#SANO EMMA. / threads

[soulsballad]

@deathfavor: ❝ what’s happening ? what did you do ? ❞ ( Izana & Emma & kitchen chaos - izana will not be any help )

it was supposed to be a surprise, but just before she could even reach for the eggs, a sneeze came out of absolutely nowhere. and she didn't even have enough time to move her head out of the way, thus leaving her to sneeze directly into a mixing bowl full of only flour. naturally, it went everywhere, mostly all over her face. and in doing so she stumbled back and knocked over the prepared baking tray and a few other things.

obviously, izana had heard the chaos and came to see what had happened, and as he rounds the corner, he'd see what she'd done. her face is squared up in bitterness as she stands there, eyes closed, taking a moment to calm herself down. " i sneezed, " is her only response at the moment. using one hand, she reaches blindly out, feeling along the counter until she finds a cloth, using it to wipe her eyes. after she's able to see clearly once more, she looks over at izana with a pout.

" i was going to try and make christmas tree cookies but... i sneezed and now the flour is everywhere. i got some in my mouth and up my nose- " awkwardly, she abandons her mess and waddles over to her brother, covered in flour from the head down to her chest. " i think i'll go shower... i'll clean up later. "

[justauthoring]

SIGNS OF AFFECTION - TOKYO REVENGERS

includes: maniro "mikey" sano, chifuyu matsuno, mitsuya takashi & ken “draken” ryuguji

a/n: bet none of yall were expecting some tokyo rev headcanons tonight (i miss tokyo revengers :()

MIKEY:

physical touch:

Likes to hold your hand; thread his fingers through yours and feel your palm pressed against him. It reassures Mikey that you're still there, with him and by his side. If the two of you are out walking, he'll reach for your hand. If he wants to pull you somewhere to show you something, he'll grab your hand. It helps ground Mikey too, so if you see he's upset or angry, you'll grab his hand and it'll be enough to calm him down.

Always has an arm wrapped around your waist; he thinks his arm fits perfectly slotted against your waist. Likes the way doing so pulls you flush against his side, where he can feel your warmth seep into him. Mikey especially enjoys the way you always lean into the touch, head falling on his shoulder and your own arm occasionally coming to wrap around his waist too. Does it a lot when at school (if he shows up) or at gang meetings to show everyone there you're his.

Constantly asking for hugs; he'll do it in that whiny way he does with Draken or Emma, a certain vulnerability he only shows to certain people. Mikey will open his arms up, the invitation clear and if you don't respond to it right away, he'll pout at you until you do. Usually, that's not a problem though because you love his hugs; like the way he holds you tightly and presses a comforting hand to the back of your head while you thread your fingers through his hair.

CHIFUYU:

quality time:

Plans date nights; he'll always take in consideration on what you want to do, but most of the time, Chifuyu likes to be the one to plan date nights. You have no qualms about it, especially since Chifuyu is a die-hard romantic and is great at planning date nights. He'll make them simple and relaxing or exciting and adventurous depending on either of your moods, and dedicate the entire evening to you and your guys' relationship.

Always asks to study together; even if the two of you aren't in the same class or aren't working on the same subject, Chifuyu will still ask if you guys study together. It can be in the library or in one of your rooms, doesn't matter to im just as long as the two of you are doing it together. It works out too because if you're stuck on something, Chifuyu will push aside what he's doing to help you and you'll do the same for him; studying together is quite effective for the both of you as it eases any stress and gives the comfort of still being able to spend time together.

Likes to cook together; if the opportunity presents itself, which Chifuyu often tries to make sure it does, he'll present the idea to cook together. You'll oblidge, of course, and the two of you work seamlessly together. It's like routine by now that the both of you cook so well together, that it becomes natural to do so.

MITSUYA:

giving gifts:

Makes clothes for you; it's something Mitsuya has done since the start of your relationship, but continuously does and more frequently when he realizes just how much you like it and how much he enjoys the smile on your face when he gives you it. The pride he'll feel is undeniable when you smile at him, tell him how well the clothing fits and how beautiful his work is and the reward of seeing you in his clothing afterwards is more than worth it.

Finds random, small things when shopping and gives it to you; you'll just randomly wake up to a small gift wrapped on your night table with no word from Mitsuya or even a card. It's always random, usually small, like a little figurine or a book and it'll be completely unexpected. When you ask him about it when you see him later that day, Mitsuya will just shrug, say he say you looking at it and decided to get it for you and will blush when smile up at him and thank him with a sweet kiss to the lips.

Gives the best anniversay gifts; no matter how hard you try, Mitsuya's gifts always tops yours. He'll find the most beautiful piece of jewelry or make the most gorgeous, detailed piece of clothing that will literally make your jaw fall to the floor. Mitsuya will do it with a smile and a flush and when you give him your own, the smile widens as if somehow yours is better (it isn't).

DRAKEN:

attention:

Remembers the smallest details; doesn't matter if you said something in passing one day or convinced something heavy and heartfelt, Draken will remember both. He's conscious of the things that bother or upset you, and pays attention to the things that make you happy. He'll offer to watch a movie you randomly said you wanted to watch three weeks ago when you both finally have the time, or buy you a coffee from the out-of-the-away cafe you'd complained about once because he knows you like it so much.

Always makes eye contact; if you're speaking to him, Draken is careful to make sure you know he's listening. The second your lips part and he realizes you're talking to him, he'll shift his entire body if he has to to be able to meet your gaze. It's almost intimidating but endearing at the same time, meeting your eyes when the two of you are naked in bed, in the throes of each other, never wavering and making you feel seen and important.

Drops everything for you; if you're talking, nothing else matters. Draken will quite literally drop everything; a wrench that he's using to work on a car, or a book he's reading, or anything. The second he hears your voice, he's paying full attention to everything that leaves your lips. It warms your heart in an undeniable way, makes you all giddy and flushed when he just smiles at you and encourages you to continue.

[carminecherry]

ENCLOSURE | mikey sano

this is part four of the series kill the lights

⇝ PAIRING: timeskip!biker!mikey sano x fem!reader

⇝ SERIES SYNOPSIS: after moving by yourself to tokyo, you black out at a party and wake up with a new friend. as she sweeps you up in her fast-paced city life, you feel yourself falling deeper and deeper for her mysterious brother. but something dark is brewing in the city. as his past threatens to resurface, mikey must fight not only physical enemies but the mental battle of his feelings for you. he can't resist you , but could he ever forgive himself if something happened to you? he'll love you selfishly and protect you savagely.

⇝ PART FOUR LENGTH: 2k words

⇝ PART FOUR WARNINGS: mentions of violence (18+ minors do not interact):

all characters are 20+; Alternate Universe! Canon Divergent. a friend from university invites you to his house party. as the drinks flow, you slip into a pleasant buzz. that is until a particular masked man makes his appearance, unveiling himself.

⇝ AUTHOR'S NOTE: a short chapter with a little spice at the end ;) more chapters coming soon! keep an eye on the tags and stay safe! <3

DO NOT INTERACT WITH THIS WORK IF YOU ARE A MINOR. BY CLICKING THE READMORE, YOU CONSENT TO VIEWING ADULT CONTENT.

Your eyes flutter open as morning light trickles into your room. You bury your face in your pillow, trying to buy a few more moments of sleep. You had been having the most wonderful dream. It felt so real. Those delicious lips on your neck. Your hands running over his toned chest. The heat of your bodies pressed to one another. Please, just five more minutes. Five more hours. But your body betrayed you.

With a frustrated whine you turned over, resigning yourself to being awake. Rubbing your eyes, you feel your mascara clump under the pressure. Shit, had you fallen asleep in your makeup? You sat up, blinking sleep from your eyes. Your throat was dry to the point of being a bit sore but other than that, you had escaped one of Yuuki’s house parties without a hangover! You could count on one hand the times you’ve woken up after one of Yuuki’s parties without hating your life. 

You rise, feeling gross from sleeping in your party attire. Quickly shedding your clothes and tossing them in the wash, you move to your bathroom. You washed your face gently and thoroughly, each splash of water a prayer that you didn’t get a breakout. You brush your hair and hop into a nice warm shower, rinsing off the unpleasant feeling that comes from not completing an evening ritual. Also taking the time to finish what your dream didn’t. After toweling off, you slip into the pajamas the sober you from last night had so kindly left out in preparation for the drunk you. Things don’t always go to plan, clearly.

Whipping up a quick breakfast, you rummage through the door of your fridge for the carton of iced coffee, grabbing a yogurt cup before closing the door and moving to your spot in front of the TV. There is decent counter seating at the small island in your kitchen, but you usually opted for sitting on the floor in front of your coffee table, resting your back on the sofa. You click the button on the remote and the screen illuminates, the news coming back from a commercial break. 

You dig into the meal as you finally check your messages. The sound of the TV is mostly white noise as you open several messages from Emma. There is a thread of spam from the party.  Her spelling getting progressively worse.

11:00 I lost you Im heading back frm the bathroom.

11:03 OMG Senju is here! You’d lioev her! Come meet her! *Blurry selfie

11:07 Where arrrreee yyyooooooouuuuu??,,

11:08 Og shit I forgot you an  Mi

1:20 Y/N I lovw yoi thx ro tnotight

10:00 Fuck me. I’m so hungover. What happened last night?

You reacted to the message from this morning and quickly typed up. 

“I’m so sorry! I Didn’t see these last night!!! … Are you sure you wanna know?” 

You send the message before clicking out to open a message thread from Yuuki,

1:30 “It was great to see you Y/N. Hope you got home safely!”

You heart the message and reply, 

“It was seriously AMAZING! Thank you so much for the invite! I hope the damage is’t too bad. LMK about next time uvu”

Just then, the report on the news caught your ear and your attention was dragged away from your phone screen. “Developing story: There was an Arson Attack at a car dealership in Roppongi in the early hours of the morning, Saturday. Police are reporting extreme property damage and evidence of a robbery as well as several cars missing from the lot. Two employees are in serious condition at the local hospital. A security guard has been placed under arrest. He is suspected of conspiring with the attackers after reviewing security tapes from the crime scene. The situation is still developing and anyone with information about this event is being urged to report details to the number below.” 

The TV replayed clips from the security tape showing three masked figures and the security guard. They cut to a wide shot of the building now with a reporter in front, smoke still rising from the charred building as a phone number scrolled across the bottom of the screen. You shuddered. Japan was a safe country, but it meant that when something did happen it was big news. The faces of the two employees appeared on the screen, one younger and one who looked to be in his fifties. You mentally wished for a speedy recovery for the two of them. The news cut away to the newsroom and switched to the weather. It’s jarring how the world keeps turning, you think.

Your phone buzzes and your attention returns to the smaller screen in your hand. You take a big bite of toast. You read a new message from Emma.

“Noooooooooooo~ Is it bad, I’m gonna KMS”

“It’s not BAD bad, you were cute ;p But you should probably buy Yuuki a new houseplant”

“skull emojis”

“Regardless, I had a blast with you last night  <3 I’m still up for coffee tomorrow if you are~”

She hearted the message and replied, 

“Yeeeeesss~ I wanna check out that cute place you told me about in Shimbashi!”

Now it was your turn to heart the message, 

“Meet at the station and then head there together? What time is good?”

“How about 11?”

“Sounds good to me! See you then!”

You finish the last of your yogurt, taking a sip of your coffee. You pull yourself up, depositing your dishes in the kitchen sink with a small clatter. Today was shaping up to be a lazy day. Your phone buzzes again, a message from Emma appears on the screen, 

“Mikey is here and being annoying, do you care if I give him your number?”

You can’t help it when your heart beat increases, images of your dream flash in your mind. You type out, 

“Sure! No problem, thank him again for dropping me off last night <3”

“Thank him yourself, I’m going back to bed”

She concluded by sending his contact details. You input his contact as Mikey with a strawberry emoji next to his name. A smile plays on your lips. You followed Emma’s instructions and typed up,

“Thanks again for last night!”

As you send the message you get another from Emma, a picture attached. You click it before shutting your phone quickly, face heating. You compose yourself. Opening it again. Emma’s message read,

“What the hell?”

And attached is a shirtless picture of Mikey, seeming to toss a plastic bag of something at the camera. It’s a bit blurry but the bruises wrapping around his ribs are clear as day. Mortified doesn’t even come close.

“AAAHSHHSHHSHHGGG!!!!!!!” 

“Did you guys get into a fight or something? Please tell me you won ;p”

“Oh my god! *dead* I didn’t realize I was holding on so tight :’)”

“He drives like a maniac, I don’t blame you you should squeeze harder next time, just Heimlich him”

Emma’s joking helped to calm you down. You still felt an icky feeling that you had hurt him.

“If this job hunt keeps tanking, I’ll consider it the next time he’s hitting 100mph  on the highway” 

She likes your message before sending a short video. You press play. You see Emma chucking a pillow at him and yelling “Put on a damn shirt!” before the video cuts. You laugh, sending a pillow emoji. You open your chat with Mikey and follow up with another message,

“Hey,  I saw the damage, sorry about that” 

A bubble with 3 dots appears.

“I’ve had worse.” 

He replies. The period at the end makes his message weirdly formal. You pause, unsure how to continue the conversation when another message pops up.

“You’re welcome.” 

Period again. You like the message and respond, 

“Next time I’ll squeeze lower, maybe we can get a cool pattern going.” 

You cringe and move to unsend the message. A+ flirting. He likes your message before you do.

“Maybe we can come up with a better story too. Something other than you being a little wuss. Something that’ll impress the guys.” 

“I’m not a wuss >:( look what I can do to a tough guy like you, and not even a scratch on me.”

He is typing a response for a while, you migrate to lie on the sofa under the AC.

“Touche.” 

Is all he responds with. Feeling the conversation go dry, you lock your phone. You lay there, soaking in the cold air. You start a mental list of chores for the day; vacuum and mop, do a load of laundry, run to the grocery store. The joys of adulthood. You didn’t hate it as much as you used to. You learned to find peace in those little moments. Mindless tasks that allowed you to clear your head. An added bonus is having a tidy environment does wonders for your mood. 

When you were younger you lived in organized chaos, your parents constantly chiding you to clean up. When did you become so sensitive to your surroundings you wonder. You peeled yourself from the couch, pulling up a podcast to keep you company while you set to your tasks.

It's always nice to have an enclosure day once in a while. Today had been much needed after all of the socialization yesterday. You hang your laundry to dry out on your balcony. Before retreating back indoors. Your house sparkled and you reveled in your hard work. You throw on a simple outfit for a grocery run. Your list was short, it would be a quick trip. You kill the AC in your room and check that your balcony door is locked before hunting for the remote to turn off the TV. 

As you flip your couch cushions over, another news report flashes across the screen. “Breaking News. A young woman has just been attacked and stabbed in Roppongi. The attack occurred in broad daylight. The attacker is still at large. Witnesses say the attacker is a male, mid to late 20’s, around 180 cm and medium build. Residents are being urged to stay out of the area for their own safety. Be warned, footage of the attack taken by security cameras and bystanders are now circulating on social media. The suspect’s identity is still unknown. Viewers, please be advised that the following clips are graphic in nature. Those with any information about the attacker are being asked to report to the number at the bottom of the screen.” 

The news cut from the caster to a grainy video shot on a cellphone. The woman’s body is blurred out. It showed the man standing over her before fleeing into an alley. The man was masked and the video was grainy and slowed in an attempt to reveal any identifying features. The same scene from a different angle is played. Finally a collage of screenshots of the man’s covered face are displayed on the screen. 

The woman’s picture came up on the screen with her name and age. She was 22 years old. There had been no gore in the video, but you felt sick to your stomach. You flipped the TV off, sliding down the couch to sit on the floor. You weren’t close to that area of the city but you couldn’t help feeling scared. This type of crime, so violent in nature, is not normal here.

What really gnawed at you is that she was young, just making her way out in the world. You wondered if she had just graduated university. Your mind was spiraling. What dreams did she have? Why had that man done this? That pit in your stomach grew deeper and you felt sweat begin to prickle on your body. How long had you been sitting there? You hit the remote control to turn the AC back on. The TV remained off. You reassessed your fridge with new motivation and decided a grocery trip wouldn’t be necessary tonight.

[xiefuyu]

Brother, I'm here.

-- Kurokawa Izana x little sister reader

🖤 — Tokyo Revengers

📝 — spoilers from manga (around tenjiku arc), angst, mention of domestic abuse, mention of blood, mention of murder, mention of death

:a/n — I think I enjoy writing angst what do i do?? jk. hi, here's the third part. enjoy! (wc: 1.7k)

— PT. 1 / PT. 2/PT.3/PT.4/PT.5

Sano Manjiro stares at his hands. Droplets of blood and the feeling of them getting in his hands present. He felt responsible and god he did because how can he not know that he has another sibling?

Emma’s sobs broke him out of his trance and it was only then that he noticed Draken. “It..it was supposed to be me.” she cries out. “That Kisaki was about to hit me but she protected me and- and-”

“Emma, stop.” Draken softly stops her, heart aching at how the teenager is blaming herself.

But Mikey’s heart ached more when he realised that he almost had Emma dying on his back. Did that make him feel at least a bit of relief? No. Of course not. How could he when his another sibling is the one laying, holding onto dear life?

“I should’ve moved…I was there and I should’ve done something.” they heard Takemichi say but no one was blaming him. No one could’ve known what would happen at that moment except you who knew about your brother’s sick plan.

Mikey stands up, determined. “Emma, Hina-chan, stay here.” he commands and looks at Draken and Takemichi.

“We’re going. I’ll drag Izana here as if it’s the last thing keeping me alive.”

“Woah, how strong, Mikey! You’re here even after Emma’s death?” Izana asked with a wicked grin but Mikey could see it wavering. He could read those empty eyes; pleading and hope behind.

“What are you talking about, Izana? It was Y/N, our other sister who got hit.” he explains, frowning. “What…?” he hears Kakucho ask, breathless.

“What are you talking about?” he asked once again, stepping forward. “Kaku-chan, you know Y/N-san?” Takemichi asks, eyes widening. “Of course I know her! She’s Izana’s sister! What do you mean she got hit?!” Kakucho’s head whipped to where Kisaki was, blood boiling.

“She’s no sister of mine. I don’t know her.” It was the last thread that snapped loudly and hard as Kakucho stomped his way in front of his king. “She’s your sister, Izana! She’s Kurokawa Y/N!” he shouts, praying to whatever deity out there for his message to come across the kingdom that Izana built around his heart.

“How could you be so sure of that, huh? How could you be when you don’t even know that I’m blood related to no one at all?!” Mikey’s and Kakucho’s eyes widened. A simple huh coming out from their mouths.

Izana tells them how his mother told him that he’s just another son of her ex-husband with a Filipina and how he’s not Emma’s blood-related stepbrother.

But Kakucho wasn’t deterred, telling him that he should meet Y/N because she’s his blood-related sister instead.

A gunshot echoes throughout the bay, silence following.

“You’re so goddamn annoying!” they hear Kisaki say and for one moment, all Izana could think was Kakucho. 

And that set of eyes that he saw earlier.

Regret bubbles in his whole body and it moved faster than his brain could comprehend as he saw Kisaki getting ready for another shot.

Three gunshots were heard this time and Izana waited for the inevitable pain to rain upon him but none came. He didn’t fall nor did he feel a bullet making his body their own home. He looks up and sees Draken gripping Kisaki’s hand, gun pointed towards the sky.

Saved.

They were saved.

“Let’s go visit Y/N, Izana. And…you’re still our big brother.” Mikey says, bowing lightly.

And for the second time that day, the king falls from his throne and onto his knees. But this time, it came with emotions dripping from his lilac eyes.

The Yokohama conflict ended with one loss- Kisaki Tetta who was run over by a truck.

The beeping sound of the heart monitor was deafening. 

He did this to his sister, didn’t he? How sick and vile of him. Even though it was Emma who was supposed to get hit and die, he knows that everything was fucked up.

Kakucho had filled him with the information he got from you. He got informed that you knew he existed years ago and worked hard to earn money just so you could come to Japan and look for him. How you kept hoping to see him in every street you walked through.

How you’re looking for your big brother.

He was getting impatient. He wants you to wake up and look at that set of eyes similar to his. He was getting impatient but a voice stopped him.

Will she even accept you after what you did? After you turn your back on her?

His breath hitches and his hand longs to grip yours gently. Praying that the apologies lingering on the tip of his tongue will make their way through the tip of his fingers instead and flow into yours, interrupting you in your slumber.

He was getting impatient and he wants you to open your eyes because he wants to see them again. Because he knows there’s a possibility of you not waking up and how he won’t be able to stare back at another set of lilac eyes.

He stares at your limp hand and stops breathing altogether when they twitch. His gaze slowly racked over your form, settling on your face as he waited with bated breath for you to wake up.

But you didn’t and Izana visibly deflates, sighing before standing up to leave.

He doesn’t deserve you. You’re clearly a white paint in his black canvas and he doesn’t want your light fading.

So he does what he thinks is for the best.

Leaving you once more.

Your life wasn’t as eventful as the others. You have no experience of proper support- financially, emotionally, and physically.

Your stepmother was abusive; always taking her frustrations out on you that you got used to it. Your father doesn’t even spare you a glance while you’re getting beaten up. It was a common occurrence that it got you questioning if it’s normal in a household. (It’s not, you found out later.) Your stepmother did her best to make you think otherwise, after all.

Always saying that it’s for your own good and that she loves you that’s why she’s doing it. You were just a naive little girl new to the world you were brought in and believed in.

Not until you found out that everything in your household is fucked up. Your stepmother and father are fucked up in the head and are irresponsible shits that liked to neglect you. However, there’s a part of you that thanked your father for giving you an older brother even though it took him years to remember and finally tell you one day so casually.

With that knowledge, you found your purpose again. 

Older brother.

A kuya.

Oh how you always wanted an older sibling to take care of you. To baby you and to shower you with affection. You worked again and again despite the pity looks you got for working at such a young age. Were you ten? Thirteen? Fifteen? You’re not even sure anymore.

All you could think about was escaping your shitty household and meeting your Kuya.

That’s all you ever wanted and yet, nothing was ever free to you in this godforsaken world, no? Everything and everyone around you just looks at your expectations, takes them and throws them to the ground and stomps on it for an extra measure.

Maybe it was the price for being greedy for a family. The price for being selfish, not considering how your Kuya is living and proceeding to look for him and bother him with your presence, full of scars and bruises painted by a family.

You were longing and now you’re paying the price in the form of your pounding head and blurry vision.

Your eyes wander around the vicinity you’re in. You’re in a hospital, you figured. Right, you were hit with a bat in the head. Your Kuya Mikey brought you here, hand tugging yours away from death’s own ones.

You see Emma beside you, holding your hand as she sleeps. You notice her puffy eyes and apologise to her in your mind for giving her a scare. On the sofa a few feet away was a pink-haired girl, dozing off in Takemichi’s shoulder who’s also sleeping. You look to your right and see Mikey and another guy, almost bald, looking out the window.

They’re awake. You should call for them, right?

“Kuya.” you softly called out, Mikey immediately turning to you, eyes wide and full of relief. “Hey, Y/N. How are you feeling?” you smile and do your best to nod a little. “Feeling fine.” how idiotic of you to think that Mikey will believe that.

He may have just met you days ago but he’s no fool when it comes to his siblings. 

��Izana is just taking a breather outside.” he says instead of further asking you to tell him the truth. Outside where he’s currently being looked for because he decided to be an asshole once again and disappeared on you.

And yet, somehow, you knew. 

You knew that Izana turned his back on you again but you can’t bring yourself to be mad. No, you are blaming yourself for his actions. You are worried because it’s currently dark outside and the possibility of him getting in danger was making your eyes tear.

“I’m sorry…” you sobbed out quietly but it jolted Emma awake, making Mikey grab your hand, asking you what for while simultaneously telling you that it's not your fault and it's okay.

It's overwhelming. You want to hide, you want to run away. Is family supposed to be this reassuring? Are they supposed to be this gentle and soft? Are they supposed to wipe your tears away as they tell you over and over again that everything will be okay?

Are you supposed to feel this safe around a family?

You're too unfamiliar with these…things.

In a way, instead of being the white paint, you're the black canvas and your Kuya Mikey and Emma are the white dots, slowly spreading out with their gentleness.

Draken, Takemichi, and the pink-haired girl stood quietly, watching the Sanos reassuring you, heart aching.

Because you had to know.

You had to know that they’re not your family by blood.

And their heart aches because they’re about to rip away a family, a loving one, from you even though it still hasn’t reached your two delicate hands.

Kakucho stands outside the room with his bandaged body, tears gathering in his eyes as he vows to find Izana for you.

For the now two Kurokawa royalty in his life.

A/N: I'm currently enjoying writing this hahaha I hope you're enjoying the mini series, too, love <3

[ tag list: @bontensbabygirl ]

[soulsballad]

at his 'alright' emma feels like she's won, and a grin breaks out on her face, which does make her nose sting all the more, but she doesn't care. however, the smile drops to a confused frown when he turns and offers her his back.

❝ no, no, ❞ emma quickly begins, reaching out the grab him gently by his arm and turn him back around, ❝ i'm not mikey! plus... plus what if i get really dizzy and let go! i'll fall upside down! that's dangerous. ❞ oh so very dangerous. that wasn't the plan her, it wasn't the goal. she didn't want mikey treatment.

she wanted princess treatment, clearly.

❝ i think, considering the circumstances and all, you should probably carry me properly. you know like... like how grooms pick up brides? that's definitely more appropriate. ❞

Draken feels the sting of dissappointment too, as circumstances put a stop to their 'date' long before it had properly started, but Emma was clearly in bad shape -- And there was always next time.

"Huh, are you sure you don't need a hospital?"

The girl's symptons sounded an awful lot like the aftermath of a concussion, he should know, he's had enough of them by now to be a pro. Leaning in close again for another check of her condition, he just about catches what he thinks is a hidden smile, buried under that dramatic little pout.

Like brother, like sister.

"Alright."

Draken rolls his eyes and, as he's always done with Mikey, lowers himself closer to the ground, offering Emma his back to latch onto.

"Hop on, I'll get you home and we can grab some food on the way and watch a movie at yours instead."

@soulsballad

[soulsballad]

( sc. )

when good weather came around it was the perfect opportunity to do the garden, or get her husband to do the garden while she either helped or watched. emma had just prepared fresh lemonade for them both while draken finished up building the new garden shed they'd purchased. they had a deal. he built it, she painted it, and they both filled it. that was fair, right? carrying over the tray of iced lemonade, the brand new ryuguji watches @kisumshi work, sweating and panting from the hard work and the relentless heat of the sun. ❝ why don't you take your shirt off? you know, so you don't overheat and die. not for my benefit at all. ❞

[kwlsn]

Time flew fast and you would leave the Sano by tomorrow morning, which made Emma and Shin feel sad with the future as the two of them agree that it felt right to have you in this house.

To make the last day more memorable, Shin decided that a sleepover in the living room would be the best idea to remember how life was here before you go back to the nightlife in Tokyo.

"How about this," you turned on your stomach and looked at two of them, "I'll ask Mikey to let me go here every summer. How does that sound?"

Emma looked at you with shiny eyes, reminding you of those stars during the bright night, before taking your hand in her. As she clasped onto it tightly, you can feel how genuine her feelings were as she talked about things she going to do with you next summer.

"And when you have a boyfriend, we can have a double date!"

Hearing at the word 'boyfriend', Shin went defensive and took your hand away from Emma before threading it with his — feeling ticked off at how easy it was for Emma to say that nonchalantly, especially in front of him.

"Nope, she's too young, go away. She's already enough with me."

Shin looked at you with a puppy-like gaze, holding your hand tightly and resting his cheek against it, waiting for you to back up his opinion as you let out a chuckle.

The night went smoothly with you hugging Emma in your sleep while Shin spent his night watching the clouds, counting his time with you as each cigarette told him every thirty minutes was already spent when his cigs went dead and needed to be discarded.

"What a life..."

He smiled, smiling at your sleeping form that he would miss and recount every day until next summer.

"Take care, okay?"

Emma hugged you tightly, sobbing into your shoulder as Mikey stood in silence, didn't have the heart to pry his dear sister off you — unfortunately, time is ticking and he decided to do it, despite the sharp jab that's ripping his heart when Emma looked at him, pleading for more time with you.

Giving them one last glance, you finally entered the backseat with Mikey, feeling heavy inside before noticing a hand wrapping itself around yours.

Mikey knew it would be hard for you to leave them, especially if your memories were still intact — which made him believe you would actually hide when he came since it's your first time spending time with Emma and Shin after you moved out and lived with him in a city that's a few hours from Tokyo.

"We only spent two weeks, but it feels as if I've known them forever."

Mikey looked outside when you said that, fearing that it would be too much for you to take if he told you that you've known them since you were a kid as the doctor had specifically asked him not to overstimulate you with new surroundings.

Before you came to his siblings, Mikey had asked them beforehand not to ask you about anything when living away from them (which received a lot of backlash at first) and explained the reason why he sent you to live with them back.

Shin was the first one who understood the situation and handled it carefully while asking for a backup to Wakasa & Takeomi.

Emma, on the other hand, needed to be supported by Draken while listening to the story — carefully threading over the words without missing anything to remember.

"That's good to know."

Mikey replied with a soft smile before helping you to step out of the car, looking at a minimalist four-stories mansion in front of you and walking inside with him — finding the others already inside, cozying in front of the TV.

Ran, the first one who noticed both of you, tapped Rin on his shoulder before he did the same to Sanzu, giving you a sign to sit down beside him as Mikey took a couple of papers from Ran's grasp.

"Well, based on what we speculated, this might be what happened on the night before you lost your memories."

Having a tight-knit relationship with Bonten means that your death can always happen anytime, anywhere and without any evidence left to find at the crime scene — but, then again they had your back.

Throwing a gala party at one of your most expensive penthouses, you were clad in a formal emerald dress that accentuates your curves and dips — a haute couture, art of the year.

Its colour resembled emerald and gold threads were hidden between every stitch, following your move whenever it hit the light correctly with spaghetti straps clung over your shoulders and around your back, showing bits of your cleavages to enjoy.

Champagne with 24K gold infused spilling from your flute as people were enjoying their time with 'Cupid' — a pill that you recently launched this month and desired by many clients, especially Sanzu.

Hours went by and no one was sober nor in their right mind as someone pulled you into a room, pressing his lips against yours before slipping in a familiar drug — making your body go numb and limp as gunshots were heard when the back of your head hit the cold tiles.

Looking down to your lap, you couldn't help but start to overthink the situation before you lost your memories — especially since everyone looked like they were ready to rip each other out and while making sure this case wouldn't be handled recklessly.

But, what surprised you the most was how you were an active drug dealer and spent millions in a single night as if your money had no limit.

While you were still with Emma and Shin, they would casually tell you how four of you with Mikey were already close since young and used to go home from the school together.

Their grandfather was so kind as he took you, an orphan bastard, willingly under his wing without taking you for granted — treating you as if you're one of his blood-related family members.

He taught you a lot about how life should be, why morale and justice should be fought for — those ideas he believed were passed on to you, which ended up leaving your mouth a bitter taste when realising what you have done.

"Ah, I see..."

There was nothing you could say and let Mikey and the rest of the group handle it since you wouldn't be able to do anything significant to the case.

"Wait, we also wanna tell you about someone we believed caused all this drama."

Mikey stopped you from leaving before showing a picture of a man with golden brown hair wearing rectangle-frame glasses.

"His name's Kisaki Tetta and I wouldn't be surprised if he orchestrated that night since your product is currently messing up his profit in the last three months."

The meeting finally ended and Mikey told you I would live here with the Haitani Brothers for a while since he and Sanzu would investigate this matter more, including checking your factory to see if there's something they could find relating to the case.

Waving at the two men, you watched their figures disappear into the car before it sped up, leaving you with the Haitani — who looked delighted to have you at their house.

"Are you worried about something, princess?"

Ran was the first one to approach you, placing his hand on your lower back as you stared at the massive front garden outside — the sound of rain's cry filling up your ears and started to hypnotise you.

Ran notices your state wasn't something one could take easily and honestly? You had been taking it in the best manner as one could handle it.

Most people he knew would go scared and hysterical, but you had been quite calm while trying to familiarise yourself again with the surroundings.

"Do you know that you're the only Bonten member that's accepted by society?"

You looked up, looking at Ran in confusion as he led you to sit down on the couch and give you a small photo album and his phone.

He started the story with a non-profit organisation you started and an orphanage you built that's open to mixed kids who were abandoned by their parents here.

Once in a while, his hand would trace a photo you were looking at before going back to see you in the eyes with a small smile.

"You said, you can't let any orphans live in misery..."

There was silence between the two of you before Ran closed the album and took his phone back, giving you a phone with a pink case and fluffy bunny charms.

It was your phone that was found in a bin, apparently someone threw it there an hour before the incident — that's why he took it with him to check before returning it to you.

Turning it on, you saw numerous unread messages and missed calls — especially from this unknown number.

Checking the messages they sent and your chat history, you could safely summarise that you used to be close to this person before deleting their contact.

' are you okay? '

The last message was sent three days ago and after the number beside it was gone, that person was suddenly online before you were able to reply to them.

' it's me, takemichi. you didn't delete my number, did you? '

Takemichi?

Your head started to pound so hard as you fell onto the ground, watching Ran shaking your body while calling for Rindou — warm blood trickling down from your mouth and without any chance for them to hold you tight, you were already gone.

[strawberryclementine]

random emme sano headcanon!! i think she was kind of a toyoko kid and it would make sm much sense in the og timeline when she runs away from home and is never seen again. basically a toyoko kid is a teenager who stays all day in the place next to the toho cinema (kabukicho, shinjuku), usually there bc they have heavy familiy issues. idk if it existed in 2005, but if it was, that's probably where emma met takemichi that one day when they ended up in the karaoke.

i have sm to say about japanese delinquence/youth in general it's crazy

Hi anon, thanks for the ask!

This is a really interesting headcanon and I'd not heard of Toyoko Kids before so I looked it up. I only found a few articles (maybe because I searched in English), this one being the most informative, and from what I read it can be very unsafe, as they are sometimes recruited or threatened by gangs, are often prey to kidnapping or assault, can become very sick and hungry, among other horrible things. Recently (2021), a refuge for the overwhelmed called Nihon Kakekomidera began offering shelter and meals specifically for the runaway Toyoko Kids.

Reading up a bit on this adds some very sad context to what Emma's life could have been like in the original timeline, when she had run away for months. It adds a lot of real information to a point that was mentioned only briefly in the manga so I thank you for sharing it! If Kabukicho, Shinjuku was a place that Emma was drawn to in the original timeline, then the idea that in an alternate timeline, she goes there during the day (not as a runaway) and meets Takemichi there is very interesting! Having common threads in the timelines is something I find really fascinating, how the characters could be tied to certain places or people no matter what.

Honestly, I don't know a thing about juvenile delinquency in Japan, so I'd love to hear more of your knowledge or headcanons if you want to share! My ask box is always open :)

[soulsballad]

his response reminds her of a nickname she's heard a few people, including draken, use for him. once he lowers himself down, emma takes a moment to awkwardly get herself on his shoulders. " oh yeah, people call you a zombie, don't they? " her question is asked as she manages to get one leg around and hook it around him, then the other follows a moment later. only, when she goes to rest her hand on top of his head, she's met with the tips of jagged hair, and she quickly pulls her hand away. instead, she hunches over slightly, awkwardly hoovering her hands above his head.

allowing a moment or two to pass, to make sure she doesn't fall back and crack her head open, emma nods to herself. " okay! i'm ready! " after she gives the confirmation she waits, not expecting hanma to move to stand so quickly. as he straightens himself up, emma panics and grabs onto the closest thing to her. his face. before she has time to acknowledge the fact she's smushing his face, her attention flickers before her.

" woah-! i'm so high up! i'm, like, the same size as a frickin' street sign! i'd need to bend down to reach the top shelf now, this is so cool! " which was truly amazing because typically emma has to scale the shelves like some sort of squirrel.

Hanma follows after her to the aforementioned bench he'd pointed out, amused to see she still didn't reach over him even with the help. But for now he keeps that to himself - easy money and all of that after all. He turns around and then crouches down so she can clamber onto his shoulders.

The idea of getting tired earns a snort from Hanma. " That's not happening. Believe me when I say I've carried heavier for longer. " Although on his shoulders was a new one.

[amaya-writes]

Mikey headcanons please! Like just him as a boyfriend and things he would do

ASK NO. 2 FOR THE TOMAN’S GIRL

Note: n/a

Characters involved: Manjiro Sano (Mikey)

Warnings: n/a

Gender-neutral reader, you/your/yours

Mikey as a boyfriend would include:

Him using your scrunchies or hairties to tie back his hair. He doesn't care if they're extra girly or plain black ones, he will always use them and be disappointed when they snap.

Him napping on your lap and asking you to play with his hair because it calms him down. Since Mikey ties his hair back so much, it feels nice to have your fingers thread through it as you talk about your day or something that's on your mind.

Asking you for advice about Toman and life in general even if he knows you might not be the best one to turn to in that situation. He just trusts and respects you enough to value your opinions and perspective.

Random texts about things that happened that day, or a picture of Draken doing things Mikey should be doing.

Mikey randomly buying you trinkets or small presents because he felt affectionate, or him just being really clingy (more than usual) because he missed you.

Needing to know where you are all the time. Not as a possessive thing, but just to make sure he can reach you if anything happens. He likes to know that you're safe and with people he trusts (like your family, etc.)

Random cheek kisses and back hugs.

He makes Mitsuya stitch you a jacket that looks similar to the Toman ones but is still different enough for people not to mistake you as a member of the gang. Mikey makes you wear that jacket whenever you attend meetings.

Introducing you to members of Toman and going on double dates with Ken and Emma.

Loves calling you the weirdest pet names.

Memorises your schedule so he can walk you to and from school and randomly show up throughout the day just to annoy you. Mikey won't admit it, but he does it to make sure you're safe.

Buys you kids meals when you go out on dates and gets super excited about the toys. You once got a princess toy while he got the prince and Mikey wouldn't stop talking about how it was meant to be.

Loves it when you rant to him about the little things.

If you have a pet, that's no longer your pet but his too. Mikey will love it like his child and often brings it treats when he comes over.

Thinks it's sweet when you worry over him.

[0risha]

when they say 'i love you'

tags // fluff, mentions of insecurity in kazutora's part, gender neutral reader, not proofread...my fault.

characters // kokonoi, draken, shinichiro and kazutora.

note // fingers crossed that no one has done this yet but to be honest it's very likely someone has LMFAOO but I hope you enjoy and reblogs are highly appreciated <33 taglist will be in the replies!

hajime kokonoi

it's in heat of the moment, he's too distracted by the glint of the necklace on your collarbones and the 24 karat rings on your pretty, manicured hands. all of it, something he gifted you a while back. he loves when you're adorned in whatever he buys you. of course, he still thinks you look beautiful when you're not bedazzled. but he can't help the pure adoration that thrums through his veins nor the grin that pulls at his lips whenever he sees you wearing anything he's handpicked.

even without saying those three heavily imbued words, there’s love that undeniably shines the brightest in his sharp eyes. and when he realizes his words, he doesn't try to brush it off.

to his amusement, you shy away from his gaze and grow skittish. koko has always been bold with his actions and words, it’s no surprise to you, but it does nothing to stop the way your heart reels. with a pounding heart and sweaty palms, planting a soft kiss on his lips is enough to say those same words back.

ken ryuguji (draken)

it slips through when you’re telling him about the things you love, it's been a long night, his shop is closed and you both don't have the means to leave. you're going on about the new pet you'd just adopted, it's habits and how cute it looks while curled up and asleep on your bed.

internally, he blames it on the haze of exhaustion that's clouding his brain when you turn to him puzzled, but more so shocked. there's a few beats of silence but it dissolves once you let out a soft giggle. his heart nearly stutters out of his chest, he can't really tell if it's out of fear or how wide your smile is.

but his worries flit away when you murmur those words back to him, your face a mere inches away from his. you're so close that he can take in evey breathtaking feature of yours, so close that he can feel your breath tickling his lips. and you repeat it again, happiness engraved into every syllable. when draken tips closer to press his lips against yours, he selfishly wishes for this moment to never end.

shinichiro sano ( ꈍᴗꈍ)

it's every second of the day. it's custom for him, imprinted into his every cell, there's no reason for him not to, especially when he knows that you feel the same way.

this time around, your eyes have barely cracked open. harsh sunlight seeps through the room's blinds and you're one-hundred percent sure you look like a mess, sleep still embedded into your eyes. but somehow, shinichiro seems to think otherwise as he noses at the curve of your cheek.

all it takes is a 'good morning and 'i love you' for you to turn and melt into his arms. he's warm and just him and you can't help but to be pulled back into a tunnel of sleep.

that is until a loud bang causes your eyes to fly open. the sound's located somewhere far off in the kitchen. already knowing, you let out a low groan. mikey and emma were off to their antics way too early.

shinichiro let's out an airy chuckle before pressing a kiss on the slope of your neck. you nearly nod off again but his gruff voice interrupts you before you really can. "i guess it's time to wake up." you silently wish that you didn't have to agree.

kazutora hanemiya

it's reassurance for you and himself. there's plenty of times in which insecurity holds him in a vice grip. you both could be on a stroll, watching television or any ordinary deed and he's blurting out those three words.

you're used to this, used to him and you're sure to say those words back without missing a beat. there's nothing but unfeigned truth laced into your tone, it washes over him, sending warmth flowing through his body. he wants to osmosis those words into his skin, to never forget them.

slowly but surely, those threads of self doubt unwrap themselves from his mind and he lets out a satisfied hum. he has a habit of burying his head in the crook of your shoulder, embarrassment finally setting in, the gesture is still irredeemably precious. you know what comes after; he's now reticent, consumed in his own thoughts, thoughts that don't hold anymore bitter hues.

he loves you more than he loves himself, it's obviously not healthy but he doesn't have to think about that right now. because he's with you now, curling into your never ending warmth.

[manjirowned]

cw: cheating or hinting at it or some kind of fuck up. not really specified. mikey is ill. not properly written. just idk. mikey suicidal ideation a little bit bro it’s just brain stuff

manjiro thinks there’s something inside of him. he thinks he’s sick— like an illness, like a bug crawling along his stomach lining and making its way up to his brain. and he spent a long, long time trying to figure out what it is. but now, across from you, he thinks he knows.

“mikey,” your voice is thick with the tone it normally has. you are no different. nothing about you has changed. you are loving, and a little shrill, and you’re you— the way you always have been. so he can’t figure out why your voice sounds like nails. “is it true?”

you’re naive, and his hands ache to reach for your arms, bring them around himself, and find a comfort inside your embrace. he wants you to fix him. instead, he says nothing. he watches you deflate, crumble into the couch he bought and sift away like nothing because of him.

“i don’t understand,” he knows now, watching tears prick in your eyes, that it’s just him. he’s always had this pounding in the back of his head, this symbol in his mind that he was the token for his issues, but he searched and he searched and he searched for something to blame. “you wouldn’t do that to me.”

and he wants to agree. because before he did it, he was sure he never would, too. he finds himself just as confused as you are— he wants to cry the way you’ve started to, but manjiro sano doesn’t deserve that. manjiro sano does not deserve to feel bad for himself.

“i did.” you sob. he feels sick. mikey has always known he’s destroyed things, but he never knew it was like this. he could stomach it— little broken promises, or snapping one of emma’s heels, or the fear he watched people hold for him. and the bigger stuff, the stuff that made him want to tear himself apart inside out, he shut out just as fast. manjiro can’t change himself, or stop this, or figure out why he’s doing it, but he’s gotten okay at forgetting he cares.

but while you sob, he feels sick. and he knows how bad he is, he knows how horrible he is, he wants to tell you he knows there’s this rottenness festering in his blood and clotting it, but he doesn’t deserve that. he doesn’t deserve to sway your self reliance.

“do what you have to.” mikey can’t figure out why he keeps ruining things. he stopped believing in fate when his brother died— not like he really believed in it much beforehand—, but sometimes he questions if he was designed to be a piece of shit, or if he’s just a piece of shit.

he hopes you’ll hit him. he hopes, in the far part of his mind, maybe you’ll kill him. mikey destroys everything, but for some reason he can’t destroy himself. he waits like an awestruck lover for someone else to do it. you never do, though. you sit on the couch, body defeated and useless, and you let yourself cry. he doesn’t say sorry.

it’s awhile before you talk again. your cheeks are fuller, rounder and swollen and tear stained. mikey tries to memorize them. he doesn’t think he deserves that.

“okay.” he’s had a lot of last moments with people. they’re not always predictable, but this one is. “i know, mikey,” his eyes close. he wants you to stop talking. “i know you’ve got— a lot. i empathize with that, and i’ve always tried to support you.” he needs you to stop talking.

he wants you to yell. he wants you to tell him you hate him.

“i expected the same.” he’s going to be sick. when he opens his eyes, you’re standing. he needs to get whatever is inside of him out.

“i know,” he surprises himself with that, and he sounds so weak. and he is. you give him a watery smile. he wonders why you love him.

“i know you’re sorry.” and this is so much worse than you thinking he’s as bad as he knows he is. he feels like a broken record, spindle stuck on the same thread of vinyl, but his mind has been repeating the same thing his whole life. “i just can’t see it ever being okay.” he can’t, either.

when you walk away, his skin shatters. his eyes meld to nothing, he turns into the mess he’s always been, he swallows as hard as he can to try to dissipate the lump in his throat. he thinks when he figures out why he’s like this— why he does what he does, why he ruins everything he loves, what he needs to take out of him to be okay— maybe he’ll give you a proper apology. but for now, he looks at the door and he crumbles the same way he made you.

[soulsballad]

he's gone before she can even register what he's said. but she hears 'kenchin, diary, christmas', and she's chasing after him within a second to spare. " no, you traitor! " hopping on one foot, she removes her slipper and throws it after him. " draken's not been good this year! he gets nothing for christmas, mikey, leave my diary alone! "

@soulsballad asked: " mikey, " emma's soothing voice comes as she rests her hand on her brother's shoulder, looking over at him, almost sadly. " i'll miss you when you go, but santa needs his elves for christmas. " a short joke. yes. a short joke. " i'll see you after christmas. bring me something nice back from the north pole. "

Oh they were starting shit, were they? Two can play at this game. "I'll miss you too sis!" Mikey chirped. "Just got to get Kenchin's present before I leave. Santa said he's been real good so he's getting your diary for Christmas!" Bolting he took off towards her room to run and steal said item before she could catch up with him!

[soulsballad]

tag drop; tokyo revengers. ( p. 1 )

[ereminsdiary]

pairing ☽ takemichi hanagaki x fem!reader

warnings ☽ smut, infidelity

w/c ☽ 701

a/n ☽ i haven’t posted on here in a long time but i’ve had the worst ‘michi brainrot & need to get this out of my system. i love u hina but i wont ur mans <3 // not edited bc only losers do that

takemichi hanagaki loved his girlfriend. he loved her dearly so he wasn’t sure why he felt like something was missing. maybe it was his desire to experience. he’d only ever been with hina since his middle school years, if you’re not counting his brief encounter with emma sano which didn’t ever lead anywhere.

maybe that’s how he found himself here after a fight he had with hina, in your tiny rundown apartment lying above you in your bed, chest to chest. your arms wrapped around his neck bringing him impossibly closer as he buried himself balls deep inside your pussy. grinding his pelvis against your clit with every thrust back inside you.

it wasn’t a fight worth remembering in the long run; it was probably hina getting on his case about cleaning up after himself again. but he felt suffocated in his relationship. he needed air, needed a change of scenery, so he went to a bar and that’s where he met you. you let him vent all his feelings and frustrations out. you made him feel heard and in that moment that was all it took for him to take you up on your invitation back to your place, just the two of you.

he didn’t want to admit that after 12 years he had simply grown out of his relationship. or maybe he was just a shitty boyfriend and a shitty person, he wasn’t sure and he didn’t care to figure it out at this very moment. he would let the guilt set in later while he figured out a story to tell hina as to why he was arriving home so late in the night, smelling of booze and most likely another woman’s perfume.

in the moment he was too focused on the euphoric feeling of having your slick warm walls hug his cock, sucking him back in each time he pulled away. your sweet pants and high pitched breathy moans echoing in his ears as he buried his face in your neck and pressed himself further into you.

his hair stuck up in the back of his head every which way from your fingers constantly tugging and threading through the strands and bright red nail marks ran down his back. you wouldn’t leave any marks on his neck though, no. his back was easy to hide, the marks would be gone in a few days tops and everything would be back to normal but how was he supposed to explain hickeys littering his neck? he couldn’t, so you wouldn’t.

you knew he was close to his orgasm the way his thrusts into you picked up in pace. your bodies slick with sweat rubbing together. his cock head’s constant hammering into the same sensitive spot inside you had you quickly approaching the edge, sending you toppling over with little-to-no warning.

you became impossibly tight around him as you came, making him let out whiny groans as he continued to fuck you through your high. he wasn’t long after you though. your wanton moans being the cherry on top to send him spiraling. he held your hips still as he pushed himself into you one last time and shot his load into your cunt, only pulling himself out when he was sure every drop was in you and his cock began to soften.

the only sound to fill the room afterwards was his quick shuffling around trying to find his clothes. he wasn’t sure what to say, or if he even wanted to say anything at all.

“well, you know where i live so if you ever need someone to let your frustrations out on again you can come over. and here’s one more thing,” you reached towards your bedside table to get a scrap of paper and pen, quickly scribbling your number and name down to hand over to him. “my number if you ever want to just reach out. see you, hanagaki.”

takemichi hesitated before taking the torn piece of paper from your outstretched hand and placing it in his wallet. he uttered a quick thanks and let himself out of your dingy apartment. you both knew this wouldn’t be the last time you’d see each other.

[bontenten]

Shape of Petals

01 Spring Winds

Pairing: Sanzu Haruchiyo x f!reader WC: 4.4k Chapter Tags: historical au, royalty au, enemies-to-lovers, patronizing lines, threats, poor rabbit the princess is a menace

A/N: Whooo the beginning of another long journey~ Let’s see what’s going to happen :3  

Masterlist || Taglist (form)

Spring in the palace is always a beautiful sight: flowering trees are displaying their blooms, birds flying in and out are busy feeding their young, and new faces of palace servants can be seen following their superiors. After living all of your life within the palace walls, you think that this scenery is one of the best seasons that you have seen in a long time, hopefully, a good sign. The threads of sunlight cast a gentle warmth. At least, with the warmer temperature, your father's health has some chances of recovering. King Sano has been growing weaker by the day. Since last summer, all of the court affairs have been passed onto the Crown Prince Shinichirou, your eldest brother.

As you and the entourage of six maids approach the Southern Book Hall, one of the maids quickens her pace ahead to announce your arrival to the guards stationed at the entrance. The guards salute you. "Please go in, Princess. His highness has been waiting for you."

Your second brother, Prince Manjirou, has been helping Shinichiro with some external affairs, often spending his time outside of the palace. Just recently, he finished a month-long trip to the Northern mountains and returned late last night.

"Brother!" you call out cheerfully, eager to see him after a long time. Each of the maids stationed along the hall curtsey to you while you skip past them and rush into the main hall. You find him at the main seat, steamed bun in one hand, a book in the other, completely focused on anything but you. He doesn't even acknowledge you despite the ruckus you make while coming in. You're fiddling with your thumbs, waiting for him to say something.

"It hasn't even been that long," Manjirou drawls. "Don't even recognize your brother?"

You hastily curtsey (more like a quick nod), not caring that it isn't low enough or long enough to carry sufficient respect. "Not at all!" you quip. "I have so much respect for you, but it seems like you are too busy to spend any time with lil' me."

You cross your arms until he finally gives you his full attention.

"What do you mean, too busy for our little princess?" he questions with a chuckle. "I'm still tired from the trip, but I'm still meeting you today. I haven't even seen Emma yet, you know."

You turn your back to him, a full pout on your face as you continue to jest. "Then, I shall not disturb your rest. And you can go find Sister Emma before calling for me. She misses you way more anyway."

"Alright, alright." Manjirou shakes his head in exasperation. You are utterly spoilt and what can anyone do? He and Shinichirou completely enable you. Manjirou pats the cushion next to him. "Come here, I have some good stuff for you."

"How good?" You turn around and your eyes zero in on a soft object in his hand. The fluffy rabbit nuzzles its head into Manjirou's sleeves, nose twitching.

Manjirou gently scratches behind its ears. "Pity that I spent so much time looking for this Frost Hare. Even Emma doesn't have something rare like this." He sighs loudly, a hand rubbing his temples. "Guess Baji or Chifuyu will appreciate this more. Ah, even Tora showed interest. Hm.... But there's only one rabbit, which of those three then?"

Manjirou hides his laughter when he hears fabric rustle and feet shuffle around the floor. Suddenly, you're right next to him, tugging on his arm. "Good brother, bestest brother! I want him! Just give him to me!"

"It was intended for you anyway," he says, placing the soft creature in your arms. The hare's fur is impossibly soft and fluffy, you can't help but run your fingers across its back over and over again.

"Is that all you have for me?" you tease. "Out for a whole month and all I have is a little bunny I could have just gotten myself—Ow! Why flick my forehead?!"

"The youngest one is always the greediest of the bunch, huh?" Manjirou laughs. Gotten yourself? Any idea just how good of a runner is a Frost Hare? Took them days to tame the tiny beast so it would not give you any trouble. "I do have one more thing for you."

You were merely jesting, but hearing him tell you that there really is something else also piques your interest. Ignoring the throb on your forehead, you ask, "What is it?"

"Sanzu," Manjirou suddenly calls out.

What's that? You have never heard of anything called that before. Is it some novelty from a different kingdom? "San—What?"

A figure appears swiftly out of nowhere, crouching down in front of you and Manjirou with one knee. Where did he? You didn't even hear footsteps at all. It's as if he emerged from thin air instead.

"Your highness," he greets in a deep and level voice. His head is kept down, body completely unmoving. How terrifying must this person's martial arts level be? The hand around Manjirou's arm subconsciously tightens a bit. Even the rabbit in your other arm can feel your unease.

Manjirou gently pats your hand. "This is Sanzu, one of the special guards that I have been training. He's yours now. Sanzu, rise and greet your master."

Sanzu stands up, still keeping his gaze on the floor, but you can see that he has a mask covering the bottom half of his face. Long, platinum hair falls over his broad shoulders. He keeps his arms circled in front and bows towards your direction. "Princess."

"Brother Mikey..." you mumble with uncertainty. Your eyes travel from Sanzu to look at your brother.

"After the last assassination attempt, I'm just not comfortable leaving you without any protection. Sanzu is someone that I can completely trust. I'm—"

"You just want someone to spy on me and keep me from doing anything fun!" you accuse angrily, holding the rabbit out to the side. A maid hurries to take the creature from you.

"What? No—"

"Well Emma doesn't have a babysitter like that, does she!"

"Emma knows martial arts and besides she has—"

"Oh, so now you guys just think I'm useless now? Why didn't I learn how to fight, then?"

"That's not it", Manjirou exasperates. The littlest ones...

Right when Manjirou is at his wit's end with how to deal with another one of your tantrums, a burst of laughter rings through the hall. "Who dares to suggest that our most beloved princess is useless? Mikey, what did you do this time?"

"Brother Shinichirou!" You jump up and bound over to your eldest brother, entering the room. Linking an arm around his, you point at Manjirou and huff. "This evil monkey wants to put me with a babysitter!"

"Sanzu's not a babysitter," Manjirou argues. "Why can't you listen to reason."

"So you admit you're an evil monkey then?"

Manjirou opens his mouth and closes it again. He also crosses his arms and huffs. At least Shinichirou is here. He'll take care of everything.

Shinichirou gently straightens your posture, adjusting the collar and shoulder of your dress so it's smooth. "Manjirou is only doing this with the best intentions. I also agree with him. You don't know any martial arts, and we nearly lost you last year. That's not something I ever want to go through ever again, you hear? Father is still not recovered, I can't have anything happen to you too."

"But..." You see his dark eyes, tired with dark circles underneath, grin into a smile. The hands resting on your shoulders are tight. Maybe this is the end-line of your actions. First agree, then I'll figure out something later, you decide. "Okay, I'll listen to you, Brother Shinichirou."

He nods, pleased, and leads you over to where Sanzu is standing. "Sanzu," Shinichiro commands, stern and assertive.

Sanzu quickly takes a respective kneel. "At your service, your highness."

"From this moment henceforth, Sanzu, you will only have one master. You will protect her with your life and heed her words above all else, including that of the highest authorities."

You breathe out a quiet gasp and look quizzically at Shinichirou, then Manjirou. "Brother?" Surely, they do not mean to have Sanzu swear a death pledge to you? One where his loyalty to you falls above his oaths to the crown?

This time it is Manjirou who speaks up. "Sanzu, do you take this pledge?"

A servant comes up with a tray where a bowl filled with sacred liquor sits and presents it to Sanzu.

Sanzu has been quick to notice everything: each unsure look you send Manjirou's way, the faintest step backward you take when he addresses you, and the unmistakable spoiled attitude that comes from being a sheltered princess. The irritation mixed with fear is written clearly on your face, although his opinions...judgments of you, are completely invisible. That isn't because he has a mask covering his face, but rather honed through countless years of training and practice. On the battlefield, one whose emotions can be read should be ready to die—not that you will because you are soon-to-be his responsibility. As disgruntled and unwilling he may be, even unsure why out of all of the fifth division this task falls onto him, Sanzu's loyalty to the brothers is unwavering.

Sanzu unsheathes a small dagger that's tucked in his belt and makes a quick slice across his left palm. Forming a fist, a few droplets of crimson drip into the bowl. Then with both hands, he picks up the bowl and begins his pledge. "I, Sanzu Haruchiyo, pledge my loyalty to her highness. With this blood, I give my life to her. I shall protect her and honor her words as absolute until my last breath."

It's your turn now, the last step of this pledge is to accept his loyalty. At this closer distance, you can see that Sanzu's lashes are exceptionally long. When he blinks, they are almost like fans. For the first time, Sanzu's eyes look up and make contact with yours before closing in a grin. You note that his eyes are a shade of crystal blue, beautiful but ice cold. You wonder if he'll actually listen to your words as promised. With his skills, you have no doubt that he could end you in an instant and make it look like an accident.

Manjirou clears his throat, taking you out of your frozen state. You bite the inside of your cheek and take a step closer to Sanzu. He is completely still, even the liquid in the bowl remains motionless. The moment you take the bowl from his hold, the liquid inside begins to ripple and swirl again. "S-Sanzu Haruchiyo. As the second princess of the Sano family, I accept your pledge."

The liquor is cold and the moment it runs down your throat, you feel warmth spreading all throughout your body. Just thinking about the masked warrior's blood mixed in makes you feel a wave of unease, almost like this part of him now within you could stab you from inside out. You put the empty bowl back on the tray and dab your lips dry with a handkerchief. One day at a time, you suppose.

"Good." Shinichirou smiles and makes his way to the main seating. "Why don't you go have a break now," he tells you. "I still have many things I want to talk to your second brother about."

He means that it's time for you to leave. "Can't I listen in? I only just arrived too..."

"Don't be difficult," Manjirou says. "We'll see each other again soon. Why don't you go show Emma your new rabbit?"

Seeing both men in the room giving you a courteous smile, you respond back with one of your own, even though disappointment is evident on your brows. You bid them both goodbye and leave with Sanzu and the remaining entourage following behind.

--

Normally, the person following closest behind you is your most trusted handmaiden, but currently, there's nothing but an ominous presence instead. You don't have to turn around to imagine Sanzu, in his navy-black clothing, sword ready in its hilt, practically breathing down your back.

"Princess, are we in a hurry?" Willow whispers.

Fool! You mentally scold her, steps picking up pace more and more. "This is my walking speed! You have a problem with that? Sister Emma is still waiting for me."

Someone scoffs.

How dare he disrespect you? Oh, this is the perfect excuse to get rid of him. "Sanzu, didn't anyone ever teach—"

You turn to scold him, make him grovel on the dirt and apologize, but your fingers end up pointing straight at Willow's nose.

"P-Princess!"

"Where did he go?"

"I..I didn't see! He was right here, and then..."

"Did you see him?" You ask another maid and another, but all of them shake their heads.

"Where's my rabbit?" you bite out between your teeth. The maid carrying the rabbit hands the soft bundle over to you. Clutching the creature to your chest, you continue down the path towards Princess Emma's palace.

--

"I was wondering who was coming." Emma leans her weight against one of the pillars at the entrance of her palace hall, Pearlescent Clouds. "Did someone bother you? I must say, that overreaction of yours is exactly why people pick on you, you know."

"Sister Emma!" you whine. "Keep teasing me and I won't tell you how my audience with Brother Mikey went."

"Okay, no more, let's go in. I'll send someone to the kitchen to bring some snacks over."

"That's more like it! I'm starving!"

"Be patient, don't eat that adorable rabbit of yours."

The rabbit freezes, as if it understands what's going on. Its ears twitch and flap once. "Emma!"

Emma makes one last attempt to reach for the bunny nuzzled in your arms. Each time her hands come close, the rabbit seems ready to escape.

"See? You scared him!"

"Okay, my fault it is." Emma laughs heartily and walks in right after you.

Emma's palace is beautifully decorated, the artistry of the complex lattice designs diffuses the sunlight shining in.  It makes the whole room feel like a gem, a pearl within the oyster that is the building. Shinichiro really does have a knack for choosing names; and no doubt, its splendor is more than enough proof of how much Emma is beloved. No other princess would be given such a beautiful palace. Of course, you personally think that your living quarters might be comparable.

You sit next to her at the main seat. She takes one look at you and bursts into laughter again.

"Mikey really doesn't hold back," she says through a giggle. "It's practically a little bump already!"

You try covering your forehead with your hand and complain, "Stop teasing me, Sister!"

Emma wipes a tear from laughing too hard. Once through with her amusement, she sends a look to a maid who curtseys and quickly goes off to follow Emma's instructions. The maid soon returns with a peeled, boiled egg.

"Come here," Emma instructs.

You scoot yourself closer and lay your head down on her lap. She clears a random stray hair over your forehead and presses the warm egg over where Manjirou had flicked you.

"Ow!"

"It's not that bad," Emma says. "Cuts and bruises from training hurt way worse than this, you know."

"Well, I don't train, so I wouldn't know." The only pain you can think of off the top of your head comes from eating too much resulting in a stomachache or when it's your time of the month. And now, there's also him.

"So tell me, how's Brother Mikey? You did go and see him, right?"

"I don't want to talk about that evil monkey." You pout and turn your head away.

Emma laughs. "Then what do you want to talk about? Why you were upset on the way here?"

"Because of Sanzu!" you grumble, feeling the fiery annoyance flaring back up. It takes everything not to kick around and cause more ruckus in the palace. You sit up and slouch over the wooden tea table.

"Who's Sanzu?"

"The guard Brother Shinichiro and Brother Mikey gave me," you answer with boredom.

"Gave?"

"Yea, guess he made an oath and all. It's so gross, I tell you, had to drink this really strong liquor that had his blood in it too!" You tell her what happened in the hall, about Manjirou and the rabbit, a few tidbits of his travels that you remember, the moment when Shinichirou enters, and then mentally retching at the whole ritual. It doesn't take long for you to realize that Emma hasn't said a word at all. "What can they possibly need to talk about? Didn't they already go meet Father yesterday when Brother Mikey came back? They really don't have any time for me. Emma? Emma? Emmma."

She blinks and turns her attention back on you with a smile. "Sorry, I was just thinking about some things. Dear sister, you shouldn't take that pledge so lightly."

"Well, it's not like either of us wanted this. It's all Brother's fault. Besides, what are words going to do?"

Emma's face turns tight. "You're right. They are just words, but..."

She pauses for a moment and ponders on what to say next.

"Respect goes both ways, you know. Loyalty comes after that. You say that he's just there to spy on you, but you have to know that's not true. If Brother Mikey and Brother Shinichiro wanted someone to just watch you all the time, they could very well not tell you. They could easily assign guards that follow their orders. They are handing the potential of loyalty to you, do you understand?"

"Yea, yea." You wave away at Emma's lecture and pick up another pastry. "Wow, this one is really good. I should have my kitchen make some of these too."

"If you like it, I'll have Willow bring some back with you," Emma answers, before changing the subject back. "Where's Sanzu now? I didn't see him when you first arrived."

You shrug. "He ran away, he's just a lazy ass." You try to reach for the other plate, but Emma pulls it away. You find her unamused frown looking at you. Finally, you relent. "Okay, well, I guess if I call for him, he'll show up. It's bizarre I tell you."

Emma raises an eyebrow and pushes the plate back in front of you.

"Sanzu, my sister wants to see you. Sanzu, Sanzu. Became thin air, did you?" you call out, picking at which snack will end in your mouth. Emma's eyes are following the lines of the beams at the ceiling, focused and sharp, looking for any movements.

"Your highness." There he is. Sanzu appears out of nowhere.

"Creep," you mutter, barely louder than an airy breath. You almost wish that he did not show up. After disappearing earlier, why couldn't he just leave altogether? You still have no idea where he went earlier and when he came back.

"Shush," Emma scolds. Her eyes narrow as she carefully analyzes Sanzu from top to bottom. His hair, his eyes. She can see why you might be uneasy next to him, with his mask covering. It does remind her of agents that would only operate at night. Although Emma wouldn't consider herself a martial arts expert, she is more than capable to estimate Sanzu's skill.

He must have been hidden on the beams, she concludes. But when did he get up there, how, and exactly where he hid...even Emma cannot come to an answer.

"How long are you going to have him kneeling," Emma asks you, sending a glance Sanzu's way.

Why is Emma so focused on him? "He's more than capable of kneeling around. Like a statue, he doesn't even move one bit."

Emma harshly calls your name, and you finally relent. "Get up Sanzu, it's fine."

Sanzu masks his presence very well. Each of his movements is swift, with nothing wasted at all. If you did not tell Emma of him, she would not have realized there was another person in the hall at all. Now that Sanzu is standing before her, she can finally feel a very slight aura coming from him. Bloodlust.

"Since you were under Prince Manjirou, I don't need to test you to know that your ability is first-class. With skill like yours, how come I have never seen you around?" Emma questions Sanzu, circling behind him. She tries to think of each of the warriors she has seen Mikey train when she would pass by the training grounds. None of them reminded her of this man in front.

"I was from the fifth division," Sanzu answers. "It's not odd for your highness to have never seen me before."

When you first mentioned that Manjirou gave you a guard, Emma considered challenging said person to a duel, but that thought is now completely out the window. In terms of capabilities, Sanzu outranks her, and not by a little. Fifth Division. Intelligence and Assassination. The members of this division are both skilled and ruthless. Even the other generals would probably have some difficulty against Sanzu. Emma has only ever encountered them twice before. In terms of trust, Emma can only put her faith in Manjirou and Shinichirou in making the right decision.

"Since you're from the fifth division, I believe in your abilities, but I also want to leave you with a few words if you'll be willing to listen."

"My ears are open to any criticism you may have, your highness."

Emma nods and continues, "My little sister is the youngest of us all. Over the years, she's been pampered and coddled." She shoots you a glare when you open your mouth to try and argue. "If she has any behaviors or words that cross the line, I apologize in her stead."

Sanzu's senses tighten. What is Princess Emma trying to get to? Each conversation, every action has its own reason. This entire time, Emma has been doing nothing but scrutinizing him, but instead, she's taking a fully diminutive stance with her words.

"The princess is my master." Sanzu answers, grip tight around the scabbard. "There is no reason for any apologies for her actions."

"That's true," Emma affirms. "It's as you say, she is your master. Still, it's difficult not to be offended by her at times. I hope you'll be patient."

"Of course, your highness."

"And my final word." Emma steps closer to Sanzu, so the following lines are kept between the two of them. "I don't know the details of what goes on in the fifth division, but you are no longer a part of it. I don't trust you, but Prince Manjirou trusts you, and I trust my brother. This bloodlust reeking from you, I hope you control it fully lest it scares my little sister. She is not your interrogation or assassination target, but the second princess of the Toman Kingdom. You cannot let any harm come to her, body or mind. Remember that well, Sanzu."

There it is. After the whole trip walking and talking in circles, that is Princess Emma's main objective.

Sanzu bows. "I'll remember it well, your highness."

You're beginning to grow impatient in your seat watching Sanzu and Emma have some sort of secret conversation. "Are you two done yet? Geez. Emma, if you like him, I'll leave him to you. I don't want him anyway."

Emma spares Sanzu a last glance before making her way back to her seat next to you. "Stop jesting. I was just a little curious about his background, that's all."

You nod, accepting the answer. "If there's nothing else, Sanzu, you can go now."

"Yes, your highness." Sanzu bows and takes a few audible steps back before exiting the hall through the door.

That's new.

"Alright, it's about time for you to leave, right?" Emma asks. "I already have the maids give Willow the pastries that you like."

"What? But I feel like I just got here!" you complain.

"And finished almost everything on the table," Emma points out. She adjusts a weighty hairpin holding up her coiled hairstyle. "Time to go walk and digest. Do you want a stomachache later again?"

You watch Emma struggle with the pin and reach out to help her set it in place. "Emma, normally, you just keep your hair simple, what's with the change today?"

Emma's maid lets out a quiet giggle off to the side and decides to tease her lady a bit. "That's because she heard Prince Manjirou returned last night. Our princess has been so busy trying on different outfits."

Your eyes widen with devilish realization. "Okay Emma, you want to shoo me away so you can meet with your little sweetheart, huh?"

The maids' lips all curve up. Many are unsuccessful at hiding their amusements behind their sleeves.

"Aww, are you waiting for your Kenny-boy?"

"Stop it!" Emma cries out, hiding her blushing face with a handkerchief. "That's not true. Stop coming up with rumors!"

"Sparrow, tell me. Does Draken have an audience with my sister today?"

"Well, there isn't a formal audience, per se..." Sparrow looks at Emma who's glaring at her and then back at you whose eyes are full of curiosity. Sorry, Princess, she thinks. "But General Ryuuguji did send a letter asking for a meeting by the pavilion. I think the time should be around—"

"Sparrow!" Emma interrupts with a groan. Your hideous snickers are already mocking her.

"See, everyone with eyes and half a brain knows. You look at him like I look at my desserts: like you're gonna eat him." You lean closer to her and whisper, "And do the unspeakable nasty."

You quickly jump to your feet and skip down the hall, as Emma yells out your full name. "Willow, let's go! I don't want to be third-wheel next to two lovebirds."

"Yes, Princess." Willow giggles, following right behind you.

The rest of the maids following you are waiting outside of the palace. When they see you at the entrance, they collectively curtsey-bow to you. There's another person as well—Sanzu, leaning against one of the huge red pillars, arms crossed over his sword and eyes closed. His long lashes flutter when he opens his eyes after hearing the maids greet you.

"Are you going back to your palace, Princess?" he asks. His eyes are waning like crescent moons, as though he is smiling underneath that mask. A breeze blows through the courtyard of the Pearlescent Clouds, lifting his hair in the wind.

Still creepy, you conclude, walking past him without a word. Don't think that because you are on my siblings' good side that I'll accept you.

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