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

[takasugi]

You're both making it sound like I'm going to up and vanish just because I didn't let you both kiss me right now. I'm not going anywhere.

( "3kon is close, but they won't always be there for you."

and how true is that statement now? he doesn't know. to be together with the three of them is to feel out of control with a giddy chaos, to feel miserable, to feel everything and anything and see a light from a stage he wasn't even sure he wanted. it's the exact kind of excitement someone else would be envious to have, and he loves it. he would tear down the threads holding this world together for them and more. but ultimately, takasugi knows that beyond so many walls is his true aim: all that blood in his mouth on a summer's day, struggling up and down his throat and into another that wants to say he should live inside it. another with whose blood he desires.

he flings a finger against the new silver band, easing back into their banter as if nothing ever happened. that's the best way to go about this. )

How're we going to explain a matching set to all our adoring fans, though? Not that I'm concerned about the details of rumors when it comes to me.

[hanikamu]

[ Rinne grins. ]

Ain't it obvious? We'll just tell 'em it means we'll be together forever, duh!

[ That might be a little white lie. Idol groups never perform forever. But fans don't like hearing about the sordid future. As a fan of an idol of his very own blood from his very own world, Amagi Rinne should know that.

For now, they should enjoy the present.

He swerves around and tackles Niki. ]

C'mon, Shinsaku! Niki's begging to get his hole filled. I'll hold him down; you get your revenge!

[hanabee]

[Niki doesn't expect to be pushed down suddenly, but maybe, given the mood, he should have. He doesn't fight back, even if he hits the bed a little hard, but that doesn't stop him from complaining, as usual.]

You really, really don't have to say it like that!

[Especially after... Jeez! This also isn't how he expected this to go, and technically, he doesn't have a problem with it. It makes sense that Rinne wouldn't want Takasugi to feel weird or left out, but...

He looks up and over at Takasugi.]

Only if you want to. [He's not worried about him being drunk or anything. He seems fine in that regard. He doesn't think he would hurt him, either. It's just...] It's okay to say no. Rinne-kun can do it just fine.

[Maybe this is silly, considering Niki pierced his ear just a minute ago, but it did seem a little intimate, and after making him feel the way they did just now... Well, Niki would understand if he didn't want to be that involved with him.]

[takasugi]

( it makes sense for niki to be so considerate in takasugi's eyes. or rather, when has he ever been anything but?

but like flipping a light switch on, he follows rinne's little act of mischief with a gleeful smile. )

I'm really good with my hands, though.

( so he says. they've seen the way he plays shamisen, right? takasugi leans in, knees pressing into the duvet to make creases. )

If we're going to participate in the rest of this forever ceremony, then you need to trust me that I'll slide it in nice and easy.

( do they need to do the ice cube thing? maybe that's why he pictured this as being a grievous sort of act, because there wasn't as much in the way to dull the pain back in his day. most would have to just lie there and endure it when getting a piercing or a tattoo. hmm. maybe he should've cleaned the towel before touching it to niki's ear. )

🎀

[hanikamu]

Kyahaha!

[ Ah, this is fun. When everyone sets their differences aside and listens to one another, these days can get incredibly, ireffutably fun. As Niki begs for mercy, Rinne touches Takasugi's wrist with his knuckles to catch his attention before anything else goes terribly wrong. A clawed finger points at the bowl of ice to remind their employer how to handle his companion — humanely, and with care. So long as the three of them are together in one piece, their journey to the top is sure to be their best one yet. ]