"Kaito?" Aoko said, walking into his room early one morning to find him awake, sitting up in the dark and starring out the window.

"Kaito? Kaito, honey, why are you up so early? We have a big day today." Aoko said, going to sit beside him on the bed. He looked at her after several moments and shuddered slightly, curling into himself.

"I don't want to go. I don't understand." He choked out and Aoko patted his back.

"You said you wanted to be part of my family right? That means you have to come the Christmas party with me. It's important. And Tousan said I have to come, so if I go and you don't you'll be here all by yourself." Aoko said and he looked up at her with wide blue eyes.

"But I don't like people anymore. People try to hurt me. I don't understand. And what is Christmas?" Kaito reiterated.

Aoko sighed. "Christmas is a holiday that Christians celebrate on December 25 every year. It's the birthday of their god's son, Jesus. Some of my cousins are Americans and Americans are almost always Christians, or at least I think so. Either way, they like to have a party and everyone else agrees with them so we go swap presents and have a good time. I hate to do this, Kaito, but you're going. End of discussion."

"That's not fair." Kaito informed her and for a second, he looked every bit a defiant teenager. But just as quickly, the image faded and he moaned. "I don't want to go. Will it be fun?"

Aoko smiled and ruffled his hair. "Well, we can only hope."

"Aoko, you've gotten so big! Just look at you, shaping up to be a fine young woman! And who is this? Your boyfriend? Oh, isn't he cute!" Aunty gushed, hugging on her niece and trying to get a good look at Kaito, who hid behind Aoko with frightened eyes.

"Thank you, Aunty." Aoko smiled. "And no, this is Kaito. He, well....Let's just say he's my roommate and we have no sort of relationship, at least not like that. Kaito, come say hello, this is Aunty."

Kaito edged out from behind his shield and looked at this Aunty figure. "Hello." He said and, at Aoko's look, he offered his hand to be shook.

The large woman bypassed the hand and pulled him into a big hug. He squawked and tried to get away. "Aoko!"

"Aunty, please stop, you're scaring him!" Aoko cried out and the woman released him. He went flying behind Aoko again.

"Aoko!" a voice bellowed and she saw her dad heading towards them, a gleam in his eye that she recognized.

"Crap, it's the 'Destroy all boyfriends' look. Kaito, let's go get something to eat..."

"Aoko! Why haven't you come and viited me? And who is this boy?" Ginzo thundered and Aoko blushed.

"We're so busted, Kaito." She whispered. "He's not my boyfriend, before you even assume it." She said loudly to her father.

"Then what is he? Friends don't hug all over you in the middle of a family reunion, Aoko! Just let me take a look at him."

"No, you'll scare him! I knew this was a bad idea but you just had to make me come, didn't you?" Aoko glared and the old police officer glared right back.

"What, so you wanted to stay at home with this boy? He's a sniveling coward, won't even face me like a man!" he claimed.

"He's not a man! He's hardly even a kid! Just leave him alone and let me explain!" Aoko exploded and her father wisely backed off. "You've probably heard about him on the news, this is Kaito, the boy they found in the lab who isn't even technically living! He's got the mentally of a child and you're terrifying him!"

Ginzo paused. "Well. That changes things. What's your name, boy?"

Kaito tried to hide behind Aoko more but, sensing that her father was trying to apologize or as close as he ever came, Aoko forced him out into the open.

K-Kaito, sir."

"And your surname?" Ginzo tired and Kaito paused, thinking.

"Aoko, what's a surname?" he asked after a moment.

Aoko sighed before smiling at Kaito. "A surname is a name that tells what family you belong to. My surname is Nakamori and so is my dad's. So people know we're related. Understand?"

Kaito thought about it for a moment and then nodded. "So is my surname Nakamori?"

"Well...it could be, I guess. I don't think it really matters that much for you, Kaito." Aoko said, shrugging and Kaito smiled cheerfully before turning back to Ginzo.

"Nakamori, sir." He told the adult and Ginzo gave his daughter a weary, unamused look.

"Right. Well, it is Christmas. Come on, son, welcome to the family. Go get yourself something to eat, you've hardly got any muscle on you. You'll need it." Ginzo said, shaking his head and walking off. The chatter of the party resumed, though it had a distinct theme now.

"If you couldn't tell, Kaito, that was my dad's way of saying sorry to you." Aoko said, taking his hand in hers and leading him towards the table where the food was set up.

"Why didn't he just say that then?" Kaito asked, balancing the plate Aoko put in his hands. She began putting food on top of it, making sure to avoid the fish. No need for them to make anymore scenes tonight.

Aoko smiled and shrugged. "Well, adults are weird, Kaito. I still don't completely understand them myself."

"So we can figure it out together?" he asked, hopefully.

She laughed lightly and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. "Sure, Kaito. Merry Christmas."

Merry Christmas everyone!