The Thought That Counts

~Rika and Subaru~

"I wish you the happiness of a gift from a child; a bunch of wilting dandelions, a fluff-coated toffee, a frog, a kiss." ~ Pam Brown, b. 1928.

"Subaruuuu!"

In her excitement, Rikaritta practically tackled the Japanese, causing them both to fall backwards onto the couch.

"Yes, what is it?" asked Subaru, cool as a cucumber, as she collected herself, the little bounty hunter still clinging onto her.

"Rika wants to ask, Rika wants to ask Subaru something!"

She spoke with a fervent innocence, a spicy-sweetness that could make the curious wonder where a child her age could get such high spirits from. Looking at the two of them sitting on the velveteen couch now, you might imagine that one was a child of the morning while the other belonged to the night.

"Alright, please go ahead," Subaru replied.

"Rika was wondering for a long time... but what's exactly so special about kisses? And why do they make people happy?"

"... Kisses?"

"Lots of fairytale stories end with a kiss before there's a happily ever after. Are they really that special?" She pirouetted to the left and sat beside Subaru, big brown eyes wide in wonderment and filled with sunshine. "Are they?"

"I see." With a calmness that seemed to surpass anything else, Subaru tapped her chin with the edge of her folding fan and began her explanation. "Subaru thinks that they are simply a way to express certain feelings. It depends on the occasion, and where, why and for whom the kiss is intended. And when one receives those feelings, it would be natural for them to feel appreciated, although a kiss is merely a symbol to represent the true intentions and emotions a person wants to convey. It is more the thought that counts rather than the act itself."

"Hm... Rika doesn't remember much, but Mama used to kiss Rika goodnight every time before going to bed. And Rika liked it."

Subaru looked at her long and quietly, having comprehended between the lines, and then reached out to stroke the little girl's head.

"Hehe. Rika's getting hungry."

"Would you like to join me for a hamburger?"

Suddenly the girl sprang up from her seat, flailing her arms as though she wanted to fly. "Wait, wait! There is something Rika would like to do first!"

"...?"

The Mexican child moved as swift as a swallow, lifting her face and pressing her lips to Subaru's cheek, a gentle touch that lasted for two seconds.

Then she moved away with an energetic twirl, folded her arms triumphantly, and said in the wake of a brief chuckle, "Did that make you happy, Subaru?"

It took a while before the Noh master began to smile ever so slightly. Like hot cocoa on a winter's day, she felt its message sink into her.

Thank you. Subaru dai suki.

"Yes. It did."

A/N:

Hello! This is Rie Hollier. Allow me to begin with the usual briefing:

- While working fervently on my 'KanSumi Short Shorts Collection' (I'm passionate for Kanna and Sumire, my top favourite duo!), I considered setting up a new collection to house whatever short stories for other pairings that may pop up as time goes.

- As stated in the summary, these all involve various pairings I can think of and am comfortable with.

- Mostly yuri (whether it be romantic, platonic, comradely, etc). But there may be an occasional Oogami or Shinjiro pairing, depending on my mood and creative flow.

- Any Kanna/Sumire story belongs to the KanSumi collection, so you may want to check that out instead of here if that's what you are looking for.

Thanks! Hope to see you again!