title: Above and Beyond the Call of Duty | Part 1 rating: pg author: Mir email: incandescence@juno.com website: http://cathedraldragon.tripod.com/sm/ disclaimer: Sailor Moon, etc. belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, etc., etc., and so on and so forth ^_^. I have no money to speak of, so suing me will not make you rich. AN(1): I know I've probably committed a major faux pas here in this fic...using the Japanese names...while the character go looking for a Christmas tree! Also, there are some aspects here and there that are really American (don't ask, you'll know them when you see them). So, I do realize that this fic is really wacky, and I also realize that I've been trying to finish it ever since Christmas! But despite all this, if you still want to read it you're brave, very brave. Go ahead, be daring - it's funny (at least I think it is). AN(2): Here are revisions for part 1. I'm almost done with the second part (but I figured that I ought to rework the first part because it's been so long since I've touched this fic). I know that I need to get out the next chapter to "Driftwood." Gomennasai. It's partially finished, that is is, but I've hit a brick wall of sorts, and begun to lose interest. It's coming, I promise. Also, for all of you who are holding your breath for the sequel to "Elusive Thoughts" (I hope...anyone, anyone? *g*), it's still in the planning phase, but I'll take it to paper this summer. I'm still working my way through the revisions to ET, but I'm about halfway through the fourth chapter. Long AN's, huh? Anyhow, on with the show ^_~. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "What am I ever going to do?" I proclaimed with long-suffered indignation, fingers tapping impatiently, eyebrows pulled together in frustration. I wound and unwound the mangled telephone chord around my fingers, somehow managing to tie it into a fantastically horrendous knot. "You could always go without one this year," Ami replied, ever calm and logical (as well as blissfully oblivious to my current telephone chord crisis). I could picture her leaning forward at her desk studying, homework organized in perfect stacks around her. "Go without? How could you even think of something like that? Christmas just isn't ~Christmas~ without a tree!" I retorted vehemently, unwilling to give an inch. I was lying on my stomach, feet swinging back and forth in the air behind me, elbows sinking into the light pink cover of my bed. "You could ask someone to help you put it up if it means that much to you." Her voice was distant, as if she were devoting the better part of her concentration to something else...her calculus homework perhaps. At another time I might have been annoyed that my debacle was taking second place to a bunch of stupid number, but at that moment, I was too caught up in self-pity to even notice. "But who? Everyone's out of town...or they're too busy," I whined, knowing full well that I was pouting but unable to help it. I wanted a tree, and save for the destruction of all mankind (and every evergreen tree on the planet as well) I was going to have one - even if I, heaven forbid, had to go out and get it myself. "What about Mamoru-san? He's not going anywhere, is he?" My friend suggested 'helpfully'. It was an honest suggestion. Yes, of course it was - from Ami, I couldn't have expected anything less. But she didn't hear my quiet gasp; nor did she feel my heart flutter nervously underneath my shirt. "Mamoru-baka?!" I exclaimed, offended that she'd even think of suggesting such an idea. "He'd absolutely be the last person I'd ask to help me... and I'd only ask him if he was the last living person on this planet - and probably not even then." There was silence on the other end of the line, an extended pause. "You know, Usagi-san," I recognized that tone of voice - that ever calm logic - and I knew that I was in for it now. "If you really want a tree, I don't see any other way than to ask Mamoru-san if he'd be willing to help you put it up." "Ami, you've got to be kidding! I'd just as soon have sex with a - " I never finished the statement (probably for the better, in the long run). "Usagi-chan, honey, dinner time!" Called that voice from downstairs, that familiar, over-protectively motherly voice that uttered the same words every evening at quarter to seven.... "Sorry, Ami-san, gotta run. I'll keep you updated on the 'tree situation'," I mumbled hastily, my mouth watering at the wonderful smells wafting up the staircase. Sammy and my father were already at the table, and as I slid into my seat, I tilted my head to the side, my sad eyes begging for sympathy, but there was none forthcoming. Father had sprained his ankle only days before, and my little brother couldn't care less whether or not we had a tree this year. "So you finally decided to join us Odango Atama? Thank God, I'm starving; I'm dying here of starvation." My brother clutched his stomach with his usual melodrama and scrunched his eyes closed in feigned suffering. I sighed, deciding that I wasn't I really wasn't in the mood for his usual antics. "If you were really starving, I doubt that there'd be food on that plate in front of you," I replied sarcastically, anxious to dig in myself. "Now kids..." It was my mother's typical warning, the kind of warning she made nightly, and the kind of warning we'd stopped paying attention to years ago. But it didn't matter anyway - it was time to eat, and I was so ravenous I could hardly stop my fork from jumping toward my plate. - - - - - - - - - - The next day, I entered the arcade with my feet dragging in frustration, and Motoki, my friend behind the counter, noticed immediately. "Greetings Usagi-san, no luck on getting your tree up I take it?" I shook my head in tired resignation. I'd already asked him if he'd help me, of course, but he was leaving early that afternoon to spend the holiday with relatives. "I can't believe that with all the people on this planet not a single one is willing to help me with a lousy Christmas tree," I wined, and Motoki looked hurt. "Usagi-san, I said I'd help you, but - " " - You have to leave in three hours to drive to your relatives' house. Yeah, yeah, I know." I played with the straw in my chocolate milkshake, suddenly not in the mood for anything sweet. I could hear the faint hum of Christmas melodies being played somewhere outside, and it seemed as though the entire world were having a merry holiday season...except me, and I felt absolutely rotten. "Say Odango Atama, what's the long face for?" That loathsome voice cut through the air as those familiar footsteps came closer and closer. "Did you fail another test?" I pivoted sharply, elbow missing the abandoned milkshake by a mere fraction of an inch. My eyes met his, those taunting blue orbs, and I glowered. He continued walking, expression as unreadable as ever. "For your information, Mister-oh-how-I-love-to-put-Usagi-down, I'm on Christmas break!" I retorted, my voice escalating with every word. "So? I thought that's when they rounded up people like you and made them learn everything they neglected to during the rest of the year," he replied calmly, not missing a beat. "Arg, you're such a jerk!" I was screaming now, standing before him, fists clenched at my sides. I could feel my cheeks flushing with both anger and embarrassment, and I hated him for doing this to me - making me feel this way every day. "And what is it that compels you to stay in my presence? If I'm such a jerk why are you still here?" He folded his arms across his chest, leaning casually against the counter as if nothing were wrong. I'm not sure what it is about Mamoru-baka that always beings out the worst in me, but as I stood there, my hopes for a merry Christmas crushed and trodden beneath his harsh words, something came over me, and before I realized what I was doing I leaned forward and slapped him, hard. "You're the worst person I've ever met, and I was going to ask for your help before you came in, but now this entire Christmas is thoroughly and utterly ruined, thanks to you no less, and I never ever want to speak to you again!" I was sobbing uncontrollably, a puddle forming upon the tiled arcade floor. "Ever!" I added for (unneeded) emphasis. "Whoa, Usagi-san, calm down. I didn't mean to upset you so much. Here." He swiped a white paper napkin from the counter and squatted down, gently offering it to me. I stared at it, not believing that he'd care enough to try and be sweet, but I was still too infuriated to forgive him. "You go and ruin everything and you think that one lousy paper napkin is going to make it better?" I demanded. He started to put it back, but I grabbed it before he could pull his hand away, not caring that other customers were beginning to look at us strangely. "I'm sorry, Motoki-san, I don't know what came over me," I apologized to my friend, anger beginning to fade into embarrassment. He grinned widely, eyes traveling between Mamoru and me. "Hey, are you kidding? You can't buy entertainment this good!" He shook his head in amusement. "But, you know, Mamoru-kun, I think you really did go over the top a bit." The accused stepped back in surprise. "Me? All I said was - " But he was interrupted before he could finish his defense. " - and I think that as retribution you should do, without complaint, whatever it was that Usagi-san wanted your help with." Motoki nodded smugly, obviously pleased with himself and his idea. I smiled, spirits suddenly lifting. It sounded like an excellent idea to me - who would have thought that I'd be able to get Mamoru-baka's help without begging and pleading -trust Motoki, the older brother I never had, to think of something so ingenious. "I need a Christmas tree, Mamoru-san. There's a lot about ten minutes from my house, but my father twisted his ankle, and there's no one to help me get it - will you?" *end of part 1* - - - - - - - - - - Ohayo gozaimasu! It's been a very long time, hasn't it? And I'm sorry, gomennasai. I've been completely loaded down with school work this past month or so...and I still have AP examinations to get through. I won't make any promises about when the next bits of my stories are going to come out. I know that I'm terrible with deadlines and I hate breaking promises, wakarimasu ka. Hai, domo arigato for your patience. Until next time...soredewa nochi hodo. - Mir (02.19.01 ~ 05.15.01) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Glossary Baka - idiot, moron -chan - used to address children Odango Atama - dumpling head (Usagi's detested nickname) -san - a general title of address --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------