#ookurikara & yuichi

[kowaindar0u]

[ with @nxmelessfighter | from here ]

Yuichi always did have kind of an affinity for rainy weather. Sometimes he would just... go walk about the area and come back soaking wet, but in his mind, at least it was something to feel beyond the fog he'd sometimes find himself in holed up inside.

And now, as a vampire, he could do this more often if he wanted, with (as far as he was aware, anyway) quite a decreased chance of suffering any real consequences, even if it's a cold rain. Just one of the perks, he supposes.

However, tonight, he's grateful for more than just that vampiric trait.

He hadn't been too far away when his sensitive ears had picked up a voice-- familiar even in the sounds of a struggle-- and immediately recognized it as Ookurikara. He's not sure how he'd managed to scare him off, but as he saw the assailant dash out of the alleyway, Yuichi meets them, sending them off with a hard shove (one could hear a hard THUNK of a back against concrete from a ways down the street) and an almost feral hiss.

He keeps his vision locked onto them until they are far down the street, and it's only when he loses sight of them does he snap back his attention to Ookurikara.

"Are you alright?" he calls, his voice not yet shaking off its gruffness. He scurries toward him, though even before he's made it to him he's picked up the scent of blood-- Ookurikara's for certain. "Did they bite you?"

[nxmelessfighter]

@kowaindar0u

Ookurikara can't help but think that Yuichi has been acting quite strange lately. 

It all started when Yuichi returned to work after not showing up for a while. For one he came back taking the night shift. Ookurikara's shift started at the obnoxious hour of 6am and by the time he got to the pharmacy, Yuichi had already been there, wrapping up. Not that either of them were one for conversation, but Yuichi seemed so rushed to leave, he didn't so much as glance at him when he arrived, instead hurriedly putting away his things and saying a quick "Good morning" as dashed to the staff exit. 

Not to mention Yuichi had always been somewhat pale but now it was to a ghostly degree. And as the days went by he seemed to be getting more and more haggard. Ookurikara wouldn't say they were particularly close, but for some reason he couldn't help but worry about him. 

As the days grew colder, Yuichi became a little less rushed to leave after his shift, and Ookurikara started noticing some strange quirks that seemed vaguely familiar to him. 

One day a customer came in wearing a very prominent silver cross and Yuichi had backed away from them seemingly instinctively. He definitely saw Yuichi's eyes on the thing as he did so and Ookurikara wasn't going to pry about it and didn't want the customer to do so either so he took over that interaction. He wondered if Yuichi had some sort of religious trauma but that was none of his business anyways.

There was this other time when Ookurikara had been cleaning out the fridge and someone had left something in there that smelled very strongly of garlic. He heard Yuichi gag from halfway across the room. Yuichi definitely did not have a problem with garlic before. 

And then this one time Yuichi had handed him a paper clip, Ookurikara noticed that Yuichi's hands were freezing. He's definitely had moments when his hands were cold but this combined with everything else that had happened lately was making him start to think something was really off. 

And now Ookurikara is standing over the sink, washing the blood off his hand, wondering if Yuichi is even human. 

Ookurikara had been opening a package when the box-cutter hit his finger and gave him a painful, bloody gash. Yuichi just stared at him nervously, which would have been one thing if this was the first time this had occurred, but at this hour Ookurikara wasn't really fully alert so this kind of thing has happened before. And despite his anxious demeanor Yuichi had offered to help him. But this time it was as if the very sight of his blood was causing Yuichi to be frozen in place. Despite the fact that this cut hadn't been as bad as the last. 

Ookurikara doesn't have many dealings with the supernatural save for his vampire roommate that had happened to also know Yuichi. If anything it would have made more sense for Ookurikara to ask him rather than putting Yuichi on the spot but after getting an average of four hours a sleep a night ever since he took this job, he would speak without thinking more often than he would have liked. 

"Yuichi… are you… a vampire?"

As soon as he says it he realizes how ridiculous he sounds.

"Never mind, forget that." 

[melancholicblossom]

13 (for Souza, re: yuichi + taikyuu :3c )

Dear Diary ...

13.     entry made featuring mention of (sender’s) muse. 

[10 February, 2205] I'm not sure if I want to even be writing this. What if Saniwa-san finds it and disassembles me? Not that they would; Yuichi-san is a bit of a pushover. I can tell. This citadel I've been summoned to, it's such a strange place. I can tell that none of my brothers are here yet. Am I the only one?

Whatever. I'm not here to be friends with anyone. Isn't that Ookurikara's line? I'm co-opting it. Saniwa-sama seemed happy to have me in their collection, something about 'the esteemed Samonji line,' or whatever. It's good to know that I'm just another sword for them to collect, just another danshi to add to their pile. But Yuichi-san doesn't seem like the type to want to rule the world, at least.

[12 December, 2205]

What's with that loudmouth that Yuichi summoned today? Taikyuu Yasusada, I think his name is. I don't know, all I heard was shouting in the courtyard. Day one and he's making enemies? What's his damage? It's not like we're all here to get along, I guess. I'm going to do my best to avoid confrontation, but that feels impossible when I consider that Saniwa-sama will probably put us together on field duty or something.

Yasusada-san has brothers here, at least. I think. Is he related to Yamatanokami?

[kowaindar0u]

Yuichi listens to all of this, and he's really not sure what to make of it.

He has no recollection of the situation, so anything being said here is more than what he has already. If he was turned by someone trying to save him... why didn't they show themselves to him? The only other vampire he knows of is Mitsutada, his former co-worker and Ookurikara's roommate, and he trusts both of them enough to know they wouldn't have done such a thing and left him in the dark on it. Which again brings him to wondering why he doesn't remember anything, and what exactly happened, and also-- how do Aikurou and his informants know about this in the first place, and--

By the time Aikurou trails off, Yuichi has kind of thought himself into a bit of stress. But as he moves his free hand do he's clutching Nagasone's with both now, he sees Aikurou revealing the marks on his neck.

"Oh..."

Some things are certainly starting to make sense now. Sort of. He had definitely seemed to know a bit too well the difference in the various blood sources, that was for sure. But then his eyes move from those marks, to the glass in front of him, and wonders-- and envies a bit--how he seems to be able to drink a non-blood beverage without being sickened.

But... it's taking a backseat at the moment.

"I see..." He looks at the floor for a few seconds, before looking back up. "If... you don't mind me asking... How do you know all of this? And... what did you mean by 'elder'?" He lets out a slow sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm just... trying to wrap my head around it all..."

"That's right...there were two, apparently...one that attacked you that night...and the other is...well, let's just say he's more or less the one who brought you back."

Aikurou takes a slow sip from his drink, before settling it back down with a sigh. He doesn't say a word for a while, as if trying to piece it together well enough so that Yuichi doesn't get too overwhelmed.

"Our perpetrator--let's call it that for now--had another target on sight, according to my sources, yet it changed its mind at the last minute to go for you instead. But then, this other vampire struck right in the middle of the entire chaos and proceed to obliterate our perp."

All the while, Nagasone only holds Yuichi's hand in response, listening while also trying to give Yuichi some semblance of support. He looks at Yuichi with a look that clearly says 'It's alright, I'm here', as he gives his hand another reassuring squeeze."

But Aikurou isn't finished yet. "Now, the details are also fuzzy so I can't say for certain, but one thing is clear: whoever made you a vampire has every intention to save you from dying...and not for other malicious intent. This sort of pattern is...familiar, in a sense...where a victim is beyond saving so much so that, the only path they can go to stay alive is towards immortality. I should know myself..."

He slowly flips one collar open, and tilts his neck to the side just enough to show two rather prominent bite marks on himself.

[kowaindar0u]

[ with @nxmelessfighter | from here ]

It's not often that Yuichi speaks like that to anyone, and even less so to his touken danshi. But having something like this happen again, having Ookurikara arrive home in the brink of breaking, it scares him enough to draw such words.

He's not able to sit still, having gotten up from his spot beside his bed in the infirmary to pace back and forth. Usually he does his best to keep himself collected (which is admittedly not very well in the first place), but he's had this kind of conversation with the uchigatana before.

"I'm glad to hear that," he replies genuinely-- it's something he tries to keep an eye out for in his men, and something he's had concerns about with Ookurikara specifically before. "I just..."

He continues pacing, trying to find something to say to help or fix the situation. But... there isn't much he can say. Yuichi is generally not the one having to make these difficult, split-second decisions in battle, and he knows he could never be cut out for doing so. He is the one bringing them into the world only to bid them risk their lives over and over again.

He sighs, finally returning to his seat.

"I'm sorry," he starts. He refrains from reaching for one of Ookurikara's hands-- he knows that won't help him as much as it might others, or himself. Instead, he folds his hands in his lap.

"I... I think we both know that I have no way of knowing if there was a better course of action you could've taken... except... that I trust you. As captain, as a touken danshi, as... a friend, a member of this citadel. So... I trust that you took the best route you saw available to you."

"And... I... I can't ask that you do any less to protect your teammates, but..."

Yuichi feels himself starting to spiral a bit-- is their situation really so helpless? What right does he have to be sending his men to fight in such dire situations? What even can he do? How--

He shakes his head, blinking a couple times before looking back to Ookurikara.

"I think... I think you should take a break for a while. Even after you recover from your injuries... I think it would be best."

[nxmelessfighter]

<< @zantedeschia-praesul

After spending the last few days off from work a normal person would be at least somewhat refreshed. But unfortunately Ookurikara has not known normalcy since the misstep that landed him in a dark alleyway, about to become a vampire's next meal.

Yuichi and Mitsutada have been nothing but understanding, and even Jikkyuu seems to have noticed that something is off, so he should at least be thankful that no one has given him a hard time for being even less sociable than usual. And he supposes working almost seventy hours last week wasn't something that a couple of days' PTO would fix. Compounded with the anxiety of his relationship troubles, for which he really only has himself to blame.

Yeah he's having a shitty day.

The man that walks in asking for sleeping aids is holding a basket of energy drinks. Not to mention the shelf for over the counter sleep medicine is right there. Maybe it's a little obscured from view because someone from the front staff knocked over the sign and never picked it up (he would have done it himself but he decided it wasn't his problem. Which he guesses it is now).

"Sleep meds are next to the allergy meds. If you want anything stronger you'll need to bring a prescription." He hopes he doesn't get asked anything else because he really does not have the patience to deal with anything right now. He could just call Jikkyuu over, except the pharmacist is on the phone with some doctor's office and Ookurikara probably shouldn't bother him.

[kowaindar0u]

[ with @nxmelessfighter | from here ]

Yuichi just furrows his eyebrows a little at Ookurikara's response. He is naturally the type to keep to himself, and does not like the idea of overstepping boundaries, but that worry (anxiety, at times) tends to conflict with his concern for certain people at times like these.

He knows Ookurikara isn't one to complain about much, if anything, especially his own suffering, and in Yuichi's eyes is quite tough... But that doesn't mean that working so much isn't taking a toll on him.

When Yuichi had started the night shift, he had honestly been a little disappointed, thinking that he wouldn't be working with Ookurikara anymore. After a short period of being unsure if the other disliked him or not (which, honestly, was probably more of Yuichi's own anxieties than Ookurikara's demeanor), he grew comfortable working alongside him and, of course, eventually considered him a friend.

So when he seemed to still see the other on shift practically just as much as he had before the shift, he was a little surprised to realize that he seemed to work more than the 8-hour first shift, and frequently, too.

And... then there's the recent events, the effects of which Yuichi can't help but feel haven't simply been put behind Ookurikara. He doesn't pry, of course, but he does worry.

So, as he's just clocked out, he stands near the doorway of the break room, hands picking at the zipper on his jacket.

"I think you deserve it, but... more than that, it... kind of seems like maybe you need it...? I hope I'm not out of line to say so, but... I don't know, you seem... tired. You must be, if you work this much..."

[kowaindar0u]

Yuichi slowly unlatches his fists from Nagasone's jacket, and instead rakes his fingers back through his own hair, burying his face in his arms.

There's a moment of a few shaky breaths before a quiet, unvoiced whimper, and then he just... cries. He cries hard, but quietly. He curls up a bit on himself, and soon turns to really let himself sink into Nagasone's embrace. He doesn't think he's ever felt this small.

"I don't know what to do..." he finally says, though it's a bit muffled by his sleeves. He's not really asking the question, just... lamenting. Right now, doesn't feel like there's an answer anyway.

"I... Oh, god, I really messed up, I..." The hands in his hair pull a little. His heart is beating at what feels like a million miles an hour, and unfortunately it's not from being held by his beloved in their secret garden. "Ookurikara was so upset with me, a-and... Sending Ishikirimaru there with the second unit, what was I thinking...? I yelled at little Houchou. I don't know what to do, I-I-- I still have so much left to do, but I keep just fucking up..." He lets out what is a poor attempt at a laugh, that comes out as more of a sob. "And I thought I was handling it..."

"Of course." Nagasone gently kissed the top of his head, slowly making his way to the giant wisteria. Right now it felt so welcoming to both of them, and he only hoped that this would serve as respite for his master.

He slowly, almost carefully, lowered himself by a big tree root, leaning back as comfortably as he could. His hand moved to Yuichi's back, rubbing it soothingly to calm him down. Or rather, trying to let him ease into his embrace.

"I'm here, Aruji... It's just us together now... Let it rain if you have to... I'm not going anywhere..."

He held Yuichi closer in his arms, not saying another word for a while. There wasn't a need for it right now... What mattered was him keeping his beloved safe in his embrace.

[kowaindar0u]

(cc: @nxmelessfighter )

ok so technically this isn't really For the outfit meme thing though that is what made me think of it but i needed to draw it and get it out of my brain lol

so like. yeah. been thinking of idol au a lot lately and these 2 are fun and this just seemed Perfect for them

(original shot under the cut)

[nxmelessfighter]

⭐ for yuichi (whichever verse strikes your fancy), and ☎️ for yuichi and sada :3

Send ⭐️ (or multiple) for a headcanon about our muses.

I think in any verse at some point Ookurikara becomes so used to Yuichi's presence that he'd be pretty blunt around him. At first (especially in canon verse) he wouldn't really voice his thoughts at all but eventually the ice melts. Though there is still plenty that he does keep to himself. But if it's about work (not anything that Yuichi did, just things like the phone going off every two minutes) then maybe he'll make a comment.

Send ☎️ for your muse’s info in my muses phone (name, ringtone, picture, last text received/sent).

Name: Yuichi

Ringtone: some visual kei song probably. but like. an instrumental version. why is the only thing i'm being able to think of Shiver by The Gazette

Picture: probably cropped from a picture Mitsutada sent him

Last texts received/sent:

- i've been forced to take off work. apparently that's a thing. sorry

- don't apologize! please rest.

- okay thanks

--

Name: Sada

Ringtone: something upbeat? for some reason my first thought was this (i had to go through the entire soundtrack to find it, it was track 33 jsdflgs;dfgdf;lg)

Picture:

Last texts received/sent

- going to the store. do you need anything

- i want fuit gummy

- ?????

[kowaindar0u]

some vamp au doodles hehe

( w/ @zantedeschia-praesul & @nxmelessfighter )

[kowaindar0u]

just a dumb scribble but I can't stop thinking about idol!yuichi & karachan being pictured having the quietest lunches ever. people think they're mad at each other or tense or something but no they're just vibing. They get asked about this on variety shows. One day on another show they actually like...go have a meal for the show, and it's just quiet as hell. But at some point in the show it becomes clear they are indeed very good friends, just... quiet/introverted lol

(cc: @nxmelessfighter )

[nxmelessfighter]

“  i don’t care how willing you are to die for me.  i want you to fucking live with me.  live for us.  ”  (yuichi -> ookurikara)

Throwing himself at the enemy in a last ditch attempt to make sure the rest of his unit made it home, again, because clearly Ookurikara never learned his lesson... Or it was more like in the heat of the moment he put everyone else's lives over his own. Because he knows in the end they're all worth more. Ichigo has his many brothers, Kenshin being the light of the Osafune swords-- the same can be said of Imanotsurugi and the Sanjou; Ookurikara could never forgive himself if anything happened to Kashagiri, and he could never look Yuichi in the eye again if anything happened to Nagasone (or to any of them, really, but especially to the saniwa's beloved).

Given the outburst he's sure Yuichi has had enough of his self-sacrificing tendencies, but bad habits die hard.

"I can't make any promises." Such is the nature of this war. And if there is going to be any loss Ookurikara is going to make damn sure it isn't any of his teammates. As captain it's his job to make sure they get home safe. If that's at his own expense then so be it. "I don't have a death wish though, if that's what you're worried about."

Blatant disregard for his own life, maybe, but not a death wish. He does have something to live for, he just gives those things more importance over himself.

[kowaindar0u]

some doodles 💙

(Cc: @zantedeschia-praesul & @nxmelessfighter )

[nxmelessfighter]

13.     entry made featuring mention of (sender’s) muse. (for Ookurikara re: Yuichi) 11.     entry made discussing their fears and anxieties.  (for Hana)

DEAR  DIARY          .    .    .

entry made featuring mention of (sender’s) muse (Ookurikara -> Yuichi)

Today Yuichi brought me this notebook. Something about trying to help me work through my feelings since I didn't want to talk about them with anybody. I don't know what he's getting at because I don't have anything to talk about.

I don't.

I just don't get why he cares so much.

I guess a saniwa is supposed to care about their swords but why does he care about me when I've done nothing but ignore him

entry made discussing their fears and anxieties (Hana)

I don't understand. How am I supposed to just act like the last seventeen years of my life don't matter anymore? I know I didn't have the best relationship with my parents but they always meant well. I wanted to have more freedom but at this cost? These powers are confusing and this house is huge and full of strangers. They seem nice but at the same time they all scare me. I want to go home.

[kowaindar0u]

[ with @nxmelessfighter | from here ]

When the team had returned suddenly in the manner they had, Yuichi of course feared the worst. Even if them being sent back in this way was, by technicality, an indicator that the unit's captain had not broken, he knew it was only a hair's width of a difference, and time was of the essence to keep it that way.

Thankfully, it seemed he was able to be stabilized, but that didn't make the scare from it all dissipate any sooner.

Of course, it was a rash decision that could have gone horribly, horribly wrong, and the thought of Ookurikara breaking is not one he wants to entertain. There is a part of him that wants to reprimand him for having done something like that on purpose, for the possibility of things having gone even worse if it hadn't worked, and just for making him worry...

But that part is overpowered by the sheer happiness that he and everyone had made it home, and the pride he feels in Ookurikara for even making such a selfless move, let alone for it to have worked.

"Don't apologize," he insists, gently stroking Ookurikara's hair a couple times before simply resting his hand on his arm. He tries to respect the toudanshi's boundaries, but he couldn't help but feel his prior gesture perhaps warranted.

"I'm... I'm not upset," Yuichi assures him. He's been crying, yes, but more so from the combination of use of his powers, worry, and relief. He's not mad. "We both know I'd... never okay you to do that if it were up to me, but... Everyone made it back, and I know that's all you were trying to do. I can't blame or fault you for that. And... You did it. I'm so proud of you. And so glad you're going to be okay."