Title: Sugarspun
Pairing: Tamao/Lyserg
Fandom: Shaman King
Theme: #23, Candy
Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King. 8D For the 30 kisses comm lj.

They're out shopping, with Yoh's grocery list because Tamao had taken pity on her sleeping friend and Anna had let it slide, just raising her eyebrows in silence and handing over the list, and Lyserg had given in to one of his gentlemanly urges and slipped on his coat, holding out Tamao's so she could put her arms in, one and a time, and holding open the door, all without a word. Tamao is remembering turning her head just a little at the last moment to see Anna pull a blanket over Yoh, before the door shut entirely and the scene was barred from her view, as Lyserg walks at her side, lugging the bags of the things they'd gotten thus far; he hadn't let her carry more than one bag, and she's so tired from cleaning the kitchen that morning that she can't bring herself to complain (and surely, just this once, it's alright to accept some help).

It occurs to her, as they're walking, that she should be stuttering and nervous and saying all the wrong things at all the wrong times, but it's so easy to be quiet with Lyserg, who doesn't mind when she doesn't talk, and who walks ahead just that much before they enter a store so that he can hold the door open for her. He slows when she slows, eyes draw to the colorful displays in glass windows, the colored lights reflected through the glass upon the snow.

The thing that stops her in her tracks is not a beautiful dress or toy or book, but rather a small sugar-spun ballerina, perched in a candy-shop window with a troop of figures about her, all carefully crafted--a tiny rabbit, a soldier at parade rest, and a boy with his hat off trying to steal a kiss from the lonely ballerina. She stalls near the display, wondering how did they make her so perfect? and she doesn't realize she's stopped until Lyserg has to come back, frowning and prepared to speak.

And then she is awkward, through the rest of the trip and on the way home, and at home that night, even as Yoh makes them all dinner, more cheerful than usual from his nap, and the others argue or ignore one another in turn. Tamao is used to being awkward, so she thinks nothing of it until Lyserg leaves after finishing his meal, all without speaking, and goes out again.

She pretends that Anna isn't watching her as she watches him, and tries to wet her lips to speak--to say what, she doesn't know, but she doesn't like this awkward feeling.

Tamao thinks she'll never sleep, but she does; and when she wakes, she finds a sugarspun ballerina on her nightstand, poised in a pirouette. She lifts the ballerina in the air, eyelevel, and turns her slowly, before she gives a small and easy smile, mirrored in the ballerina's tiny face.