𝑬𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑱𝒂𝒅𝒆：𝐴 𝐿𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑖 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦

Chapter Sixteen

•Lloyd•

Summer flew by quickly, and soon we were around the holiday season, my favorite time of the year. Harumi and I had become closer than ever. I wanted to make it extra special for her because this would be her first Christmas with the Ninja and myself. This would also be our first Christmas without Master Wu and my mom, who were summoned to Jamanakai village to spend Christmas with all of the former elemental masters as a reunion. They felt bad about leaving, but we convinced them that it would be okay.

We were about a week away from Christmas and I decided that I wanted to do as many Christmas related things with Harumi as we could fit in. Starting with picking out a Christmas tree.

I walk out of my room on a cold December morning, on a hunt to find Harumi. I wanted to take her and all the ninja to pick out a Christmas tree, and then decorate it together. Ever since I had come to live with all the ninja as a child, we had a tradition of picking out the best Christmas tree and decorating it. It was one of my favorite things about the Holidays. I wanted to share this tradition with Harumi.

I walk into the kitchen, finding Harumi and Nya cooking breakfast together. They both look up from flipping bacon in a large pan, and smile.

"Morning Greenie!" Harumi says and runs up to hug me. I smile, hugging her back.

"That bacon smells amazing!" I say as we break our hug, and she walks back over to Nya and the pan.

"Thanks!" Nya says. "You are the last one up. The guys already ate."

"What about you two?" I ask. "Have you ate?"

"I wanted to wait for you to wake up." Harumi says with a big grin. I smile back.

I grab three plates, carrying them over to the table. "I had a really good idea. I think we should get our Christmas tree today!" I exclaim happily.

Harumi claps her hands and squeals in excitement. "Would we get to cut it down and pick it out ourselves? I've never done that before and it looks so fun!"

"Yes we would!" I reply, glad that this is making her happy.

"I think that's a great idea Lloyd!" Nya says happily. "Christmas is coming soon and we can't celebrate it without the perfect tree."

Harumi nods, carrying the bacon over to the table and we start eating.

"We should invite Skylor too." Harumi remarks. Her and Skylor had grown close, and found a lot in common. I was very happy about it. It gave her and I chances to go on double dates with Kai and Skylor. We always had a ton of fun.

"Great idea!" I say, taking a bite of my bacon.

                                       •Harumi•

After breakfast, Nya went to go round up everyone, and I went into my room to find something festive to wear. Nya and I had recently bought some cute winter boots on a shopping trip. I was excited to wear them. I pulled on a hoodie and some earmuffs, and headed out to find the others. It was snowing a little outside, and it really made it feel like Christmas.

During the ride to the Christmas tree farm, I could not contain my excitement. I had never gone to pick out a Christmas tree before. Normally in the palace, one just appear because the servants would just put the tree up, already decorated and looking perfect. Too perfect. I always thought it would be fun to pick out and decorate a tree, even if it did not look like it should be on the cover of a decorating magazine.

P.I.X.A.L and Nya though it would be best to rent a large SUV, so that we could tie the tree to the top of the car, which would make it much easier to transport. They also thought that it would help us avoid unwanted publicity, which was something that happened often.