#instituteshipping

[gilbertamoriarty]

Arc V AU where the dimensions are united and Leo is separated dad who lives with his teen daughter. One day he met Himika and Ray become the biggest instituteshipping lover ever.

[seasaltmemories]

Regret

Rating: PG

Summary: Romance had never been a top priority in her life, but a part of herself had always wondered if she has chosen to focus on other pursuits only because she wasn’t used to being seen as desirable.  To lose that fondness now, Himika wondered if she her heart could take such a betrayal.

~

When Himika awoke at 5am to the sound of vomiting, she was almost ready to call the marriage off.

She had gone in knowing it would be a rocky start.  Neither had wanted to marry until Leo Corporation had gotten on its feet, but extenuating circumstances had made it necessary to push the ceremony earlier than expected. That also meant breaking the news to her family that, yes, she was marrying the mad scientist that more or less lived in his garage.  As expected, Mother and Ichika did not handle the news well, but at the very least, the quick wedding meant they had to get over their patronizing protection of her all the faster.  It had been like balancing out a set of accounts, a bit of a headache, but the pro’s and con’s should all cancel out in the end.  If that had been her only problem, then she would have put up her hair, gritted her teeth, and made it all work somehow.

It was this honeymoon that was falling apart.

Neither Leo nor she were too attached to the idea.  Again, considering Leo Corporation hadn’t been in business for even six months, it seemed illogical to go vacationing now.  But it was here where her family put their foot down.  Hasegawa’s had a reputation to uphold and suddenly running off with a broke foreigner without having a honeymoon was just a step too far out of line.  And it was difficult to argue against taking a break, so Himika had relented fairly easy.  She scheduled a week in Kyoto, figuring the trip would be fairly simple and romantic, before life caught up on them again.

But then they had misplaced their tickets, their hotel didn’t seem to have gotten their reservation, it rained for half the trip, and now what little sleep she had gotten had been interrupted.

Reluctantly, she rose to check on the situation.  The lights were on in their bathroom, and as she thought, Leo was currently hanging off the side of the toilet, as he clutched his stomach.

“Oh don’t tell me that you’re sick!”

Leo looked over his shoulder with a weak grin.  “Afraid so.”  It was such a pitiable expression, all her frustration faded into shame.

“I’m not upset at you for being ill,”  Himika pinched her brow.  Apologies had never been her strong suit.  “It’s just...do you have any idea what it might be?”  Something to go on, anything that might let her do more than just sit around and do nothing.

“I think it was the shellfish I ate last night.  Don’t worry, get back to sleep.”  He stiffened, then leaned back over the toilet in expectation of another spasm.

Himika groaned.  Sleeping was the last thing she could do at a time like this, so instead she sat down next to Leo.  As the youngest of the family, she had little experience tending to others (and doubted she was disposed to such qualities anyway) but she did her best to try and comfort Leo.  She felt like half a fool as she rubbed circles against his back, yet when he was done throwing up, he looked up at her and seemed a little less pained.

“You know I thought this might happen, but I figured the roles would be switched.”

Unconsciously, Himika glanced towards her own stomach.  With that right clothes and an unknowing eye, her new guest was still undetectable, but in a few weeks it would become impossible to hide.

“Most women around this stage began to lose their morning sickness,” She replied, unsure what else to say.

“Good to know,”  Leo gave a quiet laugh.  “Still I just want to take proper responsibility for you.”

Funny, Ichika’s biggest complaint had been his perceived lack of responsibility.  She had done things right, found a stock-broker husband, married, and had two little boys before she had even reached Himika’s current age.  The sisters were only five years apart, but to her well-respectable eye, it must have seen as if Himika had decide to have her rebellious phase at thirty.  Accidental pregnancies and hasty weddings were the things of couples a decade younger than them.

Himika remembered Mother’s scrutinizing gaze at Leo’s graying hair.  For him it was the stuff of a man two decades younger,

“Dear?” The affectionate nickname brought heat to her cheeks and her consciousness back to the present.  “You grew quiet, are you upset with me?”

“I would not have married you if I did not want to.”  The words come out like the sharp declaration of a queen, (although in the back of her mind she wondered how regal she could look on a bathroom floor).  “Responsibility or no, I would not have married a man or chosen to bear his child on a whim.”

A soft smile spread to his face.  “I wanted to marry you too.”  It’s such a simple statement, but with it, Himika could feel a week’s worth of tension drain from her being.

Before their wedding day, she had heard him mutter something in his sleep. “Ray...” It could have passed as another woman’s name.

Romance had never been a top priority in her life, but a part of herself had always wondered if she has chosen to focus on other pursuits only because she wasn’t used to being seen as desirable.  To lose that fondness now, Himika wondered if she her heart could take such a betrayal.

But they were married now, and if this Ray really did exist, she wasn’t here, taking care of him now.

“Why don’t we cancel our morning plans?”  A smile of her own matched his.  “We can relax some and see if we’re ready to go out by lunch.”

“That sounds amazing, thank you, Dear.”

Heat rushed to her face again, and Himika considered how the pair of them must look to outside eyes.

She thought hard about it and decided that if he didn’t regret his decision, than she had no reason to either.

A.N. Shotgun wedding Instituteshipping started out as a crack headcanon and now you’ll have to pry it out of my cold dead hands

[reijiakabutt]

finally~~~

[pendulum-sonata]

@seasaltmemories​ replied to your post “You know that ultimate ship meme you did a while back, could you do...”

God lord the idea of post-divorce Insitute hookups is so great ��

I really is, Tima and I were discussing about a different ship, but it was like a lightbulb in my head thinking about it :’D, basically I ended up having this idea on the basis that Himika would probably think it’s a pain in the ass to search for any other potential people to be compatible with, and there’s Leo who already knows what’s up and what she likes so why the heck not?

[pendulum-sonata]

Convenient

Arc V Rare Pair Week: Day 5 (Surprise) Pairing: Instituteshipping

*CLINK*

The sound of the fork falling from his hands into the plate, resonated in her ears like a bell, or an alarm, and she had to make an effort not to turn her head to see if there was anyone watching them at this very moment.

But the hairs on the nape of her neck had not risen and she felt no drilling looks on her back, and she allowed herself a small breath of relief – And now that she thought about it, how ridiculous had it been to think that such a small happening would bring anyone’s attention in such a concurred restaurant? – before fixing his eyes again on her date.

Leo had yet to pick the fork, but at the very least he had been sensible enough to close his previously agape mouth.

“I suppose I took you by surprise.” She said bringing a cup of wine to her lips, she had a hunch that she would need it.

And as if finally registering that the world keep spinning around while froze, Leo finally moved his lips again – resembling a fish – and made a quick fix of his person to look somewhat professional once more.

“Yes… I mean I was just talking about how Yusho and I have finally managed to have investors interested on our project and you suddenly go and ask…” He trailed off rather than completing the sentence and if she didn’t know him better, Himika may thought he was embarrassed.

She would lie to herself if she said that never questioned her personal taste by dating such man.

“If memory doesn’t fail me, I said that we should marry.” She said unhurried and without a pause or doubt.

Here it came another pause from his side, to his credit he managed to mask it this time around.

“Is not like the idea has never crossed my mind, but…” He said averting his gaze from hers.

“But?” She asked, even if she felt a teeny tiny fickle fear running down her back, it was better that they addressed any objections from the get go.

“I’m just failing to follow how one idea took you to the other, I don’t understand why now of all times, without any warning or preamble.”

Of course, Himika had always considered herself an active person, someone who while far from impulsive found far more excitement on action and accomplishments, she needed to be moving; whereas sometimes she feared that left to his own devices, without hers or Yusho’s prompting, Leo would happily retreat himself into his lab, improving his experiments and never sharing his accomplishments with the world.

It figured that throwing such a blatant proposal at his face equated to her shoving him into an abyss.

“I’ve already seen what your ‘project’ is about and there’s no way people won’t want to make money of it, is not me having blind faith or wanting to be optimistic…” She almost wanted to snort at both words but she continued. “…And at risk to sounding like one, I know that it will revolutionize the known technology as we know it.”

“Thank you,” He started scratching the back of his head. “It means a lot coming from you.”

“And while I have yet to tell Yusho about this, I already have a considerable offer for his contract by one of the biggest promoter companies of the country, once I finally manage to slip each one of his ridiculous amount of specifics and preferences into the new contract I will be free to completely back you off with all my contacts, experience, and a sizeable commission from the deal.”

“…” He said nothing, considering her words most likely.

“So, I ho- expect you to see why this is the best moment to get married.” She said as a final selling point.

Himika would lie if she didn’t admit that this whole ordeal was not getting on her nerves, the longer he sat there in silence, the longer she was beginning to feel the familiar prick of anxiety on the hairs of her neck and the more effort was taking her to suppress all the worst possible outcomes scenarios to this.

“Yes, I understand and there’s no foreseeable holes in your logic, and seeing as we would both benefit, professionally and personally from this, then I suppose there’s no reason to turn this offer down.”

She knew that she should feel relieved, happy even of this, but there was something on his expression that did not speak of full commitment, as if he was just going along with her and her whims.

“Is that your only objection then?” She asked putting her glass on the table. “Bad timing and lack of tact on my side?” That seemed to surprise him, since she saw his eyebrow rise and his mouth slightly open and close again.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that we have been on this relationship for over a year and with both of us having promising career prospects on our own, you can see how it is not in lieu with my person to stick around with half-hearted compromises and people, and that I would have never proposed our current arrangement had I not had marriage on mind as an end goal.” She could feel her nails digging into her skirt as each word came out of her, because this was difficult, she shouldn’t have to make a case for this type of things!

They were both comfortable around each other, both had good heads on their shoulder, and enjoyed each other company without fuss, something she knew for a fact was an great accomplishment for difficult people like them, then why had he not proposed to her first then?

“…I apologize,” He started and Himika let out a bitter breath preparing herself mentally for this. “…I never meant to make you feel like I was less interested on this than you, it’s just…”

And from his jacket – which at this point she had long since surrendered for him not to use on formal places or events – he produced a small black box, and she didn’t need to ask what it was nor her mind wandered with thousands of possibilities for Leo was not someone fond for jewelry of any kind.

“…I stole your thunder.” She said as a matter of fact, feeling the heat rising for her neck down.

“No, no, don’t say that, this is great actually! I have been carrying this thing on me for over a week trying to find the perfect moment to bring it up, and if I’m honest with myself maybe there would have never been one.” He said looking to the side. “I mean... if Yusho had not dragged me to the mall, I may have never made my mind about it in the first place…”

While Leo kept on rambling on about the many ways he had sabotaged himself on this little venture, she was debating on the warm feeling setting on her belly – if slightly mitigated by the realization of Yusho’s meddling – her beating heart and the headiness on her mind.

Was this what happiness felt like?

“…Just promise me that you won’t back out midway through the wedding or anything of the like.” She found herself saying with an unusually wide smile on her – she knew this because the muscles of her cheeks felt strained – a bubbly feeling making her all over her body.

“O-of course!” He said leaning on the table and almost knocking it over.

“…Or that you won’t let Yusho organize it, make any speeches or prepare some type of show in it.” She said as a reminder, remembering the photos Yoko showed her of their own wedding.

“…Seeing as he’s my self-appointed best man, I cannot promise anything.” He answered rubbing his temple.

Of course he would, she thought and the bubbling on her chest finally materialized into a laughter that did have the people on the tables around them staring at them.

But for once in her life, she did not care.

[pendulum-sonata]

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

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Akaba Himika/Akaba Leo Characters: Leo Akaba, Akaba Himika, Akaba Reiji Additional Tags: 30 Days of Arc V, Fluff, Angst, who are we kidding there's gonna be angst, at some point, Drabble Collection Summary:

A rock thrown in the pond, full force, or maybe, just maybe, thousands of pebbles, hurled, dropped, even gently coaxed into the water ripples, reverberating, echoing, growing into a groundswell...

“How are you feeling?” He asked the moment the nurse finally allowed him to enter the room.

“He, always such a worrywart…” She spoke the moment he was on her line of sight, it was surprising how even through the weight of anesthesia, exhaustion and overall atmosphere her implacable wit managed to break through.

How had such a woman ever seen something worthwhile on his person for a date, a relationship, and marriage it was beyond him?

And she was granting him with a child.

“You should try to get some sleep, those were some long 37 hours.” Leo said taking notice of the slight bags under her eyes.

“…Only that? Please I’ve spent more hours awake while negotiating merge deals…” Himika countered with a smirk.

“Is that so? I’m sure none if them were spent attempting to give birth to a child.”

“Attempting? I don’t fancy the sound of that. May I remind you that you’re now a father?”

.

.

.

‘…Father!’

.

.

.

“Leo?” She asked and he had to shake his head, she sounded concerned. “Are you okay?”

“…Yes, why would I not be?”

“Because you zoned out for a whole minute.”

“Sorry, I supposed I have to process all of this, we’re parents now…”

“Well, now is a good time as any...”

Before he could ask what she meant, the door opened to show the nurse back in the room.

She was not alone however.

“Mr. And Mrs. Akaba, we’ve finished the routine tests and I’m pleased to announce you have a healthy baby, congratulations.”

While the woman was speaking she deposited a bundle of sheets and towels on his wife’s lap, anything else that the woman was saying went ignored as he stared at the tiny person inside the mess of blankets.

‘I’m a father… again…’

…What? He willed the unwanted though away, it was becoming worrisome how often he was having these… bouts.

But now it was no time to focus on himself.

“Well?”

“Eh?” He whirled his head back at Himika.

“Good god, you’re unbelievable… I asked you if you’ve thought about names yet.”

Right, a name, boy’s names he remembered going through book after book of kanji and names, including a ridiculous one filled with pointless anecdotes and drawings given to him by Yusho.

He got nothing.

Then he felt an unfamiliar pressure on his hand… a tiny hand, and he found himself staring at dark eyes, still too young to have any color on them but he thought they might look purple in the future…

‘I just don’t want to lose you!!’

Maybe…

“Rei… Reiji.”

“Reiji? Isn’t that a little… simple?” Himika asked.

“I’ve already thought about it…We’ll use the kanji of ‘zero’ so it’ll mean…”

“Zero child? …” Himika said apparently deep in thought. “Zero is not a worthless number, nor it stands for nothingness, if anything nothing can exist without it… the foundation of everything, the beginning… I like it.

“You do?” He asked a little surprised.

“Yes he’s our child so it’s natural that he will be meant for great things, so the name is appropriate.”

.

.

.

‘Ray!’

.

.

.

“Yes… it is.”

[pendulum-sonata]

Sakaki Yusho!Anon: If you are still accepting ask on shipping, how about parent ships? I like parent ships: Smilesshipping, Instituteshipping, YokoXHimika, LeoXYusho, YokoXLeo, and HimikaXYusho. You don't have to do them all if you don't want to. You can pick and choose your favorites.

Worry not, although I can’t elaborate much on them because not much screentime for many of them:

Smileshipping

They are my grown up OTP in Arc V! I fell in love with the backstory and I love how rather than being just the protag’s parents, they both have their own distinct personalities and how you can really believe that a child like Yuya was raised by these two.

Instituteshipping

To be honest I did not thought that much about them until just recently with all the backtory goods we’ve been getting on the Akabas :DDD But I love to see them as a couple that started well in their own way, they met, fell in love and helped each other to achive their personal goals... Then shit hit the fan and Leo became obssesed with Ray and started to drift off from his current family chasing her ghost (quite literally) and eventually abandoning them altoghether.

Himika’s grief and anger over this was particularly good to see.

As for the others... they are entertaining to think about and the friendship between Leo and Yusho, Yoko and Himika, etc. all became sort of a headcanon of mine after Tima’s fic Universe in Motion, but I don’t really ship them tbh.

[pendulum-sonata]

Sakaki Yusho!Anon: For the prompts, Smileshipping - 18 and Instituteshipping - 12

Oh! Me loves some the parents ships ^^ also this is in no small part inspired by Tima’s fic “Universe in Motion” 

Picnic Day

Prompt: Wine Tasting & Pumpking Spice

Words: 523

“I can’t believe you convinced me of this” he toldYusho after they finally reached their meeting place.

Right in the middle of Maiami Park, after they bothhad to run from a hungry dog and Leo received a Frisbee right in between hiseyes.

“Neither can I!” he said with a laugh while helooked at the clock, “Uh? They should already been here”

“...Maybe the bus got stuck in traffic” hegrumbled.

“Since when are you so... understanding of delays?”After all the first time they met Leo had slammed the door on his face forbeing 1 minute late.

“Since never” he admitted in a low voice and Yushohad to bite his lip for not to laugh “What?!”

“...Nothing.” 

“Then stop smiling like an idiot!” 

“My apologies the bus driver was too incompetent.”said a voice saving him of guffawing on Leo’s face.

“Oh Himika! That’s why I told you I could bring usin my old bike” spoke Yoko a little behind her, how could she outwalk his wifewith those high heels it was still a mystery to him.

“Sorry but I was in no mood to ride a deathtrap onwheels” she spoke. “Did you bring the food?” she asked now to him.

“Uh-uh yeah I did! It was quite a mission to getthis guy.” he said pointing at Leo who was currently face-palming “To chooseanything else than cup ramen, but I managed”  

“For what is worth I think we both have sh- badtaste in food” Leo intervened. “We ended up enlisting help from theemployees” 

“A wise move.” Himika agreed. “I’m was in theoffice all day so I feel quite ...avid.” 

“Oh and look Himika brought some wine!” Yoko saidpulling a bottle of expensive looking wine from behind Himika.

“Since it seems to be in season it seemed appropriate”she said opening the food basket. “Care explain why is everything pumpkinflavored?”

“Oh Yusho you remembered my favorite!” Yokoexclaimed pulling him into a tight hug and everything was fine in the worlduntil he felt a tap on his shoulder.

“He didn’t, in retrospective it was a bad idea toshop during a pumpkin goods sale.” Leo said looking with distaste at somethingthat looked like an orange loaf of bread. 

“I think the cashier made a fool of you” spokeHimika again.

“In retrospective it wasn’t not wise of me to bringwine either.” she said when the loud laughter and smooching of Yusho and Yokoreached her ears again.

“Don’t be hard on yourself, who would have knownthey are both such light weights?” said Leo munching on another muffin.

Himika had to agree that it was the most acceptablefood, even the pumpkin spiced cake wasn’t half bad, not too sweet or sour.

Of course that the sugar only seemed to help thenow drunken couple to act even more foolish as they were now giggling at abunch of dogs fighting over a Frisbee.

“Don’t tell Yusho this but this day wasn’t halfbad.”

“Agreed, although I doubt either of them will remembera thing.”