Her Christmas Wish by Oroyukae

All I want is...

Her eyes shone like huge chocolate diamonds as she walked the mall, her small hand completely encompassed by the larger one of her father’s. He held tight to ensure she did not become lost amidst the sea of holiday shoppers seeking out that big bargain of the season, sure to lift their spirits and make their joy complete. Everywhere she looked there were beautiful window displays depicting the holiday through the use of bright shiny ornaments and mesmerizing colored lights adorning trees, all with eye catching presents placed carefully around their bases. They were sights that stole her breath from her small body with just one look; she loved Christmas so very much.

She felt her father grip her hand tighter and she managed to tear her eyes away from the festive storefronts and all the wonder that they held so she could see the man leading her. His face was one of marked irritation, put there due to having to wade through the massive crowd. He hated malls and the girl knew that, but he loved her and only wanted to see her happy in the holiday season and she knew that too. It was for that reason he had agreed to take her to the mall on that day, because he loved her and would do anything for her; they were all each other had, after all.

She had practically begged her father to take her so she could see that jolly, round man on the very first day of his appearance, telling him it was important that she did or her chances of him bringing her the one thing she really wanted for Christmas would not be good. She had tears in her eyes when she asked him for the third time, having been told no the first two times she had asked him. The girl had known they would work on him because they always did. Her father hated to see her cry and would do anything to make her stop. She might have been only six years old, but she knew how to work her father.

Now, she wasn’t a spoiled child. Far from it really. She was a sweet, kind and caring young girl and her little performance in order to get him to give in to her had not been for herself. There was a more redeeming reason that the desire for personal gain, her father just did not know it. He wouldn’t know it either, for she would not tell him, even though he did try to get her to reveal just what it was she intended to ask the holiday icon for. The girl knew if she were to get her wish, her Christmas wish, she could tell only one person and her father was not him.

The line for the chance to speak to the white haired man was a long one and she heard her father groan as he realized just how long they would be expected to stand there waiting. She was not surprised when he looked down at her, the question burning in his amber eyes and she had been prepared for it. Instantly she enacted the very plan she had devised for just such a look from the man she called father.

“Daddy, I have to see him today. He has to have time to get the gift.” The girl whined, her eyes instantly starting to mist up for effect. Man, she was good at calling up those tiny, liquid manipulative things.

The slump of his shoulders told her she would get her way, she always did.

“Okay, we will stay.” The resignation in his voice brought a grin of triumph from the girl he loved more than anything in the world. It was worth the unpleasant task he was going to undertake.

Her eyes lit up and she grinned from ear to ear, the tears instantly absent from her eyes. “Why don’t you go over there with the rest of the parents and have some cocoa? You don’t have to stand here with me, I’m a big girl you know.”

He father stiffened at her suggestion, his eyes darkened a bit while a stern look spread across his face, “I am not going to leave you here all alone, Rin. This mall is crowded and…”

“ I know, kids get kidnapped from malls all the time. Especially at the holidays. I’ll be right here where you can see me…none of the other kids have their parents standing with them, I will look like a big baby. Please?” she had an ulterior motive for wanting her father to sit down; she did not want his hearing her tell Santa what her wish was. If her father heard it, it would not come true.

He stared down at her silently, unwilling to comply with the girl’s request. Even her ‘Don’t you trust me daddy?’ remark had no effect on him. His answer to that was simple, “It is not that I do not trust you Rin, it is everyone else I do not trust.”

He didn’t either. He had seen just what others were capable of and he would not risk his only daughter’s well being just because she wanted to be like the rest of the children. If their parents had no more regard for them than to let them stand unescorted in such crowded and potentially dangerous surroundings then, they could; he however, cared more about his child than that.

“Daddy, you will be sitting right there…no one would try to kidnap me with you right there. You are too big and scary, they wouldn’t even dare try. C’mon…pleeease?”   she started whining again.

She started to get louder and he closed his eyes, trying to steel his resolve to remain there with his child but it seemed that resolve was beginning to desert him in his hour of need. Why was he so weak where his daughter was concerned? None but her could ever get him to change his mind when he decided on something. “Do you promise to stay right where I can see you?”

“Of course I do daddy. Now go on, I’ll come to your table when I am done.” the girl then turned around to face the front of the line.

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He felt  uncertain as he did what his daughter told him to, immediately sitting down at the table that provided him with the best view of his little girl. He sat there with his eyes glued on Rin, not bothering to even look around at any of the other parents; they held no interest for him. Before long, a young woman in her early twenties came up to his table and asked him if he would like to try some hot chocolate; he did not even look at her either.

“No.” he said flatly.

“Oh, well how about some of the holiday blend coffee from …?”

“No. Would you mind moving? You are blocking my view of my daughter.”  His voice was a bit harsher that time, clearly irritated by her presence.

“Hey, Sesshoumaru! What are you doing here?” The sound of his business associate’s voice grated on his already frazzled nerves.

Sesshoumaru lifted his gaze so he could glare at the woman properly, desiring her to leave so he could continue to watch his little one unobstructed. Much to his dismay, the owner of the voice walked right up to his table and sat down , without being invited.

“So, what brings you out here among the masses searching for holiday savings?”

Mentally, Sesshoumaru groaned at the intrusion. Did he not see the imbecile enough at work that he had to endure his presence on his own time? Trying to keep his calm demeanor, his amber eyes cooled drastically and drifted over to his colleague, “ Yamomotsu, good to see you. What has it been, four , five hours?”

“ What’s got you so pissy?” the man looked offended at his less than warm greeting, his dark brown eyes moving to his right, “Oh, brought the kid out to see Santa huh? No wonder. So what were you doing, asking that hot young ‘elf’ for her digits?”

Once again. Sesshoumaru resumed watching his daughter while trying to get his point across to the man sitting across from him with a lascivious grin upon his face. “ Is there any special reason you decided to intrude upon my personal time?”

“Not really, I just need to kill time while the wife ‘shops til she drops’.”

“You should find somewhere else to do it then.” He replied as he noted his daughter was but two children away from accomplishing her goal. Thank gods, he would be able to leave soon and return to his evening of sitting at home with his daughter, sharing a family dinner and talking about their day.

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Rin was so excited she was almost bouncing in the very spot she stood in. The line was getting smaller and soon she would be next to hop up onto the round man’s lap and tell him what her heart’s desire for that holiday. The little boy in front of her sneezed and she replied a ‘bless you’ out of habit and courtesy, prompting the child to turn to her and thank her for her sentiment.

“I’m Rin, what’s your name?” her salutation came with a big smile, one that the little boy returned.

“Shippo. What are you going to ask Santa for?” the boy’s vibrant green eyes sparkled with joy just thinking of the items he had on his list. Visions of a big bright red fire truck danced in his head.

Rin absently reached into her little purse and pulled out an iced animal cookie, noticing the boy staring at it.”Would you like one? I have more.”

Shippo grinned and nodded his head, taking the treat Rin offered him. The red haired lad took a bite and asked her again what she was going to ask Santa to bring her for Christmas. Rin just shook her head and replied “If I tell you, my Christmas wish won’t come true. Only Santa can know what it is.”

A sad look came over the boy’s face and his hand dropped just as he was about to bite the tail off his lion, “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

“I can’t tell anyone but him, I’m sorry. It’s too important. I bet you’re going to ask for a fire truck, aren’t you?”

Shippo’s eyes grew wide and his mouth fell open, “How did you know that?”

Rin giggled, her eyes dropping to the front of his jacket where a patch had been sewn on. It was a red fire truck. The boy followed her gaze and he too laughed when he saw it. “Oh, yeah. My grandmother put it on for me, that’s her right over there.”

Shippo waved at the elderly woman sitting at a table across the way, watching the both of them intently, her smile was warm and inviting. “Who are you here with?”

“My daddy. He’s right over there, the guy with the frown on his face.” Rin waved at her father, just as Shippo had done to his grandmother, her father nodded. “He didn’t want to come here today but, I had to see Santa on his first day here. It was very important.”

“Why? He’s going to be here all the way up until the week before Christmas. Why was it so important you see him today?”

“So he will have time to make sure my Christmas wish will come true, silly. Daddy always says you should never wait until the last minute, that way there is plenty of time to get things done.” She shrugged as she spoke, reaching into her bag for another couple of cookies, handing one to her new friend.

Shippo nodded his head, “ That makes sense. Oh, it’s my turn. It was nice meeting you Rin, thank you for the cookies.”

“You’re welcome Shippo, I hope you get that fire truck.” The girl replied with a smile and a twinkle in her eye, she was next and soon the man would know her utmost desire for the holiday.

“Thanks. I hope you get whatever you are going to ask him for. You seem like a nice person so, you probably will ‘cause Santa only brings gifts to nice boys and girls.” The young boy practically ran over to the throne like chair where Santa sat waiting for him; his eyes twinkling and his arms open wide for the little scamp.

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“Why won’t you go away?” Sesshoumaru asked the man who found it necessary to fill him in on just how selfish his practically grown kids were being, demanding large and expensive gifts from him and having fits thinking the others would get more than they would.

“Merry Christmas to you too, buddy.” Yamomotsu retorted.

“It is nowhere near Christmas time, friend. That is the problem, that society feels the need to rush into the season in the hopes of generating more revenue to raise their profit margins, it feels the need to start pushing the public into the holiday season early. There were Christmas decorations and advertisements even before Halloween. It is disgraceful.” There was marked distaste in the gentleman’s voice that his unwanted companion could not ignore.

“Man, you are just one big bundle of holiday cheer, aren’t you? I take it that means you won’t be coming to my party then, huh? Maybe it’s for the best that you don’t, I wouldn’t want you sucking the fun out of the event with that attitude of yours.” Yamomotsu almost breathed a sigh of relief when he spied his wife approaching their table, despite the fact her arms were laden with shopping bags. It was almost worth the huge credit card bill just to get away from the depressing man he was sitting with.

Sesshoumaru ignored his colleague as he stood up, muttering a farewell before rushing to assist his woman in carrying the heavy purchases in her arms. He simply nodded as he watched his daughter leap into the lap of that overweight, elderly man clad all in red velvet, and telling himself it would all be over soon.

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“Well, hello there little girl. What is your name?” he boomed in a jolly voice, bringing a smile to the bright eyed child’s face.

“I’m Rin Takahashi, Santa.” Rin practically sang to him, her heart racing in her chest in her excitement to be there.

“Well Rin, I have to ask you one thing before you tell me what you want for Christmas and, remember that I can tell if you’re lying to me or not. Have you been a good girl?”

“Oh, yes I have Santa. I swear.” she beamed.

“ Ho-ho-ho! Wonderful! Okay then, tell Santa what you would like for Christmas.” His belly shook when he laughed and Rin’s smile grew even wider, anticipating having her wish granted.

“Nothing.” She said simply.

“Nothing? You don’t want Santa to bring you anything for Christmas?” he sounded so shocked that she did not want anything, thinking that maybe she just needed to be coaxed into telling him.

“Nope. Not a thing.” She sighed, looking up into his aged eyes to let him know she was serious.

“Then, why did you come to see Santa if you don’t want anything for Christmas?” he was confused then, most of the kids had a very long list of things they desired from him.   

“ Well, I do want something, but it isn’t for me, Santa. I have a special Christmas wish for someone and I can’t say it out loud because people will hear it. If they hear it, it won’t come true.”

Santa looked shocked for a moment, not expecting the girl to say that to him, but at least they were getting somewhere. “You don’t want Santa to bring you toys or other gifts?”

“No. I have enough of those. My daddy buys all that for me.” Rin replied matter-of-factly.

“Well, would you like to whisper your wish in my ear then? That way no one but me could hear your wish?” he offered as an option.

“Okay!” Rin motioned to his to come closer; which he did, leaning down until she could do just that. The fur trim on his hat tickled her face as she cupped her hand, making sure no one but he could hear her words “I wish for my daddy to find someone special so he isn’t so lonely.”

The elderly man’s eyes grew wide then, taken completely by surprise. In all his years he had never had a child ask for something like that. “Rin, I-I don’t know if Santa can grant that wish.” He said in a very low voice.

“But, you just have to..It’s all I want for Christmas! My daddy is all alone and needs someone special. He’s such a good daddy, he takes care of me and loves me so much…he deserves to have someone special! Please Santa, oh please?” she seemed desperate, her eyes begging him to grant her very unselfish wish for the one person she loved most in the world.

“What makes you believe your daddy is lonely Rin? He has you.” The icon said in a soothing tone, not wanting her father to see he had upset the girl.

“I see the sad looks on his face when we are out and a couple walks by, holding hands and happy to be together…he wants that too. He says that I am all he needs in his life but, he just says that to hide the fact he is just so lonely…has been since momma left us when I was just a baby. Loving me is not the same thing. Please Santa? Won’t you send my daddy someone to love and to love him back?” the tears in her eyes were not part of an act to sway the man, they were one hundred percent genuine.

His crystal blue eyes scanned her young face, seeing the desperation there in their chocolate depths; she really only wanted to see her father happy for Christmas and it broke his heart that he could not meet her needs. There was nothing he could do on that front, nothing whatsoever. That was a matter of the heart, and of fate itself but, he just could not bring himself to crush the small unselfish child sitting there gazing at him with such hope in her eyes. Christmas was to be a time of joy and happiness; something the girl would not know if he told her he could not grant her wish. Still though, he could not deliberately lie to the child just to make himself feel better, which would be wrong too. What was a Santa to do?

“Rin, what you are wishing for is very complicated. My elves and I… we make toys for good little boys and girls…”

“But you also make holiday wishes come true, everyone says that. Won’t you at least try? Daddy says that’s all a person can do is try, even if it doesn’t always work out.” Her tears slid down her face and he reached up with a gloved hand to wipe those tears from her cheeks.

“That is true Rin, trying is all a person can do.” He looked thoughtful for a few moments, his mind weighing the possibility of appeasing the child in a way that would not have her thinking of Santa as a liar, “ tell you what Rin, if you promise not to be disappointed in me if I cannot grant your wish and let it ruin your Christmas…I will try very hard to grant your wish for you. Is that a deal?” he whispered to her, hoping she would at least accept that from him. It would make them both feel better.

“Oh yes Santa, I will promise that. You have plenty of time to find someone for him. He needs someone who is kind and caring…who can cook and likes the same things he does…”

Santa stopped her excited rambling with a chuckle, “I will do my best. Just remember, if I cannot grant your wish, you promised not to let it ruin your holiday…okay?” he handed the girl a candy cane and she hugged him tight. “Now, I believe your daddy is ready to go home, Rin. He doesn’t look too happy to be here.”

“That’s because he hates crowds, and has no one to sit with him while he waits for me. I can’t wait for Christmas Day Santa! I just know you will be able to grant my wish. Bye!” Rin waved to him as she almost skipped over to the table where her father sat waiting. His arms opened wide as she ran at him full force, jumping into his arms and hugging the living daylights out of the guy. It made Santa smile, a twinkle appearing in his eye and a smile tugging at his bow-like mouth.  It seemed like he would have his work cut out for him this year.   

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