Canon Divergence - Blog Posts

Forget-me-not

A ROTTMNT fic

Forget-me-not

One-shot

Leo had a garden.

He loved his garden.

And if anything were to happen to him, he knew his family would look after it for him.

So when he didn't make it out of the Prison Dimension alive his family adopted the garden as their own.

I finally finished it!

After weeks of writing what should've taken a few days, from something that was meant to be only be around 2-3 thousand words to now 10,000+, I am now proud to say IT IS DONE!

Of course I procrastinated by drawing art for it as well, but I enjoyed writing this peice.

The original idea is from @quill-the-android this post here! Thank you for letting me write this and sorry for taking so long!

His Eyes Speak by forever_42 / foreverforty2

- Star Trek Fanfic - Vulcan/Human - Male/Female -

FIC NOW COMPLETE. (art / clothing design by me)

click on the pic for the higher quality image

Fonts used: Sword, Gill Sans Light Italic.

His Eyes Speak by forever_42 / foreverforty2

Star Trek Fanfic - Vulcan/Human - Male/Female

His Eyes Speak by forever_42 / foreverforty2

- Star Trek Fanfic - Vulcan/Human - Male/Female -

Chapter 4 - Consummation (aka THE SMUT) is up on AO3.

Shikana and Kawaki Next Generation: Our Lives Were Written In Stone

Girls (minus Shikana)

If you want the story, go to my account, and you'll see their backstories

Can you guess which ones are my favorite

Blister & Blood

Event: Angstpril 2025 ; hosted by @chaos-company Prompt: Day 5 ALTERNATE—Major Injury Fandom: Arcane Ship: Silco x Vander | Vanco Rating: M Tags: MCD, anti-Vander. No, seriously. Bad guy Vander. Vulnerable Silco. Canon Divergence.

Silco looked at the drawing he made of him and Vander, smiling down softly at their colours melding into each other. It was one of their better days—coming up with their Blister & Bedrock mantra. A vow to create a safe space for all the children, and their children. But, those days started getting fewer in between.

When Felicia died, so did the goodness between him and Vander, until one day.

Vander was on something that Silco couldn’t identify, at the end, he could just have started hating Silco. As if it was only Silco’s job to keep Felicia safe. All he knew was that Vander blamed him. And one day. Silco decided to fight back.

He decided to stand up for himself, to say that it wasn’t only on Silco and that it wasn’t right for Vander to keep fucking blaming him and reminding Silco of everything that they had lost.

He very quickly realised he made the wrong choice when Vander pushed him up face first against the wall and ground his head into the jutting brick. He tried to close his eyes but he could feel the pricks of the brick against his face before he could fully manage it. He felt something wet roll down his face, but he knew he couldn’t be crying—the other option seemed too harrowing to accept.

Vander pressed his pelvis into Silco’s back, and he could feel his entire body get crushed against the wall. It stuck through his clothes, and tore the more sensitive fabrics, and Vander just pushed his head further into the wall before leaning closer.

“Where do you get off telling me it’s my fault? Telling ME that I had to do MORE? You’re just a sniveling goddamn brat that didn’t get enough attention in this godforsaken place. You’d be nothing without me.” Silco could hear the sneer in Vander’s voice, and it broke small parts of him that he wasn’t sure had existed anymore. The abandoned boy inside of him cried out in pain and fear.

“I…didn..I didn’t say. You..” He couldn’t find his voice. Couldn’t keep it even.

“YES YOU DID! My fault that Felicia died? God,” Vander’s chuckle was hollow, “I loved her. I would never have let anything happen to her.” There was a sick satisfaction in Silco’s chest. Confirmation on something that he had suspected for years. That Vander only started dating Silco to get closer to Felicia, and since she died. Vander didn’t care about him anymore. 

Silco knew that Vander’s temper was short, and that it snapped because the next moment his face was being crushed by the wall. Vander held Silco’s hair in a tight grip and started smashing his head against it. 

Silco couldn’t feel the pain anymore, but he felt a sharp burning in his abdomen, but he couldn’t place if it was a blade or not. He could start to see little orbs of light floating in his vision. Looking like specks of dust but in a rainbow of colours, and he almost gasped at the beauty.

All in all. He had an extremely good life. He had morals and he was at the forefront of a revolution. Two little girls who he could hold when they were sad, and sometimes help them to feel better. His vision went black, and he could feel his breathing shallow out while his body was being used like a ragdoll for frustration.

It’s enough that it’d been good.

It had to be enough.

Sad thing I came up for Siegbert since I’ve been watching a bunch of Nuzelocke. In his deep realm he had a pet chicken named Nuggets and a pet Sparrow name Jolbie. And one of the new cooks’ didn’t know this and killed both of them since Siegbert had them have free rane. Then she cooked them up and made it for dinner and since he was a kid he was blissfully unaware that he just ate his bird babies! And the next morning he’s looking for them and asks the nearest person, which just so happens to be, the person who killed both of them. She doesn’t realize her mistake till she tells them she cooked them up for dinner last night. He immediately starts crying and screaming bloody murder, calling her a murderer. His nannies came out and asks what’s happening and tells them that she cooked his babies and that he accidentally ate them because of her. And now she is jobless. And now Siegbert can never eat chicken or bird without thinking about him eating his babies. And the ONE TIME chicken was served he had a mental break down. His family had to ask him as to why he was having a mental breakdown and told them the whole story about how he ate his bird babies and how he was a murderer because of it. And now is now official banned from being served or eaten in front of Siegbert. Which becomes a problem if he’s in Revelations since Shiro LOVES chicken. Shiro thought that rule was dumb & a total joke. THEN he ate chicken AND bird in front of Siegbert and Siegbert had a full blown panic attack saying he killed them. He then gets in trouble with Siegbert’s family because of it.

imagined a AU where Dean leaves with Sam but he becomes a famous singer

And so it's just supernatural but

~

Family of the victims : Aren't you the famous singer Dean?

Dean pretending to be an FBI agent. : Nah just a lookalike

~

Monster : I WILL KILL YOU BOTH AND- ohmygod- are you.. Are you the Dean??

Dean : Hun? Oh yes I am.

Monster : Oh my god! Hi! I'm so fan of you!!!

Dean : Well I'm always delighted to meet a fan but... You're a monster and I'm going to have to kill you, so hum sorry?

Monster : Oh no don't worry, I totally understand, can you just like sign my body before you burn him?

Dean : Sure.

~

Sam Smirking : So, is there a reason why you've only been writing love songs since you came back from hell?

Dean :

Dean hiding his new love songs about Castiel : nO-

~

Dean After stealing Jo's gun : Not bad but you'll need more practice, I'm Dean by the way.

Jo has the second of the panic attack because she is talking to her Idol : yes?

~

Kevin : You're telling me that the famous rock star Dean kills monsters in he's free time?

Sam : Yeah.

Kevin : How does he even manage to do interviews and all the other stuff???

Sam : To be honest I have no idea.

~

Benny coming out of purgatory, and separates with his new friend just to see him on all the billboards in all the cities : Hun.

~

Crowley wearing a Dean fan t-shirt : Hi boys~

Dean : seriously?

Castiel : Can I have one?

~

Mary and Sam in the car listening to the radio

Sam : Oh, that's one of Dean's songs.

Mary : One of Dean's WHAT?!

~

I hope you liked it!

So the premise of the whole au is that WWX is tired of people insinuating that the only reason he has as many privileges he does in his life is because he is JFM's bastard son.

Since JFM hasn't stopped the rumors its A) making seem very likely that it's true and B) making YZY insanely pissed.

Fast forward to the CR Era WWX and the other Jiangs get pretty on edge anytime someone brings his parentage since that particular conversation topic leads to nothing good.

One day when somebody finally asks WWX about it he decides enough is enough, that he is tired of letting random people make assumptions about his parents, how it's staring to strain his relationships with his siblings, how YZYs rage is steadily increasing towards everyone and how the one person who could end the whole thing refuses to ever say anything.

So in between his detentions with LWJ he begins to research different identification spells and relics in hopes of finding one that could reveal parentages or bloodlines but can't find anything (which they probably have in canon but shhhh we need the story to happen) but he is left several ideas running around his minds and gets to work.

Fast forward through many experiments, one expulsion, and many more months WWX has made the world's first DNA test. It's a tailsman that will either glow when it recognizes a blood realtion between users or crumble to ash if there is no blood tying them together. Despite spending several months making this tailsman WWX hasn't found a good opportunity to bring the subject up to JFM so he slowly starts to believe that he won't get a chance to use it use it.

But fortunately for him Lotus Peir is hosting the next the Discussion Conference and you know some shit will eventually go down. Let's just say that after most the events are down JGS says some shit like "oh how generous and brave of you to make your bastard your head disciple despite the backlash, how do you and your wife deal with it??". And you can instantly feel all the rage and tension coming from everyone room but then WWX realizes that this is a great (not great but beggars can't be choosers) opportunity to use his invention and prove that his parents are his parents, opens his mouth and says "Sect Leader Jiang is not my father and I can prove it right now if yall let me".

So after he explains himself (despite the death glares from YZY, the greedy looks from JGS and someone in the back who keeps grumbling how this ridiculous and borderline unorthodox) and provides actual proof from two willing volunteers that his tailsman is safe and that it works he finally gets to test himself and JFM and proves once and for all that all those rumors were bullshit CSSR had never cheated on her husband.

Of course some in the audience are still more interested in stirring shit up instead of keeping their mouth shut and try to imply that since his station isn't as high as the real heirs they shouldn't trust his word. And JC who has been shockingly quiet during this whole ordeal finally snaps and goes "if you refuse to believe that his invention works despite having proof before they went maybe I should go and get tested right now so you can stfu!!"

But YZY freaks the fuck out when he says this and starts going on about how he has nothing to prove, that she forbids him to take the test and everyone in the room are now just kinda side eyeing each other and her because why would she not allow her sects heir to take this test? Unless...

Somehow JFM gets JC to take the test, despite YZYs vocal protests, and the tailsman paper crumbles between them.

The room goes dead silent before WWX offers up a flimsy excuse that the tailsman may have made an error, but it's too late now. Everyone knows that the tailsman works and now they know JFM is not JC father.

That Lotus Pier's heir is a lie.

Nobody asked but for the last several days I've been thinking of an au where in the Cloud Rescess Era (or adjacent timeline) WWX invents like the first DNA test and through a series of events reveals that JFG is not JC's father.

:3c

Yall i need help finding another fic😭😭 so its a steddie fic where basically every time steve dies he gets a second time so basically it is a time loop fic, canon divergence where they beat vecna because steve can just restart. Does anyone know the name or author??

Orphan (sweetly): If you murder anyone while we're on a mission, I will kick you in the crotch first.

Red Hood (tilting his head, confused): First?

Orphan (seriously): I know specific nerve endings can cause immense pain. I love you, I do, but you know my code. While we're working together, don’t kill anybody. That's all I ask, or…

Red Hood (playfully challenging): You'll hurt a specific part of my body that really hurts?

Orphan nodded, her expression unwavering.

Red Hood (grinning, impressed): You're hardcore, but that's what I enjoy about you. I have rubber bullets. They won't kill anyone, just really hurt.

Orphan tapped her chin, contemplating his words, then shrugged casually.

Orphan: That works. Let’s go, baby brother!

With a giggle, Orphan jumped onto Red Hood's back, her arms wrapping around his neck.

Red Hood (chuckling as he adjusted her weight): You are a few months older than me. Why are you on my back like a monkey?

Orphan (giggling): My feet are tired, and you're strong.

Red Hood (amused, shaking his head): You're annoying.

Despite his playful complaint, he took off running, carrying her piggyback, both of them laughing as they dashed into the night.

My favorite thing is when people take something that was /never/ meant to be taken that seriously, and overanalyze it so much that it improves the canon 10fold

i love love love love love names when it comes to character analysis... not meanings (well. meanings too but this isn't what this post is about.) but how they're indicative of a character's identity and therefore their authenticity and trust of other people.

i've been thinking about this with grunkle stan specifically. notice how even after stealing ford's identity he still goes by stan?? yeah. he IS stan pines. by the time the show starts the only context in which he was pretending to be ford was legally. when people think of stanford pines they don't think of the strange man doing god knows what in the secluded cabin in the woods, and why would they?? they hardly knew the real ford anyway. to the people of gravity falls, there wasn't much identity for stan to be stealing. he isn't really lying to people about who he is, he just isn't telling the whole truth. hence stanley vs stanford. yeah?? yeah???

so like. isn't it funny that the character having a legal dispute with him over stealing his home calls him by his supposed full name. gideon doesn't care about stan as a person, he only cares about getting the shack off him. stan is literally just a legal obstacle to gideon. is this anything.

ALSO ALSO. the majority of the fake names he used still have some aspect of his real name in them. this man can't help but be authentic to some degree. literally the only reason he lies about who he is is for self-preservation. he doesn't want to lie to people — he literally risks being found out by using similar fake names just to keep being somewhat himself — but he has to if he wants to stay safe. stanley middle name pines they could never make me hate you.

Life As A Hero's Son

TheVoidIsMyHome

Summary:

Izuku's father is a famous (in the Hero Community) Undercover Hero [His current case is Humarise], and this changes everything for Izuku

Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

Gen

Fandom:

僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia

Relationships:

Midoriya Hisashi & Midoriya Inko & Midoriya Izuku Midoriya Izuku & Monoma Neito Iida Tenya & Midoriya Izuku Midoriya Izuku & Yaoyorozu Momo Midoriya Izuku & Shinsou Hitoshi Midoriya Izuku & Todoroki Shouto

Characters:

Midoriya Hisashi Midoriya Inko Midoriya Izuku Monoma Neito Iida Tenya Yaoyorozu Momo Shinsou Hitoshi Todoroki Shouto

Additional Tags:

Pro Hero Midoriya Hisashi Pre-Canon This Whole Story Is Pre-Canon Kid Midoriya Izuku Only for like the first Chapter Legacy Child Midoriya Izuku Legacy Child Monoma Neito Legacy Child Iida Tenya Legacy Child Yaoyorozu Momo Legacy Child Shinsou Hitoshi Hitoshi was adopted by Chiyo Shuzenji's Daughter and Daughter-In-Law Quirkless Midoriya Izuku Midoriya Izuku's Hero Analysis For The Future Notebooks complicated family dynamics Todoroki Enji | Endeavor's Okay Parenting Todoroki Rei Bashing Todoroki Fuyumi bashing They aren't super bashed Just the implications of the things we've seen have been taking to the logical conclusion Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Sludge Villain? What's That? Suicide Bait Smart Midoriya Izuku Gremlin Midoriya Izuku Midoriya Izuku is a Little Shit These Kids Kick Ass More canon divergence In case the first time wasn't clear

Language:

English

Series:

← Previous Work Part 50 of Void's MHA Fics Next Work →

Stats:

Published: 2022-07-19 Completed: 2022-07-19 Words: 6096 Chapters: 2/2

CW:cry of fear/afraid of mosters (grieving, implied death, a bit sad)

There they are all the sillies!!

In the first drawings you got dimon (AKA simon leatherhoff) and soapie (his childhood friend) from cry of monsters and in the second you got savid (AKA david henriksson) with his older brother josef form afraid of fear!!

They're from my AU that it's about swapping the characters from aom and cof

Fic: This is victory (hollow and cold).

Part: One

What if.. Mikey’s portal drags home a cold dead corpse.

I would like to preface this by saying I completely blame @goodlucktai for their amazing Incredible story, raised on little light for putting this idea into my head. Guys go check it out the fic, it’s amazing it makes me so so sad but there is also so many good things in it 😭. Personally speaking I don’t think there’s anything I can write that will ever come close to what Tai can do, but as a famous internet post once said, write your shitty pots. So here we goes ppl

Tw: major character death, grief, suicide idealisation, getting disowned, disassociation, starvation, slight description of injuries and inaccurate medical advice

But I promise, there is still hope even in this.

_

“Casey! When I get to the other side you close that portal!”

Everything stills. The world falls static.

“What..?” A foreign voice enters the fray. Ah. Cj thinks distantly. It’s mine.

A series of thoughts shoots through his mind. Faster than the battle drones Uncle Tello used to make, faster than the joy rides Uncle Mi used to give.

He sees empty eyes, forced smiles. Screaming voices stained with the weight only grief, hunger, thirst and stress can give.

He thinks of Michelangelo in the brief moments he has met the turtle, so bright and so energetic. And then he remembers his Uncle Mi twisted into something quiet, slow and outwardly peaceful.

He remembers Monty, so stoic and so very angry. Yet so very indulgent when it counts. Out in a blaze of guns and glory. Standard-issue shoulder pauldron shoved into shaking hands. You will do great things Princey. He remembers Monty’s mother. Whose name he never got, forever in a daze, staring at walls of nothing. A hallowed husk like so many of the living ghosts that wandered their dusty halls. He remembers Miwa. So tiny, so fragile. So young. Too young. No amount of their anything can ever replace or beat modern medicine.

His Uncle Tello, bitter, grumpy; burnt out and constantly overstimulated from the dirt covered and squishy pink hell they’ve found themselves in. But sometimes on better days he cocks his head to the side, with a face that almost smiles at Cj and says, “Come Jones Junior; I appear to have some scraps we need to dispose off.” Which is code for we’re going to give your Pa an aneurysm and make things go boom.

He remembers his family. Tired, thirsty, hungry, eyes on them constantly. Countless sleepless nights in hushed voices arguing, strategising, weeping. They thought he didn’t hear. But children always have the biggest ears and the longest standing shelter on earth is only so large.

First and foremost. Cj knows. He knows with heart wrenching certainty. If there was any way to make peace with the present Hamatos it would all be over now. They’ll hate him. They will. They will never forgive him for this.

Maybe if this was his Mom, his Auntie April, his Da-Uncle Mi, his Uncle Tello, his Grandpa Drax. Whatever else Master Raphael and Master splinter might have been to him. They might just forgive him but these people are not them. They have not been softened with a lifetime of knowing Cj. He doesn’t have that baby of the family privilege. He doesn’t have any privilege at all. It’s only been a day. Less than that technically.

Even just the thought of being hated by his family. Any version of them, curdles something in his core. Every fiber in his being lashes out and screams at the younger version of his sensei. (Oh but it was Leonardo wasn’t it? Oh, what has he done?) In ways he hasn’t done since he was 8 years old, because poor 8 year old Casey hadn’t quite figured out how to breathe through the hunger pains. I’m a healer. I’m supposed to stop these things. Please, I already let go before you can’t make me do this again-

“Leo no! There has to be another way!”

But this Leonardo says;

“We’ve tried everything Case, he’s too strong”

And deep down Cj knows that too. Much like the lies his family told him. “We can win” He knows otherwise too. Just like if he does this, he knows he’ll be left with nothing too.

But his family will still be here, surrounded by food, clean water, light, and endless amount of comics or magazines they could possibly want. They will be free.

They will never know gnawing hunger or sapping thirst, nor will they know the ever present hum of runhidenotsafe. They will never know the unique kind of suffering that comes from grasping for strength to just open your eyes and breathe in a world that has already long given up on itself.

Cj has seen the future. He has lived and breathed and sometimes, even thrived in an era where the krang came. Where the sky was a bloody brown instead of this clear dark blue and people were driven to insanity and killed from the common cold. Where the sour smell of rot piled everywhere. No matter how much or how hard you scrubbed.

He remembers his Sensei, his Pa, wise, comforting, always ready with a witty comeback or a brilliant plan. He remembers his Commander O’Neil, his Auntie April, rousing, quick and endlessly enduring, the steady voice of reason where even Sensei’s wit dulled. But they were tired, so very tired. The burden of leadership and grief and all the aches and pains of hunger and thirst that can never be quenched, already a fully dressed tomb just waiting for them to hang up their coats and admit futility to the unsurmountable cold.

He remembers how much his family loved him. How hard they tried to scrape together any piece of warmth for him. Tired Golden-Orange heaves himself into the air, to scoop Cj into his arms. Busy Blue who takes any meagre time he has to himself and spends it with Cj. Prickly Purple finds away to colour all his armour a shade of teal, even his siblings are still decked in occasional shades of grey. Overstretched Green always ready to pull her brothers back and scold; too guilty, too smothering, too harsh. Stop. You’re hurting the kid.

If Cj doesn’t close this portal, if he keeps this open, if he disobeys-the Krang will just come back through. And they will plunge the earth into a bloody, poisoned hell.

And he knows that if not Leonardo, then someone else in their stupid, selfless, self-sacrificial family will take up the mantle of resistance, unable to stand idly by at people’s suffering. Because these people are good, so very good. The Hamatos will fight, they will try. And they will lose.

The force of their ire will break him. The thought alone makes him sob, hiccuping in a way he hasn’t done, not since he was found shrieking over a cold Uncle Tello and had to be wrenched away, kicking and screaming. But still holding on. Even to the very last second and beyond. Because he is Cassandra Jones Junjor and a Hamato in every way that matters and he could never leave family behind. At least back then he couldn’t feel mom die

But the apocalypse.. that long, slow, painful march to inevitable death, will break him too. It wasn’t always bad, they had fun, karaoke nights, hilarious attempts to make birthday cakes for kids like him. But fuck.. that doesn’t change the fact that they still lost. That they will all still loose. Cj doesn’t know if he can willingly doom them all again because that’s what he’s going to do isn’t it? They were all so tired, so hungry, so thirsty. How can he let them go through that again?

He remembers how much happier, and how much lighter they always looked in those old scarce photos.

Selfishly, Cj doesn’t know if he can survive through another 20 something years or however long they make it this time, through that hell again. Forced to slowly watch again, as the Krang chip away at his family. Chip away at the people he called his friends till everything, bright, lively and kind was carved out;Uncle Hiro I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry-

They will never love you again. A voice thunders, like the death roll of their final march just this morning where Cj was still breathing in corrupted air under rusty skies. If only he died there with them. Anything is better than having to do this.

I know. Cj shakes, trembling fingers wrap around the key. Casey can see the division between young and new, old and worn and knows he cannot let it blur and become one.

“Casey! Urgh-please!”

Anything. I will give anything, Casey weeps. Anything as long as they live. Casey squeezes his eyes shut.

And just like with Uncle Tello,

Casey finally lets go.

The portal to the prison dimension slams shut with a glorious boom.

Leo, I love you. I’m sorry.

I wish I got more time to know you.

.

.

.

They scream at him. It’s Muffled, like the sensation of sound in the aftermath of a live grenade. They hurl all manner of abuse and venom at his face. He thinks he might be crying. Or maybe he’s not. His head feels tangled like the heaps of crusty old wires, Uncle Tello will never get the chance to unravel.

The shattered body of their Leonardo lies between them, like territory lines drawn between begrudging survivor groups. Cradled by a shaking soft shell. The blurry shapes of familiar voices once desperately calm and patient now roar,cutting and rightfully angry. It falls on his ears. He tries to grasp it, he does. He’s ruined everything, the least Cj can do now is listen.

But exhaustion gnaws at his very bones. Head pounding.

Nothing can explain this.

Nothing will justify this.

Severe head trauma, and shattered, collapsed carapace. Possible bruised and punctured lungs via pieces of loose carapace as the overall structure caved in, resulting in internal bleeding in the lungs and eventual asphyxiation. Patient chocked on his own blood. The field medic immediately drones internally, years of experience and training unable to be shut off (or rather, trained to never shut off) as listless eyes drift down to meet the unmoving slider.

It seems the one-sided eye contact is what finally breaks the softshell’s stupor. “Don’t you fucking dare.” The teen snarls, teeth flashing in all the ways he used to bare it at unwelcome visitors. But never at Casey. Never for long.

Wake up Jones. This is not your Uncle.

The rest of the group falls silent, shocked to see their previously silent family member speaking.

“You don’t get to look at him.” Achingly gentle, the purple branded softshell sets Leonardo onto the tiled floor.

Donatello stands. “You.” He hisses, pointing at Cj.

“You did this.”

Somewhere, somehow Cj manages to gather enough of himself to incline his head slightly in agreement. It’s the least he can do for them.

“Leave.” Donatello orders.

And like the good soldier he is, Cj does. Disappearing into the tunnels.

No one stops him.

<Part 1 | Next>

AU where Loki and Adam are regular civilians in the marvel universe 😈🙏

What is canon lalalalala sorry I can't hear you over the sound of my favorite character being VERY MUCH alive and well, thank you

I looooove ignoring a character's death in the media I like, like what do you mean they're dead no they aren't they are alive and I'm having a cup of tea with them right now :] no I'm not in denial shut up shut up shutupshutupshut

Historian Butterfly AU: Chapter 1

Shinobu x female OC

prologue

Chapter 2

“Come here my curious little bird.”

Fukuro looked up at her great grandmother shyly. Gran Gran had been getting sicker and sicker. She could barely move, and could barely speak before going into coughing fits. Even now her voice was barely above a faint whisper.

Fukuro let go of Yua’s leg after being given a light nudge. She walked up to her Gran Gran’s bedside. “Yes, Gran Gran?”

Her Gran Gran let out a dry cough as she took off the necklace around her neck. “I want you to have this. It was a gift given to me long ago that kept me safe, and now I hope it can keep you safe as it did with me.”

Fukuro took the necklace into her hands. It was nothing fancy, but it was also pretty valuable. It had a silver chain with a single gold charm. It was a large circle with flower patterns engraved into it. Fukuro looked at it in confusion. “How will it keep me safe Gran Gran?”

She thinks that her Gran Gran attempted to laugh, but what came out was a wheezing sound followed by a coughing fit. “You will find that answer when the time comes. But for now keep it as a sign that I will always be with you.”

Fukuro looked at the necklace for a moment before looking back up. “Can you tell me another story, Gran Gran?”

Her Gran Gran looked up at Yua who was holding one infant, while her husband held the other. She gave her a nod with a sad look on her face.

“Alright, but I’m afraid we can only do one today. So how about I tell you a story about the Love Hashira?”

***

Fukuro woke up with a gasp. She clawed at the ground, and found her hands grabbing onto clumps of grass. She took a moment to steady her breathing before she sat up and pushed her glasses back up her face.

“Ugh, what happened?” Fukuro looked around and realized that she was in a completely unfamiliar place. Instead of underground and in the ruins she was in the middle of a forest, with no sign of any civilization in sight. The night sky was full of stars, but I looked like morning was an hour or two away, which was strange because it had been around late afternoon.

“Where the heck am I?” Fukuro got up and dusted herself off. All of her clothes had stayed in tack and she still had her bag full of notes. “Kenta!” she shouted, but there was no response. She started to walk around hoping that she would find a way out. “Kenta! Are you there? I swear this isn’t funny! If you decided to try to put me in the middle of nowhere after one of my expeditions made me unconscious again, then so help me!”

Fukuro walked around for a bit before she ended up at an old house. She let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, I’ll be fine. I just need to ask where I am and hope that whoever lives there can give me directions to the nearest town. I would ask for a phone, but I’m pretty sure this is an old fashioned residence because that is one old looking building. Still how in the world did I even end up in the middle of the woods?” She continued to ponder as she walked up to the house.

Almost immediately Fukuro could tell something was not right. She fought through the shiver that went up her spine and went to knock on the door. But as sound as her fist collided with it it opened. Fukuro uneasily took a step in the house.

“Excuse me? Is anyone-“

Fukuro cut herself off with a gasp. There were people in the house, but they were all dead and covered in blood. Fukuro’s stomach twisted and she felt like she was going to get sick. “What the- what happened here?”

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

Fukuro let out a small squeak as she quickly turned around with wide eyes. In front of her was a man, but he didn’t look human. He had teeth and claws as sharp as knives. There were two large horns coming out of his head. His eyes were in amber slits while the rest of eye were red. His vines bulged from his deathly pale skin. The only normal thing about him was the shoulder length brown hair. There was blood covering his mouth and lips as he tossed aside the severed arm of one of his victims.

“It looks like my night has gotten even better! Not only do I get to have a feast tonight, but now I get to add a young girl to my collection!” he said with a maniacal laugh as he licked his lips.

“D-demon, you’re a demon aren’t you?” Fukuro could only shake in fear as she moved to back away. She barely even moved before she let out a scream as she was tackled to the ground.

“Ah! So the pretty girl has a brain. I like that! It will make you all the more delicious!”

Fukuro’s mind was whirling as she attempted to fight through the panic to find some way out of this mess. Do something! Anything! Just find a way out of this! Luckily the demon didn’t seem to think she would fight back since one of her arms was free. She took the opportunity to grab the closest thing to her and hit the demon with it, which happened to be her necklace that fell off. The demon let out a screech and she used that moment to push him off of her. Fukuro quickly got up and started running for her life.

“Holy crap! I can’t believe that actually worked! Thank you so much Gran Gran!” she muttered as she ran through the woods. She didn’t know where she was going, but she needed to get away now! She could hear footsteps behind her! Oh crap! He was following her!

“Don’t think I’ll let you get away after that stunt girlie!”

“I can’t believe it! Demons are actually real! This is amazing! And terrifying. Really, really terrifying! I wish I could ask him questions! No! Focus, Fukuro! You need to keep running if you don’t want to get eaten alive!”

Fukuro was lucky that she had amazing endurance or else she probably would have been caught by now. Most of her heavy breathing was due to sheer panic and not exhaustion. She was not sure how long she spent dodging trees and going over tree roots, so that she could get the demon chasing her off of her tail. But he was persistent. Fukuro’s luck couldn’t last forever because she ended up tripping over a tree root and tumbling down a rocky hill. She ended up losing her backpack and she could feel her clothes and skin tear as she tumbled to the bottom.

Fukuro tried to get up, but she let out a yelp of pain as she collapsed onto her needs. Crap! Crap! I think I twisted my ankle. Before she knew it she was pinned by the demon again, this time up against the tree. His claws dug into her shoulders to the point that they drew blood.

“You are one pain in the a** lady! It almost makes me not want to eat ya. I was going to give you a quick death, but I’m a bit annoyed right now. So how about we take this slow.”

The demon dug one of his clawed hands into each of Fukuro’s arms, creating a huge gash from the top to the bottom of both limbs. Fukuro let out a scream as she managed to move her wrist enough to stab him with her necklace. There was a button on the top of the charm that released a small blade, so it ended up sticking out of his wrist awkwardly.

Another twisted laugh pierced through the air as the demon simply shook off the piece of jewelry stabbed into him. “Nice try girlie, but it’s going to take a lot more than that to kill me.” He looked like he was going to try to do more but he suddenly stiffened. He let Fukuro go as he backed away and let out a scream of agony. “What the hell did you do to me b*tch?!” Fukuro could only watch before he kept squirming before he stopped moving, dead.

Fukuro quickly snapped out of her daze as she dragged herself over to where her necklace had been thrown. “Gran Gran was serious when she said that this necklace would protect me, huh?” She picked it up with her right hand and tried to get up. She wanted to get as far away from the dead body as possible. Fukuro only made it a couple feet before she felt dizzy and collapsed.

No no no! I can’t die yet! Not after managing to kill that demon! But Fukuro could feel sleep calling her. Before she knew it her eyes were closed. She heard the sound of footsteps before she completely lost consciousness.

***

Fukuro woke up slowly this time. She blinked slowly to let her eyes adjust. She quickly realized that she wasn’t in her bedroom or her office, which is where she usually fell asleep. Instead Fukuro saw an unfamiliar white ceiling. She was confused for a moment before she felt the stinging pain in her arms. The events of the previous night came rushing back to her. Alright so that wasn’t a dream then. I don’t know if I should be excited or terrified about it.

Fukuro sat up and looked around the room she was in. There were a few beds in the room, but they were all empty. There were a few small dressers next to each one. Other than that there wasn’t much to look at. Not that she could see much anyway, since her glasses were no longer in her face. Fukuro looked at her arms to see bandages and gauzes wrapped around them. She was also in different clothes, similar to what you would find in a hospital. Based on what blurry images she could make out, Fukuro guessed that she was in some sort of clinic. “Well at least someone found me. It looked like they did a good job patching me up too. I’ll probably have to ask for their phone if they have one so I can let Kenta and my family know that I am alright. I still can’t believe that I encountered a dem-” Fukuro trailed off from her muttering as her eyes widened.

“Wait a second, where is my bag! Did it fall off while I was being chased?! Crap! That had a lot of my research notes in it, as well as some of my favorite sources of information that I found! And where’s my Gran Gran’s necklace?! I can’t lose that!” Fukuro exclaimed as she quickly began to search through the blankets and attempt to leave the bed to find her stuff. But she forgot about her ankle and as soon as she put pressure on it her foot gave out and she fell with a yelp. She tried to catch herself but ended up just taking the blankets down with her, ending up in a tangled lump on the floor.

“My, my, it looks like someone’s awake. While the energy is a good sign, I would not recommend walking with that injury.”

Fukuro’s head shot up towards the sound of the voice, but all she could make out was a blurred figure. She could tell that the blurr was a person, most likely short, but that was about it. But by the sound of the voice she guessed that the person was a girl. “Have you seen a really big bag with a bunch of scrolls and notebooks in it? Or more importantly a golden necklace with a flower pattern? That necklace really means a lot to me!” Fukuro spoke so quickly and frantically that she would be surprised if the girl understood her.

The girl started to walk over to her. “No need to fret so much. The kakushi found the items you mentioned and I held onto them in case they were yours. I didn’t look at your notes either and everything was relatively intact. I’m taking a look at your necklace right now, but I should have it back to you by tomorrow. But I would be more worried about the predicament you are in right now.”

Fukuro’s face grew red in embarrassment when she realized the predicament that she was in. She frantically untangled herself from the blankets.

“Sorry! I just-” Fukuro quickly got back to her feet, once again forgetting about her ankle, and started to fall with a squeak. She tried to grab the nearby dresser, only to pull herself forward with too much force and slam her head into it. Fukuro immediately stumbled back into the bed, sideways, with a groan. “Owwww…”

Fukuro couldn’t see the girl, but she could hear her trying to contain her laughter as she spoke. “Careful now, we don’t want you to have any more injuries now do we?”

Fukuro let out a groan and adjusted herself so that she was in a proper sitting up position. “That would be preferred.” She squinted to try to get a better view of the person in front of her, but all she could make out now were some blurs of black and purple.

“Are you feeling alright?”

Fukuro blushed again out of embarrassment when she realized what she was doing. “Sorry. Do you have my glasses? I can’t see anything without them, and I’m kinda only seeing a human blob instead of your face.”

“Ah, yes! Sorry that they weren’t with you when you woke up, but they were damaged and I had to call a friend to get them fixed. They should be good as new now,” the girl said as she handed Fukuro her glasses.

Fukuro put them on her face, and blinked a couple times to let them adjust. She is finally able to see who is in front of her, and she’s probably the prettiest girl she has ever seen.

The girl was petite with a pale complexion and beautiful purple eyes. She had shoulder-length wavy hair that faded from black into dark purple, styled at the back of her head into a flat 'yakai-maki' bun, fastened with a white and purple butterfly ornament. She had center-split, ear-length, voluminous curtain bangs that flow down to frame the sides of her face, with two slightly thinner chin-length locks of hair in front of her ears below them. She was wearing a haori with a butterfly pattern over some sort of black uniform. There was a kind smile on her face, but it didn’t seem completely genuine.

“Oh wow, you’re really pretty.”

There was silence for a few moments.

F*ck I said that out loud!

The girl just let out a small giggle. “Oh! You’re quite bold. Already flirting with me and we don’t even know each other’s names.”

Fukuro turned almost completely red and looked away. “I um, sorry. My name is Fukuro Hitomi.”

“No need to apologize. My name is Shinobu Kocho and you’re in my estate. You’re lucky that I found you when I did, or else you probably wouldn’t not have made it. You’ve been unconscious for over 24 hours.”

“Oh! That was you? Thank you so much!” Fukuro put her hands together and bowed as best she could in her sitting position. Almost immediately after she perked up as she realized something. “Wait a second you said kakushi earlier right? If I remember correctly they’re members of the demon slayer corps. Does that mean that you’re a kakushi member or are you a demon slayer? Or are you a doctor that works with the corps? Were you-“

Shinobu cut Fukuro off by putting a hand on her shoulder and using the other to make a shushing motion. “Oh my, that’s a lot of questions you have. Slow down and I might be able to answer them. I’m a medical expert, but I am also a demon slayer. In fact I’m one of the current Hashiras. I’m surprised you even know about us. Most people are not even aware that the corps or demons exist.”

Fukuro took a deep breath and shook her hands slightly. “Sorry. I tend to ramble a lot when I get excited. I’m a historian and I have done a lot of research on the possible existence of demons. My great grandmother was a kakushi so I grew an interest. I always thought that the existence of demons was possible, but I never knew for sure until I was attacked! I never thought I would ever find proper evidence, much less meet an actual demon and demon slayer! I mean I thought the corps had been disbanded a long time ago,” she said. Her words got quicker as she went, causing her to ramble again.

“I don’t think that encountering a demon is something you should be excited about, but I guess it’s good to have an optimistic look on things.” Shinobu grabbed one of Fukuro’s arms and started to change the bandages.

It looked like she was going to say more but she was interrupted by a loud bang, and the shouts that followed.

“I told you! You need to do it the proper way. Now look at the mess you made!”

“But my grandfather taught me to do it this way!”

“This is the Taisho era not the Meiji era! Just do what I told you to do and there won’t be any problems!”

The arguing continued but Fukuro couldn’t make out any of it. Her mind was suddenly in a wreck trying to process what had just been said.

Shinobu put Fukuro’s arm down with a small huff. It was the only way to tell she was annoyed because she still had the same smile on her face.

“I’m sorry Hitomi, I’ll be right back. I need to remind some newer slayers that this is a clinic and that they shouldn’t be yelling so loud. Try not to move too much. I still need to change the bandages and clean the wound on your other arm,” she said as she walked out of the room to deal with the noisy people arguing in the halls.

To be completely honest Fukuro did not hear a word that Shinobu had said. Taisho era? It can’t be right? This is some kind of cruel joke. It has to be! It’s true that I wanted to prove the existence of demons, but I didn’t want to actually go back in time! This isn’t some isekai fantasy! I have a life back home! My job, friends, family! Will I ever see them again?

Fukuro felt a surge of overwhelming panic. Her heart was beating so fast that it felt painful. She felt like everything was spiraling out of control. Everything felt hot. Too hot! She was burning! Fukuro started to mindlessly claw at the bandages on her arms, to the point that she was starting to draw some blood by reopening the wounds. Her stomach was twisted in knots. She felt like she was going to throw up. She couldn’t breathe! She felt like she was going to pass out as she hyperventilated.

“Hitomi? Can you hear me?”

Fukuro’s head shot up in a panic as she looked at Shinobu with tears in her eyes.

Shinobu had a completely calm look on her face. She was still smiling, but this one was much softer and gentler. “It’s going to be alright Hitomi. Is there anything I can do to help you?” she asked with a very gentle voice.

Fukuro attempted to respond, but she only hiccuped in response. “I-I d-demons and f-family and…” She trailed off, not being able to form a proper sentence.

“It’s okay Hitomi, I’m not going to leave unless you want me to. Am I allowed to touch you?”

Fukuro let out a whimper and nodded. Physical contact was what tended to ground her and make her feel safe. It was how her parents, grandparents, and Gran Gran would comfort her all the time. “Hug. Please?” she whispered.

If Shinobu was surprised then she didn’t show it at all. With no hesitation she wrapped her arms around Fukuro, and put her face next to her ear. Fukuro quickly returned the hug with a death grip. Fukuro didn’t even realize she was shaking until she was in Shinobu’s firm, but gentle grip.

“I want you to focus on 5 things you hear. Can you do that for me? It’s okay, take as much time as you need.”

“I hear your voice,” Fukuro muttered almost immediately and flushed in embarrassment.

“Good. Can you hear anything else?” Shinobu asked softly as she started rubbing small circles into Fukuro’s back.

“Birds chirping, I think I hear running water, some footsteps, and the floors creaking.”

“You’re doing a great job. Now how about 4 things you can see?”

“You, butterflies, beds, and dresser.”

“How about 3 things you can smell? Don’t feel stressed. Give your answer whenever you are ready.”

Fukuro had to pause to think for a second. “I think I can smell something cooking. I smell the rubbing alcohol that was put on my wounds earlier. I also smell you. You smell really nice.”

“Aren’t you a charmer. You’re almost there Hitomi. I promise this will be over soon. 2 things you can feel?”

“I can feel the fabric of your butterfly haori and the soft fabric of the blankets.”

“Last one. What is one thing you can taste?”

“The desert that is my mouth,” Fukuro said, which was true. She was incredibly thirsty.

Shinobu backed out of the hug, but she kept one of her hands in Fukuro’s. She used the other to grab a glass of water that she must have brought during Fukuro’s panic attack. She brought the water up to Fukuro’s lips. “Drink this.”

Fukuro drank it without much objection, finishing over the entire glass in a matter of seconds. She realized that she felt a lot better now. Still a little shaken, but in a much better state than before.

“Do you feel better now?”

“Yes, thank you and I’m really sorry that I freaked out like that,” Fukuro said, not being able to look into Shinobu's eyes due to shame and embarrassment.

Shinobu grabbed one of Fukuro’s arms and started redoing the disinfectant and bandages after all the damage that had been done to them. “There is no need to apologize or feel ashamed. You went through a very traumatic situation recently. You might’ve lost some people you care for too. No matter what you can always come to me if you need to talk, okay? Even when you’re not my patient anymore.”

“If you don’t mind I would rather keep this information to myself for now,” Fukuro said. I don’t need you thinking that I am a crazy lady.

“That's more than okay too. Let’s talk about something else. Do you have any other hobbies not related to your work Hitomi?”

“Fukuro”

Shinobu looked up from Fukuro’s arm and tilted her head, which was as close to a questioning glance as she was going to get. “Pardon me?”

Fukuro looked off to the side when their eyes met. “I don’t really like it when people call me my last name, so I want you to call me Fukuro.”

“Alright then Fukuro, what are your hobbies?”

The two girls continued talking for a while about simple things. There were still a lot of questions to answer and problems to solve. But those could wait for a short amount of time.

***

This was a lot longer than I thought it would be. I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I had a lot of fun making it. This is my first time writing Shinobu so hopefully she stayed in character. I am more than open to critique though so please let me know your guys’ thoughts.

Historian Butterfly AU: Prologue

Shinobu x Female OC

Chapter 1

“There were demons when I was a little girl.”

“Really Gran Gran?” A 5 year old girl looked at her great grandmother with wide blue eyes.

Her grandmother gave a dry chuckle in response as she combed her granddaughter’s hair. “Yes really. They would roam around at night and attack any humans in sight. The more people they devoured the stronger they became. They would be able to transform their bodies and some even used strange spells. I encountered them many times in my youth.”

The little girl tilted her head. “Is that why you always stay in the house when it’s night?”

“Yes, but only out of habit. Demons stopped existing long ago.”

“Why?”

“The same reason why the demons did not wipe us all out in the first place, the demon slayers. They dedicated themselves to fightifor the future of humanity. They would fight with strength beyond what humans were capable of.”

“Were you a demon slayer Gran Gran?”

The grandmother let out a hearty laugh in response. “No my dear. Even when your Gran Gran was young and chipper I lacked the strength and skill to become one. I instead chose to support the slayers on the sidelines as a kakushi. I tended to the wounded and helped with the clean up after battles.” The grandmother paused for a moment. “The Hashira on the other hand were the strongest of the strong. They could kill a demon with seemingly little effort. It’s because of their sacrifice that we are able to live peacefully today.”

“Are you filling Fukuro’s head with your stories again grandma?”

Both people looked up to see a young woman standing in the doorway.

“It’s history Yua.”

Fukuro’s eyes lit up. “Mom!” she exclaimed as she excitedly ran over to the woman, and hugged her legs.

Yua gave her daughter a smile as she lifted Fukuro up into her arms, which she was given a squeal in response. “There’s my curious little bird. Did you enjoy your Gran Gran’s stories?”

Fukuro gave her mother a bright smile. “Yep! She was telling all about the demons and demon slayers!”

Yua let out a sigh as she looked at her grandmother. “Those stories are a bit violent for a 5 year old, don’t you think grandma?”

“I'm not as young as I used to be, Yua. I don’t have much time left and Fukuro needs to learn some stories before I pass on. No offense to you or the rest of the family, but I know none of you were ever able to get the details right.” The grandmother said with a sparkle of amusement in her eyes.

Yua let out a little huff and pouted. “I still don’t understand why it’s so important for me to say flame instead of fire,” she muttered. She looked back at her daughter. “Now say goodbye to Gran Gran, Fukuro.”

“But mom, Gran Gran was about to tell me about the Hashiras! Can’t we stay a little longer? Please!” Fukuro whined, giving her mother the puppy dog eyes.

“Fukuro your Gran Gran needs to rest, and we need to get home so that I can make dinner before your father gets home tonight,” Yua said with an apologetic look on her face.

“Oh come now Yua, I can stay awake a little longer. It’s not like I’m out of this bed much any more! Besides you don’t live far and Hiroshi still has work for another 2 hours. Even if you don’t finish cooking by the time he gets home he wouldn’t mind. He’s always been a very patient man.”

“I don’t know…” Yua trailed off as she looked at her daughter’s pleading face again. She let out a sigh of defeat. “Alright, we can stay, just stop giving me that look,” she said as she gave Fukuro a playful glare, who let out a cheer. “But only one story, okay? Then we really need to get going,” she said as she walked over to her grandmother’s bedside and sat down on a chair with Fukuro in her lap. “I spoil you way too much,” she muttered as she tickled Fukuro’s stomach, who replied with a loud squeal and laugh.

The grandmother laughed at her granddaughter’s antics. “Of course Yua, of course. Now which Hashira do you want me to tell you about?”

Fukuro looked confused and looked at her mom, who let out a hum as she thought for a moment. “How about the one with the butterflies? I haven’t heard that one in a while.”

Fukuro tilted her head and looked at her grandmother. “Butterflies?”

“Ah yes! The Insect Hashira. I have the perfect story for that one. Back when I was just a teenager there I was assigned to a small village in the countryside…”

Fukuro listened attentively to her Gran Gran’s story with fascination. She was young, but she understood that many people believed that her Gran Gran was not well. But she told her stories with such detail, and they were so complex. All Fukuro knew was that she would love to listen to these stories forever.

***

Fukuro was climbing over some debris as she walked through the ruins of what seemed to be an old headquarters, base or at least a place that housed a lot of people. She was a lot older now, about 21 years old. Her long hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail and she had grown quite tall. She was wearing black cargo pants with a light brown button up coat so long that it could pass as a short dress. Her white collared shirt could barely be seen and she wore brown combat boots. Fukuro also had a large backpack on her.

A young man was also accompanying her. He was taller than Fukuro and wore a very similar outfit to her. “Are you sure you know where we are going Hitomi? We have been walking for a while?” he asked.

Currently her face was glued to a notebook as she adjusted the glasses on her face. “Don’t worry Kenta, this isn’t my first time here. According to these notes there should be some sort of room that housed the supposed king of this estate. It’s strange that I couldn’t find a single map of where anything is though. Especially since this place is so huge.

“That’s exactly why I’m worried. This place is a maze! We could get lost if we’re not careful,” Kenta said.

The ruins were very large and varied. Honestly, how little knowledge there was on a place this big was astonishing. It was almost as if no one knew it existed or that it appeared out of nowhere.

“How are you even a historian with that attitude? We research the unknown of the past. You can’t do that without risks,” Fukuro teased.

“There is nothing wrong with being cautious!” Kenta said with a pout.

Fukuro laughed before her mind wandered elsewhere. “Maybe I’ll find some old scrolls or books this time. Or maybe some of those swords I have read so much about. I might even find something that can help prove the existence of demons. Oh! Just thinking about it makes me so excited!” Fukuro said with a squeal.

“I will never understand your obsession with the possibility of demons. Those are probably just some old folk tales so that children wouldn’t stay out after dark.”

“I know, I know, but there is so much mystery surrounding them though. Even if demons aren’t real there are so many answered questions. Like what made Fujikasane Mountain and Natagumo Mountain so deadly? And what was the cause for the sudden decrease in the places’ death rates? It used to be that in both mountains more than 80% of the people who would enter would never come back. But in the late 1920s the deaths in that area just stopped. People even started inhabiting those areas with great success. Or what about-“

Fukuro was cut off as Kenta grabbed her collar and stopped her from walking straight into one of the more intact buildings.

“You’re rambling again. You haven’t been this far before right? So be careful,” he said.

Although it was not Fukuro’s first time here, the place always managed to get more dangerous the further she went. While she did not mind a little danger the thought of ruining whatever artifact she managed to find was enough to make her back out.

“You’re right, thanks Kenta. Time to put the book away. I don’t want to get hurt after all,” Fukuro said as she put the notebook in her bag. “Now come on, let’s check out this place!”

The building was very large so the two historians decided to split up. They still stayed a close enough distance to each other so that they wouldn’t get lost. While searching through one of the rooms Fukuro ended up finding some really old pieces of fabric that might have once acted as rope.

“Hey Kenta! Look what I fou-AAHH!” Fukuro’s foot ended up going through the floor, but instead of finding dirt there was just air. She only had a few seconds to process that before her entire body went through and she tumbled deep underground. “Ow, ow, ow.”

After a few minutes a light came from the hole above and Kenta’s voice rang through the area. “Hitomi! Are you okay?”

Fukuro shakily got up as she dusted herself off. “I’m fine! Just a little bruised. It seems like there is an entire part of this building that is underground!”

“Do you see a way out?”

Fukuro looked around, but it looked like she was stuck in this one room. “No!”

“Gosh darn it- Okay, I’m going to call Zoey okay? She specializes in these kinds of rescues so you should be fine! Just don’t move or do anything that will cause the place to collapse.”

“I won’t!”

After a few minutes Fukuro started to get bored so she turned on her flashlight. The structure seemed stable enough that it wouldn’t collapse so long as she didn’t mess with the walls. There really wasn’t much to the room. Years of being underground really took a toll on it. But Fukuro did see a really old biwa in the corner.

“How did a room like this even get here?” Fukuro muttered as she picked up the biwa and examined it. It was not in the greatest condition. A lot of the wood was chipped and some of the strings were broken. “I wonder if this thing still works,” she muttered as she plucked one of the strings.

Suddenly the whole place began to shake. The sounds of the biwa could be heard echoing around the room despite Fukuro having dropped the instrument out of surprise and fright.

“Oh Lord- Kenta where are you? Something’s happening!” Fukuro screamed as she started to glow. Suddenly Fukuro’s vision was filled with a bright light before everything went black.

***

I actually decided to write it. I don’t know if I’ll ever finish it, but I thought I might as well get started. Don’t be afraid to give questions, headcannon, or prompt requests related to this because there is so much I can talk about that won’t be in this story. Thank you to @shinobusupremecy for giving me encouragement. It’s all because of you that this is on the internet now. Hopefully I can incorporate some actual demon slayer stuff in the first chapter. Btw my OC’s name is Fukuro Hitomi.

Present, Past, and Future

For @mina-jamsin-derulo, based on "Eyes on the future." Thank you for the lovely prompt art!

A little vignette with Anakin and Ahsoka watching the twins spar on Naboo.

Whispers From Tomorrow

If you value anything you see around you, any of your brethren, if you love your padawan as I know you do—tell him.

The ghost of Ben Kenobi sees fit to meddle in the past, and Obi-Wan, about to leave for Utapau to face Grievous, suddenly feels a strange certainty that all is not well with his former padawan.  Conversations ensue, secrets come to light, and his relationship with Anakin will never be the same.  But that might just be a very good thing, indeed.

My fanart of Alternate Apocalypse

Stargazer Lilies

Clerith(Cloud x Aerith) One-Shot

WARNING: Suicidal topics, blood, mentions of death, and major spoilers for the original FFVII, however there are no sexual themes.

NOTE: This is a canon-divergent fanfiction, meaning it uses elements from the canon of FFVII but does not follow the canon in its entirety.

Words: 5882

Date Published: 2023-08-25

Summary:

After Sephiroth kills Aerith, Cloud is so distraught that he tries to kill himself later that night, but is unsuccessful. Barrett and Tifa manage to get him to a hospital to recover, but Cloud remains in a comatose state. While he is unconscious, Cloud is teetering so close to the lifestream that he is able to meet Aerith once again.

Life Goes On

“Aerith is gone.” “Aerith will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry……or get angry……” “What about my pain?” “My fingers are tingling. My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!”

——————————

Cloud lay wide awake that night, the image of Aerith’s bloodied corpse burned into the backs of his eyeballs. No matter where he looked, nor whether he kept his eyes open or chose to shut them, she was there, floating ethereally in his vision like a goddess. Her soft pink dress was damp with blood and water, her hair was without the signature pink bow she always wore, allowing it to flow freely in the water beneath her, and her eyes were eternally closed, yet despite all of that, she remained ever beautiful even in her last moments. Oh, how he missed looking into her bright verdant eyes already. Not even the healthiest of plants could compare to the richness of her gorgeous eyes.

 She was the light of his life. Even when he handed the black materia over to Sephiroth, she didn’t blame him. Even when he threw her to the ground in a fit of rage over his accidental betrayal, she didn’t fight back. She always put others first– always made sure to show Cloud that he mattered, and not just to his friends, but to her. Aerith was always so kind, so gentle…so heavenly. She was not only enchanting in her looks, but in her personality too. She was so full of compassion and pure love; not just towards humans, but toward animals and the planet alike. He never met anyone like her, and he knew he would never meet anyone like her again. The time he may have known her was short, but she meant everything to him. Aerith was gone…and he felt like he was nothing without her.

Cloud sat up in his bed, clutching his temple as his brain began to pound against the back of his eyes. With it came the loud buzzing of an intruder, and his vision became filled with static.

“You…are a puppet.”

Cloud grunted, a bead of sweat dribbling down his hot neck under the cover of his blonde hair as Sephiroth’s words rang in his ears. That was right…he was a puppet– Sephiroth’s puppet. That was all he was, and nothing more. Cloud thought he was traveling the world to save it, but he was following the call of his master all along. If he was anything more than a puppet, he wouldn’t have given Sephiroth the black materia. If he was anything more, Aerith wouldn’t have died.

His head was throbbing so violently that it was unbearable! In a fit of confusion and rage, Cloud threw his legs off of the bed and groaned as he jumped to his feet and lunged for the buster sword. Sephiroth may have been the master of his body, but he refused to let him be the master of his mind. He remembered the way Sephiroth tried to force him to kill Aerith before Sephiroth himself stepped in to finish her off when he realized Cloud wasn’t going to. All this time he had been trying so hard to protect her from Sephiroth, but he never once considered that he was to blame for her demise. It was all his fault, and he needed to put an end to this. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he hurt Barret or Tifa, let alone anyone else he held dearly.

He would finish this once and for all.

“Cloud?!” Tifa exclaimed, her red eyes wide with shock as she jolted awake. She was taken aback and unsure of what to do, she shook Barret awake. Then, she turned back to him, shouting his name once more as Barret chimed in. He didn’t seem to hear either of them.

“I refuse..to be a pawn in your game any longer, Sephiroth!!”

Cloud shouted as he raised the buster sword above his head, only to bring it down, burying its tip deep into his gut. He choked, blood squirting out of his throat with a sharp inhale. He took a step back, stumbling into his bed as he plunged the sword deeper with the intent of ripping his organs out. The buzzing in his ears faded, but everything else did too. He couldn’t hear his friends when they came running to his side, but he could see the way they scrambled to save him. While Tifa fell to his side and held him to her chest, Barret ripped the buster sword’s handle away from his trembling hands and took it into his own so that Cloud could do no more damage. He couldn’t tell what they were saying, but he could feel the way Tifa violently quivered as he lay there bleeding.

“Aerith’s death…is all because of me,” Cloud choked, only for Tifa to lay a finger over his lips in an attempt to quiet him, but he continued, “Sephiroth– I am only..his puppet… but…not anymore.” He could feel the way the two lifted his weakening body off of the bed, but that was the extent of what he could remember before his world consciousness faded and his world evanesced.

——————————

“Cloud…”

“Clouuud~!”

“Are you alright?” A familiar female voice called out. Despite sounding concerned, it was ever gentle. It was sweet like honey, and it was smooth like silk. The voice made Cloud feel so safe, as if he was being hugged by his mother once again. He didn’t think he had the strength to pull himself out of the depths of the loving embrace it had around his heart.

“Oh, don’t tell me you died already! That would be silly.” The voice playfully endearingly taunted, “The Cloud I know is stronger than that.”

Ethereal light filtered into his vision as Cloud’s eyes fluttered open, momentarily blinding him and forcing his eyes shut once more. He squinted, only able to open his eyes fully as he felt a shadow come over the bright light. The calming smell of flowers overwhelmed his senses, and a wave of nostalgia sent a flood of shivers down his spine at the scent. Ever since he had met Aerith that fateful day in Midgar, the smell of flowers had always brought a sort of otherworldly tranquility to him that he had never known before. The smell was beautiful, just like her.

Cloud sat up, holding his head in his hands as he attempted to clear his mind and make sense of the situation. With a gasp, Cloud’s body jerked backward at the sight that lay before him as his focusing vision revealed the face of Aerith– the lovely flower girl he watched die mere hours earlier.

“Aerith,” Cloud stammered, sweat rolling down the side of his forehead as a shameful blush overtook his cheeks, “I–”

“Shh, I know,” Aerith softly reassured him as she offered him a smile and gently pressed her finger to his lips, “It’s okay.”

‘But you–’ was all he could muster before Aerith wrapped her arms around him, burying his reddening face in the crook of her neck. She held him so close to her that she could feel the way he trembled with every breath and the way he sweated as heat radiated off of his body, even as she closed her eyes. She could tell that he regretted ever hurting her or ever trying to hurt her, though she never bore a grudge against him, as she knew it wasn’t his fault. The Cloud she knew was anxious and closed off, but deep down she knew he cared for others. She knew he was a kind soul and she loved him for it. She cherished their time together from the bottom of her heart– she only wished it hadn’t been so short.

“It’s okay.” She repeated, her tone quiet and tender, “You don’t need to say anything…”

Aerith always knew what to say. Aerith always knew what to do. Cloud loved her more than anything on Gaia and in life itself. Losing her meant that he lost his entire world, and he didn’t know how to live on. It had only been mere hours, but he missed her more than she would ever know. He couldn’t help it when he began to stagger his breaths as a flood of tears came crashing down, and his entire body grew hot with sorrow. For minutes on end, the two of them sat in verbal silence, but that didn’t matter; there were no words powerful enough to describe the relief Cloud felt at being able to see her again. Being able to be held in her arms was enough.

“Aerith…” Cloud eventually pulled away to look into her eyes, his own still glossy and red from crying, as he sniffled, “I…I’m sorry. If I hadn’t given Sephiroth the black materia, you would–”

“What did I say?” Aerith cut him off, a playful tone returning to her otherwise soft words to lighten the mood, “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.”

Cloud drew a deep, shaky breath, stunned into silence at her words. How could she not blame him after everything he had done? He was nothing but Sephiroth’s puppet, and his inability to fight back against Sephiroth was what cost her his life. If he hadn’t given Sephiroth the black materia, and if he had been able to control his body when he needed to protect her most, she would still be alive. It was all his damn fault, and he knew it. How could she–

“I know what you’re thinking,” Aerith drew him out of his thoughts, “And no matter what you say or do, there’s nothing you can do to convince me that any of this is your fault.” Aerith rolled backward onto her shins, and she traced her hands down Cloud’s arms where they landed on his knuckles. Her gaze shifted downward, fixated on their hands as she flipped them over and curled their fingers together. “That wasn’t you, and that never was you. The Cloud I know is strong, kind, handsome…and most of all, he cares for his friends. He would never do anything to hurt the people he loves... I saw the way you struggled every time he tried to steal your mind away, and I know that you tried your hardest to fight back against him…and that’s all that matters to me.”

Silence ensued once more, but not from lack of knowing what to say. Rather, Cloud was taken aback by her intuition and how she knew that Sephiroth had been trying to control him throughout their journey, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask her why. There wasn’t anything that could get past her it seemed, and that was yet another part of her that he loved. She was wise, just like the Cetra that came before her were said to be. Everything about Aerith was brilliant, and the more he learned about her, the more she blew him away. Why did the world have to take the good ones away? Life was so cruel.

“You don’t deserve this.” Cloud began after moments of contemplation. His voice was much more stable as his tears began to wash away, but his eyes remained set on the way she so tenderly intertwined their fingers. Her hands were small and delicate compared to his, but he knew she was stronger than he would ever be, and that was what gave him the strength to calm himself for the time being. If she could hold herself together, he would too, for her sake. “And if you don’t blame me for your death, then there’s nothing I can do to convince you. You’re too stubborn.”

“Oh yeah? And what does that make you?” Aerith teased, giggling. The way she was able to make light of any situation without making it any less significant was something only an angel directly descended from the heavens could do. “If I’m the stubborn one, then…I guess you must be some immovable wall. Not even the strongest of my waves can force you to come tumbling down, huh?”

“I didn’t mean to– sorry.” Cloud blushed, looking away from their hands and at the church. Just like when he met her for the second time back in the slums, they seemed to be seated in Aerith’s flowerbed, which was filled with stargazer lilies. “Forget I said anything.” Cloud pulled their hands away as he stood up to get a better view of their surroundings.

Aerith sat there for a moment longer, still staring down at their hands before she lifted her gaze, then finally pulled herself off of the ground and dusted herself off. “I bet you’re curious, huh?”

“...Yeah.” Cloud nodded, wiping his tears away before he continued to look around the place. He took a few steps forward, careful to navigate his way out of her flowerbed. “This looks just like the church I met you in– the church in the slums. How’s that?”

“You came crashing through my ceiling again…though I always have boys crashing down from the heavens and onto my flowerbed, it seems.” She chuckled, “But it’s okay. Like I said before, my flowers are strong. They can take it.”

“I’ll try not to do it anymore.” Cloud apologized in a joking manner that betrayed his static tone of voice as he continued to slowly walk around the church. It was strange to him– this place looked and felt real but there was no wind, and the further he looked through the windows of the church, he noticed it became unnaturally blurry. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t see past a certain barrier. 

“Well, I’d hope you’re not doing it on purpose. That would just be mean.” Aerith teased. She always loved doing that.

The two were silent for a few minutes, but it was never tense. Aerith slowly walked over to Cloud, following him around with her hands behind her back as he investigated the place. He was quick to notice the way the buildings remained just as blurry the closer he got to them as they had been from far away, even with how close he was to the exit of the church, and he realized how white the sky beyond those far-off buildings was, too.

“Am I dead?” Finally came the question out of Cloud’s lips.

“Hmm..”

Cloud looked over his shoulder before fully turning to face Aerith, an expecting look in his eyes. 

“Not quite.” Aerith finally answered after moments of leaving Cloud on edge, though she hadn’t done so to spook him. “The lifestream is my home now, but as for you...I think you’re just visiting.”

“How so?” Cloud asked, slightly raising a brow.

“Well,” Aerith started, her eyes softening with worry once more, “I can still hear Tifa and Barret calling out to you. Can you hear them?”

Cloud took a moment, trying his best to listen to no avail. He shook his head.

“You’re in the hospital, I think. I can hear the slow beeping of a heart monitor.”

“So why can’t I hear it?” Cloud asked, still trying to hear what Aerith was hearing.

“Dunno.” She shrugged, “Maybe you’re choosing not to hear it?”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Well…I saw the way you brought yourself here. I’ve been watching you since I died, y’know. I saw the way you shouted something, then…” she trailed off, frowning.

“I…” Cloud fell silent, ashamed of himself. While he still wanted to die if it meant saving his friends from him ever losing control again, he was thoroughly ashamed to admit the fact that he attempted to kill himself to Aerith… “I heard him again. Sephiroth, he..he was trying to take over again. I didn’t know what he wanted at that time, but...I wasn’t going to let him hurt the only people I had left.”

“Is that all there is to it?” Aerith asked, still frowning. She wasn’t upset at him, but she hated to see him so broken up the way he was. Besides, she knew Cloud– the way he didn’t like to admit to everything, even if it was just to himself.

Cloud was confused by that question. What else would there be to it? He didn’t want to hurt his friends, and if it meant killing himself so Sephiroth couldn’t control him any longer, then so be it. It wasn’t like he was anything more than a puppet, anyway– and he refused to bend to Sephiroth’s will.

——————————

The soft glow of moonlight filtered into the otherwise dim room that had only been lit up by the soft light of a heart monitor moments prior. There was a gentle breeze from a nearby window that had been cracked open, but not even the cool touch of the wind could provide solace to the room’s current inhabitants. After Cloud had stabbed himself in the gut it seemed like there would be no saving him, but by the speedy actions of Barret and Tifa as they brought Cloud’s body to The Highwind, Cid was able to quickly pilot them to a nearby hospital. Typically, with a wound that big and with that much blood loss, a normal person would have been dead by the time it took them to make it to The Highwind, but perhaps due to the mako that flowed through Cloud’s veins, he was able to make it just long enough to be hooked up to a heart monitor and have his wounds patched up. 

Barrett and Tifa now sat close to one another in the dimly lit room. While Barrett was leaning forward with his elbows resting on his inner thighs, Tifa sat with her face buried against his firm arm, hiding the side of her face with her curled-up hand. Their tears had long since dried, but they were still deathly worried about the state of their friend. Even with all that he had done, they couldn’t bring themselves to blame Cloud either– they cared for him immensely and wished they knew what had driven him to this point. Was it because he blamed himself for Aerith’s death? They both remembered the bone-chilling terror they felt when they watched him stab the buster sword into his abdomen and the way he shouted something about not allowing Sephiroth to control him any longer as he did so, but they both questioned the validity of their memories with how distraught the two of them were.

“Wake up, dammit…” Barret mumbled as his hand curled up into a tight ball, causing the palms of his hands to brighten from the pressure. His eyes had been staring so deeply into Cloud as if he believed staring at him long enough would force the boy awake, but he knew that wasn’t the way things worked. Defeated, Barret hung his head and whispered, “We can’t afford to lose you too.”

——————————

Cloud now sat outside of the church, one knee curled to his chest with the corresponding forearm upon its peak while the other leg lay extended on the ground. He still couldn’t quite grasp what Aerith meant by her question, however, he was more glad to see Aerith than anything, so it was she who truly occupied his mind. He had been looking straight ahead at the whiteness of the sky, and its pure color reminded him just how clear and kindhearted Aerith was. He looked up at her, and upon catching his gaze in her peripherals, Aerith stopped what he was doing and smiled at him. “You bored yet? There’s not much to do here if I’m honest…” She sighed, although her smile remained as her eyes dropped back to the floor.

“I don’t mind. It’s nice here.” Cloud admitted, his eyes returning to the horizon, “There’s no war, no violence, no anger, no despair…just you and me.”

“And there are certainly no other people here!” Aerith chuckled, “But you like that, don’t you? I never took you as a people’s person.”

Cloud smiled abruptly, “Yeah…never was a fan of ‘em.” 

“It doesn’t bother you that you’ll never see another person besides me again?” Aerith inquired, looking back at Cloud, though he did not return her gaze. 

He simply shook his head, “No, not really.”

“And what about Tifa? What about Barret? Or Yuffie, Red XIII…or the rest of your friends?”

“I can make an exception for them.” Cloud joked, “Though..I would rather they not end up here. Since we’re dead n’all.”

"They're worried sick about you, Cloud." Aerith frowned, "I heard Barret calling out to you earlier, and the way Tifa was shouting at you when they brought you in– before you even woke up here. They miss you, Cloud. Does that really not bother you?"

Cloud frowned, his gaze hardening as he lowered it to the ground, almost as if he was shameful. He was silent for a moment, but then he sighed, "Let them be worried. As long as I'm not there to hurt them, they'll be okay. They just..have to be strong and get through this. This is the first time I've had an entirely clear head in years, Aerith. I can't feel Sephiroth in my veins here. I can't hurt you or anyone else anymore. It's better this way." He raised his head yet again, though he continued staring off at the sky rather than looking her way, "Trust me."

"I can't believe you." Aerith squatted, making herself eye-level with Cloud, practically commanding his gaze her way, and finally, she got it in return. "You're telling me you're gonna let them fight Sephiroth alone? You're just gonna give up and take the easy way out?"

Cloud was at a loss for words. She was scolding him like she was his mother and yet he couldn't find it in himself to dismiss what she said. He did feel horrible for leaving them behind, and he felt even worse for it once he looked into Aerith's disappointed eyes, but he steeled himself. "It's better this way, Aerith," he hated being at odds with her but he stood his ground, "At least like this, they won't have to worry about fighting me and Sephiroth at the same time. Instead, they can just focus on taking him down."

"And what makes you think they're going to have to fight you?" Aerith asked, "You're their friend– not their enemy. They love you, and I know you love them. They need you, Cloud. They can't face him alone."

Cloud was silent once more before he let out a sigh, "You know the way he's able to take control of me. If I go to fight Sephiroth, they'll end up–"

"Don't even finish that sentence." Aerith lowered herself onto her knees and scooted closer to him, placing a hand on his shoulder as she searched his eyes for understanding, "I know you. Sephiroth..he tried to make you hurt me, didn't he? But you fought against him. You didn't let it happen. I know you're strong enough to fight back when it really comes down to it." 

"I…maybe…" Cloud's eyebrows furrowed, and unable to stand the weight of his guilt, he looked away. He shook his head, "I can't go back."

"Cloud…" She called with a voice so soft it could be mistaken for a whisper. She tilted her head as she reached out for Cloud's cheek, cupping it into her hands. She gently directed his gaze toward her as she placed her other hand on the opposite cheek and she offered him a sorry smile, "It's okay to want to stay here…but I can't let you."

"Why?" Cloud asked, his voice quiet as well, "It's safer this way. If I stay here by your side, I can't hurt them."

"Because, Cloud…I need you to be honest with yourself. Is that really all there is to it?"

There came the question again. What more was she referring to? Cloud closed his eyes for a moment, redirecting his thoughts as he desperately dug through them for an answer. Aerith had always been such a wise lady– she wasn't the type to be persistent just because she could. Even in her times of silliness, her actions always had meaning; they always had intelligence behind them. Aerith was brilliant. Not only was she smart, but she understood people. Aerith understood the parts of Cloud that he did not, and she drew them out. He knew that there was something he wasn't getting, and he realized there was something Aerith thought he could only understand if she was able to make him see it for himself.

"Think, Cloud." She tilted her head forward and brought his closer in turn, allowing their foreheads to press against one another as both of their eyes closed. The green, white, and blue light of the lifestream enveloped the area upon the shared contact of their foreheads, shifting their surroundings to match that of Aerith's home in the sector 5 slums down on Gaia, "Think." 

Cloud could feel as reality shifted under his feet. He could feel the way his body now sat in a field of flowers atop an incline, and although the wind remained stagnant, he could feel how pure the air was against his skin. As Aerith slipped her head and hands away, his eyes fluttered open, allowing him to take in the beauty of her garden for what it was. He was met with Aerith now sitting on her shins once more, her hands overlapping one another as they lay in her lap, and a loving smile on her face. He couldn't help it when his cheeks grew rosy from the sight of that tender smile and the way she looked upon him with nothing but pure admiration in her eyes. Aerith was gorgeous, and these flower fields only amplified her charm.

"Oh Cloud," she giggled without saying another word. She recognized the way he looked at her– the way he blushed –and even without him having to say anything, she knew what he was thinking. Cloud was too innocent to have dirty thoughts, she knew, so it was clear to her that his look was one of wonder and love for her. Cloud was so precious, and that was exactly why she needed to make him see what he was missing for himself. She always found teaching through actions rather than telling through words to be a more effective lesson.

"Sorry." Cloud hadn’t quite realized how long he had been staring at Aerith and it embarrassed him to think about it, so he promptly peeled his eyes away and chose to take in the scenery. Just like their previous landscape, the further away he looked from their current location, it got unnaturally blurry, and the sky remained as white as ever. “So why did you bring me here?”

“Just thought a change of scenery would be nice.” Aerith smiled for a moment before she looked in the direction Cloud had been. The two of them now looked at the house Aerith used to share with Elmyra, and she could feel an air of sorrow come about the longer they dwelled on it.

“She was always so kind to me… Even when I didn’t deserve it.” Aerith started, her words tender. “Take care of her for me, won’t you?”

“I’m sure they will.”

“Not them– you, silly.” Aerith turned to Cloud, nudging his shoulder with her hand, “Like I said...I’m not letting you die yet.”

“How’s that?” Cloud challenged, “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t want to go back.”

“Because…” Aerith hummed, “I know what you’ve told yourself, why you’re here, and…it’s all a lie.”

Cloud grunted in confusion as his baby blues trailed over to look at Aerith, though it was now her who wouldn’t return his gaze. As she continued to stare off at the house she grew up in, he saw her eyebrows furrowed in worry. Cloud wasn’t sure what to say to that. After all, how could he be lying? He killed himself, or at least tried to, because he didn’t want to be Sephiroth’s puppet. He didn’t want to hurt his friends anymore. Aerith may not have blamed him for her death, but he thoroughly believed it was his fault. Just what part of that was a lie?

Cloud took a moment to dig deep into the meaning of her words. Was he not being honest with himself as she said? Tifa always told him that he tended to be stubborn, so perhaps that stubbornness was at play here. “I’m lost.” He admitted, lowering his head. She, however, didn’t say anything in return, leaving him to sink further into his thoughts. As he hung his head, Cloud slowly closed his eyes and allowed himself to feel the earth. He could feel the way the dirt brushed against the cloth of his pants, and he could smell the sweet yet subtle scent of tranquility the flowers around them gave off. That smell always made him think of Aerith…perhaps that was why he felt so happy here. Perhaps that was why he didn’t want to go back. The real word was so uncertain and frightening that he didn’t want to return, but then…wouldn’t that make him a coward? Was it truly so bad that he didn’t want to return to a reality as cruel as Gaia– the very same reality that so coldly ripped Aerith away from him?

Perhaps…he just didn’t want to leave Aerith.

His lungs expanded as he drew a long, deep breath, and then Cloud returned to utter silence once more. He realized that although it felt nice to breathe, he didn’t need to. He couldn’t even hear Aerith breathing. Was it because they were dead? It was chilling to think that their bodies no longer required oxygen to sustain themselves, though it wasn’t something Cloud truly found horrifying. The thought of being a part of the lifestream should have been haunting, but Cloud felt so safe here. For once in his life, he felt happy. Just being here with Aerith was enough for him. He loved her.

Cloud gasped, his eyes shooting open as they flickered over to Aerith. He pined for her eyes to meet his, but she continued to stare off at the horizon. Although she wouldn’t meet his eyes, he could feel that there was a different air about them, and he could see that there was pain in her otherwise strong eyes.

He blinked. Suddenly, the sky was no longer pure white, but a cool amethyst gradient that faded into a golden glow, as if the sun were now setting. Although there hadn’t been any wind here thus far, a gentle breeze began to pick up that ruffled her chocolate locks and made her look more like a goddess than ever before. However, she still didn’t return his gaze. 

“Aerith, I…” Cloud began, his eyes twinkling under the setting sun, “I love you.”

Aerith tilted her head aside, reaching her delicate hands to the rose-colored bow that held her hair up. Her fingers searched for the inner sanctum of her ribbon, only for her to pull it loose, allowing a mahogany ocean of hair to come crashing down.

“I know.” Was all she said as she looked down at the ribbon she now held. Cloud couldn’t see her eyes past her hair, but he didn’t need to. He could feel the bittersweet relief radiating off of her as she sat in complete silence, and in that moment he caught himself wondering just what was going on inside her head. His heart was pounding in his ears and he could feel himself begin to tremble ever so slightly as his skin grew clammy. The palms of his hands were sweaty against the leather fabric of his gloves, but he couldn’t pry his eyes off of the beauty that was Aerith.

“That’s why I can’t let you stay here.” Aerith slowly raised her head, finally returning Cloud’s long-awaited gaze. There were wet streaks on both of her cheeks and the ribbon she held had damp, darkened spots from her tears. She let out a small chuckle that crackled with pain and joy as she scooted closer to Cloud, keeping the ribbon in hand. She now sat knee to knee with him, their eyes forever interlocked in a mutually sorrowful gaze. Careful not to break their eye contact, Aerith reached for Cloud’s hands and took them into her own, curling her ribbon into the palms of his hands.

“There’s so much you need to do, Cloud. So many people you need to save. So many people who need your guidance and love.” Aerith spoke with reverence towards Cloud, “Sephiroth is going to use Meteor soon, and..I know I’m not the only one you cherish. Tifa, Barrett, Vincent, Cid, Yuffie, Red XIII, Marlene..and many more– so many people love you and need you, Cloud…which is why you need to go. I can’t bear to see the way you would break if they ended up like me.”

“You’re right…” Cloud’s eyebrows curled with shame, “I’m sorry. All you’ve ever wanted to do is help me. I can’t believe the way I–”

“Don’t blame yourself.” Aerith cut him off, squeezing his hands, “We all get sad sometimes, and that’s okay. What matters is that we’re able to pick ourselves up and keep moving after we fall.”

“Thank you, Aerith.” Cloud pulled her closer, returning the squeeze of her hands with an equally loving one of his own. “You’ve done so much for me. More than you’ll ever know.”

“I’m glad.” She smiled. She closed her eyes and lowered her head against his collarbone. “Just don’t forget me, okay?”

Taking the ribbon into his hand, Cloud released the grip he had on her hands and wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in a warm hug as he now gripped the bow against her back. Unlike the way they embraced when he first got here, it was now she who was silently crying against him, though that didn’t make her any weaker for it. It was okay to be sad, he learned. It was okay to cry. It was okay to be angry, even. All these emotions were a part of being human, and Aerith taught him that. All that mattered was that they were able to pick themselves up and keep living on in spite of it all. No matter what life threw at him, he would get back up– not just for Aerith or his friends, but for himself. He was more than a puppet; he was a human being who had people he loved, and people who loved him. 

He would face Sephiroth, and he refused to back down this time. There wasn’t a thing he didn’t cherish, and he would protect Gaia with all of his being. Even if he didn’t succeed, all that mattered was that he tried his hardest to protect what mattered most. It wasn’t his genetics that determined whether he was human or not, but what he decided to do with himself, and if it meant fighting for the right to exist, so be it. He refused to back down.

“I’ll never forget you, Aerith."

Summer Memories

First Tumblr post wooo! Decided to post an old fic I had never posted, hope you guys enjoy.

Warnings: Kinda angsty, bittersweet ending, fluff

wc.6k +

Childhood! Kitsune! Miya twins AU x afab reader (she/her pronouns used)

---

Waves lapping against the shore, cicadas chirping as they nest on dappled trees, the smell of the lilting breeze and bitter goodbyes; golden sunsets tinting our summer memories.

It was summer again. This was made clear to the melancholic nine-year-old as you watched the trees blur past the back seat SUV windows. You never liked summer. To most children, summer was an exciting escape from scholarly activities; a time to visit beaches, wear flowing floral dresses with straw sun-hats or eat chilled melon by the lakeside- but to you, summer was hot and unforgiving. The sunshine that should have brought you joy only stung your eyes. To you, summer tasted no better than bitter orange rinds. 

Ma didn’t like summer either. You had to spend the entirety of it away from her. 

“You ought to be a big girl now” she would say. “Spend time with your Pa, it's only for a few months”.

A few months felt like forever- forever with a stranger. Pa was never home when you were young, even less when your Ma spoke through tears telling you he was never coming back. 

Di-vor-ce. Divorce? You had a hard time wrapping your head around the pronunciation, but you reckoned that ‘divorce’ was what your Ma had meant. You had heard a few concerned teachers talking about it in the hallways, only ushering you off frantically when they saw your head peeking from the corner. You scoffed. Adults were always hiding secrets. You guessed that they didn’t think you would understand because you were ‘too young’. 

The juxtaposing jubilant melody of summer hits hummed quietly in the background, the occasional rhythmic clicking of the turning signal or the jolt from bumps in the road served as a distraction from your stewing feelings of pensive sadness. You didn’t like summer, and you didn’t really like your Pa. 

I wish I was home.

----

The crunching of gravel and the slow swaying of an ending turn woke you from your stupor. Your father briefly opened his door to stretch before giving you an awkward smile. 

“Hey squirt, we’re finally here. Let me get your things and put them into your room”. 

When you gave no answer and only stared at the collar of his shirt with empty eyes and pressed lips, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. 

Laughing to fill the silence, he smiled again- no less awkwardly before, but a little more dejected, you noticed. 

“Say what- how about I fix you a bento and you can go explore in the woods?” he gestured to the bountiful nature attached to his property. “There’s a frog pond close by and there’s some pretty nice weather today- leave the boring adult stuff to me”. 

Still silent, you nodded, to which upon noticing, the tension in your father’s shoulders lifted slightly. 

“Sounds good squirt”. 

You watched as he disappeared from the car and into his cottage home, leaving the trunk and car doors open. A good way to let in flies, but you weren’t going to tell him that. 

Trees shifted slightly in the warm breeze, the dappling of the evening sunlight casting shadows of foliage onto the warm wooden deck you had retreated to while waiting for your promised bento. 

Your father was wealthy, you supposed. You constantly heard the prim ladies of your mother’s office gossip about his famed writing career- something to do with traditional Japanese literature and poems- (though you noticed that the ladies gossip was snide regarding your Ma, which is why you never brought it up). You knew nothing about poetry or writing but you could definitely see the connection between your estranged father and his esteemed job. It simply made sense that he was eccentric, yet reserved and awkward. Most artists seemed to be that way, like Ms. Maraday; a European woman dressed in vibrant purples and eclectic, clashing, patterns that lived next door to your flat in Tokyo. She often wore long feathered caps and copious scarves, chemises, and silks. Your Ma told you she was an ‘interior designer’ (‘someone who made houses look pretty’-she later said when you told her you didn’t understand). 

If you remember correctly, you were now in Hyogo. It was a simple village with an emphasis on nature. The traditional Japanese home that laid amongst the towering trees made it look peaceful. You supposed that is why your father moved here, away from the bustle of the glowing city where he could concentrate on his work and be inspired by the elements that simply weren’t of abundance in a place like Tokyo. It made sense why he left-you knew this. People with passions like him needed suitable places for creation, yet this reasoning didn’t seem to cure the bitter ache that left a taste too pungent in your mouth. 

The sliding paper door caught your attention when your Pa returned, a cloth-wrapped bento in hand. 

“Go explore, squirt, just be careful and come back before it gets too dark”. 

He gave you an unappreciated head ruffle and limped back to the car to unpack (he’d always had a funky waddle- your Ma always called it his ‘penguin walk’). 

‘Time to explore’ you thought before stashing your bento into your yellow backpack and trekking down the forest pathway leading away from the house. 

---

The warm breeze flew past you gently, stringing along stray leaves and bending the branches above you in a graceful arc. It was more shadowy now; the shade from the canopy casting flowing shadows akin to when sunlight hits the sea. These woods seemed quite magical. Quiet; yet unexplored and imbued with mystery. You enjoyed the silence away from the reality of summer, and the fresh air that filled your lungs brought you temporary relief. 

You were no longer following any sort of pathway, having strayed from the main areas in a moment of distraction whilst looking at the rays of vibrant light peak through the leaves. This didn’t bother you much- you were keen on exploring and any bought time away from the house was time well spent as far as you were concerned. Birds chirped and creatures scurried along the tall blades of grass. Perhaps you would find a fairy- that would certainly make your adventure more exciting. You continued on, unwavering heat beating on your brow and causing gleams of sweat to form.

How long have you been out? It didn’t matter you supposed. It was just fun to wander in an unfamiliar place- plus you had been hoping to come across the frog pond your Pa had mentioned so you could hold them. There weren’t many frogs in Tokyo for you to hold. 

Though, despite your efforts to trudge on, you couldn’t ignore the rumbling in your stomach. The bento was looking more appealing by the second, and eventually, your hunger outweighed your determination to continue, as you settled by a sunning rock and dug around your belongings for the wrapped bento. 

Untying the pink patterned sheet, you unveiled your lunch, the rice from your tuna onigiri sparkling in the sunlight like a polished stone. You couldn’t wait to eat. 

Before you could even take a bite, a harsh rustling from a nearby bush caught your attention. You narrowed your gaze on the shaking bush, fear making hairs rise along your neck. Surely it was just a woodland creature- a rabbit perhaps? You wanted to find a fairy, not a monster, but when you creeped closer in fearful curiosity, the two identical pairs of glowing brown eyes within the shadows of the bush-branches made you leap away with a yelp. 

You squeezed your eyes shut and brought your chubby little arms to brace yourself from the bush-monster. 

Two small shadows with pointed ears loomed over you and the bantering whispers of hushed voices made you peek cautiously. 

“I told ya I smelled food!”

“You said ya smelled something, not food.”

“Did not-”

“Did too!”

“Yer a liar-”

“Ya? Yer justa’ scrub.”

Two brunette boys around your age stood over you, bickering as their colored kimono- blue and red respectively- swished with each dramatic flair of their arms. The two were perfectly similar, like looking at your reflection in the mirror, and even more odd than the traditional clothing they were wearing, was the pointed fox ears and matching orange tails they donned. Were they real? They looked eerily realistic and the fact that the red kimono-wearing boy’s tail was flicking violently, affirmed that they were. 

Perhaps they were the mischievous kitsune fox-spirits from folklore. You gulped. They were talking about food- you just hoped they weren’t meaning you. 

“P-please d-d-don’t eat me” you stuttered quietly. 

Your meek voice managed to catch the attention of the twins as they gazed upon your crumpled form. 

“Ha- we don’t eat humans, ya scrub.” The red kimono-wearing boy said, gazing down at you with a look that said ‘you’re an idiot’. 

“We want soma’ that onigiri ya got there.” Chimed the second boy, his face stoic; a contrast from his more fiery counterpart. 

You hesitantly put down your arms and stood back up from the ground, getting a better look at the twins who gazed at you with intensity. 

“What are ya waiting for, human?” the red kimono boy hollered “Stop ya starin’ and share yer bento with us”. 

You listened, grabbing your bento and holding it out for them to take. 

The two wasted no time (you noticed the blue-kimono boy was the first to snatch a bite) gobbling up the tuna onigiri. You were safe for now, you hoped, and so you sat along with them near your rock and began to eat as well. 

“Uwahhhh~ these re’ delicious!” the boisterous red-boy spoke rudely through a mouthful of tuna and rice. You could practically see stars in his eyes as he chewed in delight- it reminded you of Ms. Maraday whenever she saw ‘handsome younguns’ pass by your neighborhood (you didn’t quite understand, but your Ma said you would when you were older-you weren’t too sure).  

You were very curious about these strange boys and who they really were. You desperately wanted to know, but you remained quiet, afraid to bring more attention to yourself. 

“We’re kitsune” the quieter one spoke, rice grains littered around his mouth. When you gave him a look of confusion he replied with a mouthful of onigiri “Ya looked like ya wanted to ask”. Nodding in understanding you smiled at the two, which caused them to stop chewing. 

“What’cha smilin’ for, human?” 

“Just happy that you aren’t monsters- and that you’re not gonna eat me”.

The boys gave each other a mirrored look of shock and proceeded to burst out laughing. 

“This again? Of course we aren't gonna eat ya, human,- yer probably not even tasty” the red boy cackled, showing his miniature pointed fangs. 

“Yer such a scrub” he added. 

“Super scrubby” his brother agreed. 

Ignoring the insult, you started to feel more comfortable around them. You didn’t think that they were going to bring you any harm. 

“What are your names?” you asked, chewing on some grapes.

“I’m Osamu,” the blue-wearing boy pointed to himself  “and Atsumu is my idiot brother over there” 

Atsumu lit up in indignation as he swatted his tail to flick his brother- ending in a small tussle between the two that you awkwardly witnessed. 

“I- my name is Y/N!” you exclaimed quickly, hoping to break up the fight. It thankfully worked, as the two separated (albeit glaring at each other) and nodded along, ears flicking in irritation. 

“Sounds likea’ pretty scrubby name to me” scoffed Atsumu as he dusted off his Kimono. He looked at you deeply, his more golden-flecked eyes searing into your mind. 

Though Atsumu seemed to be the more loud of the two, Osamu was just as intense. He had this aura of coldness and aloof eyes to match, despite his age. 

“Let’s call ya froggy instead. Ya look like the dopey frogs by the pond.”

Atsumu agreed with his brother, snickering at the suggestion, while you simply nodded in indifference. 

“You know where the frog pond is?” You asked.

The two boys quit their teasing and looked at you with identical squinted eyes of suspicion. You felt a little nervous. 

“Can you show me where the pond is? My Pa said it was close by but I can’t find it” you continued, hoping they would lead you so you could see the frogs they had named you after. 

“Hm… I dunno Froggy, that’s mine and Samu’s secret spot…” he trailed off with a pout on his lips and a mock-questioning expression, and you looked crushed. 

Atsumu quickly realized your fading expression as he piped up quickly with feigned disingenuous interest “I guess ya can tag along Froggy. Yer a scrub, but yer kinda cool I guess”. 

“-Cool enough ta’ give us onigiri” Osamu joined, hands folded inside his kimono sleeves. 

Your eyes sparkled like river stones in the sun as you gripped your yellow backpack straps in excitement.

“Let’s go ‘Samu-’Tsumu!”

The two boys bashfully looked away with pinkish faces, but you were too stoked to notice. 

The three of you traversed to the pond, you doddling behind the two twins as they playfully told you to hurry up. 

----

Meeting up by the frog pond became a regular occurrence throughout the summer spent at your father’s cottage. No longer was it ‘Tsumu and Samu’s secret spot’- it was your secret spot as well. Times when your father had to work on manuscripts, became times for the three of you to explore the plentiful woods together and gather by the frog pond for a lunch of tuna onigiri (you made your Pa pack extra routinely, and though he was confused at first, agreed- you were a growing girl, he reckoned). 

“I’m going to catch the biggest frog today!” Atsumu beamed with unwavering confidence. You giggled and cheered him on despite Atsumu frequently proclaiming this and never living up to it. 

“Good luck catching a frog ‘Tsumu. Yer ugly face scares them all away”. Osamu sneered, grinning cattishly. He stood knee-deep in the muddy pond with his kimono robe hitched up into undershorts and his sleeves rolled to his shoulders.

“Ya have the same face as me ya scrub!” Atsumu barked back, similarly in position like Osamu, but on the opposite side of the small pond. You simply sat on the banks, dipping your toes in the luke-warm shallows as you didn’t want to dirty the yellow sundress your Ma had given you. 

“Just ya watch ‘Samu! Yer gonna be cryin’ once ya see the fat toad I catch- Froggy! Watch me!” his fluffy orange tail flicked around as he wriggled like a cat in a hunting crouch. His eyes were focused on the water underneath him as his brother merely rolled his eyes with an irked huff. 

“Y/N could catch a bigger frog than ya and she’s not even in the water, ‘Tsumu.” 

The boy gave Osamu a deadpan glare and returned to his concentrated form.

A quick fox-like dash of a hand and an unceremonious splash (not appreciated ‘Tsumu) later, Atsumu cupped his prize delicately with both little hands, trodding out of the water towards you with Osamu following. He unveiled the grayish frog to you, basically the size of his entire palm.

“Ha! What did I tell ya ‘Samu? Look at my frog!” 

Osamu paled when you cooed, fascinated at his brother’s catch, and rolled back his sleeves preparing to go back into the water- this was a competition now. 

Atsumu had looked pretty pleased with himself, a cocky smirk and high-raised tail, only feeling his ego inflate larger when you complimented his frog-catching prowess. This was only temporary of course, as Osamu reappears by your side, cupping a perfectly same-size frog to Atsumu. 

“Ah- my frog is still bigger than yers ‘Samu!” Atsumu stomped bitterly, the puppy fluff by his ears riled. “Froggy- ya measure ‘em up. Tell us which frog is bigger!” 

You analyzed both frogs carefully. They were utterly identical- a lot like the twins facing you with beaming anticipation for your decision. 

“They’re both the same” you concluded, bringing faces of disappointment as the two bickered about which frog should have won the competition. 

“Here-” they stopped their fighting to look towards your smiling face as you stood to perch a daisy-link crown around the two ears between them. “You both can win the prize.” 

They stood tensely with synchronized blushing faces- both frogs long gone by now from the lack of watchful eyes. 

“Yeah…w-whatever. I guess we can both win..” Atsumu pouted as his hands fidgeted with your gift. Osamu similarly looked bashfully, whispering a ‘thank you’ and playing with his damp kimono sleeves. 

Despite their many differences, you could definitely see their brotherly similarities as they stood with mirrored shyness. You could only giggle. 

----

“I’m King of the rock today!”

Osamu huffed, a frown on his rounded face. 

“Yer always King of the rock ‘Tsumu!”

Breeze ruffled the long fronds of grass, the sound akin to brushing the fur of a large pooch (you imagine that such a pooch would need to use a pool as a bathtub and a rake as a comb). You pleasantly tuned out the background noise as you relaxed in the golden evening, serenaded by the season’s cicadas. This had been going on for a while now, the sharp tang of clashing voices sometimes pulling you out of your sleepy daze. 

Two twins perched on the highest ledge of the sunning rock, billowing tails irate and ears pinned flat against their brown locks, bickering about who would be crowned the prestigious title of ‘King of the rock’. This was often a game the three of you would play, Atsumu and Osamu rotating between the ‘King’ role and you faithfully claiming your position as the court advisor (neither of them knew what that meant, and you only knew about it because of your father’s habitual tendency to spout oddities at the dinner table). Though you certainly had no opinion on the matter, you knew for certain that the two trouble making brothers would rope you into it somehow. 

“Froggy!” “FROGGY” (said simultaneously) 

And here it was.

“Ya agree don’t ya? ‘Tsumu would make a better princess than a King”.

You held in a laugh at Atsumu’s blinking shock as the twins pounced on each other; frolicking fox kits in the summer sunlight. You could tell there was no real malice behind the two’s actions, they were brothers- hearts intertwined and spirits invigorated by each other’s energy. It almost made you envious. You grew up relatively lonely, only enjoying the presence of Tokyo and your imagination; the subway was your carriage, the chimes of streetlights your music, and the songbirds and alleycats, your friends- you wondered if a sibling would help fill that void. 

“OW! ‘Tsumu!”

You snapped out of your reverie, lying up from the flattened grass you nested on. Osamu sat on the mossy rock, eyes watering, lip quivering, and little hands nestling the bottom of his foot. You got up immediately, looking back to see Atsumu guiltily shuffling beside his brother, wringing his hands. He looked unsure what to do, and you could see tears beginning to well in his eyes as well, as he saw what he caused to his brother. 

Gently you took Osamu’s muddy foot into your hand and inspected the scrape from the fall. It was bleeding slightly, running a crimson pathway down his heel and pooling between the crevices between his toes. Running your sleeve along his heel to wipe the blood, you caught him wince- you tried more delicately this time, removing residual grime as well, seeing as the two fox-boys never wore footwear. 

You turned back to Tsumu who by now was sitting on the opposite end of the rock, looking ashamed and wilted like an unwatered houseplant. “‘Tsumu-” you called for his attention. 

He turned.

“Help me bandage your brother up?” You pawed around your yellow backpack looking for the small first-aid kit your mother insisted you carry around- finally the heavy tin box would be put to use. 

You instructed Tsumu to hold up his brother’s foot while you held up two bandaids- a hello kitty one with polka dots, and a blue one with patterned hearts. Both brothers grimaced at the ugly choices, but you gave them a look that got them to settle down. 

“Hello Kitty or hearts?” 

Osamu sniffed and chose the blue one (of course), to which you complied and stuck it to his heel. You prodded Atsumu who had returned to sulking, and whispered at him to apologize. 

It didn’t take long for his pride to break. He started to sob as he hugged his brother in a tight embrace and tugged at his kimono sleeves “Sorry ‘Samu! I didn’t mean ta hurt ya!”  

Samu pouted his lips pretending to still be offended, but you could tell it was all forgiven as he flicked his tail atop of his brother’s head like a strange hat and patted his arms. 

“Ya ya. Yer alright ‘Tsumu”.

It was genuinely heartwarming to see them interact and you began to enjoy your summer a little more while watching your friends. Atsumu’s sniffling ceased, as he looked up at the two of you bashfully. 

“Hey ‘Samu?”

“Ya?”

“Ya can be King today”.

----

The smell of cedar is strong in the midnight forest as you trek with your fox-eared friends. Cicada’s chirp loudly, framing the sounds of wooden sandals and calloused feet on the grassy pathway. 

“‘Saaamuuu, how long till we’re there?” You complained for the nth time that night. 

Looking to the right, with a mopey face to ‘Samu, posture slouching from what seemed to be hours walking in your young body, you were interrupted by the wrong twin.

“Keep it down, ya, Froggy?! Yer gonna scare the buggies with all ya groanin’!”

Osamu flicked his plume of a tail and nipped his twin’s ear at his snappy response. Atsumu only shrugged it off, but clearly looked peeved, taking the heel of his palm and smoothing out the fur of his ears with a huff. 

“We’re nearly there, Froggy. Don’cha worry ya little Froggy head, ya?” 

You giggled as ‘Samu ruffled your hair like a wet umbrella. Only to giggle louder when ‘Tsumu joined in the attack- the two boys relentlessly tickling you and making you forget about your aching tiredness. 

They two stopped only when spotting a scooping hill in the distance. 

“C’mon, Froggy! The night waits fer no one!”  

You attached yourself to the racing twins by holding on to their obi, venturing to the moonlit meadow just outside of the forest. 

You sucked in a deep breath as you gazed upon the endless expanse of the glittering indigo sky. Arcs of night clouds circled the pearl moon, trees bending in a graceful embrace around the tickling sweet grass, the scent of chill and clarity enrapturing the senses. The flickering stars reflected in your irises; gleaming with some wondrous awe the two boys became utterly fascinated with, as their own sharp eyes studied your tranquil ease. 

Placid lips, once silent, parted to speak- though it was clear your focus was still diverted to the summer heavens. 

“This place is so…” you paused; gentle winds jostling your locks and chirping creatures filling the silence. 

“Beautiful” you finished. 

The sway of the long grasses caressed your body as you laid to stargaze in the meadow. The twins, still entranced by your contentment with their surprise location, sat on either side of you- mirroring cheshire grins of success lacing their canine smiles.

The more boisterous fox chirped as he flattened his arms behind his head like a pillow. 

“Just ya wait. The best part hasn’t even started yet”.

You directed your starlit gaze to ‘Tsumu, wondering what else could be more magnificent than the ether above. Anticipation paid off, as in the corner of your eyes (next to a pair of smirking foxes), golden, floating, stars started to come from underneath the grass. 

“They’re stars!” you burst out in excitement. You look at the faces of your two cherished friends, watching them giggle at your unlady-like outburst. They didn’t bother correcting you, as you looked like you were having too much fun hopping like a grasshopper in the meadow, a huge grin on your face as you attempted to catch the floating stars. 

“‘Tsumu! ‘Samu!” you called. “Come catch the stars with me!” Atsumu was the first to wriggle his tail and pounce like a hunter towards you, tickling you as you absolutely beamed. Osamu watched on, laughing identically with his brother at your giddiness. When was the last time he and his brother had a friend like you?

It had always been him and Atsumu, facing the world together. Foxes are solitary creatures, and it’s rare that Inari, the fox goddess, would send such young kits to work in the human realm. You truly were a treasure. A glittering golden stone like the bright sun; something so ultimately precious to them, as if you were worth more than the tastiest fatty tuna onigiri or the high of winning against his brother- you were family. No longer was it two unlucky twin fox kits facing the shadows of the earthly plane- it was ‘Tsumu, ‘Samu and Froggy-forever. 

“-forever” Samu turned to your voice, you and ‘Tsumu panting and tired after chasing each other, and lying in the ticklish grass. 

“Let’s stay together forever” you repeated, turning to face Osamu with glittering fireflies reflected in your endless gaze.

“Forever” the twins agreed in unison.

---

“Ya know, Froggy” Astumu chirped, hands lazily folded behind his fox-eared head, “Those weren’t stars, they were buggies”. 

You gaped, eyes wide. “EHHHHHHH!!??”

---

The last day of summer vacation came too fast, and it also just so happened to land on the rainiest day in years. The weather was torrent, trees lashing by aggressively amidst the sharp drops of rain and the howling wind. Roads were closing, trains were halted- all in fear of the upcoming storm.

“You can’t go out today sweetie, I’m sorry-” your father tried to placidate your rising temper. He gestured his hands towards you, in a friendly embrace, only for you to whip out of his grasp in anger. 

“It’s not fair!” you cried, fat tears rolling down your soft face. “Why can’t I go out to see my friends?- I won’t-” you paused to catch your breath as you continued to choke on your emotions. “I won’t be able to see them for a long time!”

Battling his confusion at the mention of your unheard of ‘friends’, he ached in sympathy to see you in such a state, but your safety was his uttermost priority “Now, sweetie-”

“NO!” you stomped your foot in utter outrage. You couldn’t believe the audacity of your Pa, to try and stop you from seeing your friends-no-your family- before you left. You hardly spent the summer with our own father, as he was too busy, and now he wanted to take you away from your only reprieve of loneliness? 

“You can’t tell me what to do when you’ve never been there- you- you’re barely my Pa anyways!”

Your father looked on in horror, not only at your stinging words,but your small form dashing away quickly past the paper doors and into the unrelenting storm.

“Y/N!” he shouted- you didn’t listen, quickly evading him even as he attempted to chase you on his bum leg. 

The wind clawed at your tiny body- rain slicked your floral summer dress and chilled you to the bone. The bending trees, once so welcoming, were being tossed around like marbles in a dish, and the sun that watched over you all summer- gone without a trace in the pluming smoke-like clouds. You continued to run as fast as your legs could take you, every once and a while slipping on the wet stones and skinning your knees in the gritty mud. You couldn’t tell if it was the rain pouring down your face or your tears. 

“‘Tsumu! ‘Samu!” you cried, eyes blurry, and snot dripping onto the bib of your yellow collar. Your socks were beyond ruined at this point, and the tears from the sharp branches and many tumbles you took, only worsened the burning sting of the raindrops and buffeting gale. 

A gnarled, slippery root brought you to your bleeding knees, and you felt as if you couldn’t possibly continue any longer. You were there- at your secret hideout, but the absence of your foxy friends made your heart drop. 

You were wet, bleeding, scared, and alone. Your small little paradise was crumbling, and the angels that once played such sweet melodies to lift your lonesome spirit had faded away into their now-melancolic tunes. 

“Froggy!” You whipped your head with re-invigorated energy as you heard the voice of your twins. “Tsu--m mu-Sam…” you cried incoherently as they bent to hug your shivering form. 

“I- I just want to go home”.

The twins looked at each other, and with a saddening, but newfound resolve, spoke.

“We can take you home, Froggy- if that’s your wish”

You nodded, feeling defeated, but also confused at how a gangle of small children would be able to pass through the bitter storm for the second time. 

“Don’cha worry ya little froggy head- yer safe, with us- always-”

Chocolate eyes met yours in a teary gaze. You were caught in a spell; the familiar slitted eyes communicating their immense sadness, yet, determination as they continued explaining.

“We heard yer wish, ya know, the one about ya wantin’ to go home, and Inari sent us to fulfill this wish, as spirits of the forest”.

Osamu chimed in- “That’s what kitsune do- we grant wishes” he paused and took your frozen hands in his. You noticed he was still wearing the bandaid you put on his foot. “We can help ya, Froggy, but after, our mission will be done…and once ya step out of the forest- you’re gonna forget everything that’s happened…”

“No!” you interrupted, your gaze flicked between the two soggy-haired, solemn boys as you balked in disbelief. “N-no- I’d never forget you guys!” The tears that had slightly dried before came back tenfold as you squeezed ‘Samu’s clawed hands. “The frog pond, the buggies, sharing onigiri?? I’d never forget any of that!” you proclaimed. “We- we promised to stay together-forever! I won’t go home if I won’t remember you two- you are my home!”

“Froggy.” Atsumu silenced you, tucking the stuck hair off your forehead, to behind your ear. You had never heard the jovial boy so serious before. “Ya need to go back to your own world- to grow up in Tokyo-” “-to experience the other seasons-” Osamu added. “-to be with yer Ma and Pa and that crazy hag Ms. Maraday…” They could go on, but by the defeated look reflected in your eyes, they could tell you understood. 

You shakily stood up. 

“Let’s get ya home, ya, Froggy?”

With their hands joined with yours, they steadied you. Like a beautiful dance, they conjured ghostly blue flames with their spare hands and you watched as the foxfire shot up into the sky like bullets, and returned as glowing orbs leading a pathway through the forest. 

Slowly, the three of you began to run through the rain, laughing as you splashed into cold puddles. This was it, the last you’d ever hear of their laughter, so you couldn’t help the tears that mixed into your giggles as they gazed upon you so fondly. 

The trail of glowing sky-like fire reached an opening in the forest and you could see the engawa of your father’s summer home shadowed in the near distance. 

You dug your heel into the mud and spun around right before the drop off out of the forest pathway. Your face glowed with the slick rain and the heavenly light emitting from the globes of fire that still surrounded the three of you. 

The twins cried. You cried, but your signature smile overtook your face. They let go of your hands. 

“I’ll never forget you two. We’re friends- forever”.

“Forever”, they agreed, smiling through their tears. You took one last look at their identical faces, tall pointed ears, and their plumes of fluffy white-tipped tails- committing it to memory. You’d remember them. That was a promise.

And with a leap, your muddied sock passed the border between the trees and the outside, and you looked back, seeing the two figures holding hands and grinning caddishly, fading away like transparent ghosts.

As you landed, you suddenly blanked. What were you doing here? You can’t remember, but all you know is that you’re wet, aching, and feel overwhelmingly empty- like something was missing. 

“Y/N- thank god you’re okay-!” your Pa hugged you tightly, looking over you as you faded back into reality. Police officers, sirens, and a gaggle of old adults who bore the fireman’s uniform huddled around you and your father, making sure you were okay. You didn’t really understand what was going on, but you hugged your father tighter as your daze looked back at the empty, dark forest. You were ushered inside immediately to get warm, and though the forest seemed to have some sort of significance in your brain, you let it slip your mind as you were being coddled. 

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

And though you could not remember quite everything that happened during your adventures in the forest by your Pa’s home, you were left with an uneasy feeling in your gut like something was missing. As the familiar crumble of gravel marked the beginning of the journey back to Tokyo, you couldn’t help but gaze upon the slowly receding forest. The tall trees swayed mystically in an enchanting embrace like they were reaching out for you; saddened by you leaving. You wanted to reach back too- only being separated by the pane of the SUV’s car window.

To you, summer was about catching frogs, playing king-of-the-rock, gazing upon fireflies, eating fatty tuna onigiri in the summer warmth, and oddly enough- about two orange foxes with identical brown eyes. To you, the feeling of summer was like home. 

The trickling streams of the frog pond, fireflies fluttering in the dimming night sky, the smell of the deep amber woods and yesterday’s rain; vibrant dusk tinting our fading summer memories.

End~

Okay so extremely random probably but please someone indulge me

(This has spoilers for final destination I guess)

I just watched the first Final Destination Movie w/ @emiko-fan-2podcasterin and before we saw the last death happen, an idea came to mind:

An au were instead of Carter dying at the end, they get just away from the situation in Paris and are now more or less bonded together. This entails moving in together, going to college together, having same classes etc etc , because they are trying to infinitely avoid the others deaths by having a constant cycle of saving going on.

So now they are like „Welp I guess we’re stuck with eachother ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ“

So everyone around them: teachers, students, neighbours […] only knows them as a trio and u can not understand any circumstances find one without the other two.

Now this whole thing is a comedy sitcom with a bit of catastrophe a la Murphy’s law and a hilariously casual way they handle it after the time that passed.

Also in the humble opinion of my friend and I: they are in a poly relationship like at least after a few years it won’t just be Alex&Clear and Carter anymore but Alex&Clear&Carter (no I don’t take criticism on this)

I will sadly not be writing the whole thing cuz I always get stuck when writing very easily and I don’t want anyone (not even myself) to have to wait for my writing :|

Would love to hear some opinions on this since I don’t even know how existing the Final destination fandom in 2024 is especially since my knowledge of it is only from the first movie :)

(P.s. I loved Seeing Ali Larter in this personally since I only knew her from legally blonde which is one of my favourite movies :))) )

Trash Of The Mafia

Summary: mori arrange a meeting with dazai to meet his 'special student' and his soon to be mentor plus friend?

Warning: mori itself is a warning (Pedophile/Grooming/ETC)

Genre: dazai meet someone stable? Unstable. but healthy enough to give dazai a better view of the world...?? unhinged reader?? canon divergence?

Pairing: osamu dazai x male!reader

Part: 1/?

"AND THIS IS MY OFFICE-" Mori stood in the middle of the room and turned around, spreading his arms apart. A smile planted on his face as he then crossed his arm over his chest. "What do you think, Dazai?"

The boy in question, blink and point at himself. "Me?" He grown quiet and glance around for a second before coming into conclusion. "Well, it's better than mine, I guess..."

"Great...!" He nodded accepting dazai's answer. "Do you know why we are here, Dazai?"

"You mention that we gonna meeting 'precious' surbodinate of yours?" Dazai pursue his lips, "Thus that mean you want me to meet that person right?"

"As precise as ever, Dazai." He smile and turn around, looking at his office chair that is facing away to the wall. "You can come out now."

...

"Eh?" Mori blink and approach the chair, "[Nickname]?" He turn the chair around and see no one there. "[Nickname]!?" Mori started panicked looking around the room.

Lifting everything in the room in sight.

"[Name]!" He shouted, "Where are you?!"

Dazai who has been quietly watching thought, 'Is this a game?'

He nodded his head at his assumption and started walking around to search for the certain person as well. His eyes carefully look at every place.

'There is no a single trace of the person left behind, it's almost like the person never enter the room at all but...' He glance at the still frantic Mori looking around the place. 'That [Name] should be here. Right here, right now base of Mori reaction.'

Suddenly he went still from walking, his eye dilated and look up to the ceiling, "Found you."

A wide grin appear on [Name]'s face, "You found me."

He giggle excitedly and jump down from holding onto the candelier, "How exciting! Someone actually found me!" He clap his hand and put his hand on air, celebrating.

"[Nickname], here you are." Mori approach the boy hurriedly and let out a sigh, "Didn't I tell you to stay seated on the chair...? I was planning for you to have a strict appearance, you know."

[Name] stop celebrating and smiling before a pouted appear, "You are out way too long! I got bored."

"Ah, really..." He smile fondly.

"it's your fault Mr.Mori!"

"Ah, yes. You are right." He nodded to the boy word, going along. "It's my fault, sorry."

Dazai blink at the interaction happen infront of him, 'Mori being too nice right now. He even said it's his fault.' He glance at [Name].

'What's their relationship with each other?'

"Dazai," Upon hearing his name called, Dazai look back at Mori to see he one sidely hug [Name] by his side. "This is [Name] [Last Name], he will be your mentor from now on and help you get comfortable in the mafia."

"Mentor...?" Dazai uttered out, looking at [Name], " He literally look younger than me."

Mori laugh at that statement and while he do so, he stroke [Name]'s head.

Suprisingly [Name] not even mad at the word Dazai's said. "We actually the same age, Dazai!" He beamed with sparkle surrounding him as he jump up then down excitedly, "I never meet someone the same age of me, they usually 20+ or 40+ older than me!"

"How exciting!" He clapped his hand happily.

"[Name] here having a malnourished problem, that is why he look younger and smaller than what his age actually is." Mori explain once he stop laughing.

"Oh." Dazai look at the still laughing [Name], '...That is why he sound annoying, we are the same age.'

"Hello~!" He waved his hand excitedly, "Ah, Aso how's your son doing at home?!"

Dazai is quietly following behind [Name], who is walking and skipping on his step while greeting everyone in his line of sight.

"Doing great! By the way, my wife and I are excited about a twin soon!"

[Name] gasped and squealed, "Oh my god, congrats! Name them after me, will you?!"

"Of course, that's the plan!" The guy laughs happily and strokes [Name]'s head.

[Name] leans into the palm that strokes his head, humming, "I was kidding but thank you, I'm honored!"

After a bit more of chitchat, Dazai and [Name] continue their journey walking to somewhere.

"The ants marched one by one, hora hooray~"

"...." Dazai stared at [Name] continuously behind his back and did not even bother to hide it.

"My student~!" He turns his head over his shoulder to Dazai, "You should speak up instead of staring, you see, you almost make me flush, shy~!! With that stare, hehe~" He declared with a bright smile clasping his hands together.

Dazai scrunched his face in disgust.

[Name] continues acting like a shy maiden nevertheless as he sways his body side by side.

"That guy earlier."

[Name] stand straight with a smile, giving Dazai his full attention. "What about him?"

"You are absolutely an important person to the point even the physician and the port mafia boss right handman, Mori-san seems to show a lot of respect to you." Dazai started and took a step forward to [Name] who didn't give any reaction to his statement.

"Why are you being a puny dog to your subordinate? Even letting them use your name to name their child."

[Name] throws his head back and bursts out loud laughing at Dazai's words, "Oh Dazai," He wipes his tears, "You, will get in trouble saying much thing bluntly."

Even though he said that he shook his head fondly with an amused smile. "I don't have any answer to your question, I just love people. They make me happy, give me serotonin, and give me something to do when I interact with them."

He spins around and starts walking ahead again.

Dazai followed behind and spoke up again to [Name], "Because it's not boring when you have entertainment isn't it? You talk with them like you care about them, ask stories and such."

"How childish." He sneered.

"Bingo!" [Name] admits, not even trying to deny anything. "You really get me, Dazai, I like you!"

"Please don't."

[Name] giggles, "Aww, you say that but I will make you like me~" His eyes shine with an unknown glint as he says, "Anyway, any more questions?" He jumps and clap his hand.

Dazai closes his eyes and opens them back, "You, who are you?"

[Name] tilts his head and starts tapping his finger on his chin in thought, "Hm," An eerily smile curl on his lips.

"I am Doctor Mori's temporary assistant and The Port Mafia, son that soon to be the heir...!"

For years, Burnham’s subsistence had consumed it.

This time, though, its obsession had brought it too close.

It was easy enough to inject the codes and create the protocols she needed to guide it. But the process was delicate, conducted in increments in the years she’d lurked on board. There were times she had wanted to push, to move faster and save more ships. But discretion was key–her influence could only be gradual, dispersed across timelines that coincided with new batches of data lest it ever suspect an intruder.

Control was smart, its processes swift and its analyses improving with every moment. It would outpace her soon enough, learning faster than she could, and if it ever caught wind of her presence, she had no doubts about what it would do to her.

The Commander whose face it still wore was indication enough of that.

A shiver passed through her at the thought of possession, at the depraved violation of Airiam’s last moments alive, and she shrugged the coil of cables onto her shoulder.

Control reviewed that memory often, as if it were searching for something.

Or maybe it simply enjoyed it.

She moved through the doorway, back into the corridor. It would not do to dwell on worries and what-ifs when Discovery and Burnham were finally within reach. The room she’d set up as her station was near, and she still had two hours before Control would wake again.

It was plenty of time.

Starfleet would hear her.

-----

I'll begin posting this one soon :)

Fandom: Star Trek: Discovery

Rating: Mature

Relationships: Michael Burnham / Airiam, Michael Burnham / Control, Michael Burnham / Nhan

Synopsis:

Three years after the attack on Section 31 Headquarters, Starfleet and the Federation are on the brink. Planet after planet is falling to Control, every attack more devastating than the last. There are no patterns, no viable solutions to stop the carnage, and with their resources dwindling, the last Federation starships are at risk of being corrupted themselves.

But when the USS Discovery begins receiving encrypted transmissions from someone claiming to be Starfleet who seems to know everything about their enemy, Captain Michael Burnham is forced to decide whether their new source is truly an ally–or if Control is luring the Federation’s last bastion of hope into a trap.