Title: "Those Eyes"

Author: Wish Wielder

Fandom: Puchi Puri Yucie

Claim / Pairing / Character Focus: Arc/Yucie

Challenge: 101 Kisses

Theme: #10 (Eyes)

Word Count: 1,254

Rating: K / G

Summary: The first thing he saw was her eyes.

Notes: Post-series.

Disclaimer: "Puchi Puri Yucie" and all respective properties are © Takami Akai. Meg D. (Wish Wielder) does not, has never, nor will ever own "Puchi Puri Yucie".

"Those Eyes"

The first thing he saw was her eyes.

Well, no - not really. You could say the first thing he saw was the side of her face, the lower profile, as she reached across him to adjust his blanket. You could go back to the previous night, and say that the first thing he saw was her forehead as he wavered on the brink of consciousness. You could go even farther back and say the first thing he saw was her night-sky hair and little pink dress as she cowered against a tree, all those years ago when he had chased off that wolf.

But that's not what he remembered best.

What he saw, when he thought back on their first encounter, was her eyes. Two pools of warm chocolate, drawing him in like quicksand. Fear, awe, wonder, curiosity - all melded together in a sea of brown. A shine from the morning sun passed through a window behind. A light rosy hue from the blush on her cheeks. No, but mostly brown. Warm, inviting, hesitantly shy brown.

The eyes of a woman just coming into her own. Tinged with a frustration and longing he couldn't quite understand, but one that was definitely there. Windows into a soul so complex he was still puzzling over it, open to him - even then, when he was just a stranger, a weary traveler helped on a stormy night. She let him in with those eyes, though at the time he wasn't sure just what he had been looking at. Her eyes. Her window. Her gift.

And then her mind had returned, and she had jumped - no, leapt - back as propriety returned and fear became more pronounced. Embarrassment reigned as she back-peddled, ran to the other side of the room. And he had seen her, clothed in robes and habit, and he had been surprised to see she was just a child. But those eyes stayed focused on him, and somehow - despite her appearance - he knew she wasn't. No child could have those eyes.

His voice was almost calloused as he addressed her - to hide his heart. She was bewitching, but how? She huddled against the wall, fists raised in a gesture of uncertainty, but she still watched him. Wide-eyed and wonderful, the light creating as many shades as depths. First brown as the richest chocolate, then amber as honey. Earthy, but not. Sweet and timid. Trusting and terrified.

And all at him.

And all too suddenly he was overwhelmed, and all too suddenly he turned from her, looking this way then that. He covered the spark of something with disinterested criticism, teasing that made those amazing eyes flicker with indignation and rage. "Forehead" - a name she loathed, but one he felt suited her. It drew away from the fascination with her eyes.

More teasing, and the amber became more defined as the anger flared. She stormed out, sticking a soft, pink tongue at him before making her leave, and he had sulked. No, don't let his mind on her. Don't think of those eyes.

And then she was back, and for a moment he was distracted as she told him of the guard looking for him. No, a suspicious man - but still him. Always him. And then he was her focus. Determination and fear - so, so much fear - glared at him as those eyes bored into his. He felt like breaking.

No child could have those eyes.

A teasing kiss to the forehead - so soft, so wonderful! - and the moment was dashed. Angry and indignant, and a confession. Seventeen. She was no child. But he joked, and he fueled her rage. Why? Don't look at me with those eyes that make me want you.

And life whirlwinded, and he was arguing with a dragon. She knew him. He had saved her before, but…no. Out of his mind. No name, no attachment, no eyes. No Yucie.

And she was the answer. Eternal Tiara? Ask Yucie. Who? Forehead. No.

Not Forehead. Not the one who looked at him so fiercely. Not the one clawing her way into his heart. Not Yucie.

And then came insults. Denial and cruelty. You are such a fool. The dragon's words, or his own accusations? Push her away. Pull her close. You fool, you fool, you fool.

And again those eyes, but not like ever before. Anger and pain and hurt and hate. Disappointment. Bitter. And all at him.

"Oh, see if I care anymore!"

And then she was running, and he was calling after her. Don't leave. I'm sorry. Don't look at me like that, please. Not me. Not with those eyes.

And she yelled at him to leave. Don't come after me. But he had to. He couldn't let her go, and then Cerberus arrived. Keep her safe. And he ran, with her in his arms, terrified but determined. The bridge. The order. Run as fast as you can over to the other side. Don't stop for anything. What about you? I'm not so weak you need to worry about me. Go.

Go.

And then he was falling, but she was still there. Fool! Idiot! Why was she still there? Why try to save him? Seventeen, but so small…she'd never hold him! And Cerberus, barely a breath away…

But then he saw them, tear-filled and terrified…at him. Let go! "I will not!" Terror, but not at Cerberus. At him. I will not. I will not let go. I will not lose you. I will not let you die.

Sadness and fear to the point of terror. Because he could die. But she hated him, and yet…

Fear at the beast leaping towards them, crashing into the bridge. Disbelief at the free-fall, then nothing as he saw those eyes roll into her head. Terror to the point of nothingness. A blackout.

But he reached for her, grabbed her. Tucked her to his chest and bent his head over her. Trees below, and ground below that. Death at the bottom.

Please, God, one more chance to see those eyes. Even if she hates me. Let her survive this.

Eyes closed. Weary face with a trace of fear, but…calm.

Like right now.

Calm. No fear, no hate, no hesitance. Blissful calm behind closed lids, trust and love and peace written across her face. Nineteen and queen, and no longer looking like a child. Beautiful in every way.

The first thing he saw was her eyes. The same eyes he woke up to every morning, and the same eyes that watched him as he watched her drift to sleep. The same eyes he dreamt about when he couldn't be conscious to see them for himself.

He brushed back her hair, kissing her neck languorously, with knowing peace and confidence. A smile as a sleepy eye cracked open, and a quizzical gaze as his hand slipped under her nightdress and slowly up her side. Tired and playfully annoyed, her eyes remained a happy kind of molten chocolate as he pulled her closer, kissing his way up her neck to her mouth. A protest for sleep, but a flick of honey showed her willing submission.

He loved every part of her, from the child quivering before the hungry wolf to the forehead coming to catch him as he passed out.

But more than that, more than the deliciously smooth forehead and the girl who loved flowers…

More than all that, he loved her eyes the best.

A.n.: Let's play "Spot the Quote!" Wrote this while watching ep6, so some of the thoughts in here are actual quotes. Can you spot them? ;P

I swear, I have the weirdest obsession with listening to sad songs when I write happy stuff, and vice-versa. The whole time I was writing this I had "Your Eyes" ("Your eyes, the ones that took me by surprise, can't get them out of my mind, and I find I can't hide…") and "As Long As You're Mine" ("Maybe I'm brainless, maybe I'm wise, but you've got me seeing through different eyes. Somehow I've fallen under your spell, and somehow I'm feeling it's up that I fell…") stuck in my head. Sheesh. (But I was listening to "My Heart" by K's Choice - which is even worse, 'cause it really is sad.)

Also: tried out a new writing trick. I liked it, but I dunno if you guys'll find it hard to follow. Ah well.