A festive holiday Kingdom Hearts fic
Christmas had come to Destiny Islands. A festive time, even if the snow never did come to such a warm and lush little piece of tropical paradise, and certainly no less festive for a trio of young teens who, while very nearly adults, still held the joy of childhood in their hearts. As Sora, Riku, and Kairi waited for the arrival of their many friends from across all the worlds, they poured through old photo albums. Such a splendid, simple and joyous occasion seemed like it would last forever, but it was broken when Sora, quite unexpectedly, seemingly inexplicably, punched Riku in the arm.
“Sora?” Riku said, more surprised than genuinely hurt; not only was he hardened by far worse than a simple punch, but there was far more in the way of juvenile irritation behind it than any genuine anger or malice. “What was that about?”
“That.” Sora said quite simply, pouting in a way that could never be taken seriously, as he pointed to photo that had been taken some seven years prior. It depicted an eight-year old Sora looking absolutely precious, so proud of himself, as Kairi giggled just behind him, while Riku stood just off to the side, trying a bit too hard to look cool for the camera.
“Wait…” Kairi said as the memories came back. “Wasn’t that the Christmas where you told everyone that you didn’t believe Santa Claus existed?” She remembered thinking that was really funny at the time, but now it just seemed so weird and out of character for Sora, trying to act like he was so grown up. Why would he do that, especially since he was so innately childlike and was never in any hurry to grow up?
“That’s right!” Sora said, his voice full of indignation. Then he pointed to Riku. “And he’s the one who made me, and because of that, Sandy Claws…I mean, Santa Claus, put me on his naughty list!”
Riku laughed, natural and easy, the mild pain of Sora’s punch already gone. “Sora, when have I ever been able to make you do anything?” He paused to let Sora think of all the times Riku tried to talk him out of doing something stupid, and failing. “All I said, was that since Kairi had been adopted by the mayor, she probably didn’t need to write to Santa to get what she wanted. How you got proclaiming to everyone ever that you didn’t believe in Santa Claus from that, I’ve no idea.”
“Sora.” Kairi said, clasping Sora on the shoulder as she shined one of her more brilliant smiles at him. “Did you say that so that I’d think you were more grown-up?” That shy, awkward blush on Sora’s face? Yeah, Kairi knew she’d gotten it right on the nose. “That is so adorable.” With that, she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Huh.” Sora looked up, a goofy grin on his face. “No mistletoe; this Christmas is definitely looking better than that one.”
Riku stood up and went into the kitchen to grab some eggnog. “Honestly, how did it take so long to get those two together?” He muttered to himself as he shook his head, knowing that in spit of it all, he wouldn’t trade them for anything.
“Sora?” Riku said, more surprised than genuinely hurt; not only was he hardened by far worse than a simple punch, but there was far more in the way of juvenile irritation behind it than any genuine anger or malice. “What was that about?”
“That.” Sora said quite simply, pouting in a way that could never be taken seriously, as he pointed to photo that had been taken some seven years prior. It depicted an eight-year old Sora looking absolutely precious, so proud of himself, as Kairi giggled just behind him, while Riku stood just off to the side, trying a bit too hard to look cool for the camera.
“Wait…” Kairi said as the memories came back. “Wasn’t that the Christmas where you told everyone that you didn’t believe Santa Claus existed?” She remembered thinking that was really funny at the time, but now it just seemed so weird and out of character for Sora, trying to act like he was so grown up. Why would he do that, especially since he was so innately childlike and was never in any hurry to grow up?
“That’s right!” Sora said, his voice full of indignation. Then he pointed to Riku. “And he’s the one who made me, and because of that, Sandy Claws…I mean, Santa Claus, put me on his naughty list!”
Riku laughed, natural and easy, the mild pain of Sora’s punch already gone. “Sora, when have I ever been able to make you do anything?” He paused to let Sora think of all the times Riku tried to talk him out of doing something stupid, and failing. “All I said, was that since Kairi had been adopted by the mayor, she probably didn’t need to write to Santa to get what she wanted. How you got proclaiming to everyone ever that you didn’t believe in Santa Claus from that, I’ve no idea.”
“Sora.” Kairi said, clasping Sora on the shoulder as she shined one of her more brilliant smiles at him. “Did you say that so that I’d think you were more grown-up?” That shy, awkward blush on Sora’s face? Yeah, Kairi knew she’d gotten it right on the nose. “That is so adorable.” With that, she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Huh.” Sora looked up, a goofy grin on his face. “No mistletoe; this Christmas is definitely looking better than that one.”
Riku stood up and went into the kitchen to grab some eggnog. “Honestly, how did it take so long to get those two together?” He muttered to himself as he shook his head, knowing that in spit of it all, he wouldn’t trade them for anything.