Day Eleven

Who: Mamoru
When: Modern (Pre-Drabble!Verse)
Prompt: Christmas Cards

My Dearest Shitennou,

It's Christmas time again!

I know it was a whole lifetime ago, but its seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the Solstice together in the Golden Kingdom. For as cloudy as my memories of the past can be, I do clearly recall gathering in the great hall of our castle for the legendary Winter feast. If I concentrate hard enough I think I can hear the laughter and the music, see the flickering glow of the blazing hearths, and taste the seemingly endless supply of mulled wine and hot cider. And if I'm remembering this correctly after the feast Kunzite always managed to draw the short straw when it came to leading everyone in the traditional carols! Sorry to have a laugh at your expense old friend, but your voice was always better suited to the battlefield.

Well now, what to report?

I know we've talked about it before, but with each passing year I feel as though the Earth is slowly fraying. I don't know how else to describe it. It's like well-worn pair of jeans. The cuffs are beginning to tatter and given enough time they will unravel completely. I believe that the great calamity before the rise of Crystal Tokyo and our new Silver Millennium is inching nearer and nearer. I feel as if I should be doing something, preparing in some way, but I find myself at a loss as to what to do or how to act. What an odd feeling to await your own destiny knowing full well that you should not attempt to alter it.

But enough of that sort of talk… its Christmas after all!

It's been a busy year for me. I've managed by some miracle to finish medical school and I'm hoping to find a full-time job at one of the hospitals come the new year and get some experience under my belt before looking into my own private practice. Right now I'm doing my annual volunteer stint at the children's hospital in town. I've been trying to bribe Motoki into being my elf when they inevitably ask me to don the Santa Claus suit. Jadeite, you'd love it; I know how eagerly you anticipated every holiday and I'm sure you're brimming with Christmas spirit. The kids are great, but I have to say that it makes me a bit melancholy. Every time I'm around the children I'm reminded of Chibi-Usa. I know she's somewhere up ahead waiting for me, but I miss her all the same. Would it be wrong of me to wish for Crystal Tokyo to come sooner rather than later?

On the other side of things Usagi and the girls are just as feisty as ever. They've been making their rounds taking care of all the Christmas shopping for our little circle of friends and I'm happy to leave them to it. Unfortunately I'm currently stuck as to what I'm going to get Usako for Christmas. I know she would tell me she doesn't want or need anything, but I still have to be the good boyfriend. Zoisite, you would know best. I'm really in a bind here. I'm thinking maybe concert tickets? Or should I save that for her birthday? I'm thinking it needs to be something more sentimental. I'm really awful at this…

Let's see... Oh! Usagi and the others are in their last year of school now, so they've been very busy with exams and projects which has left me with quite a bit of time on my hands so I've been looking for some new hobbies to distract myself. I bought a bonsai, but I'm pretty sure I've already killed it and no, the irony is not lost on me. You can all stop chuckling...

I've also been trying to keep in touch with some friends I made while I was studying in America, but it's harder than you'd think. I got a present in the mail the other day from one of my med school classmates: a bottle of Southern Comfort. They used to drink the stuff like water and I suffered greatly. Apparently it was the school's signature drink. Nephrite, this has your name on it. I tried to fake it, but I've never been a very good liar and I haven't developed a tolerance for anything stronger than sake.

Other than that I guess it's business as usual. Every year I say the same thing and I'll say it again: I miss you guys. I really wish we could all get together again; it's been so long. You're in my thoughts daily as I'm sure you know. I hope you're all doing well and who knows what Crystal Tokyo may bring? Maybe it will be a homecoming for us as well.

Be safe and love always,

Mamoru

Mamoru set his pen down and picked up the card. It was a simple thing depicting the front door of a snowy farm house adorned with an evergreen wreath. He grabbed the bright red envelope which came with the card and crumpled it up with one hand and threw it in the trash can as he stood up from the kitchen table.

He walked down the hallway to his bedroom and sat on the edge of his bed, cradling the card in his hands. With a swift, rehearsed motion he set the card on the night stand next to his bed close to a small glass keepsake box containing four innocuous looking gem stones which sparkled pastel shades of blue, red, green, and pink in the cold light of the winter moon.

"Merry Christmas."