#i only had thoughts for basen and maomao to be neighors and bicker all the time

[k0uhi]

fandom: kusuriya no hitorigoto pairing: basen & maomao tags: modern au; neighbors au; other: the vibe is cottagecore but the plot is horror

thinking about a basen-maomao cottagecore-esque neighbors au (they were neighbors! who are also found family! at some point!) because the very possible sibling dynamic of them is just too good to pass up

their first meeting goes like this:

he's just moved, consider it training, of a sorts, while he;s away from jinshi's side

he thinks it's a good idea regardless. he needs to temper his patience, and he needs a holiday. jinshi even told him to, and he insisted, so he really can't object

that said… the ad said that he'd have no neighbors, so why is there a cottage across his?

when he arrives at the property, it's all forest sound and birds, but he can see shadows from his neighbor's house. there's a light from the second floor, and stays as such

"you're the tenant?" rude, but ok. he whips around to see… a tiny girl. "you're a bit bulkier than i expected but new help is new help."

"now hold on," he says, forgetting to be completely nervous. "are you the one who posted the ad? it said no neighbors."

"no neighbors but me," she replied drily. "and my ward, but he's quiet, and does the chores."

he groaned. but jinshi already paid for this, and expects him to be at least more tempered when he comes back, so fine. "wait, what did you mean by 'help'?"

"everyone who stays here helps out part time with my research or with the chores. obviously, you do your own thing, but i need help gathering things from the forest every now and then, or i'd need you to help out with something physically demanding."

"…is this what the ad meant by reformed after a month?"

"i have no idea what's on the ad. my friend posted it for me, but it seems accurate enough." he sighs. "seems like you need to unpack though. call me maomao."

"basen." but wait… "you wouldn't happen to know a man of about forty with really thick eyebrows and sighs like the world is against him would you?"

"i know plenty of men like that."

"…the one im referring to. does he call you xiao mao?"

her eyebrows lift. it seems both incredibly intimidating and incredibly baffling. "sir gaoshun's son. a pleasure. last i heard, you fainted dead away when a woman touched your hand. will you be alright here?"

"just call me basen, please. and i have no idea what youre talking about."

"hoh. anyway, when do you want your tour? i'll head it, but i'd need to bring chou'u."

"perhaps later, after lunch…"

she nods, and then faces the road. she points out the directions for the market and the grocery, and other things he might need before she finishes with "i'd invite you over, but it looks like you're not particularly interested. have fun unpacking." and then walking away

other details i thought of but doesnt seem to fit anywhere yet:

jinshi and basen are childhood friends and work in the same company

maomao's a pharmacist, though she's kept up a hobby for researching traditional medicinal practices

the property is the ra family's that has been neglected over the years, that ruomen foisted off rakan. sits a little ways off a forest

maomao has a proper garden this time but forages every saturday

chuo'u became her ward after a minor accident a few years back

maomao and jinshi are distantly acquainted, having been classmates at university, but havent really interacted much since. she's had more contact with gaoshun, an acquaintance of her father's. he buys the tea blends she makes

xiao ran and shi sui posted the ad. they thought itd be funny.