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Chapter 25: New Year

"Oh yeah, you don't celebrate your birthday on your world. I forgot." Ven put stuff into a bag.

Terra nodded. "Yeah, but every new year is when everyone celebrates another year of life, so it's technically my birthday."

"I'd almost forgotten about that tradition."

Aqua poked her head into Ven's room, holding her own bag. "Are you sure your family won't mind us coming too?"

"I'm sure. My mother keeps telling me to bring my friends when I come. She wants to meet you."

Ven smiled at Chirithy. "Do you want to come too?"

"I'm fine. It's better if I stay here."

"Are you sure?" Aqua asked. "You've been staying here alone a lot."

"I'm fine. It's not a problem."

"If you're sure."

"I am."

"Terra!" Reiko smiled as her son entered their home. "We've missed you."

"I've missed you too. And Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year to you too." She looked past them. "And this must be Aqua and Ven." They both bowed.

"It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you both as well. Please, come on inside."

They all went inside the house, only for Terra to get immediately tackled by Tsukiko.

"Terra!"

"Hey, Tsuki." He laughed, hugging her back.

The little girl looked past him, her eyes landing on Aqua. "Wow!" She walked over to her. "You're so pretty…"

"Well, thank you. You must be Tsukiko."

"Yeah. And are you, Master Aqua?"

"I am."

Ven smiled to the girl. "Hi there, my name is Ven."

"Hi!"

Looking at his mother, Terra asked. "Where are-"

"Your stepfather and Misao are outside. I'll let them know all of you are here." She walked away.

The young girl grabbed Aqua's hand. "Are you a fighter like my brother?"

"Yes, I am."

"Really?"

The girl stared at her, eyes shining as her father and brother came inside.

Makio smiled at the three. "Welcome everyone."

"Terra!" Misao walked to his older brother, smiling.

After introductions, Makio looked around. "Well then, are you ready for the celebrations?"

"Of course, it's been way too long."

Reiko nodded. "I am almost done preparing everything for supper tonight, so if you want to give your friends a tour of the city, go ahead. Tsukiko and I will be working here."

"Would you like some help?" Aqua offered.

"We're fine. The hard part is already finished. Go on and enjoy." The woman looked down at her daughter, noting the little girl's mouth drooping slightly. "And actually, Tsukiko can join you. There isn't much left to do."

"Are you sure?"

"I am."

Tsukiko giggled, grabbing Aqua's hand. "I can show you my favorite places!"

"Alright."

The group of them began walking through the town, the kids pointing out every little thing to their guests.

"I loved these as a kid!" Terra pulled his friends to a food stand where sticks stood, covered in a golden coating. "It's fruit coated in sugar."

"That sounds delicious."

"Trust me, it is."

As Terra moved to buy some for their entire group, Aqua felt someone grab her coat. Looking down, she saw Tsukiko hiding behind her.

"Makio." Came a loud voice.

The man turned around, his eyes narrowing. "Katsuo, what do we owe the pleasure?"

Katsuo, a man wearing bright red and gold clothes, eyed the three strangers in the group before smiling at Tsukiko. "I just wanted to discuss my proposition."

"And I told you she is too young for us to even consider that."

"She will be old enough before you know it, so have her betrothal already set in place should make things easier."

Betrothal!?

Terra whipped around, his hand resting on his sister's head. "Sir, she's ten."

"I know that." Katsuo smiled. "But I want to ensure that my son has a perfect bride waiting for him when they are both old enough."

Feeling his sister grasp his hand, Terra glanced at his stepfather.

Makio nodded.

"Not happening."

"Who do you think you are, boy?"

"Her older brother." Terra stepped forward. "Keyblade Master Terra, son if Iason, who I'm sure you've heard of."

Katsuo blinked before glancing between Terra and Makio.

Both faces glared back at him.

"F-fine. But we will return to this discussion eventually." His feet carried him away swiftly.

"Who the heck was that!?" Ven snapped. "Trying to marry off his kid to Tsuki! She's ten years old!"

Misao huffed. "He's a nobleman. He's been trying to arrange a marriage between Tsuki and his son, Kenta, since she was a baby. I don't get it."

"He wants his son's future to be perfect, so he's doing what he thinks is best even now." Makio shook his head. "I never liked him, and neither did your father." He smiled at Terra.

Aqua patted Tsukiko on the head. "Are you ok?"

"Yes. I don't like him."

"None of us do."

With a sigh, Makio turned. "Why don't we just keep moving. He won't bother us, especially after Terra brought up his father's name." He smirked. "We'll let him fume about that for a bit while we focus on other things."

"I like that." His daughter smiled again, taking Aqua's hand as they each took their sugar-coated snack from Terra.

When they finally got home, the smells of food wafted through the house.

"That smells amazing!"

As they came back inside, the sun setting outside, Reiko sat at the table waiting for them.

On the table stood a stack of black boxes.

"What's that?"

"Dinner." Terra smiled. "It's called o-sechi ryori. The boxes are full of food."

"That sounds amazing."

They all sat around the table as Makio, the eldest at the table, took the boxes apart and began to serve himself.

And indeed, dinner was amazing.

The next day, they all went to a shrine together.

The crowded streets filled with laughter and joy. In the distance, fireworks popped, giving the air a misty appearance.

As they enjoyed the festivities, Terra felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Something wrong?"

"No," Makio smiled, "I'd actually like to talk with you."

"Sure."

Pulling away from the crowd, the two men stepped away to a more open garden. "What's up?"

"Terra, I wanted to talk about your father." He smiled. "I don't think you and I have ever really sat down and talked about him."

Terra blinked. "I'd love to hear more about him."

The two sat down on a bench, the older man looking up at the sky. "I met Iason when we were training, and I actually hated him at the time."

"Really?"

"I wasn't the only one. He came from beyond the stars, so everyone said, and he wielded a magical weapon that no one else had. Not to mention every girl for miles was smitten with him."

Terra couldn't help but laugh.

"But it was your father's heart that won me over. He was a good man. He never flaunted his abilities above ours, and actually tried to not use them when we were training. Of course, in battle we saw them. The first time I saw your father bring down lightning from the heavens, I thought I was standing beside a spirit of nature." He smiled. "Your father saved my life many times in battle, and that's how we became such close friends." He sighed. "I see his heart in you."

"Thank you."

Putting his hand on Terra's shoulder, he smiled. "I stepped back when you were younger because you were training with Eraqus, and I could see you looked at him like he was your father. But, I hoping now to step up and become more like a father to you. I should've done it much sooner."

"I would love that."

"I hoped you would."

"Hey!" Misao stood a few feet away, arms crossed. "I've been looking all over for you. The fireworks are going to start soon."

"Guess we better get back then."

"Guess so."

The third and final day of the celebrations, the men went out while the ladies stayed around the house.

"Miss Aqua," Tsukiko bit her lip, "can you show me some magic, please?"

"I'd love to."

Going out into the courtyard, Tsukiko sat with her mother as Aqua stepped into the training grounds Makio and Miaso used.

"What kind of magic do you want to see?"

"All of it!"

The young woman laughed before activating her Spell Weaver form. A pink glow covered her body before she began to skate across the ground, magic swirling around her as she twirled.

As she released her magic in a snowflake-shaped burst, looking back, she saw Tsukiko's expression.

Pure joy.

But her eyes looked misty.

"What do you think?"

"I want to be like you." The girl sighed. "You're amazing. You're pretty. You can fight. You do magic. But… girls can't do that here."

Aqua's eyes met Reiko's.

The woman's expression shifted many times.

Worry.

Sadness.

Excitement.

Fear.

Peace.

"Tsuki, why don't you go and make us some tea. And then I'm sure Aqua will show you some more."

"Yes, Mother."

As the girl left, Aqua approached the woman. "Terra told me what he spoke to you about."

"I am worried… I know if Tsukiko goes with you, her dreams will come true, but I also know bad things could happen like what happened to Terra." She sighed. "I have a son and husband who are soldiers, and another son who is a hero. And now I have a daughter who wants to be like them. I don't know what to do."

"The choice is yours. I know Terra won't ask her until you and Makio give your blessing."

The woman nodded. "I need to speak with him about it. I brought it up, but he said we would talk later. Might as well do it now."

"Might as well…"

And as the day carried on and the boys all returned; Reiko pulled her husband aside.

And they talked.

For an hour.

Two.

Nearly three.

Then Makio came back and asked for Terra.

And they stepped out.

When they came back, Terra walked to his sister as she talked with Ven and Misao. "Tsuki."

"Yes?"

Terra knelt down and smiled. "I have a question for you. Would you like to come with me and become my apprentice?"

…

"Wh-what?"

"Would you like to come with me, and I teach you how to wield a Keyblade?"

…

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh yes!" The girl threw herself at her brother. "Thank you, Terra!"

Reiko sighed. "I know this is your dream, to be a warrior. Now you can be."

"That's amazing, Tsuki." Misao laughed. "I'm honestly a little jealous. But you'll do great."

Makio nodded. "I know she will. But, we do want to wait just a little bit."

Terra nodded. "She'll turn eleven in two months, so is it ok if I come get her this summer?"

"I think that would be fine."

Terra smiled, looking down at the girl still clinging to him. He felt her body shake and heard sniffles. "I told you, dreams can come true."

"Thank you… Thank you so much… I love you Terra."

"I love you too, Tsuki."