I'm not actually sure who or what I'm writing these for. In fact, I don't think I'm even writing this for the Livejournal "Usagi and Mamoru: A Love Like No Other" 100 Themed Drabbles challenge! (The link to which, by the way, for all who are interested, is --it took me ages to find on my own!) It's a fine challenge, mind you; but for now I'm taking it up on impulse, partially because I happened to come across these a couple of times and was curious, and partially because I have an incurable case of writer's block that's sending me into about four different stories at once. And for once, I just want to finish something! This is the solution. The other solution is getting floods of constructive criticism via reviews and e-mails—but since that isn't coming in the abundance I like, well…we'll see. Sit back and enjoy, hopefully—I cranked this one out in the past half-hour, which I don't normally do, so more might be coming!
Ala Verity
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100 Themed Drabbles
1: Chocolate
The Hug? Or the Kiss?
Hug.
Kiss.
Hug.
Kiss.
"Ooh, I don't know!" Usagi squealed to the saleswoman, her hands pressed against the glass display of chocolates in front of her. "Should I get him the giant Hug? Or the Kiss?"
"May I suggest the perfect package—the new Hugs 'n' Kisses dark chocolate deluxe?" said the woman behind the counter, holding up a large pink-foiled candy.
"Dark chocolate? Oh, that'd be perfect! Mamo-chan loves dark chocolate, and it sends the most wonderful message! Thank you!" she exclaimed, handing the woman some money and rushing out the door.
"Oh, b—"
"Keep the change!" Usagi shouted over her shoulder as she rounded the corner and out of sight.
The woman simply shook her head, murmuring to herself, "Valentine's Day does such funny things to young people…"
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The bell at the entrance to the Crown Arcade tinkled, welcoming a new arrival.
"Usagi-chan!" Motoki said cheerfully, waving at the bundled-up girl coming in.
"Oh hi, Motoki!" she breathed, taking off her scarf. "Have you seen Mamo-ch—"
"Looking for somebody?" a low voice murmured next to her ear. Usagi jumped nearly two feet into the air. The package in her arms went flying over her head…and out the still-open doors. She turned and watched in wide-eyed horror as the chocolate she had so lovingly picked soared through the air—and landed, splat…in the wet, muddy snow.
"Oh, no!" she cried with tear-filled eyes, looking first at the chocolate lying forlornly in the snow, then up at Mamoru, who had just come in wrapped up in a dark blue blazer. "I'm so sorry, Mamo-chan!" she whispered with a horrified look at him, biting her lip and hanging her head. "I'm sorry…"
"Usako…"
Usagi shook her head frantically. "I ruin everything!" she sobbed. "Chocolates, Valentine's Day…even th-the…the SNOW!"
"Usako." She felt a gentle pressure on her chin as Mamoru's finger lifted her face to his. A slight smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and he said softly, "First off, you could never, ever ruin Valentine's Day, or any day for that matter. Without you, I wouldn't have a Valentine's Day to celebrate." He stroked her cheek, his eyes never leaving hers. "Secondly, I don't need chocolates to be happy." He slipped a heart-shaped box of chocolates of his own and a bouquet of red roses into her hands, watching Usagi gasp in delight. "Just being with you is enough…although," he added with a quirky smile, "We could always share."
Usagi's face broke into a delighted grin, and she wiped her damp cheeks dry. However, a worried look came over her face again. "But what about your Hugs 'n' Kisses?" she asked. "What are we going to do about those?"
"Hugs and kisses, hm?" Mamoru's eyes twinkled. "Well…I think we can still manage that. Here's my hug—" He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close before leaning in so she could feel his breath, which frosted in the cold air coming in from the doorway. "And here…" he whispered with a small smile, "…is my kiss."
The chocolate lay forgotten in the snow…but it was no longer needed.
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My first drabble to you. I'm not a huge fan of them, but…gosh, that was satisfying to crank out!
Literally half an hour after she began her project and yours truly,
Ala Verity