Chapter Three

Mandrake looked over as Kshin, Chibiusa and Hotaru arrived at the mansion with some gifts in their hands.

"So did you kids have a good time?" Mandrake asked.

"We had a fun time!" Hotaru answered.

"I got Powerpuff Girls dolls from Kiku." Chibiusa shown the group plush dolls in pink, blue and green. She then proceeded to show everyone a pink shirt. "I also got this pretty cool shirt from Abby."

"That's great, Chibiusa." Mamoru replied.

"I got a nice hoodie featuring Madoka from Kiku." Hotaru shown the group her gray and pink hoodie. Then she shown the group her picture of Black Widow. "I also got this picture of Black Widow from the comics from Ella."

"And you'll never believe what I got." Kshin announced. First he shown a figurine of Thor. "I got this action figure of Thor from Kyle."

"And from Andrew," Kshin got out his other present, which was a puppet of some sort, "It is Jeffy from SML of YouTube!"

Rick and LJ groaned in response.

"What's SML?" Mamoru asked.

"A popular YouTube channel." Mandrake answered. "Nothing I would approve of given the channel's inappropriate content."

"Then I would advise Chibiusa to not watch that channel in that case." Mamoru replied, crossing his arms.

"That goes for you too, Hotaru." Setsuna sternly told the young child.

"I don't plan to." Chibiusa replied, crossing her arms as well.

"Neither do I." Hotaru added.

"I think you girls made a wise decision." Mandrake replied.

He looked as the two girls laughed and Kshin rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Mandrake looked up as he heard the doorbell of the mansion ring.

"That is unusual." Mandrake stated before turning to his adopted son and asked, "Kshin, can you answer the door?"

Kshin moved his Jeffy puppet and started to sing, "I don't have to. I don't have to. I don't wanna. I don't wanna. I don't have to. I don't have to. I don't wanna. I don't wanna."

Mandrake noticed the expression of the others as he was singing the song. Rick and LJ looked embarrassed. Mamoru, Rei, Makoto, Chibiusa, Hotaru and even Usagi were all cringing at the song. Minako and Ami were trying not to smirk. April just looked down, annoyed.

"Kshin, just answer the door." Mamoru told the preteen.

"I don't have..." Kshin started to say.

"Yes you do!" April exclaimed before grabbing him by the ear. "Answer the door!"

"Ow!" Kshin yelled. "Okay!"

"Answer the door." Mandrake calmly told the boy.

"I swear, I will break that puppet Kshin has." Rei muttered. "He's more annoying than Usagi."

"This is more embarrassing than the times I was turned to an owl or when that corrupt scientist drugged me." Rick added.

"You were turned into an owl?" Makoto asked.

"And how did that scientist drug you?" Minako added.

"Long story." LJ answered. Rick sighed with relief as he really didn't want to talk about that time which humiliated him.

Kshin went to answer the door, revealing the Phantom and Jedda at the door.

"When did you guys started using the doorbell?" Kshin asked.

"We're not sure, Kshin." Jedda answered. Rick walked over to where Jedda and the Phantom were as they entered the mansion and closed the door behind them.

"I'm glad that you made it back." Rick said as he interlocked hands with his girlfriend. He looked to see her wearing a pink blouse and blue jeans. "I see you are wearing the blouse I got for you."

"Yes." Jedda replied. "I love it."

"How was your visit to the Bandar village?" Mamoru asked the Walkers as the Phantom, Jedda and Rick met up with the others.

"It went good." the Phantom answered. "Thank you."

"Hello, Jedda." Kshin greeted his team mate, using his puppet.

"Kshin, for goodness sake, stop it!" Rick exclaimed.

"I don't have to!" Kshin replied.

The group heard the doorbell ring again.

"Kshin, can you go answer the door again?" Mandrake asked.

"I don't have..." Kshin started to sing again.

"Kshin!" Rei shouted as she grabbed him by the ear again. "Answer the door!"

"Ow! Okay!" Kshin replied before going to answer the door.

"You know that really wasn't necessary." Mandrake stated.

"Sorry." Rei replied as she crossed her arms. "He was getting on my nerves. I know he's your adopted son and all but he needs to take the breaks with his antics."

"I understand." Mandrake replied. "He's reaching towards the teenage years and that can be a challenge."

"We're back!" the group heard Haruka call out.

They noticed as Kshin met with the others with Haruka and Michiru in tow.

"Where did you two go?" LJ asked.

"We attended a Christmas party of our own that we were invited to." Michiru answered. "Watching some Christmas movies and dancing."

"Having a ball at our party." Haruka added. "You know, the party Rick and LJ turned down."

"Well," Rick replied, "we are glad that you two had a good time."

-Defenders-Christmas-Carol-

April glanced over at LJ and Makoto as they were at the library.

"I wonder why we are here." LJ stated.

"I don't know about you," April replied, "but I got bored while waiting on Dad. That's why I decided to walk around the mansion a bit."

"Yeah." Makoto crossed her arms. "It can be kind of boring waiting to celebrate Christmas."

"I guess I'm bored too." LJ replied.

He let out a sigh before speaking up, "Did any of you guys notice Rick lately?"

"What about Rick?" April asked.

"He doesn't look too hot." LJ answered. "Rick started showing signs of not feeling well after we were rescued from Mongo but the past week is when he was starting to get worse."

"We all noticed too." Makoto replied. "Rick told us it was just some sort of seasonal allergy. It's suspected to be worse than that."

April paled at that thought. Could something had happened to Rick while he was captured by that slime Prince Krotan on Mongo along with Jedda, LJ, Rei, Ami, Minako and Hotaru? Why weren't the others feeling sick? The thought of Rick being sick, especially on Christmas scared her but she did what she could not to show that fear.