I know, elephant in the room. I more or less vanished again...if anyone remembers me and is still following my stuff. Don't blame anyone otherwise. I don't want to go into details with this stuff, but I've had many ups and downs in my personal life recently. Combined with shrinking free time and some bad cases of writer's block... it's all on me. I apologize if anyone feels frustrated with that stuff.

Anyways, I still wanted to do something. I have gotten the bug recently just to write some Kingdom Hearts fluff. Then I got this idea in my head, Christmas time is always a good time for fluff (even though I am three days late), but I still wanted to do this.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas, their winter, their holidays, their families, their loved ones, whichever and whoever. I hope you enjoy this story to, thank you all, take care.

Also, if anyone finds any incongruities regarding canon and characters, that is because this is suppose to taking place after the end of She Will Light The Way. Just a little fact to keep in mind while you're reading.

Anyways, enough from me, enjoy everyone!

-Kairi-

Christmastime had come to the sprawling, sunny archipelago known as the Destiny Islands. And while no flurries of snow would visit the Islands, the citizens and towns were all alight with unabashed festive cheer in anticipation of the many joys the holidays brought. Even if this time of year could turn into a mad ball of stress and chaos and haphazardly overlapping traditions and rituals, almost everyone had something they looks forward to and enjoy to their heart's content.

On the small island of Saka-Ama, in the township of Salm, there were three such people who all had their own plans and ideas and traditions for the Christmas season. Three less than ordinary and more than extraordinary people that had experienced enough extreme situations and insanity, that they were looking forward to insanity of a more mundane variety.

Sora Kido, Keyblade Warrior of Heart, and a general font of joy and happiness.

Kairi Shiratori, Keyblade Warrior of Light, and a general font of joy and generosity.

Riku Akiyama, Keyblade Warrior of Darkness, and a general grouch.

The three Bearers of the Keyblade had finally returned home after their various journeys scattered them to the corners of the universe. They found one another, they found themselves, ventured to the far corners of existence, battled against threats and monsters and villains of all stock and sundry, and saved all worlds and all people (multiple times, in Sora's case). And while they couldn't quite return to an everyday normal life, they were looking forward to their first Christmas at home and with each other, since that fateful, stormy night.

With school let out for the day, the three of them were gathered outside a small cafe to let out some steam from the long school week, being accompanied by three of Kairi's school friends – Selphie, Garnet, and Rydia. The girls were all still dressed in their school uniforms – tartan skirts and dark blue blazers – showcasing their attendance at Lady Shimomura's Private Secondary School, whereas the boys were still dressed in casual, everyday attire – a nod and benefit to attending public school.

"Ugh, I don't know if I can do this anymore." Riku groaned, slouched in his chair, nursing his second cup of coffee. "School. It's just such a drag, day after day, week after week. It's just so boring and pointless." The girls were all chattering about something, and paid him no mind. He did this often enough that most of them had learned to tune him out.

"Okay, settle down drama queen." Sora replied with a teasing smile. "No one wants to be in school this time a year, but, y'know, two more weeks of class and then we're off for winter break. It'll breeze by."

Riku continued, unabated by his friend's words. "I'm dropping out sooner than later. Definitely. I can't stand this."

"Seriously, Riku? Drop out? What would you do with yourself without finishing high school?" Garnet asked. It seemed that either the girl's conversation had died down, or Riku had said the right thing to catch their attention.

"I dunno? Anything? Everything?" The silver-haired boy shrugged and took a sip of his coffee, to an audience of questioning glances. "Schooling is not for everyone, and I know schooling is not for me. I'll be fine, don't worry about me."

Kairi's lips broke into a small smile, the redhead looking like the cat that caught the canary. "Now where would you be if you didn't have Sora and me worrying about you?"

After a small pause, Riku replied with, "Point taken."

A quick round of general teasing and taunting of Riku followed, with Riku scowling or throwing back good-natured barbs at Sora or Kairi. No one took anything seriously, this was how things were, or how they had been since the three returned home.

"Hey, question!" Selphie said, shooting her hand into the air animatedly, after everyone had their say in the regular occurring Riku hazing. "How's everyone doing on their Christmas shopping? I still got some stuff to get, and wouldn't mind grouping up this weekend. It's more fun with friends, right!"

"I do all my shopping online. I am done." First replied Riku.

Next, Sora said, "I'm doing alright, still have to get some stuff for the family, but I have ideas, so I'll be good."

"Yeah, I think I'm doing okay, too." Came Kairi. "Although..." A pensive look struck her face. "So, I've been thinking, this is Aqua's first year her right? And her first Christmas here, maybe her first Christmas ever, I don't know what she did before when she was training, if they even did anything, but...but, but..." She was rambling. She rambled quite often when the topic came to the blue-haired Keyblade Master in question. Everyone at the table had a suspicion as to why. "She doesn't really have anyone else left. She's been gone for ten years, no real family left. I want to do something special for her, I want to show people love her, but I've been struggling to come up with something fitting enough."

Riku turned to her with a mischievous smirk forming around the creases of his lips. The kind of smirk an older brother would get when tormenting their younger siblings. "So, you want to do something special for her?" Kairi nodded, eyebrows furrowed in confusion as to where he was going. "You want to do something to show that she loved?" Again, Kairi nodded in response. "You want to show her that you love her."

Kairi began to nod, but then came to a screeching halt, turning deathly still and glaring at her friend. "Riku, I swear, I swear! Don't you start his aga-"

"Because you have a crush on her."

"Riku!" The redhead stage-yelled, clenching her fists. This had been the spot Riku had been prodding and poking for the past few months. 'Kairi had a huge, obvious crush on Aqua'. Even though she obviously did not. She absolutely did not. Sure, Kairi platonically loved Aqua, y'know like a sister. A beautiful, elegant, sophisticated older sister. And she idolized and respected her, who wouldn't? But to say her love extended to romantic or something further? Absurd, just absurd.

"What do I have to say or do to prove to you you're imagining things? Because you are. Pulling nonsense out of thing air! Aqua and I are friends, nothing more, okay?"

"Yeah. Okay." Riku stared dead ahead at her, slowly drinking from his coffee, an unconvinced look plastered on his face. While Riku did believe what he was saying, he would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy getting a rise out of his friend.

"Guys," Kairi gestured wildly to Sora and the girls, "could you please talk some sense into him about this?" No help was to be found from the peanut gallery, as Selphie turned away from her, covering her face with her hand, Garnet looked down and coughed, Rydia took a slow, slow sip of her drink, and Sora just smiled nervously and scratched the back of his head.

Exasperated, Kairi then said, "I mean, how can I even have a crush? I love Sora, I am dating Sora." An intense and fevered look took over her eyes. This was how crazy Riku could drive her sometimes. "Would you like me to prove how much I love him?" She said in a low, dangerous tone.

"No. P.D.A. makes me uncomfortable." Riku returned coolly. The dichotomy in their demeanor was almost stunning. "And – I can't believe I need to say this aloud – people can be attracted to multiple people."

"Yeah, well... I do not have a crush on Aqua, that's final!"

The four others all had a bit of a tired expression on their faces. This was normally how this conversation would go: Riku would needle Kairi, and she in turn would get more and more stubborn and just entrench herself and fire back. So this would continue until someone broke the cycle with a change of conversation.

Right here, right now, that someone was Rydia.

"Well, while I would love to stay for more of this scintillating conversation." The green-haired girl said the last two words through clenched teeth. "Garnet and I have to do an oral report as part of our Comp Civ final, so we need to get working on that."

"Yes." Garnet stood up, collected her things and waved goodbye. "Have a nice day, everyone."

The others returned goodbyes with the two, as Riku finished draining his coffee. "Yeah, I gotta martial arts lesson at five, so I need to scram too." Effortlessly, the young man tossed his empty coffee cup over his shoulder, straight into the garbage can sitting about ten yards away. He made it look easy.

With the party now whittled down to three, Sora turned to his girlfriend and ask. "Did you wanna do anything today? I was thinking about hitting the arcade, but if you want to go somewhere else, I'm open to suggestions."

"No! Arcade!" Selphie cried, pumping her fists. Dramatically pointing a finger at Sora, the brunette declared, "You still owe me a Dance Dance Revolution rematch. I won't take that loss laying down!"

Kairi only chuckled to herself. "No, I have some work to do at home. And some thinking to do. You enjoy yourself though." The two rose up, briefly holding hands and sharing a kiss goodbye.

"I definitely will, hun. Talk to you later, tonight?"

"Sure thing."

And with that, the three departed, with the young redhead going home for the day.

~X-M-A-S~

Making her way back to her house, Kairi was deep in thought regarding Aqua.

No. No. Not like that. Nothing like that at all.

Absolutely not.

She was deep in thought regarding Aqua, specifically about her query of what to do with the older woman and her first Christmas on the Islands. Any idea or suggestion that came to mind immediately felt wrong, or not big enough. Most gifts wouldn't be able to express what Kairi wanted to express to her friend. Going to a night market or out to see a play would be fun, but it just wasn't special or unique enough. Needless to say, by the time she arrived on her doorstep, she felt frustrated and that she was only spinning her mental wheels.

"What am I gonna do..." The redhead sighed. With quick, practiced instinct she summoned Oathkeeper, tapped the front door to unlock it with a satisfying clunk, then dismissed the blade. "I'm home." Kairi said with a slight laugh, a joke to herself. Her mother would still be at work for sometime and Aqua had been away on a trip to Radiant Garden, doing research on –

"Welcome home, Kairi." Aqua greeted her, cheerfully. Kairi immediately stopped short in surprise. "How've you been?"

"Oh, I'm well, thanks." The blue-haired woman was sprawled out on a couch in the living room, dressed in a loose tank top and flannel pants, serving as pajamas, with a book cradled in her lap. Her hair was slightly mussed up. "I have to say, I wasn't expecting you to be home so soon. When did you get in?"

"This morning. Around ten. I've been sleeping most of the day."

Kairi set her schoolbag down on a nearby counter top, before circling back around to the living room, sitting in a chair opposite of the wayward Keyblade Master. "So, tell me. How did your research go?"

Aqua sighed and shifted her eyes to the side. She looked defeated and exhausted "Not great." For around the past two weeks, Aqua had traveled to the Radiant Garden, studying the extensive library there, as well as the private collection of the wizard Merlin. "I think I've exhausted this well and need to look elsewhere. Merlin and Leon and everyone have been very gracious and helpful, but I just haven't found anything that can help Ven or Terra." Ever since she had broken out of the Realm of Darkness, Aqua's all-consuming quest had been to find some way to revive her lost friends, Ventus and Terra, traveling to far flung corners of the universe, searching for any lead or scrap of information possible to achieve her goal.

The results so far: Disney Castle's library, a dead end.

Yen Sid's private library, a dead end.

And now, the collected volumes found with Merlin and on the Radiant Garden, a third dead end.

"But I won't lose hope, not yet." The exhaustion on her face receded away, Aqua regaining her nominal facial expression, one of self-assured and calm. A gentle confidence. Kairi always admired that about her. Her inner strength and her ability to reassemble her composure. "You and Sora and Riku have all given me hope. The three of you fought against so much adversity and triumphed, so I can't give up." She then turned to the younger woman with a sly smile on her face. "After all, it would look bad if a veteran like me couldn't match up with her juniors."

Kairi chuckled and smiled. "Let's not get crazy here. I don't think the three of us could ever surpass you." She then paused, before adding. "Do you mind if I go get changed really quick." Aqua quickly greed, which Kairi was thankful for. She had spent enough time in uniform, and wanted to get comfortable.

Returning ten minutes later – the redheaded girl now dressed in black capris and a light sweater – to find Aqua examining the small Christmas tree she and her mother had set up in the corner of the room.

"I see Christmas in vogue here, too." Aqua said, not turning away from the tree, as Kairi approached.

"I take it they celebrate it on the Garden, as well?"

"Yes. Yes they do." Leaning back deeply into the couch, Aqua ran her fingers through her mussy hair, trying to straighten some locks. "Nearly everywhere I went, there were wreaths and tinsel and pine trees and bows and gift boxes. Everything was red and green and gold, bells and carols and more things I don't quite understand." Facing Kairi directly, Aqua said, "Honestly, it was fairly overwhelming."

Kairi responded with a laugh. "That's a part of the experience, yes." A switch quickly flicked in the girl's brain, and she realized this was the opportunity she was looking for. "Hey, I was wondering. Back when you were training, with Terra, and Ven, and Master Eraqus, did you guys ever celebrate Chrismas?"

"No. Well, no and yes. We definitely didn't have all the trappings and traditions you have with the holiday, but every winter, Master Eraqus would suspend training. We'd play games against each other, have a big feast, it would even be one of the few times of the year we would be allowed into the outside world." The older woman sighed, cheek held in her hand, reminiscing about her time from a decade ago. "So, while the framing of the holidays were different, I think they both were about the same thing. Love and family and the spirit of fellowship. I... I miss those days." Sadness and forlorn longing crossed over the countenance of Aqua, looking downward and distant.

I've stepped into this now. While Aqua always did try to buoy her hopes regarding the fate of her friends, and she was relentless in her pursuit and drive, the reality of the situation was that she was faced with a daunting task, and, in doing so, was standing in a world ten years disconnected from where she came from. She was practically alone in the universe until she could succeed in her goal, and there were times when those thoughts would creep in, so Kairi would try and serve as Aqua's minder, and steer her away from such negative and fruitless thoughts.

"Well, this being your first real proper Christmas and all, I'm going to show you how we do it around here." Kairi plopped down in the seat next to Aqua, using the motion to surreptitiously scan the woman's face, which was half-turned towards her in interest, but still clouded by her own inner turmoil. "Obviously it's just me and my mom, so we don't do anything huge at home, but we exchange gifts on the morning of, we have some kind of dinner, it's nice and quiet and lovely..." Shifting her eyes to the side, she saw Aqua's expression hadn't changed yet. Kairi was also becoming cognizant that she was rambling again. "But there's all kind of stuff we can do around town this month. There's plays and musicals and shows in town, there's a big night market with all kinds of crafts and foods and fun little things. And mom and me usually will go down to a soup kitchen or shelter a couple nights and volunteer and help out. I'd love to have you along for any of that." The redhead finished her spiel with a eager and warm smile, but a thought quickly spilled into her mind.

Wait...did I just invite her to volunteer work? That seems kind of pushy and forceful... Oh, I hope she doesn't seem that as me forcing her into an obligation.

However, quickly abating her worries, Aqua offered a gracious smile in return. "Thank you. That all sounds very lovely, and I'd love to help out or explore town with you. But I don't want you to spend all this time and attention on me just because it's my first holiday here. I'm not worth all that." Kairi shook her head.

"But you are! You are." The young girl quickly extended her hand out, placing it on Aqua's wrist in gentle affirmation. The brief physical contact caused a strange, heated pulse to flash through her body, though she barely noticed it. Instead, she earnestly declared, "You mean a lot to me, your happiness means a lot to me, so I want to put the extra effort into making you feel what I think you deserve. And I'm certain everyone feels the same way, too. We all want the best for our friends and loved ones, after all, isn't that what Christmas is for?"

"Well, when you put it that way, how can I say no?" The blue-haired woman said with a laugh. Kairi beamed in delight at the shift in her mood. "Show me everything Christmas on the Islands have to offer."

"Great!" Kairi leaped up and pumped her fists in victory. "Because I've been trying to think about what to get you for a gift, and been coming up empty, so if you cou-" Now, Aqua shook her head, holding her hands up in pause.

"Whoa there, don't get too far ahead of yourself. I don't need a gift from your or anyone, really."

The younger girl struck a quizzical look. "But you said-"

"I said show me everything your Christmas has to offer, but don't waste your time and Munny on..." Aqua made a circular motion with one of her fingers, clearly trying to think of something. "On...I don't know? What's a typical gift between friends?"

Kairi shrugged and muttered, "I don't know. Clothes, books, movies, anything. Anything really. Anything you might be interested in."

"I am interested in continuing my training as a Keyblade Master and affirming the legacy of my forebearers. And, of course, finding my friends..." She sighed, standing up and stretching her limbs. Too much time today sleeping and sitting around. Then, the young Master turned to face her friend, with a look in her eyes of rejection. Gentle rejection, but still. "And, also, your happiness is very important to me. So, I don't have any need for any gift or present. Thank you for your consideration, though."

Admittedly, Kairi felt very jubilant inside when Aqua openly admitted her happiness was one of her most important interests, but overall, she was just frustrated. Frustrated she went from a dead end path of trying to think of a gift out of the blue to running into a brick wall of Aqua's gracious denials and her deeply ingrained spartan lifestyle. But, Kairi was nothing if not stubborn, and while she excused herself from Aqua's presence shortly thereafter, retreating to her room to do a variety of things – homework, a bit of online shopping, chatting with her friends and her boyfriends, and some light reading for fun – she never truly gave up on her mission. Breaking away from her work at various junctures to repeatedly needle and pry and probe her friend and housemate for something, anything. Any possible angle or opening she could find to exploit to gain an idea or a lead on what to get Aqua.

Aqua remained unflappable and intransigent. She did not want anything, and wouldn't hear otherwise.

Every strategy and line of attack Kairi could conjure were quickly thwarted by her friendly foe. It was like actually fighting her – Keyblades and magic and all – so great were Aqua's skills at refusal and denial. This pattern continued further and further into the night, even when Kairi's mother returned home and the three of them sat down for dinner and it was her turn to try and test her might against such a rigorous and all powerful polite, conversational knight.

"But it's Christmas! I would feel terrible if Kairi and I had all these things to open and enjoy and you had nothing." Came the final, desperate plea of Mihara Shiratori, former mayor of Salm Township. The older woman, just a shy touch over forty, had taken up her daughter's sword and was having just as much luck.

"I appreciate the thought, Ms. Shiratori, but please, it's fine." That damned gracious smile reappeared, as Aqua countered again. "You've been such a gracious host, I couldn't accept anything else on top of what you've given me."

Kairi's adopted mother opened her mouth, but stopped herself and sighed, running her fingers through her waterfall of raven-black hair (normally kept in a tight bun while on the job, but free flowing during her home time). After leaving her post as mayor, Mihara had moved upwards and onward in her career to become apart of the Saku-Amu Island government, serving as it's current lieutenant governor. Her jade green eyes held a bright spark of intellect and ingenuity, though also showing some world-weariness, a clear sign of a career politician. And even with all of her experience negotiating, campaigning, and crafting policy, it all proved futile versus the Master of Keyblade and Repudiation.

Aqua took no solace or joy in her victory, simply leaving the kitchen table to clean her dishes, where Mihara took upon a look of deep thought, clearly trying to storm up a new idea to deal with her stubborn guest. Kairi took this opportunity to sidle up to her mother and whisper into her ear.

"She reads a lot. Like, a lot, and almost anything. Also, she has a bit of sweet tooth, so maybe some gourmet chocolates or something."

The tips refurbished her mother's resolve on the matter, appearance of frustrated thinking replaced by joyous assurance. Soon after, Kairi excused herself as well and returned to her room, happy to help her mother, but still drawing a blank on what she wanted to do. She had come up with the idea of books and sweets, and while those simple ideas were a triumph in of themselves, Kairi didn't feel they were enough. Something that simple couldn't possible express the deep feelings she held for Aqua.

Feelings of friendship.

Just friends. Nothing more.

Just.

Friends.

When the holiday season started, one of the first things she managed was to think of something nice and special for Sora. A lovely, thoughtful little gift she couldn't wait to see him open on Christmas Day. If it was so easy to shop for her boyfriend, then why was shopping for a good friend was so difficult?

Idly fiddling with her phone, Kairi saw a series of messages she had received while at dinner. Selphie had gotten back to her and gave her the go ahead: Kairi offered that her and the girls go shopping together tomorrow afternoon. That was at least good news. She could spend time with her friends and get something productive done at least.

Get stuff for Riku, for mom, maybe Sora's folks and his sisters. Grab a few more little things for Sora, too. Maybe even something for the Gullwings... Mentally drawing up a quick list of stuff to look into and stores to check out, a thought dawned upon her. More than a thought, truly, but slightly less than a revelation. Maybe I've been look at this all the wrong way. Tomorrow was a Saturday after all.

The redhead rapid-fire typed out a text message on her phone, at speeds only a teenage girl could manage.

'Do you think we could stopp by the beachside hobby market on calypso?'

~X-M-A-S~

"Jeez, girl. You're really going all out today, ain't ya?"

"You're not just happy to out-shop us, but you gotta try and leave us in the dust, too?"

Kairi stopped her advanced and looked over her shoulder at the trailing trio of her Selphie, Garnet, and Rydia, the Keybearer having shot ahead of them with a determined speedwalk as they finally made their way to the beach front Calypso Street. And, not only had Kairi outpaced her friends, she did it with far more weight and bulk to her arms. The lagging three each had two or three shopping bags of moderate size in their hands. Kairi's arms were decorated with them – nine of them – of varying size and weight, so dense and spread out it looked liked mismatched wings were forming around her elbows.

"I suppose being a Keyblade Master had benefits in real life, too." Garnet observed, as they finally closed the gap. "Enhanced stamina and strength probably make a lot of mundane tasks much easier."

Rydia smirked and gently elbowed Kairi in the ribs. Well, the ribs and several of her bags. "Having a butt-tonne of cash from selling your adventured to a multi-media corporation helps, too, eh?"

The quartet began moving again, this time at an even pace so Kairi didn't leave them all behind. "Hey, some of that 'butt-tonne of cash' goes towards the three of you, so don't complain." She stuck her tongue out at Rydia, and the two exchanged a laugh.

"So, what's got a pep in your step that you have to race to the Hobby Market?" Asked Selphie.

"Well, I was doing some more brainstorming last night, about Aqua, and-" Kairi stopped herself when she noticed Selphie roll her eyes, and was pretty sure Rydia and Garnet did as well. "...And, I believe I was thinking about it all wrong. Buying something isn't going to cut it. If I want to tell her how I feel, something more personal and homemade might be the way to go."

Selphie, for her part, nodded along in understanding. "Yeah, I can get that. Aqua's like...a mystical warrior monk." With an impish grin, Selphie began to make broad and animated movements to help better illustrate her point. Or because she was a hyper and animated girl. Either or. "Mysterious and austere, a samurai! Totally detached from our modern senses of materialism and consumption." Getting in on the act, Rydia extended the bit by doing martial arts moves to match Selphie's speech, ending with a slight bow. Egged on by this display, Selphie covered her mouth and began making sounds, doing her best to mimic a horagai trumpet, and a den-den daiko.

Both Garnet and Kairi were taken aback by their friend's strangeness, only shaking their heads and chuckling in response. Finally, Kairi returned with, "She more of a knight, than a samurai, to be fair."

"That works too!" Selphie then mimicked a brassy trumpet fanfare, as if announcing a jouster to the lists. It was loud, too, drawing a few odd stares from the various passerbies on the street.

"You're getting awfully good at that." Garnet sputtered out in between embarrassed snickers. The oddball brunette beamed with accomplishment.

"Still, good idea as it is, for a sentimental gift," Rydia began to muse. Through the throng of weekend shoppers crowding the streets, various open-air kiosk and stands overlooking the beach and ocean came into view. "You're not exactly a skilled hand when it comes to arts-and-crafts." Kairi only shrugged.

"I'm aware of that, but I'm also desperate and willing to try something crazy to make her happy." Again, she could swear she saw all three of her friend roll their eyes. Or make sideways glances with each other. Something. "Maybe I can commission something, don't know, but I won't know till I try, right?" She then extended all of her shopping bags to the others. "Hold my bags, please. I wanna run up and take a quick look around." The others offered, struggling to shuffle the mass of gifts amongst them so they all had an equal load, and, Kairi now freed of her handheld burden, charged forward down the street towards the Market.

Once she was out of earshot, Rydia sighed and shook her head in disbelief. "Honestly! How can someone so empathetic to others be so blind to how she feels?"

"It's just like when she was crushing on Sora," said Garnet. "She wouldn't hear a word against it, even though it was obvious to everyone who knew the two."

Selphie scrunched her face in confusion "I dunno why she's so resistant. Just tell her. Don't hold it in, or you'll end up emotion-vomitting all over them at the worse moment." Rydia smirked and chuckled.

"Y'know what? From what that Rikku girl said, 'emotion vomit' is a good way to describe how she confessed to Sora." The green-haired girl and Selphie burst out in laughter, though Garnet only sighed.

"Maybe this will finally get it out her system and she'll realize it."

"We can only hope."

Down at the end of the street, Kairi found herself in a linear open air market, overlooking the surf and sand, stretching up and down the street a fair distance. The Calypso Hobby Market was always a fun place to stop by to window shop and marvel at all the hand-crafted trinkets the people of Salm could construct. Pottery and glasses, rings and necklaces, clothes of all type that were sewn or knitted by hand, there was plenty of cute little bric-a-brac and ornaments to purchase, as well as suppliers of all sorts of materials, so that any layman could make their own. But Kairi didn't need any of that, yet (Maybe some materials, she conceded mentally). Rydia was correct, Kairi didn't possess the talent to make things of her own. In fact, outside of above-average – but still not great – drawing skills, her artistic talent leaned more towards the physical, like singing or dancing. Buying a pre-fabricated thing wouldn't cut the mustard, and she couldn't count on herself to just buy materials and turn it into a perfect summation of her love – her platonic, sororital, totally normal love – of Aqua.

And then, she saw it.

The small table manned by a tiny grizzled and bearded man, covered in star-shaped charms, with a small wooden placard that read 'Commissions Accepted and Welcomed'.

Oh, this perfect.

~X-M-A-S~

Christmas Day had finally come, after the many long and frantic weeks of December wound down to their end. A gentle morning sun rose across the island of Saku-Ama, ushering in a quiet, beauteous peace fitting only for the holiday of fellowship and kindness and joy. With the rising light of day and the coming celebration, the three women of the Shiratori household all arose to conduct their traditional Christmas ritual – well, traditional for two of three, though Kairi was eager to induct Aqua into their ways.

Every Christmas morning since her first one on the island, Kairi and her mother would begin the day with a light breakfast, though it included a platter of homemade pastries Mihara only ever made a few times a year, but always made them for her friends and family during the holidays. Mihara may not be the best home cook or baker around (she couldn't hold a candle to Sayaka, Sora's mom – though few good), but Kairi absolutely adored the tarts and turnovers she made. Warm, flaky crust full of hand-made preserves and jams the politician made throughout the year. Sweet and warm and just a bit of tang and sour – they tasted like home.

After breakfast, came presents, of which Kairi always got the lion's share. She wasn't greedy or demanding, Mihara just wanted to make her adopted daughter happy, and typically Christmas was only just the two of them. Once or twice Mihara had herself a beau this time of year, and he would join them in the afternoon with presents for him, but it was normally a mother-daughter affair.

Now, where Kairi took home the majority of gifts, she made sure her mother did well for herself this year. Mihara happily accepted a new leather jacket, a set of bathcare products, some mystery novels Kairi had found on Radiant Garden that her mother certainly hadn't read before, and an aromatic diffuser with a set of scented oils, designed to soothe and relax. And, of course, Mihara had a few parcels for Aqua hidden under the tree, and despite the house guest's consternation, she begrudgingly accepted a box of gourmet chocolates from one of the finest chocolatiers in the archipelago, as well as a new e-reader tablet, so that the blue-haired woman could read to her heart's content.

"So, you're saying this device can hold hundreds of books at once?" Aqua asked, clearly mystified by her new device. Modern technology still eluded her to a certain degree, and that wasn't entirely due to her missing ten years in the Realm of Light. She...just wasn't a tech person.

Mihara had a chuckle at the expense of her befuddlement. "Hundreds and hundreds." Aqua's amazement only deepened. "Well, that's everything this year. Let's clean up. Kairi, you probably want to go and meet the girls soon, we have to get out to Sayaka and Yakumo's place by around three." Mihara and Aqua soon began to gather up various boxes and discarded scraps of wrapping paper, though Kairi did not participate, instead moving towards tree.

"Actually, mom, I have one more thing to give out..." The redhead dropped down onto her belly and began to crawl underneath the deep recesses of their Christmas tree. "Just a moment..." She had placed this gift behind the tree in secret, shoving it to the very very far back. "Okay, I got it!" Squirming back out into the open, Kairi popped up to her feet, turning to face Aqua and cheerily greeting, "For you! Merry Christmas!"

The older woman furrowed her brow, a mixture of disappointment and frustration? Maybe. Maybe disappointment. "Kairi...I told you, I didn't need anything from you." The girl held a small circular tin wrapped in a bright red ribbon. "It's bad enough that your mother snuck in some gifts, I don't need this. I-"

"I know, I know, I've heard it all." Not to be deterred, Kairi forced the tin into her friend's hands. "Just...open it, give it a chance. I'm sure once you see, you'll change your mind."

Giving her one last look, Aqua relented, taking the parcel and sitting down, carefully undoing the ribbon and opening the tin to reveal a wad of colourful tissue paper. Slowly, Aqua began to part the sea of ornamentation.

"You told me once that you had heard about the lucky charm legend from the Islands. That you made one each for you, and Terra, and Ventus... On your last night together."

Finally seeing what lay at the bottom of the tin, Aqua gasped in start, emotions and tears immediately welling up in her eyes.

Two items were set in the box, both intricately designed stars. She had gone to the man at the Hobby Market with a rough idea of the designs. He agreed to construct and paint them if she gathered the materials. The base were sea shells, as per tradition, with bits of metal bound around them to serve as a frame. Glued overtop the shells were chunks of coloured glass and tile, touched up with a final flair of some intricate carvings and a touch of paint.

"I don't know if the two of us share the same bond you had with them, but I couldn't think of anything else to tell you how much we here care about you, and how much you mean to all of us. To me."

The first star was four-pointed, almost looking like an even armed cross, each point serving as a uniquely designed segment. One was a brassy gold, it's surface engraved with the images of elegant skeleton keys. Next to it, was a dusky orange piece, jagged hard lines carved into it making them resemble a rocky cliff face. The third portion was a light green, with more elegant markings laid into the surface, almost resembling the gentle flow of the wind through a cloudy sky. And the final piece, a rich sea blue, with similar smooth and graceful lines etched into it, causing it to look like the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide.

The second star at the bottom of the box was far larger, but the designs were a little more simplistic in comparison. Almost resembling a blooming flower through it's myriad of points. Again each segment of the charm was it's own colour, those each point combined two or more colours in place of the engraved markings. Pink with purple, red and gold, navy and black, black and silver, white and sky blue, blue and gold, violet and green, one which was a tricolour of periwinkle and orange and silver, and the last piece was a mimic of the sea blue segment on the first charm.

Finally, at the bottom of the box was small note, decorated with the signatures of Kairi, Sora, Riku, the Gullwings, King Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and various members of the Radiant Garden. Aqua read the note through bleary eyes, cradling the charms in each of her hands.

Though You're On Your Quest

To Find Your Lost Companions

And We Will Stand With You Every Step Of The Way

Never Forget

You're Apart Of Our Story

And Our Family

And We're Lucky To Have You

"So? What do you thin-" Kairi was cut off, as Aqua practically fell into her arms, the redhead having to fall to one knee to brace herself, as she was trapped in a tight and warm embrace, burying her face into the smaller girl's shoulder.

"I love it... Thank you, so much..." Aqua whispered softly, as she herself sunk to her knees. In turn, Kairi wrapped her arms around her emotional and sobbing friend, a slight smile crossing her lips.

The two held each other for a short while, but for Kairi, it felt like a frozen moment in time. None of her other plans or obligations seemed to matter right now, all she wanted to do was enjoy the sweet and loving embrace of her dear friend, the heat radiating from her body, the rhythm of her heart, the soft sound of her breathing, occasionally broken up by a minute sob or sniffle. Kairi felt...warm. Safe. Happy. Almost as if her body was floating gently upwards on a warm updraft, bathed in bright, bountiful sunlight.

It was... oddly similar to how she felt whenever she and Sora cuddled and held one another.

The girl's eyes snapped open in dreadful realization.

Oh no...