#hue ; yura

[extralively]

Sooo I just read this headcanon about Gojo being able to identify colors by hexcode and...

It has me thinking of how Satoru must love staring into Yura's eyes, because he can see all the shades and hues and stuff, and just... asdfghkdgsa 😭

It gives a whole deeper meaning to compliments like him telling her that he loves her eyes.

I remember in one chapter that Satoru noted that he liked them... that he liked the color of her eyes and such..

(This is so stupid and silly but it makes me giddy for some reason... please forgive my rambling 🙏)

ooh I do love speculating about what the Six Eyes are really like! Like, what does Gojo really see? From my understanding, he can basically see in something like "infrared" when his eyes are covered, except that it's cursed energy that he sees. But what about when they're uncovered? I imagine that it's gotta be something overwhelming to the brain to be exposed to it for too long, which is why he keeps his eyes covered for the most part.

I imagine he's got something like a Super Detailed vision, and that he can seen even tiny details with super clarity, like a microscopic vision of sorts lmao. I hadn't thought about colors before tho, but it makes sense that he would be able to tell even the closest shades apart! It could contribute to the overwhelmingness of it all, if he looks at something that makes our normal brains go 'yes that's green', his brain goes instead 'that's a shade of green with another shade of green, with a little bit of blue, and then a tiny bit of another shade, and then--'

I don't wanna appropriate a satosugu headcanon lol but yes, that would mean that when he stares into Yura's eyes that he sees every bit of color in them, getting lost between the brown shades and gold flecks, and when the light hits them just right it's just boom! all the gold is sparkling and he becomes almost entranced by it (´⌣`ʃƪ)

(and again, if you give an excuse to write more about them i will write more about them! feel no shame!! i too love to ramble! ♡( ◡‿◡ ))

[kawaistrawberry21]

Title: Crimson Skies and Radiant Smiles

In the bustling streets of Seoul, Hwoarang found himself in the heart of a city that never slept. He had come to the vibrant metropolis for a break from the intense world of competitive martial arts. As he strolled through the lively streets, he noticed a young woman who stood out from the crowd. Her name was Ming Yura, a renowned Korean model with an elegant demeanor that drew people's attention like a magnet.

Yura walked with grace, her every step a dance. She exuded a calming aura, her presence radiating tranquility in the midst of the city's chaos. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky. As Hwoarang caught a glimpse of her gentle smile, he felt an inexplicable pull towards her.

Curiosity getting the best of him, Hwoarang approached Yura with a cheeky grin. "Hey, model girl! You're not from around here, are you?"

Yura's laughter tinkled like wind chimes. "Oh, you caught me! I'm here for a photo shoot. Seoul is always so lively; I can't resist visiting whenever I get the chance."

Intrigued by her carefree spirit, Hwoarang decided to spend the day with Yura. They explored the city together, sharing laughter and stories that seemed to flow effortlessly between them. Hwoarang was drawn to Yura's calm and cheerful nature, which complemented his fiery and competitive personality.

As they meandered through quaint alleys and bustling markets, Yura shared her passion for photography. She carried a vintage camera, capturing candid moments that told stories of their adventure. Hwoarang, usually reserved about his feelings, found himself opening up to Yura like he had known her for years.

In return, Yura shared tales of her travels and how she found joy in spreading positivity wherever she went. Her humorous anecdotes had Hwoarang laughing until tears welled up in his eyes. It was as if their souls were perfectly in sync, dancing to the same rhythm.

As the day turned to dusk, they found themselves atop a hill overlooking the cityscape. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of crimson and gold, mirroring the fiery passion that burned within Hwoarang's heart. Yura's hand gently touched his, and he felt an inexplicable warmth spreading through him.

"You know," Yura said, her voice soft, "people often think that models are aloof and distant, but that's just a stereotype. We're humans too, with dreams and desires, just like anyone else."

Hwoarang nodded, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "Yeah, I get that. People tend to assume I'm just a hot-headed fighter, but there's more to me than that."

"And I can see that," Yura replied, turning to face him. "You're passionate, competitive, but also caring and genuine."

Their eyes met, and in that moment, something unspoken passed between them. They leaned closer, their lips meeting in a tender kiss that felt like the beginning of something extraordinary.

As the city lights twinkled below them, Hwoarang and Yura knew they had found something special in each other. Their worlds might have seemed vastly different, but they were united by a shared spark that transcended borders and expectations.

And so, as the crimson skies blended with their radiant smiles, their hearts intertwined, and a new chapter began in the vibrant tale of Hwoarang and Ming Yura.

[flcralhaze]

after the pre-tribunal.

whispers  trying  to  place  blame  upon  russia's shoulders for the mess that'd become of the tribunal had only refrozen whatever rage was trying to melt within the stasov. if their efforts hadn't been sabotaged, at least partially by the very monarchies crying out for justice, then all prisoners would've been tried and verdicts delivered. his hand tightened around the vodka glass in his hand. his own hunger for violence stirring, but the sound of the door opening tempered it.   ❝ i said i was not to be bothered- ❞   his voice lost all its bite when he turned and saw who had entered.   ❝ yura. ❞   dark hues searched for any sign of injury on their face. the lack of one didn't stop the question.   ❝ why are you here? have people been bothering you? ❞

yura does not know if they believe in what isaak is saying. with how vast brazil is, and how many natural sights there are, the stunning man-made architecture, the culture... it seems impossible to find this nation uninteresting. however, they do not comment on the statement, feeling as if it's an excuse, to make them feel better for isaak simply not having the time for such frivolities. that sentence sounds very much out of tsarina's mouth, and it dampens the expression on yura's face, and they try to keep it neutral. the offer is what surprises them, eyes widening a little, pausing for a few seconds before asking again. "really? i'd- like that. if you can find the time." it's not that yura doesn't trust isaak. the opposite, they trust almost everything that comes out of his mouth. the case is that it's rare for them to have any time at all on their hands, especially for the eldest. if isaak does actually end up following up on the offer, yura takes note to figure out the best place until then. a hum, they cannot help but prod a little more. "do you think france is guilty, then? with the flortentians? or is it more of a tactic than anything else?"

[sealer-of-wenkamui]

eleonora is know as 'the violet bloodfinger' and without helmt her eyes are indeed violet, why?

i dont know, the other 'violet' mentioned in game is grave violet 'A purple flower that blooms in graveyards. Material used for crafting items.The hue of ghostflame, it's believed to be useful in calling forth spirits.'

now, ghostflame is white, blueish and black and cause frostbite, the hue of ghostflame sorceries and deathbird are a blue more similar to raya lucaria glinstone and comet azur and not purple, maybe this doesnt mean much. and in overworld had purple crystals.

gravity magic are purple, tibia mariner and spirit ashes are purplish maybe is this the hue that grave violet talk abot, saint trina related things this purplish color, and some crabs can apply sleep(why? idk), the dusk/gloam eyed queen related things, and some nox and their ants, and demi human queen sometimes had shine purple eyes maybe more enemiues but i dont recall.

violet/purple had a relation to death/spirits in much of these exemples, maybe eleonora is called the violet blloodfinger because she is the deadliest with a great victim count.

she is the one that got purifying crystal tear 'The resulting conction purifies the curse from Mohg, Lord of Blood's terrifying rite of blood.' and had no tatoo even being the most susceful assassin. i wish there more info in her and yura

whats your tought on them? there this super good reddit discussion about yura and her https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldenring/comments/ujib57/lore_bloody_finger_hunter_yura_used_to_hunt/

Ahh, Eleonora, I’ve thought a little bit about her, personally I think she was plotting against Mohg because like you said, she drops the purifying tear, and also lacks the cult symbol. That tattoo seems to be something they choose to get (and not a reaction from accursed blood, or else the nameless white mask would have it, and he doesn’t.) That to me seems to suggest she’s not loyal to the cult.

Maybe she was willing to go to extremes to become trusted enough for her chance to strike him down, which is how she became known as the deadliest… though Yura keeps talking about her like she’s giving in to the “cessblood”, so it seems to suggest she’s being driven mad by it… so maybe it really is Mohg’s blood and she’s what happens when you’re unable to tame it. Ah, and that thread reminded me of that line about slicing off a finger that bothered me, I looked it up in JP, turns out its much clearer that he means he sliced off HER finger, which would be the source of that blood. So it seems that was how he was trying to save her from that madness.

The one thing I don’t get then is why she lacks the red eyes . Looking at the face data again, Okina lacks them as well, the other 2 are pinkish so it could be taken to be altered I’m not sure… Maybe those that got blood directly from Mohg don’t have the red eyes, Varre doesn’t, Okina is said to have encountered Mohg directly and he doesn’t, so perhaps Eleanora did as well…?

The “Do not stain the immaculacy of your sword, your flesh, your fire..." line of Yura’s specifies her “beautiful dragonflame” in JP as well, and he seems more concerned with the bloody finger stuff, so I’m not really sure if she was driven mad by dragon communion (especially as its pointed out, he suggests you try it)

As for the violet title, I’m not quite sure what to make of that myself, other than like you pointed out, the association with death, or maybe just her eye color.

[reyna0w0]

Heterochromatic Soulmates

➵ Zen x gn!reader

➵ Zen belongs to Cheritz

➵ Oneshot

➵ W.C: 1.7k

»»—————————————♡ —————————————««

You’re window shopping with your friend, Yura; your heterochromatic eyes reflecting the clothes inside the shops. Left eye (e/c) and right eye crimson red. You sigh, “I really want that. I’m so broke though.”

“I know right! Let’s get ice cream instead,” Yura says, dragging you.

Moving through many people in the plaza while your words drowned in the noise of the crowd. Yura is chattering on top of her lungs though. You walk past a pair of tall guys, immediately feeling faint. You wonder if you forgot to take your iron pills. You stop in your tracks and Yura turns back, “Are you okay?”

“Oh my God! (Name)! Y-your eye!” Yura yells.

“What?” You groan, feeling like you might pass out.

“Your eye color! Your red iris is gone! You’ve met your soul mate!” She yells, freaking out. 

She rummages through her bag and produces a small mirror, bringing it up to your face. You definitely see that both your eyes are (e/c) now but it quickly flickers away and your red iris is back. 

Everyone is born with heterochromia; left eye, your original eye color, and right eye, your soulmates’ eye color. When you meet your soulmate, you’ll feel faint as the hue of your right iris changes to match your left iris. But this change is only for a moment and not permanent. Only when you and your soul mate have some kind of physical contact then you will regain your original eye color in both eyes as will they.

You don’t have the biggest interest in this soulmate business but Yura loves the concept. She looks around to figure out who it is but it’s a busy plaza and people are moving quickly.

“Aww, how will you find them now?” Yura whines.

“I don’t particularly care about it. You know people can lead perfectly normal lives even without their soulmates,” You roll your eyes.

“But meeting your soulmate is so romantic!” She retorts.

You sigh deeply, “Let’s get that ice cream.” 

The two of you continue to the ice cream parlor.

~

Somehow, you got roped into hosting a party at this charity organization. You didn’t even want to be asked why you even agreed in the first place. Well, you were lowkey threatened to stay and do the job; but you don’t talk about that. Because it turned out way better than you expected when you first joined; terrified out of your wits, not knowing what exactly you signed up for. 

Luckily, they were all genuinely good people, and the time leading up to the party, you learned more about every member. From Zen to Yoosung to Jaehee to Jumin to Seven. Jumin and Seven were more on the mysterious side, especially Seven but you got along with him, Yoosung and Jaehee. And most of all, Zen. 

Those beautiful eyes; one bright crimson and one beautiful (e/c). Of course, the possibility of Zen being your soulmate did cross your mind but it was quickly ruled out. You didn't believe much in the soulmate thing and you didn't think coincidences like this happen. Like what were the chances? Besides, many people had similar-colored eyes. 

You and Zen got along swimmingly. You found him extremely attractive but as the days passed and you chatted with him you started to love his personality. Definitely a bit of a narcissist...okay no lies...a huge narcissist. He was kind at heart and very caring. Also madly affectionate and you loved it when he used endearing words to call you. At first, you just thought he was a pretty boy but as time passed and the both of you shared conversations; you quickly noticed that you were falling fast. Really fast and no one could stop it. 

You were hit by the sudden realization of your feelings and flustered about it. The realization that the party was right around the corner was the trigger to you realizing your feelings. You were so excited and nervous to meet Zen for the first time in person. You were comforted by his words in a text and his voice in calls but seeing in real life and flesh and blood was a whole different story. 

The party day drew closer in a blink of an eye. Hours before the party, you found yourself in a mess. Cursing yourself for not deciding on an outfit suitable for the party. You rummaged through your closet, throwing clothes out, filling up the entire apartment with clothes. 

You groaned in frustration as you stared at the 3 outfits laying on your bed. Messing up your hair, you decided to send photos of each outfit to Seven. You and Seven got along pretty well since you both had a similar sense of humor. By the day of the party, you both were pretty tight. You sent him the pictures and asked for his opinion as you flopped onto your bed, sighing. 

Normally, you wouldn’t care about your outfit but this time, you did. All because you were going to meet Zen for the first time. You never thought you’d be like this; like Yura. Zen just made you feel things you never felt before. You couldn’t even explain it. All you decided to do was to cherish it. Though, you never thought that he’d feel the same way ever. 

Seven texted back really quickly saying he liked the second outfit you sent. Taking his opinion, you changed. Finally, you were done with your outfit, on making yourself look presentable as the party host, well, mostly for Zen. 

Your heartbeat sped up slightly as you got excited about the party. You’d finally meet everyone in real life and not through a screen. You felt jittery as your stomach did a couple of flips. 

Finishing up some final touches, you took one look at yourself in the mirror and headed out. Taking a bus and walking a few meters, you stood before the party hall. Bracing yourself, you pushed the doors open. Some finishing touches were being made to the hall, supervised by the brown-haired assistant. You smiled, walking up to her, “Jaehee!” 

“Is that you (Name)?” She said.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you!” You said, excitement filling your belly. 

Meeting her in person was way different than texting online. 

“It’s lovely to meet you in person,” Jaehee smiled.

You excitedly asked, “Who else is here?”

“Mr. Han is arriving shortly. Yoosung and Luciel are coming together. Zen said he’ll be here in a while,” Jaehee answered. 

As soon as she said that, Jumin joined you guys. 

“Mr. Han,” Jaehee said.

“Assistant Kang and I presume you are (Name),” Jumin said, matter-of-factly. 

“Yes! Pleased to meet you, Jumin!”

“Likewise,” Jumin replied.

“(Name)!” 

You heard a familiar voice call out. You turned to the source of the voice. You saw Yoosung run up to you at full speed, Seven trailing right behind.

Yoosung ran up and gave you a bone-crushing hug. 

“You’re going to suffocate her,” Seven commented, laughing. 

Yoosung let go real quick, “Sorry! I got too excited! It’s so nice to see you at last, (Name)!”

“Happy to see too, Yoosung,” You flashed a smile.

“You too, Seven,” You added, giving him a fist bump.

“Just Zen left now,” Jaehee said. 

Hearing his name sends butterflies to his stomach. You couldn’t wait to see him, wondering if he looked even better in real life. The anticipation made your stomach twist and convulse in a way it never did before. The effect he had on you was unreal. 

You continued talking to the rest of the party as most of the preparations were done and the party was officially starting soon. 

You were laughing at a joke Seven made but suddenly, you felt faint; a wave of nausea swept into you. You grimaced a little and you heard a voice, “(Name).”

You turned to the owner of the voice, clutching your chest. Your heterochromatic eyes flickered to the person who called you; eyes locking each other’s as it immediately changed colors. 

“Zen…,” You murmured. 

“You’re my soulmate,” He smiled, his now both crimson eyes staring into yours as he took your hand and pressed it to his lips. 

Nausea disappeared immediately after your eyes changed colors. But now you felt your heart in your throat as you looked at the breathtaking man in front of you; unable to utter a single word.

He was way more handsome than you could ever imagine. His selfies didn’t do him justice. Those bright crimson irises, silky smooth silver hair that fell beautifully on his face, the stance he took, the aura he emitted; all made him seem more ethereal than you could have imagined. 

“Z-Zen,” You finally found words to utter his name. 

You couldn’t believe it that he was your soul mate.

“You were the one who I crossed paths with at that plaza a while ago where my eyes temporarily changed…,” You muttered.

“Yeah,” He smiled.

~

On the other hand, Zen is out shopping with Yoosung at the very same plaza. He crosses paths with you and feels lightheaded. Being the sucker for romance he is, he whips his head back, looking around. He is absolutely certain he has met his soulmate. Yoosung looks at him confused until he realizes that both his eyes are crimson red. 

“Your soulmate!” Yoosung yells.

“Yes yes, I know!” Zen says, looking around frantically but to no avail. 

The crowd moves quickly and they are getting swept away by it. 

“Damnit, missed them,” Zen curses. 

~

Surprise on your face, you stuttered out, “I can’t believe it.” 

“I can. The moment we started talking on the messenger, I felt a connection,” Zen said. 

Heart beating out of your chest as Zen moved closer to you, entwining your hands with his; pressing his forehead to yours, “I’m so happy you’re my soulmate.” 

You stared at his eyes as it reflected your own; feeling like there was no one in the hall other than you two. The other members’ comments turned into a muffle as everything turned blurry except for the man who is your soulmate in front of you. 

[umitvar]

she makes a sound of pain, and yura feels it reverberate in their chest. a jagged dagger of guilt, pushes deeper into where it's buried, twisting. they wish to take away the pain from their sister, yet knows it is impossible. nails dig deeper to the skin of their upper thighs through the fabric, and all they can do is shake their head. "it's- it's not—" the words are broken through the tears, and they wait for the physician to finish wrapping up the rest of her wounds. they cannot look away from the white bandages, the specs of red, and how she cannot move her wrist. "you are not fine-" they start, and cut themselves short again, eyes moving to the physician once more, who straightens up and tells them what to do. yura listens it carefully, nodding a few times, a hand going to angrily wipe the tears away from their eyes, irritating the skin a redder hue. only when the physician leaves, they try again. "you don't- you don't get it — there's something i have to tell you. then you'll get it and i am —" terrified. of her reaction, of their other siblings, of the tsarina's. their eyes have welled up with tears again as they shake their head. "i'm so sorry, katarina- i-i will tell you why- but you have to promise not to tell anyone. please."

She's caught in the storm of her own making. A front row seat as law and order fail, to make room for chaos and injustice. Amidst the scrolls and ink, Katarina is caught in the middle of it all. Her eyes rushing to each of her siblings, attempting to take comfort in their brass knuckles and sensibilities. But one was missing, and Katarina found them in the center of Brazilian guards and loud perpetrators. When her voice fails, she crosses the threshold, and Katarina can only vaguely remember the following events when she sees blood.

With Antonina's firm insistence, she's eventually brought to a bed. Her person inspected for marrs and cuts, wrist specifically tended to and reset. Despite herself, Katarina let out a loud yelp of pain at the physician's steady hands. Turning from her seat, she can hear Yura distinctly. The softness of their voice. The guilt in their heart. Katarina knows her youngest sibling, better than most, and this guilt. It isn't natural. "It's a broken wrist and a wound stitch." Katarina states, matter of fact, attempting to ebb their guilt with evidence. "Yura," she softens, slightly. "Please. Do not cry. Mama-" She would not want to see her children in such a state. "I am fine."

[hihi-i-make-feh-edits]

Original version to the left, my edit to the right.

Original artist: Yura (由良)

Point of edit: To make him look more like his artwork from Fates, where his clothes don't have the weird star shapes for starters. He also have purplish shirt instead of blue. But the biggest point: his skin color isn't that weird greenish zombie hue anymore.

[fruitwoops]

c. sc // right person, wrong time

light angst, ex-boyfriend!seungcheol 1.6k words

You could still recall that day as though it were yesterday.

Rosy hues had replaced the cyan tones of the sky, and the ivory clouds were now splashes of apricot, allowing the fading daylight to paint the beach a faint glow of honey. The whimsical laughter of children filled the air, mixing in melodically with the soothing movement of low-tide waves, which caressed your bare feet each time they reached the shore.

Seungcheol stood facing you, your silhouettes illuminated in marigold. The backdrop was nothing short of romantic as your boyfriend reached for your hands with a soft smile, running his calloused fingers across your knuckles in the way he usually did when he was nervous. You returned his smile with a fond expression of your own, nodding encouragingly as you weaved your fingers with his. His plush velvet lips parted slightly, trembling as the words spilled out like bullets straight to your heart, “We should break-up.”

-

“I can’t believe you actually cleared your schedule for this,” Johnny laughed, the ice cubes in his whiskey clinking against the crystal glass as he did so. You rolled your eyes as you took a seat at the table which your friends had occupied.

“What? Can’t I want to catch-up with our high school friends?” You defended, glancing through the menu. Your friends shared a knowing look, waiting for the waiter to leave with your order before resuming their inquisition.

“He’s right though,” Nayeon giggled as she pointed her fork at you. “You’re a total workaholic, sajangnim. Plus, like us, you hated most of them. Why would you make time for them?”

“Not to mention, you’re high-key making us attend too,” Hyejin deadpanned. You stared back at your friends before throwing your hands up in mock surrender.

“Okay, fine, maybe a part of me just wants to see their faces now that we’re all mad successful. Especially after all the crap they gave us throughout high school,” you smirked as you raised your shoulders in a “can’t be helped” gesture, the Patek Philippe timepiece wrapped around your wrist emphasising your point.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Johnny reached over to high-five you, a devious glint in his eyes at the notion. Hyejin nodded approvingly, her own countenance morphing into nefarious pleasure as she sunk her teeth into the wagyu. Nayeon merely grinned at you, though that should have been a warning sign for the words that left her mouth as her perceptive brown orbs studied your face.

“I heard that Seungcheol’s going to be there.”

You felt your muscles tense at the name, unsure how you should react outwardly. While the break-up itself was far from a happy memory, it ended up being a beautiful one ; a romantic scene in a movie where a young, selfless boy chose to help the girl he loved to achieve her dreams. Your younger self had been naive and stupid, wanting to throw away everything you had worked hard for, for the boy you loved. But Seungcheol knew better, wanted better for the girl he loved. He broke up with you so that you would take the overseas scholarship at your dream college. And you did.

Truth be told, the real reason you chose to attend the reunion was to see him. You believed it was a case of right person, wrong time. And you longed to find out if you both were to meet again, now full grown and dreams in hand, would it be the right time?

It must have shown on your face, because Nayeon snorted and held her palm out to Johnny, who begrudgingly handed her a 10,000 won note. You groaned at their antics, fighting a smile as Hyejin reached over and squeezed your hand.

“We’ll have your back regardless.”

-

You could feel the stares as you handed the key of your Aston Martin to the hotel valet, basking in the attention that commenced the moment you exited the car. Not that you could forget that behind each awestruck face you laid eyes on were the lingering sneering faces of the classmates who made high school difficult for you.

Yet nothing would beat the collective shock and whispers of recognition and disbelief that rippled through the crowd when Nayeon called out your name, waving to you from where she, Hyejin and Johnny stood by the entrance. She looped her arms with yours once you reached them, whispering into your ear with a cheeky grin. 

“He’s inside with his boys.” 

You glanced into the foyer, catching sight of the male in question. Your heart skipped a beat, excitement and trepidation bubbling inside you instantly. Though that emotion immediately manifested into disgust and doubt when a familiar voice came from behind you.

“Heard he’s married already, or at least engaged.”

You turned your head back, scowl already forming at the sound of her voice. Minah stood before you, her high school posse trailing behind her just like they did in their youth. And just like the old days, they were here to ruin your mood. But unlike your younger self, you were no longer afraid of them or unable to hold your ground.

“It’s been 10 years and you still keep tabs on all of us? Grow up, Minah,” You countered with a scoff, raising an eyebrow at her. Though you could not deny the anxiousness that seeped through your mind at the thought that Seungcheol had already found someone else.

“Besides, how would you know that? I doubt Seungcheol invited you or released any sort of engagement news to you,” Hyejin chimes in. “He didn’t like you one bit.”

Minah looked offended for a second before schooling in her expression to point a finger in Seungcheol’s direction.

“We walked by them earlier and Yura saw a ring on his fourth finger. Go figure.”

Yura nodded fervently, speaking up to back her leader, “Plus, the other boys didn’t seem fazed at all, so their relationship must have been pretty serious for a while now.”

Your heart sank, realising the truth to her words. Of course he had moved on, it had been ten years since you last spoke to each other.

Yet here you were, ten years older, but still very much in love with Choi Seungcheol.

-

Seungcheol’s eyes found your figure the moment you entered his peripheral, breath hitching at the sight of you. You waltzed in with Nayeon and Hyejin, Johnny trailing behind you three with a laugh. The familiar sight took him back to the days where he would stare at you from across the hallways, heart in his throat as he thought of ways to approach you.

The memories seemed to rush back ten-fold now that you were standing in the same space as he was. The playful laughter, ardent touches, languid kisses, and whispered dreams of the future.

Seungcheol had not expected you to show up to the reunion. Ever since he broke-up with you that one summer evening, you had disappeared overseas and had not returned ever since. He could still see your sobbing face in his mind’s eye, and your heartbroken sobs pounded in his ears, all the memories burned into his memories for eternity.

While he had intended for you to leave the country and pursue your dreams, his younger self had not accounted for the heartbreak the both of you had to go through, both alone. That, and the fact that you never spoke to him ever again.

For a time, a part of him had been bitter that you did not understand his intentions, that you did not understand his love for you. But his older self knew better now; the two of you had not been ready for each other.

He shook the thoughts out of his head, fingers subconsciously prodding at the ring on his fourth finger as he focused on what his friends were saying.

Things were different now. 

-

You knew you had to face Seungcheol eventually, yet you remained unprepared when you finally stood before him. The amber tones of the chandeliers overhead cast a warm glow on his features, and the familiarity of the sight almost brought tears to your eyes.

“Hi.” You attempted a smile, though it came out slightly forced and awkward.

Time had done him well, his features sharpening over the years to form a more chiselled version of the face you remembered. Despite the early wrinkle lines that had begun to form around his eyes, Seungcheol still proved dashing as he reached out to pull you into a friendly hug.

“Hi, stranger,” he joked, making your lips curve up into a genuine smile. However, the feeling of metal against your back pulled you out of nostalgic reverie, the smile slipping off your face.

As you pulled back from the hug, you felt Johnny rest a hand on your shoulder, his squeeze of comfort indicating that the trio had seen the ring in question. Your heart ached, but you forced the smile back on at the sight of Seungcheol’s confused gaze. Yet nothing could have prepared your heart for the emotions which ran through your veins when you finally allowed your eyes to fall to the ring on his finger.

The cool metal resting on a chain around your neck almost burned at the sight of its counterpart ; a pair of cheap rings sourced from a capsule machine the autumn you both turned seventeen.

“So, is there a Mrs. Choi?” Minah asked in a faux saccharine tone, casting a snide look your way. You failed to notice, gaze fixated on Seungcheol as he chuckled bashfully.  

“No...” his eyes slid to you, the grin you loved so much adorning his face. “...not yet.”

Perhaps, this was the right time for you and me.

[kazeharuhime]

I’ve been neglecting to upload these to tumblr, so here we go! Floratober/Inktober days 1-10!

Aprai Liflower

The Aprai Liflower is a small plant that craves lots of sun. During rainy months and at night it will close up, and during partially rainy months it may even retreat into the ground completely to await the return of the sun. Found in Buddy World, Wing Alayna primarily, though it had been known to prefer the longer days and drier climate of Warminia Songlianne as well.

Red Magnificentia

A rare flower found deep in the valleys of the Great Buddy Mountain Range. The plant is known for its powerfully red petals, redder than any other red. It is prized and sought after for dyes, but attempts at cultivation have been tricky, as it is quite particular about its habitat. Though there are rumors of one that grows deep in the Great Buddy Forest...

Swirlah Tree

Well-known for its delectable berries reminiscent of peaches, as well as its fragrant, cinnamon-like bark, the Swirlah tree can be a lucky find if you're ever lost in the Great Buddy Forest... or if you're just out for a stroll in the woods.

Lonlar

"On the Lonlar, a lone Lar-leaf."

Prized for its leaves and fiddlehead-like stem, most every part of the Lonlar can be cooked and enjoyed. The Wing Alaynan variety is sweeter, but the Reline Ah variety, depicted here, has a much milder taste, like lettuce.

Radianis

Deep in the Great Buddy Forest, on a certain day of the year, one may happen upon a glowing field of Radiani flowers. Though a field of them can be spectacular in the day, in the dark of the forest at night, they're something else entirely. Though efforts have been made to determine the day they bloom on, it seems to be different every year, so preparations for the annual Radiani festival are made in such a way that things can be set up at a moment's notice, and word of it spreads quickly through the forest before the flowers can close up again.

Topberry Waterbush

The Topberry Waterbush is a strange bush that grows in water. It can do so in oceans or lakes, but the oceanic variety will have a saltier tang to its berries, take longer to grow and will not get as large. They can be cultivated with a fair bit of ease all the same, and their sweet, tart berries are a beloved addition to any dish. They can be enjoyed raw, or ground up and dried to be steeped with tea leaves for delectably tart tea.

Shizukumi Plant

Shizukumi plants are a common sight during the rainy season in Wing Alayna. It's good to get them then, as they quickly disappear once the season is over. Their fruits make wonderful portable water sources when carried gently or stored securely.

Straigeg Plant

Coveted for its rich blue hues, the Straigeg fruit has many applications, from dyes to gourmet dishes, to a delectable snack when eaten raw. It has a refreshing, cool taste somewhat reminiscent of blueberry or blue raspberry.

Tama Aquabullas

a.k.a Tama Waterbubbles, Tamatama Aquabullas

A large variety of Aquabulla. When Yura Aquabullas are not sufficient, Tama Aquabullas are a lucky find. The bulky size and fragility of their fruits make transport difficult, so a sturdy container is a must for long journeys, unless you've got quite a careful and steady hand. If you have the proper equipment, the fruits make for convenient and larger sources of water than tiny Yura Aquabullas.

Lila Sumita

"Oh the tales I would tell--if only I had sense to tell them."

"Whisper your love into its petals, and your one--however far in space or time--will surely hear it."

The Lila Sumita is something of a fable, said to bloom only when the lovelorn are near. In the legend of Helia and Karuha, it blooms on the hill that the protagonist declares his love on. Many have sought it out upon hearing of the legend, and though they have found similar flowers, they seem in comparison quite plain--but that doesn't stop romantics from doing as the poems tell them.

[mpxnoel]

noel always worked better at night, the sun was overbearing if he wasn’t careful so staying under the moonlight was something he tried to do since he found out the truth about who he was, so he was always found working late to try and compensate for his lack of presence during waking hours. he’d been pouring life into the sketch he was preparing for tomorrow’s appointment, taking every single detail his client had told him they wanted and while some people had some… creative ideas, this one could actually be done without much struggle. even with simple things, noel liked to put every ounce of effort into them - these were his legacy after all. 

“late night for everyone, right?” 

the voice broke through his thoughts and he was almost surprised, almost. it’d only been a minute since he got to the island so all faces -except two- were strange, and this one was no different. “yeah, he’s gone – ” he started only to let out an amused chuckle at her comment. if he was any good was only a question his clients could answer, and so far he’d gotten nothing but praise. “well, what little i have on myself is my own handiwork. feeling brave enough to try?” his lips curled upward in a grin, his tone lighthearted. noel was never one for stiff greetings and he hoped it showed. “do you have a design in mind or will it be freehand?”

Late Nights ||

@mpxnoel​

Yura tends to pull late nights at For the Fairest, often working behind her little desk for a while, finishing up orders and making her workspace all nice and clean looking for the next day. She was almost ready to close the store up for the night after her boss had already left, since she was finishing up when the woman left her. Yura packed her bag, ready to depart, making sure that she was ready to start work again tomorrow  and after turning the lights off, she closed the door. She wondered if she should go to Marimo to see if Kaz was availiable to grab a late dinner with her  and even if he wasn’t, she’d head over anyway to get another tattoo on her arm to match her existing sleeve. 

Heels click clacked down the road as she walked. Opening the door of the tattoo shop, she was pleasantly surprised that it was still open. “Late night for everyone, right?” she exclaimed, looking at the designs. She knew that she was very out of place but that rarely stopped her on her quests. But today, like always her classic vintage style, was very fitted with a braid style in her hair and her usual heels were black. “I’m eager to get another tattoo to add on to my collection of designs. Are you fairly good?” she asked, turning to face the guy who was in the shop as well. “I assume Kaz has departed for the night, but I would think you’re a good artist too,” she stated, grinning  at him. 

[azulann]

Treasure

Prompt: Beam

Sometimes it just takes the small things to make people smile the brightest

Yura and J’thel, appearances by Alisaie and Y’shtola

“Are you sure you want to do this? I don’t think I’ve you sleep in… ever” The concern in J’thels voice was evident yet ever ignored by the younger girl as he watched her stride forward with a head held high. The had been running separate duties for what felt like days, J’thel finding himself crashing and burning every free moment he could, making his bed in trees, on rocks, benches, wherever he could to get his usual allotted hour of sleep a day before being thrown back into the grind. Whenever he saw Yura, however, she was always awake, alert, and ready to go. He was not sure how she was doing it but he did know he was more than a little envious of her continued energy. If he didn’t know her any better, he would have bet she was sleeping on the job.

“I told you I’m fine,” Yura whipped her body around as they walked, keeping her pace up as she strode backwards, offering a self-assured smile to her friend, “We haven’t worked one on one in a while and I’m not about to let you screw this up alone.” Her voice laced with a cheeky fervor, she turned round once more as they arrived at the entrance to the Rising Stones, pausing outside the entrance.

J’thel did not even attempt to resist the urge to roll his eyes, rolling his shoulders back in response to her attitude, “It’s just a delivery Yura, I think I can take care of it on my own,” as he continued to speak, his eyes turned pleading, his ears folding back as he leaned towards the Au Ra, “You’ve been working non-stop Yura, don’t you think you deserve to give yourself a break?” J’thel was never afraid to make his concerns over the wellbeing of others known, as his tone continued to demonstrate, practically begging his young friend to rest.

Leaning to meet her dear brother halfway into his own slouch, she headbutt him softly, her smile growing into one of tested patience as she spoke, “I told you. I’m fine.” Pulling away, she continued to walk towards the stones, waving her friend off as she strode, “Just let me grab a few things. I’ll be back out in a second.”

With a heavy groan and hands thrown to the air, J’thel relented, slamming his back against a wall, and shrinking down towards the ground as he shook his head roughly. He was tired, too tired to argue with her, too tired to be doing this, too tired to be doing ANYTHING at all. Yet here he was, running himself ragged? And why? Because he knew if he didn’t, she would, harder than she had been anyway. He knew she was not fine. Despite her impeccable posture and alert gaze, the bags beneath her eyes and the subtle gestures she made towards her head spoke volumes of her state.

J’thel sighed, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the wall, desperate to let the exhaustion claim him but resisting the best he could. He needed to be alert as she pretended to be. She always took on too much responsibility, placed too many expectations on herself and accepted blame where it was not her to take. He knew she was just trying to do her best for everyone and believed she couldn’t slack with everyone else working so hard, but he also knew she was reaching her limit. He just wished there was more he could do.  He knew that even if he forbade her from following him it would not matter. She would do it anyway. The least he could do was keep an eye on her. He always had. He always would….

“I don’t think this is the prime place to be taking such a rest” J’thel’s eyes shot open at the sudden sound of a voice looming over him, a jolt of fear traveling from his shoulders to his stomach as he attempted to shoot upwards, only to slip and fall against the wall once more. Rubbing his head gently, he glanced up to see Y’shtola looming over him.

“Ah geez, how long was I out?” He glanced up at the sky, the same blue hue as it had been at his drifting off, the color only ever so slightly variated as the sun began to drift downward.

“No more than an hour at best guess, though I’ve no way of knowing for sure. I just thought you might wish to make your place of respite somewhere more comfortable,” her words spoke of a level of concern, though her tone was a bit sharper than the kind intent of her words, especially as she followed up her statement, “Or convenient.”

J’thel pushed himself off the ground, stretching out his body as he did, rolling his neck and massaging his temple in an attempt to defeat the lingering soreness present in both his neck and his head, “Yeah, maybe in a bit. We have a job to take care of. I’m just… waiting on Yura.” His voice was rough and gravelly with his exhaustion, continuing to stretch himself out in an attempt to further wake himself. What he wouldn’t have done for a bucket of ice right then.

An inquisitive look appeared on Y’shtola‘s face, followed by an amused smirk as she watched J’thels attempts to regain his consciousness “You may wish to check on your charge, though I would advise against disturbing her. Her air says she hasn’t known such rest in quite a while.” With a simple wave, she departed, leaving J’thel to ponder her meanings. Rest? Rest. He was resting, but she? Sleep. He fell asleep!

The sudden realization that J’thel had fallen asleep waiting for Yura hit him like a herd of stampeding buffalo, but not near as hard as the fact that Yura herself had yet to come to wake him. What was she doing? He asked himself question after question, running curiosities through his head as he made his way hurriedly into the stones, practically knocking down the doors in his moment of panic. He wasn’t worried she was in trouble; Clearly if she had been Y’shtola would have been a bit more alarmed in her reception of the sleeping man, but he still couldn’t help but wonder why Yura hadn’t come to drag him from his sleep. And then, his gaze fell upon the very reason.

Splayed out gently on the floor, head and arm resting tenderly across a crate, Yura had found herself a place to call bed. A sigh of relief left J’thel’s mouth as he made his way over towards her, a weight lifted from his shoulders upon seeing the sleeping figure. “What a place for you to finally crash” he muttered to himself, crouching down to brush her long fair from her face, revealing the content smile upon her lips. He simply looked upon her for a time, unwilling to disturb her despite how sure he was this was the least comfortable place she could have possibly passed out. She had earned this rest, and he would not be the one to see her robbed of it.

Yura groaned wearily as a gentle hand laid itself upon her back, soft words echoing in her horns, “Yura. This cannot be comfortable, get up.” Shifting her body, Yura attempted to pull herself into a more upright position, only to pause as the soreness shot through her body, her attempts at lowering her arm causing another groan to escape her lips. As she attempted to readjust herself to the light, Alisaie’s face came into view, the blurriness of her vision making it hard to tell if the look was one of concern or irritation. “Seems we’ve allowed ourselves to reserve roles this time.”

Yura took a moment to process her surroundings. Was she still in the Stones? Had she fallen asleep waiting on J’thel?... “J’thel!”She shouted loudly at the thought of the man sent Yura flying upwards, though she soon fell back down against the crates at the sudden rush of darkness and dizziness that enveloped her vision, a foreign hand reaching out to steady and sit her down once more, this time in a much more comfortable position.  

“Don’t rush yourself!” Asliaie’s tone was harsh but there was concern on her face, as Yura could finally see, as she rested a hand gently against the Au Ra’s shoulder, keeping her down to recover her composure, “J’thel left some time ago. My guess is he was not keen on waking you though I must say he could have at least encouraged you to a less precarious place of rest. How you’ve stayed here this long is beyond me.”  J’thel was likely in for it later, leaving such a dear friend out in the cold like he had, though it was clear Alisaie knew he had only intended the best, despite her harsh words. “Let me get you something to wake you up. And then back to bed. You need rest. Real rest.” She commanded harshly before turning away, leaving Yura with only her thoughts.

Internally beating herself up for passing out so suddenly on her friend, Yura let out another groan. She could not believe she had fallen asleep and left him to do all the work. She was better than this! Always do your duty, no matter the obstacle. Sleep could have waited. Why hadn’t he woken her up? Was he angry at her for demanding so ardently to go and then promptly abandoning him to her rest? Or maybe he thought she was incapable of assisting him. Had she outlived her use to her friend? It had only been a matter of time, right? As the thoughts raced through Yura’s head, she squeezed her fist tightly only to feel a light presence within. Pulling her arm from behind her, she opened her hand to find a small piece of paper within, crunched and wrinkled, from the moment or all her time asleep she was unsure but beaten all the same. When did I pick this up? She wondered to herself, gaze full of confusion as she opened it up. Reading the contents of the note penned in J’thel’s chicken scratch, her eyes widened, a feeling of relief and jubilation filling her body as she beamed down at it gently. The words filled her with a reassurance she wasn’t sure she was deserving of, feeling silly at her previous line of wondering as her eyes read the words over and over again.

“Yura, we’ve some tea here for you. Drink it then get yourself straight to a bed.” Yura’s eyes flickered from the paper upwards towards Alisaie’s commanding voice, the smile on her face remaining as feelings of contentment continued to flood her. She too often took for granted the kindnesses which her friends showed her, allowing fear and guilt to take the place of gratefulness. Standing slowly and making her way towards the table at which she had been ordered to sit, she glanced down at the paper one last time.

Treasure You.

[dominaecaede]

Tomorrow Never Comes

Chapter 1: Break

Midoriya Izuku, 16 years old, an aspiring hero. A seemingly normal boy in a world full of super heroes to idolize and super villains to bring justice upon. Everyday, he'd return to his dorm room after class and spend time with his mother on weekends... today is no different. There are people in this world who have quirks more suited for other things than hero work, however. For instance, in recent days, scientists in CLEARNOX Industries, a company located on the other side of the city, have been making a mark when it comes to future endeavors. It's not the scientists behind the ideas, though; CLEARNOX's CEO, Yura Hana, who has always sought an advancement for the new generations of heroes. Not that Midoriya liked science much, but anything that may benefit the future of heroes would always be an interest.

--

"Izuku! Supper is ready!"

Midoriya could smell the pleasant scent of katsudon that always made his mouth water. It's been two weekends he missed with his mother since the finals, but now that finals are finished, he's been spending the entire break making up for lost time. He made his way to the dining table to join Inko and gave her a smile.

"It's been a while, so I decided to make your favorite," Inko stated with a soft voice.

Midoriya smiled gratefully. "It looks delicious."

The news happened to be on while the two ate a quiet dinner. Yura Hana was speaking in an interview, and Midoriya's large emerald hues lit up as he turned up the volume.

"CLEARNOX Industries has been making quite the name for itself these days from what I hear," the interviewer commented. "With the success of your quirk boosting antidote, what's next in store?"

Yura Hana chuckled. "We have always strived for the betterment of the future and the advancement of today's generations of heroes. However, the growth of villain activities towards hero schools have been increasing in number. That is why we have begun a new project we are calling "Project V," a series in which should not only provide protection to the aspiring heroes, but to also show the value in... Life numbers. Once the project has been completed, I can guarantee a positive response."

"Life numbers...," Izuku repeated softly.

Inko only shook her head. "I wouldn't put my hopes into that. Something seems off about her wording, but I suppose we just have to wait and see that this project has in store."

Midoriya furrowed his eyebrows, but didn't respond to his mother's comments. She noticed and sighed, taking his now empty plate.

"It's been a long day, Izuku. I'll take care of the dishes, you go wash up and get some sleep. School starts again tomorrow, you know!" she smiled.

Izuku nodded and thanked his mother, walking away from the table. When he was finished and comfortable in his bed, he was texting Todoroki about it. It turned out that he was watching the news as well, but his friend only told him that it should be nothing to worry about. "Just the way she talks" he suggested. Izuku sighed and put his phone away, not bothering to answer the text back. Maybe Todoroki was right, he was thinking about it too hard. He closed his eyes, and sleep seemed to grace him not too long after that.

The day back at school seemed normal. Aizawa Shouta was teaching a new lesson, although the only new thing about him is that he got a new sleeping bag with a different color. Yura's words never left him, though; he still pondered them as he took notes. It wasn't the words themselves that bothered him - it was how she said them. Izuku was deep in his thoughts as a result, and only the sudden sound of screams outside the classroom door jolted him alert. Everyone in the classroom looked up in confusion, and Aizawa began walking towards the door with caution. As he opened the door, the sight of students screaming and running towards the exit had everyone standing in their seats.

"What the hell...?" Aizawa muttered, leaning out the door and trying to ask what was happening. Another teacher, newer, was running to the same direction. Aizawa grabbed her arm to bring her to a halt.

"What the hell is happening? What's going on?!" he shouted.

The female teacher was shaking, eyes wide as if she's seen a ghost. "T-They're inside the school, the walls have been breached! Our quirks won't work fending them off! Y-You have to get the students out of here! T-They'll--"

Her warning was cut off by something jumping on her and plunging what looked like sharp teeth into her shoulder. Blood was spilled on him and he immediately slammed the door shut, locking it, not knowing what that thing was and not bothering to find out. What seemed like the rest of her blood flooded underneath the doorway, and as Aizawa backed up, the students gasped and screamed in horror.

"Is that--?!"

"Holy shit, what the hell is happening?!"

"We're all gonna die!"

"How do we get the fuck out of here?!"

"QUIET! I'm trying to think!" Aizawa shouted, and the students immediately grew silent.

It's not like they knew enough to say anything but panic, anyway. Uraraka couldn't move. Yaomomo and Jirou were crying from fear. Mineta was puking in the corner. Kirishima was hyperventilating. Todoroki was pacing in shock and even Bakugou had wide eyes. The room was only quiet for a few seconds, but it seemed like hours. After that moment of silence, Aizawa spoke up.

"Okay," Aizawa began speaking as calmly as possible. "We need to escape fast. There's a locked emergency exit in the hall next to us and if we hurry, we'll be fast enough to break it and make it out."

"Why the hell is an emergency exit locked?" Bakugou questioned.

"It was an easy entrance for villains, but we don't have a choice," Aizawa answered. "Come on! We have to hurry. And stick together!"

Everyone huddled close by holding some part of another person right behind Aizawa as the teacher slowly opened the door. When the coast was clear, he urged his hand forward. "Let's go," he whispered.

Everyone ran to the hall and just as he said, there was a door with a metal lock on it. Aizawa tried using his scarves to pull it off but the lock was on there tight.

"Kirishima, Sato, give me a hand."

The two boys nodded and made haste, pulling with all their might but it wasn't working. Kirishima tried activating his quirk, but that dead teacher was right; quirks were gone. The red head looked devastated, but he was determined to keep trying.

"It's... It's no use...!" Sato grunted.

"Let me help with that!"

Midoriya heard the voice and could immediately tell who it belonged to. He turned around and gave a relieved smile.

"All Might!"

The golden hero was in his muscular glory, making Midoriya furrow his eyebrows. That was until All Might answered his mental question.

"I was still in this form when quirks stopped working, so I don't know how much time I have left. But it'll be useful right now, so stand back!"

With an effortless pull, the lock was broken and the door was opened. The sunlight was beaming and almost welcoming had they not been in this situation. However, the loud noise from the broken lock alerted the same creatures that took that teacher's life. The creatures looked ghastly; They were grey with visible pulsing veins, had no eyes, holes on the sides of their head for ears, and they made the most horrible screeching noises.

"W-WHAT THE FUCK ARE THOSE THINGS?!" Bakugou screamed.

Aizawa acted immediately. "WE HAVE TO GO, HURRY!"

"Come on, All Might!" Izuku urged him, and his idol nodded.

The group made haste and ran out the door and both teachers quickly closed it behind them. All Might used the last bit of his strength to bend some stray metal, tucking it inside the handle so it was impossible to break through. A yard full of green bushes and grass were in front of them, and everyone kneeled to catch their breath.

"Is everyone alright?" All Might asked, slowly returning to his deflated form.

The other students nodded, but Midoriya looked up only to see the chaos in front of him. Buildings had been set on fire on the inside, there were dead bodies on the streets and cars that crashed into poles or into each other. Uraraka covered her mouth, in complete shock.

"Oh my god...," Uraraka muttered under her breath.

"I-Is this seriously happening? Are we really in a zombie apocalypse or something?" Kaminari asked in a panic.

"Quirks stopped working... People are dying...," Todoroki muttered in disbelief, looking down at the ground. He then gasped. "My mother...!"

The two-toned haired boy ran up to the teachers in a panic. "Aizawa-sensei... All Might... I have to go to my mother! I need to see if she's alright...!"

"My parents too!" Uraraka chimed in with worry. However, a voice called behind her.

"Ochako...? Ochako..!" A woman called. The brunette immediately turned around. Her mother got out of her car and ran to her daughter in a desperate manner. They embraced each other the moment they touched.

"W... Where's dad?" Uraraka asked. Her mother then looked down with painful eyes.

"Ochako... He didn't make it. He told me to run but as soon as I left, all I could hear was his screaming...," She looked up with tears in her eyes. "He's gone, sweetheart. He's... He's g-gone..."

Uraraka shook her head in disbelief and began crying in her mother's arms. Deku began tearing up, as did almost the rest of their class, and Todoroki began to grow even more worried.

"Aizawa-sensei, please...," He begged.

Aizawa shut his eyes tightly. "We need to stick together. We barely made it out alive, we can't lose anyone...! We need to find shelter before anything else...!"

All Might furrowed his brows. "It'll be faster if we split up. One of our own lost their parent. We can't make them wait, Shouta. We also need to find the other heroes to see if they survived. We need all the help we can get...!"

Midoriya was stuck. He didn't know what the best course of action is. Should they:

• split up?

• or stick together?

[kaja-skowronek]

It's prompt time! I've recently been thinking about Victor getting older and the gray/white hair that comes with it, and since he is canonically vain about his hair... That could make for some cute banter! (plus I adore reading about those couples that have been together forever)

 I’m sorry it took so long! It turned out a bit more serious than expected so I’m not sure that’s what you had in mind - but let’s see: 

Victor begins to wear hats when their fourth winter in St. Petersburg comes: all frost and cruel nights that set in way too early.

At first, Yuuri thinks nothing of it.

Victor looks cute in Russian ushankas, too cute for words, and Yuuri’s heart melts every time he sees his husband wearing one.

‘You look like Yakov’, Yura spits at Victor the first time he sees him in one. ‘Like an old man. Cause you are one. You’ll wear a papakha first, like that old git Brezhnev, and I’ll be even more ashamed to share my rink with you’.

‘How cruel, Yurio’, Victor croons, but there’s this blink in his eyes that Yuuri has long ceased to expect to see. Yurio seems to feel the shift in the air, subtle though it is – he skates away. Yuuri makes a mental note to google papakha and see what the deal was about, but for now, he has a husband to hug.

___

Victor doesn’t acknowledge what happened at the rink with Yurio. They get home; Yuuri runs his husband a bath and Victor beams at him, the same heart-shaped smile that makes Yuuri feel like home no matter what part of the world they’re in. He makes sure to give the bath some extra bubble: Victor loves it when he can put some foam on Yuuri’s nose and then Yuuri will pretend to hate it.

Victor hops into the bath – and God, he’s beautiful, isn’t he – and Yuuri lets out a giggle when, of course, Victor leaves a bubble kiss on Yuuri’s face like a snowflake. He lets Yuuri wash his hair, suddenly too tired to speak, and if Yuuri hums them a song, it’s enough. They don’t need to talk.

Yuuri runs his hands through his husband’s silver hair and he lets his mind wander.

He didn’t think anything of it before; Victor’s fashion sense rages from Yuuri, it sparkles! to We need to wrap ourselves in the finest Burberry this autumn, solnyshko, and Yuuri’s not at all interested in current trends and styles.

He’s interested in Victor, though – Victor, who spent the past three winters freezing his ears off in the cold St. Petersburg weather because he was having a series of good hair days. Yuuri has pictures but he doesn’t need them to remember – Victor, with his hair silver and his smile bright, is unforgettable.

And Yuuri – well, Yuuri’s has a few medals to his name, but they mean nothing. What matters is that one thing Yuuri is an unequalled expert at: Victor Nikiforov.

Yuuri rinses off the scented foam of shampoo from Victor’s silver hair and he thinks he understands why Victor suddenly developed an interest in Russian fur hats. He’s tempted to speak – but it’s a conversation for another time, maybe in bed when they can cuddle comfortably, not when Vitya is exhausted and ready to fall asleep. So he makes sure Victor’s hair’s not tangled and gives it one last run of his fingers. It’s wondrous, even after these years, that he gets to have this.

Victor catches his fingertips with his own hand and presses a kiss to Yuuri’s palm. Yuuri smiles.

‘Come on, sleepyhead’, he says. ‘Let’s get you out of here’.

Victor’s entire body is flushed, courtesy of hot water, and utterly stunning even as he’s tired after a whole hectic day of coaching. Yuuri wraps him in a towel. Victor lets him – smiling gently, a bit passive, and Yuuri enjoys this quiet moment.

But then Victor looks at the fogged up mirror. Only the pale silhouette of his body is visible, but it still makes him pause, and when he turns to Yuuri, the expression on his face is open, vulnerable, and very, very tired.

Yuuri’s gonna wrap him in five blankets and hold him when they watch dog videos on Youtube.

‘Yuuri’, Victor says. ‘Is my hair okay?’.

‘It’s clean’, Yuuri assures him.

‘No, no’, Victor says. ‘I mean – it’s not getting grey, is it?’.

Yuuri’s not quite sure how to break it to Victor.

‘Vitya’, he says, finally, because Victor gives him those sad puppy eyes that work on him every time, every single time. ‘You know that’s just how your hair has always been?’.

‘What do you mean’, Victor says – and here it is, that expression: eyes wide open, eyebrows raised,  and Yuuri loves him, loves how it’s so ridiculous. ‘I’m not old!’.

So, Yuuri was right.

‘Of course you’re not’, he all but coos. And it’s true. Victor’s only thirty, and he looks younger because he’s genetically gifted – unlike Yuuri, who got his mother’s yoyo-ing and a completely average face.

‘But my hair’, Victor goes, and he drops the towel, coming closer to Yuuri. The bathroom’s steamy, and not only because of the bath, but Yuuri makes his best to focus on Victor’s face instead. ‘It’s grey, isn’t it’, he asks, and all but shoves a few strands into Yuuri’s face.

They have this pale light in the bathroom, the kind that paints everything in white-ish hues. Yuuri couldn’t see any grey in Victor’s hair even if he tried. The lamp makes it shimmer, though, and maybe it’s a grey hair – or maybe it’s Victor’s palest ever blond, who knows. Not Yuuri.

But Yuuri loves Victor. Victor’s fears are not any less meaningful than Yuuri’s own, even if Yuuri can’t understand them, even if he wants to make a joke and really, it’s all so utterly ridiculous because Victor is the most breathtaking man Yuuri has ever laid his eyes on.

‘It’s not grey’, he says. Maybe it is, maybe it’s not – as far as Yuuri’s concerned, Victor was grey-haired the first time Yuuri saw him on TV, back when they were teenagers. He doesn’t say any of that, though, because that’s not what Victor needs. ‘It’s not grey. It’s made of moonlight’.

 ___

Moonlight, that’s what Victor’s made of, Yuuri thinks again when the bed is soft and Victor is just about to fall asleep, pulling Yuuri with him. He wonders if Victor will wear an ushanka again – he looks cute in them, and Yuuri wants to kiss him. But he doesn’t want his husband to feel like he needs to cover his hair.

‘Yuuri’, Victor mumbles then, his voice sleepy and throaty. ‘You know – the moon wanes, right? It wanes. What if I go bald?’

[shirayukiwistalia]

history doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes

Everyone wants Obi’s backstory, but do you know who we know even less about? Ryuu. How does a twelve year old boy living and working on his own in the royal palace of all places not mention his family or past even once? Anyway, I love my son, and you should too.

Thanks to @garrack for encouraging me to post this <3

On AO3 here

Summary: Ryuu hasn’t gotten nearly enough sleep when he shows up at the examination hall in the palace. There are whispers as he walks into the room, and he feels stares latch onto him as he takes a seat. It’s unpleasant, but all he knows is that if he passes he’ll be able to learn more about the plants that fascinate him so much.

Ryuu is eight years old when he first arrives in Clarines. He doesn’t really remember much of the journey, but he remembers how the forests stretched on for days and the rivers glittered in the sunlight. He wonders if he’ll have time to see what plants grow in the countryside, but his carriage doesn’t allow for many stops. He manages to venture out at night, when they stop to rest. He gathers a scroll of paper and a dip pen, a birthday gift from his grandparents, and settles in a meadow illuminated by the moonlight, scrawling sloppy letters onto the uneven surface as he leans in close to examine the flowers swaying in the breeze.

He hasn’t gotten nearly enough sleep when he shows up at the examination hall in the palace. There are whispers as he walks into the room, and he feels stares latch onto him as he takes a seat. It’s unpleasant, but all he knows is that if he passes he’ll be able to learn more about the plants that fascinate him so much. The head pharmacist introduces herself quickly and then outlines the practical exam. He perks up at the mention of the herb garden because he’s never been in one before, and the idea of seeing one makes him forget his discomfort.

The greenhouse is absolutely wonderful and filled with so many herbs that he almost thinks he’s dreaming. Every plant is thriving, boasting vibrant hues and fragrant smells, and for moment Ryuu is struck speechless. He has only ever observed plants in natural environments, taking frequent trips into the forest or to the lake back home. He’s never seen such a large variety of plants all in one place before. The canals are pristine, and the water is so clear that he can see the bottom.

He gets to work immediately, taking out his pen and starts an inventory of all the plants in the garden. He’s not even halfway through before a certain plant catches his eye, and he all but runs to it in his excitement. He reaches into the soil and breaks off a root, bringing it to his mouth to taste it. His eyes widen when a sweet flavor spreads on his tongue. The flowers have yet to bloom, but he knows that it is yura shigure. He takes in the placement of all the plants and the flow of water in the garden, and he knows what he must do.

Garack arrives three days later, utterly dumbfounded as she takes in the state of the greenhouse. There is water all over the floor and bags of soil tipped over, mixing into the puddles and forming a concoction of mud that has been tracked throughout the garden by a pair of child sized shoes. Crinkled papers with dirty fingerprints lie haphazardly in the few clean areas in the greenhouse, such as the dry patches on the floor, the corners of plant boxes, and is there something in that fern over there?

Underneath the one tree in the garden, Garack sees a boy curled up against a bag of soil. His face has streaks of dirt, as do his clothes, and she’s pretty sure there’s at least three different types of leaves in his hair. She walks over to him, careful to avoid the slippery puddles on the ground. He’s sleeping, she realizes, as his chest softly rises and falls as he lies there. She has heard of Ryuu, the prodigy who has been studying plants since he could walk. He’s so very young, and his sleeping face only emphasizes that. Before Garack realizes it, she has already crouched down and moved his hair out of his face.

No, no, what is she doing? She has never met the boy before, and he is an applicant, not  friend or family. She stands, making as little noise as possible so he doesn’t wake up. Whatever he has done, it looks as if a storm has passed through the room. She reaches for the paper in the fern to find out what he has done to the place… and is met with one of the most unique formats of note taking she’s ever seen.

It takes a moment, but she manages to figure out that the page she’s holding is about the necessary environmental factors needed for the yura shigure plant to bloom. She looks up and immediately spots the brilliant red flower across the garden. The soil has recently been put in—the flower has been transferred from a different location. Garack walks over to the worst disaster zone in the garden, and she finds that many of the plants have also been moved. A sweeping glance of the room tells her that not all the plants were transferred—a section of the garden is lifeless, flowers and leaves drooping toward the floor.

A grin makes its way onto her face, and she holds back a laugh. The boy actually tried to replant everything! Based on the chaotic state of the garden and the exhausted child under the tree, he must have struggled to do as much as he could before finally falling asleep.

“Yatsufusa,” she calls. “Can you bring Ryuu back to his assigned room?”

“Yes, Chief,” he replies, gently gathering the small boy into his arms. The pair cautiously make their way back to the entrance, and Ryuu doesn’t even stir.

“Can you believe this?” she muses aloud. “He really tried to save all these plants.”

“Does he pass?” Yatsufusa asks, looking down at the boy with curiosity.

“He didn’t actually succeed, but he didn’t have to,” she replies.

Garack glances at Ryuu again, who doesn’t seem like he’ll wake up any time soon.

“Well,” she lets out a chuckle. “It’s really a formality. His reputation precedes him. He’ll definitely become a wonderful pharmacist.”

Ryuu wakes up in his room when the sun’s rays peek through the curtains. He feels kind of… dirty. He sits up and looks down at himself, and then comes to the realization that he desperately needs a shower. How did he get back anyway? Wasn’t he in the garden? Wait a minute… the exam!

Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, he is about to run back to the greenhouse when an envelope on his end table catches his eye. When he picks it up, he is surprised that it has some weight to it. He opens it, and there is a rectangular object of some sort inside. He takes it out, and a long cord attached to it follows. His eyes widen. It is an official identification tag for royal apprentice pharmacists. A note is also included in the envelope, so he takes that out to read it.

Dear Ryuu,

           Congratulations on becoming a royal palace pharmacist. Please report to the Chief Pharmacist Garack Gazelt next week to begin your apprenticeship.

           I look forward to working with you.

Chief Pharmacist of Clarines Garack Gazelt

Oh. He’s done it. Ryuu holds up the identification tag, staring at it in wonder. He’s a real pharmacist now. He feels warm and giddy and oh wow he’s actually done it! He can’t help but smile as the tag catches the light, reflecting a beautiful blue in the sun. He can’t wait to get started. 

At least, he wants to get started, but there’s a mountain of papers on the Chief Pharmacist’s desk that is so high he can barely see her. He can hear the sound of a pen writing though. She doesn’t seem to have noticed his entrance, but his shyness starts to take over. She is the best pharmacist in all of Clarines. What if she doesn’t like him because he’s so young? It won’t be the first time it’s happened. He hesitates at first but eventually finds the courage to speak.

“Um, excuse me…” he manages to get out, trailing off. No response. He tries again.

“Excuse—excuse me, Chief Pharmacist!”

He hears the writing stop, and then a head pops out from behind the stack of paper. It’s so sudden that he jumps, startled.

“Ah, Ryuu!” Garack exclaims warmly. “Congratulations on passing the exam. Welcome to the royal pharmacy.”

The sight of only the chief’s head above stacks of paper is so bizarre that Ryuu forgets himself and stares. Garack tilts her head in confusion.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Ah, thank you for allowing me to work here,” he says, stumbling over his words a little. “And, um, thank you for the congratulations.”

Garack smiles and comes out from behind the desk, walking up to him. She holds out her hand.

“There’s no need for that,” she says. “You earned it.”

“Thank you,” he says again, shaking her hand lightly. Garack frowns.

“No, no, you have to do it more firmly,” she says, tightening her grip before he can pull away. “Like this!”

She shakes his hand almost vigorously, and Ryuu isn’t sure how to react. He settles with a look on confusion on his face.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he finally says. He then realizes that he is the only person here, besides the man wearing a bandana who was proctoring the exam.

“Um, am I the only one who passed?” he asks.

“You are,” Garack confirms. “It’s a difficult exam, so not many pass each year.”

That’s unexpected, but he’s glad that managed to pass the exam. He nods to show he’s listening.

“Normally, I’d assign you to a senior pharmacist, but all of them are currently stationed outside of the capital, so I’ll be in charge of you,” Garack says. “If I’m not available, then ask Yatsufusa here. He’ll be able to answer most of your questions.”

At this, Ryuu stares. Personal training from the chief herself? What an amazing opportunity!

“Please take care of me.”

“Great!” Garack says, clasping her hands together warmly. “Then please start familiarizing yourself with our plants and plant storage.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

As he faces the wall of shelves, he feels excitement bubble up in his chest. The exam already feels a million years away, but the future is here and now and ready for him to take.

[toraashi]

the emotion; yuri plisetsky

BEFORE YOU READ: don't chastise me for making him "ooc", because I don’t think I did. I wanted to write a story revolving around longing, and I was trying to capture what he would be like after realizing that he was in love. He's such an interesting character to write for, and one of his key traits is that is feels such intense emotions. He doesn't care for a lot of people, but the people he does, he cares for a ton, so I think that if he ever fell in love, he'd be head over heels, like he wouldn't be able to think straight in their presence at first. Of course, he's still our Yura, so he's a tsundere lil shit, but he'd feel incredibly soft around his significant other, I think. Listen while you read: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_CfRx…

  Longing.   She never missed a competition of his, not if she was deathly sick, not if she had snapped her ankle (which happened once after she had been attempting one of his routines). He had taken it for granted, her diligence, and was finally suffering the consequences of it. She had hit some bad traffic, and would likely miss his routine, and for once, he couldn't pull himself together. She had been an anchor to him, his lighthouse, and like one would take the air they breathe for granted, he didn't realize what he had until he'd lost it.   "What?! You're not going to be here?"   "I'm trying! I can't control tourism! It's not like I want to miss it."   "Haaa? Sure, because that's the truth."   He regretted abruptly hanging up the phone, he regretted blaming her for something she couldn't control, and now his nerves were everywhere, his pulse thumping erratically.   "Yuri. Take deep breathes. It's okay. Be confident in yourself." He didn't want his coaches' petty reassurances, in this moment, he was absolutely sure that all that would soothe his nerves would be her sweet, lulling voice. He hadn't really noticed how relaxing and lovely it was until he didn't have it, and like most things taken for granted, he missed it more than ever. He itched to take out his phone and ring her up one last time for some mild relief, but his pride put up iron walls that were impossible to get past.   Unless you were her.   His heart always whispered the most appalling things, he had figured, and now it was aching in it's cage of bone so much, he found it hard to breathe. The beautiful, elegant tiger hated that her absence was affecting him this much, and in order to keep his head, he swore he would give her hell for making it that way. He'd start by grabbing her collar and staring into her iridescent hues, and then he'd... then he'd-   He couldn't shake the image of her melancholy, ashamed face, and that's when he knew that in that situation, he'd tug her into his arms and hold her like she was going to disappear at any second. God, he despised how weak she'd made him, the only person he'd admit to caring for was his grandfather, not some silly girl who made his heart soar like a fledgling bird just kicked out of the nest. Gripping the edge of the rink, he growled in his throat, his cheeks hot with the realization.   He was catastrophically in love with her.   And like dark clouds heavy with rain, his emotions tumbled out all at once, but before he could do something about it, the announcer called for him to enter the ice.   Frantically, as if he would die, his alluring turquoise eyes scanned the audience, around him, everywhere, but the one face he yearned for was missing. Kicking the ice, he finally skated to the center, his mind in shambles, so much so, he almost missed the start of the music.   "Russian Yuri Plisetsky, age 17 is making a strong comeback after his stunning senior debut where he dominated the Grand Prix, taking home a shiny gold medal. He is skating to..." The world seemed to collapse around him, and he couldn't remember the last time he had been this panicked during a competition.   All he could think of was her dazzling smile and how he couldn't think straight without it, how her eyes glimmered when he successfully executed a jump, be it a single toe-loop or a quadruple flip, she always was supportive, her cheeks rosy pink with adrenaline. He glided into a spread eagle, suddenly leaping into a triple axel, his landing disappointingly shaky.   Damnit.   "Yura!" The voice was like a melody, and it stood out amongst the screams of support echoing from the audience. She was here, she didn't leave him.   He vowed to not get distracted, but he couldn't stop thinking about all the things he had to say to her. Mind racing, he finished the performance with vigor, pushing his emotions into his now confident routine.   Quadruple Salchow   Triple Toe-Loop   The jump combination was flawless, and he swelled with pride. He would show her his best skating, if not before, then now, when he had missed her presence more than anything.   When he finished, there she was, like an angel descended from heaven, ephemeral and utterly perfect. The distance between him and her across the ice felt like light years, and he had never felt longing like he did right now. The warmth of her body, the gentleness of her arms were euphoric, and for once after a performance, he felt at peace with the result no matter what the score was.

[shirayuki-wisteria]

Feelings Are the Lights That Never Fade

Zenyuki Week, Day One: Connected

Title: Feelings Are the Lights That Never Fade

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in this fan-fiction except my horrible grammar and writing skills. All the characters or cities mentioned in this fan-fiction belong to Akiduki Sorata unless said otherwise. Any references to real people or places are purely coincidental.

Synopsis: When Shirayuki is assigned to be Ryuu’s assistant during his stay in Lilias, she begins to feel homesick. Zen, after a failed attempt at being a workaholic, inevitably ends up thinking about her. Will their connection be severed, or will their feelings reach each other no matter how far the distance?

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Shirayuki shut yet another book, turning to Ryuu. “Have you found anything so far?”

Her past mentor merely shook his head. “Unfortunately, no.”

Yuzuri let out an exasperated sigh. “All these books, and yet none of them hold the cure for this mysterious disease…!”

Shidan waved her off with a flick of his hand. “There’s no helping it. We should just call it a day and retire to our living quarters.”

They all took his advice and went their separate ways, sans Shirayuki and Ryuu. They loitered behind for a short while, cleaning up their and everyone else’s mess. After they finished, they both made their way to their shared room.

“Good night, Shirayuki,” Ryuu wished her after they had dressed into their nightwear and settled into their bed to go to sleep.

“Night to you, too,” Shirayuki chirped back to him, switching off her light and pulling her blanket over her chest. After a few moments, she realised that she wouldn’t be getting any sleep anytime soon. No turning, shifting, or fluffing of her pillow could help that.

She eventually gave up any hope of going to sleep and decided to occupy herself with something quietly so as to not wake Ryuu up. As she bent down to look under her bed, her hands wrapped themselves around a box. Not just any box, the box she kept all her most precious things in.

I forgot I brought this with me until now!

Zen sighed before pushing his chair back. All this work isn’t helping me at all…!

He had spent the entire day trying to distract himself with paperwork, never allowing a moment to let his thoughts drift, but realised that he didn’t have the resolve to do so. It was a mistake from the very beginning; he and paperwork didn’t get along very well.

His eyes unconsciously darted around the room, finally resting on a vase. The vase held a beautiful assortment of flowers, no doubt carefully orchestrated to be eye candy. Lilies and magnolias alike flowed towards one another, forming an astonishing pattern.

Some noble or another gave that to me to try and win my favour, He mused. How zealous of them.

Suddenly, his eye caught sight of something unusual inside the vase. As he recalled, only lilies and magnolias contributed to the carefully thought design. Why would another type of flower be carefully tucked away?

His hand involuntarily started reaching for it, and before he knew, it was clutched inside his hands. Upon closer inspection, he realised that the flower was a yura shigure; the flower that reminded him and Ryuu alike of Shirayuki.

His mouth subconsciously formed itself into a frown. Obi must have been behind this, trying to make me think of her!

He spun it between two fingers for a short while, finally letting his thoughts drift away from his obligations. I wonder how Shirayuki is doing?

Shirayuki threw open the box’s lid eagerly, tentatively shifting its contents about to find what she was looking for. She let out a sigh of relief as her hands clasped around it gingerly before bringing it towards her face.

The item she held so dear to her heart was a broken watch. Not just any broken watch—Zen’s old watch that he lent to her on her trip to Tanbarun. Since she had accidentally broken it during the voyage, she had bought him a new watch in replacement of his broken one. As thanks, he gave her his broken watch to keep. She treasured it deeply.

Her thumb brushed against its metal surface, back and forth, back and forth. It reminded her of all the things Zen had done for her; be patient, help her when she needed it, and give her the freedom to do what she pleased.

He’s done so many things for me, I could never even begin to repay him…

Tears started brimming in her eyes as she thought back. All I’ve ever done is force Zen to save me, never doing anything for him in return. “Sorry” wasn’t enough when it came down to it.

Her chest had tightened tremendously without her knowledge, considerably so that she couldn’t breathe. Her gaze suddenly flicked towards the doors to the balcony.

I must go outside!

After twirling it about between his two fingers for uncountable minutes, his chest tightened with every passing thought. They were gut-wrenching and stifled him so much he could hardly manage a breath in or out.

I should go get a breath of fresh air outside, He reasoned with himself. The Second Prince found himself involuntarily getting up and throwing open the doors to the upper tier that adjoined his office.

The wind plastered his hair against his face for a millisecond before releasing its grip and lying it flat.

The doors shut themselves after a short while, leaving Zen to his thoughts alone.

Shirayuki cautiously opened one of the doors to the balcony, trying not to wake her cotenant up. A light breeze brushed her cheeks as she pulled the door slowly behind her. Zen’s watch was residing in the palm of her hand.

She subconsciously let her breath that she didn’t know she was holding out, the cool night air relaxing her lungs and bringing a sense of peace to her mind.

The moon glistened brightly, creating a blurry hue around itself. Once her eyes adjusted to the dark night, she noticed all the stars that flanked the moon protectively, as if making a ring of protection around it.

Shirayuki smiled at the sight, her chest slowly but surely beginning to untighten itself. The night sky cast a dark blue glow on the snow around her, looking like a snowy wonderland.

Her gaze went upward as she stared at the moon in awe. I wonder if Zen is staring at the same sky?

The Second Prince looked up at the night sky, wondering the same exact thing.

The night was like a blanket covering up everything, but softer. It was a blue so dark it almost appeared purple to the naïve eye.

Zen suddenly realised that he hadn’t set the flower down and still had it clutched tightly in his hand. He brought it to his lips, closing his eyes for a second.

A gentle breeze swished the flower petals, flipping the petals over themselves. It eventually let up and the flower assumed its original position.

When something tries to deter it, however that may be, it reassumes its natural position, unfaltering.

Just like Shirayuki…

He abruptly tilted his head upward, staring up into the endless abyss that was the night sky. Stars twinkled and gleamed from all over, their numbers too great to count.

He titled his head back downward, letting the gentle wisp of the wind envelop his every sense. It didn’t surprise him that by during so, Shirayuki immediately came to mind. He closed his eyes and pressed the flower to his lips once more.

One wish came to mind, and though he knew it was childish, he still wished it. Wind, please make Shirayuki appear in front of me, if only for a moment!

Zen opened one eye, but a brief look about proved that his wish was too zany to truly be heard. He resolved to make one last attempt at a wish.

If you cannot make Shirayuki appear, at least let my feelings reach her. That’d be enough.

Proof that the wind had heard hit him instantly when the flower he was holding was plucked clean out of his hand and whisked away, out of his sight. Wind, I sure hope you know what you’re doing…

Shirayuki clutched the watch close to her heart, her eyes squeezed shut as her eyelids trembled with the will to not cry. She only opened her eyes when she realised that the wind was circling around her, whishing her hair gently about. Though the wind normally made her cold, she didn’t feel the slightest in the least. In fact, she felt warmed; touched. She finally noticed that a flower was twirling about and knew it was trying to convey something to her.

She chuckled softly as the wind playfully brushed against her cheeks, wrapping itself around her fingers to give her the sense that someone was holding her hand. The flower she had seen earlier was placed into the palm of her open hand, and after a quick inspection, she concluded that it was a yura shigure.

She realised that the feelings the wind was trying to convey reflected Zen’s own. She felt his eagerness to hold her as the wind whisked itself about her, felt his patience as the wind slowed down to match her pace, and even felt his affection for her when the wind lifted not only the watch but her heart alongside it. It gently took it out of her grasp, coaxing her fingers open, before opening its band and wrapping it snugly around her neck. To finish it off, the wind positioned the flower beautifully onto her hair before blowing itself away.

Even now, Zen lets me know of his feelings…

She turned in the direction of the sky, clutching her fists as a resolute look spanned her face. No matter what, our feelings will always reach one another!