Chapter Text
“... unusual stormfront...” the radio announcer fought against the loud voices of nine children.
Kiryu sat in his room, facing the Sisyphean labor of wrapping Christmas gifts. Paper cuts adorned his rough hands but finally he had eight neat, snowman patterned packages to show for his effort. Proudly and with a smile he took in the sight. Getting into Christmas mood was hard under the ever-present sun of Okinawa, but he felt at least a sliver of anticipation.
That was until he looked over to a pile of three text books. This had been his standard gift for Haruka ever since she entered school. There was nothing wrong with it. She seemed to be happy about them. But Kiryu had eventually reached the level in their relationship that he wondered if something else wouldn’t delight her more. She was like him in the aspect that she didn’t demand much. But even he had liked a flashy lighter more than the average black suits and white shirts. He’d lost the lighter eventually, but still.
Tugging his hand through his hair, he tried to remember if Haruka had ever mentioned something that could serve as a present. It didn’t help that she did most shopping on her own nowadays.
The music picked up after the weather cast was over and there, backed by some idols new Christmas song he remembered Ayako, Riona, and Haruka sitting over a girls' magazine. It was a new habit, but one he had noticed with relief. It seemed like something normal to do for girls. He couldn’t for the life of him convince the boys to relish in the many details of his Pocket Circuit magazines. Maybe when they got a bit older.
Coming back to the matter at hand, he stood and carefully opened the sliding door.
“You fold it here, then turn it around like that,” Haruka explained to Izumi when he entered the main room.
All nine of them sat at the big table, piles of colored paper, and a dozen pencils in front of them.
Haruka had come up with the idea of making pop-up New Year’s postcards. Since most of his children didn’t know many people outside their family the idea hadn’t immediately sparked enthusiasm. Eventually, they all came to agree to make them for their teachers and neighbors. Kiryu liked the idea, although he didn’t participate. Not because Haruka didn’t try to convince him.
Even now as she looked up she shot him a demanding glare.
He shook his head slightly and went over to Ayako since she sat closest to the door.
She looked up at him when he placed his large hand on her small shoulder, surprise written on her face before she started to smile.
He bent down to her, talking as quietly as he could with all the chattering and the radio threatening to drown out his voice.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” he asked.
She nodded, and he led her to the children’s sleeping room.
“What is it, Uncle Kaz?”
Kneeling down to her so that they were at face level he asked her about the magazine.
“Has Haruka ever pointed something out she liked?”
Ayako thought about it for a moment before she nodded. She went over to a stack of magazines, taking them in hand one by one. Eventually, she came back, holding out a page to him.
However, before he could take a good look Haruka’s voice had him nearly jump.
“What are you doing?”
Lighting fast he snatched the magazine and put it face down on the floor.
“Ha–Haruka,” he stammered.
The older girl folded her arms in front of her chest, an expectant look on her face he’d seen on women twice her age.
Sweating he searched for words, the knowledge that he was probably the worst liar of the whole country pounding in his head.
Her gaze lowered to his hand on the ground. Luckily, there was no way she could possibly make out the kind of magazine from where she stood in the doorway.
The moment stretched endlessly.
“Uncle Kaz needed my expert advice on a new shirt he wants to buy,” Ayako came to his rescue. Puffing out her chest and arms akimbo she seemed really convincing to him.
He dared to glance over at Haruka again.
“For New Year’s”, he added gingerly. He knew she had his fashion sense. Meaning she’d wear what was given to her or what was functional. Ayako on the other hand had a keen eye for fashion. It made sense.
Arms unfolding, the tension in Haruka’s stance disappeared.
“You could at least write a card for Date-san.”
The sudden change of topic had Kiryu sigh in relief, noticing his mistake a second too late.
Haruka tilted her head to the side slightly, showing that she’d noticed.
“Fine,” he relented to cover up his relief with defeat.
The beaming smile on her face was priceless, though.
“I’ll prepare you a card!” She was gone as quickly as he had appeared.
Kiryu led out another breath.
“Thank you,” he told the younger girl. “But don’t make it a habit to lie to your siblings. Or anyone.”
Ayako rolled her eyes theatrically.
Kiryu lifted the magazine to look at the page. There was an image of a watch. Red armband, delicate silver hands, and frame. What captured his interest was the silver, stylized dragon curled on the red face.
“The watch?” Kiryu asked just to be sure.
“Yes,” Ayako said, nodding her head.
“What exactly did she say?”
“Isn’t it obvious? It looks similar to your dragon.”
Far-fetched. It could as well be a snake, Kiryu thought.
“Why would she want something like that?” he asked, feeling uncomfortable for a reason he couldn’t pinpoint.
“Duh,” Ayako said. “To remind her of you? You’ve been her father longer than ours.”
True. He could possibly compare it to how he’d wanted to be Yakuza because Kazama had been. Wanted to be like his father. A watch was a little thing compared to the great lengths Kiryu had gone.
Yes. He could definitely get her this.
His eyes skimmed the article next to the image. It was a special Christmas offer, custom-made at Le Marche with whatever motif the customer wanted.
Only available in Tokyo. Kiryu scrunched his nose involuntarily.
Only two days until Christmas.
“Tokyo,” he said hollowly.
“It’s what the article says. Haruka said you wouldn’t go back there and it’s too expensive anyway. What’s so bad about Tokyo, Uncle Kaz?” Ayako asked.
He still tried to keep his former life under wraps when the children were concerned. Being the bad liar that he was he tried to get away with “It’s far away. I’d have to leave you alone. A day before Christmas.”
“It’s okay,” the girl said with conviction. “It’s for Haruka. And you’ll be back for Christmas, won’t you?”
Warmth spread in his chest even while his heart clenched and his stomach lurched at the thought of going back.
For Haruka.
“Thank you, Ayako,” he said. “You’ve been a great help. Go back to your siblings. I’ll join you in a minute.”
As soon as the girl was gone Kiryu went back to his room. He picked up his phone from the desk and dialed Mikio’s number.
A few minutes later he joined his family in the main room.
They all still said at the table, chattering, making New Year’s cards while in the background a singer wished them a merry Christmas.