AN: I decided to write a few little stories about the rival couples in Animal Parade, since they need a little bit more love, and I need a little more practice writing. They'll all probably be on the short side of 1,000 words. This is the first thing I've written in a long while, but I hope it's okay anyways. This first one is for Gil and Luna, one of my favorite pairings. I'm always appreciative of reviews!

Gil and Luna

Gil walked into the tailor, ready for his holiday splurge on a new suit. And, he thought, perhaps a visit with Luna.

Their relationship was complicated to say the least. She was the creative one, the one with all the new, wild ideas, and he, of course, was the reality check. The latest adventure of hers had involved buying up all the local farmers' silk and using it to make what long, flowing cheongsams for the New Year's Festival.

Gil had been skeptical to say the least. He had shouted himself raw during an argument over why it was a bad idea, but she had persisted. The cheongsams had been a success, and Luna brought in twice as much profit as they usually did on New Year's, which was saying something. Gil had learned that night that sometimes a reality check wasn't necessary. Hard work and determination like Luna's could get you anywhere.

As he walked up to the shelves to pick out a material, he couldn't help but notice just how meticulously placed every item was. The clothes were beautiful, yes, but the placing was genius. The most beautiful dresses were placed just so that they caught the light and became works of art. As he thought this, Luna popped around the corner.

"Gil!" she said, walking over to the shelf to join him, "I didn't know you were coming by! Here for another one of those sweater vests?" Gil smiled a rare smile at her. Luna's way of joking was teasing and occasionally insensitive, but it was kind-hearted at its roots. She wouldn't tease if she didn't care.

"Not today, Luna. I'm looking for a new suit that I can use in a presentation I have at the end of spring. Any advice on material?" Luna took a glance at the nearby bolts of fabric and cringed.

"You weren't thinking of using that for a suit, were you?" she asked, giving him an amused glance. Gil looked at her in confusion.

"Why not?" he asked, frowning in his typical embarrassed manner. Luna giggled.

"Polyester looks cheap. Come on, let's look over here," she said, leading the way to the back of the store. Gil followed a few steps behind her.

"Wool is a good material," she said, pulling a few bolts of the shelves with practiced grace. Gil watched in growing surprise as she pulled out at least 10 different types of black and gray.

"Well, uh- what color would you recommend?" Gil asked, trying to come off as confident. Luna pointed at once to a white fabric still on the shelf and beamed.

"Well, if you ask me, I think that white is your color, although I wouldn't say it's necessarily a common one," she said, pulling it down. Gil looked at it and smiled again.

"It looks perfect. Do you still have the measurements you need?" he asked, assisting her as she began to put away the other cloth. She gave him a wink which usually meant, "Do you have to ask?"

"Do you have to ask?" she asked, grinning, "It's not like I'm about to throw away one of our most loyal customer's measurements just because he thought my cheongsams were a bad idea." Gil ducked his head in embarrassment.

"I told you, Luna, I'm sorry about that. Your idea ended up working just the way you thought it would," he said. Luna giggled.

"I know, Gil. I'm only teasing," she said, turning to place the last of the cloth back on the shelf. She paused for a moment, then abruptly spun to face him with a flushed face.

"But, you know, I have another idea," she said, her voice at a higher pitch than normal, "Mind if I run it by you?" Gil nodded, and waited for her to form the words.

"I thought it would be a good idea- well, that is, I thought it might be fun- if we went out sometime. You know, at the inn?" she asked, her words tight, but deliberate. Gil stared at her for a moment with a slightly agape mouth. Her face turned even redder.

"Well, don't just stand there," she said loudly, "What do you think?" Then, when Gil didn't answer, she slouched a bit, deflated.

"Sorry, I know, you'd never-" she continued, but Gil learned how to talk again all at once.

"No, no- I mean yes! Yes, that is a good idea- I mean, I'd love to," he said, interrupting her. Luna's grin rushed back, and she walked over to punch Gil on the shoulder.

"Why didn't you say so sooner, you square!" she said, still grinning. Gil smiled down at her in return.

"How does tomorrow sound?" Gil asked, hoping that wasn't qualifying as rushed. But then, Luna was dragging him out of the tailor towards the inn.

"Why not today?" she asked as she pulled him behind her.

AN: I hope you enjoyed it! I'm planning on updating pretty regularly, and hopefully have a chapter for each rival pairing. Leave a review with any suggestions you have!