Moonlight Desire

Chapter 16

Lia walked along the hall, meet with the sweet smell coming from the kitchen. She took in the Christmas scent and followed it into the kitchen where Kazuki and Himeko were decorating gingerbread houses and glittery Christmas music was playing.

"It's done," Himeko said.

Her and Kazuki gave each other a big high five with both hands then Himeko noticed Lia in the doorway.

"Lia!" Himeko waved her over. "Come on, help us with some of the baking."

"Alright," Lia replied.

She went over and Himeko's finished gingerbread house. Lia was lost for words as she's never seen anyone put so much effort into it. There was so much detail in it like she was telling a story with her baking. Little gingerbread children skating on a frozen lake and she was able to create the smoke coming from the chimney on a cold winter night.

"Himeko, it's really beautiful."

"Thank you," she sang. "I got Kazuki to help me out a bit." She looked at her gingerbread house and gave a soft smile. "To be honest though, I kind of wish I had a challenge like that on Christmas morning. Somewhere that snows. It doesn't snow here."

"You had a pretty good childhood despite it not snowing here," Kazuki added.

Himeko closed her eyes and smiled. "That is true but I can't help thinking what it would have been like to experience snow here. Especially as a young child."

Kazuki gave her a warm smile. "I see what you're saying. I recently got the chance to experience it." He looked over at Lia. "It actually was the day you were supposed to die. Those frozen white snowflakes were something."

"The day I was supposed to die huh," Lia replied but looked down at the floor.

"But Himeko," Kazuki cut in to change the subject. "You spent some time in New York too. It snows there too, doesn't it."

"Oh it does," Himeko sang. "It definietly was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I would go back in a heartbeat. Anyway, Lia would you like to help us out?"

Lia met Himeko's eyes and forced a smile.

"I would like to."

Kazuki grabbed Lia an apron out of the pantry and the three of them baked all kinds of Christmas treats. Once they finished all the baking, they cleaned up the place and then Kazuki had to leave the house for a bit so the girls were left on their own again.

"So," Himeko said. "Have you thought about what you're going to wear to the festival tonight?"

Lia's eyes widened. "Festival?"

"Why yes," Himeko sang. "It's Christmas Eve! Tonight everyone is going to gather in the center of the city and the celebrations will begin at around nine tonight. It's actually supposed to be a really nice day today. It's going to get up to sixteen degrees which should make the night a lot milder."

Lia shook her head. "It sounds like fun but I haven't given Christmas much thought."

Himeko took Lia's arm and began to run through the hallway, eventually leading Lia to Himeko's bedroom where she had Lia sit at her vanity.

"Please, let me do your hair!"

"Okay," she replied.

Himeko began styling Lia's hair but she noticed dead expression hid behind the smile that she was forcing. She continued to style Lia's hair but caught a glimpse of her blinking back tears she has been holding back. She pinned her hair into a french twist, then got up and admired how it looked on her.