Author's Notes: It has not been lost on the author that in some traditions, the twelve days of Christmas include Christmas day, as well as the eleven days following that lead up to the Epiphany. It works in the real timeline, but not in the story. Something went correctly, and here it is! I present to you the next chapter---dun dun DUNNNNN!

Chapter Two: Forget the Partridge

The air was rather nippy, Usagi didn't have a coat, and yet she was giggling with glee. Her mother would kill her when she found out that she didn't wear her coat to school today, but she would cross that threshold when she put her toe across it. School was over for the Christmas holidays and she had two and a half glorious weeks for frolicking and laughter; not to mention chocolate shakes and blueberry pancakes. The trouble was, she still had only twelve days to figure out a Christmas present for…him. Mamoru. She had to get him a present for the Christmas party. Maybe Motoki had engineered it so that she got him. He was always pleading with her to stop bickering with Mamoru. Perhaps this was his way of getting them to reconcile for the time being.

Either way, at three o'clock a gleeful Usagi was skipping down the street to the arcade after a stressful day of last minute busy-work from her teachers and assignments that she would put off until the last possible minute. In her blissful mood, Usagi failed to see a tall, dark, handsome, not-so-strangerish stranger coming around the corner and straight into her path. She ran head-on into a green and black chest, discovering the hard way how badly it hurts when you fall off of a cloud.

"Ooooh. That's gonna hurt," she moaned, longing to sit on a cushion and relieve the throbbing pain in her rear section.

"Going anywhere special, Odango," a familiar voice queried.

"Oh, not you! Why do I always run into you? It must be fate or something," she grumbled, getting up and looking into his face.

Mamoru was glowing. Glowing! His face was lit by a bright, happy smile, and a gentle breeze was blowing his soft, black hair across his shining face. He looked down at her with his pair of electrifyingly blue eyes. His sudden burst of a pleasant countenance was like a slap in the face. It struck her suddenly that he was gorgeous, even beautiful. She had never seen him so…radiant. Did such a word apply to him? Could such a word apply to him? Apparently so. A light blush crept onto her face and she stared at the ground, startled with herself for staring at him.

"Going to the arcade," he asked.

"As a matter of fact, yes, I am. … Why?"

"No reason. I just wondered. Well," he sighed, "I'll see you around, Usagi," he said, and sauntered away whistling something that was 'Jingle Bells' in his own universe but in no way could actually be called a song.

Did he just call…Usagi? Why did she feel her stomach leap when she heard him say her name? Was that a good thing? Usagi shook her head to clear her thoughts and continued her journey around the corner, flicking a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. Maybe she was having too good of a day and fate decided to be cruel and made her run into him. Yes. Yes, that was a good explanation.

As Usagi opened the doors to the arcade she saw Motoki standing near the counter with a tiny package in his hands. He was shaking it up and down and lifting it like he was testing its weight.

"What'cha got there, Motoki," she asked.

"Oh, Usagi! I'm glad you're here. This was left here. It has your name on the card here," he said, reaching behind him to grab a small envelope. "Will you open it now and end my anticipation?"

"Sure," she said slowly. What was the package? Who had sent it and why? Only one way to find out. She opened the envelope quickly and took out the card. It was a red card with silver glitter that formed the letters of her name. In place of the dot on the 'i', however, there was a smiley face. How cute. On the inside was written in plain, neat script: "I didn't have a partridge. How about a canary chew-toy for your cat?" Usagi laughed. What was this? Didn't this person realize that only dogs really had chew-toys? She read the last line of the note. "Hope you have a musical day. Your Secret Santa."

"What is it," Motoki asked, leaning over her shoulder, trying to read the card.

Usagi opened the tiny box and pulled out a fluffy, yellow bird that was probably supposed to be a canary but actually looked more like a turkey than a canary. She laughed. This must be some sort of joke. What kind of Christmas present was this?

Motoki barked out a laugh. He had no idea what Mamoru had in mind to give Usagi, but he expected some hard thinking to go into the gift. If he was planning on giving her cheap little gifts for twelve days then he would have to have a talk with him. Cheap was certainly not something on Usagi's list of possible gifts to receive. But, he did have to admit that the whole idea was rather romantic. Sending gifts to impress Usagi would definitely be a romantic way to gain her heart. He felt like puking at that thought. Ick. His best male friend. Being romantic. Yuck. It was the strangest image he had of Mamoru yet and he hoped it stopped there.

Usagi picked up her things a few moments later and began to walk home. She watched as her feet went back and forth on the pavement, slowly and dazedly. What a way to end the day; Mamoru glowing and a canary-toy for Luna. Lovely.

When Usagi tossed her coat on her bedroom floor and flopped down on her bed she realized that she hadn't thought about a gift for Mamoru. Well, if he was going to keep smiling at her she'd have to get him some toothpaste. Not that his breath was bad or anything, but maybe he could use it…No. Usagi turned over on to her stomach in frustration and grumbled, beating her pillow with her fists. What to get an annoying man for Christmas? He probably didn't even celebrate Christmas. Well that was a sad thought, she thought, turning over again to lay on her back. She'd really have to get him something nice now. Usagi grumbled again and threw her face in her pillow. This was going to be harder than she had previously supposed...

Author's Notes: I'm sorry this is so short. I was trying to post a chapter a day, but I'm not sure that will work out. My internet is being stupid and won't let me upload chapters on fanfiction, so I'll try to post as soon as possible. If my internet cooperates then you'll get one a day from now untill I finish, but if it doesn't, then you'll have to wait untill my school library opens again to get the rest. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas day and continue to have a blessed Christmas season. Send some snow my way and I'll love you forever! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!Be on the lookout for Soldiers from the Mist too!