Monimonika, thanks for those instructions about joining livejournal, it must have taken quite some effort to type out the url. Thanks so much! But as you can see, I write only sporadically and often weeks after the topic has passed. (apologetic smile) Yup, so I guess it's quite useless for me to join. Besides, I'm okay with posting them here. I get a kick out of writing them, and hopefully, some people get entertainment out of reading them…then it's good enough for me. (grin) Anyway, congrats on your win a couple of weeks ago, and that was a great topic you've chosen…I'll see if I can write something for that. :)

To everyone else who have reviewed, thanks for the encouraging comments! (smile) I'll try to write more. For now, here's two drabbles for the topic "Fairy Tales".

Modified Footwear
Topic: Fairy Tales
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Sanji/Usopp
Word Count: 299

"Your shoes. Repaired, and good as new."

Sanji studied the objects. "These aren't mine."

"Sure they are." Usopp coughed. "I've made some improvements."

An eyebrow twitched.

"Okay…hehehe…" He laughed nervously. "It's a new invention of mine. I want you to try it."

"It's made of glass. Who in their right minds wear shoes made of glass?"

"Umm…well, it's aesthetically pleasing. And more accurately, they're slippers…so if Luffy falls overboard you can kick them off easily and go save him."

"You're really expecting me to wear them." Sanji could feel his annoyance building. "Look at the heel! It's even taller than Nami-san's shoes!"

"That way, when you kick someone, it'll be more painful!"

Sanji gave him a narrowed-eye glare. "Give me my shoes. Now." He ground out through gritted teeth.

"Fine." Usopp sighed disappointedly, producing the black leather shoes. "I just thought that you fight with your feet all the time…so you can give me a professional opinion and…oh never mind."

Sanji cast a sidelong glance at the sharpshooter, taking in the dejected slump of his shoulders and the forlorn expression on his face. He sighed.

This was going to end badly.

"Oh, alright! I'll do it. Give me that." Reaching over, he snatched the loathsome things from Usopp with a sulk, shaking a finger at him. "But get this clear. I'm only doing this because I love you very very much."

He was right. The invention was a disaster. He could hardly walk without tripping and five minutes with them on, already gave him a blister. Even the hopeful inventor had to admit that it was a complete failure.

Still, Sanji noted with immense professional satisfaction, that when he kicked Zoro for calling him 'Princess' for the twentieth time in a row, it did indeed hurt the swordsman more.

The Sleeping Bastard
Topic: Fairy Tales
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Zoro/Sanji
Word Count: 300

"Please, Nami! You've got to!" Chopper pleaded. "I've tried everything! It's not an illness…it's a curse!"

"But…"

"And like that old woman said, only the kiss from the person's true love will wake him up. So you've got to!"

"Yeah, Nami, make Sanji wake up soon. I want dinner!" Luffy whined.

Nami glanced around at the other crewmates crowded around the bed, and finally at the unmoving figure on it. "Oh, alright!" She sighed and kissed him on the cheek.

An expectant silence.

Nothing.

"Try the lips."

She did. Still nothing happened.

"I don't get it." Chopper frowned, consternated until he spotted Robin. "Ah! Robin, it must be you instead. Please, kiss Sanji and break the curse."

Robin smiled her mysterious smile. "I don't think I'll be of much help, Doctor-san." But she gave the comatose cook a peck on the lips dutifully when the doctor begged her.

Again silence.

"I don't understand!" Chopper wailed, panicked. "What shall we do now? Sanji's gonna die!"

"Calm down. The old lady must be lying. Not everyone tells you the truth like me, you know." Usopp said, putting his hands on their distraught doctor's shoulders and steering him towards the door. "Let's take a break and get something to eat. We'll sure to think of something later."

"Yay! Food!" Luffy crowed, springing after them. The ladies followed.

It was only when the door was shut and the room was quiet again that a shadow disengaged itself from the dark corner.

The swordsman, who had stood watching silently all this while, now strode to stand beside the bed.

He studied the sleeping face, then leaning down, carefully pressed a gentle kiss to the pale lips.

A long moment of anxious silence.

Then, the swordsman smiled down into open blue eyes, and said, "Morning, bastard."