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lunardragon00 · 10 months ago

Text

The Heir (Choi San x OC)

Masterlist

Genre: Fantasy , Lord!San x Princess!OC

Words: 5684

Warning: suggestive themes // angst // fluff

Chapter Seven --> Chapter Eight--> Chapter Ten

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔑𝔦𝔫𝔢: 𝔅𝔬𝔫𝔡𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔇𝔯𝔞𝔤𝔬𝔫𝔰

Lavender, it was a scent Hana had grown quite familiar with recently. Its soothing fragrance enveloped her senses, drifting through the air like a gentle caress as she lay nestled in the warmth of the bed. The soft sheets cocooned her body, cradling her in comfort and tranquility. As morning light filtered through the windows, casting a soft glow upon the room, Hana stirred from her slumber. Her eyelids fluttered open, greeted by the sight of San's adoring gaze already fixed upon her. His smile, warm and tender, melted away the remnants of sleep, filling her heart with a sense of contentment she had never known.

"Good morning, my love," he whispered, his voice a gentle melody that danced through the air and wrapped around her like a familiar embrace. Hana's lips curved into a soft smile in response, her heart fluttering with affection as she reached out to caress his cheek.

"Good morning, indeed," she replied, her voice a soft echo of his own. He leaned towards her, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. No words needed to be exchanged, they both knew that in that moment, the others presence was enough. San pulls her body to him, nestling his face into her neck. Their bodies melded together in a seamless embrace, their contours fitting like pieces of a perfect puzzle. His lips brushed against her skin, leaving a trail of tender kisses along the curve of her neck, each touch igniting a spark of desire that flickered between them.

As the morning sun bathed the room in its golden glow, Hana closed her eyes, savoring the sweetness of their togetherness. With a contented sigh, she buried her fingers in his hair, relishing the sensation of his presence against her skin. Her husband lifts his head back up and places it right beside hers.

"Did you sleep well?" His voice, soft and soothing, caressed her ears like a gentle breeze, carrying with it the promise of a new day filled with endless possibilities. Hana's heart swelled with gratitude for the man beside her, his presence a balm to her soul.

"Sleep comes to me easier each night I have you beside me," she confessed, her words a testament to the profound impact of his love upon her restless heart. San is quick to press another kiss to her lips before separating once more, leaning his forehead against hers. They stayed like that for a moment, simply savoring the peaceful time of morning.

Hana felt a sense of serenity wash over her. In San's arms, she found solace and security, a haven where she could be herself without fear or inhibition. During her marriage with Wooyoung, she had never felt like this. She loved him, yes, but not the way she was supposed to. To Hana, Wooyoung was her best friend. Someone she can lean on in her darkest hours, but it did not provide the same comfort as when she does it with San. With San, everything truly like it would be ok. There was no worry of it just being a temporary moment of peace. Since their marriage, which had now been a few weeks, she had been caught in a state of bliss that seemed never ending.

The worries in her life has slowly drifted away. No longer did she have to play pretend with Wooyoung. No longer was there stress as to why she was not with child. No longer did she feel miserable, like a part of her was missing. With him, she could shed the masks she had worn for so long, revealing her true self without fear of judgment or rejection. As they lingered in the quiet stillness of the morning, their hearts beating in sync with the rhythm of their love, Hana knew that she had found her home in San's embrace—a place where she was cherished, understood, and valued for exactly who she was.

She thought back to what her father has said to her many years ago, when marriage was first brought up by him. They had a heated argument about her, Hana had been furious when the choice of who she would married had been stripped from her. The words he said she thought were ridiculous at the time.

"You have been much alone these last few years, alone and angry. I will not live forever. I wish to see you contented, happy even." The King stated, standing aside the long table in the council room. Hana sat at the end, scoffing as she heard her father speak. She had been angry, after discovering her father was planning on marrying her off to Jason Wang.

The house Wang was notorious for being filled with narcissistic snobs with pockets filled of gold. He had even approached her at a hunt her father threw a month back. Claiming he had already planned building a dragon pit for Noctris and spoke of what their future would be like. It disgusted her.

"And you think a man will provide that?" She looked at her father, fire raged in her eyes.

"No..... a family." He stated.

Looking back on it, perhaps her father had been right. Hana had thought maybe Wooyoung could start those feelings for her. She had a husband now, shouldn't she start to feel at least some relief? Now looking back, he wasn't what she needed. Hana was glad he was there, but he never would've fulfilled her. But the man laying before her now? He could provide that......he was.

"You're staring again." San's voice broke through her reverie, his eyes dancing with amusement as he caught her in the act of contemplation. Focusing back to the moment, she had realize she'd been looking into his eyes, finger mindlessly playing with the hair on the back of his neck. Hana's cheeks flushed with a faint blush, her fingers stilling their movement against his skin as she met his gaze.

"I can't help it, you know. You have a way of distracting me." she admitted with a soft laugh, her heart swelling with affection for the man who had captured her heart so completely. San's laughter mingled with hers, a melody of joy and warmth that filled the room with its light. With a playful twinkle in his eye, he reached up to capture her wandering hand in his own, his touch gentle and reassuring.

"I'll consider it a compliment," he replied, his voice low and filled with affection. "I could get lost in your eyes for eternity." Hana's heart fluttered at his words, her breath catching in her throat at the depth of his love for her. In that moment, she felt an overwhelming surge of gratitude for the man who had chosen her, who had given her the gift of his unwavering devotion. Leaning in, she pressed a tender kiss to his lips, her heart overflowing with love and gratitude for the precious moments they shared together.

San pulls her closer, if that were even possible at this point. With a gentle urgency, Hana held his face in her hands, her touch a silent declaration of her love and longing. The kiss deepened, evolving from tender affection to passionate longing as their lips melded in a symphony of desire. San's hands traced the curves of her body, his touch igniting sparks of electricity that danced along her skin. As he shifted their positions, Hana found herself lying beneath him, her heart pounding with a heady mixture of anticipation and desire. Their bodies pressed together, the heat of their passion engulfing them in a whirlwind of sensation. Hana's hands moved to wrap around his back, pulling him closer as they surrendered to the intoxicating allure of their shared love. He separates his lips from hers and moves them down to her neck, peppering quick pecks along the way. While she would love nothing more than to indulge him in yet another flurry of activities, she still had responsibilities to take care of.

"Sannie" She softly spoke, the only response she gets is a moan from her husband, feeling him press harder against her.

"San, we can't" She tried to reason, but San refused to acknowledge her words. Instead, he shifted his attention to go further down her body, littering her with kisses as he does, head disappearing beneath the blanket. Hana giggles, still trying to grab his attention to her words.

"Were you not satisfied enough from last night?" She asked cheekily, already knowing the answer she'll receive. She feels his lips leave her body before seeing his head pop back up, eyes glaring at her.

"But my love, how can I resist when you're so irresistibly tempting?" San's voice was filled with playful mischief. Despite her attempts at reasoning, he remained undeterred, his determination to savor every moment of their shared intimacy unwavering. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, San leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin as he whispered, "You know I can never get enough of you, my dear." His words were laced with a hint of laughter, a playful reminder of the boundless depths of their love and desire. Hana's laughter mingled with his own, the air around them alive with the joy.

"And I you my darling, but we both know we simply do not have the time. We've already slept in far too late." Hana says, taking hold of his chin to keep him in place. A pout forms on his lips, "You're so cruel." he teased, his voice laced with mock indignation as he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her fingertips in a playful gesture of affection. With a tender smile, Hana leaned in to press a gentle kiss to San's lips.

"Come, my love," she whispered, her voice a soft caress against his skin. "We have duties to attend to." With a sigh of resignation, he nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer, reluctant to leave the warmth of their shared embrace.

"Very well," he replied, his voice filled with a mixture of reluctance and determination. Rising from the bed, he extended a hand to help Hana to her feet.

----------------

In the heart of Drake's Landing, the bustling streets teemed with life as merchants hawked their wares and citizens went about their daily routines. Within the halls of the Red Keep, now rechristened as the King - Kim Hongjoong - held court, his presence commanding the attention of all who gathered in his august presence. Adorned in regal attire that befitted his station, he listened intently as his advisors and lords presented reports and petitions, their voices a symphony of concerns and aspirations.

"Your Grace, reports have reached us of increased bandit activity along the borders of our realm," one of the lords reported, his voice grave with concern. "Many are saying it is the Crab feeder once again. Sire, this must be addressed quickly, for we do not know if the coast can handle such a war again. It has only been a few years." He stated.

"Why is that any of our concern Lord Buckley? The stepstones are not even of importance to the King, nor were they to his father." Lord Heins interrupted. Hongjoong listened as the two men continued to argue, growing tired of the relentless conflict between the two lords. As if sensing the King's growing impatience, the Hand intervened.

"That is where you are wrong my Lord, the Stepstones do hold importance. They are where we get supplies from the region of Essos. It is an important trading point for Mythria, as Master of Coin I would think you would know better." Seonghwa stated. Heins sat, baffled by the interruption and insult.

"In all my time being in this council, I have never experienced such....such-" As Heins struggled to form his sentence, a messenger arrived bearing urgent news from the far reaches of the realm. With a sense of anticipation, Hongjoong accepted the missive, his gaze alight with curiosity as he broke the seal and perused its contents. As the young King read its contents, he spoke to his council member.

"Leave us." It was a short statement, but one that held power. Every man was quick to rise and bow to him before making a haste exit. "Not you Seonghwa." As Seonghwa rose to leave along with them, he stopped in his tracks as Hongjoong addressed him. Once every member left, Hongjoong dragged his hand down his face and gave a loud sigh.

"Your Grace, I do apologize if I spoke out of -"

"Oh I do not care, the old bat deserved a good spat." Hongjoong waved off his friends apology. Seonghwa stood by his side, his expression a mixture of concern and understanding.

"What news do you bring, my King?" he inquired, his voice tinged with the weight of responsibility. Hongjoong sighed heavily, the burden of leadership pressing down upon him like a leaden cloak. He handed him the scroll to his Hand, letting him read its contents himself. Seonghwas eyes scanned the document, reading each word carefully. Once finished, he looked back up to his friend, concern clear in his expression.

"Your Grace, the situation in Sunsphinx demands our immediate attention," he began, his voice grave with urgency. "The unrest threatens to escalate into open rebellion, and if left unchecked, it could destabilize the entire region."

"I am aware." He states. Hongjoong's jaw tightened with resolve as he absorbed the gravity of Seonghwa's words. "We cannot allow chaos to take hold in Sunsphinx," he declared, his voice ringing with authority. With a renewed purpose, he stood quickly from his chair and Seonghwa was quick to follow him.

"Prepare the ravens. We must reach out to our allies and assess the situation on the ground. Our response must be swift and decisive." Seonghwa nodded, "Shall I ask Lord Yunho to pay a visit to them?" Hongjoong contemplated the decision. "Yunho is far too busy making sure things are in order at the Wall. Perhaps I could send Hana to speak to them." Seonghwa stopped him in his tracks.

"Do you think that to be a good idea your grace?" He asked softly. Hongjoong looked at him with confusion. "My sister was a very good friend to Yeosang, and she was in fact married to Wooyoung. Can you give reason as to why she wouldn't be accepted there?"

"My King, I have been hearing whispers within the court these past few weeks." Seonghwa changes to a soft tone, cautious to any persons lingering in the shadows. "They say the princess gave the order." He said in a hushed tone. Hongjoong jerked back, shocked by the sudden revelation. His expression darkened as Seonghwa's words sank in, the weight of the revelation heavy upon his shoulders. The notion that Hana might have played a role in the unrest in Sunsphinx cut him to the core.

"Are you certain of this?" he asked, his voice strained with disbelief and a hint of betrayal. Seonghwa met his gaze with unwavering resolve, his expression grim but resolute.

"I cannot say for certain, Your Grace," he admitted, his tone laced with regret. "But the rumors grow louder with each passing day." The thought of Hana betraying him and their kingdom was unfathomable, yet the evidence, however circumstantial, gnawed at the edges of his conscience.

"And to what reason would my sister have to plot such a crime?" he asked. Seonghwa sighed and looked his King in the eyes. "Choi San, my King" Hongjoong's brows furrowed in confusion and concern at Seonghwa's cryptic revelation. The name of his dear friend hung in the air like a heavy shroud, casting a pall of uncertainty over their conversation.

"Choi San?" Hongjoong repeated, his voice barely above a whisper as he grappled with the implications of Seonghwa's words. "What of him?"

Seonghwa's expression darkened, his features drawn tight with apprehension. "There have been whispers of them, Your Grace," he confessed, his voice heavy with the weight of the truth he bore. "That Hana and San... they were married in secret the night after Wooyoung's death." The air in the chamber grew heavy with tension as Hongjoong absorbed the gravity of Seonghwa's revelation. The revelation of Hana and San's secret marriage reverberated through the chamber, shattering the illusions of trust and loyalty that had once bound their kingdom together. He struggled to reconcile the image of his beloved sister with the woman who had kept such a monumental secret from him, her own brother and king.

"Why would they keep this from me?" Hongjoong whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of hurt and disbelief. The revelation gnawed at the very foundation of his trust, leaving him adrift in a sea of uncertainty and doubt. Hongjoong felt the tendrils of betrayal coil around his heart, threatening to consume him with the bitterness of their deception.

"Have them prepare Valarys." He states, "I'm going to pay her a visit." With a heavy heart, Hongjoong turned his gaze to the window. And with every passing moment, he felt the weight of his crown pressing down upon him, a constant reminder of the burdens of kingship. But amidst the turmoil of his emotions, one thing remained clear: he would confront Hana and San, and he would demand answers.

---------------------

In the quiet chambers of Dragonspire, Princess Hana sat with the maester, her brow furrowed in concern as she recounted the troubling symptoms that had plagued her in recent mornings.

"I've been feeling quite ill upon waking," she explained, her voice tinged with a note of apprehension. "Nausea, fatigue... It's been growing more pronounced with each passing day."

The maester, a venerable figure with a kindly demeanor, listened attentively, his weathered features betraying a hint of concern as he took in her words.

"I see," he murmured thoughtfully, his fingers drumming against his chin as he considered her symptoms. "And have you noticed any other changes in your health or routine?" Hana paused, her mind racing as she tried to recall any other pertinent details.

"I... I've been feeling unusually tired, and my appetite has been rather erratic," she admitted, her voice faltering slightly. "But aside from that, nothing out of the ordinary." The maester nodded, his expression thoughtful as he pondered her words.

"These symptoms could be indicative of a number of ailments," he mused, his tone carefully measured. "But given the nature of your condition, it would be wise to explore all possible explanations." Hana's heart fluttered with a mixture of hope and apprehension as she awaited the maester's diagnosis, her mind awash with the possibilities that lay before her.

With a gentle yet methodical approach, the maester began a series of examinations, meticulously documenting her symptoms and conducting various tests to ascertain the root cause of her discomfort. Hana watched anxiously as he worked, her thoughts consumed by a potent mixture of uncertainty and trepidation. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, the maester finally concluded his assessments, his expression inscrutable as he regarded her with a mixture of concern and deliberation.

"It seems," he began, his voice measured yet tinged with gravity, "that your symptoms may be indicative of a particular condition. Although, I do have one more question to ask." Hana's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat as she braced herself for his diagnosis.

"What is it?" she ventured, her voice barely above a whisper as she awaited his response.

The maester hesitated, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he spoke. "Princess Hana," he said, his tone gentle yet firm, "forgive me if this makes you uncomfortable, but...when was the last time you bled?" Hana's mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions as she processed the maester's question, the gravity of his inquiry hanging heavy in the air. She searched her thoughts, trying to recall the last instance of her monthly cycle, but the memory seemed elusive, lost amidst the flurry of recent events. Before she could formulate a response, the sudden interruption of the knight's arrival shattered the tense atmosphere, pulling her back to the present moment.

"Apologies Princess, but the King demands and audience with you in the throne room." He states. Hana looked taken aback, questions floated all around her mind. Why was her brother here? Had something happened to him? Are the boys ok? Arya?

"Please inform His Grace that I shall receive him presently," she instructed, her voice steady despite the tumult of emotions churning within her. As the knight departed to relay her message, Hana braced herself for the impending encounter, her thoughts consumed by a whirlwind of uncertainty and determination. Whatever revelations awaited her, she knew that she would face them with courage and resilience, drawing strength from the unwavering resolve that dwelled within her heart.

In the grandeur of Dragonspire's throne room, bathed in the soft glow of flickering torches and the warm hues of the setting sun, Hongjoong stood with an air of solemn determination. His gaze swept across the ornate tapestries adorning the walls, each thread woven with the history and legacy of their ancient house. The rooms doors opened, revealing his sister, a wide smile spread across her face and she saw her brother.

As Hana entered the throne room, her presence seemed to command the very essence of the space. Clad in a simple yet elegant gown, the fabric draped around her form with an ethereal grace, accentuating the regal bearing that marked her as the Princess of Dragonspire. The stark contrast of the black attire against the opulent surroundings only served to amplify her aura of quiet strength and resolve. Her hair, intricately braided and adorned with delicate jewels, cascaded in waves of ebony silk down her back, and a necklace that adorned her neck, with its twin dragon wings gleaming in the soft light, served as a tangible reminder of her lineage and the legacy she bore as a scion of their ancient house.

"Brother, a lovely surprise seeing you here. Have you come to share news of Arya's--"

"You married." He interrupted. The words hung heavy in the air, slicing through the delicate fabric of polite conversation with the sharpness of a blade. Hana's expression faltered, a flicker of uncertainty dancing in the depths of her eyes as she absorbed the weight of her brother's accusation. Hongjoong's voice, tinged with a mixture of disappointment and disbelief, reverberated off the walls of the throne room, each syllable laden with the weight of unspoken truths and shattered trust.

"I married," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper, her gaze steady despite the tumult raging within her heart. "But it was not a decision made lightly, nor without consideration for the consequences." Hongjoong's features hardened, his jaw set with determination as he met her gaze with unwavering resolve.

"Do you not understand the implications of your actions, Hana?" he demanded, his voice a low rumble that echoed with the authority of kingship. "Your marriage, conducted in secret and without the blessing of our house, has endangered not only your own reputation but the stability of our realm." As the gravity of her brother's words settled over her like a suffocating shroud, Hana felt the weight of her choices pressing down upon her with crushing force. "We were married in the sight of the Old Gods, we held our family's tradition."

Hongjoong scoffed. "Is that supposed to make it better? You foolish girl, you know not of what you have done." Hana's heart sank at her brother's harsh words, the sting of his disapproval cutting deeper than any blade. She had hoped he would understand, hoped he would see the love and sincerity that had led her to make such a decision. Yet, as she stood before him now, her resolve faltered in the face of his unyielding condemnation.

"Brother, please," she implored, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and desperation. "I never meant to bring harm to our house or our realm."

"Hana, do you not see the chaos you have wrought?" Hongjoong's voice resonated with a potent mixture of anger and disappointment, his gaze piercing through her defenses like a sharpened blade. "Sunsphinx teeters on the brink of rebellion, and all because of your reckless disregard for the consequences of your actions."

Hana's jaw tightened, her own frustration boiling beneath the surface as she struggled to contain the storm of emotions raging within her. "And what of my happiness, Hongjoong?" she shot back, her voice laced with a simmering defiance. "Am I to sacrifice everything I hold dear for the sake of some fleeting notion of stability?"

Hongjoong's expression hardened, his resolve unyielding in the face of her defiance. "Your happiness cannot come at the expense of our realm's stability," he countered, his tone sharp with conviction. "You have a duty to our house, to our people, and you have forsaken it in pursuit of your own selfish desires."

The accusation struck Hana like a physical blow, the weight of her brother's words crushing her beneath their weight. "Selfish desires?" she retorted, her voice trembling with a mixture of indignation and hurt. "For what crime am I being accused, if not for daring to love the one person who has always seen me for who I truly am?"

As their argument raged on, each word spoken between them became a testament to the fractured bond that had once united them. In the grandeur of Dragonspire's throne room, amidst the echoes of their discord, the heavy doors swung open, announcing the arrival of Choi San. His presence, though initially unnoticed amidst the tumultuous exchange, brought with it a palpable shift in the atmosphere—a fragile moment of respite in the storm of their conflict.

With measured steps, San crossed the threshold of the throne room, his expression a mask of calm determination that belied the turmoil brewing within. His gaze, steady and unwavering, fell upon Hana and Hongjoong.

"Hana," he said, his voice a soothing balm against the tempest of their emotions. "The King is right." His words, though spoken with gentleness, carried the weight of undeniable truth, serving as a stark reminder of the sacrifices they were all forced to make in the name of duty and honor. As the echoes of their conversation lingered in the air, a heavy silence descended upon the throne room, punctuated only by the soft rustle of fabric and the distant echoes of their troubled hearts.

Hana's gaze flickered between her brother and her husband, the weight of their words pressing down upon her like a leaden shroud. The rift between them seemed insurmountable, a gaping chasm that threatened to swallow her whole.

"Is this what it has come to?" she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Are we to be torn apart by the very love that was meant to bind us together?"

Hongjoong's expression softened, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes as he beheld his sister's anguish. "Hana," he began, his voice laden with the weight of their shared history, "I cannot condone your actions, nor can I ignore the consequences they have wrought upon our house and our realm. What is done is done, we cannot annule the marriage. The marriage has already be consummated, yes?"

"Yes, it has," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, her gaze faltering under the weight of their collective disappointment. The admission hung between them like a specter. Hongjoong's expression softened further, his features etched with a mixture of resignation and lingering affection. "Then we must find a way forward, together," he declared, his voice a steady anchor amidst the tempest of their emotions.

"We will find a way," she whispered, her voice trembling with the echoes of their reconciliation. "Together, we will weather whatever storms may come." Hongjoong nodded, his expression a silent testament to the depth of his commitment to their family and their realm.

San offered his wife comfort, holding her to his side. He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head. "Kesi zālagon hēnkirī, lo ziry māzigon ilagon naejot ziry" (We will burn together, if it comes down to it.) He states in a hushed tone, the words only for his heart to hear. Hana leaned further into him, wrapping an arm around his waist, copying his hold on her.

As Hongjoong looked at the couple, he recognized the profound bond that had led them to make the choices they had. With a silent nod of acknowledgment, Hongjoong accepted the complexities of their situation, recognizing that the path forward would be fraught with challenges and uncertainties. "Very well, my council is helping me keep a close eye on this revelation. But...Hana-" Hongjoong takes a few steps forward until he is face to face with his sister.

"I speak this to you as your brother when I say, I am happy for you." As Hongjoong spoke those words, a sense of relief washed over Hana, her heart buoyed by the unexpected warmth of her brother's acceptance. For in his simple declaration lay the promise of reconciliation, a bridge spanning the divide that had threatened to sunder their familial bond.

"Thank you, brother," she whispered, her voice a soft sigh of gratitude. In that moment, the weight of their shared history seemed to lift, replaced by the gentle embrace of understanding and forgiveness. With a smile of genuine warmth, Hongjoong reached out and clasped his sister's hand, a silent pledge of solidarity that spoke volumes of the unbreakable ties that bound them together.

--------------

In the serene confines of their bedroom chambers within Dragonspire, Hana and San found themselves enveloped in a cocoon of quietude, the echoes of their recent tumultuous encounter with Hongjoong lingering in the air like wisps of smoke. The grandeur of their surroundings provided a stark contrast to the intimacy of their shared space, where the flickering candlelight danced upon the walls, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow.

Seated by the window, Hana gazed out at the moonlit vista that stretched beyond the castle walls, her thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions. The weight of their secret marriage bore heavily upon her, the repercussions of their actions casting a long shadow over their future together. Beside her, San stood silently, a stalwart presence amidst the storm of their uncertainty.

"It seems our world has grown even more complicated," Hana murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes reflecting the moon's gentle glow. San's gaze softened as he regarded his wife, his heart heavy with the weight of their shared burdens. "Indeed, my love," he replied, his voice a soothing melody that cut through the silence like a beacon of reassurance. Hana moves towards the bet. As she sat on the edge of their bed, her thoughts still tangled in the aftermath of her confrontation with Hongjoong, San watched her with a mixture of concern and tenderness. Sensing her need for comfort, he approached her quietly, his footsteps barely making a sound on the plush carpeting of their chambers.

"Hana," he said softly, his voice a gentle caress against the hushed stillness of the room. "I know today has been difficult for you." He sat beside her, his presence a comforting anchor amidst the storm of her emotions.

Hana glanced up at him, her eyes reflecting the weariness that weighed upon her spirit. "I just... I never expected things to turn out like this," she confessed, her voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability.

San reached out, gently taking her hand in his own. "I understand, my love," he murmured, his thumb tracing comforting circles against her palm. "But it is as I have said countless times, no matter what challenges we face, we will face them together." A faint smile flickered across Hana's lips, a fragile bloom amidst the shadows that lingered in her heart. "I know," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "And I am grateful for that."

In that moment, San knew that words alone would not be enough to ease the burden weighing upon his wife's soul. So, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he reached for the small wooden chest on their bedside table, its contents hidden from view.

"What's this?" Hana asked, curiosity sparking in her eyes as San presented her with the box.

"Open it and see," he replied, his voice tinged with playful anticipation. With cautious fingers, Hana lifted the lid of the box, her breath catching in her throat as she beheld its contents. Inside lay a collection of handcrafted paper cranes, their delicate wings unfolding like whispers of hope in the dim light of their chambers. San smiled as he watched her reaction, his heart swelling with love for the woman who had captured his soul.

"My mother used to craft them in her free time when I was younger. I made them for you." he confessed, his voice soft with sincerity. "Each one represents a wish for your happiness, my dearest Hana." Tears shimmered in Hana's eyes as she reached for one of the cranes, its paper wings trembling in her grasp. In that simple gesture, she found solace amidst the chaos of their world, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love had the power to illuminate the shadows and mend the broken pieces of their hearts.

With a soft smile, Hana looked up at San, her eyes shimmering with unspoken gratitude and love. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, her heart swelling with warmth at the thoughtfulness behind his gesture.

San returned her smile, his own heart lightened by the sight of her finding solace in his gift. "You're welcome, my love," he replied, his voice a tender melody that echoed with the depths of his affection for her. As they sat together in the quiet sanctuary of their chambers, surrounded by the gentle rustle of paper wings and the soft glow of candlelight, Hana felt a sense of peace wash over her. In the midst of their turmoil, she found refuge in the simple beauty of San's gesture.

#ateez #choi san #park seonghwa #kim hongjoong #jeong yunho #kang yeosang #song mingi #jung wooyoung #choi jongho #ateez imagine #ateez x reader #choi san x reader #choi san x OC #GOT #game of thrones #house of the dragon #hotd

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owlessms · 2 years ago

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#this is my sans oc lavender (its me)#ditigal art #sans oc #my oc art #owlessms #lavender #lavender sans #undertale #undertale au #sans au

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decemebercircus · 2 years ago

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To Teacher, a Lesson

(Or Teach her a lesson depending on your pronunciation)

Notes:

This is a sort of a promise fic and I have another one to keep-- but since this is short this is simpler.

I'm not good at getting characters accurate so if you feel it's ooc then sorry, I did my best. Oh yeah, I am not very fond of x reader fanfics reading them when they are good/interesting I will do. Write them? On most cases I will not.

So this is a OC who is technically gender neutral. But I leave that up to you.

I also changed the glasses.

This fic was suggested by @mlk082

With their post: https://at.tumblr.com/mlk082/704789841502666752/4pd1vov4cspz

Story:

"Aw man! another flunked Alchemy test! Professor Crewel lives up to his name 'cruel'" Venice complained and tried to follow up with a pun.

"That was a bad joke. Venice," Ace complains.

"Says you who came up with a worse joke about Riddle this morning." Venice retorted.

Jade smiled coyly. "I'd be happy to offer my services to tutor you"

Ace looked around "alright where's your dorm leader?"

"This isn't a deal. I'm doing this of my own free will" Jade remarked. "More specifically for Venice-san if you dont want to take this opportunity." Jade closed the book he had on history.

"Yup I'm leaving," Ace dipped.

"Bye Venice!" He called running out of the classroom.

"Dammit of all the days for Ace to have the braincell..." Venice deadpanned.

"Shall we meet in the library?" Jade asked.

"Oh! Right! Sure!" Venice nodded.

***~~~***

"Jade why are you wearing glasses-- are those AZUL'S?!" Venice asked.

"These are a spare set. Azul will not miss them for a hour or two," Jade said as if that cleared that up.

"I dunno Jade the glasses kinda draw attention to your eyes..." Venice commented

"Why thank you" Jade smiled. 'Was that a genuine smile?' Venice blinked. Most of them have a 'shady mushroom fanatic' vibe or 'curiously too interested in "opportunities'" much like his dorm leader. Venice however was mainly surprised that he seemed genuinely happy.

"Shall we get to the lesson?" Jade picked up a pencil.

"Yup! I'm ready!" Venice commented displaying the thick notebook and the alchemy study guide with its companion workbook. The idea of the study guide was actually just a logbook full of terms, phrases and various ingredients and what they could be substituted for. However Venice had a beginner's study guide which was noticeably thin and like did not have much info.

Jade made a mental note of that.

An hour and a half later, Venice had a full twenty pages worth of notes to study from.

"Let's get a snack!" Venice commented eagerly, seemingly proud of themself for remembering the information Jade told them.

"I already have that arranged. Floyd should be here soon--"

"Hiya Jade! Kurage-chan!"

"Hi Floy-- why do you keep calling me that?" Venice's eyebrow twitched.

"I brought snacks!" Floyd remarked instead.

"Oi" Venice stared at the large sub sandwhiches. Decorated with what they could see to be tomatoes, prosciutto, ham, purple onions mushrooms-- of course. Venice nearly facepalmed.

"Jade you look all scholarly with those glasses," Floyd commented.

Jade nodded. "Thank you Floyd" he grabbed for the sandwich closer to him.

"I don't really like it" Floyd continued.

"Thank you Floyd" Jade remarked before taking a bite of the sandwich. Venice looked between the twins.

"Hey Jade gimme half of your sandwhich" Floyd said after a brief moment of silence.

"Sure" Jade said and in a flash he twirled his lavender gem studded pen and uses some magic spell to slice the sandwhich. Floyd picked up his half then seemed to remember something.

Lifting the bread he found six mushrooms. Jade smiled innocently. Floyd had a change of mind. "On second thought I'll go back to the lounge"

You aren't going to eat your sandwhich?" Jade called after him.

"NOPE!" was the reply as Floyd left the library.

Venice happily munched on the sandwhich. But Jade, whether due to his brother's comment or otherwise, took the glasses off.

When lunch break was over the time to hit the books returned. Jade redonned the glasses.

"Oh hang on a sec so if I come up with the chance to use this I can substitute it for its ground powder form and the potion won't be affected?" Venice asked not long after they started again.

"Of course. As long as you measure accurately it will be fine. You can even use herbs and roots that stem from the same family. Provided the required precautions of safety are in place" Jade reassured.

"Got it" Venice commented writing the helpful information down.

When the study session ended, Jade removed the glasses again. I look forward to future sessions Venice-san Jade smiled.

"Say why'd you offer to help me anyway?" Venice asked as they left the library.

"Why indeed" Jade replied with another genuine smile.

#twisted wonderland #twst wonderland #jade twisted wonderland #jade leech #jade leech x oc #study session prompt #twst fanfic

13 notes · View notes

wisteriashouse · 3 years ago

Text

steamy.

pairing: kamado tanjirou x sumiyuri hayami (oc)

genre: fluff, humour

word count: 9271

a/n: wow look at me rising from the dead for 11/11 as usual a commission from @hinokami-s i’m sorry it took me so long to finish and that i turned the main character into a third wheel 😩👌

Tanjirou hasn’t seen a thing other than darkness for the past three hours.

At least, he thinks it’s been three hours. It’s a little hard to tell the passage of time accurately when you’ve been blindfolded and had earplugs stuffed in your ears. As if that hadn’t been enough, the kakushi had even taken the precaution to stuff his nostrils with two wads of cloth to ensure that the location of the Swordsmith’s Village stayed secret. Sure, he might have a keener sense of smell than others, but the level of caution surrounding the village itself is like nothing he’s ever seen before.

Which is why, Tanjirou supposes, he’s being carried around on the back of a kakushi — the third one he’s been passed to since his journey began. He can’t hear anything due to the ear plugs, but he can feel the uniform shirt of the man growing damp with sweat. Now that he thinks about it, the kakushi is carrying the weight of two — both of him and Nezuko. He’ll have to thank the man somehow once they get to the Swordsmith’s Village.

All of a sudden, he feels the kakushi’s gait slowing gradually before he comes to a complete stop. A little confused at the sudden change of pace, Tanjirou slides off the man’s back, expecting that he’s about to be transferred to yet another kakushi to continue the next leg of the journey, but then his blindfold is removed, and he can see once more.

“We’re here,” the kakushi announces between short, breathless pants — Tanjirou pulls out his water gourd and offers it to the man, who takes it after a moment of hesitation — before he gestures behind him. “I’ll take you to meet the chief in a moment. Just… give me a second to catch my breath.”

“No problem,” Tanjirou says brightly, glancing around at his surroundings. The light is a little too bright, colours a bit too saturated after so long in the dark — he has to take a moment for his sight to readjust itself. The swordsmith’s village seems to be a pleasant place at a glance, with neatly arranged rows of three floored abodes and wisteria trees blooming along the perimeter. The purple boughs add a softer touch to the straight, orderly lines, and the ever blooming flowers lend a gentle aroma to the scent of iron and burning charcoal in the air. Underneath all those layers, however, his nose picks up the faintest trace of a familiar fragrance. Fresh laundry and lavender. He can’t help but glance around for some clue of its owner’s presence, and finds himself inevitably disappointed when he sees none of it.

“I’ll be bringing you to the Chief now.” Just wishful thinking, Tanjirou thinks to himself as he turns to follow after the kakushi. There’s no reason why she would be here, especially after her promotion to the rank of a hashira — he’s probably the only one out of the entirety of the demon slayer corps who’s destroyed his nichirin blades enough times to warrant a personal visit to the swordsmith village itself.

He lights a candle for his future self in his heart. The last time he’d broken his sword, Haganezuka-san had nearly skewered him through with a vegetable knife. This time, the swordsmith hadn’t bothered to come in person, but he had sent a delightful letter with words threatening extreme violence covering every inch of the page. He wonders if he should confess that he’d thrown the sword. Tanjirou prays to the gods that his demise will be painless, at the very least.

The chief of the swordsmith’s village, Tecchin Tecchikahawara, is a small, eccentric man with the dramatic flair of a mischievous elder even with most of his face hidden behind a mask. He tells him that while Haganezuka-san is missing from his abode at the moment, he already has villagers looking for ‘young Hotaru’ and seems far less worried over his swordsmith’s disappearance than Tanjirou feels he should be. Still, it’s not like Tanjirou has any idea where to look for Haganezuka-san in the first place, so he obediently thanks them for their offer to let him use their hot springs and leaves with a box of karinto and mochi tucked under his arm. He’s still standing outside the chief’s abode, wondering what he’s supposed to do with all the snacks they’ve piled him with when the same scent from earlier tugs at his senses once more, demanding his attention.

“Tanjirou!” This time, it’s accompanied by a voice, so familiar it’s sweet to his ears. Tanjirou lets out a sigh and pinches his nose, slightly embarrassed. It’s one thing to have a crush on someone, and another to be acting so… so shamefully in regards to someone he respects both as a fellow slayer and a friend. It reminds him of Zenitsu’s behaviour towards the women they come across on their travels. Tanjirou does not want to be like Zenitsu.

“Tanjirou!”

The voice is closer now, a little louder, more insistent. Strange. He detects a faint hint of annoyance in it, accompanied by the rhythm of a pair of footsteps, one familiar and the other foreign. It’s almost as though she really is here—

He turns around in the direction of the voice just in time for someone to crash into him with the force of a small cannon ball. Gasping as all the air is knocked out of his lungs, Tanjirou glances down to see what he’s holding in his arms when the fragrance of lavender washes over him, too sweet and dizzying to be just his imagination. After his little revelation, he’s too acutely aware of the warmth in his arms, and when the person he’s holding beams up at him, it’s as though the air is being stolen from his lungs all over again.

“Hayami,” is all he manages to get out before she’s trapping him in another rib crushing hug. Hayami laughs at the breathless quality of his voice before she has mercy and eases her hold on him. She still hasn’t released him completely and some stray strands of her hair are ticklish against his nose, but Tanjirou can’t find it in him to bring that up.

“I called you so many times and you didn’t respond to me at all,” Hayami complains, but there’s a twinkle in her eye that tells him that she isn’t actually mad. It really hasn’t been that long, but Tanjirou feels like far too much time has passed since they bid each other farewell the last time. “Did you secretly change your name in the time we were apart? What were you spacing out for?”

“Oh, I just—” thought that I was imagining your voice and your scent, like I’ve been doing ever since I realised that I’ve been crushing on you after that fight with Giichi. Right. Because saying that would go over wonderfully. “I was just wondering where the hot springs are located, since the village chief said I could drop by for a soak before dinner. What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I dropped by because my swordsmith said he had some improvements he wanted to make on my heel blades and needed my measurements.” Hayami smiles warmly at him, and Tanjirou has to force himself to take calming, steady breaths as his heart tries its best to implode in his chest. “And if you don’t know where the hot springs are, I can show you the way—

She doesn’t even manage to finish his sentence when an arm reaches out of nowhere to tug Hayami out of his grasp.

“Darling, don’t walk so fast.” Tanjirou blinks, taken by surprise for a moment by the abrupt interruption. Indignation catches up a second later, and he glances at the newcomer with furrowed brows. For a moment, Tanjirou wonders if he’s another slayer, before he catches sight of the bright red tengu mask pulled to the side to reveal sharp, coal dark eyes. A swordsmith of the village, perhaps. At first glance, he appears playful, but a second, more careful look reveals the calculating, iron-like glint in that gaze. “Come on, you know that my poor legs can’t take this sort of stress, Haya-chan.”

What he’d called Hayami finally processes, and Tanjirou’s eyes widen. “This is…?” he turns to Hayami, trying not to appear as dismayed as he feels. It does not work.

“Oh, right, I forgot the two of you haven’t met before.” Hayami swats at the stranger’s arms half-heartedly, but eventually gives up and lets him leave one arm slung over her shoulder. “Tanjirou, meet Sato Ginjiro. He might look young, but he’s my—”

“—secret husband,” Sato Ginjiro fills in cheerfully. For a moment, there is silence. Tanjirou stares. He understands the word ‘husband’ and he’s familiar with the word ‘secret’. Neither of those words seem to be making sense in this context. “Clandestine relationship and all, we’re a little young to be married right now, and Hayami darling here is just so shy about expressing our love that we—”

Hayami elbows him sharply in the stomach, and it’s to Ginjiro’s credit that his face only goes slightly pale when he bends over. “Babe, I know you like it rough, but let’s keep that in the bedroom, yeah?”

“Stop spouting nonsense,” Hayami scolds flatly, before turning back to Tanjirou with a smile. “Ignore this monkey, he’s an idiot. His only talent aside from swordsmithing is saying phenomenally ridiculous things and finding his way into the females’ side of the bath.” She punctuates this sentence with another jab to Ginjiro’s stomach. “To make things clear, we are not in a relationship. Ginjiro, tell him.”

The swordsmith sighs dramatically, throwing up his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine, you know I’ll go along with whatever story you feel like you need to cook up, darling.” Hayami gives him an unimpressed look, and is about to open her mouth when Ginjiro continues. “I’m not her secret husband.”

“That’s… good to know…” Tanjirou says slowly, still not quite sure what to believe, when Ginjiro pipes up again.

“I’m her future husband.”

“Alright, that’s quite enough from you.” Before Ginjiro can say another word, Hayami plucks a piece of mochi from the box in Tanjirou’s hands and shoves the whole thing into his mouth. “Not another word out of you, or so help me when I finally end up throttling you, you little piece of shit.”

“Mmm, keep going with the dirty talk, I like that.” Another piece of mochi joins the first, more rudely this time. “Mmah ngahh mhmm…”

“We really aren’t in a relationship, he’s just my swordsmith.” Hayami reiterates very clearly, taking advantage of Ginjiro’s momentary inability to speak. “Really.” There’s something insistent in her tone, as if there’s a second meaning behind her words, but Tanjirou is woefully unable to pinpoint what exactly it is. He nods slowly.

“You’re not in a relationship,” he repeats, obedient, and at the very least, Hayami looks relieved before she pulls away. “Ginjiro, this is Kamado Tanjirou, a close friend of mine. I’ve mentioned him in some of my letters before, I think.”

Tanjirou’s cheeks warm at her words. The way that she introduced him as a close friend and the thought that she brings him up in conversations with others is a slightly embarrassing one, but that awkwardness is quickly strong armed aside by the delight he feels. Only good things, he hopes. That pleasantness is quickly dashed when Ginjiro shrugs a shoulder, dismissive. “If you did, I don’t remember any of it.”

At that, Tanjirou finally frowns, eyes narrowing. He can understand being playfully audacious, but there’s a scent of open hostility that hangs around the swordsmith like a thick cloud of smog, mixed with a tinge of possessiveness. Irrational irritation spikes through Tanjirou for a moment, but he quickly tamps it down before it can show on his face. If what Hayami said was true, then Ginjiro has no right to act so possessive over her and make her uncomfortable like that — it’s plain rude. “It’s no worry, Hayami hasn’t mentioned you in any of her letters to me either, so I had no idea who you are.” Oh, that sounds petty. Is he being petty? Why is he even… Suddenly ashamed at his own behaviour, Tanjirou forces a polite smile onto his face before he bows slightly in greeting. “Apologies, I must be tired from the long journey. It’s nice to meet you, Ginjiro-san.”

“Can’t say the same,” Ginjiro says coolly, and before Hayami can scold him again, he’s already tugging at the sleeve of her yukata. “Come on, we really should get going. I still have to take your measurements, and if we don’t hurry the sun will go down before I can finish up. Besides, you promised me dinner afterwards, am I right?”

Hayami purses her lips together at Ginjiro’s words, brow furrowing. “I did, yes, but surely we have enough time to show Tanjirou to the hot springs,” she begins to say, but Ginjiro shakes his head almost immediately.

“It’s a lot of measurements,” he says emphatically. Hayami frowns and opens her mouth, but Ginjiro continues. “A lot of very difficult, complex measurements.”

The swordsmith is laying the dramatics on a bit thick, but Hayami only lets out a sigh and turns to give Tanjirou an apologetic look. He stops her before she can say sorry.

“It’s no problem, really.” Tanjirou is quick to reassure her with a soft smile, playing the diplomat role as usual, as unwilling as he may be. Out of the corner of his eye, he thinks he catches Sato Ginjiro making a face, but Tanjirou decides to ignore it. “The village isn’t very big, I’m sure I can find my way to the hot springs myself. I just hope that…” his voice softens to something a little more shy, bashful, “you’ll have a meal with me tomorrow? It’s been a while since we’ve met, and I... really wanted to spend some time with you.”

It feels a bit off-putting, to be speaking so honestly in front of a stranger, but the words can’t help spilling out of his mouth. He almost regrets it for a moment when Hayami blinks at him, seemingly surprised by his candidness, before all thoughts of regret are blown away when her lips curve up into a pretty smile.

“Sure! I’d like that!” she says brightly. Ginjiro’s face looks as though he’s swallowed a particularly acidic lemon whole, rind and all. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then!”

With that agreement made, even when Ginjiro pulls Hayami along the path with him (all while shooting Tanjirou fierce looks), Tanjirou can’t find it in himself to feel too upset about it. Smiling to himself, he turns and sets off in the direction of the hot springs, a spring in his step.

Recently, Hayami is, for a lack of better words to describe the way she is feeling, utterly bemused.

Her trip to the swordsmith’s village had been a decision made on the spur of the moment — as reluctantly fond as she is of her swordsmith, she usually tries not to indulge Ginjiro’s wheedling too much. In the latest letter he’d sent via kasugai crow, though, he’d mentioned that he’d constructed a few new prototypes for her heel blades, and if she could just please drop by the village if she was free so that he could get her measurements and start on the construction.

There was also a lot of whining in the letter about how long it’d been since he’d last seen her face to face and how he was missing his dearest ‘wifey’, but ridiculous flirting aside, Hayami knows that Ginjiro is fiercely devoted to ensuring that she stays alive. And he isn’t wrong either, she has missed him since she so rarely breaks her blades now. So, eventually, she’d caved to his requests, contacting the kakushi and arranging for her to be brought to the secretive swordsmith village.

And the first couple of days here have been nice. Great, actually, if she leaves out Ginjiro’s latest attempts to peep at her while she was relaxing in the female side of the hot springs. Her fellow hashira Mitsuri happened to be at the swordsmith village as well, and had taken Hayami around for a cat petting marathon around the village. That coupled with soaking in the hot springs for the past two days had done wonders to make her relax… until she’d seen a familiar green and black checkered haori outside the village chief’s abode. It’s not that she’s unhappy to see Tanjirou, it couldn’t be further from that, actually! It’s just that the boy’s presence is… significantly detrimental to her heart rate and ‘relaxation’.

Still, she had been trying to look less excitedly pleased than she actually felt while greeting Tanjirou enthusiastically — she needs to maintain some form of composure, she is a hashira now, after all — when Ginjiro had just decided to… not click with her friend.

“Secret husband,” he’d called himself, with that familiar shit eating grin on his face. “Future husband.” If it’d just been the two of them, Hayami would have clobbered him over the head with his own mask. She knows that she’s mentioned Tanjirou in her letters to Ginjiro, multiple times, in fact. Why her swordsmith is suddenly adopting this petty attitude is beyond her, and she tells him so.

All she gets in response is a shrug and what looks like the beginnings of a pout as Taiki, Ginjiro’s pet shiba inu, attempts to bite off one of his owner’s fingers. “I just don’t like that guy,” he says mildly, as though it’s perfectly normal to dislike people upon first meeting. Then, after a pause, he adds on, “his face looks ugly”, like that explains anything.

Tanjirou is not ugly, excuse you! Hayami happens to like that face very much!

“That’s not a good reason to dislike someone,” Hayami says instead, folding her arms over her chest as she follows Ginjiro into his forge. Her swordsmith is about to open his mouth to say something when Taiki leaps up and chomps down hard on Ginjiro’s ass. The measuring string and papers he’s holding go all over the floor.

“Ow!”

Hayami clicks her tongue in disapproval, but it’s too half-hearted for it to have any real bite — she can’t help the soft spot she has for the tiny dog. “Taiki, that’s rude,” she scolds, holding her arms out. At the sight, the little shiba inu immediately forgets all about Ginjiro’s rear and goes bouncing into her arms like an overly affectionate cannonball. “There, there. Ginjiro, you’re making a ugly expression right now, you know that?”

Ginjiro holds up a hand. “No expression can possibly make this handsome face look ugly,” he says, disgustingly sincere. Hayami considers setting Taiki on him again, but sighs instead, depositing Taiki outside the door before turning back to Ginjiro, who’s busying himself with the heap of drafts and diagrams littered across his table and back very firmly turned to her.

Oh, he’s sulking. He’s definitely sulking. Right, it has been months since she’s been to visit, and Ginjiro had been excitedly telling her all about the things he wanted to see and do with her the second she’d arrived. Tanjirou’s appearance had been a pleasant surprise for her, sure, but for Ginjiro...

“I’m not asking you to like Tanjirou,” she says softly, trying to sound as reasonable as possible, and Ginjiro turns around to look at her, coal eyes reflecting the flickering flames in the furnace. “But he’s a really nice guy, and I honestly think that the two of you would get along really well if you weren’t so insistent on disliking him—” Ginjiro tugs irritably at the red tassel hanging from his ear, and Hayami instantly changes tune. “The two of you are my close friends,” she gentles her voice, “so I’d be really, really happy if the two of you got along. You don’t need to, but please just try, alright?”

Ginjiro makes that face again, but at least he looks like he’s only swallowed half a lemon this time. “I can… try,” he answers grudgingly, as though Hayami has just asked him to pull out his own teeth. Hayami beams at him and reaches over to pat him on the head.

“Thank you. Now let’s finish up the measurements so that we can grab dinner, I’m starving.”

Ginjiro only sighs loudly.

Ginjiro… tries to get along with Tanjirou, over the course of the next few days. Or at least, Hayami thinks he’s trying. That’s the reason he keeps showing up unannounced whenever she’s with Tanjirou… right?

(She knows it isn’t, but if she doesn’t at least try to delude herself, she’s actually going to go insane.)

“Darling!”

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Tanjirou’s face twist a little at that now familiar voice and has to hold back yet another sigh. She’s starting to sound like an old biddy in her eighties instead of the young hashira in her prime that she is.

“You’ve been very... free recently?” Hayami says, lowering her sword from where it’s held against Tanjirou’s neck in a demonstration of moves. It comes out more of a question than the statement it’s meant to be. Ginjiro is sauntering onto the middle of the training field, a good-for-nothing grin on his handsome face as usual. In stark contrast, Tanjirou’s expression is gloomy, as though a thundercloud has settled over a perfectly sunny afternoon. “Didn’t you say that you were in a rush to finish the blades? You seem to have been slacking off lately.”

You’ve been appearing practically everywhere as of late. Oh wait, maybe you’ve been appearing every time Tanjirou and I are together would be more accurate. Tanjirou is her friend too, she can spend some time with him if she wants to!

“Hayami-chan, you know I’d never do that when it comes to your blades. Cross my heart and everything,” Ginjiro laughs with an easy smile as he steps very smoothly between her and Tanjirou, holding up a nicely packed bento box before she can say anything. “Look, I worked hard and made a bento box for you all on my own! Won’t you reward me with a kiss?”

“Who asked you to make me a bento box,” Hayami mutters under her breath, but she takes it carefully from him, her irritation placated slightly. Ginjiro is a good cook, and though he rarely finds himself in the mood to step into the kitchen, his desserts are still to die for. Ah, but Hayami will never admit that to him unless she’s on her deathbed — inflate his ego too much and he’ll probably float off into the sky like an actual hot air balloon.

“Good to see you too, Ginjiro-san,” Tanjirou mutters under his breath. It’s only because it’s ‘angel given human form’ Tanjirou saying it that his words don’t sound totally sarcastic, and even then Hayami still has to bite back a wince.

“Ah, sorry, I forgot about you,” Ginjiro says breezily, not sounding the least bit sorry at all. From the look on Tanjirou’s face, he probably doesn’t believe the swordsmith either. “You’ll have to get your own lunch from somewhere else, ah?”

The two of them then proceed to stare at each other, Tanjirou with seemingly forced neutrality while Ginjiro shamelessly grins like he’s trying to get his face punched without warning. Hayami stands awkwardly between the two of them, wondering just what on earth she’s supposed to do to pacify them. Gods, it’s like taking care of two toddlers.

“Ah... no worries, I can always share with Tanjirou,” Hayami begins to say, slowly unwrapping the cloth around the bento. Both boys whip their heads around to stare at her so quickly she can almost hear the sound of the bones in their necks snapping.

“No, darling, that’s for you, and you only!”

Tanjirou is a little more polite about it. “I can cook as well, it’s no problem for me.” Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turns to Hayami with a slight smile. There’s a slight pink dusting over his cheeks, large chestnut eyes suddenly shy, and Hayami has to glance to the side for a moment before she has a heart attack or something fatal like that. “You liked the sakura mochi I made last time, didn’t you?”

Ahh, right. The first time Tanjirou had invited her out on a picnic under the sakura trees, to see the blooming flowers in the spring. Hayami had spent entire days leading up to that picnic just trying to figure out what Tanjirou had meant by that invitation (surely he had to know that seeing the cherry blossoms alone together was some sort of romantic proposition), but the boy had just pulled out a picnic basket, sat under the tree with her and offered her some new sweets that Senjurou had taught him how to make.

It was only later that she found out from Zenitsu (of all people) that yes, Tanjirou had no idea of those customs having lived in the mountains all his life . Hayami had tried to convince herself that she wasn’t too disappointed.

But that’s all besides the point. “Mm, the best I’ve ever tasted,” she answers with a smile of her own. Hayami isn’t lying or doing anything to make Tanjirou feel better — though Senjurou’s has undeniably better texture and technique, no other sakura mochi has managed to taste quite as sweet as the ones that he made her that day.

It’s a simple, honest statement, but Tanjirou’s face lights up almost immediately. “I’ll make some for you soon,” he promises. Hayami’s halfway to beaming when she catches sight of the mutinous look on Ginjiro’s face. Oh, right. The bento.

“I can learn to make sakura mochi too,” Ginjiro declares out of nowhere, not even bothering to hide the way he’s glaring at Tanjirou now. Tanjirou’s smile becomes strained. Hayami really just wants to eat her bento in peace.

“I could teach you, if you wanted,” Tanjirou offers slowly, because he’s Tanjirou. For a moment, Ginjiro’s arrogant expression crumples as he gapes openly at Tanjirou, before it’s schooled back in an instant.

“Who needs your help? I can learn it just fine by myself!”

“I was just offering to help, you don’t have to accept it if you don’t want to…”

Hayami takes a step back from the two arguing boys. “I’m… gonna go eat the bento now.” Neither of them seem to hear her.

“You’re making fun of me, aren’t you? You’re thinking that I can’t learn how to make such a simple dessert on my own?”

“You’re being ridiculous. I didn’t learn it by myself, anyway, I picked it up from a friend! Why would I make fun of you for something like that? It doesn’t make sense in the least!”

“I’m going to go now,” Hayami repeats again, to no one in particular. “Itadakimasu.”

“That’s because you…”

She flees the scene before the argument can devolve into absolute madness, rolling her eyes as she goes.

Men.

“I’m sorry for being late,” is what Hayami greets Tanjirou with when she slides open the door to his room.

It’s only early evening, but the room is lit completely by candlelight, dark squares of thick fabric tacked over the only window to ensure no sunlight touches the interior of the room. In the corner, Hayami sees the form of a little girl wrapped in a familiar pink kimono, eyes almost luminous in the dim light. Hayami instantly holds out her arms in delight.

“Nezuko!”

The demon girl is in her embrace less than a second later, arms wrapped around her waist as she squeezes. Hayami treats and dotes on Nezuko like she’s the younger sister she’s never had (how can she not when Neuzko is just so adorable), and it’s been so long since she’s seen Nezuko that she can’t help but scoop her up and twirl her around the room in excitement.

Behind her bamboo muzzle, Nezuko lets out a series of happy noises.

“She’s been scratching at her box all day. I think she was impatient to see you,” Tanjirou says from where he’s sitting next to a low table, two bento boxes stacked on its surface. Hayami coos at that, reaching out to pinch Nezuko’s steamed bun cheeks in delight when Tanjirou adds on, a little quieter now. “I was, too.”

“Oh,” Hayami responds absentmindedly as she takes a seat, still playing with Nezuko’s hair when Tanjirou’s words finally sink in. It’s not a good thing that she kept him waiting, of course, but still… she can’t help the slight heat warming her cheeks. “I, uh, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting, the food must have gotten cold. Ginjiro said he wanted to make some modifications to the heel blades after the testing, so I left the forges a little late.”

Even in the flickering light of the candles, she can see the way Tanjirou’s face instantly goes weary at the mention of Ginjiro’s name before he manages to cover it up. It’s the same look he wears when Zenitsu is being particularly trying, or when Inosuke is simply, well, being too much of himself. She can’t really blame him for feeling that way, not with how… difficult Ginjiro has been acting over the past week. Barging into their time together, appearing seemingly at random… even now, Hayami is subconsciously watching the sliding door out of the corner of her eye, convinced that Ginjiro will come barreling into the room any second now.

“About Ginjiro,” she begins to say as Nezuko climbs into her lap like a cat seeking warmth, but Tanjirou only shakes his head with a slightly rueful smile and hands her a box of food along with a pair of chopsticks. Hayami takes them gratefully.

“There’s no need to apologise for his behaviour. That’s his problem, not yours,” he reassures her gently, and Hayami nods. She’s letting her fingers curl through Nezuko’s hair absentmindedly when Tanjirou inhales deeply and suddenly adds on. “Besides, he’s not… entirely bad. Yesterday afternoon, he came to me and asked how to make sakura mochi.”

“Mm, that’s nice,” Hayami answers on reflex as she begins digging into her bento. One mouth of steamed rice later, she pauses, stares down at her bento box in shock, and apparently forgets how to eat, because the food goes down the wrong pipe and Sumiyuri Hayami, seasoned demon slayer and Swan hashira who’s killed an upper ranked demon, is going to end up dying from a mouthful of carbohydrate.

“Hayami!” Tanjirou cries out in a panic and rushes to her side immediately to smack her back. Fortunately, Hayami manages to swallow that cursed mouth of rice properly before staring at Tanjirou with wide, teary eyes. “Who?”

Tanjirou shrugs, looking just as baffled as she feels. “Ginjiro-san, of course,” he answers, and Hayami wonders if she’s died of asphyxiation and has moved on to some strange variation of the afterlife. “I know, I was just as surprised as you are. He spent the whole afternoon practicing. Turns out he wanted to learn my recipe so that he can make better tasting sakura mochi than me.”

Hayami is stunned for a moment. With how Ginjiro has been acting, she never would have thought that he would approach Tanjirou for anything… no, wait, that’s… quite like Ginjiro, actually. He’s never been one to back down from a challenge.

“I hope he didn’t cause too much trouble,” she says. Nezuko whines and nudges at her hand, where it’s fallen still on her lap. She resumes combing through the soft strands. “I know that Ginjiro can be… difficult, but I assure you, he’s really a nice person deep down. He’s just… possessive with his friends, since there aren’t many swordsmiths of his age in the village.”

Tanjirou’s skepticism is thinly veiled, but he shrugs, before turning back to his own bento to shovel food into his own mouth. “I’m not surprised that he’s so needy with your attention and time,” he admits between bites of his dinner. “All the time he was making the sakura mochi, he just kept mentioning how he wouldn’t give up until you admit that his cooking is better than mine. He’s got a terrible way of showing it, but… I think he genuinely likes you.”

Hayami blinks, startled by Tanjirou’s abrupt statement. Playful, devil-may-care Ginjiro? Liking her? When she glances over at him, however, Tanjirou is very determinedly chewing on his rice, eyes fixed on the floor. “N-nah,” she rushes to clarify, her laughter stilted and painfully awkward as she loops a lock of hair around her finger. “We’re… uh, we’re just close friends, you know? Besides, as good of a friend he is...” Hayami swallows, the words hanging from the tip of her tongue. “I… don’t think he’s my type. Romantically, if you get what I mean.”

The two of them eat together in awkward silence for a while, but Hayami’s heart is beating so loudly in her chest she swears that Tanjirou can hear it.

“...mm.” A soft breath, a pause. Then a slow, steady exhale. “Then, Hayami, what sort of person is your type?”

Hayami almost chokes again, but manages to catch herself this time. Tanjirou! The person that’s her type is sitting right in front of her, looking at her with very wide, genuinely curious eyes and asking her that very question! But there’s no way she can say that, so instead, she simply takes a sip from her cup of sencha before answering carefully.

“Well, someone who’s honest, first of all.” Tanjirou’s sweet candidness is one of the first things that had made her take notice of him. After her childhood, and after Atsujirou… her lips press into a thin line at the unpleasant memories flooding through her mind. “I want someone who’s genuine and kind. Someone who I know I can rely on to have my back. A person who’s hard working, positive…” she trails off when she realises that she’s basically been describing Tanjirou the whole time, “and most of all… someone who I can trust with my life… and with my heart.”

Tanjirou is silent, and for a moment Hayami wonders if she sounds too idealistic, or if her standards are too high. Embarrassment twists in her stomach, and she’s just about to break the silence with a joke or a laugh when Tanjirou suddenly speaks up.

“That sounds like a very wonderful person,” Tanjirou turns to her with a small smile. His chestnut eyes are warm and open in the candlelight, and for a moment, Hayami finds herself unable to look away, like a moth entranced by a flame. “If anyone deserves such a person, it’s you, Hayami.”

Pause, pause, pause. Since when did Tanjirou get so smooth? Who was teaching him to speak like this? Shinobu? Zenitsu? Surely not Inosuke. Hayami can barely handle an awkward, shy Tanjirou. She definitely doesn’t know what to do with this quietly confident and smooth variation.

“Thanks,” she manages to get out. Tanjirou just beams in response, like a sun personified, before his cheeks colour a little and he glances down at the bowl of rice in his hands.

“I also just wanted to ask…” he adds on slowly, seemingly more hesitant this time, “what do you think about me—”

“Hayami darling!” Tanjirou and Hayami both whip around in shock to see Ginjiro throw the sliding door open behind them, a pink furoshiki in hand. “I brought—” His words cut off abruptly when he catches sight of Nezuko’s head pillowed on Hayami’s thigh, the big pink eyes that glow slightly in the dim light, sharp claws adorning the end of each finger. Next to her, Hayami can feel Tanjirou tense, subconsciously shifting into a slightly more protective position, before Hayami realises that this is the first time Ginjiro is seeing Nezuko face to face.

Right, the members of the demon slayer corps might have been informed about Nezuko and Tanjirou’s situation, but it didn’t mean that they had to like it or even agree with it. While oyakata’s sanction does prevent any members of the corps from outright hurting either of the Kamado siblings, it can’t possibly stop others from looking down at them.

Still, Hayami thinks she knows Ginjiro, after so many years of friendship, and Ginjiro isn’t the sort of person who would discriminate against demons without reason. Or at least she hopes that he isn’t.

Ginjiro stares at the little demon girl. Nezuko stares back, like she’s studying a particularly interesting insect on the wall.

Hayami clears her throat lightly to divert Ginjiro’s attention to her. “I don’t believe the two of you have met,” she says, resting her hand on the crown of Nezuko’s head as she looks up at her friend. “Ginjiro, this is Nezuko, Tanjirou’s sister. Nezuko, this is Sato Ginjiro, a friend of onee-chan’s.” Ginjiro continues to stare, brows even more furrowed this time, and Hayami bites her lower lip. “Ginjiro, I know this is your first time seeing her, but why on earth are you making that face—”

Dark eyes narrowed, Ginjiro strides right over to where Hayami is sitting so that he looms over her and Nezuko, arms crossed over his chest now. Tanjirou is just beginning to rise to his feet when Ginjiro lunges.

“That’s my lap, demon kid!” Ginjiro protests, marching right over to Nezuko and tickling her sides relentlessly in the manner only an experienced older sibling can possess after years of training. Nezuko’s pink eyes go wide before she makes adorable, aborted little noises around her bamboo gag that sound suspiciously like helpless laughter. Halfway off the ground, Tanjirou stares at the sight before him with no small measure of surprise. “Get off! Find your own lap pillow! Hayami’s lap is mine!”

“My lap belongs to me,” Hayami snaps back, swatting Ginjiro’s arms away from the young demon girl in her lap. Right… Ginjiro has a younger sister about Nezuko’s age as well. Sulking, Ginjiro casts one more look at her lap before holding out the pink furoshiki to her.

“Here!” he says brightly, dark eyes gleaming with no small measure of satisfaction. “I heard you were having dinner and decided to make you some dessert! Ah, none for you, though,” he tosses over his shoulder at Tanjirou, who looks like it’s taking the effort of the Sun Breathing style to keep the smile on his face. “I learnt it all in a day! I’m pretty amazing, right?”

A little exasperated by Ginjiro’s seemingly chronic inability to leave her and Tanjirou alone but also unable to deny the sweets he’s offering, Hayami has no choice but to open up the little furoshiki to reveal a box lined with…

“Sakura mochi?” she asks, bewildered. Yes, Tanjirou had mentioned that Ginjiro had sought him out yesterday to learn how to make these traditional wagashi, but to master them so quickly… The pretty pink treats are lined up in uniform, neat rows, tops dusted with powdered sugar. “But why?”

“Try them,” Ginjiro insists, picking one up from the box and holding it up to her lips. Frowning but finding her hands full of a certain demon child, Hayami has no choice but to open her mouth and take a quick bite. The cherry blossom leaf is salty, but the taste is instantly balanced out by the soft chewiness of the mochi and the sweetness of the red bean filling. She can’t help licking the corner of her lips, and Ginjiro catches on to that, immediately looking far too pleased with himself. “It’s good, isn’t it?” He holds out another piece to her.

Hayami grumbles, adjusting Nezuko in her lap so that she can take the sweets herself. As if she’s just going to sit here and let Ginjiro shamelessly feed her. “If you already know that then why bother asking me—”

Another mouth appears out of nowhere and takes a bite out of the sakura mochi between Ginjiro’s fingers. For a moment, Hayami finds herself unable to do anything but stare in mute horror while Ginjiro’s eyes are so wide he resembles a bug. As if completely unperturbed by both their expressions, Tanjirou simply continues to chew thoughtfully before swallowing — the only indication that there is something out of place the red staining the tips of his ears.

“Ah, Ginjiro-san, I hope you won’t mind that I helped myself to a bite,” Tanjirou says, voice tinged with the slightest bit of annoyance, but Hayami is still just staring because she has no idea what just happened. “The red bean paste is a little bit too sweet, but you’ve done well for someone who’s just learned how to make them yesterday.”

At his words, Ginjiro makes an offended noise as though someone has stepped on his foot, his expression growing indignant. “I made those for my wife.”

“And I’m sure she’ll be happy to receive them when you do get one in the future,” Tanjirou answers beatifically, without batting an eyelash. Ginjiro’s eye twitches before he sputters in outrage.

“I’m marrying Hayami in the future!”

The apparent bride-to-be only makes a face. “Don’t push your delusions onto me, Ginjiro…” she mutters, but the swordsmith doesn’t seem to hear a word she’s saying. Letting out a sigh, she leans down to cover Nezuko’s ears with her hands. “Don’t listen to the bad talk, Nezuko-chan.” The demon snuggles against her thigh, completely disinterested.

“Hayami prefers my sweets! I made them sweeter than the recipe for her, according to her tastes!” Ginjiro is saying, his arms waving around wildly. Tanjirou sets his bowl to the side, folding his arms over his chest.

“I already adjusted my original recipe to suit Hayami’s preferences, so yours is just overly sweet now,” Tanjirou retorts. They’re glaring at each other so closely now that Hayami finds herself briefly wondering if they’re going to kiss. Ginjiro had been the one to barge in, but she’s the one who’s feeling like a third wheel now. Wow. She’s packing up the box of sakura mochi as inconspicuously as she can, intending to make a run for it before it devolves into a total shitshow, when Ginjiro and Tanjirou both turn to her simultaneously with an unnerving intensity in their eyes.

Hayami inches back, hands raising up in the universal sign of surrender. “Uhm, guys…”

“Hayami!”

“Babe!”

The two eye each other again before turning to her. “Whose sakura mochi tastes better?”

Hayami feels like a mother trapped between two clingy children. Honestly, she had come to the swordsmith’s village to relax, not play babysitter to her two fully grown friends. And she’s at the end of her patience for today.

“Enough!” she barks out, remembering to keep her hands pressed firmly over Nezuko’s innocent ears. “The two of you are being absolutely ridiculous today. I came here to have a nice, peaceful meal, and if that is not what I am getting, then I am leaving.” She levels both of them with a glare, the one aimed at Ginjiro’s significantly more terrifying. He’s the one who crashed their meal, after all. Tanjirou already looks sufficiently contrite. “Now, I’ll leave the two of you to your little… lovers’ quarrel while I go run some errands. Don’t follow me,” she adds, as an afterthought.

With that, she pats Nezuko on the head and rises to her feet before leaving the room.

A long soak in the hot springs ought to do her blood pressure some good.

With that, Ginjiro and Tanjirou are left alone in the room, neither of them making deliberate eye contact with each other. The awkwardness in the room is stifling.

Completely unaware of the mood, Nezuko only hums around her muzzle, making her way back to the box where she curls up against the wall. Tanjirou lets out an exhale, hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Hayami was… not wrong, especially about the way Tanjirou and GInjiro have both been acting. You’re more cool-headed than this, Tanjirou, he scolds himself with a frown. Stealing the sakura mochi was a bit out of character, he admits, but Tanjirou has also had quite enough of Ginjiro ruining his private time with Hayami. Still…

“Do you think she’s actually mad—” he begins to say, and is taken by surprise when Ginjiro suddenly darts off at full speed, a big grin on his face and not at all like someone who’s just been glared at by their crush.

This, of course, is instantly suspicious. So he chases after the swordsmith.

“Ginjiro-san, what on earth are you doing?” he questions sharply once he catches up with Ginjiro, who’s long left most of the village itself behind and is heading up the rocky path to… the hot springs? “Going for a soak now> Really?”

“You don’t get it, man,” Ginjiro answers, not paying him any mind at all as he continues up the path with barely concealed excitement. “You don’t know what Hayami means when she says she’s running an errand, do you?”

No, he doesn’t, but that’s beside the point. Tanjirou tries to feel less irritated than he actually is at the thought that Ginjiro knows Hayami better than he does. “No, I don’t. What do you mean?”

Ginjiro turns around to give him a shit eating grin, like the cat who’s just got the canary. “It means she’s going to the hot springs, man.”

Tanjirou blinks. That’s… perfectly ordinary? Plenty of people at the swordsmith’s village go to the hot spring every day. “And…?”

Ginjiro rolls his eyes. “You can drop the innocent act now. It’s not like Hayami’s around to see it.” With that, he picks up the pace as he strides towards the hot springs… the female side of the hot springs.

It clicks.

“No!” Tanjirou yelps, diving at Ginjiro to tackle him to the ground. His own face feels hot with mortification even though he’s not the one who wants to do such… disgraceful acts. “What are you doing? You can’t just peep at her while she’s naked! What about her honour?”

“Come on, bro, it’s just... admiration! Just one look! Admiration of her physicality… for more accurate measurements!” Ginjiro struggles against him. The scent of bullshit has never been so strong.

“That’s a lie and you know it! You’re just a pervert—” Tanjirou is definitely superior in strength as a demon slayer, but Ginjiro isn’t weak either, with all the work he does in the forge. And somehow, in their little struggle, Ginjiro manages to slip free and goes barreling towards the hot springs, the scent of excitement coming off him in waves.

Tanjirou throws himself at Ginjiro, and the two of them go crashing into the bamboo screen separating the male and female sides of the bath. The two of them go rolling one over the other on the wet rock, both yelling incoherently the entire time, before they come to a stop right next to the edge of a pool.

Right next to Hayami. A very shocked, furious, and naked Hayami.

“We are getting out of here right now!” Tanjirou yells in a panic as he averts his eyes, whether to Hayami or to Ginjiro, he doesn’t know, but he does end up slapping a hand over Ginjiro’s eyes before he can see anything that’s not meant to be seen. “Ginjiro, let’s go!”

“Kamado, bro, just one look, I swear I’ll sell you my left kidney—”

“Who wants your kidney!”

“Sato Ginjiro!” Though the hot springs are warm, neither of them can stop the chill going down their spines at the sound of Hayami’s snarl. During the time the two of them had been fighting, Hayami had found the time to grab a towel and wrap it around her, much to Tanjirou’s relief and Ginjiro’s very abject disappointment. “Explain yourself!”

“I’m so, so sorry, Hayami, I’ll get him out right away,” Tanjirou apologises over and over again as he drags Ginjiro back, trying his very best to avoid looking at anything remotely Hayami at all. His heart is racing so hard its beat seems to have blended into a buzz in his ears. Ginjiro, the slimey little snake he is, somehow manages to slip out of Tanjirou’s grip, yanking Tanjirou’s hands off and desperately looking in Hayami’s direction…

… only to get a towel in the face.

The wet cloth hits him with a painful smack and Ginjiro yelps, stumbling backwards. He’s barely pulled the towel off his head when Hayami is on him with a flurry of smacks and a wet towel substituting as a whip. Tanjirou winces, but can’t really bring himself to feel sympathetic — he deserves it.

“Ow, ow, have mercy!” Ginjiro squawks as Hayami gives him a severe beatdown. “I wasn’t trying to do anything!”

“You disgraceful bastard!” Hayami lands a kick on his rear and the boy goes scrambling to his feet, still looking completely unrepentant. “Do you want me to break your finger one more time? Or should I gouge your eyes out this time so you can never do this again?”

At the mention of his broken finger, Ginjiro pales impressively before he’s running out of the hot springs as fast as his feet can take him. Hayami glares at his retreating back, wondering if she should give chase and teach him a lesson that he’ll never forget, before she remembers that Tanjirou is still here. Turning around, she sees Tanjirou still standing next to the pool, hands tightly clasped over his eyes.

“Sorry, Hayami, I really, really tried to stop him once I found out what he was doing,” Tanjirou apologises so quickly that his face is rapidly turning red. “I swear, I’m not here to peep on you! I know it looks like I came here with him, but that’s really not—!”

Hayami grabs him by the shoulders in an attempt to stop his little mental breakdown. “Hey, hey. Calm down, I know it wasn’t you. You’re not like that.” Tanjirou presses his hands more firmly over his eyes, trying not to let out a whimper. She leans in to give him a small hug. “I promise I’m not mad, okay?”

It’s only when Tanjirou goes deathly still in her hold does she realise, oh right, she’s still half naked.

She just grabbed Tanjirou while wrapped only in a towel. Hayami had been calling Ginjiro a pervert before turning around and doing the exact same thing. Flustered, she gently shoves Tanjirou a few steps back before practically throwing herself into hot springs. Out of the corner of her eye, she catches sight of Tanjirou’s face having gone pure crimson.

“I-I,” her voice sounds terrible, so she clears her throat and tries again. “I’ll just be… here.” That’s lame.

“R-right,” Tanjirou’s voice sounds painfully shy. “I’ll… be off then.”

It’s only after she hears his footsteps completely fade into the distance that she dunks her face into the spring water and lets out a soundless scream.

There’s a knock at Tanjirou’s room late at night.

He swallows, the scent of lavender and slight awkwardness lingering outside the door. Carefully, he makes his way over to the door and slides it open to reveal Hayami standing behind it. She looks far more composed than she did this evening in the hot springs (bad Tanjirou, we don’t think about things like that!), although there’s still a hint of red on her cheeks. “Can I come in?”

“R-right,” he steps aside to let her in, and the two of them make their way to the adjoining veranda where Nezuko is already playing with a few origami animals that Tanjirou had been making for her. The moon is full and round in the sky. “I let Nezuko out for a bit since she’s been a bit restless being stuck inside for a while.”

“That’s ah, nice.” Hayami wants to cry at how eloquent she’s being. One of her hands reaches up to tug restlessly at the end of her ponytail. “About earlier, I’m, uh…”

Sorry? Sorry for yelling? Sorry for grabbing you while half naked? Sorry for kind of… enjoying it? Some part of her dignity had drowned in those hot springs. It doesn’t seem like it’s making a reappearance anytime soon.

“No need to apologise,” Tanjirou speaks up before she can find a way to finish her sentence. He looks equally embarrassed, if anything, red staining his cheeks and the tips of his ears. “I know you were just trying to reassure me.”

Hayami is still mortified, but there’s two of them now, so it doesn’t feel… as bad. In a bid to change the topic to more lighthearted things, she sighs and shakes her head. “Ginjiro, though… I really need to have some stern words with him. Or really break his arm this time.”

The topic change tactic works, because Tanjirou whips around to stare at her, eyes wide. “This time? He… he’s done this before?”

Hayami makes a face. “The first time I met my assigned swordsmith was through a peeping hole in the hot springs,” she recalls, remembering the look on Ginjiro’s face when she’d tossed the wooden basin she’d been using at his head after spotting him. “Then I broke his finger. The next time we saw each other was in the village hall, and he was being presented as my swordsmith.”

Tanjirou lets out an exasperated snort of amusement. “He hasn’t changed, then?”

“Not in the least.”

The two of them sit there for a moment in companionable silence, Hayami reaching out to fold an origami lily when Nezuko offers her a square of green paper. When it’s done, she turns around and hands it to Tanjirou. “Here,” she offers, a sheepish smile on her face. Tanjirou blinks at her. “As an apology for how everything’s been going this week.”

“I already told you, you don’t need to apologise.”

She smiles. “Then, just as a gift to a friend?” Tanjirou looks at her for a moment, before his eyes drop to the paper flower in her hands. He takes it, and her heart lifts. “Green really is your colour—” Her breath catches in her throat.

Because Tanjirou is leaning over, the slightly roughened pads of his fingertips brushing the shell of her ear. When he pulls away, the origami lily she’d just folded is tucked behind her ear. “Very pretty,” he says quietly, a small smile on his face, and Hayami has to take deep breaths before she spontaneously erupts into flames. He’s talking about the flower, she tells herself sternly. The flower, the flower, the flower!

“Oh, right,” she says suddenly, trying to distract herself from the heat in her cheeks. “Earlier during dinner, before Ginjiro came… you were asking me a question?”

At that, Tanjirou stills and then turns away abruptly, but not before she sees the faint pink on his face.

“Ahh, that…” he looks awkward for a moment, but then he smiles. “I’ll tell you another time.”

Hayami snorts. “What’s with the mysterious attitude?” She shifts to nudge Tanjirou in the side. “Tell me!”

“Nope, sorry.”

“Please?”

“No.”

Above them, the stars twinkle in the night sky, and when Hayami returns to her own rooms for the night, the faintest light of dawn has started to touch the tops of mountains in the distance.

And the origami lily still tucked in her hair.

#demon #demon slayer #demon slayer fanfiction #tanjiro #kimetsu no yaiba tanjiro #tanjirou #kamado tanjirō #kamado tanjiro x reader #kimetsu no yaiba #kny #kny fanfic #kny tanjiro kamado

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emma-nation · 4 years ago

Text

The Devil In I - Bela x OC (Resident Evil Village AU)

“Step inside, see the Devil in I”

Summary: Aleena Novak is a 19 years old orphan who desired more than living in a village in the middle of nowhere. A talented artist with a big future ahead, she gets the scholarship of her dreams in United States. But everything changes when her twin brother, Auryk, steals an important artifact from Castle Dimitrescu.

In this adventure, Aleena will find way more than she expected.

“You’ll realize I’m not your Devil anymore”

Pairing: Bela Dimitrescu x OC

Genre: Between T and M (Trigger warning for violence, blood, abuse and eventual smut)

Tag List: @nydeiri

Notes: This is my first RES fic, so I'm sorry if I mess it up a bit. English is also not my main language, so a mistake or two may happen. I hope you enjoy it :)

Trigger Warning: Language, abuse, blood and violence.

Eastern Europe - July, 2009

"If he could learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?"

Mother closed the book, placing it on the bedside table between Auryk's bed and mine. Then, she lowered herself and kissed my forehead like she did every night. Her long, blonde hair tickled my face and left a trace of her sweet lavender fragrance in the air. I giggled.

"Good night, sweetheart," she spoke.

"Good night, momma."

"Cherish your last night as a six years old. Tomorrow you will become a..."

"Princess?!"

"A seven years old girl. The prettiest girl in the village."

"Pffft," Auryk let out a displeased grunt from his bed, covering his head with the pillow to avoid listening another word from the conversation.

"And you too," mother sat by his side on the bed and repeated her nightly ritual of kissing his forehead to wish him a good night too. "You'll become the most handsome and brave warrior in this village. Do you understand?"

"I hope so. Good night, mom."

"Good night, buddy."

Mother left the room, leaving us both in the dark. However, we couldn't sleep. Not because we were thrilled about our incoming birthday party as any regular child, but because we knew our lives were about to change. Seven years old was the age every child from our village was introduced to the truth and started being trained to fight the evil that haunted our lands. Auryk and I spent minutes, or maybe hours, in silence, staring at the ceiling.

"Leena?" He was the first one to speak. "Do you believe a spell can broken? I mean, like a curse?"

"I don't know, Ryk," I answered, feeling my thoughts starting to drift away. "Maybe we're doomed after all. Or... we could learn how to love the beasts."

The birthday parties always happened during the daytime, rules of the village. We could no longer be outside after 6 PM. Mother got help from the other women to prepare the treats and organize the decorations. Auryk was disguised as a pirate and I... I was Belle, from the Beauty and the Beast.

"So, what do you think you will be getting this year?" My best friend Elena asked while we were playing with our dolls. She was about two years older than us.

"I don't know," I shrugged. Being a merchant, my father always returned home with the most unusual gifts: a magical music box, a voodoo doll that had a life on its own or a fragrance that chased away the monsters - and everybody else too. "A new book. I'm hoping for a new book."

It was only by the end of the party Adrian Novak made his entrance. That was the mystery about him. Nobody knew when he would show up, or if he would show up at all. He still had that same annoying smirk on his face. The corner of his mouth holding a cigarette. The months away made his beard grow longer, as well as his dark hair. In the sunlight, the scar above his eye was even more visible.

"Auryk," he shouted, "come here, son. I've got something for ya."

My twin brother, who had been climbing trees with his friends stop frozen in spot for a second. I couldn't tell if he hated or feared that man. Maybe both. He slowly followed father's command, approaching him cautiously.

"Hi, dad."

"Happy birthday, son," father ruffled his dark straight hair with his strong and calloused hand. "It's about time you grow up."

He handed my brother a large package. From our experience, we knew exactly what it was, a shotgun.

"T-Thank you, dad."

"I'll be spending some time at home. Tomorrow we'll start practicing."

Auryk consented. He shot me a quick glance. From our twin bond I could tell my brother was far from happy. When he blew his candles that afternoon, he didn't wish for a weapon. We wished to be a normal child.

"What did you get, Leena?" He asked once we were locked in the safety of our bedroom.

"Pencils and a drawing book. Dad thinks I'm talented."

Not really. Adrian Novak would never allow his daughter to hold a shotgun. That was, according to him, 'a man thing'.

"Good, at least one of us got what they wanted. Happy birthday, sister."

"Happy birthday, brother."

4 Years Later - October, 2013

It wasn't easy to be the weakest of the twins. Although he was born first, Auryk was the tinniest. The one who was always getting sick or getting injured. The one who couldn't hit a single fucking target when he had the alcoholic breath of his father on his neck.

He aimed for a crow, sitting still on a fence. How hard could it be? Even the eldest man from the village could do any better than that.

BANG! He shot again. And missed.

"Again?!" Adrian angered, shoving him hard on the shoulder. "What the hell is your problem, kid?"

"I don't know, okay? This gun... it's heavy!"

"Heavy? And why do you think we've been exercising for all these years, huh?! We do not live in Disneyland, Auryk. We need to fight monsters, abominations. Someday I won't be home and you need to be prepared to protect our people. Do you understand?"

Tears started forming in the corners of the boy's blue eyes. He couldn't cry. Not in front of him. Crying was a sign of weakness and he couldn't be weak. Not right now. Auryk started to think about all the things he could be doing. He thought about the ocean, as he had seen on TV and books. He could feel the warmness of the sun on his skin. The sand between his toes. His mom and sister were also there, of course - they'd carry them with him everywhere. And he would study Math and Physics. There would be no guns, no monsters, no blood, only numbers, only formulas, only theories. He smiled. He no longer felt like crying.

"I'm sorry, dad," kindness was always the answer, his mother said. "But this isn't for me, you know? I don't like it. I... Remember that boarding school my teacher mentioned? I thought maybe I..."

His words were interrupted by a hard slap on his face. Auryk could taste a small amount of blood coming out from his lower lip.

"So that's what you want? To become one of those little fancy fags? Maybe you're not my son after all."

Adrian started walking away, leaving his son alone, sitting on the floor.

"I AM!" Auryk yelled, enraged. "I am your son."

"Then prove it."

"You shouldn't take so hard on him," Savannah poured her husband a cup of tea. "He's just a boy."

"He's eleven years old, for god's sake," the husband punched the table strong enough to make it shake. "He needs to man up a bit. You should stop spoiling him."

As I left my bedroom I found my brother sitting on the stairs. He didn't have to be so close to listen to the conversation between our parents, father's voice was loud enough to echo through every wall of our small and cozy home.

I sat down by his side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"Maybe you should do it, Leena. You'd do it better, I know."

"I'm not so sure. Remember when I tried to shoot a scarecrow and almost shot that old witch?"

"Come on, you aimed on purpose! I know."

Auryk finally let out a small laugh at the memory.

"You're good at everything, Leena," he spoke fondly. "You're an extrovert, you're everybody's friend, you can cook, you can draw and paint... you're a true artist. I'm a mistake."

"You're not a mistake, Ryk," I pulled my brother closer, resting my cheek against the side of his face. "We're only at the wrong place and you know it."

Going back to our bedroom, we pulled from the drawers the postcards our grandma Louise sent us from San Diego. Mom had been born in California and lived there her entire life, until she met father during one of his trips. God knows what made her fall in love with that man. Adventure? Danger? I expected better from myself when I turned eighteen. Otherwise, I'd never want to fall in love. Love could be my ruin, just like my mom's.

"Leena..." Auryk held the postcard tightly, "do you think... if he died... do you think mom would take us to nana's home?"

"I don't know, Ryk," I didn't want to think of my father's possible death. But I also dreamed of a better life. "Maybe."

"What the hell?" Father's voice in the kitchen made me jump in fear. I knew that tone. I grew up used to that. Something was wrong in the village. We had to hide.

"To the basement, now!" He emerged at the bedroom, holding a rifle. "Lycans were seen surrounding the area."

We barely had any time to react, mom came and dragged us both to the basement. Father left, carrying his arsenal of weapons as usual. There were other hunters in the village but we always knew how badly it could end. Somebody could always get seriously hurt. Or worse.

The basement had been carefully prepared for that kind of situation years before. It had a big bed, two armchairs, a heating source, some stored food and a shelf. Mom sighed and forced a smile.

"So," she walked to the shelf, "what is it going to be today?"

"Frankenstein," Auryk suggested. My brother loved mystery and horror. As if his life hadn't enough of it.

"Romeo and Juliet," I spoke. There was something about forbidden romance that always caught my interest.

"Okay. I... I'm gonna say a prayer and you two can read the books you picked by yourselves. What do you think?"

"Great!"

Mom kneeled down by the bed's side, holding a crucifix. I could join her if I wanted to, but I'd rather watch in silence. I grabbed my book, sitting on one of the armchairs and pretending to pay attention, while I tried to distract myself from the fact my father could be the Lycans' next prey. Or all of us, if they managed to break into our house.

"Leena?" I woke up hours later with my mom shaking me. "Leena?! Where's Auryk? Where's your brother, Leena?"

I had no idea. I had fallen asleep and apparently, so did mom. She checked for the basement's door, it had been locked from outside.

"No..." she tried to force it open. "No! I can't be..."

All Auryk had to do was to successfully kill and take a Lycan's carcass as a trophy to his father, right? That was what that old douchebag wanted him to do, to prove his courage, his manhood. We had his shotgun, a binoculars and a knife, that should be enough, but first, he needed a good plan.

Looking down to his hands, he had the most perfect idea. Without thinking twice, he sliced a cut through his palm, letting some blood pour on the ground. Then, he found a tall tree. He climbed it and observed. The smell of blood his trail left behind should be enough to attract a creature.

"Come on... come on..."

From a distance, Auryk could hear the sound of destruction and death. There was a battle going on somewhere nearby. Once again Lycans should have found a family or a group of hunters.

And then, he could hear it. The heavy footsteps, the screeching sounds, the sniffing. The mutant creature was only a few meters away from the tree. He aimed, but it was still too distant. He needed to move to a closer branch.

It all happened in one second. He was almost there, reaching for the spot he had picked, but his weight was too much for the tree's branch. In a blink of an eye, he was lying on the ground. His vision was blurred. His head hurt intensely, as well as his arm. It was broken for sure. He possibly had a concussion too. He tried to stand up and run but his legs wouldn't follow his commands. The Lycan was coming straight at him.

"AURYK!" His mother screamed behind him. "NO!"

Time seemed to freeze in that fraction of second. How did she manage to escape the basement? How could she have found him?

But without hesitation, Savannah threw herself on top of her son, protecting him from the jaws and claws of the monster. Auryk couldn't see much, but he could smell it. He could feel it. Blood. There was blood everywhere. He couldn't tell who it belonged to, he or his mom's.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A fast sequence of shots suggested the hunters had found them. The creature stopped moving, stopped howling. It was finally dead.

"M-Mom... it's dead. We... We're safe."

She didn't answer. Instead, he heard another familiar voice.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" It was from his father. "Savannah! Savannah!"

"D-Dad..." Auryk tried to speak, but the words got lost along the way. "I... I..."

Adrian lifted him by his jacket, holding him inches above the ground.

"YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED YOUR MOM, YOUR STUPID BASTARD!"

"I..." tears streamed down the boy's face, his injured brain trying to process what had just happened. "I'm sorry.'

After he was thrown back to the ground, he was hit with a hard kick on his stomach. He turned his head around to notice a small figure hiding behind a tree, watching the whole scene in pure horror.

"L-Leena..." he muttered.

"This is all your fault, Auryk. You're a disgrace to this family."

And then, he passed out. Rumors said he was unconscious for days or maybe weeks. When he woke up, he wished everything had been a nightmare.

Present Days - July, 2021

Nobody mourned Adrian Novak when he died. Not his children. Not his village mates. No human being would ever feel any sympathy for a man who abused and blamed his eleven years old son for his mother's death. It had been two years since Adrian left this world and I couldn't feel any more free.

"Hey," I left another message on my brother's voicemail, "in case you've forgotten it's our birthday today. I'd like to have my twin home, you know? Call me when you get this message."

It was useless, I knew. Auryk would only pick up his phone when he wanted to. Or when he was too drunk. God knew where that guy would be at that time, probably waking up at some girl's bed or getting some rest from... working.

After grabbing myself a cup of coffee, I checked the door's mat. Bills, bills, newspaper and... California Institute Of Arts? I remember having an argument with Auryk about this matter at some point. He wanted me to fill the application and send them my portfolio. I insisted we had no money, not even to pay for the tuition. I won - I always win every argument by the way.

"Your damn son of a..." I placed the envelope on the kitchen's table. I was a coward, I confess. However, I didn't know which pain was worse - to be sure I wasn't good enough or to be sure I was, indeed, but I'd never have money to leave that hellhole. Anyways, I decided to leave it alone. I had more important things to do.

My morning routine: to go to the middle of the woods and do some training. My father used to say fighting wasn't a girl thing, but I was no regular girl. And never in this life I'd allow someone to tell me what to do.

After running, climbing and doing a set of push-ups, it was time for combat training. Travelers from abroad taught me some different set of moves, I'd like to think I created my own fighting style. I was also very good with knifes, daggers or any kinds of short blades, they were useful during a close distance combat. My shooting was a work in progress, once or twice I'd miss the center of my handmade targets.

Then, like everyday, I'd go back home, shower and follow to my shift at the village's pub.

"Hiya, Leena," Gustav greeted me when I arrived. "I heard today is a special day... the day a little girl..."

"NO!" I stopped him. Gustav was my best friend. We had known each other since we were children and somehow, he liked to make my birthday a special - and embarrassing - event.

He placed a handmade fairytale-like book on the table. There were some edited pictures, mixed with some messed up drawings about my birth and childhood. He called it 'The Princess Who Carried The Light'.

"God, you're soooo stupid..." I rolled my eyes and moaned, before wrapping him into a very tight hug. "I love you, you know that?"

"I know. You'd probably marry me, if you weren't into girls."

We laughed together, as Olga, our boss emerged from the kitchen, bringing a cake with nineteen candles.

"Here's to another year," the older woman opened a wrinkled smile, "make a wish, my darling."

I fell pensive for a moment, besides having my twin brother back home, safe and sound, what else could I wish for? California, that scholarship, a new life... that's for sure.

"I wish for... a new life, a new adventure," I pronounced aloud while blowing the candles.

"Careful," a male voice spoke behind me, "words have power, little sister. You may get what you want."

"Ryk!"

I jumped straight to my brother's arms. I could swear that in only a few weeks he had gotten a little bit taller, and stronger too.

"I wouldn't miss my own birthday, right?" He smirked. "So, where's the cake? Please, chocolate... tell me it's chocolate."

"Your silly boy," Olga spread some icing on his nose. "Of course it's chocolate, as you love. And with cherries too."

Auryk responded with a satisfied smile. Olga and her husband, Kristoff, were those responsible for taking care of him after the Lycan attack, years ago. They sort of adopted him like one of their biological children.

"Oh!" The woman exclaimed taking a closer look at Ryk's forearm. He had gotten a tattoo. I hadn't been informed of those news either. Apparently, my brother had more secrets than I could even start to imagine. "This is... new. It seems like my kids are really growing up."

"And only now you noticed that, Olga?" Gustav joked.

Olga shook her head, grinning at herself and returned to the kitchen. The customers were starting to fill the pub. I stared at Ryk again, wondering what other secrets my brother could be keeping.

"So, what does that mean?" I pointed to his newly gotten tattoo, a strange and ancient symbol it seemed.

"Protection from the evil. This is what we need the most in our lives, especially in a place like this. What reminds me -" we turned around, taking a small box from the pocket of his jacket. "Your gift."

I took the black velvet box from his hands, it contained a golden necklace with a magenta gemstone as pendant. My blue eyes drowned themselves in the stone. It had a mysterious glow. Something hypnotizing. Something magical.

"Whoa..." was everything my mouth could pronounce. "And I bought you an Astronomy book."

Auryk stood up from his chair and went behind me, taking the necklace from my hands to wear it around my neck himself.

"This is supposed to protect you from any supernatural and inhumane beings. I won't lose you to them, Aleena. Not like I lost mom."

"Ryk, I... I can't even thank you enough."

"You don't have to. Just... stay alive."

First, I was overflowing with happiness. It either had to do with the fact my brother was home, alcohol, or both. Also, Olga should thank me. Most of the costumers of the day only stopped by the bar because of me. They absolutely loved me and knowing it was my birthday, they had to come and see me. A few of them even gave me some extra tips or a small gift, which was even greater.

"Okay, party girl..." Auryk helped me to get inside of the house as I tripped over the door mat. "Time to go to bed now. Don't you think?"

"Come on, Ryk! Have some spirit! You're home, Olga gave me the day off tomorrow, I earned some money..."

"You told Mrs. Hansen you secretly had a crush on her daughter during Middle School, you danced on top of a table, you're gonna get a hangover..."

"Party pooper!"

I threw myself at the couch. Auryk stood in front of me with arms crossed, looking like a father about to give his child a lecture.

"What?!" I yelled. "It's not like you've never been drunk before. Remember when you stole Adrian's..." I started to laugh, remembering the episode.

"When you were going to tell me about this, Leena?" He showed me the envelope. The Art Institute envelope. The one I had been struggling to open.

"Oh! I forgot. My bad, I didn't open it myself yet. I probably didn't get in anyways."

"You did."

I did?

"It's not like we have money to pay for my tuition. Also, how are we supposed to move to California, Ryk? I work at a pub and you..."

"I've gotten more than enough for that. You know that getting out of this place has always been the plan, since we were children. Leena, I've done some big jobs those last few months. I have the money to grant us a comfortable life in California."

"Smuggling, Ryk!" I raised my voice, saying aloud the information that was supposed to be a secret or not. "You've been stealing to grant us this life."

My brother stared at me in silence. I couldn't tell if he felt offended or embarrassed about my words.

"I'm getting out of here, whatever it takes," he ran a hand through his dark hair. "And you are coming with me. In two weeks, we move to United States for your enrollment."

"But..."

What I was trying to protest against? Leaving the village and starting a new life with my brother was everything I always dreamed.

"Look, I promise you," Auryk placed both of his firm hands on my shoulders, "once we settle down, no more smuggling."

"Okay," I sighed. "We leave in two weeks then."

There was a loud knock on the door. Being drunk as I was, I figured out I should have forgotten my purse at the pub. Or it could be a neighbor with some very stupid emergency.

Auryk opened the door and there was a strange looking man standing there. We wore sunglasses and a hat, behind his back he was carrying a giant hammer. According to the rumors and stories I heard from my parents, that was one of the Lords of The Four Houses, Karl Heisenberg.

"Auryk Novak?" He asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Come with me, kid. You've gotten yourself in big trouble."

#resident evil village #resident evil 8 #bela dimitrescu #lady dimitrescu #alcina dimitrescu #bela x oc #resident evil fanfiction #the devil in i

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selfships-in-spanish · 3 years ago

Text

The Queen of Demons 4/?

Pairing: Erwin Smith x OC, Levi Ackerman x OC

Rating: Mature (the rating will go up as the story advances! But it will totally be explicit ;D I even have some smut chapters already half written woooo! But right now just in case)

Warnings: None for now, but sexist and misogynist upbringing (Eva's father is a huge asshole).

Word Count: 8885

ALSO POSTED ON AO3

A/N: FUCKING FINALLY. I was so stuck and had a severe writer's block, but here it is! Part 4! I feel like my writing went down a bit but I hope to make up for it on the next one. Finished, not perfect! I hope you enjoy this one and were we can see a bit more of the vets and the 104 kids ôô

CHAPTER 4: WINTER BLOOM

The pale morning rays of sunlight woke the Princess up, mumbling and turning to her side. Eva heard the distant chirps of birds flying by, as well as the sounds of the village being already busy. The neighing of horses, carts being pulled around, setting up the shops, the rooster screeching…

Wait.

That’s not what she usually woke up to.

Back home she only heard the birds and some maids, especially Flora when she would come barging in and opening the thick curtains of her windows, letting the sun hit right in Princess’ face as she knew how much Eva despised being woken up like this, hollering: “What–”

“–A great morning this is, your Royal Sleepy Highness!”

Ah, there she was.

Eva attempted a reply but curled up further into the duvet and blankets.

“Oh c’mon, Princess! We’ve got a busy day today! Lots of exciting things!”

“Exciting for you.” Eva mumbled covering her head with the thick bedding.

Flora snorted, rolling her eyes. Without any kind of remorse, Flora grabbed the end of the duvet and blankets and unceremoniously pulled them off the Princess, enjoying the irritated groan she let out as Eva tried to blindly find something to cover herself with.

“Rise and shine!” Flora said in a singsong, stepping out of the Princess’ reach as she tried to kick her leg.

“How can you be so happy and chirpy so early in the morning?” Eva gave up, sighing and rolling out of the oddly comfortable bed; Eva fell asleep earlier than she anticipated.

“Oh, spare me the dramatics! We gotta get you to eat breakfast and prepare you for—“

“I’m not hungry.”

“Yeah, sure thing Princess, as if you don’t gobble up like a duck when you are nervous.” Flora handed Eva her robe, guiding her to the bathroom where a basin already filled with water and a cloth awaited her.

Once her morning routine finished, Eva padded to the living room where breakfast had been already served. It smelled heavenly.

“I don’t gobble like a duck.” Eva sat down, huffing displeased.

The Princess served herself some warm bread, eyeing the jams and butter with a watering mouth. Flora set a steaming cup next to her before sitting down in front of the Princess.

“Sorry, not coffee yet.”

Eva sighed.

The Princess cut some more bread for her handmaiden, sharing the spreading knife after she was done with it. On the first bite Eva hummed, satisfied with the taste and texture. Freshly baked bread was the absolute best. Flora leisurely poured sugar over the butter, her smile widening at the sugary mess. Eva frowned, chewing.

“It’s still a wonder how your teeth haven’t rotten out yet.”

“Ah, family thing for sure!” Flora took a heartly bite of the sweet monstrosity in her hands. “Gramps still has his teeth intact and covers everything in sugar when he gets his hands on some.”

Eva’s lips curled into a grimace.

“I love sweets but I don't think that is healthy.”

“You just don’t appreciate the flavour.”

“I sincerely doubt there’s any flavour left in that.” Eva nodded towards Flora’s loaf of bread.

The handmaid shrugged, biting down on it and making a show just to irk the Princess further. Eva exaggerated a gag which made Flora giggle.

Three knocks on the heavy wooden door announced the Eldians coming to pick her up. Eva sighed as she watched Flora stand up from the chair next to the Princess and walk to the door, opening it with a short bow and a smile. Eva sat straighter as the looming and bulky figures of the Eldian warriors came into her view, entering the lodgings provided temporarily for her and her handmaiden. They were the same as yesterday, the giant called Mike, the female warrior that caught her attention, Nanaba, and another man Eva couldn’t remember the name right now.

The three warriors bowed, Nanaba and the other warrior waiting right next to the open door as Mike approached her. The giant warrior waved to the door, the message of “you have to go outside” quite clear in his movements. His face did not give away any of his thoughts, keeping a neutral expression as he watched the Princess stand up and follow him, Flora right behind her with giddy steps.

Flora should have been born a Princess or a noble, her happy and open disposition towards everything and everyone would win anyone over, as well as the way she found happiness in the little things of life. How Eva wished she had Flora’s positive mindset.

“Alright, ready for your big day?” the handmaiden asked in hushed whispers, something both women mastered from years of court banquets.

“Of course not. I want to run right back inside.”

“You’re such a big—” Flora was cut off by Eva’s gasp.

Flora raised her eyes just in time to see the giant warrior leaning way too close to the Princess’ personal space and… sniff. The Princess had turned around, disbelief and stupefaction etched on her face at the nerve this big, brute man had to go sniffing people without… without their consent. Eva found it uncouth, impolite, and her cheeks blazed in indignation.

Mike leaned back, humming, pleased at something Eva wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Nanaba immediately chastised the big man, kicking his leg and nagging at him as he shrugged, crossing his arms and looking slightly guilty. At the scene unfolding right outside the house, people began to stop and watch, and Eva felt her blood run cold at the sound of the Chief’s laugh coming from down the stairs. Hans and Friederich were already there, and the youngest of the two brothers was about to march upstairs, his displeased frown deepening. The Chief nodded to Moblit, motioning him to rush to them and clear misunderstandings. Levi rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue.

“Your Highness, please accept our deepest apologies.” Moblit hastily bowed, an apologetic smile in his lips. “Mike here has this habit of… uh, sniffing people.”

“Is he implying I smell?” Eva’s mouth was pulled into a tight line. Flora did not spend as long as she did grooming her and using those soaps and perfumes Eva loved for this man to mock her handmaiden’s efforts. Besides, she kept her hygiene up to date, thank you very much.

“No! Not at all, Your Highness. Mike has a great and sharp sense of smell, like a… ah, what’s the name... ah, wolf! Like a wolf, and although I do concede that it may be considered rude, he just does it from force of habit.”

Eva raised her brow skeptically.

“He meant no disrespect, Your Highness. It’s his way to say that he uh… he welcomes you.” Moblit ventured a quick glance towards the man in question, muttering something as he almost imperceptibly nodded towards the Princess with wide impatient eyes.

Mike huffed, but muttered something back to Moblit in a deep voice. Next to him, Nanaba nodded, pleased.

“He apologises, Your Highness, and compliments you.” that piqued Eva’s curiosity. “He says you smell comforting, of lavender and honey. That’s something he appreciates, with his sharp sense of smell he can easily get overwhelmed by strong scents.”

“Ah, that must be troublesome.” Eva turned to face Mike and inclined her head. “My apologies for acting harshly.” But Eva still thought her response was totally justified. A warning beforehand would have been nice, and she still had her pride.

Mike answered with one curtly bow of his head of his own.

“Indeed.” Moblit decided the issue was resolved and lifted his arm towards the Chief and the Gottesreichan Princes, watching the whole ordeal with amused expressions sans Friederich. He still looked murderous. “Please, after you, Your Highness.”

That shocked Eva. Normally back at Gottesreich she would walk behind the men and respectfully listen to whoever was talking, and even after visiting other countries, that rule still applied, or maybe they weren’t willing to go against Gottesreich. Either way, Eva was taught to never disrespect its citizens and rulers when visiting foreign kingdoms from her brothers, and the Princess always willed herself to follow the Kingdom’s culture and customs out of respect, despite what her father said on more than one occasion. Her brothers taught her to be respectful, and she would not ignore them, and even less be an embarrassment for her brothers. Summoning with all her will a composed mask on her face, Eva dared to take the lead and walk down the snow covered stairs to where her brothers and Chief awaited. Flora walked right behind her, always keeping a watchful eye to her skirts and cloak, in case they may get in the way.

The crunching of her steps on the snow were deafening for the Princess. Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch. She was used to having all eyes on her, from courts and dances and banquets, from nobles and princes trying to win her father’s good graces, but having the people of Eldia stop and observe every single move she was doing felt suffocating. One slip and she was probably doomed in their eyes.

Eva stopped right in front of the men, bowing respectfully.

“Good morning, my Lord. Brothers.” Moblit’s voice softly translated for the Chief, who didn’t take his eyes away from her the entire descent.

The Chief returned the greeting, bowing as well.

“I hope you had a pleasant sleep, your Highness.”

“I did. Thank you, my Lord.” Eva did not find the need to tell him how she tossed and turned around, her mind restless, musing over yesterday’s events –his touch– or how she missed her pillows back at the palace. The Chief seemed pleased, although there was a glint in his eyes that he most certainly caught the lie. Damn it.

“If there is anything we can offer to help you get settled and to further accommodate you, please do not hesitate to say so, your Highness. I understand it may be unpleasant being so far away from home and your people.” Eva was slightly taken aback at how the Chief seemed to be understanding of her situation, contrary to what she had heard and been told a husband would be once she married. The Princess didn’t want to let her hopes up in case the fall was to be harder than it would already be.

“Thank you for your consideration, my Lord. I will do so in case I need it.” Eva knew she wouldn’t say a thing, her stubbornness always playing against her favour.

The Chief seemed pleased enough with her answer. He turned slightly so he was facing the three Gottesreichan siblings, addressing the rest of the foreign party as well. Moblit translated for them all, and Flora managed to contain her excited hops when the Chief officially announced the start of their walk around the village.

Much to the Princess’ dismay, the Chief had offered up his right arm for her to hold on as they began the tour, an encouraging smile on his lips as if saying “go on, I will not harm you”. Eva had hoped her brothers would keep him distracted enough so she could trail behind and listen, observing her surroundings, but no such luck. It seemed like here in Eldia they weren’t as reticent of closeness as they were in Gottesreich, and women were treated differently.

The Chief was still as big and massive as the Princess remembered from yesterday’s banquet, thinking it was her own nerves and wine that exaggerated her memories, but the way her hands had trouble meeting on the Chief’s arm told her otherwise. The Eldian leader kept a slow pace, mindful of his companion and her shorter legs, as he began explaining their village and the way it was structured.

The Eldian architecture was entirely different from the one used in Gottesreich, as well as the distribution of the village itself. Where Eva was used to narrower streets with houses sharing walls, clustered, messy (although the closer to the castle, the better were planned the streets and districts), mossy cobblestones, puddles around the corners with barrels and wooden crates, the townspeople walking as merchants and shopkeepers yelled their offers to the passersby, pennants hanging from side to side of the streets with the Kingdom’s colours… Here in Eldia the streets were wider, the buildings lower in height which gave a sense of the town being less claustrophobic since you could easily see the scenery and the sky. Wooden fences, dark roofs made of slates, the streets made of the earth itself with grass heartily growing on both sides and wooden planks on the floor to help create a more visible path on certain parts, but one could clearly see the cart’s marks as well as the horses pulling them.

Although everything was covered in thick layers of snow, Eva had no doubts it would be a magnificent sight in spring, with the imposing mountains surrounding the village and the vast fields littered with the farmer’s homes composing a picture deserving of a painting. It was rurally beautiful. Different, more primitive, if she took into consideration her own Kingdom’s ways, but efficient. The Princess was sure this level of coordination would not be able to be achieved without years of honing this lifestyle, and it honestly intrigued her, her curiosity piqued. Eva hoped this curiosity and wonder for the novelty wouldn’t disappear quickly and would stay with her until her situation was more bearable, or grew accustomed to.

Moblit’s gentle voice guided the Gottesreichan guests through the Chief’s explanations, looking at the direction where the Chief pointed with his free hand while speaking, often stopping to further go into details about their dwellings, their storage facilities and barns, the marketplace with the villagers already busy with their daily chores. The town’s market was lively and uniquely beautiful, wooden stalls standing proud with all the goods on display. There was all kinds of variety, going from food to parchment and candles and clothes, to jewelry or tools for butchers or farmers.

The Princess’ heart thumped wildly on her chest, trying her hardest not to show her rising panic at the fact that she was walking around the village on the Chief’s arm, having everyone’s eyes on her as they kept their tour. The villagers stopped their chores midway to stare at them, whispering and chattering as they went through. Some respectfully greeted their Chieftain, mostly the warriors patrolling the streets doing a particular salute upon seeing them, but the villagers smiled and bowed, the children present doing the same as they tried to contain their laughs while not being able to keep their eyes off the scene in front of them. The Chief continued their walk after answering the greetings.

An excited giggle, followed by a shriek of what sounded like a name, startled the guests and their hosts, even. The Gottesreichan soldiers took a defensive stance, ready to pounce on the source of it as well as attack if necessary; their priority was defending the monarch's lives at any costs. Eva couldn’t help the scared jump her body did upon hearing the childish laugh and running steps on frozen ground getting nearer, gasping loudly in fear and tightly clutching the Chief’s arm with her tiny hands as she unconsciously leaned on him, seeking protection.

The Chief was ready to make her stand behind him and face the attacker, but stopped immediately upon seeing it was one of the children from before. The boy had rosy cheeks, the colour intensified by both the running and the cold, and probably the excitement too, and had a wide smile that was missing a few teeth. The kid was holding something in his hands, hidden behind his back, and with the eagerness of a child waiting for the exact moment an adult would pay them attention to show them what they got in their hands, the little boy almost shoved his possession to the Chieftain and the Princess.

Once he saw what the boy had in his hands, the Chief visibly relaxed, shoulders shaking in silent amusement at how a little kid got the best of them all. The Princess still looked uncertain, clutching and pressing herself into him. Eyes wide and breath a little bit short, Eva looked down at the kid’s hands. He was holding a… flower?

A flower in the middle of winter? How was that even possible?

The kid kept his eyes on the Princess, urging her to take his present with quick words and lifting his hands further up, his smile widening. Eva thought herself of a stupid fool. How could she have been scared of a child? What harm could he do? Unless… No, unless nothing. This was a little boy offering a flower, a beautiful one that Eva had never seen before. Father would not tarnish the good intentions of a child.

Upon not having, still, immediate response from the Princess, the kid hopped on his spot, irremediably making Eva show a timid smile; she could never resist a toothy grin and sparkling eyes.

One look at the mother told Eva how this was not planned and how the kid had ran off on his own volition. Everyone on the street stopped dead on their tracks and silently watched the exchange, not even daring to breathe. The mother’s wide eyes jumped from the Princess to the Chief, then to his child, not knowing if she should run and apologise to their guests or wait and have faith in their leader and his soon to be wife.

Eva understood quickly this was to be a decisive moment for her and her stay in Eldia. One wrong movement that led to misinterpretation could be beyond disastrous. She had to be good, she had to fulfill her duty and be a good wife and—

Eva took a deep breath. Focus. Don’t succumb into panic.

Fighting her burning cheeks out of her own embarrasment, Eva let go of her almost deadly grip on the Chief’s arm and faced the little boy alone. Keeping her smile on her lips, Eva approached the child with small steps, stopping right in front of him and elegantly folding her gloved hand on top of the other. The kid kept talking at a dizzying speed, and when he noticed how the Princess furrowed her brows in confusion, while still maintaining her smile, he understood not a word he was saying reached her.

Humming to himself while thinking hard, the kid’s face illuminated itself when an idea came to him. He hastily pointed to the flower and then to the Princess, practically shoving it in her hands. Eva looked down and then up at the kid, pointing at herself with a questioning look. The child nodded effusively, shoving the poor flower again.

Eva couldn’t help the soft chuckle upon his enthusiasm, never being able to resist a kid. The Princess took it, making sure to do a slightly exaggerated bow, lifting slightly the skirts and careful enough to not crumple the flower, so the little boy understood her gratitude. The kid happily ran back to his mother, skipping and laughing as he began talking at that incredible speed while his mother looked beyond relieved. Eva did a curtly bow to her too, trying to show the mother no offence of any kind was taken.

Returning to the Chief’s side, Eva brought the flower to her nose. She always did that whenever she came by one, out of habit, and was surprised by the faint but sweet fragrance it emitted. Eva would have to ask about them, knowing Gottesreich did not have any flowers blooming in winter.

Just when they were about to resume their walk, more excited giggles and shouts could be heard. Other children ran away from their mothers and fathers, holding the same flower in their tiny hands. Eva found herself surrounded by eager eyes and smiles, shoving their flowers up so the Princess would pick them up too. Some would tug at her cloak so she would pick theirs first, others jumping on their spot, other’s patiently waiting their turn as they marvelled on the fabric and embroidery of her pale blue winter dress.

The Princess ended up with a small bouquet of flowers, the children shouting and running happily back to their parents once they delivered their gifts. She did not know what to do with them now, and frantically looked at the Chief and her brothers, then to Flora when her siblings had confused expressions, for a clue. The Chieftain had an amused glint in his eyes, but half his mind was busy thinking about something. Finally, Flora took pity on her Princess and walked up to her with a smile on her lips.

“Let’s show off those gifts, shall we, your Highness?”

Flora expertly secured the flowers on the Princess’s up braid, the pure white and calm blue of the flowers an unexpected but welcome complement to the Princess’s own choice of wardrobe. Moblit later explained, upon inquiring about the flowers herself, that they were a special kind of flower that bloomed on their woods only during the cold season, earning the name of “winter miracle”. It also symbolized the welcoming of new people into their tribe, as its sister in the warmer weather.

Eva was touched, knowing not that those kids wanted to welcome her upon hearing she was to become one of them soon. The Princess only wished the adults would have the same feelings towards her.

Thankfully the walk around the village suffered no more incidents and surprises, and Eva was able to delight herself on the market and what it had to offer; she definitely had to go there often and take her sweet time. The quills looked absolutely exquisite, and those were the famous travelling books she heard so much about! Even the jeweller had a beautiful selection of earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings that the Princess had no idea the Eldians were capable of such craftsmanship. She particularly liked the brooch with the silhouette of a bird resting on a golden branch, the gold of the bird expertly mixed with beautiful midnight blue gemstones, resembling feathers. Also the hairpins! They were absolutely marvelous. The jeweller himself was both pleased and proud that the Gottesreichan Princess liked his products.

Their next destination amazed and terrified the Gottesreichan guests.

Eldia’s military prowess was legendary, and right now, they had its base and core right in front of them. The training grounds were a massive expanse of terrain, with barracks, thoroughly used wooden dummies, racks full of well-cared training weapons of all kinds, archery ranges, horse-riding training fields… and each and every single space was filled to the brim with warriors and trainees.

It was frightening to see how Eldia’s army was composed of perfectly trained warriors with wide expertise in the arts of combat. Not a movement wasted, not a single error in the placement of their feet to maintain balance. Strength, power, endurance, knowledge— every skill needed to become a perfect warrior, it was taught here in the massive training fields.

The Chief walked them right through the training grounds, nodding towards the warriors and fresh trainees who ceremoniously saluted him and the entourage he was leading. It was the same salute the Gottesreichan guests had seen in their entire walk around the unexpectedly gigantic village: right hand closed in a fist over their hearts, left hand on the back, and a proud stance full of tenacity and devotion. The newest recruits surprised the royal siblings, full of young faces who couldn’t be older than 15, but with a fierce determination to learn and to prove themselves. All sizes, shapes and forms– if you were up to it, were ready to go through an intense training, it did not matter who you were: a farmer’s son, a baker’s daughter… if you dedicated your heart, trained hard and understood what values had an Eldian warrior, what a life meant, you were fit to become one.

They stopped to observe the fresh batch that just started training a few months back go through a hand to hand combat. The instructor, a tall and intimidating man, bald with prominent wrinkles on his forehead and very notorious dark circles under his eyes, yelled out orders to the recruits. Some flinched, some fought every fibre of their beings into not taking a step back –a few of them failing–, but some stood their ground with confident and resolved stares, bearing down the drilling of the grim and frightening man.

Upon seeing that their Chief, the veteran warriors and the Gottesreichan guests where watching them, the recruits swallowed down their fears and tried to impress their leaders and royal guests, trying to make a good and fearsome impression of what the Eldian training grounds and warriors were made of. Punches, kicks, throwing the opponent on the floor… the field became a controlled battlefield of snarls, growls and frustrated shouts that developed into determined grunts. The recruits’ clothes soon became soiled by a mix of sweat and dirt, as a result of their vigorous and energetic try of today’s exercises.

The Princess did not dare to voice it aloud, in fear of her thoughts being perceived as a critique and direct attack on the Eldian ways, but her heart shrank inside her chest at the sight of what must be the smallest, tiniest of the new recruits, a blonde girl with wide blue eyes like the sky above, go against a trainee twice her size. Eva involuntarily clenched her hands in apprehension on the Chief’s arm, eyes not able to look away from the imminent tragedy. She was too tiny to be there! That poor girl was surely to be beaten into a pulp, taken advantage of the fact that she was much weaker, much more smaller–

A large hand squeezed her tightly clasped ones, making the Princess tear away her concerned gaze, even if she thought it was impossible for her to do so, to look down and see the Chief’s one bury her own. The Princess immediately searched for the Chief’s eyes, surprised at how he was already gazing down on her and had a small reassuring smile on his lips, nodding towards the training field. Eva looked straight ahead, just in time to see the petite girl dodge and deliver a solid punch to her opponent, making the cadet stagger backwards and clutch their stomach in pain. It was still far from being perfect and devastatingly powerful, as Eldians were known for, but it was good enough for a start and for the tiny warrior’s size. A small breath of relief released itself from the Princess’ lungs.

It still shocked Eva to the core to see women amongst the military ranks and files of Eldia, and nobody questioning it. Apparently there weren’t any kind of laws to forbid them to enlist, or to do any other job that back in Gottesreich it was meant only for men. How could they do it? How could those brave women endure it? Eva had always been taught how them, the lesser, weaker sex, could not what a man could do, just because God said so in his holy words. Father was the High Priest of Gottesreich, Father preached the word of God, the Holy Scriptures, that he made memorise Eva the moment she began her intense training as the third Princess of Gottesreich. It was so deeply ingrained in her mind that the mere thought of thinking herself above a man and their role made the Princess want to get on her knees and beg for forgiveness from her God.

How far did the dissimilarities run between their nations? How could Father entrust her with his desire to enlighten the Eldians into the correct, pious path? Just the simple thought of questioning her husband-to-be and his ways chilled her entire body and soul. She just… couldn’t. Her father’s will confused Eva.

But still, deep down inside her, locked down and not even daring to let it see the light, she couldn’t help but to… envy them. Envy their freedom of choice, of options, of life. Could she ever be like them? Aspire to have their wide range of choices? Alternatives? Could she choose her own path? She had been taught since she was a little girl that she would spend her life in a home, with her husband and a child in her arms. Not travelling, not expanding knowledge, or meeting new people and cultures… Everything Father and the Governess told her reminded little Eva of a bird cage. Pretty, comfortable, enough to see what was beyond the bars… but a cage.

She learned to accept her fate quickly, not daring to cross Father ever again in her life.

Eva knew she was born in a privileged home. A castle. A Princess. Never hungry, never cold, only the best of the best for her. It only took a quick look beyond the capital to see how privilege fed and took care of her. All her whims and wishes met without hesitation. Not a single patch to fix on her dresses, her hairbrush not missing a single bristle and made of the best silver— a perfect, content life. All you have to do is your duty, Father said. Do what you were born to do. Your only purpose.

Make me proud of being your Father.

Bring glory to the Holy Kingdom.

She was made to be bred, she was made to bear children, heirs, she was made to be a leverage for deals, a bargain chip, as her mind whispered to her in her darkest moments, to bring prosperity and glory to the Holy Kingdom of Gottesreich. She was… She was…

“Your Highness?”

The Princess was brought back to the present by Moblit’s placid voice and the Chief’s gentle tug, as if she had been rooted there, staring at the warriors, and getting lost in her troubles instead of following her fiancé and Eldian hosts. They were staring at her. Everyone. At least it felt like everyone, even the animals. Her breath had caught in her lungs, her throat a hard knot she forced herself to swallow before speaking.

“My deepest apologies, my Lords.” Eva’s mind scrambled to find an appropriate excuse for her lack of manners and being caught zoning out. “I did not mean any disrespect by my actions or to show an unwillingness to follow this pleasant walk. I was simply transfixed by your warriors, admiring their tenacity and will.”

What a load of bullshit.

They all seemed to buy it. Not Flora, though. She could see right through Eva as if she had been made of glass. Her handmaiden would probably ask her about it later in the privacy of their own lodgings, but let it go for now, knowing it was no use to inquire about it in the middle of the village tour, even less in front of their hosts.

They resumed the walk, passing through the training grounds before turning to their right, strolling until they reached one of the biggest houses of the village. Moblit informed them it was where the sick and injured were taken care of. A house for the sick, a hospital. Gottesreich had its own physicians and doctors, but never a house dedicated for the sick, the poor. Eva knew the Palace had their own royal physicians, dedicated only to them, and the people needed to rely on the town’s doctors.

Eva wondered how did this hospital work. Did they dedicate a part of the taxes to it? Was it free? What remedies did they use? What—

One of the windows was slammed open, an excited yell coming out of it. Moblit let out a tired sigh, mumbling in Eldian, as if he knew exactly what was that about. Levi spoke too, the tone in his voice denoting annoyance. Eva felt the Chieftain chuckle, answering his right-hand man with something that made Levi snort.

A head poked out of the window, messy brown hair tied up in a scrambled ponytail. The stranger kept shouting, excited, continuous noises of delight coming out of their mouth. The person noticed the small entourage right down their window, and quieted down instantly, curious as to who were the ones standing there. Then, another excited screech, lurching their body almost out of the window as they enthusiastically waved down. Moblit let out a strangled noise, uselessly raising his arms as if he wanted to catch the over excited person dangling off the window.

Eva discreetly looked to her side, looking for an answer or explanation in the Chief’s eyes, but he was looking up with an amused smile. She used his distraction to look behind her, finding the exact confused expression on her handmaiden and brother’s faces. The Princess saw Flora quietly shrug her shoulders, and she was so tempted to join her, but refrained in case the Eldians caught her and found it impolite. The person on the window shouted something and disappeared inside, sounds of furniture being moved around reaching their ears. Moblit groaned, rubbing his temples.

A few minutes later the same person who had half their body out of the window came out from the main doors of the hospital. Levi discreetly stepped away, not wanting to be involved with the newcomer and the imminent events. He really wanted to go back to the privacy and tranquility of his own home, drink a nice cup of tea…

An excited exclamation followed by a strident laugh broke Levi’s long desired daydream. He watched their eccentric approach, wondering how their guests would react to them. Judging by how the delicate Princess gasped at anything that came running and loud, Levi guessed it would not go right. Mike silently joined him, crossing his arms as he, too, observed the catastrophe about to happen.

“Bets?” Mike’s low murmur made Levi snort.

“She will freak out.” Levi turned his head to amusedly stare at his fellow warrior. “Like she did with you.”

Mike scoffed, crossing his arms.

“C’mon, not you too. And I say she doesn’t, just to spite you.”

“Hah! Serves you right, you big-nosed moose.” Levi’s gaze fell back to the front.

“It was not my intention.” it truly hadn’t been. He couldn’t help it, Mike trusted his nose, knowing his instincts never failed him before. He had to know.

“Just, don’t go sniffing people.”

“I will not make such promises.” Mike’s lips curled into a smile, proud at the way he managed to make Levi’s shoulders briefly shake.

Both warriors kept watching the scene in front of them, with Moblit trying to save the situation from their beloved doctor’s clutches, quickly directing their attention to himself and his words. Everybody knew that Moblit had a reserved spot on their Goddesses’ paradise; nobody worked as hard as him, and was as skilled to manage the village’s resident genius doctor.

“Your Highnesses, it is my pleasure to introduce you to our doctor, Hange Zoë. They are the head of the hospital and–”

“IT IS PLEASURE TO MEET, HIGHNESSESES!” Hange cut the poor and exasperated Moblit out, excitedly looking from one sibling to the other. The royal hosts were surprised at the doctor’s broken Gottesreichan attempt, albeit enthusiastic.

Flora successfully covered an amused snort. Ardor! Fervor! Passion! Flora admired that in a person, and for now, Doctor Hange Zoë managed to catch her attention. The handmaiden was sure she could learn interesting things from this eager physician, and secretly wanted to see how Eva would react. It reminded her of her first week as the Princess’ handmaiden, chasing a scared and overwhelmed Eva down the corridors as she tightly clutched one of her precious books, wanting to volt out of any situation that involved a loud and chatty girl following her everywhere. Flora realises know that she had been a little bit insensitive to her poor friend, but in her defense she just wanted her Princess to live.

The eccentric doctor went from sibling to sibling, offering their hand for them to shake. Prince Hans took it surprisingly well, smiling warmly and shaking the offered hand with what would be considered a perfect grip, confident and secure, while Hange still kept letting out broken gottesreichan, not giving any thought to the mistakes. Friederich was confused, and as such, shook his hand with the same sentiment as he was feeling; the second Prince felt as if a strong wind knocked him out of his feet and all he could say was “huh?”.

But ah, Eva. Poor Eva. She had brief flashes of her childhood with Flora, of an overexcited girl running after her as she talked, and talked, and talked… until Eva began to enjoy her extroverted nature and secretly thanked her for dragging her out of her room or the library. But still, Doctor Hange Zoë managed to scare the living daylights out of her with their excited gasp and sparkling eyes. Eva clutched the Chief’s arm in a deathly grip for the second time that day.

Hange offered their hand out too, but then seemed to think about it. Did princesses shake hands too? Was it protocol? Well, Hange never truly cared about protocols, to be honest, Moblit usually took care of that. So maybe it was too forward? Should Hange bow? Did they thoroughly screw up in their eagerness–?

Eva raised her hand and took Hange’s as her brothers did, Forcing herself to paint a warm smile on her lips.

Her father and governess’ voices were screaming inside her head, louder than her own heartbeat. How dare you shake hands with a commoner, you, a princess of Gottesreich? A princess should never shake hands! Commoners must bow, must kneel, must–

“The pleasure is mine, doctor Zoë. I am afraid I do not know any word of Eldian yet, but thank you for your efforts. I hope to learn soon.” Eva would follow her brothers’ lead for now, as they discussed on their journey to Eldia. Father was not here. Father did not understand. If Eva was to settle here to start a new life and end it here, she could not start fights and discontent because of her father’s pride. It was the smart thing to do.

The coarseness of her father always upsetted her, even if she swallowed her discontent, not wanting to repeat that night.

Hange’s uncertain face instantly turned into a bright smile. They didn’t screw up! The doctor turned to say something to the Chief, who in return gained a brief smile. Then, Hange returned their attention to the siblings.

Levi was rendered speechless. He lost the stupid bet! Levi was sure the Princess would freak out upon Hange’s overly enthusiastic greetings, judging by how she had reacted earlier with Mike and his antics. He didn’t dare to turn to his left to see Mike’s moronic moustache smiling smugly at him.

“You owe me.” Mike’s grin could be heard in his voice.

“Shut up, you giant tree.” Damn it!

“Want come in? Show house?” Hange signaled to the main entrance of the Hospital, already thinking about the tour they would take the royal siblings and show how amazing their inventions and discoveries had been.

Should Eva say yes? No, that was arrogant of her, she couldn’t decide on a whim what or what to not do, even less without consulting it with her brothers or the Eldian leader. Didn’t the Eldians also have an itinerary already made for today? The people on the streets and outside the hospital were staring at them, curious about the scene in front of them. Eva was getting nervous. their stares were suffocating her, their attention adding more weight on her, her mind scrambling to find an appropriate response–

Moblit intercepted before Eva could begin, quickly saving the moment.

The Princess was grateful for it, feeling the weight of the decision on her shoulders diminish; she restrained her relieved sigh from escaping her lips, though. Moblit would handle it, thank God above! With a pang of pity in her heart, Eva watched Hange go from thrilled to crestfallen as Moblit spoke. Now she felt bad, knowing for sure they had the best intentions in their heart. Maybe the detour wasn’t that bad…?

But Hange immediately returned to their cheerful self.

“Must come other day! Question Erwin about it!” Hange clasped Eva’s hand in theirs, that exhilarated spark back in their eyes. “Must show you fun things!”

Eva pressed her lips into a tight, nervous smile and nodded, hoping it would be enough to quench Doctor Hange’s eagerness. Too forward! Too forward! Was this also an eldian thing? It seemed to do the trick, as they went back inside the hospital when an assistant called them from the door and enthusiastically waved goodbye.

“Apologies, your Highnesses.” Moblit deserved a raise and long vacations. It had been only a day, but it was clear for the gottesreichan guests that the poor man dealt with a lot, and it seemed that Doctor Hange occupied 80% of it. “I must ask for you to forgive Doctor Hange’s lack of protocol and take no offence by it. The Doctor really enjoys meeting new people and telling about their discoveries and new remedies.”

“No offense taken, Moblit. I’m sure Doctor Hange can make it up to us by showing us what they are so excited for, right?” Hans was genuinely interested, always asking the doctors and physicians back at the palace about everything, going as far as reading some books, although he understood half of it. He truly wanted to know Doctor Hange’s thoughts.

“Honestly, I’m curious now.” Friederich scratched his nose, mumbling. Hans sniggered, lowering his voice so only his brother and her sister’s handmaiden could hear him.

“You, willing to listen to non-battle-related things? Who are you and where is my dear brother?” Flora snickered, covering her mouth.

“Oi!” Friederich’s ears went red at the tips.

“We will have to come tomorrow, then.”

Moblit approached them, always with his calm smile on his face.

“May we continue, your Highnesses?”

Only when they resumed their tour, hearing Moblit talk with her brothers and the Eldian warriors escorting them, did Eva realise how Doctor Hange was wearing glasses.

Saying Eva was scared was not enough. Terrified? Frightened? Petrified? There was no adjective to describe the sheer terror those beasts instilled inside her heart. Those were not horses. No horse could be that monstrous size. Nope. No way.

She didn’t even reach the horse’s chest! And even one leg was as thick as her whole body! How did they even suppose she could get on one of them?

They were led to the village’s stables, where the stable hands and grooms had horses ready with their saddles. Each one of them had a different saddle pad, beautiful Eldian embroidery and motifs of golden and white thread on a teal fabric, most of them resembling the ones from the village’s houses, the themes of the needle work being mostly of mother nature herself. The leather of the saddles were beautifully taken care of, going from darker to lighter tints of brown, no doubt the artisans made a good work of the dyes and its delicate processes.

The horses looked healthy, robust and ready to be ridden by their masters. If Eva wasn’t as scared as she was, she would be admiring the animals and the pure strength they exuded.

Friederich was getting more invested into this part of the tour than the previous one. Yes, Eldia was beautiful and curiously different, but for Friederich, it was still boring; he had never been good at diplomacy and pleasantry visits. He had always heard of Eldia’s monstrous steeds, and was delighted to see such enormous and sturdy stallions, powerfully built and vigorous. You could see the raw power in them, and couldn’t wait to see what it felt to ride one of them. Maybe he could convince the Eldian Chief to trade some… Surely his enemies would piss themselves upon seeing a beast such as this charging against them. Yeah, maybe he could, preferably at the evening banquet. Now was not the time.

This was an important ritual for the Eldians.

Moblit gracefully explained how this was considered crucial when two souls got engaged in Eldia. Hunting was part of their culture, a huge one, and they would not bring shame to their traditions and ancestors. It was an art, and the Eldians deeply respected nature and what it provided for humankind, so the solemn air was palpable. For Eldians this was a trial, also. Those who proposed to their lovers would have to hunt a magnificent piece for their betrothed, to both show that they could provide for them and also have the strength, patience, wit and endurance used in hunting that would prevail in their lives.

Since the Chief was getting engaged to the Princess, he had to prove himself to her, so she would accept and approve of her future husband. This ritual held even more importance for who was performing it, and the villagers were actually curious about how well would their Chief perform; sadly, some couples had to use all three attempts to succeed. They hoped the Chief would succeed at his first try.

For Eva, it was basically a show to see how much of a peacock the man could be, not that different from those in court who would fawn themselves and their achievements to win her hand, and what came with it. Bitter? Maybe so. She was just tired of men, but would respect the Eldian tradition. After all, traditions were traditions, and one should always honour them, no matter what.

For Flora, it was just like her beloved romantic novels. A man proving their worth to their beloved? Man versus Beast? Oh, how she wished that for herself! Maybe one day she would find love here, in Eldia. Who knew what the future awaited for her?

“As tradition says,” Moblit spoke. “The future bride and groom must ride together, as the willingness of their souls to start a new journey.”

Eva froze.

No way.

No.

There had to be a mistake. She thought she would ride in a small carriage with Flora, as the men rode and discussed their matters. Her dress wasn’t suited for riding!

On cue, one of the stable hands brought a magnificent white stallion, it’s crest carefully brushed and not a single tangle and bit of dirt on it. It was bigger than the other horses, robust, and Eva understood now what people meant when they said pets and horses resembled their owners: a horse truly fit for a Chief; it had to be his judging by the proud look the man had on his eyes.

The beast patiently stood right in front of them, not showing an ounce of nervousness or uneasiness. How Eva wished she felt the same. She just wanted to bolt right out of there.

The Princess felt the Chief turn towards her, and automatically released her hold on his arm, although he kept her hand in his, gently guiding her towards the Chief’s own stallion. Eva didn’t want to get closer, even less mount on it. She was terrified! They stood in front of the beast’s head, admiring the noble profile and long golden lashes it had. Eva saw the Chief affectionately gaze at his horse, giving it a tender stroke on its muzzle. He looked back at Eva, inviting her to do the same, but the Princess remained rooted, frozen on the spot. The Chief nudged her to pet the stallion’s head by lifting her hand himself, slowly, always watching her reactions closely— the Chieftain knew he was pushing her, but Erwin believed this would help her lose a little bit of her fearful first impression.

Eva watched, between a mix of horror and wonder, how her gloved fingers brushed the horse’s muzzle, its heat warming up her palm. The stallion didn’t even flinch at the change, letting itself be pet. Eva was amazed, transfixed, not even aware of the Chief’s gaze on her. Slowly, a sensation of relief washed all over her body, feeling more secure now that the beast showed no trace of nervousness upon seeing a new face. Eva even let herself release a small smile, even though her heart was still pounding fiercely inside her chest.

More horses were brought to them, each warrior taking the reins of their own steed, as well as new horses for the Princes to ride. Friederich was beyond excited, eyes going from head to rear of the enormous beast he was lent to ride. He looked like a child in a candy shop back at the Capital.

Everyone waited for the Chief to mount first, as tradition dictated. The solemn air felt like a pressing stone on the Princess, not truly knowing what she was supposed to do besides having to ride with him. Should she say something? Perform a certain move? But the Princess stood rooted there, letting her never-fading anxiety begin to swallow whole again.

The Chief prepared himself to mount on, grabbing the pommel with his left hand and easily hoisting himself up when he set his foot on the stirrup. Every move he did looked effortless, as if even a child could do that with their eyes closed. If they thought Eva could achieve such levels, they were going to be thoroughly disappointed. The Chief extended his hand to the Princess, signaling her to come closer and join him on the horse.

The question is: how the hell is she supposed to get on it?

Moblit did not give any clues or hints about it, and everyone respectfully watched as the Princess approached the Chief with small steps. The Eldian leader never looked away from her, and she truly reminded him of a scared fawn.

What came next was a blur for the Princess. One moment she was standing right beside the Chief, timidly taking his hand and raising her other one to try to reach the pommel as the Chief did, her foot raising too to set on the lowered stirrup, and on the next moment Eva found herself being lifted as if she weighted nothing, strong arms pulling her up, easily turning her so she sat astride the horse with her back pressed against his chest.

Eva couldn’t focus on anything but the feel of his broad and strong chest snugly pressed against her back, despite the layers of thick clothing and cloaks between them. Eva did not pay attention to everyone else getting on their horses, or how Friederich couldn’t help the boyish grin on his lips, or how Flora turned beet red when she was made to mount on the same horse as the second Prince of Gottesreich, her confident and self-assured attitude gone for a moment. She couldn’t, not with how the Chief righted her stance with gentle hands, or how he straightened her own dress skirts and cloak without being prompted to do so, or how he guided her gloved hands to the crest and horn, so she had something to hold on to, even if the arms that caged her in wouldn’t let her slip and fall. The cold was forgotten for a moment, as well as her nervous tension.

Prompting the beast to an easy gait, the Chief led the party outside the stables and onto the main street. That’s when Eva snapped out of her trance and quickly ventured a look towards her handmaiden, seeing her grip the crest of the horse she was on with red cheeks. Both women crossed looks, twin bewildered expressions greeting each other. Eva silently cheered for her friend, but was too occupied herself with her own troubles to even waggle her eyebrows to tease her handmaiden.

This was going to be a long day.

The main street greeted them with the eldian villagers gathered on the sides of it, creating a passageway of curious and expectant faces. Everyone looked like they were waiting for a signal, eyes glued to the Chief’s horse and its riders, fingers and feet fidgeting. When the Chief and the Princess passed the first bystanders, the whole wide street exploded into cheers and shouts and blue.

The villagers threw flowers on them and the horses’ hooves, smiling and clapping as they passed by. Eva recognised the winter flowers from before, the same she wore now on her braid, and watched the villagers cover the entire street in a mantle of blue and white. The Chief did not turn to greet or answer them, keeping his head and eyes straight ahead in a solemn show of respect towards their faith in him. That’s when Eva understood this was part of the hunting ritual too, bidding farewell and good luck to the couple about to engage in the ritual. So, to not be disrespectful towards their culture and traditions, Eva did the same, looking straight ahead towards the main gate, into the sky blue path. A flash of the Chieftains’ eyes crossed her mind. The same blue.

It truly was a beautiful sight.

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assexassin · 3 years ago

Text

title: fate/stay night unbreakable bond

chapter 1: new meetings

synopsis: kazumi finds herself in a dire situation which may determine her survival: the need for food and lodging.

pairings/dynamics: canon x f!oc (at least 3), artoria pendragon x rin tohsaka, sakura matou x medusa

wc: 5k

warnings: none that i am aware of, please let me know if any need to be added

a/n: i'm sorry for the very late update, but i finally have a direction i want this to go to, plus i can now read the full vn complete w all 3 routes to make a better fic! i do hope that you all like it. thank you so much for supporting me!

“Uh, Kazu?”

The rosette tilted her head slightly in her beloved Servant’s direction, never once lifting her optics from the take out menu in front of them. Her Saber let out an exasperated sigh at her Master’s lack of attention. Promptly, the amaranthine tressed woman plucked the laminated sheet from the Mage’s grasp, arms folded as if she had been ready to scold a child. To Alessia, Kazumi may as well still have been one.

“Nee — san!” A puckered pout formed on the rosette’s labrums as she crossed her arms upon the makeshift table, chin resting on a forearm. “Gimme back the menu!!”

The Heroic Spirit just clicked her tongue in response, tapping her foot impatiently against the floor of the abandoned barn, brows furrowing in growing irritation as her lips pursed.

“When are we going to find a suitable place for you to actually dwell in while we’re here? You can’t live for the next few months in this dingy barn like contraption! You’re a human , Kazumi. Not livestock!”

The Heroic Spirit’s hands curled around her hips, a deep frown marring the knight’s features. With a swift strike, she thwacked the back of the rosette’s head with the folded up menu, a slight huff emanating from her lips. Kazumi could tell from the mildly irritating glint in those lavender pools that her Saber was utterly done with her childish antics. Begrudgingly and with a pout lining her features, the mage simply sighed in defeat, raising herself from the chair and stretching her lithe arms up above her head.

“Fine, fine. Wish I had brought a change of clothes with me…”

Looking down at her hand, Kazumi’s face contorted into one of confusion, seeing as her bright ruby command seals had disappeared from her skin. Guess the Grail found out… Shaking her head softly, the pink haired woman headed out the door, Alessia dematerializing behind her and slipping into the magus’ shadow. Kazumi began her trek for sustenance, humming softly to herself to fill the void of silence that blanketed around her. Walking in the direction of the town, she rummaged in her pocket, pulling out various bills and her ID.

I’m going to need to exchange these for yen right?

Kazumi… the nearest place to exchange it would be in Tokyo… you need food NOW!

Recoiling from the yelling in the Master — Servant bond within her mind, the rosette grimaced slightly, walking aimlessly into Fuyuki. Sharp malachite optics surveyed the town, taking in the ambiance as she tried to find a place to eat. The evening’s autumn breeze whipped her hair every which way behind her, reminding her of the Italian sea winds kissing her face when she stared up at the sunny sky. Stars became chatoyant in her hues as she spotted a liquor store, her feet already paddling in its direction. Her lips tugged into a small smirk, already dashing towards the establishment.

Kazumi, you do know you have to show your ID right?

Don’t worry! I’m over twenty — one anyway!

But Kazumi… your ID would say you’re seventeen …

… Guess I’ll just have to convince them to just let me pay for it without showing my ID then!

Kazumi… that’s not how this works… oh my gods, you’re going to be thrown in jail before you even try to fix this anomaly aren’t you?

A long sigh could be heard within her mind, but Kazumi paid no heed. The woman stepped into the store, the little bell ringing as the doors swung open and closed. Her verdigris optics scanned the bottles and liquids, her hands reaching for the neck of a vodka bottle. Walking up to the counter, her hues remained on the bottle in an effort to concentrate while arguing with Alessia in her head.

If I’m going to be sent to all these places, I might as well have fun and get drunk doing it!

Kazumi, no you need to stay focused! What if you get hurt before you even start investigating? Or worse, die ?

A soft pout lined her lips, low grumbles escaping her lips as she walked up to the counter. So immersed in arguing with her Servant was she that the magus didn’t even notice the poor boy standing at the counter waiting to check out the one bottle in her hands until he coughed slightly to garner her attention.

“Um… miss, do you plan on buying that?”

Kazumi’s head snapped up, the familiar voice causing her eyes to widen and nearly tear up. His eyes… his eyes were just like his , warm honey pools she could just stare into forever. The male looked at her quizzically, she couldn’t blame him. Kazumi was sure her own countenance bore a concoction of emotions he wasn’t sure what to make of. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she set the bottle down on the counter for him to take.

“Yeah, sorry about that. Guess I got lost in my train of thought…” she breathed out, hands clasping behind her back.

Is that… oh gods, tell me that’s not who I think it is!

… No comment…

I swear if it all goes downhill from here…

“Ah, you know, I’m going to need to see some sort of identification…” the boy asked, nervous as he had never really worked the counter all that much. “My boss will yell at me if I sell alcohol to someone underage…”

See, don’t end up being the reason why this poor boy gets fired. Wait… how old is he anyway…

Oh, calm down Sia! I got this!

Clearing her throat, Kazumi laughed a bit nervously, a hand coming up to sheepishly rub her nape. “Ah about that… you see, my license kind of got revoked. And that’s the only form of identification I really have.” A soft laugh resonated from her throat while the redhead in front of her pursed his lips softly. “But I do promise that I am over twenty — one!” A white lie, yes, but Kazumi had done worse. “So, can’t you let it slide juuust this once?”

Blinking her malachite apertures softly, she watched as his own golden — auburn ones became hesitant. However, his hands moved to take the bottle and scan it, lips letting a soft sigh escape. “Alright, fine. But only because you do look older.” The male’s cheeks puffed as he pressed the corresponding buttons on the register before telling her the total. “Alright, that'll be 10,602 yen, miss!”

Fishing the money out of her pocket, the woman handed it to him, tilting her head slightly. “What’s your name? You seem kind of young to be working at an alcohol store. How old are you anyway?”

The male sighed, a soft blush painting the apples of his cheeks. “Well… I just have connections…” Looking off to the side, the ginger just bagged the bottle and gave her the receipt. “I’m Emiya Shirou, and… yeah I’m seventeen…”

Kazumi’s dainty hand immediately flew to the necklace fastened around her neck, holding onto the bow pendant tightly. “Shirou…” Memories flooded into mind, as if she were seeing a fast paced slideshow of her life right in front of her eyes. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, pastel lashes blinking furiously to blink them back, so that they wouldn’t cascade down her cheeks. The hand clutching onto the plastic bag clenched it tightly in an attempt to calm herself from sobbing in the middle of the store.

“Um… miss, are you okay?”

Startled, Kazumi nodded and managed a smile at the male. “Yeah, thanks for asking Shirou!” It hurt, saying his name again after all this time, but she went on with it, pushing down all the bubbling emotions down into the depths of her heart. She nearly melted seeing his soft smile in response, only to be confused when his countenance became wary.

“You okay?”

“Yeah… I just feel as if someone’s staring at me… more like glaring at me. But you’re the only one in here right now…”

… Sia, stop glaring at him. They’re not really the same person — well okay they are but —

Never. But you could use this opportunity to get some intel as to where you could spend the night.

“Ah, don’t worry about it. I’m sure it’s just your imagination!” Smiling softly, the woman tilted her head to the side as she pondered how to phrase her inquiry. “Shirou, by any chance do you know anywhere I could stay the night? I’m kind of new here, just visiting for a while really.”

Shirou could only sigh and shake his head. “Not that I’m aware of. I mean, there is that one hotel nearby, but I’m not sure if they have any open rooms for you. Plus, it’s pretty expensive from what I’ve heard.”

Humming to herself, Kazumi pondered her options, knowing that she didn’t exactly have the money to live it up at such a nice hotel. At the same time, however, she truly may have had nowhere to go. It’s not like she could be exactly welcomed into her father’s hermitage in this… predicament , let alone know where it is. The magus sighed, pressing a finger to her temple as she tried to think of an alternative.

The boy behind the counter could see that this woman was in quite a predicament. He wasn’t sure if she was just reluctant to spend her money or if she had a limited amount, but he assumed that she didn’t want to stay at that fancy hotel. Shirou, being generous to a fault, believed that he could offer an alternative for her.

“If you’d like… you can stay at my place for the night!”

“Wouldn’t your parents mind?”

Shirou let out a somber sigh, a finger scratching his cheek gently. “I actually live alone…”

At Kazumi’s concerned frontispiece, the redhead immediately smiled and shook his hands in front of him in an alleviating manner. “Ah, don’t worry, I have a guardian who periodically comes in and takes my food… and I have… certain connections through her.” He laughed gently, a hand coming back to rub his nape.

What does he mean by that, Kazu?

Those connections.

Kazumi could hear Alessia sighing within her mind, causing the rosette to smile wryly. Indeed, those connections weren’t the best, but they made do for him. So this was how he managed…

“That’s really kind of you, Shirou! But are you sure that’ll be okay?”

“Yeah! Ah, Sakura might be apprehensive about you staying, but since it’s my place, it won’t be much of a problem!”

An eye twitched at the name “Sakura” before a smile graced her lips, Kazumi simply nodded and clutched the bag with her alcohol bottles closer to her. “Great! When’s your shift over?”

“Soon! If it’s not too much, you can wait outside! It’ll only be a few minutes. Ah I didn’t get your name, would you mind telling me?”

“... I’m Kazumi. Kazehana Kazumi! Alright, I’ll wait for you until you’re finished.”

The rosette just waved at him and turned around, heading out the door and taking out one of the bottles. Her hands clasped onto her keychain, using the bottle opener she had attached to it to undo the cap before taking a sip. The slight metallic shine of the keychain caught Shirou’s amber optics, squinting hard to see if he could make out the words. But it was in a language he couldn’t understand.

Are you sure this will be alright? For both you and him?

Well, I don’t see any other option. At least not one that would raise concern. Don’t worry, Nee — chan, I’ll find Dad’s hermitage. He was here in the last Holy Grail War after all. In the meantime…

Yeah, yeah I get it. I’m sure I can help you find Lord Masato’s land in the meantime. I guess… I guess I’ll let this slide then.

Smiling to herself, Kazumi idly hummed as her malachite hues glanced up into the sky. So transfixed by the radiant stars was that Kazumi didn’t notice the wind nipping at whatever skin showed, nor did she notice when Shirou walked out until he tapped on her shoulder.

“Kazumi? Hey are you alright?” Shirou looked at her with concern written all over his face, his belongings in his arms as he turned in the direction of his place. “It’s a long walk from here, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure we’ll get there safely!”

The way he beamed up at her when he iterated those words, as if he was sure that he could take care of and protect her, as if their difference in experience wouldn’t matter, had her stifling a laugh. She knew how he was and how he would insist on being the one doing all the protecting despite his lack of power. It was both amusing and concerning, knowing what it could entail.

“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself if need be. But this town seems quite tame and quiet. I highly doubt anything bad would happen to us even if it is late at night!”

Kazumi simply followed him as he led the way. Shirou raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything else after, just continuing his trek back home with her. The redhead, for all his kindness, was of course a bit skeptical about her. She clearly wasn’t from here, with the way her pale emeralds scoured the area with immense intrigue.

“So, Kazumi. What are you doing here?”

The rosette slightly turned her head towards him, pondering the best way to answer the question. After all, she couldn’t outright tell him she essentially traveled through time to fix anomalies as ordered by Alaya.

“This is my dad’s hometown. I wanted to see it; it’s been a while since I’ve last been here.” A frown marred her labrums, her arms coming up to wrap around her own torso, hugging herself. “He… he died because of an illness about a decade ago. He was last here. I want to find the place he had while he was in Japan!”

She quickly replaced the frown with a gentle smile, her gaze returning to the path before them. “Don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair before you know it.”

“That’s not why I asked, you know..” Shirou smiled before letting his gaze stare straight ahead, shoving a hand in his pocket. “You just stick out a bit you know?”

Letting out a soft laugh, the shorter male just continued walking, his smile never leaving his visage. “You know, I can relate to the whole “losing your father” thing. My own dad died a few years ago… so I understand how lonely it can be.”

Kazumi looked at him solemnly, knowing how hard it must've been for him to continue on after losing a parental figure. It was hard for her too. “I’m sorry for your loss, Shirou.”

“It’s alright.” Shirou pointed to the hermitage atop a hill. “That’s my place. The lights on mean that Fuji — Nee and Sakura are there.”

Oh, so even when they were this young he had girls all over him.

Could you please say something nice, Nee — chan?

But never!

Snapping out of the mental conversation she was having with her Saber, Kazumi found herself walking uphill towards the Emiya residence. She hummed softly, her hands clasping behind her back while they continued upwards.

“If it’s alright with you… maybe I can help you with finding your dad’s place?” Shirou tentatively asked as they walked, face slightly turning towards hers. The pallid moonlight reflected off those auburn pools of his, bringing out the shining determination that swam in the midst of them. “What’s his name?”

His question had Kazumi a bit startled, not expecting him to offer assistance for her secondary objective. She covered it up by quickly shaking her head and letting a nostalgic quirk of her lips show on her countenance. “Masato. Kazehana Masato. I’m not sure if you know him somehow, but he grew up here before meeting my mom!”

The name that slipped off the woman’s lips caused a twinge of remembrance in the redhead’s brain, but he couldn’t exactly place a face to the name, nor recount where he’s heard it before. “I’ll do everything I can to help you, Kazumi!”

Kazumi could only smile and giggle in response. She was just about to complain when they finally arrived in front of the door. Shirou fished out the key from his pocket and slid the door open. “I’m home!”

“Welcome home, Senp —”

A violaceous tressed girl bounded towards the door only to stop in her tracks, her amaranthine optics glaring at Kazumi. The rosette, in turn, stepped back instinctively, about to tell Shirou that she could try to find another place to stay in; however, the cerise headed male took her by the hand and brought her inside.

“Sakura, this is Kazumi. She’ll be staying with me for a bit until she can find a place of her own.” Shirou found himself sweat dropping as Sakura had her glower still trained on the rose tainted tressed woman beside him. “Is Fuji — Nee around?”

As if on cue, the said short haired woman popped up out of nowhere, about to greet the young male only to see a woman next to him who she had never seen. Taiga’s lips curled up into a cavalier simper, sauntering over to the redhead and throwing an arm over his shoulders. “Oh Shirou ~ you should’ve just called and told us you'd be bringing a friend home tonight ~ Sakura and I would’ve gotten out of your hair! Well since you’re both here, Sakura, you mind setting another plate for her?”

Sakura gave a pouted huff before promptly turning round and complying, gingerly placing an extra plate down onto the table before briskly walking back into the kitchen. She threw a side eyed glance at the rosette, clearly wary of who she was and what she was doing here.

I don’t think she likes you, Kazu.

You think?!

Laughing a bit awkwardly, Kazumi gingerly stepped inside, having been dragged by Shirou in order for the latter to show where she would be staying for the night. They walked into one of the spare rooms in the minka, the male gesturing around.

“You can stay here for the night, I hope that it’ll be alright.” A sheepish smile wove across his lips, his hand rubbing his nape in an embarrassed manner. “It’s not much, but I hope it’ll be alright.”

“It’s perfect!” The rosette’s countenance bore a soft smile as she tilted her head to look at him. “I don’t need much anyway. I’m just a guest in your home, Shirou. Thank you for your hospitality!”

A soft coral painted itself on the boy’s cheeks as he averted his gaze, his hand once again coming up to rub the back of his neck. “It’s no big deal, really.” Shirou started towards his own room, a lone index finger pointing down the hall. “There’s the bathroom. You can go wash up before we have dinner. If you need anything, I’m down the hall!”

He jabbed his thumb in the direction he was headed, giving the older woman a bit of an awkward smile before nearly running back to his room. This caused Kazumi to let out a soft laugh, placing some of her stuff down in the room provided for her before heading to the bathroom to get ready for dinner.

Kazu… are you really sure this is such a good idea? I mean… think of all the things that could happen! What if you accidentally let something out that shouldn’t be said this early? What if you slip up, say something you shouldn’t? What if —

Sia, no matter what I do, I’d be somewhat altering this timeline. You know this; this has always been the way it’s been. It’s one of the things that come with Alaya sending me back to fix anomalies that can potentially bring the end of humanity… or whatever excuse they gave me.

Hearing Alessia sigh through their bond, Kazumi simply washed her hands and walked out the door, hands clasping behind her back as she kneeled down at the table where the extra plate had been set for her. Upon her arrival, the short marmalade haired woman intensely stared at her, her elbows leaning on the table while her hands cupped her cheeks.

“Soooo ~ Shirou brought you home huh ~ ? I’m Fujimura Taiga, Shirou’s homeroom teacher in class!”

So she’s the “Tiger of Fuyuki”, huh?

“It’s nice to meet you, Taiga. I’m Kazehana Kazumi!”

“What are you doing here? Why did Senpai decide to let you stay here?” Sakura asked, amaranthine hues wary of the newcomer. Not that Kazumi could blame her, she too would be wary if a friend, or crush, were to invite a total stranger into their home. The violaceous haired girl still glared at her, though with less intensity this time, which made her a bit uneasy.

“Ah, it’s not like that. I actually met him at his workplace while I was passing by, and since I don’t exactly have the money right now to stay at the hotel, Shirou kindly offered to let me stay until I found my dad’s place.” The rosette smiled as best as she could with Sakura’s leer trained on her, her lithe dactyls fiddling with one another. “That’s what I’m here for in the first place, to find my dad’s own hermitage here.”

Before anything else could be said, Shirou entered the room and kneeled down next to Kazumi, idly smiling at all the females present. “Sorry for making you all wait! Sakura, did you make all of this while waiting for me?”

The younger girl’s harsh glare suddenly morphed into a beaming smile, her head nodding ecstatically while her hands clasped in front of her chest. “Yes I did! I wanted to hone my cooking skills in traditional Japanese dishes!” She iterated those words with such passion, it was hard for Kazumi to not smile in acknowledgement of the younger’s efforts.

“Well, it looks really good!” Kazumi commented, her hands in her lap and gripping onto the hem of her attire. Sakura simply looked at her and thanked her, a slightly unreadable expression on the canvas of her frontispiece.

You two are hopeless aren’t you?

Shut up, Sia.

The four then began to say their graces, Kazumi remembering how her father had shown her how to say it Japanese. It had been years since she’d seen him, her last memory of him being the day before he left for Fuyuki in 1994. Nostalgia washed over her before she steeled herself, grasping the chopsticks and digging in. Content hums resounded in the room as they let the flavors meld on their tongue.

Silence blanketed the room as the quartet enjoyed the meal in front of them. Kazumi surveyed the room, noticing how Taiga ecstatically dug into her plate. Sakura, on the other hand, ate in a much calmer manner while glancing back and forth between her plate, Shirou, and Kazumi herself.

Still with that glare…

The host himself was lost in the food he was chewing, an appreciative hum emitting from him. “It’s really good, Sakura!” Shirou began to ecstatically comment on how well the spices on the fish mingled with the sauce that had been prepared, causing the heliotropic stained tressed woman to blush under the praise. It was no surprise to Kazumi how he gave positive feedback, that was just how he was after all.

Dinner didn’t take all too long to wrap up, Sakura raising from her spot and helping Shirou to collect the various dishes. Naturally, Kazumi offered to help, but Shirou insisted she relax and take it easy.

“You’re a guest, Kazumi! It’s alright, just sit back and relax.”

His smile radiated the warmth of a thousand suns, his twin Venus’ beaming with the same warmth before he disappeared into the kitchen. Taiga, much to Kazumi’s chagrin, continued to simper at her, nearly making the face of a smug Cheshire cat who’s found its prey.

“Taiga… it really isn’t like that. He’s just being a good Samaritan!”

“Hmm ~ don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone then!” With a wink, Taiga got up to wash her hands in the kitchen sink before getting her coat from the front closet. Thanking the redhead as she placed her shoes on, the short haired woman complained about the amount of paperwork that she would have to do later that night. “I’ll of course be taking Sakura home, so don’t worry about it!”

Once Sakura had gathered her belongings and shrugged on her jacket and shoes, she looked back at the two left in the foyer with a pouty frown. “Have a good night, Senpai! … Kazumi…”

I’ll take it.

“Bye, get home safe!” Shirou waved as the two made their trek before sliding the doors shut. Turning around, he simply shoved his hands into his trouser pockets, averting his auburn hues so that they looked at anything else except the woman before him.

Kazumi noticed this easily enough, not that Shirou was trying to hide it in the first place, and couldn’t help herself from giggling at his antics. “Never had a girl over that wasn’t either one of those two at night?” she teased, arms crossing underneath her chest.

Shirou stuttered a bit before swallowing the lump in his throat. “No, not really.”

“Ah. Don’t worry, I won’t be much trouble for you.”

Laughing a bit, she was about to turn around to head into the room he had assigned her before he spoke up.

“I — I’ll be back in the shed if you need me! It’s around the corner, so you can walk in the middle of the night if you need to.” Shirou fiddled around with the sleeves of his shirt before raising a hand in parting for the night and leaving through the sliding doors. His eyes had been shifty to say the least, as if he was trying to hide a secret from her.

Kazumi gave him the benefit of the doubt, squinting her chartreuse optics when he slid out a little too fast for her liking. He hadn’t displayed such signs beforehand, so naturally, the magus would be wary of the new and sudden behavior; however, there wasn’t much she could do about it now. He was gone before she could ask anything about it. Sighing, the rose haired woman continued her way back to the room, sliding the door open to enter and letting it shut partly.

“Nee — san, you can come out now. He’s gone.”

“I heard him, you know?! I was right there with you! As if I’d leave you alone with him.”

With a huff, a woman donning locks of elysian lavender materialized before Kazumi, her hands on her hips in a near condescending tone. Alessia’s brows were knitted together in a bit of frustration, causing sweat to form at Kazumi’s temples. She knew just what this meant for her.

“You have some nerve just accepting his offer without thinking this through! How long do you even plan on staying here? Surely you can’t find Lord Masato’s hermitage in just a span of a day, you know!” Gritting her teeth, the Roman knight crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot impatiently against the wooden floor.

“Calm down! We’ll see how it goes, and if it ends up being more than anticipated… we’ll find a solution!” Kazumi stood there, her countenance bearing a cavalier and eminent simper, as if she had just come up with the world’s best course of action. “At least I’ve got a place to stay for the night!”

Letting out a sigh that exuded the energy of “this is not going to go well”, Alessia pointed towards the futon. “Well, if you’re going to mess up, you might as well do it with a good night’s rest. To bed, now!” Alessia sounded like a mother scolding her child to get to bed, and that is exactly how some would regard the two’s friendship.

Kazumi rolled her eyes, but did as asked by the Saber. She peeled off the clothes she’d been wearing all day before flopping onto the futon, wrapping herself in the sheets and comforter before peering up at Alessia. The latter let a soft, nostalgic smile stretch her lips upwards, materializing a cape of sorts and letting it settle around the magus, the argentite emblem of a kingdom long forgotten luminescing underneath the iridescent moonlight.

“Sing for me?” Kazumi peeked out from under the covers, her pale emeralds shining at the prospect of her best friend easing her to sleep with a lullaby from her childhood.

“You really don’t want to break this habit, do you, Kazu?” Nevertheless, Alessia agreed; she sat on the edge of the bed and let her nimble fingers move stray locks of pastel pink behind her Master’s ear, the hanging gossamer lace of her attire brushing against the woman’s cheek.

Despite the kind of tone she had previously utilized, Alessia’s singing was soft and ethereal, as if a choir of angels were singing from the heavens above. The celestial hymn wafted through the air and into Kazumi’s ears, causing her to smile and close her eyes. Pastel lashes kissed the apples of her cheeks as she gently drifted off to sleep, clutching onto the cape and the sheets tightly. Alessia soothingly stroked the woman’s hair as she continued to sing, not taking note of the volume her vocals were reaching. She didn’t mind nor care, all that mattered to the demigod was this one woman’s happiness and health.

And because of that disregard, that same Latin tongued lullaby was able to be heard, albeit slightly muffled, by the ears of a certain redhead. A song he had heard many times in his dreams within the past couple of nights.

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pricklybulbasaur · 3 years ago

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Universe: My Hero Academia

Day: 1 winning teddy for the other

Warnings: pg 13 as a precaution, some angst, possible cheeesiness, OC/Todoroki ship

Summer break was now upon the Heroes in Training at AU and everyone was looking forward to getting back home for the holidays except for one.

Aurora Cortez was currently spending her summer with the Todoroki family as the first day back at her family home was not a pleasant one. Todoroki was escorting Cortez home when he noticed she was getting quieter and quieter and was getting more nervous. At first, he thought it was just the after exam nerves as she was 2nd in the 1-A class, but that thought was blown to smithereens when after a few moments the mint-haired teen entered the door and Todoroki was walking away he had to run back to the home when he heard yelling and screams from inside the household. He broke open the door and saw her bastard father beating her up with anything that would do her harm. Todoroki eventually saw red and froze the man and the surrounding living room with ice.

Endeavor was there 5 minutes after the police arrived when he received a call that his son was involved in domestic violence at this location. He was shocked to see the entire inside of the house was encased in ice and a man was yelling incoherently at the dual-haired boy, which in turn gave him a look of deepest loathing. The same looke he had previously had with his own father a while ago. He was about to scold him for using his Quirk at a civilian when he realized Todoroki did it to protect one of his classmates from further harm. He should have known better, Todoroki is not the kind of person who would do that without real cause.

When Endeavor looked at the girl in the ambulance he noticed she had bruises and dicolorations on her arms and face and even more gruesome wounds all over her back and wings from apparent torture. That rubbed the No. 1 hero the wrong way, knowing a child was being abused to that extent, not to mention the flashbacks with his kids. The girl would have to be sent back to the dorms, however, she will be alone for the summer with Aizawa, the homeroom teacher.

That is how she got to live with Todoroki and the rest of the family, plus if Endeavor refused he would lose whatever bridge he was trying to mend with his children and he would not hear the end of it from his only daughter Fuyumi. The No. 1 hero of all of Japan, defeated by his children. If only the agency could see him now.

A week later Cortez still had casts on her arms and the rest from the elbow up were wrapped in fresh bandages. She had to get help from Fuyumi with her outfit today as for the first time since that incident she was going outside with her classmate Shoto. She had a tank top that buttoned in the back, blue jean shorts, and laceless shoes.

“There,” Fuyumi said and took a step back after fastening Cortez’s right arm in a sling. “You should be good to go to the Lavender Festival with Todoroki, I will also provide you a bag to hold your stuff for easier movement. “I also took a look at your wings, they are growing nicely and they are starting to show the pale purple coloration.

“Thank you, Fuyumi-chan.” Cortez said, bowing in gratitude after taking a look at her wings, they still look horrible but when they are damaged to a certain extent they will take time to regrow. “Also, thank you for letting me stay for the summer.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Fuyumi said, waving her hands in a good gesture. “Besides, you are also Shoto’s friend. It would not have sat right with him after knowing what happened.”

“Right.” Cortez agreed and turned towards the door when her nose twitched, detecting that someone was behind the door.

“Are you ready to go?” Shoto said when he opened the door. He saw his schoolmate nodding her head and walked out of the room with him.

“See you later, Fuyumi-chan.” Cortez said in a slight smile. Fuyumi noticed she was trying to hide her pain, but she could see a mask when there was one on.

“We might be home late, Nee-san.” Todoroki said casually, and both he and his schoolmate walked out of the house and took the taxi to the Festival. Fuyumi waved them both off and once they got far enough, she had a slight smirk on her face, knowing that if anybody would try to heal her, it would be her little brother. They might not see it right away but she could tell that Todoroki was becoming more open with her around.

They arrived at the Festival and the location was so full of lavender scent that when Cortez got out of the taxi she had inhaled deeply and the scent was immediately calming her nerves. She smiled even wider when behind the festival were miles of the same herb in different colors appearing in all its beauty. Breathing out she released a cold breath and looked at Todoroki who was looking at the area with a stoic expression. To the normal eye, everyone else would think he is not impressed but he had a slight spark in his eye that defied that.

“What should we do first?” Todoroki asked, and Cortez’s stomach growled in massive rage. He saw her face turn a bright red, squeaking and he smiled slightly at her shy reaction. “I guess food is the first thing.”

He grabbed the girl’s left hand gently and pulled her towards the food stalls to see what would be both delicious and easier for Cortez to hold. They got a variety of foods on a stick like corn dogs and grilled veggies, and Cortez was having a blast with a unique combination of pumpkin and lavender ice cream in a cup. The strange combination tasted great to Cortez, but Todoroki just shuddered at the abomination.

After that, they went to a section where they can play games to win toys or animals and in one stall they saw Midoriya and Bakugou racing each other in the water shoot for the grand prize.

“How much do you want to bet that Midoriya wins.” Todoroki said casually and Cortez just giggled and shook her head.

“I’m not betting anything, because it is always the case.” She replied and sure enough, Midoriya won the grand prize and Bakugou was yelling obscenities for being a sore loser. “See.” She then got distracted from a particular stall of ring toss and her eyes lit up at a Teddy Bear holding a Lavender Sachet.

“This thing caught your fancy?” A man in charge of the stall looked at her and smiled. “Smells like lavender too.”

“What do I need to do to get the bear?” Cortez asked while Todoroki was looking at her with a slight blush. It has been a while since he last saw her energetic smile.

“Ring toss, my dear.” The man said and pointed to rows and rows of close-knit bottles. One round, if you land 2 or more out of 5 rings you will get the bear. Hitting one with a gold ring around the neck is an instant win.”

She smiled widely then it faltered a bit when she realized something. She looked at her arms and then looked at the man. “May I see the ring? I may not be able to toss or hold them correctly.”

He looked at her arms and nodded, pulling out one of the rings and handed it to her. It was as she thought, due to her casts she would not be able to hold them properly. Her face dropped and the light in her eyes started to disappear.

Todoroki was not having it, the light that just returned to her, he refused to let it go out. So he grabbed the ring from her hand. “I would like to play, for the bear.” He said, causing Cortez to go red in the face.

“N-no you don’t have to..” She started but stopped when he gave her a look that he had never shown before. A look of...admiring determination?

“You’re right, I don’t have to.” He said, then handed the guy the money. “I want to. I want to see your smile, hear your laughter and take away your sorrow.”

Cortez blushed some more as she realized the truth. He liked her, and at the same time, she felt the same way with him. So, with silence and a warm smile, she watched Todoroki toss rings into the bottles, and 1 of the 4 was ringed and he was down to the last ring.

Todoroki was getting nervous. The requirement was 2 rings or a gold bottle, and he has only one ring. He was not going to give up, if he failed he would try again. So, with a deep breath and frost leaving from his mouth, he tossed the last ring and for a second it bounced off one bottle, and for a brief second of disbelief, it landed perfectly on another bottle.

He had done it, he was able to win the bear for his friend, or was it now girlfriend? That sounded better, he thought and he turned to see Cortez jumping for joy and her beautiful smile once again.

“You did it, Todoroki!” Cortez said and her green dragon-eyes shone brightly when he handed her the bear. “Gracias.”

Todoroki rubbed his right hand gently over her face causing a small chill up her spine. She looked up at him and for the first time, Cortez saw the purest, genuine smile adorn his face. “Never lose that smile.”

Cortez smiled even wider and gave Todoroki a peck on the cheek. “I’ll never let it leave again, Canelo.”

Words

Gracias:thank you

Canelo: cinnamon

#my hero academia #oc/Todoroki #fluff #flufftober #flufftober2021 #some angst #m/f ship

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sidereal-fantasies · 6 years ago

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Mayhem Nights [Ateez Witch Hunter AU]

six

Character(s): Reader, OC, Ateez

Category: Supernatural AU

Genre: Fantasy, Horror

Warning(s): None that exactly stood out to me. Oh wait, there’s a lot of talking. Development reasons.

It shouldn’t be like this.

[Name]’s eyes flickered left and right, soaking in the details of the corridors and corners as Yeri and her trailed behind the ever so silent Yeosang. Everything about the hallways were just like that bedroom; completely and utterly normal to the point one would overlook even the smallest peculiarity, perhaps, if there were any lingering at all. Her wound still felt tender to the touch, but she didn’t dare say anything to Yeri or Yeosang as she just wanted to sleep off all the information that was overwhelming her thoughts like a tidal wave currently. That, and the peculiar off-putting feeling she sensed from Yeosang placed her in a position too wary to give her trust away at times.

“How long has this been a thing?” Yeri suddenly spoke as the trio neared a staircase.

Yeosang hummed in response as he scratched the back of his neck. “Would you believe if I said it’s been almost a year since the entire group decided to work together?”

[Name] arched her eyebrows as she had assumed that the group had been witch hunting for many more years than just that.

“Okay then, what about you? How did you end up in… all of this?”

Yeosang halted midway up the stairs. His once stoic eyes were now a cold blue gaze that scrutinized every inch of [Name] as his knuckles began to turn white from his iron grip on the metal railing.

“You’re a bold one,” Yeosang started as his eyes bore into [Name]. His tone was even, calm, yet it still pierced [Name] somewhere within her, like she had struck a wrong cord and sent herself spiraling down into a trap she couldn’t escape from. Her throat ran dry as her own hands, slick with cold sweat, tightened and pulled Yeri closer to her for comfort.

“Another day. It’s a very long story, I’m afraid,” Yeosang finally answered with an angelic smile that graced his soft features.

He resumed his way up the stairs with Yeri and [Name] trailing behind stiffly. Had [Name] pressed on, she surely would have regretted it and wished the odd witch from earlier had finished her off in her own home.

~•*•~

The lounge was closed during daytime hours as [Name] had found out, leaving the unbelievably enormous entertainment room to just eight boys. A bar laid quietly in one corner, counter shined to perfection and illuminated by the dim lights above. Tables and booths ran along the walls with the exception of another corner being lined with two large red couches, covered in plush pillows that obviously been tossed there from a recent pillow fight.

Yeri left [Name] momentarily after she had found her phone in her pocket. She had her family which she frequently keeps in touch with; with all the chaos that resulted from one risky choice, [Name] knew Yeri needed that kind of reassurance more than a simple phrase from the girl that nearly got herself killed. With Yeri off to the side, [Name] was able to observe the other members running about. Yeosang had joined a tall blonde whom she assumed to be Seonghwa from her faint memory before she had lost consciousness. As noted, they were most likely the more quiet members who preferred to stay on the sidelines unless needed. Near the red couches were Yunho, Mingi, and one other male with brown hair. The three seem to be joking about something with the slightly shorter brunette simply watching the chaos ensue. As she continue to scan the room, Hongjoong was nowhere in sight.

“There you are!” A bright voice called out.

A duo approached [Name]. One donned lavender colored hair and the other sported dark hair with red streaks peeking out on the front. Both had the look of a sharpshooter locking in on their target, however, and that alone set something off within [Name]’s mind.

“I’m Wooyoung and this is San,” Wooyoung introduced himself while he motioned towards the ‘San’ individual.

“We’ve heard a bit about you, already,” San chirped.

[Name]’s eyes widen. “Y-you have?”

The slight curl to San’s lips sent shivers running down [Name]’s spine. She could have swore she saw a mischievous glint flicker in San’s eyes for a split second. The dark haired male only quirked an eyebrow at her shocked expression, prompting her to defend herself while she had the chance.

“Look, I just want to get this mess sorted out and get back to a normal life,” [Name] stated plainly.

“You will!” Wooyoung reassured her with a cheeky grin. “I’m not sure about the normal life part. This is some dark business stuff.”

The corners of [Name]’s mouth turned downwards into a frown.

“Leave her alone, guys. She woke up only a few hours ago. She’s probably still feeling the effect of the poison.”

[Name] turned on her heel and was met with the familiar face of Hongjoong.

“Hongjoong! I, er, I should really thank you and a few others for the help. Really, I probably would have been a goner even with Yeri watching my back,” [Name] stuttered slightly.

“It’s nothing. We’re all just glad that you’ve made it,” Hongjoong replied with a gentle smile.

Like their first encounter, the lack of sleep slowly seeped into Hongjoong’s features. Whether it was the setting or his tiredness, it brought a more approachable touch to Hongjoong’s rather fiery presence. The man was certainly a leader, yet, [Name] could tell there was some wall that stood between the two; never ending and always looming over the opposer that stood in front of him. Thickness of said wall seemed to vary as far as she assumed.

“No, really, I caused a lot of trouble already. I need to repay you in some kind of way.”

The all-too sly grin made it’s way to Hongjoong’s lips as well as he observed [Name]’s slight movements silently. He crossed his arms over his chest and thought for moment, humming quietly as he contemplated over [Name]’s repayment.

“Well, you could join us. Or at least help out with a little dilemma we’ve been dealing with lately,” Hongjoong offered.

[Name]’s jaw nearly dropped. She hasn’t expect any kind of solution like that. Her gaze traveled elsewhere for a few moments, catching the stares of the other members in the room. They all had planned this the moment she woke up.

“If that’s the case…” she trailed off.

A room just off to the left side sported large windows that featured various equipment inside ranging from long melee weapons to short throwing knives caught her attention. The floor inside was lined with mats up until a small shooting range in the back with a few benches pressing against the walls and resting near a couple of drinking stations. [Name] raised an eyebrow before she threw a quick glance over her shoulder at a fidgety Yeri.

“Show me what some of you guys can do and then I’ll consider handing the book over to you,” [Name] declared.

Hongjoong’s lips curled into a smirk as he clapped his hands together. “No problem!” He responded without hesitation.

“Tomorrow. We’ll have Mingi and Jongho spar a little bit and maybe San show off the weaponry. For now, you continue to rest and we’ll have your friend get the book for you.”

[Name] peered over at the three men sitting nearby. She recognized Mingi instantly before her eyes trailed over to the young brunette who simply nodded his head in response. She assumed that he must have been Jongho. Her gaze then shifted to San who stood just behind her, the same grin still plastered to his lips.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Hongjoong stopped [Name] from trailing back to the bedrooms.

“Look, I really value my team here and will do anything to keep them out of harm’s way. With that stunt you pulled a few nights ago, we’re gonna have to talk a little more about this… book once it’s here.”

All [Name] could do was agree. For she knew, she had fallen and tangled herself into a series of unforeseen consequences.

~•*•~

Yeri unlocked the front door to her apartment and quietly slipped in before she gently closed the door. A soft sigh escaped her as she lingered at the door just for a little longer, hand grasping the cold metal knob as if she was debating on running away from her unknown worries.

“You’re back. Did the protection charm work?”

Yeri jumped at the sound of the voice and whipped around to find the source. In her living room sat a young woman with ombré hair, jet black fading into a dull silver that matched her clouded eyes. Yeri glanced over her shoulder as she fumbled for the herb infused pendant in her pocket. She nodded her head before she tossed it over to the woman who caught it with ease and slid it back into her own pocket.

“I just met that group your coven talked about a few days ago. Ateez, was it? They honestly don’t seem like trouble.” Beads of sweat formed just at her hairline as her muddled thoughts clashed and crashed within her mind. Yeri only fiddled with the ends of her sleeves as she inched into the kitchen, bemused as to what to do with the new guest in her house. “Where’s—“

“He serves under me. I wanted to know the information personally. Just girl-to-girl talk,” the witch interrupted.

Yeri swallowed a hard lump as she carefully watch the young woman saunter into the kitchen afterwards. With the warlock, she was able to freely hand over whatever information she was able to gather while her sister received the treatment she needed to get over the curse. It was a guaranteed deal. The witch, on the other hand, immediately suffocated Yeri with her powerful aura. The ravenette could tell right off the bat that she wasn’t just any member of her coven. Hell, Yeri thought, she might just be the head of these operations. Had she screwed up somewhere?

“You didn’t answer my other question yet.”

A simper made its way to the witch’s lips. “They are very troublesome,” she remarked. “They’re little demons once you give them proper weapons and a perfect moment to strike. Sparks that need to be smothered to oblivion before the flame grows too big.”

“If so, why do you need me? You seem powerful enough to take them out whenever you want to,” Yeri snapped.

“It’s obvious, isn’t, sweet child?” The witch questioned as she cocked an eyebrow.

“I need to stop Ateez’s next move and eliminate them. In order to do that, I need an insider. That’s you. You, however, need me to cure your little sister and keep her safe from all the scary left-handed witches that might hex her again if she got too curious.”

Yeri slowly moved out of the kitchen, gaze trailing back and forth between the door and the witch. “I know that, but why them specifically? There’s a bunch of witch hunters out there far worse than them.”

The witch paused for a moment. Her red painted nails drummed against the countertop as she stared down at the ravenette before she began to move over to where she stood.

“Not all of us are black and white. I need you because I have a personal vendetta against one of Ateez’s members. Because of him, I have watched many of my brothers and sisters die at the hands of their kind— mostly your kind— and frankly, you’re quite easy to manipulate,” she hissed.

Yeri pressed her lips together, forming a thin line. The witch handed the book over to Yeri and motioned her to the front door. “Go give it to them. I need to pay a visit to your sister,” she spat.

Yeri’s fingers gently ran over the cover of the book. A sudden inclination had her thumbing the pages. It had occurred to her that since [Name] had shown her the book, neither of them bothered to open it to find out why the content inside was so valuable to others. It tempted her as she stopped, finger lingering on a random spot, and tried to guess what could exactly be hidden amongst decades of family secrets.

“You know the saying ‘curiosity killed the cat?’” The witch spoke again as she placed a cold hand over Yeri’s own. “The next time we meet may not be in the way you want it.”

The curl of her lips was enough to send Yeri scrambling out of her own apartment, heart beating and lungs heaving as she sprinted away from the familiar cackles.

“Farewell, my little black cat.”

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loving-life-loving-lysol · 6 years ago

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Masterlist!

This is a full list of all the requested and specially themed moodboards I have made. If I missed anything, or if any links are wrong or missing, please let me know! 💖🙏💖

((I’ve been having some technical issues getting certain links to work on desktop, so if there are any problems, please let me know!))

Compatibility and Relationship Moodboards

Leo x Scorpio

Taurus x Taurus

Virgo Sun, Virgo Moon, Virgo Rising x Cancer Sun, Leo Moon, Capricorn Rising

Capricorn Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Pisces Rising, Capricorn Mercury, Sagittarius Venus, Pisces Mars x Aquarius Sun, Cancer Moon, Aquarius Mercury, Pisces Venus, Scorpio Mars

Female Aries x Male Cancer

Butch Female Aries x Femme Female Scorpio

Female Taurus x Male Aries

Female Gemini x Male Sagittarius

Female Gemini x Male Cancer

Female Gemini x Male Leo

Female Cancer x Male Gemini

Female Cancer x Male Sagittarius

Female Cancer x Male Capricorn

Female Cancer x Male Virgo

Female Cancer x Male Pisces

Female Leo x Male Aquarius

Female Virgo x Male Leo

Female Virgo x Male Sagittarius

Female Virgo x Male Scorpio

Female Virgo x Male Aries

Female Libra x Male Aquarius

Female Libra x Male Virgo

Female Libra x Female Aquarius

Female Scorpio x Male Taurus

Female Scorpio x Male Leo

Female Sagittarius x Male Capricorn

Female Sagittarius x Male Leo

Female Capricorn x Male Cancer

Female Aquarius x Male Leo

Female Aquarius x Male Scorpio

Female Aquarius x Male Gemini

Female Aquarius x Male Capricorn

Female Aquarius x Male Virgo

Female Aquarius x Female Aquarius

Female Aquarius x Female Sagittarius

Female Pisces x Male Gemini

Female Pisces x Male Aries

Female Pisces x Male Leo

Male Aries x Male Gemini

Male Virgo x Male Pisces

Male Aquarius x Male Sagittarius

Male Capricorn x Male Gemini

Male Cancer x Male Cancer

Male Gemini Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Leo Rising x Male Sagittarius Sun, Pisces Moon, Virgo Rising

Female Taurus-Gemini Cusp x Male Capricorn-Aquarius Cusp who are too shy to admit that they like each other

Female Hufflepuff x Female Slytherin

Personality Moodboards

Catholic, Lesbian, Ravenclaw, Fire-Ox, Aries, Gemini Moon, Leo Rising, Capricorn Sun, Vitiligo Female

Cancer Sun, Aquarius Moon, Capricorn Rising, Supine, Neutral Good, Oak the Stabilizer, Hufflepuff, ISFJ(-T)

Sagittarius Sun, Aries Moon, Aries Rising + ENTP

Pisces Sun, Pisces Moon, Leo Rising, With Dominant Aries

Slytherin Libra Sun, Taurus Moon, Taurus Rising

Gryffindor Aries Sun, Cancer Moon, Gemini Rising

Scorpio Sun, Virgo Moon, Libra Rising

Scorpio Sun, Leo Moon, Libra Rising

Sagittarius Sun, Cancer Moon, Sagittarius Rising

Sagittarius Sun, Aries Moon, Taurus Rising

Gemini Sun, Leo Moon, Scorpio Rising

Gemini Sun, Scorpio Moon, Aries Rising

Pisces Sun, Gemini Moon, Gemini Rising In Pink

Cancer Sun, Scorpio Moon, Cancer Rising

Cancer Sun, Aries Moon, Capricorn Rising

Cancer Sun, Pisces Moon, Virgo Rising

Virgo Sun, Taurus Moon, Gemini Rising

Virgo Sun, Leo Moon, Pisces Rising

Libra Sun, Taurus Moon, Virgo Rising

Capricorn Sun, Virgo Moon, Aquarius Rising

Capricorn Sun, Aries Moon, Scorpio Rising

Capricorn Sun, Scorpio Moon, Sagittarius Rising

Leo Sun, Scorpio Moon, and Cancer Rising

Fierce Leo Fashionista

Bisexual Slytherin Male

Book Nerd Slytherclaw on the Ace Spectrum

INFJ Libra

INFJ Sagittarius

INFP Gemini

INTP, Cancer, Slytherin

Slytherin Aesthetic

Friendship Moodboards

Scorpio x Cancer Best Friends

Cancer x Leo x Scorpio Best Friends

Female Libra x Female Sagittarius Best Friends

Female Libra x Female Aquarius Best Friends

Female Virgo x Female Aries Best Friends

Female Virgo x Male Libra Best Friends

Female Aries x Male Sagittarius Best Friends

Gemini, Sagittarius and Capricorn Female Best Friends

Adopted Female Bisexual Leo Ravenclaw x Female Aro/Ace Libra Sun, Cancer Moon Slytherin x Male Gay Libra Sun, Libra Moon Hufflepuff Best Friends

Name Moodboards

James

Kai

Dean

Ava

Laila

Amira

Eureka

Solace

Ashleigh

Noah

Hailey

Rui

Gabriella

Henrietté

Alexia

Amber

Rachel

Mikayla

Paula

Magali

Adrienne

Mason

Diana

Jules

Freda

Ollie

Celina

Dante

Lívia

Sienna

Lynn

Natalia

Zander

Leonardo

Katariina

Marina

Yuuka

Max

Chris

Ezra

Agata

Lois

Mark

Kylie

Alicia

Estelle

Alex

Mia

Booker

Lune

Declan

Username Moodboards

wherepeoplehavenoname

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cowboyjakedillinger

syrxpvania

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artsy-dreamer

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galacticlead

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of-stars-and-moon

winterrs-child

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ohoneyno

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angel-ette

aroacelittlemy

somajesticdonki

blissfulthoughts

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f-1-ux

nightlight-glimmer

paperclip-dragon

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kylieerinjosiphineparksworld

gabbiisawesome

whisper-yelling

confused-may

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sisroks

pomesa

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rayjayo

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drarryandharry

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prof-iupin

roonil--wazlib

angel-loki

muggleborngirl

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homaka

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itsdestielislifeuniverse

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OC Moodboards

Katie Eastburn

Kolo

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Pride and LGBTQ+ Moodboards

Bisexual Pride!

Bisexual Boy

Pansexual Pride!

Gay Pride!

Gay Positivity!

Introverted MLM + Space

Enchanted Forest MLM Relationship

Trans Pride!

Lesbian Pride!

Lesbian Pride! (With The Blue And Purple Flag)

WLW!

Black and White WLW

WLW Nature Witch

Non-Binary + Yellow

NonBinary + Soft Things

Closeted Bisexual + Pastel Colours

Trans Girls Are Girls!

Lesbian Fairy

Queer and Demigender

Lithromantic and Pansexual

Song and Music Moodboards

Baby by Clean Bandit

Blank Space by Taylor Swift

Sleep Alone by Waterparks

Oxygen by Catfish and the Bottlemen

Colors by Halsey

Animal by Neon Trees

Los Ageless by St. Vincent

Alrighty Aphrodite by Peach Pit

Medusa in Chains by The Fratellis

Cemetery Drive by My Chemical Romance

Green by Cavetown

Hazel by Cavetown

DEVIL by Shinedown

Shy by HUNNY

Tiny Dancer by Elton John

Fred Astaire by San Cisco

Coffin Break by Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble Shadows

Character Moodboards

Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Melissa Hastings from Pretty Little Liars

Lexa from The 100

Gengar from Pokemon

Magnus Bane from Shadowhunters

William T. Spears from Black Butler

Noriaki Kakyoin from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

Steve Rogers from Marvel

Ship Moodboards

Undertaker x William from Black Butler

Taehyung x Jungkook from BTS

Hermione x Ron from Harry Potter

Ginny x Luna from Harry Potter

Shiro x Keith from Voltron

Stimboards (GIF Warning!)

Shiny Mega Gengar from Pokémon

Other Themed Moodboards

Hopeless Romantic

Purple, Blue and Pink

Sky, Moon and Stars

Stag Beetles

Moths

Valentines Day!

Midnight In Tokyo

“Shook”

“What Colour Are Your Socks?“

Vintage Indie

Lust in Red

Primary Colours

Pastel Architecture

Warrior Girl

Mermaid

FFXIV OC

Sex, Drugs & Violence

Nostalgia

Neon Drug Trip

Treasure Every Moment

Pastels + Kitties

Fun Pastel Colours

Inspiration and Motivation

A Splash Of Colour!

Soft Pink

Soft Black and White

Lavender + Orange Boy

Do you dream in colour?

A New Kind Of Magic

Pastel 1970’s

Beautiful Lies in Pink, Black and Orange

Soft Yellow Things

Horror, Plushies, Sweets, Rabbits, Anime and Pastel Goth

Art Is All Around Us

Space

Pop Art

Orange Taurus

Classical Music

Роковая Женщина // Russian Femme Fatale

Snakes!

#Masterlist #moodboard #Aesthetic #aesthetics #moodboard requests #loving-life-loving-lysol's masterlist #<<< tagging so i can find it more easily

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tired--nb · 7 years ago

Note

tell me about your ocs. al of them

sdjfjhsgd?? really?? i have alot so i hope its ok that i just talk about my two new ones and maybe an old one of mine also its under cut because i have no idea how long im gonna go on oof

Ok lets start with Lynn Evans ((imma recap what i said in the other post for my own sake sorry jahf)) She is a 15 y/o first year at U.A. She started going there while Mydoria was a second year. Her homeroom teacher is Present Mic (at least for now idk how sure i am on the decision) and like I said her quirk is Singing boost. She can boost anyone with in ear shot so she in battle would have to stay back and help her team from afar and through mic so that villians can hear her, and when dhe is boosting weather it herself or others he loses a lot stimina. Depending on the tone (or sometimes even the words) of a song itll boost different things and the best way she can tell is doing a small test with her brother with each new song she decides to sing. She is a trans girl but no one at U.A. but her homeroom teacher and the principle know. She socially transitioned after middle school and before she went to U.A. Though when she told her parents her mom fliped her fuckin shit and was like ‘I didn’t rase my son to be a pussy and I expected better from you how could you do this to me’ and left Lynn and her dad the next day her dad was completely understanding though he accepted her and said he will do everything in his power to help her. And because hes a tattoo artist they have a little pact that when she overcomes a big obstacle of being trans he puts a small music note on her wrist she right now has 8! This was also out of her suggestion because shes always wanted music note tattoos and this way they have a lot of meaning to her at the same timeOk about 2 years later her dad decides to adopt another kid and that when he goes and adopts Joseph. When they first got him they were told he was quirkless and they were ok with it but turns out he had a quirk he just really hated the foster home he was in so he just never used it out of spite for them. And like i said his quirk is orbit.This means he can make anything (under his 10 lb weight limit) orbit him like a satellite when he touches it with the palm of his hand! And if he wants it to stop orbiting him he can either just grab it or fling it out of orbit but when he flings it he cant control the speed and it can get pretty dangerous. Then when he hits his limit his vision get blurry and its hard for him to hear so he tries his best not to hit it. Also orbiting animals makes he tire quickly.Also his palms have the area that activates his quirk a lot darker than the rest and everyone just thought it was vitiligo but nope just his quirk lol Then he looks up to his sister and Uravity alot His sister because he sees her as like the strongest and best person ever then Uravity because their quirks have alot of similaritiesThen as for Lynn’s Dad and mom i dont have a ton of info on but ill say what i do have!Her dad, Steven, has the quirk boosting touch that he uses while he does tattoos so that they both hurt less and heal faster! Though his quirk only works when he has a fully hand on the person and its only for that limbThen her mother, Sophia had the quirk lullaby which puts one person (the first to hear her) that hears her into a haze like stateOhh then Lynn looks up to the Wild Wild Pussy Cats alot and wants to be on a team like them! Tiger is her favorite because hes a transboy (canonly!!!!) and it makes her feel alot better about herself knowing there are other trans heros. Then personality wise Lynn is the quiet type that keeps to her self only really talking to her friend Micheal, though once you get her talking or rived up about something its alittle hard to get her to shut up lol then she also had bipolar depression and takes meds for it She also has been taking martial arts classes since she was 5 and is shes a purple belt at the moment! Anyways if theres anything else you wanna hear about her or any of her family hmu this was mostly just me info dumping to hell and back lmao

honestly the rest of my ocs are old and not nearly as developed oof i mean i have a lavender pearl that worked for a high class gem and was very fuckin gay for pink diamond, then i have an old oc that is a fox human hybrid named Renee and was originally a undertale oc that had a huge crush on sans (cringy i know leave me alone i was like 11), and then all of my trolls i made forever ago and just dropped oof, I also have an old creepypasta oc named neono that wore neon colors and was obsessed with fire lmao, then i also have the characters that were gonna become a game/comic but the other person who was working on it with me left ;; Baer had lot of development but id have to explain the entire game to explain it and teddi had some too but he wasnt my character to expand on oof then tom was mine and hes just a murderer. Then i also have an oc thats a demon and she had all her limbs cut off and her eye jabbed out so her demon form has floating limbs and is a cyclops now that i think about it she was p developed too damn i know she also had a glass prosthetic arm from the elbow down and the knee down

Ah anyways i went on for a long time sorry about that also sorry if i pitied you into sending me an ask about it thats a shitty thing to do i was just really annoyed and i apologize for itbut legit thank you so much for sending this is made my day oof??? sorry if it makes no sense

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dryemiddi · 8 years ago

Photo

I got the idea and i couldn't stop myself…..

And WHAT was that idea?

MAKING MY ULTIMATE SENPAIS ALL INTO AQUADEMIAN FOX FURRIES!! BOOM!!

Actually….its surprisingly fun to make characters into a version your own species…

In some of the character refs, I changed the clothing (the skirt with zarla-s was an accident…)

And in a few others, I barely changed anything!

@nekophy: (skim milk) It was quite interesting and fun to design her, since the overall shape of neko’s body is practically a stick, so i made it so she had black clothing instead of actual sticks, and I gave her a cat like tail for no reason. And there are two reasons why i chose skim milk to be her liquid. 1. Shes originally a cat 2. Stick cats are hella skinny...or should i say SKIMMY-

@angexci: (Blue russian cocktail) When finding a good liquid to match her appearance, I had to literally search up WHITE AND BLUE DRINKS…..literally…. It took me awhile to find this cocktail, but it seemed perfect for anger’s liquid. Another thing that I really wanted to change was the shirt… it didn't seem to go good with the purple, green and blue in her design, so i changed the colour of the shirt to purple, and added designs to it just like i did with the liquid hair.

@loverofpiggies : (Pink crayon wax) So i didn't do much to change the clothing of Cq, the only thing I did that did make a difference was I had her fur light pink and I made her liquid pink crayon wax (melted of course) for very obvious reasons

@comyet / @myebi: (gold ink) So, I didnt really change much of mye other than the fract shes a fox, but ORIGINALLY I was gonna make her liquid just plain black ink….but after some thinking i decided to change the colour of the ink to gold, because it didn't really go well with the colour of her hair and her tails.

@lavender-sans / @valarie: (lavender tea) When choosing Val’s liquid, I knew for sure that it would be a kind of tea, but i didn't know what flavor of tea. I knew that VAL was LAV backwards,so i searched if Lavender tea exists, and it did, so there you go! VALENDER TEA!! Buuuttt when i was making the lineart for her….the ears looked like a deer’s ...so I decided to a=make her a wannabe deer?? Lol i dunno it was clever-

@zarla-s: (blue raspberry) I….am SO SORRY FOR MISTAKING YOUR LONG SHIRT FOR A SKIRT!!! I BARELY HAD A REFERENCE AND I USED UR BEE POST TO USE AS ONE-....anyway…. Even though zarla’s fur is RED, I decided to give her a BLUE liquid to match her blue hair….and the only thing that came to mind was not even a real fruit but it fit…..

@golzy: When i was designing golzy, I didnt want to change any of the clothing, so I used the meme video on youtube and used that as a reference. Now..the only liquid that made sense….were tears…...I has no idea what else to give her, so I just made more proof of her being heir to the throne of feels…..

@jakei95: now…..i dont want to get into much detail about why i chose black coffee without it getting dark….so im just gonna say I chose black coffee because of the colour of Jakei’s hair? (its either really dark brown or black….) alllsssoooo….the shines in the liquid were referenced by jael, so thank you for helping me with hair shines, Jakei!

NOW-

IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN MAKING THEIR OC/s OR their persona into an aquademian fox, WE HAVE A FEW RULES-

RULE 1: If ur making ur persona into my species, there are only THREE slots for every existing liquid. So if theyre full, THEN U CANT-

Rule 2: HOWEVER- If youre making OCs into Aquademian foxes, THEN RULE NO.1 DOESNT COUNT- DOESN'T MATTER IF 3 people used it- YOU CAN MAKE AS MANY OCS WITH THAT SAME LIQUID IF YA WANT-

Rule 3: PLEASE- DONT DRAW UR OC AS THIS FOX AND CLAIM THIS SPECIES AS YOUR OWN!!! JUST PLEASE, at least credit me when you created something like this-

RULE 4: IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR PERSONA OR OC AS MY SPECIES, PLS SEND ME SOMETHING ASKING PERMISSION TO!! AND SAY WHAT LIQUID YOU WANT TO USE FOR YOUR PERSONA! THIS WILL REALLY HELP!!!

(After I post this i will make a page on my blog with the liquids taken/ starting to fill up)

AND THIS SPECIES IS CALLED AN AQUADEMIAN FOX!!! IM SO PROUD TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THIS-

Thank you

-Drye-

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wisteriashouse · 4 years ago

Text

between us.

pairing: kamado tanjirou x sumiyuri hayami (oc)

genre: fluff

word count: 7015

remarks: commission by @hinokami-s!! i hope you enjoy this one... i feel like i went a bit off with hayami’s personality at the end (too much... humour?) but i tried my best! as usual tanjirou and hayami’s relationship is so sweet i cry 😭

The cherry blossoms are blooming.

That’s the first thing Tanjirou notices as he makes his way down the path to the Butterfly Estate, their slight fragrance drifting along the wind and lending their floral perfume to the spring breeze. The last time he’d parted ways here with the rest of his friends for individual missions, the cherry blossom trees still had fresh green leaves clinging to their branches. Now, it’s almost been months without seeing a glimpse of their faces.

He hopes they’re all doing alright.

Hiking Nezuko’s box more comfortably up his back, he lets out a slight wince as the straps jolt against the makeshift sling his left arm is in - the demon he’d faced on his latest mission had left a nasty injury there, and he needs to get it checked by one of the girls at the Butterfly Estate before he’s clear to continue taking new missions.

With a sigh, Tanjirou looks down at his wound to inspect it briefly. He’s not trained in medicine like Aoi and Shinobu are, but he’s been injured enough - he can tell from the bruising around his arm that he’ll need to recuperate for a week at least, or perhaps even longer. Hopefully, either Zenitsu or Inosuke will happen to be at the estate as well so that he won’t have to be so alone, or maybe even-

The faint scent of lavender touches his nose, and Tanjirou perks up at the familiarity of it. Could it possibly be her?

“Oh! Tanjirou, it’s you!”

Tanjirou glances up towards the source of the voice only to see a familiar figure silhouetted against the noonday sun, waving enthusiastically in the distance. Hayami is standing at the entrance of the Butterfly Estate, dressed in a snow white yukata and her platinum hair blazing gold in the light of the evening sun. Although he can’t make out her features clearly in the distance, Tanjirou somehow knows that their eyes have met - it’s like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle falling into place.

He waves in response with his good arm, feeling the corners of his mouth lift in a smile - it’s an involuntary reflex, one that he can’t help whenever he sees her. As Tanjirou draws closer, Hayami, apparently too impatient to wait for him to come to her, takes off at a run - within seconds, she’s already standing before him with a radiant smile and lilac eyes that sparkle like gems.

“Tanjirou, it’s been so long since I’ve last seen you!” Hayami exclaims excitedly, holding out her arms to catch Tanjirou in her usual greeting hug when her gaze falls to his arm. Instantly, her eyes widen with concern, brows pinching together as she inspects the reddened area. “You’re hurt! What happened?”

A sheepish laugh escapes him, his good hand reaching up to scratch at his head. “Well, it’s a little embarrassing, but I got taken by surprise.” Hayami frowns in worry, moving as if to gently touch the wound, but right before her fingertips can brush his skin, she pulls back with a shake of the head. Tanjirou can’t help the slight twinge of disappointment, before he feels heat prick at his cheeks at the thought - he blames it on the warm weather. “What about you? Why are you at the estate?”

“We all make mistakes, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” Hayami chides, apparently unaware of his wandering thoughts. “I just finished a mission, so they’re giving me a short break. I’ve been going continuously for a few months now, and I don’t want to collapse out of exhaustion.” Giving him a cursory glance, she leans in closer, the scent of freshly laundered fabric and lavender tickling his nose - what a pleasant scent, Tanjirou thinks. Her lilac eyes stare right into his, and suddenly it registers to him that Hayami is standing too close - far too close.

“That’s true, I would hate to see you overworked.” He tries to brush off the feeling in his chest, smiling up at Hayami. “I’m glad that you’re here as well. I was worried I’d have to spend the next few weeks training all by myself!”

“That would have been quite lonely, but don’t worry, I’m here too! We can spar together if you want, but only when your arm gets better!” Hayami replies instantly. With a smile, she takes Tanjirou’s uninjured hand in his. “Come on, let’s get back to the Butterfly Mansion and get your injury looked at. I’m sure the other girls are excited to see you too.”

Tanjirou looks down at their conjoined hands, something akin to warmth fluttering in his chest. He’s lucky that Hayami doesn’t have the same keen sense of smell that he does, because now, the air is almost pungently sweet with the scent of his happiness.

“Knock, knock, are you there?” Hayami raps her knuckles lightly on the box Tanjirou always wears on his back. From the inside, she can hear slight scratching noises and rustling, the sound of its contents awakening. She knocks again, a playful sing song tone to her voice. “Oh dear, this box isn’t making any noise. Is anyone home?”

“Mmph hmph!”

All of a sudden, the lid to the box bursts open and a tiny Nezuko spills out in a mess of pink fabric and an assortment of wildflowers. Tanjirou must have given Nezuko those to play with while she was inside the box, Hayami reasons, colours and variations of all sorts strewn on the floor. With a smile, Hayami mentally promises to clean up the mess later and stretches out her arms. “Nezuko! It’s Big Sister! Did you miss me?”

Before Hayami can so much as reach for the younger girl, Nezuko is already toddling over and throwing herself into Hayami’s arms, making muffled noises of excitement behind her bamboo gag. Cooing, Hayami reaches down to brush some stray flower petals out of Nezuko’s hair before wrapping her arms around the younger girl. She’s as adorable as usual. “How have you been? Did you help your big brother Tanjirou fight any demons?”

Nezuko makes a little ‘mmph!’ noise proudly, her pink eyes sparkling. Hayami beams down at the younger girl, ruffling her long locks. They’re a little tangled, she notes with a frown. Tanjirou usually does this, but he must have been unable to with the injury to his dominant hand.

“Nezuko, sit here,” she pats her lap, before looking through her sleeves, before producing a little wooden comb. Carefully, she begins to run the comb through Nezuko’s locks, being cautious not to hurt the younger girl while undoing the knots. Doing this feels relaxing, the repetitive movements helping to calm her mind and soul.

“Hmm!” Much to Hayami’s surprise, Nezuko suddenly turns around in Hayami’s lap and points at her hair, before gesturing at her own excitedly. Hayami tilts her head to the side, momentarily confused. “My hair? What about it?”

“Mmhh mm!”

Hayami lets out a noise of realisation. “You want your hair to be tied into a ponytail too?”

“Mmm!”

“Alright, give me a moment.” Looking into her sleeves again, she searches for her spare hair ribbon - a short length of pink silk that would go beautifully with Nezuko’s eyes, she thinks. Humming lightly, she moves to gather Nezuko’s hair into a long ponytail, before securing it neatly with a ribbon. “There, all done.”

From the happy noises Nezuko is making, Hayami assumes that she likes it. Feeling pleased with herself, Hayami pats the top of Nezuko’s head with a smile. “I’m glad you like it!”

Nezuko whirls around, pointing at her forehead and making curious sounds. Hayami understands who she’s talking about almost instantly.

“Oh, where’s Tanjirou? He’s getting looked at by Shinobu-san for his arm, but I’m sure he’ll be alright in no time. He asked me to keep you company in the meanwhile.” Hayami answers, smiling as comfortingly as she can at Nezuko. This seems to abate the young demon’s concerns slightly, but then Nezuko tugs at the sleeve of her kimono, brows furrowed.

“Hmph hmm!”

“You’re still worried?” Hayami twirls a lock of hair around her finger thoughtfully. It is dark out now, so it should be safe for her to bring Nezuko out of the room. “Well, I suppose Tanjirou should have finished his examination with Shinobu-san by now, unless he’s more badly injured than I thought. Do you want to go find him?”

“Mhm!”

“Alright, hop on.” Lowering herself closer to the ground, Hayami allows Nezuko to clamber onto her back and wrap her legs around her waist. Once she’s satisfied that Nezuko is securely on her back, she straightens up. Behind her, Nezuko makes tiny muffled noises of excitement, and Hayami has to stifle a giggle. Nezuko really is too cute.

“Hold on tight to me, alright, Nezuko?” Hayami glances over her shoulder. Nezuko wraps her arms around her neck.

“Mmm!”

Setting out, the two of them make their way down the corridors of the Butterfly Estate to the medical wing, Hayami humming along the way to keep Nezuko entertained. Once they reach the medical wing, Hayami slides open the door, only to see Tanjirou sitting on the only occupied bed with a bowl of porridge on his bedside table. His eyes light up the second he sees the two of them.

“Nezuko!” Tanjirou says brightly, and in an instant, Nezuko is leaping off Hayami’s back before hopping straight onto Tanjirou’s bed, wrapping both arms around his middle tightly. Tanjirou lets out a grunt as he catches with his good hand, before he lets out a laugh and reaches up to pat the top of her head gently. “There, there, Nezuko. Big Brother is completely fine, there’s no need to worry, see?” He wiggles the fingers poking out of his cast to reassure her. Seemingly put at ease now, Nezuko tugs at Tanjirou’s sleeve, before pointing to her hair.

“Hmm mm!”

Tanjirou smiles at Nezuko. “Did Hayami do your hair for you? Wow, it looks beautiful on you, Nezuko!” Nezuko huffs proudly. He turns to look at Hayami. “Thank you very much for keeping her company for me, Hayami.”

“It was no problem, you know how much I love to spend time with Nezuko’,” Hayami says, sliding the door shut behind her. Stepping over to Tanjirou, she gives the cast a cursory glance. “That doesn’t look ‘completely fine’ in the least. How bad is it?”

“Just a hairline fracture.” Tanjirou explains, as Nezuko curls up in his lap like a large cat. “Shinobu-san said that it’ll heal in about a couple of weeks or so, as long as I don’t aggravate it. She gave me some painkillers too, but apparently they can only be taken after a meal, hence the porridge.” He lets out a sigh as he looks down at his dominant hand, casted and wrapped in a sling. “It’s a little hard to eat with this on, though.”

Crossing over to his bedside table, Hayami picks up the bowl, scooping a spoonful of porridge and holding it out to Tanjirou. “Here, I’ll feed you.” Hayami nudges at his lips with the spoon. “Say ‘ah’.”

“Ah, Hayami, there’s no need to!” Tanjirou’s face is burning red for some reason, and Hayami frowns in worry, setting down the bowl to the side.

“Tanjirou, your cheeks are flushed.” Tanjirou looks like he’s about to hyperventilate any moment, the flush on his cheeks deepening into a shade of wine red. He doesn’t seem like he’s about to admit anything, so Hayami simply leans forward, brushing the hair back from Tanjirou’s forehead to press their foreheads together, just as Shinobu had taught her to check for a fever. As expected, his skin is a little hot in comparison to hers. “Hmm, you’re a little warm. You might have a fever- Ow!”

Hayami staggers back with a yelp of pain, both hands clutching her forehead. “Tanjirou!”

“I’m so sorry! Are you alright? I didn’t mean to do that! You just leaned in all of a sudden and I panicked and I accidentally headbutted you!” Tanjirou panics, clambering off the bed to check up on her. Hayami rubs the sore spot where Tanjirou’s forehead had collided with hers, slightly relieved that her fingers come away bloodless - she’s seen what that deadly weapon is more than capable of before. It really is as hard as a rock, she thinks to herself.

“I’m alright,” Hayami manages. Nezuko looks concerned, pink eyes wide as she stares from the bed. Maybe she should go to Shinobu for an x-ray tomorrow, just in case. He might have fractured her skull. “Well, I suppose that you’re fine, seeing that you seem so energetic.” Picking up the bowl, Hayami holds out the spoon to him once more. “Here. You should eat so that you can take your pills and go to sleep.”

Apparently too traumatised by the earlier incident to argue any further, Tanjirou obediently opens his mouth and swallows, chewing silently. It doesn’t take him long to finish the entire bowl, and by the time Hayami is handing him a cup of water to wash his painkillers down with, Tanjirou is already yawning and rubbing at his eyes. He must be tired just having returned from a series of missions without break, Hayami thinks sympathetically.

“Lie down and sleep for now,” Hayami tells Tanjirou, moving over to help him fluff up his pillow. Nodding tiredly, Tanjirou moves to lie down, and Hayami tugs the blanket over him, tucking him in carefully to make sure he doesn’t catch a chill during the night.

“You should rest too, Hayami,” Tanjirou says between yawns, and Hayami turns to give him a quick smile. He’s looking up at her from the bed, almost half asleep at this point, and Hayami’s heart squeezes in her chest at the innocent sight. He’s so cute. “I will as soon as you go to bed,” she says, fetching a spare blanket from one of the empty beds to drape around Nezuko’s form. The younger girl had already fallen asleep a while ago at the foot of Tanjirou’s bed.

“Alright then,” Tanjirou says sleepily, letting out a final yawn before his eyes slide shut. “Goodnight… Hayami…”

Hayami looks up from putting the blanket around Nezuko to see Tanjirou already fast asleep with his eyes shut, the beginning of light snores escaping his mouth. For a moment, Hayami simply watches Tanjirou with a contented smile, before she shakes herself out of her stupor.

“What am I doing?” She mumbles to herself in confusion, before turning around to leave the medical wing. Before she slides the door shut, however, she gives Tanjirou’s sleeping form a final glance. He looks a couple of years younger like this, his face relaxed and a gentle smile on his lips.

“Goodnight to you too, Tanjirou.”

After a couple of weeks at the Butterfly Estate, Tanjirou’s cast finally comes off.

“See, good as new,” Tanjirou shows Hayami, as the two of them sit on the engawa next to the training grounds. Carefully, Hayami picks up his arm, checking it over. She knows it’s a little silly - if Shinobu, their medical professional, has declared that he’s fit to return to duty, he’s definitely more than alright - but she can’t help but worry until she sees that he is completely fine with her own two eyes.

“I’m glad,” she finally smiles, setting down his arm. Tanjirou beams at her, before he picks up his sword from where it had been lying next to him, before hopping off the engawa onto the training grounds below.

“Come on, let’s spar!” He calls brightly, testing the grip of his sword carefully. “It’s been so long since I’ve been able to practice. If Urokodaki-san found out how much I’ve slacked off on training, he’d…” Tanjirou trails off with a shiver at the thought. Hayami winces in sympathy. As a former student of Urokodaki herself, she can only remember all too clearly the times the old man had booted her into the waterfall that flows down Sagiri Mountain.

“You’ve just recovered, though,” Hayami points out, concerned. Tanjirou only beams.

“I feel perfectly fine!” Grasping his sword with both hands, Tanjirou takes a few practice swings with it. “No pain at all, my muscles are just stiff because I haven’t used them in a while. It’ll be fine after a bit of exercise.”

“Well, if you say so,” Hayami says, reaching for her own boots to pull them on. As usual, Tanjirou’s drive to improve himself is unrelenting. Adjusting them so they fit comfortably, Hayami hops to her feet, testing the blade mechanisms. As expected of Ginjiro’s work, they still work perfectly, much to her satisfaction.

She picks up her blade and slides off the engawa, raising her own blade with a smile. “I won’t go easy on you then, Tanjirou! Ready whenever you are!”

In the blink of an eye, Tanjirou is already lunging at Hayami, swinging his blade down with a fierce strike. “Water Breathing, Fourth Form, Striking Tide!”

Hayami twirls out of the way, landing lightly on her toes before she leaps at him. “Breath of Swan, Third Form, Wingspan.” Balancing on her hands, she executes a scissor cut with her legs, but before the blades can so much as touch Tanjirou, he’s already leaping out of the way, using the jump to flow into the next attack.

“Water Breathing, Second Form, Water Wheel!”

Blocking the attack with her sword, Hayami jumps into the air and strikes once more. “Fourth Form, Drifting Feathers!”

Her sword clashes hard against Tanjirou’s own, the sound of metal striking metal ringing out through the air. As she keeps up the pressure, Hayami catches sight of the wince that Tanjirou bites back, before his grip on the sword in his hands just happens to slip.

It’s a small mistake, but it’s enough.

“Tanjirou!” The two of them go crashing to the ground in a heap of tangled limbs and swords, Hayami falling flat on top of Tanjirou. “Oh my god, are you okay?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t break my arm a second time.” Tanjirou wheezes, looking completely winded. Distressed, Hayami leans over to check the back of Tanjirou’s head for any injuries. “Really, I’m fine, Hayami…”

“A potential concussion is not fine, Tanjirou.” Hayami scolds, reaching over to feel for any bumps along the back of his head in case. She doesn’t notice the way Tanjirou is trying his very best not to breathe, his eyes squeezed firmly shut.

“Yes, but you’re a bit… close…”

“Eh?”

Hayami finally glances down at Tanjirou to see the poor boy’s face burning crimson, as if he’s about to combust spontaneously any second. That’s when she realises just how close the two of them are, the ends of her hair tickling his nose, the way that she can feel his breath on her skin…

In classic Hayami fashion, she panics. “I-I…” She stumbles over her words, frantically torn between wanting to apologise immediately and explaining that she didn’t mean it. “I just… I thought-”

“Squawk! Message from headquarters! Message from headquarters!”

Saved by the crow! Hayami looks up to see her crow, Aiya, flying around in circles over their heads. “Message from headquarters! Sumiyuri Hayami and Kamado Tanjirou are to depart at once on a mission!”

“A mission?” Hayami repeats out loud, rolling off Tanjirou and reaching down to help him up. “A joint mission together?”

“It would seem so.” Tanjirou answers, quickly sheathing his sword. Still worried for her friend, Hayami turns to glance at Tanjirou. “Is your arm alright, though?”

Tanjirou nods honestly. “It really is! I’m just a little rusty after so long.” Stretching his arms over his head to loosen himself up, he holds out a hand to Hayami. “Well then, shall we go?”

Hayami purses her lips, but then lets out a sigh and smiles. “If you say so,” she says, putting her hand into his.

“Let’s go!”

Splitting up was, is and has never been, a good idea.

Well, that assumption might not always be wholly accurate, Hayami thinks to herself as she speeds through the trees, but it does seem that only the most terrible things happen to her whenever she is split up with her mission partners.

Or perhaps it is because she is split up with Tanjirou specifically that she feels such worry.

Regardless of whichever it is, Hayami has a bad feeling about this. She and Tanjirou had agreed to split up earlier, and while she has complete trust in Tanjirou’s ability and skill in battle, she can’t help but worry - it’s been too quiet, ever since the two of them had parted ways to search for the demon.

Trust your instinct, she remembers Urokodaki saying. And right now, her instinct is warning her about something bad.

Before Hayami can make up her mind whether to regroup with Tanjirou or not, there’s a rustling in the distance that captures her attention almost immediately. Slightly alarmed now, she rests a cautious hand on the hilt of her sword, eyes narrowed.

What’s going on over there?

She barely gets a second to wonder - a single moment later, there’s a gigantic groan, and right before her eyes, a tree in the distance sways and collapses, vanishing into the thicket of the forest. Hayami’s legs are moving before she can consciously process the information, leaping over protruding roots and ducking around trees as she makes a beeline straight for the source of the noise. There’s no way a demon would cause so much damage and alert them to its presence - it’s likely that Tanjirou has already encountered the demon and is currently battling it, hence the disturbance in the forest.

Hayami remembers the way he had winced when they sparred earlier in the day. Sure, he’d hold her that his arm was fine and all, but then again, Tanjirou has always been someone who endures pain better than anyone she knows.

Pressing her lips together, she forces her feet to move faster. Not much longer now… Approaching the thicket where she’d last seen the disturbance, Hayami leaps into the trees for a better view of the forest ground, and almost immediately hears the sound of steel clashing coming from her right.

“Tanjirou!”

Just as she thought, Tanjirou is already engaged in combat, his sword swinging in defensive arcs to block the attacks being thrown in his direction before he goes on the offensive once more. To Hayami’s confusion, however, she spots two identical demons simultaneously attacking - the report had only mentioned a single demon. There’s no time for her to ponder too long about the matter, not when Tanjirou is being forced to take on two demons on his own. Drawing her blade, she leaps out of the trees, taking in a deep breath to send oxygen to the very tips of her fingers and toes.

“Breath of Swan, Fourth Form, Drifting Feathers!”

A mirage of white feathers erupt into the air as she slashes down at one of the demons, her sword cutting cleanly through the flesh and bone of the demon’s neck as if slicing through warm butter. Tanjirou gasps at her sudden appearance, clearly surprised as he blocks another attack, the force of the demon’s swing forcing him a few steps back.

“Hayami!”

“You looked like you needed a hand there,” Hayami says as brightly as she can, even as the headless corpse of the demon she’d beheaded a few seconds ago begins to crumble to ash. “Hurry and take care of the other one, then we can go back to the Butterfly Mansion together-”

“Wait, that’s not it-”

Hayami leaps back in alarm just as a massive clawed hand swings at her, the ends of its razor sharp fingernails coming a little too close for comfort with her face. Eyes wide, she watches as the demon Tanjirou was battling slowly pulls itself in half, before each half morphs and shifts… until they both become identical copies of the original.

This seems like it’s going to be troublesome.

“Right. As I was going to tell you earlier, this demon forms copies of itself,” Tanjirou explains as he takes up a stance behind Hayami, covering her blind spots while she covers his. “I killed quite a few of them earlier, they’re not very strong, but they simply keep dividing again and again. The original is a lot stronger than the rest of them are!”

“So one of them has to be the main body.” Hayami says, blocking an attack with her sword and sending another clone stumbling back with a high kick to the face. “Can all of them divide?”

“No, only the original. But it’ll be difficult to find it,” Tanjirou answers. The second he cuts down a demon, another steps up to take its place. “All of them have the same scent!”

There’s a thin sheen of perspiration on his face. Hayami frowns in worry. She needs to end this fight, and she needs to end it fast.

“Let’s start by clearing as many of them as we can,” Hayami says, readying her sword. The demon must still be dividing at a rapid pace, because she counts seven enemies now. “After we whittle their numbers down, try to spot which is the one who’s doing the dividing and keep your focus on it. Our main priority should be to take it down!”

Tanjirou takes a deep breath and assumes a different stance, holding his blade to the side. “Got it!”

“Breath of Swan, Ninth Form, Fleeting Flight!”

“Water Breathing, Third Form, Flowing Dance!”

Both of them move in unison, taking out the clones left and right as their blades sing into the night. Hayami moves between the demons with light, practiced steps, almost as if she’s dancing, her sword swinging with ease. Behind her, she can hear the whistle of Tanjirou’s blade as it splits the air in two, followed by the death screams of a demon.

Good, just a few more, and then-

All of a sudden, something yanks her by the ankles and Hayami goes crashing to the ground with a cry of surprise. The side of her knee has been scraped by a tree root, dull pain radiating across her leg, but such a small injury is of little bother to her. Flipping out her heel blades, she raises her leg high and brings it down in a furious kick, cutting off the neck of the demon that had grabbed her.

Getting to her feet, Hayami readies her blade once more, glancing around the battlefield to take stock of the situation. They should have significantly cut down the number of demons by now, so-

“Tanjirou!”

To Hayami’s horror, she catches sight of two demons relentlessly pressing Tanjirou back with a continuous barrage of attacks, her friend struggling to fend off their advances. Too preoccupied by them, he doesn’t seem to notice what danger lurks behind him - yet another demon creeping up from the back, ready to pounce.

“Tanjirou-” Hayami tries to call, but before she can rush to his aid, another of the demon’s copies lunges at her out of the bushes, attempting to bite off her legs. Kicking out with all her strength, the demon goes flying back some distance, crashing to the ground hard. “Tanjirou, behind you!”

Tanjirou whirls around at the sound of Hayami’s voice, but it’s too late - the demon has already lunged, its claws outstretched and teeth bared. At the same time, the demon that she’d been dealing with picks itself off the ground, spitting grass out of its mouth, and charges at her again, ready to tear her to shreds.

Hayami doesn’t hesitate. Flipping the blade in her hand, she draws her arm back and throws, with every ounce of strength that she has.

The blade severs the demon’s neck cleanly just as pain erupts across her torso. With a cry, she stumbles back, her hand pressed against the wound, hot blood seeping through her fingers. All she can do is take shallow breaths to try to cope with the agony, doing her best to remain on her feet. Out of the corner of her eye, the remaining copies of the demon let out wails of despair as they begin to crumble into ash. Then, the one that had tried to attack Tanjirou must have been…

“Hayami! Hayami, are you alright?” Tanjirou’s voice comes from above her, and it’s only then that she realises that she’s sagged to her knees. “Oh god… the blood…”

“It’s… not as bad as it seems,” Hayami manages to breathe out. “It just looks like a lot of blood… but it’s not deep. The demon?”

“It’s dead. The demon you threw the sword at ended up being the original.” She can hear rustling as Tanjirou crouches next to her side, rummaging about the inside of his haori for his first aid pack. “The second it died, the rest of the copies turned to ash with it.”

“That’s good to hear…” Hayami mumbles. The blood loss is making her feel slightly dizzy, the canopy of the forest almost blending with the night sky overhead in swirls of dark green and deep indigo. “If I puke… don’t mind me.”

“Don’t be silly, you saved me,” Tanjirou’s voice is a little shaky, and that makes Hayami want to frown. Does he feel guilty over it? He shouldn’t - she just did what she wanted to, and that was that. She’s sure he would do the same for her, were their positions reversed. “I’m going to bandage your wound now to slow the blood loss before I take you back to the Butterfly Estate for proper treatment.” He lets out a quiet wince. “It’s going to hurt.”

“Can I hold your hand?” Hayami asks before she can fully run that question past her mind. The second the words leave her lips, she desperately wants to swallow them back - this isn’t the time for that! Before she can tell Tanjirou she was just joking, however, she feels a warm, callused hand wrap around hers firmly, lacing her fingers with his.

“Of course you can.” Tanjirou whispers quietly. When she glances up, she is surprised to see Tanjirou looking right at her, his eyes nearly brimming over with worry and concern. “I’ll try to be as gentle as I can, alright?”

Hayami wonders if her cheeks can still turn red with the amount of blood that she’s lost, and finds herself momentarily relieved that the answer to that is likely a ‘no’. That’s when she realises just how far she’s gone and simply nods her head in acceptance. “I know.” She squeezes his hand reassuringly. “I trust you, Tanjirou.”

She says that, but the pain that seems to surge out of nowhere when Tanjirou wraps the bandage around her waist almost knocks her flat and has her vision white. Hayami isn’t sure if she’s crying, all she knows is that it hurts and it burns and it-

“I’m so sorry… I’m so, so sorry…” Tanjirou’s voice is like a balm, spreading over the fear and anxiety. It cuts through the thick haze of pain clouding her mind, and when Hayami forces her eyes open once more, she sees Tanjirou gently stroking her cheeks, his eyes wet with tears. He’s crying. Hayami hates to see anyone cry. She hates it even more when it is Tanjirou who is crying, worse of all, over her.

Oh, she realises, as his thumb brushes along her cheekbones. He’s wiping my tears as well.

“It’s fine,” Hayami croaks out. She can’t bear to see him cry because of her - that stings far more than any demon’s claws or teeth could. Her throat stings painfully with each word, as if she’s just swallowed an entire gourd of acid. Was she screaming the entire time? Only slightly embarrassing… “Wasn’t… your fault....”

She lets out another cry of pain when Tanjirou ties off the bandage tightly, although this one is quickly cut off when she hunches over and lets out a quiet whimper. “Really, I’m fine… or at least… I think I will be.”

“I’ll get you to Shinobu-san right away.” Gentle arms wrap around her, careful to avoid her bandaged midsection as Tanjirou lifts her into a bridal carry. Hayami thinks she might be embarrassed, but after a few seconds, it doesn’t come - all she feels is warmth, safety and comfort.

His arms feel like the home that she never had.

Something that she could only dream of.

“Don’t fall asleep just yet,” Tanjirou’s voice interrupts her thoughts, and when Hayami has to blink her eyes open again she realises that she was about to drift off into sleep. They’re running, or well, Tanjirou is running, feet slapping lightly against the ground and trying his best not to jolt her about too much. Hayami is grateful for that. “Please, wait until I get you to Shinobu-san at least.”

His voice is trembling slightly. He must be terrified.

“I don’t think that’s proper first aid protocol, but alright…” Hayami can’t help the small smile that tugs at the corner of her lips as she looks up at him, the determined line his mouth is pulled into. Handsome… what? Is her mind bleeding out of her along with her blood? “Talk to me? I’m feeling… hnng… a little sleepy…”

She’s just so tired.

“Sure,” Tanjirou agrees almost immediately as he leaps over a large tree root protruding out of the ground, continuing to race through the trees. From what Hayami can see, the forest is already starting to thin, more distance between the trees. They’re leaving the forest soon, and for some reason, Hayami doesn’t want this to end. She wants to stay in Tanjirou’s arms longer… “What did you do during all those weeks we were apart? Did anyone try to propose to you again?”

A laugh, weak as it is, bubbles out of Hayami. Light and fluttery, even though it tugs at the slashes along her midsection and makes a dull ache radiate outward through her body. Of all the questions he could ask... “No, not really… most of my missions happened in remote areas, so I didn’t interact with a lot of people. Why do you ask?”

A pause, before he answers. “No reason.” It doesn’t sound like there is no reason. “I just… wanted to know.” There’s another pause, longer this time, before he speaks again. Another question. “Earlier, during the fight… how did you know that the demon you threw your sword at was the original?”

The cherry blossoms are blooming, Hayami notices, even though her eyelids feel as though there are weights on them, their pink petals outlined in the gold of the lamps that burn around the Butterfly Mansion.

“I didn’t…” Hayami yawns. She’s really tired now, and the night sky and cherry blossoms blend together into swirls of pink and black. It reminds her of Nezuko’s hair. “Just saw it coming for you… moved without thinking... got a lucky hit… that’s all.”

Faintly, she feels Tanjirou’s arms stiffen around her. His warmth is like that of a charcoal furnace, radiating heat and making her wonder if that’s what home is supposed to feel like too.

“Thank you, Hayami.” Tanjirou’s whisper is the last thing she hears before her eyes slip shut. “Thank you.”

She just did something she wanted to, Hayami thinks as she slips into darkness.

There was nothing to thank her for.

The beds in the medical wing are soft.

They’re all very soft, very comfortable. But Hayami’s starting to get a little bored of soft and comfortable, after having been confined to bed rest for about two weeks now. Luckily for her, the weather today seems to be pleasant, the sun shining brightly in the sky and a gentle breeze moving through the air, so she makes to climb off the bed to open the windows at the very least because she’s desperate for any reason to get off the mattress-

The door to the medical wing slides open. “Hayami, you’re not supposed to be out of bed!”

It’s as if he just knows! Every! Single! Time! Hayami freezes with one foot on the floorboards like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar, an awkward laugh starting to bubble out of her. “Well, yes, I know that, I just… wanted to open the windows.”

Before she can even finish that sentence, Tanjirou is already hurrying to her bedside, hands gentle as he helps her back into the bed, tucks her blanket tightly around her - whether it’s intentional or not, she doesn’t know. “You wanted to open the windows, didn’t you?” Turning around, he does so for her, and the sunlight falls onto her lap, golden and warm. “You should be resting!”

Three slashes. About five inches each. A handful of stitches. Not the worst Hayami has faced, in her opinion, but enough to warrant a month’s worth of bed rest. And it’s driving her crazy.

“But Tanjirou,” Hayami doesn’t normally pout, but she does now. Being forced to stay in bed for two weeks will do that to you. It changes people. “I’m already resting. I’m so rested I can’t possibly rest any more. If I lie in this bed for one more day, I’m going to end up becoming one with it. Please let me out.”

Tanjirou only hesitates for a few seconds before he shakes his head, holding both hands out in front of him as if trying to physically block her puppy dog eyes. “That’s not up to me, that’s Shinobu-san’s decision…” His gaze falls to the floorboards, brows pinching together slightly. “And besides, it was my fault you ended up in this position in the first place…”

Before he can wallow in his guilt any more, Hayami reaches out to poke him squarely in the forehead. She’s mildly sure that hurt her finger more than it did his head, but it seems to have done the trick - Tanjirou looks up at her, surprised. She can see the slight worry in his eyes, the way his lips press together whenever he looks at her.

Knowing that guilt is what Tanjirou feels when he looks at her… Hayami doesn’t like that in the least.

“Hayami?”

“Hey,” Hayami says sternly, reaching out to tug Tanjirou closer to her bedside. Tanjirou only looks up at her, a nervous, slightly pained expression on his face. “If you had been in my position, and you saw me about to get slashed by a demon, would you have done the same thing?”

Tanjirou looks away for a moment, chews his bottom lip and sighs. His answer is obvious, and both of them know it.

“Yes,” he answers, but from the look on his face, he doesn’t seem to have entirely let go of the guilt he feels. “But you probably wouldn’t have needed saving, like I did. If only I could become stronger… become better… then-”

“That’s not what matters.” Hayami tells him, putting a finger to his lips so that he falls silent, looking at her with those kind, kind eyes. “I did for you what you would have done for me. We’ve got each others’ backs, am I right? I just happened to be the one with a choice this time.”

Tanjirou’s lips press together, his face suddenly scrunching up. For a moment, Hayami wonders if he’s about to cry.

“Yeah, I just…” a soft sniff, “I’ll make sure it won’t happen again next time.”

“See?” Hayami smiles, tugs at his cheek. The corner of Tanjirou’s lips twitch up in response. It’s not quite a smile, but it’s better than that pained expression he’s been wearing for the past two weeks whenever he thought she wasn’t looking. “Positive mindset, am I right?”

“Right, I just… Ah, I forgot the reason why I came here. I had something I wanted to tell you.” Tanjirou’s face suddenly falls again. “I have another mission assigned already. I’m heading out right after this.” He looks at her, and there’s something about his gaze that makes Hayami want to dive under the blanket. It looks like longing… “I wanted to stay until you healed completely, but you know…”

Hayami knows, but it doesn’t mean that she has to like it. A little, selfish feeling nudges her in her chest. She wants Tanjirou to stay longer with her. Just a little longer. Just a bit more...

“The corps are always understaffed, I understand.” Hayami answers, reaches out to take his hand in hers. Her fingers trace patterns over the rough skin, the calluses. “Kibutsuji Muzan isn’t going to wait for any of us. Always demons out there to slay…”

“Always people out there to save,” Tanjirou finishes her sentence for her. He doesn’t look like he wants to leave though, his fingers still wrapped firmly around her wrist, his touch, lingering. Part of her can’t help the happiness welling up in her chest. “I’ll send letters.”

“That’ll help keep me occupied while I get all well and rested.” Hayami smiles. “Then, I can look forward to you telling me all about your missions?”

Tanjirou nods, his hand finally falling away from hers. In that instant, however, Hayami finds herself immediately missing his touch. “Definitely.”

Hayami raises her hand to wave goodbye, but before she can bid him goodbye, she feels a gentle pressure against the side of her cheek, so fleeting she wonders if she had imagined it. Then the pressure is gone, and Tanjirou is looking at her with eyes so gentle she can hardly stand it.

“See you soon, Hayami!” Tanjirou flashes her a quick smile, pink tinted cheeks and all, before he runs out of the medical wing. And all Hayami is able to do is sit there in shock, mouth hanging slightly agape as she stares after him, long after he leaves. Slowly, she raises her hand to her cheek, touching where the warmth spreading over her face seems to have originated from.

His lips were soft...

“See you soon too, Tanjirou,” Hayami whispers to herself.

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