Title: Shed Your Lock and Key
Characters: Shuurei/Seiran
Rating: G
Word Count: 231
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Of course, Shuurei couldn't deny the way her eyes were drawn to Seiran, who'd look up at her from their joint work in the garden, hair in disarray and slipping from its tie to fall in gentle curls about his face. Their eyes would meet; Shuurei would giggle and point out the streak of dirt smeared across Seiran's nose (and wonder aloud how exactly it had gotten there); they would laugh together, voices bright and content; and Seiran would smile. That easy, heartwarming smile of his was a realm of endless fascination—Shuurei would watch and wait patiently (and sometimes rather impatiently) for that treasured sign of open happiness to grace Seiran's normally schooled, discreet features, the smile always sneaking out when least expected.
By the time Shuurei had caught sight of it, that smile would slide back to its secret place, wherever Seiran kept that sort of honest expression locked away, the key hidden someplace he'd not reveal. But that smile alone held the power to clear the tremulous, roiling skies of any fearful thunderstorm, to brighten the bleakest day, to melt the frost of her family's most desperate hour, and to soothe the deepest and most crushing pain. No, Shuurei wouldn't admit it, not even for a year's worth of rice, but those cherished glances from Seiran were the sunshine of her dreary days, the music of her spring.