Title: Bits and Pieces
One-shot title: Much Ado About Something
Author: Charlotte Russo, Hearts.Pocky
Pairing(s): Ayaori/Yukari
Canon: AU
Pages: 2 pages; 753 words
Notes: Third-person. Hearts.Pocky here. Hmm, this one not fluffy enough?
Disclaimer: Penguin Revolution and all characters are copyrighted to Tsukaba Sakura.

When Ayaori first fell in love with her, he thought she was a man.

He was walking down the street, away from another stressful day at the Peacock Talent Agency. It was hard being a lowly Crow in a business that ran so heavily on popularity, but it sure beat being a Penguin, the lowest rank at the agency. One experience that he, luckily, never had to go through.

He was absorbed in a new script. He went through his lines, over and over, musing. What a strange take on this story… I don't know how I'm supposed to portray this character… so far it's going well, though so I guess I won't have to worry… I should probably be a Number soon…

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the other person walking right toward him, also absorbed in a good story. A collision sent Much Ado About Nothing and "Hero and Claudio" went flying into the air.

"I'm sorry," Ayaori muttered hastily, searching for his script (and his glasses.) "I'm really sorry, sir."

"Er… no problem." Ayaori found his glasses and clumsily placed them over his eyes. "…But, I'm a girl." She laughed embarrassedly and twirled one of her pigtails. "I take it you can't see without your glasses?"

"Yeah. The men's jacket threw me off, too." The girl helplessly plucked at her too-big jacket.

"It's my Dad's. I couldn't find my own." She shrugged and laughed again.

"I'm Makoto Ayaori." He said finally, cursing himself for forgetting his manners.

"I know." She replied. She knows who I am? Ayaori thought, shocked. Finally, someone cute knows me.

"Your script has all of your information on it." Oh. In his disappointment, the boy almost missed her name."…Fujimaru Yukari. So, you act?" Ayaori slowly got to his feet and picked up his script.

"Yeah. And… sorry about all this." He said, once again.

"It's fine!" She assured him. She attempted to get up but, to her disdain, found that she couldn't. "I think I hurt my ankle, though. Stupid me!" Ayaori picked up her book for her and held out his hand. She hesitantly took it and he helped her rise to her feet.

"I'll walk you home…" He offered.

"No, it's fine! My ankle doesn't hurt that bad." Yukari exclaimed. "I don't want to make you go out of your way…"

"Where do you live?"

"Just over there." She vaguely motioned behind her.

"That's where I'm going."

"Really?" It wasn't. Ayaori nodded anyway. "Thanks!" He took her hand in his, and the pair began to walk.

They idly talked about nothing, just enjoying one another's company. The closer they got to her house, the slower they walked.

"So," she said, breaking the long yet comfortable silence. "Why did you decide to become an actor? It's such an unpredictable career."

"One minute you're at the top of the world, the next you're on a 'Where are they now?' special." Ayaori agreed. He shrugged and answered the question. "I love the feeling of getting lost in a role, a character, a new place." After realizing what he had said, he added: "Does that make me sound crazy?"

"No!" Yukari replied. "Not at all. It's the whole reason why I read so much."

"So, what do you want to do with your life?"

"I want to be a photographer." The girl got a dreamy look on her face. "I could do anything from family portraits to layouts for high-fashion magazines. Reliable, safe, but adventurous." A beat. She continued, "And, maybe, I'll eventually settle down and have a family."

"Me, too." Ayaori agreed.

Finally, unfortunately, they reached her house. "Thanks for walking me here." She murmured.

"My pleasure." Their faces got closer together, and for a moment they just looked into each other's eyes. Just when Ayori thought something would happen, Yukari turned on her heels, walked inside, and shut her door.

Ayaori felt an odd emptiness inside him, and he had to bear it through the long walk home. He couldn't stop thinking about her: her teal eyes, her readiness to laugh, and her open smile.

"Where were you?" His roommate asked once Ayaori got to their apartment, at 11:00-- three hours late.

"Nowhere." He replied, ready to go to his room and get some sleep.

"Hey, by the way… some girl named Yukari called. She wants to see you again, whatever that means."