#foxfiction

[rowdysakura]

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

title: i was gonna die young (now i gotta wait for you hun) fandom: ao no exorcist pairing: kamiki izumo/okumura rin characters: kamiki izumo, okumura rin, paku noriko chapter: 1/5 (? tenatively) summary: rin and izumo don’t fall in love--they trip over it.

(or that lesbian izumo/rin au that no one asked for)

[rowdysakura]

Fandom: ao no exorcist Characters: kamiki izumo, moriyama shiemi Tags: fantasy au, kamiki Izumo/moriyama Shiemi, Shiemi is a witch, Izumo is a mermaid Chapter: 1/5 Summary: izumo hasn't trusted anyone in many years and hasn't relied on others longer than that. however, in this foreign world of dry earth, dry air, dry skin, dry everything, she begrudgingly accepts shiemi's proffered aid. Read my gay fic please

[rowdysakura]

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

title: ice, ice, baby fandom: ao no exorcist pairing: kamiki izumo/moriyama shiemi characters: kamiki izumo, moriyama shiemi, kirigakure shura sequel to: vitriol, spice, and something nice summary: shiemi plays the long game. izumo really doesn’t mind.

[rowdysakura]

title: ironclad fandom: ao no exorcist characters: izumo kamiki, yukio okumura summary: Izumo’s arms are too short to box with god—Yukio is significantly closer.

I skipped two classes to write this—pls read my fic.

Warnings for: blood, violence, injury, and spoilers for chapter 96 of ao no exorcist.

[rowdysakura]

inosaku + 6?

6. things you said under the stars and in the grass

The first time Sakura and Ino lay under the stars it’s winter and the two of them really have no business being outside in the dead of night. Sakura can’t remember how old they were, but Ino had wanted to go and Sakura remembers their friendship being too new for Sakura to even think of jeopardizing it. Little Sakura only points out that it’s particularly cold before allowing Ino to sneak them outside under Sakura’s parents’ noses. They end up wearing only their winter coats over their pajamas, legs and feet bare. The two girls lie spread eagle, shivering and cold, with their breath puffing above them, out in Sakura’s backyard staring up at the clear sky where there’s nothing but stars for as far as Sakura can see.

It’s not very far. The house, the trees, and the fence limit the scope of Sakura’s vision. It’s still the most exciting sight in her short life.

It’s even more exciting when Ino reaches between them and grabs Sakura’s hand.

“Let’s stay friends forever, ‘kay?”

Even though Ino’s tone is anything but, her words seems weightier in the night with only Sakura and the stars to hear her. More meaningful. Personal. Especially because there had been nothing but silence between the two of them. It fills Sakura with a pleased warmth from head to toe despite the cold.

Eventually, Sakura makes a noise that might be an affirmative. It’s mostly a noiseless squeak. She grips Ino’s hand tighter then chokes out a quiet, “'Kay.”

–

There’s a few more times after that, that Sakura doesn’t quite remember. Quiet nights in the grass with only the two of them and the stars. No words or promises. Just existing side by side.

It’s the most serene and content Sakura remembers feeling for a long time.

–

Sakura breaks off their friendship, declaring herself Ino’s rival, and wonders the whole time just why–but she doesn’t stop. Doesn’t hesitate.

They don’t have quiet nights under the stars anymore, after that.

–

Sakura is the one to mend their friendship, too. It’s her responsibility, after all, since she is the one who broke it. Over a boy who had never once given her even the smallest slice of day, of all things.

It’s rocky, at first. Which is only to be expected. They’ve both grown up. Not apart, not really, just different. There’s old pieces of each of them that still fit together. But there’s new ones, too, that have never fit together. Never had a chance to.They make it work. Through shopping and sleep overs, just like old times. Through rigorous training and Ino drilling thousands and thousands of medical factoids into Sakura’s head or Sakura helping Ino practicing navigating the human psyche, just like new times.

The quiet nights under the stars in the grass return, too. Though now they are not always so quiet. Sometimes there are soft voices. Quiet confessions, fears, and clouds of words that simply feel wrong said under the light of day. Reassurances, comforting nonsense, and unwavering support spill here, as well.

It’s still the same, however, as much as it has changed. Still a haven of serenity, of contentedness. Still something weighty, if unspoken. Still Sakura’s most precious moments. (And, perhaps she’ll never know, but they’re Ino’s, too.)

–

“Don’t let those boys be the death of you, okay?” murmurs Ino.

Ino’s voice is casual but when Sakura shifts her head to look at the blonde beside her Ino doesn’t move to meet her gaze. Sakura’s lips press together and she says nothing as she watches the blankness of Ino’s face.

Neither of them should be here: lying on muddy, bloody dirt and watching the stars. Not when they’re needed but…Ino had come into her tent and looked at her and Sakura had seen the same desperation holding her own bones together reflected in Ino’s blue eyes and blurted out, “Five minutes. We can afford five minutes.”

Sakura has never been good at denying Ino much at all, really.

Except when it counted most, Sakura thinks as she looks away. Says nothing, still.

Sakura’s older, wiser and stronger, and she knows her self worth and knows some people weren’t worth it but–

But.

Somewhere inside she’ll always be a twelve-year-old girl chasing after a fractured idea of a team. Of a family. That maybe could have stayed together had she just been…more.

So she says nothing even as Ino laughs. It’s a watery sound.

“I love you, you know?”

The words so quiet that the silence between them is not disturbed so much as changed.

The silence reigns in Sakura’s mind, on her tongue and in the burning of her eyes and the tightness of her chest.

Ino says no more. Makes no more noise. Sakura wonders if she is crying as much as Sakura herself.

In five minutes the two of them go back to war.–

Later, much later, after everything–surviving, winning, and putting themselves back together–Sakura sneaks into Ino’s home (as much as one ninja can sneak into another ninja’s home when they’re expected) with apology chocolates and the two of them lay out in Ino’s yard. In the grass. Under the stars.

This time it is Sakura who reaches between them. She grasps Ino’s hand, her thumb running across the back of it.

“I love you, too, you know,” Sakura declares. Loudly and boldly disturbing the quiet with her words.

Ino laughs, startled but happy. It’s the most beautiful and joyful sound Sakura has ever heard. The pink-haired girl vows to make Ino laugh more like that as the two of them shift closer, pressing together and sharing kisses under the starlight.

(It is far from the last time–for kisses, laughs, or words of love.)

[rowdysakura]

nagi's ane bnha au

@inuyoshie HERE U GO Izumo Kamiki -alias: Ninetails -status: supervillian -quirk: the summoning, assimilation (by possession) and control of spirits, -an agent of the illuminati agency since she was young, she's now a notorious supervillian all across Japan. She's also a student at the prestigious True Cross Academy where her best friend believes her to be a quirkless delinquent with a heart of gold -Best and only friend: Noriko Paku Noriko Paku -alias: none -status: citizen -quirk: none -A student at True Cross Academy who likes to moonlight as True Cross Town's number one matchmaker. She bonded with Izumo at young age over both of their quirklessness. -Friends: Izumo Kamiki, Shiemi Moriyama Shiemi Moriyama -alias: Earth Girl -status: superhero -quirk: can grow and control plants -After manifesting her quirk at a young age, Shiemi grows up sequestered from the outside world. Until tragedy brings the Okumura twins into her life, opening her eyes to a wider world and starting her path to superheroism. -Friends: Rin and Yukio Okumura, Noriko Paku Yukio Okumura -alias: none -status: law enforcement officer -quirk: none (for now???) -Following in his adoptive father's footsteps, Yukio Okumura graduates as the youngest [some Sort of cool name for a law enforcement agency that tries to regulate superheroes and supervillians. All members are powerless] medical and combat officer in history. He's unaware that his twin brother, Rin, is the source of his current case--the elimination of True Cross's newest superhero, The Blue Fang, before he can become the second coming of the most notorious villain known world wide as Satan. Rin Okumura -alias: The Blue Fang (miiiight change it to the blue knight) -status: superhero -quirk: the inextinguishable blue flame which can burn anything, healing factor, super strength (it is unknown whether these two are separate or as result of the blue flame) -In a night of tragedy, Rin learns two things. One, he and Yukio are not the sons of one Shiro Fujimoto but instead of the most notorious world wide supervillian, leader of the supervillian conglomerate the Baal, Satan. Two, he has inherited Satan's ever feared flames. There's only one thing left for him to do: become a superhero. -Friends: Shiemi Moriyama, Shura Kirigakure, (later on) Ryuji Suguro, Konekomaru Miwa, Renzou Shima Shura Kirigakure -alias: none -status: independent detective -quirk: snake affinity (she has the senses of a snake and can telepathically communicate with any snakes and most related reptiles) -Shura is part of an independent investigative/bounty hunter agency (member count now one). She deals with the government, private business, and individual citizens. As the best of the best, she's often called in as reference for all sorts of criminal activities. Later, she helps Rin with his superheroism, after an emotional clash, and keeps the [yukio's division] from getting to close to the truth of the Blue Fang while stepping in as sort of vodka aunt for the Okumura twins. Ryuji Suguro -alias: ??? -status: superhero -power: photokinesis -After Ryuji develops his powers, he swears to find and destroy Satan in revenge of the bloodiest nights in history, the Blue Night, which hit his temple particularly hard. For a while, he and his two childhood friends, known collectively as the Kyoto Trio, remain based in their hometown before gaining a lead on the missing supervillain Satan that takes them to True Cross. Konekomaru Miwa -alias: -status: superhero -quirk: technopathy -Konekomaru never wanted to be a superhero, especially after the death of his family for being just that, but he can hardly wait behind while his hotheaded friend Suguro surges blindly ahead. So, superheroism it is. Renzou Shima -alias: -status: superhero, double agent -quirk: pheromones, through unusual circumstances also has the ability to summon the black flame spirit - Other things -True Cross Order is a world wide recognized superhero organization -Mephisto was previously a member of the supervillain group Baal, but betrayed them to the True Cross Order, he now leads the Japan Branch -The Baal or "Demon Kings" were a super villain group led by a villain named Satan until his disappearance after the Blue Night. The group has since been hunted down and eliminated or scattered, powerless. -the Illuminati is an underground supervillian agency that is headed by a previous Demon King member known as Lucifer. Their goal is world domination and the resurrection of Satan. -True Cross Academy Cram School (this is essentially where bnha elements come in) is a school for superhero kids to meet one another and hone their Quirk under seasoned heroes. Rin, Shiemi, and the Kyoto trio, are all present. Izumo doesn't go since she's a supervillian and doesn't want her secret identity blown. -Izumo and Shiemi meet through Paku

[rowdysakura]

The Drama You’ve Been Craving - Rizumo Week 2017

title: the drama you’ve been craving rating: t fandom: ao no exorcist / blue exorcist characters: izumo kamiki, rin okumura, unnamed exorcist fic series (on ao3): all the good in me is because of you (it’s true) dedicated to: @crxdus / @demirin

Izumo twitches. Just a small tick in her right brow. It’s enough to make the poor exorcist manning the missions desk want to turn tail and run and never ever look back. Thankfully, it’s the reptilian part of his brain screaming in fear over being a very, very small prey in front of a very, very dangerous predator or else he might have pissed himself. As it is, he’s sending heartfelt prayers to whatever deity or ancestor that may be listening to him to let him out of this encounter alive.

In turn, Izumo can only wonder when everyone around her started turning into blubbering idiots.

Slowly, the young woman places her hands on the desk before leaning into the other exorcist’s space with a firm scowl in place. It’s a bit more difficult than usual with her newly found girth around the middle, but the table isn’t too high and Izumo manages it just fine once she goes a bit up on her toes.

“I’m sorry,” Izumo begins, not sounding sorry at all. In fact, she sounds sweetly sinister. “Could you repeat that?”

The man behind the desk can only cower as he slowly draws up a hard backed folder in the hair’s breadth space between their two faces. He looks entirely too relieved as he flips it open, forcing the young woman before him to draw back, revealing a missive of some sorts.

“I-I-I said th-that--ehem, I said that as of today, Miss Kamiki, you’re no longer allowed to take any True Cross sanctioned jobs, no matter the Branch. It’s not a permanent ban just a sort of ah, probation due to your, um, your current, ah, circumstances,” finishes the man, eyes darting meaningfully from Izumo’s extended belly and her eyes and back. He totally nailed it.

“’Circumstances?’”

Something twists in the man’s gut. Her tone is carefully light, airy, as if she could not care less. Considering this is Arc Knight Kamiki Izumo, the True Cross’s single biggest workaholic after one Okumura Yukio, he highly doubts that’s the case. An odd sense of impending doom descends over the man. He’s going to die, he realizes, Kamiki is going to kill him. He can run and she will most literally shoot the messenger or he can stay put and be strangled to death.

The inevitability of his end brings a sort of calm to the man. He nods easily before answering almost inaudibly, “Yes.”

Izumo makes a sort of noise of acknowledgement before her dangerously narrowed eyes slide to look at her partner, one Rin Okumura, beside her.

Rin, who had been watching the exchange with a sort of detached amusement, stiffens as a strange, immediate need to surrender shoots through him. His eyes shift to meet Izumo’s gaze even has his hands come up in defense.

“Oi! I’m only an honorary Knight anymore! I don’t have anything to do with this!” the half-demon splutters in alarm, his hands waving frantically in front of him.

Izumo’s gaze snaps back to the exorcist behind the desk who also throws up him hands in surrender, dropping the folder.

“By whose order?”

“S-sir Pheles--!”

“Ha, Pheles can’t ban me from all branches he’s only in charge of the Japanese Branch...,” she trails off, a triumphant glint in her eyes and the curve of her mouth. It shouldn’t take very long at all to send her familiars to a nearby branch and gain a mission there. Damned demon meddling in her family life. So what if he’s an uncle of sorts?

“Erm, well, Sir Pheles suggested it but, well, the current Paladin is the, uh, one, who approved it so--,” the exorcist’s throat closes up in terror as the fire in Izumo’s eyes reaches a new pitch. A mere moment later absolute relief courses through the desk exorcist, causing him to slip slowly, bonelessly, from his chair to the floor when the red-eyed menace turns completely away from him to focus on her husband.

“Yukio, hm?”

Sweat began to bead along Rin’s forehead.

“Well...he is a Doctor so maybe he has the right idea, yanno! You should probably take a break especially so close to your final months. It at least couldn’t hurt...? Um, Izumo, where are you going?”

“Just to have a chat with my brother-in-law, is all,” replies Izumo airily, stalking in the direction of the nearest door, the Paladin’s office key in hand.

“W-wait!”

Rin gives a quick apologetic bow to the exorcist now slumped on the floor before scrambling after his wife.

“Izumo, wife, dearest, love, light of my life, you can’t go threatening Yukio! He’s the Paladin! I’m pretty sure that’s like one-hundred percent illegal!”

“I’m pregnant, Rin! Not sick or fragile or wilting away!”

The purple-haired woman jams her key into the door before yanking it to reveal the waiting area before Yukio’s office.

“B-but! The baby!”

The half demon rushes after her, closing the door much more gently behind them.

“Exercise is good for the baby,” Izumo counters ruthlessly turning a glare onto the trailing Rin. Her arms cross defensively in front of her chest. “And don’t think I don’t know you talked with him. He wouldn’t have done it, otherwise, seeing as last time I knew he trusted in my abilities as an exorcist.”

Rin fiddles nervously with Kurikara’s strap across his chest, an anxious grimace pulling at his features.

“It’s not...it’s not you I don’t trust, Izumo!” he blurts out in a half yell, coming to a stop. His gaze firmly fixed on the floor. “I-I know you’re great--you’re the best I know and I wouldn’t want anyone else at my back but...mistakes can happen. Exorcists can get overwhelmed or tricked or hurt no matter how good they are.”

He rocks a bit on his feet, anxiety rising with no response from Izumo, before forging ahead more quietly.

“I’ve always worried about that, y’know? It’s not just because you’re pregnant. It’s just now...now, its more than you, it’s our kid, too. And it kinda seems like you...don’t even really care? You’re just the same reckless you taking the same dangerous jobs. And I know I’m one to talk but I just...,” Rin finishes with an explosive sigh before only shrugging. His eyes do not leave the floor in front of him as his tail lashes to and fro behind him.

There’s a long pause of silence broken suddenly by the sound of Izumo’s ever decisive footsteps. Her boots come into his view as she stops. She doesn’t say a thing.

Lips thinning, Rin raises his gaze from Izumo’s heavy boots, noting bare calves, thin capris, and her over sized, waist length, and unbuttoned exorcist’s jacket. A far cry from her usual, more protective outfit of thick pants, arm and leg guards, and full length jacket, much like Rin wore now. It’s too vulnerable, too exposed, and leaves him feeling sick with worry.

When he finally reaches her face, he’s surprised. Izumo’s arms are still crossed, he had expected to see something like irritation or anger once finally meeting her stare but instead there’s something soft. Appreciation, understanding, and care edged with a deep affection. Even after all this time his heart still skips a beat when Izumo turns such looks on him.

He’s such a sap, really.

“Izumo...?”

She sighs, gently, before spreading her arms. Not one to pass up a rare invitation such as this, Rin immediately steps forward to scoop her up into a hug, resting his chin on her shoulder. Izumo had stayed short while Rin had shot up in his final years of puberty and now she had an extra bump he needed to bend around, but Rin wouldn’t mind all the back cramps in the world so long as he got to hold her.

Izumo’s arms come up around him in turn as she presses her face against his opposite shoulder.

“I know,” she murmurs, voice muffled against him. “I know all of that and I do care. I do worry. Why do you think I bring you with me now?”

Rin hums in consideration. Finally, he replies, “Because you like to boss me around?”

Izumo seems to choke on air as she smacks his back, an indignant cry bubbling out, “Rin!”

Her husband only laughs as they draw apart to look at each other, bringing a soft smile to Izumo’s face.

“Just checking! Just checking,” he snickers, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Izumo only rolls her eyes, huffing out in an haughty manner, “Well, I suppose it is a bonus.”

“H-hey!”

Izumo sighs, hands dropping from Rin’s to grasp one of Rin’s between them, “I bring you with because I trust you to watch out for me when I can’t watch out for myself. There’s nothing I don’t trust you to keep me safe from.”

She smiles up at Rin, her expression full of absolute confidence in him.

Rin feels his mouth drop open. His eyes wide in startled wonderment. The flame of his love for her, ever present, seems to suffuse out from his chest, filling him with warmth until he’s near bursting with tenderness. He kisses her and Izumo’s face flushes almost immediately, burning a cherry red even as she returns it.

When they pull apart, Rin cant help the grin that splits his face or the way his tail wags excitedly behind him. His own cheeks and pointed ears are flushed as well but its fine, he doesn’t mind looking the fool as long as it’s for Izumo.

“You’re such a sap,” Rin tells her delightedly, drawing a flustered protest from her, before pressing yet another kiss to her forehead. “I can’t believe you like me that much.”

“We’re married!”

“I know!” he says, just as excited as the first time she’d said so. The grins slips away suddenly as he seems to realize something. His tail droops low as he slumps, peering at Izumo through his lashes. “I’m still worried, though.”

Izumo only tilts her head to the side, smile still in place as she returns Rin’s scrutiny.

“Hmmm, how about a compromise, then?” she asks, watching Rin perk up curiously. “I won’t quit taking missions completely, I just can’t just sit around doing nothing, it’ll drive me up every wall, but I’ll start taking more lower ranked ones, okay?”

“...and I’ll still come with?” questions Rin after a moment’s pause.

“Of course.”

“Heh, well, I can’t argue with that. As long as you’re happy and safe, I’m okay with it,” he declares, pressing their foreheads together affectionately.

Dryly, Izumo replies, “So glad you approve.”

“Mm, so does this mean you won’t yell at Yukio now?” asks her husband hopefully. He’s taken both her hands in his, rubbing a thumb soothingly over the backs of them.

Forehead touches and hand rubbing is usually a good enough distraction to pull Izumo from whatever warpath she’s set herself on. It’s a good move and has saved many a person from evisceration by spoon...when it’s worked. How unfortunate today is not one of those days.

Izumo smiles serenely at up Rin and kisses him gently on the nose.

“Oh, no,” she says, tone positively the embodiment of sweetness. “He’s dead to me, now.”

Rin sighs forlornly.

“I’ll get the mop.”

[rowdysakura]

Rizumo Week 2017, Day 3 - Chocolates

title: your devotion has the look of a lunatic’s gaze fandom: ao no exorcist / blue exorcist characters: kamiki izumo, okumura rin, paku noriko, shimura rin (oc) series: all the good in me is because of you (it’s true)

notes: sorry, it’s late alsdkjflkdd. inspired by this.

“PAKUPAKUPAKUPAKU!”

Paku glances up and a smile of amusement spreads across her face as Rin goes skidding past her. Lesser people might find themselves embarrassed to have their friend making a scene. Paku isn’t most people. Unflappable and immoveable she is the calm of the storm. Besides, the gossip is always best when her target feels absolutely panicked as Rin seems to be.

The brunette raises an immaculate brow, eyes zeroing in on the kill with a genuinely interested and sweet, “Yes?”

Rin grabs Paku by the shoulders and shakes her all but screaming, “PAKU, YOU HAVE TO HELP ME!”

If the eldest Okumura weren’t one for regular hysterics, Paku might actually be worried.

“With what?” she asks, trying not to laugh to hard.

“Okay, well, recently Izumo has been talking about...about this other Rin! Shimura Rin! All the time, she talks about her every day. It’s always Rin did this and Rin did that and ‘you won’t believe what Rin did today’. And I’ve met this Rin and let me tell you, she talks about Izumo the same way, too!”

Paku interrupts with a gasp, “You mean like secret lovers?!”

A hand covers her mouth for the extra drama.

The noise that explodes from Rin then sounds like a dying animal and a broken blender. His huge, broken puppy dog face almost makes Paku feel guilty. Almost.

“You think?!”

“Oh, no, not at all, Izumo has no secrets from me,” she assures. The glint in her eye almost sinister.

“Then why would you...” Rin shakes his head violently. Some minds are best never understood. “Nevermind, I still think she has a crush! Izumo waxed eloquent for thirty minutes about the curve of Rin’s abdominals. Thirty minutes, Paku, thirty minutes.”

Paku eyes slide shut. Her whole being--physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual--slumps. As Izumo’s longest lasting friend, she has already been exposed a many a time to Izumo’s complete lack of self awareness. Especially, in relation to her sexuality.

(There’s a particularly memorable time Paku cherishes as the moment she lost any and all innocence to just how truly bizarre Izumo’s affections could be. It’s a year or two after Paku’s dropped out of cram school. The sun shines brightly despite Autumn’s cold and Izumo has started as a Middle Second Class exorcist. This means, of course, longer, harder, and more dangerous missions. 

Paku knows Izumo’s just returned the day before from one such mission. It’s the reason why she finds Izumo’s dazed inattentiveness so worrying. Had something happened? Something horrible? Her former mentor, Shura, had been on that mission. Why hadn’t the elder woman watched out for her?!

The brunette tries not to ask. She really does. But by the time lunch break rolls around Paku simply cannot take the glazed look in Izumo’s eyes anymore. Paku lets them get lunch, settle onto their usual spot of grass, and start in on their food before even thinking of questioning Izumo.

“Izumo, can I...ask you something?” Paku begins delicately.

“Mm,” Izumo says, not even looking at her. Paku is fairly certain the juicebox she holds to her mouth is empty by now and yet Izumo doesn’t set it down. Simply stares into the far distance.

Anxiety grips Paku’s heart like a vice. With a shaky inhale, she braces herself for whatever horrors Izumo might share with her. She can do this. For Izumo.

“Did...something happen? On your mission? It’s just, you’ve seemed off all day and I’m worried,” Paku explains, stressing the last word in a way to get Izumo’s immediate attention. She keeps her expression open and kind and is not surprised when Izumo’s eyes snap to her. She ever more nervous, however, when Izumo turns her head away, hiding her face.

An eternity seems to stretch between them. Paku readies herself to press forward when Izumo finally answers.

“Blood...”

Paku winces. Just as she’s feared--

“There was so much blood on her. I always thought it would be gross to see someone like that? But! she looked amazing and terrifying. Definitely terrifying. And the way she moved! It was like watching a war goddess in action,” Izumo murmurs, ecstatic.

Paku blanches. She’s bewildered, floundering. The direction of up is a mystery.

“What.”

Izumo turns back to her then, face flushed. A rapturous smile curves the corners her lips and admiration pours forth from her every pore. Adoration practically leaps forwards in physical form when she sighs, “Shura.”

“What,” Paku repeats. She wonders if the world will align anytime soon.

“I think I want her to punch me?”

Paku doesn’t ask.)

“See! You know exactly how I feel. Which means she’s done this before. Which means she has a crush. Which means I’m doomed because tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day and if Izumo is crushing that means Rin is definitely crushing back because, I mean, who wouldn’t? Izumo is so amazing...but, anyway, if Rin’s crushing then she’s definitely going to do something tomorrow! What do I do? Paku, please, you have to help me. Before I’m doomed to be some old guy’s trophy husband instead of Izumo’s!” whines Rin. He slides to his knees, grasping his hands in front of himself in a begging sort of gesture.

Paku shakes herself free of the past, focusing on the poor boy in front of her.

“Now, now!” she scolds shaking a finger. “That’s quitter talk!”

In all honestly, Paku doubts the relationship between this mysterious female Rin and Izumo is so serious. Nonetheless, she’ll help Rin out. If only to get rid of this will they, won’t they tension driving her absolutely insane.

The brunette taps her chin thoughtfully as she thinks aloud, “Now clearly you have to make some sort of grand gesture. One that’s modest but clearly separates you from whatever this mysterious Shimura can come up with! Have you done chocolates, ever? Izumo is a sucker for sweets! And you’re really good at cooking, right? So you could probably make some special chocolates in the shape of cats. Or maybe foxes? Both?

Oh! Get her flowers too and a stuffed animal. I can help you with the flower message I’m sure Shiemi will drop a hint for you--”

“I’ve done all that,” cuts in Rin, sounder even more dejected.

A tingling sense of evil crawls over Paku. 

“What? Chocolates? Flowers? Stuffed animals? Grandiose declarations of love? All of it? And you’re still not dating?!” gasps Paku, true horror bringing her hands to her mouth. Is Izumo truly such a hard nut to crack?

“Erm, well, not the last one! And not all at once. But I’ve done it all...I just....chickened out half way through and said they were all friendship gifts,” mutters Rin, toeing the floor.

“And she believed it?” Paku returns in surprise. Actually, scratch that. Izumo absolutely would believe that. She tries not to close her eyes. Her soul almost leaves her body. 

Rin bobs his head still focusing on the floor before perking up excitedly.

“But! I haven’t done the declarations of love part! Should I write it on the chocolate?”

Life returns to Pakus eyes and she chimes, “Oh! Yes, that would be so cute. How would you write it?”

“Hmmm, ‘Dear Izumo, you could stab me and I’d say thanks. P.S. I love you.’ Does that work?” questions Rin eagerly.

Paku resists slapping a hand to her face. Only just. Something in her expression must give her away, however, for Rin makes a noise of discontent.

“You’re right, it’s too long. I don’t think Izumo would eat that much chocolate.”

Paku really does slap her face then. With both hands. Look all ye upon these halpless fools and despair.

“I don’t think...”

“Oh! I got it!”

Paku doubts that.

“Bwahaha, it’s so perfect! There’s no way I can lose with this plan!”

Wait, is his voice getting farther away? Paku raises her face from her hands to spy Rin striding confidentially away from her.

“Gah, Rin, hold on! You haven’t told me your plan, yet. Rin!”

Izumo stretches her arms above her head languorously, feeling the comfortable burn of well worked muscles. Her skin sports a few new bruises, as well, but it’s well worth it to the red-eyed girl. With Rin’s busy schedule, these spars kept getting further and further apart, making these moments even more precious to Izumo.

With an explosive sigh, Izumo flops back onto the gym floor.

A husky laugh follows her.

“I didn’t hit you too hard, now, did I?”

Izumo grins up at the older woman.

“Pft, as if, that was a sigh of content, yanno.”

The black-haired woman sniggers as she settles into her own stretches beside Izumo’s prone form. Like always during her cool down, Rin provides tips and critiques on Izumo’s performance before questioning why Izumo moved like this or did that at this point in the spar.

Izumo is in the middle of answering such a question, explaining why she thought the kick would have given her an advantage, when Rin--the Okumura one--bursts into the recreational space.

“Izumo!”

Rolling her eyes, Izumo pushes herself to a stand to flag him down.

“Over here!” she calls, eyes widening when notices what he’s carrying. “What’s all this?”

Huffing, Rin carefully and expectantly hands off each item to her. 

Bemusedly, Izumo takes each and every one, a bouquet of every kind of red flower under the sun and a box of what can only be chocolates remain in her hands while the overly large teddy bear with gaudy heart ballons takes a seat next to her on the floor. After she marvels at its softness, of course. It’s...a lot. She knows Rin likes to give things to her to affirm their friendship, espcially on Valentine’s Day. But all of this? At once? She’ll have to bump up his shameless rating.

“Rin, even for you this is too much,” Izumo laughs feeling simultaneously pleased and flustered. There’s a flush in her cheeks tempered by the fact that this is simply Rin being, well, Rin. An overly affectionate friend. She lifts up the lid of the box and almost drops both the chocolates and flowers in surprise when twenty, little cat-shaped chocolates stare back at her. “Oh my god, they’re so cute!”

Awe makes Izumo’s legs weak, she sinks to the floor, not quite sitting, staring with wonderment.

“Aaah, how am I supposed to eat you? Your just little faces with little pawsies but you’re so adorable! Gah, I could scream with how cute you are,” she murmurs to herself. Perhaps, to the chocolates too. 

Shimura watches Izumo with amusement before glancing at Rin, Blue meets blue as the woman smiles in a pleased manner. Strangely, there seems to be a glimmer of pride within her eyes.

“So--”

“Take this!”

“Ah..., thanks?” says Shimura uncertainly, staring at the little box. Could it be a Valentine’s Day gift? She wouldn’t have guessed Rin considered her so highly.

Determination burning in his gaze, Rin nods, explaining, “They’re Valentine’s chocolates. For the special bond we share.”

Alarms widens Shimura’s eyes as they dart first worriedly to Izumo who, thankfully, still appeared lost in the experience of her own treats, then back to Rin.

“Um, are you sure you mean to give this to me?” asks Shimura uneasily.

Another nod.

“I wrote my feelings on the chocolate, so take a look.”

The woman can almost feel her face cramp with the attempt to keep herself from grimacing as she slowly lifts open the lid of the box to reveal the incriminating chocolates beneath. A cross between a laugh of incredulity and sob of relief explodes out of the black-haired exorcist as she reads aloud, “Rival confirmed!?”

Beside her, Izumo inhales her chocolate in shock..

Rin slides a foot back, planting a hand on his hip as he points dramatically at Shimura.

“That’s right! Shimura Rin, from this moment forward, I, Okumura Rin, declare you my rival in the contest of Izumo’s heart!”

Shimura stares. Izumo begins to choke. Rin doesn’t let up.

“I respect you for choosing this wonderfully terrifying girl as the object of your affections but I must you insist you back down! Unless you want to taste bitter defeat, that is. For I will never stop fighting for her, ever!” he declares. He pauses to look at the now coughing Izumo in worry but she waves a dismissive hand at both the Rins. The Okumura’s fiery gaze returns to Shimura’s. “Unless, Izumo chooses you. I’d probably? Stop? Or if she tells me to stop. Because I respect her decisions and...”

Rin wavers for a moment. Frown in place.

“...A-and! Anyway! Be prepared!”

With that, Rin about faces with a cocky toss of his head before fleeing the scene as rapidly as humanly possible.

Bursting in sniggers, Rin--the Shimura one--crouches down and rubs the struggling Izumo’s back soothingly. In between laughs and snorts, the woman asks, “So, when do you think I should tell my fiance I’m apparently leaving her for you?”

Izumo nearly chokes again, manages to finally swallow the offending treat, and wails with sudden realization, “Holy hell--they were never friendship chocolates!”