Author: Starling Sinclair
Title: 12 Days of Christmas
Word Count: 485
"Hold still, wait for the click,
You're in this year's Christmas Pics"
- "Christmas Pic" Barenaked Ladies"Christmas Pics"
***
It was the Christmas Eve party at the arcade, and Minako grumpily scanned the room for the perfect picture. It was the least she could do since her plan to kiss all the hot guys at the party (because she had carefully placed mistletoe in her hair) had backfired. And Ami had given her a new digital camera. In fact, her "Operation Christmas Kiss" had backfired so much that no one would even get close to her.
Then she saw it, the perfect picture, like the cover of a movie poster. Slowly, she began sneaking up on them, knowing that they were so enthralled with each other that they wouldn't notice her approach. And then…
*Flash*
Minako squealed and both Mamoru and Usagi blinked, mouths opened and comebacks temporarily lost. In unison, their heads turned to the bubbly blonde with mistletoe in her hair. Minako was busily looking at the small display on her digital camera and did not noticed the shocked expressions.
"Oh you guys! This one's a keeper!"
It captured the two mid-argument. Usagi, smirking satisfactorily, was wiping a small amount of Mamoru's eggnog on his nose. He just looked stunned and appalled. On top of that, both looked absolutely ridiculous. Usagi was wearing reindeer antlers and a big red nose, while Mamoru had been forcefully decorated with ribbons and stick-on bows from opened gifts. Both of them had a twinkle in their eyes Minako couldn't quite place.
Giggling, she flashed them a "V for Victory" and scurried off to the other side of the arcade where her small printer was plugged in.
"This is your fault!"
"What are you talking about, Odango? If you hadn't been trying to drown me in egg nog…"
Later that evening, Minako, Usagi, and Motoki were left cleaning up. Usagi's job was finding and disposing of all the wrapping paper, Minako wiping down the counter, and Motoki breaking down the kitchen. Instrumental Christmas music played in the background, and the three of them seemed to have a small bounce in their step.
As she reached the end of the counter, she found copies of all the pictures she took that night. There was a group picture of her and the girls. One of Usagi and Motoki as reindeers. Then there was Ami enthralled with a snow globe…
Where was the one of Usagi and Mamoru?
Looking up, Minako caught Usagi looking at a photo in her hand, smiling dreamily.
Minako smirked. "But where did the other copy go."
Across town, Mamoru stonily walked into his apartment. He turned on the lights and took a seat on his couch, never changing expression. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and retrieved the picture he'd swiped on his way out.
After a moment, a small smile crossed his face. It was a good Christmas pic.
***
AN: So this was inspired by the song "Christmas Pic" by Barenaked Ladies, but is not actually a song fic. Anyway, I'm still working diligently, and am still in need of 3 more themes. This project is mainly a challenge for myself. I'm trying to make deadlines and follow them, so I'm writing each one of this stories in one day and reviewing them in the morning to polish them up. Thank you Silent Serenade for reviewing.
Diclaimer: Okay, so this goes for "Allergies" as well. I do not own Sailor Moon, nor do I pretend to.