#THE NAGUMO COLLAR HOLD ON THE RIGHT

[alienposadismo]

[wannabepoeticischiya]

as long as you'd let me

ao3: as long as you'd let me pairing: nagumo yoichi x f! reader genre: romance wc: 1.7k status: one shot

If anything—Nagumo was the one who thought himself fortunate enough to be granted the chance to be loved by her. Everybody wants her—all the heavens wonder what it would have been like to love her.

And he was the only one lucky enough to do both.

When she met him all those years ago, [Name] couldn't understand why she felt so drawn to him. She could never wrap her head around the idea that tagged along when his image crossed her mind. 

There was nothing special about him. Absolutely nothing. He was a face in the crowd. Someone who just so happened to be there when she was standing in the middle of the ballroom. He was someone who coincidentally just wanted to blend in—a dance was a redirecting tactic so it seems. 

So why did his eyes look at her like that? How could he dare to look at her with all the stars in the sky and say it was nothing more than convenience? How could he play off this—this... this incessant drumming inside her chest that had her heart wanting to run out of her body and straight to him? How could he look at her like that? 

How could he stand there and look like loving her would be his honor? That being on the receiving end of her adoration would be enough to last him this lifetime? Or that being the guy whom she harbored affection for would be the greatest thing he'd be blessed with in this life and all the next?

But he did. 

He dared to dream beyond that moment, and it brought him to where he stood now. As if fate had a lasting impression on them. 

Nagumo had met her again but this time, he was sure—this time he was sure he'd get it right. 

"Nagumo!" A shrill voice called, running as fast as his legs could take him to the assassin who stood before the windows overlooking the gardens. "[Name]—"

At the mention of her name, he had already closed the distance that separated him from the informant.

"What—" his head turned in an uncomfortable position to glare at the man, "did you do to my wife?" His voice was frosted, as if they were plunged into the depths of the oceans that housed all his hostility. 

The small man looked at Nagumo in fright, not expecting the assassin to hold his weapon against his person who only ever wanted to tell Nagumo the whereabouts of his beloved. He should have known something was off when his other superior, Shishiba, had asked for his assistance when the blond man had once never even bothered to accept any help from anyone before. The informant thought it would be a simple job, one that would end just like all his other errands: convey the information and be done with it. 

Now it seems that his life would be done with before he could even finish saying what needed to be said.

"She—she," Nagumo lifted the man from the ground by the collar, inching the weapon impossibly closer to the area on his neck that could sniff out his life. "She's by the gardens—"

He couldn't even finish the rest of his sentence when the tattooed assassin had already taken off, disappearing behind the corridors with his yukata fluttering in the spring gale. The open window was the only remnant that he was even in the room, and of course the frightened worker who just wanted to do his job. 

---

"So," Nagumo gazed at her softly, raising his eyebrow as a gesture for her to continue. "What are you doing up there?"

[Name] looked down at him from the tree branch she sat on. "Oh, you know... just admiring the clouds." 

Earlier, Shishiba had asked her the same query, except her answer was far different from the one she gave her husband just now. 

‘Why are you sitting up there?’ Shishiba would ask.

‘Waiting for my husband to come by.’ She would answer.

Perhaps Shishiba had informed Yoichi and he came rushing here like his life depended on it. 

Nagumo leaned against the trunk and continued to observe her figure from below, threads of [h/c] waltzing to the tune of the breeze, leaves that fluttered across the space that separated them painted fleeting shadows over her face, the heavens housed within those vibrant [e/c] irises. 

"Why'd you marry me, Yoichi?"

Her voice held a certain softness to it, as if she feared the answer that was yet to come. Did she think of herself as someone unbefitting of him? Does she label herself unworthy? Or was she in doubt of his affection? 

She shouldn't. 

If anything—Nagumo was the one who thought himself fortunate enough to be granted the chance to be loved by her. Everybody wants her—all the heavens wonder what it would have been like to love her. And he was the only one lucky enough to do both. 

I love you, he would say. And I'll love you for as long as you'd let me. 

"What are you talking about, dear?" he smiles, half a mind wanting to climb the tree and be nearer to her, the other half wanting to just stay put and see how nature pales in comparison to her. 

"What makes me so special, huh?" [Name] leaned in further to the tree trunk, side-eyeing her proclaimed husband, mirroring the same affection on her face as he had held for her. 

Silence was left to drown in the weight of her words, because as he was—Nagumo was unsure with what to say. 

He could have named a thousand things—and he reckons a thousand more after that... and it still wouldn't have been enough. 

It meant more to him, that day, that moment, all those moons ago. 

When destiny tied her fate to his. The day the heavens smiled down on him and allowed him the chance to hold her hand. To dance with her under the guise of convenience. 

She never knew that. And Nagumo was most certain that she never will. How could someone as great as her even remember the face of someone like him? Not when so many sunsets have already passed them by. 

[Name] released a breath of air, eyebrows creasing as a look of anxiousness colored the hills of her face at his lack of feedback. 

For the next minutes or so, she didn't bother filling the unnerving silence left by his unresponsiveness; opting to just permit the sound of rustling leaves to whisper melodies into her open ears.

"Nothing."

What?

[Name] craned her head to meet his stare, whether due to her being startled by his sudden answer or the meaning of what he just replied.

And she thought to herself, was there a proper way to sick a husband in the face when he tells you that there was nothing special about you? 

"There is absolutely nothing special about you, my love," was his answer, smiling at the woman perched on the top of a tree branch as if his statement did not just cause a turbulent downpour of emotions in her heart. And he even has the nerve to repeat such things! And call her love! Has he relinquished all shame?

I may not have the most experienced dating life out there but I'm not so much of an idiot to not know that those words are not what you say to your wife! Even if we are married for less than a year!

"Tch. So typical of you to say—" [Name] rolled her eyes at him and looked away, crossing her arms over her chest as she directed her attention to the ducks swimming around the pond.

"It's just that—" he began, tapping the tree trunk in a karate style way and holding his arms out, "without you..." the grown plant started emitting creaking noises and soon enough it landed on the ground with a very noticeable thud, "nothing is special." He whispered, holding the woman who once sat on the now fallen tree.

"Now, let's go back inside... shall we?" he grins.

[Name] couldn't comprehend why she felt such emotions for him. 

Yoichi was always so spontaneous and straightforward, he spoke when he felt the need to correct someone and he did so without remorse. 

She didn't understand, there were so many people out there who are better than him and yet... her heart continuously longed for his attention, the kind of attention that she once had though she will never get. 

In that light, during once upon a time, she had so badly wanted to give up on him... find someone better—still, the more she pried into his soul to uncover his flaws, the more his imperfection came flooding into her sight... the harder she fell.

Every breath he took was magic. 

To [Name], every word he spoke was like a spell, hypnotizing her deeper into loving someone like him.

After years of questioning why she had fallen for someone like Nagumo, it soon became clear that she didn't treasure him just because he was good-looking, gods he had such a horrible fashion sense when he danced with her all those years ago... [Name] did not cherish him as she had now just because he had a nice smile, or a certain way with words that would leave her flustered or annoyed. 

No. 

Sure, she loved all those things about him and she knew that she would come to feel the same way many, many steps into the future, but those were something that could be seen by the world. Those were things that people could see—traits that others were capable of discerning at a single glance.

[Name] liked him because he was flawed, his imperfections were proof that even someone that seemed almost perfect as him, could feel hurt... could be capable of needing someone.

And I once had hoped that the someone that he would need could be me...

So how fortunate am I that I have you here? That you turn to me when you are hurt, or scared, or in need of someone to lean on? 

It was nice to feel wanted—even more so, it feels nice when you are loved. But how many people can say that they feel safe? That they feel secure and seen; they cast away all the masks, all the faces shown to the world, every wall is still held up high but a door is wide open for you to enter. To see all the things growing in the gardens of their hearts, and know that you are trusted with something they held dear.

Nagumo could thank all his stars, every wish he had ever cast into the galaxies... but deep down, [Name] knew, she would always be the lucky one.

just a little something because I just realized I haven't posted this month ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀) I legitimately have no idea what turn this took bcz it's past midnight when I bulldozed my way through this. the short something story I was working on for Miyuki Kazuya mylovethelightofmylifebooboobearhoneybunchsugarplumappleofmyeyeicingonmycupcake got a little out of hand and now I'm definitely sure I can't post it by the end of the month because well—well it's not finished and also because my studies are killing me ｡°(°.◜ᯅ◝°)°｡ I hope you enjoy this ❤️ I love Nagumo. ps. to the anon who had requested to me, I promise you it is on the way (pls believe me (つ﹏⊂))

[yvesssssssss]

Imagine Shin, Nagumo, Shishiba, and Heisuke getting pulled into their bathroom, a makeup headband given to them (plus points if it has a bow or bunny ears on the top/just smth cutsey in general), and now they have to do skincare with their S/O cuz they said so 🔥 (I think I'm cooking)

Operation: clear skin

COOKED, SEARED, SAUTÉED.

I think this is one of the fics I've written that i actually like the most😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏

Shin asakura

Shin doesn’t even get a chance to protest. One moment he’s on the couch reading, the next, he’s being dragged into the bathroom by the wrist.

“W-Wait—! What’s happening?”

“You’re doing skincare with me. You need it. Your pores are crying.”

“…My pores are what—?”

Now he’s standing there, looking at himself in the mirror with a pink headband on. A pink headband with glittery bunny ears. Shin is so red in the face he might spontaneously combust.

“You could’ve warned me,” he mumbles as you gently rub cleanser onto his cheeks.

“I did. You were ignoring me.”

He flinches at the cold water but lets out a tiny sigh when you pat his face with a warm towel.

By the time the moisturizer is being dabbed on, he’s mellowed out completely.

“…This is kinda nice.”

You smirk. “Told you.”

He looks at you, then at his reflection.

“…Can I wear the blue bunny ears next time?”

Nagumo yoichi

He’s grinning way too hard as you drag him by the collar into the bathroom.

“Ohhh, is this couple bonding time? Baby, I thought you’d never ask. Do we kiss between each serum layer or—”

“You shut your pretty mouth and wear the bear-ear headband.”

“You got it, boss.”

He adjusts the cute brown headband with the little round ears and even poses in the mirror.

“Oh, I look adorable. This should be illegal.”

“Yoichi, sit down so I can put the clay mask on.”

“Do I get to put one on you too?”

You pause. “…Fine. But only if you don’t draw a mustache on my face like last time.”

He crosses his heart.

You absolutely end up with a clay mustache.

He absolutely gets smacked with a washcloth.

And somehow, both of you are glowing afterwards, laughing so hard your faces hurt more than the exfoliant.

Heisuke mashimo

“What do you mean I have to wear this?”

You dangle the headband—a cute tan one with tiny deer ears and nubs of antlers.

“I mean exactly what I said. Get in the bathroom, heisuke.”

“I have sensitive skin! What if it reacts badly and I break out and I die?! You wouldn’t want me to die, right?”

You stare at him.

He slowly follows you into the bathroom, muttering about “skincare-induced assassinations.”

Once he’s seated, you plop the headband on him. He looks so bewildered in the mirror that you almost laugh.

“…This doesn’t feel very sniper-core.”

“You shoot like a stormtrooper, girl. Come back when your accuracy’s better.”

“Hey!”

But he sits still while you cleanse and moisturize, even nervously holding the toner bottle like it might explode.

When it’s over, he gently pokes his cheek.

“…Whoa. I’m so soft. I could dodge bullets with this skin.”

“You can’t dodge anything, Heisuke.”

He flinches. “Ow. That was harsher than the exfoliator.”

Still, he secretly Googles “best moisturizers for men” before bed.

Shishiba

“You need to exfoliate,” you said.

“It’ll be relaxing,” you said.

Now Shishiba is sitting on the edge of the tub, a giant white cat-ear headband around his forehead, scowling at the mirror like it insulted his mother.

“I don’t see how this is helping,” he grumbles as you apply a sheet mask to his face.

“You don’t need to see it. Just trust me.”

He sighs, but doesn’t pull away. You press the mask into place gently, smoothing the wrinkles with your fingers.

He closes his eyes. “…It smells like flowers.”

“You like it?”

He shrugs. “It’s fine.”

Then, quieter: “…Your hands are warm.”

You nearly drop the serum bottle.

Ten minutes later, when you peel the mask off, he looks in the mirror and blinks.

“…I look good.”

“I told you.”

He keeps the cat-ear headband on for the rest of the night.

Totally forgets about it.

Refuses to take it off when you point it out.

"It keeps my hair out of my eyes. Shut up."

Taglist: @shenwi @astronomyloveraster @cjafjatkstke @shineinouzen15 @yokaistirfry @starizzm

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[kumoriyami-xiuzhen]

Hakuoki SSL～sweet school life～ 『Christmas Weekend』 2016 SS

Well, I've decided that this is going to be my last Hakuoki post for the year. For December, I plan on working on that Collar x Malice Xmas short story that I've been putting off for a while and the next Deemo chapter... and then I'll probably try to do something about my non-existent queue since I really don't think I'll be able to translate much in January or February because of my exam... though I swear that I'll at least put in some effort. Also I do want to get back to Hakumyu Hijikata-hen's extras. Been sitting on those for a while because life's been busy... 😅 ehehehe.... (facepalm).

Anyway, this translation is originally from a story that was posted by Otomate in 2016... and I am 70% sure that this image was published with it. Unfortunately, I can't check since the link it was posted to no longer works, and I also can't check where I found the tl for this story (unlike most things, I know where it was located... but it was on blog.sina and I can't do anything about unviewable content). Still, I had this image in my drafts for years with a note blurb about the the 2016 SSL Xmas story so it probably is the right one?

Enjoy~!

Hakuoki SSL～sweet school life～

『Christmas Weekend』

Translation by KumoriYami

——Saturday, December 24

This year, a Christmas event was to be held on the 24th of December, between 3 consecutive days of vacation.

Although the 23rd is a Friday and a holiday, [since] the 24th fell on a Saturday and the 25th fell on Sunday, which resulted in a 3 day consecutive holiday, it was a rare occurrence to have such a Christmas holiday in recent years [SSL is set in 2016 [or so the tl note said]…. which had December 23rd, a Japanese national holiday which celebrates the birth of Emperor Akihito, fall on a Friday]. Therefore, it is very meaningful for those who had people of significance to them such as family, loved ones, and close friends who enjoyed such holiday activities.

However, there were also people who couldn't be included among them. Those who were working for example, who were unable to celebrate or find time to spend together with their partners, and those who did not make plans for Christmas, or even the holiday… Yukimura Chizuru was one of those people.

Chizuru did not originally intend to spend Christmas like this.

However, her father, Yukimura Kodo, was on a business trip at an offshore island and hadn't returned, while her older twin brother, Nagumo Kaoru, the adopted son of the Nagumo family, was spending Christmas with them.

Additionally, since the holiday this year had consecutive days, according to the usual conventions, Principal Kondou asked that the school activities be kept simple. Of course, Chairman Serizawa did not hold any Christmas activities.

It would have usually just been girls… Chizuru had originally thought that, but Suzuka Sen and Suzuka Kosuzu, who she had good relationships with, also had three consecutive days off, so they had gone back to their hometown in Kyoto to spend Christmas, and Chizuru had just seen them off yesterday.

Then her friends from junior high school were apparently going to an event by their new high school to play with a group and some boys. Chizuru was also invited, but as she was the only student from another school, even she participated, she would still experience anxiousness [tl says stage fright… so w/e], so she didn't go.

In this way, the 24th became a day without any plans.

So, what were the boys at Hakuo Gakuen who had good relationships with Chizuru? She didn't know why, [but] she hadn't hadn't received any invitations from them. She had already asked her childhood friend, Toudou Heisuke, indirectly, but he had refused and said that he had something else happening that day. In addition to Heisuke, it appeared that everyone else had a similar reason.

( It was just, the "something" Heisuke mentioned definitely had nothing to do with other girls! Chizuru tried to persuade herself about this.)

(That's right… For 3 consecutive days off, everyone else must have their own plans. Yet I….)

Thinking this, Chizuru had a sudden realization. Because she had realized it was the Christmas holiday, she had a strong desire to spend it with someone, even though it was simply 3 consecutive days off… As long as it could be thought of as a normal weekend, it wasn't strange that there was nothing to do.

（——Hm. Although it's a bit early, the end of the year is approaching anyway, so it wouldn't be bad to do a lot of cleaning.)

Just as Chizuru thought that, she received a text message on her phone, with the sender being Toudou Heisuke. She thought he wanted to call her for something so she picked up her phone and looked at it——.

----------------------------

Subject: Danger

Sender: Heisuke-kun

Message: Even if something happens, don't leave home!

----------------------------

………………

Chizuru stared at her phone's screen and tilted her head in confusion. What danger would there be on a calm and peaceful Saturday afternoon? But if what Heisuke said in his text message was true, there apparently was some sort of danger 【outside her home】, which was why she had been told to 【not go outside】.

She tried to get him to reply about if he had made a mistake or meant something else, but she received no response. Although she did try to directly call him, she only received a voicemail.

(What should I do? Maybe something happened to Heisuke-kun…)

Anyway, let’s go to Heisuke’s house next door first. She thought about this while she recalled the content of the text message he sent.

(It's just next door… there shouldn't be any problems, right?)

Just as she thought that, a message notification rang out in the silent room. She hastily got to checking her phone, but its sender was not Heisuke. The sender this time was Okita Souji.

----------------------------

Subject: Because it's dangerous

Sender: Okita-senpai

Message: You're a good kid, so you should stay at home

----------------------------

(……Okita-senpai is also saying this, what on earth is going on?)

Just as she was feeling baffled from what was on her cell phone, the sound of a a message notification rang in Chizuru's hands again.

----------------------------

Subject: (none)

Sender: Saito-senpai

Message: Regardless of what happens, stay where you are and don't move

----------------------------

Subject: It's alright [basically the tl here can be interpreted as 'it's fine', or 'no problems']

Sender: Harada-sensei

Message: Just bear for it a while longer, and keep staying at home

----------------------------

What could be learned from the text messages received was that something was happening to everyone. And the contents were almost the same, Not only were the contents were almost the same, they were all instructions for her to not leave her home… However, Chizuru was incapable of honestly staying home as everyone was saying. She grabbed her coat and hurried towards the entrance, not bothering with how her shoes were only half-on, and only wanted to open the [front] door and go outside. Accompanying the sound of being hit by the door, Chizuru was then pushed back into the inner entrance [uh, something like that?].

"——Why!? Why!"

Chizuru re-confirmed that the door was already unlocked again, and once again tried to open it, but the door remained motionless. It was as if someone was forcibly holding the door from outside, deliberately making it impossible for her to open the door.

Since that was the case, she could just use her body to press against the entrance with all of her strength to push it open. Just as Chizuru was about to do that, a voice spoke from the other side side of the door.

"Yukimura, I'm sorry… I cannot let you go outside."

"……This voice is Hijikata-sensei!? Why are you here…. that doesn't need to be mentioned now, what happened?"

She was pushing against the door while speaking to him, but it didn't work due to Hijikata's suppression from outside.

"Just lock up all the locks…… stay inside your home. After that…… Until one of says you can open the door, absolutely do not…… open it….. for anyone of us….."

Then Hijikata's voice disappeared midway. At the same time, the suppressing heaviness on the entrance hall also disappeared.

"Hijikata-sensei——!!"

Chizuru used all of her strength to push against the door, and the heavy door finally budged a bit, so she squeezed through the crack in the doorway that large enough for a single person to pass through and went outside.

Then what Chizuru saw was——.

"You've finally come out? My wife, you're late."

Dressed in a bright red Santa outfit, while also holding a large white bag and a bouquet with dozens of roses, was Kazama Chikage.

Then there was Toudou Heisuke, who was tightly holding onto Kazama's legs, Saito, who was grabbing Kazama's arms from behind him, and Okita, who was watching the two with a smile.

There was also Harada, who was sitting not too far away, looking a bit helpless, and Hijikata Toshizou, who was sitting against the door, motionless.

"Uh…what happened? Also, why is Kazama-senpai here?"

""Of course, I came to welcome you to this young master's Christmas party at the Kazama family home!" [I couldn't figure out how else to say this… lol.]

"Then everyone else is…"

"They were seemingly trying to prevent me from approaching you, but that wasn't able to stop me."

"Um…. did I make a promise with you…?"

"Of course this is a su-r-p-is-e [the tl had サ。プ。ラ。イ。ズ to accentuate "surprise" i guess]. However since you've come outside, doesn't that mean that you have already prepared to go out with me? Then just follow me——"

As Kazama spoke, he extended his hand towards Chizuru, and upon seeing this, Heisuke immediately ran over.

"Hold it——！ Don't joke around——！"

"I didn't expect that so many of us wouldn't be able to stop him…"

"His strength is still as outrageous as before."

With a serious expression, Saito tried to pull Kazama away from Chizuru. Okita muttered helplessly.

"Is is possible that everyone saying that there was something they were busy with today meant…"

"Ah, that's right! In order to prevent Kazama-senpai from coming here, we started monitoring him in the morning!"

"I-I hope you're not misunderstanding anything. We were monitoring Kazama, not your home."

"Wait a moment Harada-sensei. Even though you are resting, please come and help me me—"

"I'll leave the physical/hard work to you."

"Hey, Yukimura! We'll definitely drive Kazama away, so just stay at home and wait!"

"Ahahahahahaha!! Even if you struggle, it will all be futile! My sincere love is incapable of being stopped by anything! Surrender to my power of Christmas!"

With six adults arguing in front of house and making a racket, it was inevitable… that passers-by would stop and whisper, while people nearby would open up their windows to watch the fun…

"Please….. Please stop stop it——！！"

Because she was feeling heartbroken from this argument that seemed like it would never end… and more importantly, since Chizuru was more concerned about her neighbour's gazes, she therefore suggested holding a Christmas party inside her home, which finally got both sides to call a temporary truce.

"Wait a second, where did all of this food and decorations come from?"

"Of course, this is the result of the Kazama family's efforts, so be grateful."

"I'll say this beforehand, we didn't invite you, and simply couldn't leave you outside and bother/cause trouble for the neighbours."

"Didn't my wife ask everyone to come inside together?"

"Nn… Is this the inside of Yukimura's home…" "Well, if we had planned to find a place to hold the Christmas party from the beginning, there wouldn't have been that commotion. Speaking of which, who was the one to suggest it?"

"The person who said that they wanted to stop Kazama-senpai's plan, was Heisuke."

"Hey, wait a sec! Souji and Hajime-kun agreed too!"

"……You guys, just shut up. I am rarely able/You are seldom able to spend Christmas with my wife [no subject in this part so I don't know who is referring to whom here], so just enjoy this day and this moment."

"For Kazama to say such kind words… then let's just enjoy ourselves as much as we can. Got it? Yukimura?"

"Yes!"

「Merry Christmas！！」

Christmas 2016.

Chizuru, who originally had no plans, happily spent Christmas with everyone until deep in the night.

END

----end---

original link (no longer works): http://www.otomate.jp/xm2016d3tm4m/cri_ssl.html

The tl I found said that Otomate themselves probably said "Unauthorised reproduction of the text and images on this website is prohibited." or something to that effect of that, which is one of the reasons why I don't make Otomate stuff rebloggable.