Tales of a crystalline hexagram

Prompt: 2 – Apricots
Word count: 341
Title: Prunus armeniaca
Date: 24/05/09 – 31/05/09 ~ What? I'm a slow writer. Ish.
Summary: After Lily buys four crates of the orange fruit, what are they to do?
Characters: All of the awesome talking fairies.
Pairings: None, really
Spoilers: Meh. None that I can think of.
Author's note: This one's an AU – just imagine all of the SSR, university-age and living together as housemates :)
Disclaimer: Still don't own it.

***

There was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," called Hinagiku, strolling through the corridor. Pulling open the door, he was startled to find Lily on the top of the steps, holding not one, not two, but four large cardboard boxes of what appeared to be some sort of fruit.

"Lily-san," he said in surprise, "What's in the boxes?"

"You'll see," she replied with a grin as they strolled towards the kitchen.

"Lily, did you get the-oh-" Shun'o started, then broke off as she saw the boxes."Whoa, what's in there?"

"Oy-what's all the noise about? I'm trying to sleep here!" came Tsubaki as he sauntered into the kitchen, looking mildly harassed.

"Jeez Tsubaki," was Shun'o, "It's eleven thirty!"

"Yeah, well-"

"What's in the box, Lily-san?" Baigon cut across pointedly.

Lily beamed, then lifted the lid of the nearest box to reveal ... apricots. Row upon row of apricots. "They were on sale, so I decided to get a lot!"

"But," said Ayame in despair, "They're already ripe! They won't last much longer."

"Oh," Lily said, looking down at the orange fruit, "I didn't really think of that..."

Ayame sighed. There was going to be a lot of cooking, jamming and preserving to do.

***

"...apricot cake, apricot ice-cream, apricot tart, apricot trifle-"

"-apricot jam, apricot preserve, apricot conserve-"

"-dried apricot, apricot and chicken-"

"-cashew and apricot stir-fry..." Shun'o sighed as she counted off on her fingers. "We should write a book: 'Every single thing you could possibly want or need to use apricots for.'"

"As a matter of fact, I'm writing that book, and it needed a title-thanks," replied Hinagiku.

"Any time."

They glanced up as Tsubaki stumbled into the kitchen, looking tired and vaguely nauseous.

"If I ever have to see another apricot," he moaned as he came over to sit next to Hinagiku, "I'll seriously kill the person-"

"Hey Tsubaki, d'you want to taste Ayame's fresh apricot jam?" Shun'o interrupted, sliding over the jar of bright orange goo.

Tsubaki moaned as his head slammed onto the stainless-steel benchtop.