Cranberry

I.

Kaori received her paper.

Mac received his paper.

Kaori received an A.

Mac received a C-.

"Oh, Ma-chan." She twisted her fingers apologetically, "I am very sorried."

Somewhere, someone sneered.

But it wasn't Mac. He was too busy dancing victoriously out into the snow.

"Oh yeah! The MAC is back in SMACKDOWN!"

"…" said Kaori.

Mac lunged in her direction and, much like an airplane, flew circles around her. Then he lifted her up with such passion that even her slight weight proved too much and they toppled into the fresh powder, one on top of the other.

KURASHU!

Mac laughed triumphantly.

Kaori laughed because Mac laughed.

"So," she said, "you are not angry to me, Ma-chan?"

"I passed, right?"

"Ano…"

Mac sprang forward to his feet and dusted himself off happily. And then, much to Kaori's surprise, he turned and pulled her up as well.

"Let's go out. My treat."

"Trick or treat!"

Mac blinked.

"Right. Come on, let's go."

"No, no Ma-chan." Kaori waved her head back and forth candidly, "I need to get ready first…"

"Pssh! ('Pssssssh?' inquired Kaori.) If you leave to get ready then we'll never get goin'! So let's just go!"

Kaori's cheeks puffed indignantly and she looked, for a second, very much like a blowfish. Then the moment passed, and she raced him to the Sky Transport.

The Sky Transport, however, was very empty. Mac and Kaori climbed on. They sat down. The compartment began its steady descent down the mountain.

Somewhere, someone spoke.

But now, neither of them spoke. Mac stared out of the window. Kaori stared at Mac. Then she said,

"Is this…cranberry?"

Mac gave her a special look. The one he used when she said something completely and totally arbitrary to anything he had said or implied. Therefore, he used it rather often.

"What?"
"Cranberry."

"…what?"
"Cranbe"

"Yeah, yeah I heard you. What are you talkin' about?"

"You know, eto…two people go out together to see movie or eat at restaurant…?"

"Oh, a date!"

"Date-o?"

"Uh," Now Mac blushed, "yeah."

"Ah!" Kaori clapped her hands together, "Is this it?"

"Well, I don't…"

Mac stared at her. Then, with his sheepish half smile he shrugged, crossed his arms and leaned his head back against the cold glass window.

"Sure."

"Yatta!" Kaori cheered, "Cranberry with Ma-chan!"

"Date."

"Cranberry."

"Duh-ate."

"Ku-ran-be-ri." Kaori pinched his nose.

Mac shook his head.

"I win!" she cheered happily.

II.

The Sky Transport landed. Mac and Kaori jumped off. Literally.

"Okay! Super Captain Cranberry Ma-chan! I follow you!"

Mac looked at her, then looked down the street importantly.

"Uh, this way!"

"Okay!"

Contrary to her former statement, Kaori grabbed his arm and dragged him in the implied direction. Mac jogged to catch up with her brisk, happy pace.

"Where are we going, Ma-chan?"

"I dunno. Wanna catch a movie?"

"Catch movie!" Kaori mimicked a fishing line being cast off.

"Ho ho!" she said.

Mac took this as a yes. They walked until they found a movie theater.

"Movie! Movie! Wai! Wai!" Kaori released his arm and spun in small circles. Then she stared fixedly at the movie listings. Mac took the opportunity to pull a wad of bills from his jacket pocket.

"Okay…"

"Ah! Honto ni?! Sugoi!" Kaori, once again, grabbed Mac's arm.

"Ma-chan! Let's see that one!"

Mac looked up. Most of the titles were in French.

He blinked.

"Uh, I gues-" But before he could blink again, Kaori had ran off to the ticket booth, chatting animatedly towards the cashier.

"Kaori!" He, once more, jogged to catch up, "The lady prolly' doesn't speak Eng-"

"Peux j'avoir deux billets de film pour 'La Puissance d'Une ', sil vous plait."

"…lish."

"Bien." said the cashier.

Somewhere, someone was completely and utterly astonished.

Mac was completely and utterly astonished.

"Merci!" said Kaori.

"De rien." said the cashier.

"Okay, Ma-chan. Let's go!"

Kaori pulled him into the cinema,

"I…you…"
"I My Me! Strawberry Eggs!"

"You speak French!" It was both a question and an obvious statement.

Kaori stopped and blinked. Then she smiled.

"Yup."

"But…" Mac stared. Then he cursed in astonishment. The moment passed.

"What are we seeing?" He asked eventually.

"Gekij-ban poketto monsutâ: Maboroshi no pokemon: Rugia bakutan…" she rambled. If Mac had been listening, he would have heard:

"Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah…"

But by this time, Mac was not really listening.

"Hey, it was supposed to be my treat."

"Trick or treat!" Kaori clapped her hands and spun in a very rapid circle.

Mac sighed.

Kaori sighed.

Kaori laughed.

Mac sighed again.

"Let me get the snacks."

"Okie-dokie, Ma-chan."

III

Eleven francs later. Mac found Kaori in the very back row of a near empty theater. He pulled the ice creams out of his pocket.

"What movie is this?"

"Poketto monsutâ…"

Mac blinked.

"Okay."

The theater went dark and, in the darkness, Kaori squeezed Mac's arm.

"Arigato, Ma-chan."

"Uh…" Mac swallowed, "No prob, yo."

An flurry of animation filled the screen. And then, without warning, a loud and very familiar phrase filled the theater.

"PIKACHU!"

Mac nearly choked on his ice cream.

"What?"
"Poketto monsutâ…eto, pokemon?"

Sure enough, POKEMON: THE POWER OF ONE flashed across the screen, the French subtitle trailing quickly beneath. Mac gave Kaori an incredulous look.

"Daijoubu ga, Ma-chan?"

For once, there was nothing he could say. Mac sat back resigned, and took a large bite of Kaori's ice cream.

"Nothing."

Kaori looked from him, to her ice cream, and back.

"You are…strange person, Ma-chan. But," she squeezed his arm again, "You are cute kiddo."

"I'm not a kid." He whispered.

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too."

He scrunched his nose and pouted in the dim light. Kaori giggled. Then, in her soft voice she said,

"Suki dayo, Ma-chan."

"What does that mean?"

"Hi-mi-tsu."

"…what does that mean?"

"Secret." She put her finger over her mouth. "Shh."


Mac shook his head.

"Man, I don't know about you, Kaori."

IV.

Kaori and Mac left the cinema. Winter night had fallen quickly, though it was still early.

"Hungry?" asked Mac.

"Nope." said Kaori.

They boarded the Sky Transport.

"Sleepy?" asked Kaori.

"Nope." said Mac.

They walked through the snow, brightly lit by a surplus of streetlamps.

"Ma-chan." Kaori spun in front of him, stopping him in his tracks to face her. Silence assumed its place. Mac stared at her. She stared back. Finally, she said,

"Thank you very much. Cranberry was…very…sick!"

Kaori smiled. Mac blinked. Then he shrugged.

"Whatever." There, silence grew between them. Mac stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared at her. Kaori repeated the gesture whilst fitting on her gloves. Then, in an instant she tipped backwards.

"Catch me!"

Mac didn't think about what would happen if he didn't, this time. He scrambled forward to support her, tripped and once again they both landed in the snow. Kaori laughed joyously. At least one of them had found it amusing.

Then she stood, brushing the bits of snow from her hair before offering her hands to him. He took them hesitantly, and she dragged him up from the cold, white Earth.

"You're a heavy kid."

"I'm not a kid." He spat and jabbed, with his index finger, the side of her snow jacket. Kaori let forth a very loud yelp. Mac guffawed at the reaction.

"You sound like a turkey!" He said.

"If I'm turkey, you're pig."

Now Mac stopped laughing, and put on a face of mock distress.

"Are you calling me fat?"

Kaori stuck her tongue out.

Mac returned the gesture.

She said,

"Turkey and piggy out on a cranberry."

"Date."

"Cranberry."

Mac said,

"We could do this all night."

"Nope, I'm too sleepy." Kaori settled back into the snow, visible chills running through her lithe form. Mac stood above her, an expression of inquisition, confusion and, vaguely, amusement on the rosy features of his face.

"Oink! I can see up your nose."

"You're hopeless."

Disclaimer: I don't own SSX Tricky, Pokemon or anything otherwise mentioned.

Notes.

1. the whole cranberry versus date thing. Dates are…those things. Cranberries are fruits. Ha.

2. the currency they're using is francs versus the euro because, since this story is during SSX (2000-2001), the euro was not in use in France yet.

3. same reason above as to why they're watching Pokemon: the Power of One

4. I don't speak a lick of French. So if it's wrong…eh.

Surprisingly long for a chapter with absolutely no purpose. This story has…no plot. I think I should end it soon.