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beanieman · 2 years

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A Glimpse Of Us (A Shin And Sara Platonic Fic)

Deep fatigue seeps into Shin Tsukimi's bones. It seeks a moment of peace that even the plastic couch in the art gallery provides, the uncomfortable wrapping feeling like an angelic cloud under his tired frame.

Beside him sits an ex-detective and a young boy with a wet face. To their side, a girl he badly wished was dead, seeming as exhausted as the rest. The banquet concluded only hours before, leaving them helpless as their numbers dwindled from five to four. They could find no hope in that, but none seem as worn down as Gin.

His tears ran even hours after Q-Taro burned, feeling a grief Shin knows as well as how to breathe. But he knows to keep his place and not intervene. It's Sara's role to swoop in and save the day while he acts as nothing more or less than an observer in her story. He watches as she wraps her arms over the green-eyed boy, slightly leaning on him in an attempt to shield him from the blood-stained halls of the death game.

It would be kind if not meaningless. He has no doubt the child will be thrown away at her next whim. That's what she does, and will do again if not put down.

"... I'll kill you...Worthless... It's all worthless..." a promise made only to himself echoes in his head. But for now, he'll bide his time, watching this play out. To learn her tactics and weaknesses.

To see how far she'll go.

More Undercut

He'd like to protect Gin from the wolf that circles them, but he's more than aware of how little power he holds. The strong create the path, and the weak follow it even if they disagree with the direction. The way of the world dishes out consequences for those like him, consequences he'll no doubt have to face later, but he can't fight the fate assigned to them.

The girl who's most likely to live whispers Gin's way, not minding the presence of the commoners around her.

"Gin... Don't cry... We'll be home soon." The softness of her tone is almost nurturing. But Shin knows the truth. He saw it with his own eyes, and reaped the consequences of believing. Yet her next words throw him off, a simple mundane sentence he didn't expect.

"Gin… What's your favorite type of ice cream?" Her clear distractions dig into his mind, resurfacing a memory he yearns to forget.

"Sara really is kind…Kanna knows you don't trust her, but she's not bad." The young girl rambles on as she has for hours, playing with her fingers as his own tap against the laptop keys.

"...Just be careful." Her face doesn't flicker from boredom, unlike his intense expression as he clicks through the last remnant of Kai Satou. His eyes stay glued to the screen, but his ears listen as Kanna fills the silence.

"Err…Sou? Do you like ice cream?"

It's the mundane of the question that takes him aback. Not once since he's come here has he thought about the day-to-day. Death and manipulation have taken the space where joy and a carefree attitude used to be. But now, he doesn't need to think of the bad. Instead, he leans into the dullness of their conversation.

"...Yeah. I haven't had it in a while, but my parents and I used to go to this corner store after school some days." He's always too honest with her. Too vulnerable. But it's worth seeing the smile spread across his sister's face.

It reminds him of a young man in a blue scarf smiling warily into a camera, but he pushes that thought down as soon as it emerges in favor of listening to Kanna speak.

"Kanna and her sister used to get ice cream every day…." He notices the girl cringe at the memory, but with a deep breath, she steadies herself to continue onward.

"Sister liked mature flavors like mocha, but Kanna prefers mint." She pauses for a moment, tears welling in her eyes at thoughts of days long gone. Shin feels powerless to make things better, instead choosing to distract her from her mind. Just like a big brother should do.

"That toothpasty stuff?" Genuine rage flickers across her face, looking like she received a personal insult. It makes Shin lose his composure, letting a sharp laugh escape his chapped lips in a moment of joy he hasn't felt since then. Instead, those feelings are replaced by a living voice cutting through his haze.

"Meow…sherbet…Woof."

He can hear the past in their words, the unwelcome recollection making his legs shake as he pushes to his feet and stumbles to the art gallery entryway. The stillness of the library seems tempting to seek out in the hope it'll quiet his racing thoughts. Yet words from the purple-eyed girl stop him dead.

"That's a good pick, Gin. Whenever I get ice cream with Ryoko, I always end up getting mint…even if I say I'll finally get something different." The pain is fresh again, sharper than it had been a few moments earlier before his stomach felt filled with lead. Such a simple statement winds him, the mere thought of a monster having anything in common with his guiltless little sister making him nauseous. The part of him that's still sane knows that by nature's laws they'll share similarities, but his disgusted mind begs him to deny it.

He stays frozen in the doorway, cursing himself when dark eyes catch his own. The lightest of smiles ghost across Keiji’s damned mouth at the thought of making his life harder, a smug look he’d love to wipe away.

“Hang on a minute Sou…no, Shin Tsukimi. Why don't we all have a little sleepover here? I'm sure Tia wouldn't turn down a request for blankets." Shin doesn’t argue. There's no need in a rigged discussion. His wants would fall on deaf ears as they have once before. So he forces a tight-lipped grin and a brisk nod, moving back from the entryway as Sara stands to find Kanna's executioner.

"You can rest, Sara. Your friendly ex-policeman will ask, so take it easy you two…and stay together till I get back. Until we get a good grasp on this Meister character, we shouldn't get separated." Despite his warning, he's quick to turn on his heels and exit, leaving Shin to take his place in the corner.

He knows better than to wander. His "loyal allies" would only track him down. The moment of peace he so badly desires is as far out of reach as possible. Yet, he feels no need to fraternize with the enemy, not when he's safer alone.

It's easier to forget his lost light when cast in darkness, even if the soft glow emitting from the others can be tempting to embrace. But he pulls back, refusing to join even as Keiji returns with strong arms filled with warm blankets and soft pillows.

The blonde tosses one of each toward his allies, hurling it too fast to catch as the pillow fumbles from Shin's grip and onto the floor. He can hear Sara laugh, a high-pitched sound ringing through his head as the girl silently places her bedding in the center of the room while he puts his in the corner. To no surprise, Keiji and Gin join her, chatting about the coming day.

He's too tired to listen and too exhausted to care about tomorrow. All that matters is his head falling against the pillow and the blanket giving the false illusion of safety under its warm fabric. His limbs are as heavy as his eyes. All he wants is to sleep, even if just for a few hours. But Sara's chatter keeps him awake. A reminder of what could happen if he lets down his guard. She leaves him for now, but that could change as his back turns.

He won't give her an easy strike, even if that means awareness of resting alone.

"… You're sure Kanna isn't a burden?" an unwanted recollection hits him like a wave. A reminder of the real burden, which is memory.

"I would tell you if you were. Just get comfy and don't cause trouble with Miss Sara." He was harsh to her then. Far more than needed for a girl who grieved like the moon missing the sun.

Yet, in his mind, he feels little guilt as Kanna collapses against the bed. Weariness from the first main game seemed to have followed her, tears running down her pale face like a flowing waterfall.

He wanted to do more to cheer her up than he had to give, only being able to agree when the shaken girl asked to stay in his room until daybreak. A request he was happy to fulfill not to be alone.

It made him feel safer, silly as it was. The girl offered no real protection, but she calmed his always racing heart. It seemed to give her a sense of comfort as well. She quickly pulled the blankets around her, curling into a small ball on her right side.

"Sou…could you wake Kanna up if she starts acting funny? Um...Kanna doesn't want any nightmares." Her request made his chest ache, and he couldn't consider refusing.

"... I'll keep a lookout. Rest is a valuable option in its own right, so try to get some sleep." His words gave enough comfort to lull her off. Yet he wasn't ready to rest. Instead, he turned to Kai's laptop, hoping against all threads of logic he'd have a plan to escape waiting for when she woke up. However, like every shred of hope he's felt, it slips through his fingers as the password dangles just out of reach.

His teeth hurt by how bad they grit as his leg bounces in unease. If he can't aid in their escape, death will approach faster than a vote could be cast. But the only use he has is in this room, watching for a nightmare that could or could not appear.

Yet it feels more important than anything he's done so far.

He's not one for promises. They can be used to get the upper hand far too easily. A manipulation tactic he'd be quick to use but disgusted to be used by. Yet he can't help but trust the girl sleeping soundly on her right side. Her breath comes out steady, and her eyelids lay still. She looks peaceful, if not cold, with the blanket kicked down by her feet.

If he is of use, it's to be a big brother fighting the chill in her bones. With a natural motion, he reaches out and places the blanket across her frame, a smile ghosting his lips as she cuddles into the warmth provided. The flowers sprouting from her body protruded from the fabric as her red skin contrasts against the pure blank blackness of her eyes that glance at him with hatred.

"Why did you help Miss Sara kill me?"

Shin's eyes shoot open with the speed of a bullet. He's quick to push himself up, relieved to find no pink flowers waiting for him. Instead, he's met with darkness and the sound of gentle snoring bouncing from walls. His throat is slightly sore, and his head twinges in similar dull pain. It's hard to tell if he was asleep or in the realm of deep thought, but either way, he was far too vulnerable for his liking.

With a sideways glance his vision focuses on the middle of the floor. Keiji and Gin look asleep, but shift with unease as something beyond his understanding plagues them. However, Sara lays as still as the dead. Her body is stiff, and silent, showing no signs of experiencing the torment she so easily bestowed upon him.

It's incomprehensibly cruel. Shin's mind is never alleviated from the grief that's become a part of him, but her mind grants a feeling that he can no longer understand.

Resolve.

It's an emotion only the strong can have. The weak are the ones kept awake by their sins. The ones who ask, "How could I have changed the outcome?" While the strong march on without a doubt of the choices they've made. But there's one thing he wouldn't regret, and that's cutting his strings from the strong by killing the puppet master.

It's her who killed Kanna and took away his right to die. A right he didn't know he wanted to have. But the memories don't break her. They only serve as a tool to bring the allies she would discard at a moment's notice closer. His eyes flicker to Gin, bile rising up his throat at the thought of enduring the sight of a child's blood. Again.

But a sentence comes from his shell of a mind, a promise inviting him to fulfill it.

"... I'll kill you...Worthless... It's all worthless..." Shin meant every word, even as days passed with inaction as Sara continued to be the hero they sought. But he, too, can be a hero with a moment of blind bravery and unprecedented luck. In her unconscious state, tactics and weakness aren't needed, just a blunt object.

That's when he remembers the hammer in the operating room.

He rises to his feet. His heart pounds with fear for what he's about to do. A part of him screams to lay back down, to go to sleep and see what tomorrow brings. But a premonition guides him to make things right. To get revenge and take back the peace Sara stole in just one blow.

He vaguely thinks about how empty his hands feel, wishing he had taken a tool much earlier when he didn't have to cross the floor full of sleeping people. But he can't go back and make his mission simpler. All he can do is try to pass through.

He steps slowly until the blanket resting at Sara’s feet hits the tip of his toes. She doesn’t indicate that he’s standing over her. Even as he stares. For the first time, he looks down at her instead of her looking down at him, just to find the thrill of strength isn’t there, only a deep numbness spreading through his bones like a chill. He can’t breathe as a wave of dizziness hits him, especially seeing how Sara rests.

She’s curled into a small ball on her right side. Blanket kicked to the foot of her bed.

Exactly how Kanna would sleep.

With a natural motion, he reaches out and places the blanket across Sara’s form, watching as she cuddles into the warmth provided.

It scares him how natural it feels. How surprising it is to feel brotherly affection again after days of loneliness. It’s all too much, a fact he knows when a hot tear trails down his eye and onto the sleeping girl’s pillow.

“What am I doing?” The thought hits him, a scream from a weak man he can’t quite bury. His knees nearly buckle under as he stumbles backward, turning fast to find his previous resting place. His bed isn’t what’s waiting for him. Instead, a small girl stands in its place. She wears a taunting smirk, unlike any expression he’s seen before, blood trailing down her limbs as flowers sprout from her veins.

“Why did you let Kanna die?”

Shin screams as his hand flies over his mouth, stumbling back as he trips over Sara’s legs and crashes onto the cold floor. For a moment, he’s dazed as his ears ring and vision blurs, but then he hears it. Three shocked yells are coming from above.

“Meow, loner, are you okay, woof?!” “Sou?! What were you doing over here?” “Shin! Are you alright?!” He looks up at them, as he always has, and feels contempt. For once, not at them, but himself. For seeing his sister in his enemy. For thinking he was strong enough to end his pain. For not being able to get revenge.

For leading Kanna to her death.

He bites back tears as they stare. The shame of the strong seeing him cry being enough to repress the sadness engulfing his mind. Instead, he relies on rage to refit his mask as his words come out dripping with venom.

“Do you think I’m alright?” None look shocked, but Sara shifts with unease as she bites her lip and broadly shrugs her shoulders.

“I-I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.” Her hand reaches out, offering to pull him to his feet, and Shin's quick to swat it away. He pushes upward of his own will, not wanting to accept the hollow gesture of friendship presented before him.

"Of course you wouldn't. You don't feel anything at all unless it's convenient for you. Isn't that right, Miss Sara?" Disbelief flickers across her features, and for a moment, Kanna looks back at him. They share the same look of confusion. Their eyebrows shoot up while their lips curl into a disapproving frown, leaving their nose scrunching as if they've smelt something awful.

But the illusion ends as soon as it begins. A much more manipulative face replaces familiar features.

"What are you talking about?" The way she asks almost sounds sincere, even when he knows she's lying through her teeth. However he'll have none of her fake confusion.

Even if it means isolating further.

Before his brain can catch up with his body, his legs move under him. He doesn't know where he's going or when he should stop. He runs, even when the teen calls for a dead man.

"Shin! Stop, please!"

His stamina doesn't last long. Giving out in the library as he collapses against a shelf, knocking a few novels from their place as he slides to the floor. His fingers curl into the shag carpet, brushing against a book cover colored bright green. A contrasting pink font adorns it, drawing his attention to the letters.

"A Guide To Gardening"

A frustrated yell escape's him at the universe's taunt. It's not the first given to him, nor will it be the last, but you can never come to terms with some things, just like the glimpse of pink flowers always lurking behind his eyes. He can see them as if he could grab them, the green, thorny vines stained a dark red.

"Thank you, Sara…." Shin can still hear her voice. Soft and resigned to the fate befalling her. Her voice quivered as she held out her arms for an embrace only her murderer could provide. "Can I...have a hug?"

His throat aches, and his hands shake. He looks at his sister in bewilderment, watching in silence as she dives into her killer's arms as he stands with a newfound emptiness. Nothing feels real. Like he's deep in a never-ending nightmare that only Kanna could save him from being engulfed inside. But she can't save them as Tia's voice rang out with far too much calm.

"Activating collar device…the human flower."

His lip trembles, hardly able to stop himself from lunging forward. The only thing restraining him is the sacrifice she made and a survival instinct chaining him to the floor. Yet, another instinct tells him to close his eyes, unable to watch the cruelty feet from him.

But that doesn't stop him from hearing. The sound of vines growing through her skin echoes in the small room, along with her screams of agony as she shouts her final words through the death game halls.

"Nooooo!"

A chill shakes him, her regret making survival taste far more bitter than he could've ever imagined. With hesitation, he peeks open his eyes. Not knowing why, but knowing that he had to see the carnage. Maybe it's what he deserved. Maybe he needs to see what Sara did. Maybe he needed to know she was gone. Regardless they open, and a mess of bloody plants stare back at him.

A prominent pink shines through the ugly red, the smell of blood mixing with a distinctly earthly smell that turns his stomach. There's only so much of the sight he can endure, and in seconds he tears his eyes away to glance at Sara, who stares ahead. She looks empty and numb, with no light shining in her dry eyes. It's a sight that makes a promise form. Not just to himself, but to anyone else Sara will hurt.

"... I'll kill you...Worthless... It's all worthless..."

"Shin!" A voice, now more urgent, calls to him from above. It snaps him out of his daydream, focusing on the wolf in sheep's clothing staring down at her prey.

"...What do you want, Miss Sara?" She looks surprised, shocked even that he didn't read her mind. As if he wouldn't have already if he could.

"I…wanted to check on you, actually. You had this weird look on your face." He grits his teeth in response, shoving his hands into his pockets to hide his curling into fists, the reason for his annoyance being as apparent as the scent of a rose.

"Ahaha, I don't look any different than normal. You shouldn't resort to insulting people's appearances, Sara." His attempt to deflect is met with a scoff, her expression turning sour at the unfounded accusation.

"If you want to act like this, then at least answer me..why were you by our beds?" The real reason for her arrival exposes itself, and more than ever, he hates the first things first way she speaks. Not that it gets in the way of his bold-face lie.

"...Sheesh, I was just going to borrow your blanket. It was cold in there, and I didn't think you'd notice being clonked out and all." He thinks back to her curled in a ball on her right side, looking far too familiar for him just to ignore. But he pretends in front of her, not willing to show his weakness that seeks a connection between the living and dead. However, she can see through him like glass, looking uneasy at his answer as she always does to his lies.

"It's just…you looked angry. Like you wanted to hurt me." Her intuition hits gold, unsettling him despite his cold front.

"...Getting paranoid?" Her eyes narrow at him, not foolish enough to trust his words but having no evidence to disprove them.

"...Not at all." There's a hesitation laced between her words. Easy to notice and unsettlingly honest, a look of bravery crosses her face as she speaks again.

"Well… can't help it...Come on. We should get back to the others." The request takes him aback. Oddly, he's surprised that Sara can't read his mind.

"No thanks, ahaha. When you make demands like that…it makes us seem like we're allies." He shifts uncomfortably in his boldness, watching a frown spread across her face as she struggles for words.

"I...understand that you're upset. But we all need to get along together. If we can't, it's all over".

"If you can't, it's all over." He's heard these words from a girl standing before her future killer in a lobby. She spoke to them with so much trust and love and asked each other to do the same. But he knew better than to put faith in Sara then, and even more now as a shade of red clouds his vision as he's reminded of what he lost.

"Why are you doing this?" Shin doesn't know what he's asking, nor does Sara as she clutches her arm to self-soothe.

"Doing what?" His body acts on autopilot, taking a step closer to face down the monster that looks at him with confused eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" He asks again, hoping the repetition will cleanse his muddled mind. "Why are you acting like her?"

She steps back, glancing at him as if he were to break. Maybe he will. Maybe he already has. It doesn't change the caution she speaks with.

"Her? But the only girl you were close with was! Surely you couldn't mean!" He runs a hand through his messy hair, unclenching his jaw to respond.

"Your victim? Oh, sorry, Miss Sara. I suppose when you've had so many, that doesn't narrow it down any." She does nothing but blink in response. First slow, but then rapid as her complexion goes deathly pale.

"I...remind you of Kanna? But that's inconceivable! I mean-!" She shakes her head in disbelief, looking to the ground as the realization hits her like a brick through a window.

It's hard to tell who's shaking more. They both tremble from the emotion flowing through their stomachs, forcing them to recall the young girl with a bucket hat.

The same girl that could be standing in front of Shin now.

The same nervous energy Kanna always held radiates from the girl in the school uniform. It makes him want to say, "You'll be fine." instead of continuing to glower with frustration in his chest.

He wishes she had never mentioned ice cream. If so, he wouldn't notice every little detail his dear sister and greatest enemy share. The way they sleep, the words they speak, and the energy they carry. It's all far too similar. As if he could see Kanna through her eyes and feel close to her once again. But she isn't Kanna, and Kanna isn't her. Because Kanna is dead and buried.

Wetness forms behind his eyes. Weak and desperate as he wishes Kanna's voice could come through Sara's mouth and assure him everything will be okay. But the only voice he hears comes from the orange-haired girl as she meekly gives her aid.

"C'mon, don't cry. I'm sure they're all watching us from somewhere cheering us on...and Kanna is cheering loudest for you." A snort escapes him, recognizing a lie as much as he could his own face. Even now, Kanna is no doubt screaming Sara's name with pride and joy, a confident tone Sara lacks.

Instead, she sounds soft and unsure, similar to a tone Kanna held when they first met in the main hall all those days ago. She looked so small then, bundled into a corner clutching her knees for dear life, not at all a proper showcase of the girl who grew to be so strong. Stronger than the real him could ever be as his lip quivers at the mere memory, tears barely held back from falling.

"S-Shin…" She looks at a loss for words, gazing at him like she's meeting a stranger for the first time. It's so clear that she doesn't know what to do, but she settles on a smile. A forced grin that shakes as it spreads across her lips. It's far too similar to the one Kanna wore during her final moments, another reminder that sends him crashing down to Earth in a free fall as he lets loose the breakdown long brewing.

"Just stop it!" The shout emitting from his throat aches, his sudden burst of anger making Sara nearly fall to the floor in surprise.

"Stop acting like her! Stop making my life more difficult! You did that already! I don't need anything else from you!" His voice cracks, and he can't tell if Sara looks at him with fear or pity. But her eyes are on him, and he hates her.

"You took away my sister, and you still look at me like I'm the villain? If you want an antagonist, take a look in the mirror."

"I-" Her mouth opens, then shuts again as he rambles without pause.

"You're just like everyone else! A strong person who uses the weak! Kanna was nothing like you...And yet…"

Shin breathes, deep and long as it feels like all the air has left his lungs, too breathless to say anything, as Sara collapses onto the floor, jumping on her turn to speak.

"I… you're right."

His legs stop moving, freezing to the floor as his neck snaps in her direction, and their eyes meet.

"I...voted for Kanna because I wanted to survive." She buries her face in her hands, tears gathering in her eyes as her voice breaks. "But…I wanted all of us to survive together! And I thought…you were our best chance. Even if it meant voting for Kanna, it seemed better than waiting around for the next main game. But…Q-Taro and Alice died anyway."

He can't comprehend not putting Kanna first. Not even for a second. He'd have done anything to protect her. Making Sara's words ring hollow. But her next sentences take him off guard, a thought that resonates far too well.

"...Kanna asked me to protect everyone...and I failed. She'd be so disappointed."

"She asked me to cooperate with everyone, and I can't even do that right." He thinks to himself. For a moment, he understands Sara more than he'd ever like to, as he neither confirms nor denies her statement. Instead, he clings to his boldness, asking a lingering question that's floated in the air since the second main game.

“If you could do it again, would you vote for her?" Sara's head jerks back in shock, her mouth slowly parting as she looks at him as if he were a sphinx asking a riddle before settling on her answer.

"No"

It's odd how much relief a single word gives him. The petty part of him finding peace knowing that Sara feels a similar regret, remorse being an emotion he assumed was only a concept to her. Still, he's not foolish enough to trust her words entirely, even if he has no evidence that disproves them. But he's willing to give her the benefit of the doubt for now, only if so he's not the only one in grief.

"Good."

She looks surprised, then resolved, a part of her seeming to anticipate his response as her shoulders slump in what could only be described as shared relief.

"I really miss her. I know you do too." He looks away from her face, listening as Kanna's voice echoes through their shared room.

"I miss sister, Kanna wishes could have met her." For a moment, he's too honest. Too vulnerable. The thought of Kanna bringing out his honest side that he can't seem to kill.

"… It's hard not to." Exhaustion slams him as his adrenaline halts. The night's events and his lack of sleep catch up to him as he lets himself slide to the floor, face to face with someone he was once sure was an enemy. But now, he can't even look in her eyes. Afraid he'll find a glimpse of her as a heavy silence falls between them.

They both struggle to find what to say. An outlandish lie trying to spring to Shin's lips to fill the void. But it's Sara who's first to speak, her voice soft and meek.

"What's your favorite ice cream?" He nearly laughs. The taunt from the universe was clear, but for once not feeling cruel. Simply nostalgic.

"Anything but mint."

#YTTD #Your Turn To Die #Greenblings #My Fics #Writing #Kanna Kizuchi #Shin Tsukimi #sara chidouin

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tmetta · 2 years

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Commission of Kagura and Kanna for @neutronstarchild of their fanfic Take Heart for Friendship Day from Inu-Mothership Fleet Week. Thank you so much for commissioning me and please read their story its so cute 😭

#inuyasha #kanna #kagura of the wind #kanna inuyasha #i need more fics of kanna being The big sister™#ok im going to sleep wake me up when it's sesskagu week gn

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thepublishingpress · 6 months

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Little teaser~

take a peek at my avatar fanfic!

Pakku was born a prodigy.

When he was born in the dead of winter during the full moon, he let loose scream so loud the glaciers cracked, and the sea’s waves grew to an impossible size. That’s when they, his tribe, knew.

He would be one of the most powerful waterbenders of all.

______________________________________________________________

HI Y'ALL IM SO SORRY IVE BEEN AWAY- ill post another chapter of ella and another short story (if i can find one) ok byeeee

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sugakoni · 1 month

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sunflower. (keiji shinogi x fem!oc)

being forced to go to a flower shop by his therapist wasn't something keiji thought would happen, but he would be damned if he didn't say that it was the best thing to ever happen to him. meeting the personified equivalent of sunshine and sweetness, he regrets not trying to find her sooner.

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warnings for this chapter: halucinations, agoraphobia, therapy session oops because keiji is traumatized, small mentions of the death game but wont really delve in till later in the series. also, no one died. i cant handle that shi.

wc: 3408 | archive of our own

(a/n) hey yall.. so i am writing again, woot woot! i am really digging your turn to die and hazbin hotel right now, but as of lately yttd has been consuming every single bit of my writing brain TuT. This is an oc fic, sorry about that yall but Yuzu is my baby and I hope you all grow to like her as much as Keiji does in this fic lmao. This is chapter one, and as more chapters go out, there will be edits on this post. as always, thank you for your support for the last 3 years and im glad to be back <3

(chapter under the cut!)

It wasn't like Keiji to leave his apartment much. Sure, he would go out if the others begged him to. He would go to his therapy appointments, but soon go home to try to find his own form of solace while his thoughts slowly but surely consumed him. He wasn't alone by any means most of the time, a red, painstakingly familiar man would always appear in the corner of his eyes. It got better though, medication, therapy… but that sense of self loathing for what he had done, what he could've done differently, always loomed over him like an unwanted cloud on a day you really want the sun to shine.

But, alas, today was not one of those days. Keiji Shinogi, at his therapy appointment that day, had mentioned that there was a new flower shop that had opened near his apartment that offered painting lessons. He was intrigued by it, to say the least, that a flower shop would be offering something like that. His therapist just chuckled, saying that maybe it was his subconscious telling him to go out and try something new.

And now…

He was standing outside of this tiny flower shop, his anxiety clawing at him as if he was doing something either incredibly stupid or incredibly wrong. He sighed, moving to rub the back of his neck before he opened the door to the shop. It was empty… well, except for the vibrant colors of flowers displayed on multiple tables in the front room. Sunflowers seemed to be the main display for the day, and the sunlight captured them beautifully.

“... Helloooo?” Keiji hummed out quietly, hoping he didn't just intrude if the flower shop wasn't opened at all and he was making it up in his head. After a few seconds of his mind trying to pry him away, a short woman who looked awfully familiar to someone he was close to stepped out from the back.

His eyes lingered on her for a moment, heart racing a bit as he took her in for a second. Why was he feeling like this? Why were his ears feeling hot? Hands clammy? Keiji wanted to leave, but he stayed glued to his spot. And that is when she smiled and his own brain lit up.

“Oh, hello! Welcome to Kirigami’s, your local… uh… flower shop?” she said kind of confusingly, moving to play with a strand of her wavy hair. “S-sorry… you're the first customer of the day…”

Keiji blinked, hands going to his hips for a moment as he stood in thought. “Uh, thank you?”

The girl's face immediately went into a pout, biting at her lip and that face looked so familiar. Keiji was near losing his mind.

“My name is Yuzu! Don't be a stranger, you can move from your spot you know!” Yuzu teased quietly, beckoning him to actually take another wide step into the shop and he happily obliged. Sweet. Too sweet. Why was he over analyzing a girl who ran a flower shop?

“What brings a man like you into a place like this?” She then added, her hands going to grab a pair of scissors while she tidied up some dead leaves on some of her plants. Keiji pursed his lips together.

“Jus’ wanted to see what ya had, I guess,” Keiji explained, a small smile creeping up on his face. God, she was cute.

Yuzu hummed to herself, smiling wide again as she turned to look at Keiji. “Trying to look for some flowers for the miss’s? Any kind in particular?” She asked, her smile faltering a bit as she said the word miss’s. Keiji noticed the change in her demeanor but didn't press it.

“Ah, unfortunately no miss’s for me… just have a certain liking towards… uncharacteristic things?” Keiji spoke and Yuzu gave another giggle, placing her scissors down and moving to take the apron she had off. Keiji watched as she moved to straighten her headband, his arms now crossing in front of him.

“No miss’s? You look like quite the catch! And, ‘uncharacteristic’... pfft,” she joked, her chest now slightly puffed up as she felt the need to be more professional. Sometimes Keiji wished he didn't join the police force so he could see people just as normal people.

“Anyway, I told ya my name, what's yours?”

Keiji’s eyes widened a bit, feeling bad now that he didn't even introduce himself to her when she did to him. “Sorry about that. My name is Keiji Shinogi… Local forensic specialist,” Keiji hummed out and Yuzu gave another smile. Was she always this cheery?

“Last name, huh? Guess it's only fair I tell ya mine. Tazuna, Yuzu Tazuna. If that means we are on a full name basis,”-Keiji desperately wanted to be on a first name, even a nickname basis- “Sorta professional for a flower shop, huh?”

Keiji snapped out of his thoughts for a moment when she said Tazuna. Now that is why she is familiar. Possibly an older sibling to Joe, who… he unfortunately met in the death games that still lingered in his mind. He wondered how Joe was doing now, especially since it had been about two years since he had seen most of the people from the game, minus Reko, Nao, and Gin.

“Hello? Earth to Keiji Shinogi?” Yuzu asked with a giggle and a hand wave, and Keiji let his eyes shift into focus and look at her. Yellow suited her.

“Sorry, just got lost in thought… ya have the same last name as someone I know, wasn't expecting that to be completely honest…”

“Ohh! You probably know Joe, I'm assuming?” Yuzu asked, her smile faltering a bit. “Or my dad? Did you even work with my dad? Surely not, you look very young! Oh, sorry, I'm rambling.”

Keiji’s heart tensed a bit, letting out a sigh afterwards as his eyes went back to the sunflower that was beside her. Yuzu hummed to herself.

“No, it's Joe that rang a bell… haven't seen him in years… hopefully he is doing well?”

“He's doing great! He got into a good college, and he has the sweetest boyfriend!” Yuzu chirped and Keiji gave a nod. Boyfriend, huh? Joe never pegged him as the type…

Keiji watched silently as Yuzu began to move around her shop, just idly looking here and there at spots on her flowers. He bit at the inside of his cheek, seeing the looming figure again that he desperately didn't want to see. It was standing right beside her though, and he couldn't help it.

“What brings you here though, Keij? Just pokin’ around?” Yuzu broke the silence, and he snapped out of the hallucination just like that. Her voice was calming, like she genuinely cared. And that was enough to break that bit of fear he had.

“Yep, ya caught me. I live right down the street, saw ya all working on getting this set up. Just wanted to see what was up,” Keiji lied, not really wanting to admit that his therapist put this shop as one of his to-do lists for his bit of agoraphobia he had after everything he had been through.

And God, he was thankful they did.

“Well! I sure do love the company!” She gleamed. Keiji gulped, he sincerely felt out of place like this. But a thought soon came to his mind.

The people who were in the death game were all planning on some sort of meet up that night. Mostly, that was one reason why his therapist wanted him to step out of his comfort zone before the meet up, so his agoraphobia didn't act up so much while he was supposed to be having a relaxing time with people who all knew and had dealt with the trauma he had just the same. Since Yuzu and Joe were siblings, surely it would be fine to ask her if she would like to come over-

“Since you and Joe are related, I’m assuming that you wouldn't mind if I asked ya to hang out with us and our friends?” Keiji blurted out, immediately facepalming mentally afterwards. Yuzu blushed, playing with her fingers for a moment as she considered.

“I'd love that… typically strangers don't ask me to go do things immediately, but, if Joe knows you he must trust you, right?” Yuzu asked, Keiji giving a small nod in agreement. “Well, alright! Here,” she moved to write down her number on a sticky note from the front counter. “Just text me the details, and I'll head over there after I get done here!”

Keiji moved to grab the sticky note offered, and his fingers brushed slightly against her’s. His facade was almost breaking, and he chuckled at the bright flash of red that overtook the sweet girl in front of him’s face.

“Okie-dokie. I'll text ya the info once I get back to my apartment… hope to see you there, Tazuna~” He cooed lightly and Yuzu rolled her eyes playfully.

“Wouldn't miss it for the world, Shinogi.”

—------

Yuzu was excited, truly, to be going out and meeting new people. Especially Joe’s friends, and she trusted the people Joe had connections with. They always seemed to be down to earth, and Yuzu enjoyed that about them. After meeting Shin, albeit she met her brother’s boyfriend at a… stupidly inconvenient time, she enjoyed his company and was glad to have him in her life as well.

She tided up what she needed to at the shop, always having an extra change of clothes just in case dirt, water, or paint had gotten onto her during the day, and changed into them. Contrary to what she normally wore, it was a pair of jeans and a nice shirt, still wearing her sneakers that she had on during the work day.

Her phone was now in her hand, rereading the text that Keiji had sent her about an hour prior to her shop closing. She blushed, rolling her eyes again as she read it.

‘Here’s the address. Hope to see you there, sunshine.’

Yuzu couldn't help but admit that Keiji was an attractive man. He was alluring, and his personality seemed a bit closed off. She wondered what was under that exterior… she wondered how his hands felt, how soft his hair was. She had only met him today! She had no idea why these thoughts loomed.

You like someone again, huh, Tazuna?

That annoying voice was ringing in her head again, and she felt her heart start to race. She glanced up from her phone, being met with the blood stained silhouette of her best friend.

I wonder what he would think if he knew what you did to me.

You don't deserve happiness.

You got me killed, remember?

Do you think someone like you deserves that?

“Please… Himadi… leave,” Yuzu gasped out, squeezing her eyes shut and moving to run a hand through her hair. When she opened her eyes again, tears fell but her surroundings were normal. No Himadi in sight.

“Anyway…” she muttered to herself, sending Keiji a text that she was on her way and moving to leave and lock up her shop. Yuzu began her walk towards the apartment number that Keiji had sent her, hoping that it was his apartment number, since it was so close.

After a ten minute walk, she finally stood at the door to the apartment she was sent the address to. A few cars were parked on the curb in front, assuming that everyone was already there. Yuzu knocked gently on the door, her little body shaking as she felt her anxiety creep up.

A few seconds went by and the door was opened, but she was met with no one. She then glanced down, being met with a boy who was donning a cat like outfit. Her heart swelled.

“Myaaa, Joe’s sister?!” The kid exclaimed, his eyes widening a bit. Yuzu raised an eyebrow. “Gin, what?!” The familiar voice of Joe rang, and soon she was met with her brother standing at the door.

“Yuzu! Holy moly, what are you doing here?”

“I invited her,” Keiji’s voice rang from behind them. Joe snapped his head back momentarily, before looking back at Yuzu with a soft face.

“Can I come in…? It's kinda chilly out here, ya know…”

“Oh! Yeah, sorry sis,” Joe spoke and moved Gin out of the way, opening the door more for Yuzu.

She thanked him quietly, moving to walk into the threshold of the apartment and being met with a few familiar faces, and a few unfamiliar. Yuzu bit at her lip.

“For those of you who don't know, this is my sister Yuzu. Yuzu, meet Reko, Nao, Qtaro, Kai, Gin, Kanna, and Mishima,” Joe rambled, pointing at everyone respectively as he introduced them. Gin was looking up at Yuzu, his eyebrows crinkled in confusion.

“Joe-Joe, your sister is very short, meow! Must be a family thing, woof!”

Yuzu giggled while Joe moved to nuzzle Gin’s head, causing the kid to groan in distaste as his hair was messed up. She continued to giggle quietly, her hand gripping at the strap of her purse. She still felt out of place, even with the calm atmosphere that surrounded her.

“C’mon,” Keiji hummed out, patting a spot beside him on the couch. Yuzu blinked, glancing over at him and feeling her face begin to heat up. She obliged, however, moving to sit down beside Keiji and placing her purse down at her feet. The group talked amongst each other, which Yuzu began to drone out as she looked at a small, obviously fake plant on the coffee table in front of her. Gin began to inch closer to the girl, sitting in front of her criss crossed and his green eyes looking up.

“Meow, are you Keiji’s girlfriend?” He asked, Yuzu’s eyes widening. Keiji coughed harshly, choking a bit on the water he had in his mouth as Gin’s eyebrow perked up.

“No, no! I mean, haha.. Uh… I met him today actually, at my flower shop…” Yuzu replied, and Gin’s eyebrow was still raised in suspicion. Yuzu’s back felt rigid, sitting up straight as she adverted her gaze from the small boy in front of her. “Why is your face red then, woof?”

Yuzu chuckled hesitantly, moving to fiddle with her fingers as she felt a hand placed on the small of her back. She kept her face from making any expression, but the heat lingered. She glanced, realizing Keiji had put his hand there, and her mind started to go a million miles an hour.

Why are his hands so big? Why is he so big? How is he this nice? Is he trying to comfort me? Kids ask stupid shit all the time! Shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

“Calm down,” Keiji whispered, Gin’s attention span already receding as he moved to go towards Joe and Sara, sitting down in the red haired girl’s lap and practically stretching out like a cat. Yuzu moved to look at Keiji, who had a smug grin on his face, causing her to slap his shoulder.

“You thought that was funny, huh? Jerk,” she mumbled, his fingers now moving gently against her back.

“You’re just so darn cute.”

Yuzu rolled her eyes, moving her hands to her cheeks to cover up the obvious blush that had made its way to her skin. Keiji chuckled, leaning back into the couch once more and his hand leaving the small of her back. Was it weird that she wanted it to stay? She was a mess, for a man she had just met, and it was not something she was used to. Feelings weren’t something she was used to.

Keiji admired how he could make Yuzu feel, validating his own feelings in the process. This girl was someone that he wanted to make his, no doubt about it. There was no anxiety in the thought either, just the want for the woman that sat so close to him on the couch. Watching as her delicate hands played with each other, how her face scrunched up in a laugh as she listened to jokes from others in the group. It made his heart swell in a way he hadn’t felt in a while, and if he didn’t believe in love at first sight, he would be damned to ignore the obvious signs that this was.

Q-Taro was currently ranting about something that happened in a baseball match of his, his southern accent booming in the tiny space of Keiji’s apartment while everyone laughed and snickered at his theatrics. Keiji watched as Yuzu began to feel comfortable, glancing as she leaned back on the couch and scooted closer to Keiji involuntarily. His hand went to cover the lower half of his face, elbow on the arm rest of the couch as his gaze adverted. So small. So cute.

Yuzu’s hands were now on her lap, not picking at her skin as she usually did when she was in an unfamiliar environment. Her shoes were kicked off, knees pulled up to her chest as another giggle left her at Q-Taro getting told off by Kai for being too egotistical about a game of baseball. She felt content, even with not having known anyone, she felt at home. At ease, more or less.

The night soon drew to a close, Joe and Shin calling it a night before anyone else did due to the fact Kanna ended up passing out with her head on Kai’s lap. Gin let out a big yawn, which signalled Sara that it was about time for them to leave as well. Yuzu’s eyes felt a bit droopy, and she moved to get up about 15 minutes after the other 5 had left.

“Thank you for inviting me over, Keiji, truly. I enjoyed meeting your friends, and seeing Joe,” she hummed, tiredness lingering in her voice. Keiji glanced up at her, a small smile on his face as he watched Yuzu rub her sleepy eyes. “No worries, Yuzu. They seemed to like you a lot, sunshine.”

Yuzu’s face grew a bit red at the throw of the nickname again, and Keiji wondered if that was how she reacted to the text message. She yawned herself, saying goodbye to the other two who were now sitting on the floor across from the couch, Q-Taro and Kai already out the door. Reko and Nao said their goodbyes, telling her not to be a stranger, and with that, Yuzu made her way home.

“Keeeeeijiiiii,” Nao’s voice rang teasingly, and Keiji’s eyes went to the girl with pink fluffy hair.

“What’s up?”

“You liiiike her,” she teased again, and Keiji rolled his eyes. There it was. That anxious feeling that he knew would come and bite him in the ass. He felt his ears become hot, eyes now adverting the gaze of the two who were being relentless about his crush on the girl who walked in. His own personal sunflower.

“Keij, ya gotta let yourself loosen up a little. It was nice to see you that open with someone new again,” Reko patted his knee respectfully, moving to get up and helping Nao up right afterwards. Keiji sighed out.

“It’s just… I am not the type of person she should have to deal with,” Keiji groaned, moving to run a hand through his hair. Reko let out a ‘pfft’, Nao’s face in a pout as she watched her friend start to talk down to himself.

“You’re a great guy, Keiji! We all have our own traumas, genuinely, but don’t be afraid of that! As your therapist said, you have to do things out of your comfort zone. And even then, she seems to make you feel comfortable,” Nao rambled.

“And she is really fuckin’ cute,” Reko piped up. Keiji’s eyes widened at that, and Nao let out a giggle. “Just don’t let those demons stop you from being happy, Keij. You deserve it more than anyone.”

And with that, they were both making their way out of the house. Keiji started to recede back more into the couch, letting out a sigh as his fingers went to unbutton the top two buttons of his shirt. Hand running through his hair again, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and clicked on Yuzu’s contact.

‘You, me… dinner on Saturday, Sunshine?’

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aoi-kanna · 6 months

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Art Commission for JessuFay,

Thanks for your support! (^人^)

link to the story!!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Water you doing? by JessuFay

Battle Scars by JessuFay

Mind to check the tags ヾ(≧へ≦)〃

Gem/Reader belongs to Jessufay

Dream by Jokublog

Leviathantale Au by Sku

#aoi-kanna #my art #my art commissions #full background #full color #undertale au #dreamtale #leviathantale #Gem #Dream #undertale fic #lovely angst

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sugarrfrog · 1 year

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THE RED STRING | CHAPTER 1: A DEAL IN DEATH | AO3 Link

Ch.2 Ch.3 Pairing: Hyuuga Neji x OC Wordcount: 4.76k CW: Non-graphic death mention Story Synopsis: Making a bargain with Death wasn't exactly the first item on her list of to-dos today. Then again, neither was dying.

When a young girl finds herself desperate to argue her fate with the King of the Underworld himself, he offers her a deal: She will be reborn in a different world, but she must prove her convictions to alter destiny by saving the life of the one called Hyuuga Neji, whose premature death is set in stone. If she succeeds, she'll be allowed to live her second life to its fullest. But if she fails, she'll die along with him and suffer eternal punishment in the courts of Hell.

I’d been tumbling down the cliffside just moments ago.

My hands were grasping at the raindrops pelting the air in a desperate attempt to stop or slow my descent. The trees below had rushed up to meet me, their branches clawing at the air like desperate fingers. I couldn’t see my friends’ faces anymore; just the edges of the sky blurring together like faded watercolor.

We were just stupid kids. It was supposed to be a silly 10-minute escapade before we hopped back on our bikes and hurried back home. Christa, who I’d been friends with since we were in diapers, said this trail was supposed to have the best view of the whole valley. So here we were, tip-toeing past the “No Trespassing” signs in the woods behind our neighborhood. What a horrific nightmare this had become.

But I didn’t scream. I’m not sure why.

I’d squeezed my eyes shut so hard my vision turned white, the wind whipping at my face and throat and the storm roaring in my ears. Would I die right away? How much would I feel? What would it feel like… to not be able to say goodbye?

But then, just as suddenly as the fall had begun, it ended. The second I open my eyes, my heart thunders in my chest and I gasp for air, my lungs burning with the effort. I find myself in a dimly lit cave, my body aching but somehow still intact. Confusion and fear gnaw at my insides as I struggle to sit up and take in my surroundings.

No torrential downpour of rain, no howling wind, no gray clouds overhead or tree branches swaying in the storm. Instead, the cave is quiet and still, with the only sound being the steady drip of water echoing off the walls. Fiery torches in rusted metal brackets are scattered about the area, the flickering flames carving shadows into the rocks and illuminating the dust particles suspended in the air.

I take in a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. Am I … hallucinating? But the thought doesn’t bring much more comfort as I slowly pull myself to my feet. My hand instinctively reaches for my pocket, where I keep my phone, but my fingers close around nothing. Big surprise when I’ve just fallen off a cliff, I suppose.

I start to walk forward, my steps cautious as I take in my surroundings. The cave seems to go on endlessly, the torches spaced just far enough apart to illuminate my path but leaving the rest of the space shrouded in darkness. Strange markings are etched into the walls, and they seem to multiply the further into the cave I walk. They’re symbols that I don't recognize. The air feels thick and heavy, as though something otherworldly is at play here. Goosebumps begin to prick my skin, and I rub at my arms as I try to shake the feeling away.

In fact… The further I go, the more the cave seems to shift and change around me, like it's alive and adapting to my movements. It's as if the cave itself is leading me somewhere.

How long has it been? Ten minutes? An hour? Soreness begins to creep into the balls of my feet, my breathing turning more labored. I have to get out of here soon, or I’ll…

The thought trails off as a giant, looming shape seems to spring up out of the darkness. My body tenses. A gnarled wooden gate, at least 10 feet tall, emerges from the shadows as I walk closer. It looks like it used to be painted blue, but the paint has been chipped away over time and revealed the contorted wood underneath.

I pause, my heart pounding in my chest. Something tells me that if I walk through that gate… I won’t be coming back.

"Hello there, dearie,” a voice calls out. My body jerks upright with a gasp. “Don’t be afraid. I’ve been expecting you.”

The voice has the lilt of an elderly woman, and it echoes through the cavern, bouncing off the walls and filling the space. I frown, taking a tentative step backward.

The voice is coming from behind the gate.

“Come now, my child,” the voice says again. “You’re lost and tired, aren’t you? I have something here that will do just the trick.”

I swallow hard, my legs wobbling slightly as I carefully step forward. I lean forward and peer through the gaps in the wood. I can just make out the silhouette of a figure, hunched over in the dim light. The figure looks up and smiles at me, expression warm and inviting.

"Don't be shy," she says, motioning for me to come closer. "I won't bite."

Taking a deep breath I push the gate open, and the wood groans loudly under my weight. Despite its massive size, it moves easily, brushing up a layer of dust as the woman on the other side of the door is revealed.

A simple, thick robe seems to swallow her small figure, with white hair tied neatly into a bun atop her head. Every curve of her face is etched with wrinkles. But despite her age, there's a sense of strength emanating from her.

For a moment, we stand there in silence. I can feel her eyes on me, taking in my every move. The air is tense, but I can't help but feel a sense of awe at her presence. She's not just a woman - she's a force to be reckoned with.

“There now,” she says, the folds in her face gathering as she offers up a knowing smile. “That’s better. You must be hungry after walking all this way.” She beckons me closer, motioning me to a small clearing of rock. “ Come. I have something that will help you.”

A heavy brass cauldron stands rooted in the middle of the ground, filled nearly to the brim with golden broth that spreads a thick aroma of herbs and spices through the space. But strangely enough, that’s not the oddest sight here.

Just beyond where we stand, a gaping chasm yawns open in the ground, as if the earth had been ripped apart by some colossal force. A massive stone bridge stretches across the expanse, leading to the other side of the cavernous abyss. The walls of the cave tower above, their jagged edges disappearing into darkness. And instead of the cave ceiling… there are stars. But as I look up, something seems off. The stars are too vivid, too colorful. It's not the regular night sky, and the unsettling feeling it brings makes me uneasy.

The woman doesn't seem bothered by it in the slightest, as if it's just another part of the scenery.

"Sit, sit," she says, gesturing towards a small wooden stool beside the cauldron. "Don't be afraid. I've given this to many travelers before you."

I hesitate for a moment, eyeing the chasm warily, but the aroma of the brew is too enticing to resist. Gingerly, I make my way over to the stool and settle down, my hands shaking slightly as I reach out for the bowl she hands me. The rim and body of the cauldron are caked with brown spots of dried liquid, but the bowl seems clean, painted with delicate flower designs that swim as she fills it with golden liquid.

I can't bring myself to drink it, though- not while the woman is watching me so intently.

"Who are you?" I manage to ask instead. "And where am I?"

"Ah, those are the questions, aren't they?" she says. "You, my child, are in the realm of the Underworld. Your soul is being brought here to rest.”

My heart thumps in my ears as her words register. “I-I’m sorry, what?”

The woman leans in closer, her eyes softening. “You have passed on, my dear. You are no longer in the world of the living.”

I feel my breath catch in my throat, my mind reeling with disbelief. This can't be real. It has to be some kind of hallucination, a nightmare I'll wake up from any moment now.

But the woman's gaze is unwavering, and I can feel the weight of her words settling in my chest.

The woman points a knobbed finger to the bridge. "Once you cross," she continues, "Our Good Lord Yama will judge your soul. He will determine whether you are reincarnated, or whether you will stay here in the Underworld to rest." She places a hand on my shoulder, but I barely register it. "Don’t worry, dearie. Once you drink that soup in your hands, you'll begin feeling a lot better."

Her words bring me no comfort. I feel a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead, my heart racing faster with every passing second.

"How do I get out of here?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

The woman's expression turns solemn as she replies, "That is up to Lord Yama to decide. For now, please drink. Once you've tasted the broth, the memories of your past life will disappear. You will feel no pain, no fear, and no regret. Only peace."

I stare down at the steaming cauldron, the pungent scent of the herbs and spices almost overwhelming. I can feel the warmth emanating from the soup, but something about it makes my stomach twist itself in knots.

"I...I don't know if I can," I murmur, my voice shaking. "I don't want to forget."

The woman's gaze softens once more. "I understand, my child," she says. "But the soul cannot rest until it has forgotten."

I take a deep breath in, and out. No , I think. This can't be it. This… this can't be all there is!

The woman’s smile darkens slightly, and she gives me a sharper look. “Drink. I cannot allow you to move forward until you do so.”

My hands tighten around the edge of the bowl, my jaw clenching. “No.”

The woman's expression turns stern as she looks at me. "I understand your reluctance, but this is the way it must be. You cannot move forward until you have drunk the soup."

I shake my head. "I don't believe you," I say. "I don't believe any of this."

The woman's eyes narrow, and her grip on my shoulder tightens. "You cannot understand until you have let go," she says. "Until you have surrendered to the process. You must trust that this is the way it must be."

"I don't trust you," I say, my voice growing stronger. "I don't even know who you are!"

"I am a guide," the woman says. "I am here to help you move on."

"I don't want your help!" I say, pulling away from her.

“Drink!”

“I said, no !” I lift the bowl over my head, swinging it down to the rocky cave floor below. The porcelain bowl shatters into a million shards as golden broth seeps into the cracks of the rock.

The woman shrieks, her hands reaching down to the broken pieces as if willing them to magically fit back together. “You insolent child!" she hisses. "You will regret this!"

But I don't stay to find out what she means. I stand quickly, the stool beneath me clattering to its side.

Then I run. * * *

I turn and sprint towards the bridge, my heart pounding in my chest. I can hear the woman's enraged screams echoing behind me, but I push on, my legs carrying me forward. The cave’s uneven ground turns to smooth stone under my feet as the solid bridge carries me to somewhere I can’t see. “This is stupid, this is stupid…” I mutter to myself my limbs thrumming with adrenaline as my sneakers smack against the ground. “This is literally the stupidest thing I’ve ever done!”

And then I remember I’ve done things that have actually killed me today, so, maybe not.

The sounds of the old woman’s shrieking are disappearing into nothing, giving me hope that I’ve seen the last of her. But even if that’s true, I don’t feel any better about my situation.

How exactly does one escape the realm of the dead?

I continue running, pumping my legs as hard as I can, fists so tight my nails dig into my palms. My hair flies out behind me as the other end of the chasm comes into view. It’s another dark, ominous cave entrance.

I stumble to a halt at the opening, catching my breath as I peer inside. It takes me a moment to register what I'm looking at.

A long line of people stretches further than I can see, filled with every sort of creature imaginable. There are humans and animals, angels and demons, and everything in between. Some are dressed in fine clothes, while others wear tattered rags. They all stand, waiting for something, Some are talking to each other, while others are content to keep to their own thoughts.

“Hey you, girl. You okay?”

I blink, turning to face a man and woman standing in line who are looking at me with pity in their eyes. They look… tired, yet strangely peaceful, giving me warm smiles that clash against all the cold darkness I’ve faced so far.

“I-I, uh..” I stutter, looking around and scratching my head. “I… think so? What’s going on here?”

The woman smiles wider, tilting her head. “We’re waiting to meet with His Majesty Lord Yama,” she says. “Are you alone? Why don’t you hop in line with us?”

I crane my neck, trying to get a better look at the line. I squint hard, but I still can’t see the end of this long ribbon of bodies no matter how hard I try. “How long is this thing? How long would that even take?”

The man shrugs, looking around at the waiting masses like he hadn’t considered it. “Probably a few years, if I had to guess.”

I feel my stomach drop as the color drains from my face. “A few years ?” I repeat dumbly, gaping. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Why,” an old, potbellied man behind them snickers, “you got somewhere else to be, kid?”

A few of the line occupants within earshot laugh loudly, making me bristle. My cheeks flush with embarrassment and frustration, and I shake my head to clear it away.

Wherever this place is, whatever system they’re running here… I don’t want it. I’m not going to let them take my life from me and herd me into some weird corner of the Underworld like a lost lamb. Maybe that works for others, but not for me.

I clench and unclench my hands, looking out over the endless string of figures. “Well,” I mutter to myself, “I’ve already made several bad decisions today, may as well keep the streak going.”

The potbellied guy scowls. “What’s that s’pposed to mean?”

Instead of answering, I dig the heels of my sneakers into the ground. And once again, I’m barreling through the unknown terrain. Except this time, thousands of people’s faces whisk by as I run, their expressions ranging from bored to surprised to outright angry. I hear some of them yell at me, but I ignore them.

But now I have another problem. I’m not in nearly good enough shape for this. My lungs burn and my breathing turns ragged in my throat, but I try to push myself forward. I stumble to leap over the lap of someone who has decided to sit on the ground to wait instead of stand.

“You there! HALT!”

I whip my head around to catch a glimpse of what is behind me, but instantly wish I hadn’t. Giving chase are towering, sinewy, hellish beings with their skin stretched tight over their bones, glaring at me with anger in their eyes. Their elongated spears, thick and sturdy, are poised and ready to impale whatever they hit first. They’re much faster than I am, and their weighty footsteps echo like ominous drumbeats as they pursue me. A surge of terror floods my veins, but I compel myself to continue running.

My heart pounds in my chest as I quickly sidestep and weave through the throngs of waiting people, bobbing and weaving to avoid colliding with them. The demonic creatures behind me are quickly gaining on me, their guttural growls intensifying with each passing second. “You've been commanded to halt!” One of them says again, his voice gravelly and almost painful to listen to.

I freeze as a small child wanders out of line and into my path, causing me to lose my balance and fall to the ground. Immediately the demons’ claws dig into my shoulders, and I let out a yelp. I struggle to regain my footing as they haul me up, their grip tight and unyielding. "Finally," one of them mutters, "Crazy brat."

“Let me go,” I mumble weakly, hanging my head. I know just asking them to drop me is pointless, but desperation forces me to give it a shot. The demonic creatures snort at my pitiful attempt, their grip on me unrelenting as they continue to drag me away. The tips of my shoes bounce against the uneven rock floor. * * *

Despite the terrifying looks of his minions, the imposing Lord Yama appears rather... bland. Glossy, intricate bloodwood arches encircle a raised platform, upon which is perched a smooth ivory desk and chair. Lord Yama, a rotund little man in a black robe with ruddy skin and bulging eyes, shifts his attention back and forth between two advisors standing nearby as they present him with notes.

The advisors... I shudder, making every effort to avert my gaze from the two men flanking him. Don't stare, I chant to myself, pretending to be fascinated by the floor. Don't stare!

The two men are perfectly normal, tall and fit, wearing simple red tunics and trousers. That would all be fine, except for their freaking animal heads - one with the head of an ox, and the other of a horse. The man with the horse head seems engrossed in scribbling something into a thick, well-worn book like this is an ordinary Tuesday.

“My Lord!” One of the demons calls out, shoving me down to my knees. My shins sting with fresh cuts as I turn back in an attempt to glare at him. “I’ve brought her. The little brat who’s been causing a ruckus.”

“ You’ve brought her?” the other scoffs.

“Shut up.”

“Thank you, men.” The air seems to buzz with tension as Lord Yama’s voice booms out, halting the argument as soon as it starts. I watch in trepidation as he stands from his desk, his long beard swaying as he makes his way toward us. Something about his expression sends chills down my spine. “You’ve done well at finding her, however…” he raises an eyebrow inquisitively. “Remind me, what exactly has she done?”

My heart drops to the pit of my stomach as the demons pause, seemingly at a loss for words. “She.. well... She destroyed Meng Po’s vessel for the Soul Beguiling Soup, and crossed the Bridge of Forgetfulness without drinking it.”

Lord Yama folds his hands over his belly, raising an eyebrow. “Yes. And then?”

The two lackeys behind me stutter, unsure where he’s going with this. “Th-Then.. and then she tried to s-skip the line, my Lord. She’s been wreaking chaos since the first moment she came here.”

Lord Yama strokes his beard thoughtfully, the sound of his hums echoing in the quiet room. The tension seems to grow thicker as we wait for his response. “That’s right,” he says finally, his gaze fixed on me. “She attempted to avoid waiting in line. How kind of you to aid her in her objective by escorting her here yourselves. Fools.”

Both monsters behind me are silent. I have to bite my lip hard to keep myself from laughing. Nyeh-nyeh, losers.

But the giggles die in my throat as Lord Yama's beady eyes flicker over to me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. I feel like a mouse under a hawk's gaze.

"So," he says slowly, "you are the troublemaker who has been disrupting the order of things in my realm. Tell me, child, what do you have to say for yourself?"

I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. My throat feels dry, and I can feel the lump in my stomach growing bigger by the second. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

"U-um, sir," I manage to say, my voice trembling. "I wasn’t trying to cause any trouble. I was just trying to find my way back home." I pause. “Sir,” I add again, just for good measure.

Lord Yama seems to read my thoughts, and he nods knowingly. "And how do you plan on doing that now that you are here, in the afterlife?"

I wince as one of the demons digs his claws into my shoulder deeper. “I… didn’t exactly think that far ahead.”

Lord Yama chuckles, a deep and menacing sound that makes my skin crawl. “You’re entertaining, young one. I haven’t been so delighted by someone in thousands of years.” He leans over, bending to meet my eye level from where I kneel on the floor. “However, I understand. You’re young, and your death was sudden. It must be challenging facing all this alone.”

I suck in a deep breath, my heart thumping erratically in my chest. “Let me go, please. I don’t want to die yet.”

Lord Yama straightens up, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Oh, my dear. You've already died. There's no going back from that." His words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I feel the weight of the situation crashing down on me. The reality of my death sinks in, and I can feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.

My tears drip onto the floor as my vision begins to blur. “I can't just let it end like this.”

Lord Yama smiles haughtily. “Fate is a terrible, cruel thing, child. Even the world’s strongest warriors cannot fight the crushing blow of their own destiny.”

“I don’t believe that!” I kneel upright, and the demons wrestle me back down to a hunch.

Lord Yama's smile fades, replaced with a glint of annoyance in his eyes. "Believe what you will, but it does not change the truth. Death comes for all, and there is nothing you can do to escape it."

The demons behind me tighten their grip on my arms, making me wince in pain. I can feel my anger bubbling up inside me, mixing with my fear and despair. "You're wrong!" I shout, my voice echoing off the walls and columns. "There has to be a way out of here. There has to be a way to go back."

Lord Yama shakes his head, his eyes hardening. "I'm afraid not, child. Your fate is sealed."

I struggle against the demons, desperation coursing through my veins. "Please," I plead, "there has to be something I can do. Anything."

Lord Yama regards me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “For your level of insolence, I should have you banished to the courts of Hell for eternity.”

My jaw tightens, the tension in the air growing thicker as we wait for him to continue.

“But the more I talk to you, the more amusing you become.” I swallow hard, unsure of what to make of his sudden change in demeanor. "What do you mean?" I ask cautiously.

A faint smile plays at the corners of Lord Yama’s mouth. "You have spirit, child. I can see it in your eyes.” He walks back towards the platform, nodding to himself. With a flick of his wrist, he signals to Mr. Ox-Head, who scurries off to some unknown destination. “I’m prepared to offer you a deal. An experiment of sorts.”

I shift uneasily, not quite sure how to respond. "Sir?"

He chuckles darkly, his eyes alight with amusement. "Your thoughts on destiny and fate are quite rigid, are they not? Why don’t we put it to the test?”

Before I can respond, the guards suddenly release me, and I tumble to the ground in a heap. I scramble to my feet, my body sore and bruised from the demons' assault. I rub my shoulders slowly where their claws have ripped holes in my clothing as they slink off to do other things.

As I stagger towards the platform, Mr. Ox-Head returns, carrying an ornate urn that gleams in the dim torch light. He places it on the edge of Lord Yama's desk with a soft thud, and sets a small scroll beside it.

My wide eyes follow him for a moment- a freaking ox head, how on earth is that even anatomically possible ?!- but I shake my head and force myself to re-focus. “What do you want me to do?”

Lord Yama beckons me closer, his fingers closing around the scroll. "It is quite simple in concept," he murmurs, his voice sickeningly sweet with a patronizing edge. "You must change the fate of one who has been condemned to an unalterable destiny."

I stare at Lord Yama, my mind struggling to process his words. "Change someone's fate?" I echo slowly, unconvinced. "How am I supposed to do that?"

He raises the scroll in the air, the pattern outside it a rich green etched with blocky golden designs. “In my hand, I hold the image of a young man slated to die a tragically premature death in the autumn of his eighteenth year."

Lord Yama hands the scroll out to me, the smooth texture of the paper sliding into my hand. “He lives in a very different world from your own,” he continues. “But you crave life. Very well- I’ll have you reborn there yourself. Shall he live past his eighteenth year, I’ll let you live the rest of your second life there in peace.” His look darkens. “Fail, and you’ll be brought back to me at the time his fate is sealed. You’ll suffer eternal torture in the courts of Hell, and justice will finally be satisfied.”

I frown and hesitate for a moment as I break the seal of the scroll, the weight of his words washing over me. The thought of being sent to another world is daunting enough, but to be tasked with changing the whole life’s course of someone I don’t know? It seems impossible. With as much mental strength as I can muster, I unfurl the scroll to get a look at whoever this mysterious stranger is.

My breath catches in my throat as the image of this person meets my eyes. He’s more beautiful than I expected, nearly ethereal, with pale, porcelain skin and thin but soft, rounded features. Over his forehead is some sort of metal-plated headpiece I don’t recognize. Long, dark hair drapes over his shoulders and down his back, not a strand out of place.

However, his eyes are his most striking feature by far. They’re an otherworldly, glassy white, tinged with a hint of shimmering lavender that seems to pierce through the page. They bring an air of regality and mystery to his whole expression, seeming to look right into the very soul.

“Is he blind?” I ask in a hushed tone, tearing my eyes away from the image.

Lord Yama lets out a vicious cackle. “Quite the opposite,” he replies, but doesn’t elaborate on that any further. “This is the one called Hyuuga Neji, a prodigious member of a powerful clan whose story yields an unfortunate ending. He is the one you must save.”

My heart races in my chest, a tremor of fear coursing through my veins. What could I possibly do to change the course of fate for someone like this?

As if sensing my apprehension, Lord Yama stands up and reaches for the heavy-looking urn sitting on his desk.

"What's in there?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

I watch as he approaches me, stopping uncomfortably close with a smile. “His soul.”

I try to pull away as Lord Yama leans forward, his hot breath on my face as he presses a finger into my forehead. A tingling sensation erupts through my body, light and prickly, like a million little bubbles dancing on my skin.

“Happy birthday to you both.”

The world around me fades away, and I fall backward into blackness.

#The Red String #Neji Hyuga #Neji x OC #oc x canon #naruto fanfiction #fanfiction #Kanna Fukui #Neji #This fic is very self indulgent don't come for me lol #hyuuga neji

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