the legend of cheinsaw

i'm eirin and unfortunately i write things. one time someone called my fanfiction a "weaboo tsunami" ao3 gay touhou fic for gay touhou fans~

[femmeslash]

black cats are wonderful because you can stare into the void and not only does the void stare back, sometimes it trots up to you happily and begs for pats

[femmeslash]

the void is loud and wants chicken

[cheinsaw]

alright! moved the url! this blog is officially The Archive.

cheinsaw

[cheinsaw]

WE’RE MOVING!

i got tired of the way sideblogs function so i’m moving over to ichifutos. bear with me, i’m still setting things up. also, like this blog, it will probably be very inactive, but all my writing will be there from now on. the only thing i ask is that people under 18 don’t follow it, for personal reasons.

feel free to come say hi!

[cheinsaw]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

yuugi/parsee college AU! read the author’s note: it’s been a whole year since i first wrote touhou fanfic!

[cheinsaw]

dude okay i’m doing that 30 day nsfw challenge (sort of. it’s on hold. i have a full time job) and it’s been a lot of fun so far. i might switch a few of the prompts around so i don’t have to actually write ass licking. do i look like the kind of person who writes ass licking? DO I???

ANYWAY, have some mikotoji. day 2, naked kissing.

Tojiko's never been able to read Miko easily, but she knows for certain that her wife loves baths. After years and years together, she knows exactly how to wash Miko's back, how to massage her scalp with shampoo, how to fill the tub just right so the water won't overflow with both of them sitting in it.

"This feels good," Miko says, arching her back against Tojiko's touches.

"I know," Tojiko replies, running her washcloth over Miko’s back. She makes sure to keep her voice down, just above a whisper, because Miko has taken off her headphones and Tojiko absolutely refuses to hurt her wife. "I should be good at it by now, right?"

"You are good. Quite good." Tojiko can hear the smile in her wife's voice. "I'll wash your back too, when you're done."

"Alright," Tojiko says. She finishes up scrubbing Miko's back, setting down the washcloth to rub Miko's shoulders. "Is something bothering you? You're tense."

"Mmm." Miko rolls her shoulders back. "It shouldn't worry me as much as it does, but I believe Hijiri is trying to start something again."

"Your rivalry is ridiculous."

"It would be if she didn't want me dead," Miko sighs.

Tojiko frowns. "In any case, your back's done."

"Thank you. Like I said, it's not something for us to worry about at the moment, I'm just overly cautious when it comes to her." Miko stands up and stretches. "Oh, I feel much better now. Let me wash you so we can get in the bath."

Tojiko nods, but it still bothers her. She's used to not being Miko's only--she was one of three wives, in the past--but she is used to being the most important, the only wife Miko truly loved, the one still by Miko's side today. So Miko's deliberation when it comes to Hijiri sort of... stings.

She sits down, her back to Miko, but as soon as she feels Miko's hands she turns around, unable to stop herself as she pulls her wife into a kiss. "Tojiko?" Miko breathes, but returns the kiss with enthusiasm. Tojiko pulls Miko down into her lap, running her teeth over Miko's lip.

"My back can wait."

"I said something, I see..." Miko's gaze shifts to the floor. "I'm sorry, Tojiko."

"It's... Just promise me you won't forget about me, even though she's..."

"Oh, Tojiko." Miko smiles, that beautiful doe-eyed smile only Tojiko gets to see. "You are my wife, and I love you more than anything in the world. I'd never forget about you." She seals her declaration with another press of her lips against Tojiko's.

"Good," is all Tojiko can say. She curves her body up against Miko's, kissing over her face, her neck, her shoulders. She's about to go in for the nipples when Miko gently stops her.

"We should get in the bath before it grows cold."

Tojiko agrees. But to her delight, once they're in the water, Miko is all over her in a flash.

They leave the bath both covered in kiss marks, flushed patches all over Miko's chest and Tojiko's thighs. Tojiko's content. I love you, Miko had whispered against her mouth. And being wrapped in Miko's arms, skin against warm skin, is enough reassurance to last beyond a lifetime.

[cheinsaw]

i know you only seen s1 so feel free to pick whichever pairing youre more comfortable with but nozoeli or umikoto "tower" prompt

SURPRISE I PULLED LOVE LIVE OUT OF MY ASS A MONTH LATER.

read on ao3!

[cheinsaw]

now that that’s done, here’s what’s next on the list

a super secret special surprise for the first anniversary of me being able to post my writing! (june 6)

nozoeli fic for nozomi’s birthday (june 9)

gotta be the first person to use the Usami Sumireko tag on ao3

probably some filthy smut because i’m an animal

[cheinsaw]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

the prompts are now all collected neatly in one place! wow!

[cheinsaw]

yukayuyu!

lorkhantheman asked for yukari/yuyuko with “happiness”, and rabbiteclair asked for them with “food”. so basically you both sent me the same thing.

(i love food)

//////

It's something Yuyuko's known for as long as she can remember. The visits are often unexpected, and rarely planned, but Yukari will show up in her bedroom, sitting cross-legged on her futon or lounging in midair, her body suspended by a gap. "May I take you out tonight?" she’ll ask, extending one gloved hand to Yuyuko. And Yuyuko will smile, and accept.

Tonight is no different. When Yuyuko returns to her bedroom after checking on her cherry blossoms, Yukari is there, lazy and graceful and sprawled on the floor. "Ah! Good evening."

Yuyuko smiles and crouches down. "Good evening to you," she says, cupping Yukari’s face in one hand and leaning in for a kiss. Yukari's warm, and when they part she's smiling expectantly.

"I have something for you. Would you like to see?"

This is another part of the ritual. From nowhere, Yukari pulls a gorgeous white dress, soft and flowing and patterned with small blue flowers. Yuyuko graciously accepts it, already knowing it'll fit perfectly. "And what are you wearing tonight?" she asks, slipping off her robe and stepping into the dress. Cool silk brushes softly against her legs. "Just your usual clothes?"

Yukari laughs. "Oh, no! No, it would be much too conspicuous where we're going. I've prepared something for myself as well."

"Mmm. Am I allowed to see?"

"When we get there." Yukari moves to lace up the back of Yuyuko's dress. "It looks nice on you."

"You do know best." Yuyuko slips on the pair of shoes she keeps solely for these occasions. "So, where is our destination, may I ask?"

Yukari hums, taking Yuyuko's hand and opening a wide gap in front of them. "You'll see."

------------

When they emerge, they're on the banks of a river, and the air is warm. Yuyuko blinks, and Yukari's nightgown has been replaced by a lacy lavender sundress. As usual, she's perfect, she's radiant, she's beautiful. The setting sun gives her skin an otherworldly glow, especially with the sparkling surface of the water behind her. So fitting.

"Well? How do you like it?" Yukari twirls, the skirt fanning out around her. "I picked it up in the outside on my last shopping trip. It's rare to find something of this quality around these days..."

"It's wonderful," Yuyuko says after a moment, still awestruck by the way Yukari looks dressed up even after all these years. "Ah, Yukari, where are we..."

Yukari reaches to hold Yuyuko's hand, the lace of her gloves brushing against Yuyuko's cool skin. "Let's start walking, shall we?"

It takes several minutes before it's clear. Yukari's brought her to the outskirts of a quiet city, a town that's sleepy yet alive, nestled on a river. Yuyuko can't read the signs on the side of the road, nor on the shops, so they must be somewhere in the outside world. Somewhere quite distant from the border of Gensokyo.

"Here we are," Yukari says, stopping in front of a small cafe. "This place has the best sweets I have ever tasted, I must say."

"Better than Ran's?" Yuyuko smiles.

"Well, don't tell her that." Yukari pushes the door open, the small bell attached to it jangling with her entrance.

Yuyuko looks around in wonder as Yukari converses with the cashier in a lilting foreign tongue. The walls are lined with photographs of flowers, of food, of bridges and skylines and natural landscapes. Her eyes wander to the glass display cases in front of them, filled with assorted sweets and pastries. Yuyuko can feel her mouth watering as she looks them over.

"Oh, Yuyuko," Yukari says in Japanese. "Would you like to pick one out?"

"Hmmm? I thought you were picking for me." She continues mulling over her choices. "What about this one?" she asks, pointing.

"Oh, don't. Youmu could easily make that for you if we got the right ingredients."

"Then I'll choose the one with the strawberry."

Yukari flashes a smile. "You have good taste, as always." She turns back to the cashier, placing her order in that beautifully flowing language, and exchanges coins for a little paper bag of pastries. The cashier watches them with a slightly stunned look as Yukari calls out her thanks and, once again, takes Yuyuko's hand. "Come along, now."

"We aren't eating here?"

"Oh, no. Wouldn't you like to sit by the river? Besides," she says, lowering her voice and leaning close to Yuyuko's ear, "do you really want that shopkeeper watching us?"

Yuyuko giggles, giving Yukari's hand a gentle squeeze. "Oh, no."

------------

Yukari's right. Sitting on the shore of the river is much more pleasant, especially when Yukari can pull a blanket and perfectly chilled drinks out of nowhere. "Here you are," she says with a warm smile, pressing a broken-off piece of a cookie to Yuyuko's lips.

The pastries are sweet and light, but made even more so since Yukari’s by her side like this. Yuyuko’s always thought that good food is best enjoyed in the company of those she loves. This is certainly no different. It's something Yuyuko's known for as long as she can remember. That Yukari brings her out to the most beautiful places in the world because she wants to see Yuyuko happy. And Yuyuko is.

[cheinsaw]

since i just recently wrote about orin, i'd like to introduce those of you who don't know me personally to the inspiration for whenever i write about a cat touhou.

[cheinsaw]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

i was REALLY determined to be the first to write lolk fic. i hope i made it. this is based mainly off the prologue, and a few things reisen says during the first/second stage, so if you’re worried about new character spoilers or anything there are none! 

if you die in pointdevice mode you die in real life

[cheinsaw]

one more fill to go, then i’m closing off prompts for this round! it’s already in progress, i went to the library yesterday to do some writing and ended up getting so lost that someone asked me if i was ok. but i got to write some cute yukayuyu under a big stained glass window! LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

[cheinsaw]

orinkuu!

sexyakibadetectives requested orinkuu with “safety first”, and parsee requested them holding hands. there’s, um, kind of both in here! (tabs i have open currently: a google search on how to treat minor burns, the wikipedia article on radiation protection, and okuu’s defeated sprite from hisoutensoku)

--------

"Okuu!"

The sound of Orin's voice ringing sharply through the Hell of Blazing Fires makes Okuu turn. "Oh, hey! Orin! Orin, c'mere!" She slides the control rod off her arm and rushes towards where Orin's standing. "I'm soooo happy to see you!" she cries, throwing her arms around Orin's neck. She rubs her face against Orin's cheek, the way she always does, but to her surprise Orin screams and pushes her away.

"Owwww! Ow, ow!" Orin howls, beating the front of her dress. There's a vaguely circular hole burned clean into it, and the skin underneath is flushed hot and red. "Okuu!"

"Sorry! Sorry, Orin, I didn't know! Are you okay?"

"It's okay! Just, owww, don't do that again..."

"Oh, no!" Did it hurt? It looks like it hurt. "Sorry for burning your boobs," she says apologetically.

"It's okay, it's okay," Orin says, her tails flicking back and forth. She lightly touches her exposed skin. "Yeah, you... you did burn me, how'd you do that?"

Okuu touches the fusion heart on her chest. "Here!" Strangely enough, it doesn't hurt her fingers at all. It's pleasantly warm, and pulsing with her heartbeat.

"What is that thing? You got it from that god, huh?"

"It's my heart!" Okuu says proudly. "Well, uh, she called it a fusion heart. So it must be!"

Orin looks a little puzzled. "Um, alright. Anyway, is the shrine maiden gone? I fought her four times... What happened? I tried to catch up to you so I could watch, but I guess I couldn't..."

"Oh, yeah, she beat me! Hahaha. It was kind of funny, actually!" Okuu smiles proudly. "She made me promise not to blow up the world."

"That's good," Orin sighs. "Oh, Okuu, I was so worried..." Okuu doesn't really understand it, but Orin looks like she might cry. "Let's, let's go back up to the mansion, okay?"

"Okay!" Okuu trills. She makes to grab Orin's hand, like usual, but Orin jerks away from her touch. "Orin?"

"Hot," Orin yelps. "Okuu, I'm really sorry, but, but, don't touch me until we figure this out, okay?"

Okuu visibly deflates. "Okaaaay." The exhilaration from her fight with the shrine maiden is fading fast, and she feels like someone's punched her right in the stomach. She's never not held hands with Orin. But right now, she's hurting Orin just by touching her, and it's so unimaginable and so strange. She never, never, never wants to hurt Orin.

Together, they trudge back up to the Palace of Earth Spirits, Orin fiddling with her burned-open dress and Okuu unsure of what to do with her own empty hands.

------

"She's hot?" Satori says, puzzled.

Orin meows softly, butting her head against Satori's hand. Really hot! I couldn't even hold her hand, she thinks.

"And she burned your dress like that... I see." Satori begins to think, but there's only one real possibility. "I'll have to see Okuu about it for the specifics, but from what you're saying, it sounds like she's now a living sun."

A sun?

"A very, very big, hot star. So, yes, it makes sense that she burned you on contact."

Orin's thoughts become a jumbled, worried mess, and Satori gives up trying to follow one specific path. There was a god, it sounds like, and Okuu had some kind of rod strapped to her arm. Fear, and confusion. Flashes of memories of Orin's own fights with the shrine maiden. And a strong desire to just be with Okuu again, the way they used to.

Satori scratches Orin softly behind her ears. "Please relax. It'll all be alright. It's okay now."

I'm worried. I'm scared.

"I know," Satori murmurs. "I know."

"Orin!" Okuu hollers, her voice bouncing off the walls of the foyer and startling more than a few cats. "Oh! Satori-sama! I want to hug Orin!"

"Yes, yes, I'm aware... Could I talk with you for a bit first?"

"Huh? Yeah! Hold on, I wanna hug Orin."

"Okuu," Satori sighs. All in the same moment, Okuu reaches out for the cat on Satori's lap, Satori realizes exactly what's happening, and Orin jumps onto the floor. Seconds later she's back in her girl-youkai form, frowning up at Okuu.

"Orin, look!" Okuu places her hand against Orin's. Orin jolts, but quickly relaxes. "Haha, see? I put my hands under cold water!"

"They're too cold now!" Orin complains.

"Okuu, could we please talk about this?"

"Oriiiiiiiiiiinnn," Okuu cries, sinking down to her knees to meet Orin on the floor. She wraps her arms around Orin again, but leaves a space between them for the glowing red gem on her chest. "Is this okay? Orin?" "Yeah," Orin says, reaching up to hold Okuu closer. "You're still kinda warm, but it doesn't hurt..."

"Maybe 'cause we aren't in Hell anymore!"

Satori sighs. Best to let her pets have this small reunion, and talk to them afterwards. She still isn't entirely sure what happened to Okuu, aside from--swallowing a god? Well, it wouldn't be the strangest thing she's ever eaten. For now, though, Satori's content to just watch as Orin curls up in her cat form, nuzzling against Okuu's knee, and listen as Okuu laughs happily.

[cheinsaw]

[cheinsaw]

alice/marisa, cookies

(parsee requested this on twitter but i am a grandma and can’t find the actual message. enjoy!)

"Yo! Alice, you home?" Marisa calls, kicking Alice's front door open. No response. However, there is an extremely inviting smell in the house. Marisa sniffs, wandering in and closing the door behind her. This is a scent she knows all too well. Alice has been baking sweets.

Mouth watering, Marisa hurries towards the kitchen, all to excited to see what it is that Alice made. She's not disappointed in the slightest: on the kitchen table rests a beautiful, round, donut-shaped cake drizzled with a creamy caramel and rum sauce and--are those chocolate shavings? "Alice!" Marisa yells again. "'S it cool to eat this? I'm kinda hungry!" No response. "Hey! You even here?" Silence. "Somebody's gonna steal your shit if you keep leavin’ your door unlocked." The only answer she gets is the fixed stare of a hundred decorative dolls.

It's probably fine to eat the cake. Like, just a little piece.

As Marisa cuts herself a slice, the front door of Alice's cottage swings open. "Oh, hey!" Marisa calls out, her mouth full of fluffy chocolate cake. "Alice, it's me!"

Alice enters the kitchen startlingly fast, a small bag clutched in her hands. "Marisa!" she gasps. "My panettone--what are you doing--that's--no!"

"It's good," Marisa says sheepishly.

"That was for Patchouli!"

"Aw, you're seein' Patchy behind my back? Didn't think you were that kinda person, but we can make it work."

"No,you complete idiot," Alice seethes. "It was for a party, not for you. I can't believe this! Why the hell do you think it's okay to just--come in here like you--ugh!"

"Whoa, wait, Patchy's having a thing? Damn, how come I'm the last to hear about it?"

"Because if there is a blacklist I'm certain you are the first and only name on it. Besides, it's supposed to be a small, quiet get-together, not a drunken party."

"Oh, well, that's no fun. If you wanna sit around reading what's the point of goin' out?"

"That's why you were not invited, Marisa."

"Huh, well, that's okay, I guess."

"It's not okay!" Alice's face is red with frustration, and she looks like she's on the verge of tears. "I spent hours on that and you just ruined all my work."

Marisa frowns. "Hey, I didn't know. Usually when you leave something on the table it means it's cool to eat, right?"

"Wrong. It absolutely does not mean that, ever."

"...You're sayin' I screwed up," Marisa says slowly, unable to avoid it any longer.

"In a major way, yes."

"Aw, sorry, Alice, I'll make it up to you someday."

Alice takes a deep breath, sobering herself. "You're going to do it today. You will help bake a replacement."

Marisa holds up her hands. "Uh-uh. I don't think you want me anywhere near something that fancy. It'll look like cat poop if I do it."

"Yes, I'm very much aware." Alice bites her lip in concentration. "It's not as labor-intensive, and it's a bit basic, but well-decorated sugar cookies should be fine."

"Uh, hate to break it to you, but I'm really really bad at baking. I'm good at like. Eating stuff."

"Well, you should've thought of that before," Alice says. "Now. Get me the flour and sugar from that cabinet. We have work to do."

------------

Marisa really has to hand it to Alice. The girl operates with machinelike efficiency when it comes to cooking. She's got a doll blending the dry ingredients to perfection, another creaming butter and sugar together, and another sifting powdered sugar. Alice herself sits at the table, studying a handwritten recipe in a language Marisa can't read and occasionally giving instructions. "Measure out a teaspoon of baking soda and put it in the bowl over there. No, I said baking soda. Yes. That one. Marisa, be careful, that's not a teaspoon."

"They all look the same!"

Alice gives a deep, heavy sigh. "Marisa."

"Yeah."

"Think about it this way. When you're working with your mushrooms, how do you do it?"

Marisa grins. "Mix shit together until it does somethin' cool."

"Okay, that's what we're doing. Except some of the ingredients are highly toxic mushrooms and we can only use a very small amount."

"I'm not five, Alice. I know what we're doin' here."

"Then measure out the amount I tell you or these will taste like garbage."

"Gotcha."

After what feels like hours, Alice finally lets Marisa relax. "I'll let the dolls handle shaping the cookies, then we just have to bake them. You're done. I'll do the frosting myself."

"Wow, really? Thought that was never gonna end."

Alice sighs. "I guess. You can lick the bowl."

"Wait, seriously?"

"Yes. Then if it's poisonous I'll be the first to know."

"You suck, Alice," Marisa says. But she scrapes out a piece of cookie dough and licks it off her finger nonetheless. "Hey, this's pretty decent. You want some?"

"I think I'll have the cooked version," Alice says. "But... you did well. Considering you caused this entire mess in the first place."

Marisa beams. "So can I keep your cake thing that I wrecked?"

"No. I'll... figure out something to do with it." She pauses. "But I think you can have another piece, if you want. And, um, you should taste test the finished cookies too. To make sure they're of high quality."

"Yeah, yeah. How 'bout I test the frosting too?"

"...I think we can arrange that as well."

[cheinsaw]

AyaxAkyuu,Pen and Paper.

A lazy Saturday in Gensokyo is fairly welcome, for most of its inhabitants. For Aya, it's certain sudden death, a loss of vitality. Aya goes and goes and goes, and when she stops, it feels like hell. There's always something to be done, for her, so that when there isn't she ends up completely lost.

Normally, when Aya runs out of ideas, she just goes down to the Hakurei Shrine and provokes Reimu into saying something article-worthy. But that's gotten so boring. She needs to be on the move, looking for new information, fresh sources. Someone that hasn't already sent her death threats for writing about them. 

For today, the ever pure and honest Shameimaru is going to ignore that she is informally barred from the human village. It's not like she's going to cause any trouble! She won't even try to disguise herself like some of the other youkai do. And besides, it's all for her newspaper. Surely the freedom of the press covers an investigation into the human side of Gensokyo.

Unfortunately for her, the human village is exactly as fond of her as she'd remembered, with people blatantly going out of their way to avoid her and shopkeepers hastily turning away when she walks by. Maybe she should have tucked her wings inside her shirt after all. (Like that would make a difference.) That leaves her with only one option: the inhabitants of the human village who are already knowledgeable and open to youkai. There's one in particular who, of course, has the same predisposition towards collecting information that she does.

And so, somehow, Aya Shameimaru finds herself sitting on a cushion in the bedroom of the Child of Miare, a cup of steaming tea in front of her and her pen at the ready.

"Long time, no see," Akyuu says. "What brings you here?"

"A journalist is always looking for new ventures," Aya says proudly.

"Is the shrine maiden too busy to see you today?"

"No, no! I just thought an article about you would be a good change of pace." Skeptical, Aya notes, her handwriting a sloppy mess.

"You're getting information out of this? I've barely said anything."

"Mmm, mmm," Aya nods, scribbling down on her notepad without taking her eyes off Akyuu's. 

"It's incredible how much you can fabricate."

"Always here to serve."

Akyuu folds her hands. "May I ask what you're planning on writing about me? All of Gensokyo already knows of my existence and purpose. I haven't done anything of note recently. Why me?"

The truth is that the Hieda house was just the first one Aya saw that probably wouldn't throw her out, but that wouldn't make for a good story to anyone. "Your position in Gensokyo is pretty special! If I interviewed you, people would get a better sense of what the daily life of the Child of Miare is like."

Akyuu closes her eyes. "It's not very interesting." She pauses. "Though if anyone could make it sound that way, it's you."

For the first time, Aya gives a genuine smile, grinning from ear to ear. "Now that's what I like to hear. So, may I have an interview?"

Akyuu tilts her head and gives a small smile. "Where do we begin?"

[cheinsaw]

Woo yeah that was kinda generic sorry lol. 35, Renko and Mary?

"The truth is, um, I like you," she says, her beautiful eyes cast down. "I've liked you so long, Renko."

Renko stands there frozen.

"Renko?"

No. She can't speak but she can't worry Maribel and she's so nervous and Maribel makes her heart feel like she's at the very top of a rollercoaster and Maribel is standing there fidgeting with her hands and oh, Maribel.

"It's... Never mind, I'm sorry," she says, her voice cracking.

"No," Renko manages. "Merry. I'm. I mean, I, um. Like. You too." You sound like a grade schooler, she chastises herself. "I really, really like you."

"You mean... Not... just as friends, right?"

"No, no, I mean in a... romantic way." This is the first time she's ever said she likes girls out loud, and she's tripping all over her words.

Maribel's blushing right to the tips of her ears. "Me too, Renko."

[21:23] Merry: renko, would you like to visit a graveyard in aoyama this weekend? i was thinking friday evening.[21:24] Merry: it's probably not haunted. but a change of pace might be nice anyway. let me know, ok?

Renko stares at the text messages, savoring them, letting each word remind her that Maribel is now her girlfriend (her girlfriend!). Yes, she types. Meet you at the station at 5.

Within moments, she gets a reply.

[21:28] Merry: <3

A thrill of joy shoots through Renko as she types a heart back.

"There's something calming about cemeteries," Maribel says, when they're on the train. "In my country they're really different, so I like coming to see Japanese ones."

"You pay your respects to your ancestors a very different way," Renko points out.

"Well, yes. Someday you'll have to visit my family at the end of October, and we'll show you a real Día de los Muertos. It's incredible. I think you'd really like it."

The second Maribel lapses into Spanish, Renko can feel her heart melting. "I'd love it," she says, absolutely overcome with delight at Maribel's very existence.

By the time they arrive at their stop, the sky outside has turned to soft pinks and purples and blues, and the first stars are peeking out. Renko's struck with an urge to reach out for Maribel's hand, with the way they're walking side by side. But they are still in the train station, and Renko doesn't want to embarrass herself, but, oh, she's not embarrassed by Maribel, or of having Maribel as her girlfriend, but what if--

Anxiety tying her into knots, she squeezes her own hands together tightly and reminds herself to breathe. It's too difficult, and she's too nervous. How badly she wishes Maribel would ask to hold her hand.

The graveyard is huge, and especially beautiful at this time of the evening, despite the chill in the air. The rows of markers cast long shadows, giving it a maze-like appearance. "This is kind of amazing," Maribel says, just as awestruck as Renko.

"Yeah..." Renko looks up at the sky for the small comfort of finding the exact time. "We probably have about an hour to explore before it gets too dark."

"Well, lead the way!" Maribel says, her face alight with anticipation.

Renko's heart does a backflip. No one else is around. Before she can think too hard about it, she extends a shaky hand. "Okay."

"Hmmm?" Those wide violet eyes are going to kill her.

"Would... do you want to hold hands?" Renko says quickly, then draws another shaky breath.

"Oh, Renko!" Maribel laces her soft fingers through Renko's. "I..." She giggles. "It's kind of funny, I was thinking about holding your hand the whole way here, but I didn't know if you'd be okay with it."

"What--really? I was too. Oh. Oh, I wish you'd said something."

"I wish you'd said something!" She rubs her thumb against Renko's hand. "Well, now we know."

"Yeah." Renko gestures, and begins to lead Maribel down through the first row of graves. "Yeah, we do."

Maribel doesn't let go all night. And neither of them can stop smiling.