It's only the middle of November, but I've already had my
Christmas music playing for the last 3 weeks. I'm sure that my dorm
mates thought that I was crazy... Anyways, here's a little Christmas
ficlett for you, dear readers.
Notes about the story: In Japan, Chrismas isn't a big religious deal
for most people, so, although I'm a Christian, I won't be making that a
big theme in this story. Christmas is more of a time to spend with your
boy or girlfriend.
*standard 'this doesn't belong to me' disclaimer here*
"Duck and Cover"
Rating: PG
Bunny19
This was the time of year that I most hated. It was cold; that
in itself being enough to get to me, but not only that, there were
decorations hanging in store windows, busy people shoving each other
around in order to get the 'best' of whatever was the marketed 'must
have' for the year, and that Star Wars movie doesn't have anything on
the attack of the clones that's hit Tokyo. There's a man in red and
white jiggling his belly on every other corner. That's something that I
never understood. The whole 'santa' story. It must have been brought
over from America or something. Yes, it was Christmas, and I, Mamoru
Chiba, was doing my best to out-grouch Scrouge until it passed.
One might ask why I had such a dislike of this season. Well,
it's really quite simple. Every year, my supposed friend, Matoki, tries
to catch me under the mistletoe with a girl. He thinks that I'll some-
how meet a girl, and, after 'love's first kiss', I'll discover that
she's my dream girl. Then we'll go off and date and get married and
have 2.3 kids; I believe that's the average in Japan these days.
Yes, Matoki has grown tired of watching me mope around, as he
puts it it, every year as I watch the 'happy couples' walk hand in hand
down the streets, snow softly falling around them. Mope? Me? Never.
It's true that, although I'm ruggedly handsome-- no, I'm not
bragging, people have said that about me!--, I haven't had a steady
girlfriend in about a million years. That's right, sad, isn't it?
Anyways, this year would be no different, I was sure, and I was
determined not to be caught. I'd done it for the past 3 years, one more
should be no trouble. So far I hadn't seen any sign of the poisonous
green and white plant; no sigh of bright red berries, maybe Matoki had
forgotten to buy mistletoe this year? As I drew nearer to the Crown
Game Center, my eyes narrowed and began to check out every nook and
cranny for plantlife. None were to be found, so I cautiously stepped
through the slidding doors of the arcade.
Warning! Warning! BEEP BEEP BEEP!!! I had spotted a small clump
of mistletoe hanging above me. I lept forward, just barely managing to
avoid colliding with the girl Matoki was pushing forward, with the aim
of her landing in my arms. I threw my arms in the air and exicuted a
graceful spin, rather top-like, and ended up piroetting around to behind
Matoki; the girl and himself smashing into the glass doors.
'Heh. Serves you right.' I smirked, as I walked to the counter,
keeping a lookout for any more of the deadly Christmas vegetation. Man,
he wasn't missing a beat this year. I shook my head and turned to order
a coffee from Matoki's sister. At the moment, however, she was laughing
too hard at me to write the order down,
"Wow, Mamoru-san, you're getting better!" More giggles.
"He's *your* brother," I grumbled as I plunked myself down on a
stool, "You could, at least, try to talk some sense into him!"
"No way! It's much more fun watching you guys every year!" She
laughed.
"Coffee. Black. Smartie-pants." I growled as I watched Matoki
give the girl a quick peck on the lips; they were, after all, under the
mistletoe. The girl sighed, a blush on her cheeks, as she stumbled in a
love-struck daze, out the doors.
A lot of girls were in love with him. I could understand. My
best friend did have looks, charm, and a great personality going for
him. However, what would his current girlfriend, and long-time love,
Rika think of him kissing other girls? Actually, I was pretty sure that
it was all harmless. Matoki was head over heels in love with Rika, and
their devotion to each other was not to be rivled.
Going into the arcade was more like signing a death warrent,
then relaxing, this time of year. I wondered why I was here. The bells
jangled again and more laughing and good natured banter reached my
ears. Usagi and crew had just entered.
I glared into my coffee. They were all cheerful and happy. It
wasn't fair. They all probably had boyfriends that showered them with
gifts, and other such romantic stuff, this time of year. I tried,
unsuccessfully, to ignore them and drink the brew, which Lizzy had
brought with a smirking comment of:
"I'm sure there's no mistletoe mixed into it, Mamoru-san."
Women. They are the ban of men's existance.
I took another sip of the bitter liquid and listened to the
conversations of those around me.
Usagi slid into their regular booth, beside Minako; Makoto
sitting on her other side, and Rei and Ami sitting across from them. It
had begun to snow again outside; big fat flakes. They shimmered in the
soft glow of street lights. Somewhere in the room a watch beeped 7
o'clock. The girls ordered hot cocco's and began to take off their
winter coats and gloves.
"So, Christmas is in 3 days, do you girls have anything special
planned?" Minako asked, as she untied the long white and green striped
scarf around her neck, and shook out her hair.
Rei smiled as she laid her black leather gloves on the table.
"Chad and I are going to have dinner together, then I guess
we'll go back to the temple and open gifts with Grampa. You girls are
all invited to come, of course. We'll have lots of treats and, besides,
you're practically family!"
She blushed slightly. That was a big statement of friendship
for her to make. Rei was normally withdrawn in the subject of family,
considering her father had left when she was young and her mother
had died when she was small too.
"What about you, Makoto?" Usagi asked, turning to the tall girl
sitting beside her. "Are you and Ken doing anything special?"
"I don't know, we haven't really talked about anything." the
tall girl replied as she shrugged out of her coat.
Matoki appeared a moment later, and slid into the booth beside
Rei, as he set his tray of coccoa on the table. The steaming cups of
chocolate were quickly taken up and the blond man's eyes sparkled as he
nodded his head at Mamoru's hunched over form on the stool in front of
the counter, across the room. He sighed in a 'dejected' way,
"He gets faster every year."
"Nearly got him that time, ne Matoki-kun?" Rei smirked.
"Why do you guys torture him like that?" Usgai put in, and
immediatly added, upon several intense 'why do you care' stares, "I
mean, if you're going to do something, you should at least put some
thought into it." Then she quickly picked up her hot coccoa with both
hands and took a long sip.
"And I suppose that *you* have better ideas, Odango?" Rei said,
with a lifted eyebrow.
"Of course I do. Who has spent nearly half her life arguing
with the pig-headed man who practically lives in that horendous green
jacket?" Usagi snapped back, setting her mug down and staring Rie
straight in the eyes.
Rei glanced away, "Whatever Odango, spill, if you have a decent
idea for once!"
"Listen up..." Usagi began, and 5 heads leaned in to the middle
of the table as she whispered her plan.
They were conspiering against me, I just knew it. Especially
Matoki. He was drawing Usagi and her scatterbrained friends into his
plot. Did he think that just because the girls were in high school that
I would let my guard down? Not a chance! I finished up my coffee and
prepared to leave, tying my scarf around my neck and pulling on my new,
black, leather gloves. I stood, and buttoning my coat, walked across
the room toward the door, keeping an eye on the chattering table in the
corner.
A few exclaimations reached my ears as the girls occasionaly
cried out: "That's crazy!" "Yeah, that might work." and "I don't think
that this is a good idea." Ah, Ami-chan, I always did like that girl. I
hoped that she would talk Matoki out of this hopeless stunt. There was
no way that I was going to fall into his trap. Women were nothing but
trouble.
Christmas music playing for the last 3 weeks. I'm sure that my dorm
mates thought that I was crazy... Anyways, here's a little Christmas
ficlett for you, dear readers.
Notes about the story: In Japan, Chrismas isn't a big religious deal
for most people, so, although I'm a Christian, I won't be making that a
big theme in this story. Christmas is more of a time to spend with your
boy or girlfriend.
*standard 'this doesn't belong to me' disclaimer here*
"Duck and Cover"
Rating: PG
Bunny19
This was the time of year that I most hated. It was cold; that
in itself being enough to get to me, but not only that, there were
decorations hanging in store windows, busy people shoving each other
around in order to get the 'best' of whatever was the marketed 'must
have' for the year, and that Star Wars movie doesn't have anything on
the attack of the clones that's hit Tokyo. There's a man in red and
white jiggling his belly on every other corner. That's something that I
never understood. The whole 'santa' story. It must have been brought
over from America or something. Yes, it was Christmas, and I, Mamoru
Chiba, was doing my best to out-grouch Scrouge until it passed.
One might ask why I had such a dislike of this season. Well,
it's really quite simple. Every year, my supposed friend, Matoki, tries
to catch me under the mistletoe with a girl. He thinks that I'll some-
how meet a girl, and, after 'love's first kiss', I'll discover that
she's my dream girl. Then we'll go off and date and get married and
have 2.3 kids; I believe that's the average in Japan these days.
Yes, Matoki has grown tired of watching me mope around, as he
puts it it, every year as I watch the 'happy couples' walk hand in hand
down the streets, snow softly falling around them. Mope? Me? Never.
It's true that, although I'm ruggedly handsome-- no, I'm not
bragging, people have said that about me!--, I haven't had a steady
girlfriend in about a million years. That's right, sad, isn't it?
Anyways, this year would be no different, I was sure, and I was
determined not to be caught. I'd done it for the past 3 years, one more
should be no trouble. So far I hadn't seen any sign of the poisonous
green and white plant; no sigh of bright red berries, maybe Matoki had
forgotten to buy mistletoe this year? As I drew nearer to the Crown
Game Center, my eyes narrowed and began to check out every nook and
cranny for plantlife. None were to be found, so I cautiously stepped
through the slidding doors of the arcade.
Warning! Warning! BEEP BEEP BEEP!!! I had spotted a small clump
of mistletoe hanging above me. I lept forward, just barely managing to
avoid colliding with the girl Matoki was pushing forward, with the aim
of her landing in my arms. I threw my arms in the air and exicuted a
graceful spin, rather top-like, and ended up piroetting around to behind
Matoki; the girl and himself smashing into the glass doors.
'Heh. Serves you right.' I smirked, as I walked to the counter,
keeping a lookout for any more of the deadly Christmas vegetation. Man,
he wasn't missing a beat this year. I shook my head and turned to order
a coffee from Matoki's sister. At the moment, however, she was laughing
too hard at me to write the order down,
"Wow, Mamoru-san, you're getting better!" More giggles.
"He's *your* brother," I grumbled as I plunked myself down on a
stool, "You could, at least, try to talk some sense into him!"
"No way! It's much more fun watching you guys every year!" She
laughed.
"Coffee. Black. Smartie-pants." I growled as I watched Matoki
give the girl a quick peck on the lips; they were, after all, under the
mistletoe. The girl sighed, a blush on her cheeks, as she stumbled in a
love-struck daze, out the doors.
A lot of girls were in love with him. I could understand. My
best friend did have looks, charm, and a great personality going for
him. However, what would his current girlfriend, and long-time love,
Rika think of him kissing other girls? Actually, I was pretty sure that
it was all harmless. Matoki was head over heels in love with Rika, and
their devotion to each other was not to be rivled.
Going into the arcade was more like signing a death warrent,
then relaxing, this time of year. I wondered why I was here. The bells
jangled again and more laughing and good natured banter reached my
ears. Usagi and crew had just entered.
I glared into my coffee. They were all cheerful and happy. It
wasn't fair. They all probably had boyfriends that showered them with
gifts, and other such romantic stuff, this time of year. I tried,
unsuccessfully, to ignore them and drink the brew, which Lizzy had
brought with a smirking comment of:
"I'm sure there's no mistletoe mixed into it, Mamoru-san."
Women. They are the ban of men's existance.
I took another sip of the bitter liquid and listened to the
conversations of those around me.
Usagi slid into their regular booth, beside Minako; Makoto
sitting on her other side, and Rei and Ami sitting across from them. It
had begun to snow again outside; big fat flakes. They shimmered in the
soft glow of street lights. Somewhere in the room a watch beeped 7
o'clock. The girls ordered hot cocco's and began to take off their
winter coats and gloves.
"So, Christmas is in 3 days, do you girls have anything special
planned?" Minako asked, as she untied the long white and green striped
scarf around her neck, and shook out her hair.
Rei smiled as she laid her black leather gloves on the table.
"Chad and I are going to have dinner together, then I guess
we'll go back to the temple and open gifts with Grampa. You girls are
all invited to come, of course. We'll have lots of treats and, besides,
you're practically family!"
She blushed slightly. That was a big statement of friendship
for her to make. Rei was normally withdrawn in the subject of family,
considering her father had left when she was young and her mother
had died when she was small too.
"What about you, Makoto?" Usagi asked, turning to the tall girl
sitting beside her. "Are you and Ken doing anything special?"
"I don't know, we haven't really talked about anything." the
tall girl replied as she shrugged out of her coat.
Matoki appeared a moment later, and slid into the booth beside
Rei, as he set his tray of coccoa on the table. The steaming cups of
chocolate were quickly taken up and the blond man's eyes sparkled as he
nodded his head at Mamoru's hunched over form on the stool in front of
the counter, across the room. He sighed in a 'dejected' way,
"He gets faster every year."
"Nearly got him that time, ne Matoki-kun?" Rei smirked.
"Why do you guys torture him like that?" Usgai put in, and
immediatly added, upon several intense 'why do you care' stares, "I
mean, if you're going to do something, you should at least put some
thought into it." Then she quickly picked up her hot coccoa with both
hands and took a long sip.
"And I suppose that *you* have better ideas, Odango?" Rei said,
with a lifted eyebrow.
"Of course I do. Who has spent nearly half her life arguing
with the pig-headed man who practically lives in that horendous green
jacket?" Usagi snapped back, setting her mug down and staring Rie
straight in the eyes.
Rei glanced away, "Whatever Odango, spill, if you have a decent
idea for once!"
"Listen up..." Usagi began, and 5 heads leaned in to the middle
of the table as she whispered her plan.
They were conspiering against me, I just knew it. Especially
Matoki. He was drawing Usagi and her scatterbrained friends into his
plot. Did he think that just because the girls were in high school that
I would let my guard down? Not a chance! I finished up my coffee and
prepared to leave, tying my scarf around my neck and pulling on my new,
black, leather gloves. I stood, and buttoning my coat, walked across
the room toward the door, keeping an eye on the chattering table in the
corner.
A few exclaimations reached my ears as the girls occasionaly
cried out: "That's crazy!" "Yeah, that might work." and "I don't think
that this is a good idea." Ah, Ami-chan, I always did like that girl. I
hoped that she would talk Matoki out of this hopeless stunt. There was
no way that I was going to fall into his trap. Women were nothing but
trouble.