hey there cats and dogs, and fish!! this here is a tickle fic for Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun!! i hope the characters are accurate- please enjoy!!
this is a fic requested by @randomratty!! thank you so much for the request <3333
this is for TKTober using the prompt list by @softcloudystars
A Charming Encounter
Words: 1,484 Pairing: Ler!Kou, Lee!Hanako Warnings: Fluff! Prompt: "Oh, you're ticklish~!"
Kou had been combing the old building for the better part of twenty minutes, his irritation building with every creak of the wooden floorboards. Hanako had swiped one of his protective charms earlier that day, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. Now Kou was stuck searching the ghost's territory, knowing full well Hanako was probably watching him blunder around with that infuriating grin of his.
"Hanako!" Kou's voice echoed through the corridor. "Give it back already! I know you've got it!"
A faint laugh drifted from one of the nearby classrooms. Kou shoved the sliding door open and, sure enough, there Hanako was, perched casually on a desk like he had been waiting the entire time. The stolen charm dangled from his fingers, swaying back and forth like bait on a line.
"You really should be more careful, Minamoto-kun," Hanako drawled. "If a dangerous spirit had gotten hold of this instead of me..." He pressed the charm against his cheek, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, let's just say you'd be in trouble~!"
Kou clenched his jaw. He knew better than to lunge at Hanako right away... ghost or not, Hanako was slippery. But the smug way he twirled the charm, the smirk plastered across his face, it was too much.
In two strides, Kou closed the gap, grabbing Hanako by the wrist before he could vanish. He slammed him back against the wall with a forceful shove, one hand pinning his shoulder while the other wrestled for the charm.
"Ooo, scary exorcist boy finally caught me~!" Hanako sing-songed, even as Kou pinned him harder. "What now? Exorcise me?"
"Don't tempt me," Kou muttered, frustrated.
Hanako only smirked wider, clearly enjoying every second of it.
As Kou tried prying the charm from Hanako's hand, his fingers brushed against Hanako's side. Immediately, Hanako jolted, a sharp squeak slipping out before he could swallow it down.
Kou froze, eyebrows shooting up. "...Wait a second."
Hanako's eyes went wide. "No. Don't you dare." He reflexively vanished the charm while Kou was distracted.
Kou grinned slowly, recognition dawning. He experimentally wiggled his fingers near Hanako's ribs without touching, and Hanako stiffened against the wall, trying and failing to act composed.
"Oh-ho," Kou said, voice brimming with triumph. "Oh, you're ticklish~!"
"I am not!" Hanako snapped too quickly, cheeks flushing. "That was just nothing, don't get any ideas."
"Yeah, right... Wait, where's the charm? Hanako, where is the charm? It was just here!" Kou shifted his grip, keeping Hanako pinned with his forearm while his free hand darted straight for the ribs he had brushed. He jabbed lightly, and Hanako buckled, laughter bursting out before he could swallow it down.
"S-STohohohOhoP IhIHihIT!! KohoHoHOU, ThHhahaAT's- AHahahHA! NoHOhOHOT FahAHHAIR!!"
"Oh, it's more than fair," Kou replied, kneading up and down Hanako's ribs. "You stole my charm! Consider this payback."
Hanako twisted and squirmed, trying to phase out, but Kou had him pinned too tightly for him to slip away. Every squeeze sent him into another fit of laughter, his bratty remarks crumbling into squeals.
"Y-YouHUHu're- YouHuHU're paHAHahhAThHEhETIC!!" Hanako wheezed, though his voice cracked halfway through. "Th-THiHIhiS DohohoeSn't- EeheHEHven TihiHIhICKle!!"
"Doesn't tickle, huh?" Kou dug harder into the upper and lower ribs, remembering the squeak from earlier. Hanako immediately dissolved into helpless laughter, legs kicking against the floor.
"GhAHhaAHAH!! KOUHUhUHu!!! Q-QuIhihIHiT IhIHIHIT!!" he gasped, head tipping back against the wall.
Kou smirked, leaning in. "No way. Not until you tell me where you hid my charm. Or maybe I'll just stay right here until you admit how ticklish you really are~!"
Hanako's only reply was a high-pitched giggle that broke into another squeal as Kou wiggled his fingers under his arm. He jerked violently, kicking out in protest, but the laughter from his mouth betrayed him completely.
"Y-YoUhUhUHu're crUHuHuHUEl!!" Hanako managed between peals of laughter, thrashing under Kou's grip.
Kou only grinned wider. "And you're a terrible liar. Now, where's the charm?"
Hanako's response was wordless laughter, his bratty façade cracking with every second Kou's fingers dug into his ribs and underarms. For once, Kou had the upper hand, and he wasn't about to let Hanako wriggle free so easily. Kou's grin sharpened as Hanako squirmed beneath his hold, laughter echoing off the walls of the empty classroom. Hanako's cheeks were pink, eyes squeezed shut, legs kicking helplessly against the wood floor as Kou dug mercilessly into his ribs.
"Oh, you must be kidding me," Kou said over the noise, his tone teasing but competitive. "You're acting like I'm breaking your bones. All it takes is a couple fingers~?"
"SHuHUHUHT UHuhUHUHP!!!" Hanako squealed, twisting violently. "IHiHiHTS- NNNGHAHahahAH!! IhIHiHiT's NoHoHOt FuhuHhUhUNNY!!"
"I wouldn't be so sure," Kou chuckled, and then, just to test a theory, he let his hand hover threateningly near Hanako's knee.
Immediately, Hanako's laughter hitched into a squeal before Kou had even touched him, his whole leg jerking backward. "D-dohohon't! Don't even thihihihink about ihihit!"
Kou raised an eyebrow, fingers still wiggling in the air. "I don't even have to touch you, do I~?" he teased, circling his hand slowly just above Hanako's knee. Hanako shrieked again, his laughter growing frantic, as if the anticipation alone was unbearable.
"Stohohohop, stohohohp, stohohoHop!!! Ihihi hahahate youhUhuhu, Mihihnahmohohoto!!"
"Fitting," Kou said, smug. "Ghost boy taken down by air tickles. Amazing."
With a wicked grin, he finally pressed his thumb and fingers into Hanako's knee, giving it a quick squeeze. Hanako exploded.
"AHAhHAHHAHAHA!!! K-KoHOHOHOUU!!! NOHOHOT THAHAHAAHAHAHTTT!!!" His body bucked, legs flailing so wildly that Kou had to tighten his hold to keep him in place. Every squeeze sent him into a fresh burst of frantic, high-pitched laughter, completely unguarded and raw.
Kou chuckled with him, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable. You dish it out all the time, but you can't take a little payback?"
Hanako managed a breathless, "IHIHI CAHAHHAN'T TAHAHHAAKE IHIHIHIT!!!!" before dissolving into another scream of laughter as Kou switched back to kneading his ribs with both hands.
By now, Hanako's bratty remarks were falling apart completely. His giggles cracked into squeals, his words reduced to broken fragments.
"STAhhaHHAP-!! N-NOhOhOhOHO moHoHohohoHore, KoHOhOHUHUHU!!! IhIHIHI CAHHAhaHAN'T-!!!"
"Ah, sure you can," Kou teased, fingers spidering up into his underarms again. "You're the great Hanako-sama, right? Don't tell me you're tapping out already."
Hanako's only response was to thrash harder, kicking the floor with those ridiculous little leg-kicks, laughter tumbling out in frantic bursts. His face was flushed scarlet, eyes watering as he twisted in vain against Kou's hold.
Kou leaned closer, smirking. "All you have to do is tell me where my charm is. That's the deal. Otherwise..." He fluttered his fingers lightly against Hanako's ears and neck, barely touching.
Instantly, Hanako squealed, his laughter jumping an octave as he tried to duck his head away. "N-NoHoHoot thAHhAHahat!!! KouhuhuhU, plehEHehease!!!"
Kou chuckled, keeping the touches maddeningly light. "So this is the worst spot, huh~? Good to know~!"
Hanako shook his head furiously, unable to stop laughing. Finally, with a ragged gasp, he cracked. "O-Okahahay! Okahahay!! Ihihi'll tehehehelLl yoUHuHUHU!! J-JuhUHUHUSt stAHhahaAP aLLreHEHehAddy!!!"
Kou paused, fingers hovering. "...Go on."
"Iihihihit's-" Hanako broke into another giggle fit as Kou teased his ribs again, "-u-uhuhunder thehehe chahahalkboard, behehehind the erahahaser tray!! I h-hihihid ihihit thehere!!"
Kou's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but the desperation in Hanako's voice was hard to ignore. "You better not be lying."
"I'm nohot!" Hanako squeaked, still giggling even though Kou had eased up. "J-juhuhust- nnngghahahaa!! Quihihihit ihihihit!!"
Finally, Kou pulled back, letting Hanako slump against the wall. The ghost sagged, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath, cheeks pink and hair sticking in every direction. His laughter still lingered in little aftershocks, bubbling up whenever he thought he'd calmed down.
"Y-youhuhhu're thehe wohohorsttt," Hanako whined, glaring weakly. "An absolute monster."
Kou rolled his eyes, brushing his hands off as though satisfied with a job well done. "And you're way too ticklish for your own good. Don't steal my charms next time."
Hanako huffed, though the corner of his mouth twitched like he was fighting a smile. "Y-you'll pay for this, Minamoto. Mark my words."
Kou raised his hands defensively, backing up a step as Hanako wiggled his fingers menacingly in return. "Oh, no, you don't. You're not getting me that easily."
Hanako's smile returned, a little worn but no less mischievous. "We'll see about that~!"
Kou huffed, stepping over to the chalkboard and pulling the charm out from behind the tray, exactly where Hanako had said. He tucked it into his pocket, giving Hanako one last victorious grin. "Guess I win this round."
Hanako shot him a glare that was only half-serious, still giggling faintly under his breath. "Enjohoy it while it lasts.
As Kou walked from the room, leaving the ghost resting against the wall, the tension between them settled into something almost companionable. Ghost and exorcist, still rivals, still bickering, but for now, bound by something lighter than grudges.
