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Looking around the Room Behind the Waterfall, one could only wonder what stories each senshi had to tell. But tonight was a night of revelry, not remembering.
Myou stood contentedly in her corner of the room, watching as the men and women laughed and danced around her.
"Eki, I'm pleased you decided to join us this evening. Now, would you care for a dance?" The plant senshi directed her query at the large lizard at her feet. "Or would you rather get some of that nice Bantha roast?"
Mu soon regretted mentioning Bantha roast; she spent the next twenty minutes cleaning a large flesh wound from a very hungry water lizard.
"That is the last time I stand in front of a hungry animal and mention food! Never in my life have I been run down by a water lizard, of all creatures! Why is meat so attractive, anyway?" the injured girl fumed as she walked back into the party, and almost into Lys, Niji, Aisu, Emi, and Lysthea as they played a rowdy game of tag.
"Tag! You're it now, Niji!" Aisu shouted and dodged Myou. The big girl scared her; Aisu thought Mu was going to sic her big, scary green dinosaur on her one day! And he could swim, too, so she wasn't safe anywhere! With thoughts of Eki running through her head, Aisu ran away from Niji... and her cousin, Yukiko.
Yuki pulled Emi aside as soon as she caught up with the former Sith.
"Emi, could you do me a big favor?" Yuki asked.
"Yeah, I think," Emi panted out.
"Do you think you could corner Aisu in about thirty minutes? It's almost eleven; she needs to be in bed before it's too late, and she only runs from me. She'll stop for you!"
"No prob, chick!" And Emi ran to catch up with the game.
Yuki took advantage of that opportunity to get some of Nom's Bantha roast. Or rather, look at the remains of Nom's Bantha roast. She guessed that Eki had gotten to it before she had, but she would get by. Nom knew how much Yuki liked this stuff, so the senshi chef put several slices on a back shelf in the pantry just for Yuki's private "tasting." She made a mental note to get some after she put Aisu to bed; now, she wanted to dance! And the Time Warp was Yuki's favorite! As she made her way onto the dance floor, she almost tripped over the kitties coming out from hiding in a potted plant.
"Come on!" UsaNeko whispered urgently to Starr and the other kitties hiding in the plant.
"a' 'ou shore dat big, 'cary ting i' gone?" Starr whispered, glancing around.
"Positive," Pinku said. "Once Eki eats, he goes off and sleeps. And he just had a big meal!"
"Which means," Solai deadpanned, "that he doesn't have any room left for kitties!"
"'e quiet, 'a'ee!" Starr pleaded as she fell out of the pot.
Ciel had been keeping her eye on the kitties and Eki; as annoying as the cats could get, she didn't want any of them eaten. And Eki was known for his appetite. She sighed with relief as Eki walked out of the room to go to sleep somewhere.
"Boo!" someone shouted behind Ciel, and the senshi jumped with fright; her landing was less than graceful.
"Hehe! Mommie fell! I scared Mommie!" Zell proclaimed, elated that her childish prank had worked. Ciel grabbed the little girl and hugged her tight, laughing all the while.
"Yes, Zell, you did scare Mommie! Now, it's bedtime. And I know just the person to take care of that," Ciel finished with a look in Harry's direction. Harry inched toward the door, hoping he could get out of bedtime duty. Unfortunately, there was a small obstacle in his way. Annika and Obi-Wan were making good use of the leftover mistletoe, so Harry's escape plan was thwarted. He sighed, grabbed Zell's hand, and walked toward another exit to put the little senshi to bed. Ciel smiled and got up from her place on the floor.
I love you, Harry!
Annika and Obi-Wan knew that one of the traditions on Earth was to kiss when the New Year's ball had dropped. Unfortunately, they couldn't wait that long. Priire had forgotten to take down the mistletoe Ippin had found for Christmas, so Annika decided to make good use of it.
Besides, she thought, everyone knows we're a couple! It's not like we're giving away some secret or something. She opened her eyes and looked deep into the eyes of her lover. Then they both heard an all-too-familiar click.
"Annika, I assumed you were better trained than to participate in such disgusting shows of irrational mannerisms in public," Nom very calmly said as she displayed her blaster.
"I... um... I... um... I guess we should know better," Annika stammered. "Next time, I'll make sure to get a room, Nom," Annika whispered as she slipped out of the room with Obi-Wan.
"Get a room," Nom mused. "Get a room? Annika has a room. She has no need to get another," Nom muttered as she put up her blaster and walked toward the food table.
"Sometimes, she can be so dense," Riku thought as he walked past Nom. He had a rather high opinion of her, as she was a fantastic cook and managed to put up with Zyta in the kitchen. Anyone who could make up such fantastic recipes as she had lately deserved his respect.
" 'Scuse me, Mr. Riku," Kage-kun said, pulling on Riku's sleeve just a little bit. "Can I sit with you?" Riku looked down at the six year old and smiled.
"Of course you may join me." Kage-kun smiled at the man's answer and followed along behind him. "Do you like this new concoction of Nom's?" Riku asked as the two walked out of Ippin's earshot.
Ippin sighed happily and sank deeper into the cushion she was sitting on. She loved Riku; and when she saw him treat people like Kage-kun with such kindness, she only loved him more. She raised a mug of hot chocolate to her lips just as Aisu ducked behind her. Emi skidded to a stop a little too late and ran into Ippin. And Ippin's mug of hot chocolate!
"Ippin, Ippin, get off me!" Aisu squealed. Ippin rolled off Aisu only to land on Emi.
"Ippin, Ippin, get off me!" Emi squealed, mocking Aisu. Aisu picked up Ippin's cushion and hit Emi with it; only Aisu missed Emi and hit Ippin. Aisu hid behind Emi as Ippin sat up; Emi took advantage of the opportunity to grab Aisu.
"Gotcha!" Emi yelled with a grin. "Now, off to bed!" And she carried Aisu out of the room, with Yuki following close behind. Ippin got off the floor and went looking for a towel and another mug of hot chocolate. After she found the towel in the kitchen, she went to get another drink from Zyta, who had been serving hot chocolate at Nom's request.
Zyta pouted at the bar Priire and Nom had set up. She seemed to mess everything up. Tonight alone, she had broken three mugs, spilled hot chocolate on one of the cats, and dropped her ring in Niji's mug... twice. Her pity party was interrupted by Chouko.
"Zyta, Zyta, did you make this hot chocolate?" Chouko asked in an urgent tone.
"Yes," the girl sighed. "And I probably messed that up, too. If I did, I don't want to..." She was on the verge of tears when Chouko interrupted her.
"No, no, no, no! This is the best hot chocolate I've ever had in my life! Everyone loves it! Even the most picky people are drinking it! Do you have more?" Chouko gushed. Zyta smiled; but almost as quickly as it appeared, her smile was gone. She had given her last bit to Ippin!
"No, no, I don't have any more. I gave the last bit away just a minute ago. Ippin's got spilled when Emi ran into her." Chouko looked disappointed but still managed a smile as she went to find Xarae.
When Chouko found Xarae, it was almost too late to ask her question, but she asked anyway.
"Xarae, do you want me to find that holo-video of the New Year's ball dropping from an old celebration on Earth?"
"No, no," Xarae said. "Myou and Priire assured me that they had something planned. I know it involves Yoda, but I have no idea what it is!"
"Priire... and... Yoda... and... Myou... and no New Year's ball holo-video... hmmmmmmm... i wonder what they're up to...?" Chouko wondered as she went in search of more punch.
Xarae continued refreshing some of the platters on the buffet table. Nom had made extras of some of the most popular dishes, and Xarae had volunteered to make sure the buffet didn't run out.
It's a thankless job, but it's safer now that I'm doing it! Xarae thought as visions of Annika attempting to put out more cream puffs made her chuckle. Thinking of Annika, where is she? And Obi-Wan? And Emi? And Yuki? They all disappeared a while ago; I wonder where they went.... Xarae's thoughts trailed off as she went into the kitchen to put some serving trays down and ran into Yuki!
"Oops! Sorry, Xarae!" Yuki quickly offered her apologies as she bent down to pick up the serving trays that had fallen. "I'll take care of these; you can go back to the party!" Xarae smiled and walked back into the main room.
Yuki hummed to herself as she put the trays on the counter and went into the pantry. She missed Priire yelling over the band to get everyone's attention.
"Hey! Everyone! HEY! Would someone please shut that band up?" Priire yelled, pulling her blaster out of its holster. The band quickly stopped playing when Nom and Annika pulled out blasters as well. "Okay! I hope everyone is ready for the countdown!"
"What's a countdown?" Lys yelled out.
"A countdown," Priire explained, "is something the people on Earth do every year in the last ten seconds of the old year. And a big ball drops. And then when the countdown reaches zero, it's a new year! So everyone cheers and celebrates."
"And kisses!" Annika giggled!
"Ewwwwwwwwwww - kissing!" Lysthea made a face as everyone around her laughed.
"A-hem! I'm not finished!" Priire said with a Look in Annika's direction. "We could have played a Holo-video from Earth of the ball dropping, but Myou planned something better."
"I decided to use Force-levitation to have our own ball drop!" Myou said, almost dancing with excitement! Yoda and I have worked everything out! So I now present to you, Yoda and our New Year's ball!" Everyone cheered as the small creature made his way into the room with a large, gold ball floating over his head.
"Appreciated are thanks. Necessary, applause is not," Yoda said softly as he made his way toward Myou and Priire. "My children, a New Year of happiness for you I wish!"
"Strike up the band!" Priire yelled as soon as the ball was in position. And the band started a lovely waltz.
Yuki came out of pantry just in time to hear Priire yell for the band to continue playing. She loved to waltz! Having a partner deficiency at the moment, Yuki waltzed with the best partner of all: Bantha roast! She hummed along to the tune and let her mind wander back to Ben's birthday party.
"Oh, how I'd love to waltz with him again!" she thought with a smile.
"Excuse me, Mademoiselle. May I have this dance?" A very familiar male voice came from behind Yuki. She turned to see Ben just as he bowed and offered his hand.
"I would be delighted," Yuki answered with giddy delight as she set her plate of Bantha roast on a counter. She and Ben began to waltz around the kitchen.
"10... 9... 8... 7..." Priire yelled as the ball began to drop. Couples stopped their dancing and watched as the beautiful golden orb began its glorious descent.
"6... 5... 4..." Yuki whispered as the countdown in the main room got louder and louder.
"3... 2..." Nom turned away from Annika and Obi-Wan. She knew what they were about to do, and it was not something she wanted to watch.
"1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!" Everyone - save Annika and Obi-Wan - yelled as the and started to play Auld Lang Syn.
Ippin was surprised as Riku swept her into a very impressive kiss that almost knocked her off her feet!
"Happy New Year, Ippin!" Riku whispered as he returned her to a standing position.
Ben looked deep into Yuki's eyes.
She is so beautiful, he thought as he gave her a tender kiss on her waiting lips.
Yuki swooned as the man she had been waiting for kissed - really kissed - her! But almost as quickly, she pulled back.
Ben and Magena are a... something! Yuki remembered as she pulled out of his embrace. I'm not going to steal someone else's... something! she thought as she ran out of the kitchen.
Ben sighed and jumped onto a counter.
"Happy new year to me," he said as he picked up a piece of Bantha roast.
Yuki sighed and collapsed onto the top step.
"Happy new year to me," she said as she remembered her plate of Bantha roast in the kitchen.
About the Senshi in this story:
