When she woke up she was back at her bedroom, on her warm bed, over her fluffy pillows. It almost felt like a dream, like all that Halloween stuff had been just a nightmare. 'Yeah, it had to be that way, and Sora, and Jack… Wait a second…' she sit up on her bed really fast, making herself dizzy 'Jack! Jack came with me back to Christmas, he was discussing with dad about… about me going back to visit Sora!' she suddenly felt bad for trying to deny Sora's existence after she had promised to help him.
"So you're finally awake, dear" she heard the voice of her mom on the door. Mrs. Clause had a tray with a mug of hot chocolate and plate of pancakes "Hope you're hungry" she said placing the tray in front of Kairi.
She didn't thought she was hungry till she took the first bite of pancakes. In only a few minutes Kairi had finished all her breakfast.
"Thank you mom"
"Guess you were really hungry" she commented smiling
"I guess" Kairi looked around her bedroom, she really had missed it "Mom, where is Jack?" she asked a little worried for the skeleton man.
"He went back home" explained Mrs. Clause taking a sit on Kairi's bed "He had many things to take care of"
Kairi felt a little bad for not saying goodbye after all the skeleton did for her.
"Don't worry Kairi" said Mrs. Clause with a smile "He knew you were very tired. Besides, at the end, your dad acceded that you go back to visit your new friend from time to time"
Kairi felt her mood lighten very much. She didn't know why, but she really wanted to meet her scary friend again.
"Then I'm allowed to?" she asked happily.
"Yes, but your dad said that only when you were done with work, and you have to tell us before going"
The young girl nodded exited "Then I'll start with my chores right away" she exclaimed.
"But, before, I suggest you change" said her mom. Kairi looked at herself on her pajamas of cute little Christmas bears and blushed at the thought of almost opening her door allowing some elves see her with it.
"I guess you're right" she said embarrassed as her mom laughed at her expense.
Ooo
"He got so tired. He really wanted to see you back, but the talk with the mayor exhausted him" said Sally in gentle voice as she looked over to a sleeping Sora on a strange looking sofa.
"I see" said Jack with a smile "Well, guess we can wait till he rests enough to tell him the good news" Jack got near the sleeping boy and scooped him on his thin arms with easy "Let's take him to his room" Sally nodded as she fallowed him.
Jack started to descend a trail of stairs to the lowest part of his mansion. It almost looked like a dungeon, only a few candles illuminating the place. On the center of the dark room there was a black coffin, four candles surrounding it. Jack walked towards it and waited for Sally to open the lid.
The inside of the coffin was covered with red cushions. There was a pillow and old silk red sheets. Sally took the old sheet of and Jack put the sleeping nightmare on the inside with much care. Sally slowly crossed Sora's hands over his chest and covered him with the old sheet to make him comfortable. Then she proceeded to take off his mask and gave him a little kiss on his cold forehead.
"Sleep well Sora" she said gently.
Jack moved a few bangs of hair out of the boy's face careful not to wake him up "Have sweet nightmares young one"
Then the couple closed slowly the lid allowing their adopted son to be enveloped by the welcoming darkness of the inside of the coffin. Then they left the room hand in hand.
Ooo
Kairi was working really hard. She helped Cid to make his rounds, helped Selphie to make the inventory of the production of teddy bears, helped Tidus to clean the snow from the port of the sleigh, and helped Wakka to paint candy canes. She even helped Santa to review his list again. But it was worth it, because on the few hours she had for a deserved brake she looked through the lists of every year trying to search for a name in especial, Riku.
She searched around many books, for a human boy named Riku, and indeed she found the name, but not the boy. The problem? She had hundreds of Rikus but not a face to connect with the name. She needed to know how this kid look like to be able to find him, and since she didn't knew him, only one creature could help her, and it was Sora.
So she worked and worked till exhaustion, till one week later, when her father agreed to let her go back to Halloween. She was exited, but he wasn't that much.
"Ok, so you have your bag… you have some food there, don't forget the way back. Now make sure not to get near anyone that looks too dangerous, remember not to eat anything there, don't get far, find your friend and stay away from the dark places if that's even possible" Santa was so nervous to let Kairi go that he was repeating for a third time all the things he thought she needed to keep on mind.
"Dad, don't worry, I'll be ok" She said giving him a hug, then she gave one to her mom "take care of him mom, there's no reason to fear"
Mrs. Clause nodded to her daughter and they waved goodbye.
Kairi walked towards the door that would let her meet once again with her frightening friend.
Ooo
Sora was walking around the forest; he had been waiting for Kairi to appear. When Jack told him that she was going to be able to come and visit he couldn't contain his joy. That girl was very interesting to him. Besides, she offered to help him to find Riku, and that made her even more especial.
"Wonder if she had found anything" he wondered aloud "Well, I don't really have much to do today, I think I'll go and play with Zero in the graveyard" and with a happy smile he started to run I wonder when she'll come to visit
Ooo
I know it's not much, but I hope you like it xD