#but! we stay silly :3 been slowly working on a new tattoo its turning out honestly even cuter than i expected

[asfdhgsdkjhgb]

me: yippee yippee friendsgiving tmrw i get to see the people i used to see all the time but have barely seen for awhile!!!

the horrors:

[theravencawsatmidnight]

Pink Chains Sequel

The oldest. Male, twin. Souta.(Means A sudden wind or sound)

The middle. Male. Twin. Kaito. (Means sea or ocean)

Youngest. Female. Kana. (Means powerful)

@galagcica @squeaky-ducky @kozushiki @haikyuu-but-low-iq @lunebabie @derpeedoo @kayisweird @zopzoop

“We do now!!!!” You told him, rubbing your stomach

“Swee..sweetie are you serious?” He climbed over the desk grabbing you and pulling you between his legs.

“Yep!!! Surprise Kyo!!!”

He was a little shocked for a few minutes, you were telling him how excited you were but he could not register it. A kid, not one but three. Will they be like him? Scary? Will they think hes scary?!?

“Kyo?” You lightly tugged his shirt so he would look at you. “Kyo whats wrong?”

He squeezed you sighing deep. “Im nervous sweetie thats all.”

You laid your head on his chest. “Well.. i am too . But! I have you to help and you have me. Not to mention all your friends. “ you took his ring hand to hold it and nuzzled his sleeve. “I love you, we will be fine Kyo.”

Kyo took in a deep breath and kissed your head. “Yeah, we will. I love you so much sweetie.”

It was an interesting nine months for everyone. Kyo had gotten his friends together for beach volleyball one night , you were there too but you were sitting with a sundress on looking excited.

“Soo...” Iwaizumi said, rubbing his head. “Whats this about?”

Oikawa and Mattsun were stumped too, so was Yahaba. Bokuto was trying to piece it together as well.

You got up and turned to the side and Kyo put his hand on your stomach. “Well... lets just hope you can deal with more of me”

Safe to say Kyo got tackled into the sand by everyone.

Time Skip to the kids being 7.

💕Kyo and Reader still live in his home. Iwaizumi does too since he owns the basement half of the house.

💕Chicken Legs had trouble adjusting to the children but Readers cats have helped relax and calm him. He's not so shaky anymore.

💕King is the kids number one fan. He is always there to help them with a prank on their father or to help them up and down the stairs.

💕Rex gets brushed every five minutes and he *loves it*. Kana also likes putting ribbons on his tail.

💕Mango is carried around everywhere by Kaito because he is small and “fun to carry”

💕The twins get up to no good alot. Souta is like the wind, no one ever knows if he's gonna do something. Kaito is more calm, like the ocean . But just like his brother, he's right there to lend a hand in mischief

💕Kana is attached to Kyo and Readers hip nearly 24/7 because she is scared of everything. She was tiny at birth. A “runt of the litter” Kyo called it, which gave her the nickname “Kana Pup” by Kyo. Everything is bigger than her and she doesn't like it. She's scared of Oikawa and it makes him sad.

💕Kyo and Reader own a bigger building together that they turned into The Dog House. They sell apparel but with Readers designs now too. The kids hangout at the shop usually after school.

💕The building has an upper floor or office area where Reader works on new designs / manages the finances while Kyo works the floor.

💕Souta and Kaito spend their days greeting customers and telling them specials (as best they can) . If Kana is not with her mother she is with Kyo at the register coloring under the desk so no one can see her.

💕kyo does not know what to do about Kana, he's worried she won't have friends and isolate herself. Iwaizumi suggests a hobby or club for middle school and Oikawa suggests volleyball.

💕its at the beach Kana realizes how fun volleyball is. She even lets Oikawa show her how to play.

💕Mattsun still has his tattoo shop. Kyo now has a back piece too. It's three wolf pups .

💕Kana joins the volleyball club

💕the twins join an art club and it is very interesting to them . Souta & Kaito are naturals at coming up with designs

💕iwaizumi babysits when Kyo and reader need alone time at the house

💕every now and then Kyo will check in on his kids at night, he leans on the wall of the door just watching them sleep. It's been a few years since they were born and he's still dumbfounded he could make such blessings

💕Kanas first game is a little rocky, she's nervous about people watching her. That is until Bokuto yells for the stands ‘all eyes on you because you are the star of this court!!!’ . She pulls through and turns out she spikes just like her father. They win because of her. Reader cries tears of joy and the twins are going nuts , Kyo pulls reader close kissing her

💕The twins debut a simple design. It's a crow with its wings out with a chain collar on its neck. Their parents love it.

Time skip to HighSchool

💕The kids go to Karasuno

💕The twins are in a design/business club

💕Kana is the wing spiker of her team. She is tall like her father and brings her team to Nationals.

💕Mattsun has a pretty little happy girl come into his shop one day asking for a fluffy kitty tattoo . Mattsun thanks god this is happening and gets her number

💕Oikawa & Iwaizumi still work at the Dog House. Oikawa now has the same volleyball tattoo his friends have. Iwaizumi helps the twins bring their designs up to sell online

After High School.

💕Kana plays for the Black Jackals. The twins have a successful online business selling their designs on different things.

💕Kyo and Reader have expanded the Dog House and it has more locations now.

💕Every friday night they spend their time laying on Kyos car with music on watching the stars in their backyard.

The end 💕

Little bonus mini drabbles!!

“raaaa!!!!!” Yelled Kaito

“Aaaarrgg!!!!” Yelled Souta.

Kana had her ears covered and had Chicken Legs laying down next to her with his paw over his eyes. She was sitting on the floor coloring in her book when her siblings rushed down the stairs with toilet paper and heavy eye makeup on their face and body. King, Rex and Mango were close behind with equal amounts of toilet paper on them too. This was a regular saturday...

Iwaizumi was on the couch watching these terrors run around the house . He pat Kana on the head counting quietly. “And 5...4...3...2...1...” The garage door could be heard and the twins and dogs stopped. Heavy steps and giggling were getting closer.

“Kaito.”

“Yes Souta?”

“It appears we are going to die today”

“Yes i believe so.”

Kana peaked at Iwaizumi and he just gave her that smile that made her get red in the face. The door opened and you and Kyo saw your kids covered in toilet paper and makeup. The dogs too. Kyo rubbed between his eyes and you giggled going over to Kana who was holding her arms up to you.

“Souta?”

“Yes Kaito?”

“It was nice knowing you.”

“Likewise”

(Whenever Kyo asks Iwai why he allows this he just shrugs and says “hey they aint my kids 😋”)

*💕

Kyo had picked the kids up from school and went straight into work. No one minded that the kids were there, they behaved. Mostly.

“Welcome to The Dog House!!!” Yelled the twins“The finest dogs and the biggest house!!! At your service!!!!”

Youd never seen so many metal heads giggle and chuckle like little kids before. Kana though, was under the register coloring and leaning on her fathers leg. Kyo leaned on the register looking down at his daughter.

“Kana pup”

“Papa..?” She asked, looking up, brushing her hair from her face.

“Do you wanna greet customers with your brothers?

She shrugged pulling the book closer. “N-no..”

He rolled his shoulders looking back up to see his friends frowning at him.

“Maybe a club will help”

“Or volleyball!!!”

*💕

The twins were running around the beach with Mattsun chasing them , Kyo, Iwa, and Kawa were tossing the ball to each other. And you were sitting on a towel under an umbrella with Kana clinging to your arm. You had noticed she was fixed on what her father was doing and you signaled to get his attention and pointed at yoir daughter.

“Kana pup.” He said, catching the ball. “Cmere for a second.”

She shook her head and you rubbed her side.”just for a second baby.”

Kana gets up joining her father and he crouches down behind her. “Put your fists together , be still okay?”

“ dont.. wanna get hit..”

“You wont i promise.” He nodded to Iwaizumi and he lightly tossed the ball to Kana . “Now just move your wrist down. Then connect with the ball semding it up”

As soon as the ball hit her wrists she whined turning around to hug her father. “Kana, look.” He turned her head . The ball was in the air . “You did it.”

“I.. i hit it.”

“Maybe Oikawa can explain better.” He said, getting up and Oikawa crouched down next to her. Kana whined giving him a scared look and he just held his hands out to recieve the ball.

“Its easy, promise!” The ball bounced off his wrists.

After a few tries Kana got the positioning right and even asked Oikawa to help and show her more.

*💕

One night Mattsun is at his shop filling in his laptop with appointments, transactions, bills. Its late, maybe almost 10. He liked to stay open when he had late nights like this. No one ever came by but.. it made him hope someone would. Mattsun was covered head to toe in tattoos. The bell dinged and he looked up from his desk and fell forward.

It was a girl; pink shoes, dyed highlighted pink hair, a white belly top and shorts. “Hey Mr!!!! Can i get a tattoo please?! A fluffy kitty or kitten? Do you do those? “

Mattsun smiled up at his ceiling . “Whoevers watching , thank you.”

He looked back over at the huffy girl. “Yeah i can do that Kitty, let me get a sketch going and you can tell me what you think.” He said with a very big smile. “Whats your name?” He asked , going around his desk to his wheely chair .

“Y/n!! “ the girl skipped over sitting in the chair criss cross. “Can you do it here?” She pointed to her inner thigh .

Mattsun thanked whoever was watching over him again but in his head. “I sure can y/n. I sure can.”

“No no!! Kitty!! I like it.”

Mattsun had a silly grin on his face now. “Okay kitty”

*💕

Its late at night and the only one up is Kyo. He was leaning on the wall watching his kids, ‘how did i get here?’ He asked himself while eyeing his bruised knuckles. Slowly he looked up. “I love you guys so much...”

“And i love you.” He heard behind him. A giggle too.

[chiimmchiimm]

❝𝖒𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 !¡ 𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑒 ❞

CHAPTERS “  01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 -  11  - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 “  

The northern jail was the most dangerous in the country, social scum, thousands of criminals were locked behind their bars. Who would tell poor Blair that he would end up there because of his father’s mistake. The problem was not the lack of hot water, but that inhuman obsession that many of the prisoners had for “new toys.” Rookies had two options; be submissive and abide by veterans’ orders or suffer the dangerous anger of those disturbed minds. It all started one night when Blair had the bad idea of ​​going to shower alone.

𝒫𝒶𝒾𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔: Jungkookoffender au x (female: Blair). 𝒢𝑒𝓃𝓇𝑒:  smut.(later), offender au, fluff, angst. 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹𝓈: 3 k 𝑅𝒶𝓃𝓆𝓊𝒾𝓃𝑔:  +18   𝒲𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔:  dirty language, proposals, mood swings, spectacular bodies, muscles, biceps, problems, future friends?

 Mrs. Smith had caught a viral illness and they had closed the library. I had soon received the order to change my daily tasks. Although I never get used to the thick dust of books, I always enjoy silence. The isolation provided by that modest place helped me improve my mental state. Now instead, I was going to my new homework along with Dallas. It turns out that his co-worker has suffered a mishap and has broken his wrist, although everyone knows that it has not been an accident. Silly peccary if I said that the director is not aware of the constant fights that are generated between the dams. The woman simply manages to administer the jail because of course, after all, that a fight ends with a woman in the hospital was none of her business.

"It's easy, all you have to do is pick up towels and put them in the big bucket here."Your directions make me look away at the cart full of dizzy towels. He wrinkled his nose when a sweat thief rises through my nostrils. Hadn't he said it? Now my job is to collect everything that men leave on the gym floor. When the smell is unbearable, I plug my nose to prevent my poor stability from going through people's dirt. Dallas rolls his eyes for my drama."The nose is a wise mechanism, in the end you will get used to it and if not, then steal a clamp from the laundry area."

"Why do we have to pick up what they throw on the floor?" Isn't it easier for everyone to pick up their own?

Dallas ignores my comment, shrugs and points the other end of the gym with his arm.

"Take care of that part." I feel a bit of annoyance in his order, although he has been with incredible mood swings I decide not to light his fuse and nod to avoid getting to argue in a public place. I don't take two steps when his scream stops me. "If you avoid touching them much better!"

And how am I supposed to catch them except with the mind?

The first towel I pick up is projected at my feet, I bent down to get it and then I realize that it has been a bad idea.

A huge hand patted my right buttock with so much need that I was just pushed forward. The slap reaches my ears and my eyes close when an itchy nothing starts to prick the area. The towel slips from my fingers and falls. I get right immediately. A man much taller than me collides with my shoulder as he passes by my side, his infernal laugh betrays him. I begin to expel imaginary smoke through my ears when he turns around and gives me a flying kiss as he walks backwards. I am so obnoxious that I am sure that if I try to hit him I would end up being the beaten. I was never good at self defense, and as you can deduce melee fight either. He looked away at one of the many empty punching bags. Forgetting my main task, I approach and the first thing that comes to mind is to punch him. The sack does not move, however, my knuckles end up bumping painfully against the hard surface, he pulled his hand away as I open it and close it. An impatient growl comes out of my lips as I shake my wrist. I am so pathetic that my attack of rage has turned against me. And if that wasn't enough, now I have a mark on the butt and the knuckles in live meat.

"You gave it wrong." A hoarse voice sounds behind my back. While moving my wrist intensely to reduce the pain, I turn around. I open my eyes nervously while my chest is agitated it rises when I hyperventilate. Thirteen boasts in front of me as he crosses his arms. He is naked from the waist up. Your clavicle bone catches my attention when it is marked under your skin. The tanned skin shines with sweat, small droplets coming down her face wetting a couple of strands. A naughty drop goes down her slender neck to her abs, then disappears into her gray sports pants. Swallow saliva His gaze is so intense that my mouth opens involuntarily due to the dryness inside. I don't know how long I've been admiring the perfection of his body but it doesn't seem to bother him. Coming out of my mental fantasy, I dazedly remember what he has told me.

"How does it happen?" I ask confused. Together the eyebrows while my nose wrinkles to complement my gesture of absolute novice. Thirteen snorts slowly through his mouth, I think I'm hallucinating because for a moment I think I see the shadow of a smile. I take steps back when he approaches me. My back crashes into the sack, when the wet wet my clothes disgusted me.

Thirteen places the bag in its initial position, then takes a quick look with a raised eyebrow.

"I did not believe you a woman of violence, gongjunim." Her tone deepens so much that it can be confused perfectly with a snore. A snore too sensual. Stretch your hand to reach the hook of the bag with the roof. His arm passes inches from my eyes delighting me with strong muscles, he has some tattoos decorating his skin. The damn heart on his wrist that brought such bad memories has not stopped attracting my attention. Even though he has more like that crown on his ring finger or that phrase in an old language on his rib. It was as surreal as that well-formed limb ended up joining another place with sweet resemblance to the touch as was his shoulder. The bag moves violently to the sides when it rises high. He catches it in his big venous hands so he stops swinging.

"Anger is a feeling that everyone has, Thirteen." I don't know what moment I felt confident to speak, but without a doubt, my daring plays a blush on my cheeks when his deer eyes watch me with a special shine

“Who has bothered you so much that you decide to pay your frustrations with a punching bag?” He says the words with a flash of amusement. However, there is some warning in the way his shoulders tense. I can't figure out if he really wants me to tell him my reasons or it has simply been a rhetorical question that I haven't seen coming. I had not seen him for a week. Well, actually it was he who didn't see me. This ambiguous situation was turning my head, I was a witness when I saw him change the hall because he didn't want to cross me. He even got to the point of depriving himself of his hours outdoors so as not to see me. And now here I was, with such a relaxed attitude that I was surprised, wondering and engaging in what was probably our longest conversation.

"I don't understand you." Confusion dominates my tone. My eyes wander restlessly on the floor in search of lucidity but everything stays in a spoiled attempt."You told me to stay away and here you are. And for a demon, what does gonjunim mean?”

"Gongjunim" he repeated.

I rolled my eyes in response.

"How sea!"

"Hit him."

“What?” Confused by his change of subject, he frowned. Thirteen offers me the punching bag with a slight push. Under my eyes to the red knuckles and then scrap his offer. However, his effort does not cease and with a I tap the sack with my elbow, it hits my stomach, I raise an eyebrow, I know it's waiting for me to react, but the only thing I can think of is to slap the skin bag.

"You have to hit him with the middle of your fist." It interferes through blind security. Take my hand and place it at the height of your abdomen. I follow the quiet movement of his fingers when they make an impromptu fist. To avoid further mistake proceed to spread circular caresses around the area of ​​my fingers. Intense chills slip through the entire length of my arm. His cold gem compared to my hot skin was an explosion of mixture that my body did not let go. I was being cute. I never thought I lived to see him in that facet, I was so focused on his work that I didn't notice the stunned look that my narrowed eyes were reflecting. Without waiting for it, he struck my fist against the sack. Shock when it hits the surface. He let go of my hand letting it go down. I was surprised, it hadn't hurt.

"How do you know that trick?"

I took my head off my hand to direct it towards the sack. Although I had not moved because of the lightness of my attack. Analyze better the marks that were all over your skin. Traces of glorious strokes that would leave his name printed forever. I had been so despised that at no time had I realized that the place I had hit had been the yellow zone. With little experience, that was the softest one, the one reserved for newbies who initially did not want to break their hands. Thirteen should have put it to my disposal when he raised the sack. If you paid attention to the dashed lines, the red zone and much higher, the black one, were so far away that not even a million jumps would come. Why had he done it? Whenever he has hurt, he has done it. Is it that he doesn't want to do it anymore?

Putting aside any unanswered questions, I dare to look askance. I just give him a complete look when I see him distracted while he analyzes the bag too focused. The hair covers my eyes, countless impulses suffocate my fingers when thoughts come from combing the facts behind. It seemed to me if your hair will look as soft as imagined.

"Let's say life teaches you many things." - He inhales, drops a melancholic sigh as he clicks his tongue. He seems too lost in a storm of painful memories. He wasn't sure if he added anything or just didn't open his mouth, he didn't want to change his mood either.His words were mixed with something I could not decipher. His phrase could be understood in two different fibers by the apparent ambiguity that his gesture showed, however, the neutral tone could only mean one thing and it was not pleasant. "Do you want to learn to fight?"

His laughing change leaves me on the site.

"Me?" He points me confused. Then I deny incredulous. "But I am a disaster."

"I was too when I haven't yet ..." but he closes his mouth so quickly that his words stay in the air. "I can teach you the basics."

Now, it's my turn to get lost in the scratchy texture of the sack. If I was excited he left speechless. It does not look like him, rather it seems a child who dies because I am a game. But he is not a good person and much less, he could have the innocence of a child.

"Sure, so I owe you a favor later, right?" "I am consciously aware that half of the men have put their exercise routine aside to look at us." Thirteen frowns when he occupies a face of irritability on his face. Find another one to suck your friends' dicks.I don't need your help, Thirteen.”

I try to turn around but his hand closes around my wrist and turns me sharply towards him.

"You should control that effusive character you have and learn to listen before drawing your own shit conclusions." He growls, seems altered as he wrinkles his nose in my direction. His sharp jaw is raised. His eyes open with exaggeration. "I do not deny that the system favors is not useful. However, what I had in mind for you was completely different from the last time."

"I won't be your sex toy."

"What?" Squeaky, in a funny air that relaxes his features in a matter of seconds. My cheeks turn red from my thinking out loud. I close my eyes in shame, but I open them again immediately when a melodious laugh enters my ears. I can clearly see the way in which their corners are stretched to form a smile, the way in which their teeth shine is so particular that I cannot look away. He has the smile of a bunny. "Dallas told me you were good with numbers." What I was going to propose at the beginning is that you help me with the bets.

"I don't want to participate in your illegal scams to increase my sentence to nine years."

"Think about it." Humming. "You could make money, it's not a bad plan."

“Illegal money?” He snorted gracefully.

"Wasn't it you who embezzled two million dollars to the state?"

"I don't ... You know what? I don't care what you think. I try to get away but his hitch prevents me. Could you please let go? "

"Think about it." Repeat, raise an eyebrow and release me. To my surprise it has not sounded like an order but as an advice that I should keep in mind. I turn around and continue on my way to the towel lost on the floor. This time I make sure I don't show too much before bending down to pick it up.

In strides too steep I walk through the area of ​​my module. I look like a train too agitated by all the imaginary smoke that comes out of my ears. Finally, it was my turn to collect all the towels on my own because Dallas had left early for strange reasons. For the sake of my self-control I hope for your sake that I won't catch her sleeping because if so, may God have mercy of what I will do to him. A sweaty man climbs up my nose, I have to grab a few moments to the ladder so as not to fall collapsed. Men really have a serious hygiene problem.

He turned the corner to my cell when he hit a squalid body.

"Be careful, fool." Someone reprimands me from a distance. I lift my head from the ground and then I recognize her.

"What are you doing here?" I bring out a grunt full of warning to the pale girl with black hair, also known as "the Shanghai puppy dog." I don't have to ask him about his evil partner because he appears right after. He looks me up and down apparently thinking it wasn't worth it.

"Come on, Ginger." We've already finished.

The pale girl aka the curve girl, nods accepting his orders.

They advance through the extensible corridor.

"What were you doing in my cell?"

Shanghai turns to see me when he hears my voice.

"This is not just your cell, little doll."

Confused, I walk slowly. Dallas is sitting on the bed with her eyes lost. Playing with her restless fingers while hiding her neck between her shoulders.

"Did he tell you anything?" My question seems to scare her because she flinches. My curiosity increases when I hear the sound of his saliva falling down his throat. "That Asian is a psycho who looks to bother you just because you're my friend."

"Blair." My name comes out trembling from his lips, too carefully. I stop cursing when I perceive the shaking of his body, he's really scared. Apart from the fact that he called me for my man and not for that stupid nickname, I decide to sit by his side to give him my emotional support. "I think I'm in trouble ..."

"Tell me something new, go." I comment with a comic wrapped in a dramatic snort. However, his paleness does not change to liveliness, which scares me even more.

"I asked Shanghai a favor a while ago and now I don't know how to give it back."

His confession causes him to open his eyes overwhelmed by panic.

"What have you done what?" But as you can think of ...— I close my mouth as I perceive how his mood is constantly deteriorating. It is not a time for discussions that you do not need. "What favor have you done?" I get his silence in response. "Lucy."

Straining a hand under the pillow, take out an envelope. You leave it at my disposal, your suggestion is so obvious that I decide to find out its content myself. I open it. What my eyes see is so shocking that I blink a few times to verify its reality. I put my hand and take out the predictor that, as indicated, is positive.

"I'm pregnant."

My lips peel off, remaining inert for the news.

"It's complicated to get this kind of thing in here."

“Why didn't you go to the doctor?” My question seems to cause him an inhuman discomfort because he frowns.

"Because I don't want anyone to know."

"But what kind of selfishness is that, Lucy? Jimin has the right to know you're pregnant."

"Lower your voice!" His reprimand leaves me frozen. His childish attitude is showing me how immature he is in this type of situation. I don't understand why he reacts like that. It's an act too simple, you just have to tell him the truth. "No one can find out about this, Blair. Much less Jimin. Please ..."

"But he is the father ..."

"Please," he implores, clasp his hands as he falls to his knees before me. She is so desperate that she no longer cares that some wandering dams stare.

"How much do you owe him?"

Lucy lifts her head from the ground, the brightness of hope is more noticeable than before but fear still dominates.

"More than we could put together in two days." He lowers his tone when melancholy clashes with his reality. I close my eyes, inhale in a deep scream because I know I'm going to regret this.

"I know where you can get money."

                                                             ✞

NEXT 

[kenzieskpopwonderland]

Come Wake Me Up

+ BTS x Rascal Flatts + Come Wake Me Up + What Hurts The Most + Yours If You Want It + Bless The Broken Road + I Like The Sound of That + Here Comes Goodbye + Love You Out Loud +

Warnings: ANGST SO MUCH ANGST

Jung Hoseok sat lifeless on the bed that he used to share with you, his fingers caressing an empty bottle of vodka. The rumpled sheets were almost hidden by various glass bottles that spilled hazardously onto the floor.

“Hoseok! Please come out. You’ve been in there for months!” Namjoon pounded heavily on the door, desperation taking over. The leader had been very supportive at first, always understanding when Hoseok wanted to stay curled up in bed when promotions were over. But that was the first 3 weeks. On the 4th, Hoseok found alcohol. He began blowing off his work: he struggled to learn lyrics or dances and refused to go to any interviews of any kind.

The boys, the managers, and even the fans understood. No one blamed him. His heart had been crushed. But now it was week 7, and the other 6 members could not stand it anymore. Their happy, go-lucky friend was but a shell of his former self. After around of rock-paper-scissors and Jungkook’s complaints at being chosen, here Namjoon was. The boys had decided that enough was enough.

“Hoseok, I’m coming in,” Namjoon used his key to the rooms to unlock the door and stepped into the room. The overwhelming smell of stale alcohol, vomit, and sweat bombarded the leader’s senses. Mixed in with the glass on the floor were clothes, old containers of food, and the broken remnants of the furniture in the bedroom that Hoseok had shared with you.

•••

“Baby, no! We have to make sure it looks really amazing!” You whined to Hoseok as he handed you the ugliest vomit green window curtains. He had supposedly picked them because the super tacky purple daffodils embroidered in the cloth reminded him of your smile. You could tell by his shit-eating grin that he as just messing with you.

“Okay, Jagi! Although I really think that if we decided we want something festive...,” He trailed off, shaking the curtains in his hand instead.

“Oh shush it you!” Hoseok made his way back down the aisle to the next one over where the curtains were. You watched him walk away, admiring his really hot backside. With a smile on your face, you turned back towards the bed comforters. There were yellow ones, purple ones, vomit green with purple daffodil ones, and the prettiest metallic grey quilted silk. You reached out a hand to check the price and to feel. 

“Jagiyaaaa! I think I found some good ones! Didn’t you say you wanted that dark, reddish color for our room?” A bouncing Hoseok hollered from the end of the aisle before quickly running up to you and bear hugging you from the side.

“Maroon?”

“Yeah! That’s it! These maroon curtains are really nice!” Your boyfriend raved, still literally attached to your hip. “They’re that silk that you wanted and here! Rub it on your cheek! So nice, right? And they say ‘sunblocker’ on them so we can sleep in as long as we want and the sun won’t wake us up!”

“Do you really like them that much? You asked, a little confused, taking the curtains from his hands and inspecting them.

“Of course, baby!” Hoseok’s face fell a little as he moved to stand in front of you. “Why? Do you not like them?“

Noticing his face, you quickly tossed them in the cart and grabbed both of his hands. They’re really gorgeous Hoseok. Of course, we’ll have to repaint the walls.” You lifted yourself slightly to meet his lips with yours, his arms circling around your back.

“Why do we have to do that? We already painted it!” Hoseok whispered when you pulled away to where he could still hold you close to him.

“Because I love those curtains and I want them in our room, but we might not get to see this when they blend in with the maroon walls.”

Hoseok laughed as it dawned on him. He gave you a wink, “As long as we get to break in our room soon.”

•••

Namjoon sat gingerly on the foot of the bed, not saying anything about the maroon curtains draped over the foot of the bed. He watched as Hoseok slowly lifted his gaze from the bottle.

“It’s not working. Isn’t the alcohol supposed to make you forget your problems? Why can’t her memories and shit leave me alone just like she did? I don’t want to think about her. I can’t think about her. It hurts too badly. I can usually drink her right off of my mind, but I miss her tonight,” Hoseok asked slowly, hiccoughing as he looked at his leader desperately.

“Hoseok,” Namjoon began softly, noting the tear-stained face of his hyung. “Let’s at least get you cleaned up and out of this room, even if it’s just to the living room.”

Hoseok paled, and Namjoon knew why. It was enough having to see his bedroom, where so many memories were created. It was another thing to see every little thing that she had left behind and have every memory they’d ever made in their home be relived. It had been too much for him too soon. But now Namjoon wanted him to go out there?

Before Hoseok could open his mouth to protest, Namjoon yanked him by the arm, causing Hoseok to drop the bottle onto the bed. It was empty anyway.

He was pulled into the adjoining bathroom where Namjoon quickly turned on the shower and forced him into the stream of freezing cold water. Hoseok screamed and thrashed by Namjoon held tight to the door, not letting the older man out. He took this time to inspect the bathroom. The black tiles under his feet that once shone brighter than Hoseok had become dusty and covered in abandoned clothing and your old beauty products. The white cabinets that you two had spent ages deciding on - Namjoon definitely remembered when his hyung would not stop spamming the band’s group chat with pictures, asking whether this wood was right or not - were covered in Hoseok’s pale foundation and a hint of poorly wiped up vomit. And your pride and joy, the giant tub that you had insisted on was piled up with your clothes, makeup, jewelry, and everything else you left in the house - there were no baths in its future.

Namjoon scoffed in disgust at the tub, pushing Hoseok back under the jet of water as the older man tried weakly to get out,exhausted from the earlier struggle and the alcohol. “Hyung, you better wash up really well, or I won’t let you out of this shower.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing.” Namjoon just rolled his eyes.

After shoving Hoseok into his last pair of clean boxers and onto the couch in Namjoon’s living room, Namjoon sat next to his lifeless bandmate until he was finally willing to speak. “I don’t know what happened, Namjoon. We were doing so good and she just ... left. Why did she leave me? What did I do wrong?” Namjoon tried to say that it wasn’t anything he had done but Hoseok kept rambling. “And then I was doing so good, but I don’t think it sunk in fully. Now, I can’t take the pain. How does it hurt so bad, Namjoon? I could normally push her right out of my heart - for the band, for the fans - but I’m too tired to fight.”

It was silent for a moment before Namjoon embraced his friend tightly. “It’s like this whole thing just began. She’s still sunk into my veins.”

•••

“J-Hope! J-Hope! J-Hope! Ooh, he’s so sexy! Wow, what a man!“ You cheered loudly as the tattoo artist finished the final touches. Your fiancé had tried to tough it out as best he could so you decided to ignore the tear tracks down his cheeks and the half-moon dents he left in your skin. The two of you weren’t entirely foolish for getting tattoos dedicated to each other. Instead, you decided to dedicate to a memory. Something that even if you broke up, you wouldn’t regret remembering. How could you ever regret the blissful years spent with Jung Hoseok even if they came to an end? That’s why the two of you now boasted a matching pair of shooting stars. Sure, your wish had been that you’d be together forever, but that night with Hoseok, the first time you traded ‘I love yous’, was definitely the happiest night you’ve ever had (aside from every night you fall asleep in Hoseok’s arms) and was something you would never ever regret.

•••

Namjoon saw Hoseok’s fingers tracing the patch of skin on his back where he knew the little star tattoo would be. Hoseok remembered the pain of the tattoo gun piercing repeatedly into his skin like it was new, but that pain could never compare to what he felt now.

“Everything that we were, everything that I said, that I couldn’t, that I didn’t do. Namjoon, why didn’t I do anything? I could have kept her here with me,” The older rapper begged, but Namjoon didn’t have an answer for him.

Tears streamed down both of their eyes. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but maybe,” Namjoon paused, “maybe it’s time to move on.”

•••

“Hobi, you’re never going to love someone else, right?” You asked. You weren’t insecure, you just wanted confirmation!

Hoseok, whose arms were wrapped around your stomach and legs were tangled in yours, looked at you like you were dumb. “You’re so silly! I don’t think I could ever not love you. The only way you’ll get rid of me is when I’m 6 feet in the ground. I promise.”

You smiled up at him, “Good.”

Hoseok’s jaw dropped playfully, “I don’t get the same promise back?”

“Hm, I don’t know,” A sinister grin grew on his face as he used his position around you to pin you down and tickle you till you begged for mercy and he relented .... and then tickled you even more.

•••

The heartbroken man stood up, enraged. “I can’t just get over it! I can’t just put out the love like it meant nothing, like I’m still not desperately, hopelessly in love with her! Besides, I promised her that I wouldn’t ever love anyone else!” He started pacing in front of the couch.

“I don’t think that promise matters now. It’s time to move on from her. You don’t have to be with anyone else ever again if you don’t want to, but she’s not going to come back, and you can’t keep living this way.” Hearing this, Hoseok fell to his knees, head in his hands.

“It’s not fair! How could she do this to me? Why did she leave?”

“Hobi-“

“Namjoon. Why can’t I just, I don’t know, sit in her flames and pray?” Hoseok practically begged his friend, the desperation taking over once more.

“Pray for what?”

“That she comes back?” Hoseok closed his eyes tightly to hold on tightly to the tears threatening to stain his cheeks even more. “What else would I want?”

Namjoon sighed, “Praying won’t get you anywhere. She’s not coming back.”

“Why can’t I just be dreaming? Why can’t she come wake me up?”

—

“YES! 3 strikes and you’re OUT!” Hoseok screamed at the TV with the rest of the band. Yoongi even threw some of his popcorn. 3 weeks after Namjoon forced him out of his room, the old Hobi finally started to show himself. At least, he was in a good enough place to watch baseball with the others.

•••

“What kind of call was that, ref? He was clearly on base so what kind of fuckery are you try-mph” Hoseok threw a hand over your mouth, trying to shut you up before the man next to you in the opposing team’s colors punched either one of you out for your... intense...vocabulary throughout the game. When Hoseok brought you to America with the band for their tour, you practically begged him to take you to an actual MLB game. Baseball had always been your favorite sport and, since meeting you, had become Hoseok’s as well. When the game finished, you tugged your boyfriend’s hand, very agitated. “Babe, that whole game was total bull! And can you believe that guy?”

“I can’t take you anywhere, Y/N!” Hoseok cackled. You pouted in response, but he just kissed you, trying to fight the grin.

“Yeah, well you took me to America, took me to this game, took me on Kook’s hotel bed last n-” Hoseok threw his hand over your mouth, laughing.

“Oh my gosh, come on loser. Let’s go get some ice cream.”

Your eyes lit up, “Hobi, you know I love you the mostest, right?”

“It’s okay, Y/N. I know the truth. You just love me when I buy you ice cream!” Hoseok threw his arms up, faking a loud sob.

You giggled, “You hit the nail on the head. Wait, wait, no! You hit the ball with the bat!” You cracked up, Hoseok looked at you in comedic horror, complaining how you’ve spent too much time with Jin that you could have spent with him instead.

...

It didn’t matter that Hoseok was yelling, didn’t matter that the other boys were hollering, didn’t matter that they had turned the TV up as loud as they could get it. He couldn’t drown out your voice, he couldn’t forget the countless times the two of you had spent hooting and hollering for your teams. All he wanted was to hold you in arms again, something you made sure wouldn't happen, so he would settle for drowning his sorrows in another bottle and vomiting up his heartbreak. Instead of sitting back down, Yoongi started walking to the door, calling over his shoulder that he was going to have a smoke. Hoseok looked at his bandmates. He couldn’t keep letting his anguish affect his friends, the people who keep trying to straighten him out. “I’ll come with you, Yoongs.”

The air outside was hot and humid, almost worthy of a frying pan. “Holy shit.”

“I know,” Yoongi stood against the wall, cigarette and lighter in hand. “Why aren’t you finishing the game? You used to love watching baseball- oh.”

“You’re right. I did love baseball- do love it. But there are so many memories there. It’s hard.”

Yoongi sighed, “It is hard.”

“Can I have one?” Hoseok asked, surprising both of the men.

“Are you sure? You were never a big fan of these ‘cancer sticks’ and now you want my last one? Oh, how the tides have changed,” Yoongi teased, finding the situation hilarious and slightly ironic.

Hoseok deadpanned, “Maybe not, but I think a cigarette is a better escape than alcohol. Joonie’s all but banned me from any sort of bottle.”

Yoongi sobered up, the playful grin falling from his face at the reminder of the pain his best friend was experiencing and wordlessly handed over the lighter and cigarette pack

Hoseok was still drowning in his grief. The boys had understood at first, anyone would be heartbroken. But even now, they had all moved on and forgotten. And why wouldn’t they have? Why was he the only one still drowning in you? You were probably sleeping right now, it was late after all.

He wondered if you ever dreamed of him the way that he dreamed of you still. No, you were asleep, peaceful, resting. He was curled up in a ball on a porch with a cigarette in hand that he hadn’t even smoken from yet and tears streaming down his face. His best friend sat next to him, no idea to react. Yoongi had moved on, just like you had.

Hoseok numbly felt Yoongi’s hand on his arm, the older man getting back up to go inside. His thoughts were consumed with you, and only you, but were you thinking twice about him?

Hoseok slowly got back up and stubbed out the cigarette’s flame. The dying fire reminded him of himself. He shut his eyes tightly again, and couldn’t help but wish it was all a dream.

—

Hoseok sat on the stage, Jin sat slightly behind him on his own stool, guitar in hand.

“Hi, guys.” J-Hope paused as the crowd roared in response.

He smiled weakly. “So, before anything else, I want to say thank you. Thank you so much. There’s a whole list of things I need to thank you for. From the beginning? Thank you so much for always being so supportive of any relationships we’ve announced. Y/N was so scared that you all would hate her, but you guys showered us both in support. That meant everything to her and I. Some people weren’t as supportive but the overwhelming love that we got was enough. So, thank you. And I took a while off from performing, and I’m sorry about that. But I want to tell you guys thank you for being understanding of my love and thank you for being understanding of my absence.

“I know that Y/N is moving on, and I know I should give her up. I hope you guys can support both of us moving forward. But before we say goodbye, I wanted to sing a song that I wrote, one of many. It’s called Come Wake Me Up.”

•••

“Hey, you know I love you right?” His arms squeezed you from behind, head resting softly on your shoulder.

“Of course I do, silly. You tell me every day.” Your hands left the towels you were folding to come up and hold his hands.

“Oof, I don’t know if that’s enough. Maybe I should tell you every hour, no, every minute.” You giggled and turned around in his arms, landing a soft kiss on his lips. He sighed, content with the thought that you were his forever. The shiny ring he had put on your finger was only confirmation of what he already knew. You were in love and nothing would change that.

•••

Hoseok took in a deep breath. This would be the first time he saw you since, well. It was hard to believe you were here, hard to acknowledge. But here you were. And there he was walking up to you. Maybe he was petty, maybe he was lost in the memories, but he held the bouquet of roses and sunflowers you were supposed to use for your wedding to him.

The elegant stone slab etched with your name and the date of what had become the worst day of his life. The stone was the same marble you had begged him to consider for the counters in your shared place and the ‘aesthetic, trendy’ marble wedding date-thing you had wanted for the wedding.

Everything reminded him of the two of you. And there you were.

“Hey... Y/N.”

He could almost hear your response.

“I know that you can’t hear me, but baby...” Hoseok broke down. He kneeled over the marble stone that you had wanted for your wedding but that you got for your funeral. He clutched the red and yellow bouquet tighter than before, his tears clouding his vision.

“For the past... year, I’ve been trying to believe that this was just a dream. I begged for you to come back, to wake me up. And I wish that you had.”

Masterlist BTS x Rascal Flatts

I’m so sorry it took me forever to post this and tbh the ending kind of befuzzled me a bit but oof oh well.

[mackinmacki]

Down by the Water: Purrfect Partners II (Ch. 3 - Crying Eyes and Shiny Skies)

Rating: K

Word Count: 3237

Summary: The third years get their time in the (angsty) sun. Plus Ruby finds a bunny.

Links: (FFN) | (AO3)

Ruby didn't need to be a mind reader to know there was little chance of walking home with Dia after school. They hadn't walked home together in two years, due to them going to different schools. Now they were in the same school again, at least for a year. That made Ruby happy, but not as happy as she had been when she was younger. Now her sister had more responsibilities than ever, and she would likely be staying at school late every weekday.

Just in case, she went to the student council room to sate her curiosity. Or perhaps to just make herself feel worse. As quietly as she could, she peeked through the window, finding what was likely to be a familiar sight: Dia sitting at her desk, eyes down and focused on paperwork. There was no doubt that she'd be staying late, so there'd be no time to do something silly like walk home together.

Sighing, Ruby backed away from the door and started to walk home. What was worse was that Hanamaru was staying after school as well, to borrow a few books from the library as well as try to get a part-time job working there. Both her sister and best friend were doing things with their lives, and she was very proud of them. She was also a bit envious. If only she had the drive to find something important to do. She didn't even know where to begin, though.

Walking home alone wasn't any fun. It was too lonely, and she was able to easily get caught up in her own head. All she could think of was how much of a lesser person she was than the important people in her life. She hated those thoughts almost as much as she hated that she wasn't doing anything to stop those thoughts from happening.

It was hard not to wish that she could return to the past. Things were simpler and nicer back then. She and Dia could play all they wanted, before all the weight of expectation had landed on Dia's shoulders. It'd always made her happy when she was brought along to play with Kanan and Mari, though the time they all spent together decreased at a constant rate the older they got. Not that she should be wishing for those specific moments after last year. She'd never betray her sister by hanging out with Kanan again.

Wrapped up in her thoughts, she would've walked right past a tiny, fluffy bunny if it hadn't squeaked. The noise caught her attention, and Ruby nearly jumped as she looked for the source of the sound. When she realized that it came from the bunny sitting there on the sidewalk, she had to keep herself from squealing out loud. It was so... so cute! She slowly dropped to her knees so she didn't scare it, but it didn't seem interested in hopping away. This allowed her to get a better look at it.

Its fur was a honey-brown color, which was a rather stark contrast to the white fur Ruby usually saw on rabbits online. She just couldn't get over how cute it was, though. Each twitch of its ear or crinkle of its little pink nose made her eyes shine with delight. She just wanted to pick it up and keep it as a pet. It would be properly cared for, and she'd give it all her love and attention. She'd name it Tsubasa, after one of the original school idols that kickstarted the craze all those decades ago. What if it was a boy, though? Maybe after that other award-winning idol group, George...

Wait, what was she thinking? She couldn't have a pet. What would her parents say? What would Dia say? Frowning, she gently patted the bunny on the head and stood up. It wasn't fair. She felt so lonely and she couldn't even have a little bunny with her to make it seem like she had company. Regretfully, she looked down at the bunny again, which was staring up at her and licking its little paw. So cute...

The bunny might belong to someone. There wasn't a collar, but that didn't mean it couldn't have broken free of it. Someone would be really sad that they lost their little bunny. Ruby knew she certainly would be. Finding its owner could be some kind of duty for her. At least she wouldn't be completely useless. She'd be helpful! Determined to do her Rubesty, Ruby bent down and gently attempted to pick up the bunny. It allowed her to do so without any resistance. "Eee!"

She would take the bunny home, feed it, and care for it, at least until she could find its original owners. Of course, she'd have to hide it from the rest of the family. If they found out, she'd be in so much trouble. She wasn't going to back down from this, though. It was her first moment of rebellion. She was finally becoming a teenager!

Ruby looked all around her to make sure the local police weren't immediately descending upon her for her new rebellious nature. The coast was clear, though, and she couldn't help but smile as she hugged the bunny close to her chest. "Don't worry. I'll keep you safe until we find your owners. How about that?" She felt a warmth in her chest from having the bunny in her arms. It was such a cute and warm little guy. She also felt a little bit alive, too. This was against the rules. She was a little rebel now! Maybe she should get a tattoo!

Actually, needles really hurt... so maybe not.

With a fancy flourish of her pen, Dia signed off on another paper. She was nearing the end of the stack that held information on all the incoming freshmen. That was by far the second-least amount of paperwork she had to go through as head of the student council, though. Besides the singular transfer student she had gone over, the amount of new students was not all that big. Attendance to the seaside school had been dwindling for several years, and now she was seeing first-hand just how bad it was. She wasn't even sure if the school could survive like this.

It wasn't time to dwell on negative thoughts, though. The sun was only part-way down in the sky, so she was making good time with her work. Soon she'd be able to go home and practice her yamatogoto. It had a pleasant sound that did wonders for calming her down from the rigorous stresses of her day to day life. Not that she had any reason to complain. Her life was already laid out for her. All she had to do was follow the path and she'd be taken care of for the rest of her days. What reason did she have to complain about that?

Still, there were some things she wished she could change, though she'd never speak them aloud. Loneliness was her biggest enemy. It seemed like she had to be the mature one for her entire life, even when she was a kid. Back then, she didn't mind it as much. She had her best friends, and she had Ruby. Not only that, but there were her friend's friends hanging around the periphery. There was more friendly activity then.

Things changed, of course. Her friendships drifted apart like boats in a dense fog. The strong relationship she had with Ruby became strained, which she couldn't help but feel was her fault. Just because things had been changing too drastically in her own life didn't mean she needed to be so snippy with Ruby. That wasn't just any common layperson: it was her sister. It was too late for that, though. Like everyone else, Ruby saw her for what she was: a young girl on a pedestal who was too good for the common folk. She hated it.

There was no purpose in dwelling on it now. It was what it was. All the people who gave color to her life were now at arms length, at the very least. That wasn't going to change, so it did no good to keep wishing for things to go back to the way they were. They couldn't, and she knew that. She was too smart to lose herself in the impossible. As the student council president, she had a duty to the school and to the students. All this wistful thinking was just wasting precious time and distracting her.

So she put her nose back to the grindstone and continued on with her work. The stack of papers documenting the new students was done in short order, and it wasn't long before she was done. Smiling with satisfaction, she tidied up the papers and began moving them around the office. Once everything was back in pristine order, she capped her pen and set it down before heading for the door. It was finally time to head home.

Before she could even reach it, the door opened to reveal someone standing there with a big smile on her face. At the sight of her, Dia stopped in place, her jaw dropping. It felt like everything around her had come to a stand-still, blacking out so her eyes could see nothing but the grinning blonde standing before her. There was no way she could be there, yet the evidence was right there in front of her. It was... well, it just couldn't be possible.

"M... Mari?!" Still smiling, Mari put up a hand and flashed Dia a peace sign.

"Honey, I'm home!"

Mari was vibrating with excitement. She hadn't seen Dia in a year, and to see her standing in the student council room just seemed sensible. That part of her old life hadn't changed in her time away. Dia was still as pretty and goal-oriented as ever. Joy coursed through her veins as she leaped forward and wrapped Dia in a tight hug, rubbing their cheeks together with the biggest smile on her face.

"Il mio bel diamante, it's been too long!" She kept hugging Dia, but pulled her face away so she could properly pout. "You and Kanan didn't text me for so long! I thought you two didn't want to be friends with me anymore." She watched Dia's face turn an adorable shade of red, likely because of their close contact. Then she pushed Mari away, crossing her arms with a frown. Ah, that looked more like the Dia she knew.

"That isn't true, Mari. We've all been busy, and we assumed that you would be too. Or you should've been." Her eyes narrowed, as if trying to pierce through Mari's brain. "You're supposed to be at school. What are you doing here?"

"Duh, going to school?" Mari kept grinning, but there was a stinging sensation in her heart. She felt like Dia wasn't telling her the truth, even if she wasn't scratching at her mole like she used to. What could have made both of them so busy that they couldn't even text or call her a single time for eight months? It made her feel horrible, like the people she cared about the most no longer felt the same. She wasn't ready to give up, though. No matter what had happened, she wasn't going to give up on them. That was why she had to come back to Uranohoshi. "I'm coming back here for our third year!"

"No you're not."

"Eh? You can't decide that for me!" She pouted again, crossing her arms and trying to put on a serious expression to rival Dia's. "I've already put in my application to transfer back here."

"Wrong! There was only one transfer application, and it wasn't yours." Dia smiled smugly, refusing to back down and break eye contact with Mari. "Unless you changed your name to Riko, you absolutely did not put in an application to return to this school."

"I got mine personally accepted by the school chairwoman."

"Ridiculous!" Dia scoffed. "I'm going to speak to the chairwoman immediately, then."

"Alright." Mari let silence fall upon them for a few seconds, then smiled sweetly towards Dia. "How may I help you, Miss Kurosawa?" If possible, Dia frowned even deeper than before.

"Mari, please be serious. I'm going to speak to the chairwoman, and then this will be all sorted out." She brushed past Mari and opened the door, turning back to give her one last stern look. "You need to go back, Mari. I don't have time for these silly games." Then she was out of sight before Mari could say anything else. She stuck up her hand as if attempting to stop her, but let it fall down with a sigh when she realized how fruitless it was.

What had happened while she was gone? It wasn't that this was out of character for Dia, but she acted like Mari being there was a great disservice. Were her worst fears being realized? Did her friends really not want to speak to her anymore? Her mood was quickly sinking like a stone, but she defiantly pushed back against the waves threatening to chain her to the bottom of the ocean. No, it wasn't true. She refused to believe it. Something had changed, and she would just need to figure out what it was. She was not going to give up!

There was still Kanan. The carefree adventurer of their trio was always the most open of them all. Surely, if Mari asked her what was going on, she would divulge all the details. Then, armed with that, there would be nowhere for Dia to hide. It would all come out into the open, and then they could get past it and become best friends again. No silly spat had kept them apart before, and Mari wouldn't let it happen now. Their friendship was more important than that.

With great determination, she left the office and headed home. Tomorrow, she'd confront Kanan at school, and she'd learn what was going on. There would be no escape. After all, an Ohara always got their way.

At least, that's how it used to be.

The ocean was Kanan's favorite place to be. That wasn't to diss the land, but being submerged in water was where she could think the best. With an oxygen tank strapped to her back, she slowly swam through the ocean depths, looking at all the beauty that there was to see beneath the surface. Many people only got a glimpse of what she got to experience any time she wanted, and she felt privileged to live a life that allowed that.

Of course, it helped that her family ran a diving shop. She had easy access to all the equipment she needed to enjoy the ocean to the fullest extent. That's what made working there worthwhile. She was able to help her family and then explore the water at her leisure. It was easy to escape the bores and stresses of reality while underwater. The fish were her friends now.

What had been on her mind all afternoon was the pink helicopter that she'd seen flying through the skies earlier that day. There was no doubt who it was. No one else but Mari was that flashy. She still couldn't shake the thought from her mind. Why was Mari back? After all the work and heartbreak it'd taken to get her on her best path, she wasn't supposed to return to this little town, where dreams could never truly flourish.

She broke the surface off the water, letting the breathing apparatus fall from her mouth as she couldn't keep herself from frowning. It hadn't been fun to send Mari away. In fact, it'd been the most painful thing she'd ever had to do. No failed test or broken bone could compare to how she felt afterwards. It had to be done, though. Mari was a wonderful girl with such a bright future. She was wasting it sticking around in this seaside town. If she wasn't going to make decisions that were best for her, then she and Dia had to make them for her.

Okay, so that sounded very self-centered, but it wasn't like that! It was for Mari's own good. That sounded even worse... Frustrated at herself, Kanan slammed her fist against the water, splashing it around. She hated what she and Dia had to do, but it was for the best. It was what she'd told herself constantly for weeks on end just to allow her to sleep at night. Mari deserved better than Uchiura. She deserved a better life, and better friends. It had hurt them all, but that was what was best. Now she was watching it all crumble down before her eyes.

Part of her wanted to swim straight out of the ocean and run over to Mari's hotel, just to see her again with her own eyes. The other part of her wanted to sink below the ocean's depths and not resurface until everything had returned to the new normal. Maybe Mari was only visiting her old stomping grounds again, but what if that wasn't the case? What if she had come back despite all that had happened? Then everything she'd done had been for naught.

Wasn't that selfish? It was like returning the gift of a better life Kanan had tried to give her. That was just... That was just frustrating. Again she slammed her fist down on the water, which could always take any violent blow she might give to it. Now she didn't want to do either of the things she'd previously stated. She needed to swim a furious amount of laps to burn off all of the frustration. So she went back to her raft and left her oxygen tank on it, then began to swim around the ocean without a set destination. It didn't matter where she was going, or how far she went. All she needed was to clear her mind.

That was easier said than done, though. No matter how long she swam for, she couldn't escape what was happening. Mari was back, and pretending it hadn't happened wasn't going to solve anything. Besides, she knew Mari well. If she wasn't coming to accost her, she'd go and accost Dia. That wouldn't be good. Out of the two of them, Dia had been the more reluctant one to send Mari away, even if she knew it was for the best. If Mari pouted cutely enough, Dia would fold like a card table.

Swimming back to her raft, she hoisted herself onto it and began to paddle it back to the docks. She needed to act immediately to remedy the situation. Whatever had happened, she could fix it. She would get home, put everything away, get changed, and then head to Mari's hotel. It wasn't like late night rendezvous were anything new for them. She would talk with Mari, and she would be as stern as possible. Mari would just have to understand that what had happened was the best for her. That's all she cared about: what was best for Mari. Even if Mari herself didn't seem to care about that. Then everything would be fixed. And if Dia didn't like it...

Then Dia could just deal with it.