December 2010
Trying to think of everything one wanted for Christmas was always a struggle. This was the one time of year (except, perhaps, on birthdays) a child could ask for the things they wanted and actually have a chance at getting them, so it had to be taken extra seriously.
Kikyo was the only one of her friends from the village who really knew about the holiday. Well, she and her family. Her grandmother lived in a very different world than the one in which Kikyo and her siblings spent most of their lives, a fascinating world that had a lot more holidays and celebrations than the old village. She'd heard her mother-who had grown up in this world-say many times that it was the future, almost 500 years ahead of their normal era. To anyone else, such an idea would sound preposterous, but Kikyo was used to it. She didn't really question it or think too deeply about it. There had simply never been a reason to in all her 5 years of life.
"Have you thought about what you want to ask Santa for, Kikyo?" asked her mother, Kagome, one day as Kikyo sat at her grandmother's table, scribbling intently with a dull red crayon. Back in the village, Kagome was generally seen in her white-and-scarlet miko robes, but not in Grandma's strange world. Today, she instead wore a soft yellow sweater and a pair of simple jeans.
"Yeah," replied Kikyo, continuing to move the crayon across her picture. "Oh, and Kitzu wants a few things, too," she added, glancing briefly at the worn fox doll that sat beside the box of crayons.
"Honey, I don't think Santa makes gifts for foxes," Kagome said sympathetically, trying carefully to decide the best way to explain that toys didn't get gifts without stifling her daughter's imagination-she knew Kikyo had it in her head that Kitzu was "alive".
The motion of the crayon halted as Kikyo looked up incredulously.
"He doesn't?"
"I'm afraid not."
"But...but why?" Kikyo gasped. "Does that mean Kitzu won't get any presents for Christmas? That's not fair!"
"Kikyo, I'm sure Kitzu will be fine-"
"No, he won't!" the young girl interrupted. "How would you feel if everyone else got presents, but you didn't?"
Kagome sighed, unsure of how to console her daughter. After a moment, she took a deep breath and continued steadily.
"Yes, you're right...it's not fair, is it? But Santa is busy making toys for all the little boys and girls all across the world. He just doesn't have time to make them for all the foxes, too. Do you understand that?"
Kikyo didn't reply at first. She furrowed her brow and cast her golden eyes to the side, away from her mother and her doll. When she finally spoke, it was in a mumble.
"Yeah, I guess."
.oOo.
The attic was full of old, dusty artifacts, forgotten keepsakes of past Higurashi generations who had lived at the shrine. Kikyo dug diligently through them, trying to find the perfect item. And old picture frame? No. A once-shiney necklace with a glittery blue pendant? Pretty, but definitely not what she was looking for. And outdated newspaper? Certainly not!
"Whatcha doing up here, kiddo?"
Kikyo turned to see her uncle, Souta, walking towards her. She turned back to sorting through the stuff.
"Looking," she said simply.
"Looking for what?"
"Shhh!" gasped the five-year-old. "He might hear you if you talk too loud, and it has to be a surprise! I'm looking for a present for Kitzu."
"Kitzu...your fox?" asked Souta, somewhat incredulously.
"Yeah."
"Why do you need a present for Kitzu?"
Kikyo sighed with slight exasperation.
"Because Mama says that Santa won't make presents for foxes. But it won't be fair if Kitzu doesn't get a gift, so I'm gonna get him one myself!" She stuck her hand further into the box through which she was searching, groping for more items to pull out in hopes of finding just the right thing. "Hmmm," mused Souta after a moment's pause, rubbing his chin in thought. "You know what, you wait right there. I think I have an idea."
Kikyo watched as her uncle walked to a far corner of the attic and pulled down a medium-sized cardboard box. He reached inside the box and pulled out...was that what she thought it was?
"This is Kimi," explained Souta as he walked back to his niece, holding up an old pink fox doll with a bow on one ear. One of the button eyes was missing and there was a large gash on its flank from which a puff of stuffing hung, but it was otherwise in fairly good condition, the fur still plush and clean. "She used to belong to your mother, many years ago, but she didn't play with her much after Buyo got his claws on her as a kitten. She's been lonely for a very long time. I bet she would be just as happy to meet Kitzu as he would be to meet her."
Kikyo's eyes lit up when she saw the doll.
"She's PERFECT!" the child squealed, bouncing in delight as she grabbed the pink fox from her uncle's hand and held it tight. "Thanks so much, Uncle Souta!"
"No problem," said Souta. "Why don't you go take her down to your mama and get that gash fixed before wrapping her up?"
"Ok!" said Kikyo, excited at first. Then her face fell slightly. "But wait...what if Kitzu sees me when I take her down there? It's supposed to be a surprise..."
Souta winked.
"Don't worry. I'll keep my eye out and make sure he doesn't see anything."
Kikyo grinned again and pranced off, Kimi in tow.
.oOo.
At first, Kagome was rather surprised to see her daughter with the old doll she'd had so long ago, but when she heard the story, she was happy to help. Though she couldn't find a new button to replace the eye, she made quick work of the tear on its flank, tightly sewing the fabric back together.
Christmas morning came, and after the family had opened all Santa's exciting gifts, Kikyo proudly retrieved the last one hiding deep under the tree, pushing it towards her favorite furry friend.
This year, no one would be left out. Not even the fox.
~End
