Disclaimer: I do not own any part of this anime and its characters. Any similar plot or ideas are only coincidental.

Note: A little try at humor. Though I think I have wordlessly failed at this attempt. But otherwise, enjoy!!

Title: The Pretty One

Fandom: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Hachiyou

Ship: Abe no Yasuaki x Motomiya Akane

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"I find it a little unfair… Odd actually…" Akane murmured as she fingered the end of her short hair.

"What?"

"You know…"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing really…"

"…But?"

"But…"

"But what?"

"…Oh right! It's just that… Isn't it kind of peculiar that… Well…"

"That?"

She suddenly shook her head in embarrassment and looked away. "Nothing really…"

With an impassive expression, Yasuaki raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem? Your spirit seems… unsettled".

She looked back at him, her surprised green eyes meeting with his beautiful mismatched ones. "It's really nothing to worry about," she reassured.

"But there is something… bothering you."

"No! There's really nothing!"

"Nothing but something."

"Yes… No! Nothing!"

A soft sigh escaped his lips, "Miko, if something is bothering you, it would be better to confide it in someone than keep it to yourself."

"Fine but don't you dare laugh".

"Have I ever laughed at you?"

"No…" she drawled. "But this is kind of different… Well, very different actually…" her voice drowned and her face suddenly broke into a huge grin. He seemed quiet taken aback by her sudden change of expression. "It's just that I've been thinking…" she raised a hand to touch his bundled hair at the right side of his head.

"Miko…" he seemed fairly surprised by her action, but he didn't try to stop her, he just sat still and watched her as her fingers gently tugged his bundled hair loose.

The green locks slowly untangled themselves from the bun Yasuaki had neatly tied them into; the silken mass of hair cascaded down the side of his face and scattered across his back.

He still held the slightly surprised look as he said, "So you were bothered by my hair?"

Akane laughed, "No, of course not. I wasn't bothered by anything in the first place. I was just thinking a little…"

His eyes warmed and soften at the sound of her laugh, and a rare smile started to curve his lips.

"See!" The priestess exclaimed happily, "When you have that dreamy sort of expression…" she laughed again. "You look really pretty!"

"Pretty?" he repeated, with his voice sounding slightly amused. He shook his head.

"What? Don't you think so?"

"The thought never crossed my mind."

"Well of course not, you're always so serious and deep in thought." Another round of laughter, "Don't take offense though, I was just curious that's all."

"No problem." His smile deepened as he inched closer, raising his hand to the side of her face. "But I can't say I agree…"

She parts her lips slightly to say something but no words escape her. She could already feel her cheeks darkening due to his actions. "No… I don't think you do." She stuttered. She could feel her heart beating wildly against her chest.

"But it's not a problem, right Miko?"

"Y- yes… I mean- No… "

Then gently, he placed his lips on hers. "Because I think you're still the pretty one."