#and to flesh out yohariko's relationship

[athyrabunlord]

[Animus AU] Our Contract

Concept Arts /Character Backgrounds: [Law Enforcement] [Fuurin Shrine] [Ohara Apothecary] [Chibi Icons]

Blips: [Of Cats and Thieves] (pilot blip) | [Our Contract]

A/N: Here’s the Yohariko + Guilty Kiss family blip, which came first in this poll. Note that while this is technically the first ever blip written for the Animus AU, treat this like an interlude chapter that happened after a few story arcs. (Since this AU doesn’t have consecutive chapters, anything I write will be all over the place in terms of the ‘timeline’) Summary: Yohane shared an intimate moment with Riko, and pondered about their stay here at Uchiura with Mari. Words: 2,804 Rated R-15 (I think? I can’t rate lol)

Yohane’s eyes snapped open, her senses high on alert and sleepiness vanishing. Ever since her body’s drastic transformation, she had been finding it difficult to fall asleep at night and any minute noise or movement could wake her. Her eyes rapidly adjusted to the darkness and soon, she found the source of disturbance.

Her tail reached for the box underneath the bed and deftly scooped up a candle. She gingerly lit it up and placed it on the nightstand before turning around to gaze at the woman curled up beside her.

Riko’s brows were furrowed in distress with beads of cold sweat and tears trickling down her cheeks. Her whimpering, though muffled by her gritted teeth, made Yohane’s heart clench in helplessness. She twirled the tip of her tail near the small flame, prompting it to blaze and illuminate the room more for Riko’s benefit.

“Lily…” She whispered. “Wake up.”

Her lover grimaced but remained trapped in her nightmare.

“Lily!”

Yohane frowned and carefully shook her but to no avail. She licked her dry lips and uttered with more urgency. “Riko!”

Amber eyes slowly blinked open, her gaze blank in terror and bewilderment. Riko blindly reached for Yohane, who interlaced their fingers and squeezed her hand in comfort.

“I’m here, Riko.”

The burgundy-haired woman winced and shook her head as if to regain composure. Her voice, however, was hoarse and trembled in fatigue while she wiped at her face. “I’m s-sorry, Yocchan, for waking you up again. I’m okay, really, so you-”

“Stop that. It’s only me here… Lily.” Their eyes met and Yohane pulled her lover’s hand towards her lips, kissing it. “It’s only me here. You don’t have to put up a tough front, yeah?”

People saw Riko as an aloof and even intimidating bodyguard, or a quiet and nice nurse who took her job seriously, but Yohane and Mari understood her true self. Even then, Mari only knew that much. Yohane knew all of Riko. Such privilege came with responsibility, though she would still try her best to assuage her lover’s fears regardless of anything else.

“You’ve been having nightmares again since we came to this country, right?”

Riko nodded slowly, her thumb daintily brushing over Yohane’s cheek. “I thought I’ve gotten better. But those butterflies, youkais and all those… incidents, they are doing something to us, aren’t they?”

Likewise, Yohane also felt off here in Uchiura. She liked the town, liked it a lot in fact, but something in the air made her restless. It was maddening, really, to be unable to pinpoint the source. Sometimes her emotions took control so strongly that half of the time she wasn’t even aware what she had said or done until a moment after the fact.

She shifted closer, her lips curving at the sensation of her lover’s body heat so intimately close against her own. “I suppose, but as long as I’m around you, I still feel like myself.”

Perhaps, due to their unwitting contract.

Riko smiled a little, a pretty but sad smile. The light from the candle’s ember flickered in her amber eyes, yet its brilliance did not conceal the remorse seeping from her gaze. She reached over Yohane’s shoulder and gently caressed the bony wings, mindful of the delicate membranes. It felt itchy and even a bit pleasant, compelling her to stretch one wing.

The resulting shadow fleetingly encompassed the two women in darkness before the wing folded and allowed the faint light to envelope them again.

“I made you into this…”

“I’ve told you many times already, Lily, I’m fine with it. I’ve long grown used to it-”

“But you shouldn’t have to! You can’t sleep well, you can’t wear whatever you wish. You… you couldn’t live like a normal woman…”

Yohane met Riko’s fierce gaze, unflinchingly. While it was true that her back got sore and her wings turned numb if her sleeping position wasn’t right, it was a minor inconvenience. Her sporadic episodes of insomnia and limited clothing choice were nothing compared to the emotional torments that her lover suffered daily.

“You aren’t either. You’re putting too much responsibility on your shoulders - I was at fault, remember? You were the cautious one, I was the one who convinced you to go ahead with the experiment.”

“Yocchan…”

Displeased by Riko’s guilt-laced tone, Yohane straddled her and shivered at the tingling sensation of her bare legs against the former’s naked hips. As expected, Riko blushed hard and hastily looked away from Yohane’s breasts, now no longer veiled by the blanket and shadows. She was always like this, reserved and bashful, even though she could be quite passionate whenever they made love. Just hours ago, she was the one who arduously etched those hickies over her cleavage. Yohane found this quality, along with countless others, utterly endearing.

“Look at me.”

Riko pursed her lips but obediently looked up. Yohane smiled tenderly and leaned down so that their foreheads were almost touching. Her raven-colored hair cascaded and draped around them like a silken curtain.

“This bonds you to me,” she gently tugged Riko’s hand over her spine, over the sakura tattoos. “And me to you.” Her hand ghosted over Riko’s back and whimsically traced the intricate winged tattoos marring the latter’s smooth skin.

“...our contract, that chained you to me-”

“No, that’s not it,” her voice softened with each word. “A contract to make each other happy.”

Amber eyes widened slightly before they closed for a moment. When they reopened again, they were filled with raw emotions. “You’re right. I’m sorry for all that earlier. It doesn’t matter what happens, in the past or in the future. Only one thing matters.”

“Lily-?”

Riko kissed her chastely then. “I love you.”

Yohane smiled against her lover’s lips and returned the gesture just as softly. “I love you too.”

Indeed, they had each other and that was all that mattered.

Their slow kisses gradually grew deeper and more ardent, with Yohane pressing herself flush against the woman beneath her. Riko hissed in pleasure at the heated friction between their breasts and pulled Yohane into a rough kiss. Yohane parted her lips automatically, moaning as their tongues entwined in fervor. Riko licked at her fang, playfully and sensually. In return, Yohane shifted and tilted her chin, nipping her lower lip and drawing blood.

Growling, Riko grasped at Yohane’s buttocks hard before scratching upwards and caressed the spinal dimple just above her tail. The appendage coiled around Riko’s wrist, feebly attempting to pull it away from the sensitive spot.

“Ah...nngh... Lily…” Yohane panted and rested her head against the crook of her lover’s neck, feeling her legs weakening even more so when the latter deviously rubbed her knee against her inner thigh.

“Yocchan is so cute.”

“Hnff, o-of course the great Yohane is cute.” She tugged Riko’s hand towards her mouth and began licking each finger, twirling her tongue along those slender digits and in between them. She sucked and nibbled languidly, relishing in the inexplicable taste as she dragged her fangs across the soft skin.  

The characteristic blush returned to Riko’s cheeks again. “... Yocchan is erotic…”

She raised an eyebrow and gazed down at her lover. Deep burgundy hair pooled over the sheets like red wine, with several disheveled strands draped over her shapely breasts and flushed skin. So inviting, so tantalizing.

“...Lily is the erotic one...” Yohane swallowed hard, mesmerized by the ambrosia that was solely for her taking. The tips of her fingers brushed over Riko’s cleavage and collar bones until they rested against her parted lips.

Riko flicked her tongue over Yohane’s fingers and nuzzled against them before peering up at her through half-lidded eyes. Such a coy gesture only seemed so much more alluring under the faint glow of the candle light.

Yohane was hopelessly drunk on the woman named Sakurauchi Riko. Her one and only Lily.

She captured Riko’s lips again and again in lustful kisses, and soon the pair of lovers lost themselves in each other.

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

Yohane suppressed a yawn as she slowly descended the stairs. She glanced outside the window and groaned at the sight of breaking dawn. It was almost time to open the Ohara Apothecary, their cover here at Uchiura. Their clinic was surprisingly popular in this little town. Rather than being skeptical about their foreign medicine and methods, the folks found them refreshing and credible, thanks to words of returning patients.

And truthfully, Yohane did not mind the routine life of tending to the Apothecary. She used to take her uneventful life in Britain for granted, and it was abruptly snatched away from her. She will not make the same mistake again.

Although, her opinion about the sun would probably never change. Even prior to her body’s alteration, she had always been a night owl and bright rays of the sunlight irked her to no end.

“Morning~ Looks like it’s going to be a shiny day, no?”

Yohane shrugged and flopped down in her seat at the small round table. It was only then that her sluggish mind noticed a familiar aroma permeating the kitchen.  “Coffee again, Mari?”

“Of course. Best way to start the morning~ Want some strawberry jam, Yoshiko-chan?”

“Do you even have to ask?”

The blonde owner of the Apothecary was humming as she sliced the loaf of bread and smeared the jam over the pieces. Yohane squinted her eyes in contentment, enjoying the domestic atmosphere. It was just breakfast, yet it felt so different than having it elsewhere. The three of them have been living under the same roof since their journey from the West, but it was only here that the feeling of home really settled in.  

“Ara, not very energetic today, are you? I wonder why.”

Yohane sighed and half-heartedly glared at the older woman’s knowing smirk. “Gimme a break, it’s still too early.”

“It’s never too early and you know it.”

“Whatever. Oh, thanks.”

She ignored Mari’s twittering and focused on the yummy toast. They enjoyed the breakfast together in comfortable silence, with her nibbling on the bread and Mari sipping at her coffee. As teasing as she was, the blonde was actually not chatty most of the time. She would usually have this distant look, her eyes unreadable in spite of her ever-present smile. Or else, like now, she would be deep in thoughts and reading her notes and the documents they’ve collected.

In spite of their little banter, Mari still seemed so far away even though she was sitting next to her.

“I like it here, Mari.” Yohane said.

“So do I.” The blonde did not seem surprised by her sudden remark, her gaze never leaving the papers on the desk.

“But I don’t think Lily does.”

“Then we leave, once our purpose here is done.” Mari stated simply.

Yohane frowned, knowing how much Mari loved it here at Uchiura, especially the company of that Police Chief and shrine maiden. Alas, as always, Mari put them before herself. As aloof as she acted sometimes, she really spoiled them.

The younger woman nibbled on her toast a bit more and deliberated on how to continue the subject. As if sensing her dilemma and the need to discuss, Mari pushed away the documents and straightened in her seat.

She took off her reading glasses and carefully cleaned the lens before looking at Yohane. “You don’t want to leave?”

“...yeah. There are just too many memories back in Europe, for all of us. I… I think we can be happy here, the three of us.” She found herself unable to meet Mari’s gaze. Those gleaming chartreuse eyes tended to make her feel vulnerable, like they could see into the depth of her soul. “Sure there are still issues but, I’m sure we can work that out. The friends we’ve made here, they’ll help us, I’m sure.”

“Hmm? Sounds like you’ve placed quite a bit of trust in them. I thought you don’t like Ruby-chan getting my attention-”

“Hnff! I’ll always be your best student, not her!”

“- and Hanamaru-chan smacking you-”

“Zuramaru should not be swinging that club of a fudepen around when she’s got such freakish strength!”

“- and all of Chikacchi’s cats messing up your clothes.”

“...well, cats are cute. Sometimes. She and her Detective buddy. They’re alright. Maybe.”

“Fufu~ glad to see you’re getting along with all them.”

“We’ve been here for a while and a lot has happened,” Yohane folded her arms defensively. “They’re… good people, at least.”

“Indeed they are.” Mari’s playful tone then dropped to a serious octave. “I’ve long promised to help you and Riko-chan however I can, and that’s what I’ll do. I’ll make this a home for you both. You two can stay here, while I will continue with the search-”

Yohane bristled and her wings unfolded subconsciously. “No! This won’t be a home if you’re not around, Mari. Don’t you get it? It’s both of you, you and Lily. The three of us need to be together, that’s where home is.”

Mari stared.

Realizing what she had said, Yohane snarled and jabbed her finger at the blonde. “Look what you made me say! How friggin’ embarrassing, grrr.”

She was glad that she inadvertently blurted it out though, for Mari seemed genuinely happy from the way she smiled.

“Thank you, Yoshiko-chan.”

She only harrumphed when Mari leaned over to give her a brief hug. Before she could ask the blonde for a final answer, her keen ears caught the quiet floor creaks upstairs. They exchanged a look, agreeing to continue their conversation another time.

Not long after, Riko came downstairs and joined them at the table. She looked between them curiously, as if sensing the sombre atmosphere they had earlier. “What happened?”

“Oh, Yoshiko-chan is so sore this morning that she was crying to me about it. Bad Rikocchi.”

The two women blushed, one in mortification and one in indignation. “What!? I’ll have you know that I was the one who-”

“Yocchan!!”

Yohane blushed harder, this time from memories of their passionate night as Riko’s warm hands covered her mouth. She childishly scowled at Mari, whose smirk widened as if knowing exactly what went through her head.

“Anyway, I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. There are some boiled eggs on the counter, Riko-chan, help yourself to them.”

“E-Eh? Thank you, but how-?” Riko glanced at Yoshiko, who was equally surprised. They heard that there was egg shortage in town, so how did Mari procure them? She really did spoil them, always getting their favorite food or anything else they liked.

Mari merely smiled in that mysterious way of hers and patted their heads. “I’ll be at the lab if anyone needs me. I just need to look over some books then we’ll open the shop, okay?”

Once she was out of hearing range, Yohane pecked her lover on the lips as her tail twirled lazily like how a cat’s would. “Sorry I didn’t wake you, Lily, but you looked like you were having a good dream, so…”

“That’s okay, and I wouldn’t exactly call it good?” Riko was smiling, evidently fond of her dream. “Remember that time when Mari-san first taught us about the base metals?”

Yohane rolled her eyes. She did not want to recall her disastrous attempt to transmute a hunk of lead to gold. She was desperate enough to impress the alchemist that she mixed some of her magic props with the brew so that it had a golden color. It was one of the few times that Mari got angry for real, though everything turned out alright at the end.

“Why would you dream about that of all the things?”

“Well, it was… nice. It has been fun, just learning things,” Riko said wistfully. Yohane agreed full-heartedly, that their pursue for the Philosopher’s Stone has given them tremendous stress.

She no longer cared for it, but Mari sought for its existence for a reason she refused to disclose to them while Riko wanted it to use it to change Yohane back to normal. If only they could just live like a normal family, work in the Ohara Apothecary and move on with their lives without their pasts haunting their every step.

She just didn’t know how to tell them.

Sighing, she led Riko towards the kitchen and tried to lift the mood with a grin. “Well, why don’t we cook something nice for Mari, for lunch? I remember seeing some lemons in the pantry…”

Riko squeezed their entwined hands and nodded. Yohane couldn’t help but steal another quick kiss, filled with affection for her lover.

Until she’s found a solution to their dilemma, she would do anything she could to make Riko happy. That was her contract after all, one she vowed to fulfill no matter what.

[ryqoshay]

i have a question for the HL series, what happened to the other member? And is there a chapter that they will get to interact? And is there other members that became a couple other than yohane and riko?

Other member? Do you mean the blonde? She’s around.

**Spoilers** mostly for Happy Life, but kinda sorta Heavenly Life as well I guess, under the cut.

The blonde that keeps popping up from time to time is Mari. And if it isn’t clear in earlier scenes, the discussion in Familiar Gratitude should solidify the fact that she remembers her time in Heaven, unlike the blue-haired Yohane and the redheaded Riko; the latter’s dreams notwithstanding. As for her interacting with her fellow angels in full angelic form, that remains to be seen as far as Happy Life is concerned. However, I wouldn’t bet too heavily on it happening any time soon, even if it does; again, Riko’s dreams notwithstanding. But with Heavenly Life, well, that’s kind of part of the premise.

As for other ships in Happy Life, and by extension Heavenly Life, my fleet is arranged as follows: YohaRiko, MariKanaDia, RubyMaru and ChikaYou. I have no idea how to include Saint Snow like I was able to do with A-RISE over in HtHaN. I know I had plenty of time to better arrange my fleet between the anime airing and the release of the UR pair in SIF that inspired Happy Life, but I didn’t. If anything, the anime, especially the second season, actually helped solidify my primary fleet. So who knows how SS will fit into things. Maybe writing more Heavenly Life chapters will help.

And on that topic, current plans for Heavenly Life will require me to explore MariKanaDia a bit as their relationship will have plot and world building implications. I will also need to at least directly address RubyMaru and ChikaYou, even if I don’t end up focusing on them. I’m hoping that will help me flesh out those ships so I can use them more in Happy Life and maybe even get a good Side Story or two out of the deal.

That all said, while I do hope my readers will enjoy both works, I will continue to strive to ensure that neither is required reading for the other. If Fantasy AUs aren’t your thing, that’s fine, honestly, they aren’t really my thing either despite the fact that I’m writing two. And I know some chapters in Happy Life are a bit on the vague side, but that is intentional and I’m hoping things will become clearer as I add more chapters. And of course, if you don’t mind spoilers, I’m more than happy to answer just about any question you might have. However, don’t be surprised if the occasional answer is “I don’t know” because I haven’t actually made a decision for that point yet and am putting it off until I get around to writing a scene that requires an answer.