#ty for the flowers michi!!

[nem0-nee]

Hewwo!!! 👋👋 :3

One chaotic individual would like to present another chaotic individual with a bouquet of snapdragons and daisies for the flower ask!!!

Hjenlo!! Thank you for the lovely bouquet fellow chaotic individual!! I hand you a brick as a way of thanks >:))

[ASK GAME]

Snapdragon - What is your OC's most used phrase?

Some of you may find this not-so-surprising, but Nemo's most used phrase is "It's actually cake!"

Ironically, those are three words you might not want to hear during your birthday... Especially considering if she gave you a life-sized statue of yourself as your gift.

Daisy - What inspired you to create your OC?

Been wanting to ramble about this for a good bit, so h e h e h e >:)

Appearance wise, Nemo is inspired by an old sona design I had back around 2018?? (Said sona is the drawing below)

I just adored the idea of a character's face being covered by a notebook of sorts. You can have anonymity yet still retain a form of expressiveness!

Though, I'd say her whole ordeal is inspired by Paige from DHMIS. That little creative creep has a special place in my heart <33

Plus... there's a certain mythological figure that greatly inspired me for her lore (I'd go as far to say as she's twisted from them). For now, I can't reveal who that is >:P

[korissideblog]

ohhh i'm lowkey very proud of this one <333

sillie little characters: Hiroharu [@compoundhero ] Michiko [@residentquirksupport ] and Ikuto [@the-heartbeat-hero ] <3

i didn't finish all the sketches i wanted for this fic, but i also wanted to get it out today, so maybe i'll reblog it or edit it later with the drawings <3 there are like two that i finished on time, but ahugghieisdifs whatever. it's officially midnight and i have work tomorrow <3

(also, if heartbeat-hero is reading this, thxs for reading over it for me, and i changed the ending a tiny bit so you could have something new to read <3)

“And then he’s going to put the ring on you-”

“But the ring is poisoned.” “Yes, we’re not gonna let it touch you. We’ll be there before anything happens.”

“Alright and- you can go tighter than that Mich.” Aito said, looking over his shoulder to Michiko, who was busy tying Aito’s corset.

“Any tighter and you won’t be able to breathe. You’re gonna be wearing this for longer than you think.” Michiko warned, tying the knot as flatly as she could. “Plus the dress is already fitted, if your waist gets smaller the fabric would look baggy.” Aito fought the urge to roll his eyes and turned back to Hiroharu.

“You know Jeje, I thought you would have brought me a gift.” She said, crossing her arms. “New silverware or something.”

Hiroharu closed the file in his hands as he looked at Aito in confusion. “Why would we have done that?”

“Because!” Aito said, walking to the other side of the dressing room, passing Ikuto- who’s been nervously rearranging Aito’s bouquet for the last 20 minutes- and unzipping a huge dress bag. A short but fluffy white dress spilled from it, and Aito unhooked it from the hanger.

“I’m getting married!”

______________________________________________________________

Aito was kinda spacing out a bit.

In his defense! He’d already done the walking-down-the-aisle-over-pretty-rose-petals bit, and that’s all he was really looking forward to at his wedding.

He knew Haru and Michi and Iku would be here any moment to break up the arrangement, but he had to play it cool, smiling and giggling at her groom as he read his vows.

Haruto Suzuki, better known as the White Phantom, was Aito’s target. He was cunning and malicious and a hopeless romantic to anyone who could get ahold of his list of ebooks. Aito spent almost half a year in this role-Ichika Yokoyama, for the time being- and worked a bit harder than necessary to get close to Suzuki. She just liked her cases ending with a bang, and what was more exciting than a wedding?

______________________________________________________________

Hiroharu listened intently to the wiretap under Aito’s dress, trying to time the ambush while the support team rounded the back, ready to catch any of the villains in attendance. The support team was being led by Michiko over radio as Haru focused on Suzuki.

“-I promise to always remember that you are indeed human. That you may sometimes make questionable decisions, decisions I don't agree with, like when you got a red velvet wedding cake when I asked for vanilla”

The reception laughed and Haru could hear Aito smack Suzuki’s hand playfully. At least she was staying in character.

“But that’s just it, isn’t it? You’ve always been like that, headstrong and sure of yourself in ways I could never be. You’re always right in the end- red velvet is my favorite flavor, I was just worried about other people’s opinions.- and… and I think that’s why I love you, Ichika.”

“I don’t think I would poison someone if I loved them.” Ikuto huffed, trying his best to stay in his chair in case pacing would alert anyone to the ambush.

Hiroharu remembered the call well. The one where Aito told him that he found messages between Suzuki and another villain, messages describing how Suzuki knew that Aito was speaking to someone behind his back. Secret calls to Michiko and Ikuto about the mission turned into hidden calls from a lover in Suzuki’s eyes, and he was going to take his revenge. Hiroharu was ready to pull Aito out of the mission then and there but… Aito wanted to continue.

“He didn’t tell me that he knew.” she reasoned. “If the wedding goes as planned, there’ll be at least 3 villains in attendance, as well as a few people who might have information that we need! He’s not gonna kill me before the wedding, so let’s keep going!” Hiroharu hated this plan, but Aito was stubborn enough to get her way.

Hiruharu noticed a slight change in Suzuki’s voice, silently getting Michiko’s attention with a wave of his hand. The vows were about to end.

“And that’s what today is all about… it’s not about arguments over cakes or venues or honeymoons… it’s about getting past all those arguments and realizing that… that I would go through a thousand more if it means I get to wake up next to you tomorrow.”

And Aito laughs, tears threatening her makeup as she gives the signal that the ring is in his hand- it’s time to go.

______________________________________________________________

The small reception turned to face the doors of the building as the heroes crashed through it, but the entire room stood still as the scene settled.

There he was, Aito Takao, Ichika Yokoyama, the blushing bride… with a golden band on her finger.

Aito’s eyes drooped a bit, as if she couldn’t figure out what she was looking at. Her hands clutched weakly at Suzuki’s lapels as she tried to regain her balance, his breathing getting heavy as he tried to stand up straight. “H-Haru…?” she asked just above a whisper, nobody sure of which one she was talking to as her body leaned back and she fell to the floor, limp as a corpse.

… a corpse…

Hiroharu could… he could feel Michiko’s hand clutching his wrist, but it was like he was remembering it, not like it was happening currently. Like he was asked to describe what happened as he watched his friend collapse into a pile of lace and satin, white and cold like a dead dove. Asked to describe the feeling of loss as he felt Ikuto slump onto his shoulder, holding onto his sleeve as if he couldn’t stay upright, like his body told him to meet Aito on the floor. Asked to describe Aito, her breath shaky and pained, the last one leaving her chest like a deadly flower wilting.

Something wicked… but also delicate in it’s own way.

What Hiroharu couldn’t describe was the sound. He knew there was silence, the telltale ringing of the room as no one dared inhale, as if Aito’s death would proceed all of their own, but there was also something else.

There was laughter.

Laughter Hiroharu recognized well. Notes and melody that he could recall from his high school years, a finger pointed at him as his friend laughed at whatever trick she had just pulled.

And oh what a trick he had pulled.

Aito sat up lazily, looking up at her groom- the villain shocked and nearly shaking as he looked down at his corpse bride- laughter spilling from her lips like blood as he gazed at the man in black through her eyelashes, batting them playfully as he finally calmed down enough to speak.

“Oh, you think I’m stupid, right?” He asked, one hand sneaking under her skirt. “Thought you could just kill me- didn’t wanna talk out our issues, baby?” He spat, his teeth pearly white and dangerously sharp as she smiled. From under her garter she produced a short poll, which when swung extended into his iconic golden colored staff. Aito took the ring off his finger as he stood, holding it up to Suzuki like a prize.

“I switched the rings~”

______________________________________________________________

“I can’t believe you did that.” Ikuto sighed with exhaustion, the fight was finally over, looking over the party as Michiko and the support team made quick work of arresting everyone involved. “I was so scared- I thought you died.”

Aito shrugged and continued eating the small slice of red velvet cake he somehow managed to salvage after Haru threw a guy into it. “That happens sometimes. Who’s feeding Jiji while I’m away?” He asked, as Ikuto realized that Aito really didn’t know what he did wrong, and also realized that he didn’t have the energy to explain.

“One of your neighbors. She’s like 2 doors down-“

“You got Hasegawa to feed Jiji!?” And now it was Ikuto’s turn to roll his eyes at something he saw as minuscule. “I hate her! You know that!”

“You don’t have to like her for her to feed Jiji.” Ikuto responded, his dismissal similar to Aito’s. Aito responded with her usual dramatics, shoving his plate into Ikuto’s hands as he turned to the gift table, sorting through the things that could be evidence (all of it) and the things he wanted to keep (also all of it). He held up a little envelope, and read the words on the front aloud. “Suzuki, for you and your new wife- and two bodyguards.” He tore it open with curiosity and four tickets fell into his hand. “Oh they‘re for-“ Aito gasped quietly as he read the name on the ticket, immediately holding it out to Ikuto. Before Ikuto could actually read the tickets, Aito stepped away and jogged over to Michiko.

“Mich~” Aito sang, holding up the tickets, but failing to catch Michiko’s eyes as she watched through the open doors, Suzuki in handcuffs being escorted into a large black SUV. “guess what?”

“Do you… Aito?” Michiko started, as if she was unsure about whether she wanted the answer to her question or not. “He… I know he’s a villain and he’s done terrible things but…” she leaned her head so she could see the SUV drive away. “He thought… I mean… he really thought he was going to kill the love of his life today.” she held herself, as if just the thought of it brought a coldness that would make her shiver. “I mean could you even imagine-” and then… she looked at Aito. Aito, with his droopy yellow eyes, completely unfazed by what Michiko was describing.

She knew Aito could love. She knew that Aito loved his mama, and Ikuto like a brother, and she knew that Aito loved her and Haru like best friends but… given the blank stare… she wasn’t sure if Aito…

“You dated him for half a year- Aito, he even asked you to marry him.” Michiko said, trying her best to describe her ideas in a way that Aito could understand. “That whole entire time did you ever… you know…?” Aito seemed as though he was about to respond, but paused, as if he really wanted to think about his answer.

“He… he really had a thing for poker.” she started, watching as the last of the SUV slipped behind the horizon line. “He’d play with his friends and… if he won big he’d…” Aito raised her hands gently, as if holding something delicate. “He’d buy me a dozen roses… and he’d tell me I was on his mind. That I was his good luck charm.” he laughed, recalling how silly it all sounded. “And… for just a moment… I’d forget it was all a job.”

“Hope I’m not interrupting.” Both of the women jumped a bit as Haru came up from behind them, quickly turning to face him and forget their prior conversation. “Ikuto said Aito found something and she wanted to show us.”

“Ohh Boss!” Aito chirped, immediately snapping out of whatever mournful spell him and Michi were under. “You’d never guess!” she then held out the four tickets for them to examine. “Pack your bags! I know where we’re going next!!!”

[mercurygray]

Alphabet Time!!! Can I have A, B, S, and T for the lovely Joan?

TY Julianne!! 

A   :   AFFECTION.   how does your muse show affection?

Joan loves showing up for people. Did you say you were cold and needed  a scarf? She found one for you. Your girlfriend just dump you? Joan will be your date. Anyone can throw money at a problem (and Joan's family is famous for doing that) but actually listening to what people need is a different matter entirely.  Going to school far away from home meant that no one, apart from Uncle Jack, really ever did anything like that for her, and so someone just stopping by and saying 'we're going for lunch!' or 'I saw this thing and thought of you!' is a huge treat for her. (She is also, when she allows herself, very physically affectionate - but she's been taught that this is a bad habit. You have to know her really, really well before you get this side of Joan.)

B   :   BOUQUET.   does your muse like flowers? which ones are their favourite?

Joan ADORES flowers - when she and Aunt Michi would visit Paris in the summer, one of their frequent stops was the Paris flower markets. Like most women of her class, she can, with some effort, make an arrangement for the hall table, though it's not her favorite thing to do. She'd rather just stick a single bloom in a simple vase to admire its sculptural qualities. She loves cherry blossoms because they remind her of DC.

S   :   SWEETHEART.   did your muse have a childhood sweetheart?

A series of all-girls schools left very little time for sweethearts of the childhood variety, but she did go through a couple of crushes and boyfriends in high school and college.

T   :   TRUE LOVE.   does your muse believe in true love?

Not particularly. A lot of girls she went to school with who talked a long streak about true love are now married and miserable, so...if that's what that is, she doesn't want it. Looking at people whose marriages she admires, it's not entirely magic - some of it is work.  

[valentines day prompts! ]

[mooncademia]

soo...me and @hikari-writes have been sharing song recs and i wanted to post some here because not only is she so sweet and nice (🥺💗ty for chatting w/ me, ISTG IM ABOUT TO START BAWLING HEART EMOJIS) but her song recs are AMAZING as well! So here are a few song recs we shared for your listening pleasure: 

  - Metronome  (ty hikari for introducing me to this one~ mafufu’s cover of kenshi yonezu’s song is so beautiful) 

- Why I Gave Up on Music and Ghost in a Flower  by YORUSHIKA 

- Flamingo, Kanden, Lemon, and Paper Flower by Kenshi Yonezu  

- Hana ga Saku Michi by The Charm Park  

- Snow Jam by Rin (I FORGOT TO TELL U THIS ONE HIKARI BUT I’VE ALSO BEEN LISTENING TO THIS ONE! 👍) 

ty hikari for sharing ur song recs and gushing abt cloud boy (*cough* he-who-shall-not-be-name), our love for kenshi, and our slow manga reading w/ me (i’ll be waiting for u when u read vigilantes 👀 MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!) ilysm 💞 

[sittingoverheredreaming]

Chapter 11 of BatB! This is a slightly shorter chapter, and a hard one to write, but I hope you enjoy it! Masterpost link

______

Michiru had never courted a woman. She had been courted, she had extended invitations to meet in dark corners, she had taken pleasure without giving any of herself away. Haruka was not someone you took into a dark corner and had your way with. Or at least, you did not only do that. If Michiru was going to open herself to Haruka, she had to do it properly.

She went out to the garden with paper and string. For once, her claws could be useful. Mako and Usagi, she knew, looked on from high windows. She could feel their gaze and was grateful they could not leave the house, even for the walled garden. Part of her— a very large part— felt deeply embarrassed by her actions. The great Lady Kaioh, harvesting flowers like some common gardener! The great Lady Kaioh, not only deigning to give a gift, but making a gift with her own hands.

She was above this.

She was above the dirt and bugs and the sun beating upon her back. She was above every marred petal and wilting bud she sifted through. She was above working for anyone’s affections.

And yet, when she found the first perfect rose and plucked it from the bush, a wave of happiness crashed through her chest. She was not above Haruka’s smile. Perhaps she was not above anything that might bring it around.

The longer she took and the more flowers she found, the better she felt. She tried to remember what Haruka had been drawn to when they walked together. Roses, of course, and, peonies. She’d even liked the little cornflowers, common as they were. Michiru used them for a spray of color, dark blue punctuating the soft pinks. She arranged them best she could, wrapping the paper gently so as to not rip it, and tying the string into the prettiest bow she could manage.

She held it out to examine her work, and every good feeling forsook her. It looked like a child’s work, something a young boy of common taste might pick for his mother. It was not worthy of Michiru and it certainly was not worthy of Haruka.

Her grip tightened, she tensed to throw it away. But that impulse made her sadder still. Haruka deserved beautiful things, and perhaps this was not a beautiful thing but it was the closest Michiru had to offer. It felt wrong to put her shame before Haruka’s joy, however small it might be at such a garish offering.

She reentered the house as quietly as she could, checking around every corner before she emerged. She could compromise— she would leave the flowers at Haruka’s bedside, and she could think it was merely the magic of the house that brought them rather than Michiru’s own hand. Perhaps they would make her smile anyway.

Luck brought Michiru to Haruka’s room unspotted. The bed was half-made, covers thrown over the mattress but untucked and unsmoothed. Michiru remembered the state of her own chamber, as Haruka had seen it, and felt shame. She propped her bouquet up on the pillows and turned to go.

“Oh, you can come in my room but I can’t go in yours?”

Michiru froze. Haruka leaned against the doorway. “I apologize, I—“

Haruka smiled. She was teasing. Michiru could not think of anyway to respond.

“I will go.”

“Wait.” Haruka stepped up to the bed. “Are those… for me?”

“Yes,” Michiru said, feeling warm. “They’re not…. I would have liked to have done better, for you.”

Haruka lifted them to look, her cheeks very red. Michiru worried she might be angry, but she turned the bouquet in her hands in a way that Michiru could only call reverent. “Did you pick them? For me?”

Michiru wished she had been turned into something very small, that she might have the ability to turn an hide beneath a chair or a blanket. “I did, I tried to remember what you liked and I did not do well, forgive me.”

“They’re beautiful.” Haruka buried in nose within the paper and stayed there. “This might sound silly,” she said, her voice muffled and thick, “but no one’s ever given me flowers.”

“Well, you need not count this, if you’d like your first time to be better.”

“Michi.” Haruka laughed, but then she stiffened. “I mean, Michiru. I love them, thank you.”

“I wanted to leave them so you wouldn’t know it was me.” Michiru ran her claws along the back of her knuckles.

Haruka shook her head and smiled. “You are incomprehensible sometimes.”

“I only wanted to do something nice.”

“Thank you.”

The bedroom was very small, Michiru noticed now, though it had seemed spacious before. The walls were so close, and so was Haruka. There was nowhere for either of them to look but each other. And Haruka was looking, and Michiru could not read her. She was no longer teasing. Her smile was soft and her eyes were too.  Michiru could not fathom the softness. It felt to her like falling through clouds, there was nothing to grasp onto and nothing to break momentum.

“Your hands are still dirty,” Haruka said. She reached out but stopped short of touching her.

“I should have washed before coming in, I—“

“No, it’s just… It’s nice that someone like you would get dirty, especially just to bring me flowers.”

Michiru leaned towards Haruka, thinking of letting her take her dirty hand, thinking of how this moment would go if she were not a monster. Their eyes met, and for a moment Michiru felt the moment would go that way despite everything she was.

But it could not. She straightened her posture. “I should wash now, though. It is hardly becoming of a lady to go about with soiled hands.”

“Okay.”

Michiru hurried from the room, but in a glance back she saw Haruka sit on her bed, still admiring the flowers. Still smiling. For an instant Michiru forgot the curse, forgot every selfish reason she had for courting Haruka, and all she could think of was finding more ways to get that smile.

[the-jade-cross]

Love on Fire - Chapter 9

Korra shifted nervously on the back of the black dragon whom she had been introduced to. Across from her was Izumi who rode on the back of the white dragon.

“So, why are we up here?” the young avatar inquired.

Izumi smirked at the girl’s concerned face.

“We’re up here so that my father will not hear us,” Izumi remarked. “When my father told me, he was planning on telling you about... well… the Yin and Yang since him and my mother, I volunteered to do the background explaining to you.” “Whatever for?” Korra inquired.

Izumi sighed before glancing down, “Here. Land in front of the palace. There is something you need to see.” When they landed, Izumi led Korra into a side building near the side of the palace, sort of set to the side, surrounded by peach and apple trees that were green with leaves but no sign of buds yet.

When they entered, Korra gasped. Hanging from the ceiling was a chandelier that was narrow and long, the tip touching the center of the floor, so it was sort of like a pillar. There were crystals of pale blue and pale gold and hanging from the tip of each spiral was either a little sun or a little star.

“My father had this building made after my mother died,” Izumi explained. “I was young…. about twenty-eight. My parents were barely in their mind forties when my mother was taken from us.” “What caused her death?” Korra inquired, noticing that the walls were lined with portraits.

“Exhaustion,” Izumi replied. “My mother had gone through so much in her younger years that her death was brought on by exhaustion. Also…. From what my father always told us was that she was too good for this earth and our Maker decided that we had been blessed with her presence long enough and that she deserved a happier life.” Korra glanced at the nearest portrait and saw that it was a portrait of Avatar Aang, his wife Katara and their three children. Next to it was a portrait of Sokka, his wife Suki and their children: Shawn and Suzie. The next one was one that made Korra’s eyes widen.

“Is that Toph?” she asked.

Izumi nodded, “Toph and her husband, Hirako. Hirako was my mother’s younger brother. Those are their sons: Thom and Terrance.” “And who is this?” Korra asked, pointing to the next portrait.

“That is Hirako and my mother’s older brother Kaname. His wife Ty Lee was a childhood friend of my mother and father. Those are their children: Ken, Kara and Tanya.” “This man,” Korra said, nodding to the next one. “He looks like Mako.” Izumi chuckled. “That is Mitsuru, my other uncle. My mother had three brothers. His wife, Mei was a close friend of Aunt Ty Lee. Those are their daughters: Minnie, Michi, Mari, Meena and Moira.” “And this….” Korra gasped, staring at the picture that stood at the head of the others.

Izumi nodded, walking over to touch the portrait of her family, “My family.” Korra slowly approached the large painting before touching each person in turn, “Fire Lord Zuko…. He looked so young!” “That was when he was young,” Izumi chuckled softly. “And when he used to smile…. Smile and the way his eyes would light up…. That has never happened since my mother died.” Korra then began to trace over each face of the children, “That is you…. You were so beautiful!” “And that is my brother Rekka,” Izumi said, fondly touching the painting of her twin.

“And these three girls?” Korra asked.

“My sisters, Yakira, Ena and Chika. They are all married now and living happily in Ba Sing Sa. Chika carried on our great-uncle Iroh’s tradition of tea making and she owns his shop in Ba Sing Sa.” “And…. These boys….” Korra whispered. When Izumi didn’t answer right away, the turned to see a pained look cross Izumi’s face.

“My younger brothers Katsu and Roku. Katsu died eight years after my mother did…. He was only thirty-five. Everyone thought that he died of the same that our mother did…. until it dawned on us that Katsu died of a broken heart. My mother was the world to him. Katsu loved our father, but he loved our mother more than life. When she died, he was the one who took it the hardest and he never truly got over it. His heart broke the moment he heard our father cry when our mother’s heart stopped. When Katsu died…. Someone else’s heart broke…. Roku’s.” “Don’t…. no….oh no,” Korra whispered. “Did he….” “Roku died three months after Katsu died. When they were children, no one would think that Katsu and Roku were close, but it was a friendship that only they could see. Katsu was the calm, intelligent while Roku was the energetic, rambunctious but they were the closest of brothers…. Maybe even closer than Rekka and I.”

“I’m sorry,” Korra whispered.

Izumi just shook her head and stroked the painting of her brothers fondly.

“And this….” Korra said, running her fingers over the pale blond girl standing next to Izumi in the painting. “Is your mother….” “Shirayuki Trusang, the Yang of our time, wife to the Fire Lord and the strongest person any of us have ever known.” “How did she do it?” Korra inquired. “I have heard of the things that she endured. Being brainwashed…. Thrown into a death prison….”

“Love,” Izumi whispered, walking to the next painting which made Korra’s eyes widen. “The love she held for my father lasted even through brainwashing and prison. Unto death and beyond, my parents will forever be in love and that is what keeps them alive… it is what has helped my father keep going for this long….though it is starting to hurt.” Korra ran her fingers over the painting of a few young people: Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, Suki, Zuko and Shira.

“What do you mean?” Korra inquired.

Izumi sighed. “My father is dying.”

**********

“Fire Lord Zuko!” Korra cried, rushing over to where Zuko was preparing to mount onto Druk.

Zuko turned around slowly before turning back to Druk, covering his mouth and his shoulders shaking before turning to Korra fully.

“Avatar Korra.” “Izumi explained everything to me…. I just have one question….” The girl stuttered. “I know that your memories of your past lives as the Yin or Yang do not carry through to the next generation…. But…. Is there any assurance that… I will find him or her again?” Zuko smiled before placing both his hands on her shoulders, “I asked myself that the moment Shira died. I asked myself it again when Rekka died. All I know is, we will all find our way back home to each other in a world that has no death and no strife…. A place I hope to see one day.” Korra nodded before hugging the old man tightly, “Take care.” Zuko chuckled before patting her gently on the shoulder and mounting Druk. Just as Korra turned around and walked off, Zuko coughed into his hand, his shoulders heaving as he coughed heavily several times before taking a deep breath. He looked over to see Dagny and Gau watching him with concern in their eyes.

“I’m alright,” he assured them. “Let’s get home. It is the last time I have to return home without Shira waiting for me.”

********

Zuko sighed as he slowly walked up the steps to the palace. He paused on the 88th step…. The same step that Shira always stood upon when she awaited his arrival…. And if she wasn’t the one waiting, it was Yakira. Zuko turned his head to the side to look at the small building that stood to his right. Slowly he walked into the building and smiled fondly at each painting, walking by each one by one, trailing his fingers over them.

When he reached the final one, his hands paused on the petite pale girl in the picture….at her side, two young boys: one blond and tall, the other more strongly built with dark hair.

“I miss you….” His hands paused on the portrait when his eyes traveled to the small back door nearby which lead out to the small garden where Shira would sit so many times with the children. Zuko walked over to stand in the doorway, looking upon the garden which had changed so much. The apple and peach trees not yet blossoming even though they were overdue. Zuko remembered watching Shira sitting upon the grass by the pond, Chika in her lap, Katsu leaning against her side as he read something aloud to her. He could just imagine seeing Roku’s little body hanging from the limbs of the tree, playfully teasing his brother on his book knowledge.

Rekka and Izumi would play in the water or practice their bending. Yakira would run around the garden, filling her skirt with flowers only to dump them all into the water and watch them float away.

Sighing, Zuko turned on his heel and returned to his slow journey up the many steps to the palace. There was no one really around. The guards were like stone statues as usual so Zuko’s journey to his chambers seemed to go unnoticed. When he entered the room, he found Gau and Dagny sitting on either side of the door, waiting for his arrival. Zuko stroked each of them in turn before walking to his desk and sitting down. Drawing out his pen, he carefully wrote something down on the sheet of paper there before folding it and writing a single name upon it. Leaving it alone upon his desk, Zuko strode over to his bed and sat down on the edge of it, sighing at the relief it gave.

“Zuko,” a soft voice whispered from behind him. Zuko turned and found himself gazing upon the sight he had been waiting to see for almost forty years. Long golden locks fell to her waist, eyes as blue as the sky sparkled and her smile seemed to make her face glow with light.

“I am ready,” he whispered, smiling at her.

The girl slowly crossed the room before holding out her hand to him, just out of reach, “You are.”

Zuko slowly leant back before laying down on the bed. Dagny and Gau came to curl up around the base of the bed, intertwining their long bodies together in a protective manner around the fire lord. Zuko covered himself with the sheet before looking at the girl who still had her hand extended to him.

Reaching out, he touched it and found in shock that he could feel it…. warm….gentle…. and so light that it felt like it was not yet real.

“It is time,” the girl whispered. “To come home.” Zuko smiled happily at her when suddenly he saw three faces appear behind him…. Young faces…. And behind them…. More faces that had long been lost to him for years….he was going home.

Meanwhile, Izumi had been standing near the docks, watching as the familiar Ba Sing Sa ship approached, carrying her three sisters. She saw the three girls poke their heads over the side before walking down to greet her. Yakira’s hair was beginning to gray slightly but Ena and Chika still looked as young as the day.

“It is so wonderful to have you home!” Izumi said, hugging her sisters. “I am sure father will be overjoyed to see you.” The three girls beamed at the prospect of seeing their father when suddenly a shiver ran down Izumi’s spine and she clutched her chest.

“Zu?” Chika inquired, touching her sister’s shoulder, “What is it?” Izumi shook her head, “I don’t know…. I just felt like something in me…. Snapped…. Or…. disappeared. I haven’t felt anything like this since Rekka died….” “Fire Lord Izumi!” a young page cried, sprinting to them at an incredible speed.

The four girls turned to look at him to see a horrified look on his face, “You had better come see this.” When the page led the four girls to the doors of their father’s chambers, they stared in shock at what lay before them. The doors had been blown to smithereens and half of the doorframe was engulfed in a thin trail of fire that didn’t seem to spread…. But just kept burning softly…. And the other half of the doorframe…. Was encased in ice!

“Izumi?” Ena inquired, turning to her sister for assurance.

“Father,” Izumi whispered, the worst coming to her mind. The four girls burst through the doors, only to find that they were not the first ones there.

A white-haired woman stood by the side of the bed, staring calmly at the old fire lord as he lay motionless on the bed, the black and white figures of Gau and Dagny curled up around him, their eyes closed and the sound of their loud breathing no longer there.

“Aunt Toph?” Yakira inquired.

The old earth bender turned and smiled softly at the sight of the four girls standing there.

“I was wondering when he would finally decide to give himself a break. For as long as I have known your father, he never once went easy on himself. He took it upon himself to make up for those years of hunting Aang and in a way, I believe he blamed himself for all the things that happened to your mother in her childhood.”

The old woman turned back to Zuko and fondly touched his shoulder before leaning over to plant a kiss on his forehead.

“Rest now old friend,” she said gently. “You have waited too long.”

“Aunt Toph…” Ena whispered. “Does that mean….” The girl didn’t have to finish her sentence for everyone present saw how absolutely still Zuko was…. His chest no longer rising and falling with breath, his eyes closed and his face ashen white to match the paleness of his lips. His arms lay limp by his sides and he was unmoving just like the dragons.

“Fire Lord Izumi!” A maid cried, running into the room and not even noticing Zuko on the bed, her eyes wide.

“What is it Rose?” Izumi asked.

The maid clapped her hands happily. “You know how the peach and apple trees were late to bloom? They all bloomed just now! Every last blossom burst! It was amazing!” Once the girl had run back out of the room to spread to amazing news, the four girls turned back to Toph who had walked over to the window during the exchange and was looking out at the pink and white blossoms floating through the air.

“So, passes, another Yin and Yang,” Toph sighed.

“No….” Chika let out a choked sob, Ena quickly wrapping her in a hug to help muffle her sobs.

While Ena and Izumi tried hard to comfort her while holding back their own tears and failing, Yakira had crossed the room and stood at Zuko’s desk.

“It’s from dad,” she said simply, picking up a piece of paper. “It is addressed to Izumi.” The tall woman strode across the room to take the note out of her sister’s hand and slowly read it aloud.

Dear Izumi,

I do not know if Chika, Ena and Yakira will be in the city by the time you read this but if so, I also address this to them. I know this is unexpected and I know I did not properly say goodbye, but I had a reason. If I said goodbye, then it would appear that I was leaving you when I really am not. I found it hard to believe when we lost your mother that she would really be with us even if she was no longer amongst us physically. But she never really left us, we just had to look for her in the things she left behind: in the love she felt for each of us, in the people and things she touched with her gentleness and even just looking at the stars, I often found myself seeing her even if it was in my heart. I am not leaving you. I would never leave you nor would your mother. It is just time for me to leave you the duties and life that your mother and I shared even in the short time we had together. Chika, Ena and Yakira, you are married and have children of your own who look up to you and depend upon you. It is now your duty to no longer be the daughters but the mothers. Just as your mother and I had to learn how to be parents to Izumi and Rekka without our parents to guide us, you must continue to go on for your children until they no longer need you.

Izumi, the duties as Fire Lord and the peace of the fire nation is now in your hands. Rule well and be the good, kind leader that I know you to be. Rekka knew you better than anyone and I know that he did not give the duties of Fire Lord to you without knowing that you are what the Fire Nation needs.

I love you and remember, your mother and I shall always be with you.

Love from your father,

Zuko

“He just signed his name…. Zuko,” Ena whispered. “Without his title….” “Because he has given the title to Izumi,” Yakira explained, wiping her eyes, suddenly realizing how damp they were.

“No,” Izumi whispered. “That’s not why. It’s because…. That is who he was…. When he met mother. And that is how he chooses to leave. Just himself.” The four girls turned to see that Toph had walked over to where Zuko lay and had placed something between Zuko’s hands… the head piece for the crown prince.

“He may choose to leave just as Zuko, but he will always be the young prince that he was when he first met Shira."

*******

Zuko’s eyes cracked open and he found himself looking at an unfamiliar ceiling. It looked like it was made of pure marble…. But it almost seemed…. otherworldly…. Like Zuko was imagining it.

He tilted his head to the side and saw that there were windows all around the circle shaped room where he lay, the windows filled with lacy white curtains that billowed gently in a soft breeze. Zuko carefully pushed himself into a sitting position when he heard the sound of a small fountain or spring somewhere outside.

He saw that he lay on a large bed, covered in pure white sheets. He wore a pair of white pants and a white shirt over it. The shirt came halfway to his knees and around his waist was a loose white sash.

“Where am I?” he asked and froze.

Something was off…. his voice sounded weird…. Not husky or cracking like he remembered…. But…. Young again. The first thing he thought to do was look down at his hands and he stared when he saw that they were no longer covered in wrinkles but young and strong like when he was a teen.

“No way,” he whispered before reaching up to his face.

His beard was gone and when he ran his fingers through his hair, he found it shorter…. As short as it was when he first became Fire Lord…. Flopping in waves about his eyebrows and ears. As his hands traveled through his hair, his hand grazed over the left side of his face and he froze. Wait….

Slowly he touched the left side of his face and was shocked to no longer feel the rugged or scarred…. But smooth…. Like the rest of his face.

Zuko was snapped out of his thoughts by the gentle sound of a sungi horn. His head snapped around in the direction to find someone sitting in the corner of the room where he hadn’t looked. Sitting in a wicker chair, a sungi horn at his lips sat none other than….

“Uncle?” Zuko gasped.

Iroh stopped playing the horn before opening his eyes to look at his nephew. He smiled before setting the instrument down to approach the young boy. Zuko turned to him as Iroh sat down on the edge of the bed and drew him into a hug.

“We were waiting for you to wake.” He said, stroking his nephew’s hair.

“Uncle, what is going on? Am I dreaming?” Zuko asked. “Am I going through that fever I had in Ba Sing Sa long ago?” Iroh chuckled as he drew back, “No, Prince Zuko. You are not dreaming nor are you in a fever. This is reality.” “But….” Zuko whispered, feeling his face again before grabbing his uncle’s forearms to make sure the man was still there. “My scar…. Is gone…. And I’m younger…. And….aren’t you supposed to be……” “Dead?” Iroh chuckled. “Quite so Prince Zuko.” Zuko’s eyes widened when reality suddenly dawned on him, “So…. I am actually dead….” Iroh smiled before ruffling his hair, “Don’t think of it as a bad thing. You haven’t even gone outside.” “Outside?” Zuko inquired but was cut off when the door of the room flew open.

Both Iroh and Zuko turned to look at who had entered only to have to look down at a small figure who stood in the doorway, eyes wide and a toothy grin on his face.

“DADDY!” Zuko was out of the bed in an instant and his feet had barely touched the floor when the little black-haired boy totaled into him, wrapping his little arms around his neck and burying his face in Zuko’s shoulder.

“You’re awake,” The boy said happily.

Zuko slowly drew back, his eyes wide and mouth open in disbelieving shock. He ran his fingers over the boy’s face, through his hair and over his lids.

“Why aren’t I crying?” Zuko whispered. “I see you for the first time in years and….” “This is not the place of tears daddy,” The little boy chirped, beaming up at him. “You shall never shed tears again.” Zuko sat back on his heels, still holding the small boy in his arms before a smile spread across his face as he pressed his lips to the boy’s forehead.

“Roku.” As Zuko pulled back, he found his uncle standing near the doorway with a smile on his face and Roku pushed away from his father before grabbing his large hand in his little one…. the last time Zuko checked, Roku’s hand had been the one of a grown man…. And now holding the small child’s hand in his…. Made his heart seem to beat all over again.

“Come on daddy!” The boy said as he dragged Zuko out of the room. “Everyone wants to see you!” “Everyone….” Zuko felt his eyes suddenly close as he had to readjust to the lighting outside…. but when he did…. He found himself staring at what appeared to be a massive garden that spread for as far as he could see. Small paths made of pure marble wound all around peach, cherry and apple trees that were blossoming, their white, pink and peach petals falling to the ground. The grass was greener than any he had ever seen and littered with beautiful white roses that grew in abundance.

“Father?” a voice whispered from nearby.

Zuko turned and felt his heart stop when he saw a young boy sitting with his back against an apple tree, a pure white book in his hands, the lettering on the cover of gold that seemed to glow. The boy dropped the book onto the grass, a dove immediately flying over to take the book for him before he jumped to his feet.

The boy’s golden hair flopped in his face as he rushed over toward Zuko before wrapping his arms tightly around his abdomen.

“Father,” the boy breathed against his father’s chest, “You’re here.” Zuko bit his lip, feeling as if tears were coming but instead, a laugh erupted from him and he beamed as he hugged his son to him.

“Katsu.” Zuko looked down at his son as Katsu pulled away from him, a huge smile on his face before Katsu turned and nodded toward something nearby. Zuko lifted his eyes and almost choked on his own breathing when he saw several figures approaching.

The first person he recognized was his mother…. at her side was Kiyi…. Who was just a little girl again…. Ikem holding onto her other hand.

“Zuko,” Ursa said gently, embracing her son before Kiyi gave him a mighty hug.

“Mother,” Zuko gasped but he cut himself off from further words when he saw the other people with her, “No way…. Aang?” Zuko felt the air snapped out of him, literally, when the avatar, young, spry and completely bald again flew into him with a laugh. Zuko barely had time to catch his breath before he was drawn into a massive group hug consisting of Katara, Sokka and Suki.

“Group hug!” Sokka chirped.

“This is so strange,” Zuko said, pulling back to look at each of them. “It feels like yesterday I saw you all gray haired and old…” “That is insulting,” A familiar voice remarked.

Zuko didn’t have to look around Sokka’s head to know who stood on the other side. Sokka finally stepped to the side to reveal three tall figures walking toward them. The three tall figures turned out to be male, two of them with dark hair and the other blond. Hanging on the arm of the tallest brunette was a petite, agile girl with a long brown braid and upon the other brunette’s arm was a black-haired girl with a calm expression but kind eyes.

“Kaname, Hirako, Mitsuru,” Zuko whispered, staring at each of the young Trusangs, “Ty Lee and Mei.”

“Welcome Zuko!” Ty Lee chirped happily.

Kaname released Ty Lee’s hand, leaving the girl to walk over to a group of children who were picking roses who Zuko recognized as Ken, Kara, Tanya as well as Hirako and Toph, Aang and Katara, Sokka and Suki and Mitsuru and Mei’s children.

“Welcome brother,” Kaname said, giving Zuko a firm hug before stepping back. “I believe there is someone who particularly wishes to see you.” The tall man stepped to the side and Zuko’s mouth dropped as another young figure approached him…. young…. possibly in his early teens with pale blond hair but fiery amber eyes….

“Rekka,” Zuko gasped.

“Father!” The young boy cried, rushing over to wrap his arms around Zuko’s neck and bury his face in his chest. “You’re home!” “Mother has been dying to see you!” Katsu added.

Roku was just about to agree with his brothers when Zuko tensed and the three boys stopped, realizing what they had said.

“What?” Zuko inquired.

“Hello Zuko,” A gentle voice said from behind.

Zuko felt like everything slowed and even though a part of him wanted to snap and spin around, he slowly turned to see Kaname and Mitsuru step to the side to reveal a petite figure who stood behind them…. Golden hair falling to her waist in a long loose braid, eyes as blue as the sky that outshone the stars. A smile that seemed to put the sun to shame….

“Shira….”

************

Unlike the time earlier when Zuko rushed forward to embrace the person before him, he slowly approached the girl. She was young again…. Just like he was… she looked like she did when she got her memories back… still petite, slender and seemingly glowing.

When Zuko finally stood before her, he hesitantly reached out, wondering if when he touched her, she would just turn out to be an illusion or a trick of the light…. But he couldn’t help but want to touch her. She seemed so real. When finally, his fingers came in contact with the side of her head, Zuko let out a shaky breath he didn’t realize he was holding before he snatched the girl to him, clutching her against his chest as if afraid that if he released her, she would dissolve.

“It’s okay Zuko,” the girl cooed into his chest, wrapping her arms around his abdomen, “I’m here.” Zuko buried his face in her long hair, breathing in her scent and sighing, “Do you know how I fell asleep expecting to find you next to me only to be greeted by an empty bed? I would see you everywhere…. In the garden, at the docks, in the hallways and when I touched you…. You would just….” “Sh,” Shira said gently, pulling back to cup his cheeks in her hands. “That’s in the past. I will never leave you again.” Zuko felt his body shaking at her words before he grasped her behind the head and pulled her flush against him, kissing her soundly for the first time in years.

When he pulled back, he felt some sort of peace wash over him and he grinned at her.

“You look different without your scar,” Shira pointed out, touching the left side of his face which was as smooth as baby skin.

“It sort of scared me when I woke,” Zuko admitted, touching Shira’s hand and holding it to his face.

Shira smiled softly up at him before she turned her head to look at the two small figures who had come to stand beside her. The girl smiled before leaning down to scoop Roku into her arms. The little boy then held out his arms to Zuko who immediately complied and lifting him onto his hip while Katsu came to stand close to Shira, the girl wrapping her arm around her son’s shoulders.

Rekka came to stand on Shira’s other side before allowing her to wrap her arm around his shoulders as well, resting his head against his shoulder since the young boy almost reached Shira’s shoulder.

“I have something to show you,” Shira said, smiling knowingly as she walked off, still holding onto Katsu’s hand and Rekka following close behind.

Zuko glanced down at Roku in his arms, the little boy giving him a toothy grin and a big joggling nod. Making up his mind, Zuko followed his wife and two eldest sons as they walked down the marble path through the flower petals that seemed to perpetually fall.

It was not a far walk and soon, Zuko caught up to Shira who had stopped in front of what appeared to be a large arch made of wood…. But one side of the arch was pure white and the other was jet black…. wait…. That sounded familiar….

“You may recognize this,” Shira said. “Do you remember that time before Roku was born when I took you into the spirit world and showed you the Tree of the Yin and Yang?” Zuko paused when suddenly the memory came back, “Right. And the statues that showed each generation of Yin and Yang.” Shira nodded, beaming, “Well, one thing I learned when I came here after I died was that the Spirit World has glimpses of heaven. Obviously, some parts of the Spirit World are not glimpses of heaven like Ka’s lair and so forth, but many places in the Spirit World are little bits and pieces of heaven. This is one of them.” Zuko set Roku down, the boy going over to grasp Katsu’s hand and watch as their father stepped through the arch with their mother. When Zuko looked upon the giant tree, the branches weaving into the shape of the Yin and Yang, groups of black and white statues circling the tree in a spiral fashion.

The boy was snapped out of his thoughts when Shira grabbed his hand and drew him over to where the statues stood. Zuko saw that they all looked the same…. Except there were a few extra statues than he remembered. It took him a moment but soon he realized who they were. The most present: Korra and Mako. Before them stood Rayne and Seema, then Izumi and Rekka and….

“Look,” Shira said, pulling Zuko over to the fourth most recent, only for Zuko to see that they were different than before.

When Shira had taken Zuko to the spirit world when they were younger…. And alive, the statues representing Zuko and Shira were of when they were babies, their parents holding them. Now, the fifth to most recent statue was Zuko’s mother, Ursa hugging Shira’s mother, Yakira.

The statue after them: four to most recent…. Were two young children. They looked to be roughly about early fourteen years old. The girl was petite, barely reaching the boy’s shoulder. They had their backs to each other, but their hands were laced together, their free hands lifted, fire coming from the boy’s hand and ice from the girl’s.

“They changed,” Zuko whispered, approaching the two statues before touching the face of the boy. “It’s…. me….” Shira smiled as Zuko touched the part of the statue, which was obviously his scar that he possessed, when he was alive. The boy then walked over and touched the face of the statue of Shira…. Her face round and smiling, it was as if he could see her blue eyes even though they were white from the stone.

Zuko almost jumped when Shira hugged him from behind, burying her face in his back, sighing. “Everything will be alright from now on.” “And the girls?” Zuko inquired, “Izumi…. Ena…. Yakira and Chika?”

Shira smiled, “They are alright. Feel….” The girl drew back before placing her hand on Zuko’s chest and the boy felt a strange sort of relief rush over him…. and for a moment, he thought he could see the smiling faces of his four little girls…. all young again…. And happy.

“What does your heart tell you?” Shira whispered.

Zuko’s eyes flashed open before he smiled, pulling Shira flush against him and burying his face in her hair, “That they are happy…. and that makes me happy.” Shira smiled, wrapping her arms around his abdomen and feeling Katsu, Rekka and Roku come over to join in the hug.

“You know,” Shira muttered against Zuko’s chest, smirking. “As ironic as this sounds, you set my heart on fire.” Zuko chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest. “Really? Even though I am the one with the fire, I think it was you Shira, who set me aflame.”

[thatalfredpennyworth]

The Maiko Wedding Headcanon

Bride: Mai

Groom: Zuko

Minister: Shyu

Best Man: Aang

Maid of Honor: Azula(if they manage to get through to her around that time)

Flower Girl: Kiyi

Ring Bearer: Tom Tom

Bridesmaids: Ty Lee, Katara, Suki, Toph

Groomsmen: Sokka, Haru,Noren/Ikem, Kui

Bride’s Parents: Michi(Ukano can’t be there since he’s in prison)

Groom’s Parents: Ursa and Iroh(he replaces Ozai who is also in prison)

(The wedding takes place on the Palace Pavillon and the reception is held in the throne room)

[utagoe]

B-PROJECT: Blooming Festa! Lyrics

Kanji, romaji and English translation for Blooming Festa! by KiLLER KiNG

(kanji source)

キミと　Blooming Blooming Days (Hey！) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey！) さあはじめようよFesta！ (Ready Go！) 騒ぎ出す予感　弾む想い　ふくらんでゆく キラリ降り注ぐ (Yeah！)　陽射しほら (Yeah！) 全身で受けとめて (OK？) 光る風に夢乗せて　みんな色とりどりに　思いっきりBlooming 世界がコドウで揺れる　瞬間が好きなんだ ドキドキする気持ちに　正直でいたい 可能性の花びらが　散ってしまうその前に やりたいこと　試してみなきゃ 深呼吸をひとつして　靴ひも結び直したら　走り出そう おいで　Blooming Blooming Days (Hey！) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey！) さあはじめるのさFesta！ (Ready Go！) 希望色のタネ　芽吹き　やがて　蕾つけるよ Everyday成長中 (Yeah！)　想像超えた (Yeah！) チカラに変わってく (OK！) 赤に白・ピンク・黄色…笑顔色とりどりに　咲き誇れBlooming カンタンにいかなくても　だからってカンタンに 割り切ってしまうなんて　できるワケないさ 人生は美しいと　胸を張って言えるように 泥まみれの　道でも進もう 水たまり跳びこえて　見上げた果てない空に　手をかざして 行くよ　Blooming Blooming Days (Hey！) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey！) そう続いてゆくFesta！ (Ready Go！) 希望という花　開くように　育ててゆこう Everyday成長中 (Yeah！)　境界超えて (Yeah！) 巻き起こすよSensation (Yes！) 向かい風受けて強くなるよ　ブレない気持ち　抱きしめてBlooming むせ返るほど　鮮やかに香るフレーズ はらりはらり舞って　このイノチを埋め尽くしてく 時に傷ついて　迷っても　全部糧になるって どんなときだって信じ抜くと　ここに誓うよ キミと　Blooming Blooming Days (Hey！) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey！) さあはじめようよFesta！ (Ready Go！) 騒ぎ出す予感　弾む想い　ふくらんでゆく キラリ降り注ぐ (Yeah！)　陽射しほら (Yeah！) 全身で受けとめて (Let's Go！) 光る風に夢乗せて　みんな色とりどりに　思いっきりBlooming

Romaji

kimi to Blooming Blooming Days (Hey!) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey!) saa hajimeyouyo Festa! (Ready Go!) sawagidasu yokan hazumu omoi fukurande yuku kirari furisosogu (Yeah!) hizashi hora (Yeah!) zenshin de uketomete (OK?) hikaru kaze ni yume nosete minna irotoridori ni omoikkiri Blooming

sekai ga kodou de yureru shunkan ga suki nanda dokidoki suru kimochi ni shoujiki de itai kanousei no hanabira ga chitte shimau sono mae ni yaritai koto tameshite minakya

shinkokyuu wo hitotsu shite kutsu himo musubi naoshitara hashiridasou

oide Blooming Blooming Days (Hey!) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey!) saa hajimeru no sa Festa! (Ready Go!) kibouiro no tane mebuki yagate tsubomi tsukeruyo Everyday seichouchuu (Yeah!) mousou koeta (Yeah!) chikara ni kawatteku (OK!) aka ni shiro・pinku・kiiro... egao irotoridori ni sakihokore Blooming

kantan ni ikanakutemo dakara tte kantan ni warikitte shimau nante dekiru wake nai sa jinsei wa utsukushii to mune wo hatte ieru youni doro mamire no michi demo susumou

mizutamari tobikoete miageta hatenai sora ni te wo kazashite

ikuyo Blooming Blooming Days (Hey!) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey!) sou tsuzuite yuku Festa! (Ready Go!) kibou to iu hana hiraku youni sodatete yukou Everyday seichouchuu (Yeah!) kyoukai koete (Yeah!) makiokosuyo Sensation (Yes!) mukaikaze ukete tsuyoku naruyo burenai kimochi dakishimete Blooming

musekaeru hodo azayakani kaoru furēzu harari harari matte kono inochi wo umetsukushiteku

toki ni kizutsuite mayottemo zenbu kate ni naru tte donna toki datte shinjinuku to koko ni chikauyo

kimi to Blooming Blooming Days (Hey!) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey!) saa hajimeyouyo Festa! (Ready Go!) sawagidasu yokan hazumu omoi fukurande yuku kirari furisosogu (Yeah!) hizashi hora (Yeah!) zenshin de uketomete (OK?) hikaru kaze ni yume nosete minna irotoridori ni omoikkiri Blooming

English

With you Blooming Blooming Days (Hey!) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey!) Now let's start a Festa! (Ready Go!) My noisy presentments and bouncing feelings are growing The flashing (Yeah!) Downpouring sunlight (Yeah!) Take it with your entire body (OK?) Placing dreams on the shining wind, everybody is fully blooming with many colours

The world likes moments swayed by palpitations I want to be honest with my throbbing feelings Before the petals of possibility scatter, I have to try doing what I want

After taking a deep breath and tying our shoelaces, let's start running

Come here Blooming Blooming Days (Hey!) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey!) Now I'll start the Festa! (Ready Go!) If you plant a hope-coloured seed, buds will soon grow Everyday it'll grow (Yeah!) And turn into (Yeah!) A power that exceeds imagination (OK!) Red and white・Pink・Yellow... Fully bloom with multicoloured smiles, Blooming

I can't give a simple explanation Because nothing is happening in a simple way So that we can say from our hearts "Life is beautiful", Let's move forward even on a muddy path

Jump over the puddles and hold your hands up to the endless sky you looked up 

Here I go Blooming Blooming Days (Hey!) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey!) Yes, the Festa will continue! (Ready Go!) Let's raise a flower of hope so that it opens up Everyday it'll grow (Yeah!) Cross the boundaries (Yeah!) And create a new sensation (Yes!) We'll accept the head wind and become stronger - Embrace these unshakeable feelings, Blooming

A phrase smelling so vividly, it'll make you cough It lightly, lightly dances and covers this life to the end

Here, I vow to believe at all times that Even if time hurts me or I hesitate, all of it will become my nourishment

With you Blooming Blooming Days (Hey!) Glowing Glowing Now (Hey!) Now let's start a Festa! (Ready Go!) My noisy presentments and bouncing feelings are growing The flashing (Yeah!) Downpouring sunlight (Yeah!) Take it with your entire body (OK?) Placing dreams on the shining wind, everybody is fully blooming with many colours

[hexarcana-archived]

Good end for Olive?

this is so long and so poorly written but here it is the future where olive has an animal preserve, adopts alien and monster kids, and has other kids

one of many ends for her, but this is a good one she has with Lucca @moonlitgold

“Mama, the bobcat got out again!”  Kai called, swinging from the doorframe into his mother’s office.  Olive sighed.  “Got out” usually meant “was let out by another sibling” in her house.  She pushed herself up from her desk.

“In the yard, or in the woods?”

“Yard, but it climbed up on a tree and it’s stuck there.”  Kai, Olive’s eldest biological son wasn’t the culprit, if he had been Olive would’ve been able to see the guilt on his face. 

“Who let him out?”  she asked, hands on hips.  He looked down at his hands before softly mumbling a name.  “Speak up, Kai.  You guys know that the animals hafta’ stay in their enclosures.  No one’s gonna get in trouble, I just want to know, okay?”  Her thirteen year old looked up at her and sighed.

“It was Gigi.”  Olive nodded.  Of course it was Gigi.

Olive made her way down the familiar staircase, her son running ahead of her.  When she reached the kitchen, Kai was already out running.

“Sorry, Gigi!  I had t’ tell her!”

“You rat!”  The little blonde girl shouted.  She was about a third of the way up the tree that the Bobcat has climbed up.  She stuck her tongue out at her brother but immediately stuck it back in when her mother appeared.  “Hi, momma!  Bitsy got out, so I was tryna’-”

“You’re a cruddy liar, Gi.  Get down here.”  Olive walked to the tree so that when her six year old got down to the lower branches, she could grab her.  “Look, I know you love the animals, but if these guys get out, they could go out in the woods and get eaten by gnomes.”

“Gnomes don’t eat bobcats!”  Gigi pouted.  Olive knew the look well.  Of all of her kids, Gigi probably was the one that ended up looking the most like her.

“You don’t know the gnomes I’ve met.  Those dorks’ll eat just about anything they get theit hands on.  I’ll get Bitsy down, you two go inside and wash up for dinner.  Your dad’ll be home soon and he promised he’d bring takeout.”

“So I’m not in trouble?”  Gigi sked with a grin full of missing teeth.

“No.  Good intentions, bad decisons.  Plus, I’m in a good mood.”  She plants a smooch on her daughter’s cheek before setting her down.  “Now scram, and get the others to help you.”  The children nodded and ran back into the large house.  Olive looked up at the little bobcat up in the tree above her and she sighed, rolled up her sleeves, and went up after it.

---

“Mommy, can we watch a movie after dinner?”

Olive had just come back in from rescuing the bobcat, covered in scrapes from the climb.  She was tending to some of the bigger scrathes wit han old tin of her grandma’s salve when she felt a tiny hand tug on her shirt.  She peeked back.

“I don’t see why not, you kids don’t have school tomorrow.”  All three of the little girl’s eyes brightened, tiny sharp teeth baring in a grin.  

“Did Kai and Gigi tell you to wash up?”

“Yeah, Lee’s setting the table, and Fox’s getting Michi up from her nap.”

“Where’s Luke?”  Olive asked, to which the eight year old shrugged.

“Probably asleep somewhere.”

Olive sighed.  “Go find him and wake him up, will ya?  And make sure Benji knows too, he’s out.”  The little girl ticked her many siblings off on her fingers before nodding.  “Be quick about it, Robin.”

“Yes, mommy.”

---

Benji was the eldest child in the house at sixteen.  Felicity followed after at 13, Kai at twelve, Fox & Luke were ten, Lee and Robin were eight, Gigi was six, followed by four year old Nora, with aby Michi at the rear.  Of their ten children, only Kai, Lee & Gigi were actually biologically Olive and her husband’s.  The others had all been taken in.  Benji was a werewolf who they’d had since he was three.  Felicity was an otherworldly shapeshifter that had been abandoned by her parents on earth as an infant. Fox and Luke were twin humanoid aliens, elementals like Olive’s husband and children, but they weren’t related.  Robin was some sort of monster that no one could identify who’d come into their lives after being born from a meteor that crashed into house.  Nora was a witch in the making, and little Michi was a Kappa that Lucca and Olive had taken in during their last trip to Japan.

“Benji, slow down you’re going to make yourself sick.”  Olive warned, waving a chopstick at him.  He belched, and the twins on either side of him laughed.  Felicity pulled a face, which was met by a laugh from Robin.  Kai was manipulating the water in everyone’s glasses to flip and splash around while Michi watched.  Lee was tying to eat peacefully beside his father, but Nora kept trying to take food from his plate.

“Knock it off, Norrie.  You got your own food.”

“Yours looks better!” She whined.  Lee gave his father a look but Lucca just laughed and went back to entertaining Gigi, who was always difficult at dinner.

It was a chaotic affair.  After everyone was done eating, chores were assigned.  Gigi and Lee were charged with doing dishes with Olive.  They stood on either side of her, Lee dried dishes and Gigi handed them to her.  They chatted about animals and funny things the other kids had done that day.  It was very suddenly that Gigi piped up with an unrelated question.

“Momma, can we go see Gran tonight?”  Olive raised her eyebrows and looked down at her little doppleganger of a daughter.

“You wanna go see her?”  Olive smiled, “Yeah, I spose we can.  I promised Robin that we’d do a movie night, but I think a trip to see gran could be arranged.”  Gigi smiled and nodded, going back to her dishes.

---

“Race ya!” Luke called to his twin as they dashed across the grassy pathway.  Fox called after him and followed, with Robin and Felicity joining in the chase.  Kai, Lee, and Gigi hung behind.  Benji had stayed back at the house with the littler kids.

“Boys!  Don’t run like that, you’ll get your butts kicked by the neighbors!”  Olive called.  the boys came back, pushing each other and laughing as they did so.  The little family walked together until they finally reached their destination.

Aggie’s grave was a pretty modest sight.  She didn’t like flashy things or lavish things, and frankly she’d only agreed to have a headstone so people could visit after she died.  It was gray stone with her name engraved on it, as well as a pentacle and the inscription, “Protector of all that she loved” across the bottom.  

“Hey, Gran.”  Olive announced, taking a seat on the grass opposite the stone.  The kids sat around her. Olive nodded to the slightly more ornate stone beside her.  “We thought we’d come say hi.” 

The little family sat there, chatting about their lives and things.  Olive talked about work.  Lee told her about the book he was reading, the twins told her a story about a how they were building a spaceship in the back yard.  Kai talked about trying out for soccer. Felicity talked about art.  Gigi told her all about the scraps she’d gotten into at school that past week.  Once they said their pieces, most of the kids returned to the car.  Gigi stayed behind with her mother.

“Do you think she would have liked me?”  She asked, looking up at her mom.  Olive laughed.

“She would have loved you, Gi.  You’re just like her, for petes sake.”

“Yeah?”

“Heck yeah.  Why do you think I named you after her?”  Gigi nodded.

“I wish I coulda met her.  I feel like I know her so well but I never got to talk to her...”  She reached out and held her hand over the grass.  Slowly, a little flower sprouted and grew into a handsome bush of roses.  Olive kissed her daughter’s head.  

“She may not talk back, but she hears you, Gi.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” 

The two sat in silence for awhile before Gigi wiped away a few silently made tears and Olive took her hand.  As they walked away, both of them had the oddest feeling that someone somewhere was waving to them, telling them to come back soon.

[ao3feed-mythology]

The Flower & the Flame🥀🔥

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/31XHTC7

by SimpleSunset

Young Mai(Persephone)wants to try a new look, that she feels expressive herself more, but her mom Michi (Demeter) doesn’t share the same enthusiasm towards her daughter's new look.

Words: 1076, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: Gen

Characters: Mai (Avatar), Ty Lee (Avatar), Michi (Avatar)

Relationships: Mai & Michi (Avatar), Mai & Ty Lee (Avatar)

Additional Tags: Avatar: The Last Airbender References, Inspired by Hades and Persephone (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore)

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/31XHTC7