☆Wish Upon A Star☆

☆~Chapter 1~☆

A scream stroke through the night, breaking the beautiful winter silence of the first not snowy night in so long.

The many layers of soft, freezing snow that covered the ground hugged the boy's feet, making it hard for him to run, to save himself.

Still, he hopped and ran as quickly as he could, holding back any sob that could slow him down. Tears rolled heavily down his round cheeks, still puffy with baby chub at his four years in age.

'Okasan!' He cried for help silently, from the depth of his small chest. 'Help me! I don't want to die!!' His dark chocolate eyes darted to the sky, hoping to find some peace in the indigo and black nebulae over him; they stopped on a bright star, the brightest he could find.

'I wish upon that star, Okasan! Please help me!!' He whined and cried, clutching the harsh bag tighter and trying to run faster.

The boy ran into something, making him fall back into the snow. He squeaked at the unbearable cold, hugging the bag very tightly; he didn't see his star fade.

"Aiyaah!" Yao exclaimed, sloppily sitting on the snow after the impact. He would've cried, but he didn't. He was a strong boy now. "W-What's wrong?" He looked over at the crying, trembling young child. He widened his eyes, mistaking him for one of his younger siblings. "Y-Yong?"

Yao was already motioning to hold his brother when he sat up on the snow, looking up at him with deeply frightened, pleading eyes. He sobbed, clutching his bag tighter. "P-Please help me! I-I don't want to die too!" He backed away slightly, trembling in fear.

Yao frowned, holding his gentle arms out to him. He knew the boy- he knew his family. They were the only Japanese family in the slums around, they had money and that's why many people hated them.

But Yao froze when he saw the blood staining the boy's cheek, how the tears washed it away until his small kimono was dyed red too.

"T-The Blood Union hurt Okasan and Otousan!" He could barely speak, his words muffled to a whimper when Yao hugged him. The boy quickly hugged back. "T-They killed them... I don't want to die..."

Yao hugged him tightly, soothingly stroking his raven hair. "The... Blood Union? What's that?" He felt maturer than ever, responsible of this little, lost boy. He had always loved small children, and was a great babysitter.

"I-I don't know... T-That's what they called themselves..." The boy sniffled, clutching onto Yao's coat tightly.

"Shh... Don't be afraid, you're safe with me," Yao sweetly mumbled, getting up and pressing a kiss against the younger child's forehead. "I'll take care of you, okay? What's your name?" He asked softly, gently rocking the boy in his arms.

The Japanese boy made a pout, wiping the thick tears away from his eyes and reaching for his bag. It made up almost half of his height and the whole of his width. "K-Kiku..."

"That's a nice name! I'm Yao," He smiled, gently taking the bag and pulling it up to him. He widened his eyes, at its weight and feeling. He quickly recognized what was inside of the brown fabric bag.

"Kiku, what's this?" He asked cautiously, not wanting to startle the kid but already knowing the answer.

The boy pouted again, holding the bag on his stomach. His baby chub didn't hide the fact that he was almost starving. "It was the only thing I could take from home... It's money, Otousan loved his bag so much..." He looked down, thinking.

Yao wouldn't pressure him to give him the bag. He understood that it was his only heirloom, his only memory of his past. He started to carry him home, his thick-soled boots letting him walk quicker.

Suddenly, a small squeak from the Japanese child got his attention. He was smiling weakly, holding the bag out for him. "You can have the money, Onii-san! I'll keep the bag to remember Otousan,"

The Chinese boy's eyes widened, almost not being able to hold a gasp bag. He hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much!" He squeaked. All that money could pay for a lot of food, even make up for Yao's extra spendings and for a place in school. A place he would pay for Kiku. "Wait, 'Onii-san'?"

Kiku nodded, nuzzling against Yao's hold like a kitten. "Hm. Japanese for 'Big brother',"

Yao's smile grew wider, tendered by the small child. "Thank you so much, Didi,"

"Didi?"

"Chinese for 'Little brother' "

☆☆☆~Christmas' Eve~☆☆☆

"Santa will come tonight?!"

"Of course he will!"

"What if he can't find us?" Kiku squeaked, terrified at the idea of not being visited by Santa Claus.

"I promise he will!" Yao smiled warmly, kissing his forehead and tucking him into bed. "Now sleep like the good child you are, Santa will come soon,"

Kiku wiggled into the blankets, covering his head. "Goodnight, Onii-san!"

Yao giggled, smiling and getting up. "I'll be back soon, don't open your eyes if you're afraid, that'll scare all the monsters away," "Okay, Onii-san!"

Yao turned the lights off to a squeak from Kiku. The little boy had been afraid of darkness ever since the day they met. Luckily, he was brave and knew how to calm himself before Yao got into bed with him and snuggled him.

The Chinese boy sighed, smiling softly. He did the washing up of the dishes they used to have dinner, as much food as they could afford.

Yao was content. He was glad to have a new sibling to take care of, it made him feel much more useful.

He stared out of the window. His eyes wandered around the sky map, searching for his star. He looked for the brightest one, his mother's star. But all the stars seemed the same. He shrugged. "Thank you, Muqin..." He mumbled softly, leaving Kiku's present on the living room.

He wanted him to believe in Santa, to enjoy that special part of his childhood. Yao couldn't, his father had ripped the blissful reindeer man myth away from him around a year ago.

An wooden toy.

Who knew the many beautiful presents he got from his parents. Yao hoped that he'd be happy with just a small toy he had retrieved from a trash bin. He had no more money left to buy one.

'I'm so sorry, Di Di...' He apologized mentally, swiftly going to bed. He wrapped his arms around the bundle of blankets, smiling and closing his eyes.

Kiku was asleep.