Man, it's been nearly a year since I started this fic and though I hoped I'd be farther along in the story than this by now, I'm glad for the way my story has turned out and am grateful for the amount of earnest followers it's accumulated. So without further ado, to celebrate the holidays Wizard and Sakura's X-mas Chapter! And yes it has to be X-mas cause though I've read no reason to do so, the desire to be politically correct is unfortunately strong. Best wishes to you all and let the fun, fluff and fights commence!
Wizard and Sakura Holiday Special: X-mas Wishes from Kamen Santa
"Donations for the less fortunate! Help those in need this X-mas! Donations!" A department store Santa rang his bell and called out as people walked by, enwrapped by the hustle and bustle of the holidays and dashing between stores to settle their last minute X-mas shopping needs. One little girl however escaped the crowds to stand the before the tall man dressed in red.
"Here you go, Santa-chan!" She smiled as she dropped a 500 yen coin into donation bucket.
"Hohoho!" Santa chuckled as he reached into the satchel he had slung over his back and pulled out a wagashi cake wrapped in plastic paper and baked into the shape of a snowman's face. "Merry X-mas little girl! And here's some sweets for being sweet." The Santa's Helper grinned under his beard as he handed her the holiday confection.
"Arigato!" She took the gift gladly and gave the tall Santa a hug before running back to her parents who smiled and waved to which the blue eyed Santa returned with a hearty "HOHOHO!"
"Yu-kun?" The Santa turned at the familiar call to find four teenagers looking at him with mixtures of shock, confusion, amusement and uncertainty.
"Hohoho!" The Santa chuckled before pulling down his fake beard to reveal the all too familiar face of Carter Hughes. "Yo." He greeted his stunned young friends with a wave. Tomoyo giggled in amusement as she looked at Sakura's confused and wide eyed stare, considering it particularly cute. But she also couldn't help but crack a grin at their other two friends' looks of shock. Syaoran stared at the magician with a frozen wide eyed stare stare that belied his shock but quickly rubbed his hand over his eyes to wipe the look away, though his cousin, a girl with red eyes and long black hair tied into long pigtails on either side of her head named Meiling, could not help but stare wide eyed and open mouthed at the sight of their teacher play at being Santa.
"Yu-kun, you took a job as a department store Santa?" Sakura inquired still recovering from the shock.
"I prefer to think I am playing the role of the dashing Santa Clause who spreads the joys of giving hope to world." Carter declared, posing with his chin held high so that they could see his "dashing" face from what he considered his best angle. Their stone faces showed him they were not moved by his boasting. "Plus…the Donation manager said I had the blue eyes and perfect height to play Santa Clause in their only unused costume." He admitted while sweat dropping.
"That sounds about right." Syaoran sighed as he stuck his hands into his pockets to pull out a few spare bills he had on him and dropped them into the Donation bucket. "I'll pass on the sweets, thanks."
"So cool as ever, Syaoran-kun, arigato!" Carter complimented the brown haired boy while ignoring the annoyed stare he cast him. Though he couldn't refute how much he respected the older man as a magician and protector of innocents, Syaoran quickly found the foreign teachers jolly personality and showy nature to be incredibly tiresome. He was especially not fond of the man's informal way of addressing him by his first name, but when it became clear the only other option was to be referred to with a –chan, like he used with Sakura, Tomoyo and even Meiling, he swallowed his pride and let the man say as he pleased, taking solace in the fact that he at least kept things formal when they were in class or in mixed company.
"I'd like to make a donation too!" Sakura volunteered as she too dropped in what of her allowance she could spare. Tomoyo and Meiling followed suit as they too dropped in their own contributions.
"Merry X-mas to you all!" Carter called in pride of his good natured students. He passed each of the three girls some sweets and pulled out a coupon for Syaoran which the younger man was more willing to take. "So, you all doing your shopping together? Or is this another of your group dates?" He cast a twinkling look to Meiling and Tomoyo which they returned as Sakura and Syaoran cluelessly watched on.
"We've actually gotten all our shopping finished, we just wanted to see what all there was to do now that Tomoeda was in the swing of things for the holidays. Do you have any suggestions, Yu-sensei?" Meiling asked with a knowing grin.
Ever since Syaoran and Meiling returned to Tomoeda, the four teens have gotten together over weekends and holidays to just hang out, have fun and chat about everything they'd all been through since they had last been together. Though, Meiling and Tomoyo have often found excuses to break away from Sakura and Syaoran to give the budding couple some "alone time", as they observe from a safe distance, and the two have yet to catch on. As this pattern continued, both girls had become increasingly frustrated by the shyness and awkward posture of their dense friends. They secretly confided to Carter about how irritated they were by the fact that they give the two so many opportunities to be alone, and they do little more than hold hands.
Carter, ever the good teacher, advised the two to leave it be. Much as he expected the two to have a happy and blissful future together, he still needed to act the adult around his younger comrades and not interfere too much in their personal lives. That being said, even he couldn't help but provide Sakura and Syaoran a "tiny" boost in the right direction.
"Matter of fact I might. See that coupon I gave you Syaoran-kun?" Carter asked. Syaoran turned the plastic slip over to read off the deal it provided.
"Free X-mas eve ride for two on the Tomoeda Amusement Park Ferris Wheel?" He read the line aloud, unsure of its significance.
"I hear on X-mas eve, once it gets dark, the lights of the whole city from the view of the ferris-wheel will look spectacular. I highly recommen-." Carter stopped mid sentence as he seemed to be peering over top the group's head to see something behind them. "Would you like a coupon too, frosty? Comes free with a donation!" The teens turned to see who Carter was talking to.
"Hoeeeeeee!" Sakura screamed as she finally noticed the snowman towering over her. Syaoran and Meiling blanched in shock as well but like Carter, Tomoyo smiled on knowingly.
"Toya-kun, that's rude, listening over people's shoulders!" Yukito suddenly dashed to the snowman's side, chastising him for his behavior as he took off his mask.
"Oni-chan!" Sakura spat angrily at her brother who was giving her a tiresome look. "Why do you always have to sneak up on me?!"
"If your mouth wasn't so loud you'd probably be able to hear me." Toya shot back, making Sakura puff up her cheeks in an angry pout. Toya turned his attention to Syaoran then, both men casting angry glares at one another that sent sparks through the air between them. Yukito and Carter took the opportunity to greet each other while trying to pry their friends apart. "And speaking of having big mouths, not often you meet a teacher willing to tell his students about dating spots…while dressed as Santa Clause." Toya cast an accusing glare at Carter who tried to avoid eye contact with his dagger like glare.
"I'm a bit of a travel nut." Carter admitted in a half-lie. "I learn everything about whatever festivals or events are happening in the country or city I come to and I just can't help but talk about it with whoever's willing to listen. As for the Santa outfit…what's to say really. I love helping others and the organization taking donations for the needy had a spot open for a willing volunteer. I give coupons or sweets to those who make donations, simple as that."
Toya scrutinized the English man, taking in the sac on his back and the bucket full of money at his feet for the first time. "Fine…" He finally sighed, taking out his wallet and dropping in a few bills and coins to add to the bucket. "Give me a coupon." Toya demanded, Meiling and Tomoyo blanched, Sakura's elder brother going on the ride too would ruin the atmosphere they were hoping to create for Sakura and Syaoran.
"Sorry, fresh out. Have a wagashi." Carter smiled innocently as he denied Toya's request and placed a Santa Clause shaped cake in Toya's hand instead. Meiling and Tomoyo sighed in relief; leave it to Carter to lie with a straight face. Toya looked at the pastry in his hand and back at the smiling Carter, an anger marked formed on his brow as he passed his cake to Yukito and grabbed Carter by the collar.
"Give. Me. The. Bag." He said quietly and level as to not draw attention.
"Yah, yah, yah! No coupon, no violence!" Carter gulped as he willingly handed over the red bag while sweat dropping from fear. Toya looked inside the red sac only to find more pastries. Carter had in fact given away all his coupons earlier and refilled his bag with Wagashi from a store just around the corner, he saved just one coupon to give to the kids should he run into them. Toya grumbled as he shoved the bag of sweets back to Carter, grabbed his snowman mask and walked away, in defeat. Carter silently passed a thumbs up to Tomoyo and Meiling, their victory!
"Hughes!" A shrill cry cut through the room as people stopped what they were doing to see who had screamed.
"Uh oh!" Carter was in mid-dash stance when a strong grip caught his collar from behind.
"You were supposed to check in ten minutes ago. Have you been chatting with friends this whole time!?" A woman with long black hair, thin rimmed glasses and clad in a Mrs. Clause kind of outfit, basically the same outfit as Carter without the beard and a skirt instead of pants, glared angrily at the man who was futilely attempting to run away despite the steel vice grip holding him in place.
"I swear Kotani-san, I was just chatting with them for a few minutes!" Carter replied fearfully.
"Well our shift is over and you need to turn in your uniform and donations. C'mon!" The woman scooped up Carter's bucket with her free hand as she dragged Carter away, the magician reaching out to his friends for rescue. They could only sweat drop, they felt sorry for Carter's predicament, but they didn't really think they should intervene considering Carter was still on the clock.
"What are all these wagashi doing in your bag? Did you use donation money to buy these?!
"No! I promise it was out of my pocket! Please don't put me on the naughty list, Santa-chan!" He just couldn't help himself sometimes.
"What was that?!"
Kotani had dragged Carter all the way to a faculty office where they dropped off all of the money they had collected and changed out of their costumes in a locker room set out for employees. The elderly department store manager counted up their earnings and smiled to the two approvingly.
"Good work today, I have your part time pay right here." The manager reached into his desk and passed the two envelopes filled with money.
"Sir, I just volunteered for a few hours I can't accept this." Carter held up his hands in denial, not really thinking he put up nearly enough work to warrant the pay.
"Take it Hughes-kun." The manager pressed the envelope into Carter's hand with a grin. "You put in as much effort as anyone despite the hours, you'll find it's an adequate sum for the work you put in. Besides, might fill the hole in your wallet after buying all these Wagashi." The manager held up Carter's sac which was still half full of sweets. "And if you don't mind, I'd like one myself."
"Help yourself sir. I might partake myself." Carter smiled, pocketing his pay into his jacket pocket while he and the older man helped themselves to some of the remaining cakes. "Would you like some too, Kotani-san?" Carter asked the bespectacled woman who was busy counting her earnings.
"No thank you. I don't like wogashi." Kotani refused, she finally nodded, satisfied with her amount and Carter couldn't help but notice that her pay greatly dwarfed his own.
"So many hours did you get in, Kotani-san? If you don't mind my asking."
Kotani stopped in her tracks as she was making her way to the door to leave and seemed to consider his question, counting up the hours in her head. "If it's 6 o'clock in the afternoon right now…" She looked at the clock on the wall for reference. "14 hours."
"Hurgh! Cough!" Carter was so shocked by her answer that he nearly choked on his wagashi. He gasped for air as the pastry finally went down. "14 hours!?" He repeated in disbelief. Carter looked to the clock as well to confirm and his eyes widened in realization. "You've been working since four in the morning?!"
"Yes and I have another shift tomorrow as well, so I'll be leaving now." Kotani bowed to Carter and the manager before closing the door to the office behind her. Carter leaned back against the manager's desk as he sighed in awe.
"I've heard of people taking extra shifts over the holidays, but that girl is going a little too far."
"Tis the season." The manager waved off. "Nanami-chan has been coming here for years, every time the Holidays role in. And from what I've seen, the first thing she does with that money is buy a mountain of presents."
"Seriously?" Carter asked surprised, for the afternoon he had been working there, Kotani had seemed incredibly harsh, often snapping at employees who were slacking off. He understood she took her work seriously but now he certainly curious. Curious just who she was getting all those presents for.
"So Syaoran, are you going to use that coupon Yu-sensei gave you?" Meiling asked her cousin coyly. It was getting late and the four teens were taking the back roads to get to Sakura's house where they planned to split up and return to their own homes afterwards. Syaoran looked to his cousin curiously, not sure what she was getting at. He took out the coupon Carter had given him and he thought back to what the magician said.
"I hear on X-mas eve, once it gets dark, the lights of the whole city from the view of the ferris-wheel will look spectacular."
Syaoran then looked from the corner of his eye at Sakura who had taken to walking beside him whenever they went anywhere together. Though they had technically started a relationship they didn't exactly have much experience as far as dating went so these pleasant outings while being accompanied by their friends were all they knew.
Syaoran recalled the week he and Meiling returned to Japan and started attending classes at Tomoeda Middle School. At some point, Meiling had blabbed to their friends; namely Chiharu, Yamazaki, Rika and Naoko, that one of the reasons they came back to Japan was because of Syaoran's desire to start a proper relationship with Sakura. Syaoran and Sakura were both mortified and irritated that such personal information was being handed out by Syaoran's own cousin, but of course, their friends were overjoyed.
Rika and Naoko excitedly pressed Sakura for details about how the two of them had decided to start dating and Yamazaki attempted to tell Syaoran a tall-tale he had heard that related to their arrangement but Chiharu instantly cut him off, writing it off as more lies, though she did press on one thing.
"Where did you too go for your first date?" Her eyes seemed to light up as she asked that. Sakura and Syaoran looked to each other nervously but also slightly unsure how to answer. They explained that they had yet to go on any actual dates, at least not alone. Chiharu looked down dejected by their answer, clearly not what she was hoping to hear.
"The first date is usually one of the most memorable and important moments in a relationship. You two should think really hard about where you go and what you plan to do when that time comes around." She explained, in a manner that seemed to mimic a certain someone's way of giving out sage advice.
Now; only a few weeks after Syaoran had moved back, the holidays had rolled in, bringing the desire to be with those closest to you along with the winter winds. Syaoran gripped the slip of paper tightly in his hand as he suddenly stopped in his tracks, catching Sakura's attention and prompting Meiling and Tomoyo to stop a few feet further back to give them some room.
A pinkish hue had settled on the Chinese sorcerers cheeks as he faced Sakura with a nervous look in his eye. The Card Mistress looked to him in puzzlement as he suddenly took in a breath.
"Sakura, would you like to ride the ferris-wheel with me tomorrow night, on X-mas eve." He mustered every last bit of his courage into this request. Sakura looked to him wide eyed for a few seconds. A light blush suddenly came to her own cheeks as she started twiddeling her fingers in embarrassment.
"As a…date?" She asked shyly. Meiling had to catch a swooning Tomoyo who couldn't help but faint at the adorable sight of a fully red faced Sakura-chan.
Syaoran nodded vigorously, hoping to heaven that steam wasn't coming off his face with how warm faced he felt. "Yes! Would you go on a date with me?" He repeated.
"Hai!" Sakura said happily, her blush finally settling and her joy filled smile finally shining through allowing Syaoran to finally relax and smile back in relief.
"Yatta!" Meiling and Tomoyo whisper/cheered and high fived each other on a job well done. Tomoyo pulled out her cell phone to send the good news to their other conspirator.
Magi ka! Majide! Maji da! Showtime!
"Hmm?" Carter was just in the middle of stuffing his face with so of his remaining Wagashi when he heard his ring tone go off. He set his bag of sweets down and flipped open his phone, seeing he had gotten a text from Tomoyo.
From Tomoyo-chan: Li-kun asked Sakura-chan out! XD
The message was short and all he need to know. Carter smiled warmly as he texted back a brief reply.
From Yu-kun: Operation, Big Success! NICE! ;)
"Hmhmhm, hmhmhm, hmhm hmhmhm!" The dark cavern was filled with the jovial chant of the Phantom Mistress's pleased humming as she watched on while Beelzebub directed the ghouls into decorating the dark haven with a cascade of X-mas lights, green, red and white streamers hanging from the ceiling, bundles of holly lining the walls and a giant tree placed in the center of the room. Things had become strangely festive in the cavern, much to a certain someone's irritation.
"Rrrrhhhggh!" Phoenix snarled to himself as he looked upon the glittering, glowing decorations with pure hate in his eyes. Now it's not really clear why this unsavory Phantom hated X-mas, not clear at all dear reader. It may have been because his head wasn't on just right, or perhaps his shoes were just a tad too tight. But perhaps the most likely reason dear reader was because-
"If you continue that line of bull I will come up there and rip your goddamn head off!" Phoenix snarled to no one in particular. (wink)
"So lost in your hatred that your even snapping at the voices in your head, Phoenix?" Beelzebub inquired mockingly.
"Shut the hell up!" Phoenix glared at the attendant with fire in his eyes. "I cannot believe you are putting this crap up. It's just a stupid human holiday." His voice was dripping with disgust.
"It is the mistress's command. If she wishes this place to glow with holiday cheer then I shall make it so." Beelzebub responded matter of factly.
"I don't really care for the holiday itself. I just wanted to fill this dank and lifeless cave with a little splendor for once. I cannot move around this city as much as you two and if I must be marooned here then I at least expect to be entertained. Need I remind you that it is due to both of your foul-ups that have forced me to remain here longer?" The Mistress remarked from within her curtained bed. Phoenix spat in annoyance at her remark turning to the caves entrance.
"You want results? Fine!" The Phantom clinched both his fist in expectation of getting to wreak some more havoc. "Where's the next Gate you want taken care of?"
The Next Day, X-mas Eve
"Sigh!" Carter let out the loudest, most dejected sigh anyone could muster as he sat outside the post office. Printed across the office door was a bulletin that read: Closed Until December 26. The post office had closed early and here Carter was, the presents he had forgotten to have delivered home sitting next to him. He had been so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of experiencing the holidays in another country that he had completely lost track of time and now it was too late to send his gifts to Zeke and his little sister Valorie before X-mas.
Zeke had developed a gardening hobby over the years, he even planted a nice batch of flower filled bushes outside the Hughes family's home. Carter had picked up a packet of Weigela flower seeds and a book on Japanese gardening he was sure the old man would love. Zeke would forgive him, Carter was sure of that. It was Val he was worried about.
His little sister was not too crazy about him leaving her at home to go work overseas and though she was able to get over it she made a point of explaining how she wanted him to send her back some pretty extravagant gifts on her birthday and X-mas. He had gotten her a tasteful ensemble made up of a white long sleeved shirt, black skirt and boots from White Rabbit Express, a popular clothes brand for girls of her age. He knew Val would love the outfit, but she was gonna like getting it days after X-mas even less.
"Val's gonna give me an earful I just know it." Carter hung his head in shame as he sat up, grabbed his gifts that had yet to be sent and began his loathsome walk back to his apartment. "Well, not like she can reach me here, so I've got until her next letter or until I can finally head home." (That's what you think pal. But it's gonna be a good while until then so…Christmas!)
Carter had barely made it around the block when he bumped into what he could only discern as a mountain of presents of legs.
"Watch it will you!" A feminine voice chastised him from behind the pile.
"Oh, sorry I wasn't watching where I was…" Carter soon realized he recognized that voice. "Kotani-san?" Carter grabbed a stack of the presents from the top of the pile and found the familiar scowling, bespectacled face of his former co-worker Kotani Nanami.
"I hope you took my packages because you were planning on carrying them for me?" Nanami raised an eyebrow at him, smirking snidely. Carter looked down at the stack in his hands and realized he had in fact taken them without asking and that could have been seen as stealing.
"Oh, um…of course!" Carter quickly saluted the young woman and stood at attention as if he were a soldier awaiting orders. "Where would you like me to carry these ma'am?!"
"That's good. Now take these and follow me!" She quickly passed him the rest of her packages and began walking away, gesturing for him to follow her. She at least did him the favor of picking up his packages but that boiled down to only two bags while he had somehow been forced to carry an entire mountain of presents.
"Bugger me $%#&$ &*$#%!" Carter grumbled to himself.
Nanami led Carter to several more boutiques and toy stores, piling even more boxes on Carter's already tremendous burden while taking the bags herself. It was times like these Carter was thankful for the strict training his master put him through, the strength and dexterity he gained through his years of combat training making his burden more manageable and allowed him to carry such a load without dropping anything. Though the reasons why he had to carry this were still beyond him.
"So just how far do I have to carry all of this? Are we taking all of this back to your place?" Carter could no longer stay silent and demanded just how long he had to carry her burden. Nanami stopped suddenly prompting Carter to have to rebalance his aggravated load before the momentum sent the whole thing tipping forward. The young woman seemed lost in thought as she mulled over the answer herself.
"I'm…not sure yet." She said in a whisper before continuing on her way.
"What?!" Carter bellowed angrily, running while balancing the packages in his arms in order to get ahead of Nanami and cut her off. "I've been following you for almost an hour carrying this stuff! How can you not know where we're supposed to drop this off?!"
"I just don't ok?!" She spat back at him. "The place I usually deliver this stuff to burned down a few months ago so I don't know where to take it now!"
"Burned down…a few months ago?" Carter inquired confused. "Wait, this isn't for your family?"
"Who has a family that big dumbass?!" She glared at him tiresomely. "My only relatives are my parents and my…" She cut herself off at that last part. She looked away from Carter pulling her bags close to herself as if they were irreplaceable treasures for her.
"So who are these for then?" Carter pressed, thinking it may have had to do with her sudden silence.
Nanami looked at him sideways while glaring at him making Carter feel that she was about to yell at him again. Instead, she surprised him by exhaling tiredly, letting her bags hang at her sides as she tried to relax.
"These are presents I donate to orphaned children." She explained while finally turning to face Carter. "Every year, during the holidays, I come to Tomoeda and pick up a few odd jobs to make some extra money, money I use to buy presents for the less fortunate children who live in this city. Because I normally live away from Tomoeda I hadn't learned until recently that the orphanage I always leave gifts at had burned down and the children and manager moved to a new building out of town. And that's why I don't know where to deliver these to. So go ahead, make fun of me. Tell me I just wasted my time and money on something pointless and just get out of my sight." She intended to glare at Carter and dare him to even try but to her shock she saw moisture forming at the edge of his blue eyes.
"I misjudged you, Kotani-san!" Carter blubbered as he sobbed childishly with his lower lip quivering slightly. "Such effort for those in needs! I'm so moved!"
"Hey! Take it easy!" Nanami begged him as she was afraid his bawling would draw a crowd. She quickly pushed him to a side alley where she watch stunned at the sight of a grown man crying his eyes out. "I didn't take you for the emotional type." She chuckled nervously as he sniffled, finally calming down.
"To spread hope and joy to children during this wonderful season. You truly are Santa-chan!" His words caused the bespectacled woman to blush slightly. "I will work this body ragged if I have to. Please let me help you deliver the presents!"
"Easy!" She begged him not comfortable with how close he was getting to her. "That's kind of you and all but…we still don't know where to go." She hung her head in sorrow as she remembered that crucial fact.
"Not necessarily." Carter assured her as he set his packages down and got out his cell phone. Kotani looked at the man curiously, wondering who it was he was calling.
"Yo, Goda-san!" Carter greeted the recipient of his phone call with a jolly tone. "Hey it's been a while. Listen, are you still in contact with Kotone-chan?" Nanami gasped when the name Kotone escaped Carter's lips. "Well I'm thinking of stopping by her new orphanage to wish her and the kids a merry X-mas. Think you could text me the address?" Carter smiled and winked to Nanami victoriously, holding up the address that his friend Goda had so graciously texted him. "Thanks a lot man. Let's get together for some drinks sometime. Janae!"
"You…you know where Kotone moved her orphanage to?" Nanami stared at the magician in astonishment as he picked back up the presents he set down.
"Yep, the new Tsukimine Shrine Orphanage is located a few miles outside of town. If we take a taxi we can get there before night fall." Carter was suddenly struck dumb when Nanami dropped her bags to the ground at wrapped her arms around his neck, forcing him to balance while his head was being pulled down by her embrace.
"Yogatta! Hontoni yogatta!" It was her turn to start sobbing as Carter was forced to stand there uncomfortably. "I thought I'd never get to see Kotone-chan again."
While Carter patiently waited for Nanami to stop crying into his shoulder, the two of them were unaware of the red clad boy staring down at them from the roof of one of the buildings they were situated between.
"Hmph! Typical the mahousukai ends up meddling in this." A smirk suddenly lit up the boys face as he cracked his knuckles in expectation. "But that just adds to the fun of killing two Gates in one night."
Ding-Dong!
Syaoran looked at his watch nervously, hoping he wasn't too early to pick Sakura up. They had decided to meet at her house at 6:30, but he had been so anxious about their first official date that he rushed over and wound up getting there 10 minutes early. Now here he was; dressed in his favorite green winter jacket, a warm pair of jeans and the scarf Sakura had knit for him years ago, and hoping the person who finally greets him at the door isn't Toya.
"Hello?" The door finally opened to reveal Sakura's father, Fujitaka, who smiled to Syaoran in recognition. "It's been awhile, Li-kun."
"H-hai! It has been awhile sir." Syaoran agreed, giving Sakura's father a respectful bow. Fujitaka chuckled, patting the younger man on the shoulder to get him to relax.
"Sakura-san will be down in a minute." Fujitaka explained as he returned to the kitchen to fetch his daughter's guest some refreshments. "To be honest when Sakura-san told me she had a date tonight I was a bit stunned. She just didn't seem like she was in the dating phase just yet." Syaoran gulped nervously, it was true that the two of them were still very young, so young that Fujitaka could very well forbid their relationship out of concern for his daughter. "But when she told me you would be the one accompanying her tonight, well I was glad." Syaoran looked up wide eyed as Fujitaka returned with two cups of warm tea for the two of them. "Sakura-san always spoke highly of you, though Toya-kun expresses nothing but disdain usually." He chuckled audibly as he sipped his tea in peace. "I'm personally glad she's going with you. Sakura-san trusts you a great deal so I do as well."
"A-arigato!" Syaoran managed to get out, gulping down his tea just a little faster than he should have prompting Fujitaka to chuckle once more at how anxious the boy acted when it came to Sakura.
"Syaoran-kun!" At Sakura's call Syaoran got to his seat as he watched her dash down the steps to meet him. She was wearing her own pink winter jacket, black pants and boots and had her hair up in tiny pig tails like she used to. Syaoran smiled at her in greeting as she blushed a smiled back. "You're early." She stated with a giggle.
"Sorry." Syaoran scratched his head in embarrassment but Sakura shook her head to reassure him.
"It's fine. I'm happy you're early because I can't wait to go!"
"Well then you two should get going. Be safe and have fun you two." Fujitaka hugged Sakura goodbye and nodded to Syaoran one last time before the two of them exited the house.
"It's going to be a little while before it gets dark enough. Want to go to a café and get some hot cocoa before we head to the amusement park?" Syaoran suggested pointing in the direction of one he knew of that was still open.
"Sounds great! Let's go!" Sakura took Syaoran's hand in her own as he led the way, but not before one of the upper windows of Sakura's house sprang open and Toya popped his head out.
"You have her back at 9:30 brat! 9:30 exactly! A minute more and I will hunt you down!"
"Oni-chan!" Sakura snapped at him in embarrassment and disgust before taking Syaoran's arm in her own and tugging him away while Syaoran and Toya cast irritated glares back at each other just as Toya slammed the window shut.
"Nani!? You and Kotone-chan are twins?!" Carter was so taken aback by this shocking news that he nearly smashed his head into the roof of the taxi, prompting Nanami and the driver to cast him annoyed glares for being so loud. The two had managed to hail a cab and stuff a majority of their boxes into the trunk while holding onto their bags in the passenger seats. As they were making their way towards the new Tsukimine Shrine Orphange, Nanami explained her connection to that place and her relation to Kotone as separated twin sisters.
Now that Carter took a closer look at the woman, he had to admit he saw the resemblance, though it was hidden by a pair of glasses and a near permanent scowl he never saw on the more pleasant Miko. "So…how come you didn't stay at the orphanage with her?" Carter inquired curiously. Nanami cast him a suspicious scowl making Carter sweat drop because he had thought they were already past this.
"You know, you never actually explained how you know my sister." Nanami pointed out, readjusting her glasses and scrutinizing the magician. "Before you ask me to explain my personal history with my sister you should tell me how you are related to her."
"Uh…" Carter couldn't think of what to say. When he had first met the Miko she and her young charges were undergoing financial issues due to the meddling of a Phantom who wished for the apparent Gate Kotone to fall into despair by forcing her to lose the home she held so dear. Of course, thanks to Wizard's intervention and Kotone's own desire to protect the children she cared for above her orphanage, the Phantom was defeated and was Kotone spared from falling into despair. The last time Carter had actually met the young woman was when he volunteered to help her and Goda gather up what remained of the children's non-burnt possessions in preparation of moving to their new orphanage which was thankfully situated well outside of the city, safe from the eyes of the Phantoms.
"Well?" Nanami pushed, literally shaking him by the shoulder to force him to spill his guts.
"I…" Carter couldn't tell her everything, but it was best to remain honest in the face of scrutinization. "I…just happened to be passing by one morning and I saw a fair damsel who was being antagonized by a collector from her bank. I heroically chased the man off and addressed the fair maiden with all my charisma alight. And I must admit, I flirted a bit."
Pow!
"Passengers please refrain from any rough housing in the back seat…and spilling blood on windows." The cab driver called back casting a pitying glance back at Carter who just had his head knocked against his window by Nanami's sudden jab to his cheek. His head didn't seem busted open, but judging by the look on his face, he was in a lot of pain.
"You may continue." Nanami stated, waving on the dull ache in her hand from punching Carter clear in the jaw.
"Yes ma'am." Carter massaged his skull and tucked his head into his lap, hoping the pain would go away soon. "Anyway, I got to talking to Kotone and she explained her situation to me of how it seemed as if her payments to the bank to keep her Orphanage hadn't been processed over the last few months though she definitely recalled paying them in person. I suspected foul play and decided to investigate the matter personally. I wound up talking to the man she trusted to manage her payments and through a mix of my own clever word play and his own slip up, I discovered that he had been secretly extorting her payments for his own use. When I pointed this out to the man responsible the coward fled and attempted to cover his tracks by causing an incident that would allow him to slip away in the mayhem."
"You don't mean…"
"Exactly, it was no accident that Kotone-chan's orphanage burned down. That weasely banker caused the old building to catch fire and if not for Goda who happened to be the collector for Kotone's orphanage, he would have gotten the children still inside the building caught up in the fire as well. I took the opportunity to chase down the culprit and once he was apprehended and thrown in jail, the bank refunded all the money Kotone had been denied from paying and used it to buy and renovate the building into our current destination."
Carter concluded his story with a sigh, he had to adlib a lot of the story and cut out all things pertaining to magic and Phantoms but for the most part it was the closest thing to the truth he could come up with and it seemed that Nanami was buying it as she looked at the floor in thought.
She finally looked up to him and said. "Your story telling sucks." Carter nearly fell face first into the floorboard, put off by the crass remark. "But it sounds like you're someone Kotone-chan would trust. So…" This time it was Nanami's turn to take in a breath in preparation.
"I'm sure Kotone-chan told you about how she was taken in by the former Miko who ran the home, but I'm guessing she didn't mention me to you." Carter's silence was all the answer she needed. "I thought not. I'm sure you also noticed that I have a different last name than her as well." Nanami sighed sadly. "Kotone loved that place and that old woman so much, but I couldn't stand it there. It was cramped, there was little to do since we didn't have a lot of toys, books or other ways to entertain ourselves and I just couldn't stand always wearing hand me downs, year after year. I wanted to get out of that place, to have a normal life and a real family and when the opportunity presented itself I was ecstatic. I begged Kotone-chan to come with me but she refused saying she only wanted to live there at that cramped little house with a woman who wasn't even our real mother. I told her she was being stupid, that the life she wanted wasn't any kind of life. We argued, more than we ever had and probably more than any sisters ever should. I said so many hurtful things to her that day and when the Kotani's came to take me home with them, I didn't even say goodbye to her and I'm sure she must have hated me after that because I didn't even see her when the old Miko and the other kids came to see me off. That has been my guilt for these past almost twenty years."
Honk!
"Such a sad story!" Carter was in full blubber mode once again, loudly blowing his nose into a hankie he had on him. "Here you go mate." Apparently the driver had been listening as well and started to tear up too so Carter offered him a clean hankie for his tears.
Once both Carter and the driver had wiped away their tears, the magician finally turned back to address the blanching Nanami.
"So these gifts, are they your way of making up with your sister? By playing secret Santa for the children she looks after?"
Nanami shook her head sadly. "They're…more like my excuse." Nanami explained, Carter cocked his to the side in confusion. "I know, Kotone-chan would never accept such things from me. Which is why I come back to Tomoeda during the holidays to buy presents for her kids, leave the presents at her door step, ring the doorbell and hideaway out of sight. And when I see her, when I see Kotone-chan's face light up with joy at having so many wonderful gifts to give her children, I start to cry with joy." Nanami was already starting to tear up. "Just seeing her, happy, healthy and still so much in love with that place I said she would have no kind of real life at, my guilt and shame increases tenfold, but also…it gives me hope. All the hope I need for the year to come."
Carter crossed his arms as he patiently waited for Nanami to cry herself out. 'One moment, that gives her hope for an entire year.' Carter creased his brow in thought. At the back of his mind…he felt a strange dread. A sensation was causing alarms to go off in his head, he felt a strange but familiar irritation and it was showing on his face.
"Hughes?" Nanami had finally calmed down and had noticed his scowl, looking up at him in confusion. Carter quickly shook the irritation away and the scowl off his face as he grinned back to Nanami.
"We'll be there soon. Ready to see your sister again?"
"Thanks a lot. Drive safe, merry X-mas!" Carter wished the driver well as he paid their cab fare while Nanami retrieved her parcels from the trunk. Once the cab pulled away, Carter moved to pick up Nanami's gifts once again, however…
"You don't need to do that." Nanami said as she began picking up the presents and bags, stacking them on top of each other.
"Are you sure?" Carter asked concerned. "It'll be a lot easier if I carry them there. Plus it's a bit of a walk from here and there for carrying such a load." Nanami didn't want to draw too much attention so she asked the driver to pull over at a nearby parking lot further down the block, walking such a distance while carrying so many packages alone would be a difficult task for anyone.
"I dragged you this far with my selfishness. You probably have people who you'd rather spend X-mas with instead of me and mind ilk." Nanami finally managed to pile the last of the gifts atop of each other and managed to take a few shaky steps toward her sister's orphanage. She stopped to look back at Carter, giving him a warm smile that definitely made her resemble Kotone. "I really appreciate you coming this far with me. Merry X-mas, Carter Hughes."
"Ah." Carter returned the smile with one of his own, nodding to her in assurance.
"Such a picturesque moment for this time of the year…it makes me want to hurl!"
Phooom!
"Kyaa!" Nanami was blown backward as a sudden fire ball came sailing straight for her, impacting with the wall of gifts in her arms and knocking her off her feet.
"Kotani-san!" Carter rushed to the woman's side, cradling her gently as he inspected her for any injuries. She had slight burn marks on her sleeves and her glasses were cracked from the fall but otherwise she was unharmed. The same couldn't be said for her makeshift shield as her eye widened suddenly and she stared horrified at the burning, blackened remains of the X-mas presents she had staked her hopes on.
"No…those were for…Kotone-chan." She reached for the closest of the packages, staring mortified as it crumbled into black ash in her hands. "My…hope." A tear fell down her cheeks as a pained sob escaped her lips.
Crack!
"Nanami!" Carter tried to shake the heart broken woman back to her senses but it was to no avail, the purple fissures spreading across her face were clear signs she was already lost in sorrow and soon to fall into despair.
"Aw, I love the holidays!" Phoenix stepped out from the line of trees he was skulking behind, his hand still covered in the flames he loosed at Nanami and his great sword resting on his shoulder. "Humans get so freaking happy at this time of year, makes it all the more satisfying to see them loose it all and die in their own despair." Phoenix cackled loudly as he squashed some Nanami's remaining gifts under his foot. Carter set Nanami aside, gently laying her down with his jacket acting as a pillow for her head. He stood tall as he glared murderous daggers at his nemesis who snickered expectantly.
"What's the matter mahosukai? No quips or puns this time?"
"Phoenix…" Carter hissed as he slid his topaz Dragon ring onto his finger. "I'm gonna take you down, once and for all. Here I come, at full power!"
"Land…Dragon! Dan Den Don Zu Dogon, Dan Den Dogon!"
The earth rumbled as the manifestation of Dragon made from sand soared from Carter's yellow magic circle only to come crashing back down atop him. Carter blew the dust away with a forceful wave of his hand and now clad in his heavy, yellow gem studded Land Dragon style armor, Kamen Rider Wizard charged straight for Phoenix sword in hand.
"Tonight I finally put in an end to you, Kamen Rider!" Phoenix declared, bringing his sword around to cleave Wizard's torso from his waist.
"Don't make me laugh!" Carter spat back as he took a two handed grip on his sword and brought it too around to match Phoenix's.
Clang! Boom!
Both swords crashed against each other sending sparks flying into the air and an explosion of wind that erupted from the clash of both their attacks. Phoenix and Wizard snarled in frustration as they attempted to push back at one another. They broke contact only to swipe back in again, and again and again until the whole parking lot echoed with the sounds of blades crashing against each other.
"Not bad." Phoenix admitted as the two were forced into another locked stale mate. "This new yellow form of yours has a lot more power to it. It's a pretty good match…for the old me." Phoenix suddenly pulled one of his hands away from his sword and Wizard was shocked to find that he felt little change in the Phantom's power against his own. "I told you I am the immortal Phoenix! Kill me and I come back, more powerful than before!" The Phantom's fist suddenly erupted once more in fire as he brought a devastating hook straight into the side of Wizard's mask, causing him to step back and break their stalemate, only this time, he was vulnerable. "Shiine!" Phoenix snarled as he raised his sword for the final blow. Suddenly, a small yellow form crossed his line of sight and then his vision went black.
"Gyaa!" Phoenix howled in shock, his free hand going to his eyes that were covered in black ink.
"Thanks for the save, Kraken." Carter smirked under his helmet as the octopus Pla-monster floated by his side. Carter retook his stance but then cast eyes on his floating compatriot whom he noticed seemed a bit more feisty than usual. "Bet you're jealous that both Uni and Garu have already gotten their chance to fight in their new forms and you haven't yet. Am I right?"
Kraken squeaked rapidly, dashing back and forth through the air in answer.
"I'll take that as a yes. Let's go partner!" Carter held out his Dragon ringed hand, summoning the yellow magic circle to hang over Kraken. The octopus familiar squeaked in joy as it rose up, soaring through the magic circle and filling its body with energy that caused it to glow bright yellow. Kraken's body suddenly grew, its body becoming the width and length of a grown man's torso and its long tentacles growing out to almost a good three feet in length. Kraken had grown to the size of an average octopus, not nearly as dramatic a change as Uni's or Garu's but for the yellow Pla-monster, it was a new and exciting sensation that caused it to dance through the air, pleased beyond words.
"So you're little pet got a bit bigger. It's not like it can help you at that size!" Phoenix scoffed having just cleaned his eyes of the gunk. Kraken didn't seem happy about the Phantom's remark as it began to shiver in anger. It suddenly flew into the air and began spinning at high speed, its tentacles resembling that of a helicopter rotor as it soared straight for Phoenix.
Kraken let loose a rapid fire volley of black ink bullets that cascaded the area around it and falling like hail on Phoenix who growled as he had to block the black rain with his sword raised.
"Just what the hell is a little black rain supposed to do to me, huh!?" Phoenix scoffed as tried to take a step forward but realized he couldn't. The Phantom looked down at his feet and saw they were coated in a black ink, ink that seemed to dry quickly and had cemented his feet to the ground.
"Nice, Kraken!" Wizard cheered as he took the opportunity to bring out his trump card.
"Cho-ine, Special! Saikoooo!"
Twin dust devils suddenly wrapped about Wizards arms, flying away to reveal a pair of thick, sliver metal gauntlets with gold claws that resembled Dragon's talons. Wizard held both his arms out beside him as the Drago Hell Claws lit up with golden energy. Wizard charged straight for the trapped Phoenix who readied his great sword to counter attack.
"Hraaaahh!"
"Shhhhhuu!"
Phoenix's blade was knocked away by the streaking gold talons of Wizard's initial swipe and the magician instantly came back around with his other claw blazing gold. "Finale!"
"Gah!" Phoenix gasped in pain as Wizard swung out in a complete 180, his claws gouging out purple slash marks across Phoenix's torso. The Hell Claws dispersed in sprays of gold mist and Wizard turned his back on the dying Phantom.
"Nothing in this world can kill me." Phoenix weakly reminded the magician who stopped in his tracks to listen to the Phantom's parting words. "I'll keep coming back stronger than before. You'll never escape the nightmare that is the Phantom Phoenix-sama! AhahahahaHA-!" Phoenix finally exploded, leaving behind smoldering black chunks of crumbled rock. Carter's fist shook irritably, in his heart he knew the Phantom was right. He didn't have the tools necessary to put an end to the insanely powerful Phantom, not yet.
Carter rejoined Kraken who had been hovering over Nanami protectively, it squeaked sadly as Carter knelt by Nanami's side to slip an Engage Ring onto her finger.
"You have more than just a year of hope waiting for you, Nanami." Carter lifted her hand to the WizarDriver, summoning the portal to her underworld above her prone form. "A whole lifetime of hope and happiness awaits you. Once I've saved your current hope, grasp it!" Wizard leaped into the air, diving straight down into the magic portal with Kraken right behind him.
Wizard landed hit the ground with a softly and took the opportunity to scan the area he had landed in within Nanami's Underworld. "This place is…"
Looking as old, small and in desperate need of repair, the former Tsukimine Shrine Orphanage was just as Carter saw it last, before Valkyrie's attack. It was one of Nanami's old memories of the orphanage and judging by the snow falling around him and the seasonal decorations hanging on the walls and roof, it was also set during X-mas, and if what Nanami said was true…
Ding-dong!
The sound of a door bell pulled the magician's attention towards the entrance of the old building. Carter had just peered inside when he saw a flash of black hair dash away from the front door and into the bushes near him. Carter didn't need to peer into the bushes to figure out that it had been Nanami who had rushed to the bushes to spy on the front door, or who it had been who left that impressive pile of gifts in front of the door.
The door to the orphanage creaked open as a woman with long black haired tied back by a red ribbon and a face an exact mirror image of Nanami's peered outside confused only to stare in astonishment at the pile of presents set at her door step.
"Kotone-chan." Carter and Nanami said in unison.
"Sugei!" A few of the curious children appeared at Kotone's side, dashing outside to get a closer look at all the wonderful presents left for them.
"Are these from Santa-san?!"
"Can we open them now?!"
"Now, now kids." Kotone waved the joy filled children down in hopes of calming them. "You know the rules. You have to wait until morning to open them." The multiple "aws" and sullen resounded through the small front yard, but ultimately they all obeyed their caretaker. "Now let's get these inside and under the tree." Kotone began picking up the heavier of the presents as the children began taking in large armfuls of the presents one by one. All of the presents had been moved inside and Kotone waved the children off to bed, where they would excitedly wait until morning to see what gifts their generous benefactor had left them.
Kontone stayed behind, scanning the snow filled night for any sign of the mysterious deliverer. Kotone cupped her hands together to her chest and smiled warmly. "Whoever you are…thank you! Thank you for giving these wonderful children a X-mas to remember." Kotone bowed to no one in particular and walked back inside. Nanami didn't come out of the bushes for several minutes after Kotone left.
Nanami stared at the closed door of her previous home and tears streamed down her cheeks, she had to take off her glasses in order to wipe her face clean.
"She seems so happy. Thank goodness!"
Crack!
The scene suddenly distorted as purple fissures appeared in the air, shattering the hopeful scene like a broken window. Large holes started opening in the shattered window and the long, rope like bodies of snakes sprang right for Wizard who was to slow to react before they had enwrapped his arms, chest and neck.
"Crap!" Carter struggled against the serpents' tightening hold on his body as he was being lifted into the air toward the shattered space. The entire image suddenly shattered as a massive body suddenly crashed through it to face the captive Carter.
It had the long body of a snake where its lower body should have been while its upper body was that of a feminine woman, whose skin was covered by white and light purple scales. Her head was not as feminine as her upper body, her eyes were covered by a heavy mesh of purple scales that covered her whole scalp, allowing only the long strands of snake headed hair that enwrapped Carter to poke out from underneath it. Twin, needle-like fangs hung from her open mouth as a forked tongue hissed at Carter. The immature Phantom wielded a scepter that was tipped with a large purple orb as its head and the green image of a snake encircling its shaft. The Phantom hissed hungrily as she brought Carter closer to her face as a sickly green light began to emanate from her face to shine on Wizard.
"Not good!" Carter attempted to struggle from the hissing restraints that were Phantom's hair but it was to no avail as he soon realized that the light from the Phantoms glare was making his body begin to freeze up, as if it was turning to stone.
Splat!
The Phantom hissed in shock as a bullet of black ink crashed into its face, cutting the light out from its source. Wizard felt strength return to his body just as the snake heads loosened their grip on him. Wizard finally managed to struggle free and landed with his feet firmly on the ground as he twisted his joints and muscles to see if they were working properly yet. Kraken squeaked proudly as it landed on his shoulder.
"Two saves in one night, I must be losing my touch." Carter patted his familiar on the side as a show of thanks. Kraken suddenly moved to Wizard's back, wrapping its front two tentacles around his neck life the clasp of a cape, its remaining tentacles splayed out expectantly waiting for the chance to act. Carter grinned under his helmet as an idea came to his mind. He reequipped his Sword-Gun and slipped on a new ring, passing it over the Sword's own scanner.
"Copy! Copy! Copy! Copy!...
Copies of Wizard's Sword-Gun appeared in his hands where he would dexterously juggle them up to one of Kraken's waiting tendrils. Wizardtook two swords in each of his hands and crossed them in front of him in defense while Kraken's many tendrils held their copied blades out menacingly. The Gorgon Phantom had finally managed to clean its face of the ink and hissed furiously at the magician and his familiar, leveling its scepter at them as bright purple light shone from the gem and a beam of dangerous energy shot down at them.
"Here we go! Cross guard!" Wizard commanded as he crossed his swords and the tendrils leaned in at his command, holding their swords out in front of Wizard to cover him. The beam collided with the wall of swords as Wizard and Kraken pushed back at the beam with swords crossed. "And…Slash!" Wizard uncrossed his swords with a swift X-slash and the tendrils followed his speed perfectly. The beam was suddenly dispersed in a shower of purple light that rebounded back towards its shooter. The Gorgon hissed in beam as the hundred burning arrows of purple light crashed down on it.
"Got you!" Wizard pointed one of his blades ahead and the tendrils shot forward with swords leading. The copy swords stabbed into the beast's snake like body like harpoons, penetrating deep into the skin in order to make sure they were stuck there. "Here I come!" Wizard swiped both his swords to the side as the tendrils quivered and began pulling him in towards them at high speed. The Phantom had finally managed to right itself as Wizard came in swinging.
"Haah!" Wizard slashed through the Gorgon's flank with both his swords at once and he was surprised to find that the beast's thick body seemed to give way quite easily.
"What the-?!" The Gorgon Phantom's upper body suddenly disconnected from its tail as its torso began crawling away using its arms and claws to pull it forward. "Just like a lizard to abandon its tail to save itself. Show this snake what kind of lizard you are, Dragon!"
"Dragorise! Please!"
Dragon crashed through Wizard's summoning circle as it leaped into the air with a roar. The Dragon soared over the escaping Gorgon and suddenly plummeted down, stomping down on the beast's body and pinning to the ground where it thrashed and struggled in vain.
"Dragon, this way!" Wizard called to his Phantom, holding his blades out to reveal both they and all of Kraken's swords were charged with golden energy. The Dragon huffed in affirmation and grasped the Gorgon by the arm with its jaws. Dragon slid off its pinned prey and using all of its incredible strength, lifted the Gorgon off the ground and tossed it through the air toWizard's waiting blades.
"Finale!" Wizard spun on the balls of his feet, bringing all of his glowing blades around and sending a volley of gold crescent blast through the air that all converged together in mid-air and combined together into one massive cyclone of sand and earth. The Gorgon hissed in terror one last time as it was swept up in the tumult of scraping sand before finally exploding in defeat.
"Fui!" Carter sighed in relief as Kraken slid off his shoulders and Dragon roared in triumph. Both the Phantom and familiar soared into the night sky, escaping from the Underworld through Dragon's portal. Carter watched with satisfaction as the image of the Tsukimine Shrine Orphanage returned to its original appearance, the last of the purple fissures fading from sight. Carter smiled to the image of Nanami as a poinsettia appeared in Carter's hand. Carter set the red flower at Nanami's feet. "Merry X-mas, Nanami-chan."
"Hohohoho!"
"Bwaah!" Carter reeled back in shock when he finally noticed the figure standing and chuckling beside him. "Santa Clause?!" Carter uttered in astonishment as the old man before him was indeed quite plump, wearing a red and a black suit with white fur lining , a red hat also lined with white fur and possessing a fuzzy white beard. The jolly old man had a twinkle in his blue eyes as he reached into the large bag on his shoulders and pulled out a tiny box the size of Carter's palm.
"Merry Christmas."(Santa can say it :P) Santa said graciously as he placed the tiny gift wrapped box into Carter gauntleted hand.
"Uh…Thank you." Carter nodded politely in thanks and accepted the present gladly. Santa Clause gave one last jolly "Hohoho!" before suddenly disappearing in a flash of gold snowflakes. "That was…unusual." Carter admitted as he stared at the box in his hand curiously.
"Hup!" Carter landed in a crouch as he exited the portal from Nanami's Underworld back to the empty parking lot. He quickly knelt by the still unconscious woman, relief flooding to him as the fissures had flown from her face and hands. She was safe, from despair and the Phantoms. Still…
Carter cast sad eyes at the smoldering remains of Nanami's X-mas presents. She had worked very hard to bring so many fantastic gifts to the children her sister loved so dearly, all for the chance to catch a glimpse of the sister she loved so dearly. Though he had wanted her to find her own life time of hope, he couldn't deny that this act of generosity had become an important ritual in her life. He cursed his inability in not being able to stop it.
Clint! Twinkle!
Carter was suddenly shocked to notice quick flashes of white light twinkling between the cracks in the lid of the present he received in Nanami's Underworld. He hadn't noticed he had taken it with, it was such an odd experience to see a memory from the Underworld interact with him and even stranger for him to bring something back with him. Curious, Carter undid the red bo that held the tiny box shut and opened the lid to see what was inside.
"A ring?" Carter stared at the odd gift. It looked exactly like one of his own rings that Golem created. It had the same silver base as the other rings but it had an orange face with an inscription of a smiling dragon wrapped about a X-mas tree. The rings face seemed to twinkle with inner light like he saw earlier. "Couldn't be…" Carter said unsure as he slipped the strange ring on and lowered it to the scanner of his WizarDriver.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
"Nani!?" Carter reeled back in shock as a magic circle appeared in the air in front of him with the same inscription as the one on the ring. Suddenly, a spray of white, red, green and gold powder exploded from the within the magic circle, showering the blackened remains of Nanami's gifts and causing them to glow with gold light.
Before Carter's very eyes, the once charred and burned parcels and bags had suddenly appeared on the ground before him, practically sprouting from their destroyed remains. Carter rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things…Nope, still there. "EH?!" He uttered loudly in confusion.
"Wh-what is it?!" Carter's scream had roused Nanami from her unconscious state as she looked around fearfully as if some new horror was coming for them. She then spotted the pile of bags and gifts that she had just last seen turn to ashes in front of her. She quickly scrambled to her feet and knelt beside the presents, inspecting them to make sure they were real. "It's…it's a miracle!" Nanami pulled the present she had been inspecting to her chest, hugging it tight as if it would fall apart in her hand again if she didn't. "Yogatta!"
"No way. What is this magic?" Carter whispered to himself. Anyone would consider his magic the stuff of miracles, even him sometimes. But this was way beyond anything he had seen before. Truly miraculous magic!
"Hohoho! Merry Christmas."
"Could that have been…the real Santa?" Carter looked to the sky as if it had the answers, all he was met with was the first flake of falling snow.
"Kirei!" Sakura cooed happily as she watched the tiny flakes of snow fall. The light from the amusement park and the city cast the snowflakes in a multitude of colors, and from their vantage point in the top car of Ferris Wheel, Sakura and Syaoran saw it all.
"Syaoran-kun, look how pretty it all is!" Sakura waved him over to the window, Syaoran smiled at her warmly from his seat. He really didn't care that much about the view of the city or the lights from the falling snow flakes for that matter. For him, Sakura's smiling face lost in wonder and awe was all the radiance he cared about. "Hurry!" She begged him. Syaoran complied, getting out of his seat to join her at the window. Just as Syaoran took a step toward her, a strong wind blew, knocking the car they were inside around and causing the two of them to lose their balance in their seat.
"Hoe!" Sakura screamed in terror as she started to lose her footing and fall back.
"Sakura!" Syaoran was quick to stand behind her, catching her and using his own body to support her as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders to hold her against him. The wind promptly began to calm itself and the car started to cease its rocking. Syaoran did not try to remove his arms from Sakura's shoulders until he was certain their car was completely sturdy. He sighed in relief as he began to pull away. Sakura's hand suddenly grasped one of his arms, holding it in place. Syaoran looked at her in confusion. "The shaking has stopped. It's ok now." He explained.
"I know it's just…" Sakura turned around turned her face to look him in the eye and he noticed she was blushing. "I like it…the way your holding me tight, Syaoran-kun." (Cheesy Fluff Overload! Take Heart Medication!)
Syaoran blushed a deep red as Sakura smiled warmly at him. He realized, he didn't want to stop holding her close like this.
"Can we stay like this until the ride ends?" Sakura asked shyly.
"Ah." Syaoran nodded, pulling her closer to him and resting his head on her shoulder as the two of them stared out into the night, watching the colors cascade from the city below. Syaoran had to admit, it was a beautiful sight.
(Pant! Pant! Heart Attack Averted! 'Collapse!')
"That's the last one." Nanami sighed in relief as she placed the last of the children's presents down at the foot of their door step. She surveyed her latest batch of gifts and nodded in approval, everything seemed in order.
Carter had volunteered to help her carry the presents only as far as the front gate, respecting her wish to see this to the end, alone. Nanami thanked him profusely, hugging him to his surprise as she explained how grateful she was for his help to her tonight. Carter bowed gentlemanly in response, wishing her well before heading back to the parking lot to hail a cab home.
"This night almost didn't happen. I have him…and the Kamen Rider to thank." Nanami, in her fading consciousness, vaguely recalled a figure in a yellow mask kneeling beside her. And she remembered his last words to her before she completely lost consciousness.
"You have more than just a year of hope waiting for you, Nanami. A whole lifetime of hope and happiness awaits you. Once I've saved your current hope, grasp it!"
Those words struck a chord in her deep. It was foolish of her to keep up this yearly ritual of hers as if her life depended on it. She guessed that Kotone had likely gotten over her some time ago. She didn't need her sister to look in on her anymore. Nanami had decided this would be the last time she makes a visit to see Kotone in person. She would most likely continue to send gifts anonymously, so as to not disappoint the children, but this would be the last time she would ever see her sister again.
"Goodbye, Kotone-chan." A tear fell down her cheeks as her finger went to the doorbell.
"Why are you saying goodbye?" The door was suddenly flung open as a beautiful woman, Nanami's mirror image, smiled at her from the doorway. "You just got here after all."
Nanami stared wide eyed at her sister, her finger hovering over the still unwrung doorbell. How had she been found out? She had been quiet as a mouse. It was late enough for the kids to be in bed and she didn't see any lights on from the lower floors. So why was her sister here to greet her?
"Would you like to come in, Nanami-neesan?" Kotone asked with a welcoming smile.
"Kotone-chan…" Nanami's tears began falling like rain on a window sill. Her body quivered with sobs as she hugged herself tightly. "Why? Why are you being so nice to me?! I…abandoned you! You…you should…!" Nanami was suddenly swept into a warm embrace by Kotone who rubbed her back soothingly.
"I could never hate a wonderful sister like you. I love you, Nanami-neesan."
"Kotone-chan!" Nanami returned the hug tenfold as her tears began to fall like droves and she began cry audibly. "I love you too!"
Carter smiled in satisfaction as he heard the joy filled cries of Nanami all the way from the parking lot he had waited in. Nanami had told him to go home without her, but, busy body that he was he couldn't help but stay and hear how things turned out.
"Operation big success! Looks like Goda-san pulled through." Carter patted his cell phone affectionately as he smiled to himself in pride. Unbeknownst to Nanami, after she had told him her connection to Kotone, Carter took the opportunity to quickly text back Goda, informing him that Carter was coming with Kotone's sister and to inform Kotone ahead of time. Goda didn't ask questions and from the looks of things, Carter's latest scheme appears to have worked.
"All in a nights work." Carter chuckled proudly as he tucked his hands into his pockets and walked to a place where he could Connect back to his apartment without being spotted. He had just left the parking lot when he noticed the strange ring on his finger was acting up again. "What now?" He inquired curiously. The ring from Santa suddenly changed to red and green dust before his very eyes and began to encircle him like one of his magic circles.
Plop!
Carter was shocked to find a red hat with white lining had appeared on his head and that a large red sac had suddenly appeared at his feet. The magician eyed the bag cautiously, slowly kneeling down and opening it see what was inside.
"Whoa!" Carter fell back as something shot out from within the sac and hovered in mid air in front of him. It looked a like a rolled up scroll. Carter snatched the parchment from midair and unrolled it to see what was written on it. The paper was blank at first, but then names appeared written in gold ink. Carter instantly recognized Sakura's name. And then Tomoyo's, Syaoran's, Meiling's, Yukito's, the names of all his students and even Kero's name was on the list and so many more he did and didn't recognize. Carter stared at the list of names he was now holding in his hands, his jaw dropped and his eyes wide. He looked up at the red hat placed on his head and then at the red sac by his feet. He leaned over the open mouth of the bag and sure enough there were presents inside, presents of every size, shape and color.
The magician stared up at the sky in worry. No reindeer in sight. That was a plus, he was already sure he was going crazy with what he was thinking of doing, he didn't need flying reindeer to deal with too.
"Looks like the nights just starting for me!" Carter called happily as he leaped back up to his feet and scooped up the red sac to sling it over his shoulders. "Look out Tomoeda! Your dashingly handsome Santa Clause is on the job!" Carter then ripped his hat off his head and passed a ring over buckle.
"Hurricane, please! Fu-fu! Fu-fu-fu-fu!
The falling snow was caught into the Carter's own personal hurricane as he rose into the air, sac and list in hand and his hat placed gently back on his helmeted head. "Showtime daa!" Wizard hollered into the night as he soared over the city he loved most. He was on cloud nine at the moment, because tonight he was Tomoeda's own personal Kamen Santa Clause.
"My first house!" Wizard whispered expectantly as he gently lighted upon the houses roof. Wizard looked over his list, seeing if it gave him some clue what to do next. The list responded by showing a list of three names. Carter read the top one aloud to himself. "Higashi Ruka…? Wait, the oujou-chan?" Carter guessed, recalling his first encounter with Sakura and Tomoyo as a magician and how they had to work together to save young Ruka's mother from falling into despair by the Phantom Hellhound. Wizard chuckled to himself, how appropriate that he deliver to her house first. "Yosh!" Wizard scanned the roof and found his entry point, the chimney, of course.
"Small!"
Wizard and his sac of presents shrunk down to the size of mice as he floated down into the hollow brick pillar and exited into a dark living room. Carter smiled approvingly at the well decorated house and the impressive tree adorned with all manner of baubles, candy and other decorations set in the corner.
Wizard reached into his bag, hoping it wouldn't take him to long to find the presents meant for Ruka and her family. To his surprise, he felt a present suddenly appear in his hand before he had grasped one to look for a name tag. The present didn't have a name tag, but he was certain for some reason that it was for Ruka. Wizard laid the present at the foot of the tree and then scavenged his bag for the other gifts, which also came at his call.
His duty done, Wizard nodded in satisfaction and retreated back up the chimney, the presents he left growing back to their original size as he left. Carter cleared the roof entirely as he retook his natural height, he waved back to Ruka's home and flew off into the night to continue his work.
"One house down."
If he didn't have magic Carter honestly would have question how he would accomplish this feat and for some reason, after all the spells he used and mana he burned he didn't feel drained for some reason. Whatever the reason for this sudden boon, Carter was thankful for it as it allowed him to efficiently hit every house after another without worry.
Whatever houses without chimneys he had to get into, he utilized his Liquid ring to squeeze through the cracks of the door. Whenever he encountered a house where people were still awake, he used his Extend ring to get their attention at another side of their house and once they were thoroughly distracted, he would slip the presents in through a Connect portal and slip away before he was spotted.
His night was still beginning and he still had a lot of houses to hit up, but then he felt a familiar presence. Carter veered off from his chosen route towards a park close to the wooded area of Tomoeda. He had a gift he himself prepared to give to a special somebody.
"Hah!" Empousa stabbed ahead, imagining she had just pierced the heart of some imaginary enemy. She then cart-wheeled back, avoiding the sweeping counter attack of one of her imaginary foe's comrades. She countered, parried and swiped expertly with her blade. She twisted and turned and even leaped with her sliver blade catching the light of the moon. Her movements, swaying with the wind and snow, appeared as some graceful yet deadly dance of silver and violet.
The female Phantom sighed to herself in contentment, with little else to amuse herself she would often spar with enemies she herself imagined up, this served as a way to past time and keep her skills sharp. For her, to fight was the life she knew and little else brought her joy.
Whoowoo!
Empousa suddenly took a guarded stance as a mighty gust rolled through, she new on pure instinct the wind was not normal. An ambush? Using the snow as cover?
"Come out, magician!" She demanded her rival to reveal himself, not appreciating the cowardly tactics. She took wary steps as she scanned the park for any signs of his presence. She had just taken another cautious step when her boot nudged something at her feet. She looked down in confusion to see a rectangular parcel wrapped in violet paper and held together by a pink ribbon. She noticed a card had been slipped beneath the ribbon and it appeared to be addressed to her. "What is this?" Not suspecting foul play, just buffoonery, Empousa slipped her sword back into his sheath of purple flames. She unceremoniously ripped the ribbon off the parcel and popped the lid open to see what was inside.
"Hmm?" She retook her human form and gently set the box down to hold up its contents to the light so she could see it better. It was a coat, a black leather coat with pink lining and fuzzy pink collar and cuffs. It was her size and very similar to her own jacket that she had to notice was falling into disrepair as she wore it everywhere. "Cute." Empousa stated sarcastically. "Very cute, magician." She had half a mind to toss it away, but looking over her own coat and this nice, perhaps even expensive looking new one…
"It's warm." She noticed as she slipped her new jacket over her shoulders, she snuggled into the warmth of the black leather and smiled. "You win this time, Carter." Empousa patted her new coat down affectionately and that was when she noticed something was inside one its pockets. The female Phantom blinked when she found a Cell Phone inside her new coat and was more surprised when she found she had a text message already.
From Carter: Call me! ;)
XXX-XXX-XXXX
Empousa looked at the message and number with a dead pan stare. She quickly shoved the tiny phone back into the pocket of her jeans and stormed off an anger mark on her brow.
"Stupid oaf!"
"Hachoo!" Carter had to quickly cover his mouth before he wound up giving himself away. 'Sheesh where'd that come from?' He sighed as he sat on the roof of Sakura's house. He had just delivered Sakura's, Kero's, Toya's and Fujitaka's presents and decided he would deliver to Tomoyo's house next. After checking his list, he figured he should be done by a little past mid night, thank god Tomoeda was a small town. It was about 9:30 right now, since he still had a lot to do, Carter prepared to take off once again, till he saw two figures walking down the road towards this very house and he instantly laid himself flat against the roof.
"I really had a great time!" Sakura said happily to Syaoran who walked hand in hand with her as he escorted her home. "I wish we could stay out a bit longer but Oni-chan did say 9:30."
"Yeah." Syaoran agreed with a nervous grin. He didn't like the idea of Toya racing out into the street to hunt him down so he made sure they got back in time. "It was a really nice first date."
"I hope we have more just like it." Sakura hoped while giggling.
"Even better, I'll make sure of it." Syaoran promised. His sudden declaration caused him to blush nervously, not made better as Sakura started blushing too. Carter watched the exchange with fatherly reverence but then noticed a slight rustling in the bushes opposite Sakura's house.
"Ohohoho!" Tomoyo giggled quietly as Meiling desperately tried to shoosh her. "I got the chance to film Sakura's cute smiling face after she returns from her first date. I'm so lucky." Tomoyo hugged her camcorder affectionately. "Oh, if only I could get a shot of that moment, this night would end in perfection."
'That moment?' Carter pondered to himself, wondering what the overly romantic girl was talking about. Then he got it. 'Oh! That moment!' Carter noticed that Sakura and Syaoran were still a good way away from her front porch and he reached for his bag.
"Do you do request?" Carter whispered as he reached deep into the sacs contents. "One Mistletoe please." He requested and smiled in satisfaction when his hands wrapped about tiny petals and a green stem shaped like a hook. "Arigato."
"Connect, please!"
Carter quickly slipped the branch of mistletoe onto a hook above Sakura's front door, just in time as Sakura and Syaoran just reached the front porch. Just as Sakura began to reach for her house keys, she heard a sudden tapping sound coming from her roof above the door. She instinctively looked up and her eyes locked on the tiny green branch, recognizing it immediately.
"What's wrong?" Syaoran asked, confused why she seemed so distracted.
"It's that plant hanging above the door. I don't remember it being there before I left the house. That's so strange." Sakura muttered as a flustered blush appearing on her cheeks.
"What is it?" Syaoran asked, not recognizing the plant. Carter silently face palmed himself, of course Syaoran was that dense to not know what mistletoe looked like.
"It's…a branch of mistletoe, Syaoran-kun." Sakura explained, turning to Syaoran to reveal the blush burning on her cheeks.
Syaoran blinked three times as he looked at Sakura and blushed as well. "Oh!" He said in understanding. (Blarg!)
"Oh my!" Tomoyo giggled as she zoomed in on the scene as Syaoran placed his hands on Sakura's shoulders and pulled her closer to him. Meiling watched the scene with stars in her eyes, her hands clasped together expectantly as Syaoran cradled Sakura's chin with his fingers. (I need more medication. 'plops dead')
Carter had to look away and stare up at the night sky as both Syaoran and Sakura closed their eyes and leaned toward each other. Nosy he may be but to spy on a private moment between his friends was definitely off limits. He took Meiling's struggles to quiet Tomoyo's manic giggles and the silence of the two young lovers that things went well.
"Oyasumi, Syaoran-kun."
"Ah, oyasumi."
Carter leaned back down just in time to catch the two's parting smiles, both were still very red face but it was softer than before and there was a new energy in their eyes now that he snickered at in joy. 'Looks like I won't be the only one on cloud nine tonight.'
As much as he would love to relish this moment further, he had work to do and a lot of it. Carter nimbly leaped off the back side of Sakura's house so no one would see him and flew off back into the sky toward the many other sleeping houses he had X-mas joy to deliver to.
"I'm home!" Carter called tiredly as his faithful Pla-monster came to greet him. Judging by their frantic hovering he guessed they were wondering where he'd been as Kraken had been the last to see him and that was hours ago.
"Just doing a favor for a whole bunch of friends. A whole bunch." The magician chuckled to himself as he plopped down on the couch, having no strength to make it to his bed. It seemed his mana did indeed have a limit, he was just now feeling the effects from its overuse.
"Fui!" He sighed, he was exhausted. He hit every house, home, apartment, mansion, nursery and boarding house in Tomoeda and the small area around it. He got home a good 3 hours past midnight, 3 more than he thought he'd need. Carter rolled over to get comfortable on his couch when his eyes fell on two forgotten presents. "Hah, can't make everyone happy I guess." Carter had been so overwhelmed by his experiences tonight that he had forgotten about the presents he was originally meant to deliver. He knew Val was going to be disappointed in him but what could he do, even he couldn't pull off a miracle like transporting two gifts half way across the world before morning.
Shimmer! Shimmer!
Carter looked over to the red sac, hat and magic list he had brought home with him. When he finally hit every house in Tomoeda the list stopped showing him names and the sac became completely empty, their purpose served. Now, it seemed his Santa Clause gear had one more purpose to show him.
The hat, bag and list suddenly broke back down into the green and red powder that had covered him when earlier and were now hovering over his gifts to Valorie and Zeke. Carter and the Pla-monster watched in astonishment as the powder swept the two parcels up in a tiny gust of powder and then suddenly Popped! out of existence, leaving behind a single note of paper on the table.
At a snap of his finger, Garu picked up and brought the note to Carter's waiting hand. Carter scanned the note over and then fell back, now mentally exhausted as well as physically.
"I can't take so many miracles in one night." Carter stated before finally drifting off to sleep, exhaustion taking him. The note fell from his fingers and slipped to the floor to reveal gold letters written in a hand scrawled message.
A bit of a bonus for doing such a good job tonight, your sister will find her present on her front door step in the morning. Keep spreading hope to those on the cusp on despair by dear boy. Keep a stiff upper lip and stay out of trouble, or I'll know. Hohoho!
With the best wishes to you and your friends,
S. Clause
Despicable-D: My head hurts. I'm going to bed. Minna! Finish this for me!
Tomoyo: We here at KRXMS want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy Newyear.
Meiling: And want to express how grateful we are for how you followed us this far.
Syaoran: We still have a long way to go but we will continue to fight and protect Tomoeda from the Phantoms, with you guys watching us.
Sakura: Best wishes from we here…
Man with bright red hair, a thin goatee and wearing a chefs smock: And those of us yet to come!
All: We wish you a very…
Carter: Merry Christmas! Goodnight everybody! Till the next Showtime!
