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amoreva · 1 month

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FEIGNING FOR YA’

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CHAPTER 1

pairing: luke castellan x fem!reader

summary: as a little childish act of rebellion, you try dating your friend, Luke Castellan, to really piss off your parents (for a actual real reason, not the small things they hate). what was supposed to be no strings attached turned into a little more than just childish revenge.

warnings: slow burn, college au, smau, fake dating to dating, cursing, clarisse x chris, aged up! pjo charcters, yn is older sister figure to percy, luke and thalia are older sibling figures to annabeth

a/n: i have re-written this one too many times and am still in the process of revising and proofreading to give you guys the best condition of the start of this fic series! So sorry for the delay!

series list | next

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“Are we still friends?”

“What?”

“Can we be friends?”

“After all of this?”

“After all of this.”

It would be a disastrously great story to tell your grandkids (if you had grandkids). Quite embarrassing really, telling someone about how naive and oblivious you were (still are.)

It was spring. The flowers in full bloom. Allergies spreading like wildfire due to pollen. Thankfully, it was raining cats and dogs, so no stuffy noses tonight. You decided to come back from your hometown two days before spring break ended. As much as you were homesick after spending so long at college, your family made you feel homesick for college.

It was torturous. Questions and questions about your college life were thrown at you left and right. From potentially having a significant other to your major that you were taking to who you were friends with to being disappointed in your college major to asking about your grades to being disappointed you party to just being disappointed.

All in all, truly you loved your family. Really, you do. Your aunt made great pastries. Your dad a great cook. Your uncle made really funny (bad.) jokes. Yet, they found some way to critic your every decision and move you make. You hated it.

Your shoes squeaked on tiled stairs. Lugging up your suitcase, you just prayed you didn’t fall. The tiles were wet because people’s shoes were wet. You did not want to pay a hospital bill after barely paying for college.

By the time you got to your dorm, you were already half asleep, running on an overpriced yogurt parfait from the airport. The soft comforter of your bed calling out to you like a siren’s song.

You were lulling off to dreamscape when a loud ominous creak filled the silence. “C’mon. You gotta be better than that. Lock your doors.” Luke’s “charming” voice replaced your peace. “Some creep could waltz in and kidnap you in your sleep.”

“Supposed you’re that creep?”

Luke has been attached to your hip since highschool, freshman year. Both of you have suffered through each other’s numerous cringy phases (only to bring them up for the annual birthday post on instagram).

He was one of the friends your parents despise. They always ranted about how they’ve been a bad influence to you since highschool.

“Depends.” The bed dipped under his weight. “Do you think you look okay enough to go out?”

“I guess, but I feel disgusting.” You answered. Confusion swimming through your mind. Where was Luke going with this?

“Are you upset because of a recent event?”

“Kinda.”

“Upset enough to stay holed up the whole evening?” Luke rephrased.

“No.”

“Okay.” Decision.

You heard his windbreaker swish as his arms wrapped around your waist. “Luke!” Like a bag of potatoes you were tossed over his shoulder. “You fucking—!”

He grabbed what he was originally came in your dorm for and exited. Silena, Chris and Clarisse were waiting for Luke and now, you. “Welcome back!” Silena said, masking her shock.

No one knew you were coming back home early and Luke wasn’t surprised. As much as you wanted to stay in your dorm and sleep, you were glad to be with your friends.

The restaurant was loud and lively. The rain ceasing. College students were celebrating their final few days before classes started up again. The occasional drunks here to watch the multiple football games going on. Your friend group chose to celebrate.

The dim lighting was a stark contrast to the bright TVs that played various football and soccer games. Drinks slid down the bar into the awaiting consumer’s hand. Alcohol got everyone in a better mood during the night (though the same cannot be said the morning after).

A waiter placed down the five shots Luke had ordered, in toast of your unexpected return and the final days of spring break. The shot glasses made a tiny clink before the liquid burned your throat. It left a warm feeling in your chest.

Silena and Clarisse went to take photos via Chris the cameraman. The three went out to the porch of the restaurant bar. You opted out and Luke stayed with you. You weren’t exactly in the nicest clothes.

Another round of shots were placed on the table. Luke ran his fingers through his curls and checked his phone. “What’s bothering you?” He asked.

“What?” You tore your gaze from the two girls and looked at Luke.

“You said you were upset about something, but not too upset to not go out.” Luke explained. “Better to get it off your shoulders than to bottle it up.”

You roll your eyes at his last sentence and sat up in the cushioned restaurant chair. “Family.” Luke laughed a little at that. He’s known how perfect your family wants you to be.

You shove your face into your hands as if you were reliving the reunion all over again. “I didn’t even do anything bad or get in serious trouble this time!”

Luke nodded along slowly, taking in your every word. You can’t tell what he’s thinking as you continue on your little rant. Yet his face shifts as you rant.

“Why are your grades like that?”

“I saw your Instagram post. Drinking? Really?”

You parrot some of the questions your family said to you, with their fake smiles and judgmental eyes. You were old enough to drink! “And then they started talking my ear off about you all. Clarisse! Thalia, you—Silena and Chris” The list goes on. Luke knows it. You know it.

“Why are you friends with that temperamental girl? Lord knows the trouble you’ll be roped into with her.” You mocked your parents, aunts and uncles’ words. “I don’t like how that Thalia girl. Too rebellious, disrespectful too!”

“That one girl is an airhead. Head in the clouds.”

“Don’t get me started on that Luke boy again.”

“Get better friends.”

“Maybe you hang out with a different group.”

“They piss me off! And well maybe they’re concerned about my wellbeing, but—they keep harping me about everything little thing I do.” You groaned and rubbed your eyes exhausted. “Which is why I came back early.”

“So piss them off.” Like that was the hardest thing you do. You unintentionally trigger their judgmental side without even trying.

“What?”

“It’s what I do to my dad. I piss him off most of the time when he tries to come back.” Luke shrugged. “If they hate all of us so much. Date one of us, shit—date me, you’ve known me the longest. I think they’d be pretty pissed about you dating a bad influence.”

“That’s so childish.” You commented, but it was good, but it could work. Rebellion never hurt anyone that bad. Well, maybe your aunt will have a “heart attack”, but it should be fine.

And you were out of options to try and get your family off your back.

So the next afternoon, when Clarisse was out, Luke and you sat on your bed and conjured up a contract for this temporary relationship; a day before break was over.

“I don’t see why we need a contract.” Luke sipped on a juicebox. The sunlight providing a nice atmosphere in your dorm room.

“I saw it work on a show I watched kinda.” You whispered the word “kinda” under your breath. It was a long time since you’ve seen the show.

Luke raised an eyebrow and set the empty juice box on your desk. “So…uh—terms and conditions.” You typed out on a Google doc in big bolded letters. How do you start this?

“We could “date” from now until the start of summer? I think that is a long enough rebellion.” You suggested and looked at Luke. “I have to go back home for Easter and my little sister’s birthday, but then I have that family trip in summer…”

“Sure.” Luke agreed.

You looked at him silently asking him to elaborate. “From now until that family trip is over. I’ll go to Easter, the birthday and the trip.”

“You aren’t trying to mooch off me for the trip are you?”

Luke slid the computer to him and typed out the first terms and conditions. He ignored your question with a smile and a shake of his head. “You have to come with me when it’s Mother’s Day though.”

You agreed to that relatively quickly. Your mom and dad were always out of town that day. “I’m fine with kissing on the cheek and forehead and holding hands, if you are?”

“What? No lips?” Luke teased with a grin.

“I haven’t had my first kiss yet.” You muttered in embarrassment.

“Fine, no lips.” You were slightly surprised Luke didn’t tease you for not having your first kiss yet. He typed it on the computer. “And no sex.”

“No sex.” You agreed. “And we cannot let the others know. They’ll start talking and then it’ll get to my family somehow—”

“Okay…no sex and no talking about the fake relationship.” Luke chucked and typed it on the computer. “This seems good enough for a contract right?” He still thinks the contract is stupid.

You smack his shoulder. “This is serious, Luke! If I wanna piss of my parents I have to do it right.”

“Okay, sweetie.” He spoke sarcastically and typed his name at the end of the document. You did the same. “But there is no right way to piss off someone. You just do.”

After signing the temporary dating contract, Luke and you talked about the story of how you got together.

Luke and you supposedly have had some unrequited feelings during highschool. Both of you began talking over spring break after a drunk conversation and decided to give dating a shot.

Then, there was the fact that Luke and you had to announce the relationship. So, social media it was. Which prompted you to grab his hand. “Where are we going?” Luke asked as he was dragged off your bed.

“A cafe.” You held his hand, fingers lacing together. “I’m hungry after all that and it would be great publicity if we went out holding hands.”

“Whatever you say.” Luke rolled his eyes, though he didn’t mean it. “Then I guess I’ll be the good boyfriend and pay.”

“Really?” You asked and looked back at him.

He shrugged. “Why not.”

Luke and you held hands and talked about whatever came to mind. Like you usually did as bestfriends. He opened the cafe door for you and paid for your food and drink.

Maybe “dating” Luke won’t be the worst thing ever. Rebelling doesn’t seem to be all that bad now. Maybe everything will turn out fine. You rebel against your perfect family and Luke will get a free trip as a reward. Yeah, you’re sure things will turn out okay. Maybe.

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taglist:

@happy-mushrooms @m00ng4z3r

#luke castellan #luke castellan x reader #luke castellan pjo #percy jackon and the olympians #luke castellan fic series #college au #pjo smau #clarisse la rue #chris rodriguez #silena beauregard

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ayyy-pee · 2 years

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Strangers In Love

Chapter 2

Discord 18+ - Twitter - Kofi

Pairing: Nanami Kento x Female Reader

Summary: Nanami reflects.

Genre: Divorce AU

Story Warnings: Smut, Vaginal Sex, Jealousy, Jealous Behavior, Divorce, Unprotected Sex, Creampie, Arguments, Ex-Husband Nanami Kento

Nanami finds himself standing on the sidewalk, watching your form disappear into the crowd and trying to resist the overwhelming urge to scream at the searing pain he’s in from his boiling hot coffee spilling over his hand when he chased after you. He feels a pang of disappointment at how obviously uncomfortable you were to see him. It was as though you couldn’t get away fast enough. He supposed he couldn’t blame you given the circumstances. You hadn’t seen or spoken to each other in over five years. Of course you didn’t want to start now.

Nanami actually didn’t know what drove him to follow after you and request to meet. His feet seemed to move on their own from the moment he recognized you in the cafe.

Having just arrived back in Tokyo a few weeks prior, he hadn’t been out much, too busy moving into his new apartment and finding his footing at his new job. It was exhausting. This particular morning, Nanami was really feeling his fatigue set in. A quick internet search for a good place to grab a coffee before work brought him to a new cafe on his morning commute. He hoped it was good. It would be convenient to have a place to stop every morning before work. He ignored pain in his chest at the idea of being back in Tokyo and resuming morning cafe visits, a tradition he used to uphold with —

Nevermind that . He couldn’t go there right now. He tucked the thought away for another time. Nanami entered, inhaling deeply and sighing happily at the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans. He gave a curt nod to the employees who greeted him and made his way to the display case, leaning forward to better peruse the options.

The sweet pastries looked absolutely delectable. However, he was more interested in their parfait selection. He wondered in particular if they had the tart one he loved so much. If they did, he’d request sliced strawberries on top just the way he liked it. Not too sweet for the morning. And he’d get a coffee for a boost in energy.

After placing his order and paying, the cashier informed him they would have his breakfast out shortly. He stepped aside, taking in the decor of the cafe. A cozy, small place that was designed to look like a cottage inside. Nanami could picture himself coming here in the winter months for a nice hot cup of tea.

As his eyes roamed through the cafe, they landed on a familiar head of strikingly white hair. He would know it from a mile away. Satoru Gojo. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Nanami had known Gojo all through high school. He wouldn’t exactly call them friends. He would describe their relationship as more of Nanami tolerating Gojo’s presence while Gojo pestered you and him. You all lost contact with each other once you went to college and Nanami was not particularly set on trying to reconnect now. He only hoped to escape this cafe before Gojo noticed him.

Gojo was with someone, though Nanami could not see who as another patron was blocking his line of vision. It didn’t matter. His breakfast was ready. As he grabbed his parfait and coffee from the barista, he glanced back over to Gojo’s table, nearly dropping everything when he saw it was you who occupied the other seat.

You, his ex-wife who he had not seen in over five years. He wasn’t prepared for this. He had moved back to Tokyo taking solace in the fact that the city was massive. The chance of running into you should have been slim to none. And yet, here you were, brushing Gojo’s hair out of his face with the same soft expression you used to reserve only for him .

He knew he had no right to be jealous. You left him and he didn’t so much as try to argue when you requested a divorce.

—————

5 Years Ago

The night you told Nanami you wanted a divorce was hell on earth for him, though you would never know it. Awkwardly climbing off of your body in the bed, he only had one question.

“Why?”

He could hear the tears in your voice, but his body would not allow himself to feel your pain, too exhausted from the day he had to care that you were so obviously struggling.

You sniffled, trying to gather your thoughts before your words cut through the thick tension, quiet, almost a whisper.

“I’m not happy anymore, Kento”, was all you said.

“Where is this coming from?”

“I haven’t been happy in a long time. I’ve felt so alone in this marriage, Kento. I hardly see you, you hardly speak to me. Look at how you just had to force yourself to even want to make love. You’ve been checked out of this marriage for years.”

Nanami’s body was shutting down now. The stress of the work day was now being crushed under the weight of his crumbling marriage and he was too tired to deal with any of this right now. He needed rest.

He sighed. “I don’t believe that to be true.“

“When was the last time you kissed me, Kento?” You cut in. Nanami wracked his exhausted mind. He supposed you were right. It had been some time since he had last kissed you, but surely that didn’t warrant a divorce.

His eyelids were getting heavy. He stood from the bed. It was probably not going to be comfortable for you to share the bed with him right now. And maybe a night of sleep would help you come to your senses by morning.

“I’ll be taking the couch tonight then. We can discuss this tomorrow.”

“No, Kento.” You muttered softly. “I’ve made up my mind. We don’t need to talk it out. I’m done.” He could almost feel the way your lip quivered as you spoke and he wanted to reach out to you, to touch you and ask what he could do to save this marriage. But his arms felt like lead weights, his brain was not allowing him to process this properly. He just needed sleep.

“Okay.” Nanami acquiesced, turning to wander through the darkness out of the bedroom and make his way to the living room. In the morning, when his brain was no longer overloaded he would try to convince you to see reason and to stop the dramatics.

Morning came too soon. Nanami was still as drained as when he went to sleep. The clock glowed a blaring 4:30am. Nanami stretched, his back aching from sleeping on the couch and he wondered what brought him here in the first place. Did he fall asleep reading? No, the memories of the late night came back to him. He could spare a few moments before he needed to leave. You two could talk about this divorce you were asking for, work things out and move forward.

He went to the bedroom, opening the door as quietly as he could. It was still dark out and Nanami assumed you were still sleeping. He felt bad for waking you, but he did not want to start his day without speaking to you. Nanami found his way over to his bedside table, reaching to turn the lamp on, filling the room with a soft light. He turned to climb on to the bed only to realize it was empty.

Sudden panic overtook him as he hurried to the connecting bathroom. Maybe you were up and getting ready for work yourself, but when he reached the bathroom, the light was off. He flicked them on. Empty. His eyes scanned the sink, noting that your toothbrush was gone as well as your skincare products.

Now he was getting concerned. He wandered into your shared closet, finding many of your clothes to be gone, your suitcase also missing. You left. You really left him. Nanami snatched his phone from the bedside table, checking his messages. One notification from you.

You: I think it’s best if I stay elsewhere. We can discuss how to best move forward when I find a divorce lawyer. I’m sorry for this, but I can’t live like this anymore. Thank you for all of these years, Kento. Goodbye.

Hands shaking, he dialed your number. Straight to voicemail. He tried again, receiving the same result. He slumped down onto the bed, running his hands through his hair, trying to call you again and again and never reaching you.

At this moment, Nanami thought back to your conversation only a few hours earlier. How you cried, telling him how alone you had felt. How he had dismissed your feelings without a second thought, chalking it up to you being dramatic because he simply didn’t make it home for dinner in time. He was so tired. He was too tired to truly listen, to truly hear you. And now you were gone, the only traces of you left behind the few clothes and shoes sitting in the closet.

He took a deep breath. He needed to get to work. He could try and reach you later in the day when you were more likely to be awake to answer. Nanami was sure that with some time to think, you would come to your senses.

The day dragged by, texts from Nanami to you going unanswered as well as his phone calls. Days without contact turned into weeks. He came home to find all of your things gone one day. He assumed you came by while he was at work to pack everything, leaving your key on the front entry table, the keychain with your honeymoon picture still attached. The emptiness Nanami felt of you being gone soon festered into anger. The last straw being when he was served with the official divorce papers at the apartment. How dare you leave him when he worked so hard to achieve the dream you both shared - Malaysia.

Why couldn’t you be more understanding that this was for you both? The late nights in the office, the missed dinners, the end of your morning cafe dates. It was all meant to bring you both closer to this dream of lying on the beach together with no worries. And you left him for it.

Whatever, he thought. I can find someone who would easily appreciate the lengths I go through for them. And the thought unsettles him because what if you found someone who truly appreciated you the way Nanami apparently didn’t? He finds himself glaring a hole into his computer monitor for who knows how long before he comes back to reality.

Once he finally signs on the dotted line months later, your divorce official, Nanami feels so numb he doesn’t care anymore. He doesn’t care that he hasn’t seen or heard from you in months. He doesn’t care that he comes home every night to an empty apartment, a cold bed waiting to embrace him. He doesn’t care that his mind plays tricks on him, sometimes hearing your laugh causing his head to snap towards the noise only to find no one there. He doesn’t care about anything, not even his job that originally drove the wedge between you two.

It’s a full year later that he decides he needs to leave Tokyo. He quits his job with not even a two week notice, packs up and moves to a prefecture far, far away where he can escape the memory of you and your time together. He spends a few years there, working aimlessly, having lost the motivation to put forth the effort towards a goal before deciding he’s healed enough emotionally to return to Tokyo.

Which brings him back here.

——————

Present Day

Nanami is watching you, finding it absolutely impossible to take his eyes off of you. You seem to have zoned out for the moment. You’re just staring ahead lost in thought. He wonders what’s on your mind when he sees Gojo scoot his chair closer to you and then he touches you. He touches you so intimately that Nanami can’t ignore the pang of jealousy forming in his chest.

Were you two dating?

He watches as Gojo swipes his thumb across your cheek and Nanami’s feet move against his will. He’s coming up behind Gojo quickly, his blood boiling when he hears “You okay baby?” Nanami has to resist snatching Gojo by the back of his collar and yanking him away from you. In his mind, he knows he has no right to be so incredibly jealous. You left him in the middle of the night and never spoke to him again. You were done with him, hadn’t spoken to him in so long he almost forgot what your voice sounded like. But watching Gojo touch you so casually, like he did it so often it just came naturally to you both made him seethe.

He calls your name, trying hard not to look at Gojo’s hand on your face and failing. You notice and slap his hand away. Nanami thinks it may just be uncomfortable for you to have your ex see you with your new partner. He tries not to show how affected he is seeing you, his heart pounding in his ears, but his face giving nothing away.

Gojo explains that you’re leaving, calls you baby again which makes Nanami grit his teeth.

“Great running into you, Nanami.” You say as you move around him. He’s rooted to his spot, his eyes glued to you. He tries not to react to you speaking to him so formally. He’s no longer Kento to you - just Nanami and he can’t ignore the sadness he feels at the fact.

“Um, welcome back. Maybe we can catch up later.”

He doesn’t miss the way you tense up, clearly not meaning the offer but he couldn’t help but feel happy you made it anyway. You left in a hurry and it was the sound of Gojo clearing his throat that snapped Nanami from staring at the door.

“You gonna just stand there or go after her?” He asks. Nanami frowns, eyes still glued to the door.

“If I go after her, what will you do?”

Gojo shrugs, slurping loudly on his practically empty milkshake. “Nothing.”

He moves.

And now he’s here, still looking into the crowd you disappeared into hoping he’ll catch another glimpse of you. After more than five years of no interactions from you, not knowing what you were up to, the idea of potentially meeting up with you made Nanami feel…well if he were honest, downright giddy.

Your number hadn’t changed and Nanami was hopeful you hadn’t caught on to the fact that he never deleted it. He wastes no time texting you.

To Malaysia: It’s Kento. It was very good seeing you again if only for a short while. I look forward to speaking with you later on regarding catching up. Have a good day at work.

With that, Nanami turns and heads into work himself, for the first time feeling the numbness that once consumed him fade just a bit.

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dazaiandhislovelybandages · 5 months

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hiii i’d like to request gintoki w a reader who gives him (intimate) massages when he comes home tired and treats him to parfaits and sweets which they indulge in together :))

Perfect Girlfriend {Gintoki}

A/n: okay so... this request puzzled me a lot because I couldn't really figure out what an intimate massage is. So I slightly changed it so I can actually write something and turned it into a simple shoulder massage. Also, I never expected so many people wanting me to write for Gintoki, I am honoured. Hopefully you will like it and I am terribly sorry it is short!

Pairing: Gintoki Sakata x gn!reader

Warnings: none

Gintoki had once again come home tired. Or had he? You see, you could tell by the way that Kagura and Shinpachi had walked inside the Odd Jobs office, the mission wasn't difficult and it was certainly not something that would lead to your boyfriend groaning and sighing in pain.

It didn't take you long to figure exactly what this was though. The same thing had happened three missions ago and again the mission was ridiculously easy. But even though you could tell that your boyfriend was pretending to be tired, you still took your place behind him on the couch and began massaging his shoulders.

It was funny how quickly Gintoki relaxed in your arms, leaning back slightly so he could look up at you. Yet you kept a straight face, acting all cool and nonchalant.

And when Kagura finally went to sleep and Shinpachi left, you slowly leaned down to whisper in his ear. "Lets go eat something." He turned around to look at you, an apologetic look on his face. You knew fairly well what his next words would be and you couldn't help but chuckle. "My treat."

Gintoki's eyes lit up immediately. He quickly stood up, your hand already in his as he stormed out.

And when the time came for the pastry shop to close, Gintoki's belly full of all the different sweets he ate, the walk back home was slow.

"You're perfect you know?" He sighed wrapping an arm around your waist to bring you closer to him.

"Are you saying this because I tr-"

"No." He cut you off right away, placing a soft kiss on your forehead. "No I am not. Though... it is one of the reasons."

"Next time is your treat." You giggle.

"Hopefully you can last for five months until I get the money."

#gintama gin #writing #anime and manga #anime #manga #gintoki sakata #gintama gintoki #sakata gintoki #gintama #gintama x reader #gintoki sakata x reader #gintoki x reader #gintama gintoki x reader #gin gintama #gin gintama x reader

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taizi · 6 months

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run, boy, run

chapter five

natsume yuujinchou pairing: one-sided kitanishi word count: 2k summary: Nishimura has a cursed mark on his arm, a crush on Natsume’s famous idol friend, and a whole lot of brand new problems that start and end with the taboo circle he found. full circle au

read on ao3

Satoru keeps looking over his shoulder at Hiiragi, just to make sure she’s still there.

“Watch where you’re walking or you’ll fall, Nishimura,” she says after the third backwards glance, voice low and monotone and still, somehow, entirely reassuring. She’s looking at him, talking to him, and he can hear her.

“No, I won’t,” Satoru argues cheerfully. Natori’s hand on his shoulder steers him around a crack in the pavement before he can prove himself wrong. And he’s still holding a sleeping Nyanko-sensei, so he definitely would have eaten dirt.

They’re south of town, much farther down the highway than Satoru ever has reason to go on his own. Matoba must have had his yokai chauffeur drive them for longer than Satoru realized. He’s pretty sure there’s a gas station nearby, and he thinks this is the road his old elementary school is on, but other than that he’s got nothing.

Natori’s rental car is parked in a tiny lot outside a Western-style building with a rustic cottage vibe. Satoru expects to be sheparded into the car, but instead Natori leads the way up the brick steps and through the lattice-patterned front door.

The inside is cluttered and cozy, warmed by potted plants on every available surface. A smiling young woman behind the pastry counter encourages them to pick any table they’d like.

There’s an older couple seated in the back corner booth, and a grizzled man reading the paper in a squashy armchair shoved next to a bookshelf overrun with paperbacks and waving cats. Natori guides Satoru to a table by the window, points him into a chair, and then slides over the laminate menu. Satoru remembers, abruptly, that he skipped breakfast and missed lunch.

“Order whatever you like,” Natori says, sounding distracted. “I need to make a few calls. I will be right outside. Okay?”

“Do you want something?” Satoru asks. He settles Natsume’s cat in his lap, relieved when the lucky cat actually stirs a bit and grumbles before tucking himself into a comfortable-looking loaf and going back to sleep.

“No, but Hiiragi has a sweet tooth. Pick her out something with strawberries.”

The shiki makes a noise that could, by generous definition, be considered a scoff. Natori leaves, and the cheerful woman who greeted them by the door takes Satoru’s order for hamburger steak and an ice cream parfait with all the extras. She looks indulgent when he tacks on the dessert and he can’t exactly explain it’s for a ghost.

The ghost in question sinks into the chair across from him only after the employee has dropped off a glass of melon soda and gone again.

“Your friends were very scared for you,” Hiiragi says without preamble. “They’ll be relieved to know that you’re safe.”

Satoru’s heart makes a sudden glad leap. “You saw them?”

“I did. Natsume called Natori-dono this morning when you didn’t arrive at school on time. And your little bird warned them you weren’t safe. You were missed immediately.”

It seems like she’s making a point, and Satoru can’t say he knows why, but he’s grateful all the same. It’s good to know that the whole time he was in Matoba’s dubious clutches, rescue was imminent. It’s really, really good to know that Fish didn’t just fly away in a panic, she flew away to the rescue.

“Do you know if they told anyone else?” Satoru thinks to ask after a moment.

“Just your brother,” the shiki replies. “Kitamoto informed Natori-dono that he had two hours to find you, after which time he would also be telling his mother.” If she considers it strange that Satoru’s own mother wasn’t a part of the equation, she keeps it to herself. Yokai probably don’t have strong feelings on humans and their relationships with each other anyway. She does add, “It took Natori-dono an hour and a half. …He was stressed.”

“I bet.”

Kitamoto can be kind of intense. Sure, Natori deals with curses and ghosts and what have you, but that’s nothing on Acchan when he’s in a mood.

Natori doesn’t come back to the table until after Satoru has started eating. He orders a cup of coffee and seems content to sit there for an indeterminate amount of time. Even though he’s busy—living a double-life, with double the work—he makes pleasant conversation with Satoru and teases Hiiragi about her ice cream and does nothing to rush either of them out of the restaurant.

Digging the tines of his fork through the sauce left on his plate, Satoru carefully doesn’t look at anyone in particular when he says, “Um. I didn’t say earlier. Thanks.”

Natori doesn’t speak up right away, and the silence is excruciating, even though it’s only like two seconds long. Satoru rushes to fill it.

“For—you know. You didn’t have to. I know you don’t really—uh, I just meant, thank you.”

Please stop talking! he begs himself.

The coffee cup lands against its saucer with a solid click and Natori’s hand comes to rest on the table between them. Satoru catches the little dart of a lizard tail disappearing up his arm, beneath his sleeve. It’s distracting enough that he almost forgets to be mortified that Natori Shuuichi is giving him his undivided attention. Almost.

“You’re a good kid,” Natori finally says, sounding, somehow, as if he means it. “And you have nothing to thank me for.”

Nyanko-sensei wakes up for real in time to finish the rest of Satoru’s hamburger steak. Natori gives sensei a dirty look, but Satoru is so relieved that he lets him have the fried potatoes and broccoli florets, too.

———

Less than an hour later, Satoru is delivered to the temple doorstep like he’s a Lotteria burger and Natori-san is a very stylish, very single-minded Demae-Can driver.

At around two in the afternoon, anyone who might be happy to see Satoru turn up out of the blue is almost definitely still at school. Satoru is opening his mouth to explain as much when the door rattles open hard enough that it crashes into the wall, and half a dozen voices yell, “Nishimura!”

It's a little funny. The sudden chaos settles something jangly and jittery in his chest that the quiet ride back into town couldn’t. Natori’s hands on his shoulders propel him gently forward and Satoru is folded into the crowd. Nyanko-sensei is lifted from his arms. Kitamoto is there.

He looks paler than he should. His eyes are dry, but red-rimmed, and while he usually greets Natori with a glare for whatever reason, this time he doesn’t seem to see the man at all. He’s staring right at Satoru from the second the door opens. He yanks Satoru into a hug that feels like it could go on for years and years, warm and tight and safe.

For the first time since he left his house that morning, Satoru relaxes fully. He can’t move his arms enough to get them around Kitamoto in turn, so he clutches fistfuls of his best friend’s shirt and sinks against him. He could probably fall asleep standing up right there if they’d just give him about five minutes.

“Come in, please,” Tanuma is saying, his tone equal parts gentle and stressed out. “I’ll make tea.”

Natori helps shuffle the Kitamoto-and-Satoru package into the genkan. The door rattles closed, and Satoru floats through the motions of exchanging sneakers for house slippers, peeling out of his sweaty school jacket and pulling a hoodie over his head instead.

“I know for a fact that you should be in English right now,” is the first thing he says, to Natsume, who looks like he doesn’t know if he wants to hug Satoru or shake him like a terrier would a rat.

“If anyone should have been anywhere, ” Taki says, and lets the statement hang there ominously.

“Shibata will be here by dinner,” is what Natsume settles on saying. He has Nyanko-sensei nestled in one arm, petting him gently with the opposite hand. Sensei’s eyes are slitted, his purr a quiet, rumbly thing. “He’s getting on a train after school.”

“Ogata’s volleyball team is away at a tournament right now, but she’s going to be livid she missed all this when she checks the group chat,” Taki adds.

Tanuma returns to the crowded hall with a tray of tea and glasses, and since he looks like he’s seconds away from a nervous breakdown if he can’t host them properly, everyone finds a place in the living room to sit. There’s one too many cups on Tanuma’s tray, but after the day they’ve had, Satoru doesn't blame him for miscounting.

Kitamoto doesn’t even pretend like he’s about to let Satoru go anytime in the immediate future, keeping an arm wrapped around him like it belongs there. Satoru, for his part, doesn’t pretend like that’s anything but a comfort.

A clatter on the engawa is the only warning any of them get before a frantic magpie bursts inside, silent except for the noisy scrabbling of her talons against the floor, wings half-spread, beak ajar.

“There’s my best girl,” Satoru says brightly. “Fish, you’re a hero, you know that? Hiiragi told me what you did. They should write songs about you.”

“satoru,” she cries, hopping across the room with gusto. “the scary human took you.”

“That he did.” Satoru puts the cup down and offers his hands to his bird instead. “But thanks to you, he gave me back.”

With Fish nestled under his ear where she belongs, her warm, slightly oily feathers and rapid little heartbeat against his cheek both a touchstone, Satoru accepts the cup of tea that’s pressed into his hands. He opts to just hold it for a while, breathing in the fragrant steam, shaking off those last, clinging fingers of anxiety.

“Wait,” Taki blurts. “Hiiragi told you?”

Oh, yeah. “There’s been a new development,” Satoru tells the room at large. “I can see yokai without the circle now.”

For a beat, no one moves except to stare at him blankly. Then all heads swivel toward Natori, who only says, with feeling, “It has been a very long day.”

“And it’s only halfway over,” Hiiragi comments plainly.

Since unpacking the yokai thing is going to be a conversation and a half, Satoru interjects quickly, “Before we get into all that, can we talk about how much trouble I’m in at school really fast?”

Natsume and Taki look too frustrated to speak for the moment, so Tanuma says, “You’re not in trouble, Nishimura. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Refusing to let Tanuma’s whole soft-spoken, gentle self get to him—he was kidnapped today and didn’t cry about it, he’s not going to cry just because his friend is being nice —Satoru replies, “Okay, we know that, but Nomiya-sensei doesn’t.”

“He does,” Tanuma insists.

It turns out that Satoru won’t have after-school suspension after all—because Kiyoshi, in a bizarre, uncharacteristic turn of events, covered for him.

“Sorry, I forgot to let his homeroom teacher know this morning,” was his brother’s story. He had called the school and lied directly to the principal herself, according to an impressed Taki’s eyewitness account. “He has a stomach bug. Can one of his friends bring by his homework later?”

“We had to call Kiyoshi-niisan when you didn’t show up,” Kitamoto says doggedly. It’s the first thing he’s said since Satoru got here. “I didn’t tell him everything, but I had to tell him something.”

Fish tugs on a piece of his hair with her beak. Satoru leans his head on Kitamoto’s shoulder.

“Acchan knows best,” Satoru says, because that was true even when it wasn’t. Of course, this meant that Satoru owed Kiyoshi the truth, whether he was ready to have that conversation or not, but at worst, he would just think Satoru and his friends were crazy. And he kind of already thought that, so no harm done. “At least that’s future-me’s problem,” he goes on, smiling around at his friends. “He’s taking a mock entrance exam for Kyushu University today, up in Fukuoka. That’ll keep him busy and give me time to spin a story.”

They frown back at him. Even Natori looks over, a crease in his brow.

“You think he still went to Fukuoka?” Taki says slowly.

“Nishimura, you were missing, ” Natsume adds, bemused. “Someone took you right off the street.”

“It sounds bad when you say it that way.” Satoru can feel the twinge in his arm that means the cursed bruises are coming back. His heart rate picks up a little, too, for good measure. “But it’s his mock exam. Mom’s been hounding him about this school for ages. He wouldn’t do anything to mess this one up.”

He wouldn’t let me mess this up for him, is what Satoru doesn’t say out loud. He digs his fingers into the overlarge hoodie he’s wearing, twisting the cuffs all out of shape.

Natsume glances at Natori quickly, concerned. The man sets his tea aside and stands up, moving around the table and then settling tailor-style in front of Satoru and Kitamoto.

“I think there is a reason your brother studies so hard,” Natori says. “And I think it has very little to do with your mother.”

“You haven’t met my mom,” Satoru says. It makes Natori crack a smile.

“I haven’t had the pleasure. But Kiyoshi told me plenty. And while you might think he’s doing everything he can to please her, from where I’m standing, it looks a lot more like he’s doing his best to spite her.”

Natori Shuuichi spoke to Satoru’s brother. They talked about personal stuff. Satoru wants to bury himself under a rock.

It doesn’t sound like Kiyoshi at all to trash-talk mom in any capacity. He’s her shining up-and-coming med student, bringing home perfect scores and skipping weekend trips and holidays to study. She doesn’t really care about Satoru, but she loves Kiyoshi. He has no reason not to love her back.

But if his friends are to be believed—and of course they are—then Kiyoshi covered for him today, even without understanding what, exactly, he was covering for. Why would he do that?

Footsteps from further in the temple draw nearer, along with a voice that Satoru would know anywhere. He whips around, spilling tea over his fingers, because that’s his brother’s pissed-off tone, here, in Tanuma’s house, where Satoru and his friends and Natori and the ghosts all are.

As he gets closer, his words get clearer, until Satoru can make out, “…my problem, remember? Not yours. Please don’t trouble yourself.”

“Nii-san has always had the best timing,” Kitamoto mutters.

“Kyushu was a compromise, ” Kiyoshi is saying, his voice making it easy to trace his progress down the engawa. “Fukuoka is three hours away, I didn’t want to go to school there in the first place. Kumamoto University is much closer, and it’s a good school. My friends are applying there, too. It’s where I want to go.”

Fish is poking insistently at Satoru’s ear and chin, so he lifts his hands mechanically and moves her down into his lap instead. She busies herself with snapping at the drawstring of his hoodie instead, unbothered by the force of nature headed their way.

“Um, so he knows some stuff,” Satoru hears himself say weakly. “How much exactly is that?”

“Enough,” Kitamoto says, which explains nothing.

The porch doors rattle the rest of the way open from where they were cracked, presumably to let nosy spirit birds in and out, and Kiyoshi stands there backlit by afternoon sunlight. It’s impossible to make out his expression. Satoru thinks he’s more nervous now than he was with Matoba.

“Bye, mom,” Kiyoshi says, and hangs up without waiting for a reply.

“You wanted to go to Fukuoka,” Satoru blurts before anyone can say anything else. “You made me memorize the train line.”

“That was just in case, brat,” Kiyoshi replies, crossing the room in long strides. Natori moves and Kiyoshi takes his place, looking over first Satoru, then Kitamoto carefully. “I was probably going to throw the mock exam anyway. I was just going today to make mom happy. I’ve been accepted at Kumamoto Uni already. An hour-long commute will be annoying, but it’s better than the alternative. Heaven only knows the kind of trouble you’d get into on your own.”

“And us,” Taki pipes up. “We know.”

“Right,” Kiyoshi says, sitting back. His expression is no-nonsense, gaze level and boring into Satoru’s. “And now me. Start talking, or I’ll make your life miserable.”

Now that, Satoru thinks, is the first believable thing anyone has said all day.

#natsume yuujinchou #natsuyuu #nishimura satoru #natori shuuichi #kitamoto atsushi #nishimura kiyoshi #natsume takashi #tanuma kaname #taki tooru #my writing #full circle #does more college research for this story than i did for my own self #and ends up barely using any of it lmao #i almost forgot to tag tanuma. owl would be ashamed

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mid-fight-lover · 10 months

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The list of cookie run ships (updated):

Gingerbrave x Strawberry cookie

Gingerbright x Skater cookie

Zombie cookie x Fairy cookie

Wizard cookie x Cream puff cookie

Princess cookie x Knight cookie

Chilli pepper cookie x Muscle cookie

Gumball cookie x Cherry cookie

Ninja cookie x Skating queen cookie

Angel cookie x Devil cookie

Adventurer cookie x blackberry cookie

Pancake cookie x onion cookie

Custard cookie lll x Strawberry creepe cookie

Carrot cookie x Potato cookie

Lemon cookie x Orange cookie

Soda cookie x Lime cookie

Mango cookie x Grapefruit cookie

Whipped cream cookie x Birthday cake cookie

Cream unicorn cookie x Banana cookie

Sparkling cookie x Cheesecake cookie

Herb cookie x Cherry blossom cookie

Red peeper cookie x Yoga cookie

Wild berry cookie x Raspberry cookie

Crunchy chip cookie x Tiger Lily cookie

Dark choco cookie x Caramel arrow cookie

Clotted cream cookie x Financier cookie

Captain caviar cookie x Oyster cookie

Black pearl cookie x Abyss monarch cookie

Werewolf cookie x Kumiho cookie

Wind archer x Sea fairy cookie

Moonlight cookie x Fire spirit cookie

Tea knight cookie x Frost queen cookie

Churro cookie x hydrangea cookie

Croissant cookie x string gummy cookie

Millennial tree cookie x Lotus dragon cookie

Pitaya dragon cookie x Mala sauce cookie (divorced)

Pitaya dragon cookie x Rambutan cookie

Ananas dragon cookie x Golden cheese cookie

Longan dragon cookie x Dark enchantress cookie

Lychee dragon cookie x Electric eel cookie

Affogato cookie x Snake fruit cookie

Madeline cookie x Mont Blanc cookie

Pastel meringue cookie x Chocolate bonbon cookie

Rockstar cookie x Currant cream cookie

Kiwi cookie x Sour belt cookie

Dino sour cookie x Cotton candy cookie

Espresso cookie x Latte cookie

Eclair cookie x Blueberry pie cookie

Yogurt cream cookie x Centipede cookie (divorced)

Lilac cookie x Scorpion cookie

Amber sugar cookie x Sugar glass cookie

Licorice cookie x Pomegranate cookie

Poison mushroom cookie x Lily bell cookie

Blue Lily cookie x Stardust cookie

Cheese nut cookie x Pudding cookie

Sorbet shark cookie x Squid ink cookie

Peppermint cookie x Piñata cookie

Milk cookie x Parfait cookie

Prune juice cookie x Crowberry cookie

Capsaicin cookie x Kouing amann cookie

Snow sugar cookie x Pumpkin pie cookie

Purple yam cookie x Twizly gummy cookie

Red velvet cookie x Pastry cookie

Clover cookie x Bellflower cookie

Popping candy cookie x Shinning glitter cookie

Macaron cookie x Fig cookie

Marshmallow cookie x Host cookie

.........And the list would keep going...... Sorry for not including all of them, I mean, there are way too much ships and I could just not include them all,so here's all the ships I remember, and you can suggest me ships for my next generation of course! So well, that's all

#fandom ships #cookie run

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queen-rainy-love · 7 months

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HellHound's Secret Part 2

Let's go! (Big thanks to @cherryartemis0)

*Three weeks later in the Pure Lily siblings' home, Pastry was just waking up and the first thing she saw was Pond Dino holding a crow in their mouth.*

Pastry: *quickly sits up* Nonononono! Pond Dino! Don't eat that! Spit it out! *Pond Dino lets go of the crow. It shivers and tries to dry itself.* Oh, you poor thing. I'm sorry you went through that. My little one is still learning a few things. You look like one of Black Raisin's crows. Do you have a message for me?

*The crow cawed and flapped its wings*

Pond Dino: Ooby! *reaches for the crow*

*The crow squawks and flies toward the door. Pastry tilted her head a bit before picking up Pond Dino and following the crow. She follows it all the way to the living room where her friends, Black Raisin, Caramel Arrow, Raspberry, Blackberry, Financier, Latte, Shining Glitter, and Parfait are waiting for her.*

Pastry: *confused* How did you guys get in here?

Raspberry: Red Velvet let us in before he left for his meeting.

Pastry: I see. And what is your reason for visiting?

Latte: We just want to check up on you.

Pastry: What for?

Financier: Recently, you have been helping with the band B.A.D. 4 as their bodyguard.

Pastry: Yes. They do offer some good pay, even when I don't want it.

Blackberry: And you do spend a lot of time with the members-

Raspberry: -Especially with HellHound-

Black Raisin:-and we just want to make sure nothing is going on.

Pastry:...what?

Shining Glitter: We just want to make sure that HellHound isn't trying to pull anything with you.

Pastry: Excuse me?

Parfait: They think HellHound is trying to take you away from Red Velvet.

Caramel Arrow: *mutters* Oh boy...

Pastry: *tilts her head in confusion* (Why would they...That's right. They think HellHound and Red Velvet are two different Cookies. I need Red Velvet for this.) Girls...

Financier: Some of us may not like Red Velvet-

Raspberry:-Only you don't like him, dear-

Financier: -But we know that you two do care for each other. And we don't want either one of you to get hurt.

Pastry: Girls...

Blackberry: We just want to know if HellHound is trying anything. And if we have to defend Red Velvet from HellHound, then we will.

Pastry: Girls...

*Before anyone could say anything else, the door opened up. A few seconds later, Red Velvet walked in.*

Red Velvet: Hey dear. *kisses Pastry's forehead* Hey dino bitter. *takes Pond Dino into his arms* Hello Cookies who don't live here.

Latte: Red Velvet, you're back early.

Red Velvet: Yeah...I broke Tea Knight...

Black Raisin: What did you do?

Red Velvet: I told him something and his reaction was just...him rebooting. Anyway, what were you ladies talking about?

Shining Glitter: Nothing much-

Raspberry: Talking about how HellHound is trying to take Pastry from you.

Red Velvet: *pauses before looking at the group* I'm sorry...huh?

Raspberry: HellHound is-

Red Velvet: I heard you the first time. Why do you guys think that?

Financier: This all started with Parfait having pictures of her, Pastry, and the members in her photo. Starting with a photo with ZZ Skull and HellHound.

Red Velvet: *turns to Parfait* The one with the bad angle? *she begrudgingly nods* Huh. That picture wasn't too bad. Still should have let me take it.

Shining Glitter: You were there? How? You were on missions whenever she had a job with them.

*Red Velvet looks over at Pastry, who just gave him a tired look, then at Parfait, who shakes her head. He sighs.*

Red Velvet: I already broke Tea Knight's brain...let's break some more. *he looks at Pastry's friends and takes a deep breath* I'm not worried about HellHound stealing Pastry.

Latte: What!? The fact that you were there, saw these photos, and were okay with this worries us! You didn't see him flirting with her during these photos?! How he holds her!? What backwards logic-!

Red Velvet: Why would I steal my girlfriend from myself?

Latte: ...Huh?

Financier: What are you talking about?

Red Velvet: Just let it simmer.

*Latte, Financier, Blackberry, Shining Glitter, Raspberry, and Black Raisin thought about it. As the thought bounced, their expressions morphed from confusion to shock.*

Shining Glitter: You're...you're...

Red Velvet: HellHound? Yes. *eyerolls* You guys are quite the detectives.

*The girls then started to freak out, both good and bad. Red Velvet, Parfait, and Pastry notices Caramel Arrow being fairly calm.*

Parfait: Caramel? Why aren't you freaking out? You didn't know about this.

Caramel Arrow: I already knew. Prince Dark Choco told us suitors about Prince Red Velvet's secret.

Red Velvet: *eye twitch* That mother-

#cookie run kingdom #crk headcanons #red velvet cookie #pastry cookie #redpastry #red velvet x pastry #pastry x red velvet #financier cookie #raspberry cookie #black raisin cookie #caramel arrow cookie #parfait cookie #latte cookie #blackberry cookie #shining glitter cookie #pond dino cookie #hellhound b.a.d. 4

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