Hi everyone, it's great to be posting here again! This time I bring 35 themed drabbles to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the LiveJournal community Usako and Mamoru: A Love Like No Other (check my bio page for links). The overarching theme this year is 'holidays', which was particularly befitting as I wrote all 35 drabbles while on holiday in Vanuatu (which is a truly beautiful place, and nice and warm, compared to Sydney's winter). I'll be posting about two or three drabbles everyday, and they'll all be up by Mamoru's birthday on 3rd August.

Please enjoy, and let me know what you think of them!

Week 1: Holidays

a. Family

Mamoru had always kept to himself on New Year's Eve, preferring to immerse himself in a good book instead of celebrating the end of the year and the start of another. After all, Mamoru could not remember ever spending December 31 with anyone else, especially since the day was reserved for the most special and intimate people of one's life.

But this year was different, in so many ways. Mamoru had found a person with whom he was willing to share this day, someone he thought of as family. Someone who understood him, cared about him, someone whose kindness and love went beyond his comprehension. Someone who would have happily spent New Year's Eve—and every other day—with him, if she was given the chance.

Mamoru sighed, shaking his head as he glanced at the clock. It was 11:58 in New York, and Usagi was in Japan, finishing off her last year of high school as he began his studies abroad. Just when they had finally accepted their feelings for each other, they had to be separated by his studies. He told himself this was for their future, but Mamoru didn't know whether it helped the two of them right now.

The minutes of the digital clock flipped to three zeros. Outside, the echoes of cheers and fireworks scattered throughout the city. Mamoru pulled close the curtains and readied himself for bed.

He was just settling under the sheets when the phone rang. Mamoru picked it up before it could sound again.

"Hello, this is Chiba."

"Hi, Mamo-chan!"

"Usako," he breathed into the mouthpiece. "I thought you were spending the New Year at your grandparents'."

"I am, I am," was her cheerful reply, "I just ducked out a bit cause I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year."

"Thank you." There was a pause, as Mamoru searched for words that could adequately express the warmth in his heart. He knew the phone call had to end soon, but he wanted to keep her with him forever. "I guess you should join your family again before they miss you."

Her next words were so soft that it barely carried over the connection spanning thousands of miles. "Not all of my family lives in Japan, Mamo-chan."