#「 r. all it took was a single spark ( itto ; yoimiya ) 」

[xamassed]

⟬ @ofhope​​ / itto’s birthday 6 • 1 ⟭

Discerning a present for the famed Arataki Gang Leader was almost as grand as the gesture. Fireworks? They'd be involved in some fashion, but it wasn't enough to qualify as a gift. Food? If Yoimiya planned a meeting without food, surely her brain had gotten knocked around!

Being the Queen of Summer, Yoimiya knew how joyous, but fleeting, its activities were. An Onikabuto battleground was the perfect recipe, Yoimiya thought, for not only an exciting day but for lasting all season long! Finding a nook to begin crafting was its own difficulty, but Yoimiya had received tips from the Traveler -- that island, isolated and empty, didn't see much traffic... after their extraordinary event last year, Itto would surely adore seeing it liven up once again.

Nearing the size of a human-oriented ring, Yoimiya's grand project was finished with a final coating of paint: a ramp to gain leverage, optional stage changes, wooden planks to dictate points... it took a lotta' work, not only from Yoimiya, but from her father, too. Even on her worst days, her mother piped in with color palettes, ways of balancing certain fixtures...

All for Itto.

Swiping away the Oni proved a challenge too, the gang ready to deliver a barrage of gifts and treats, but Yoimiya managed. Step by step, the firestarter led Itto toward his prize.

What Itto would see? An Onikabuto wonderland, one of his star champs already in the ring, chittering happily at Itto's entrance.

"Tadaaaaa!" running ahead, Yoimiya posed before the structure! "Soooo? What do you think? You've prooobably got an idea what it is, buuut ~ I'll let you guess anyway!"

She laughs, tap-tapping the wood, pleased.

"Happy birthday, Itto. From me, and all of the Naganohara family!"

All of this hard work had been for him, and yet it felt more to him like she had been avoiding him for the few days that it took for her to meticulously prepare her massive, titan of a gift.

Every rare glimpse of her was quick as a phosphorous flash, here and gone within the span of a second. When he did catch her, she was still elusive. Her smile was still as sweet as it ever was, but he couldn't keep hold of her long enough to ask if she wanted to spend his birthday with him.

He had his gang, sure, but she had steadily wiggle-wormed her way under his skin and had become as important to him as they were. His special day wouldn't feel the same if she wasn't there to add the color he needed — and, in fact, it didn't feel the same once the day arrived.

Itto was happy, of course. His best friends and the ones he considered his brothers were there to spoil him, gifts held high above their heads and enthusiastic shouts warming his heart. It was enough to bring a grown oni to tears, except he was given an unexpected yank just as he was about to shake off his gloom and party the way he ought to.

"Hey! Firecracker, you're here!" He had been so sure that she'd forgotten, or that she simply didn't want to celebrate with him. He wanted to ask her where she'd been as of late, but he didn't have the chance. She was eager, and he realized then as he followed her without argument that he was weak to her persistent encouragement.

Come on, come on! He was tugged and guided along and given promises that he would love what he saw. How could he not, he wondered. If any of it had been blessed with her touch, then he was bound to adore all of what she had done.

And he did. Oh, he adored it with his whole heart.

Wide and misty eyes gawked at the structure, which he immediately deemed ten times larger, better and sicker than the original. He had put work into his, but this was better by a long shot.

"You did this?" He pointed feebly, mind still reeling from the intensity of her dedication. The call of his champion didn't elude him, but he was sure that the onikabuto could wait a few seconds longer as Itto nearly tackled the woman with pure, uncorked glee.

She was hoisted off her feet and lifted high, the strength in one arm easily giving her a place to sit in the crook of his elbow. His other hand punched at the air, elation more than obvious as he whooped and hollered.

"This is the best present everyone's ever given me! Ever!" He refused to set her down, his queen of color and light. It was his birthday, and he was the one that needed celebrating, but he would go out of his way to make sure she had just as much fun as he did. "You and me, we're gonna dominate this arena!!"

[xamassed]

⟬ @ofhope ⟭

"For the record, you're *one* of my favorite claymore users." What? Yoimiya couldn't outright state Itto was her favorite!

"Awh, what? I'm one of your favorites? That means there are other ones, and that I ain't the best! C'mon, that's so unfair! I'm the biggest, strongest and the best lookin' outta everyone!" Everyone, he declared. That was a mighty claim to make, but he had the ego for it.

He also had the temper to follow.

"Alright, you're gonna tell me the name of every claymore user you know! Every single one! I'm gonna find all of 'em and show 'em who the real top-dog is! I'll prove to you that I'm the only one that deserves all your praise and admiration."

[xamassed]

⟬ @ofhope / valentine's day 2023 ⟭

Dragging around a massive Oni took some muscle; thankfully, Yoimiya never let such feats overwhelm her! Yashiori Island was the prime setting for her master plan - clearing out the troublemakers took some extra time, and maybe Itto would've preferred taking part in that, but sacrifices had to be made!

"No peeking!" although granted, the sounds would give off her surprise, she couldn't risk the sights being seen ahead of time -- but to soften the blow, she twines their fingers together, palm to palm. "Aaaanddd..."

With a departing squeeze, Yoimiya slips away from the Oni, quickly gathering a light and starting the signature szzzzz of a lit fuse, she all but shouts:

"Eyes to the skies, tiny! Look!"

In a plume of yellows and purples, the Arataki Gang's signature logo is etched into the skies, spreading wide and far. It's quiet then, as sparks burst forth and crackles and pops speed through the emptied valleys, before ending in a crescendo of sizzles. Once the display has reached its end, Yoimiya grasps his hand once more, fits her fingers 'between the spaces of his own, and gestures downward.

"Don't worry, I knew that after that long of a trip, you'd be wanting a meal or three! Sooo... I set this up ahead of time. And- aaand- aaaannnd I have dessert! It's kinda' my first time making anything with that much chocolate, sooo... it's probably fine? But -" gathering herself on the tippiest of toes, she presses a soft, lingering kiss to Itto's cheek. "Happy Valentine's, Itto."

"I'm not peekin'! How many times are you gonna tell me not to do somethin' I ain't done this wh——?!" Irritation subsided in an instant, with the touch of her hand and the sudden absence of it a moment later. He heard her hurry away, eyes peeling open to find her barely illuminated by the tiniest of flames dancing at the end of a long stick.

A spark skipped, and the light doubled. He knew well what that meant — with that indication and her warning, Itto turned his attention to the sky.

"Woah. . ."

Every color that popped high in the sky became small, twinkling jewels in his eyes. He gaped at the art she had masterfully painted in the sky, awe abundant and outright. He was slack-jawed and breathless, the thought that had gone into her work rendering him silent with emotion.

He knew how hard she worked and how proud she was of her profession. That she would take time to make him something so spectacular meant more to him than he could say with words.

"You went through all'a this just for me?" He couldn't shake off his surprise when she continued to add to an already astounding gift. There was enough food spread out to feed him for days straight, the sight of it making his mouth water.

The peckish oni was in the middle of considering what he would eat first when her lips met with his cheek, the sweet kiss distracting him from his gluttonous thoughts.

"Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Sparks. Really don't think I'd wanna spend it with anyone else, not like this." Finding the right words could be difficult at times, but his heart spoke for him. But, just in case what he'd said wasn't sweet enough, he helped tilt her chin up and repaid her with a graze of his lips against the corner of hers. "Let's do this again next year too."

[xamassed]

⟬ meme / @ofhope ⟭

your name: Naganohara Yoimiya!

your age: You don't know?!

your perfect date: Five course breakfast, followed by an afternoon of Onikabuto hunting! Oh, and the kids'll probably wanna join in too, so it'll be less like a date and more like maybe a play date? Buuut after they've all been tuckered out, we could go back to your place! I haven't met a lotta the Arataki Gang - annnd I could make a huuuge hotpot for us!

make out in private or in public?: Word spreads fast in Inazuma, soo - I've gotta feeling that people would find out anyway. Thaaaat said, I know a few private-public places!

do you like to cuddle?: Of course! Who doesn't like to cuddle?!

tell me something about you: Hmm. Well, you already know about the fireworks thing, the play thing, the - ahem - smuggling things, theeee ~... wow, you know a lot about me! Well, how's THIS for a fun fact: I ~ have a super secret project in the works for you. You didn't hear that from me!

why do you want to be my Valentine?: You mean to tell me Arataki Itto's inbox isn't bursting with Valentines yet?! Well, in that case, I guuuuesss I can give a reason or two. First, I think it's pretty obvious that I kinda sorta really really like you. Second, I maybe sorta definitely wanted to see your reaction to this sort of thing. Shh!

For Itto!

He had meant it as a joke at the time, but he should have known that she would take it seriously. When they'd touched on the concept of Valentine's Day and how it differed from nation to nation, he had playfully claimed that he had so many admirers that he'd need them all to fill out applications just so he could sort them out.

Itto did not anticipate that she would come back the next day with one thoughtfully filled out.

"Ya went a little crazy with these answers, huh?" He had only skimmed the sheet, noting how thorough some of her answers were. It was the slightest bit embarrassing knowing he would have to read them in front of her, but he accepted that it would be unfair to her if he didn't.

All of what he read had him buzzing, from the shameless declaration that she knew the ideal place to spend time kissing to the confession that she had a secret projecting rattling around somewhere. The ideal date was perfect in every way, even down to the undeniable fact that the children they adored would become involved. And while it wasn't the first time she'd said it, seeing it in writing felt different: I like you.

It was permanent there. They weren't said aloud, words ripped away by the wind. They were placed on paper, stark against the plain white where he could look back at them years from now.

Before he could become overwhelmed with heat and feeling, he folded the application and tucked it into a small pocket on the inside of his jacket, close to where his heart lay.

"It's pretty convincing, I'll give you that. Had a couple'a good answers in there, so. . ." He coughed once, realized that wasn't enough and cleared his throat, then gave her a bashful shrug. "Wasn't really thinking of spending that day with anyone else 'cause I like you too."

He needed to deflect, and quick. A switch flipped, and he lunged to take her hands in his. "But you gotta tell me about this secret project! You told me about it, so it's not really a secret anymore. Come on, come on!"

[xamassed]

⟬ @ofhope​ ⟭

Kisses to the inner thigh aren't an option - yet, but Yoimiya will happily... oh, give her a moment, Itto - scale up an Itto-sized tree, and quickly place a kiss on his cheek. Before it can be acknowledged, however, she darts away, as quick as a lightning bolt!

“What’s goin’ on, Firecracker? I got somethin’ in my hair again?” He could only assume that was her reason for scaling his front. Part of him wanted to be thoughtful and lean his head forward, make things a little easier for her. The other part of him that wanted her to struggle in the most adorable way possible was louder, unfortunately for her. “C’mon, you gotta reach. Little higher. You can do——!!”

    Muah!

The kiss was placed to his cheek, the warmth of her lips blooming from the spot where she’d left it. It reach every part of him, mind and soul included. He feel full to bursting with dozen upon dozens upon dozens of jittering sparks. He thought he smelled gunpowder and naku weed, the combination lingering strong in his nose long after she bolted.

Had she always been that fast?

“——it.” The dumbfounded oni stood there, not noticing the looks given by amused passersby. Some snickered, others rolled their eyes. Ah, young love. He didn’t know for how long he stood there, but it was long enough to give her the time she needed to run. He’d find her — he was determined. Sooner or later, she’d get one of her own, but for now he would let her have the moment.

[xamassed]

⟬ @ofhope ⟭

"Itto!!!" Yoimiya has an armful of pocky boxes. "Wanna see who can fit the most sticks in their mouth?!"

Itto was, at his core, a helplessly competitive being. It wasn't so bad that he turned everything into a contest, and he was rarely a sore loser, but he could hardly bring himself to turn away when someone challenged him ( especially when that someone was his darling firecracker. )

"I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but you're goin' down with this one. Have you seen the size of my mouth?" He hooked a finger into one corner of his mouth and pulled it wide, flashing sharp canines and a tongue that rolled out in a juvenile way. "I got thish one in'a bag."

[xamassed]

⟬ meme / @ofhope ⟭

[ rock ] sender and receiver hug, and sender rocks them side to side for Itto and Yoimiya, please!

It was such a simple motion, the constant to-and-fro, but it brought the oni a world of comfort. Slowly and almost with the wind, they rocked, his head gradually sinking into the crook of her neck, 'til it came to rest there. His nose nudged at her skin, took in the familiar scent of gunpowder.

Being with Yoimiya was a whirlwind of excitement, but he appreciated the slow and quiet moments too. No fireworks, no beetles, no gang begging to another round of Genius Invokation. They were simply there, together and happy and content with what they shared — except there was one thing he dreaded the longer they stood there.

"Are you sure you gotta go home right now? Stay here for the night, c'mon."

[xamassed]

⟬ @ofhope ⟭

"Itttooooo!" called the firestarter, hands then landing on his cheeks (thankfully not squishing them together; Yoimiya has an important message to deliver!). "You're pretty. Like really, really pretty. Juuuust thought I'd tell you that."

Those hands streaked through the air and made straight for his face, and he fully assumed that it meant his cheeks would suffer another squishing. Fortunately for him, her touch was softer this time around. Kind, appreciative, loving. He wished he knew the sort of magic she worked that made him melt the moment her palms touched his face.

Surely, this was a trap. Gentle hands would lead to a cheeky dig or a challenge, something that would have the two of them playfully arguing again.

"Ah — hold up. Did you just call me pretty?" Said with an incredulous tone, though not for the reason one might think. He wasn't offended that she would call him pretty.

No, no. If anyone deserved to be called pretty, it was her.

Like the little firecracker herself, he reached out and took her face into his hands. "Seriously, have you looked in a mirror lately? 'Cause you're about a thousand times prettier than I am! True, I got a smokin' body that's to die for, but like — even now, you givin' me that compliment as your eyes gettin' all bright and sparkly and. . ."

He paused abruptly, realized how rapidly words and sense had abandoned him. Bashfulness wasn't commonplace for him, but it hit hard when he realized how intently she stared.

"Looking at you is like constantly watching one of your fireworks go off. It never stops, and I think I might be totally cool with that."

[xamassed]

⟬ @ofhope​ ⟭

"Itto! I~~ have a surprise for you!"

Surprise was a generous word - the gift, held in her hands scarcely hidden by her back, was roughly the size of her; Itto required a larger weapon, one less prone to splinters and snaps, and Yoimiya ventured to guess part of that was due to size. In a flash, she revealed her surprise - a custom Itto Arataki bow, the upper and lower limb showcasing spirals of red, not unlike the markings on his body. The rest, a stark yellow against the dark, elegant wood, the tip and recurve marked with a dash of purple.

"I crafted it with the sturdiest wood I could find! And, what do ya know, Inazuma has just the trees for the occasion! That way, this one won't break as easily, and you can practice in style."

Quiet, she let the Oni observe her craftsmanship; it wasn't as detailed, didn't hold the same level of expertise as the crafter who supplied her own weaponry, but she was hopeful he would find at least one element of it charming. Then, with an 'oh,' she stepped to the side to reveal a sizable wood crate.

"And I came prepared this time! I'll be able to guide you on how to use it this way! So," she pawed open his hand, settling the bow's rest within it, before gingerly enclosing his palm around it, her fingers resting upon his for the fraction of a moment. "This time, I'll be able to teach you a lot more efficiently!"

Dragging the crate behind the Oni, she climbed atop it, posing triumphantly - it'll definitely go according to plan this time!

"First," Yoimiya placed her hands on Itto's forearm - she couldn't budge the muscle herself, she knew, but she could guide him with little nudges - and urged it toward the bowstring. "Using your thumb and forefinger, clasp the bowstring firmly, pulling it, along with your forearm, back."

It was difficult to avoid his mane of hair from tickling her nose, the crate hardly allowing her to be a few inches taller than his shoulder, but that was the least pressing issue; her heart, loud in her ears, very nearly distracted her. The two had been close on more than one occasion, but this closeness... she shook her head, earring clanging with the movement, and refocused her attention.

"Then, I want you to hold it there for a few moments. It takes a lot of strength to be able to haul the string back that far, especially for a long amount of time! Are you sure you can handle it, the One and Oni?"

“A surprise?” Gifts were always welcome, whether it be a new card from his favorite trading card game or a free meal. Itto didn’t expect that she would present to him a custom bow, but the sentiment behind it floored him far more than a simple card ever could.

Eyes wide and bright with wonder, Itto gawked.

The detail didn’t need to be excessive or extravagant. The thoughtfulness alone made his chest feel tight, but the tightness didn’t last for long as pure excitement began to creep in. It was slow to ignite, but once the kindling caught — she knew well how flames worked. They were wild and hard to contain once they started, and the oni found himself ablaze with the desire to make her proud.

“You made this?!” She was a genius, even he couldn’t ignore that. She knew how to craft gorgeous fireworks, knew how to make children happy and held such a brilliantly artistic soul that it was almost blinding when it revealed itself. Or was that his bias making all of her look twice as radiant?

Itto blinked the sparkles from his eyes, but there was no shaking off the heat in his cheeks. She touched his hand, and all at once it felt different than before. His fingers unfurled, and against his warm palm he felt the cool wood of the bow she had spent time and effort making. It felt heavy in his hand, her determination to teach him all the more apparent now that there was a way.

“Had this all planned out, huh?” He raised a brow at the create, at her sudden boost in height. It would have made it all feel so familiar if he had teased her, but there was no time for it.

Focus.

His hair shifted behind him, and for a moment he thought he felt her breath against the reddened tips of his ear.

Focus.

He pulled the string back, felt her shift away now that she had given her instructions. The warmth was gone, as was her scent. Gunpowder and something plant-like. One sniff, and he thinks it might be nakuweed.

Focus.

Dammit, why was it so difficult?

The string of the bow was pulled back, the motion twitchy and hesitant as the memory of every bow broken resurfaced. It was different this time. The wood didn’t groan, and the string didn’t unravel. He pulled and pulled, until the fingertips curled around the string rested against his cheek. He recalled watching her, eyes focused far more intently then they ought to be for someone that used a claymore. He recalled her posture, her strength and the ease with which she held the taunt cord.

She was strong, he realized. He wondered if others realized how strong she needed to be to hold a pose like this.

He passed her a wink, lips quirking upwards into a smirk. “Can handle anything, Firecracker.”