Drabble batch ohgod
Requests are still open /o/ and the rest of you are evil XD
Character/Pairing: Gojyo, Kougaiji
Prompt: Fountain of Youth
"She likes flowers, y'know?" The scrawny kid scratched at the band-aid plastered across his cheek, glancing down at the handful of vivid crimson flowers he awkwardly clutched. "I mean, she gets all happy when Jien brings her 'em, so I thought..."
"It's a kind gesture," the stranger said quietly.
The boy brightened. "Yeah! So maybe that'd make her happy. Worth a try, yeah? She just keeps crying all the time, 'cause of me..."
"You're that much of a troublemaker?"
"Huh? No! Just..." He gestured at his companion's hair, then his own. "It's just me, being... this. It's not her fault. Hurts her to look at me, I guess. But maybe this time..."
Kougaiji took a closer look at the boy, noting the bruises that marred his neck, the few cuts sprinkled on his face and hands that still looked painfully fresh, the larger bandaid resting near his hairline, and thought he knew where the two future scars would come from. They had to have hurt him, but what was even more painful was the almost desperate hope he could read plainly in those large red eyes.
"You're not so bad," the kid spoke again, getting to his feet. "The other youkai don't like me so much-- but hey, I gotta get going. Mom'll like 'em better if they're fresh." With a cheerful wave, he jogged off into the trees, muttering to himself that he was MUCH too big to be getting this badly lost.
(When Kougaiji tactfully brought up the incident a few days later, Gojyo laughed-- a dry, empty sound. "Yeah, even as a kid, I knew I'd never get her love... be loved like a mom loves her kid. But I kept thinking I'd be able to change it SOMEHOW."
He sighed heavily, taking a drag from his cigarette. "Kids just wanna have someone there for 'em. It's when no one wants to be there... that's when things get fucked up. And look at us fucked-up bastards now, huh?"
Kougaiji didn't answer, only looked at him thoughtfully. Gojyo chuckled under his breath and closed his eyes, one hand drifting up to rub his forehead.
"... Even now, I wonder if she would've liked the yellow flowers better.")
Character/Pairing: Teresa, Naoto
Prompt: Trading swords
They had done it mostly out of curiosity and, as Naoto had pointed out, "It's not a good idea to get accustomed to only one blade."
The first day, Naoto had some difficulties dragging the claymore around.
The next day, Teresa almost decapitated Ky by accident as she drew the much lighter katana to parry his strike.
The third day, Naoto gave her aching arms a break and spent the day wondering just how strong Teresa was.
The day after that, Teresa studied the slender blade and frowned pensively when she realized it had been this sword that had carved an X onto a little girl's chest... that it was this blade that had sealed away her memories... and that this katana was one of the few clues Naoto had in gaining back some of what she had lost. It was a sobering thought.
By the fifth day, Naoto's arms had adjusted to the extra weight enough so that when Hibari sneered at her and raised a tonfa threateningly to begin an attack, she had no problem with swinging the broad side of the sword like a baseball bat right into his smirking face.
Never had the sound of a body hitting the ground been so satisfying.
They'd originally done it out of curiosity. When they exchanged blades again, it was with a better understanding and a deeper respect for the other.
(Teresa couldn't help a laugh at Naoto's grimace when she easily lifted her sword with one hand and slipped it back into its sheath.)
Character/Pairing: Naoto/Ky
Prompt: Fairytale ending (damn you, June, this got epic long)
Naoto had always hated fairytales with a passion. The females in those tales were constantly requiring rescue from their situation. What was the point of growing your hair long just so some strange guy could haul himself up to your window? That was stalker behavior, wasn't it? And what stupid idiot pricked her finger on a spinning wheel after everyone had gone to extreme measures to keep her away from them? Shouldn't she have known better?
Naoto didn't believe in fairy godmothers. She didn't believe in strong and valiant princes popping out of nowhere to sweep her off her feet and away from a life of drudgery and/or suffering. Those sorts of things just didn't happen.
But that didn't explain why a man with hair the exact color of Ky's (but of a longer length), garbed in some ridiculously formal outfit with a diadem adorning his forehead, was standing in her cave.
For a moment, Naoto just stood there, staring at the sight before her without really comprehending it. She started to back out, suspecting (and hoping)that she had simply walked into the wrong cave, but the stranger took a step forward and caught hold of her wrist.
The next instant, a blade was pressed against his throat, close enough to bite into the skin, should he make another unwanted move.
"If you don't want to stop breathing anytime soon, I'd advise you not to do that again," the young woman said quietly, dark eyes narrowed in a clear warning.
The man hesitated, his blue eyes roaming over the stubborn set of her jaw, the lift of her chin that signified trouble, the absolute fearlessness in her gaze and the way she carried herself-- and then he smiled.
"It's wonderful to see you again, Naoto."
The look she gave him could have frozen Hell. "Look, I don't know who you are or how--"
"You wore my cross, albeit reluctantly."
Naoto froze.
"During our first spar, I lost control of myself..." He frowned slightly. "... You were injured. I carried you here to recover. During that time, I invited you to stay with Kougaiji and myself, and you accepted."
She still hadn't budged.
"You laughed when I named one of the ducklings Teacup. The others were Kiri, Snoozer, and Diri, short for--"
"Dirigeant," Naoto finished for him in a hoarse whisper. When the man nodded, she lowered her blade. "What happened to you, Ky?"
"It's a complicated story, but I hail from five years in the future... as king of Iluria. Somehow, it seems I've returned to the island."
The look returned. "You're a king."
"Yes."
"Great." She sighed, sheathing her katana. "You grow your hair out and become a king. Any other surprises I ought to know about? You're a father of ten? You're married to Anya? You made a Teacup Appreciation Day--"
"No," he interrupted her. "Although the last one has merit. After all, there are so many people who cannot truly grasp the delicacy and craftsmanship bestowed upon the-- mmphmfmgohp mmmphmhm?"
Naoto rolled her eyes, only lowering her hand from his mouth when she was sure he'd suppressed the urge to joyfully proclaim his love for teacups. "Nice to know there are some things about you that haven't changed. It's bad enough that I'm sharing cave space with two future kings, honestly. Talk about being the odd one out."
"I didn't think rank meant that much to you." Ky gave her a little smile, fingers still wrapped loosely around her wrist. "I'd hoped I would always be Ky to you."
"You are." She raised her eyebrows. "Or I would have called you 'Your Majesty'. It's just odd to think about-- and is there a reason why you keep staring at me?"
The king, much to her amusement, flushed a light red. "I-I apologize for my rudeness! It's simply... five years without you... I hadn't realized how much I'd missed you."
Naoto blinked, momentarily caught off-guard. That was soon corrected. "I'd say the same, but unfortunately, I just saw your younger self an hour ago."
"Ah, yes..." Ky pulled her closer with a gentle tug on her wrist. "I'd always regretted not doing this before I returned to my world. Tell me, Naoto, are you well-versed in fairytales?"
"The youngest son always wins, good triumphs over evil, the princess or poor girl waits for someone to save her and there's the whole kiss of true love, everyone lives happily ever after, and no one stops to think of the technicalities," she retorted, perfectly deadpan.
"That being a stubborn king--"
"Who collects teacups--"
"And his stubborn roommate--"
"The stray dog--"
"Who proved that being his roommate and being attractive was indeed possible--"
"And the king should remember he said that under the influence of chocolate--"
"And he's saying that now while remaining in control of his senses--"
"Ky--"
Instead of letting her finish, Ky simply cupped the side of her face with his hand, lowered his head, and kissed her.
Naoto didn't know how much time had passed or even if this was really happening, but eventually Ky took a breath, rested his forehead against hers for a minute, and then pulled away.
"Happy endings are possible," he said softly, giving her a final, unreadable look before he walked past her towards the entrance of the cave. "And, as selfish it is, I wish you were a part of mine."
("It's good to be the king," Rabi said much later with a cocky grin, when the news came out on Renge's island report; had she not been watching the shorter-haired Ky struggle to grasp what had happened, Naoto would have happily killed him.)
Character/Pairing: Gojyo, Kougaiji
Prompt: Fountain of Youth
"She likes flowers, y'know?" The scrawny kid scratched at the band-aid plastered across his cheek, glancing down at the handful of vivid crimson flowers he awkwardly clutched. "I mean, she gets all happy when Jien brings her 'em, so I thought..."
"It's a kind gesture," the stranger said quietly.
The boy brightened. "Yeah! So maybe that'd make her happy. Worth a try, yeah? She just keeps crying all the time, 'cause of me..."
"You're that much of a troublemaker?"
"Huh? No! Just..." He gestured at his companion's hair, then his own. "It's just me, being... this. It's not her fault. Hurts her to look at me, I guess. But maybe this time..."
Kougaiji took a closer look at the boy, noting the bruises that marred his neck, the few cuts sprinkled on his face and hands that still looked painfully fresh, the larger bandaid resting near his hairline, and thought he knew where the two future scars would come from. They had to have hurt him, but what was even more painful was the almost desperate hope he could read plainly in those large red eyes.
"You're not so bad," the kid spoke again, getting to his feet. "The other youkai don't like me so much-- but hey, I gotta get going. Mom'll like 'em better if they're fresh." With a cheerful wave, he jogged off into the trees, muttering to himself that he was MUCH too big to be getting this badly lost.
(When Kougaiji tactfully brought up the incident a few days later, Gojyo laughed-- a dry, empty sound. "Yeah, even as a kid, I knew I'd never get her love... be loved like a mom loves her kid. But I kept thinking I'd be able to change it SOMEHOW."
He sighed heavily, taking a drag from his cigarette. "Kids just wanna have someone there for 'em. It's when no one wants to be there... that's when things get fucked up. And look at us fucked-up bastards now, huh?"
Kougaiji didn't answer, only looked at him thoughtfully. Gojyo chuckled under his breath and closed his eyes, one hand drifting up to rub his forehead.
"... Even now, I wonder if she would've liked the yellow flowers better.")
Character/Pairing: Teresa, Naoto
Prompt: Trading swords
They had done it mostly out of curiosity and, as Naoto had pointed out, "It's not a good idea to get accustomed to only one blade."
The first day, Naoto had some difficulties dragging the claymore around.
The next day, Teresa almost decapitated Ky by accident as she drew the much lighter katana to parry his strike.
The third day, Naoto gave her aching arms a break and spent the day wondering just how strong Teresa was.
The day after that, Teresa studied the slender blade and frowned pensively when she realized it had been this sword that had carved an X onto a little girl's chest... that it was this blade that had sealed away her memories... and that this katana was one of the few clues Naoto had in gaining back some of what she had lost. It was a sobering thought.
By the fifth day, Naoto's arms had adjusted to the extra weight enough so that when Hibari sneered at her and raised a tonfa threateningly to begin an attack, she had no problem with swinging the broad side of the sword like a baseball bat right into his smirking face.
Never had the sound of a body hitting the ground been so satisfying.
They'd originally done it out of curiosity. When they exchanged blades again, it was with a better understanding and a deeper respect for the other.
(Teresa couldn't help a laugh at Naoto's grimace when she easily lifted her sword with one hand and slipped it back into its sheath.)
Character/Pairing: Naoto/Ky
Prompt: Fairytale ending (damn you, June, this got epic long)
Naoto had always hated fairytales with a passion. The females in those tales were constantly requiring rescue from their situation. What was the point of growing your hair long just so some strange guy could haul himself up to your window? That was stalker behavior, wasn't it? And what stupid idiot pricked her finger on a spinning wheel after everyone had gone to extreme measures to keep her away from them? Shouldn't she have known better?
Naoto didn't believe in fairy godmothers. She didn't believe in strong and valiant princes popping out of nowhere to sweep her off her feet and away from a life of drudgery and/or suffering. Those sorts of things just didn't happen.
But that didn't explain why a man with hair the exact color of Ky's (but of a longer length), garbed in some ridiculously formal outfit with a diadem adorning his forehead, was standing in her cave.
For a moment, Naoto just stood there, staring at the sight before her without really comprehending it. She started to back out, suspecting (and hoping)that she had simply walked into the wrong cave, but the stranger took a step forward and caught hold of her wrist.
The next instant, a blade was pressed against his throat, close enough to bite into the skin, should he make another unwanted move.
"If you don't want to stop breathing anytime soon, I'd advise you not to do that again," the young woman said quietly, dark eyes narrowed in a clear warning.
The man hesitated, his blue eyes roaming over the stubborn set of her jaw, the lift of her chin that signified trouble, the absolute fearlessness in her gaze and the way she carried herself-- and then he smiled.
"It's wonderful to see you again, Naoto."
The look she gave him could have frozen Hell. "Look, I don't know who you are or how--"
"You wore my cross, albeit reluctantly."
Naoto froze.
"During our first spar, I lost control of myself..." He frowned slightly. "... You were injured. I carried you here to recover. During that time, I invited you to stay with Kougaiji and myself, and you accepted."
She still hadn't budged.
"You laughed when I named one of the ducklings Teacup. The others were Kiri, Snoozer, and Diri, short for--"
"Dirigeant," Naoto finished for him in a hoarse whisper. When the man nodded, she lowered her blade. "What happened to you, Ky?"
"It's a complicated story, but I hail from five years in the future... as king of Iluria. Somehow, it seems I've returned to the island."
The look returned. "You're a king."
"Yes."
"Great." She sighed, sheathing her katana. "You grow your hair out and become a king. Any other surprises I ought to know about? You're a father of ten? You're married to Anya? You made a Teacup Appreciation Day--"
"No," he interrupted her. "Although the last one has merit. After all, there are so many people who cannot truly grasp the delicacy and craftsmanship bestowed upon the-- mmphmfmgohp mmmphmhm?"
Naoto rolled her eyes, only lowering her hand from his mouth when she was sure he'd suppressed the urge to joyfully proclaim his love for teacups. "Nice to know there are some things about you that haven't changed. It's bad enough that I'm sharing cave space with two future kings, honestly. Talk about being the odd one out."
"I didn't think rank meant that much to you." Ky gave her a little smile, fingers still wrapped loosely around her wrist. "I'd hoped I would always be Ky to you."
"You are." She raised her eyebrows. "Or I would have called you 'Your Majesty'. It's just odd to think about-- and is there a reason why you keep staring at me?"
The king, much to her amusement, flushed a light red. "I-I apologize for my rudeness! It's simply... five years without you... I hadn't realized how much I'd missed you."
Naoto blinked, momentarily caught off-guard. That was soon corrected. "I'd say the same, but unfortunately, I just saw your younger self an hour ago."
"Ah, yes..." Ky pulled her closer with a gentle tug on her wrist. "I'd always regretted not doing this before I returned to my world. Tell me, Naoto, are you well-versed in fairytales?"
"The youngest son always wins, good triumphs over evil, the princess or poor girl waits for someone to save her and there's the whole kiss of true love, everyone lives happily ever after, and no one stops to think of the technicalities," she retorted, perfectly deadpan.
"That being a stubborn king--"
"Who collects teacups--"
"And his stubborn roommate--"
"The stray dog--"
"Who proved that being his roommate and being attractive was indeed possible--"
"And the king should remember he said that under the influence of chocolate--"
"And he's saying that now while remaining in control of his senses--"
"Ky--"
Instead of letting her finish, Ky simply cupped the side of her face with his hand, lowered his head, and kissed her.
Naoto didn't know how much time had passed or even if this was really happening, but eventually Ky took a breath, rested his forehead against hers for a minute, and then pulled away.
"Happy endings are possible," he said softly, giving her a final, unreadable look before he walked past her towards the entrance of the cave. "And, as selfish it is, I wish you were a part of mine."
("It's good to be the king," Rabi said much later with a cocky grin, when the news came out on Renge's island report; had she not been watching the shorter-haired Ky struggle to grasp what had happened, Naoto would have happily killed him.)