001. one year later

[hanikamu]

[The trees are clouds of pink and purple in the spring, wisps of petals whisked into the air by gentle winds as three of Karteria's foxes look for a spot in the park. Niki said today would be a good day for a picnic, and the other two were more than eager to have a nice picnic under the city's blossoming canopy. After Rinne lays down the mat and Niki lays out their meal, Takasugi plays a nostalgic song or two before Rinne applauds him with a loud,]

Gyahaha! Woooo! [The white wine in his cup sloshes around, spilling off the paper rim.] That's our Prez for ya! You sure know how to set the mood under the cherry blossoms, huh?

[The mood that Rinne ruined with his drunken cheering, probably.]

S'too bad Niki can't join in on our fun... I bet he'll like my super Rinne-kun surprise, though!

[He hooks an arm around Niki and gives him a tight hug! Or chokes him, if we're being honest about it.]

Comments

2/2

[hanikamu]

[Two hours later, they're back at home, full from their picnic. The basket's been emptied. The dishes, cleaned. Cool water from the faucet runs as Niki washes their implements in the bathroom. The silver earrings are in the same red box, waiting on a nightstand. On his bed, Takasugi does the same.

The swing of his door cracks the silence. It's Rinne with an armful of towels.]

Kyaha! Kept ya waiting, didn't I? This sounded fun to you, so I talked it over with Niki and figured we could make it fun for us, too.

[He closes the distance between them a few strides, tail swaying happily as he places the towels next to where Takasugi sits.]

Well, we wanna do this anyway, so don't sweat it.

[He doesn't move to sit. He isn't starting anything without Niki.]

To be honest, I thought you'd get your ears pierced sooner. [A jet-black claw reaches out to trace the soft rim of Takasugi's fox ear.] Those piercings were a big part of your look, you know? I've only seen 'em a few times, but even I knew that.

[takasugi]

The government used to prohibit men from wearing cool accessories like that, so naturally, I went all out as soon as I got the chance. Like I would let them tell me who and what I could do as soon as we got the ball rolling on the resistance front. But here, I didn't bother fitting my band or my silver dangles back on. These ears are too... it feels...

( he swallows, casually tilting his ear just out of reach.

it's only been two hours, and yet the drink still whispers about in his head. niki kept obliging in filling his cup, and takasugi never denied him, and so... and so... how many cups had it been? honestly, he hadn't been counting. that's just a given when you're living it up beneath the beautiful spring scenery with your trusted companions. anyway, this is going to hurt. it's totally going to hurt more than usual, and even if takasugi isn't squeamish or anything, he'd rather take a cut from a blade than stab straight through these super cute ears of his.

... but he's the one who said they should all do it together? okay. ... okay.

maybe he should just act cute while they're waiting. uhmmm. )

You'll both be gentle with me, right? Right, ... Amagi-kun?

[hanikamu]

[Rinne snorts.] Didn't ya tell me to slam ya down and ram ya through? You'll be fine. The coolest guy from Choshu can take anything, right?

[The cute act earns a ruffle of his hair, though.]

Me too. I didn't want anybody telling me what to do. [The same hand drifts from Takasugi's hair to the left earring closer to his head, the second from the top. His fingers trace the silver ring.] When I had Niki help me pierce my ear a second time, I told him I wanted to keep that feeling a part of me...

For that feeling, I said I'd do anything.

so niki entering flows better

[takasugi]

( oh, right. he had said that.

said that because... (a moment, his thoughts interrupted by the sunlight that always passes warm through his hair) ... there was a reward.

when he recalls the reward, takasugi feels all the confidence that never actually left swell up in his chest again. that's right. the tempting reward of lips pressed to a fresh wound, a something he could never resist in a thousand lifetimes. still, there's something enchanting about the way rinne talks about this whole ear-piercing business, beyond the fact that they had both wanted so desperately to break away from what bound them. something that makes the hesitation on the edges of takasugi's voice and his cute act fade away into a sense of complacency. he crinkles his claws into the edge of the bed, distracted by the dreamy lilt in his tone. )

Anything, ... huh.

( he repeats it easy. the stars are so bright in rinne's eyes when he speaks of it, and takasugi's tipsy brain can't help quietly lamenting over not being the reason for their sparkle.

which, ... will he ever stop feeling these ugly little pangs of jealousy? no? of course not. thank you brain, for helping him deliberate over the painfully obvious. )

I'll do anything for that feeling, too.

( which isn't entirely true. they all know takasugi doesn't listen, but for now, he's happy to just repeat it. )

[hanabee]

[Needles, corks, alcohol, a bowl of ice... Niki washes his hands thoroughly as if he were preparing to cook dinner.

The first time he did this, he was reluctant. It had taken a lot of convincing from Rinne to do it back then! But Niki figured it would probably be the only time he'd ever have to. Now, years later, it's the third time? Kinda funny, when he thinks about it. Maybe he should turn this into a side hustle? He wouldn't say he's good at it, but he hasn't messed it up yet, either... he thinks.

It isn't much longer before Niki returns to the room with his tools. He sets everything on a towel on the bedside table, but one look at Takasugi and he's still... really obviously tipsy! Niki tilts his head.]

I know I said I didn't mind, but is this really okay? I don't think the alcohol's worn off yet. [And, like, maybe that's a good thing, but...] You sure he won't regret it later?

[He still takes a seat on the opposite side of Takasugi, though. Someone here is getting pierced either way.]

[hanikamu]

[As soft as Rinne was being earlier, once Niki enters the room, he's back to business. There's no time to waste. If Takasugi wants this done, he'll get it done.]

Don't sweat it, Niki. He's been talking about it all summer. Like hell he's backing out now! Besides, our Shinsaku's gonna be a good boy for us now that we're both here. Right?

[He places a hand on Takasugi's chest and pushes him down on the bed a little too assertively. He hovers over him, sitting up as he soothes the man's racing heart, careful enough not to scratch with his sharp claws. Maybe there's a reason he was able to talk about his piercings at all... Niki can probably smell the alcohol on them both. Did Niki bring a glass of water? It might serve Rinne better.]

He can run if he wants to be a pussy! But if we're doing this, then he oughta stay still... It ain't my fucking fault if I stab him with a needle.

[Hopefully, that gets rid of any doubts Takasugi might have — be it for or against this.]

[takasugi]

( not to worry. takasugi isn't upset at being manhandled per the usual. in fact, he quickly falls back into his usual swagger, ready to boast about being the most eager or handsome one in the room, especially at rinne's words that he might book it like a coward.

he leans his head back further into the mattress, arms folded across his chest. he openly sighs, so hopelessly dramatic in the face of a simple task. )

Ahhh. This is kind of familiar, you know.

( laying on his back, staring at a ceiling. only for once, there's a handsome man over him instead... soon to be two, so it isn't all that bad. )

But I don't think either of you have felt what it's like to experience a real stabbing, right? So that gives me an edge over you two.

( in what? he keeps on rambling, a stupid smirk on his face. his red tail drags across the duvet lazily, as if it's reminiscing about some past encounter. )

As you can imagine, it hurts like hell. It happens in an instant, too. The pain stings right through you, but none of that matters as soon as you get your point across. Or get it right through them. Sort of like this piercing that's about to happen, but not really?

[hanabee]

Why is he saying that like it's a competition? I'd like to never be stabbed, thanks. I don't even wanna think about it! I'm pretty sure this isn't going to be that bad, either...

[Niki's starting to wonder, is this guy actually afraid of pain or something? Or is there some sort of trauma he doesn't know about? Well, he's pretty sure most people aren't excited about pain, but also...

Rinne had never been this nervous about it, looking back. If anything, it was Niki who was afraid to pierce him. Still, if Takasugi is more nervous than either of them, isn't that kind of cute...?

There's also the problem of Rinne, though. He is a little more drunk still than Niki thought! But that's okay. Niki's taken care of drunk Rinne more times than he can count at this point, so of course he's prepared a glass of water for him, too.]

And I don't know if you should be stabbing anyone right now, Rinne-kun. [He grabs the glass from the table and offers it to Rinne, before he does anything else.] I'll start prepping him while you sober up. ♪

[He grabs a towel and presses the bottle of alcohol to it. Then, he climbs onto the bed to sit closer to Takasugi's ears.]

Ah, wait. Which one should we pierce first?

[hanikamu]

[Niki knows Rinne so well! As Rinne pushes himself off the bed and toward the table, he calls it:]

Left. He had more piercings on that side. [He downs the entire glass, emptying it with a satisfied sigh before speaking up again.] Unless Prez has got other ideas.

[He's sobering up, but he could stand to be better. He doesn't want to hurt Takasugi, either. He pours himself another glass of water with the pitcher on the table.]

Either way, we'll be making our point clear: Shinsaku's with us as much as we're with him. Once he puts this earring on, no one can deny that.

[takasugi]

It's kind of romantic, isn't it, when you put it that way.

( the rambling continues, tumbling out his mouth like they're about to do something Completely Different on this bed. )

Straightforward and sentimental. A piercing is a mark on my body that stands as a lasting commitment. Like the birds have their trees and the fish have the waves, I'll always have somewhere to dwell, in other words. What was it called, again... for foxes?

( one of his hands slides up to stroke niki's upper arm, already trying to direct the towel towards the base of his ear, to feel the fullness of the liquid press cool against the thin lining of skin. even for as drunk as he is, a part of takasugi does his best to try and direct them where he can. maybe it's because he's sinking into the folds of the bed, and maybe it's because he knows he ought to, but takasugi looks more relaxed as he gazes up at them with a light dancing in his eyes.
-
looks being the key word here as his shoulders remain stiff, as his legs hardly move, a knee bending up ever so slightly. )

It's my first time ( having someone else pierce my ear ) Shiina-kun... so you've got to be tender, like this.

[hanabee]

[It really does feel like Takasugi has a completely different idea of what's happening here!]

Do you mean a den?

[Even so, Niki gives him the benefit of the doubt, letting him guide his arm. He doesn't have to, but it's cute that he's trying to help or be involved, or whatever this is. Niki brings the towel to his left ear and gently wipes the outer edge of it. He's cleaned Rinne's ears for him plenty of times before, and it's clear in the certainty of his touch. He never presses too hard, and he never gets too close to the inside of his ear.]

Don't worry, Prez. You probably won't even feel it. [After he wipes down his ear, Niki grabs a piece of ice between clawed fingers and brings that to his skin.] I'll treat you as gently as a baby egg~.

[Of course, Niki's not a professional, so it doesn't even occur to him to explain what he's doing. Takasugi probably won't remember all the finer details anyway, he thinks.]

[hanikamu]

[ Rinne snorts. ] Why's he gotta be food to make ya gentle?

[ Rinne has drunk two glasses of water by now. There's a languid quality in his gait as he approaches the bed, and he quirks his lip in amusement at every little thing they say, but Niki knows that's normal. Rinne is sober enough. ]

While we're at it, I'm pretty sure Shinsaku remembers what foxes do in dens whenever they make 'em.

[ The mattress sinks with every crawl of his knees. Soon, Rinne is above Takasugi again, his striking blue eyes on the careful preparation of the untouched ear. His gaze then shifts to its owner, commanding all attention — a distraction for the hand that gingerly wraps around Takasugi's own. ]

You should be glad it's Niki. He's real good at everything I tell him to do, whether he puts it in or takes it.

[takasugi]

Is that so?

( his gaze doesn't waver, all that blue swimming in a pool of pink that starts to lose its light. )

I wasn't aware you liked them so obedient, or that Shiina-kun would be so willing to listen through his persistence, for all he keeps trying to take me by the mouth.

( he angles his knee flat against the bed, only to then toss it against the thick muscle of rinne's side. it's a pretty weak move, all things considered. )

I'll keep that in mind.

( put flatly, even if takasugi doesn't try to wiggle his hand out of rinne's grip. )

[hanabee]

[aaaaAAAAA?? Niki's grip on the ice falters and it slips out of his fingers. His face is suddenly really hot!]

You did not have to say it like that. [Oh my god.] Can we go back to talking about stabbing, actually?

[This isn't really anything new for Niki, hearing Rinne say things like this in front of others. He's done it for years, even long before it was actually true. But it still flusters him just as much as the first time he heard him talk like that. Ahh!]

And what are you taking shots at me for, Prez? I'm totally innocent here! Besides, my stomach's still full, so there's nothing to worry about, I promise.

["What does his stomach have to do with it." Well, you know...

Niki lightly touches a needle to the skin in the same spot where the ice was.]

Do you feel anything?

[takasugi]

( good question. )

... Cold. Mostly cold.

( is this where he gets stuck? is it about to happen?

takasugi stiffens on reflex, and maybe it'd be easier to be ready for this if he could see it. or is it that it's supposed to hurt less when you can't? he doesn't know. he doesn't know as he's only done it on his own, like all planning, like even building a city in a completely different time period for a completely different result. for a man like himself to rely on others like this, was... takasugi tilts his head slightly so he doesn't have to look up, bangs falling gently. he curls his fingers inwards against his palm. )

I can just barely tell there's something drawing against the skin. But there are two ears you're doing, so you might as well get on with it before it wears off.

[hanikamu]

[Okay. Rinne deserved that. People usually aren't into him when he says these things. A pang of jealousy strikes him when Takasugi counters, the ache pricking his heart. He knows Niki can't help what he feels, though. No one can. When a samurai like Takasugi flinches in the face of a needle, it's only natural. He can't help that either.

Rinne grips his hand tighter.]

Eyes up here, Shinsaku. If Niki wants to eat ya up, that just means you're tastier than me. Even after everything you've been through, you still melt in our mouths. In my hometown, that's a compliment.

[Rinne hopes Niki knows what Rinne's doing. Niki will need Takasugi calm if they both want to get this over with.]

You ever been up north?

[takasugi]

No.

( funny, how the only thing that threatens to sober him is his own jealousy. the irritation he's loathe to show at any time, or even hint at its real intensity. )

Though there were plenty I knew who would eventually go as far as Hakodate, I didn't have the leeway or a reason to want to travel such a distance. Which is almost laughable, considering I had more freedom than most, for all I did what I wanted at my own expense. The war hadn't advanced that far yet at the time, and I...

( there's a pause, all the things he shouldn't say bouncing around in his head. "i was dead by the time they went there," isn't exactly appropriate in the face of two who were doing him a favor. the two who had taught him how to dance on their own terms, had brought him into the fold of their tighter bond and let him linger. so takasugi quits being stubborn, pressing his fingertips against rinne's palm as if to beg for a little squeeze. he tilts his gaze back, no longer being a complete brat as to say... )

I want to see a bear. A really, really big one.

( yep. he's still tipsy. )

[hanabee]

["Just do it," he says? Well, okay. Niki grabs a cork stopper from one of their bottles earlier and presses it behind Takasugi's ear. Then, he positions the needle in a good spot...

Takasugi doesn't finish his thought about travel, but the implication is clear, especially for Niki, given what he'd witnessed. A certain image flashes in his mind when he remembers it, but he shelves that thought just as quickly as Takasugi does. A distraction isn't much of a distraction if he just ends up stressed about something else.

So, instead...]

Oh, I wanna see a bear, too~. [He replies casually. And, just as casually as he agrees, he pokes the needle through his skin without warning. It's much easier to do with their fox ears than it had been with their human ones, back in the day.] They say bear meat is a pretty good source of protein, but it's not too easy to get your hands on most of the time.

[He's already planning to eat it!!]

[hanikamu]

[ Well, if Niki's going to talk about it like that... ]

Been a while since I've hunted bear. I ain't too keen on killing what we won't eat, but seeing one's gonna be a new thing for you guys. If you wanna see one here, I'll do some research and figure something out.

[ His grip on Takasugi's hand is tight. If Takasugi needs the strength to persevere, Rinne will gladly give it to him. Getting his ears pierced isn't a big deal. He should let Niki and Rinne handle this and take it easy. ]

[takasugi]

Did you use a bow? Like, one you carved yourself?

( he's successfully distracted now. no worries.

the only worry is, past the clean stab thanks to niki's piercing skills, the site stains red. the blood isn't clotting properly, and while bleeding is fairly normal for this kind of thing, a wipe or two of towel only reveals more blood at the puncture point. takasugi can smell it, but his brain isn't quite focused on where it's coming from just yet.

it's a good smell, anyhow. blood always tickles his nose with longing. makes him hungry. )

Because that's all pretty cool to think about. Bears are so huge... it'd be fun to get in a suit and try to wrestle one, maybe. Without hurting it, I guess. Though... I bet the three of us could handle a bear barehanded.

[hanabee]

[Niki's about to reassure Rinne that no part of the bear will go to waste, but...

He wipes the spot where the blood appears, the towel under his thumb, and then he wipes it again, and...

Why won't he stop bleeding... It hadn't been this bad with him or Rinne... This is definitely different!]

I wanna eat a bear...

[He's not following the conversation anymore. What should he do? He's not a doctor, and all he really knows about the human body is related to food. Hmm... This might be a problem!]

1/2

[hanikamu]

[Then they need to solve it.]

2/2

[hanikamu]

Yeah, me too. Ain't got time to carve a bow, though...

[Rinne shifts, leaning in and upward, hovering over Takasugi like a predator savoring the scent of his prey. They can't let Takasugi know the danger until they've tried to stop it, so they have to be quick. A firm squeeze and tug of Niki's wrist tells him to move his hand aside. When he does, Rinne's hot breath tickles the inside of Takasugi's ear as the smell of blood washes over him like a thick, heady haze. It's enough to make anyone go crazy.]

Kyaha!

[That's fine, though. Anything to save Takasugi.]

Tell me when to stop, Niki. Sometimes I just can't help myself!

[Without warning, he closes his lips around the bleeding spot and starts to suck. Then, a sweet sigh. Then, a hungry moan. Between each smack of his lips, he laps at the wound with wet, hot licks, determined not to waste a drop.]

[takasugi]

—?!

( as the flickering heat of a tongue claims his ear, takasugi freezes. he's stiff, knowing that this, at least, shouldn't be happening, a warmth climbing up his neck for every hot puff of air that seeks to clean the site. as his body broadens in a way that shamefully reminds him of where they are and what they're doing, takasugi struggles not to squirm. not to make a single sound, pushing canines against the thin of his bottom lip. everything draws in tight, the wound blooming wet as the skin starts to itch in a way that he's felt before, the sensation meant to stop pain rather than breed it.

his peach gaze drifts upward, and rather than avoiding niki's eyes, he struggles. almost like he's pleading for something. )

[hanabee]

[AHHHHH. Niki was trying very hard to act like everything was fine, but this is totally the opposite of that! This isn't fine at all!]

Um, like, now? Your mouth is full of germs, Rinne-kun. Please don't put it on an open wound.

[Oh my god. It's so gonna get infected. They're gonna ruin Takasugi's cute, fluffy ears and it's all Niki's fault!]

Sorry about him, Prez. [He's sure he doesn't have a problem with what Rinne's doing, but it's probably worrying, all things considered! So, Niki explains:] It's just, uh... You're kinda bleeding a little more than I expected. But it'll be okay.

[P... Probably. Probably!! He's trying really hard to stay cool about this, but deep down, he's a little worried that Takasugi's fears are actually coming true here!]