Even though at some point in the night it would get cold, some form of warmth would wrap itself around her, leaving her to continue dreaming endlessly. When a snowflake flew onto the tip of {Name's} nose, stirring her to wake from the sudden droplet of water, it did not occur to her that she was sleeping on top of the beast she calls her friend. It took her a whole good minute to let it process through her half-asleep brain. Once she realised it, the first thing she did was check his lower torso, only to find him in black bottoms that look like he went to the gym. She blew a quiet sigh of relief as she lay back down on top of him. For a guy who always wore something thin even in winters, he sure made a good hot water bottle.

...unless that was my heat? She thought.

{Name} tried to go back to sleep but for some reason, she couldn't. Where she lay she was warm, so she didn't want to get up either. Then a thought occurred to her; what happened last night? How did I get into this position with Vanitas, and why are we sleeping on the couch? She couldn't recollect the events last night that lead them to the position now. All she could remember was watching James Dean's last movie of his career and life and then suddenly feeling something heavy on her shoulder. When she glanced to her right, she found a serene-looking devil snoozing away. It made him seem angelic for a demonic thing.

She couldn't help but giggle and thought about taking a picture for a memory of that night. She struggled to take her phone out but somehow managed without waking the beast from his slumber. For every successful shot of her adorable friend, she would let out a quiet giggle. It wasn't until she pretended to kiss his cheek as a pose for the camera did she stop her shenanigans. Seeing the peaceful look on his face as he slept was like finding a new treasure that only she knew. She probably was the only one who knew and had the chance to see this side of him. It was...endearing how innocent he looked, with a few creases on his forehead whenever something happened in his mind, no doubt a nightmare or an unpleasant scene in a dream.

He was just too adorable for words, that watching Vanitas sleep was more interesting than what was playing on the TV. When his forehead would crease again, {Name} automatically kissed it to chase away the nightmares, which surprisingly worked. Once she realised what she had done, she quickly looked away and focused on the movie. Though it continued to play, {Names'} mind went elsewhere until she slowly fell into slumber. From there, everything was a blur.

Perhaps she just somehow fell on top of him as she was sleeping and Vanitas just somehow went with it? Whatever the case was, {Name} was just glad he wasn't buck naked or only in his boxers. Now that she was awake, {Name} continued to watch him breathing serenely as he sleeps. Looking closely, she noticed his lashes were fairly long, girls would envy him if he were ever a girl. Well, it made a lot more sense when he had to cross-dress as a maid that one time. Her light chuckle caused the boy to stir. Thankfully he didn't wake up, {Name} wouldn't know what he would think if he realised their position.

She blew out a breath she didn't realise she was holding, but suddenly froze when she felt his arms wrapping around her back, pulling her close to him before loosening his grip. The sudden action caused the girl to blush for a few seconds until she heard a pitter-patter of light feet coming from the kitchen. Trying to escape Vanitas' hold without having to wake him up was a mission in itself, but she managed somehow. As soon as {Name} got off him, Vanitas had his arm go into his shirt, scratching the itch on his chest and belly. A glint on his navel caught her attention for a few seconds, before she headed for the kitchen.

I never knew he had a piercing there...

It wasn't anything big but the way it was centred with his v-line peeking through was really, for a word, sexy. She didn't even realise he had a v-line either. Thinking innapropriately caused the girl to blush before shaking away such thoughts.

Now's not the time, {Name}... She thought sheepishly.

Peeking into the kitchen, she found it to be in quite a mess. The perpetrator? Meeko. The little rascal was in the cabinets searching for food, well...he was already in the middle of scarfing down a few cookies. {Name} quickly walked her way around the kitchen island to get to her pet.

"Meeko!" She scolded, picking him up before he could escape. "You sneaky little thing, how did you get in?"

As if replying to her rhetorical question, the raccoon took a quick glance back at the lounge where Vanitas was sleeping. Taking notice of it, {Name} walked through the archway in between the kitchen and lounge and followed the raccoon's gaze only to find a window opened and cladded in snow. A snowflake must've flown through the window and on top of her nose this way.

No wonder I felt cold...

Then {Name} realised something. Snow! It was snowing. Quickly, she bolted to the front door, ignoring how thin her pyjamas were and opened it to find the whole town covered in a white, thick blanket. It had finally snowed. As if she could hear bells jingling, {Name} stomped out to the front, getting a better view of the neighbourhood. There were children laughing and giggling as they build their own snowman or board through the snow with their little sleighs, challenging their friends for a run.

Mothers are out in their robes, enjoying the view of their decorations mixed with the white snow as the fathers join them with a batch of hot coffee or cocoa in hand. It was beginning to look and feel more like Christmas. There was just something missing, and {Name} knew what it was. With a mischievous grin, she stomped back into the house, but not before grabbing a ball of snow.

Conflicted with her scheme once she saw Vanitas' serene face, she decided to nudge him awake first, but to no avail, the boy turned to his left side where he faces the couch. Since her consideration plan didn't work, she decided to try out her scheme; which was to throw a snowball at his face. The sudden impact of the cold ball on his face had him up instantly. He screamed from the chill to the face, causing {Name} to laugh.

After he placed the pieces together in his mind, the red-faced boy slowly turned to strike a glare at the giggling girl, who sent him an innocent smile. "Oh, you're awake now?"

His eyes narrow in mischief like the curve on the corners of his lips. {Name} suddenly stopped laughing, readying for the door as she knew what the boy had in mind. Just as she predicted, Vanitas jumped off the couch to reach for her.

"C'mere you!" With a wicked grin, he chased after {Name}, who was luckily close to the entrance archway to give her a head-start out the door. "{Name}!" Vanitas called in wicked laughter.

"No!" {Name} cried, bolting out to the snow covered lawn. "Stay away from me Van!"

"You started it, now I'm ending it!" She heard him call from the door as she hid behind a mountain of snow. His neighbours probably tried to dig through their lawn to create a pavement to walk on, creating a mountain on Vanitas' lawn. "{Name}, once I get my hands on you..."

She didn't hear the end of his sentence as the pounding of her heart resounded loudly in her eardrums. Once she composed her breathing, {Name} waited to hear where he could be, but it was dead silent. There was no sound of crushing snow, only laughter.

Quietly, and discreetly, {Name} tried to have a look around the corner of the piled up snow. When she found no sight of her wicked friend, she didn't know whether to panic or be relieved, but she soon found her answer when said wicked friend jumped through the pile of snow, causing the girl to scream from the sudden jump-scare. It didn't end there.

With her guard being left unguarded, Vanitas lunged out and tackled her to the ground, rolling a few times before ending up on top with {Name} pinned to the snow. As {Name} tried to process what had happened, Vanitas leant down close to her face, nose almost touching. Her breath hitched as his grin went from wicked to something smug.

"Oh, you're pinned down now?" {Name} scrunched her nose from his morning breath but she didn't have a chance to recover as she suddenly felt snow shoved on her face. "How d'ya like me now?"

He laughed wickedly before he was shoved down by one of {Names'} martial arts move. He was now pinned to the snow, looking up to a triumphant smirk. "How do you like me now?"

Vanitas blinked once before smirking that smirk that girls would swoon over for. "I'm starting to like this side of you."

If his comment was not what made her blush, it would be the pair of arms she felt wrapped around her torso. {Name} didn't exactly know how to react from his gestures, especially when he had this certain smile on his face. It wasn't mocking or perverse, it was...hard to pin-point what it was. {Name} couldn't exactly explain how she felt in the situation, but awkward was one of them. It was obvious from his smile that whatever mischief he planned, it was working. Or was this really planned?

Before she could ponder further, she felt something hard pelted onto the back of her neck, which crushes up into nothing once it made impact. Both {Name} and Vanitas turned to find a laughing Zack and an amused Terra by the gate with a triumphant Aqua, who was throwing up a new snowball from the palm of her hands and up into the air.

"And what are you two lovebirds doing this fine morning?"

⛄️

"The lighting will commence at six tonight, so I expect to see you by the Fountain Court at quarter-past five if you decide not to come to mine at five-thirty."

So the two were told. The plan today was to see the Christmas light decorations turn on as it runs through the city that were mixed into the snow, but before that, partners are to have fun with the snow. It was just another "day-off" like that Christmas movie marathon the two had last night. Once Aqua was done explaining, she left with Terra and Zack. Apparently they were on their way to see old friends, well Zack was before he returned to the world, Olympus.

The duo decided to trek out towards the forest. What better place to play with snow than the forest just outside of the town? There was a rumour that in the middle of the woods, when you are far from society, far from the light, when you are lost in the middle of nowhere, there are a group of trees with different doors that will be a passage to a certain place. No one knows how the rumour started, but it became an inspiration for the movie the two watched last night. Despite this rumour, the forest was beautiful on it's own, many would venture to seek whether the rumours are true or just to bask in the beauty that nature beholds.

"How does Aqua know it was going to snow on this particular day?"

"Because she's a perfectionist, one of OCD's worst psychos." Vanitas said, as he pats a bit of snow with ungloved hands to smoothen out the edges of the snowman.

Picking up a handful of snow, {Name} built up another layer for the body of the snowman. "No, but seriously, how did she plan this out?"

"You obviously don't know your cousin if you're asking me this." Vanitas breathed, wisps of smoke leaving his lips.

It's funny how he could breathe out cold wisps yet not feel bothered about wearing something so thin, {Name} would think. She doesn't get how Vanitas could tolerate such cold weather that reaches 0°C if not -3° in skinny jeans and a singlet. She would take it as a joke whenever he says it doesn't bother him, thinking he was only trying to act manly like men would, but as days go by and the time where manly men would cover up, there Vanitas is still acting like the cold was just a phase. It's a relieving sight to find him wearing a jacket and his signature red scarf she's seen him wear since high school. Then she realised his little snippy remark.

"Vanitas."

"The crazy psycho planned this for years, obviously things are going to go according to plan." He paused. "Oh, but then there was that one time..."

"What?" That caught her attention. {Name} instantly turned out of curiosity but had to quickly save the falling snow before patting it back into place.

"Nah, just that snow usually fall around this time but there was one time where it didn't snow until the next day..." Vanitas started to giggle to himself. "Boy, did it cause a storm for everyone. Especially that pretty boy, what's-his-face."

"Terra?"

"Yeah, him." Vanitas waved a hand before standing up from his crouch and taking out an electronic cigarette [1]. "It's all good and fun when someone else is miserable, not so much when I get the end of the schtick from the constant whining the next day."

{Name} paused in thought, before continuing to place coals, that Meeko had given her, on the unfinished snowman's chest. "I thought you didn't participate in this event?"

"I don't, but that doesn't mean I don't get a knock on my door for every attempt to drag me into it." Vanitas hissed at the memory. "Or for every time someone's having problems, a.k.a, your cousin and her boy."

"Well, it's normal for couples to fight once in awhile." {Name} remarked.

"Yes, once in awhile. Not every few seconds!" Vanitas retorted, crouching back down, letting {Name} finish the snowman on her own. "Those two clash too much, it's a wonder how they're still together."

"They're just not good at expressing their love. It's just a phase they'll get over." {Name} said, as she pat the snowman's head before adding the coal for the face. "Terra has a jealousy strike, whilst Aqua is stubborn. It's normal for those kind of traits in couples."

"If that's true, then I don't want what they have." Vanitas mumbled, the vapour [2] chewed between his lips.

{Name} paused again, her head upright, before slowly turning to find Vanitas dazing off somewhere. "You don't want to have someone to love?" She mumbled, barely audible for anyone to hear unless your ear was close to her lips.

There was a pause of silence between the two before Vanitas turned to glance at her. At first, {Name} thought he didn't hear her, but she forgets how sharp his ears could pick up. Vanitas blew the vapour past his lips before sending {Name} an unreadable smirk.

"What are you talking about? I have you, remember? Partner?"

At first, {Name} just nods casually as if it was all good and dandy. Then when it hits, {Name} froze for the umpteenth time that day. He couldn't have meant what she thought he meant, right? Is that his way of confessing? Is he hinting something at her? No, no, no, it can't be...right? Then again, this is Vanitas. Everything he says or do is very obscure so...it's possible. But if {Name} were to jump into conclusions, and she was wrong, what would happen then? Where could they go from there?

Maybe I'm overthinking this...

As if he could read minds, Vanitas then got up from his crouch, walked towards {Name}, and placed a hand on her head. "Unless you still want that divorce..."

That brought more confusion to {Name} before she realised what Vanitas meant and remembered the charity event a few days ago. Their fifth challenge, which was to sing or sell cookies for a good cause. On top of that memory, she remembered his melodious voice and how he controlled the harmony between them, and after the event, he took her hand and ran so he wouldn't have to stay any longer. When they settled, they had a little playful squabble about their friends. {Name} wanted to go back and help out and Vanitas wasn't going to stop her.

"They're your friends."

"They're too noisy."

"(Snort). They're your friends."

"They're your friends."

"What's mine is yours and what's yoursー"

"ーis forever mine."

She couldn't help it, she had to let it out. The bubble of laughter was overflowing, it had to escape! "You're so selfish!" She laughed, tears slowly forming at the corner of her eyes.

"Hey, you picked out my name, you should've expected that." He held up his hand in mock defence. "Ya either take it or leave it, sweet-cheeks."

"I want a divorce..." She wheezed, letting go of Meeko as she held onto her stomach.

Yes good times, good times. At the thought of the memory, she giggled once more, causing the pale boy to send her a questioning glance. She shook her head.

"Nothing, just remembering something." Then {Name} realised something. "Are you taking up smoking again?"

Vanitas crossed his eyes as he focused on the little cylinder in between his lips. "This is vapour."

"Why are you taking it?"

"Well I can't take the real one since you'll nag my ear off if I did."

"It's nice to know it's not the real thing, but why are you taking it?"

Vanitas puffed out his cheeks as he blew vapour from the corner of his lips, looking like Popeye. "I'm stressing, and when I'm stressing, I smoke."

"What are you stressing out for?"

"Dear Neptune, it's endless with you." Vanitas, in a huff, took out his electronic cigarette, and pocketed it away.

"I'm just concerned about you."

"Now I'm considering about that divorce."

"Hey!" {Name} took a hold of his cheeks before forcefully turning his fish-face towards her. "We're a team, which means we don't give up on each other. And since we're a team, we must always help each other. And that means, you tell me your problems, and I'll tell you mine." She said sternly, yet at the same time, she was saying it out of determination and care. "So? What are you stressing about?" She asked more gently, caressing his cheeks before sliding a gloved hand over his head, as if patting a cat; fixing a bit of bed-hair along the way.

Vanitas blew a sigh of defeat, eventually sending her a reassuring smile. "Nothing. This time of the month gets to me sometimes, I have a habit of smoking at this time of year."

"Well we can fix that."

"I'm not addicted to vapour." He chuckled.

"No, but I can find a way to cheer you up." {Name} stated before running off somewhere.

"Oh, and what's that?" Vanitas asked sceptically, as he turned to be smacked in the face by snow. Again. He heard her laugh as the snow slid from his face. "{Name}...you never learn..."

And from there, the snowball fight had commenced. Or, well, continued...

⛄️

It wasn't long until the sky turned a slight darker shade of blue, and hands have turned frozen solid like blocks of ice did the two lie down out of exhaustion, printing their figure into the mush of snow beneath them. Their panting breaths could be heard as their chests rise up and down strenuously, their breathing not in unison.

{Name}, with strain in her muscles, held up a finger. "...I give."

"...(haa...haa)...HA!...(haa...haa)..." Vanitas haughtily cried in triumph, a fist languidly pumped in the air. He then turned his head. "See? ...(haa...haa)...you should never...(haa)...go against me..."

If {Name} were to be honest, she would have told him that it didn't matter who the victor was. All that mattered was that it had him forget about whatever it was he had been stressing about. If she were to be honest, she would have told him how glad she was. But she couldn't be honest. Not in this moment at least. She had to keep him thinking he was in control.

"Next time, Van...you're ass is mine!"

Vanitas smirked that smirk when a challenge is at hand. "Bring it on."

{Name} smirked in promise before sitting up from her mush of snow, stretching. "Woo~! That took a lot out of me." She ruffles the snow out of her hair. "I wonder what time it is." She pauses. Scans to her left, then scans to her right. "Where's Meeko?"

"Pfft. Probably took the chance to run home and scramble through my food, again." Vanitas hissed, reminding {Name} of the mess he had to witness once their first snowball fight was over. Of course {Name} made sure to clean it up.

"He couldn't have gone home without me." {Name} said, scanning the place some more. "Meeko!" She called through cupped hands. No sound of light footing trudging through snow. "Hmm..."

"You think it's buried somewhere in the snow during our fight?" Vanitas jokes, sitting up alongside her.

"Don't be silly, Van, there's no way heー"

Before she could finish her sentence, a rustling sound suddenly caught their attention. The two glanced at each other before getting up to see where the rustling sound was coming from. It turns out a pile of snow was shaking, for some odd reason. The two quirk their brows in confusion before Vanitas sent {Name} a challenging smirk.

"Raccoon for your thoughts?"

"It's probably a bunny or someーohmygoshMeeko!" Just as {Name} was denying Vanitas' prediction, a little raccoon head popped out of the mound of snow. Immediately, she dug through the snow until she brought up her shivering pet close to her chest. "Aww, my poor baby became one with the snow. Poor Meeko."

Vanitas blew out a sigh of disbelief before turning to head back into town. "Come on, not long 'fore we meet up with the others."

"You're being enthusiastic." {Name} pointed out, following behind.

"I'd rather see stupid people be in a trance than see you coddling that thing."

"Maybe I should coddle you more then, hey, Meeko, if it means Mr Grumpy-Bum goes out to socialise〜!" {Name} cooed, cuddling her pet and giving it Eskimo kisses to annoy Vanitas further.

"Mi mi mi, mi mi mi〜." Vanitas pulled a face as he mockingly-mimicked {Name'} coos.

He should wish he hadn't though...

⛄️

"Is that everyone?" Aqua's voice rang out as she inwardly made a note of the numbers and everyone's presence.

"Oh! Don't forget the plus one!" Zack called out jokingly with a wink her way. It earned a glare from Terra as he pulled Aqua close to him by her waist.

"Well if we're all here, I guess we better start heading off before it gets crowded."

And with that, everyone followed Aqua towards town where the mayor of the town will allow the turning of the lights. During the walk, chatter was shared amongst each other as everyone caught up, for it has been awhile for a few to see each other, Zack especially. Vanitas watched as both Marlia and Lerane clung to the brunette with lustrous eyes, causing the brunette to feel uncomfortable, yet he continues to talk kindly as he didn't have the heart to chase them away. Thankfully Demy came along with Ienzo to save the day, who both admire the brunette growing up.

As everyone caught up with each other, Vanitas walked close to {Name}. The two were lagging behind the group of people, only because Vanitas hates crowds and the crowd of people he's with, and {Name} didn't want to leave Vanitas behind ーor, wellー really, she's looking out for him so he doesn't escape from the group. Whatever her reasons were, and obvious as they were, Vanitas didn't care. If he had the chance to escape, he wouldn't take it as he had the only one person who kept him sane. Though the two were the only ones who weren't talking, Vanitas was grateful for that bit of silence.

"{N/Name}-Poo〜♪!"

Or so he thought. The annoying, mockingly-sweet and cheerful voice belonged to none other than Lea. Before {Name} could turn to the voice, she was tackled and glomped from the side. She almost fell into Vanitas, who was ready to catch her, if she hadn't caught her own footing. It made the two stop in their tracks.

"Whoa, Lea! Nice to see you too." She said, giggling once she composed herself from the tackle.

The red-head buries his face in her stomach, tickling {Names'} stomach for every time he moves his face as he...sniffs her scent? This action caused Vanitas to clench his fists that were hidden in his pockets.

"Haa〜 I miss the scent of a woman." He said, ignoring her trembling from the tickles and the struggling she was doing to escape from his hold. "It's no fun when you're going around town with a male partner for almost a week now! You start to lose the touch and scent of a woman along the way."

"Lea, I have no idea what you're on about...but could you just...let go?" {Name} asked as she struggled in Lea' hold.

"Aww, but {N/Name}-Poo〜..."

"Lea, if you don't let go, I won't know what I'll have to do..." Isa threatened under gritted teeth.

"You don't scare me." Lea pouted, clinging onto {Names'} right leg this time, childishly pulling out a tongue at his blunette of a friend.

"Then should I call for Toyoguchi-San?" Isa asked with a threatening grin. That had the red-head reacting.

"You wouldn't."

"Okiayu-Kun should be good, too."

Lea pauses for a few seconds, glancing elsewhere in thought before shrugging nonchalantly and getting up from clinging onto {Names'} leg.

"Well, sorry {Name}. I like you and all but not enough to be buried six-feet-under on the spot." Lea said, dusting himself off.

{Name} giggles at his silliness. "That's ok, Lea. I like you enough to not be buried six-feet-under."

Lea's eyes suddenly sparkle, and Isa knew that look. "Now you went and did it." Isa said, with the rolling of the eyes. "Why did you have to encourage him further, {Surname}-San?"

"Sorry?" {Name} said with her arms held up in a shrugging yet confused way.

"{N/NAME}!!!" Just as Lea was going to glomp her once more, Isa quickly reacted by taking a hold of the back of his shirt-collar. "Not fair Isa! I was just about to claim my mutual love with {N/Name}!"

"Yeah, yeah, claim your love at the edge of a cliff, please." Isa snarkily replied, as he dragged the red-head towards the group. The way Isa was dragging him was like dragging a dog by it's leash. As the two left, {Name} just giggles and waves.

"That Lea. If he's not careful, no girl will take him seriously." {Name} blew out a huff of mock-disbelief. "Right Vanー?"

As she turned to send him a smile, she was caught off guard by this dark aura emanating from her pale friends' body. He wasn't looking at her, {Name} was positive he probably didn't hear her either. She waves a gloved hand in front of his eyes and almost jumped when he blinked to glance at her at the corner of his eye. She couldn't see his lips that were conveniently hidden behind his red scarf, but she was sure it was in a straight line. She thought he was going to say something, as it was obvious he had something going through his mind, but instead, he continued to walk on towards the group. It took {Name} a few seconds before she tagged along, except, instead of walking beside him, she was slightly lagging behind.

"I wonder what's going through his mind" was obviously written across her face, but her mind was thinking otherwise.

Did I do something wrong?

⛄️

Once the group made it into the town, they weren't surprised for what was in store for them. As if Vanitas and {Name} were performing their duet again, the crowd of people were bigger and quite anxious for the lighting to happen. There was a podium with three tiers of people lined up with musical instruments and a big-ass decorated tree was situated behind them. It was hard to hear over the countless chatter between friends and family that {Name} almost fainted from a huge headache given. But she felt something solid holding her up, that when she found it was Vanitas, she almost jumped in surprise. As if that tension earlier on didn't happen, Vanitas gave her a reassuring look as if saying "I got you", before wrapping his arms around her torso and placing his chin on her head; pulling her close to him. {Name} inwardly gave out a sigh of relief, feeling like a huuuuuge weight had been lifted, yet deep down she still felt like something wasn't right. She decided to let it go to avoid conflict that is not needed.

Let's just enjoy the moment...

When she felt someone nudging at her side to weave through the crowd, she didn't realise the heat on her cheeks when Vanitas decided to pull her closer to him in order to protect her from getting pushed around or stepped on. It wasn't that she couldn't fend for herself due to her height, but being cornered by people from left to right like some mosh pit was not something {Name} considers to be fun, so she was thankful for Vanitas' hold on her. The crowd of people was suddenly getting more rowdier than before that even Terra had a close hold on Aqua ーwell, once he got out of Zack's deathly hug. In the end, Zack was hugging the both to avoid being glomped by Lerane and Marlia. {Name} giggled to herself at the scene.

Suddenly cheers were shared once the King of Radiant Garden entered the stage. He was a regal man, very dignified and cultured in appearance. The King was the epitome of a gentleman, looks and personality-wise. He wore a periwinkle suit with a royal-blue vest underneath the suit-jacket and above the white dress-shirt. To complete the look, the King wore a darker shade of blue tie with white polka dots on them. On his feet were white dress shoes, whilst in his breast pocket was the famous Radiant Garden flowers the King was known to have grown in his manor. Despite looking so charmingly handsome, the King had a little rebellious streak by sporting a short moustache and goatee. The King even grew out his long blonde hair that was worn slicked back. This was King Ansem.

The King smiled warmly with his pearly whites shown as he waved to the crowd. This brought a huge wave of roars and cheers from the people of Radiant Garden. {Name} felt something sink into her head and assumed it was Vanitas burying his face in her hair in pain, as she knows how sharp his hearing was, so having the whole public cry out in admiration whilst having the sense of ability to detect sound no normal person could pick up must have been Hell; like a screeching sound from the aftermath of a near-bombing. There was nothing {Name} could do to help other than turning around to place her fluffy white earmuffs on his head to protect his ears. Though he flinched from the sudden action, he instantly had a good hold over the earmuffs to block out the sound.

The cheering soon came to an end when the King held up his hand for attention. Relieved, Vanitas returned to his position of holding {Name} close to him. With a hearty grin the King greets the crowd. "My good fellow Radiant Gardeners, how are we today?"

The residents all roared their replies in a mixture of unison and not in sync. "It's always wonderful to see such pleasant faces and hear the excitement in your voices at this time of year." There was a slight pause as a few people whistled or cheered on. "As you all know, starting today we have been graced by snow, and as you all know, tonight...we shall commence the lighting of the town."

Again, more than just the cheers there was also a wave of applause. Finally, the townspeople can walk under ーnot only the starsー but to be surrounded by the glimmering lights of their town. The King, with no time to lose, walked to the front of the podium where electrician-looking people gave him two cables. The King then plugged the two cables, and as he does so, the band of people behind him started to play White Christmas [3]. This time, there were no cheers as people were awestruck by the beautiful lights that ran throughout the town until it lit up the big tree behind the King. Still in awe, and eyes as big as dish plates, the townspeople watched on in comfortable silence and the warmth of having to witness such a wonderful thing with friends and family. {Name} especially, was thankful for having to witness it with her partner, whom she glanced up to find him with half-lidded eyes staring at her. Suddenly, the world stopped. Just like that time when they were singing together, and just like that time when she sat on his lap. Suddenly, she felt the warmth of her cheeks and the rhythm of her heart tune out of sync...

⛄️

It happened all too quickly. First, she was staring into Vanitas' eyes with a heart that was thumping like it wasn't pumping enough blood, and the next, she was being pushed by a river of bodies as the crowd decided to have a look around the town of the shared early Christmas gift the King had bestowed for them. The last thing she saw was worried golden eyes that read failure; failure in keeping her close and protected. She could hardly remember the brush of fingertips as he reached out for her to take and the panic in his tone as he yelled over the crowd, "stay close to me" before she had been swept away with the tide...

Now, she's all alone looking for her partner if not someone familiar. At first it was difficult trying to weave through a swarm of families, but as she walked closer to the podium, the crowd of people grew lesser. As she reached her destination, she was disappointed to find no one except for a few couples or families and friends who decided to take their time looking around them before walking further through the town and making their way home. Still, no sight of anyone familiar. She blew out a cold breath of fresh air before realising the convenience of technology called a phone hidden somewhere in her pockets. Once she found it, she let out a disgruntled groan as it had shown her a dying battery.

As much as she had the urge to throw or kick her phone for being convenient to have yet to be inconveniently dead, {Name} decided to sit down on the podium stairs and just wait until she saw a familiar face. It shouldn't be long until someone realises, it's quite possible that the group were looking for her right this minute; no doubt her own partner. Unconsciously, {Name} smiled at that thought. By the way he had reacted, there really was no doubt at all, and {Name} (for some reason) could not understand why? Does she have much trust in him that she believes he'll be coming for her? On what basis? Because they were good friends? Even the best of friends have a hard time trusting one another.

Then...what?

{Name} froze in thought. Why was she having such thoughts, questioning on what basis that she had such strong belief that Vanitas will find her? Of course it's because they're partners! ...right? But the many times she's had that moment with her pale friend was more than she could count. But then it raises the question, why was she only realising these sort of moments now? Could it be something is changing? But what was changing? Him? Her? Their relationship? Herー?

"{Name}!"

Upon hearing her name, {Name} quickly turned to find the source only to find Zack. She didn't realise the beam of relief on her face until she felt the muscles of her lips spiraling downward. She quickly faked a smile, at least relieved to see a familiar face. "Zack!"

"Expecting someone else?" He teased.

"A-Ah, uh, n-no, of course not!" {Name} replied with, inwardly digging a grave for stuttering so stupidly.

Zack chuckled, feeling different to how she felt; thinking her reactions were too cute. "I was just teasing, {Name}. You can be at ease now."

{Name} hesitantly nodded, blowing out a breath. Waitー

"Zack, weren't you with your brother and Aqua?" {Name} asked with quirked brows.

"Hmm...yeah, well, I'm just as stuck as you are." {Name} blushed in embarrassment for having to question his situation, without taking into consideration of the situation they were in previously. She really felt stupid, and she knew that Zack knew what was going through her mind the moment he responded to her oblivious question. He snorted at her flushed reactions before taking a seat beside her. "By the way, for a change in topic, but since you mentioned him, Terra and I are not brothers."

{Name's} eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Huh?"

"We're still related, but we're not brothers."

"Then...what?"

With a prideful grin, as if bragging his daughter is head of the girl scouts, he simply and triumphly states, "He's my nephew."

That was not what {Name} expected his response to be. Stepbrothers was her first thought, cousins was another, but not nephew. She stares at Zack, stupefied, before obviously perusing for any signs of wrinkles to break through the deception of his "youth" he was presenting to the world. Zack broke out into fits of laughter.

"No, no, no, I'm actually twenty-three. I don't have any secret to any youth potions or stuff." Zack chuckled, though it still didn't ease {Name'} suspicion. "Terra's mum is my older sister. We're actually twelve years apart and when she was sixteen, she was pregnant with Terra. I was just four then. So I can see why a lot of people mistake us to be brothers, we're only four years apart, but to be honest, though Terra looks similar to me, he kinda has a more masculine look from his dad."

"Plus if our surnames didn't give it away, I honestly don't know what will."

Now that she thought about it, it was strange how Zack first came to town asking for directions to his "sister's" house and how he introduced himself as "Fair" and not "Okiayu". You'd think she would have realised it sooner by the obvious signs, but no, {Name} did not notice a single thing. She didn't even realise the house she took Zack to was Terra's either when she was showing Zack the way home. She felt more stupid than stupid could ever feel. And, once again, inwardly buried herself eighteen feet under. And yet again, Zack starts to laugh at her misfortune.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up. If it makes you feel better, everyone thinks we're brothers." Zack said, in hopes to cheer her up. "Hey, even Aqua thought so too! Ah, but she was the first one to pick it up instantly after introductions..."

Just as she thought she wasn't completely stupid, or alone, as soon as Zack corrected himself, {Name} was once again somewhere in the ditch. Zack tried to shake away such thoughts by shaking her lightly out of that bubble.

"Oi, oi, don't worry about such things. Everyone makes mistakes." Zack said. "Heck, even I thought you were Aqua's little sister. She didn't correct me until today when I was scolding her for almost killing you with her snowball."

"Why were you scolding her?" {Name} asked curiously.

"Well, I didn't want you to get a cold at this time of year. You'll miss out on so much fun!" Zack said, with an excited pumped fist. "Especially since you get to do it with friends. Now who would want to miss any of that?"

"I know a person..." {Name} trailed off, looking elsewhere with hooded eyes.

"Well then, we best try our hardest to bring happiness and cheer to that person, am I right?" Zack lightly bumped shoulders, playfully winking at her which caused {Name} to break out in laughter.

Zack was right. It wasn't the end yet, so {Name} has plenty of time to bring things around. She could care less of the competition or challenge she made with Vanitas. It wasn't about winning or losing, by the end of the day, all that mattered was the memories and moments she is given the chance to make and have with the boy behind her backyard. She could more or less guess what was changing, or at least, blossoming, but something about seeing a part of his soul behind those closed windows was worth the patience. And if things keep on progressing as they areー

"Oh! Looks like he's here." That suddenly caught {Name's} attention as she looked up to find Zack waving at someone. She followed his gaze to find her missing partner not far from where they sat.

When she realised who it was, {Name} couldn't help but beam in delight, her face glowing from just the sight of him. She waved him over but decided to jog towards him as he was taking his sweet-ass time approaching the two. As she neared towards him, she suddenly came to a stop when she noticed that ominous aura he had emanating around him. That same aura she felt when the two watched Isa drag Lea towards the group. And just like before, Vanitas' gaze was not focused on them.

Something...is definitely wrong here...

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[1] Electronic cigarette is a battery-powered vaporizer which simulates the feeling of smoking, but without burning tobacco. Instead of cigarette smoke, the user inhales an aerosol, commonly called vapour. The benefits and the health risks of e-cigarettes are uncertain. Regulated nicotine replacement products are safer than e-cigarettes, but e-cigarettes are probably safer than smoking. Retrieved from Wikipedia.

[2] Vapour is another way of addressing electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes.

[3] White Christmas is an Irving Berlin song and was first pubicly sung by Bing Crosby. Retrieved from Wikipedia. Here's an interesting fact my dad told me something related to a war between America and Vietnam. If the Americans were to hear this song play, it was code for the soldiers to return home. My memory's not the greatest but it was somewhere along those lines. Now don't bite my head off but my dad knows his shit when it comes to war so I'm just repeating what he told me. My dad was once a soldier.

I would like to credit the art to XNightThinkerX. I was supposed to post it on the bloopers chapter but forgot to, so here it is! Isn't it beautiful? Zacky-poo glomping his baby Terracotta :3 Also, if you have the time, check out her stories or other arts. I'm not doing this to advertise her work or anything, she doesn't know I'm doing this (yet). But anyway, yeah, her stories are pretty interesting, especially this crime one, Detective in Distress. If you like SnK/AoT, KH, FF, Free and crime, then I suggest you read this. And just like her stories, her art is just as amazing, like, come on! You saw the picture I'm using right? Imagine what other amazing drawings she can art!

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this. Sorry for the late update (but I guess I can't really apologise as I never really had a set date to post anything up haha). Well I did but I'm an unorganised person who does not go hand in hand with time. Seriously, I'd be the worst Time Lord, either I show up in the nick of time or I just missed the amazing shit history had in store. Anywho, again, hope you enjoyed this! Especially you Lizzie-poo.

I felt that this was rushed, like there was no room for that build in conflict, but I always feel like that. At least I'm trying to build it up. Also I'm almost at my end with this story. I know, sad right? So please dear fellow cheeky readers, rate this if you enjoyed this (come on, I know you do ;)), comment for feedback or at least tell me what you enjoyed about this chapter or from the start of the series to now, or just say hi 'cos I love interactions and giving away cookies! Imaginary as it may be, a cookie is still a cookie.

If you have any questions about the series or what I'm up to, ask away; I won't bite. I can't anyway, you're reading this from behind the screen. So yeah, hit me up underneath the comments. You know you waaaannaaa〜♪ ;)

Have a lovely day/night and stay cheeky xx

Planned: 12.12.14; 20:27 PM
Edit #1: 13.12.14; 14:47 PM
Edit #2: 02.11.15; 12:49 PM
Edit #3: 03.11.15; 10:15 AM
Edit #4: 04.11.15; 08:39 AM
Edit #5: 09.11.15; 10:24 AM
Edit #6: 10.11.15; 11:50 AM
Edit #7: 11.11.15; 22:44 PM
Edit #8: 12.11.15; 21:32 PM
Edit #9: 13.11.15; 11:56 AM
Edit #10: 23.11.15; 06:18 AM
Edit #11: 27.11.15; 01:55 AM
Edit #12: 29.11.15; 18:40 PM
Finished: 30.11.15; 09:30 AM