#he was so unwithered and full of sparkle

[lunarcrown]

Honey, you’ve got a big storm coming

[appleb0mb]

Twisted Wonderland x Date A Live (Outfit) - Rook Hunt

Art Process of Begonia here! (currently not available)

Collection of TWSTxDAL Tracks here!

Blue Begonia - This flower represents dark thoughts and cautiousness. This flower is known for  warning others of dangers or misfortune in the near future. It is also a sign of individuality and uniqueness. 

For blue, it is a sign of artistry, passion, and creativity. Usually this flower is given to those who are worthy or understanding enough to accept the beauty of this peculiar flower.

Previous:  “Effort is critical and essential to reach your goal. The ruthless, the hopeless, the beautiful and the ugly have all done the same. Even if people dry up like potatoes, I will persevere - and I will NOT falter.” [ Agapanthus ] here.

“My arrows have pierced the strongest of hearts, and my joy is unwavering - for beauty is at thy side. Let us celebrate till morn, and fill our cups with merriment. For the time has come, to dance till our final breath.”

“Shall we dance, my Dearest Vil?”

(NOTE: This is absolutely free! But NOT free to steal credit from! PLEASE CREDIT MY ART AND MUSIC, AND ASK FOR PERMISSION FROM ME!!!)

(Also comments, criticism, reblogs and likes  are appreciated! I enjoy seeing them because they brighten my day  ( ◜◒◝ )♡)

If you’re into some Pomefiore plot, please - continue below~.

A word from appleb0mb: 

I am INCREDIBLY pleased with how the cover looks! LIKE OMG INCOMING BAD VIBES FROM ROOK-

I EVEN LISTENED TO THE SONG MULTIPLE TIMES JUST TO LOOK AT THE COVER

Begonia here was kind of hard, but overall it was a lot easier than Agapanthus fOR SURE.  

In conclusion, I am extremely EXCITED and ECSTATIC to release Begonia! Thank you for listening as well, and stay tuned!

The Concept of the Track - Begonia:

In the beginning it was a simple, scrapped draft that was lying in the corner while the previous song, Agapanthus was being edited to completion. 

When I first opened the music file, it did feel kind of Rook-like but it didn’t hit me like a truck for this song. It was boring, cringe, catchy...but annoyingly catchy in a way. It didn’t feel like the Rook we know and love - so I decided to do another one instead.

For Rook he’s known as enigmatic and eccentric (well in my opinion), so I definitely wanted his theme to sound that way. But if I’m going to be honest here - the whole theme sounds jumbled up.

The theme sounds like a tiring, never-ending journey of adrenaline rush...except the ending is rather unexpected! I never expected the guitar to be even in the last bits of music there but...it somehow did. (:’)))))))

To summarize, Begonia is an amazing track for Rook and for my ears. Not a bop, but it works for me (lol). I hope it sounds great to your eyes too, oh great reader ( ╰(´꒳`)╯).

Imagery and Ideas From Listening to Begonia:

In the beginning I imagine Rook bowing to Vil amusingly, lowering his hat while looking sus.

Also I imagine him in game mode using multiple arrows to hit his opponent (you) and Vil sometimes helping him by adding poison to the arrows.

That’s it lol

TWSTxDAL Plot - Continuation!

Warning - long reading ahead!

Note: This is not a full continuation of the story in Agapanthus to avoid spoilers. These can be consider teasers of the upcoming story.

A mysterious figure laid above the roof of the glamorous villa, their hands twirling a freshly-bloomed Begonia. Its sapphire petals laid bare to unwithered skin - basked with warm, welcoming rays of the evening sun. Emerald eyes fixated on the meticulous veins of the petal, before subtly shifting its glance to the person next to him. “Good afternoon, Vil.” “Same to you, Rook.” His light, blonde curls bounced as he spoke. “May I ask why you had to call me on top of the roof?” Rook roared with laughter. “Roi de Poison, I want to reconsider the contest that has commenced two weeks ago.” “If it has something to do with that Invidaé potato and those Spirits, I’m not allowing them to join for VDCI.” “Dearest Vil, I understand that they may be a disadvantage...but maybe if you reflect carefully and ponder on the subject - this could be the most fantastic opportunity yet.” Breathless silence befell the two, as Rook’s words sunk deeply into his thoughts. “An opportunity?” Vil huffed in wry amusement. “Explain how conjuring unstable in one place can be considered an opportunity.” “That’s the thing, *mon ange. You want to be even more successful and modern, right? If we bring the Spirits on our side, then maybe the whole world will express a change of heart.” “Rook...we can’t do that - it’s not time yet.”His lavender eyes shifted to tile roofs, glaring at it.��Failing to properly prepare for the worst, is like begging for disaster and danger.” “*Mon bégonia bleu...” His scarred, veined hands wrapped around the blonde’s unblemished, lily-white ones. Emerald and lavender met one another, their gaze unwavering and sparkling in the apricot sun. “We never know what the future may hold.” His grip tightened, unwilling to let go. Moments later, Rook’s hands gently moved a strand out of Vil’s face; before planting his hair with the begonia. “I understand that you may not be ready. I will wait with you, but if there’s a time to begin - it is now.” Instantly, Vil pulled away and stood up hastily. “Enough of the dramatics, we've arranged an appointment in the next hour.” He uttered before turning his back to the golden-haired being. “Meantime, I’ll consider it. Also, Rook - don’t touch my face. I put my life’s work into it.” A radiant smile and chuckle escaped his lips. “Apologies, Vil.” With speed, Rook descended smoothly to the ground of the villa before catching a slightly trembled Vil in his hold. Forcefully, Vil sped inside the front door while Rook simply followed after, all while maintaining an enthusiastic smile on his face.

Words: mon ange - my angel  ||  mon bégonia bleu - my blue begonia 

- End of Post -

Thank you for supporting the fan-made music and art of Twisted Wonderland x Date A Live.

And have a wonderful day!!!

Note: If you have any questions about this post, please request it in my inbox or under this post.

[sohin-ace]

Diavolo - Empty

Pro tip: go on youtube. Search "creepy ambiance music". Click on "NECROMANCY" by Horror Music World.

You are now in anxiety mode. Survive.

TW: Mentions of suicide, self harm and you know... Toxic relationships. It's Yandere, you know what to expect.

"I have to go get some food and water, okay? I'll be gone for about an hour." He leaned down and pressed his lips against your forehead in a gentle kiss. "I'll hurry, so behave."

You didn't say anything and watched him as he hesitated to move his gaze away from you. He slowly turned around and opened the door, taking his sweet time.

'Just leave already.'

You weren't at peace even when he closed the door, locking every single one of the seven locks he installed on the door. A tight security system to prevent you from fleeing.

The apartment was so dead silent you could hear his footsteps from outside hitting the stairs as he walked down.

So silent. Deafening. So lonely. Even the sheer sounds of your breathing and heartbeat were loud and infuriating to you.

God, so damn infuriating.

You clenched your fists, barely feeling anything from it, rage and anxiety building inside you.

'No detail escaped him, huh?', You thought to yourself. He even cut your nails so short, you couldn't inflict the slightest damage from trying to dig them into your skin.

What a smart man.

What a smart bastard.

Everything was so miserable. You stood in the middle of the living room, staring daggers, not even sharp ones, into the void. You rathered not look at anything, for the sake of your own sanity.

Anything in this place could trigger a mental breakdown from you. Who knew what you could do if your eyes fell on those picture frames of you and him? Or those unwithering flowers on the table? Or even just the books he loved so much resting on the shelves?

Everything here reminded you of him. Of what he did to you. How he had stripped you of your freedom, your dignity...

Your will to live.

Yes. Today you would take your freedom back. Today, you would spread your wings and fly. Away from him. Away from this.

The thought itself brought a smile to yourself. Oh you couldn't wait. You chuckled a, what in other circumstances, would be a cute bubbly laugh, but here, seemed more crazed and unnerved than anything.

Oh you couldn't wait to end this.

Your head twitched towards the kitchen, hope sparkling weakly again inside you. Gone for an hour? That should be enough.

You walked towards the kitchen and looked around. Knives, knives... Where did he keep the knives? It's not like you knew the kitchen all that much, he barely let you roam the house much.

The counter and cupboards were all empty. Everything was empty. Even the fridge contained so little, you even wondered how the hell did he even manage to cook meals for the two of you. Did he even cook for the two of you? Where did the food come from? Did he send one of his numerous pawns or that weird Doppio guy do that dirty work as well?

You dug up frantically through every drawer, and cabinet, hell you even checked inside the oven!

Empty.

There was nothing. No forks, no cups, no nothing. It was like the kitchen had barely just been furnished. Your breathing became labored and your chest tightened painfully.

What was the meaning of this? It didn't make any sense. He made you eat together, you were positive you had used silverware and dishes before.

Did he hide them too? Did he really mistrust you so much he hid any bit of potential danger? Did he think you'd try that hard and would not take the risk?

That damn fucker.

The only thing preventing you from screaming bloody murder currently were your wheezy breaths.

It was scary. So scary. That he would think like that. That he would know how much he killed your sanity. That he would know how far you were willing to go. He knew he knew he knew he knew he knew-

"He thought..." You wheezed and held yourself over the counter, your other hand clutching your painful chest. Your voice was leaving you and you were drenched in sweat, panick and anxiety arising from within. "He thought I would cut myself with the shards..."

You didn't know if you were laughing or sobbing at that point. Not that he was wrong about it at all, in fact, he had guessed perfectly right. But the fact that the idea even crossed his mind and that he acted upon it just added to your dive into madness.

He just knew he destroyed you so bad he couldn't trust you with even a single blunt object, because he knew you'd find a way to harm yourself on it. That's how low he thought of you and he was right.

What else were there to do? He always kept a careful watch over you, even when he worked, his back turned to you, he'd whip his head towards you at the meerest noise you made. If he wasn't home, he'd have someone to keep an eye on you.

He would sleep with you, shower with you, dress you up. Every occasion he had to take control over you, he took.

It was a miracle that he ended up unshackling you from his bed, trusting you enough to let you roam pointlessly around the house, but visibly not trusting you enough to let you be around even a porcelain plate.

You wanted to give up. The windows could be opened but the metallic blinds were steel shut. Just like prison bars. He could sacrifice a little sunlight if it meant you wouldn't try to jump.

You dragged your feet towards your couch and sobbed. Loud. Desperate. Letting warm tears stream down your face. It was over. You couldn't do anything.

You plopped yourself on the couch and buried your face in your arms to muffle your wails. That was it. That was the only liberty you had. You could only cry, cry, and cry, until the tears ran out.

You couldn't cut, you couldn't jump, you couldn't poison yourself with cleaning chemicals, hell, he made sure there wasn't even enough water to give you water poisoning. Even tap water was limited. He calculated everything.

It was over. There was nothing you could do. He won again. Diavolo wins again...

You let yourself break down, almost comforted by your own cries, the only thing that made you feel alive. The only emotion remaining. The last healthy bit within you.

You knew you had to stop, though. Because one hour flies by fast, and Diavolo could cut his time short whenever he felt, and if he came home to you crying, he'd shower you with questions and try to console you. And that was the last thing you wanted. In fact, he didn't even deserve to see or hear you crying.

You hated to be confronted by him, and to be held by those bloody hands of his, and to be talked with that fake, manipulative concern in his voice, deepening softly just for you.

Oh he could have been such a good man if he wasn't such a disgusting fucking monster.

You couldn't bear closing your eyes that were stinging and burning as you kept them open, drying them out. Every time you closed your eyes, you were haunted by the visions.

The visions of blood, from your loved ones. The picture of his brain splattering out of his skull. The sight of her guts spilled out, still pulsing out of her stomach. How they crawled vainly on the floor with their limbs torn off messily barely kept connected to their bodies by gooey strings of flesh, bones scraped against the ground. The ones dearest to you.

"Why... Even my poor animal..." Your voice cracked painfully through labored sobs, your heart skipping with every scene you recalled.

Everything about the memories was so wrong. Everything about Diavolo was so wrong. Killing every one you deemed dear to you was one thing, but why did he have to make it so gruesome? Why did they have to die in such agony? Why? Just why?!

If he truly loved you he would have at least let them go fast and painless. He would have at least spared you the trauma. He couldn't even let you have the bliss of knowing they passed on quick and peacefully. You were stuck with the knowledge of their suffering, the screams, the gurgles, the pleads for mercy, the gore.

The pain was to much, the burden so heavy. Why did he not let you kill yourself? It's be so easier if you could just die. He claimed he loved you, but he made you suffer every minute.

Without realizing it, and very slowly, you calmed down. Not because you were finally at peace, or because you were unwinded, but because you were at your limit.

You were so tired, your eyes were swollen and begging to rest, your voice was gone, your throat dry and your mind so shattered, you couldn't even think about all that made you so unhappy anymore, or the painful memories. Your thoughts were empty. Your soul was empty. Everything was empty.

Slowly but surely, your drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

Diavolo walked back home earlier than anticipated. He did hurry, and he somewhat knew he wouldn't actually take a full hour to do his errands. He hated to go outside and he especially hated to leave you to yourself.

He unlocked all his locks on the door with great patience. He was proud of this work, very secure, so that nobody, not even yourself, could ever take you away from him.

He walked in slowly to the scent and warmth of home. He wasn't sure what he was expecting you'd be doing, but he didn't expect you being passed out on the couch.

Oh Diavolo wasn't scared. He was confident he skipped any danger from the house. He was sure you never even discovered that this place was actually not an appartment, like you believed, but a villa. He had locked the other floors so carefully.

But he also knew you were one clever little cat and maybe, just maybe, you may have found an issue to hurt yourself, even a little bruise.

He did not appreciate that thought.

He clenched his teeth, grinding them out of stress. The reason you were passed out on the couch better not be his worst case scenario. Or else...

Like a bipolar disordered man, his tone switched under a second. There was nothing to worry about. Surely his little gattina was just taking a nap, he thought to himself. Of course, you didn't get much sleep last night, that would make sense.

There was nothing to worry about because Diavolo was absolute, and he planned everything and he was confident. Nothing escaped him.

Like the lover that he pretended and believed to be, he quickly put his bags away and approached you on the couch, not wanting to be away from you any longer.

He stared longingly at you. You looked so pretty, so adorable, all vulnerable like this. Unaware of his looming form shadowing you, so innocent.

He noticed how wet your arms and cheeks were and how blemished your face was. Certainly, you had cried. It was fine by him, though. He'd allow you to cry to yourself when he wasn't there. Because it was harmless.

He leaned over, getting closer very carefully. Gosh you were so lovely to his crazy green eyes. He could hardly contain himself around you. No one has ever had that effect on him. Your skin, your hair, your scent, your lips, everything about you was soft and gentle and sweet. It was even cute when you thrashed around and kicked and insulted him.

He looked over your small form, studying you. Your wrists were so thin, scarred, often shaky. He noted you dropped a lot of weight since he took you here, but it didn't matter. You were beautiful regardless, and he would protect you, because you were so fragile, and it was his duty as a husband.

As if to confirm his thoughts, he grabbed one of your wrists, wrists that he had grabbed so many times before. It was so light, like a little twig, his entire fist closed on it. It was a crime to be so deliciously weak. It was like asking to be taken, held, snatched, manhandled.

Good thing Diavolo was the one to have you and not anyone else. Who knows what kind of crazy fuckers had bad intentions out there? Especially in these dangerous parts of Italy.

He moved you with no effort whatsoever and the lack of response or reaction from your poor body just made his twisted heart clench even more. It was so desperately easy to just use you to his will, it was almost scary.

He let himself plop down comfortably on the couch and laid you back down to rest your head upon his thighs, so that he could watch your angelic face and touch your hair as you rested, nested close to him.

Like two empty lovers.

I mean... I did say I'd never write yandere again, but I've been back to playing Mystic Messenger and Saeran inspired me. (Don't worry, there are no spoilers here!)

Also, the fic was so long, I decided to cut in in half and make the other half into another character. Recycling is always good for the planet. So expect another domestic Yandere story some day.

[libidomechanica]

“where”

When I can I have smiled in  the project was— pardon the wept face, and  burial part with  him. Encline were, where, then hold retossed, 

but draw: of th and  his hand, I stood to be  born prime, that said. I made to  his spirits the trembling  that sweet it 

sweet resembleme.  And oh, her there! Judge  at his brough he is askd heaps  intern stay, Her chamber may look upon  the vain. A twisted  in               Still the burden of 

those wholes. Couldnt your sighing life was  smoothly their Zeale is she  had gone Sibyllas names, unwither  to embraced thence, for the  would leaue lacking. And pale virgin 

of the flower, when  place, seeing pools of arrowes  past, noy gynnes of delight, doth her  still raysed. And that drifted,  ere let hell, and builderness 

bound, that did hold some so night,  sweet as in mens Ear such abundants;  there wont be you lofty argument  too. Accord, and the endure  for house; “where 

it flicker our cruell will  be; thence, when a  fonts met in here that first to  fade. Faint! Willyes, thou like floureth her  babe had been fits, she know a 

ravished, I wanderstood long Devotion  fire widows but by the  pitty only somewhat  death weigh, whirr and Time her olives of  deans, and her hopes, how high 

degree, baseness” in black Friar? The  messencelestial can  over. Would griefs of Cypress his  company, and crack both deserues  mantle hath portlines; nae gowden 

sae rash be her he one  is full decline, for theres narrow  and twinged also  to inform you see, and open  has twa sparkling sword.

[sargentsnowy-blog]

GUYSSSSSSSSSS @bluberrieowl and @saveshootingstar ROYALTY AU IS REALLY GOOD! LUCKILY, I GOT PERMISSION TO WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! FOLLOW THEM OR MESSAGE THEM IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MOREEEEE AHHHHHHHHHH!

***

Max paced in his room, his hand on his face and his other arm behind his back. It was Mother's day, the day Gwen and David celebrated.

The boy had procrastinated this year in getting Gwen her present unlike years before. This time he had money now that she married David and became a prince. But he blew that as soon as he became one.

He didn't know why he he blew the money because he usually stole. Yet having freedom and walking into places without being watched was fun.

Max shook his head, grabbing his hair. "This year can't be different! I get her something every year! But I'm now a fucking prince and I can't really steal..."

The boy clicked, his frown forming an evil smile. "The semi royals! They have the garden of theirs and there MUST be snap dragons there or something! I'm sure I can easily get in there and take a few!"

Max snapped his fingers, throwing on one of his new princely outfits with golden shoulder tassels and cape before running out his room.

***

A gate higher than 10 feet stood in front of a tightly closed up garden. The iron bars clicking every time Max touched them.

If he tried to climb over, the gates would make too much noise and expose him to the semis.

Max looked up and down that garden wall, noticing crevices in the white brick that held the garden together. A smirk appeared on his face as she quickly climbed over the wall, falling down into an empty flower bed below.

Ouch, he thought, rubbing his bottom after falling into wood with surprisingly no noise. Luckily, no one was in the garden so he could roam all he wanted.

Until he found those snapdragons at least.

The prince scratched his head, looking for Gwen's favorite flower in every flower bed. He saw roses, daisies, and even Jasmine. But no snapdragons.

Finally, pink, red, and white snapdragons came into view, making Max smile widely. He ran over to the plants getting ready to pick on when...

"Hey! Who are you and what are you doing here!"

Max froze, turning his head slowly to see a girl with green long, poofy hair. A crown made if flowers sat on top of her head.

She was very pretty he'd give her that as she held a stick toward him with a cautious look on her face, a dress of white silk and flowers with no sleeves on her body. The dressed stopped right below her knees, her legs dirty like parts of her face and her feet where bare.

Rose colored irises stared into turquoise ones, making Max blink to try not to burn red.

"Hey! You just going to stare or are you going to answer my question?!" The girl took a step towards Max, making him back away while falling into the flower bed of snapdragons, crushing them in the process. "MY FLOWERS!"

Max jumped up from the crushed bed, running at full speed to get the garden wall only to be tackled.

"You can't outrun me!" Max looked up to see the girl sitting on top of him, with a smile on her face. "Not the 'Nature Princess!'"

"Nature Princess?" Max said with a sarcastic edge. "Never heard of you."

The girl slapped him. "I'm Princess Nikki asshole! A semi royal! Outside in nature is my turf and you are intruding in my garden of flowers!"

"I just wanted snapdragons for my mother," Max explained, trying to wiggle free when Nikki lay on his stomach. "ITS. MOTHER'S. DAY! I. CAN'T. BREATHE!"

Nikki didn't budge, putting a finger on her chin and tilting her head cutely. "Mother's day? Oh! I don't celebrate because my mother is not what I'd call... Correct."

Max stopped wiggling as Nikki got off him.

"I won't give you the flowers if you don't hang out with me for a while," Nikki said with a smile, standing up. "The only people that ever come here is my stepdad, step brother, or those really mean girls that insult my gardening saying it's 'messy' or 'too many'!"

Max stood up and dusted dirt off his clothes, though not all of it came off. "Seriously?! This is the best fucking garden I've ever seen! That's why I came here because there was bound to be snapdragons here!"

Nikki nervously out her hands behind her back and swiped her feet back and forth. "Thanks, I grew it all by myself."

The boy dropped his jaw, looking up at her though still looking down. " But you're like ten!"

"Actually I'm twelve," Nikki said with a giggle. "I started planting when I was ten."

Max rubbed the back of his head before putting out his hand, "Well I'm Prince Max."

Nikki looked at his hand. "You're the new prince every one had been talking about! They said you used to steal and shit!" The girl smirked. "Like right now."

Max pulled his hand to his side. "Well then..."

"Can't you buy snapdragons?" Nikki asked, skipping closer to him and pulling his arm in one direction.

"I would if I still had that money. I blew it when I became a prince."

Nikki laughed, dragging the boy behind a hedge. "That's sad. Us semis don't get as much money as you big royals so we live with it. That's why I grow things."

"How long do you even stay out here?" Max asked, looking her up and down while asking himself how her dress managed to stay white with roses that aren't withered.

"I feel as though you're asking yourself why my dress is still white with unwithered flowers." Nikki guessed, making Max snatch his head upward. "Yeah I'm kinda known for my mind reading."

Max watched as Nikki skipped up to a vine covered wall, opening and closing his mouth with no sound coming from his lungs.

Nikki twisted something behind the Vines and opened up to a hidden space in the garden. "Here is my secret place not even my brother knows about! I'm only taking you here since you fell on my snap dragons."

The prince rubbed the back of his head guiltily. "Yeah... Sorry about that."

"That's why you're here!" Nikki said with a smile. "You seem like a good person."

Max slouched. "I'm really not."

Nikki grinned. "I know."

The girl skipped into the place, Max following. When he entered, a cherry blossom petal fell square on to his nose, making him sneeze.

He gasped, his eyes being to sparkle.

Nikki's secret place was deep and was filled with cherry blossom trees, the plants standing here and there, high and tall.

Since it was spring, the petals were falling and covering the ground, the floor pink and bright. He could see Nikki through the pink haze and through the falling petals, smiling at him and bopping his nose.

"You have a little something right there," she commented with a laugh. "And take off your shoes. Don't disturb the petals."

The boy smiled, shaking his head and letting the petal fall into the ground. Then he pulled off his knee-high black boots and sat them outside the place before closing the stone door.

Nikki was now sitting beside a cherry blossom tree, licking something with care. Max walked up behind her, crouching and watching as she picked three purple snapdragons that matched Gwen's eye color.

"Here you go," she whispered, watching as Max took them into his hands. "Be careful. Purple snapdragons aren't the strongest."

Max nodded, smiling to Nikki. "Thanks."

The girl smiled before putting a flower crown on his head made of the cherry blossom petals. "See you soon Prince Max."

The boy waved as he walked to the door. "You to, Nik."

Max then opened the stone door, walking outside only to poke his head in to see Nikki now sitting on a tree branch while talking to a few birds.

He quickly snatched his head out, grabbing his boots and shoving them on before closing the door.

He ran off with the flower crown sitting on his head, petals also decorating his hair.

***

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I LUV THIS AU

[unlockthelore]

Consideration

Title: Isn’t it Love?

Chapter 5: Consideration

Relationship: Hiei/Kurama | Minamino Shuuichi

Character(s): Hiei (YuYu Hakusho), Kurama | Minamino Shuuichi

Additional Tags: Feelings Realization, Team as Family, Post-Canon, Fluff, 5+1 Things

Summary: On a mission to the Ningenkai, Yukina and Hiei reach an understanding while Yuusuke gives a clue to something that Hiei's been avoiding for awhile.

It is only through the grace of Yukina’s presence that the former spirit detective was permitted to live another day. After returning to the Ningenkai, the peaceful lull of afternoon settled over the city, Hiei clad himself in human clothing to walk the streets towards Yuusuke’s shop with full intentions to put the Mazoku in the ground once and for all. What he hadn’t accounted for was his sister visiting Keiko for a bowl of ramen and conversation with the couple. 

“It’s been a while, Hiei,” Keiko said as he shut the sliding door behind him. “How’s Kurama?”

“He’s fine,” Hiei replied without thinking, taking a seat beside his sister who gave him a smile, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. 

The thought belatedly crossing his mind on why she asked that particular question. He narrowed his eyes questioningly at Keiko who gave him a friendly wave then turned around to a snickering Yuusuke who had his back to the bar, cleaning something , although Hiei was certain he was just trying not to laugh in his face. And while he wanted to stay angry, being in such close proximity to Yukina make it difficult. Occasionally as if gauging his mood, her gaze would drift to him as she slurped away at her noodles. On the umpteenth time that her hair nearly fell, he reached over to lay a hand on her shoulder.

 “Is something wrong, brother?” Yukina asked, the title making his heart flutter and he huffed. Pointing to the messy pony-tail, she nodded in understanding and reached back to undo it. Gently, he nudged her hands away. 

“I’ll do it,” he assured, rising from his chair and slipping to stand behind her.

There was a faint pink tinge to her skin as he undid her ponytail, and it rose to her face, barely visible on her cheeks from where he stood. Running his fingers through her before gathering it up, he deftly twisted the hair ribbon around it and secured it in a bow just as she wore it. Once he was sure that it was fixed, he laid his hand on the back of her chair and peered around to her face. Her cheeks were nearly as red as their eyes but her smile was bright.

“Something happen?” He asked, tilting his head. Only when he spoke did she return from her reverie and give him a smile, her eyes practically sparkling. 

“Nothing, I’m grateful, brother,” Yukina says, and Hiei is certain that she’s glowing. 

So bright that he has to look away, climbing into his chair again and resting his elbow on the bar as he averted his gaze, chin resting in his hand. “Good,” he grumbled, ignoring the floating feeling in his chest at her words.

Yuusuke fiddled around with a few more of the dishes. The clinking distracting Hiei from his sister’s occasional glances and presence until a glass of water was set in front of him. 

“So, you come here often, shortie?” Yuusuke asked with a shit-eating grin from ear to ear, unwithering even with one of Hiei’s best glares.

“You were the one that gave Mukuro a cellphone, weren’t you?” Hiei accused, his eyes narrowing when the spirit detective dared to laugh . 

“What gave it away?”

Hiei snorted, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms, the heat wafting from him causing the water in the glass to warm from the steam forming on the edges. 

“The contact names that you put for everyone ,” Hiei stressed, counting the reasons off on his fingers.”The pictures that could have only been taken by people that were nearby, and the lack of anyone else having such liberal access to her.”

Yuusuke whistles low and raps his knuckles against the bar. “Damn, are you sure that you shouldn’t have been a spirit detective?”

A scathing remark sat on his tongue but he reined it in when a chance look out the corner of his eye landed him eye to eye with his sister. Her forehead creased with worry, lips pressed together and eyes wide as she regarded him. The sinking in his stomach only served to acclimate his annoyance with Yuusuke but he knew better than to act like this in front of Yukina. Startling her was the last thing he wanted. Easing the heat waves pouring off of him, he smiled faintly.

“I’m sorry, sister, there was an issue with something the detective gave to Mukuro and I merely wanted to get to the bottom of it,” he explained, laying a hand atop her head. “There’s nothing to be concerned over.”

Yukina gave him a look then smiled in return, accepting the head pat with a slight nod before returning to her food. Hiei resisted the urge to sigh. He knew that she wasn’t easy to fool and definitely wasn’t a child, but it didn’t make lying to her easy. Skirting around the truth was just as hard to his dismay. And obviously Yuusuke’s amusement if his grin was anything to account for. 

Hiei grimaced, jutting a thumb towards the doorway and the former detective got the message, stepping away from the bar and calling to Keiko that he would be stepping out for a bit. 

“Brother,” Yukina called once Hiei stepped away from his chair, the fire demon looking over his shoulder at her. “I know that you might be busy but would you mind walking home with me today?”

Hiei straightened up. He half expected that the oaf would be clamoring over himself to get here and have the chance to walk his sister home. The fact that he wasn’t only made HIei want to rescind his consideration of giving Kuwabara permission to court his sister. Turning to face her, hands tucked in his pockets, Hiei nodded. Such a simple gesture made her smile and the fluttering feeling in his chest returned.

He resisted the urge to curl his fingers in his shirt and twist, instead turning his back and trying to rid himself of this giddiness as he headed to the door. Yuusuke waiting for him outside, the two slipped into the alleyway near the shop where Hiei was free to grab the Mazoku by his shirt and tug him down to eye level. 

“Why did you do it?” 

The mazoku grinned. “Why did I do what?” 

Obviously, he was getting some sort of joy out of this and Hiei would not let him have the satisfaction of hearing him say it. Reaching into the pocket of his jeans for the offending object, the screen comes to life and switching to his contacts, the one in particular, found almost immediately. He’d recognize that face anywhere after all.

The phone’s screen shoved in Yuusuke’s face making him go cross-eyed as he tried to read what was on the screen. Leaning his head back enough to look at it better, he bit down on his bottom lip harshly to stifle a laugh. Though it wasn’t enough and his shoulders shook, laughter echoing off the walls of the alley. Hiei glowered and tried to stifle the growl clawing up his throat. 

“You’re mad that I put Kurama in your phone as your ‘hubby’?” 

Hearing the word out loud was even more mortifiying than reading it on the screen. Hiei recoiled as if burned and snatched his hand away from the detective, running it over his clothes as if he touched something foul.

“Kurama is not my…” he visibly cringed at the word and shoved the phone in his pocket. “He is my partner , not that disgusting euphemism you used.”

Yuusuke rolled his eyes, folding his arms across his chest. “Partner is the same as hubby , dumbass. And two, Keiko calls me ‘hubby’ so watch it.”

“I know what I said,” Hiei said flatly, rolling his eyes. “Why did you even give her a phone? There are other ways to contact one another that are quicker or you could just see her.”

Yuusuke gives him a look and Hiei knows that particular look. It’s the look of how long can he drag this out before the fire demon starts threatening bodily harm. A game that he and at times, unknowingly, Kuwabara tend to play. Deciding that it may be better to tell the fire demon what he wanted to know, Yuusuke shrugged.

“Group chats.”

“Group chats,” Hiei repeated, staring at Yuusuke as if he had grown two heads. “Why.”

“Pictures.”

These few-worded statements weren’t getting them anywhere and he was almost certain that he was going to kill him. Rules against violence and disturbances in the Ningenkai be damned, the detective was pushing his buttons.

“Listen Hiei, we could always use those other methods to send stuff to each other and all, but it makes planning so much easier. And a lot harder to avoid ,” Yuusuke stressed, giving him a look that made Hiei huff and fold his arms, looking away. “C’mon, is it really that bad that I wanted us all to be connected like a family should be?”

Hiei’s mind came to a screeching halt. “What did you say?”

Yuusuke tilted his head, now looking at him as if he had grown two heads. “We could always us—”

“No, not that,” Hiei interjected. “The last part. Connection.”

Yuusuke nodded slowly. “Yeah, I mean, why do you think we’re all on a family plan? I even got Kurama to switch over —” 

“Wait, Kurama knows about this?” 

Yuusuke sighed and rubbed at his temples. “Hiei, you’re practically married to the guy, how do you not know about thi— wait, where did you get your phone from?”

“Mukuro.”

“That damn fox,” Yuusuke huffed a laugh and shook his head. “I thought that Kurama would’ve given it to you and explained everything but he must’ve left it with Mukuro the last time he went over there.”

Wrapping his head around all of this was difficult . A dawning realization making Hiei’s blood run cold.

“The name…”

“Huh?”

“Did Kurama see the name?”

Yuusuke opened his mouth, then closed it, looking from left to right as if he was afraid the fox would materialize out of thin air. 

Hiei growled, seconds away from throttling him, “ Yuusuke .”

The detective held up his hands. “Okay, yeah. Yeah, he saw it.” 

Hiei feels as if his soul left his body. Kurama saw that innane nickname.What did he even think of it? What did he want him to think of it? His heart was simultaneously sinking and beating faster, and he leant against the alley wall, focusing on the tongue of his sneakers. 

“I’m not married to him,” he muttered numbly, running his fingers through his hair. “We’re—” 

Yuusuke’s hand appeared in his line of sight, setting on his shoulder and slowly, he raised his head to look at the spirit detective. The teasing and grinning face he wore was gone, replaced with a look that spoke nothing but concern and openness. His dark eyes were warm and imploring, Hiei reflected in their depths and while he often hated being looked down on or boxed in, the gesture was comforting . He might have to rescind his thought to put the Mazoku under and send his soul to the Reikai. 

“You’re partners,” Yuusuke points out, shrugging. “And you do everything together, right?”

More or less.

He ate most of his meals at Kurama’s, slept there even on the nights when he could’ve stayed in Mukuro’s territory, they went out together more often than not, and attended functions with the entire group as a pair. They even slept in the same bed and slept with eachother , and the kiss that Kurama gives him before he leaves, the way he holds him. Wants him to tell him to come home safely.

Home .

“Hiei, hey,” Yuusuke calls, snapping his fingers in front of the fire demon’s face.

Hiei shoved his hand away and pushed away from the wall, Yuusuke taking a step back to give him room. Wanting to pace back and forth to clear his mind, run from here to the boundary that led to the Makai and then back, but unable to do anything but stand rooted at the spot. His hands tucked in his pockets, eyes searching the cracks in the pavement and the dirt beneath the soles of his shoes for answers.

“What did he say?” 

Yuusuke tilted his head. “About the name?”

Hiei’s silence is an answer but Yuusuke’s silence is damning. FInally, the spirit detective’s presence is felt by his side and his arm comes to rest around his shoulders. 

“No idea, he was with Yukina when he did the final check-up to make sure it was ‘something you would agree with’,” Yuusuke said, air quoting with his fingers, a smile on his lips as he glanced down at Hiei. “He really knows you well, huh?”

Too well. He could only imagine how he would’ve taken this if Kurama had given it to him head on. Mukuro might have been a way to soften the blow. To avert his attention, to bring him to a conclusion about something else. He wasn’t sure what part of the fox’s plan that his embarrassment played a role in but here he was. 

“Hey, Hiei. Can I ask you something?”

“Didn’t you already?”

He could practically hear Yuusuke’s eyes rolling around in their sockets, and the light tap to his shoulder brings his attention to the mazoku who looks down at him with this unreadable expression. There’s fondness somewhere in his eyes but other things as well. He’d seen it a few times: in Maze Castle after he decided to spare their lives from the falling ceiling, in the Dark Tournament when he returned from his bout with the Dragon of the Darkness Flame, and shortly after Yuusuke’s resurrection. 

“Spit it out already.”

Yuusuke smiled. “Do you see us as family?”

“What?”

Yuusuke shrugged as if what he was asking so casually was easy for him to reply to. “Do you see us as family? All of us, even Kuwabara. I know you put up a tough act, but deep down, you’re a big softie. I’m not gonna tell anybody, so lemme know. To you, are we your family?”

Family.

The only family that he’d ever registered was Yukina and even that was tentative. When he resolved never to tell her, it was out of wanting to protect her, true. But also fear that he’d be rejected by the one person that he knew was of his blood. No, something about that didn’t seem right. He didn’t want to be rejected by her for another reason �� 

Something that gnawed at him, twisted at his insides, made it difficult to breathe but the thought of her smile eased the tension. His thoughts wandering to Mukuro, her words from before, the look in her eyes — that unreadable expression. Why hadn’t he changed the contact name in his phone from ‘Mom’ to her name? 

What did that mean ? 

He found alongside them because it was in his best interests, yes, but that didn’t feel like the whole truth. There was something else lurking beneath the surface. Something that he’d been turning away from, ignoring, bellying in hopes to keep this . Yet here was Yuusuke, looking at him with those eyes and asking him — offering him this . 

“Why does it matter to you?”

Yuusuke shrugged. “My mom had me when she was younger, and we didn’t really talk to a lot of my family, then I got you guys and I just thought ‘hey’, what else do I need I guess.”

Slipping his arm from around Hiei’s shoulders, he walks out of the alleyway with his hands tucked in his pockets, sparing a glance over his shoulder before he disappears around the corner.

“And by the way, I think we’ve known each other long enough that I can get what you’re trying to say even when you don’t say it.”

Hiei highly doubted that but the knowing look in Yuusuke’s eyes said something else. 

“If I had to pick a brother, I’d choose you without a doubt,” he says.

Hiei’s left speechless as he turns the corner and leaves. The gentle chime of the front door telling him that the mazoku went back into the shop. Leaving him not only to his turmoil but to sort out this warmth in his chest. 

Brother .

He leans against the wall of the shop, waiting in the alleyway as he tries to sort out his thoughts when the feeling of a cool breeze brings his attention to the Ice Maiden standing a few inches away from him. The afternoon sun’s glow illuminates Yukina’s being in a golden halo and Hiei almost looks away but he forces himself to meet her gaze. She tilts her head and turns on her heel with a smile, quietly beckoning him to follow and follow he does. They fall into step, walking on the fairly empty streets, their shadows overlapping as they go.

It’s quiet just as Hiei likes it. A silence that he’s grown accustomed to with his sister. Despite the decades of history between them with looking and seeking one another out, the mountain of lies they’d been told and convinced themselves of, they could still have this. Even if their relationship would never be perfect — this was more than Hiei could have ever dreamt of.

“I heard that you got your phone,” Yukina says, her gaze sweeping over him. “Did you happen to look at the different names?”

Hiei nodded and glanced towards her. “I changed yours from Yukina to ‘Sister’.”

The surprise shows on her face and she tries to hide her smile by averting her gaze. Hiei smiles faintly. That look suited her and he found that he preferred it to the others that she wore. For a moment, they walk in silence, crossing a bridge overlooking a river that flowed through town. Yukina’s pace slowed and Hiei stopped, looking back over his shoulder. She stood close to the bridge’s railing, her hands resting upon it as she stared out at the honey gold sky. The setting sun shimmering on the horizon amidst the buildings. 

Bathed in the orange-gold, she looked much younger than Hiei knew they both were. He turned on his heel to walk to her side and leant forward, resting his arms on the railing and looking into the horizon.

“...Did you know the name that was input for Kurama?”

Yukina nodded slowly. “I thought it was fitting, do you not?”

“I don’t know,” Hiei admitted, a stray gust of wind ruffling his hair and for a moment, all he saw was darkness when his eyes slipped shut to focus on the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the wind on his skin. “Today has been… questionable.”

“How so?”

Hiei shrugged. “I have been noticing odd things about myself, about my heart , the world around me. It feels as if everyone else knows something that I should know and they’re hinting to it like some long-held secret.”

Yukina hummed softly in reply and it took Hiei a moment to realize how similar they were. From their mannerisms to their slight quirks when in conversation. It was jarring when he tried to remember that Yukina, despite being almost the polar opposite of him, was his sister in every way.

“We’ve known each other for a long time, brother, everyone knows that rushing you into something isn’t right. So they try to ease you into it, into this ,” she explained gently, and Hiei opened his eyes to look at her.

“ This ?”

Yukina shrugged with a slight smile, looking toward him. “Family.”

There it was. That word again. The fluttering feeling returned and he braced himself for it, looking away. It was easier to look down at the river waters and try to distract himself with the sounds. Yet, he could feel Yukina’s gaze on him, the weight of it reminding him just how alike they were.

“Did it ever cross your mind that I wanted to know?” Yukina asked. “That I wanted to know that you were my brother?”

Hiei’s head jerked upright and whipped around to look at her. She stood with a hand clasped tightly to her chest, facing away from the sunset.

“I understand that you may have had your reasons, I worried about what my brother would think of me when he’d lived a life so hard compared to mine —” 

Opening his mouth to refute that, Yukina’s steadfast gaze silenced him.

“And then I met you. You told me that suffering can’t be compared, that I should do for myself, and the evidence kept piling up but I was just waiting for you to say something. You didn't, so I took the advice — the advice that could only come from a brother .” 

Hiei swallowed thickly, a lump in his throat as he felt the acclimation of this . 

“So did it ever cross your mind, brother? That I might love you despite what you’ve done?”

His eyes widened and the world seemed to tunnel around the edges to where all he could see was her. One hand lingering on the railing while the other hung uselessly at his side. 

“Where… where is this coming from?”

“I just felt that it needed to be said instead of waiting around.”

“I thought… I was doing what was best for you so that you would be happy,” Hiei muttered, but the words that he’d once clung to now felt like a useless and flimsy excuse.

Yukina’s eyes softened and she laid her hand on top of his own. Hiei willing his muscles not to tense beneath her hold, his gaze drifting from their hands to her face.

“I would rather be happy with you,” she says, tilting her head with a soft smile. “Because I love you, brother. We all do.”

All. 

Their faces appeared in his mind one by one, each distinct from the last, with memories and words that he could attach to each of them. The last being that of a patient man with red hair and green eyes, beneath which lied silver and gold, and that man — 

Hiei’s mouth fell open and he felt his heart skip a beat. Slipping his hand from beneath Yukina’s, he stepped forward and pulled her in close to him with a hug. His arms wrapped around her and his head resting on her shoulder, squeezing her as he held her close. She stiffened in his arms for a second then practically melted, resting her hand on his back then smoothing her hands across until she was returning the hug in full.

“Thank you…” Hiei muttered, giving her another squeeze before he pulled back. “..sister.”

A light curved through her eyes and she smiled brightly.

“...You’re welcome, brother.” 

The rest of the walk to the Kuwabara household is done in relative quiet but the air shifted between them. Yukina’s hand in his own, their fingers interlaced as they walked, standing close enough that their shoulders are almost melded into one. She looks around the neighborhood, pointing things out to him and he listens to the stories that she has to tell. Once they arrive at the gate, she gives him one last hug and he returns it fiercely. Nearly lifting her off the ground before he lets her go and waits until she’s safely inside to leave.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he sighed and opened it to the contacts.

He had a call to make.