, and everything around me turned black.

A shiver passed through my spine, as I thought of the events. What had the goddess said? Did she take back her curse? I had been thinking about it for years in fear, tinged with a spoonful of hope. But I grew accustomed to it. So much that it doesn't scare me anymore. Anyome can come, and cut me. I've come to terms with my fate.

I got glances of Hilary actively arranging everything through the windows, her parents helping her.

I wonder what it is like to have parents now. I sighed miserably, trying to think of my parents. What had they looked like? I don't remember their faces. Not even their names.

A sharp jab on my side rudely awakes me from my thought, "Ow!" The woodpecker stopped pecking for a moment, only to continue more forcefully. "Ah... These buggers..." I noticed the sky being red, and sun rising above the horizon. Guess another day went by when I was dreaming.

To he honest, days often rolled like this. And the days prior to Christmas were no exception. Hilary visited me often, talking about the cute puppy she saw on her way home, the plum cake she baked being too burnt that even their house cake spit it out, and even how she completed three quarters of her winter break assignments.

She was an ace student, alright. But her cooking is bad, from what her mom says. But as a stubborn soul, she always trues again and again. Not to mention, making everyone around d her suffer.

I wondered about the gift she promised me. Hm... What could she gift a tree? Some decorative lights? No, it will scare the birds away. She wouldn't want that. Days passed, leaving me to rethink about the question and it's possibilities.

Finally, it was Christmas. As my ruby girl expected, her cousins came. But what was happening? I could hear her excitement die down. I saw three younger boys, and a girl around Hilary's age pass by one of the window. Hilary came into view, trying to keep her smile on her face, as she came down the garden, and sat up against my trunk.

"I am too childish to celebrate Christmas..." She started, her head hanging down, the pearly smile nowhere to be seen. "What was I thinking? We've grown up. This is just some hanging out their parents had forced. And not for celebration." She started her rant. It was the way she dealt with things. Ranting everything till her ears turn red, to me.

Every cell of mine wanted to comfort her, give her a hug she so badly needs. She got up sniffling, her nose red from the cold.

"Thanks for listening without judging, as always. It's not like you have a choice."

I do have a choice, Hils

"I wish you were a human."

I wish that too

"You know, some say that if you wish upon the Christmas star, it will happen. And the star is coming after so many years."

Are you saying that-

"I'm gonna wish that. I mean, it's just a myth. But still..." She shrugged.

No harm in trying, huh?

"Anyway, I gotta go. Mom will need help to maintain these ungrateful people. Bye." She gave a hug to my bark, before parting and going in.

I don't trust these little wishing on shooting stars, ands eclipses. They don't happen. Trust me, I've tried. But still, the sentiment that she wants me to be human... It was touching. Giddy feels occupied my mind. Was I... Falling in love with this girl? Or was I already down that endless pit, just now realizing it?

Whatever the case, I decided that dwelling on them is pointless. I am an Oak tree for God's sake. And she's a perfect girl, who van get any boy she wants.

The days went when I tried to erase the feelings, and soon the Christmas came. The house was decorated well, but simple. Like every Christmas I've seen. Except for a few troublemakers. I could see Hilary trying not to get mad and yell at her cousins, but they weren't cutting her any slack.

Hilary's parents entered the room and they behaved like good kids. Such a fake attitude. I watched as they sand the Christmas carol, drank hot chocolate, and finally cut the fresh plum cake, enjoying the cake well.

But what bothered me was, Hilary wasn't herself. On previous Christmases, her friends would come. Just for a few hours, but that'd turn her face to a match a star's brightness. This is bad, she wasn't happy during Christmas! Like how bad is that!

After the whole celebration, the cousins rushed to their rooms, saying they were tired. Their parents maintained their composure well, considering they are used to it. They said something to their daughter, which made her sigh, and go to her room.

The celebration was too short for my liking. And I know the feeling was mutual, as I caught her eyes staring at the stars with a forlorn look. I felt sorry for her, but confusion set in my mind as I saw her eyes widen as if she got some idea, and exited her room.

Loud footsteps echoed in the house before the said girl was standing before me. The moonlight was making her glow, like those white lilies that bloom at night. It took me a few seconds to notice the small bundle of a cloth in her hand.

"I promised you a gift, remember?" She asked approaching me, placing her palm on the bark. "Well, you wanna see what it is?" She asked, opening the bundle.

Yes

"Hm..." She rustled the bag lightly, causing a faint tingling sound.

Wait. Is that what I guess. Oh-

"Ta-da! Wind chimes! I painted it for you." She was saying the truth. The usually silver chimes were bright red with a small, green pine tree on each cylinder's end.

"Wait, let me hang this up. Oh. With this Christmas hat too!" She took off her Santa hat, and climbed up on a small stool, wobbling on the uneven surface.

Careful!

She swayed a little, "I won't fall..." She caught my branch for balance, and put the hat first. Then she slowly tied the chimes, before jumping off the stool.

This girl is daring. Too daring.

The zephyr caught the chimes, and they clinked beautifully with each other. "Merry Christmas, my ranting companion." She wished, hugging my bark. I wanted to bend my branches just to hold her close.

She pulled away, and pointed at the sky. "I'll see you at midnight. We'll see the star." I couldn't even think anything, before she walked back in. There was only one thing I could now, and always. Wait.

The passing of hours seemed to slow down when I wanted it to pass quickly. It wasn't midnight yet, and it feels like years already! I was frustrated as I took a glance at the house now. All lights have been turned off. Everyone must be sleeping now. Maybe she is sleeping too.

As if Hilary heard my thoughts, she silently opened the door, and walked up to me. "Sorry for keeping you waiting. I was making sure everyone slept." She looked up, pointing at a bright star.

"I checked the astro maps. That's the Christmas star. Now all we have to do is make a wish."

Oh, Hilary...

"I wish you could be a human, and my friend." She clasped her han ds together, and closed her eyes, muttering the words. I could just watch her in amazement, as my chimes rattled. How could I say it won't work?

She opened her eyes as the first snow that year fell, and smiled at me. "Even if you're not a human, you'll always be my friend." I felt something warm in my heart, my blood pumping so wildly at the words.

Wait. Warm? Blood? Heart?

I could really feel the warmness, my heartbeats. It was so... Foreign. The wind chimes were not tingling like the wind is gonna pull it away from me. Hilary's eyes widened as she took a step back.

Was she scared of me? No!

I could see something bright... Coming from me! What's happening? I felt different. I could feel everything differently. Like, the I could move my branches. No, hands. I looked down wriggling my fingers. I have hands! They automatically touched above. My arms, my neck, my face! I... I... I saw my reflection, lit by the moon, on the door's glass. Long navy hair, like my mom. Dark almost red eyes like my Dad...

I was so absorbed in myself that I failed to notice Hilary approaching me. It was only when she pinched my arm, that I saw her! "Ah! That hurts!" I whined, rubbing the red, swollen skin.

"It's not a dream."

"You should've pinched yourself."

"Well, nothing makes a difference. You're... human, ."

"Tyson... Tyson Granger..."

"You have a name?"

"Long story."

"Granger? As in the volcanologists?"

"You know my parents?"

"But... Didn't they... Lose their son in a volcano? Like thirty years ago?"

"Maybe the tree slowed my age down..." I turned back to see the tree, still standing tall and proud. I mean... Me. That was me.

Hilary wrapped the scarf tighter around her neck and offered me her second one. "Let's go to the Granger's place. We might find something." I nodded, as she started walking. But when she noticed that I wasn't following, she stopped in her tracks.

"Thanks..."

"Anything for my ." She turned, her cheeks red from cold. Probably from the cold. A small tug on my lips as I followed her out. Maybe, everything will turn out fine. This Christmas is my best. I got my family, and my friend. And I could talk to them.

The best gift I ever got. Given by her.

So, guys, I've typed something after so long. So writing skills might've faded. So please review. Constructive reviews are welcome.

-Devi~