"Four Lullabies" (Azumanga Daioh)
Title: Four Lullabies
Fandom: Azumanga Daioh
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, also featuring angst and (maybe?) humor at various intervals
Pairing: Minamo/Yukari
Summary: A sleeping Yukari keeps Minamo up at night.
Notes: Four related drabbles (making 400 words all together).
I.
Minamo tries not to let it bother her.
After all, she tells herself, why should she care if Yukari wants to sleep through the entire movie? That's Yukari's problem, not hers. True, Minamo did make special plans to take Yukari out to the movies this evening, but so what? It's not a big deal. It's not like it was supposed to be a date or anything.
Well, not really, anyway.
Minamo glances at the screen, then realizes she has no idea what's going on. She's been watching Yukari instead.
Minamo sighs.
Yukari snores.
It's going to be a long night.
II.
Yukari says the construction in her neighborhood keeps her awake, so she needs to crash at Minamo's. For a fleeting instant, Minamo wonders if this is just an excuse. But then Yukari collapses on the futon and begins to snore, and Minamo realizes that if there's one thing Yukari is serious about, it's sleep.
For a moment, that makes Minamo feel the angriest she has ever felt.
But then Yukari smiles in her sleep, like a child, and she murmurs, "Nyamo."
And suddenly Minamo no longer feels angry, just worn and exhausted, and she gets up to go make coffee.
III.
Yukari doesn't like alarm clocks. She says they're too annoying, and that she needs Minamo to wake her up gently instead.
Yukari isn't a pretty sleeper. She snorts and snores, her mouth falls open, and sometimes she drools on the pillow. It's far from cute.
But for some reason, when it's time to wake Yukari up, Minamo always thinks about Sleeping Beauty.
"Hey, Yukari," Minamo whispers. "Hey." She pokes Yukari in the ribs.
"Mmrph," says Yukari. She rolls over and lets out a sleepy groan.
It's not pretty, yet somehow - inexplicably - it's wonderful.
Minamo won't be able to sleep tonight.
IV.
"I love you," says Minamo.
Yukari rolls over onto her side.
"You love sleep," says Minamo.
Yukari makes a bizarre sound through her nose.
"I think we're in trouble," says Minamo.
Yukari yawns hugely. She stretches her limbs, slowly waking. Then she opens her eyes.
"Nyamo?" she says.
Minamo forgets how to talk.
When she remembers, she whispers, "Why would you rather spend your time unconscious than with me?"
Yukari smiles. "Nyamo," she says, "I always dream of you."
Then she reaches for Minamo, and they fall to the floor laughing, and it's the sweetest dream ever to come true.
Fandom: Azumanga Daioh
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, also featuring angst and (maybe?) humor at various intervals
Pairing: Minamo/Yukari
Summary: A sleeping Yukari keeps Minamo up at night.
Notes: Four related drabbles (making 400 words all together).
I.
Minamo tries not to let it bother her.
After all, she tells herself, why should she care if Yukari wants to sleep through the entire movie? That's Yukari's problem, not hers. True, Minamo did make special plans to take Yukari out to the movies this evening, but so what? It's not a big deal. It's not like it was supposed to be a date or anything.
Well, not really, anyway.
Minamo glances at the screen, then realizes she has no idea what's going on. She's been watching Yukari instead.
Minamo sighs.
Yukari snores.
It's going to be a long night.
II.
Yukari says the construction in her neighborhood keeps her awake, so she needs to crash at Minamo's. For a fleeting instant, Minamo wonders if this is just an excuse. But then Yukari collapses on the futon and begins to snore, and Minamo realizes that if there's one thing Yukari is serious about, it's sleep.
For a moment, that makes Minamo feel the angriest she has ever felt.
But then Yukari smiles in her sleep, like a child, and she murmurs, "Nyamo."
And suddenly Minamo no longer feels angry, just worn and exhausted, and she gets up to go make coffee.
III.
Yukari doesn't like alarm clocks. She says they're too annoying, and that she needs Minamo to wake her up gently instead.
Yukari isn't a pretty sleeper. She snorts and snores, her mouth falls open, and sometimes she drools on the pillow. It's far from cute.
But for some reason, when it's time to wake Yukari up, Minamo always thinks about Sleeping Beauty.
"Hey, Yukari," Minamo whispers. "Hey." She pokes Yukari in the ribs.
"Mmrph," says Yukari. She rolls over and lets out a sleepy groan.
It's not pretty, yet somehow - inexplicably - it's wonderful.
Minamo won't be able to sleep tonight.
IV.
"I love you," says Minamo.
Yukari rolls over onto her side.
"You love sleep," says Minamo.
Yukari makes a bizarre sound through her nose.
"I think we're in trouble," says Minamo.
Yukari yawns hugely. She stretches her limbs, slowly waking. Then she opens her eyes.
"Nyamo?" she says.
Minamo forgets how to talk.
When she remembers, she whispers, "Why would you rather spend your time unconscious than with me?"
Yukari smiles. "Nyamo," she says, "I always dream of you."
Then she reaches for Minamo, and they fall to the floor laughing, and it's the sweetest dream ever to come true.