#Dark Matter changed Yama

[kalira]

Earthly Expedition

Written for @domaystic! Day 11: volunteering

T; 1.6k Harlock/Yama, Tochiro (Arcadia)

With the Arcadia's greenhouse bay now well established, the plants growing there can be carefully diversified via an expedition down to the Earth's surface to collect new samples; Yama stepping forward as the one to do that, as a matter of course, brings up some unexpected revelations.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Ooh, the Stone Egg coming out when Xiaotian is courtnapped by Ruyi? Xiaotian is already stressed out from being abducted by a creepy older guy and now having to deal with Demon Bull family drama and Ruyi's incel/conservative uncle behavior-

But-

*slides idea that DBK's parents still alive and FURIOUS when they learn that their great-grandbaby is being born early because their son's an idiot and adding to the drama when the grandchild they never met SLAMS down the door to get to his mate*

Best way to describe my idea of the Immortal Ruyi is somewhere between "Scar" from Lion King + a stereotypical dark wizard.

Ruyi feels inferior to his older brother, banished or not. He feels that he must scrounge and hoard whatever power he must in order to secure his position - everything except changing a thing about himself.

When the Pilgrims encountered Ruyi; he was busy extorting the Kingdom of Women for access to the Abortion Spring - water that acted as a 100% guaranteed birth control for women (and unlucky monks) who did not want to have children. It wasn't just a matter of money - Ruyi has some pretty backwards ideas of what women should be "thankful for".

Makes sense why the Pilgrims beat the crap out of him and steal back all the money and treasures he's extorted from the women.

The Underworld is pretty inuslar - not much commincation between Realms happens down there. Even in the capital city of Youdu, communities are pretty self-isolating.

Except ever since what happened with the Ten Kings...

Yama/Yanluo needs to hire new staff.

Ruyi thinks he'd be a shoe-in for one of the Ten Kings! If only he had a good piece of arm candy to show off to the court...

Ruyi has a Compliant Hook that acts very simialrly to Wukong's Staff - and he might just use it to "hook" himself a stolen bride.

MK: (*finally managed to sneak out of the apartment to get a limited flavour of cheese tea*) Ruyi: (*whisks him away like an old-timey dastardly villain*) The Stone Egg, waking up: "Oh? It's game time now?"

MK of course; is NOT HAPPY with being kidnapped by some old incel demon to a corner of the Underworld!

Even more so when he realises from context clues that this is Red's Uncle!

Ruyi thinks it's foolproof. MK is a creation of Nüwa herself, and helped stabilise all of creation with actions - having him as a spouse would be major Rep points!

MK: "Dude! I'm taken! By your nephew!" Ruyi, preparing a concoction of spring water: "Do not worry. I will remove that roadblock when we come to it. Now you be a good wife and stop scolding me." MK, growing more and more furious: "I AINT YOUR WIFE!"

MK's own kaiju-form tries to activate, but can't due to the immense discomfort he's in. Only he knows the real reason for the cramping. He whispers to his baby to hold on just a little longer, as he staunchly refuses every piece of food or drink his captor tries shoving at him.

The chaos of the courtnapping, plus MK's own loud objections - alert the true masters of the Underworld Ox Palace...

I imagine DBK assumed that his parents had passed in the centuries he'd been gone - only to realise that they weren't dead, just retired from the political scene.

Ránshāo/燃烧 ("to ignite") and Fādǒu/发抖 ("shivering") were an arranged pair from birth - the union of two royal oxen clans spanning both the Hot and Cold Narakas of the Underworld.

One a dense, long-haired plume of fire. One a stern pillar of ice. Unseparable. If DBK respected anything of his parents; it was their bond.

From their union came the one who would be named "THE Demon Bull King"... and their second-born Ruyi.

They try not to play favourites but... the incident in the Kingdom of Women has soured their opinion over Ruyi's political standings. They have tried hard to throw off the imperial politics their own predecessors had imposed, and return to the "old ways". But clearly their current heir isn't wise to change.

The only thing stopping them from welcoming DBK back into their home is ultimately; Pride. If he didn't seek them out, neither would they.

Cycle of bull-headedness.

Until they smell and hear that their second-born has courtnapped himself an unwilling bride. One already with child.

MK: (*terrified and heavily pregnant*) Ruyi, showing off his prize: "Well..?" (*both ox demons look at one another... before slapping Ruyi across the head.*) Ránshāo: "YOU FOOL. Courtnapping is only legitimate if the other party accepts your affection!" Fādǒu, leaning down to MK: "The poor thing is shaking! Did you steal them from their maternity nest!? Their birth clan will have our heads if talk gets out!" Riyu, scrambling: "Well uh- I feel that they would be the perfect spouse for the heir of the Underworld Ox clan! Sun Wukong's successor is-" Both Oxen, so loud it shakes the palace: "THE WHAT?!" Ránshāo: "Are you telling me, this child is the successor of the ONE DEMON able to match our family in battle!? And you dared to kidnap him for your own selfish desires!?!" Fādǒu, hugging MK to her cool fur: "And what of their mate? Surely the existence of the calf in their stomach signals an existing sire!" Ruyi, kowtowing: "The child they carry was immaculately formed! Like the waters of the Mother-Child River! If it is an issue, I will remove it using the Spring-" (*Ruyi receives angry huffs from both parents, their breaths combining to create a boiling mist that forces him back*) Ránshāo: "Get out of my sight. We'll deal with you later." Ruyi: (*scuttles away by a cockroach*) Fādǒu, voice soft: "Child, does your clan know where you are?" MK, calming down: "No... but I imagine that they won't rest until they find me. Macaque can hear for miles, and Mei put trackers on my phone." Ránshāo: "We should prepare for guests then. We must apologize to them for the distress our second-born has caused." Fādǒu: "Is what Ruyi said true? That your child has no sire?" MK, little embarassed: "Uh! Well! It's a stone monkey thing I accidentally did. Baby is technically being made by me alone, but with Dao my body absorbs from my closest peeps and mate." Fādǒu: "Then who is your-?" (*The gates of the Underworld Ox Palace burst open as a stampede of kaijus arrive on-scene; dragon, demon, and celestial among them. The lead of the charge is a fiery cloud in the shape of a bull - the eyes burning with True Fire. The bull crashes through the front gates and throne room, trampling any obstable in it's path. It's charge only stopping when they see the monkey demon.*) Kaiju!Red Son, bellowing deep: "RETURN HIM." MK, surprised but delighted: "Red!!" :D! Both Oxen: (*share same looks of confusion and wonder*)

The sight in the palace is adorable; the tiny monkey demon waddling as fast as he can to embrace their mate, their furry arms not even able to encompass the snout. The massive bull gently nudging their smaller mate's face and belly, as if to ask "Are you okay?" The fire receding back to it's natural shape and size as more desperate kisses are shared.

No arrows or swords drawn - the appearance of Sun Wukong in his War Form put the fear of Buddha in every single one of the Oxen Palace guards.

And the appearance of the prodigal son put joy in their hearts.

DBK: (*arrives seconds later in his regular form, PIF on his shoulder. He looks confused as he realises where Red Son's trail has lead them.*) DBK, seeing the royal couple: "Mother? Father?" The Oxen couple: "Jǐn Cài Niu!?"

Ránshāo and Fādǒu don't even question why their first-born is there. The fiery tornado that ripped through their palace was nearly identical to the kaiju-form of their elder son - only now sporting the True Winds of the boy's celestial mother.

PIF herself is caught in the embrace. She's shocked by the closeness. She had not seen her in-laws in millennia - but now they greet her as if she were beloved kin? She barely manages to squeeze out of the giants' hold to watch her husband reunite with his parents.

Fādǒu: "A grandson! Xiaoniu - a grandson! And you never told us!" DBK, crying with frustration and joy: "I assumed that you did not care for him! I sent many letters to Father's office over the centuries!" Ránshāo, angry growl: "My office... the same office your younger brother as occupied for the last eon?" DBK, realising: "That bast-" Fādǒu, pulls his ear: "Do not finish that exclamation, calf." Ránshāo: "Do not blame him, my snowdrop. If Ruyi is only responsible for what happened today, he should be so lucky to live to see the next one." PIF, floating above the oxen: "I take it you've met our son's intended?" Fādǒu, gasping: "The expectant one!? Oh dear... barely a moment to adjust to knowing we're grandparents..." Ránshāo: "Now we are to expect our first great-grandchild!" Wukong, leans in to whisper: "So. We aren't in a fighting mood now, right?" DBK: "No. Now is not time for quarrel... unless you wish to catch up with my little brother. Odds are; he's already fled the palace." Mei, racing past in dragon-mode: "I CALL FIRST DIBS!"

Reunions and curb-stomps are cut short however - as MK is forced to reveal something that has been causing him grief ever since Ruyi kidnapped him.

Macaque, ears flickering: "He's in labour." Everyone present: "WHAT!?" MK, smiling through winces of pain: "Surprise?" Red Son: (*turns Kaiju-form off and in a feral rush, carries MK to a soft surface*)

Everyone is panicking, even the ones trained in midwifery. Wukong is stammering as he tries to manifest supplies from his transformed hair. Pigsy and Tang are screaming - realising that they need to grab the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha just in case babies aren't supposed to be born down here.

PIF is holding MK's hand, coaching him through the contractions and kissing his sweat-soaked brow. She knows the pain he's enduring.

Red is holding MK's other hand, not minding that the bones are most certainly broken by the stone monkey's grip. He's silent with excitement and fear.

Nezha briefly disappears, returning with Guanyin and Xiwangmu themselves at his side.

Guanyin: "When Nezha told me you were due - I certainly did not expect to come here! It's been some time." MK, Wukong & Macaque: "Same!"

It seems that the second MK is assured everything is prepared; the Egg pretty much shoots out - cracked and ready to go. The other monkeys barely have time to collect the broken rainbow-quartz shell when the baby starts howling to the universe.

The Room: (*stunned silent*) Newborn Haoye: (*immediately chirping and clinging to MK*) Macaque: "Wow. That kid did not wait at all to be born." Wukong: "Stress from the courtnapping probably scared him out." (*angry growls radiate around the room. Ruyi will be lucky to be found alive after tonight.*) Red Son & MK: (*both unintelligible blubbering*) "He is so small!!" "And orange!"

Xiwangmu nearly roars at seeing her great-grandcub alive and so loud. Her fellow great-grandparents do not hesistate to embrace the Empress when she hugs them out of joy. ("He's beautiful!" "He is!" "His taigong would have adored him!" "Did he get his fur from you Empress?")

The Underworld and the Celestial Realm are united fully in this moment... all for a tiny orange puffball who's barely a minute old.

Tang faints obviously. Pigsy holds it together long enough to say hi to his grandpiglet before passing out on the nearest sofa. Wukong and Macaque get a few sniffs in before joining Pigsy on the sofa.

All is calm.

Then Haoye sneezes and rainbow-coloured flames shoot out.

The Room: ( 0_0)? MK, laughing nervously: "Oh yeah. The Five Stones! Ha ha ha-!" Nezha, defusing: "To be fair... I spit rainbows." Mei, taking photos: "Aww, our little rainbow monkey man!!" <3

Now the baby has another set of great-grandparents to visit!

If one of the Man Yue gifts is a familar ox skull - MK doesn't comment on it.

[deadvnstudios]

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KO-FI

[rikeijo]

Hi there! I saw your post about the translation for Wings on Ice, and I would love to post about it on a YOI updates account I run on Twitter. Would that be okay with you? I would link back to your original post as well :)

It's okay to post the translation and romaji, but not kanji.

The transcription I did contains mistakes, but I won't post the correct kanji version, because nobody of Tosshii's fans have done it so far, so it's probably not something that they would want to be posted (I mean it's probably a kind of "buy the more expensive physical copy, if you want to know").

The correct translation is like this:

Tosshii's POV:

Alone in the dark, left out (Hitori kurai, ochikobore da)

The top of the mountain - it's nothing but a dream (Yama no itadaki, yume no mata yume sa)

Crushed under expectations, today as well you continue to wither away (Kitai ni oshitsubusare, kyo mo kimi wa shiorete yuku)

You can't believe in yourself, so much that you put the blame on others (Mawari no sei ni shite made, jibun wo shinjirarenakute)

The edges of your heart are shaven off more and more (Kokoro no ejji kezurarete iku)

Alone in the dark, left out (Hitori kurai, ochikobore da)

It's impossible for a miracle to happen (Kiseki nante okoru wake nai)

I can't believe that such a meeting was possible (Sonna deai shinjirarenai)

There is somebody, who makes wings grow on that back that always faces backwards (Ushiromukina sono senaka ni tsubasa wo hayasu hito ga iru)

On this ice, you become free (Kono hyojo de, kimi wa jiyu ni naru)

Dream that only you can give a shape to, dream that no-one has ever seen (Dare mo mita koto no nai, kimi ni shika egakenai yume wo)

Yuuri's POV:

If you're here, I can become a bird (Anata ga ireba, boku wa tori ni nareru)

Let me fly higher, because I trust you (Motto takaku habatakasete, shinjiteiru kara)

Light and Darkness face back to back (Hikari to Yami senaka wo awaseta)

What it is that you want? (Anata wa nani wo motometeru no?)

All I want is just to see your face smiling, but when I see it, for some reason I feel like I'm about to cry (Warau kao ga tada mitakute, miru to naze ka nakisou ni naru)

Wings fly in the sky at whim, believing in me, more than I myself believe in me (Boku yori mo boku o shinjite, tsubasa wa kimagure ni sora wo tobu)

On this ice, I dance for you (Kono hyojo de anata no tame ni mau)

Dream that I want to give a shape to, together with you, nobody else (Hoka no dare demo nai, anata to egakitai yume wo)

I am able to do it. You believe that, don't you? (Boku nara dekiru, shinjite kureru desho?)

Watch me until the end, because I'm able to change (Saigo made mitodokete yo, kawarareru kara)

(Could we have made history?)

On this ice, I become free (Kono hyojo de boku wa jiyu ni naru)

Dream that only I can give a shape to, one that no-one has ever seen (Dare mo mita koto na nai, boku ni shika egakenai yume o)

If you're here I can fly no matter how far (Anata ga ireba, boku wa doko made mo toberu)

I will deliver it to you with my love! Watch me from there (Ai wo komete todokeru yo, Soko de mite ite)

[apothecaryscript]

Maomao no Hitorigoto Episode 7 : Something to Shake Off Sleepiness??? / 猫猫のひとりごと　第7話　『眠気覚まし？？？(Nemuke-Zamashi???)』

Please note that the English lines are just my translations.

猫猫「里樹妃の侍女たちは、まだ幼く後宮の常識を知らない里樹妃に、わざと濃い桃色の衣を勧めて恥をかかせた。妃を陥れるとは……。と、こんなことを考えている場合じゃない。…明日、おやじに会える」

Maomao “Rishu-hino jijo-tachiwa, mada osanaku kokyuno joshiki’o shiranai Rishu-hini, wazato koi momo-irono koromo’o susumete haji’o kakaseta. Kisaki’o otoshi-ireru-towa…… To, konna-koto’o kangaete-iru baaija nai. Ashita, oyajini aeru.”

Maomao “Concubine Lishu’s ladies in waiting humiliated Concubine Lishu, who was still young and didn’t know the common sense of the rear palace, by purposely recommending her to wear a dark pink dress. They did ensnare the concubine… Oh, this isn’t the time to be thinking about that. I’ll be able to see Dad tomorrow.”

壬氏「夜中に何をやっているんだ？」

Jinshi “Yonakani nani’o yatte-irunda?”

Jinshi “What are you doing in the middle of the night?”

猫猫「壬氏様こそ、どうなさいましたか？お疲れのご様子ですが」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama-koso, do-nasai-mashitaka? Otsukareno goyosu desuga.”

Maomao “What’s the matter with you, Master Jinshi? You look tired.”

壬氏「気分転換だ。園遊会での一件があってから、仕事が山積みでな」

Jinshi “Kibun-tenkanda. En’yu-kai-deno ikkenga atte-kara, shigotoga yama-zumi dena.”

Jinshi “For a change. Since the garden party incident, I’ve had a mountain of work to do.”

猫猫（顔色がかなり悪いな…であれば）「こちらをご活用ください」

Maomao (Kao-iroga kanari waruina… De areba.) “Kochira’o gokatsuyo kudasai.”

Maomao (He looks quite pale… If so.) “Please use this.”

壬氏「ん、何が入っているんだ？」

Jinshi “N? Naniga haitte-irunda?”

Jinshi “Hmm, what’s in there?”

猫猫「媚薬ではございません」

Maomao “Biyaku-dewa gozai-masen.”

Maomao “It’s not an aphrodisiac.”

壬氏「なんだ」

Jinshi “Nanda.”

Jinshi “It’s not? Okay.”

猫猫「眠気覚ましです」

Maomao “Nemuke-zamashi desu.”

Maomao “It’s something to shake off sleepiness.”

壬氏「眠気覚まし？」

Jinshi “Nemuke-zamashi?”

Jinshi “Shake off sleepiness?”

猫猫「はい。活力が湧いて仕事に集中できます」

Maomao “Hai. Katsuryokuga waite shigotoni shuchu deki-masu.”

Maomao “Yes. It gives you energy and helps you concentrate on your work.”

壬氏「なんと！それは大いに助かる！」

Jinshi “Nanto! Sorewa ooini tasukaru!”

Jinshi “Oh my goodness! That would be a great help!”

猫猫「えっ、そんな一気に飲んでは……」

Maomao “E, sonna ikkini nondewa…”

Maomao “What? Don’t take it all at once like that…”

壬氏「おお、即効性があるんだな。何だか…体が…あ、軽くなったような…」

Jinshi “Oo, sokko-seiga arun-dana. Nandaka…karadaga…a, karuku-natta-yona…”

Jinshi “Oh, it has an immediate effect. Somehow… I feel like… my body… became lighter…”

猫猫「少し休んでもらいたかっただけなのだが…慣れないことをするべきではないな」

Maomao “Sukoshi yasunde morai-takatta-dake-nano-daga… Narenai koto’o suru-beki-dewa naina.”

Maomao “I just wanted him to rest for a bit… I shouldn’t have done what I wasn’t used to doing.”

猫猫「次回、『麦稈』。花街で何か物騒なことが起こりそうな予感が…」

Maomao “Jikai, ‘Mugiwara.’ Hana-machide nanika bussona kotoga okori-sona yokanga…”

Maomao “Next episode, ‘Wheat Stalks.’ I have a feeling something dangerous is going to happen in the pleasure district…”

猫猫「これ…どうしよう？」

Maomao “Kore…do-shiyo?”

Maomao “What should I do about this?”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

I don’t think the purple-colored translation is the best one.

In this case, the original line is “なんだ”, not “なんだ？(What is it?)”, because his voice didn’t raise the pitch at the end. It means that Jinshi was a little bit disappointed to know it wasn’t an aphrodisiac.

So it’s like “なんだ、そうなのか。(がっかり）: Oh, I see. (Disappointed).” Please let me know if there are better phrases.

[syrma-sensei]

→ Inevitable Love.

Pairing: Kyōraku Shunsui x Wife!reader.

Rating: Slight angst (they're at war), fluff.

Setting: Canonverse.

Word Count: 1.1k.

Summary: You have a heart-to-heart conversation with your husband during the bloody war.

Restlessness took over you the day you moved in with Shunsui to the first squad quarters. The fact it was Yama-Jii's previous residence, and where Lieutenant Sasakibe Chōjirō died, did not help one bit, neither did the fact that the Mūken prison is right beneath you, the place Yhwach visited to see Aizen Sōsuke.

You used to like it, but when the old man and his vice-captain were still alive. However, you had no choice in the matter as your husband's new post requires it.

In the past week many things changed; your home was nearly destroyed, your leader is dead, thousands of soldiers shedded their blood in vain, and thousands more are wounded, and perhaps worst of all, at least to you, your husband isn't himself anymore.

The goofy, laid-back Kyōraku Shunsui, the man you fell in love with and married, turned into a hollow shell of what he used to be. It breaks your heart and soul to see him lifting the weight alone.

You barely saw him after the Central 46 appointed him the new Captain Commander of the Gōtei 13, he's been working relentlessly since day one, an attempt to not lose his mind. Although he hides well, too well that everyone thinks he's an insensitive bastard, but you know... you know the grief and sorrow he's dealing with through this ordeal, and what makes it worse, he doesn't allow you to help him through. However, you're as stubborn as he is, and perhaps more. You won't let your husband, the love of your life, struggle like this, alone.

You don't stir in bed like the couple nights before, however, as Shunsui lays next to you after you practically dragged him to take some rest. But you know neither him nor you could actually sleep.

Unlike your usual nights, and while your head rests on his naked chest, you two are awfully silent tonight. Nights with your husband used to include sessions of drinking sake and heated love-making, or just talking till dawn. These habits of yours drove Nanao insane, because her Captain would just sleep around, leaving most of the work upon her. Tonight though, you feel something akin to coldness between you two. Yet, hesitantly, you run your fingers on his hairy chest; your husband always welcomes your touch. Shunsui groans slowly before catching your hand in his, it's so tiny in his large one, and bringing it to his mouth to kiss.

Lifting your head up, you bring your other hand up to his stubbled cheek, brushing your thumb fondly to his skin. Within the darkness, you stare at his eyes. You cannot see his damaged one even though he's taken the eye patch off. You cup his cheeks in both hands, the fingers of your left hand tug a strand of his loose hair behind whatever left of his right ear before you kiss his lips.

It seems that your husband is desperate; his warm arms encircle your body, pushing you deeper into his hold, his hands cupping your buttocks before they ram up to your lower back then caressing your sides. You moan against his mouth, your hands stroking his face and hair fondly.

Suddenly, Shunsui breaks the kiss. He rests his forehead against yours momentarily before he sits up adroitly, his back facing you. He heaves a sigh then stands up.

“Shun?” You lift yourself up on the bed.

“Be right back, love.” He says without gazing back at you, and heads outside the bed chamber.

You fight the urge to follow and comfort him, choosing to wait for him to return on his own, giving him some privacy. You know how hard it is for him; his teacher and father figure died, your home is damaged beyond count, and he's been handled cumbersome responsibility as the new Captain Commander of the Gōtei 13.

You wait for two, three, four, five minutes, but you cannot any longer. In the past few days, you felt like some kind of a wall being built up between the two of you, and you cannot allow it to separate you.

You slide off of the bed, slipping in your husband's flowery kimono, sweeping out of the room. Tracing Shunsui's reiatsu, you find him in Yama-Jii's office terrace. You see his naked body bathing in the moon's light. Its silver hue highlights Shunsui's body, and glistens off his brown hair.

“Shunsui, darling, are you alright?” You say, getting closer to him.

You know it's a stupid question, but you had to ask him anyway.

“I will eventually be, my love, worry not about me.” He answers, his back is still to you.

You sigh. You had your suspensions, but now you're certain, for Shunsui never talks to you in such a manner; he doesn't want you to see his face without the eye patch.

You reach next to him, taking his hand in yours, caressing his arm with the other. Turning him to finally face you, you chuckle silently when he closes his eyes. At least he didn't lose his usual childishness. You cup his face again, standing on your toes to reach his face, kissing his forehead, nose, then each eye.

“You can't hide it forever, husband.”

He sighs, “No, I don't think I can, especially from you, wife.”

You give him a small smile when he slowly opens them, his intact eye is looking at you with anticipation. He's... afraid. You flinch for a mere moment when your eyes land on his other eye, or where it used to be. It pains you, your heart stings. You trace your thumb ghostly on it.

“You let such an opponent poke your eye out, you idiot boy.” Shunsui chuckles bitterly, “Think that how Yama-Jii would've scolded me.”

You snore a bit, patting his cheek playfully. “I think he'd be more disappointed if he knew you thought this would scare your wife off, knowing fully well that she's seen much worse things.”

Shunsui grins a tad, cupping your cheek. “How come you know such detailed things?” He whines, “I guess an apology is in order.”

You gasp dramatically, “You really thought I'd run away because my husband is now with one eye and one and a half ear?” you chuckle, “Hate to disappoint you, Shun, but you gotta work a lot harder if you wanna get rid of me.”

“Is it possible to do it though?” He teases you back.

“No, because I'm inevitable.” You peck his lips, “So is my love to you. You're trapped with me here.”

He grins, “Won't have it any other way with you.” Then he kisses your forehead.

“For the record, I'm not the one trapped with you, you're the one trapped with me.”

“Shuuuun!”

→ Bleach Masterlist

→ ao3

[translations-by-aiimee]

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun - Chapter 19

Original Title:  二哈和他的白猫师尊

Genres: Drama, Romance, Tragedy, Xianxia, Yaoi

This translation is based on multiple MTLs and my own limited knowledge of Chinese characters. If I have made any egregious mistakes, please let me know.

Chapter Index

Chapter 19 - This Venerable One Will Tell You a Story

The girl was extremely pale, with an oval face and round eyes which were especially attractive. She was wearing a light pink skirt, her hair tied back. She looked like a young woman. She rubbed her eyes blankly in the dark, looking from side to side.

"Where am I. . .?"

Chu Wanning said: "You are in Return to Truth barrier I set up."

The girl was taken aback and said fearfully: "Who are you? Why is it so dark here? I can't see you, who's talking?"

Chu Wanning replied: "Did you forget?. . . You're already dead."

The girl's eyes widened: "I'm. . . I. . ."

Slowly, she remembered.

Lowering her head, she folded her hands across her chest. She murmured in a soft, unwavering voice: "I. . . I'm already dead. . ."

"Only souls can come to the Return to Truth barrier. Here, their hatred will be eliminated. No matter whether the dead person has transformed into a vicious ghost or an ordinary spirit, they will retain their original and personality appearance, known as their 'Return to Truth.'"

The girl was frozen for a while as if she was gradually remembering the past. Abruptly, she dropped her face and silently wept.

Chu Wanning said: "Have. . . you been wronged?"

The young girl sobbed: "Are you King Yan*? Or Bai Wuchang*? Are you here to avenge me?"

*(T/N: King Yan [��王爷] is the one to judge the dead while Bai Wuchang [白无常] is one of the deities to escort spirits to the underworld)

Chu Wanning held his forehead and said: ". . . I'm not King Yan or Bai Wuchang."

The girl sobbed quietly. Chu Wanning was quiet for a while and didn't speak. He waited until her cries calmed down a bit and then said: "But I am here to help you air your grievances."

When the girl heard this, she choked and raised her gaze, and said with a mixture of joy and sorrow: "Then you really are Lord Yama*!"

*(T/N: Same person as King Yan)

". . ." Chu Wanning decided not to continue this topic with her and instead asked: "Do you know what you've done after you died?"

"I don't know. . . not really. I just remember that I was so, so sad. I wanted to get revenge. . . I wanted to go to them. . . I wanted to find him again. . ."

When the soul had just awakened, it would take a minute for all their memories to return to them, but it didn't matter. Chu Wanning patiently asked her: "Who did you want to go to?"

The girl whispered: "My husband, Chen Bohuan."

Chu Wanning was astonished. Chen Boyuan - wasn't that the name of the eldest son of the Chen family?

He asked: "What. . . what's your name? Where are you from?"

The power of Tianwen was infused with this illusionary barrier, and the dead who entered would almost always talk honestly with Chu Wanning. Therefore, the girl replied: "I'm a concubine, Luo Xianxian. I'm from Caidie Town."

"Before I came, I read the analects of Caidie Town. There are more than 500 households in this town, and there's no Luo family. Who is your father?"

The girl slowly remembered the details, her eyes filling with even more sadness: "My father used to be a scholar in the village. He was my father-in-law's brother-in-law's close friend. A few years, he contracted tuberculosis and passed away. Then I was the only one left from my family."

"Then why did you die?"

The young girl froze for a moment and then she sobbed: "I had no other option but to die. They, they lied to my father and stole the secret recipe for the butterfly fragrance powder. They beat me and scolded me, threatened me, and told me to leave Caidie Town. I. . . I'm a weak woman, where else could I go? I didn't have a single relative left in this world. . . The world is so big, where could I go? Apart from the Underworld, where else could I go? Where would there be room for me. . ."

After she recalled the events of her life, she seemed to have infinite bitterness and sorrow in her heart, She was desperate to talk to someone. Chu Wanning didn't even have to ask anything else, she slowly continued on her own.

It turned out that Luo Xianxian lost her mother when she was young. She heard from his father that she had an older brother, but her brother was separated from them in the chaos of the Lower Cultivation Realm, and they never saw him again so she didn't know whether he was dead or alive. When her elder brother was lost, Luo Xianxian wasn't even a year old, still in swaddling clothes. Later, she tried to remember her elder brother, but she still had no recollection of him.

There were only two people left in the Luo family were Xianxian and her father. The father and daughter depended on each other. They wandered around and finally built a small house in Caidie Town and lived there.

That year, Luo Xianxian was five years old. The Chen family's oldest son, Chen Bohuan, was two years older than her.

At that time, the Chen family hadn't made its fortune. Several members of the family lived in a two-bedroom earth-rammed hut. An orange tree was planted by the low wall of the small courtyard. In autumn, the tree was full of fruit and it grew over the low wall and snuck into the Luo family's yard.

Luo Xianxian tilted her head. The branches full of oranges looked like lanterns during the Lantern Festival. She was shy and introverted. She didn't play with others. She was always alone. She would dutifully be peeling some beans, raising her head from time to time and peeking at the orange tree peeking over from the Chen family's yard.

The oranges were temptingly yellow, and against the sunlight, you could almost taste the sweet and sour fullness of their juice.

Luo Xianxian looked eagerly, gulping and swallowing from time to time. Her cheeks were sore from the cravings.

But she never reached out to pick one. Her dad was a scholar who had been inferior to her father-in-law's brother-in-law. He failed the exam, but he didn't lose his backbone. His sour scholar brain was probably hurting but he always coached his daughter to be a "gentleman."

At the age of three, Luo XianXian knew that wealth couldn't be lusted after and poverty couldn't be changed. She never reached out to pick the oranges that were close at hand, even though she craved for them.

One night, Luo Xianxian sat in the courtyard humming and washing clothes by the moonlight.

Her father wasn't very strong, so he had to go to bed early. The poor man’s child had to take charge of the house. The little girl rolled up her sleeves, soaked her thin arms in the barrel, and rubbed her face earnestly.

Suddenly a hoarse cough came from the door, and a young man covered in blood staggered in and stared at her.

The little girl was so frightened that she even forgot to scream.

The young man's face was dirty and bloody, but his eyebrows were very handsome. The two people stood frozen staring at each other for a while. In the end, the young man couldn't stand up anymore. He sat down slowly against the base of the wall, panting, and said hoarsely: "Bring some water."

Xu was that kind of young man who didn't look like a bad person or perhaps Luo Xianxian was simply too kind-hearted. Although afraid, she still ran back to the house, made a cup of tea, and held it up to the young man's mouth.

The young man wasn't very polite. He threw back his drink, then wiped the corner of his mouth. Rolling his eyes back, he stared at Luo Xianxian's pretty face. His eyes glazed over and he didn't speak for a while.

He didn't speak, Luo Xianxian didn't either, she just blinked timidly. She held her hands at a distance she thought was safe enough and sized up the stranger.

". . . You look like an old friend of mine." The young man suddenly grinned, squinted his eyes and smiled eerily. With the bloodstains on his face, it was really quite terrifying. "Especially the eyes, they're so round. It looks like you could gouge them out, stick it in your fingers and swallow it in one bite."

When he said such horrible words so plainly, even with a little smile, Luo Xianxian trembled even more, and subconsciously covered her eyes.

The young man said: "Heh, clever girl. Just cover them up. Don't keep staring at me. I can't control my own hands."

He spoke casually with a northern accent.

Moonlight fell into the courtyard. The young man licked his chapped lips and suddenly saw the orange tree stretching into the yard. For some reason, his eyes lit up. His pupils flashed in the light, the lustre brightening for a moment before dimming back down. He raised his chin and motioned.

"Girl."

Luo Xianxian: ". . ."

"Pick an orange and peel it for me."

Luo Xianxian finally spoke up. Her voice was soft, slightly trembling, but she didn't hesitate to say: "Sir, that's not my family's fruit tree. It belongs to someone else. I can't pick one."

The young man was taken aback. She wasn't sure what went through his mind but his face slowly sank.

"I told you to pick one. I want to eat an orange. Pick it for me!" The last phrase was harsh like he spat it out through his teeth. Luo Xianxian shuddered, still stubbornly stood her ground.

The little girl was soft-natured, but her bones were the same as her stubborn father.

"I won't."

The young man's eyes narrowed. He raised his nose, his expression changing: "Do you know who you're talking to, brat?"

"If you want to have some water, I-I'll pour it for you. If you want to eat, there's some food inside, but the orange tree isn't mine. I can't pick it. Father said taking something without asking is stealing. I'm a gentleman. Wealth can't be lusted after and poverty can't be changed. You can't fish. . ."

In her rambling, she started talking about fish instead. The half-grown girl blushed. She insisted on what her father had taught herself and ended up completely fumbling her words, but under the young man's gaze, she was violently trembling, and her legs were weak.

The young man was speechless.

Hearing such a little kid, especially a young girl, say things as odd as "taking without asking is stealing", "wealth can't be lusted after and poverty can't be changed", and - and "I'm a gentleman"?? pfff, he normally wouldn't be able to stop himself from laughing out loud.

But he couldn't laugh.

On the contrary, there was a strong resentment in his chest and his heart was being crushed like it was being trampled by a horse.

"I hate your kind, so-called. . ." He supported himself on the wall, shakily rising to his feet, and hissed out: "Good man, gentleman, hero, benevolent."

Under Luo Xianxian's horrified gaze, he slowly moved his injured foot, he moved over to the orange tree. He looked up, sniffed the smell of the orange tree almost greedily, and then a red gleam of rage flashed in his eyes. Before Luo Xianxian could react, he climbed the tree, shaking it, trampling, kicking, and hitting its branches.

All the oranges on the branch crackled and fell to the ground, rolling away. The young man's smile was twisted and he shouted wantonly: "Taking something without asking is stealing! Wealth can't be lusted after! The mighty never yield!"

"Sir! What are you doing! Stop! Dad! Dad!"

Luo Xianxian hadn't wanted to call for her father. Her father was a weak, powerless scholar so there wasn't much he could do. But she was a little girl after all, and she was so terrified that she finally broke down.

"What are you shouting about! Your dad can come out and I'll cut him down too!"

The little girl was scared silly. Small water droplets rimmed her round eyes, tears forming.

The Chen family next door went to a neighbouring village to visit relatives so the whole family was away. No one could stop this lunatic.

The little madman shook the oranges all over the ground and still wasn't satisfied. He stomped on the ground several times, crushing several oranges, growing ferocious. She didn't know where he found the strength, but he jumped over the wall and flipped into the Chen's yard. In the courtyard, he found an axe and chopped down the whole tree. Then he turned around and cackled.

He laughed and laughed then abruptly stopped. From his squat, he straightened himself, staring blankly in a daze.

Suddenly, he turned his head and waved to Luo Xianxian: "Girl, come here."

". . ." Luo Xianxian didn't move. She was frozen to the spot, the little cloth shoes embroidered with yellow flowers digging into the ground.

Seeing her hesitating, the young man calmed down his voice and said as sweetly as he could, "Come here. I have a treat for you."

"I. . . I don't. . . no, I don't want to go. . ." Luo Xianxian mumbled. Before she finished speaking, the young man suddenly grew irate again——

"If you don't come here, I'll go into your house and slice up your father!"

Luo Xian trembled harshly but finally took small steps towards him.

The young man squinted at her: "Hurry up, I'm not waiting all day."

Luo Xianxian lowered her head and moved towards him. When she was still a few steps away, he suddenly stretched out his hand and violently pulled her over. Luo Xianxian let out a scream, but it only reached the back of her throat before something was shoved into her mouth to gag her. The young man stuffed an orange into her mouth. It wasn't peeled or washed, but covered in the dirt and pushed into her mouth.

The young man tried to force her to eat it in one bite. The orange split open and was rotten inside. Half her face was covered in the rotten fruit, but the lunatic was still smiling. He crushed the fruit into her face, stuffing it into her mouth that she was desperately trying to keep closed.

"Aren't you a gentleman? I thought you didn't eat stolen food. So what are you eating now? Huh? What are you eating now!"

"Haaa. . . no. . . I don't want. . . dad. . .dad. . ."

"Swallow it." The young man narrowed his eyes and stuffed the last bit of fruit into Luo Xianxian's mouth. His pupils gleamed with an eerie light and he shuddered. "Swallow it!"

He watched Luo Xianxian forcibly swallow the orang. She muffledly choked out "Dad". The young man was silent for a while, then he suddenly smiled.

That smile was more terrifying than his hideous face.

He stroked Luo Xianxian's hair with satisfaction, squatting in front of her, and said softly: "What are you calling your dad for? Shouldn't you be called out to me? Isn't the orange I gave you sweet? Was it delicious?"

With that, he picked up another one off the ground.

This time, he didn't stuff it in her mouth. He carefully peeled off the orange peel and cleaned off all the white piths attached to it. Then he wiped his hands, broke off a piece, and brought it to Luo Xianxian's lips. He whispered: "If you like it, eat some more."

Luo Xianxian knew that she had encountered a madman today. She had no choice but to lower her head and silently ate the orange that the madman handed her. The sweet and sour juice melted down her throat and her stomach churned. . .

The young man squatted there, feeding her slices of oranges. He seemed to feel better and even started to gently hum a song.

His voice was rough, very hoarse, like a broken gust of wind, vague and inaudible. Luo Xianxian could only make out a few words.

"Three or four flowers fall into the pool, the bell chimes once or twice on the shore. The best thing is to be young, a light-footed horse, you can see the end of the world. . ."

He suddenly said: "Girl."

". . ."

"Tsk." He curled his lips and reached for Luo Xianxian's slender face, "Let me look at your eyes."

Luo Xianxian shivered. She was powerless to resist. She could only let the young man inch forward, his bloody finger coming closer and closer to her eyes.

"This is how it is," he said.

Luo Xianxian whimpered and closed his eyes. She was really afraid that this madman would, on a whim, poke out her eyes like they were fruit.

But the young man didn't poke them.

The other coldly said to her: "Didn't you teach me the saying that wealth couldn't be lusted after and poverty couldn't be changed? I've also got something to tell you."

"Hmm. . ."

"Open your eyes."

Luo Xianxian's eyes were tightly closed. The young girl laughed in exasperation and hissed: "Don't be like that. Open your eyes!"

". . . Do you think I won't be able to gouge your eyes out if you have them closed?!"

Luo Xianxian forced her round eyes open, her slender eyelashes trembling, and tears streaming down her face which looked pitiful and fearful. She wasn't sure how to make this stranger happy. He suddenly let go of her cheek, his hand lingering in the air, and then gently patted her head.

He gazed into her eyes, and a trembling smile shook from the corner of his mouth. His smile was distorted, ferocious, and just a bit miserable.

He said: "There are men in Linyi. Twenty of them are dead."

After he spoke, he turned around and his figure sank into the darkness and gradually disappeared.

Only the mess on the ground was the only evidence that such a person, covered in blood in the middle of the night, had been here.

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

[minaramen]

New Year’s special story -  Werewolf Idols ~ LIVE or HEAVEN ~ Part 13: Nighttime War Council [Day 5]

Part 1 | Part  2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 |  Part 11  | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15

*A dark place*

Yamato: You must be kidding me, Riku…! Wooo!

Yamato: All of you….! Be sure to execute Kujo too, at least!!

Yamato: That guy is a wolf…! Trust me..!

*Cut to the game*

Iori/wolf: You’ve been saved by that absurd fine play from Nanase san

Tenn/wolf: It seems so

Iori/wolf: What happened? Is there something you’re worried about?

Tenn/wolf: I feel like Ryuu suspects me

Iori/wolf: Tsunashi san?

Tenn/wolf: Maybe. However, Ryuu is a kind soul. I don’t think he will put the pressure on me before being certain that his suspicions are right

Iori/wolf: He’s not really a suspicious person and there is a little chance he’ll get executed. He would be the perfect target for us, but given the moment we can’t bite him…

Tenn/wolf: Yes. I’ll be executed tomorrow, so let’s just stick to the plan and bite Nanase san

Iori/wolf: Understood. Let’s think about who is better to forecast tomorrow

Iori/wolf: If we get to have that person executed before you, we win

Tenn/wolf: Okay. Let’s see… I’ve already forecasted Ryuu

Iori/wolf: Then, we need to go for somebody else…

Iori/wolf: Say that Inumaru san is a wolf. He’s suspecting me, after all

Iori/wolf: If he keeps on living he’ll make my life difficult at some point

Tenn/wolf: Got it. We need to gain Ryuu, Isumi san and your brother’s trust

Iori/wolf: Not really. If we gain one person’s trust, we have two votes available

Iori/wolf: We can bring it to a tie vote. In case we need to vote again, it will be a mutual fortitude game

Tenn/wolf: In case we can’t reach a decision, we will win even if one single vote is changed

Iori/wolf: Exactly

Tenn/wolf: The majority rule is scary

Iori/wolf: It is

Iori/wolf: The more days pass, the more we become suspicious. If there’s a chance, I'd like to make it end tomorrow

*Cut to the TV studio*

Tamaki: Iorin, Tenten…do your best!

Gaku: Ryuu! And also the older Izumi, Inumaru and Isumi, we’ll be outwitted by these wolves!

Nagi: Uhm…it’s going to be hard

Minami: What do you mean?

Nagi: Without any solid information they became an anxious and doubtful community…

Nagi: They may end up following the wolves easily, since their will is so strong

Momo: Yeah

Torao: Six is the perfect number when it comes to exposing a suspect

Torao: However it’s unexpectedly hard to realize that if you’re part of a circle

Torao: Even if somebody has a good argument, he won’t say out it loud because he’s afraid of becoming suspicious

Minami: As a result, the wolves will take possession of the game while the others remain silent

Momo: We can see that ourselves. Whatever you say, no matter if you’re wrong…

Momo: It’s important to keep those who understand your real nature close

Gaku: You’re right 

Sogo: It’s difficult to fight when you’re not trusted. I was executed the very first day…

Tamaki:  I’m very sorry…!!

Sogo: I’m not angry. I got very few votes supporting me anyway

Sogo: When you apologized to me, the one saying I was probably a fellow wolf was…

Nagi: Iori

Sogo: Mh…? Wah, how smart…he really got it all worked out…

Nagi: It’s an exciting game! I’d like to play again!

Yuki: Shouldn’t he be almost here, by now?

*Doors open*

Yamato:.........

Audience: Kyaaaaah

Yamato: Ah…

Yamato: Is this Heaven?

Audience: Kyaaaaaah

Yamato: Happy new year!

Audience: Happy new year!!

Yamato: Did you see this old man doing his best?

Audience: Yes!

Audience: So cool!

Audience: Yamato san, I trusted you!!

Yamato: Thank you!

Yamato: You made me feel a bit refreshed!

Audience: Kyaaaaah..!

Tamaki: Hello, Yama san

Nagi: Yamato! Welcome!

Yamato: I can see beer, right among the new year dishes! You’re having a good time here, uh?

Sogo: Fufu, yes

Yamato: Damn, I wish I had come here earlier

Momo: Hey, you were the real deal! You couldn’t have come earlier, don’t you think?? Here, have some beer! Divinator is a rough job!

Yamato: Too much of a rough job, honestly. Momo san, you were pretty good…

Yuki: Too good, actually. I’d say he was scary

Yamato: Ah, here you are! The partner he sold out!

Yuki: Yes, here I am

Sogo: Tamaki kun and Momo san have joined a new unit! It’s called “The circle of hell for those who sold out their partners”

Yamato: The hell from the unit’s name is…

Minami: Oh…? So, is there a chance for the game to end tomorrow?

Torao: 1,2… yeah, there is. If they don’t execute a wolf tomorrow they will reach the same numbers as wolves the day after, and it’ll be over

Yamato: I wonder if they will become aware of it on time…

Gaku:  Ryuu understood how the game works…maybe

Minami: Inumaru san and Isumi san leave any detailed calculations to Izumi Iori san

Minami: If they keep on being so silent, they’ll end up losing 

Yuki: I still don’t understand this whole numbers thing…

Momo: If Riku gets bitten tonight we have six people left, including wolves. Are you with me so far?

Yuki: I am

Momo: If tomorrow the wolves have one villager executed and another one bitten, they’ll become the same number as them by the day after tomorrow

Momo: And so the villagers will lose

Yuki: How terrible 

Nagi: Oh! Fight, Mitsuki! Count the wolves!

Tamaki: Iorin, Tenten! Do your best, it’s almost done!

Momo: Stay strong, besties…!

Gaku: Hey, Natsume. Who does the fox spirit cheer for?

Minami: Let’s see… being an intruder myself, shall I cheer for the wolves?

Torao: You’re a fellow enemy, after all. Touma, Haruka…do your best!

Sogo: Mitsuki san! Please, suspect Iori kun once more!

Yamato: Has he ever suspected Ichi? Whose forecasting did he trust?

Sogo: Yours, I think…?

Yamato: Mitsu..! Trust me!

Gaku: Ryuu! Avenge me and strike them down!

*Cut to the game*

Ryunosuke/villager: Maybe…Tenn is a wolf…?

Ryunosuke/villager: He said that he announced the forecasting result for the fox spirit in advance due to enthusiasm, but…

Ryunosuke/villager: This is not something that Tenn would normally do…he always has strong self control

Ryunosuke/villager: Even when he gets hurt in the middle of work, he doesn't let the smallest moan come out. There's no way he could just…

Ryunosuke/villager:.....dunno. Maybe he just had a strong reaction to increase the viewers’ excitement? 

Ryunosuke/villager: No….

Ryunosuke/villager: I don’t think so

Ryunosuke/villager: Everybody has always waited for the countdown to announce their forecastings 

Ryunosuke/villager: Nobody ever broke this rule. You can't just change it yourself, just because you want to

Ryunosuke/villager: If he did such a thing, he probably wanted to achieve something.  In other words…

Ryunsouke/villager:.......

Ryunosuke/villager:...Tenn is a wolf?

Ryunsouke/villager: What do you think, Gaku!?

*Shade in and out*

Mitsuki/villager:...and so we executed Yamato san. I wonder who the real divinator is…

Mitsuki/villager: I want to believe it was Yamato san, but Kujo acted so calmly, just like he knew he had nothing to worry about because he was the real divinator 

Mitsuki/villager: We’ll execute Kujo tomorrow. Then we need to discuss about who the wolf who’s not hiding among the divinators could be

Mitsuki/villager: Looking at his reactions, I don’t feel like Tsunashi san is lying. So, maybe it’s Inumaru?

Mitsuki/villager: It can’t be Tsunashi san. It can’t be Iori nor Isumi. There’s only Inumaru left

Mitsuki/villager: I don’t really remember when, but I'm pretty sure there was a moment when I thought it was weird he hadn't been bitten yet 

Mitsuki/villager: Maybe it’s better to execute Inumaru right after Kujo…

*Shade in and out*

Haruka/villager: I'm super shocked! I really trusted Minami…

Haruka/villager: Minami, Kujo and Nanase definitely were the village’s very favorites! Uhm…maybe I’m wrong… 

Haruka/villager: So, is Kujo the real divinator? Today he was like “Hooray!”

Haruka/villager: “The fox is gone! Hooray!” He’s acting like the real deal

Haruka/villager: There’s no way it’s Izumi. The little brother.

Haruka/villager: When we were discussing Yotsuba's situation he was like “yeah, let’s execute him, let’s execute him” . He wouldn't have said that if Yotsuba was a buddy of his

Haruka/villager: Then… Touma?

Haruka/villager: But when I said I suspected him, today, he was kinda shocked. Was he also acting or something?

Haruka/villager: Maybe, he was. Yes…...aah, I'm so pessimistic!

Haruka/villager: I cannot help thinking that it would really suck 

Haruka/villager: The more I think I don't want to be fooled by Touma, the more I'm convinced this is exactly what he's doing!

Haruka/villager: That’s the reason why I cannot see the wolf inside him! Is it okay for me to trust him? What do you think, Torao?!

Haruka/villager: Regarding Tsunashi, well..everybody says he's a good person. The same goes for the older Izumi

Haruka/villager: So, maybe they're not so good at lying. But they all act in dramas. It's the same thing as Minami, basically…

Haruka/villager:......

Haruka/villager: Ah, enough of all this! I want to die eaten by a wolf before taking on too much responsibility!

*Shade in and out*

Touma/villager: So, Mina was the fox.. 

Touma/villager: I don’t have a clue about the divinator's identity, but apparently we're gonna execute Kujo tomorrow 

Touma/villager: So another person will definitely die

Touma/villager: After Kujo's execution there'll be five of us left, including one wolf

Touma/villager: We have two more days, so we can afford another mistake 

Touma/villager: Seems like I'm becoming the suspicious guy here. Even Haru suspects me. Is it due to my wolfy face..?

Touma/villager: For some reasons, I can’t trust the little Izumi. However he's got such a resolution that, if a wolf, he's a pretty scary one!

Touma/villager: If I were a wolf, I would have bitten him at the very beginning 

Touma/villager: Of course, maybe they needed to worry about the hunter and the medium first and didn’t really have the chance to bite him

Touma/villager: Yes…

Touma/villager: Right after Kujo, we should execute the younger Izumi

*Cut to the TV studio*

Torao:  Tomorrow's the decisive battle day and nobody has noticed yet 

Nagi: Oh! I hope the village’s peace will be protected

Momo: Besties! Keep fighting!

Yuki: What about me?

Momo: You too, Yuki, you too! Of course!

End of part 13

[thedeliverygod]

Happy Valentines Day! I’m posting this a day early out of both eagerness and the fact that there’s a big ice storm floating overtop of me right now that is threatening to knock my power out.

CULTURAL NOTES FOR THIS FANFIC: Valentines Day in Japan is a day when girls give chocolates to their romantic interests/significant others but also to friends. Obligation chocolate is what you would give to friends—affordable, non-pricey chocolate. Honmei chocolate is either homemade or expensive chocolate and is given with romantic intention.

On White Day (March 14th) the boys get to return the favor. And yes, I plan on writing a white day fic as well.

AO3

FF.net

Just as Sweet

Hiyori was nodding along and smiling as Yama excitedly discussed her plans for Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend as they walked home. Still, as happy as she was for her friend, her thoughts drifted to whether or not she should do anything other than obligation chocolate for Yato as she did for the rest of her friends.

“And you, Hiyori?” Ami’s voice knocked her out of her internal debate.

Blinking in confusion, she questioned back, “What about me?”

“What about that guy on your phone sensei caught you staring at? Are you doing anything for him?” She wiggled her eyebrows, intrigued.

Hiyori felt like her face had caught fire, unable to form words.

“That’s right! Who is that guy, anyway?” Yama immediately jumped in, moving closer as they slowed to a stop.

“H-he’s just a friend!” She managed to finally spit out, though she quickly felt herself growing light headed with embarrassment.

The two other girls looked at each other, clearly not buying it.

“Right.” Yama dragged out, “But! You do have a picture, right? Show us, just for the fun of it.”

“If he’s just a friend, it’s no big deal, right?” Ami echoed her sentiments mischievously.

“You two are…” Hiyori grumbled to herself, reaching into her pocket with a shaking head as she huffed, “Fine.” As they shared their squeals of success, she sighed to herself as she unlocked her phone and moved to photos. ‘Most of the pictures I have are selfies from him stealing my phone when I’m tutoring Yukine-kun…’

Finding one she deemed as relatively acceptable, she held out her phone and turned her head away, “Here.” Her ears were instantly filled with more high-pitched squeals and she flinched.

“Hiyori!”

“He’s gorgeous! Again, who exactly who is this guy!? How did you meet him?”

She took a breath and shoved her phone back into her pocket, not sure how to respond. “I, um. You know the younger boy I mentioned before that I tutor? They live together.”

Ami squinted, “So you mean he’s his older brother?”

Hiyori shook her head, “No, he’s more like, um… his guardian?”

“So older guys are your thing, huh?” Yama snapped her fingers as she came to her realization. She winked and elbowed Hiyori, “Wow, and I thought being a closet wrestling fan was your only rebellious trait.”

She covered her face with both of her hands, pleading, “Stop.”

Yama and Ami shared a laugh before Ami repeated, “So… are you going to make chocolate or anything?”

“I don’t know yet.” Hiyori only slightly moved her hand to answer her friends.

“Why not?” Yama tilted her head, frowning.

Hiyori lowered her hands but turned her head away, her voice soft, “I don’t think he would return my feelings.” Before she knew it, she felt both of her friend’s hands on her shoulders.

“You never know until you try!” Ami gave her a gentle pat, “I think you should go for it.”

“And I think the same!” Yama let go of her to give her a thumbs up with a wide grin, “Besides, wouldn’t it be so fun to go on double dates?”

Hiyori laughed nervously, answering, “Yeah, sure…” Taking another breath, she commented, “Thanks, both of you.”

“Of course.” They both flashed more smiles and continued forward.

She returned as much of a smile as she could muster, but her feelings were bittersweet. ‘It’s so much more complicated than I can tell you. I wish I could. And I wish you could meet everyone, but… even I’m not supposed to be as involved as I am.’

Now that dinner was finished, the time had come to go through with her plan. The only problem was she hadn’t quite figured out how to ask Yato how to come by himself and not bring Yukine. As much as she loved the younger boy, she very much did not want him to be present for what was essentially going to be spilling her heart out to his god.

After going through various scenarios in her head, she decided to keep it plain and simple. Her heartbeat so loud that it was ringing in her ears, she typed out her text on her phone.

Can you come over soon? And by yourself if possible.

She hesitantly hit send and held her breath as she waited. Finally, her phone beeped to signify Yato’s response.

Uhhh sure. Is everything okay?

She took a breath before answering.

Yes everything’s fine

After another brief moment of silence, her phone beeped again.

Just give me a few minutes

Her heart continued to beat erratically within her chest, making the time pass both impossibly slow and fast at the same time. So, when her phone eventually rang, she wasn’t sure if she felt ready or not. In her hesitation, the phone rang several times before she finally hit the answer button.

“I had to sneak away from Yukine.” He announced as he appeared in a flash of bright light, “And it wasn’t easy, so you’d better make it worth it, Hiyori.” He finished with a wide grin.

Her mouth already dry at the sight of his smile, she swallowed and apologized, “S-sorry.”

“You getting sick? Your voice sounds kinda off.” He tilted his head and took a step closer.

Hiyori quickly shook her head, “No, no. I just could probably use some water…”

“On it!” Yato volunteered excitedly, dashing out her bedroom door before she could even get a word in.

Exasperated, she collapsed backward onto her bed and took the opportunity to at least try and calm herself down. Of course, all progress she made vanished as soon as he popped back in the door.

“Here you go,” He kneeled down and held it out.

Sitting back up, she nodded gratefully as she took it into her hands and took a sip. Sitting the glass down carefully on her desk, she looked back up to Yato, “You can’t just wander freely around the house like that, Yato. What if my big brother had been home?”

“I would just say I’m getting a glass of water?” He shrugged, “I wouldn’t worry about it too much, Hiyori. He’s kind of a weirdo himself.”

‘You’re completely missing the point.’ She held her palm up to her forehead, “If you say so.”

“So, really,” Yato sat down on the bed, across from her, “What’d you call me over for?”

She met his eyes and let out slowly, “I wanted to… give you something.”

His eyes widened curiously as he repeated, “Give me something?”

Hiyori nodded before looking down to her lap sheepishly.

“Oh—that’s right. It’s Valentine’s Day. I appreciate the thought, but I don’t really need obligation chocolate or anything.” He gave a small, forced laugh, “Of course I’ll take anything to Yukine, Kofuku and Daikoku, though—”

“I-it is chocolate, but it’s not out of obligation…” She still didn’t meet his gaze, reaching to the drawer in her desk to pull out a white box with a red bow, “…I-I made it myself, so it may not be the best, but I think it’s okay.”

There was a brief pause but Yato started to call out her name, “Hiyori—”

“Just let me get this out, okay?” She forced a smile as she looked up and he nodded, clearly looking concerned. “I’m sort of just using Valentine’s Day as an excuse to say all of this because I’ve wanted to tell you for a while now, but I didn’t know how to.”

She slid the chocolate box towards him, while getting up from the bed and beginning to pace around her room as she explained, “I realized I was in love with you back when you were gone. Kazuma-san sort of helped me come to that conclusion even if… it wasn’t exactly in the nicest way, to put it lightly.”

“What? What did he do?” Yato asked, his voice sharp and dark.

Hiyori glanced back at him briefly, “Don’t—don’t worry about it right now. He’s apologized since then. Anyway, we’ve obviously had a lot of important things going on that needed your full focus. Especially helping Yukine-kun get settled again. So, I didn’t want to say anything about my feelings, because I don’t really know how you feel. I know you really care about me and sometimes go over the top with that… but I don’t know how you really feel.”

She turned back to him but kept her eyes low, her hands clasped together, “So I held it in, at least until now. I know there’s never really going to be a perfect time, but I also don’t think I can keep lying to myself. Or to you, either. I just hope… no matter what, we can still be friends. Because I can’t imagine my life without you. That’s why I’ve told you over and over that I don’t want to cut our ties and that I don’t want to lose you.”

Yato wordlessly slipped off the bed and stood up.

Just as Hiyori felt the tears start to drip down her face, all of the built-up emotions finally pouring out, she felt him wrap his arms around her in a tight embrace. His face buried against her neck, she soon felt his own tears wetting her skin.

She wasn’t sure if she should laugh or feel worse, “I’ve got you crying now, too?” She reached up over his shoulders to wipe at her own eyes.

“Well, yeah.” He answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, adding a sniffle as he finished. He pulled back from her slightly, his hands lingering at her shoulders, “Hiyori, you… how do I even put this.” He let out a breath, “For so long I’ve been a minor god, no name, no shrine, nothing to hold on to. And then I met you and… you helped me with Yukine. You helped me understand him and become a better god so that I could take care of him like he deserved. You built me my first shrine. You’ve showed me time and time again that all my efforts to change aren’t useless. How could I not love you?”

Hiyori paused and swallowed, “I appreciate you saying that—but I’m not sure if you mean it in quite the same way.”

“Not the same way…?” Yato repeated, looking her over with a confused look.

“When I say I love you, I mean as so much more than just a friend. Kazuma-san and Tenjin-sama told me that gods—” She didn’t get to finish before he reached up to cup her face, leaning forward to press his lips against hers.

He only lingered for a moment before he pulled away, a small smile spreading across his features, “I have no idea what those two said, but I’m pretty sure I know what I mean.” He moved the hand that wasn’t resting against her face to her waist, pulling her ever so slightly closer to him, “But I can prove it to you if you need me to.”

Hiyori’s lips parted in shock and her voice caught in her throat before she managed to answer, “N-no, I believe you.” Her face was so hot she felt like her head was going to explode.

Yato pressed his forehead against hers, letting out, “That’s a relief. Although, I’ll admit I did sort of want to.”

“Of course you did.” She sighed in response before they both let out a round of laughter. “But in all seriousness,” She pressed her lips to his, “I love you.”

He answered her kiss eagerly when given the chance before giving his answer, “I love you too.” With that, he moved his hand to the back of her head and pulled her into a tight embrace again.

[vaynord]

Free services offered: Evil Spirit Removal-

Depends how I feel about what I find that will determine how I deal with the spirits I find,

I can just outright kill using God, or I can typically kill using Dark forces.

Alternatively I was allowed to be the spark for a new realm in darkness I can send spirits to but they can't come back, LOKI has been there and come back but that's because it was offered to see it.

Curse Removal- So I'm basically just absorbing energy directly from the Devil's shields with no intent on harm and it's simple his energy is stronger form of evil it wins against a lesser beings curse. I have Bone Dagger dedicated to Dark Matter that I completely containing all of the Devil's energy in so I don't actually have to touch it, Darkness and Dark Matter have been willing to just do the removal for me then after the 5 mins they said I focused hard at the curse I knew well on someone else seen only a key quickly turns in door opens, sensations overwhelming of relief.

Stagnant Energy- So This one is where we get to have alot of Fun. The Spirit I use to remove this energy is just wow when you actually sence him and he turns the energy into the sensation of getting a glimpse at the beginning that new. He is a Serpent who's master is my God. He's been told his faith will be rewarded when I double checked with Angel if he would be able to turn water to wine with the energy he absorbs. If you actually ask I'll introduce you by my name for him.

Emotional Healing- Literally just figure out what your pains are emotionally example grief I had molested for four years in adult life by technology. I gave offering of what was requested a precious stone a emerald I have so the deal was I dedicate it to them just is now my responsibility to protect it. If you are asked for an offering I've worked it out in theory that you will be allowed to recieved healing with promise to fullfill offering once healed.

So be creative if you ask for something I haven't done yet then your part of my first experience and it will help out my relationship with them if you were actually willing and got healed.

Please challenge me depression I'll get ahold of them again and get to demonstrate how easy just knowing that one single spirit you'd be able to have a huge career because due to the fact the healing is basically Instant. Reminder I've been offering these things constantly on different platforms but hopefully Tumblr will come through for me. A simple explanation of why I'm able to contact so easily these higher forms is Because I'm honestly special by name "Beloved praiseworthy Loyal King" of royal decent mother's side, I just had to say I was royalty for Yama to change his mind that if I was there at the Masonic ceremony he's in if I could be his Vessel.

If you are interested I can also do a psychic scan of you basically just identify your spiritual signiture the see what visions I'm show in my minds eye, typically I'll let you have requests I'll even do past life or souls true form I've been able to succeed when I attempted, luckily the person knew his past life was in that area exc to let me know I passed. Had first soul scan was of a fallen angel was what I seen and his exscape and what his female guide wears, he confirmed he knew he exscaped from hell and said I got her clothing exactly. The last time I did a physical ailment scan I even got that write with a friend from elementary school same grade.

7Tarot.com is a great site to get like 8 different types of reading done for free. Currently I'm not really able to use my cards or runes.

[herstrayskies]

Matching Crowns

Yatori Week 2021 Day 4 - Moving Forward

Ao3 Link or read below~

Thanks to @asin-ka for being my beta <3

Matching Crowns

It had been four years since Hiyori was in the city inhabited by a wishful thinking God and his ever devoted shinki. She was only there to meet up with her childhood friends seeing that they had to beg her up and down for weeks to come and enjoy a weekend with them. The only thing that held her back was the possibility of running into him. So when she finally broke down and decided to come back home, the memories of her teenage years flooded back in like a tsunami the moment she stepped off that train. The temptation to visit her once favorite shrines tugged at the back of her mind like a fishing rod every time she passed them. The bait was ever so tempting but her pride was stronger.

That is until she heard his voice, smelled her favorite scent. Something that was a mix of cherry blossoms and honey.

-More under the cut-

The bustling of the city wasn’t enough to keep her eyes from finding him in a second. He was passing out business cards on the street to unkind people who passed him by without a hint of attention. But then again, she knew a lot of those people couldn’t see or hear him as he shouted his name into the unending crowd. She wanted to reach out and grab a card out of his hands for the sake of his happiness but she had to remind herself that they hadn’t talked to each other in years. Knowing well that he was the one that vanished from her life.

She readjusted the bag on her shoulder and turned away from her once friend; holding back the need to have her fate twined with his once again.

One Day Later

The bar was packed and Hiyori wasn’t much of a drinker but couldn’t resist her friends' smiling faces and pleading eyes when they asked her to go to their favorite hang out. It was dark and lit by colored ambient light like any other place. A mix of young and old people filled the booths and bar stools. It was loud but what bar wasn’t on a Saturday night? The three friends found an empty table in the middle of all the bustle and patiently waited to be served their first drink.

It wasn’t long before the round of drinks kept coming with each emptied glass. As the liquor started to calm her down, creating a light and bubbly atmosphere, Hiyori began to enjoy herself and forgot all about a certain boyish God.

The group of friends laughed over their high school adventures and talked about the new people they’ve come across in college. The two of them kept bugging her about any potential suitors but she waved them off each time, attempting to make them believe that school was more important to her. Which wasn’t entirely a lie but not entirely true either.  

Hiyori got up out of her seat to use the restroom and swayed her way down the dimly lit hall. She almost ran into a woman leaving the bathroom but was quickly able to avoid her only to tumble into someone close behind. She laughed and apologized without looking back and slipped into the restroom before the door closed. She could have sworn she heard her name whispered through the crack.

When she returned to the main part of the bar, she scouted out the area for her table. It was getting later into the evening which dissipated the huge crowds. What was left were the small groups of friends catching up, couples sharing secrets over drinks, businessmen being shaken awake by the bartenders, and the few regulars sipping their way through their favorite liquor. Eventually, people’s faces began to blur in with one another and the room started to spin. It wasn’t until a lock of dark violet hair passing her by that made her eyes go into focus again.

She really didn’t know he would be there. He wasn’t known to go to bars, not while she knew him. He was more into stealing beer out of her father’s or Daikoku’s fridge.

But the sight of him made the movement of everyone else stop. His name played on her tongue like the strong alcohol she had downed not even ten minutes ago. She wouldn’t let it spill but the temptation was a strong tug on her heart. Its beat sped up with each step she took towards him. It had been three years. Three years of silence and unanswered messages. Three years of desire and grief.

She grabbed onto his wrist without a care in the world and when his heavenly blue eyes met hers she felt that tight bond weaving through her fingertips again. She held on tightly to that feeling and spoke before he could even get a word out.

“I’m Hiyori Iki, and I was wondering if you’d like to have a drink with me.”

His laughter rang throughout the bar and into her heart. That was the smile she missed so much.

“Nice to meet you, Iki-san,” he wiped tears from the corners of his eyes, “Sorry about that but I’ve never had a girl, save for you, be so bold to flirt with me.”

She felt her face heat up and tried to convince herself that it was only the alcohol, “I’m very upfront about what I want.”

“Only when you’re drunk, right?

“Yes, ah wait,” what was she saying?

“As you should be,” he reached for her hand and pulled it up to his lips, leaving a brushed kiss on her knuckles, “please, call me Yato.”

Slightly annoyed that he knew how to appease her, with her lips quivering of the thought of those lips on hers instead, she smiled and took her hand away. Did he believe that she didn’t remember him or was he playing along?

“Nice to meet you, Yato.”

A blush crept across his face before turning away from her, “to the bar, shall we?”

She followed behind him and nodded towards her friends as she passed by their table. They seemed as shocked as she was that she was getting a drink with some random stranger. She noticed how he hadn’t changed at all, that none of her teenage years was a lie and she really was best friends with a God and his shinki. He asked her what she wanted to drink as they approached the bar. She told him to surprise her. He grinned that conniving grin and turned back to the bartender, ordering each of them a mixed drink she’d never heard of before.

“So what brings you here, Iki-san?” Yato passed her a glass and motioned for her to take a seat.

She shook her head, “call me Hiyori.” They sat down at a secluded booth near the back end of the bar. She watched as he stirred the contents with his finger before licking it clean. She tried her best not to stare but her eyes couldn’t help but gravitate towards his lips. She remembered them fleetingly, how soft and desperate they were the night before they last saw each other. She lowered her head, staring at her untouched drink. “I was meeting with my childhood friends. We happened to pass by this bar and decided to get a few drinks.”

Yato took a swig of his drink and grinned slyly, “happened to pass by, huh?”

The hairs on the back of her neck rose at his accusatory voice. It’s not like she knew he would be here but she could see how it would seem suspicious. She thought she hid it pretty well, acting like these past few years had wiped her memory clean of any evidence that he was real. She knew better than that, she could never get him off her mind. No matter how many boys glanced her way or tried to catch her after classes ended. She feared getting involved with anyone else would make her memory start to fade. And he was a memory she never wanted to forget.

“Ami and Yama said this is their favorite bar so they invited me to come check it out,” she admitted, taking a hesitant sip of her drink. It was a bit strong but nothing she couldn’t handle.

“Ah, and where are these friends of yours?”

Hiyori turned her head to find her friends sitting at the table she left not too long ago. They happened to both be staring at her, of course. They were always nosey when it came to Hiyori’s boy endeavors. She hesitantly waved at them as they returned more triumphant, attention-grabbing waves. Yama winked while Ami had a thumbs up. God, why were they like this?

She turned around to Yato’s big smile, a bit too overconfident for her liking.

“Looks like they’re cheering you on.”

Hiyori took another nervous sip of her drink, “they like to embarrass me.”

Yato laughed, making her wish more and more that she could just tell him the truth. That she in fact remembered him to the core. That she just wanted to reach across the table, grab the collar of his shirt and bring those idiotic lips to hers. She pushed the feeling deep down to the pit of her stomach.

“So what do you do, Hiyori?”

She set her drink down and continued with her facade, “well I’m studying medicine. My family has their own practice, a hospital actually, and I’ve always wanted to carry on the family trade.”

“Always?”

She stared at the ice slowly melting in her drink, diluting the alcohol. “I think at one point, when I was in high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted.” She noticed the silence between them carried on a little longer than she would have liked. She looked up from her drink and found a curious expression on his face. Almost hurt but uncertain.

“I guess most high school students are like that, huh?”

She couldn’t help but notice the wrinkles on his brow, the unspoken words on his lips.

“I guess so,” she was desperate to change the subject, “and you? What do you do.”

He shrugged and finished his drink, “I’m a man of many trades. I do what I can to make a living to support my family.”

“Sounds like your heart is in the right place,” she thought about Yukine and Nora and how well Yato got them accustomed to each other over the course of two years. How they slowly developed into this small, weird-found family. She took another sip, she hoped they were still happy.

“I wouldn’t be who I am without them, without-“

Hiyori raised her brows at him, wondering where his words were leading. He had covered his mouth to stop them from overflowing something not meant for her ears. She took a final long swig of her drink and tilted her head.

“What are they like? You’re family?”

Yato slowly dropped his hand from his mouth, a forced smile playing on his lips. He reached for his drink, “it’s gonna take a couple more of these to talk about my loved ones, Hiyori.”

For some reason that made her blush and she opted out to get up and order them more drinks from the bar. The rational thinking was completely wiped from her mind and she blamed the booze.

2 hours later

Her jaw started to hurt from the laughter and never-ending smile he continued to put on her face. She had missed his quirkiness and outright stupidity but she didn’t truly realize it until it hurt to smile. Over and over again.

He talked about his “kid” and how smart he was, how he studied every day even though he really didn’t need to. He praised his sister for overcoming her fears and guilt. He talked about the scuffles he’d get in with a certain glasses-wearing pervert and his long-haired skanky woman. He laughed about a certain clumsy girl with her rigid but loving partner. He talked about the family he found in them and how much he enjoyed their everyday adventures.

She couldn’t help but notice he never mentioned missing a certain girl who so terribly missed him. She put it to the back of her mind and continued to listen to his heartwarming and idiotic stories. It was as if she never left his side.

The snow was getting heavier as they trudged along the city's edge, walking over a bridge that seemed to be very familiar. He stumbled a bit due to a rock hidden among the blanketed snow or possibly the multiple drinks he downed before they left the bar and her friends behind. Luckily for her, the cold was able to sober her up just enough to keep an attentive eye on her friend.

“Be careful, Yato,” she said as she grabbed his arm to steady his balance. He turned his head and gave his usual silly lopsided grin. Oh, he was definitely drunk.

“Hiyori, you’re very kind, you know that?”

She felt a sudden feeling of dread course through her body. She didn’t feel kind, not at all. Not when she’d been lying to him this whole time. Until she reminded herself that without the lies, she wouldn’t be very kind to him at all. Not when he just up and left-

He slipped and fell to his back; sprawled out in the snow, he started laughing. She crouched next to him and wondered what could ever be so funny. Her eyes traveled to his lips, admiring his smile, brighter than a full moon on a clear night. To his eyes, bright pools of hope, joy, and love.

“Are you okay?” She asked as she reached out to help him back on his drunken feet.

He turned his head to the side to look at her, his blue eyes pleading for something she didn’t quite understand. His hand clasped around hers and he held onto it, making no sign of getting up from the snow-dusted bridge. He slowly brought her hand to his cheek and rested it there. Her hand rushed with heat along with her own cheeks. He chuckled and closed his eyes at her soft touch.

“I think this is the happiest I’ve been in years.”

“Years?” She played along, trying to not let her heart burst out of her chest for feeling the same way. “You just talked about how much you loved your friends and family.”

He slowly blinked at her, “I was a lot happier when my best friend was at my side.”

She tried her hardest not to reveal anything from her expression but she was sure she let a beat of sorrow slip, “What happened with them?”  

“How long are you staying in town?” He asked, dismissing her question.

She smiled softly and shook her head, “I’ll be returning to school tomorrow afternoon.”

His smile faltered for a split second, “Ever so fleeting, Hiyori Iki.”

“As is life.”

He laughed, deep from his chest and his heart, her hand still resting against his warming cheek. He closed his eyes and breathed out a heavy sigh, his breath visible in the cold, late-night air. “Will we meet again?”

Hiyori felt like a jolt of lightning struck her, she stood up quickly, ripping her hand from his, and began to walk away from the drunken God. Her mind was whirling with never-ending thoughts, his words from so long ago hammering her brain. We shall meet again.  

How horrible of him, she thought. The anger and sadness she felt that day when she realized he had stopped visiting her. Tears tried to break free but her desperate lie kept the mask on her face, hiding so desperately what she didn’t want him to find out.

She didn’t hear his steadfast footsteps and almost fell back onto him as he grabbed her wrist. She stopped, her feet almost crossing the line of the wooden bridge. She begged herself to keep on going, to forget this ever happened, forget the stupidity of her own decision of approaching him again tonight. She had let the alcohol get the best of her, after three years of forcing herself to stray from the person she loved most in this world.

But his hand was so warm, wrapped around her wrist, his fingers soft and tender as the night those very same hands caressed the back of her neck, kissing her with all the love he had stored away in his heart. She remembered the way he murmured I love you’s against her lips as she nervously chuckled, repeating it back to him.

“Please don’t go, Hiyori,” he pleaded.

She continued to stare down at her own two feet, wondering if he’d continue to come after her if she pulled away again. He said something under his breath, too low for her to hear and she forced herself to look back at him. His eyes sorrowful and lost, a look of desperation splayed across his face.

“What did you say?” She asked, scared to hear his answer.

“I’ve missed you.”

Four Years Ago

The party had quieted down by evening. Kofuku was passed out drunk under the table while Daikoku took care to clean up the leftover food and drinks without waking her. Yukine and Nora sat on the back porch in lightweight coats, watching the sunset behind the clouds. Hiyori sat at the table looking at her and Kofuku’s unfinished game of Onigiri roulette. She was happy for the small graduation party her friends had thrown for her and even happier that Yato was the one to organize it. After missing her birthday the first time around, he always made sure to never forget it or other important events again.

She reminisced a few hours back when she walked in and everyone cheered “Congratulations'' to her. Food was hot and ready to be eaten, a few graduation gifts in the corner of the room begging to be ripped open. They ate, played games, and re-lived events that had long come and gone.

She smiled as her fingertips brushed against the notebook Yukine had gotten for her. “Don’t Give Up,” was sprawled across the top. He told her that as long as she’d write her class notes in there, she would never fail a test. A blessing from a God’s Guidepost in the form of a lucky charm.

Hiyori looked up at Daikoku as he lifted Kofuku in his arms, staring lovingly at his Goddess before realizing he was being watched. She almost felt jealous, wishing she had someone to look at her like that.

He cleared his throat. “I’m gonna take the missus to bed, why don’t you go see what Yato is doing?”

She wondered if he could tell she was thinking about him, “where did he go?”

He shrugged, “he probably slunk back to his room after realizing he’s the only one who didn’t get you a present.”

Hiyori laughed, “I don’t need him sulking like he did when he found out about my birthday that first year,” she got up and dusted off her skirt, “guess I’ll go see what he’s up to.”

She watched as he took away Kofuku before heading up the stairs. Odd metallic noises could be heard from the hallway but she couldn’t quite figure out what it was. She made her way to the top and opened the doorway to his room.

She found him there, sitting at the small desk against the wall, working on something. She quietly made her way over to him, hoping not to alert him, and stopped as she was close enough to peer over his shoulder. She couldn’t see what he was working on.

“So this is where you disappeared to?”

Startled, Yato put his hands over something on the table and looked up at her, “H-hiyori! What are you doing here?”

She laughed, “Well I was wondering where the organizer of my party went and had to come looking,” she tilted her head, “what are you working on?”

He looked back to his hands, “um well, I’m kinda working on,” he paused before looking back to her, “a gift for you.”

“For me?” Her voice hitched up with anticipation, “what is it?”

“Well, it’s not done yet. I meant to finish it up last night but Yukine and I got a job and it was very tiring you know,” he looked at her with desperate eyes, “I got back home, immediately crashed on the floor and didn’t have time so I thought…” he trailed off. She could tell he felt bad for not getting her gift done in time for the party but it made her heart flutter knowing he was making something special for her. She sat down cross-legged and turned her back to his, slightly leaning against him.

“Can I keep you company while you finish it? I promise I won’t look.” She listened as he readjusted his position to uncover her unfinished gift.

“That would be nice,” he admitted. He started working away again, his back shifting against hers once in a while. It was warm, he felt warm. She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, resting her head on top.

“Thank you for the party, Yato. I had a lot of fun.”

“O-of course. You graduated High School! It only happens once in life you know.”

She laughed, “I do have to say though, I can’t believe you left me to play Onigiri Roulette alone with Kofuku.”

“I’ve played way too many times, I don’t need a mouth full of toothpaste again, no thanks.”

Hiyori straightened up and turned just enough to see the side of his smiling face, “still, I expected you to be there but you crawled away without even a word.”

He bit his lip, his eye-catching hers, “I’m sorry,  I just really wanted to give you this.”

Hiyori ever so casually placed her chin on his shoulder, their faces mere inches apart, “this gift must be extra special then.” Without realizing it she took in his calming and sweet scent. How she wished it was her own.

His face flushed and he turned away from her eyes, “y-you promised you wouldn’t look.”

She peeled away and readjusted herself, pressing her back into his once again, “sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”

He mumbled something under his breath but continued to work. The silence pressed on and anticipation slowly scratched at her heart.

“Have you heard back from any colleges yet?”

Her heart sank with the deep weight of a folded-up letter in her skirt pocket. She had planned on telling him. She really did. But every day it seemed harder and harder. Being accepted to a prestigious medicine school that was hours away from her best friend was a hard pill to swallow. She had no idea when she’d find the time to visit him and she didn’t want him to forget his duties, put them on the sideline for her. With him on the way to becoming a God of Fortune, she couldn’t let him give that up for her. He also had his responsibility to be there for Yukine more than her. She could never deny that. Not after everything that they had been through.

She just had to tell him, grab the letter out of her pocket and show him the good news-

“Not yet, but I’m pretty positive I’ll get into the place I want,” she hated lying.

“Definitely! You’re so smart, I know you’ll do great.”

She smiled at his compliment. She kind of knew it herself but hearing it from the person you like is a completely different story.

“Okay, It’s all done,” his voice was chipper, “Hiyori, close your eyes, please.”

She did. She felt him shift behind her, felt the brush of his knees against her lower back as he knelt down behind her. Then, ever so cautiously, his hands collected her long hair to move over her right shoulder. His fingertips brushed against the nape of her neck and a small shiver ran through her back, more aware of his fleeting touch. She felt nothing for a few breaths until something light and small tapped the center of her upper chest. Instinctively she moved her hand to check it out but Yato’s own hand caught hers before she could.

“Not yet, just one more second,” he released her hand and she put it back into her lap while he went back to work. She tried her best to keep her mind off his timid and floating touches but every nerve in her body wanted to focus solely on where his hands were.

“Okay, you can open your eyes now,” he said as his hands disappeared from her senses, “Congrats on graduating, Hiyori.”

When she opened her eyes and looked down at the golden necklace hanging from her neck she almost gasped. She picked up the charm between two fingers and admired the handiwork made by the hands of a god. By her friend, Yato.

It was a crown, small and golden. One that matched his own. May our fates intertwine engraved neatly on the back. She fought the tears building up behind her eyes as she turned on him. His face was flushed, an embarrassed smile playing on his lips.

“I love it.” She said, still holding onto the small crown in her hand.

“I’m glad. I hope you don’t think it’s weird I just thought-“ he stopped as she rested her hand on his chest, her fingertips brushing against the crown embroidered on his tracksuit.

She smiled, earnestly as ever, “we match.” She kept her eyes level with the crown, too shy to make eye contact, too embarrassed to see what kind of expression he would make next.

To her surprise, he reached for the very hand placed on his chest and rested it on top of hers. She felt his heartbeat start to pick up a fast and steady tempo. What was this feeling that pulsated under her palm? What was his heart trying to say? Surely he didn’t feel the same...

She hesitantly looked up and met his burning eyes. Her own heart started to fluctuate as she noticed the heavy blush across his cheeks and at the tip of his ears.

Oh.

“Does it make you happy that it matches?”

“Y-yeah. It’s like I always have a part of you with me,” she bit her tongue from saying anything more.

She felt his hair brush against her cheek as he fell forward a bit. His breath inching closer to her ear.

“May I say something?” He asked, barely above a whisper.

She nodded her head, unable to get an unshaken word past her lips.

He rested his forehead on her shoulder, breathing an unsteady breath down her collarbone. His heart wasn’t letting up now nor anytime soon.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a very long time but I just didn’t know when the right time would be.” With his head back up, he took her hand in his before bringing it to his lips, mimicking that first night at Capybara Land. The hair on the back of her neck rose with the certainty that her heart was in sync if not faster than his now. He smiled nervously but lovingly all the same behind their hands, “Forgive me if I’m out of line but, Hiyori...”

She sucked in a hesitant breath. No, he couldn’t, there’s no way he-

“I love you,” he let out a relieved sigh, “I love you and it's something I’ve been sure of for a long time now,” he briefly kissed her shaking fingers before letting the hold on her go, returning her hand to his chest where she once felt his heart's beating. It fluttered beneath her hand like a scared little bird.

She was scared too. She parted her lips to reply but closed them soon after. She wanted to say so many things with the first thing being I love you too . She wondered if it was okay to love him at all, a God.

He smiled nervously at her silence and chuckled. “You don’t need to reply now or even ever if you don’t want to. I’ll understand if you don’t want to-“ he stopped at the feeling of her hand trailing its way up past his heart, to the side of his neck to his cheek. She felt the heat beneath it, his true feelings. She met his eyes and returned a nervous smile.

“Actually, I uh,” she bit her bottom lip before parting them once more, “I feel the same.”

His mouth was agape and she had to suppress a laugh at his shocked expression.

“R-really? Are you sure you don’t mean something else?”

“Yato, be more confident in yourself. I’ve told you this multiple times.”

“Yeah but I just want to make sure it's the same way I feel,” he grumbled.

She sighed and swallowed her nervousness. “Yato, I love you,” she tilted her head, “I’ve known for quite a while myself.”

He smiled, “when was this?”

Hiyori pursed her lips, “when you left to find your father and I came after you. Kazuma stopped me and told me that a God can never love a human.”

It felt good to get it off her chest but she immediately had to talk Yato out of beating up his former shinki.

“It’s fine, right? He was wrong,” she reassured him.

He reached for both her hands and brought them towards his lips, he kissed them and looked at her with unwavering eyes. “He was very wrong. I’ve never loved anything more in my life than you.”

She swallowed hard as her whole body heated up at his words. She watched as he lowered her hands to fit in the space between them. He inched closer, his eyelashes fluttering.

“Hiyori, can I try something new?”

“W-what?” She had an idea as she saw him quickly lick his lips. Oh man was the room getting hotter or was it the verge of springtime flowing in from the window?

All of a sudden his hand was caressing her warm cheek, her embarrassment reflected upon them with a shade of pink.

“I think you know,” he chuckled nervously.

“I d-don’t unless you clearly s-say it.”

“May I kiss you?” It came out as a soft and careful question and it warmed her heart that he asked. He knew what heartbreak and suffering the last one caused her. She squeezed his other hand that was still holding onto hers. She couldn’t get any words out so instead she nodded.

First, she felt his hair tickle her forehead and the side of her cheek. Next was the warmth of his exhaled breath before taking one in. Last was his hesitant lips hovering over hers before she pushed herself to steal away the last remaining space between them.

She didn’t know the full extent of what a real kiss could feel like. She didn’t know it would make her stomach flutter, her fingertips tingle, her heart burst into a tiny flame. His lips were soft and warm and so gentle. He began to pull her in more and more with each sparing breath they took. When his hands took roost on her hips it felt like nothing she’s ever experienced before. It felt electrifying. It felt right.

She had to keep telling herself that this wasn’t sudden in the slightest. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t seen this coming. Not when soon after defeating his father they started to confide in each other more and more. It wasn’t as if after that first accidental handhold under the kotatsu, that his hands just so happened to entangle themselves with hers on occasion. He would never take a hold of her hand after walking her back to her house, kissing the inside of her palm before their goodnight farewells. She definitely didn’t find excuses to give him hug after hug. As if she wanted to feel the warmth and closeness of his body, to get a secret whiff of her favorite scent. She wouldn’t even admit the fact of him kissing her forehead a total of eight times.

And no she certainly was not keeping count, but she would admit that most of them were when their lips had almost met each other’s, but one would reel back in realization. He’d give her a kiss above her brow for forgiveness.

But now he was murmuring I love you over and over again against her heated lips. She had her shaky hands wrapped around his neck, pulling him in closer and closer like an uncontrollable need. She had wanted this for so long; since the moment he appeared to her with his broken shrine in hand but instead of looking at the damage her eyes couldn’t stray away from those lips.

The early spring was cold but Hiyori wasn’t lacking in warmth. Yato helped with that.

“Shouldn’t you be heading home soon?” He said in a soft, warm voice, his fingers brushing hair behind her ear.

“Probably,” was all that she could muster. He laughed as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He sat behind her now, with enough room between his legs for her to sit perfectly, her back against his chest. She liked the feeling of his heart pounding behind her, his breath tickling the side of her neck, his hand reaching for hers. She grabbed on and squeezed, realizing she really didn’t want to go home.

“I’ll walk you home if you want,” he suggested.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” She teased.

“Believe me, Hiyori, I don’t want you to leave, not ever. But I also don’t want your family to panic when they realize you aren’t home.”

A hum escaped her lips. He was right but there was one thing she had to do before she left.

Yato seemed surprised as she turned around on her knees to fish something out of her skirt pocket. His eyes never left the rummaging of her hands even as they pulled out a folded piece of paper. He looked up at her and cocked his head as she tried to hand it to him.

“Go ahead, read it,” she said in a soft voice.

He did and it didn’t take him long to realize what it meant, well partly. He crashed into her, almost knocking her back onto the floor. He held onto her tightly and an excited laugh rang in her ear.

“I knew you’d make it in, Hiyori! I just knew!”

She hugged him back and buried her face in the crook of his neck. She was happy but the pit in her stomach was still there.

“You’re going to be amazing! Dr. Iki. Doesn’t that sound perfect?”

She pulled back and smiled lightly, “I’m excited,” she admitted, “but it’s far away, Yato.”

His happy face only faltered for a split second before he was able to put it back on. “I’ll come visit you every day.”

Hiyori laughed, “I’d love that, but please don’t forget about your first priority. Yukine will always need you.”

“Of course, I’ll be there whenever you want. I’m just a wish away.”

“Is that your new slogan?”

He placed a kiss on her forehead, “only for you, Hiyori.”

And he was right. He visited every day she wished him to. In between classes when quick kisses were stolen in empty hallways, on weekends when she had caught up on school work, and nights when the winter chill was just too much for her to bear alone. Some days they’d get lost in meaningless conversations or games while others they’d bask in silence and kisses.

On occasion Yukine would tag along, the three of them doing everything but also nothing in particular. It was like nothing really changed.

Not until he caught her with a failed test result.

“Are you sure you’re doing okay, Hiyori? Am I coming here too often?”

She jumped up at the question and stared down at him, lying next to her on her dorm room bed, “I’m doing fine! I just,” she paused trying to come up with an excuse, she sighed when she couldn’t, “forgot about it.”

He reached up and cupped her cheek, “remember when you said Yukine is my main priority? School is yours, don’t neglect it because of me.”

“I promise, I won’t.”

It was the only promise she managed to let slip from her hands. The last night they spent together was full of affection and words of love. He had gently taken her crown necklace that she wore every day between his two fingers and smiled at her.

“I’ll always love you, Hiyori.”

Present Day

Hiyori gripped onto the end of her sleeve like it was a lifeline. He had known all this time and hadn't said a word to her. He had known she was lying this whole time, acting as if she had forgotten him.

"You knew?"

"Of course I knew.”

“Did you follow me today, to the bar?”

His eyes flicked away and he shrugged.

“What was your plan? To avoid me the whole time I was there and hope I didn’t see you? Did you plan to approach me at all?”

“I don’t know I-“

"Why haven't you said anything? Why did you play along?  All these years..."

He scratched the back of his head. “You were failing your classes, Hiyori. I saw your scores on essays and exams. I was a distraction, I’m not that naive to realize it wasn’t good to have me around all the time.”

“You didn’t say a word to me. You just stopped responding to me. Do you know what I went through?”

He watched the snowfall melt into the pond below them, below the bridge. “I do. Do you think I could go years without checking up on you?”

She clenched her teeth, “of course you did, you’re a high-class stalker.”

He chuckled and she almost had the nerve to push him over the bridge into the cold water below.  

“Then why,” she pleaded, “if you knew how broken I was after you left without a single word, why did you never tell me why you left.”

“Because,” he paused, meeting her angry gaze,  “I knew if I went to see you again, I wouldn’t be able to leave a second time.”

She ripped her hand from his and walked off the bridge. She wanted to yell at him, to call him selfish for all that he has done. But she couldn’t deny that he was right. After he disappeared, her grades skyrocketed, her focus shifting back to schoolwork. It was something to keep her mind off him. She also knew if he did come back to visit her, she would have found a way to make him stay.

“Do you know how hard it was to keep away from you, Hiyori? Every day I had to convince myself to not approach you, no matter how desperate I was.” She heard him sigh. “It took all my willpower to not let you see me again after that night.”

She stopped and spun around on him. "That night…"

“I knew it would be the last, that’s why I told you-”

“Shut up.”

He reached out for her, “Hiyori-“

“I said shut up!” Her hands were balled into fists against her side, her eyes never straying from the snow-covered ground.

He dropped his outstretched hand, hiding them deep within his pockets. “I’m sorry. I realize now I probably should have approached the situation differently.”

“It was inconsiderate.”

“I know.”

“Selfish and so stupid.” She couldn’t hold back her tears any longer and she flinched when his hand touched her cheek. She looked at him timidly, letting his thumb wipe the tears from her eyes.

“I’m an ass, that’s for sure,” he admitted.

“Most idiotic God for a boyfriend.”  

“Hiyori, please-”

Her lips met his again, this time drowned by the saltiness of her tears. He accepted it with eagerness and pulled her in tight. There was sadness and desperateness behind her kiss. Something so raw and powerful that it almost made him falter at the knees.

She pulled away to only have him pull her in again. Keeping her lips and body hostage to his demand. She didn’t mind it but the longer this went on the harder it would be for her to walk away.

When they did, his arm lingered on her shoulder and down to her fingertips. They tingled and shook at the thought of not being able to see him again for God knows how long. They met eyes and she smiled first, her makeup running down her face.

“Will you come see me again?” She was almost afraid to ask.

He closed the distance once more, leaving a feathered kiss on her brow before tapping her forehead with his.

“Only if you keep your grades up. How many more years do you have until I start calling you Dr. Iki?”

She laughed and sniffled, her feelings all over the place. “Too many.” Looking up to his eyes she noticed he was staring down at her chest, at her necklace. “I wear it every day, you know.”

“I know, I’d sometimes watch you put it on.”

She shoved him playfully and he put up his hands in defense, “please forgive me my beautiful and ever so devoted girlfriend.”

“You’re gonna have to kiss up to me better than that for all the years you left me alone.”

He grinned, “Shall I start with your lips?”

“Hmm,” she hummed, “how about you start by walking me back to my hotel room?”

He grabbed her hand, “as you wish.”

[lyn-rambles]

You are (not) my first option

Hello! Thank you for reading this piece of the hqhq server collab, found on the link before please think about having a look around the work of our beloved writers and if you are curious about our other works please check them out here.

Pairing: Yamaguchi Tadashi x Platonic! reader

Prompt:  When will I be someone's first choice? Tell me, when?

Altern Universe: They are second years now.

Pronouns: They/Them

Word count: 2 K

please listen to the song drown-Bring me the horizon while reading this, it helped me to write this one. THIS IS A PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP.

He was looking up at the roof of his room, his phone illuminated the dim room as the songs passed passively on his phone. He had been laying awake on his bed for several nights lately, there was a weight on his chest, like he his ribs were made of lead, whenever he was alone the weight prevented him from closing his eyes. He never thought about anything in particular when he was like this waiting for his body to eventually give in out of exhaustion. The small voice, that dark small part of his half-awake brain, slithered on the darkest of his brain.

“You know what is truly weird?” Yamaguchi didn’t want to hear his own thoughts. He tossed a little on the bed and forced his eyes shut to put himself to sleep so he didn’t hear the voice. “No one truly chooses you first, no one really does.”

He woke up next morning, sweating, with his headphones tangled and with his phone almost out of battery. He sighed before, getting ready for the day, whatever that voice said must have been tiredness speaking. Tsukishima was waiting for him at the end of his block, he pressed on and met him there.

“Good morning, Tsuki!” He greeted with a smile.

“Good morning, Yamaguchi.” His cold greet, could have put off many others, but Yamaguchi was used to Tsukishima’s aloof attitude. They both walked together in silence until he was dragged down and Tsukishima was pulled by his waist, he groaned in annoyance to such intrusion to his personal space and got out as fast as he could.

“Good morning to my favorite nerds.” (Y/N) greeted. They had always hugged them by the shoulders to greet them on mornings, the problem now was Tsukishima was alarmingly tall for theirto reach so they had to hug him by the waist, even though he also was getting pretty tall.

“Who are you calling a nerd, nerd?” Yamaguchi laughed getting their arm off him. He still felt a little queasy from last night, but still smiled at her. They smiled at him, and then turned to try to get Tsuki to forgive her, he was doing a great job in ignoring her. His chest weighed down again.

They arrived school with little problem. The three of them took their respective seats and chat before roll call. As classes passed, he began to notice how some girls were stealing glances at him… that was weird. Specially, since most of the time they were always trying to get Tsuki to notice them, he turned to see (Y/N) they was looking directly at the board but their cheeks were pink, he had know that they liked Tsuki for quite a while, hell they even got herself here for him, well their second reason was… to be at their best friend side. He shut his eyes and looked the board again.

“I am going to get something from the vending machine.” (Y/N) said while shuffling their school bag to get their money pouch. “Anyone of you want anything?” They looked at Tsuki before turning at him. Yamaguchi declined but Tsukishima followed them without a word. One of the girls that were stealing glances at him during class giggled before walking to him.

“Yamaguchi, right?” The girl was pretty, they had long luscious auburn hair. He swallowed dry as his hands tensed.

“Y-Yes?” he answered with a quivering voice, he wasn’t used to be approached by many girls, specially pretty ones.

“I was wondering,” they had twirled theirhair between theirfingers. He gulped, as his cheeks started to heat. “Would you please introduce me to Tsukishima?” That sinking feel from the night before came back. He hoped his face didn’t showed his disappointment, it was common for most of the girls who took an interest on his best friend to introduce them to him, even the few boys who had caught an interest on (Y/N) and weren’t intimidated by, mostly, Tsukishima.

“I’ll do my best” he faked a smile as the girl thanked him and left him there, blank starting at the space in front of him. Both of his friends got back to the classroom and took their seats, they weren’t talking much but Tsuki did have an amused smile as (Y/N) blushed. “Is there anything wrong, Yamaguchi?” He nodded pushing back again the shadow on his mind.

(Y/N) had said theirgoodbyes as, they went to volleyball practice. Yamaguchi had been training his receives since he was still somewhat weak on that area, Tsukishima was on the gym’s side taking some long-needed water break. Coach Ukai had told them to not overwork themselves, but he was here still training.

“Yo! Tsukishima!” Hinata waved at his friend. “Let’s do some blocking practice!” Hinata grinned.

“I don’t want to.” Tsukishima answered. Yamaguchi snorted, year had happened since they joined the team and some things were still pretty much the same.

“Well…” Hinata muttered. “YAMAGUCHI! Would you like to practice blocking?” Hinata looked at him somewhat disappointed, as the sinking feeling from that same morning pooled on his stomach. He swallowed before answering yes. Tsukishima watched him from the corner of his eye, as if he had noticed something. Yamaguchi had brushed that down.

He walked home alone that night. He would normally wait if Tsuki was doing some extra practice, but he had left him alone. He could hear the crickets serenading the warm night. He was all alone, on the streets, a couple of cars passed him before he got home. He showered and then got dinner, while he was eating he began to get some readings done as he ate it. His phone buzzed once, Tsukishima had texted him.

“Is everything all right?”

Yamaguchi swallowed before answering. “Yes”

He saw the ticks turning into blue and blocked his phone. Tsukishima wasn’t going to push him. Once more, the small voice from the night before started to call on him.

You see how little he cares for his second option?

He went up to get something to drink and to relax himself.

“I am not a second option.” He repeated to himself bitterly and not so sure why he wanted to believe that desperately.

Another month passed and the voice seemed to subside when he was tired enough to think. Otherwise, it crept on him clinging onto his arms, his legs, making him scared of what it could do. Silencing his voice (“Yamaguchi could you please speak louder?”), making him stumble over his words (“Could you please repeat yourself? I didn’t understand a thing of what you said.”), dissociate him from the world around him (“Yamaguchi? Y’know what? It doesn’t matter.”) That very Friday, it affected him during practice, all of his teammates surrounded him as Coach Ukai lifted his head and placed it over a jersey. The light of the gym was strong enough it blinded him.

“W-What happened?” His whole body ached.

“He thought you were a goner pal.” Narita eased him up while Tanaka apologized for hitting him. It all came back, he had been zoning out more often, specially on class or during lunch he never imagined it could happen to him during training. Tanaka had spiked a straight, it hit him on the head, even though he had seen it coming, he had meant to receive it but still it his head and it felt like the world disappeared with the ball.

“Kiddo, what date is it?” asked Coach Ukai crouching in front of him. Yamaguchi answered without hesitation. Everyone exhaled with relief, Ukai took him out practice and Yachi handed him his water bottle. Practice continued as he sat with the Coach and scanned the court, he needed to exhaust himself so he couldn’t think once he got home. So that shadow wouldn’t stalk him at night.

“How have you been faring Yamaguchi?” Asked Coach, without taking his eyes from the court

He hesitated before answering. “I must admit I’ve been having trouble sleeping.” It wasn’t a complete lie but neither was the whole truth.

“Are you feeling good enough to keep going right now?” He asked looking at him. Yamaguchi turned his head side to side. The Coach sighed and patted his back. “You are free to go, then, make sure to rest, ok?” He stood and shouted to his team.

(Y/N) was walking out of school, when they saw Yamaguchi walking out. He was hunched over his shoulders as he kicked a pebble. The sun was already low but it was really early for him to get out of practice. They walked up to him; they noticed his change of behavior during the whole month, he seemed shier… Even more than usual.

“Hello! Yama-” they greeted him with a smile. He turned to them with a sad gaze. “-guchi.” Their smile faded and they ran up to him.

“What’s wrong?” They asked as they tugged at his jersey.

“I-” He bit his tongue. His eyes stung, and his insides turned upside down, his hands shaking. “I am fine.” His voice was strained, he was fighting back years, as his face was hidden behind his locks. He swallowed and tried to steady himself by breathing. (Y/N) now hugged him. Finally, his tears rolled down his face. He was sweaty and gross and still they held him, they held him even when his knees buckled.

Their hands stroked his hair, they didn’t say anything, they let him get everything out, they didn’t care if someone saw both of them sitting in front of the school’s building. He felt he was drowning on the shadow and now, for a whole month he had held onto that idea. His sniffs subsided and his tears stopped. (Y/N) let him go as he cleared his eyes with his sleeves, (Y/N) passed him a napkin. For him to clean his nose. They stood up and offered their hands to lift him.

Both walked down the path back to home. (Y/N) stopped by a convenience store and got some meat buns. They sat on the sidewalk in front of it as they shared the food.

“Thank you, (Y/N).” muttered Yamaguchi. His eyes still stung.

“No problem.” She nibbled her bun. “You know you can tell me if anything is wrong, right?”

“Is just that…” He had cried and he had all these pent-up emotions, for the first time, he didn’t care. “Everyone I know, seem to always choose everyone else before me, I am the last one to be invited to things, to be asked for anything practice related, school notes, even when other girls talk to me is about Tsukishima,” he felt his eyes swelling again. “I can’t help but to think… When will I be someone’s first choice?” He sobbed again. “Tell me when?”

“Hey…” They passed his arm around him and rubbed his shoulder to comfort him, but he swatted their hand away.

“Even you, you came to Karasuno because you have a crush on Tsukishima.” He wept. “I am not even my best friends first option.” His voice sounded as he had knotted his throat.

“That used to be true.” They sighed. “Listen, I had a crush on Tsukishima, and honestly the more I passed time with you guys the less I liked him in that way. By the time we finished our first year I was over him and… To be completely honest with you, the main reason for me to attend Karasuno, was because of you.”

Yamaguchi’s eyes widened. “You are just saying this to make me feel better.” He forced a smile.

“No, I am being serious.” She scooted closer to him, this time he didn’t turned them away. “I know my attitudes, haven’t proven otherwise, and that’s on me... Will you be able to forgive me?” Their hand had reached to his hair.

Yamaguchi leaned in to their touch feeling the warmth of their hand. “On one condition.” They looked at him expectantly. “That you give me time to think about it.”

“As much as you need.” They smiled at each other.

[rainythefox]

Nightfall (CH.16)

Synopsis: Pre-Resident Evil 1, slight-AU/Canon Divergence. Claire Redfield comes home to visit her  brother Chris for the holidays but gets caught up in a dangerous game of  cat and mouse with Albert Wesker, the Captain of STARS, after stumbling  upon dark secrets. She can’t call the law; Wesker is the law, and she  can’t tell Chris. She is trapped…Claire/Wesker & Slight Chris/Jill (There’s Wesker & William Bromance too lol). Rated M for smut, language, violence, adult content.

AO3 Link

Chapter 16: Mine

Warning: this chapter contains lots of smut. You’ve been warned, okay? Okay! :P Because of this, only the first section of the chapter is available on Tumblr. Please follow the link to AO3 to read the rest. Thank you! :)

Okay, she knew her luck had taken a big dump recently, but this was ridiculous! If she thought the university job was difficult, she promptly changed her mind. That was a walk in the park compared to this. Claire stared at all the people. The exquisite party was happening at the ritzy Orient Restaurant on the second floor of the most luxurious hotel in the city, Central Hotel.

There had to be close to a hundred people here! The whole restaurant was closed to cater for the invitation-only event. Why did she even assume this “Christmas Party” was going to be just a group of rich, old dudes bragging all night? With how her luck has been, she should've known better!

Claire gaped at the man beside her who was unfortunately the closest thing she had to a friend at the moment. She recalled William’s little “briefing” on the drive over here.

“The party’s not gonna be that big. Just a simple “get in, get out”. You’ll be home in no time! Actually, you’ll probably be at Al’s home in no time!”

He was still rubbing his arm where she decked him.

“This is nothing like how you explained it!” she hissed.

But the mad scientist only half-heard her, his eyes lit up as though he was a kid about to enter his very first amusement park. Something in here was on his kill list because Claire overheard he wasn’t a stranger to parties, at least not to parties like this that could get him something he wanted. 

William was actually quite handsome all cleaned up in his suit. Claire had grown accustomed to his usual disheveled appearance that made him attractive in his own way.

He grinned slyly. “Oh relax, sweetheart. You’ll be fine. Most of these people are total bores…losers just out trying to feel important. They got nothing on you!” He winked at her. “You know what to do, who to find. Ada’s on your earpiece and Al and I are here to watch your back. Don’t worry. Al _definitely _won’t let you out of his sight. Just…don’t distract him too much. I need him focused tonight.”

“Are you fu-”

“Erica!” William nearly squealed, waving both arms and abruptly abandoning her. “Is that gown designed by Broca’s aphasia? Because I’m speechless!” 

Claire glared at the fickle bastard as he ditched her to join some other people standing around talking and drinking. She was on her own for now.

“Forget about him, Claire. Just focus on getting to Bennett. Best not drag this out longer than we have to and risk exposing ourselves,” Ada said on her earpiece.

“Okay,” she mumbled, and got into character, her natural Redfield bravado and assurance making it easy to stroll through the party like she owned the place.

It was a beautiful Asian restaurant. Most of the dark tables were accented with candles and glasses. The lounge-like chairs were colorful and comfy, and the tall ceilings gave way to soft LED string lights, oriental paintings and sectioned lattices. In warmer seasons, the same kind of setup could be seen on the massive balcony, but it was currently closed off.

She felt many eyes on her as she started her objective. But she only cared about one set of eyes as she discreetly scanned the place for them.

This many people here was both a blessing and a curse for her mission, and it could go either way real quick at any time. More people meant no room for mistakes, too many eyes. But on the other hand, this many people distracted amongst themselves could make it easy to get away with nearly anything.

Claire soon found the eyes she had been seeking, felt the familiar, pleasing burn on her skin they always caused. She traced them to an area with more people, where a grand, gold statue of Lord Yama sat. Directly in front of the god of death, Wesker was encircled by a small group, mostly beautiful women, and he charmed them effortlessly.

The younger Redfield had to keep herself from staring, also charmed by his chameleon smile, good looks, and striking black suit. Her nerves tingled from simmering blood. She couldn’t believe it. She was actually jealous?! Claire was angry with herself. How could she possibly feel anything of the sort over the man that was blackmailing her?

Besides...she knew Wesker well enough by now to know that it was all pretense. She was sickened and enthralled by how easily he could deceive and influence people. Ada was right. His calculating mind, his clever tongue, those were his deadliest weapons; not his hands, not his gun.

The statue of Yama was simply a backdrop to the true god of death in the room. His admirers probably had no clue and listened intently. The women batted their eyes, pushed out their chests, even the ones who had dates. And those men did nothing about it, perhaps too enthralled themselves or maybe it was the fact that Wesker had an uncanny ability to make most men around him submissive.

He may have looked like he was paying attention to them, his eyes concealed behind black shades, but Claire knew he was watching her. All of her. Every breath, every step, he was in complete tune. Something about that lit a fire in her belly so fierce, she trembled.

The jealousy she felt instantly crumbled. It didn’t matter if those women were rich or prettier or dressed in nicer dresses. They meant nothing to him. Not like she did.

And why was that, exactly?

Claire frowned, faltering mid-step, eyes still locked on Wesker across the room when she should've been moving on. She had some suspicions, if her gut and Ada and William were anything to go by. 

More importantly, why do you care?

“Claire?! Earth to Claire, hello?”

“Huh?”

“You aren’t exactly being inconspicuous staying in one spot drooling over Albert.”

Claire’s face flushed and she briskly walked away with a huff. “I’m not drooling!”

The first place she needed to check for her target would be the bar. Typical. It was in the back of the restaurant, low-lit, a massive, semi-circled bar with a marble countertop up against an airbrushed wall depicting a dragon floating through the clouds.

“Whatever you say, hun.”

Claire bit her tongue, taking a deep breath. “I was just happy to see him chatting up other women. Less problems for me.”

Ada sighed. “Claire, fishing is beneath you. First, they aren’t his type. More importantly, Albert detests easy women.”

That wasn’t her intention. “I wasn’t-”

“Unfortunately and fortunately for you, you are his type and are as difficult as they come. I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but you’re as close to obsession as he’s going to get romantically.”

The only fortune she could come up with was that it was unlikely Wesker would kill her. But obsession through people with sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies like Wesker were never a good thing. Her life might be spared at the end of all this...but at what cost?

Claire briskly pushed that thought aside, something cold and heavy dropping in the pit of her stomach. She needed to focus on finding Bennett and getting this over with. That was her excuse. After all, she wasn’t ready to acknowledge that her own growing infatuation would likely veer her into her captor’s arms for good.

She looked around the bar area. There were all kinds of high-status people attending Bard’s Christmas party. Doctors, politicians, city officials, even Mayor Warren and Chief Irons were here.

She recognized Mueller from Raccoon University having a casual conversation with the man that had to be her target. A picture was never granted, but a detailed description allowed her to quickly analyze him. It had to be him. Tall, average build, auburn hair and an anchor beard. He chatted with Mueller with a drink in his hand.

Just as Claire stepped their way, a strong grip snatched her wrist. She was spun around, coming face-to-face with Nathaniel Bard. He looked fine since the anaphylaxis she put him through with the shrimp, but the creep wasn't happy one bit with her, still keeping a painful grip on her arm.

"I knew I'd see your face again, girl. What happened at the university is all your fault."

Claire glared at him. "You're gonna be hurting more if you don't let me go right now."

The music and all the guests chatting around them helped conceal her threat from eavesdropping ears but the Spencer Memorial doctor heard her clearly.

He considered challenging her, lips pursing, but soon let her go after his eyes scanned the numerous faces within the party. "I know you're working with those two bastards. You have no idea how much harm you’ve caused me and several of my colleagues. Lowery was a good man, understand? He had a family. And now I’m trapped doing those two psychos’ bidding.”

“Maybe you aren’t the only one who is trapped.”

“Well then there’s more to your pretty face, isn’t there? They wouldn’t risk it otherwise.”

Who the fuck did this guy think he was? Claire clenched a fist, as it took all of her willpower not to break his damn nose. She had a job to do here. If she caused a scene in the middle of this party, especially with the man hosting it, then she could kiss her freedom and potentially Chris’s life goodbye.

She did let him in on what he was narrowly missing out on by grabbing his hand and twisting it slightly, squeezing hard on a pressure point. Just enough to make it really hurt, just enough to get her point across while looking like she was just holding his hand to nearly everyone else. “If my life didn’t hinge on fulfilling this job, you’d be on the floor with a broken fucking face, do you understand me?”

“Damn, Claire. I like your style,” Ada chimed in.

The younger Redfield ignored her and smiled, showing the guests they were having a pleasant conversation. Bard hissed in pain, quickly nodding. Claire released him and he jerked his hand away, shaking it off with a grimace.

“Listen, I’ll make the job easy for you. Just...do what you need to do and get out of here. Take those assholes with you. And never show your face at one of my social events ever again.”

“I’d love to, but it’s not my call. But...I have a feeling you know exactly who you can talk to about that.”

Bard scowled, rubbing his injured hand. He muttered something under his breath and motioned her to follow him, heading towards Bennett and Mueller in the back of the bar. “C’mon, and follow my lead.”

“Ugh, he better not screw this up.”

Bard put on a welcoming smile once they reached Mueller and Bennett’s table. Mueller recognized her, but didn’t say anything. She barely got a moment’s glare from him before he flashed Bard a guarded look, as if asking “what are you up to now?” The two men stood and the doctor shook their hands.

“Mr. Bennett! I trust you are enjoying the party? What kind of host would I be if I was neglecting my honored guest?”

He looked to be in his thirties maybe. His smile was warm as he nodded. He noticed Claire nearly right away, and there was a definite reaction of some kind. Attraction, she guessed, immediate infatuation. Great…

“Oh yes,” he said in a European accent. “I am grateful to you and Greg’s hospitality. You’ve made being so far from home much more bearable.”

“Good, good! It’s a shame your business partner couldn’t join us this evening. But I’m sure he had his reasons. You two are busy men, after all!”

Bennett nodded, composed yet amiable. “That we are. I’m sorry, but I have to ask, who is this beautiful young lady you have with you?”

Bard didn’t skip a beat in his front, presenting her with a grin like she was a piece of treasure up for auction.

“I know, stunning right? This is Elza. She’s one of my...assistants.”

The European man held out his hand with a handsome, friendly smile. It could’ve fooled anyone, and it almost fooled her. But her gut constricted at the last moment, her first indication something wasn’t right about this guy.

He took her hand and kissed it softly. “It is my utmost pleasure, Miss Elza. I’m Stephan Bennett. Please, just call me Stephan.”

Claire put on the sweetest smile she could muster, batting her lashes. “The pleasure’s all mine, Stephan.”

He looked her over, and although he was an attractive man, it made her skin crawl.

“Has Greg taken you up to your suite yet?” Bard asked cordially. “I’ve left you a little treat as a thank you for choosing to stay the night in Raccoon City’s famous Central Hotel!” 

Bennett ripped his eyes from Claire and shook his head at the host. “No, sir. I got the keycard to the room earlier, but wanted to check out the party before retreating for the night.” He presented a friendly, almost sheepish smile. “Honestly, I’m still a little messed up with the time zone changes. I didn’t think it would affect me this much.”

“That’s not a problem. My assistant and I will escort you up there. There’s a little bit of business I’d like to discuss with you anyway,” Bard replied.

“What about your party?”

“Eh, they’ll entertain themselves! Greg will take care of things while I’m gone. It won’t be but a few minutes.” Bennett glanced at Claire, expression unreadable, and Bard quickly added. “My assistant is completely trustworthy, don’t worry. She knows about our research.”

Bennett nodded, relieved. “Alright, lead the way, Nathaniel.”

Claire was uncertain what to do as Mueller shook hands with Bennett and bid them good night before heading for the bar. Her job was to stick a bug on the European businessman, probably so Wesker and William could track him straight to Aaron Roth. Leaving the party just tossed her whole plan into the garbage. This just got way riskier.

Nothing like winging a mission where my life’s literally at stake. What’s the worst that can happen?

“Great,” Ada whispered in her ear, not helping Claire’s gut feeling. “Wesker’s watching and listening through your piece. He says it’s fine. Just get that bug on Bennett without him knowing.”

Was that supposed to make her feel better that Wesker said it was fine? And how exactly was he able to do that anyway? That just made her earlier conversation with Ada a lot more awkward...

With a slight tick of her jaw, Claire composed herself with a friendly smile and followed the two men out of the restaurant and into the fancy, historical hotel.

They went to the lobby, a grand room with high ceilings, bright lights, and expensive carpet and decor. The elevator ride to the fifth floor seemed extra crowded, even though there were just three of them. Bard and Bennett chatted normally about their lives and careers. Claire didn’t like the frequent glances Bennett gave her. She waited for an opportunity, stayed vigilant with that inkling sprouting in her gut.

It got worse when Ada told her she lost visual on her from their location.

Wesker’s making you do this alone because he wants to see how you do, said a small voice in the back of her head. She didn’t have proof, but she wouldn’t put it past him.

She gave vague answers when Bennett asked her something, either curious and flirting or digging and deceiving. She wasn’t exactly sure.

Bennett scanned his card and held the door open to the big, two-bedroom suite. Bard strolled right on in but Claire hesitated, not wanting to put her back to these men. When she did, she felt his eyes all over her, and when he closed the door, he purposely brushed her to get by.

They stepped into the spacious living room first, accented with a bar and impressive kitchen. There was a home theater set up in the den, opposite a wall of glass that displayed downtown Raccoon City. Dark buildings silhouetted within soft glows of lights of all colors. Speckles of white rained down softly outside.

“You meant it when you said this suite had a view,” Bennett stated, drawn to the panorama.

Bard gave her a look, dipped his head in the direction of his “guest”, as if urging her to get her business done. Claire glared at him as he turned off to the bar instead.

“Yes, I did! And over here, something just for you, Mr. Bennett. Your favorite wine. All the way from home!”

“I don’t like this. Are you okay? Cough if you are.”

“How thoughtful of you, Dr. Bard. Thank you. You’ve gone out of your way to make me feel at home here.”

Claire didn’t like it either. She looked around, keeping up her appearance as she joined the men at the bar. She didn’t see any danger, but something like it was lurking about. Whatever it was, she was fine for now.

She coughed. “Oh, excuse me.”

Bennett watched her more than Bard, but she still couldn’t read his expression. Bard took the fancy bottle out of the container of ice. “Shall we have a glass while we talk?”

“Yes. I’d like that.”

That clicked an idea in her brain. Claire put a hand on Bard’s arm, mustering up the realest fake friendly smile she could handle, looking between the two men under thick lashes. “How about you gentlemen take a seat, get comfortable? Let me serve you.”

Bennett’s smile held something darker, but it was gone in a flash. Bard looked at her funny, but composed himself and slowly put the wine down on the counter. “Of course, Elza! You’re always the sweetest thing! Come, Stephan, over here.”

“What do you have planned, exactly?” Ada asked. “Ugh, I hate going by sound alone.”

Her cohorts had lied to her, she realized. William promised Wesker wouldn’t let her out of his sight and Ada said she would watch over her. Wesker didn’t say much to her before the party, but disclosed if she did what she was told, she would be fine. She was alone here and certainly felt something other than “fine” was coming her way.

The doctor and his guest went to the lounge chairs nearby, sitting across from each other. It was the perfect way for Claire to bug Bennett without him knowing. She opened the white wine and poured their glasses, giving them time to get settled in their seats and start talking. The more distracted they were, the better. It also gave her a moment to get the tiny tracking device ready.

The younger Redfield served Bennett first. She caressed her fingers up his arm, across his shoulder, stopped at the back of his neck, squeezing his collar gently. Her flirtatious smile was enough to distract him from Bard when she handed him his drink. She didn’t remain long, crossing to Bard and giving him his drink with the same smile, the same caress that made her skin crawl. She left them and returned to the bar, gathering up the wine bottle and ice bucket and placing them on the table in between the two men.

Claire eavesdropped on their conversation, but a lot of it made no sense to her. Big research, Sheena and Rockfort Island, Roth, Ashfords, prototypes, T-series. All similar topics that Wesker and William discussed and were involved with.

“You know, it’s strange how all of our business associates keep coming up dead or missing since we’ve been in town,” Bennett said after a long sip of his wine.

Bard grew quiet, confused, his fingers clenching around his wine glass. “What…do you mean?”

The European man looked at Claire, like he knew all of her secrets, not near as charming now. “You know what happened to them...don’t you, Miss Walker? Or should I call you Miss Redfield?”

Claire stiffened, nails digging into the chair arms. She dared not blink, glaring at him, keeping calm, but reeling underneath on how to react. He knew her name. Her _real _name.

Shit!

“Shit!” Ada echoed in her ear. “Claire, don’t do anything rash. Hang in there.”

It wasn’t as though she had much of a choice. She was on her own. Bard’s alarmed face told her everything. He was just as surprised as her, but would be too much of a coward to help her.

Claire took a deep breath. “I don’t know what happened to them.”

“I think Dr. Lowery would say otherwise.”

“How do you know my real name?”

The European businessman crossed one leg casually, swishing the wine in his glass, sharp eyes on her. “All it took was a little digging. You really shouldn’t use your mother’s maiden name as an alias, darling. Especially one as unique as hers.”

Cold steel bumped the back of her head. A gun.

Wesker had told her the same thing. Warned her.

She was careless to use it after not being prepared at the university. Now she was in real danger. The other wolves that Wesker claimed he was protecting her from had stalked her right into a corner. Then again, maybe he wasn’t expecting _this _pack. Or maybe he had and was ready to give her up as tribute for his own motives…

“Uh, Stephan, what’s going on, is t-this necessary?” Bard asked.

“Quiet, or you’ll have one to your head also.” Bennett motioned for Claire to stand. “My business partner, Aaron, would like to speak to you one-on-one, Miss Redfield. You have the time, right? You can help fill the gaps on what’s been happening to our dealings. We’re getting warm, but it seems as though everyone is too afraid to give us answers. Whoever you’re working for, we’ll cut you a nice deal if you expose them.”

Claire kept his gaze, defiant, silent. She had no choice but to comply. She had no weapons on her, no way to hide one in this dress. She slowly moved her hands down to her sides, preparing to push herself up, and felt it. The cold, metal coil of a corkscrew. She forgot she had brought it with her while serving the drinks.

Snatching it up between her fingers, she stood. The man who had the gun to her head pulled her out away from the chair. Bennett rose from his seat, finishing his drink and setting the empty glass down.

Bard shot up as well, looking between Claire and his guest, panicking. “Wh-What are you doing?”

There were two other men in suits now. They must’ve been hiding in the suite this whole time. Although they didn’t have weapons drawn, they were probably packing like the one behind her.

“Nathaniel, lying to me that she is your assistant? After what happened to Simon, I’m shocked. Someone’s got you cowering and afraid, just like Greg. Just like our friend the Police Chief.”

“I-It’s n-not what you think.”

Bennett nodded to the other men. They grabbed Bard by the arms, containing him. The European man pulled a gun equipped with a silencer from his suit jacket.

The doctor fought his captors. “Wait! No!”

Claire stabbed the man behind her in the groin with the corkscrew. He cried out as she spun, disarming him and shoving him away where he tumbled to the floor. She grabbed the bottle of wine and threw it at Bennett’s head just as he switched his gun on her. The bottle shattered on his face.

She didn’t get far with running. Not in that dress, not in those heels, before she was snatched by his men. A bash above her temple instantly made the world spin. Still, she fought, as weak as she suddenly felt.

Bennett was soaked, his face earning a few gashes from broken glass, blood mixing with golden-colored wine. He cursed, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. He grabbed her neck, squeezing hard.

“You little bitch! You’re lucky Aaron wants to speak with you, or you’d be dead!”

That’s when his arm snapped. Like a twig. He screamed. Claire, her vision still hazy from the blow to her head, realized he was attacked. His men were attacked; she was let go. A few blinks and she saw Wesker using some sort of martial arts to swiftly dispose of them. Not Bennett though. He raced away to his escape while holding his limp arm that flopped uselessly as he ran.

The STARS Captain had killed the other three. In seconds. With his hands. He paused, looking to the door where Bennett had fled, as if deciding whether to pursue him. He was over it in seconds though, grabbing her and pulling her to him. Not as rough as she had expected, but gentle wasn’t really in his nature.

“Hold still,” he commanded. She felt his hand on her head. He must’ve been examining the clout she had received. “Are you alright?”

There was some blood on his hand when he withdrew it, and she felt it trickling in her hair. It must’ve been just a small cut, otherwise it would’ve been all over her face by now.

“Yeah,” she said. And she was. It had only made her light-headed for a minute or so.

The nearby chair squeaked as it scooted on the carpet, and a muffled curse came from the other side. Wesker finally looked away from her, jaw clenching. He marched over to the furniture and kicked it. The chair crashed and skidded several feet away. Wesker seized Bard by the collar and picked him up, slamming him into the nearby bar counter. The sound his body made hitting the granite countertop made her flinch, and Bard’s yelp confirmed it.

“Wesker, wait, please! I d-didn’t know! I didn’t! I swear! He was gonna kill me too!”

“He was,” Claire confirmed. 

She had no idea why she defended the asshole, especially when he didn’t offer her any help before. But she could tell he was telling the truth. Wesker paused, but didn’t look at her, probably contemplating what to do with the doctor as he shuddered in his hands.

“Consider your...contract extended indefinitely,” Wesker growled, and shoved him over the other side of the bar. He put a couple fingers up to his ear, the same hidden piece she had. “Ada, William, we’re finished here. Ada, track Bennett. William, tell Irons he has a mess to clean up with Bard and Mueller.”

Bard got to his feet, shaken, his surprised eyes finding hers. The younger Redfield glared at him, a silent message he understood. She had spared him a cruel fate from the Devil. But she wouldn’t do it again.

She returned her gaze to the three bodies around her feet. The one she stabbed with the corkscrew had a snapped neck. The other two looked as though they had suddenly dropped dead, nothing to attribute to the hands of the STARS Captain. But she had seen it with her own eyes. And although it shouldn’t have, it lit a fierce fire in her lower belly, spreading when his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her towards the door.

The flames were fanned when he whispered in her ear, his hand squeezing her hip. “You did exceptionally well, dear heart. You make me proud.”

When Ada told her Wesker would want to take her home after seeing her in her dress, she had denied wanting him to, denied she wanted to go home with him willingly. But after what she saw, how he held her close to him like she was his, and his alone, how his breath upon her ear titillated her, made her receptive to him only, she could no longer deny it.

Claire wouldn’t be able to stand the drive there. She wanted him. Wanted him to take her. She was a liar; it wasn’t just a one-time fling or a mistake. It was going to happen again. And she wanted it to, and would do nothing to stop it.

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Desert Flower [Chapter Three] That Which Lurks [Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez]

The morning after the awkward dinner I wake up to a loud knock on the door. Easing up from the warm confines of my bed, I yawn in exhaustion and answer it, meeting the cyan eyes of the pale man who escorted me back to my room the previous day.

 He stares at me in silence as I attempt to remember his name.

 “Ulquiorra? Good morning. Is there something you wanted?”

 He hums. “Lord Aizen has requested your presence in the sun room for breakfast.”

 “There’s a sun room here?”

 I am in shock.

 Yama told me the sun never shines upon Las Noches because of the strange environment it resides in. He was obviously mistaken.

 “Get dressed,” Ulquiorra orders, ignoring my question. “I will be in the hall. Do not keep Lord Aizen waiting.”

 Strange. He has an interesting way of addressing the man. I wonder if all the wayward souls – as Rudbornn dubbed them – address him as such. No matter. It’s not my concern.

 I force a smile. “Yes, of course. I should not keep Sōsuke waiting. Give me a few minutes to freshen up.”

 Closing the door with ease, I rush into the bathroom to change into something more fitting of the meeting. A proper bath is out of the question; I fear keeping Aizen in wait any longer will warrant unwanted annoyance from his cyan eyed puppet, if he is capable of such emotion. I change into a white sundress with a vibrant caerulean floral pattern along the side, and rush to meet with Ulquiorra.

 He barely casts his eyes at me and shoves his hands into the front pockets of his casual dress pants, leading me down the hall. I pace in order to keep up with his long and quick strides, and once we arrive at the doorway to the room, he leads me inside.

 I stare in complete awe at what I see.

 The walls are made of frosted glass – I assume for privacy reasons – but natural illumination uncommon in Hueco Mundo spills in from the ivy-covered roof and warms up the small but welcoming space.

 “Do you like it?”

 I hum and look at Aizen, who rests on a posh chair, dressed in navy button down.

 “It’s gorgeous … and convivial.”

 The warm rays of the sun shine down on me from above.

 “How is this possible? I heard the sun never rises here.”

 Aizen grins and motions for me to sit. “Join me and I will be more than happy to explain.”

 I comply, eager to learn, taking the chair across from him; a round eating table rests between us.

 Aizen sends Ulquiorra away and in comes the help with plates of delicious smelling food. They set them in front of us, then depart, leaving us.

 I wait tolerantly for him to enlighten me, drinking a mimosa from a champagne flute.

 “The sun neither rises nor sets over Hueco Mundo,” he starts.

 I pucker a brow.

 “All you see – he pauses to motion with his slender fingers – is an illusion to a less than inspiring idea. The heat you feel is a series of electric lights hidden behind the frosted glass.”

 An illusion?

 I hum and glance around in awe. “How interesting.”

 Aizen grins. “I’m happy you think so. I had it designed for you.”

 “For me?”

 He nods. “The palace can be … tedious to some. Your comfort is important to me.”

 “That is generous of you.”

 I feel my face heat up. His words are saccharine to my ears. I cannot read this man.

 “May I ask … why me? Is it because of my family name?”

 The Omura are a noble clan; one of four, but not as famous as the Shihoin or Kuchiki clans. My families one purpose is to guard the blueprints used to forge ancient weapons and artifacts passed down from the ruler of our land. I doubt Aizen has an interest in old, decaying papers; not when the King is holder of the true weapons. Courting me will not get him closer to these weapons, or the Realm of the King.

 So then why?

 Aizen reaches forward and touches me on the hand. His warm eyes stare deep into mine.

 “Because I like you, and I have ever since I laid eyes on you.”

 My face burns in embarrassment. How do I reply to this? My vocal cords struggle to make a noise.

 Aizen stands and hovers over me, leaning down to kiss the crown of my head. “I hope in the time you spend here; you can learn to like me too.”

 I can barely breathe.

 He lifts my head and leans in.

 Is he going to kiss me? Oh dear.

 “Sōsuke I––

 The door suddenly opens and interrupts me. Gin hums, grinning at us.

 “Sorry to interrupt, but Kaname is ready.”

 Ready for what? I breathe easy.

 Aizen clears his voice and stands. “Of course.”

 He rests his hand on my bare shoulder. I shiver at his icy touch.

 “I apologize for cutting this short, but I have urgent business to attend to. Another time, Yuina.”

 Gin waves at me. “Bye-bye!”

 He and Aizen leave. A woman comes in moments later; a dark-haired woman with heated rosy eyes. She stands against the door and stares at me in awkward silence. Perhaps she is my escort; she isn’t dressed like the help, but she is in all white.

 I sip at my mimosa.

 “Do you want a drink? There is plenty.”

 I motion towards the pitcher, more than somewhat full.  

 She snorts and trudges towards me, taking a seat. Picking up the flute, she takes a drink.

 “This is nice,” she mentions with a grin. “Though you must think you’re something unique to get treatment like this.”

 I raise a brow. That was unwarranted.

 “Pardon me?”

 She gives me a heated look.

 “Lord Aizen is too good for you,” she states. “You deserve none of this.”

 I frown. “I do not disagree that I do not deserve this, but your opinion is unwanted.”

 “You’re unwanted,” she retorts like a scorned child.

 Standing, she slams her clenched hands down on the table, breaking a plate that covers the dining cloth in scrambled eggs and bacon. Her strength and rage are nothing to joke about. I sit down the flute and grit my teeth. This could turn bad.

 What has her so riled?

 “You are nothing to him,” the woman screams.

 This is sad.

 “Stop this,” I demand.

 She widens her wild eyes. “You don’t get to order me around, worm. Menoly! Come here.”

 The door jerks open and a familiar man comes in. I mirror the woman’s scared and shocked expression.

 “Grimmjow!? Where is Menoly?”

 He grins. “Who knows, worm. Now get.”

 “The hell I will,” she sneers. “I have business with her.”

 Grimmjow walks closer, back hunched. His electric eyes stare heatedly at her. “I won’t tell you again.”

 Her shoulders sink in fear, but she growls at him, then shoots me a look. “We’re not done yet.”

 Storming passed him with her nose in the air, she leaves us in a rush. I watch in suspicion as Grimmjow takes her seat, drinking down the mimosa from the pitcher.

 He wipes his mouth and glances at me. “I’d say ya owe me. That worm is weak, but to someone like you, she would have busted your skull.”

 “And? I never asked for you to save me. I am not a damsel.”

 Grimmjow laughs. “A badass are you. Were ya gonna sick your guard dog on her?”

 I have not seen or spoken to Shigeru since I arrived, but I assume he is fine, resting in the guard house with the porters. In spite of this, I take offense to his words.

 “I do not need a hero to save me, and even if I did, I would undoubtedly not call on you,” I snap.

 He grins. “I’m no hero.”

 No joke.

 I remember the moment I initially met him inside the banquet hall, blood under his nose and marks on his face; marks he no longer has. He is a problem child, someone who acts out for attention.

 Standing, I frown. “I pity you.”

 I turn to leave, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back to face him. His wild eyes are electric.

 “I told you not to give me that damn look, woman.”

 Heat burns my face. Being so close to him, I can smell the mimosa on his breath. My hand rests against his bare chest. His tan skin feels so warm and welcoming.

 “I am not scared of you,” I say under my breath.

 Grimmjow grins. “You’re trembling.”

 Am I? Fear is far from my mind.

 Biting my bottom lip, I yank back my hand. “Leave me be.”

 “Not a chance,” he retorts.

 Did I offend him? I certainly did not mean to.

 “Forgive me,” I utter.

 He snorts and leans in. “That worm better get in line, because I’m not done with you either.”

 Letting me go, he treks passed me, bumping against me as he does, then leaves.

 I take an uneasy breath. What does he want with me?

 Asking never crossed my mind.

 But excitement did.

 The imagine of his warm skin beneath my tongue devours me.

[keichan]

Running Through the Night Tsukishima Kei x fem!reader Part 4: Not Here

You and Tsukishima have been friends for as long as you two could remember. With a very unexpected confession, how will this affect you two?

Authors note: I actually wrote this as soon as I released part 3 but I just wanted to think on it for a bit and see how I could make it better (:

Word count: 1242

Genre: college au, unrequited love, angst, best friends to lovers, fluff somewhere in there, mutual pining

Warnings: manga time skip!!! 

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You woke up in the late afternoon with the sun peaking through the blinds in dim rays. You sat up on the couch and looked around to see no one there. 

Maybe his hangover was so bad that he’s still asleep? You walk towards the mirror in the hallway. You look a mess. Your face is puffy from the night before and your hair unruly. You sigh, rubbing the sleep from your eyes and patting your hair down to the best of your abilities before continuing the walk down the hall. You were ready to talk about last night. 

Tsukishima Kei confessed to you. Your best friend in the whole world is in love with you. The man attached to your hip for as long as you can remember. He kissed you. He was as vulnerable as you had ever seen him in your entire life. Though he was drunk and the words came fumbling out, his actions carried his feelings with a tender delicacy. How come you’ve never noticed before? It’s a known fact by everyone surrounding the two of you that he was gentler around you, but you never saw the need to pay it any kind.  It isn’t your fault that you didn’t kiss him back if you never saw it coming? Right?

You slowly stepped into Tsukishima’s room. The door was already slightly ajar, already eliminating your suspicion from earlier. The room was empty. The bed was made. The glass on his nightstand wasn’t there. Kei was gone?

Perhaps he went to the grocery store? He never has work on Sundays so there’s no possible way that he’s there. You walk back to the couch to check your phone. It was only 2pm. 

Zero notifications from Kei. Zero notifications from Yamaguchi. Just a ‘Great to see you’ text from Matsukawa. 

Odd. Usually when he leaves you alone while you’re sleeping he lets you know where he’s going. 

You call his phone to have you answer. You send a text and sit down with a sigh. He’ll come home eventually, you’ll just have to wait until then. 

When you and Kei were children, no matter where you’d go, he’d follow with excitement. It was always whatever you wanted to do and it was good enough for him. From coloring, to playing in the park, walking to and from school together, hell he’d even play dolls with you.

Everything about you was so exciting from the day you two met.  There wasn’t a moment that Kei wasn’t smiling around you. He didn’t know then that you would always be his happy place. 

 When Kei picked up volleyball from Akiteru. The roles in the friendship reversed at this time. You would help him practice in his backyard after school and on the weekends. Always being his number one fan at every match he’s had from childhood until now. Always following him around. His need to play was inspiring to watch. Seeing him being so happy over volleyball radiated brightly to you. As long as Kei was happy, you never felt the need to be sad. 

His brother was always you and Kei’s biggest inspiration. With you personally not having any siblings, Akiteru made sure he was there as an older brother for you.

After Tadashi came into your lives the bond between the three of you was inseparable. However that’s around the time when Kei changed. The three of you went to Akiteru’s last game at Karasuno believing all of the stories that he has told you and Kei about being the ace. Kei shoved off his emotions that day and labeled his brother as pathetic, but you knew his heart broke. To see Akiteru across the gymnasium in the bleachers, not anywhere on the court, changed him. He turned on his heel and exited the gymnasium leaving you and Yamaguchi alone. Yamaguchi gave you a knowing look and you dipped his head and chased after the lanky boy. 

“Kei! Kei! Kei!” You sprinted to catch up with the tall boy. You grabbed his arm and pulled him to a halt. “Y/N! Stop! Leave me alone!” he yanked his arm out of your grasp and looked angrily away from you. You stood your ground. “Let me be the one you can depend on. I’ll always always always be there for you. I’ll never let you down.” You declared crossing your arms. Kei didn’t say anything, but the shadow of a smile rested on his lips.

After that day Tsukishima became more reserved. Instead of moving along happily, among others he kept to himself. If anything minorly inconvenienced him, a snarky comment would have to fall from his lips. You would gently scold him and he wouldn’t do it again. He’d always lend a sly smile and go along with whatever you needed to do. Like when you two were children, he’d follow you around wherever you’d go and always have a faint smile when your presence was around. You being the light walked him through the dark. You became his safe place. 

In Karasuno, you two managed to be in the same class every year. You consistently studied together during breaks and lunch. If anyone needed to know where you were, one could always depend on the assumption that you’re with Tsukishima. 

You’d walk him to practice. Sometimes you’d peep in if you had nothing else to do. You managed to befriend the team and everyone was quite fond of you. Especially Hinata due to the fact that he was Kei’s favorite person to pick on. Everyone enjoyed your presence near the court because it noticeably dialed Tsukishima back….

You snapped out of your thoughts to see the living room covered in a pink hue from the sunset outside. You look down at your phone. It’s nearly 6 and he’s still not there. You dial his number again and place your phone to your ear.

He doesn’t answer.

You try to send some texts. The ones from earlier still not read. 

You: Kei? Where are you? I’m still at your place. When are you coming home?

You: Are you okay? You haven’t been home in hours

You: We need to talk about what happened last night

Delivered

Eight more attempts of calling him to no avail. Many many more texts are sent to be kept on delivered. You sigh running your hands through your hair letting out a scream. It was now night time outside as you paced around the apartment anxiously.

You raise your phone to your ear, calling Yamaguchi.

“Yama, is Kei with you?”

“No? I haven’t seen him since I left the apartment last night. Why? What’s going on?”

“Umm.. It’s nothing, don’t worry about it. Bye Yama!” 

“Bye, Y/N!”

Kei wasn’t going to come back home. You just knew it.

You don’t know what to do at this point. You look at your phone again and scroll through your contacts until you find the person you were looking for and place the phone to your ear.

“Hey, Senpai, I’m sorry I’m calling so late, but would you be able to pick me up from Kei’s house? I really need someone to talk to right now”

Twenty minutes later you walk outside and go up to a car pulled up on the sidewalk. You open the car door to immediately be greeted. 

“How’s one of my favorite Kouhais doing? It’s been a while!” Sugawara Koushi smiled brightly at you. 

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[viktory-arts]

The Stars in the Early Morning Sky

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The wind was cold against Shouyou’s cheeks as he rode on his bike quickly down the mountain to Karasuno High School. It almost hurt as the chill forcefully brushed against his face, sharp and with the type of sting that only the cold could do. His sports bag and backpack was growing heavier on his back with the tiredness that was fluidly coursing through his body. He had been up into the early hours of the morning thinking. Thinking about hands that were usually rough and forceful that would turn soft and gentle against his face, trailing down to his neck and settling themselves on the gentle curves of his hips. Thinking of deep blue eyes that would go from angry to fond to filled with need and--

Shouyou’s cheeks flamed red for a reason other than the chill of the early morning and he shook his head rapidly, training his eyes directly ahead. He squeezed the handlebars of his bike, trying to ground himself before he flew into orbit out of embarrassment. He bit the inside of his cheek.

‘You’ve had this crush for months! You should have a better handle on it by now!’ He scolded himself in his head, stopping at the stop sign that signaled five more minutes till he arrived at the school. After checking both ways for cars and seeing none, he continued on his way. Shouyou knew that he was preaching to the choir when he said that to himself; he wasn’t going to just stop with the thoughts. Even worse, the longer Shouyou had the crush (he would not admit that it was probably more than just a crush at this point) the worse he got at holding the lovey-dovey thoughts at bay. Lovey-dovey thoughts about Kageyama no less. His rival and his best friend. Who, Shouyou admitted, was probably straight and had no qualms about dropping Shouyou as soon as he found out what a creep he was. 

Sighing, Shouyou watched the puff of steam that he exuded from his mouth dissipate into thin air as he tried to get a grip on himself. He tried not to pity himself or his… situation when it came to Kageyama. There were plenty of people who fell in love with their best friends and it was never reciprocated. And Shouyou knew that him and Kageyama would fall into that category point blank. No matter how much Shouyou wanted it to be true, Kageyama just wasn’t going to love Shouyou like he loved him. That was okay, the redhead tried to tell himself every time the thought came up, he would be satisfied with Kageyama just being his friend and loving him platonically. 

(He wouldn’t be satisfied.)

Rounding the final corner before he came upon Karasuno, Shouyou slowed down and hopped off his bike, putting it in the bike rack and shifting the bags on his shoulders to be more comfortable. His sneakers weren’t warding off the cold very well, so his feet and legs were cold.

‘Hopefully they’ll have the heat fixed in the gym today’, he mused as he looked up at the sky, watching the clouds grazing gently with the harsh wind. He jogged to the clubroom, trying to warm himself up before he got into the gym so his joints wouldn’t be stiff for practice. He was surprised to see Kageyama already there, obviously waiting for someone to unlock the door.

(Shouyou tried not to jump off the walls with the warmth that filled his heart at the prospect of Kageyama knowing that Shouyou would be the one who opened the door for him since he was the one entrusted with the key-- waiting on him.)

Shouyou sped up his jog pace, Kageyama hearing the light pounding of his feet and looking up. His expression didn’t change dramatically, like turning from his resting frown into a smile or anything, but Shouyou thought that his eyes may have softened. But it was hard to tell in the faint light of the early morning with the sun just barely peeking over the horizon, even from the top of the mountain when Shouyou had biked there. The redhead gave the other serious teen a bright smile and Kageyama grunted in response. 

“How long were you waiting here?” Shouyou asked as he hopped into Kageyama’s space to unlock the door to the clubroom. The taller teen shrugged, shifting his gym bag on his shoulder, his eyes averted. Shouyou bit the inside of his cheek, hands shaking from the cold.

“You could’ve texted me if you wanted to be here earlier, you know I’d respond!” The redhead scolded lightly as the door clicked open. “I don’t want m-- Karasuno’s-- setter to catch a cold for a stupid reason.” Shouyou internally begged that Kageyama didn’t notice the almost slip-up. Thankfully, Kageyama was as clueless as usual and he just shrugged again, which was infuriating in its own right. 

“Don’t just shrug at me,” Shouyou narrowed his eyes and Kageyama just shoved past the short redhead, just to start stripping off his layers-- which, wow. Shouyou was not strong enough for this. Heat rushed to his cheeks and he quickly slammed the door shut.

“I hadn’t even closed the door yet, Pervy-yama! What if someone saw you stripping?” Kageyama raised a singular dark brow and tilted his head towards the electronic clock hanging on the wall.

“At five-thirty in the morning?” His blunt voice asked with a hint of smugness and Shouyou just scowled in return. He went over to Kageyama and flicked his (thankfully clothed) chest. 

“Don’t be such an asshole,” the redhead chastised. “How you get so many girls confessing and talking to and about you is beyond me when you’re such a douche.” Shouyou rolled his eyes. ‘Yes I know I’m a hypocrite, universe. Don’t point it out.’ The first year shrugged off his sweatshirt and pulled out his practice t-shirt and jersey. As he put them on, Shouyou heard a muffled response due to his head being trapped in the confines of his shirt. He quickly pulled the shirt over his head and gave Kageyama a questioning look.

“What’d you say?” He questioned and Kageyama mumbled it so quietly that the short redhead couldn’t hear it. Shouyou narrowed his brown eyes at the taller teen.

“What? You’ve gotta say it louder--”

“I said, I don’t know why girls confess to me, either,” Kageyama growled and Shouyou’s shoulders went slack, as did his jaw slightly in disbelief. Kageyama seemed to take that as a sign to continue, and continue he did.

“Fuck. Look, I know I’m an asshole and that I’m selfish. That I don’t… read situations right and that I’m too intense--” Kageyama was forcefully stopped when Shouyou slapped his shoulder. His eyes were intense and Kageyama gulped, almost not enough to be noticeable but Shouyou saw it and powered on.

“Kageyama-kun,” he started, his voice careful but demanding, “what the hell are you on?” Kageyama blinked and opened his mouth to respond but Shouyou just shook his head. The redhead was now fired up and just teeny bit pissed off that his crush didn’t see how fucking attractive he was. He took a deep breath and looked up into deep blue eyes that were growing more and more pronounced as his cheeks turned a rosy red color. 

“You are an asshole. And an idiot.” Shouyou stated simply and Kageyama’s eyes narrowed, his frown taking over full-force.

“Are you trying to make me feel bad--”

“No, you dumbass. I’m saying that yes, you are an asshole. But you’re an attractive asshole!” Kageyama’s eyes widened, but Shouyou soldiered on.

“Wait--”

“You are the stupidest, dumbest, dorkiest, hottest boy I know! You’re so… tall and you’ve got that assholeish persona but you’re actually a freaking nerd! You garden.” Shouyou stressed, waving his arms around as he did so. Kageyama’s face was turning more and more red the longer the redhead went on. ‘What am I doing? This is…’ Shouyou ignored the thought, continuing his tirade without pause.

“Wait Hinata--”

“And! You are so…” Shouyou came up at a loss for words, so he just extended his arms out. “You are just so gwah! You make me feel so gwahh and--” Shouyou was silenced with a hand over his mouth. He looked up into the dark blue eyes of the other teen and realized what he had said. Shouyou did the only thing he could think of.

“The hell? Did you just lick me?” Kageyama lifted his hand off of the other’s mouth and Shouyou took the chance to make a break for it. 

“Oh no you don’t,” Kageyama grabbed his wrist, effectively stopping the teen from escaping with what little dignity he had left. Shouyou struggled in it uselessly. He couldn’t help thinking that his hands were warm against his skin, almost burning him where the other touched his arm. He hated the feeling. He wanted more. 

“Let me go, dumbass!” Shouyou shouted and Kageyama retaliated by strengthening his grip. He then grabbed the redhead’s other arm and made Shouyou turn towards him, which the shorter teen both loved and hated. 

“Please don’t kill me.” He begged when he saw just how pissed Kageyama was when he was forcefully faced toward him. He struggled against the grip for a minute, but stopped once he realized how useless it was.

‘Here lies Hinata Shouyou, killed by his crush after confessing.’ Shouyou thought morbidly. He was taken out of his thoughts by a low voice that he couldn’t crave enough of. 

“What do you mean I make you feel all ‘gwah’?” Kageyama asked carefully and Shouyou blinked. That wasn’t quite what he had been expecting. Shouyou pursed his lips, thinking about what he was going to say with trepidation. 

‘It’s not like he doesn’t already know… Here goes nothing.’

“It means I like you,” he said. “Dumbass.” He added for good measure. ‘Like’ wasn’t exactly the word Shouyou would use to describe how he felt, but he wasn’t ready to admit that to himself, never mind Kageyama. Shouyou licked his lips, nervousness filling every corner of his body. 

The other teen’s face went through a bunch of expressions that Shouyou couldn’t even begin to decipher. He looked constipated for most of them, but that didn’t mean much. He always looked like he was constipated when there were emotions involved. The thought brought some familiarity to the situation. 

“You…” Kageyama trailed off, his grip never slackening. “You… like me?” He sounded breathless. Shouyou nodded, not daring to open his mouth, not with how much he had let loose today. He waited for what Kageyama was going to say next. 

“You mean that I’ve been worrying about this for nothing?!” Kageyama suddenly roared and Shouyou had barely the wits to respond.

“What-- mmph!” 

Warm and chapped lips were suddenly against his own. They were rough but somehow tentative and caring as the kiss deepened. Shouyou's eyes finally slid shut and he wrapped his arms around Kageyama’s middle, drinking in the warmth of the boy next to him. The kiss wasn’t good in the traditional sense; their teeth clacked together sometimes and it was much wetter than it needed to be, but Kageyama tasted like milk and mint toothpaste and it was kind of grossly perfect. 

Eventually, they had to break the kiss up, both of them bereft of breath and gasping for air. Shouyou still felt the ghost of Kageyama’s passion on his lips.

After a few moments of silence besides their raspy breaths, Shouyou cleared his throat and slid his hands into Kageyama’s. 

“I’m assuming you like me too?” He asked and Kageyama scoffed, his cheeks flushed a bright cherry red. His hands were as clammy as Shouyou’s, which made the redhead feel better about all of the events that had happened.

“If you don’t get it, you’re the dumbass.” Kageyama rumbled out lowly and Shouyou just smiled sunnily. He stood on his tiptoes and kissed Kageyama’s blushing cheeks. 

“I think I get it.” Shouyou said softly and somehow, even in the ugly fluorescent lights, Kageyama was beautiful. With his cheeks colored red and his eyes fond, it was everything Shouyou had wanted and more.