Too Many Santas!

Makoto, Ami, Motoki and Rei were huddled together over the counter, whispering amongst themselves. Usagi watched warily from her seat in their booth-conveniently on the opposite side of the room from the conversation. She drummed her fingernails on the table-top impatiently, biting her bottom lip. "What could they be talking about? They DO this every year!" she burst out nervously, starting those seated around her. They stared at the raving blonde for a moment, then went back to their food and conversation. Usagi resumed tapping her fingernails, blue eyes narrowed on her friends. ["Well, the last two years anyhow"] she amended mentally, staring daggers into Rei's back.

"She's staring again, I can feel it!" Rei hissed with exasperation, throwing a quick look over one shoulder. Sure enough, Usagi was staring across the room, eyes pinned suspiciously to their little group.

"Never mind that! What's the plan this ear, Motoki?" Makoto said eagerly, leaning over the counter more so that Motoki got a tantalising-if unexpected view-of Makoto's assets.

He flushed slightly, averting his gaze. "Same old, same old" he said casually, glancing at a clock on the wall.

"So operation moon bunny is in?" Ami said weakly, eyes flittering from one mad friend to the other. Both Makoto and Rei were grinning madly like fiends.

"Yep!" Rei shouted, thrusting a hand into the air. She hastily pulled it down when everyone stared.

"So-Moon and Shields...right?" Makoto said eagerly.

"Yeah" Motoki said, staring at them with a strange expression.

"What?" Makoto demanded, sensing that Motoki was hiding something big. "What do you know?"

"Oh girl, I have a doozey this year" Motoki gloated, leaning closer to them all so that no one could overhear. "You aren't going to believe our luck-but guess who's playing Santa Clause at Juuban Mall?'

"NO WAY!" Makoto yelped, green eyes going wide with surprise and delight. "Tell me you're kidding! This is too perfect"

"That's what I thought" Motoki went on gleefully, grinning like a mad hatter.

"So-how does this help us get Mamoru and Usagi together exactly?" Ami queried with reluctant interest. Last years 'hook the two enemies up scheme' had been a disaster-but possibly this one had more merit.

"Are you IN, Ames?" Rei teased her blue-haired friend.

"Yes" Ami sighed, running a hand over her eyes wearily. "You always manage to drag me into your games anyway"

"What a thing to say!" Motoki huffed with mock-indignation.

Ami peeked out from between her fingers and grinned at him. "And you're the worst, Motoki!" she admonished.

He pointed at his chest, eyes wide and innocent. "Meeeeee? Come ON guys! Meeeee?"

"Cut it out!" Makoto giggled, almost sliding off of the counter in her mirth.

"Kidding aside guys, how the heck are we going to get Romeo and Juliet together?!" Rei hissed worriedly at them, eyes glinting with eagerness.

"We'll think of something" Ami said mysteriously. She giggled, then covered her mouth with her hand, staring around at 3 pairs of suspicious eyes. "After all, everyone-Usagi never COULD resist sitting on Santas lap!"

Rei, Makoto and Motoki gaped, then cheered loudly, patting an embarrassed Ami on the back enthusiastically...and making Usagi look even MORE suspicious.

"Go Ami!" Rei yelled, high-fiving Makoto.

"We'll make a match-maker of you yet" Motoki added slyly.

Ami just blushed.

"FINALLY!" Usagi groaned theatrically, as they entered the Mall. "I thought that you guys were going to talk forever"

"If you MUST know-we were planning your Christmas present" Rei said scornfully, flinging her long hair back over her shoulders.

Usagi eyed her uncertainly, a lip trembling. "Really?" she threw herself at her best friend. "Oh Rei, you guys are wonderful!" she cried into Rei's shoulder, clinging.

Rei grinned with embarrassment, pushing the blonde away slightly. "Yeah. Okay, Odango Atama. Can we shop now?"

Usagi chose to ignore the taunt and grinned at all her friends. "Sure am! Lets go!" she announced, hurrying through the crowded Mall to the closest shops.

Rei, Makoto and Ami hung back slightly, having a hurried conversation.

"Where is he exactly?" Ami hissed at them, eyes flittering around the Mall.

"Motoki said center stage!" Rei whispered back furiously, pointing vaguely in the direction of the center of the Mall.

"How do we get her there?" Makoto said eagerly, rubbing her hands together.

"She'll want to shop first" Ami groaned, rolling her eyes.

Rei got an evil look in her eyes. "NOT if we tell her that Santa is here! She can't resist asking for all those presents" the priestess grinned evilly. "This is just TOO easy!"

"I'll say" Makoto muttered, straightening. She waved an arm around in the air to get Usagi's attention and then blonde came running back, already carrying a gift.

"This place is great! Sooooo many presents and so little time" Usagi cackled, grinning.

Ami coughed and stepped forward, self-nominating herself as the match-maker of the year. "Er-Usagi? I just heard a little boy say that Santa is in center court-giving out candy" she said innocently, as if just making conversation.

The blonde's eyes immediately lit up. "CANDY? Candy and Santa too? Oooh!" she squealed loudly, spinning to face the center of the Mall. Before they could stop here, she was off and running.

The girls grinned, sighed and then dashed after their leader to make sure that the plan went smoothly.

Usagi reached center court and saw the line-up of 5 kids or so. It was pretty quiet for Santa, but to Usagi's luck! She grinned widely, jumping into line behind a little girl. The mother gave her a weird look.

"So Usagi-do you want us to hang around or what?" Rei said casually from just behind, looking down to check her watch. She was having a huge time not grinning like a maniac. As soon as Usagi found out that Santa was really her worst enemy-well, no one wanted to miss THAT!

"Could you? I'll just be a minute" Usagi said eagerly, stepping forward in line. It was moving pretty fast and soon, she was first. Makoto, Rei and Ami stepped slightly to the side to wait. Usagi hesitated for a moment, doubting. "Umm-maybe I AM too old for this guys?" she said to them nervously, baulking for some reason. She WAS fifteen now....after all.

"NAH!" Makoto urged, thrusting Usagi forwards with a push in the base of her back.

The girls all giggled from behind, trying to muffle it with their hands. Mentally, they all counted down the minutes until Usagi discover just WHOSE lap she was about to sit on!

The blonde stumbled forwards onto Santa's dais and almost tumbled into his lap. As she reached him, he stiffened curiously and straightened on his throne.

"And what would you like for Christmas LITTLE GIRL" he drawled to her as she sat gingerly on his lap. His hands came up to span her waist and hold her steady on his knee.

Usagi shivered lightly at the contact, realising that her skirt was just a BIT too short. She glanced at him strangely, wondering at the emphasis on his last two words. Was Santa mocking her? She rested back on his leg, a hand around his neck. Santa was lightly muscled. And VERY fit. She blushed at him. "Umm-I'd like the new Sailor V game, a large bunny, a large box of heart candy-" her eyes were dreamy as she reeled off everything she ever wanted to the compliant Santa, who said not a word during her tirade.

"Is that all?" Santa asked her with exasperation. "Is there anything you DON'T want?"

Usagi looked at him in bewilderment. "Say, what sort of Santa asks that question anyway?" she asked him suspiciously, put off by his clear amusement and mockery. It was reflected in his deep blue eyes, as they stared right into hers from a few centimeters away.

"A smart Santa" came the confusing answer. But before she could open her mouth, he went on. "An angry Santa, who's had to put up with kids jumping on and off of his lap all day just to pay some extra collage fees" his voice rose slightly as he leaned closer to her, eyes beginning to glitter with annoyance. "A Santa who knows when a girl is getting too old to sit on strange guys laps!"

"What?" She gasped at him, flushing brightly. Was Santa looking her OVER? She gaped at him, belatedly trying to pull down the bottom of her short grey skirt.

His hands tightened about her waist, as if daring her to hop off. "Get a clue, Odango Atama!" he suddenly bellowed at her.

Usagi gaped even more, then suddenly realised that only two people in the entire WORLD called her by that hated name. Rei and-"I'M GONNA KILL YOU CHIBA!" she shrieked at him, leaping off of his lap. His hands held on just a little too long just to annoy her and she almost tumbled onto her face. She straightened swiftly, then spun and waved a fist under his nose. "You hentai! You-you..." she spluttered.

"Is there something wrong, miss?" a strange man asked politely from the side.

Usagi turned to face him and saw that he was dressed in 'store security' clothing. His eyes left hers and stared hard into 'Santa's. Santa slumped back into his chair, groaning loudly. From the line, the girls and children and parents alike gaped at the scene.

"Umm-" Mamoru began, but was cut off by the security guard.

"Because if Santa is causing trouble-he can hope back to the North Pole with no pay" the man went on grimly, looking Usagi over from head to toe, eyes lingering significantly on her short skirt. "Was Santa causing trouble, young lady?" he asked her, crossing his arms.

Usagi froze in horror, realising that she had caused a huge scene and was getting Mamoru fired. What had he said to her about collage fees? "Er-" she began, twiddling her fingers.

Mamoru growled under his breath and stalked down from the dais, reaching Usagi's side in seconds. "No problem" he said silkily to the guard and then the rapt crowd. "My girlfriend and I had a fight" he announced regretfully. He reached out and grabbed Usagi about the waist, sweeping her into his arms easily. Then before she could utter a word, her lips were crushed beneath his in a searing kiss.

To say that Usagi was stunned was an understatement. When she was swept so easily into 'Santa's arms, she was stunned-and when his lips descended onto hers-she went into complete shell-shock. She was being kissed thoroughly by Santa! By-by...she blinked, trying to to ignore the tickling beard Mamoru was wearing and the searing touch of his lips pressed against her. Usagi had never been kissed-but now she knew what it felt like..Wonderful and melting. His lips were so warm and he smelt so GOOD...But- ["Eeew! I'm being kissed by my worst enemy!"] she quickly fought down the feelings screaming through her veins and wrenched herself back. Her lips unlocked with Mamoru's looking automatically up into his blue eyes. Santa looked-pole-axed! As much as she looked. Somehow, that fact was satisfying, but still...Usagi's arm swung back quickly, then she let Santa have it right across the cheek. He reeled back under her slap, looking stunned and somehow comical.

"YOU CREEP!" she shouted at him, flushing as brightly as a tomato. She looked anxiously at the crowd of stunned parents, kinds and...three gaping Senshi.

"You-go...girl" Makoto wheezed, eyes like saucers.

"Did I just see what I thought I saw?" Rei asked Makoto and Ami urgently, eyes wide. She cling to Makoto's shoulders weakly, staring at the drama unfolding before her. Santa had just made out with Usagi-in front of the entire Mall! ["I think I'm gonna faint!"] she groaned mentally, fanning herself with one hand. And to9 make things worst, Santa was Mamoru! Usagi's worst enemy! ["Motoki isn't going to believe this!"]

"Why did she hit Santa?" A little girls asked her mother, mouth beginning to tremble. Around her, other kids started to get teary-eyed.

Mamoru, the parents, Usagi and the crowd watched the children begin to cry with some horror.

"It's YOUR fault, jerk!" Usagi hissed out the side of her mouth to Santa, watching the children with dismay. She hadn't meant for them to cry! She just wanted to get Mamoru back for that...wonderful kiss. She shook her head, eyes glaring daggers at Santa.

"MY FAULT? You Ditz" Mamoru hissed back at her, adjusting his beard. He turned to glare daggers back at her under his bushy eyebrows. "All you had to do was go along with it!"

"You're definitely suspended for this one, SANTA" the security guard said from the side, face thunderous.

Usagi bit her lip, confused from the kiss, furious at Mamoru, guilty at getting him fired and upset that she'd made the kids cry. "Right!" she announced firmly. She stomped over to Santa and grabbed his gloved hand, yanking him off of the dais and towards the back where she had seen a candy house. Obviously where Mamoru had changed into Santa. "Santa will be back in a second, kids!" she sang back to them, waving.

"Where are we going, Odango?" Mamoru groaned at her, letting her drag him along behind her...merely because he now had nothing better to do. The ditz had struck again-and this time got him fired! ["Why did I kiss her anyway?"] he wondered dazedly, ducking his head as they went into Santa's House and Usagi slammed the door behind her. Not that he HADN'T enjoyed the kiss...but still, she was his enemy...right?

"Okay" Usagi smacked her hands together, carefully surveying the door with a critical eye. She spotted a costume in the corner and walked over to it, taking it from the hanger.

"What are you up to now?" Mamoru asked her suspiciously, folding his arms over his huge gut. He thumped the pillow a few times and settled down to watch the blonde rush about the room. She grabbed various objects and then ducked into a change roo at the back.

"No peeking, hentai!" she warned him, sticking her tongue out, then slamming the door in his face.

Mamoru groaned and rolled his eyes. "AS IF!" she yelled back in annoyance. Still, he DID wonder for a moment...that kiss had been amazing!

Usagi emerged a moment later-dressed as Mrs. Santa. She scowled at him, adjusting her long loose blonde hair under the floppy hat. "One word Santa and I boot you back to the poll!" she hissed at him, flouncing past.

Mamoru chuckled under his breath as they exited the small 'House' and walked back into the main arena. The crowd looked up expectantly-and laughed when they saw Usagi.

"Oh my god!" Makoto cried out, grinning. She fell into laughing, stumbling into a smiling Ami and then into a near hysterical Rei. The three fell into a pile next to the line of children and parents, unable to stop laughing.

"I'm Mrs. Santa!" Usagi announced loudly, turning to glare once at Mamoru. She stationed herself next to his dais as he mounted it and sat down upon his throne. She spotted a bag and snatched it up, delving inside and coming out with a handful of candy-canes. "Next!" she bellowed good-naturedly, trying not to look at her friends, who looked as if they were going to bust a rip from laughing so much.

A little boy walked up uncertainly. He glanced at Usagi and then at Mamoru. "Did you and Mrs. Santa make up?" he inquired innocently.

Usagi and Mamoru choked over THAT one.

"Er-yes, we did" 'Santa' said gruffly.

The little boy beamed as the parents all broke into cheering and then security guard turned and left with a warning glance at Mamoru.

For the next hour, Usagi had to act the part of Mrs Santa, all the while wanting nothing more than to strangle Chiba Mamoru. The annoying jerk was grinning smugly behind his fake beard the entire time! Finally, Mamoru's manager came up and announced that the two of them had earned a break.

"Great!" Usagi said with relief, slumping. She dropped the almost empty bag onto the dais and turned eagerly back toward Santa's House.

"Where do you think you're going, Odango Atama?" Mamoru demanded, following her inside the 'House'.

She turned to glare at him, yanking ff the floppy hat. Her long golden hair spilled all around her like a cloak to her feet. "I'm leaving, creep! I have shopping to do" she told him haughtily.

Mamoru gaped at the visage as she whirled away from him, hair flying out like a golden waterfall. He was still gaping when she emerged from the change rooms, dressed again in her short grey skirt and pink sweater.

"Have fun!" she waved to him mockingly, easing past his form and out the door.

"Hey!" Mamoru called out, rushing after her. He caught her up just as she was passing the dais.

"What?" she hissed at him, frowning in annoyance.

"Where's Santa's goodbye kiss, wife?" he said loudly.

Usagi's jaw dropped. Her blue eyes went impossibly wide as she stared at him in stunned silence. "Whaaat?" she whispered, pole-axed.

Mamoru promptly burst into amused laughter, doubling over with the effort. "Oh Odango! You should have seen your face!" he gasped out, reaching for the throne's arm to hold him up. His eyes were watering with mirth as he locked eyes with her indignant one's.

"JERK!" she screeched at him, whirling away in fury.

"You aren't gonna kiss Santa goodbye, Mrs Santa?" a little girl called out, eyes wide as Usagi stomped past her.

Usagi froze, coming to a halt next to the little girl. She looked down into the upset face. "No?" she said, making it sound more like a tentative question.

"Yeah, MRS. SANTA!" Rei teased from behind. "Aren't you going to kiss him goodbye?"

Usagi spun to see that Rei, Makoto and Ami were right behind her, eyes alight with mirth. Her eyes narrowed. ["Oh, so they want me to kiss him huh?"] she thought evilly, looking beyond them to a chuckling Mamoru. HE obviously didn't want a kiss this time-so she was going to give him one! She thrust her way past her friend's, ignoring their stunned looks as she stomped back to where Santa was standing. "Of COURSE I'm going to kiss him goodbye!" she said loudly, inching up onto her tippy toes. She pressed her slender length up against Mamoru's, till her face was mere centimeters away from his. Then she quickly yanked his beard down and planted him smack on the lips. She tried to ignore the electricity spiralling though her body at the touch of his lips on hers and yanked herself back. Usagi then grinned cheekily at him, pulled the beard back up and strode away whistling.

She passed her three gaping friends and grinned triumphantly at them. "Ha!" she said, rubbing her hands. Her face broke into a light sweat, the further she got away from Mamoru. ["In can't believe that I kissed him! Oh my god!"] she thought, eyes going wide and stunned. They'd kissed TWICE now! She groaned, looking about her. Somehow, she managed to completely loose her friends, stomping away from Mamoru so hurriedly. "What do people do when they're stressed?" she asked herself aloud, groaning again. Then-it hit her. "COFFEE!" she said eagerly. Her dad drank it, even that jerk drank it, when they were stressed. And what was good enough for such a creep as Chiba Mamoru was certainly good enough for HER!

Usagi spotted a shop in the food hall and dashed over, yanking out her wallet from her purse. "I'd like five coffees please!" s he told the startled waitress.

"FIVE?" the girl squeaked disbelievingly, looking Usagi's slender form over.

Usagi thumped a small fist onto the counter, glaring. "I said five! Give me coffee!"

"How do you want it?" the girl said curiously, wondering why Usagi wanted so many cups full.

"Want it?" Usagi stared at her cluelessly. "Just pour it into a cup and gimme!" she ordered, starting to thrum her fingers on the counter-top in frustration.

"Okay, okay!" the girl muttered, rushing off to fill five cups of black coffee. "Coffee it is"

Coffee, it turned out, was disgusting stuff! Usagi held back a grimace and finished off the last cup-full. She frowned, mentally searching herself. She didn't FELL any different. Though she was admittedly more calm than she had been. She grinned, realising that she felt down-right GOOD! "Well, it tasted awful, but it sure did the job!" she announced to no one, getting to her feet. She wobbled a little, then giggled. "Ooops" she looked around the food hall, ignoring the weird looks that the waitress was giving her from behind the counter. "Thank you!" Usagi called out, waving.

The waitress blushed and ducked down as everyone turned to stare at who Usagi was shouting to.

"Where is everyone?" Usagi wondered, abruptly remembering her friends. She weaved her way out from the tables, ignoring everyone in her search for Rei and the others. "I lost them back at Santa's" she said, straight-faced. Then she broke into helpless giggles and stumbled into someone.

"Oh no, not you again" Mamoru groaned, staring down at the familiar Odango hairstyle. "Haven't you made enough chaos in my day?" he demanded of her.

Usagi raised her head and pushed back from him, frowning lightly. She squinted at him and giggled. "Oh. It's YOU. Get outta my way, MR grumpy-Clause" she told him, pushing past. Her hand was grabbed annoyingly from behind and she fell to a stop, trying without luck to keep moving forwards.

"Are you drunk, Odango?" Mamoru demanded, yanking on her hand, She spun back around to him like a yoyo, eyes slightly glazed over.

She giggled and hit him on the chest, then noted that he was still in his Santa costume. "Jeez, are you going to live in that?" her blue eyes widened and she fell into helpless giggles, tumbling head-first into his chest.

Mamoru automatically caught her, looking around self-consciously as he remembered what had happened earlier. If that security guard saw Usagi like this-he'd be fired in a second for letting his 'girlfriend' get wasted. She muttered something against his chest and he pushed her shoulders back slightly to peer into her face. "What was that?" he asked her, then got a whiff of her breath. "COFFEE?" he blurted out incredulously. She wasn't drunk! She was hyped on java! He groaned out-loud, taking Usagi's arm and dragging her off to the side of the escalator.

"Coffee, coffee, coffee!" Usagi giggled at him, flopping against him again. She wrapped her arms about his large waist and frowned when her hands wouldn't meet. "Why are you so big? I'm sure you work out" she peered up at him inquiringly, still trying to get both arms about his waist-with little success, considering that there was a huge pillow under his Santa jacket.

Mamoru looked down at her in bemusement. ["Is Odango Atama really standing here hyped on java and trying to HUG me?"] he asked himself incredulously. He shook his head. Chances were, this was just all a big nightmare-and he really didn't kiss the Odango and she kiss him back alter on! "How many?" he asked her tiredly, leaning her back against the side of the escalator and disentangling her arms from about him.

She blinked at him, trying to recall. "Umm-three...no five! Yes, five" she announced beginning to bounce around on the heels of her feet. She got a silly grin on her face and began to chant something under her breath. Mamoru barely made it out as 'Senshi'.

He gave her a weird look. "Why are you chanting Senshi?" he asked her, looking around for her friends.

"'Cause I AM one!" she said gleefully.

Mamoru took no notice of her, knowing that she would rave anything this hyped on java. "Uh huh" he murmured to her, craning his head to stare over the escalator. He's seen Rei and the other two girls earlier with Usagi in line. Now where were they? "Which Senshi?" he turned back to her, fully intending to humour her.

"Sailor Moon of course!" she said scornfully, turning her face away to pout.

Mamoru's eyebrows rose as he stared at her. ["So the little Odango wants to be Sailor Moon?"] he thought, smiling. And what girl wouldn't? Those legs, that wonderful hair. All the times he'd held her in his arms as Tuxedo Kamen were firmly in Mamoru's mind. "Yeah, she's great" he murmured absently.

Usagi blinked at him, momentarily stunned. THAT comment didn't seem right! ["Doesn't Mamoru HATE me?"] she thought, words tripping over themselves in her head. If only she could stay on one topic, but so many things were going though her head! "You LIKE me?" she gasped out incredulously, leaning towards Mamoru.

Mamoru started, then frowned darkly down at Usagi's eager face. "NO. I do NOT like you, Odango" he said sarcastically, running a distracted hand through his dark locks. This girl was nothing but trouble! "I like Sailor Moon"

"But-I AM Sailor Moon!" she said to him protestingly, eyes beginning to fill. She quickly grabbed onto his Santa suit in a death grip. "I am, I am, I AM!" she shouted at him, words getting louder and louder. She was beginning to call attention to them-again.

"Fine!" he hissed at her, wrenching his red suit away from her slender hands. "You're Sailor Moon! You're the Sailor Suited heroine of Tokyo and fight for the-Juuban way" he finished negligently, waving a hand around. He really didn't even want to be talking to the walking disaster...even if she kissed well enough to melt someone's bones. He groaned at his last thought and thumped a palm against his forehead.

"No, no!" Usagi said, sounding remarkably like a teacher scolding a student. She struck a graceful-FAMILIAR-pose all of a sudden and announced in a ringing voice- "I fight for love and justice! And in the name of the moon-" her hand movements followed her words perfectly as she mimicked being Sailor Moon...to perfection. "I will punish you!"

Clapping and cheers broke out around Mamoru and Usagi. He turned his head dazedly to see that they'd gathered quite a crowd from her display.

She grinned and curtsied to them all, grasping the bottom of her skirt and displaying an amazing set of long slender legs to the watching crowd. "Thank you, thank you!" she gushed, giggling.

Mamoru quickly stepped in front of her without thinking, glaring daggers at any guy who dared to whistle at the show. "Shows over! My GIRLFRIEND was just showing me her imitation of Sailor Moon" he gritted at everyone pointedly, eyes blazing wrath.

The crowd sighed with disappointment to see that the show was over and that Usagi wasn't a free girl-with THOSE legs!

Mamoru spun around to face Usagi, grasping her almost roughly by the shoulders. He stared down into her startled blue eyes and yanked her closer until her chest touched his and her face was tilted back to look into his eyes. "Now-would you mind explaining exactly HOW you did such a good imitation of Sailor Moon?" he demanded coolly.

Usagi blinked up at him, wondering how she had gotten practically plastered along Mamoru's length-DESPITE the pillow under his Santa suit. "Umm-I TOLD you" she began in annoyance. She pouted at him. "But you wouldn't believe me, so I had to prove it!"

"I'd like MORE proof" he said to her, tone serious. He felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as he looked her features over carefully for the first time. He was really seeing her.

"More?" she blinked up at him again, then abruptly broke away, grinning wildly. "Nu uh!" she teased him , dancing back out of his reach as he went to grab her again. "I can't show you anything, Mr. Santa. It's a secret!" she told him, tapping the side of her nose lightly. She giggled and dashed off into the crowd before he could stop her.

"Damn!" Mamoru cursed under his breath, eyes trying to see where the blonde had disappeared to. He shook his head, a wry smile spreading over his lips. "I MUST be tired, if I think that ditz Odango could actually be Sailor Moon!" he berated himself, turning to head back to center court and the waiting hordes of children.

Usagi soon got sick of bouncing from store to store and saying hello to everyone she encountered. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was supposed to be looking for something. Suddenly, her communicator beeped from her purse. She looked around, grinning like a maniac, then raced into a dress store. She grabbed something randomly from a rack and dove into a change room. Usagi reached into her purse for the communicator and saw that the symbol for Mars was lit up. "Hello?" she said brightly.

"Usagi! Where are you, you ditz!" Rei hissed, eyes glaring purple fire at Usagi from the screen. "You just rushed off and left us behind-"

"How was I to know that you'd be so slow?" Usagi pouted, glaring back at Rei.

Rei faltered slightly, staring at Usagi's glazed eyes. Are you okay?" she asked hesitantly.

"Meee?" Usagi said, grinning widely. She waved a hand around negligently. "Nah, I'm great!" she enthused.

"Where are you, Usagi? We heard screams and Ami thinks that there might be a Youma loose here in the Mall" Rei went on anxiously, watching every move Usagi made. Something was off. The blonde was way more cheerful than usual!

"Me? Umm-" Usagi looked around, then remembered. "Some clothes store. In a changing stall" she reported, waiting. She frowned. "A Youma? Here on Christmas eve? Are you SURE?"

"Of course I'm sure, you Odango Atama!" Rei yelled, then hurriedly looked around. "We're hiding behind a potplant on the lower floor, opposite the food hall. Come and join us! And transform"

"We'll be mobbed in seconds" Makoto groaned from the background.

"NOT if the Youma attacks fist" Ami added philosophically.

"I'll be right there!" Usagi announced, switching off the communicator, She flung it back into her bag and wrenched open the door to the stall. She threw the piece of material at the sales woman as she passed. "It didn't fit" She exited the store and looked around, bewildered. "Transform she says-but WHERE?" the blonde looked left and then right-then abruptly remembered Santa's House. "Right!" Usagi yelled out enthusiastically, bolting for the escalator leading down. Hopefully Mamoru wasn't there!

He WAS, but she managed to sneak past him in the crowd of joyful children. She dashed into the same stall that she'd changed in earlier and held up her broach. "Moon Prism Power, Makeup!" She blinked as the power wrapped abut her, filling her. When she was done with her posing, she charged back out of the stall and out of Santa's House, completely forgetting to be stealthy. Sailor Moon ran right smack into Santa, who was going off for another break. "Ooops?" she tried, backing off from him and blushing.

"Sailor Moon?" Mamoru said incredulously. He looked her over from head to toe-and yes, it WAS really her!

Sailor Moon held up an imperious hand to cut off anything Mamoru might say. She had a a battle to get to! "Later Mr Santa! I have a Youma to fight!" she announced hurriedly, rushing past his stunned form.

"Mr. Santa?" Mamoru repeated, completely dazed. USAGI had called him that! He shook his head, remembering why he'd taken such a sudden break. He'd felt Sailor Moon transform and now she was in danger! There was a Youma in the Mall! He had no time to change and so willed his transformation-but somehow, his thoughts became so scrambled over Usagi and Sailor Moon that something went wrong! He stared at himself in a mirror in bank amazement. he was still Santa Clause! But with Tuxedo Kamen's white half-mask, long billowy cloak and cane. "Oh my god!" he gasped out, closing his eyes momentarily. When he opened them, he expected to see Tuxedo Kamen's dashing visage...but no, he looked like some sort of mutant Santa! ["It'll have to do"] he told himself urgently, turning to dash out of Santa's House. Luckily, no one saw his embarrassing exit as his stomach got caught half-way through the door frame. His costume particularly bulky by way of the dashing cloak AND pillow.

Tuxedo Kamen followed the call of Sailor Moon and leapt upwards, ignoring the startled gasps of those all around as he landed on the second floor and ran for dear life. Not that he was afraid of being mobbed-for once. But from sheer embarrassment. Hopefully, this story wouldn't get around! ["Yeah right, Tuxedo Kamen-Santa!" he mocked himself mentally, lips twisting in derision. He raced along the Mall halls, dodging stunned people and finally coming upon the Senshi chasing...a Santa! "WHAT?" he gasped out, eyes staring. Yes, it was a Youma dressed as a Santa. Tuxedo Kamen groaned, tempted-really tempted-to throw himself off of the second story balcony and end the madness that was his day.

Sailor Mon spotted him first-naturally. She saw the familiar cloaked figure dashing heroically towards her-but then saw the floppy hat, fat bodied red jacket and the long white beard that proclaimed to the world that he was Santa. "Whaaaaat?" she gasped at Tuxedo Kamen-Santa, eyes boggling. This was too much! She started to giggle hysterically. Falling over onto her butt. She shook her head, eyes watering as her 'hero' reached her side.

"Sailor Moon! Get up!" Tuxedo Kamen bellowed at her, infuriated because he knew that she was laughing at him!

"You-you..." She stammered, then burst into laughter again.

The crowds stared warily from a dstance, along with Tuxedo Kamen-Santa, the Senshi and even the Youma. Meanwhile, Sailor Moon was in hysterics. "This is too much! Too many Santa's!" she screamed at him, tears falling from her eyes. She clutched at her stomach and suddenly-snapped. "TOO MANY!" she bellowed at the top of her lungs, eyes going flat. She jumped to her feet and thrust past Tuxedo Kamen, leaping at the Santa Youma before it could blink. She hit it head-first into it's plush stomach and bowled them both over with her on top. She sat up and glared evilly down at the ugly face, with the bushy eyebrows and long white beard. "How dare you pretend to be Santa!" she yelled at it, punching the Youma squarely in the face. She let him have another three and continued to berate it-lengthily. "I just wanted a nice shopping day but NOOOO, you had to come and ruin everything! And you know what your biggest mistake was? Dressing up as Santa! Do you have any idea how many Santa's I've seen today?" Sailor Moon raved on, continuing methodically to beat the hell out of the hapless Youma, who was too stunned to defend itself.

"First it was my worst enemy! As SANTA! Can you believe it?" she went on, rolling he eyes. She punched it firmly in the nose.

Behind her, Tuxedo Kamen had gone very still, blue eyes widening with incredulity. ["No-it can't be!"] he thought with panic. Usagi was Sailor Moon? But-maybe it was another person dressed as Santa that Sailor Moon hated?

"And then he KISSED me! Which was okay-but then I kissed him back to annoy him-and I LIKED IT! Ewww!" Sailor Moon screeched in outrage, pummelling the Youma mercilessly with her gloved hands.

The other Senshi were frankly too shell-shocked at their leader's behaviour and raving to even go near her!

"Who the heck LIKES kissing their worst enemy? I ask you. Then, there's all the decorations around the place-I'm SICK of them. Santa here, Santa there-And now Tuxedo Kamen! My hero!" she pointed tragically at Tuxedo Kamen-Santa, who flushed uncomfortably as most of the Mall stared him over like a bug under a magnifying glass. "Just LOOK at him! Arrgggh!" she pulled at her long hair in frustration. "SANTA AGAIN!" she stopped pummelling and noticed that the Youma was unconscious. She grinned triumphantly at the Senshi and pulled the tiara from her forehead. "Ah ha! Ha enough? Eat dust!" she cried at it, flinging the lethal tiara. It flew into golden beams and cut right into the still unconscious Youma, who never even felt himself dissolving into dust. Sailor Moon looked around in the dead silence and smiled brightly. "Anyone for coffee?"