A/N: Something a little different. Short alphabetical drabbles and one-liners based on words selected from a random word generator. Enjoy!


Ambiguity

"Everyone says she's kinda scary. And they're right; she gets pretty intense sometimes, but it's always in my best interest. I guess she's unreasonable and stubborn when she wants to be, especially when it comes to schoolwork versus karuta. Honestly, it's frustrating as hell. But I've been putting up with it since I was young, so I've kind of gotten used to it by now."

"Jeez, Mashima, your mom sounds like a lot of work. I feel for you."

"My mom? Oh, no. I was talking about Chihaya."

Bald

"I hate it. They just like you for your looks, Taichi! They don't see anything deeper at all. It's just all hazel eyes and windswept hair to them."

"Chihaya, are you jealous?"

"W-what? No! Why would I be jealous of girls who like you for those kinds of reasons?" she huffed. "I bet if you shaved your head, that would solve all our problems."

Comfort

"You're my Queen, Chihaya. You always have been. Isn't that enough?"

Difficult

"I love you."

"I know."

"Don't you love me too?"

"If I admit it out loud, it'll be that much harder for me to go."

"Then stay."

"You know I can't, Chihaya. Just...wait for me."

"I'll try."

"I waited twelve years for you, Chihaya. Four doesn't seem so bad, right?" he half-smiled.

Even

"It's about time, Taichi," Chihaya beamed at him.

He grinned at the trophy he could now proclaim as his, proof of his newly-appointed Meijin title. "I guess we're even, now."

Fame

She couldn't bear to look the whole time the casket was being lowered. Instead, her face was buried firmly in his chest, as if she were both mourning her sensei's death and denying it at the same time. No words; only a silent understanding of their loss, that the person who had guided them through karuta and given them invaluable memories and wisdom was well and truly gone.

Gesture

He sighed as he took off his indoor shoes and swapped them for his usual ones. Maybe she forgot. That sounds like her.

"Taichi, wait!"

He spun around. She was panting heavily.

"These - are - for - you," she huffed, shoving a gift bag into his chest before clutching her knees to catch her breath.

"Thanks, Chihaya. This is really thoughtful."

"You better believe it is! Who knew one batch of chocolates could take so long?"

That surprised him. One batch, huh?

Heal

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving, for walking out on the club we created and cherished. I'm sorry for kissing you when you didn't ask to be kissed, for caving in a moment of weakness. I'm sorry for avoiding you at all costs, as if excluding you from my life would somehow help me escape the pain. It was stupid of me, I know. Because now you're here. And the healing begins."

Injection

"Chihaya, would you just stay still?" he grumbled. "Sorry, Doctor. She hates needles."

"I'm trying!" she complained, though her words did not match her efforts. Taichi gripped her hand a little tighter.

"Chihaya, look at my hand. You see how it's never leaving yours? It's like I'm an extension of you. We're in this together. So let's get it over and done with. We're not scared. We're not in pain. We're just getting vaccinated, so we can live a happy, healthy life where I never have to let go of this hand."

Jump

"What if things become weird? I couldn't live with myself. He's my best friend. I don't want that to change."

"Chihaya-chan, you like him, don't you? And Prez has always loved you. There's nothing left to do but simply jump in."

Kitchen

"Why am I not surprised?" he chuckled as he took in the sight of the kitchen and the distinct smell of something burning.

"I wanted it to be special," she sulked, staring at the black mass that, in a former life, resembled a formidable birthday cake attempt.

"It is," he insisted. "It's the first inedible blob anyone has ever made for me. I'm touched."

"You're a jerk," she mumbled, though the corners of her mouth crept into a bashful smile.

"Unfortunately for you, it's this jerk's birthday, and this jerk wants to have his cake and eat it, too."

"Huh? What's that supposed to me-"

He kissed her softly, then swiped a charred crumb from the edge of her lips. "Mm. Delicious."

Lay

This was it; he was certain. When she lay next to him, head curled into his shoulder, sighing softly in his arms - yes, this was heaven.

Mature

"Hey, Chihaya," he began hesitantly as he broke away from their kiss. "Do you...want to..."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure."

He was taken aback by her nonchalance. "Really? We don't have to, you know."

"No, it's okay. I want to." She smiled and whispered, "I want to be close to you."

He felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment and desire. "I-I want to be close to you, too," he mumbled. "So, how do you want to do this? I can take my clothes off first if that makes you feel more comfortable-"

"Eh?! Why would you do that?! I don't want to see you naked, Taichi! That's weird!"

"What? It's kind of unavoidable, Chihaya."

"No, you can cuddle fully-clothed!"

His eyes widened in realisation. "'Cuddle'," he reiterated.

"Uh-huh. Why, what were you thinking?" she asked obliviously.

He shook his head and sighed. "Never mind."

Negotiation

"Please, Taichi? It would really mean a lot to me."

"It's always just a bunch of people standing in a room, not knowing how to have a conversation about anything other than karuta. Do I really have to waste my time on something like that?"

"Pleeeease? I won't ask you for any more favours after this, I promise. I just don't want to go alone. No one believes that we're dating, they all think 'Who could put up with someone as crazy as Chihaya-chan?' or 'Isn't she with that glasses guy?'."

He visibly stiffened as she finished her sentence. "Fine. I'll go."

"You will? Oh, Taichi, that's great! Thank you-"

"...on one condition."

"Huh? What's that?"

"...I get to introduce you as my fiancée."

Ordinary

"I still can't believe you married her. Compared to her sister, she's kinda ordinary, isn't she? 'Beauty in vain', we called her in high school."

"'Ordinary'?" Taichi almost snorted. "She's the most extraordinary person I know."

Plane

"I wanted the window seat!"

"This is like that argument we had on the train all over again," he grumbled. "Fine. Just take it."

"Taichi, look at all the lights!" she beamed brilliantly as they climbed away from the illuminated night landscape of Tokyo.

He smiled, knowing that although the view outside was amazing, there was something else far more beautiful in front of him.

Question

"I do," he said as he held her rough, calloused hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. Smirking, he whispered lowly, "Do you?"

Research

"Kana-chan, you have to help me!" Chihaya pleaded, practically bowing in front of the smaller girl.

"Chihaya-chan, what's wrong?" Kana asked, worry flashing across her face.

"I...I don't know what to get Taichi for his birthday!"

Kana blinked for a few moments, then started to laugh. "That's what all this fuss is about? I thought there was an emergency, Chihaya-chan!"

"This is an emergency! He's always doing nice things for my birthday, and he's my b...b..." she struggled to spit the word out. "...boyfriend now. I can't give him something half-hearted this year! What kind of stuff does he like?"

"You should know better than anyone, Chihaya-chan," Kana shrugged. "You've known him the longest, and you're the closest one to him."

"Argh!" Chihaya groaned, dropping to the floor in distress. "This is hopeless."

"Chihaya-chan," Kana began sternly. "Prez has liked you since you were in grade school. I think all he's ever wanted for his birthday is you."

Chihaya looked blankly at her.

"But he's already got me! What else am I supposed to do, then?!"

Smile

She'd been talking at him for the best part of an hour now, and he was pretty sure she was answering her own questions anyway. Sure, they'd been apart for three years, but did she really think they had that much to catch up on? They'd grown up, that was all. She was taller, with delicate, feminine features, more like a woman now and less like the tomboy he teased her for being. He was taller, too; broad shoulders, broken voice and all, he definitely wasn't the bratty kid from elementary school anymore. And yet, walking beside her, it was as though nothing had changed. She was as chatty and annoying as ever, but her eyes sparkled with genuine happiness. She was glad to see him.

"Taichi, Taichi, Taichi!" she beamed; her laugh was like a peal of bells, her smile as warm as it was the day they became friends with Arata.

He blushed and looked away; such was the effect that smile had on him.

It's as I thought.

Nothing's changed at all.

Train

I can't believe this, he thought to himself. He made a futile attempt to hide his flushed face with his free hand, since moving the other entailed pushing against the weight that was slumped against his shoulder, snoring softly. She's something else.

Unfair

"There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"So much so that you came all the way to Fukui for it?"

"I take it you received the invitation."

"Yeah." He poured his guest some tea. "Congratulations."

"Thanks. But I didn't just come here to confirm that. I have a request."

"Well? Tell me."

"I want you to be my best man."

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Huh? Why?"

"There's a reason I didn't bring Chihaya with me. She doesn't know about any of this. But you're very special to us, Arata. You and I haven't always seen eye-to-eye, but you're my closest friend, and it's obvious how much Chihaya cares about you, too. We want you to be there and celebrate with us. Please. If not for me, then for her. You know it would mean the world to her."

"You know, I always figured you guys would end up together," Arata admitted after some time. "When I confessed to her back in high school, a part of me knew I was just kidding myself. She belonged to my best friend," he half-smiled. "I guess life's unfair."

"Don't you remember what I told you back in high school? Chihaya belongs to neither of us. Even when we get married, she won't be mine. She could leave me at any time if I'm not careful. Who knows if you'll take that chance to swoop in and sweep her off her feet?" Taichi laughed.

"Life's unfair," Arata chuckled in agreement.

Visit

"Chihaya, stop shaking. You've been to my house plenty of times before, this is no different."

"Of course it's different!" Chihaya snapped with uncharacteristic hostility. "Sorry. Hormones."

"I know," Taichi smiled sympathetically. "Don't worry. I'll do all the talking. I'm sure she'll be thrilled by the news."

"I can't imagine Mrs Pressure being thrilled by anything..." Chihaya muttered under her breath.

"Think about it this way. Once the baby is born, she'll be so focused on the new family member that she won't bother you at all."

"No, it'll be the opposite," Chihaya complained. "She'll be so attached to the baby that she'll talk to me all the time just to see him or her, or worse, give me parenting advice."

"Ah," Taichi nodded. "Yeah. Maybe we'll keep Grandma at a distance, then."

"But then again," Chihaya reasoned. She smiled at her husband. "Her parenting advice can't be all that bad. Look at how you turned out, right?"

Wrap

He caught her before she could fall, wrapping her in his arms as she slept off the exhaustion of her last match, shaking his head as she snoozed with both eyes open.

X-ray

"Looks like you've broken a finger, unfortunately."

He sighed. "See what you've done, Chihaya?"

"I'm sorry," she mumbled sheepishly. "But hey, you kept your promise, didn't you? You never let go of my hand."

"Yeah, and now I'm paying for it," he grumbled. "Next time you get an injection, I'm bringing a stress ball instead."

Youth

"You know why I stole Arata's glasses that day?"

"You didn't want to lose, right? Because Mrs Pressure would've been on your case-"

"No. I couldn't have cared less about that." He exhaled slowly. "I didn't want to lose, you're right. But not because of my mom. Because I wanted you to look at me, not him."

After all this time, he was still so torn up about something so long ago in the past. She could see it in the pain that creased his face, the frustration in his eyes.

"It all worked out though, didn't it?" she said brightly. "Because then I got to play against you, and I beat you. You've served your punishment already."

"Still, I wonder if anything would've been different, had Arata played and inevitably crushed me." He looked down in shame. "It makes me wonder if I'm really a good person at all."

"Don't say that, Taichi," Chihaya insisted, putting her hands on either side of his face and forcing him to look at her. "You were young. Kids make mistakes, and now you've grown up. You're a good person. Most importantly, you're sorry. If you were really a bad person, I don't think you'd feel sorry at all."

He smiled. "You know why you didn't find out about all of this until high school?"

"Why?"

"Because I asked Arata to keep it a secret, so you wouldn't hate me." He sighed. "Arata's a good person."

"He is," Chihaya nodded. "But even if he wasn't, and he told me the truth, it wouldn't have mattered. I could never hate you, Taichi."

Zero

"This is it. Are you ready, Chihaya?"

She tried her best to compose herself, her sister dutifully gathering her train for her as they stood behind the set of doors that would lead her into the rest of her life.

"Ready as I'll ever be. Let's go, Dad."

"The music's started!" Chitose smiled. "I'll count you down, okay? Just remember to walk and breathe, Chihaya."

"I'll try."

"Good. You look beautiful, by the way."

"Chitose, don't make her cry before she's even at the altar!"

Chitose chuckled to herself and inhaled deeply.

"Five."

"Four."

"Three."

"Two."

"One..."