Chapter 4 at last! Here it is, in all its glory. I was suffering from some writer's block after the first two lines, so it may not be that good. I don't know, I'll let you decide. Speaking of which... Review reply time!
WindGoddess Rune: Thanks for the review. :) I'm hoping that the chocolate-making competition will be good. Bouquet is kind of crazy (go Bouquet!), so that makes it a little easier to write a crazy competition. Yes, I finally got your e-mails. I had no idea what a PM was, so imagine my (pleasant) surprise when I read your review and found two e-mails in my inbox. :D I couldn't get the pictures you sent me... I don't know what happened. Maybe try sending them as attachments next time? Anyway, I'm excited about the new Shadows, especially any ones related to birds (which is one reason I like Kluke so much). The new Ancients look like challenging foes; I think it's more likely that they're siblings, if they're related. But I'm very curious to see what their true purpose is. I'm also very excited about Randel and Ran, who are the male/female character you can create (those are there prototype names). I'm actually planning on making a story for the new game, but I'm going to change Ran's name to Erica (she's not Randel's sibling in my story, and their names sounded too similar). Sorry for the long reply (I can't help it, I like talking about Blue Dragon :P), but I'm glad you keep reviewing! :D
Prince of Tennis' Shaman: Aw, you're sweet... and you always make you blush. Stop that!... Just kidding. ;) I'm always happy to hear that I'm portraying the characters well; unless the story calls for a character change, I like to keep everyone as in-character as possible. And the events... Well, this story had initially been a practice run (along with Shu and Kluke - Precious Memories), since I just joined the site about a week ago, though I've been reading on the site for basically two years (not every day, of course; I like fan fiction, but I've got a ton of stuff to do!). I always like having Kluke and Jiro doing something together (talking, using teamwork to fight an enemy), especially since their relationship got seriously downplayed after Andropov became a love interest for Kluke. It's a shame; I like Andropov a lot, but I like Kluke being with Jiro more. I thought it was kind of unfair, how the writers made these little Jiro x Kluke scenes, and then dropped the Andropov-plot-twist-bomb all of a sudden. I'm getting used to the idea of it, though. Yeah... I felt bad for Shu when I wrote that scene (to Shu: hang in there, kiddo). I'm starting to get some ideas for this, so it should start to spin out pretty good. I'm not planning on a sequel or anything, but this will be longer than I originally thought. And I always love Bouquet planning. She's portrayed as being kind of ditzy sometimes, so I always love to write her popping out with something clever. ;) She's going to be more silly in this story, but I'm looking forward to deepening her character in future stories. I'm not sure how well I'll be able to keep up with the 10 hit thing, but I'm going to try. So, here's the next chapter. :D Oh, and you might want to check Chapter 3, because I replied to your review of Chapter 2.
WindGoddess Rune: Sorry for the wait, and here's Chapter 4. :)
Sorry for the long replies, especially to the people who haven't reviewed and/or don't plan to. You're always welcome to review, and I'm replying because I saw other people doing it and I think it's a courteous thing to do. So, with that out of the way, we can start the chapter.
Disclaimer: If I owned Blue Dragon, a good portion of the royalties would go to buying me and my dad's insulin. But I don't, so the insurance companies are taking all of our money. You evil people!... Not my dear readers, of course.
Kluke gaped at Bouquet. "What?"
"You think maybe that was a little overdramatic?" Shu looked at her sideways.
"Kluke, if you don't accept my challenge, you'll be even more disgraced than you are now!" Bouquet's arm faltered slightly, but she still continued to point.
"I think Bouquet is overdramatic in general." Jiro muttered under his breath.
Kluke regained her composure. "So, you're little 'competition'..." She crossed her arms over her chest. "What does it involve?"
Bouquet chuckled. "Well... It's very simple, actually. You and me are going to make chocolate, any kind as long as it's one used during White Day, and give it to the boys. Whoever has the best results wins."
Shu scratched his head. "Uh, Bouquet, that's kinda..."
"Stupid." Jiro said flatly.
"It is not!" she stomped her foot, glaring at him. "You're just jealous that Shu and Marumaro are part of the competition!"
"Are you kidding me?!" Jiro was yelling at her, but honestly, he hadn't thought about it. Thinking about it, though... It made him afraid - as much as he hated that - that Bouquet might be right.
"Bouquet, I think I understand your mind set, but..." Kluke looked down thoughtfully. "This doesn't seem very traditional to White Day."
"Look, I've been planning this for three days, so don't ruin it!"
"That's what you've been doing?" Shu gaped at her.
"Even if it's you we're talking about, I would've thought you'd find a better way to waste your time." Jiro pinched between his eyebrows.
"I'm not talking to him." Bouquet looked steadfastly at Kluke. "You're going to do it, right?"
"White Day is supposed to be about giving chocolate to the boy you like," Zola intervened. "If you give chocolate to Shu, Jiro and Marumaro, it kind of defeats the purpose."
"How they like it overall is what determines whether me or Kluke wins," Bouquet put a hand on her hip. "Since Shu is my fiancé, I would pick him if I win anyway. Since Kluke doesn't have that with anyone, it's different if she wins. Which she won't." she smirked.
"We'll see about that." Kluke glared at her.
"I'll take that as an acceptance. In that case..." Bouquet pumped the air with her fist. "... let the competition begin!"
And that was how Kluke found herself outside in the snow, rubbing her arms furiously, in front of a candy store.
In the display, they already had put out some heart-shaped chocolate and other typical Valentine's/White Day candy.
The reason Kluke had come out here was to get an idea for what to do. Bouquet seemed to know what she was doing, but Kluke wasn't sure at all.
She'd heard of White Day. There were a few girls in Talta who celebrated it regularly, and sometimes foreigners passing through would talk about it when it was near time. But, with more important festivals like the Tsuyu, White Day was a holiday that was usually overlooked.
Kluke could remember making chocolate for Shu when she was three or four. He'd pretended to like it, but had barely swallowed it, like most of her cooking. She had thought of trying again when she was older, but once Shu had a grasp on the concept of love (which had been a painstaking process), Kluke had decided against it; she didn't want him to get the wrong idea or anything... Because that would be wrong the idea, right?
She sighed in frustration, leaning her head against the glass. Things had definitely been easier when she lived in Talta. If she was there right now, she wouldn't even be worrying about this stupid day.
"Excuse me, miss...?"
"Y-yes?" Kluke looked up, seeing a woman wearing an apron with the shop name on it; she must've worked at the store.
"Please don't lean on the glass."
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Kluke backed away worriedly.
"It's just that the glass is very fragile, otherwise it would be okay."
"I understand. Um... Can I ask you a question?"
The woman seemed a little surprised. "I guess so."
"How... How do you make chocolate?"
"Well... It's pretty easy, especially once you get the hang of it. If you're making chocolate for White Day, it's a little more tricky, since you usually want to dress it up."
Kluke looked at her feet for a moment, running an idea through her head. She lifted her eyes. "Would you teach me how to make it... if I worked in the store?"
Wow, that last idea just hit me suddenly. I hadn't planned on doing that at all. But with this new plot idea, I just might be able to draw this out. ;) I think I might even have another idea for a different story. But with this story... I'm starting to like it a lot more than I had originally, and I think this will carry on for a good amount of time. I'll start working on the next chapter ASAP, and then I'll seriously focus on the chapter after 10 hits. So... I'll see you then. Feel free to leave your comments and suggestions in a review! :D