Cooro's blood tasted sweet.

Sweet, and bright, and fresh, Senri thought. Like the apples that he loved so much.

Or maybe like the honey he had devoured earlier...Senri furrowed his eyes, trying to figure out which one Cooro tasted most like.

Ah. Honeyed apples. That was it.

He gave a soft smile and opened up his little book to where Cooro's crow feather was pressed between the pages. Next to the little feather he drew an apple smothered in gooey honey.

Mm, honey... Senri thought, closing the book with a snap.

The little group was passing through a small village; so small that it seemed merely a collection of houses lined up on either side of a dirt street, with vendors in between.

One vendor was selling caramel apples. Naturally, Cooro gasped and pointed and gushed, "Oooh! Look at those apples! Husky, Husky, could you buy one for me? Please, Husky?"

"No," Husky growled, pushing Cooro away. "I don't have any money, anyways."

Cooro pouted and glanced at the vendor longingly.

Senri waited until the others were farther away (especially Husky; he didn't want him thinking that Senri was holding out on them) before pulling a few coins out of a leather pocket and dropping them into the vendor's hands.

"Caramel apple..." he said. "Please."

"Okay sir, here you go!" The man said, a little intimidated.

The apple was shoved onto a stick and wrapped around a brown paper towel so the caramel wouldn't drip over everything. Senri licked his lips.

The others had stopped ahead. Nana looked worried.

"Senri! Why did you stop?"

"..."

"U-Uh...okay, then..."

"Come on..." Husky growled. Senri tapped Cooro on the shoulder.

"Cooro."

"Yeah, Senri?" Cooro said cheerfully.

Senri handed him the little paper-towel package. Cooro carefully unwrapped it, his dark eyes lighting up with glee.

"Whee! It's a caramel apple! Wow, thanks so much Senri!" He jumped up to glomp him, and Senri gently pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"...You're welcome."