Title: Camping
Fandom: Prince of Tennis: Fudomine Chuugaku
Characters: Tachibana An, Oishis Syuichiro, Kikumaru Eiji, Fuji Syusuke
Prompt: 052 - Fire
Word Count: 640
Date finished: 04/30/2007
Rating: G
Summary: Someone asks An for some extra marshmallows.
Author's Notes: Yet another from the Crack Generator. This one was harder - I almost put Momo in, but decided that would yank the story away from where I wanted it to go (they do have a history). This one is "Tachibana An/ Oishi Syuichiro - Marshmallows". I hope it makes sense!
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Konomi Takeshi, and whoever did the anime. At any rate, it's not me.

Tachibana An looked up in surprise, and smiled at the half-familiar young man who stood next to her at the campfire. "I do," she said, trying to place him.

"Do you mind if I have some? We ran out - well, Eiji dropped them - and we're all still a little hungry."

Something about the voice was familiar, too, not to mention the name. "I've got plenty," she said easily, reached down beside her, and handed over the unopened package.

He took it, and then hesitated. "Are you here alone?"

"Yep," she said cheerfully, although she hoped it didn't sound as forced to him as it did to her. Of course, he couldn't know about the bad luck that had followed her all weekend, so far.

"Do you want to join us? We'd be glad to welcome one more, especially since you've given me some marshmallows - I won't mind sharing the chocolate and graham crackers if you want a s'more."

It sounded intriguing. "I think I'd like that," she said, and set about dousing her fire. It didn't take long, especially since he helped, and then she followed him over to the other fire, one she could see through the trees.

"Took you long enough!" was the greeting they got as they stepped into the clearing, and then they all went still.

"I asked her to join us," her friend said. Well, friend was perhaps the wrong term; she didn't even know his name.

"The more the merrier," another vaguely familiar voice said, and she wondered what she'd wandered into.

"And I'm sorry," the first young man said, turning to face her. "I should have at least introduced myself. Oishi Syuichiro."

An laughed; she couldn't help it. "It's nice to meet you," she said. "Tachbana An."

He blinked, surprised, but then swept his arms out to catch the redhead that bounced toward her. "No, Eiji, you can't pounce on her."

She recognized him, too, the other half of the Golden Pair of Seigaku some years ago - in fact, he was easier to recognize that his darker partner. "But Oishi!" he protested. "We haven't see her in years!"

"No, we haven't, but that's no excuse to pounce on her."

"Sit down, Eiji," that vaguely familiar voice said, but now she could place it, and she turned to him.

"Fuji Syusuke," she said with a smile. "My brother will be very sad he missed this trip."

He bowed from where he sat with that ever-present smile - although she thought it might be more real, now.

"Please, sit down," Oishi said to her, and indicated a chair near the fire. She took it and he settled next to her, opening the bag of marshmallows. "Why are you over there all by yourself?" he asked as he took one and passed the bag along. Fuji handed her a stick to roast her marshmallow on, and then settled back.

"Mostly because we have been planning this trip for months, and every time I manage to get it scheduled, Kippei has to cancel. I finally told him I was going without him." She sighed. "I think he knew it wouldn't be as fun, but he told me to go ahead."

"But now you're with us, nya," Eiji said brightly, and he winked when she looked at him. "How long are you going to be here?"

"I'm staying tomorrow night as well," she admitted.

"Perfect," Oishi said. "Do you have plans for tomorrow?"

"Only to look around," An said.

"Good," Eiji broke in. "We're hiking. Want to come?"

She took a deep breath, glancing around at the men these boys had become, and smiled. "I think that sounds like a great idea," she said. Remember, Kippei, she thought to herself as she accepted the chocolate and crackers from Oishi, this is your fault.

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