#shinobu’s work is all done early

[scrimblyscrorblo]

Current thoughts about Kimetsu Academy during covid lockdown:

- Uzui will always do face cam and he’s always got the beach green screen, he calls it an art

- One of Rengoku’s classes is entirely skipped because Tanjiro did face cam whilst cooking at the family bakery and everyone wanted to see him bake the best fucking cake you’ve ever seen

- Inosuke skips every class cuz he doesn’t know how to join on his phone

- Giyuu at first has no face calm and sounds all scratchy and laggy, after like a week he just stops

- Everyone is envious of Shinobu’s very meticulously aesthetic bedroom

- Himejima’s lessons are constantly interrupted by either his cats or his kids

- Sanemi’s voice scares the kids into learning reguardless of whether he’s through a screen…. the concequences of not doing homework will catch up to you

- Nezuko is constantly eating through class no matter how much she’s told not too, especially if she’s in the bakery (she sneaks desserts sometimes)

- Tanjiro and Nezuko are also interrupted by their siblings

[moraxsthrone]

Um, hello. I'm a little nervous to make this request, so please forgive me if I messed up.

May I request headcanons of Kaeya, Diluc, Itto, Thoma and Zhongli 's girlfriend bringing them homemade lunch while their working and when asked who she's looking for, she happily says "My handsome husband, the one and only (boy's name), of course!" while the boys are within earshot?

I just wanna see these boys acting lovestruck and blushy

//peeks out from the hole of chaos that is my life.

omg nonnie, i'm so sorry it's taken me so long to answer this. i wonder if you'll even see it. 🥺 if anyone did anything wrong here, it's me.

— how he reacts when you bring him homemade lunch at work

— pairings — diluc, itto, kaeya, thoma, zhongli, and (bonus) tighnari x f!reader

— notes — sfw. fluff. diluc's is a drabble //help. his just came to me so vividly. the rest are headcanons, as requested.

— diluc —

your wine tycoon husband is fetching a couple of barrels from the storage area in the back of angel’s share when he hears your voice. he wonders why you’re here so early in the afternoon (you’re not kaeya after all), but a small smile still manages to grace his face as charles asks if he can get you a drink. diluc is just about to round the corner when he hears you answer cheerily, “no, thank you. i’m just here to bring lunch to my handsome husband, diluc! i made him his favorite and even threw in some grape juice from the winery!” the tavern owner stops dead in his tracks, his heart skipping a million beats. it’s adorable, really. not only is he easily flustered, but his fair skin is so quick to show even the slightest color. he knows he’s flushed a bright red from his neck to his ears. he’s too embarrassed to let his employee see him like this so he panics and this grown ass man HIDES BEHIND A FUCKING WINE BARREL!

he can almost hear the shit-eating grin on charles’s face when he points towards the back and tells you where you can find your “handsome husband, diluc”. he should dock his pay for that. now what does he do? just as you clear the bar area, you see the top of a crimson ponytail behind a barrel in the dim corridor. “diluc? is that you, baby?” the jig is up; there’s no point trying to hide anymore so he stands up slowly. “why were you crouched behind that wine barrel?” you press, and he clears his throat. “i was…uhhh…i dropped…something,” he stammers, doing his best to preserve his signature stoicism. but as you get closer you see the deep red blush that rivals the natural color of his hair. “wait…are you blushing?” “no.” “you’re blushing!” laughing, you start to touch his face, but he quickly covers it with both his hands, muffling his voice when he groans, “why must you always tease me like this?” “because you’re so cute when you blush,” you say, still giggling while trying to pry his hands away. he can hear charles wheezing behind the bar. “stop! go away, woman! you’re making it worse!”

— itto — 

who are we kidding? itto doesn’t work.

but let’s assume he’s doing an odd job and one of his gang members spots you as you’re approaching (not knowing you're his boss's wife) and tells you it’s too dangerous to pass through the area.

itto is out of eyeshot, but your voice is music to his ears when he hears you refer to him as your husband. 

“yeah! i made him his favorite and brought enough for everyone!”

his face lights up with a big, stupid grin bc that is easily one of the nicest things anyone has done for his gang.

just as akira is taking some of the bags you’ve been carrying by yourself, your big oni husband rounds the corner and is headed right for you with his pink-dusted cheeks.

picks you up into a hug and gives you a big, long, close-lipped kiss with unshed tears wetting his eyelashes.

when shinobu ribs him for crying, he denies it.

“i- i’m not crying, shinobu! my uhh…my allergies are acting up again!”

— kaeya — 

it means the whole fucking world to him?

he never thought he’d have someone in his life who would go out of their way to bring him lunch that THEY MADE JUST FOR HIM. 

he may not seem like it, but kaeya loooooves being domestic with you.

he smirks and teases you when you fuss over him, but he EATS THAT SHIT UP.

please do little things like this for him? it makes him feel so cared for, something he feels like he’s missed out on for most of his life.

ever the romantic, the captain sweeps you up into his arms bridal-style, making you squeal and laugh right in front of all his subordinates. 

kaeya makes YOU blush, not the other way around, okay?

— thoma — 

he’s usually the one waiting on others hand and foot so when you do something so domestic and thoughtful for him, his pretty green eyes positively SPARKLE. 

the brightest smile spreads across his face along with the swath of pink that stretches from one cheek to the other.

immediately wants to make something for you too. 

he insists! 

so you sit and watch him whip something up for you in the kamisato kitchen, your chin resting in your palms wondering how you got so lucky to marry the sweetest man in all of teyvat.

he packs both your lunches and leads you outside and finds the prettiest sakura tree to sit beneath while you enjoy your meals together. 

— zhongli — 

he’s touched, but it takes a lot more than bringing him food or referring to him as your husband to fluster the former archon.

if anything, he barely suppresses a smirk - satisfied with the pride in your voice when you call him “husband”.

he stands from his desk and steps out of his office to greet you in the funeral parlor’s lobby, shoulders back and head held high because he’s quietly proud of you too.

“my darling love…” he starts, seeing the delicious meal that he could smell from his office. “you truly shouldn’t have…”

“but i wanted to,” you say shyly as he leans in to leave a quick peck on your cheek.

“will you be joining me?” he asks, hopeful.

“oh, this is just for you, dear. i didn’t bring any for myself. i thought you might be too busy...”

“then i’ll share with you, my love,” he insists, offering you his arm, which you take with a smile and let him lead you back to his office.

— tighnari (bonus) — 

a handful of forest rangers are standing on the dock near tighnari’s hut when you flash them a quick smile before heading past them towards your husband’s office.

one of them stops you. “ma’am, you can’t just walk into the chief officer’s-”

you laugh sweetly and wave him off. “i can do a lot more than you think i can…”

it is at that moment that the rangers stiffen as their officer steps out with a stern expression on his face.

his multi-colored eyes are fixed and serious, but as a rosy heat rises to his pale cheeks you swear you hear a snicker from his group of subordinates.

you walk up to where tighnari is holding one of the giant leaf flaps open in the doorway and give him a quick little peck on the cheek.

that sends the angry blush all the way to the insides of his perked ears.

he dismisses the rangers as you walk past him and into his office like it’s your second home.

his watchful eyes follow his rangers as they disperse before he lowers the leaf flap to join you within.

he sniffs at the air. “wait. did you…?”

you simply nod with a pleased smile as you set the frond-wrapped box down on his desk. you’d made his favorite: forest watcher’s choice, rife with various (non-poisonous) mushrooms that you know he finds most delicious.

nari rounds his desk to join you and puts a gloved hand on the small of your back as he leans in and kisses your temple, ear twitching and tail wisping behind him.

“thank you, love. you’re too good to me,” he muses.

[heyiwrotesomethings]

Metamorphosis

Shinobu Kochou x Trans She/Her Reader

A/N: Sorry for the insane wait! I’m gonna take a nap now! Hopefully the typos aren’t horrible. Warning: Misgendering both intentional and not, gender dysphoria, coming out, brief discussion of potential surgery and use of medication. If there is more I should mention, please let me know. Thank you for reading! Word Count: 5,518

Shinobu was a very busy woman, countless slayers passed through her doors, many of which she wouldn’t even see during their visit, taken care of by one of the other residents while she was on missions or furthering her research.

However, there were times when her intervention was crucial, or she simply took an interest in those who happened to cross her path and give a little more of her time and consideration where she could. Case and point, Tanjiro and company, but without the rambunctious quartet chasing each other around the mansion at this early morning hour, her attention was caught by another.

The slayer waiting for assistance in her infirmary today appeared perfectly healthy, though maybe a bit nervous and sleep deprived if the bags under each eye were anything to go by. Being nervous was common enough amongst patients, even if they were only there for a run-of-the-mill check-up. However, those check-ups usually weren’t at five in the morning. Shinobu could have left it to one of the other girls or a Kakushi to handle, but something told her to take on this patient herself.

“My, you’re here early, good morning!” She spoke pleasantly as she began her approach, startling the patient out of their thoughts. Shinobu noted that he seemed to become more agitated and on edge.

“Good morning, Kochou-sama.” The slayer spoke softly, then gave Shinobu an abrupt bow, his long ponytail nearly cracking like a whip from the force.

Shinobu hummed in amusement and took a seat beside the cot her patient had chosen as a tentative perch while waiting for assistance.

“Well, I will say you look perfectly healthy from where I’m sitting. If you’re here for a physical or something minor, we usually ask that you make an appointment, but as you can see it’s one of those rare, quiet mornings so I’ll let it slide just this once, okay?” She informed, throwing in a playful wink for good measure.

The patient seemed conflicted, and to Shinobu it seemed that he had something he really wanted to say, but he managed to swallow it down for better or for worse, looking down at his tightly clasped hands.

“I’m sorry, I should have thought about that.”

“No harm done.” Shinobu assured, gesturing with her hand towards her office, thinking a more private space would be appreciated, “Come along and we’ll see how everything is going, alright?”

The patient seemed to hesitate again, but eventually replied with a hoarse, “Alright.”

Shinobu led the slayer to her office and motioned for them to sit as she closed the door behind them. She then began to carry out the standard exam. She pulled out the slayer’s medical history file, saying the name aloud to make sure she had the right one. The patient seemed to tense, but nodded stiffly in confirmation. Shinobu had chalked it up to more nerves and continued on with the exam.

Well, as much as she could since he was stubbornly insistent on keeping his shirt on, but Shinobu worked around it. It was actually a bit refreshing considering most men that walked through her doors couldn’t wait to show off. Once she checked over all she could, Shinobu sat back in her seat.

“Well, Ln-san, everything here checks out. Nothing to worry about, you’re a perfectly healthy young man, congratulations.” Shinobu lightly joked and smiled reassuringly and put in a few finishing notes on the record. “You’re free to go.”

“O-kay.”

Shinobu’s pen froze mid-stroke upon hearing how the slayer’s voice cracked, she glanced up with a slightly startled look upon her face. Her patient seemed to be breathing heavier, his eyes shined with a wet film of held back tears, causing Shinobu to sit up straighter in her chair, more alert.

“Oh dear, is something the matter?” She asked innocently, unaware of just how heavy the answer to that question would be.

The slayer’s bottom lip trembled as he tried to put on a brave face. Shinobu noted how his shoulders shook, the inhales of air when he tried to speak were noisy and abrupt. Shinobu kept calm and attempted to coax him.

“I don’t know what to do, Kochou-sama…”

“About what?” She asked gently.

A sort of watery, abrupt guffaw left the slayer’s mouth, a shake of the head and a frustrated toss of the hands.

“See, I couldn’t sleep for months because it was all I could think about… I thought about what I would do and how to explain… but now that I’m here… I- it’s all slipped my mind! It’s been slowly eating away at me for years, and now that I’m finally trying to say it out loud to someone, I can’t do it!”

“For simply slipping your mind, you sure seem to be intimately aware of your troubles. You’re just dancing around the issue for whatever reason that may be, but not quite saying it.” Shinobu leaned forward in her chair. “As insurmountable as it may seem to you, I cannot help if I don’t know what is keeping you up at night. You need to take that step yourself. The words don’t have to be perfectly articulate from the get go. You can always refine it once you get something out.”

The slayer continued to be conflicted, earning a sigh and a firm stare from Shinobu. She could clearly see this was a sensitive issue, but she truly could not sit here all day even if she wanted to. She could send the slayer Aoi’s way and maybe check on the situation later, but for now…

“I apologize for rushing you, but I do have other engagements—“

“I’m a woman!” They blurted hastily, hands tightly pressed together.

“…O-Oh!” Shinobu blinked in surprise, then reached for the slayer’s file again. “I’m sorry… whoever drafted your papers must have made an error.”

“Yes! Well, no, but yes. Um, it was ‘right’, given how I was born, but as I got a little older and thought about it more, the more it felt like it didn’t fit.” The slayer swallowed thickly, “I’ve been raised male, but that never felt quite right and… I know what I want now, what feels right and, and makes me feel like I can breathe and makes everything feel a little less suffocating. I just… there are some things about my body and how people perceive me that make me uncomfortable on the good days and like I could just about die on the bad days and I don’t really know how to do anything about it and I need help, please.”

Now that the slayer had divulged her plight to Shinobu, the slayer felt a strange weightlessness, but also like she might throw up from the stress and uncertainty of how Shinobu would process this information. They were practically strangers, she was taking a huge risk confiding in her.

Shinobu wasn’t going to let that look of dread quickly growing in the slayer’s eyes continue, she laid the file flat on her desk and dipped a pen in ink. After pushing her sleeve up, she smudged out the gender and swiftly replaced it. The slayer focused on the motion, lips parting in surprise. Shinobu smiled reassuringly, tapping the paper.

“Anything else that needs to be edited?” Shinobu inquired warmly, “It looks a little messy now, but once the proper corrections are made, a new one can be drafted.”

The tears that had weld up in the slayer’s eyes for a myriad of reasons in the past twenty-four hours finally bubbled past the dam and streamed down her face. She hurriedly tried to wipe them away.

“Sorry.”

“It’s alright, take your time.” Shinobu offered a handkerchief that was graciously accepted. After a minute, she pulled herself together, still a little weepy, but able to better communicate her wishes.

“M-my name. Could you change that too?” She asked, hopefully.

“Easily.” Shinobu affirmed. “Do you already have something in mind already? If not, I’m sure I could come up with something good.” Shinobu’s mind was already turning through a list of possibilities, even recycling some of the unjustly rejected names she had chosen when they had taken Kanao in.

Unfortunately for Shinobu, but fortunately for the slayer, she had already thought about this extensively and had a name at the ready.

“Yn.” She had answered, Yn had said the name to herself before, whispered it under her breath some late nights when she could not sleep, along with others that stood out to her, finding this particular name to be her favorite. Saying it aloud to someone else, someone she hoped would continue to be as accepting as she seemed to be right now, it felt even better.

Shinobu hummed and nodded, striking out the discarded name and putting the proper one in its place.

“And so it shall be.”

***

Yn was nervous, so so so nervous, but also excited. After having her latest late night crisis that had brought her to the steps of the Butterfly Mansion a week ago, she was coming back with a proper appointment. Shinobu had told her she would need to do some research on the science-y end of things, which had surprised Yn a bit.

She didn’t really know what to expect when getting Shinobu involved, but knowing she was packing extra specialized research into her already busy schedule just for Yn really blew her away. She couldn’t have been more grateful, which was why she was bringing a basket of treats as a thank you.

She wasn’t really sure what Shinobu liked… so she made a little bit of everything. Worst came to worst, at least the other residents might enjoy it. Though she really hoped Shinobu would like at least one thing she baked to make sure the extra hours she spent late last night were not used in vein. Not that she would have been able to sleep anyway.

She weaved her way through the garden and left her shoes at the entrance, making her way through the winding halls until she made it back to Shinobu’s office. After a couple of deep breaths, she knocked on the door before she could lose her nerve.

“Come in.”

“Pardon the intrusion.” Yn slid the door open and took pause upon seeing the amount of books spread around the office. There had been plenty of books before, but they were all neatly tucked away in their proper shelves. Now the quantity had appeared to noticeably increase and was liberally spread across almost every surface.

Shinobu was in between two precarious stacks at her desk, hair a bit mussed and a somewhat irradiated look in her eyes as she skimmed the page she was hunched over. She didn’t look extremely disheveled at all, but from what Yn knew of Shinobu’s reputation, appearing even a little out of sorts seemed unusual.

Something about it was highly attractive though.

Yn shook her head of the thought and gently knocked on the doorframe to remind Shinobu of her presence because even though she had invited Yn in, she had yet to look up.

“Aoi, I expressed…“ Shinobu’s gaze flickered upward and she seemed to freeze momentarily before she tried to side-eye the clock she kept on her desk. Tried to, because it was somewhere behind a wall of books.

“Oh!” She cleared her throat and stood from her desk. “My, is it that time already? I was just getting ready for you. Pardon the mess.”

It was pretty clear to Yn, that Shinobu had not at all been ready to receive her, but it was unnecessarily cute by how much Shinobu was trying to downplay just how caught off guard she was.

“It’s no problem. I uh, I like to read too.” Yn twirled the basket in her hands as Shinobu started slinging books back into their proper place in the shelves. “…Can I help?”

“Don’t trouble yourself, have a seat and I’ll be with you shortly…” Shinobu inhaled, smelling a sugary scent that reminded her she had neglected to eat breakfast, and lunch for that matter. She shoved a couple more books into place, the sound overtaking the sudden grumble of her stomach. She glanced curiously at the basket on Yn’s lap. “What do you have there?”

“I made some things as a thank you.” Yn looked down at her basket, her cheeks feeling a bit warm. “I don’t know what you like, but I wanted to bring something.”

Shinobu strode back, glancing over Yn’s shoulder into the basket. She blinked in surprise.

“You made all of this? For me?”

“Yes, please take it.” She offered Shinobu the basket. “If you aren’t a fan, please share them with the girls. I’d ask if you could please tell me your preferences so I can try to thank you again properly.”

Shinobu was so hungry at this point, she would eat a slice of stale bread if it was available, but this basket of treats was nothing less than immaculate. She graciously accepted.

“No, this is a lovely gift, thank you.” Shinobu said, graciously. “I can’t say I feel like I deserve such an opulent assortment just yet, but I will give you my best.” Her stomach reminded her of its existence yet again. “Would you find it terribly rude of me to indulge as we speak?”

“Absolutely not, go ahead.”

“Thank you.” Shinobu eased herself into her chair and retrieved a sweet bread roll that was calling her name. “Please help yourself as well if you’d like.”

“That’s alright, I’ve had my fair share.” Yn laughed, sheepishly.

Shinobu bit into the roll and felt better the instant she swallowed the first bite. She really needed that. On the second bite, she actually took the time to taste and she mourned the quick departure of the first.

“This is very good, Ln-san.” She praised. “You are really quite skilled.”

Yn felt a weight lift off of her shoulders, so much so she might float away from the praise. “Thank you so much! I’m so glad you like it!”

Shinobu finished the roll in a couple more bites and resisted the urge to pick through the basket for something else to sample. There were important matters to attend to after all and she had already been more frazzled than she would have ever liked to be in polite company.

She still had a couple books of her desk, certain pages book marked and ready to be referenced. Aggravatingly brief and scarce pages, to be precise. Better than absolutely nothing, she supposed.

“Let’s get the ball rolling then, shall we?”

Yn felt the nerves and excitement bubble within her once more. She couldn’t believe she was actually here, talking to someone. Not just someone, but a person who had the means and know-how to… to do what exactly, Yn wasn’t sure, but she was ready to hear her options.

“Alright,” Shinobu exhales, “what you’ve disclosed to me, it’s not unheard of. Unfortunately, my collection is lacking on in depth information. I do apologize for that, but I am getting my hands on a few works dedicated to the topic, it’ll just take some time for them to arrive.”

“It’s already beyond my expectations that I’m talking to anyone about this at all. I really can’t thank you enough for going through all this trouble for me.” Yn tried to put as much gratitude into her voice as she could.

“You’ve done more than enough thanking for one day and probably for the duration of however long it takes you to get to a more comfortable place in your presentation.” Shinobu assured with a kind smile, sliding a book over to Yn. “Let’s see what we know so far…”

***

So far so good… Yn couldn’t complain, she just wished she could feel a difference with the little pills she had each morning. Shinobu said they could possibly up the dosages later, but she wanted to start small and monitor for any negative side effects.

Her other option, though a quicker result, would be a highly experimental surgical procedure. Just listening to Shinobu explain how she might accomplish such a thing made Yn feel more than a little faint. Shinobu assured she would study the logistics of such a procedure before attempting it herself, but Yn wasn’t in a hurry to go under the knife so she could live with her little cocktail of estrogen pills and testosterone blockers that Shinobu and Aoi cobbled together.

Okay, that was unfair choice of words, Shinobu had worked tirelessly researching hormones and how to stimulate and stagnate them. It only took her about two months before she had something she was confident enough in to prescribe to Yn and she couldn’t have been more grateful, truly, again, she just really wished she could notice even the slightest change.

She sighed and put the pill bottle down, noticing a very light clinking sound as she did so. Curiously, she picks up another one of the bottles and gives it a little shake. She would have to get those refilled…

A warmth buzzed in her chest, an excuse to go back to the Butterfly Estate! Shinobu had said she could stop by anytime… but it never felt right to invite herself over, especially when Shinobu was always so busy. There wasn’t a guarantee that she would even be there at all.

However, her medication running low was the perfect excuse to test her luck and find out if Shinobu was around. If nothing else, it was always nice to see the others and seeing the younger ones smile when she came bearing treats was always a delight. So, she packed up some dango she had made yesterday and set off.

She was greeted as soon as she made it to the gates, Sumi, Kiyo and Naho running over from the garden. They tried not to look too hopeful about the contents of Yn’s bag, but Yn could plainly see how eager they were for a treat and she was happy to oblige.

“You’re going to spoil them, you know.” Aoi said, coming out of the mansion with a basket of laundry. She set the basket down and brushed her hands down her front. “We were wondering when you might make an appearance. Shinobu-sama was getting antsy, you shouldn’t wait until you’re down to the wire on your medication before coming in for a refill. You never know what might come up.”

“Sorry,” Yn rubbed the back of her neck, “I didn’t think about that.”

Aoi sighed and shook her head. “No harm done. Come with me and I’ll refill your prescription. After that, Shinobu-sama will want to check you over. It’s a little unfortunate that she’s in the middle of entertaining right now.”

“Entertaining?”

Before Aoi could elaborate, Shinobu happened to turn the corner, chatting with the Love Hashira beside her. Shinobu looked up and smiled warmly, making Yn’s heart flutter.

“Hello there, Ln-san, I was starting to worry about you.” Shinobu scolded jokingly.

“I’m sorry, Kochou-sama, I didn’t realize I was being missed.” Yn smiled sheepishly.

“Shinobu-chan!” Mitsuri, the Love Hashira, tugged on Shinobu’s haori, “Introduce me, will you? Who is this? A friend?”

“Yes,” Shinobu held out a hand in Yn’s direction, “This is Ln Yn, she’s also a patient of mine.”

Shinobu was sure Mitsuri would be endlessly supportive and kind as always if she had explained the situation, but it wasn’t her place to do so, it was Yn’s, if she saw fit.

“Oh!” Mitsuri pressed forward, hands clasped in front of her chest. So close that Yn instinctively took a step back from the sudden proximity. “You aren’t terribly sick, are you? That would be just awful! You know what always makes me feel better when I’m sick? Soup! Soup and dumplings and roasted vegetables and fish and—“

“Kanroji-san,” Shinobu put a hand on her back, “Ln-san will be just fine. It’s mostly just consultation.”

“Ah—“ Mitsuri blushed, a couple beads of sweat gathering oil on her brow, “That’s… that’s good! Very good!” She clapped her hands on Yn’s shoulders, making the other slayers almost wince at the overuse of force. “Stay healthy, Ln-san!”

“I- I will do my best, Kanroji-sama.” Yn promised, rubbing one of her poor shoulders.

“Mm! Mm!” Mitsuri nodded, her arms crossed. She opened her mouth to speak again, but instead a low rumble was heard from her stomach, renewing the intensity of her blush. “Ah! So embarrassing!”

“We were about to make lunch.” Shinobu shared, “You should join us.”

“I wouldn’t want to impose…”

“The more the merrier!” Mitsuri insisted. “Aoi-chan, you too!”

“I already ate.” Aoi refused, but then gave Yn the side-eye, “I wouldn’t mind a bit of dessert before it’s gone, however.”

“Oh! Yes, here you go, Aoi-san. Here is Kanao-san’s share too.” Yn presented Aoi with a few wrapped dango.

“Thank you, I’ll make sure she gets it.”

Yn felt an intense stare as Aoi walked away and slowly turned her head to see Mitsuri staring at her with big, hopeful eyes. Not very unlike how Kiyo, Sumi and Naho looked at her upon her arrival, actually.

“Is that… dango? It smells so good.” Mitsuri sighed wistfully.

“You can have some too if you want, I made a lot.” Yn offered, the sweetheart that she was.

“You made it yourself? Homemade is always the best!” Mitsuri danced foot to foot, “I can have some? Really?”

“Of course—“

Yn found herself in a crushing embrace, a few of her lumbar vertebrae made a dull cracking sound.

“That’s so nice! Thank you!”

“Kanroji-san, Ln-san isn’t used to your hugs be careful with her.” Shinobu gently reminded.

Mitsuri drew back, concerned and sheepish, “Sorry…”

“I’m okay.” Yn wheezed, handing a couple wrapped dango over to Mitsuri. “Here you go.”

Mitsuri exclaimed in excitement, accepting the offering. “Thank you!” She eagerly dug in, humming happily,

“You saved enough for me too, right, Ln-san?” Shinobu creeped up beside her, a sly smile on her face, “I would feel so left out if everyone got to enjoy a treat besides myself…”

“I have more!” Yn assured, a bit too panicked, making Shinobu chuckle.

“It’s alright, please breathe easy.”

“You’re so mean, Shinobu-chan.” Mitsuri whined, her mouth full of dango.

“Sorry, sorry~” Shinobu waved her hand, not looking very sorry at all. “Lunch will make up for it, I promise. Kanroji-san has a new recipe from the west we’re going to try.”

“Yes!” Mitsuri clapped, dango already devoured.

“Then I can give you a quick check-up and make sure everything is good to go.” Shinobu promised, already guiding Yn towards the kitchen.

***

It hadn’t taken long for Mitsuri to worm her way into Yn’s heart and earn her trust. Having Mitsuri to confide in was huge. A friend, a confidant and a sister, giving her all sorts of tips and tricks about makeup, clothes and even how to carry herself. There were even things she would ask Mitsuri about that she felt too embarrassed to ask Shinobu about, something that the Insect Hashira noticed and felt a bit jelous about… not that she would ever admit it.

She did, however, interrogate when she felt it necessary, which is how she found herself heading to one of her least favorite places on the planet.

“O-oh, Kochou-sama,” Maeda wrung his hands nervously, sweating in the Hashira’s presence, “what a… pleasant surprise. Do you have a uniform that requires mending?”

“I’m not here for me.” She spoke curtly, making Maeda flinch.

“I- I see… then Tsuyuri-sama, or Kanzaki-san…?”

“No. Shinobu drew closer like a lion circling prey, “I’m here for Ln Yn, she asked for a uniform alteration and I was informed that you turned her away. Is that correct?”

“Ln-san…” Maeda swallowed thickly, “his request was ridiculous, a- a joke I’m sure…”

Shinobu’s eyes flashed, giving Maeda a quick taste of the fury nestled just below her skin, “Masao-san,” she spoke, in an overly sweet tone, “you amaze me, truly.”

“I, I do?” The poor fool almost looked hopeful, but Shinobu quickly shut that down.

“Just when I think you can’t go any lower, you find yourself a shovel.”

Maeda cowered, had he been born a turtle, he would have retreated into his shell as Shinobu proceeded to rip him a new one.

“You know how I loathe your designs… a uniform that’s supposed to protect one from the slashes of the lowest levels of demons, yet you purposefully leave some of the most vital spots bare. Do you know how many women in the corps have been injured, killed, because they were too polite to reject your perversions?” She asked heatedly, not giving him time to answer,

“I loathe it… however, I respect those who feel empowered showing a little skin, if that is truly what they desire. Imagine my surprise when you had not leapt at the chance to give Ln-san a skirt.”

“Kochou-sama, please understand it’s because h—“

“She.” Shinobu cut him off. “You will make her a skirt, about knee length, as she desires or we can guess how long it will take for me to set your base of operations ablaze. It was a little tricky burning that trash you tried to pawn off on me those few short years ago, but I’m confident I still remember how I did it…”

“K-Kochou-sama, please! I don’t even have the measurements!”

Shinobu presented a piece of parchment from her breast pocket, nearly shoving it in his face.

“I took the liberty of getting them myself. I know you already have uniforms on standby, it shouldn’t take long to fix one up to the proper perimeters I’ve set for you. Finish within the hour please, it’s quite chilly today and who is to say what I might do to ensure I stay warm.” She warned, a chilling smile upon her lips.

Safe to say she had a lovely skirt in her hands half an hour later. The unrestrained hug of gratitude Yn had provided upon her return made dealing with the unpleasant tailor all the more worth it. Not to mention… the skirt did look quite good on her and that was only the beginning of Yn’s new wardrobe.

***

Entering the boutique with Shinobu and Mitsuri, Yn felt almost giddy. A girls outing, Mitsuri had suggested excitedly when they had all found themselves together with some rare free time. Well, Shinobu never truly had free time, but she’d be damned if she missed out on seeing Yn try on some cute clothes.

They did run into a little trouble early on, a small group of gossiping women following them around the store, causing Yn grief with their scrutiny. Shinobu wouldn’t let that last for long. To this day Yn still didn’t know what Shinobu had said to those women when she approached them, but she’d never forget how they paled and quickly left the shop in a flurry, getting tangled up in the entryway as one tried to make her hasty exit before the other.

“What did you say to them, Shinobu-chan?” Mitsuri had been the one to ask, while rubbing Yn’s back comfortingly.

Shinobu only smiled, raising a finger to her lips, making Mitsuri and Yn chuckle nervously. She then held out her hand to Yn for her to take and pulled her towards the fabrics for more formal occasions.

“Let’s continue to enjoy our outing, shall we? Kanroji-san, help her pick something nice, my treat.”

Mitsuri wasted no time pushing Yn through the rows of kimono. Shinobu smiled fondly, waiting for their return. She wanted to be surprised, and surprised she was upon their return.

“What do you think?” Yn asked shyly, doing a little spin when Mitsuri enthusiastically prompted her to.

Shinobu’s eyes greedily took in every detail and she sighed inwardly. Of course Mitsuri just had to put her in purple. She had to wonder if Mitsuri could read her mind and was trying to force Shinobu’s hand to finally make a move… Shinobu shook off that idea rather quickly, she had done well to hide her attraction and Mitsuri wasn’t that perceptive. It was a very good unintentional attempt, however. Her instincts managed a direct hit on Shinobu’s heart and now she had to attempt to be casual in her approval instead of foaming at the mouth.

“You look lovely. It really suits you.” Shinobu allowed her eyes to wander under the guise of appraising the outfit and nothing more, soon finding an excuse to get a bit more hands-on because she just couldn’t seem to help herself.

“Just have to straighten out the obi a little.”

“Thank you.” Yn murmured, feeling a little tingly from the gentle tugs and smoothing of fabric. “Are you sure it isn’t… too much?”

“Not at all, I can easily afford this.” Shinobu assured.

“No, I mean, does it really suit me?”

“Ln-san,” Shinobu gripped her bicep, squeezing it in warning, “do you think Kanroji-san or I, would lie to you?”

“No!” Yn squawked.

“Do you think Kanroji-san and I don’t know what looks good?” She pressed.

“No!” Yn rapidly shook her head. “I- I don’t think that at all!”

“Excellent. Pay no mind to what a couple of uninspired, uneducated women who can’t tell you if water is wet without asking their husbands have to say about what you can or can’t wear. Understand me? You’re beautiful.”

Yn felt herself tear up a bit. Shinobu was just too kind. How could someone so amazing exist at the same time as her, let alone be in such close proximity, comforting her? As lovely as the kimono was, she was starting to feel a little too warm with Shinobu staring at her so intently, her fingers still curled around the edge of her obi.

Then Mitsuri scooped her up in an all encompassing hug that made it nearly impossible to breathe.

“Shinobu-chan is right you know! So forget them and let’s have a good time. I know a thing or two about people like that, and it’s really for the best to not acknowledge them at all.”

“Or you could put something unpleasant in their tea.” Shinobu smiled ominously.

“Shinobu-chan!” Mitsuri gasped, hiding a giggle behind her hands.

Yn looked between the two giggling women and couldn’t help but join along, she couldn’t believe what a difference six months could make.

Mitsuri had been called off to a mission just as they were wrapping up dinner in the city, leaving Yn and Shinobu on their own.

“You should stay in the Butterfly Mansion tonight, it’s getting late.” Shinobu spoke up when they came upon the crossroads where they would have to part ways normally.

“That’s alright, Kochou-sama, I—“

“It’s not imposing if I’m actively inviting you over, Ln-san.” She interrupted. “Besides, you look so pretty in your new kimono that I couldn’t possibly leave you on your own to fend off any unwanted advances.”

Yn felt her face heat up, only getting warmer when Shinobu took her hand and pulled her in the direction of the mansion.

“And I have something I’ve been meaning to give you anyway.” She added softly.

***

Upon arriving at the mansion’s gates, Shinobu prompted Yn to wait at the garden’s edge, the sunset provided the kind of ambiance she was hoping for.

Yn rocked from her heels to her toes, waiting anxiously for Shinobu’s return. To be honest, she had something she wanted to tell her. She wasn’t expecting much, she just hoped at the very least, it wouldn’t change their relationship in a negative way.

“Boo.”

Yn jumped as high as the sunflower stalks when Shinobu snuck up behind her, poking her between the shoulder blades.

“Kochou-san! Don’t do that!” She whined, making the Hashira giggle.

“I’m sorry, you just make it too easy sometimes. Anyway,” she presented a thin box to Yn, “for you, it actually matches your new kimono.” She smiled, waiting for Yn to open the box.

“Thank you.” Yn murmured, gasping softly when a butterfly hair ornament, not too dissimilar from Shinobu’s own was revealed to her as soon as she opened the box. “Kochou-sama, this is really for me?”

“Who else would it be for, silly?” She grinned. “Let me help you put it on.”

Yn let Shinobu guide her to a nearby bench and fix the clip into her hair.

“Beautiful.”

“Like a chivalrous knight…” Yn spoke aloud softly, gently bringing her hand up to touch the butterfly’s wings.

“What was that?” Shinobu chuckled, a bit of pink gathering in her cheeks.

Yn yelped, bringing her hands to her mouth.

“D-did I say that out loud? I- I just meant, well, you are kind of like a knight. Helping me, protecting me… I really appreciate everything you do.” She babbled, freezing up when Shinobu hugged her from behind.

“If I’m the knight, then you’re the princess.” She spoke near Yn’s ear, making her shiver. Shinobu chuckled and squeezed her a little tighter.

Safe to say, what Yn wanted to tell her would be very well received.

[astronomywriting]

Unexpected Affection ❤️ Shinobu x Fem! Reader

WC: 1.8k Words

Vocab: [H/T]= Hair Texture || [H/C]= Hair Color || [S/C]= Skin Color || [F/N]= First Name || [E/C]= Eye Color ||

Content Warnings: Reader’s father is mentioned to be deceased, and their mother is emotionally unavailable

Premise: The reader is emotionally repressed, but they find themselves wanting cuddles from Shinobu

A/N: This one is a lot of yap with little dialogue. If you happen to have any constructive criticism I’d love to hear it :D

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

You were an exceedingly stoic person. A persona you’ve long adopted, ever since early childhood. Your father passed away unexpectedly, which threw your mother into a pit of depression. Depression that would lead her onto the path of emotional neglect, not only for herself but also for you. Your mother would never go on to tell you why she changed so harshly after the passing of your father, but somewhere you had a feeling it was because you resembled him too much for her to bear.

These unfortunate events made you grow up faster than you would’ve liked. You had to take care of yourself, get back up on your own after something in life had gone wrong, and teach yourself how to adjust as you grew with the ever-changing world. Even now, as an adult, you still hold onto these past techniques, normalizing them into your day-to-day life. You weren’t able to trust easily, and even those whom you’ve left in your life rarely get to see a smile or express basic human emotion.

Which is why, as you lay on the futon alone, you wonder how and when you started missing the company of your girlfriend. You were used to being alone, so what strange circumstances of events led you to greet being alone as a foreign feeling? When did you start longing for her to be around? When did you begin to enjoy the small kisses and the warmth of having a partner to sleep next to?

You didn’t know how to answer such a question yet, but you did know you wanted to drag Shinobu back to bed so you could fall asleep once more. However, there was one small factor stopping you. It wasn’t in your code to just get up and tell Shinobu how much you enjoyed her company and that you couldn’t sleep without her. Even the smallest levels of intimacy were completely untouched by you.

Kisses between you were nothing but small pecks, only to be shared in the privacy of your own home. The only handholding you did was a quick squeeze in between the days. Your type of affection wasn’t something bold or outgoing; it was simply small acts that could be done completely alone. Instead of cuddling, you’d just silently enter a room Shinobu happened to be in and sit down, simply basking in the proximity of your beloved.

Tonight was different, though. Echoes of the past were quite keen on keeping you up, no matter how much you tried to readjust into a comfortable position or try to work on your breathing to lull you into sleep. It was becoming more and more obvious to you that what you needed was another person to help you drift off. Whether it was with her scratching your [H/T] [H/C] hair or whispering small words of affirmation until you fell asleep, the fact was clear. Sleep would not come tonight unless Shinobu was with you.

You sigh as you remove the covers from your body, the chill air hitting you in an instant. You sit on the edge of the futon as you nibble on your lip. Your hands are scrunched up on your thighs, leaving small crescent patterns in their wake. You let out one small, shaky sigh. You knew Shinobu wasn’t like your mother, but it still just felt so nerve-racking. Knowing your girlfriend, she was most likely up late again working on another project of hers. She had her own personal study just down the hall from your shared bedroom.

A short walk was all it would take to get what you wanted. All you had to do was pop the question, and you were sure Shinobu would oblige. Though many times you asked your mother for something small, like a hug or the simple message that it was going to be okay, you were declined instantly. You continue to dig your nails into your [S/C] skin.

You release the grip of your nails on your skin and stand up. Maybe the sleepiness had made you bold, or maybe you were facing the fear of intimacy. Whatever it was, it was enough to make you travel outside of your bedroom and down the hall towards Shinobu’s study. For a moment, you just stand there, staring at the door knob. You command your arm to move so you can enter, but it’s of no use. The light is on; you know she’s in there, but your body lies still.

This is stupid. You think to yourself.

What kind of adult can’t sleep alone? You criticize.

I’d only be bothering her. You admit.

Despite these harsh words, you find yourself slowly opening the door. The confidence you once had is beginning to shrivel away. Your hands turn shaky, and you begin to sweat. You almost want to close the door and run back into the futon to hide under the covers, but you don’t. Twisting the knob ever so slightly with your trembling hands, you see Shinobu, her back turned to you, doing some paperwork at her desk. The chair is pushed to the side, and she is standing.

Your heart begins to pound in your chest and out of your ears. You’re surprised Shinobu doesn’t hear, with her being a Hashira and all. Maybe it was the habit you picked up in your early childhood— wanting to be completely silent as you wandered through the house so as not to upset your mother. Either way, you enter the study silently, and you are now standing behind her. A small part of you wishes to stay inside your comfort zone. Opting for the usual routine of you and Shinobu sharing a space with comfortable silence. But today you feel different, more bold, and more eager.

You find yourself walking behind her, slowly wrapping your hands around her waist, and plopping your chin on her shoulder. She tenses up for a moment, a bit startled, but relaxes when she realizes it’s you.

“Love?” She asks, her voice a little confused.

Normally you get tense when she calls you any sort of pet name, but today you feel yourself relaxing instead.

“Shino,” you start. Your mouth goes dry, and while you don’t mind her calling you a pet name, hearing it come out of your mouth is a different scenario. “Can…can you come back to bed, please?” You mumble.

Shinobu doesn’t respond; she’s a bit stunned for a moment, unused to your small display of intimacy.

“Shino?” You try again, your voice low.

This clears her senses, and she quickly forms a response.

“Ah, yes, [F/N]?” She quickly stutters out.

“I asked if you would go back to bed with me.” You repeat.

“Yes, of course, my dear.” Shinobu agrees; she prioritized her work heavily, but on this special occasion, she simply couldn’t refuse. “May I ask why, though? You’re usually so—”

You cut her off. “Stoic? I know,” you let out a dry chuckle. “I just,” you struggle to find words to represent how you feel. “It’s hard to sleep when you’re not there, and my late-night overthinking is the worst,” you confess.

You realize your hold on her waist, and you step back to let Shinobu readjust her posture. She turns to face you; her purple eyes tear into your [E/C] ones. You see her lean forward ever so slightly, but she stops herself. You know that she knows about your boundaries. You’re hyper-aware of them too. Although not comfortable for a full kiss just yet, you grab her hand. Despite her being a Demon Slayer, her hands are silky smooth.

You bring her hand to your mouth, placing a small kiss on one of her knuckles. It’s short, like all of your other kisses, but the air around this particular kiss feels different.

“I wish to cuddle with you..?” You phrase it as more of a question than a request. “And you don’t have to use my name either,” you add on. “I’m okay.. I’m comfortable with you using a pet name,” you reassure. This all feels dizzying to you.

Shinobu gives you one of her soft smiles, and she goes to take your hand. Not a small squeeze or a simple graze. This touch is lingering and comfortable.

“Of course, my dear,” she says, leading you back to your shared room.

Shinobu lets go of your hand to enter first; you follow after her and realize the air is no longer chilly. She kneels down in front of the futon and pats it, signaling you to come lie down. As you do, Shinobu moves to lay behind you. This time, it’s her who wraps one arm steadily around your waist, while the other comes up to toy with your [H/T] hair.

Your body relaxes, your muscles go limp, and you lean back into her smaller frame.

“Sorry for interrupting your work, ‘Nobu, it’s just today I felt like—“

This time, it’s Shinobu who cuts you off. “Shh,” she coos. “You’re not a bother; in fact, I’ve been waiting for you to get more affectionate.” You feel her warm breath against your neck as she speaks.

“You have?”

“Mhm,” she hums. “I concealed it, but in my study I was practically jumping for joy.”

“That was always your specialty, huh?” You snicker.

“My specialty is medical work,” Shinobu declares. “Speaking of.”

You can’t get a word in before two hands gently run along your shoulders.

“Did you know that massages help with sleep, love?” Shinobu says.

“I did not,” you reply.

Shinobu gently caresses your shoulders before moving down your back. Every now and then, there’s a small pop, and any pain you once had in your back dissipates. You also feel yourself growing drowsy. Eyelids turn heavy, and you can barely focus on the scary feeling of intimacy anymore. The only thing that is present is Shinobu giving you a massage while you flutter into a peaceful sleep.

[mamayan]

★彡CRINGE☆彡

Shit I think the KNY Hashira do or have done— this is for fun only, don’t come for me if these doesn’t perfectly align with you~

tw: none!

Water Hashira! Giyuu Tomioka

He talks to himself, like long inner monologues spoken only to like, a wall. It doesn’t make sense half the time. He’s working it out.

Laundry sniffer, he isn’t sure it’s clean until he smells it, and even then he’s confused because is it clean? He’ll rewash clothes because they might smell clean but he can’t remember if he wore it or not.

Tries to pet dogs that absolutely will bite him.

Sound Hashira! Tengen Uzui

Will lose his jewelry and act like someone hid it on purpose from him. Acts similar to a 19 year old who lost their vape at someone’s house.

He’s stained multiple tatami mats/futons with his nail polish because he didn’t let them dry before messing around.

Makes scary faces at children to scare them and then laughs afterward.

Fire Hashira! Kyojuro Rengoku

He will repeat aloud the thing you whisper to him so loudly it defeats the purpose of whispering in his ear.

Will shed everywhere and not clean up after himself. The equivalent of smacking the hair on the shower wall after washing but it’s his whole house. Sorry Senjuro—

Believes tickling is fun and everyone loves it, even when the person being tickled is on the verge of passing out/pissing their pants.

Execute children without trial—

Stone Hashira! Gyomei Himejima

Forgets your height, asks for things that are impossible to get because he put it up way the hell up there.

His head pats are more painful than they are cute, it’s like he’s hammering your skull into your neck.

Will get ink stains on his robes/desk/etc. because he never puts away his stationary properly.

Wind Hashira! Sanemi Shinazugawa

Will threaten you within an inch of your life for one small accident (papercut) but will become enraged if you level him with the same treatment after he’s nearly killed himself with training.

Will mother hen you in the weirdest ways, like wiping your face with his spit to get the dirt off.

Won’t tell you something is wrong with your appearance in public, but will stare you down to give you the hint something is. He thinks it’s a universal sign. No one knows what the hell it means except him and maybe Genya.

Snake Hashira! Obanai Iguro

He comes up with some of the most clever and insidious jokes but tells them at the wrong time. Way too late or too early for anyone to catch it and then it’s not funny anymore.

Will let Kaburamaru shed wherever and will leave the skin. Unless it’s Mitsuri standing right there, he will not be cleaning it up. Has scared multiple Kakushi who thought they stepped on Kaburamaru and killed him.

Doesn’t take his shoes off when entering homes, etc. even if there’s no tatami mats. He only shows respect to Ubuyashiki and Mitsuri’s estates.

Mist Hashira! Muichiro Tokito

He bathes as needed, which in his opinion, doesn’t need to be all that often. Teenage boys are gross no matter how pretty they look. Natural body odor isn’t all that bad though, so he gets away with it.

He will hear you speak words and interpret them entirely however he wants. He will confuse himself because he swore he heard you tell him to go take a nap. You didn’t—

Will send the food back at a restaurant if even the tiniest thing is wrong.

Love Hashira! Mitsuri Kanroji

She will create full and detailed stories in her mind of people around her, and confuse herself because she can’t remember if she thought it for them or if they did it. Me too girl—

Cuteness is justice mentality: The cuter she finds you, the less wrong you can do in her eyes. Obanai

Like Kyojuro, sheds everywhere, 100% the hair on the shower wall sort of girl. She does clean up after herself much better than Kyojuro.

Poison Hashira! Shinobu Kocho my wife

She does no wrong.

Petty as hell and will absolutely make your stay at her estate miserable if you piss her off. You won’t know what you did, but you’ll find your food and living conditions plummet.

Can’t sleep if her pillow doesn’t smell like her, no sleep overs for this girl unless she brings her own bedding.

If she finds out you have a pet peeve, she will lay into it with passion and grit. Tengen loses his shit when he hears people sucking their teeth… Shinobu is happy to recondition him. It’s her way of showing she cares♡!

[knybits]

THE HATING GAME — 7

PAIRING —

↳ kochou shinobu x reader

SUMMARY —

↳ Geniuses within the same field yet rivals within each other’s eyes, your colleagues wonder when the sexual tension will break so that you two will become the department’s powerhouse couple so that they can enter you two into the couples contest against the other departments. Some things might have to be done by force.

WARNINGS —

↳ cursing, slight smut

[Navigation]

Shinobu doesn’t want to open her eyes. 

The bright sun has already peaked through her velvet curtains, lighting up the room and causing her to scrunch her little nose in annoyance. She can’t tell what time it is, but she knows for a fact that it’s not the early morning that she’s used to waking up to. 

Shinobu doesn’t want to open her eyes. 

She’s absolutely mortified. Her memory is better than most (maybe slightly lacking compared to you) so she knows what happened last night. She can feel the silk pajamas that glide as she turns, new and spotless after she was changed into them last night. 

Shinobu doesn’t want to open her eyes. 

There’s a stupid report that she has to turn into her supervisor, and she just has to edit it, but she’s supposed to turn it in in-person. And there’s a chance she missed that meeting, so might as well stay in bed. She has to grade a few more labs the undergrads turned in, and she knows that their sloppy work and ChatGPT generated answers will give her a riot of a headache. 

Shinobu doesn’t want to open her eyes, because she doesn’t want to find out if you’ve left or not. 

So she doesn’t open her eyes, and she lays still. She breathes quietly, begging her mind to stop running a thousand miles a second. And then she hears something, breaking the still quiet within her apartment. 

The whistling of a kettle. 

Shinobu opens her eyes, just to see you walk in with one of her porcelain cups balanced on a saucer. 

Your eyes meet her and you quirk a brow at her, gently laying it down by her mahogany nightstand. “I’ll say this every time I come here. Your cups are pretentious.”  

Shinobu doesn’t smile. She sits up to stare at you as you take the finished cup of chamomile and move to lean against the doorframe. She doesn’t even touch the new cup of tea that’s been brewed for her (she can smell the Earl Grey). 

“I didn’t poison it,” you say, then push yourself off the doorframe and walk back to the kitchen to rinse her pretentious teacup. 

So she drinks, smiling to herself for a moment before grimacing at her reflection. 

At least you stayed. 

Once Shinobu is done drinking her tea, she takes it upon herself to get ready for the day. She has certain standards for herself, and her current state is certainly abysmal next to such standards. So she steps into her bathroom, ready to take this new day by storm, but pauses when she sees that the bathroom looks untouched. 

Her serums and lotions (or as you like to call them, potions and poisons) are lined up correctly, as if she didn’t swipe them off her countertops last night in a fit of anguish. There’s no bile on the bathroom floor, and the scent hasn’t remained in the air at all. In fact, the only thing different about the bathroom is the small lavender candle that burns in the corner, overpowering the traces of the previous night. 

Shinobu opts for less than the bare minimum today, which is probably what you do on your day to day. And she remains in her pajamas, though she does wrap herself up in her silk robe for extra comfort. And she runs a hand through her hair, her butterfly pins left on the counter, because her hair is still smooth after you washed it for her last night. 

When she steps into the living room, she’s shocked to see you curled up in her chesterfield chair in the corner, the curtains pulled back behind you to give you ample lighting. There’s a purple pen in one hand, cap in between your teeth, and you’re holding a paper with wrongly written equations on them, silently marking it before giving this poor undergrad a sad 4/10.  

Her laptop is open on her coffee table, and there’s a small sandwich resting next to it. Grilled cheese, because that’s really the only thing you know how to make, but it has apple slices and the cheese is brie and she can see that it glistens slightly with honey; her pretentious grilled cheese. 

“I edited your report. There was a paper that I thought would back your intro a bit more, so I added it in. If you eat fast enough you’ll make it in time for your meeting,” you say into the air. 

“How do you know about my meeting?” 

Without looking up from the next paper that you’re grading, you point at the big monthly calendar that hangs near the hallway. Then you scribble a 9/10 onto the paper, followed by a little butterfly, then toss it into the finished pile. 

“Why are you doing this?” 

“Because my biggest pet peeve as an undergrad was my TAs handing me back my work weeks after I turned it in,” you smirk to yourself. Shinobu shakes her head and you can see it out of the corner of your eye. She’s on the defensive, because she doesn’t sit to eat and she’s keeping her distance. She’s picking at her nails absentmindedly, and you stop yourself from telling her to stop because she doesn’t like to take orders from you. 

“You know what I mean. We dropped out of the competition, we don’t have to act anymore. And if you’re doing this because you pity me, then leave.” 

“I don’t pity you, Shinobu,” she flinches at the sound of her name. 

“Then what is it?” 

You finally look up at her. Despite the nightmare that was last night, her eyes still shine like amethyst gems. Her hair has been smoothed down but her curtain bangs curl in an awkward way, and she’s wearing some very fluffy socks for some weird reason. 

You purse your lips and shake your head, “Your meeting, Shinobu. And your sandwich is getting cold, I worked really hard on it.” 

“I don’t care about the damn sandwich-” 

“Ouch.” 

“I want to know why you’re doing this to me.” 

“And I want to know why you called me last night.” 

“What does that have to do-” 

“Bullshit! Don’t start with me! It has everything to do with this!” You stand abruptly, throwing the papers and her pen onto the coffee table and raking a hand through your hair in frustration. You take a step towards her and she doesn’t back down, eyebrows scrunched together and staring back at you in defiance. 

“You’re the one who’s hated me since day 1. You’re the one that ended the contract. You’re the one that pulled us out of the competition. You’re the one that’d been ignoring me. You’re the one that wants me to feel like an idiot. And you’re the one that called me. So why are you doing this to me.” 

Shinobu wants to tell you that half of what you said is false and that you’ve done the same to her too, but she bites her tongue as you continue. 

“You’re frustrating, y’know that? My life was quiet and ideal before you. Fuck, I never should’ve gone to the club that night,” you hiss and she finally blinks, shocked as if you just slapped her in the face. 

She opens her mouth but you keep going, and you’ve cornered her against the wall, arm above her head as you stare down at her. “If we never slept together then you wouldn’t be stuck in my head every minute. It’s all still in there, the sound of your moaning and screaming. The feeling of your cunt tightening around me and dripping wet.” 

Your eyes dart down when you see Shinobu shift, trying to discreetly cross her legs. Before you can stop yourself you take your knee and gently push her leg to the side, sliding it up against her and touching the wall. 

Shinobu puts her hands up to your chest but she doesn’t push back. Her eyes are screwed shut and she lets out the prettiest whimper when you lean in close and breathe into her ear. 

“Be a good girl and tell me to stop.” 

“You broke a rule,” she whispers hoarsely. You freeze, hands pausing at her waist. ‘No good girl name calling,’ you remember from the contract. 

Shinobu doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s holding herself back from rubbing against your thigh, your jeans already sporting a wet spot from her cunt. But she wants to talk to you and have this conversation actually go somewhere. 

Ever the genius, her mind comes up with a solution. 

You balk in surprise when she takes her hands and pushes you back until you’ve fallen into the chair. 

“What-” 

“New rule,” Shinobu says with newfound confidence. “For every time you make me cum, I’ll answer one question.” 

Your brain short circuits and your body feels like it's on fire, but you give her the same sardonic grin that you gave her at the club and ask, “How many times did I make you cum last time?” 

“Two,” Shinobu recounts. 

“Guess I need to make my three questions count then.” 

---

PHEW it's been a while. but i think next chapter will actually be the last! i feel like i promised you guys smut for this mini fic series and i havent really delivered, so im going to try my best next chappie lol.

this is also hella unedited but i really want to get this mini fic done bc its been so long and you guys really deserve it

[Next Chapter]

[magnolix]

Demon Slayer Thanksgiving Headcanons

Happy Turkey everybody! In the good spirit of sharing thanks and eating delicious food, here are some fun Demon Slayer Headcanons with everybody from the Hashira to the Kamaboko squad!

tw: gn!reader, gn!y/n, fluff, bit of smut, thanksgiving shenanigans, alcohol, cursing, Tomioka is VERY horny, children

| Tengen:

Tengen, being the sugar daddy that he is, uses thanksgiving like an early Christmas

this man LOVES spoiling his partners rotten and giving them all sorts of surprises

and even better, he doesn't ask for anything in return

as long as his partners are happy, so is he

when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, however, he does not mess around

there

is

so

much

goddamn

food

this man makes everything, has recipes as long as his arms, and buys only the best of ingredients

in a modern!au, he'd probably rent out a whole restaurant and invite all of his friends to come

after the feast, tengen likes taking naps or going to the onsen with his partners

sometimes, he even brings alcohol and they host a sort of "after party" once they're done eating

his favorite thanksgiving meal is the turkey and he usually gives thanks to either his partners for the banger sex or to Ubuyashiki for being such an awesome master

| Rengoku:

Rengoku is usually the cook during thanksgiving

much like Tengen, he LOVES food and usually starts cooking a few days in advanced

when it comes to how he celebrates, he and you usually get up and visit some shrines to pray

sometimes he invites his little brother and even Gyomei to tag along with everyone

at your private residence, Rengoku sets up and decorates a shrine of his mother

he even makes her a plate of food so she doesn't feel left out

every thanksgiving, he buys all of his family members (even Shinjuro) a new coat for the approaching winter

surprisingly, Thanksgiving is the only time Shinjuro willingly comes over willingly

it makes Senjuro so happy

if you and Rengoku have any kids, they usually cower behind you or your husband while Shinjuro struggles to greet them

his favorite Thanksgiving meal is sweet potatoes (of course) and he usually gives thanks to his family, his mother, the food, and demon corps, and his mother's spirit who motivates him to continue living

| Sanemi + Genya:

Thanksgiving for the Shinazugawabrothers is like an unspoken agreement

every holiday, no matter how much verbal abuse the other has received, the two come together and make the best food you two have ever had

and no matter how much sleep you got the night before, you bet your ass you are getting up at some absurd hour in the morning to help these two cook

Sanemi usually works with the main courses, Genya works with appetizers, and you are in charge of desserts

if you have kids, the little ones are all helping to set up the table or helping you with preparing the meals

once done with all of the prep, Genya usually goes on a walk to clear his mind and get some fresh air while you and Sanemi have a "thanksgiving treat" in the bedroom

during the actual eating portion, you three all either have a mild conversation, play some board games, or just sit down and enjoy the silence

Sanemi's favorite Thanksgiving meal is either the turkey or the Ohagi that you made him in secret

Genya buys some fruit but if there's nothing good in season he eats corn

the two surprisingly don't give thanks but they do all enjoy being with each other

| Shinobu & Butterfly Squad:

for Thanksgiving, it's usually just cleaning up the butterfly mansion

you and Shinobu enjoy being around each other so getting to work with her has always been your favorite

if you, Shinobu, the triplets, and Kanao all happen to be together during thanksgiving, you all make a simple dinner and relax after a long month

you and Shinobu sometimes go to visit the other Hashira and all bring them leftovers or stay for a while and catch up

Shinobu usually makes a small offering for Kanae's shrine and you always bring something as well

other than that, it's mostly just a rest day for all of you

her favorite Thanksgiving meal is pumpkin pie, and she usually gives thanks for good health and a great harvest

| Gyomei:

you and Gyomei have always eaten with the master's family during Thanksgiving

as much as you love eating alone with your partner, you always love seeing him open up and enjoy himself

the master loves it as well, you help his wife cook while Gyomei and Ubuyashiki catch up

if you two have any leftovers, you usually take those with you and give them to the poor

sometimes, if it's raining or too cold to travel, you and Gyomei stay inside and simply enjoy each other's company

his favorite Thanksgiving meal is either soup or the turkey

and for his thanks...

you two are gonna be there for a while

| Tomioka:

"how does he celebrate?" you ask? sex. lots and lots of sex

you two eat in the morning, clean up, and then it's straight to the bedroom for the real thanksgiving feast

he loves the meal, don't get me wrong, but he uses this break as a chance for you to really catch up

but if you're visiting somebody else or Tengen and Rengoku show up to bug him, poor man's gonna be pent up all day long

sometimes he doesn't mind

sometimes he actually does all the cooking for you, but other than that you two find other ways to celebrate

his favorite meal is actually salmon, you two don't like turkey much

as for his thanks, well, same as Tengen

| Mitsuri:

Mitsuri is notorious for hosting Thanksgiving at her residence

you and her make so much food it's like a fucking restaurant in there

she even has a cute little apron she wears just for special events

by the time everyone arrives, their stomachs are already rumbling

the decorations are also a pretty big deal

fancy lanterns, fancy cutlery, fancy tablecloths, fancy everything

you and Mitsuri sit on opposite ends

all the guests start by going around and giving thanks

and once done it's about 5 minutes of everybody waging war for the food they want

you guys had to ban weapons but Shinobu usually finds a loophole

Obanai sits next to Mitsuri while Tengen, Rengoku, and Sanemi sit next to you

once the main course is done, you and Mitsuri whip out the desserts and watch everyone else finally get a food coma

mitsuri usually hangs out with all of the girls and the kiddos while you and the boys bust your ass getting the dishes put up

sanemiscreamssofuckingloud-

Mitsuri's favorite Thanksgiving meal is anything she can get her hands on and usually gives thanks for the food and everybody being able to make it

| Obanai:

Obanai and you don't celebrate

he just doesn't like thanksgiving

usually you two just "celebrate" by taking a walk or training but other than that you two don't do much

if he did have a favorite meal, he'd probably just eat his favorite dish, Tororo-Konbu, as for thanks, it's be for the Demon Slayer Corps and his pet snake Kaburamaru

| Muichiro:

do y'all really think he'd remember it was Thanksgiving

smh

he'd probably show up to the Christmas party and think it was for Halloween

but for real though, he loves visiting with people

the Hashira actually enjoy coming to see him and ask how he's doing

especially Shinobu and Gyomei

sometimes when Muchiro is just doing his own thing, the Master comes by and offers you all some leftovers

it's a whole thing

| Tanjirou & Nezuko:

these two love having you over

Tanjirou makes the day all about his guests, and Nezuko usually sits with you while you do her hair or have her help you cook

you always bring gifts to the siblings and they always light up

always

always

if the Hashira plan to invite the Kamados to their residence, they bribe you to see if you can skip it this year, but even if you take their bribe, you somehow always end up going along with Tanjirou and Nezuko to wherever they plan to celebrate

Tanjirou makes it his mission to have room left over to help you clean your house

you always tell him not to worry about it but at the end of the day he and Nezuko leave your house after thoroughly cleaning and beautifying it

Tanjirou's favorite Thanksgiving meal with Green Beans and he gives thanks for his strength, his friends, and his journey

as for Nezuko, her favorite meal with either the Cranberry salad or whatever you're having for desert, as for her thanks, it's a little hard to translate but if she's human then she gives thanks for just being with her brother

| Zenitsu:

this

mother

fucker

DOES NOT COOK

he fucking hates it!

typically he goes out to eat with you but always either gets distracted or nitpicks at everything he thinks is going "wrong"

but when it's just the two of you, he's in heaven

if you two are together then he likes to invite Tanjirou and the rest of the squad over to brag but they end up just helping you cook or coming by to visit

the last time Zenitsu tried to cook you were in the butterfly estate for a month

he has lost his oven privileges

if you do eat a traditional thanksgiving meal then he tends to go for the pie or the turkey

as for what he's thankful for, having such an amazing and beautiful person like you with him for the holidays is all he could ask for

("das right baby, you're excellent and wonderful! am I, the author actually breaking the fourth wall and giving you affirmation? FUCK YEAH! cause guess what? what? you fucking deserve it you beautiful person!")

("ahem")

| Inoske:

"what the hell is a 'thanksgiving?"

at first he thought it was weird

he didn't understand what it fully was at first

but after mentioning the massive amount of food he was sold

instead of normal thanksgiving meals you all make comfort food

so much tempura-

so much miso soup-

so much f/f (favorite food)

sometimes he invites the squad over and they love seeing him having fun

one time Tomioka came and Inoske couldn't stop fangirling

also, Insoke eats everything

when news of this got out to the entirety of the demon slayer corps, suddenly Inoske would receive boxes upon boxes of food and leftovers from other slayers

one time, a bunch of juniors came to visit and brought him dozens of boxes of tempura

he would never admit it but loved it

much like Mitsuri, his favorite meal is everything, especially the tempura

and he always gives thanks for his strength, his friends, and his title of "King of the Mountain"

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I started writing this at 2pm (it's 5:30 rn) so it's safe to say this took a while T^T

I hope you all are doing absolutely wonderfully and I cannot wait for December. Please make sure to like, comment, and reblog if you like my work and I'll see you all in my next work,

Ciao~

[zenphiaaa]

I Like It When You Love Me (Shinobu Kocho)

Shinobu x Gen!Reader Modern AU

You stared at your spouse with a heavy feeling in your mind. It was three hours after the fight the two of you had, and still haven't talked. It was eating you on the inside out, but you knew better than to break the silence. It was better to let her calm down by herself before attempting to make a conversation.

With that thought in mind, you finally found the will to move away and walk out of the room. Perhaps if you finished your chores early, Shinobu will be less angry with you. Maybe the two of you will end the day cuddling on the bed. Instead of quiet whispers and cold bedsheets.

Your relationship with Shinobu wasn't a completely healthly one. With the other trying to figure out how to handle her anger and all. The couple was praticing walking away during a heated moment. It was hard, it made both parties feel like the other is angery at the other. If there is love, there is a will to make the love work though.

And you absouletly love the way Shinobu's eyes gleam in the sunlight.

As you finally finished scrubbing the hallway floors, a deep sigh leaves your mouth. Letting your body fall down onto the floor, you streched out your muscles. Relaxtion seeping into your limbs as you let out a long yawn. "Ah, now just gotta wash the windows." You spoke, closing your eyes for a small break.

"Goodness! Have you been cleaning this entire time?" Shinobu's voice startled you. The Hashria watched in amusment as you jumped before leaping onto your feet, all wide eyed looking panicked.

"Shinobu! Wait!" You franticly speak as your feet trip over one other and you fall back down onto the floor, ungracefully. "Ow." You say as you accept your fate and just lay on floor not bothering to get back up.

Shinobu giggled as her held out her hand for you to take. "Have you been drinking the sake again dear? Come, let's get some food into you before going to bed."

You carefully take the other's hand and stared, "Are you sure? Your done with everything already?" You question, not wanting to take up more of her time than you had already have.

Without a word Shinobu pulls you up to your feet before wrapping her arms around your shoulders. "I'm sorry." Shinobu whispered as she restes her forehead against yours. "I took my anger out on you when I should have never done that."

"My words were inexcusable and I should not have said them to you. You are everything, so much more than you reliaze. Please don't toss me aside." Shinobu pleads, her words causing pain in your chest.

You take your lover into your arms and hold on tight. "I understand." Was all you said, "I'll stay for as long as you'll have me. Just...less shouting next time?"

Shinobu laughed, "I'll use my indoor voice." She promises as your mouths meet into a moment of bliss.

[therabbitthatpostthings]

Hashira Secret Santa

(Modern AU?? This is really silly btw, probably ooc for the sake of funnies)

Obanai

Obanai gets thoughtful gifts for Mitsuri only and is pissed that Shinobu wouldn’t help him rig the pulls to get Mitsuri for the 5th time in a row. He tries to get nice and good gifts for everyone (even Giyuu on occasion). He’s the type to get shopping done early when the weather starts to change just to be extra prepared.

He ended up getting Muichiro a pair of headphones that are also noise cancelling.

He took Mitsuri out to dinner anyway

Muichiro

Muichiro…. he remembered to show up today so everyone was fine with that. He didn’t really know what would be a good gift and consulted Tanjiro on it since he knew Kyojuro (slightly) better. Tanjiro suggested getting him a flame patterned ramen bowl.

Muichiro ended up getting him a full ceramic set and a little owl shaped keychain.

Kyojuro

Kyojuro is somehow a mess and very organized when it comes to secret Santa shopping. Every year he goes through hell planning gifts- forgetting about them and then remembering and scrambling to buy things. And it always works out?!

He was very excited this year because Tengen always gave him the best gifts and he knew that only something flashy could match the flashy Hashira. Not only that he wanted to get something for his wives as well.

This man, got the gaudiest (fuck ugly) pair of sneakers custom made for Tengen. A horrific yet cohesive mess of colors and rhinestones and Tengen LOVES IT. Tengen is crying and already modeling the shoes- he will them for the rest of the party.

Kyojuro got a nice tea set for Hina, a book collection for Makio (disguised as a shoebox, I like to think she likes trashy romance and is embarrassed about it), and a giant 7ft tall stuffed animal for Suma.

For the first time ever, all three of them considered Tengen proposing to Kyojuro.

Tengen

Like Obanai, Tengen is also super pissed Shinobu wouldn’t help him get Kyojuro again this year. He plans his shopping ahead of time for at least a month and buys everything all in one day. He wraps it all in one day too.

Tengen admires Gyomei’s strength and fortitude, so getting a gift that represents that was very important to him. It only makes sense that the God of Festivals would get the flashiest and best gifts for his colleagues. So it came as a surprise to everyone when Gyomei opened his box to find several cat toys. Gyomei immediately started crying because he thought no one remembered his two cats. Tengen also offered to come over and set up a scratching post for them.

Gyomei

Sanemi was a hard person to shop for, even for Gyomei who prided himself on knowing good gifts to get people. The whole ordeal was really stressing him out. Especially since, Sanemi didn’t want to participate in the first place. Gyomei toiled over this for a long time before deciding to do something.

Sanemi opened to his box to find, sweaters. Hand knitted sweaters. They weren’t perfect but you could tell they were made with effort. Gyomei also motioned towards him, a hot chocolate making set with decorative mugs. Sanemi just stood a little quiet, then turned and said thank you while putting on the white and blue sweater.

Sanemi

Speaking on not wanting to participate, Sanemi hated the fact that he had pulled Giyuu’s name! He yelled- no- DEMANDED Shinobu pull again.

Being the brother he is Sanemi actually gets his shopping done in a timely manner and doesn’t stress over the holidays. He won’t admit it but Christmas time is a beloved time to him.

So imagine the frustration of getting Giyuu a gift. FUCKING GIYUU! The most punchable, antisocial loser imaginable! He thought it was dumb but didn’t want to get shit from anyone for just giving him a mug or something. What a pain…

He had to go to the one person that could help him now. Tanjiro…

Giyuu opens the box to find a light blue knit scarf with an ocean wave pattern at the ends. On top were two braided hair ties, one was blue and white and the other was red, yellow and green. Before anyone could say anything, Giyuu softly thanked him and tied the second tie into his hair. For some reason, they both looked embarrassed.

Giyuu

Every year Giyuu buys 5 gifts, one of Urokodaki, one for Makomo, one for Sabito and recently, Tanjiro and Nezuko. He functioned just fine doing that. Never needing to stress because he always had an idea of what they would want. Giyuu was the only other person who didn’t want to participate in Secret Santa because he knew Shinobu wouldn’t allow him to pull her name.

Giyuu was silently stressing now because just idea of getting Obanai a gift seemed impossible. The two didn’t get along he was sure Obanai actually hated him. Scratch that he was 100% sure Obanai hated him. It was far too late for him to back out however, everyone had picked and no one would trade with him (he was too timid to ask anyway).

And like the Angel she is came in Mitsuri who offered helpful piece of advice. Here stands Obanai holding a free meal ticket at his favorite restaurant (it’s actually Mitsuri’s) because what’s a better present to him than being able to treat her. Giyuu also brought a tiny sweater for Kabarumaru that had gloves sewn on to look like he’s holding his own glove and a coiled snake ring.

Obanai muttered a half-hearted “Thank you,” and you could feel the tension in the air soften as Giyuu released all the unnecessary pressure from off his shoulders.

Shinobu and Mitsuri,

Somehow got each other for Secret Santa! Knowing this they both decided to get a present they could both enjoy on top of the individual gifts. Mitsuri gifted Shinobu some expensive perfumes while Shinobu gave Mitsuri some designer dresses. They both decided to reward themselves with a trip to a hot spring the following weekend after Christmas and spend New Years relaxing. The same relaxing hot springs Tengen and his wives would be attending that they also invited Kyojuro to! What a strange turn of luck?!

Makes you wonder why Obanai is glaring at Shinobu so hard…

[demonslayedher]

Things that went through my mind while watching this episode:

--I think this was the episode that converted a lot of people who were on the fence about Uzui, that scene with Hinatsuru is just so tender that people cannot help but feel for him. The way they animate his fingers moving as Hinatsuru talks because their resting on her chin is such a nice detail. And then we get him pumped back up by the good news that he's found one of his wives alive, and we get that skid and change in direction the roof. So good!! So cool!!

--On that note, I'm just going to jump to the end of the episode because this episode was a very flashy Uzui sandwich. I think that given that we see Makio & Suma more often interacting with each other and Hinatsuru steals the spotlight for drama gives people the impression that she's the favorite or something like that, which makes me a bit sad because I read him as loving and cherishing all of them in different but egalitarian ways. All three are his most important treasures, and unfortunately we see Makio & Suma's immature sides come out most around him, and he seems to baby them in a way different from how he treats Hinatsuru like more of an equal (even though we see in this opening scene that she still speaks like someone subservient to him--that ninja training runs deep). Makio, though, I like that we get her flashback, as it brings out a very different, contemplative, sometimes anxious side of her character which keeps her from just being the hot-blooded one or something like tat. It's not a side she can show to just anyone, but someone as mature as Hinatsuru can draw it out. Suma, though? Let her be a simple bimbo. I love her. She's my favorite. She's adorable and I never get tired of seeing her crying as she tears a kunai through the obi.

--Right! That end of the episode! Uzui's grand entrance and twirling the swords around just to show off (he and Shinobu may relate to each other more than they think), and the perfect placement of a catchphrase. Fine!! Yes!!! I like the catchphrase now!!! I hated it more than anything at the Pillar Meeting, but yes, YES, GIVE ME UZUI TENGEN-SAMA!!!!

--Back to Tanjiro!! I forgot how long this one-on-one fight with Daki took and accidentally queued up my Nezuko reblogs too early. Nezuko is still just hanging out in her box as Tanjiro turns off the Water Breath and turns on the Hinokami Kagura and flashbacks enough to the last four months to show us that he's been working at using it better--and that he's realized his limits to Water Breath. In general, I find these flashbacks to totally unbeforeseen content in the mist of battle distracted and generally not good writing advice for how it cuts into the flow of a scene, but I have also totally come to accept this as a signature piece of KnY's storytelling style. And we aren't even done yet with Tanjiro's flashbacks for this solo battle against Daki! With all these reflections, though, it's really nice to get that foreshadowing for more Haganezuka content, especially Daki's accusation that Haganezuka isn't much of a swordsmith (and he faces criticism too), and Tanjiro's insistence that it's him abusing the sword. He has always fully believed that everything that happened to his swords is his own fault for using them roughly. (And gosh, that context and comparison against someone who uses Water Breath damn near perfectly makes it all the more startleing how Akaza will later very easily break Giyuu's sword in two.) Speaking of swords, BOYS WITH SWORDS!!! BOYS PLAYING WITH SWORDS!!! Zenitsu handling his sword in a context other than the brief moments he's using Thunderclap and Flash, placing it on the ground the way you're supposed to, so unlike Inosuke who doesn't care for proper sword use whatsoever. Thank you, Ufotable!! Thank you for this filler!!

--Speaking of foreshadowing, if Tanjiro's already been maintaining fever over days at a time this whole time, this gives us lots of juicy stuff to analyze about his mark. Perhaps can interpret the damage done to the human body (and the reason all those Sengoku demon hunters died by the age of 25) as being due to the sudden increase in temperature and heart rate, but with Hinokami Kagura techniques, Tanjiro's been able to find a more sustainable way of doing it so his body is more prepared to draw on that power. I wonder, then, did he subconsciously start to do this during the Final Selection, and that's why the scar changed? Also, I believe that Tanjuro's general weakness is do to long-term sustained damage of performing Hinokami Kagura imperfectly, in a way that put stress on his body before he mastered the proper Breathing technique. Which is all to say, it makes me ponder that Tanjiro may have more years than he's assumed to, but he probably will decline in a similar way as his father.

--BUT HEY ALSO, there's imperfect knowledge and hearsay passed down from the Sengoku era about how, like, "swordsmen with black swords can't advance (because they got kicked out)" so maybe that "dead by 25" thing was a matter of looking at patterns and also counting all the guys who happened to get killed in battle? And sure, maybe enough of them dropped dead to lead to conclusions??? I'm looking for whatever hope we can for Giyuu and Sanemi, let me dig with a tiny spoon as I like.

--Anyway! We also get this beautiful, "moyase… moyase… kokoro o moyase!!!" line from Tanjiro. Yes, please.

--And all this reflection from Tanjiro about how he won't allow anyone else to go through the pain that he and other members of the Demon Slayer Corps have with losing people to the violence of demons. That's great, Tanjiro, but you're about to witness a huge failure to do so.

--Ok… so… Inosuke's scene going Homer Simpson through that tunnel is… not one of my favorites. I appreciate that he and the obi found each other mutually gross. Go ahead, keep calling her the Worm Woman, Inosuke. You're the worm, though.

--THAT MOMENT INOSUKE KICKS HIS SWORDS TO HAVE THEM BOOMERANG BACK INTO HIS HANDS, IT'S SO FLASHY, I CANNOT

--This scene down in the food cellar reminds me of the Chinese idiom, "The Eight Immortals Cross The Sea," meaning everyone shows up their individual talents and strengths. Here we've got Inosuke doing it, Makio & Suma doing it, Zenitsu doing it, and then The God of Festivities himself. So much flamboyant fun! That Zenitsu's upside-down twirl, my gosh, he's totally writing that into the Legend of Zenitsu.

--I love it when Inosuke realizes he's in over his head in battle, though. Recognizing he's in a tight spot because he can't fight the obi while also protecting the humans, and that if this isn't the actual body, then there will be no end to fighting there. It makes it so gratifying when Makio & Suma step in to help.

--Okay, but also to sandwich this post… Uzui is totally back in his proper flamboyant mode after being so happy to see Makio & Suma are alive and kicking--especially kicking butt. Relief seems to be a big part of it, but his wives truly are a source of strength and joy for him. Having reunited with all three of them, everything is once again right in his world and it's time to do the butt-kicking in his own flashy way!!

[kaguya-muneuji]

HI IM HERE ABOUT THE. ENSTARS HQ AU.…….. this au feeds into my insanities too can i ask to hear about the rest of the cast’s positions 👁️👁️

hELLO yes hi im absolutely obsessed with this au lets see if i can copy/paste from my document aksjdjksdf i have starpro and cospro done so !! under the cut bc it gets a bit long :')

i have notes for all the characters but im just gonna put in their positions and anything thats immediately important also i havent assigned them numbers but ill get to that eventually

STARPRO: (theres 16 players btw. starpro does not need this many) fine eichi - manager wataru - wing spiker (ace) yuzuru - libero tori - right back (bench-warmer)

trickstar subaru - wing spiker makoto - middle blocker mao - setter hokuto - middle back

alkaloid hiiro - wing spiker (jump serve) aira - middle back tatsumi - left back mayoi - right wing * notes: all of alkaloid are bench-warmers / pinch players . sorry

ryusetai chiaki - setter kanata - middle back midori - middle blocker tetora - right wing shinobu - right back

---

COSPRO: (only 10 players this time) eden nagisa - middle blocker (ace) hiyori - wing spiker jun - setter ibara - libero * notes: nagi and ibara are defense duo, hiyo and jun are attack duo

crazy:b rinne - middle blocker (jump serve) HiMERU - middle back niki - right back kohaku - wing spiker (will beat your ass btw)

valkyrie shu - setter mika - wing spiker * notes: early season kage.hina (hq) parallels here, with shu setting "perfect" but difficult balls to mika who can barely hit them properly

2wink hinata - manager 1 yuta - manager 2

---

in an alternate universe, ibara is the manager and 2wink are a power-duo on the court!

as a manager, ibara is very set on making strategies for every single play the opposing team could make. he spends hours watching past games and analyzing them in order to help the players know what they’re up against.

due to ibara not being on the court, nagisa is not in a defense duo. instead, he focuses on his attack power as an ace. much like bokuto, though, he can get a bit moody, and the rest of the team has to work around that.

on the court, hinata and yuta are an attack/defense duo! they’re quite unpredictable, as they have no pattern to their attacks and blocks. they seem to almost have a telepathic connection when together on the court. usually they’re in the starting team to throw off the opposing team’s morale and strengthen their own.

hinata is a wing spiker, and yuta is a setter. both can set and spike if yuta gets first touch. much like the miya twins, actually (from what i remember at least)

uhh anyway thats all i have so far, still working on rhythlin and newdi! i have no ideas what to do for undead or akatsuki or mama but. its fine :D

[josouhenshin]

Day 3

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Welcome back, josou enthusiasts. Last time, Mizuho and Shinobu picked up some women’s underwear (known to some as the foundation of crossdressing) to round out Shinobu’s first girl mode outfit. This time, we’re going to take Shinobu out on her first adventure en femme. 

At the end of the previous update, I put up a poll to help decide where to have them go next. The results were:

Town: 2 votes

Amusement park: 2 votes

French restaurant: 1 vote

Tennis court: 2 votes (including mine)

A 3 way tie is tricky to resolve, but town introduces some important things, so let’s take care of that first. Tennis is short and it’s got a special outfit so I’ll try to squeeze that in soon too.

Incidentally, I obtained the music through a bit of exploring, so let’s ease into the update with the main title theme:

First things first- we gotta equip the underwear. What had Mizuho picked out for us last time that had the two of them so flustered, I wonder, I wonder?

Music: BGM 11

A jra and joyshorts. I believe the flavor text describes them as something to the effect of “denim-like” or “with the vibes of denim” so I don’t think they’re actually junderwear but I could be wrong. Anyway I do like that they specifically start Shina here off with boyshorts instead of regular panties, I suppose that staple of the culture hasn’t changed much in 20 years. Equipping both gets Shina down from 109 bpm to 103. 

Important to note- if you don’t equip the underwear, Shina doesn’t pass and the events seem to mostly end with the two of them getting harassed and going home early. So put on the underwear. It’s the foundation of crossdressing, you know!

I also want to make a quick note about progression too. I tried out a few combinations of things, and it seems like the first time you visit any of these places you get the same event regardless of order. I’m not sure if your outfit or base stats influence things though, so getting access to clothes shopping is pretty important. This all feels very similar to messing around in first cycle termina or something though. Hard to tell how much is really accessible or what’s worth doing. 

Well, that’s enough dillydallying, I’m sure Mizuho is getting impatient. 

Music: BGM02

We’re out in public. Shina is visibly (and understandably) extremely nervous. Mizuho assures her that if she acts confident it’ll be fine. Shinobu mumbles in agreement and thinks to herself that it’s unbelievable that she actually went out looking like this.

“But when you crossdress and go out, the world is different, right?” Mizuho says.

“Yeah,” Shina agrees, “it’s like you’re not yourself.”

Mizuho says she remembers the feeling of going out for the first time well. Everything around seemed like it was brand new. She wondered why she’d never done it before, why she’d never gotten to know the world of crossdressing. Shina says she understands that feeling well. Just by dressing up it’s like a different world out there. 

Nearby they hear a solicitor passing out tissues. This is (was?) a common occurrence overseas similar to the american tradition of making someone stand out on the street and twirl signs. Mascot costume optional. They’re being kinda pushy.

The ad on the tissues says “recruiting: tele-club part time job.” Tele-club apparently being a term for phone sex hotlines. Shina muses that the two of them should probably think about looking for some part time work too... but working for a tele-club sounds like a bad idea. She also corrects herself from saying ‘boku’ to ‘atashi.’ They grow up so fast!

Mizuho agrees. She says it’ll help Shina with collecting new clothes and cosmetics and such.

“I guess with crossdressing you also need money, huh,” she considers.

Ah piss and shit and fuck the tissue guy overheard. Damn it. Now they’re stuck talking to him. He’s asking them if they’re job hunting. God- god damn it. Come on man. He’s recommending they take a look at the tele-club job. What a hassle. Shina tries to politely turn him down. He’s disappointed but offers them a more regular part time job at a cafe instead. Well that’s very nice and not at all shady. He says cute girls like them would be well received, since they don’t have any waitresses. 

“I wonder whether we’d get to wear a cute uniform or something,” Shina thinks to herself. But, she also figures that getting a part time job while crossdressing sounds like a terrible idea. She asks if they’re recruiting men for the job too, and-

“Men?!” he’s totally flabbergasted. He says, well, we’re accepting anyone, but why? “Did you want to get a job with your boyfriend?” He asks if they have boyfriends. 

Man this guy is shady. But Shina is also not playing it off well at all. “Well, I don’t have a boyfriend, but, uh, what do I say-” she stammers.

Mizuho asks for directions to the cafe. He explains the route. He also gives his name: Jin Asakura. “Let’s be friends, okay?”

You may have guessed from his severaltitude of sprites, but you can fuck that guy down the line. If you want. From what I understand there’s a few different jobs you can get, each with a handful of associated romanceable characters. I think you also meet the green haired girl through the cafe job, and maybe some others, but I’m not sure how the progression works out yet. More investigation to come. 

“Jeez, you went and said something weird and that guy got confused,” Mizuho accuses. But she also agrees that crossdressing at work sounds awful. She also says she wants to see Shina as a waitress though. Much to consider, huh?

Thus ends the day. We’ve opened up a few new events by talking to that guy. For starters, there’s a new “your house” option on the map in girl mode, and it also adds the cafe on the map in boy mode. Like I said, I think I want to do the tennis court event next, but after that I might take suggestions about where to go again. 

Until next time, girls and girl-likes <3

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[miriamundertale]

im going to be utterly deranged and spoiler heavy for monogatari and call of the night (specifically the manga) here but thats your warning

see the thing is that like. mahiru and kiku's arc is like such a weird perfect foil to koyomi and kiss-shot/shinobu's arc. both are a vampire who wants to die, and a human who inexplicably comes and to the vampire appears to fulfill their wish, but the human chooses to disregard the vampires opinion in order to meet their own desire. kiku just wanted to actually truly die. kiss-shot was looking to finally die. they both found their human through chance, either unexpectedly fulfilling plans or readjusting them for a better path. the real core of what makes them different, is the humans, specifically in how they subvert the desires of the vampire theyve met.

kiss-shot's death specifically in reguards to koyomi serves as a direct parallel to his own moral code. kiss shot doesn't want to die any old way, the second she really starts to be near death at the start of kizu she's desparate for koyomi to save her. kiss shot wants to be a martyr. kiss shot chooses to die as a "heroic sacrifice" for koyomi to regain his humanity. sadly for her, koyomi does the exact same back to her, and sacrifices his shot at humanity again to "save" her. kiss-shot's death is undone by the nature that she tried to inflict on someone else.

kiku and mahiru arent as perfectly connected the way koyomi and kiss-shot are, partially due to a large part of call of the night being pretty clearly on the fly narrative writing done by kotoyama (please season 3 confirmation too, itamura is so good at improving the rough edges of early cotn's narrative i cannot wait for an anime adaptation of the kiku arc), and more largely due to the fact that kotoyama is Not Nisio Isin. even so, they both are in a sense, saviors to each other, more explicitly through love. which. yknow. is unsuprising considering call of the night has from chapter 1 been kinda obsessed with weird angles on it but. not to tangent much. mahiru essentially gains his only way of handling his mothers mistreatment of him through not just meeting kiku as a teenager, but meeting her as a child after the loss of his brother and gaining a frame to process the world that works for him. i think the obvious angle with kiku wanting to die and mahiru being a real shot for her finally is pretty clear, but i think the process that a vampire falling in love with a human goes through is just as interesting of an angle to explore for this. her heart starts beating again. she loses vampiric powers. she becomes human again through mahiru. of course, like koyomi, mahiru ends up essentially "betraying" her wants on from the two of them, but in an entirely different way. she desparately wants him to live after, gives him guides to stay safe, teaches him how to destroy every single personal posession so nothing could be used against him once he turns and she's not there to protect him. the tragedy is that kiku is as inexperienced as every single other person in the story when it comes to love. why would mahiru want to live afterwards? when given the option of living without one of the 3 people in the world that made anything worth living, or dying, he chose death.

i think theres probably a lot more to say, i love that they both pose the question "what would you choose, either you living and your partner dying or you both dying" and mahiru answers honestly with both dying while koyomi scribbles both answers out to go "what if we both... half die?"

sorry for all of that im going to go explode now

[heyiwrotesomethings]

hey can we get a part 4 on Crash

angst to tooth rotting fluff

in case you need ideas :

shinobu tell her back story

reader tells theirs

or they tell each other something that happend during mission

Crash Prt IV: Comfort

Shinobu Kochou x They/ Them Reader

A/N: PrtIII I always go re-read previous parts when people ask for sequels and I noticed that they kind of already had a bit of a sharing of backstories in the previous part so I kind of went the mission route. Hope you can find something to like about this, thank you for reading! Word Count: 1,641

Shinobu noticed something was off after she had read the latest letter from (Y/n). Not only had it come a few days later than it usually would, but the words were also lacking their usual cheer and the letter itself was a bit shorter than what was normal for their usual correspondences. It was hard not being able to see each other. Sometimes for weeks at a time.

Being Hashira, they had little free time and even when they did, that free time almost never seemed to coincide. They would still come to visit the other if they weren’t downright exhausted, but since the other had to work, they still weren’t getting the quality time they both desired.

Shinobu briefly sat back in her chair. If she remembered correctly, (Y/n) should be scheduled for a period of rest soon. She leaned back over her desk and retrieved a fresh piece of stationary and began penning a response, inviting (Y/n) to rest within the Butterfly Mansion. Even though Shinobu found herself with more work than usual, it would be nice to at least be in proximity of her beloved. A sentiment she was sure (Y/n) could agree with.

She rolled the letter up and secured it with En. She made sure to thank her crow and promise her extra seed when she returned, noticing how the usually content bird looked a bit ruffled having to leave (Y/n)’s crow, Unmei, so soon when they had only just arrived from their long flight. Having been spending more time together themselves, the crows had become quite the couple as well. Literal love birds; It was rather sweet.

If all went well, they would all have a good three or four days together within the mansion.

Shinobu was surprised to see En return with a response early the next morning, showing yet again that she was one of the fastest Kasugai Crows in the corps. She plopped the letter in Shinobu’s lap and promptly went to roost with Unmei until the other crow had to return to (Y/n).

Shinobu opened the letter, finding the same lack of cheer as the previous message, but at least they had agreed to come and had expressed that they were looking forward to seeing everyone. The poor slayer must have been really going through it as of late. Hopefully a little time off would help them perk right back up.

***

On the morning that (Y/n) arrived, Shinobu was much too busy to greet them right away. She assumed it was fine since she knew the other girls were more than qualified to help (Y/n) settle in as they had done a handful of times before. (Y/n) would probably be exhausted and want to sleep anyway, so she didn’t think too much about it until they came knocking at her laboratory door.

“(Y/n), good morning love. It’s so good to see you. I would have thought you would want to nap.” Shinobu could afford a brief pause in her work at that moment, so she looped around the table to greet (Y/n) with a quick peck on the lips and what was supposed to be a brief hug, but (Y/n) kept her close even after she moved to let go.

“I just really wanted to see you. Is it all right if I hang out in here with you?“

“I suppose that will be fine. As long as you promise not to distract me,” Shinobu teased. “There is much to be done.”

(Y/n) managed a half smile, “I’ll try to stay out of your way.”

That was a bit strange… but Shinobu chalked it up to them being tired from their trip. She gave them another quick peck and cleared a small spot at the table for them before diving right back into her pharmaceuticals. An influx of patients had really put a dent in their supply, so Shinobu had been working overtime to restore it, one drug at a time.

(Y/n) silently watched Shinobu work, slowly slumping over in their seat until their head was resting on their arms over the table. Their eyes dropped shut and their breathing slowed. Shinobu’s eyes flickered to them briefly and she smiled to herself while she continued to grind some dried sage into a fine powder.

It was some point after she started measuring the powder that (Y/n) started to become restless, a sudden sob pushing past their lips startled Shinobu and made her knock over the measured powders over the table. She was not annoyed in the slightest however, she was much more worried about whatever nightmare was plaguing her beloved’s mind.

“(Y/n), darling, it’s only a dream,” she soothed, stepping over to their hunched and quaking form in hopes of waking them before they could experience anymore sorrow, “come back to me, wake up.”

Shinobu looped an arm around the and used the other to lightly scrape her fingers up and down their back. Her cheek rested high between their shoulders blades, but she quickly had to readjust when (Y/n) jolted in their seat, back now pin straight. Even so, they still weren’t quite awake yet.

“(Y/n),” Shinobu called their name more sternly now, hoping to bring them back sooner, “wake up!”

She then noticed (Y/n)’s eyes focus on her, and after a tense moment, they slumped back against the table, exhausted and breathing just a bit erratically.

“I’m sorry.” They croaked.

“Shhh, just breathe for a minute. You’ve done nothing wrong.” But the sentiment only seemed to make (Y/n) feel worse, their back trembled violently beneath Shinobu’s hand.

Shinobu coaxed them to breathe between light touches and after a time, (Y/n) quieted. With tender care, Shinobu lifted (Y/n)’s head and dabbed at the corners of their eyes with the sleeve of her haori before cupping their cheek with the palm of her hand, skimming her thumb over their damp skin.

“Are you going to be alright? That must have been an awful nightmare. Poor dear, you’re still shaking.” She shrugged off her haori all together to give them an extra layer. “It was only a dream, let the feeling pass.”

“But it wasn’t just a dream.” (Y/n) whispered, “Those people really died because I didn’t get there in time.”

“We can only do so much, my love. You did the best you could. At the end of the night, that’s all any of us can say.”

“They were newly weds. They looked like us.”

Shinobu pulled them in to rest their head against her chest, stroking the back of their head, they continued speaking after a moment.

“There was nothing I could do but lay them together in their final moments, help them hold each other’s hand. They were too weak to even speak, they just, stared at each other until they were… gone.”

“I’m sorry, darling. You did help them stay together in the end. I’m sure putting them next to each other in those last moments meant more to them than you will ever know.”

Shinobu held (Y/n) until they pulled away on their own. Their eyes caught the mess of powder on the table, but Shinobu was quick to bring their attention back to her.

“It was only an accident and wasn’t even your fault. Don’t worry, I have plenty more.”

“Still…”

“No.” Shinobu tapped the bridge of their nose, then kissed it for good measure, “How about we take tea in my room?”

“You don’t have to let your work suffer because of me. I’ll be fine.”

“You are my priority as well. Kanao and Aoi are plenty capable of doing this task and will probably be happy to do it just to make me step away from the lab for a bit. The only thing suffering right now is you, and I cannot have that,” another kiss and a gentle tug of their hand, “come with me now.”

(Y/n) squeezed Shinobu’s offered hand, grateful for the warmth and the unique feeling of those lotion smoothed calluses. They could hold her hand forever if she’d let them.

“Okay.”

They saw Sumi, Kiyo and Naho in the hall as they left the lab and they were eager to lend their assistance. One went off to make tea, one to get Kanao, and another to get Aoi to help with the medicine demands while Shinobu took a short break.

It didn’t take long for (Y/n) and Shinobu to be cuddled up in front of Fugu’s tank, watching the fish lazily swim about while they sipped the relaxing tea brew Sumi had whipped up with some help from Aoi.

“I wish it could be like this all of the time,” (Y/n) murmured behind the rim of their cup, “I wish I could be with you every day, that demons didn’t exists and we could just live like normal people.”

“We will just have to make the most of the time we do spend together. Just as anyone else. No one truly knows how much time they have. Even if demons were out of the question, there are many other factors at play,” she leaned back from her position sat between (Y/n)’s legs and let her head rest against their chest, “No matter what we may face, every second I get to spend with you is a victory. I feel like I’m really getting away with something when I get to be with you like this.”

(Y/n) put their empty cup back on the table so they could hug Shinobu closer to their front and hide their face against her neck. They took a moment to burn the feeling into their brain, the comfort of Shinobu’s bedroom, the wisteria scent that clung to her, and how her fingers ran over their own. They really were getting away with something special, weren’t they?

“I love you.”

“And I love you.”

[cryoculus]

— reparations 03 ⟢

knocking on heaven’s (read: my employer’s) door

★ FEATURING; arataki itto x gn!reader

★ WORD COUNT; 5.9k words

★ TAGS; modern au, flower shop au, slow burn, idiots to lovers, tooth-rotting fluff, mutual pining, no smut, sfw

★ NOTABLE CHARACTERS; arataki itto, thoma

★ WARNINGS; mild injuries

★ HEADER ART CR; aoirooto on zerochan

★ MASTERLIST . AO3 ★

“Your pressure is way too strong!”

“Whaaat? They’re plants. I’m sure they can take a beating.”

“Arataki, you’re going to destroy the leaves!”

“I won’t, calm down~”

You’re more than aware of how your early morning banter is attracting the attention of the passers-by on Sakura Street. Those gazes flashed in yours and Arataki’s way are quick to avert when they realize who it is they’re staring at. You don’t really blame them. After all, if it were you, you wouldn’t want anything to do with a gang leader murdering exotic plants with a garden house out in the open.

“Give me that,” you hiss, snatching the spray nozzle from his hands before adjusting the water pressure. Once you press the handle, a calm sprinkle of water douses the plants displayed outside your shop—a far-cry from the setting Arataki had it on earlier. 

“That’s how you water them.” Huffing, you press the object back into his not very capable hands. “Didn’t you tell me ‘taking care of plants is the same as taking care of pets’ the other day? Would you blast your pets with water like that, too?” 

He squeezes the handle a few times, trickling water all over the sidewalk before giving you a straightforward answer. “Why not? It’s fun.”

Oh, dear archons.

It’s been a few days since the problem child that came in the form of one Arataki Itto was assigned to your care. Honestly, it feels more of a punishment than a means to make up for last week’s crashing incident, but Shinobu was so intent on having her boss help around that you just couldn’t kick Arataki out. No matter how much his airheaded tendencies got in the way of getting actual work done, no matter how much he grates on your nerves in general, you steeled yourself through it all because the property they offered was the reason you can live independently today. 

“Now this is an interesting mix.”

You jump a little at the sound of Kazuha’s voice. He’s already switching off the engine to his motorcycle when you notice it parked by the curb. Those red-amber eyes are alight with curiosity as Kazuha’s gaze darts between the two of you.

“Wait a sec…” Arataki crosses his arms, narrowing his eyes at your poor delivery boy. “Aren’t you the scrub that Shinobu always hires to deliver back all the loot we scored? You’re the same guy, aren’t ya?” 

“The loot you what?” you repeat.

Kazuha manages a soft laugh before procuring his cell phone from his pocket. “Even if the Arataki Gang has more official business with regards to Hanamizaka’s territory nowadays, Arataki-san over here can still maintain a bit of a…mischievous streak, if you may.”

“...I’m not sure what you mean by that, but—”

“Oh, I just helped some of the kids under my wing win those beetle fights I told you about,” Arataki nonchalantly supplies before resuming to water your plants. “Everyone knows that the loser has to surrender all the snacks and trading cards he has to those who come out on top.”

Your jaw drops at his admission. Did… Did he just admit to stealing other kids’ snacks and toys for the sake of his own? 

“And it happens often enough that Shinobu-san has become one of my regulars as well,” Kazuha sighs before showing you the electronic receipt to your most recent transaction. “This one’s addressed to…Ritou Harbor. Quite far.” 

“Right?” you groan before gesturing for Kazuha to follow you inside the shop. “They just ordered a box of aralia seeds, but I still have a free delivery promo going on. Which means I gotta fork over the sky high delivery rates from here to Ritou. Ugh, don’t they have a local flower shop there?”

Kazuha shakes his head. “If you ask me, I think it’s good that your shop’s gaining traction around Narukami Island. More business ventures make for more profit.”

“I guess you’re right,” you sigh, hefting a sealed box of seeds into Kazuha’s arms. “I can’t believe it’s only been a month since I opened up shop.” 

“I’m sure the store will continue to flourish from here on out,” he comments with a smile, tapping on some prompts on the delivery app. “And with the extra help you have now, it’ll be an easier feat as well.”

Your eyes instinctively drift over to the window, where you can spot Arataki rounding up the hose outside in loose coils that he has no trouble carrying on one arm. Though you’re loath to admit it, you sigh at your delivery boy’s observation—trying to force down the smile that threatens to erupt on your face.

“He’s only here for the meantime, though…” 

Once you’ve sent Kazuha off, you spot Arataki picking a caterpillar from the leaves of your freshly repotted dracaenas. You could’ve sworn you heard him telling it off for wandering where it shouldn’t before turning to you.

“Oi, didn’t you say these guys are gonna eat up your plants?” he wonders aloud, watching as the tiny caterpillar coils around his finger. “Where should I put him then?”

Well, at least he’s actually retaining all the stuff you told him on his first day. You sigh, folding your arms across your chest. “Just kill it with salt in the back.” 

Arataki gasps, like you just uttered something offensive. “Are you that heartless, master? These guys can turn into beautiful butterflies if they live long enough! Why’re you gonna have ‘em killed?”

“Because they put holes in my leaves?” you deadpan. 

“Unacceptable!” he shouts before marching into the shop. 

When you follow Arataki inside, you find him rummaging through one of the cabinets where you kept some empty jars for sale. Your apprentice grabs one from inside, and places it on top of your work table. He does all this with his index finger still outstretched, and while you observe his maneuvering from the side, you can’t help the peal of amusement that bubbles in your chest. You knew that this guy has a total soft spot for all insect-life, but to actually see his compassion in action is a whole different story. 

Is he even a gang leader at all?

“There you go. Nice and comfy,” Arataki says once he uncaps the jar, letting the caterpillar down on the base of the glass container. “Now let’s get you some food…”

That makes you perk up. “Wh— You’re not going to pluck leaves off my plants, are you?” 

The culpable look on his face tells you everything you need to know.

“Ugh. Fine, give me a sec.”

And that’s how you end up handing Arataki a bunch of dried leaves you intended to dispose of earlier. You were used to crushing them to mix in with some fertilizer, but your stock for that is already overflowing as is, so you didn’t really have a need to keep the leaves. But watching Arataki feed them to a little caterpillar—red eyes glimmering with awe—puts you strangely at ease. 

Sometime later, Shinobu pushes past the front door of the shop—looking all sorts of haggard, like she usually does nowadays. 

“Sorry I couldn’t drop by earlier,” she sighs. “How’s the boss holding up?”

“Shinobu!” Arataki beams from the seat he pulled closer to the window earlier, gesturing towards the jar sitting on the windowpane. “We got a new friend!”

The deputy stares at Arataki, then the caterpillar, then you. 

“Don’t worry,” you reassure her. “He didn’t set anything on fire trying to get it into the jar.”

“You say that like I set stuff on fire by default,” Arataki quips.

Ignoring her boss’ sidetracking, Shinobu grabs your hands in hers, squeezing almost tenderly. You’re a bit surprised by the gesture, gaze flickering towards Arataki to see if he’s catching any of this. But apparently, your trainee is too busy ogling his new friend. 

“Thank you,” Shinobu sighs, closing her eyes as she rests her forehead against your intertwined hands. “You don’t know how much this means to the gang.”

Blinking, you say, “Shinobu? Are you okay…?”

The deputy steps back, peeling her hands away with a deep breath. “Yes, yes. I’m just…a little tired. I’m really sorry for making you sort-of take care of him in my stead.”

“So you’re completely aware that you just gave me a babysitting job?”

Shinobu flashes you a conniving grin. “How about I give you forty percent off this month’s rent as further compensation?”

“...Oh, don’t mind me! I babysit gang bosses all year round!”

“Shinobu,” Arataki drawls from the window, marching over to where the two of you stood. “I won’t be home tonight, by the way. You can tell the boys to go ahead without me.”

“Wait, aren’t we headed to HQ together?” Shinobu wonders, voice turning serious by the second. “Boss, don’t tell me you’re going back there again. You already heard what Haru has to say about it. And what happened to you the last time you tried to cross them!”

Haru… That’s the man who was in charge of fixing your shop. Could he be one of Arataki and Shinobu’s trusted associates? He did seem like the responsible-yet-slightly-rebellious type to you. But even if you’re more intrigued about what Shinobu is talking about in the latter part of her spiel, you knew better than to pry.

Arataki laughs, ruffling Shinobu’s hair with a large hand. “Don’t worry about it! Arataki ‘The Sound Negotiator’ Itto has it all under control. If they look for me, just tell the boys I’m trying to score an out-of-print trading card like usual.”

“You know that only works on the younger ones, right?” Shinobu sighs, but despite her initial reluctance, there’s a hint of resignation in her words; like she knows she can’t stop Arataki once he’s set his mind on something. “Fine. Call me when you get back to your flat or else I’m going to assume you���re dead in a ditch.”

“That’s harsh.” He pouts before turning to you. “You won’t treat me as badly as Shinobu does, will you, master?”

You flash him a pointed look. “If you try to overwater my plants again, I’ll gladly plan your funeral myself.”

“You’re all cruel, you know that?!”

“Hey! It’s been a…while?”

The cheery tone that Thoma usually chirps up inside your shop falls short with a pause. He spots a not-so stranger behind the counter, reclining comfortably on a swiveling seat that’s a bit too small for someone of his stature. 

When Arataki notices Thoma’s intent stare, he blinks up from a strange jar he’s observing on the wooden surface. “Hm? There anything you want? I’m kinda busy here.”

Several questions shoot through Thoma’s head all at once: one: What the hell is this gang leader, the same guy who roughed him up a few years back, doing here; two: Why is he wearing a floral-patterned apron and; three:

“Where is the owner?” He tries to sound as civil as he can, the memories from his last altercation with Arataki—regardless of how much time has passed since—still fresh in his mind. Thoma knows that his gang isn’t as bad as the rumors paint them out to be, but it costs nothing to be a bit more cautious. 

Especially if a big hulking man like Arataki Itto suddenly appeared in your shop.

“Oh? You mean my master?” the gang boss perks up. “They’re doin’ a personal delivery to the hospital. I said I wanted to tag along, but they said I might just give the customer a heart attack! Like, what, will they pass out because of how awesome I look in this apron?”

A soft meow startles Thoma out of his initial disbelief. There, he spots Mikan pop her head out from underneath the counter, hopping onto Arataki’s lap as she scratches her claws against the aforementioned apron. This terrifies the blond to a certain extent because even if Mikan is the cuddliest cat he’s ever known, surely she wouldn’t extend her affections so easily to—

“Arataki, you haven’t been scaring my customers away, have you?” 

Thoma jolts, once again, at the sound of your voice timed with the chime of the front door’s bells. You’re in the middle of unclipping your bike helmet when you spot him gaping at you by the freshly stocked shelves. 

“Thoma? What’s up?” You smile, jabbing a thumb behind your shoulder. “Sorry. I had this guy watch over the shop while I was gone. Are you buying anything?”

“Nah, I was just in the area. Thought you’d wanna have lunch or something,” he coughs awkwardly into a fist, green gaze darting between you and the oblivious Arataki playing with Mikan behind the counter. “Was he just passing by or…?”

You shake your head. “He’s part-timing. Sort of.” 

“Hanamizaka Flower Studio at your service!” Arataki chimes from his seat.

“Shut up,” you grumble, and at the same time, you finally notice the way Thoma’s face has been slowly but surely contorting with confusion. “It’s— It’s a long story. I’ll fill you in when I can, yeah?”

Thoma nods slowly. “I’m guessing that lunch is a no, then?”

“I gotta update the inventory. You know how meticulous I am when it comes to that stuff, right?” you sigh, flashing him an apologetic smile. “Tell Ayaka I said hi! Oh, wait, isn’t it her day-off today? You should take her to lunch instead, idiot.”

There’s a momentary pause in the conversation—an almost awkward tension that hangs in the air. He can even feel Arataki’s gaze snap in his direction the moment the silence hits. But it’s gone just as swiftly as it came when Thoma snaps his fingers with a bright smile. 

“You think she’ll agree to it?” He pouts. “I helped Ayaka go through some of her students’ papers last night and I didn’t want to bother her on her day-off. That’s why I thought I’d bother you instead.”

You roll your eyes. “Yes. As far as I know, she hasn’t said no to you, like, ever. Now go on, lover boy. If you want to bring her some flowers, I’ll even toss in a discount.”

“Will you ever toss me a discount, master?” Arataki asks. 

“No.”

“Aw, c’mon! Where are the employee benefits?”

“Ah, it’s alright,” Thoma interjects with a soft laugh, shoving his hands into the pocket of his hoodie. “If I give her any more flowers, she might give me an earful.”

You sigh, tucking your helmet beneath your elbow. “You do have a point. Receiving flowers won’t be as special if you get them all the time.”

“Oh? I beg to differ,” Arataki hollers, lifting Mikan by her waist as he spins around on the swiveling chair. “I think it’s pretty neat to give gifts to someone you like, no matter how often. If they like ‘em, that shouldn’t be an issue, right? I say you go big or go home.”

“...Yeah, I was just about to go home,” Thoma laughs uneasily before nodding your way. “Glad to see you have some extra help now. I’ll let Ayaka know you’ve been holding up fine.”

“Drop by whenever you feel like it,” you tell him with a smile.

The moment the door closes behind Thoma, however, you feel an intense gaze from Arataki that’s silently telling you he has something he wants to say. Irritably, you glance over your shoulder with a questioning look. He’s stopped spinning around on your chair, thankfully, and is stroking Mikan’s fur from where your cat lounges lazily on his lap. But despite the relatively calm disposition he’s in, it seems that Arataki still has it in him to drop a few bombs today.

“That guy totally has a thing for you.”

You nearly choke on your own breath. “W-What?”

Arataki shrugs, bringing out a comb from his pocket as he unceremoniously grooms himself in front of you. “I know ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to a lot of things. I admit that. But I’ve never been wrong about these gut feelings of mine.”

“And what exactly is your gut telling you now?”

He hums for a moment, propping the tip of his comb on his chin in contemplation. “It says that guy has the hots for you and he’s just, like, totally chicken to admit it.”

“Oh contraire,” you challenged with a laugh, setting down your helmet by the counter. “I’ve known Thoma since I was a college freshman. He’s in love with the woman I told him to grab dinner with! Has been for six years now. Where’d you even get the idea that he likes me, of all people?”

“Like I said, gut feeling!” he repeats, rubbing languid circles across his abdomen. Now that you think about it, the apron you gave is making good work of concealing his normally exposed abs. Wait, why are you even thinking about Arataki’s abs right now? “It’s not like I’m gonna force you to believe me, though. But I just want ya to know that gut feelings? Never wrong. Especially if it’s my gut doing all the talking.”

Can this guy be any more narcissistic? 

For the rest of the afternoon, though, even if you’re both preoccupied with the day’s orders, you can’t get Arataki’s weird presumptions out of your head. What did he mean Thoma has the hots for you? That guy? The same one that’s been head-over-heels for Ayaka for as long as you could remember? Well…you did find it a bit suspicious how he managed to keep his so-called feelings to himself for almost six years. You thought that Thoma was just that stubborn and afraid of rejection but…

“Yo, I’m timing out. That alright with you, master?”

Arataki promptly rouses you out of your musing a few minutes before closing time, already hanging the apron on the hook you stuck on one of the shelves. His chest is on full display again, and you sigh—feeling your face heat up under the expectation behind his crimson-eyed gaze. Dammit! It’s not your first time seeing a man’s chest, more so Arataki’s chest, is it? What’s gotten you so flustered today?

“When will you ever stop calling me that?” you ask instead, more to divert his attention than anything else. 

“When you stop being my master, of course,” Arataki replies like it’s the most obvious thing in the world before heading over to the counter—checking out the caterpillar that’s sound asleep on a pile of leaves. “Do you know when he’s going to do, uh… the thing?”

You make a face. “What thing?”

“You know, when they coop up in a little body bag and hang themselves upside down? Like a mummy on Halloween.” 

“...Are you talking about metamorphosis?”

“That one! Whatever that is.”

You stifle a laugh behind your hand, making Arataki pout at you somewhat petulantly. “Sorry, sorry,” you snort. “Well, it usually takes butterfly larvae to form a chrysalis about two and a half weeks after hatching. It might take a while for your friend to do that, though. It’ll need lots of nutrition and adequate sunlight.”

Arataki nods. “Yeah, you lost me at Christmas list.”

“It's chrysalis.”

“Anyways, you sure you’re alright with looking after the guy?” he asks, leaning down to poke the side of the glass. “You did say caterpillars are pretty low maintenance.”

“If I let you take it to your office, it might not last a day,” you sigh. 

“Damn, you’re right. Hm… How about we name him?” 

You scowl at him almost too quickly. “You’re naming your pet caterpillar?”

“...Itto the Fourth! That’s his name.”

“What happened to Itto the Second and Itto the Third?” 

Arataki hollers at that. “You don’t want to know. They were the toughest onikabutos I’ve hunted in my life, thus the namesake, but alas, all great warriors fall in battle someday. But this little guy’s gonna get special treatment, since he has two parents taking care of him!”

“I don’t remember agreeing to any of that…”

“Oh, um by the way…” He suddenly takes on a meeker tone, scratching the back of his head as he rises back to his full height. This damn guy isn’t even giving you leeway to contest his outlandish decisions! And is it just you or is he way too quick to transition from idiot apprentice to serious gang leader these days?

“I might not come in tomorrow. And the day after that. Maybe the day after that, too. Could you watch over Itto the Fourth for me?” 

You contemplate his words for a moment, a bite of foreboding suddenly settling in the pit of your stomach. But then again, Arataki has made it this far in his life without fatally injuring himself or dying, right?

“Uh, sure. Just text me when you’re going back.”

His mouth hangs slightly agape, and you can see the pointed edges of his canines. “...Really? You’re just letting me off that easily?”

“I’m not a tyrant of an employer, you know?” you sigh, crossing your arms. “But…”

“But?”

You hesitate for a moment, remembering the conversation he and Shinobu had in front of you sometime ago. From what you could glean from their words, it seems that the Arataki gang’s boss is dealing with something big on the sidelines. Big enough to make even Shinobu worry about his well-being. You don’t really know much about the gang aside from the fact that they keep things in order around Hanamizaka (and take snacks and toys from kids, if Arataki can’t help it), so you can’t really guess what’s going on. But you can’t really bear the idea of Shinobu being put under more duress than she already is.

And you’ve seen, firsthand, how careless Arataki can be about his own safety. How he nearly bled out on the floor of this very same room. Even if he crashed his bike into your shop that time, your first instinct was to make sure he was alright. It’s no different now, when he’s seemingly toeing around something dangerous yet unspeakable.

“Take care out there, yeah?” you say. “Don’t give us any more reasons to look out for you, you big, lumbering moron.”

You expect him to balk at the insult in his typical, Arataki Itto fashion, but what you get instead is a reaction you’d never expect to see on his face. His broad shoulders seem to relax at your words, and the ghost of a smile settles across his lips—making a familiar feeling stir in your chest all over again.

“Kinda feels nice knowing lots’a people are looking out for me,” Arataki admits, the high of his cheeks tinged red. “But you all don’t have to worry on my behalf, honest! I’m a pretty tough guy, you know? These fists pack one hell of a punch!”  

“Yeah, yeah. You can stop flattering yourself now,” you scoff. “Go on. Won’t you be late to this prior commitment of yours?”

“I’m going, I’m going!” he laughs. “Bye, master! Bye, Mikan!”

You jolt when you feel your tabby rubbing her soft body against your leg, mewling as if to return Arataki’s farewell. As your apprentice makes his way out of the shop, you pick Mikan off the floor and into your arms. But for some reason, you stay rooted in place until Arataki’s figure eventually disappears into the evening crowd. 

Things have quieted a bit since Arataki’s impromptu leave.

You don’t really spend a lot of time thinking about it, but when the thought occurs, you’re reminded of the fact that it feels a little lonely without his usual racket. Even the customers who’ve just started getting used to his domineering presence are curious of his whereabouts. 

“It’s not everyday you see little Arataki wearing an adorable apron,” Amane comments with a smile when she places another order for her late husband’s bouquet. “But in the end, he’s still a gang leader, huh? I hope he isn’t stirring up trouble wherever he is.”

“‘Arataki’ and ‘trouble’ are more synonymous than you think, Amane-san,” you laugh, manually writing up a receipt for her. The damn register is busted today. “But I’m sure he’ll be fine. He just needs a few days off.”

She nods along. “I’ll be needing a few days off too, after you’ve trained me down to the bone! Who would’ve known a cute florist like you can tame someone like him?”

“Uh…” Shinobu’s face flits to the forefront of your mind. “Let’s just say I’ve had some inspiration.”

After working on Amane’s usual arrangement, you accommodated a couple more orders you’ve gotten from a couple of reservation calls. Business today is slower than usual, so you didn’t necessarily have to work your ass off arranging all sorts of bouquets. But once you’ve temporarily closed the store for a quick lunch break, you find yourself basking in the ear-splitting silence of the empty flower shop. 

It’s only been two days, but the lonesome you’ve grown comfortable with before meeting Arataki suddenly feels all sorts of foreign. He’s only started working here for no more than two weeks. Why do you suddenly feel so…alienated in your own store?

Shinobu still comes by when she’s free, albeit not having you decorate the usual vase she used to bring along a few weeks ago. She didn’t need to buy any flowers, since her boss spends a chunk of his time working here anyways. Even if you told him he only needs to work at least four hours a day, the stubborn gang leader always insists on doing full shifts. You were a little concerned how his presence here might affect the Arataki Gang, but it seems that he’s already taking care of that right now.

You take a moment to observe the jar that’s been hanging around the counter for the past two days. Yesterday, you took the liberty to place a small, slightly sturdy twig you found at the park in case Itto the Fourth felt like knitting his own ‘little body bag’, as your apprentice so-delicately called it.

When you came down to check on him earlier this morning, you were surprised to see a silk white chrysalis hanging from one of the higher points of the branch. It’s been a while since you’ve seen a metamorphosing butterfly up close, so you’re nothing short of amazed. 

It kind of sucks that Arataki isn’t here to see it, though.

“Mrow.”

Mikan glances up at you curiously from her perch on one of the high shelves, seemingly attuned to the unusual mood you’re in. You sigh, pressing your knees to your chest as you lean further into the swiveling seat. Gods, if you breathe deep enough, you can still catch a whiff of that atrocious body spray that Arataki practically bathes in everyday sticking to the upholstery.

“Mrow…”

“What?” you ask exasperatedly, glancing at Mikan as her tail swishes behind her. “It’s not like I’m worried about him or anything.”

She doesn’t make another sound after that, but you can almost hear her say: Yeah, right. Stupid cats, and their stupid, superior emotional perception… 

All these intrusive thoughts, however, are interrupted by the sound of your phone buzzing. You fish it from the pocket in front of your apron, only to come face-to-face with a message from Thoma.

Thoma [12:45]: Heyy, Ayaka’s asking if you wanna have dinner with us later

Thoma [12:46]: Me, her, and Ayatoヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰

Me [12:47]: Huhhh Ayato is back ?

Thoma [12:50]: Yeah! His business trip took ages but he's back 

Thoma [12:51]: He already reserved a table at Komore Teahouse & everything (╥﹏╥)

Thoma [12:51]: Wanna come with?

Had your conversation happened a week ago, you would’ve accepted in a heartbeat. Thoma and Ayaka have been your constants during college, but Ayato played a huge part in making all your road trips and out-of-town excursions possible. He may be diligent with his work, but he isn’t above spoiling his little sister and her friends every now and again. 

But when you remember what Arataki said about Thoma and that baseless gut feeling of his…

You shake your head. You’re the one who’s known Thoma for half a decade, not him. As if you’re going to let the assumptions of a pesky gang leader change the way you see one of your best friends!

Me [12:55]: Sure, what time are we meeting up?

You’re not usually one to doll up for a dinner date with your friends. Jeans and an old university pullover usually did the trick. But you tell yourself that it’s because Ayato’s going to be in attendance as well that you’re pitching in some effort into tonight’s fit. Definitely not because you have a weird compulsion to look good in front of Thoma after Arataki’s weird tip.

And…besides!! You’ve been wanting to use the blouse and skirt you thrifted a few weeks ago, but just haven’t had the time nor the occasion to use it. It’d be such a waste to let them gather cobwebs in your closet when you’re given a sound opportunity, right?

Mikan looks oddly supportive of your ‘dolling-up’ escapade, too. As you concentrate on making sure the wings of your eyeliner are even on both sides, she sits quietly on top of your vanity. You like to think that she might’ve been cheering you on in the silence.

“How’s it look?” you ask, grinning at yourself in the mirror. Oh, the lipstick shade you picked is absolutely stunning, too. “Man, I should really do this more often, huh?”

“Meow~”

After a few final touches to both your hair and makeup, you’re pretty much good to go. But when you check the time on your phone, you realize that you don’t have to show up at the teahouse for at least one more hour. Sighing, you plop yourself back on top of your mattress to send a quick text to Thoma. 

Well, that was the plan until you hear the distant sound of hurried knocking beyond your bedroom.

This makes you frown a little. You closed up shop earlier than usual because of the plans you made with Thoma and the Kamisato siblings. And you usually never get calls and orders beyond working hours anyways. 

Mikan is already one step ahead of you as she hops down the spiral staircase leading to the shop. You carefully maneuver each step, not wanting to ruin your nice outfit by accidentally falling off the stairs. But when you make it to the ground floor, you’re struck by an odd sense of déjà vu. Like this particular scenario already played out the very same way before.

When you undo all the locks to the shop’s front entrance, you realize why that’s the case.

“Hey,” Arataki greets casually, hands shoved into his pockets as he grins. Oddly enough, he isn’t wearing his usual, traditional get-up. Instead, the gang boss is donned with a dark black coat that’s buttoned up all the way. “You’re lookin’ pretty good, master. Got a date with destiny or something?”

You blink, nonplussed by his sudden presence after two days of radio silence. He hasn’t even sent you a single text, and he just suddenly shows up at your doorstep like this? 

“You can say that.” A pause. “What are you doing here, Arataki?”

He steps into the shop with muddy boots. You have half the mind to tell him off for tracking dirt when you just finished mopping the floor. But the words promptly die on your tongue when Arataki leans down to rest his head on your shoulder. 

“...Arataki?”

The gang boss breathes out a shaky laugh, his breath fanning across the bare skin of neck. You can feel patches of gooseflesh prickle across your shoulders from the sensation—rendering you completely stock still. 

“Say, we’ve been working pretty tight these past two weeks, huh?”

You feel your own breath hitch as each steady vibration of his voice reverberates onto your skin. “What are you—”

“But you haven’t even called me by my first name at all,” Arataki sighs before slumping further into your grasp. As big as a guy he is, he can easily topple the both of you over if you aren’t careful, so you reflexively let your hands coil around his massive torso, forcing him to stand upright. What the hell is wrong with him? Is he drunk or—

Suddenly, you feel a warm, damp patch against your fingers. That same sense of foreboding that struck you the moment Arataki asked for a quick leave strikes you down once again—amplified about a hundred times over. 

“Hey, master. Can you do a few things for me?” 

Your heart is beating erratically in your chest, and you’re hyper aware of the brisk manner in which he draws each breath. “What?”

Arataki laughs, one arm snaking around your waist as his free hand cards through your hair. “The first is, don’t take me to the hospital. Second, don’t contact Shinobu or any of my boys.”

“But you’re hurt—”

“And the third is…” He trails off for a moment, and you feel the pressure of his weight ease a little when he rises to look at your face. Arataki’s blood red eyes are glazed over in that same, injured delirium they were the first time you met him—staring at you like you’re the most precious thing in the world.

(Distantly, you wonder if he can ever look at you like that when he isn’t all fucked up like this.)

“I want you to start callin’ me by my first name. I’m your…apprentice after all.”

You let out a frustrated groan as you grab both of his shoulders, forcing him to meet your gaze. “Arataki, I don’t know what the hell you’ve been doing out there, but I need to take you to the—”

“Say it.”

“Stop being so difficult! Why are you bleeding? Did someone stab you or—”

“Say it,” he repeats, grabbing your chin as he rests his forehead against yours. This close, you can make out the intricate red lines that run down his face, like blood red teardrops leaving a crimson trail in their wake. Even the curve of his mouth is open to your perusal, making you gulp as you shove down the urge to ogle him in spite of his condition.

You know you shouldn’t prolong the time he isn’t receiving any first aid. You also know that you should’ve broken free from his grasp and dialed Shinobu’s number stat. 

And yet…

“Itto,” you murmur, feeling your own tongue tingle at the syllables of his name. “Please let me treat you. You’re hurt.”

Arataki keeps his silence for about three, stuttering heartbeats before he collapses back into your arms. You yelp, forcing all of your body weight against his to keep yourself from falling to the floor. He sighs so deeply, like he’s the one being terribly inconvenienced, that it makes you want to punch him in the face.

But when he cages you within the warmth of those strong arms, you can find it in you to complain.

“...S’good enough for me.”

Me [20:14]: Hey, Thoma? I’m sorry something came up. I can’t make it tonight.

Me [20:15]: I’ll make it up to all of you soon, I promise!!

Me [20:15]: Btw, you STILL owe me for the last bouquet you gave Ayaka. Don’t think I forgot.

Me [20:20]: Uh, anyways I gotta go. Tell the siblings I missed them lots, okay? Have fun!

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★ UPDATE SCHED; thurs & sat (12 nn gmt+8)

© cryoculus | kaientai ✧ all rights reserved. do not repost or translate my work on other platforms without permission.

[i-will-always-be-happy]

Well, today, February 8, is the birthday of our beloved Water Hashira, Giyuu Tomioka. So, to celebrate, a dose of love and smiles for this emo that everyone loves and deserves love.

Warning: This fanfic contains tickles. Also remind them that I don't speak English, so if they find any errors, let me know to correct it. I hope you like it!

Summary: Shinobu plans a surprise party for Giyuu along with the other pillars, but he doesn't plan to celebrate. Will Shinobu manage to convince him?

Ler: Kocho Shinobu

Lee: Tomioka Giyuu

(Part 1 - Part 2 in process)

'A SURPRISE PARTY?!', Mitsuri exclaimed before putting her hands to her mouth to keep from screaming again. 'Yes, tomorrow is Tomioka-San's birthday and I want to surprise him, do you have any plans for tomorrow? It would help me a lot to have someone else helping me' 'The truth is that I was planning to train tomorrow, so-', Obanai could not finish his sentence due to the enthusiasm of Love Hashira, who said that she would gladly help and attend the party. 'I'll make a little space to help Mitsuri and at the party'

'I'll help too, that party will need a touch of extravagance', 'I'll support too! It will be a lot of fun!' Uzui and Rengoku agreed to help, calming down and making Shinobu smile, who turned his gaze to those who still hadn't said anything. 'Who is Tomioka? Muichiro's question made Sanemi snort

'It's the Water Hashira. Tokito, you've been talking to him a lot lately, remember?', Gyomei replied calmly to the boy's doubt. 'Oh, my brother... I must have forgotten his birthday, but if I'm going, I'll bring some balloons,' he smiled. 'I'll go too Kocho, that's a nice gesture from you to Tomioka. And you Sanemi? Will you attend?', Gyomei touched the head of the aforementioned, he stayed muttering for a few minutes. 'Ok, I'll go, but just this once', he crossed his arms and turned his head

'Then it's done! Let's give Tomioka a good dose of joy!' Mitsuri exclaimed excitedly. Each Hashira gave a contribution: Shinobu his estate, Mitsuri, Obanai and Sanemi the food, Gyomei and Muichiro the balloons and gifts and Uzui and Rengoku would help decorate.

The next morning. The Hashiras went to work, trying to keep Tomioka from realizing what they were doing. Kagaya/O.S also agreed to help them, entertaining Giyuu and treating him to lunch. 'Shinobu-san! We're here!!', Shinobu turned his head to find Mitsuri, Obanai and Sanemi with various food packages on their shoulders and hands. 'Oh, what a joy to see you! They came very early!', she approached and took some packages and entered the room where Rengoku and Uzui were decorating while Gyomei and Muichiro inflated the balloons. 'What did I tell you? This party already has an extravagant touch. Himejima, Tokito, very nice choice of colors', Uzui patted the shoulders of both hashiras. 'Thank you, Tokito chose the colors. I'm glad you liked it, well let's continue with this. Shinobu, what time will Giyuu arrive?', the gazes turned to her. She thought for a moment, she didn't know what to answer 'When I told Oyakata-Sama about this, he told me that he would invite him to lunch. Maybe I'm on your estate, do you need help before I leave?', she looked at his companions, they told him not to worry, they could finish on time. Shinobu wished them luck and said goodbye, the first place he went to was the Oyakata-Sama farm, but he was no longer there, he had left a few minutes ago. 'Oh, Shinobu-San!', she recognized the voice and turned, Tanjiro was in front of her. 'Hi Kamado-Kun, how have you been? Oh yeah, one question, have you seen or talked to Tomioka-San today?', Tanjiro denied, he had been with Inosuke and Zenitsu almost all day before separating and walking alone for a while. 'No, I'm sorry, has something happened to him?' 'Oh no no, don't worry. Today is his birthday and we are planning a party for him, but it wouldn't be a party if he wasn't there'

'EHH?! It's his birthday?! I didn't know!' Tanjiro felt embarrassed, which made Shinobu laugh. 'Don't worry, if you see him tell him to please go to my farm', after that, they said goodbye and she kept looking. Almost 1 hour had passed, but he had not been successful, he was about to give up until he found him about to enter his farm.

'Tomioka-San!', Shinobu exclaimed and ran towards him. He tried to take him to his estate, but he couldn't, Tomioka kept insisting that he was fine. Shinobu knew exactly what to do to convince him, he asked him for a glass of water and they both entered the estate, they talked for a while until Shinobu ran his finger along Tomioka's ribs making him snort.

'Kocho, no,' Tomioka moved away from her a bit, but was quicker and moved closer and straddled him hips. 'Kocho, yes', she laughed and with her index finger began to gently go up and down his ribs. 'Ko-kocho please n-no!', he put his hands to his mouth to avoid laughing and please his friend, but he wouldn't give up so easily, she already knew the way to make him laugh. 'Oh come on Tomioka-san! You don't have to be ashamed, we're friends!', her fingers started to move like spider legs up and down, the touch although it was very soft was driving Tomioka crazy, he was trying with all his might not to laugh.' Stahap! Ple-please!', Shinobu looked at the clock and knew that she had to hurry up, she gave him the last chance to accompany her, but he still didn't give in. 'Oh well Tomioka, you know what will happen next', his fingers now began to squeeze his ribs, getting between the gaps in each rib and staying in a place that saw his laughter grow. 'GYAHAHAHAHAHA!! STAHAHAHAP!!! NO NO NO NO!!! SHIHIHINOBU PLEHEHEHEHAHAHAHSE!!! I CAN'T!!', he began to kick the floor hard and try everything to get those sensations away from his body. 'No~ come on Tomioka, you're a hashira~ is it that bad?~', Shinobu sneered at his friend's futile escape attempts 'Besides, I know you like being tickled~'.

'WAHAHIT!! YOHOHU!! WAHAHAHA!! NOT THERE NOT THEHEHERE!!!', he felt the tears touching the corners of his eyes, while his cheeks burned from the enormous blush. 'Tomioka-San, since today is a special day, I wrote a song for you~ it's called Happy Birthday Tomioka-San~', she began to use Giyuu's ribcage as if it were a piano as she hummed the song. 'HAHAHAHAHA!!! OK OK!! *snort* I'LL GO WITH YOU!!! *screech* BUHUHUT PLEHEHAHAHASE STAHAHAHAP!! *hic* I CAHAHAHAN'T!! *snort* I BEHEHEHEG YOU!!', she didn't trust her partner's words, but finally let him go as she saw some tears spilling out. She got off him and sat next to him, laughing as he snuggled in trying to get his oxygen back. 'Thahahat was so mehehehan', after a few minutes they both got out and headed to the party venue.

'Kocho, why are there screams?', Tomioka looked at her confused, to which she shrugged and they continued walking. When he opened the door a big 'SURPRISE' and confetti were waiting for him, he saw his colleagues and friends gathered to wish them a happy birthday. Some approached to hug him and give him his gift, Shinobu whispered 'Happy birthday, Tomioka-San' before walking away.