Dear, Mom,

Thank you for paying for my

train ticket. I'll be home for

Christmas. Did you set up the

tree yet? I know you and Dad

like to do that early.

See you then. Taiga.

One week before Christmas

Snow had blessed the village of Kiseki, coating everything in fluffy white. There was no doubt that it was absolutely beautiful, but Kagami really could do without the cold temperatures that snow brought with its beauty. His inner-Californian shined through, every time he stepped outside.

"You know, Taiga, you look quite foolish all bundled up like that," Akashi chuckled, using his tail to rub against Kagami's leg. "Are you wearing five pairs of pants, or what?"

Folding his arms, mostly out of frustration, but partially because of the cold, Kagami sighed and blew a stray piece of hair out of his face. When a cloud of his breath had puffed through his lips, it only caused the boy to sigh again. "It's cold," he replied simply.

"That it is," Akashi agreed. "But you still look like a fool."

It was strange for Kagami to be spending time with Akashi - if anything, he would much rather be hanging out with Kise, or maybe even Kuroko - after all, the two of them hardly had anything in common. Hair color? But in Akashi's case, wouldn't it be fur color...? Whatever the matter, they had ended up spending the afternoon at the Roost. Even if Akashi didn't want to own up to it, it was clear that it was far too chilly to do anything outdoors, even for a furry feline like him.

"...Would you like the usual blend?" Brewster murmured, his question so soft that Kagami had almost not heard him.

"Nah, I think I'll go for something different today," Kagami smiled, though it quickly faded when he saw Brewster looking particularly offended by that.

"...Coo. What would you like, then...?"

"Hmm..." Kagami hummed. "Got any hot chocolate?"

"...Yes. Hot chocolate, yes..."

"Great, I'll have that, then."

"Double that order for me, as well," Akashi said, sneaking in his own order.

"...Yes. White or dark...?"

"White-"

"Dark-"

Kagami looked to Akashi, and Akashi looked to Kagami. Then, they both looked to Brewster, who appeared to be terribly confused.

Akashi rose his paw and purred, "I'll take white hot chocolate."

"And I'll have dark," Kagami nodded.

Breathing a soft coo of relief, Brewster was off to go and make their drinks. It was in his absence that Akashi had turned to Kagami and asked, "So, do you have any plans for Christmas?"

Truthfully, he had been a bit caught off guard by Akashi's question. He didn't think the feline to be the type that was into the whole "holiday scene". Resting his elbows down onto the counter, Kagami nodded and said, "Yeah, I do, actually. My mom sent me some money to pay for my train ticket back home, so I'll be spending Christmas with them."

Somehow, Akashi seemed genuinely shocked by Kagami's answer. "So, you're not going to be here for the holidays?"

Kagami shook his head. "Even though I moved away from home, my family is still really important to me. I want to be with them."

After they received their drinks, Kagami and Akashi remained pretty silent, that is, for the most part. After all, they were drinking, so slurps and swallows served to be their only form of communication. When the quiet had proved to be too much for him, Kagami sighed and ignited the conversation once again. "Do you have any plans, Akashi?"

He nodded, saying, "Of course, I do. Everyone in Kiseki Village does."

"...What do you mean by that? Is everyone going away for the holidays?"

Akashi snickered and shook his head. "Are you crazy? Christmas is the best time to be here in Kiseki, everyone knows that. Everything just...comes to life."

'Comes to life...?' Kagami wondered.

"The trees light up, the stores stay open later, and then, when the eve before Christmas finally rolls around, it happens."

Running his finger around the rim of his mug, Kagami tilted his head to the side in a questioning manner and asked, "What? What are you talking about? What happens?"

"Jingle," Akashi smiled. "Jingle visits. He visits, and he brings presents to everyone in the village." The delight in the small cat's eye was almost admirable, as he remembered, "Last year, he gave me a new kettle for my tea."

Kagami seemed mystified by this "Jingle" person. Who was he? Was he real? Was he a myth? Was he just Tortimer dressed up in something festive again? He had to ask. "Have you seen Jingle in person?"

"Are you saying that you don't believe me?" Akashi smirked, his tail flitting amusedly behind him.

"I just want to know. It's a simple question."

Shrugging his shoulder, Akashi leaped down from his stool at the counter and paid Brewster his 200 bells. As he made his leave, he turned back to Kagami and said, "If you're that curious, you should stick around and find out for yourself."

Ironically, Akashi hadn't been the only one that wanted Kagami to "stick around" for the holidays.

"Kagamicchi!" Kise whined, all but hanging onto the boy's leg. "How could you leave at the best time of the year-ssu? Christmas is so much fun! Please don't go home..."

"I want to spend Christmas with my family," Kagami sighed. He hated to sound rude, especially to someone as sweet as Kise, but it was the truth. He really did want to go home.

In that moment, Kagami felt it as his heart sank. Kise had shown him the saddest expression that he had seen the pup wear to date. "But..." he whispered, "aren't we your family, too, Kagamicchi?"

The next person that had confronted him about this whole "stay in Kiseki for Christmas" business was, surprisingly, Aomine.

"Whaaat?" he drew out dramatically. "You're going back to L.A.?"

"Just for the holidays," Kagami corrected, "it's not forever."

"You're pretty dumb, Bakagami," Aomine scoffed. "It's not like I want you to be here during the holidays, but knowing someone like you, you'll be kicking yourself with regret for it later."

His next approach had been by Murasakibara. There was no doubt in Kagami's mind what their conversation would be about.

"Kagamicchi..." Murasakibara spoke slowly, "...Christmas is when the best snacks are sold. Cookies, cakes, ice creams, bagels...how could you even think about leaving, when all of these wonderful things are about to happen?"

"Is it only the food that you care about, Murasakibara?" Kagami asked, laughing a bit.

"No..." Murasakibara muttered sheepishly.

"What else, then?" Really, Kagami was genuinely curious.

"I like it when Jingle comes..."

"Oh yeah? Akashi likes it when he comes, too."

"Everyone likes it when Jingle comes..."

Full of questions, Kagami asked, "What did Jingle bring you last year? Akashi said that he got a tea kettle from him."

Swaying back and forth, Murasakibara wasn't so sure he wanted to answer.

"...What? What was it?"

"Food..." he murmured. "...And candy..."

"Knew it."

"Just stay in Kiseki, nanodayo," and that was all that Midorima had to say on the subject.

Now, Kagami was really conflicted. He had already told his parents he would be home for Christmas, but now that Christmas eve was practically upon him, he didn't know what to do. Everyone in Kiseki had told him they wanted him to stay. Everyone but...

"Kuroko..." he whispered, standing up from where he sat at his desk. If he wanted a true "blue" deciding factor, he would have to ask Kuroko. Truth be told, ever since he fell ill a couple of months back, Kuroko and Kagami had kept up with a rather civil, rather refined relationship. They were still too early in their stages to call one another "friends", but Kagami valued Kuroko's opinion just as much as any one else's.

Knocking on the feline's front door, Kagami waited, as was custom, for Kuroko to answer it. When he did, he could tell that the other had not been expecting any company today, given his massive case of bedhead.

"Kagami, what are you doing here?"

"Sorry to come uninvited," Kagami apologized, ducking his head as he entered Kuroko's low set cottage home. "But I have something really important to ask you."

Showing his concern, Kuroko walked closer to Kagami and looked up at him. "Something important?" he repeated. "What is it?"

"I wanted to ask you," he began, "do you think I should stay in Kiseki for Christmas, or should I go back home to L.A."

"Home," Kuroko responded curtly.

A bit appalled, Kagami questioned, "You think I should go back to L.A.?"

"I didn't say that," Kuroko justified, and in that moment, Kagami could swear he was mimicking Akashi's actions in the way that his tail swayed back and forth rhythmically. "My answer was home. I said nothing about L.A., nor did I say any mentions of Kiseki."

"I don't know if I follow..."

Lowering his head, Kuroko nodded and said, "If you think about it long enough, you'll understand."

Back at home, Kagami was pacing his bedroom with anxiety. His train ticket was set to expire within the next hour, and he had yet to make his decision. "Home..." he whispered, quoting Kuroko directly. "Home... I should be at home..."

He rattled his brain and pounded his fist against the wall. "But where is home?" he breathed. "Where is it?"

'Home is where the heart is!'

That's what his mother used to say; she would tell him all the time. Wherever it felt right, wherever it felt comfortable, that was home, and that's where he should be. He had to make a decision. He had to make it now.

Pulling back his desk chair and taking a seat, Kagami sighed heavily as he picked up his pen, picked up his train ticket, opened up his stationary, and began to write. His final letter read as follows:

Dear, Mom,

I know I said I would be coming

home for Christmas, but I have

something to tell you. Remember

how you always said, "Home is where

the heart is!"? Well, Mom...I feel at

home here. I've made wonderful

friends, and as much as I love and miss

both you and Dad, I just can't bring

myself to go back to L.A. Not yet,

at least. I'll come and visit you guys soon,

I promise you that, but as for right now,

all I have to say is...

I'm home for Christmas. Taiga.

Hi there! Chappy here! (:

Christmas in...August? Haha, I hope the mentions of snow cooled everyone down a bit!

Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you've enjoyed!

- Chappy