#yukis very assured smile... hm!!!!!

[mcloren]

yuki's confidence in completely upending pierre's entire world view since he refused to invite him to the bbq..... its incredible

#yuki was really like im going to make my own romcom out of this and god help him it worked #sorry to pierre who is clearly going through some interesting thought processes #watching his brain and body short circuit in reaction to yuki sitting on his lap... his right hand limp so he doesnt like. touch yuki .. #hm!!!!!! #yukis very assured smile... hm!!!!! #yukierre

[heyboke]

SWIPED RIGHT! | Kageyama Tobio x Reader SMAU

0:10 — Pinky Promise and...

NOTE: I understand if some of my readers only prefer the SMAU part, so I made this update flexible so you can still get what’s happening without reading the writing part! Keep in mind that you still have to click on ‘Keep Reading’ to access the following photos!

But, some of the parts can’t be translated through social media screenshots so reading the writing part will really help you understand the characters and what’s happening to the story on a deeper level! ☻

Word Count: 3344 words

YOUR POV

After concluding Bokuto-senpai's non-stop blabbering about the movie he watched last night to procrastinate from studying, the boys were finally able to go to their locker room to freshen up for their long-awaited BBQ Friday.

I decided to wait for them on the bench just outside the gym. Their four hour training went by so fast that when I looked up at the sky, the stars were already twinkling. The cool breeze I only get to enjoy at night hugged my skin as the winds started to lightly gust against my bare sleeves. Ugh, I forgot to bring a hoodie with me tonight.

My thoughts were interrupted as I received Tobio-kun's very random text. It was a very pleasant surprise that unconsciously plastered a huge smile on my face. I was too busy texting him that I didn't even notice the whole team standing in front of me, all ready to go.

"What's that on your phone that's making you grin like the Grinch?" Akaashi asked, trying to subtly take a peek on my phone screen. I immediately locked the device and put it inside the pocket of my sweatpants.

"No need to peek, Akaashi! Let's not waste anymore time... let's go!" I said, jumping out of the bench as the whole team started to walk, carrying on with their small talks.

The gray haired captain stood out since he was ahead of everyone, hopping like a kangaroo while shrieking about how he's been craving for Barbecue for so long now and that he can't believe he finally got the blue check on Twitter.

I was walking alongside Akaashi at the far end side of the group, watching everyone ahead of us with a comfortable silence lingering between us.

"Do you need help with your bag? I can carry it for you." He asked, breaking the silence.

"It's fine, it's fine! I can carry it on my own. Besides, you've already had such a long training. I don't want to burden you with such a small thing." I said, smiling at him to assure him that it's fine.

"Oh, speaking of my bag... hold up," I muttered, stopping on my tracks as I opened my bag to get something.

"What's up?" Akaashi uttered his third question since I saw him outside of the gym. I shuffled through my things until I finally found what I was looking for.

"Aha! Here. I got it while y’all were doing your spiking drills." I said, handing him a slightly chilled bottle of Vanilla protein shake.

"Oh. Thanks, Y/N. It's been a while since you gave me something as boujee as a protein shake. Hmm, someone's loaded today." Akaashi teased, a small smile smothering his gorgeous face. It is an unsaid arrangement between the both of us that I can only give something a little fancy to him, or to anyone, when I have extra savings with me.

"Shut up! I've been saving up for tomorrow for quite some time now. Just... shut up and be grateful for that, Keiji." I said, chuckling as I playfully hit his arm.

"Why? What's so special about tomorrow?" he asked, eyebrows scrunching up together in curiosity.

"Didn't I tell you? To—"

"WE'RE FINALLY HERE!! YAAAY!!!" Bokuto hollered, cutting me off from telling Akaashi about my plans with Tobio-kun, Hinata-kun and my bestfriends for tomorrow. The familiar aroma of savory and mouthwatering meat being grilled, instantly filled my nostrils. I just realized that I've been distracting myself from how hungry I actually am all this time.

"God, I'm so hungry. Y'all were taking so long. If I wasn't on such a good mood, I would've been so hangry by now!" I said, eyes locked on the grilling area on the side of the restaurant where the Barbecue we've been dying to eat is being prepped.

Good thing, Bokuto-senpai already reserved a table for us ahead of time. The short list of things that the simple-minded captain would not procrastinate on would certainly include Volleyball and his favorite food, Barbecue.

Everyone decided to sit down on their desired seat. I felt comfortable sitting at the very far end of the booth’s couch. Since Akaashi and I were already walking side by side, it made sense that he just sat beside me on the couch too.

The rest of the team, and most likely even me, were practically drooling at the sight of barbecue being served to the tables around us. Yukie-san, one of the current managers of the team, is known for her great love for food. She decided to take matters in to her own hands and stood up for everyone. She simply asked one of the servers to follow up our orders.

Some of the third years, Konoha-san, Komi-san and Sarukui-san, were struggling to deal with an impatient Bokuto that was on the verge of going on emo mode.

“Where’s Akaashi? Didn’t he...“ the captain mumbled, pouting as he searched for the setter that was seated beside me.

“Oh, no. Bokuto-san’s Weakness #42. He becomes impractically impatient when people make him wait for his food, most especially when he’s hungry after training.” I hear Akaashi mutter beside me. I looked at him and he seems like Doctor Strange, looking at and calculating the different possibilities of what can happen if the captain won’t be able to get his food anytime soon.

Thankfully, Yukie-san came back to our table with at least two servers holding stacks of Barbecue on their trays, gently placing them on the table in front of all of us. Bokuto-senpai’s eyes lit up, even his hair seemed to perk up in excitement as he saw the Barbecue he’s been dying to eat being served in front of him.

“ALRIGHT, Let’s dig in!! This is in honor of me getting the blue check and a reward for all of us after such a hard training!! WOOHOOO!! Enjoy, everyone!!” the captain cheered, taking at least five chunks of meat in his chopsticks and munching the all down in one go.

No matter how hungry I am, I took the time to look at the team in front of me. The mere sight of them enjoying their food is endearing me. Am I really going to be a part of this wonderful team by next week? Do I really belong here?

I snapped out of my thoughts when I saw green vegetables being plopped down on my plate. I looked up and saw Akaashi putting one last piece of greens on my plate.

“Hey, why are you putting all that? I came here for Barbecue and not vegetables, Keiji.” I mocked him, poking the vegetables he just placed on my plate with my own chopsticks.

“Shush, you have to eat those. Even just a couple. They make you healthier. Plus, if you’re going to be our manager, you can’t be getting sick and frail.” he said, not even sparing a glance at me as he started to eat his own food.

Now this... this is one of his gestures that made me grow really fond of him. Some people might think otherwise but for me, Akaashi is not shy at all. Others often mistake his silence as shyness. When in reality, he only speaks up when he thinks it’s necessary — when he thinks it’s worth it. In fact, he is very frank with his words. He’s the type of person that would call you out when you’re doing something wrong, but he’d also compliment you when you’re doing something right. If one tends to focus more on his expressions, they can be convinced that he’s bland because his face really is usually blank. He only ever shows what he feels through his expressions at very rare occasions. Thus, he shows his feelings most of the time through his gestures; be it a small one or a big one.

“Hmph, fine. I’ll just eat more barbecue with it, so I don’t taste it that much.” I said, wrapping the greens with a chunk of meat. Bokuto-senpai, who’s instantly uplifted by now, overheard what I said.

“That’s what I do too when I need to eat vegetables!!! You’re doing the right thing, Y/N!!” he laughed, as he stuffed more barbecue inside of his mouth. The other third years that were worked up on not letting him slip in to his emo mode earlier, were now having the time of their life beside Bokuto-senpai, laughing at each other as they throw jokes at one another from time to time.

“Y/N?” said someone from in front of me. I looked up and saw that the voice belongs to none other than, Kaori-san, the other current manager of the team. She’s so pretty, oh my gosh.

“H-Hello, Kaori-san. Is there anything I could help you with?” I asked, getting a little conscious about the fact that I’m basically eating like a pig in front of someone so gorgeous.

“Oh, nothing! I just wanted to talk to you, even just for a little bit.” She smiled, eating gracefully like a princess. I could never, lol.

“I’m always down for a talk with you, Kaori-san!!” I gushed. Oh my god, do I sound a little too excited? What if she thinks I’m a crazy fangirl? Oh no.

“You’re so cute! Hahaha, anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts right now about the team manager position because I’d be really be at ease knowing that the team is in good hands after Yukie-san and I graduate.” She said, a hint of sadness was evident after she mentioned the fact that they’re graduating this year.

“Oh, of course... Hm, before I even officially become the manager of this team, I can say that I already have a pretty good bond with them... thanks to this one person,” I nudged Akaashi who was peacefully eating beside me and secretly listening to Kaori-san and I’s conversation. Akaashi-kun, you’re not so slick. I might’ve only known you for a little over three months now, but I can feel it when your ears are trying to listen, despite having your eyes focused on something else.

I continued, “I just know that they have something really special about them. At times, I even get intimidated by their bond because not all teams can easily earn it. It takes a lot of time and everyone’s cooperation as well. With that being said, I just want to make sure that I won’t get in their way or anything. I really am taking things seriously and I’ve also been thinking about it a lot lately. I don’t want to make a hasty decision just because I got blinded with such a big opportunity. It’s a commitment that we’re talking about, not just to myself, but to the rest of the team as well.”

I didn’t even realize that I’ve been blabbering like a little kid in front of Kaori-san.

“The fact that you’re thinking about it this much already says a lot, Y/N. Hell, I didn’t even know it’s possible for me to want you to take this position even more!” she chuckled.

“Your words mean a lot to me, Kaori-san! I’ll make sure to keep it in mind once I make my final decision.” I smiled, stuffing my mouth with one of the green vegetables on my plate and Barbecue.

The warmth and liveliness around the table never died down all through out the meal. We even found the gray-haired captain standing up and doing an imitation of this one funny video he watched as a kid. The trays and plates on the table were now empty, while our stomachs were full and satisfied.

“HEY, HEY, HEY!!! Let’s go to arcade now!! Yoohoo!!” Bokuto-senpai started to hop around while flailing his arms in the air, ready to go to this arcade nearby this restaurant. He was so close to leaving the doorway when one of the servers came up to our table.

“Uhm, ma’am and sir, I double checked it on the system but... you haven’t paid for your meals yet,” the server was sheepish on approaching us. She was having a hard time looking at us in the eyes. She’s probably new here.

Everyone stood there in shock and embarrassment, except for Konoha-san and Komi-san who dragged Bokuto-san back inside to pay for our meals.

“OH... I’m so sorry!! I forgot, I didn’t mean to not pay!!” the captain sincerely apologized, quickly paying for everything we ate.

Upon entering the arcade, I couldn’t help but feel giddy and excited. The air inside the arcade just makes me feel alive and want to play games there all day. People around our age and some kids filled the place. Some of them are on dates, while most of them were just hanging out with each other.

The team scattered into groups as they went to the games that best fit their liking. The captain can be seen inside a Zombie-killing booth. His hands are already holding the fake gun inside, ready to unleash his inner warrior because according to him, he always trained himself for an apocalypse that can happen in the future. Some of the third years, like Yukie-san and Kaori-san along with some of the spikers, can be seen on the bowling area.

I rushed to the counter in the middle to get myself tokens and cards to play the games. The air hockey table caught my attention the moment we stepped in the arcade. I was about to swipe my card to play, when I realized I didn’t have anyone to play it with. How much dumber can I get? I obviously can’t play this by myself.

“Go for it. I’ll play with you,” a voice I know too well spoke behind me. I didn’t realize that I kind of ditched him as soon as I got too caught up in excitement with the arcade.

“Okay. Bring it on, Keiji! Don’t you dare go easy on me!” I exclaimed, swiping the card and grabbing the air hockey paddle on the table. My competitive side was showing as I poured my energy in each stride at the puck and attempts to block it from shooting inside my side of the goal.

After a few rounds of air hockey and a little bit of Basketball, where I took a hard L because I was against a well-trained and balanced athlete that shot the ball like it was nothing, I decided to go for a game where I thought I had a bigger shot at winning. I scanned through the games again and my eyes landed on this one game that I knew I’d win against someone like Akaashi.

“Dance Dance Revolution? I never played this game all my life and now you’re asking me to play it with you right now?” he whined, uneasiness showing as he spoke. I felt a little sad, but I didn’t want him to force him on doing something he doesn’t want to do.

“Hey, it’s okay if you don’t want to do it. I just really thought it’d be nice to play this with somebody.” I looked down, speaking softly. I hear him take a deep breathe.

“Fine... just one round.” he said. I was so thrilled. I bounced around and swiped my card on the machine. We stepped on the dancing area with the arrows under our feet and got ready to play the game. I chose a dance that was moderately difficult, keeping in mind that by doing so, I’ll increase my chances of winning. It was going really well at first. By looking at Keiji on my peripheral vision, he wasn’t even that bad. I guess the footwork training they do on Volleyball also helps him. Ugh, is there something he can actually suck at?

The most complex part of the dance started and I was slowly panicking. My score was higher, but only by a little. I was getting lost in the game that I didn’t even notice that I stepped at a faulty angle and twisted my ankle.

I winced in pain as I lost my balance and held on the metal bar behind me for support. Akaashi was alarmed as soon as he saw my current state.

“Hey, I’m fine, really. What’s that look on your face, Akaashi?” My poor attempt to chuckle was horrible. I tried to stand up, but the pain I felt on my ankles were stronger than my will to prove Akaashi that I was fine. He rapidly moved away from the game and found himself beside me, checking my, most likely, sprained ankle.

“Okay, it doesn’t look that bad but you can’t work yourself up for a while. I’ll take you home. No more ifs and buts. I’ll just text Bokuto-san and the rest of the team about what happened and that we had to leave sooner than expected.” he sternly said.

The next thing I knew, he was walking me to my house. I found myself on his back, arms wrapped around his chest and legs clung on his waist as he held the side of my thighs for extra support.

The same stars that greeted me while I was waiting for them outside the gym earlier were present as I looked up again at the sky. With that, the same cold breeze of the night blew against my skin. I tried not to shiver, but it was useless since Akaashi felt that I was getting chilly because I was shaking a little.

He stopped on his tracks as he gently put me down on the sidewalk. I was feeling confused until I saw him taking his jacket off and offered me to take it.

“I noticed you were starting to get a little chilly, so here. Take it.” he said. I didn’t even hesitate anymore as I wore his jacket. I felt so much better and we started walking again while he gave me a piggyback ride.

I let out a yawn as I started to feel my eyelids getting heavier and my breathing going slower. I didn’t even know when it happened, but I just know that along the way, I fell asleep on his shoulders.

AKAASHI’S POV

I found myself in front of your house and I knocked on the door. It wasn’t the first time I’ve been here, so your mom let me in as soon as she saw me. I told her about what happened and gave her some tips that will help you recover faster. Given that I was not new to these injuries, I knew exactly what to do.

I opened the door to your room and I softly put you down on your bed. I got some pillows that will help on elevating your sprained ankle and tucked you to bed.

You looked so peaceful. You looked so beautiful.

I’ve always been blunt about what I see and feel about everything. So, why is it that I can’t tell you about these feelings that I feel solely for you?

I wish I can tell you that all your little gifts and efforts for me never go unappreciated.

I know that you’ve recently been growing closer to somebody else. I’m not oblivious about it. I know you, Y/N.

I just hope that it’s not too late by the time I finally build up the courage to tell you about these feelings.

I gave your forehead a soft kiss, before I finally got up and left your room.

YOUR POV

I woke up in the middle of the night and realized that I was already in the comfort of my own room. I checked my phone and saw that it was 2AM. I looked down on my feet and saw that my ankle was really sprained and that I wasn’t just dreaming about it.

I let out a sigh as I remember that Tobio-kun, Hinata-kun, Best Boy Yams and Saltyshima were coming over here later.

Why the fuck did I have to sprain my ankles on the worst day possible?

☆ PARTS ☆

A/N: Here goes my first actual write up in this blog! I would really love to hear your thoughts about it! Stay safe and healthy, lovelies! ♡

taglist: @sugacoatt @kokogxddess @angelynmay @kasandrafaye @exovity @notamazinglizzy @haikyuuopalite @faiima @pyblos @volleybloop @mahalau @applepiekyuu @nvthvlyy @azgucci @tchalameme @mlkytobio @bakibakini @xyelikestobio @beastboypng @nerumiz @unlikelytigerqueen @your-local-lesbo @tycrackculture @almostcrystalized101 @alienvarmint @agneyestra @kthhyj @hakueishirei @sugawsites @wiseeggspickleslime @8zmingi @idiot-juice-enthusiast @lunarknox @wemissyou3000 @90s-belladonna @yeehawnana @mysticlarizza @hyperfixation1 @literaltrash666 @animeboyscangetit @luvelyjjk @cuddlesslut @deathcab4daddy @bloomingforbts @ashleefo @mikantsumiikii @yeehawslap @michelepiekenma @kpopstanh

#kageyama tobio x reader #akaashi keiji x reader #haikyuu smau #haikyuu au #haikyuu x reader #kageyama smau #kageyama x reader smau #kageyama x reader #haikyuu!! #haikyuu x reader smau #haikyuu kageyama tobio #kageyama tobio x reader smau #kageyama tobio #akaashi x reader #akaashi x reader smau #haikyuu akaashi keiji #akaashi smau #akaashi keiji x reader smau #akaashi keiji

[mythicamagic]

Picture Frames - Hatori x Tohru Oneshot

Hatori is stranded at the Sohma estate during a blizzard. To his surprise, Tohru stumbles into his solitude, and the two awkwardly try to place their feelings about the other while waiting out the storm. Hatori’s self-imposed isolation won’t be easily shattered, but Tohru’s smile has been known to melt snow.

Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Romance, Fluff (many many tropes be in this fic, take a shot for each one)

Rated T

Made for @frost-guardian - hope you enjoy bud!

Post-curse fic 

Word Count: 7,000 (as always you can read this on ao3 or fanfiction.net via the same username)

Picture Frames ~

It was snowing again.

The soft breeze spun the flakes into flurries of white confetti. They fell and landed in silence, a strange stillness lingering in the air, as it always did when it snowed. Hatori observed the fall from his porch, hands buried in his pockets. He stood lost in thought, allowing melancholy nostalgia to settle over him. Usually he wasn’t so generous with his time, but the worsening snow was so deep the authorities had issued a warning for people not to leave their homes. So Hatori found himself in the strange position of not being able to make house calls. Which meant no work needed to be done.

That never happened.

At a loss of what to do, he was reminded of why he’d become a workaholic in the first place. It starved off painful memories.

Taking out a cigarette and lighting it, he mulled over calling Ayame or Shigure. Which was also strange and never happened. They always rang him first, Ayame to gossip nonsense or Shigure to wryly observe some latest mischief he’d made. Taking a drag, Hatori padded inside and exhaled slowly, dialling for Ayame.

‘Due to the poor weather conditions, we cannot connect your call at this time. Please try again later.’

Ah, that explained things. Even Akito wasn’t around to send for him. The entire Sohma estate lay empty, with him the sole occupant. Everyone else was busy enjoying their time off for the holidays and he’d been so caught up in work he’d ignored the weather warnings. The open doors shuddered, the wood starting to rattle against the bellow of new, harsher gusts of wind. Pulling them shut, Hatori frowned to himself, sighing. Good thing he had a heater or the room would be freezing.

Tired eyes slanted towards the single bed in the corner of the room longingly. Maybe…he could just sleep for a little while? Uninterrupted rest was rare, he should make use of it. Hatori took a step towards it before catching sight of his desk. Kana’s picture frame stood empty now, but something about it still made his mouth thin. He looked at the filing cabinet instead. That’s right. He needed to check over some prescriptions first before sleeping.

He could always rest later.

Not like he’d been up for 48 hours already.

Hatori let the cigarette hang loosely from his mouth, sitting down and pulling open the cabinet. He thumbed through it, fingers lingering on the letter ’T’ just as his door suddenly flung open.

Brunnet hair and blue ribbons caught his eye first. Her wild pants and red face suddenly registered, sending his heart skittering.

“Hah- hah- whew!” Tohru panted, struggling to close the door against the gusts of wind. “It’s crazy out there!”

A pale hand pushed the door shut above her head. Tohru blinked snowflakes from her lashes, looking up at the doctor.

“Miss Honda. How-” his mouth clicked shut, good eye slightly wide. “Why were you out in the storm? Didn’t you hear the news?”

“Hm? Oh no, I haven’t heard anything. I’m so sorry to barge in on you like this, I’m sure it’s an inconvenience.” She fussed, lingering by the door and not moving to take off her snow drenched coat. White flakes sprinkled her shoulders, nose, even the top of her head. Tohru gave a worried smile, hands moving animatedly in the air. “I did notice it had started to snow while at work, a-and some of the staff decided to wait out the weather there. But I thought it’d be over pretty quick. Next thing I know it’s like a blizzard, but oh- I’m sure you’re busy with work,” she babbled.

Hatori noticed their proximity and leaned away, wondering if he made her nervous. He took a drag from his cigarette, letting her ramble until a few certain words caught his attention.

“No, you’re not going out again.” His quiet gaze settled on her, tone dropping.

Tohru blinked, putting her bag down and holding her gloveless hands. He noticed they were red, fingers no doubt stiff. “Are you sure? I don’t want to interrupt.”

“Please do,” he muttered flatly, offering his hand to take her coat. “Work isn’t exactly keeping my focus right now.”

“Well then,” she smiled hesitantly at first, before beaming outright. “I’m happy to be your distraction.”

His heart did another funny thing in his chest. Hatori firmly folded it away just as he hung her coat on the rack over the heater. Tohru rubbed her hands and sighed with relief as she unwound her pink scarf from her neck. Hatori offered his hand again, setting it aside.

“That’s better,” she chirped, dusting some melted snow off her. “I couldn’t get through to anyone on the phone, so when I passed by the Sohma estate, I wondered if it would be alright to use yours.”

“There’s not much point. The phone lines aren’t working.”

Tohru paused, “oh.” She deflated a little, and he regretted being so blunt. Unfortunately, that was just in his nature. He blinked when she smiled anyway, “that’s okay. The electricity still seems to be working,” she gestured to his lamp. “Would you like some tea? Or I can cook something if you’d prefer.”

The former dragon zodiac stared. He then swallowed, removing his cigarette from his lips and snuffing it out on an ashtray. He could hear Shigure now, simpering about 'sweet little Tohru’ and her kind ways. She always threw him. Because while he listened to Shigure and sometimes Ayame drone on about her latest feat, he never expected her kindness to extend to him.

But she always offered it freely, and so easily. He hadn’t gotten used to it despite knowing her for years now. “Tea would be…nice,” he uttered, clearing his throat. “Thank you.”

Tohru smiled and wandered to the kettle, kneeling to open the cupboard and take out some mugs. Her actions were thoughtless- like she spent many hours there with him. Hatori sat at his desk, running a hand through his heavy bangs. He supposed she did visit sometimes, usually with an entourage of their strange, colourful friends.

Tohru padded back when she was done, placing his mug down on his desk, only to wince and move it onto a coaster. Hatori rose a brow, glancing at the water rings on the wood. It wasn’t like he would ever yell at her, let alone over something so simple.

Thanking her again, he took a good measure of comfort from wrapping his hand loosely around it. He watched the steam rise from the cup and attempted to make casual conversation.

“How has your health been?”

Damn it.

Tohru took a seat on a cushion by the low table. Hatori averted his gaze as she blew softly on the steam from her cup, nursing it close. “I’ve been wonderful. No worries here, what about you?”

His good eye slid back to her, as though unable to do anything else. People tended to forget to ask doctors that. “Yes, much the same.”

She tilted her head, gesturing to the space under her eye. “But you have bags under your eyes. Are you sure you’ve not been pushing yourself too hard? I suppose you must have a busy schedule in winter, lots of colds. Please remember to rest.” Tohru seemed to notice how prying her words could come across and opened her mouth to apologise-

“Pot kettle black,” he muttered, cutting her off.

Tohru blinked, tilting her head. “Um, do you want…black coffee instead?” She made a weak guess.

A huff of amusement escaped him. “No, I’m referring to your own dark circles. You should take your own advice and 'please remember to rest’.” Hatori quipped, lips curling up at the edges.

Her cheeks flushed scarlet, and she drew her knees up, hands curling in the thin material of her black tights. Hatori noticed her legs shaking slightly.

“I-I have been resting, honest. You’re starting to sound like Yuki and Kyo,” she smiled, eyes widening when he stood and grabbed a nearby blanket, tossing it over her legs. Pale hands settled on the tops of her knees as he leaned down slightly over her.

Black hair slid forward, exposing one sightless eye. “Do you also lie to them to assuage their worry?”

Tohru’s eyes widened, gaze fixed on his. She then bit her lip and smiled coyishly, “pot kettle black.”

He inhaled, lips tilting up while he straightened. “Touché.”

This wasn’t flirting, right? He’d never been good at it so he hoped this was simple banter. Because he was not flirting with a woman 12 years his junior. He had firmly filed that particular thought into a cabinet known as - never to be reflected upon. Even when she’d graduated and grown into a young lady of 19, he assured himself that he'd never open the cabinet.

“I really like that tie,” Tohru changed the topic of conversation, looking at him over the rim of her mug. “It looks very nice on you.”

He cleared his throat for the umpteenth time. Again, not flirting but an innocent compliment. He touched it uncertainly. A gift from Aya.

“A biased opinion. Isn’t pink your favourite colour?” Hatori muttered, retreating to the safety of his seat. Her smile froze on her face, before she busied herself with sipping her tea, the steam causing her cheeks to grow redder.

An awkward silence descended upon them, and Hatori cursed his social skills. They hadn’t been…alone together for a very long time. Usually their louder friends were filling the silences. Why couldn’t he have just accepted the compliment?

“How did you know that?”

Oh. That’s what was bothering her. Hatori shrugged, “you mentioned it once.”

And he’d remembered.

Tohru smiled slightly, before shivering and rubbing her legs over the blanket. Hatori noticed and leaned forward, angling the heater near his desk more toward her. Tohru made a face and pulled the cushion closer to him so that they were sharing the heat. Hatori’s lips tilted up slightly. She was stubborn in some ways.

“I wonder how long the blizzard will last for,” she mused aloud.

Hatori lifted a shoulder, resting his chin on his knuckles. “The news said at least a day. Unfortunately, it looks as though you’re stuck with me for company, miss Honda.”

Tohru jolted and shook her head violently, ribbons ruffling in her hair. “N-no! That’s- I mean, you’re wonderful! Please don’t say that, and you really can call me Tohru you know,” she said, standing suddenly. “We just need to take our minds off the snow and how people are probably worried about us! Do you um…have any board games?”

Hatori stared at her, blinking slowly.

“Let’s see, one, two- six. I scored six!” Tohru chirped, leaning over the scrabble board. It was the Western version, something Momiji had brought over, but luckily the two were proficient in English. They’d played a number of games for a few hours, punctuated by idle chatter, before landing on this one as their favourite. Tohru didn’t have the strategic eye for chess and Hatori didn’t possess the same enthusiasm for 'Old Maid.’

Hatori walked over, carrying yet more tea. He placed the tray down and rose a brow, looking at the word. “Dragon, hm,” he took his place opposite her at the low table, wondering why he could feel a slight chill in the room. “You know you could have scored higher by utilising this triple letter score,” he tapped his figure on the blue square.

“Yes but then I wouldn’t have been able to spell Dragon!” She giggled, obviously more pleased by the word than winning the game.

He rose a brow, feeling a warmth in his stomach. Her enthusiasm for pointless things appeared to be infectious. Glancing at the letters on his side, his lips curved up. Taking hold of an 'i’ he placed it under her 'r’ and began completing his own word. Sitting back, he looked at it with quiet satisfaction.

Tohru tilted her head, blushing slightly. “Rice ball…hmm, isn’t that two words, Doctor?” She said playfully.

He blinked and checked it again, his own cheeks dusting with heat at the mistake. “…I suppose. Hm, should have gone with onigiri.”

She let out a carefree laugh that sounded like the personification of sunshine. At that moment, the orange light of the heater that had been casting orange hues onto her face made a distressed noise. It then abruptly shut off. Hatori frowned, shifting the rack away to fiddle with it.

“Oh no, is it broken?”

Hatori turned off the power and removed the back, fiddling with it. “No need to panic, it’s probably just a faulty-” he broke off a wire. The heater probably needed that. He calmly returned the broken piece to its place. “…Yes, it may be broken.” Funny how his hands could be so careful when treating patients and yet he had an allergy to tinkering with electronics.

Tohru’s brows drew together when the room started to grow colder. The Sohma house was old-fashioned, with no radiators in sight. She sat up, holding her arms, “okay, um. We need a battle plan! This is fine, my mom couldn’t always pay for the gas bill and we made do!”

Her hands balled into fists, face determined. Hatori straightened, noticing her shiver. He hummed, removing his white doctor’s coat and placing it around her shoulders, touch lingering. They felt much too thin and small under his hands. “Extra blankets are a must, I’ll take care of finding those.”

She smiled bashfully and nodded, “mhm! And I’ll see if you’ve got any electric ones! Or candles. I’ve also got a bento box leftover from work that we can share. Keeping well fed is integral for fighting the cold!” She nodded sagely.

Dark hair slid forward as he leaned down, tugging on one of her ribbons lightly. “You didn’t eat earlier? Miss Honda…am I going to have to strictly monitor your health?” The calm tone dropped once more, ice leaking into his words. And yet, vague worry lingered around his perpetually melancholy eyes.

Reaching up to fix her ribbon, Tohru slid her arms into the sleeves of his coat, which slipped past her hands. “There’s no need to worry~ I promise! Now, let’s begin operation: Fight the cold!” She quickly turned with yet another curiously red face. Hatori wondered if she were coming down with something.

Something foreign heated his veins though when she padded away, the coat swaying out behind her like a cape due to it’s size. Her long shapely legs were visible for a moment under the billow of white- and his breath caught.

Hatori quickly adjusted his tie. No, put that thought away damn it. Just because she looked like a woman didn’t mean Tohru deserved to be disrespected by his unwanted attention. He quickly strode into a new room, opening the cupboards and bringing out all the blankets he could find, loading them into his arms. Now if Shigure were here, or- Hatori shuddered- in his place. Alone. With Tohru. The former dog could not be trusted not to cause a scandal. But Hatori Sohma, lonely and admiring of Tohru though he was- never caused scandal. He was the straight-laced doctor, a man of discipline, routine.

Besides even if there wasn’t an age gap and even if in some mad parallel universe Tohru returned his affections-

Hatori shook his head, returning to the room and glancing at the empty picture frame. He couldn’t do it, not again. He needed to stop thinking about ridiculous things.

He’d vowed never to hurt another person ever again.

Tohru came padding in, holding a tub of various sized candles but sadly no electric blanket. She smiled amiably at him, before pausing. “Hatori…what’s wrong?”

Lean muscles froze. He placed the blankets down, straightening slowly. Fishing in his pocket, he brought out a lighter and offered it. “Nothing, here. Just don’t burn yourself,” he muttered.

Cold fingers closed around his own, gentle and soft. His lips thinned.

“I-I’m not that accident-prone,” she lightly teased, giving a smile. It fell on her face a little when he didn’t respond. Accepting the lighter, she turned and with his help, began arranging the candles around their make-shift nest of comforts. They didn’t provide much of a heat source, Hatori wryly observed. If anything, they were more of a fire hazard.

Tohru concentrated on lighting the wicks, glancing up at him every so often. Hatori pulled out a spare futon to spread beneath them, sitting on it as he worked on making their surroundings as comfy as possible, spreading blankets everywhere like a fort. He didn’t own a kotatsu, much to Tohru’s dismay. Once they were done, Tohru brought out her bento box, grabbing a spare set of chopsticks and handing them to him.

“Since you haven’t eaten, it would be best if only you-”

“You’re eating too~!” She smiled brightly, to the point that Hatori sweatdropped, backing down. He still had reservations about taking half, but she divided it evenly, placing the box in between them.

Digging in, Hatori quietly appreciated the food, noting the amount of care she’d put into every part. The attention to detail that she afforded every meal. A thought surfaced in his sleep-deprived head- tumbling out of his mouth before he could stop it.

“You’ll make a wonderful wife, someday.”

Tohru made a noise, chocking on her food. He winced, mentally kicking himself as he offered her water. She gratefully accepted, chugging it down. “A-ah! Thank you, that’s very sweet of you to say. You’ll make an amazing husband too!” She rambled, also wincing.

His limbs locked, coldness skittering down his spine just as his pulse raced. “…I don’t think that’s something in my future, but thanks,” he quietly admitted.

Tilting her head, Tohru picked up the pickled plum in her chopsticks, putting it on his side. She knew he liked them. “O-oh um…what makes you think that?”

“Experience,” he uttered, placing the plum back on hers. He knew she liked them more.

Her cheeks puffed up indignantly, but on her face, the expression only came across as cute. “W-well for what it’s worth I think you’re wrong. Yuki used to think something similar, but now he has Machi. Then there’s Rin with Haru, a-and Kisa with Hiro. Even Ayame and Mine. I don’t really know what’s happening with Akito and Shigure but if you’re worried about not marrying because of the zodiac then-”

“I know. The curse is broken, and it has been for some time.” Hatori interrupted gently, exhaling. He could really use a cigarette, but he didn’t like exposing her to secondhand smoke. “I’m just of the opinion that it’s…in my personality or fate to be alone. I’ve become used to solitude, there’s no need to fuss over it. I don’t find it uncomfortable.”

Tohru’s brows drew together, and she glanced at the picture frame on his desk. Hatori busied himself with eating, wishing he hadn’t opened his mouth once again. He didn’t even know why he was talking about it, but Tohru had that effect on people.

“I understand,” the words escaped her gently, lifting some rice to her lips. He hated that he’d lowered her mood, but upon looking up, he found the girl lost in thought, not upset. She was…different, miss Honda.

When first getting to know her, he’d surmised that she was a lot like Kana, but as time wore on, that thought had faded. His ex-fiance had been beautifully sensitive, like an orchid. She’d filled his days with colour when she’d blossomed. But under strain and heartbreak, her petals wilted. Tohru, for all her naivete, held a deep well of pain within her. It was like no amount of troubles the Sohma curse threw at her would compare with the loss of her mother. She could handle the secret. Hell, she’d broken it.

Drawn out of his musings, he noticed her fingers had turned blue. “Miss Honda,” he muttered, placing his chopsticks down. “Your hands, give them to me.”

Brown eyes blinked, nibbling on the rice. She set her own utensils aside, startled when large hands covered her own. The doctor shifted to sit beside her, holding her palms over a larger candle. Lips thinning with consternation, his slightly calloused hands rubbed her smaller digits.

“H-hator-” she jolted when his head dipped down- exhaling on her hands and continuing to massage her skin with his thumbs. Hatori lowered his head once more, the movement bringing his lips shockingly close to her skin.

“We can’t afford to be polite right now,” he grumbled. “If you’re feeling cold, tell me.”

Tohru swallowed under his intense attention.

“Alright,” she softly agreed, smiling. “You’re so kind, Hatori. It’s no wonder you became a Doctor.”

He hesitated in his touches, before continuing to rub her hands. His eyes stayed fixed on the task, but a slight gentleness warmed his gaze. “I didn’t have a choice in occupation, it was something my father did before me. But…I do enjoy it.”

His muscles tensed when he felt something light tap his cheek just under his good eye. “Still, you should let other people look after you sometimes too. You look like a panda. Ah!- sorry that came out rude. I meant it as a cute thing!”

Hatori rose a brow. Cute?

Tohru reeled, waving her free hand, “a-anyway. Just how long have you been awake for?”

He checked his watch, mulling it over. “About 52 hours,” he said bluntly.

It were as though her spirit had ascended from her body, leaving Torhu with a sucker-punched expression. Hatori reached out and tugged on her bangs almost fondly. “There’s no need to freak out, it’s quite normal in my line of work.”

Still reeling, Tohru snapped herself out of her daze, raising a finger. “That doesn’t make me worry less! A-ahh, and you’ve been staying up to take care of me when you could have been resting! I’m the worst! I am so sorry- here!” She quickly got up, breaking their contact to dash to the bed. She began fluffing a pillow, setting it down. She then tucked a thick blanket over it and gestured to it with the most determined expression she could muster.

“Please rest.”

“No.”

“W-why not?”

He sighed. “For one thing, it’s getting late. You need your sleep more than I do after actually working today, I’ve only been sitting down and sorting notes. You’ve been on your feet and out in the snow. So go ahead, use it.” He gestured to the bed while dousing the meagre amount of candles they’d put out. He then picked up the bento box and carried it to the kitchen. He heard uncertain, worried sounds as Tohru followed, hovering behind him.

“B-but you need it more than me!-”

Hatori turned on the tap water, letting her ramblings wash over him much like whenever Ayame or Shigure started fussing.

“Besides your schedule is busier, and it’s 52 hours, Hatori! 52!”

He calmly washed the utensils and bento box, surprised she wasn’t running out of steam talking a mile a minute. So caught up was he in his musings that Hatori misjudged her proximity. Turning to grab a dish towel- he bumped right into the girl. Hatori reeled, eyes widening as he automatically caught her by the shoulders, heart thudding when he expected to transform. To become small, fragile. Something easily stepped on as he fell the great height to the ground.

But nothing happened. He didn’t realise his breathing had escalated until soft palms gingerly touched his cheeks, drawing his startled gaze down to hers.

“It’s okay, Hatori. See? Nothing- nothing happens anymore…” she murmured, seeming to only now realise he hadn’t tested his newfound freedom yet.

Hatori caught his breath, wondering why sweat dotted his temples. He trembled slightly, touching her hand on his face. He hoped he imagined leaning into her touch. “I apologise. I guess it was just a shock…”

She nodded empathetically, gazing up at him. She stroked her thumb over his jaw slightly, before blushing and letting go. “U-um…so- like I was saying,” she murmured, holding her hands as they slowly padded back to his room.

“Fine, look see, I’ll sit down.” He took a seat on the bed, that he admitted was much comfier now that she’d plied it with blankets. Still, this was not enough to assuage her as Tohru placed her hands on his shoulders.

“Okay! Step one is done~ now for step two! Lying down,” she beamed, putting all her strength into trying to force him to lie back. Hatori felt her hands shake and noticed her grunt with effort, but he did not budge. He sighed. Reluctantly, he allowed himself to fall back- head hitting the pillow and scattering his dark hair in disarray.

However, the sudden movement made the girl lose her balance. She landed with a squeak directly atop him.

Hatori stiffened immediately, shifting to get up, “m-miss Honda.”

Tohru seemed to misconstrue his motives to escape- as she placed her palms firmly down on his chest, trying to keep him there. “N-no! You shouldn’t get up! Go to sleep!” She blushed scarlet. “I’ll keep you like this if I have to!”

“I can hardly rest while you’re-” he sucked in a harsh breath when her hips squirmed. Directly against his. His head hit the pillow once more, mind screaming. Alright, so Tohru was essentially straddling him. No big deal. It wasn’t like he could also feel the gentle curves of her body pressing against his, smell her scent of fresh linens dancing in a warm summer breeze- or sense the line of tension in her spine. His hands reluctantly settled on her lower back.

“This isn’t necessary. I’ll sleep if it means that much to you.”

Tohru shifted atop him, tilting her head up where it rested on his chest. Heat surged down his stomach, curling his fingers in the material of her blouse. Suddenly seeming to realise how indecent their positions were, Tohru lifted her upper body, hair frazzled. It hung down to tickle his nose.

“I-I um- okay. Just make sure you rest!” She blushed, moving carefully to try and untangle their limbs. Feeling the warmth leaving his chest, Hatori surprised both her and himself by halting her movements.

His hands had settled on her waist.

Tohru paused, cheeks seemingly incapable of losing their red hue. “H-Hatori?”

Exhaling, violet eyes stared up at her. He quickly grasped a blanket and tossed it around her shoulders, tugging her to lie back down on a mad impulse. “Let’s just…both get some sleep. You’re as bad as me when it comes to watching your health and pushing yourself too hard. I don’t trust you not to stay up.”

Surprising him, she gave a soft, mumbled giggle. “You make us sound so rebellious. Like Black Haru or something.”

The former dragon stared up at the ceiling, his heart thundering quicker at the sound. He was certain she could hear it in his chest. He’d forgotten what it was like to hold another human so close. The alien feeling was dissolving into such a pleasant sensation he feared he’d grow spoiled from it.

“Hatori…this is okay, isn’t it?” Came her small voice.

His hand glided up her back to rest on her head. “Of course. Unless it bothers you.”

“Oh no, not at all,” she murmured, grip tightening in his shirt. He wondered why. “I mean, we’re friends!”

“Yes. Friends.”

Tohru made a noise of quiet affirmation, settling closer. “Goodnight Hatori.”

Hearing her breathing even out, his attention shifted down, glancing at the crown of her head. Brunette strands of hair were sprawled over his chest, some spun into gentle spirals. His pale fingers stroked the soft locks, before clenching and drawing away.

“Goodnight…Tohru.”

Hatori was floating on clouds. Or at least it certainly felt that way. He slept long and deep, breathing in heavenly smells and feeling oddly…safe.

Releasing a dusty sounding breath, his lashes fluttered. Surfacing from sleep slowly, he lifted his head groggily. At once, he noticed their positions had changed. Strands of hair were stuck to his lip, his face inches from Tohru’s neck, where he assumed he’d been resting just a moment ago. Somehow they’d changed positions in the night. He was now laying on his stomach, trapping her more petite form under his. His felt his arms wrapped around her, and more alarmingly- hers around him.

Shifting, Hatori’s face flushed when he felt something. Ah, it seemed her leg had hooked around his in the night too. Fantastic.

Grasping her wrists, Hatori gently untangled her from him, shifting to get up. He braced his hands on either side of her head on the pillow to rise.

Of course, her lashes opened.

“H-hatori,” she breathed, eyes widening. She then smiled shyly, hands grasping the covers tighter. “G-good morning! Did you sleep well?”

Hatori made a noise, quickly moving to rise. He half-heartedly tried to fix his bed-hair, only to give up. “And you?”

“Yes, very well thank you,” she chirped. “It felt very warm.”

He adjusted his tie, wishing he could stop damn blushing. He strode over to his desk, “I’m going to see if the phone’s working.”

“Ah, sure. I guess I’ll start making breakfast then.”

“You don’t have to-” too late, she was already gone.

Hatori dialled for Shigure and lifted the phone to his ear.

'Due to the poor weather conditions, we cannot connect your call at this time. Please try again later.’

Not good. It was only the second day but spending any more time with Tohru alone might make her catch wise to his feelings.

“Hatori!~ Would you like some eggs?”

Then again, it was Tohru. He was quite fortunate she saw everyone around her as strictly friends. Sighing, he tried to fix his expression into a calm mask and joined her in the kitchen.

While they contentedly tucked into their breakfast together, he noticed her pause mid-meal. Finishing a bite, he waited for her to speak up.

“Hatori, remember yesterday when you said you didn’t think you’d get married?”

He made a non-committal noise.

“I-I don’t think it’s in my personality to be alone, maybe I’d make a good wife-”

“You would,” his tone brooked no argument.

“Hmph. Pot kettle black,” Tohru smiled with a hesitant impishness.

Violet eyes danced. “You think I’d make a good wife?”

She gave a laugh, lips tugging up as warmth lit up her expression. She then sobered. “It’s just that…maybe I’m afraid of marriage in a similar way. Afraid of someone being more important to me than my mom. If I got married, then I’m worried they’d take her place in my heart. I don’t like to admit it, because it makes me a bad daughter- but I can’t…picture her face clearly anymore. I have to rely on her photo. I-it’s awful. I’m terrible.”

Something vicious attacked his bloodstream at her put down. “Don’t. Your mother would be proud of you.” His voice became haunting steel, before softening. “For what it’s worth, I’m the same. I can’t clearly recall Kana’s laugh, but I know it was distinct. I can’t see her face, but there’s the recollection of her eyes or how she used to stand that I do know. I’m sorry, she’s not deceased so it’s not the same-”

“No, no. It is- because it’s just as painful. You still…lost her.”

He stopped, that reserved quietness in his bearing softening for her. “Just because we loved them…doesn’t mean we have to be alone to honour them, Tohru.”

She stared, tears collecting in her eyes. “Does that mean you’ll reconsider becoming an old maid?” She sniffed, smiling teasingly while trying to ignore her red nose and wobbling lip.

Hatori’s gaze shifted over her honest features, before returning to his now cold breakfast. “Perhaps. If the right suitor came along.”

It was at that moment the electricity decided to shut off, dousing the room in faint blue tones.

Tohru had let out a yelp and panicked, hands fluttering everywhere. “H-h-hatori! Oh no! If there’s no electricity then we can’t cook dinner!”

“Calm down. We’ll find a way, besides there’s enough food to snack on if this isn’t just a short power cut.”

He heard her get up, but she was on his sightless side- moving closer. “But what if it lasts longer than- GAH!” Something knocked violently against the table, making the plates rattle.

Hatori turned in alarm, hands reaching out and finding her form stumbling. Firm fingers wrapped around her arm, steadying her. He shifted to stand, brows drawing together.

“Tohru? Are you alright?”

The lights flickered, before turning back on. The whole room was bathed in soft hues once more, and the girl exhaled in relief, looking up at him. “O-oh, yes I’m fine. I just tripped.”

“You’re bleeding,” he deadpanned, attention fixed on her torn tights. Her left knee was scrapped, some bruising starting to rise to the surface.

Tohru gaped, peering down. He decided to take it upon himself to pick her up, leaning down to allow her to place her arm around his shoulders as he slid one arm under her legs. He didn’t think of it as some gallant thing, he just couldn’t be bothered to wait as she hopped over to a chair. He placed her down in his desk chair and retrieved some antiseptic, along with a plaster.

Though he knew her to be a grown woman he couldn’t shake the habit of tending to even the most minor of injuries, especially when it came to her. He’d taken the car to Shigure’s house on several occasions when it was reported she had a headache or scrape from a new fall.

Hatori knelt down to grasp her ankle, placing her foot on his thigh to elevate her knee and allow him to see it better. She made a noise, though he wasn’t certain why. His fingers then rubbed the cream onto her wound, and this time he understood the hiss between her teeth.

“The pain will pass…am I being too rough?” He muttered, trying to gentle his touch.

“N-no not at all,” she murmured.

He hummed and placed the plaster over the scrape, smoothing the edges to let it stick. He felt mild satisfaction at such a simple task, ready to move away.

Hatori shifted, raising his head. He froze, finding her closer than anticipated. His breath stilled, eyes widening marginally. She wasn't…pulling away.

Her eyes shone from the light of the nearby candles, giving the brown a brightened earthy glow. Some loose strands of hair hung forward, lingering near his cheek. His nails caught in her tights as his fingers clenched- and he inhaled. He needed to pull away. Needed to stop. But the look on her face remained gentle and inviting. He couldn’t understand why.

Hatori’s heartbeat thundered in his ears like a roaring tide. He leaned forward-just a touch. Just to see. To know. Tohru didn’t scream or pull away. Her cheeks coloured red, mouth parting a touch. Those kind eyes flitted down to his thin lips.

That was what did it. His fingers rose up to her jaw- touch feather light, bridging the last of the distance between them. She inhaled, her lips feeling soft and pliant under his.

Something crashed down his veins and melted inside his stomach. Rapture and longing collided, hurting in an exquisite, visceral kind of way. Suddenly he was more aware than ever of his loneliness, his secret want of her. It caused his hands to tremble.

He felt her hesitant palm on his cheek, smoothing the long dark strands of his bangs aside. When he pulled away, eyes peeling open, he wished for the first time in a long while to have his full sight back. Tohru remained frozen with rosy cheeks, opening her mouth to say something-

Hatori retreated, standing. He walked over to his desk, facing away from her as he collected himself slowly. A fire churned in his gut, emotions pressing tight against the surface. He wanted so badly to embrace her.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have-” she murmured, voice wavering. She was hurt. He could tell.

“Don’t be. You have nothing to apologise for. I took advantage-”

“No, no you didn’t!” She burst, and he heard her stand. “Please don’t turn away…”

His fingers twitched at his hands, hands curling into loose fists that tightened until they shook. “You understand why we can’t do this, Tohru. Aside from the age gap-”

“M-my parents were far apart in age-”

“There’s also my…disposition. My fate,” he said with an air of grim finality.

Despite the curse being broken and the zodiac members free, he still felt fear. He still pictured history repeating itself. That she’d somehow be hurt again just like Kana. Perhaps he should be worried about losing another eye, but Hatori gladly would if it meant keeping her safe.

He heard quiet footsteps approach, and he turned to face her. A guarded look had entered his gaze, haunted with past terrors and agony.

He was afraid. Terrified of hurting her. The empty picture frame stood silent and empty as a grim reminder.

Tears swam in Tohru’s gaze, though he wasn’t sure why. She clasped her hands, perhaps to stop herself from touching him. “You said it before 'we don’t have to be alone to honour them.’ Things are different now…they’re not what they were a few years ago. No one’s going to punish you for being happy, Hatori. Not Akito, and not fate.”

That’s right, God had stepped down.

Looking to the future felt like an insurmountable task considering the past that still clung to his lonely room. Lingering in the backs of his eyes and resurfaced in his waking thoughts.

But then Tohru…

Tohru sometimes felt like she’d present a 'maybe.’ Maybe things wouldn’t go to hell with her. If he were just brave enough to take her hand then-

The sound of the phone ringing filled the room.

'It seems like the worst of the storm has passed. There is no longer a Red Weather Warning in effect, so you’ll all be pleased to know it’s clear to go outside again~ This has been your three o'clock weather report.’

Hatori stood outside on the porch, smoking as the radio droned on. He stared down at the empty picture frame in his hand, lost in memory once more as the snow fell. Tohru was busying herself cleaning, though he’d told her it wasn’t necessary.

Shigure and whoever else would come to take her home. The mischievous dog had been on the phone, cheerfully announcing that Hatsuharu had found a snow plough for who knows where.

No doubt the roads would be cleared soon. His heart constricted at the thought, though nothing touched his expression.

A soft touch had his eyes snapping down to his hand, where Tohru looked up at him. She gently grasped the picture frame, biting her lip, before looking away. She then summoned the courage to speak.

“I might have to go soon, but um…I wanted to say something.”

She paused, and he waited, hanging on the precipice of whatever she chose to do or say.

“Stop me if this is too forward, but I think…it’s time to get a different photo frame for your desk.” Tohru said, voice gentle. “You don’t have to throw this away of course. See it’s like if someone wanted to become extra special to me, I could never- never put their image in mom’s place. She’s important to me, and always will have a large part of my heart.”

Hatori felt it now, the pull toward her. His attention was magnetised, hearing attuned to her voice to pick up every soft inflection. Tohru smiled gently, no jealousy in her. “Just like Kana will always have a large part of yours.”

She took a breath. “But if…there was someone for me, I’d put them in a brand new frame. That way they’re not crumpling themselves to fit someone else’s space. I feel like I understand that a bit better now. Maybe I…don’t need to be afraid of marriage if I think of it like that.”

She really did understand. For a moment he contemplated her. He saw something radiant in her face, a kind of wiseness beyond her years that mingled with her naivete. “I see, eloquently put.” Violet eyes shifted over her slowly. “In that case, would you like to go shopping for photo frames together, Tohru?”

His hand hung loosely at his side near hers, fingers curling.

Her lips tilted up, stretching further into a breathtaking, radiant smile. “Yes! That would be wonderful,” she murmured, expression softening into something more hopeful and quiet. She released her grip on her hands and also let them hang lose, watching the snowfall. Slowly, as though fearful of rejection, she inched her knuckles closer.

Hatori’s gaze shifted down and giving in to the small ray of hope inside him, took her hand outright. He would follow her lead, he decided. She jumped a little and dipped her head shyly, threading their fingers together.

“Hatori…”

“Mn?”

Brunette hair slid over her shoulder, falling in soft waves as she shifted to look up at him. “I don’t think…friends are supposed to feel this way about each other.”

“No, probably not.” He somberly agreed, heart thudding as though he were a schoolboy.

Her brows pulled together slightly, and her hand squeezed his. “What do we do?”

For a long while, he didn’t reply. The snow fell gently, a silent witness to the quiet regard in Hatori’s eye, which was starting to become reserved only for her. “We’ll do this at our own pace. However, I wish you’d reconsider and think about being with a boy more your age.”

Tohru’s comforting eyes sparked with alarm, her mouth opening to perhaps voice an eloquent protest. It then clicked shut, and her heart took the lead in her words instead. “But I only want you, Hatori.”

He exhaled sharply, a fragile thing inside him anchoring itself to the warmth of her palm. He wasn’t sure if the universe would allow him happiness once more, but he trusted Tohru. However naive it was to hope- he wanted to believe in a future with her in it. He felt his body humming with life, the touch of her skin feeling more tangible the more warmth flooded him. Bringing her hand up- he pressed his lips to her knuckles ardently, breath shuddering over her skin.

“Then you have me.”

Outside, the snow slowly began to thaw.

End

#fruits basket #hatori sohma #tohru honda #hatori x tohru #furuba #Hatohru

[star-crossedfidelity]

~ Leon’s Story: Coming Forward ~

Mun!Yuki: So I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. While Leon’s birthday past already and I’m happy to also upload this for Juliet’s birthday as they are inseparable duo, I would like to note these things before going into the story:

* This takes place way before Leon started dating Isaiah, or even became friends with him.

* This establishes more of the relationship Leon shares with Ruki since it has not really been shown much here.

* The depth of the close bond between Leon and Juliet.

This is actually a special story I wanted to do for Leon because it has not been established on when Leon came out about his sexuality to Hisoka and Ruki. That will change as of now.

And now without further ado, Let us begin! :D

~

This has always been a problem for Leon to come forth with.

Ever since he has entered Middle School, Leon has always tried to present himself in a positive way; While it may be popular with mostly women, there were still others that found reasons to hate him.

Nonetheless, He cannot bring himself to do anything else but to continue smiling, burying all of the negative emotions inside.

Even if it mean hiding things he wished he didn’t have to hide for his own safety.

Things he wished he didn’t have to feel fear telling his parents that he loved dearly.

“I don’t understand why you should be scared to tell them, you’re worried over nothing again.”

“Sis, you don’t understand.. I know Mom will accept it, but how would Dad react to it?”

It was just a normal evening for Juliet and Leon; It was after Leon‘s classes ended and Juliet eating takoyaki as they both make their way home.

But this time, it was upon the topic of a sensitive issue for the blonde.

Lately, as he attends Junior High School, he became victim of bullying by male peers due to his appearance and his gentle nature; However, after a sudden accusation about being a homosexual as another form of bullying, Leon felt crushed and helpless inside while he hid it with a calm smile and state he was not.

The reason for that was because he was not only attracted to female, Leon was also attracted to men.

He is aware that he isn’t exactly as masculine as most boys his age are, but to be treated less as a human being made him horrified about what his father would think; Even after hearing about how disappointed and enraged some fathers were in their own children for their own sexual orientation. It even tore families apart.

“I still don’t see how you being bisexual should make any difference to Father. I bet you ¥1500 that he wouldn’t care; I mean, he didn’t have any problem with Mother when she had feelings for Aunt Yui besides taking advantage of it for that stupid plan that was bound to fail.” Juliet pointed out before taking another bite of Takoyaki.

“But I’m his son. I do like girls, but I also find men attractive. What if he becomes disappointed in me? What if him and Mom end up fighting because of it? What if-“ Leon slowly started to panic from pessimistic thoughts until Juliet stopped and shoves a octopus ball into his mouth to silence him.

“That’s enough.” Her voice became stern and firm, masking the genuine anger Leon could hear through her voice. “So what if you like men too? You’re still you, Leon. I think the only thing he will have to be concerned about is what your partner would be like. He is a man of expectations, you know.” Juliet wasn’t wrong. Their father had expectations. While it became very clear with how him and their mother raised them to know better, both Juliet and Leon knew that they are only allowed to date someone, with their father’s permission, if they have certain requirements.

“Mmphmmp!” Leon tried to fan himself as the hotness from the Takoyaki burns his mouth before he tries to chew and swallow in order to talk. “That’s one of the reasons I’m afraid. What if he doesn’t accept if my partner is male? And what if he finds my collectables and tells me to throw them away?”

“Leon, I highly doubt Father would care about the male anime and idol crushes you have.” The older sister bluntly states, “If he throws them away, we just burn his books.”

“Sis, we are not committing arson!” Leon looked at his sister with an agitated look, “Dad would literally kill us!”

“Bold of you to assume I didn’t want death in the first place.” Juliet glances to Leon and saw that his expression was mixed with horror and shock, making the girl roll her eyes, “I was kidding; Like I would let myself die easy.”

Leon sighs in relief and places a hand on his head, closing his eyes for a brief moment.

His sister can be too much sometimes.

“But honestly, if it were me, I would just tell them.”

Leon glances to his sister who continues to eat her Takoyaki, and swallows before continuing.

“I get you don’t want to disappoint Father. But it’s better to be true to yourself regardless of backlash, rather than to pretend being someone you are not just to satisfy others.” Juliet states, “Father is sharp and can see through our lies; If he doesn’t like it, then we’ll just tell him he’s going to have to get over it.”

The blonde was about to respond until he caught what his raven-haired sister just said.

‘We’ll...?’

Did... Did she imply that she will be there for him when he comes out to both their parents?

Leon smiles.

Despite her cruel, sadistic mannerisms, Juliet was still kind underneath those rough layers.

Of course, He can’t say that. It’s a rule that has been established.

“Thank you, Sis...”

No matter what people say, He was grateful to have Juliet as his big sister.

“Don’t mention it. Just make me some more Takoyaki at home and we’ll be even.”

“Deal.”

~

Later that evening, the siblings wait until after dinner to approach their parents. The blonde almost froze on the spot until Juliet, standing behind him, carefully shoves him towards them.

“H-hey Mom, Dad.. Can we talk?” Leon stutters. Ruki and Hisoka turn to them.

“Hm? Leon, sweetie, is everything alright?” Hisoka questioned with a worried expression. “Does this have something to do with why you were behaving strangely during dinner?” Ruki questioned. The blonde flinched but felt a feeling of relief as he felt his sister’s hand gently patting upon his back.

That’s right. Their father has always been able to see through others.

“Yeah...” Leon mumbles.

As soon as they all took a seat in the dining table, Leon tried to find the words to speak. Juliet, sitting beside him, only spectates. She may be his emotional support system at this moment, but she takes her job as an older sister seriously; Leon needs to get the words out by himself.

“What is it you wanted to speak with us about, Leon?” Hisoka asked. From how things look, It must be serious. Especially since Juliet is sitting beside him with a calming aura as he is shaking like a leaf.

“I-I...” Leon could feel the tears swelling up. Doubts and the pessimistic thoughts returns to his mind. It was hard at school where he had to completely hide his sexual orientation to assure that his tormentors will never find out and make the torment harder than it already was.

His mother is never a problem; But his father was a different story. He was a human that was later turned into a vampire before returning back into a human. From what he remembers from stories told about his father, He was a highly conservative man. He was born a very different time from his mother, when such a thing was considered taboo. If he told him about being bisexual, would his father dismiss it as him being indecisive? His father may be scary, but Leon still loved him regardless because he was still his father. So he-

“Leon,”

The blonde looks up to see his father looking at him with seriousness. “Is there something you would like to say?” He questioned. The tone of his voice was firm with slight concern.

“I...” Leon took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He was Leon. Leon Adam Mukami. He is the son of Ruki and Hisoka Mukami. The son of a former vampire and a former huntress.

He opens his eyes and glances at Juliet, who continues to look at him with a sincere expression.

And as long as there was still someone there for him that will accept him for who he is, then that’s all he could ever ask for.

The blonde turns his eyes to his father and took one more deep breath.

“Dad, I... I’m bisexual.”

The room was silent.

Uncomfortable with the long silence, Leon spoke up once again.

“I-I know you’re disappointed, and I-I-I assure you I’m not confused, but even if you don’t accept it, it’s not going to change and...!”

“And who said I was disappointed, Leon?”

Leon stopped and stared at his father, tilting his head to the side in confused by his words. Taking notice of this, Ruki sighed. “You’re just like your mother... Hisoka.”

Hisoka couldn’t help but laugh nervously by the comment and stood up from her seat when her husband calls her name, before walking to Juliet. “Juliet, I think we should leave them both alone.” She suggested. The raven-haired girl sighed before rising from her own seat. “I guess so.”

Like that, the two young women leaves both the men in the dining room in silence. The first to break it was Ruki.

“I will be honest, I‘ve already figured that you were.” He confessed. “Y-You did?!” Leon stutters. “Of course I did; I’m your father.” Ruki pointed out, “But why did you decide to choose now to tell me?”

Leon sighed, “I was scared...” He confessed. “Scared?” One of Ruki’s eye brows rose in confusion by his son’s answer. “I was scared because.. I’m your son. A son is suppose to make a father proud. But I feel different compared to the other guys in my school, more than I already am. I hid it because I was afraid not exceeding your expectations as your son. But Sis told me it’s best to tell you than to worry about hiding it... that’s why..”

Leon’s face began to turn bright red from embarrassment. This was just weird.

“And you thought I would be ashamed because, while you like women, you also find the same gender attractive? Because it was “not normal”? Leon, Your mother and I raised you to know better than that.”

“H-huh?”

Ruki sighed before staying with a serious tone, “Leon, I do have expectations. We all do. But in this family, we will never be human society’s definition of ‘normal’. Your mother and I never followed any rules or law by them, even after we started living normal lives. I was once a vampire, she was once a huntress. We lived different lives than them.. In this family, we don’t care about what human society defines as ‘normal’. It doesn’t exist. Do you understand now?”

Leon couldn’t help but blink.

Was this... his father’s way of saying that he accepts him...?

Tears start to stream down from his blue orbs and a relieved smile formed upon the blonde’s face. “Yes, Dad...” He answers before bowing down his head.

“But it still won’t change the conditions in bringing home a partner; Understand?”

“Yes, sir...!”

Sniffles can be heard as Leon tries to hold back his tears.

“And.. Hey Dad..?” Leon managed to say, as tear drops

“Yes, Leon?” Ruki got up from his seat and walked to sit beside his son, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Ruki knew that, while his son was too nice, Leon makes up for it with his sincere honesty with others; His son’s honesty becomes his courage. Sympathetic, warm, and faithful; He really does see a lot of traits Leon inherited from his mother, including her smile.

“Thank you... I love you too, Dad...” Managing to say this, Leon hugs his father and let out his tears; Sobbing, Leon tries to catch his breath but was unable to and hugged his father tighter; Although, Leon failed to realize through his tears that his father was hugging back.

While the words weren’t said, Leon already knew that it was also his father’s way of saying that he still loved him the way he is; Nonetheless, that was how his father was and the blonde wouldn’t have it any other way.

Even if his father was scary, Leon will still remain grateful having a father like him.

#leon mukami #juliet mukami #rusoka #yuki’s writing #Yuki’s Writing

[polar-stars]

ShokugekiOTPWeek 2018 - Day 2

Future - Chieko Marui

Y’all know how I can never truly shut up about my next Gen. Also, Chieko is pretty much my little gem. She is, hands down, probably the most developed of all the Next Gen kids and was also the first one I created back in 2016.  So I am really happy I could draw her. 

So yah, this is Zenji’s and Yuki’s first child. A very intelligent little girl, who is later going to carry on the legacy of her father of being the ace of the Miyazato Seminar while having to deal with tons of parties in her room. 

On the picture here, she is around 4. I don’t often draw children, so please bear with me here. To make up for it, I also have some drawings of her teenager-self:

And to bring more of the OTP in….A quick little Drabble of 4 years old Chieko and her parents under the cut !

Carefully Yuki placed the forks next to the plates. Afterwards she backed away to admire her work with a satisfied smile.

A delicate looking plate with six sorts of different cheese accompanied by fruit bread, walnuts and grapes was in front of her. Next to it stood a bowl of duck salad and in the kitchen waited a tablet with lemon tarts.

Her smile grew a little.

She had done a good job.

“Well, I am done over here.” She loudly announced and turned around. “And you?”

Zenji’s gaze remained attached to his laptop. He was eagerly typing something with such a huge amount of speed that one could easily think he was trying to win a championship for fast typing or something. “I am nearly done, my dear. Just give me a few more minutes.” He assured her.

She let out a little groan but nodded and let herself fall on the couch afterwards. To make use of her time she reached for the remote and started to browse Netflix in search for a movie they could watch.

She had just decided for one as she finally heard the sound of a laptop being closed. And within a second Zenji was standing in front of the little table looking over her work with anticipation.

“Well this certainly looks good.” He praised while adjusting his glasses. “Thanks.” Yuki replied and grinned at him. “One of the cheese was made by me by the way. Oh and there are also lemon tarts in the kitchen.”

Zenji hummed in response and seated down next to her. “I can’t wait to try. Uhm, but before we eat, what movie did you pick?”

She pointed to the TV, which was already showcasing a picture of the movie along with it’s title and it’s description. “Terminator.”

Zenji blinked in surprise and he repeated. “…Terminator?” Yuki only tilted her head. “Hm? You have a problem with that?” “No, not at all.” Zenji quickly stated. “I am just surprised. I thought you’d like to watch something more romantic with this kind of atmosphere.” He was probably referring to the candles that were the only source of light in the room, making it dim but cozy. “But Terminator is totally fine by me.”

A cheeky grin spread on Yuki’s face. “Oh well, if you’d rather watch Dirty Dancing…” “I said, Terminator is fine by me.”

Yuki couldn’t help but to laugh about that fast interjection of his. “Alright, alright then. To be perfectly honest I am really in the mood for action right now.”

Zenji had his eyes on the plate again and said. “Then everything is perfect isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Yep.” And reached for the remote once again to turn on the film. But before she could push any of the buttons, a shrill scream suddenly filled the entire house, utterly destroying the peaceful atmosphere.

Immediately Yuki and Zenji exchanged a look with widened eyes. One second later both were on their feet and sprinting up the stairs to get to the source of the screaming.

The source sat in a little children’s bed, surrounded by tons of stuffed animals that were all a gift from Yuki. Right next to an oversized cat plush was a shivering little girl at the age of four. Her head was resting on her knees around which she had wrapped her arms. She only looked up as her parents entered the room and simultaneously called out her name: “Chieko!”

Tears were running down Chieko’s cheek and she heavily sniveled as she answered her parents call. “…M…Mommy? …D…Daddy?”

Her father was immediately beside her, while Yuki turned on the lights of the room. “What happened?” Zenji asked worriedly.

New tears build up in Chieko’s eyes and she cried out. “I had a bad dream! A monster was chasing me! It looked hideous!” She buried her face into Zenji’s shirt. He put his arms around her and pulled her close. His left hand began to rub her back in an attempt to calm the little girl down.

Yuki sat down next to him. She leaned forward to rest her head on his shoulder and to have a better look on Chieko. “Oh, Dearie.”

As Chieko looked up at her and their eyes locked, Yuki tried to give an encouraging smile. “It’s over now. We’re both here and nothing can happen to you.”

“But…But…” Chieko stammered. “As soon as I will go back to sleep, it will be back again.” Her voice shifted into an even more high-pitched tone than her usual voice already was as she bawled. “And I don’t want to be Monster Food!”

“You’re not going to be Monster Food.” Yuki assured, while Zenji added. “Chieko, sweetheart, it was just a dream.”

All they got as response were the muffled cries of Chieko, who had hid her face in Zenji’s shirt again.

Yuki backed away from Zenji’s shoulder so that she could look at her husband.

“We can’t leave her like that.” She silently said.

“I know, I know.” He replied in the same silent voice.

And so Yuki sighed. “Alright Sweetie, this is a huge exception but you can stay awake a little longer today than usual. Surely the monster will get bored then and disappear by itself.”

Chieko looked at her again and unsurely mumbled. “…Really?” Her mother grinned. “For sure.”

In the end they hadn’t watched Terminator but Disney’s Aristocats instead.

First Chieko still wore that miserable expression and unsurely looked out in search for the monster.

But the adorable Shenanigans of the animated kittens, the safety of sitting right in-between her parents as well as Yuki’s delicious snacks managed to bring a smile back on her face. 

At the very latest as “Everybody wants to be a cat” came up her cheerfulness had completely returned and she was happily clapping along the song.

The ‘monster’ was not on her mind anymore.

And so she had no trouble to fall asleep as her parents finally brought her to bed. She had not been able to keep her eyes open anymore at the last showdown of the movie and they had promised her that they would watch the ending tomorrow.

Softly Zenji closed the door behind him as Chieko had left off to slumberland.

Yuki had waited for him in the hallway and greeted him with a wide smile.

“Well, in the end we did watch a more romantic movie didn’t we?”

Zenji chuckled. “I guess, you’re right. Thomas O’ Malley’s and Duchess’ romance was truly really intriguing, especially since it’s the sixtieth time that I saw it.”

Yuki laughed, before casting a loving gaze to the door of the children’s room. “Well, but at least our little girl is happy again.”

She then linked arms with her husband and they moved downstairs.

#shokugekiotpweek #shokugekiotpweek18 #Shokugeki no Soma #MarYu #Marushino #Lea is doing Art #Lea is writing #By the way...Aristocats is a beautiful movie #Also this is my fist time writing family stuff with such a young child...so hm...

[rootnetwork-ex]

Request

Se-Hyeon had made it a habit to turn up at the dorm uninvited. How he even bypassed all the security was as good a mystery to anybody, but he’d be there, lounging in their couch as if he owned the place. It was an odd feeling to turn back, after activating the lock, and feeling one ought to apologise for letting oneself in. He was currently splayed on the couch, legs crossed over one end as if he was waiting for his therapist in some soap opera’s interpretation of what a Freudian consultation would look like. Only he looked utterly comfortable, even taken to smoking inside which Kobe did not at all appreciate. He had come to terms with this strange factor sauntering into their lives at times. The foremost priority was to find Shunran, after all. But sometimes he wondered if he hadn’t been baited into it and was just like the frog in the pan, unaware of the water slowly reaching a boiling point. Would he notice once he bothered to look at his hands and see the flesh fall neatly from his bones?

‘Right on schedule, soldier’ the older man perked up, swinging his legs around to sit upright as per greeting. ‘At rest, now. How are you managing?’

Kobe pointedly stared at the end of his guest’s cigarette, if the man noticed he didn’t acknowledge his displeased expression. The silence went on for awhile until the bud had swallowed up most of its leverage and broken off into ash twirling down on the hard wooden floor. Se-hyeon’s expression didn’t change as if he was waiting for his partner to say the next line.

He broke off his gaze with some annoyance, it was no use. The man had never looked at him as if he was another human being with his own thoughts to the matter of his presence. In fact, he always had this look as if he was making banter with a stuffed animal of sorts. Something adorable, designed to foster affection but which, deep down, was just another item to keep or discard as one sees fit.

‘What brings you here?’ He couldn’t help himself preparing some coffee and tea for the both of them. He had long foregone the effort to make the man feel unwelcome by ignoring his usual politeness, tried to salvage whatever he could as he had to deal with his intrusions. When he placed down the coffee in front of the man he merely received an arched eyebrow.

‘None of us both drink so I’m afraid this is what I have to offer,’ it was mildly rude to presume any of the other man’s drinking habits. Granted he had a good idea of what he saw him knock back whenever they were in his territory but he didn’t feel accommodating enough to ask what he wanted. A slight surge of lingering pettiness, surely. He sat back in the armchair perpendicular to the sofa.

‘Oh you know, visiting my favourite holster in the neighbourhood,’ Se-hyeon replied as he curiously eyed the coffee. He didn’t take a sip but merely looked up to grin as if it was all so very funny.

‘If it is about your [gift], I’m afraid he has it and he’s not here at present,’ Kobe took his mug and blew on it before taking a sip. His eyes darted evenly over the rim to look at the other man’s expression which gave nothing away.

‘Oh no, nothing like that,’ he smiled, ‘don’t sell yourself short, cadet. I came specially to ask you for a tiny favour.’ He emphasised his request by picking up his cup in good nature. However, he did not drink any of it and put it back down again.

‘What kind of favour?’ Kobe tensed. He didn’t trust the man. Even without his training as a law-enforcer it was blatantly obvious that deals with him were never as simple. In his entire life, he had never ignored his instincts on this and now he had to, it left him utterly unprepared to deal with it.

‘It’s teensy tiny, I assure you,’ Se-Hyeon might have noticed his doubts or was merely playing along to it. ‘You see, I am not in a position to enter Root that easily,’ he started.

Kobe’s felt his suspicions confirmed, anything involving this man and Root did not abide well.

‘I presume there is a proper reason for this,’ he enquired, allowing his voice to generously drip the suspicion he felt into his tone.

‘Oh yes, reasons, many reasons, undoubtedly,’ Se-Hyeon gestured with his hand, picking his coffee up again and putting it back down as if it were some kind of ritual. ‘I don’t want to bore you with them, no. The idea is that I get to borrow your access pass over there for hm... about an hour. And then I’ll be off again. No funny business, pinky promise.’ His face looked innocent as if he were asking for donations to some sort of charity fund instead.

‘And this is helpful to our case,’ he asked, folding his arms. Yuki said it made him look like a disappointed mother, but he couldn’t care much for what he looked like when he actually felt rather put off.

‘Of course,’ Se-Hyeon’s eyes widened at the implication it was not. ‘Day and night, I think about your missing friend, Junichi, every waking moment!’ It was in his repertoire to play around with names. Surely, he could remember one name or two after he had been corrected many times now. Shunran, it was Shunran. And the man did not look as if he had been agonising over his disappearance when he saw him draped over their couch smoking out the scent and clean air of their apartment disperser right a moment ago.

‘Root has been acting a little strange, right. So I had to look into it, of course. Figured it could be a lead. The only problem we have over there, in our land yonder, is that the connection is a wee bit unreliable. So we do not get as much of the main city-frame of Root as we’d like,’ he settled back in the sofa, hanging his arms from the back to stretch his neck and shoulder muscles.

‘What do you need to look into with my ID?’ Kobe asked unmoving. He felt more and more as if it was no coincidence the man had come to him in the small gap of time that neither his housemate nor his other dorm mates were around to hear.

‘It could be anybody’s ID, really. But yours happens to have some extra benefits, does it not?’

That’s correct, it did. And he had felt that had been Se-Hyeon’s aim for awhile now. Kobe’s status on Root. Aiming for a seat as a member of the special forces meant he was already in possession of various licenses that allowed him access to parts of Root shielded from the general public. But what did not fit right was that the man facing him had, somehow or another, always had his hands on intel way before he had as much the chance of hearing of it. Whatever his status was on Root, it was far more advanced compared to Kobe’s.

‘I don’t think this is a good idea,’ he replied carefully. His tone kept even to imply no hostility nor eagerness. It was factual. They needed the man’s help but none of his trouble.

‘I see,’ he frowned down regretfully, ‘in that case, I’ll be off again.’ He had gotten up which surprised Kobe. He was certain he would have to oblige to more of the other’s persistence. Even negotiate some, an unfurling coil of nerves. But, in reality, none of that had happened.

‘Alas,’ he said as he picked up his suit jacket which he had dropped lazily falling half over their coffee table and half on the floor. After he swung it over his shoulder he turned so the toes of his black suede shoes were pointed to the still seated Kobe’s. The steaming mug in his hand oozed a comfortable warmth in his hands which he could not feel penetrate the rest of him as calculating eyes stared somewhere under his cheekbone.

‘Thank you for having me regardless,’ he stuck out his hand which he automatically answered with a firm grip of his own. The man’s smile was back, white teeth gleaming under the light positioned above him. ‘It was a pleasure, soldier boy. Bye, bye.’ And he walked off.

In a sense, it was odd to see him physically walk out of the door. A silly part of his mind had expected him to teleport or some other sort of supernatural ways of transportation. It was far less uncanny than to watch him walk out of the door as any other person would and hear the weight of his footsteps and faint whistling of some old song leave the corridor. The sounds, so visual, he could still see in his mind’s eye where and in what fashion he was walking the corridor to what he presumed must be in the direction of the lift at the end of the hall.

His vision became sharper again, pulled back to the present. He now noticed how the man had left and had easily disabled the lock. How the house had not acknowledged his leaving as if it was all just in his mind. How his mug had cooled down to the colder temperature of his body, how the man had waved with gloveless hands.

Finally, his eyes fell on the coffee, grown cold, on the table. He tilted his head not knowing what to think of it and decidedly allowed the confusion to dissipate by occupying his mind with more domestic business and homework due.

He wouldn’t be able to figure it out anyways, he reasoned, taking another sip of his soothing camomile tea.

—

It was not until later that he understood what had transpired. Nacht had come back to their apartment, their intercom announcing his arrival and welcoming him inside. His hair looked slightly blown away likely due to the weather outside. Autumn had picked up its pace and even though the city’s weather regulators worked to maintain a certain temperature in the city, it did not quite manage to block out the wind travelling in between the skyscrapers and the city’s Crown.

‘I’m back,’ Nacht greeted as he put his coat away in the hallway dresser. The dresser accepted the coat and the hanger, quickly scanning the ID of his coat, automatically travelled to its usual spot and activated a program to steam it back into shape.

‘Welcome back,’ Kobe walked up to Nacht and hovered, thinking how to tell him about their unexpected visitor earlier. ‘He came by again.’

‘Who did?’ Nacht was taking his boots off to put them in the bottom compartment of the same dresser. Another confirmation came from the dresser and his shoes were pulled back to find their place inside.

‘The man from Old Town,’ Kobe said. ‘He asked for my ROOT ID.’ Nacht stilled.

‘What did he need it for?’ He asked, turning around with a slight frown.

‘I was hoping you could enlighten me on that, actually,’ Kobe had his arms crossed now and was walking back towards his seat. A displeased expression had manifested itself on his face ever since the sudden surreal visit he had been subjected to. ‘He said he needed it for an hour because he could not obtain certain information ... supposedly ... relating to finding Shunran by his usual means.’

Nacht nodded as he followed, his bag slung over his shoulder. Unknowingly, he sat down right where Se-Hyeon had been seated prior to his arrival. His eyebrows raised at the untouched cup of cold coffee in front of him.

‘Listen,’ Kobe started with some frustration laced in his tone.

‘This entire ... thing,’ he gestured,’I have never approved of it and I still find it too suspicious. He essentially breaks into our living quarters whenever he pleases. We do not know what his intentions are and whether he is actually helping us find Shunran or not.’

‘I understand,’ Nacht nodded carefully, ‘but he knows about the code. He is able to obtain information faster than we have up till now and ... I think ... I think we can trust him.’

#SeHyeon #NachtelAmrani #HoshinoKobe

[rukakikuchi]

Infinity II: “Fiction” - Part 4 (Final)

The conclusion is finally here!

---

“I’ll make a deal with you. Prove to this world that your love is true, and I shall allow you both to live this new life. However, if you fail…”

“Ruka…” A short figure turned in the bed, her eyes moving under her closed eyelids, dreaming of moments from the past as the name of the person she loved most escaped her lips several times.

Her eyes soon fluttered open as she found herself somewhere very familiar. She bolted up from the bed, gasping as she looked around at her surroundings.

“This is… Ruka’s mansion?”

She got up from the bed, slowly walking around the room toward a mirror. She was surprised to see her reflection in the mirror. She saw her face and hair looked different from before, and she was much shorter than her ordinary height.

“What?”

“Takahashi Minami,” she suddenly remembered the words that were spoken to her. The words from that person she made her deal with. “That is your new name. In this new life, you are no longer Takajima Maria.”

“Takahashi… Minami,” she repeated, looking at her new face.

It was then that she remembered something else.

“You and him will be given new lives.”

You and him…

“Ruka..!”

She rushed out of the door, running down the hallways with quick, light steps as she called her boyfriend’s name. In search of the vampire, she checked every room and every corner she could. Even now, she felt like she was constantly getting lost in this huge estate.

Maria soon reached the main hallway and found the very person she was searching for. Ruka’s unconscious body was collapsed on the floor, the young man’s long, black cape blanketed over him as he laid on the rug.

“No way…” She slowly came down the steps, drawing closer as she approached him. “It.. can’t be…”

She slowly knelt down to the floor, gently pulling off the cape. She found the man’s hair was now much longer, and instead of it’s striking silver color, it was now jet black with one white streak.

Maria’s hand gently pulled away the hair, seeing her vampire lover’s new face. His jawline was sharp and now gave his face an exotic look. Before, Ruka looked like an 17-year old teenage boy, even though he was centuries older. But this new appearance looked much more mature, closer to looking in his early 20’s.

Her hand then trailed down and felt his arm. Her eyes widened a bit as she felt he had much more muscle than before. She brought her hand to her mouth, her eyes wandering aimlessly as a small chuckle escaped her.

“He looks so different now… I can’t believe it’s him,” Maria said with a small smile, her cheeks slightly blushing.

“...Mari..a…”

The sound of his voice, so deep and smooth like velvet, made her heart skip. She held her breath as she saw the man begin to stir. Ruka’s eyes slowly opened, looking around before seeing the girl in front of him. He stared intently at her, slowly rising up as their gazes never broke.

“Ruka…” Maria smiled, touching the man’s face as tears started to fill her eyes. “It’s me.”

“..Maria?” he asked in a questioning tone. Maria gave an assuring nod, making his eyes widen. “Is that really you..? You are Maria?”

“I am…”

“Maria..!”

He didn’t hesitate to embrace the girl, his strong arms wrapping around her tiny waist. Maria cried over his shoulder, overjoyed to be back in her lover’s arms.

“I missed you so much..!” she said.

“Me too…” Ruka spoke, parting from the hug. “But… how is this possible..? What happened to me? To us?”

“We’ve been given a second chance, Ruka. To prove our love is true.”

“What..? How?”

“I’ll explain everything later,” she said, hugging him again as her smile grew. “Just let me be like this for a bit. It’s been far too long…”

The man smiled, planting a kiss gently on her head, making her giggle as she snuggled against his chest and…

Hm? Wait… what is this?

Maria’s eyes snapped open as she felt something unfamiliar. However, she quickly recognized what she was feeling, breaking away from her lover suddenly with her cheeks growing red.

“Eh..?!” she squeaked as she covered her mouth, looking at Ruka.

“W-what’s the matter?”

“Ruka… y-you, um.. You have…”

“What? What is it?”

“Y-your… chest…” Maria’s voice trailed off, too embarrassed to go on.

“My chest..? What about my--?” He started to ask, before touching his own chest and very quickly realizing what she meant. “Huh?!”

Looking down, Ruka could see clearly from under his white shirt… two bumps that weren’t present before.

“So, does that mean..?”

Ruka quickly turned around, hiding under his cape as he checked a certain area, before looking back with wide eyes.

“I’m… I’m a girl now?!”

Maria blushed a bit while Ruka just sat, taking everything in.

“So… I’m a woman now…” she sighed. “Okay then… Strange. But I can work with this.”

Maria then nodded. “Yes… I’ll have to get used to you as a female now.”

She then stood up, helping Ruka to her feet. She guided her now female vampire lover to the familiar room where they always spent time together, and began to explain their situation.

“Please, listen carefully,” she began, taking a deep breath. “The truth is… We’re no longer Ruka and Maria as we are now.”

“What?”

“This is a different world from the one we were in. These are just temporary bodies… All we really are is the memories of our past selves.”

Ruka furrowed her eyebrows. “I don’t understand… What does this mean?”

“I’ll tell you how it happened… After you.. Left…”

“Yes…”

Maria clutched her chest. “I suffered so much grief from losing you, I began to lose hope… It became too much for me, so I sought for someone to take away my pain.”

“Who?”

“A sorceress.”

Flashback

“Please, I beg of you!” Maria begged the woman clad in black robes, hiding her face. The young girl’s eyes had bags under them, as she seemed very physically and emotionally exhausted. “Take my pain away.”

The sorceress said nothing while the girl continuingly begged for a way to relieve her of her sorrow. After some silence, the girl fell to her knees, pleading on her hands and knees to the sorceress.

“Please! I just want to end it all! Free me from my despair!”

“This is because you have lost someone dear?” the sorceress asked. “The heartbreak is too great to bear any longer?”

“Yes… I can’t go on anymore… I’ve given up on any hope of him returning to me… I just want to rest. Unable to feel pain or sadness.. Just empty slumber.”

After some silence, the sorceress pulled out a black vial and set it in front of Maria.

“If that is what you want, drink this,” she said. “After consuming this potion, your body will fall into an eternal sleep. No longer will you be burdened with painful emotions or sorrowful memories. All you will do is sleep forever, in a state between life and death.”

Maria took the vial with her hands shaking, holding it close to her.

“But, child, I must ask… is this truly what you want? Are you going to end your suffering all because of the pain of heartbreak?”

Tears started to well in the girl’s eyes, her voice speaking hoarsely.

“I just… w-wanted our love… to be accepted..!”

She opened the vial, taking a deep breath before drinking all the contents. After that, she looked back at the sorceress.

“Perhaps it could not be accepted in this world… but there may be hope for you elsewhere.”

“Elsewhe…?” Maria’s voice cut off short as she felt her mind shut off.

No emotions. No memories. No thoughts.

Just empty darkness…

“I wouldn’t give up on hope so easily,” she then heard the sorceress say.

She then began to dream. She found herself in the darkness, walking toward a mirror. Her reflection stepped out of the mirror, facing her with empty eyes.

“Me..?”

“No. That is what used to be Takajima Maria.”

“What… used to be..?”

“In this new world, her name is Kashiwagi Yuki. No longer is she burdened with memories of her past self or the immortal life of a vampire. She is a normal human girl.”

“But… what does that make me?”

“You are the remains of Takajima Maria. Her personality, her memories. Everything that girl in front of you was before.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“I’ll make a deal with you… if you would so oblige to it.”

“A deal? What deal?”

“This girl and the reincarnation of who was formerly Murasame Ruka will be born into a new world, separate from your own. You and him will be given new lives, as well. New names and identities in order to keep that world from collapsing due to the sudden shift.”

“Me and Ruka?! He’s there?”

“He will be, if you agree to the deal. Prove to this world that your love is true, and I shall allow you both to live this new life.”

“How do we do that?”

“By bringing Kashiwagi Yuki to Murasame Ruka’s newest incarnate. Bring them together, remind them of who they used to be, and the world shall acknowledge your love.”

“That’s… all we have to do? Just get them to remember who they are and have them fall in love? That’s--”

“However, if you fail...” the sorceress interrupted.

Maria them saw her mirror self shatter into pieces of glass.

“Your and his existences will be erased.”

“What..?!”

“No longer will you both exist, in past, present, or future. You will no longer be reborn into any world and no recollection of you will be retained by anyone.”

Maria’s eyes widened, her heart racing at the thought of her and Ruka being erased from the world without a trace.

She then saw the sorceress melt out of the mirror, holding her hand out.

“Do we have a deal… Maria?”

End of Flashback

Ruka was silent, sitting with her head low.

“I’m sorry… But, if we prove to her and to the world that our love is true, we can finally be together. There are no vampire hunters or other mystical beings in this world. We can live normal lives as human beings.”

Maria took her lover’s hands, looking in her eyes with a smile.

“Won’t that be a dream come true?” she asked. “More than any eternity… We can just be normal. We’ll live happily side by side, growing old together, in bliss with no more troubles.”

“Maria…”

“After all, isn’t that what we both wanted, in the end? A life together…”

Ruka touched her cheek, making her heart race a bit as she leaned closer.

“No matter how long… Whether it’s just an eternity…”

“Or just one day.”

The two kissed sweetly and passionately. Maria’s arms embraced the woman, laying a head on her chest.

“We’re human now… We have one more chance. So, let’s make the most of it.”

“If that’s truly what you want…” Ruka looked down, holding her lover dear close. “I’ll do anything for you… my Maria.”

Maria chuckled. “Actually, it’s Minami now.”

“Eh?” Ruka raised a brow as she broke the hug.

“Takahashi Minami; that’s my new name. And you’re Akimoto Sayaka.”

“Minami…” Sayaka repeated, hearing the girl chuckle.

“Sayaka.”

“Very well… Minami. Let’s.. do our best.”

“Yeah.”

----------------------------

Back in present day

“Sae-san?! Oi, Sae-san! What’s the matter?” Tano Yuka yelled as she shook the boyish girl collapsed on the floor.

“Someone get the nurse!” Ryoka said as she and Juri ran out.

“Yuka, calm down,” Akane said. “I’ll look after Sae. Go find Sayaka and Takamina.”

“Eh..?! Ah, right!”

Yuka started to run out, only to be stopped when she saw the very two enter. Cradled in Sayaka’s arms was an unconscious Yuki.

“Yukirin?!”

“What’s going on?” Sayaka asked them.

“W-we found Sae-san in here, passed out,” Yuka explained. “But what happened to--?!”

“Relax, we’ll take care of it,” the woman said firmly. She looked over to Minami, “You and Akane go tell the cast about the current situation. Then meet me back here.”

“Alright. Churi, let’s go.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Churi grabbed Yuka’s wrist, dragging her along as they left with Minami.

Sayaka placed Yuki on the bed before approaching Sae. She saw the girl was crying, incoherent whimpers softly escaping from her lips.

“Sae…” Sayaka picked the girl up, placing her in the bed beside Yuki. “If this is what that sorceress meant… then please, remember who you are when you wake up.”

-----------------------

“Wait, Takamina-san, slow down!” Akane urged as she and Yuka tried to catch up.

Minami ignored Akane’s pleas as she continued down the hallway. She felt the girl grab her hand, trying to slow her down. In her panic, she slipped her hand out of her grasp, making her turn around.

“Churi, we have to--” she stopped, however, when she saw the girl was nowhere to be found. “Eh? ...Churi? Yuka?! Where’d you go?!”

It was then she noticed, the clock on the wall was no longer moving.

“Did time stop..?”

“Sorry for doing this so suddenly,” a familiar voice rose. “But I needed to talk to you some way.”

“That voice…” She looked up to see a figure at the top of the stairs, smiling at her. She furrowed her brows in confusion. “Rena-sensei?”

Rena walked down the stairs, facing Minami.

“You won’t have to stress another minute. Those two are finally starting to remember.”

“W-wait… how do you know?”

“Aren’t you the one who asked me to do all of this?” she asked before giggling. “How could you forget, Maria~?”

Minami’s eyes widened, suddenly realizing what was going on.

“You’re… that sorceress?!”

“Still, do you know how hard it was, transferring all four of you to this world? As a result, my magic was weakened temporarily.”

“So… this whole time.. You were watching us?”

“That’s right,” she said, stretching her arms. “I wanted to see if your love was true.”

“So, you pretended to be a human in this world to watch us?”

“Yup. And, just so you know, I was also able to rid Miyazawa Sae of her amnesia earlier.”

“Eh?”

“That injury was what unlocked her past memories. I just gave her the final push to remembering.”

“So, when she and Yuki wake up..!”

“They should remember… but the final choice is up to them?”

Minami furrowed her brows again. “What are you talking about?”

Rena just gave a smirk. “You’ll see,” she answered, then snapped her fingers.

“Takamina-san! Wait up!” Minami heard Akane’s voice as she saw the two girls reappear behind her, and Rena disappeared. Akane looked at her puzzled, “You okay?”

“Um, yes. I’m fine. Let’s go.”

-------------------------

“...Maria? Maria!”

Yuki woke up, finding herself in an empty white space. Her whole mind was blank; she didn’t know where she was or how she had gotten here. She slowly raised herself up, looking around.

“Where is this..?”

“This is your mind, Takajima Maria,” a calm voice echoed.

Yuki looked and saw a figure in a black robe, a hood covering their face. She backed away slightly, growing anxious.

“It’s time for the final judgement. Everything is up to you and her now.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

The figure pointed behind her. Yuki looked and saw a door appear feet away from her. Feeling drawn by some force to go to it, she slowly stood up and walked towards the door. Her hand touched the doorknob, turning it gently before opening the door.

She stepped into a room unfamiliar to her. It looked like she was in a mansion study, a private study where it seemed two people could talk and enjoy each other’s company. On a table in the center of the room sat a glass of red wine and a blue rose in a vase side by side. For some reason, she felt like she had been here, talking with someone in this room.

“I dreamed of you, Ruka.”

“I dreamed about you, too.”

Yuki turned around, thinking she heard someone behind her. But she didn’t see anyone.

It was then she felt a new feeling rise; the feeling that someone was here, and she had to find them. Someone needed her.

She found a door and ran out of the room, entering a large hallway. The next moment, she let her legs move on their own, taking her down what felt like an endless maze of hallways. All the while, she felt as if her mind was also trying to go through a maze, trying to remember where she was and what her current situation is.

“I… Yes, I feel like.. I’ve been down these halls before. These halls that were empty and wide, in this large mansion.. A world for just me and… Someone else..! That’s right. Someone else was here with me! But who? Who was it? Their name.. Their name was..!”

She found herself facing a new door. Immediately, her hand grabbed the handle and the door flew open. She looked to see someone sleeping, alone in a large bed. A young man, or perhaps, a young woman who appeared to be a man? A person with… white hair?

From her breathless voice, a name slipped through her lips, “...Ru...ka..?”

Yuki approached the bed, looking down at the person sleeping. Asleep as if under a spell, a curse like the Sleeping Beauty. A 100-year slumber that couldn’t be broken, until bestowed a kiss of true love. She stroked their cheek with the back of her hand, and gently, placed a kiss on their forehead…

“So that’s your decision.”

….

Yuki yawned as she woke up, finding herself in the infirmary.

“Hmm… hm? Huh..? Why am I in the infirmary?”

As she rose herself up, she heard a soft sigh, followed by a loud yawn.

“That was a good nap~” Sae said as she stretched her arms, before realizing where she was. “Eh? Huh?! When did I end up here?”

“Sae?”

Sae looked over at Yuki, seeing the girl staring as if she had just woken up from a dream.

“Yukirin… Um, any idea how we got here?” she asked.

“Not sure… We were rehearsing for the play, and then…” Yuki tried to recall, but her memory was fuzzy. “Huh? That’s weird… I really don’t remember.”

“I just remembering falling asleep during break,” Sae ruffled her hair. Then, she started laughing.

“Eh? Why are you laughing?”

“I dunno… I’m just happy being with you.”

Yuki blushed a bit before laughing with her.

Meanwhile…

“Sayaka!” Minami ran towards Sayaka, grabbing her arm. “Sayaka… the sorceress.. She..!”

“What?! The sorceress is here?”

“It’s Rena! She was the sorceress, this whole time!”

“No way!”

“And she said Sae and Yuki are..!”

The two immediately ran to the infirmary, but Sayaka stopped. They looked in, seeing Yuki and Sae were talking casually together. Minami was surprised, but ultimately relieved that the two seemed very happy together.

“So… they remember now? They’re Ruka and Maria again?” Sayaka asked.

“Not quite,” Rena’s voice rose, the sorceress appearing behind them.

“Rena..!”

“What do you mean, ‘not quite’?”

“Didn’t I tell you? The final judgement would be up to them. They’re the ones who chose who they were going to be.”

“Chose who.. They would be?”

Flashback, moments earlier...

Feeling Yuki’s kiss, the white haired boy woke up from his long slumber. He opened his eyes and saw the girl in front of him.

“Yukirin..?” he spoke, a feminine voice escaping.

Yuki’s eyes widened. “Sae? Is that you?”

Sae sat up from the bed, staring at the girl.

“I… Yukirin, I remember. I’m Ruka,” she said with a smile, holding her cheeks. “Do you remember?”

“Ruka..?” Yuki blinked, the memory finally hitting her. “Ruka!”

She hugged the girl in front of her, clutching onto her like her favorite teddy bear. She ruffled the short white hair, a wide smile curving her lips.

“Ruka… I can’t believe it’s you..!”

“Yukirin… No, Maria!” The two parted, tears forming in the boyish girl’s eyes. “Maria… it really was you, this whole time. I should’ve known.”

“Oh, Ruka… How could I forget you?”

Ruka held her head, their foreheads touching as they could hear the faint sounds of their hearts beating. As if to initiate a kiss, the boyish vampire closed her eyes. However, sitting in silence, no one made a move.

“Actually…” Maria finally spoke, making Ruka open her eyes. With a smile, she said, “I like ‘Sae’ better.”

She didn’t need to say anything else. She knew exactly what she meant. Yuki placed her head on Sae’s shoulder, holding the girl’s hand.

“I think I like calling you ‘Yukirin’ more, too.”

End of Flashback

“They chose ‘Sae and Yuki’ over ‘Ruka and Maria’. In other words, they chose their present over their past.”

“But… what does that mean for us?” Minami asked.

“You two,” Rena then took their hands, making them intertwine together. “Enjoy your new future, Ruka, Maria.”

“R-Ruka?”

“Maria?!”

With one final smile and wave, Rena disappeared.

“Ah! Ruka, Maria!” Sae’s voice rose as the two left the infirmary. The boyish girl saw their hands being held together. “Ahh~ cute! I knew the rumors were true!”

“Rumors?!”

“You two ARE dating!”

“Eh, such rumors were being spread?” Yuki asked, Sae answering with a nod. “Oh my gosh! Maria-san, you should’ve told me!”

Minami blinked. “Did… you just call me ‘Maria’?”

“Of course. That is your name, after all.”

Sayaka and Minami looked at each other, then looked back at them.

“Th-that’s right! Takajima Maria, that’s me!” Minami said.

“Hmm, now that I think about it, Ruka and Maria’s names are the same as in the musical.”

“Ah! Does that mean the play is your love story?!” Sae asked, teasing the two.

“Alright, calm down,” Sayaka said. “Go back and meet up with the rest of the cast.”

“Yes, ma’am!” the two said, walking down the hall, hand-in-hand.

“So, that’s SaeYuki, huh?” Sayaka said, wrapping her arm around Minami’s shoulders. “And now, we’re Ruka and Maria.”

Minami giggled. “Seems like it…”

-----------------------

The next day...

“Thank you very much!” The cast took their final bow as the school applauded them.

As the curtain closed, the girls ran backstage, all relieved that they were able to pull off the show. Some were crying in relief, some happily dancing.

“We did it~!” Sae cheered as she hugged Yuki from behind. “Yukirin, that was awesome!”

“Yeah! I’m happy!”

“Ah, also…” Sae then faced the girl, putting her hand near her lips. “I was thinking, would you wanna go out this weekend?”

Yuki blushed. “You mean… a date?”

“If you didn’t mind.”

The girl giggled, placing a kiss on Sae’s cheek. “I’d love to.”

Meanwhile…

“We actually did it… We actually DID it!” Maria said excitedly as she laid across the couch in her office. “Can you believe it?!”

Ruka just patted her head, giving her a calm smile.

“Ruka… what do you wanna do for the summer? We didn’t really get to have an official first date before. So, maybe, when we’re finished here, you and I could…?”

“I’ve already made preparations,” Ruka said, handing the short girl several pamphlets. “I told you I’d show you everything in the world.”

“Ehh?! Seriously?!”

“Yes. A vacation for just the two of us. We can finally make happy memories together.”

Maria hugged her girlfriend, pecking her lips shortly.

“Feels good to finally be together.”

“Indeed, it does.”

The End

#AKB Kagekidan #Infinity #Ruka x Maria #SaeYuki #SayaMina #Sayaka Akimoto #Minami Takahashi #Yuki Kashiwagi #Sae Miyazawa #Fanfiction #AKB Fanfic

[orangebatsanctuary]

New story from Inaho x Slaine Anthology arrived!

Aldnoah On Ice

Story by Fabelyn

AZ x Yuri on Ice paro by Fabelyn, surely great crossover, I was thinking about it before, that Inaho & Slaine being in YOI AU gonna be super Katsudon/delicious. It certainly is.

Read on OrangeBat Sanctuary website:  http://www.orangebat-sanctuary.com/aldnoah-on-ice-by-fabelyn

or click ‘Keep reading’ below.

Happy reading!

Love,

Rosiel

Aldnoah On Ice

by Fabelyn

*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･: * 

If there was a hell, it would be the Grand Prix after party banquet. At least, it would be when Slaine later learned about the gaps in his memory….

 “Ooh, Slaine, he’s here!”

Of course he is, this is the post final banquet, Slaine thought sourly, but could never muster the will to reveal such spite to Asseylum. Instead he smiled a little too thinly and replied, “Yup!” before downing another whole glass of champagne.

Asseylum didn’t notice his tone, but did frown at the drinking before going back to focus on that year’s—and the last three years too—Grand Prix Final winner: Inaho Kaizuka.

Slaine had no idea what Asseylum, or anyone else, saw in him. Well, maybe he did; even Slaine had to admit his technical skills were beyond compare.

But his performance had always felt soulless to Slaine. As if Inaho didn't put any feeling into it, and simply executed every move too flawlessly for judges to have any issue with it.

In fact, Slaine might have once admired Inaho. But that was before his sister, Asseylum, had started becoming Inaho’s avid fan, and before Slaine had done embarrassingly bad at the last two Grand Prix Finals, and the memory of Inaho tended to bring shame over his own results.

Honestly, if only he had a better coach... then again, that would imply he had one. He often didn’t think what Cruhteo did for him could be considered coaching...

Or maybe he was being too ungrateful and full of himself, blaming his inability to be better on someone else.

Ugh. He took another glass and drank it in one go.

Why was he losing both Asseylum’s admiration and the gold medal to someone that looked bored every day? So what if his performance was awe-inspiring despite that, and that he looked so good—

Oh, the drink is really getting to my head, I should stop.

He made a negative motion towards a waiter offering him another glass and saw Asseylum nod approvingly.

“Slaine, we should go greet him!”

“Who?”

“Inaho Kaizuka, silly!”

Damnit. “Why?”

Asseylum smiled. “Well, he’s my friend—”

Just because you spoke to him when you both were in Russia doesn’t mean he thinks of you as a friend.

“But more importantly... you haven’t talked to him yet, even though you both won this and last year!”

“I didn’t win, I got sixth and fifth place.”

“Even reaching the Grand Prix Final at all is a win, Slaine!” Asseylum gave him one of her most beaming smiles, which made his heart melt.

“I suppose…” He fidgeted, suddenly regretting his decision to turn down another glass.

“So,” Asseylum continued, “it’s only polite that you two greet each other. Last year you forfeited the banquet because I was sick…”

“That’s not your fault!”

“...but this year we’re fine, so you too should finally speak to each other! He’s a great person, really.”

Slaine tried to protest some more, but as usual he had no willpower to deny his sister.

He glanced at Inaho again... and found Inaho looking right back at him. Instead of trying to look away quickly, the boy continued staring regardless.

Slaine looked away. He supposed it was only natural for Inaho to be looking their way if he knew his sister.

“Come on, Slaine,” Asseylum said, and grabbed his arm to lead him to Inaho.

Defeated, Slaine sighed and grabbed a passing glass of champagne as he allowed himself to be led.

“Oh, and this might be your last chance to talk to him, too,” Asseylum mumbled as an afterthought.

Slaine frowned and looked at her. “Why?”

“It seems he’s considering retiring this year or the next.”

“I’ve heard that, but it’s still unconfirmed, so maybe it’s just gossip. He’s my age; there’s still plenty of time before he retires.”

“Yes, but he said as much to me in Russia. I think he lacks motivation to continue.”

“Hm.” The bastard. Being that perfect and throwing it all away? Did he not love skating? God, if he didn’t want his talent he should just hand it to Slaine.

By the time he and Asseylum reached Inaho and his entourage, his head was fuzzy and his glass empty, so he took another one.

*

For Inaho, these social gatherings were always hellish.

Dull, everything was so dull, as usual. Inaho saw no point in these social gatherings, but his sister and his coach, Magbaredge, had insisted he always attend, so there he was.

The only point of interest were the Allusia-Troyard siblings. The sister, from the famous ballet family of Allusia, was a decent skater but, being a dancer prodigy, focused on that and not competitive skating. He was personally quite fond of her, but it was the brother he was more interested in.

Slaine Troyard. As the son of the former Allusia family coach, he’d been taken in by them after the death of his parents. That was the extent of his life’s story that Inaho knew; the media and others liked to gossip about the family situation but Inaho always ignored it, he was far more interested in Slaine personally.

Slaine had done badly at the two Grand Prix he’d competed in, but in a way that interested Inaho. From his observations, Slaine would have succeeded and reached the podium if he’d perfected his moves, or simply chosen a sequence that would earn him more points, instead of one that seemed focused on emotions and meaningfulness. Honestly, he’d skated as if he hadn’t been most moves taught properly, which was ridiculous considering where he’d reached.

And yet, despite the glaring flaws in his program, something about it had been... enticing. Even to Inaho, who was usually only interested in the technical aspects of it.

“Inaho, congratulations!” Seylum said, approaching him and seemingly honest in cheer.

Inaho smiled at her, and pointedly ignored his sister making faces behind Seylum; she made suggestive motions whenever he spoke with a girl his age.

“Thank you,” he told Seylum, then turned to her brother. “Slaine Troyard.”

Slaine was swaying slightly, clearly having drunk more than he could handle.

“...Inaho Kai—” he stopped and fumbled with his surname for a few seconds before grumbling. “It’s difficult to pronounce, maybe I should call you Orange.”

Inaho blinked. “...you want to call me by the color of my skating clothes?”

“Why not?” Slaine shrugged and reached for another glass from a passing waiter. Seylum was scandalized.

“Slaine! I think you had more than enough! Inaho, sorry, he’s usually very polite, but I think the champagne got to his head.”

“It’s fine, let him have as much as he wants.” Inaho assured her, curious to see what else Slaine would say in his inebriated state. “I shall call you Bat, then. You reminded me of one, with that black outfit you had in the GPF.”

Slaine scowled as if he didn’t like it, but changed topics as he drank from his cup. Seylum tried prying it of him, to no avail.

“Are you really thinking of retiring?”

“Slaine!” Seylum tried chiding once again.

“I don’t mind it,” Inaho said offhandedly, and he wasn’t just being polite; he’d always preferred things to be direct. “I am considering it, yes.”

Slaine’s scowl deepened. “Why would you do that?!”

Inaho shrugged. “I’ve reached the peak of my career. I’ve executed every move I wanted flawlessly and won the competitions I was interested in, and I’m now financially secure for the rest of my life. There’s nothing else to be gained by continuing. You seem upset at the thought, yet isn’t it good for you if I’m no longer here? You’ll place higher.”

Slaine moved closer to him, face so close Inaho could smell the alcohol on his breath, and placed an indignant finger on his chest, poking him insistently.

“I can’t beat you if you aren’t there.”

“First of all you should aim to even reach the third or second place. And of course you can. Simply score higher than I have.”

Slaine blinked blearily, apparently not having thought of that in his present state. But then he recovered and his face darkened again.

“It doesn’t matter!” he said, quite slurred. “You sh-shouldn’t let talent go to waste! Put more feeling into your programs!”

He didn’t know how to. “I don’t care to.”

Slaine groaned. “Then, if you’re going to retire, you should... should…”

He stopped. Apparently whatever he was going to say was too much and even in his drunk state he hesitated.

Inaho couldn’t have that. Wordlessly he extended his hand out, offering Slaine the glass he’d been nursing, still full.

Slaine accepted it, drank it all and then…

“If you’re going to waste your skill, you should just come and be my coach,” he said.

Seylum stared at him, and Inaho realized he was doing the same and composed himself.

“...Why?”

“Because... look at you! You’re good at everything I lack in skating, and you’re good-looking and... and…”

Inaho stiffened when Slaine wrapped his arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

Seylum squealed and behind her Yuki had a moment of confusion before deciding anything was fine and giving Inaho the thumbs up.

Slaine then began whispering in Inaho’s ear.

“Because my coach only wants Asseylum as this generation's star and... and I know he doesn’t like how I’ve been winning in spite of his shitty training and... and I don’t want to steal the spotlight from Asseylum’s dancing career but I love ice skating and it’s all I ever want to do.”

Oh.

Well now…

This was more interesting. If Slaine really was even more skilled than he’d shown himself to be, and was being weighed down by someone’s machinations…

He recalled how enthralling Slaine’s performance had been...

Inaho didn’t like to involve himself in drama, but it made him angry to think Slaine was being kept from his true potential. Still, becoming a coach might be too troublesome, maybe he could help him out in some other way.

Slaine let him go and gave him a lopsided smile. He looked good smiling.

“I know! Let’s have a dance-off! If I win, you’ll be my coach!”

“I don’t dance…”

“So I win by default!”

“No, you—”

“Hey, this seems fun,” Rayet, an ice skating bronze medalist, swooped in, looking amused. “How about I join you?”

Was she listening to our conversation? Inaho frowned; Slaine hadn’t been loud.

*

Technically she shouldn’t stick out... well, not more than normal for a medalist. But the party was a bore fest, especially when she was only there to observe the target.

Asseylum Vers Allusia. Rayet’s family was being paid by an anonymous source to make sure the darling ‘accidently’ suffered some form of crippling injury and could never fully dance again. And with Rayet’s background... this job was hers. And so she had been purposely listening in when she heard Slaine mention a dance-off.

Perfect. She could have an excuse to get closer to Asseylum and thus find out her schedule, and have some fun tonight.

“Since that guy doesn’t look interested,” she told Slaine, “how about you battle me?”

Slaine looked crestfallen for a moment before smiling at her. “I guess, why not? What do you want? Samba? Hip hop?”

“Hmm…” Rayet looked around for inspiration and focused on the thin metal pillars around the banquet room. She smiled impishly. “Do you know poledancing?”

*

Inaho stared as a half naked Slaine proudly danced around a pole while supporting Rayet.

Why had he been thinking of avoiding the task of being his coach again?

No, no he mustn’t choose such a complicated future for himself based on how Slaine shone as he danced.

Right.

Besides, there was something else to worry about here. Like the fading bruise on Slaine’s ribs. Judging by how others seemed to be either amused or scandalized by the display, no one had thought much of it. Perhaps everyone was assuming it was simply a training injury, but the placement didn’t make much sense for that.

“Soooo,” Yuki trailed, shuffling closer to him. “You like boys, huh? You know, you could have told me that so I didn’t keep trying to hook you up—”

“I’m not interested in either,” Inaho interrupted. “It’s only natural that I focus in such an unexpected display for these kind of gatherings.”

His coach, Magbaredge, raised an eyebrow and also moved closer to him.

“Is that so? Alright then, how many times has Slaine spun around that pole?”

Inaho could have lied, but that would mean acknowledging she had a point, so he told the truth. “This is the tenth time doing a full rotation around it.”

“And Rayet?”

“...I’m not so sure. But this observation is hardly conclusive evidence of the sort of interest you both are implying.”

The two women looked at him pityingly, and his sister took out her cellphone.

“Wait until Nina and the others hear of this. Well, it’s a pity I won’t have grandchildren—”

“Nieces and nephews. You’re my sister not my—”

“Orange!”

Inaho turned from his entourage to find Slaine approaching him again.

“I won! Now let’s have our dance-off!”

“As I said, I don’t dance.”

“Bullshit!” Slaine slurred and reached out to grab Inaho by the tie, pulling him closer. “You’re a pro ice-skater, of course you can dance!”

With their faces inches apart, Inaho was feeling slightly uncomfortable, but not for logical reasons such as the smell of alcohol or disliking closeness.

“I... really don’t—”

“C’mon now,” Slaine said, voice an octave lower now, and Inaho felt his hand on his back, fingers splayed out as he pulled Inaho’s body even closer. “Dance with me, Orange.”

Inaho swallowed.

This was completely illogical.

*

“This is completely illogical,” Inaho continued to insist later, slightly dazed, as his sister and coach forced him to get on the uber car.

“Uhuh,” Yuki said offhandedly, and Inaho turned to look at her to find her occupied with selecting images on her phone.

He inched closer and saw her choose one where, in a very intimate moment, Slaine was dipping Inaho’s body while their heads were inches apart and Inaho had his hand caressing Slaine’s face.

He stared at it. Yuki was sending it to all friends. All five of them.

“It’s illogical,” he deadpanned.

“So you keep parroting,” Magbaredge said, amused. “Be more specific.”

“It makes no sense, there is no basis, for me to... feel this way about some boy with too much alcohol in his system.”

Magbaredge’s smile was a leer. “Welcome to love, Junior. It’s as nonsensical as it seems.”

Inaho closed his eyes, leaned back into the seat and let out a long suffering sigh.

“I suppose this is when one would say ‘this is hell’.”

“Oh no, wait until the pining starts.”

Inaho opened his eyes again. “What pining? Slaine is clearly quite enamored with me.”

At that, Yuki frowned slightly.

“True,” she said worriedly, “but with the way the poor boy was drinking, he might not have a clear memory of everything tomorrow…”

*

Slaine, it turned out, retained no memory of the banquet after Asseylum suggested they go greet Inaho.

Which didn’t stop Asseylum from telling him about it, as well as finding pictures of it on some social media.

Initially Slaine had been mortified. And then Cruhteo got wind of it, and there was no time for embarrassment.

Slaine had thought that nothing would again compare with the bleakness that followed his father’s death. He was wrong, and his personal hell came back.

*

“Sir.”

Slaine sighed. “Harklight, I’ve told you, there’s no need to address me so formally.”

Harklight was adamant. “Master Saazbaum placed you as this ryokan’s manager. As a mere supervisor, I’m below you.”

“You’re older than me and been at this longer. Besides, we both know he only did it out of charity since I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

“And yet, you’ve been doing splendidly so far.”

Slaine ducked his head at the compliment, “Only because I have such good staff and don’t really need to do much at all.”

Harklight smiled momentarily before it slipped of his face and he continued carefully. “About having nowhere to go... Sir Slaine…”

Slaine noticed Harklight’s eyes glancing down and followed his gaze to the sports magazine he’d been reading. He winced; he’d been at the ice skating part. He hastily closed it, despite knowing it was futile.

“I was just curious. I still like it as a sport,” Slaine said defensively.

“It’s clearly more than that for you, still. Why don’t you go back to the Allusia household?”

“They were the ones that banished me to Japan in the first place.”

Although his deplorable state at the banquet had largely been ignored apart from gossip columns, Cruhteo still kicked up a storm and caused an uproar over it.

Thanks to Asseylum mitigating things, an agreement was made that Slaine had found perfect at the time; have him take some time off in some distant country until it was forgotten by the public.

It should have been punishment; a month away from one’s coach could be fatal for training. But since Cruhteo’s training largely consisted of teaching Slaine the bare minimum to avoid suspicion and beating him when he made a mistake... Slaine had taken it happily.

But then tragedy had struck, and he was never summoned back to their side.

“It’s been months,” Harklight insisted. “It’s time you went back so you can prepare for this skating season.”

“They never called me back. And I can’t... show my face there now when Asseylum is still recovering. Especially when Cruhteo still insists I somehow ordered the car crash.” He balled his hands into fists just remembering the disgusting accusations.

Harklight pursed his lips. “Wasn’t it something ridiculous? That you must have ordered it because you knew where she would be that day because she had messaged you?”

“Yes.”

“But hadn’t she also messaged most of her friends?”

“Yes, but Cruhteo claimed I had motive because I must have been bitter to have to spend one month away.”

“Surely they didn’t believe that.”

“Harklight, I’m here because they cut my income and I was rescued by Saazbaum.”

“That could have been a mistake, I recall you mentioning that they were sending you money again.”

“Yes.” Though he hadn’t touched that money and didn’t plan to, if he could help it. “But even so…”

“...If anyone actually believed that accusation, the media circus surrounding it wouldn’t have died down so quickly. Besides, you wouldn’t still be considered adopted by them, would you?”

“We don’t know that. They could be too busy worrying about her to remember to cancel my adoption. Also, if everything really was alright, she’d have been allowed to speak to me.” Which he hadn’t even known was going on until Saazbaum revealed it to him.

Harklight’s eyes flashed with anger, but not at Slaine. “Fine. You should still find another coach and continue the career you love. Ask Master Saazbaum for help.”

Slaine doubted he would help him with that. He’d had the distinct impression Saazbaum loathed the Allusia family, and so long as Slaine was still technically part of it, any prestige he got would only help them. And even if that wasn’t a factor…

“Harklight, in truth I... did try to search for another coach already,” Slaine admitted, wincing at the memory. “None of them will take me. It seems Cruhteo has poisoned them against me.”

Harklight cursed. “That man, I should just—”

“Sirs?”

They both turned to find a low ranking employee at the door to the room. The woman bowed at them.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s a guest at the onsen that insist on speaking to Master Troyard.”

“If he wishes to speak to a Manager, send Mazuurek. He’s the best at handling guests personally.”

“I tried, but he insists on speaking to you and only you. He requested you by name.”

Slaine looked at Harklight, who shrugged to indicate he didn’t know what this was about.

“I’ll go to them right away,” Slaine told the woman, not bothered by the request since he was eager to have an excuse to end his conversation with Harklight.

*

It turned out the guest had paid for a private onsen experience. Slaine wondered if it was a rich customer that wanted to speak to him to demand more perks. Well, Saazbaum ran his hotel chain with the belief most things could be negotiated, so that could be arranged…

He opened the particular onsen door already putting on his business face.

“Pardon the intrusion, I was told you wanted to see—”

The words died in his throat with a gurgle when Slaine recognized the figure soaking in the water.

“Ah, you’re finally here,” Inaho Kaizuka said plainly, then stood up, giving Slaine a full view of his naked body.

“Why are you...” here? Trying to talk to me? “...naked?”

Oh God, had he really just asked that of a person soaking in the water?

Inaho, wading towards him, stopped and blinked.

“One typically goes into the onsen without any clothes. I understand you’re not Japanese, but surely as the manager of a ryokan you should have known that by now.”

Slaine felt his face flushing in anger and embarrassment.

“I meant, why are you here?”

“Because this ryokan is famous for the—”

“Why are you in this ryokan?”

Inaho had finally reached the edge of the water nearest Slaine, who was trying his hardest to not look below Inaho’s face. Damn him and his toned body.

“Why? To be your coach, of course.”

“...What?”

*

“So let me get this straight,” Slaine said, still trying to wrap his head around the situation as Inaho, now mercifully clothed, ate dinner in his room. “During the banquet not only did I make a complete fool of myself... I also asked you to be my coach?”

“Yes, pretty much. So you don’t remember that part?”

“I don’t remember any of it!” Slaine snapped, then winced when he realized he was taking his self recrimination out on the wrong person. “I’m sorry for yelling. And... I’m sorry you came all the way here, I don’t remember asking such a thing.”

Inaho, surprisingly, didn’t look disappointed. “I considered that possibility when you failed to call me afterwards.”

“I don’t—” Slaine stopped. He had woken up the next day to find a phone number meticulously written in a slip of paper... that had been shoved inside his briefs. Oh god.

“Either way, it doesn’t matter,” Inaho was saying offhandedly.

“It... doesn’t?”

“Of course not. Inebriation removes inhibition, it’s less likely to create desires you never had before. And this isn’t a matter of consent since you aren’t being forced into anything. Therefore, even if you don’t recall asking for it, it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t want me as your coach. Either way, this trip would be necessary to verify that.”

Inaho stopped talking and eyed him expectantly. Slaine realized he was waiting for him to confirm or deny if he wanted it or not.

“Well... I…” he could just claim it was a drunken suggestion because he’d thought it hilarious but... but he did want it and... didn’t he need it too?

“Did you retire because of this?”

“No, I was already contemplating it. Your request simply gave me the final push towards it as it was something to look forward to more than competing.”

Slaine tried to tune down the butterflies in his stomach; clearly Inaho was talking about the challenge of it, and not the prospect of being with Slaine. Besides…

“That was months ago, why only now?”

“Obviously, I plan to take this seriously. I have no experience in teaching others so I first researched coaching techniques. And I also looked up your situation.”

Oh, so he is only doing this for the thrill of it. Slaine tried to not look disappointed.

“Well... then you know it’s not as if I have any other coach…”

“Nonsense. You simply lack the right contacts. There are plenty of coaches who dislike Cruhteo and wouldn’t heed his words. If... the only reason you want me is because you have no other choice, I’ll get you in contact with someone else.”

Slaine was taken aback; it had sounded like Inaho had hesitated for a moment. He felt bad now; Inaho had gone to some trouble to be his coach, even if not for the selfish reasons Slaine, and he was talented and intelligent…

“You said you know my situation…” Slaine said slowly, “then you’re aware I’ve been practically cut from the Allusia household and have little funding.”

Inaho shrugged. “Only temporarily. Since Seylum is recovering so well—”

“You've seen her!? She’s okay?”

“Yes, though she’s not allowed to be on the phone and only receives a few visits now and then. Regardless, she is doing well which is why you’ve been put aside for now.”

“I don’t understand. Why would her positive recovery be what’s keeping me banished?”

“Because at the moment she’s still above you in terms of victories. If they think she can go back to winning gold like before, while you have yet to win any medals, they’ll keep focusing on her. However, they’ll give you their attention again when you win gold this year—”

“If I win, you mean.”

“No. If I’m to be your coach, you won’t do worse than gold.”

“...even if you think highly of your own abilities, you shouldn’t overestimate mine. And how can one do better than gold?”

“By beating world records. And I’m not overestimating your abilities.”

It was getting harder and harder to not react to Inaho’s words, and Slaine shifted nervously.

“Even if I could... I’m not sure I’d want to take away Asseylum’s prestige.”

“You won’t. She doesn't even ice skate.”

“Yes, but if I win, she won’t be the only winner in the family.”

“...Do you really think Seylum cares about being the only prestigious person? You should speak to her more, when this is over; she wants someone to share the glory.”

Somehow, Slaine didn’t think he was lying; that was just like Asseylum.

So... he could continue competing... and it wouldn’t harm Asseylum... and he could even have Inaho Kaizuka by his side…

Why was he still hesitating?

“I... if you’ll have me then... please be my coach.”

For the first time since they began talking, Inaho smiled slightly. Slaine had the sudden urge to make him smile more.

“Good. I’ll inform my sister she can move my things here.”

“Ah? Sure, I guess. I’ll tell Saazbaum.”

“Tomorrow we’ll start a training regime; it seems like you’ve let go of yourself during this time and you need to be put back into shape.”

“S-sorry. Okay.”

“I’ve checked the layout of this land on google maps and have made a specific running circuit that should suit your needs.”

“You... really?”

“I’ve also reviewed your former performances and added specific muscle training.”

“...Thanks?”

“We’ll go through the program I choreographed for you after two weeks.”

“...You already have one for me?”

“And I’ll send you a list of your new diet to your email. Start today.”

“I... I…”

“And... I don’t suppose you were exaggerating when you said you recalled nothing of the banquet?”

“Huh? That’s right, sorry. Is there another important thing I forgot?”

“Nothing we can’t get back to with time. So you don’t recall our dancing?”

He was blushing again. “I’ve seen photos of it.”

“My sister has the whole thing on video. She’ll show you when she arrives.”

“She’s... moving in too?”

“Naturally. So you don’t remember calling me attractive?”

Slaine froze, then hid his face in his hands. “N-No...”

“I’ll take it as a no. So no recollections of trying to take my clothes off.”

“I... I…”

“And when you kissed me.”

“Oh God. Ohgodohgodohgod.”

“And when we had sex.”

Slaine’s vision blurred and everything turned black. When he regained consciousness, he was lying on the ground, Inaho hovering over him.

“How long was I out?”

“A few seconds.”

“I had sex and I don’t even remember—”

“I lied. We didn’t.”

Slaine sat up so fast he nearly knocked Inaho away.

“We... didn’t?” He wouldn't have been able to hide his relief even if he tried.

“Of course not,” Inaho said, brows creased. “It would be wrong to do it with someone that was too drunk to give consent properly.”

“...Are you implying you would have done it if I—”

“But it’s interesting that you didn’t question any of what I said. So to you it’s quite plausible that in an inhibited state you’d have complimented my looks, ripped my clothes off, kissed me then gone to bed with me?”

Slaine could feel his whole body turning scarlet now. He tried to ignore Inaho’s question and focus on the positive aspect of it.

“So everything you said was just a lie to gauge my reaction?” He was so happy he couldn't even be mad.

“No. You did everything except the sex part. If you don’t believe me, my sister has it all documented. But again, so you have wanted to—”

Change the subject, change the subject right now!

“Y-You said you had something choreographed for me?”

“Yes. I made it based on the you I saw at the banquet.”

“...I’m not sure drunkenness will translate well to ice skating moves,” Slaine pointed out wryly.

“I didn’t add that part.”

“Oh. What's it called?”

“On love: Eros.”

“...”

“...”

“Excuse me sirs, I came to clean up the table— oh. Is... everything alright?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

*

Later on, curled into a ball on his bed and ignoring Inaho’s demands to be let in (which Slaine refused, even if he had, thankfully, left all his Inaho Kaizuka memorabilia back at the Allusia mansion), Slaine could still hardly believe what was happening.

He would be able to see Asseylum again. He’d be able to skate again. He had Inaho Kaizuka as his coach. And it almost felt like the boy was implying he wanted more than that.

He laughed quietly, feeling how fast his heart was beating in excitement, maybe things would start looking up from now on.

 *:･ﾟ✧ ✧･: * 

 Author Notes:

-Although it would have made more sense for Inaho to be Yuuri (both being japanese while Slaine is foreign) I had a harder time imagining Inaho becoming a drunk mess. Or Slaine being someone that, like, Victor didn’t know any love before, unless I removed Asseylum (which he loves even if not romantically) from the plot. Of course, saying Inaho doesn’t know love is also not correct as he loves his sister but...it still fit him more to have performances based on technical prowess and not feeling. And it was more in line with az to have him be better than Slaine.

-In an attempt to explain why Slaine would be working at an onsen, as well as mention other characters, some sort of sordid subplot of Saazbaum (yes it was him) trying to get Asseylum permanently incapacitated from dancing emerged. However, this is meant as an oneshot and I don’t plan on continuing it.

-On the banquet: honestly, I couldn’t imagine Inaho not mentioning the banquet, but unlike Victor I could see him not being too upset if he found out the truth.

Fabelyn 

*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･: * 

#ALDNOAH ZERO #inaho kaizuka #slaine troyard #az anthology #fabelyn #Aldnoah On Ice #inaho x slaine #orangebat #yuri on ice #paro