A Very Xenosaga Christmas
“Christmas?”
“Yes, Christmas. It was a holiday celebrated around this time of year back on Lost Jerusalem.”
Shion, who leaned beside the wall just to the side of Jin’s bed, folded her arms defiantly. Her brother, Jin, was crouched on the floor, removing a series of red clothing from underneath his bed; a cap with a fuzzy white ball at the end of it, a coat with furry white lining along with some pants. Last, but not least, he removed a rather large pair of black boots.
“And what is that for, dare I ask?”
“This is what the figure known as Santa Claus would wear as he delivered toys to children across the world in one night.”
Shion’s already planned cynical laugh was interrupted by the sound of scurrying feet.
“This man delivered toys to children all around the galaxy?” asked MOMO, her eyes alight.
“Does he use some kind of mass connection with the U.M.N.?” asked Jr., deep in thought over such a feat.
“No,” laughed Jin, raising himself up. “Santa Claus was a figure from the Lost Jerusalem era. He would go around the entire planet with a sleigh led by reindeer.”
“Reindeer? Oh, those four-legged extinct creatures.” Jr.’s eyebrows furrowed. “Wait a minute! How can a man using reindeer as a source of transportation deliver presents to children across an entire planet in one night?”
“Because these particular reindeer could fly.”
Jr. folded his arms, glaring at Jin. “That sounds like a load of crap to me.”
“I’m glad someone agrees with me,” piped in Shion.
“Of course that is a myth that surrounded the holiday, but the point of it was for family togetherness and giving the ones you love presents. Which I think is something we should do here aboard the Elsa.” Jin folded his clothes up and placed them neatly on the bed. He peered from face to face, seeking for approval (or if Shion dared to disapprove it).
“I think it’s a great idea!” MOMO’s eyes hadn’t even stopped dazzling since she first heard about the holiday. She hopped from foot to foot with eager anticipation.
Jr. lowered his hands to his hips, biting the side of his lower lip.
Shion angrily tore her vision down to her feet.
“I suppose it isn’t such a bad idea,” replied Jr. “It sounds like it would be a good morale booster around here.”
“Then it is settled!” Jin clapped his hands together. “Christmas is coming to the Elsa!”
“You and your ancient rituals,” could just barely be heard muttered from Shion’s mouth.
“Listen up, crew of the Elsa!” Everyone stood still as Jin’s voice boomed over the PA system. “In two days, we will be celebrating a gift exchange that originates back to Lost Jerusalem called Christmas. What this means is that you buy a gift for anyone you care about aboard this ship and wrap it up. Don’t tell them what you got them! It’s a secret until the night that we all open our presents.
“Now, we don’t have long, so I suggest that while we are still docked on Second Miltia that we go out and collect our gifts! If you do not wish to participate, by all means, don’t. But expect to feel bad if anyone buys you a present!”
“What a bunch of crap,” said Captain Matthews, stuffing another spoonful of instant mashed potatoes into his mouth.
“Oh, and Captain.” Matthews nearly spewed the potatoes out of his mouth. “I need to speak with you later in regards to decorations and a tree. That will be all. I hope everyone participates in this interesting tradition!”
Captain Matthews looked over at Tony and Hammer, who both sat at the bar. They looked just as perplexed as he was. “Decorations and a…tree?”
“Come on, Ziggy!”
MOMO dragged the cyborg by the hand. The man himself seemed perplexed by her urgency.
“Calm down, MOMO,” he said. “Jin said we have two days.”
“That’s not enough time to get everyone gifts!”
“I feel…this will be a long day…”
Shion watched as they exited the port and hurried into the city. She shook her head, expelling a sigh.
“Is there something the matter?”
It was KOS-MOS, silently walking up beside her creator. Her tone and facial expression made the question seem hollow.
“It’s just this crazy Christmas thing.” She closed her eyes as if to block it out. “Jin is going to create such havoc for no reason…Typical.”
“I think it sounds like a good idea.”
chaos appeared to the other side of Shion with less warning than KOS-MOS’s arrival. His smile was warm and caring.
“Not you too, chaos!”
“Come on, Shion. Lighten up! Your brother has good intentions, as does the holiday.”
Grabbing both Shion and KOS-MOS’s hands, he said, “Come. Let’s go shopping.”
Upon the group’s return to the Elsa (except for MOMO and Ziggy, who were still shopping to Ziggy’s displeasure), they were greeted with lights. The interchanging colors lined every wall along with green halos with a red bow attached to each one. At the center of the main hall stood a tree that touched the ceiling, also strung with these lights.
“Wow!” exclaimed Jr., running over to the tree.
From behind the tree appeared a large man wearing red. It was the same set of clothes Jin had placed on his bed earlier. But this man had long white hair and a white beard.
“Ho Ho Ho!” shouted the man awkwardly, his large belly jiggling each time he spoke.
“Gah! What the hell?” Jr.’s hands quickly went to his Makarovs.
“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! It’s me!”
The fat man lowered his beard to reveal the face of Captain Matthews.
Resting his hands, Jr. replied, “I still stick by with what I said. What the hell?”
Tony and Hammer emerged from behind the tree, wearing matching flashy green and red costumes, along with fake pointy ears.
“I-it was him!” said the two simultaneously, pointing to Jin, who was on a ladder attaching a type of plant, mistletoe, above the door to the bridge.
Massaging her forehead, Shion let out, “Oh, Jin…”
The night had arrived. All of the presents had been placed beneath the tree. A series of tables were set up for refreshments, KOS-MOS standing behind them to serve while wearing an apron of red and green stripes. Captain Matthews sat on a chair of honor beside the tree, Tony and Hammer on either side of him, all looking uncomfortable. The rest of the group was scattered throughout the hall, waiting for the event to begin.
“So,” said Jr., his eyes darting from side to side. “What did you get me?”
“For the last time, I’m not telling you!” exclaimed MOMO, putting her hands on her hips along with a glare on her face. “You don’t have that much time left to wait now!”
“Oh, come on! Will I like it?”
“You’ll love it!”
“Then tell me what it is.”
“Jr.!”
Defeated, Jr. slinked away beside the tree.
At the refreshment tables, chaos grabbed himself a cookie.
“Would you like a drink?” asked KOS-MOS.
Slightly taken aback, chaos said, “Sure.”
She picked him up a cup from the table and poured a frothy pink liquid into it. Delicately, she handed him the cup.
“Thanks, KOS-MOS!”
“Happy birthday.” A smile behind blue eyes.
The same pink liquid escaped chaos’s mouth and splattered the floor, a series of coughs escaping with it. “What did you say?”
“I am happy to be of service.” A simple reply from red eyes.
He looked her over for a few seconds, but quickly switched to his usual enigmatic smile and rejoined the rest of the party goers.
Jin approached the front of the Christmas tree. “Everyone! It is time!”
The murmur died, everyone gathered around the tree. MOMO looked on with such awe. Ziggy looked on with tired eyes from hours of shopping and wrapping presents. Jr. looked on with excitement, though he tried to hide it whenever anyone looked his way. chaos looked on with peace in his eyes. KOS-MOS looked on with the look she always had. Shion had her arms folded across her chest, but her face betrayed her curiosity.
“It is customary for Santa and his elves to pass out the presents,” said Jin, putting the first gift in Captain Matthews’s hands.
Santa Matthews reluctantly accepted the square box, bringing it close to his face in order to read the name on the package.
“This present is for Little Master!” he bellowed.
“Gimme, gimme, gimme!” Jr. ran up to Matthews and snatched the box away.
“Jeez, Little Master,” laughed Hammer.
A rainbow of wrapping paper flew through the air. The box was torn apart, and Jr. was delighted to find new pair of holsters for his Makarovs.
“Sweet!” he exclaimed, throwing off his old pair, but not before removing his guns first. “My name is inscribed on them, too!”
“I thought you would like it,” said MOMO, smiling.
“MOMO!” bellowed Santa Matthews after Tony handed him another present.
“Oh!” She darted up to him. “Thank you so much!” She retreated back to her seat on the floor beside Jr. and began opening the gift.
“Oh! A new hat!” She removed the large sun-hat from the box and placed it on her head.
“I got it while you were looking at holsters for Jr.,” said Ziggy, glad that she liked the gift.
“Thank you!” MOMO jumped to her feet and jumped on Ziggy.
Hours pass of opening gifts. Ziggy received gifts ranging from a gag gift of a can of oil (from Jr.) to a sweater with Bunnie on it (from MOMO). chaos had been difficult to shop for, but he received a pair of thermal gloves from Shion and an old physical novel from Jin. Though not entirely certain what to do with her gifts, KOS-MOS received a make-up set from MOMO and black dress from Shion, among other things.
“Jin!” Santa Matthews handed a rectangular shaped box to Jin, the words “From Shion” written on it.
“Shion got me a gift?” His tone was an exaggerated bewilderment, but he was obviously taken aback by his sister’s involvement in what she would call a “ridiculous ritual.”
His sister looked on as he opened the gift, a smug smile on her face. Inside was a white kimono along with a pair of wooden sandals.
“Why, sister,” began Jin, an astonished smile crossing his face, “This is absolutely wonderful. Thank you!”
“See, I can put up with your ridiculous rituals from the past,” she scoffed, which provoked a chuckle from her brother.
“The last gift!” announced Tony and Hammer simultaneously, glancing at each other with embarrassment.
Santa Matthews took the small box from the elves. “Ms. Vector, you’re up!”
Cautiously, as if the present would explode, Shion approached the captain and took the gift. It said “From Your Brother.” She tore a piece of wrapping paper off each side with tight precision.
“Hurry up and open it!” commanded Jr. playfully, ensconced in a sea of wrapping paper and gifts.
Letting out a sigh of submission, Shion tore through the rest of the package. Inside the small box was a black picture frame. In the picture were four people in a hospital room. An older looking man was on the far left, a woman sitting up in a bed was right beside him. In the bed as well and hugging the woman was a little girl with large circular glasses on her face. And to the right of them stood a man in a military uniform, a young Jin Uzuki.
“J-Jin…” The siblings shared the same look. A look of nostalgia. A look of sorrow. But a look of appreciation. They shared a smile.