AN: The characters don't belong to me.

Usagi Tsukino was a human sunshine. When she entered a room, everything became brighter. When she smiled at someone, anyone really, their day became just wonderful. She was the light in a dark alley. Everything about her was just so golden. And the people around her agreed on that: Yes, she was clumsy and at 23 still a little crybaby, but none the less the most caring and loving and supportive person, they knew. And they were all more than happy to call her their best friend.

But right now, this ray of sunshine in human flesh turned into a thunderstorm. The cause of this transformation was no other than Mamoru Chiba. Her sworn nemesis and, to her dismay, Motoki's best friend.

For almost ten years he brought out the worst in her. At some point she thought about celebrating their strange anniversary with a cake. A cake she would totally smash in his pretty facial features. And sometimes he made her cry ugly and angry tears. And she felt those tears again and he just smirked. His signature smirk, he always sported, when she was just seconds away from spilling tears. But instead of giving in and letting the hot droplets fall freely down her cheeks, she just stomped and invaded his private space. Something she rarely did, because his proximity was too much for her: He smelled like soap and roses and his body odor was everywhere around her and it made funny things to her stomach.

She once told Minako about the "nausea" she felt in his presence and never mentioned that again, after her best friend just wiggled her eyebrows at her and said in a sing-song voice, that she got it bad for Mr. Study-in-an-arcade-jerk. No, it was definitely nausea, because she couldn't stand Mamoru-baka. She really couldn't.

And now he made her skin tingle again. Usagi took another step in his direction, and she could clearly see how his eyes widened in surprise at her bold action. Even his signature smirk was slightly falling out of place.

Before she spoke, she swallowed the huge lump in her throat, blinked a few times to make sure, the tears were gone and looked him dead in the eye. For a jerk he really had beautiful midnight blue eyes.

A big inhale of air was all it took to unleash all the anger, that she felt towards him, who had just mere seconds before made fun of her clumsiness again. He always did that, even though her uber-clumsy days had already passed. But her body always seemed to forget, how it worked, when he was nearby: She randomly spilled her drink on her shirt or let fries fall down into her lap, so the ketchup would leave red stains on her usually pastel-coloured skirts or shorts. And since the Crown was her favourite place and apparently it was the only place he ever went, they had way to many encounters for two people, who couldn't stand each other.

And this time she had stumbled over her own feet, as she entered the Crown in a haste and overjoyed, with two huge linen bags full of books for her next assignment at university. She probably wouldn't have stumbled over herself, if she hadn't made eye contact with the man with black hair, who burst into laughter as she tripped and most of her books left their safe place.

"Odango, did you grab the wrong bags?" were all he had to say to her, as she was still on her knees, picking up the books from her university library.

"Why?", she could already feel her blood boiling as she looked up at him.

"Because…" he got up from his chair and also grabbed a volume from the floor and read the title. "This is an actual book. And…." he flipped through the pages, "there are no pictures in here."

"I know that, baka." Even as she stood, he was overshadowing her with his height.

"This is a psychology book…" he absently read the back of the volume.

"I also know that." She put the last volume bag in one of the blush pink bags and rolled her eyes at his statement.

"Now hand me that!" She held out her hand in command and tapped her foot impatiently. As he handed her the book, she snatched it out of his hands.

"Why are you reading a psychology book? Do you want to find out, if your clumsiness is a special disorder?" She seethed as she watched his beginning smirk.

"No," she barked, already proud of herself for not returning a bitter remark in his direction. But he didn't let go and pressed on. "If this special disorder doesn't exist, you can give it a name. I suggest: The Odango Atama Syndrome."

She rolled her eyes at him again and turned her body into the direction of the counter, from where Motoki, not as secretly as he thought, watched the scene unfold, and put the bags on the red barstool.

"Hey Toki, I think I need a –"

"Chocolate Milkshake to keep clogging your brain. I don't think that's a good medicine to cure the Odango Atama Syndrome."

Usagi actually had a good day, after a more than just stressful and eventful week. And although Mamoru's words weren't as mean as some of his other comments, his unusual repetition of her unflattering nickname, served as a catalyst. She angrily turned around, felt her eyes becoming wet and watched as his features change from smug arrogance to something akin to fear, as she stepped closer to him.

"Listen, baka! Why do always have to ruin my mood? I had a really, really busy week and even though it's none of your business, no, I didn't want a milkshake, I wanted a tea, because in case you haven't noticed, it's very cold outside and I just spent the day in a freaking cold library. And yes, baka" she surprisingly poked her index finger in his chest, "I am more than able to read books without pictures in it. Not that it's any of your business."

Now it was her time to slightly smirk as she saw Mamoru's stunned expression. He was rarely speechless, but she must have struck a nerve. And she had the feeling, she saw a hint of regret in his eyes, but dismissed the thought immediately. Mamoru-baka only knew how to tease her.

She finally had the last word. Usagi would probably celebrate later. Triumphantly she turned around and came face to face with one of her favourite people, who tentatively smiled at her.

"So Usagi, what can I get you?", Motoki asked while he side glanced at Mamoru, who quietly slid on his usual spot.

"Um, I take a ….", she paused and whispered her next words, "a hot chocolate, please."

Since that baka had talked about Chocolate Milkshakes, Usagi craved something sweet. Preferably warm. Usagi trained her eyes on Motoki's swift movements, as he prepared the hot chocolate just the way she liked it, and chatted about his latest classes and the new waitress, who was apparently very enthusiastic about turning the Crown into a Hot Spot for theme parties.

"…I think some of her ideas are actually great, some are a bit over the top. But eventually we made a compromise, so we're hosting a Christmas Party this year. You're coming right?"

Usagi hadn't listened the whole time, because ever so often she felt Mamoru's eyes fixed on her and it was unnerving. She was more than tempted to return the stare, but she feared she would lash out again.

"Yeah, that sounds great. When's the party?" Motoki served the hot chocolate in a white-dotted pink cup and placed it in front of her. He even attempted to draw a bunny into the milk foam. The attempt looked rather funny, and it made her chuckle.

"Saturday in two weeks. That's the weekend before Christmas. I'll put you two on the guest list."

"Why do you need a guest list?" Mamoru had found his voice again.

"I told Reika about the idea and she suggested to sell tickets for the party and have a guest list. So it's more exclusive… I guess." The sandy-blonde hair student just shrugged his shoulders.

"I think, it sounds like a great idea." The first sips of the warm and sweet beverage had cheered Usagi up and she slowly returned to being her usual bright and bubbly self.

"Oh good! I'll put the girls on the guest list, too! And you can all bring a date to the party – " Motoki's happy chatter was interrupted by a deep voice.

"Thank you for the invitation, but I think I have to decline." Mamoru put his right hand behind his neck. "I have the early shift on that weekend at the hospital."

"Oh no! Cant't you switch?"

That was Usagi queue to snort and the two best friends whipped their heads in her direction.

"What's so funny?" Mamoru looked at her again.

"Come on. That's a lame excuse. You never go to parties. And you never go on dates." She straightened her spine as she said that. Ready to fight with him again.

"Are you stalking me?" he asked with a sheepish glint in his eyes.

"No, you're just obvious. You need to decline, because you'd show up alone. I mean who would date you voluntarily?" His face fell and for a second, she thought, she saw hurt in his eyes. But it was replaced immediately by his usual indifferent mask. Usagi 1 – Mamoru – 0.

Mamoru cleared his throat, shock his head and faced a nervous-looking Motoki again. "Count me in. With a plus one." Then he averted his gaze back to a flabbergasted Usagi and swiftly got up from his seat.

He looked deep into her eyes, so deep, as if he was searching for something, she almost forgot to breathe. He took a few steps and this time he invaded her private space and she had to swallow visibly as confidently told her: "I can't wait to meet your date, Usagi." Usagi 1- Mamoru – 10.

And with that he said goodbye to Motoki and left the Crown with long strides.

It took a few moments, until Usagi had gathered her wits again.

"I think you just challenged Mamoru", Motoki whistled and grabbed Mamoru's empty coffee mug and placed it in the dishwasher.

Great. Now she had to find a date in two weeks. Usagi sighed loudly. If the last week had been eventful, the next two weeks would be a handful.

AN: Hello everyone! Can you believe it's almost Christmas?

I wanted to write for my other story, but writer's block got the best of me... So I started something new. I hope you like it. Let me know! I would love to hear, what you think about it :)

Please excuse any mistakes. English is not my first language and this story is unbeta'ed.