-Riku-
"Just let me go through all this stuff in the apartment, then we'll get going." Riku flashed the handful of letters he was currently holding. He was certain there wasn't anything pertinent, but still. Never hurt to check.
Sora followed his friend through the halls of the apartment complex, casually saying, "Yeah, no worries, we got plenty of time."
On a Saturday in the middle of December, Sora was in the middle of finishing his Christmas shopping – only needed a few more odds-and-ends – and, thinking it would be more enjoyable to do it with a friend, asked the older, grumpier boy to accompany him.
"You sure you don't need to get anything?" Sora asked, the two making the final, familiar stretch to Riku's apartment – Riku and his father's apartment technically, but it was his alone in all other sense.
"Told you, I did all my shopping online. Online, or off-world. I'm set." Largely the only reason Riku was tagging along was because he had nothing better to do with his day. Figured this might kill a few hours until something arose in the evening. "Just waiting for everything to arrive. In fact, I got all of your sisters' stuff yesterday."
"Oh? What did you get them?"
"Well, since your folks got Ame a new laptop for school, I ordered a bunch of accessories to go with it – you know: wireless speakers, an external harddrive, a cooling board. Nothing super exciting, but should make her happy. As for Fuka..." Coming to the door of apartment 3-T, his apartment, Riku slouched down and sighed loudly. "I can't believe I did this, but I got her a bunch of those My Little Chocobo vinyl figurines." The stupid, insipid show. Riku bloody hated it. But, of course, both Sora and his little sister Fuka were big fans – they still watched it together whenever it was on Saturday mornings. For Sora, it helped it was apart of the same programming block as his favourite super hero shows – Exceed Force and Arma Kaiser.
"Really? What ones did you get her?" Sora asked, part out of curiosity for his sister, part out of curiosity for himself, and mostly because he wanted to see to depths to which Riku sunk to make Fuka happy.
The silver-haired teen punched his apartment door, Way to Dawn out in his hand. "See for yourself, I left all of them on the kitchen counter after they arrived." He probably punched it a little too hard, but the lock thunked open all the same.
Indeed, strewn across the small kitchen counter and the island bar were a series of brightly coloured toy boxes, all containing small, plastic figurines, in the likeness of cartoony chocobos. Each of the plastic birds were coloured in an eye-searingly array of pastels, some equipped with stylized armour and dress pieces. Upon seeing them, Sora's eyes lit up in sheer, unconstrained joy.
"Oh, dude! These are awesome, you went above and beyond!" The brunet immediately rushed over to the boxes, while his friend only hung his head and muttered some things under his breath. "You must know her or the show really well, 'cause these are some of Fuka's faves!"
"No, I don't!" Riku protested sharply. "I know nothing about that stupid show."
Sora continued without pause or breath. "You got Stardust Violet with her faithful assistant Mog – classic!" Riku could practically hear the Trademark symbols as Sora uttered character names and product buzzwords. "Ice Brand with his Corsair Job? Super rare, super cool. Best moment in Season Two. Oh! Dragonsong in her Crystal Dragoon variant." Racing rapidly over the boxes, Sora came across the largest box of the group, hopping up and down in fanboy fanatacisim. "Princess Sunwing Paladin Job and Princess Night Blaze Dark Knight Job?" He picked up the box, covetously rubbing his hand over the plastic encased chocobo royalty. "I want this."
During this display, Riku stood completely still, staring off into space, pupils reduced to pin pricks, with a severe grimace plastered on his face. It was as if his best friend was acting like such a colossal dork that his brain just couldn't process what he was hearing or seeing. But what was really causing his being to shutdown was that he had in fact done his research before buying stuff for Fuka, and he did know what Sora was talking about, and he hated that he knew what Sora was babbling about.
Finally, snorting through flared nostrils, Riku managed to growl out, "Just...just give me a minute and we'll go..." The older teen quickly sifted through the mail in his hand. It was mostly unimportant – adds and flyers and bills and other miscellaneous junk – but he eventually came across two innocuous looking envelopes that caused him to scowl darkly. Two white envelopes, one addressed "Riku" - his dad's handwriting – and the other with "Merry Christmas" written across it in his mom's handwriting.
Quickly, as if he'd done this year after year, Riku tore open the letters, placed the cheques he knew were inside on the countertop next to all the MLC figurines, then dumped the remains – envelopes, letters, et al – on the floor without a second thought.
"'Kay, let's go."
Riku quickly left the apartment, door open, and Sora trailing behind. The young Keybearer stood paralyzed for a second with indecision, eyes on the discarded letters. While he knew better than most to pick at the wound that was Riku and his family life, it still saddened him to see someone act so callous and cold towards their family, especially at Christmas.
"Ah, jeez..." After another moment of thinking, scratching the back of his head furiously, he decided to leave well enough alone and chase after his friend.
As Sora left the apartment, he shut the door behind. No sooner as he did that, Riku blindly tossed Way to Dawn behind him; tumbling end over end with supreme precision, the Keyblade sailed passed Sora, the butt of the blade making contact with the door, locking it up.
Again, Riku made it look easy.
"So, hey, my mom was wondering," began Sora, still running a bit behind. The two only finally caught up when they reached the elevator at the end of the hall, "she was wondering if you were gonna spend winter break over at our place again. Y'know, like old times."
Hitting a few buttons to begin their descent, Riku shrugged noncommittally. "Yeah. I guess. I mean, if she wants me there." Ever since Riku's parents had divorced, Riku spent a lot of his time in the care of the Kido family. Rarely would a week pass without him having dinner their at least once.
"Good." Sora nodded with a big smile on his face. "She's really looking forward to having you over. Having everyone under the same roof. She even invited Kairi and her mom and Aqua for dinner. First time we'll all be in one place for Christmas in a long while."
"We've only been gone a year-and-a-half. No need to go crazy." Riku said coolly, though it was more just to cover his own feelings. When it came to holidays and school breaks, he would always spend a few days of spring and summer break with Sora and his family, but he had always spent all two weeks of winter break with the Kido family. Christmas and New Years, the whole thing. He too, was looking forward to spending time with them once more.
Of course, he would never admit that aloud.
For a few moments, the two friends remained silent, the only sound in their area being the dull drone of the elevator muzak, until Riku awkwardly broke the silence. "So, are you doing anything for your folks?" Sora waved him off dismissively, as the elevator doors opened.
"Nah, you know they don't want us kids to raise a fuss. Just a gift or two, be there, be happy. Same old, same old. So, me and Fuka are splitting a foot bath for my mom. Oh! And last time I was on the Garden, I gave Leon some munny and asked him to buy me some beer for dad. Beer from another world, he'll get a real kick out of that." Sora beamed in delight, where Riku had to nod along in admittance. That did sound like something Yakumo would enjoy. "Why did you ask? Did you have something in mind?" Sora creeped up next to his friend, almost standing shoulder-to-shoulder, in attempt to bug him. "Something big...?"
"Well, I was just..." Riku paused, rubbing the back of his neck. I was just thinking how much your mom did to help me out, and wanted to repay the favour. Of course, he wouldn't say it. Couldn't say it. Something like that would render him too open and vulnerable. Even if the thoughts kept incubating in the back of his brain, raw sentiment wasn't his style. "I was just spitballing. Not important." The younger brunet seemed satisfied with that answer. "Well, tell me, where are we going first?"
~X-M-A-S~
Years and years ago, before the Keyblade changed everything, before a long series of trying and epic adventures, Sora and Riku were just two normal kids, no different than anyone else in Salm or on Saka-Ama. So, on a chilly night in December, one Sayaka Kido arrived home after a long day at work, to her normal house, her normal life, and her normal son and his normal best friend.
Sayaka was a short and spirtely woman who shared more than a few physical similarities with her son. Their eyes were the same shade of brilliant cerulean, and their hair the same chocolate brown, though Sayaka's hair was straight and thicker, held back in a tight, downward ponytail. The woman entered her home with a bounce in her step, emanating an almost perceptible aura of happiness. Even with a stressful line of work as a restaurateur and chef, while also being a mother of three, Sayaka couldn't help but be happy this time of year. She loved Christmas, she always loved Christmas, and right now, it felt like nothing could diminish her holiday spirit.
Making her way into the kitchen, humming some anomalous Christmas carol, the bubbly brunette chef found her son, Sora, and his best friend, Riku (ages eight and nine, respectively), sat down at the kitchen table playing some sort of board game. Sora immediately lit up when he saw his mom entered, but Riku barely acknowledged her presence, seemingly focused on the game. Though, from a glance, Sayaka couldn't tell if his expression was one of focus, or something a little more sullen.
"Hi mom!" Sora welcomed cheerfully, a big, youthful grin on his face. Riku softly said a greeting under his breath.
"Hello boys. How're you?" She went around to the kitchen counter, dropping of her purse. "How was school today?" That was apparently all the opening Sora needed to launch into a tale about the epic game of dodgeball he had in P.E. class today. Sayaka nodded and followed along her son's excited retelling, as she settled down from the work day and went about her routine at home, eventually taking out some vegetables to prep for the dinner her husband had started preparing.
Quickly, she found herself dicing some vegetables while making idle conversation with her son. Sayaka also noticed Riku seemed oddly quiet – probably absorbed in his game – and tried to course correct that and engage him. "So, Riku, are you excited for Christmas?"
"No," the boy muttered dourly, drawing surprised and concerned looks from the two Kidos. "Christmas is stupid."
Well, that wasn't what she was hoping for. Or expecting. No one should hate Christmas, let alone a nine-year-old boy. "Now why would you say something like that?"
"Because it's true." Judging from the young man's tone, he wasn't trying to be rude or malicious, he was just expressing what he felt. "Everyone goes on about love and family and junk, but that's not how it is. It's dumb and stupid and everywhere." Sayaka peered her head over, looking her son in the eye, and seeing the look of confusion and concern that undoubtedly was reflected in her visage, as well. Sighing, Riku hung his head downward and said, "I think I'm gonna go home."
"Well, would you like a ride?"
The moody, silver-haired boy as quickly packing his things no. "No. I rode my bike to school today, so it's fine. Thank you." Riku quickly waved goodbye to Sora and then marched himself out the door without another word.
"Well, that was..." Sayaka started, unsure of what exactly she wanted to say. Putting down her knife, she looked over to her son. "Is everything okay? Did something happen at a school?" Sora just shook his head.
"No, nothing there. I think he's still upset that his parents de-de...divorced."
Right, right. That would be the obvious answer. This past year had been a rough and tumultuous one for Riku and the entire Akiyama family. While Sayaka was generally aware the marriage between Riku's parents, Ryuto and Kanon, had never been smooth or wholly pleasant, things took a real turn for the worse when it got out that Ryuto was having an affair with a woman at his workplace. What followed was a long, drawn-out, nasty and venomous divorce proceeding, two airing out one another's dirty laundry for the entire community to bear witness, culminating in Kanon winning custody of their younger daughter, Izuka, and moving to another island out east. Ryuto seemed to compensate by burying himself in his work, seemingly absent from Salm for the majority of the past three months.
A cloud of worried energy hovered over Sayaka for the remained of the night, though she tried her best to conceal her feelings from her family and not let her attitude get everyone else down. Still, her mind was largely focused on the plight of young Riku, both the general and the specific. Was it just his family being fractured and broken up that was affecting him? Sure, she could recall him being a bit more moody than usual since his parent's relationship imploded, but nothing this bad – not this sullen and distant and quiet. Riku was never as energetic or outwardly happy as Sora was, but he was also never like this.
And through all this pondering and thinking and dreading, one thought kept circling around in her head. One thought, all based on the fact that she hadn't seen Ryuto in months, and he was still working abroad.
Is Ryuto seriously working through the holidays?
The notion seemed absurd to her, but she had to remind herself that not everyone cared for Christmas as much as she did, not every family was as closed knit as hers. Her blessings were not the norm. It was entirely possible that Riku was spending the holidays alone this year.
And that, that was something Sayaka Kido couldn't stand.
Later in the evening, after dinner and everything else was finished, after all the kids were settled in for bed, just before Sayaka and her husband, Yakumo, were to call it a night as well, she had one last task to accomplish. With Yakumo reading in bed, the concerned woman excused herself into their adjoining bathroom, phone in hand.
At the very least, before he had left, Ryuto had given the Kido family his contact information, just in case anything came up. Quickly dialing in his cell-phone number, Sayaka waited impatiently for the other man to answer. Praying that that he would answer.
The wait was almost interminable.
"Hello? Ryuto Akiyama speaking."
The answer came so sudden, it caught Sayaka by surprise. "Oh, uh... hello, Ryuto, this is Sayaka Kido. I'm sorry to bother you so late."
"Not at all. I was just in the middle of taking a break from a meeting. Well, how have you been? It's been- Wait...is something wrong? Did something happen with Riku?"
"No, no, no... Well...it's complicated. It's nothing major at the very least."
"Well, what is it then?"
Sayaka went so speak, but caught herself before she said a word. This might be harder than you thought. Concerned as she was, she didn't want to bother or nag Ryuto, or come across as meddling and overbearing. I need to choose my words carefully. "Well, Sora had Riku over earlier today, and we got to talking... He made some comments, and I couldn't help but wonder...were you not planning on coming home for Christmas?"
Loud, but indistinct voices sounded from Ryuto's side of the line. "I'm speaking with someone right now. I won't be long, just be patient." She heard him call distantly to whoever was speaking. "Sorry about that...um, yes. As a matter of fact, something has come up, and I'm going to have work through to the end of December."
It was exactly as Sayaka had thought. Sometimes, her intuition was a curse. "Is that so? You can't get out of this?"
"Well, that's the thing. I sort of volunteered for this. The affair did a lot to hurt my standing within the company. It, well... I couldn't stand to lose my job in addition too... so I agreed to keep working through the holidays. Business and capitalism doesn't stop just because of Christmas, right?"
The answer was disappointing, if not expected. Sayaka wasn't angry, or, rather, wasn't quite angry enough. To yell at Ryuto, at least. She really didn't have any right to tell him how to raise his son, but all the same... "I understand, but, Riku..."
More indistinct chatter came over the line. Ryuto seemed to ignore it. "I already spoke to him about it. We had a long chat at the beginning of the week, and he completely understands. He even said it was okay. He's fine, he's a tough kid, missing one Christmas won't hurt."
Of course Riku would say he was okay with this, that child was so in control of his emotions, it bordered on repression. She could remember, during divorce proceedings, never seeing Riku cry or look worried, whenever something distressing came up, he would just scowl or grimace or furrow his brow. "It's not just missing Christmas that worries me. He's all alone right now, and I think he could really just use some compani-"
"In a moment! A moment! Just let me finish this up!" Ryuto was yelling at someone on his end of the line. "I appreciate your concern, Sayaka, but, trust me, I've thought of everything. I had one our neighbours buy groceries, I've sent him some spending munny, I'll mail him some gifts... More chatter, this time, coming very pointed, loud, and hurried. "I'll be back just after New Year's, we'll do something then, and I'll do something big for his birthday in February. But, listen... I need to go right now. Work never stops, y'know? Thanks for calling, say 'hi' to everyone for me and we'll talk some soon. Thank you-"
"Ryuto, I really think-" Sayaka called out in vain, maybe a bit too loud. It hardly mattered, though. She overheard the other man say "Goodbye", and the line soon went dead. Frustrated and despondent, her lips drawn into a hard line, the phone's dial tone blaring in her ear, Sayaka march back to her bed, flopping on top of the covers in defeat.
"Didn't go that well, did it Saya?" Yakumo asked, eyes shifting from beyond the frames of his glasses to check in on his wife. "I heard you yelling at the end there." Slightly older than than his wife, Yakumo Kido stood just a touch taller than the average man his age, with a lithe, arrow-straight frame. His head was topped with sandy blond hair that shot out in a variety of angles and direction in soft, feather-like tufts, while his mouth – lips currently formed in a gentle and encouraging smile – was encircled in a neatly manicured and maintained goatee and moustache.
Sayaka burrowed her head into his husband's chests, snaking an arm under his back and around his waist. "Oh, Yakkun... I'm just worried about Riku. He's a good kid, deep down, I know it, this is just so unfair to him."
"I know, I know," Yakumo tried relaxing her, a soft voice, and even softer touches across her back and shoulders. "You're far too nice for you own good, Saya. That's something I've always loved about you." Saya turned her head upward's, her brilliant blue eyes meeting with his emerald green ones.
"Well, now that you mention being 'too nice'... I had an idea. Something I thought before I even spoke with Ryuto." Yakumo gave the brunette woman a quizzical look, to urge her on. "Well...what if we have Riku over for Christmas? I know it's really last minute, and it might be too too much to have four kid's to take care of, but... He just doesn't have anyone else right now, I feel like... This moment could make all the difference with in his life. Riku is so smart, so talented, I would hate to see all that wasted because of things he can't control. What he really needs right now, even if he would never admit it, is for someone to show they love him."
Yakumo shut his book, putting it on the nightstand to his left, a calm and contemplative look upon his face. "Well," he began, speaking in deliberately slow manner, "it is a little last minute, we're almost two week out already. And, even if we don't get gifts equivalent to what we've gotten the others, the munny for him would be a little tight..." Sayaka looked up at Yakumo, expectantly. He always liked to slowly string her along and tease her, whenever in the middle of expression an important thought. "But... I agree with you. I think this is an important moment in his life, and he needs somebody there for him. I think inviting him for Christmas would be the least we can do."
A brilliant smile formed on Sayaka's face, her eyes shining with joy. "Oh, thank you Yakkun!" Sayaka crawled up to matching height with her husband, taking him by the shoulders, and pulling him into a big, grateful kiss. "I cannot wait to tell him. I'll do it the first chance I get!"
'The first chance" wouldn't be for well over another week. Between work and getting ready for the holidays, Sayaka barely had time for anything else, not helped by that Riku wasn't around much during that week. However, that Friday, one week until the schools let out for winter break, Riku spent the night for dinner. And, while the question bubbled at her lips for the entirety of the night, the last thing the brunette wanted to do was blurt something so personal out in front of everyone. Particularly Sora and Ame. She knew Riku didn't want to appear emotionally vulnerable in front of his friends or older kids. So she waited, and waited, well until after dinner, when they all finished up and Sayaka agreed to drive Riku home.
There was a light rain that night, as Sayaka drove down through the quiet streets of Salm. The Kido residence was apart of a sprawling suburb development, located near the beach at the island's edge, whereas the apartment complex Riku and his father lived in was well in the heart of downtown.
"Well, only a week left of school for the year." Sayaka said cheerfully, trying to keep things casual. The radio was kept down low, so as to not interrupt or distract the two. "I know you think that 'Christmas is lame' or whatever, but you have to still be excited, right?"
Riku shifted in his seat, a noncommittal look on his face. "Yeah, I suppose. Being out of class will be nice."
"Mhm, mhm." Sayaka nodded along. She took a left turn at the coming intersection. The complex was just at the end of this street. "And, you know, you can come over anytime you want during the break." The boy shook his head glumly.
"I don't want to bother anyone." That might be the heart of the matter. Riku didn't want to be seen as a burden to others. Sayaka would have to choose her words carefully here.
"Oh, it wouldn't be a bother. We love having you over. Not just Sora and me, but everyone." She smiled congenially, but Riku didn't respond. The silver-haired boy was gazing out the window, watching the raindrops spatter against the windshield. "In fact, Mr. Kido and I were talking the other night, and we got to thinking, how would you like to spend Christmas with us?"
That got his attention, Riku turned over, a look of confusion and wonder stricken in his aquamarine eyes. "Wha...?"
"Yup, yup." Pulling into the parking lot of the apartment building, a well-practiced skill after so many years, Sayaka quickly picked a stall and put the vehicle in park. "We would absolutely love to have you over. For Christmas, for New Year's, for as much of the break as you could manage." Riku began to open his mouth, but Sayaka quickly cut him off. "And you wouldn't be a bother or trouble or anything like that. We've planned everything out. It will be okay."
For a dreadfully long moment, Riku only stared at his best friend's mom. A mix of suspicion, anticipation, hope, and a little bit of fear. The boy took a deep, sharp breath, as if trying to calm himself, or to suppress a well of emotion. Whatever it was the stoic boy felt, deep down inside.
Finally, after long last, in a quiet voice, Riku asked, "Would it be okay...if I spent the whole two weeks with you?" Sayaka responded with a warm smile. A mother's smile, made reassure her doubting children.
"Absolutely. I'll tell you what, next Friday I'll come over, help you pack a bag, and drive you straight home. How does that sound?"
"Really good... Thank you, Mrs. Kido." Sayaka watched with intent as Riku's vision was cast down, his entire body clenching tightly together, as if he couldn't quite decide what to do with it next. During the moment, Sayaka wanted nothing more than to hug the hurting boy, but she decided against it. He was like a cagey animal at times, better not to spook him. At the same time, Sayaka mused to herself, maybe Riku was deciding whether to hug her or not.
Regardless, Riku's body finally uncoiled, as he quickly scrabbled for the door handle to escape outside. "I'll be leaving now. Thank you again, thank you very much..."
The boy departed into the rainy night with desperate haste, leaving Sayaka, a warm sensation spreading through her heart. Maybe she was just a little too nice, but that difference paid off tonight.
"You're very welcome, Riku."
~X-M-A-S~
Riku had been thinking about those Christmas's a lot lately.
Every year since then, with the lone exception of the one year he and Sora had departed into the greater universe around them, he had spent every single day of winter break with the Kido family. Even in years his dad didn't have to work, or wasn't working, Riku would spend his time with Sora and Sayaka and everyone else. It was his tradition, something he cherished. He never missed it. Not the year Ame was let up with a broken leg, spending the whole of Christmas Day on a couch, pile of pillows propping up her bum limb. Not the year Riku himself caught the flu, sick as a dog, to the point that he slept for sixty-one hours total between the twenty-fourth and twenty-sixth.
Every year, without fail.
Riku would never admit it, even to his closest of confidants, but he looked forward to these two weeks for most of the year. They made him feel... whole? Complete? He could never quite verbalize or construe his feeling properly regarding this, but it was a feeling he wasn't accustomed to feeling. It was contentment and satisfaction, but not equivalent to the satisfaction he received when achieving a goal, defeating a strong enemy, or even when he finally returned home with Sora and Kairi, after a long year-and-a-half away from Salm.
In the end, it was irrelevant what the feeling was. That's what he would tell himself in those moments of introspection. The important thing was that he felt it, year after year, without fail. Whenever he reminisced about those wintery nights in the homey seaside rancher, he felt it then, too. It was neither fleeting or transient. That happiness, that fulfillment, that peace... it was real, and it belonged to him.
On Christmas Eve night, Riku ascended the stairs leading to the basement of the Kido's family home. As per long tradition, whenever he spent the night, Riku would use the pullout couch in the basement suite, Sora's room being the one adjacent to the suite. He had hurried down and back up to retrieve something important, a manila folder carried in his right hand.
Riku quickly made a sharp turn at the end of the stairs, crossing the hall into the kitchen, the living room opening up on his left. Everyone save Sayaka was gathered there, the whole room illuminated by with a faint glow radiating from the fully decorated and well-lit Christmas tree. After dinner on Christmas Eve, everyone would gather in the living room to watch whatever old Christmas specials were on TV that night, accompanied by drinks and desserts. Then the kids would each get to open one small gift, then it was off to bed, waiting for the arrival of "Santa Claus" (Riku still didn't believe he was real, regardless of whatever Sora would say).
This was a tradition, too, though not one Riku quite relished. Still, everyone enjoyed it enough to keep doing it, even with both Sora and Ame beginning to grow out of that "wonderment of youth" phase.
Riku entered the kitchen, finding Sayaka preparing a small platter, laddened with diminutive chocolates and cookies, as well as a tray with five mugs and a glass – a tumbler of scotch, two coffees, one tea, and two hot chocolates – same as always. The brunette seemed to sense his presence.
"I'm just about done, no need to get antsy. Sit down and enjoy-" she turned around and, upon seeing it was Riku, took on a surprised expression. "Oh, Riku. I didn't know who to expect, but I still didn't think it would be you."
Riku only raised an eyebrow. "Thanks? I guess?"
"Anyways, go back and sit down. I'll be out shortly."
"Actually, I had something I wanted to talk about. With you." During his time trapped in the Realm of Darkness, his time in Castle Oblivion, his time with DiZ, his time assuming the form of Xehanort... Riku had spent more than a modicum of his time on self-reflection. It had proven habit forming, as he often dwelled upon his past, his actions, and those that were around him and involved themselves with his life, during the quiet and still periods of his day.
Lately, he had spent numerous hours thinking about all those years ago, when Sayaka first invited him over for Christmas. For winter break. As much as her could and as long as he could manage. Accepting the generosity of others was hard, it was awkward, but whenever he could manage to overcome his idiosyncrasies to accept help, Riku was very grateful, and would do his best to repay. Not just repay, but to pay back as many times as he could.
With his best friend's mother looking at him curiously, Riku extended the folder forward. "I got you and Yakumo something this year. I kinda felt awkward imagining you opening it front of everyone tomorrow, so you can open it now... I don't want you to wait until morning."
"Riku, you didn't have to do that." Sayaka tsked, holding her hands on her hips, head cocked slightly to the side. "I feel bad when you get me anything, you're our guest, you're under no obligation to give us gifts."
"And you were under no obligation to do all this. Invite me over year after year. Feed me. Give me gifts. Even beyond the holidays. How many days do you think I spend here each year? After all this time? You didn't have to do that either, but you did..." Riku began to approach Sayaka during his speech. For the recent period of their lives, Riku had been growing taller and taller than the woman, but now, after his most recent spurt, he absolutely towered over her. "Why?"
"Because..." Sayaka reach up, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder, gently and reassuringly rubbing it. "Because I thought you had been given an unfair hand. You never said anything, but I could tell how much your parent's divorce hurt you, how much you missed your sister, how lonely you were with your dad working all the time. Back then, you needed someone to extend you a helping hand, and I was happy that me, and Yakumo, and Sora, and the girls could be that hand." The slightest hint of tears had began to form in her eyes, but the perky brunette beamed all the same. "I don't care what anyone says, or what you say, you're a good kid, Riku, and deserved this."
Riku swallowed back a knot of emotion. Damn it, she always knows how to make me feel uncomfortable in my own skin. Taking her hand off his shoulder, "And you," Riku passed the folder to her, "deserve this. Because, like your son, you're too bloody nice for your own good." A forceful and self-satisfied smile appeared. "Merry Christmas, Sayaka."
Sighing, the woman relented and peeled open the envelope, unveiling it's contents: a sheet of paper that looked like a print out copy of online hotel reservations, and a small brochure for a town called... Celvista? She had never heard of a town like that.
Sensing her confusion, Riku jumped it. "It's a little resort town on the Radiant Garden." A little investigative work revealed not the entirety of the Garden's kingdom was ravaged. The capitol city and castle took the brunt of it, as did the surrounding lands, but there were pockets that were largely untouched by the Heartless. Celvista was one of those places. "You'll love it. I got you eight days at this quaint place overlooking the water. There's wineries and breweries in the area, a big market, boat tours, historical sites, a famous playhouse...and and and don't worry about how much I spent, I got a deal," (that was a lie), "and there's no transportation cost, because we'll taxi you back and forth with the Gummi Ship." He sighed, running his hand through his hair, slightly flustered. "I just...wanted to do something special this year, because it's my first year back... and you keep putting up with me..."
Sayaka stood up on the tippiest of her tippy-toes, throwing her arms around Riku in a tight embrace.
"Oh, Riku..." He was a good kid. Through the dark moods, the smart mouth, the penchant for force and violence to solve his problems... At the core of everything, Riku Akiyama possessed a noble heart, tempered by bad experience and the grace of his loved ones. That, Sayaka was certain. "I love it, I love it so much. I know Yakkun will, as well, and I can't wait." Riku gave an easy smile, as the woman continued. "But this isn't an open invite to spoil us every year."
"No, no ma'am. One time thing, I promise." The two broke apart, Riku taking a few steps back, awkwardly turning away. Hugging was not his favourite thing.
"That's good..." Sayaka dabbed the corner of her eyes with the heels of her hands, quickly wiping them on her dress. "You know, I've never said this aloud, but, I just want you to know, how important you our to me. I love you and care for you just as much as Ame, and Sora, and Fuka." Riku blushed, still looking away. A warm feeling crept up his neck. This was getting a touch too much for him. "Your parents may be distant, but they are still your parents, and I don't want to overstep my bounds, but...you're like a second son to me. I'll always be glad to have you with us."
Like an arrow made of flame, those words pierced straight into Riku's heart and further through, heat spreading throughout his being. The sincerity and love in her words sent the dark-bearing warrior for a loop, sputtering garbled words. "I...I..." He couldn't even bring himself to mumble "thank you." Say something, you idiot, she just bared her heart for you. Come on! Riku saw the dessert tray behind Sayaka, and quickly reach forward to grab a marshmallow ball covered in chocolate, shoving into his mouth and chewing vociferously.
Pointing to his full mouth and mumbling out an indecipherable apology, Riku beat a hasty retreat, straight back downstairs into the basement, away from prying eyes, and away from how foolish he looked.
Smooth, he internally chastised himself.
~X-M-A-S~
Two traditions rule the roost of Christmas Morning in the Kido family domicile.
One: No one was allowed in the living room before eight A.M.
Two: No one was allowed to start opening presents until everyone was present.
And every year, in response, Sora and younger sister Fuuka would always excitedly wake up well before the eight o'clock limit, sneaking upstairs into the hallway or kitchen to look upon their holiday bounty eagerly and covetously.
And every year, also in response, Riku and elder sister Ame would be the last two to arrive in the living room, usually taking coaxing from the others to awaken.
Riku entered the living room last, wearing his pajama bottoms and a long-sleeved shirt to cover his scarred arms and chest. The hot drink tray was awaiting him, and he was thankful to begin the day with a cup of coffee.
After his first sip, everyone settling in, Sayaka clapped, declaring, "Okay, let's start with the kid's opening the Santa gifts." One gift the four kids receive every year would "magically appear" on Christmas Morning, not there the night before, and was typically the largest and most extravagant of them all, delivering with care by none other than "Santa Claus".
If you believed in that stuff. Riku, and, evidently Ame, didn't.
"Why are we still doing Santa gifts, mom? We're not little kids anymore." The eldest Kido child, a girl of seventeen, took after her father in the way Sora took after their mother. Sandy blonde hair that formed into gentle curving waves, which she wore short, and sharing both her father's green eyes and the need to wear glasses.
"I dunno. Sora says he met him this year." Fuka, the younger sister of twelve-years-old, seemingly completed the sibling symmetry, split the difference between the two parents. Long dirty blonde hair, which she usually wore in twintails draped behind her shoulders, with eyes of dark turquoise. "Maybe you've been wrong all this time, sis."
"Riku, what's your say in this?"
The young man only shrugged between sips of coffee. "Dunno. Don't care. Never visited Halloween Town or Christmas Town, and I kind of don't want to." Worlds that revolved around a specific holiday and the festivities of that lone holiday sounded like a personal hell to Riku.
Sayaka made hurry-up motions with her hands. "Come on, kids. Do you wanna talk all morning or open up your presents? Let's go." She sounded more excited than all four of her kids together. Both her digital and video cameras were at her side, ready to document nearly every moment of the morning.
What followed was a two-hour frenzy of frantic parcel and paper tearing, cries of surprise, cheers of joys, thank yous, and your welcomes, hugs and kisses. Ame practically jumped through the roof when she opened her new laptop. Sora had gotten Fuka a plushy of a green fox-like creature (known as a Carbuncle on the Radiant Garden) which caused the young girl to squee in delight. Sora himself received a bag of a hundred – literally one hundred – chocolate truffles, seemingly having to take a second to process what that actually meant. It was even almost worth it to Riku, having to buy those dumb things, when Fuka opened up her bounty of My Little Chocobo toys, given her joyous reaction topped the Carbuncle squee.
Almost worth it.
And during pauses between gifts and outbursts of happiness, Riku would sit back, sipping on his coffee, and reflecting, as he was want to do. On his adventures; his sins and triumphs; the things he was blessed to have; the places he wanted to go, the things he strived to achieve. But, above all, he thought about his family.
Sora is my brother.
Kairi is my sister.
Maybe he wasn't ready to give the rest of the Kido household titles and affirmations, but they still held a special place in his heart. Maybe he wasn't ready to discard his blood family, absent though they may be. But, he was ready, to admit to himself – maybe not openly, but to himself – that just because this wasn't the family he was born into, it didn't mean they weren't deserving of being his family.
Sora and Kairi and all the rest. Those that have come and gone, those that were still to appear. Those that he himself lost.
This was the family he needed.
This was the family he loved.