Craving

By Maria Szabo

Disclamer— Not my characters. This is a work of fanfiction and no profit is being made save that of enjoyment.

It had not been a good day for Nephrite. His power was returning, but was out of control, and the resulting catastrophic damage to the Crown Karaoke lobby had brought down the wrath of his new co-worker upon him. Not that he particularly cared if that pathetic turtle-worshiping weakling was angry, but just in case, he had to keep Motoki happy. He was in hostile territory, surrounded by enemies. No sense in burning all his bridges.

To make things worse, SHE had chosen that moment to arrive. Mercury. Although he couldn't call her that, it seemed. "Ami". It was "Ami". She was in disguise, as were her senshi companions and that silly princess, although anyone with half a brain could figure it out if they tried. She didn't seem to recognize him, though. Granted, he didn't blame her. He certainly didn't look the same, and he supposed that the clumsy "Nefurin" who broke things and tripped over his own feet didn't bear much resemblance to the great general who used to terrorize them.

He wondered if she missed those days. Mercury was talking to Motoki and so he could look at her without her seeing him. She'd worn her hair down for once, like she used to when she'd been in Kunzite's grasp. It was then that he began to watch her, and feel, and wonder...

She was holding the bag in front of him, before he had a chance to think. It was too bad that he was behind the counter. There wasn't much room to escape. And she was right in front of him, right where he had to look at her, where he had to meet her eyes and feel THAT again.

Don't look at her. Look at the bag. Look at what's in bag. Cookies. Food! His mind went into turmoil. Of course, she would bring him food. That girl knew how to torment him. She knew he hadn't had a decent meal since he'd been cast from the Dark Kingdom. The food here was almost inedible. Everything tasted funny.

"Please!" Mercury shook the bag a little. The cookies rustled ominously.

Nephrite had no choice. He took one. It would probably be too sweet and taste weird. If he kissed her, that's what it would be like, too. He lifted the cookie to his mouth and with the air of a doomed man, took a bite.

It was awful. It was terrible. It was brittle and bitter and burnt, with a charcoal aftertaste. It was exactly what he was craving. It was the best thing he had eaten in weeks.

"They're horrible!" he exclaimed, as one after another, he took them and stuffed them into his mouth. "Disgusting!"

He forgot himself and lifted his eyes just in time to see her smile. He did not understand why he could finally eat like this, and yet still be hungry.

Fin