In the thick blackness of the night, two shadows separate from the body of the greater dark and move towards each other. They whisper their conversation:
"Did you get the stuff?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. But it was tough..."
"So what? You're getting as much out of this as I am. Hand it over."
"I did all the bloody work! I'm not just..."
"Quiet, idiot! They'll hear us."
Furtive glances check for signs of apprehension, and after a few, breathless moments, the clandestine activity resumes.
A sulphurous flare, and the candle is lit, throwing huge shadows about the room. The two figures remain just outside the candle's glow.
"I can't get the lid off."
"Like I said, hand it over."
"Crap. Whatever, like you're going to -"
A popping noise instead of an answer, and a white lid skitters across the floor.
"Nice."
"Hmph."
"Go on. Do it, then."
"Don't rush me."
"Sure, sure, but we don't have all night."
The silence bristles for a moment, then a hand plunges into the container, and a fistful of its contents is removed.
The container is set on the floor between the two, then the hand extends ceremonially in to the circle of light.
A quick toss, and the air shimmers.
"Hee hee... a-hem!" Giggling is coughed silent in the dark.
"My turn, my turn!"
"Go ahead. Just be quiet, you moron!"
Again: a hand from the container to the firelight; a toss, and shimmering light in the air.
"Hee hee hee!"
"Give me those!"
Two hands in the circle at once, and, for a brief moment, there is nothing but shimmering, sparkling light.
Suddenly, on comes the kitchen light, bathing the scene in blinding, confusing light.
"What are you two doing up at this time of night?" Hakkai demands from the countertop, his hand still on the switch.
Gojyo and Sanzo attempt to snuff a candle, put out their cigarettes and hide the container, all at once. The ensuing confusion results in wax in the hair, slight scorching of clothing and the linoleum, and yet more of the container's contents flying into the air.
All three chibis stand momentarily transfixed, as the sparkles flutter around them.
"Tsk. I obviously didn't hide them well enough. Hand them over and clean up, then." Hakkai tears his eyes away from the scintillations in order to scold the perpetrators.
"Not gonna!"
The defiant sparkle thieves set the container carefully behind them, and prepare to fight.
Hakkai simply stands, arms folded, on the counter. His monocle flashes nefariously, and he intones:
"If you don't clean that up right now, I'll go tell everyone how cute you're being. You'll probably be cuddled to death!"
"No... not that..." Sanzo backs away, shaking.
"Anything but... wait, that doesn't sound too ba-"
"Just clean it up, Gojyo. You can make a card tomorrow."
"Aw, man..."
Salvageable sparkles are returned to their container. Things are tidied away and neatened up.
After the others are verifiably in bed, Hakkai moves the sparkles to a new secret location.
He has only one sparkly accident on the way.
chibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibi
What a responsible young chibi.
Never fear! Posting of the sequel Chibis Gone Wild! does not mean that this story is ending. I just wanted you all to know that even when this one does end, all will not be lost. It will flow (hopefully), right in to the next one. But as for now, I've got mountains of this stuff. No need to worry.
And I'm glad to know this story seems to be making the world a cuter place. Apparently Sekowari met a kid who was Hug-ry, and TheCheapTickets had a glitter accident while making a Team Sparkle shirt. This makes me happy. Very happy indeed. And somehow... cuddly?
My Team Sparkle hat will say "Hug Wrangler" on the back... or perhaps "Chibi-in-Chief". So hard to decide!