Hey Fictioners!
So, I was going to finish the Collection last drabble, but it turns out people wanted me to write more! Well, that was no problem for me! XD I was more than happy to continue!
Sorry this is a bit late; I didn't get onto this drabble until about half an hour ago. This fic is for Killer Neko-chan Nyuuu and Kisshus best friend. Early apologies to Mint Pearl Voice, who I know doesn't like this shipping XD
Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Mew Mew :)
Enjoy!
A field of black and white squares.
Two armies, opposed – one black, one white.
A white pawn moved forward one black square. After a tension-filled silence, a black knight leapt forward two spots and diagonally one, knocking the pawn off its square.
The ticking of the café clock on the wall helped him focus.
He rested his pale elbows against the white tabletop, wriggling his long, pale fingers as he decided how next to respond to this move from the black army. His steely grey eyes flicked from the dotted positions of the white army to the rivals on the other side of the board, calculating.
The clock ticked.
He was so close – so close – to defeating the white army with the black warriors. He chewed the inside of one cheek thoughtfully, his neat eyebrows knitting together as he focused intently.
Pie reached for the remaining white rook, his hand hovering over the board as he hesitated. Was it really the best possible move he could make? He did a double take, scanning the checkerboard and re-evaluating the positions of all the white pieces.
The clock ticked.
His purple-grey hair flashed in the bright café lights as he retracted his hand and wove his fingers together, propping his chin on the little plateau his hands created. He gazed at the board, frowning slightly, his elegant face stern and wistful.
It was a late evening in May. Beyond the windows, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their gnarled branches twisting together. Petals of pale pink and snowy white rained down on the many happy couples wandering blissfully along the streets.
It was louder than usual this evening. The opening night of the annual cherry blossom festival always promised to be a busy night, and this year's was no exception. Pie glanced once out the window as the loud giggles of a girl floated in with the breeze, distracting him. She was pulling her partner along by the hand, her traditional wooden zori clattering against the pavement.
He scowled.
Love-schmove. It was all a silly pretence – an idealism exacerbated by the humans' ridiculous media, and worked up by the idiotic teenage girls. All week he'd heard the female student customers of the café chattering and gushing excitedly about the upcoming festival – about who they would ask to be their date, what colour kimono they would wear, what they'd do with their hair.
It had almost driven him to the point of insanity.
The girl and her partner disappeared around the corner, and the street outside was peaceful once more.
With a tired sigh, Pie turned back to the chessboard.
Unclasping his hands, he flexed his pale fingers and reached once more for the little white pieces, sitting patiently in their places, awaiting his command. With a horrible jolt of realisation, his face fell.
He'd completely forgotten what his next strategic move was going to be!
Curse those humans for being such a nuisance! he grumbled to himself, examining the board once more. His eyebrows tensed again, pulling into a darker frown over his stormy eyes.
But it was no use. Try as he might, he simply could not remember which piece he was about to move.
The clock ticked.
He glared at it. The rhythmical ticking had been calming before, but now it was merely irritating. It was putting him off; making it more difficult to concentrate.
He massaged his temples with long, bony fingers.
Suddenly, a small peachy hand appeared before him, and lifted one of the white bishops, moving it three places diagonally and knocking over the black knight. The hand was quickly retracted, and he looked up in surprise.
Lettuce clasped her hands together behind her back, blushing furiously.
"I-I'm sorry... I just... It seemed like the obvious move to make..." she trailed off, staring down at her feet, her cheeks radiating heat. Pie gazed back down at the chessboard, astonished.
"No, you're quite correct."
She glanced back up at him, blinking quickly. Her sapphire eyes behind her frames sparkled with pleasure at this small compliment, and her lips curled up in a small smile. She was wearing a simple, midnight-blue kimono – the colour complimented her beautiful eyes, and some of her bangs had been clipped back with flowered bobby pins.
"You're... You're not going to the festival tonight?" she asked, frowning a little, as though she was trying to work out how anyone could not want to go to the festival.
"No."
"W-Why not?" She fumbled over the words, wondering if she was being rude. Pie gazed at her.
"It's a silly waste of time," he replied matter-of-factly.
"But... It's a celebration of all things we value... Love, friendship, happiness..." she trailed off, her protest dying as her resolve weakened. He gazed at her contemplatively, wondering why it was that she looked so much prettier than usual this particular evening.
"Are you going?"
"Uh... I, um... Yes!" she stammered, blushing again at the directness of his question. His eyes seemed to be piercing right through her, and she wondered, horrified, if he'd worked out her feelings for him. She avoided his eyes, bowing her head politely.
"I-I'm sorry... I'll leave you... I didn't mean to interrupt."
She backed away towards the door.
"Lettuce?"
She turned her blue eyes back to him, pausing with her delicate hand resting against the frame of the door. The colouring of her cheeks really was quite becoming, he mused to himself.
"You... look lovely."
The red of her cheeks intensified and she bowed again, dashing from the room before she could make a bigger fool of herself.
Pie turned his gaze back to the chessboard, staring at the piece she'd moved. The rest of the game had opened out – unfolded before him because of that one single play. He would be able to end the battle in an easy three moves.
But, surprisingly, the game no longer interested him.
Maybe... Maybe the festival wouldn't be quite so bad...
The clock ticked on, unnoticed.
Hmm... They're quite a difficult pair to write.
Perhaps it's because he's so... stiff... and she's so... gah. Lettuce annoys me. I think she annoys KO, too ;P
I hope it was to your satisfaction, my two readers who requested Lettuce/Pai!!!
READ AND REVIEW! The sooner this one gets reviews, the sooner I'll work on the next request! ;)
Cherrie-Sakura
xxox