Hello! I'm back, and this time I've switched back to my default couple of the ShinkuxJun pairing. Man, it feels good to be writing for these two again :) Basically the idea for this is the alphabet - twenty six letters starting twenty six themes for twenty six chapters of ShinkuxJun oneshots. You just can't get enough of this couple XD
I'm also taking suggestions each week for the new letter of the next chapter. So since the next letter is 'B', please send in 'B' words :3 I really appreciate the help. :)
Hope you like it. I might be a little rusty since I haven't been writing for this pairing lately. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Rozen Maiden or any of its characters.
Love Letters
A is for APPLE
Jun can't quite believe how stupid he must be to have agreed to this.
"Again, Nori? Snow White again?"
Nori cringes a little as Jun loudly expresses his irritation.
"Well, it was really popular last time so they wanted to do another production."
"And why exactly do you need us to help you practice? You already know all the narrator's parts anyway!"
"But Jun...that was months ago...I've forgotten everything..."
Groaning, Jun slaps his hand to his forehead and slumps down onto the couch. He supposes he really doesn't have a choice, since Nori is begging so earnestly – either Shinku will reproach him for refusing to lend his assistance to a lady or his own conscience will get the better of him and he'll feel guilty for brushing off his sister.
Either way, it is pretty much a lose-lose situation for him.
"Ohohoh...so the chibi actually decided to help his sister for once..."
Correction: it is one hundred percent, absolutely the worst case scenario that can possibly happen. Jun sends his most lethal death glare at Suiseiseki, who is standing there in the evil queen's cloak, cackling like the wicked witch of a doll she is.
"Why don't you just go and stick your head in the washing machine?"
Suiseiseki ignores his insult, instead smirking devilishly.
"Rejoice, chibi human, desu. This is your chance to redeem yourself. Since last time you totally chickened out and didn't even try to – "
"SHUT UP!" Jun bellows, lunging for the Gardener, but she jumps swiftly out the way and he lands on his face on the floor, humiliated and mortified as he recollects the events of the last Snow White practice he'd been in.
I-I have to – kiss – her...?
There's no way...
My partner's a doll...!
There's no way I'd kiss...
"Hahaha, you know you wanted to, didn't you, you little dirty chibi desu..." Suiseiseki teases, running around the room whilst Jun furiously pursues her.
"Why you – "
"Unyuu! I want to join in too!" Hinaichigo soon joins in Suiseiseki's taunts.
"Please, may we get started? I do not wish for this to cut into my tea time," Shinku's voice cuts calmly through the steadily building chaos. She raises her cup of tea to take a sip just as Jun turns in her direction, and he finds himself inadvertently staring at her lips.
Is it just him, or does the room suddenly feel as hot as if he's standing in the middle of a fire?
"Ooohhh, the chibi's gone all red and shiny...like an apple, desu!" Suiseiseki holds up a big, incredibly round, bright red apple, as if to emphasise her point. She laughs madly at Jun's crimson face.
"Is Jun embarrassed about being the prince, nano?" Hinaichigo asks innocently, tugging at the bottom of Jun's shirt. "Are you embarrassed about kissing Shinku?"
"Th-thats..."
"There's nothing to worry about, Jun. Shinku won't bite," adds Souseiseki, trying to sound helpful but probably making it worse. Her blonde sister's eyebrow twitches faintly.
"Yes, I won't bite." Shinku's tone is dry.
"And besides, you have her permission so it's not like you'll get slapped or punished or anything. Shinku's letting you. There's nothing to be scared of."
"I'm...not...scared..." Jun splutters, avoiding both Souseiseki and Shinku's eyes.
"Ah, I see, the chibi's nervous because it's his very first kiss, desu. Oh, the innocence of young love! He's still an inexperienced virgin..."
"JUST STOP TALKING, YOU DAMNED DOLL!"
"Hahahaha, you are so definitely scared now, you're even redder than this Snow White's apple..."
"You're just bitter 'cos you got stuck with the evil old witch part again!"
"A-Am not! And what's with the 'old' witch, desu?"
"Yeah, that's right, you're an old, evil hag, aren't you?"
"NOT! I'M THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EVIL WITCH QUEEN IN THE LAND DEEESSSSUUU! NO WAIT, I'M NOT EVIL! I'M MISUNDERSTOOD\! THERE'S A DIFFERENCE!" Suiseiseki howls, thrusting the huge red apple in Shinku's face.
"W-wait! I haven't gotten up to that bit yet! No, I haven't even started narrating the story yet! The showdown between the witch and the prince doesn't happen until after..." but Nori is too late, as Shinku takes a delicate bite out of the apple and falls dramatically to the ground.
"AAAARRRRGGHHHH!" Hinaichigo screams in a voice loud enough to make Jun's ears start to bleed. "Shinku – I mean, SNOW WHITE IS DEAD! ARRRGGGHH!"
"Never fear! The prince will save her with true love's first KISS."
"Dammit, Souseiseki, you didn't have to yell the 'kiss' part!"
All this time, Jun had been mentally preparing himself for this moment. Not that he would ever tell anyone else, or mention it aloud, but much to his embarrassment, he had regretted not taking the chance to go through with the kiss, and he had actually thought to himself afterwards that the next time an opportunity presents itself to him, he will not hesitate. Unfortunately, as Souseiseki casually emphasised that last word – "KISS," suddenly Jun finds himself frozen, rooted to the spot, unable to move.
As if caught by some spell, his body simply refuses to move the way he wants it to.
But...my partner is a doll...
I wouldn't...kiss...
I wouldn't...
No, he wouldn't, but he can't deny that he wants to.
And because he wants to, Jun thinks. To hell with it, I WILL.
I'll kiss her...
Because Jun is the prince and Shinku is the princess, and every so often out of nowhere, life gives us a fairytale.
And this is how fairytales go.
Suiseiseki's jaw almost unhinges in shock as Jun actually goes and leans in over Shinku as if he is really about to kiss her. Souseiseki looks impressed, Hinaichigo looks excited, as does Nori (...in a slightly different way, though...*cough*)
It isn't hard to imagine Shinku is a princess. She looks every bit the part, with her flowing golden locks, long, elegant lashes against flawless pale skin tinged with a delicate pink across her cheeks, perfect rosebud lips...He pauses first, uncertain if Shinku actually will allow him to kiss her after all; she is the one who slaps him for mere act of touching her shoulder 'too casually', and other things like that. So for a kiss...
But no, he has promised himself. And besides, he thinks, if a slap or a kick and bit of lecturing is the worst he will get, it is worth it. It is more than worth a kiss.
So Jun lowers his head and gently presses his lips against Shinku's. She is incredibly soft, so much so that he finds it hard to believe the lips he has just kissed are those of a doll. Not only are they soft, but they are very warm too.
The moment lasts for only a fleeting second, and he draws back quickly, his face already burning so red that if they closed the curtains and turned the lights out he'd be glowing in the dark. Shinku's eyes flutter open and she stands up, brushing herself down with her back to Jun. When she turns around to face him, her face is as expressionless as always, but her cheeks have blossomed into a deeper shade of scarlet and there are mysterious flickers in the depths of her eyes.
"Hm. I must say I am surprised. I thought you wouldn't."
Jun just nods dumbly, finger his lips. He expects Shinku to slap him at any moment, for such inappropriate behaviour towards a lady, but she doesn't. She just resumes her seat on the couch and starts sipping at her cup again. Suiseiseki is so shocked she can't speak, she just plonks down on the ground where she is standing and sits there, staring from Jun to Shinku and back again.
"KKKYYYYAAAAA~~~ That was so romantic!" Nori squeals like an avid fangirl, all thoughts of rehearsing gone. Souseiseki sits beside Shinku, impressed, astonished and satisfied all at once, and Hinaichigo, inspired by what she has observed, is already decorating the floor a crayon picture of 'Prince' Jun rescuing 'Snow White' Shinku.
It was only the shortest, most fleeting of moments, but it had been enough for Jun. He's only just noticed it, but when he's so close to Shinku, he can detect that pleasant fragrance of roses about her, faint hints of the crisp smell of fresh tea...
But then as he briefly licks his lips, there it is; the subtle traces of something else...
And he realises it.
After all, it is what the witch gave Snow White.
Shinku's lips...her kiss, it tastes like apples...
Only much, much sweeter.
Reviews are very, very much loved and appreciated :3 So please XD
And it'd be great if you guys could please send in suggestions for the next letter - 'B'? I'll pick a word and then write something on it XD So please help :3
Thanks for reading~!