Caramel Apple
by elianthos
S&D: What could happen if you put together caramel apples and a certain anime couple? the '100 Themes Challenge' list on UsakoMamoru community on LJ. -Look on my bio for the link-
Named after the first chapter theme. Features both innuendos and fairly serious moments. More of them to come too (06-07-06: that's why I've upped the rating ).
#25. Caramel Apple
930 words
He had recognized her from afar: her bubbly countenance and concentration while she, still unaware of his presence, counted her money and thanked the sugared fruits and roast chestnuts park vendor.
And her head whipping in the direction opposite to his as soon as a loud wail was heard from the nearby playground.
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The little kid sobbed , holding his grazed knee. Through the veil of impending tears blurring his vision, he barely realized the newcomer's approaching, untill a feminine voice laced with caring and concern and gentle hands reached for him.
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From what he could see, there were no injuries needing a medicine student to cure them.
So Mamoru allowed himself some more moments as an unnoticed observer. Marvelling once more at the unique creature of loving Grace whom he had achieved to claim as his.
'She has done it again', he thought as he watched the escalating display of emotion on the child's face: fear, surprise, relief, happiness, even a bit of adoration – that increased to full worship when she gave him both of her still intact caramelized apples -.
Mamoru also mused those must had been – rather, he felt they had been – the same emotions she had evoked in him with just her presence. Being it in past times or in present times; a rosebud or some goodies; soulbound people or perfect strangers, it made no difference. She could light up the life of everyone she came in contact with.
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She waved goodbye to the kid and... to her apples.
She was now broke and hungry.
But after the little boy's – and his playmates' - smiles and hugs and kisses she didn't wish things had gone otherwise.
Her stomach though seemed to have an entirely different opinion. And, to her utter embarassment, it voiced it loudly, too.
She clutched her abdomen with her arms and hissed "Come on, you know my wallet is empty. Now be good and hold on".
More rumbles.
She sighed dejectedly and patted her belly. "We'd better go now. Mamochan is waiting and I'm late... again".
Right then a heavenly smell and a deep chukle enveloped her and she turned...
And judging from the adoring amazement on her face and boa-constrictor hug she gave him along with delighted squeals and showering kissess, Mamoru amusedly thought he had never been more knight-in-shining-armour to her than now brandishing four skewed caramel apples.
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"Don't you want to take a bite?" she asked as they sat.
His elbow on the back of the park bench and his face propped on his knuckles to properly enjoy her profile, he barely shook his head no.
He rather preferred to satiate himself by the sight of her. Revelling in his loving mirth for the tiny cloud she released with every breath in this chilling October air. For her cheeks now childishly stuffed with food. Even for her vocal stomach. Because such things made her human. Because they showed she was real.
But while he was perfectly content, her partner was considering his silence differently
'I must really look like Hamtaro to him now', she thought. Her inner musings shifted from gastronomical bliss to aesthetical worry, and her fond munching accordingly subsided.
She twirled the skewer in her hands for a little, contemplating the half-eaten fruit.
He was quite surprised by her following words:
" In mythology, apples are connected to wisdom, protection, and love. And also to beauty, fertility..."
he playfully waggled his eyebrows and grinned seductively, turning her already pinked cheeks to crimson
" ...and marriage". Then her lowering gaze caught a glint from her engagement ring, and she could not stop a smile from spreading on her lips.
She rose her skewer untill the apple was right between their faces " They're all beautiful meanings, don't you think so?".
He wholly agreed. And they were as beautiful and suitable for apples as they were for her.
"It's unfair that in Christianism it was turned into the Devil's Trojan Horse to mankind's Fall, though", she added, half puzzled, half saddened.
He remembered that among the Tsukinos's ancestors there had been some missionaries. And the long winter afternoons he had spent alone in his Catholic orphanage library had made him quite familiar with the Bible.
So he just shrugged at her last line and leaned nearer to her fiancé, untill her still glossy-with-caramel lips were barely an inch afar. " Unfair, maybe. But understable." He paused to clear his husky voice, took his face and the apple away from her and held it as Hamlet would have done with Yorick's skull.
Then he stood to face her, a bit of pride for having all of her attention. 'And her sadness's gone. Go me!'.
"Look at this fruit, my lady . The very epithome of irresistible temptation. Its captivating colour, texture, scent..." he luxurioursly nibbled a piece for inspiration " ...taste..."
His eyes drank Usagi in: her scarlet red Montgomery coat, in her ivory fluffy scarf and matching earmuff that enhanced even more her silky, rosy cheeks and her spun-gold mane, and her eyes shining with expectation. And that achingly inviting, soft mouth and body...
"...curves...". 'Ooops. VERY smooth, Chiba. '
She muffled her laughter and swiftly moved from the bench to stand in front of him on her tiptoes.
Her gaze twinkling mischieviously, she traced the contours of his jaw line and his apologetically grinning lips with her fingers to draw his face closer and his eyelids to shut, then... she grabbed the skewer and pushed him away, taking the last remaining morsel of the apple.
"An irresistible temptation indeed, my lord!"