AN at bottom, please don't sue us!! Merry Christmas Minna!!!! Santa's Secret By: Serenity Raye and Bethany ^_^ Rated: Geeee! ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The sky continued to pour ran over Tokyo as a young girl in a blue sailor suit stood at the docks. Computer readings in hand, she pulled her visor out and made one last check. "Okay, Mamoru-san - here's your snow." Large gulfs of wind rose around her form. "Sharbon Spray!" The rain drops slowed... but stayed in liquid form. Taking a couple of precautionary readings, Sailor Mercury was satisfied. As she walked away from the scene, a small squirrel came to see if she had dropped any crumbs. And slid across the ice that had formed on the dock, landing sideways into a tree. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~*~ Tsukino Residence~*~ "Usagi!!" Shingo yelled at his sister. She rolled over pulling the blanket over her head. "I don't wanna go to school Luna," she muttered. "I'm not your cat baka!" he pulled the blanket off of her. Shivering she grabbed the blanket back. "Go away... sleep now." "Usagi!!" he yelled in her ear. She rolled into the blanket tighter. Smiling evily he grabbed a corner of the blanket, yanking it he sent her flying out of bed and onto the floor. Startled Usagi looked up, "Shingo?" she asked sleeply, "Where's Luna?" "I don't know." Suddenly a small meow came from beneath her. Moving slightly she found a very squished Luna underneath her. "Gomen Luna." She tried not to laugh at Luna's indignant look. "When your done there why don't you come downstairs so I can open my christmas gifts?" "Christmas!" squealled Usagi, dropping Luna and blew by Shingo, racing down the stairs. Stopping at the bottom she gasped. The tree was beautiful, glowing softly the ornaments twinking. But better than that was... "PRESENTS!!!" Plopping herself down in front of the tree she began shaking boxes trying to determine what was inside. Shingo soon joined her and a few moments later their parents came down both yawning but smiling. "Go ahead and open them," Kenji said sitting on the couch. The two holding gifts didn't need any more encouragment before tearing open their gifts. An hour and alot of gifts later.... Usagi and Shingo sat content in their piles of gifts and mountians of paper. 'Wonder what Mamoru is doing now...' she thought - shaking her head, she wondered what made her think of him. Then she remembered the bottle of colone in her room. "I almost forgot!" she cried. "Forgot what dear?" Usagi's mom asked stuffing wrapping paper in a trash bag. "My secret santa. I still have to give my gift!" racing upstairs she quickly dressed and pinned her hair up. "Luna you okay?" she asked the small form at the edge of her bed. "Hai, Usagi," she mumbled Usagi placed a small box by Luna, "Merry Christmas Luna." Scratching her ears quickly she grabbed Mamoru's present and rushed down the stairs again. "Bye mom, I'll be back later, Merry Christmas!" she yelled pulling her jacket and shoes on then rushing out of the door. "That girl never ceases to amaze me," she muttered looking at the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Gotta hurry... gotta go... why is the street so crowded anyhow?!" Makoto grumbled, passing peditrains and mumbling gomen when she stepped on their shoes, bags, knocked them over or what have you. "I've spent too much time around Usagi- chan..." "Your telling me!" a voice joined her from the side. The blue haired genuis keep up easily with the taller brunette. "Why are you late?" "Hurry... didn't wrap the gift - GOMEN! - until... *huff* like ten minutes... *wheez* ago!" Giggleing slightly, Ami eyed the box under Makoto's arm. It was wrapped in shiny green paper (Bethany: I LOVE green!) with a large pink bow ajoining the top of the medium sized box. Ami had a simliar sized box wrapped in blue with a red bow. "I wrapped mine about midnight last night." Stopped in front of Minako's house, they slowed their pace and attempted to look calm and collected. "What the hell happened to you two?" Minako asked, opening the door. There went that idea down the drain ^^. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mamoru stood out on his balcony, coffee cup in hand. "Well...?" he asked the raining sky. "Where's Usa's snow?!" Still the rain poured and the water splashed. "Please... Kami-sama, I need snow for Usako..." he begged the heavens. Still it rained. "--the rain doesn't look to let up, Tokyo. And the temperatures are staying so much above freezing that a white christmas is out of th--" "Ugh! I don't want to hear that!" Mamoru said, frusterated and clicking the television off before the weather man could finish his sentence. Slipping his shoes on, Mamoru grabbed an unbrella and headed out the door, dissappointment clear in his eyes. "Guess it's a good thing I sent her the necklace..." he mumbled angerily. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei sat in front of the fire her eyes closed in meditation. Fine beads of sweat were present on her face but she continued to concentrate. Suddenly the fire roared to life. Snapping her head up in surprise Rei looked at the fire before falling to the floor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Rei?" a voice called softly. Looking around Rei searched for the owner of the voice. "Who's there?" she called into the darkness. Slowly a figure stepped foward. "My beautiful, little Rei." She looked at Rei and chuckled softly, "But your not so little anymore are you?" "Okaa-san?" Rei whispered. She moved closer and watched the women, she was taller than Rei, with black hair and violet eyes that danced with joy. It looked like her mother, but she was so healthy and happy. Rei only remembered her mom as a frail women with a distant look in her eyes. "Hai, my how you've grown." Holding her arms out she smiled as Rei ran into her arms. The two cried in each others arms, both holding on tight. Finally Rei drew back a bit. "But how?" she asked. "Your friend Usagi has a very kind mother," she said refering to Queen Serentiy. "Her mother? I don't understand." "You will soon." Stepping back she looked Rei over, "You have grown so beautiful. I've watched you carefully Rei. I can't belive my little girl is a Sailor Senshi." "You know that?" she whispered. "Hai, you are the powerful Sailor Mars, the beauty who controls fire." She smiled again, "Which is much like your temper I see." Rei blushed. Hugging her mother again she noticed she was differnt. "Okaa-chan, your..." "Hai, I can't stay forever Rei." Touching Rei's cheek they noticed her hand was growing transparent,"I have to go now." "No you can't go!" Rei felt tears sliding down her cheeks "I'll be watching, just remember how proud I am of you. I'll always be proud of you." Hugging Rei one last time she took her hand and squeezed it, "I love you." And then she was gone. Rei stood alone in the darkness. She felt a wave of reasurance and peace sweep through her. "My mom is proud of me," she whispered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rei woke up by the fire. She looked around wondering if it was all a dream. Sitting up she felt something in her hand. Opening her hand she found a small locket, inside was a picture of her mom, and on the other side, one of her. "Thank you Okaa-san." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Usagi headed full speed down the street, not noticing just how many people she slammed into, or barely missed. The slick concret under her caused her feet to slip and slide a few times. "Snow... wish it would snow..." Around the corner that Usagi was headed around full speed was a young man. Sighing dejectedly, Mamoru ran his fingers through his hair. "Snow... please...!" Usagi turned the corner, her feet sliding on the wet... wet... wet... "ICE!!!" SLAM!!!!!! Yep, you guess it. "Ohhh... " Mamoru mumbled, rubbing his head and opening hestitent eyes to see who was laying on top of him. Usagi looked up and gasped. 'Anyone but him!' "Gomen nasai!!" she sprinted to climb off of the awkward position she held on his lap, but only succeed in digging her elbow in his *ah-hem*. (Bethany: *cough*... you get the idea, ne?) "Owww!!" he yelped, causing Usagi to go flying off him and into the ground. She slid (literally) across the sidewalk, her bottom growing numb from the ice. "Yikes! Oh nooo---offf!" head against the concret wall. Mamoru just stood there, slightly holding one hand protective in certain areas, least she slid and hit him again. When she opened her eyes the first thing she noticed was Mamoru holding his hand out to help her up, the second thing she noticed was something white laying softly on her nose before it dissappeared. "Wha..." Mamoru hefted her up to her feet, at the same time pulling her close to him. (Bethany: Completely on accident, I assure you!) Another white speck landed on Usagi's nose, as if trying to get her attention. Slowly her eyes looked heaven-ward, Mamoru's doing the same. A gasp. Then a small sound of complete joy. "MAMO-CHAN!! LOOK!!! SNOW!!!" Usagi yelled, hugging him tightly. Mamoru stared off in space. Things were happening *just* a little too fast for his brain to react. Snow. Usako. Hug. Arms. Neck. Sweet smell. Mamo-chan?!?!?!?!?! "U..U--U....U--?" Gulp. Okay, let's try again, shall we? "Usa...Usa...Usa-a-...Usako?" he whispered. "Hmmm?" she mumbled dreamily, snow flakes falling faster and faster around the embrasing couple. Slowly her mind registered what he called her. Her eyes slowly came down, meeting midnight blue ones. "Merry Christmas...Usako," he said softly, bringing his lips closer to hers. "Merry Christas - Mamo-chan..." she whispered, closing the gap between their lips. Slowly her breath was drawn from her, but still she held onto him. Mamoru was flying - okay, so not altogether flying. But his mind was spinning in delightful emotions... warmth, joy, happiness, calmness... love. Finally, in desperate need of air, Mamoru pulled his lips away from the blonde infront of him. "Usako... I- I'm sorry." "Don't be." Shocked eyes found hers, drawing comfort from the fact that she seemed to be glowing with happiness. "I wanted you to." Sighing happily, Mamoru pulled her closer and brushed the snow out of her bangs. "I love you Tsukino Usagi.... please don't be mad at me for it." "Mad?" By the confusion in her eyes, Mamoru had little hope she was going to be happy with him when it registered. Slowly, in mortal pain, Mamoru with drew his arms from her waist. Before he could completely move away, however. Usagi took a step forward and kissed him with all the passion and fire she could manage. Pulling away for a second time, Mamoru's eyes were huge. "I love you, too." Shock. Then... "YES!!!!!!" he yelled, lifting her up and twirling around - snow falling in waves around them, large white flakes promising a beautiful Christmas day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~` The girls sat around their packages all opened. Ami had gotten a a new genetics book, more advanced than the one she had gotten yesters, from Rei. Minako got the new Sailor V game from Motoki, who didn't understand why that cracked the girls up so much. Rei had gotten an incense package from Minako. She had been sort of distant all morning, fingering the locket around her neck. Makoto had gotten a book from Ami, The Science of Cooking, that one had gotten many sighs from the group. Motoki had gotten a package of Rose Tea and cookies from Makoto who instead that this was the best flavor of tea. So now the girls sat around watching christmas movies on television. Rei was sprawled out on the floor, Ami sat in a chair, Matoko was laying on a pillow and Minako stretched out on the couch. "Where is Usagi?" Makoto asked, "She was supposed to be here an hour ago." "Maybe she had to wrap her gift," Ami offered, already into the new book. "Wait a second. Who does Usagi-chan have?" Minako looked around "If everyone already got a gift then she must have..." her eyes got wide, "MAMORU!" Rei suddenly perked up. Looking up she smiled, "Lets go find her..." standing she reached for her jacket. "OH MY GOSH!" Matoko cried staring at the window "What?" Minako asked looking over, "No way!" "It's snowing!!" they cried, jumping up and down. Rei smiled, "Looks like both our wishes came true Usagi," she whispered moving over to the window. She noticed Ami grinning madly, "Alright Ami what do you know?" she demanded. Blushing Ami looked at Rei, "Nothing..." "Ami-chan knows something...." Minako teased, "Tell us or we'll...we'll tell everyone about your crush on Urwa." "You wouldn't!" "Try me." "Fine, I made it snow." She closed her book, "Happy?" "Why would you make it snow?" Makoto asked confused. "Tuxedo Kamen asked me too." "WHAT???!!!" all three girls shrieked. "Calm down, he was doing it for a friend." She sighed, "There that's all I know." "Oh my..." Luna whispered from the window still. "Yeah it's snowing, we know." "No not that." Rei moved over the window and gasped, "That." "Minna you have got to see this!" the group crowded around the small window. Looking down to the street below they saw something they never thought they would. Tuskino Usagi and Chiba Mamoru, kissing in the middle of the sidewalk. *Sigh* *Sigh* *Sigh* *Ohhh sigh* "AMI-CHAN!!" all the girls screamed. Blushing, Ami turned towards the window... "Merry Christmas minna-chan." ~~~~~~ Finally we're done! Hope everyone enjoyed the story! I want to thank everyone Bethany for writing this with me! I had so much fun, even though staying up that late can be a damper on your day. Thanks to EC for getting of the phone and letting my finishing this! I'll call you back dear! Bethany: YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! did Serenity mention that we're done?!! YES!! Thank you Sere for letting me write this with you! It was SO much fun!! We gotta do this again sometime!! Staying up late is fun btw!! Thank everyone for all the emails on this story!! We Luv Ya!!! Well that's it! Merry Christmsas everyone! The next time everyone gets to post will be in the year 2000!!! ::Snifff,Sniff:: our last post of the year.... Remember Email!!