#fuma x kai

[divineandmajesticinone]

LOVE IN THE AIR: KOI NO YOKAN (2024) Fuma x Kai

[ppeonppeonhan]

Japan's Love in the Air Remake (Ep. 1 & 2)

When I first saw that Japan was remaking Thailand's Love in the Air, I laughed it off. The idea of them topping one of the hottest Thai BLs of all time (that didn't compromise storyline for raunch), and doing it justice seemed extremely ambitious.

And after watching episodes 1 and 2, I still don't think it possible, BUT I will say that it is the perfect plot for a J-BL: A skittish baby bi prince is seduced by a rich, charming, bad boy, bi king. Japanese BL characters reign supreme in the skittish baby gay category. In fact, Rei / Rain is giving serious Aoki (My Love Mix-Up: Kieta Hatsukoi) energy.

Meanwhile, Arashi / Payu is played by 22-year-old Nagumo Shoma, and he is killing his first lead role in a major series. Is he as hot as Boss? No, but he has potential. The tension between him and his costar is damn near electric.

My only issue with the series is the pacing. The Thai version had 45min episodes, but the Japanese version clocks in at 26min. It not only feels like a lot was left on the cutting room floor, but truncates the passion they're building up to.

My favorite change though so far is the at-school seduction scene switching from the bathroom to the vintage car. It seemed more realistic and...sanitary. lol

I am so far underwhelmed by the Japanese version of Prapai-Sky, and low key think Shoma would've made a better Prapai, but I'll give 26-year-old Suzuki Asahi (Fuma), who is also making his BL main role debut, a chance. Sorry to Nagatsuma Reo (Kai / Sky) though -- there's no way he'll out sassy power bottom Peat.

But I look forward to seeing what other elements they change and whether they can match or even top the iconic PayuRain and PrapaiSky lovemaking scenes.

[tomorrowxtogether]

241111 txt.bighitent TikTok Post

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢 🐺🌕 #FUMA & #HARUA & #SOOBIN & #HUENINGKAI #OverTheMoon #TXT #andTEAM @&TEAM

[yuki-akari]

&TEAM & TXT

[bloom-hypen]

BOOK RECOMMENDATION'S!?

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩـ. Cupid - Fifty fifty

📱= Smau 📄 = Written 🎀 = Fluff 🌧 =angst

🌟 = Favorite's

˗ˏˋ ★ ENHYPEN ★ ˎˊ˗

The bad boys by @filmbyjy 📄🌧

I love the concept and honesty. Even if I had tears in some, the stories were so interesting, and I was invested big time!

・┆✦ Lee Heeseung

TWITTER SUCKS! By @filmbyjy 📱

It's really funny and I genuinely enjoy reading it! This writer's work are always fun for me to read, so I definitely recommend!

・┆✦ Park Jay

The second choice by @missmadwoman 📱

I have been reading it and it's so cute! Also the story is very interesting and I love reading this smau!

RUN2U by @liveloveleiwrites 📱🌟

Got me in my feels real😢 This is just a sad but cute story. The plot is definitely something I am enjoying, and I can't wait for the next chapter!

・┆✦ Sim Jake

Accidentally in love by @wanna-live-yn-life 📱🌟

Jake, in this story, makes me soft! I live how the characters are portrayed!

・┆✦ Park Sunghoon

Vlive confession by @starjaeyun 📱

I love the plot! It's so cute! I really enjoy this smau so I hope it continues!

Till death do us part by @iyeonjuni 📱🌟

When I say sunghoon is a prince, this story makes me think I'm right and all the engene who agree. The drama is also very fun to enjoy!

RUN2U by @liveloveleiwrites 📱

This is a sunghoon x reader x jay! So the angst will definitely get me! Watch me switch sides more than 20 times😭

You(r shoelaces) are pretty by @hannie-dul-set 📄🌟

This is so cute!! Honestly, it made me melt!! Honestly, this is something sunghoon would probably do 🫠

・┆✦ Kim Sunoo

HEY CUPID! By @liliansun 📱🌟

Sunoo cupid! The concept is amazing, and I just love this plot! I definitely am invested!

A little thing called first love by @theebaragi 📱🌟

The first sunoo smau I read! Honestly, the most cute and adorable story I love the way it just made me feel like I was there it was just amazing!

・┆✦ Yang Jungwon

Mint chocolate shirt by @wonieleles 📱

The sad story of how jungwon holds grudges... but honestly, this story is really good and makes me happy!

・┆✦ Nishimura Riki

Take two by @chiyuv 📱🌧🌟

I love niki Angst [just angst getting me in my feels] , and even if it makes me sad. This story is the reason! I love the way it just makes you feel how the characters feel and gives such a good story!

Cupid's corner by @amakumos 📱

This story really got me being a detective, but I don't mind! The plot was also very interesting!

˗ˏˋ ★TOMARROW BY TOGETHER ★ ˎˊ˗

・┆✦ Choi Yeonjun

Spots on! By @h00nerz 📱🌟

I watched miraculous for a long time, and this story just brings back my childhood with a cute concept! Also, yeonjun as chat noir😍

・┆✦ Choi Soobin

Drama by @btxtreads 📱

This had me laughing, and honestly it is just so cute! Actor soobin brings me life!

・┆✦ Choi Beomgyu

・┆✦ Kang Taehyun

・┆✦ Huening Kai

Tiktok challenge! By @heefm 📱

I started reading this and just fell into a little Heuningkai bias wrecker moment, but overall, it is just a good read I started!

˗ˏˋ ★ STRAY KIDS ★ ˎˊ˗

・┆✦ Bang Chan

・┆✦ Lee Know

・┆✦ Seo Changbin

・┆✦ Hwang Hyunjin

・┆✦ Han Jisung

・┆✦ Lee Felix

・┆✦ Kim Seungmin

・┆✦ Yang Jeongin

˗ˏˋ ★ &TEAM ★ ˎˊ˗

・┆✦ Koga Yudai [K]

・┆✦ Murata Fuma

・┆✦ Wang Yixiang [Nicholas]

・┆✦ Byun EuiJoo [Ej]

・┆✦ Nakakita Yuma

・┆✦ Asakura Jo

・┆✦ Shigeta Harua

・┆✦ Takahashi Riki [Taki]

・┆✦ Hirota Riki [Maki]

˗ˏˋ ★ NEWJEANS ★ ˎˊ˗

・┆✦ Kim Minji

PR STUNT by @silantryoo 📱🌟

My inspiration and the reason why I have a gg smau in my drafts! This book brought me life and 100 years of happiness! I love the way the writer makes it feel so immersed! [Maybe I'm really just a big minji fan😪]

New girl by @newjeansimagine 📱🌟

This honestly has me invested, and I can't wait for the next chapter! The drama is getting good😎

・┆✦ Pham Hanni

・┆✦ Marsh Danielle

・┆✦ Kang Haerin

・┆✦ Lee Hyein

˗ˏˋ ★ LE SSERAFIM ★ ˎˊ˗

・┆✦ Miyawaki Sakura

・┆✦ Kim Chaewon

・┆✦ Huh Yunjin

・┆✦ Nakamura Kazuha

・┆✦ Hong Eunchae

˗ˏˋ ★ KEP1ER ★ ˎˊ˗

・┆✦ Choi Yujin

・┆✦ Shen Xiaoting

・┆✦ Sakamoto Mashiro

・┆✦ Kim Chaehyun

・┆✦ Kim Dayeon

・┆✦ Ezaki Hikaru

・┆✦ Huening Jaleh Bahiyyih

・┆✦ Seo Youngeun

・┆✦ Kang Yeseo

˗ˏˋ ★ I'VE ★ ˎˊ˗

・┆✦ Kim Gaeul

・┆✦ Ahn Yujin

・┆✦ Naoi Rei

・┆✦ Jang Wonyoung

20cm by @kangminjissi 🌟📝

So freaking cute! Absolutely loved it! The story almost made me cry at one point, but it's amazing!!🤧

・┆✦ Kim Jiwon [Liz]

・┆✦ Lee Hyunseo [Leeseo]

Thank you to the amazing writers for these beautiful stories!! 🫶

You may have also noticed I read a lot of smau's 😭 so I don't mind some recommendations !

Also, the links will be added soon! Or you can ask ask me for them and I'll happily give them!😊

[weatheredcoffeecup]

@haechansbbg

Here's pt2 of your ship 🫶

In Monsta X I ship you with... Minhyuk!

In NCT I ship you with... Yang Yang!

In Exo I ship you with... Kai!

In SHINee I ship you with... Minho!

In &team I ship you with... Fuma!

In Zerobase1 I ship you with... Gyuvin!

I hope I was able to get atleast one bias out of these ♡♡ have a good day!

[purple8kiss]

favorites [:

kpop groups & bias

-purple kiss: swan

-stray kids: bang chan/lee know

-dreamcatcher: dami

-exo: baekhyun/chanyeol/kai

-seventeen: wonwoo

-enhypen: heeseung/sunghoon/jungwon

-stayc: isa

-oneus: leedo

-astro: cha eunwoo

-everglow: aisha

-monsta x: kihyun

-boynextdoor: jaehyun/sungho

-&team: fuma

-nct dream: jaemin

-nct 127: jaehyun

ksoloists

chungha • b.i • yena • kihyun • baekhyun • jungkook • kang daniel •

jaehyun

[ruihugs]

︵͜⏜͜︵ ⋆ ୨❀୧ ⋆︵͜⏜͜︵

M A S T E R L I S T ! ( More requests in the ask tab or here in the comments)

& T E A M

• Byun Euijoo

• Murata Fuma

• Koga Yudai

• Nicholas Wang

• Yuma Nakakita

• Jo Asakura

• Harua

• Taki

• Hirota Riki

︵͜⏜͜︵ ⋆ ୨❀୧ ⋆︵͜⏜͜︵

B O Y S T O R Y

• Jia Hanyu

• Li Zihao

• He Xinlong

• Yu Zeyu

• Gou Mingrui

• Ren Shuyang

︵͜⏜͜︵ ⋆ ୨❀୧ ⋆︵͜⏜͜︵

E N H Y P E N

• Lee Heeseung

• Park Sunghoon

• Park Jongseong/Jay

• Jake Shim

• Kim Sunoo

• Yang Jungwon

• Nishimura Riki/Niki

︵͜⏜͜︵ ⋆ ୨❀୧ ⋆︵͜⏜͜︵

T X T

• Choi Yeonjun

• Choi Soobin

• Choi Beomgyu

• Kang Taehyun

• Kai Kamal Huening

︵͜⏜͜︵ ⋆ ୨❀୧ ⋆︵͜⏜͜︵

Moodboard: @soul-caffe

[roseangelxfuma]

my biases:

enhypen - niki

&team - fuma and k

exo - kyungsoo and kai

nct 127 - jungwoo and haechan

nct dream - jaemin and jisung

wayv - kun

shinee - good question

stray kids - seungmin and jeongin

day6 - wonpil

bigbang - daesung

monsta x - shownu and i.m.

there might be a trend.

[luumiinaa]

Boy Group Tags ¹

⌞GENRES⌝ NAVIGATION ⌞RECS 1⌝ &TEAM ATZ BND BTS ENHA MISC ⌞RECS 2⌝ NCT RZE SVT SKZ TBZ TXT ZB1

˚　　 ✦　 　. 　 　˚  ˚　 .🍄⋆. ˚   　˚　 　* . ✦

⌞&TEAM⌝ fuma ⋆ yudai ⋆ nicolas ⋆ euijoo ⋆ yuma ⋆ jo ⋆ harua ⋆ taki ⋆ maki

⌞ATEEZ⌝ seonghwa ⋆ hongjoong ⋆ yunho ⋆ yeosang ⋆ san ⋆ mingi ⋆ wooyoung ⋆ jongho

⌞BOYNEXTDOOR⌝ sungho ⋆ riwoo ⋆ jaehyun ⋆ taesan ⋆ leehan ⋆ woonhak

⌞BTS⌝ seokjin ⋆ suga ⋆ jhope ⋆ rm ⋆ jimin ⋆ taehyung ⋆ jungkook

⌞ENHYPEN⌝ heeseung ⋆ jay ⋆ jake ⋆ sunghoon ⋆ sunoo ⋆ jungwon ⋆ niki

MISCELLANEOUS

⌞EXO⌝ baekhyun ⋆ chanyeol ⋆ kyungsoo ⋆ kai ⌞MONSTA X⌝ jooheon ⋆ changkyun ⌞ONEUS⌝ seoho ⌞P1HARMONY⌝ jiung ⌞TREASURE⌝ hyunsuk ⋆ yoshi ⋆ asahi

[evenvolkartadio]

HYBE TOWN BOYZ

ㅤDue to tumblr new policy 𝐇𝐘𝐁𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 set up for roleplayer who use 𝐇𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 as 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 and 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 to 𝐇𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 as well as concerned the 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 and our 𝐇𝐘𝐁𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 is built to be home and interacting each other roleplayer who use 𝐇𝐘𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 as muse and we have METAVERSE as a concept. Est 2023.

Boys Member

Lee Hyun / MidNaTT — None

Bumzu ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ — None

Baekho / Kang Dong Ho — None

Hwang Min Hyun — None

Zico — None

Dvwn ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ — None

Boy Groups Member

~ BTS from Bighit

Jin — None

Suga — None

J-Hope — None

RM — None

Jimin — None

V — None

Jungkook Have one slot

~ SEVENTEEN from Pledis

S.Coups — None

Jeonghan Have one slot

Joshua Don't have slot

Jun — None

Hoshi — None

Wonwoo Don't have slot

Woozi — None

DK — None

Mingyu — None

The8 — None

Seungkwan Have one slot

Vernon Have one slot

Dino — None

~ TOMORROW X TOGETHER from BigHit

Yeonjun Have one slot

Soobin Have one slot

BeomGyu — None

Taehyun — None

Huening Kai — None

~ ENHYPEN from Be:Lift Label

Heeseung Don't have slot

Jay Don't have slot

Jake — None

Sunghoon Have one slot

Sunoo Don't have slot

Jungwon Have one slot

Ni-Ki Don't have slot

~ &TEAM from Bighit Japan

K — None

Fuma Have one slot

Nicholas — None

EJ — None

Yuma — None

Jo — None

Harua — None

Taki — None

Maki — None

~ BOYNEXTDOOR

Sungho — None

Riwoo — None

Jaehyun — None

Taesan — None

Lee Han — None

Woonhak — None

"short message"

Green = Still Available 2 more slot

Orange = Only have 1 more slot

Red = Full slot or don't have more slot

* For girl groups slot or list, you can see on this post ⤵️ tap tap

[moonyrecs]

Most, if not all, of the content on this blog is NSFW. Minors do not interact.

Not all members listed have recs in their tags, but keep an eye out b/c eventually, there will be.

Idols under 20 will not be listed on this blog because I will not be reading fics about anyone younger than 21. No minors will be featured on this account because this account reblogs NSFW content and that’s icky.

click the group name if you want to find all fics about members from that group

 ✸ Already Read ✸ To Read  ✸ One Shots ✸ Multi Shots ✸ Full-Length Fics ✸ ft jackson wang ✸ 

BTS

✸ namjoon ✸ seokjin ✸ yoongi ✸ hoseok. ✸ jimin ✸ taehyung ✸ jungkook ✸

NCT

✸ taeyong ✸ johnny ✸ yuta ✸ kun ✸ doyoung ✸ ten ✸ jaehyun ✸ winwin ✸ jungwoo ✸ mark ✸ xiaojun ✸ hendery ✸ jeno ✸ haechan ✸  jaemin ✸ yangyang ✸ chenle ✸ jisung ✸

(nct wish is not listed bc members are 21 or younger and i’m not comfortable with listing them, because i wont be reading fics about them.)

MONSTA X

✸ hyunwoo ✸ hoseok (tagged under wonho) ✸ minhyuk ✸ kihyun ✸ hyungwon ✸ jooheon ✸ changkyun ✸

ATEEZ

✸ hongjoong ✸ seonghwa ✸ yunho ✸ yeosang ✸ san ✸ mingi ✸ wooyoung ✸ jongho ✸

STRAY KIDS

✸ bang chan ✸ minho ✸ changbin ✸ hyunjin ✸ jisung (tagged under han) ✸ felix ✸ seungmin ✸ jeongin ✸

SEVENTEEN

✸ seungcheol ✸ jeonghan ✸ joshua ✸ junhui ✸ soonyoung ✸ wonwoo ✸ jihoon ✸  seokmin ✸ mingyu (tagged under mango) ✸ minghao ✸ seungkwan ✸ vernon ✸ chan ✸

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

✸ soobin ✸ yeonjun ✸ beomgyu ✸ taehyun ✸ huening kai ✸

GOT7

✸ jaebeom ✸ mark (tagged under tuan) ✸ jackson ✸ jinyoung ✸ youngjae ✸ bambam ✸ yugyeom ✸

DPR

✸ ian ✸ live ✸ cream ✸ artic ✸

IKON

✸ hanbin ✸ jinhwan ✸ yunhyeong ✸ bobby ✸ donghyuk ✸ junhoe ✸ chanwoo ✸

jake, keeho, theo, fuma,

[pogiformersmobilegear]

mobile partner/mobile friend/mobile buddy

any ally/trainer/duelist/helper may have their ace partners, but they have their super human partners to fight their enemies with their honorable rules, in the original series, every human heroes can have their pogiformers & their pokemon & duel deck & their transformers as their ace partners, but in mobile series, all the mobile human will take place of pogiformers & pokemon & duel deck & transformers to become the mobile partners/mobile heroes of the normal human heroes as the main mobile human heroes of the mobile series, because both human can work together as a super human teams, however their pogiformers & their pokemon & duel deck & their transformers from the original serries are still here in the mobile series as their support characters for the main human characters of the mobile series.

generation century.

hankur‘s partner: kai jent & doubluredourr.

vechkur’s partner: sparkplug/william/irving/daniel witwicky/spike/sparkle/csuka/pike/cnank/daniel witwicky & daniel witwicky & generation one/1/g1 convoy/optimus prime.

stakur’s partner: solomon/sugoroku muto/mutou & mister/mr. muto/mutou & yugi muto/mutou & burakku majishan/dark/black magician.

beaskur’s partner: ash/satoshi ketchum‘s father & ash/satoshi ketchum & pikachu.

generation 1/one.

gearkur’s partner: clark jent.

jetkur’s partner: buster/centelha/giga witwicky.

bladekur’s partner: dark/shadow yugi muto/mutou.

werekur’s partner: red/satoshi ketchum.

generation 2/two.

lordkur’s partner: stave roter.

jeepkur‘s partner: professor haruma go/gō & shuta/shūta go/gō & doctor/dr. minakaze & jan minakaze.

divinekur‘s partner: pharoah aknamkanon & pharaoh atem/yami/dark yugi muto/mutou.

apekur‘s partner: ethan/gold/takashi/soul.

generation 3/three.

emperorkaier‘s partner: pen gofield.

ironkaier‘s partner: doctor/dr. kenneth onishi & koji onishi & aerobot & bw optimus prime primal & big convoy prime & lio/leo convoy prime & lio/leo junior.

crosskaier‘s partner: koyo hibiki & jaden/judai/jay/yukey yuki.

ligerkaier‘s partner: norman/senn normen & brendan/yuki/sapphire/ruby/rald normen & pmd pikachu & team go getters/ganbarus squirtle & ginji the torchic.

generation 4/four.

elementunioner’s partner: jim/jimmy kudo.

wheelunioner’s partner: doctor brian jones & kicker jones.

zamunioner’s partner: doctor/dr. mister/mr. fudo & mister/mr. daniel/herr muller/müller/taro daimon/yusei adams fudo.

featherunioner’s partner: kaisei/kaise/kaisē & lucas/kouki/diamond/dia/hereta & hono/honō the chimchar & team pokepals/poképals/pokedans/pokédans piplup & pmd riolu.

generation 5/five.

gaimarmorer’s partner: jima fumo.

cyborgarmorer’s partner: mister/mr. darby/dabi/dābī & jack darby/jakku/jieke dabi/dābī & chief charles charlie burns & cody burns & kade burns & graham burns & tfp/prime optimus prime & tfp bumblebee.

raiderarmorer’s partner: grandpa tsukumo & kazuma/romaji/rōmaji tsukumo & yuma/yūma tukumo tsukumo.

foxarmorer’s partner: hilbert/hiro/touya/black/monta/shin & nate/kyohei/kyōhei/arata/blake/lack-two/lack two/black 2/number/no. 2 & pmd oshawott.

generation 6/six.

original/originaler/heroic heroer’s partner: zuya sakudo.

vehicle/vehicler heroer’s partner: sekishusai/sekishūsai tatewaki & mister/mr. tatewaki & isami tatewaki/tobio fuma/fūma.

music/musical/musican/musicer heroer’s partner: yusho/yusyo yuseung shin sakaki & yuya/yūya sin sakaki.

beast/beaster heroer’s partner: mister/mr. kadoo & x/calem/manabu kadoo.

generation 7/seven.

double/doubler heroer’s partner: zusaku sakujiki.

trunk/trunker heroer’s partner: denny clay & russell rusty clay.

hoving/hover heroer’s partner: playmaker yusaku fujiki.

were/werer heroer’s partner: sun/elio/yo/yō’s great/grand grandfather & sun/elio/yo/yō’s grandfather & sun/elio/yo/yō’s father & sun/elio/yo/yō.

generation 8/eight.

triple/tripler heroer’s partner: zuga ohjiki.

cyber heroer’s partner: mister/mr. watson & otis watson.

rush/rusher heroer’s partner: mister/mr. odo/ōdō ohdo & hwang yuga/yūga ōdo/odō ohdo.

liger heroer’s partner: victor/masaru/sodo/sōdo tsurugi/henry sword‘s father & victor/masaru/sodo/sōdo tsurugi/henry sword.

generation 9/nine.

grand/grander heroer’s partner: zudias ohjiki.

road/roader heroer’s partner: alex malto & robby malto.

ronin/roniner heroer’s partner: mister/mr. odo/ōdō ohdo & yuhi/yūhi odo/ōdō/ohdo & yudias velgear/yuudiasu berugyā/berugyā.

fox/foxer heroer’s partner: scarlet/violet/florian.

[yuki-akari]

&TEAM & TXT

[hotdamnvoltageman]

answer adoration

fuma kotaro x mc (unnamed)

a/n: so this took way longer than i meant for it to, but an anon requested number 47 - “who did this to you?” @jemchew @pasunny @naerial @demon-princess-anastasia

Seeing her is, without exaggeration, the single greatest joy in his life. He knows this because he now understands what joy is—and it correlates directly with her, so he can equate them with each other. She is every single happiness.

It's really as simple as that.

He tucks flowers into his palms as he makes his way to her, light on his feet compared even to his usual gait (which is more of a float than a step).

There is danger waiting for him in Kai. He knows that. But also in Kai is the most beautiful girl in the world, and she's waiting for him—for him! His steps quicken on their own.

The camellias are bright this time of year. The road to her smells sweet; his heart flutters like a child's.

He sees her sitting in the gardens, which is a little unusual given her job, with her back to him. But even the glint of sunlight off her hair is absolutely stunning, and he slips by her side noiselessly.

He never means to startle her, but almost always does.

"Hello," he greets, the camellias still in his hand (three, this time, because they all looked so beautiful and he wanted her to have them. He wants her to have everything.), and she jumps.

Doing so reveals her face, the tracks left by tears visible on her cheeks, and Kotaro is flooded with an old anger as he sees the way her lips tremble.

It is more than anger, he knows, but emotions scarcely had names before her. This is bloodlust, fury, and the sense that he's falling even though the earth is still beneath his feet.

He accidentally crushes the camellias, then drops them, reaching for her before she can turn away. His hands tremble. They used to be so steady.

The world was so different, before her, but even the ground shifts beneath her gaze.

She looks surprised to see him, still, and he watches as she fumbles with her sleeves and her tears and tries to piece together a smile for him. It trembles, falls apart, and he reaches out to touch her cheek before she can collapse into herself.

(She reminds him of his nightmares, the sick sensation of caving in, and he would dream that way every night for the rest of his life if it meant she never cried like this again.)

"Who did this to you?" A gentle, thinly veiled threat, and she shakes her head.

"Ah, nobody—it's nothing—" She looks down, but he brushes his fingers gently against her cheek again and stoops so their eyes meet.

"Please, don't lie to me."

She smiles, shaky, but this time it sticks. It's a small relief, but he clutches onto it, barely reigning in the resentment bubbling, hot and bitter and venomous, up into his throat.

She takes a deep breath that trembles, and reaches for his free hand with both of her own; her hands are shaking, too.

"Today is the anniversary of my father's death," she says, simply. "I... I didn't get to visit his grave. It's the first time since... since he died."

It's like a spear driven through his chest. She smiles a watery smile and he feels it, the pain, sharp and acute and radiating out to his fingertips with each beat of his heart.

He calls out to his mother in his sleep, and nobody answers.

"Where is it." It comes out thin, bent almost snapping, and she furrows her brows.

"His grave," he clarifies.

"Kyoto. I—"

He sweeps her up into his arms, wordlessly, because he wants to do right by her, because she deserves it even if he never has—

"K-Kotaro?!"

He can't bring himself to reply, and she buries her face against his shoulder, the wind whipping by them.

He tells himself he shouldn't be so affected, but his vision still blurs.

On the outskirts of Kyoto, he halts, and lowers her gently to the ground. She keeps a firm grip on his clothes, as if she's afraid he'll disappear into the wind, and he pries her hand away only to lace his fingers with hers.

He wants to speak, but his throat is choked up, and she begins to lead the way after slowing her heart.

He doesn't remember the last time he came to a grave such as this, with memories of better, happier times proudly displayed before it—evidence of a life well-lived. He's known many people who are now dead, but he always forgets their faces. It never bothered him until now; like a phantom limb with an itch, the nagging feeling that he's done something, is something, wrong.

He starts to let go of her hand as she approaches to pay her respects, but she looks back at him, squeezing his hand so their palms are pressed tight together.

"I want to... introduce you," she says, and when he can't seem to make his tongue move from the roof of his mouth or the air to budge from his lungs, she turns a shade of pink he doesn't think he's seen before, hurriedly looking away.

"If—if that's okay, of course. You don't have to—"

It's a warm tingling along his skin as he steps up beside her, and then it burns, being so close to the sun as she smiles, and she makes the flowers bloom—

If there is any offering to give, he thinks, it is the blossoms that fill his barren soul when she is near, and he will scatter the petals at this man's feet, should he ever be given the chance.

He follows her through the motions, but when she bows her head to pray he finds himself at a loss.

He doesn't remember the last time he prayed. Did he ever? Lowly worm as he was, as he is, did he ever appeal to the gods and the dead?

He mimics her, and when he closes his eyes he sees her smile—

I want to protect her smile. Please, help me to protect her.

It's the most he can manage before tears prick unexpectedly the corners of his eyes, and he quickly thanks her father for bringing her to him before lifting his face.

She does the same, moments later, tears like stars hanging off her lashes, and laughs.

It's warm but doesn't burn as she swipes her thumb along his cheeks, laughing softly so the breeze carries it away. He has the urge to chase it, to catch it and keep it—but she holds him fast, an anchor in the chaos, smiling softer than he thinks he’s ever seen her—

She leans up to kiss his cheek, and, no matter how often it happens, he still reels at the sheer idea that this is his—her love is his.

“Thank you, Kotaro,” she says, and he can only nod, caught in a maelstrom of new and vibrant emotions. He has never felt so good about himself in his entire life.

They stand, and he looks to the sky to see that, while it isn’t late, he should take her home; this time, when he sweeps her into his arms, she’s ready.

The camellias when he leaves her smell even sweeter, somehow; the path greener, the sky bluer, the world itself enhanced beyond all comprehension—

He carries the joy of her with him in his heart, and his steps remain light even as he leaves.

And he sends up a prayer, not eloquent but genuine, thanking the gods he’s alive; it is the first time in a long time.