#DAMNIT AKARI I LOVE HIM NOW | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

rainunseen · 3 years ago

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5 Things (Hawks X OC One-Shot)

Word Count: 8,134

Angst/Fluff; minor references to sex; a bit of cussing

Hawks woke up to his phone ringing. He groaned, praying to god that it wasn’t five o’clock already, and rolled over to face the clock on his bedside table. His eyes narrowed at the bright red numbers, his mind trying to shake off enough of the sleep to comprehend the numbers on the clock before he sighed in relief, rolling back over to drift off into his previously not-so-peaceful sleep.

Thank God, it’s only 1 o’clock. I’m not on call tonight. Everyone knows I’m not on call tonight, so it’s probably just a spam number.

The phone stopped ringing shortly after, and just as Hawks closed his eyes, it rang again. This time, he didn’t even bother checking. He simply readjusted his pillow so that it covered his ears and ignored it. It wasn’t until the third ring that, through his haze, he realized it was a section of a song that kept playing over again. A song that sounded familiar too… He removed the pillow from his head to listen closer.

“I don’t care if I sing off key/I found myself and my melodies/I sing for love, I sing for me…”

Hawks smiled, fond of the memory that involved getting this clip. Akari had been singing in the shower in the locker room at the agency, and her voice had been so tentative, so melodic, and such a rare opportunity that Hawks had to get it on video. Her rendition was slower, softer, and every time he heard it, he thought of how vulnerable and sweet he had found her to be over their time together these last few months.

He had set the audio clip as his ringtone soon after that, so now every time she called, he heard her voice before he even picked up the phone.

Wait…I set that song as Akari’s ringtone…

Hawks bolted up from the bed in realization, cursing himself for not paying attention sooner. Shit, shit, shit! She’s called me three times now, what if she’s in trouble?

He hastily scrambled to his dresser and grabbed the phone to pick up her call, but almost of its own will, his finger stopped just over the button that would allow him to hear her voice. The final ring sounded, and the phone stilled. Her contact name and picture flashed across the screen, blinked once, and disappeared.

He stared unseeingly at the device in his hands, before throwing it across the bed and dropping his head into his hands. He sat on the edge of his bed with his legs hanging over the side, wings drooping helplessly on the comforter, and his elbows resting on his knees. His fists were balled into his eyes as he tried to remain calm despite the emotions rising within him.

“Damnit. I couldn’t…I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t answer the damn phone.” The last things they had said to each other echoed through his mind.

“How could you ever expect me to have feelings for you? I hate you, Hawks. You are the most annoying, perverted, careless, cocky bastard I have ever met!” Akari yelled, furious.

(That was, in fact, not entirely true. The truth that Akari vehemently refused to admit was that she’d become quite fond of Hawks—you could even say that she’d developed feelings for him, but she’d never admit it.)

When Hawks had leaned in, truthfully she’d gotten scared, and now she was so flustered that she was saying a slew of things she didn’t mean in the slightest and defending herself in the only way she knew how.

Hawks threw his hands up in exasperation. Why the hell was she so pissed off? “Oh, well I’m sorry!” He yelled back sarcastically. “If I’d known that I was that unappealing to you, then I would never have entertained the idea! Or maybe, if you hadn’t been so obviously coming on to me the whole night, I never would have tried to kiss you! I would never have even thought about it!” He looked her dead the eyes, a smirk creeping onto his face as his entire demeanor changed in a split second. “Sorry babe, but I just couldn’t resist the idea of having you in my bed for the night.” Akari’s face, which had previously been flushed with anger, paled.

All at once, the winged hero’s entire demeanor changed. His training with the HPSC had taught him a few things—including how to act and what to say to inflict the most pain on someone. And, although it was the last thing he wanted to do to her, it was always what he fell back on to defend himself when he’d accidentally exposed his true feelings.

Hawks took a few steps closer, close enough to grasp her chin between his thumb and forefinger, and leaned down to breathe in her scent, trailing his tongue along her skin before looking at her again. She shivered at the foreign feeling but was otherwise frozen in shock as he spoke his next words. Words he would regret seconds after them leaving his mouth. “I mean, you don’t seem like you’d be good for much else. The only thing you have going for you is your body and your looks, and I was just looking to have a little fun. Sex is a good stress reliever, you know?” He watched her eyes widen, as if she couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. Then, a chill ran down his spine. Her face had crumpled, her bottom lip quivering slightly, and a single, lonely tear escaped her eyes as she screwed them shut to avoid his gaze. His grip on her chin was tight, almost painful.

Hawks, his brain finally catching up with what he had just said, released her and staggered back a few steps. Managing to barely regain her composure, Akari walked over to his couch and snatched her purse from the cushion, pointedly avoiding Hawks’ gaze. She trekked swiftly to the door, yanked it open, and stopped. She then tilted her head to her left, her chin held high but her eyes glued to the floor, and said, “I’ll be transferring agencies over the weekend. My two-week notice will be handed in on Monday, and I will not be showing up at the office during that time.” She paused, turning her head away from him, before issuing her parting words. “And don’t ever contact me again.”

With that, she stepped out the door. Hawks flinched as she slammed it behind her before the energy drained from his body and he collapsed in a heap of red feathers onto the wood flooring of his apartment. After her departure, the building was quiet. It was this deafening, overwhelming silence that caused sobs to begin to rack Hawks’ body as he looked back on everything he had just said…and everything he had just ruined.

“Oh god…what…what have I done?”

Hawks startled when his phone dinged with a new notification, the voice command feature announcing what it was.

“You have one unheard voicemail message from Songbird. Would you like to listen now, or do you want the message to be deleted?”

“…play it.”

The first thing Hawks heard was a loud, booming sound system playing incredibly obnoxious music that drowned nearly everything else out. Then he could hear what sounded like hundreds of voices cheering, laughing, singing, shouting. But he could not hear the one voice that he needed more than anything else at that moment. Hawks listened intently until he heard a door slam and then the music sounded more distant.

Then, finally, he heard the voice he was waiting for. He frowned as she began speaking–she sounded so tired, so lifeless.

“Hawks?” A pause. “Oh, you didn’t answer again. Then…” There was a sniffle, accompanied by a small hiccup. “I guess I’ll just leave a voicemail.” He could hear her take a deep breath, before a whimper sounded over the speaker.

“Hawks…I…I’m really sorry. Please, I don’t wanna leave the agency. I don’t wanna leave you! I…Hawks, I…” She choked out a sob, and Hawks leapt up from his spot on the bed, stripping out of his clothes. He grabbed his flight uniform from his closest and dressed as fast as possible. Having abandoned his phone on the bed, he scooped it back up and was in the air before he had even cleared his window.

She was crying now, on the other end of the line, and it was breaking his heart. He had to get to her. He had to make things right, tell her he hadn’t meant what he’d said. He didn’t know where he was going, but he could figure it out. There was loud music in the background, so checking the clubs first was a good place to start. He picked out the sounds of midnight traffic, more than there should have been for the hour, and changed course. She must have been somewhere downtown.

Hearing her cry, hearing her sound as though she were completely devoid of life, hearing the weakness in her voice when she had been so strong for as long as he’d known her. But what was worse…was that it was all because of him. And he hated himself for it.

Her voice softened, having managed to somewhat compose herself. “I…” Her voice broke with a whimper. “I need you, Hawks…please…”

Hawks’ wings stalled and he lost about fifty feet of altitude before he was able to recover. What did she just say? Did she really…did she really just say what I think she said?

He shot out dozens of feathers to scope out the area, being sure that he wasn’t losing enough to slow him down too much. He was so desperate to find her now that it was physically painful. It felt like his chest was collapsing in on itself; his heart was beating so hard against his ribs that it felt as though the bones would break. He bit down on his cheek as he listened before he finally heard the familiar voice that he needed so badly—except this time, it wasn’t so emotionless. This time it was laced with panic. Hawks knew that Akari could take care of herself, but he also knew that she had a really hard time concentrating when she was intoxicated. And right now, he suspected that she had been drinking. A lot.

Hawks picked up speed as he heard Akari whimper. He was still a long way off. The feather he was using to listen in on what was happening was a good two miles away.

Since he could feel the same vibrations that his feathers could, he was able to determine how many people there were and how they were laid out—including where Akari was. There were three men standing in a circle, and one of them was holding a struggling female in a headlock—no, at knifepoint. They were in an alley a mile away now.

“…Hawks, please…” She pleaded, sounding breathless. The hero pushed himself to go even faster at the sound of her plea. She was calling for him, and he’d be damned if he was going to let anything happen to her.

“Awww, how cute!” Akari’s attacker—who Hawks instinctually dubbed the leader of the trio—mocked. “She’s calling out for a hero!” The two lackeys laughed at their boss’ words.

“Please, forgive me, Hawks…for what I said.”

She cried out in pain as the man wielding the knife pressed the blade into her neck, drawing blood. “Shut up, wench! Nobody gives a damn about you and your hero fantasy.”

“Hawks…” She repeated meekly.

The man’s face flushed in rage and he abandoned the knife in favor of a headlock, seemingly drawing entertainment from watching her gasp for air. “I told you to shut up.” He growled.

Hawks was eight blocks away now.

Akari clawed at the man’s arm as her windpipe was crushed. “You know,” the man started, “I was gonna let Eric and Pip here have their turns with you first, but seeing you struggle to breath, I’m starting to reconsider.” The man smirked and leaned into her ear. “I love to break a woman’s spirit…”

“Hawks…I wanted it t—“ She was abruptly cut off as the man tightened his grip around her throat, and the men began to laugh at her.

“Ha! Can you believe it? This chick is actually batshit crazy. She thinks the number three hero is gonna swoop down and save her.” One of the guys chimed in.

“Yeah, Pip, I think you’re right. She must be one of those obsessive psycho girls that falls in love with some famous celebrity they’ve never met!” Eric walked towards Akari, tracing a thumb over her bottom lip. She cringed and pulled away from his touch, to which he growled and pulled a hand back. The sound of his hand across her face echoed down the alley, and Hawks growled. Six blocks.

“Poor thing,” Eric cooed. “Now your pretty little lip is all busted up.”

“Hey Chuck,” Pip chimed in, giggling like a teenage schoolgirl. “Since she’s a yandere, do you think she could get Stockholm Syndrome?”

“Shut up, will you? Fucking idiot…” Chuck—the leader of the little band of assholes—said, sounding anxious. “Jeez, can’t this chick just pass out already? We need to get going.”

Akari was getting close, Hawks could tell. She wouldn’t last much longer. With the alcohol in her system, she couldn’t control her quirk very well. If she tried using it, she would probably end up killing the three men in front of her and any bystanders nearby.

Four blocks away and closing.

“Hawks…!” Out of desperation, she tried calling for him again. Although, in all honesty, she didn’t think he’d come even if he had listened to her voicemail. Not with how they left things off, and not if he meant what he said back there. She only carried on because she wanted the words to be spoken, to be heard by someone. It wasn’t a feeble attempt to call for a rescuer, it was just her way of doing the only thing she could to apologize for what had happened between them.

Chuck cackled, low and long, his breath fanning across Akari’s neck and causing her to shudder. “I would save my breath, girlie. Nobody’s coming to save you…”

Just two blocks left now.

Akari’s vision was blurring, and she was so dizzy it hurt. She knew she was fading fast, and that after she lost consciousness, they would drag her off and do what they wanted with her before anyone could find them.

At that moment Hawks flew around the corner and stopped, planting his feet firmly on the ground as his expression morphed from one of desperation to one that portrayed murderous intent at the sight before him. The gust of wind that accompanied the hero’s abrupt halt unbalanced Chuck and caused him to lose traction on his headlock, so Akari was able to suck in a single breath before he regained his grip. Eric and Pip faced Hawks, while the leader had his back to the No. 3 Hero. The blonde’s golden eyes flashed dangerously as he made eye contact with the men facing him, and they stumbled back, eyes wide and mouths dropped open. Chuck, on the other hand, was too stupid to realize that the sudden gust of wind was anything but that.

“Um, uh, b-b-boss…” Pip blundered, his mouth failing to properly convey what he was seeing.

Eric, who was significantly less incompetent, took over for the poor guy. “Boss…I think we should leave her be and get outta here.”

The leader laughed as Hawks continued to advance. “What? I thought you said you were looking forward to havin’ her warm your bed tonight! Didn’t you say the only thing she was good for was her body?”

Akari whimpered once more at the reminder, her heart clenching as she remembered the same words leaving Hawks’ mouth just hours before. The blonde hero’s face darkened even further as he continued stalking toward the group.

“Chuck, I’m not kidding man!” Eric yelled nervously, taking a few more steps back. “That chick…she’s not crazy.”

“What? What are you talking about, her obsession with Hawks?” Poor Chuck didn’t notice the warm air that was now blowing across his neck as Hawks stood menacingly behind him.

“Ha...haha…yeah. I think she really knows the guy.”

“Yeah, I think she knows him too.”

Akari froze, and Chuck pissed himself right there. He had never heard the No. 3 hero speak before, but he wasn’t that stupid.

Akari relaxed and let out a breathless laugh of relief, before straining her neck to look over Chuck’s shoulder at Hawks with eyes that showed just how exhausted she was. “Ha…hey birdy. I didn’t…I didn’t think you’d come.”

The winged hero’s expression softened as he studied her face. Her perfect, beautiful face. How could he have ever said those things to her? It was because he was so intently watching her that he noticed when her eyelids drooped and her knees started to shake, indicating that she was about to pass out.

Eric and Pip were long gone by then, and Chuck was so pale you could tell he was on death’s door. Hawks pulled back on the man’s shoulder, socked him straight in the face with as much energy as he could muster, and caught Akari as she lost consciousness.

Hawks sank down to his knees with her in his arms, hugging her to his chest as tight as he could. He burrowed his face into the crook of her neck and breathed in, relishing the familiar scent of vanilla and strawberries he loved so much.

However, he could also smell the alcohol on her, and decided that she was going to have one killer hangover the next day.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hawks landed on the balcony of his apartment, his feet barely audible on the wooden terrace. Walking over to his bed to place Akari on it, Hawks noticed that his clothes were still strewn all over the floor from when he was in a rush to change earlier. He sent some feathers out to take care of the mess, set Akari gently down on the comforter, and then looked over what she was wearing.

“Hmmm, I’ll have to find you some suitable sleep clothes.” As Hawks turned to leave, Akari reached out and grabbed his hand.

Her eyes were open, but she looked as though keeping them that way was the hardest thing she had ever done. “Please…” She mumbled, her voice just above a whisper. “Please don’t go.”

“You know I’d love to stay Chicky, but there’s a few things I gotta set up first. When I’m done though, I’ll totally come join you.” Hawks winked and flashed his signature smile, prompting Akari to roll her eyes and resist the urge to smile herself.

“Hawks—”

“Akari.” The blonde interrupted her, his playful attitude gone without a trace. “Let me take care of you, please. I have to make it up to you.”

“No, you really don’t—" Akari tried again.

Hawks climbed over the top of her in bed and her face flushed the most brilliant shade of scarlet. The winged hero leaned down to the crook of her neck and exhaled, letting his breath fan over the bare skin of her collarbone. She shivered in response, and Hawks placed a gentle kiss on her neck before moving up to her ear. “I am going to get you a change of clothes. Then I am going to get a glass of water and some ibuprofen, both of which you will need in the morning. After that, if you still want me, I’ll come right back here and stay with you.”

“Hawks…” She breathed, putting a hand to his cheek and guiding his eyes to meet hers. “I’ll always want you.”

The hero’s face fell, his smirk disappearing, and he carefully got off the bed. Turning his back on her, Hawks swallowed the lump in his throat. His wings hung limp from his back, their tips brushing the floor, and Akari could tell that he regretted what he said.

Hawks left to the kitchen without another word, but stealthily slipped a feather over the woman’s chest. Her heartbeat…he wanted to listen while he was away from her. He also sent some feathers to search through his clothes for something suitable for her to wear, so by the time he came back with the medicine and the water all he had to do was change her clothes and then he could let her sleep.

While he was gone, however, the feather over her heart picked up something that he would have preferred not to hear.

It started with a sniffle, a soft fragile break in the steady rhythm, and then sobs were wracking her body, tearing her apart from the inside. The feather shifted as she rolled to her side, hiding her face in a pillow as a feeble attempt to muffle her grief. The hero’s heart shattered further with each cry. This was all his fault. He never should have said those things to her.

She may say that she’ll always want me…but I’ve hurt her now in a way that I can never take back. She’ll never be the same, not after what I said.

Hawks stopped in the middle of the kitchen and crouched where he was, wrapping his wings around himself and clamping his hands over his ears. He couldn’t stand this. He couldn’t stand knowing that she was crying in the dark in the next room because of him. And she was alone, because there was nothing he could do for her. He had no right to comfort her after it was him that hurt her in the first place.

Hawks was so caught up in thought that he didn’t notice when the sniffling died down, when the bed shifted, or when soft footfalls began padding toward him.

The footsteps hesitated, and then a sigh sounded from the door to his bedroom as Akari presumably saw the position he was in. A hand came to rest on the crown of his head, running softly through his hair. “Hawks…” Her voice was soft, gentle, and wavering. She conveyed through his name everything she was feeling at that moment. Pain, sadness, betrayal… She was showing him how vulnerable she was, and she was trusting him. Trusting that he wouldn’t take advantage of that. She took a deep breath, then continued. “Don’t do this to yourself.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Don’t do this to myself? If anyone else had said to you what I did, then I would have killed them. That doesn’t change just because it was me.”

“I know you didn’t mean it, Hawks. And I also know you’re never going to forgive yourself for this.”

Hawks scoffed and got to his feet, turning to face her. His eyes were so intense Akari felt as though she might be burned alive. “How could I?!” He gestured wildly to the bedroom. “You’re crying in there because of me! Because of what I said to you!” His voice softened, and his eyes fixated on the floor. “I’ve hurt you in a way I can never take back, Akari, how can you forgive me so easily?”

“…I don’t.”

Hawks looked up sharply. “What?”

Akari turned away from him. “I don’t forgive you…I can’t. Not yet.”

His brows furrowed, betraying his confusion. She doesn’t forgive me…okay, that’s understandable. Then why isn’t she mad? “But…you’re not mad…”

“I was never mad at you, Hawks. I was just…hurt. I’m still hurt. But I could never…I could never be mad at you.” She looked up at him with eyes that pleaded with him to understand. “Did you…did you listen to my message?”

The winged hero’s eyes widened as he remembered the last thing she had said in the voicemail. “…yes, I did.”

Her face flushed. “So you heard what I told you.”

“Yes.” He breathed.

She turned her back to him now, crossing her arms over her chest to put some constrictive pressure on her beating heart.

“Did you mean it?” It was a simple question. Yes or no. That’s all he needed.

Unfortunately for Akari, she wasn’t a giggly drunk, or a crazy one…but she was brutally honest. “I…yes.”

Hawks growled. “Look at me, Akari.” He needed to be sure. He needed to see her face when she gave her answer.

She shook her head stubbornly, like a child would when they’re told to hand over a toy.

“Akari…” Hawks wheeled around to her front and grabbed her by the arms. He shook her once. “Look at me.”

Still, she refused, so Hawks moved his hands to her face and cupped it gently, lifting her to face to his. She screwed her eyes shut.

Hawks whimpered. It was physically painful for him. He needed her to look him in the eyes and tell him that she meant it. “Akari…please, look at me. I need to be sure…”

Finally, she opened her eyes just the tiniest bit, and that was all it took. Her heart skipped a beat and she inhaled sharply when she caught the look on his face, the indescribable need that pulsed through his golden orbs. She knew now that she couldn’t have looked away even if she wanted to.

His eyes searched hers for the answer as he repeated the question. “Did you mean it?”

She let out a heavy breath. “With every atom of my being.”

There it was. The answer he so desperately needed to hear from her. His eyes softened as he gazed at her. He studied every plane of her face, every freckle. He memorized it all. He wanted to remember every detail of this moment.

Akari leaned up toward him, watching him carefully. She saw when his eyebrows furrowed and she saw the moment he decided for himself that he couldn’t do it. He reminded himself of the way she had reacted earlier that night when he’d tried to kiss her. She’d been sober then, but now she was drunk. And, he realized, she was drunk when she left that voicemail. He turned his head away from her, his eyes downcast.

He didn’t know she was an honest drunk, so he didn’t know that everything coming out of her mouth was truer than anything she’d told him up until that point.

The woman’s face fell from the rejection and she clutched the front of his flight jacket between her hands, burying her face in it. She whimpered. She wanted it too. She needed it—just as much as he did.

“Hawks, please…” She begged.

“Akari,” Hawks was trying so hard. He was trying to restrain himself, but if she begged him like that again he wouldn’t be able to. “You’re drunk.”

“Is that really what’s stopping you? Or is it my reaction from earlier?” She said, lifting her head and staring him down. She didn’t need a verbal response; she already knew the answer.

“Hawks, I…I was scared, okay?” She averted her gaze from his at this admittance, and Hawks furrowed his brow.

“What do you m—”

“I was scared of getting close to you. There…there are things about me, parts of my life that I’d prefer to keep you out of. Getting involved with you will put you in danger, and I didn’t want that. But…I can’t…I can’t not be with you. I can’t stay away from you anymore. I…I need you, Hawks. So please—”

Hearing her say that again, but this time with her right in front of him, he couldn’t hold back. He took hold of her chin and turned her face to his, leaning down to let his lips brush against hers.

“If it’s putting me in danger that you’re worried about…” He whispered huskily against her skin, “Then I’m insulted by your lack of faith. Let me decide what I can and can’t handle.”

Akari let out a breathy laugh, her eyes locked on Hawks’ lips. “Okay.”

The release of tension between them as their lips met was like being freed from years of captivity, and for a moment, it felt as though nothing was wrong. Like nothing bad had happened between them. Maybe it was because of how right it felt, or maybe they were both too caught up in each other to care about anything else.

It started gentle, like they were testing the waters. They dipped their toes just beneath the surface to make sure the water wasn’t cold…and then jumped straight in. Hawks moved his hands from her face to loop around her waist and pull her closer to him as he basked in an indescribable feeling. It was the kind of feeling that nothing else could ever compare to. The kind of rush that no thrill seeker had ever found, and the kind of high that every drug addict could only ever dream of. It was something he’d never experienced in his life.

Akari sighed into the kiss, reveling in the feeling of his lips on hers, of his hands around her waist, pulling her closer just when she thought there was no more space left between them. She threw her arms around his neck to tangle her fingers in his hair, her body melting into his embrace to mold perfectly against him.

The longer they kissed, the more they wanted. Hawks pushed his mouth further against hers and Akari flinched, pulling away and muttering a curse under her breath. She lifted a hand to her mouth and traced a finger across her bottom lip, wincing again when she pushed too hard.

Hawks immediately went into panic mode. “What is it? Did I do something wrong? Are you—”

“Hawks,” she interrupted, stepping back from him. She pulled her hand slightly away from her mouth and looked at it, her eyes flashing with realization. “I’m fine, just…give me a sec.”

She walked around him and went into his room, keeping her hand over her mouth. Hawks followed right behind her as she then moved to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. Leaning forward, she removed her hand and cursed.

“Fucking hell, I can’t even kiss you right because of that jackass.” She reached into the open closet and grabbed a towel, dabbing it on her busted and swollen lip.

Hawks stood behind her, his eyes narrowing at the sight of her face in the mirror. “That’s right, that son of a bitch slapped you.” His expression darkened. “I shouldn’t have let him go.”

“It’s fine, Hawks. It’s not a big deal.” As she finished cleaning up her lip, she noticed something else. Tilting her chin up to reveal her neck, she got a better look at the shallow three-inch-long cut across her throat.

The two hero’s gazes met in the mirror and Hawks nodded. “I’ll get the first aid kit.” When he returned from his adventure through the cluttered closet space in his bedroom, he set a small white box on the lavatory and opened it up to reveal a bunch of unorganized medical materials. Being used to fixing himself up a few days a week after work, he picked out the materials he’d need.

He ripped open a pack of antibiotic wipes and put a finger beneath her chin to lift her head and get a better look at the wound. “This might sting.” Without much hesitation, he pressed the wipe to her neck and the woman hissed.

“Sorry,” Although he had apologized, he had a smirk plastered onto his face. Akari chuckled.

“Sure you are, you sadist.” She rolled her eyes as he smothered a laugh and reached to the counter to retrieve a tube of ointment and a gauze pad. Within seconds, his nimble fingers had applied the ointment to the pad and began centering it on her cut. Akari’s breath hitched as his fingers ghosted over the skin of her neck, and a small, pleasurable shiver ran through her body at his electric touch. The winged hero’s lips curled up into a proud grin as he felt the goosebumps rise across her skin.

“Don’t move your head.” He said simply, redirecting his attention to her busted lip as he reached into the closet to retrieve a small washcloth. He soaked it under cold water for a few seconds before returning to her face, pressing the rag gently but firmly against her mouth. While the younger of the two waited for him to finish up, she studied his face.

Hawks’ eyes were focused solely on her lips while he checked repeatedly to see if the bleeding had stopped. The way his eyebrows were drawn in ever so slightly as he concentrated on her injury, the way his golden eyes reflected the light in the room, the way his pupils dilated or contracted every time he shifted his head, the way his wings fluttered whenever he noticed something, or the way they stayed absolutely still when he was concentrated on something. She admired the small marks at the corners of his eyes, and how his hair was always swept back from the wind.

She didn’t notice when he removed the towel from her face, or when he opened a new pack of antibacterial wipes. And this time when he pressed the pad to her lip, she didn’t feel the sting. Her mind was too preoccupied to register any pain.

She smiled softly at the week-old stubble that shadowed his chin and had to physically restrain herself from reaching up and running her fingers over it.

Her eyes came back to his only to see he was already staring at her. She averted her gaze and her cheeks flushed, but she stayed still; she wasn’t sure if he was finished yet.

A gentle smile graced his features as he watched her face heat up. “What are you smiling about?” He asked teasingly.

Assuming he was done, she shook her head. “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

“You should smile more often.” He said, reaching up and caressing her cheek with his thumb.

She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning into his touch. “What are you talking about? I smile all the time.”

Hawks shook his head. “Not like that.”

Her eyes opened again and she looked at him, her voice quieter. “What do you mean?” She thought she knew…but she wanted to hear him say it.

“I’ve never seen you smile at me like that. Gentle, soft, affectionate. Like you’re looking at something very precious to you.” Their gazes were locked, and they each felt the tension building between them again.

“You…you are precious to me, Hawks.” Her face didn’t flush, her eyes didn’t leave his, and her tone was serious, unwavering. That admittance was not something she was ashamed of or embarrassed by, but rather something she was proud of.

The winged hero’s heart soared as he realized this, and such a bright, cheerful smile fell onto his face that Akari was momentarily entranced.

Placing his hands over her hips and dragging her toward him, he buried his face in her neck and took a long, refreshing breath, that strawberry-vanilla scent once again filling his head. He wrapped his wings around them and snaked his hands up her back to pull her into a tighter hug, pressing a smile against her skin. Her hands lay flat against his chest, and she leaned her head into his shoulder, enjoying their quiet embrace.

They stayed like that for a while, bathing in each other’s warmth. Eventually, Hawks pulled back to look at her. “Can I kiss you again?” He asked quietly. His eyes were calm, soft. He was more relaxed than Akari had ever seen him.

Her lips curled up into a smile so tender that Hawks couldn’t take his eyes away from it. “You don’t have to ask, Hawks.”

He smiled, but it was full of sadness. “I’m always going to ask. I won’t ever risk what happened today happening again.”

Without another second of delay, Hawks leaned down to press his lips against hers for the second time that night. And for the second time, it was the most amazing thing he’d ever felt in his life. He was careful not to push too hard, aware now of her busted lip, but he couldn’t help wanting to deepen the kiss.

Luckily for him, Akari was not so concerned about her injury, and she wove her hands into his hair to pull him closer to her. Hawks smiled onto her lips at her eagerness, glad that he wasn’t the only one excited about this. He ran his tongue gently across her bottom lip and she sighed into the kiss, relaxing further into his embrace.

When they pulled away, their faces were flushed and they were breathing in short, heavy spurts. Hawks leaned his forehead against hers, eyes closed, and simply enjoyed their closeness. His hands had found their way onto her hips at some point, but he had been too caught up in her to pay any mind what the rest of his body had been doing.

Akari shifted so that she could nuzzle her face in the older hero’s neck, keeping her eyes closed and breathing in his scent. He smelled like fresh citrus, light and airy, and she would never get enough of that smell.

As Hawks repositioned himself to accept her embrace, he felt her weight slowly shifting onto him, and he smiled.

She must be exhausted…

“Akari…” He whispered. “Are you ready to go to bed?”

“Hmmm…that sounds nice…” She mumbled, her voice muffled by his skin.

Hawks chuckled, dipping down to slip a hand beneath her knees as she let the rest of her weight fall on to him. He cradled her head against his chest, watching as a small, lazy smile made its way onto her lips as he carried her out of the bathroom to his bed.

After laying her down on top of the comforter, he spotted the clothes he had picked out for her to sleep in draped over the headboard.

“Here,” He reached over and grabbed them, offering them to her. “Put these on.”

She shook her head and whined, rolling onto her side to turn her back to him. “I’m too tired…” She grumbled sleepily.

“Chicky, you’re wearing a black cocktail dress that reeks of alcohol. You need to change.” Hawks stated simply.

She turned to face him with a challenge in her eyes. “If you want me in different clothes, then make it happen.”

Hawks’ face heated and turned a lovely shade of pink at the insinuation, but he quickly schooled his expression into one that said he would be more than happy to do just that. “Okie dokie, Chickadee! Just remember,” His eyes flashed and a sadistic grin replaced his previously innocent smile. “…you asked for it.”

Her eyes widened in alarm, and then narrowed in confusion as he sharply turned to face away from her. “What…what are you doing, Hawks?”

“You’ll see~!”

All of sudden, Akari was sitting upright in bed and her dress was being tugged off, but Hawks was still turned around, humming a little tune.

Within seconds, she was left in her undergarments and an oversized shirt was being forced over her head. Then, she burst out laughing and started squirming around on the bed.

“Ha…Hawks! Stop it!” She giggled and squealed as the winged hero’s feathers tickled her in the process of dressing her. “No, no! Hawks!” She groaned.

Meanwhile, Hawks was turned away from her and trying to concentrate on keeping his face at its normal color.

“Wait, no! I don’t wanna wear basketball shorts!” Akari yelled, trying to prevent Hawks’ feathers from putting them on.

The blonde turned around to address the issue and saw that she was sitting with her knees tucked beneath her, her hands gripping the hem of the shirt she was now wearing. Her face was as red as a tomato, and she stared at the comforter in what seemed to be embarrassment.

Hawks had the sudden urge to let go of all the self-imposed restraints he had been using to contain himself the whole night.

She looked as though she was a teenager confessing to her long-time crush. Or like the guy she’d fallen in love with had just seen her naked for the first time. She was so anxious, so…adorable. Either way, Hawks was struggling to keep his feet planted firmly where they were.

“I…I don’t normally…wear…pants…” She confessed. Her shoulders scrunched inward and, though it seemed impossible, her face reddened even further.

Hawks stared at her, dumbfounded. Does she mean to sleep? Or…not at all?

Her eyes widened as she seemed to realize how that statement could be misinterpreted. “To sleep!” She shouted anxiously. “I mean I don’t usually wear pants to sleep…”

The winged hero strode to the edge of the bed, placed his hands on either side of her face, and brought her eyes to meet his. He searched her vermillion orbs for just a second to make sure she was okay with this, and the moment he got her consent, he pressed his lips to hers with fervor that momentarily surprised Akari. She had never felt such intensity from a kiss before.

He was kissing her like he desperately needed it, like he would die if he didn’t.

She released the hem of her shirt in favor of grabbing onto his as she eagerly responded.

Hawks was losing himself in her. He couldn’t help it. He was entranced by everything about her, everything she did. At this moment in time, he was so wrapped up in her that he wouldn’t have cared if she was a villain, for Christ’s sake. He would still be kissing her.

He grabbed onto her hips and pushed her down onto the bed, placing a knee between her legs. Their lips never separated even as he did this, too focused on her and nothing but her to care whether he could breathe or not. She dipped her hands beneath his shirt and he shivered at her touch.

God, the things she could do to him.

His feathers rippled above them, catching Akari’s attention, and she slid her hands up his back to caress the base of his wings. His eyes widened and his whole body quivered violently as he moaned into their kiss. At that point, he had to pull away.

“Fuck…” He breathed, lifting his head to get a better look at her face. Her expression was one of shock and awe; it didn’t seem that she had expected that kind of reaction from him either. “What the hell did you do to me, Chicky?”

She laughed, the sound mesmerizing the man above her. “What do you mean? I just touched you.”

“Akari, that….that was single most amazing thing I’ve ever felt in my life. No one’s ever done that to me before.”

“What, this?” She asked innocently, circling her fingers around the base of his wings again. This time when she touched him, he shuddered and collapsed on top of her, his face nuzzling into her neck.

“Yes, exactly that…” He whispered, placing a kiss on her collarbone. She removed her hands from beneath his shirt and instead wove them into his hair, gently running her fingers through it.

They stayed like that for a while, with Hawks pressing the occasional kiss to her neck. However, when Akari yawned, Hawks decided it was time for him to let her get some rest.

He sat up to get one last look at her for the night before he carefully scooted to the other side of the bed. Just as his feet hit the floor he felt a hand grab his wing, and he cringed. Not in pain or discomfort, but rather at the fact he had been caught.

Her voice was stern. “Now just where do you think you’re going?”

He turned to face her, shaking her hand off his wing, and saw the way her eyes were begging him to stay. “Akari, you really need to get some sleep.”

“Yeah, and?” She challenged. “What does that have to do with where you’re going?”

Hawks sighed and rolled his eyes. “I was going to the living room, okay?”

Her eyes narrowed. “To do what, exactly?”

“Sleep, what else?”

“No, you’re going to sleep in your bed.”

“Akari—”

“Hawks,” She sat up and grabbed his hand, tugging him toward her. “I want you to stay.”

He tried, he really did. “I don’t think that’s a good idea—”

“Why not?” She questioned. The look in her eyes was daring him to say it.

He gave her a skeptical look. “I think you know exactly why, Chicky.” He leaned into her ear, exhaling down her neck and sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. “If I lay next to you the whole night, I can’t promise that I’ll be able to contain myself.”

Her face reddened. She’d known what he was trying to say before, but hearing him say it so bluntly made it much easier to picture.

Nevertheless, she forced the blood to leave her face, grabbed his chin, and looked him straight in the eye. “Then don’t.”

This time, it was his turn, his face turning a brilliant vermillion shade of red. He averted his gaze from hers. “Alright, fine. You win. I’ll…I’ll stay.”

Akari smirked. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Hawks scoffed, wrapping an arm around her waist and drawing her back against his chest as he laid down. “Of course you wouldn’t.”

The woman in the Number 3 Hero’s arms sighed in contentment, a small, gentle smile gracing her lips as she snuggled as far as she could into Hawks’ chest.

The winged hero couldn’t help his own smile. He’d wanted this for so long. He’d dreamed of holding her in his arms just like this a thousand times before.

Just as Hawks was drifting off, Akari opened her eyes and spoke. “Hawks…”

At the sound of his name spoken in such a way, his eyes shot open. Her voice was quiet, her tone solemn, and he would even say that it sounded like she was about to cry.

“Akari…? What’s wrong?”

“Hawks…I’m a very honest drunk, so…whatever I’ve said to you tonight was the absolute truth.”

The blonde’s brow furrowed. Isn’t that a good thing? Then why does she sound so sad?

“But…” She continued, her voice wavering slightly. “I’m also a very…forgetful drunk, and I often don’t remember anything from a time when I was intoxicated.” She paused. “If I…if I don’t remember any of this, Hawks…” She shifted in his arms to face him, and his heart stopped at the look in her eyes. “Promise me…promise that you won’t let me forget. Because I…” She buried her face in his chest as she started to cry. “I don’t want to forget this…so please, Hawks. Make me remember…”

Hawks tightened his arms around the woman now crying into his shirt and pressed a kiss onto her head. “I will…I promise.”

There were a thousand other things he could have said, but he didn’t. Each of them would have been reassuring, each of them would have been one-hundred percent true…but each of them would have been meaningless in the end.

As much as he cared for her, he knew that if she forgot all of this, he wouldn’t be able to make her remember. He knew her well enough to know that when’s she sober, she’s stubborn, closed off…and most of all, protective. Her earlier words echoed in his head.

If that was true, and she had really been keeping her distance all this time to keep him safe…then that wasn’t going to change. If he tried to talk to her about it, she would bolt, or worse, respond like she had earlier that night. And Hawks had already sworn to himself that he would never put either of them in that position again.

Long after Akari had cried herself to sleep, Hawks was still awake. Her words were playing in his head over and over again. He had to know what it all meant.

“I don’t wanna leave the agency. I don’t wanna leave you!”

“If I…if I don’t remember any of this, Hawks…”

“Don’t do this to yourself.”

“Promise that you won’t let me forget.”

“Getting involved with you will put you in danger…”

“Because I…I don’t want to forget this…”

“There…there are things about me, parts of my life that I’d prefer to keep you out of.”

“I need you, Hawks…please…”

As he lay awake that night, cradling his cherished sidekick in a loving embrace, Keigo Takami came to terms with five things:

Akari Hitomi was not going to remember what happened between them.

He would not be successful in any attempts to make her remember.

Everything would go back to how it was before she went out and got drunk.

Nothing would change.

And everything that happened between them, every part of that night that made it the best night of his life…meant absolutely nothing in the end.

But, as pointless as it was…he was gonna try anyway.

#hawks #hawks x oc #hawks x reader #angst #fluff #bnha #mha #my hero academia #keigo takami #keigo takami x oc #keigo takami x reader #hawks angst #hawks fluff #keigo takami angst #keigo takami fluff #one-shot #rainunseen #5 Things #Five Things

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mnthpprt · 5 years ago

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Chapter 26: Buongiorno Principessa

I wake up to Lumière scratching the window. I glance at Leonardo. He is still asleep. I carefully untangle my body from his and tip toe across the room to let the cat in. He meows at me and bumps his head against my arm from the table, asking for attention, so I pick him up and carry him to the bed.

The second I let go of him, he starts purring and curls up next to Leonardo’s face. I watch, amused, as Lumière begins to lick the man’s hair, which gets caught in his rough tongue, causing him to jolt back and try to push it away with his paws.

My laughter wakes up Leonardo, whose eyes flutter open, and he sleepily pulls me onto the bed and holds me tight against him. Displeased, the cat jumps down and lays on the pile of my clothes on the floor, earning another chuckle from me.

“Buongiorno, cara mia,” Leonardo purrs, kissing my neck. I turn my head for my lips to meet his.

“Good morning,” I smile. “I wish I could stay, but I’m late for work.”

“Nooo,” he frowns. “But you feel so good, principessa. Please don’t go.”

I softly pry his arms from my body and pull away before giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

“Sebastian won’t be happy. Besides, I’ll see you later. You never seem to have any trouble finding me.” I turn to my clothes on the floor, which Lumière has turned into his new bed. “Sorry, little guy, but I need to take that. Go find another bed.” The cat stares at me for a few seconds, as if assessing if I am being serious, but eventually gives in, leaping away with a annoyed meow. “Thank you.”

While the clothes on the top have dried overnight, the bottom of the pile is still damp. And now they are covered in cat hair, too. I remember it’s laundry day, so I better take these to Sebastian before he starts.

Leonardo gets up and pulls me into a kiss before I reach the door. He’s making it harder for me to leave, but my will pulls through. I step out onto the hallway wearing nothing but his large shirt and my shoes from last night, carrying the rest of my clothes in my arms.

“You’re late,” Sebastian states when I walk into the kitchen, not looking up from the coffee he’s pouring. “I went to wake you up, but you weren’t in your... Oh.”

He raises his eyebrows when he finally sees me. I casually throw the clothes into a basket and take the coffee from his hands, sniffing the steam that rises from the cup. Sweet caffeinated ambrosia.

“Is that... Is that Leonardo’s?” he stammers. My gaze falls to the tiled floor as I blush. “Oh my god! Tell me everything!” He scrambles to pull a small notebook from his back pocket, along with a ballpoint pen, getting ready to write.

“I’m not telling you shit about my sex life, you weirdo!” I scoff, mockingly offended, but then a smile creeps onto my lips. I take a cautious sip of the hot drink and twirl away from him, giggling. “It was great. That’s it, Seb. That’s all you’re getting.”

“How long have you two been a thing?” he asks. I climb onto the counter, innocently dangling my legs in the air.

“About a week. But we didn’t... you know... until last night.”

“I can’t believe I missed that,” Sebastian mutters. To be fair, I don’t know how he didn’t notice earlier, either. He knows everything that goes on here. He scribbles something in his notebook before putting it away and handing me a muffin. “Here, try this.”

I bite into it without question, and let out a little pleasured noise. It’s blueberry, my favorite.

“This is bomb,” I announce with my mouth full, pointing at the muffin. I wash it down with some coffee before I continue. “Sebastian, I fucking love you. This is officially the best thing I have ever eaten.”

“You’re welcome,” he chuckles smugly.

I keep eating as he returns to his task. After I finish, I jump down from the counter and set the empty cup by the sink.

“I need a bath. Gotta go,” I say, blowing him a kiss from the door.

Later that day, Dazai comes to find me in the garden. When I see him approach, I stop trimming the hedge and climb off the step ladder, leaving the large shears on top of it.

“Good afternoon, Akari-san!” he greets me cheerfully. As usual, he calls me by a completely random name. I have given up on trying to correct him.

“Dazai,” I smile. “Can I help you with anything?”

“I can’t seem to finish this poem, but that’s not why I came. Perhaps some other time.”

“Oh? Then what is it?”

“Le Comte is waiting for you in his study,” he says. Weird, I can’t think of what he might want to talk about. Maybe he found out about me and Leonardo.

I thank Dazai and head inside. Before I knock on the door, I hear le Comte humming a melody inside. I feel bad for interrupting. His voice is angelical.

“You wanted to see me?” I say when he invites me in, gesturing for me to sit. There is a tray with two empty cups and a tea pot on the small table by the hourglass. I get comfortable on one of the armchairs, crossing my legs.

“Tea?” he offers, and I accept. He pours some in a cup and hands it to me. “I realized we haven’t spent much time together during your stay. I would be a terrible host, were I not to spend some time with my guest, don’t you think, ma chérie?”

“I guess,” I shrug, still unsure of where this is going. He definitely knows. “Is there anything in particular you’d like to talk about?”

“Well, I am aware of your and Leonardo’s relationship.” There it goes, straight to the point. “I am happy for you two. My dear friend certainly seems brighter.”

Oh, thank God.

“I am glad to hear that, Comte,” I smile. “I must admit I was nervous about you finding out. It’s a bit of a... complicated situation, and I don’t really know how to go about it, to be honest.”

He thoughtfully sips his tea before speaking again.

“Anaïs, do you wish to stay here?” I don’t answer. Instead, I bite my lip, pondering my options. “I would like you to know that you are welcome to stay at the mansion for as long as you like. However, once you go through that door, it will disappear from your time, and you will never be able to access it again.”

“I don’t know,” I finally sigh. “That means I don’t necessarily have to go back in a week, right? It will open again?” He nods. “I do want to stay longer, but... Forever is a big commitment. There are people that I care about in 2020, but I have come to care about you all, too. I know I would miss you if I left.”

Le Comte sighs, a sad smile on his lips.

“I dread the day that you do,” he says softly, “but the choice is yours and yours only.”

There is something in his voice that I can’t quite place. It sounds like regret, but there is more to it, somehow. Damn these pureblood vampires, always so hard to read.

“I guess... I’ll have to wait and see,” I conclude.

“There is no rush for you to decide, ma chérie. How was the exhibition yesterday?” he changes the topic, his charming smile returning to his face. “It is a shame that I could not attend.”

“It was great. Theo has so much talent for these things, all the pieces displayed were amazing. And Vincent’s paintings were beautiful, as always,” I recall, thinking of the portrait he made of me. “Oh, and I met Émile Zola! He was there too, and he loved it. We even talked for a bit, but I feel a little bad. The poor man doesn’t know what’s coming.”

Le Comte tilts his head, a curious expression on his face.

“What do you man, ma chérie?”

“J’Accuse,” I simply answer. He nods, understanding exactly what I am referring to. Four years from now, Zola will publish an open letter in a newspaper, denouncing the antisemitism and injustice of those involved in the Dreyfus affair. He will be brought to trial and sentenced for libel after a long and messy judicial process.

We discuss that for a while, during which I finish my tea. He serves me more, and I thank him, before he asks me about my life in the 21st century.

“I would like to know more about you,” he says. “I saw you roller skate. Competitively?”

“I used to, but I quit when I began working.”

“You are a chemist specialized in antiques conservation, correct?” I nod. He chuckles. “Ah, I was wondering what you spend so much time researching in the library. Leonardo told me.”

“Yeah, he’s been helping me with it,” I smile. “I like to borrow his genius every once in a while.”

“What about your family?” he asks, and immediately apologizes when he sees my face change. “Forgive me, I do not mean to pry.”

“No, no, it’s fine,” I reassure him. “My family is complicated, at best. My sister is the only one I keep in contact with, but we don’t talk much. She just started university this year, in Milan. She would swoon if she saw the dresses you’ve given me,” I chuckle. “She studies fashion design.”

Though our relationship is strained, I am as proud of her as an older sister can be. Despite the fallout with our parents taking its toll, I will always care deeply about her, and I must admit that seeing Vincent and Theo be so close makes me a bit jealous.

“My friends are a different story, though,” I continue, unprompted. “I guess you could call them my chosen family.” Le Comte listens attentively, clearly wanting to know more. “There’s Jack and Carlos back in London. I shared a flat with them as a student, and we are still very close. Then there’s Mila.” I look up at le Comte, suddenly remembering something. “I’ve been meaning to ask, if I go through the door would I return to the same time that I left? Or will it be a month later?”

“It’s hard to tell,” he answers thoughtfully. “When I use it, time passes on the other side, too. But as a pureblood vampire, I can come and go as I please, within the door’s rules, of course. A human going through it is something unprecedented, so I truly do not know what would happen.”

“Damnit,” I mutter. When he gives me a questioning look, I explain. “You know, when I came here? I was supposed to pick up Mila at the airport the day after. She’s going to be furious when I get back.”

“Pick her up?” he asks. “I was under the impression that you were just visiting Paris.”

“Well, yeah, but I come so often I practically live here,” I laugh before sipping my tea. Le Comte mimics me, waiting for me to keep talking. “Mila is my oldest friend. She’s French, but I met her in my hometown when her father worked there for a few years. She lives in Montparnasse now. She had to travel somewhere right before I got here, so she left me her car and the keys to her apartment, which I was going to stay in anyway. Hence, well, me picking her up when she came back from... New Zealand, I think it was? I have no clue,” I conclude with a chuckle.

“She sounds like an interesting person,” le Comte chimes in. I laugh.

“She is. I think you would like her.”

#ikemen vampire #ikevam #ikevamp #ikemen #ikemen fanfiction #ikemen vampire fanfiction #ikevam fanfic #ikevamp fanfiction #ikemen vampire leonardo #ikevamp leonardo #ikemen vampire comte #ikevamp comte #ikemen vampire sebastian #ikevamp sebastian #ikemen vampire dazai #ikevamp dazai

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sheepydraws · 7 years ago

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I'll Kick Your Ass! I'll Kick My Fiancee's Ass! I'll Kick My Own Ass!(5/11)

Last Chapter

Next Chapter

October

Facebook messenger:

Akane: I think I’m getting somewhere with Ryoga.

Ranma: Should you really be messaging me during class? Don’t you think I might be trying to pay attention?

Akane: You’re playing tetris, like you do every class, because you’re just that lame.

Ranma: And you are somehow taking notes and im-ing me, because you are just THAT lame.

Akane: It’s called multitasking. I’m earning a degree, and breaking off my engagement at the same time.

Ranma: So when is this guy gonna challenge me again? ‘Cause it’s getting too cold for this shit.

Akane: He’s coming along. He’s recovered physically, now I think he needs just another little confidence boost and he’ll be ready to go again.

Akane: I have a plan.

Ranma: I have to make a fool of myself, don’t I?

Akane: No. Just make a mess of your next challenge. Almost lose.

Ranma: You can’t see it, but I’m rolling my eyes.

Akane: You’re right. All I can see is the porn on your tumblr dash.

Ranma: I follow a lot of artists. It’s artistic nudity!!!

Akane: It’s tentabulges, Ranma.

Akane: Grow up and get ready to throw some fights

Genma’s phone———— > Ranma’s phone

Soun and I are coming for the

parent day thing to get my car

back.

Cool. I’ll tell everyone

you’re my gay uncles.

No, you will not. I was thinking

we could spar. If you win you

get a cheat day.

You’re on.

Kuno’s phone——->Nabiki’s phone

Nabiki Tendo, are you the person

to whom I should submit my

desire to challenge Ranma?

I can tell you’re Kuno

but I have no idea how

you got this number.

Sister. Has a friend who has a

friend.

Where do I submit?

At my feet.

You keep thr box is there?

Are you okay?

I go my head hit. Mmmask broke.

Remembered I had to tallk to YOU.

Where are you?

Health cenydr cengwe cen

Do you have a concussion?

Kuno?

Kodachi’s Journal:

My only brother!

Twisted as you are

I believed you to be impervious from harm

And guarded against deceit.

But it seems you are as many faced as a hindu god

Yet as weak as a mere mortal.

I have no words for what I’ve seen

or rather i am brimming with unsaid words

But you are deaf to them

(Cause you’re asleep. And I have to sit here at your desk and make sure you can wake up and it’s tedious as fuck and I should really get you to do something for me after this, once you explain why the fuck Nabiki Tendo was the one who told me you had hit your head again. I really can’t figure out how to make a poem about that. I mean, what the fuck? Why was she at the health center, her face all pinched and weird? Then she saw me and she was like, okay, this is everything I know about concussions cause my dad runs a dojo and blah blah blah and I had to sit there for like an hour as she explained everything that the nurse would then spend, like, another hour saying. AND I’VE ALREADY DONE THIS ONCE THIS YEAR. Why does it take so long to say, he needs to rest but not too much? UUUUUUUUGGGGHHHH)

My brother is not impervious without his helmet.

Without him I won’t be either.

Nabiki’s phone———->Ranma’s phone

Kuno may have a concussion, but

he wants to duel you.

Again???

I don’t fucking know. Now you’d be

dueling for Akane instead of his

sister’s honor or whatever, right?

I mean, he must have a head

injury if he wants to take me . again.

Dude…Shut up.

What?

I was scared, okay? Only for a

minute, but I was really

freaked out when he was

texting me gibberish.

Goddamnit, Tatewaki Kuno

is MINE. The only person

who gets to kill him is

ME.

Jesus christ, Nabiki. . . And you tell me I should . get therapy.

You should.

Bet we could get a group rate.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Dear Ryoga,

You haven’t written in a while, is everything alright? You’re making friends, right? I mean, you’re not lonely, are you? You aren’t always great at being social. I know. I had to practically drag you out of the library and shove you into that booth at Ronnie’s for our first date. Of course, later, I really loved that unlike a lot of my friends boyfriends, you weren’t a skirt chaser. You never looked at another girl.

I totally botched the Creamfield bake-off. By the time the buzzer went off the only thing that was done was me. Three weeks of perfecting that custard and it didn’t set. The humidity, I suppose. Or maybe it was me. My cooking has gone completely off the rails. I can barely make a proper sponge turn out. It’s like I’ve been cursed.

Of course, this happens from time to time. I just hoe you’re doing better than me.

Best wishes,

Akari.

——I feel like I’m just missing/something whenever you leave/You’ve got all the ingredients/except you needing me

Mousse’s phone——> Shampoo’s phone

Are you really not going to come

home until Thanksgiving break?

Yes.

We’re literally an hour away.

I’ll make the drive.

Look. I have a boyfriend, and he’s going

overseas for winter break, so I have to

make the most of our weekends.

You? A boyfriend? That’s

rich.

So’s he. And British.

Oh, yeah, and I’ll never see him

because he’s always in England?

At least I don’t lie to you.

I’m not lying. I could ask him if he wants

to come over for Thanksgiving break.

Sure. When he respectfully

declines you should consider

coming home this weekend.

Facebook Messenger:

Shampoo: Ryoga, I need you to text this number and say you would love to see us for Thanksgiving break, but you’re going to be in England.

Ryoga: But I won’t be. I have to stay with my mom upstate.

Shampoo: Sure. Say that. Hell, that’s more believable.

Ryoga: Wait, could I stay with you over the break?

Shampoo: No, you have to see your mom, remember? Why wouldn’t you want to see your mom?

Ryoga: We’ve never been close. Not in a bad way, she’s just never around. I don’t really know her.

Shampoo: Didn’t you come here to be closer to her? This is your chance!

Ryoga: Actually, I came here because…I don’t know. I was looking at college applications and Akari wanted us to go together, and I love Akari, but…

Shampoo: But you needed to bond with your mother!

Ryoga: No, I was thinking about how, when I was a kid my parents dragged me from here to kingdom come because of their jobs. Then they split and my dad took me to England. Then one day this girl kind of decided I was her boyfriend, and then she wanted to decide the rest of my life.

Ryoga: I felt like I had never chosen anything for myself. So I made the craziest decision I could. A choice no one would have made for me. That’s why I’m here.

Shampoo: Touching, riveting stuff, Ry-Ry. Really. You should write a book.

Shampoo: TEXT THE NUMBER.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Dear Akari,

Of course there aren’t any other girls [deleted].

Akari, I would never cheat on you. I know you were being a little flippant in your last e-mail, but I’m serious. There are pretty girls here, of course. There are pretty girls from the end of Africa to the tip of Antartica, but I would never touch a single one if I was dating someone else.

I’m sorry to hear about the bake off. Maybe you should make something you never make so that even if it isn’t perfect you won’t be able to tell.

There was a lot of excitement here today. Long story short, one of my friends and her boyfriend [deleted] friend [deleted] and my roommate got thrown in a pond. It was terrifying. Everyone thought they were going to die, or catch pneumonia and then die.

I’ll tell you the whole story when we see each other over winter break. Sorry I won’t be home for the Thanksgiving break they’re giving us (can you imagine?) I want to spend it with my mom. We’ve really been getting on together.

See you soon

Ryoga

Akane’s Diary:

Today was…not a good day.

You’d think a day that ends curled up writing in your diary with someone’s head in your lap would be pretty decent, but so far this is the nicest thing that has happened.

Well, that and the fact that there were crepes at breakfast. You know how in Catcher in the Rye the school always served them steak before the parents showed up, so that if their parents asked what they had eaten for dinner last night they would say steak? Well damnit if it isn’t true. The food was fantastic today: roasted potatoes and cheesecake and chicken tenders and a beef roast. And a crepe bar.

It would have tasted a lot better if I hadn’t been panicking the entire time dad and Nabiki and I were eating lunch. Kuno and Ranma were going to duel at 1:45 (Kuno figured it was when the dining hall would be the most packed so no parents would catch them), and I had to make sure Ryoga showed up and saw Ranma slipping. I wonder if Kuno arranged for the duel to be today because he knew his father would be busy?

Anyway. So I’m sitting there wolfing down my potatoes and half listening to my dad tell me about how things are back home, when Genma Saotome plopped down at our table.

Plopped is not the right word for it. Genma is explosive. He plunks down, tossing his keys onto the table, where they smack into and almost topple my milk glass, then throws one arm over the back of his chair and places the other on the table, taking up as much space as humanly possible before he says, “ ‘Kane, do you know where Ranma is?”

I keep eating. Genma never figured out my deadname, or doesn’t remember it, or maybe just says ‘Kane because he thinks it will get a bigger rise out of me. I don’t know. But I don’t dignify taunts with a response.

Nabiki stabbed a bit of her roast and said, “I can’t imagine why you think Akane would know.”

“My car keys were on his bed-do any of you lock your doors?-but I can’t find him. I’ve been texting him and he knew we were coming, so he must be hiding.” Then Genma laughed that awful laugh of his. Super loud, but grating instead of infectious like a good loud laugh should be. “Scared to take on his old man. Can you imagine?”

“I’m sorry, dad,” I said, standing up and pushing my chair in, “Can you hang out with Nabiki for a bit? I told a friend of mine I would help him study.”

“Didn’t you just finish midterms?” My dad said with a sip of milk, “I thought that was why this was scheduled for today, so you wouldn’t be too worried about class.”

“Yeah, he thinks he really fucked up, so we were going to go over some stuff to calm him down. It shouldn’t take more than an hour.”

My dad shrugged. I call him pretty regularly, so it wasn’t like we had a ton of catching up to do. I think he really came to get Genma’s car back and seeing Nabiki and I was just a bonus. “Alright. I’ll be with Nabiki till dinner, then I’m leaving.”

Nabiki made an interesting face, which may have had something to do with all the contraband in her room, but I couldn’t help her. I had to run down to Ryoga’s room and tell him to watch the duel today.

“Isn’t this a re-run?” Ryoga asked, without looking up from his computer.

“That’s why I want to see it. I’ve heard Kuno intends to win this time.”

“Good for him.”

Obviously Ryoga did not see this as the rematch of the century, so I changed tracks. “Please do this with me, I need some time away from Ranma’s father.”

That got his attention. “Ranma’s father?”

“Yeah. He came down with my dad and is stuck to his side and he’s-“ I made vague hand gestures. I mean, there are words for Genma Saotome, but they are best barked in German, not whined in English.

Ryoga shrugged and stretched and looked around for his jacket. “I guess if you need a break that bad…This won’t take long right?”

“Nope.” I said, although I assumed it would be longer than the last couple of duels. If Ranma was going to fuck around and almost lose it would probably take a while to put on a good show.

Then again, I feel like Ranma has been dealing with these fights faster and faster the colder it gets. He does not like shivering.

We get to the expected spot by the lake and Ranma and Kuno are there, and they’ve decided to wait until two to start, since a lot of people apparently wanted to come to this one. I don’t know how Nabiki gets the word out about these things, but she sure does a good job of it.

Ranma kept checking the clock on his phone, then regretting it and stuffing his fingers back into his pockets.

Ryoga asked me if I was cold like five times, but I was staying warm making faces at Ranma, trying to convey how badly I wanted them to JUST START ALREADY. Ranma says I looked like I was trying not to sneeze.

Finally it was either two or Ranma was really sick of waiting, because he asked for someone to count down from three.

“Should only one of you have a sword?” I said before anyone could start counting.

Ranma gave me a cocky grin. “I can handle him, and his wood. Count us in, darlin’.”

Considering what happened later I feel pretty stupid for blushing at that.

As soon as I said ‘three’, Kuno lunged. He is not a subtle fighter. He refused to go on the defensive. To be fair, his sword did give him a much bigger reach, but it also gave Ranma some time to play up how weak he had gotten. He was slow and wobbly, barely dodging Kuno’s swings, and when he jumped out of the way he couldn’t stick his landings. He didn’t even try to attack, as though Kuno was too fast for him.

“Is he hungover again?” Ryoga whispered to me.

“I don’t think he’s been training.” I whispered back. It was hard to keep a straight face as I said that. I would bet my sister-hell, both of them-on Ranma running, stretching, and lifting weights everyday. Ranma doesn’t do cheat days, and he does not skip leg day.

But he was putting on a good performance, staying just ahead of Kuno, but close enough that even I thought he might lose.

Which meant Kuno thought that too, so he got even more reckless, and in one ill-timed swing and a well timed kick, he was down for the count.

“Goddamnit,” He said as he got up off the ground, “I came here to defend Miss Tendo’s honor. I think of her—“

“Is that the best you can do?”

I froze. Not that I wanted to hear Kuno talk about my porcelain flower or whatever weird metaphor he was about to get into, but I’d take him over Genma Saotome any day.

“Run home to mommy, you fucking pansy.” Genma said to Kuno as he took Kuno’s place in the center of the unofficial ring.

Kuno looked shocked. I don’t think anyone has ever taken that tone with him. Sneering and cruel. Even Nabiki can’t talk like that, like her words are made of splinters.

Kuno drew himself up to his full height. “I take unction at your tone-“ He looked Genma up and down, and made his distain clear before he graciously added, “-sir.”

“And I take unction at you still being in my ring.” Genma went to shove Kuno and Kuno dodged, just as Genma knew he would. Kuno took a sharp kick to the stomach, and though he walked out of the ring with his head held high, he had a look on his face that said he would much rather have doubled over.

“You see?” Genma said, turning to Ranma. “That’s how you deal with a guy like that. None of this wobbling all over the place. Who trained you, kid? ‘Cause it sure as hell wasn’t me.”

“Who the hell are you?!” Ryoga yelled, pretty freaked out.

Genma glared at him. “Genma Saotome. I thought I was Ranma’s teacher, but he clearly hasn’t learned jack shit.” He looked from me to Ryoga and smirked, “This the friend you were helping, Akane?”

“How did you even get here?”

He shrugged. “Heard some kids talking about a duel. I figured Ranma would be around.” He turned to address the crowd at large. “Shows over, by the way. Ranma and I have some family business to settle, so I suggest you all move along.”

I don’t think anyone wanted to be around Genma a minute longer than they had to. I actually had to grab Ryoga’s coat to keep him still. I wasn’t going anywhere. I could see Ranma over Genma’s shoulder, stock still, head down, centering himself. He was preparing for a serious fight. I wasn’t about to leave him alone in it.

Genma saw we weren’t leaving and decided to ignore us. “Might as well have you count us in,” He grunted at me. He took off his coat and tossed it to the side. The man is getting into his fifties, but he is still packed with muscle you can see right through his shirt.

I counted them in, but after I finished they just circled each other. They went around and around, waiting for the first move.

I don’t want to write what happened after that. I’m a little queasy just remembering it. I had thought for a minute that it would be like when my dad and I sparred. Fun and fast, me showboating a little and desperately looking for the upper hand as my father carefully blocked me and sent quick hits my way. My dad’s always gone easy on me—no, my dad always protected me. He could have thrashed me soundly, but he didn’t, because what kind of a sick fuck would do that to their own kid?

Not that Ranma wasn’t giving as good as he got, mind you. He’s been training with his dad his whole life. Still, every time his dad landed a hit I would gasp and grab Ryoga’s sleeve. Genma may have taught Ranma how to dodge, but he’s not as good at taking a punch, and Genma played to that.

I don’t know why my stomach clenched every time Ranma got hit. Maybe it was because it was his dad, and there is something about watching someone’s parents beat them up that makes me viscerally ill. Maybe it’s because I used to be scared of my dad. Not that he had ever threatened me, but, well, Genma’s the worst, but judging by the people dad used to hang out with, he wasn’t always the nicest person, either. There was no telling what he was going to do when I came out.

He cried. It was the last thing I was expecting. Questions, I think. Shock and a long string of questions.

Instead he burst into tears and kept talking about my mom. He didn’t make a lot of sense, and I wasn’t sure what to do, so I poured a bowl of potato chips and cracked open a beer for him. Kasumi usually cooks when people are sad, but that’s about the extent of my culinary skills.

Anyway, at some point my dad calmed down a little and said, “I’m sorry, Akane. When you have kids all you want for them is the best life possible. Then their mothers pass away, and they tell you things like that, and you know their lives are going to be that much harder.”

So I said, “You know, by you being okay with this you’re making my life a lot easier already, right?” and we shared a smile, and for a minute there I felt really good, like everything was going to work out.

I don’t know what Genma said when Ranma came out to him, but for some reason while they fought I started trying to imagine it. Every scenario I came up with made me madder and madder. Chest shaking, vision blurring mad. Rage. I wanted to plough my fists into his chest. I wanted to crack his skull like a cinder block.

That was when Ranma bounced off a tree and flew towards his father. It would have doubled his power if he’d actually hit his dad, but a move like that gave Genma plenty of time to react.

Genma threw Ranma into the lake.

I screamed.

Both Ryoga and Genma jumped.

I think I was screaming words?

Genma blocked as I ran past him.

You ever jumped into a half-frozen pond? Rage can’t keep you warm in there. I swear my heart stopped for a minute. By that point Ryoga was screaming too. Although he was screaming my name and telling me to stop and that he would call security or whatever.

I can’t swim, but I can tread water a little, and that’s all you really need to drag a guy out of a shallow lake.

For a minute Ranma lay on the shore and I kneeled there, shaking and gasping, and thinking, At least if I throw up it’ll be warm.

“We have to get you in a hot shower,” Ryoga said as he tried to pull me to my feet.

��Blankets,” I gasped. My chest was doing that awful thing where you shiver right down to your spine, causing your ribs to vibrate against each other. “A hot shower could put us into shock.”

“Is that what’s happening to Ranma?”

Ranma didn’t look good, but aside from his lips being blue, he didn’t look bad, either. Just dazed. He waved a hand limply and opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but his teeth just chattered so loudly it seemed theatrical. A skull shouldn’t make that noise unless someone is clacking it’s jaw together and reciting shakespeare.

Ryoga helped him up and the three of us staggered to the closest dorm, which was Ryoga and Ranma’s.

Once we were in their room I told Ryoga to go get the pile of blankets on top of my dresser, and tell Nabiki and dad what had happened.

By the time he left the room Ranma had his shirt off and was fumbling with the edge of his binder. Between his numb fingers and the water plastering it to his skin I was the one who had to wrestle it off of him. While Ranma rummaged around for another clean shirt I stripped off my tights, and discarded them next to his binder.

“Do you have a shirt I could wear?” I whispered. The last thing you would expect ice water to affect is your voice, but it closes off your throat like a fist.

Ranma didn’t say anything. He went over to his closet and dragged a big flannel robe off the top shelf.

For a few minutes it felt like a locker room after pe in highschool, both of us carefully moving around each other and pointedly not looking at anything in particular. Except instead of heading off to biology we had to sit there on Ranma’s bed, waiting for Ryoga to come back with all my stuff.

“You didn’t have to do that.” Ranma said as he wrung his hair out in a scratchy white towel.

“I thought your heart might have stopped or something.”

“It wasn’t that cold.”

“I guess.”

I toyed with a loose thread on the robe. I was also wrapped in the comforter off Ryoga’s bed, but underneath my skin still felt cold and clammy where it overlapped.

“Where’d you pick up that blanket thing?” Ranma asked, passing me the towel. “I thought for hypothermia you were supposed to get naked and share body heat.”

I snorted. “Sure, Ranma, but I don’t have a pile of pretty naked people on my dresser.”

“You could if you wanted to.” Ranma said with a wink. I would have laughed if the wink hadn’t made him wince.

“Did he have to hit your face?” I said, softly, as though that would make it less awful.

Ranma touched the spot where he would soon have a shiner. “Well, yeah. I left it open.”

I wanted to scream for a second. Tell him that was the worst thing I had ever heard, but what could he have said? Like it was his fault his father was disgusting.

“Stand up.” Ranma said, and I got off the bed. He gently took Ryoga’s comforter from me and spread it over his bed. Then he climbed back into the bed and scooted over so there was room for me to join him.

I stood there for a minute, weighing the desire to be warm against my desire for things to not be even more awkward, when Ryoga returned with the blankets, my clothes, and my family. He also had this book. I had forgotten I shoved it between the folds of the blankets till it fell out as he unfolded one.

Nabiki immediately ran over and cradled my face in her hands, demanding to know what had happened. I told her while dad checked Ranma and started layering him with blankets. By the time he was done all that stuck out was Ranma’s hair. With all those blankets on top of him, and his hair half red and half black with his roots coming in, my bed looked like we were putting on a production of the Princess and the Chile Pepper.

Then dad made me get in the bed and worried over us for a little longer, asking if we needed anything, if we were getting warmer, until he had to go get dinner and go home. He kissed us both on the forehead like we were sick kids. Which I guess we were.

Nabiki promised that she would make sure we were okay, and saw him out. On the way they bumbped into Kodachi Kuno of all people, who showed up with two plates full of food from the dining hall. She was all blushey and stuttery, and it was kind of adorable.

Maybe Ranma will go out with her someday. It might be cute.

Don’t tell Ranma, but he’s kind of cute when he sleeps. He doesn’t look like he’s about to start a fight. Slack-jawed and innocent, like everyone else.

Right now I’m sitting up in bed with Ranma’s head on my thigh, and Ryoga typing something at his desk. It’s not just warm, it’s downright cozy in here. I’m probably going to fall asleep like this, because I am far too comfortable to move.

Although lying down would mean moving Ranma’s head.

I’d have to touch it.

I bet his hair is really soft.

No, wait, it got bleached to put the red in.

(It’s really soft).

Ryoga’s phone——->Mousse’s phone

Hey, it’s Ryoga. I’m coming

over with Shampoo for

Thanksgiving. How is that

going to work? Are you

going to pick us up? what

time? Where?

Who is this? How do you

know Shampoo?

Well, we met cause I’m

friends with her room

mate.

Are you the boyfriend she

was talking about?

Sure. Why not.

Shampoo’s grandmother will

be horrified. Let me ask her

what she thinks.

Mousse’s phone——-> Grandmother’s phone

Grandmother, Shampoo

wants to bring a boy

home for Thanksgiving

break!!!

How nice. I’d love to see what kind

of boy could capture her heart.

Wild as a horse, fickle as a cat.

Let’s see the man who’d propose

to tame her.

Grandmother, it’s disgust-

ing!!! They may be having

sex! They might have it

under your roof!!!

Easy on the exclamation points, son.

I wouldn’t mind some great

grandchildren!

Now stop texting and get back here.

This lemon chicken won’t deliver itself!

Mousse’s phone——->Ryoga’s phone.

Lot outside the girls dorm,

Friday, four pm. Don’t be

late. I will leave without

you.

A small white spiral bound notebook with ‘Ranma Saotome’ written along the top edge of the cover in block letters with a black sharpie.

I always thought diaries were just plot devices, but Akane actually keeps one and she’s a lot better adjusted than me, so I thought I’d try it for a while.

I’ve never slept with a girl before. Ukyo and I had sex, but that was always in the middle of the afternoon, or in a parked car, or whatever. We never slept with each other.

I guess what I’m really thinking about is that I woke up with a girl. It was weird. I didn’t see Akane the second I woke up. I was staring at the ceiling, one leg and like twenty blankets hanging over the edge of the bed. I was trying to remember the dream I’d been having or some other dumb shit like that, and then I turned over and was nose to nose with Akane.

She looked different with her hair all messed up and pillow creases on her face. She’s usually perfect. Hair tucked back, just a teeny bit of make up, pressed dress. She looked kind of funny drooling on my pillow.

Then she woke up and I freaked out. I mean, all I did was freeze up, but I was sure she was about to scream at me or something.

She smiled. This big, goony smile, like she’d just buried her face in a dog’s belly or had a sip of sweet, creamy, hot chocolate.

“Hey.” She whispered.

“Hey.”

She has huge eyes. Huge and dark with super long lashes.

“You feel okay?” she asked.

“Yeah. You?”

She stretched her arms over the head, pressing her palms against the wall. Then she went back to smiling. “I feel way too relaxed. I have like two essays due this week.”

“Me too.”

“Yeah. We’re taking the same classes.”

I think I blushed. My face definitely got warmer. I’m a fucking idiot.

“Ranma,” Akane said, and the way she was looking at me was soft and intense at once. Cow eyes? I don’t know. Like a soap opera. I thought she was going to tell me she was pregnant, or maybe start crying.

She touched my face. The crest of bone just under my eye. I’m not sure what the word is for something like that. Intimate, maybe. It felt like the most intimate I had ever been with someone.

Then she broke it. Whatever that moment was. She sat up and stretched again, and said, “I should really get to the library and start on that Ottoman essay. I hate research essays. I can never get good sources.” She climbed over me and started gathering up all her stuff. Including a little black book.

“Is that your diary?” I asked, because for some reason I needed to keep talking.

She frowned and shoved it under her coat. “It’s nothing. Make sure Ryoga doesn’t forget my quilts when he comes over.”

Then she left. I’m sure it was a diary, so I figured I would try writing stuff down too and dug out this notebook.

I think this top blanket here is homemade. I think most of these are. They look knit or crochet or something. I wonder if Kasumi made them.

Well. I wrote everything down and I still feel as crazy as ever. I’m gonna go for a run. That always does the trick.

Facebook Messenger:

Shampoo: I JUST GOT MY COSTUME!!!!

Ukyo: Cool. I’m in class.

Shampoo: I LOOK SO GOOD!!! THERE’S THIS HUGE PARTY AT SOMEONE’S HOUSE OFF CAMPUS. YOU, ME, BANGING COSTUMES, DRINKS, DANCING, BOYS? GIRLS? INSANITY!!!

Ukyo: I did bring my costume from last year…

Shampoo: YEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!

Shampoo: Should I invite Ryoga?

Ukyo: I think he’d like that

Ukyo: But he has to wear a costume. Tell him it’s mandatory!

Facebook messenger, Royga:

Shampoo: PARTY!!! YOU ME UKYO DRINKS DANCING MAKING OUT!!!

Ryoga: When?!!

Shampoo: HALLOWEEN! YOU NEED A COSTUME!

Ryoga: Shit. Where would I get a costume?

Shampoo: Oh, baby, do I have you covered.

Ryoga: Can I bring Akane?

Ryoga: Wait, can I do the masked man thing?

Shampoo: You’ll have a mask alright.

Ryoga: No, I mean, the thing where we meet at a party and she doesn’t recognize me and I talk to her and she falls in love with me, and the next day I reveal myself!

Ryoga: This is brilliant! Shampoo, thank you so much!!!

Shampoo: wut.

Shampoo: Nm, you are going to look so hot in this costume you probably will score with Akane.

Kodachi’s Journal

All Hallows Eve

The most wretched of days

When man’s sins run amuck

Lust in the corner with the slutty nurses,

Gluttony lurking by the candy bowl,

Sloth hidden in the cheap hoodies and ski masks

Pride catching on the sequins and cardboard

Of those most fanciful designs

Envy trailing just behind them

Greed stretched across the faces of those

Who would make a quick buck

On shoddy material and cheap sugar

And wrath

Anywhere you don’t expect

Waiting to spring out at you

On the only night of the year when a murder in a ally

Might be performance art

I’m staying in my room,

Windows barred

Poker drawn

Netflix blazing.

Ranma’s Diary

I’m so glad I threw together a costume this year.

There was this really big party, which Kuno of all people clued me in on, cause he was eating breakfast with his sister, and they were talking about how neither of them wanted to go to this big party (although once I got there…well, that’s none of my business), so I asked around and kicked my costume making into high gear.

I had a cape. It was rad.

I don’t regret the costume, but I’m not sure how I feel about how I acted. Bad. But what kind of bad?

Okay, lemme unpack this.

I go to the party. It’s intense. Huge house, filled to the brim with loud, angry, horny, sweaty college students, most of them wearing masks. You walk inside and you get a contact high. I danced for a while, found some people I see at the gym a lot, and that really cool guy who is probably keeping me from failing math, but then I thought, ‘I need a real buzz’, and even I wouldn’t blame myself for having a few sips at a party like this.

Cause I wasn’t Ranma Saotome who has to watch his weight and stay hydrated.

Nah. I was BATMAN.

So I get a beer, and as I’m opening it I bump into someone, and it’s Zelda. And who hasn’t wanted to hit on Zelda? So she says, “Can you grab me one?” and I pass her the already open beer and say, “As you wish my liege,” except I said it in a batman voice.

And do you know what she fucking says?

She laughs and says, “I love that voice.”

“Oh really?” Which is lame, but I said it in the voice, so it was all good.

“Yeah,” And she looks at her beer, and then takes a swig, and I can tell she’s a little embarrassed but she says this anyway, she says, “Batman is really sexy. Not like I want to marry him and deal with his issues, but, I get why Catwoman is always throwing him up against walls.”

Which meant she was calling me sexy.

So I say, “Don’t you think Link might get a little suspicious when the heir to the throne has black hair?”

And I thought she would say something about at least pointy ears running in the family, but instead she got a little closer and said, “I think Link’s busy banging that Zora girl.”

And I said, “Good, because his princess is going to be in another bedroom.”

Which is when she shoved me a little, you know, playfully, and said, “Slow down. Let her majesty finish her beer first.”

When she shoved me I could feel how strong she was. Like, it was probably a challenge for her to not knock me into the drink table. Fuck that was hot.

So we go into the kitchen and talk, me still totally doing my batman voice because I am not about to drop a good thing when I have it. She was pretty cool. We didn’t talk about much, just school, and video games, and comics, which was all in between me flirting with her as hard as I could.

Then she finished her beer, and she put it down very slowly and she said, “There is a trampoline out back, but no one is out there because they think it’s too cold.

Like many college boys, I would gladly freeze my nads off to kiss Zelda.

So we go outside, and there was some light from the stars and the kitchen windows, but where the trampoline is it was pretty dark. We bounced onto it, and kind of rolled around a little before we got into a good kissing position, with her on top and my mask shoved up to the top of my head, and we got a lot of short, stuttery, laughing kisses, and it was great

For like five seconds, before I smelled it.

I mean, there was the weird rubber plastic smell of the trampoline, and me, and my sweat, and the rubber of my mask, and the cheap fabric smell of at least one of our costumes, but then her hair slipped out from under her wig, releasing the scent of her perfume and shampoo. Something in my brain short circuited and I was back on Akane’s bed with ten quilts on top of me, instead of on a trampoline with Akane on top of me.

I keep thinking I should have known somehow. Even with the wig and the make up and yelling over the music, some part of me should have known I was talking to Akane before I was tongue deep in her.

So then I panicked and shoved her off of me, and for a second she was lying there on the trampoline, and I was sitting up panting, because what the fuck had I done?, and she said, “Are you alright?” and it was so exactly her voice, it was so so obviously her, because who else could sound that worried about some rando she was making out with on a trampoline?

I ran. Tore through the garden, jumped a fence, and I was gone.

I can’t tell her. Maybe she doesn’t hate me as much as she used to, but this would just bring all those shitty memories roaring back, right? She would be pissed and betrayed, and no matter what I said about me having no idea until that second, she would never believe me.

Okay, so that’s decided. I just won’t tell her about it and it’ll be like it never happened.

Ranma, that is a great plan.

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A picture of Nabiki’s legs in sheer black pantyhose and sky high red heels. The picture ends just as the curve of her thigh becomes her ass, and there are some huge pink feathers curling over the top of her thigh.

#her name was lola…. #I still love this costume

Last five posts from okinomiyakimeansiloveyou.tumblr.com

5. A selfie of Ukyo in an Ichigo costume, with five more pictures of her huge replicas of Ichigo’s two swords. #shit you can’t get away with in highschool!

4. A neon colored deluge of artfully arranged candy wrappers

3. A photo of Shampoo looking adorable as Sailor moon in her “by the power of the moon” pose. Then another of her leaning against her bed, boots sprawled out in front of her, looking far more relaxed than Usigai ever did.

2. A picture of Shampoo putting her hair up in sailor moon buns. Her hair has already been parted and now she has gathered half of it in her hand, strands spilling out between her fingers. Only half her makeup is on. Red lipstick, but naked lids. You can just see the bright orange cover of Ukyo’s phone reflected in the mirror she’s using.

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I think that was the most….eventful Halloween I’ve ever had.

It was a really cool party, and some guy asked me if I knew knife tricks, and fuck if I’m bringing TWO swords to a party and not knowing any tricks. I was having a really good time, and drinking mildly spiked soda, so I had a little buzz, I had a little sugar rush—and that was when I saw him.

Tuxedo Mask.

He was leaned up against the kitchen doorway, and he could not have looked more perfect if he tried. I went right up to him, stuck a sword in his face and said, “You have to meet my friend.”

Even Tuxedo Mask doesn’t argue when Ichigo Kurosaki has him at knifepoint. I mean, Ichigo is totally winning that fight.

I must have dragged that guy over the whole house, but we could not find Shampoo. He was getting more and more impatient, but I kept insisting that he had to meet my friend.

Then we were in the backyard. Just us and some dark shapes, and the flickering lights from the kitchen.

“Was this a joke?” Tuxedo Mask asked me.

I think a lot of things happened at once. Running all over the house caused my sugar high to crash, and I think I’m a weepy drunk, and I felt so stupid. I saw this guy and suddenly I’m writing a romance novel in my head. Like he and Shampoo were going to see each other, their eyes would meet, and they would fall madly in love. It just seemed so perfect.

I’m such an idiot. I had thought that for some reason Halloween could make love real, but something like love isn’t going to start existing because of matching costumes.

I started crying, and I think that freaked Tuxedo Mask out a bit.

“I’m sorry!” I blubbered. “I swear my friend was here dressed as Sailor Moon!” and then I think I said that stuff I just wrote about love and halloween.

Instead of running for the hills, which I would have understood at that point, Tuxedo Mask said, “How can you not believe in love?” Which was properly Tuxedo Mask-y, but not what I wanted to hear.

“Love isn’t something worth believing in.” I snapped.

“But it’s apparently worth grabbing strangers at parties. I don’t know how long you’ve known this girl, but already you seem to love her very much.”

That made me stop crying for a minute. I squinted at him, trying to see past his mask and the shadows of the backyard. I hadn’t noticed before, but he wasn’t wearing a domino, like the real tuxedo mask. His mask covered almost everything but his mouth.

He gave me the hanky from his pocket, and patted my head, like he wasn’t sure how to comfort humans. That thought made me laugh, and then his hand slipped a little and cradled the back of my skull. The atmosphere between us shifted. It wasn’t romantic or sexual. It was that feeling when someone touches you at a spot where your skin is stretched thin over your bones and your body asks you if you should smash their skull in before they get yours, or if you can relax.

I relaxed.

It was so comforting I almost forgot all that stuff about love and destiny. Right then it just felt good to have a cool breeze on my tear tracks and a kind person touching me.

Tuxedo Mask smiled, and swept towards the kitchen door, saying, “I see my job here is done.”

It took me a minute to get it, but I yelled before he went back inside, “You didn’t do anything!”

I hadn’t stopped laughing when Shampoo found me.

To: TKuno

From: NabikiTendo

Thought you might like to look at these before I send them to the dean. Do you think I should edit them a little or just send them as is?

Attachment: Two photos. One of Kuno, who is clearly himself, even in a loose kimono and face paint that makes him look like an opera mask. He’s in a poorly lit dining room, standing in front of a beer pong game, although it’s not clear if he’s playing or not.

The next one has Nabiki sitting on his lap in a showgirl outfit that is mostly feathers and a leotard. His paint is a little smeared, and he looks like he would fall over if the chair he was sitting on didn’t have a back. He doesn’t have an arm around Nabiki’s back, as courtesy would demand since she is sitting sideways, because he is holding both her drink and his own. Quite enough evidence for the kendo team to cut him for failing to adhere to the guidelines of the club.

From: TKuno

To: NabikiTendo

What do I have to pay you?

From: NabikiTendo

To: TKuno

You don’t. I will release these photos whenever I see fit.

You’re paying back my sister in fear and stress and wondering when your life will be ruined.

From: TKuno

To: NabikiTendo

What did I ever do to your sister? Didn’t I fight for her honor recently.

From: NabikiTendo

To: TKuno

If you hadn’t gone prying into my sister’s life she never would have been forced out of the closet.

Stew on that while you wonder if I’ve already sent the photos to your father.

P.S. I can’t believe you thought I didn’t recognize you. You deserve it all for falling for that ‘do you work out?’ line.

MY DIARY:

Dear Diary,

Today I did something I am deeply ashamed of.

I went to Nabiki Tendo on my hands and knees and begged.

I have never felt less dignified in my life than I did, my nose not one inch from the worn linoleum of her floor, breathing the scent of fear and regret (which was remarkably similar to fruity perfume and sweaty feet).

“Kuno, babe,” She said, drawing the word out like she was a gangster from an old movie, “There is nothing you could give me that I want more than this.”

“Please, Nabiki Tendo,” I said, trying to meet her eyes, only to see her silhouette against the fluorescent light, “Do not take kendo from me. It has given me everything.”

She shrugged, “You did this to yourself.”

Which is shamefully true. I did go to a party and partake in alcoholic beverages underage, of my own volition.

And, what Nabiki Tendo doesn’t know, is that this is was a ritual of mine. It is the one night of the year I do foolish things. I drink, and I speak in a throughly ungentlemanly way to young women, although I try to refrain from being a lout, and I get to pretend I am one of the great samurais from my dramas.

For the last three years it has been the perfect way to relax and resist doing something even more foolish.

I got cocky. That is all I can say. I saw Nabiki Tendo, and I panicked, of course, but when she did not seem to recognize me I fell right into her trap. I thought it would be my little secret. Whenever Nabiki Tendo berated me I could think, ‘Ah, but little do you know that you once sat in my lap and pressed your cleavage into my chin with a gusto I have never known before’. The cleavage part is still true, but I am too concerned about losing my scholarship, status, friends, and the codes I live for to enjoy it.

“There must be something I can offer you.” I tried, once more, “I would run around campus naked, I would destroy your enemies, I would give my father a dressing down in front of the entire school. Please do not do this to me.”

Nabiki Tendo was sitting in the swivel chair at her desk as I knelt before her, and she swiveled to the side so she could place her ankle on my shoulder. Her toes are absurdly long and painted devil red. The woman is related to demons, mark my words.

“All I want is to see you doing this for a little while. Then, whenever I get bored, I’ll send the pictures in. I mean, you can come in here every night and do this whole spiel, and whenever I get tired of it you can do it for your dad.”

At that I rose swiftly and dramatically, an action whose drama was somewhat lessened by the fact that it threw Nabiki Tendo backwards and she smacked her head against the wall and I had to make sure she was alright before I could continue. (Take it from a man who has sustained many, head injuries are no joke).

“I see you leave me no choice, Nabiki Tendo, since you will not accept my offer of a fair trade, I will have to create an unfair one.”

“The fuck does that mean?” She said as I turned on my heel to leave, sounding utterly uninterested in my threat.

“It means,” I replied over my shoulder, “That I shall have to find something horrible about you and create mutually assured destruction.”

Nabiki Tendo snorted and turned back to her computer. Her parting words to me were, “Using cold war terms won’t make you any scarier, buddy.”

Now I must do something even more shameful than groveling at Nabiki Tendo’s feet: I must find out something about her that is so awful she will give me those photos back in the hopes that my knowledge will never being released to the public. This is not the sort of errand I ever wished to dirty my hands with, but now it is the only thing to be done.

Facebook Messenger:

Shampoo: You never told me how Halloween went. Did you get to seduce Akane Masked Man Style?

Ryoga: No. I never told you because it didn’t work out like I’d hoped. I did see Akane, but she seemed distracted, and since I couldn’t tell her who I was she got bored with me and left.

Shampoo: :( Boo. I was really rooting for you guys. Guess there’s nothing left to do but ASK HER OUT LIKE A NORMAL PERSON.

Ryoga: You do not get to yell at me—you encouraged me! Also, YOU ARE CONSIDERING PROPOSITIONING YOUR ROOMMATE, SOMETHING WHICH NEVER ENDS WELL!!!

Shampoo: I am not! I mean, I would ask her on a date LIKE A NORMAL PERSON, but she doesn’t do dating anymore. After one bad breakup! I broke up with a guy I was young and stupid enough to think I was in love with, and yeah, he’s still hanging around, and yeah, I’m going to have to spend most of Thanksgiving break with him, but, like, I moved on.

Ryoga: How bad was it?

Shampoo: It wasn’t bad. Just stupid. It was really stupid. We were dating, like, our whole lives. I don’t know why. It was one of those marriage proposals on the playground things, and I never started to dislike Mousse or feel like we were growing apart, or like being without him would be better than being with him, but we were in our senior year and he basically said, “When do you think we’ll get married?” and I realized that all I ever wanted Mousse to be was some guy I dated in high school.

Shampoo: So I dumped him.

Ryoga: Okay, so, basically, it was nothing like what happened to Ukyo, yet you’re comparing it to what happened to Ukyo.

Shampoo: Okay, it wasn’t the same thing, but it wasn’t a clean break, either. You’ve had a rough breakup before, right?

Ryoga: No, but I’m probably due.

Shampoo: Well, trust me, a bad breakup does not suddenly make you aromantic or asexual. It may make you wish you were, but it doesn’t, and Ukyo needs to understand that she isn’t automatically going to get hurt because she puts herself out there again.

Ryoga: Would you care this much if you weren’t interested in her?

Shampoo: She is a wonderful person, and she is doing the world a disservice by acting like she murdered love and must forever repent for her sin.

Ryoga: She would not like that analogy.

Shampoo: Tell me you haven’t noticed how pretty she is. Or how nice or sweet or funny.

Ryoga: She is very sweet. She has a nice neck when she puts her hair up.

Shampoo: Very random compliment, but I’m glad you understand.

Ryoga: Careful, you don’t want me turning into your competition.

Shampoo: Don’t get greedy pretty boy, I know you’re already trying to juggle two girls at once.

Ryoga: 1. HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT??!! 2. Do you really think I’m pretty?

Shampoo: Dude, we’re friends on facebook. I got a ‘you have a mutual friend’ notification, and you may have scrubbed your profile, but your girlfriend sure didn’t.

Shampoo: Also, obviously you’re pretty. Although I should probably be calling you dirty boy, or pig boy or something, since you think you can have all the girls.

Ryoga: Oh, god, please don’t tell Akari. I’ve been meaning to, the time just hasn’t been right.

Shampoo: Not that I actually want to be involved, but what you should really be worried about is me telling Akane.

Akane’s Diary

Do not watch the dark knight trilogy because you’re desperate, do not watch the dark knight trilogy because you’re desperate do not watch the dark knight trilogy bec

To be fair, I’m mostly bored. Everyone is exhausted, because if they’re not worrying about finals they’re still burnt out after Halloween. Meanwhile I’ve got all my homework done, and it’s just not worth it to freak out about finals before Thanksgiving break. Refusing to worry about finals until it’s over is what Thanksgiving break is for.

Still, I shouldn’t go looking at everything batman related like that’s going to bring this guy back, or explain what the fuck happened.

He was nice. Like, he recognized the absurdity of making out on a trampoline, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t trying really, really hard. That was sweet, that earnestness.

I don’t know. I spent like an hour with him. It’s stupid, building him up as this perfect guy, but I can’t help it. I know he was fun to talk to, and even with my Zelda armor digging into my shoulders I felt comfortable with him, but because I know nothing about him I can fill in the gaps with whatever I want. I can pretend he’s an only child, and he won’t freak out when I tell him I’m trans, and he likes the idea of being married and having kids, but probably only two, because he understands I think it’s good for a kid to have a sibling, but two is plenty, and….

See? Too easy.

Maybe he’s in a relationship and a wave of guilt hit him.

Or maybe he remembered he had to feed his cat.

Or maybe he had an anxiety attack.

Or maybe I’m going to watch the dark knight trilogy because between that and thinking about this guy all night I should probably chose the option that’s easier on my sanity.

From TKuno

To: Dean

Sir, as one of your students I would like to bring to your attention that another student, Nabiki Tendo, has been selling contraband out of her dorm room and has probably made thousands selling alcohol and other drugs to minors.

Sincerely,

Tatewaki Kuno.

From Dean

To TKuno

Kuno, why did you put this in a email? Is this a prank? Nabiki Tendo has been accused of this several times before, but her room has never turned up any contraband materials, nor has anyone every given us any proof that she sells contraband.

You wouldn’t be trying to harm another student for some petty reason, would you?

From Tkuno

To Dean

I’m sorry, that was foolish of me. I know that Nabiki Tendo is not the sort of person who would be caught doing things like that. I was being thoughtless. I will consider my words more carefully next time.

From TKuno

To Ghostunkugi

Is it true that you can compile an account of another person’s life for a fair price?

From Ghostunkugi

To TKuno

All social media accounts, anything on public record related to them in anyway, and any thing else that seems interesting. 150

Shadowing, 100 for a day, 650 for a week

Photos +50 dollars every day. 150 for a full week.

Confidentiality assured, unless you murder someone and I have to talk to the cops again.

From TKuno

To Ghostunkugi

Just the first option for now. I will throw in a bonus if you can find any potentially life ruining information.

From Ghostunkugi

To Tkuno

One of those jobs. I get it. [Paypal information] Please pay in a prompt manner. Due to school I probably won’t have a complete file until after Thanksgiving Break.

Kodachi’s Journal

I fear that that which I once loved

That flower that bloomed so boldly

Is wilting in my hands.

Now that our yearly cycle has spun us into

Those brief six weeks

When we all pretend to care about

Peace, love, and good will toward men

(even our families)

It makes me realize that the spring of our love

Gave way not to a passionate summer

But to the bleakness of a winter without you

Ranma

I trace your name on fogged windows at my gymnasium

But I worry I have sucked all strength from it

Like a sweet drained of it’s syrupy filling.

I shall take my time in repose

With my father and brother

And wrapped in their tenuous, florid, masculine embrace

I recall that all men appreciate a swift hard strike when they least expect it.

#ranma 1/2 #fanfiction #rankane #akane tendo #ranma saotome #epistolary #text #personal #shampoo #ukyo kuonji #ryoga hibiki

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