#Case of the Hot Kimono

[kideternity]

[Image ID: A black and white inked digital drawing of Digimon character Lilithmon. She is wearing a simple kimono holding an umbrella over her right shoulder looking to the right side. Lilithmon herself is a humanoid digimon with four bat like wings, two at the top of her back near her shoulders and two around her abdomen- the two at top have a spike respectively and the two below are longer and bigger and more tattered, with various piercings or jewellery dangling off of them. Her right forearm is metallic and covered in swirly embellishments ending in long claws. Lilithmon has two short curved horns coming out of her head, a fairly extravagant hairstyle with two long bangs coming from her middle part framing her face, the rest of her hair straight falling at the shoulders with a large bun on top, adorned with a hair comb, and other accessories like hair sticks that have a pendent at the end of them which each have their own pair of small wings. Long tendrils come from her hair as well ending in arrowhead tips. She has a relaxed expression on her face, and a bat emblem on her forehead. /End Image ID]

I like Lilithmon a lot

[cammys-imagines24]

°•Teasing Mizu•°

Mizu will have the patience of a saint most days. An ingrained sense of being calm and collected made from her years of training.

Often, you won't even notice if your teasing has any effect on the composed Samurai.

But, for all her patience, it just makes you want to try harder.

And, when she snaps, which she inevitably will, get ready to be punished.

See, when you agreed to go on her path of revenge with her you didn't realize how little opportunity you'd get to be intimate.

You two are either roughing it in the woods, in which case she'll tell you to get some sleep while she stays up to guard your campsite.

Or, you two are simply too exhausted after miles and miles of travel to even consider anything other than falling into each others arms and getting some much needed shut eye.

Plus, because it's imperative that her gender remain hidden, it's not as though you can pull her into a discreet alley in a town and have your way with her. What if someone sees?

And, joining her when she does bathe either in the sea or any natural hot springs you two may come across? Forget about it. That's when you take watch and make sure no one sees her body as she cleans up.

Which makes the few times you two actually get a room at an inn all the more tantalizing to you.

What better way to utilize this rare chance than to make your beloved suffer?

You'll start off slowly in the morning, going down to get breakfast for her and when you return to your shared room you'll let your kimono fall off your shoulders.

The sunlight pooling into your exposed collarbones, your coy approach not fooling Mizu one bit.

You'll show a bit of leg, too, as you offer to bind her chest for her.

Just so your hands can linger on the lithe muscles of her torso. Your fingers tracing her biceps and the hard ridges of her abdomen.

All the while whispering sweet nothings in her ear, your breath fanning against the nape of her neck as you bring up memories of past intimate moments between you two, by means of conversation. And to rile her up.

"Remember when you used that toy on me you got from Madame Kaji's brothel? That was fun. Remember that one time I was stitching you up? You were so pent up from the fight that you used your sash to keep my hands tied while you had your way with me? Blood stains be damned."

Mizu knows what you're up to immediately, can read the mischief in your eyes like the back of her hand. Why else would you bring those steamy memories up?

As the day goes on and your touches continue, your soft body pressing against hers more and more and the way you keep on wetting your plump lips with your spit...

When walking around town, your hand so casually snakes around her waist, her navy cloak an easy cover with others none the wiser as to where exactly your hands are traveling.

Your fingers slip under her clothes for just a little skin on skin contact, you leaning against her as you walk, the squish of your chest pressed against her arm...

Mizu is too damn stubborn to submit, despite the dampness starting to form in her white undercloth.

The townsfolk who pass you two by scurry away from the daggers she's glaring at everyone from behind her orange glasses, all assuming she was furious but no, she was just horny and tired of your shit.

You'd all but given up on your teasing, as day unfurls into evening but when you two make it back to your room at the inn get ready for a whiplash.

As soon as the door is latched shut, Mizu will waste no time in shoving you up against it.

Her strength, raw and powerful, coiled like a snake about to strike.

You'll have the nerve to smirk victoriously until she slaps it clean off with her mouth as she snags your bottom lip between her teeth.

Her swordsman hands, made calloused from forging, quick to lift you up in her arms, your kimono rising to your upper thighs before she pins you down to the bed.

"You fucking brat. Is this what you wanted?" She'll rasp out, pushing her knee in between your legs to spread them nicely for her.

There'll be no mercy for your poor body. Not when her blue eyes are staring down at you with ravenous hunger, every inch of your flesh a meal she can't wait to devour.

Your previous smug triumph is wiped clean fast, she has you a begging mess beneath her in no time at all.

The Samurai likes you that way, especially after you've been such a tease. Whimpering, messy and dripping, cheeks red and practically tearing up...

So overstimulated you can't even form coherent sentences, only whining out "Mizu, Mizu, Mizu" as you plead for her to let you come.

She loves her name in your desperate mouth and just shy of mean, she'll force you to say it dozens of times before she let's you have your release.

Come morning though, Mizu will be all soft and kiss every lovebite she left on your skin, from your neck to your inner thighs.

She'll massage your sore flesh and say how much she loves you, her voice a gentle rasp against your skin.

In truth she doesn't mind your bratty moments since she can then fuck the brat out of you.

And, of course you'll never learn your lesson. Not when the reward is Mizu.

[eevees-hobbies]

Kyojuro's Penchant for Mirror Foreplay - NSFW

Author’s Note: I swear that I am obsessed with other characters that aren’t Kyojuro Rengoku! I like OTHER anime! He’s just…perfect. Like they really made the perfect man and then stole him from us!

Content Warnings: Female Reader X Kyojuro Rengoku Smut. Foreplay only.

Word Count: 1.1K

Reblogs, likes, and comments are always appreciated! Minors and ageless blogs, please don’t interact. 

---------

Kyojuro Rengoku loves the sight of you, which means you better either share the same sentiment or get comfortable with this reality.  The Flame Hashira could ravish you anywhere—and he does—but he has a special place in his heart for taking you in front of a mirror, your bodies smacking thunderously against one another, your breasts bouncing wildly, and your face smashed against the cool surface of the mirror as he takes you from behind. Yeah, he has a real penchant for mirrors.

One of his favorite things to do is sit you both down in front of a full-length mirror, your back pressed against his firm chest, his bent legs draped over yours in a way that pins them firmly in place in case you even think about trying to squirm your way out of his grasp.

He’ll begin by peppering soft kisses against your shoulders, a low growl emitting from his throat as he takes in your natural scent. He especially relishes in the smell of you if you’ve been participating in activities that made you sweat throughout the day.

While kissing each tender spot on your neck—spots that Kyo knows so well because he’s studied and committed every spot that elicits a groan, tremble, and whimper to memory. His deft fingers sliding your kimono off, your naked frame shivering at the coolness in the air causing goose bumps to raise your skin. As quickly as he tosses the fabric over your heads, his large hands cup your breasts in his palms. He lets out a soft moan against your neck, his mouth latching onto the skin and sucking, leaving a trail of bright, red hickeys.

“I find myself just as enraptured by you as the day we first met, my flame. Gods, you’re so…”

His voice trails off as he pinches your nipples between his calloused fingers, groaning as they harden and pucker just for him.

“Just look at you. I can drink you in all day.” Your eyes look up to your reflections, and you shiver as his hungry, piercing eyes are locked in on yours. 

“K-kyo, stop staring!” 

“Please don’t ask me to do the impossible, my flame.”

You feel his strong legs tense against yours as he uses them to spread your outstretched limbs wider, your glistening sex now reflected at you both. Your face grows hot being so open and exposed—even if this is the umpteenth time he’s placed you in this exact same predicament. 

“I love every inch of you,” he mutters against your skin. You feel his heart pounding against your back and something firmer and slick pressing against the top of your ass.

His hands travel downwards, raking through your pubic hair, two of his fingers pressing gently against your labia and spreading them apart, exposing the fleshy inside of your pussy, your opening already drooling in anticipation for his touch. 

“Look at how ready she is, my love.”

He dips a middle finger into your sex and brings it up to his mouth, tongue flicking past his lips and tasting you like a starving man. 

“F-fuck, you’re delicious,” he lets out a low groan; his now saliva-slicked finger travels back down to your aching cunt, and gingerly strokes your clit, the sensitive bundle of nerves feeling vulnerable and wanting. 

Your head falls back to rest on Kyojuro’s shoulder, but his other free hand, which was previously fondling your breast, grips your jaw, pulling it back down so that your eyes are back onto your reflection in the mirror.

“I need you to see what I’m doing to you. I need you to see how beautiful you are.”

His hot breath stirs the tips of your hair that frame your face and tickles your ear. Suddenly, your body feels hotter, and you realize that it’s not only your arousal that’s creating a sheen of sweat on your chest but his too. As his eyes roam over your body, but especially over your cunt, his body temperature shoots up, and precum drips down the length of his pulsating tip. 

He now has two fingers against your clit, rubbing them in swift circular motions, his grip on your jaw unrelenting, forcing you to watch him and how he pleasures your body. 

You dig your heels into the floor, your hips bucking up as the burning in your lower abdomen intensifies.

Kyo’s thighs clamp down onto yours now—the weight and power of them so very apparent, keeping you in place—which would feel torturous and cruel if it were anyone else succumbing you to the immense pressure shooting through your veins.

Every muscle in your body is telling you to get away from the intense orgasm you feel building inside of you. You jerk your hips upward in desperation, but Kyojuro revels in you coming undone, even if that means he leaves you a trembling mess. 

“Hmm, where could you possibly think you’re going, my flame,” his tongue licks at your earlobe, his typically resonant voice deep and husky in your ear. 

Your words catch in your throat, barely able to sputter your pleas, “I c-can’t t-take…!”

“But you will take it. Endure it, my love,” he dips his fingers into your cunt; you both moan, you, because his fingers make you feel full, and him because your sex desperately squeezes at his fingers, and he can only imagine that same sensation on his cock.

His fingers plunge into your gushing pussy, rubbing every inch of your velvety walls, the motions of his fingers making lewd squelching sounds. 

“Touch your needy clit for me,” he commands as the tips of his fingers massage the soft, spongey spot deep in you. 

You whimper as you bring a shakey hand to your clit, the pressure of your fingers against your twitching flesh and Kyojuro’s fingers inside of you, making your moans louder until they’re ringing in both your ears. 

Your eyes find his half-lidded ones in the mirror once again, and you let out a squeak as his piercing and prying eyes make you cum. 

Kyojuro lets you ride the wave on his fingers, cooing words of appraisal in your ear, “that’s my girl.” 

He removes his fingers again and brings them up to his hungry mouth, and sucks your wetness clean from every inch. Once satisfied, he places soft kisses against the knuckles of your hand.

“Hmm,” he growls softly, “you always set me ablaze.” 

As you tremble mercilessly against him, the effects of the orgasm still rupturing through your body, you realize that his grip on you hasn’t lessened; in fact, it feels firmer. As he slides his hand back down to your quivering hole and pulls your face toward his so your mouths connect,  you realize that Kyojuro fully intends to have you both placed in front of the mirror for quite some time.

[maxknightley]

Which Touhou Girls Can You Plausibly Read As Butch? A Comprehensive Overview

Earlier on Tumblr I saw a post complaining that someone called Hecatia Lapislazuli from Touhou Project butch. This is Hecatia Lapislazuli:

Obviously, like most Touhou characters, she is in fact quite feminine - she just shops at Hell Hot Topic. But it got me thinking: In a series like Touhou, with a cast overwhelmingly defined by feminine (if rowdy) ladies, how many characters could you say are 'butch' without sounding like a complete doofus or significantly redesigning them to fit your headcanon?

CRITERIA

I'll be using four main criteria to judge characters' butchness. In real life, of course, butchness is a multivalent and extremely personal thing, but I'm talking about funny cartoon women from a video game here, so I'm willing to be a little reductive.

These criteria, in order of descending importance, are:

FASHION. In a series where goddamn near everyone is in either a dress or a skirt, the mere act of Wearing A Dress Shirt can be enough to make a powerful statement. Hats may also play a role here, given how many Touhou characters have gay little hats.

HAIRSTYLE. Short hair is not the be-all and end-all of butchness. I, myself, am Decidedly Butch even though I've been growing out my hair since college. But the length and styling of the hair are still a valuable indicator of how someone thinks of themself and wants to be seen.

'TUDE. Could this character be accurately described as "kind of a frat boy?" How do they speak to others? Do they just kind of seem like a character who ought to be butch, regardless of their looks? Do they even lift?

COMEDY FACTOR. Self-explanatory. This will probably only come into play if I run into a weird edge case.

I'll also emphasize that we're grading on a curve here - butchness is being assessed relative to the characters who do not appear on this list. Nobody in this series has a buzzcut, you know what I mean?

THE TIER LIST

AS CLOSE TO CANON AS WE'LL GET

Fujiwara no Mokou. The girl wears a dress shirt, fucking suspenders, and trousers. Not shorts, actual full-length pants. She's also in a perpetual love-hate mutual-murder situationship with Princess Kaguya, who is femme as all fuck. Obviously you don't have to be butch to date a femme - I'm just saying it feels Fitting given their whole deal.

Yuugi Hoshiguma. Most of the time, her fashion sense is actually quite feminine - but her look in the most recent chapter of Cheating Detective Satori, with the one exposed shoulder and the sarashi and all that, significantly alters the balance. Her hair actually reads as more masc to me when she keeps it long and unruly - when she puts it up in a ponytail, she ends up looking very kempt, even elegant. The deciding factor here is 'Tude: Her sheer levels of butch swag are off the fucking charts. (Still, I wouldn't blame someone for arguing she should be knocked down a tier - especially since I'd argue the Comedy Factor works in reverse here. She's way funnier if she doesn't think of herself as butch in the slightest.)

Minamitsu Murasa. In his original appearance I'd argue that Murasa is in "Reasonable" tier - maybe even as low as "Kind of a Stretch." But her big gay Jotaro jacket in Sunken Fossil World, combined with the emphasis on the weightiness and solidity of his trademark anchor, put her over the top. One of the only Touhou girls I consider worthy of being He/Himmed.

Shinmyoumaru Sukuna. The other He/Him-worthy Touhou girl. Very short, slightly messy hair; wears a kimono, not a dress; inheritor of Issun-Boshi's legacy; wears fucking dinnerware as a hat. Why do you want to be Big so badly, huh? So you can pick up women more easily? So you can carry your awful wife through the upside-down threshold of your upside-down bedroom?

Raiko Horikawa. For the longest time I thought her skirt was a pair of shorts because I straight up could not parse it as anything else. Even now I'm like "that can't possibly be a skirt, ZUN just drew it weird. She has to be wearing a full two-piece suit." Skirt aside, her jacket/dress shirt/necktie are still undeniable, as is her short hair. Also, she is a taiko drum given life, and I feel like taiko and timpanis are naturally butch. Maybe if she was a tambourine or a set of bongos I'd rank her lower?

Momoyo Himemushi. Rough-talking miner. Wears a dress shirt, leaves the top button(?) undone. Tromps around a big weird cave with no shoes or socks on. Wears bows and bangles basically everywhere but in her messy, tangled hair. Also, maybe I'm stereotyping here, but I just can't picture a centipede as being femme.

REASONABLE

Wriggle Nightbug. The dress shirt, cape, and puffy shorts all paint a vivid picture, but I just feel like I don't have a strong enough opinion on Wriggle as a character to put her in the top tier. In other words, she's got plenty of points for Fashion and quite a few for Hairstyle, but I just don't think the 'Tude is sufficient for me.

Reisen Udongein Inaba. The skirts are a strike against her, but her whole "dress shirt + necktie + sometimes suit jacket" thing makes a big difference, especially given that we're grading on a curve. Her rumpled ears and (particularly in Inaba of the Moon, Inaba of the Earth) pathetic demeanor go a long way towards giving her a vibe somewhere between "overworked salaryman" and "Detective Columbo."

Aya Shameimaru. All you need to know about Aya is that her "human reporter" disguise looks like This:

Mononobe no Futo. Butch, but in a really weird, circuitous way, imo. Like. She's sort of wearing a dress, but it's sort of a robe - the contrast of the hemline with her big flowy sleeves makes it hard to pin down - and her outfit quite notably has tassels rather than any kind of frills. I don't know what the hell is up with her hat but it's definitely not femme by any stretch of the imagination. Then thou hast the wayes in which she speaketh all "faux-olde-timey," even though nobody else in the setting does that... she transferred her soul into a plate, but she also throws plates around as weapons... It's like she's constantly putting on a performance that only she truly understands. It's like she reverse-engineered "masculine womanhood" by hanging out with a bunch of queens and doing kind of the same thing but kind of the inverse. The more I think about Futo the more I think she's entirely on her own wavelength, but I think "Reasonable" tier is a... uh, reasonable... approximation for the sake of this post.

Sagume Kishin. She dresses like if Bill Nye were a woman, and I think that cuts to the heart of it - she reminds me of a professor who you're not ever sure is gay, but you kind of pick up on a vibe, and near the end of the semester she offhandedly refers to "her partner" and you're like HOLY SHIT I KNEW IT. I went back and forth between putting her in "Reasonable" and "Kind of a Stretch"; ultimately, the Comedy Factor decided it because I couldn't stop thinking about a scenario where she says she's a woman, accidentally upends her whole understanding of gender in the process, and ends up taking testosterone while still ID'ing as a lesbian. I don't actually know if her powers would work that way and I don't care.

KIND OF A STRETCH

Eiki Shiki. I don't have a lot to go on, here, because she hasn't had many official appearances and seems to spend most of her time lecturing people or tormenting sinners. Her uniform(?)/apothecary outfit(??) is pretty snazzy; combined with the hat, it gives her a vaguely "military officer" look to me. We'll call her "butch pending further investigation," which I think she would agree is the correct course of action.

Sekibanki. She's here partially because of the cape, and partially because being sandwiched between Wakasagihime and Kagerou makes her look way more masc by contrast. I know what I said.

Ringo. It's pretty much just the hat and the pants, though - as a butch woman who Loves Eating - I am also inclined to project my own experiences onto her.

Aunn Komano. She reads as more "tomboyish" than outright "butch" to me, what with her whole puppy-dog vibe, but at the same time... she's very much wearing shorts and the kind of goofy-looking button-up shirt that is central to my own wardrobe and the wardrobe of other butches in my life. I'm willing to count her.

Takane Yamashiro. A living testament to the power of small character design choices. I would never in a million years call Nitori butch, even with her gay little hat and all the pouches on her outfit - she just looks like a girl scout. Takane, though? Takane, with her little hair swoopy, and the fucking suitcase slung over her back, and her camo-print dress? I mean - ultimately it is still a dress, which is why I can't justify scoring her higher, but she's definitely chewing tobacco and riding around on an ATV on weekends.

Chiyari Tenkaijin. If she's butch, it's not really because she's trying to be butch, it's just because being femme seems too expensive and time-consuming. She's got better things to do (drink blood all day). Still, I think an argument could be made.

DEFINITELY A STRETCH, BUT I RESPECT IT

Renko Usami. ZUN is kind of inconsistent with how he draws her hat - sometimes it's more of a porkpie/fedora type thing, other times it's round-topped and looks a bit like Koishi's hat. To me, this is a crucial distinction. In a more general sense, I feel like Renko's outfit gets a little less plausibly-masc with each passing album, which says a lot about our society. Or her society, anyway, since she lives in the future. Still, the capelets and bowties...

Rinnosuke Morichika. I think it would be really funny if the only significant male character in Touhou wasn't actually even a dude. I'm not aware of any real textual support for this interpretation, though.

Shou Toramaru. Pretty much only on here because of the hair and because I think there's a certain je ne sais quoi to her whole deal of "she's not a real tiger, she's the idea of a tiger that pre-Meiji Japanese people came up with from secondhand accounts."

Seija Kijin. Not even remotely butch by any stretch of the imagination... But if she did consider herself butch, isn't that exactly what she'd want you to think?

POTENTIALLY NOTEWORTHY EXCLUSIONS

Cirno. "Tomboyish" is not the same thing as "butch," to me, especially if you exclusively wear dresses. Also, I'm not sure Cirno even knows what a lesbian is.

Saki Kurokoma. Not actually butch, just a horse girl. (And a horsegirl.)

Mike Goutokuji. Can't tell if she's wearing a skirt or shorts. She's got short hair, sure, but the whole "matching bell collar and wristbands that also have bells attached" thing makes her look more like a Very Online Trans Woman who just figured herself out and hasn't started hormones or bought any new clothes yet.

[elbowreveal]

Hi my name is Philza Hard’core Raven Minecraft Way and I have long ebony black wings (that’s how I got my name) with white streaks and white tips that reaches my mid-back and icy blue eyes like limpid tears and a lot of people tell me I look like Martyn InTheLittleWood (AN: if u don’t know who he is get da hell out of here!). I’m not related to Kisuke Urahara but I wish I was because he’s a major fucking hottie. I’m an avian but my teeth are sharp and white. I have shiny black scales. I’m also immortal, and I go to a magic server called the Dream SMP where I kill people (I’m seventeen thousand years old). I’m a goth (in case you couldn’t tell) and I wear mostly green. I love Hot Topic and I steal all my clothes from there. For example today I was wearing a boob window shirt with lace around it and a green kimono, black fishnets and bare clawed feet. I was wearing black lipstick, sunscreen, black eyeliner and green eye shadow. I was walking outside Pandora’s Vault. It was snowing and raining so there was no sun, which I was very happy about. A lot of cops stared at me. I put up my middle finger at them.

[lfhh]

Genya x F. reader.

Warning: [name] is the sister of Kamado Tanjiro and Nezuko. Hints of obscenity. In this case, he is older than in the original!!!! Dirty thoughts and words.

After [name] and Tanjiro met Mitsuri, hashira of love. They went up to the hot spring.

Tanjiro- wow!!! This place is really beautiful! Isn't that right, big sister!?! (You are 2 years older than Tanjiro).

[Name] - you're right Tanjiro this place is beautiful.

You stood in silence until something flew into Tanjiro's head.

Tanjiro-oh! What's it? T... tooth!?!!

[Name] heard a snort and looked at the source of the noise. The girl's eyes widened in surprise. This is.... Tanjiro got ahead of his older sister and shouted.

Tanjiro-Genya Shinizugawa!

The guy in question turned around with his eyes wide.

Genya- Die!!!

Tanjiro cried out in surprise and suddenly... HE TOOK OFF HIS CLOTHES!?!!!

Tanjiro- you have the same surname as the wind of him hasshira. So you are..

[Name] in surprise cried out from the action of her younger brother, she gently put the box in which she was nezuko on the ground and looked at the boys. Stop.... Genya... HE'S NAKED!!!!

[Name] blushed deeply almost falling. God, what a body this guy has... Elastic muscles, strong arms, scars that adorned his body... His torso and God.... And under the water..

Tanjiro- how nice to see you again!!!!

[Name] came to her senses and came out of their vulgar thoughts blushed a lot.

Tanjiro- you have a surname like hasshira, does this mean that you are br...

Before he could finish, Genia grabbed your brother by the back of the head and plunged into the water.

Genia- shut up!!!

[Name] quickly tore off her clothes and jumped into the water. She approached Genia and her brother. [Name] hit Genya's hand hard and lifted her brother out of the water.

[Name] - what the hell are you doing!?!!

Genya looked at [the name] in shock as soon as he saw her, he blushed deeply. A naked girl was standing next to Tanjiro, her chest was covered with water, but the outlines of her breasts were visible. Her hair, which was made into a ponytail, is spread out.

Her skin became at sunset and her almost visible blushes were on her snow-white cheeks. [Name] saw that Genya was not looking at her eyes... His gaze on her firm breasts... [Name] blushed to the tips of her ears and screamed covering her breasts and getting up behind Tanjiro.

Bonus:

Tanjiro- I thought if we were both naked we'd get along.

Nezuko flew past her brother. [Name] all red sat on the shore in a clean kimono.

[Name] - don't do that again Tanjiro!

I'm sorry if I'm short and stupid!!! I tried

[nyaagolor]

Evanatsu Week Day 1: Closets / Phonecalls

I looked up Evanatsu week today to see if I could participate this year only to find that apparently it started yesterday. (oops)

Anyway, their dynamic fascinates me and I am finding new and exciting ways to articulate the deeply personal ways that these women can ruin each other's lives forever. Anyway, day 1, aka "Natsuhi is Rokkenjima's most pathetic closet case, send tweet"

-

The night before her wedding day, Natsuhi locked herself in her closet. It was the ghost of a childhood habit, born from winter days when burrowing herself in the trails of kimono fabric felt like the best way to keep warm. She would be enveloped on every side, insulated from the pervasive chill, and enjoy a special kind of stillness from the blanketing of light and sound. With every movement, the kaleidoscope of patterns from her dresses would sway, bringing a spectral kind of motion to the darkness, and Natsuhi frequently found herself lost in it, watching the shifting constellations in the dark. She could imagine dancers there, the twisting forms of shrine maidens or yokai, women with long hair who tickled her neck as she moved in tandem with them. In the cold, she could imagine their arms around her, bundled in ribbons of their long sleeves and skirts, beholden to nothing but the feather-light warmth and the feeling of their closeness. 

It wasn’t winter when she was married– spring had laid her warm hands upon the chill of winter, the world waking up to the rain as though blinking off the last vestiges of sleep. Just as the flowers poked through the dirt, the arrangements had been made, an April wedding to a man she did not know. Though she didn’t have the cold as an excuse, she found herself drawn to the screen doors, parting the fabric and staring blankly at the back of the closet. She didn’t know what she expected to find– a hidden door, maybe? Some way to escape, to run without the burden of shame on her family and disappear wordlessly into the ether? As she climbed in, huddling in the corner and letting the fabric settle around her, she tried to dismiss the thought. It had been a long time. She was 15, set to be married, a bastion of the dignity of the two families whose lines she walked between. She couldn’t afford to indulge in those kinds of thoughts. She was a woman, a soon-to-be wife, and it was for her family’s pride that she had to force down the reflexive wince at the idea. 

The once-spacious darkness felt more like a tight hug– Natsuhi had her back pressed against the corner with her legs drawn up to her chest and still barely stopped herself from tumbling out and through the screen door beside her. Stale air seemed to linger in the gaps between some of her older ceremonial outfits, still in here for who knows what reason. The kimonos strung up around her seemed to stifle even her breathing, the rolls of dust unearthed from the corners more visible in the faint light than the patterns of the fabric. The comfort of it bordered on oppressive, things too big and old and incongruent to fit back into the familiar picture. There wasn’t really even a point to this. Natsuhi’s husband was coming in a precious few hours. She should be sleeping, not hiding. There was no space for this kind of solitude in married life, no closets to hide in like a little girl or old fabric to find stories in. There were no princes.  Even if tacitly, she became aware of the finality of this moment, what this feeling meant— the real consequence of her sudden, final discomfort in the safest part of her home. It was an irreparable shattering of an old memory, a new kind of self-reflection that swirled in the back of her mind, right with a raw grief for something she didn’t yet know. Something had changed beneath her feet, shifted in directions she couldn’t yet name, changed shape without her. Fit awkwardly into the space, choking on the dust as her face became hot and wet with tears, Natsuhi buried her face into the kimono beside her, rubbing her cheek against the silk and tried to imagine she was anywhere but here. 

-

Perhaps it was a strange thing to notice, but the mansion on Rokkenjima did not have closets built into the walls. There were smaller, maze-like rooms branching from some of the bedrooms, but the entire design ethos felt downright brutalistic as far as Natsuhi was concerned. Screen doors and crannies within the walls were turned to utilitarian, blank rooms, fitted with large raised beds and armoires with heavy doors and deep, cavernous spaces like hungry mouths. If the doors happened to swing open in the night, Natsuhi found herself captivated by the sheer darkness— the clothes within were indistinguishable, and one could be mistaken for thinking that blackness extended beyond the walls if you only reached into it. Anything could lurk within that space, invisible insofar as it remained behind the boundary of the doors. When Natsuhi was feeling especially perturbed by the mansion, the island, this family and the marks they made on her, she wondered whether it would be preferable to submit herself to whatever it was that lay there. She knew better, though, and so she wrote it down. 

Pen to paper, she could tease out the shapes she saw in the dark, the curves and figures come to life in swaying fabric patterns. She could conceptualize the feeling of being enveloped in silk, of soft caresses and bodies under her touch that were familiar enough to be her own. She could put words to the dancers that used to only show themselves in the hidden halls of her old home, find an ease in the shapes of shrine maidens and yokai. When Krauss drew his hands down her back and she imagined someone else, she could give a name to it later, to turn those thoughts to words and banish them to the dark hallways that extended beyond her closet doors when the darkness made such boundaries thin enough as to not matter. If you didn’t open them, who’s to say how far the closet extended into the dark? She banished the fantasies of cold winters to a more childish version of herself within the pages. Natsuhi Ushiromiya was the wife of the soon-to-be head of household, and there was no space in here for anything or anyone else. 

-

Rokenjima itself was a closet, Natsuhi thought to herself. Dark and suffocating, walls that extended into forever on every side of you. It was a little box, a closed room, draped in fabric and dust that swayed until you could see things in it. Men and women existed as specters of themselves in constant, ethereal motion; a kaleidoscope of desire weaved itself behind the locked doors. The patterns themselves became alive, illusion upon illusion for as long as a person dared to look at them. The hallway extended as far back as you let it.

Natsuhi coughed on the taste of copper in her mouth. A thick pain blossomed in her stomach, a sharp kick just beneath her ribcage choking whatever protest had been on her tongue. Eva was screaming at her, punctuating her vitriol by kicking at anything exposed, a look of utter revulsion on her face. Her hands, clenched at her sides, shook with an intensity that Natsuhi didn’t have the words for, a venom that twisted her face into hideous contours as she spat and howled at the woman at her feet. Her heel had already come down on Natsuhi’s wrist, the pain making her mind buzz and her hearing fade to a consistent, meaningless static in an instant. Swirling patterns of hardwood and the fringes of a thick european rug undulated in her vision, swaying in a rhythmless crowd as the tears blurred it to abstraction. Elsewhere in the mansion, duct tape still hanging from the handle, sat an empty armoire, its door hanging open. 

[the12thnightproject]

Chapter Three: Dearly Beloved - 'Okatsu' meets Kitty, Mitsunari meets Okatsu, Hideyoshi meets the end of his patience, and someone's face meets a plate of stewed eel.

Mitsunari x OC; Nobunaga x Mai

Previous Chapter

Logline - In order to protect a political alliance, Katusko and Mitsunari must pretend an engagement. But this “all business” arrangement is threatened by a coup against Nobunaga… and by feelings.

From the Military Notes of Ishida Mitsunari…

Diversion: The act of drawing the attention and forces of an enemy from the point of the principal operation; an attack, alarm, or feint that directs attention elsewhere. Two: a change made in a prescribed route for operational or tactical reasons. A diversion order will not constitute a change of destination. Three: a rerouting of cargo or passengers to a new point or destination or on a different mode of transportation prior to arrival at ultimate destination.

Personal comments: I have the worrisome notion that there is something important I have forgotten. Also, it seems I have misplaced my cat. Am more concerned about the latter, as if it is the former, someone will inevitably remind me.

If I were writing up a society puff piece for a newspaper about my “engagement” party, I would likely write that the food, prepared by Date Masamune, was excellent. The article would note that the entertainment, in the form of Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide’s bickering was… a choice. The bride-to-be wore a pale lavender kimono embroidered with sakura blossoms, with matching sakura blossoms pinned to her hair. And the groom-to-be was… a no show.

I’d been left at the altar by my fake fiancé.

While Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide went out in search of him, Masamune stayed behind to encourage me to eat my feelings. “Here, what do you think of this?” He poked a chopstick full of steamed eel toward my mouth.

Though I had been a vegetarian before landing in this era, I had since learned – out of both necessity and politeness - to eat what was set in front of me. In this case, it was no hardship – the one-eyed man I (as Katsu) had once gotten into a horse race with was an excellent chef. “Delicious.” Since he looked like he was going to try and hand feed me my entire dinner, I asked, “Are you flirting with me at my own fake engagement party?”

“Were I fake engaged to you, lass, I would personally make sure you had a wonderful time at our party.” He leaned a little closer than mere politeness should allow and gave me a you-gotta-love-me grin. “You would never need to fake anything – anything- with me.”

No. Probably not. Masamune was hot, charming, and charismatic. But as fun as I imagined a ‘fake’ relationship with him would be, it was a relief that he wasn’t my ‘fiance.’ A little of that flirting went a long way.

There was a disgusted snort from the other man at our small table. Eeyore – no, Ieyasu, must remember that – had refused to join the searchers, choosing to stay behind and eat in peace (his words). “Masamune, go flirt with the hired help elsewhere. You’re giving me indigestion.” He turned those gorgeous green eyes on me, then he frowned.

Correction. Frowned more.

“Have we met?”

Masamune looked up from where he was spooning more stew into my dish. “Now who’s flirting?”

More staring. More frowning. “No, truly, she looks familiar.”

“Ieyasu, you’re doing it wrong.” Masamune shook his head in mock dismay, before giving me another one of those grins. “If we had met before, I definitely would remember it.”

“Actually, Lord Ieyasu is correct, we’ve met before. And you too, Lord Masamune. I was dressed as a boy on both occasions.” It was better that Ieyasu remember the time he helped me care for my horse, than to make the connection between myself and the old man in the booksellers. Nobunaga already knew about the boy, but I didn’t want him to learn about the couple weeks I had spent in Azuchi earlier this summer… observing.

While the two of them quieted, both, looking at me as if they were trying to picture what I looked like as a boy, something caught my attention – a tiny grey moving blob, darting in and around people. Awww. It was a cat! I set my hand on the floor and snapped my fingers, trying to get its attention, but it didn’t notice me.

The poor thing was going to get kicked or stepped on though. I excused myself from my dining companions and hurried to perform a feline extraction.

However, the cat seemed perfectly (purrfectly?) capable of performing its own extraction, and I ended up following it into the corridor, where it meowed at me, then gave me one of those disdainful looks that said, ‘now that I have your attention, I don’t want it anymore,’ and padded into the gardens.

Feeling the need for some pet therapy after being dissed by my yet unknown fake fiancé, I followed the cat. She was sitting near the shrubbery, legs splayed, grooming herself. I stopped in front of her and held my hand out. “Hi sweetie. What’s your name?” Of course, the cat wasn’t going to answer… but it seemed the right thing to do.

The cat ignored me, her head tilted at something on the far side of the gardens. I heard it too… soft footsteps, that preceded the reappearance of that absentminded bookworm. Unsurprisingly Mitsunaru was reading and walking at the same time.

He stubbed his foot on a rock, and stumbled several steps, finally managing to halt his forward motion in time to prevent a fall.

Ok. He was reading and trying to walk at the same time.

Unalarmed by his near face-plant, Mitsunari tucked the book under his arm, then finally noticed me and the cat.

“That’s Kitty,” he said as if we had been in the middle of a conversation. He crouched down, put his arms out, and the cat – who may or may not have been named Kitty – jumped into them. “Kitty, did I lock you out again?”

“Hello Ki-.” No, there was no way I would be able to utter the phrase, ‘hello kitty,’ with a straight face. It would get filed away with ‘yes, master,’ which Aki had reluctantly deleted from our conversations after my third uncontrollable giggle fit.

I extended my hand to Kitty who sniffed it and decided I was acceptable enough. She bumped her head into my palm, demanding a good scritch. The was something so comforting in a tiny animal willing to accept attention… and I still missed my old ginger tomcat Tony Stark. He’d died a couple years before I ended up in this era, but the best cats all leave permanent pawprint tattoos. Hm, could I talk Aki (or, more accurately Fume) into getting a cat?

With his own head slightly tilted, Mitsunari looked at me, apparently searching his memory bank, then officially introduced himself to me and bowed.

After bowing in return, I said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Overly formal, but it was time to try out the Princess manners on this semi-stranger. “I’m Okatsu.” Huh, Mitsuhide hadn’t given me a surname. Should I use Akihira’s, or wait for future instructions? Not that it seemed to matter in this case, as Mitsunari didn’t comment on the omission.

“Are you paying a visit to Lord Nobunaga and Lady Mai?” He looked around the garden, which was empty of other people.

“In a sense.” I stalled and covered that by dangling my obi tie in front of Kitty. Who here, aside from Nobunaga’s inner circle, knew about this scheme? It seemed safer to presume ignorance until further notice. “Actually, I’ve just escaped my engagement dinner.”

“Dinner! I wondered why I felt hungry.” He unconsciously rubbed his belly, disturbing the folds of his wrinkled kimono and revealing a surprising amount of muscle definition.

Recalling my attempts to feed him earlier this summer, I asked, “Did you lose track of time while you were reading?”

“Yes! I take it you do that as well?” Mitsunari beamed so happily that I was nearly scorched by the rays. One of the sakura blossoms in my hair was so overcome that it fainted and drooped over my eye. Huh. He ought to come with a warning. Caution: smile is deadly.

“I’ve been known to get absorbed in something to an extent that I lose track of time.” Generally, that would be riding and archery, not reading, but those were not exactly the most princess-like hobbies. I sent him an attempt at a mysterious-princess semi-smile, jammed the wayward blossom back in place, then turned my attention to the footsteps – two sets – rushing through the garden. I was pretty sure they belonged to… yep – Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi.

“There you are!” Hideyoshi said in a strained tone that I suspected would become his default mode when dealing with me.

“I’m sorry. I saw the cat, and-” Oh. He wasn’t talking to me. His attention was fully on Mitsunari, as he viewed the younger man with a mixture of impatience and affection.

“I see you’ve already met.” Mitsuhide looked from me to Mitsunari, who was cheerfully accepting Hideyoshi’s mild scolding about being late for dinner. “And here everyone at the party was waiting for you both.”

Already?

Both?

Is… ?

Since Mitsunari’s attention was taken up by Hideyoshi, I inconspicuously tilted my head in his direction and mouthed, ‘him?’

Mitsuhide smirked and nodded.

Him?

I’d expected my ‘fiance’ to be an unapologetic flirt, wild and free, like Masamune. Not… a human ASMR video.

That sakura blossom fainted again, this time falling out of my hair completely, hitting me on the nose. I sneezed violently, and the petals scattered everywhere. Several of them lodged in Mitsunari’s hair, where I imagined they’d be very happy to stay.

“Why were they waiting on me?” Mitsunari looked from Mitsuhide to Hideyoshi and back. I hadn’t thought he’d heard Mitsuhide’s comment, but maybe he’d been paying more attention than he appeared. “Lady Okatsu said it was her engagement dinner.”

Hideyoshi closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, then opened them again.

“We’re still here,” Mitsuhide said.

Yeah, that had been a close your eyes and wish for someone to beam the rest of us out of here. Too bad transporter technology hasn’t been invented yet. Maybe it never would be.

Ignoring Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi turned to Mitsunari. “We discussed this last night.” His tone was patient. His posture was defcon level three.

“Last night?” That was said with so much confusion that I again recalculated how much attention he paid to the world around him.

“You’re supposed to remove all reading material from the vicinity when you’ve got something important to tell him.” Obviously Mitsuhide liked poking the Hideyoshi.

“I did.” This was said between gritted teeth. Defcon two now.

It would be tempting to sit back and just watch the two of them snipe at each other, although such entertainment would likely be improved with popcorn. Which had been invented, but not in this part of the world.

Meanwhile Mitsunari looked like he had remembered… something. “Oh, you did take my book away last night. But I was at an interesting point in it, so I went back a few chapters in my head and re-read them until you left.”

He has an eidetic memory? Well, that explained a lot. He had read almost all the books on military strategy in Aki’s booksellers in only a couple weeks. But it seemed more likely now that he’d just been scanning them into his hard drive for later.

“Were you aware that he could do that?” Mitsuhide murmured to Hideyoshi.

Hideyoshi shook his head.

“What was it you wanted to tell me?” Mitsunari belatedly appeared to realize that he’d missed something important. “I am sorry that I did not listen last night.”

“Tonight’s party is for Lady Okatsu and you,” Mitsuhide began, only to be interrupted by Hideyoshi.

“Mitsuhide had a plan to bring in someone to pretend to be your fiancée.” To gain attention, Hideyoshi stepped in front of Mitsuhide, partially blocking him from us. “Initially, I agreed, but only if-”

Mitsuhide didn’t move, but his interruption was as successful as Hideyoshi’s physical block. “In order to ensure that Shohime-”

“-if you are willing to take part in this farce-”

“Tactic. It is a tactic that will, in essence, allow you to-”

“-but rest assured if you’re not willing-”

They interrupted each other so fast that it was unlikely anyone would be able to understand. Mitsunari looked from one to the other, his face looking increasingly worried. Kitty, wisely, jumped out of Mitsunari’s arms and got the hell out of there.

“-Okatsu is highly trained and will do all the work, you’ll only be required to-”

Lie back and think of England?

“-and the more I think about it, the more I believe it’s an ill-advised idea-”

“-it will work perfectly well -”

I stuck my fingers in my mouth and whistled. Everyone finally shut up. Military strategy. That was Mitsunari’s programming language. “Mitsunari. They want to use me as a diversion so that you will be able to study at Genba Castle in peace.”

“Oh, that is an excellent strategy. I would appreciate having uninterrupted time to study unbothered.” He said that completely innocently, but I wondered if underneath that was the hope that ‘no one’ would include McCoy and Spock over there. “Thank you, Lady Okatsu.”

“But when we are in Kanamori territory, you and I will need to pretend we’re engaged.” Hm, better clarify. “Getting married.”

“You will not be required to actually marry this… girl.” Hm… what had Hideyoshi been about to call me? He steered Mitsunari out of the garden. “I will go over the details while I help you pick out something more appropriate for the celebration.”

With a glare at Mitsuhide and clearly fake smile in my direction, Hideyoshi escorted Mitsunari away.

As they exited, Mitsunari looked over his shoulder at Mitsuhide and I. His prior confusion seemed to have been replaced with annoyance at being treated like a toddler who couldn’t dress himself. For that matter, I was rather annoyed on his behalf.

Once they were out of earshot, Mitsuhide calmly brushed sakura petals off his shoulders. “Did you… whistle at me, brat?”

I waved that away. “It got everyone to shut up, didn’t it?”

“I’m not questioning the result, only the method used to achieve it.” He rubbed his chin. Interesting. He and Aki have the same tell. I wonder if they taught that at Spymaster University. And really… he was going to lecture me about method versus results? “We’ll have to give you remedial instruction on manners and behavior before we leave for Genba.”

Translation, he was going to make me pay for that whistle. Truthfully, I felt a bit ashamed of that too. Aki had always encouraged me to speak my mind and stand up for myself, but I shouldn’t have acted that way in front of men who were virtual strangers. “I do know how to behave in public, and how to follow orders. I promise you won’t have to worry about any further insubordination.” I gave him a meek, eye-lowered bow.

“Don’t overplay it.” Mitsuhide laughed. He steered me back toward the banquet. “You wouldn’t be working for Yamaoka if you couldn’t follow orders.” I relaxed slightly, until he added, “you’ll still need to report to Hideyoshi for instructions on behavior. This is for his peace of mind.”

“Of course.” Mitsuhide didn’t care at all for Hideyoshi’s peace of mind. He was sending me to Hideyoshi so that we could annoy each other.

As we approached the main hall, the sounds of merriment and celebration had increased – well, they didn’t really need a bride and groom to party hard. When Mitsuhide slid open the door, a dual blast of heat and noise slammed into the corridor. “I’ll leave you here. I have every confidence in your ability to carry this off, and meanwhile I have made it my personal mission to get Masamune drunk at least once a week.”

Once Hideyoshi returned with Mitsunari, who had been spiffed up in a clean, wrinkle-free kimono, and his hair combed (mostly) and de-blossomed, the fake engagement resumed with 100! Percent! More! #Awkward!

“Lady Okatsu. Do you like… blue?” Mitsunari’s ears turned red, and he ducked his eyes to his plate. Apparently, Hideyoshi had impressed upon Mitsunari the importance of acting the doting fiancé in public but neglected to give him any suggestions on how a doting fiancé behaved. This led to Mitsunari attempting various conversational overtures, but not feeling confident enough to finish a sentence, so he was constantly rebooting and starting over. Each time that happened, he would look a little more flustered and flushed. The only good news was that our table with Ieyasu and Masamune was separated from the rest of the others enough so that from a distance, he looked like a proper blushing bridegroom.

The whole situation was motifying at best – before this fiancée scheme had been dumped on him, Mitsunari hadn’t had any problems talking to any version of me – whether I had been the old man, Katsu, or Lady Okatsu. “Yes. It reminds me of lakes and the sky… and…and...”

Oh hell, it’s contagious.

“My eye is blue.” Masamune winked at me for emphasis.

Ignoring the “help” from the peanut gallery, I asked Mitsunari. “Do you also like blue?”

“Yes. It is very… blue.” Blush.

Loading… loading…

Until Mitsunari finally ran default.weather.smalltalk.exe and asked me about the weather where I was from.

Ieyasu threw down his hand towel. “This inanity is putting me off my dinner. Can’t you talk about anything else?”

Mitsunari turned to him. “I’m sorry you are not feeling well, Ieyasu. I could make you some tea?” He looked prepared to sprint across the castle in search of tea.

Ieyasu’s big green eyes got bigger and greener. “Don’t you dare.”

Masamune leaned in too close to me and said in my ear, “Mitsunari makes terrible tea. Don’t ever drink it.”

Good to know, Mr-no-conception-of-personal-space. I scooted slightly away from him and turned back to Mitsunari. “My home is inTogakushi mountain range, and it’s nice in the summer and cold and snowy in the winter.”

This was acknowledged with a nod, then followed by BSOD.

Ieyasu snorted.

Right. Military tactics had worked before. At least it was a topic I knew Mitsunari felt comfortable discussing. “Where I live is rather isolated, up a narrow mountain path. If you were leading an attack force, how would you go about it?”

“It would be unadvisable to travel in strict formation. Rather the most effective tactic would be to conceal smaller units under the cover of darkness and for a surprise attack.” Mitsunari smiled and proceeded to play toy soldiers with his dinner, as he explained the schematics. Once he got into the topic, he came alive, with broad and mobile hand gestures that likely would have sent a dish of food into someone’s lap, if I hadn’t kept moving cups and bowls out of the way.

It was kind of like playing ‘whack-a-mole’ in an arcade, and I was enjoying testing my hand/eye coordination, when Mitsuhide swooped in for a fly-by teasing. “You all look like you are having fun.” He leaned over Masamune’s shoulder. “How is the happy couple? Are you enjoying getting to know each other?”

“Lady Okatsu is interested in battle strategies.” Mitsunari once again gestured widely. I tracked the path of his hand and moved my bowl out of range.

“Yes.” I directed my response to Mitsuhide. “So lovely to get to know Mitsunari-” I paused to move my teacup away from his elbow, “in front of so many people. Most people are forced to have to do this in private.”

I was not allowed to get away with the sarcasm. “Yes, it’s fortunate for you that we needed to get the word out so quickly,” Mitsuhide said mildly as he – wait… did he just pour something in Masamune’s tea? “So that Kanamori Mozumi will have word of your existence before you appear with Mitsunari on his doorstep.” With that, he thumped Masamune’s shoulder again, and moved on.

I should warn Masamune about-

“He’s correct.” Mitsunari had flipped the switch and self-promoted from space cadet to general. “If the purpose of this ruse is to get unimpeded access to the Genba archives, then the sooner our engagement is accepted as common knowledge, the better.” Whoa. Ok. He could indeed focus on something besides books when the mood took him. Mitsunari then reached for his bowl – which wasn’t where he had left it, and the sleeve of his kimono knocked his chopsticks to the floor. He leaned over to grab them and bumped the table. A bottle of sake teetered toward Ieyasu.

“I knew it was too good to be true,” Ieyasu grumped, right before I caught the bottle.

Close call.

Ieyasu let out a long sigh.

Which was when Masamune’s eye fluttered shut and he pitched forward onto the table, his head landing in Mitsunari’s bowl, sending a shower of food everywhere.

Well, it’s not really a party until someone faceplants into a dish of stewed eel.

Dear Aki. Please come rescue me. These people are insane…

I stared down at the blank sheet of paper. I absolutely could not write the words that had formed in my head. He was counting on me to both behave professionally around the Oda, as well as look into the politics in Hida. The denizens of Azuchi weren’t actually insane – I was simply just not used to them yet, that was all. And if I was feeling slightly lonely, without anyone to really talk to (Mai was lovely, of course, but she and Nobunaga were obviously in that stage of a relationship where they formed an entity unto themselves), well… I would be just as lonely back on the Mountain, with only Fume for companionship.

Yawning, I gave up on the letter, plopped myself onto the futon, shuttered the lantern, and did my best to try to sleep. I’m not a great sleeper in the best of times, and definitely not while in an unfamiliar place, so I was still tossing and turning when something squeaked in the ceiling above me.

Rats?

Squirrels?

Or worse?

Maybe it was my imagina-

Swish! Squeak!

Too heavy to be a squirrel.

I rolled out of bed and grabbed my dagger.

It was too dark to see much more than the shapes of the furniture. Plastering myself against the wall, I tracked the path of the noise. Then a ceiling panel moved, and a human shape dangled above the room.

The human shape said, “Tok.”

That was a weird battle cry, but she who waits to be attacked loses the element of surprise. I made the first move and yanked the person down. He (or she) landed on their feet, so whoever it was had been ninja trained.

That… would fall into the category of “or worse.”

@bestbryn @katriniac @briars7 @lyds323 @lorei-writes

[serenexdreams]

FLOWER FROM AFAR | YANDERE! KAMISATO AYATO X READER | PT 1

Part. 1 Part. 2

IN TEYVAT'S BEGINNER GUIDE TO GROWING FLOWERS, it cites that all native flowers flourish and bloom in their respective regions of birth--rarely away from home, do they choose to open their buds and blossom.

Kamisato Ayato had believed, for a very long time, that the flower unwillingly plucked and thrust to his side had withered. However, he was pleased to find that was not the case.

--

A DOWNCAST, OBEDIENT GAZE. Neatly combed strands of hair entwined backwards into a traditional Inazuman-style bun; pinned up by deep blue chrysanthemums. A delicate, snowy white kimono draped over your poised figure, embroidered with a flowery azure blue print.

Ayato's pale violet eyes drilled holes into your skull, silently observing your every move. The rich, comforting scent of matcha tea wafted through the air, as you brewed the hot liquid. Apathy clouded your (E/C) eyes, rendering your emotions unreadable. A faint spark of interest ignited within Ayato, as he calmly watched you bend forward, pouring him a cup of tea.

Had it not been for your unnaturally sharp facial structure, and (H/C) hair that stuck out like a sore thumb, you could have easily passed as any common Inazuman noblewoman. But these distinct features were easy to tell apart from a crowd; they screamed of Monstadt. Of the fact that you were a foreigner.

"...My lord, your tea is ready." Ayato was snapped out of his thoughts, gaze flitting to the cup of tea you offered him. "Please be careful, for it is quite hot."

Ayato took a sip. The refreshing, almost bitter taste instantly woke him up. A faint smile curved across his lips. "Your tea-brewing skills have improved since you arrived, dearest. I take it that you've learned from an expert--perhaps Ayaka?"

"Yes. Lady Ayaka was gracious enough to educate me on the process." You made no attempt at conversation, as an awkward silence stretched out between the two of you.

Nine months. It had been nine months, since you had been shipped overseas, like a bag of cargo--only to be wed off to the distant, elusive Yashiro Commissioner sitting in front of you. The only time you both had interacted, was during the engagement ceremony, the wedding reception, and the brief kiss you had shared during the vows. So what was he doing here?

You discreetly gulped down the bitter tea, tongue protesting in pain, as a searing hot sensation rushed down your throat. You held in a cough, retaining your composure. "...My lord, is there anything that you require of me? I believe I requested that you simply send a servant instead of personally coming to me. I understand that you are bu-"

"Is it wrong of me to want to visit my dear wife? I hold my family quite close to my heart." Ayato smoothly replied, taking a sip from his teacup. "I haven't visited you in a while, nor had a proper conversation in ages. I missed you."

You internally cringed at the unnatural, sappy words pouring from the typically dignified Yashiro Commissioner's mouth. Lies. All lies. What was he up to?

--

THE FIRSTBORN DAUGHTER OF TWO MONSTADT ARISTOCRATS--distant relatives of the Gunhildr clan, and one of the few families spared during Lady Venessa's rebellion. Your parents had been relatively lax; constantly busy with work, unable to make time for you in their lives. To compensate, they let you do as you wished; as long as you made sure to uphold family values, and study well.

Thus, your life had been filled with days immersed in your studies as an aristocrat and chasing crystal flies through the shadows of Whispering Woods. A simple and balanced life, filled with both freedom and rules. You had never resented your parents; they provided you with everything you needed and hired a nanny who raised you well. You and your parents held mutual respect and an indirect form of affection for each other.

Yet that all came shattering down when news of a marriage proposal from overseas arrived. The prospects were excellent, and your parents had hastily agreed in your stead. Nothing could be done; you were now engaged to the head of the Kamisato Clan, a man you had never met.

THAT NIGHT, you had bawled your eyes out in the lap of your beloved nanny; before begging your parents, for the first time ever, to not be sent to a foreign nation. Where you would be alone, once again.

That was when you realized it; it wasn't that they were always busy. They simply didn't care enough to constantly stand by your side. A political marriage like this was enough to ensure that you would be well-fed and sheltered, so they were satisfied. Their job was done.

Beneath the pale white moonlight, shining through the gaps between the branches of your favourite tree in the Whispering Woods, was a wet patch of soil. Your tears continued to roll down the edges of your eyes; watering the soil and tree. You had tasted what freedom was; but now, it was being ripped away from you.

Perhaps it was the Anemo crystal flies that took pity on you--or maybe even Barbatos himself, who knows. Either way, the next morning, you woke up in the woods; eyes puffy and cheeks red with dried tearstains. Next to you, a green glass orb glowed brilliantly; casting its emerald light down upon you. A secret friend that would forever accompany you on your endeavours.

At first, hope had sparked through your body; the vision was proof of your ambition and worth. Would it be enough to save you from your lonely fate?

However, when you had gleefully thrust your vision into the gaze of your nanny, her gentle demeanour turned sour.

"Milady--where did you get this?.... Please do not joke around. A noble lady, especially one getting married to a prestigious overseas commissioner, should not desire such things. Please always be reminded of your responsibilities. There is no longer room for freedom."

Cracks had slowly, one by one, crept across the glass mirror reflecting your once-perfect life. At first, you had despaired; confining yourself within the darkness of your room--refusing to eat or dress up for guests. It got worse--to the point, maids had to drag you kicking and screaming to take a bath. What was the point?

Regardless of how much ambition or intelligence you had, everything boiled down to how marriageable you were. Everything revolved around your pretty face and blue blood.

But did it really?

There's so much to explore, in this world. Why not try to chase for the stars, little lady? If you don't have a lot of time 'til you're shipped off overseas, you may as well enjoy it.

Some words of advice from some retired adventurers, lounging lazily around the warmth of a fire in the Whispering Woods.

A sharp, numb, pang of realization rang through you. They were right.

There was so much to see in Inazuma, as well, wasn't there?

--

"I haven't visited you in a while, nor had a proper conversation in ages. I missed you."

YOU RESISTED THE URGE TO ITCH AT A SPOT ON YOUR NECK. A mere distraction. Moving too much would cause the tiny pins in your hair to fall out of place, and wrinkle your kimono. You resisted the urge to clasp your fingers around the bronze locket hanging around your neck; to feel the comforting pulse of your vision, hidden inside the flimsy metal.

"I see." You dryly replied, uncomfortably looking away. From the corner of your eye, you saw a familiar blond, who gave you a short bow. An awkward smile graced your lips, as you tilted your head in greeting.

After you had arrived in Inazuma, you were greeted by a blond-haired, emerald-eyed man; one of your fiance's trusted servants, Thoma. He was a good conversation partner; a former Monstadter, now serving the Commissioner. If you wished, you could reach out to him for comfort. He'd surely sympathize with a lonely little lady, faraway from home. But you knew that he couldn't be trusted with your little secret. You could see the burning loyalty in his passionate emerald eyes, that he held for the Yashiro Commissioner.

"...Everybody, please leave the room." Ayato's sharp voice cut through your train of thought, as you refocused your attention on him. His once plaint, calm demeanour had disappeared. Hearing his order, your handmaidens and the servants all instantly disappeared. You hesitantly shuffled, unsure if you should follow. "No, you stay, Y/N."

"...Yes, my lord. How can I help?" You replied, gnashing your teeth, as you fiddled with the hem of your kimono. What on earth did this man want? He had shown zero interest in you, in the past; always busy with 'work-related matters,' never bothering to show up to any birthdays or formal events, just like your parents.

Not that you minded. The western wing of the Kamisato residence remained practically uninhabited until you had moved in. All the handmaidens and servants working in your quarters were on your side, in this household.

You were a noblewoman too. One of the talents you had picked up was exerting your own influence. Within weeks, you had completely won the staff over--including the handmaidens assigned by the Yashiro Commissioner himself, to watch over you.

Ayato calmly set his teacup down, steel gaze flicking to meet your eyes. Goosebumps trailed down your spine. "I would like to ask you something, and I'd prefer if you were as honest as possible."

Panic flew through your mind. Did he find out about the secret stash of Guides to Freedom you had commissioned an adventurer to transport to you? Or the wind glider hidden in the back of your closet? Or perhaps...

Your Anemo Vision?

--

"...ARE YOU NOT FOND OF MY PRESENCE? HAVE I OFFENDED YOU IN THE PAST?"

A dull silence resounded through the room, as you froze in fear. His words slowly ticked through your mind, processing. Ayato tilted his head, amusement evident in his unreadable gaze. He leaned towards you, and you instinctively flinched, snapping out of your trance.

"...I'm afraid I do not understand your question, my lord." You replied stoically. "You are my husband. There is no reason for me to disli-"

"Really? Then I'd like to inquire why you decided to place your eyes upon Thoma, rather than me, your husband?" You stiffened, as those saccharine-sweet, sugarcoated words flowed easily from Ayato's mouth. "Tell me, my sweet wife. Since when did you begin to fancy my own servant?"

You felt your own typically-dormant temper flare. Since when did this man have the right to involve himself in your private affairs? However, you patiently gritted your teeth--a faux, thin-lipped smile of elegance curving across your delicate features.

"I don't know what you are talking about, my lord. You rarely visit me, and we've only spoken on a couple occasions, regarding formal matters. I apologize, but you have no right to inquire about my private affairs. " You bluntly replied. "I neither dislike nor favour you, my lord."

Ayato hummed softly, shifting slightly.

The eyes are the windows to one's soul. Scriptures from the Favonius Church cited this saying--that one's emotions and beliefs are evident, and can be identified by looking into their eyes.

But when you gazed into his eyes, it was like peering into a misty field, after a gentle spring shower. A thick fog veiled his intentions, yet Ayato's mesmerising violet irises were clearer than the waterfalls of Springvale.

He patted the empty spot next to him. "Perhaps I haven't been clear enough. We should have an amicable relationship, but I've been neglecting you. I apologize. WHy don't you have a seat next to me?"

You narrowed your eyes, watching his snake-like expression twist in amusement at your reluctance. What in Celestia's name was he planning now? Regardless, it appeared that the minor tantrum he was previously throwing, was over. You stood up, shuffling to his side. Your kimono rustled, the exquisite silk crinkling as you sat down next to him.

Unbeknownst to you, his gaze burned with vicious envy, as his mind formulated a plan.

--

THE GLOSSY FABRIC OF HIS GLOVES suddenly brushed against your cheek, as you steeled your unrelenting gaze--putting up an unfazed front. His face drew closer, fingers trailing to your shoulders.

You could feel it. His cool, indifferent touch crinkling the kimono--calculative gaze soaking in your every reaction. You nervously felt your teeth rake the edge of your lip--bruising it.

"...My lord, I'd like to ask of you to please maintain some personal space." You dryly commented, feeling your cheeks flush a rosy pink. You pursed your lips, forcibly yanking his wrists away from your body. The long, rigid fabric slid backwards, revealing the unblemished skin beneath. You watched as Ayato's eyes appreciatively soaked in the visual before him.

Suddenly, he chuckled. The smooth, elegant noise sent a shiver across your spine, as your stomach fluttered at the sound.

The man was heartless--you knew that more than anyone. Neither of you even bothered to try and hide the fact that your marriage was completely political. So why was he trying to get all buddy-buddy with you? You scowled, glaring viciously at him.

"...I had thought that you were withering away, due to lack of attention. But it appears I was completely wrong." He leaned forward. Your eyes widened, as alarm bells went off in your head. You shot backwards, mouth opening to hurl a line of crude insults at him.

"How dare you-"

--

AS MONTHS OF COLD SILENCE between the two of you fluttered by, Ayato had become curious; what was his new 'bride' like? He had, for a long time, assumed that you had resigned yourself to your fate; to live as a sacrificial lamb, for the sake of a political alliance--yet the opposite was true.

You were interesting. A delicate flower, desperately clinging onto your last hope, and against all odds, blooming in a foreign nation. He could still remember the first time he had seen you manipulate Anemo.

It had been a long, dreary evening of meeting after meeting. The hot, humid summer air sank into the thick, ceremonial white robes he wore, as beads of sweat trickled down his neck. The sky was a deep, midnight blue; slowly flushing into a glorious golden dawn. Another night, wasted away.

It was an accident. Ayato had merely been observing the back garden of the Kamisato compound, from his hidden sanctuary; a small fountain in a clearing, overlooking the western wing's garden. A faint flash of emerald green lit up the area.

His eyes widened, soaking in the view. In mere seconds, a figure had scaled the wall of the compound--darting effortlessly through the air, and landing with a thump on the other side. An intruder? Or perhaps an assassin-

No. That face looked familiar. Ayato watched, intrigued as your appearance morphed and distorted. Your long, (H/C) locks, once tainted with an unrecognizable dark brown colour, returned to their original state. Your facial structure changed, as did your other defining features.

Ah...Y/N was her name, I believe. He had almost forgotten about you--and the fact that you even existed. His memory flashed back to the submissive, weak gaze that you held when he first met you. Had it truly all been an act? From a distance, he watched as a handmaiden appeared from the shadows--placing a shawl around your shoulders and frantically whispering into your ears, before helping you brush away a few stray leaves from your clothes. Your lips curved into a dazzling smile, as you let out a breathless laugh, trying to catch your breath.

How had you done it? Curiosity overwhelmed his indifference, as he continued to observe the two of you slink back into the confines of the western wing. Your acting was on spot.

For the next couple of days, Ayato would remain perched next to the fountain, documents in hand, as he observed you skillfully creep in and out of the compound. Some days, you'd return with a beaming smile, unaware of his watchful eye. On rare occasions, you'd return dishevelled; with windswept hair, bruised and tired. The scent of the ocean accompanied you everywhere you went--but the couple times Ayato encountered you, while passing through the halls, the heavy scent of Sakura bloom perfume masked the salty sea breeze.

Whenever you returned from your nighttime adventures, it was like you had been rejuvenated with life. An ethereal, bright glow surrounded you in the morning; unbeknownst to Ayato, like a moth to a flame, he was slowly sinking into an uncontrollable obsession. Until he finally snapped.

One night, you didn't return.

Ayato remained motionless; gaze fixed upon the wall of the compound. The thick stack of documents sitting next to him, lay abandoned and forgotten. Perhaps he had forgotten; if you could leave so easily, why would you return?

His heart stung with hurt--was it because he had become so accustomed to watching you? To be so free, yet also poise as a restrained and delicate lady; you awakened something within Ayato.

"My lord, it is getting quite late." A warm, friendly voice echoed from behind Kamisato Ayato. It was Thoma. A warm blanket was draped across Ayato's shoulders. "You should head inside and get some rest. Are you still waiting for Lady Y/N?"

Thoma glanced worriedly at the Commissioner, whose unreadable gaze glittered with anxiety. "...Not yet. Just a little longer."

The sun continued to peer over the horizon, as the early morning slowly came. Ayato remained in the same position. What am I even doing? It was none of his business--he had come to an unspoken agreement with you; as long as you didn't cause trouble, you could do as you wish. He wasn't even against you taking a lover--or was he? In fact, had you?

The mere thought of it, now made his blood boil. He subconsciously felt a spike of insecurity, as the early morning birds began to sing.

Suddenly, a huge gust of wind billowed out to Ayato's position; ruffling his pastel-blue locks. In an instant, all of his worries vanished--before his eyes analyzed the situation.

--

YOU HAD RETURNED; BATTERED AND IN CRITICAL CONDITION. From far away, Ayato could see a group of servants rush to aid you to stand, before examing the bloody slash across the side of your ribcage. You staggered in pain, letting out a gasp as a damp cloth was wrapped around the injury.

Yet, why were you smiling? The brilliant, glowing smile on your face reflected the excitement of your nighttime adventure. Ayato narrowed his eyes. This wouldn't do. At this rate, rather than wither away, you'd be ruthlessly ripped apart by outside forces. The thought unsettled him. He had to do something quick.

--

"...You want us to trail Lady Y/N, my lord?" Ayato impassively stared at the pair of Shuumatsuban ninjas, looking up at him with confusion. "...As in, the lady of the house?"

"Correct. She needs the appropriate protection that a Lady of the clan deserves. Report every single detail about her day and what she does." His tone left no room for argument, as the pair of ninja at his feet bowed again. What sounded like protection, wasn't completely innocent. Ayato felt chills prickle down his spine, as the lonesome feeling of abandonment washed over his mind.

"We accept this mission."

Since when had he become so captivated by you? Ayato wasn't sure. But you were no longer just a scapegoat; he had firsthand witnessed how delicate and naive you were, of this world. Surely you didn't believe that he'd continue to let you risk your life all in the name of 'freedom?' You hadn't been able to even detect his presence!

You'd be safer by his side. After all, flowers far from home require extra assistance in order to bloom and remain healthy.

--

AYATO'S GAZE WAS UNREADABLE, AS ALWAYS. The Commissioner was unfazed by your sudden outburst.

In one swift motion, his long fingers ascended to the back of your head, holding you in place--sealing his lips against yours. You didn't even have time to protest, as you felt him snake his arm around your waist, pressing your body flush against his.

You had made a fatal mistake; you underestimated your enemy, believing that he hadn't noticed anything. Ayato let out a faint chuckle, violet eyes glittering with a deep obsession, as he wrapped his arms closer around you. You scrunched up your nose, a furious noise erupting from your throat as you tried to push him away.

Where had you gone wrong?

[remember-digimon]

And now, I would like to put my extensive hyperfixation knowledge about astrology to work and tell you how I hc each kid's sun sign.

Please keep in mind, this is just my opinion, and if you hc a different sign for someone, your headcanon is still valid 😁 this is just my dumb interpretation.

If you have any thoughts, please feel free to let me know in the replies! ❤️

(Click to view the post! It's a long one lol I didn't want to destroy everyone's dash 😅)

---

Starting off with Tai.

Obviously he's a fire sign. There's no way he isn't a fire sign. So that's Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Aries is brash and rambunctious. Leo loves the spotlight. Sagittarius is untamed and full of wanderlust. To me, there's no way Tai *isn't* an Aries.

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, so this sign doesn't have the 'experience' the other signs have. But they make up for that by charging into things, eager to experience new things, and to prove themselves. Aries is ruled by Mars, and in a better aspect than Scorpio. Aries is Mars being projected outwards, Scorpio is Mars projected inwards. (Spoiler alert: more on this when I get to Matt.)

Tai is impulsive and wants to take action. He is Mars in motion, taking action, full throttle forward movement. As the beginning of the zodiac cycle, Aries urges us to move forward, just like how Tai urges the group to move forward.

His career as a diplomat might not seem fitting to an Aries, who are known to be hot-headed in some instances, but I think it works out because he's blazing a new trail.

---

Next, Sora.

Since she is the mom friend, my first instinct for her is Cancer, ruled by the moon, a very motherly-love sign. Cancer is a water sign, which is at odds with her Digimon being fire-based, but I don't think their Digimon necessarily have to match up with the element of their sign.

Anyway, Cancer being a water sign means emotions. Especially for a water sign ruled by the moon, which pulls the tide. Cancers need to be needed. They want to take care of their loved ones. Being ruled by the moon, a Cancerian could be prone to mood swings as the moon changes phases so often.

Sora wants everyone to be happy and to get along. More than once she has an inner monologue where she is concerned about everyone's mood; most notably after Tai and Matt's big fight during the early part of the Dark Masters arc. She notices that everyone is tired and cranky and just generally beat down. It's very Cancerian for her to notice the mood of the group and worry about them.

Her career as a kimono designer makes sense because she was lead into appreciating traditional Japanese culture by her mother. It's also a creative career which is a good avenue for a water sign.

---

Next, Matt.

*points at him* SCORPIO

I have never been so sure of a fictional character's sign in my LIFE. And I'm not just saying this because I'm also a Scorpio 😅

Scorpio is ruled classically by Mars, and Pluto in the modern era. This sign is all about passion, intensity, secrets and mystery, and jealousy. Matt feels things so intensely that he can't help but blow up on Tai; the majority of their fights happen because Matt can't control his emotions very well. Granted, he's 11, so it's just a life skill he hasn't learned yet. By the time 02 happens he's much more in control of himself.

As mentioned above, Aries and Scorpio are both ruled by Mars. In Aries, it's outward, and in Scorpio it's inward. This means that Tai puts that Mars energy (passion, action, driving force, etc) forward while Matt keeps it bottled up. I think this is why they tend to argue so much, and also why they get along a lot better when they're older and more mature.

In any case, Matt has a lot of strong emotions that he has trouble showing, he is great at intuitively reading people, he hides his true self behind a cool personality that he developed as a coping mechanism. This all screams Scorpio to me.

For his career as an astronaut/aerospace engineer, he's exploring an unknown, which Scorpio craves. They want to know every secret. Even those in the scientific community.

---

Next, Izzy.

I'm gonna say Aquarius. Ruled by Uranus, the planet of sudden change, breakthroughs, innovation, and cutting-edge technology. It's also an air sign, which governs communication, thought, change, and the mind.

Personality wise, I've always thought Aquarians of being nice enough, but a little hesitant in revealing their true self. Unlike Scorpio, who hides out of self-preservation, Aquarius does it because they don't want to dump their theory of the universe or whatever on some poor soul who wasn't interested.

An Aquarius will be a deep thinker, if not abnormally intelligent for their age, and they might feel separated from their peers because of this. I think this applies to Izzy; he is very smart, specifically because of how he thinks and approaches problems. He doesn't just magically know the answer; he isn't above collaboration to get to the bottom of something. In fact, he spends a good part of 01 looking for Gennai because Izzy knows he knows a lot more than him about the Digital World.

Outside of just being smart, though, Aquarius is also about revolution, ushering in change, and doing what's best for the group. They're progressive, but also independent. They have the majority in mind, but also maintain their own perspective. Sounds like Izzy to me. This all adds up with his career in computer science, too.

---

Next, Joe.

Capricorn. This is an earth sign ruled by Saturn, the planet of responsibility and duty. Earth signs have a 'slower' energy than the other elements, and can be well-grounded or stubborn. Capricorn specifically is the sign of 'work smarter not harder' and accomplishing goals.

Joe's work ethic is shown in his studies. When the kids go back home mid-season, he goes to take a practice test. When he fails it, he's worried for a moment, then resolves to study harder and do better.

It's also reflected in his behavior in the Digital World; he readily takes on responsibility, like when he climbed the mountain on his own just to resolve an argument between Tai and Matt.

As a doctor, Joe had to put in a lot of hard work without immediate payoff. This is something that Capricorn thrives under.

---

Next, Mimi.

For awhile, I had a hard time deciding between Taurus and Virgo for Mimi. Since they're both earth signs, I looked to their planets; Mercury for Virgo (communication, thought, travel) and Venus for Taurus (beauty, comfort, aesthetic). So basically I've decided on Taurus lol

Taurians are stubborn. They also like good food, nice things, comfy spaces, and they LOVE being at home. They'll make a little nest for themselves to get cozy in just about anywhere. They can also be bossy.

Sounds like Mimi, huh? She is stubborn, and she's the one most often complaining about wanting to eat or stop for a rest or wanting to go home. She straight up sobs with joy when they get back to Japan. She also puts a lot of effort into her aesthetic, not because she cares what other people think, but because it's important to her to look nice. Looking nice makes her feel nice.

She goes into cooking as a profession. In the original Japanese she's a nutritionist, while in the dub she hosts a cooking show. If there's one thing a Taurus loves, it's food, so it makes sense that she would pursue a career focused on cooking.

---

Next, TK.

I'm just gonna say Pisces. Water sign ruled by Neptune. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, and therefore has the 'experience' of every other sign. But they do have their own issues.

Being ruled by Neptune, they're liable to fall into daydreaming. In fact, if I could describe Pisces in one word it would be 'dreamy'; not in the 'good looking' kind of way, but 'head in the clouds' kind of way. Pisceans rarely get mad, but when they do it can be scary. They're almost calm when they're really mad.

TK has a vivid imagination and gets along with just about everyone. He also has a child-like outlook, even when grown up. The one time he got REALLY, ACTUALLY mad was when he confronted Ken as the Digimon Emperor, and we all know how that went. His career as a novelist also fits a Pisces.

---

Next, Kari.

I'm going with Libra. Libra is an air sign ruled by Venus. They are diplomatic, fair, and generally pacifists. They want to get along with everyone and be everyone's friend lol. They're also very charming.

Kari is a sweet kid, and while I don't remember a lot from 02 (I still need to do a rewatch) I do recall Kari being very patient with the new DigiDestined, and very kind to them.

Libras also can suffer from indecisiveness, much in the same way Gemini does. They want to weigh out each option carefully before proceeding.

As a teacher, particularly a kindergarten/primary school teacher, being a Libra would help Kari with looking after a bunch of little kids.

---

Next, Davis.

Leo! Center of attention, lover of the spotlight. Leo is a fire sign ruled by the sun. Just like how staring at the sun can make you go blind, overexposure to a Leo will make you exhausted. They're full of energy, love to be the one everyone's talking about, and constantly need their ego boosted.

Davis kind of fell into the same trap as Tai back in the day (and maybe nowadays, too) where fans like to portray him as stupid. Neither Tai nor Davis is stupid. Tai just doesn't have much inhibition and Davis wants to look cool. If rushing into danger will make him look cool, he'll do it. If being the best at soccer will make him look cool, he'll play as hard as possible. When something happens to him that makes him look not so cool, it's a big blow to his ego and he can get bummed out really easily.

Leos are show-offs, but they have the talent to show off in the first place. They take great pride in being the best they can be at something. They're confident and very generous.

As a ramen chef, Davis wants to be the BEST ramen chef. He wants to make something of himself, and also provide something amazing for other people.

---

Next, Cody.

Capricorn. As stated above with Joe, Capricorns are earth signs ruled by Saturn. It would be strange for everyone in such a large group to have different sun signs, and it just makes sense to me for Cody to also be a Capricorn.

Cody is a diligent worker, level-headed, and very responsible and respectful. Where Joe channels his Capricorn sun into being the 'grown-up' and becoming a doctor, Cody's motives are to make his family proud of him. This loyalty to family is pretty common in earth signs.

With a job as a defense attorney, Cody would also need to study hard and attend college past a bachelor's degree. This shows his diligence and work ethic.

---

Next, Yolei.

Gemini. An air sign ruled by Mercury. Mercury moves fast around the sun, and it goes retrograde a lot (meaning it appears to move backwards in the sky and causes setbacks in its dominion of travel, contracts, and communication). This can make a Gemini sun to appear scatterbrained.

Yolei is full of enthusiasm and is desperate to be seen as an individual thanks to her large family. Geminis don't like to be left alone, as the sign of the twins, so she needs someone alongside her to bounce her wild ideas off of. Geminis can also be judgemental, but they change their mind very quickly.

Geminis are also known to be very talkative. They might ramble when they're nervous.

As a stay-at-home mom, she likely enjoys the rowdiness of raising three kids. Though once they get older and can start chatting and asking questions, like kids do, she would get pretty tired.

---

Finally, Ken.

I'm gonna put Ken down as a Scorpio, also. A water sign ruled by Mars and Pluto.

The difference between Matt and Ken as Scorpios, in my opinion, is that Matt is more of a Mars Scorpio (passionate, intense, driven) while Ken is more of a Pluto Scorpio (secretive, magnetic, elusive).

As the Digimon Emperor, Ken is just about everything bad about Scorpio. Manipulative, ill-tempered, and withdrawn. Once he gets over that, he still keeps to himself a lot and doesn't like to show what he's really feeling.

A detective is a classic job recommendation for a Scorpio. We like to get to the bottom of every secret.

[linkemon]

Valentine's Day 2023 headcanons 1

Friendly reminder that English is not my first language. You can check my Masterlists both in English and Polish here.

Shikanoin Heizou

✧ Who else could come up with a romantic investigation? Of course, a one-of-a-kind, always busy detective. You were the investigator and he was your fugitive. At least that's what you assumed, because in fact you knew where you'd find him from the beginning.

✧ You woke up in the morning to see a piece of paper with a clue. You followed it, smiling to yourself. Heizou knew that he would have to stay longer at the agency that day, so he stayed up all night preparing various activities for you in the city.

✧ Each note was written exactly in his style. You could almost hear his words written on the paper. Especially when he called you sweetheart time and time again. Most of the puzzles were rhyming.

✧ You had to admit that halfway through the tour your legs started to hurt. At the same time, however, you were driven by curiosity to see what would be around the next corner.

✧ Activities included the best restaurants in Inazuma, picking up Heizou's pre-ordered kimono for you, and visiting the hot springs. You even got Yae Miko's unique autograph under her publisher's new book that you've been absolutely crazy about lately.

✧ When you got to the end of the tour, of course you saw the agency. Heizou perfectly deduced when you'd come, that's why he was collecting the last documents from the desk. He greeted you with a kiss, saying that the fun has only just begun.

Wanderer

✧ As a Scaramouche, he never imagined he would ever have the opportunity to celebrate this holiday. When he took on a new name, it didn't make him see Valentine's Day any differently. Just another stupid opportunity for people.

✧ When Nahida innocently asked what he had prepared for you and informed you that your gift for him was fantastic, he knew he was falling into the trap of the archon of wisdom. He then replied angrily that it was none of her business and walked away. At the same time, however, he began to think intensely about the fact that it might be worth doing something.

✧ Wanderer polled the few friends he had, including a bazaar vendor, for ideas. He was supposed to meet you tonight. Time was running out and every gift seemed inappropriate to him.

✧ He finally decided to buy you a necklace that could hold something small. He didn't know what to put inside and said to himself he wouldn't give it to you. In such a state you caught him on the street, saying it's time for your usual meeting.

✧ Seeing your gift, he thrust a necklace into your hand, saying that he got this antique from someone in the bazaar and it will be of no use to him. After all, he doesn't care about Valentine's Day...

✧ That evening you asked Wanderer to take a picture with you. You keep a miniature of it in your necklace as a memento of that day.

Ningguang

✧ Valentine's Day, of course, was spent rich but at the same time with you in mind. Everything was planned in advance as befits Tianquan.

✧ Throughout her busy schedule, Ningguang has reserved a whole day just for you in advance. She told the assistants not to disturb you unless Liyue is in mortal danger.

✧ You spent the day at Jade Chamber. In the morning you enjoyed breakfast prepared by Xiangling herself. It was nice to finally be able to eat in peace, knowing that your beloved was not in any way rushed by her work.

✧ Yun Jin graced the dinner with her performance. It was a new opera she was happy to write for your special request. It told the story of your love. Ningguang held your hand tight at special moments. Though she tried to appear composed, yet you could easily see her agitation.

✧ The culmination of the day was a fireworks show. Admittedly, it wasn't as spectacular as in the case of Lantern Rite but certainly many people in the city saw it as well. Invited from the recently opened Inazuma Yoimiya, who was a specialist in this field, created your special firework. It resembled two intertwined hearts as a sign that you will always be together.

[ikeromantic]

Kanestsugu taste 🥰/🥵

So full disclosure, I have not read Kanetsugu yet. I know, I know  - but fair warning. In case what I know of him from other routes doesn’t line up, that’s why ^_^ Approx 500 words of our wolfish suitor and taste!

Kanetsugu sat very still, every muscle under precise control. He felt very much the wolf, stalking an innocent rabbit, though this was only breakfast alone with his lover. Her hair hung loose, and her kimono was only loosely tied, and kept slipping off her shoulder. Her eyes held that early morning sleepiness that he found so precious. It was a look he alone got to enjoy. 

“Are you going to eat?” She gestured to the tray as if there was anything on it more delectable than she was. 

“I am considering.” 

“Oh. Ok.” She picked up her tea and took a sip. 

When she put the cup down, he took her hand and lifted it to his lips.

Her sleepy expression changed to puzzlement. “Kanetsugu?”

“I’ve decided what I want for breakfast.” He kissed her wrist, grazing it lightly with his canines. Teeth that had always been a little longer than they ought to be. An outward sign of an inner nature. 

She made the most adorable sound as his lips brushed her skin. A surprised sigh and a sudden, sharp intake of breath. “H-hey! I’m not on the menu,” she gave a half-hearted protest.

“You have been on the menu since you agreed to stay with me.” He smirked at her with a certain smug satisfaction. 

Her cheeks flushed hot but she didn’t try to pull her hand away. “But - but it’s early! And my hair is messy! And I didn’t brush my teeth yet!”

Kanetsugu chuckled. He pushed the tray out of the way and pulled her into his lap. “You are beautiful.” His lips found her bare shoulder and he gave her a nip. 

“N-now I know you’re just - just saying that.” Her breath hitched as he kissed his way along her collar bone up to her neck. 

“I do not give compliments lightly.” It was difficult to go slowly like this, to savor her. His whole body felt tense with her nearness and his own desire. Kanetsugu fought for control of his passions, his breath trembling against her skin. He forced himself to stop as he felt a rise of hunger in him for her. 

She felt him go rigid, freezing in place. “Kanetsugu, it’s alright. I want this. I want you.” Her palm caressed his cheek, warm and soft and reassuring. 

A shudder ran through him at her words, and his mouth was on hers before he had a chance to think on it, to reconsider. He was devouring her, tasting her, his tongue pressed past her lips to possess her. His hands pulled the loose kimono away. 

Her foot kicked over the breakfast tray, but she was past noticing. Desire made her skin hot to the touch and burned the sleepiness from her eyes. She was running her hands down his shoulders, her nails sharp on the skin of his back. 

Kanetsugu gave in to his passion, delving into her delicious body with his lips and fingers, finding all her most sensitive places and devouring her cries of pleasure. She tasted, he thought, like heaven. Then he had no more thought. There was only her and his need to touch her, to feel her, to taste her. 

She was sweet and hot and as hungry for him as he was for her. And she could handle his bestial side, answering it with her own wildness.

[northwest-cryptid]

Idk if I fully understand ffxiv being native-phobic? I just played through stormblood & what I got from that was colonialism bad, to put it in super simple terms. Like idk the entire point of it was liberate an oppressed peoples and give them back their homes? And maybe I missed it but I didn't see the Ala mhigans as being native coded or inspired?

You didn't see the Ala Mhigans being "Native Coded" because they aren't and yet Ala Mhigan clothes use Native patterns. You didn't see FFXIV being "Native-Phobic" because it's generally not, it likes to hide it's racism away in little pockets.

It's hard to see it when you're not used to seeing it. This isn't your fault, it's that you're looking in the wrong places.

This is the "Ala Mhigan Gown" it's being largely attributed to being "Ala Mhigan" it is not. It is Native.

These patterns are Native, and while I cannot claim exactly and exclusively which tribes use them I can say for certain that I'm Deer Clan Lakota and these patterns are ALL OVER my traditional Native clothing. To attribute our clothing to Ala Mhigo is wrong.

This pattern is being reproduced and sold as Ala Mhigan, as "Kimonos" and lastly, as cosplay.

And these patterns can be found across plenty of First Nation/Indigenous clothing and beadwork.

Like, here if you're curious:

Let's also quickly talk about the New World set,

This is just ugh. Believe it or not I like the pants, and the actual torso and shoes aren't bad either. IF (and this isn't the case) this set were to exclude the headdress and were to actually pay proper respect to Native design and culture I'd love it. I actually used to use this set in game minus the headdress obviously, but wouldn't you know it I'm literally Native. This feels like those party city costumes people make, and the parts it gets right are almost more upsetting because it's not being properly attributed to the right people despite knowing very well the devs clearly referenced actual Natives. Those straps on the pants for example are a very real thing, the clothing my father passed down to me has those, tipped with metal because it makes enough noise to scare off rattlesnakes since those were a threat for kids on the res. The colors and bead patterns also do follow a lot of various Native designs, though I find it harder to pin down these exact patterns.

You're looking at the plot, but that's not entirely where the problem lies; also sorry sorry but I can't overlook this. None of the story or plot justifies Zenos calling me a Savage. I do not care if he's the antagonist, that's a fucking slur. It's been used against me and my people for decades. It's been used against me when I was in middle and high school. So yes, even in recent times this is acknowledged as a slur by racist individuals seeking to cause us harm.

If you've never gotten into a physical fight that you didn't instigate only to have someone ask you "what are you gonna do savage? You gonna scalp me?" And then do the worst imitation of a Native war cry; you likely have no idea how annoying it is to see/hear even a villain in a video game call you a fucking savage, have this be hand-waved as kinda being whatever by the general public who don't deal with this kind of racism, and then furthermore when you go into FFXIV community spaces you see this blonde ass white boy being plastered up everywhere like "oh I wanna fuck him so bad" why do you want to fuck a racist?! He's not even hot. Any potential sex appeal he had left his body the second he uttered the word "savage" and you know the worst part? He's not real. Which means he didn't say that shit, someone at Square WROTE that into the game and really thought "hey is it okay to use a slur like this? Yeah it'll be fine no one is gonna know or care."

Can you IMAGINE if they had a villain drop the N word mid fight? You'd never hear the end of it I assure you.

I think the biggest issue is that people don't even know what Native is, they don't know tribes, they don't know patterns, they don't know our actual history.

You say you don't know how it's "Native-phobic" when it's racism and mockery of Natives is very apparent to Natives, but I can't fault you for it because you literally don't know what to look for.

I want to make it super clear I'm not mad at you, I'm upset that this game can get away with this shit because no one is actually educated on Native matters, culture, etc.

I hope this helps clear that up a little.

[as-i-watch]

Straw Hats as Fashion Trends that makes me go insane*

*you can wear whatever want to express yourself or whatever you like idc. What i hate if when brands™ overprice shit bc is "trendy" or set stupid trends like these. Seriously, dont look up the price of some of these

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Enjoy!

Detachable Shorts

Of course this feature was a need in the trouser world, think about the people with hot knees

I think it would be funny if Luffy wore this and undo the buckles to get into fight mode. The trouser equivalent of putting down the straps in your crocs.

Tits Out. [period]

Your arms are always cold? Hate vests? Well this is for you!

Still, i think this is so fitting for Zoro, we respect our tits out king and adds a little bit of himbo energy i appreciate.

Oda draws weird shit like this all the time

Yes this item was for sale and not on etsy. Why? beats me but here we are

I think its a nice refference to pre timeskip Nami outfits, but it actually fits into the post timeskip fanservice theme. I seriously see Nami wearing that.

Cool but why

Its a cool recycling project but im not even going to talk why brands selling these upset me.

I think i would be a fitting addition to Usopp's funky hats collection. Not only he would pull it off, he would steal the desing and make one himself like the king he is.

Pretty but WHYYY

I really like the effect and sawing this fabric is hard af but is more of a texture thing for me. Also my little practical self is screaming at this gloves but i see the aesthetic pleasing side i guess

So naturally i gave the gay gloves to Sanji. Tell you you cant picture him wearing these with his WCI white suit, come on do it, lie to me.

A classic we love to hate

Not you Chopper you are a delight. Im talking about the clear plastic backpacks. In case you missed thia trend, the issues with this are as clear as the bag itself.

So naturally, bc he always carries one, i gave the backpack to Chopper. Hope he fills it with colorful candy

I have vivid memories of this being a thing at some point

This are more of a pre timeskip item since they are from mis 2000's but yeah. They are useless, impractical and they offend me

Yet, i think Robin could've feature a look in a filler or something with these...anklets? I guess? Not the most far fetched imo

Cut and pin.

Not an issue of looks but of pricing. This are cute little tops but overpriced af, they just cut it and pin it.

Nevertheless, they scream Franky to me. They even kinda follow Franky's own stiches on his chest lmao

At a lost for words

I just dont get it. This is not a price thing, just a ok but why? thing.

If someone can do weird shit and get away with it is Brook and i love him for it. He could show up one day at Sunny wearing his coat backward and i wouldnt question it. I imagine him wearing that as a fancy look in a movie. He already wears high heels on the reg, and idk why but i know he has a pair of fishnets.

This fuck me up to this day

I dont mind the ilusion drawing idea, but seeing a whole rack of these in a sleep deprived state kinda fucks up your mind. I dont think it was a clever trend for clothes tho and im glad it died away.

I dont think Jinbe would wear the shirt, but hear me out. His kimono but in that stile, custom made. One day Usopp, Chopper and Luffy will paint it in and is going to be hilarious to see Jinbe walking around like a Father that let his kids do his hair and nails.

You can find more idiot post like this in my tag #straw hats as i make no promise of quality but i have fun

[lorei-writes]

ooh, comissions! Specially from someone whose writing I love so dearly! Congratulations, hun! You really deserve it!! *insert tons of heart emoji here* now, for my request: Touch + Shingen, comforting!! I love that hunk of a man! Wish you all the best!

Aye, just requests ^^" I don't do commissions. But I'm glad you enjoy my writing so much <3 And I hope you like this bit too! >:)

»All the things we choose to share«

Shingen x Reader Fluff/Comfort Content Warnings: none Word Count: ~500

Ignis Fatuus

You breathe in deeply to cherish the scent of salty iodine, now devoid of noxious summer notes. Rocky shores have never felt so vast. Not once. Yet here you are, walking at what seems to be the very edge of the world, silver waters swaying as if drunk. Wind tangles in your sleeves, tightens cloth against your body while also setting your hair loose. Free like a bird, your spread your arms, ready to fly and float among the stars. Will you...?

The stone feels cold to your bare feet. Be it due to the evening dew or the ocean mist, it is slick, the lulling of the world around having you believe it is a plank you walk and not the solid rock. Your toes hurt. Not that you care; you cannot see how purple they are either way. What little light stars produce skips from puddle to puddle, shimmers to then cease and reappear a few paces ahead. You fall for the ignis fatuus and follow in its steps. There… is no harm in that. Is that not the case?

No, like a drop.

No, like a wave.

No, from an ocean, delivered to your personally by its freezing hands – and yet it is also hands that save you from being coldly embraced. You look over your shoulder, still awkwardly bent at your waist and with one leg extended. Your lips part.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch,” you hiss, only now made aware of the chill. Shivers run up your spine; it is maybe a second before Shingen pulls you back by your obi, but a second is already a second too long.

“I did call you a moon deity, but I didn’t expect you’d try to take reign of the ocean.”

“I did not plan to!”

“I hope you did not,” he huffs a laugh. Shingen’s shoulders shake as he crouches down to wring out the hem of your kimono, a few unfortunate pebbles scratching the ground when pressed under the soles of his shoes. (At least one of you was reasonable enough to wear shoes.) It is nigh impossible to see what exactly it is that he is doing – so you close your eyes, cut off the redundant vision and replace it with touch.

Shingen presses his forehead against your belly. His hair is soft, although you do manage to find few tangles in it, likely invited there by the wind. You do not focus on them for long, however. You cannot. Hot despite – or perhaps precisely because of – the cool of autumn ocean, his fingers brush against your calf, press against your muscles to re-invite warmth into your skin. Slowly, his hands move down your leg, to eventually reach your toes.

It may be fortunate you cannot see his face.

Shingen stands up abruptly, but remains quiet.

“Shin—gen?!” Your voice hikes up as your love lifts you into the air. Instinctively, you throw your arms around his neck, half-afraid that your feet have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, and that surely, he will drop you whole into the water now.

“Let me,” he murmurs, concern seeping from each word. “Once we return, I intend to worship the chill out of you, angel.”

Your cheeks turn redder than the falling leaves.

--

Tag List: @lancelotscloak @violettduchess @the12thnightproject @oda-princess @tele86 @rinaririr @cheese-ception

[giggly-squiggily]

Here's another Demon Slayer fic I wrote for @mystwrites, I hope you like it! It's a little angsty and includes psychic!Tanjiro because I had been watching The Shining and Doctor Sleep, and it made me think how he was able to see Urokodaki's dead students.

~~~~

AHHHHH! I loved this so much oh my GOD! The whole concept of Tanjiro being a psychic is something I've never thought about but utterly love??? And Rengoku being such a good big brother figure made my heart swell! Thank you for sharing this @nutzgunray-lvt- it was utterly lovely!

It was nothing more than a bad dream… or so Tanjiro tried and failed to convince himself as flashes of lightning lit up the room he was sleeping in for the night. 

The unexpected torrential downpour would have normally been welcomed by the burgundy haired boy, as he had always loved rain. The smell and sound had always brought him comfort, even if it was practically coming down sideways and severely impairing their vision and hearing. The sensation of the droplets on his hair and skin felt grounding to him, even if the cold, autumn air made them feel like flecks of ice - especially since he and Mr. Rengoku were traveling up north to Aomori. 

Though he normally loved the rain, the Wisteria House they came across as the sun set was a gift from the gods, and after some nabeyaki udon and a hot bath, he was quickly ushered to bed.

"There's no telling when the storm will end, so we'll need to stay here for the time being," the tempura haired man patiently explained, giving his Tsuguko's wet hair a ruffle. "You're about to keel over from exhaustion, and we'll be of no use if we wind up falling ill from being out in the elements, wouldn't you say?"

Though he was more than willing to push through the unfavorable weather - it wouldn't be the first time he had done so - the raised eyebrow from Mr. Rengoku had him silently nodding instead, letting himself be gently pushed into the bedroom next door to his. As was often the case, Mr. Rengoku was quickly proven to be right, because thanks to the warm food and relaxing bath, Tanjiro's eyes closed almost as soon as his head hit the pillow… something that quickly proved to be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, a deep sleep quickly found him. On the other hand, nightmares accompanied it.

It was a hodgepodge of things both from his past and yet to come, things that seemed so out of left field yet set in stone. His family's corpses blaming him for their deaths accompanied Mr. Rengoku's near demise at the hands of the Upper Third. Mr. Uzui's narrow survival against the Upper Sixth segwayed behind dead children littering temple grounds. Sabito and Makomo's dead bodies in the forest clearing sprung at the forefront. Nezuko at the mercy of Lower Fifth preceded moving corridors, slamming doors, perpendicular hallways, and upside down stairs. A woman in a black kimono sat with a biwa in her hands, and when she strummed -

A loud crackle of lightning had woken the burgundy haired boy with a yelp. Tangled in his blankets, he scrambled upright and tried to calm his thudding heart.

Please be asleep, Mr. Rengoku, he pleaded to himself as a loud rumble of thunder made him flinch. Please be asleep, please -

"Young Kamado?"

Of course the Hashira with the best extrasensory perception had to choose me as their Tsuguko.

He could hear the older man's footsteps approaching him, and as he knelt before him, Tanjiro bit his lip and looked out the window, the pouring rain obstructing the view of the outside. He trembled violently from both the cold air in the room and a fear that his guest wouldn't take kindly to being woken up in the middle of the night over something as childish as a nightmare. Mr. Rengoku had to have been just as exhausted as Tanjiro himself was, so he had every right to be angry -

"What's this?" he softly asked, pulling the burgundy haired boy into a tight hug. "Did you have a nightmare?"

Tanjiro didn't answer, burying his head in Mr. Rengoku's chest as tears welled up in his eyes, his trembling worsening as he started crying in earnest. As always, the Flame Hashira was incredibly patient with him, never once reprimanding him for his less than stoic attitude. Instead, he securely held his Tsuguko in his arms, absent-mindedly resting his chin on top of his head as he rubbed his back and whispered, "It's okay, my boy. It's okay."

These dreams always left the burgundy haired boy's mind a mess, and not wanting to worry those around him, he shouldered the burden on his own. It was his job to take care of his loved ones, not the other way around. And besides, how in the world was he supposed to explain these dreams to anyone? "Well, I've been having nightmares about a weird building with never ending moving stairs and hallways, and I also sometimes see the dead children of Mr. Urokodaki as well as my dead family."

He couldn't possibly tell that to anyone. Not only were nightmares incredibly common amongst Demon Slayers, but who would believe him about his weirder ones?

Fortunately, Mr. Rengoku's steady heartbeat and protective embrace had Tanjiro slowly but surely calming down. His sobs had quieted down to soft sniffles, and after a few more minutes of quiet crying, his tears finally stopped. Taking a deep, shaky breath, he closed his eyes and painted this moment in his mind. Though the Flame Hashira was never afraid of being physically affectionate with him - what with the head pats, shoulder squeezes, and tickle attacks he doled out - he hadn't been hugged so tightly since he had said goodbye to Mr. Urokodaki all of those months ago. 

It felt… nice.

"Young Kamado, should ever want to hug me, all you have to do is ask," the older man said evenly, cupping his head with the hand not rubbing his back. "I won't refuse you."

Tanjiro felt his face flush, and he tried to burrow deeper into the embrace, drawing out a fond laugh from the man.

"It's… you're really warm, that's all," he said clumsily, his voice muffled by Mr. Rengoku's shoulder. "It's comfy."

"Senjuro would agree with you," the tempura haired man acknowledged, carding his fingers through Tanjiro's hair, making his eyes practically roll to the back of his head. "It sometimes shocks me how similar the two of you are to each other."

The burgundy haired boy nodded absent-mindedly. "You remind me so much of Senjuro, my boy!" had been something he had heard more than once from his senior, particularly when they would visit his family's estate. Whenever Tanjiro wasn't working with Mr. Shinjuro to research Sun Breathing, he was spending time with Senjuro. The two got along great with one another, and more than once, he'd seen Mr. Rengoku watching over the two of them with a warm, approving smile.

"I always tell him that there's no shame in having nightmares, and I want to make sure that you know this as well, my boy," the older man continued. "We may be Demon Slayers, but we're human at the end of the day."

"But I woke you up," Tanjiro tried saying, lifting his head off of Mr. Rengoku's shoulder, only to have it gently pushed back down. "You were tired -"

"You're my Tsuguko," he gently but firmly said. "Not only am I in charge of your progression as a Demon Slayer, but it's also my duty to take care of you both physically and mentally. It would have been cruel of me to leave you to cry alone with how frightened you sounded."

He couldn't really argue with that… not that Mr. Rengoku would have let him. Instead, he nodded his head and let his hair be brushed out of his face. It was an almost hypnotic comfort to him, and though he wasn't sleepy anymore, he could feel his eyelids fluttering shut…

Only for a loud crack of lightning to wake him up with a gasp.

"There's no need to be frightened, Young Kamado!" Mr. Rengoku warmly said, gently prying Tanjiro from his embrace to get a better look at him. "It's only a thunderstorm!"

"I wasn't scared," the burgundy haired boy insisted, his face flushing under his senior's intense gaze. "It's just, with the nightmares…" He trailed off, not wanting to outright admit to how badly shaken he was. He felt his crying fit said plenty, and when he dared a peek at his mentor, he saw that he had the same line of thinking.

"I see… that is quite understandable," the Flame Hashira mused, frowning slightly as he listened to the howling wind and pounding rain. "I didn't expect for the storm to stay this strong up to now. We'll most likely need to hold off on traveling tomorrow as well."

Tanjiro nodded. As much as he hated to leave the potential demon lurking around Aomori, they really would be of no use if they tried traveling through the storm. The extra day would not only replenish their energy, but it would be the perfect time to plan out their reconnaissance and battle strategies.

His frustration must have been apparent to Mr. Rengoku, because his loud laughter shook him out of his feedback loop. "Don't give me that look, Young Kamado! What is it that I've always told you?"

"A watched pot never boils," the burgundy haired boy echoed, a pout still on his face. It had been a motto that was pounded into his mind ever since becoming Mr. Rengoku's Tsuguko, one that he constantly stressed due to the notoriously rigorous training he put his mentees through. He applied it to everything from overtraining to even literal boiling water, and it looked like he was going to apply it to traveling.

"Well, you don't need to sound so forlorn about it! Come on, smile for me!" Mr. Rengoku encouraged, ruffling Tanjiro's hair harder than he usually would.

"Hey!" he cried out, trying to dodge the tempura haired man's ministrations and unsuccessfully fighting the smile appearing on his face. "What're you doing?!"

"Did you not hear me? I said to smile!" he repeated, abruptly releasing Tanjiro's head to poke up and down his sides.

"Ah! Mr. Rengoku! No!" he shrieked, dissolving into giggles as he fell onto his back, trying in vain to curl in on himself as the poking turned into slow, up and down spidering.

"What's that, my boy?" Mr. Rengoku asked, playfully frowning and tilting his head to the side. "I'm afraid I can't hear what you're trying to say over the sound of you not smiling."

"Th-That-That dohohohoesn't make any sehehehense!" Tanjiro whined through his giggles, kicking his legs out as the older man took a seat on his thighs. 

"Of course it makes sense!" The Flame Hashira retorted with a proud smile, pinching at the younger boy's lower ribs and laughing at the shrieks that accompanied it. "Now all you need to do is set your heart ablaze and endure this torture like the capable Slayer you are!"

"I cahahan't! It-It's so bahahahad!" Tanjiro begged, uselessly grabbing onto his senior's wrists in an effort to stop him. The evil grin that appeared on Mr. Rengoku's face at this told him he said the wrong thing, and his begging and pleading went ignored as those awful fingers walked up over his sides and bypassed his ribs.

"Oh dear," he playfully mused, pinching each of Tanjiro's ribs and laughing at how the boy flailed and kicked underneath him. "It appears that my normal methods of torture have gone stale! Don't worry, my boy! I still have a few tricks up my sleeve!"

Mr. Rengoku lingered at Tanjiro's topmost ribs, ever so lightly pinching them and clearly deriving great amusement at how he slapped his hands over his mouth in an attempt to muffle the shrill squeals he was producing. What else am I supposed to do, wake up the owners of the inn?! The burgundy haired boy screamed to himself, squeezing his eyes shut as the pinching finally came to an end. As he gasped for some much needed air, those torturous hands left his body, and he kept his eyes shut in order to not quell the sense of hope bubbling up inside of him.

Was that it?

Had Mr. Rengoku been bluffing?

In hindsight, he really should have known better than to think such things. This was Mr. Rengoku that he was talking about - the man was practically the personification of the Tickle Monster. Looking back, Tanjiro would thank the gods that a loud crack of lightning masked the shrill scream that escaped him when two hands clawed into his stomach, completely bypassing his underarms and throwing him for a loop.

"Oho, what's this?" Mr. Rengoku teased over Tanjiro's frantic belly laughter. "Is this tummy of yours a bad spot?"

The burgundy haired boy couldn't even hope to answer verbally, so he just let his hands release the Flame Hashira's wrists and drop uselessly to the futon as he nodded, his mind and muscles being turned into a goofy mess. Tears once again filled his eyes, slowly pouring down his cheeks as his mind was further scrambled due to his senior's taunting words. Two thumbs drilling into his hips had the younger boy screaming into his pillow, an action that made the tempura haired man laugh as well.

"Why are you hiding from me, my boy?" he asked, pulling the pillow away and setting it aside. "Happiness is something that should be shared with those around you!"

Tanjiro tried answering that they couldn't be as loud as they wanted, but fingers gently scribbling along his lower abdomen had him giggling like a five year old instead. His throat and stomach hurt from laughing so much, and when he looked up at Mr. Rengoku, the soft smile on his face told him that his torture had come to an end for the night.

"There we go, Young Kamado," he fondly said, giving his hair a gentle ruffle once the tickling came to a stop. "Are you feeling better?"

Tanjiro nodded, the happy smile still on his face as he gasped for air, curling in on himself as Mr. Rengoku got off of him. The mushy goofiness was leaving in his brain, leaving him in an elated state of pure bliss and sleepiness as all of the energy he expended caught up to him. He let his eyes droop shut as he yawned, blindly reaching around for his pillow as a rumble of thunder shook the windows.

"Go to sleep, my boy," the Flame Hashira said, getting to his feet. "Let me get my pillow and blanket - "

"You don't have to!" Tanjiro tiredly insisted as he curled up under his own blanket. "'M not scared anymore -"

"Nonsense!" the older man retorted with a firm shake of the head. "I used to share a futon with Senjuro back in the day, and it always helped him with his own nightmares!"

He left the room before the burgundy haired boy could object any further, and as he listened to sounds of movement next door, he couldn't help but feel relieved that the older man insisted on staying with him. Was it childish? Maybe, but it was something that he was always allowed to indulge in around the tempura haired man. Part of him felt guilty - after all, he had his friends and Nezuko to tend to - but Mr. Rengoku thought nothing of assuming a big brother role in his mentorship of him.

"You're my Tsuguko. Not only am I in charge of your progression as a Demon Slayer, but it's also my duty to take care of you both physically and mentally."

And as the man in question returned and settled in next to Tanjiro, the younger boy thanked his lucky stars that he survived against the Upper Third. After all, who else could take on such an essential role that Tanjiro had no clue that he needed in life? (Well, there was Mr. Uzui, but he'd never say it out loud to the man's face.)