Title: 15. On purpose to confound this scoundrel's pride
Pairing/Character/s: Yuki/Machi, Kakeru/Komaki, Kyo/Tohru
Word Count: (762 words)
Summary: Yuki and Machi, domesticated.
A/N: Edited 11/7/09 - I just edited it to make it flow better. Nothing about the story actually changes. The candies I am referring to are Altoids Tangerine Sours, Grape Charms Blow Pops and Vanilla Tootsie Rolls. I am not sorry about writing something this dumb even if the Japanese doesn't celebrate Halloween. :)
Let it be known to the judge, or really, just Machi, the wife who specifically told him the candy wasn't for him to eat, that he, Sohma Yuki, of sound mind and being, did not mean to eat half the bowl. He tried very hard to ignore the temptation of a giant bowl of candy, and deemed it impossible after six minutes. If she really meant it for the trick-or-treaters, she would have given them some horrible candy he wouldn't dream of eating.
For example, celery or dental floss was a much healthier choice and not tempting at all. Yuki could easily imagine how many young trick-or-treaters would be grateful for the dental damage they were preventing.
Happy with this train of thought, Yuki turned back to the candy.
'Strawberry is pink and lemon is yellow,' he thinks slowly. The orange ones are his favorite, so he wrinkles his nose at the purple grape lollipops and the white vanilla chews. Machi would eat those. Yuki quickly glanced at the empty hallway to make sure his wife wasn't looking and swiped a few tangerine sours, popping them all into his mouth.
"Yuki, can you set the table?" Machi's voice is muffled, like she's changing clothes. That meant she was in the bedroom, and he was safe... for now.
"Yeah," he mumbles, the tart tangerine drops forcing him to cough and splutter. Tears roll down his cheeks from the sheer sourness. It is, quite possibly, the best candy he's ever eaten in his life.
Like a young boy, he stands still, waiting for the candy to slowly melt away. He grabs a few more, not noticing that there is now an utter lack of orange in the candy bowl.
The candy is sticks to his fingers, leaving a light sugar dust on the brightly colored plastic utensils. He pays no attention, happy to get away with the candy. Yuki finishes, a boyish grin on his face as he glances at the perfect place settings. The dining room table is decorated with a cotton tablecloth stamped with pumpkins, bats and dingy yellow eyes. Eight paper plates with purple witches on broomsticks are neatly laid out.
His counting is disturbed by the doorbell. Yuki grins, still tasting the orange candy on his tongue. He walks over to the door, hearing Machi come out of the bedroom. He opens the door, and she holds out the candy bowl with a cheery smile.
"Trick-or-treat!" the two kids shriek happily.
Their daughter is a witch, complete with putty nose wart and wrinkled brown hat. Her robes are ripped purple cloth, badly sewn together by Machi. The costume is both redeemed and destroyed by the happy smile on his daughter's face. Beside her is a boy, her cousin, dressed as a wrinkly old businessman. He's wearing a suit too big for him, a cheesy fuchsia polka dotted tie, wired frame glasses and carries a briefcase doubling as a candy basket.
Machi hands the two candy. "Are you two done trick-or-treating?" she asks softly. The cousins look at each other, shrugging.
"Yes," they squeal happily. The couple neatly steps to the side as the kids rush in, eager to count their earnings.
Yuki grins at the man and woman who had been standing behind the children. Machi is occupied with the strangely light candy bowl. She couldn't remember having that many trick-or-treaters.
"Kakeru, you bastard, how did you beat Kyo and Tohru here?"
The man smirks, throwing an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Well-"
"They're just picking up a bottle of wine," Komaki informs the other couple. "Make sure the kids don't eat too much sugar. Kyo will kill you if you put his son on a sugar high this late." In her arms is what appears to be a hot dog with a sleeping baby's face. She rocks her baby from side-to-side, crooning a lullaby.
"They're just picking up a bottle of wine," Komaki informs the other couple. "Make sure they don't eat too much sugar. Kyo will kill you if you put his son on a sugar high this late."
Yuki rolled his eyes, puckering his lips from the sour candy. "Whatever. I forget why we invited you guys over. It's only Halloween." The smile doesn't drop from his face, so no one bothers to admit they heard him.
Machi suddenly leaned in to kiss him. Her husband reels back in shock, ending the quick peck. "Too much information!" Kakeru moans, covering his eyes.
Yuki ignores this because Machi has stuck out her tongue, revealing a tiny orange candy.