"Come on, come one," he murmured, peering in at the bubbling blobs of cookie dough. "Sugar Cookies, Snickdoodles, Thumbprints, Pinwheels, Peanut Butter, Shortbread, Oatmeal Raisin, Gingerbread. . ." Glancing over the line up of cookies as he listed each off, it was the Thumbprints which he was impatiently awaiting upon. His gaze shot to the oven, then to the steadily ticking second hand, back to the oven.
"Five more minutes," he muttered, huffing a breath of annoyance.
"Watched pot never boils," someone spoke up, earning a startled yelp.
"Riku!" Shooting across the kitchen, chestnut collided with the silver masters chest, the hug recuperated with ease.
"What are you so impatient to have finish?" Riku questioned, peering in at the same bubbling blobs of dough, which by then had begun to slightly spread out, a golden hue coating their edges.
"Thumbprints,"
Silver quirked at that, teal gazing past to the plates of cookies already crowding the counters. "Exactly, how many cookies did you make?"
"Um. . . a dozen per cookie, plus another dozen each, soooo- two dozen each, eight different cookies," breaking off to run calculation through his head, sheepishly he answered. "Almost two hundred?"
"You made two hundred cookies?!"
"Well, almost two hundred. . . Hey, I plan to gift most of them, so there." he huffed.
"Glad to hear. Otherwise, I am not sure what we were going to do with that many cookies." Riku commented, leaning a hip against the counter, teal gaze softening as they ghosted over their form. Noting the light dusting of flour, the streak of batter on one cheek. The counter was littered by wrappers from sticks of butter, empty bags of flour and sugar.
"Oh, did you get it?" he latched back onto the reason the silver master had been absent so long.
"Yeah, I put it in your locker in the Gummi Ship."
"Good." he nodded sharply. Gaze softening, a grateful if no less fond smile lit his features. "Thanks for picking it up."
"It's fine. Also, I grabbed this too-" Riku added, tossing something across the kitchen to their quick reflexes, snatching it mid air.
"Christmas Carol! And my old version." he cradled the ancient tape to their chest, azure eyes twinkling with excitement.
"You and your black and white movie." came a soft chuckle. "Why don't you go get that thing set up, I'll watch over these."
"Okay, two minutes and they'll be done. Just poke them with that stick and if it comes out clean, their done." he pointed at said, before turning on their heel, vanishing into the living room.
/ / /
Before them a tv played a grainy black and white film. For all their technological advancements, sometimes the latest and greatest still couldn't compete with good old fashion, old school. But as accused at times he had an old soul, though his childlike qualities oft times overruled that.
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" Tiny Tim's voice rang from the set, drawing a proud smile at the sentiment. No matter how many times he watched that movie the child's simple line got him everytime.
A whirring sound ended the movie as credits scrolled across the screen. Sighing with contentment his gaze fell between his best friends. An auburn haired princess curled against his right side, her head resting on his shoulder, gaze hooded, every few minutes dark lashes fluttered in a bid to remain awake. Then on his left, Riku's gaze met his own as he shifted closer, the elder teens arm draped around his shoulders, a fond smile softening the young mans face.
Never had he felt any safer then at that moment, the thoughts of his exam the next day was of little mind, reveling in this simple moment.
/ / /
With the gifts dwindling to the last few, well one to be exact or so he claimed, the chestnut male excused himself to the kitchen for moment.
"You know this is starting to become a pattern, new synthesis ingredients for Christmas." Kairi teased.
"Sure, simple, useful. And, you were the one saying you were short a couple of those for that ring you wanted to make." Riku shrugged.
"I did, thanks. Now I can't wait to get these to the Moogles." Noting the chestnut males absence yet, she couldn't help exchanging a knowing glance with the silver master. "What's he up to?"
Teal met indigo, innocence such a lie across his features. "Who knows?"
"Liar." she accused.
"Sorry, that took a little longer than I expected." Came the apology, a plate clutched in his hand, which was covered by a silver cloche. "Anyways. . ." Suddenly shy, he set the plate before Kairi and Riku, his gaze remaining downturned the entire time as he explained. "So, I know we already did this once, a long time ago, but, this- this is. . ."
"Take your time," Riku prompted, gently resting a hand on the younger mans shoulder for support.
"This is for us." he announced, sweeping the cloche to one side to reveal-
"A Papou Fruit!" Kairi gasped, equal parts delighted to surprised at the sight.
Teal searched younger mans downturned gaze, trying to understand what exactly he was trying to offer. The sharing of the Papou Fruit was between two people, usually lovers, so why had? Withdrawing his grip, he understood too clearly. 'Of course, he wants to share it with Kairi.' As if any other idea could have ever been an option.
"Riku, where are you going?" He protested as said rose.
"You and Kairi, I'm sure you want some space," Riku offered, waving at the fruit. "It's fine." A knowing glint within teal.
"What? NO!" Latching onto the leg of the elders jeans before a step could be made, azure gazed at him panicked, a silent pleading within. "It's for us." he insisted, flushing crimson by the confused look Kairi leveled him with. "All of us," Now it was Riku's turn to met azure with confusion. "Your both important to me, I couldn't, wouldn't choose just one of you to share with this then, I still won't do it." The assurance within was enough to allow himself to be drawn back to their sides.
With Riku back to their imprompt circle, the younger man watched as Kairi set to picking up the Papou Fruit, he'd already split the fruit into three pieces. The fruits juice trickling down her fingers, left a sticky if slightly gritty feeling in return. He knew, that Riku knew what he had planned, and more than likely the silver man had thought this moment was it. And while it was leading up to the moment, this fruit really was for the three of them. It had been a childish idea he'd later admit, but for some reason he felt he had to offer this before what occured next. Despite Riku's numerous assurances on the subject.
"Anything anyone wants to say this time?" Riku offered, referencing the last time they had done this as he grasped his own piece.
A deep breath, the younger man nodded. "Once we shared a Papou Fruit just like this; together. Which is why I wanted to share it with you both," Azure met teal, making sure the elder understood the underlying conitations. "Like I said back then, I want to be a part of your lives, no matter what. That's all. And more than anything, I still want that for us. To always have our destinies intertwined, so we'll remain apart of one another's lives."
"Whatever happens from here on, we'll always be together. Even if we're worlds apart, our hearts are connected." Riku promised.
"Yeah," Glances exchanged, they smiled in turn. "No matter what, no power will separate us ever again."
The fruit rejoined for the briefest of seconds, the promise spoken over such cemented with the first bits taken. Too soon the fruit was eaten, until only a couple of leaves and the stem remained.
Teal met azure, the silent question within. A simple nod. "Anything else you want to add?" Riku prompted, directing the question towards the younger man.
"Actually, yeah." he nodded. Grateful for the gentle push, instead of being thrown head first. His attention then turned to Kairi. "I know I said that I wanted to be apart of your lives, no matter what. But- this time, it's not enough," he added. To her confusion she watched as the younger man came to her side, crouching to one knee before her.
"What are you-?"
"Kairi," his voice low, the sincerity in gaze enough to prompt her into silence. From the corner of his eye he noted Riku nod slightly, Gummi Phone in hand, a silent encouragement. Azure locked onto indigo, "I want to be a part of your life, Kairi, no matter what. I want to protect you, to cherish, to forever provide for you. Through sickness and health, to the Final World and beyond, I want to forever be by your side. Which is why-" A small box appeared within his grip, her gaze instantly falling to it, it's conitations too clear if any knew what they were seeing. "Kairi, will you marry me?" Within a small ring lay nestled amongst the pale fabric. Simplistic, forged of gold a single diamond within the band itself. It wasn't the fanciest of rings, and maybe not the most costly, but to her it meant more than the biggest diamond, or most expensive ring ever could.
"I-" Tears flickered within depths, a shaky laugh escaping her. "Yes. . ." she whispered, then louder. "Yes!"
Shakily, he slipped the ring onto her finger, their eyes meeting, love shown within their shared gazes. A kiss a moment later, deepened with passion, a promise forged between them. Tasting of mango with a hint of coconut.
"About time," Riku murmured, warmed by the sight.
/ / /
"Merry Christmas, Kai, Riku." he grinned sleepily, his fiance curled against his side as they boarded his Gummi Ship.
"Merry Christmas, love," Kairi murmured, kissing him. "Merry Christmas, Riku," she added once they broke apart.
"Merry Christmas, Kairi, Sora."
/○-^ ? ﾟﾔﾔ?￢ﾘﾆ/○-^
And. . . The last chapter has been posted. So, be honest, how many of you guessed how this story would end? Better yet, those who read it, how long did it take for you to guess who it was before they said in the end?
I tried to write it so that it would be a mystery and it would hint throughout this chapter, not sure how I did- but, it was an attempt. (shrugs)
Anyways: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this story! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Those of you in the north-stay warm. Those of you in the south. . . we'll take some sunshine and warm weather please!
Until next time! LRW