Request: Yay, I’m so happy you’re willing to do poly relationships!! Could I request a scenario/one shot where shinobu and mitsuri are in an established relationship and the reader has feelings for both of them that she thinks are unrequited but then they end up inviting her to be in a poly relationship together?
Title: Language of Flowers
Pairing: Shinobu X Mitsuri X Reader
Word Count: 3,153
Warnings: none
Notes: alternate title: tengen uzui to the rescue
Across the courtyard, you watched as Mitsuri and Shinobu enjoyed each other’s company over a cup of tea. Shinobu had an arm extended over the table, trying to feed something to an obviously bashful and fawning Mitsuri. As Mitsuri took the bite of food offered, Shinobu drew back her hand with a sweet smile, eyes trailing Mitsuri as if to memorize everything about her.
Turning away, a frustrated huff passed through your lips. Your feet moved on their own, taking you away from the source of your turmoil. Why did both of the people you had a crush on have to be together? Why?
It’s not fair. It’s not like you asked to be hopelessly in love with both of them -- it just kind of happened.
. . .
“(Y/N)-san, come look!” Mitsuri said excitedly, crouched next to a bench in the courtyard of the Butterfly Estate. Her long braid cascaded down her haori, swaying along with her movements. Jade eyes beckoned you closer, along with a wave of her arm.
You rushed over, unsure of what all the commotion was about. When you neared, you followed the point of her delicate fingers to the seat of the bench. On it crawled a small, furry caterpillar.
“Isn’t it cool??” she asked, looking from you to the caterpillar. Her hand rested dreamily on the crest of her cheek. You giggled at her adoration, watching her eyes light up as the insect reared its little head into the air.
“Do you know what kind it is?” you inquired, watching her expression. You could see the visible shift on her features as she processed your question, searched her brain and found an answer.
“Hmm…” she thought for a moment, finger tapping against her lip. Her hand outstretched animatedly as the answer came to her and she smiled determinedly. “Shinobu said it was called a maimai ga! She also said not to touch it, because you’ll get a rash.”
She warned you with the waggle of her finger, but you kept your eyes fixed on her adorable expression, chuckling at her enthusiasm.
She must have a beautiful soul.
. . .
While it wasn’t your first interaction with Mitsuri, it was one of the first times you had a one-on-one conversation with her, outside of the pillar meetings. You slid open the door to your guest room, slipping off your haori, sword and shoes and tossing them into the closet. You grumbled under your breath, moodily crawling under the covers of your tatami. These girls were going to make you crazy.
Your love for Shinobu came about a different way.
. . .
A choked scream ripped through the air as your body was slammed against a tree, forcing the air out of your lungs. Clawed fingers wrapped themselves around your throat, threatening to crush your windpipe.
The demon before you was one of the strongest you had faced, up to this point. Your measly Kanoe ranking meant nothing in comparison to their unbridled strength and speed. And now, they were just toying with you. Seeing how long you could hold out against their torture.
Your sword was long abandoned across the forest clearing, lodged into the trunk of a tree. Trembling hands pried at the fingers around your throat, feet thrashing as the demon scraped your body further up the tree. Your mind raced, searching for a way out of this horrible situation, but nothing came.
As your world grew dark, you heard the demon laugh. You feared it would be the last thing you ever heard.
But the voice of someone else rang through the clearing moments before the darkness swallowed you whole.
“Excuse me?” the voice asked politely, eyeing the demon curiously. “What are you up to? Is this some sort of game?”
The demon’s grip loosened in surprise, just for a moment, long enough for you to escape their grasp. You fell to the dirt in a heap, coughing and sputtering as you tried to get away. But angry fingers gripped your hair, jerking you backward. The mysterious voice was closer in an instant, somehow behind you.
“I don’t think she wants to play with you,” the voice explained sweetly. “But I’d love to be your friend. Would you like to play with me, instead?”
Your hair was let loose, and you seized the opportunity. Shaking legs hardly supported your weight as you dashed across the clearing to your sword, desperately tugging at the hilt. After finally pulling it free, you turned back to the scene.
A small girl somehow towered over the slain body of the demon, now splayed on the ground. Lavender butterflies fluttered through the forest clearing, swirling upward into the sky. She sheathed a thin sword, along with something else you couldn’t quite see. Turning around, her purple eyes met yours.
“Hello, there!” she greeted, her voice bright in the suffocating darkness of the night. “Are you alright?
You nodded numbly, almost entranced by her features under the moonlight. She giggled, hands clapping together in front of her. Her eyes closed happily, head tilting to the side.
“Perfect!”
. . .
You sighed at the memory, staring up at the ceiling of your room. The night Shinobu saved you was forever etched into your brain, replaying whether you wanted it to or not. Her kindness and skill inspired you, while her beauty captivated you.
The same could be said for Mitsuri, whose bursting love made your heart swell with adoration. Her heart of gold shined brighter than any star in the night sky, and you’d give anything to be on the receiving end of her smile.
Groaning, you slapped your cheeks. Why did everything have to be so hard?
Confessing was kind of out of the question. There were a million things that could go wrong, and the last thing you wanted to do was get between their relationship. If one or both of them rejected you, it would make things incredibly awkward. On the other hand, if either of them reciprocated your feelings… that’s a whole other can of worms. Shaking your head, you dismissed the idea. It’s not like you could confess to two people at once…
Unless?
No, no, you couldn’t do that…
Right?
Your eyes narrowed in thought. What’s the worst thing that could happen?
Confessing to the separately might seem shady, like you’re trying to keep someone out of the loop. If either of them like you back, it’s going to require a conversation between the three of you, regardless. So… why not kill two birds with one stone?
Sitting up from your tatami, you shoved the blankets off and grabbed your haori. After grabbing your shoes and sword, you headed to the front of the estate, a determined look in your eyes. You spotted Sumi, Kiyo and Naho in the hall, whispering to them instructions for later. Their eager nods in response gave you confidence, their hands waving you off as you began your trek to the city. What’s a confession without flowers, anyway?
. . .
When you returned a few hours later, the sun had just begun to set on the horizon, sparking golden hour. Peeking around the corner, you glanced at the courtyard, searching for the familiar figures of your crushes. To your luck, it seems they both got your little message, and were seated near one another on the edge of the engawa. You gripped the two bouquets of flowers in your hand tightly, taking a deep breath.
Don’t mess this up.
You stepped out from the corner, slowly approaching the two from the side, the bouquets of flowers behind your back. Two sets of eyes quickly flicked to you, smiles welcoming but curious. Shinobu was the first to speak.
“Oh, hello, (Y/N)!” she said sweetly, turning her body to face you. “It’s nice to see you. What’s going on?”
Mitsuri’s eyes trailed over Shinobu in admiration, her finger rising to rest near her lips. You swallowed harshly, stepping out in front of the two, feet shuffling awkwardly in the dirt.
“Well, actually,” you started nervously, eyes switching between their similarly expectant stares. “I wanted to talk with you both.”
“Oh?” Shinobu says, eyebrows raising. “You know you could have just stopped by.”
“When the girls came to see me, I thought maybe something was wrong,” Mitsuri explained sheepishly, a flash of concern in her eyes. “Is everything alright?”
Your cheeks flushed at their words. You cleared your throat, biting your lip. Sending Sumi, Kiyo and Naho to fetch them upon your return was risky, but you hoped it would make the setting a little more formal for something like a confession.
“E-everything’s fine,” you stutter, cursing your anxiousness. “I’m sorry if I worried you. There’s just… um… I’ve been meaning to tell you both something for a while now.”
You felt your face grow even hotter as their eyes searched your face for answers.
“What is it?” Shinobu asked innocently, feet swinging playfully off the edge of the engawa.
“You know you can always talk to us,” Mitsuri reassured warmly, giving you her undivided attention.
You went rigid, heart thrumming in your ears. Taking a deep breath in, you bent at the waist, eyes squeezed shut.
“I… I have liked you both for a very long time,” you explained quietly, not having the courage to even open your eyes. “So… So, I- I hope you accept this as… as a token of my affection for you both!”
You thrust both your hands out, a bouquet in each. In the right, for Shinobu, comprised of lavender roses and white jasmine -- love at first sight and sweet love. In the left, for Mitsuri, red roses and pink camellia -- love and longing. Shinobu would understand the meaning behind hers, you’re sure, but you’re not certain if Mitsuri knows a lot about flower meanings. Maybe Shinobu would fill her in. You sigh.
Knots twist in your stomach at the deafening silence that follows. Your fingers are trembling, you’re sure, as hands gingerly pluck the flowers from your grip, first Shinobu and then Mitsuri. Your hands drop stiffly to your side, clenching into fists. Slowly, you raise your head, the rest of your body following as you examine their expressions.
They both look surprised, looking from one another and back to you. You feel your heart sink.
You knew this was a bad idea.
“Thank you, (Y/N), they’re beautiful,” Shinobu says, enthusiasm trailing off into something entirely different. “But, Mitsuri and I … we’re already...”
Her eyes are soft, looking at you with sympathy. You feel your whole body shaking, hands gripping roughly at the edges of your haori in an attempt to calm the sea of emotions welling within you.
Tears prick the corners of your eyes, and you swallow thickly, trying to will them away. Your heart rate spikes, and your body wills you to do something, anything to escape the extreme stress of this situation.
Your eyes look to Mitsuri, who is looking at you with empathetic eyes. It looks like she’s close to tears, herself. You shouldn’t have let her see you like this.
“(Y-Y/N), I had no idea.” Mitsuri said, and you could practically feel her guilt. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something we could do-”
You made her feel like that.
“I-” you begin, voice cracking. “I understand. I’m sorry to have bothered you both. P-please excuse me.”
You swiftly turn, moving quickly back towards your room.
“W-wait, (Y/N!)” you hear Mitsuri shout, but you can’t bring yourself to turn and face her. You can’t see that look in her eyes, again. You keep walking.
You ignore the tears streaming down your cheeks until you’re out of their sight, scrubbing harshly at them to will them away. You choke down the sob trying to escape your throat, wiping your nose with the sleeve of your haori. Distracted by your own sadness, you fail to notice the large figure turning the corner just up ahead.
Your body collides with the much larger figure of Tengen Uzui, pushing you a few steps back.
“Hm?” he questioned, looking down to your much smaller form.
You haori obscured most of your face as you politely excused yourself, walking past him and down the hall to your room. His curious and concerned eyes looked from you to the end of the hallway, where Mitsuri stood helplessly. As he approached the Love Pillar, sensing her mutual sadness, paternal red irises all but demanded an explanation from the pinkette. In response, Mitsuri led Tengen and Shinobu into her own room.
As you cried pitifully in the confines of your closet, you were oblivious to the conversation transpiring between the three pillars just a few rooms down the hall.
. . .
A few hours later, a knock on the door pulled you from your thoughts.
You sighed, tossing your blanket off to the side. You rub your eyes, stretching out your tired muscles as you stand. Gently smoothing out your hair and straightening your clothes, you slide open the door.
Before you stand Sumi, Kiyo and Naho, looking at you with excited eyes. Your shoulders slump with relief.
“Hi girls,” you greet nicely, albeit tiredly. “What can I do for you?”
“Miss (Y/N), your presence is requested in the courtyard!” they said surprisingly loud in unison, startling you. You chuckle lightly at the scare, crossing your arms and propping yourself up on the doorway. You sigh for what must be the hundredth time today, considering the implications of their words.
“May I ask who is requesting my presence?” you ask, raising a brow at the girls.
After exchanging a look with each other, they look back to you, shaking their heads. Damn. Well, it was worth a shot.
“Okay, thank you,” you laugh out lifelessly. “I’ll be right there.”
The three girls nod in response, making their way to wherever it is they go when they’re not working. Closing the door, you run your hand down your face, pinching the bridge of your nose. There were very few people who would want to see you, and you can think of two in particular. The thought makes your heart heavy.
They probably just want to reject me formally.
Nonetheless, you slip your shoes, sword and haori back on, splash some water on your face and slowly make your way to the courtyard. From your spot in the hallway, you see the faint glow of candles ahead, illuminating the darkness. Furrowing your brows, you continue forward. The closer you get, the more candles there seem to be, lighting a path for you into the center of the courtyard. You chuckle half-heartedly, pivoting to search for the culprit. Looking up to the engawa, you see none other than Shinobu and Mitsuri in the doorway, a bouquet of flowers in each of their hands.
Under the moonlight, Shinobu looked so much like she did the first night you met her. Mitsuri looked equally as lovely, the light of the candles giving her the golden glow of a goddess. Why did they have to be so beautiful even as they reject you? The world truly is cruel.
Ar first glance, you thought the bouquets were the ones you got them, and you deflated. Of course, they’re just going to give them back to you. Why else would they be here?
But, looking closer, it’s clear the bouquets are different. Light from the candles illuminate the red tulips and white roses dotting the bouquets -- a declaration of love and a new beginning.
Shocked, you stare at them wordlessly. Your eyes switched between their figures, gauging their intent. This couldn’t possibly be right. They called you out here to reject you, crush your hopes and dreams of ever loving either of them… right?
As they stepped forward, you didn’t move. You hardly breathed until they were both just a few feet in front of you, eyes looking at you expectantly.
“Thank you for coming, (Y/N),” Shinobu said, her normal smile in place. “We wanted to talk with you.”
You forced down the giddiness bubbling up within you, opting not to get your hopes up. When you didn’t speak, Mitsuri spoke up.
“Earlier today, when you told us your feelings, we were kind of shocked,” she explained honestly, a heavy blush adorning her features. “But after having some time to think things over… and talk with a friend… I think we have a solution!”
“(Y/N),” Shinobu started, eyes staring straight into yours. “You’ve been very special to me since the night we met. Your kindness, strength and compassion have only grown since then.”
“I have also seen those traits in you,” Mitsuri admitted, her expression growing more animated as her passion grew. “I have grown to love them! And…after hearing your confession, I realized my feelings towards you may be more than platonic.”
You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. Firstly, it’s like they rehearsed this. Was there someone holding up cue cards you couldn’t see? Secondly, their words were still bouncing around in your head. They hadn’t really sunk in yet.
“(Y/N), do you know what polyamory is?” Shinobu cut into your thoughts candidly, eyes curious.
To say you just about fainted was an understatement. There was no way this was real, that the two girls of your dreams are asking you about polyamory after your failed confession. Impossible.
You nod silently, afraid of what was going to come next.
“Lovely!” Shinobu cheered. “Then we’ve got a proposal for you.”
Shinobu looked to Mitsuri, who nodded at her before turning back to you.
“If it’s alright with you…” she began, trailing off in what looked like embarrassment. But as she spoke, her confidence began to show through, painting her words with excitement. “We would like to invite you into a polyamorous relationship with us!”
Eyes wide, you stared at the two of them in pure shock. The reality of their words earlier had started to hit you, and all of a sudden, you felt like you were on top of the world.
“This is new territory for both of us, but we’d like to give it a shot,” Shinobu said happily, smile growing. “If you are open to the possibility, of course.”
“If not, we completely under-” Mitsuri began, only to be cut off with an “oof” at the impact of your arm around her and Shinobu’s shoulders, pulling them into a hug.
“I accept!!” you all but shouted, unable to control your excitement as you hugged them closer.
Shinobu chuckled, followed by Mitsuri, and then you, turning your group hug into a big, laughing mess. As you finally released the two, you pulled back, accepting the bouquets from their hands and holding them close to your chest.
Even if you didn’t have the words to tell them how excited you were for this chance to love and be loved, it was okay.
