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yusuke-of-valla · 1 year ago

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Whumptober Day 1

AO3

Akito hates that this song isn’t coming together. He’s been writing and rewriting it all day and still nothing. Not helped by a horrible headache that comes and goes.

And he’s got to pick out outfits for their shows. All their friends have distinct performance wear that helps them stand out while looking like a cohesive unit. If Vivid BAD SQUAD is going to leave a mark they should have something too.

And they just finished their event so they need to consider another one, and start thinking about what to change and perfect. They still haven’t gotten the right “atmosphere.”

And he needs to practice more, he’s been falling behind again since Toya and Kohane saw RAD WEEKEND for themselves and got a new boost of energy.

And-

Someone’s shaking him.

Akito looks up to see Kamishiro-senpai staring at him, looking concerned.

“…re …ing here?” Kamishiro-senpai’s being really quiet for some reason, and the headache’s back so Akito really doesn’t feel like dealing with whatever he’s talking about.

“‘M busy, can you leave me alone?”

“…vry…gone…lunch.”

“Huh? What? I’m not hungry.”

“Aki-kun… gers… up?” Kamishiro-senpai asks. It takes Akito a second to figure out he’s asking how many fingers he’s holding up and Akito finally looks up at him.

“I dunno, twelve?” Akito says, squinting. “I don’t care about your magic tricks right now man, I’m working on something.”

“Really?” Kamishiro-senpai says, louder now. “ Because it just looks like you’re scribbling on a blank sheet of paper.”

Akito blinks and looks down. Instead of notes, there’s just a scrawled mess, just like senpai said.

“Huh.”

“What are you working on?” Kamishiro-senpai asks.

“Uhh… something.” Damn it, what was he thinking about a second ago? It’s kinda foggy. “A show, I think?”

“All right, can you hold still for me, please?” Kamishiro-senpai holds something in front of Akito’s face.

“Yeah. That’d do it. You’re running a 40 degree fever. Where’s Aoyagi-kun?”

That cuts through the haze in Akito’s mind.

“He’s busy…” Akito mumbles before slumping over. He just wants this headache to go away.

“Hmm, ok. Well let’s get you to the nurse’s office at least.”

Kamishiro-senpai is practically dragging Akito down the hall, and he collapses onto the cot.

Now that he thinks about it, his entire body hurts. He thought he was just sore from practicing last night. He’d wanted to forget that nightmare…

God, Akito knows these notes. He knows these words.

He just can’t sing them.

Why? Did he not practice enough?

Everyone in the audience is staring at him, their eyes drilling into him.

When they get off stage, no one even needs to say anything.

He’s failed them.

“Hey, Akito,” An says cautiously. “We were, um, thinking that maybe you can sit out the next show?”

Akito’s heart gets stuck in his throat.

“I’ll do better next time, don’t worry.”

“You said that last time,” Kohane says.

“I…”

“Look, Akito, it’s not that we don’t appreciate you helping us get this far…” Toya says.

But you can’t get us any further.

Even without Toya saying them out loud, the words hang around Akito like a heavy blanket.

He can’t look any of them in the eye, so he just runs out.

He feels like he’s running forever, but when he looks up he’s still in the same place.

He’s always in the same place.

Akito digs the palms of his hands into his eyes. He’d woken up after that and ran through their entire setlist until the sun rose.

Thinking back on it, he never did get back to sleep.

The sound of Toya’s footsteps helps bring Akito back to the present.

“Akito!” Toya gasps, collapsing at his side. “What’s going on?”

“Nothin’. ‘M fine.”

“Akito, come on.”

“It’s really nothing.”

“You’ve been practicing too much again,” Toya sighs. “Why? Why do you keep doing this to yourself?!”

“‘S nothing to worry about.”

“Nothing to worry about?! You’re in the nurse’s office because your fever’s so high you can’t do anything. It’s a miracle you even made it to school today in your condition instead of collapsing on the sidewalk!”

Akito winces. “I just… gotta push through…”

“Push through what?! You can’t brute force yourself into surpassing RAD WEEKEND, Akito, we’ve been over this!”

“Not that… it’s just… when I feel insecure or get worried about you leaving… I can’t let my hang ups hold us back… so when I get worried I just focus on practice instead.”

“Partner… why can’t you just talk to us about this?” Toya looks close to tears.

“Nothing to talk about… I know it’s stupid, but I still worry about it… and I don’t want to accidentally sabotage us because I’m all insecure ‘n shit. It’s my problem. I know I shouldn’t be worried but I am. But I refuse to let that be the thing that ruins us.”

“You’re not going to ruin us, Akito,” Toya says. “And I’m not going to leave, ok? I love you.”

“Don’t promise me that. Don’t force yourself to stay with me.”

“Sorry partner, I can’t do that. I love you and I’m going to stick with you.”

“If you find something better…”

“Shhh…. Try to quiet the noises in your head, we can’t compete with all that.”

Akito closes his eyes. “Sing me to sleep, partner?”

“Of course.”

#alto writes #word count: 500-1000 #whumptober 2023 #day 1 #project sekai #proseka #akito shinonome #toya aoyagi #akitoya

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fluffywings13 · 3 years ago

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Bad Karma and Softness

“Um, excuse me, are you Matsumoto Akito?” The dark haired woman looks up from her computer at the young voice that calls out, and she meets the yellow snake eyes of a red haired boy, shark teeth, amber scales crawling up his neck. “I was supposed to meet her?”

“Yea, that’s me, welcome to The Aerie.” She looks down at the calendar on her desk. “You must be Sato Arata, the new student intern, hero name VenomBite?”

The red head nods. “Yea, that’s me.”

“Very good, you’re early.” Matsumoto pushes her chair back and stands, walking out from behind her desk, guiding him forward with a simple gesture. “This way, Hawks is in his office with the baby bird, I’ll show you up.” He nods, following after her, looking around. Not much had changed since he’d come for the tour in middle school, though there was more paintings around, but all in all, it was still the same. Matsumoto pushes the button for the elevator and turns back to him. “You look familiar Sato, have we met before?”

“Probably,” he sweeps a piece of hair behind his ear. “I came in for a tour in middle school. Aldera Junior High.”

“Oh, I remember that, well,” the doors to the elevator open and he follows her inside. “Welcome back. You can call me Akito, if you want, everyone else here does.”

“Thank you, Akito.”

She nods, tapping her fingers against the back of her left hand when she curls his hands together, waiting in silence on the ride up. The elevator comes to a stop, and the doors ding as they open, an elderly brunette woman looks up at them as they walk out. “Hello, Akito.”

“Hey, Shimizu.” Akito gestures to the teen. “Sato, or, I should say, VenomBite, the new student intern.”

“Ah, yes.” The secretary nods and turns, rising from her chair, stepping around her desk. “I’ll let him know you’re here.”

Shimizu disappears inside the hero’s office for a few minutes, he shuffles nervously, looking up when she returns, and nods at the receptionist. “Thank you, Akito, we’ll take him from here.”

The dark haired woman nods and squeezes his shoulder. “Good luck, Sato.”

Shimizu smiles at him and gestures for him to follow her as Akito disappears behind the door of the elevator. “This way, Sato, he’s in his office working on paperwork.”

Sato nods, following her into the hero’s office, looking around curiously, they hadn’t come up this high in their tour last year. He spots a familiar head of green curls and mentally shakes his head, there was no way it could be him; it was just an uncanny resemblance.

But, as he slowly crosses in front of the couch, he catches a glimpse of their face, and his entire world comes to a grinding halt. “Deku?” Green eyes look up at him at the call and he feels something settle in his stomach. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Did you just call my son useless?” Sato jumps in surprise, because Hawks is just suddenly there, as though he teleported, which he’s sure is not a part of his quirk. “Hello?” He blinks when the hero snaps his fingers in his face. “You in there, kid?”

The student intern stares up at the hero. “Did you…Did you just call Deku your son?”

“Mhmm.” The winged hero nods and hums, curling his arms behind his back, leaning forward slightly. “Did you just call my son useless, not once, but twice?” The kid stammers. “You know what, I think I’m going to rescind my internship invitation, and kindly ask you to get off my property.”

Both parent and child watch Shimizu escort the once student intern out, and the greenette laughs when the hero throws his head back and whines, wings drooping dramatically. “Why do I keep getting bad interns!”

The Street Artist snorts softly. “Bad karma.”

“I’ll show you bad karma.”

…

“You know,” the teenager decides he does not like this tone and slowly raises his gaze from his sketchbook, meeting gold eyes gleaming with mischief, and slowly sets his mechanical pencil down, watching carefully as his dad sets his mug down. “I still have to show you your bad karma.” And, that’s enough, that’s all he has to hear, and he slides of his stool, darting for his room, laughing when he hears Keigo chasing after him, and shrieks when he’s snatched up around the waist. “Not so fast, baby bird!”

“Kehehehei nohohohoho!” He pushes against the man’s grip when they turn in the direction of his room. “Plehehehehheease!”

“Boy, you think I have bad karma,” Izuku shrieks when he’s tossed up onto the bed, and immediately rolls over, trying to scramble away, when fingers curl around his ankles and pull him back down, turning him back over, the hero jumps up over his legs. “Just you wait until you see yours.” He looks down at his kids hips, curling his fingers around his waist, slipping his thumbs under the waist of his pajama pants. “Because yours is so much worse.”

He digs his thumbs in the pockets of his hips and smiles when the boy squeals brightly. “Ohohohohooh myhyhyhyhyhy gohhohohohohod nohohohohohoo eeieieieaiaiaaahahahahahhahahahahahahaa aahahahahahahhahahahahahahahaha aaahahahahahhahahahahahaa! Nohohohohot thhehehehehehehhehhere! Gohohohohohod nohohohohot thehehehehehhere plehehehehheease! Aahahahahahhahahahahhaha aaaahahhaahahhahahahahahaa Keheheheheheei nohohohohoot thehehehehehere!” Keigo chuckles softly, kneading his thumbs in, looking up into his kid’s shimmering emerald eyes. “Why, this is the best spot, why wouldn’t I come here?” The teen curls his fingers around the hero’s hands. “Mohohohohohoove! Ohohohohooh myhyhyhyhy gohohohohod mohohohove! Plehehehehheease! Aaahahahahahahhahahahaa mohohohohoove! Keheheheheheei mohohohohohove! Plehheheheheheease! Nohohohohot thehehehehehheere noohohohohohohohot thehehehehhehhere!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll move,” he pokes his fingers up his sides, making him shriek and giggle as he squirms, and Izuku shrieks again when he starts pinching his lowest ribs. “How about here instead?”

“Nohohohoho! Nohohohot thheheheheheheheere ehehehehheeither! Eeieieiiaiaaiaaahahahhahahahahaha aaahahahahhahahahahahahahhahaa nohohohohohot thehehehehehehehere plehehehehehheheease!” The teen tries to push his hands away all the while squirming from side to side. “Dahhahahahahahaaad nohohohohohohho! Plehehehehehease! Dahahahahaad pleehehehehhehehease!”

“Aww, come on, that’s cheating.” He lifts himself up, leaning over the teen, pressing their foreheads together, smiling at the giggling panting teen. “You know how soft I am when you call me that.” The man bows his head when the small teen curls his arms around his neck and lifts himself up, whispering a quick ‘love you dad’ in his ear. Keigo huffs playfully, curling an arm around him as he rolls over, tugging the teen around with him. “You’re such a cheater.”

Izuku giggles softly. “You’re such a softie.”

“Yea, yea,” he rubs his cheek lightly with a finger. “Only for you.”

#ler!hawks #ler!takamikeigo #mha takami keigo #lee!deku #lee!midoriya #mha hawks #parental hawks #tickle fic #tickle monster hawks #ticklish!deku

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disneysooner · 4 years ago

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Fruits Basket Hiatus - Day 144

Questions by @immaanimationnerd

Question #144: What is one of your favorite “things” about your favorite Furuba ship? By “thing” I mean a place, a symbol, a theme, an object, stuff like that that your ship shares or is important to them (part 1)

You know me, Kyoru is my absolute favorite, but I love all of them so much! I’m going to share some about each of my favorite ships. Since this is part 1, I’ll save my bigger Kyoru lecture for next time.

Just to be fair, there’s some minor spoilers in a few of these, so if you don’t want those, don’t read.

Remember, I did warn you.

Kyoru

I mean, there’s so much I love about this couple. From the rooftop rendezvous, to the little “flirty” chats they have, to the looks they give each other, and just all the symbolism there is within the relationship. When you first meet Tohru, you honestly wonder, “What kind of person would be considered Tohru’s type? What kind of person is she attracted to?” Some people, when they first met him, didn’t think Kyo was anywhere near the one Tohru would go for. Little by little though, more and more chances of getting to know each other and grow showed just how compatible they were. The fact they both do something for the other just shows how well they balance each other out. Kyo needed someone to accept him despite his true form and his zodiac cat curse; someone who loves him and can still be afraid of him as long as they stay together. Tohru needed someone who could see where she was hurting/struggling, and would be there to pick up her up when she doesn’t even realize she’s down. They were truly meant for each other.

Yumachi

I think a good theme for these two is the idea of overcoming insecurities. These two have their own insecurities. Yuki has always felt like a bit of a loner even though he is considered popular among all his classmates. Even so, he doesn’t understand why (other than his looks) people are drawn to him. Machi, on the other hand, feels like and is considered a bit of an outcast in school. Girls bully her because of how she doesn’t seem to be fawning over Yuki like every other girl. Her calling him an airhead and thinking he seems lonely really opened up the opportunity for this relationship to grow. Other than Tohru, no other girl has affected him in such a way that makes him think about himself to a deeper capacity. Machi is somehow able to see what others do not. Yuki did the same for her by asking her the simple question of what her favorite color was. No one ever seemed to care too much ask about things she likes. When Yuki asked her, she was left jaw-slacked. She didn’t think he’d remember anything about her, but when he ended up finding out her favorite color was red, that just goes to show her that he does genuinely care about getting to know other people.

Hatsuzu

While their relationship is definitely one of the more passionate ones, it’s also one of the most loving ones. Rin had been through some pretty traumatic stuff as a child. Hatsuharu recognized that, saw that, and continued to fall in love with her despite her past. He knew she would scared to rely on others, but he continued to pursue her. She thought of herself as a burden, and he made her feel like a treasured queen. That’s when Akito threatened Rin about Hatsuharu, she knew to keep her beloved safe, she had to push him away. While he didn’t understand her push, he still continued to love and try to get her back. For Hatsuharu, Rin is a girl worth fighting for.

Kisa/Hiro

I always find it so sweet when love starts at a young age; it’s what they call puppy love, and these two definitely have that. I find it so sweet that Hiro wants to be Kisa’s Prince Charming; you don’t hear about too many you g boys striving to be a Prince Charming for a girl they like.

Ayame/Mine

What I love about these two is the fact that they find happiness in each other and making clothes. It can be hard to find someone sometimes who shares your exact interests. These two just radiate couple vibes. The other thing I love about this duo is how patient Mine is with Ayame. We can see that there is a romance between them, but because of the curse, there’s no hugs or anything like that between the two. It’s rumored she knows about the curse, but there isn’t really any confirmation she knows the full facts. When Ayame does hug and confess love to her when the curse breaks, she is in tears; she had been waiting forever that for so long.

Hatori/Mayu

I find it sweet that these two found love with each other later in life. Well, for Mayu, it was sooner than Hatori, but that’s part of why I love this ship so much. She loved Hatori, but she knew her best friend was in love with him and didn’t want to get in the way of that. She continued to support Hatori and Kana in their relationship (dating Shigure in the process) until the traumatic event with Akito. Even after that, Mayu didn’t go immediately to try and be Hatori’s new love interest. Shigure knew Hatori needed to move on from Kana, and he played matchmaker by pulling a few strings and reuniting Hatori and Mayu. After reuniting and discussing past feelings/current feelings, they realized they could find happiness again with each other.

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shedreamsofstars · 3 years ago

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better the devil you know

rating: explicit

tags: emotional manipulation, referenced cheating, angst, unhealthy relationships, physical abuse, explicit sexual content, mildly dubious consent

... xxx ...

They say the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. But what if the one you know is the worst of them all. What if he had your back arched against a wall, cold hands gripping your hips, mouth warm between your thighs.

What if he was a lover who could unlock heaven with nothing but his touch.

This and several other thoughts had crossed Akito’s mind as she cursed holy, reaching for the head of dark hair below her waist, tangling her fingers in the fine, silky stands as she pulled him closer.

It was a shame that her lover had to be Shigure Sohma of all people, prideful bastard that he was.

She tugged at her tie, loosening it and throwing it to the ground as she filled her lungs with shallow breaths whilst Shigure worked his tongue against her, unleashing some primal instinct with each stroke. He paused to laugh against her inner thigh as she squirmed, pulling back enough to look up at her, perfect teeth flashing in a grin.

He knew her.

Knew her down to her bones, to the very blood that ran through her veins.

And yet, she could never say the same about him.

He could predict her every movement, know exactly where to push her to make her come apart, fall like a helpless victim into his waiting arms. But she could barely scratch the surface of him, so thick was his armour.

Part of it was her fault.

She could admit that much at least, breath hitching as he slung one of her legs over his shoulder and pushed his tongue deeper inside her. It took all she had to keep her eyes open, to keep from closing them and giving in to him completely.

She needed to witness this.

Needed to see him giving her exactly what she wanted, needed that semblance of control over him no matter how insignificant or fleeting it might be. She needed to know she had him, even if just for this moment, because when they were done she would lose him again, just like always.

He was always someone she could never be deserving of. Or perhaps her wretched heart deserved nothing better than this man who could fuck her like she was his god, like he worshipped no one but her, and then turn on her with flippant indifference.

His tongue lashed against her wildly, sending sparks searing through her skin and a different kind of warmth between her legs. But before it could blossom into anything more, Shigure pulled away.

His warm exhale sent shivers up and down her spine, but before she could ask him why he’d stopped, he was standing before her. Those dark unreadable eyes stared down at her as his finger hooked against the top of her shirt.

“I hope you’re not too fond of this,” he murmured, tugging at it harshly. The top button snapped loose and skittered across the floor. Akito huffed in annoyance, undoing the other buttons herself and letting the loose material slide off her, exposing the tight bindings she still wore across her chest.

Shigure made short work of them, eyes locked onto hers the entire time. She felt lighter the moment they fell away, breasts aching from the sudden freedom. If Shigure noticed her wince of pain he didn’t show it as his hands ran down her naked form.

It was her fault his armour was so thick.

She’d hurt him, and he’d bled, and he’d scarred, and then she’d done it again and again. With every consecutive cut, his scars had grown thicker and thicker until they were so tough that she couldn’t get through to him anymore. He was impenetrable, and she often found she barely recognised the empty gaze that watched her so keenly.

His touch was slow and caressing, but his kiss was anything but as his mouth collided with her own. It was all teeth and tugging and tangled tongues as his hands reached her chest, massaging and flicking her breasts. This time they ached in a pleasant way and she sighed into him.

She ran her hands across his smooth shoulders, drawing off his kimono and boxers until he was kissing her as bare as she was. His cock was hard as he ground his hips against hers, and she throbbed for him to be inside her already.

“Hurry up,” she snapped, biting at his lip hard enough for it to sting and opening her legs wider for him. He pulled back with a hiss, running a hand across his full lips. He tilted his head at her, tutting softly.

“Have a little patience, Akito,” he said lightly, smiling infuriatingly. “It’s not like we’re in a hurry. Unless, of course, you’re expecting someone?”

Mischief glimmered in his eyes, taunting her to respond, to refute or confirm the statement but she refused to rise to it. Instead, she gripped the back of his hair tightly, giving a sharp tug.

He chuckled lowly, chest vibrating and breath ghosting over her face as he adjusted himself and pushed into her. He was slow, agonisingly so, with those calculating eyes took in her every expression as he stretched and filled her, smiling smugly as he felt how wet she was for him

“You’re so beautiful,” he gasped, dipping down to groan into the softness of her breasts. Her body quivered as his tongue traced unholy words on her skin. “It’s such a shame you choose to hide this you.”

“I thought I told you to hurry up,” Akito hissed, tugging his hair again as she longed for the fullness of him inside her and for his mouth to stop talking so much.

Shigure rose and pressed his forehead to hers, his already dark eyes shifting to pure black as his hands settled against her hips. “Don’t say you didn’t ask for it,” he whispered sensuously, ramming fully into her without any other warning. It was enough to steal her breath away, leaving her clinging to him for dear life.

Shigure moaned into the shell of her ear, slurring something about how good she felt as he began to thrust in and out of her. He was forceful enough to make sure her hands were on him at all times, holding onto his back, his ass, any part of him she could reach so long as it made her his.

Her hands traced the muscles on his back, toned and rippling with every pant as he sank into her, hard and full and thick enough to make her gasp with every stroke. Akito shuddered as his hips pulled away, screaming in pleasure when he thrust back into her fully.

His hands slipped to the side of her neck, thumb brushing her chin as he towered over her. “That’s a little loud, love,” he growled, his hand crushing her mouth as his pace intensified, muffling the moans against his skin, capturing them in the palms of his hands as his own heavy breathing filled the room.

He groaned as she tightened in the best way, clenching around his cock as she screamed something that was unmistakeably his name, legs shaking as an orgasm rocked through her. It was almost enough to make him come from the sound alone. He slowed to a stop, brushing Akito’s damp hair out her eyes as she came down from her climax, held up only by his strength alone.

Shigure brought them both to the ground, sitting her against the wall before lounging lazily beside her, his eyes raking across her shaking form as the last shudders of pleasure ran through her.

Her breath was still shallow when she laid eyes on him, trying to decipher that look on his face that lingered somewhere between tortured and pleasured. “What are you thinking?” he asked when she was quiet for longer than she’d intended to be.

“Nothing,” she said, unable to hide the annoyance in her tone. She hated that he was so upfront like that, asking her to bare herself for him whilst never doing it himself.

“It’s not that again is it?” he said with a disappointed lilt to his deep voice.

Akito’s eyes flashed dangerously. “What?” she challenged, hoping, and praying to whatever higher being there was than her that he wasn’t going to bring that woman up. Not now, when he’d just been inside her.

Shigure clearly caught onto how dangerous his words had been and changed his tone completely. “It was nothing, don’t trouble yourself,” he said nonchalantly, as if he was merely going to ask her what the weather was like tomorrow.

But there was that gleam in his eyes that betrayed him.

“No,” Akito said firmly, leaning in closer to him so their faces were merely inches apart. It didn’t escape her notice that he was fully aroused, but she was too focused on his words to care about anything else. “Say it,” she pushed.

He might have been stupid enough to bring up the topic, but she was the one who’d make sure he saw it through. Shigure worked his jaw as he breathed out a wary sigh. His hand ran down his face before resting on the ground in between the two of them. “Akito, the thing with Ren was-”

The back of her hand connected with his face so quickly that she barely had the conscious thought to lash out before she’d already done it.

His head cracked to the side, cheek gleaming red from where the impact of her nails had sliced against his skin like claw marks. Small beads of blood rose to the surface, staining the hair that had flicked across his face.

Shigure was barely phased as he pressed his fingers to his face, smearing a bloody trail down his cheek, proof of her sin. He leaned towards her slowly, grasping her chin in the same bloodied fingers as he forced her to look at him, to stare at those infuriatingly empty eyes, devoid of all emotion.

“I was wondering how long it would take for you to do that,” he murmured, his breath pushing against her lips, his nails digging into her jaw. It wasn’t enough to break the skin, he would never go so far as that, but it was uncomfortable to say the least.

“Get off of me,” she growled, attempting to shake her head as she pried at his fingers with her own. But his grip was like a vice, and with every attempt to escape, he only held on to her harder.

His mouth collided with hers, teeth knocking against hers in a violent kiss. She hated that she wanted it, that she returned it instead of shoving him away like she ought, knowing that nothing good could come from this.

“What did you think that would achieve?” he asked, voice a harsh whisper as he dragged mouth along her jaw, teeth scraping along her skin.

“Do you think that hurts me? That it’ll make me weak enough for you to control,” he continued when she said nothing, a quiet chuckle rumbling through his chest. Akito gasped as his free hand dived between her legs, fingers dipping into her. “Try. Harder.”

She squirmed as he curled his finger, buried inside her to the knuckle. She bit her lip hard to keep from crying out as he moved quickly, too quickly. She grabbed at his wrist, pinning it to the ground, his finger covered in her slick as she backed off it.

“What?” Shigure said, raising a single brow at her. “I say one truth that mildly upsets you and suddenly you don’t want this.”

She did want it. She wanted it so bad that she ached for him despite how horrid he was to her. That was what scared her, what made her hesitate.

“You look like you want it,” he said smugly, pulling his hand free and bringing his slick finger to her lips. “See for yourself.” She could taste herself on him, the watery sweetness only further proof of her need for him.

She pushed his hand away once more. “I can do that much without your help.”

“Maybe,” he countered. “But it’s me you’re thinking of when you do it.”

“Is it?” she said, frowning as if in thought. “Because I can think of others who can please me the way I want.”

Shigure clicked his tongue, pulling her by the waist until she rested in his lap. She tried to snap her legs shut but it took him no effort at all to pry them apart. “Two can play at that game,” he whispered against her neck, pushing his hard cock into her with a single smooth thrust.

Akito gasped as he filled her with his warmth just as he had before.

And again, she let him.

Let him lift her hips and slide into her over and over and over at a punishing pace. She hated that she loved it, loved that she hated it. She wanted him to go, but she never wanted him to stop, didn’t want to lose the connection she had to him, the way he made her very soul shudder with delight.

“You know he can never compare right? The one you always run to when things get too hard to handle.”

Akito tried to reply, but he thrust into so hard that she had no breath left to even protest his roughness let alone argue, her arms tight around his neck as she held onto him.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she said breathlessly when he finally slowed a little. She reached down to trail her fingers down his arms as he continued to pound into her. His muscles flickered under the touch, his cock twitching wildly as he shoved her back roughly, her head knocking hard against the floor as he covered her with his large frame.

“He can never fuck you the way I do. I know you better,” Shigure spat, jealousy simmering off of him in hateful waves with every word as he pressed his body further into hers, moulding himself to the shape of her.

“He can learn,” she bit back.

“No,” he said with a slight shake of his head, frowning as he stared down at her. “There’s no learning you.” One of his hands tangled in her hair, nails dragging down her scalp pleasurably.

“I can make you whine and beg and scream and scratch and claw and bite with every shove of my cock inside you. That’s not something he can learn, no matter how many times you try to convince yourself he’s just as good as me,” he said stonily, catching her lips in a bruising kiss as he picked up the pace, fucking her into the ground with every thrust of his hips, relishing in her breathless moans and whimpers.

She hated that he was right even as she loved the way he stretched her, treated her as anything but a delicate doll, like she couldn’t be broken.

Kureno was … adequate. He was gentle and tender, which was nice until it wasn’t.

He was good until she remembered that Shigure could do all that and this, could be loving and rough all at once. But there was no chance in fiery hell that she would ever admit that to him. Not when he’d slept with her mother, the vile woman who had birthed her and tormented her, all in the name of revenge.

And some revenge it had been, when it was he who had been the first to drift away from her.

“Do you think of me when he’s inside you?”

The words brought her back to the present, and instinctively she pushed against his chest to get away from him and his twisty double-edged words. But he met her resistance with his own, keeping her against him.

“Do you lie back and moan into his ear, pretending that his writhing pleases you when with every thrust you imagine my face on his, my lips on yours, my cock inside you.”

She pressed her hands against his mouth, trying to get him to choke on his own words even as she chased paradise with every lift of her hips to the rhythm of his. But he was trickier than that, of course he was. He opened his mouth under her fingers, sucking on them and making her lose her delicate threads of control.

She pulled back with a loud hiss the second his teeth nipped at her skin, locking her left leg around his and flipping him around so he was underneath her, his hands finding her hips instantly to pull her deeper onto him.

Akito reached out to the side, panting heavily as her hand searched for purchase on anything she could use to her advantage against the man beneath her. It landed on something silky and she pulled it towards her, finding the tie she’d abandoned earlier.

Without another thought, she shoved it into Shigure’s mouth, muffling whatever taunt he was currently in the middle of. It was one way to keep that infuriating mouth of his shut at least she decided, wondering why she hadn’t thought to just gag him sooner. But even still, those damned eyes of his glimmered with mirth.

The bastard was clearly enjoying this.

She supposed she could see why. She was working herself on him and pleasuring them both, whilst all he did was sit back and admire the view. She wanted him to suffer though, she wanted to take and give nothing in return the way he did to her so often that she was left wondering how he had any space left in that tiny heart of his.

She had very few weapons at her disposal, especially now, but there was one that would do the trick just fine.

She lowered herself onto him, deep and full over and over until she felt him begin to twitch wildly inside her, waited for him to throw his head back and moan through the fabric in his mouth. But just before he could find release, she shifted off of him effortlessly, rolling off and to the side in a single fluid motion.

“I’m tired,” she said sourly, ignoring how empty and unfulfilled she felt without him inside her as she turned to face him. “Leave.”

Shigure let out a shocked half-chuckle, partially sitting up on his elbows as if half believing her actions to be a joke. His cock was still hard and pulsing as he pulled the tie from his mouth. “You’re not serious?”

But she was. If he wanted her to get him off, then he would have to beg for it. And she knew he never would.

“I said you can leave now,” she said again, narrowing her eyes dangerously.

“So that’s how it’s going to go, is it?” he said, sitting up fully and facing her. “You get everything you want, and I get to leave unsatisfied.”

Akito said nothing, focusing her gaze on the open window and staring blankly at the moon.

“Of course,” he continued quietly. “That’s how it’s always been and that’s how it always will be,” he said, laughing violently as he threw is head back, his smooth chest glistening in the moonlight.

“Maybe next time you’ll learn to keep your mouth shut whilst in my presence,” Akito snapped.

He pulled on his clothes with venomous force, his lips plastered into a smirk as he dressed himself, kimono draping over his raging boner and hiding it from view. “Maybe next time there won’t be a next time.”

Akito bristled at that, hating that she couldn’t so much as hide how much she hated the thought of that. Of losing him forever.

“You were the one that brought up Kureno,” she spat, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes from pure frustration. “How you were so much fucking better than him.”

“I am,” Shigure yelled back, the mask of indifference slipping for a single moment as hurt flashed across his face. But then it was gone, so quickly that she wondered if it had ever really been or if she’d just imagined it. “And in case you didn’t notice Akito, you liked it.”

“I … didn’t,” she said, her words dying to a whisper.

He sighed, composing himself once more. “Don’t lie to yourself. And don’t worry,” he said, voice as soft as honey, deceptively hiding the anger she knew simmered just below the surface. “I’ll send Kureno to finish what I started. Or perhaps he’s already outside, waiting like the bitch he is.”

With that, Shigure sauntered out the door and Akito felt the tension in the air release. The door slid shut behind him and already she felt her heart ache for his presence, for the feel of him pressing into her, taking up too much space and forcing her to make room for him.

But with him gone, she found herself shaking from the cold night air. The window had been thrown wide all evening, but with Shigure here sharing his warmth, she’d barely noticed it. Akito stood to close it before heading into the bathroom.

She didn’t recognise the person in the mirror. Dishevelled hair and red-rimmed eyes stared back at her. Shigure’s blood was still smeared against her chin like a mark of possession, reminding her that she was his no matter how much she denied it or fought against it.

She ran a finger down her skin, the blood mixing with the light sheen of sweat on her face. It disgusted her. He disgusted her.

Akito slammed open the tap and threw hot water onto her face, scrubbing brutally at her skin to remove every trace of him. She dunked her head under the water and when even that wasn’t enough, she walked into the shower and turned it so hot that it almost seared her skin, letting it burn away the remnants of his touch as she scoured herself raw.

It was a long while before she felt clean again, pure. But though her body had been cleansed, her mind was anything but. As she stepped out of the steam and stared at herself again, skin as pink as a new-born and hair hanging damp around her face, thoughts of Shigure pressed her again.

He was exasperating and maddening, but she couldn’t help but long for his touch again. For his lips to kiss every inch of her skin, to find rapture every time he sank into her, for him to call her beautiful, call her his.

Akito ran a finger down her chin, tracing where his blood had stained her chin. It was gone now, but she could still feel like, like an invisible scar binding her to a man she despised often and loved often more.

Shigure was bound to her by a chain entirely other to the zodiac bond they shared, but somehow this one seemed more powerful, more important. Though all the zodiac members held the potential to hurt her, to leave her and pain her, Shigure alone held the power to ruin her.

And he would.

Given half a chance, he would destroy her and everything she stood for. And yet Akito knew that all the broken pieces of her would continue to find a way to love him anyway. To cut him and make him bleed, but also to love him so brutally that there’d be nothing left of her.

They say the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. And so what if the one you know is the worst of them all. So what if he’s difficult and manipulative and definitely worse than anyone else out there. What does that matter when sometimes he’s yours and yours alone, fucking you senseless in a hell of your own making.

Hell is where the devil belongs after all. And Akito knew she belonged right there with him.

#akigure #fruits basket #better the devil you know #someone please throw me in the sin bin #i can't even explain what this is

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coldflame96 · 3 years ago

Text

To Move Forward

Summary: Kyo and Akito come to an understanding. Post-manga and pre-Another.

Rating: T

Can also be found on AO3 and FF.net

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to go down there right now?” he asked his wife for the umpteenth time.

“Hmm?” she cocked her head adorably. “We go down there every summer.”

“Well, yeah, but we’re supposed to reach record high temperatures down there this week.” He gave a fleeting look towards her stomach area. “I don’t want you to exert yourself too much.”

She kissed his cheek. “I’m fine, Kyo-kun, really. And I promised Akito-san I would go and visit.” She frowned sadly. “She’s having a really rough time with the pregnancy and she’s due in only a month or two.”

He wanted to argue that Akito’s issues weren’t Tohru’s problem, but he knew it was a losing battle. His wife was always trying to help everyone and had so much love to give. It was one of the many things he loved about her.

“Fine,” he sighed. “But if you’re going to the main estate, we should leave Hajime with the rat. That place is oppressive and I don’t want him to deal with it.” And I don’t want him near Akito either.

Tohru paused for the briefest moment, chewing her lip thoughtfully. She probably had wanted Hajime and Akito to meet, and maybe they would one day, but not now. Not if he could help it. He wanted to preserve his son’s innocence for as long as he could.

“Alright,” she agreed quietly. And then she smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes and clapped her hands. “I’m sure Yuki-kun won’t mind. Mutsuki-kun loves Hajime-kun.”

He could tell she was disappointed, but he curbed the instinct to cave in. She was friends with Akito and trusted her and he respected that, but she was always a much better person than he was.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It’s so hot!” Tohru gasped, her movements heavy with the heat.

He nudged her gently on the head with his fist. “That’s why I told you to bring your sun hat, dummy.” She’d left it behind at Dad’s place because she’d insisted she didn’t need it. “It’s not that far a walk, Kyo-kun!”

“Dad,” Hajime whined from his other side, breaking him out of his thoughts. “Are we there yet?”

He ruffled his hair. “Yeah, we’re almost there.” And then he pointed ahead. “Look, there’s Mutsuki’s house right there.”

Normally the walk from the train stop to Yuki’s wasn’t too horrible, but in this heat, it was practically unbearable. Living up in the mountains really spoiled them.

He approached the door with lead footsteps and knocked quietly.

The door slid open a little too fast to be natural, the child behind it gasping with wide eyes.

“Jime-chan!” Mutsuki yelled, launching himself at Hajime. Jime-chan? What kind of nickname was that? Hajime seemed to share the same sentiment as he wrinkled his nose, but was kind enough not to actually say anything. A trait he clearly inherited from his mother.

“Mutsuki,” a woman who sounded like Kuragi scolded from the hallway. “Don’t leave them all standing out in the heat.”

“Sorry, Mom!”

The small child grabbed Hajime’s hand and Tohru’s at the same time, dragging them both inside while Kyo followed.

Kuragi appeared, face impassive as usual, but she did smile softly. “Sorry you had to come down in this weather.”

Tohru waved her hands. “Oh, no, it’s no problem at all!” Then she looked around curiously. “Yuki-kun’s not here?”

“Him and my stupid brother went to the store. Can I get you anything?”

“No, that’s okay! You’re already doing more than enough watching Hajime-kun for us.”

Kuragi’s eyes were sharp and she smiled wryly. “It’s not a big deal. He’s a good kid and he keeps Mutsuki occupied.” They both watched as Mutsuki grabbed Hajime to drag him towards his room. And then she looked to him and nodded. “You guys are raising him well.”

He nodded back. “Thanks.” He never knew what to say around Kuragi, she was typically pretty quiet, especially compared to her brother, but she was nice enough, he supposed, and Tohru liked her. But then again, Tohru liked everyone, even creeps like Shigure, so that wasn’t saying much.

“Hey, senpai,” she was addressing him now. That was another thing that was weird about her. She always called him ‘senpai’ like they were still in school and not fully grown adults with children. She got a teasing glint in her eyes. “Yuki should be home soon if you wanted to wait and say hi.”

He snorted, not rising to the bait. “No thanks, I’m sure I’ll have to deal with him later when we pick up Hajime.”

“Oh, really?” she cocked her head a bit too innocently. “But he’ll be so disappointed he missed you. Kakeru too.”

He twitched and Tohru spoke up, bowing. “Thank you so much for your help, Machi-san. We really should be going to the estate, but I’d love to catch up with everyone later!”

Kuragi smiled, more open this time. Tohru did have that effect on people. “Yes, I would like that. I’m sure Yuki would, too. We’ll make sure Hajime gets back to you in one piece.”

“Thank you so much!” Tohru bowed again, and if this continued, they’d be here all day.

He put his hand over her face gently, dragging her away. “C’mon, Tohru, we gotta get going.” It was already past noon.

“Right! Thank you again, Machi-san!” she said, while she was being dragged away, “Tell Yuki-kun thank you too!”

Kuragi gave a small wave and then they were out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even after all these years, going into the main Sohma estate made him...uneasy. The few times he’d interacted with Akito here as a kid never meant anything good. It was where he made that bet...he looked to Tohru, who greeted all the maids politely and smiled to himself. Without that dumb bet, he never would’ve met her.

He thought nothing about Akito would’ve shocked him more than when she came out in that kimono all those years ago, pledging to turn over a whole new leaf, but he was wrong. The sight of her pregnant and sweating, lounging around in her sleepwear and looking absolutely miserable, was more of a shock.

Her eyes widened and she looked so innocent he had to look away completely.

“Tohru,” she breathed, “You made it.”

Tohru smiled softly. “Akito-san!” And she went to hug her, taking care to be gentle. “It’s so good to see you!”

Akito grunted in response and Tohru frowned. “Are you alright?”

Akito paused and then mumbled, “No.” Her voice trembled. “Tohru? Please help me. I’m scared. I’m so, so scared.”

He was never good at handling crying people, not even when that crying person was Akito. “Tohru?” he called out gently, catching his wife’s attention. He gestured to the door. “I’ll be outside.”

Akito stiffened and then stared at him, dark eyes lingering which made him shift uncomfortably. He wouldn’t be surprised if she had only just noticed him. It was so...stifling in here all of a sudden. Hot, even. It was when he closed the door behind him as he stood out in the hallway, he allowed himself to breathe again. He slumped down on the floor, energy sapped away.

He was glad he’d stuck to his guns about bringing Hajime here. The last thing he needed was for his small son to see how weak his dad was. It was stupid, the way just hearing Akito’s voice made something start clawing at his throat, made him freeze in place...like a coward.

“Were you banished to the hallway?” A familiar, irritating voice asked, and he looked up to see Shigure staring down at him curiously, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. Of course he would be here.

“Leave me alone,” he sighed, “I don’t have the energy to deal with you.”

Shigure being Shigure, he instead took that as an invitation to sit next to him, much to his annoyance. “I’m assuming Tohru-kun is in there then?” He nodded. And then Shigure asked, “How did she look?”

He gave him a weary look. “What do you care? You’re spoken for already.”

“I was referring to Akito.”

He furrowed his brow. “Shouldn’t you know? She’s your wife.” And he still had a hard time wrapping his head around that. After everything Akito put them through, what was Shigure thinking? Then again, it was probably better he didn’t know.

Shigure gave a carefree shrug, but if Kyo didn’t know any better, he would say he looked...bitter. “She’s been cooped up in there for days and refuses to let me see her.”

He scoffed. “What? And you just listened? It’s not like she’s God anymore.”

He got a dark look in his eyes. “Old habits die hard, I suppose.”

This guy’s flippancy really pissed him off sometimes. He tried to imagine what he would do if Tohru refused to see him for days. Especially if she was pregnant with his child...break down the door, probably.

He recalled the wide, trembling eyes he’d gotten a glimpse of before he left the room. “She looked...terrified,” he finally answered.

He heard a light thump against the wall and saw Shigure resting his head, a defeated look. “Yes, I was afraid of that.” He smiled ruefully. “Despite how far she’s come, she’s still afraid to be seen as weak in front of me.”

And yet you’re her husband and you’re just letting her cry alone. Scumbag. He glowered at him.

Shigure chuckled nervously. “Hey now, what’s with that ‘you’re a horrible person’ look?”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he growled. “Your wife is in there, crying and scared, and with your child, and you’re out here shooting the breeze with me while my wife does your job?”

Shigure stared at him coldly, mocking, all friendly pretense gone. “I didn’t realize you cared so deeply about my wife.”

“I don’t!” he snapped. “I just hate that I have to be here because of you when I could be spending time with my own family.”

“If I recall correctly, it was Tohru-kun’s idea to come, was it not? No one forced you to be here.”

“Yeah, well I’m not a prick like you so of course I wasn’t gonna leave her alone!”

“That’s all well and good but you and I are not the same. I’m not a nice person, and comfort is not my strong suit. Never has been.” His eyes were hard. “Akito knows that.”

He was almost starting to feel bad for Akito and that was not a feeling he was equipped to deal with.

“Whatever. You piss me off. I don’t get you at all.” He wanted to storm off but he didn’t wanna leave Tohru alone and he didn’t have much energy to really do anything except lean against the wall.

Thankfully, Shigure took the hint this time and didn’t say anything else, so they both just sat in a tense silence. “Terrified, huh?” Shigure mumbled so quietly Kyo was sure he wasn’t supposed to hear it. “That makes two of us.”

He didn’t say anything, he couldn’t say anything. Even if he tried, he would get brushed off. But he did silently feel a bit of solidarity at that rare instance of vulnerability. He remembered how terrified he was before Hajime was born, that visceral fear that he would fuck him up like his own biological father did, that maybe the curse would come back somehow, and that feeling never quite went away.

He only vaguely registered the door being opened behind him and then a gasp. “Oh! Shigure-san!”

“Hello, Tohru-kun!” Like a switch, the man next to him laid on the charm. “You’re looking as radiant as ever. I would even say you’re glowing.” Shigure smirked in his direction and that moment of sympathy was gone.

Tohru blushed. “Oh, really?” She scratched her cheek shyly. “You think so? I don’t think I look any different than usual.” She really was glowing...and gorgeous of course, but Kyo was biased.

He stepped in between the two. “You ready to go?” he asked his wife softly.

“Yes!” she confirmed. “I just have to use the restroom real quick!” And then she pecked his cheek before running around the corner.

She left the door open and out of the corner of his eye, Kyo saw Akito slumped over a table, hair and clothes half askew.

She looked so small. Pitiful, even. It wasn’t an image that went with what he always knew about her. That she was someone to be feared. .

“Shigure?” she called out weakly.

“Yes, my flower?” he responded, tone playful but strained.

She didn’t look up. “Get Hatori.”

If Kyo didn’t know any better, he would say Shigure looked almost disappointed by that.

“As you wish,” he responded, and to Kyo’s surprise, he actually obeyed. There was more going on there than he cared to know about...He made to follow the direction that Tohru went.

“Kyo?” Akito called him and just like when he was a kid and he was still wrapped up in the curse, he froze.

Akito lifted her head, looking paler than usual, almost ashen, as she attempted to get up slowly, the weight of her stomach hindering her, and if Kyo had to guess, the heat probably wasn’t helping.

He should just walk away. He didn’t owe her anything and he had no reason to talk to her. He should walk away.

She padded her way to him slowly and it was like his feet were stuck inside the floor.

“My little monster.” The cruel tone rang through his ears and his eyes widened.

“Don’t come closer!” he burst out. He expected her to keep coming anyway like she would’ve before, but to his surprise, she stopped, still halfway across the room. Her expression was unreadable. And from his experience, that was always a bad thing. But she was barely holding herself up and she certainly didn’t appear hostile, so he allowed himself to relax, if only a little bit.

He took a deep breath. “Did you need something?”

She averted her eyes. “No.”

He nodded and prepared to walk away again when he heard behind him. “I appreciate you bringing Tohru here.”

He gave her a cool look. “She came here of her own choice. I don’t control her.”

She had steadied herself enough to look in his eyes, gaze steady. “But you came too. I’m sure that wasn’t easy.” He wasn’t sure what to say to that, this was the last thing he wanted to be doing right now, so she took that as her cue to continue. “I know it doesn't mean much at this point, but I wanted to-”

“Save it,” he cut her off, already knowing where this was heading. “I never expected an apology, and I don’t need it either. It doesn’t change anything.” He clenched his fist. “I just...want to move forward.”

She looked surprised. “I see. I never expected this from you of all people.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea,” he responded as neutrally as he could. “I’m only here because of Tohru. That doesn’t make us friends.”

He saw those eyes darken in anger for just a flash and flinched away, waiting for a blow that never came. But Akito just wilted in defeat, her eyes turning sad.

“I understand.”

Tohru sure was taking a long time. Maybe he should check on her. He nodded to Akito, but she called him back.

“Kyo?”

He looked at her expectantly, but she smiled, a shy, broken thing. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Your honesty. You were never much of a people-pleaser, always saying exactly what was on your mind no matter how much trouble it got you in.”

He felt himself bristle, “Look, you-”

“I never said it was a bad thing.” she cut him off coolly, her eyes steely, but not angry. He felt himself deflate. She was...complimenting him? It was weird and backhanded, but it was a compliment, wasn’t it?

“I’m finished!” Tohru came back, breaking the tension. She grabbed his hand. “We can get going now.” And then noticing the thick air, she frowned. “Was I...interrupting something?”

Akito smiled at her warmly, which was something Kyo didn’t think she was capable of until now. “I was just thanking Kyo for taking the time to come visit.” And then her eyes shifted to him, sharp and calculating. “Right, Kyo?”

Well, it wasn’t a lie. “Yeah.” And then he turned to her. “What took you so long?”

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly, “This mansion is so huge I got a bit lost.”

Figured. “You should’ve asked one of the maids to help you.”

“Oh, but I didn’t wanna trouble them! I found it eventually.”

“Tohru?” Akito called softly. They both turned to her and Kyo had to be dreaming because it looked like she was...blushing. Akito. Blushing. “Thank you...for coming. I hope you can meet Shiki one day.”

She grinned. “Oh yes, I’d love to! I’m sure he’ll be adorable!” It was just then that Shigure returned with Hatori in tow. Kyo wondered if he took so long on purpose.

Tohru bowed. “Thank you for having us, Akito-san! Good luck with little Shiki-kun!”

Kyo didn’t bow or say anything, but he did dip his head in acknowledgement. Akito gave them both a grateful look.

Today was a weird day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She was quieter than usual on the train ride back to Yuki’s. She’d been quiet ever since they left the estate now that he thought about it. He wondered if something happened between her and Akito. Did they fight? He felt a surge of protectiveness. He wouldn’t hit a woman, and especially not a pregnant woman, but Akito better not have done anything to his wife or she’d be sorry.

“Tohru.”

She jolted like she’d been spacing out. “Yes?”

“Did you and Akito get in a fight or something? You’ve been really quiet.”

Her eyes widened. “No, of course not!”

Well, if it wasn’t Akito then…”Did Shigure say something weird to you?” One of these days he was gonna send that guy flying for real.

“It wasn’t Shigure-san,” she mumbled.

Then did that mean…”Was it something I did?” She stiffened and he felt the dread in his stomach. Was she mad at him? Was it because he left the room? He hoped she didn’t think he was trying to abandon her..

“You and Akito-san…” she started, “What were you talking about before I got there?” Tohru normally didn’t ask questions like that, so he felt he owed her to be honest.

“Exactly what she said. She was just glad we came to visit.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s all. Why?”

“It’s just...you seemed really tense. I was worried that maybe…” She didn’t need to finish that sentence. For someone so openly trusting, the fact that she was willing to doubt one of her friends for his sake was...touching. He always found a new reason to fall in love with this woman. He put an arm around her, kissing her hair.

“I was tense,” he admitted, holding her close, “But she didn’t say anything bad.” Tohru leaned her head against his shoulder in response. “Actually, she complimented me, I think.”

She blinked in surprise. “Oh. Really?”

He nodded. “I guess she really has changed.”

The grip on his arm tightened. “I’m glad.”

He wanted to share that sentiment. He was glad Akito had changed for the better, especially since she was bringing a child into the world. For once, it had felt like they were on equal ground, no longer a God talking to a lowly monster. But even still...when she looked at him, he couldn’t quite forget how she’d used to look at him before, with pity and hate. He’d told her today they weren’t friends and that was true, but he’d also said he wanted to move forward. How could he do that if he only ever saw her as who she used to be and not who she was now?

“Maybe in the winter,” he found himself saying, “Hajime could meet his new cousin.”

He heard a light gasp from next to him. “That...would be okay?” She almost looked skeptical like she was waiting for him to say ‘sike!’

“Yeah, I think so. It’s his family, right?”

The look of pride on her face was too much for him to deal with. “Right.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was early evening by the time they made it back to Yuki’s and the heat hadn’t let up at all, but Tohru hardly seemed bothered at all by it this time around. Hell, she was practically skipping to Yuki’s house. He suspected that what he told her on the train had something to do with it…

In a repeat of this morning, they were knocking on Yuki’s door again, only this time it was answered by...

“Oh hey, it’s Kyon!” an overly cheerful voice greeted. Manabe. Of course it’d be him.

“I told you not to call me that,” he grunted in annoyance.

“Good evening, Kakeru-kun!” Tohru greeted cheerfully. “Can we come in?”

He shrugged, “Sure.” And then he shouted across the house. “Hey, Yun-yun! Your mom’s here!”

Tohru blinked in confusion and Kyo resisted the urge to hit something. What did Yuki see in this guy?!

And like he was the devil himself, Yuki appeared with a dangerous glint in his eye and a sinister smile. “Kakeru, I will literally send you flying into the sun.”

Manabe started laughing but then his eyes went wide as saucers. “Oh shit,” he muttered, “Kou no, that’s not a toy!” And then he ran around the corner, out of sight.

“Yuki-kun, it’s so good to see you!” Tohru said sweetly. “I’m so sorry we missed you earlier.”

He gave her a warm look, stepping aside so they could go further in. “You can thank that idiot over there for that,” he gestured towards Manabe, who was wrestling with a toddler, “He forgot the grocery list so it ended up taking twice as long. It’s good to see you, Tohru.” And then his gaze cooled towards him and gave him an amicable nod. “Kyo.”

He nodded back. “Where’s Hajime? I wanna make sure you didn’t corrupt him.”

Yuki got that sinister look back. “Oh? Is this how you typically repay favors, stupid cat? And to think I took my entire day to watch your son for you.”

“What, was a 6 year old so difficult you needed four adults for him?” He fired back. “How pathetic.”

“You say that and yet you’re the one who apparently couldn’t handle him. Hence why he’s here.”

Tohru looked like she wasn’t sure whether to be concerned or amused and then a flash of sandy orange bolted behind his legs.

“Hajime-kun!” Tohru cooed. “Did you have fun?”

Hajime pouted. “No.” Then he pointed at the two kids chasing after him. “Michi keeps trying to make me play dress up!”

Oh right, Manabe’s daughter. The girl in question frowned adorably. “Oh, c’mon, Jime-chan! You’ll be so cute!”

“I don’t wanna be cute! And stop calling me ‘Jime-chan’!”

“Yeah, Michi-nee!” Mutsuki strutted in, wearing a dress and looking way too proud of himself. “Jime-chan’s a scaredy-cat so just forget about him!”

Hajime’s face flushed in embarrassment and Tohru started giggling. He pinched the bridge of his nose, huffing in amusement. His poor son would have no dignity left by the end of the night.

“Don’t call me a scaredy-cat!” Hajime bristled.

“Well, then put on the dress then,” Michi mocked, “Scaredy-cat.”

“Fine, I will!” And then he stomped over to the other two, snatching the dress from the smug looking girl. Well, that was easy bait. He could see Yuki staring at him and just knew he was about to make a smart ass remark.

“Don’t,” he said.

“Don’t what?” he asked innocently with that damnable smirk. Bastard.

Kuragi appeared at that moment. “Komaki went to get us dinner. Did you want to stay while the kids are having fun?”

“Oh, we wouldn’t want to intrude,” Tohru tried to backtrack.

“You’re never intruding, Tohru,” Yuki smiled at her, a genuine one. “You’re always welcome here.”

He saw Tohru about to protest again because that’s just how she was, always worrying about being a nuisance, and gently covered her mouth. “We’ll stick around for a bit. Thanks.”

There was a dull thud from the next room over where the kids went and Yuki’s smile dropped. “I’ll go check on them.”

When he was gone, Kuragi turned to them. “Did you want some tea, Tohru-san?”

Kyo pulled out a seat from the table for her as she said, “Oh, that sounds wonderful. Thank you!”

Kuragi nodded. “How about you, Kyon-senpai?”

He glowered at the nickname and muttered, “Just water for me.”

Her lips twitched in amusement and he rolled his eyes, pulling the chair out next to Tohru.

These people all drove him crazy.

But...he supposed...as his wife turned to him to smile warmly, and as his son played with his friends like the normal child he himself never got to be...and how in a few months, his family would be just a little bit bigger...he supposed they weren’t all bad.

"Hey, stupid cat!" Yuki came back in, eye twitching and holding a ripped piece of fabric. "You owe my daughter a new dress."

Scratch that.

The damn rat was still the worst.

#kyo sohma #akito sohma #tohru honda #shigure sohma #kyoru #fruits basket

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ootori-sibs · 3 years ago

Text

Through the eyes of the patriarch

Part 2: The game

Tw: implied neglect

With Fiyumi living with her husband and Akito off at university, mealtimes at the mansion were quite quiet. Yoshio picked at his food as he watched his sons silently eat; Yuuichi was reading a newspaper, one about innovations in the medical industry, Kyoya, on the other hand, was focused entirely on his food, staring down at it with a faraway look in his mind, a pensive look that if the light had hit his glasses like it so often did, it might just look like a glare- was this what Souh had mentioned. Yoshio silently sighed, swallowing his pride, “Kyoya?” He couldn’t help but notice how Kyoya jolted, instantly sitting up and adjusting his glasses, he didn't mention it though, “is there something on your mind?”

Kyoya was clearly worried, Yoshio noticed, and even Yuuichi glanced up from his newspaper. “No father, I’m just not that hungry.”

Hm, that was a lie, clearly. Yoshio just nodded, he didn’t really want to press it, so he opted to change the subject, “so, how was school?” That was something Yuzuru had suggested he do, it felt very unnatural coming from him but he hoped Kyoya would appreciate it.

“I- pardon?” the boy looked so shocked and almost scared, “why? Is something wrong, father?” Kyoya was definitely scared and Yoshio understood why, even Yuuichi’s eyes had gone wide. Yoshio wasn’t usually the type to ask about things like that unless something was wrong- he did have his doubts about Souh’s suggestion.

“No, not at all,” he assured Kyoya, still unable to sound anything other than professional, “I'm just curious.”

“Oh,” Kyoya seemed a little disorientated now, frowning but looking quite surprised still, “well it’s good, we did a 1800s america theme in the club so we saved money reusing those little hair extensions, although mine was a little too long so I had to get a new one.”

“Oh yes, I believed you mentioned the whole dressing up thing,” Yoshio did not agree with the idea of dressing up to attract such people, he thought it sounded incredibly improper, "I assume you had, uh… fun?"

"Well I don't really find the cosplay part of it fun, I prefer to sit quietly with some tea and work on the finances or some homework," there he is, that's Yoshio's son for you, ever the studious one. "Unfortunately," oh, Kyoya wasn't done, "I couldn't get much done, as Tamaki had taken it upon himself to behave strangely today," the boy let out a laboured sigh, clearly tired of Souh's antics, Yoshio almost regretted the deal he'd made with Yuzuru before he even told Kyoya.

"Strangely? How so?"

He seemed a lot more relaxed now, Yoshio was surprised by how Kyoya seemed a bit more willing to talk then when they began, "I'm not sure what's gotten into him today, but he was even more clingy and he wouldn't even let me eat lunch by myself, he usually leaves me to do that."

"You eat lunch by yourself?" Yuuichi finally spoke up, placing his newspaper down. Yoshio was surprised to hear him chime in, Yuuichi usually didn't interrupt things, though he saw that his heir's eyes were filled with concern, "do you always eat alone? If you have friends shouldn't you be spending lunchtimes with them?"

Kyoya paused, glancing down, "I spend a lot of time with them, I simply enjoy a little bit of a quiet rest. It's easier to enjoy my meal in some peace and quiet."

"It's not crime," Yoshio confirmed, "I mean, if the Souh boy is as annoying as is to be assumed, I can't blame you for wishing for some peace." He watched Yuuichi nod, sitting back down, then saw Kyoya frown in the corner of his eyes, he seemingly got angry but bit it back, presumably fighting the urge to defend the Souh boy. Yoshio was beginning to believe Yuzuru was right in his assumption, but there was one detail he had realised. "Did he have an excuse for this new behaviour?"

"No father, I didn't ask him."

"Hm," at least Tamaki knew when to keep his trap shut, he must have gotten that from Anne-sophie. "Alright then, I checked your grades this morning and you're still doing perfect, I couldn't find fault if I tried." Yoshio saw how Kyoya looked mildly surprised, he'd gotten an A- on an assignment and usually he'd be tough on that front, or at least bring it up, but Yuzuru had suggested care and leniency, so Yoshio was going to let that one go; everyone struggles at one subject anyway.

After dinner, Yoshio was straight on the phone to Souh, Yuzuru picked up instantly, just like he knew he would. "Good evening Ootori, is everything alright?" He seemed to be in quite the chipper mood, he wouldn't be for long.

Walking through the halls with his phone in hand, Yoshio let his tone drop to a drawl- not quite a growl, "Yuzuru…" that idiot, Yoshio had half a mine to cut him down where he stood. Instead, he took a deep breath and continued towards his office.

"Oh! Oh ok, something's definitely wrong. What's got you in such a mood?"

"Did you tell your son?"

"Huh? Tell Tamaki… oh, about the arrangement? Of course I did, why?"

Ugh, what a moron. How this guy got to be the head of a company, Yoshio had no clue. "He's been acting differently towards Kyoya, who doesn't know yet. What kind of a moron do-!"

"Why didn't you tell him?"

What? Yuzuru's question cut through Yoshio's thoughts and left him hanging there, why hadn't he told Kyoya? He supposed he didn't want his son to worry about having to behave differently, or maybe it was because he technically wasn't supposed to know of Kyoya's persuasion? Yoshio wasn't sure.

"I don't know, Yuzuru. I believe I should wait a little first, but if you insist on telling your boy, I suppose I must tell mine, I just-"

"Oh! A game!"

"A game? What?" Yoshio was annoyed by Yuzuru interrupting him, to suggest a game? What kind of a childish bastard was this man?

"Tamaki can try and romance Kyoya without the arrangement hanging over their heads! Well Tamaki will know but he is absolutely ecstatic about marrying his best friend! So it will seem to Kyoya that it's perfectly natural!"

"Are you suggesting we encourage your heir toy with my son's emotions?" He was nothing if not a protective father, Yoshio was, and if this was truly what Yuzuru intended, then he could not and would not allow it

"No, no! Not what I meant! I mean, Kyoya is a hesitant kid when it comes to emotions, Tamaki can help ease him into the idea before we drop the bombshell. Making it a game is just a plus!" Yuzuru was, certainly a strange man, Yoshio had known him for quite a while but failed to understand a word that left the old codger's mouth.

"I…" he sighed, standing still for just a moment, "a week, I'll give him a week."

"Huh?"

"Your son has a week, I'm giving him the opportunity to win over Kyoya of his own accord before I tell him of the arrangement," he spoke clearly and concisely, leaving no room for doubt.

"Tamaki can do that easily!"

"The only rules are that it must stay innocent and that he is not allowed to tell Kyoya about the arrangement himself. Understood?" Yoshio ignored the previous comment from Yuzuru, disliking how the man had implied Kyoya to be 'easy' as it were.

"Understood," Yuzuru confirmed, sounding pleased still, "is that all you wanted to talk about?"

"Hm, I believe so. Unless you wish to bet on how easily my son will yield?"

Yuzuru just laughed at that, "you are a harp Yoshio! You should try cracking jokes more often, you're good at it!" He seemed rather cheerful, and Yoshio would almost think it contagious, "I'll have to pass on the waivers, I still need to convince my mother that this is good for business."

Oh that woman, there wasn't a woman more hated than Shizue in all of the upper crust. Yoshio scoffed at the mere thought of her, "good luck there Souh, if you need; I have plenty of dirt on her."

"I'll pass on blackmailing my mother for now as well, au revoir Yoshio."

With that, Souh ended the call, leaving Yoshio in silence. He sighed and continued on his way towards his office, he couldn’t believe he’d just agreed to something like that, he usually wouldn’t. He supposed this might be good, to indulge in revelry? Was that not what Yuzuru had encouraged? Yoshio began to wonder if maybe he shouldn’t rely on only one person for this kind of advice. He shook the thought from his mind and continued on to his office.

When he arrived at his office door, however, Yuuichi was standing there, waiting for him. "Father?" He glanced at Yoshio, standing up from where he'd been leaning against the wall, "can I ask you a question?"

"Hm," Yoshio frowned, unlocking the door to his office, "what is it?" He knew that tone in Yuuichi's voice, this question would not be about business. Walking into the office, Yoshio didn't glance back at his son as the young man spoke again.

"Why have you been behaving so gently towards Kyoya as of late?"

Hm, Yoshio paused, not glancing back. He knew he'd been a terrible father, but to hear that Yuuichi considered merely asking about Kyoya's day as being soft, he must have been worse than he thought. "Yuuichi, there's nothing wrong with inquiring about my son's day, it's not gentle to care about my son."

"You never did that before."

Yoshio froze.

His son, his darling, eldest boy, his heir, his pride and joy, he thought Yoshio didn't care… it was enough to break the old man’s heart. Yoshio closed his eyes, forcing years of emotional repression to do its job, he can’t cry, not in front of his heir. He straightened his back, letting out a small sigh, “Yuuichi, are you jealous of your brother?”

“Pardon?”

He turned to look at him, the sadness on Yuuichi’s face was clear under the attempt to stay stoic, Yoshio had never paid that much attention to his children's emotions but he knew that Yuuichi was hurting. "You're jealous I'm trying to show care towards Kyoya, aren't you? I understand, you're allowed to feel like that. I failed to be a father to you, I'm trying to actually behave like a father now." He sat down, "is there anything you think I should have done for you? I'm willing to give you what you deserve."

Yuuichi visibly paused, he clearly hadn't been expecting such honesty and openness from Yoshio. The man himself sat there silently, waiting for his son's response. The usually strong and resilient heir genuinely teared up at those words, "father…"

"I'm not going to be very good at it," Yoshio made sure to warn him, recognising his lack of emotional intelligence. Yuuichi didn't seem to care, wiping his eyes.

"Father… if you're really willing to care about us… then would you like to come and play golf with me next week?" Ah, Yuuichi, Yoshio really adored his kid, he nodded, a tired smile on his face.

"Of course I will, that sounds like a good day." He watched Yuuichi's expression, that smile was a rare one; the kind he made whenever Yoshio verbally expressed pride in him. Yoshio wondered if he'd get smiles like that one from all his children once he gets better at the whole parenting thing… he hoped so.

Pouring himself a glass of whiskey, he watched his son leave the room. He opened his laptop and got to work, just some basic, mindless admin work, he had a lot of people to do all the hard work for him. So all he really had to do was check everything he was sent and provide feedback when needed,

He sat down to get some work done, he didn’t really have that much to do as he had people to do most of the work for him, all Yoshio really had to do was answer a few emails and review information. It was easy work really, there was very little for him to do that day, so he decided to ‘lighten up a little’ as Yuzuru had put it, pouring himself some tea and putting a vinyl on the gramophone- he remembered learning how to dance to this song, he’d learnt in middle school, he was told his future wife needed him to be cultured. He’d always found that amusing, it was always other people telling him what she wanted, she never told him any of this herself. Yoshio wondered if that had been the same for Fiyumi's husband, he had made demands for her after all… that might have just been a parental thing.

Speaking of making demands of your child's betrothed; Yoshio had completely abandoned his work, instead he was typing up a list of demands Tamaki had to meet. He wasn't going to ask for the club to be disbanded, (he saw how well it had ended for Eclair) but he still wanted Tamaki to lower the amount of girls he was seeing just a little. He also asked that Tamaki work harder to please Shizue, Yoshio wanted his future son-in-law to have a guaranteed career and he would be willing to speak to Shizue herself if need be. There were certain subjects that Tamaki needed to work harder at, but mostly Yoshio just wanted to ensure that his son would be well loved by this boy- he didn't trust the Souh heir but he might if the child put in a little effort.

A few hours afterwards, once he'd finished his work and emailed the list of demands to the Souh boy, Yoshio began to head down towards his room. It had been a long day and he was tired, so he was planning to get some sleep earlier than usual- it was only midnight after all.

The corridors of the mansion were quiet at this time of night, and it sent shivers down Yoshio’s spine. He could swear he saw a shadow In the corner of his eyes, but continued on his way up the stairs to the third floor.

When he reached the landing, he saw a silhouette, stepping forward, he realised it was just Kyoya… why was Kyoya up so late? He appeared to be holding a cup of coffee, and Yoshio had half a mind to fire whatever maid gave it to him. Kyoya looked so tired, clutching the cup of coffee in one hand and a piece of paper in the other, he was staring out the window and he looked like he was questioning life. Yoshio couldn't blame him.

He slowly stepped forward, trying to get a better view of Kyoya's expression. "Kyoya? What are you doing awake?"

Kyoya glanced at him, looking surprised, "father? Oh, good morning…"

"It's not morning Kyoya…"

"Oh, I thought…"

Yoshio sighed, massaging his temples, "why are you out of bed?"

"I haven't gone to bed yet today actually…" Kyoya confessed, hanging his head in shame. Yoshio sighed, this evening had contained too much parenting for his liking.

Putting a hand on Kyoya's shoulder, Yoshio did his best to sound gentle, "is there something on your mind?" He was really uneasy with this, he hated showing emotions but Kyoya was clearly bothered by something.

Kyoya was hesitant, clearly not used to Yoshio giving him this kind of attention, "I…" he looked startled and confused, his little, half-asleep brain trying to figure out whether or not this was a trap. Yoshio supposed that was his fault for training his kids to never let their guard down. Kyoya did just that after a few seconds, sighing and glancing down at the paper in his hand, "father… do you want to read this?"

Yoshio nodded, taking the paper and looking at it. For all he read it, he couldn't understand what the fuck it was talking about, it was in Japanese, yes, but it was still complete poetic nonsense. He couldn't make heads nor tails of it, it was just a bunch of metaphors on metaphors and just, just so much prose. Yoshio was 60% sure this was supposed to be romantic but he was absolutely terrible at this sort of thing, what he was sure of, however, was that the Souh boy definitely wrote this, the sudden french phrases in the middle of Japanese sentences was rather telling.

He hands the paper back to Kyoya, "so Souh gave this to you? Did he say anything?"

"No, but he's been acting strange all day."

Nodding slowly, Yoshio glanced out the window, "do you like him, Kyoya?"

"What..?" The shake in Kyoya's voice broke Yoshio's heart, the fear in his tone a reminder of how distant Yoshio had been. "Well… I…" a defeated sigh left his youngest son's lips, and Kyoya hung his head, not meeting Yoshio's eyes, "yes."

"Alright then," Yoshio offered a smile, "tell him so. Those Souh's thrive on attention, give him what he craves." Kyoya looked up at him in surprise, but Yoshio simply shrugged, "as long as you don't put yourself beneath him then I don't see any issue. Now go to bed."

"I…" Kyoya was still so shocked, staring at him with his mouth agape for just a second before nodding, "yes father." He hurried off down the corridor towards his room.

"Goodnight Kyoya," Yoshio sighed, putting his hands in his pockets and shambling towards his own room. He wondered if it was the being gay or the liking Tamaki that Kyoya thought he wouldn't approve of, both of those thoughts made Yoshio uneasy. He'd scared his child into fearing his opinions that much, he's definitely been doing something wrong, he has to fix that.

#kyoya ootori #ouran high school host club #tamaki souh #yoshio ootori #yuuichi ootori #yuzuru souh

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tardytothepardy · 3 years ago

Text

Fruits Basket - Vol 22

The snowball that has been tumbling down a hill for these last several books is finally rolling to a halt. I wonder how Akito feels about it. Surely she's not gonna become upset.

Today we arrive with Kyo to Kyo's house, after being told by Hanajima that there's something he needs to do before he can see Tohru. He needs to talk to his dad, and it's gonna be the first time in a long time that he's done it. He's nervous as all hell, he feels nauseous just standing at the front door, but he still follows through. The second his father sees him, he's already in a rage. He yells at the servant(?) who let Kyo in, then zeroes straight on Kyo after Kyo asks why he's home in the first place, it's the middle of the workday, isn't it?

Kyo's father (he never gets a name, as far as I can tell) says that he wasn't feeling well, and it's Kyo's fault because,,, his mom died. Yup, makes sense. After all this time, Kyo's father still rants and raves and insists that it was Kyo's fault that his mother died, and Kyo says, "Yeah, I know it is." Kyo's father starts cackling, asking the servant if she also heard Kyo saying that, then asking for someone to call up the main Sohma house, to get Kyo and throw him in the dungeon (it's not actually a dungeon but I'll always think of it like that), but Kyo says he won't go there. He won't even step foot in that room, because he's going to live outside, because he met someone and he really cares about her, and he wants to be around her for the rest of his life. Naturally, Kyo's father rejects that, saying that there's no way the family would allow that, there's no way that Kyo can go off and try to have a normal life after "what he did", throwing his family into shame by being born (because he totally chose to be the cat, this is common knowledge), and he asks why Kyo's mother had to give birth to Kyo in the first place, which makes Kyo freeze up. He's heard that phrase before, when he was a kid. He hadn't realized it before, but after hearing his father say it, he realizes that it was his father that said it to his mother, "Why did you have to give birth to such a child?". Right in front of said child, by the way. Clearly the man did not and does not care. Kyo asks his father if he was the one who said it, which makes Kyo's father lash out again, how dare Kyo insinuate that he (Kyo's father) is the reason that Kyo's mother (why did neither of these people get a name ;-;) committed suicide, there's no way it's his fault, there was never anything he said or did that would make her do that, obviously, how could Kyo even vaguely say something that could be construed as such, and clearly it is not his fault but Kyo's! It has to be Kyo's fault, it simply has to!

Probably during all that screaming, Kyo thinks about how much he wishes his mom was happy, that she had never felt the way she did that led to her suicide. As a kid, it was difficult for him to understand, but now he does, not that it makes much of a difference. Whether he understood or not, she's still gone.

Finally, Kyo pushes his father away, saying that he won't give up on himself, and that he wants to make the most of his life while he still has it. His father again objects, and tries to grab Kyo, who deflects pretty easily (whoa it's almost like he's been trained for most of his life for scenarios vaguely similar to this) and his father just starts screaming that Kyo is going to kill him. You know what Kyo is doing? He's just pushing away his father's hand. That's it. His father is still screaming bloody murder (which is what he seems to think is gonna happen to him) when the scene jumps to Akito talking to one of the head maids, talking about Kyo, about if they should get someone to take him away, but Akito says that she wants that place destroyed. The maid asks if she thinks Kyo's father will approve, but Akito basically says, "It doesn't matter what he approves, I've decided it will be destroyed." After that, the maid notes that Akito has changed, and that she liked Akito before, but Akito doesn't care. Change, don't change, she'll be trying to progress and move on, even if some people around her object to it. Generally, there seems to be a lot of introspective going on for both of them.

Then we change to see Hiro and Kisa, who is reassuring Hiro that it's not a bad thing that his curse broke, and that no one is going to hate him because of it. If anything, she's happy for him, and is glad that he told her first, out of anyone else. Hiro asks if Kisa hates him now that he isn't part of the Juunishi anymore, and she asks him if he thinks of her any different because she still is. Midway through reassuring Kisa that that wasn't the case, Kyo announces his presence by vomiting behind some bushes. Hiro exclaims how gross that was (I'm not putting that against him, he has no way of really knowing (or understanding) why Kyo did that), and Kisa offers Kyo a tissue, and Kyo straight up basically hallucinates seeing Tohru. (Dang,, he's really affected by all this. He's, if you don't mind me saying this, down bad. Really bad.)

Kyo tries to visit Tohru again, but Hanajima and Uotani block his way completely. I would go into why but I've already said it, but one thing that does happen is that Hanajima and Uotani run into or meet (or something) Akito, who tells them that she's the reason that Tohru had those cuts, and kinda why she got hurt in the first place. She's also the reason why Kureno is in the hospital. Naturally, Akito is very ashamed of this, but surprisingly, Uotani and Hanajima are pretty cool about it. Hanajima tells Akito that Tohru isn't blaming anyone for the incident, so it's better if Akito not beat herself up so much over it, because it definitely won't make Tohru feel any better. As Akito was admitting what she'd done to Kureno, Hanajima straight up asked her if she was a girl, and when Akito didn't say no, suddenly things clicked into place: when Kureno was talking about having to stay by the side of a girl, Akito was that girl. This realization seems to mostly be on Uotani's side, who is also thinking about how much Kureno really means to her. I mean, she interacted with him a handful of times, and that was a while ago. She doesn't really know much about him, only that he seems to have a similar demeanor to Tohru, that sort of blind kindness kinda thing.

Uotani later goes to talk to Kureno, and he says that, to help Akito move on, he needs to leave, go far away. Uotani offers to go with him (after graduation and stuff), because she luh-luh-likes him (she refuses to say it), so that's nice.

Meanwhile, (more like after? Idk, timey wimey stuff) Kyo is heading to Kazuma's house, and he sees Akito walking out the front gate. Huh? What the fuck is Akito doing there? Kyo goes to confront Akito, but all she says is that he can live whatever life he wants to, and she refuses to clarify. Right before the bickering can start, who but Hanajima opens the front gate, asking if Akito is really leaving so soon? (She even uses a nickname, which Akito isn't the biggest fan of) Naturally, that freaks out Kyo. What is that girl doing here? Is she friends with Akito? How did that happen? When did that happen? Then Kazuma pops up, and Hanajima again acts familiar and friendly with him?! How does she do that that's so fucking weird!

Kazuma tells Kyo that he knows that Kyo went to talk to his dad, and that Akito knows as well. He also says that Akito plans for that dungeon room to be destroyed which is nice. Kazuma says that fixing relations between the main house or his personal family won't be so easy, but it was a nice start.

Jumping ahead a little, it seems that Akito has called all of the Juunishi (even Kyo, and we all know how rare that is) to the main Sohma house. She has something that she needs to tell them, and they have no guesses. Haru says that Akito seems to have changed since the whole incident with Tohru and stuff, which is a welcome change, even if it's still strange and confusing. (Personally, in that situation I would definitely have bated breath, because when there's a person that usually is disagreeable at best suddenly changes to being nice, all I can ever do is just wait for them to go back to being nasty. I just can't trust it when people switch like that, it's eerie)

Yuki then tells Kyo that Tohru's getting out of the hospital soon, which causes Kyo to speed off to Hanajima and Uotani, asking if now he can finally see Tohru. They say, "yeah, yeah," then ask him what outfits (because they're paging through a magazine) would look best on Tohru. Kyo has no fucking idea, Tohru could probably wear anything and he'd be fine with it.

Meanwhile, it seems that Yuki has some jealousy(?) concerning Tohru and Kyo. It's mostly because both parties know about the whole zodiac thing, but between him and Machi, that's not the case. There's a considerable risk that the secret came out, or that he tells Machi, and she finds it too weird and she breaks off any little relationship that is starting to grow between them. It'd probably just drop back to acquaintances, or worse: awkward acquaintances, where everyone asks what happened, weren't you guys close? Ugh. That sounds terrible.

So anyway, Yuki's busy worrying about that, it's a whole thing. I think he kinda tries to tell Machi at some point, but Kimi busts in asking about her hairbrush. And though he doesn't succeed in telling Machi, he knows that he has to, because this is a pretty big thing to hide from someone. It's probably difficult and straining to be a couple and you refuse to let your partner be physically close to you without ever telling them why. (Just panic and say that you have an allergy to human skin and admit that you're in complete misery because of it, it's fine, nbd)

The scene switches to Akito talking to Shigure, telling him that she's going to end the whole Juunishi thing. She's tired of all of it at this point, of people treating her the way they do because she's "God". She says that everyone (though I suppose in this scene she's saying this to Shigure specifically) will be released from her, that everyone can go and do whatever they want to do. Shigure says that if that's the case, then he'll be relieved. (I know he's teasing and all, but like, dude, can you maybe not right now?) He gives her a "farewell gift", which she looks fairly distraught about, but we won't see what it is yet, because now I have to describe Kyo's general panick over seeing Tohru again.

So yeah, the day that Tohru is released from the hospital, somehow Kyo almost seemed to forget about it until Yuki brought it up. Yuki wouldn't be going along though, because he has something else to do.

On the way to the hospital, Kyo's just rethinking all the stuff that he's said and that has been said to him throughout this whole thing. Yuki told him to just act normal, the fuck even is normal now? How does he do that? Will Tohru forgive him? What even does he like about Tohru? Does he still like her? What does he like about her? How much about that thing does he like? He has no fucking idea, how does he even talk to her? Then he sees her, none of that shit matters. The only thing that does matter is that he loves her goddammit.

Unfortunately for that romantic moment, the second Tohru sees Kyo, she dashes off. He gives chase after a moment of "oh jeez ;-;".

The perspective shifts to Tohru. She apparently didn't mean to run, her feet just went on their own. It isn't what she meant to do, she did want to see Kyo again, but who has control over their bodies in highly emotional moments anyway? She told herself that when she next saw him, she was going to smile. She practiced doing so, or that what she thought anyway. There's a moment where we see Yuki talking to Tohru while she's still bedridden, and when he tries (very hesitantly) to bring up Kyo, she changes the topic pretty quickly, along with crying literally at his name. It hurts her so much to hear it. She thinks that she's a burden by being unable to let go of everyone. She thinks she needs to move from Kyo after what he said, but she just can't. She meant what she said that she would stay by Kyo's side, even if it turns out he doesn't like her. She tried to not let it bother her, but clearly that didn't happen.

Finally, Kyo catches up to her (a second time, she pushed him away twice in that fantastic emotional upheaval), and she's crying. She's desperately trying to stop, she doesn't want to be a burden, she doesn't want him to hate her, stop crying! He takes her hand, and apologizes for all his bs. He says that he was only thinking about himself, about his own regrets. He ignored her feelings, and he says that he should've known better: the world doesn't give second chances, but he's taking this chance to try to apologize. He then says those magic words that Tohru did not think he'd say at all: he wants to be with her, he doesn't want anyone else, because he loves her. (Holy shit, they both love each other? Now this is a game changer, for sure)

Tohru's completely shocked, and can only muster tiny soft questions like "does that mean i can stay with you?" and "can i hold your hand?" with lots of ellipses, because shock. Kyo points out that she's already holding his hand, and then he kisses her (She does know that that's their second kiss, right? No? Hm, Kyo feels awkward about that). Kyo then pulls her to her feet (she was sitting on a garden wall thingie), and asks if they can hug, despite the whole cat thing. He says he thinks that the curse will probably become an inconvenience to her, but Tohru says that she loves him, and that it doesn't matter, everything will work out. And so they hug and,,,,

nothing happens.

The fuck?!

Before we get to the hug, we get a quick flashback to when Akito visited Tohru in the hospital. Akito admits that she was jealous of Tohru, and that she thinks that Tohru is prettier than herself. Tohru denies that, and asks that Akito not categorize things like that, because when you think like that, you just "use them to seperate yourself out", in her words. She says that she is not without blame, that Akito was just living her life as best she could, despite all the bad stuff that was happening to her. She destroyed Akito's world, essentially, and whether or not it was for better or worse, she still acknowledges that she ended up hurting Akito, a lot.

It goes back to the present, still with Akito, as the curse is breaking for so many of the Juunishi, Kyo, Ayame, Ritsu, Kisa, Kagura, Izusu, Haru, Hatori, and lastly Shigure (no i'm not forgetting anyone, the story isn't finished), and she's telling her father (who is, if you have forgotten, quite dead) that she doesn't have to be "god" anymore, that she can just be herself. She's still scared by that idea, because she is aware of how many people she's hurt, and she doesn't think she has any redeeming qualities, she's just alone, scared, and hurt. After showing all of these people's curse breaking, it circles back to the hospital, where Tohru is again offering her friendship to Akito, so that, if Akito truly feels she has nothing else, then at least she can have that.

Back to Tohru and Kyo, after they hug and he doesn't turn into a cat, it's a feeling of shock, but then Kyo tears off his bracelet, and it breaks, the beads going everywhere, and he doesn't turn into anything. I personally have a very small idea of how fucking elated he must have been about that. This lifelong burden, somehow worse than what the other Juunishi had to deal with, something that he's been shunned for (as if he had any choice in the matter), and now it's gone. It's all done, he doesn't have to worry about that anymore.

Now, before Kyo went off to see Tohru, Yuki mentioned that he had something to do. That Something(tm) was calling Machi, and meeting up. He's planning on telling her about the whole Juunishi thing, just get it out in the air. He feels kinda weird, indescribably, but he figures he's just nervous. Before he can think about it, Machi shows up. This is it: this is when he tells her-- whoa what? There's a little rat (probably a voice in his head, the rat spirit, something like that), and it tells him that he's the last. It thanks him for keeping the promise, and bids him goodbye, walking to the other spirits. Whoa. That's intense. How do you even begin to explain that?

Then, we see the story of the Juunishi, how it started in the first place: There was once this dude who lived all alone, at the top of a mountain. Even after going down the mountain, and seeing other people, he was still alone. Despite having a lot of power and experience and memories, he knew that he was unlike other people, and developed a fear of other people, of getting hurt, and of being different than others. One day, a cat showed up, and said that it had been watching the dude for a while, and it wanted to be by his side, and so it did. This made the dude (he's God, should I just refer to him as "God" rather than "the dude"? Probably) very happy, and he thought that if he can get along fine with one, why not more? Who wouldn't want more happiness? So he made and sent out a bunch of invitations for a nice banquet, and some animals came to it: a dog, a ram, a dragon, a monkey, a rat, a snake, an ox, a horse, a bird, a rabbit, a boar, and a tiger. They all collected and all had a fun banquet for many nights.

Suddenly though, the cat fell over, and everyone was distraught. There's was nothing to be done, his life had run out. This was a reminder that death is inevitable, and can happen before you're ready. This upset all of them, and so God prepared a drink and had the cat drink it. It was the thing that created the bond, and he said that however times that everyone there is born, or dies, they will all be together, and they will always be friends, until the end of time. Everyone agreed to it, and the rat was the first to drink, and the rest followed in their sequential order. After the last had drank, the cat started to cry, and asked why God had forced him to drink, saying that he didn't want eternity. No one had expected this response, and they scolded the cat for it. He continued, saying that he knows that death is scary, but it is important to accept that things come to an end, and that he was happy that he met God. If there was a time when they met again in another life, he wanted it to be a natural thing, and to be surrounded with more than those who were sort of forced to be there.

No one wanted to hear those words, however, and the cat died alone. Eventually, one by one, they started to die, leaving God alone once again. But once his time came, he wasn't afraid, because it meant that he could once again see his friends.

Seeing how that story of friendship had over time been twisted into a curse, a burden, kinda sucks, to be honest. The best of intentions don't always work out though.

Now we're pulled back to Yuki and Machi, who is pretty confused. Yuki tries to explain, that he just said goodbye to someone who has been with him his whole life, and despite it being unpleasant to deal with, he's still emotional about them leaving. He is glad that they have left, because he now has freedom. Freedom to do what, you may ask? To hug Machi, which is exactly what he does. I suppose this is some kinda scandalous pda or something because it shows people walking by blushing or whatever. Maybe it's just the American culture in me, but I wouldn't look twice if I saw something like that. (Whoa, it's almost as if different places have different standards and views and cultures, holy shit) After that, Machi asks if she can use his name (because she's always called him "President" up until now), he says she can, they kiss, it's a whole thing. Very cute stuff. (sorry i summarized that so quickly, idk how to talk about that stuff lmao 😳😬)

I'll just leave it there for now, move onto the next, and last, book.

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furubabes · 4 years ago

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Okay. Somebody Asked. @shoujobell and @cryptidaicat, y’all encouraged this. I’m gonna tag this #long post if you wanna filter.

So here. I got the urge to write and so I ranked the Fruits Basket couples from my favorite to least favorite. These aren’t my complete thoughts because I could honestly do multiple full meta posts on each pairing, but I tried to justify and explain all my choices. Standard disclaimer, this is subjective and we can agree to disagree.

Part 1: Just the reasonably popular ones

1. Kyoru: Someone’s gonna call me unoriginal for this but it’s fine. Kyoru is the main romance of Fruits Basket! They bring out the best in each other and build each other up as characters. Kyoru is basically my gold standard take on Sunshine Girl x Grouchy Dude, and I’m not even usually into that trope otherwise. Their romance is one of the few that feels so genuinely necessary to the story. They love each other and like each other. Kyo understands Tohru in a way no one else in the narrative does, and vice versa. They’re in love like soulmates and also like awkward teenagers. Kyoru invented romance. If it’s boring to like healthy romances with realistic development, I’ll be boring.

2. Tohrin: If Tohru didn’t end up with Kyo I would only want her to be with Rin. I guess they have some of the same appeal as Kyoru for me - Rin reads Tohru in a way a lot of people don’t. I also like how honest and raw they are with each other. They yell! They fight! Rin is down to just straight up knock Tohru over to keep her from rushing off. Also, they’re both absolute fashion icons. Goth x Prep rights. I firmly believe Tohru Honda is bisexual.

3. Yukeru: This is my favorite Yuki pairing. I followed @yunsoh way back when the reboot first started and her blog has got me absolutely hooked on Yukeru. I think Yuki’s arc would have just made a ridiculous amount of sense if he was gay. It screams comphet. Kakeru is an excellent complement to Yuki, and their bond feels incredibly natural. Honestly I feel like it’s the most organic romantic development outside of Kyoru. I think realistically they wouldn’t have gotten together until post-canon and frankly Yuki shines in his friendships much more than romances, so I’m not absolutely dying for them to be together, but if Yuki’s going to date anyone Kakeru is my pick.

4. Arisaki: Man... I just like them. They strike me as less of an epic love and more of a comfortable partnership. I also read them both as lesbians anyway lol. Honestly I think they both had feelings for Tohru at one point and bonded over it. The way I picture them happening is honestly just Arisa at 25 frantically googling “is it gay to hold hands with my girl roommate who I spend all my time with and also we never date men“ because Saki bought them rings that look like wedding bands but they could just be super close friendship rings and oh god she’s in too deep. They’re dating for four years before they notice.

5. AyaMine: But Jessie! You literally never post about this pairing! Yeah, you’re right. I never think about them actively. But when ranking the canon ships I realized that I like the two of them together because they’re chill and understated. They’re huge loud personalities on their own but as a couple, they just feel like two people who are happy together and like spending time with one another. No drama, no mess, very understated. No plot contrivances driving their relationship. Good for them.

6. YukiKyo: Okay, so I can be convinced to put on my YukiKyo goggles more often than not. It feels iffy because there’s debate about how closely related all the Sohmas are and these two are called “cousins” a lot in school, but since half of the Sohmas are dating each other anyway, I err on the side of them being more of a clan than a proper blood family. Anyway, YukiKyo is my designated angst fuel. I think it would realistically be pretty one-sided from Yuki’s side, since we see him wanting Kyo’s approval from a very young age, but I like exploring the what-ifs of their lives if they’d been friends instead of rivals. In canon, I like to think that after high school they’re not best friends in the traditional sense, but either one could show up with a dead body and the other would help them bury it, no questions asked.

7. Yuchi: Really? Yuki’s wife is my third favorite pairing for him? Look, I adore Machi, and I still like Yuchi. But as I’ve been watching the reboot and reading others’ metas, I think I agree that their relationship could have been very powerful as a platonic one, sort of running parallel to Yuki and Tohru. I like them together but I think there wasn’t quite time for a complete character arc for Machi and her growth sort of begins and ends with Yuki. I don’t object to them being a couple in canon and I think they’re genuinely very sweet, but once again, I think Yuki stands out in his friendships more than anything. I would have liked to see Machi strike out on her own a little more.

8. Haru x Yuki: I don’t have any particular feelings towards them but I love their dynamic already and I think as a couple they’d both be really easygoing and comfortable with each other. I think a childhood crush turned close friendship is honestly the narrative that works best for them so I have no need for the two to date canonically, but every time they interact in the anime it gets a laugh out of me. They’re cool. They’d make a very pretty pair.

9. Mayutori: I’m Mayutori-neutral. I think they suffer from Fruits Basket’s pair the spare syndrome, but out of the side pairings that don’t have too much impact, they’re one I enjoy. Mayu’s fun as a character, and painfully relatable, and I like that Hatori’s eventual romance isn’t with someone who reminds him of Kana or something like that. I also want good things for Hatori. Mayutori has serious heterosexual energy though. I’m not saying this as a pro or con, they’re just very straight.

10. Hatsuzu: Okay, Haru and Rin aren’t this far down because I hate them. I’m perfectly fine with them being together in canon. But I think their romance almost... functions better as individual motivation for their character arcs than it does as an actual relationship, if that makes sense? Rin’s backstory episode is heartbreaking and her motivation to protect Haru is compelling and sympathetic, but their actual scenes together just don’t move me that much. Their romance is the least interesting part of either character for me.

11. Hiro x Kisa: Yeah I never got into it that much. It’s cute, it’s a sweet depiction of childhood crushes, but I’m not a fan of the idea of them ending up together. Kisa’s a cutie and Hiro is entertaining but the two of them together don’t actually do much for me. The dynamic between them is almost like if someone did Kyoru with none of the nuance. Ultimately though, they’re kids. I don’t expect them to have a deep and complex romance.

12. Yukiru: I think it would be a disservice to their characters if they were a couple. People far more eloquent than me have already written plenty of meta on why Yuki and Tohru aren’t what the other needs romantically, so I won’t get into it, but basically I just think their canon friendship is so beautiful and meaningful that I wouldn’t want to change it. Yuki and Tohru support my thesis that not all soulmates are romantic.

13. Tohru x Momiji: Welcome to the subjective dislike corner! This pairing is reasonably popular among people theorizing who Tohru would be with if not Kyo, but for some reason it just sits poorly with me. I can’t rank it any lower because there’s nothing evil or morally wrong about it! I just really don’t like it. I’ve quit a few fics because this pairing came up and I just can’t enjoy it.

14. Kakeru x Komaki: Idk, I just think Kakeru latching onto the one girl who was nice to him and put up with his bullshit and then being with her forever isn’t compelling. Komaki’s also probably his beard. She’s likable as an individual though.

15. Akigure: There’s plenty to say about the age gap, Shigure being in love with Akito since she was a fetus because of The Dream, the implications of a 15-18 year old knowing he’d one day want to be with a then-10-year-old... yeah, you get it. But even if I was able to put all that aside because Soulmate Destiny Logic, I still don’t think I’d like Akigure. I think they’re interesting as bitter, codependent exes, but I don’t like the idea of Akito ending up with anyone who she abused or who abused her. I think she has so much growing to do as a character and staying in a relationship within the Sohma family to do it can’t be healthy for her. I can’t see them living happily ever after, nor do I really want to.

16. Kurisa: I think what frustrates me the most here is that I want to like Kureno and everything about this romance is written to dull his most interesting traits. First of all, the age gap. Yeah, it’s gross, I don’t like it. But even past that, the love at first sight, instant fixation with each other, and lack of actual chemistry just kills me. Arisa’s stated reason to like Kureno is that he reminds her of Tohru, basically piggybacking off the chemistry she and Tohru already have, and his total lack of agency means the plot just sort of carries him along. It frustrates me that Takaya could have done something pretty cool by making them simply friends who have a chance encounter and then build a friendship from there that parallels Kureno’s abusive dynamic with Akito. It would be neat if a stranger’s kindness was the push Kureno needed to get himself out of the Sohmas’ grasp, without all the nonsensical drama about them being in love. It would also be less of a disservice to Arisa, who basically just spends the whole series pining for Kureno after they meet and I hate it. I could write a whole post about this. Maybe I will sometime.

17. Kyoko x Katsuya: I don’t think their story is romantic. I think it’s tragic for Kyoko, and if it were framed that way within the narrative, I wouldn’t object so much to its existence. But... Takaya just really likes age gaps with a younger woman and an older man, so the narrative romanticizes this man marrying his student. Katsuya can be depicted as well-meaning as you want, but he’s still got a ridiculous amount of power over Kyoko. She was also still pretty young when she had Tohru, which doesn’t make things any better because it’s clear that the relationship turned physical when Kyoko was a teen, thus dashing the idea of Katsuya legally marrying her to save her but not actually doing anything creepy. I wish Fruits Basket framed this as a story of Kyoko escaping one dangerous situation by entering a relationship with a huge power imbalance, because that happens to girls all the time and it’s tragic and compelling. The events of the story could stay the exact same and if the framing changed I would be fine with it. But this is not that. This is just a really romanticized teacher/student age gap. I’m not into it.

Part 2: Rarepairs, weird shit, and others (oh my!)

1. Yuki x Kakeru x Kimi: OT3. I’m enamored with the idea of this hot mess polycule.

2. Momiji x Kimi: Chaos meets chaos. This couple would say uwu without any irony and also steal your car keys. They’re both perceptive and smart hidden under a layer of cute and I’d wanna watch them play 4D chess with each other.

3. Kazuma x Kunimitsu: Idk how old Kunimitsu is so if he’s like 20, strike this one from the record. But I saw one post once that was like Kyo slowly realizing Kazuma and Kunimitsu were gay and had been dating for years and it was funny as hell.

4. AyaTori: It’s cute. Opposites attract, black and white hair, and Aya only listens to Hatori anyway. It’s just fun to think about.

5. Megumi x Hiro: They don’t interact in canon I just think Goth x Punk-Ass Bitch is a great concept.

6. Motoko x Nao: They’re both loud as hell and Nao having a gf that towers over him is funny. Maybe Yuki would finally get some peace.

7. Machi x Kimi: I don’t see them actually being compatible in canon but I think they could have a really homoerotic college friendship.

8. Hajime x Mutsuki: This is just YukiKyo, the non angst version.

9. Akito x Hanajima: I’m so wary of shipping Akito with anyone but this is kind of fun. The two are friends in canon and Hana isn’t remotely afraid of Akito. Plus Akito never abused Hana. I can sort of see it.

10. Hiroshi x Yusuke: Makes no sense, wouldn’t be relevant, but if those two just never spent any time apart and continued being a pair for life it would be a really good bit.

11. Akitohru: I don’t think it’s healthy to date anyone who’s previously stabbed you.

12. Kazuma x Hanajima: Stop. Go to jail. Hana’s one-sided crush is funny though.

#fruits basket #fruits basket spoilers #long post #my posts.txt

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kumeko · 4 years ago

Photo

A/N: For the once in a lifetime zine! I just wanted to write all the siblings.

…

1. Past

“Gure-san!” Ayame crooned into the phone, delight spreading to his toes at the sound of his friend’s voice. It had been ages since they’d last called, since they’d last played this game of lovers and midnight escapades. He pouted. “You took too long to call me.”

“Aaya, you know I could never leave you for long,” Shigure breathed on the other end of the phone, his tone perfectly serious. It was the thing that freaked out their teachers’ the most: the absolute lack of a teasing lilt or mocking smirk. The inability to determine if he was serious or not. “There’s no one who could replace you.”

Really, it had been too long. Ayame closed his eyes, his finger twirling on his antique phone’s cord. It was too bad there was no audience for this performance, no Hatori to give them a dry look, no Mayu tossing a table. He would have even taken his mother’s disgusted expression. Glancing around his empty shop, Ayame noted the light escaping under the sewing room’s door. Mine was still here then.

Mine was here. His lips tugged up into an involuntary smile as he sat down on an empty couch. “So you weren’t cheating on me, Gure-san?”

“Never.” Shigure chuckled. There was a short pause, the breath between actions, and while his tone was still light, Ayame could almost see his slow smirk. “Though that might change. Yuki’ll be staying with me.”

“Yuki?” Ayame blinked, confused. Yuki. Yuki. A familiar name. An old classmate? A younger cousin?

“You still don’t remember your brother’s name?” Shigure let out a short, bark-like laugh. After a long pause, he added incredulously, “Or did you forget that you have a brother entirely?”

Both. Ayame didn’t respond, his grip tightening on the phone. Yuki. His brother. Faintly, just faintly, he remembered small fingers reaching for him, a tiny voice and teary eyes. A black room and Akito’s smirk. A hazy image with a hazy name. “He’s moving in with you?”

Shigure didn’t press the matter, to Ayame’s relief. “Haru asked. Haru. Can you believe that? The cow helping the rat? I guess your brother actually has friends outside of Akito.”

A cruel comment. Ayame couldn’t refute it; he had thought the same thing, on those rare instances he thought of his brother at all. “Akito let him leave?”

“I know! Amazing. And he’s even going to our high school.” Nonchalantly, Shigure changed topics. “Well, they managed the three of us, I think they can handle one well-behaved kid. It’ll be like having a second Hatori. He’s a quiet kid.”

“He’s in our high school,” Ayame muttered, his brow furrowed. Yuki was in high school. His tiny fingers were bigger now, his voice deeper. There must have been a time—at the new year’s banquet, at any of the million times he’d visited the main house—that he’d seen this Yuki, an almost grown-up Yuki.

But his memory was still that of a child and a heavy feeling settled in his belly.

“Don’t tell me you forgot high school too!” Shigure teased playfully.

“No…I just…” Ayame struggled to find the words to describe this feeling, this aching, gnawing feeling. “I didn’t know.” That his brother was in high school. That his brother was leaving the compound. That his brother had friends, had at least one friend. Even the facts he barely remembered, favourite foods and toys, were all circumspect. “Does he know that we went there?”

“I don’t think so. He’s never brought it up.” Shigure paused and Ayame could tell before he even took a breath, before the first syllable was uttered, that this would hurt. “He hasn’t mentioned you either.”

It was like the twist of a knife. A punch in the stomach. Ayame was left winded and he didn’t even know why.

“It’s not like you two talk.” There was a pounding sound on the other side of the line and Shigure sighed. “Well, I suppose I have to let her in eventually. Or she might actually hang herself. See you in my dreams, Aaya.”

“Not if I see you first,” he responded automatically. On the other end, the phone went dead, a dial tone echoing in his ears.

“Ayame?” Mine poked her head out of the door. Spotting him, she cocked her head. “Is something wrong?”

“Yes. No.” He stared down at his shirt, at the edges of his right sleeve. Tiny fingers had reached for it once, tiny fingers that he had never considered once. “I…I don’t know.”

2. Present

“Heya, squirt.” Arisa ruffled Megumi’s hair as she walked past him to the kitchen. Yanking open the fridge, she rifled through its contents for drinks. “Didn’t realize you were home.”

“I just came back.” Calmly, he ran his fingers through his locks, brushing any stray hair back in place. There. Much better. While he liked the attention, there were times when Megumi wished Arisa would be less physical about it. Noting her cotton shorts and white tank top, he cocked his head. “A slumber party?”

“Yep.” Grabbing four cans of pop, Arisa closed the fridge with her shoulder. She held out one can to him with a grin. “Come on, you can join us. We’re playing some card games and I’m tired of Saki winning all the time.”

“She’ll beat me too,” he pointed out, still accepting the cold can.

“Then at least we can change who’s losing.” Arisa shifted the cans from one hand to the other, rubbing the cold appendage against her leg to warm it up. “I feel like Tohru should be doing worse than she is, and Saki’s screwing me over.”

The chances of that happening were almost a hundred percent. Megumi didn’t even need to ask his sister to know. Trailing after Arisa as they headed upstairs, he asked, “So all three of you today?”

“Mmmm, yeah. It’s been so long since it’s been just the three of us.” Arisa practically bounced up the steps. Looking over her shoulder, she winked. “I kidnapped her from the prince and the pauper. Just because they live with her, the Sohmas think they can hog all of her attention.”

“The prince and the pauper?” Megumi raised a brow. That was a new nickname. “I thought he was an orange-haired bastard?”

“He can be both.” Arisa shrugged, reaching the top landing. She spun around, a mischievous smirk on her face. “He’s a pauper because he almost always loses at Rich Man, Poor Man.”

“That would make you one too.” Saki suddenly appeared behind Arisa, grabbing a pop can. Ignoring Arisa’s surprised jump, she stared at the can. “It’s cold.”

“Warn me a little, would ya?” Arisa leaned against the wall, calming down. She shot Saki a disgruntled glare. “At the very least, I beat Kyo. And sometimes Tohru.”

“A grievance I shall never forgive,” Saki remarked, rolling the can in her hands. “This feels good.”

“It is hot today.” Megumi pressed his can against his cheek. The cool aluminum sent a shiver down his spine. Ah, that was much better.

“…I can never tell if either of you are serious or not.” Arisa rubbed her forehead, torn between exasperation and annoyance. She glanced at Megumi, and then at Saki. “At least you’re wearing short sleeves today.”

“I am not completely immune to the heat,” Saki replied, fanning herself lightly. “Ah. It truly is hot.”

“Now you’re making fun of me.” Straightening up, Arisa barged into Saki’s bedroom. “Alright, time to kick everyone’s asses.”

“K-kick?” Out of sight, a surprised Tohru squeaked. “It’s a card game!”

Still standing in the hallway, Saki leaned against a wall, closing her eyes with a pleased smile. Quietly, Megumi stood next to her, his shoulder bumping into her arm, listening as Arisa crowed excitedly, as Tohru stuttered and panicked. His sister chuckled softly and he could feel the vibrations through her skin.

A laugh. A smile. Megumi watched her, transfixed.

“Yes?” Saki cracked open an eye. Even the aura around her felt light and teasing.

“You’re happy,” he said, more a statement than question.

“Hmm.” Saki considered it before nodding. “I am.” She opened both her eyes and smiled fondly at him. “Your prayer came true.”

3. Future

“She’s here!” Momo peeked out the living room curtain, into the main garden. She quickly let go of the cloth, letting it fall back into place as she stumbled back. “And so is everyone else.”

“Ahhhh…” Momiji’s smile dropped a notch as he tried to figure out just how did his cousins know about this concert. There was Tohru, of course, but while she was a terrible liar, she wouldn’t actually tell anyone. Standing behind his sister, he drew back the window curtains just enough to get a glimpse of everyone. Haru. Yuki. Kyo. Shigure—

Shigure. Momiji rubbed his forehead. Yep. That was the root cause. It would have been hard for Tohru to hide it from him, her face gave everything away. From there, it was a single call to invite all of the ex-zodiac members. Add in their friends and a performance for three became a performance for a crowd. Frowning, he shot a glare at his older cousin. “It’s always him.”

“That’s a lot of people,” Momo muttered, clutching her violin tightly. She glanced at him in askance. “Are we really going to perform?”

“Yep!” Smiling at her encouragingly, Momiji pointed at the few cousins that she’d met. “There’s Kisa and Haru and Hiro—actually, never mind Hiro.”

Despite the things that had changed since the curse was broken, Hiro’s tongue was not one of them. Even Kisa couldn’t sweeten his barbed words by much. Still, he was at least moderately kinder to others and Momo hadn’t come back in tears whenever she played with the pair.

“Kisa.” Momo brightened. “And…there’s Yuki. And Mine and…” She stumbled, trying to remember the names of all their friends. “And…and Uotani and Hanajima…”

“Yep.” Momiji grinned, counting them off himself. There were far more outsiders in the Sohma compound these days, the doors open to all now. High school friends, coworkers, that guy from the bakery—wait. Momiji cocked his head. It was good and all that anyone could come and go, but why were all of these random strangers here for a single violin recital?

Momiji’s eyes landed on silver hair. Of course. He should have known. Ayame. Who else could it have been? As though sensing his thoughts, Ayame spotted him and shot him a thumbs up. He winked, mouthing, Good luck.

It was hard to decide between Shigure and Ayame which one deserved more punishment. Maybe he could sick Hatori on both of them later. Turning back to his sister, he wrapped an arm around her and hugged her to his side. “We have so many friends! I think they’ll be happy to hear us play.”

“Right.” Momo swallowed, peeking back through the curtain once more. She took a deep breath, stood up straight, and then moved back into the center of the room. Staring at her violin for a long moment, she squared her shoulders and raised it. “We have to tune up.”

Part of Momiji missed the baby chick, the little girl who was always peering around her mother’s skirts. As a teenager, the only part of that left was the tremble of her hands as she raised her violin, the slight shake of her bow as she tried to settle herself. Yet this girl was able to talk to him, was able to be with him, and he would take that over the baby chick any day. “Right.”

Momiji raised his violin. Finally, after all those years, they were playing together. Like real siblings. Like a real family.

#fruits basket #ayame sohma #momiji sohma #shigure sohma #saki hanajima #momo sohma #megumi hanajima #arisa uotani #fanfic

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singingforthepromises · 4 years ago

Text

fruits basket - 2.09 lb

This one’s a tearjerker apparently. I’m not ready sjfsjfjsfsfj. I’ve got tissues handy!

Starting right out with Tohru calling for Kyo? Holy shit.

“Since when did my name have a special ring to it only when you said it?” WHAT THE FUCK WHAT WHSFJSJFSJF

“And if it made you smile, I’d do something over and over again for you.” GUYS THE WAY IM HOLLERING

“Since when did I...” oh my god he’s gonna REALIZE IT. HE’S GONNA REALIZE HE’S IN LOVE WITH HER. HELP. THIS IS THE EP WHERE HE REALIZES. OMG I DIDN’T EXPECT IT TO BE THIS SOONS FJSFJSJF

“I’ll be taking him today.” NO PLEASE DON’T PLEASE

“Wow, you’re both in sync~” Shigure wins a point for that line.

Oh my god Thoru is SO happy for Kyo because she thinks it’s a good thing, honey nooo. Akito is gonna torment him and I can’t handle it.

THAT LITTLE HEAD BUMP WAS THE CUTEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN. AND THAT SMILE AFTER. WHAT. HE’S NOT EVEN HIDING IT ANYMORE.

“So you’re kind only to Tohru.” SJFSJ PRETTY MUCH

“She’s... Tohru’s all alone again.” IMDGDGJ

“It’s not like we can defy Akito’s orders.” Okay, but WHY, though? I have an idea. A very terrifying idea. It’s the only thing I can think of, but I don’t want to voice it because it’s way too insane. But it makes so much sense. Akito has a God-complex, sure, we know that. But what if he’s actually the Zodiac God...? It would explain so much, like why no one can defy him or speak out against him.

Whoa! Kyo’s getting much better at restraining himself! I’m proud.

I want him to beat Akito’s ass but like.... I also know he can’t do that. It would make it bad for Tohru or someone else.

Oh here we go.

Help, I’m not ready for this encounter. I know I said before that I wanted them to meet but I take it back. I want Kyo to turn around and run.

DON’T CALL HIM A MONSTER SJFSJJSF

Tohru is just so happy for Kyo and I can’t handle it. She doesn’t know what it means to be summoned. :(

Bet? What bet? What’s impossible?

OH. OH.

This is why he’s so adamant about beating Yuki! He made a bet with Akito, and he’d be accepted into the zodiac and not called a monster anymore.

“But if you can’t win, I’ll lock you up until you die.” WHAT. WHAT. WHAT. NO. NOPE. NOPE. FUCK YOU. FUCK YOUUUUUU.

HIS LITERAL FREEDOM IS ON THE LINE. I CAN’T....

That’s right, Kyo, say it! There’s still time until graduation? Like a year, I think? You can’t just call it.

DID HE - DID THIS MOTHER FUCKER JUST HIT KYO IN THE FACE WITH THE BELL? IM

“Why are you so deluded?” oh god SHUT THE FUCK UP.

this music

oh my god im scared

“Remember that you’re a monster. And because you’re a monster, your mother is dead.” hOW DARE YOU.

I can’t watch this. omg. Akito’s literally starting his abusive, gaslighting shit and breaking Kyo down. Right from the get go. I’ve never seen Kyo look so terrified!

And this symbolism holy shit. The binds wrapping around both of them, linking them to each other, like a twisted chain.

I might hate Kyo’s father the most out of anyone on this show, although he and Aktio are currently rivaling for that spot at the moment. How fucking cruel. How awful, how twisted, do you have to be to tell a child that? To blame a little boy for his mother’s death?

HEY FUCKER LET GO OF HIM ALREADY.

“You should’ve died.” IM ABOUT TO THROW DOWN

Thanks. Thanks a lot, you broke him.

“Is Tohru Honda the one who’s been encouraging these delusions?” AND IF SHE IS? FUCK OFF. SO WHAT.

And now Tohru’s a monster too? I cannot believe

“You don’t know anything.” GO OFF MY SON

“You don’t know how scared she was.”

“Even so, she didn’t run away from me. She - She held my hand!” HE SAYS THIS AS AKITO TELLS HIM TO SHUT UP ROFL YOU FUCKING BITCH YOU CAN’T EVEN HANDLE THE TRUTH CAN YOU. What a child!

“She knew that if she let go of my hand, I would never return. That I might never return to anybody. She didn’t take up all of my pain. She didn’t fill in all of the brokenness. But those... those weren’t important. The most important thing... was that she stayed with me. Finding joy in the smallest things, being happy and smiling so cheerfully. Why? She should think of herself more. Doesn’t she think she’s getting the short end of the stick? She thinks that she’s stupid, or that there’s nothing good about her.” OKAY IM SOBBING SJFJSFJSJSF

The traveler’s story!!!

“I love you. I love you so much. Just as you are.” JSFJSFJSJFSF I CANNOT IM CRYING SFJSFJSFJFS ;A; HE ADMITS IT. HE KNOWS NOW.

Kyo’s crying ;a;

SHUT UP ASSHOLE

“Don’t tell me that you’re in love with Tohru Honda?” FUCK. I MEAN YES, HE IS! BUT SHIT THAT AKITO FIGURED IT OUT.

I want to smack this fucking jackass SO HARD.

BITCH

IF YOU HIT KYO AGAIN IM GONNA

YES STOP HIM KYO

“You’re crazy.” YES YES YES YES

oh my god what is Akito using her for

“Do you think you have the right to fall in love with someone? You think that’s allowed?!” HOLY SHIT THIS IS SO ABUSIVE

“I won’t forgive you...” what was that voice just now?! what?!

oh my god. He has to lie. He has to give up on any chance of being with her... Akito’s successfully broken him down.

I’m literally crying so much.

“I’ll come visit you when you’re in confinement.” GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HIM RIGHT NOW. I’M SO UPSET.

I’m gonna be sick.

Actually washing his hands because touching Kyo disgusted him. I’m. so. pissed. off.

YUKI KNOWS KYO DOESN’T HATE HER! He protected Kyo (and Tohru) indirectly and I love my boy so much for that.

Kyo, baby. I’m so sorry. Don’t let this abusive asshole get to you. You deserve all the love and happiness in the world.

Omg he went to look for Tohru but she’s not there. :(

“Why do I still look for her?” Because you love her and you need her right now and Akito can kiss my ass.

OMG THIS FLASHBACK WITH KAZUMA! THIS IS THE ONE THAT WAS HINTED AT LAST EPISODE!”

THIS MUSIC SKFSKFKS

“Even so, you’re alive because you haven’t given up hope yet. It’s because you know that not every soul in this world has rejected you.” YES YES

“Even if you don’t have a glimmer of hope now, it will surely come again. However many times you resist or trample it, however many times you’re thrown into despair, hope will come again just as many times. Repeatedly, again and again, it will bloom.” IM SOBBING THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. KAZUMA IS JUST THE BEST.

YES, Kyo! Go run to find your girl! <3

OH MY GOD THIS FLASHBACK. KYO AND KYOKO I KNEW IT KNEW KNE HE KNEW HER HE KNEW HER!

“A man’s promise.” “I couldn’t keep it.” OH? WHAT’S THIS?! WHAT?!

“But she bloomed before me.” WHAT IS THIS ROMANTIC BULLSHIT IM HSKFSFK

“She continued to bloom. A small.... small flower.” HE SAW LITTLE TOHRU TOO I CANT HANDLE THIS

SHE’S HIS FLOWER YA’LL WHAT THE FUCK IM DYING IM CRYING IM SFKSFKSFK

He found her!

“Precious... my precious.... Tohru!” HOLY SHIT.

I’m gone guys.

I’m just gone.

She noticed he’s hurt!!!

He... he doesn’t even care anymore. He doesn’t care about fighting to resist confinement. Or being accepted. Or not being called monster. He only cares that she’s here, with him. Oh god im crying so much this is OTP levels of love and I cant.

HER SMILE!!! HIS SMILE!!! IM DEAD

“I love you. I don’t want to take anything else from you. I don’t want to trample you ever again. At some point, I hoped we could always be together somewhere far off. But I won’t hope that anymore. I won’t hope that I could make you my own anymore. I won’t hope that, so please... at least.. at least be by my side, for the time I have left.” -high pitched sobbing-

HE GENTLY STOPPED HER FROM FALLINGSFSFKSFKSF

“Sheesh, what am I going to do with you?” SND G HE OTOK HER HAND LSFSF

“I want to be with you. Until we’re separated far apart. Until the very last moment.”

I...

I have no words.

I’m a blurry mess of tears and I’m shaking. This was so monumentally beautiful, everything I hoped Kyo’s realization for his love for Tohru would be. I physically cannot handle it. They are so perfect. Kyo just wants to be with her for the remaining time he has left. He has no future. He just wants her. That is the most heartbreaking thing. I hate Akito SO fucking much right now.

This might just be my new favorite episode. Wow.

I need a break before I watch ep 10.

#fruits basket #furuba #kyoru #liveblogging #s2e9 #this episode is a masterpiece

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onereallygoodlambonastick · 4 years ago

Note

I wonder if Suzaku ever wondered if Charles had not named him knight of seven only to hurt Lelouch (seen how much it hurted Lelouch to heard suzaku make this ask) and if his place was 100% assured. How much it would have been easy to him to lost his title? how much has he been used to do all the dirty work in one year? I even wondered if he realized that his plan (become knight of one and ask Japan) was 99% impossible. And if he has been ashamed of his phone-trap that he did to Lelouch.

Hey! I think about this too!

I feel like we aren’t assuming that Charles was the one holding all the power here and was somehow not 100% enjoying the living horror out of it. I really do think the shit thoroughly delighted in taking Lelouch’s means of rebellion away from him and watching Lelouch fall back into complete obscurity and mundanity (Lelouch despises being powerless, but he also resents the not-knowing; imagine the damage Charles could do once Lelouch reawakens with the memory of what he had done; it’s priceless). I also think Charles loved hanging over Suzaku’s head; I think Charles knew that Suzaku knew--that everything Suzaku did would be grounds for his loyalty and on the same coin, grounds for his betrayal. Turning on him would be so, so easy--that’s the point, that’s the key.

Charles probably plastered Suzaku’s face everywhere he could and sent him to do all kinds of very uncomfortable shit with the best of wishes and a disgusting slimy smile.

(I mean, just take a look at the Akito spin-offs. If you consider them canon, then Charles literally assigned Suzaku Kururugi to guard Julius, or really the once-friend he held down, humiliated and who also shot Euphemia and who kind of also Does Not Remember Anything. How sadistic and how putrid would you have to be? How literally devoid of any compassion and concern and care do you think you’d have to be to think that is a good idea--fucking fantastic, even?

Regardless of the spin-offs, I have no doubt Charles did not gleefully parade Suzaku around like a prize. It was just off-screen.)

Again, Suzaku isn’t stupid. I feel like I have to keep saying that--because he’s lived like this for the better part of his life; he was a soldier before he was any kind of knight. The lowest of soldiers, a Private, with no promotion or agency in sight. And before all and any of that--he is Japanese. He is a Eleven. He can not escape this. He is intimately and inhumanely familiar with the way Britannians (and everybody else, including his own people) treat him.

Like--he knows.

And that just makes it worse, but it makes it able to be anticipated, planned around. Like going through the same opened wound so many times you hardly register it; but you do, you always do, and it’s there, and it’s been bleeding and rusting and festering for so long you hardly recognize yourself without it.

Racism is the least you could call it. This is oppression. Colonizing. Policing. Imperialism. Forgetting and overwriting. This is cultural genocide and cultural dying and being less than human. Suzaku has always wanted to die. You ever wonder why?

Yah--I think Suzaku knew that becoming the Knight of One was about as achievable as any other dream of liberating Japan. Japan is too valuable; it’s the primary site of Sakuradite, the power source for Knightmares and Knightmare armies for Britannia and all their wars and genocide campaigns. But did you really think he’d give up simply because of this? He’s been doing this since he was ten: the giving up without any gains, losing the mile for the inch. Probably not even an inch, in this case. For something as little as a 1% chance.

Yeah, he knows.

That makes it worse. But mostly it makes it able to be anticipated, planned around. He expects to not be given anything, he expects to throw himself entirely to the flame.

He knows he will not make it out intact.

I don’t know how to stress this: Suzaku barely has “power”. He doesn’t even have dignity. Or the right to exist. And he wants to die.

So no--nothing has ever been 100% assured for Suzaku Kururugi. The world would not let him live. This has never not been true, not since he was ten. (Even then, though. His abusive father? Hm.) (Until. Perhaps. Lelouch. But that’s another Thing, however.)

Again: Charles has all the power here. Is that getting redundant, yet?

The thing about Suzaku is his Guilt. His Ginourmous Guilt that Renders Him Uninhabitable to Human Life. There’s so much shame and guilt in him you could probably plug him in and let him power the rest of the Britannian empire for the rest of the millennia, which is, if I’m honest, what his Britannian oppressors want. Suzaku’s lived experience as an oppressed Japanese and an Eleven is undeniable to the way he carries himself throughout the OG anime--he’s so traumatized and he tries so hard, for an ideal that probably won’t even be reachable with his hands. It’s so--so desperate.

His character is so desperate, it’s so fucking sad to see.

If you wait long enough after he commits something terrible, homeboy will almost be guaranteed to feel bad and want to die and do something right. Simultaneously. He’s very---sigh i don’t want to cry--childish, in that sense? Young. However shit his life has been, he always seems to arrive at the conclusion that he has to do something. Has to. Must. It’s his life. He wants to do something with it. Of course, right? Of course Suzaku would.

That’s probably the only thing of his own that he has left: the desire to change the world.

#i PROMISED myself not to go on tumbly. i PROMISED #suzaku kururugi #code geass #Code Geass: Hangyaku No Lelouch #code geass meta #my writing #my meta #bigotry tw #abuse tw #oppression tw #racism tw #suicide tw #soy replies

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seiin-translations · 4 years ago

Text

2.43 S1 Chapter 3.3 - The Dog’s View and the Giraffe’s View

3. OLD BUDDY

Aoki’s 1000 IQ mind is hinted at here

Also what are the main tags for this fandom???

Translation Notes

1. Pun on Oda’s name. Here the “Shin” is 神 (god) instead of “伸” which is the first kanji in Oda’s first name

2. Okuma’s name 大隈 shares the same pronunciation as 大熊 which means “big bear”

3. The 伸 in Oda’s first name means “lengthen” or “extend”

Previous || Index || Next

“Odaaaa! I’m beggin’ you, play futsal. You can definitely be in the amateur bracket on a pro level.”

“Odacchi! Why aren’t you doing softball? You’re even more reliable than our regular shortstop. Oh, don’t be so modest. I’m not kissing your ass. What’s the point of that?”

“Oda, why volleyball of all things?”

“You don’t have to play volleyball.”

“Oda! No, Oda-Shin!” (1)

The seasons changed, and it was now midway through June. In this rainy season, Oda shook off the group of male scouts who were wearing mud-stained uniforms and jerseys and hot on his heels, and took refuge in the student council room. It sounded good for those who called it a June tradition, but for those who were targeted, it was just a dirty thing.

“I’m comin’ in. Let me hide out a little here.”

Aoki, who seemed too tall for his own good as he tucked himself on a folding chair and stared at documents, looked up. The sign reading “Vice President” stood on one corner of the desks arranged in a square.

“Oh. I can hear it from all the way in here. You’re a popular guy.”

“The member list has already been turned in. I don’t know if they’ve been told by now. Even if they didn’t, I don’t feel like doing anything other than volleyball.”

“Well, no need to be so hard on them. You should be happy that they value you so much.”

“It’s not that I don’t appreciate it…I only dabbled with soccer and baseball in gym. I seriously don’t know why people are giving me so much credit.”

“Is that different from not being aware of your own ability?”

“If it’s volleyball ability, I’m more than aware of it.”

Hearing such a servile and submissive line from himself, he immediately regretted it right after he said it. Aoki was silent for only a moment while looking down at the papers.

“…Did you see who will be participating in volleyball? A whole bunch of stuff came out just now.”

He changed the topic, acting as though he hadn’t heard anything. I’m never a match for how he reads too much into things.

He pulled up the chair that was diagonally across from Aoki, the corner of the desk between them. In addition to him, there were only a pair of underclassmen officers sitting in the corner working on something.

The main event organized by the student council in the first semester, the Seiin Ballgame Festival, was coming in two weeks. The boys’ volleyball team were futilely eliminated from prefecturals at the beginning of the month, and the road to Inter-High and Nationals had just closed. Another one of the three major national championships was the “Spring Inter-High Volleyball” in January. The ballgame tournament during this period was by all rights nothing but a nuisance to their club activities, because they had to restart immediately to prepare for the prefectural qualifiers in September, right after summer vacation.

But for this year, he felt that this cushion was appreciated. He was practicing as usual, but he couldn’t quite switch gears. The handout distributed in class right after the prefecturals was undoubtedly one of the reasons. He had stuffed that handout with the title “Second Future Course Survey” into his locker without filling it in.

“It’s gonna be interesting this year.”

Aoki was handed a clipboard that holding several sheets of paper. It was the list of names for each event in the ballgame tournament.

“The ones with the double circles are pros.”

“Pro” of course didn’t mean pro athletes. It was the internal term for this ballgame tournament that referred to those who belonged to the corresponding sports club for each event. The maximum number of pros was set at three people for each team. The antonym of pro was “amateur”, and those who had experience in middle school or dropped out of their clubs were sometimes called “semi-pro.”

Classes A to F were divided vertically through the grades for a total of six teams. A supreme general would be nominated from the third-years of each team, and they would compete for overall victory with the total points from all the events. Since the captains of the main sports clubs were luckily scattered across the different classes, it was an event that got somewhat heated with the power struggles between the sports clubs.

He viewed the boys’ volleyball participant roster in order, starting from Team A. Team A didn’t have the double circle—for softball and futsal, where there were many qualifying members, there was competition among the members for the pro slots, but sadly for their division, they actually fell short of the number of slots.

“Oh, B’s got a killing.”

Team B also didn’t have any double circles, but when he looked at the remarks column, he saw that there was an awful lot of rugby team members. “So, are these remarks self-reported?” “No, the executive committee collected it, but the tally was a bit late.” “You’re spending a lot of energy on unnecessary things.” “You think so? Information gathering is fun, though.” In the remarks column, in addition to the current club the student belonged to, information such as their club activities in middle school and outstanding results in the school physical fitness test were added. If one were to see this list without knowing Aoki’s character, one might be a bit horrified.

The rugby player called Okuma of Class 2-B had a face and name that matched (he thought it was “大熊” (2), but he guessed those were the actual characters). At the level of a ballgame tournament, just having a big guy in front of the net was effective to some extent. Three rugby players over 180 centimeters in the front row might be a rather formidable opponent.

Next, Team C had three double circles in a row—3-C’s Aoki Misao ◎, 2-C’s Kanno Akito ◎, and 1-C’s Kuroba Yuni ◎.

“…What’s with this bias? Isn’t this all-star team against the rules?”

“It’s no more than three. That’s not against the rules.” Aoki said carefreely. “It’s just a coincidence that there are three people in C class this year. I didn’t manipulate that, so I don’t need you complaining about it.” Isn’t that an implicit admission that he manipulated in the other cases?

“Well, worst case scenario, I might drop out. I also got work on the management side. I’ll leave it to Kanno to cover for Kuroba.”

“Don’t drop out. It’ll be boring without you.”

When Oda said that without missing a beat, Aoki looked at him with slightly widened eyes. That unconcerned attitude of Aoki’s always irritated him for an instant.

“It’ll be interesting…We’ll definitely beat you.”

He declared provocatively. Aoki smirked from the corner of his mouth.

“We’re not going to go easy on you, you know?”

“Of course. If you hold back even just a little bit, then I’m never going to talk to you again.”

“Aw, come on, give me a break.”

Aoki was 193 centimeters, Kanno was 181 centimeters, and Kuroba was 184 centimeters. Oda remembered everyone’s numbers, which were filled out on the entry sheet for the most recent tournament. Aoki, who would undoubtedly be the tallest of all the participants in the boys’ volleyball division, was the center, and Kanno, who had a good balance between offense and defense, was placed on the side. Kuroba was still quite inconsistent and capricious, but as long as he went with the flow, he would display outstanding offensive power.

The ballgame tournament was like an escape for his feelings, and he was more of a passive participant than anything, but…he was getting a bit excited. For a small club with eight members, they could do a four-to-four minigame at most, not being able to do a proper intragroup game. Even if it included amateurs, under the rules of a proper six-person system, they can compete with that lineup. There was no other opportunity like this.

The problem was the strength of his own team, but if they had someone who they could use even just a little…he skimmed past the next two teams, D and E, to finally reach the F team he would be leading. At the top of the list was Oda Shinichiro ◎ of 3-F. About four people were chosen from each grade below, but there were no double circles besides Oda. Compared to Team C, he couldn’t help but feel discouraged.

“…Haijima?”

That name was there.

Haijima Kimichika of 1-F. He of course didn’t have the double circle.

When he looked up from the list, Aoki nodded as if to say you finally noticed that? It seemed that this was the climax of “it’s gonna be interesting.”

“I didn’t think he’d choose volleyball. Wonder what brought that on. He’s been running away from you ever since that thing happened.”

“He’s not running away from me, and wasn’t that thing because of your assault?”

“I told you, it wasn’t assault. I was just telling him to be a little more careful about how he should speak to third-years.”

“With your foot?”

“Well, the foot was unintentional.” What’s the definition of assault where you do that and don’t call it assault?

After the incident in early April of the new school year in which Aoki kicked Haijima’s butt hard, every time they happened to catch sight of each other in school, Haijima was the one who acted casual…From our point of view, it’s blatantly obvious that he’s changing his route and escaping. He was big, so he could be recognized immediately even from a distance, but he wondered if he didn’t know he stood out. If you’re just unconsciously enjoying the benefits of that height, give it to me…He thought. Even here, his desire as a captain to have Haijima on the team and his personal feelings of jealousy mixed with each other.

The first practice day for Team F was next Monday. After one week of team practice, the ballgame tournament would arrive.

“I wonder if he’s gonna come.” What kind of face would he have if he came?

“Well, he might be the type who shamelessly comes with a face that says ‘My friend signed me up for an audition without asking me.’”

“Oi oi, that’s harsh…”

Contrary to his gentle appearance, Aoki had quite a sharp tongue. According to him, he had a principle of not holding back what he wanted to say and not doing what he didn’t want to do. But if you asked Oda, there was a part of him that thought, Is that so? Are you saying everything you wanted to say to me?

“…Hey, you already handed that in, right? The future course thing…”

Even if he thought it was better to think about it later, it got stuck in his head for a long time. There were invisible pebbles strewn about. It felt like those pebbles were plugging up the holes where energy was spouting out from.

Since it was the second future course survey, there was a first one as well, but at that time there was only the choices of literature or science and national or private schools. However, this time there was a column for writing your specific university of choice. For the time being, since this was a university prep school, there was hardly anyone who chose to find a job or go to a vocational school.

There was a pause, as though the sudden topic had caught him off guard, but Aoki’s tone didn’t change when he opened his mouth.

“Oh, not yet. I haven’t decided yet.”

It was a shock to be lied to. You were the one who already handed it in. I asked while knowing it, actually.

However, all he said was, “…I see. Well, you’ve still got time.”

The rumor had also spread to Oda’s class. First choice, the Kyoto University’s faculty of law—Apparently, there was someone who peeked at Aoki’s handout that had been handed into the staff room. Who would have thought it’d be Kyodai? He was shocked that he was that smart. No, I knew that, but still.

It was at that time that he had the belated realization that until that point, he almost never talked to Aoki about anything other than volleyball. We’ve seen each other almost every day for more than two years, so isn’t that pretty weird? In the first place, volleyball was the only thing they had in common. Except volleyball, their interests didn’t intersect at all (to be precise, volleyball was Oda’s only interest). Oda only ever brought up volleyball and never asked Aoki what his interests were, or what he wanted to do in the future.

I mean, Kyodai? Supposing that we won the prefectural representative rights for Spring Inter-High, you couldn’t retire until the main tournament in January. Even if you studied for the entrance exam in your spare time while you’re not doing club activities, will you be able to get into law school at Kyoto University? ——He only thought those things and couldn’t say it aloud. Because, what would he do if Aoki announced that he was going to prioritize entrance exams and retire? He probably couldn’t see him out quietly. He felt like imposing his own convenience and telling that he couldn’t retire because they barely had enough members. No, I’m sure Aoki will prolong his retirement as long as he can and stick with me. But, that only increased his debt to him.

Hey, how do you feel about being stuck with me? If you take away volleyball, then I’m just a boring person.

“Hey, do you…enjoy being with me?”

“What?”

He sounded half-crazy, as expected. He felt like it was an extremely sissy question and wanted to crawl into a hole.

“Ah…what’s wrong, Shin? You’re acting weird.”

“Weird?”

Apparently, it was weird for him to worry about anything other than volleyball. Even he himself thought so. As far as his path after high school was concerned, he could cite a number of intercollegiate powerhouse universities he was interested in as long as it was volleyball-related. But he was at a loss as soon as he stepped away from volleyball. He wondered if he lost in the Spring Inter-High qualifiers and retired, he would finally have to find something else he wanted to do, and though it was impossible to assume that they would fail the qualifiers, the idle thought flashed across his mind. Though he still only wanted to think about volleyball right now, his mind was too distracted to focus on one thing. If anything, the time when he couldn’t only think about volleyball has arrived.

Bzzzz, the seat of the chair beneath Aoki started vibrating. “Mm, ‘scuse me,” Aoki put his hand on his behind. His hand that was as long and thin as his physique operated his phone.

“Geh, a summons text from the president. I gotta go.”

“I’m going back too. Sorry to bother you when you’re so busy.”

“Yeah, but our conversation—”

“No, no, it’s done.”

He didn’t think he was convinced, but Aoki didn’t try to dig in any further, putting his phone away and got up as Oda stood. When they stood in a line, Aoki’s shoulders would be what was in his line of sight. It was somewhat easier when they were looking at each other, but the fact that he had become accustomed to the gap in their lines of sight made him feel mixed feelings in its own way.

Oda was 163 centimeters tall. The difference in height between him and Aoki was exactly twenty centimeters. The gap hadn’t been filled at all since he entered high school. He sometimes hated that his parents really named him Shinichiro. (3)

163 centimeters was barely taller than the average height of a typical girl, and while having a small build meant having a small build, he wasn’t extremely small. In other sports, there were plenty of male athletes in the 160 centimeter range who flourished in international competitions.

But for a volleyball player, and furthermore for an attacker, it was a fatally insufficient height. Even if he could manage it in high school, it would never work beyond university. He hadn’t told anyone yet that he was going to play volleyball until high school, but he was seeing the end in himself.

Why volleyball of all things?

But…there’s only one reason for that, isn’t there?

Previous || Index || Next

#2.43: Seiin Koukou Danshi Volley-bu #2.43 book 1 #2.43 translation #2.43 #2.43: seiin high school boys volleyball club

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kyosohmastan · 4 years ago

Note

Hello! I love your fics! Could you write a fic where tohru is lusting after kyo in his black button down shirt? Thank you!

Can’t pass this up! I think she would think he’s handsome in that shirt. ;-; I included this in a smut challenge I’m doing although this one doesn’t have actual smut but the prompt was kissing so there’s a lot of kisses. It takes place right after his date with Kagura where Tohru is more aware of her feelings for him. You can find my one shot collection for the challenge here. Hope you enjoy this~

Rating: T

Words: 2,247

Faint patters of footsteps came from the kitchen and towards me. It had to be him, and I tried to steady my racing heart as I turned, my mouth full as I said, “Welcome back. Would you like dinner?” All the while, awestruck by him more than I typically was.

I’ve never seen him in that color before. He had on a black dress shirt that somehow made him more mature instead of boyish. He had been growing lately without the shirt's doing. But he appeared even more so with it.

I swallowed, trying not to visibly ogle him. I couldn’t when I was more concerned over the solemn expression he had. What had happened on his outing with Kagura? Perhaps he confessed his love to her and got rejected. My chest hurt at the idea of him being in love with her all this time because I...had wanted him for myself. Why couldn’t I just admit it to him?

“Don’t need any,” he said simply, turning and heading up the stairs.

“Um...okay,” I said, the disappointment evident in my delivery. I never wanted to see him down. No...he’d looked more upset since we got back from the beach house, way before his date with Kagura-san. Something was weighing on him so heavily. I wanted to release him from it.

I turned back to the others. Yuki-kun was narrowing his eyes as he watched Kyo-kun leave. “Don’t worry, Honda-san. He gets in these moods. Don’t let it concern you.”

I couldn’t not worry. I didn’t want to leave him alone, even if he wanted to be by himself. But I didn’t want to pry either. What could I do to help him anyway?

I continued to eat, but my stomach was in knots. I almost wanted to cough each bite back up.

Shigure-san and Yuki-kun wished me goodnight shortly after dinner. I stayed behind and cleaned up, doing it quicker than usual. I just had to see him.

I tip-toed up the stairs, then reached his door. I raised my arm to knock on it, pausing to rethink everything. However, my intuition told me to go to him. I gathered my courage and knocked. He opened the door relatively quickly. Maybe somehow, he was eager to see me. Or maybe I was wishfully thinking.

My eyes met his chest, that black shirt, then traveled to his beautiful face. I had planned out in my head what I was going to say. I was simply going to ask if he was alright. But words failed me. My mouth gaped as I took him in in the pitchest shade of black. He needed to wear that often.

His brow quirked. “Did you break?”

“Um..” I finally said. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to answer that quickly. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You seemed really depressed when you came in.”

He sighed through his nose. And I wondered if he’d sound like that if I’d-

“I’m fine,” he answered. “I don’t want you to worry about something that isn’t an issue in the first place.” He stepped aside, and I came into his room.

I had my doubts. He hadn’t seemed fine in a really long time. “Are you sure? I want to do what I can to help you.” The room was lit only by the lamp on his desk. It was rather dim. It made the dark of his shirt stand out more and, in return, his skin seemed bright in contrast. He looked like autumn cursed him, in the way his orange hair turned auburn in the lighting. How had I not noticed how vibrant he was? The colors that made him was something I’d never seen on anyone else. It was entirely him.

“I’m...good.” He shut the door, turning to me and examining my intuitive stare. “Tohru?”

“I’m sorry.” If I was freaking him out with my stares, I wouldn’t be surprised. “Um..that shirt?”

He shook his head once when I didn’t say anything more. “What about it?”

“You look...very handsome in it. I love the color on you.”

His nose scrunched. That wasn’t the reaction I’d been hoping for. But when he made a brief laugh, relief flooded me. “Are you sure you’re not the one who’s not okay?” He patted my head as he moved over to his futon, gracefully landing on it.

“Oh, I’m fine!” He was probably joking. I should have known. I followed, sitting a few feet beside him.

“Good.” He looked down, resting his arms on his bent knees. “As long as you’re okay, I’m fine too.”

How was that so? How could I impact him that much? “But you know, you can talk to me if something’s troubling you. Ever since we got back from vacation, you’ve seemed very down.”

His timid smile faded away. I was aware I was digging in too deep and pushing him out of his comfort zone. But I cared too much to let it go.

“There’s just some things on my mind that I shouldn’t tell you.”

I began to wonder...was it his confinement? I’d pushed the thought out of my mind, not wanting to consider it because it brought myself down. But I couldn’t ignore that it was a possibility for him. I wouldn’t let it happen.

“I know about your future, Kyo-kun. What’s going to happen…”

He sat up straight so fast, the futon quaked. “How? Akito-?”

“Yes,” I said regretfully. “If that’s what’s bothering you, I understand. But I want you to know that I’m going to try to stop it from happening.”

He shook his head instantly. “Don’t concern yourself over it. Besides, I’m struggling over more than that.”

More than being imprisoned forever? “What do you mean?”

He raked his hand through his hair, limply grabbing at the strands. “I shouldn’t tell you. Not when my future is set and we’ll be separated.”

“Kyo-kun,” I mumbled helplessly. “Your future isn’t set if I can stop it.”

“I don’t want you to,” he snapped. The reaction made me inch back. “I don’t want you to waste your time with that. You have yourself to think about. You need to focus on graduation.”

“No. I’m not as important as making sure you don’t get locked up because…” There was no way I could exit this conversation without spilling the truth. I dug myself into this. “There’s nothing more important as keeping you with me. I can’t lose you.”

His eyes lightened from their darkness. That hit a nerve. If it was in any way other than a good thing, then I was going to break. “Do you hear yourself? What about your mom.”

“She’s still important but things are changing.” When I thought they never would. But I know I have to live in the present and right then, Kyo-kun was with me. “The only thing I need to keep me whole is you. It would wreck me if you went away. I wouldn’t be able to stand it.”

There was a wonder on him as he looked to me like he’s reading a dense history book. But I was laying it all out there. What more was there to uncover? “You can’t love-” He cut himself off and shook his head. “I’ve done things that would make you change your mind.”

“That’s impossible,” I insist, scooting an inch closer to him while he leaned back. “Nothing you do could change my mind. What is it that you think would?”

He looked as he did when I found him in the forest, curled up, hugging himself as if he desperately needed someone to hold him, to shield him from whatever he’s seen. “I can’t tell you...not yet.”

That wasn’t what was important right now. Because it wouldn’t change my mind either way. “I love you, Kyo-kun,” I whispered, cautiously putting my hand on his knee.

He closes his eyes and turns his head from the wall and away from me. “I’m not supposed to be loved.”

I felt myself bolden. I had to if I was going to attempt to get through to him. I grabbed the collar of that black shirt and gently tugged to get him to look at me. “No. That's not true. I can’t help that I love you. And you deserve it. Everyone deserves love.”

He made himself look to me, and I settled back down again at his comforting gaze. “I can’t accept that. Even if... I love you too.”

My cheek went wet, and it wasn’t until then that I noticed I was crying. Despite his resistance, he wiped away my tears with his thumbs, holding my cheeks.

I grasped his wrist, the one he wore the rosary on, and my fingers memorized each of the beads. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” He was so close...just enough for me to lean over an inch and touch. I wouldn’t mind going as far as we could while my emotions were at an impeccable high.

My other hand pushed half of his bangs back, itching to touch some part of him. Finally, as if it had been years, he smiled.

I blinked away my tears and smiled back. Whatever he said, whether he was resistant, his actions spoke different. And I chose to listen to them. I took a leap and leaned forward, pressing my lips to the corner of his. I tried to gather up courage to give him what I really wanted. But as always, he had more of that than I did when it came to this type of thing. He always did initiate everything.

He kissed me fully. It was only the lightest press, but it was up to me to take it further. Now that we were there, I had more motivation to return it full force. I tangled my fingers into his hair and took his bottom lip between my teeth, albeit timidly. Was this something he was into? I initially thought maybe he didn’t want me to go so rough. But he didn’t falter as he kissed me again. I closed my eyes, inching back as I felt him move forward, and I laid down. I reached up to make sure he was still there even though I felt his lips on mine. I also had to feel him with my hands.

I held onto his hips, inching my hands up until I felt the skin under his shirt, and the ridges of muscle on his abdomen as I felt up. Wow, I was feeling him up. I still had to wonder if this was okay, but he didn’t pull back.

He returned the gesture, stroking the exposed skin on my hipbone with his thumb. There was a tingle in the pit of my stomach unlike anything I felt before. I wanted the ache to go away, but how could I ask? With something as serious as that, I couldn’t be sure if it was the right time. No, at that moment, his kiss was enough. The way he felt me with his cautious fingers was enough.

I tilted my head back, parting my lips to feel his tongue. He swept it along mine, mapping out each inch of it. For just a few moments, I was able to forget the possibility of him being taken from me. I had him for those few minutes only, and I cherished them.

But, sadly, we had to breathe. He parted and hoisted himself over me. I was rather pleased to see his lips so swollen.

He tilted his head. “Where’d you learn to do that?”

My cheeks heated. “It just came to me.”

He sat up, bonking my head with his fist as I rose up with him. “No, you probably get it from those romance movies you like to watch.”

“Yes,” I giggled. “I probably did. But it came to me naturally because I love you so much.”

He blushed right back at me. I stroked that red cheek. “You’re so...deserving of my love, Kyo-kun. Don’t think different.”

His smile was small. He still didn’t fully believe it. I’d keep saying it, repeating it like a chant until he did. “Okay, okay. I don’t mind it...telling me you love me. I love you so much, Tohru. I didn’t know so much pain would come with that feeling.”

I stood, pulling him up with me by his hands. I threaded my fingers through his. “It doesn’t have to hurt if you open yourself up to it.” I kissed him again, briefly this time. It was getting late.

“We’ll see,” he said, his smile dropping again. “I don’t know what we are now…”

I didn’t know myself. But I knew I didn’t want to be just friends. “We don’t have to label anything,” I said, begrudgingly making my way to the door. “But you have me, either way.”

In a gentle whisper, he replied, "I want you to be mine."

I’ve always wanted to hear that from him. I wanted that to be the last thing I heard from him tonight, so I kissed him before he could say more. He returned it so lovingly. I wanted to melt in it forever.

“Goodnight,” I whispered against his lips, leaving quietly. Only then did it register that I’d had my first kiss, but I wouldn’t let it be the last from him.

#fruits basket #furuba #kyo sohma #Tohru Honda #fruits basket fanfic #fruits basket fanfiction #fruba #kyoru #fruits basket spoilers

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zayray030 · 4 years ago

Text

Lost

Summary: The Karasuno team are getting tired that Kageyama keeps on coming late to practice or leaving practice to early. They finally figure it out when Miwa calls and tells Tobio that Akito is lost because of them. And now they're on a manhunt for Kageyamas son. When they finally find him they witness something beautiful.

Karasuno was starting to get concerned, for lack of better words, about their setter.

Kageyama had started acting extremely strangely recently.

For starters, he seemed much more tired than usual. However, that didn't seem to affect his grades. If anything, his grades started to slowly progress. Whilst, not academy worthy, it was an improvement from how it was before.

Second of all, he seems to be getting less, what's the word, explosive and angry. Every time something that would have triggered him before into a full-on demon, he simply just took a deep breath and went back to practising.

Even if Hinata horribly messed up on receives he simply just gave a thumbs up and told him he'd get better. Even when Tsukishima was being more of an asshole than usual he just fixed him with his disappointed, motherly gaze and told him to stop being childish and to actually start acting more mature, after all, once they were second years he would have to be more mature.

Needless to say, practice had continued on very quietly, everyone questioning if the effects from Hinata serving at the back of his head were finally catching up.

The third instance is where he didn't stay behind for extra practice. If anything the moment that mandatory practice was over he would race to get all his things before leaving, yelling out a small later. He was still as flawless as ever but it had left many of them questioning what was going on.

The fourth instance in which they all, yes even Ukai, Kiyoko and Daichi, seemed to think that he had been kidnapped by aliens and replaced is when he let out a little giggle at Nishinoya, Tanka and Hinata’s childish antics.

Needless to say, practice had to finish off earlier than usual because nobody could look at Kageyama without blushing and stumbling all over themselves which wasn't particularly useful as they were practising setter and spiker teamwork.

So yes, they were all worried about what was going on. Well except for Takeda.

If anything the man seemed to be sympathetic towards Kageyama, allowing him to come late to practice and letting him leave early. It had made Tsukishima let out a snarky remark about ‘How the King is so privileged’ but he was instantly shut up when Takeda sent him a serene smile with a demon aura surrounding him. He immediately gulped and looked away. Nothing was said about Kageyama's timing ever since.

However, now everyone was starting to get tired of it. It had been okay at the beginning, but slowly the lack of explanation was starting to get one everyone's nerves.

Eventually, they had managed to corner the setter and demand he stayed there or else there would be concerns. There had been a conflicted look on Kageyama's face before he finally nodded in agreement. Nobody noticed the slight shakiness in his form and if they had they would have noticed why keeping the raven back would be a very bad idea.

At practice Kageyama seems to be more on edge, constantly checking the clock, movements more jumpy than usual. It hadn't affected his setting but it had affected his mood. Seriously.

“Why don't you say that again, asshole!?” yelled Kageyama, and to nobody's surprise and utter exasperation, at Tsukishima.

The blonde had taken full advantage of the fact that Kageyama was here and had used every little moment to taunt him further. He was ready to fight a bitch now.

“Okay I will.” and he crouched down condescendingly, face mocking and cold. It made Kageyama shiver inwardly but his anger was too strong to care. “You're a little, bratty King who's had everything handed to him and throws a tantrum if he doesn't get what he wants.” he cooed at the again, just to add extra humiliation to the entire thing.

Kageyama blinked back tears, refusing to allow repressed and depressing memories to come back out again.

“Come on now, Tsukishima. That was just immature.” defended Hinata but the tiny dumbass turned around to face Kageyama nodding slightly. “Though it is true that you do throw a fit at every little thing, Yamayama-kun.” Hinata agreed with the blonde and said asshole had the nerve to smirk at Kageyama.

“You little-” he was interrupted by a familiar melody that his grandfather had used to sing to him and Miwa when they were children.

Immediately, Kageyama's attention diverted, practically mentally silencing everyone. From Tsukishima’s indignant taunts to the coach and Daichi telling him to get off his phone. He pressed answer, not even bothering to check if it was Miwa. In his haste to answer he had accidentally pressed the speaker but it was too late to change it when Miwa’s panicked voice came from the phone. His team became forgotten in his mind as he focused on his phone.

“Oh my god Tobio, thank god you answered.” and her voice sounded relieved sure, but there was too much panic for him to not be concerned. Ignoring the sarcastic ‘Is that your girlfriend, King?’ from Tsukishima and answered her.

“Yeah I am Miwa-niisan. Now what's going on.” and he heard choking noises from behind him.

‘He has a sister?” asked Nishinoya.

“It's Akito. I think I might have lost him!” came Miwa’s panicked voice, guilt so thick that Tobio could feel it from the phone.

However, he didn't care. The only thing he could focus on was that she had lost Akito, and that was the worst thing that could happen.

“I'm sorry? You lost me my son!?” he screeched and he heard more whispering from behind him but he wasn't focusing on that. He quickly grabbed his bag and stuffed it with his stuff before speed walking out of the gym. Distantly he could hear footsteps but he was focused on Miwa.

“How the fuck did you lose him?” he demanded, heart in his throat.

No, no, no! This couldn't happen!

“Meaning one second I was telling him that you're going to be spending more time at practice and the next after I turn around the kid is gone.” she answered, having enough sense to not use too much sarcasm at her currently distressed and explosive brother who had just found out that his son had been lost in her care.

“Miwa I swear if he isn't found…”

“Chill, bro. You know him best so look for him. When you find him, tell the brat that he's in trouble with me. Bye.” and before he could protest she hung up on him. Kageyama cursed his sister to hell and back.

Meanwhile, in a train station towards Tokyo a young woman choked back a sob, wondering just why she couldn't be a better sister

However, over at Miyagi Tobio was half way through a paix attack, despite him constantly telling himself to calm down and that panicking wasn't going to get him to find his son.

“Kageyama-kun?” came Yachi’s timid voice, and Kageyama turned to look at her, ignoring the shocked gasps from everyone. Belatedly he realised that the stuff running down his face where his tears and it must have said something about how stressed he was if didn't really care. “What's going on?” she asked, voice timid, as if her asking Kageyama would set him off again.

And it did. Just not in anger. When he tried to answer her question the only thing that came from him was a choked sob and immediately he was embraced by a warm figure. Looking down he could see Sugawara’s grey hair.

“Shhhh. What's wrong?” he asked, voice soft as he rubbed his back.

“My sister lost my son after she told him I was staying behind at practice to make sure I didn't get kicked off the team.” answered Kageyama, unwavering and blunt, but with tears still running down his face.

Everybody winced at the blunt words but didn't back down.

“Since when did you have a son, King?” asked Tsukishima, sneering at Kageyama.

“Since a while. Not my fault that none of you bothered to ask. And now, excuse me but if you don't mind I would actually like to go find Akito. Good day. I'll see you all in practice.” he spat out the last work like it was poison before getting up and trying to walk away. He would have succeeded if not for Hinata.

“We'll help!”

“Huh?” and it wasn't just Kageyama who said that, everyone turned around to stare at Hinata as if he grew a second head.

“Well it's kinda our fault that you're here, right? So we'll help!” and the moron's optimism must be infectious because Tobio was actually considering the moron's advice.

“Since when did I sign up to find the King's lost son?” Tsukishima asked, voice still as snarky as ever before.

“Since you were the one complained about Kageyama-kuns special treatment.” Takeda said sweetly and Tsukishima immediately gulped.

“Tch.” was all he said, crossing his arms and turning his head away. “How does the Prince look?” Tsukishima asked, voice irritated and annoyed.

On any normal day where he wasn't worrying about his son getting kidnapped he would have replied with the same amount of snark, but due to dealing with a snarky seven year old and the possibility of going into cardiac arrest, he answered without batting an eye.

“Here's a pic.” he answered, showing them his phone. Their breaths caught as they saw the picture of a small brunette child, in Kageyama’s arms, both smiling freely at the camera, mouths open like they were laughing at something said before. “There are two places he could possibly be. The place where I found him or the adoption centre. Daichi, Asahi, Noya, Tanaka and Kiyoko go to St Andrews adoption Centre. The rest of you are coming with me.” he ordered and for once nobody commented on his tone.

He then turned to Ukai and Takeda “I am so, so sorry for this mess.” he apologised, bowing down.

“It's fine, Kageyama-kun.” Takeda reassured him. Ukai nodded in agreement. And then Takeda turned to the rest of Karasuno. “The rest of you are going to be doing laps till you drop.” he said sweetly and everybody shivered. Even Suga, the resident wine mom.

“Call if you find him.” was all Kageyama said before taking off to the place where he hoped to the Lord that Akito would be. Distantly he could hear voices telling him to slow down but adrenaline was rushing through his blood and the need to find his son was more powerful than waiting for his team.

Eventually, the rest caught up to him all having the sense not to bother and try to scold him about running off.

They had never seen their Setter look this panicked or scared about something, boy even when they're against Seijoh. This Akito must be seriously important to him.

Eventually, they arrived at a pretty looking park that they had never seen before. Despite how pretty it looked it had a feeling of abandonment. They all shivered, sans Kageyama who was looking around like a madman.

“Akto!” he yelled, voice panicked and desperate and they all flinched when they heard how raw it was. Shit.

“Akito!! Sweetheart!! Come on!!” he yelled, running across the park. The others suddenly caught on and began yelling out ‘Akito’.

Finally, Kageyama found him, small body sat on a swing, face down, shoulders shaking.

Immediately, he took after him, uncaring if the others followed him it not, he just needed to get to his son.

“Akito!” he yelled and finally the brunette looked up in confusion. His eyes widened when he saw his mother run at him in full speed and they widened even more when said man picked him up and gelled him to his chest protective, muttering prayers and saying how glad he was okay.

“Mama?” and his voice was small again and both mother and son hated it.

“Oh, Aki-chan. Sweetheart.” Tobio said softly, pulling back briefly to give him a deep kiss on the forehead before picking him up, wrapping his legs around his waist. Sometimes being small had its advantages.

In Kageyama's peripheral vision he could see the others running at him, Suga on the phone.

“...yeah we found him. And he looks absolutely adorable…” Suga was saying but Kageyama turned his attention back to his personal sunshine in his arms, worry etched on his face.

“Sweetheart, why did you run off when your aunt came to pick you up?” asked Kageyama, hands running through Akito’s hair.

Akito mumbled something in his gym jacket but he couldn't make out what it was.

“What was that sweetheart?” and he pretended not to hear how everyone was staring at him as if he was replaced by an alien. It was kinda insulting actually.

“Auntie said that you had to stay at practice because your team was getting annoyed at you for missing practices and I realised it was my fault.” and he sounded so dejected and disappointed in himself that the Karasuno players flinched, even before Kageyama could pin them with his most vicious glare.

“Oh, sweetheart, that's not it. You will never be a burden to me, okay” and his voice was firm enough that Akito knew that there was no arguing with his mama.

“Can we go home please, mama?” he whimpered. He felt too raw with his mother's teammates looking at him as if he was this supernatural being. It was kinda annoying now.

“Mama?” Tsukishima asked, voice jeering, before Kageyama could answer. Immediately, everyone sent him a glare vicious enough to cut through even diamond.

“Problem?” Kageyama asked and he should not have looked so threatening, especially considering he was holding a child and his eyes looked slightly bloodshot but it was and Tsukishima would never admit it but he couldn't help but think that Kageyama suited the motherly role. Very well.

“Nope.” he answered.

“Good. Now come on let's go. I'll make you your fave.” said Kageyama and Akito yelled happily wiggling out of his mother's arms and jogging away slightly.

“You're the best mother ever!” yelled Akito and something that Karasuno never expected to happen was for Kageyama to throw his head back and let out a laugh so beautifully that everyone just stared at him and stared, as if he was a miracle.

Akito would definitely be joining their practices if it meant they could hear that wonderful noise again.

“Thanks sweetheart. Now come on, let's go!” he yelled before looking like he remembered something and turning to the others and doing something they never expected. He bowed in thanks. “Thank you for helping me fund Akito. It means a lot.” and when he got out of his bowing position he had a small smile on his face and they felt their hearts beat faster.

“No need to thank us, Kageyama-kun!” said Yachi, looking extremely flustered.

Kageyama merely smiled before turning back to his son and picking him up, mindless chartering being shared between them, laughter being heard along the way.

Yeah. Akito was most definitely going to be joining them in their practices.

#Kageyama akito #Kageyama tobio #Mama Tobio #Mama Tobio series #tsukishima kei #Sugawara Koushi #hinata shoyuo #takeda ittetsu #ukai keishin #yachi hitoka #Those are the ones that speak #And are mentioned the most #Karasuno volleyball club #Angst #Fluff #Panicking #Kageyama loves his son #And the people who where with Kageyama when they found him are currently having extremely gay thoughts #But I don't blame them soooo

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