Before my father got his position and traveled abroad as often as he did, we would have a family vacation during the holiday break. Where we went hardly mattered: what mattered was that we were together. My parents, my sister, and me. For those brief moments, all that existed in the world was our family. After he got his job, vacations became more rare since he would often be traveling, but he always made it a point to be home for the holidays. On the night before Christmas, he came home once again.

  "Welcome home, dear," my mother greeted him first with a kiss. She had hung a strand of mistletoe in the foyer for a festive touch, and she was always the first to welcome him home.

  "I'm home, darling," he smiled after they broke their kiss. Just like where we went for our vacations, where he went for work hardly mattered as long as he continued to come home.

  Once again as in days past, we were together. Even through all the memory suppression that I endured, one's like these seemed to endure. The light snowfall made the lights outside seem to twinkle in the night.

  The mood was quickly soiled when my sister called me out of the living room. Forgetting the set up from our mother, I walked out to see her in front of the door with her arms out. She had an almost animalistic look on her face as drool trickled out of her mouth.

  "Zuzu," she said between pants. "I need you to come look at something." She pulled one of her arms in to wipe the puddle from her face. Over her head hung the mistletoe from earlier.

  Is she getting worse? I swear she's getting worse... It's almost sad to see her like this, but it's been concerning for a long time.

  I turned to walk back to the living room. "Zuzu!" She whined. "Don't leave your sister like this!"

  After a minute of her crocodile tears, Mother stepped out, and I heard Yui get dragged upstairs for what I can only assume was another stern talking to. She re-entered the room with a defeated pout on her face and sat down on the couch beside me. As per our family tradition, we watched our parents' favorite Christmas movie. This time around, the entire plot hit differently.

  How much different would everyone's lives be if I had never been born? Hell, how many times did I wish that in my previous life? I can't imagine much would have changed with the establishment of Eclipse or the Purge.

  I'm sure that everyone would have been well off enough without me, save maybe the Hiasaka siblings. Maybe there is some merit to having that sort of "outside view." Maybe all my meddling will amount to something. Maybe this time will be different. Maybe...

  Before I knew it, I had dozed off.

  * * * * *

  The snow gently fell on that cold night. Number 26 and I had been assigned a high priority target. We were both green assassins, so we had to be teamed up in case anything went wrong. We also had oversight from Number 52, a Clairvoyant that could monitor anything she wanted. Her ability wasn't useful for direct action, but Eclipse still recognized her worth.

  Our target was a serial killer known by the title Red Star. He was a contract killer for the various mobs that still existed in the underground. Though he was a middle aged man, his years of crimes had left him grizzled and brutal. Number 52 had tracked him to a warehouse in one of the port districts.

  "You think we'll get overtime for working on a holiday?" Number 26 jokingly asked me.

  "Provided you survive, I'll make sure you get tomorrow off," I nudged him in reply.

  "Oh boy, will you take me on a date too? I can't imagine a better Christmas than one spent with my best friend."

  "Don't push your luck."

  "When you two are done," we heard in our ears, "we have a mission to complete."

  "Consider yourself uninvited, Ms Scrooge." Number 26 faked a pout.

  "Target has moved into warehouse 15. There are two others already inside." She seemed unfazed by any of it. "Get ready to move in. Remember, our goal is his elimination; the other two don't matter."

  We moved in and entered the expansive warehouse. Inside, we found a complicated maze of crates and shipping containers that spanned its entirety. Without any hesitation, I stopped time and grabbed Number 26. With him on my shoulders, I navigated the labyrinth until we came upon the Red Star and his two victims. One had been impaled on the tooth of a forklift, and the other was being dragged to an open container. Before I could make a move, I fell to a knee behind some cover, and time resumed. The splitting headache slammed into me as the door slammed the head of the second victim.

  "Are you okay?!" Number 26 quietly leaned over me and helped me sit down to rest.

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  "Yeah, I should be." I struggled to respond. "Damn these migraines. Give me a second and I'll be back on my feet."

  "You don't have a second, Number 19," the voice in my ear chimed in. "Number 26, handle it."

  "Understood."

  At that, he made close to a dozen copies of himself and silently moved around the Red Star without making a sound. Without any sort of signal, all twelve of them descended on him with various tools they had found. Clashing could be heard as he deflected some blows with his bionic arm. Over the next couple of minutes, Number 26 tried to overwhelm him with numbers, but as his copies fell and faded, he became weaker and weaker.

  He threw one against the box that Number 26 was hiding behind and kicked him down. He picked him up and tossed him against the forklift, narrowly missing the other tooth. Before Number 26 could make another copy, he picked him up by the neck and threw him again after letting him struggle for a few seconds. Like the true cold-blooded killer he was, Red Star walked over to him curled up and coughing. He pulled his pistol and took aim at his head. At that moment, I managed to muster enough focus to stop time again. I hobbled over to the two of them, took his gun, and pointed it as his own head. As my control slipped again, I pulled the trigger.

  The sound reverberated throughout the warehouse, and the Red Star dropped like a sack of bricks. Splattered on the ground were bits of his brain as well as various circuits that had been implanted to enhance his capabilities. I collapsed again, and Number 26 let out a soft and pained laugh.

  "Target down," he called up.

  "Very well, get out of there before—"

  The line went silent. After a minute, the silence was broken.

  "Number 19, Number 26, that was too close of a call," a new voice came over the radio, Lieutenant Ryder. "You'll both be receiving remedial training when you return."

  "Yes ma'am," Number 26 and I responded.

  "So much for tomorrow off," I muttered.

  "Look at it this way, partner, we'll definitely have our Christmas date now." He laughed a bit before coughing. "We'll have some hot cocoa, exchange gifts, it'll be great!"

  "Your optimism worries me."

  "That's why we make the perfect team." He looked at his watch and chuckled. "Give or take an hour or so since I don't know how long you froze this time, Merry Christmas, 19."

  "Yeah, Merry Christmas, 26."

  * * * * *

  "Merry Christmas, Zuzu," a soft voice woke me from my slumber.

  Why does my bed feel warmer?

  I lifted the covers to find none other than my bro-con sister nestled up to me still half asleep. At the very least, she was still in her pajamas. Without hesitation, I kicked her out of my bed and out of my room.

  "Zuzu," she whined. "Don't take my first present from me so quickly."

  "I am not your play thing, sis."

  "Why would I ever think someone as precious as you is a plaything, Zuzu?" I could hear her pressing against my door.

  "Yui..." I heard Mother outside. Her tone even sent a chill down my spine, and I wasn't even the one in trouble.

  "Yes ma'am," she groaned. After that, outside my door was quiet.

  I got ready and went downstairs to find an array of gifts in the living room. The finishing touch was my sister sitting on her knees with several boxes on her lap as punishment. Mother offered me a cup of coffee, and Father was already enjoying his own cup on the couch watching the fresh layer of snow gently descend. As the warm, dark liquid touched my lips and warmed my mouth, all seemed right. We sat around with light instrumental music playing as we handed each other our gifts and revealed what was inside.

  My father had gotten my mother a beautiful silver necklace, a dark blue evening dress, and a book that she had apparently only mentioned once in passing. From my sister and I, she received a set of comfort insoles for her work shoes, an appliance that she had gone back to look at multiple times while we were shopping, and two vouchers for a nearby day spa. Her face lit up with delight as she hugged us and removed the packages from Yui's lap.

  For Father, I had gotten the sequel to a book that he had introduced me to as well as a warming eye mask for his long flights. Yui had gotten him a new watch with more capabilities than he would ever need and a sleek but almost overbearing tie. Mother whispered something in his ear as she handed him her gift. It wasn't a big box, and he hardly opened it before shutting it again and kissing her cheek.

  Some things I'm better off not knowing.

  My gifts included a new pair of black and grey running shoes and insulated athletic clothes from Father, a sizable cookbook and a hand-made long scarf from Mother, and the complete works of a famous philosopher from my sister. They were all practical gifts, but they had a degree of heart to them. Of all of them, the scarf was my favorite: it was simple, but I could tell that she had made it with love and put a lot of time into it.

  Yui received a weighted blanket from me in hopes that she wouldn't need to leave her bed to torment me. Father had given her a new sketch pad and several different types of oils and pencils: in addition to being the model student, she enjoyed art and was a very active member of the art club before she was elected to the council. Mother gave her an extensive study book for medical school since she wanted to go into medicine after graduating as well as mittens that were similar to my scarf.

  The morning passed so quickly that I was tempted to jump back and relive it again. I pushed the thought aside. Jumping back for that was a poor use of my power, even though I did it at the water park. It worked out in the end, so I used that to justify it. I sat on the couch reading the first work in my new collection when my phone went off.

  "Merry Christmas, Kazu," Chika's voice came through.

  "Merry Christmas."

  "I was wondering... would you go shopping with me tomorrow?"

  "I don't have any plans. Sure, what time?"

  "9:30 at the plaza?"

  "Sounds good. I'll see you then."

  As I hung up, I felt all eyes on me. My mother made her hopeful gaze, and my father had a curious glance. Yui, however, had a burning anger in her eyes. I knew at that moment that I wouldn't be reading much for the rest of the day unless I used my ability.