“...” Kaito looked away at that. Fists clenched, but his expression regretful. Having decided not to say anything during all of that, letting Kokichi get it out of himself. A part of him, like always, happy to feel like Kokichi was actually talking to him about things that bothered him, but that said… like always, finding some of those things hard to hear. 

After a moment, he let out a huffing breath. Deciding to start with, “First of all… I’m sorry I keep calling myself, like, ‘bad’ things in front of you. Miss Crystal and I are dealing with that, but it’s… hard. To not just want to casually say that shit. It feels like I’m lying to myself when I don’t. I know that’s just…” Kaito wiggled his fingers at his temple, shrugging, “that. But I know that’s not fair on you guys, to have to keep fucking telling me I’m not. Especially when we’re in the middle of… arguing? I mean, yeah, I guess we’re arguing.”

“...sorry, Shuichi.” Kaito said tightly, shooting Shuichi a guilty look, “Not a great date convo.”

Shuichi sighed, shrugging a little, “It’d have been weirder to try to pretend this wasn’t on your minds.”

“Yeah… yeah.” Kaito sighed, before looking to Kokichi, “...Kokichi, a part of me wants to get into a long, philosophical debate with you that being ‘good’ doesn’t mean being perfect. I don’t expect you to be perfect, I just… know you’d make good decisions, when you have the option, and I grew up with people who wouldn’t… you making a mistake wouldn’t make you like the people I grew up with. Hell, you being a bastard sometimes wouldn’t make you even close. The bar isn’t fucking high…” Kaito muttered, frowning at the way Kokichi gripped at his hair. 

Stepping forward, he grabbed Kokichi’s wrists firmly, taking them off his head and not giving any wiggle room to pull away. Not squeezing hard enough to hurt, but the message clear that he didn’t want him to pull his own hair, as he held Kokichi’s hands, “... I’m sorry. I know the pressure is too high. Objectively, I know that. I just… it’s the other side of my faith, I guess. The cons of believing in you. It doesn’t feel like a risk or a gamble to say you’ll handle all of this responsibly. Cause of course you will…”

“...and yeah. Maybe the power is, also objectively, evil. Too much to joke about idly… I don’t really believe that. But I can understand why you do. And I can respect that, if you need me to. I can… but because I don’t believe it, sometimes I’ll make mistakes. And I’m sorry, and I’m just… I’m sorry I treat your powers lightly, and I’m sorry I treat your ability to abuse lightly, and I’m sorry I get jealous and defensive, and… sorry.” Kaito whispered, his shoulders falling. Loosening his grip on Kokichi’s wrists, “...I’m in the wrong here. We’re only fighting because I got pissed over nothing. Sorry…”

Kokichi sighed, shooting Shuuichi an apologetic look. “Maybe you really were on the right track, putting up a subject ban-list for our date. This really does seem to happen, like…every time.” He knew he and Kaito were dramatic, and maybe a little too wrapped up in things but…seriously. Really couldn’t ever have one nice, lighthearted night. 

Looking at his wrist in Kaito’s grip for a moment, Kokichi sighed and let his hand go lax, hanging his head for a moment. 

“...I mean, that’s just what I was talking about… Personally, me being “good” doesn’t mean I have to be perfect. I know I’m not, and even if I regret all the mistakes I make with you guys, I know it’s not… I know I’m not the worst thing in your lives. We’re working on things, and…that’s okay. But…to boil a lot of nuance down, being on the “side” of “good”...that is what doesn’t give me the leeway to make mistakes. Being sorry doesn’t bring back the dead.”

Sighing, Kokichi shuffled to press his head against Kaito’s arm. “...you weren’t mad over nothing. It’s reasonable to be hurt over hearing someone…wasting something you value. Your feelings aren’t nothing, hun. And…I’m not asking you to never make jokes about great power. I’ll just…make really dumb non-jokes to try and cope with it, and when they fall flat…I hope you’ll remember that that’s me trying. And I’ll remember that you don’t mean it to the extreme my brain always takes it.”

“Hmmm…” Kaito hummed, letting go of Kokichi’s wrists and wrapping his arms around his back. Giving Shuichi a quick glance over Kokichi’s head as he hugged him, before smirking a little.

Shuichi sighed, “Kaito…”

“Annnnd stolen.” Kaito announced. Grabbing under Kokichi’s arms and, with a huff, pulling him up into his arms, propping his arm beneath Kokichi’s butt as he stuck his tongue out at Shuichi, “Hah. You all thought we were just having a serious, loaded conversation, unaware of my true goal.”

Shuichi rolled his eyes as he headed over to Kaito’s side, the two walking side by side as Kaito determinedly started moving.

After a moment, Kaito asked, “Me being jealous doesn't mean you’re wasting anything, ‘Kichi. It’s literally just me being insecure. You’re not doing anything wrong… what’s the extremes, anyway? Are we talking your head went right to the indentured program? Cause, yeah, you probably shouldn’t recreate the indentured program. Maki would be… displeased.”

“That’s a word for it.” Shuichi smirked.

With a startled little squawking sound, Kokichi flailed in Kaito’s arms for a moment as he was suddenly lifted from the ground, before he could only huff, rolling his eyes as he settled into Kaito’s arms. “Fine, fine, it’s Kai-chan’s turn to be in the middle…sheesh. I do want a proper turn later though!”

Though, despite his earlier griping…it was nice up high. There was a comfortable summer wind to offset Kaito’s body heat, giving him a nice split between warm and cool. And it was nice being able to cuddle up to one of his partners and not have to focus on navigation any. 

There were…plenty of other things to focus on. 

“Maki would straight up kill me if I made one planning sheet,” Kokichi snorted. “No, it’s… You and my mentor keep reassuring me that I’m not hurting people with my abilities, and…you know, I’m willing to give myself the benefit of the doubt. I only want to help people, or have fun, now and again, and I don’t think I’m wrong to do so.”

“I’m not worried about what I’ll do, mostly… It’s just…what I said before. I know there are people who…yeah. Make the indentured program. Who can kill people hundred of miles away. I know I’m not gonna do that stuff, but…” Kokichi frowned. “...it makes me upset that it still happens.” 

“I mean, yeah, that’s fair.” Kaito admitted, smiling down at Shuichi as he silently put his hands around Kaito’s arm, apparently ready to forgive the tension a little. Or maybe just feeling lonely and wanting to be close to them. “But those abilities don’t make you, like… I don’t know. Inherently dangerous. Or, I mean, they do, but…”

Gently shaking Shuichi off his arm, who pouted at this, Kaito smirked as, tightly gripping Kokichi’s thigh to make certain even if his husband wiggled he wouldn’t fall, Kaito lifted Kokichi up over his head. Holding his husband up a bit as they walked, snickering a little, before bringing him down to rest against his chest again, “No more than that makes me more dangerous than others. And, look, I know that doesn’t equal what you can do… but before we found out what you can do, we all thought I was the strongest among us. And somehow I doubt either of you secretly wished I was born smaller and less dense, just to make me less dangerous.”

While he did trust Kaito to not drop him, Kokichi still braced himself against Kaito’s shoulder--where he could reach, at least--and pouted down at his husband. …and he elected not to mention that before everything he would’ve probably bet on Maki being the strongest. Kaito did have the most brute strength, but Maki was plenty strong herself, and paired with her strength of will…

But that wasn’t the point. And yet…

Kokichi sighed, wrapping his arms around Kaito’s shoulders. “I don’t wish that, you’re right, but…your strength can help people. In ways that aren’t only created by other people just as buff. Yes, in most cases, power is neutral, and it’s up to the person wielding it to decide if it’s good or bad, but…you can carry people when they’re hurt, or help push a carriage out of a mud pit. There’s no way I can help someone by taking their free will away, unless someone has already done that first.”

“No way?” Kaito frowned, “Kokichi, babe, do you just lack imagination? Or do you really think things would have been better if I had beaten Nao to death?”

Shuichi tensed, slightly, against Kaito’s arm. Looking up at Kaito with concern, Kaito still content to just keep walking, a thoughtful frown on his face, “...that is what happened, isn’t it. I don’t consider it a secret, I’m not trying to accuse either of you of anything. We thought it was conditioning, and maybe it was. Or maybe it was just you flexing what you could do before you could do it… and I just couldn’t recognize what happened either way. Cause my head wouldn’t let me do that back then.”

“But you made me stop. And against my will or not… that was the right call. I didn’t lose anything from you doing that, I wasn’t hurt. You’ve never hurt me, not like that. And you saved Nao’s life and, frankly, probably mine by stopping me.”

At first, Kokichi thought Kaito was making another argument for his strength being dangerous too, which…was frustrating, because that wasn’t what Kokichi was arguing at all. 

But that wasn’t what he was saying. 

Kaito was…saying something they had never talked about, really. And…

…if it was conditioning, like they thought…then Kokichi’s point still stood. But if it wasn’t and Kokichi had… 

Kokichi had gone still in Kaito’s arms, his lips pressed together. …he did believe that Kaito shouldn’t’ve tried to kill Nao. That’s why he had yelled through the door in the first place. But even if they ended up in the better outcome…Kokichi really couldn’t…say that that made it okay for him to, potentially, control Kaito’s mind. 

Mind control to stop a murder? That… Neither option felt…”good”. 

“...I don’t like this,” he whispered, sinking into Kaito’s arms.

“Okay, fine. A happier example…” Kaito sighed, holding Kokichi steadier in his grip. “...does it have to specifically be about mind control? Cause we all agree that the memory and mass communication thing is kickass and helpful by themselves, right?”

“Kaito, maybe it’s not worth trying to name examples. Kokichi just finds the power repulsive. What does it matter if there are ‘good’ examples?” Shuichi asked. 

“Because they’re not repulsive, and I won’t let anyone say it without arguing against it. Never. No part of them is inherently repulsive.” Kaito snarled, teeth grit tight, his arms around Kokichi gripped tighter… before he sighed. Stopping them before, after a moment, gently putting Kokichi down. “...forget murders. You, if you noticed before someone else did, could stop accidents. Missteps. The same way I could reach out and catch someone who’s falling… maybe that’s not huge or grand, but it’s a real benefit to being strong. To catch someone when they misstep.”

Kokichi sighed softly. “I’ve come to terms with my gift as a whole, Kai-chan. It’s something wonderful and special I can do, and…and I feel proud, knowing the good things I can do with it. Maybe I did once, but…I don’t feel ashamed of what I am anymore.”

“...sure, maybe I could stop accidents,” he said softly, looking to the side. “...but I don’t believe I should. If it requires me taking their free will away…I don’t think I should. Even if something bad happens. Maybe that makes me a bad person. Wasting my gift. But that’s what I believe…and I won’t forgive others who cross that line.”

“...what’s even the point of being alive if your life isn’t yours to live? With the mistakes and bad decisions and everything.”

Kaito swallowed at that, looking to Shuichi. Almost expecting him to speak up to that… before looking away, anger and shame running through him briefly at Shuichi just reached out for Kokichi’s arm again. Unaffected by the words. 

…maybe Kaito was wrong. Shuichi had more cause than either of them, to say what a life without willpower was worth. 

Rethinking himself… Kaito ran his hand through his hair for a bit, before taking Kokichi’s other hand, “I… don’t know if I agree. But I respect that you do, Kokichi, and I’ll support that… but…” Kaito hesitated, before bringing Kokichi’s hand up. Kissing at the back of his pinky, “...I don’t know how people got you to stop, when you were a kid. Maybe you just decided one day, to not do it. But let’s try to be gentle with Miyako, when we talk about that stuff, okay? I know you feel strongly about this, but… I don’t want her to… let’s just be careful, okay?”

Kokichi’s expression immediately softened before he nodded. Gently squeezing Kaito’s hand. “Okay. And…I don’t blame her for doing it. It’d be like blaming a baby for crying… It’s just a way she interacts with the world. But…when she’s older…”

Kokichi sighed. Tired with a dilemma he had been thinking about for months. “...I just want to make sure she’ll understand what she’s doing. How it affects people. If she does decide that she has a moral obligation to…be more controlling…” He closed his eyes, ashamed. “...I can’t fight her. She’s our daughter… I can just hope to give her all the understanding and information I can.”

“...phew.” Kaito sighed, squeezing Kokichi’s hand a little, “A child like Miyako, raised by people like us… what a strange person, we’re going to raise. A Momota and an Ouma, with the name of Saihara… if we’re all lucky, Timothy will keep his practical nature and she’ll have a big brother to complain to when her parents conflicting ideologies get annoying to work through.”

“Uh, excuse me, she’ll take after me, and I’ll be the practical middle man in this.” Shuichi said, nose wrinkling a little, “I’m already the practical one now.”

“Uh, no. Maki is.”

“Uh, no?? Maki’s drowning in her ideologies.”

“Maki not being neutral doesn’t make her impractical. And either way, Timothy already has a practical nature.”

“He stabbed you in the back twice.”

“He also has a Luminary nature, what can I say.” Kaito shrugged.

“There’s no way she’s not gonna be a little weirdo,” Kokichi hummed affectionately, letting his ankles dangle in the air. It certainly gave the impression he’d be swinging his legs if he could, but, well, doing that would mean kicking Kaito, so…ankles it was. “I can’t really think of anyone we know that’s exactly ‘normal’. So Miya-Miya can grow up eccentric, as a treat. Hopefully without getting frustrated to tears over how over the top weird we are.”

“Well, maybe Addie will have a chance then.” Kaito mused. “...you can teach Miyako, Kokichi. Of course you can, and you will. But I can’t promise I won’t be trying to reassure her, like I do with you. And I know that’s confusing and contradicting–”

“And not the role of a Prince-consort.” Shuichi pointed out.

Kaito genuinely stiffened at that. His brow suddenly pinched in conflict… before he put down Kokichi. Allowing him to walk before placing a quick kiss at his temple. “Yeah, not the role of a prince-consort. But you wouldn’t want me different, I’m certain. And I can’t tell Miyako her abilities are wrong. I could, but those same abilities would tell her I’m lying. And then her dad would be a liar.”

Kokichi nodded gently, steadying himself on the ground once Kaito put him down, though he recaptured one of his hands. The three of them side-by-side, still with Kaito in the middle. “You’re right--I wouldn’t want you different. I’ll hope that our daughter doesn’t end up with the same conflicts I have, but I can also hope that she’ll find reassurance and peace in your words too…just like I do. It might be difficult, but…I think seeing that her dads have different views might help her form her own.”

“Like…if people she loves can have different ideas about things, then…she can definitely forge her own path. And if she can do that, to her own lengths and happiness…then that would make me proud. Even if that path is one I could never take myself.”

Shuichi leaned against Kaito, closing his eyes a little, the moon rising above them. “...Okay, but seriously. Strict subject bans, next time. You two are insatiable for drama.”

“What drama? This wasn’t drama.” Kaito huffed, “Just a bunch of guys on a date,  talking about life views. And our sweet baby girl, who I am certain will make her dad regret defending her abilities at least once, if not a dozen times.” Kaito chuckled a little, “Ah well. Better to learn it on me, then anyone else. It’s a parents job, to be their kids clumsy first steps at socializing. I’m sure she’ll break my heart a thousand times.”

“You’re feeling poetic, Kaito.” Shuichi noticed.

“Night hikes, man. They’re pretty, they get me in my head.”

Kokichi hummed in agreement. They really couldn’t help themselves. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi looked up at the moon. It wasn’t full that night, but it was large, casting the whole city in a beautiful, placid tone. Kokichi could bet that tone was drowned out in certain districts, but on the garden path it was just them, the sky, the plants…and probably more than a few nighttime critters, doing their own things. 

“I wonder what Miya-Miya’s dreaming about tonight,” he hummed. “She doesn’t quite bask in it like the sun, but I think she is happy to sit in the moonlight, when I’ve held her over the night. I wonder if it means anything more to her than just light.”

“Our little flower…” Kaito mused, “Is that too cliche, considering everything? Sweetbread is cuter, but man, flower is accurate…”

“There are flowers that only bloom in moonlight.” Shuichi recalled. An odd fact from idle reading, tucked away in his mind, “In our deserts. They’re outer buds and leaves are gray and textured, and during the daylight, their all closed up tight to protect them from the sun. They look like rocks, unless you know what you’re looking for. But at night, their buds open, and they glow a soft, blue light, getting their photosynthesis from the light of the moon.”

“Desert Diamonds.” Kaito grinned, “I used to daydream about heading into the desert and finding one of those, cutting them from their roots and offering it as a gift to my one true love. They’re hard to find and dangerous to get too, and their roots are supposed to be incredibly thick and tough to cut through. And when they're disconnected from their roots, the nectar that glows on their petals will stiffen and freeze, and preserve them, looking like glistening gems… Byakuya says they don’t exist though. That they’re just legends.”

“I couldn’t say. I read it in a Botany book, but books can be wrong.” Shuichi shrugged. “Besides, I just bring it up as an example of plants that bloom at night. Maybe Miyako does get something out of it.”

“Ohhh…”

It was just a little noise of awe, Kokichi’s eyes wide at the moon as he tried to picture the flowers Shuuichi and Kaito described. Glowing night blossoms that became preserved when picked…

“I think I’ve gotta paint those now…wow,” he chuckled. “Regardless if they’re real, or just a story…what a legend to have. Hm.”

Closing his eyes, Kokichi chuckled softly to himself as he hugged Kaito’s arm. “...we gotta come up with a bedtime story, now. Of the time Kai-chan braved a magnificent, perilous journey in the desert to find Desert Diamonds. Miya’s gonna lose her gourd for that, I just know it.”

“She’ll ask me, who did you get the flower for, dad? Dada? Daddy?” Kaito daydreamed, smiling lightly, eyes distant, “And I’ll tell her I got it for my little Miyako, who at least by lineage, is a desert diamond herself… and then I’ll have to ask Amber to actually make me a little blue flower gem so that when she finds out her dad tells tall tales, she at least gets a novelty gift out of it.”

“She’ll love the story itself.” Shuichi said, sighing contently, “You and Kokichi will absolutely fill her head with stories. I’ll have to spend half my time just telling her what’s real and what’s not.”

“Poor, confused Miya.” Kaito smiled, “...but. On my way back from the desert with my prize? A small thief waylaid me in the desert, and stole the flower from me! And I had to chase him for three days and three nights, before I finally found him, in a city beneath the forest–”

“Kaito, you can’t reuse that story. What, you went back to the underground city again? Even Miyako would question that.” Shuichi said, “Try again.”

“Uh, okay… I cornered him in…” Kaito faltered, “Uh…”

“Amber would be thrilled,” Kokichi laughed. “Both for the business, and to dote on our daughter. We’ll make absolutely sure Mi-Mi has a perfect jewelry box for all her needs.” Though Shuuichi was probably right--they wouldn’t need to bribe her to like their stories. Kokichi and Kaito would tell enough that it’d just be a matter of survival finding them interesting. 

Snorting softly at Kaito expanding the story, Kokichi closed his eyes for a moment before chiming in. “The thief ran all the way into the mountains, climbing up craggs like a mountain goat right to the top, until you found a hidden cave. Kai-chan’s usually the big brawler hero-type, but after a climb like that, who wouldn’t be out of breath? So he’s quiet as he sees the scene inside.”

“The thief approaches a great dragon, presenting the blooms. The dragon has to protect the mountain, of course, so she doesn’t have time to comb the desert for tiny, itty-bitty flowers. But the thief still wanted to show his friend something beautiful.”

“Maki gets the flower? Favoritism.” Shuichi huffed.

“Aw, come on. Everyone knows a gift to the Dragon is a gift to…?” 

Shuichi hummed a bit, “...to the sorcerer.”

“Is also a gift to the Sorcerer, who has made his home between worlds, constantly dancing the border of both country and planes of existence.” Kaito grinned, “Because let’s be honest, the dragon would share everything with him, if she could. If anyone has favoritism, it’s undeniable, in how she favors him. In fact, I wasn’t surprised to hear the thief asking the dragon about her sorcerer. Trying to play it cool, like he just happened to think of it in that moment, but you could tell he was looking forward to telling a cool story of how he got a legendary flower to the handsome sorcerer.”

“Kaito, I’ve always wondered… why ‘handsome’?” Shuichi asked. “I always thought that was a curious choice.”

“I already was using ‘Beautiful’, and I gave Maki ‘Stunning’, so even though you’re beautiful and stunning, none of those would have felt right. Thankfully, you’re also incredibly handsome, so…” Kaito grinned, shrugging a little, “It worked.”

“Oh… I’ll admit, I thought it might be… oh, I don’t know…” Shuichi huffed, “You found me more masculine than others.”

“Masculine?” Kaito asked, giving Shuichi a slightly startled look, “...I mean, sure. I don’t know if that’s what that word really equals in my mind though. More just the way you carry yourself. You’re quiet and reserved and you stand straight… Maki’s handsome too, and she’s not even a little masculine.”

“I just wish I could see people the way you do. I’ll never understand it.” Shuichi mused. “How does the story end, by the way?”

“Oh, uh… well, it all kinda worked itself out, didn’t it?” Kaito asked, giving Kokichi a curious look, “I wanted to deliver the flower to my true loves. The thief just did the travel for me. My true loves still got it, in the end.”

Kokichi nodded assuredly. “What, you expect the thief to find the sorcerer himself? That stud’s a million places at once, solving all sorts of magical mysteries--he’d have to take up training just to find him! But thankfully the thief knew that the sorcerer always stops by to talk shit with the dragon, at least every once in a while. And who knows? Maybe he’d be intrigued by the flowers enough to spare some attention to the thief.”

In honesty, Kokichi hadn’t given all too much thought to Kaito’s pet names. He was beautiful, Maki was stunning, and Shuuichi was handsome and…yeah. Considering how he used the terms as address, Kokichi, after a time, just figured he stuck to one per person to avoid confusion. Hell, Kokichi even vaguely remembered Kaito calling Shuuichi ‘Beautiful’ once, and Shuuichi had immediately called him out for saying Kokichi’s thing. 

An interesting view into Kaito’s mind, he supposed. 

Looking back at Kaito, Kokichi smirked slightly. “Well, yeah. There’s no way we’d all leave Miya for months. Baby still gets her jewel flower in the end.”

“Hah~” Kaito laughed, nodding, “Yep. Exactly.”

“We’re near the market.” Shuichi noted, seeing the way the trail started to thin, “Should we think about heading back soon?”

“What? Noooo.” Kaito whined, giving Shuichi an offended look, “We walked among the plants and stuff. I want to see the buildings in the moonlight. That’s my favorite part.”

“None of the shops are going to be open, Kaito.”

“Well, then can we at least head back to the castle by the roads? I like the way heels tap against cobblestone at night. Makes things feel sort of whimsical and otherly.” Kaito grinned, shaking himself out of his husband and fiance’s grip and stepping forward hurriedly, before turning to them. Walking backwards a bit, a strut in his step, as he said, “Okay, how about this? You two can find me? We can head back.”

Shuichi raised an eyebrow, “Kaito, you want us to look for you in the dark?”

Kaito’s smile went wider, got toothier. Turning wolfish as he admitted, “I’d rather find you two in the dark, honestly. But I’m not sure how much I’d have to goad you into it. Easier to run and hide myself and make it your problem.”

“I’d go back to the castle and see if I can’t convince the guards to not let you back in.” Shuichi said dryly, “You can come back in the morning.”

“Rude. Also, total bluff, you don’t want to take on diaper duty tonight.” Kaito snickered.

“I don’t mind taking the roads back. I have to admit, I love walking around the gardens at night, but buildings at night have their charm too,” Kokichi said very graciously to both his partners…before turning to Kaito, the moon catching his eyes and making them shine like purple gems in the dark. 

“How much am I allowed to cheat?”

“Mmmmm no pinpointing me with my own mind, but,” Kaito grinned, hopping on his backheels a bit, “If you see other people walking around, you can search to see if they’ve spotted me. Cause that’s awesome. And if I’m chasing you, all I ask is you don’t convince me I haven’t seen you if I have, you can keep track of where I am, I’ll catch you anyway.”

“Oh my god,” Shuichi sighed, adjusting his hat a little, “No one goes on the roof. That’s all I ask. No climbing buildings.”

Kokichi heaved a great sigh, slumping over. “You two are no fun… And I’m not gonna mass search other people--they haven’t consented, it’s a no-go. Spoil sports…”

“Well, fine,” he shrugged, before hopping a little from foot to foot, stretching a bit. “Who’s gonna search, then. Do Rock-Paper-Scissors, like deciding who goes first in Hide and Go Seek?”

There wasn’t a single chance Kokichi was losing either way. He knew all the hidden little corners in Usott like the back of his hand, and he was quick and observant. Even without using his powers or climbing up buildings Kokichi was gonna, respectfully, kick his partners’ asses.

“Pfff, are you kidding? If you’re volunteering, I want to hunt.” Kaito said. And while he had meant to say it playfully, the sheer sincerity in that sentiment as soon as he said it aloud ran through him like a physical force. Eyes looking up from inside of him and baring its teeth. 

Shuichi, steadfast friend that he was, was not impressed. “Alright. Give us a thirty count, Kaito. Kokichi, Kaito… try to remember you’re both princes’s, if anyone sees you.”

“Always do.” Kaito grinned, flexing his fingers, “Thirty, twenty-nine–”

Kokichi’s grin quirked up. Feeling the warm familiarity of a friend that while he’d only specifically met twice, did know very well. Looked like they were getting their hunting date after all. 

“Ooh, thirty? Very confident, Shuu-chan… Or you just wanna go home.” Giggling, Kokichi gave his fiance a wink before darting off as Kaito started counting, not wanting to wait a single second. 

Okay…Kokichi was still faster than Kaito, but he would have the best advantage around quick turns, without things for Kaito to launch himself off of. Unfortunately, no alleys then. No going up buildings, so…

…ah. Shuuichi hadn’t said they couldn’t go up anything, though. This would be fun. 

“I just want to give Kaito a chance.” Shuichi shrugged, though he too quickly headed out as Kaito counted, Kaito keeping his back turned to them as he counted aloud, listening to their footsteps disappear down the path.

“Eight, seven, six–” Kaito rolled his shoulders, humming a little as he counted in his head, feeling strong and excited as he tapped impatiently at the ground, “two, one… okay.” 

Kaito turned, his eyes darting around real quick to make certain neither Kokichi or Shuichi were about to pull a fast one on him, before he bolted down the path. Entering into the market. 

The streets weren’t as dead as he had been expecting, fairly vacant but a few people still lingering about, taking care of their shops or meeting together in a common area before heading to a part of the city where the nightlife actually lived. A few folks glanced at Kaito as he ran out into the main road, looking around at the various markets and stalls, heavy shadows coating over the city landscape, looming from the buildings.

{Stare into the darkness}

Kaito did so, staring into the darkest parts he could find, before he glanced his eyes away. Blinking as his night vision notably improved, the streets and alleys now silhouettes of gray, the world mostly silver to him, the street lampposts like glaring suns. Kaito did his best to not look at any of the lanterns, looking around for clues to where his lovers might have run.

{Sniff the air}

Kaito shook his head, the odd thought there and gone in a moment. That wouldn’t help him. He needed to think first. Kokichi was going to be a challenge, but one of his lovers was much more lazy…where would be the first convenient place to hide be, as soon as you walked into the market…

Kaito’s eyes narrowed in on a cart, storing box’s someone would likely move in the morning. Heading over quickly, Kaito peeked over at the side, “...pfff, come on, handsome, at least try at this.” 

Shuichi pouted as he leaned against the other side of the cart. “Fine. I’ll hide again while you find Kokichi.”

“Hold on, real quick.” Kaito said, bouncing to the other side and, glancing around to see if any eyes were on him, leaning against Shuichi and kissing him deeply. Taking his time to taste him, running his hands up and down Shuichi’s waist… before snickering as Shuichi caught his hands as he tried to circle them around Shuichi’s ass, “Come on, please…”

“Kokichi’s waiting for you.” Shuichi reminded him, face flushed and kiss-smeared, “Go.”

“Fine.” Kaito said, stealing one more kiss, before heading back out. Alright, alright, alright… how did you find the heir-apparent in the middle of the capital city market…

Kaito headed over to a shop keep who was changing some sales sign on his door, “Hey. You seen Prince Kokichi running around?”

The shop keep looked over, surprised, “Oh, uh, yes. Suppose I saw him a moment ago… going…”

Admittedly, Kokichi’s first idea was to hide on top of a lamppost. Not the most inconspicuous, but it did require people to look up, and it would be hard to get to. However…knowing Kaito’s competitive spirit, he would absolutely try to climb up too, and while Kokichi did know that the posts heading into one of the older districts had little platforms above the lights that would hold him fine…there wasn’t a post in the city that would hold both of them. And Kokichi really didn’t want to cause property damage. 

He had also thought about hiding under a table umbrella, but they were always far less sturdy than he thought, and…well, all the ones he passed were already closed for the night. 

So he went with the third option. Run down main street, hook a left farther down, swing right back into a garden. Find a nice tall, hefty tree, and get climbing. Hide among the leaves. Maybe he’d get to see a nightbird or two while he waited…

Curled up on a high branch, Kokichi grinned to himself, gently feeling out for his husband, trying to see if he was even anywhere close.

Oh, of course Kokichi would head right back to the damn garden! 

It had taken Kaito a moment to confirm that the shop keep knew what he was asking and hadn’t just seen Kokichi run out of the garden paths, oh noooo, his husband had apparently done a full damn circle! Ooh, Kaito knew it. He had thought one of his lovers would end up back at the damn starting point. Tricky little…

{Sniff the air}

Kaito sighed, frustrated at the impulse as he slowed down, walking the path carefully now. He didn’t have the ability to just smell people in the air, Akane. He got it, it was some sort of literal muscle memory, whatever, it wasn’t going to help.

{Listen.}

Kaito paused. That impulse feeling… different. 

Slow down. Move carefully, like you have all the time in the world. In a way, you always did. Move slow. Stare at the shadows. Listen. The silence gets loud…

Kaito, idly, rubbed his wrists as he followed those instincts. His gait slowing, his lowered, eyes distant as he let them glaze wherever they would. Seeing nothing and everything in front of him at the same time, looking for anything that struck him as different. Listening…

Little ‘Kichi sounds. 

Aw, his poor, snuffling, little mouth breather of a husband… no, wait, it was gone now. Maybe Kokichi had noticed his own breathing. Still meant he was close. Still meant–

{The wind is in your favor. Sniff the air}

Kaito opened his mouth, took a deep breath, and immediately smelled lavender. His head shot up, in the direction of the wind against him, and magenta eyes caught amethyst. 

Kaito’s grin practically broke his face, as he threw himself at the tree, starting to climb. “Got ya.”

“Nihiii-hihi!!” Kokichi cackled, breaking out into a wide, delighted grin as Kaito looked up. “Heyyyy, not bad! Was coming here too predictable? Figured it would be the easiest to avoid damages.”

While his words indicated good sportsmanship, Kokichi had started shuffling on the branch he was perched on, eyes darting around before he leapt for the branches of the next tree over, these ones planted close enough their boughs intermingled. 

“Did you not find Shuu-chan? I would’ve thought he wouldn’t go that far…”

“Hah. Guy barely hid.” Kaito chuckled, quickly moving up, one of the benefits of being his size being that he didn’t have to ‘climb’ so much as ‘stretch’ for most of the branches and footholds. His long arms and legs matched with muscles used to moving and straining making his movement through the tree surprisingly fluid… though he had to hesitate when he got to the branch Kokichi was moving back on. His size absolutely a hindrance here, as his mind made some guestimates to the strength of the branch. “Found him behind a cart. He’s gonna hide again… actually, thinking about it? He was probably counting on getting more time to hide once I fixate on you. Tsk, tsk, my sneaky loves…”

Carefully, Kaito started to move out to the branch, holding the base of the tree just in case and stretching out towards Kokichi, “Here, ‘Kichi, ‘Kichi, ‘Kichiii… come to– HEY!”

“That does sound like Shuu-chan…geez. Give us a small hide time, but do minimal work knowing I’d put in the legwork? Clever, clever. Really, the things he’s gonna teach Miya…”

Giggling brightly, Kokichi gave Kaito a hidden wink in the dark, before circling the branches of the next tree, already heading for another. “I’m not a cat, Kai-chan… If you wanna bribe me to get closer, you gotta give me a better treat than that~”

“Ngh.” Kaito frowned, giving the ground a wary look… before smirking. Standing up on the base of the branch, chuckling as he took some steadying breaths…

He LEAPT from the branch they were on, past Kokichi, and stumbled onto the base of the next trees branch, catching the middle of the tree and– when the branch didn’t immediately crumble to dust– spun in place, swinging for Kokichi, “HYAH!”

Kokichi gave Kaito a stunned look for a moment before dropping from the branch he was on, barely pausing on the ground before taking off through--really between, but he’d seen the gap between their roots--the bushes, feet hardly making a sound from years of practice of silently making his way through. Just like he had planned the year before to get away from Maki, Kokichi knew these paths. And…well, he’d hope Kaito wouldn’t really tear through the plants. That would really be something to explain tomorrow.

Not turning back to check how Kaito was following him, Kokichi turned to take one of the looping paths back to the market, not wanting to end up on the other side of town while Shuuichi was waiting out for them.

Oh, damn. 

Kaito watched Kokichi fall to the ground with a damn near floating ‘tap’, and wow that was sexy, but also dammit. Frowning, Kaito was quick to follow him down, jumping from the tree and falling to the ground with a loud THUMP, needing half a second to to recover from the squat he ended up in to alleviate his knees a little, before running full bolt in the direction Kokichi had headed out in. 

{Sniff}

Kaito opened his mouth and took a deep breath in, tasting Kokichi’s lavender soap in the air, but it was faint. Useless for figuring out the direction Kokichi had turned once he was out of Kaito’s sight, Kaito needing to leap and hurl himself over branches and flower patches. This slowed him down significantly, but as far as Kaito was aware, Nazumi could be out there somewhere, and he was not looking to be hit with a shovel that day. 

Where would he have gone, where would he have–

{They usually run towards their loved ones.}

Shuichi! Kokichi wouldn’t leave Shuichi in the market. Kaito didn’t need to find Kokichi in the garden, he needed to cut him off back at the market. Bolting right, Kaito headed in the direction towards the market, fighting through the garden before he found a path back, hurrying to the market…

Meanwhile, in the market. 

Shuichi sipped at the tea, smiling brightly at the shop keep, “Thank you so much for letting me wait in here. I figure it’ll take them a while to decide to check inside any of the stores, so I’ll probably have to head out in a minute to stop them from worrying, but, well… I’d like to make them stew in it a moment.”

The shop keep laughed a bit, continuing her inventory for that night, “No worries, no worries, just glad it wasn’t anything more dire than a game of hide and seek. Was worried for a moment you needed some real help there, when you knocked.”

“Sorry about that. Just following the store lights.” Shuichi said brightly, before taking out his pocket watch and checking it, “...I’ll give them… ten more minutes. Kaito can be a little overprotective, if I make him look too long he’ll worry something’s happened.”

“Really? You hear all sorts of things about that Kaito boy. But, then, it’s always sweet watching you all walk through the market. Seems like a smiley fella.”

“He can be.” Shuchi agreed… before blinking as he saw Kokichi sprint past the store window. Whistling a little to himself as he ducked behind the counter a bit, hoping he hadn’t been spotted… before he snorted when the windows actually shook as Kaito dashed past the window not long after. “They’re not even looking for me yet. Man, Kokichi’s making him work for it.”

“Aw, that’s our Light~” the shop keep said cheerfully, going to the window to watch the chase a bit.

While it wasn’t that sweaty, Kokichi still wasn’t wasting breath on laughter, but he had a wide grin on his face as he ran, not needing to look back but clearly able to hear Kaito’s steps behind him. If they kept going like this, Kokichi would be able to stay ahead…but long term? They’d never done an endurance test against each other, but Kokichi had a feeling Kaito had him beat. 

So…Kokichi needed to change things up before he started getting tired. 

Eyes wide with exhilaration, Kokichi tried to take tight turns between buildings. Think, think…

Oh! Well, his initial reasoning around alleys was probably right…

…as long as Kaito could fit. 

Seeing a narrow slit between two buildings, Kokichi judged how far back Kaito was before he quickly stopped, turning sideways to shimmy into the crevice that was definitely too small for Kaito’s chest.

{That’s a trap}

Shut up, inner muscle memory impulses made from his random variety of shards! It was only a trap if Kaito couldn’t push his way through! 

Fired up competitive determination, Kaito dodged between two compost bins, swiping for Kokichi with a cry. Trying to snag  the back of Kokichi’s shirt as he leaned into the ‘does this even qualify as an alley’ space, gritting his teeth as he reached in as far as he could, “HRRNGH… KOKICHI! COME BACK HERE!”

His hand just caught air, Kokichi shuffled too far in for Kaito to grab, and Kaito huffed. “Fine! I’m just gonna cut you off on the other side! I will have my hunting kisses, ‘Kichi! I… I…”

Kaito tugged, trying to move backwards. Frowning in puzzled concern, brow furrowed, as he tried to move baack again… before managed to turn his head just enough to look out the side of his eye down at his chest…

…oh, come oooooon. The inward curve of the middle of the pecks had caught the decorative brick of the edge of the wall and… ah, shit. 

“...’kichi.” Kaito whined down the alley. Flushing in embarrassment, “I’m stuck.”

Kokichi could only snicker as he shuffled down the crack, getting out of arm’s reach. Was it cheap? Incredibly. Was he having a blast? Absolutely. Was Kaito probably going to make him pay for it later? Most likely. 

But he could stay there far past Kaito’s patience, he was sure, so it didn’t matter if Kaito tried to cut his off, so…

…oh. 

Even if he couldn’t feel the genuine embarrassment, Kokichi still frowned, coming closer. A trap was more than worth making absolutely sure his husband was alright…though this wasn’t a trap. 

“Oh no…” Getting closer to Kaito, Kokichi reached out to touch Kaito’s shoulder before humming lowly. “...try pushing all the air out of your lungs, then move? It might give you some leeway… Want me to get Shuu-chan, so he can help from the other side?”

Kaito took a deep breath– wincing as the wall pinched at him painfully as he did– before letting all the air out at the same time, trying to pull himself from the wall, using his left arm to push against the outside wall… before he winced. He could get out, he knew, but his right peck was going to get scratched to all hell if he just pulled brute force. That wouldn’t be fun.

“...yeeaaaaaah.” Kaito whined, thumping his forehead into the wall. “Ask him to get something slippery. Like, butter or something. Aw, man.”

Before pushing from the inside, Kokichi just waited to see if taking a breath would do the trick…but evidently not. Man…and after all the thought Kokichi had put into considering Kaito’s competitive nature. Shit. 

{Game’s up, Kai-chan’s stuck in a small alley. Please come help? And maybe bring something slippery, if you can, -3- chu~} The image of the store fronts Kokichi had darted between accompanied the idea of ‘a small alley’ so…Kokichi hoped Shuuichi would be able to find them alright. 

“Shoot… I’m sorry, hun.”

Shuichi’s brow pinched… before he giggled. That giggle turning into a truly ugly little snort, as he lowered his hat over his eyes.

“Everything okay over there?” The shop keep called over from her shelves.

“Yes. I’m about to show myself out, thank you again for letting me sit in here! Kokichi waved at me through the window, I think my fiance is stuck… do you, by chance, have anything slippery I can take away with me? To unstick someone from a tight space?”

“What? Uhhhhh….hmmm…” The shop keep, curious at the request, but otherwise fairly content to help, headed back into her shop, before coming out, “Coconut oil?”

“Sure, worth a shot. Here, take a silver for it. Thank you so much.”

Meanwhile, back at the wall, Kaito was grimly looking at the wall in irritation, “You’re gonna be sorry. Man, I’m catching you so fast the second I’m out of here. You just wait… what?” Kaito said, spotting someone staring at him and giving them the evil eye, “Can’t a guy just stand between buildings? Nothing going on here, keep moving.”

“I bet,” Kokichi said softly, looking at Kaito’s chest wedged between the brick with a guilty gleam in his eye. Pushed a game too far again…

“Sorry, we’re okay!” Kokichi called out, waving a hand up and hoping that the person on the other side that Kaito was apparently talking to would be able to see it. Maybe they would need more help later, but…well, it would be easier if Shuuichi managed to help. It would be mortifying if they had to call the guardforce and get, like, a medical expert…or a mason to get Kaito out.

Shuffling closer, Kokichi trailed his hand against Kaito’s, looking up at him with worry. “It didn’t seem like Shuu-chan was that far away… He should be here soon.”

Kaito, pushing his head back to look back over to Kokichi, gave him a curious look at that tone of voice… before he snorted. “Babe, are you worried?? I am literally stuck to a wall, how are you not laughing your ass off right now???”

Kokichi let out a little sigh, a little of the worry easing out of him. “I’ll probably find it funny later, that you’re too busty to fit in here, but…you are currently stuck. I can’t imagine it’s the most comfortable thing, and I’m worried about you getting out alright… And I know it’s partially my fault you’re stuck.”

Kaito snorted again, before reaching out and patting Kokichi on the head, “You can be kinda stupid sometimes, beautiful. Just so you know, the situation was reversed? I’m laughing at you. Like, to the point of it being obnoxious. Howling with laughter.”

“I understand,” Kokichi said softly, smiling as he nuzzled into the head pats. “If you’re really missing it, I bet Shuu-chan’s gonna laugh a lot when he finds us. And I’m prolly gonna share this with Miyako later and we can giggle about it together.”

“Tsk. Mean little baby, laughing at dad. Told you that kid was gonna break my heart.” Kaito grinned… before he, indeed, did hear a familiar little snicker. Sighing a bit, he adjusted his head again, raising an eyebrow at the smirking Shuichi, “Getting a good look, handsome?”

“How did this happen?” Shuichi asked, that mean little smirk still playing at his lips, as he raised an eyebrow right back. “Like… seriously. How?”

“Shuichi, sometimes, during the chase? You have to live dangerously.” Kaito said, raising his chin lightly, “Kokichi gonna dodge into a tiny ally–”

“Is Kokichi in there?” Shuichi asked, now looking a little alarmed, as he stepped up onto his toes, trying to see past Kaito’s shoulder, “Kokichi are you okay!?”

“Oh, favoritism.”

“Hi, Shuu-chan!” Again, Kokichi stood on his toes and waved a hand in the air, trying to be seen above Kaito. “I’m okay, yeah. I think the other side of the alley is open, so I could get out, but I thought it’d be better to stay on this side and help Kai-chan from the inside.”

“He’s already tried breathing out a lot, but his boobs are too big. Have any ideas?”

“Mmmm… go to Maki so she can see?” Shuichi offered.

“Shuichi, rude. Kokichi, learn from Shuichi.” Kaito ordered, before ‘whispering’ to Shuichi, “Kokichi’s all guilty and worried about getting me stuck.”

“Why, it’s hilarious.” Shuichi ‘whispered’ back. “I keep trying to think of ways to take advantage of it. Am I a bad person?”

“I mean… probably?” Kaito mused back, before the two chuckled at each other. “Okay, but seriously, if you leave me here to go find Maki, I’m burying all of your books in a hole.”

“Hmm, fine. Are you allergic to coconut oil?”

“...I don’t think so?”

“Good. You’re about to be drenched in coconut oil.”

Kokichi huffed softly, rolling his eyes. Maybe he was a downer, but he didn’t think it was a bad thing to worry about his husband being in a precarious situation. Especially one that they could potentially need to go find a professional in the middle of the night to fix. 

“Ohh…you’re gonna smell really nice, hun. But probably still shower time when we get home, huh?” At that, Kokichi did manage a chuckle, before he shuffled in, ready to help spread the oil from the inside around Kaito’s chest, since…he really doubted Kaito could bend his arm around enough to do it himself.

“Mmhm, yeah, a shower will definitely be needed.” Kaito laughed, bracing his hands on the opposite wall and, for good measure, trying the breathing out trick again, trying to pull himself to the right, “...h-uah! Damn. Damn, seriously, if I pull out like this, my damn nipples gonna tear off.”

“I still don’t understand how you did this. How did you get in, if you can’t get out again?” Shuichi asked, sounding genuinely incredulous as he popped open the container, giving it a considering look before reaching over to pull Kaito’s shirt ouf a little, “I’m going to pour some in from the top, see if we can’t get it to slide down a bit. I can push some in from my end, Kokichi can push some in from his.”

“It’s just the shape of my pecs, I guess… Kokichi, did you really just say my damn ‘boobs’ are too big?”

“Not inaccurate.” Shuichi said, using the back of his wrist to tilt Kaito’s head further up, before pouring some of the coconut oil down his shirt, “Kokichi, want to grab some of this?”

“...ya know, I read this short story once, in this smutty anthology book?” Kaito mused, looking up at the higher alley walling with some irritation, “A young lady of particularly well endowed hips gets stuck in a window… how did I end up in a less sexy version of that? At least she got laid.”

“I assume there was different ‘squish’ when he was sliding in, since his pec was going ‘in’ to his body, rather than being pulled away now,” Kokichi theorized. “Muscles do want to stretch in particular ways.”

Giving Shuuichi an unseen nod, Kokichi awkwardly pulled at Kaito’s shirt, before doing his best to backhandedly spread the oil around his chest. He could move down the alley fine, but it was still narrow enough that he couldn’t turn around, so…awkward angle it was. 

Kokichi gave Kaito an affirmative hum, before giving him something of a coy look, for how difficult it would be to see. “I mean…the night’s not over, is it? You can’t say this is a less sexy version yet.”

Kaito smirked at Kokichi’s– probably? It was hard to see, he was mostly assuming based on tone of voice– coy look, feeling a strong urge to ruffle his husbands hair that he couldn’t act on. Gotta keep his arms down so that his ‘boobs’ could get fondled with coconut oil… okay, actually, that was kinda sexy. If his body wasn’t literally trapped between two walls, Kaito would indulge a brief daydream of getting ‘taken advantage of’ in his ‘vulnerable state’... except there were walls. Pressed against all his fun bits. Gah! Women stuck in windows didn’t know how good they had it.

…mmmm… which of his partners would be more fun stuck in a window…

“Kaito? Kaito… we’ve lost him.” Shuichi sighed, finishing slathering the coconut oil over the side of Kaito’s pecs that Shuichi had access to. “Alright, Kokichi, when I pull, you push. Hopefully he should slide right out, no further damage.”

Kaito blinked, coming back to earth– he had decided Kokichi would have a more fun reaction, but Shuichi would probably make Kaito feel less guilty in the moment and he’d go further with it, so Shuichi won that round– as he said brightly, “Ah, we’re ready to try it? Heck yeah! I believe in you guys! Don’t tear my nipple off! …what? We’re just pulling me from a wall, that’s a normal thing to worry about!” Kaito grouched to someone who was passing by, openly staring at them as he passed. “Totally normal situation!”

“He’s fine, we’ve got him.” Shuichi sighed, waving the onlooker off, before turning back to Kaito, taking his arm, “Alright, you ready, Kaito? Let a breath out… now!”

Kokichi flushed, getting that very familiar feeling of Kaito letting a daydream whisk him away. Well, he was goading him, so that was his own fault, really. And maybe even more, since Kokichi wasn’t sure if he’d really be in the mood to do anything by the time they got home. 

Well…oh well. 

Sighing a little to himself, Kokichi braced his hands vertically on Kaito’s shoulder, aiming to not scrape up his hands on the way out. And as Shuuichi counted them now--as much as a single command could be a count--Kokichi planted his feet and pushed, huffing as he gently wiggled Kaito back and forth, hoping to…get an un-catch and slide him right out.

“H’ooph! Nnn…” Kaito grit his teeth, closing his eyes as Shuichi pulled and Kokichi pushed, doing his best to try to lean into the ways his partners tried to mitigate the damage and wiggle him… and a small, startled gasp as, with a small, only somewhat painful little pop, all three of them suddenly flew forward, Kaito grabbing Kokichi’s arm on instinct as he toppled over onto Shuichi, who crashed backwards onto the floor beneath his weight. 

“...ow.” Shuichi whined from beneath the both of them, saying breathlessly, “Oh, you two are too heavy…”

“That’s what I’m always telling ‘Kichi. Guys just too heavy.” Kaito joked, sighing against Shuichi as he waited for the small ache in his chest to pass… before he suddenly said brightly, “Hah! Caught both of you! Winner!”

“WAH!!” Kokichi couldn’t stop his surprised exclamation as he was suddenly pulled forward, only years of falling practice allowing him to tuck his tongue back into his mouth to avoid biting it as he fell on the pile. “Wh-why’d you grab me?! There was no need for that!”

Still, he could only let out a few chuckles as he tried to get up, lessening the load at least a little on Shuuichi. “Yeah, yeah, big winner…except for the fact I called off the game when I asked Shuu-chan to come help out. And…yanno, we do all sleep in the same place.”

…he totally still could’ve won if Kaito hadn’t gotten stuck, though. Shuuichi was feeling awfully smug about his hiding place, but without Kaito able to reach him? Kokichi would’ve just had to wait out Kaito’s patience, and then find a new hiding place once his husband left to find their fiance. A perfect plan~

But, alas. It was getting late. 

Sighing, Kokichi brushed himself off, about to suggest that they head home, but…he felt something on his leg. Almost like a loose piece of fluff from his shorts falling down… 

But the horrible, spindly legs and black body were all too clear against Kokichi’s pale skin, even at night, and that was all it took, even as the wretched thing scampered off down the sidewalk, back into the alley. 

…back…into the alley…where Kokichi had been…

Without a sound, Kokichi’s face went ashen, before his eyes lost focus and he headed to the ground like a sack of bricks.

“I didn’t mean to grab you, you were just there!” Kaito huffed, giving Kokichi a pouty look before getting off of Shuichi, helping his fiance up as Kokichi seemed up and fine. “And who said the game was called off? I didn’t hear that! You two are just conspiring to keep me from winning when I finally have the perfect– fuck.”

“Kokichi!?” Shuichi shouted, entirely startled as his fiance seemed fine one moment, and then fell like a marionette doll who’s strings had been suddenly cut all at once. Thankfully, Kaito was quick enough to drop his body first, unable to catch Kokichi entirely but still succeeding at shoving his arms down beneath him to keep his skull from violently connecting to the cobblestone. “Kaito!?” 

“I’ve got him, I’ve got him, I’ve got him.” Kaito murmured, quickly adjusting once the catch was made, pulling Kokichi against him and, giving his body a quick scan, shoving his fingers on Kokichi’s neck, checking his pulse. Biting his lip as he counted in his head…

Kaito let out a little, shuddering breath. “He’s just unconscious. Pretty sure… I mean, we should still take him to a healer, but pretty sure he’s just fainted.”

“What the hell happened!?” Shuichi demanded, eyes wide and looking vaguely panicked. “Is he bleeding? Did he get hurt in the fall?”

Kaito was going to say no, but he realized he wasn’t sure. Laying Kokichi out on his lap, Kaito quickly started running his hands over Kokichi’s body, looking for signs of cuts or anything misshapen beneath the skin. If Kokichi had just gotten a scratch, Kaito supposed maybe his husband had fainted at the sight, but… not anything he could find. A scrap on Kokichi’s knee, but it wasn’t bleeding. “I don’t know. He seems alright. Come on, we’re taking him to…” Kaito tried to guess how late it was. Would Seiko’s office still be manned by now? “...the castle. It’s alright, I’ve got him. Shuichi, man, you steady?”

“What? Yes.” Shuichi huffed, still clearly fretting, but not having a panic attack as Kaito got himself up, carrying Kokichi as they headed back quickly towards the castle. “Come on, just go.”

…

…why was…he sticky? Kaito didn’t usually forget to wash the product out of his hair before they went to bed… Did Miyako throw up? He’d hope someone would wake him up for that…

Kaito and Shuuichi had barely even made it down the street before Kokichi started to stir, his breathing going deeper for a moment as he blearily blinked open his eyes. Dark… Kaito was definitely carrying him… What…?

“...nn… Wha…?” Kokichi drew in a deep breath, trying to blink more clarity into his eyes. “Why are…you carrying me? What happened?”

“Kaito.”

“I hear him, I hear him.” Kaito murmured, not slowing down, though he adjusted Kokichi to lay more comfortably in his arms as he looked down at Kokichi, voice soft as he said, “Heeeey, babe, there you are. You’re okay, but we’re stopping by the healers at the castle, okay? You had a spill.”

“Kokichi, what happened?” Shuichi asked, concern radiating off of him, moving quickly to keep up with Kaito’s power walk. “You just collapsed!”

“He’s fine. You’re fine, Kokichi…”

He had a spill? He didn’t remember falling… 

Well, yes, he did. They pushed Kaito out of the alley, and Kaito had grabbed onto him, so Kokichi fell with them, but that was fine. A little startling, sure, but he definitely hadn’t hit his head or anything. He’d gotten up just fine, and then…

Kokichi’s whole body stiffened in Kaito’s arms as his face cringed, a thoroughly scared and disgusted sound coming from him. “...s-spider…”

Kaito felt Kokichi shudder and stiffen, the small word spilling out…

He didn’t miss a beat. Just saying in that same even, soft tone, “Long gone. I checked all over your body, Kokichi, you are free and clear. We’re just gonna stop by the healers and let them check on your heart, alright? Then we’re gonna go home and you’re gonna have a nice, warm bath full of bubble soap and salt. Easy peasy, totally clean…”

“A spider?” Shuichi mused, glancing over his shoulder like the spider would literally be there, somehow, trailing behind them, “Oh…” He let out a small, frustrated breath. “You scared me, Kokichi.”

“Not his fault–”

“I know, I know, I’m just saying. He just crumbled… I was convinced he hit his head or something, the stupid game giving him a concussion.” 

“He’s fine. Everything’s fine.” Kaito said evenly, seeing the castle gate in the distance, before forcing a grin onto his face, “Hey fellas! Evening! Kokichi had a spill, but he’s fine! Just gonna let the healers clear him, no need for assistance!”

Kokichi let go of a carefully metered breath, closing his eyes though the tense, cringing expression didn’t ease up much. “Thanks… Ugh…I’m sorry… Shouldn’t’ve gone in that alley…”

He shook his head a little, heart dropping--just a tad--at the dismissive frustration in Shuuichi’s voice. Stupid phobia…stupid heart, stupid decisions for a silly game… Roiling in self-hatred--the sticky feeling all over him definitely wasn’t helping--Kokichi just barely peeked an eye open to give the gate guards a thumbs up. He saw Captain Kaname nod, turning their gaze back out to the plaza, and Kokichi closed his eyes again. 

“...my heart’s gonna be fine,” he murmured softly, his self-loathing and frustration turning his tone petulant. “Told you guys about the fainting before…”

“I know.” Kaito said, keeping his tone light. Shuichi’s frightened frustration and Kokichi’s bitterness making Kaito feel like he needed to try a little harder at keeping his tone light and bouncy as he said, “But you know me~ If a healer doesn’t tell me you’re good, I’m gonna be fighting the urge to grab that special tea for you all night. It’d just make me feel better to get you checked out, babe.”

“At least it was just fainting,” Shuichi sighed, letting out a small, shaky breath. All sorts of scenarios having flashed through his head before Kaito had confirmed Kokichi was uninjured. 

“Shuichi, handsome, why don’t I do the medical run and you meet us back at the room? If I’m still carrying Kokichi back up to the bedroom, you can prep Ikou, let him know everything’s alright, so he’s not alarmed when he sees it.” Kaito offered. Mostly wanting Shuichi to give himself some space to get over his fright without, well… pissing off Kokichi, honestly. “Kokichi’s right, I’m sure we’ll be in and out with a clear bill of health in a second, so we’ll be right behind ya.”

Shuichi hesitated at that… but keeping Ikuo informed probably was the responsible move. So, he reached out to Kokichi–

“Let’s not touch just yet.” Kaito warned in time, as Shuichi was about to run his hands through Kokichi’s hair. 

Shuichi startled, before looking embarrassed, “Right, sorry. Both of you come up soon, I’ll have the bath things ready. Love you.” he said, before heading up the stairs further as Kaito veered off towards the healers. 

Kokichi just nodded slightly, feeling steadier with every minute, if not “better”. He knew it would be a load off everyone if he got checked out, so he wasn’t really going to fight that…especially since Dr. Somewan didn’t usually take night shifts. It’d just be a quick check in, then they could bathe and sleep and…

Swallowing and looking away as Kaito warned against touch--stupid…--Kokichi softly called out after Shuuichi. “Love you.”

And in the quiet that accompanied Kaito’s steps--far too pointedly his alone--Kokichi sighed softly. “...I’m sorry for ruining our date…”

“You didn’t. Hell, babe, I’m covered in coconut oil cause I couldn’t tell that the alley you could barely fit through obviously wasn’t going to let me in. Which, frankly, Kokichi? Feels like discrimnation against those of us with honking tits.” Kaito complained, a small, playful grin on his face as he hurried to the medical ward, “That’s gotta be a building regulation somewhere, that alleys should allow for all tits and sizes. And should definitely be cleaned of no good gross stuff! Where do I put in a complaint?”

“That alley probably wasn’t meant for human traffic at all,” Kokichi softly said, though the bitter monotone of his voice was easing up. “Probably just a fire safety gap or something. Buildings really are supposed to have a decent amount of space between them, for that… Perfectly wide for all tibbies.”

He sighed. “...probably a good city home for…raccoons and rats and…I think squirrels only make their homes high up, if not just in trees. Don’t think we have any ground-nesting birds out here either.”

Kokichi blinked slowly. “...might be too dry a climate, over there… Do you know if there are any Luminary cities that have urban primate populations? I’ve heard that it happens in some warm climates.”

“Monkey’s? Ya know, I think I’ve heard of primate problems over in the east of our kingdom, but that’s honestly just, like, maybe tall tales of little monkey guys coming into the city and being little monkey pickpockets. Like, not sure how true it is, ya know?” 

Kaito got to outside the medical center and, with a steadying breath, slowed down to a stop. Giving the hallway around them a wary look, before looking down at Kokichi, “...do you want to walk in yourself? I know I’m fussing…”

“Mmm… Well, we get stories of crows and raccoons thieving, but I know they’re true. Creatures smart enough to do it, so…monkeys would fit that criteria too.” Kokichi hummed softly, considering all that. “I know they’re pests, in the places they are, but…like, I think even seeing a deer would be pretty magical. A neat culture thing, I suppose.”

Sighing softly, Kokichi nodded and gently started wiggling in Kaito’s arms. “Yes, please. …I really am okay, Kai-chan. But…I know it’s scary. You probably haven’t seen me pass out in a while, huh?”

Kaito grinned, gently putting Kokichi down and, idly, straightening his clothes. Fussing with his hair a little, frowning lightly at the smudges of dirty that were stained onto him from both running around the garden and running through the alley. Not much to be done there, but Kaito found himself idly trying to smudge off some of the dirt from Kokichi’s cheek as he mused, “Last time I saw you faint… phooo… man, I’m not sure. I rarely see you faint, you’re usually… well, having a heart attack. But even that’s been a while.”

“And seriously, what do you have against deer? Tim and I came home gushing over seeing that deer and it letting us get close enough to pet it, and you looked at us like we were talking about petting a rat.” Kaito snickered, stepping back and going around Kokichi to open the door for him, “Deer are majestic. Maybe it’s just cause you don’t see them in Luminary, at least not the capital, but that shit was magical. Like stepping into a fantasy book.”

“It’s usually not bad enough to make me full-out collapse,” he said quietly, withstanding Kaito’s fussing even as almost every touch on his grimy skin just made him want to crawl out of it. “Usually I just stand up too fast and black out for a second, or I start getting light-headed, but if I stop and breathe, or drink something, it passes. I mean…that’s the whole reason Maki-chan and Shuu-chan started carrying around smelling salts, right? ‘Cause it does happen more to me than most.”

Giving Kaito a nod of thanks, Kokichi walked through the door, looking for the healer on duty. “They’re neat animals, but they really are a terror on people’s gardens… And they carry a lot of diseases.”

He had been about to call out, before Kokichi stopped dead, turning to look at Kaito with wide eyes. “...did anyone ever give you the tick talk?”

Did Maki and Shuichi carry around smelling salts? Kaito could picture it in that health kit Maki designed for Kokichi. He wondered if Shuichi had been carrying his lately and just forgot about it in the panic of seeing Kokichi fall, or if it’d been so long since Kokichi’s last fainting spell that Shuichi didn’t carry it anymore. Maybe Kaito should offer to take it from Shuichi, if it happened again. Kaito wouldn’t consider himself ‘composed’ when it came to panicking about Kokichi, but… admittedly, he did seem to handle it better than their Shuichi. 

“...like tick-tack-toe?” Kaito asked, face carefully blank… before he smirked. “We have ticks in Luminary babe. They can show up on horses a lot, actually, if the horses aren’t clean. Not to turn you off to going to Luminary entirely, but lots of bugs live in desert areas. Afraid we’re not a safe haven there… though, maybe pass on your warning anyway. Could still be something I’m not familiar with.”

Coming around the corner,  Dr. Verassing glanced up from their reading of a report, before sighing at the sight of them, “I need to stop taking the night shift… how can I help you, Prince Kokichi, Prince Kaito. Both of you being conscious is a good start, at least.”

To his credit, Kaito had an excellent poker face…but it was hard for Kokichi to be truly worried or exasperated when he could feel the joking glee coming off of his husband the whole time. But…good. It was good that Kaito already knew how to look for and handle ticks. While he did go to the gardens a lot, it was something that often slipped Kokichi’s mind to ever mention. 

“Ugh…” he grimaced at the mention of desert bugs…but then Kokichi could only sigh. “Okay… Yeah, you can get ticks from deer and other mammals, but you can also get them from walking in tall grass. Thankfully there aren’t a lot of gardens in the city that really needed to go through a ‘wild restoration’ phase, but it’s still something to be aware of, and if you take a walk in the woods? Gotta do a thorough check later.”

Blinking in slight surprise, having gotten distracted, Kokichi offered Dr. Verassing a sheepish smile. “Good evening, Dr. Verassing. Yeah, I, uh…I had a fainting spell, though…it didn’t last long, right Kai-chan?” Kokichi turned to his husband. “Probably wasn’t out for more than a minute or two, yeah?”

“Oh, and Kai-chan got wedged, so if we could make sure he didn’t get any dangerous scratches or, like muscle tearing…that too.”

Kaito nodded along with Kokichi, confirming what he was saying… before suddenly startling. Giving Kokichi a surprised, somewhat alarmed look, as he said, “Eh?”

Dr. Verassing gave them both a onceover, before saying, “Alright, come sit down, let’s give a few safety checks. Prince Kokichi, we’ll check your heart and blood pressure, make sure nothing’s been strained. Prince Kaito, go ahead and take off your shirt, I’ll check and see if you have any wounds that need tending.” Glancing at Kokichi, they added in, “If it’s bleeding, go behind the curtain and wait for me.”

Kaito frowned a bit at that, pulling out his shirt and looking down at himself. His chest did sting a little. Probably scrapped. Oh well, it’s not like he was body shy. Just… well, didn’t really like being looked over by healers. But, then, who did. Peering at the inside of his shirt, he did see a few specs of blood, but looking down at himself it looked less like open wounds and more like ‘spotting’. Probably wouldn’t bother his husband… ngh, maybe he should go behind a curtain anyway. “Babe, my chest is all scrapped up? Should I hide it?” he decided to just ask, looking over to Kokichi, Dr. Verassing putting a blood pressure monitor wrap around his husbands arm.

Hey. If Kokichi was getting checked out for peace of mind, then he wasn’t going to let Kaito get by and make people worry. Kokichi, being people. He was probably fine…but Kokichi could remember his husband curled around his chest for a good few moments there, before he’d gotten off of Shuuichi. Could just be he needed to put on a bandaid or two after they bathed, but still… Better safe than sorry. 

A practiced expert, Kokichi was sitting up straight on the edge of one of the ward chairs, his feet uncrossed and flat on the ground as Dr. Verassing started to wrap the blood pressure bracelet around his arm. Though, he frowned, glancing over to Kaito in worry. “Oh dear… Um…if you are bleeding, yes please… Oh hun, I’m sorry…”

“It’s alright, it’s alright.” Kaito said dismissively, waving his hand a little as he headed towards the curtain. Plopping himself on the table behind it, as he called out, “Obviously I don’t need to tell you to take your time with Kokichi first!”

Dr. Verassing rolled their eyes a little, staring at their watch and waiting the required amount of time, before checking the gauge, “Looks good. Alright, and now a quick check on the ol’ ticker.” They said, taking off the wrap and, putting on their stethoscope, moving their hand into the top of Kokichi’s shirt, giving it a listen, “...annnd vitals read normal. Now how did you go about fainting?”

“Spider!” Kaito called behind the curtain.

Dr. Verassing nodded, taking their supplies, “Ah, very well. Otherwise, you seem uninjured. Let me check your head and back real quick, make certain you didn’t harm yourself falling, and then you should be good to go.”

Going behind Kokichi, Dr. Verassing warned with professional neutrality, “I am touching your skull now,” parting Kokichi’s hair and ignoring the small shiver as they looked to make certain there weren’t any head injuries. Seeing it come away clean, they checked his neck and back next, “...alright. Looks good, clean fall.”

“I cushioned his fall.” Kaito said from behind the curtain, clearly proud. Peeking around the curtain, his shoulders bare but hiding the rest of him, “So he’s good?”

“Clean bill of health. Though, as always, if you feel any sudden tension in your chest or anything feels ‘off’, come back to us immediately.” Dr. Verassing warned Kokichi strictly.

Kokichi knew that sudden stress raising his blood pressure would…probably make it around normal, but he still took a deep breath and tried to center himself, wanting to get an accurate reading. Accurate was better than “good”. 

Though…he was doing well for him, as he figured. But with a healer backing up the assertion, there was no need for anyone to worry. 

…maybe he could properly apologize to Shuuichi now. 

Looking up at Dr. Verassing, Kokichi smiled tiredly and nodded, readjusting his shirt from the check-up. “Of course. Thanks for lookin’ over me. Hopefully this is the most exciting part of your night.”

“You two always are.” Dr. Verassing said dryly, heading over to the curtain to check in on Kaito… before narrowing their eyes a little. Eyes darting over his skin, before pulling out some gloves. “Let’s see.”

His chest was just scrapped a little, little light red splotches and dots on his skin and bruising on the center edge of his right pec that would likely bruise blue before healing itself in the next week or so. They’d put some gauze on the scrapes to encourage healing and prevent infection, and give Kaito a square bandaid partly to heal him but mostly to just make it easier for he and Kokichi to sleep next to each other that night. That wasn’t what alarmed the doctor, who said, “Lift your arm, let me see here.”

In truth, they didn’t show all that well on Kaito’s skin type. If you didn’t know what you were looking for, the scarring at best was just intermittent little bumps on his skin, only the most severe ones actually discolored against his skin in any way. But Dr. Verassing did know what they were looking for, and to them the scarring on Kaito’s body was alarmingly obvious, running their fingers over his side to find more of the little, jagged bumps, “...?”

Kaito grinned warily, “I don’t really do it anymore.”

Dr. Verassing frowned, still inspecting him. The scars were mostly in batches, too bunched together to be anything other then self-harm, if you weren’t ready to consider torture. Either way, not an accident. “Where else?”

“Hips and thighs.” Kaito said quietly, embarrassed, “It’s my religion.”

“I’ve known a few Luminary Atuans, you’re the first covered in scars.” Dr. Verrassing tsked at him quietly, noticing signs of stitches. Amatuer. They had heard of a bad incident during the months when Despair Spores were infecting people, but those scars would have been properly treated by their coworkers, who had taken care of Kaito during the aftermath of that. They wouldn’t have left marks like this, “Prince Kaito, I may need to report this.”

Kaito shook his head, “I’m already in therapy, and I don’t do it anymore.”

“I need your therapist to put in an official report that you’re not keeping up this practice anymore then, otherwise I need to report it myself. Have them send this office a report on your self-harming habits within three days.” Dr. Verassing ordered, “Otherwise I’m filing it myself. And either way, come back tomorrow. You’re lucky none of them ever became infected, but we have a few things I can prescribe you to smooth out the scarring, at least, and I want to double check your concentrated areas for complications. In fact, I’d prefer a quick glance at your legs, just to make certain nothing urgent is happening that needs taking care of tonight.”

Kaito frowned at that… before huffing. Looking irritated as he quickly unbuckled his pants, pulling them down so they could see between his thighs and quickly adjusting his boxers to show them his hips, “Nothings green, nothings purple, I’ll come back tomorrow. Can we please just take care of my chest now?”

Dr. Verassing gave another small, disapproving tsk at the sight of his legs– again, if you knew what you were looking for, the scarring was more obvious on his tan skin– but they nodded, “Tomorrow morning. Don’t make me come looking for you. Alright, let’s put something on those scrapes.”

Kaito sighed, pulling his pants back up and rebuttoning them as Dr. Verassing gave him some gauze, before putting on a bandage. Honestly, it wasn’t that big a deal… and it was done now either way, so what did it matter. Damn, guess he’d have to ask Miss Crystal for an earlier session. Ugh. 

After a moment, Kaito came out from the curtain, fully dressed, “Alright! All good! You ready, babe?”

Sure, they weren’t right next to him, but…it was an empty wing and Kaito and Dr. Verassing weren’t even all the way across the room. Kokichi couldn’t hear every word, and he wasn’t straining to, but…

He heard enough. Felt enough. 

Closing his eyes, Kokichi self-soothingly rubbed his arm, breathing through Kaito’s annoyance and Dr. Verassing’s worry. He’d seen Kaito’s scars himself, of course. They lived in the same space, and regularly saw each other naked. And…well. Unlike what he felt looking back at Tim’s situation, Kokichi stood by his decision not to claim Kaito as self-harming and find him help for it. 

For one…he already had help. Kokichi didn’t know if Kaito and Miss Crystal had really covered Kaito’s…method of prayer, but she was there for him, and they had talked about a lot of things, and…well, Kokichi trusted her to be looking out for Kaito’s best path to health. 

The other was… Kaito promised him. After the fiasco while he was drugged, and after talking to other Atuans, and after talking about their daughter growing up Atuan…Kaito had promised he’d not cut as much. Once a month, like most people did, mimicking periods. Sure, Kokichi wasn’t thrilled that Kaito was cutting himself at all, but…he could respect the ritual, and Kaito’s familiarity and knowledge to do it safely. 

…it made him more concerned that Dr. Verassing’s reaction made him think that it didn’t look like it’d been done safely, but…maybe they were looking at some old scars. Either way…Kaito could get checked out for peace of mind. Just like him. 

Looking up as Kaito called out to him, Kokichi offered a small, worried smile. “Yeah. Honestly, I can’t wait for that bath… I don’t consider myself a neat freak, but it turns out I really hate feeling oily.” He let out an exasperated breath with a shake of the head before perking and turning back to Dr. Versassing. “Thank you! Have a good night!”

“Good Night, Prince Kokichi. Stop getting into medical emergencies.” they called out dryly, the doors closing behind them.

“What a worry-wort,” Kaito mocked, rolling his eyes as they headed to the stairs. “They got spooked by my scars, say I gotta come back tomorrow for a check-up and I need Miss Crystal to make a report on it… ugh. So, I have to disappear for a little bit tomorrow morning, babe. Damn healer just gave me homework, I gotta go get this report thing scheduled and done or they’re gonna put me as a self-harmer on record somewhere. No wonder you don’t like visiting those guys, what a hassle.”

“And to be fair, I don’t think you have to be a neat freak to want to get alley grunge off your skin,” Kaito grinned, turning around and walking up the stairs backwards, impulsively wanting to show off a little as he kept up conversation as he did so, “You know, the way you moved through those trees? Can I just say… very sexy. Like, wow. I know you only made the cat comparison because of what I said, but seriously, babe, that mentor of yours must be teaching you some moves.”

“They are pretty involved,” Kokichi sighed softly before slipping his hand into Kaito’s. “But…you know, they are looking out for us. It’s better to get a record from a therapist that’s been working with you to confirm, rather than…you know. Accidentally turning a blind eye to someone that really needs help. It’s better for you, who doesn’t need that help, to be a little inconvenienced, than for someone who needs help to not get it.”

And…well… If there was any part of it that Kaito actually did need help with…there’d be a good chance to catch it here. Just in case. 

Kokichi pouted a little as Kaito took his hand back to walk backwards up the stairs, though he couldn’t help huffing a little laugh at the subject Kaito turned the conversation to. He…did know that Kaito was prone to shrugging off uncomfortable things with humor and sexy comments, but…well. It was date night. They’d already been far too serious. 

“I mean, I do learn a thing or two from them,” he softly laughed. “Mostly I was just lucky those trees were so close together. I love climbing trees, and it does pay to be light for that hobby.”

“I bet. I made that jump not entirely certain the branch wouldn’t just buckle under my weight. Either of them, honestly.” Kaito admitted, bringing up Kokichi’s hand and idly kissing the back of it, “You make running through the woods look graceful. It was very pretty, I couldn’t keep up… hey,” Kaito looked down to Kokichi, brow pinched in slight concern, “You know Shuichi didn’t mean anything, from all that? He was just scared for you.”

Kokichi’s lips quirked up at the compliments before he softly sighed, giving Kaito a nod that wasn’t quite tired, but in that same subdued realm. “I know… I don’t blame him for freaking out and assuming the worst when I collapse. He’s been the closest to me, when I have--looking back at those memories… I wouldn’t be surprised if they were things that really hurt him.”

“I’m just…hoping I can make it up to him a little,” Kokichi smiled helplessly. “That’s not really the ‘young in love’ dating experience he’s been craving, right?”

“If you want to be a romantic about it, it isn’t. But in reality?” Kaito shrugged, making a big show of blowing out a loud, exasperated puff of breath, “Dates go wrong and weird and uncomfortable constantly. Like, perfect dates? Don’t happen. There’s always something. Maybe I should share more bad dates with you guys, so you all can see where the bar is actually at.”

“But, you know what usually makes a great date?” Kaito asked, grinning down at his husband, very, very gently nudging him, “When you’re dealing with the shitty, dumb, awkward bad thing… with someone you really like. Like, sure, something’s gone wrong, but at least you’re dealing with it with one of your favorite people, at that moment. Someone you like who makes dealing with the shitty thing worth it. Those are the best dates. Spending time with someone you really, genuinely like… regardless of what happens.”

“And we both like you a whole of a hell lot, babe.” Kaito mused, getting to their floor and heading down their wing, “A bad day out with you is still a damn good day.”

Kokichi smiled at the nudge, giving Kaito a soft look. That…did make a lot of sense. Sure, dates required (or should require, really) a certain amount of effort, but…hell, despite their grand plans, none of them could really control the universe. And sometimes it didn’t even have to be on such a big scale. Sometimes…it was just a flopped joke that ended up hurting someone’s feelings, and you had to talk it out for a while.

And that was okay too. Kokichi would much rather get through a difficult conversation like that with someone he really cared about, than just…ignore everything and not talk about anything of substance with someone he barely knew. 

“You know…if it weren’t for the fact he’d probably heard all the stories before, I think Shuu-chan would be more excited to hear about your bad dates. He does enjoy judging people.”

With a small sigh that shook some of the weight off his shoulders, Kokichi once again claimed Kaito’s hand, now that he wasn’t in the danger of falling down the stairs. “...I did like this date a lot. I love spending time with you guys.”

“Shuichi doesn’t know all of my stories.” Kaito huffed, turning his nose up, “You think I told about my bad dates to, well…” Kaito stilled, glancing around to make entirely certain they were alone, and still whispering to Kokichi anyway, “My brothers main informate? Like, I love Shuichi and Maki, and I loved bragging about things that had gone well or talking about things that had truly gone terrible, but, like… middle of the road stuff? I didn’t need Byakuya knowing about dates that had just gone ‘kinda’ wrong. He’s so… reactive. I didn’t need him digging his nose into that shit.”

“Not to mention Kaede always came by with ‘sudden random advise’ when I told Shuichi and Maki about problems I was having,” Kaito said, rolling his eyes a little, “I don’t know if they ever directly reported to the Head Secretary, but his comments about things would get more pointed sometimes, after talking to them about stuff. And I gotta assume that if they weren’t directly reporting to my parents, their mentors were. My little tattle-tale sidekicks…” Kaito grinned at that, clearly lost in the memories of all that a little, “I wonder how much they know that I knew about all that. There’s a part of me that likes to keep them guessing, but now that we’re so far away from all of that, could be fun to pull the rug out from under them a little. Like, oh? Did you not know I knew about that? Weird.” he chuckled. 

Kaito gave Kokichi a wink, about to open the door for him as he said, “I’m glad you enjoy spending time with us weirdos. I know we’re a lot.”

Kokichi nodded slightly, his expression undecipherable, but somewhere in the realm of sympathetic exasperation and understanding. If Kokichi hadn’t already known before--he had--then what Kaito was saying now made it clear that Kaito held no resentment towards Shuuichi and Maki about passing on his secrets, but… Damn. Kokichi couldn’t imagine how that felt, and just…the need to accept it, that Kaito couldn’t just shoot the shit or confide in his closest friends about…anything. Always knowing that if his family asked the right question, anything he said would be passed onto them. 

And…he talked with them anyway. Just willing to withstand his family’s weird, obtrusive nosiness to be able to be a friend with his friends. 

He really didn’t tell Kaito enough how strong Kokichi thought he was. How brave and admirable. 

“You’re a lot, but I love having you,” Kokichi smiled sweetly, before stepping through the room, smiling more sheepishly at his fiance and dad. “Hey. Clean bill of health, no issues.”

Shuichi had been chatting with Ikuo, exchanging notes about how the day went, before looking up as his fiances came in. Letting out a little sigh of relief, as he got up and headed over. Pulling Kokichi into a hug… before pausing, stepping back and saying somewhat guiltily, “Sorry, I know you don’t like being touched directly after something like that… I keep forgetting myself…” before Shuichi pouted, bunching his hand into a fist and lightly punching Kokichi in the shoulder, “You scared me. Don’t crawl into dirty alley’s if you’re going to faint.”

“It’s alright. I’ve had some time to chill out.” Kokichi offered him a soft smile, before it curled up. “Aaaaand since you were so willing to touch me when I’m covered in muck anyway~” With a small giggle he stepped forward and gently hugged Shuuichi again, giving him a good squeeze before letting go. Hopefully showing in that way that it was okay. 

But he had some verbal methods to get through too. 

“I’m sorry… I wasn’t really thinking, when I chose to hide there. I just…got caught up in the game. I’ll try to think a little more, the next time we pump each other up in competition.” Giving Shuuichi a soft look, he then raised an eyebrow. “Where did you end up hiding the second time, anyway? You were feeling awfully smug about it.”

Giving the men a nod, Ikuo gave them a soft hum too. “Good ta see ya well. Were tellin’ Shu’chi, but Miya did alrigh’. Got a bit fussy ‘bout an hour ago, but think she though’ playin’ carousel wi’ me was acceptable. Prolly gonna want some dad-attention soon, though.”

“I know you mean ‘any’ of the dads, but that sounds like my cue.” Kaito grinned, hurrying over to the crib and immediately making soft, coo’ing sounds at his daughter, who made loud, abrasive baby sounds right back at him. 

“I had this whole plan to just sit in a shop and drink tea, knowing you two were looking through trash cans and beneath carriages looking for me.” Shuichi sighed, “I was going to be so smug by the time you two either gave up and called out to me or the shopkeep finished their inventory and I had to walk out, warm and full of tea. It was going to be perfect.”

“Dada’s so meeaaaan to us, Miyaaaa~” Kaito coo’d at her, picking her up and grinning down at her, bouncing her in his arms gently, “He’d have had us dirty and looking alllll over for him, and would have been even happier the more annoyed we were. Are you gonna end up all mean like dada? Or all sweet and wonderful like daddyyyyy?”

“I’m sweet.” Shuichi sniffed. “The bath stuff is all by the bath and ready, for instance.”

“That does sound like the perfect plan,” Kokichi sighed in awe. “You really are the sneakiest. You still got to come to our rescue, so Shuu-chan still got his cool moment, though. What kind of tea did you get?”

Seeing that the fathers had things handled, Ikuo gave them a nod, ruffled Kokichi’s hair--after an okay--and bid them goodnight, leaving the family of four to their bath time.

Humming thankfully as he peeked in the bathroom, Kokichi leaned back to place a small, chaste kiss on Shuuichi’s cheek. “Thank you, my sweet Shuu-chan… And it seems like Kai-chan wants a family bath time, since he’s gettin’ oil and alley gunk all over Miya-Miya too. Think she’ll ever forgive us for being gone all evening, then giving her a bath as soon as we get back?”

“Am I… oh, shoot, I am, aren’t I.” Kaito grinned sheepishly, placing a few kisses against Miyako’s forehead as he coo’d, “Sorrrry, Miyaaaaa~ Dad’s sorry. He was just so excited to see sweetbun. Miyaaaaa~”

“Mint tea.” Shuichi said, peeling off his own clothes, content with the idea of a family bath time, even if he wasn’t all that particularly dirty himself, “And perhaps if she sees all of us handling The Wet then she’ll be less bitter about it.”

“Me and Miyaaa can just be diiiirty. Wanna be a dirty baby/dad duo, sweetbun?” Kaito asked her, pausing like he was listening to her. Nodding along as Miyako gurgled, “...oh? No, you do want to be a clean little baby? Well, if you’re sure, Miyako. Such a responsible little girl~”

Kaito went to check her diaper, still coo’ing at her, taking it off and cleaning her up a little before peeling his own clothes off, joining Shuichi and Kokichi in the bathroom as Kaito started to put together the floating baby bath. Miyako notably pouting at him as he placed her in it. “Awww, Miyako, no, no pouting, we’re all doing it…”

“Mmm… That sounds nice, for a summer night,” Kokichi hummed approvingly, as he started shucking off his clothes, for once making sure they went right in their hamper, rather than hanging out on the floor for a few hours. “And she did seem excited when we played with the water around her, before. We…or, well, Kai-chan and I really do need an actual bath, but I don’t think the water will go cold if we spend a little time having fun.”

And they could always add warmer water later anyway. If it wasn’t going right into Miya’s bath, then they could play a little looser. 

Stepping into the bath, sighing a soft, happy noise at the perfect temperature, Kokichi slid into one of the corners, reaching over to help steady Miyako’s little bath being placed in. “Miyaaaaa~ Family bath time~ Daddy and Dada will show you how to control The Wet again~”

Miyako gave Kokichi a bewildered look, admittedly taken off guard by this new situation. Sure, yes, she was facing The Wet, again, but the strangeness of seeing all the Bigs in the bath together at the same time was making it difficult for her to focus on her arch nemesis. She blinked in astonishment again, as there was a small little wave that rocked her little boat as Dad carefully headed into the bath on the other side of Shuichi and Kokichi, taking the floating baby tub and sighing as he leaned back, keeping it steady between his fingers. “...okay, but no one let me fall asleep in here,” Kaito warned them, closing his eyes, “Because I might fall asleep in here.”

“How’s your chest, Kaito?” Shuichi asked, noticing the bandage, “Are you going to need to change that?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, good call. Forgot I was wearing it,” Kaito admitted, peeling the bandage halfway off and peeking into it, “...yeah that… should be fine. I think. My chest isn’t bleeding, it’s just red… ‘Kichi, should I leave it on?”

Giggling softly at her astonishment, Kokichi leaned over to pump a little of his body wash into his hands, thoroughly washing his arms before he reached over, dipping his fingers into her bath and letting the droplets drip back down. She might truly dislike it, but Kokichi really enjoyed bathing their daughter. The small moments of ease or wonder that he managed to coax out of her were always magical. 

Glancing up, Kokichi frowned softly at the gauze patch on Kaito’s chest before he gently shook his head. “Nah, take it off. Wet bandages really suck. We should remember to put something back on before we go to bed, though, so you don’t accidentally irritate it in sleep.”

“...I really can’t believe you got stuck between two walls. I love and respect Am-chan, but literally only a triangle bod could manage something like that.”

“Ugh. I’d ask you all to not tell that story to Miyako, but, like… it’s too good. That’s just an L I gotta live with, having a story that fudging funny from now on.” Kaito sighed, peeling off the bandage and tossing it into the small bin, before carefully washing some water over the scrap. It really had stopped bleeding, for as little blood as there had been in the first place, but Kaito still had to suppress a small wince as the wound stung at his handling. “Egh.”

“Thank goodness that shopkeep had that coconut oil. If that was your skin after lubrication, I think we really would have just taken off a top layer of skin trying to pull you out entirely dry.” Shuichi mused, spotting Miyako craning her head over her neck, making little frustrated baby sounds and kicking lightly, “Miyako’s looking for you, Kaito.”

“Baaaaby,” Kaito coo’d, gently spinning the bath around, Miyako wiggling a little in excitement as she was facing Kaito again, “What? Daddy and Dada are right there, sweetbun, making such a pretty picture. What do you want from dad? Fussy baby…”

Playing with her toes a little, gently rubbing his thumb between her toes to clean them out, Kaito chuckled, “For once, I probably lucked out that you two are such prudes in public. You really could have messed with me, and there really genuinely wasn’t much I could do about it. Fun in theory, a little embarrassing in reality.”

“It’s something I think I’m gonna keep in my back pocket for a while, if you two don’t beat me to it,” Kokichi chuckled. “Mi-Mi’s having a rare grey day, bam. Pull out the story of her papas playing hide and seek, and Dad getting eyes way too big for his chest. Finish it off with us coming home, and him getting so excited to see her that he gets her all dirty too? Smile guaranteed, I’m calling it.”

He wouldn’t save every funny story for something like that. Getting to know his father more now…Kokichi really wanted to make sure that Miyako got to know them as people as she grew up. As her parents, of course, first and foremost, especially while she was young, and that would never change…but he didn’t want her having to question who they were. Not know about their hobbies or dreams or what they loved as kids…

But he did want to stock up on bad day ammo. For as much as he hoped she didn’t have many. 

Cringing a little at the idea of Kaito getting scraped up even worse--and from Kaito’s sound of discomfort--Kokichi just shook his head and got more soap, figuring he may as well start getting clean if Miyako had decided which parent she wanted to be with right then. No surprise at all it was Kaito.

“Ugh… I know you two have considered it, but thinking about you not being able to move at all while we’re intimate bothers me just as much as me not being able to move, hun,” Kokichi shook his head, lathering the soap up his shoulders and onto his chest. “Maybe I’d like it in a different context, but…it makes me nervous.”

“That surprises me a little. Not that it’s a bad thing you don’t like it, beautiful,” Kaito mused, rubbing Miyako’s feet now. Little clean baby feet~ “But when me and my…” Kaito stared at his daughter, “...friends were playing around, and I convinced them, no, it’s really okay to try anything you want on me, I don’t mind… even the shyest ones usually wanted to try light tying of some sort. When it comes to non-vanilla hanging out, it really seems to be the first thing everyone thinks of… and yet your mind immediately went to slime and wax…” Kaito mused, brow furrowing, “There is a connecting thread there somewhere, I just don’t know what it is…”

“I mean, I’ve already told you both how I feel about that… ‘hangout’,” Shuichi copied, rolling his eyes at Kaito’s bright, grateful look, though Shuichi knew it wouldn’t matter for years, what they said around Miyako, “style. I’d quite like to tie Kaito, I think. Not sure I’d get much of anything out of it being tied though.”

“Do you hear how they neglect me, Miya?” Kaito whispered to her, sighing, “Two out of your three fathers are cruel. So cruel, Miya.”

Kokichi shrugged a little, rubbing little circles into the back of his neck and sliding his fingers to scrub behind his ears. “I mean…I found out pretty early on I didn’t like not being able to move. So with that known, tying just didn’t seem like something I’d like. Though I did tell you before, I’d be willing to try some really light stuff.”

“...and I told you we could just drop the slime stuff,” he pouted. “I’d heard about it, I was curious. Turns out seeing it as more than a thought experiment is really freaky. Though I still think the wax could be neat.”

Echoing Kaito’s sigh, Kokichi shook his head and leaned closer to Shuuichi, putting another kiss on his cheek. “Well, if we’re apparently so cruel… Think I could entice you to help with my back, Shuu-chan?”

At that, Kaito gave Kokichi a somewhat withering look, a small flash of irritation running through his face as Shuichi smiled sweetly at Kokichi’s kiss, leaning into it, “Of course, I would love too.”

“Meeean daddy and dada,” Kaito gossiped to Miyako, letting his hand get captured by her as Miyako, uncertain what she wanted to do with her prize, started slapping kaito’s hand down on the water. Kaito taking the cue and playing with the water a little, Miyako watching in fascination as he squirted the water up for her amusement, while he watched his two loves started to gently wash each other. Shuichi letting Kokichi lean against him comfortably as he scrubbed at his back, whispering soft little nothings into his ear and giggling softly… the monsters.

Your baby is literally right in front of you. Do not think sexy thoughts. Ignore them. Cretins.

“You know, that game of hide and seek was fun, if ending with a little more excitement than any of us wanted,” Shuichi mused, “I wouldn’t want it to be every date, but I could find myself enjoying more dates where we messed around with kid games, like that. It was nice.”

Kokichi sighed happily as Shuuichi washed his back, letting the wave of affection from his actions and words wash over him. And it gave him a perfect view of Kaito playing with Miyako too--he really was the lucky one. Or, rather…

{Lucky, aren’t we, sweetbun? Getting Dad and Dada to help wash us--they’re very good at it, don’t you think?} Though she probably was enjoying the Control of the Wet more than any actual washing. 

“I think I’d love that, actually,” Kokichi laughed, twirling his fingers in some of the suds his soap was leaving in the water. “And, yeah, it is nice to have…I guess I’d call them ‘serious’ dates, though they’re fun too, but…yeah. I like those, but getting to run around and play is a blast. Still don’t think I could ever convince you guys to play Red Rover and not take it super seriously, though.”

{Big hands, that massage and touch gently and play, broad fingernails, fascinating,} Miyako agreed pleasantly, listing some of the things she liked about Big Heat lately. She had recently become fascinated with his fingernails, often noticing them when she grabbed his hands. She wasn’t sure what the point of them yet was, but she thought they were neat. {Big grin and happy, lit up eyes. Miyaaaaa~ Miyaaaakoooo~ }

{... wet 눈_눈 }

“Red Rover… Red roooover…” Kaito sounded out the words in his head, before shaking his head, “Can’t even guess. Like, Red Light/Green Light? What’s a ‘rover’?”

“Rover: Wanderer, roamer.” Shuichi defined easily, humming a bit as he washed the dirt off the back of Kokichi’s neck, “Also a long distant mark for use in archery practice.”

“Oh, huh… is it an archery game, Kokichi?” Kaito asked, grinning wide as Miyako giggled as Kaito made little splashy sounds between his fingers, doing it to a musical beat. “Oooh, that a winner, Miya? Like that one?”

{o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o}

{(Ɔ ˘▽˘)˘⌣˘ C)}

Kokichi couldn’t contain the excited burst of affection that came from him, giving Miyako the equivalent intent of a big hug. She liked Kaito’s smile…

…and still wasn’t enthused with the bath itself, but…well, you couldn’t win everything in life. With happy dad’s with lit up eyes came baths when that dad was dirty and loved you too much. 

Giggling a little to himself, Kokichi shook his head. “Oh…I always thought it was because ‘Rover’ was a pretty common dog name, but I guess meaning a wanderer makes more sense. It’s not an archery game, no.”

Snorting, Kokichi held up his hands to try and explain. “There’s two teams, and you each face each other in a line, each team holding hands with each other. Then, taking turns, each team calls out a member of the other team, saying, “Red rover, red rover, send Person’s Name over!’ Then that person runs at the team that called them, and tries to break through where their hands are clasped in the chain. If they can’t, then they join the end of that team. If they do, they get to bring someone from that team back to their team. You win when there’s only one person left on the opposing team.”

“Ooooooh… that could be a lot of fun to play with the kids.” Kaito mused, “...depending on the kids, we’d probably have to be more careful of no one accidentally breaking each others arm though. Tim and the girls would probably be fine. Maki’s brood less so.” 

Miyako cheerfully wiggling as Kaito started to wash her more thoroughly, patting her belly and wiping her tush, Kaito said, “Okay, but now that I’ve brought it up… Kokichi, do you think you’d be up to some archery? Archery can be a lot of fun! Timothy and I did it for his birthday trip, actually, and it was actually a really good time, more than it had been trying to learn how to do it as a kid. As a member of royalty, I had to try to learn all sorts of different weddings on, like, ceremony alone. So, technically I ‘know’ how to work a bow and arrow, but…” Kaito grinned, shrugging a little, “It’s mostly just on paper. In reality, I was pretty clumsy with it… but it was still a lot of fun!”

“Yeah,” Kokichi chuckled sheepishly, bringing his legs up out of the water to start washing them, “I think that’s why I haven’t really brought it up before. In theory, it sounds like a lot of fun! But…it’s probably a game with one of the higher chances of injury.”

“Archery, though… It does sound fun,” he grinned more. “More things to add to my aiming game. And I doubt, like, beginner ranges ‘n stuff would only have recurve and longbows, so there would probably be some weight I’d be able to draw.”

He suddenly snorted to himself. “I always thought it was the most bada…coolest thing in fantasy novels, when the cool character could split someone else’s arrow down the middle with their own. If I ever saw something like that in real life I’d lose my mind.”

“Man, you think Maki…?” Kaito asked, looking to Shuichi, who was grabbing some shampoo and, spreading a generous amount on his hands, started massaging it through Kokichi’s hair.

“Mmmm, I don’t know if traditional archery is really Maki’s expertise. I know she can be ruthless with a crossbolt, but that’s a fairly different thing.” Shuichi mused, “Maybe if you gave her enough practice?”

“What about you, handsome? Any good at archery?”

“Couldn’t say. I don’t think I’ve ever held a bow before.” Shuichi said, pausing before amending, “To use, I mean. As evidence, certainly.”

“A story worth telling?”

“Not as exciting as it sounds. Two young lords were fighting over essentially nothing, and one of the young lords thought a good revenge would be to hunt the others family prized pheasants. I basically had to just verify that, yes, it was as stupid as they had all expected it was.”

“Oof,” Kaito winced, shaking his head, “Those are some expensive birds to breed and keep, though. Especially if they were being kept as future guiding animals? That’s not cool… oh, Shuichi. Just a heads up, if anyone asks you, medicals got some questions about my bloodletting. I have to ask Miss Crystal to basically file a report saying I’m not, like, self-harming specifically. Just… didn’t want you blindsided if you heard any rumors about it.”

“I have gotten questions about that already, actually.” Shuichi pointed out, smiling slightly because Miyako decided, in that moment, to give a loud, random ‘M-wah!’ sound, “But that was back when you looked like you were literally flailing yourself alive. Those rumors have already made the round.”

“...ah. Well…” Kaito shrugged uneasily, “I was locked up in the med ward for a while after that so… I guess I missed that. Sorry.”

Ohhh… Yeah. With enough practice and grit, Maki could probably find a way to do it, if it was something she set her mind to. If they started getting the whole family--and likely Cali and Kimiko too--into archery, then…yeah, he could see her trying for it. Giving herself a personal goal to work for, while the rest of them were still fumbling trying to consistently hit the target. 

…but at least for the time being, Kokichi was a little more preoccupied with Shuuichi’s long fingers running through his hair and massaging the shampoo into his scalp. Kokichi melted a little bit, giving the rest of the bath a blissed out smile. 

…until it faded. 

“I think most people have given you the benefit of the doubt, for rumors from that time,” Kokichi said softly. “It wasn’t exactly a secret that you had been drugged, and considering some of the other stories coming out from poppy addiction victims… I don’t think I mentioned it at the time, but the National Health Board approved its classification as a Code Black drug unanimously on the first vote.”

“Makes a lot of sense. That stuff is a nightmare… even if it gave us wonderful little Miya~” Kaito coo’d at her, bringing up her foot and kissing her soapy little toes, “You’re the treasure that came out of all that, Miyako~ You daddy’s love you so much, we’re happy and thrilled every day to have you, even during your stinkiest poops. Our little desert diamond~... blegh. Soap.”

“Honestly, I’d say we’ve lucked out considerably, as far as the rumor mill goes.” Shuichi pointed out, rubbing the shampoo in some more, before saying gently to Kokichi, “Want me to help you wash it out, or do you have it? Anyway, Maki and I have honestly been preparing for months for some anti-Luminary, anti-Momota heat to rise up with all the events going on lately, and… nothing. Not so much of a whisper. And we’ve been looking.”

“Mmmm.” Kaito hummed, soaping up Miyako’s hands, “Yeah, we’ve been very lucky… could one of you pass the ‘no-tears’ baby shampoo? God, you’re brand new, Miya, and you have such a mop of hair on you already. It gets all wild like daddies, too. Got to take care of it so it won’t knot~”

Kokichi nodded, looking over affectionately at Miyako. Out of all the horror…they did luck out on one account. For as much as he had fretted over being a father at the start, already Kokichi couldn’t imagine his life without Miyako. Spending time with her, seeing her smile and hearing her giggle, getting little peeks into her developing mind and seeing sparks of the person she might one day be…every part was something Kokichi cherished in his deepest heart. Even with every stinky diaper and watery barfs.

“I’ve got it, sweetheart, thank you.” Once again Kokichi thanked his fiance with a cheek kiss before he grabbed the little pail they kept in the tub, scooping up water to rinse out his hair. Though, he let out a little sigh. “Now that we’re not at war, I don’t think there are a lot of people paying much attention to what’s going on in Luminary… We have been lucky about not running into too many people wanting to take their pain from the war out on us, but…for a lot of other stuff? I think people are just kinda…pleasantly surprised by new, cool things in the international market, without paying that much attention to where it’s from.”

Trying to move away from more isolationist values, Kokichi had discovered…was a work in progress. But he was happy that people for the most part these days would leave his family alone, when it came to ethnic discrimination. 

Shaking his head fondly, one eye scrunched shut as he felt a drip of water slide down his face, Kokichi passed off the baby shampoo. “I think she likes that more than I do, thankfully. Something good for bonding time.”

“I think I’m losing in the fight for her to love swimming,” Kaito admitted, Miyako pouting as Kaito wetted her hair a little, getting it ready to lather, “Maybe her mind will change as she gets older, but so far it’s not looking good there. But! She’s soooo good for me when I want to play with her hair and dress her up a little, such a patient, happy little baby~ Who’s only tried to eat her socks and buttons a few times~”

“No more buttons on her clothes, Kaito.” Shuichi said, giving him a stern look at that, “We tried it once and I found myself watching her like a hawk the entire time. I don’t care if they’re supposed to be ‘baby proof’, we’re not playing with buttons anymore.”

“I know, I know, I got it. It was very cute for the day though. Cute little button overalls… but, yeah, honestly I’ve been feeling super lucky so far, that Miyako hasn’t hated me fussing with her right off the bat.” Kaito sighed, grinning warmly as Miyako made a little face as soon as he started running his fingers through her hair… “Shuichi. Shuichi. Who does that remind you of?”

Shuichi peeked over, before smirking, “Sometimes she’ll do something and she just immediately becomes a little Kokichi clone. It’s very cute.” He turned to Kokichi, nodding his head to her, Miyako’s eyes half lidded and looking immediately blissed out and sleepy as he said, “You. That’s you.”

“So cute~” Kaito coo’d, gently massaging her scalp… before he asked, idly, “So, neither of you get any, like… weirdness from strangers these days? People are leaving you alone?”

“As someone who can’t swim either? …I can’t tell her at all what she’s missing out on. That explanation’s gonna have to come from you guys. Or one of these days Yuta’s enthusiasm is gonna get through to her. He’ll end up recruiting half the city into making an Usott-based swim team.”

Groaning softly--and cringing a little as water got in his ear--as he remembered the buttons, Kokichi huffed. “One day she’ll be able to wear buttons, but they’re really not kidding when the books talk about how she’ll try to eat everything. Little gobblin’ monster, explorin’ the whole world with her mouth…”

Trailing off a bit, Kokichi slouched under the water to give himself a final shakedown, only to come up to a very cute sight… That was way cuter than him, for real. …but if it was his influence that made her adorable like that…he’d accept that. 

…a small sigh. “...yeah. The letters stopped a few months back. And most people just say how cute we are together, if they talk about our relationship at all, and aren’t congratulating me on the proposal or Miya.”

“That’s essentially the same for me.” Shuichi said, leaning back and just enjoying the warmth and comfort of the bath, watching as Kaito caaaarefully ran some water over Miyako’s head, which was a timebomb in the making. If Kaito messed up even a little, Miyako’s calm, happy mood would very quickly get loud… and Shuichi breathed a sigh of relief when Kaito did. Disaster averted, Kaito praising her for braving the water over her hair valiantly before, finally, starting the process of cleaning himself, “Mostly I get comments about the proposal and Miyako, once people confirm I’m who they think I am. I get a lot of comments about Kokichi unprompted, and people are mostly curious about you when you come up.”

“I get a lot of Kokichi comments too.” Kaito grinned, washing himself down, Miyako looking curious where she was going as she lightly started to spin in the water, Kaito not holding her still anymore. Miyako gave a little ‘Gwah!’ sound when she spotted Kokichi and Shuichi, “People love their heir-apparent, they’ll gush about him all day if given a chance. It’s very sweet. Sorry, Shuichi, I don’t get many unprompted comments about you.”

“Quite alright with me. I don’t like being well known.” 

Kaito nodded, “And I’m glad the letters have stopped, babe. I know they stressed you out… you both know, though, if anything else was happening, you could tell me, right? I won’t get angry or react out of hand, I promise. You don’t have to keep it secret from me to spare my temper.”

Shuichi nodded, “I’m being sincere. There’s been no issues, and as far as I’m aware, Maki and Timothy have been harassment-free as well. Things have been very peaceful.”

Kaito nodded, a brief flash of relief in his face, before he grinned, “Good! We’re very lucky, you guys. I just want to know you’re being taken care of.”

“Aw geez…” Kokichi said softly, tinting as he flicked water out of his eyes. A successful bathtime! For three out of four, so far, but four was getting a move on now. Which meant it was their turn for Miya time~ 

Kokichi smiled softly at Miyako’s sound of recognition, reaching over to gently tow her bath closer. She seemed more confused about floating freely than displeased, but…he wanted his baby’s attention! So sue him! Relaxing against the side of the tub, he held her bath steady, offering a clean and soap-free set of fingers to his daughter. 

…his eyes flicked over to Kaito for a moment. “...and you don’t have to keep anything from us in turn, yeah? We’re in this together, hun… But…yeah. I’m thankful things have gotten better. I know we’ve been over this to death, but…”

His voice went softer, his fingers slowly wiggling in Miyako’s iron grasp. “...I know Usott…Dicea will never really be home. But I want it to be close, one day. A comfortable place you’re happy to be in.”

Kaito hummed a bit, roughly scratching through his own hair, far more happy to treat his own hair and skin roughly as his hair stuck out at all ends with soap, Kaito leaning forward to dunk his head in the water before bringing it up, shaking his head a little before pausing, eyes wide…and then a shiver ran up his fine that caused his whole body to shake a little. Sighing contently as the shiver passed, reaching for the conditioner to run that through his hair next as he considered his options…

“...I may get a little bullied,” Kaito said, his tone entirely even. Every part of himself radiating an indifferent air, as he dunked his hand before reaching for a hand towel, cleaning out his ears with it a little, “But, like, I’m seriously stressing ‘may’. Like, it’s so minor that I may just seriously be reading too much into it. Not a big deal. Just wanted to make certain you guys weren’t dealing with similar things.”

“What do you mean? People speaking unkindly to you?” Shuichi asked, giving Kaito a glance before turning his attention to Kokichi and Miyako. Watching Miyako make loud, demanding sounds at Kokichi, splashing the water and, if Shuichi had to guess, demanding ‘water tricks’. 

“Nah. Like,” Kaito shrugged, “Food and drink fall on my clothes a lot. Again, could really be honest mistakes and me looking into it too much. Just happens enough times to make ya wonder.” and Kaito had been told by Nao that it was just a ‘thing’ for Dicea, but he wasn’t exactly about to use her as a reference.

Kokichi’s eyes zeroed in on Kaito again, as he frowned softly…

…but it didn’t feel like Kaito was lying to him, exactly. He was unsure if he was reading too much into things, and he didn’t feel like it was a big deal. And…well…even if it was ill-intentioned, for something like that…Kaito wouldn’t think it was a big deal as long as it wasn’t directed at the rest of them. 

He was always willing to take rougher treatment and think nothing of it, as long as his loved ones were treated well. 

Kokichi sighed softly and successfully negotiated with Miyako to get his hand back in exchange for water tricks. Cupping his hands like before, he shot an arc of water over her bath, making sure it was along her horizontal axis to avoid getting water on her face in the worst case scenario. 

“...that’s really sh…crappy,” Kokichi said quietly. “Either way, but…people better hope it’s just mistakes.” He frowned deeper. “...could you tell me if it happens again? I guess you would’ve sorted it out if you could but… Wanna give people a piece of my dang mind.”

“Sure~” Kaito said, feeling fairly confident that if it did happen again, like all the other times, it’d be too difficult to figure out exactly who had done it. Kokichi couldn’t get into a real fight, if they couldn’t find the perpetrator. So it wouldn’t really matter or risk anything. “But it’s not like it’s a big deal either way. I just wash it off in bathrooms.”

Washing out his conditioner, smiling as he heard Miyako’ excited baby noises– {CONTROL THE WET} – Kaito felt another little shiver run through his body, another little shake, before he used the hand towel to wash his face, shrugging as he did so, “And to circle back to what you said earlier, ‘Kichi, I don’t ever really need to feel like a Dicean to feel like this is home. My family’s here, that’s home enough… though–”

Kaito chuckled, giving Shuichi an amused look, “Did I tell you? It probably got lost among the chaos, but Kokichi actually saw my old ‘room’ that I grew up in. Visited it by accident in my dreams.”

“Oh, no.” Shuichi sighed, a small twitch to his expression suggesting he was hiding how amused he was, “Let me guess… he apologized our room is so small?”

“Not directly, but he did get that ‘oh no, I’m failing my husband’ look on his face,” Kaito teased, mimicking Kokichi’s voice for a moment, before giving Kokichi an adoring look, “It was sweet. And totally unnecessary. I love our room, it’s cozy. And, like… we own this  whole hall. Between all of us, we have so much space.”

“Okay.”

It still didn’t feel like a big deal to him. 

…but if people really were purposefully harassing Kaito like that? Then Kokichi thought it was a big deal. And if he ever caught someone… Kaito was gonna get a hell of an apology. 

Letting out a small breath as he created more streams over Miyako’s bath, Kokichi groaned in embarrassment. “Am I really that predictable? Man…”

“You told me as much at the time,” he smiled softly at Kaito, “But…it’s hard not to feel a little intimidated by stuff like that. Like those super-super fancy restaurants that give you, like, seven different spoons. To me, most spoons are up to most tasks, but, like…there is reasoning behind why there’s so many, and people get really into the rituals. Even if it works fine, it’s hard not to feel a little wary if you’re picking up the wrong one.”

“Uuuugh,” Kaito groaned, now looking put out as he said, “Novoselic has that. It’s huge there, like, even if you’re not wealthy enough to get all the different plattings and silverware, you’re still expected to know how to navigate it. Byakuya knew it, but I always ended up looking like a clumsy oaf during public dinners there. Seriously, I’m the ‘wild’ one of the family back in Luminary, but I was still a prince. I knew how to be proper when I had too. But in Novoselic? Whooole different ball game. They are so proper down there.”

“I’ve always thought I’d enjoy Novoselic,” Shuichi admitted… before his eyes lit up a little, looking to Kokichi, “We should take a walk down there, one of these nights. Maybe steal some of Kaito’s memories of the place.”

“Hm?” Kaito hummed, “Mmmm… that’d probably be fine? Can you guys just pick up settings from my head whole-sale like that? Not that otherwise it’d be… tooooo difficult to navigate around certain memories in my head,” Kaito murmured, eyes narrowing, “I don’t think I got into tooooo much mischief down there… hmmm… Miyako, you better be out of my head right now baby love, I’m serious.” Kaito suddenly said suspiciously, looking accusatory at his daughter, who was still watching the water show.

The more he learned about Novoselic, the more it seemed like all of the pomp and circumstance that Dicea had wholly rejected, Novoselic had picked up as sport. Just like he said…intimidating. Especially because it sounded like the expected socializing was…what would seem like constant, outright hostility to Kokichi. He’d have a lot of reading to do before they took a trip there. 

Though a mind trip would be much more accessible. 

Kokichi made a surprised little sound as he considered it, stopping the streams for a moment to cup water from hand to hand like a fancy office fountain in front of Miyako. “Oh, um… I don’t think I’ve ever tried, like, remotely… Unless I just support you in Kai-chan’s mind, Shuu-chan…” He grimaced before interjecting, “...which I’m not supposed to experiment doing so much, yet, then… I suppose if you’re willing, hun, you could share a memory with Chibi Kai-chan, so I’d have access to them, and then Shuu-chan and I could visit.”

“A visit from the little guy? Sure. I’ve been wanting to meet this ‘Chibi Kaito’ anyway.” Kaito mused, tilting his head a little, rinsing some of the soap off himself, before looking down between his legs, “Is it worth shaving right now… oh, guys, I have another thing I need a day to do, probably an afternoon. I gotta go visit the Kiginko family and find out why they had my old skin.”

“...what?” Shuichi asked blankly.

“Yeah, promised myself I would. Oh! And Kokichi, I promised you we would visit the nursery and get your great grandkids plants.” Kaito said, deciding to skip shaving, in respect to the other people in the water with him, “Wasn’t sure if you remembered, but we should probably do that soon. Also gotta visit the big guy at some point, figure out who this Caleb guy is…”

“Can we talk about the skin thing?” Shuichi asked, “What was that?”

Kaito nodded idly, “Don’t freak out. I’m weirdly okay with it, and I don’t want to get rid of it. But Akane’s in our closet.”

A proper meeting, anyway. Kokichi supposed the projection he gave his family during therapy wasn’t much of a greeting, for how excited his construct was to see “Big Shuuichi” and “Big Maki”. Kokichi did know that multiple Kaitos could get along, but…somehow he got the feeling there would be more competition between these two. 

All his idle wondering came to a halt, though, as Kokichi stared at Kaito wide eyed, dropping all the water from his hands. “...I…I did remember but…”

“That’s what you meant before? You…have a coat of your old skin?!”

Kaito nodded, a distant, thoughtful look on his face as he leaned back against the wall, relaxing with a small shrug, “I didn’t confirm it till I talked to her directly, but… I kinda knew the second I saw it. I had this moment of being, like, really intimidated… and then kinda accepting it. And now I’m kinda fond of it. It’s nice having my old… uh,” Kaito shook his head, correcting himself, “Her old fur. You know how people keep ashes and sometimes turn them into gems and stuff? Kinda feels like that. Like I have my ashes.”

“...what?”

“I can move it into my shrine if it really freaks you out, but I’m not getting rid of it.” Kaito said sternly, giving them both a hard look, “I’m serious. I’m putting my foot down on this one. I’m not getting rid of it.”

“...I… I don’t know… what to say.” Shuichi realized.

“Yeah… anyway. I gotta figure out if it was just a coincidence, or what. Like, if it is a coincidence… seriously, what are the odds.” Kaito mused, “... like, not high, right? And if it’s not a coincidence, then how did she know?”

“...nope. I’m gonna need more time.” Shuichi realized, “Still don’t know what to say.”

Kokichi gave his husband a look…then a longer look. “...it is surreal hearing you say that, considering you didn’t even know that people did that with ashes a few months ago.” 

He sighed, rubbing his face a little before being startled by Miyako impatiently gurgling, upset that her show had stopped. Getting ready to shoot water again, Kokichi shook his head before giving Kaito a softer look. “Alright… I can still see the sentiment in it. And…yeah. Even if Akane did live in Usott, that’s a huge coincidence. Though…one of the less crazy fate stuff to happen to us, if we’re choosing to believe in all that.”

“...do you want to talk to Caleb tonight?”

Kaito smirked, rolling his eyes, “You all didn’t introduce cremation to me, babe. It’s uncommon in Luminary, but I’ve still heard stories about it. You all ever hear about the guy who made a sword out of his enemies? Something like 2300 people? Might be a myth, but that’s a sword right there, and I’ve heard of necklaces and rings made out of people… it’s a thing!”

“...I may… need you to keep your skin… in your shrine.” Shuichi said, “Just for a while. Respectfully, in a dignified way. I’m just going to end up staring at it every time I go into the closet. It’s just… hanging there.”

“Fair enough,” Kaito said, smiling gently at Shuichi, “I know I kinda dropped that on you guys all at once, but I’ve never had a good way to really… tell anyone about that. And maybe it’s not really anyone’s business, but… I did kinda want to tell you guys. It’s strange but…” Kaito grinned warily, shrugging, “It sometimes makes me happy, when I put it on. I don’t know. It just does.”

“...well, I think I understand tha–”

“And Miyako looks so cute on the fur.”

“I. Do. Not. Know. What. To. Say.”

“Sorry,” Kaito grinned sheepishly, before looking brightly to Kokichi, “Yeah? Do you think you’d be up to it, babe? I’d be up to it.”

“That…absolutely sounds like a tall tale, but one that’s probably more rooted in reality than you’d think,” Kokichi shook his head. Part of him also wanted to make the point of how deeply uncomfortable ashes made Kaito, but…he supposed he could understand feeling different about your own. There weren’t a lot of people who would be in that position but…well, Kokichi was one of them. Though…he still wasn’t sure if he’d want to keep any…biological reminders of his past lives like that. Seeing their legacy was enough. 

Sighing, Kokichi reached into Miyako’s bath to make tiny little waves around her body, darting his fingers in to give her sides little tickles every now and again. “If Little Miss decides she doesn’t want to be awake all night? Then yeah, I’ll be up to it. And if you don’t get enough sleep, then let me know when I get up for work and I can take Miya-Miya with me while you get a little more shut eye.”

“Lemme know when you swing by the Kiginkos, too. Not really in particular, but I’d like to pass on my hellos to Diane and the kids and everyone.”

“Aw, Kokichi and Miyako in the office… that’s cute…” Kaito grinned, listening to Miyako’s high little squeals when Kokichi tickled her, “Also probably not a habit we should start, but. I know, Shuichi, you have an appointment with Dr. Ford tomorrow morning, so yes, if I can’t wake up properly tomorrow, then I’ll take you up on it babe.”

“And you’re both welcome to come with me, if you want too. Maybe I’ll bring Miyako! Let her spend time with little Gabriel again, she seemed to like him.” 

“Didn’t Kokichi say her name for him was ‘Empty Head’?” Shuichi pointed out.

“So? Empty headed guys can be some of the most chilled out to hang with!”

Kokichi smiled, pressing his thumb into Miyako’s little palm as she deftly caught one of his hands, giving her the best of both worlds when his other continued to tickle her. It was…it was really good, hearing Kaito accept help. They’d all come a long way. 

Chuckling softly, he gave his partners a half-shrug. “Hey, she seemed pretty fascinated with him, either way. I don’t think I’d want to put so much pressure on them, if it ends up being a more difficult conversation…but we did promise to come see the orchard when it was in bloom again. It could be a nice family outing, if a little early for proper apple picking.”

“I’m into it,” Kaito grinned, just enjoying watching his family for a moment, “Alright, then it’s a plan. Meet Caleb tonight, and I’ll set things up with Miss Crystal tomorrow afternoon, and… okay, I don’t know when we’ll get the rest of that stuff. But we’ll figure it out.”

“Mmhm… okay but seriously, Kaito, move the skin tonight.”

“Got it~”

-

Because it wasn’t necessarily urgent, they experimented with seeing how Kaito felt on the pills and doing empath stuff at the same time. If he was too incoherent to function, then they’d know he couldn’t do empath stuff and sleeping pills at the same time. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have to skip it. 

And, when Kokichi showed up, it was a little like waking up. Kaito not dreaming at all, and then suddenly ‘conscious’... and immediately whispering, “Woah.”

Before, every time Kokichi had visited, it had taken a solid few minutes for Kaito to understand what was going on. Probably because he was dreaming when Kokichi usually visited. But this time? It was instant clarity. Kaito, if anything, feeling more aware of himself then he usually did. Like he could feel the setting around him…

And Saint Madison was immediately in front of him. “I’ve got him cornered by the dogs.”

“... Divine. You’re literally a part of me.” Kaito told her, sitting up and brushing the dirt off himself as Saint Madison reached down to help him off the Luminary road that his mind had immediately dumped him in once he was ‘awake’, “Like, you know we made plans for him to come visit tonight.”

“The dogs need practice.” Saint Madison said simply. 

“Look, have the dogs give him a few kisses in apology, and then bring him here… and do not do it through vines.”

“The vines are a very efficient way to move empaths around in your mind.” Saint Madison said, a portal opening up behind her, “But fine.”

Kokichi came through the portal looking distinctly amused, his face gleaming a little with dog slobber as he chuckled, waving to Kaito and Saint Madison. “They really are such good boys. I hope Temp will be able to get through to Addason one of these days--it’s really gonna devastate him if his son hates dogs his whole life.”

“Good evening, Saint Madison--a pleasant a greeting as always,” Kokichi greeted her. “I know you know, but…we’re finally finishing the hello tour, and are going to talk with Caleb tonight. His place is the island, right?”

It was mostly a redundant question, since Kokichi was fairly sure he was correct in that, but…well, maybe that was something a little extra for Kaito. Kaito had dreamed of the island before, and if Kokichi’s hunch was correct, then Caleb’s influences came out quite a lot between the language usage and ship nostalgia, so…maybe that would be a guide for Kaito to delve into to get them there.

“It is,” Saint Madison agreed, “But like last time, it’s easier to come back then to dive. It’s your mind needing to adjust little by little to what you’re trying to do.” Saint Madison explained, looking to Kaito, “It’d overwhelm you to do it all at once. That’s why I can’t just pop an opening to the island just like that.”

“Sure, sure, that makes sense.” Kaito shrugged, taking his defenses word for it as he went to wipe Kokichi’s cheek off with his sleeve, “Damn dogs, damn vines, constantly messing you up. Look at your hair…” Kaito sighed, combing his fingers through Kokichi’s hair to smooth the cowlicks down. Then, grinning, he gave Kokichi a big, smacking kiss, “Thanks for coming, babe! Also, I feel fine! Honestly? I feel more clear-headed then I usually do when you visit.”

“Are you two done? Don’t get enough of each other awake, have to bring it into your dreams?” Saint Madison said dryly, sounding eerily like Maki, “We need to go to the ocean.”

Humming happily, Kokichi pressed into the kiss, giving Kaito a hug in return. “That’s good to hear. We’ll still have to see how you feel when you wake up to really finish the experiment, but…this is good! I’d hate to cost you restful sleep for a whole night, if I’m just popping in for a little bit.”

Though he did know it was a little redundant for him to be keeping Kaito up at all when he took his meds. But…well, it was a decision they were both making, giving up sleep to futz around in the mindscape. For Kokichi, he could accept it if it kept being a relatively rare thing--not every night. Just…the equivalent of staying up a little later, every once in a while.

Stepping back, giving Kaito a little space, Kokichi gave Saint Madison a sheepish yet unrepentant look. “With all due respect…I think you know the answer to that. But…yeah. Give it a go, hun.”

“Alright,” Kaito mused, taking Kokichi’s hand and looking around the path they were on. He was pretty sure this was the road to his university… so, which direction was the ocean then…

There was a small, windy breeze. Kaito could smell the ocean. Huh. Okay… this way.

Kaito didn’t notice Saint Madison hadn’t followed them until they got down several roads and, suddenly, they came across a small, wooden fence, and past it was a beach that Kaito knew was not there in the real world. Palm trees blowing in the ocean breeze, a beautiful island shore rolling in and out, the sound of birds in the distance, though Kaito couldn’t see them. 

No boat…

And, just as Kaito thought that, the water started to bubble. Kaito watching in muted fascination, as a large, black snout poked out of the water, before in impossibly shallow water, a massive horse head peeked up from the water. Massive, dark eyes blinking through the drops of ocean falling through its beautiful, dark eyelashes.

“...weird.” Kaito said, grinning as he headed up to the snout of the massive horse head, patting it on its nose, “I had a dream like this once. This is what Kohtalon looked like, by the way, Kokichi! Isn’t he a good boy~” Kaito coo’d, petting the massive snout, the horse staring at him as Kaito hugged it a little, “Such a good guiding animal… or at least my memory of him. Well, him and bigger,” Kaito said, looking at the titan sized horse head, “Obviously. Wanna ride his head, ‘Kichi?”

NGP wasn’t on any of Luminary’s coasts, Kokichi at least knew that much, but as they walked through streets that he was just familiar enough with to recognize…he could smell the equally barely familiar scent of the ocean, could faintly hear the crash of waves… A bit more build up than the other “dives”, but he wasn’t complaining. It was interesting seeing how Kaito internalized all this. 

The beach they came to was downright idyllic, though…the creature from the water, in some cases, was a bit more horrific. But wariness of giant creatures emerging from the deep notwithstanding…Kaito’s affection refused to let the atmosphere deviate from lightness. And Kokichi was content to not fight that. 

“Your imagination really has no compare,” Kokichi chuckled, heading up to the enormous horse snout and giving it a pet. “Hello, dream Kohtalon, it’s nice to meet you. Are you here to take us to Caleb?”

Looking to Kaito, Kokichi gave him a nod, willing to take the hoist up to the giant creature’s head.

It was a quick climb and then a lean down to offer Kokichi a hand up. Not that Kokichi couldn’t climb himself, but Kaito just wanting to be courteous… before riding on the snout of a giant horse through the ocean. The horse head moving away from the shore, before gently but swiftly moving out to the ocean. Kaito watched the water fountain and push around the horses snout with wide eyed wonder… before he pointing excitedly, “Kokichi, look! Flying fish!”

Among the waves crashing around the side of the horse’s head, shining, silver fish leapt out of the crashing waves, suspending in the air for a few seconds more than would seem possible as they drifted through the air, before diving back into the water.

It was a surprisingly easy ride, and it was quick. The shore gone in a moment, Kaito watching the ocean pass beneath them… before he felt it. That same feeling that had guided him to the castle, and drove him deeper into the woods. And he stared at the horizon, feeling a sense of closer, closer…

“Come here, Kokichi,” Kaito urged, wrapping his arms around his husbands hip and picking him up, “The horse is about to dive. Hold your breath and close your nose!”

He had to shout that last part, as in just that moment, the horse head did dive. The roar of the water rushing up past and around them, suspending in the air for a moment as the head displaced the water, Kaito closing his eyes when the water crashed down above them, submerging them.

He held Kokichi close, giving his body a moment to let the water stop battering them, intending to drag Kokichi back to the surface as soon as he could… but his eyes opened, and briefly,  he saw the massive form of the horse, sinking down into the empty darkness of the bottom of the ocean, and a genuine terror ripped through him at the sight… and then he blinked. And it was all white. Gentle white sand not far below, the ocean water light and clear… and before Kaito even had a chance to kick his feet, a hand reached in from the top of the water, and pulled them both out of the water with a powerful, steady pull.

Caleb pulled Kaito and Kokichi both out of the water, bringing them onto the small island. The air pleasantly warm, a gentle breeze rustling through the palm trees, sand almost impossibly clean and clear and soft beneath them, as Caleb laid them down, before giving them both a mildly concerned look.

“...” Caleb looked over Kaito, then Kokichi, “...okay?”

It was…magical. Just like taking a slide through a translucent space whale, or landing in a glittering cavern of gems…watching glowing stepping stones rise out of water. Wherever Kaito could apply his whimsy, something sublime happened. Kokichi giggled at the fish, feeling the urge to reach out and glance his fingers around their silvery scales, but instead just touching spray, looking at the crests of water Giant Kohtalon made. 

But there was another side of imagination than just light spectacular. 

While it would be quite a different story in real life, even doing an experiment with Kaito’s consciousness, Kokichi was confident that he could protect himself in Kaito’s mind, so their sudden descent wasn’t as frightening as it might’ve been. In all honesty, though Kokichi still clung to his husband, he was excited to see what the other half of this great sea contained…

Or, he would’ve been, if not for the cold shock of genuine terror that consumed everything for one, horrible moment…

Before they were gently plucked up, and set on the island Kokichi had seen before. 

“Oh…” Kokichi blinked a few times before grinning up at their savior. “You know, that makes a lot more sense, why this place is so well protected, rather than just being out in the middle of the ocean directly. Yeah, I’m alright, Caleb. Thank you.”

Caleb gave a little hum, that worried crease evening out and disappearing from between his eyebrows as he nodded. Glancing over at Kaito, his expression questioning, before looking pleased as Kaito coughed a bit… before giving Caleb a thumbs up. “Good.” He said softly, offering both of them a hand up. 

Caleb was a big guy. Sakura’s size, and that wasn’t the only similarity he shared with her. There was a gentleness to his movements, a practiced slowness to everything from how his head turned to how he released their hands and lowered his arms, standing up straighter, towering over both them. Someone who was used to having to put extra effort in not frightening the people around him, and a dip in his neck and his shoulders that suggested he spent far too long looking down, beyond that of someone who was simply taller. It suggested someone who had been afraid to lift his head, too long.

But there was an easiness in his expression that eased some of the uncomfortable tells of his poor posture. Tired, but relaxed, as he looked out into the ocean. His eyes searching for something, idly rubbing at his wrists– each one’s skin twisted and gnarled, serious damage having been paid to them at some point, right along with the rest of his skin, covered in light scars– before he murmured, “...fish isn’ here. That’s good… you can put your feet in the… in the water. If you desire… or not,” Caleb shrugged, heading over to sit beneath the palm tree, settling into his favorite spot as the tree jostled slightly beneath the weight of his back before settling. “You are welcome… for…” Caleb paused, a brief look of confusion running through his eyes, licking his lips as he mouthed some different words to himself, clearly struggling to figure out which one was what he actually wanted to say, “...for however…” he nodded, saying more confidently, “for however much I can off… offer. You are welcome to it.”

“Thanks!” Kaito grinned, looking around enthusiastically. It was a small island, and a massive sea, but it was so peaceful here. He was quick to kick off his shoes, wanting to feel the sand between his toes, and then going a step forward, he took off his shirt too and tossed it aside, stretching his arms over his head before giving Caleb a delighted look, “I’ll be honest… between the castle and the forest? I immediately like this place best.”

Caleb smiled lightly at that, “...I asked… I asked for a safe, peaceful place to rest… I…” Caleb licked his lips, searching for the words, “...I have passed, and we live. But… I still wanted my place to rest… and Aten came through, it seems… it’s a nice place.” Caleb said softly, looking around, “That I can rest… though the dragon and the fish keep me awake. So I do not fade away entirely… a kindness, I know, if a… a frus… a frustra…” Caleb paused, mouthing the word to himself a few times, “a frustrating one.”

While Kokichi had only ever been around Caleb for a few moments, it seemed that his impression was spot on. That gentle, kind ease, the kind of placidness that suited the peace of the island… Well, if Caleb had asked for it to be that way, then it was perhaps more accurate to say that the island suited him. 

Even with the fish and the dragon…

Unafraid of sharp shell shards in a dream, Kokichi removed his shoes as well, threading their laces through his short loops, before he took a deep breath, taking in the island…before looking at the man of the hour himself.

(...who looked a little familiar. Past the familiarity of being Kaito, and past seeing him before. Something… Maybe his coloring, but…)

“Kai-chan’s talked about his dreams of your island before, Caleb, but…at the start he never mentioned a dragon. I don’t mean to be so nosy,” Kokichi grinned sheepishly, “But…did the dragon show up, when we found out about Maki-chan? Or was it always here?”

There was a strange lightness to Kaito, suddenly. An absolute easiness to him, almost giddiness, as he looked up excitedly, putting his hand over his eyes and peering up into the clouds, before cupping his hand around his mouth, “MAKI-ROLL??”

Caleb gave Kaito a fond look, watching the man give an exaggerated curse when no dragon appeared, before turning his attention back to Kokichi, “...the dragon’s always been here. But it’s…” he put his hands together, before carefully moving them apart. Trying to convey a sense of size, as he said, “...big. Bigger than dragons ever were… I think. I have been here for a… a long time. But when it shows up, it’s… it’s so large that you can o…” he licked his lips, looking briefly frustrated as he tried to grasp the word again, “...only see parts of it, ever. Never its whole. It will dip down a claw, or show us its belly, a flick of tail, before disappearing beyond the clouds again… it’s a different type of dragon from our Maki, too. White fur, body of a snake…”

Caleb sighed, looking up, “...it’s based on a god, nothing that ever truly walked among us. It was one of Aten’s gifts. Kaito l…li…” he paused, “likely could not recognize it. It was so… something from my life.”

“If a dragon based on a god, that’s so big that you can never hope to see the whole of it, is based on your life?” Kaito grinned, looking over to Caleb and quickly heading over to him. Kneeling in the sand as he made no effort to hide his… ‘appreciative’ gaze over Caleb’s body, who gave him a mutely amused look in turn, “Than holy fuck, what a life you must have lived. Or was it part of the destiny you gave up? Did you ever see the dragon?”

Caleb nodded, “Once… I passed in my youth, at the age I appear to be now. Aten used up a favor of the god to give me life again. I saw the dragon when he gave me my gift.”

“...wow.” Kaito said. Draping himself over Caleb’s knees, eyes bright with wonder and more than a little obvious lust, “Tell me all about it~”

The little model of the dragon Kaito had made when he talked about the island before had definitely looked like Maki… So perhaps it was a mix. Caleb’s influence enough for the island and the knowledge that there was a “dragon” there, but Kaito supplanting his knowledge of what “dragon” looked like, and thus having it look like Maki’s ancestor. That was…honestly fascinating. While they were doing this visit on their own, Kokichi would want to tell Alter Ego about that. 

Making a small awed sound, Kokichi’s gaze drifted to the sky. A god overhead, a dragon with fur, bigger than he could imagine, even bigger than the hard to fathom size of the dragon he did know. Akane and Shard Kaito’s destinies had been grand in their own right…but something told Kokichi he didn’t even know a fraction of the extent of Caleb’s. 

Settling himself in the warm sand, giving Kaito an amused look, Kokichi offered Caleb a soft smile. “If you’re up to it, we would love to hear. I, uh,” Kokichi blushed, “I kinda know I’m one to talk…but being gifted a second chance by a god is…really intense.”

Caleb’s expressions were muted. There was a heaviness to his brow and a fixedness to his mouth that suggested he either had never developed the ability to express himself well, or had at some point fallen out of the habit to the point where doing so took a dedicated effort on his part… but there were soft, small signs of how he was feeling anyway. And so while it didn’t have that fierce devotion of Kai-chan or Akane’s naked, open joy, there was still an obvious, subtle sign of adoration in Caleb’s gaze, as he gave Kokichi a warm look. “...it was something.” He agreed.

“Wait,” Kaito said, sitting up and giving Caleb a curious look, leaning in so close that Caleb had to bring his hand up and use it as a buffer to stop Kaito from getting any closer, “You said ‘age you appear’,” Kaito pointed out, without missing a beat reaching up and taking Caleb’s hand in his, playing with his fingers as he leaned back, curious and playful as Caleb just let him have his hand, “Is the answer obvious, like you being me makes you super old, or…?”

“I passed away at eighty-four,” Caleb explained, “... my hair had grayed, my hunch grew worse, and I slowed. But… I was strong, right until the end. I cut my hand, he… helping rebuild my neighbors home, after a fire took out many of his walls. I’ve done so a thousand times, but this time…” Caleb shrugged, “Perhaps just… just cause I was older. The cut turned, and I died… in a way, it was peaceful. They fed me poppies to numb my pain, and it felt like I had simply gone to sleep. Worse ways to pass.”

“I’m sorry,” Kaito said, pain flashing through his eyes… before he grinned, saying with wonder, “You lived a whole life.”

Caleb smiled lightly at that, “I did… I…” Caleb sighed, “I gave up my destiny in my forties. Still a young man, th…though I did not know it. I went out to sea, on a journey that took me a year… a journey that would have opened… opened the sea, so that I could…”

At this, Caleb’s expression fell. An old sadness there, “...I could see him again. To visit the isles… but when we had finally cornered the beast. The Kraken… my friend came to me. And he asked me to stop.”

“Your friend?” Kaito asked, though even at the mention, he felt something run through him. An ache. Deeply missing someone, even more than the mention of the ‘him’ that Caleb had spent a year trying to free up an ocean to see.

“Aten. A sliver of Atua, who watched over me for most of my life.” Caleb whispered, his words coming surer and more confident the more they talked. As if he had just needed time to warm up, before the words came easier, “Atua took him back. In her, I do not believe the version I knew exists anymore. Returning to the whole… I hope there is peace for him, in that.”

“... do you remember?” Kaito asked, suddenly looking very serious. Brow furrowed, a rigidness to him, as he asked, “Do you remember what you traded it for? With Atua?”

Caleb gave him a small, slightly exasperated look. Unimpressed with the question, as he said softly, “...Aten was my friend. Atua my god. He would not have asked me to sacrifice what I did, without reason. He told me it was important. So I left and went home.”

That… 

The life they had now, was Shard Kaito’s life. Akane’s had been cut short, in a tragedy Kokichi knew they had barely gotten to the cusp of, though they would in due time. Caleb…had gotten his life. Had had a purpose, was going to…open the sea (maybe it was good, then, that there wasn’t a huge world-sailing market in Dicea…) and had made his sacrifice…but had still gotten to live the rest of his life. Knowing that there was something coming, but…for the most part, just getting the rest of his time. 

“The Kraken…” Kokichi softly hummed, nodding to himself. “That’s what Temp said that giant squid was, when I asked about it… I suppose Kai-chan’s stories were from your life, then.”

He softly sighed, before a matching smile curled on his face. “...I suppose I understand where some of your faith comes from now… That’s an amazing amount of trust. I think Atua, and your friend are and were lucky to have you, Caleb.”

Caleb nodded, eyes distant as he got lost in the memories of those days, “...they earned it. I denied them for many, many years. I thought… At worst Aten was my mind breaking. And at best, I thought he might be… the love and forgiveness of Pelora…” his eyes closed, sighing, “Aten did me the greatest kindness, never telling me I was wrong. Even if it meant I insulted him and denounced him… he knew how much I needed to believe it was my sisters goddess. And so he did everything to help me, and listened quietly while I prayed to her, thanking her for gifts she would never have given me…and when he finally told me who he was, he said it like an apology. Like he was ashamed… I was his champion, and he never demanded my love. He just took care of me. How could I offer him anything less than my full faith, once I finally understood?”

“I don’t even kind of understand what you’re saying,” Kaito admitted. Inviting himself to lay his head on Caleb’s lap, the larger man just adjusting his legs to make it easier for Kaito to do so, as Kaito dug his toes into the sand, still playing with Caleb’s captured hand, “Your life sounds insane, and you’re just dropping stories without context… is this what I sound like when I bring up random dates?”

Caleb looked mildly amused at that, “I lived a full life. And we are the type to reminisce. The local children, during days my words worked, would indulge me telling them stories over and over again that they had been hearing since I helped build their cradles. It’s one of my small joys.”

“About the ‘words’...” Kaito looked up at Caleb, tilting his head curiously, “You were kind of struggling to talk, when we first got in here. Are you… okay? Based on your accent, I thought maybe it was a language barrier, but… that wouldn’t make a lot of sense, I don’t think. You know the language just as well as I do, right?”

Caleb nodded, “Common was common, even back then. Un… unfortunately, it’s a mental thing. Something even no longer having a body, I can’t escape from. I spent too many years being punished for speaking, and then too many more, entirely silent. It took me many years to be able to speak clearly at all, once I was allowed, and even now, it can be difficult to restart if I haven’t spoken for even a few hours at a time. It does not come natural to me. I have to find the rhythm and form in my mind, every time.”

Kaito, playing with Caleb’s hands, finally risked brushing his fingers over Caleb’s gnarled wrists. Looking at the twisted lines thoughtfully, “...I’m sorry.”

“Once everything was done, it was only a small portion of my life.” Caleb whispered, “Only fifteen years. Strange to say, but true.”

…

…Pelora? It wasn’t the name of another god that had pinged something in Kokichi’s mind. He had grown up learning at least the names and surface level understanding of a lot of deities, knowing that there were countless religions and countless idols overseeing them. Even knowing that it was all real, the fact that there were many deities hadn’t been the point that freaked Kokichi out. 

But the fact that he knew he had heard at least the name Pelora before, but it wasn’t identifiable as…well, likely, one of the common religions in Dicea…hm. So where…?

Choosing to put that question aside, Kokichi smiled softly at Caleb. Something told him the part of Kaito that did understand what Caleb was talking about was…well, Caleb himself, but Kokichi understood. It was, in a way, the model of leadership in Dicea. You couldn’t demand your people’s respect and cooperation, but you had to work to protect and care for them regardless. It just so happened that when people were unconditionally protected and cared for, they wanted to support the establishment doing that. 

Knowing even more that it was a god’s work, who very likely could demand and force worship and reverence… Kokichi understood, how that love was gained. 

Kokichi frowned, eyes following Kaito’s movement to trace the gnarled skin around Caleb’s wrists. To be forced into silence…and likely a lot else. He couldn’t imagine ‘only fifteen years’ being ‘only’ in any way…

(Except he could. Grimwald had only reigned over Dicea for 16 years, and they considered that to be a footnote of their life. It was hard from the perspective of someone so young but…life really was so much more than a decade or two.)

“...I’m glad that you’ve decided on the effort to talk with us, then,” Kokichi said quietly, gently putting his hand on the one Kaito hadn’t claimed. “I had a feeling I’d like talking with you, and I was right.”

Caleb gave Kokichi another soft,  warm look at that. Adjutsing his hips lightly as Kaito decided he wanted to half bury his face into Caleb’s stomach now, now just holding Caleb’s arm to himself like it was a pillow. Taking an incredibly amount of comfort in the larger man’s presence, while Caleb allowed the touches, but reserved himself from reaching back. Another small thing that didn’t come naturally to him anymore. “Of course… I love talking to you, Kokichi.”

“I know my opportunities to talk exclusively as myself will be rare. Perhaps even never again, after this,” Caleb shrugged slightly, unconcerned, “That’s okay. I am not jealous of my old life. When I was truly conscious of my new life as Kaito, not long ago, really recognizing myself for the first time… it was nice, to remember. But ultimately… I’m Kaito now.” Caleb said softly, looking down at Kaito, who was hummingly lightly himself, clearly still entirely relaxed despite the previous difficult conversation, “A life with its own challenges, but a life I value just as much as my old one. And I was an old man ready to go, when I went. In many ways that matter, I am incredibly blessed.”

“Mmmmm~” Kaito smiled, petting Caleb’s hand and arm… before peeking up at him. “...so why do I think you’re a lot of my sadness? The deep down stuff, that big, heavy feeling I get, sometimes…”

Caleb smiled. His eyes tired. “It’s a skill. Finding your happiness, when that weight bears down on you. The sadness can calm, you can manage it… but it’s always a part of you. The damage changes you. There is no escaping that… but that ‘sadness’. That somberness we feel? It can be our strongest gift. It can help us understand people, truly, at their very worst… that sadness taught me how to understand my sister, during her worst, and help pull her back from the brink, when she thought herself unsalvageable. It’s the side of us that allowed us to see Maki’s loneliness. To see Shuichi’s insecurity. Kokichi’s grief.” 

Caleb closed his eyes, “A boy who had experienced far too much loss. Whose heart had been broken and broken again, standing among others who had taught him that grief was something you bore alone, and not for long. That the wellbeing of others required that grief to be put on hold, over and over, and so it never truly left them… of course he lashed out. Of course he felt isolated.” Caleb whispered, looking sadly at Kokichi, “Of course he pushed people away… he thought his grief was a burden. And an Ouma must never be a burden… that sadness would hurt anyone…”

Kokichi did hope to see the shards again. Maybe not making regular rounds to see them, since…well, when he talked to Kaito, he was talking to all of them at once, in a way. Kaito’s life was their lives, and there wasn’t much purpose distinguishing them more than that. 

But he did like them a lot. Because they were Kaito, and Kokichi loved every part of his husband, yes, but…also for the parts that were just them. It wouldn’t be goodbye in any sense when they left the island, but…Kokichi did want to talk to Caleb again in the future. 

Kaito seemed to have cuddling covered, but Kokichi kept his light touches, wanting that physical presence…especially with where the conversation turned. Empathy…well, he was a bit biased, but it was an incredible skill. Kokichi, at this point, figured that he would always consider compassion to be the most important skill out of the oft-confused trio, but empathy… It allowed you to see spaces where compassion was most needed, sometimes while they were so hidden barely a glimpse of light remained to illuminate the situation. 

It allowed you to face the worst parts of someone, and not just withstand it, but understand…oh. This is pain. This is fear. This is yearning. It could show you a person in need, rather than a person you needed to defend against. And being seen…

Kokichi’s eyes widened for a moment before he looked away, his cheeks coloring. “...you really aren’t kidding about understanding, huh. Geez…feel like I’m in therapy all of a sudden.”

Caleb smiled lightly at that. Reaching up and, carefully, with wide, calloused hands, rubbed lightly at Kokichi’s cheek with his thumb, “...you are worth understanding.”

“Did I know all that stuff?” Kaito mused, crossing his legs, ankle over knee, and stretching out across Caleb’s lap. Just ‘happening’ to end up further on Caleb’s lap in the stretch. “Like, I feel like I did, but… you said it so clearly.”

“I’m a lot older than you,” Caleb said, accommodatingly scratching Kaito’s head when Kaito decided he wanted to place Caleb’s hand on his hair next. Kaito looking pleased, lips curled up at both ends as he closed his eyes, humming happily, “And you don’t share my memories, not really. You could, I believe, but…it’s better for you to only get whisps of it. So our lives don’t erase things for you that are important.”

“Why do you sound like you know so much about this…”

“Like I said. I’m old.” Caleb murmured, “Older than the form I settled on. And my life was defined by gods and their drama… if we come across a problem that’s truly a problem? That we wouldn’t benefit from you learning and navigating it yourself? I will call to you, and share some of the things I learned from my life. Otherwise? Some things we need to learn in our new life. We’ll ultimately be better for it.”

“Mmmmm… like you, ‘Kichi,” Kaito grinned, looking up at Kokichi brightly, “Look at that! What a weird thing we have in common. Though you have lots of memories to call from.”

To Kokichi, it felt like Kaito knew all that stuff. It was that sort of understanding that had prompted Kokichi to look to his husband as a lifeline. Even knowing--moreso looking back--how much of his isolation had been self-inflicted…he hadn’t been able to recognize it. He hadn’t been able to ask for help, despite being raised on that very principle. He had needed someone who wouldn’t take the lessons and social cues of his home for granted, who would look at him and see his loneliness and…decide to do something about it. And while his shores were bountiful, Kokichi had clung onto that one offering for dear life, believing it was his only. 

It was something Kokichi had desperately needed…and something deeply unhealthy for him and Kaito both. But Kokichi would always be grateful. Kaito hated hearing it, but…there might not’ve been time for him to realize how horrible that reliance was for them if Kaito hadn’t offered it in the first place. 

Maybe it was a mistake…but maybe a good one. And either way, it was their’s to make. 

Calming the heat in his cheeks, Kokichi sighed softly and turned back to Kaito and Caleb, smiling fondly at them. “We really do have more help than we ever gave ourselves the options for. But I guess that mistake is a lesson we’re meant to learn ourselves too.”

Caleb nodded, “Many people could have given us the answers we needed in the moment. But we wouldn’t have recognized them as the right answers. Some answers we don’t understand until we work it out for ourselves, and we dismiss them out of hand when heard from others.”

“Mmmm~” Kaito hummed, just, seriously, on cloud nine. Wow he liked this island. He liked how warm and breezy it was, the smell of salt in the air, the soft sounds of the ocean moving, the wind through the trees… and damn he liked laying out in Caleb’s lap and a big hand petting through his hair and the soft sweet sounds of his Kokichi nearby, safe and at ease. Fuck, he was in paradise. The only thing that would make it better if the rest of his family was here, playing in the water and relaxing in the sand and eating… coconuts? You can eat coconuts, can’t you?

“You can,” Caleb nodded, “Place it against a rock, hit it against the edge, always cracks apart surprisingly clean… well, if you can put enough force onto it.’

Kaito blinked, surprised he answered at all… before he pouted up at Caleb, “Hey, no answering questions I’m just thinking. It leaves Kokichi out. We’re talking about coconuts, babe… we should have coconuts!”

“We don’t like coconuts.” Caleb reminded him. Not strictly true, he liked coconuts just fine. But Kaito didn’t. So now he didn’t. Funny how that worked.

“That is funny,” Kaito grinned… before frowning. Sitting up and looking frustrated, “Shit, now I’m doing it. This didn’t happen with other Kaito and Akane.”

“You didn’t spend much time with either of them.” Caleb shrugged. “Kaito is mostly just you, but without Akane and I’s influence. Your desires unfiltered. And Akane has almost entirely absorbed into you, fully involved in being us… except she still has regrets. But otherwise, Kaito, I know it’s hard to fathom it when you can speak to us directly, but… there really is no difference between us. You and I are the same person. I just was someone else, a long time ago.”

Kaito sighed, running his hand through his hair, scratching at his scalp a little, “Still really tough to wrap my head around. Glad one of us gets it.”

It was interesting, seeing Kaito like this. Kokichi didn’t want to entirely attribute it to Caleb’s waning influence over Kaito in here, especially since, despite the sadness they had talked about earlier, Caleb seemed to be comfortably at peace, but…Kokichi rarely saw his husband so genuinely relaxed. So comfortable, and Kokichi would dare say it, carefree, like there wasn’t anything weighing on him. Like there weren’t any acts to perform, so he could just…relax and indulge and not have to think about any lines. 

It was nice, even if it pulled in Kokichi’s mind, making him hope that there were places and moments in the physical world that could provide Kaito with the same ease as well. 

Kokichi looked over in confusion for a moment as Caleb just…started talking about something out of nowhere, but… His eyebrows raised as his eyes lit up with understanding, lips forming a small ‘o’. “I didn’t know you don’t like coconuts…”

He sighed softly. “...that does get kinda complicated, huh. It seems so clear to me, ‘cause… When I’m in front of you,” Kokichi nodded to Caleb, “It doesn’t feel any different from being in front of Kai-chan normally. Or…well, there is a difference, but…it feels like the difference between me pulling up different memories of Kai-chan. At the end of the day…you’re all still him.”

“But knowing from my own experience…it feels so much more complicated and confusing than that,” he huffed.

Kaito gave Kokichi an adoring look… mmm, look at his husband… Kaito loved the little dips and hard lines of his collarbone. He’d prefer his husband with more weight and filled out, just because he truly believed his husband would feel better that way… but damn, he loved those little lines and details in his husbands body. Like a beautiful sculpture… those little dips in his hips– “Hey.” Kaito pouted, as Caleb covered his eyes, “What’s that supposed to accomplish? I have him memorized.” 

“You really do leer too much, and sometimes at inappropriate times.” Caleb scolded, his arm not budging as Kaito at first made a light attempt at moving his arm, and then a more genuinely earnest attempt. Caleb just moving his arm with Kaito’s face as Kaito tried dodging his cover, looking to Kokichi as he kept his hands over an increasingly frustrated Kaito’s face, “I know it can be difficult to put into words, what’s happening with us and with yourself. But I trust that while it’s hard to verbalize, you do actually understand it. Same as I know you know we understand you and your relationship with your library and history… but,” Caleb nodded his head towards Kaito, who was now trying to wrap both his arms around Caleb’s arm and trying to use his full body to pull it down, “I know you know that we compartmentalize by impulse. It’s just how we view the world. So while we know you and your ‘masks’, as Kaito’s started to think of them, are all the same person, he can’t help but consider them different people. He feels very different about them, though he really does understand.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here! And dammit, get your hand off my eyes! This can’t be your real strength, this is absolutely some weird mind magic stuff. Get… offfff!” Kaito whined, bringing his legs up and trying to kick Caleb’s arm now. Caleb looked amused as he held firm.

Kokichi had been telling the truth before that he could tell when Kaito started going off into lascivious daydreams and fantasies, and, yeah, some moments of attraction were far more pointed than others…but it would be plain strange to feel Kaito nearby, and not have that familiar streak of attraction mixed in with the slew of feelings that were just Kaito. Though, of all places, this certainly wasn’t one of the worst for Kaito to leer at him in. 

Kokichi snorted softly, giving Kaito’s attempts to regain his eyesight an amused look, before his expression softened, giving Caleb a nod. “Yeah… I mean, I can feel it. I wasn’t really sure what was going on with Nellis the first time, but…I could tell. And I haven’t really expected Kai-chan, you,” Kokichi clarified, knowing that Kaito really did genuinely hate it when people talked like he wasn’t there…and so he nudged Kaito’s side with his leg at the word as well, “To…go on like nothing was happening, like Saint Madison did. All those memories…are still mine, and the people who lived them are still me, but…I do understand how different it feels. Really, my only hope was that you’d still listen to what we…I was saying.”

Pausing, Kokichi looked out onto the endless sea before them, chewing on his lip softly before looking back, something more vulnerable in his face. In a quieter voice, he added, “...even if that doesn’t always feel great, especially knowing or…getting the feelings of how some of their lives went.”

“Taking on the burdens of those whose lives are already over and long past can be an act of misery.” Caleb said softly, “There is so little real action that you use to make any of it right, and they will never know someone took on their cause to fight for them… which is why Dr. Mariah and the Templar keeps trying to encourage you both to not take on those burdens.” Caleb said, giving Kaito in particular a pointed look, who gasped like he hadn’t been able to get air when Caleb finally took his hand away so that Kaito could see the pointed look, “We’re lucky only Akane has regrets.”

“Daydream Kaito sure had a fucking chip on his shoulder that I’m sure’s doing wonders for my self esteem.” Kaito muttered, though admittedly his distaste for the other Kaito had lessoned when Kaito had left his area. Still, he looked between Caleb and Kaito, frowning a little, “...are you okay, Kokichi? Are some of your past lives wearing on you? Also, Caleb, I know you were a bazillion years old when you died–”

“Eighty-four.” Caleb said dryly.

“--but you really don’t have anything you want us to look into? Your sister? The mysterious ‘him’?”

“Anyone I knew, if they’re still out there? In whatever forms they’re in… you are not in a position to ever successfully seek them out on your own. The same as I could not do it for myself, even having grown up among them. You and I are many things, Kaito. But the thing we have always been most of all is a mortal among gods.” Caleb said softly… before he looked to Kokichi. “You do sound troubled, Kokichi.”

“The living must live for the living,” Kokichi nodded softly. “Living for the dead only cuts your own life short.” He knew it was a quote, but without putting in a concentrated effort to remember it, he wasn’t sure what it was from. Probably a religious service he’d sat through when he was young and learning about all the different religions people practiced in Usott. Some of the services he’d just barely not slept through, but every now and then there had been something that stuck with him, same as that hymn he’d once sung for Kaito. 

Kokichi knew that was…well, it was opposite the whole reason they were there. That Kaito believed in it so much it was the question he’d left Kokichi’s memories with too. But…well, it wasn’t something consuming Kaito’s life, and especially Akane’s request…it was a part of history Kokichi wanted to know too. There wasn’t any way to make up for it, but they could still learn from the past. 

It would be, admittedly, a bit harder when they would have to contend with space as well as time, so…well, either way, Kokichi was glad that Caleb didn’t seem to have any regrets or requests from his life. 

And Kokichi…

He sighed softly, running a hand through his hair as he gently leaned against Caleb’s arm. “Troubled, maybe, but…not having trouble. It… It’s like reading a sad story, sometimes. There’s nothing to do about it…it’s just sad. And, probably unsurprisingly, some parts resonate with me, and…it does make me sad seeing how those parts had hurt them, and knowing those same parts are in me.”

“We are the same people…but in another sense we’re not,” Kokichi half-grinned, shrugging with an exasperated roll of his eyes. “I’m not bound to make the same choices or struggle through the same circumstances. I’m free to act how I think is best, and I know the world and people around me is different. So…the outcomes are going to be different. It’s just…melancholic, sometimes.”

Caleb nodded, that sounding right to him. Some stories were sad. Honestly, the fact that peoples lives, with all the consequences and struggle and triumph and effort, could be summed up as ‘stories’ later was in itself a little sad. But doing so offered distance, from those things. He knew, for all that he would and could explain about his life to them, and everything he had done, and everyone it had affected, and all the highs and lows of it… it’d still be nothing more than a story, to the two children. He couldn’t begrudge it. Time had moved on without him. That was just how it went. 

For Caleb, that was often enough. But one thing that was Kaito’s, and Kaito’s alone– a trait that only bloomed from the mixture of Caleb, Akane and the Kaito that never was– was a fierce devouring of stories. Kaito had no true boundaries, when it came to the tales of others, alive or dead (though stories about the dead frightened and disquieted him) he wanted to know. For of his family, being the last person to finally start making friends in Dicea, and only a handful of them at that, Kaito would sit and listen to all of them talk about their lives for hours, if he could. A desperation to connect over an endless series of poor first, second, third impressions, just to hear them tell their stories.

Caleb wondered where that desire came from. He enjoyed telling stories. Akane lived in the present. Other Kaito lived in a daydream. None of that alone equaled a desire to hear the intimate details of every random person's life. Who knew. Caleb didn’t have all the answers.

Still, he wasn’t surprised at all as Kaito leaned towards Kokichi. Sure, concerned… but mostly just hungering to know, as he asked, “Was there any of them in particular weighing you down? I know Koharu’s sister… I guess I don’t know this. But I always got the impression her illness shortened her life… and Nellis.” Kaito scoffed, rolling his eyes, “That guy better have a tragic backstory. Otherwise he’s just a dick… sorry, Nellis.” Kaito said, looking to Kokichi but, his eyes a little distant, as he said to someone he was imagining was there, but was entirely sincere in addressing. “We put it to bed, man, but you’re still a dick, my king.”

“Dr. Mariah’s going to worry about us if you start addressing Kokichi like he’s different people.” Caleb warned him. “We already have enough problems with our therapy records, don’t add fuel to the fire by doing that in public.”

“Worrywort.” Kaito said dismissively. 

Kokichi half-heartedly shrugged. In particular, there wasn’t. It was only seeing certain things out in the world, catching a snippet of conversation here and there, that sometimes sparked a memory in him, like it would for anyone. Some of them were sad, and different than actually hearing a story about someone he never knew, even if he could sympathize with them…Kokichi knew exactly how it had felt. And those flashes of memories just…brought it to the forefront every once in a while. 

Like anyone, but…with dozens of lives with all their small, sad moments, rather than just one. …it really was a burden, to remember. A duty that was needed of him, but a sacrifice asked. 

“A bit,” Kokichi said softly. “She didn’t die tragically early or anything, but… Well, I know even more personally how lung issues can complicate things. And Nellis…”

Kokichi sighed, giving Kaito a slightly sterner, more worried look after Caleb’s warning. “Cal-chan has a point, you know. And I know you do know, since…you know,” he gestured between them. “It’s probably not great for us in general, but…I actually do know I don’t have alters. It’s not exactly something you can placebo yourself into getting, but as much as I need to distinguish boundaries for my own identity, it’s also not helpful to consider myself countless other people at the same time.”

Kaito wasn’t sure what ‘alters’ were, but by context, he was going to guess… ‘alter’nate personalities? That made sense. He had never heard of something like that outside of fiction… could he give his husband that by accident? Kaito frowned at that idea. Kokichi already had too many things to work through, accidentally giving his husband another mental illness was… noooot ideal. So, quickly, he nodded, “No talking to the masks unless they say something first. You say something first…sorry. This is hard.” Kaito admitted, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably, “Just no talking to your memories without permission. Does that work?”

Kaito was a little startled when a hand went behind his neck, feeling something in him freeze and seize up with sudden concern– old memories of getting answers wrong suddenly coming to the forefront– but after a moment the tension left his shoulders. Both because he realized it was Caleb, and because Caleb had seen him rubbing the back of his neck and had taken that as a cue to starting massaging the back of Kaito’s neck, his powerful, large grip immediately starting to work out the knots there… Kaito sighed, a dreamy expression on his face as he leaned against Caleb’s side, “I think I love you.”

“Well, I suppose there’s nothing wrong with self-love.” Caleb replied, amusement in his tone, “I also had neckaches when I was alive. We really should just go to a massage salon.”

“I just want to stay here…” Kaito mused, closing his eyes and leaning against him more thoroughly. Missing Caleb’s small, concerned frown at that.

“I…guess? I…” Kokichi sighed. “...it’s just what you were talking about before, Cal-chan. You guys compartmentalize. You treat all my memories as different people. But…it really just is me. Wanting to make some comment about Nellis, or wanting to ask about Koharu’s sister…you’re just talking to me, hun. It does make it easier to understand just what you’re talking about if you give a name, but…you’re not actually talking to a different person behind my face.”

It was hard, figuring out all the boundaries in this. For themselves and for others… It was so needlessly complicated, and Kokichi really hoped that whatever Atua and Roxy were hoping to get out of playing with mortals like clay was worth it. That what the first of the listening soul, and Caleb, Akane, and Kaito agreed to was panning out. 

Kokichi looked over with a matching concerned look to Caleb’s at Kaito’s wish, digging his heels into the sand a little more. “I mean…as long as you don’t mind, I suppose,” he nodded to Caleb, “This does seem like a nice place to dream, but…”

He worried his lip, looking down at Kaito. “...you know, one of the first things I started getting warnings about, when I started to learn how to make constructs and defenses…was that it was a bad idea to make human-like ones. Because it ran the risk of wanting to live more in your head, than in the real world…”

“Well, sure~” Kaito said, sounding distant and sleepy. Nuzzling further into Caleb’s arm, though Caleb had stopped rubbing at his neck, still looking concerned, even as Kaito looked blissed out, “But you can literally dive into your own head, ‘Kichi. I just daydream a lot… I like being able to be in the daydream. It’s only for a bit, it’s not like I can come back… beyond just daydreaming more, I guess…” Kaito’s eyes peeked open. Something cold in them, as he mused softly, clearly basically just talking to himself, “It’s not like anything would be lost…they could take care of themselves. Each other. I’m just one more person…”

Caleb sighed. Looking around, as the wind around the island started to pick up. The sound of it loud, like a distant growl the filled the whole sky, while the steady water around them started to rock and wave more violently. Something in the sky and something in the water moving, as Caleb said, “It’s time.”

Caleb looked to Kokichi, saying softly, “Don’t take it personally. This place is designed to inspire you to stay. To be still. A side effect of that is losing your sense of importance. Or, in turn, an entirely selfish sense of self-importance. Both that you cannot affect the lives of others, and others cannot affect you in turn. Both are delusions. These two–” 

Caleb pointed out. A parting of the water that was moving quickly around the island, massive and imposing, creating a sense of immediate, near danger, and if you peered inside, clearly a massive fish, circling the only source of food around. Then he looked up, and among the swirling clouds, the smallest dip of white fur breaking through the clouds, ‘small’ only in the sense that it was immediately apparent that the massive tufts of fur was clearly attached to something so much bigger. 

“Keep me grounded. Not untouchable. Not all important.”

“...something like that actually existed?” Kaito whispered, staring up at the sky in awe. “You really saw that?”

“I really did,” Caleb murmured, getting up and bringing up Kokichi and Kaito with him, moving them farther back from the shoreline, the waves of the fish getting closer, “Perhaps you both should get some rest tonight.” 

What Kokichi could do was more visceral, in a sense, but…saying that a person could not get stuck in a daydream was incorrect. There were a lot of ways someone could be lost in their head, even without any sort of magic or special ability needed. And each was just as dangerous. As much as people did need the occasional escape or goal to push them, it was important to face reality. You couldn’t spend your whole life dreaming…because that wasn’t a life either, just as much as focusing your efforts on the dead. 

So, that in itself was concerning, but the stuff Kaito mumbled about afterward, his eyes so cold…

Kokichi stiffened as the placid glaze of the ocean and the island was broken, and he glanced to Caleb quickly for answers. And, finally, Kokichi for the first time caught glimpses of the fish and dragon that he’d heard tell of ever since Kaito’s first dream. 

…why design a place like this? If Caleb had asked for a place to rest, why build sand from tainted gold? 

…but perhaps it wasn’t meant to be that way. And like Shard Kaito’s throne room had been trashed, some of Caleb’s feelings had come to shape his island. The fish and dragon becoming failsafes, rather than intended guardians to a cruel design. 

Kokichi sighed softly, moving back up the beach with Caleb before he smiled. “...you may be right. I’ve been lucky Miya-Miya’s deep asleep, so I haven’t had to multitask, but…getting those between-alarm naps will probably do me well tomorrow.”

Slowly leaning over, his actions so gentle and purposeful you’d think Caleb was the one more often compared to being made of fine glass than Kokichi, Kokichi kissed his cheek. “Thank you for talking with us.”

Something genuinely happy warmed Caleb’s face. At the kiss, certainly, which he accepted with a smile… but the happiness clearly more a reference to Miyako, as he said, “Not having children of my own was one of the regrets of my life. I was too unstable to ever reliably make a parent alone, despite my love for children… Atua be pleased, that my second life gave me the little ones I always wanted. I wonder if Aten knew… he told me I’d be happy. And I am…”

Kaito blinked, that distant look leaving his face. Looking more present, less lost in the daydream, as he grinned up at Caleb, “It’s the best, isn’t it? If everything was for Miyako, that would have been worth it. God, I love my kids.”

“I know,” Caleb said, relaxing, “It’s your best trait. Go get some rest.”

“...okay but I want a kiss, you’re so fucking handsome.” 

Caleb huffed a little, running his hand through Kaito’s hair, and giving him a kiss on his forehead, to Kaito’s obvious annoyance. Then, taking Kokichi’s hand, he leaned down and placed a small kiss on the back of his hand, at his pinky knuckle, “Thank you for visiting. You are always welcome to come again, should you ever desire stories.”

-

Despite saying their goodbyes, it still felt a little awkward to just up and leave, but the two of them really did need to get sleep that night. Even if he didn’t feel odd having his consciousness supported while on his sleeping pills, Kokichi figured it probably wasn’t that good for Kaito to still be awake while they should be letting him sleep, and…well, Kokichi wasn’t going to be asleep afterward. Maybe light dozing, but he was still on Miyako duty until the early morning, and since he would only be going into a deep sleep for half the night…it was better to allow himself to rest while on duty. 

So after leaving Caleb, Kokichi left Kaito to sleep, and he drowsily peered down at his sleeping, perfect daughter. If it was all for Miyako, huh…it would’ve been worth it. 

Kaito ended up not needing Kokichi to bring their daughter to work--unsurprisingly, if Kokichi were honest with himself--so Kokichi simply went to work as usual, filling Nadya in on some of the highlights of their anniversary date the night before in idle moments. 

Though, as he stretched and prepared to take a lunch break, Kokichi looked over in surprise as there was a knock at the door, quickly going over to answer it.

A baby strapped to his chest, and a platter of food in his hands, a surprisingly sheepish looking Kaito grinned wide when Kokichi opened the door, saying awkwardly, “Heeeeeey… soooooo… I forgot a celebration… again. I didn’t tell you last time I forgot, but, well, I figured this time… Blessed be Saint Meridan’s day? I love you?”

Kokichi blinked in surprise before his face melted into a loving smile, and he held the door open wider for Kaito. He figured that if Kaito wanted to get lunch somewhere else, he would’ve just come to the office first to collect him, rather than carrying a tray up three floors. “I love you too. Saint Meridan… She was the one who got all those crazy powers because people kept tempting her, but she remained loyal to Atua until they could get married, right?”

Kaito nodded, quickly heading in, taking a look around and a little surprised to not see Nadia, as he went to go put the platter down on the desk that would have been his, once, and was now just a surface/storage space. Miyako, who had been dozing happily against his chest, gurgled a little and gave her father a befuddled, slightly put-off look as he started to adjust her off his chest, “She is. The Wife of Atua. Shoot, I should have asked Caleb about that, I bet he’d know the actual story. He did say he and Aten were besties.”

Hurrying to pick up Miyako’s warmed bottle– it was right around her lunch time too– he gave Miyako small little shushing sounds when she began to whine as he laid her across his arm, “Sh, sh, sh, Miyaaaa~, it’s lunch time. Dad’s not gonna get to eat till you eat, baby, to let’s not ignore the nipple again… Miyako, you’re going to get grumpy if you don’t eat. Come on now, I know you’re hungry.” Kaito scolded lightly, while Miyako ignored the nipple to continue giving her father the evil eye. “Yeah, I’m sorry, babe, Saint Meridan’s holiday is meant to be an exchange of gifts between spouses, and I just… I forgot last year and I forgot this year too. So much happens around this time of year! It’s so busy for us!” Kaito huffed, leaning against the desk as he sprayed some drops of milk on his hand, hoping Miyako’s appetite would be piqued if she could smell it clearer. 

“Well, he did say we could go for more stories. That’s a good one to keep in your pocket to ask about.” 

Wheeling over one of the spare chairs, Kokichi started to move things around on the platter a little, making it easier for them each to eat when they sat down. Looked like a pesto pasta salad as a main dish, a side of orange and grapefruit segments, some broccoli probably with some sort of sauce, judging by the sesame seeds all over the florets… Kokichi was pleased to see a few lemon wedges on a small plate too, likely to slightly dress up the glasses of water Kaito had brought. It was looking to be a good lunch. 

Once someone else got their lunch first, of course. 

Kokichi made another surprised face as he came around, watching amused as Miyako refused to take the nib of her bottle into her mouth. “Oh, is it? Shoot… I wish I’d known too, then. I’d love to get you a gift for a holiday like this…” It felt even more appropriate, considering the bevy of anniversaries they had. 

Smiling softly at their daughter, Kokichi glanced up at Kaito. “Has it been a picky day for her today?”

Kaito half huffed, half chuckled, giving Kokichi a mildly exhausted look, “I swear, babe, she must have heard me singing her praises last night, cause little miss here thinks she can get away with anything today. She’s fought every feeding, she kicked out when I was changing her diapers, and when I tried to take her for a walk, the only thing louder than the bells in my head was her deciding to yell at the world. I had to rush back just because I was starting to feel embarrassed, walking around with a clearly peeved off baby. Thankfully she’s calmed down in the last few hours, but she has been fussy today.”

“And, yeah, I’m really sorry… next year, I promise.” Kaito sighed, “I just never celebrated Saint Meridan’s day beyond offering her a prayer for my future spouse, growing up. And when you’re the only person around keeping track of your holidays, it’s kinda hard not to let them slip under the radar. I mean, I can’t tell you over the last year how many holidays came and went where, like, weeks later I remembered ‘oh right. Missed another Saints day. Whoops’.”

“Oh Miss Miya, really deciding to see if you can make Dad eat his words, huh?” Kokichi gave her a mildly disapproving look, just overacted enough to be taken as the joke it was, even if she would be reading his emotions more than his face. “Well, just too bad for you. You’re perfect, even when you’re having a fussy day, and you’re just gonna have to deal with hearing that for the rest of your life.”

Reaching over to smooth some of her hair off her little forehead--maybe it’d distract her enough to let Kaito slip the nib in--Kokichi offered Kaito a small, yet hopeful smile. “Well…when we get our calendar set up, we can mark down all the Saints’ holidays, and all the other Atuan and Luminous holidays too, and we can make plans for them. I’ll look at it every month, and be like, “Oooh, Kai-chan, this holiday sounds interesting, what’s it about?!” and then you’ll tell me and I’ll get all excited and…”

He took a breath, slowing his roll. “...next year. We’ll be able to celebrate everything we want to.”

Miyako gave Kokichi an unimpressed look. Opening her mouth to shout, “Gwa-mph.” 

“Ha. Got you.” Kaito whispered, putting the very top of the bottle onto her open mouth and squirting a few drops of milk in. “That’s right… it’s delicious. And you’re hungry. Eat. Eaaaat… there you go.” Kaito said, his shoulders relaxing as Miyako took the bottle. Looking nonplussed about it, like that was what she had been intending to do all along, why had it taken Dad so long to set it up, huh?? Honestly, the help was terrible around here, zero out of five stars.

“I’d love that beautiful. Honestly, we really should just have a calendar either way. Phew, everything’s been so busy lately… ya know what I keep weirdly forgetting? The wedding is coming up. God, I felt like we had so much time before summer ended to finish preparations, and now it’s around the corner…” Kaito sighed, lamenting over time doing that stupid thing time does. Could the rotation of the sun not take a day off? Seriously. “...hey. About last night. I… I didn’t mean what I said. About wanting to stay with Caleb. I felt… I was just saying whatever came to mind. I wouldn’t have actually wanted that. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah,” Kokichi sighed, watching with amused exasperation as Miyako took to the bottle just fine once it was in her mouth. Kids these days… “Like, I didn’t want to get it while we were in town yesterday, since I wanted to just focus on us… Haven’t had the chance to get one yet, and I wanna make sure it’s one with the really big squares so we can write in it, yeah? It’d be nice to go with you guys, so we could get a theme we all like, but…who knows when our schedule is gonna line up again? A calendar would help with that.”

A flustered, excited grin grew on Kokichi’s face as he kicked the floor lightly. “I’m gonna get out all sorts of pens to circle and design over the wedding date… Part of me can’t wait for it to already be here, but another part is just like aaaaaaa there’s still so much to prepare?! You know? Like…geez, we haven’t even picked out a venue, and Shuu-chan and I haven’t even tried out cakes yet…”

Kokichi chuckled, only half-joking, before his laughs slowly trailed off. Not a despondent sound, but just calming. “I know, hun. He did explain the kind of effect the island had, and…well, you were a little different, there. Like you were relaxing in a dream. I…” He huffed softly, rubbing the back of his head. “...I’d like to think I know you well enough to know that if it came down to it, you’d stick around. That’s just the kind of person I’ve learned Kai-chan to be. So…apology accepted.”

“God, it was like being… ‘high’s the wrong word,” Kaito mused, tilting his head a little as Miyako sucked forcibly at the bottle, her little baby face intensely focused on it, “...I just felt giddy. Like, perpetually giddy. Like I didn’t have anything to worry about. And once I started leaning into that feeling, everything started to feel kinda far away and, like… distant from me. Man, but…”

Kaito closed his eyes, frowning, “...but I could feel how sad, he was. Deep down. I know he said he had it under control, that he lived a long, good life as Caleb, but… now that I think back to how everything felt? I feel like part of that island is meant to keep me from, like… accidentally tapping into that sadness in him. Like his memories would crush me… like maybe that whole place was designed to keep me safe from the most difficult parts of him. I mean, Akane died being hunted, and I have nightmares about that, sometimes, and a fierce need to take care of my family… maybe whatever Caleb’s trauma was, would have been too much for me to handle. Especially when I was a kid, before I knew about any of this. Maybe that’s why his area was so complicated and purposefully made.”

“But, yeah… being in there just made me want to relax. Chill out… but I wouldn’t have been happy without you guys. I kept thinking I wished Shuichi and Maki and Tim was there. I kept imagining them playing in the water, while me and Caleb fussed over Miyako, and you were safe and happy and relaxed… I would have missed you guys immediately. I couldn’t have stayed. I’m just sorry I thought it.” Kaito shrugged a little, as he admitted, “I have a lot of ‘escapist’ fantasies, sometimes. They come and go. But the truth is most of those fantasies involve taking you all with me, in some way, shape or form. I don’t want a life without you.”

Kokichi sighed softly. Caleb really did have a ‘what’s done is done’ sort of outlook, and that was probably the healthiest takeaway he could have from having lived a complete life, and then was thrust right into a new one. But…well, it was like Kokichi. Even someone with a pleasant life, they would still have times of unhappiness and pain in it. You could live happily, look forward and be in the present…but it wasn’t like all that pain never happened. It was a part of you. And even coming into a new life didn’t change that. 

“I feel like that would make sense,” he nodded. “Cal-chan said his life was defined by the gods’ nonsense. We’ve seen personally how ridiculous that can be so…I wouldn’t be surprised if the painful parts of his life were a little more involved than you might expect. And as much as it is a part of you…it might’ve been the kind thing, to bury it like that until you were more ready to understand. That’s what’s going on with me too, as much as I get it.”

…Kokichi did wonder how his awakening was supposed to go, if he hadn’t forced it. If there would’ve been a time where he was more ready to take on all his responsibilities and accept all the memories. At this point…he wasn’t sure if it was just another of the endless kick in the teeth, or it was better to just pile on the ridiculousness as that train kept going. 

Nodding with a small, understanding smile, Kokichi leaned in and placed a kiss to Kaito’s shoulder. “I know. You’ve told me and promised before, and I believe you. And…you know I don’t blame you for wanting to get away from it all, right? I can understand that feeling, even if deep down I know I could never bring myself to leave while there’s still so much for me to do here.”

“Yeah?” Kaito smiled, patting Miyako’s side a little as Kokichi kissed his shoulder. He loved it when his husband did that. He knew Kokichi’s short stature made spontaneous kisses difficult, and Kaito thought it was sweet that he had found his own way around that. Little charmer~

“...I used to feel really guilty about it.” Kaito admitted, looking down at Miyako. “Like, it really tore me up. I don’t even really let myself do it, now that Miyako’s born. I just…”

Miyako always looked so peaceful, when she was eating. Focused and content and self-satisfied. Kaito watched her for a bit, before shrugging a little, “When I first got here? I wanted to be okay so badly, Kokichi. I felt so guilty for every darn setback. Not just the big stuff, I mean, like… just the me stuff. Ya know…” Kaito grinned slightly at Kokichi. Feeling confident enough to say this, as he said, “I didn’t want to get married to you. Not when they told me, not when I traveled here… not when I met you, either. I did not want to get married. I didn’t want to move here, I thought…” Kaito huffed, rolling his eyes, “I thought being a prince-consort was embarrassing. And I daydreamed about doing literally anything else, constantly. I didn’t tell anyone about the fantasies because I knew I was failing as a prince, to want to run… but I didn’t really feel bad about it till I fell in love with you. And then those fantasies? Man… they tear my stomach up.”

Kokichi nodded a bit, having known the bits and pieces. Some at the time, some only through retrospection, and… “That was kind of the whole deal around when we first met, wasn’t it? You playing out a different narrative for a little while. Even if it was just what I’d been doing before, that’s kind of what I was doing too. Giving myself a distraction.”

He sighed, reaching around to rub Kaito’s back as he leaned against his side a little, watching Miyako enjoy her lunch. She was getting so big… “I know I can’t really relate. I wasn’t forced from my home, and I know the narrative around why you were promised off was different in Luminary… But we’ve talked about this before. I didn’t want to get married either. It felt like the worst thing in the world, getting married to someone who’d boss me around all the time and think they knew better than me for everything… I felt like I was going to be replaced. And at best socially, I’d hoped we could just get rooms on opposite sides of the castle, and we’d never have to speak.”

“Who you actually were was lightyears beyond my best expectations,” Kokichi huffed dryly, “...but I still wasn’t ready for a relationship. I was still too focused on myself and…I thought for a long time that if I just tried harder, then you would be happy. But it’s not up to me to dictate your emotions, and it’s not your fault for wanting something different. You never did run, and you didn’t let yourself just…check out and leave us scrambling. You’ve always made me feel loved. So…I don’t think having daydreams about packing everything up and negotiating passage on a ship is something to be guilty about…or, at least, something I’d ever blame you for. It doesn’t feel like betrayal to me. It’s just…an escape.”

“Pfff,” Kaito snorted, giving Kokichi an amused look, “Okay, I wasn’t surprised when I first moved here we’d be sharing a bed. But now that I know you? You banning me to the other side of the castle makes way more sense. Why didn’t that happen?” he asked, meaning it entirely playfully. Little sucklings sounds cluing Kaito in that Miyako had finished her bottle, grabbing her diaper bag– you really couldn’t go anywhere with her without it too– and pulling out burping liner, though Miyako was needing it less and less these days. 

As he patted at her back, listening to Miyako make little interrupted noises at every little pat, Kaito’s brow furrowed at the example, “...that’s so specific. You definitely actually picked that one out of my head. I was gonna be a burly sailor, working my way across the ocean~” Kaito recalled, smirking a little, “...and, you know what’s weird? You resenting me and being scared of me and wanting nothing to do with… that didn’t surprise me? That seemed so natural to me. Could just be because I was associating you with twelve year olds back then, so of course you wouldn’t want me. But as my fiance, with hindsight? I’m surprised you kinda weren’t more prepared for me. Like…”

Kaito smirked, nudging Kokichi a bit, “Okay, come on, someone must have had the ‘talk’ with you. Ya know…” Kaito leaned in and winked, smirking, “...the talk? …And by that I mean the ‘what to expect from marriage’, talk, don’t be crude Kokichi.” Kaito huffed, patting Miyako’s back some more before bringing her down, “No throw up, Miya? No hurling on dad today? Saving it up for later? You’re such a good girl~”

“Honestly, I just felt like…a childish brat every time I thought about insisting on it,” Kokichi sighed, embarrassed. “Even though that’s a perfectly reasonable thing to set a boundary to, I just…felt embarrassed, so when people were asking me about it, I just said,” Kokichi screwed his face up in an apathetic frown and whined up his voice, “whatever, so…that was the plan.”

Raising his eyebrow--he hadn’t thought he picked that scenario up from Kaito, but…well, it was a possibility--Kokichi shook his head a little before giving Miyako a proud look, tracing one of her ears with his thumb. “Well, I did spend a lot of that year really sick, and the rest of it avoiding everyone and being nasty to anyone who tried to power through that.”

“I did get the, ‘oh, you’re making a sacrifice for the betterment of our people, such is the legacy of the Oumas’ and ‘marriage is a partnership, it requires listening and compromise’ talks plenty,” Kokichi rolled his eyes. “I just…still hated it. And I’d never been in any sort of relationship like that before, so I had nothing to compare marriage against.”

“Hmm~” Kaito hummed, smirking a little as Miyako made happy little baby sounds, “Look at her. Now Daddy’s around and suddenly she’s a saint. Mean little baby… aw, I love you, Miya~ But! Now dad’s hungry, soooo Miya’s going on the blanket~” Kaito coo’d at her, reaching into the diaper bag and, without even looking, grabbing the soft baby blanket and, placing it down on the desk, laying Miyako out onto it… before excitedly digging into some of the food, while Miya stared at both of them, chewing on her hand. 

“Well, I know who gave you the ‘Ouma’ talk, and that is why Grandpa Aiichi doesn’t babysit.” Kaito coo’d, tapping at Miyako’s knees as she kicked out,  “But who gave you the ‘definitely listen to your ruggedly handsome and highly intelligent husband’ talk?”

“One of these days that trick won’t work,” Kokichi chuckled. “But I’ll bask in it while it does.” Cupping her round little cheeks, Kokichi placed a kiss on Miyako’s forehead, booped it with his nose, and gave her his standard feelings of affection for her that he couldn’t hide if he tried before sitting down, joining Kaito to eat. 

He squeezed one of the lemon wedges into his water before giving Kaito an amused look. “My father too, actually. Other people had given me the more optimistic looks of your spouse being your best friend, and that in a good marriage it meant you two could conquer anything before, but…for an arranged marriage, I don’t think anyone wanted to get my hopes up too much. And I kinda shut down any talk about it when people tried, so…” He shrugged, a faint regretful look on his face, but…well, the food was too delicious to stew in those feelings. 

“Honestly, Aiichi talking to me about the duties of an Ouma was what helped most, in those months,” Kokichi said quietly. “It made me feel like I could actually go through with it, if our marriage was something that would protect and help my people. Feeling like I was finally making my dad proud of me didn’t hurt either.”

“Hah. Sounds like someone has daddy issues. Unlike me, who had a totally healthy and understandable relationship with my father, and totally didn’t view this ‘quest’,” Kaito said, using bunny ears around the word and rolling his eyes, “as a way to finally prove myself to him. We’re so well adjusted.”

Grabbing some of the salad, Kaito took a bite, before rubbing at Miyako’s knees, tickling her a little, “You are never going to have to marry someone you don’t know or go on a life-threatening mission to earn our love, sweetbun. No you won’t~ No you won’t~ You may have to do really, really well in school and in a sport to earn Dada and Aunties love, but those two are crazy, and it’s better to just go along with it, baby love. Yes it is~ Yes it is~”

“I told you about the advice I got, right?” Kaito asked, going back to his food, “Okay, the only serious piece of advice I got. I got plenty of ‘advice’ from my friends, most of it jokes, some of it earnest but too stupid to take seriously. I literally sat between two groups at one point as they, very seriously, debated whether I could control you more through blows jobs, or the denial of blow jobs. It got really heated, a fight broke out… Miyako, if any of your friends tries to convince you that your job as a wife is to give oral, I’m bringing them out to the desert to have a ‘chat’ with them.” Kaito told his daughter seriously, who had successfully gotten her foot and was now sucking at it contently.

“Byakuya’s advice was to just message him for everything, Kaede tried to give me manipulation techniques without telling me explicitly what she was doing, both of that was useless… but the only bit of advice I really took seriously, was my moms. Who basically told me the key to my happiness was keeping you happy, and staying out of your way… and to not trust the nannies. Or the tutors. Or the servants. Especially don’t trust the servants. All the servants are spies…” Kaito sighed, “...my poor mother.”

“I know, right? We just have the perfect relationships with our families,” Kokichi rolled his eyes, wiggling a little in his seat as he ate through his salad, trying valiantly not to drip pesto down his chin. And while, for the moment, at least, they were comfortable enough to joke about that, the look Kokichi sent Miyako as Kaito tickled her was incredibly genuine in its soft tenderness. 

She would never have to go through what they did. She would never have to guess at her parents’ love or pride, and Kokichi was going to do his best to make sure her destiny was something she could decide for herself. No giving up on her dreams and wants for duty. He wanted to give her everything…

Grimacing a bit at Byakuya and Kaede’s attempts at advice, Kokichi sighed and nodded a bit as Kaito recounted Sayaka’s advice. “Yeah, you told me. I mean…I actually do think trying to make your spouse happy is good marriage advice, but…” Kokichi shook his head a little. Kaito’s mom had been an awful person…but she had been a horrifically isolated one with very few opportunities to change anything, or even find a place of rest. 

He could still hold her accountable for the way she had treated Shuuichi and all the unfortunate victims of her paranoia. He could hold her accountable for the way she treated Kaito. But…she was a person in a bad situation that lashed out. That wasn’t monstrous, and…Kokichi just wondered what could’ve been, if she’d had help. Maybe there was a reality out there, where her story had been lighter. 

“From the stories you guys have told, I guess I can surmise how she felt about it…but I can’t imagine having that kind of consuming fear for the people who ran your household,” Kokichi sighed. “Even in my worst delusions…I knew no one on staff was malicious, and I knew that they would help me if I needed it. Actively thinking they’re all planning against you? That’s terrifying.”

“They’re just easily bought.” Kaito shrugged, like it was obvious. Popping some fruit in, before glancing at Miyako, “...how old did the baby books say she had to be before we were allowed to start offering her things other than nip juice? I want to feed her some fruit so badly. You’re gonna love fruit Miya… god, I can’t wait till she starts turning over and crawling by herself. Anyway, yeah, servants were just easily bought. Assuming someone wasn’t going to report on you for extra gold a month, to whoever was willing to pay it, was really short-sighted. It was just an understood risk. For real privacy, you needed people who had a reputation to protect. People’s whose careers depended on their discretion, and that a few extra hundred copper a month wasn’t going to be worth the rumors. Byakuya’s team was always like that. Being hired by my brother was a big deal. It basically was an advertisement to the world that you were flawless.”

“...I mean, people thought Indentured’s were a perfect form of privacy too, but,” Kaito rolled his eyes, “Anyone who really believed that never knew them personally. Sure, maybe they couldn’t specially give away information, but those groups were gossips. And it’s amazing what you can convey with well timed huff and a side-eye.”

“Six months,” Kokichi said wistfully. “I can’t wait to have her try all sorts of things. Sure, your palette changes a ton as you grow up, but…seeing all those first reactions. It’s gonna be amazing. I know we’ve talked about it before, but I can’t wait to see her react to the first sour thing she tastes.”

Starting in on some of his own fruit, Kokichi listened in as Kaito explained one of the more baffling parts of Luminous culture, shaking his head a little at the end. “I remember being so confused when you guys asked me about people paying off the kitchen staff to poison you. I know that there’s more to ‘plotting’ than just passing on information, but it’s weird to pay someone in housekeeping for information. Like…without knowing what Luminary’s like, I’d just say why don’t you just ask??”

With a sigh, Kokichi slumped over to rest his chin on a hand, keeping a few fingers up to rub his temple. “...you guys are really gonna have to keep an eye on me in Luminary, since I’d talk my ass off constantly without thinking anything of it.”

“Ooo-ho-ho-ho…” Kaito grinned at Kokichi, “You are not leaving my sight, in Luminary.”

“But! That’s not for a long time.” Kaito shrugged, “Obviously I’m looking forward to when we do go, but… well, I’m not looking to bring Miyako there as soon as she can say the word ‘yes’.” Kaito said, reaching over to idly pat at Miyako’s stomach, “I have to wait for Kaede to figure out her life and pick a damn… darn heir anyway. And no one’s gonna target Miyako by herself while Theor’s going to be next in line the second he’s born. So it gives us a lot of breathing room, until Kaede sorts her home life out.”

“But I think people in Luminary will ultimately like you, Kokichi. You’re rude as heck, sure, but your version of being rude is, to us, being pretty polite. So anyone around who you’d keep your guard up for and dislike would get ‘Chan’ Kokichi, and everyone else who sees the real you probably would have done something to make you relax anyway… plus, it’s not like double speak works on you. You can literally tell without looking at someone, how they feel about you. You’ll be fine in Luminary high courts.” 

Kokichi snorted softly, quickly going for a napkin to pat his face. It wasn’t just the social cues that Kaito would be sticking to him like glue for, he knew, but…with some distance, it was kind of funny. 

Nodding, Kokichi sighed. “Yeah… I know it’s for the best to put it off, and I know Shuu-chan would be happy never going back…but I really do want to visit. See the castle and the capitol, get the full Kai-chan tour guide experience, see what a real desert looks like, go around the country at least a little. It’d be nice, if we could go visit my friend in Agniratha in person, though…I suppose that might have some issues in itself. But I do understand the difficulties doing so.”

Groaning softly, Kokichi nudged Kaito’s leg with his foot. “I’m just gonna have to remember to be rude to, like, everyone I meet on first meeting. And…probably not call out every time someone’s lying to me, huh.”

“‘Kichi.” Kaito tsked, giving his husband a reproachful look, “We don’t call people out on lying, just because we notice it. Come on, see, this is why I don’t understand Dicean politeness. That’s so rude… and not as fun.” Kaito smirked, “It’s a lot of fun, letting someone lie to your face, absolutely convinced you’re in the dark. If I had your abilities? I’d spend so much of my free time just going around, trying to goad people into lying to me. It’s such a fun pass time.”

Kokichi shrugged, a smile quirked on his lips. “I mean, for a while I guess…but isn’t it so much more fun to see the realization on their faces when you call them out? Then the mad scramble to justify themselves, or try to reframe the phrasing, or just admitting to it…it says a lot about a person, I think, what they choose. And it’s more satisfying afterwards, if they didn’t call you out? Then you know for sure that they didn’t catch you.”

“...oooor they’re just so disinterested in you they don’t care,” he sheepishly chuckled. “But that’s probably pretty clear anyway, so nothing lost.”

“Heh~” Kaito chuckled, checking on Miyako with a quick glance to the right, before getting back into his food, “Calling people out on their lies was too often a way of giving away your own hand, growing up. Nothing puts you at advantage more than the other person convinced they have one over on you… but, when it wasn’t important? And it was lighthearted? Then yeah, it’s a lot of fun watching someone flounder and get embarrassed.”

“And wow,” Kaito gave Kokichi an honestly desperate look, as he said, “I have never seen anyone pull off sheer, cold apathy like a Dicean before. When Diceans dislike you, you’re just invisible to them. It’s insane, I’d have never guessed before coming here how effective that was as, like, a way to hurt or manipulate a situation. Like, Diceans drop you like it’s nothing. So frustrating. Honestly, babe, you pulling the ‘cold shoulder’ thing Diceans do in Luminary is probably the biggest thing I’m going to have to watch out for, when we go there. You’re going to gain some really, really passionate enemies. Hate in Luminary is its own whole relationship.”

So dramatic. Like kids playing pretend and constantly one-upping each other by bringing in things that had no build-up or prior establishment. Though Kokichi couldn’t really see the point of constantly trying to have an advantage over anyone else in the first place, so…he’d just have to follow his friends’ leads. Leave the baffling political game to people who knew what goals they wanted from it. 

“You’d really think with how hot it is over there that you’d all be too tired to be so bothered with each other,” Kokichi chuckled, humming a pleasantly surprised little note at the sauce the broccoli was coated in. “Still…I’ll do my best to not give you so much work. Part of enjoying a foreign trip is learning the culture, even if it does baffle the heck out of me.”

“Hey man, the heat filled my people with passion! We are EXTRA!” Kaito cheered, grinned fiercely, “In EVERYTHING we do!”

“Gwah!”

“That’s right, Miya! You come from a long line of dramatic people.” Kaito informed her, rubbing at her belly, his daughters body shifting left and right a little under his pet before he grabbed her foot and gave it a big kiss on the bottom of her foot, “Our extra personalities, mixed with Dicean weirdness. Miyako, you’re going to be so strange. You’re going to be so eccentric and so aggressive about it.”

Playing with her feet a little, Kaito turned his adoration to his Kokichi, admiring his face for a moment, before going to steal a kiss. “I love you… you’re the greatest thing that ever happened to me. And I love getting to explore Dicea with you. Seriously, top tier travel guide, absolutely worth every copper since you agreed to show me around over a year ago.” Kaito smirked, stealing another kiss.

“Ugh,” Kokichi groaned, though he couldn’t help laughing at his husband and daughter’s enthusiasm. “When we do go, I think we really should plan on a winter trip. The heat might fill you with passion, but it turns me into a puddle on the floor. And I imagine there will only be so many winters I can coax you into staying for with fireside snuggles.”

Miyako seemed to do fine in the heat, so Kokichi could only hope that she lucked out and would enjoy the cold too. He couldn’t wait to see her experience snow for the first time…

Smiling over at Kaito, Kokichi nudged his leg again, and leaned in for the kisses, basking in the affection. “I love you too. You really did find the ultimate travel tip--buy lunch for the guide that kept nudgin’ ya, and he’ll follow you around forever.”

“Lunch, a light mead that he barely wanted to sip at, and a training sword stolen from my generals guardforce.” Kaito grinned, “God we were irresponsible. We made some bad adults. Miyako, you’re not allowed to be as irresponsible as your dads. You gotta be smarter than your dads. Don’t worry, the bar isn’t high. Your smartest dad ate drugs for superpowers, and it only gets more reckless from there. And do not turn to Aunty for an example of responsibility either, that woman is out of her mind. She’s the most reckless responsible person on the planet.” 

Finishing his food, Kaito put aside his plate, humming a bit as he tried to think of some good advice for his daughter, “...Go to Uncle Hideki for lessons in responsibility. For all his faults– and there’s a ton, sweetbun– he seems to be the most responsible adult we know. Just don’t go to him for emotional support… or Luminary history. Or Luminary politics. Or anything about Luminary. Actually, if we could convince Uncle Hideki that Miyako’s strictly your kid, Kokichi? And Shuichi just carried her for you. I think that’d be ideal.”

“We are the wild and crazy youth that you’ll look back on as examples of how ridiculous the past used to be,” Kokichi nodded sagely at his daughter. “Hopefully by the time you’re ready for responsibilities you need to find your own path for, we’ll have wisened up a bit. Though…sharing what not to do could be just as helpful too.”

Giving Kaito a half amused look, Kokichi snorted. “I’ll get right on that. If I manage to make my uncle believe something contrary to his own memories, I think I’ll deserve to be called the greatest illusionist of all time.”

“You’ll have plenty of people to ask for help from, though, sweetbun,” Kokichi assured Miyako, gently poking her toes. “They won’t always give the best advice, but…learning how to sort through all of it is a good skill. And between all of us, your dads will probably give you a good idea of what to look for. Your life is gonna be full, little bird.”

“Ugh. ‘Little Bird’?” Kaito asked, wrinkling his nose a little, “Really babe? We have so many good options. Why ‘Little Bird’?”

Kokichi shrugged with a lopsided smile. “Wanted to try it out, at least. She does remind me of a cute little chickadee sometimes.”

“It’s okay, baby.” Kaito whispered to Miyako, “I don’t think you’re a mean, dirty little bird. Just a mean, dirty little baby~”

Miyako gurgled. Kaito felt entirely confident she understood and agreed. Such a good girl, who wouldn’t break her dad's heart by ever asking for a pet bird. Kaito was certain. 

Looking around the office, Kaito finally got around to asking, “So, where’s Nadia then? It’s not just you working at the office today, is it?”

Kokichi could only shake his head. Birds were cool. They could be cute or majestic or fierce or beautiful; quite a lot of them were really intelligent; and…like, c’mon! Flying was really cool! And what other flying creatures was Kokichi going to rep--insects?! No way. 

Polishing off his lunch, Kokichi shook his head again with a hum. “Nah, she still only works half-days. So am I, technically,” Kokichi gave his husband a sheepish look, “But I like staying for an hour or two after lunch to finish things up, just so it’s not a mad rush to finish everything before we can eat.”

“I can finish up sooner, though, if you wanted to spend more time together for Saint Meridan Day?”

“Yeah? That’s not going to put you out, babe?” Kaito asked, giving Kokichi a delighted look. Before looking around again, a small little smile on his face as he said, “...Nadia’s gone for the day? Like, the rest of the whole day? The office yours?”

“Gerk-gha!”

“Don’t shame me, Miyako, it’s just an innocent question.” Kaito muttered, going to pick up Miyako now that he was free of food. Bouncing her lightly in his arms as she shouted a few more nonsense words at him. “Miya. I just wanted to know if daddy had the office to himself for the rest of the day then. I happen to like seeing daddy being productive, that’s all~”

{Lovely Miya~}

Kokichi rolled his eyes a little before he started stacking up their dishes, putting them back on the tray to take to the kitchen later. “Unless she forgot something, then yes. And yeah, I wouldn’t mind at all. I just have a little paperwork to finish up, then…would you want to take a walk together? I know the weather isn’t any different, but it still feels special, going out on the first day of fall.”

After a moment, a delighted laugh pealed out of Kokichi’s lips, and he grinned over at Kaito and Miyako. “Hun. She’s gonna get to see the leaves change color and fall for the first time.”

“Ooooh! That’s right!” Kaito settled down on the couch, placing Miyako on his lap, having her lay against his stomach as he brought up her arms, having them both fist bump into the air while she gave the air a bewildered look, “Miyako! Oh, it’s so pretty, sweetbun. All those green trees your dads wanna show you and auntie naps with you under? Oh, it’s so pretty, sweetbun… the green leaves start to change colors. These warm colors, all deep, burnt oranges and soft, gentle reds.”

Gently rubbing her tiny fingers, Kaito said softly to her, “I saw it for the first time two years ago. Trees don’t change the further into Luminary you go, Miya. I remember the caravans were getting closer to the Danganronpa border, and the trees were thickening up, becoming denser. Forests the size I had never seen before, sweetbun. And they were the color of coffee. That’s what I kept thinking… like the forest looked the way coffee smelled. It was so… comforting. I hope you find it comforting too, little love. The changing of the seasons… it’s honestly magical. I hope you’ll find time over the years to sit with your dad down in the gardens, just watching the wind blow through the trees.”

“...grkh.”

Kaito sniffed, “...Miya. Now? Really, young lady? I’m having a moment with you! Mean, mean baby.”

Kokichi watched his husband and daughter adoringly, letting himself relax into Kaito’s descriptions. “Fall colors look the way coffee smells… That feels like a perfect descriptor.”

Giggling a little, he shook his head. “Your dad isn’t much of a fan, Miya-Miya, but I hope you’ll come to appreciate sweater weather. Getting out your comfy clothes, feeling a brisk breeze against your cheeks while you’re bundled up warm… There are so many good pies that time of year. Not like the fruit pies of summer, but warm spices and hardier fillings, and there are so many good squash dishes--even some cooked right in the squash skin itself! And though it starts to get darker sooner, everyone still makes sure the nights are bright, setting up candles and twinkle lights…”

Kokichi adored summer, but he truly loved the rest of the seasons too, all for the unique ways they changed the world around them. It was going to be an honor introducing them to his daughter for the first time. 

Again and again, as she grew. 

Chuckling, Kokichi got up to retrieve the diaper bag. “I’m half-convinced she sometimes does it out of affection. And sometimes out of spite. Though I’m more inclined to believe affection this time…she always loves when you describe things.”

“I think she just has a mean sense of humor.” Kaito said, shaking his head a little as he shifted over to the far end of the couch, gratefully giving his husband a nod as he took the diaper bag from him. Bringing out the changing blanket– this bag had so many damn different blankets in them, and Kaito desperately needed them and extras through any given Miyako day– Kaito passed Miyako over to Kokichi as he set everything up, before grabbing her back and laying her down, “Thankfully, she’s a natural at comedic timing. Already making dad so proud~...oh, god, Miya, I’m going to need so many wipes…”

As Kaito started cleaning her up, he hummed to himself a little, “...hey, I’m sorry I’ve been struggling with the masks, babe. I was thinking about what you said last night. Caleb said I do get it, but honestly, the second he said that I started to worry that maybe I don’t. I really want to understand, ‘Kichi, but… I think I keep thinking of your past lives as like ‘shards’. But they’re not.”

Kokichi moved one of the office rubbish bins over closer to the couch, planning on taking it out when they took the dishes down so he wasn’t leaving baby mess to stink up the office for the rest of the day. While he might’ve developed more of a smell tolerance--though they really did work to keep the smell contained in their room--he didn’t want to subject Nadya or anyone else to it. 

“...our situations are really similar,” he said softly, idly standing by to help Kaito should he need it. “But…in a few ways that matter, they’re different. All the lives before…they’re not exactly separate from me. They’re lives I once lived as me, just…a version of me with less experience. I want to distinguish my own life, but…”

He smiled sadly. “...that’s more to just keep myself from going crazy, rather than that being a true reflection of reality. I know that I’m supposed to use all the knowledge and wisdom I’ve gained to help people, and I can’t ignore that experience to do it. But my life is still more than that, and…it’s hard just trying to live, when I’ve got hundreds of years of it behind me that I half-remember at the most inopportune times.”

“I don’t blame you for struggling with it, hun. I’m struggling myself.”

“My cool, mystique, weird ‘Kichi.” Kaito smiled, tossing the wipes, and then more wipes, and wipes on top of it, wrapping up the diaper and tossing that too, taking the fresh one from Kokichi as he coo’d at Miyako, “Your daddy is amazing, Miyako. And you’re going to be very lucky to have him, because you are also cool, and full of mystique, and also very weird. And Kokichi’s going to be able to show you how to manage it, because he’s doing the hard work of figuring it out now, while you’re all small and precious and a little stupid.”

“I love you, Kokichi,” Kaito said, looking to his husband, frowning, “And a part of me wants to love all of them too. Which makes me want to… see them as their own people, and reach out to them, and try to engage with them. Because I love you, and the idea that someday you might love someone else who…”

Kaito’s voice faded off there. His eyes a little distant… before he ran his hand over his face, frustrated. Before shivering, “Oh, shoot, I haven’t washed my hands. Gross. Kokichi, pass me another wipe, please. Look, I’m just… trying to be the husband to you that I hope your future spouses will be. I just want them to love you. I hate the idea of you being with someone who won’t treasure you, as the person I know you as. So I feel like I have to try too.”

That was one of the brighter sides to all this. Miyako wouldn’t have exactly the same issues--he would have to have a lengthy talk with some gods if his daughter was also the latest in a long line of reincarnations, and Kokichi would never really know what being a Flora was like--but…everything that came with being a stupid powerful Empath? He was treading this ground and figuring it out not just for himself, but so that his daughter would have an easier path to take. And…hopefully it really was easier. 

Grimacing a little as Kaito touched his face, Kokichi passed over another wipe before sighing. “After Nellis… After he reminded me so much of how I was in my teens, and seeing your reaction… Dr. Mariah told me that you probably wouldn’t have loved me as a teen.”

Knowing that Kaito probably had Some Thoughts about that, Kokichi gave his husband a stern look, wanting to get his thoughts out first. “And…and it’s nice to fantasize about us meeting as kids, and falling in love like you did with Shuu-chan and Maki-chan…but, dangit, Kai-chan, seeing it now? I don’t want you to have loved me then. I don’t want you to have loved someone who would’ve treated you terribly all the time, even if it was out of pain. You’ve already weathered some of that just in the timeframe we actually live in, and I regret it all the time.”

“You don’t have to love me at every point in time. You love me now, and…that’s what matters to me. In the past, there were people who loved me for who I was then too, and that’s okay. I wouldn’t ask any of them to love who I’ve become either.”

Sighing again, Kokichi pressed his face against Kaito’s shoulder. “...and in the future, there will be people who love the person I’ll become. Maybe some will love Kokichi now. Maybe some of them won’t…but that’s okay. At any point, however I grow…I don’t think I’d want my loves to have to love a child. I wouldn’t want them to have to love a memory. I’d…just want them to love me how I was in the moment. And acknowledge that this is just part of my past.”

Kaito wiped down his face, before wiping down his hands, huffing a little as Kokichi let him know Dr. Mariah’s entirely incorrect opinion, thank you very much, doctor… before something that was both love and heartbreak ran through him. Because honestly… that was one of the nicest things he could think of. To be told that Kokichi wouldn’t want him to love a version of him that would lash out at Kaito. Absolutely something Kokichi had told him before, but… it hit differently, hearing Kokichi tell Kaito he’d be happy if Kaito killed him if he abused him, versus that he just wouldn’t want that sort of life for Kaito. 

“I’m very lucky to have you,” Kaito murmured, placing a quick kiss against Kokichi’s hair, his hands still moving swiftly to put Miyako’s onesie back together, picking her up and laying her against his chest as he said, “Seriously, Miya. You’re future partners are going to have so much trouble with me, because guess what, baby-love? I not only know what a bad partner looks like, but now I know a good one too. Gonna see those wastes of time a mile away.”

“I appreciate you saying that, Kokichi. I mean… Dr. Mariah is wrong and I would have totally figured out how to get along with bratty pre-teen Kokichi. I am great at getting along with assholes. That was a descriptor word, Miyako, it’s not a curse word when the person matches the description.” Kaito explained to Miyako. “And honestly… your future partners are soooo going to be missing out. Because I am clearly getting the best version of you.” Kaito huffed, “Obviously.”

“Obviously!” Kokichi cheerfully echoed, getting on his tip-toes to kiss Kaito’s cheek, before leaning in to kiss Miyako’s head. “And I’m trying to make this version better every day. Hopefully we won’t be setting an impossible standard, but…I think Miya-Miya more than deserves to keep her standards high. She deserves to find someone who treasures her just as much as her dad treasures Daddy and Dada.”

“So, lemme finish up here, then we can run this stuff downstairs, then a walk?”

“You and me?” Kaito asked, glancing down at Miyako and saying, “I suppose we can let Miyako run the office for a while. Miya, now, we know this is your first job, so we’re going to start where Dad’s career began and ended, and we’re going to have you respond to the personal messages. Now, I have to warn you, Miyako… people get weirdly personal in public anonymous messages. And gossipy! They are such gossips, Miya. Try to make your responses friendly, but polite. Do not call them out on being mean, gossipy weirdos.”

“Gerrgh.”

“That’s right,” Kaito nodded, “Just like that. You’ll be promoted in no time, Miya.”

Kokichi giggled, going back to his desk and pulling out the few files he’d set to the side before he’d prepared for lunch. Technically, if he was really taking lunch, he’d still be out, but…he wanted some family time, that early afternoon, and the people keeping track of hours couldn’t side-eye him that much for trading some of his lunch to get out earlier, especially when he’d done much, much worse before. 

“As much as it’d look incredible on her resume to have such responsibilities…if you don’t mind, I think it’d be nice to take Miya-Miya with us,” Kokichi proposed, eyes skimming through the page in front of him. “Get her some sun and fresh air too. She doesn’t seem to like thunderstorms much, judging on the one we had before, and there’s prolly gonna…be more coming up. ‘Long with just more rain in general…”

“Here that tone of voice, Miya?” Kaito whispered to her, starting to strap her back into the baby holder, “That’s his ‘work’ voice. I’m gonna guess he’s actually looking at some weather reports. But, not for the weather, but actually for something weirdly complicated, like… I dunno, aggregation of pumpkin fields to make fencing plans more standardized. ‘Kichi? ‘Kichi! Am I close? It’s definitely something about farming, right? Daddy’s the king of farming.” Kaito told Miyako, finishing strapping her in, “That’s kind of a joke, but also being an Ouma seems to be about a lot of farming.”

“Mm,” Kokichi said distractedly. “...irrigation tunnels… So close. Everyone’s gotta eat, so…yeah. Farming’s important. Need to make sure we all have enough food, and that farmers are…fairly compensated for their work. That food gets everywhere it needs to be… Housing, food, and clean water…gotta have those covered before anything else.”

-

“Ghhhhh hic-hic-hic–”

“Addie,” Alter Ego sighed, sitting in the middle of his stomach, “Why do you cry every time you see me? I’m the least threatening adult in your life. I’m adorable. You should love me. Why do you hate me?”

“Maybe because it freaks him out that you’re literally sitting through him.” Temp dryly pointed out, pointing to Alter Ego and, with a flick of his wrist, shifting Addie’s perspective that the cat was laying against his stomach, with some comfortable heat and weight. “Stop it, before you give him a phobia of ghost cats.”

“I’m your friendly, neighborhood ghost cat. Can you say ‘uncle’, Addie? I’m Uncle Alter Ego. Say it with me… Uuuuuncle Alter Ego.” 

“Give yourself a real name, abomination.” Temp said, finishing setting up sigil that would protect Addason from intrusion, should anything go wrong. “He’s nowhere close to talking, and when he is, your attempts at asserting yourself into my sons social life are going to be seriously impeded if you want him to call you that stupid name. You’re gonna end up Uncle Awa.”

“Al-ter, e-go.” Alter Ego said, “Aaaalter Eeeeego.”

Addason gave the cat a befuddled look, but at least he wasn’t on the verge of tears anymore. There was a small bang in the back of the house, and inside from the backyard, Kaito– covered in sweat and gem debris– came in with Kokichi and Maki (who was similarly sweaty and covered in dust), Shuichi still in the backyard with Miyako, as he said, “Alright! It’s ground down and mixed! Phew. That was a lot harder than I thought it’d be.”

“I did most of the work.” Maki said, heading over to the front of the house to check through the windows, “He just did the initial beating.”

“It’s not a competition, Maki.” Kaito frowned, placing the small bowl of moonstone dust on the table. “...and I did plenty. Thank you.”

“I like your name, Alter Ego,” Kokichi softly assured, keeping a very calm, safe aura about himself for Addason’s sake. “And names can be anything, really. As long as you feel like it fits you? Then that’s a good name for you, even if the more unusual ones get looks sometimes. But people will give looks for a lot of things that aren’t their business.”

Though, Kokichi really didn’t need to get on such a soapbox. The fact that Temp had referred to Alter Ego as an uncle at all? It was just their usual banter. 

Peering over at the ground powder on the table--that he wasn’t getting near, even with a fine dust mask--Kokichi hummed approvingly. “Looks great--thanks, guys. We just need to add the solvent and oil now, yeah?” While the oil had already been measured out--and adding more for consistency would be just fine--they’d kept the closure on the small cup of toluene Kaito had gotten from Seiko, right next to the small syringe they’d be measuring it with. Even with them wearing masks--and the “mixing” table as far away from Addie as they could put it in Temp’s living room--they still had most of the windows open, trying to be as safe with the ritual as they could. 

“Allllright!” Kaito clapped his hands together– before wincing basically at the same time as Addie did, looking over to his god son and saying, “Sooorrry, sorry baaaaaby. Hey, Temp, have you gotten his ears tested yet? I really feel like he must have something going on there–”

“We’ll do the test, but I’m telling you, he’s just sensitive to sounds. He’ll get more used to it as he gets older, some kids are just born more jumpy than others.” Temp said, sighing as he ran his fingers over his temples. He was tense, that day, and had been short with everyone since they had gotten there. Worried about the ritual. If this didn’t work, they’d have run out of time… Addason would need to get the tattoo. Temp knew he could do it, but he’d hate it. And worse than that, so would Addason.

Temp loved all of his children, but he hadn’t always been allowed to be the father he wanted to be to them. Addason was one of his kids he could give genuinely everything to. He intended to do so. 

“Sure, well, we’ll see what the tests say.” Kaito said, giving Temp some side-eye, before coo’ing over Addason, “Are you ready, Addie? We’re gonna put a fun drawing on you, your dad and his friends are going to pop inside and spread some fun clouds around, and when we’re alllll done you and Miyako are going to get to enjoy some little baby kicks in Temp’s kiddy pool. I hear you’re very good in the water, Addie. I need you to show my daughter why water is fun, Addie~ Or, at the very least, you get to see another baby pout and let it boost your little baby self-esteem~”

“Really going to sacrifice Miyako like that, huh?” Maki called from the front door, looking suspiciously up the stairs to the second floor. She had already scoped out the upper floors once, but the home was large. Maybe she should do another sweep…

“Miyako’s going to be an indestructible Flora and a powerful empath. And is a princess.” Kaito said, taking Addason’s hands and kissing at his palms, grinning and coo’ing at him as he said, “If Addie gets to beat her at being unintimidated by water first? Her ego can take the blow.”

…well, it wasn’t just Addason that Kokichi was being calm for. Temp was practiced enough that he wasn’t just stressing everyone else out, but…he wasn’t exactly hiding how nervous he was. In Kokichi’s deep memories, he knew that The Gardener had worked for hundreds of Flora before, and time wasn’t something that would change that. It was just…the power source that was the iffy bit, as it had been for months. Absorbing a charged gemstone, and especially one charged by a dragon--or her decendant, anyway--should work, and should be more than enough to keep The Gardener buffed more than enough even past when Addie would be old enough to start creating his own defenses for privacy. 

It should. So…Kokichi would keep up hope, and do his best to not give his friend any more stress. 

“I think she’d just be more amazed than put out. She always seems surprised and awed that we don’t mind water, and I think she even gets around to having fun when we can distract her with splashing,” Kokichi softly laughed, before turning back to the father and son, giving Temp an encouraging smile. “...it’ll work, Temp. You ready?”

Temp gave a small, pointed inhale… held it… and then nodded as he let it out. Subconsciously holding himself in his ‘templar’ positions as, straightening his shoulders and clasping his hands together, he turned to the group. “Just so we’re all clear what we’re doing. Maki, Kaito, you two are going to handle the mixture and drawing the pattern Kokichi drew on him, following the pattern. Kokichi, Alter Ego and I will be in his mind, preparing The Gardener and ready to put a placeholder if it doesn’t hold. Maki, if anything goes wrong, I want you to place that ruby necklace around his neck, it’ll set off the sigil he’s on and that will temporarily protect him till we can… work out our other solutions.”

“Which we won’t have to do, because this is going to work, Addie~” Kaito coo’d at Addason, carefully pulling off the blanket Addie had been being kept warm under, the baby naked and the pattern Kokichi had drawn on him all already mapped out. “We’ve got this. Everything’s going to be fine.” 

“I agree.” Alter Ego said, petting his side against Addason’s in a comforting gesture as Addie gave everyone an offended look at his blanket being taken away. “This is going to go smoothly, and we’ll all be able to relax once it’s finished.”

“Well, then go already. We’re not starting till you all are in there already, we’re not risking miss-timing this.” Maki said, crossing her arms and glaring at the three empaths, “Go. Now.” 

“Good luck, ‘Kichi! Do a good job, I believe in you!” Kaito said brightly.

It wasn’t like Kokichi would get rid of it, considering the precious gem and precious magic, but it had still been something delightful to find a use for the necklace he’d gotten from Calypso. Putting in the defense really shouldn’t alert the rest of the Flora, since Addie still wasn’t open to them normally…but they weren’t leaving anything to chance with this. 

It was going to be fine. 

Giving Addason an encouraging look, Kokichi gave his friends and family a nod. “Right! Let’s do this.”

It wasn’t hard to portal into Addason’s mind, not when, by this point, he knew his god son well, and Addie was physically right in front of him, but Kokichi still put in all the care he could to land as gently as possible. Considering that Addason wasn’t an Empath, and hadn’t gotten the hang of his natural psychic abilities, it probably wouldn’t be all that startling for him to have the three of them there…but this was a matter of kindness, more than safety this time. 

Considering Addason was awake, the upper consciousness of his mind was…pretty much the scene they had been in in the physical world, just blurred and uncertain enough, reflecting an infant’s comprehension of everything. Moving from where his physical form had been, Kokichi offered Addason a gentle smile, and moved slowly in his vision before giving his arm a gentle, affectionate rub. “Hi, Addie. Your dad and uncle and I are gonna take good care of you. No need to worry.”

Looking to his friends, assuming they were in their places as well, Kokichi offered them a nod. “Do either of you need the “blueprints” again, or are we ready to go?”

“I know I’ve got mine. I had all my shards study it individually. We know it inside and out.” Alter Ego said proudly, jumping over to where Addie’s ‘head’ was at on the table, purring loudly as Addie gave Kaito and Maki bewildered looks, Maki doing the mixture over on the other side of the room while Kaito spoke softly to Addason, reassuring him and playing with his hands, getting Addie used to his hands touching more spots on his body as Kaito traced the lines on his body. “Kaito knows about Addie’s feet, right?”

“Figured it out the hard way.” Temp nodded, “Maki and him are going to finish the lines at his feet, so hopefully by that point he’ll be so used to what’s happening that it won’t freak him out too much. That child really hates having his feet touched. Also, Kokichi, you hear how sounds come in to him? Please tell your husband I’m not crazy, his hearing isn’t broken, he just listens for sounds more. It’s normal, all kids end up having a preference for one of their senses over the rest. Tell him to stop giving me the evil eye.”

“Focus Temp. You can compete with Kaito later.” Alter Ego scolded. “You guys want me to start? You two have greater pure potential, you adding the second and third layers of the defense would mask any cracks in mind.”

“I’ll let him know, but he might insist on the tests anyway,” Kokichi softly huffed. “He can get a little fixated on problems, once he figures them out. But he will be willing to listen. He just wants the best for Addie, like the rest of us.”

Giving Alter Ego a nod, Kokichi spread his arms in front of himself, flexing his fingers. “Sounds good. A few of my past lives have made this defense before, and I’ve been going through the memories. I’m confident we’ll be able to make it well.”

Compared to quite a few constructs, The Gardener was pretty unintrusive. Everywhere at once, but like wearing light clothes--you’d be completely covered and protected from the sun, but in some cases it was so natural it was like you’d be wearing nothing at all. The visuals of the fog would be a little thick at first, while they were making it, but…hopefully weird air wouldn’t startle Addie that much. And Dad was right there to soothe if it was.

“Go ahead, Alter Ego. Give us the cue when you can feel the edges.” Temp said, heading over to Addason’s side on the table. Addason wasn’t really ‘there’, but like Alter Ego had, there was something comforting being near his son's surface projection. 

“Alright…” {Maki, Kaito. Start.} Alter Ego’s eyes widened, and his fur stood on end, as from beneath his paws and between nostrils, smoke started to pour out. Breathing deeply as their essence pulled and encouraged Addason’s energy, starting to construct the fog through his mind as he contributed his own little sliver to the construct. Every time he breathed in, the smoke moved. Every time he breathed out, the smoke thickened. 

Out in the real world, Maki finished the mixture, bringing it over to the table and passing Kaito one of the brushes, started on the other side of the table, she and Kaito both painting on either side of of Addason.

“Eh? …eeeeeh?” Addason gave them both big, watery eyes, “hic-hic-hic”

“Awww, Addie, nooo, no need to cry, this is nice. You know, some people really enjoy being painted on, to the point of–”

“Shut up, Kaito.” Maki said, giving him a fierce glare… before she turned to Addason and, widening her eyes, she gave a little, dramatic gasp. Saying in a high pitched voice, “Oh my goodness! Addason, are you being tickled? Stop it. Stop being tickled, Addie.”

Addason gave Maki a bewildered look, as she pouted exaggeratedly, her expressions loud and attention seeking as she said, “Addie, what did I just say? Do you like to be tickled? Stop making me tickle you. Oh, now we’re giggling, huh? Feeling proud of yourself?” 

Kaito grinned wide, as Addie was starting to giggle. Maybe partly being tickled by the strokes of the brush, but mostly just laughing at Maki’s loud, exaggerated outrage in a high, squeaky voice, as she said, “You just keep on insisting, huh? Just want to be tickled? Kaito, if you don’t give me a break, I’m going to cut you later, and I don’t care if Kokichi can hear me or not.”

“Oh, oh, right, Addie!” Kaito squeaked, getting Addasons attention, “Why do you want to be tickled so bad? You’re such a tickly baby! Can we take a break soon? No? Oh nooo! Such a little tyrant baby!”

Temp smiled lightly as Addason giggled some more, taken in by the voices and facial expressions. “...damn. It’s a little frustrating, how good at that they are.” He admitted.

{Edges} Alter Ego sent out, the fog thickening as they breathed out, {Kokichi, your turn.}

Kokichi smiled softly, seeing his friends do something he’d seen them do, if not exactly, then close enough, for Miyako a number of times. And what he could wager Maki had done for her siblings even more too. 

“It feels like a lifesend, when Miyako decides it’s a tantrum day,” he nodded to Temp. “I like to think I have my own charm around kids, but it’s great seeing theirs… Even if he won’t really remember this, it’ll be nice for it to be a strange, but pleasant memory for Addason.”

Getting Alter Ego’s cue, Kokichi nodded again, this time to himself, and took a deep breath, starting to sway as, little by little, more and more fog started to flow out from him. Seeping into every little crack… A kind guardian, meant to nourish the garden it’s tending…and eradicating all invasive species. A blanket to keep the warm in, and the cold out. The comfort of security…

It wasn’t quite exactly a dance, but Kokichi swayed in graceful, small spinning circles, his arms waving through the air and casting more fog from them like the wake of long, fluttery sleeves. He put himself into it, weaving his love and hopes for Addason into the fog, making it as sturdy as diamond, despite its gaseous form. 

After a time, Kokichi slowed, before nodding to Temp. {Last but not least.}

Temp nodded, taking a small breath. And again, it was almost entirely metaphorical, the whole space Addason… but he brushed his fingers over Addason’s forehead, sending a reassuring brush of affection through him, before he closed his eyes. His hand still placed on Addason’s forehead, as his ceremonial robes flowed out from his day clothes, a rush of warm, all consuming smoke pouring out of the ends. His eyes closed, but in front of his face a small light outline of a skull glowing out, the eyes of the skull wide open and glowing as he took in a deep, deep, deep breath… before letting it out all at once. 

Mixing and merging with Kokichi’s and Alter Ego’s, the fog spread to every corner of Addason’s mind. Growing strong. Growing versatile. Growing steady. Growing, growing, growing, their concern, affection and protection solidified and given shape. 

The fog was thick for a moment. Dangerous. Intrusive… but as Addason’s mind started to recognize it, it thinned. Cooled. A steady, light presence at a soothing, comforting temperature. Thinning and thinning, till finally it was like a nice, soothing mist. The Gardener, there to keep the crops watered and safe. 

Temp took another deep, deep breath… before the glowing skull reached out. {Thalia. It’s ready. Test it, please.}

Thalia hadn’t really known what to think about the method Temp had talked to her about, but it wasn’t like she knew much about what non-Flora did to keep Flora away psychically. It wasn’t really a problem, see. 

But it made sense, as much as any magic did at the end of the day. And she was happy that the two kids were going to get to grow up under a similar umbrella that she did. Not stifled from the world, but left to form their own opinions about it. 

She wasn’t about to weaken her own defenses, though, but she was able to feel something ramming against them so carefully--very, very carefully--Thalia reached out through a connection she only ever talked to family through. Even knowing who and where Addason was, it was hard to find him for a good few moments, his young mind still mostly invisible in the hivemind, but Thalia was practiced at skulking through its shadows. 

Reaching out, in Addason’s surface consciousness, for just a moment Kokichi spotted what…could ostensibly look like dark vines, but they’d barely formed before withering. And outside, sitting with Shuuichi and Miyako, Thalia visibly recoiled, wincing and grimacing at the feeling. 

“Oh Valtiel’s horns, that’s awful!”

“Gwah!” Miyako agreed good naturedly. 

“I feel like that’s potentially a good sign.” Shuichi mused, giving Thalia a concerned look, “Are you okay? Do you… would you like some lemonade?” he asked, gesturing to the lemonade pitcher they had been sharing, “I thought one of the appeals of the Gardener was that it’d only harm Flora if they lingered for too long. How long were you in there?”

Still looking mildly disgusted, Thalia nodded and topped off her glass. “I’d barely connected to the kid. That’s a he…heck of a barrier they’re making. If Addason decides he does want to connect to everyone, then that might be an issue, undoing this…but dang. I don’t think even the queen could stay for more than a second, if she’s even able to find him.”

“Ugh…it feels like all my insides going to slush,” Thalia shook her head. “Yeah, no way anyone’s getting in.”

“Here, let me get you some water too. I’m not sure if water will heal slushed mental insides, but it sounds like that was difficult.” Shuichi said, standing up and, glancing at the house, murmured, “They still have those fumes in there. Think you could hold Miyako? Oh, wait, hold on, I see Kaito heading to us, he can get you water. Hi, Kaito–”

“Thalia!? How’d it go!? Did it kick you out!?” Kaito asked, poking his head through the sliding door, giving Thalia an excited look. “Was it effective?!”

It wasn’t any actual damage, she could tell--it wasn’t like the construct had been pulling her in to destroy her--more like briefly touching your hand to a hot pan. Unpleasant, and could cause damage if your self-preservation instincts didn’t kick in, but not dangerous. Which…was a good thing. Nosy but harmless Flora would be put off, and actually dangerous Flora would have to weigh their own safety against their curiosity towards, what they would be able to tell, a relatively average Flora living in human society. Even those most loyal to the queen wouldn’t think it was worth the risk. 

(...Miyako was a different story. But she had a different defense as well. Thalia had only heard through a letter from her mother--and tangentially from Danny, considering the anti-Junko resistance had a field day of morale hearing that potentially the most powerful Flora born in centuries was guarded by a true-blue dragon--what was going on with the little princess, at least as far as Flora society knew, but… Well, Kokichi had told her things were taken care of with Miyako for the time being. So Thalia had chosen to trust that.)

Giving Kaito a withering look, Thalia nodded. “It’s effective, alright. You all might have a problem on your hands, if Addason ever wants to get rid of it, but for now?” She sighed, easing up into a small, awkward smile. “He’ll get his childhood, uninterrupted.”

“Ooooooh, yes. I mean, uh oh on the whole ‘how to get rid of it in the future’ thing, that’ll be a problem… but that’s a future problem. Which I’m sure we’ll handle just as well as we handled this! Ha! Winning! I’m gonna pop the champaign! …as soon as Addason is outside and away from hearing range! Don’t wanna hurt his little, damaged ears any more than they definitely already are.” Kaito murmured to himself, looking over his shoulder and calling to Maki, “It worked! We can bring him out here now, let him air out!” 

“Kaito, can you get Thalia some water please.” Shuichi asked, bouncing Miyako in his arms, “It really did sting at her quite a bit.”  

“Champaign and water, coming up!” Kaito shouted, heading back in as Maki came out, holding a happy little Addason, who was covered in long, glittering lines. Kaito grinned at Addason as they passed each other, whispering to him, “Little shiny baby who did sooo wellll you did so good such a good baby~” before heading inside to get the water.

“That actually went smoother than I thought it would.” Maki said, going to sit at one of the back patio chairs, resting Addason on her lap and, again, moving his hand away from his mouth as she said sternly, “No. No poisoning yourself. Give it a while, kid, then we’ll peel it off and you can wash off in the pool. Just hold it together.”

As Kaito went back inside, he went to the vacantly standing form of Temp and Kokichi, both of them pretty lost in their minds during the difficult task. He peered into their eyes, before waving his hands in front of them… before grinning wide, “Guys! I think you did it!”

Temp blinked… blinked again… before he gave a small, relieved sigh, “It took hold. We still have to leave the marking for a half hour, let the construct find its stability. But… wait, where did he go?” Temp asked, looking at the table, “He’s supposed to be there.”

“Are you kidding? This room is full of fumes, we got him out of there the second Thalia said it worked.” Kaito frowned, “Seiko already thinks I’m crazy, I’m not letting Addason get a respiratory disease lingering here.”

“Kaito, the whole point of the sigil was in case the fog doesn’t hold… ugh, fine. We’ll ask Thalia to keep testing it.”

“Okay,  well, you better have something nice to offer her, because apparently it hurts like heck.” Kaito grinned, “Relax, it worked. Water and champaign for everyone!”

Thalia sighed, rubbing her head and sipping her lemonade. She looked over at Addason, noting the glimmering white paste snaking over his body. “Really… It’s crazy, the stuff your communities mess around with. If that fog wasn’t gross enough already, the Ronpan high court is just close minded enough to never figure out how you did it.”

Inside, Kokichi blinked a few times as well before he swayed a little in his spot, reorienting himself in the physical world. “It…worked?”

He grinned wide, his mask scrunching up towards his eyes. “Yes! We did it! Though…aw, poor Thalia. I know it’s necessary, but…that kinda sucks, having to test the thing that’s specifically trying to keep her kind of connection away. Hun, we should get her a gift too, when we head out to the nursery.”

Stretching out his shoulders, as they seemed to be taking the “party” outside, Kokichi extended his arms to, seemingly, the empty table. “Want a ride out, Alter Ego?”

Alter Ego leapt off the table and into Kokichi’s arms, purring happily. Kaito watched as Kokichi held his arms around empty air, frowning, “Guys, could you please project something when you do that? It looks really strange when only you can see each other.”

“Sorry,” Alter Ego said, appearing in Kokichi’s arms. “But yes! We did it!”

“Hell yeah you did! Temp, man, go outside and be with your kid!” Kaito grinned, thumping his hand onto Temp’s shoulder, “You did great! Alright, alright, water, promised water.”

Outside, Shuichi gave Thalia a slightly startled look… before a small, pleased smile spread through his face. Patting Miyako’s side a bit as he said, “It can get a bit weird and gross, can’t it? You will not believe how many gross animal body parts are vital for experiments like these. It gets a bit silly.”

“You love it.” Maki shrugged, ignoring Addason’s offended whimpering as she took his hands away from his face again.

“I do.” Shuichi said softly.

Temp headed out, immediately heading to Maki, “Thank you, I’ve got him. Let me see… you look very pretty, Addason. Come now, why cry? You did very well…” Temp said softly, picking up Addason and resting him against his biceps, before looking to Thalia and bending his head respectfully, “And thank you. I could feel the pain coming from you, I’m aware that was a lot to ask… if there’s anything I can do in return… and if you wouldn’t mind doing it again in twenty minutes.” Temp continued, saying that last part very quickly.

Kokichi gave Kaito an apologetic look, but linked himself to Alter Ego’s projection, making it a little easier for his friend to be more of a part of things. Or, rather, to be seen by more than two people. He knew he wasn’t really touching Alter Ego, not even as much as their projections in the mindscape, but still Kokichi indulged himself, petting down Alter Ego’s fluffy back as he carried the cat outside. 

“With this iteration, I can’t find any memories of Flora reporting any issues, after the construct was put in place,” he softly noted. “A few resulting from attempts to connect, but…that’s kind of the point. I think…we really did it.”

Coming outside, Kokichi settled down in a sunny spot, letting his experience of the sun warming his skin transfer over to his friend…just in time to see Thalia give Temp a very, very long look. 

The woman sighed before slumping down on the bench she and Shuuichi were sharing. “Yeah, yeah. I guess not all of us can be so glamorous as to run literal orphanages to help the world… Just don’t yell at me if I hurl in your yard, dude. Remember you asked for it.”

“It’s really not as glamorous as you’d think,” Maki said dryly, “Lots of vomit there too. Lots… really just so much vomit. Children are disgusting.”

“The fact that you can say that and do the pitched voice trick within the same hour of each other is baffling.” Shuichi smirked, adjusting Miyako to be on his other arm as Miyako tried to grab– and then eat– Thalia’s sleeve. 

“Thank you, Thalia. We really can’t express how vital you are to this.” Temp said, settling down himself– he had gotten all of his chairs out, he knew this was going to be a bit of a sit in. 

“Water! Water and champaign! Get it while it’s liquidy!” Kaito called out, heading out the door and closing it behind him. “All the windows are open, the front door is latched but propped open, the mixtures are all bottled backup and drying out on the front porch. House should be good right around the time we’re ready to bring Addason back inside! God, I am PUMPED! I was SO READY for something to go TERRIBLY WRONG!” Kaito grinned widely, passing glasses around.  “Phew!”

“Assuming the next half hour goes smoothly… it really will just be a win, huh?” Shuichi mused, taking out Miyako’s pacifier and giving it to her, Temp doing the same for Addason as his son again tried to shove his hand in his mouth, “That’s rare for us.”

“Is it?” Temp asked.

“You have no idea.” Maki said bluntly, sipping at her champaign. 

Thalia nodded with a dry expression. They were incredibly disgusting. And yet, Gaius always sounded like there wasn’t anything else in the world that could make him happier. Good for him, really. He could protect human children in Danganronpa, Danny could be part of an uprising against the culture most of their people had known their whole lives, and Virgil could be the strongest spellsword in the world. And Thalia would give herself a nightmarish migraine ensuring a kid would be able to grow up without bigots in his brain. 

Still stroking Alter Ego, Kokichi let out a small, nervous laugh. “I don’t wanna jinx us, but I have a good feeling about this. I know decades throughout centuries of work went into the construct, and apparently the power thing has been a method throughout millenia. We’re not exactly experimenting here. It’ll be okay.”

Looking between the last of her lemonade and the champagne, Thalia shrugged to herself before just mixing the drinks, taking a sip with a considering look. “...I won’t ask, and please don’t tell me about it, but…the last few months have been really busy for you all, huh. You all have different vibes.”

“Why not ask? It’s a fascinating story. And that story is…” Kaito patted a drumroll onto his thighs, before bringing his hands up like an explosion on each side of his face,  “Therapy! Just… so much therapy. I mean, other stuff happened too, Miya and Addason was born, Shuichi asked me and Kokichi to marry him, Maki’s coming down from all sorts of stuff, but, really… lots of therapy. So much therapy. Just so much therapy.”

“Are you done?” Shuichi asked, adjusting Miyako on his lap as he turned to Thalia, “I mean, he’s not wrong. But learning more and more about the world in general has also been pretty humbling, these last few months. If anyone had told me flora was just the tip of the iceberg, I’d have rolled my eyes at them for exaggerating.”

“I’m sure there’s things we still don’t know.” Maki murmured, keeping alert– they were still in the middle of ensuring an infant wasn’t going to be indoctrinated to an extremely powerful bigot group, and she wasn’t about to assume that if anyone outside of this group knew about that in some way, that there wouldn’t be trouble. She had scoped out around the house three times already since before anyone else had arrived– but still leaning back somewhat to sunbathe as she gave an exaggerated sigh, “Who can even begin to guess what, but it seems the world is bigger than I could have ever imagined. Frustrating, really.”

“It is,” Temp shrugged, admiring the glittering paste on his son's skin, the powersource settling in and taking hold. “It can be simpler to just keep your minds open and learn things as they come to affect you. Though judging what affects you or doesn’t can be challenging.”

“You can’t ask this group anything, or even really comment on anything, without getting an in depth response.” Alter Ego informed Thalia, laid out on Kokichi’s lap, “They all love to talk.”

“No I don’t,” Shuichi and Maki said at the same time, while Kaito just chuckled, nodding.

For a terrible moment, Thalia had the sinking feeling that Kaito was about to launch into what they had all been up to for the last month regardless. He did seem the type. And despite her willingly asking to help out with their mess, she really didn’t need to know all the ins and outs of their lives--she wanted to help two young Flora get the same chances she did, that was all. 

Somehow it seemed that this group had even more drama than her own family--something Thalia had once thought not possible--and she wanted none of it. 

Sighing a little as she agreed with the cat--and they seemed like a whole ‘nother bucket of worms in themself--Kokichi giggled softly and gave his family a half-shrug. “You two don’t tend to get as long-winded as me or Kai-chan, but get you on a subject you’re passionate about? You guys can go on for a while. I love it, it’s always great hearing what’s on your minds.”

“If we’re comparing ourselves to you and Kaito, we’re basically mute.” Maki chided, Kaito again just chuckling at that, nothing to say in his defense. Maki sighed, as she admitted, “If there’s one trait I’m dreading Miyako picking up, it’s the endless monologues. Toddlers are already babblemouths, and you know what? Kids have a bad habit of talking endlessly whatever’s on their minds until right about eleven or twelve, where they finally start shutting up because they’ve secretly decided what they have to say is too smart for you anyway. I love the ‘too cool to talk to you’ phase. It’s so peaceful.” Maki said longingly. 

“Man, how can you even say that? I’m basically begging Timothy to talk to me every saturday when we go out to the diners,” Kaito frowned, “Maybe we’re getting lucky and he’ll be past the ‘too cool to talk to us’ phase early?”

“He confides in Haneda,” Maki shrugged, “And we’re still, in a way, the ‘Prince and Royal Assassin’ to him, even if he doesn’t revere us anymore. Give it a few more years, Kaito, I’m sure he’ll start opening up to you eventually.”

“Years?” Kaito whined, clearly sulking, “Great, I gotta wait years for both my kids to talk to me. Well, then I hope Miyako does pick up our monologuing traits. If I have to hold out that long, then I want to hear everything!”

“Just hope Miyako gets through the ‘annoying you on purpose’ phase quickly. They all go through it, it’s part of testing their boundaries. Doesn’t make it any less aggravating,” Temp said fondly, softly rubbing Addason’s face, who seemed to be relaxing now that all the excitement was over, looking far more at ease in Temp’s arms, “One day, little man, you will ask me ‘why’ a thousand times in one day, and I will have to hold back from drop-kicking you into the sun.”

“It’s gonna break my heart when she’s too cool for us,” Kokichi dramatically sighed, scratching little circles behind Alter Ego’s ears. “She already barely deigns to find us acceptable. When we pose a family trip, and all she does is groan? I’m gonna be in tears for days.”

Thalia shrugged a little. “You’ll both get over it. All clinging to closeness does is make kids want even more space.”

The fact that she was still in that phase probably wasn’t the most hopeful thing to offer to the family, so Thalia kept that to herself. She was also a Flora raised in Flora society so…her concept of age phases was probably more skewed than theirs was.

Chuckling a little, Kokichi lifted his face to the sun, thankfully bereft of punted toddlers. “I remember having a lot of fun in those days, myself. My uncle and I would talk for hours, going through every genuine and asinine question about life and society and history and the universe I could think of. I think it’s good to know that if Miya-Miya wears through all of us, he still has exceptional stamina for that sort of thing.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. There will be many, many years there where you three, or, four, likely,” Temp corrected, giving Maki a small nod, “will be her absolute favorite people in the whole of existence… and she’ll still have a favorite, so that’ll be interesting to see play out.”

“I bet it’s going to be Kokichi.” Kaito guessed, sipping at the champaign glass as he gave Miyako a fond look, “I think Kokichi’s going to be great with her, for her toddler and kid years, even if he is competing with walking encyclopedias for great uncles and dada’s. And, my guess is Maki and Shuichi are going to be her favorites for different parts of her teenage years. Shuichi cause they’ll connect better as she gets older, and Maki because, like, come on. Badass female role model for badass little Miya.”

“Uh huh.” Shuichi said dryly. 

“You think he’s saying that to boost our ego or because he’s genuinely that un-self aware?” Maki asked just as dryly.

“Can never tell with Kaito.” Shuichi sighed.

Kaito rolled his eyes, “Yes, I know, she’ll like me too guys. I’m just saying, my guess is those are the ages you’ll shine for.”

Kokichi smiled, something soft and affectionate as he looked over at Miyako chilling in Shuuichi’s arms. “I do have something of a cheat code right now. She’s a little more aware that I’m a person. But once that awareness comes in, and she can start to talk? My novelty days are over. I’m guessing our connection will be a little less fun once it’s time for lessons.”

“And she adores you, hun,” Kokichi snorted. “You’re the first person she looks to when she wants something, and that says a lot. Even if it turns out to be your head turning into an impatient guest at a hotel desk.”

“Man, it really does though.” Kaito muttered, shaking his head a little, “Really thought she’d grow tired of it soon, but now I’m half convinced she just notices me checking on her when she does it now. Just a little dad alarm.”

“Wait, I’m a little lost now…” Alter Ego said, looking between them, “Alarm?”

“Miyako had started a habit of taking over people to have them bring her what she wants or ‘fix’ things right away.” Shuichi explained, “And, while she does it to a lot of people, her default was Kaito. It got to the point where Kaito was spacing out or feeling ‘compelled’ to do things, or even blacking out, pretty regularly. So, Kokichi set up, or, upgraded at least, a defense in his head that stops the takeovers, but alerts Kaito that an attempt to take him over was made. Now that goes off basically at least once a day, if not more.”

“I see… why the alerts?” Alter Ego asked, “We can upgrade the defense so that it doesn’t do that.”

“Oh, no, I asked Kokichi for that. It still makes me too nervous to think Miyako’s trying to reach out to me and I just wouldn’t know it.” Kaito admitted, looking a little sheepish, “Honestly, Kokichi had to convince me to stop the takeovers at all. I thought they might be vital for dangerous situations, but–”

“That’s stupid.” Maki said, “An infant shouldn’t be in charge during a dangerous situation.”

“Yeah. That, basically.” Kaito nodded, “Which makes a lot of sense, now. I was struggling with some stuff when we were discussing it, it was kinda making me a little irrational. Letting a baby puppet me for safety seemed, like… rational at the time. I was kinda burning out.”

“Actually, I’m curious… Thalia? Do infant Flora have any similar issues? Now that we’ve for certain severed his connection, I want to be on the lookout for any developmental issues that severing some of his instincts might have.” Temp admitted, looking down to Addason, “Do you know of any Flora who severed their connections this young? Did they struggle with connecting or communicating with other people? I have to imagine that as a species born with psychic abilities, if limited, that young flora have certain instincts to use those abilities that I’ve just stunted in Addason. I’d like to try to limit the fallout of that, if I can.”

“Actually, I’ve wondered that for Miyako too.” Kaito admitted, brow’s furrowing, “I thought about talking with you, Temp, about maybe trying to test, like… ‘mental playdates’ with Miyako and Addason as they get older? Little test hiveminds, using the empath abilities as a crutch? When they get old enough to decide if they do want to rejoin the hivemind someday, I don’t want them to have no idea what they’re doing, ya know?”

Kokichi nodded with a small smile. “Oh, I offered that first,” he assured his mentor, “But…yeah, Kai-chan wanted an indication. It was a long conversation, but…well, my line was just letting her puppet Kai-chan all the time. The bell does make me a little worried sometimes, but…well, she can just reach out to me if she needs me. I get wanting a similar system. Even if most the things she wants is a hand to chew on.”

Looking a little startled to be brought into the forefront of the conversation again, Thalia ran a hand through her ponytail before sighing. “Well…like I’ve told you guys before, it’s not like I’m an expert on every Flora ever. But I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone cordoning off a baby before they even connect to the hivemind.”

“Soon after, sure,” she shrugged. “That’s basically what my family did. I think my mom was literally just waiting to see if we were all Flora in the first place--it’s hard to tell as an infant, without the hivemind.”

Kaito accidentally snorted his champaign up into his nose, “What!?” He gasped, after a long sputtering of coughing that hadn’t quite finished by the time he managed to talk. Rubbing his stinging, running nose with the back of his palm as he stared, bug-eyed, at Thalia, before eloquently explaining, “I, wha– I’m sorry, wait. Wait… do we know that Miyako and Addason are Flora, then!? Wait… what did we just do if Addie’s not a Flora!? Is my sweet beautiful baby girl nearly immortal and indestructible or not!? I have not finished baby proofing the bedroom if she is not indestructible, I do not like how sharp the corners of our end tables are! Kokichi!?” Kaito shouted, looking to his husband now. “We have to saw round the ends of our furniture!”

“And this is why you’re in all that therapy.” Maki said.

Kokichi had also looked to Thalia in surprise, but the woman just sighed and waved them off, waiting for Kaito’s tirade to end. “...if you let me finish…I was going to say it was a little needless on my mom’s end. Sure, seedlings don’t always produce Flora…but, like, the majority of the time they do. To the point people get suspicious if someone is even a seedling at all, if their kid isn’t a Flora. And Miyako is definitely a Flora--every Flora on a continent felt her when she was born.”

Addason, on the other hand…

Kokichi frowned, thinking through all of the research he had done over the last few weeks. “...I don’t think anything bad would happen, if Addie’s a human. It would just be a little needless, I think, since Flora can’t connect to humans anyway.”

“Point in case,” Thalia sighed, “The fact that I could connect to get a gut punch in the first place? He’s a Flora.”

Kaito sighed, literally wiping some sweat from his brow as he settled back down, looking exhausted, “Gonna give me a darn heart attack… no offense, babe, I’m not trying to make a joke, I’m serious, that just got my heart racing. My sweet, weirdo little plant babies, just don’t want to hurt them if they ended up being sweet little mammal babies…”

Temp gave Kaito a mildly amused look at that. The last few weeks in particular really driving home to Temp that, despite Kaito knowing Temp had been a father before, multiple times, that he planned to be a very involved god parent. Whelp. Temp was just going to have to deal with the fact that apparently he and Addason had a new family member that was very, very, just… almost obnoxiously concerned for them. It was cute. Temp would also have to restrain from punting Kaito into the sun. 

“Seedling…” Shuichi mused softly, looking down at Miyako, who seemed perfectly content with their small, if talkative crowd, “I still sometimes struggle to believe that’s just a widely established thing. The only time I heard the word ‘seedling’ was some stranger trying to… well, it was just something I heard in passing. To think there’s people in my position all over the world, who also have no idea what’s happening to them…”

“Yeah… but it didn’t always used to be like that, right?” Kaito said, again looking to Thalia, “Being a seedling was a voluntary system, for a while there, I was told. I mean, obviously it got corrupted to all heck, but… I mean, bad leadership doesn’t make bad people. Seedlings could go back to being a title people are proud of, someday…right?”

“I just don’t see how it ever worked.” Shuichi admitted, looking a little guilty at the admission, “Being a seedling was literally going insane and becoming self destructive. How was that ever anything but a nightmare, for the person taking the spores?”

Thalia shrugged a little. Her mother was certainly more…heated about the subject than she was, but Thalia wasn’t exactly a fan of the system either. “I think that’s literally what people are fighting over in Danganronpa now,” she huffed, rubbing her temple a bit as she sipped her drink. “I’m getting it all through the grapevine, but apparently there was a totally different way of making Flora, back in the old king’s day, and some people are saying that we should try and bring that method back.”

“And on the other side,” she rolled her eyes, “Junko’s simps are saying that that’s the method that almost let us go extinct, and humans aren’t good for anything but being breeding stock anyway, blah blah blah assholes. There’s a lot happening right now, apparently.”

Drinking more champagne for a moment, Thalia hummed as she realized she never got around to actually answering the initial question. “Oh… But as for difficulties these kiddos might face… I’m pretty sure the instinct to reach out is half because the hivemind reaches out first. I think someone’s said something about sequestered kids being a little more clingy, but it’s not, like, write a child psychologist intense. They might have issues reaching out if they decide to reconnect someday, but…” She sighed, “That’s what I’m here for, I guess.”

Kaito had been watching Shuichi carefully, at Thalia’s explanation, and yeah… while Shuichi was doing leagues better now, Kaito could almost see some of those old hurts and toxic thoughts running through Shuichi’s mind, at the discussion of seedlings and human stock. Nothing Thalia was saying was wrong, and Kaito honestly would guess Shuichi would have been affected no matter who was talking about it, but yeah… Kaito should check in later tonight, make certain that none of that ‘confirmed’ Shuichi’s worst thoughts about himself, when he had been on the spores. His Shuichi just still needed that reinforcement, every now and again…

But Kaito himself lit up a little, at news that there was apparently some discourse in Danganronpa by the flora themselves, about the practice. Kaito knew very well, especially after the events of the last year, that being changed by outside forces could be as destructive as the already toxic environment and practices. If Danganronpa was going to improve, it depended on the people already invested in the culture… though having outside support could be vital. More things he wanted to pass onto Kaede and cousin Sonia… sure, they probably already knew. But Kaito couldn’t risk the possibility they didn’t. This was Miyako and Addason’s people. There wasn’t much Kaito could do about Dangranpa as an individual, but he had a stake in it now. 

“I think we can manage clingy children just fine.” Temp said softly, letting Addason have his finger, the boy clinging to it with both of his little hands as he looked up at his father with that endless, naked curiosity infants had. “And we are extremely fortunate to have you, Thalia. I’m sure our children will learn a lot from you, over the years, so long as you’re willing to endure us… on that note… if you wouldn’t mind checking again it’s about that time.” Temp said very quickly, giving Thalia a sheepish look. “Sorry.”

Kokichi glanced over at Shuuichi as well, frowning lightly. It sounded like Thalia had similar views of the whole thing as they did--which made sense, considering everything she had done for them--but…it could still be a little much, hearing her discuss it so flippantly. It was the kind of thing that Kokichi would expect to hear from someone talking about something difficult, but…probably not as much for his family, even a year later. 

{(✿˶˘ ³˘)~♡}

{I love you and you’re amazing and strong. I’m so thankful that you’re in my life.}

Sighing, Thalia gave Temp an exasperated look. “...if you’re going to ask me anyway, just say it clearly, man…geez…”

She placed her glass down on the ground next to her, not wanting to cause any preventable breakage, and tried to hype herself up a bit. Okay…it was going to be awful, but necessary. Just…try to stay a little longer, really see if it’d hold up to a determined jerk…

Sneaking through the shadows once more, Thalia reached out for Addason…

Kokichi held Alter Ego a little closer in concern as, all at once, he saw Thalia’s face drain of color, her expression cringing into what he’d guess could put to shame the expression he wore seeing wood beetles, all before she let out a very…wet-sounding hiccup, doubling over while a hand quickly went to her mouth.

“W̸̢͉̠̘͔̒͋̒̏̈ð̷̡͇͔̼̻͌̎̿͛͝r̴̛̩̗̗̟̐̆̃̄͜k̷͙̠̯̝̝͋̌̔͐͘§̸̯̻̪̳̺͆̌̈́̃͝”

Shuichi glanced over to Kokichi, his hand instinctively reaching up to his cheek, feeling a phantom image of warmth… before he smiled softly. Thinking back that it was okay, he was fine. He loved Kokichi too. He was happy that Kokichi would reach out like that. The feeling of blanket affection running through his mind always a little surprising, but a welcome surprise.

Kaito was quick to stand up and hurry over to Thalia, placing a hand on her back and grasping her shoulder to steady her, “It’s okay, it’s okay. Do you need to throw up? Come here, I’ve got you.” Kaito said, looking around for a good throw up spot and, fully intending to pick her up bridal style, said, “That bush looks like it could use fertilizing. Come on.”

“Kaito, wait, I can get her a bucket, don’t– oh, my… freaking rose bush…” Temp grumbled, as Kaito picked Thalia up and quickly brought her over to the garden, sitting her down on the other side of the bush for ‘privacy’ as he pulled back her hair, murmuring little reassurances to her as a loud retching sound filled the air. “There are other bushes, why did he pick the rose bush?”

“The colors probably attracted his eyes and he just picked the first spot that seemed ‘okay’.” Shuichi explained, wincing slightly at the retching. “And it seems to be working. What about Addason? Does he seem affected?”

Alter Ego closed their eyes, peeking in… “Doesn’t seem to have noticed anything happened at all.” They reported, opening their eyes again, “And the fog’s become a small, clear mist now. We’ll keep checking in, of course, but it looks like it's a success.”

Kokichi sighed softly, watching Kaito and Thalia go and just…relaxing back into his seat. Maybe he’d bring her a new glass of water in a moment. “Maybe having all three of us work on it was a little overkill…but better than under, I suppose. Addie has quite the iron fortress~”

An iron fortress more flexible than metal, and unlikely to give him many issues growing up. Kokichi liked to think he would’ve iterated more on his barrier but…locking away all your emotions wasn’t an ideal trade for safety. 

There was a groan from around the bush, seemingly at the prospect of checking in again, before Thalia peeked around, looking pale and miserable. “...I warned you this could happen. You can’t get mad at me, Temp.”

“I’m not mad at anyone… even if someone could have taken her to literally any of the many plain grass bushes around us…”

“Come on! Flora puke probably is great for plants! …is that speciest?” Kaito whispered to Thalia, “It was a joke, but if that’s rude I won’t say it again.”

“And, as I told you before, Thalia, I’m incredibly appreciative. I was reluctant to ask both times because I knew what an awful ask it was both times.” Temp explained, his voice sounding formal… before it lilted into his ‘modern day surfer drawl’ as he said, “My baaaaad.”

“Well, if we know it works, and we’ve waited the half hour, then it’s time to get it off the kid. Peel it off, wash him down in a warm bucket with soap, dump the toxic water safely, and then let him and Miyako wash off and play in the kiddy pool a bit.” Maki recited, standing up as she went to grab the bucket with warm water they had prepared beforehand, checking the temperature to make sure it had cooled an appropriate amount before calling to Temp, “Get him over here.”

“Allllright, Addie, let’s peel this off of you.” Temp said, getting up to bring his son over to the bucket, he and Maki fussing over him as Addason gave them both surprisingly undisturbed looks as he was carefully placed in the bucket. Terrified of large sounds, but genuinely could not care less about water, as far as nerves went. Miyako, who had been idly poking at Addason’s mind, playing with him and the new mist swirling in his mind, gave an offended little gasp on his behalf when they put him in water. {Weird toy! The Wet!} She warned. 

Addason couldn’t respond, but again, was undisturbed. Just contently sucking on his pacifier as they carefully peeled the paste away, washing the spots it left over. 

“There, there, you did great, Thalia.” Kaito praised, rubbing her back, “Seriously, what a champion.”

“It’s just kind of a bad joke,” Thalia muttered, spitting the last of the bad taste from her mouth, before giving a small, thankful nod to the shadow that had appeared beside them. Kokichi, Alter Ego perched on his shoulders, offered a new glass of water to Thalia, which she took, swishing a mouthful around. 

Regaining her breath, Thalia shot Kaito a dry look before she stood, leading the way for their brief trio to rejoin the group. Or…really just Shuuichi and Miyako, since Maki and Temp were busy washing Addason off. “Mm. I should get a trophy for this. Or…” She sighed, just barely raising her voice to reach Temp, though still trying to be quiet for Addason’s sake. “Temp, I might crash on your couch for a bit. Just so you know.”

Laughing softly, Kokichi knelt by the kiddie pool and tested the water, humming approvingly at what he found. Cool water would be a relief for most of them on a sunny day like this, but the lukewarm stuff would probably be less of a shock for the kids. And seeing the offended look on Miyako’s face already… “Aw, do you think she’s caught on already? Or just mad at what Addie’s going through, poor guy.”

“I’ve heard of dogs that will sit by people’s showers while they’re in them, whimpering and bringing them toys to ‘comfort’ them through their ‘terrible ordeal’.” Kaito grinned, following Thalia back and sitting down next to Shuichi and Miyako, playing with Miyako’s toes a little, “...uh, not that I’m comparing our baby to a dog… I just meant to say that anyone can empathize with the ordeals of bathtime. Hopefully Addason really can show her that the waters a chill place to be.”

“Of course, Thalia! I have a guest room you’re welcome to take! Heck, I have three, take your pick.” Temp murmured the last bit. 

“Your house is very ‘extra’, by the way.” Maki pointed out to him, as the two did their work, “You were a family of one, before Addason. Why do you have a house this big?”

“Mmmm… I’d like to say it’s something practical. Like perhaps I was preparing for a big family, or just over the years I found myself adding more and more space just to keep busy, but…” Temp smirked lightly, “The truth is over my lifetime I’ve lived in palaces and I’ve lived in shacks, and you know what? I prefer more space over less. I’m gaudy like that.”

“Hm.” Maki hummed, looking around, “I thought you just had a thing for ‘haunted mansions’.”

“The aesthetic doesn’t hurt. You should come visit during Harvest, I go all out. Kids go through my whole ‘haunted house’ as tests of courage to each other. And I always have a party.” 

“I’ll take you up on that.” Maki nodded, “Be warned, I have a lot of kids I’ll end up with who’ll want to go through together.”

“It’s a big place, I can handle it.” Temp said, bringing up Addie out of the water and looking him over, “There we go. Good boy. Now a quick wash with the hose, and you can go in the kiddie pool~”

“Thaaaaanks.”

Even if she did test Addason’s defense once more that day, could Thalia make it home herself? Probably. She was no ‘get stabbed right through the chest, pull yourself off the back end and walk it off like it’s nothing’, but she was made of sturdy stuff. It would just kinda suck, and it was much more enticing to curl up in her sort-of-friend (that she still wasn’t entirely sure if he actually did want to ask her out, but just kept failing at it)’s house and drink lemonade until she felt more like a person, and less like a salted slug. 

“Ah, Harvest is gonna be a lot of fun this year,” Kokichi giggled. “I mean, it was a lot of fun last year, but still. Maybe this year I’ll talk to my father about opening ceremonies, and I’ll wear a costume for the first time! It’s always looked like a lot of fun. Even if you also looked like you were freezing your butt off last year, hun.”

Standing from the pool, Kokichi gave Shuuichi a solemn nod, tacitly promising to stand by his side as they tried to rinse Miyako off and convince her to join Addie in the pool.

“I was freezing. Maki literally gave me the skimpiest costume she could find.” 

“Incorrect. One of the costumes was something called a ‘djinn’, and it was literally a bikini.” Maki said, backing up as Kaito came to join Kokichi and Shuichi, sitting on the other side of the kiddy pool to give Miyako encouraging looks in her range of sight, “I almost got it for you because it reminded me a little of those old stereotypical harem outfits you’d see in smut paintings, which I thought was appropriate for you, but Timothy talked me out of it. Said he’d have to bleach his eyes.”

“Pfffff, oh my god, oh no.” Kaito grinned, shaking his head a little, “Do you think the costume was based on Luminaries and they just gave it to a random supernatural?”

“Djinni aren’t entirely random. They’re legends from my homeland.” Temp said, finishing hosing Addason down before passing over the hose to Shuichi as he brought his son to the kiddie pool. “I’m actually a little surprised you all don’t know about them. Smoke based spirits, known for being a bit mischievous. Popular stories involving wishes? Blue.”

“Genies?” Kaito asked. “We have stories about blue smokey creatures who grant wishes named genies.”

Temp nodded, “Ah, that makes sense. The story probably changed over time, but yes, likely your genie myth came from Smoalan myths.”

“...wait,” Shuichi said, giving Temp an openly curious look at that, “Are you suggesting Luminaries come from your homeland? Smoalan?”

“Smoala, actually. You’d have never heard of it, it’s been a part of Fein for quite a long time now. But, yes. Luminary comes from Smoalan travelers crossing the ocean and being the only travelers willing to settle in a nearly barren desert. Cause they were used to it already.” Temp explained, “Before anyone asks, no, I’m not that old. But in some parts of the world the history is kept a little better, and there’s a lot of evidence that most humans began on my homeland continent and then spread out from there. Smoalan’s being the ancestors of Luminary.”

“...man, there are people back in Luminary who’d kill to have access to that information.” Kaito muttered, looking put out for a second… before grinning wide as Miyako gave a sharp, outraged gasp as water from the hose touched her knees, “Miyaaaa~ Miyako! Awwww, it’s happy baby time! We’re gonna be a happy baby while dada washes you off!”

Miyako’s lips thinned into a tight grimace. Ya wanna bet?

“That’s…bizarre,” Kokichi mused, his eyebrows pinched in his pondering. “If ‘genie’ is a version of ‘djinn’, as passed down through the ages of Smoalan ancestry…then why the heck did Diceans keep ‘djinn’? And I thought Luminary was still a mountainous region while people lived there… Maybe just more climate and continental shift, if you’re talking about the cradle of human civilization.”

Fein… Fein. 

Kokichi’s eyes went wide as he realized something. It wasn’t earth-shattering or anything, so he simply muttered to himself, “Oh…that’s why Cal-chan’s accent was familiar. Might’ve been from Fein, like Dr. Ford. Huh.”

Shaking himself from that thought-train, though, Kokichi gave his daughter a softer look. “Aw, c’mon Miyaaaaa. You’ve had fun when we’ve had bathtime together, right? After Dada gives you a rinse, you can have something even more fun than bathtime with Addie. Pool time. Like bath time, but with more splashing, and no soap.”

{⇎_⇎ Doubt.}

As Kokichi and Kaito both tried their best to reassure and distract Miyako, Addason gave happy little baby sounds as Temp knelt by the kiddle pool and kept him carefully sat up against the side of the pool, happily splashing in the water. Miyako gave the pool a particularly unimpressed look, but didn’t put up too much of a fight as they took off her diaper and washed her down, before Shuichi carefully put her down in the water. 

DING DING DING DING– “Ow, Miya.” Kaito winced, trying to keep his grin from faltering as Miyako was placed in. “Look at me and Addie~ See, this is how we can have fun in the water!” Kaito tried, putting his hands in the water and splashing it a little, grinning wide, “Little splashy baby!”

Miyako gave Kaito an increasingly pissed off look… before her mental radar put its focus back on Addason… 

…Weird Toy was having a lot of fun…

Kaito lit up, as after some time, Miyako started copying Addason, the two babies squealing as they Controlled The Wet.

-

Eventually, after the babies had quite a lot of fun playing together in the pool--or, really, playing with their parents, and occasionally accidentally splashing each other and being surprised by that water coming out of nowhere--the royal family left Temp, Addason, Alter Ego, and a crashed Thalia at Temp’s house to make their way back home. Miyako was all tuckered out, curled up in her sling against Dad’s chest, lucky girl, and it’d be good to get back without too much delay…but the fact that the summer weather would be ending soon was hitting Kokichi hard, and he asked for their group to stop by one of the smoothie and fruit snack stands which would disappear once the season ended, wanting to make the most of it. 

“Awww, Miyaaaa~ Such a sleepy baby~” Kaito whispered, having taken up ‘baby sling’ duty, since Miyako liked to sleep against his chest. Her ear was pressed against his chest, listening to the soothing thumps of his heart, all tuckered out from a long day and her first real playdate. He was so proud of her. 

The group was waiting in the relatively short line for the smoothie stand, but long enough to chat with each other a bit. Shuichi was holding Kokichi’s hand, also a little tuckered out from a full day, before turning his sleepy gaze to Kaito, “How did Miss Crystal go this morning? Get your report?”

“...I mean,” Kaito sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, “Yeah. Though… she insisted the report said that my…” Kaito looked around a little, before whispering so lowly that he might as well have been mouthing, “self-harming habits were being successfully managed. Not, like… non-existent. I debated her for a while about it, but she wouldn’t budge. Said my reasons for performing all my prayers the way I did were word for word the textbook definition of self-harm.”

“What does that mean?” Maki asked, “What’s the definition?”

“Like…” Kaito frowned, shrugging, “I guess a really common reason for it is trying to exert control over your life when you feel trapped? Like, it’s an outward way of expressing frustration with something that you can’t express your feelings about in a healthy way, typically. She thinks mixing prayer with self-harm was just a personal ritual that I developed to vent my frustration with things I didn’t have control over.”

“...okay, but you know that makes sense for you, right?” Maki said. “You were bloodletting daily.”

“I knew other people who did that! …Korekiyo did that!”

“Korekiyo was a sadomasochist.” Shuichi pointed out. “He was obsessed with pain.”

“..... okay, bad example.” Kaito muttered.

Kokichi nodded, his lips turned down slightly. “That’s the same reason my over-working and…like, everything I did that was bad for my health--why Dr. Egami and I talk about it in terms of self-harm. I never really consciously thought to myself, hey, I’m going to harm myself on purpose, but…they were things I did to try and exert control over my life. It’s hard to catch those things in the moment, sometimes.”

Sighing softly, Kokichi touched Kaito’s arm. “I’m sorry for putting you on the spot for all this…but I’m not sorry for asking Dr. Verassing to look at your chest, and…I’m not sorry that this stuff is going to be recorded for you. I genuinely think it’ll be a help through your health journey in the future. And…it does help having more people, if not hold you accountable, then know what’s going on, for this kind of stuff. Even if it’s annoying and frustrating sometimes.”

“You were just looking out for me, babe.” Kaito said, only not leaning over to give Kokichi a kiss because he didn’t wanna disturb the baby too much, “And it wouldn’t have happened at all if I hadn’t insisted we go to medical to check on you after a fainting spell. Really, I screwed myself.”

“Oh, speaking of, how’d it go with the smelling salts? Did they work alright?” Maki asked, looking to Shuichi.

“.....”

Maki raised an eyebrow, “The smelling salts I specifically bought for you so that you could wake Kokichi up right away from a fainting spell? You keep them in your inner pockets?”

“...............” Shuichi coughed, looking away. “We’re up next. I’ll go first.” 

“Dicea has made you sloppy.”

“I left it in my other… other jacket.”

“Uh huh. Alongside your key, huh?” Kaito chuckled.

“What?”

“What? Hi!” Kaito said, stepping ahead to the counter, grinning wide, “Can I get an orange-vanilla smoothie? Thanks! Kokichi, what you want babe, I’ll treat.”

Kokichi was willing to go get checked out in the medical wing for more minor things--the just in case clause--but…he had to admit. It felt even better going if he could bring up his own health concerns for his partners at the same time. They were all going to be healthy if they had to drag each other kicking and screaming, damnit!

Snorting to himself, Kokichi made a pleased sound, giving the vendor a smile. “Oh, thanks! I’d like a blueberry lemon smoothie, please.”

As they shuffled off to the side to wait for their drinks, Kokichi noticed an excited noise behind him, and he turned to see an older woman coming closer with a wave. “Oh, oh, Prince Kokichi! And the whole mishpocheh! Look at you!”

Smiling a little more, Kokichi waved back. “Shoylem, bubbe. We’re just enjoying the last bit of summer before heading home--a good day for it, huh?”

“You’re saying, miho! Ah, you’re all so beautiful, just a picture and a half with these ones, eh?” she chuckled, gesturing to Kaito and Miyako. 

Kaito gave the woman a startled look, but all the Luminaries did what they usually did when the Kokichi fanbase showed up: started to blend into the background, Maki watching carefully and openly, Shuichi watching by trying to pretend he wasn’t, and Kaito throwing an entirely performative smile onto his face, just trying to look non-threatening. 

It was disrupted a little bit, though, as the smoothie guy asked Shuichi and Maki what they wanted. Interrupted, Shuichi and Maki went to give their orders, and Kaito, as the woman gestured to him and Miyako, felt compelled to answer, “Oh, thank you! Uh, this is Miyako, she’s a little tuckered out right now.” Kaito said, as way of explanation for the sleeping baby, before bowing his head respectfully, “And my name is Kaito. How do you know our Kokichi?”

“Ah, a charmer, the both of ya, though,” she gave him a warm, yet incredulous look, “Kokichi’s our local celebrity, yeah?! Not all that had to find when you’ve brought the whole tripulacion out to wreck the street, eh?”

“Speaking of, when are you getting the family portrait? I see doctors, architects, every maven in the whole country in the paper, but the only picture we have of you all is just the two of you with paper faces.”

Kokichi laughed sheepishly. “We have been thinking about it, but we wanted to wait for Miya, and--”

“And she’s here, no?” the woman laughed. “Oh, my grandson--he’s a…a whatchamacallit, he does those fancy portraits. Photographer! Does all these artsy pictures of rivers and buildings, oh, but his people! Wonderful work, mi nieto. Just moved back into the city, finally shook off that young person wanderlust. Couldn’t be bothered to visit his poor, lonely nonna for years, feh! But my boy’s finally back, came with a girlfriend too! She’s a good one, I’ll tell you, making sure my Henry’s visiting everyone again--I’ll be getting great-grandkids before I’m dead!”

The woman laughed again, searching through her back before offering a small slip of paper to Kokichi. “You talk with my boy, principe, and get that portrait! You’re too beautiful to keep it all to yourself! Enjoy your drinks, Prince Kokichi, Prince Kaito, and poco Miyako!”

Kokichi waved, a little overwhelmed, but pleasantly, before he looked at the card. 

Henery Townsend

Portrait Photography

…they did say they wanted to get a family picture…

Kaito grinned, every other word confusing him a little, but he was pretty sure he was keeping up with context. And, while he couldn’t quite get a word in edgewise– she spoke quickly and like she was used to not being interrupted– he nodded along at the appropriate times… before his eyes lit up a little. Leaning forward to look at the card over Kokichi’s shoulder, grinning wider. “Oooooh,” He whispered, sounding excited.

The four of them got their drinks, stepping aside down the road, as Kaito said excitedly, “‘Kichi! We gotta! Miyako gets bigger every day, we gotta immortalize her in these teeny tiny years!”

“I’ve never said no,” Kokichi laughed softly. “But…this does make one part of it easier. I’ll admit, I hadn’t exactly been looking around for a photographer. It’d be nice to finally get our family portrait, though…and I’ve heard posing for a picture is a lot more comfortable than posing for a painter.”

Giving a more sheepish look to Maki and Shuuichi, Kokichi half-shrugged. “That woman said that he just moved back to town… Might not be a lot of records to do a background check for. But…what do you guys think? Willing to get our picture?”

“I’ve actually put a considerable amount of thought and time into thinking about how one would commit an assassination through photography.” Maki said, entirely sincere as Shuichi nodded along with her, sipping at his smoothie, “To the point where I have a few blueprints and thought experiments in a binder back at my room. Well… that and a few more easy to find ‘dummy’ versions for snoops who want to learn my tricks. Shuichi knows.”

“I do.” Shuichi said, “She always wants to try trial runs on me.”

“I do.” Maki agreed, “Non-lethal. Obviously.”

“Damn straight.” Kaito muttered.

“Anyway, my point is that photography is a very effective form of assassination… but it depends entirely on no one who knows what they’re looking for inspecting the camera beforehand. And I would know what I’m looking for. All that to say: I’m not worried about the background check, so long as I’m allowed to inspect the camera. I’ll show Nazumi what I’m looking for too, so she can do it in the future.”

“I like those odds. Think we can convince this Henry person to let Maki inspect his camera? Probably would just need a request from the ‘local celebrity’, the famous and beautiful Prince Kokichi Ouma.” Kaito grinned, nudging him.

Kokichi raised an eyebrow, before slowly nodding as he considered it more. Get everyone in a relatively small, condensed space, where they’d be standing still and looking one direction? Even without getting creative having the photographer themself do the job, it was a perfect setting for an assassination. Hmm…they’d have to talk about a good place to take the pictures. 

Shooting Kaito an embarrassed look, Kokichi sighed sheepishly. “I can ask, of course. I mean…we’d probably need to set up a meeting to talk over rates and what we’d want from the photos anyway. I’ve only ever gotten commissions from Denji-chan, so…it’d be good practice, at least, negotiating a more official transaction.”

“Yes! That sounds like a guarantee to me! Eeeee!” Kaito grinned, petting the back of Miyako’s hair as he coo’d, “We’re gonna get our photos done, Miyaaaaa~ I gotta buy you an outfit! A portrait outfit. Gah, what are we going to wear, Miya? Do you wanna coordinate our outfits? Yes? Shuichi, you heard her say yes, right? Oooooh, maybe we could have a theme!”

“I’m going to hold back and only ruin your hopes and dreams once I find out what that actually looks like.” Shuichi said, “For now, you’re allowed to believe we’ll have a themed outfit.”

“Awww, so sweet.” Kaito snickered, “You all will see, once you see how cute we’d all look in coordinated outfits, you’ll all be on board!”

“Is this a photo of you, Shuichi, Kokichi and Miyako?” Maki asked carefully. 

“Oh, oh, we should get three photos! One with the whole family, and then two with me and each side of my children's family… and all three photos have a different outfit theme.” Kaito whispered, eyes sparkling, “Three photo outfits.”

Kokichi looked over at Maki, smiling hopefully. “I’d love to get a picture of the three of us, and you and Tim, if it doesn’t bother you. Not exactly the whole family, but this…generation of it?” He scrunched his nose. “That doesn’t quite feel like the right word, but…you get what I’m going for, right?”

“I suppose we’re not just limited to one picture, though, huh?” he mused. “Depending on the rates, we could probably get a few… Ones we’d want just for us, then…yeah, probably a more official portrait.”

Kokichi sent Shuuichi a semi-apologetic look. “Sorry for bringin’ the spotlight on you again, sweetheart.”

They could just never release images of themselves to the public--it wasn’t like there were laws dictating that the leaders and their families had to plaster their faces everywhere. But…it was expected. At least one released image of the royal family, and semi-regular images of the leader themself, usually with the heir at some point. It was something that raised morale--the same sort of thinking that went with answering personal letters. If people could place a face to the leader, it would feel more like there were actual people taking care of their needs, instead of just distant concepts. 

And especially getting a photograph…it would be a good look, to show that they were embracing technology. The leaders were keeping up with the evolution of the country!

…but, mostly, Kokichi just wanted that kind of record. Something they could look back on when their kids were older, and reminisce. Kokichi knew he had always been thankful for the portraits of his mother as he was growing up. He might’ve never known her…but somehow her face became familiar anyway.

“It’s fine. I just didn’t want to assume.” Maki shrugged.

“Oh, can we get one with Timothy holding Miyako!? Oh, that’d be so cute, and, oh man, you think we could get him and the girls to take a picture together? If the friendship lasts, I bet they’d love a picture of them at the age they met at! Aw, and maybe one with Miya and Granpa Ikuo and–”

“I think we should just let him daydream to get it all out of his system.” Shuichi whispered to Kokichi, as Kaito continued to excitedly ramble about more and more possible picture combinations. Taking Kokichi’s hand as he sipped at his smoothie with the other, he gave Kokichi a small smile at the apology, “It’s alright. One of the drawbacks of being married to princes’. But I’ll be okay… ngh,” Shuichi looked down at himself, frowning, “Probably unrealistic to think I could lose enough weight before then to look relatively myself, huh?”

“I told you, Shuichi, if the extra weight really bothers you, let me help.” Maki said, rolling her eyes, “It’s not getting better on its own.”

“Would it help if I said I think the extra weight looks nice?” Kaito asked, grinning sheepishly as Shuichi shot him a dry look, “What? It does! I think you carry it really well, and honestly I don’t think it’s as an extreme a difference as you see in your own head. You don’t look ‘unlike’ yourself.”

“And you have ‘Kaito Goggles’, so I’m sure to you I don’t.” Shuichi huffed, “But I see the difference every time I look in the mirror. I know I don’t look ‘bad’, but it’s still disquieting.”

Kaito and Maki both shot each others Looks at that. Knowing there was no real winning here. Eventually Shuichi would either have to decide to make an effort, or decide he really didn’t mind wearing the extra weight… and until he made a decision, it’d be talking to a brick wall. 

It would, theoretically, be nice to get pictures of everyone, in every combination, but…even as business, Kokichi would feel awkward about booking an entire day of pictures, and trying to manage everyone in nice dress, not to mention how much it would all cost… It wasn’t like Kokichi was all that worried about his upcoming date with Shuuichi, but he was still keeping a close eye on his finances after their anniversary party. 

But daydreaming was easy and free, and something they probably couldn’t stop Kaito doing if they tried. Giggling softly, Kokichi gave Shuuichi a nod and squeezed his hand affectionately, though he soon gave his fiance a soft look. “If we get our act together and have the photography session soon? I’d be more worried about you losing all that much than anything.”

Sighing softly, he rested his head on Shuuichi’s shoulder. “Our schedules are only gonna get more packed… It’s not like I can go running in the morning unless I wanna get even less sleep than I already do, and I know it’d be a fool’s errand to ask you to work out with me right after you get off Miya duty,” he giggled. “I think, for now… If we both end up with free afternoons--like around 3 or 4? Would you like to go running with me? I’ve been trying to think about times I can get more exercise in, lately.”

Shuichi’s nose wrinkled a little… before he sighed and nodded his head, “If you don’t mind that ‘running’ for me will probably end up looking like ‘trotting’ for the first few days, then sure. I’m just not up to doing what our family jocks do.”

“Hey, I can trot! I can do a casual, easy pace!” Kaito said, turning to walk backwards as he gave Shuichi a small pout… before grinning down at his daughter on his chest, who was snuffling away in her sleep, “But Miyaaaa~ Loves the run! How can I deny her? She gets so excited.”

“Are you all going to do the Lake and Nazumi thing soon?” Maki asked. 

Kaito gave her a startled look, stumbling slightly in his backwards walk as he protected Miyako’s head and neck from the slightly jerking motion of getting his feet back, going back to walking beside her as he said, “Wow, what brought that up?”

“I don’t know. Just came to mind.” Maki shrugged, “Shuichi and I were talking about it the other day, and something about all of this just made me think it was about time you all figured that out.”

“...was it seeing me being an amazing godfather?” Kaito huffed, looking a little defensive, “Because I am an amazing godfather. Oh! Ooooh, I want a picture with Temp and Addason too… oh! It would be so cute if we could get the two babies playing with a toy together and–”

“Focus, Kaito. I’m serious. It’s stupid you all haven’t worked this out yet.” Maki said dryly, snapping her fingers at him to get him out of his head. “You all see Lake and Nazumi literally all the time. Just have a conversation with them.”

“That works for me too,” Kokichi laughed brightly. “I need to work on endurance more than speed anyway. Taking it slower, but going for longer seems just right.” With a furtive glance at said jocks, Kokichi straightened, walking on his tip-toes to get closer to Shuuichi’s ear, whispering to him, “And we can get treats in town, if we go that far. Need to re-fuel after a workout, right?”

While his days already were pretty chalk full, it was nice planning for another regular thing…but it did make planning for one-offs a little harder. 

Sighing, Kokichi pressed the side of his smoothie cup to his forehead. “Yeah… Man, we really need to get that calendar. Well…okay, Shuu-chan and I are gonna be busy tomorrow, and my dad’s birthday is the day after and…I mean, we could do it then, but I do wanna spend time with him… Other than work, and our regular appointments, next week is pretty free, I think. We should figure out a good time then, if that works?” he glanced up between Shuuichi and Kaito.

Shuichi nodded, undisturbed, and Kaito after a beat grinned uneasily and nodded as well. “Yep! Sounds good… wait, it’s Ikuo’s birthday the day after tomorrow?” Kaito asked, eyebrows shooting up into his forehead a little, “What is he turning? …seventy? Seventy-one?”

Both Maki and Shuichi stared at Kaito for that one. “...that ones a joke.” Maki decided, narrowing her eyes, “But I think it’s a joke covering up the fact that you really have no idea how old he is.”

“...fiiiiiifty?” Kaito tried.

Kokichi snorted into a small giggling fit, before giving Kaito a grin. “Close. He’s turning 46 this year.”

With a sigh, he shook his head a little. “He’s said that the milestones don’t really matter, aside from each new decade, for as much as they do, but…I dunno, 45 seemed special to me. His birthday was so close to when the veterans were returning last year, I was really worried my letter didn’t make it…” Kokichi pouted for a moment before brightening. “But apparently the letter circled all around while they were in transit, so he did end up getting it. Even if we were able to talk to each other a few days later, I’m still glad that it made its way into his hands.”

Especially since Kokichi had written the letter before they headed to their trip to the coast and…when they returned, and Kokichi was able to speak with his dad in person, he…was in a bit of a different mindset. Still, Ikuo still said that being reunited with him was worth more than fifty birthday presents. Even a little shell-shocked and traumatized. 

“Ha! I wasn’t that far off!” Kaito grinned, giving his friends a triumphant look, “‘Kaito Goggles’ aren’t that far off! Aww, but it’s grandpa Ikuo’s birthday… Kokichi you should spend some time with him.” Kaito pressed, giving his husband an earnest look, “It’s his first birthday back in ten years, you guys can have more fun than letters. You two could do something nice! Like… play….” Kaito squinted a little, “...croquet.”

“...... okay I need to know the thought process there–”

“It’s not that complicated Shuichi! It’s just a nice game! Low key!”

“Didn’t you break someone’s jaw playing croquet once?” Maki recalled.

Kaito’s expression darkened at that. “And I’d do it again. Screw Tony… but yeah! Kokichi, if you want me to take over Miya duty that day, you should spend it with your dad!”

Kokichi shook his head lightly. His family really did have the craziest stories. 

“I appreciate it, hun. I might ask you to take over at least some of my afternoon shift.” Looking a little sheepish, Kokichi pressed his smoothie cup into his neck, his other hand still happily entangled with Shuuichi’s. “We’ve been talking about it, but we never made any solid plans. I know some of his friends in his Tai Chi group are gonna do a little something for him in the morning, so he said don’t stress out about getting out of work early, but…I dunno.”

Tilting his head side to side slowly, a small, nostalgic smile worked its way across Kokichi’s face. “I think it could be nice to go to the bird society and get a bag of seed, or peas, and feed some ducks and talk together. Maybe get tea. I know the kitchen staff are gonna be preparing a special menu for dinner, so I wouldn’t wanna take him out for a full meal or anything.”

“Aw, yeah. That’s one of the things Maki and I did when we went out for… my parents anniversary.” Kaito decided to call it, patting Miyako’s back a little, “I’d recommend it, it was relaxing.”

“You guys went out bird feeding?” Shuichi asked, giving Maki an incredulous look, who shrugged, “That’s… sort of out of character for you two.”

“We couldn’t figure out what to do with the day. We tried a few different things. One thing led to another and we ended up at the lake feeding ducks.” Maki said, sipping at her drink, “It’s not like Kaito and I have ‘our spots’ anymore. We were lucky we didn’t end up back at the castle after a few hours, honestly.”

“It was a good day.” Kaito insisted, giving Maki a small, grateful look, “I’m glad you stuck it out with me, even if we ended up floundering a lot of it. But yeah! The bird feeding scene around here? Top notch! I bet you two would have fun… being cute and sweet… out in the sun on a breezy day…” Kaito’s eyes went distant, “...wearing airy, loose clothes–”

“Kaito.”

“I’m just saying I’m sure they’d have fun!”

-

“What about this one?” Shuichi asked, coming out in a different button-up shirt, a thin, white neckerchief tied up into a loose bow with long tails beneath his collar. His button-up tucked into sensible, dark pants that were cleanly pressed and led down to smart, sharp black leather shoes.

“Even better than the blazer.” Kaito praised, this being the fourth outfit that had each been ‘better than the last’, taking Miyako’s hands and clapping them together as she sat in his lap, “And, if I can make a wild suggestion… it’d look perfect without the hat.”

Shuichi frowned, looking at himself in the mirror, as he took off his signature hat. “...do you think so?”

“Come on, handsome, you go whole days without wearing it at all when you’re just with us. Why not let your pretty, reality-defying, perpetually coifed and conditioned hair fly free in the wind for date night?” Kaito goaded, playing with Miyako’s little heart-shaped cowlick as he said, “You know Kokichi loves your hair.”

“He does…” Shuichi murmured, taking off his hat and looking at himself in the mirror, “...what if I get nervous?”

“Then tell Kokichi and let him fuss over you and feel pampered until the nerves go away.” Kaito grinned, “You look amazing. You two are going to have so much fun.”

“I’m excited…” Shuichi agreed, before looking earnestly at Kaito, “Any advice? It’s… kind of my first date…”

“Oh! Um…” Kaito tilted his head, thinking about it, “You can do first base, second base base, and if you want to even a home run for the first date, but NEVER third! Third base is NOT for first dates, and if this Kokichi boy tries to pressure you into it, you let me know and I’ll have a word with him.”

“I… okay, at some point I desperately need to hear your explanation for that, but come on, Kaito, I’m serious.”

“Alright, alright. My advice is to not take anything terribly serious.” Kaito grinned, watching Shuichi fuss with the necktie, “It’s not gonna go perfect, and it doesn’t have too. Just deal with it when there’s hiccups, and let yourself relax and enjoy the good parts of it at face value. And remember that even if people are watching Kokichi, your date’s not actually on display, and you don’t have to feel like you’re keeping up appearances or putting on a show. No one really cares what you’re doing, it’s okay to pretend like you two really are the only people in the room… to an extent. An extent I’m sure you would never hit on your own, honestly, I just need the extent reminder because I get handsy when I’m alone with my dates… ya know what I mean. Don’t put on a show, but maybe remember that you’re not literally alone… scratch all of that, don’t overthink it, you don’t have a ‘likes PDA too much’ problem anyway.”

“No kidding.” Shuichi muttered, rolling his eyes a little, though he gave Kaito a quick kiss, “I really look alright?”

“You do.” Kaito grinned, “This Ouma kids a lucky guy… though if he gets too forward, chop him in the throat and kick him in the balls!”

“Kaito.”

-

As Kokichi had promised, they took the carriage out. And while Kaito had been kidding about treating Kokichi like a stranger… Shuichi had actually found himself surprisingly shy on the trip so far. The two making small talk as Nazumi drove them out into the pumpkin fields, heading to the cemetery that the vineyard had been grown through. Shuichi tugging at his bangs a little as he said softly, “We’re lucky. It looks like the weather’s going to hold up tonight. I heard rumors it could rain today and got a little worried…”

While Shuuichi had more than kept his hands to himself, Kokichi found himself going moony-eyed over Shuuichi the moment he’d met him out front by the carriage. Shuuichi dressed formally--in Kokichi’s opinion--most of the time, but it was clear that he’d chosen this particular outfit as a step up even from that and…woooow. Wow, what a hottie. So suave and beautiful…

…Kokichi was glad he had given his outfit a second thought. It still wasn’t quite as formal as Shuuichi’s, but the pressed, high-waisted blue slacks, yellow button down chemise under a dark blue long jacket and blue paisley ascot… Well, it was certainly more eye-grabbing than Shuuichi’s, but it was still nice. Very different styles, but Kokichi thought that they looked nice together anyway.

Glancing out the window, the sky a little too clear to really be called overcast, Kokichi giggled softly, looking relieved. “Really. I did pack a big umbrella, just in case, and the restaurant is gonna be inside…but I really am looking forward to seeing the full vineyard. It’d still be fun just looking at the processing areas, but not the same.”

“I’m so excited~” Kokichi did a little, yes, excited wiggle, before he leaned towards Shuuichi adoringly again. “I’ll keep saying it too--you look incredible, Shuu-chan. Such a handsome guy I’ve somehow managed to snag.”

Shuichi flushed a little at that, clasping his hands together on his lap and looking away shyly, “Thank you. Your outfit is… is it new?” Shuichi asked, looking at the variety of items on his fiance, “Sometimes I forget how much clothes you actually have. I saw Kaito gaping at you when he walked us off, and got the sense he hasn’t seen this one either. It’s nice. Yellow is a good color on you.”

Kokichi giggled, beaming wide. “Thanks! I’ve had the shirt for a while, but the pants and jacket are new. And Denji-chan made the scarf. I like how bright yellow is--especially in the winter, it’s like bringing a little bit of sunlight along with you wherever you go.”

Looking a little more sheepish, he admitted, “I asked them for help putting this together. I do think a lot of my outfits are nice, but…” Kokichi gestured to Shuuichi. “You’re always so…classy. And pretty. And I really wanted to put some effort into…well, not matching you, obviously, but…matching the level, I guess. I like to think I’m usually pretty confident in my clothes, but I wanted to be able to stand next to you and have us both feeling proud, you know?”

“I do think my sibling would be a little more fussy if they knew you were gonna wear all black, though,” he snickered. “But I think we look nice contrasting!”

Shuichi laughed lightly at that, looking down at himself, “It’s not all black… the necktie is a very dark blue… though I do see what you mean. And I think we make a very nice looking couple. You’d look very odd in all dark colors anyway, I’d think. I really can’t imagine you in an outfit like that.”

Shuichi peeked out the window, seeing lantern lights in the distance, beyond the thick vines of the unripened pumpkin fields. They were getting close, and honestly, Shuichi loved the atmosphere. He had never seen a pumpkin field in real life before, and seeing the thick, twisting green vines over the field of carefully tilled dirt, the forest and mountains off on the horizons, was both oddly somber and almost a little playful. He was still glad they hadn’t walked, but he could see a trip on foot down this pathway being soothing, in its own way. “We should come back here in the fall, when the pumpkins have ripened. I bet this place is beautiful that time of year.” Shuichi said softly.

…before snickering a little, “I bet we could pull a prank on Kaito. With the cemetery nearby, we could probably really spook him. Temp’s cemetery is too nice looking to pull it off, we need something eerie to really get in his head.”

Shuichi was entirely pleased with his own idea… before he balked. Looking embarrassed as he said, “Sorry. I forgot we’re not supposed to talk about the rest of the family. It’s my own request and I broke it almost immediately.”

“Mmm…I think I should give it a shot one of these days, just to see what I’d look like,” Kokichi laughed. “Yanno, I really thought I’d be more in the habit of stealing your clothes, but apparently that’s just not the kind of romantic I am. Maybe I should wrap myself in a prime Shuu-chan jacket one of these days, bask in the fiance-ness of it.”

Maybe it was because Shuuichi had a lot of button-downs, and Kokichi had never really considered those “chilling out” shirts, which was what partner clothes were for. But Kaito had plenty of pullover shirts too, and Kokichi hadn’t taken any of those either. 

Following Shuuichi’s gaze out the window, Kokichi hummed in awed concurrence. “I know you guys were here for fall last year, but…I dunno. I’m excited all over again so share everything the season has to offer with you. I heard that there’s sometimes a giant produce competition in Thatchfield--I had no idea pumpkins could even get, like 500 pounds, but…hey, they can! Though I don’t think these guys’ll get that big.”

Kokichi looked excited at Shuuichi’s plan, his mouth open to comment…before he deflated, shaking his head a little with an exasperated smile. “It’s hard, isn’t it? But…yeah. I’d love to come back here when everything’s in season…with all the plans we may or may not make.”

Shuichi nodded, once again finding himself brushing his hand down his bangs, shifting them over his eyes a little, “It’s hard. I just don’t want to end up talking about Kaito or Maki even, for the rest of the date. They’re, along with Miyako, the biggest things we have in common… but I want to find other things we have in common. I want to get to know you, Kokichi. Whatever that might end up meaning.”

“We are engaged, after all.” Shuichi mused, giving Kokichi a small smile, “I know we can’t know everything about each other, and like Oliver said, by this point it’d be a bit sad if we did… but I’d like to know more. Such as…”

Shuichi paused, thinking about it. The carriere bumping and vibrating lightly beneath them as he tried to think… “Okay, a simple one, but one I don’t know: what’s your favorite color? Is it yellow?”

Kokichi’s smile softened, and he leaned against Shuuichi’s arm for a moment, though he left his hand close to Shuuichi’s thigh. “We probably could spend the rest of our lives talking about stuff that involves our family too…but you’re right. I’d like to know Shuu-chan, and have endless conversations on just…stuff that we like. Natural or guided or…whatever.”

Giving a little laugh at the question, Kokichi hummed in thought. “I feel like someone asked me this not all that long ago… And I think my answer’s still around the same--I don’t think I really have a favorite color. If I get to cheat a little, I’d say rainbow. I just…like things that are really colorful, and while there are things about every color I can find to like, it’s not really the specific color that makes me like it, you know? Things that are colorful are just…fun to me. I can’t help but be happy when I see them.”

Humming a little more, Kokichi squinted at his partner suspiciously, looking over him as if his answer could be found embroidered into his collar. “...you know, I feel like you told me yours once, and said it was, like…silver? Was it silver? I feel like there was some pedantic debate on what actually constitutes a color.”

Shuichi raised an eyebrow a little, before smirking slightly, “Rainbow is a bit of a cheat answer, but I think I understand it. Have you ever seen a prism light? We made one in our junior year science class. You take a clear, crystal pyramid, and shine a concentrated beam of white light into it in a dark space, and out the other side, came a rainbow… but the light was so concentrated that, honestly? Calling the rainbow it’s own color made a lot of sense. The various shades twisting and blending into each other that differentiating them would have been a little performative. It wasn’t a bunch of different colors… it was a rainbow. If you haven’t done that experiment, you should.”

Shuichi gave Kokichi a mildly surprised look… before sighing. Shrugging a little as he admitted, “If this conversation was post-spore, then, well… it can be a little tricky for me to remember. My memory’s not bad these days, but…” Shuichi sighed, “...it’s not photogenic anymore. It’s been a little tricky, not finding every ‘missing’ memory alarming… sorry. That’s too serious an answer for your question. No, I don’t remember this conversation. But, yes,” Shuichi smiled, “I do like the color silver quite a bit. I know it’s a ‘muted’ color, but honestly, I don’t see the difference between silver’s flashiness or pinks. They’re both equally rare in the natural world, and both can be quite beautiful in the correct context…”

Shuichi’s eyes lidded slightly. “For what a nightmare it ended up being? …the Dead Forest really was remarkably beautiful. I spent our trip through it in Danganronpa equal parts terrified and enchanted. I recall Kaito and I sitting in the back of our traveling caravan, while the moon was rising, just watching the moonlight glisten against the newly sprouted leaves. Spring had come and gone, but some of the leaves were still flowers waiting to bloom, tiny and silver and practically shining in their near-white coloring… it really was breathtaking.”

“Ohhh…” Kokichi’s eyes widened a little in wonder. “I’ve seen rainbows form through windows, or, like, when someone’s wearing really sparkly jewelry… But I bet making one on purpose is even better. Maybe I can make an excuse to have a fun science day and try out all the lab demonstrations I missed. I did do some, but I know there are probably a lot of fun ones out there.”

He just barely caught himself from saying that he’d make a fun science day for the kids. Kokichi knew he didn’t really need an excuse to try out those kinds of experiments, but…when he and Timothy made that water compass together on his birthday? It had been a lot of fun. He loved being able to do little things like that with them, just like the archive trip. 

Kokichi didn’t end up apologizing, knowing they had been down that road enough--and he definitely knew that getting into a truly serious conversation was exactly the kind of thing Shuuichi wanted to avoid on their date, the same as talking about their family--but…he still did give Shuuichi a moderately guilty look, when he commented on his memory. Of all the things Kokichi truly didn’t regret about creating anti-conditioning measures…he did feel bad about Shuuichi’s memory. He knew it was something Shuuichi really had prided himself on and…it didn’t feel great, taking that away. 

But…it was worth giving Shuuichi the freedom of his information back. (At least he hoped so.)

“I agree, mostly…but I can mix really nice pinks in paint,” Kokichi giggled. “Can’t do that with silver, unless you get mineral powder to mix, and then you gotta have special brushes just for that kind of paint. Otherwise, you can’t paint silver--only greys that you put really finicky highlights on… Though,” Kokichi shrugged, “I suppose you could still say that about most colors. Everything is all about the shadows and highlights and reflected light.”

Knowing what it was capable of, Kokichi didn’t think he ever wanted to visit the Dead Forest in person, but… He sighed wistfully. “...when Kai-chan first described it to me…it really sounded like a place out of a fantasy novel. I couldn’t believe black trees with silver leaves could really…exist, I guess.” A bittersweet smile twisted his lips. “...if I didn’t think it’d cause more bad memories than good ones, I’d love to try painting it. There are a lot of incredible, breath-taking, astounding places in the world…but I think that’s one of the more unique ones.”

“...I would say like sulfur lakes, but I think there are more than a few of those, across the world.”

“I don’t think I’d want to go back myself, even in a memory. Too difficult. But perhaps you could ask one of the others to show you. It really was worth seeing.” Shuichi said, his body relaxing a little as Kokichi moved the conversation forward. “Now, sulfur lakes feels like something out of a fantasy novel. I saw a painting of one once by an artist who swears she saw it in real life, and I still don’t believe her. A warm, natural hotspring in bright blue, greens and gold? Mmmm, I could relax in that all day. Oh, I miss the hot tub.” Shuichi sighed, suddenly looking longing, “And the hot spring. I need summer to be over so I can start floating in warm water again. Still can’t believe no one told me about the hot tub for so long. ‘Thought I already knew’, honestly, Kaito. Swollen ankles and swollen hips and he thinks I just wouldn’t have been in the hot tub that whole time. One of you is carrying the next damn baby.”

“I know, right?! There was an illustration in one of my travel books, I can show you when we get home, that showed them and I went on a tear looking in every reference I could find to confirm they were real,” Kokichi chattered excitedly. “I mean…you guys even pointed out to me that the hot springs in the mountains have sulfur in them, so it makes sense, but the colors! I’d mouth-breathe all I could just to stay around to look at them…”

Giggling sheepishly, Kokichi scooted closer to Shuuichi, putting an arm around his no-longer-swollen hips and holding him close for a moment. “You’re out of baby-duty for life, promise. Though, I’m looking forward to spending more hot tub and sauna time together this year. Maybe even taking another trip to the hot springs too--there are a lot of other really amazing sightseeing spots in the mountains, and it’d be lovely to check ‘em out, then go relax the hiking off in a hot spring~”

“We’re pretty versed in having fun in those kinds of places, though,” he snickered, sneaking a kiss onto Shuuichi’s cheek.

Shuichi put his hand over his mouth, laughing behind his hand even as he grinned a little sheepishly, “Honestly, how did you and I end up, um… well, it’s not terribly practical is it, messing around in places like that. I still feel a bit bad at how dizzy you got… but I’ll admit, it’s hard to regret that act itself.” He said, a pleased pink spreading across his pale skin at the small kiss. “I still sometimes… well.” 

Shuichi turned away, again feeling oddly shy. Perhaps it was just because they were out of the castle and, well, Kaito wasn’t there to make the overt flirting feel normal. In truth, he found himself thinking about Kokichi, well… a lot. More than he suspected Kokichi, even with his abilities, could guess. Shuichi didn’t feel the heat of his arousal with the same instant intensity Kaito did, but… that didn’t mean he wasn’t often attracted to or admiring his partners. Kokichi just as often as Kaito. He just didn’t express it very often, it, annoyingly enough, often more early in the day, when they were all busy. He guessed it was just the way his hormones worked, more revved up the more well rested he was.

… perhaps he’d have some coffee, when they arrived. Which, it looked like, was going to be soon, as the carriage turned off the main path they were on, the bright, twinkling lantern lights getting brighter and warmer as Nazumi took them down the path to the vineyard. 

Still, Shuichi managed to give Kokichi a coy look, as he said softly, “You know, Kaito said the oddest thing, when I asked him for advice on the date. Said I could let that ‘Kokichi boy’ get to first or second, or homerun if I wanted, but under no circumstance could I let you do third. And that if you tried it I should tell him and he’d have a ‘word’ with you… I know he was teasing, but isn’t that odd?”

“...you know,” Shuichi said softly, leaning in to Kokichi. Not quite kissing him, but close. “This will be my first real date. You better treat me well, Kokichi Ouma.”

Kokichi grinned a little more, happily touched with the swell of affectionate and amorous feelings coming from Shuuichi. Talking in terms of intensity, comparing his partners, didn’t seem quite…accurate, or helpful, really. They just felt emotions different ways. And while Shuuichi’s affection never felt like it was going to eat him alive, as Kaito’s did sometimes, it was still warm and precious, and Kokichi loved every moment he caught a brush of it. 

“I don’t regret it either. Not for a moment,” he said softly, booping his nose to Shuuichi’s shoulder. The only “downside”, if Kokichi wanted to call it that, was that it had turned into a lesson on the importance of water and chill breaks, keeping attention on the heat. 

Glancing out the window again, Kokichi resumed his excited little wiggle, the lanterns lighting the path to the public front of the vineyard setting quite the mood. The circle of life was just a fact, and one that farmers and agriculturists knew better than anyone…but Kokichi bet that they did play up the macabre points, just a little. All in the name of tourism. 

Raising his eyebrows a little at the…advice? Kaito had given, Kokichi laughed sheepishly. “I’m really trying my best for that… Shuuichi Saihara, agreeing to go on a date with me? And his first, no less… I’m glad I’ve been working on my confidence, because I’d be quaking in my boots at such an honor being given to me.”

He leaned forward, pressing his lips to Shuuichi’s cheek again. “...I want today to be special. I want you to feel special, as much as you are in my eyes. Which is a whooooole hell of a lot, for the record. Though…”

Kokichi ducked his head a little. “...I’ve never really gotten the base metaphor. I think first base is kissing? Is it kissing?”

“Kissing, upper body stuff, lower body stuff, and sex,” Shuichi recited, “First base, second base, third base, home run. I don’t know why, in Kaito’s mind, lower body stuff is somehow more intimate than literally just having sex, but Kaito can be fairly strange, especially when it comes to sex… well, no more than I can be, apparently. In practice, I seem to be the weirdest one out of all of us.” Shuichi dryly pointed out… before smiling a little. 

Giving Kokichi a small kiss at his temple, since his face was ducked down, Shuichi said softly, “And just for the record, on my end? I want you to feel special too. It’s our first date, Kokichi… that’s exciting! I’m excited… and so nervous, are you nervous? Because I’ll admit, especially now that we’re pulling in, my stomach is full of nervous butterflies.” Shuichi took in a deep breath, then let it out… before saying sheepishly, “I want this to go well so badly. I’m sorry if this ends up being a bad date. I don’t really know how to date…”

“Oh…oh, that does make sense.” As descriptive as ‘stuff’ could be, anyway. There was quite a blurred line in Kokichi’s mind between lower body stuff and sex, but…well, he wasn’t planning on doing anything like that in public with Shuuichi anyway. Maybe when they got home, if they were in the mood, and Kokichi certainly wouldn’t say no to more kissing, but…well, perhaps ironically to some people, Kokichi was too excited for that stuff. 

Giggling softly, Kokichi gathered his fiance’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “Honestly? Yeah. I mean…I’ve only been on a few dates…all with the same guy. Who once left me alone for an hour at a club, where I got way drunker than I meant to…and that night was still a lot of fun.”

Shaking his head softly, Kokichi placed feather-light kisses on the backs of Shuuichi’s knuckles. “I want tonight to go well too…but…you’re Shuu-chan. I’m happy whenever we spend time together because…you’re amazing. So getting to do something special and fun, with someone I adore…maybe gut feelings don’t amount to much, but I really feel like this is gonna be awesome.”

With one more kiss to the back of his hand, Kokichi made a stifled squeal of excitement before hurriedly opening the carriage door. He hopped out, before offering his hand with a flourish to help Shuuichi out. “Sweetheart?”

Shuichi’s eyebrows shot to his hairline– an hour?? Kaito!-- before shaking his head a little, deciding he’d ask about that another time. It was too difficult to get frustrated with that, not when Kokichi was so visibly excited, and the kisses to the back of Shuichi’s hand… he flushed pink, a little overwhelmed by the theatrics but loving every second of it, as he took the offered hand, “Thank you.”

To say Clay Vineyard had an ‘aesthetic’ was not doing it justice. It was honestly enchanting, and as Kokichi and Shuichi headed to the restaurant opening, even the decor of the front entrance was almost something straight out of a storybook. There was a heavy scent of moss in the air, growing on the sturdy, dark wood of the walls and front door, and on that moss was mushrooms. More mushrooms of a variety of shapes, sizes and colors that Shuichi would have been skeptical could grow so close to each other, had he not been looking at it himself. 

On top of that were plants of beautiful color, growing around the restaurant, climbing its walls and framing its paths. Flowers of dark lavenders and light pinks, little thick bushes of dark blues with green vines snaking through them. As Kokichi got the door, a cool breeze, cooler than the warm summer air, escaped from the restaurants insides, and as they walked in, different plants and mushrooms were growing in the dimly lit, colder insides of the restaurant. These mushrooms and plants just as varied in size and color as the ones outside, but these ones all glowing in the dark lighting of the restaurant, Shuichi realizing the space was meant to encourage the growth of cavern flora, rather then the forest flora outside. 

Yet, despite the chill of the air, there was warm, festive music coming from a small stage nearby, a piano playing enthusiastically as someone on a large base guitar, the size of the person playing it, pulled at its strings, filling the air with low, pleasant thumps. A greeter, waiting by the door, looked up from some paperwork they were sorting through and greeted, “Welcome~ first time visitors?”

Shuichi nodded, “Uh, yes… did we need a reservation?” he asked uncertainly.

“Not tonight. I only ask to determine which section you’d like to sit in, if you’re unfamiliar with the process. We have our outdoor seating, our cemetery visitor seating, our herb seating downstairs, though be warned that is a smoking area, because of the herb types, and our kitchen seating further back in the restaurant, though you do need a reservation for that–”

She stopped herself. Squinting at them in the dim lighting, at Kokichi in particular… looking down at her paperwork, then him again…

“Prince Kokichi! My apologies, I didn’t recognize you for a moment. Teppanyaki seating, eight o’clock, with the vineyard tour, correct? Party of two, with seating accommodations for one more?” she asked, glancing over at Nazumi, who seemed to be looking around.

It was like a fairytale… When Amber had described the three vineyards in the greater Usott area, Kokichi had of course been intrigued by the Clay Vineyard, but the version he imagined was…pretty different. A sort of middle ground, between leaning into the “spooky” vibes, having a vineyard on a cemetery provoked, and just…something kind of normal, like the Kiginko Orchard he and Kaito had visited. 

Having it look like a cave biome version of Igloo, like he could just see storybook fairies sitting on all the different mushroom caps, enjoying bluebells filled with wine… And yet it was warm and full of life, welcoming and refined and…yes. It was perfect. He did try to tamp down his reaction at least a little, but Kokichi couldn’t help the little tapping dance he did, eyes wide like he was trying to look at everything at once. 

As they got to the reception desk, Kokichi smiled brightly at the greeter, though he sent a little look towards Shuuichi as he asked about a reservation, and… He let out a soft, sheepish laugh. “No worries--I was a little too taken to speak up first. Clay is…incredible! And, yes, that’s us! We’re not too early, are we? It’s a lovely ride up from the city center; we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time.”

Nazumi had talked with the owners of Clay Vineyard after Kokichi had gotten in touch with them, had taken a peek around just by herself… There were quite a lot of blind corners out in the vineyard itself, but that was to be expected. Otherwise…it was a popular and reputable business. Kokichi and Shuuichi were in for a treat! And even if she had to keep an eye out, Nazumi could enjoy some of the show too.

“Not at all,” the greeter said, even as she glanced at her pocket watch to make certain, before saying again with more confidence, “Not at all. Let me get someone to… Ashton. Ash, over here. Thank you, could you please escort this party to section c? They have seats 34 and 35, and she’s been given access to the corner booth, though don’t assign a waiter on her.”

The young man with purple hair and a lanky frame raised an eyebrow, giving the three an appraising look… before nodding. “Come along then, follow me.”

As they headed over to the backend of the restaurant, where the ‘kitchen seating’ was in a closed off section to preserve the temperature of the rest of the restaurant, but the grilling area no less beautiful than the rest of the restaurant– if a bit hotter and louder– they turned back to the group and said to Nazumi, “But in all seriousness, you’re gonna want some drinks and bread at least, right?”

Nazumi laughed, a bit better than Lake at keeping her usual boisterous tone more subdued in a public area, and gave the man a jovial tilt of her head. “Gotta keep it to water on the job, but I won’t say no to some bread. Thank you kindly.”

Kokichi’s eyes grew in wonder as they were ushered to seats in front of a large flat top grill, even the prepped ingredients and tools looking classy in the atmosphere. Just like with the carriage, he darted forward just a bit to pull Shuuichi’s chair out for him, looking back lovingly… Though he gave a nod to Ashton too. “Thank you so much!”

There was another group at the other end of the kitchen seating--and it looked like the seats between them, all the seats being comfortably spaced out, had just been cleared--but someone, presumably the grill chef, had just stepped out from the greater busy-ness of the rest of the kitchen. They were short, though not as petite as Kokichi, and had greying hair with streaks of white pulled back into a taut bun, just peeking out from a black hat that matched their chef’s coat. 

And, almost at the same time, a man with short green hair--though not short enough to just sit naturally, and thus was strategically pinned back with black bobby pins--came up to the open side of where Kokichi and Shuuichi’s seats were, giving them a cordial nod and smile. “Welcome to Clay Vineyard, Prince Kokichi, Prince Shuuichi, and Miss Hijiri,” he gave a nod over to the booth, “My name is Clover, and I’ll be your server for this evening.”

Clover passed over two glossy menus as he spoke, a polite, almost monotone cadence. “To receive the full experience of teppanyaki, a Dicean practice dating back 400 years, we have a few pre-prepared menus for you to choose from. Personally, I would recommend menu B tonight, as we got a fresh shipment of scallops in this morning. In your reservation, you said you wanted to enjoy a wine tasting with your meal, in which we would pair one of our vineyard’s wines with each course, each bringing out the best flavor of each other. Would you still like that option? I will start you with water and bread while you decide on your menu.”

It was entirely irrational, but Shuichi took one look at Clover and got annoyed, because he just knew Kaito would be struggling to not just be openly staring at him. Was Shuichi allowed to be jealous of Kaito’s only hypothetical reaction to a very, very pretty man? No. Was he going to be a little jealous anyway? Like, yeah, but at least he knew the answer should be no. 

But, Shuichi kept the entirely irrational irritation to entirely hypothetical fiance fluster off his face, as he smiled sweetly at this, just, art piece of a person, “Yes, thank you. And, unless you have any objections, Kokichi, menu B sounds perfect then. A four hundred year tradition…” 

There was a sudden clash of noise, Shuichi glancing over to the other group just in time to see a spray of fire fill the air as the group oo’d an ahh’d, the fire gone in seconds and the chef flipping knives entirely undaunted.

“...this is very exciting.” Shuichi smiled.

It was very brief, but Kokichi sent an amused side-eye towards his fiance. Shuuichi wasn’t actually controlling so…his jealousy was often simply endearing. 

Having skimmed through the menu, not wanting to keep people, Kokichi nodded brightly. “I don’t! And menu B looks great to me too. Thank you, Clover!”

Kokichi made a little, “Oop!” noise, caught off-guard even knowing what he was getting into, before he watched, dazzled, at the display that wasn’t even for them yet. Giggling, Kokichi gently touched Shuuichi’s arm. “Entirely grilled meals have been around longer than that, but this particular style… It started as a sort of competition, people refining their skills to cook in fancier and fancier ways to impress visitors. Tourism had been at an all-time-low during the beginning of Queen Emilie’s reign, but if word got around that your town had the best teppanyaki master? That was enough to get people to go traveling.”

“I see…” Shuichi said, watching the impressive chefs for another moment, before looking over Kokichi’s shoulder at the menu… before impulsively deciding, “I think I’d like you to order for me. If that’s not too much responsibility.”

Kokichi gave his fiance a soft look. “I mean…if we’re both getting the B option, I don’t think that’s making me do much at all…but I don’t mind.” 

Humming in consideration for a moment, Kokichi gave him a playful look. “...you know, scallops have kind of a…cultural connotation here. They’re considered a romantic food. Think our waiter recommended that menu ‘cause we’re on a date?”

Shuichi gave Kokichi a slightly confused look. He hadn’t realized that was what the different menu styles meant. Oh, that was going to be a lot of food… but then, perhaps he shouldn’t be surprised. It’d likely actually be a lot of small plates they could try, then. Or perhaps not. He supposed he’d see for himself. 

Though he gave Kokichi a half amused, half skeptical look, “Romantic? Why would seafood be considered romantic food? And I hope he was being sincere that it was fresh, I really did take his recommendation at face value… are you teasing me?”

Kokichi giggled, really not helping his case at all. “A little, but not by lying to you. Honestly…I don’t know why they’re romantic. That seems like a good question to investigate… But! In…like, books and art and stuff, when romantic partners want to have a romantic, fancy meal, scallops are definitely one of the most common ones to see. Chocolate kinda is too, but that’s because there’s a chemical reason behind it. Something sparking the same feelings you get from love, I think.”

Kokichi shrugged a little bit as Clover returned, placing down a small basket of different sliced breads, still steaming slightly, in the space in front of them, before placing down their waters. “There you are… And do you need more time to decide?”

“Nope!” Kokichi chirped, stacking their menus to hand back. “We’d like to go with B, please. Thank you for your recommendation.”

“It’s my pleasure,” their waiter nodded. “I will be back with your appetizer shortly, then.”

Shuichi again gave the waiter a bright smile… and as they left, he turned to Kokichi and whispered, “Okay, but he looks like something out of a painting, doesn’t he? I’m not just being enchanted by talks of scallops and chocolates, he is very pretty, and I need this confirmed to me. He has green hair and red eyes, Kokichi. He’s pretty, right?”

“He’s very pretty,” Kokichi nodded seriously, leaning in to whisper more effectively, especially as the chef started almost drumming with two pepper mills. “He seems a little nervous though. He seems a little too practiced to be new, but…” He shrugged. 

Glancing to the side, Kokichi grinned mischievously as he looked back at Shuuichi. “I know, I know, but…give me this one, okay? Wanna tell Kai-chan that our waiter got all flustered with you, but, like…obviously we’re on a date, so it’s not like he can outright flirt…” Kokichi bounced his eyebrows, silently giving off, “Eh? Ehhhh?” vibes.

Shuichi nodded seriously as Kokichi confirmed his suspicions– the man was pretty. Shuichi knew it!-- before his eyes widened. Giving Kokichi a baffled look, before glancing at the direction the waiter left in, then back at Kokichi… then another baffled glanced at the waiter.

“Nooo,” Shuichi said, giving Kokichi an entirely doubtful look, “Me? If he’s flustered, it must be because of you. He probably recognizes you… you think he’s flustered? Over me??”

“Could be,” Kokichi shrugged. “I mean…you looked in the mirror before you left, right? Cute guys like me only get a certain crowd, and hunky guys like Kai-chan only get a certain crowd, but sophisticated, pretty guys like you? And especially Shuu-chan,” Kokichi winked. “If anyone’s into guys at all, I’d bet my pants that you’d be the first one to get a heartthrob.”

Really, it was kind of hard to tell what Clover was nervous over--it could honestly just be a regular thrum of anxiety--but…it was fun to play with the possibility. Especially since Shuuichi was a little fixated on his looks in the first place.

Shuichi pinked at that, glancing back at the waiter… before huffing a little. Turning back to the show as he said, “Well, I think he’d be blind to not be attracted to you, certain crowds or not. Though… it is flattering. The idea, anyway. Not that I’m looking at him like that, I just kept thinking that’d be Kaito’s type. Absolutely. Kaito would be obnoxious about it, I’m certain.”

Yep. Definitely would be Kaito, acting all flustered over the hot waiter. Shuichi wasn’t flustered. He was just annoyed at the mental image. Obviously. 

“But. We’re not talking about Kaito, so…” Forcing himself to relax a little, Shuichi glanced over at Kokichi, though it was hard to take his eyes off the chef, who was clearly revving up, cleaning his knives in a way that almost seemed musical. “...I’m trying to think of ‘date’ talk, but I’ll admit, I’m not sure what to say.” Shuichi said softly to Kokichi, giving him a small, nervous smile, “...I like what you’ve been doing with your hair lately. Is that date talk? Oh, this is so difficult…”

“Aw, thanks darling,” Kokichi grinned at Shuuichi, deciding to keep his enjoyment of his fiance’s fluster to himself. Maybe it’d be a nice story in the far, faaaaaar future. 

And right now, they were living in the present. 

Perking, Kokichi smiled brighter and smoothed back some of his hair, though none had escaped from his tie (yet). “You do? I know the bottom’s been growing out, and I really should just get it cut again but…I kinda miss having longer hair. I’m glad having the two lengths back in a ponytail doesn’t look too off, though.”

“I’m kinda curious on that note, though,” he peered at Shuuichi. “I…almost never notice your hair changing at all. How often do you get it trimmed? Or is that one of the Shuu-chan Perfect Hair Trade Secrets.”

Along with his teasing smile, Clover returned, gently placing two long plates in front of the couple. “Before the show… Beet and jambon carpaccio, with parmesan, microgreens, capers, and a balsamic lemon reduction. Paired with your appetizer, Clay’s Erebus, a refreshing white wine.”

At the question, Shuichi huffed slightly, something amused in his eyes as he simply explained, “I arrived at the castle. I heard the castle had a live-in hair cutter. I’ve literally just asked your sibling for a touch-up once every two weeks since I’ve gotten here. I had no idea why they got all mad and annoyed with me the first few times I did it, but they just snipped at my hair a little bit, five minutes in total, and then sent me on my way, and have done it that way ever since. If they didn’t do such a good job keeping it even, I might have looked for a barber or stylist who didn’t act like me asking for a trim was beneath them, but Denji’s skill can’t be denied, even for quick, boring trims.”

“Honestly, it was Kaito I was worried about for a while there…” Shuichi paused, cursing himself again as he muttered, “Me. I keep breaking the Kaito rule… well, real quick. Did you know he was cutting his own hair, for a while there? Thankfully he got good enough to do it for his own hair, but it took both myself and Maki scolding him for a while to convince him to finally just ask Denji for a cut. Now he goes once a month, but I really only mean in the last few months. He’s been cutting his own hair for a year. Honestly, it astonishes me how shy he is here.”

As Shuichi was explaining this, he grew quiet and pinked a little as Clover returned, glancing up at him before looking away, nodding a little too enthusiastically at the waiters explanation, “Oh, thank you. This looks wonderful.”

That made a lot of sense. If Shuuichi was only changing a centimeter or two over two-week spans? Then just the fact of him choosing to wear his hat or not, or having it tousled in bed would be enough to look the same no matter what. 

“Aw, my particular guy~ Knows just what he wants,” Kokichi cheered, before laughing softly. “I hope they haven’t been too much of a pain. If it’s not festival season, I know Denji really likes any work they get. I’d wager they’re just disappointed they don’t get to have you try out anything dramatic. ‘Cause…well, I mean, you’ve met them.”

If there was any word Kokichi would use to describe his sibling… Well, prissy might be up there too. 

Kokichi’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “He was? I…really thought that he had been just letting it grow out, until he had me cut it, and then Denji-chan fix it. Aw dang…” It…looked like he wasn’t the most attentive when it came to his guys’ hairstyles. 

Thanking Clover as well, smiling slightly as he saw the waiter make a stop by Nazumi’s table, Kokichi decided to dig in without further ado. Choosing one of the beet…slices, he guessed, Kokichi cradled the toppings in it and popped it in his mouth…before a surprised, pleased hum came from him. “Oh…this is really good. I don’t think I’ve had anything like this before.”

Shuichi watched how Kokichi put his food together, not in small part waiting for his fiance to act as the guinea pig, before mimicking him. Though, tearing the beet into smaller parts, eating each individual tear. “Hmmm… you know, I’ve always thought lemon really overpowers any other ingredient it’s added too. But I never complain, because I also just really like the taste of lemons. It has a kick… I sort of hope someone in our meal might have some spice too. I know Maki and Kaito can’t stand it, but I got a taste for it during the pregnancy.” Shuichi admitted.

Then, taking the glass of wine, he took a sip… before he chuckled at himself a little. “Kokichi, I’m so ridiculous… I don’t even really like wine.” He laughed, shaking his head at himself. Taking another sip before putting down the glass, giving a bewildered shrug as he said, “Delectable? Perfect with the… cheese? Maybe trying a bunch of different wines tonight will finally help me taste the difference between this and corner store box wine.”

“Yeah? Maybe I just like lemon too…” Kokichi laughed softly. “I pretty much always think things are improved when lemon is added, though…for this, everything else is pretty strong-tasting too, so they kinda…balance out? I know that’s definitely a cooking thing.”

Kokichi would never really get pumped to add beets into his normal diet, but he liked them well enough on the occasions he had them. The other kind of…”carpaccio” though… It was meat, definitely, and “jambon”...was a kind of pork, wasn’t it. What he could see under the toppings, it looked like something cured and really thinly sliced, which definitely wasn’t that bad to him… Mmm… He’d see what Shuuichi thought of it first. 

Kokichi grinned at his partner. “You know…like, I’d respect whatever your tastes are, of course…but it’s a thrill for me that you still like spicy food. I could absolutely go the rest of my life making sure there were always unspiced versions of stuff for you guys, but…c’mooon, it’s fun food experimenting with someone else.” 

With a little giggle, Kokichi sipped at his wine, tilting his head back and forth. Actually more sweet than bitter, which was a rare case, he’d found, when people described alcohol as sweet. “You’re going to one of the night markets with Drake and people sometime, right? There’s probably gonna be a ton of fun food to try, but if you see Tokubo, give it a shot! It’s spicy simmered rice cakes.”

It was…kind of hilariously perfect that he and Shuuichi, who out of their group probably liked wine and drinking the least, would be doing a tasting at a vineyard. Snickering quietly, Kokichi offered a shameless shrug. “Hey, the day you figure it out, gimme some tips so I can follow in your footsteps.”

Shuichi chuckled at that, looking back to the food and, deciding to try the carpaccio next, bringing it up to start tearing it into smaller pieces… before his eyes widened a little. Bringing it up and sniffing at it. “...I think this is raw. Is it okay to serve meat raw? Hmm…”

Shuichi’s nose wrinkled a little, before putting it down and trying the other one. This one looked more familiar, clearly just some sort of ham covered in stuff, and tearing a small piece off, Shuichi tried it, “...hm. Not bad.” Shuichi decided, shrugging a little… before eyeing Kokichi, “Are you also really looking forward to the dessert already? I’m so spoiled. Who would have thought…”

Tearing off more pieces and eating them one by one with a careful, near neurotic diligence, Shuichi recalled, “I can remember the first time I had chocolate.”

“You can probably guess who gave it to me.” Shuichi said, giving Kokichi a small, amused smile, “We were both eleven by then, and it’d be another year before Kaito really started to grasp exactly what my situation was. He knew Maki’s better, because you can’t talk to Maki for more than a minute without knowing that her life is all sorts of messed up. But me? It took Kaito years to really grasp that he and I were different. To him, I was just another kid growing up in the castle.”

“But, Kaito was insisting I have lunch with him, and I was, as I usually did back then, trying to blow him off by working. So he was following me around the castle literally carrying around his lunch in his arms, asking me when I was going to stop and have lunch, and he kept offering me pieces of his lunch to try to tempt me to stop and eat. I ignored everything, right up until he offered me his dessert… and he saw me hesitate. I shouldn’t have hesitated.” Shuichi said, shaking his head, taking the wine and giving it another sip. “Kokichi, imagine what would happen, right now, if you clued Kaito in that you have never had chocolate before… how do you imagine he’d react?”

“Well…I mean, there’s a lot of meat you eat raw,” Kokichi shrugged. “Sushi and sashimi are raw, tartare is raw, ceviche is raw…I guess the meat in pho isn’t really raw, but it is when you put it in the soup. And I’m pretty sure this is cured anyway, so…”

He let out a little breath as Shuuichi tried the other kind of carpaccio and deemed it sufficient. Which…was kind of a silly metric, since he knew Shuuichi didn’t have any issues with pork like Kokichi did but…well. Sometimes you had to play the silly games your mind made up. 

…and the jambon wasn’t bad. It was thin enough that it didn’t have any of that wobbly texture he hated so…it was just a saltier, meatier version of the beet carpaccio. Not bad. 

Giving Shuuichi a guilty smile and nod at the prospect of dessert--even as the chef came close to their seats, obviously setting up for their next course--Kokichi’s eyes widened for a moment before he settled in for a Shuuichi story time. And…not have chocolate until he was 11…

Kokichi snorted softly. “...well, first…does that count as talking about Kai-chan still? But also, he’d go and buy out the first chocolate shop he could find, having me try everything. Which would basically be my reaction too, if you told me that right now, if a little less extra.”

“This is a story about me, thank you very much.” Shuichi huffed, his cheeks only pinking a little bit, “Unfortunately, many interesting stories about me, also happen to be stories about Kaito. But don’t misunderstand. I am the star, in this tale of rich kids and chocolate.”

“But, basically you’re not far off.” Shuichi smirked, shrugging a little, “It didn’t help that in my pride, I turned down his first offer of chocolate, because I was a little embarrassed and a little defensive about it. I was the Royal Detective Protege, and an Indentured on top of that. I didn’t need things like real chocolate. That was an indulgence for civilians and rich people. I was…” Shuichi rolled his eyes a little, “too good for chocolate.”

“So I turned down his first offer. Then this second. Then, this little terror of an eleven year old, cornered me and Maki, brought us down to a meeting room we all had no business to be occupying, and Kokichi, it was the most elaborate, rich person setup I had ever seen. People were making chocolate in front of us, not that unlike this.” Shuichi said, gesturing to the chefs, who were about to get started on the next course, “Kaito’s manipulative, don’t let anyone tell you different. He knew I couldn’t turn down chocolate a servant had literally just boiled and spun and cooled right in front of me, not without feeling like an asshole. So we tried it. And tried more of it…” Shuichi smiled warmly at the memory, “It was a lot of fun… and eventually, when enough of it was made, Maki got up and said it was time to take it to her siblings. Kaito looked absolutely taken off guard, he almost tried to say no, because he clearly just wanted Maki and I to indulge ourselves. I think he was trying to make us feel special… Maki said she’d boil his hand in one of the chocolate bowls unless we moved all the chocolate, and I don’t think she was cutting him just yet by that point, but he knew a real threat when he heard it. So I, and a lot of other kids, all had our first taste of chocolate that day.”

“...I thought it was all pretty embarrassing, at the time.” Shuichi smiled, gaze fond, “It’s not the kind of day or experience I defined myself by, if that makes any sense, so it’s not a story I tell often. It makes me sound so spoiled and pampered… but it’s a nice memory. Better now, now that I know how it all ends.”

Kokichi giggled softly, though he watched in interest as the chef started flipping medallions of different vegetables onto the grill. It was really impressive…but what actually made his eyes grow was Shuuichi’s recount of Kaito literally getting a chocolatier to cater to him and his friends. A dream just like that chocolate factory book that Kokichi may or may not have had actual dreams about. 

And though Shuuichi might’ve not considered the experience formative…it was really exemplary of the kind of people his Luminary trio were. Kaito going above and beyond wanting to treat his loved ones, Shuuichi getting him to that point with his pride, and Maki refusing to enjoy it without her siblings getting some kind of benefit. 

“That’s…amazing,” Kokichi wistfully sighed, finishing off his--albeit small portion of--wine. “And I don’t think it makes you sound spoiled… Pampered, yeah, ‘cause that’s obviously what Kai-chan’s intentions were but…that’s an incredible experience. I think you might have one of the best ‘first tastes of chocolate’ stories out there.”

Giggling softly, he shrugged. “Honestly…I’d have to do some thinking to remember mine. But I do remember one year at Harvest someone had brought these really good chocolate cupcakes with fudgy frosting, and I ate so many I made myself sick. I felt so betrayed that good food could do that to me.” 

Shuichi laughed. It was a loud laugh, and it surprised him a little, covering up his mouth and looking over at the chef in embarrassment, like he had ‘interrupted’ the show. Scrunching his shoulders forward a little, he gave Kokichi an openly adoring look, as he whispered to him. “That’s a good story too. Oh, no, I can just imagine your indignant outrage. You would have been all dressed up in one of your lovely yukatas too, your hair all done up… did you manage to get back to your room first before you started hurling?”

Maybe it wasn’t the best meal talk but…it was a pretty funny story in hindsight. The lesson of humility every young glutton experienced at least once. 

“Thankfully, yeah,” Kokichi laughed. “I got to bask in the yumminess for a while, and I’d gone home for bed and then--” Kokichi threw his hands up with a dramatic, regretful sigh. “Not a great night after a great evening. Ikuo was so disappointed in me--well, I mean, not really, but…yanno. He didn’t even lecture me, really. While he probably would’ve stopped me after cupcake two or three if he’d been by my side all night, he just asked me if it was worth it after my stomach settled.”

Kokichi grinned devilishly. “I still said yes. Though it wasn’t an experience I’d really wanna revisit.”

As the veggies cooked, the chef started cutting the medallions down the middle, arranging the half-pieces to…aw. Kokichi wasn’t sure if it was just supposed to be classy, but they looked like hearts to him. And the rhythm the chef was rattling a spice mix over them was sure to make him love the taste too.

Shuichi also noted that, his eyes growing soft and warm at the little heart shape. Likely that was just how they cut them here, but… it was kind of nice, the possibility that the chef just recognized they were a couple on a date. Or, well, more likely, recognized it was Prince Kokichi with his fiance. Which, at least for right now, didn’t feel as demeaning as it sometimes did. Shuichi raising his head slightly at the thought, watching the show. 

Kokichi’s story was sweet and worth comment, but Shuichi found himself watching the chefs work for a moment, caught up in the show. The theatrics of it all, the music. Such… rich person nonsense. Shuichi as a kid would be mocking the entire thing, and everyone in here indulging themselves on it. Everyone knew the only acceptable form of self indulgence was a good, dark coffee and a fifteen minute break… everything else was being spoiled. 

If child Shuichi could see him now…

“...if I eat this raw meat and it such much as hints of iron, I’m going to demand they take out desserts next, just to wash my mouth out.” Shuichi muttered after a moment. Wanting to at least try it before the next course was brought to them, cutting into a small piece… “...okay, actually, that’s pretty good.” Shuichi said, his tone still entirely stern, “That’s alright then.”

As he dug into it, his fears appeased, Shuichi thought fondly of Kokichi’s story. If Ikuo had still been around, Kokichi must have been young. Very sweet… “...I don’t think you would have liked me very much, as a child.” Shuichi mused, giving Kokichi an amused look, “I think I’d have been somewhat mean to you.”

Kokichi laughed softly, hit by not quite a sense of deja vu, but something close. “I mean…if you were, then you wouldn’t have liked me either. I would’ve gotten pissed off and insecure from your meanness, and I would’ve been a terror back, if we’d still been forced to see each other. Though…”

He sighed, giving Shuuichi a slightly deprecating look. “...more likely I just would’ve stayed away from you as much as I could. Would’ve just lumped you in with all the other kids that stayed away from me, and I wouldn’t have tried to see beyond that. Maybe on my more vindictive days, I’d threaten to cough on you.”

With another flourish of flipping the vegetables in the air--now browned with some sort of sauce, and judging by the red flecks in it, Shuuichi was probably getting his spicy wish--the chef plated the next course, keeping everything arranged in the hearts. 

Right on cue, Clover laid out their new glasses of wine and moved the plates in front of them, taking the used dishes away. “Here you have white carrots, zucchini, eggplant, onion, and lotus root, grilled with a touch of flame and seasoned in a szechuan sauce. To pair, we have Clay’s Asphodel, a light ruby red.”

“Thank you,” Shuichi said, smiling sweetly at Clover. His fluster cooling a little every time he saw him now, and it helping that at the moment he was taken with his affection for Kokichi, staying silent as the food was laid out. 

When Clover walked away, Shuichi took the glass and sipped at it– hmm. Shuichi thought he might prefer the white over the red– and cutting the carrots into smaller pieces of carrots, he said to Kokichi with a small smirk, “And with that, you would have given me far more reasons to be quite mean to you. I could see us both being, just, terrible bullies to each other. Me the boy who didn’t take you seriously and acted too good for you to you, you a spoiled prince who needed everything done for him to me. We would have been terrors to each other.”

The fondness on Shuichi’s face didn’t waiver for a moment, as he dug into the lotus root next– mmm, he liked the char– before giving Kokichi a bemused look, “And then we would have grown. And I wonder at what point you would have been sniping at me, and I would have looked at you, and realized, oh… Prince Ouma grew up to be very pretty…”

With no one to perform to--and…they were at a fancy restaurant--Kokichi dug into his veggies with gusto, enjoying all the different textures, unified by the seasoning. And even eating this meal, he eyed the next prep with interest, the chef keeping the show going. 

Though, he still rolled his eyes fondly at Shuuichi’s hypothetical. “Probably around the same time we fell in love in this world. I mean…you’ve seen my baby portraits. If I didn’t manage to charm you as a cute little kid, then somehow looking gangly while being bitty I don’t think would’ve convinced you at all.”

“On the other hand, I would’ve long considered you a rose,” Kokichi smirked, popping a bit of eggplant in his mouth. “Beautiful enough for countless people to write poetry about, but covered in thorns. And we both know I’m no gardener. Honestly, I wonder if you would’ve thought I was worth the trouble, trying to convince me of anything but your harsh comments. I can be kinda stubborn once I get an idea in my head about someone.”

“As you know,” he snorted. Though…the example Shuuichi knew best was kind of a bad one, since the life-and-death situation that had changed his outlook on Kaito had happened pretty quickly.

“Mmmm, I don’t know… Kaito’s not the only one with biases in how he views people.” Shuichi said softly, before, with some playfulness, he reached over and stole a zucchini from Kokichi’s plate, smirking as he popped it into his mouth, “Sure, you’d have been an insufferable, pint-sized brat in everything else you did… but you started working for your position as heir at fifteen. And I find something attractive, in a man who’s good at what he does. A few admirable days in court, a speech or two, a debate well worded… you’d have looked better and better by the day.”

“And I would have never bothered proving myself to you.” Shuichi said dismissively, taking another sip of his wine. Wiping the small patch of red from his lips with a cloth napkin, “I’m intelligent, and would have been well into whatever goals I had either been given or chosen by that point. And as you said, I am fairly attractive, to some. It’d have been up to you to notice. And my endless teasing would have had nothing to do with convincing you of anything. I am…”

Shuichi leaned over, nudging him a little, as he said softly, “...just kind of an asshole. And teasing you would have been fun.”

“...but,” Shuichi said, giving Kokichi a small, quick kiss on the cheek, “I’m glad we skipped that, and I got to have the best of relationships with you. One where I knew you when you were already starting to act cool and impressive. So I had less reasons to tease you.”

True enough. Kokichi had been thinking of the logical point for them to have eventually gotten together…but that wasn’t exactly true to their personalities. Even if Kokichi would’ve admired Shuuichi for his looks and intellect, and Shuuichi grew to respect Kokichi’s responsibility and competence…neither one of them would’ve tried to bridge the gap of a childhood of bullying. Because of pride, and…well, Kokichi would’ve assumed that Shuuichi would always hate him. And…trying to pursue someone that just cemented his loneliness more wasn’t…something that even his most self-destructive tendencies would push for. 

In that case…like it had been between Maki and Shuuichi in reality, it likely would’ve been Kaito bringing them together. Because despite Kokichi genuinely thinking that Dr. Mariah was right, that Kaito wouldn’t have liked him as a kid, as Kokichi grew? Kaito’s pride wasn’t the same, and he would’ve tried to reach out. 

What an interesting world that would’ve been. But still…

Kokichi gave a pleased hum at the kiss to his cheek--and the nice sound of meat sizzling on a grill--and gave Shuuichi an adoring look. “Me too--I think I like this universe better.”

“And, uh…’fairly?’ ‘To some?” Kokichi scoffed, gently running the top of his foot down Shuuichi’s calf under the table. “You’re a knockout. I’d’ve been griping to myself for years about how pretty you were. Would’ve gotten some complex about, sure, of course the prettiest guy I’d ever seen was a jerk.”

“Instead I get to preen about how my pretty, petty guy decided to choose me, and I get to gloat about it for the rest of time with a ring on my finger~” Kokichi pressed their shoulders together affectionately, crunching down on his tender carrots. 

“And of course the spoiled, brat prince just happened to be smart enough to live up to the Ouma hype.” Shuichi smirked, content to stay close to Kokichi as he felt his foot graze against him, “Oh the injustice. You could have at least been a half-wit, it’d have only been fair.”

“...I’ll confess.” Shuichi said softly, watching as fire lit up in front of them, feeling the heat of it push back his hair like a breeze, “Proposing to you? As in, doing it myself, planning it, the rings, actually doing it myself? I was… so terrified. And so proud.”

Almost looking a little smug… actually, no ‘almost’ about it. Radiating a subdued smugness, Shuichi explained, “I don’t know if you grasp, what a bold move that was, on my part. I know you don’t really grasp hierarchy, or even what being Indentured means, to me and Kaito and those like us, but… me? An ex-indentured, asking a prince? To marry me? Not one, but two… the nerve! The sheer, arrogant hubris…”

Shuichi’s smile split. Toothy, almost a little viscous, though he hid it behind another sip of wine, “I’d have been the greatest scandal Luminaries seen since Prince Haiji. Since Kaito himself. Honestly, I might still be a massive scandal in Luminary, right now, if rumors of Kaito’s betrothal have spread there yet. Perhaps it’s unkind to him, but… I can’t help it. I keep imagining the looks on those lords and ladies faces and just… it’s so endlessly pleasing. Maki and I?”

Shuichi’s eyes were dazzled. Fire reflecting in that gray, golden coloring, “...we won. We really won. Not only in proving them all wrong, and achieving things they not only dreamed of but fought for themselves, but also in getting everything our hearts could have desired. I found love. And kept it. And now have a family people dream of. Maki has her siblings, and won her laws. It’s… it’s a thing of fairytales. It’s more than I could have ever hoped for… and your love? Kokichi… I don’t know if you understand. How much you did for us. It’s more than I can express…”

“I love you,” Shuichi whispered, “Thank you for my life.”

Kokichi giggled a little before…well… Shuuichi was right. He really didn’t get what life in Luminary was like. He could understand the concept of classes, and of slavery, but…even trying to understand it from his family’s perspective, or from just general people’s perspective…there was still a part of him unconvinced it wasn’t just some big, weird joke. Like…people couldn’t honestly believe that they were inherently any better or worse than anyone else, right?

And that part of him that couldn’t understand that…made it hard to really conceptualize the struggles his family went through. Made it hard to realize the real impacts them just living their lives caused in a country they didn’t even live in anymore. 

But feeling the smug glee from Shuuichi, his relief and joy and triumphant spite…he was able to understand that. 

Unable to help himself, Kokichi scooted over in his chair and pressed his head against Shuuichi’s shoulder, holding onto a loose bit of his shirt, just wanting to be close. “...it is a great feeling, proving people wrong, when they doubted you. And for how badly those “elites” in Luminary did for you…I hope it stings. The kind of thing that sticks with a person for a lifetime…if only because I know that it’d make you happy, for so many of those people to just be faceless and nameless to you, while your specific happiness is inescapable for them.”

“It doesn’t feel right to say you’re welcome,” Kokichi smiled, sitting back up to gaze at Shuuichi. Taking in his striking, golden eyes like it was the first time, like he did several times a day. “My life is immeasurably happier with you in it. So…I suppose I can just be thankful, that I mean so much to yours too.”

Over by the corner booth, Clover hid his pinked face behind a serving tray, watching the princes all wrapped up in their own world. “...they really are as sweet as people say, huh?”

Nazumi chuckled, setting her water down. “Sure are; day in an’ day out. The kinda stuff that makes ya think true love is real.” Remembering of course--and having been close to the royal family for their whole path, Nazumi meant it that way for Shuuichi and Kokichi--that love is a choice you make.

-

Shuichi and Kokichi kept talking, but as they got through their vegetables with an enthusiasm that would have made Kaito and Ikuo both weep with joy– and wonder what the hell was wrong with the vegetables at home then, eh???-- it became increasingly difficult to not just get swept up in the performance of the restaurant. The appetizers and vegetable course both entertaining, in their own way, but clearly the true performance in the main course and beyond.

Shuichi watched in awe, literally gasping aloud and putting his arm around Kokichi’s, as thin slices of potato literally flew in the air in long arcs, the chef slicing through the potatoes with a speed that their eyes couldn’t keep up with, while the warm scent of lamb roulade cooked with fire kissing at its skin. Green onion and mint tickled their noses as the chef spun the seasonings and grasped them by the handful, flicking them at the still cooking food with the casual irreverence of a sorcerer throwing in that final ingredient to their cauldrons. 

There was a magic to it. A magic and a dance that Shuichi and Kokichi both found themselves caught up in, actually applauding at the end of the main course, before gushing and recreating what happened to each other by insisting over their food, did you see?? What he did with the mint? How he cut and rolled the lamb all in one motion? How!?

Another group came in to their far right, and the noise level in the room increased, people talking and laughing and knives clashing against the grills as food was cooked and flew through the air and pots and pans and seasonings were thumped against the countertops. Shuichi had barely noticed it at first, but after some time, as the scallops were brought out and were cooked in warm, mouthwatering butter and drenched in shallot sauce, plated and decorated with corn and cauliflower lemon mousse, but he realized after some time that the sound of the knives sharpening, that swift SCHWING sound as sparks flicked off as the chefs casually cleaned and sharpened their knives mid-cook, was… affecting him a little. The sound pleasant to him, as Kokichi’s face, peppered with sweat from the heat of the kitchen and face flushed with wonder and joy and, yes, more than a small amount of wine, kept drawing Shuichi’s eye. Kokichi himself a beauty to behold. 

Maybe it was the scallops. They were a romantic food, after all.

By the time the tenderloin steak was being cooked, Shuichi confessed to Kokichi he was worried he’d not be able to eat it, growing full. They watched in wonder as it cooked, trumpet mushrooms and and asparagus and garlic chips with a variety of dipping sauces being served with the same extravagance and enthusiasm as the rest of the courses, but Shuichi asked Clover if he wouldn’t mind bringing the steak to Nazumi, and asking her if she’d like it… while keeping the sides and dips, because one experimental taste of them had Shuichi salivating again. 

Shuichi and Kokichi talked a bit as the squids came out, marveling over the tentacles and Kokichi talking to Shuichi about the trip to the aquarium Kaito had taken him too. This lead to both gushing over the adorableness of baby penguins, and at one point, an odd sort of arm wrestling contest, entirely in jest, both of them interlocking their fingers and trying to push the others wrist back, pretending to be latching on octopuses. Shuichi had intended to ‘let’ Kokichi win… and then had been surprised to find they were more or less evenly matched, the two giggling as they realized their wrist strength was equally poor, as the fried rice was served. 

Kale and Sausage came next, in a beautiful, unfurling parcel and dipped to simmer and flavor a soup, and as they gushed and lamented over how anyone could learn to cook so beautifully, they began to more and more look forward to the walking tour of the vineyard. Their blood and skin warm, their bellies full to bursting and their skin flushed with good time and wine, wanting to stretch their legs and see the sights… before deciding, they didn’t need to leave right away or anything, as the dessert started to be presented next. Literally cheering as kumquat sherbet ice cream was sat down in front of them first, followed with a beautifully arranged artwork of honeydew slices, yellow dragonfruit– a first for Shuichi, having never even heard of such a thing– before cheering again as chocolate cake was served, splitting the caramelized sugar disk decorated into it by vertical insertion. All served with a variety of wines, of course.

By the time they were ready to go see the vineyard, Shuichi and Kokichi were practically hanging off of each other, laughing loudly and gushing again about the show, chatting with Nazumi as she walked them to the touring area and regailing her with highlights, as if she hadn’t been watching right alongside of them.

“The way they just, POOF, the spices!” Shuichi laughed, flicking his wrists to and fro, eyes alight with joy he kept his arm around Kokichi’s, “It was like our color festivals back in Luminary! I kept waiting for the spices to create little, colorful puffs, it just reminded me so much of throwing colored powder around. How are they not sneezing constantly, that’s what I want to know!”

It had been an incredible meal, living up to and far surpassing everything Kokichi had heard about teppanyaki. He was glad it had stuck in Shuuichi’s brain from their conversations to come up again--and he’d told Shuuichi as much more than once. And though he was absolutely stuffed with food, and each tasting of wine had been not more than a mouthful or too…Kokichi was sporting a flushed face and rosy cheeks as he clung to Shuuichi’s side, enjoying the cool night breeze as they walked among some of the more spacious grape trellises. 

“It’s chef immunity,” Kokichi nodded with gravity. “It’s like how they don’t tear up while chopping onions, or they can peel garlic in a few seconds. I’m pretty sure that’s why Kai-chan wants to keep learning to cook too--it’s a way to get superpowers.”

Giggling a little to himself afterward, Kokichi blinked before giving Shuuichi a guilty look. “Sorry. Off topic.” He then sighed, snuggling up to Shuuichi’s side more, looking over some headstones off to the side with an aesthetic eye. “...yanno, we were talking about clothes before? I still like this outfit, but of all nights to wear highwaisted pants…”

“You’re a bright light in a beautiful, grim day.” Shuichi reassured, before raising an eyebrow, “Unless you mean you wish you were showing off more skin? Our Kaito would have made it impossible for you to leave, I think you made the wise choice.”

Looking to Nazumi, Shuichi debated with himself for all of half a second, before saying, “Nazumi, would you mind letting us walk ourselves the rest of the way? I’m happy and in love and I want to whisper sweet nothings in your boss’s ear without embarrassing ourselves with your entirely justified laughter. Besides, this seems safe enough. I think we’ll be okay just walking around the grounds ourselves.”

“Hii-hii,” Kokichi giggled, before shaking his head, “Oh, you’re absolutely right, and I was toooootally making this date happen. But nah… I don’t regret polishing off that cake, but my waistband thinks it was a questionable decision.”

Nazumi had been a good few steps behind--and she tried not to eavedrop all that much--when Shuuichi called out to her. And while she would like to leave the young lovers to each other…

“Sorry, Shu’chi. I ain’t as agile as Maki, so I can’t jump over these trellises,” she chuckled. “I haven’t seen anyone fer a good few rows, so…how ‘bout I keep y’all in eyesight, but no closer than that? Specially with it gettin’ dark.”

Kokichi turned his gaze to the dark blue sky--still not the pitch of deep night, but definitely getting there--before looking to Shuuichi. “Just in case?”

Shuichi pouted, sighing a tad dramatically.  “Such worrywarts… fine. Thank you, Nazumi. Honestly, to think I was once the thing people were afraid to meet in the dark…”

“...that’s an exaggeration, of course.” Shuichi smirked, an airy lightness to him as they walked, the gravestones bordering their path and the pumpkin fields in the far distance, the grape vineyards actually growing among the cemetery, right along with endless, endless mushrooms. “I hated going out alone in Luminary. It made me so nervous… anyway, the main reason I was trying to get Nazumi to leave was to say to you, I will not judge if you decide to unbutton your pants and just walk around like that. Horrifying, entirely undignified, but I will find a way to live with the knowledge that you did something so unprincelike. Because I’m a dutiful fiance like that.” 

They resumed their walk, with Nazumi lagging even farther behind, but Kokichi flushed even more, hiding his face in Shuuichi’s arm. “Noooo… I’m not unbuttoning my pants in public! It’d be just my luck for someone to turn the corner then register a complaint of indecent exposure. Geez…”

“And while I wouldn’t mind in other circumstances, I’m not giving you an undies peek right now,” Kokichi emphasized, nudging his nose into Shuuichi’s arm, though there was a small, hidden smirk on his face. Again, Shuuichi’s interest wasn’t as in your face as Kaito’s, but it didn’t mean it was always subtle. 

While it made it more awkward to walk, Kokichi turned in slightly to wrap his other arm around Shuuichi’s waist, snuggling his whole body to his fiance. 

“Curses. You foiled my plan so quickly.” Shuichi laughed, putting his arm around Kokichi’s shoulders as his fiance leaned into him. 

“...you know, I learned that one of the new words I learned this year is actually Tradean in origin.” Shuichi said, his tone entirely leading and playful, as he said ‘idly’, “I was curious if you could figure out what it means, based entirely on the context of the language. Do you know the word… ‘sumata’?” he asked, with a small, playful smirk.

Kokichi absolutely felt like he was being led into another plan, but…well, this one didn’t feel like it’d end in any brushes with the law, and if that was the case, he was happy to fall for Shuuichi’s sneaky machinations. Humming, Kokichi tilted his head. “Hmmm…sumata…”

“Well…’mada’ and ‘mata’ can be interchanged, sometimes, usually meaning, like…’later’ or ‘not yet’...” Kokichi tilted his head more, squishing his flushed cheek into Shuuichi’s shoulder as his hands roamed, gently tracing circles and indistinct shapes around Shuuichi’s waist and hips…and maybe dipping a few times around his rear. 

“Sumata…” Kokichi perked. “Oh! It means being off tempo in music. That’s…a really old term. I think I only found it in old music journals.”

“Oh?” Shuichi asked, sounding genuinely surprised by that. “Sumata, ‘off tempo’. Huh… I wonder what the connection is. Maybe it’s a pun? I bet there’s some sort of language historical in-joke… anyway, I bring it up because there’s a page dedicated to it in that sex book Kaito bought me, and I labled it in bold letters Kokichi, and I’m a little annoyed neither of you have ever looked through it and noticed that. I mean, I know it’s not the most obvious form of flirting, but I really did think it’d get to you eventually. Kaito should have at least noticed and told you! Honestly, I make an effort to be sexy and you all brush by it for months.”

Kokichi snickered quietly into Shuuichi’s shoulder and, briefly--and with a lot of shoulder flexibility--dipped one of his hands under Shuuichi’s ass, brushing his thigh before resuming his touches around his fiance’s hips. Though, he soon tilted his head, blinking in surprise. 

“Oh? I didn’t know about the book…” Kokichi’s lips pursed lightly, his eyebrows drawing in for a mildly apologetic look. “I mean…it was a gift for Kai-chan, so I haven’t looked through it. I know we’ve had a lot of talks about being more proactive…but it’s still the default in my head that you guys will let me know if you wanna do anything.”

He left a few breaths of silence before gently squeezing Shuuichi’s hips. “...so. When you were thinking about it…did you picture me facing you, or away? I imagine we’d get more friction away, but…I do like seeing you, when we’re together.”

“Kokichi,”  Shuichi scolded lightly, a small pink to his face as Kokichi’s little rubs dipped low enough that it could only be called intentional. Looking around, though he knew they were more or less alone, he just hoped Nazimi hadn’t seen that. He’d die. Just melt into embarrassed puddles. Bury him among the vines. 

But, he couldn’t help his small, amused smile as he said, “You cheat, you knew exactly what I was talking about, then. I saw the page and thought, oh, that’d be perfect for the two of us. I don’t know why it never occurred to me before that you didn’t have to actually penetrate anything to have, well… penetrative sex. Thighs wouldn’t harm you in the slightest. Perfect, really… and…”

Now Shuichi looked a little shy again. Happy to tease and insinuate, but a little flustered to say what he had been hoping for between them– at some point, obviously not on the date– so directly as he admitted, “I often picture you away, but, well… looking back. Actually, breaking my own rules for the thousandth time tonight, I will say that Kaito already tried something similar on me. Though, what he did…” and again, even knowing they were alone, Shuichi grew shyer and said very quietly, “... was he pushed himself between my, well, asscheeks. Up, not in. He pressed them together around him and sort of used them as an aid to, well… masturbate on me and… I know that doesn’t sound like I got much out of it, but it’s hard to explain how… exciting that was. And, at least with me doing something like that to you, I can rub myself against yours… actually, we might want to have you facing me and lying down, if we ever did do that. Time hasn’t made my dick any less heavy, I don’t think I could get the lift we’d need otherwise…”

Hearing himself, Shuichi frowned, “I really was trying to be sensual and seductive, but now I sort of feel like we’re discussing mundane travel details. Sorry, I’m not quite adept at this yet…”

Kokichi snickered a little more, leaning up and in to place a kiss on Shuuichi’s cheek…though he stumbled slightly, losing his balance. Chuckling at himself, Kokichi gave Shuuichi a sheepish grin. “It’s not the sort of thing you see everywhere, but it still is a slang term. Especially in older romance novels…and in a lawsuit I had to look at when I was studying the history of sex work in Dicea.”

It really was by chance he’d discovered any other use for the word. But it turned out Kokichi’s love of his country’s history introduced him to a lot of archaic usage. 

As Shuuichi described the similar position he and Kaito had tried before, Kokichi had to swallow a sudden surge of saliva, his eyes widening as the warmth in his belly from a full meal was joined by something else… Though, he did laugh softly, a kind, happy sound as he pressed more kisses to Shuuichi’s shoulder. 

“I mean…that is the kind of stuff we talk about when we actually are having sex,” he pointed out. “If that’s inept sexy talk…well, then call me a deviant, because I’m finding all this…” His hand dipped lower again, squeezing what meager handful of Shuuichi’s ass he could actually fit in his grasp. “...very intriguing.”  

“‘Kichi!” Shuichi jumped, eyes wide as saucers as his face flushed, now resisting the urge to look back to see if Nazumi was close enough to see purely out of horror at the idea that maybe she could. Probably not, he had a feeling Kokichi wouldn’t have risked it if his aunt was anywhere near close enough, but Shuichi couldn’t bring himself to confirm as he said, “You know, Kaito told me to karate chop you in the throat if you got handsy down there… or did he mean oral? Kaito, what in the hell are you talking about, seriously…”

Huffing, Shuichi straightened his shoulders and straightened his bowed necktie, face burning as he scolded, “Fiend. I do a little bit of sexy talk and suddenly someone can’t keep their hands to themselves. Honestly.”

Kokichi would know that Shuichi wasn’t really actually all that offended– though was genuinely surprised– as he relaxed back into his fiance’s hold… before admitting, “I’ll admit, our boundaries talk can be, well… like you said. Intriguing. It can sometimes feel like I’m getting a sneak peek of what I’m going to enjoy for the next hour or so… but I also thought from the very first time we did it that it was a very strange practice. Again, breaking my own rules, but… did you start that practice, or did Kaito? Did you all do that before you started sleeping with me at all? It seems so strange.”

Kokichi snickered again--feeling that nice flare of warmth, hearing Shuuichi use his nickname like that--though he did have the decency to give Shuuichi a sheepish look, removing his hands to just link around Shuuichi’s arm, like they started out. “I’m very weak for sweet talk, you know. And being around you makes me very happy. But being karate chopped in the throat would not, so…point taken.”

It wasn’t so much that Kokichi had cooled, but he did offer a small sigh. “We started before we started sleeping with you. Not always consistently, but…” He offered a smaller smile. “Kai-chan…really took the reins between us, in the beginning. I know you’ve heard his apologies for that before. I wasn’t used to intimacy and…we just didn’t have the healthiest dynamic between us. Kai-chan started it up and…I think it was because he could see that, even before we really…tipped overboard. It started as a way for…us to minimize the regrets we were left with, after sex.”

Kokichi chuckled softly, squeezing Shuuichi’s hand. “I think we’ve gotten a lot better about that part.”

Shuichi gave him a small, appreciative look as Kokichi took his arms back– he did like the attention, but with Nazumi watching from the distance, Shuichi couldn’t help but feel self-conscious– interlocking their fingers as they went. “I’m glad you didn’t make me do it. I think I’d feel a bit bad to hit you in the throat… well, a smidge. Explaining why I did it to Nazumi would be an adventure, I’m sure.”

“...but you make me happy too.” Shuichi said softly, his face pinking. Giving Kokichi a soft, adoring look… though it did dim a little, at Kokichi’s explanation. “Kaito…”

There was plenty, Shuichi could say. Would want to say, even. He was always a little disappointed, to hear about how Kaito had handled the start of their sex life. It hadn’t fit Shuichi’s views of Kaito, for him to do things like that. Shuichi had felt, and still felt, a little betrayed when he heard about it all. He couldn’t help but wonder what other unhealthy relationships Kaito had been the driving force for, and not just at the receiving end of… but. Those sorts of musings were EXACTLY why the ban was in place! They couldn’t start talking about stuff like that! The date had to go perfect. No sad melancholy stuff! 

So, Shuichi had firmly banished the thoughts from his mind, trying to think of a new conversation topic… when in his musings his eyes had widened. Genuinely taken off guard, as he peered ahead of them, among the graves, “...what are those?”

It was like little sparks, that came and went. Hovering over one of the graves, feeding on the flowers that had been planted in front of it, little warm, golden lights that briefly shone bright… before going dark… then bright again. Like silent, rising embers, twisting in slow, easy movements in the wind. Bright, then dark, then bright again…

And though he had never seen them in real life before, as soon as the question was out of his mouth, his own encyclopedic mind suggested: “Fireflies?”

Kokichi couldn’t even count the number of times he had had this conversation before. About how unhealthy his relationship with Kaito had been at the beginning, how unprepared he was, and how…selfish Kaito had been, and how that let down the people closest to him. About how awful they had been for each other…but also how they were still trying, getting help and learning. Refusing to give up on each other. 

There were times to have that conversation, needed moments, but…not right now. If he and Shuuichi needed to rehash the hurt from those early days, there was time to do it later. For now…

Kokichi perked before letting out a bright, delighted laugh, hugging Shuuichi’s arm in excitement. “Fireflies! Oh, I thought I was gonna go all summer without seeing them…” Pausing, he let out a slightly calmer laugh. “Geez, of all places to see them… The vineyard is really determined to go every length to look like a fairytale, huh?”

Gently nudging Shuuichi, Kokichi pulled them a bit off to the side, getting a vantage of a more open area to watch the little dotting lights drift around the gravestones. “...you guys don’t get them in Luminary, right?”

Shuichi shook his head, allowing Kokichi to pull him to the side, still just watching fixatedly. His breath still caught lightly at the sight. “No… I’ve never seen anything like them before.”

He kept his voice low, the irrational idea that if he spoke too loudly they might be scared away in mind as he squatted down once Kokichi had stopped moving. Resting his arms on his knees and peering in wonder at the little flashing lights.

“...if you had asked me? If I wanted to see fireflies?” Shuichi said softly, watching those little embers of light coming and out, illuminating small, blue flowers wrapped around a tombstone long eroded by the elements, “I wouldn’t have cared either way. I’ve never thought about it before. But… look at them. They look like magic…”

“...” his eyes suddenly widened, as he whispered, “I want some. Do you have that small wine sample bottle they gave us? Dump the wine, we can capture them.”

“I’ve heard it’s more common out west,” Kokichi said, deciding to match Shuuichi’s volume as he squatted down next to his partner. “Though before the mountains, obviously. You see some of the flat lands and wet forests and…it’s just like this every night for months. No matter how life was going, I think it’d always just be…moments of magic, seeing them flying around. Impossible to get stuck in the humdrum.”

It wasn’t that Kokichi didn’t understand the impulse, but his eyes widened as well, giving Shuuichi an uneasy look. “...that bottle doesn’t have any air holes, and…” He grimaced. “...it’s easy for me to forget that they’re bugs, when they’re far away. I don’t wanna get close enough to ruin them forever.”

Pulling the small sample bottle from his pocket, Kokichi held it up with a frown. “...this bottle’s pretty tinted too. It’d be hard to see the glow…for however long they stay alive.”

Keeping them fresh as long as possible would probably help, certainly. Fresh ingredients tended to make more potent potions–

Shuichi blinked. His long eyelashes literally catching the first drop, Shuichi after a moment going cross-eyed as he stared at the small, clear liquid, before another blink sent it falling from his face… and then more speckled across his face. Shuichi looking up, distracted from his potion desires, as more specks, light and cool, dropped onto his face.

BRRRMMMMM

The clouds above hummed and growled, the distant warnings of an ever approaching storm purring through the air like a beast on the wind. It had been difficult to tell in the setting sun, but now that he felt the sparks of water from the approaching rain, Shuichi could recognize the dark swirls of the storm that they had been warned about. The one Shuichi had thought they had been lucky to avoid.

…shoot.

He looked down at where the fireflies were, and already the rain and the uptick of wind was dispersing them. One by one the little ember lights disappearing and then not reappearing, the bugs going to hide into the plants. 

“...shoot.” Shuichi said aloud this time, frowning, as the rain upticked. “Oh, I hope those aren’t rare…”

Kokichi startled as he felt the first few plops of something hit his jacket, their talk of insects really not helping his nerves…but soon enough one fell on his head, and there was no doubt about it. “...aw…nuts… I left the umbrella in our carriage…”

It wasn’t the worst thing to get caught in a little rain, even in nice clothes, but even in the dark, that rumble was sign enough that they’d do well to find some cover. Kokichi looked around, trying to find the right path back to the restaurant as he stood…before giving Shuuichi a soft frown. 

“...we are coming to the end of the season--I’ve only really seen them during warm nights. But…in gardens, and places a little less likely to be constantly disturbed by people, you should still be able to find them.” …for whatever Shuuichi wanted to collect a bottle of bugs for. And Kokichi was starting to think it wasn’t just to have that magic of a glowing jar for a bit.

Reaching for Shuuichi’s hand and gently pulling, Kokichi picked a path to head down. “We should get inside before it really starts coming down, Shuu-chan.”

Shuichi gave the fireflies one last longing look… before he sighed. Following Kokichi’s pull.

They had only just started down the path though, when it became clearly obvious that this was going to be more than just a light drizzle. The impact of the rain coming down harder and harder, growing loud around them as, without discussing it, the two began to run. Neither of them really knowing what they were looking for, neither of them familiar with the area, but just running down the path, looking for something to take shelter in…

Down the winding path of the cemetery, through the trees, there was a small structure. If Shuichi had to guess what it was immediately, he would have thought maybe some sort of children's play structure, or even a makeshift dog house, though for large dogs… and he could practically feel Kaito roll his eyes at him as they beelined for it, realizing as soon as they shuffled inside that, no, obviously not… it’s a prayer shrine, Shuichi. You heathen. 

Shuichi wasn’t sure which god it was for, yes, but he recognized the little tells of a shrine. Little mats sat at the base of a small shelf, which in turn seemed to be protecting three large, tall white stones, with sigils engraved into the stonework in a language Shuichi didn’t know. Half burnt candles and long wilted flowers decorated around them. 

The shrine was clearly old, but the wooden and stone structure around it was well built, and as they shuffled in, the rain pelted the top of it without leaking through. With a sigh, Shuichi pulled out his handkerchief, checking to see if it was as soaking wet as the rest of him, and when it was still mostly dry, handed it to Kokichi to let him wipe his face off with it, “Well… guess it was too much to ask for, to put off the storm until we were done, hm?”

Even as they ran, and the already dark night narrowed to just their feet in front of them from the barrage of rain, Kokichi still tried to keep an eye out for Nazumi. She was sure to have seen them running from their spot, so… He thought he caught a flash of blonde before he and Shuuichi ducked into the small structure on the grounds, so…hopefully she was alright. He probably would’ve waited an extra moment for her, but he could practically feel the Very Disappointed look from her if he insisted on staying out in the rain any longer than he had to. 

Letting out a little sigh, Kokichi tried to shuck off as much water as he could by the entry before accepting Shuuichi’s handkerchief with a grateful smile, wiping his face. “Well, Aunty was never gonna tell us off for dawdling. Guess it was all up to the weather.”

Glancing to Shuuichi, Kokichi tried to look him over in the dark. “Are you okay? Didn’t slip in the mud or anything? I know I skidded a few times, but thankfully I didn’t hit any sharp rocks or anything…”

Shuichi looked a little surprise at the question, before looking down at their feet…

“...oh no!” Shuichi laughed, putting his hands on his forehead, snickering a little, “Oh, these were my nice shoes… and my nice pants… and your shoes! Oh, we’re going to go home genuinely half covered in mud. Oh, no.” 

Shuichi snickered, rubbing at his temples, just endlessly amused by all the mud. “No, I didn’t trip. I didn’t even notice till you pointed it out. Phooo… my shoes… my mentor would be so cross with me.” Shuichi said, eyes upturned in amusement, “If I managed to get this dirty by accident as a kid. An upside to living in a desert, I suppose. No random mud to ruin my clothes.”

“It’ll make for an interesting intro to the story,” Kokichi giggled with a shrug. “Probably will get us all fussed over too. Ah well. She’s always turned me down before, but I’ll still ask Waku-chan if there’s anything I can help with, since this’ll be a little more than standard laundry.”

…though Kokichi knew precisely the reason why she turned him down was the reason Kaito had laughed at him in the kitchen. It was a skill like any other, meaning it could be improved with practice, but…Kokichi really sucked at cleaning. 

Snorting a little, Kokichi shook his head. “Kinda silly to get mad at something like this. Even if I had brought an umbrella with us, the ground was still gonna get wet… But.” Kokichi rolled his eyes, giving his fiance a cheeky grin. “As a kid who grew up in a temperate, humid climate? I got in trouble all the time, for getting dirty on purpose. I can’t imagine how Kyouko would react to seeing you come back after a day out, all covered and sticky with tree sap, leaves stuck in the weirdest places.”

Shuichi laughed softly, a near giggle, as he looked out onto the pouring rain. “I can picture it. A small, bony Kokichi, walking back into the castle an absolute mess, befuddled why anyone would think it was worth comment over.”

It hadn’t been a particularly cold day. But soaked from the rain that had managed to hit them before they found shelter, along with the cooling air of the night, Shuichi found himself clutching his fingers together, chilled… before looking to Kokichi. Then to his hands. Then to Kokichi…

“Oh, no.” Shuichi sighed, resigning himself to his fate, “Where’s Kaito when you need him… I guess it’s up to me to warm your freezing hands this time. Ugh, you’re going to be so cold.” Shuichi grumbled, giving Kokichi’s fingers a wary look, “Like snuggling with an icicle.”

“I wasn’t going into the forest or the swamp or anything, but I spent all the time in our backyard I could,” Kokichi laughed softly. “Climbing in the trees or looking through the flowerbeds, or just running around in the grass… I guess I mostly wear cotton and linen even to this day, so it wasn’t like I was getting the worst stains possible, but I know no one was thinkin’ to buy me anything white.”

Except for the clothes he wasn’t really meant to do anything in. But Kokichi often jumped at the first chance to change out of them whenever he could, as a child. 

It wasn’t quite like they were in an enclosed space, the size of the shelter--shrine--enough that even the rain blowing in from the rain couldn’t get them but still open, so Kokichi wasn’t thinking about taking off his jacket. But…it had gotten quite wet. And now that chill was seeping into him…

Kokichi glanced over to Shuuichi, before cracking a small smile at his words. “Sorry…” he said, offering his small, icicle-like hands, “We can both blow on them to warm up, if that’d help? Mmm…we can get a heat pad and put it under the blankets when we get home to snuggle in.”

“I suppose that will do.” Shuichi huffed, taking the fingers and snuggling in close as he cupped Kokichi’s hands between his own, for a moment… before shivering. Bringing up Kokichi’s hands and, indeed, trying to breathe on them a little as he said, “How do your hands even work? Seriously, Kokichi, Drake is warmer than you. Not that we’ve held hands, but I’ve helped him up from falling over more times than I can count, and yes. The bloodless guy is warmer than you.”

Kokichi huffed softly before adding his own breath, fighting with himself over huddling closer to Shuuichi. They would be warmer, closer, but…the outside of Kokichi’s jacket would be much colder. Uuuuugh…

“I would think that you’d be more of a vampire expert than me, by now, but…isn’t that the whole reason he drinks blood? So that he’s not bloodless? I know that’s still not much of a comparison, but you leave me and my bad circulation alone,” he chuckled. “Hey, I’ll even curl my knees so I’m not pressing my frozen feet against you later, okay? That sweeten the pot enough?”

“Like I said. Where’s Kaito when we need him?” Shuichi smirked, his teasing put aside for a moment as he leaned against Kokichi, their backs to the shrine shelving. Watching the rain fall. “...I hope Nazumi found shelter.” Shuichi frowned. “It’s really coming down.”

Kokichi nodded, a frown deepening on his lips. “She does have our emergency bag… She mentioned having a personal umbrella with everything, when we were talking about the weather before, but even with an umbrella…it’s really heavy. And getting cold…”

He frowned more. “...I think everyone would yell at me if I went looking for her, huh?”

“Everyone would yell at me for letting you.” Shuichi pouted, a dry look in his eyes, “Favoritism.”

Sighing, Shuichi brought Kokichi’s hands up to blow on them again, “...I could go search her out, if you’d like. I mean…” Shuichi sighed, looking crestfallen, “...I only carried your child for nine months… gave birth to her, oh, something like four months ago… I guess now it’s time for me to be cast out into the rain. Left to shiver and sludge through the mud, an…” Shuichi sniffled, giving Kokichi a sad, doe-eyed look, “...an indentured doing his duty for his grace…”

Kokichi scrunched his face before getting on his tip-toes, pressing his lips to Shuuichi’s cheek and…

PBBBBBBBBTH!

The raspberry was even a little wet, before Kokichi let himself back down on his feet, giving Shuuichi a lovingly exasperated look. “I wasn’t gonna ask you to, sweetheart. Even if I feel like I should be able to go out into the rain just fine,” There was a mildly annoyed look on his face, before it faded, “...it’s still a choice to make about my health. And that’s only ever a choice someone should make for themselves.”

Sighing, Kokichi looked out into the rain, his face briefly illuminated by a crack of lightning, though no thunder followed…for the time being. “...Nazumi’s not a risky person. I know she did see us going for cover… If she saw us safe, then…she would trust us to wait it out, and go fine shelter for herself. The fewer people walking around in this, the safer we’ll all be.”

Shuichi smiled wide, giggling a little even as he pulled away from Kokichi, giving his fiance an amused look. “Brat.” He teased, before just as quickly going back to him. Wrapping his arms around him and pulling him close, kissing him back on the cheek a few times, before rubbing his still very wet face on Kokichi’s cheek a bit. “And you’re right. Even if you weren’t prone to illness, it’d still be silly for you to go out into the rain looking for Nazumi. She’s a grown woman, and she’d know we were in here. If she needed this shelter, she’d have joined us in here. She likely found an alternative and headed towards it. We can count on her making good choices for herself.”

“And if we couldn’t?” Shuichi said, giving his fiance a more pointed look, “You really can check on her literally whenever you’d like, Kokichi. And if Nazumi was in some sort of trouble, lost or tripped, and you told me about it? Then I’d go out and help her out. Because as much as I absolutely deserve to be doted on, as Maki keeps reminding me, my immune system also isn’t going to knock me out for two weeks over a cold. It’d be wise of you to send me. And I’d only complain bitterly a little bit.”

Kokichi sighed again, pressing into Shuuichi’s arms. “You deserve a life where you can be selfish all the time…but Shuu-chan is a kind person. I know, if someone was in trouble, you’d help them… That’s at least part of the reason you’re gonna become a super-cool supernatural detective.” He smiled softly, pressing a real kiss to Shuuichi’s face. “You like doing things that matter, and…helping people who need it is one of the things that matters most.”

He did trust Nazumi to have gotten to a safe place to wait out the rain…

Finally, a distant roar sounded in the sky. They weren’t in the epicenter of the thunderstorm, at least. 

“...I know I could check on her…but it feels different, than checking on you guys…” Kokichi said softly. “You guys agreed…it’s a system we’ve worked out. She wouldn’t even notice.” But unlike some of his other arguments…Kokichi could more clearly hear the side Kaito often advocated for. It wasn’t some horrible breach of privacy to reach out, seeing if anyone was hurt. And being able to help people that way…

Tentatively, Kokichi sent out…almost like a radar pulse. Like flicking a finger underwater and feeling the ripples coming from it. Not feeling deeply, but looking for anything strong enough to…

…

Kokichi let out a small breath. Nothing. No one in distress. 

Shuichi, who didn’t know Kokichi had decided to do it, said softly, “It’s ultimately up to you. But somehow I don’t think Nazumi would mind, you just checking on her. It’s really not that different from peeking out of the shrine and looking around. You just have a different way of ‘seeing’.”

Resting his head against Kokichi’s, Shuichi stared out into the pouring rain, the distant roar of thunder growling through the air… he wondered if that was what Maki might have once sounded like. A long time ago… if Kaito, in one of the lives that made him up, had ever been in a similar position, taking shelter in the rain with a lover…

Magical. They were all so magical… and their magics were gifts. His family were gifts.

Shuichi wasn’t sure why that was the thought that did it. But it was the reason he whispered, “I want to be magical.”

He let that hang there, in the air, for a moment… before he explained, “I more than want it. I’ve been… working towards it. Myself, Himiko, Lluwyn… when we get together, it’s not just to read over and trade notes on the supernatural species book. Lluwyn…” Shuichi closed his eyes, “...don’t be cross with me. I’ve been experimenting with magic.”

Well, someone with see-through vision would have a different way of seeing too, but it still meant that they had an obligation to respect people’s privacy. But…ultimately, his family was right. He couldn’t deny who he was, and Kokichi knew his powers could help beyond fantastical, big picture, world-changing things. That was one of the first things Alter Ego had told him. For most Empaths, their powers were so low-scale that…they were just considerate people. 

Looking out for others wasn’t a bad thing. And…sometimes Kokichi just had to trust people to call him out if he overstepped. 

Cuddled to Shuuichi’s side…watching the rain… It was kind of nice, even with the chill. It wasn’t quite in line with that tranquility, but somehow the quiet yearning that Kokichi felt in Shuuichi wasn’t startling. 

…as for his admittance…

Kokichi looked over, eyebrows high and lips thinned…before he pressed closer to Shuuichi. “...I understand not wanting to tell me secrets that aren’t yours. But…Lluwyn, Nadya…what kind of magic? What…”

A small sigh. “...how long?”

“Not long.” Shuichi said, sighing a little. Running his hands up and down Kokichi’s, trying to warm those thin, chilly fingers, “Not before I had Miyako. I suppose… nearly three months? Two and a half? …since I met Himiko.”

“Seeing her passion for it? Her enthusiasm for magic, in any form she could get her hands on? Seeing how possible it looked, in her eyes? …it inspired me. I started to think, well… if magic is real? If witches and sorcerers and wizards were real… why not me? Why not…”

“Lluwyn just wanted to save Himiko and I from ourselves.” Shuichi admitted, “Himiko and I were… well, we were trying to teach ourselves how to make potions. And we were succeeding… but only barely. Lluwyn noticed one of the aftereffects of one of our experiments the day he and his sister arrived, sought us out, and basically decided to prolong his visit a little to keep us from accidentally blowing our hands up… not that we would have.” Shuichi said definisbly. “We hadn’t yet, anyway.”

“...I know it was wrong to do it in secret.” Shuichi said softly, “But I could just hear Kaito in my head… saying I ‘ate drugs for superpowers’...”

“...he’s not wrong…”

Three months… Kokichi sighed, bowing his head on their hands. Honestly he was a little more upset that he hadn’t noticed for that long, rather than that Shuuichi had kept it a secret. Especially knowing the kind of person his fiance was…that wasn’t a shock. 

As Shuuichi described the day Lluwyn got involved, Kokichi thought of a moment before groaning. “I heard about that… There was a freak rainstorm, and all of the Zenith licensing forms almost got destroyed… Had to make extra copies anyway…”

That did answer one of his bigger questions, though. If Shuuichi--and Himiko too, he supposed--had found a safe way to experiment. It…didn’t feel great that they hadn’t been, but…at least someone had intervened. 

Looking up, Kokichi fixed Shuuichi with a stern, yet understanding look. “It’s not right, either. You were experimenting with poppy…but you had initially taken it to save your life. That’s not the same. And while it does terrify me to think you were experimenting with magic on your own…you’re not stupid, Shuu-chan.”

Kokichi cracked a small smile. “Too curious for your own good, sometimes, and that doesn’t feel much better, as someone who cares about you. But…I won’t harp on how dangerous messing around with magic on your own was. You’ve already found someone to help and…while I don’t know Lluwyn all that well, I do know Nadya-chan, and if even she describes him as a tight-ass…then I know you have someone looking after you.”

Sighing again, Kokichi moved their hands so he could kiss Shuuichi’s knuckles. “...I won’t blame you for keeping others’ secrets. But I wish you had told me. Magic is interesting to me too, and…” Though he said he wasn’t going to harp, Kokichi held Shuuichi’s hands a little tighter, his expression scrunching. “...it was awful, not knowing what was happening while you were on poppy. I know you know that too. Even more than me. I… Shuu-chan… Don’t…” An uneven breath. “...I’m not a doctor, and I don’t understand so much of magic… If there’s any advantage I can have, to not be left helplessly wondering what’s happening, when my loved ones are hurt…please don’t keep that from me, Shuu-chan.”

“...and don’t do that to Kai-chan either.” But that was just another whole section to the conversation, he supposed. 

Letting out a breath, Kokichi kept his eyes closed. “...I suppose Mikado doesn’t know either? Think I would’ve found out if so.”

“Himiko wants to tell her master when she’s actually good at it. She hopes it’ll make him worry less.” Shuichi said softly, closing his eyes against as he snuggled closer to Kokichi, “...I’m sorry. I had the same desire. I knew you all would worry, and I thought if I could just prove I could do it… I was afraid one of you would tell me no. I’m still afraid one of you would tell me no. I just wanted to have a good argument ready. An argument that you couldn’t say no to.”

“...That’s not a good excuse to leave you worried or wondering though.” Shuichi said softly, “I can be reckless. I’m sorry. I… it’s going to sound foolish, but I thought I’d be ‘ready’ to tell you much sooner than this. I thought I’d be ‘good’ at this much sooner than this.” Shuichi said, finally opening his eyes, peeking at Kokichi with a sheepish look, “I wanted to come to you all with an amazing potion that worked exactly as I intended it to and would dazzle and amaze you all and convince you, ‘oh, Shuichi’s got this’. Shockingly enough, I didn’t manage that the first few months, let alone the few weeks I was genuinely expecting it to take. Your Shuichi has… a little bit of pride. Maybe. Just a smidge.”

“And who knows how Kaito’s going to react.” Shuichi sighed. “I thought he’d have a bigger reaction to the supernatural detective thing, honestly, but he handled that well… maybe he won’t find it as shocking as it could be. Or maybe we’ve just finally worn him down and he doesn’t have those big, explosive reactions left in him. I’d feel a bit bad if he’s ‘broken’, but I do hope he’s not going to lose his top over being the ‘last to know’ again.” Shuichi huffed, rolling his eyes a little. “We’ll be hearing about it for the next six months.”

“Himiko and Mikado have their own relationship, and I won’t pretend to know better…but I think Mikado meeting Lluwyn, and having the three of them talk about it might dampen his kneejerk, ‘oh no, my apprentice is going to get herself horrifically killed’ reaction more than seeing her perform magic effectively.”

Kokichi sighed softly, knocking his head against Shuuichi. “Like…this might sound horrible to you, sweetie, but…I don’t care if you’re good. I care if you’re safe. Successes are born off of dozens of failures… Of course I’m going to be amazed and proud when you show me what magic you can do…but without knowing the road you took to get there, I’m just going to be scared of all the failures I didn’t see. Even if I know you’re still alive at the end of it.”

Smiling, Kokichi took one of his hands out of their grasp, and smoothed some of Shuuichi’s hair off his face. Just…looking adoringly at his fiance. “...of course you’ve got this. You’re Shuuichi Saihara. When you get an idea in your head, every power that be in the world and beyond can try and stop you, but you’ll always find loopholes to get what you want.”

“...I just worry about what you’re willing to give to get it. Because I love you…not because I think you’re incapable. If you’ve decided to be a…a brilliant potion-atier? That’s what you’ll be. I just want to see you get there with as few scrapes as possible…and I like having the option to help with that, standing at the side with a first aid kit.”

Pressing a proper kiss to Shuuichi’s cheek, Kokichi looked at him softly, before his gaze became more serious. “...we’re telling him tonight. When we get back. You didn’t plan on telling me tonight, so it’s not a matter of him purposefully being the last to know…but now that you have told me, we have to tell him.”

Taking a breath, Kokichi smiled softly. “...I support you, Shuu-chan. Magic is incredible, and I know that you’ll discover depths to it I’d never even thought possible. So…I’ll support you when we tell him. But we have to do it.”

Shuichi sighed, pressing into the small touches and the small kisses…

…before groaning. “Do we haaaaaave tooooo?”

Leaning back against the shelves, Shuichi, heathen that he was, laid his head back on the sacred rocks, sighing, “...okay, proposal. We agree to gaslight him into thinking I tooootally told him weeks ago and he just misunderstood it as me trying to engage his cooking hobbies recently. What? What do you mean, Kaito, we’ve talked about me making potions soooo much!” Shuichi said, making a meager attempt to sound ‘surprised’, “You gave me all that advice to boil the water with salt to make it boil faster… in the cauldron Kaito. The cauldron.”

“Oh, and Maki knew already.” Shuichi added in as an afterthought, “Obviously.”

“...I love you too.” Shuichi said softly. Giving Kokichi an adoring look, reaching for his hand again, “Again, I’m sorry I made you worry, and I’m sorry I kept this a secret. I really hadn’t meant to keep it this long… I know that means little. But that is the truth.”

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a dry look before just shaking his head a little, snuggling in more. Listening to his fiance whine as the rain beat down on the shrine’s roof, the world dark except for the occasional white flashes across the sky. 

“I know. I believe you,” Kokichi said softly, tracing his chilled--though not icy anymore--fingers along Shuuichi’s hand. “It’s a fool’s errand to keep any of the world away from you. My beloved detective will sniff it out, one way or another.”

“...so?” he asked, a lilt in his voice matching the crooked grin. “What sort of potions have you made so far? Done any cool feats of magic? I’ll admit, what we did for Addason was the most involved magic I’ve seen; I didn’t see my necklace become enchanted, and someone else made a deal with the witch who did it for me. Gimme the cool deets.”

“I keep making cool things that I just can’t use.” Shuichi whined, looking genuinely put out. “First of all, Himiko and I on our own did manage to make this honestly pretty amazing rain spell. Like you noticed, it made a bit of a mess, but the fact that we managed to make a rain cloud at all? I was so proud. And we made a light potion, which, admittedly, really is just us making water luminescent…”

Shuichi continued to explain, getting more and more enthusiastic the more they went into it. Telling Kokichi about the sleeping potion that he had hoped might give Kaito good dreams, and a spell that warms you that I think we’ll be great for the winter, and–

As Shuichi talked, the thunder became a soothing background noise. Feelings safe and taken care of in the small shrine, dedicated to who knew which god, keeping them warm and dry. And eventually, as Shuichi talked, he did agree to tell Kaito that night… after the two had passed back and forth the small, sample wine bottle they had been given. 

After a while, the rain started to thin… and Shuichi confessed softly, “I almost don’t want it to end. I actually really like this… sitting in the dark with you, talking and sipping on drinks, listening to the rain… this is paradise.”

Kokichi listened raptly as Shuuichi explained all of the experiments he’d been attempting over the last three months, letting the knowledge that Shuuichi had made it out alright let him just…enjoy it. Indulge in the wonder of magic. Gasping and cooing and wiggling with excitement and awe. 

All in that little forgotten shrine in a rainstorm, the rest of the world stopping for a little bit. 

“I know what you mean,” Kokichi hummed back, quite a bit warmer now from the reintroduction of alcohol, even if it wasn’t much. “It’s like the whole world is just…this.” And Kokichi did love the rest of the world too…but sometimes…it was nice to be able to put it down for a little while. 

Though…it didn’t really stop. 

Soon, his ears picked up on wet footprints, eyes catching the lightness of a green…umbrella, before he could pick up on the rest of the details. “Kokichi? Shuuichi? Y’all holdin’ up alright? This might be the best chance t’ make it back to the carriage, before the rain picks up again.”

Shuichi smiled, giving Nazumi a little wave, “We’re alright. Glad to see you’re alright.”

Sighing, Shuichi stretched out a little, looking just a tad put out… before sighing again. “Alright. Let’s get out of here. Go home, talk to my fiance, hold my baby…”

Shuffling out of the shrine, Shuichi paused. “Oh, speaking of my fiance. Hold on.” Knowing this was what Kaito would do, and figuring Kaito would know how to act in this situation, since it was kind of his whole wheel house… Shuichi knelt in front of the shrine. Bowing his head low, as he said to the rocks, “Thank you for looking after us.”

Lifting his head, he gave Kokichi an amused shrug, “Felt like the thing to do.” Before getting up, taking Kokichi’s hand, “Let’s head home.”

-

“Do you like to dance, princess?” Little Lamb asked, hopping around at Miyako’s feet.

She stared at it. Eyes wide with stupefied wonder, as Little Lamb’s whole body wiggled, before jolting a little when its little body slumped against her toes.

“No? Are you sure? Do you want to try? You just bring up your arms like this–” Little Lamb’s arms both pinched upwards, “And go y’aaaaaaaah!”

“Gah!” Miyako gasped, as Little Lamb’s entire body shook. Reaching over and grasping the doll, pulling it back towards her.

“Are we going to dance now Princess? Princess? Oh no! No, princess whyyyyyy!?” Kaito said, his voice pitched slightly, as Miyako immediately started nibbling on Little Lamb’s head once she had grabbed it from Kaito’s grip, “Devoured! Betrayed! Tell my stoooorryyyy!”

“You’re always so mean to your subjects, Miya~” Kaito gently chided, as Miyako contently continued to drool all over her toy. The two of them hanging out on the floor, Miyako sat against her little baby half-circle baby chair. “What’s gonna happen if you eat all of your servants? Am I next? I won’t be able to wait on you hand and foot if you eat me, sweetbun. You can’t have your servants and eat them too.”

There was a soft knock at the door, before the sound of the lock turning. Quietly, in case Miyako was asleep--though Kokichi highly doubted that--Kokichi pushed the door open, his face lighting up as he spotted his husband and daughter, though he simply held the door for Shuuichi to enter first. 

Even with a whole carriage ride back home, the two of them were damp. Not the kind of almost refreshing damp, after getting caught in a light rain, or having been caught in a splash from the side of a pond, but the kind of musty, uncomfortable damp that only happened after being soaked to the bone and unable to properly dry off for such a time that you actually had started to dry a little. It was only a quick toweling off at the entrance that kept them from tracking mud all through the castle too, Kokichi opting to just carry his shoes up the stairs to really make sure. 

“We’re back,” he called softly, grinning as he saw Miyako gnawing all over Little Lamb. “How has your night been?”

“Uneventful!” Kaito answered cheerfully, giving them both a wave from the floor… before chuckling, “And I see that the rain gave you guys some issues, huh? You alright?”

“We’re fine, we’re fine. Though, I think it’d be wise to have Kokichi and I take a warm shower.” Shuichi said a tad pointedly, having grown a little concerned for Kokichi as he shivered on the way home. Shuichi had been doing his best to keep him warm, but, well, he wasn’t a walking furnace to begin with, and also he himself was pretty damp. 

Still, Kaito seemed to take it entirely differently, as he smirked, “Oh? Night went that well? Alright, well, you guys have fun, don’t hurry. Worst comes to worst I’ll take Miyako next door, you guys can make all the fun noise ya want.”

Shuichi rolled his eyes, stopping to give Miyako an affectionate pet through her hair, “Not like that. I doubt we’ll be long. We just need to warm up.”

“Mmmhm, get real warm.”

“It was really lucky,” Kokichi hummed, padding into the room and carefully depositing his muddy shoes next to their laundry basket. He wasn’t really sure how to go about cleaning the entirety of shoes, as opposed to buffing out a scuff, or brushing off dirt, but…well, someone in the castle was sure to know. “We were touring around the vineyard when it really started coming down, but there was this little structure, a shrine, that we huddled under until Nazumi could come save us with an umbrella. Shuu-chan even held my hands to keep warm! He’s such a gentleman, our guy~”

Kokichi started stripping off his outer layers, putting them right in the laundry basket to keep their room at least a little orderly, before he searched around for some nightclothes for both him and Shuuichi. Though, he let out a small, cheeky chuckle before heading to the bathroom. “Maybe that would’ve been in the cards earlier…but Shuu-chan and I have a whooole tale to regale you with, and I have some very pretty scenes to wow Miya with.”

…and they had a potentially serious discussion to have, and Kokichi wasn’t putting that off for sex. Even if Shuuichi was still as handsome as ever, even rain-drenched. 

Now at that, Kaito pouted a little. Giving them both a mildly concerned look, as he insisted, “I really can take Miyako out of here, you guys can have the bed if that’s the issue…”

“It’s just not how the night shook out, Kaito.” Shuichi said, stripping out of his clothes too. “We won’t be long.”

Kaito frowned as Shuichi and Kokichi headed into the bathroom, before tutting a little. Looking to Miyako and whispering to her, “I don’t know how they do it, Miyako. What kind of date ends without a little hanky-panky? Do you think we cock-blocked them? …” Kaito’s eyes widened a little, whispering to Miyako, who gave him a wide eyed look back, “Do you think they did some cuddling before they got home? Ooooh… scandalous. Ugh, they would. Daddy probably just got caught up in Dada’s beauty, but Dada? I bet Dada was like ‘haha’, Dad’s gonna be soooo jealous… darn. He’s right, Miya. Dad’s very jealous.” Kaito snickered. Enjoying ‘gossiping’ with his daughter as he rubbed her little toesy’s. “They probably didn’t… but I hope they tell me about it if they did~”

Even after what Shuichi had said, Kaito was still surprised when it really wasn’t that long before the shower turned off. Warm steam briefly filling the room as Shuichi and Kokichi came out in fresh pajamas, hair still drying. “Wow, you guys weren’t kidding. In and out, huh?”

Kokichi chuckled sheepishly, even as he rubbed his sleeves over his neck, relishing in the soft fabric, after having been stuck with fabric stuck to his skin for the past half-hour or so. “Honestly I think I would’ve fallen asleep if we stayed in much longer… It’s just so waaaaaaaarm. And Shuu-chan’s so soooooooft.”

As he cooed, Kokichi nuzzled himself against Shuuichi’s side before joining the party on the floor, stroking his fingers along Miyako’s arm. “I’m not all gross now Miyaaaa. That means Daddy can come say hi as tactically as he wants~”

He was definitely in a cuddly, happy mood--all the wine they’d had definitely was still contributing to that--but Kokichi managed to take a breath, giving Kaito a more serious look. “So…Shuu-chan ended up giving me some big news, while we were out. And so…it’s something we should all go over together, I think.”

“Gah!” Miyako said, kicking her legs enthusiastically as she saw Purple approach. “G’weh!”

“Gweh, indeed.” Kaito said dryly, giving both his loves a dry look as Shuichi demurely sat down on his knees on the other side of Miyako. Still running a dry hand towel through his hair to dry it more, pointedly not look at Kaito as the prince asked, “What kiiiind of big news?”

“...” Shuichi huffed. Squaring his shoulders and laying his hands in his lap. His lips thinning lightly, clearly trying to decide how to word this… before he said simply, “I’ve been experimenting with magic.”

Of all the things Kaito was expecting Shuichi to say– and he really wasn’t sure what he had been expecting at all– Shuichi saying he was ‘experimenting with magic’ was so unexpected that, for a moment, Kaito could really only give him a slightly puzzled look. What did… his brow furrowed. What did that mean? 

“...like…” Kaito said slowly, looking between the two of them, “...you mean studying magical things?”

“No.”

“....empath stuff–?”

“I’ve been experimenting with potions.”

“...”

“...”

“... Shuichi, handsome?” Kaito said, face growing stony, “If you’re about to tell me you’ve been eating more magic drugs–”

“I haven’t ingested anything.” Shuichi said quickly. “I’ve been experimenting with potions that have little effect on the environment around them, or the end result looks… ‘correct’. I don’t try them on myself.” Shuichi said. Admittedly, fibbing a little… he had watched Himiko drink things. And sipped at things just to see how they tasted. But beyond that! 

Kaito still frowned at that. Not entirely certain how he should feel about this, clearly trying to gather more information before he decided if he was angry or not. Worried? Yes. But angry though… he wasn’t sure yet. 

While Shuuichi took the time to find the words to say, Kokichi doted quietly on their daughter, smoothing her hair and gently squishing her round cheeks. Talking to her in their own way, telling her that Dada was a fan of cool lights just like her, that they found special ones that night that flew through the air…

But as much as he could spend the rest of the night talking to Miyako…he had promised Shuuichi his support. And it was a family conversation to have. 

Hearing Kaito immediately talk about eating magic drugs--Shuuichi’s anxiety had been right, then--Kokichi frowned slightly…and then a little more as he caught that little lie from Shuuichi. It didn’t feel like a big lie, so it probably wasn’t that Shuuichi was trying every potion they made, but…Shuuichi! That was so dangerous! 

Sighing softly, Kokichi nodded. “I barely know anything about non-ability magic, but I know enough that it can be dangerous… It made me feel a lot better to know you have a teacher now, Shuu-chan. Though…since I’ve thought about it on the ride back, I think I do wanna have a talk with Lluwyn. I won’t understand the intricacies of learning potion making, but I can still ask his plan, and what sort of precautions he’s putting into place for you.”

Kokichi smiled softly. “...I just wanna have all the information I can get to help, if something happens. Or even just to understand what you’re doing a little more.”

Kaito’s eyes narrowed a little at that. Lluwyn. Okay… wait– “Is that what you’ve been doing with Himiko and him?” Kaito realized, giving Shuichi a hard look. “I thought you guys were studying from that species book.”

“We do that a little too.” Shuichi said, shrugging a little… before sighing at Kaito’s increasingly frustrated look, “Himiko and I were trying to make simple potions with ingredients we could get access to. Lluwyn noticed what we were doing and offered to teach us how to do it safely.”

“As opposed to what you were doing before that.” Kaito said stiffly. 

“For a short period of time, yes–”

“How short.”

“...”

“...Shuichi, if you were still pregnant–”

“No.” Shuichi snapped, shooting Kaito a cold look… before his expression softened, “No, Kaito. Nothing I did, even by exposure before or after, could have possibly put Miyako in danger. I took no risks with her. I took no risks with Kokichi or yourself either. Maki always made certain I was clean before I came back to the room, so nothing second-hand could get on any of you.”

Kaito sighed, rubbing his temple, “Man, that part doesn’t surprise me. Course Maki wouldn’t tell me… ngh.” Kaito scowled, rubbing his temple some more, before giving Shuichi a frustrated look, “...how did Kokichi find out?”

“I saw some fireflies. And it occurred to me that they might make decent ingredients for a potion.” Shuichi answered honestly, “And that put my mind on the potions, and… it occurred to me I just wanted to tell you guys. That this wasn’t a secret I really wanted to keep.”

“Us guys… both of us?” Kaito asked, something a little skeptical in his expression, “Kokichi didn’t make you tell me?”

“No, I was going to tell you either way… maybe try a little harder to gaslight you, if Kokichi hadn’t been aware what was going on. Try to convince you that you already knew.” Shuichi shrugged.

Kaito’s eyes narrowed, “...that’s a mean joke, Shuichi. But, seriously. Why was this a secret at all? Like Kokichi’s talking about, we could have been helping this whole time. Make certain you were safe–”

“I didn’t want you to tell me no.”

“...geez, Shuichi,” Kaito sighed, running his hand over the back of his neck, massaging the tense muscles there, “Would it have mattered? It’s not like I could make you stop, not if you wanted to do it.”

Shuichi raised an eyebrow at that, “Kaito, you kept me on house arrest for months.”

“What? I mean… sure, with Maki’s help. What am I going to do, threaten to cut you? The guards would laugh at me if I told them to restrain you.”

“Kaito… I didn’t listen to you just because Maki threatened me.” Shuichi frowned, “I listened because it was you asking me.”

“...” Kaito frowned at that. Genuinely befuddled. “...really?”

Kokichi was glad that Shuuichi had gotten out ahead of that point when he had told him initially. Yes, sometimes Shuuichi’s curiosity drove him into dangerous territory…but from every example Kokichi had ever seen, Shuuichi never endangered anyone else in his pursuits. Debatably Maki, but…Kokichi really didn’t think it was the same thing, if she had just been helping him clean up later. 

So…maybe Shuuichi drank amateur-made potions. But he would never endanger their daughter, or even his partners unless they had tried to be a part of the process. It wasn’t something that completely soothed Kokichi’s anxieties, but it was a noble trait, and something that Kokichi admired in his fiance. 

Kokichi made a little face--so that was why Shuuichi wanted the bugs…--and gave his loves a concerned look at the joke that Kokichi was extra glad he’d rejected being a part of before, and… 

…well, as far as he knew…Shuuichi had never even tried to sneak out while he was on house arrest. Some of that had probably been the hopelessness and discomfort of rehab, but…even when things started to get better…

…he’d come to Kokichi first, about wanting more freedoms. And Kokichi had been who they decided was the plan-maker for all that, but…

“...you do respect Kai-chan’s judgement quite a bit…” Kokichi said softly. Maybe not his judgement across the board, but… “When it comes to being safe? Or acting on questionable decisions…you do generally make good calls, hun,” Kokichi nodded to his husband. 

“...I feel like I’m about to get the rug pulled out from under me.” Kaito admitted warily, looking between them, “Like I’m being set up for a really bitter joke.”

“It’s not a joke, and it’s not a setup.” Shuichi said, wringing the hand towel in his hands a little. “Kaito… I don’t really know how to say this without making it sound like I’m about to follow it up with something sarcastic. Because I do know that I do that fairly often with you. But I’m being entirely sincere when I say that, yes… it’d be deeply uncomfortable to me, to try to do something you’ve actively told me not to do. You’re…”

Shuichi sighed. Pulling at his bangs a little, staring at the ground, “Even before you were my fiance, or my boyfriend… you’re my best friend, Kaito. You have been for so long. I don’t even want to suggest I’d have deferred to your decisions because you were my prince, or a Momota, or my charge as an escort… because it really just boiled down to the fact that you’re someone I’ve been close to for a very long time. I respect your decisions. I don’t always agree with them, and I won’t say that I wouldn’t try to hide things from you, if I really wanted them and you said no… but I would feel guilty about it. More so than you not being aware of the thing you’d disapprove of in the first place. I’d… hate to treat you like that. For you to tell me ‘no’ on something, and then for me to disrespect you by turning around and doing it anyway. That’s a level of cruel I don’t want to be to you. It’s… not what I want for you.”

Shuichi looked away, a hint of frustration on his face as he admitted, “Keeping things from you to spare you that level of disrespect is, admittedly, not an incredibly helpful workaround. All I can say there is that my intention was to tell you earlier and sooner, but my nerves and fears of you stopping me got the better of me. I want to study magic. I want it badly, Kaito… I just didn’t want to have to choose between disrespecting you or studying it.”

“...you’re sure it’s not to do with the Prince/Indentured thing?” Kaito asked quietly. “Dr. Mariah was always looking for signs of that affecting our relationship. I know you and I are in a really good place, considering everything, but… if me telling you no freaks you out because I’m a prince, we should talk about that in therapy…”

Shuichi shook his head without hesitation… before saying, somewhat tensely, “I know for a fact that’s not what keeps me from being afraid of having those types of arguments with you. I know this because it’s your status as a prince that sometimes makes me want to treat you poorly. Which, we have talked about, a little, in therapy. Talking to Prince Kaito makes me want to be mean and snide and a little vengeful. But talking to my Kaito? …it makes me want to listen when you tell me things. Even if I don’t want to.”

Kokichi gave Kaito a slightly apologetic look, not having meant to make it sound like the set-up to a cruel joke. Kaito wasn’t omniscient, and he didn’t always make the best decisions possible--he was human, just like the rest of them. (And despite their peculiarities, Kokichi was going to remain adamant on that point. They were just people, when it came down to it.) But he did care deeply and fiercely about protecting the people he loved, and to do that, he needed to make good judgement calls. Maybe sometimes he did give a little too much leeway into nurturing the “fun” needs, and maybe sometimes he got a little too stifling about physical safety…but they were fluid mistakes, and there was always a caring logic behind what Kaito chose. 

Taking care of people was what he was good at. No joke there. 

However…

Briefly, Kokichi’s eyebrows scrunched before he frowned, looking a bit to the side. Was…choosing to do something, even though someone told you not to, a form of cruelty? There was a certain amount of disrespect, he could admit that enough, but…it was insane to think that you would always follow the advice of people you respected. Sometimes, they were wrong, and sometimes you just needed to make your own mistakes. Sometimes there wasn’t even a clear right or wrong path, and you just decided to choose differently. And…in Kokichi’s mind, that wasn’t a cruel thing to do. 

…but he didn’t exactly categorize himself as a kind person. 

Regardless, though…that’s how Shuuichi felt about it. And, while in Kokichi’s mind, keeping the information from them was objectively worse than doing it after they (Kaito) said no…Shuuichi just said he knew that wasn’t a good alternative. 

Kokichi opened his mouth…then closed it. He had wanted to affirm that to Shuuichi--he could only speak from his own perspective in this conversation, of course--but…it still felt like that would be speaking over Kaito. Not giving him the space to absorb the information, and decide what he wanted for himself and Shuuichi and their relationship. Kokichi had had his turn to ask questions and let it soak in. They did have a dynamic of the three of them to settle with the matter, but…Kokichi didn’t want that to override just Kaito’s turn. 

…so he simply gave Shuuichi a soft look, nodding slightly. Because, really…it was a wonderful sort of respect and trust, that their independent Shuuichi held Kaito’s word so high.

Kaito gave Shuichi an uncertain look at all of that. He wasn’t sure how he felt, Shuichi calling Kaito and ‘Prince Kaito’ separate things. But, well… it’d be hypocritical for him to insist both sides of himself were indistinguishable. Heh, actually almost literally, it’d be hypocritical these days. Sure, Kaito had developed the habits of considering different impulses in himself The Conqueror, The Luminary of the Stars, and then, of course, Kaito. And, well… maybe even in his own mind, ‘Prince’ Kaito had been different still, from Kaito. A persona he put on when he was trying not to embarrass himself, or even trying to demand the respect of others, during the times he had tried it. 

Kaito thought of himself in those ways. He was just a little surprised to hear someone else do it. Worse than that, to hear Shuichi call out a side of him as one he actively disliked. It… kinda hurt.

“I think that’s something we should talk about more. If not now, later.” Kaito murmured. “The ‘not liking Prince Kaito’ thing. But, as for the ‘keeping things from Kaito so he can’t tell me no’ stuff… actually we should talk about that more too, like, seriously. That also feels like a lot. But.” Kaito huffed, continuing, “As far as the ‘Doing experimental magic’ thing… look, a part of me wants to be angry. But honestly, I’m more concerned about just making sure you’re safe about this. So, I agree with Kokichi, I want to talk to this professor of yours–”

“I mean, he’s not a–”

“--I want to talk to him. And Himiko. I want to know what it is you’re doing and what kind of risks you’re taking. I want…” Kaito sighed. Running his hands through his hair in frustration, “I mean, I want you guys to alllllll stop hiding things from me. I’d love that. But, whatever, like I said, I’m struggling to be angry right now… I’m a little angry.” Kaito muttered, a hint of irritation running through his eyes. Clearly getting more pissed the more he thought about it, “...but. But, but… but that’s already stuff we’re working on. Like, you all know already how much shit like this drives me crazy. And, admittedly, it does help to know that Kokichi didn’t know until a few hours ago. I don’t know, call me petty, but that it wasn’t just me you were hiding it from does help… I just want you to be safe, Shuichi! Especially when it comes to magical substances! I just…”

Kaito gave Shuichi an earnest look, “...Maki tried to warn me. When the spores happened. I know I’ve told you that before, probably more than once… but that eats me up inside. That Maki tried to tell me and I dismissed her concerns. I had the chance to help you, and I literally argued against it… that haunts me. A lot of things haunt me, from those days… please let me take care of you. I’m trying so hard to be better than the person I was, when everything went wrong for you. The idea of you being caught up in more magical bs that’s ripping you apart and me just not noticing, too wrapped up in my own selfish bs… please, Shuichi. Please. I know you guys all had it worse, I know that it’s selfish of me to word it this way because I should be taking care of you, but… I’m asking you to tell me these things because I’m still barely recovering from the mental breakdown I had about all of that. It is still a real, active struggle to be… normal. After everything that happened. I don’t….”

Kaito closed his eyes. Wrapping his arms around his stomach and gritting his teeth, as he admitted, “I’m going to lose it, if something else happens to you guys, and I just let it. I’m going to lose it. I’m going to lose it. I lost my mind. I barely recovered… please don’t sabotage my attempts to be better. I’m trying so hard…”

Shuichi wasn’t sure what to say to that. It felt like Kaito was trying to tell him something important, and Shuichi recognized that, but… it was hard to fathom what Kaito really meant. Shuichi successfully hiding something didn’t mean Kaito would have ‘let it’ happen… but maybe Kaito couldn’t see it like that anymore. Hmm…

Scooting around, Shuichi carefully laid his arm around Kaito’s back. Resting his head on his shoulder, and while he didn’t really understand Kaito’s mentality, still promised, “Alright. I’m sorry I kept it from you. I didn’t feel like I was in danger, but… I’ll be better, about not hiding dangerous things from you.”

Once again, the doubt was there. It sat uncomfortably inside of Kaito, like acid… but he opened his eyes and nodded anyway. Resting his head back on Shuichi’s as Kaito said, “Thank you… we’re going to talk to Lluwyn?”

“Yes, when you like.”

“Okay… is the magic stuff cool?”

“I mean…” Shuichi smiled, placing a small kiss against Kaito’s temple, who sighed softly at that, “I think it is.”

…it felt like they had just had a conversation about that. Kokichi knew that people had different boundaries for the same things, so it was unfair and unhelpful to hold people to your own standards…and even more than that, Kaito had told him that he felt uncomfortable even not loving all of Kokichi’s memories, when he was on the other side…

Well. Maybe that would be a good parallel to bring up in therapy, when they discussed it. Kokichi didn’t expect his partners to love him at every age in time…but they could still remember they were talking to him, if they were talking to his memories. And though Kokichi said he wouldn’t want Kaito to love a version of him that treated him badly…he didn’t want his partners to let him harm himself, telling them that it was okay to treat him poorly if there was a memory they didn’t like. Because…he knew he would say exactly that, if the situation came up. 

But that was a future subject to discuss all on its own. And the crux of their talk now…

Kokichi’s face fell with a knowing sympathy--not quite empathy, as he knew the way they felt about it was similar, but not the same--and scooted to Kaito’s other side, tucking into his husband to rub his back under where Shuuichi was. 

If anything had happened to Shuuichi because of his experimenting…they’d have to invent a whole new word to be more intense than ‘crisis’, for what state they would be in. It would’ve been horrifying, not knowing what was going on, maybe not standard medical aid being able to help, and just…feeling useless, for not having been able to help. And feeling guilty for that feeling, while Shuuichi was in danger. 

It was horrible enough to go through it once. That was why Kokichi pleaded with Shuuichi not to build the same situation again, even if nothing happened. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi pushed his cheek into Kaito’s shoulder with a small smile. “...Shuu-chan was tellin’ me all about all the cool potions they’ve been making, yanno, after I got out my own, ‘what the eff, that’s so dangerous, please don’t keep me in the dark about that stuff’ freakout. It’s really neat…”

“...but it’s also really late,” Kokichi nodded up to their wall clock. “My shift is usually around this time, and thanks, hun, for takin’ over the start, but…you two might wanna think about sleep soon, unless you don’t mind bein’ all zombie-like tomorrow.”

Kaito gave Kokichi a grateful look, both at the hug and at the reminder. And even though he hadn’t ‘lost it’ this time… he still felt a little embarrassed, at the very sincere plea, as he said softly, “Sorry. I keep making these ‘big revelations’ about me, and I know I keep doing that… I want to hear more about all this magic stuff tomorrow. Want to have the conversation that deserves. I just… sorry.” Kaito said, looking to Shuichi now, “I’m sorry. I keep giving you guys shitty reactions to what should be exciting news. I think it’s cool, that you’ve found a new ambition, Shuichi. I want to hear all about it. I just…”

“You feel ‘bad’.” Shuichi supplied.

Kaito nodded, “Yeah. But I’ll feel better tomorrow, I promise. Then you can tell me all the cool stuff you’re doing!”

“Go take your sleeping pills, Kaito.” Shuichi said softly, kissing him on the cheek before gently nudging him forward, “Go get some sleep. Honestly, I appreciate how calm you’re being. We can talk more about it later, when you feel less ‘bad’.”

“Right… okay.” Kaito said, still looking disappointed with himself, as he stood up. Giving them both earnest, guilty looks, before nodding, “Okay. Tomorrow. We’ll talk when I feel better tomorrow, and that’ll be fine.” He said, giving Miyako a quick glance to make certain she was alright– she kept trying to bash Little Lamb against her legs, it looked like, maybe trying to get him to ‘dance’ for dada and daddy like he had danced for her– before heading into the bathroom to grab his pills. 

Shuichi watched him go… before deflating a little. His tense, standoffish body language easing as guilt crept into his eyes. “...I handled all this poorly.” Shuichi realized, looking to Kokichi with a newly uncomfortable look, “I don’t think I really grasped, how affected you two would be if I had accidentally hurt myself and you all hadn’t known I was doing it… I shouldn’t have done it that way.”

Kokichi shook his head a little and hugged Kaito more. “It’s not bad that you feel bad. There is a happy, exciting side to this, and it’s something I’m personally really excited to explore together, as Shuu-chan becomes the coolest, most incredible potion master ever. But it doesn’t erase the real and pertinent worries and concerns we have, and we’re…allowed to be worried and concerned, and…yeah, angry. It’s not a failing. But…it will be nice when we can talk about the more positive side.”

With a pat on the back, Kokichi sat back up to let Kaito up, though it was only a quick look to Shuuichi before Kokichi scooted into the vacated space, glomming onto his fiance next. He wound his arms around Shuuichi’s waist and petted his side, just…holding him for a moment. 

“...I can’t say I disagree,” he said softly, giving Shuuichi a tiny smile. “I really do wish you had told us from the beginning…or even after the first time you tried making a potion, and decided you wanted to try again. I don’t think you need to tell us literally everything about your life and thoughts, but…heck, even just for an exciting new hobby? Of course I want to know that.”

With a little sigh, his smile faded. “...and for the things that can be dangerous? It… Really, I can only be thankful that you learned that lesson without getting hurt again. That we could have this conversation without being surrounded by stress and high-stakes. Some lessons can only be learned through mistakes…but I’m happy you didn’t have to make one to learn it this time.”

He had hoped that…it would be apparent that he and Kaito would be freaked beyond belief about this, considering what happened with the poppy… But he didn’t blame Shuuichi for not getting it. He was just glad he got it now. 

Putting his chin on Shuuichi’s shoulder, Kokichi closed his eyes and held Shuuichi tight for a moment. “...you’re going to do incredible things, Shuu-chan, and I can’t wait to see them. But…you’re precious to me, beyond your abilities. If something happened to you, it’d devastate me…so give us the tools to manage that, okay? We love you, but we can’t always keep up.”

Shuichi easily accepted Kokichi’s cling, puttings his hands on Kokichi’s arm and leaning into the hold. “I suppose so… that makes sense.”

He held Kokichi back for a moment… before snorting a little as Miyako gave an impatient little “MEGH!” The infant apparently bored with watching them be all close to each other and not, how dare they, involving her in any way. “Now, now, Miyako. Wait your turn.” Shuichi scolded, though he reached over to carefully pick her up. Miyako making little satisfied, coo’ing sounds now that she was feeling more doted over, as Shuichi held her. “I’m glad this went as well as it did, honestly. And, at least now? I can say with absolute certainty that I have no more ‘deals’. I am out of ‘big deals’. If I’m hiding anything else, it’s so unimportant that I’ve literally forgotten I’m hiding it. I have no more trauma bombs waiting to go.”

“Awww, that’s nice to hear.” Kaito said somewhat sarcastically as he came out of the bathroom, teeth and face clean and pills swallowed, “I am a little skeptical, but for now I’ll just reserve judgment and believe ya. No more deals! I currently know about all the crazy dangerous magic things you all are playing with? No big conspiracies happening? Family member drama all out in the open? Yeah?” Kaito asked, putting his hands between his hips and looking at all of them, “Shuichi? Kokichi? Miya? That’s right, baby, I’m looking at you, you better not be keeping secret diapers hidden around or anything… no? Alright! I want to hear more about this date while I’m going to sleep! Fill me in!” 

Kaito gave all three of them quick kisses before going to hop into the bed, grabbing a pillow and strangling it as he laid on it, giving Shuichi and Kokichi small smirks, “...ya’ll do any… cuddling?” he asked leadingly. Wiggling his eyebrows.

Kokichi chuckled softly as he let Shuuichi go, willing to give up on good hugs for their daughter’s whims. And very important demands for affection, naturally. As she got settled in her dada’s arms, Kokichi leaned in, gently cupping her face before placing a smooch on her head, cooing back just as much. 

No more big secrets. If something came up, they could tackle it together. 

Since it looked like Shuuichi was content to join the Miya-Doting-Squad in lieu of bed for the time being, Kokichi got comfortable on the floor, glancing over amused at Kaito. “I very narrowly avoided a karate neck chop, a la your advice, apparently. Though, also apparently, we’ve been sorely lacking on our studying, hun. With this new nugget of very intriguing information, I might ask if I can take a peek through your sex book sometime, see what else I’m missing.”

“My s-e-x book–?”

“Kaito, she’s four months old, she can’t understand you.”

“Huh, I haven’t looked at that thing in ages.” Kaito admitted, looking around as he realized he actually wasn’t even sure where it was. “Man, I’m so neutered. Lost my darn cuddling book–”

“It’ll be years before she grasps the concept of sentences.”

“--and everything. Too busy being a great dad, Shuichi.” Kaito huffed, giving his fiance a dry look… before he grinned. The grin already a little tired– those pills worked fast– as he said, “But, awww, I know Shuichi wrote notes in the book, but I haven’t found all of them. I got through a bunch, but I didn’t look through every page. Got a little discouraged when I saw so many pages crossed out.”

“More reason for you to read them, really.” Shuichi pointed out, Kaito nodding slightly at that. Reasonable argument, actually. “Oh, and, Kaito, I’ve been wondering about it all day… why not third base? Why is sex allowed, but oral I have to karate chop throats?”

“Hmmm?” Kaito hummed, blinking sleepily, “...oh! Oh, I mean… it’s kinda sincere advice, and also kind of an injoke. You don’t remember? Maki and I used to say that all the time, back when we were wing-manning for each other? How going to third base without going all the way is setting you up for a bad time?”

Shuichi shook his head, “Must have missed it. Why?”

“Uh, I mean…” Kaito looked a little embarrassed, “Cause people who want oral from you without going all the way on a first date usually end up being the biggest a-holes? It always ends up being really onesided, you don’t want to end up with a person like that cause they’re never going to end up doing better than that first date. Someone wants oral from you on the first date and nothing more? Get out of there, that’s a huge red flag. Asking for oral and nothing more is something you should do when you’ve already established that, like… sex isn’t going to be entirely onesided every time.”

Kaito shrugged again, “I said it as a joke cause I thought you remembered that rule already, and, like… obviously it doesn’t apply to Kokichi. So… haha?”

Kokichi hummed consideringly. “Ah… Okay. Though it seems like that’s good advice for, like…everything. I guess it’s kinda hard to kiss one-sidedly, if it’s something you want from the other person, but…touching and everything else…yeah. If it’s demanded to be one-sided from the other person, especially on the first date, yikes.”

…though he still very much considered having oral sex still a form of sex. People set their own standards for that stuff, of course, but…if Kokichi had ever had the option to have a first date? He didn’t even think he’d want to open-mouth kiss on the first date. 

Sliding his gaze over to Shuuichi, Kokichi opened his mouth…before looking down at Miyako. And seeming to decide something, he leaned over to whisper in his fiance’s ear. 

“If that was the case, then the karate chop threat was unneeded. If anything, I’d probably be asking if I could go down on you.”

Pulling back, he gave Shuuichi a wink, before sitting back with his previous smile. “Oh, but…the date as a whole was really awesome. The food was incredible, and…Kai-chan, I absolutely have to show you later! The chef, they were throwing knives and mills and ingredients around like crazy, doing all sorts of incredible moves ‘n stuff. There’s nothing really like it…”

“Oh, and I’m like 90% sure our waiter had a little crush on Shuu-chan~” he laughed with a sly smirk.

Shuichi’s face burned, and Kaito’s eyes widened as he saw Shuichi turn away, looking genuinely shy and demur, rather then the way he acted it out when he was trying to rile Kaito up. His eyes darted between Kokichi and Shuichi, furiously wondering what Kokichi had just said. Miyako, in turn, now that she was in someone’s arms, had gone back to cheerfully devouring Little Lamb. Making happy little coo’ing noises as she did so.

Kaito gave Kokichi a fascinated look as he explained some of the actual theatrics of the restaurant, and he opened his mouth excitedly at the talk of the waiter, wanting to demand to see a mental image of him so that he could see the kind of person his super handsome fiance had pulled in…

…and he yawned. And yaaaawned…

Blinking sleepily, he refused to let that deter him, as he blearily insisted, “Heck yeah… can I… can I see? Some of the… theeeeee–” Kaito yawned again, resting his head on his pillow and biceps a little as he said, “the knife throwing stuff, yeah, but also crushing waiter? Aw, I love that… I know you guys can get uncomfortable with it, but I love watching people go cross-eyed and fluster ov…” Kaito yawned into the pillow. Come on, keep it together for a little longer, “...ooooover you two. You’re both so breathtaking… it’s good to know people recognize that… ‘m so lucky…”

Kokichi smiled softly as by the second Kaito seemed to drift off. It really was a heck of a sleeping aid. These days Kokichi didn’t have so much trouble falling asleep when he laid down to, but on the nights he did, it was kind of tempting… Heh. Maybe he’d get to try out Shuuichi’s sleeping potion one of these days, enjoy falling asleep in a matter of seconds. 

“We’ll have a big story time tomorrow, hun. Maybe dream of it tonight, we’ll see how it compares.” His voice was soft as he called out to Kaito, before looking back to Shuuichi, looking a little pleased and bashful in turn from how red he’d turned his fiance. 

Putting a hand on Shuuichi’s back, Kokichi tilted his head with a questioning smile. “...too much? Especially right before bed for you too…”

Shuichi also watched fondly, as Kaito muttered something indistinguishable, mostly because he was practically talking into his pillow. Shuichi would have to move Kaito to lay properly on the bed later, Kaito literally falling asleep across it, but that was alright. It could be nice, sometimes, being the one to shift sleeping lovers around. Being the one doting, rather than being doted on. He’d tuck Kaito in later.

And giving Kokichi an equally soft, adoring look… Shuichi’s soft look became steadily more amused. Still keeping Miyako comfortably in his lap, holding her with one arm, as he reached out with one long, delicate finger. Tilting Kokichi’s chin up, before smirking a little, he ran the same finger up Kokichi’s chin, running the edge of his fingernail over the ends of Kokichi’s bottom lip. 

“I can be very patient, Kokichi.” Shuichi told him simply. Smirking a little, “Later, when there is time? I…” Shuichi tapped at Kokichi’s bottom lip, before gently pushing the very tip of his finger into Kokichi’s mouth. Leaning in and saying softly, his smile in sweet, sharp points, “...am going to make you work for it. ‘Kichi~”

And then, he gently kissed Kokichi’s cheek. Pulling his finger back and laughing lightly. “Was that even kind of sexy? I’ve never seen anyone do that before, I thought it’d be worth trying.”

Kokichi sat in rapture, eyes glued to Shuuichi. The scant touch, so purposefully done, just felt all the more intense, and Kokichi found that he genuinely had to keep himself from poking his tongue out, wanting to reach towards Shuuichi…

He let out a small breath, still feeling the pit of warmth that had grabbed his attention off and on all night before he turned his head to return the cheek kiss. “I’m into it. So…yes.” Laughing softly, he shifted onto his knees to place another kiss to Shuuichi’s forehead, this one more befitting a goodnight. “Now I have another thing to be excited for…well, good thing I’m not headed to sleep yet.”

Holding his arms out, Kokichi gave Shuuichi a grin. “Think I could convince you to pass over our daughter?”

“Nooooo, I maaaade her…” Shuichi pouted, lifting Miyako up to clutch her to his face… before wincing as she immediately grabbed one of his bangs. Little Lamb falling to the floor as Myako saw and snatched the new conquest immediately, in a fit that would have made Kaito’s ‘conqueror’ impulses quite proud! “Miya, nooooooo.” He groaned miserably. 

After he and Kokichi eventually convinced the baby to let go, Shuichi, huffing, gave Kokichi and her a quick kiss each, before saying, “Goodnight, Kokichi… I had a wonderful day, even with the rain and talking to you both about the potions. Thank you for taking me. I love you.”

Miyako and Little Lamb safely tucked against his chest, Kokichi swayed gently as he saw Shuuichi off to bed, smiling adoringly at him. “Goodnight, sweetheart. I’m glad you had fun…this was an incredible date. Promise, the next one will be sooner. I love you too, sleep well.”

-

“...I mean…are you sure you’re alright? I really didn’t mean for it to…”

Ikuo glanced over at Kokichi with a small, huffing laugh, reaching over to ruffle his son’s hair. “‘S a good deal. Lotta folks’ll get use outta it, an’ I don’ mind.” 

With that said, Ikuo took his arm back and resituated the 25 pound bag of birdseed he had braced over his shoulder. The bird society had just gotten their restock, apparently, and hadn’t had the chance to divvy out the bulk bags into smaller ones, and Kokichi had frozen in indecision, not wanting to make his dad wait around for an indeterminate amount of time on his birthday, even with the loose plans they had, and not wanting to make him carry around and find something to do with 25 pounds of birdseed. 

However, Kokichi had forgotten that he couldn’t really make Ikuo do anything, and so the older man had bought the bulk bag and was planning on offering whatever they didn’t use at the park to all the folks in the gardening clubs, and really anyone at the castle who wanted some. At the end of a bountiful summer, birds weren’t really hurting for food, but it was always good to keep the feeders stocked up. 

Sighing a little, Kokichi led the way over to a bench by one of the smaller ponds in the city--not the one he skated at during the winter--before reaching over to help steady the bag as Ikuo set it down. “You looking forward to tonight? I’ll admit, the vegetables Shuu-chan and I had last night were pretty tasty, buuuuuuut I guess I’ll just have to make an allowance for your favorites tonight?”

Ikuo rolled his eyes at the cheeky grin. “I’ll thank ya kindly fer it. M’ thankful Miya’s too little ta follow your lead, when it comes ta that. We can bet on luck, but you’ll see how much bargainin’ you’ll hafta get through when a toddler decides they only want ice cream fer every meal.”

“I mean, I can relate,” Kokichi laughed, getting a small handful of seeds from the bag. “But like with the rest of us, Kai-chan is determined to make sure she eats a balanced diet. With his stalwart heart, I get to be the fun dad.”

Ikuo shook his head. “As if ya won’t be frettin’ the whole time.” And despite how Kokichi puffed his cheeks and stuck his tongue out, Ikuo really was right. He would enjoy every moment of Miyako being alive and growing, but his already anxious disposition would go into overdrive with every little thing about his daughter. It was a parent thing, really. 

…parent things. 

Kokichi glanced over in the short quiet between them. “...Dad? I… Apologizing for making you worry doesn’t…sound right. Since I think you would in some part anyway. But…” 

Kokichi’s lips thinned and his brows furrowed, trying to find the right words for what he wanted to express. His thankfulness for Ikuo being in his life, stepping up to be his everything when he’d really needed someone. For just…being his parent, and loving him. His fear when Ikuo went to war, and the resentment that he’d stayed, and the pride for what he’d done, and the relief for him coming back. The understanding of someone who’d grown up, who was able to understand the struggles of being a parent more. The knowledge that his particular case was difficult, and just being even more grateful for everything Ikuo had done. His grief for having lost himself, and nearly taking away one of the things Ikuo loved most…and for having hurt that thing so much.

It was important to be able to express yourself, but even without Empathy…his daddy had always been good at reading him. 

Leaning over, Ikuo pulled Kokichi into a firm, loving hug. “I know, Bunny. I love you too.”

-

“Soooo~ Because Dada’s going back to school soon, and because Big Bro’s also going back to school, our morning runs are going to become a little more crowded, Miya,” Kaito explained to her, the two at the tail end of Kaito’s daily training for that morning. 

In truth, Kaito had decided to be particularly self-indulgent today and actually exercise for most of the morning. Kokichi was spending time with Ikuo somewhere feeding ducks, and Shuichi– As Kaito was currently explaining to Miyako– was taking some free time to himself, now that school was on the horizon. “So, because Dad and Auntie Maki-roll want to make certain everyone starts their day off right–” and it gave them both to check in with everyone, finding out what they’re day was supposed to look like and keeping an eye on everyone, “-- we’ll probably start training with everyone as a group.”

“Not that that means there will be less Miyako and Dad alone time!” Kaito assured her, while Miyako wiggled her legs happily in her harness, watching the world pass by on Kaito’s chest. “In fact, we’re gonna have a ton. Which dad’s excited about! Dad used to have waaaaay too much alone time, the last time everyone was going to school and work regularly. Not gonna lie, sweetroll, I was a bit of a bum. Just sitting around doing nothing much. But now I can take care of Miyako while everyone’s away~ And you keep me plenty busy, baby love, holy cow.”

Kaito sniffed a little, before chuckling. “Liiiiike now~” he chuckled, adjusting Miyako on his chest, and then the diaper bag on his back. Well, diaper backpack, really. Admittedly, Kaito didn’t exactly feel, like… entirely cool or attractive, in his new running getup. Miyako was a treasure, but running around with a full baby care kit on his back could make Kaito feel a little insecure sometimes. But, well, Miyako came before Kaito’s desire to look cool. Besides, every now and again some of the commoners would stop him and coo over her, which was a lot of fun to watch.

… people.

Not commoners. 

Kaito sighed at himself a little, veering off the park running path he was usually on to find somewhere semi-private to change Miyako. He knew no one cared if he changed the baby in the open, but he still liked to try to find spots where he was unobtrusive as possible. Sure, baby shit was a fact of life, but, like… it was still pretty gross. People were just trying to enjoy the park.

It was a weird place for his mind to go, but as he laid down the baby blanket near a large bush just slightly out of view of the path, Kaito suddenly found himself grimly relieved none of his partners over the years had wanted… that. Ugh. Kaito had more hard no’s than he had ever told Kokichi or Shuichi or anyone, really, and some of those hard no’s were things he had literally just been too freaked out to even bring up. He had literally ripped out that section of the sex book, when he had first come across it. His repulsion partly coming from a place where he knew, in certain times of his life, that he would have had a hard time saying no, even to stuff like that.

“Your dad did not have a lot of self-respect for a long time, Miya.” Kaito muttered, cleaning her up and putting the diaper aside. Putting a fresh one beneath her, knelt on the floor and fussing over her, “I’m gonna have some uncomfortable talks with you when you’re older, but that’s only because I want you to be better prepared than I ever was, when stuff like that comes up. I just want to make certain you never feel like you couldn’t come to me for help, like I wouldn’t understand. Your old man gets more than you think. I’ve got ya…”

“But! That’s talk for when you’re older. Much older. For now, what do you think, Miya? I’m on a roll today, want to do another lap around the park before we start heading– !?”

Kaito’s throat closed up. The back of his jaw clicking rapidly, as he grit his teeth, his eyes widening. Miyako stared up at him curiously, his whole world view as Kaito’s vision briefly narrowed. Becoming pin-pricks of rage, as he stared down at her. 

Over his shoulder, little clumping drops of chili–  an ironic name at the moment, because Kaito could feel his back burning– fell onto the baby blanket, near Miyako’s hair, near her face. Kaito’s wide, furious eyes stared at the falling clumps like it was in slow motion. Because it was. Only a few seconds having passed since the burning feeling suddenly erupted on his back, clumps of thick, sludge-like chili rolling off his neck and shoulders. 

Kaito hadn’t felt the food container bounce off his back. But he did feel the drink, and by the time he felt it time had started to speed up again, Kaito leaning over and covering Miyako with his body when he felt a container of cold drink bounce off the back of his head and open up onto his back. Kaito’s mind entirely empty as it happened, beyond a tense, pointed feeling of rage… and just the paternal instinct that covering Miyako was more important. The freezing liquid of the drink oddly mixing with the burn of the chili.

Kaito didn’t move. Just waited. Staring down at Miyako, who was contently starting to chew on her hand.

-

Ren hadn’t been the person throwing food onto Kaito every time the guy went out… but he knew a lot of people who did.

It was just the kind of crowd he hung out with. Revolutionaries, in their own minds, though not the kind that actually attempted to do anything with politics. Not the assassinating monsters that the LRG had been, nor the brute force maniacs that they had heard about over the border. Not the civic protestors, even, who went to the courts and set up appointments and spoke to Aiichi about whatever was concerning them. No, Ren hung out with the kind of revolutionaries that would, in a crowded temple opening, would spill a drink on a monarch-scums back… and would retell that story a thousand times to their friends. Each retelling exaggerated, making the act more dangerous and heroic than it had ever been. The story starting as a quick drink spill the first time told, but over the span of weeks becoming, “Oh yeah. I stared him in the eye, right, and he was giving me this really condescending look. And I just walked over to him and threw the cup in his face, and he got all belligerent, but than everyone around us just gave him a Look and pretended not to see, and everyone was giving me these really thankful nods, like, thank god someone finally did something, ya know? And then he ran off, too embarrassed to confront me with everyone staring.”

Ren had heard a ton of stories like that now. Each story increasing the size of the food spilled, the Luminary Prince’s awareness of what happened, the approval of everyone around them. And watching everyone else in his friend group ooh and ahhh and encourage the stories… when Ren saw Kaito knelt over at a bush in the park? Recognizing that tanned dark skin and bright red hair? Having just got himself some early lunch?

How could he resist? 

The only– and it was really only– defense Ren would have later is that he really, genuinely hadn’t noticed the baby bag… and as he threw the drink right after the chili container, his eyes widened as he saw the prince dip forward, like he was trying to cover something, and then noticed the baby bag, and oh shit he needed to get the fuck out of here–

-

Kaito waited a few more seconds. Still just staring down at Miyako, but the rage starting to ease into a shocked disbelief. A sort of numbness coming over him as the somewhat irrational thought came to him, ‘this is going to upset people if anyone finds out.’

‘People’ being his family. Someone had thrown food at Miyako. Someone had thrown food at Miyako? Kaito blinked, before shaking his head. Tentatively looking over his shoulder, sitting up as he didn’t see anyone. Just a chili container and a large paper cup, its lid at Kaito’s feet. Kaito cautiously touched the back of his neck, and yep. All of that was on his back.

…okay.

Kaito couldn’t get out of his head, how upset it’d make his family, if they knew. He kind of wished the rage would come back, because he almost felt drunk in the shock, as he took off his shirt. Letting some of the food fall off the back of his sweaty workout shirt, before using the relatively clean side to try to wipe off the food and drink from his neck and the back of his arms… before he blinked and his slow, sluggish brain realized all he was achieving was spreading the brown mush around his skin. He was just making it worse…

Kaito sat there for a moment, blinking stupidly at nothing… before looking down at Miyako’s baby blanket. Shoot. Well, it wasn’t like a lot had fallen on it. Okay.

Was it okay to abandon the shirt? Kaito stared at the shirt before just numbly shoving it into the bush. Sure. That was a solution. Then, grabbing the baby harness, Kaito winced at the idea of getting chili/soda sludge on the straps– he really liked this harness– and putting Miyako in the harness, he took her baby blanket and tried to wipe the sludge off his back and arms some more. Unwilling to shove the baby blanket into the bush, Kaito put it into the backpack and immediately winced. Damn. He’d have to make certain to clean the bag too. 

Okay. That was fine. Everything was fine. He just…

…Kaito’s eyes dilated, and shoving his hand into the bush, he grabbed a random wooden branch and snapped it off. Taking some pleasure in the snapping sound, Kaito grit his teeth and immediately threw the small stick across the grass. Miyako watching curiously as Kaito panted, his sudden bloodlust nowhere near abated with that…

…Kaito swallowed. He had to get Miyako home. He had to get everything clean. He couldn’t tell anyone. Alright…

Kaito put on the baby straps. Repositioning Miyako so that she was laid against his chest, inviting her to nap time, despite her annoyed little noises at that. She hit his chest a little, wanting to go back to her view, but Kaito ignored that. Carefully keeping his hands around her neck and back, heading home. Just not wanting anything to hit her. 

-

Life with short hair was…strange. Waku’s hair was just long enough to pull into a ponytail…except for bits that kept falling out as she worked. She knew Denji probably had some neat trick to keep everything in place--that wasn’t a million pins, hopefully--but Waku didn’t always give herself the most time in the morning before breakfast and work to go bother her friend. 

So, as she wiped down and cleaned the windowsills, Waku kept huffing, blowing pink strands out of her face. A little annoying, but…a day as usual, pretty much. 

…until she felt the absolute fear and disbelief and anger behind her.

Waku turned, seeing Kaito come in from his morning run, Miyako tucked against his chest, just looking…haunted. She frowned, squeezing the rag in her hand. “...what do you need?”

Kaito looked at Waku like he didn’t recognize her for a moment. Because, for a moment, he didn’t… before he grinned wide. “Oh, shit.” He cursed, just looking so genuinely relieved even as he glanced around. Just endlessly worried about being seen and questioned and the rumor mill, as he immediately lied, “Fell in some mud. Hey, can you bring us to the washing rooms? Poor Miya’s baby blanket took the brunt of the damage, I just want to clean it. Uh, it’s in one of the basement levels, right? I know you showed me where once already…”

Kaito looked around, already determined to try to find them either way, a weird part of him convinced Waku was going to tell him no and he’d have to figure it out himself. He smelled. He was aware he smelled, chili and something sugary sweet, all mixed in with sweat. He couldn’t help but think Waku was going to say no because he smelled. It felt really reasonable to think that, right then, even if realistically it was unfathomable.

Waku looked at him for a moment before setting her rag down on the sill and wiping her hands off on a dry drop cloth. With a shrug, she strode forward, leading the way to the laundry rooms. “Nah, second floor. They’re behind the stairs, remember? Want me to ask someone to get you a change of clothes while we clean you up? I know you’re never thrilled about us coming in, but we do know where things are.”

Glancing over, Waku’s nonchalance--really an odd combination between fury for her friend’s sake, and her perennial curiosity whenever she caught a lie--softened as she looked over Miyako. “Miyako sleep through everything? I can’t decide if I think she’d be excited by mud, or just think it was beneath her. Though I can’t see her getting too excited for anything if it means a bath later.” 

“Right, right, the room behind the stairs. Big rooms behind the stairs, I was surprised.” Kaito murmured, mindlessly following Waku, still cradling Miyako to himself, as he said, “I had a weird daydream about those stairs. Like, if instead of using them for washing setups, what if you, like, kept people in them? Stair people. I remember I got really obsessed with the idea that they’d be able to hear people, walking up and down the stairs, talking to each other. But could they be heard in turn? Maybe if they shouted, sure, but otherwise those stairs are pretty high above them in most parts of the room, so maybe if they couldn’t shout, they’d have to, like… get a long stick maybe? Thump at the roof?”

“But then,” Kaito continued as they turned the corner, heading closer to the increasingly familiar area. “When is the ideal time to tap at the stairs? When you heard someone coming? But wouldn’t the sound of their own footsteps cover the sound of the tapping? That’s where the daydream got really stuck, because, like… that’s so sad. The best time to call for help is also the time when the person they are calling is the most distracted and the most willing to dismiss little clacking noises. How long could you keep someone prisoner like that? You’d have to put a divider wall at the end of the room,where the stairs got lower and lower. Oh, but,” Kaito said, eyes widening, as Waku held the door open for him, heading inside, “What if after a long time, they got access to the lower staircase room? Like, they could easily tap more, trying to get help, but… they now have a secret room that they know about. And if their rescue attempt went wrong, then the person keeping them there would know about the secret room, where they could hoard food, maybe, or make and hide little weapons, or even just hide inside it sometimes just because Maki said it was nice to just feel like you couldn’t be found. Not that we kept her under the stairs, but, like… I guess we could have. I wonder what was under our stairs? Maybe people?”

Kaito warily eyed other housekeepers, who were just doing the washing, as he and Waku passed them to find an open spot. Kaito murmuring, “I guess it could have been people. Would have been hard to tell, it’s not like I was listening for them…”

“...she wasn’t asleep. But I didn’t let anything fall on her.” Kaito finally answered, rubbing Miyako’s sleeping back, “I think she’s okay?”

“Seems like a terrible place to keep prisoners,” Waku hummed, listening to Kaito ramble. “Keeping people that probably hate you in one of the most important structural areas of your keep? Like, why don’t you just mark out where all the support beams are too? Not sayin’ it’d be easy, but with enough desperation people can absolutely demolish a house on their own. Or do some serious damage, at least.”

Finding an unused basin, Waku retied her hair before checking the temperature, glancing over to Kaito with a nod. “Okay, so what all am I washing? Just the baby blanket? And we can wash you off here before I add detergent too. Did you want those spare clothes?”

Looking to Miyako, Waku sighed softly. “Well, I’m glad she’s alright. Of course she’s got her big strong dad to protect her.”

Kaito gave Waku a bewildered look, before he recalled what her question had been. “Oh! Uh, yeah, please. Um…” Kaito again shot the other housekeepers wary looks, before shrugging, “If anyone can be spared? I mean… I don’t mean to keep everyone locked out. Or, well, I do, but I know it can be inconvenient, cause you all have work to do, and I’ve added this, like, annoying extra step, with the lock… I have a key?” Kaito offered, digging into his pants pocket and pulling out the key, offering it to Waku, “Does that help?”

“And, uh, we might need to wash… everything in the backpack. And the backpack itself. And the damn straps, I really wanted to keep them clean but I couldn’t get everything off, and I guess me, yeah, can I steal a rag and… is it alright for me to wash off in this water?” Kaito asked, now giving the washing water an uncertain look, “I mean… it’s just soap? Isn’t it? Is that alright?”

“Nah, you’re entitled to your privacy. Just means we have to be more diligent about our cleaning hours.” Waku gave him a nod before leaning over, giving a little wave to a woman folding laundry across the way. “Hey! Lilac! Could you get one of Kaito’s shirts from his room, please? 304.”

“On it,” the woman responded, not even looking up from her process. 

Satisfied with that, Waku grabbed from a pile of nearby rags, dunking it in the basic water before wringing it and dunking it again and handing it over to Kaito. “I haven’t put the soap in yet, though detergent shouldn’t be that bad for your skin. We use it for clothes, after all, so it can be anything too irritating.”

Kaito didn’t look entirely convinced… but, well. This was Waku. She could hand him a rag covered in acid and he’d, like, at least try to use it before being like ‘gurl?? It's acid???’.

Kaito laughed a little at that thought, and some of the laughter eased his growing meltdown. He really didn’t want to have a meltdown over this. It was so stupid. It was just food… but it’d upset his family. And Miyako had been there. And… it was all so stupid.

Carefully putting Miyako down on, after a quick look around, a basket full of clean sheets, Kaito murmured to his sleeping daughter that it was okay, this was a nice place, please don’t wake up and get freaked out by the weird new environment and also please don’t drool on the sheet tooo much someone had just washed that yeah no that top sheet was probably done for. Oh well. 

Miyako laid out, Kaito sighed, sitting on one of the wooden stools the washers used to work on, and giving Waku a thankful look as he took the rag. “Thanks…”

Kaito was going to do his best, but he already saw an issue, as he tried to wash down his back. He could get his sides and shoulders just fine, but as for the dried food sludge he could feel painted down the center of his back… Kaito sighed. Looking sheepish and embarrassed, as he finally said, “Hey, Waku… you think you could give me a hand with the bits I can’t reach? And… could you check my hair?”

As Kaito got started on himself, Waku carefully reached for the backpack and started unloading the items--washable items, that was, though it looked like the bundles of diapers and bottles didn’t get that sullied--putting them in the basin to pre-soak. She’d wait until Kaito was done to put the soap in, just in case, but they could get a little multitasking going. 

Though she had expected to change tasks after not long. 

“Of course!” she chirped, taking the rag and washing out what Kaito had gotten before returning, glad her giant of a friend was already sitting. She was no Kokichi, she couldn’t just parkour her way up Kaito’s body. 

…the middle of the laundry room, even with everyone minding their own business, deep in the zone of the morning routine, wasn’t the best place, she knew. But she still wanted to ask. As she wiped down Kaito’s back, she spoke quietly to him. “...do you wanna talk about it?”

“...yeah.” Kaito admitted, his voice soft. Wringing his hands, popping the joints in his fingers. “But, like… give me a second? I just… it’s stupid. It’s really stupid. I just need a second.”

Kaito stared at his hands vacantly, just trying to be still and easy to wash, as Waku scrubbed at his back. There had been more there than Kaito had realized. And it had cooled against him, the food cacked on and needing breaking off in certain parts. Clumps of meat and mashed beans pretty easily disproving his ‘mud’ lie. That was alright… Kaito wasn’t trying to lie to Waku, specifically. He had just wanted to put a semi-reasonable explanation in the air, for anyone who might be listening. Anyone who might report him…

Kaito closed his eyes.

He wasn’t home.

Kokichi, at his most ‘reactive’, was going to cry. And that was still a best case scenario, because his honest most ‘reactive’ was having a heart attack and nearly dying… but Kaito didn’t think this would lead to something that shocking to Kokichi’s core. Shuichi and Maki would get mad. But, well, Kaito didn’t know who had done it, so… what could they do with that anger? Just be angry for a while, he guessed. Maybe Maki wanting to escort him on his runs for a while. That was as bad as consequences could get here. It was alright…

Kaito rubbed his forehead, looking for the words, “...it’s stupid.” He stressed again, “Someone threw food at me when I was changing Miyako. In the park. Please don’t tell anyone that.” he added in immediately. Unable to help himself. Glancing warily at the other workers. 

Waku honestly hadn’t expected Kaito to agree, at first at least. And certainly not talk right away. She figured it was probably something he’d want to talk to her about eventually, mostly because this sort of stress from him usually meant he didn’t want to talk to his family about it, and he really did need some sort of outlet. 

So…she just kept dutifully washing him off. Of what she had been able to tell right away wasn’t mud, though she didn’t really care enough to identify what sort of food exactly it was. 

Though, maybe that was enough of the story on its own. 

Finishing the last drip from his back and drying Kaito off with a new rag, Waku paused, a frown deepening her face. “...I won’t. But you should report it to the guards. Especially with an infant…you can charge assault for that.”

Sighing, Waku made sure everything was in the bin before she started measuring out soap to pour in. “I know you won’t. But you don’t have to put up with that bullsh…crap.”

Shivering a little when Waku dried him off, Kaito gave her another appreciative look, though he glanced quickly at Miyako to make certain she had slept through that. She was still snuggled contently into the sheets though, and Kaito sighed. Running his hands through his less clumped up hair now, as he frowned at her advice.

“...I can’t.” Kaito insisted. “And it wouldn’t matter anyway, I have no idea who did it. I didn’t see anything. By the time I looked up, whoever had thrown it had run off. All I’d end up doing is worrying my family… and…”

Kaito shrugged. “...I know it doesn’t really matter here. But the rumors that get back to Luminary… I don’t need more rumors that I’m being mistreated here. Thankfully Kaede knows better, but Luminary hearing that one of the royals is being harassed in Dicea? It’s not a good look. Not on me, and not on Dicea either. It’s not like it’ll restart the war, but it’s still unhelpful. The less people who hear about it, the better.”

“Otherwise… ngh. I don’t want to upset my partners… they’re going to be so upset Miyako was there… I hope no one tries to suggest I shouldn’t take her on my runs anymore…”

“You could,” Waku countered, taking one of the wooden paddles leaned against the wall between some of the basins and starting to stir the water, soap foam slowly starting to form. “Even if you didn’t know, just file a complaint, or talk to, like, Lake, or even Kaname directly, and say you got harrassed. You’re right, they probably won’t catch the person who did this, but they’ll be aware of more problems in the city, and they might be able to catch someone later. Nothing going back to you.”

“But I’m not gonna narc on ya,” Waku shrugged, watching the water. 

Most of the time, the ludicrous number of laws in Dicea, and the single-minded devotion a lot of the guards had--in Usott, anyway, since she’d never met any others--was a comfort to her. They were all there to make sure Usott was a safe place to live. But…she knew it wasn’t always easy to ask for that help, if you’d found one of the cracks in the system. 

This sounded like A Thing for Kaito so…she’d let him figure himself out. Either on his own, or through therapy. And she’d be there to listen to the process. 

“It’s not like this happens everyday…right?” Waku did spare him a glance there, but she kept speaking. “And Miyako really likes your runs. I know you guys get more paranoid than I do sometimes, but you can’t let one freak accident get the better of you.”

“...though that it happened at all really gives more reason to report it.”

“It doesn’t happen everyday.” Kaito said immediately. Watching Waku spin the items in the water, before offering, “Do you want me to spin a bit? Is that all it needs, spinning? I can spin.”

Desperately wanting something to do with his hands, Kaito gave Waku an earnest look before she eventually handed him the paddle. Kaito looking notably relieved to have something to do, as he eagerly and carefully started to stir the basin. “Like this? Anyway… it’s really never been more than a handful of times. Usually in crowds. Honestly, I could have argued all of them had been genuine accidents… this ones harder to ignore.” Kaito admitted, watching the foaming soap turn different, mud colored shades of suds, “Like, wow… someone seriously threw their whole freaking lunch at me. Like, did they buy it to do that? Or did they just decide they could go without lunch!? Did they go buy more?? They better not have just gone and bought more, cause ya know what, if you want to throw your whole damn lunch at someone, then guess what? You shouldn’t get lunch that day! No more lunch for you, not today!”

Kaito, spinning furiously, huffed a bit… before suddenly looking embarrassed. Realizing he had been shouting a little as he glanced first at Miyako, then at the other housekeepers. “Maybe the shouting thing wouldn’t be as big a deal for stair prisoners as I thought. This place absorbs sound pretty well.” Kaito realized, looking around, “You still have a point about infrastructure damage though.”

“I just… when I thought stuff like this was going to happen?” Kaito whispered now. Giving Waku a frustrated look, “And I did know something was going to happen. We invaded you guys for fifteen years, there’s some hurt feelings there that I was expecting to take the brunt of before I ever got here… I just thought it’d be something like spars. Fighting, attacks, things like that… things I could handle myself, quietly. Or that would make me look heroic, even if it got out. I wasn’t expecting to need to shield my darn baby from chili and soda raining from the sky. Or to need to reassure my ten year old that, noooo, it’s fine what you saw, you didn’t see what you thought you saw, it was an accident, it’s fine… this is humiliating. I don’t know what to do with this.”

“It’s wasteful,” Waku nodded, settling against one of the work tables to supervise (and keep an eye on Miyako. Cute little sleeping baby.) “Some people just really need to get hobbies. Or donate more money.”

That’s what a lot of the more “minor” hateful things came down to, Waku had found. Just people with too much time, letting themselves get too concerned with nitpicking others rather than actually changing their own lives. Losers, essentially. 

…but it still did hurt. 

Gritting her teeth, Waku huffed softly. “...that’s horrible that they’ve done it while your kids are around. That they’ve done it at all, of course, but…that’s really low.” Shaking her head, she sighed. “The kind of people who would challenge you to fights know that they wouldn’t get anything out of it. Fighting some Luminary wouldn’t bring their family back, and the people who would be clear headed enough to challenge you would be able to see that too. And…”

She gave him a look. “...the thing to do about this? Protecting yourself from impulses of selfish anger? Is to report it.”

“Ugh…” Kaito frowned at that, his shoulders tensing for a moment as he struggled with his anger, grasping at the paddle… before he let out a steadying breath. This was Waku. He couldn’t get angry at her advice. Because it was Waku. He trusted her, she wasn’t just saying it because it was convenient to her, or she didn’t actually care what happened to Kaito specifically, just encouraging him to tow the line. If she kept saying it, it was because she really believed it’d help.

And, well… even outside of being his friend. Waku would know. She had literally grown up around that specific type of politics. 

“I just wish I could protect myself better. I could be more vigilant when I go out and maybe this would stop… I’m just embarrassed…” Kaito murmured, still diligently spinning the water, “...I haven’t even met this Kaname person. I think I’ve heard they’re non-binary? That’s really all I know. Where do they even work?”

“It’s not a bad thing to want to be independent, self-reliant, all that,” Waku said, leaning forward to peek better at the water. “But unfortunately for folks who prefer that, that’s not how the whole communal society thing works. We all have to protect each other, and trust in others to protect us. Terrifying, I know.”

After a bit, Waku stopped Kaito’s spinning, the water mostly obscured with suds, before she got one of the washboards and plopped it in, rolling up her sleeves. “Kaname’s mostly in the guards’ office, these days. Comes with being a captain, I suppose.” She snorted. “I mean, judging by Kokichi, the higher up the chain you are, the more your time fills with paperwork. I know I’ve seen Kaname in town, but I guess it’s ineffective for the captain to be out on patrol if something big comes in, you know?”

Pausing for a moment, before grabbing something from the basin--the baby blanket--and starting to get to work, Waku hummed softly. “They’re kind of a serious person. They really don’t have the patience for any superfluous things, so if you’re worried about weird politics or word getting out, or even them just playing mind-games? They’re not. Kaname just wants to see Usott safe, and law-breakers given due justice. They don’t care about grey areas.”

Kaito watched, a little fascinated, as Waku proceeded to rub the blanket on this strange, ridged board she had. Huh. So that was how it worked… he kinda assumed something was in the water that melted the stains off. Huh. “Yeah? You wouldn’t happen to know if they have any ‘Nary rage boners going on in them? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Waku, but being the prince of a war-mongering nation pretty firmly puts me in those grays. And I have been on the wrong side of the law, I think, in Dicea… I have still not asked anyone about any weapon bans I might have. I know, I know, I’ve told you that before! Still haven’t risked asking anyone about it. I am so deeply worried about that, you have no idea.” 

Just hearing the word in Kaito’s mouth, without really processing it, Waku made a grossed out face, sticking her tongue out a little…before she blinked, it sinking in. Looking up at Kaito with wide eyes, immediately rage flushed her cheeks as she held up a dripping, sudsy hand from the water, pointing it at him. 

“Who’s been calling you that?! I’ll kick their ass!”

Kaito looked genuinely startled. This being the first time he had seen any reaction to that word other than a knowing wince. Quickly putting his hands up in a placating motion, he said, “No one! No one’s called me that, or any of us that, as far as anyone’s told me. I don’t know, Kokichi mentioned it was a bad word for Luminaries and I thought it was kinda funny. Geez, Waku…” Kaito couldn’t help a small, impressed grin, as he lowered his hands, “Waku, you’re, like, three feet tall and twenty pounds. Don’t go fighting anyone on my behalf, it’s fine. Still, wow. I forgot how intimidating you are when you’re angry.”

Letting out a small sigh of relief, Waku lowered her hand and got back to washing, though she shot Kaito an annoyed look. “I guess it’s good that he warned you guys…geez. C’mon, Kaito, you made me swear in front of a baby.”

Shaking her head a little, though the brunt of her ire was gone, Waku frowned at the water. “It’s a horrible term. Something that makes people…less. You hear someone using it and you know exactly what kind of scumbag they are… Guess no one can really stop you from using it on yourself, though.”

“...and, no, Kaname isn’t an ethno-centrist like that. I think they would’ve fought with everything they had, if the war made it this far, but they just want to keep order in the city. Can’t do that if you’re biased against a whole demographic of its residents.”

Kaito nodded, taking Waku’s word for it. Again, he trusted her. If Waku said the guard was reliable, then they were. End of story. And like every time, when Kaito spent time with Waku, he was suddenly just relieved and grateful, that he had a friend like her here. Someone he could really trust. And who was fun to hang out with, Kaito wanting to ask her to spend time with him again soon. He got so busy with his family, time seemed to rush by, but he still wanted to hang out with her when he could. 

“‘Nary, for being an insult, doesn’t seem that bad. I mean, I get it from the perspective of someone using it to be hateful and stuff, I think I’d get really, genuinely upset if I heard someone call one of my family that, just cause I know the intention, ya know? But like…” Kaito grinned at Waku, giving her a slightly teasing look, “‘Nary? Just Luminary shortened? Wow, scathing. How will we ever recover our pride… ya know, we have a derogatory word for you guys too. Actually, it’s source was talking about your fighters specifically, but it kinda became this general derogatory term used on Diceans. Dirt-jumper. So, saying that? …if you ever hear my kid calling someone a Dirt Jumper? You tell me, alright? And you can yell at him if you want, he had a bad habit of it when we first got here. And don’t let him being a kid fool you, he knows how bad a word it is. He’s not allowed to use it, okay?” 

Waku shrugged, lightening enough to give Kaito a slightly sheepish half-smile and a shrug. “I mean, most words are kinda dumb. It’s always about the meaning. Like…of course saying Luminaries have no morals and kill for fun is horrific. Any word for that would be just as bad.”

Regardless of the word itself, it still hurt to be called a spaz or crazy or any of the other dozen insults Waku had heard directed at herself over the years. It all just meant…someone was intentionally trying to hurt her. And that sucked. 

Giving Kaito a nod on the Dicean slur--she didn’t think she’d heard it, though Timothy’s terror at all of them in the beginning had been incredibly apparent--Waku moved onto the next item in the basin. “Got it… I’m guessing it’s a reference to the trenches? Not that scathing either, huh.”

“It’s totally scathing! You guys had those terrifying little hidey holes, freaking jumping out like, what are they called… spider monkeys? Those little spiders that jump out of holes and go ‘gah’!” Kaito said, popping his hands up and out of the sides of his face, before chuckling, “Maybe that would have been a creative insult. Assuming that's even what those guys are called, I can’t remember. Soldiers would come back with wounds and missing limbs and eyes and talk about your fighters like they were monsters in the woods. It was really intimidating.” Kaito said, still grinning at his explanation. Assuming Waku would be a little proud.

Though… “...no morals and kill for fun?” Kaito asked, giving Waku a confused look at that, “Do you mean, like, just in general? Or is that what ‘Nary means?”

“I’m pretty sure spider monkeys are monkeys, and not spiders,” she noted, the water sloshing a bit from her rhythmic scrubbing. “And…yeah, that’s still not that insulting. Like…oh, you guys have an effective war strategy? Not something some people would be proud of, but still. The fact that it’d be said as an insult is more harmful, I think.”

Having to scrub a little harder at the rougher fabric of the backpack straps, Waku could only spare Kaito a similarly confused glance. “...yeah? Did Kokichi not explain that part? It’s…you know, that word, for Luminary, so it’s obvious what demographic you’re talking about, but it’s also, ‘has nary a moral’. And…for context in the war, not having morals in a war…kinda means you’re just bloodthirsty and kill for fun.”

“...” Kaito tilted his head at her a little. “...has nary a moral… ‘Nary…”

… Kaito put his head into his hands and fucking giggled. Snorting hysterically into his palms, his body shaking a little as snorted wetly into his hands, trying to look up and say something… before a wide grin split across his face, and he shoved his head back into his hands. Now just ugly snorting into them, before giggling, “Has nary a moral… holy crud… oh, that’s so weirdly poetic?”

Giggling into his hands some more, Kaito finally got over his giggle fit, looking up and giving Waku a deeply amused look, as he said with all of his teeth, “Wow. That’s… that’s so Dicean. Awwww, you know what sucks though? That’s so genuinely hurtful. You ignore your arch enemies like they’re long divorced second wives, ya throw food at people you dislike in really, usually the most low key way possible, and your derogatory words would make my English teachers proud. It’s all so weirdly effective. It all gets to me. And then I get embarrassed at how much it gets to me, when it’s all so stupid… wow.”

Kaito chuckled some more. Shrugging as he scratched at his cheek, “Maybe I just have thin skin. None of this stuff ever seems to get to Maki and Shuichi, or Tim even, really. I mean, I’m a spoiled prince. Could just be this stuff gets to me so much because I’m not used to being disrespected so blatantly. Still, it is pretty funny.”

“...I guess…” Kaito sighed, resting his chin on his palm. “...I should just take your advice Waku… but you’re serious? That none of it has to get back to me? I’d really rather just not report it at all, if it means it’s not going to get back to Luminary. I have my pride… and it’s really not that bad, usually. Today was bad. But usually it’s way less of an event than this. It’s usually just, like, drinks spilled onto my shirt and stuff. Not a big deal… just wish they’d stop doing it in front of my kids… that chili was hot! What if it had hit Miyako? She’s so small, and she’s Dicean, and she’s the daughter of the heir apparent… I get why Timothy seeing might be a bonus to someone, but you’d think Miyako would be anyone’s exception, even if she’s got Momota blood in her. Thankfully I don’t even think she noticed anything was happening. Just dad being silly.”

Waku rolled her eyes with a bit of a grimace, and not just from the work she was putting in. “It’s so pretentious, isn’t it. People like to pretend they’re infallible, that they have some moral high-ground that justifies everything they do… It’s a pretty gross self-lie. And it gives way to dumb purple prose sayings like that.”

“...but even if people came up with a slur like…”beeboo”, it’d still hurt.” She looked over at Kaito with sympathy before moving onto the next item in the basin. “It’s not really what people do, though sometimes that can just make it worse. It’s just…blatant, cruel hatred, and no matter what gift-wrapping it’s in, that’s…horrific to be the target of. It’s not some failure to cope on your end to be hurt by it.”

Hopefully the government’s efforts in condemning and rooting out bigotry would make it better, one day, but…people would always be searching for an ‘in’ group and an ‘out’ group, and would always find ways to terrorize that out group. You just had to surround yourself with people who weren’t assholes, and trust in the law to take care of your rights institutionally to fight back. 

“Like I said, I’m not going to narc on you,” Waku shrugged, “But if you’re feeling restless about what to do? Short of going on a vigilante hunt and probably getting yourself arrested, reporting the incidents to the guards is what to do. And you don’t even have to go in personally. Just submit a concern form, you don’t even have to sign your name, and it’ll get into the system. It won’t mean jerks won’t do that to you again, but it does mean there’s more of a chance for it to stop, and for those dillholes to be caught.”

“Especially with kids involved.” Waku looked up with a furious glare, though it wasn’t directed at Kaito. “If you want some good buzzwords that’ll really get the force to buckle down? What happened to you could be classified as assault, littering, a hate crime, child assault, and child endangerment. No sworn guard is gonna sit around while there’s some serial baby puncher going around.”

Kaito’s eyes lit up at the idea of an anonymous form. That meant no one would know it happened to him… sure, it’d give up his right at blood vengeance, since he doubted he’d ever find out if the person was caught or not and it was hard to do blood vengeance to someone who’s name you didn’t know, but. Kaito had already come to the same conclusion that Waku pointed out. The same reason why he had spent his time covering Miyako rather than trying to attack the person in question.

Kaito just had too much to lose. He couldn’t risk himself or his freedoms in that way. He had vaguely suspected it when he married Kokichi, should have understood it once he truly comprehended he was Tim’s new parent, but… it was really Miyako who made Kaito understand that his own life wasn’t expendable anymore. He couldn’t do ‘whatever’. His family needed him. 

“...you really just nestled in ‘littering’ in between assault and hate crime, huh?” Kaito grinned, “God, you’re so dicean.”

Waku snickered, giving Kaito a teasing wink. “It’s good to get full coverage. I’m sure Kokichi could give you actual examples, but everyone’s heard of people getting extra sentences pinned on them for less severe crimes, along with the main one that landed them in court. And littering fines are no joke.”

Searching around in the water for a moment, Waku hummed, satisfied, as she’d washed all the items. Taking the wooden paddle from before, she squished all of them to the side before turning a spigot, letting the water drain. “Like I said…it can be really scary, letting a community work for you. But it is how things work here, and the best path you can take to keep yourself safe. Not always from others, but from yourself too.”

At that moment, an airy hum sounded behind them, the woman from before offering a shirt out to Kaito. “Kaito, this right for you?”

Kaito had still been chuckling at Waku, and to his credit only flinched a little when he remembered there were other people in the world, and oh yeah, one of them had offered to get a shirt for him. Giving the woman a sheepish look, he immediately stood up out of respect for the favor, taking the shirt… before lighting up, “Hey! My koi pond shirt! Waku, look at this, this one’s great, right? God, I love this shirt. You have good taste.” Kaito said to the woman, giving her an appreciative grin and a small wink, before pulling the shirt over his head.

Stepping back, Kaito looked down at himself, stretching his arms over his head and readjusting the collar of the shirt around his neck as he asked them both, “Well? How do I look? Do I look like I wore this on purpose? I guess it doesn’t really go with the shorts, does it… ah well, I’m sure no one will notice it’s not a set.”

“...do you think anyone will notice it’s not a set?” Kaito asked, now sounding a great deal less certain, “I guess I could head straight to the room and put on some real pants before getting the form. Ugh, watch, I’m gonna walk out of the stair prisons and run straight into Denji…”

The woman nodded, seemingly happy that it was a good shirt--that was one benefit of the princes all being distinctly different sizes--and headed back to work. 

Turning another spigot, Waku started giving all the items in the basin a rinse in fresh water, twisting and wringing everything just so as she chuckled. “It’s a good shirt! And you look good as ever to me. Den would be the only person to really notice, since they know how you dress yourself, but they’d probably just think Miyako spat up on you and you changed.”

Giving a slight nod to the sleeping baby, it was starting to feel like crisis dealt with, but…

Waku turned slightly as she worked, giving Kaito a concerned glance. “...all this stuff is still gonna need to dry. I can make sure it’ll get back to your room soon, if you wanted to make a headway on things. You feeling better?”

Kaito grinned, and because he felt like it, he headed over to Waku and, to show he was feeling better, pulled her into a hug. Squeezing her tight, he grinned down at her and said, “Yep! Hey, Waku? You’re my hero, you know that?”

Waku let out a delighted little giggle, almost surprising herself with the sound, before she looked up at Kaito with a smirk. “I would hug you back, but my hands are covered in laundry juice. And…thanks. Your hero is happy to help…though she wouldn’t mind a drink next time we have time to have a pub night again.”

“Deal!”

-

“Grgh.”

“Hmmm…” Shuichi closed his eyes, “She has a point. I don’t really know how to make clothes. I’d have to learn to make that idea work.”

“How hard could it be to learn?” Maki huffed, her hair fanned out beneath her head, as she laid in a circle with Shuichi and Miyako on the nursery floor. The three of them having been putting on some puppet theater for little Miyako’s delight, but now tired and taking a break. In proper lamenting position, but not lamenting about much, beyond trading ideas for… “You dip some thread in some magic bucket, sew it into the clothes, then boom. You have an invisibility cloak. It’d be so useful.”

“Gyah!’

“See, she gets it.”

“I don’t know any invisibility potions. And it has to be more complicated than just dipping your clothes into magic to make magic clothes.” Shuichi pouted, resting his hands on his stomach, “Otherwise everyone would do it.”

“Most people are stupid. If it hasn’t caught on, it’s just because no one else has had my brilliant ideas.”

“Invisibility cloaks aren’t your idea, they’re in all sorts of stories…”

“Then it’s not even that uncommon an idea, and even the stupid wizards are doing it, and you could totally pull it off.” Maki decided, twisting to rest on her elbows, reaching over to rub Miyako’s stomach as she said, “You’d just have to be careful to keep it away from the little ones. We’d never see Miyako again, and Timothy would end up back in the vents.”

“Kokichi could find them both.” Shuichi reminded her, Maki making a thoughtful little hum at that. Upside down, Shuichi watched Maki play with Miyako, giving her a small, appraising look… before turning over as well. Resting his head in his arms. “...Kokichi calls us siblings. Have you ever noticed that?”

“Hmmm…” Maki made a small noise at that, and while it was meant to sound like she was trying to recall, Shuichi knew her ‘delay a response till she could think it through’ sound, as she rested her chin on her palm. Not looking at Shuichi as she said, “Maybe once or twice.”

“...did you tell him we’re siblings?”

“...In a way, we are–”

“Maki,” Shuichi sighed, giving her a tired look, “I thought we talked about this. A really long time ago. I don’t… I don’t know how to feel about that.”

“What’s there to feel about it? We came from the same orphanage–”

“I was there for five seconds, Maki. I don’t consider that place my home. Them my siblings.” Shuichi gave her a small frown, as he said, “I love them because they’re your siblings, and I love you. But I never wanted that responsibility… and I just sometimes feel weird, calling you my sister.”

“And I can’t help but see you as a brother.” Maki said softly, “I always have.”

“...always?”

“We were young and experimenting, don’t pretend like it meant anything.” Maki huffed, rolling her eyes. “I notice you never mention me when you tell people about the past ‘loves’ of your life.”

“Okay, fine. That wasn’t what it was. But it’s still strange to call you my sibling, sometimes. Maki, you… you’ve seen me… at not my best.”

“What does that have to do with anything? That didn’t mean anything.”

“...I had really uncomfortable thoughts about you.” Shuichi said softly. Looking ashamed even as he said it, looking away as he confessed, “On the spores. I wasn’t… thinking of you like family–”

“I’m convinced that the spores would have messed with your desires on that no matter who I was.” Maki said, sounding entirely unsurprised, “You also wanted to screw Seiko, and that woman couldn’t have less sex appeal if she tried. Nao too, frankly. It’s amazing to me you still had enough  of your senses left to see what a fugly wet blanket that lawyer woman was too.”

“Maki, that’s a bit unkind…”

“She was worthless. I’ll call her ugly all I want. They all are.” Maki said, shrugging, “Do you want to screw any of them now?”

Shuichi’s face scrunched a little, “No. Which still surprises me sometimes. I was still attracted to Nao for so long… and then one day it just stopped. Entirely out of my system, I guess… though I haven’t seen her in a long time. But, no, no desire for Seiko or Yasu.”

“And me?”

“...I mean, no.” Shuichi huffed, “Obviously. But–”

“It’d make me happy.” Maki said softly. “To call you my brother. Even if you don’t think you fit my ‘criteria’, even with our speckled history. I don’t want you to be my brother because you shared my orphanage for five seconds, Shuichi. I want you to be my brother because you shared your life with me. And it’s not like I can claim you in other ways… you’re mine. I want to claim you.”

“...” Shuichi huffed, running his hand through his hair, before turning his gray tinted eyes at Maki, small flecks of gold and even smaller flecks of pink reflecting like a gradient in the sun from the window… before he said, “...do you think it’d be odd to claim those titles in some sort of official way?”

Maki smiled lightly. “If it’d help get your uncreative, analytical brain on board? Couldn’t hurt to look into it.”

-

“Henery,” Eileen said, bringing up a few more boxes from their supply run that morning, huffing a little as she placed them down in front of their second floor entrance, wiping her forehead as she said, “I know this place is ideal for setting up the photography shop downstairs, and it’s one of the few places around here that has a basement for the photo development room too. I get it. I understand the benefits… but we should have refused a house where the kitchen is on the second floor on principle. Seriously, who thought that was a good idea!? Why–” she gestured past the living room, towards the kitchen tucked away in the far corner, “--is that here? Are we sure this house isn’t cursed too?”

Henery didn’t so much as stop putting things away as slowed down into a stop, looking around their new house as if appraising the layout from Eileen’s point of view before giving her a slightly shy look and a shrug. “I mean…they did let me light candles in every room before we closed. So it…should be okay.”

No weird sigils--and they had both checked for that, not trusting that things would be visible to both of them--and no holes in the wall. Frank hadn’t been cruel to them by any stretch, and had actually been extremely understanding when they had broken their lease early, but the realtor they’d been talking to in Usott had lacked the certain…creepy vibe their old landlord had. And…well, Henery hadn’t actually spoken with their neighbors yet, but Eileen said they seemed nice and normal, and he trusted her judgement. 

By all accounts, it was a nice, spacious house--in terms for two people--with a lot of natural light, in a good neighborhood, and with enough space for Henery to pursue his greatest hobby. Also a development from Eileen’s encouragement. 

It just had a kitchen on the second floor. But that’s where the bedrooms were too and…

It hadn’t helped him out that much, having access to his kitchen while he was trapped, but Henery really never wanted to find out how much worse it could be if he lacked it. 

Giving her a concerned look--though her bruises had long faded by this point, even her cast a memory--he came by the landing. “Is that everything? I-I can go get the other bags…I mean, we can switch jobs.”

Eileen, for all her griping, just beamed at him at that. Giving him a wide, unrestrained grin as she tucked both ends of her bobbed hair behind her ears, teasing playfully, “And risk you ruining your figure? Those noodle arms of yours need to get back to all their noodle glory, we can’t have you lifting heavy things! You remember those biceps you developed swinging that crowbar around? Your shirts almost looked filled in, for a terrible moment there!”

Eileen could be a bit of a blabber mouth, when she was comfortable and excited and the world didn’t feel like it was literally devolving into hellscapes. Admittedly, she maybe tried a little harder to be peppy and excitable now than she did before– it had felt more natural, and less like a concentrated effort, before she had been beaten within an inch of her life and possessed by a long dead madman– but those efforts to be happy were driven by a true desire to get back to that point in her life. Where it did feel natural, to tease and grin and bounce around and want to go out to parties again. 

And she felt like she got closer to that, every day. Sure, needing candle light on at all times at night and feeling her heart seize in her throat whenever there was a loud, unexpected sound wasn’t ideal… but that wasn’t what misery felt like either. Eileen knew true misery now. Small discomforts and insecurities wasn’t it. She wouldn’t let those bring her down, and she wasn’t going to let them bring Henery down either!

Moving had already helped a huge amount, honestly.

The two of them having each other helped too. 

And Eileen reminded herself that it wasn’t a failure in her genuine pursuit back to her own ideas of normal, when her whole body violently flinched at the knock at the door. Distant sound… down stairs. Someone was knocking downstairs. “Huh. Think it’s your grandmother?” Eileen asked with an only slightly shaky grin.

It hadn’t been like the first time Henery had ever spoken to Eileen was after his seemingly endless days of isolation, thinking he had finally gone crazy when she actually responded through the hole in the wall between their apartments. (That would’ve been…a lot worse, regardless of the weird things happening, and while she hadn’t seemed too mad about it, he still sometimes felt like a creep for his accidental voyeurism, even if he had only been trying to call for help.) From what he knew, she had always been an outgoing, bright person, kind beyond compare--and Henery knew that personally, considering she had been the only one of their neighbors to try knocking on his door, after the locks and chains appeared. 

Even so, before everything, he wouldn’t have really…known how to respond to such teasing. But now, he gave her a small grin and a breathy puff of a laugh, the easy jokes filling space he never noticed had been so empty before. “Point taken. I’ll leave the heavy lifting to you…not that it seems all that heavy when you’re lifting it. I-I…um…I’m still not convinced you didn’t somehow have a brick in your bag, for how hard you swung it.”

Sometimes talking about what had happened was…hard. More impossible to find words for than even the difficulties he normally had. But sometimes…the smaller things were okay. Made it feel like they really had survived, and weren’t just…in some uncertain purgatory. 

But being in the real world came with certain expectations. And…generally, having family and a job were some prominent ones of those. 

Jumping right in sync with Eileen, Henery looked down at their floor, like he could see through it, with apprehension written all over his, generally, fairly inexpressive face. “...maybe. I appreciate her helping us settle in, but…” But Henery hadn’t been all that close with his family for a long time, and Abuela Cynthia was…a lot. 

Looking like he was talking about going into a room darkened with uncertain goo, rather than answering the door, Henery gave a small, slow nod. “I should…go answer it. I’ll be back in 20.”

…and if he wasn’t, he trusted Eileen to grab the metal bat they had unpacked first thing, and maybe a medallion, and come find him. Either to save him from a two hour chat with his grandmother, or…whatever else.

Kaito, obviously, wasn’t going to just… demand a picture be taken right then and there. He knew that pictures were still a brand new technology and took a lot of setup and were pretty expensive and it wasn’t like developing them was instantaneous, so it's not like he’d get to see the result right away or anything. They were just there to ask a few questions and see if they could setup an appointment. He knew.

That had done nothing to stop him from dressing up Miyako in her cutest little flower dress, all yellow with little pink and purple flowers at the ends that flared out around her diaper, Kaito holding her and practically vibrating with excitement as Kokichi knocked on the door, as he said in a small, conspiring tone, “Maybe we can ask them to, like, prove the camera is working? Just a quick little test picture? Of Miyako looking all cute?”

Kokichi laughed softly, looking over fondly as Miyako stared fixedly at Kaito, completely uninterested with the new route they were taking. Honestly, he was pleasantly surprised that Maki had agreed with him coming to check the photographer out. It wasn’t like she was often the one to suggest he hang behind, but for scoping any potential assassination avenues out, he had been sure that his family would have a few more reservations. 

But maybe they were banking on him smoothing things out if Henery got too weirded out by the questions. 

“I really doubt they already have the camera and stuff all set up and ready to go without an appointment. …and it looks like not a whole lot is set up in general,” Kokichi shrugged, peeking through the studio windows. “But depending on their rates, we can make sure to get plenty of pictures of Miya-Miya being her adorable self.”

It got to the point Kokichi was considering knocking again when the door opened, a brown-haired guy with a…kinda vacant expression just…looking at them for a moment. 

…

And after that silent moment, it seemed like he suddenly remembered he should probably say something. 

“Oh, um, hello… Can I help you?”

Kaito had never seen someone more in need of a hug in his life, wow. 

As his eyes darted over him, Kaito made a couple of rapid judgment calls, but that wasn’t unusual for him meeting a new person. The only unusual thing was where those judgment calls got him. His initial judgments weren’t usually so… unkind, or surreal, but Kaito looked at this man and his first immediate thought was ‘this man made a mask of his face years ago, and never figured out he could change it.’

His expression just seemed functionless. Not quite a frown, not quite friendly, not quite anything. A careful neutrality, careful in the sense that the expression had been carefully molded out of necessity to stop offense when people looked at him, and once people stopped being annoyed, the man had considered the job done. 

Even with that, there was something handsome in those bland, empty features. Held differently, that square face and robust, warm brown hair with those wide shoulders would have been a knockout, and Kaito would be flustered staring him in the face. Look at that full bottom lip! That was a kissable lip! 

But the man didn’t hold himself in a way that showed off any of those features, and he became sort of dumpy in the process. Kaito felt a strong desire to sit him down and talk to him and hug him and flatter him until some life lightened up those features… but! That wasn’t what they were here for. 

They were here for baby pictures… preferably at least one now, if Kaito had his way. Maybe the cameras were set up! Kokichi didn’t know! They could get lucky!

So Kaito ignored his gutpunch desire to make certain this dude was at least aware he had kissable lips, and said brightly, “Yes, you can! See that, ‘Kichi? He’s already offering to help us! I bet we could get one picture, easy, no fuss!”

“Everything alright down there?” Eileen called from up the stairs, peeking her head down.

“Oh… I don’t really…” 

Seeing them get nowhere fast, Kokichi grinned sheepishly and held out the business card he’d been given. “Sorry, are you Henery Townsend? We were hoping to set up a meeting to get some photography portraits done. Your grandmother spoke very highly of you.”

Glancing between the family at his door, and Eileen calling behind him…

…it wasn’t a sure thing, but…weird cultists wouldn’t bring a baby to his door, right? And…that definitely was one of his cards, that Abuela had badgered him into giving her, saying she’d drum up business. And if they were customers….

Swallowing, Henery opened the door more, and looked back at Eileen. “Yeah, there’s…these folks are asking about the business.”

Looking back at the family, still vacantly a deer in carriage-lights look, Henery invited them in. “Please, come in. Yeah, I’m Henery, I…”

Even with her right by the stairs, he could hear Eileen in his head, telling him not to put down his work. “I don’t have a set up yet, but I do have a portfolio, if you’d like to look before deciding…”

Kokichi gave the man a bright grin. “Thank you!”

“Oh, customers! That’s exciting!” Eileen said cheerfully, placing the bat she had been keeping out of view at the curve of the wall down, before heading downstairs, “Welcome! Congratulations, you’re the first lucky guests of Henery’s shop! Isn’t that great for you!?”

Kaito snorted a little, grinning at Eileen– oh, this was someone who knew how pretty she was. Hell yeah– as he said, “Oh yeah? Sure seems to be. Honestly, when Kokichi and I heard there was a photographer in town, we couldn’t stop talking about how excited we were! We definitely want to see the portfolio, but ya know, seeing the process in action…” 

Kaito’s eyes drifted past Eileen, who had come to stand by Henery, seeing movement in the back… and his grin stiffened a little as he saw Maki almost lazily come up the stairs from what seemed to be the basement door. She glanced over at Kaito and Kokichi, like she was a little surprised to see them, before having the nerve to look at her watch, raising an eyebrow. Kaito’s eyebrow twitched– get out of here, Maki, you are ruining his chance at baby pictures– and as he tried his best to act like an empath and send that message to her directly, Maki just gave them both a small wave before quietly heading up the stairs.

All of this happened in a second, Kaito’s voice trailing for just a second before he continued brightly, trying to cover for her, “...would be really exciting! Does it happen on this floor? Where does the magic happen!?”

Long practiced at keeping a steady expression, Kokichi kept his sigh internal as he saw Maki emerge from behind the photographer…s. He should’ve expected this when she didn’t come along with them from the castle. This was…blatantly breaking and entering, but it was already done and…it would probably freak Henery and the woman out more to point it out now. 

So while he definitely would’ve preferred if Maki had just been upfront about looking about the equipment…

{Careful. They seem a little nervous, but not like they’re hiding something and are nervous about getting caught--just general nerves. Please try not to freak them out, Maki-chan.}

{(ɔ ˘⌣˘)˘⌣˘ c)}

“We’ve been talking about getting a family picture done for a while,” Kokichi chuckled sheepishly. “It seemed kind of perfect when we got your card to finally start making plans.”

…it didn’t escape his notice how ‘things falling into place’ made both of them suddenly a bit more nervous.

Kokichi was right, from what he’d seen through the window, that the front of the studio wasn’t exactly put together yet. Once they had things more in order, Henery figured he should probably get some proper seats for clients, but for the time being, there were a few stools in front of a counter, which he went behind to grab a large black binder, gingerly turning it around and opening it for the family to look through. 

For a moment, as he tried not to shift on his feet, Henery glanced to Eileen, as if she would have all the answers for his work, before he steadied himself. “That’s kind of up to you? Um…as you can see, I’ve done a lot of landscape photography, so…I can set up pretty much anywhere there’s flat ground and enough light. If you wanted pictures in a certain place. For a more staged session, I…”

Again, Henery glanced to Eileen, looking a little helpless, which caused his tone to come out more as a question. “I should…probably have everything I need for a set in…two weeks?”

Kokichi’s eyes had widened in awe at the…well, hyper-realistic photos of fields and a lake and an almost hauntingly lonely view of a city…before he glanced up at Henery. “Right, you just moved to Usott. Both of you? How are you finding it so far?”

No kidding, they were nervous. These two had weapons everywhere.

But, they were sort of ‘non’ weapons. Clearly both of them not being willing to take some final step in their minds towards real weapons, Maki hadn’t found any swords or shields or crossbolts or arrows… but unless these two needed to pry open crates constantly, and also liked baseball way too much, it felt like the home had been littered with easy to grasp and use bludgeoning weapons. Maybe the only kind of weapons they trusted themselves with.

Also a lot of clearly magic shit. Maki was glad she had come, these two weren’t harmless… but. This place gave her more ‘bunker’ vibes than anything. Not assassins or thieves, but more people running from something.

Maki was safety paranoid, but wasn’t nosy. She didn’t care to know what their deal actually was. She had just checked the basement and the first floor already for signs of anti-royalty, anti-luminary, pro-LGP, pro-serial killing, murder for hire stuff. She hadn’t found any of that, the equipment wasn’t even kind of put together yet, no poisons or needle darts, and while she planned to do a sweep of the second floor, she wasn’t expecting to find more there. She’d very likely do a quick sweep, and then climb out from one of the many second floor windows. Go get a coffee.

Did either of them want a coffee? Man she wanted coffee.

“Two weeks! Entirely understandable! I would never suggest a man rush his craft! …if we were to pay early, what do you think the odds you’d be set up in, say… twooo hours?”

“Nope! Sorry,” Eileen smiled brightly, having been waving and coo’ing and trying to get Miyako’s attention, who seemed perfectly content to keep analyzing Kaito’s face, entirely unconcerned by the new people. “Henery work with a lot of delicate equipment, and some of the pieces are still in storage, let alone box’s. Sorry we can’t do it sooner, but we’re still in the middle of moving and setup and all sorts of craziness! Just gonna have to be patient… sorry, I don’t think we’ve gotten your names? I’m Eileen!”

Kaito was… a little surprised that she didn’t know who they were, and said, “Kaito… Luminary of the Stars! And this is Kokichi, Light of Dicea and our little Miyako, who is a Sweetroll! We’re not sure of where yet. It’s a work in progress.”

“Gods, those names sound familiar. I swear I’ve heard someone else with those exact same names recently…” Eileen mused, trying to place them… before shrugging, “I’m sure I’ll think of it later. And Usott’s been really nice so far! It’s a beautiful city. Are you all natives, or… oh! Luminary of the Stars! Are you refugees?”

Henery was absolutely getting one of those lemon squares Eileen liked from the cafe down the road the next time he went out. He’d buy her lemon squares for the rest of her (long, safely, normally long) life for not having to explain he couldn’t set up his camera at the drop of a hat to customers himself. 

“Oh! Right, sorry,” Kokichi said brightly. “My daughter and I are native, but my husband’s an immigrant. We’re, uh.” Kokichi looked a little sheepish, always feeling awkward to introduce himself that way. “We’re the Ouma-Momota-Saihara family--our fiance is home today, but…well we were hoping to discuss your rates, so we could figure out all who are gonna be in the pictures.”

For all that Eileen was kind of a genius when it came to history--or at least she was in Henery’s eyes--neither of them really kept up with current events. Saihara was a pretty unfamiliar name, Momota a little less so, but…

Look, they hadn’t been living under a rock so much they didn’t know the name Ouma. 

Henery…froze. 

…the Ouma-and-co family? Wanted photographs from him? The royal family of Dicea? That was…

Looking a little apologetic, especially as Henery was almost visibly sweating, for how little his expression changed, Kokichi smiled softly. “Even just glancing through…your work is really astounding, Henery. We’d really love to hire you for some photos.”

“...10 copper for a whole plate picture, a-and a silver per hour of work,” Henery almost slurred out, feeling as if he’d just been slapped down a flight of stairs. 

“20 copper, and two silvers per hour of work!” Kaito negotiated back.

“....that’s…” Eileen blinked, giving Kaito a befuddled look, before looking to Kokichi, “Does Luminary do math differently?”

“The first official portraits of the heir-apparents family aren’t going to be cheap!” Kaito insisted… before he glanced at Kokichi, “Wait, can we afford that? Do we get more pictures if we go back to the original offer? I’ll take cheap photos if it means more baby pictures, I’m flexible like that.”

Henery went pale, looking a little overwhelmed by the offer to pay double on both counts, while Kokichi just gave his husband an exasperated, yet fond look. “Hun, I think in general spending less per photograph would mean we could comfortable get more…”

Doing some quick math in his head--at least basic multiplication wasn’t that groan-inducing--Kokichi gently asked Henery, “How long would three pictures take to get done? And, like…no rush, we wouldn’t want to strain you to get under an hour-mark.”

“...uhhh…” Henery let out a small strained noise before clearing his throat. “It takes me about twenty minutes to set the camera up, w-with lighting and everything, and the exposure is three minutes per photo and…” You’re rambling, that’s not what they asked. “I could do three photos in an hour.”

Nodding, Kokichi nudged Kaito, speaking quietly to him. “We could comfortably do two gold for this. If we wanted more than three pictures, then even four would go up to three gold and ten copper. We probably should budget that out, for that much… Would you want more than three?”

As the princes--princes--discussed their finances, Henery gave Eileen a wide-eyed look. Not exactly pleading with her for anything in particular, but…expressing just how much this all was. 

Eileen caught the look… and smiled dazzlingly back. Giving him a small nudge of her shoulder, her expression beaming with pride. This was great! His first customers were the Dicean Royal Family! This was incredible! 

Still, patting his back a little, trying to soothe him a bit, the two watched Kaito hum a bit, looking down at Miyako as he considered– vaguely– their finances… before he grinned at Kokichi, “One picture with me, you, Shuichi and Miya, one with me, Maki and Tim, and one with all of us together?”

Kokichi smiled warmly and squeezed his arm gently, before looking back to Henery and Eileen. “Alright! Then we’d like to hire you for three pictures. You said it’d be two weeks to get your studio set up, but would you be able to take sooner appointments if we had the pictures somewhere else?”

Looking to Kaito, Kokichi gave him a small grin. “It’d be nice to do it while we still have a bit of summer weather lingering around…”

Henery silently nodded, taking a few seconds before finding his voice again. “Yeah… I could…get my camera and supplies set up mid-time next week?”

“Yes! Absolutely! Set up three pictures for next week!” Kaito grinned, looking excited… before adding in a rush, “And if you just happened to bring more supplies for more pictures it’d be a great investment in Dicea’s future portraits decisions, but otherwise! Three pictures scheduled! Oh, this is so exciting! Aren’t you excited, Miya~? Aren’t we so excited?”

“I’ll fight him off the day of, don’t worry. I’ve got your back.” Eileen whispered to Henery. Watching Kaito coo and gush at his daughter, who seemed entirely unimpressed with the idea of future pictures. Content to just give Kaito mildly judgy looks, as he grinned and beamed down at her, before looking adoringly at his husband.

“I can’t wait!”

-

It wasn’t so much a special event, no more so than the weekly farmer’s market, but there was still a special feeling in the air when a night market was going on. Maybe it was the warm glow of lanterns, more added than just the streetlights, or the colorful wave of stall covers flooding the marketplace, or the mouthwatering scent of stall foods… It inspired excitement, for something that happened weekly during the warm months. 

And it was even more special because…well, his student had invited Lluwyn out on an excursion with like-minded peers. And that wasn’t…really something that had ever happened before. Perhaps he really was reading the metaphorical room right, because Elthea hadn’t teased him that much about wearing some of his nicer summer robes out--just the usual quips about his clothes being “old-fashioned” and making him look like an “old man”, but not that he was overdressed. 

As they neared the entrance to the market, as the group had planned to meet there, Lluwyn decided to impress one more time the stipulations about Elthea joining them. “Now, Elthea, I know Usott’s reputation for safety, and the fact that this is a known, regular event inspires confidence, but please do not go running off on your own. I suppose I cannot expect the whole group to remain wholly together the whole time, but please try to stick with at least one of us, or let someone know if there is something that catches your eye. You are a young lady that--”

“That can take care of herself!” the younger mage huffed. “Yeah, yeah, sure, I won’t pull a disappearing act, but this is a shopping center! There’s tons of people around! I don’t need you to hold my hand the whole time; I’ll be fine.”

“I am just advising caution! I do not want to see you hurt-”

“And I won’t be!”

There was a small laugh from the side, Nadya grinning fondly at the siblings. “You two never stop, do you.”

Meanwhile, Maki had said to both Shuichi and Himiko, “You disappear on me, you die.”

“...eh? Nyeh?” Himiko said, giving the woman an incredulous look, “Do you mean we have a bigger chance of getting hurt or…?”

“You put any weird, magic shit in your mouths? You die.”

“...??” Himiko looked to Shuichi, who seemed unsurprised. “Why does it sound like you’d kill us?”

“You let anyone show off any products by trying them on you? You die horrifically.” Maki said. “I’ll take my time with it. It’ll be slow.”

“Your friend is threatening to murder us.” Himiko whispered to Shuichi.

“It’s just cause she’s nervous about the new environment.” Shuichi explained, before turning to Nadya, Lluwyn and Elthea, “I’m sure we’ll all more or less stay in a group. I’m not certain how big this area is, but it can’t be that big. They do pack up and clear the area during the rest of the week, after all, I imagine that’s difficult to do if it’s all too large.”

“Seems big enough to me.” Himiko said, looking eagerly around at the numerous stalls. The sky a warm, inky black as their night vision was blocked by dozens and dozens of warm, glowing lanterns, quite a few people already milling about and shopping themselves. “It’s so busy! Do you think all of these people know what’s here?”

“I think it’d perhaps be wise to assume the answer is ‘no’, sometimes. Be careful what you say to people.” Shuichi cautioned. Looking around as he said, “Now… hmm. Where to start… is it too early to look at the books? I know that can take a bit of time..”

“Unless you guys want Big Sis Nadya and Miss Harukawa to carry your books all night since they actually have biceps?” Elthea giggled, “Then check out some of the other, lighter things out first! And that means I can get food while you guys nerd out.”

“We are capable of carrying our own belongings, Elthea,” Lluwyn chided, “And while it would be prudent to give ourselves plenty of time to peruse through tomes, the night is yet young.”

Looking at the market entrance, Nadya shrugged. “Why do we not just start going down one side and do a loop. But…” She frowned slightly, scanning the crowd. “...did you not initially plan this with Drake, Shuuichi? We did all agree to meet at 9, yes?”

Almost on cue, a thin, dark figure came running up, slightly out of breath and looking a bit haggard, bandages weaved through his fingers. “Sorry I’m late!”

Shuichi smiled lightly, giving Drake a warm nod. “I assumed something had come up. I’m glad you made it though. I hope those bandages aren’t fresh?”

Himiko tilted her head. Putting her finger against her bottom lip, as she noted, “You know, you’ve been injured in new ways every time I’ve seen you… are you cursed?”

“Or a masochist?” Maki added in dryly. 

Drake offered a smile that was more like an awkward grimace. “Uh, well… My neighbor was cleaning their pet tank, and their guinea pig escaped into the building. Found him in a little crevice in the stairwell, but…he was pretty freaked out…” Luckily, Drake didn’t really need to worry about getting infections from animal bites…or possible tetanus from where his hand caught on some of the heavy duty nuts that his hand caught on from the side of the stairwell. 

Mostly, he was glad the little guy was safe back in his cage. 

Stammering a little at the allegations sent his way, Lluwyn hummed and took a more appraising look at Shuuichi’s friend. “Some curses can be rather elusive. Have you had thorough testing done? I am no doctor, but I could surely perform many of the standard screening sp--”

“Hey, are we gonna stand out here all night?!” Elthea loudly cut in, already pushing at her brother, manhandling him towards the first stall. “Less chit-chat, let’s get some shopping done!”

…some of the damage was already done, as Drake’s eyes widened before he looked to Shuuichi, nodding slightly in Lluwyn’s direction. 

Shuichi leaned over to him, whispering in his ear, “Honestly? With the exception of the Big V, assume everyone in this group knows everything… actually, Big V and Big E excluded. Everything else is fair game.”

“Oooo-kay! Okay! Let’s go!” Himiko said. Her enthusiasm genuine, but something about her drawling tone of voice always suggesting that her declarations were slightly sarcastic. Still, she adjusted her overly large hat on her head and pointed down the row of stalls, saying enthusiastically, “Last one there is a rotten egg!”

“Last one where?” Shuichi asked, following Himiko and Elthea, the two younger women– well, teenager on Elthea’s part– taking the lead of the group.

“Mmmm… there!”  Himiko decided, walking up to a random stall and looking curiously at the variety of glass sculptures on display. Her eyes taking in the massive crystal ball in particular, but there also a variety of small glass statues, finely decorated mirrors of various sizes, and on the back of the stall, hanging displays of beautiful, intricate necklaces. The whole stall seeming to shimmer in the torchlight, as the stall vendor gave them all a lazy smile, “Welcome,” He said. You folks new around here? Don’t think I recognize seeing any of you walking around before.”

“Would you?” Maki asked, glancing back at the thrall of people moving to and fro behind them, “It’s not exactly sparse.”

“Lots of people enjoy the night market. But its usually the same people, if you get my meaning. And when you’re here week after week, ya start just recognizing faces alone.” The man shrugged, “Though I’m allowed to be wrong. Are ya new here?”

Drake nodded, his gaze lingering on Nadya. …well that just made the whole fairy ring debacle much more embarrassing. But…it did make him feel a little better, that he hadn’t been the only thing trying to distract two humans from a flagrant use of magic. He wondered if she had ever spoken to Shuuichi about it. Considering how surprised his friend had been when he mentioned it, and that conversation being relatively recent…probably not. 

It was possible she hadn’t noticed. Depending on how she knew about “everything”, then there was the possibility that she couldn’t--

“Unhand me, Elthea! Honestly, you could just say where you wanted to go…” Lluwyn griped at his sister through a long-suffering sigh before turning to look at the glassware, looking at the more practical items of the assortment. 

And while he remained silent, Nadya easily chimed in before any discomfort could fall. “I believe this is the first night market for several of us. I have been once before myself… Drake, you suggested coming here, did you not? Have you been before?”

“Huh?” The vampire startled, thankfully a few steps away from the glass stall. He usually didn’t let his seemingly constant bad luck keep him from things he wanted to explore, but…well, there was some use in being cautious. “Oh, a few times, yeah.”

Looking at the vendor, Drake rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Last spring, after college finals when there was that huge drinking contest? A few friends showed me the market then. Thought I’d pass the word along myself.”

The vendor smiled lazily, giving Drake a small nod. “Night markets great, cause you get a lot of artisans who can kinda come and go as we please. There’s less regulation for taking a spot and selling what you have, wherever you can fit yourselves. That said, I always try to warn new people and amateurs that there’s a lot of scam artists and weirdos who set up shop here. Take everything told to you with a grain a salt, and make sure you use some common sense. Some folks here will try to sell you goat urine and say it’ll cure bad vision ,and some of them actually believe it when they tell you. Either way you’re spending twenty gold to put goat urine around your eyes. Just use some caution, yeah?”

“...okay but…” Himiko narrowed her eyes at the vendor, curious, “...does goat urine cure bad vision? Because my master squints a lot when he’s reading…”

Shuichi placed a hand on Himiko’s back, bowing his head at the stall keeper. “Thank you for the caution. We’ll be careful.”

“...ooooh, shit. Luminary?” The stall keep smiled, looking tickled pink, “Luminaries do that little half bow thing around here, right? Sweet~ hold on, hold on…” the stall keep– never actually confirming if Shuichi was Luminary or not, looked around for something, before taking out a piece of paper and jotting down some notes– “Here, I don’t know where the guy might have set up shop this time, but you see a place called Desert Treasures? That guys got all sorts of Luminary stuff for sale, could be a slice of home for ya.”

“Ah… thank you.” Shuichi said, taking the paper and placing it in his pocket after a quick glance, “I’ll be certain to take a peek.”

“Righteous.” the stall keeper smiled.

Drake looked on, filing that little interaction away in his head, more as a passing curiosity than anything. Of course it wasn’t like there weren’t any Luminaries in Dicea before the war ended, and not even just refugees, but…well, it was easier to be more open about it these days. And for a vendor to catch onto a typical formality like that… Interesting. 

Next to the glassware, there was a stall filled with carved wood items, from bowls to utensils, even a few clocks, though there were quite a few very intricately carved spoons hanging up high. Lluwyn gave them a mildly bewildered look before waving Himiko over from her nearby perusing, pointing out a few sets of wooden mortar and pestles. 

“You two already have one among your supplies, but there is something to note here. Wooden mortars are fine enough for softer plant matter, but wood will absorb whatever you are working with. Many minerals do as well, in fairness, but generally to a lesser degree. To ensure your materials remain pure, and to better grind harder substances, it is better to opt for a stone mortar if you have the option.”

Shaking her head a little, Elthea shared an eyeroll with Nadya, before the elder laughed softly, picking up a spoon cradle shaped like a cat and showing it to Lluwyn. “Aw, Winnie, it’s you.”

Lluwyn just stared at it for a moment--...it was rather cute--before tilting his head slightly in confusion. “...I am not a feline, Nadya.”

“Maybe these mortars are meant for… drier? Material?” Himiko mused, partly guessing and partly trying to impress her teacher. Shuichi was usually a little better at guessing these things than her, but Himiko still liked to shoot her occasional shot. Though, at the comparison to the spoonholder-cat, Himiko hummed a little. Looking up at Lluwyn, before motioning for him to bend down. “Come here.”

When he bent down, Himiko hummed a bit, patting him on the head… and seeing his face scrunch up in bewilderment, she nodded wisely, “Yep. Old grumpy cat aura. I can see it.”

“Himiko, that’s very rude.”Shuichi gently chastised, as the group gave the glass vendor a goodbye nod before following the group to the wood. “He’s not old. He’s just grumpy.”

“I suppose they would be quite serviceable for items akin to dried leaves,” Lluwyn nodded. “It is not as if they are a materially useless tool--simply less suited for many occasions.”

He easily obliged into bending down to meet Himiko’s height, though he frowned at her verdict. “I am not grumpy. My mood is rather high, actually.”

“It’s your vibes, Llu!” Elthea called, admiring some of the more delicate lattice work on some of the hanging spoons. Lluwyn seemed not to agree with that either, looking at himself in confusion as he rose, muttering about his vibrations. 

Feeling a little safer to come closer into this stall, Drake made a small noise of recognition. “Oh, these are betrothal spoons, aren’t they.”

“Careful.” Maki said dryly, “I’m not giving my blessings.”

“Maki.” Shuichi said, giving her a slightly scolding look, before taking a closer look at the items in question. “That is a pretty loaded title, though. What makes them ‘betrothal’ spoons?”

“What makes a wedding ring a wedding ring?” Elthea shrugged, looking at one with wooden petals so thin the lantern light shown through them. “It’s another marriage proposal method, like sea bouquets or necklaces or whistles.”

Drake laughed softly at the blunt, irreverent, and accurate description before he turned to Shuuichi, hoping to explain a little more. “Dicea was formed out of a lot of different old cultures, right? I’ve noticed that for some things there are multiple traditions for the same thing, like engagement practices, that probably were passed down from a lot of those cultures, the practices not being lost or being grouped into a hegemonic norm.”

“The idea behind betrothal spoons was always kind of sweet, to me,” he noted. “I guess just buying them kind of defeats it… You were supposed to carve a very intricate design, and hang it over your front door for good luck after the marriage. It’s kind of the idea of doing something that takes hours of work and skill, all for the sole purpose of love, and…kind of that those thoughts of love would be reflected in your work.”

“Oh, that’s very sweet… do you think I could convince Kaito and Kokichi that they have to try to make me intricate spoons? Or do you think I’d be setting myself up for having to make my own spoon?” Shuichi asked, glancing over at Maki with a smirk.

“I think the real issue would be that you’d have to try to use whatever splintered choking hazard those two idiots managed to put together between them.” Maki said, Shuichi giggling a little behind his hand at the response. 

“I don’t really know much about it, but…” Himiko gave Shuichi a blank look… before starting to blush. Which was very odd on her, since her expression didn’t actually change at all. She just looked red and neutral, as she said flustered, “I’ve heard some craaaaazy stories about Luminary religious practices. Are you, uh…” she blushed harder, “Are you guys going to have a big orgy for it?”

To their credit, neither Maki nor Shuichi seemed particularly surprised by the question, though Maki just snorted. Going back to look at the spoons, as Shuichi shook his head, “A consummation ceremony? No. Apologies if you were looking forward to it Himiko.”

“Nyeh… cultural exchanges and all of that… could have been interesting.” Himiko mused. 

Nadya snorted a little. She would personally give Kokichi and Kaito more credit--Kaito was very skilled with detail work, and Kokichi had quite the eye for design--but…in truth, even if it turned out beautifully, any utensil they might make would probably be unsafe for standard use. Best just to keep the spoons for decoration. 

Slow as their pace was, they did move onto the next stall, this one primarily filled with bookshelves rather than tables and stands, though there was a small area for trinkets in it too. Elthea watched her brother predictably become consumed by Nerd Shit, so she turned back to the other conversation to fill her attention. 

“Oh yeah… When are you guys having that, anyway? Since there haven’t been any big announcements like the last one, it’s gonna be a regular wedding, right?”

“It’s actually fairly soon.” Shuichi said, giving Nadya a warm smile, “But it’s going to be very low-key. I’m… not one for a big, showy event. And Kokichi and Kaito are still a little burned and worn down from their own big, theatrical wedding. So everythings going to be a bit personal, a bit informal… so, yes. I suppose more like a traditional Dicean wedding.”

“She asked when it was, Shuichi.” Maki said, rolling her eyes, before looking to Nadya, “It’s three weeks from today. When these three can get their shit together, I’m sure you’ll get your official invitation. I think all they’ve managed to do so far is secure the caterer and the musicians though.”

“Kokichi said he was working on the venue… though it’ll probably just end up being at the castle, really. We’ll see.” Shuichi shrugged. “As I said. Very low key.”

“Are you guys going to have any sexy Luminary rituals?” Himiko pouted. 

“Might upset my snake a bit by putting a needle in him and then pass the blood around. But that’s actually going to be at the temple on probably it’s own date. And honestly there will probably only be a handful of us there.” Shuichi explained.

“Upsetting a snake is not sexy! Why is that what came to mind?!”

“It’s just a very Luminary thing to do, isn’t it?” Maki shrugged, looking idly through one of the books. Dicean constellation myths. Could be something Kaito would be into.

“Oh, that is very soon!” Nadya looked a little surprised by it, actually--as did Drake, listening in--before she gave Shuuichi a kind smile. “Well, I will be honored to come, if the invitation is extended to me. Considering the last party you all put together, I am sure it will be a lovely celebration.”

Drake hummed in interest, putting down the bird almanac he’d been leafing through. “You’re going to have Nini as a guide? I’m sure they did the binding ritual, considering everything…but believe it or not, there aren’t a lot of informative rumors about that part of Kokichi and Kaito’s wedding. Two guides is pretty novel, as far as I know about the practice, anyway…”

“It’s a bit of a religious debate, if it’s even possible.” Shuichi admitted, looking to Drake, “Some of the biggest talking points, when it comes to Atuan religion in Luminary, all are about binding rituals. Who can do it, what’s acknowledged, what actually has an impact on the afterlife. It’s something I never really noticed until we came to a place without it, but a lot of our traditions are based around binding rituals, in some way or another. It’s one of those things that was so engrained in our culture that it never occurred to me how people would format relationships without it.”

“The overall consensus right now, for us?” Maki said, still looking over her side of the books. “Is that Katio’s a Momota, and if they can’t sort it out now, he’ll sort it out with his god when he dies.”

“That sounds so delusional, just laid out like that… but that is essentially what we’ve agreed on.” Shuichi smiled lightly, shrugging, “We’re just going to do the binding rituals and, well… just like everyone else. ‘See what happens’. So yes, we’re trying for two guiding animals, since unfortunately we don’t have any blood from Kaito  and Kokichi’s binding ritual. Which was a horse, for whatever rumor that clears up. It was a very private ceremony.”

“Very private. Over half the people that saw it are presumed dead.” Maki said, “Can’t get more private than that.”

“Ngh… grim.” Himiko frowned, ”And still not very sexy. Isn’t Atua a sex god? Really thought it’d be sexier.”

It wasn’t like Drake was intimately aware of the afterlife, he wasn’t a reaper or anything, but…well, if it was the path that made them happy, and they threw enough of a fuss otherwise, it’d probably work out. And it did probably help that Kaito was from Atua’s chosen family. It probably wasn’t anything they’d be writing laws about in Luminary, but it could work out fine for his friends. 

Peeking out from the castle of books he’d made around himself in a short amount of time, Lluwyn hummed in interest. “A horse? That is rather on the nose… And I was of the impression Atua was a patron of sorts for sex workers, though I can admit much of Falcon Hollow’s knowledge of Luminary gods is either archaic or…rather fringe.” 

Briefly, his visible eye glanced towards Nadya, before diving back down into the book he was looking through. 

“Creator god in Luminary. Whore and Concubine god here.” Maki said simply. 

“Why is that on the nose?” Shuichi asked, giving Drake a curious look. “I’ve actually not talked too much to my partners about their binding ceremony. The only thing they ever really wanted to share was their vows to each other, which were apparently a highlight of the whole day, and that otherwise the binding ceremony was a very uncomfortable experience. I never really found out why the Head Secretary changed out their original guiding animal with a horse. It was meant to be a dove.”

“Spent all that damn time, taking care of that bird. You and I go awol for five seconds, and not only did everything go to shit, but suddenly no one has any idea where the sacred peace bird whose shit we cleaned up for half a year went. Everyone’s so unreliable.”

“I really should have investigated that. Someone got away with the bird heist of the century.” Shuichi mused. 

Drake glanced to Lluwyn, unsure if he should answer in his stead since the younger man looked quite preoccupied, but he soon answered without looking up. “Ouma means ‘royal horse’, or ‘big horse’ in Traditional Dicean,” Lluwyn recited. “It is, officially, our nation’s symbolic animal, though that does not mean much in practicality. On our way to Usott, Elthea and I did see quite a few souvenir shops taking advantage of the symbolism though, to market something as ‘quintessentially Dicean’.”

Humming in agreement, Nadya looked over from one of the other rows of bookcases, a worn leather tome under one arm. “I suppose so… An Ouma being bound spiritually to a horse is something political cartoonists would have had a field day with, if any had actually understood what a binding ceremony was.”

“I dunno, I think there’s something… kinda romantic to it.” Himiko said, though her eyes had widened a little as she opened a book and found strange pages dissecting different types of animals, with little notes about the pieces. Flipping through it, she found more with plants and mushrooms and bugs, and she passed it eagerly over to Lluwyn, “Did I find one? I think I found one. That looks like an ‘ingredient’ book to me… but yeah. I think it’s romantic. Cause you all brought a bird that went missing and needed replacement–”

“I’m not sure it happened in that order, but yes.” Shuichi nodded.

“-- and for an animal familiar–”

“Nope. Wrong again.” Maki said.

“--to be picked that ended up, like, symbolizing one of the grooms souls. It’s like something out of a story! What are the odds!?”

“I mean, really good, considering the Head Secretary picked the horse specifically as a metaphor for Kokichi.” Maki pointed out, “Less ‘serendipitous’ and more ‘asshole thought he was clever’.”

“Well, I think it sounds romantic. Are snakes something that represents the Saihara name, Shuichi?”

Shuichi shook his head, “No. My last name was given to me by my mentor. My first name was picked randomly when I moved to the orphanage, as far as I know, but my mentor picked my last name as a goal. The ability to persuade others effortlessly. A useful trait for a detective. But no animal metaphors. I just have a pet snake and I love him very much.”

“Nyeh? Well, that’s good too, I guess… are Momota’s associated with any animals? Kaito?”

“Dragons/Wolves.” Maki and Shuichi said at the same time. Looking at each other in slight surprise… before Shuichi clarified, “Momota’s, no. No particular animal imagery. But Kaito’s got a lot of affiliation with the imagery of Dragons and Wolves… and has a real thing for fish. Honestly, out of all the animals that can be associated with him, fish is funnily enough the most obvious.”

Lluwyn hummed, taking the book from Himiko and starting to skim it over, still in his tome palace. “Hmm…this seems to be a biological almanac, though some of these observations seem to be leaning towards use in naturalism… However, there still is quite a bit of overlap between our purposes…”

He kept muttering to himself, though the book seemed to absolutely be a purchase. 

Nadya smiled softly as the conversation turned to symbolism more generally. “That is quite the sweet sentiment. I recall Kokichi discussing with you two how it is common in Dicea for first names to follow suit, to be a goal or a wish, but there is something similar in that expression of love for your surname to be a goal.”

Done with looking through the trinkets, but unwilling to face Lluwyn’s wrath just yet and risk moving onto the next stall, Elthea (lightly) leaned against one of the stall spokes and raised an eyebrow. “Prince Kaito’s associated with fish? Luminary’s a desert, and isn’t your capital right in the middle of it?”

“It does sound weird when explained like that.” Maki agreed, shrugging. “The guy just really likes fish. I think if we let him he’d sit and stare at a koi pond for hours. I don’t think I’m exaggerating either. Fish and dragons are what I think of when I think of him. But Shuichi’s right on both counts: Kaito probably would pick wolves if you asked him, and the animals he’d actually spend time with the most are fish.”

“What about you guys?” Shuichi asked, enjoying this game as he looked around the group, “We’ve already established Lluwyn has strong ‘grumpy cat’ vibes. Anyone feel any strong association with any particular animal?”

“Bats?” Maki asked pointedly, looking at Drake.

There was a distracted mutter from Lluwyn, insisting again that he was not a cat, and was in high spirits, but no one paid him much mind, especially with the unamused look Drake shot Maki. “They’re neat enough animals, but…no.”

“I like wolverines!” Elthea chirped, grinning brightly enough her own “fangs” could make someone draw the similarity. “They’re super cool, and one of the strongest animals compared to their size…and way cooler than, like, mantis shrimp.”

“I think mantis shrimp are fascinating in their own right, still,” Nadya laughed, before considering the question more. “I am not sure about myself, though. I do not suppose I’ve ever felt a kindred connection with any particular type of animal. Perhaps birds? Flight is an incredible ability.”

“Mantis shrimp? Why did Mantis Shrimp come to mind?” Shuichi asked, giving Elthea a befuddled look. 

“You’re the one who’s been talking about food for the last ten minutes.” Himiko pointed out, “You probably put it in her head.”

“Food… Kaito’s fish?”

“Food, yeah.” Himiko nodded, now looking through a book that seemed to be just a bit of a fantasy romance, though in a very intricate cover and binding. “Also, you both haven’t said yours.”

“You first, then.” Shuichi prodded, smiling at her a little. 

“Hmm… I think…” Himiko pouted, looking a little put out as she admitted, “Well, Kaito got to take three, so now because he’s so greedy with animal imagery, my answer of wolf sounds unoriginal… lame…”

“You think your symbol is wolves?” Maki asked dryly, giving Himiko an unimpressed look, “Maybe a basset hound. Maybe.” 

“W-what!? Isn’t that a dog?” Himiko asked, looking a little distressed, “N-no, I’d be a wolf.”

“Basset Hounds are very useful dogs. They can hunt small rodents fairly well.” Maki said, giving Himiko an appraising look, “Think you could catch a rabbit?”

“Nyeh! I could catch a rabbit! I could pull it out of my hat!”

“Now?”

“I-I mean, not right now, no… m-my mana hasn’t replenished for the day!”

“I feel like, Nadya, if it’s not unkind to say… well, I could see something like ‘elephant’ fitting you. Birds as well, certainly, and obviously we’re only playing around. But I can’t help but think of what kind of animal I think would play baseball well, and I keep coming back to elephants.” Shuichi admitted, laughingly lightly as he explained, “Their long trunks would be great for swinging bats and shooting out balls. They run fast and are strong. But they’re also very intelligent, like you are. Not very many jocks get to be both. You’re a rare breed.”

“Uh, didn’t you follow what I was saying?” Elthea raised an eyebrow. “Animals that are powerful compared to their size! Apparently mantis shrimp can…” She huffed, before turning back towards Lluwyn. “Llu! How hard can a mantis shrimp punch?!”

“A force of 15,000 newtons,” Lluwyn said distractedly, not batting an eye from the book he was leafing through. “More force than the bite of many types of crocodiles, while being only 6 inches at the largest observed specimen.”

“Yeah!” 

Looking rather pleased at Shuuichi’s assessment, Nadya gave him a kind smile. “It is not unkind at all. All I have read about elephants paint them to be a very intelligent and caring species. It is rather flattering to be compared to them.”

Drake quirked a small smile. “They have a specific call for warning the herd of bees…I’ve read. It’s different from other animals or humans around… If a species is capable of forming a language like that, it’s a sign of great social intelligence.”

“How do you even test a shrimps punching ability? How do you convince a shrimp to punch?” Maki muttered.

“Insult its ancestors?” Shuichi shrugged, looking over to Drake next. “Now, let’s see… Drake… oh! Oh, but this one might actually be unkind.” Shuichi realized, putting a hand in front of his mouth to cover the smirk, “Oh dear…”

“He’s dying to tell us. Shuichi’s a dick.” Maki informed the rest, shaking her head a little at him, “It will never not baffle me how people think you’re the nice one between us.”

“I am the nice one. At least I have the decency to feel a little bad about it… an opossom. They’re these cute little furry animals with these sharp little teeth, who freeze up and pretend to play dead when they’re frightened. I saw one moving around once, and it was such a clumsy little thing, it would just flop over at the slightest noise… I’m sorry, Drake.” Shuichi said, still on the verge of laughing behind his hand, “Now I can’t even help but think you look a bit like one…”

Drake sighed, accepting his fate. And…it really wasn’t that bad, until Shuuichi said he looked like one. He sighed, pouting at his friend, even as Nadya and Elthea tried (to varying degrees) to stifle their snickers. “I always thought they looked like they were wearing little gloves… Not exactly…what I see myself as.”

“And I certainly carry fewer diseases,” he grimaced. It was pretty hard to carry bloodborne diseases when you didn’t have any blood of your own. 

“Sorry, Drake,” Nadya giggled. “They do have a certain charm to them, though. They are very protective of their young, and carry baby opossums on their backs. It is quite cute.”

He could only sigh, before looking to Shuuichi. “Well, those are ours, then. What are yours?”

“Oh, ours are easy. Snake and dra–”

“I think you might be more of a crow than anything.” Maki said. Paying for a book she had found with the vendor and putting her coin down in a very loud, final way. Clearly trying to press the idea to everyone that now was the time to make their purchases and keep going. Come on, you nerds, can’t just linger by one book stall all day. 

“Crow?” Shuichi frowned, “How on earth am I like a crow? Because I wear dark colors?”

“They're mischievous, they steal things, they’re incredibly intelligent, and they’re actually very intimidating animals in person.” Maki said, grabbing a bag and shoving her book inside of it, waiting for Shuichi to make his purchase to put his in alongside her, “And yet, it’s hard not to like them. They’re little menaces, but then one of them brings you some trash or the rare, shiny copper, and once that happens, what can you do? Crows are adorable little bastards, after that. There’s no going back.” 

“Huh… we’ll, if we’re not taking the obvious answers…” Shuichi hummed a bit, passing Maki the books he had gotten, “...then, while dragon is still a good answer for you either way, a good alternative answer could be… are we allowed to pick fictional creatures?”

Maki shrugged, though Himiko nodded, “Yeah! I was thinking it too. She’s kinda like a phoenix, right? With the heat that comes off her–”

“Oh, no.” Shuichi said, shaking his head, “I was gonna say kangaroo.” 

“I’ll cut you.”

“Dare you to. Double dare you to. You won’t.”

Easily getting the note, Nadya waited in line behind Maki and Shuuichi, humming consideringly at the crow suggestion. “All trenchant points. It fits in with the mischievous descriptor, but crows are one of the few animals that have been observed messing with other animals out of a sense of fun. They also know how to use tools, which is quite fascinating.”

Lluwyn didn’t seem to have noticed call time at all, so Drake joined Elthea in trying to coax him out of his impromptu study session, before Drake glanced over, giving Shuuichi an uneasy look. “...uh? Kangaroos aren’t fictional animals? And…I don’t think Maki is quite as hyper-aggressive as kangaroos.”

Shuichi, in turn, gave Drake a curious look at that. “...well, I guess I mean in the sense  of ‘fantastical’ animals. Like, you know… anything else you’d find in a fantasy book. Just not the kind of animal anyone would think is real.”

“Mmmm… nope. That explanation still doesn’t make sense.” Himiko said, shaking her head, “Everyone knows about kangaroos.”

“...” Maki and Shuichi stared back at Himiko, who stared at them, who stared at her, “...does Luminary not know about kangaroos?”

“We know they’re fantasy creatures.” Maki said, “Like phoenix’s and unicorns and giant squids.”

“Giant squids are debatable on that list,” Lluwyn huffed, adjusting his grip on the book bag, having bartered with himself to only buy three. Their stay wasn’t nearing its end yet, but he was aware of having to get back home at some point. “Creatures such as the kraken, in the book we have looked at, are considered fantastical, but deep sea gigantism is a known phenomenon. It is not out of the ordinary to assume squids may grow to exceptional sizes.”

“But definitely not kangaroos,” Elthea stressed, looking at the Luminaries curiously. The next stall seemed more in vein with what the glass vendor had been warning them of. Some of the small, stoppered bottles seemed innocuous, boasting aroma oils from rosemary to clementine. Others…were a bit more vague. “Like…they’re native to Uraya, right? Sure you wouldn’t see them here, but they exist.”

Drake gave Shuuichi and Maki a generous look. “...maybe you guys use the same words for…jackalopes, or wolpertingers? They are more ‘rabbit-y’, but I’ve seen drawings that look similar.”

Shuichi glanced at Maki, raising an eyebrow, who shrugged back at him, “You’ve studied the fantasy species book. You’d know better than I would.”

“I don’t recognize either of them.” Shuichi admitted, looking back to Drake, “I’m sorry, but is the giant kickboxing mouse that carries its babies in a pocket in its stomach… not? A fantasy creature to the rest of the world?”

“Unicorns sound more realistic.” Maki said, taking out her dagger and putting it’s hilt against her forehead. “Horse with a horn? Very practical. Good defense if the horse can get a good headbutt in. Where even is Uraya?”

“They are not mice, they are marsupials,” Lluwyn said off-handedly, looking at the various bottles with suspicion. “I believe, taxonomically, they are closer related to possums, though that is going up a few rungs on the tree. Jackalopes do not actually exist, and are hares with excessive skull growth that people mistook for horns, while wolpertingers are an offshoot of rabbits that have wings.”

Looking through some of the scents--it could be nice to freshen up his apartment in the winter, when he couldn’t have his window open--Drake made a weird curving shape with his hand, clearly trying to emulate the shape of their continent. “Oh? Well, it’s…waaaaaay south of here, even past Novis. I think we--that is, Dicea--have only made contact with Uraya, and the other countries on that continent a handful of times.”

Nadya nodded, recognition lighting her eyes. “Right. I have heard that with our current sailing capabilities, it is a journey that takes 11 months with the most fortunate currents.”

Maki raised an eyebrow, before again looking to Shuichi. “How would I know? I’m not an expert on geography.” Shuichi answered her look dryly.

“You have a photographic memory, you’ve looked at a map before.”

Shuichi sighed, adjusting the hat on his head a bit as he thought about it, “...I don’t recall ever seeing a Uraya on a map before. Which, Maki is right, I should have a clear, photographic memory and should be able to find it in my memory of looking at maps… it’s possible Uraya is not on any Luminary made maps. Which is… alarming. That perhaps our maps might either be outdated or incomplete. Hmm… though, now that I’m looking for it?” Shuichi said, his eyes closed, his body going still.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, but his vision was far away. Vacant, as after a moment… “The only time I’ve ever heard the word Uraya before the conversation was when Cedar referenced it as one of the countries she had visited and practiced medicine in. It was one of the references that was too difficult to verify or validate in any meaningful way.”

“A years travel one way? I’m sure her practice there is about as real as kangaroos.” Maki huffed. 

“Again, kangaroos are very real.” Himiko reminded her.

“Sure. As real as dragons.” Maki said mockingly.

Himiko sighed at that, “Nyeh… I want to believe dragons are real… I’d take a dragon as a familiar in a heartbeat.”

“If you think you could keep a dragon as a pet, then you and I are imagining two very different animals.” Maki said dismissively, looking at the various bottles with a distinct lack of interest, though Shuichi was searching for scents that might mask the baby powder smell a little.  

“It is very far south,” Nadya conceded. “Kokichi had talked to be about how Luminary trade and involvement in [Kimigashine’s continent] is quite robust, so it would not be the strangest thought in the world for them to conserve the difficult resources for seafare and focus on a nearer neighbor that they have already built relationships with.”

Drake cringed a little at the mention of Cedar, jaw tightening in adopted anger. It didn’t seem like just the mention hurt Shuuichi any, but…he knew enough that she was an unpleasant memory for the royal family. 

Humming in consideration, Lluwyn tilted his head a bit. “I will admit we do not exactly have moment to moment updates from Uraya, but given past reports, I highly doubt kangaroos are extinct. If I had decided to pursue a different discipline, it would be fascinating to study ecosystems in Uraya… Apparently they do not have any natural mammalian predators, so they have many species unique to their area. An evolutionary path not bound by prey survival.”

Elthea, looking through some interestingly shaped bottles, rolled her eyes a little. “I don’t think I’d ever see you again, Llu, if you went to study in a different country.”

It was brief, but there was a flash of a hurt, worried, anxious expression on Lluwyn’s face as he glanced over to his sister, before he sighed, his relatively neutral expression returning. “Good thing I am still here, then.”

Shuichi gave Drake a… fond look, at the anger in his tone. Drake had no personal reason to hate Cedar, but had heard Shuichi grow tense and speak of her in difficult, heavy tones enough times that his friend had started speaking in the same way in solidarity. Shuichi appreciated that, about him. Drake was a good friend to him.

And he noted the slightly hurt look on Lluwyn’s face, for a moment. Shuichi, honestly, thought that was a bit sweet too. His teacher clearly loved his kid sister very much, for as much as they bickered. In a way, Shuichi supposed he could relate. And while he couldn’t think of anything to ease whatever had troubled him, in that moment, a thought occurred to Shuichi, and he smirked to himself a little, before asking the group as a whole, “Hey, does anyone know the tradean word for teacher?”

In a group of intellectuals (or, at least a very curious personality in Drake, and someone who had grown up all around intellectuals for Elthea) four voices rang out simultaneously, ranging from happy in their helpfulness, to an idle, automatic boredom. 

“Sensei.” 

Drake, Nadya, Lluwyn, and Elthea looked at each other in surprise, Drake letting out a sheepish laugh, Elthea rolling her eyes with a smirk, before Lluwyn cleared his throat. “Specifically, in Traditional Dicean, “sensei” is used as a suffix, similar to the translated prefixes “Mx.” or “Dr.”, or familial terms. In practice, you would use the word alone to refer to your teacher, or call them “name-sensei”.”

Elthea eyed Shuuichi curiously for a moment before a wicked grin split across her face, and she nodded encouragingly. 

“So… that would make you–”

“Lluwyn Sensei!” Himiko shouted, grabbing an outrageously large jug of something out of the lower shelves. Hoisting it up to her chest and waddling under its weight as she brought it to Lluwyn, bringing it up, “This says its rock blood! I don’t know if it's real, but if it is, that absolutely sounds like an ingredient to me!”

Shuichi snickered, giving Himiko a mildly exasperated look, “You stole my thunder, Himiko… but is it, sensei?”

Maki had to hold back the groan, rolling her eyes. She just prayed Kaito never heard him say it. That would probably open up a whole can of worms.

Lluwyn’s eye went wide, having not expected to have the word applied to him, even after explaining everything. And, just as Elthea had thought and gleefully encouraged, the mage’s face blazed, matching and then surpassing his hair, entirely hiding his freckles as he just gaped at his students (his students…) for a few moments. 

Even after he found his voice, it cracked embarrassingly, not letting Lluwyn escape the signs of his fluster for a second. Not even with Nadya giving him an encouraging and bracing pat on the shoulder. “O-oh, I… Well, rocks themselves do not have blood, though i-it may be a term for certain kinds of fungus or silt found in rocks… It may also be stone orc blood. The fungus o-or blood would likely have some use, though limited i-in…in what I have in my own knowledge.”

As the teacher and students inspected the jug, Drake could only laugh softly back by Maki. “He…really wasn’t expecting that. His heart’s racing.”

Maki scoffed, shaking her head. “He did it on purpose too. Shuichi really likes to mess with people… well, you’d know,” she said. Giving him a small Look.

Drake sighed, moving a hand back to tighten his ponytail, looking a little exasperated, but still fond as he glanced over at Shuuichi. “Yeah, I do. He’s really good at it too, though I guess that makes sense with the whole super-observations thing.”

Did help being one of the best liars in the country, too.

“He did apologize to you for all of that, didn’t he? He’s bad about apologies.” Maki said, hanging back with Drake now as the group laughed a little at Lluwyn’s fluster, before talking to the vendor about the rock blood, demanding explanations. “He’ll, of course, tell you all of the things he should apologize for. And why it’d be correct for him to apologize. But in the midst of all that explanations and realization, he very often forgets the actual ‘apologizing’ part. The brat.”

“Everything I’ve actually felt hurt by, he’s apologized for, yeah,” Drake nodded, watching with amusement as the sly glee Elthea had shown before was thrown out the window, replaced by a careful, frantic energy as she desperately tried to cut in and recontextualize the things her brother was saying. “And I’ve noticed that. I think he told me once Kokichi called him out for that exactly when you guys were having some argument. I got the impression it was kind of a slap in the face for him, even if it was needed.”

Drake shrugged a little. “Shuuichi has a lot of well-deserved pride. Sometimes it can get a little out of hand.”

“Hmph. You’re a generous talker.” Maki said, before finally giving Drake a more studied expression. “...why did you insert yourself into our lives? Or are you still pretending that you didn’t?”

Drake looked over at Maki, his expression not betraying anything. He knew that she wanted the truth, and this would likely keep happening until she got an answer she felt was satisfactory. And at this point, it probably wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to tell her, or Shuuichi. 

Except…

His reasoning had changed many times since he’d met Shuuichi. He still did believe in not messing with prophecy, but…fuck. Drake couldn’t put the weight of being the continent’s savior on Miyako, or her parents. They had all been through so much, and though he knew he was only seeing a fraction of it, Drake could see how much it had worn on them. He couldn’t put another thing on them, especially when…it was just a future possibility. 

If it happened naturally, that would be best, and…they would be able to deal with it in steps, with actual concrete information. Not living their lives in accordance to prophesy. 

Sighing slightly, Drake gave Maki a tired look. “I’ve been studying the justice system in Dicea for a long time now, Maki. It’s something I genuinely like, and have liked since before you were born. You might think it too suspicious for someone like me to say so, but…Shuuichi and I being in that class together? Really was chance. Friendship does take effort, but…I’ve never vied for Shuuichi’s friendship beyond just…liking him.”

Smiling sheepishly, he continued, “I mean…this might change, if Shuuichi and I do end up working together, but…there’s nothing I can really do about the course of you guys’ lives. I’m just happy to be a part of them, since…Shuuichi’s friendship is precious to me. It’s not more complicated than that.”

“...you’re a good liar.” Maki said simply, “I suppose you’d have to be.”

She gave him a hard side-eye, before saying softly to him, “I can’t make you leave. But understand that I’m not going anywhere either. And someday you’re going to wish I trusted you, and it’s going to be too late by then.”

“Because if you want to be a part of our lives? If you want to work with Shuichi someday? If you just want to be ‘friends’?” Maki said, looking to Shuichi now. Her expression still hard, as she continued softly, “We’re having a few good months right now… but we’re a people bad things happen too. Shuichi is a person bad things happen too. It follows us. And it ripples to the people around us.”

“And when it happens again? Shuichi’s going to look at me to fix it. And you’re going to want to be in my good graces when I do.” Maki whispered. “Or you’re going to get caught up in the wreckage.”

Drake sighed softly before…just looking at Maki. Her devotion not foreign to him, not a cute quirk, or an aggravating sign of childishness. A form of love that he respected, even if he could more clearly see the issues with it now. 

Somehow finding the right shadows between the lanterns, Drake spoke so softly it could barely be called a whisper. And yet, his voice was not lacking in any of its conviction. “I already died once, to protect someone I loved. I don’t regret what it made me, and I wouldn’t regret it if I’d stayed dead, and I don’t regret it knowing that they’re dead now.”

“...but I know living for someone is a much bolder act of protection.” There was something slightly harder behind Drake’s gaze now, his normally wavering blue eyes steady. “...no one is destined to find suffering at all points of their life. More often…that comes down to the world around them. And if I can manage to be one more point standing in between Shuuichi and “bad things”...then that’s a cause that suits me, and expresses my feelings for him. If I am one day deserving of your retribution…so be it. But I won’t put up with not being deserving of it. And nothing I want for him, or for myself, will allow anything “bad” to pass me without rendering me helpless already.”

Maki’s eyes narrowed. Well, at least it finally felt like she was talking to the actual person, anyway. 

As the group, after some debate, decided to buy the rock blood, Himiko immediately whining that someone else needed to hold it, Maki whispered back to him. “You sound honest. We already know you know how to lie, so maybe that means nothing. But I think you’re telling the truth.”

“So, with that said… and I am aware that I am likely just repeating the same question we started with…” she looked over to Drake the two following the group to the next stall, and then the next on, the next few stalls either food or not catching their eye, “Why? You’ve known Shuichi for five whole minutes. You are not, as we’ve recently discussed to an incredibly annoying degree, sexually attracted to him. You’re not in romantic love. You aren’t apparently trying to slide in sideways on Kaito…” she raised an eyebrow at him, “You better not be trying to slide in sideways to get to Kokichi, because trust me, it’s not going to be me you have to worry about. Kaito isn’t the jealous type, but if Kokichi goes to him freaked out and crying, he’s going to rip your head off, and I’m not exaggerating.”

“And if you’re not trying to get something from him, and not in love with him… you’re old. You’ve lived lives. Why Shuichi? Why now?”

Taking pity on her, Nadya volunteered to hold the jug as the group inspected the next few stalls. She knew Lluwyn wasn’t actually a stiff wind from being blown over, and Elthea wasn’t as careless as all her brother’s lectures seemed to paint, but…well, she trusted herself most in the group to carry it without incident. 

Drake snorted softly, breaking from his seriousness just a bit. “Oh, I’m definitely not trying to get to Kokichi through Shuuichi. He’s a sweet person, and I think he’ll be a great leader when it’s his turn, but…being the soon-husband of a friend is as close a relationship as I really want.”

But going back to the original question, Drake just looked at Maki with a raised eyebrow for a moment. “...do you think old people just stop making friends? And making the criticism that I would better relate to people closer to my own age…well, maybe that’s right,” he shrugged. “But…there aren’t a whole lot of people my age, if we’re looking at the ranges you would consider similar. You say I’m old, but…to many people who would be my peers? I’m young.”

“...kindness and chemistry really never get old,” he said after a moment. “Shuuichi reached out to me in kindness, and we bonded over our shared interests… I do have other friends I met at the university, and whatever my life looks like, I never really plan on not having a social life. Life would be dreadfully empty without one.”

“...but I don’t often expect to click with people well. It’s simply not the kind of person I’ve ever been. But I treasure it when it does happen.” Drake sighed softly, glancing over at Maki with a tired look. “...so what? Should I have tried to distance myself from a starting friendship that made me happy just because it happened to be at a suspicious time in your lives? I think I would deserve a bit more clout in the community if my abilities could give me that much clarity.”

Maki gave Drake a slightly frustrated glare at that. Not angry, just genuinely frustrated, as she whispered to him, “I’m not suggesting it’s the age difference that’s the problem. I’m suggesting your affection grew too strong, too fast. And I’d think someone in your position would be slower to grow close to people…”

“...but. Maybe you’re just mad.” Maki said. Sounding a little bit like she was talking to herself, as she mused, “Those two idiots also fell in love far too quickly. Kaito and Kokichi. And they’re both insane. I gave Shuichi and Kokichi a pass, because Shuichi needed that relationship to work when it did and I can believe that those feelings developed quickly out of necessity, if nothing else. And they’re good for him, so I’m willing to support it. But you came out of nowhere, and you talk like you’re devoted to him. And as far as I can tell, he can offer you nothing. Nothing you’ll admit to wanting, anyway.”

“...if you refuse to tell me what it is, specifically, you want from him, can you at least tell me this?” Maki asked. “Do you already have it?”

“Maybe,” Drake huffed in amusement. There were a lot of groups devoted to staving off the inevitable madness that came with immortality, but Drake had a hunch most of them were at least a little crazy. And another hunch that that happened before they were immortal. 

“I do have the luxury of taking things slow. I could take as long as I want with my degree, fettered only by the fact that I’d have to retake classes after I move.” Drake paused, taking a breath before his voice came out softer. “...but I know you don’t. If I feel like something is right, involving a person like Shuuichi…I know all the time I spend tip-toeing around it is going to be time I’ll regret later on. We spent months talking and getting to know each other, and, yeah, you’re right that that’s not that long. But it’s not as if I move slower than you too. Getting to know each other felt right as we did it. I’m just…going to enjoy what we have.”

And, again, back to her main question. 

This time, Drake gave Maki a mildly frustrated look of his own. “...Maki. Shuuichi is alive, and healthy, and for the most part, from what I can see, he’s happy. He has troubles, just like any other person, but the ones he’s shared with me I have no place or purpose doing anything about, other than being an ear to vent to. So…yes. With all that…I have what I want from him.”

Maki’s fears weren’t abated. She wasn’t sure what he could have said that would have abated them, beyond maybe a sudden but thorough detailing of his plans and end goals. And even then, maybe not. Maki was always waiting for the next… thing. The next person. The next problem that was going to ruin her friends lives and leave Maki reeling and beating herself up over how she had missed it.

She and Kaito had a lot of fears in common. They just carried them differently. 

But she also knew a dead end when she was in one. And, for how much she didn’t believe Drake’s claim that the friendship was just a friendship with nothing behind it… she did find herself believing that he already had what he wanted from Shuichi. He sounded too indignant and offended otherwise. Maybe after Drake had gotten what he wanted, he had decided to pursue the friendship anyway. Maybe even the man himself had convinced himself that the friendship and his goal were two different things.

So long as his goals didn’t harm Shuichi? Harm his family or his lifestyle? Maki was willing to let it go… while still keeping an eye on it. 

“Fine… alright, let me ask a different question.” Maki said, sticking her hands in her pockets. Her posture relaxing slightly, “Is it worth it to get a silver weapon? I keep looking into it, and if you believe the stories, silver kills everything. I don’t know if that’s true, or the most brilliant PR campaign a community of supernaturals has ever conceived. If I was in you guys position, I’d start a stupid rumor like that too. Oh, yes, silver and wood. Tooootally the only things that can kill our kind. What, also happens to be the two flimsiest weapon material available? Total coincidence… is it?” Maki asked. Looking genuinely curious.

Drake could tell that Maki wasn’t really dropping the subject--he didn’t have to be an Empath to recognize the kind of person she was--but he let himself ease up more, laughing a little at her question.

(Maybe there were folks who could, but…it was hard to keep being hurt by people not trusting him. But he had meant what he said. Without having earned her ire, he wasn’t going to just lie down and take it.)

“It probably isn’t worth it, unless you’re deciding to get something decorative,” he grinned. “Which…you don’t strike me as the type. It’s more like an allergic reaction to werewolves, which, like other allergies, can vary in severity…but you would probably be better suited to just having a sturdier weapon, if you were fighting a werewolf. Doesn’t do anything to vampires, not to fae, though there are a lot of stories of people getting into trouble, trying to fulfill trades with silver or other money, and fae not having it. Oh…you were talking about crows earlier, I think kenku really like silver because of how shiny it is…”

“In honesty?” Drake shrugged. “Fire is the worst for most peoples, for all the same reasons it’s bad for humans.”

Maki frowned, a little grim. “I’ve never killed anyone by fire. It’s a point of pride for me. For my mentor. Fire is a terrible way to go… some people deserved to die terrible deaths, yes, but I wasn’t trained to kill people in agony. Quick. If you can, painless. If you can, never knowing you died. Fire goes against all of that. I’d hate to resort to that. It’s a terrible thing to do…”

Drake glanced over, something soft in his eyes as he gently patted Maki’s shoulder. “That is a point of pride. And if you’re thinking you might have to assassinate a…special person one day…then it’s something that differentiates you from hunters too.”

Maki knew a loaded statement when she heard it. Her eyes grazed over the group ahead of them, quickly counting heads, double checking Shuichi specifically, and then because they were youngest and smallest double checking Himiko and Elthea, and taking a quick look around and assessing that if danger was there, it wasn’t their immediate problem yet… she looked back to Drake.

“I don’t suppose you mean the kind of idiots that go and shoot pheasants on other peoples land.” Maki noted dryly. “Hunters?”

“Monster hunters,” Drake shortly clarified, something slightly dark on the first word, before he let out a sigh. “The people who know about things, but are only scared and disgusted by what they see. Who take it as their sworn, and often holy, duty to rid the world of disgusting, dangerous beasts and abominations.”

Again, while the two of them hadn’t been speaking at a normal level for some time, Drake’s voice dropped to that bare whisper. “...they believe that we deserve to suffer. That the world is better off if we go in the most horrific ways possible. Better to be big and messy and ensure that the beast is dead, than be stealthy and quick and leave it to chance. I could believe that it’s the sort of thing the older generation exaggerated to make sure newbies wouldn’t blab, but…there are too many accounts that have too many facts. The witch hunts, the werewolf crusades…it’s horrible.”

Maki frowned at the ‘werewolf crusades’. Though, if Drake knew something about all of that…

Maki didn’t trust Drake. But she loved Kaito, and she knew this was something that bothered him. That he needed answers for. And Maki was willing to get past a lot of her own misgivings, to take care of him.

(Willing to give up the few morals she had…)

(She had held herself tall, but in truth, she had been so small, in the presence of…)

Maki closed her eyes. Something thumping through her head… but Maki wasn’t ready. A part of her knew she wasn’t ready. And she let the thumping thing go, for now, not ready to look at it. Opening her eyes, and looking to Drake, as she said softly, “I am a killer. Perhaps I was a hunter. Assassin and hunter aren’t terribly different, beyond the sort of kill the names suggest. But I was an indentured… a slave above all of that. I have no desire to kill people for being different. I barely want to kill people at all, and those who currently tempt me most are, as far as I’m aware, literally the most ‘human’ people I know. So, yes. I am different from them, fire or not. And I would not allow it in front of me.”

“That established… if you know things about the werewolf crusades? That information means something to me, if you know any specifics.” Maki said softly, “If you know nothing, fine. If you know a lot, and it’s too much to share now? I’d… appreciate it if you’d sit down with myself, Kaito and Shuichi and tell us about it. It matters.”

Drake smiled softly, ducking his head in a small apology. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to imply that you were like them beyond that one point. I…” 

He’d wager they had both seen things in life that most people shouldn’t. To be in that situation, and to still make choices where you could to take the kinder option…it was big. Perhaps he should’ve done a better job phrasing it like the compliment he meant. 

Sighing, Drake reached for his ponytail, running his fingers through a few loose tangles at the end of it. “...it was before my time, so I don’t have any firsthand information for you. And…mostly people just point to it as a dark time in the past, just the term itself being synonymous with danger and cruelty.”

“I know that…it was in the time of Queen Lydie, when Dicea was still coming together. There had been some threat, or a lot of deaths or…something. And the queen instilled people to “fight back”, or protect themselves or…something.” Drake flashed Maki an apologetic look. “I know it’s vague, but the verbiage I’ve heard is really unclear. I just know that around that time was when a lot of the major hunting houses in Dicea were established, and that countless people, not just werewolves, though they took the brunt of it, were killed and driven from their homes. And…for a long time, no communities could settle in Dicea. The few that stayed were separated and had to keep to the shadows. All until some pact that Queen Fuse made, I think. It’s only been in the last century that we’ve…really been able to have a secure home here.”

Maki listened to all of that, her brow furrowing lightly. Hmm… interesting…

“Maybe this is a century of change.” Maki said. “Maybe we live in interesting times… thank you for the knowledge. I’ll pass it onto the others…”

Something suddenly occurred to her. Maki looked to Drake, and asked, “Did you ever meet a werewolf? One named Akane? Would have lived in this area when the crusades were first beginning.”

“I think it is,” Drake smiled softly. 

Though, he was taken a bit off-guard at the next question. “Uh, sorry,” he grinned sheepishly. “If it was at the start, it would’ve been…100, 150 years until I was born. I told you, I’m really not that old.”

“Tsk. You’re not old enough to remember the old people we need you to remember, and your knowledge of the future is guesswork at best. And you can barely walk down the road without injuring yourself. Drake, I need you to step up your game, you’re giving a bad name to ‘monsters’ everywhere. You’re making us sound pathetic.” Maki huffed.

“Geez, I get enough of this at support meetings, I don’t need it from you too,” he snorted, though there was a hint of a playful smile at his lips. “Sorry not all of us can be ancient powerhouses. If anything, I can say I even the graph a little.”

Maki smirked lightly at that… before she said lightly, “We should catch up with the group. He’s respecting our privacy, but I’m sure Shuichi is dying to know what we’ve trailed behind to talk about this whole time. I’ve added an extra hour to my night, answering his questions later. Thanks for nothing. I’m already tired.”

Drake laughed, nodding as they quickened their pace to catch up to the group. “Such is the burden of a best friend.”

-

Maki peered at the drink in Shuichi’s hand, giving his content little hums as he sipped them increasingly skeptical looks, “If you keel over and die, I’m going to kill you.” She warned.

“You use that threat a lot, Maki-roll.” Himiko said cheerfully, either unaware or ignoring the glower Maki sent her at the nickname as she said, “I can’t decide if that’s you being playful, or you just know how to double kill people.”

“You don’t want to find out.” Maki said stiffly, “and don’t call me that.”

“Nyeh? Eeeeeh, we’ll get there~” Himiko shrugged, before looking around the group as she asked, “How is it?”

“The Kava tea? It’s nice. I am a bit relieved I got as low a dose as I did though,” Shuichi admitted, looking down at his chai-flavored kava tea, “I do feel more relaxed from the muscle relaxant in it, but the sides of my mouth are tingling. I feel like my face would go numb if I had a stronger dose.”

“It is a rather nice nighttime drink,” Nadya hummed in accordance, sipping from her own cup. “I have had some teammates that swear by baths to relax after practice, but there are times where curling up with a cup of tea is all I want. I am glad my recommendation has not fallen to ruin.”

They weren’t quite stopping for a meal--though some of the stalls down the way were very intriguing--but after a good few more stalls (including a few more ones with books) the group had decided to get some treats for those who wanted them. Shuuichi and Nadya had gotten some Kava--Drake had opted just to get some regular green tea at the same stand--while Lluwyn and Elthea were down a few, getting some fried dango skewers. Elthea had been the one to badger her brother into getting them, but as the siblings returned there was a certain satisfied expression on Lluwyn’s face as he bit off one of the dumplings. 

“Nadya-nee!” Elthea chirped, as they rejoined the group. “Look! They make the dango in different colors here. It’s so cute!”

“Mine got little ears and faces put on them. See?” Himiko said, showing the group her dango sticks, each little gelatin indeed having little drawings and ears suggesting they were little kitties and dogs. Himiko smiling cheerfully at it, before opening her mouth wide and chomping down on the treats. 

Maki hadn’t wanted anything– she wasn’t hungry– so she was enjoying just looking around as the others had gotten their drinks and snacks, though she had started to smell something curious. Now that Shuichi was back, she whispered to him as they walked, “You smell that? Why is that so familiar?”

Shuichi raised an eyebrow at her, before sniffing the air… then again… then closing his eyes… 

“Temple incense.” He recalled, opening his eyes, “White Sage.”

“Oh,” Maki said, eyes widening a little. Not able to place it before Shuichi had said it, but now that he had, yep. Absolutely where she had smelled it before. Kaito had used to reek of it, back at home, though the temples would light different scents for different ceremonies. “Huh. Guess it is.”

Shuichi, curious, idly started to follow the sent, and while it had been strong enough to get their attention before, it got notably stronger as they headed a few stalls down, and following the scent, saw a small alley tucked behind some of the stalls, the buildings and infrastructure the market set up around dipping down into a relatively narrow passageway. The alley was lit up, light coming from a small, but elaborate tent set up at the end of the alley, which Shuichi peered at curiously. Maki tapped at Shuichi’s shoulder, before nodding up at the wall at the start of the alley, and Shuichi raised an eyebrow at a tapestry with the symbol of a store on it. A luminary tapestry, advertising a general shop.

“Huh…” Shuichi shrugged at Maki, as he said softly to her, “You have to appreciate the showmanship, I suppose.”

“Hm,” Maki hummed, unimpressed, before she looked back at the group, “We’re gonna stop in here. If you don’t want to come, just don’t go far, or I’ll hunt you down.” 

Drake sighed softly, looking up at the tapestry. Not quite the same as his home, but…he still felt slight stirrings of nostalgia. (It would be really difficult anyway to find something that made him truly homesick. His home had disappeared from the world quite some time ago. And, well…by now, Drakon had lived much longer in Dicea than he ever had in Luminary.)

With a quick glance between each other, the rest of the group followed Shuuichi and Maki down the alley, not seeing why they wouldn’t check out this shop too, when they had gone to all the others. For his own part, Lluwyn was quite excited to see if there were any specifically Luminous books for sale in this collection. 

Maki hadn’t really thought all of them would be that into what seemed to essentially be a Luminary memorabilia shop, and as the group of seven shuffled in, she was unsurprised it was a bit of a tight fit. The tent wasn’t small, necessarily, and it wasn’t like they couldn’t move. But the walkways were extremely narrow, packed in by tables and shelves that seemed full to the brim with, upon first glance, could best be described as ‘random crap’. Though the congestion eased greatly as those at the front quickly spread out, creating space for all of them to come in and looked around the sage-congested smoky area, while at the back of the tent, behind a series of crates arranged to make up a counter, a woman darkly tanned skin and short, carefully twisted hair looked up at the small tingling sound of windchimes shuffling about when the curtain at the front of the tent was moved aside. 

“Ah, alright! Welcome, come in, loves! Big group then, are ya?” the woman smiled, looking up from a book she was reading over, gems and rings catching and glistening in the lantern light as she waved them in, and extremely elaborate stitched and gemmed, shiny robe around her shoulders and arms making her sparkle in the movement as she said brightly, “Come on in then, alls welcome. I say alls welcome, but not wanting any nasty surprises from either parties, alls you know what kinda tent you just wandered into?”

“Luminary?” Maki asked, raising an eyebrow at the accent. She didn’t recognize it, nothing even close to Luminary or Dicean, and not the other handful of accents she had come across herself either. A jovial tone with dark growls and lingering, hissing ss’s. Hm… “I believe?”

“Ai, s’right, Luminary. Now if that’s what alls’ya wanted and what’s you expected, we can be right good friends and all will be well. But I’m not having any trouble tonights, so if you have trouble in mind I suggest you bests be going on to play around in them’s cage matches and whatnots, gotcha?” the woman said, her smile still easy and plain on her face, nothing in her body language matching the threat as she looked back down to continue reading her book, “That’s alright then, innit. Let me know if you need anything’s loves.”

The tent was filled with, as stated before, seemingly random crap… but upon inspection it was all recognizably random crap from Luminary. Toys and knicknacks that were made of thick, rough cloth and dark, hard metals, spinning tops with surprisingly sharp ends and small bouncy balls that would ricochet like a bullet off a hard wall, and feel like one to anyone not quick enough to dodge or catch it. The toys and knicknacks were cheap, easy things to find in Luminary, but Shuichi was surprised at some of the clearly more upperclass items in the room as well. Modern day danganronpa inspired dresses, all tight waisted and ballooning bottoms, right next to very old fashioned robes and vests that could have come right out of an older Luminary painting, with thin sheer fabrics and sharp, subdued designs. A weird blend of old and new Luminary, all mix and matched and blended together from the eye of a collector who either did not see the difference or did not care, all of it just being ‘Luminary’ to them.

There was also weapons and shields and armor. Maki noted that regardless of the class level or level of quality, one thing all of that on display had in common was obviously it was obviously used armor, weapons and shields. Dinged and battered, some cleaned, but only barely. Specks of ‘rust’ on them that Maki would recognize was, in fact, not. As she looked at one hanging example of armor, with the dark red cloaks of a Luminary soldier, she pointed out, “That’s not how they wear them. The cloaks go down the back, not pinned around the wide of one of their shoulders.”

“Expert, are we love?” The woman asked, not looking up from her book, “I know, girl, I just like the older fashion designs, right? All tucked to the side’s, sophisticated innit. Them stuffy dressers over northeast o’ here went and got them dressing capes down’er backs, ruined the look, I say. Shame.”

In some ways, the upfront threat eased some of the tension in Nadya’s back--though the tea had pretty much taken care of all of it already. It wasn’t all that strange to head into a business and see signs proclaiming that you better be civil or hit the road, if the owners didn’t declare it first, but…well, for all the people that would find a Luminary-themed shop novel, there were likely a handful that would be…less than enthused. The stall owner being prepared for that was a comfort, knowing that they weren’t unknowingly or naively putting themself at risk. 

Elthea looked over the toys with a half-interested eye before belining to the weapons, hoping to maximize her time checking them out while her brother was distracted. Magic was way cooler than any sword or axe could be, and it was kind of redundant to wear heavy armor when you’d be taking anyone out ages before they could even hit you, but…it all was preeeeetty neat to look at anyway, in her opinion. Even the more slapdashed layered leather pieces, though the almost seamless sets drew her eye more. 

At the exchange between the stall keeper and Maki, Elthea hummed, looking at the display piece. “Hmmm… I’ve seen Prince Kaito wearing capes sideways like this though. Is he just purposefully going for a retro style then?”

Tucked more in a corner, Drake cocked his head, eyes catching on the incredibly bright fabric of…something.

“These days, it’s a sort of old-fashioned upperclass way of wearing capes that’s more just… retro? Retroactive fashion? Upperclass kids and fashionitas being a bit more counter-culture without being ‘edgy’ by mimicking pre-Momota fashion trends.” Shuichi explained idly, “But wearing it down the back is considered the proper way to wear them. Kaito wears it both ways, but he’ll wear it the proper way if he’s trying to dress seriously.”

“‘Counter-culture’,” The woman laughed lightly, though her eyes had shot up, the emerald-green orbs shining keenly as she gave the group a newly appraising look, “Funny thing innit, when dressin’ to your own cultures is ‘counter’ culture. Ah, not that it’s all bad. Do like the dresses.” She said, gesturing idly to the dresses Maki was still looking over, “Little twist over there, ya’s interested?”

It took Maki a second to realize the woman was speaking to her, before she shook her head. “Not for purchase, just looking. Where did you get all of this?”

“From the markets, didn’I? Lots of folks just making that long trip back from a long trip away, brought all sorts of bits and bobs with ‘em. Find ‘emselves in excess, till I pass some coppers around and take it off their hands, yeah? Have my own collection, ‘m a little sweet on the Luminous, I admit. Though, only wasn’ long before I realize my eyes ‘re bigger than my living space, and I got the reputation of buying these things, and so even though I wasn’ buying, people still came by me selling, and well… figure after a while I just make use of the reputation and make it alls official, won’t I?”

“Huh, I don’t know why I was expecting the books to be in a different language.” Himiko drawled, scooting over to Lluwyn to read one of the books he had opened with him, “Does Luminary have its own language?”

“No, just common.” Shuichi said, “Our written history doesn’t go back very far. We had a dark age, not very long ago, so most of our literature is very modern, comparatively.”

“Nyeh? D-dark age? What’s th-that? D-did a dark wizard–”

“Relax, it’s not a fantasy idea.” Maki said, rolling her eyes at Himiko nervous but fascinated expression, “A dark age is just a term for when a phenomena sweeps through an area and destroys its written history. Funnily enough, it’s hard to know what happened in the past when all the libraries recording what it was go up in smoke. Societies just sort of have to rebuild from scratch when that happens, and Luminary had some pretty big incident destroy our records during our Oligarch era… what? I paid attention in history.” Maki said, scowling at Shuichi’s openly impressed look. “So, yeah, anything before that era? Patchwork.”

“Hmmm…” the woman hummed a bit, watching Maki and Shuichi curiously… before she glanced over at Drake. “Ah, some of the fabrics caught your eye, yeah? Those are just the loose fabric roles, but I’s gots a handful of saree’s already cut if ya’s want a peek? ‘Fraid I can’t tailor non myself, don’t have the skills.”

Noting Himiko standing by him as he looked through the available books, Lluwyn held them a little lower, making it a little easier on her, though he gave Shuuichi and Maki a surprised look. “Nothing has survived from longer than that? I did read that Common, or at least a version of it, was more used in Luminary before it started to become a standard in Dicea, but…there isn’t any surviving text in Gaelic or Kra-Dai? I suppose Norse might be more of a stretch since it was mostly spoken in what is now Novoselic, but…still…”

Even knowing a bit more than the average Dicean about Luminous culture and history, it was still unfathomable to the trio from Falcon’s Hollow, a place that didn’t have much other than its history, that there would be so few records past a few centuries that entire languages would be lost. 

…on the whole, at least. 

Drake was lost in thought, eyes fixed on the bright oranges and saturated teals, raspberries so rich they almost looked like they could’ve been dyed in wine, though they were so much brighter than what that would make… 

He grew up speaking Common, and even by that time, speaking anything else was a sign of ‘otherness’, rather than a fancy trick or a connection to old blood. But he could still remember his mother singing in a tongue he barely knew--or inadvertently censoring her swears, though he picked up on those faster--while tailoring rich, bright fabrics meant for their lords…

Jolting slightly, Drake looked over at the stall keep and smiled sheepishly. “Oh, uh, I see! They’re…really something.”

At this, Shuichi and Maki both gave Lluwyn befuddled looks. Gaelic? Kra-Dai? Maki looked to Shuichi for a clue, but Shuichi was just as confused as she was. Neither of them had ever heard of those before. “There’s… latin?” Shuichi offered, more just wanting to offer some knowledge of other languages. “I mean, as far as I’m aware nothings actually written in it, but…”

“Ancient eastern language, you probably heard of that one from Danganronap too. Lots of the west’s culture comes from the far east these days, continent wise.” The woman shrugged, “Souths lucky to have retained its own cultures so long, innit. Be a shame to lose the food here. Love Dicean food, been lots of places and still its the tits. Here, boy, let’s roll some of these out, yeah?”

As the woman took out some of the fabrics, showing Drake the designs in greater details, Himiko found herself distracted from the books by the fabrics, and while Maki was now looking at the toys in greater detail, Shuichi came to look at the fabrics as well. “Hmmm, interesting. More old-fashioned style fabrics… expensive though. Very expensive.”

At that, the woman sighed a bit. “You’s got immigrants moving past the border with what they can carry, and they bring nice things like this here with the idea they can pinch it in a crisis, get a few extra coin. Kind of a sad story, that. End up selling ‘em while making the long journey, only when they gets here find out that they didn’t need to part with it, dids they. Not by the end. Every now and again get someone Luminous in here, hoping they spot something they parted with that might have ended up in my hands by the market. Every now and again they get lucky too. Those are nice days.”

“Hmmm.” Maki hummed, looking over the toys… before she said, “I’m going to buy a handful of these.”

“How much’s a handsful to ya?”

“Thirty-plus.”

“You’s got big hands, d’ya? Get you a bag anyway. You Luminous?”

“Does it matter?” Maki asked stiffly.

“Luminous get a discount. Doesn’t sit right, charging too much to buy pieces of home back. Fill the bag with what ya wants, we’ll figure out the coppers.” She said, passing a bag over to Maki. “You’s got something you considering?” she asked, looking to Shuichi, who wasn’t looking at anything in particular but seemed deep in though.

“...do you have more tapestries tucked away?” Shuichi asked.

The woman just smiled, before motioning him over and, with a huff, opening up a large chest. A dusty smell coming from it, a hoard of random tapestries inside. “Take a look.”

In honesty, Lluwyn had only heard of those languages during his perusal of Usott’s university, finding the world language tree in the architecture building fascinating and warranting further study. Basically everyone in Dicea knew what Traditional Dicean was, even if they couldn’t speak it, and anyone who paid enough attention in school knew that Tradean was made up of many of the languages of the nation-states that banded to make Dicea, and it wasn’t too uncommon for people to know the name of the language that had been spoken by the people who lived where they did currently. It was some neat trivia, even, to know a good handful of the pre-Tradean languages. 

But unless you were in dedicated language studies, the ancient languages of any other country wasn’t something people would know. And Lluwyn was starting to think that even the current languages of other countries was a bit more niche knowledge than he’d thought. A bit disappointing, and a little concerning for international relationships, but…it was understandable. If people were going to know any history, it should be their own. 

…so that’s why it was so surprising to hear that Shuuichi and Maki--people Lluwyn considered to be quite intelligent--just…seemed lost on the subject. 

Drake, on the other hand, was trying quite a lot not to get too stuck in the past. The fact that Shuuichi could recognize the fabric at all meant that these weren’t totally a remnant of the past, but…shit. Drake hadn’t seen anyone wear a sari since…his thirties? Not that he was going out much until his sixties, but…everything had changed so much, after the revolution. People wanting to cut ties with everything that resembled the oligarchy, and embrace the new. 

…it would be a bad idea to get one. For one, he’d never really been one for dresses, but even getting it, claiming he wanted to give his mom some nostalgia… It’d be too suspicious, later in this life, and the next. 

Nadya glanced at the stall-keeper showing Shuuichi some tapestries before she joined Drake, putting a hand on his back for a moment before grinning. “Do you think any of these are my color?”

“Do they have to turn into the sarah things?” Himiko asked, popping in next to them, “I want one and I wanna turn it into a wizards robe! …wait, is that disrespectful?” Himiko asked,  looking over to Maki and Shuichi. Maki and Shuichi, in turn, did not notice and did not care, still looking over the toys and tapestries. “Nyeh… I’mma do it.”

With that, the three of them looked through the fabrics, Himiko making dry observations of what fabrics looked nice on Nadya, Himiko encouraging after a bit the bright yellows, while getting a bright, near orange color for herself. As they were working it out, Maki brought a bag of toys to the counter, paid two copper for them, and then looked over Shuici’s purchase, who was practically preening with pride.

“Huh. Which one is she?” Maki asked, pointing to the tapestry of the beautiful woman.

“No idea, but Kaito will.” Shuichi said proudly. “Hopefully one he likes. Better than his posters, right? What do you think of this one?” he asked, showing her the other one. A bright tapestry of a large tree with multi-colored leaves, “I was thinking it for the nursery? Little bit of Luminary among all the meadow stuff?”

“Mmm… cute.” Maki said approvingly, looking around, “I’ll bring Timothy here next time. Bring the girls too. Let him show off a bit of where he came from to them.”

“Please do. Don’t get enough kids in here.” The woman said, giving the two another thoughtful look, “...you loves them royals type, then? Kaito being Prince Kaito?”

“Us, royal types?” Shuichi asked dryly, while Maki huffed, “Not quite, but otherwise yes.”

The woman idly played with the rings on her finger, clearly debating with herself… before, sliding a ring off her thumb, she handed it over to them. “I don’t gots a good explanation for why I have this. Passed from hand to hand till its got to me, didn’t it, and I suppose the first person who slid it off isn’t answering to anyone now. Just how it goes sometimes. But I’ve got a few stories about it enough to know he might want this.”

Maki took the ring, and looked down at it. “...why didn’t you deliver it earlier? If you knew he’d want it?” She asked darkly.

The woman smiled lightly, and shrugged, “You all weren’t right in front of me, before now. Simple as that.”

Shuichi considered that, before nodding. Giving her a small bow, “Thank you.”

“That’s alright then… what about the rest of ya’s? Anyone wanna purchase while the registers open?” she called out to the rest of the group.

Drake trusted Shuuichi that Nadya didn’t know about his specific circumstances, so…he supposed he was just touched, that whatever she saw in his face, she decided to do something about. Not quite letting him live vicariously, but…taking a little piece of the past with them for him to partake in still. 

Nadya landed on a sunshine yellow sari with dark embroidery almost bronze in color, with little flecks of a sapphire blue throughout the bulk of the fabric, and while she and Himiko brought their respective fabrics up to the counter, Lluwyn was dragged up by Elthea, only holding one book. A compromise, evidently, and his singular prize was a slim encyclopedia of desert plants…while Elthea stood next to him brimming with excitement, holding a small pair of wrist guards. 

Honestly, Nadya was only surprised they hadn’t heard the siblings bickering from around the shelves. 

-

Burdened with now many books and fabrics and toys and all sorts of thrift market nonsense, the group decided to indulge more in the food stalls in order to give themselves a breather. Running around to their respective food stalls of choice, they all found what seemed to be a construction stand, a small, metal tower build up to make it easier to paint or build something higher up, just tucked to the side of one of the busy pathways. After some debate about whether it looked like it was actually being used or not, eventually everyone was convinced to go up it, eating their food and people watching as they rested.

“Reminds me of the wedding anniversary.” Himiko noted, her legs hanging over the ledge as she ate her small bowl of mochi ice cream, resting against the lower safety bar, “That was a fun day. We should do that again soon. Or do we have to wait a year for the next anniversary?”

“Could just wait for the wedding. You’ll be invited… probably.” Shuichi said, smiling a little at Himiko’s offended little ‘nyeh!?’. Shuichi was eating thai noodles with just a tad bit of spice, which Maki had refused to try, Maki having managed to find beef jerky and filling herself on that. Looking to Nadya, Shuichi asked, “Hey, Nadya. Do you know the ‘bases’ metaphor? When it comes to couples, I mean?”

Nadya had found a place selling squid skewers, similar to what the royal family had found during Zenith, and she finished her mouthful before sighing softly and giving Shuuichi a nod. “I am, though not because I play baseball.”

Dissuaded from getting more sweets, Elthea was snacking on toasted sunflower seeds, coated in a hot spice, while Lluwyn looked up from his octopus balls (which he was also sharing with Elthea), tilting his head in interest. “Oh? I do not believe I have heard about that. A baseball base metaphor for couples?”

Clearing her throat loudly, grimacing before sending a fierce glare to the other while Lluwyn’s head was turned, Elthea huffed. “Wait, Nadya-nee said you guys barely knew what baseball was when she met you. Did the metaphor really carry over without the game?”

Shuichi nodded, carefully cutting another small chunk of noodles, “That’s why I was asking. We only just recently came to the realization it was a baseball metaphor.”

Maki shrugged, “You grow up hearing something all the time, you don’t always need the context explained to you for you to nod along with it. If you had asked me to explain why there were four bases, I’d have probably just answered why not.”

Himiko, though, had watched Delthea shoot them a glare, before raising an eyebrow over at Lluwyn, “...Lluwyn Sensei? Do you… date?”

Drake nodded, having just gotten a small blueberry bubble tea, before he chuckled lightly. “I guess that makes sense. There’s not really a reason to question metaphors and idioms, unless you’re doing it for school or you’re a linguist. It’s just a collection of words that everyone agrees on a meaning to. Though I have to wonder if there are people that think it’s about cricket, and that you’re just running each base twice.”

It was unclear if the blush that rose to Lluwyn’s face was from the title Himiko used, or the question. “Well, I have never been on a date before, so I would think it would be unfactual to say I do date. It is simply something that has never come up before.”

“You’d probably date a library if you could,” Elthea scoffed, though she was still keeping a tightly wound gaze on the others, not quite a threat, but warning them to be careful in this line of questioning.

“Well, what about you, Himiko?” Maki asked. Not necessarily worried about defending Lluwyn, but always happy to turn the attack back on someone else, especially if it was entertaining to do so. “Do you?”

“Ngh,” Himiko grimaced, resting her chin on the metal bar and groaning, “I want to but… nyeh. Everyone kinda… sucks.”

“Harsh.” Shuichi mused.

“What? Am I supposed to date someone even if I think they suck, just because apparently my standards are too high? What does that accomplish? I’m still with someone I don’t like, and they’re stuck dating someone who’s only with them cause she couldn’t find anything better.” Himiko pouted, kicking her legs a little, “I get love letters all the time. People come into the store and see me in my outfits and put on my shows and they fall in love. Understandable, really, I am breathtaking… nyeh.”

She blushed at that, flustered at her own compliment. “But, it’s annoying. No one who sends me a letter is ever impressive. They’re all just… boring. I want a life filled with magic. You have to be better than a guy running an orange smoothie stand who’s ‘thinking’ about doing ‘something’, ‘someday’.” Himiko pouted. “At least be hot, if you have nothing else interesting to offer.”

“Wow. You have… a surprising amount of self-confidence.” Maki said.

“What’s surprising about it? A girl’s gotta know what she’s worth.” Himiko huffed. Looking over to Lluwyn, she said, “Guys too, I suppose. Would you date if someone asked you, sensei? …not that I’m asking.” She stressed, looking at him with some sympathy as she cautioned, “Don’t get your hopes up, okay?”

It was…a bitingly realistic take on the world, for someone who often seemed rather lofty, though Drake knew he hadn’t really known Himiko all that long, and they only really hung out when Shuuichi was there too. It was a truth that not a lot of people could hold onto for themselves, letting fears of loneliness or expectations or security pull them towards relationships that, perhaps, weren’t the best for them. You couldn’t rely on love just falling together one day, but…valuing yourself and being able to be comfortable with yourself were important. 

Lluwyn gave Himiko a kind look. “I appreciate your upfrontness. Though even with our situation being relatively unique, I would find it uncomfortable to pursue an intimate relationship with someone I am teaching.”

Mulling over her actual question, though, he could only shrug after a moment. “I suppose so. No one has ever asked, so I am unsure how I would react to such a proposal.”

“If it’s something you desire, I believe you will find it one day,” Nadya smiled, looking over the younger members of the group. “Simply do not forget that it takes courage and effort on your part as well.”

“...want Kaito to take you on a da–ow.” Shuichi winced, rubbing his arm as he gave Maki an offended look, Maki giving him a withering glare at the pinch, “What? I was kidding, Maki.”

Maki narrowed her eyes at him, before just huffing. Shaking her head and going back to her wings. Himiko, though, raised an eyebrow at all that, deciding to pick at it as she drawled, “Were you trying to offer Kaito as a date?”

“I was kidding.” Shuichi said a tad defensively, though his face had pinked lightly, “I was going to make a joke about how Kaito finds you both attractive, I thought it’d be flattering. However, it was maybe a bit in bad taste. Kaito has mixed feelings about jokes like that and expressed that to me recently. I wasn’t thinking about it when I said it.”

“I’m honestly a little surprised no one’s ever asked. Weird ‘jokes’--” Maki stressed, glaring at Shuichi, who ignored her, “--or not, you are an attractive man, Lluwyn. If no one’s ever asked you, I’d expect it’s just other people lacking courage too, not lacking interest. Speaking of courage,” Maki looked to Nadya, “How’s your wandering adventurer. What was his name… Conrad? Where is he these days?”

Drake sighed, giving Shuuichi a disapproving look, though Maki got to the heart of things enough for him to not intervene. He supposed his opinion didn’t matter so much, but it seemed a little soon to be making jokes like that, even as a grim coping method, but if Kaito didn’t like to make jokes about swinging either, then…c’mon, Shuuichi. They all knew he could be better than that. 

Lluwyn look a little bewildered at the thought that the Luminary Prince (Kaito Momota, Luminary Prince of the Stars, Prince-Consort of the Cacti, Hero of the Fifteen Year War) would find him attractive but he just gave a sort of disinterested shrug at the thought of people back home just lacking courage to as him out. Elthea looked as if she was biting back words, before a simple disgruntled look settled on her face. 

As much as she nagged him about it…it just felt cruel to say in front of all these people. That Lluwyn didn’t have any friends back home, and was openly derided by anyone close in age to them. 

But, the conversation moved along, and Nadya brightened, always happy to talk about her boyfriend. “Conrad has been doing well, the last we spoke. He does live in Zogel, settled down from the bulk of his travels. He was helping out his sister and the church with their beginning of fall services, most recently.”

Trying not to totally get into it, Nadya gestured vaguely. “The turning of the seasons is very important in the Mother’s faith. The three of us had a smaller ceremony on the first as well,” she nodded to her fellow followers.

Elthea nodded, her bright energy returning with the easier subject. “Yeah! Turns out everything goes a lot quicker when there’s only three people--I actually got to meet up with Minnie later that day, insead of being stuck in church all day.”

Lluwyn sighed. “You know you are not obligated to participate, Elthea. I may have encouraged it, but you are old enough to make decisions about your own faith.”

“‘The Mother’, huh?” Himiko said, leaning back on the metal railing and looking up at the darky sky. “That’s a cool name. Sometimes I hear people talk about religion, and it makes me wish I had grown up in one. It all sounds so interesting. Religious holidays and rituals and massive stories. I don’t have anything like that.”

“You could just pick a religion. They let anyone join.” Shuichi pointed out, “Well, ours does, anyway.”

“Nyeh, the god of whores and concubines isn’t… terribly romantic.” Himiko pouted, “Kinda sounds like a punchline to a joke, honestly. Maybe if you all had more interesting rituals to tempt me with…?”

“Yeah, I’m not about to try to sell anyone on the Atuan religion. I’m not even religious myself, honestly.” Maki said, putting her tray aside and bringing her knee up to rest against it, looking down at the people passing by as she said, “If you’re looking for an aesthetic, maybe try Bathul, the god of Death and Trade. That’s both edgy and practical.”

“Nyeh, too edgy. I don’t think worshiping a death god would suit me.” Himiko mused. 

“I’m not terribly religious myself, but I think picking a religion based on if you think it’s ‘cool’ or not might be a tad sacrilegious.” Shuichi cautioned.

“I don’t know the meaning of the word.” Himiko said truthfully, before looking to the others, “What about ‘The Mother’? Have any selling points on her?” 

Nadya laughed softly. “Maybe for some religions, and some sects, but…when it comes down to it, religion does not have many bounds. People adhere to them for personal strength, in whatever form that may be, or a sense of belonging and community, or a sense of security. If being a part of something you think is cool improves your life any? Then that is your faith.”

“That said, it may be difficult to connect with others in the faith having such a unique view of it,” Lluwyn said, before his voice went into “teacher mode”. “Mother Mila is the goddess of the earth. She is the earth, in a sense, the progenitor of all life as we know it. Given the overlap in how our society treats the natural world, many non-secular holidays you would already be aware of also coincide with holidays we observe in reverence to the Mother. Often, prayers revolve around a sense of gratitude and ambition for life and the world around us, and many of our practices deal with the raising of plants or acts of kindness towards other living things.”

“We have a lot of feasts,” Elthea added. 

Himiko placed her hands in front of her face, each fingertip gently pressed against each other as she tapped her thumbs against her lips, “Hmmm… feasts is good… don’t have much of a green thumb though… gardening can be kind of a pain… Shuichi, Maki, does Atua have any, like, specifically sexy rituals or–”

“Just go to a brothel, Himiko, seriously.” Shuichi said dryly. “Yes, Atua has sexy rituals, but you don’t practice them here in Dicea anyway. At least as far as I can tell, you don’t. The best Dicean-Atuans can provide is access to prayer rooms, and you’d still need to have someone decide to pray with you. By that point you might as well just date someone.”

“Brothels?” Himiko asked, ignoring everything else he said and looking curiously at him, “What’s that?”

“Oh, like… what are they called here… like strip clubs. But without the dancing thing.” Shuichi explained, “It’s just strictly sex.”

“I was born in the wrong country.” Himiko pouted. Entirely ignoring the fact that she’d be too shy to even go to the strip clubs, and would likely absolutely not take advantage of brothels either. Daydreaming was easy. Going places and doing things like that was nerve wracking and a lot of work. 

“There was another god we heard of recently… Solus?” Maki asked, looking to Shuichi.

“I think solus was the name of the religion, but the actual person was named Freig,” Shuichi recalled. “A sun god.”

“Right. Want to be eaten by birds when you die?” Maki asked Himiko, “That one might work for you.”

“Grim, Maki-roll… really grim.” Himiko responded dryly. 

Drake snorted softly. Really, if ‘sexiness’ was what Himiko was after, Shuuichi was right. Might as well not deal with everything else in the religion and just go after the part you wanted. 

Looking over at Shuuichi curiously, Elthea raised an eyebrow. “So…there’s a dedicated place for paid sex? Not just paying an escort and going wherever. I suppose that cuts out some of the middle-man…”

Through her musings, Lluwyn gave his sister a dark look, though he barely got out her name before she waved a hand in his face. “Calm your tits! I’m not considering going myself, mama-hen, geez.”

“You are 16, Elthea, and prone to bad decisions. It is my responsibility to look after you,” he huffed, before humming softly. “Solus, though… I believe that is the religion of the five creators, not just the sun god. They are quite proactive about encouraging people to make the most of life, compared to many religions I have read about.”

“Hmm, that sounds about right. We went to a funeral at a town that seemed to primarily follow that religion, and it was… an experience. They’re a very jovial people.” Shuichi complimented, before looking to Elthea, “And yes, Luminary has lots of places like that. The Momota family ran the Red Light districts before they took the throne, so even though Atua’s considered a creator god there, the sex industry still flourished while they were in charge. Though…” 

Shuichi tilted his head, frowning as he thought of some relatively recent encounters, “That seems to give people outside of Luminary the wrong idea, of what we as a whole think of sex. Every now and again I get a comment from someone like having sex casually would come natural to me, considering where I came from and my religion, and I think those people would be a little shocked if they ever visited and found themselves getting glared at for bringing those things up. Sex in Luminary is a bit like… I suppose the closest comparison is alcohol here. It’s available everywhere and it’s used in a lot of official and unofficial rituals, but if you indulge in it too much or make it a huge part of your identity, people will look at you as weak or impulsive or foolish. It’s still very much a vice, in the sense it’s an indulgence. There’s just more of a culture around that particular vice back at home, than there seems to be here.”

“But you ask some people here?” Maki said, looking a little annoyed, “You’d think that’s all Luminary does… though, in weirdly constrained ways. I think the weirdest rumor about Luminary I’ve heard here is something Kaito told me he heard at a club. That Luminary priests are required to sit in on any couple, who have to schedule it beforehand. Wild. And pretty stupid.”

Himiko pouted at that. Sitting up and looking at them, as she said, “Well, you guys must have heard weird rumors about Dicea, before you got here. What’s something you thought was true here, that you found out was wrong when you got here?”

Maki and Shuichi both gave Himiko mildly startled looks– it was a decent question– before looking to each other. Uncertain how to answer. 

“...hmmm… something we heard as a rumor that wasn’t true…” Shuichi hummed, “It’s a little tough, because we really did know almost nothing about Dicea at all, before we arrived… I suppose one thing would be we thought that your soldiers were being threatened by the royal family into fighting us. As in we thought your fighters would be tortured if they returned home.”

“What else… we thought you all had Indentured’s as well.” Maki recalled. “Was surprising when we realized you didn’t… we thought King Aiichi was a mad tyrant…”

“Those aren’t fun rumors. Name a fun one.” Himiko insisted.

“There really wasn’t enough information for a ‘fun’ rumor.” Shuichi insisted, “Information from out of the country is really difficult to get in Luminary. Maki and I know a little bit more about the world than the average person in Luminary, just because of where we grew up and listening to Kaito talk about other countries, since he’s actually gone out and visited outside the country.”

“Byakuya too.” Maki admitted, “Learned about Kimigashine through him. Learned about Novoselic through Kaito. Beyond that? Not a lot more than what the average Luminary geography book could tell you.”

All of the Diceans seemed to look rather shocked, to varying degrees, to hear Shuuichi call sex a vice. (And Drake still did look shocked--he knew Dicean culture enough at this point, and he was a decent actor at times, he liked to think.) Growing up in a country where sex was talked about, if not with abandon, then freely, and hearing about a country they had heard revolved around sexual rituals, put sex on the same level as alcohol… Well, it was shocking. 

But as they moved onto the subject of rumors… Lluwyn mulled it over, before shrugging lightly. “I suppose that makes sense. Very few of the rumors we have about Luminary and Danganronpa are substantive, and we barely have enough information at all to even make rumors about Novoselic. At least, that is the situation in Falcon’s Hollow, which I admit is rather removed from the rest of the country.”

“You’ll say,” Elthea rolled her eyes, kicking her legs off the scaffolding. “But all that’s changing now, right? I mean, we’ve barely been around at all, and still I see things everywhere about “social consideration” and “cultural etiquette” and just…tourism tips, I guess, for Luminary. And I heard they’re trying to start the ferry system to Novoselic up again.”

Nadya perked at that, an excitement in her eyes. “That is true. Kokichi and I have been working on that project, actually. Our government is still in talks with Novoselic’s to approve even making headway on the project, but given how much it would improve both of our tourism economies, I believe it is only a matter of negotiating the details.”

Shuichi smiled lightly at that, something soft in his gaze as he said, “I really can’t tell you how excited Kaito’s been about that. He has a lot of family over there that suddenly has become slightly more reasonably possible to see.”

Maki frowned at Shuichi again. Not willing to say aloud that if they did go to Novoselic, Kaito’s idea of going far enough west to visit his ‘family’ was borderline a fantasy. If for nothing else than Maki just wasn’t going to let him. Kokichi and Shuichi seemed to be playing with the idea that Kaito could make his own choices– and his own mistakes– when it came to Byakuya, but Maki wasn’t willing to do the same. Byakuya wasn’t just a menace to Luminary, he was a menace to Kaito’s life, and Kaito wasn’t going to crawl over there with no word and that stupid, helpless look on his face, trying to ‘fix’ things with him. 

If things were evolving there somehow, it was going to require Byakuya to make the effort. Maki wasn’t going to let Kaito do it.

But she didn’t say all that. What she did say was, “I’m certain we’re going to want to visit one of the border torns of Novoselic. If only because it’ll be a good way for Kokichi to to explore a different country’s culture.”

“And it’d be an interesting vacation.” Shuichi mused… before his eyes widened in slight excitement, “Bet there’s all sorts of weird ingredients over there.”

Himiko’s eyes sparkled, “Ooooh… yeah.”

“You two are weird.” Maki said flatly, before looking to the others, “What about you guys? Anyone going to take advantage of the ferry?”

“A constant sea-side vacation? Absolutely!” Elthea chirped at the same time Lluwyn shrugged. He shot her a look both exasperated and fond before filling in his own thoughts. “While we are out experiencing the greater world, I believe that spending time in another country would be quite enlightening--similar to your hopes regarding Prince Kokichi, I figure. There is no telling what we might be able to discover in a foreign place.”

Drake looked…more unsure than the rest of them. “Uh…maybe. Someday. There are enough breaks between terms that I could probably plan out a long-enough vacation to see Novoselic, but…” he let out a nervous laugh. “Honestly, with my luck, the boat would probably end up running into maintenance issues and being stranded at sea is not really high on my bucket list.”

He had just meant to leave it there, but seeing Nadya’s soft frown… Shuuichi had said that everyone there knew…basically everything. 

Casting a furtive look around, though they were high above the general late-night populous, Drake still lowered his voice a bit. “Uh…well, actually… It’s more that there’s been a turf war between elementals there for a while. Sticking to tourist areas should be fine, but…I really don’t want to get in the middle of that.”

At that, instead of being concerned, Lluwyn’s eyes gleamed. “...is that so?”

Lluwyn’s students also came to attention. Eyes hungry and eager for knowledge as Himiko scurried to sit up and Shuichi leaned towards Drake. Maki, in turn, made a mental note that she needed to update her travel binder. Better to know than to go in blind, but ugh. There was a whole new aspect of things she had to watch out for now. 

“Elementals… they were in the book, but I got the impression that the author wasn’t able to dive into their culture in any meaningful way. Their elves with elemental ‘forms’, so to speak,” Shuichi said, half explaining to Maki, who nodded along, “But it’s extremely rare to see them out of their elemental forms. They look like walking flames and waters and torpedos of wind… but that’s, as far as I can tell, when they’re just in ‘defensive’ mode. There’s actual bodies beneath those elemental forms, it’s just really hard to see them without it, and their homes are so well hidden that the author seemed half convinced they didn’t have any… but that really seemed to be his answer for everything he couldn’t verify himself. No signs of communications, structures or use of tools? Then they don’t have them and are basically animals.” Shuichi said, rolling his eyes a little. “Unlikely to the point of asinine.”

“I liked the theoretical drawing of what their elf forms look like. They’re so…cute.” Himiko said, looking dazzled, “I hope they really are that small in real life. I wanna hug one… but they’re fighting?” She asked, looking to Drake.

Lluwyn huffed. “Honestly, the author is such an embarrassment to the scientific process. For each genuinely insightful and detailed description there is a counter of close-minded, human-centric assumption.”

“I think they are that small, actually…” Drake mumbled before he nodded, giving Himiko an uneasy look. “Like I said…I’m not looking to get involved, so I don’t know a ton. Just gossip that’s been passed around the community. Considering that Novoselic is on the coast of southern winds, it’s not like they’re not used to hurricanes and stuff, but…I imagine it seems like it’s particularly bad this year. And then getting into floods and wildfires and everything… When elementals are fighting, you don’t want to be within 50 miles, for real.”

Humming to himself, Lluwyn seemed to pat at his robes for a moment before pulling out a notebook and starting to write in it, his gaze focused and alight with intrigue.

Chuckling, Elthea just ducked over one of the scaffolding railings. “Well, I can see where part two of our vacation’s gonna be. I wonder if elementals can control magic-conjured elements too…”

Without looking up, Lluwyn said bluntly, “You’re not fighting in a turf war.”

“It’s a bad idea to get involved in other peoples wars.” Maki agreed. Bringing her legs up and resting her elbows on her knees as she idly people watched, still making mental notes to adjust her binder. “Unless you’re a mercenary. Wars are messy. And the people who join in for a war that’s not theirs? They’re usually freaks, in some way or another. I never trusted any outsiders who joined the resistance. I’m sure some of them believed in the cause, but they were still the kind of person who sought out war. That type isn’t reliable.”

“...are you that unselfaware, or…?” Shuichi asked dryly.

“I didn’t seek out war. I was born into one.” Maki said simply. “The fighting just didn’t start right away. I didn’t go to war just because the thought thrilled me. I had a stake in it. It had to happen.” She shrugged, “You either have to go to war, or the money’s good. Anyone else just likes war.”

Crossing her arms on one of the bars of scaffolding, Nadya rested her chin on them and looked out at the market, her gaze a little distant. Though it was a small movement, compared to Elthea sticking her tongue out, even with a small, embarrassed flush coating her cheeks. “I wasn’t gonna go join a war, geez. What, you can go off to wherever the hell on expeditions, but the second I’m even kinda curious about something I have to be a warmonger?!”

At that, Lluwyn did look up from his notebook, frowning at his sister. “Of course not. But your curiosity has always been about proving something, and if someone asked you to join their war, you’d barely hesitate. Elthea--”

“I’m not an idiot!” Flushing for a different reason now, Elthea pulled her legs into a crouch, leaning more to be above her brother. “I’m not going to go off and get myself killed just because you’re too much of a coward to do anything but lock yourself in a library!”

“Keep your voice down! It’s very rude to start screaming when you’re upset. I know you are intelligent and--”

“Then why do you always treat me like a baby?!” Elthea shouted, not lowering her voice at all. “You treat everyone like idiots, this is why no one likes you! I bet mom and dad left just to get away from you too!” With that she popped up from the scaffolding, sliding through the bars to hop down to the ground, stocking off. 

With a small curse, Nadya quickly followed in the same way, while…

…Lluwyn just sat there, wide-eyed at the place his sister just was, looking like she’d just hit him with a fireball.

Shuichi and Maki glanced at each other. Not really silently communicating, but debating with themselves what to do, Maki’s expression getting more irritated as Shuichi looked more concern… “Fine.” She huffed. Getting up and saying before she jumped from the scaffolding, “If any of you run off and make yourselves hard to find, I’ll kill you.”

Then she was gone.

Shuichi watched Maki disappear, before looking to Himiko and Drake and Lluwyn. Himiko pouting, looking conflicted… before she said, “Nyeh, I’d never catch up. I’ll stay here and comfort you, Sensei. Teenagers… yikes.”

“Are you alright, Lluwyn?” Shuichi asked softly. 

Slowly thawing from the shock, Lluwyn looked out to where Elthea (and Nadya and Maki) ran out into the crowd. He…he should follow. It was his responsibility to follow, to make sure his sister was alright and not getting into trouble and…

Drake held in a wince as he saw Lluwyn’s lips wobble for a moment. He…didn’t really know him, or his sister, only through what Shuuichi and Himiko had told him, really, but… He could recognize kids put under a lot of pressure. Kids made to grow up too fast. Hell, he saw that with Shuuichi a lot too. 

Lluwyn let out a slow, carefully measured sigh and closed his eyes, feeling like a failure for every second he continued to sit up on the scaffolding, and yet he didn’t move. “...I try so hard to be a good guardian for her… Is it really that stifling?”

“If I can speak plainly… as someone who Maki has apparently long decided is her ‘brother’?” Shuichi said, looking politely away from Lluwyn’s quivering lip, pretending he hadn’t seen it. “It can be. It can be enfantalizing, and demeaning, and infuriating… but we’re both lucky to have someone like that, in our lives. Someone who loves us enough to the point of being annoying. She’ll be grateful for it, someday. When she realizes the value, in love like that. Not everyone is lucky enough to grow up with someone who cares.”

“That’s true… Nyeh… what happened, anyway?” Himiko asked, looking to her teacher, “I mean, it’s not our business, but… I also kinda feel like it’d help to know. Are you orphans, sensei?”

Lluwyn let out another quiet sigh. So that was it, then. Despite being the right thing to do…his sister would still be hurt. Stifled by his care, though he had always just wanted it to be nurturing. 

(Even at his worst, when the seething pit of envy burned through his stomach…Lluwyn had never wanted anything bad to befall his sister. He just wanted her to be happy.)

(And alive.)

Pressing one palm to his brow, Lluwyn half-shrugged. “Our parents are deceased, yes. Though our home has always been quite communal when it comes to child-rearing.” Normally, that was where he’d leave it, but… 

Similar to what Nadya had been doing before, Lluwyn looked out over the market with a far gaze. “...the Trismegistus line was what formed Falcon’s Hollow, and ultimately, we are meant to be the final protectors. Through our lineage, we are blessed with great magical potential to aid in that duty. …or, most of us.”

Lluwyn frowned, the lantern light below just becoming hazy dots of brightness in his unfocused vision. “There is an ancient shrine to Mila in the mountains, though it’s long been abandoned. About…11 years ago, our village had been contemplating reclaiming it…even knowing that discarded holy sites are inevitably monster nests. Our parents left. They never came back.”

“Eleven years… so you’ve been your sister’s primary guardian since she was five and you were…” Shuichi paused, “I’m actually not sure how old you are. I’m assuming you must have been around fourteen. That’s young to be responsible for anyone, let alone a toddler.”

Lluwyn shot Shuuichi a very brief look before looking back to the market. “...I was nine. I turned 20 this year.”

“Right, so… Timothy five minutes ago then.” Shuichi said dryly, “I wonder if you also broke public property in pursuit of making a fort, in between dealing with spit-up and tantrums.”

Shuichi sighed. Looking over to Llyuwyn, frowning a bit as he said, “You’re Kokichi’s age… younger, even. But, then, it seems the world always has useful professions and jobs waiting for young orphans. We’re future protectors, kings, assassins and detectives… we’re never just children.” He mused, “...Elthea is lucky, that you were willing to grow so fast. But I can imagine it gave her a false idea of how quickly she’s meant to grow up too.”

“Nnn… I’m gonna guess…” Himiko sighed. Adjusting her hat back and staring at the sky, “That she wants to go to the mountains. She seems the type to do something like that.”

“More just burnt pans when I was learning how to cook,” Lluwyn mumbled, though there was a hint of mirth in it. He had known that…it probably wasn’t good for a nine-year-old to raise a five-year-old. And the other people of the village were always coming by, checking on them, making sure they were okay…

…doing their best to take care of their sworn protectors, even though the only ones left were children. Lluwyn hadn’t been alone in raising his sister. …it just…felt that way, sometimes. And like he was the only one worried about her galavanting off into the woods on her own, flaunting her great power like it could protect her from anything. 

“...I have only wanted to ensure that she has the space to be her age. It is not meant to be infantilizing. I just…” Lluwyn squinted, his lips steady, but a thick swallow pointing towards the same thing. “...she’s not invincible. She so often acts as if she is.”

“...maybe,” Drake mumbled, looking out at the dark shapes in the horizon, barely discernible from the night sky, if not for the lack of stars. “She could being thinking about…wanting to succeed where your parents failed. Get rid of that weight on your shoulders.”

“But…well, honestly, I don’t know you guys well,” he gave Lluwyn a sheepish look. “So maybe I’m talking nothing… But even just tonight…it’s clear how much she cares about you. I…I don’t know. I don’t get the impression she’d try to re-take the shrine herself. Not without a plan, and not without your blessing.”

“...naaaah. Angry teenager with a chip on her shoulder? She’s already planning to make the trip–ooooooow.” Himiko whined, as Shuichi reached around Drake to flick her in the neck, “Whaaaaat?”

“That’s not helpful, Himiko.” Shuichi chastised.

“Nyeh… Luminaries are so barbaric.” Himiko whined, rubbing her neck and scooting closer to Lluwyn. Ignoring Shuichi’s eyeroll at that, as she looked up at her teacher. “I mean, she probably won’t do it, because it does sound scary and hard and she seems bright enough to recognize she’d need help… but I still bet she wants to. Maybe she’d be less pent up and angry if you supported her dreams–”

“You literally have no idea if she even wants to do that, Himiko.”

“-- and assured her that you beeliieeeeeved in her.” Himiko drawled. “That’s how Shuichi got through it when he was a kid, and what he wants now.”

“I…” Shuichi blinked, a little shocked. “Uh…?”

Himiko smirked, looking over at him lazily, “Didn’t think I was paying attention, did ya? You reminisce a lot randomly, Shuichi. Especially when we’re mixing and waiting for things to boil. Anyway, that’s what I think. I think she’d probably be less angry if she knew you believed in what she was capable of… or not, she is a teenager, those things are nightmares. I’d never talk to a teenager again, if it wasn’t literally part of my job every day.” Himiko admitted, shuddering. “Darn school field trips.”

“I believe that she will get herself killed thinking she can take down everything in her way with a fireball,” Lluwyn grumbled before he sighed. “...but I do not truly think she solves every problem with that mindset. She can be reckless, but Elthea is clever and capable. In my opinion, she has the makings to be one of the greatest mages in the world, if she sought to apply herself.”

Lluwyn sighed again before looking at his students. “...I cannot in good conscience approve of her recklessness. But…would it help if I did? I do like to think I am supportive in all other aspects…”

“Have you told her?” Drake asked, prompting a blink from the mage. “I mean…actions can speak pretty loud but…just saying it outright sometimes can mean a lot. Have you just…told her you’re proud of her?”

Lluwyn’s brow furrowed. “...yes. Yes, I… Of course I have.”

“Right! Like you’re proud of Shuichi and I, right?” Himiko smiled lazily, “In between us almost accidentally blowing ourselves up twice a lesson? Deeeeep, deeeeeeeep down?”

“Drake’s right, you know.” Shuichi said softly. “Actions can be affirming, but as my fiance says, words can be a defense against the dark thoughts in our own minds. And having a mentor that assumes a job well done is its own reward…” Shuichi laughed dryly, “It’s not. It becomes this endless… trial. Challenge after challenge after challenge, where each time you succeed, you wonder if this is the time where perhaps your efforts were enough. That perhaps you had finally earned the words you longed to hear… but you don’t. You’re just told you did the job correct and you get the next task. And you start to wonder if there’s some secret goal you’re not hitting and if each success is actually a hidden failure. And then you start trying to hit all those secret goals…”

“See?” Himiko said, nudging Drake, “This is why I know so much about him. He talks like this, constantly.”

“I’m saying it helps.” Shuichi sighed, “To be told, straight out, that what you did was enough. Maybe not perfect. But enough.”

Lluwyn gave Himiko a small smile. “It is not that deep. You two have made great strides, and while your curiosity outweighs your caution more than I’d advise, it is a wonderful trait, and it is a joy to watch you learn.”

Drake gave Himiko a knowing nod at the nudge, familiar enough with Shuuichi’s diatribes, though Lluwyn took in his words solemnly, nodding after a moment. “...right. Hopefully…she will accept me trying to speak with her, after…”

He trailed off, before his brows drew together. “...should we go after them? It had been…”

-

Meanwhile, just a bit before…

Elthea stocked through and out of the market furiously, able to hear footsteps behind her after a moment, but not caring until she could turn the corner out of sight into a walking trail. For a moment, she just shook in anger, before holding her arms out to a tree and patch of greenery, the plants--slowly at first, but gaining in speed after a moment--perking in the dark, starting to grow and bloom as Elthea…tried not to think about her brother’s expression, just before she left. 

She didn’t stop, even as those footsteps neared and slowed, and not even when a gentle hand touched her shoulder. It was only when a soft voice spoke to her that she dropped her arms. 

“They might appreciate the initial perk, but the strain will be too much soon.”

Elthea turned with a huff, though she didn’t fix her glare on Nadya. Nadya didn’t deserve her anger. (...Llu didn’t really either. Not like that.) She flexed her hands, little sparks twirling around her palms before Nadya sighed, nudging her to sit, which Elthea did reluctantly. 

Quick as anything, Nadya drew a hand over the opposite arm in a blur, causing Elthea to gasp and flinch as the shallow cut started to fill with blood. “Let’s not overcharge the plants. You were very adept at Heal when I left.”

Scowling, though the turn of her eyes was more worried than anything, Elthea placed her hands right over the cut, a soft green glow filling the space in-between. “...I’m not that pent up. Wasn’t gonna torch the woods or anything.”

Maki walked up. Her footsteps silent, her eyes watching. Taking it all in, appraising the blooming flora, before her blood red eyes quickly focused on the flash of red against Nadya’s skin. Hearing both the gasp and the familiar, small sound of blade against skin. Her gaze just searching, before she looked around. Peering into the darkness to search for equally curious eyes or silhouettes. 

When she saw none, determining they were, in fact, alone, she said, “Tell me. Does being ‘pent up’ make you act like an insufferable child? Or is that just ‘you’?”

Elthea’s gaze flicked up, her scowl deepening as she scoffed, though she looked away. “Oh, can it.”

However, at the small grunt of discomfort from Nadya, Elthea looked back at the cut she was healing, giving her honorary sister an apologetic look before stabilizing her Heal. “Sorry…”

“...”

A sigh. “...I shouldn’t have yelled at him.” Elthea sighed again, gently tracing the healed skin, not even a scar. “I know that, I just… Ugh, but…but does he always have to treat me like that?!”

“It’s like I can’t even say one thing without him turning it into a lecture! He’s barely even older than me but he acts like he’s the fucking sage or something!”

“Ah, yes. Lectures. A great reason to accuse someone of being the reason their parents left them.” Maki said darkly. Crossing her arms and giving the child a grim look, “Why didn’t you parents pick you over anything else? You’re annoying. What a breathtakingly shitty thing to say to someone.”

Elthea wilted at that, whatever spark she’d worked herself into airing her grievances lost once more. She knew it was shitty, and cruel, and even if he was even a bit worse to her Lluwyn didn’t deserve that. She was just…so angry, and the words just…

“He is trying for you, Thea,” Nadya said softly, guiding the younger girl’s fingers to trace over her healed skin again. Healing magic did take a lot of power and energy, especially for more advanced forms like Physic or Seraphim, but above all, it took control. Too little, and you may as well just use physical methods. Too much, and you could make the wound worse, or over-stimulate the cells, or…any number of horrifying things. 

Being able to heal meant that you had more than just raw power. And Nadya knew that Elthea needed to be reminded that she was capable of more than that sometimes. That she was more than a big, destructive blast…more than hurtful words said during an argument. 

“It was a tragedy…and while it should not have been left on his shoulders, Lluwyn has been trying every day to make up for what you two lost. You know that, right?” Nadya gently prompted. 

Elthea nodded, her shoulders falling. “...I don’t need him to be my parent, though… I just want him to be my brother. I just…” She let out a breath, scrubbing roughly at an eye. “...yeah. He didn’t deserve that.”

Maki, at that, let the rigid heat of her glare ease out. Nodding a bit, as she let her arms fall from her chest, heading over to watch this curious bit of magic. Real magic, as she said, “If you can at least acknowledge that, then we can talk about why you said it. I’m assuming you want to talk about it. You were screaming it across the forest a second ago.”

Maki didn’t know Elthea. She, honestly, barely knew Nadya. But what she did know was the trials and angers of bitter orphans, and watching the children lash out and abuse each other because their siblings were the ones within arms reach. And Maki was used to navigating that cruelty and resentment, and reminding the young, angry siblings that they were literally harming their closest allies… as watching the magic, she said, “I’ve never seen anything like, what you’re doing right now… can he do that?”

“Mhmm,” Elthea nodded. “Heal was one of the first real spells Llu learned. ‘Course there’s always water buckets or bottles of anti-freeze and pretty much anyone who can learn Heal does…” She smiled, a small, guilty thing. “...but he learned Heal first, because it covers all your bases, right? Faster to learn than countering every other bit of magic. And he didn’t want to have to rely on getting an adult or someone older if something happened.”

“He still did, of course,” Nadya smiled at Maki, “But…I suppose that is a character story that fits how you would know him too. Lluwyn has always made sure that people were at least stable before worrying about anything else.”

“...it is an incredible ability, isn’t it,” Nadya said more softly. “Being able to almost erase injuries in just a few moments.”

“I’m guessing not just anyone can do it.” Maki mused, “I could use an ability like that. My siblings are constantly getting themselves hurt, the little idiots.”

She sighed. Tucking her hair behind her ears, little whisps of it immediately escaping as she recalled, “I have a few. At the moment, I think the total count is…” Maki frowned, “...Well, let’s make it simple and only count the ones who haven’t come of age yet, and are still alive. So that would put me at… thirty-two. Thirty-two children siblings. And a substantial chunk of them, not all that long ago, all decided that together, they were mature enough, smart enough, and powerful enough, to go out on their own and start their own idiotic little children society in the woods…after growing up in a city. In another country. Having never seen a forest like that before a year ago.”

“Like I said: creative new ways to hurt themselves.” Maki sighed, “If they had gotten far, I like to think we could have tracked them down before too many of them got themselves lost or killed in the forests. But, well, thankfully, one of them had the good sense to look around and realize that taking a group of toddlers and two infants into the woods was at least a guaranteed death sentence for those kids, and came running to me for help.”

“Tyrone was wise. But more importantly, he cared about his siblings enough to risk the one thing most children would do literally anything to avoid, including marching to their deaths in the mountains, if they would have ever even gotten that far,” Maki said softly… before giving a hard look to Elthea, “Do I have to explain to you, what it was he risked? You’re intelligent, as your brother pointed out before you lost your mind on him. What do you think it was?”

Heal was considered a must-learn by everyone in the Hollow. If you had the capacity for magic, could harness it in nearly any way, then, with practice, you could learn Heal. Even if you only managed to have the power to heal small scratches, it was still imperative to learn. 

Nadya knew Heal, and of all the magic she had used during the war, it was the spell she considered most helpful. She hadn’t been blatant, even for getting a leg up in a battle, but…moving an injured comrade off the field, knowing they wouldn’t last--either by injury or by ambush--long enough for a medic to get to them… Nadya didn’t think she’d saved a lot of lives, personally, but…even one meant the world. 

Nadya knew Heal, she couldn’t cast Diala or Physic. She just didn’t have the reserves for it. Judging by her other abilities, and those of their family, Lluwyn had once surmised that, with enough study and practice, Elthea could potentially cast Salvation, the strongest healing spell ever discovered (as far as the knowledge in Falcon’s Hollow went; though considering they were a scholars’ village dedicated to magical study…). Nadya had once gotten a panicked letter from Elthea, in more recent years, finding Lluwyn passed out after casting a successful Physic. Something that even the elders had talked about not being possible for the boy, with his power. 

But he’d done it.

Elthea sent Maki a bug-eyed, bewildered look at the thought of having 32 siblings, which quickly deepened as she told the story of them deciding to go live in the woods, just like Vander’s Feathers. Except…not familiar with the area or terrain at all, even if they probably wouldn’t have to fight off any werewolves. 

So to risk a nice bed for that in the first place, and then…what to risk telling on them…

Elthea huffed, though it wasn’t particularly belligerent. “...their trust.”

Maki rolled her eyes, “You’re such a little sibling. No, you nimrod. Their respect. He opened himself up to anger. To resentment, and torment, and bullying and teasing. To all the little ways that younger siblings lash out and harm the siblings that decide to take on the endless, endless battle that becomes looking out for them. There is nothing less immediately rewarding, than taking care of someone who has the emotional maturity of a goldfish, or maybe more generously a toddler, who’s ready to scream her hatred to the world that someone would dare not let her play with the matches and candles in bed, even though she really wants to.”

“Taking care of children is a nightmare. They’ll punish you for every step they’re not allowed to take, and completely ignore the fact they were running at a cliff. Raising you?” Maki said, narrowing her eyes, “Is a sacrifice and a misery. And if you don’t know that? It’s because he loves you and worked hard to never let you know. So if no one ever told you? Now you know.”

Nadya couldn’t help quirking a small smile at Elthea’s muttered, “Isn’t that the same thing?”, though as the teen wilted more, she pulled her into a hug, gently rubbing her back. Her smile straining with a sad understanding at Elthea’s whispered, “I know.” 

“...I know I’m a burden to him,” she croaked, “Even if it’s one he’s fought tooth and nail to keep. I know he doesn’t deserve me yelling at him, and…a-and he lets me, even if he lectures after ‘cause…’cause kids are supposed to have tantrums, and have arguments with their parents, and…”

Elthea sniffled against Nadya’s shoulder. “But he’s a kid too. And he’s never let anyone treat him like one. He’ll lecture me for hours on end but he never yells a-and he’s tried to take care of our home as soon as he figured out how, even if he can barely take care of himself, and… H-he always calls our parents suicidal idiots, I-I don’t even remember them, he…he just pushes everyone else away and never asks for help and I’m so happy he’s here w-with Shuuichi and Himiko because I’m so scared he’s just…gonna end up all alone…”

It was a smashed together garble of feelings, but Nadya just held Elthea tighter, having enough context to put it all together. “You are not a burden, Thea. Lluwyn has made a sacrifice to look after you, when it should have never fallen to him, and…there is a disparity there. But you are not a burden. And I know you have tried to look after him too.”

“...but you can see it through your own point, no? Winnie isn’t as fragile as you worry, just as you aren’t as fragile as he worries. You two just…care about each other. You are allowed to be frustrated with the confines you put on each other through that…but not to attack each other.”

“...you two really need to talk about this.” 

The nod Nadya could feel against her shoulder was, in a good sign, not accompanied by a groan.

“Burden and sacrifice are different things.” Maki agreed, shrugging a little, “If anyone tried to suggest to me my siblings were burdens, I’d probably cut them open. But anyone who’d suggest raising them hasn’t taken a considerable amount of sacrifice on my end would also deserve to be cut. Don’t ask me what the difference is, I’d probably mumble something about desire or something, but I don’t have a clear way of saying it. But you can feel the difference, can’t you? Between burden and sacrifice and responsibility… it’s amazing. To have something that inspires that sort of sacrifice in you. Honestly, I feel a little bad for anyone who doesn’t have someone that inspires that feeling in them. That desire to get through all of it, because to them, it’s worth it…”

Maki blinked… before blushing a little. Looking away and puffing out her cheeks a bit, an irritated expression on her face. “I don’t know you. I don’t really care what you do. I just… I got a little hot under the collar, for a moment there. I’ve been in Lluwyn’s position… it made me a tad abrasive.”

She debated with herself for a moment, before deciding begrudgingly to say, “Apologies.”

There was a quiet shrug in the dark, before a sad giggle. “It’s fine. S’ kinda nice hearing someone else defend Llu, for once…”

Nadya let out a quiet sigh, before giving what seemed to be a final pat on Elthea’s back, the two woman starting to stand after that. “We should get back. I am sure it is a comfort to know that Maki and I went after you, but I would suppose your brother is getting worried regardless.”

With a sniffle, Elthea surreptitiously rubbed an arm across her eyes before nodding. “He does that enough already. And we still have the rest of the market to check out. …let’s head back.”

-

The siblings reunion was a bit muted, for everyone else. Mostly because they took some time to step away from the group and talk quietly to each other, and when they returned, they seemed in a better place about things, if not quite willing to open up to everyone else about it. The rest of the night went smoothly though, checking out a few more stalls and making much more idle conversation, before Himiko finally called it, getting tired.

Giving everyone warm goodbyes, Maki and Shuichi headed back to the castle, late into the night… and after some quiet discussion, agreed to just give Kaito the ring when they got back.

Kaito wasn’t asleep, of course. While he was getting a little better these days about sleeping between alarms for Miya duty, waiting up for Shuichi and Maki to return home safely made going to bed properly a non-starter. But, he was on the bed, sitting up against the headrest and reading a book, Kokichi latched onto him and using Kaito’s stomach as a pillow, long having fallen asleep. 

Kaito had lit up when the door opened and Shuichi had walked in, something relieved clearly in his expression at seeing Shuichi fine and whole. But he raised an eyebrow when Maki walked in right after him, the two heading over to the bed. “What’s up, guys?” Kaito whispered quietly, trying not to disturb Kokichi. “Did you have fun?”

“We did.” Maki said, placing down the bags of items Shuichi had bought onto the floor, before going to stand by the bed as Shuichi carefully sat at its edge, “It’s basically just a novelty goods market. You’d like it, I think, you and Kokichi should go sometime.”

“Awesome.” Kaito grinned, “Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming though? You guys have a weird energy to you right now.”

“It’s not anything bad.” Shuichi said softly, “There was a Luminary novelty goods stall there. Some lady who collects foriegn memorabilia was running it, and…” Shuichi sighed softly, “Well, I wasn’t surprised to hear this, but apparently some of the goods found in the Luminary Party, uh… the bonfires have gotten around. And the shopkeep had heard enough rumors and gossip about you to guess that this is something you’d want…”

Kaito couldn’t even begin to guess what he’d want from the literal burned remains of the bonfires, but as Shuichi dug the piece out from one of his pockets, Kaito’s eyebrows immediately shot up. Recozing the small, thick onyx and steel ring immediately, Kaito’s face immediately cooling into a sort of… hollow concern, as he took the ring from Shuichi. Looking it over to confirm that, yeah… it had the sigil of head-ranking General carved into the onyx. A symbol of General Juzo’s position as the Momota families most trusted general. 

“...shit.” Kaito murmured. Running his thumb around the ring. It was big. Juzo had large fingers. Kaito was a little surprised, to see his own fingers were roughly the same size. Juzo had always seemed so much bigger, to Kaito.

“.....shit.”  Kaito whispered. His eyes reddening. Staring at the ring like just the act of holding it hurt him a little, as he whispered, “Oh no…. Oh no, it’s real… it really happened…”

Maki, who had accepted the grim reality of what had happened to the Luminary Party a long time ago, nodded. “It did.”

“... A part of me, this whole time, thought maybe… maybe it was a misunderstanding…” Kaito closed his eyes. Thin, salty tears falling, still trying to be still. Still trying to be quiet, so that Kokichi wouldn’t wake, as he whispered, “Oh, I’m so stupid…”

“It’s not stupid.” Shuichi said softly. Having not had the same sort of personal connection to the general that Kaito and Maki, to an extent, had had. But still sad about what the ring represented overall. The horrible reality of what had happened to the party, made physical, “We’ve been here at the castle this whole time, only just hearing about all of this from a distance… it’s understandable how unreal it felt. You’re not stupid for not feeling it till now.”

“S-still feels s-stupid…” Kaito whispered. Clutching the ring to his chest, his face scrunched up as he let out a small, shaky sob, “...god the last time I saw him I… he was asking me not to kill him… I didn’t say anything to anyone else. I barely saw any of them. I didn’t think… I didn’t think…  I was so ready to never see anyone again, y-ya know? I was trying to not get s-sentimental, to not get pathetic or let m-myself panic when they left… I didn’t think it was going to be like this. I thought everyone was g-going home…”

“...w-we should send the ring back to his husband.” Kaito whispered.

“We don’t have to.” Maki said immediately. “He was going to be your mentor. He was already partly filling that role, from what you tell me about the war room stories. His family already has things to remember him by, including a crypt to visit. Anyone who would judge you for keeping a token can go fuck themselves.” Maki said simply.

“...maybe.” Kaito whispered. Taking a steadying breath. Glancing down at Kokichi, before looking at the ring in his hand again, “Maybe… let me… let me think about it. I shouldn’t make a decision about it like this. I just… no wonder he was never identified in the bonfires, if someone was taking things like this off the bodies…”

“The Diceans might not have realized what it meant.” Shuichi said softly. “And maybe it wasn’t on a body. We don’t really know what happened. Insufficient evidence.”

“Yeah… yeah…” Kaito sighed. His fingers closing around the ring as he whispered, “Yeah.”

-

There was no big crisis to go over in therapy, not right away. On the cooling ends of summer, this was a somewhat nice way to start therapy, as Dr. Mariah settled into her egg, asking everyone, “How is everyone feeling today?”

“Good!” Kokichi chirped, before giving a sheepish look. “Mostly. I’m starting to feel our wedding date kinda bearing down, and I’m like…oh crap. Really gotta finish making plans. And send invitations like…more than a week in advance.”

Not to mention that today was a pain day. Not so bad, he could still get out of bed, but it was just…uncomfortable. Like Kokichi was aware of where all his bones and joints were, instead of just having a more standard bodily presence. But he didn’t think it’d put him out to go to therapy, so he hadn’t asked for a reschedule. The fact that they sat the whole time would probably be for the best too. 

While there were a few events probably worth discussing, Kokichi decided to touch on a lighter one, just for small talk. “My dad’s birthday was on Saturday, and we went to go feed birds out by Ardent Park. We were lucky to get such nice weather.”

“Ah, the wedding.” Dr. Mariah nodded, opening up her journal real quick and glancing down at it, before closing it up and laying it down on her lap, tapping against it as she asked, “Are things on course for the that? How is everyone feeling about it?”

“I’ve honestly been letting Shuichi and Kokichi do most of the planning for that. I mean, I try to help, but…” Kaito grinned, shrugging a little, “It’s really, really cute, watching them look over this little wedding binder thing they’ve made, figuring out logistics and making a bunch of creative decisions together. They’re enjoying themselves, it looks like, so I mostly just try to stay out of the way until they need someone to run an errand.”

“We’re doing our final cake tasting  the day after tomorrow.” Shuichi said, looking content with that idea as he said, “We’ve got it down to five cakes now, and we’re doing one final testing to see which one is the winner.”

Maki rolled her eyes, “You didn’t need to do three cake testings to decide on a cake.”

“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to clean your palate after you eat enough slices of cake? Everyone’s lucky we didn’t need more.”

“They’re just really taking advantage of the excuse to go out together and eat nice pieces of cake.” Kaito told Dr. Mariah dryly, “Because it's ‘wedding’ stuff, I’m not allowed to scold them.”

Dr. Mariah smiled at that, “I see. Well, it’s good to know that the planning for this event has been minimally stressful, and has had a few fun events to pad it out before the celebration. And another celebration, I see? How did the birthday celebration go, overall, Kokichi? I know that with your father returning from the war, this year is a lot of ‘first times’ since he’s been back. Did it go smoothly?”

Kokichi grinned unabashedly and gave Kaito an adoring look for his tolerance of their loophole. There were a lot of kinds of cake, he knew, but nailing down exactly what kind and combination of frosting or fillings was tough! And considering that it was going to be a smaller event, they could splurge for a proper wedding cake with all the decorations, instead of being more practical with a sheet cake. It was yummy either way, but it felt more special, getting something that would be a showpiece. 

Giving Dr. Mariah a nod as she addressed Ikuo’s birthday, Kokichi hummed contently. “I feel so. We ended up getting just a massive bag of bird seed, since that’s what the reserve had, but Ikuo’s been passing it out to folks since and that seems to be going well. He was going out with people all day, and then we had dinner together as is kinda tradition for a lot of us castle-folk, and…it was a good day. I know my dad likes it whenever we carve out time to just talk to each other, and getting to feed birds at the same time was just…pleasant, you know?”

Kokichi perked proudly. “And I got him a new sweater that he said he really liked!”

“Good.” Dr. Mariah smiled, “...may I ask. Did your other father join in the dinner celebration? We haven’t gotten into it as much as I’d have liked too, but I am somewhat aware that there was a conflict in your youth, between your fathers that, at the very least, left you feeling like acknowledging Ikuo as another parent publicly was impossible. Now that he’s returned, has any of that conflict returned with him?”

Kokichi sighed softly, but his smile wasn’t wiped away. “Aiichi was there, yeah. He sat with us too, and I guess there is some privilege there, since spaces were a hot commodity. But…it was good. Considering how close and involved their relationships are with me, sometimes it’s easy to forget that they’ve been friends for…well, over 20 years.”

Smoothing his hair back into his ponytail, Kokichi half-shrugged, a sort of self-incriminating, yet understanding look pulling at his lips. “It did right at the very start. We both understood and felt that things were different between us, but…for a lot of things, Ikuo and I just…picked up where we left off. But we’ve all talked, me and Ikuo and Aiichi, I mean, and…”

“...my father had admitted that…yanno, it’s not like he’s never been jealous of how well Ikuo and I get along,” Kokichi shrugged again, his grimace not exactly unhappy, but more of an acknowledgement of feelings that didn’t feel great. “Especially as I got into my teens and started being more outspoken and closing myself away… But he said that he doesn’t begrudge Ikuo for our relationship. And, at the end of it, he’s happy that I do have someone like him in my life, and…he’s happy that his and my mom’s wish for a caretaker really worked out the best it could.”

“Aiichi’s my father by blood and by work, now, and Ikuo’s my dad by choice. My love for one doesn’t leave me with less for the other and…I dunno. Nothing seems bitter between the two of them. They’re friends, yanno?”

Dr. Mariah nodded, “That sounds ideal. While I’m certain your one on one sessions has gone more into depth with those conflicts, it’s good to hear that on the other end of it has come better communication between the three of you, over the situation. Our relationships with the people who raise us can often be the most complicated ones in our lives, and the ripple effect of those complications can disproportionally affect almost every other thing in your life. It is never a wasted or small effort, to resolve or explore them into a healthy place… speaking of which.”

She looked to Maki and Shuichi, “Your mentors are still here, I assume. Are they staying for the wedding?”

Maki sighed while Shuichi nodded, “Everyone keeps warning them about the weather, how much it’s going to make traveling back difficult. They don’t seem concerned about it. They came for the summer, and apparently they really meant the summer.”

“How do you feel about this? Your relationship with your mentors is another complicated one.”

“...it’s nice.” Shuichi admitted. Shifting his hat across his forehead a little, as he said, “And annoying. As has been their whole visit…. I’m happy they’re going to be at my wedding. I think I’m going to miss them, when they leave. Especially seeing this new side of them…”

Dr. Mariah tilted her head, “New side?”

“Their ‘vacation’ side.” Maki answered for him. “Our mentors have been… relaxed. Since they’ve gotten here. In a way I didn’t really think they could be. This is going to sound ridiculous, but they’re actually acting like… people. With lives outside of their professions, I mean. They weren’t like this back at Luminary. They travel to nearby towns, often with no notice to any of us, and bring back small trinkets randomly. They wear bright, touristy Dicean clothes, everything mismatched and clearly barely thought about. We saw them randomly sunning by the lake the other day, Miss Kirigiri in a sun hat three times her size, all of them in bathing suits and Mr. Nidai half burnt up because he fell asleep in the sun.”

“They go to spas, and they get their nails done, and they get massages and from the sounds of it eat at a new restaurant every other day… who are these people?” Shuichi said. Looking genuinely baffled as he said, “Miss Kirigiri… has a… a…!?”

Kaito grinned warily, “She has a tongue ring. Shuichi noticed it the last time they talked. He hasn’t handled it well.”

“WHO TOLD HER SHE WAS ALLOWED TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT!? WHY DOES SHE NEED THAT!?”

“I’m sure Oliver appreciates it.” Kaito said.

“SHUT UP!”

“Your mentors grew up in life-long, violently and contractually enforced careers, which required, if I understand right, constant, endless vigilance.” Dr. Mariah said, “They’ve collectively likely daydreamed about taking a vacation their entire lives. It is not that unusual to think that, once they established their children really were happy and okay, that they’d go indulge this new freedom for everything it’s worth. Why the alarm at that?”

“It’s not alarm, it’s just…” Shuichi and Maki looked at each other, before Shuichi continued, “...we didn’t think they had this in them. Mr. Nidai was friendly, but… Maki’s siblings still died, under his care. He was dangerous and ruthless, and Maki’s life with him was a trial of survival.”

“And Shuichi’s mentor never put him at the edge of death, but he was under a constant pressure point to be perfect, always. There was no room for failure in Shuichi’s life, any mistakes or hiccups was answered with long bouts of isolation and brutal training sessions or tasks whose entire points was to make his life miserable. Our mentors had to do it, but… they were a hard, cruel people. The Royal Assassin and the Royal Detective, our greatest supports and our first truly deadly enemies…” Maki frowned, “And now they’re just… normal. And it’s… difficult to reconcile that maybe that whole time, through all of that… that they really had just been normal people that whole time.”

“Maki and Shuichi had them on this pedestal,” Kaito summarized, shrugging a little, “And then out of nowhere their mentors just… walked off those pedestals on their own. Jarring for anyone, really.”

It had actually been Dr. Egami to suggest that the three of them have a sit-down to discuss their relationship. It was such a simple, obvious thing, but…Kokichi knew himself enough to know he would’ve just kept thinking of his dads as two completely different entities that didn’t have feelings concerning each other. 

And…maybe that was just a trial for everyone. Your parents were the first people you (typically) made assumptions about, constructed very clear and strong ideas about the people they were, wholly based on who they were to you… And finding out that, surprise, the entire time they’ve actually been their own people? In any situation that was something difficult to process and come to terms with. 

Even more in Maki and Shuuichi’s situation. Where their parents had to be perfect, and had to ensure that their children would be perfect, because anything less would be the literal death of them. And even as a necessity for life…it was awful. It was hurtful and stressful and Kokichi would forever be thankful that they made it out alive. 

And now they didn’t need it--at least, in all likelihood, to the greatest extent in Kyouko and Nekomaru’s case, though Kokichi had no idea what would be awaiting them back in Luminary--so…

Kokichi nodded, agreeing with Kaito. “I’ve only known them since they’ve been in Dicea, and through stories from you guys, and even still sometimes I get the sense that I’m caught off-guard when I see your mentors just…hanging out around town. If my tiny fraction is like that, I…can barely fathom how alien it must feel for you.”

“...I think…” Shuichi said softly, brushing some of the bangs from his eyes, “I just wish we had seen some of that, growing up. It would have been… comforting.”

“Maybe.” Maki said. “Admittedly, Mr. Nidai showed me more and more of his paternal side the older I got. Probably just more reassured I’d live long enough that he allowed himself to get attached, but I do remember this… alarming middle section, of all of that. Where I felt like I was being set up for something.”

Maki closed her eyes, “I remember the very first toy he ever bought me. It was a doll. It was a nice doll too, one of those intricately sewn ones. It had this beautiful dress, all sorts of little fine details on it, with a hat that you could tie to the top of the dolls head… I spent hours, carefully taking that doll apart. Dismantling it from seam to seam, looking for the poisoned needle that I was certain had to be hidden in it. This the latest test.”

“The next day, when he came to let me out of the room for training, he saw the dall ripped to its stuffing on the desk, and I remember this… brief look on his face. I couldn’t recognize it. I thought he was disappointed that I hadn’t found the trap yet, and told him I was still looking.” Maki recalled, her hands clasping together, “I thought I might be punished for not finding it the first night… but instead, he just praised my vigilance. Said I had already passed the test just by being wise enough to look for it, and as a reward, I’d get to come to the market and pick out my own toy.”

“So you’d know for certain there was no weapon in it.” Shuichi observed.

Maki nodded, “I didn’t realize for years that the doll really had just been a gift. Not until I looked back at that memory as an adult. He just hadn’t wanted to make me feel bad for destroying it… it was always odd, in those early years. When he tried to treat me like his actual daughter, rather than his charge. It took me a long time to realize the attempts were sincere. It was paranoid inducing, at the time.”

Dr. Mariah gave Maki a grim, sad look… before she said softly, “I can understand, why it can feel a bit like you’ve been cheated, after a childhood like that. Your mentors were normal people, who if they could have, likely would have raised you with as much consideration and love as anyone else… that just wasn’t the reality of what you were living through, though. And it can be difficult to accept these ‘new’ people.”

“I mean… how much Miss Kirigiri and Mr. Nidai loved you guys always felt obvious to me, growing up.” Kaito mused, “But then, I think that was just from watching them try to protect you two from me. And then eventually getting past that letting you guys run off and play with me all the time… I know there was some pressure, to not say no to the second son, but I also think it probably wouldn’t have been that hard for them to whisper in the Head Secretary or moms ears and have them tell me, no, I can’t be friends with the assassin and detective apprentices. But they didn’t. They let me chase you guys around and shower you with gifts and take you places and ‘spoil’” Kaito finger quoted around the words, “you both as much as your schedules would let me. I know none of that can erase the nightmares they put you both through, but… I was lucky enough to always just see the sides of them that loved you. So them coming all the way to Dicea to check on you before messing around on their vacations? Seems natural to me.”

“You’d be just as alarmed and weirded out if the queen and king had showed up and just decided to ‘hang out’ for months, Kaito.” Shuichi pointed out dryly.

Kaito grinned warily at that, as he pointed out right back, “So would you have. I don’t know what would have ever convinced them to visit Dicea, but it wouldn’t have been to see me.”

Kokichi’s heart dropped as Maki told the story of her doll. The pride and love for Maki that always came off Nekomaru in droves…he could so easily imagine the beginning days of that. The man not cold, but…no parent could survive sending…well, any child of theirs, but Kokichi at least knew more than one, child to their deaths. So…he couldn’t let himself be a parent. Not until he knew one had a fighting chance to survive. And then when he could…the terrifying shift for Maki, and the realization for Nekomaru that it couldn’t…just be a switch to flip for her. And the both of them knowing just how dangerous their work and lives were, even if they survived it. 

…now no other child or parent would have to go through that again. It was a grand, purposeful victory…but it couldn’t heal the wounds already inflicted. 

Kokichi took a small, steadying breath after that, though he looked over to give Kaito a supportive look, as they discussed an empathetic hypothetical. Some part of Kokichi wanted to guess that maybe Kaito’s mom would’ve come to see him, but…he didn’t know that. Especially with the ways she had disregarded him before, and…well, he didn’t think Sayaka would be put any more at ease in the Dicean castle than the Luminous one. Probably even less, since she wouldn’t already know the game to play there.

“Maybe it’s just me projecting the relief I feel with my own changing relationships with my parents,” Kokichi said softly, “But…well, even if it is weird, I’m glad your mentors are here, and that you are seeing them be people now. There’s no changing the past, but…the future deserves tending just as much, right?”

“It does. I suppose we’re just still adjusting to what that future looks like.” Shuichi said, “As I said, it’s nice that they’re here. Just… weird and difficult to adjust too.”

“...and also that tongue piercing is an ABOMINATIO–”

“The realization that our parents– and mentors respectively– are real people with their own lives and facets to their personalities is a difficult thing to adjust to for any child. Especially ones that grew up idolizing their caretakers.” Dr. Mariah said, tilting her head a little and considering things, “... if it would help? Shuichi, Maki, please feel free to set up an appointment with me where we can sit down with your mentors again, maybe get into this some more with them. They may be having their own difficulties, after all, rectifying the adults you turned into versus the ones they had been pressured to raise. How have things been with Timothy, for instance? Do they treat him as they treated you, as children?”

“We don’t give them and Timothy too many chances to interact, still.” Maki admitted, “But… no. They treat him nicely. Mr. Nidai is fond of taking him places that, arguably, are not for children. Timothy came back with a pedicure the other day, for instance. And I still don’t let Mr. Nidai take him anywhere without a third person there to basically ensure there’s no… impromptu training.”

“It sounds like this isn’t a crisis then. You’re a family with a difficult past, taking the first steps towards a better future. I would still recommend a session between the four of you, but so long as no one is in serious emotional or physical conflict? I think you all are handling it as best as you can.” Dr. Mariah said, before her gaze turned to Kaito, “...”

Kaito sighed. “Let me guess. Now it’s time to talk about my parents?”

“We do not have to.” Dr. Mariah offered. “I’ve never tried to stress discussing your parents with you, Kaito, out of respect for the fact that your grief is still a raw, recent thing. I didn’t want to force you to share it unless you volunteered it. But that doesn’t mean it’s effects on you in these discussions haven’t been obvious. All four of you have a history of, well…” Dr. Mariah gave all of them gentle looks as she said, “...various forms of abuse. Though I’m certain some of you would not like to consider it abuse. But you, Kaito… you’re the only one who’s never going to have a chance to find closure with your abusers. That chance was taken from you.”

Kaito frowned, “... no it hasn’t. I’ll get to talk to them about it in paradise.”

Dr. Mariah sighed, “Well… then I suppose in this life, it was a chance taken from you. To speak to your parents as they were, rather than the versions of them you will be reunited with someday, a time from now.”

…honestly, Kokichi thought Kyouko’s tongue piercing was quite tasteful. In keeping with her general aesthetic. 

He glanced away, though, at the thought of Kaito one day reconciling with his parents in paradise. Not because he thought it was a nice lie for Kaito to believe it--Kokichi knew better now. But…well, Kokichi thought that Kaito getting to talk to his parents after they had undergone the trials would probably make for a better conversation than anything he might’ve been able to get in life. 

But…that didn’t help now, or even in a handful of years, or in a couple decades, when the hurt they had inflicted still…hurt. If the point of the trials was to become a better person, so that there would be no conflict in paradise…

That was the point. Maybe it didn’t have to be a screaming match, and it would probably be better if it wasn’t, but finding closure with the people that hurt you? Kokichi couldn’t speak for Shuuichi or Maki, but…his confrontation with his father had been conflict. It had been an outpouring of Kokichi’s pain, and his father’s horror and realization with what he’d done. If Aiichi had already grown to the point where he knew that stuff…if Kokichi had already understood his feelings, then…what was the point of talking about it?

Maybe it was because they were still too early in their feelings, the wounds too fresh. But…well, Kokichi still hoped that Kaito would get something out of talking with his parents, a lifetime from now. 

(...he didn’t really…want Kaito to reconcile with Byakuya or Kaede. But Kokichi knew that wasn’t his decision to make. And Kaito deserved to get closure from them too.)

“I guess that’s true…” Kaito murmured, rubbing the back of his neck a bit, “...did we talk about their anniversary? Last session I mean?”

Dr. Mariah tapped against her journal, “I don’t believe so. Not beyond acknowledging it passed, and even then I don’t believe we did that either.”

“Did we not? No, I guess we didn’t… well, their anniversary of, uh, being dead wasn’t that long ago. Two weeks ago? One year dead.” Kaito paused, “We have talked about how it can be hard to remember their dead, right? I forget they’re dead all the time.”

“We have, yes.”

Kaito nodded, “Right… I was having a really hard time mourning them, that day. Maki took me out, basically babysat me all day. I didn’t really need it, I felt okay, but it was nice to spend the day with Maki…” Kaito paused. Reconsidering if he wanted to talk about it, “...we ended up talking about my parents, but like… I told her I realized my parents hadn’t loved me. Or, if they did, it wasn’t a version of love I could recognize. I don’t know why they didn’t love me. They loved Byakuya and Kaede. They loved my Aunt Ibuki. They loved the cats and dogs we’ve had over the years…” Kaito shrugged. His face impartial, as he said, “They didn’t love me. I don’t know why.”

“If you tell me, Kaito, that your parents did not love you, then I believe you.” Dr. Mariah reassured him. “But I still feel the need to ask why you’re so certain, if only to open up lines of communicating how those reasons affected you.”

“I get it… like I said, I don’t really know why. I mean, I could blame it on a lot of things, but… it really feels like they didn’t love me even before I ruined everything.” Kaito admitted, fussing with his joints, though his expression was still even as he continued, “I think sometimes they liked me, like… when I was cute? Maybe that’s just me being biased, because I do remember them being happy to see me, sometimes, when I was a little kid. But it was always so briefly. Like I was an amusement, and then they’d nod at one of the servants and I’d be taken away. Back to the nanny’s, or back to my room, or just out the door. Like, oh, there’s Kaito. That’s a novelty. Alright, that’s enough.” Kaito rolled his eyes, “And then that stopped entirely after everything happened with my claim. I think they were embarrassed by me, by that point.”

“There’s a lot of guilty language, in that explanation.” Dr. Mariah noted, “I know you keep claiming that you don’t know why your parents didn’t have the same type of love for you as they did others, but it does sound like you blame yourself for it.”

“...” Kaito glanced at Maki, who looked stoicly at him back. Kaito debating something with himself… before he said, “Like I said, if they loved me before my inheritance was lost, then the embarrassment of making me give up my claim ruined it for good. It was a massive scandal, and especially after just executing a cousin for trying to usurp the throne? I humiliated my parents. Between myself and Haji, it looked like the Momota family was losing its mind. Falling apart.”

“They were.” Shuichi pointed out. “You just were offered up as a scapegoat.”

“...careful, Shuichi.” Maki said stiffly, noting the grim look coming over Kaito’s face. 

“This should be said.” Shuichi insisted. Explaining it to Dr. Mariah and Kokichi, but looking entirely at Kaito as he said, “King Leon was becoming more and more notably unhinged, starting a massive war with our next door neighbors after all these uplifting stories of the two leaders being close. I don’t remember those talks, but logically it had to have happened. There should have been so much hope for prosperity after Hopes Peak Academy, and instead King Leon went to war with a person who had been his best friend in that school. That’s blow number one: then. Princess Ibuki, who had given up her claim as a sign of peace within the Momota branches, sends her children to be classically trained at the castle, and within a few years the eldest one who swore fealty to King Leon is caught trying to have him killed. Blow number two.”

“Sure, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t acting crazy, Shui–”

“Blow number three, rebel groups are starting to pop up everywhere. They’re small and unorganized, but they’re violent and loud, and their ideas are spreading. King Leon’s now sending guards into towns to beat down and suppress citizens. The elites are getting scared. Things are clearly unraveling. But,” Shuichi said, looking to Maki, “There’s hope. King Leon points to the kids, to the intelligent and charismatic and hardworking Byakuya and Kaede, and assures the elites that the country will be in good hands. To the point where he, in a show of making the correct choices for Luminary over tradition, waives the tradition of every other generation of Momota giving up their claim, putting himself in danger as a show of faith in how much he believes in the leadership qualities of his kids. The elites are reassured…”

“...and then I started talking to people in the air.” Kaito muttered.

“And everyone who applauded King Leon for guaranteeing the future of Luminary leadership is suddenly whispering that he made the wrong choice.” Shuichi said, “And King Leon’s extended the war again, which is going poorly. And in constant damage control, this bastard–”

“Shuichi…”

“-- decides to prove he’s listening to the elites and still has Luminary’s well being in mind and was still in control of the situation by throwing Kaito under the carriage. Proving that he’s a ‘flexible’ leader by ‘correcting’ one of his mistakes.” Shuichi said, irritation marring his usually soft and cool features, “Just to appease the people who have noticed the ever increasing sandstorm Luminary’s been going through ever since Leon took the throne, even though taking Kaito’s inheritance from him literally solved none of the real issues that were building into the civil war we saw erupted. It was just a publicity stunt to make Leon look like a more adaptable leader than he was. And he was still wrong about everything, anyway, because every worst case scenario from his actions still happened anyway. We lost the war, our resources were still dwindling, the rebellions were growing stronger and the Momota family was still falling apart. Shockingly, humiliating an eleven year old to appease everyone's fears did nothing to stop all of that.”

“...” Dr. Mariah waited, watching Shuichi pant a little, having barely taken a breath through all that, before she said, “You seem to have been holding onto that for a while.”

“I hated them.” Shuichi whispered. His eyes dilated a little, as he said, “The King and Queen were monsters who destroyed everything they touched, and should have never been allowed to lead a food stall, let alone a kingdom… and no. No part of me believes they loved Kaito. I’m not convinced they loved anything. And not being able to say that aloud for my whole life was agony.”

“Hmm…” Dr. Mariah looked to Kaito, “...should we take a minute?”

“...yeah.” Kaito muttered. His eyes a little red-rimmed, a despondent look on his face, “Please.”

“Two minutes. Drink some water.”

Even with the minor ache it sent from his fingers up his wrists, Kokichi curled his hands into fists, biting his lip in an effort to keep quiet. However, the darkening of his expression was probably loud enough for anyone who might’ve glanced over, if they glanced away from Kaito perchance. 

Yeah, he had his own issues with his parents, but…but whatever! That just meant he was speaking from a place of consideration, rather than just affirming whatever he grew up with! 

The burden of love should never be placed on the child. Parents didn’t get to just decide they didn’t love their child anymore, no matter what their child did. Parents decided to bring a new life into the world, one wholly dependant on them, o-or they chose to nurture that life, and at no point did they just get to decide to revoke it, while still keeping the kid around. 

Kaito couldn’t have ruined anything--the love from parents was something that should’ve been unconditional. 

…unless Leon and Sayaka really hadn’t ever loved anything, had never chosen and worked for love, and had always just…chased selfish impulses of ownership. Kokichi, even, didn’t want to believe that there were really people out there incapable of love, but…he’d never heard any example of Kaito’s parents loving anything. Not for Byakuya, not for Aiichi…not for anything. 

And while a lot of the examples Shuuichi vented, shocking Kokichi out of his rage, were…things he’d only had vague knowledge of…that was the point Shuuichi outlined too. And, well…while, with more context, he did agree with his fiance…

Just because they had never loved Kaito didn’t mean he hadn’t loved them. 

Taking a few bracing breaths to climb out of his egg, Kokichi went over to Kaito, looking at him concerned and just…crouching nearby. Not knowing if Kaito would want physical assurance, but being nearby if he did.

Kaito had taken out his meditation stone and started fussing with it. Rubbing his thumbs along the long-smoothed edges, a troubled expression on his face made only worse as he spotted Maki get up and go to Shuichi’s egg. Either checking in on him or scolding him for talking about what, for years, Kaito was aware had been one of the ‘forbidden’ topics. Can’t tell Kaito his family was taking advantage of him, didn’t love him, because Kaito would shut down or pretend not to hear or pretend not to understand… god, he must have been a truly aggravating person to grow up with. He wondered how many times Shuichi had just wanted to scream all of that, word for word, at Kaito growing up…

But his expression shifted to Kokichi, later than he would have liked as he only noticed Kokichi moving by the time his husband was crouched near his egg. Looking up at him in concern. Kaito frowned at that, shoving the stone back into his pocket as he got up from his egg, heading over and kneeling down beside him, running his palm over Kokichi’s cheek as he said, “Babe, what are you doing? You said today was a bad day, that position is gonna wreck your knees.”

Kokichi smiled softly and put his hand over Kaito’s, leaning into it with his head too. “I can hold it for a little bit. And I wanna be here for you. But…yanno, not all in your face. It’s a break for a reason.”

He did want to check in on Shuuichi too, but…for a two minute break, Maki had that covered. For now, Kokichi could just focus on Kaito, could listen to a pain that he knew Shuuichi and Maki weren’t unsympathetic too--especially as evidenced by how it was Kaito and Maki talking in the first place that had sparked the discussion--but…Kokichi knew the two of them were too close and hurt themselves sometimes to really just…let Kaito go through his feelings. 

Reaching out, Kokichi captured Kaito’s other hand and brought it to his face, kissing the back of his hand. 

“You,” Kaito said sternly, the tips of his ears burning red, “Are going to put me in the wrong mindset. Stop that. You’re being cute. It’s not cute Kokichi time.”

“Sorry,” Kokichi faintly grinned, shrugging but releasing the hand not on his cheek. “It’s hard when it’s my natural state, you know?”

The smile faded from there. “...but I’m not just trying to smooth over things. I know we’ll get back into it, but…” Kokichi took a small breath, squeezing the hand he still had, even if the strength was a little weaker than usual. “...you have every right to be hurt, hun. And that pain doesn’t…doesn’t mean that our own pain, or expressions is diminished. We’re here to support you. Just like all of us do for each other. Okay?”

“I know. He wasn’t trying to hurt me, he just…” Kaito frowned. Speaking softly, lightly running his thumb over Kokichi’s cheekbones, “...we haven’t talked about this much. I mean, not… like this. I mean, my head was all…” Kaito’s expression grew more tired, shrugging a little. “You know.”

“...getting to a point where it’s possible to talk about this stuff doesn’t really make it easier. And there’s still this part of me that feels like it's fake. Like… like maybe I’m lying to myself. Or exaggerating what I remember. Or… I felt happy. I know I felt happy…” Kaito closed his eyes, just feeling Kokichi in his hand. Taking comfort in that familiar, comforting presence, as he whispered, “But that’s just me not wanting to face it. I knew it was bad, even before I was capable of talking about it. I just couldn’t be honest with myself about what I knew. And I couldn’t be honest with anyone else… it’s hard. Learning how to talk about this stuff.”

Opening his eyes, Kaito looked briefly pained… before relaxing a little. Smiling at Kokichi as he said softly, “It helps that you’re one of the people I’m talking to. My insufferably cute ‘Kichi…”

Kokichi nodded, his gaze sad but knowing as he pressed more into Kaito’s touch. He did know. It was more than just Kaito’s specific situation that had stilled Shuuichi’s tongue, but…in the moments Kokichi knew they must’ve had, where it was truly just the three of them…and Shuuichi and Maki knowing that they still couldn’t get certain things off their chest to their greatest supporter and friend… Kokichi believed their fiance whole-heartedly, when he called that agony. 

But it hadn’t been Kaito’s fault that it was like that. 

Though it did mean they didn’t have as much practice with the difficult conversations now. But they were getting there. 

“If you felt happy…then I believe you. It’s not impossible that you were happy.” Kokichi murmured. “...but it doesn’t mean that you weren’t hurt too. And…I think it’s important to acknowledge that now. Now that we’re learning how to take steps through the things we didn’t or couldn’t face before.”

“It’s really hard,” he agreed, before returning Kaito’s smile. “So…I’m really proud of you, for getting through it anyway. You’re amazing, Kai-chan. And I’m glad I can support you, and make it any amount easier I can. I know I would’ve struggled so much more getting through my own hard parts without you.”

He kept that soft gaze for another moment before gently wincing. “...but I think I’ve hit my limit, and joint pain isn’t the kind of hard thing I wanna just power through.”

“‘Kichi.” Kaito sighed softly. His expression warm and loving and a touch exasperated, as he straightened up and, clasping Kokichi’s arms and steadying his lower back, helping his husband back up as well, supporting him back to the chair, “Geez, come on. You can be cute later, stop hurting yourself for your brute of a husband.”

It seemed that the two minutes had been enough time for Shuichi and Maki to finish their small discussion as well, Maki reaching over to flick Shuichi’s hat up and him pouting at her a little as she headed back to her chair. Dr. Mariah, looking through her journal, closed it up again as she saw everyone settled. 

“Alright. Everyone feeling okay? Kaito?”

“Yeah, I’m alright… I’m not mad at you Shuichi, if you thought I was.” Kaito said, looking to his fiance, “And, man… I hope you’re not too mad at me. I never meant to, like, suppress what you could say around me, but I know I did. That wasn’t fair.”

“It wasn’t just you, Kaito, it was dangerous for me to say things like that.” Shuichi said, readjusting his hat more firmly across his forehead, “But watching your situation especially was infuriating, sometimes. I know now for certain it was the conditioning, but for so long it felt deeply possible that you were just… that firmly in denial. And it was always so tempting to think that if I just spoke plainly to you, you’d see what was happening to you. To us. To everyone. Those people destroyed everything… no one was safe from their incompetence.”

Kaito grinned warily, something still sad in his face, “Yeah, I know. They… well, I mean, you all saw. Luminary went to war, but it wasn’t in revenge for the fallen King and Queen. It really seemed like no one cared that they died. It was entirely just between deciding who was better for the country, Kaede or Byakuya. And, well… the opinions that ended up mattering picked Kaede. But no one was grieving my parents.”

“That’s still a difficult reality to live in, Kaito.” Dr. Mariah said, getting his attention, “Even if you had your own complicated history with your parents, watching not only the indifference, but celebration, of two people you cared abouts passing is a difficult thing. I know the last time I asked about it, you said you were ‘starting’ to talk about that stuff to Miss Crystal…”

“No, yeah. We talk more about it now.” Kaito said, a small wince on his face, “Like, ya know… more childhood stuff. A little.”

“The fact that you feel the need to clarify it’s only a bit worries me, Kaito. These are serious conflicts for you. It very much is a crisis situation, and probably was a more serious one at numerous points in the past year...” Dr. Mariah paused, “I suppose I’ve never actually explained what a ‘crisis’ situation is.”

“A… really bad situation?” Kaito tried.

“A situation where there’s a danger attached to it.” Maki guessed. 

“I mean, I could give you the technical definition, but I’m assuming that’s not what you’re looking for.” Shuichi sighed.

“Maki’s closest,” Dr. Mariah agreed, “A crisis situation, in this context, is an emotionally charged situation where a person is either actively, or is at risk of actively, performing self-destructive behavior. It is a situation where you are not just feeling bad, but your actions are being rapidly and dangerously affected by those feelings. To get out of a crisis situation is to get past the point where you are at risk of destroying either yourself, or the things around you, whether that be metaphorically or quite literally. For instance, Kaito, it would likely be accurate to say that attacking that man at the beach was you acting out in a crisis situation. All of you have had some. Kokichi has admitted that the memorial garden incident was a passive suicide attempt. Shuichi, in turn, kept continuously trying to destroy his relationships when in recovery from spores. Maki recognized she was in a crisis situation when she returned from the war, and asked Kaito to make her decisions for her specifically to not fall into those traps.”

“Seriously, why am I the best at therapy? I need you all to get on my level.” Maki somewhat joked. 

Dr. Mariah gave Maki a cool look at that, but didn’t scold her. The two of their private one on one sessions having gone into already that while Maki had a surprising amount of emotional maturity, that Dr. Mariah still wanted more overall engagement from her when it came to the therapy sessions themselves. It was a work in progress. 

“My point is, it’s important to recognize a crisis situation, and to acknowledge it as such. ‘Muscling through’ is very rarely a useful answer to it.” Dr. Mariah cautioned, “Because an illogical train of thought is one of the symptoms of it being a crisis. During a crisis, it’s imperative to have a social safety network, or plans that you can follow through on that keeps you from making any sort of decision, important or otherwise, during a crisis. Because even if you don’t mean for it to be, odds are your choices are going to be self-destructive. You need support and the ability to wait until the immediate crisis has passed, and you can start thinking about it as a more normal problem.”

“I mean… we do have that.” Kaito said, looking around at the group, “I’d think so. If that’s what a crisis situation is? We already do that for each other. I mean, sure, maybe we weren’t, like… smooth as butter in the beginning… but we’ve got it now!”

Kokichi leaned into Kaito’s help, giving him a sheepish grin as they carefully rose together, heading back to his seat. It wasn’t the sort of thing Kokichi thought he’d pay for later, but…well, like he’d said--he was at his limit. When they got back home, he’d just take it easy, maybe prop himself up with a cushion as well as he played with Miyako on the floor. 

But they still had the rest of their session to go through first. 

For as much as they talked about crisis situations…yeah. Kokichi didn’t think Dr. Mariah had ever defined it with them. Considering the sort of things they talked about, Kokichi figured he could surmise what she meant--to him, he kinda figured…well, the mental version of being at your limit. Knowing that a situation had gotten to a point where you needed someone else to intervene. The qualification of it being the point where you would start being dangerous to yourself or others just made more sense. 

Meeting Kaito’s gaze as he searched for agreement in their group, Kokichi nodded slowly. “We’re definitely a lot better than we were before. Like…I think we can actually recognize crisis situations now, and not just expect each other to…stifle it down, or something.”

He tilted his head a little. “...but I think we still have a little ways to go. We are getting better about it, but…a social safety net should be larger than just the four of us, especially since we set each other off a lot still. We do ask other people for help, and, I mean, we’ve come to you for emergency sessions before, so that’s an example,” Kokichi nodded to Dr. Mariah, “But…I dunno how easily asking for help from others comes to any of us. I know that asking for help when I start to feel myself slipping is still something I have to fight with myself for.”

“I don’t want to lose track of discussing Kaito’s parent and home life, because I do feel like it’s an important thing to discuss and that we’ve neglected it too long.” Dr. Mariah cautioned, before adding in, “But, with the assumption we’re coming back to it afterwards, let’s explore Kokichi’s point a bit. Because that is also a worthy topic of discussion, and one we’ve touched on only in little bits before. Which is finding support when this specific group is either unavailable, or… well. Unhelpful.”

Looking around the group, she mused aloud, “The coma situation. The dragon problem. Nao… and, while the results of it are less depressing than the earlier examples, I’ve been putting some thought into your situation, Kokichi, since our last session and I’ve come to believe that I may have missed a very serious red flag on your part.” Dr. Mariah explained, “Your Kaito place-holder that lives in your head.”

Kaito frowned at that. Something instinctive in him making him want to square his shoulders and lift his chin a little, as he said, “Kokichi’s allowed to have imaginary versions of me, I don’t think it’s that weird and I’m tired of everyone making fun of hi–”

“There’s nothing wrong with the existence of the construct by itself.” Dr. Mariah interrupted, Kaito huffing in annoyance as she clarified, “It’s why that construct was created in the first place, that I’m worried I may have missed an underlying problem there. That, coupled with…” Dr. Mariah tapped at her journal, “Discussions we’ve had about Kokichi reaching out to memory versions of Kaito to reassure him of his powersets and taking them as the literal Kaito’s final word on the matter… again. Individually, there’s nothing wrong with that practice. It was a best case practice daydream scenario that gave Kokichi the courage to face the problem in the real world. But this, along with the Kaito construct, along with Kokichi saying on several occasions that it was only Kaito’s word on the subject that pushed him past mental blocks that had been developed and reinforced for years… individually, none of that is wrong. Altogether, it paints a worrying picture of a fixation that goes a tad beyond codependency.”

“I also believe, Kaito, this is why no less than two times you’ve blown up at us for not addressing Kokichi’s issues more directly.” Dr. Mariah said, while Kaito seemed to be debating with himself if he should be arguing on Kokichi’s behalf or not. “I think some of his issues are far more obvious to you than they would be to anyone else… specifically because you are the only person he lets see those issues. And that does not make a healthy support system.”

Kokichi grimaced a bit as Dr. Mariah brought up Chibi Kaito. He had never forgotten that initial advice both Alter Ego and Mikado had given him about the dangers of having a personoid construct. And…maybe that was part of the problem, but Kokichi didn’t think he’d fallen into that trap. He knew Chibi Kaito wasn’t a real person, and it definitely wasn’t a stand-in for his actual husband. 

He just… Was it so bad to try and make his construct happy? Kokichi made sure it wasn’t interfering with his actual responsibilities, or stressing him out too much, so…it was basically a daydream, right?

But as Dr. Mariah went on to explain that it wasn’t really any of Kokichi’s habits individually, but them all together that was concerning, Kokichi knit his eyebrows together, looking over at Kaito. Kaito did want to talk about his issues more, and…well, if they were really putting a pin in his parents…

Kokichi frowned, looking to the side. “...we didn’t make Chibi Kai-chan because I needed more emotional support. He’s a memory-retrival construct. And he works a lot better than the other constructs I tried to make before him.”

Kaito gave Kokichi a small, startled look… and his lips pressed together, like he was holding back the urge to bite his lower lip a bit. Holding an observation back. Now that they were talking about a Kokichi issue, suddenly worried about this devolving into the series of attacks it sometimes felt like Kaito was going through, when they were diving into one of his issues. 

It was Shuichi, though, who raised an eyebrow and asked, “You’ve made other constructs? I’ve only ever heard of Chibi-Kaito.”

Dr. Mariah, in turn, observed, “You were quite nervous to tell us about him, when you did. At the time, I dismissed it as you feeling embarrassed at the aesthetic choice. Again, while we talked about this a little last session, it’s made me more conscious of patterns of behavior I dismissed when hearing about them individually. With this new perspective, your discomfort explaining your constructs existence suggests that his existence wasn’t entirely for practical purposes.”

Kokichi started to rub the back of his neck, before pausing and gently easing the joints in his hand. “I mean…it is a little embarrassing. And I knew Shuu-chan and Maki-chan were gonna tease me, and they did. I don’t feel ashamed enough to…to get rid of him, but…it is embarrassing, having a little doll-version of my husband helping me out in my head.”

Sighing, Kokichi crossed his arms. “...but he is a comfort to me, outside of what he was made for. He’s a bit more than the sum of his parts now, and…yanno, while I was in my coma, he and Alter Ego kept me company. Sharing nice memories, or just…being there, so I wasn’t alone in the void. And I like doing things for him, like making a little space that’s just for him, or making a Chibi Kokichi to keep him company, or hanging out with other people,” he nodded to Maki. 

“I’ve already…” With another sigh, Kokichi picked at the hem of his shirt. “Other Empaths have already talked to me about how it can be dangerous having a construct that’s a person, since…yanno, they’re not actually new life. And treating them like they’re an actual person is dangerous, just like choosing to live in your head. And…and maybe I’m a little indulgent towards Chibi Kai-chan, but…I don’t think it’s to that point, or heading there, and none of the other people in the community I trust have pulled me aside in concern, or anything.”

Dr. Mariah shifted her long black hair over her thin shoulders, silent as she listened to Kokichi explain. 

“I feel like I’ve failed to explain my concern.” Dr. Mariah decided. “I am not asking you to justify the constructs existence, nor do I at any point plan to suggest that it, or even he, should not. There is nothing wrong with imaginary friends, even ones that take a portion of your free time as you contemplate them, so long as there is that understanding of a difference between fantasy and reality. I don't think ‘Chibi Kaito’ is a symptom of you losing grasp of reality. I think he is a symptom of how you view Kaito, specifically.”

“If we wanted to discuss an instance of you blurring reality and fiction, we would talk about you discussing your empath abilities from versions of Kaito that only existed in your mind.” Dr. Mariah said pointedly, “Where the line was blurred a little. But we’ve already discussed why, individually, I didn’t find this exercise alarming. You needed to believe in it a little. It was a coping technique to give you the ability to move forward on a problem that frightened you. Once the technique had served its function, you let it go. Not a symptom of you losing track of reality, but still a symptom of how you view Kaito.”

“And we’ve discussed before, the incident that lead to you, Kokichi, starting to reconcile the strained relationships in your life and recognize that in those, you were blending and blurring fantasy and reality, and it was destroying your life. You have worked on that since then, and it seems you’ve made tremendous progress, and it’s not what I’m concerned about… but I still think it’s telling, that it was Kaito’s word that you chose to trust, rather then the reality you perceived in front of you.”

“It wasn’t.” Kaito frowned. He winced a little as Dr. Mariah turned her attention to him next, an intensity in her gaze that he recognized as her chasing after an idea with growing passion: Dr. Mariah could be intimidating, sometimes, when she was focused like that. But he continued regardless, “You don’t have all the facts, you weren’t there. Me telling Kokichi what was going on with his family wasn’t the start of that. I mean, I know Kokichi says it was, but I’ve always thought Kokichi was maybe giving me too much credit there. Kokichi had been spending weeks trying to reassure me his family weren’t all monsters out to get him at every turn. To the point where it was a fight between us, a really long one that kept coming up over and over… that day at harvest? Was me finally choosing to believe him… and then getting pissed at what that meant about how he had been treating them. I didn't’ convince him, he convinced me.”

A symptom of how he viewed Kaito…

Kokichi liked to think he had a nuanced view of Kaito--his husband was a complex, layered person, not just a bundle of attributes after all. But…well, how many times had he called Kaito his hero? He did know he viewed Kaito as more of a savior than was perhaps explainable as a lot of faith. Was…that too much, though? They had seen the edge of that sort of thinking with Maki, but…Kokichi was still full aware that Kaito was human, with all of the faults and limits that entailed. So…

Kokichi frowned a little more, though he did offer a brief smile as Kaito tried to defend one of the bigger points in this discussion. “But…the only thing that started to show me how incongruent my views were was watching you try to reconcile them. I mean…I lived, for years, seeing the kindness and love of my family, all while believing I was truly alone. I saw how they treated each other and other people… There was always evidence that they did love me.”

He sighed softly, his gaze going downcast. “...but it wasn’t until I saw how…constantly stressed out and worried you were, living in the world I believed, that it…clicked.”

“Of course I’d be stressed out and worried. I thought you were a prisoner in your own home being actively abused by the staff.” Kaito frowned, “I was scared out of my mind. I had no idea how to help you with a problem that big.”

Turning to Dr. Mariah, he stressed, “And I… it took a lot from Kokichi to convince me that my first impressions were wrong. Honestly, nothing has strained our relationship more than my paranoia about his family. If anything, Kokichi saw me struggling to make connections and to live comfortably in his home because of all of that, and he did a massive amount of personal growth and work on himself to take care of me. I’m not some, like, all powerful presence to him, I’m barely functioning and Kokichi’s always been kind enough to love me anyway.”

Dr. Mariah grasped her hands together. She got the impression both Kokichi and Kaito were getting defensive, but, well… talks like these could often lead to defensive feelings. Even if they were defending against an argument she was not actually making. Still, she pressed onwards, as she said, “Let’s talk about your early sex life.”

At that, Kaito paled. The wind taken out of his sails a bit, as he said, “Okay, wait…”

“It’s another symptom. And, again, individually… well, individually that was an issue. But you all had already made a considerable amount of progress on it before you ever came to my therapy sessions. So, individually, I didn’t contribute it to a greater problem with Kokichi’s social support system. But in light of everything else, it’s another symptom of his views on Kaito. The way its been explained to me, Kaito was controlling and aggressive in bed, to the point where it eventually escalated into a full blown rape. Now, Kokichi, you did eventually go to someone else for help on that matter, but it took a while. How did that go, ultimately? Not the event of the night itself, but the leadup and the aftermath. Was this before the revelation that you did have other people in your life outside of Kaito?”

Kokichi nodded, sending an apologetic look Kaito’s way. The ‘of course’ was something big. Because…Kaito had been living in the world that Kokichi had convinced himself of, so…seeing how rightfully terrified his husband had been, it would’ve only been natural that Kokichi would feel the same. And sure, he didn’t feel great about things a lot of the time, but he wasn’t living in constant terror, and that disconnect made him realize…oh. That wasn’t reality. 

It had taken a lot of work from both of them to grow from that point, and they were still feeling the consequences of it. But…again, Kokichi couldn’t really tie that into his views on Kaito. 

…maybe the next thing could. 

Kokichi glanced away, still uncomfortable speaking at length of those days. He grimaced, before half-shrugging. “It was before. The aftermath…well, I had an attack the day after, and then…everything with Kai-chan’s parents, and Shuu-chan’s addiction kinda kicked off after that so…I wasn’t exactly thinking about it that much. And before…”

He paused, trying to really remember what had happened before that night. “...things were…relatively calm, for how things were those days. If you can call Kai-chan and I unknowingly going to a cult party calm. But…I dunno. We’d just had a lot of crises and there had just been…a stretch of time where we could just breathe. Head to town if we wanted, get more used to each other…”

Kokichi shrugged a little.

“They also left their bedroom so little that people still mention it today.” Maki said.

Dr. Mariah nodded, “That would be another bit of unhe–”

“But I don’t see why it matters.” Maki interrupted. Narrowing her eyes a little, as she said, “You don’t need a master degree or to even be a therapist to point out that at the beginning of this year, Kaito was literally Kokichi’s whole world. Everyone knew that. It was immediate, and all consuming, and Shuichi and I suffered for it. Kokichi was fixated on Kaito as the only social point in his entire life worth pursuing, and Kaito in return showered Kokichi with all the attention Kokichi had been looking for. It consumed them both, how wrapped up in each other they were. Kaito barely looked at Shuichi and I, during those days, and Haneda was the only person raising Timothy. We only got to know Kokichi in small, bite-sized pieces. Nothing could pull their focus away from each other.”

Kaito sighed, running his hands over his forehead and rubbing his thumbs over his temples a little. Shame running through him at the reminder of how spectacularly he had dropped the ball, with literally everyone who wasn’t Kokichi in those early days… and even still with Kokichi, despite Kaito dedicating all his focus on him. God he was such a fuckup…

“But that’s not the case anymore. Making that observation is far too late now. It’s old news.” Maki said, looking back and forth between Dr. Mariah and Kokichi, as she said, “Isn’t it? Kokichi, didn’t you run off to bitch to Lake when you and Kaito had that fight at the heat wave? Doesn’t that right there prove he has a social system outside of Kaito?”

Kokichi startled a little at Maki’s tear-down, but…well, she was right. They had all had their issues socially at the start, but…that was the reason they had made that pact with each other, to start forcing themselves to seek out other people and other social situations. Even feeling like they could only rely on each other, they had still seen how isolated they were, and had seen a problem in that. 

And Kokichi in particular… As soon as he had opened up to Kaito a little, he had given himself fully into all the social needs he, well, needed. And especially with all the horrible, wild shit going on…Kaito had felt like the center of his whole world. Like other people were passing asteroids that Kokichi could acknowledge, but he never took his eyes off his sun. 

…but things had changed from then. 

Kokichi nodded lightly, looking from Maki to Dr. Mariah. “I mean…yeah. I do talk with my siblings or my parents, or other friends and…yanno, not just for light things. I do love you guys a lot, and I think you’re all brilliant,” he grinned at his family, “But…I know you can’t be my whole world. And I know I’ll be missing out if I never seek help from other people. So…I mean, I might not be super comfortable asking super personal things from everyone but…I ask my dad, and my father and I talk about life a lot, and I drop in on my sister when she’s home, and…yanno?”

“Yeah! I mean, that’s what I was going to say. Good job, Maki-roll, way to speak up!” Kaito grinned, giving her a thumbs up, which she stared dryly at. “Look, we already know that I can’t be Kokichi’s only line of defense, when it comes to his head giving him all that shit. Honestly? I don’t think I could do it by myself.” Kaito admitted, resting his elbows on his knees, something trouble in his expression, “I’m happy to try. I always want to try, I don’t ever want Kokichi to think he can’t come to me. Or, uh, use me as some sort of comfort doll, or a chatty, ruggedly handsome journal in his own head, which is kinda how I view those stories of him talking to versions of me in his own mind. I don’t mind if I’m always the first line of defense, even… but I can’t be his only. And he knows that already. And he’s fixed that already.”

“He doesn’t even just have his family, he’s got friends too. You think Amber and Stacy would ever have let him spend literally all of his time in his room with me, if they had been around back then? We couldn’t keep them out, during his coma! Temp, I’ve been told, literally asked Kokichi at one point if he needed to knock me around for being an abusive dickhead, he would have never quietly let it go if he had known Kokichi back then and Kokichi had even hinted something was wrong with our love life. Maki did intervene. Holy shit did Maki intervene.” Kaito said warily, rubbing his neck a little. “Nadya’s been a huge source of support when his problems affect his work life, his dad is back from the war, everyone who was doing shit like taking knives away from him and trying to treat him like a child have all stopped doing that shit… Maki’s right, Dr. Mariah. It was a really serious problem. But we are well past the crisis point on it.”

“...right?” Kaito asked, looking to Kokichi with a small frown, “I mean, that’s what you were just saying, right? That it’s not a crisis anymore?”

Kokichi gave Kaito a small nod, before deciding to go for a mildly hopeful smile. “I think so, yeah. I do value you as a supportive person in my life a lot. And I do credit a lot of…the driving force, I guess, behind me making healthier decisions for myself this year to you. I think…some of my dependance on you could be unhealthy…”

The frown returned, before Kokichi took a breath. “But…I really am trying to have my world be more than you. To base the purpose and worth of my life in terms that you might be a part of, but aren’t wholly dependent on you. Maybe there will be crises in the future on that topic…but I’m trying to make better decisions for myself, and I don’t think it’s a crisis now.”

Tilting his head at Dr. Mariah, he hummed, “I mean…if there is something there, still, that you think is worth discussing more, I trust your expertise. But…that’s how I feel. I’m trying, but I’m not there yet.”

“I do still find myself wondering why Kaito.” Dr. Mariah admitted. “I understand that from your perspective, it could be ‘why not Kaito’, or even, ‘who else but Kaito’. But there are plenty of people in the world you could have latched onto much earlier than this. That fact that you chose Kaito in such a small period of time–”

“I mean, they forced us to get married.” Kaito pointed out, frowning a little, “Dr. Mariah, I know you’re trying to help, and I appreciate it! I like that we’re talking about Kokichi, because my Kokichi deserves help on things he’s not solving himself… but he is solving this. And, when it comes to why me… they moved me into his bed. If it was Shuichi? Hell, even Maki? Maybe they would have become his whole world, for a while there. I was just… the person stuck in his room with him. There was no escaping me, so… maybe he just went in the opposite direction?”

Kaito suddenly grinned a little warily. “This is going to sound like a joke. And a crass one at that, but… it kinda isn’t. There have been a few times in our relationship, where I’ve wondered if maybe the reason Kokichi loves me at all is because I took his virginity, and to him, that, like… equals love. I make this joke that I tell him his standards are too high, cause not everyone can worm their way into his life through butt stuff, but… it’s also kinda not a joke. Like maybe Kokichi only loves me because he can have sex with me… it’s weighed on me. I don’t really think it’s true, but that doesn’t mean it’s entirely false either. It probably helped get us as close as we are.”

“Okay, but Kaito–” Shuichi said, before Dr. Mariah could get a word in, “You’ve always done that too. You always assume people are with you because of what you can do for them sexually. Kokichi’s not unique in that.”

“I know, I know. I don’t really believe it, I know I do that. I just…” Kaito narrowed his eyes, before putting his thumb and forefinger close together, squinting at the space between them, “suspect that it might be the case. Sometimes. A liiiiittle bit. Like, this much.”

That was a big point. They had been forced into cooperation and cohabitation together from the start, and with each of them getting so injured back and forth…even for a stranger, neither of them had wanted to stay away for long. 

Kokichi’s eyes flicked up at another point Kaito brought up, though, his mouth falling into a shocked frown. Before he tightened it into certainty. “...that doesn’t sound like a joke even in the slightest. And…I’m sorry I’ve made you worry about that. That’s…horrible, to have your social worth tied to sexual gratification.”

“...fuck, Kai-chan,” Kokichi sighed, losing the tension, but no less sincere. “I didn’t open myself up, didn’t choose to pursue love for you because you had sex with me. And I didn’t ask you for help because I thought you’d be good at sex, or because I already loved you. When my body was freaking out and I was embarrassed and confused…I asked you to help because I trusted you. And…though I don’t begrudge it? I think us having sex then was a mistake.”

Shaking his head a little, Kokichi stared at the koi pond, not to avoid anyone’s gaze, but to organize his thoughts. “...I hated you at first. Because of a version I made of you in my head. But when we argued in the greenhouse… You were scared. And hurt. And confused. And…I didn’t see the cruel, power-hungry version I made of you anymore. I just saw someone who…wanted to go home, but had promised not to, and that promise seemed like it was weighing the world down on you…but you were still holding it. And then you got hurt and…”

Kokichi rubbed his forehead a little. “...and then while everything was uncertain, and lives were on the line…the first thing I heard about you, other than you were alive, was that…you’d made this whole plan to save kids’ lives, even the kid that tried to kill you…and you sent me that letter and…”

Looking up at Kaito, Kokichi gave him a sincere, almost desperate look, wanting to be understood. “...and you weren’t a monster in my head anymore. You were a person who had every reason in the world to be one, but…chose to be kind where you could, and kept walking painful paths with your head held high. And everything you did during our wedding day just…cemented that. Putting yourself in hard spots over and over just…trying to be kind to people. To be kind to me, when I’d convinced myself I didn’t deserve even life. You were brave and selfless and clever in the ways determination could make and…”

“...and that’s why I trusted you,” Kokichi said quietly, realization turning his expression sad. “...because I saw you as a person that would still try to help me, even if I broke and became the monster I thought I was.”

Kaito’s eyes widened a little… before his face burned red, looking away. Looking sheepish as he scratched at his chin, “Geez, ‘Kichi… you always make me sound so much better than I ever am…”

Kaito shrugged, before saying with a little more certainty, “Don’t get me wrong, I can be great! But you still make me sound better than great. You’ll give a guy a big head, if you’re not careful.” Kaito chuckled… before he looked down. Blushing harder as he muttered, “Ah, shit… it’s easy to help people, when you’re allowed to just say things and people around you have to listen. Saving the kids was easy, I just needed to be coherent. And I don’t know… we couldn’t let Tim go back to Luminary. Anything could have happened to him there. Fuck, if he had been with the party…”

Kaito frowned. That thought filling him with uncertainty. The horror of not only what would have happened to Tim, but that… it would be months and months, nearly a year, before Kaito could even really accept what had happened to Tim. And he wouldn’t have loved Tim when he finally got around to accepting it… in a different life, his son would have died a horrifying death, and Kaito would have viewed him as a stranger… what a terrible thought. “It’s easy to be brave, when you have someone to be brave for.” Kaito murmured through that sad thought. 

Kaito looked up at his husband, and smiled brightly. Looking far more sure about things now, as he said, “But that is a relief to hear. I mean, again, I didn’t believe it entirely, but I did believe it a little. I didn’t mind! I’m good at that stuff, so… if that was all I needed to be…”

His grin waivered, before he frowned. Shaking his head and saying more seriously, “No, I wouldn’t have been okay with it. Maybe I would have tried to pretend to be, but I don’t wanna… just be good for ‘things like that’. I’m worth more than fucking… blow jobs and shit…”

“Of course.” Maki said.

“Of course… yeah, of course.” Kaito grinned, looking back to Kokichi, “I’m glad I was able to earn your trust, Kokichi. I know I dropped the ball too many times, with that trust, but the fact that I have it at all? I’m grateful. I want to be that person for you. And, well, I know we’ve established that you and I get angry in different ways, but I was ready to be the guy there for you when you had your meltdowns! Your meltdowns ended up looking a lot different then I was expecting, but I was super down for it! I am still super down for it!”

“Kaito.” Dr. Mariah said.

“...whiiiile having my own friends that I can go to vent too when it becomes too much?” Kaito tried. “Because I do, ya know. I know I didn’t reach out to anyone when the coma stuff happened, and that’s kinda left this, like…” Kaito tapped on his forehead, frowning, “Scar, right? Mentally. I still think about all of that and get this heavy feeling in me, like it’s all too much. But I’m getting better about not letting those things go by without help. I… I went to Maki for help when I was feeling depressed about things on my parents anniversary. And… I go to Waku for help all the time, seriously, Waku has been my safety net in Dicea. I really can’t stress how above and beyond she’s gone, for me. I come to her just ready to whine about shit and she’s never made me feel like an asshole for it…”

Dr. Mariah raised an eyebrow at that comparison, but didn’t interrupt as he kept going.

“And… Lake! I…” Kaito grinned uneasily, “Lake helped me through a meltdown too, not that long ago. She did exercises with me and broke sticks with me and just sorta let me vent to her when I needed it most… she was really patient and supportive. I really needed it, and I went to her for help, well, when I saw she was there, anyway. I try not to stew in this stuff by myself anymore. I know I’m not growing my social circles as fast as everyone else, but it is growing. It’s just taking a while.”

“I don’t think it is flattery,” Kokichi shook his head a little, “But…it doesn’t mean you’re just a helping machine either. You’re just…a good person. You want to help others when you see an opportunity to, and you need help in turn sometimes. You’re not a superhero…but the fact that you choose to be kind instead of lingering in indifference makes you a hero to me.”

Sighing softly, though a little touched by the example of his sister that Kaito brought up, Kokichi nodded. “I don’t think…finding people you can be vulnerable with is something you can really force. Sometimes, you get lucky and are adopted when you get drunk at a club,” he snorted, “Other times…it takes time to find people to rely on. And I know you’re trying. Just because you aren’t befriending half the town,” he winked at Shuuichi, “Doesn’t mean you aren’t putting in the effort to meet and bond with other people.”

“I just…hope that you do find people to be close with. Because that feeling of community is…huge.”

Shuichi couldn’t help the small smirk and slight raising of his head at the wink. He was very popular in Dicea. It was a little bewildering, sometimes, but that didn’t make Shuichi any less pleased about it. Kaito gave Shuichi a fond look, seeing his fiance preen a bit. His first sidekick, flourishing… 

“I still think you should give the temple another chance, Kaito. I know being a Momota put a wall between you and them, but I think you could get past that.” Maki pointed out.

“He should join that PTA, is what he should do. It’ll give us an advantage on Timothy’s education.” Shuichi said, his eyes narrowing with ambition. “Get all of the inside scoops.”

“What about you two, Shuichi, Maki?” Dr. Mariah asked, “Do you feel like you’re making headways on developing a support system outside of this immediate group.”

Shuichi and Maki both, one after another, explained to her their own situations. Shuichi’s ever increasing friend group, literally walking around with a posse of people the other night. Maki, in turn, was slowly but surely volunteering more often at the dojo, spending time with Hina and Sakura and watching from a distance another volunteer who came around every now and again and seemed nice and Maki wasn’t quite sure how to really approach her yet–

Dr. Mariah smiled lightly. “Good. It’s important to have a support system. We can’t have one of you in a situation where only one other person is keeping you from bouts of suicidal ideation, or where you have family tragedy after family tragedy occur and there’s no one for you to talk to. There can be no more situations, where the only person in a position to notice something has gone wrong is a potential abuser,” she said, looking to Shuichi, “or even where all of your decisions are left in the hands of a friend who is himself not in a good emotional place with you.” She continued, looking to Maki. “These are situations to be avoided at all costs. These social circles are more than ‘healthy’. They’re lifesaving. You need them. You must take care of them, and utilize them. Do I make myself entirely clear?”

“...I’m actually still in that vow to Maki-roll.” Kaito pointed out, looking to Maki, who sighed, “Not that she listens to me half the time anyway, but…”

“...I still need it.” Maki admitted. Crossing her hands over her lap and looking down, “I…”

(Standing in deaths shadow, her heart thumping in her chest with a fear she could not acknowledge.)

(Only the calm bringing in the horror. What had she just done? What had she…)

“I still need it.” Maki whispered, “Please don’t ask me to explain myself. The breakdown I’ve been waiting on, about the war? It just… hasn’t happened yet. But it will. And I’m going to need you.” She said, looking to Kaito, “Please.”

Kaito frowned at that, glancing at Dr. Mariah, who hadn’t said anything to that. Kaito was a little bewildered at that. Hadn’t she just said that this was something to be avoided? But Dr. Mariah looked… tense. Staring at Maki. Maybe recognizing something she hadn’t seen a moment before. “...okay, Maki.”

“If you do feel that you need support, Maki, do remember that there is more than just Kaito, and that emergency sessions with me are encouraged.” Dr. Mariah said, before looking at Kaito, “And if she can’t remember that, then you must. Understand?”

Kaito nodded. “Okay.”

“... your parents.” Dr. Mariah sighed, “We said we were coming back to that. Let’s do so, then. Does everyone feel comfortable with where we’ve left the talk of support groups, so far? Nothing is weighing on anyone’s mind?”

Maki didn’t have a ton of people to rely on in Dicea either, but…well, she was working on that, and she did have a lot of people. Her siblings, her dojo friends, her there-and-again friendship with Lake, her little siblings’ parents…and, of course, a certain friend~ And while she still needed people, Kokichi got the feeling that even a healthy spread for Maki wouldn’t look like dozens of people. He just…needed to be aware enough not to settle into two or three, while he was looking out for her.

…not…that he was all that good at looking out for her anyway. 

As Maki’s voice went quiet, Kokichi bit the inside of his cheek, trying not to let the guilt tearing at his heart show. …he couldn’t tell her. It would destroy Maki to know what she had done. Maybe…maybe they were getting closer to a point where it would be safe for her to feel that destruction, but…they weren’t there yet. And given the timeframe Bathul had implied for the return of the dragon’s memories, added with that the bulk of that exchange had happened with Maki’s subconsciousness and…thus wouldn’t be part of the dragon’s memories (....right?) then…it could be years before Maki remembered enough about that trade. 

He couldn’t put that on her shoulders while they were still recovering from everything else she’d put on them. 

But…well, while that was weighing on his mind…it wasn’t something to talk about yet. So Kokichi nodded, giving Dr. Mariah an encouraging smile to get back to the previous topic.

“Kaito, I feel like I’ve asked you this before, but considering the new subject, I’d like to do it again.” Dr. Mariah said, “What was it like, growing up in Luminary?”

Kaito paused… “I don’t think you have asked me that before.”

Dr. Matiah frowned, tapped at her journal… “Oh,” she sighed, looking disappointed in herself, “We’ve discussed at length your sexual history. That’s right. I was searching for… well, you have an interesting relationship with sex, Kaito. I don’t want to sum it up as the influence of your religion, as I think your specific relationship to sex would be coming up more often in Atuan’s I work with and Shuichi and Maki as well, since you all grew up in the same religion. Your relationship to sex is uniquely you… and I dove into your past relationships hoping to understand it better, to make it easier to help you all navigate your relationships with each other.”

“Why do you sound like you failed?” Shuichi asked, “I remember that conversation. We explored a lot, about how Kaito found himself performing for his partners. And that’s all recently come up even. That conversation did help me, at least, understand Kaito’s anger better, with the Drake incident.”

“Oh, the conversation itself was fruitful, yes. But I didn’t accomplish the goal I set out with it, and now looking back I feel a little foolish that I focused so much on your sexual history, when your familial history is probably actually far more relevant, to your relationship with your current family.” Dr. Mariah sighed, “I apologize, Kaito, it feels like quite a large oversight.”

“Between Kokichi being dependent on Kaito ages ago and Kaito having family problems, you’re noticing all sorts of things now.” Maki said, her voice teasing lightly. 

“Getting to know you all has been a process.” Dr. Mariah admitted, not giving in to the bait, “And I’m not perfect, as a therapist. I make mistakes. All I can ask is that you all are patient with me, so long as the mistakes aren’t truly egregious ones.” Not like dropping the knowledge on Kaito that Dr. Maraih had fished word from her contacts in Luminary about how exactly his parents had died. 

Looking back at it, Dr. Mariah realized she had been growing frustrated with Kaito’s trust issues and had tried an extreme, quick fix to get him on the same page as the rest of the group. It had been manipulative and abusive, and honestly borderline verbal assault. Dr. Mariah had been lucky, honestly, that Atua had intervened for Kaito’s emotional health, if only because the Dicean prince could have very realistically gotten her license suspended. And considering Kaito’s history with therapists, who knew how long it’d be before they risked trying again, if they ever did.

“I think you’re doing fine, doc.” Kaito grinned, giving her a reassuring look, “Seriously, you’ve helped us loads. Like, with really serious things, not even just basic communication issues. Kokichi and I could have spent literal years, both of us entirely misunderstanding the vow he gave me about our family, and what I thought he meant at the memorial garden. That… wasn’t a small miscommunication. I thought my husband was threatening to kill me. That would have, ya know… gotten to me. Eventually.” Kaito looked to Kokichi, his expression soft, as he said, “We were lucky to figure it out here. Beyond the doubts, I mean.”

Huh… Kokichi could’ve sworn that Dr. Mariah had at least asked about life in Luminary as an open question to all three people it pertained to, but…hm. They had just gone right into Kaito’s sexual history, huh. It had been relevant at the time, and…quite an intense conversation, but just talking bullet points, that was weird, to have extensively talked about someone’s sexual history and not just…yanno. Their life. 

It…felt either like Dr. Mariah was being unjustly frustrated with herself for getting caught up in the weird non-continuity of their issues, or…she was angry with herself for something more than just that… But at the end of the day--

Kokichi nodded, returning Kaito’s soft look before focusing on Dr. Mariah. “I mean, we’ve talked through how easy it is for the whirlwind of our bullshit to turn everything upside-down. I don’t think focusing in on certain aspects is all that much a failing, when you’ve helped guide us through those conversations. If anything, maybe getting through them will help the broader conversations we’ve yet to have.”

He sighed softly, looking a little frustrated at himself now. “I can forgive myself for not thinking the clearest at the time, but…I still hate how badly I misjudged you from that, hun. I hate that it happened at all, but…I’m glad we managed to catch it. I don’t want to think of the world where we didn’t.”