Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Christmas time is a fun time of year. There's candy and presents and colorful decorations...and this year, snow in Tokyo as well. It also means that the Milk Dipper gets very busy, what with everyone wanting warm drinks to ward off the cold, which is why Airi has asked Momotaros and his fellow Imagin to help during a particularly crazy weekend. The red Imagin still feels a little sore two days later, but it was worth it: they all now have cash to spend. And just in time for present shopping, too!

"Hahaha! I'm gonna get the best presents ever for Onee-chan!" Ryutaros declares as he starts to draw his ideal Christmas day celebration.

"Don't forget Ryotaro and the others, too, Ryuta!" Urataros reminds him, though he himself sounds just as cheerful.

"I wonder if it's not too late to order some Christmas cake for the Christmas party," Kintaros murmurs as he cracks his neck thoughtfully.

Idiots, Momotaros grumbles in his mind. They always forget that Christmas is supposed to be the third most important day, behind New Years and...

And right on schedule - the first hints of the annual frustrations pinging across his bond from Ryotaro. Their contract holder - and his dear boyfriend - always getting frustrated about everyone focusing on December 25th, when the most important day is December 26th - Ryotaro's birthday.

Well, that's going to change this year. This year, they're actually dating each other (and Wataru; can't forget about Wataru)! So, he's gonna try and be a Good Boyfriend and get him a birthday present instead of a Christmas one! And he knows exactly where to go get it...

Slipping into those street clothes set that includes that super-deep hoodie, he steps out into the ever-busy area of Akihabara, the center of all things anime. There's countless shops full of items that are stuffed to the gill with colorful and exciting selections, and one really can blow one's full paycheck in just one shop in just one afternoon. And there's one shop in particular that Momotaros remembers hearing about - a leather shop boasting all kinds of wallets, purses, and so forth with colorful characters and designs, both for specific series and for anime-level designs in general.

"Now, where is it..." He murmurs as he takes a quick look around.

"Good afternoon, and welcome!" One of the shop workers approached him. She smells of stained glass - Fangire, he pinged her as - and she smiles very friendly up at him. "Would you need any help?"

"Yeah, a little. Don't suppose there's any wallets designed after folklore characters?" Momotaros inquires, glad that he's not dealing with a human shop worker; they get understandably nervous when they see his oni face for the first time.

"Of course; right this way..." She leads him over to a corner that has many designs based on folklore and children's stories.

Momotaros' heart skips a beat in joy as he immediately spot one that was themed after his namesake. "Ah, perfect..."

"Buying for yourself, or someone else?"

"Someone else - it'll be a gift for him. A birthday gift," he adds with some small bit of pride.

"Ahhh, I see! He must be fortunate to have such a caring friend to give him a birthday gift."

"You could say that..." Damnit, why do people think that they're still just friends? They're dating now! And he wants to shout it off the rooftops in moments of frustration like these... But he won't, because Ryotaro will very likely scold him for doing so and put him in Timeout.

The shop worker leads him over to the register, and he sees a small thing holding up a variety of name tags. He's checks it over as she starts to wrap the wallet, and immediately grins as he spots a peach themed tag. "Could you include this with my purchase?" He inquires as he hands the tag over to her. "He tends to lose his wallet every now and then, and this will help him get it back every time..."

"Of course," she agreed with a warm smile as she adds the tag to the price of the order.

This is going to be the best birthday present he'll ever get! Momotaros thinks.

The Christmas Party is in full swing, and everyone celebrating at the Mild Dipper is having lots of fun. Drinks, music playing in the background, and the tables were temporarily pushes aside so that Ryutaros and show off his newest dance routine. Urataros had snuck in some mistletoe, and even managed to sneak a kiss with Mitsura beneath it when most people weren't looking. But Momotaros notices, and he just shook his head as Mitsura rolls her eyes, gave the blue Imagin that wanted kiss, and then gently shoves him out of the way as she headed back to the counter to get her cup refilled. "Wataru's gonna deck you if you actually try to woo her," The red Imagin warned his friend as he approached him.

"Oh come now - it's not like they're dating each other anymore, and he's with you and Ryotaro now! Besides, who's to stay that she's not interested in giving me a try?"

"Don't say I didn't warn you..." Because at this point, there's no talking Urataros out of it if the woman in question is not obviously evil, or crazy. Or both.

And then came the time for presents. Ryotaro's smile is strained as everyone kept giving him Christmas presents, and Momotaros can feel the frustration buzzing in the background of their bond. So, once everyone else had given their presents to him, he smiles as he walks over to stand by his side. Handing him the small wrapped bundle, he says loudly for all to hear, "Happy Birthday, Ryotaro."

And his boyfriend's face lights up in joy, just like a Christmas tree. "Momotaros...you remembered...!"

"How can I ever forget?" He wraps one arm around Ryotaro's shoulders. "Go ahead - open it."

Ryotaro quickly unwraps it, and his gasps in pleasant surprise at the Momotaro-themed wallet and matching name tag. "Momotaros, I...this is wonderful! Thank you...!" He then quickly gives the Imagin a kiss on the cheek.

Momotaros' heart instantly melts into a fluttery, squishy mess, even as he moves to quickly kiss Ryotaro back on the lips. "...Happy Birthday," he utters those words again, voice thick with the love that he's always had for his dear boyfriend...and always will.

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Godai: I got good news, Tachibana-san. I finally found him!

Tachibana: You did?! I'm so relieved! How is he?

Godai: He looks well, physically. His smile wasn't reaching his eyes, though.

Tachibana: Was he missing home? Us?

Godai: Yes, both. And especially him. I gave him the equipment, and showed him to use it exactly as you showed me.

Tachibana: Thank you, Godai-san. I hope this works

Godai: It already has. I can hear the smiles in their voices from the other tent.

Tachibana: That's both heartening and a huge relief. Thank you again, Godai-san.

Godai: It's no trouble. It's my job to help protect everyone's smiles, after all - even theirs.

Chapter Text

Taki Kazuya smiles as he checks the email from the real estate agent. His old home in Maryland has finally sold to the one person that offered full payment up front. Good news to be reading this morning as he munches on the complimentary breakfast included in his hotel stay. He glances around at everyone hanging around the small dining area. Most of them business folks on the road for various projects and sales meetings. And he thought he recognized one of them being an FBI agent undercover...but he pretends to be oblivious. It's second nature to do so, thanks to being part of the FBI for well over 40 years.

But that time is finally over. He's finally turned in his badge, shed his title as a legendary agent of the Asia division...and got his payout from his government pension, naturally. No more midnight orders to follow regardless of how awake he was. No more being dragged away from Japan to a last-minute deployment to another nation. No more trying to convince every new leader and agent that he's not crazy, that all his reports regarding Shocker and Kamen Rider are real, so very real...

No more of being away from them...Takeshi...Hayato...

He pulls up a familiar picture: the last Christmas he had spent in Japan before coming back here to America. Standing in the apartment he once shared with those two, before he had to break the lease and return back to his birth country... The picture had been keeping him going, whenever he couldn't make the time zone difference work for all those long-distance calls. Two-thirds of his heart, forever stuck across the Pacific.

But no more. After two years and more of everything...it's finally time. Time to truly go home, to the two people that matters most to him. A smile crosses his face as he claimed to be 'heading west' for his retirement to his former co-workers, during that last retirement party. Everyone thinks that he's finally earned a rest, to settle and live his twilight years in peace. And maybe he had earned that kind of life...but not here, not in America. Not anymore.

Not since he met Takeshi on the race tracks, feeling the thrill of a worthy rival on the motorbike. Not since Hayato waltzed into his life with a rose and a teasing smile on his face. Not when they both snuck their way into his heart, and ingrained themselves there after all the long, long decades of fighting against terrorists like Shocker, against all forms of great evil...

He cleans up after himself and heads back to his hotel room for one last clean-up. No need to bother taking the soap or toothpaste even, not this time. Not when a thrill begins to race through his veins, after two-plus years. So when he checks out, he smiles as the front desk agent wishes him a safe trip.

"Don't worry...I'm heading home at last."

Yes, home. Back to Tokyo - to Hayato and Takeshi, and the many handfuls of younger people who now follow in their footsteps as Kamen Riders. Back to a life of regular risks and thrills, of special motorbikes racing thru the streets as they chase down the latest foes. A life of him and many other supporters facing down hordes of minions and foot soldiers, while the Riders tackle their monstrous commanders unhindered - all to save as many lives as possible.

No, no going quietly into that dark night for me, Taki thinks as his taxi heads towards the airport. I may not even be remembered by those who tell the tales still, even in this age of the Internet. But I'm not letting that stop me. So long as I can breathe and fight...I'll be by their side once more. I'll be back with them...in Tokyo. He steps out of the taxi, grabs his luggage, and pays the driver. And as the taxi drives away, he looks around this land that is America one last time. It's possible that he might come back to visit, if any of their foes ever try to establish cells in this nation. But...it stopped being his home for him long, long ago.

"...Sayonara, America. It's time for me to finally go home."

Chapter Text

Rinna smiles as she re-reads the texts she received from Mitsura in the last 12 hours. Or rather, Mitsura's number in general. The smile turns sympathetic as she reads the last one:

She's threatening to take a kilogram of sand out of me if I really did give her anything other than 'her next child'. To still make that threat even after our little fun against the kitchen counter...!

She sighs and texts back:

Well, you know how she can be sometimes. Did she enjoy it as much as I do?

Rinna leans back as her meal is set down by the waiter. Thanking them, she starts to dig in until she receives the next text:

I'm going to fuckin' kill him for not telling me about you first. Please tell me you're not actually his girlfriend, Rinna...!

Rinna couldn't help but giggle a little, as terrible as that is in this moment.

Don't worry; we're just friends with benefits. I think he deliberately texted me so that you can be quickly informed about him and I. Probably his way of trying to be honest, for once.

So he actually took my advice from the Christmas party to heart. Albeit in a stupid kind of roundabout way.

Neither of you answered my question though: Did you enjoy it?

There's a few minutes delay, which allows Rinna to start eating her meal. She's just washing it down with her tea when Mitsura finally replied back.

I'm tempted to be a friend with benefits with him, too. Felt like he was trying to break me with his 'rod' and leave his clutch right at ground zero - even more so than Wataru did when he knocked me up with Masao.

Well, at least we can both confirm that he's not compensating for anything!

Rinna, I don't know if I want to be just as gleeful as you are, or to smack you. I can't go out and do what I was planning to do until I can start walking normally again, the bastard. That...that amazing, almost-too-big bastard...

I would just take it as an off day and relax for today. I can offer tips on how to ease those kind of aches!

That would be actually helpful, thanks.

After a few moments...

How the hell did you end up in bed with him, though? Last I heard, you were mostly focused on your work for SIU

Oh, it was a little over a year ago, during that time when Ryotaro got dragged away by his then-wife. We'd been tiptoeing around each other for the first month, and then when I got stood up on a Christmas Eve date? We somehow met by some miraculous timing and...well, I ended up taking him back to my place and giving him a try. Best Christmas Eve I've had since graduating college. But we both agreed that we're not exactly compatible as an actual couple, so we settled on being friends with benefits. I call him up every time I need that itch scratched, and it lets me really focus on my work without the usual yearning of an actual boyfriend

I'd say you're weird...but then again, a lot of guys in the dating pool really are horrible these days. Ugh...if Ryotaro hasn't been claimed by Wataru ages ago, I might've been tempted to make him a house husband, to be honest. But...I supposed Urataros isn't bad as a compensation prize, as a friend with benefits...

Chapter Text

Sakura likes being well. She likes being able to breathe normally, and play with her brothers. She hated being sick, since it meant little cuddle time with her dads and uncles and Auntie Airi. And no Hana, either; that made her first night sick very bad, not being able to be hugged by her cousin.

But she's all better now, thanks to the warm food that Wataru-Papa fed her and her twin brother. It was that rice soup that made them feel better, in her mind, and not that icky medicine they were forced to take. She's at his home, playing blocks with Yozora and Masao.

"~Higher!~" Yozora cries out in their twin-speak.

"You wanna go higher?" Masao inquires.

Yozora nods, and their big brother starts stacking them higher. "Why can't big brother understand us?" Yozora thinks to his sister.

"Maybe it's because only we can speak like that," Sakura reminds him. "Remember, that's our way of talking with our mouths."

"Much like how we can think to each other?"

"Yeah, just like that. They can't hear us thinking to each other." Sakura doesn't think it odd to be able to think to her brother. Papa thinks to Momo-Papa and the other fun-shaped uncles all the time. It's not weird; it's just how things are. And it's nice that she and Yozora can think whole thoughts to each other now instead of emotions and piecemeal thoughts.

And then Momo-Papa came stumbling out of his room here and flops onto the couch. He's still sick, and he's got his blanket wrapped around him to help him feel better. But he's got no stuffed toys of his own, and Sakura thinks that's wrong. She had her stuffed bunny with her, and Yozora had his stuffed crow; holding them always made them feel better, even now. So, she stands up, holding her stuffed bunny as she toddles towards her red father.

"Mnn?" Momo-Papa lifts his head up a bit, looking upon his daughter approaching him. "Yeah, Sakura?"

"~Here,~" she said in twin-speak, holding up her bunny. "~So you'll feel better.~"

Momo-Papa blinks at the offered stuffed animal. "For me? You're sure?"

Sakura nods her head, feeling a little frustrated that she can't speak like her parents can yet.

Still, Momo-Papa accepts the offered toy and holds it close to him. "Awww...thanks, Sakura-chan." He pets her head, and that makes her smile brightly in return.

As she moves back to her brothers, however, she's coming to an important decision. "We need to try and talk like our parents do," she thinks to her twin. "We need to talk exactly like they do, so that everyone can understand us all the time and not ask silly questions!"

"Then let's start trying when they put us in our crib for nap time," Yozora thinks back. "That way, we can make all our family happy once we say their words right."

Chapter Text

People get so confused as to who's in charge of Ryotaro's body that day. Granted, most days it's just him, given that he's got the twins to look after now. But sometimes the Imagin still want to hop in and take over, have their own fun time as they had before - before the twins, before she showed up to take him away for nearly half a year...

But even before then, I can always tell who was who. Then again, some like Shizuka claims that my ability to hear people as music makes me a cheater, of sorts. I prefer to disagree; it's the best way to tell in an instant as to who is in control.

Momo's song is rock, but much purer of that genre than Keigo's ever was. It's full of confidence and passion, of fighting for a good cause as much as enjoying a good spar. But the interlude of his song dips towards a rock ballad, revealing the warm and tender heart hidden beneath that oni-like face. Of late, his song has been leaning more towards full rock ballad around the children; I suspect that it's due to him embracing his role as their third father figure.

Urataros' song is of the summer on the beach. Full of fiery romance and the cool touch of the waves. Yet just like the sea, there's depths that is still yet to be fully explored by most people - an appropriate reflection of a turtle who would rather hide in his shell of lies than show his true self, his full vulnerabilities to anyone who he doesn't trust fully. It's the kind of song you listen to as you drive alongside the beach on a midsummer's eve...

Kintaros' song is enka, steeped in tradition and manliness. Not the super-toxic type that rejects everything to be all 'macho', as Westerners would say. More like the type that comes from honoring what male values that make a real man - inner strength, loyalty and love for those important to him, enduring any challenge despite any weakness you might have, yet honoring the traditions that still stand the tests of time - the kind that matters to family and friends. It speaks of walks through grand temples during autumn afternoons, of full moon viewings while eating mochi, of quoting classic poetry and improving one's self...

Ryutaros' song is modern and electric - dare I say, 'fresh', just like those who frequent Harajuku would say? The beat echoes that of the streets, of hip-hop and R&B - much like the youthful energy that drives fashion and popular music. There's a playfulness to it that is both innocent and stepped in his own inner strength at the same time. Yet the rap that's the interlude flows and swirls like a wandering river, even as he continues to slowly grow up. Though being around the children seems to give his song an edge of maturity that wasn't there before, as if he's shifting from being the baby himself to being something akin to an elder brother for them...

And then there's Sieg's song. Ostentatious, almost foreign given how rarely he takes over these days. Yet there's far too much confidence, too much bragging of his own self-worth that one could almost miss the lilting bridge laying beneath it - the bridge between the first family that was his initial contract holder and her child...and Ryotaro and his family. Those he truly cares for...even if he has a terrible way of showing it.

Ryotaro...when it's truly him - just him? It's like waking up to a snowy December morning. Sweet, hopeful, eyes ever focused on how to help people, on optimistic horizons and the dreams of a brighter future. Yet, when there's not much going on, it turns soothing - much like being home with one's family on Christmas or New Year's. And beneath it all lays a deep strength - a quiet pillar of support and unyielding morals. Some days, it's naught more than the tinkling of piano keys when his confidence is painfully lacking; on others, it's as massive as a full orchestra.

Have I written them down, their songs? Yeah - individually, as they had paired up, or even as group songs. I've created entire albums full of their songs over the last few years... But for Ryotaro alone, I wish to sit down and properly compose an entire symphony based on him. Maybe when Masao and the twins finally go off to high school, or even college...I will attempt it. In the meantime, though, I will 'cheat' and continue to immediately figure out who's riding around in Ryotaro's body that day, just by listening to the first few notes of their song...

Chapter Text

If one would ask Momotaros, he would claim that there's a difference between showing appropriate emotions and being Soft. A man can still be very manly even as he shed tears or holler for joy - Gentarou-chan and the damn Bear are prime examples of that. But he would argue that he himself isn't Soft with most folks - even among his fellow Riders. He might be 'soft' around his boyfriends, but...well, they're his boyfriends! Not being 'soft' with whoever you're dating means that you're an asshole, and he doesn't want to be that kind of asshole towards the two guys that means everything to him. But Soft in general? No, not him...

And yet, here he is, sitting up cross-legged against a wall in the nursery one afternoon, surrounded by three tiny kids. Yozora has been insistent upon being held all afternoon, and he snuggles up against Momotaros' chest while being held in one arm. The other hand rests gently upon Sakura, who lays in his lap. She giggles as the toddler boy Masao decorates her hair with the few hair clips that he had in his own hair - something that Wataru had apparently given up on talking his son out of some time ago.

"Hmmm...looks like a crown," Momotaros murmurs bemusedly as he watches Masao arrange the clips carefully - well, as carefully as a toddler can be.

"It is!" Masao states proudly. "It's her crown, because she's a princess!"

The Imagin chuckles and pats the toddler. "Yeah, she is. She acts like one, too, sometimes..."

Sakura giggles and coos as she squirms on his lap in joy for a moment, and then she yawns loudly before settling down for an impromptu nap. Yozora also nods off in his arm.

"You know...it is good time for naptime..." Masao yawns as well, and decides to curl up against Momotaros' side.

The red Imagin gently wraps his arm around Masao, even as a part of him feels trapped by all the kids. And...he doesn't mind at all, he quickly discovers. After all...he's their dad, too, now. This is...nice. And Comfy. And it makes his heart just melt into fond mush, knowing that these kids like him enough - trust a monster like him enough - to just fall asleep on and around him. Most other kids their age are normally spooked by his scary-looking face. But these children - Wataru's son, Ryotaro's twins - they never showed any signs of being scared or uneasy around him. In fact, they love him...and he's not ashamed to admit that he loves them in return.

...okay, so he's probably Soft around the kids. But they're his kids, too, damnit! He's got every right to be Soft with them. And if anyone dared to make fun of him for that, he'll kick their asses at a climax...!

Chapter Text

Godai smiles as he walks back into the apartment. Their apartment. The thought still touches his heart, even after seven years of officially living here as Kaoru's 'roommate' - his spouse in all but name and official papers. It was something they discussed on and off, whether or not to finally choose which city to live together in. After that Rider War involving Decade, they finally bit the bullet and decided that Kaoru's career in Nagano was just a little more important than Godai's job in Tokyo. So, whenever he wasn't being bit by the travel bug - or, as of recent years, helping other Riders - he stays home and plays the role of 'housewife' for his lover.

And now, Kaoru is trying to help out around the house by loading the washer with the clothes that was in Godai's travel bag. "...well?" He asks as Godai approaches him. "Did they find that young wounded idiot?"

"Taiga's been in contact with him; he's on a Shinkansen back to Tokyo," Godai explains with a reassuring smile. "Seems like the 'King' is going to be taking care of him himself, once he arrives back home with him."

Kaoru breathes a sigh of relief. "...good. At least he's being a responsible leader in looking after his own..."

"Which is a good thing, really, given all that's been happening lately." Once the washer's been loaded up with clothes and detergent and has begun running, Godai starts leading his lover back over to the couch for some much-needed cuddling time between them.

And today, Kaoru isn't protesting, instead being all too eager to cling to the other man for a few moments. Neither of them spoke about it, but they didn't have to - not after what happened the night before. So they sat there together, just like that, for quite some time.

Eventually, Kaoru shifts to a more comfortable position for himself, drawing a nearby couch blanket around them. "...Tokyo Metro Police HQ contacted me while you were away," he finally spoke. "They wanted my professional advice on how to handle SIU at this point in time."

Godai sighs, long and a touch frustrated. "Man, whoever is at HQ really doesn't like the idea of a woman in charge of that particular unit."

"It's ridiculous, especially given Sergeant Tomari's impressive record the last few years. There's no reason for them to keep trying to tempt me to transfer over, to take command away from her when she's done nothing to deserve losing said command."

Godai eyes Kaoru for a moment. "And your professional opinion, then?"

Kaoru has that extremely annoyed kind of grumpiness about him. "I finally decided to be honest, and told them to stop delaying her overdue promotion to Captain. I also advised them that if there is that leftover Rider system from their prior captain still intact? They should authorize it to be customized for her use in emergency situations."

Godai raises an eyebrow. "Normally, you're so reluctant to recommend anyone to use any kind of Rider systems - not unless you personally know and trust them..."

"I know..." And there's that familiar tiredness, the heart-deep honesty finally coming out. "And it's because of what happened with you during our first year together. I normally would not want to risk having that happen to another person. But Sergeant Tomari...she's been through much of that already, working alongside her now-husband and the original version of SIU when they were dealing with the Roidmudes. In my professional opinion? She is fit and ready for such a role, should she want it...should she need it..."

Godai smiles and cuddles Kaoru some more. "...if that ever happens, we'll both be there for her, should she ever need the extra help."

"Yes...should she ever...truly need it..."

Chapter Text

Shion makes himself breathe through the pain of a million prick-points, even as he lays there on the couch. Ideally, he should be resting up at his own place. But more and more, he finds himself heading to Amai's place over the last few weeks. It's far cozier than the month-to-month apartment the Rook himself is renting, and it's in a safer neighborhood as well. Not to mention...Shion just hates the fact that his apartment just feels far more lonely of late, especially after the (fully justified) death of one of the people that were supposed to be his family...

He senses Amai's arrival before he even hears the key in the front door lock. "...Shion?" came the familiar voice after a few moments.

"M'over here!" He calls out, not bothering to move from the couch. He then realizes that he's sensing only Amai. "...where's the Boss?" He inquires as soon as the older man came into visual range.

"Our dear King is having dinner this evening at his Highness' house," Amai explains warmly. But then concern quickly envelops his face as he gingerly touches the younger man's back. "How did it go...?"

"Well. The guy was a real pro - managed to get all the outlines and half the coloring done in one go."

"So much...how are you feeling?"

Shion hesitates for a moment. "...not as bad as I thought. It's covered in a clear dressing to help it heal for the moment."

Amai gently pets his hair, and Shion closes his eyes as he leans into it a little. "...have you taken any pain medication yet?"

"...not yet. Just arrived like...ten minutes ago...maybe 15?"

No disappointed sigh today; just a comforting smile instead. "Then let me get you some. I'll be right back."

Shion nods and just continues to lay there on the couch for a few more moments. It's...nice, having someone genuinely caring for him. Maybe this is how family should've been all along... Once Amai comes back with pain pills and water, the younger man slowly sits up with a groan. "Thanks..." He swallows the pills and drains the glass of water.

Amai had that cautiously curious look on his face. "If you don't mind...may I see it?"

Shion smiles warmly. "Yeah..." he shifts to sit on the side, undoing his yukata enough to let it slide off of his upper body. The design was a mixture of traditional Japanese tattoo art and stained-glass design, blended into a night scene. The full moon hangs with the Kiva crest on it, with a black bat-man sitting upon a throne. The side to his right is left intentional blank, void of ink whatsoever, while a golden dragon rests on his left. Standing on the stairs beneath his feet are a lion and a swallow-tail bird, both humanoid in shape. Only the top half is colored in, with the bottom half remaining an inked outline for the time being.

"Oh, Shion...this is beautiful," Amai murmurs fondly. "And this blank spot - is this for our Queen?"

"Yeah...when we eventually get one in the future."

The older man leans over to kiss Shion's shoulder appreciatively. "Still...this is a wonderful thing you're doing for us. I'm grateful...and so will our King, I'm sure."

"I hope so. I wanted to save my ink for people that truly give a damn about me..." Shion smiles as he looks over his shoulder at Amai. "...and I'm glad that I did. You guys are worth fighting for, every moment of every day."

Amai kisses him gently. "And we're very grateful to have you by our side...our dear Rook..."

Chapter Text

It was evening, and the twins were being cooed over by Deneb while Airi took a bath with Hana. Yuuto remembers that. He also remembers that he realized that Ryotaro had seemingly disappeared...until he started to hear grumblings from the latter's bedroom. Seeing the door is open, he peeks in to find his brother-in-law trying in vain to not swear as he struggles to get a ring off.

His wedding band, Yuuto quickly realizes.

"Stop that; you're going to break your finger," Yuuto scolds him as he enters the room.

"Ah--sorry," Ryotaro instantly apologizes, even as he looks up at Yuuto in surprise. "I just...I just realized that I no longer need it and...I just want it off."

Yuuto sighs and rolls his eyes. "Wait there - and don't do anything else to it." A quick dip into the nursery, and he comes back with some baby oil. "Now, use this to get it loose enough..."

Ryotaro followed his instructions, and soon the ring came off without any injuries. "Finally...!" He sighs. He then stares at the ring for a few moments, seemingly deep in thought.

Yuuto's sitting next to him on the bed at this point. "...are you gonna keep it?" he finally asks.

Ryotaro closes his eyes, takes a deep breath...and hands it over to the other man. "No. I don't need it anymore. I...I don't want it anymore. Please...do whatever you want with it."

Yuuto nods and accepts the ring. "Don't worry; I'll make sure you'll never see it again."

A few days later, Yuuto happily discovers that it made great target practice for his crossbow, given how surprisingly sturdy it was to stay in the air for nearly 10 blasts before finally disintegrating into a million tiny pieces. He left the remains in that forested area, far away from any man and at the mercy of the winds.

Chapter Text

Kivat the Third has many things he feels too proud to do. Mail Carrier, babysitter for strangers' babies, being a toy for said babies to grab and throw around...

But one thing he will always, always support is romance - especially true romance that comes straight from the heart. So when Wataru whips up his usual batch of homemade chocolates for Valentine's Day and asks for his faithful winged partner to carry them to a certain someone? Kivat is more than happy to play Cupid for his bestie.

Thus, he finds himself fluttering into Development & Pioneer on that wonderful holiday of love, carrying a mesh bag full of homemade chocolates that still smell so delightful. His target comes quickly in sight...

Of course, it would be Ryotaro who would not notice him until the Kivat-bat was literally in his face. Jumping, he dropped a few papers that he had in his hand. "Ahh--! Oh...oh, it's you, Kivat-san."

"Sorry to disturb you...but I have a very special delivery by Kivat Mail~!" Kivat declares as he carefully hands the small bag of chocolates over to the human.

Ryotaro immediately blushes in a joyful manner. "From Wataru...? Thank you...!"

Wataru chuckles and grins. "Happy Valentine's Day, Ryotaro!" He then flaps away, satisfied in a mission of love fully accomplished.

Chapter Text

Ichijou groans as he shifts to try and get comfortable. The hotel pillows are very nice and big, but they're nowhere near as comfortable (or familiar) as the ones back home for this particular situation. At least they're plentiful, buoying his aching, bruised body as he rested in the hotel suite. He suspects that his hips might have a few tiny fractures...again...and he's very sure that his entire neck is covered in bite marks. He can feel the deep bruises around his waist and ass, and it makes him wince with every tiny shift of his body.

And then Godai creeps back into the bedroom with prescription-strength pain medication and a glass of water. That guilty look on his face makes him look like a kicked puppy, complete with a tiny whimper as he kneels by the bed. "Here...I had some of the stronger medication leftover from when you broke your arm two years back. It should still be effective..."

Ichijou sighs and slowly reaches out an arm to pet Godai's hair. "You don't have to be this subservient, Yuusuke. I told you that I knew what was about to happen last night..."

"Even so, I feel so bad about hurting you in the process! It almost feels like what happened during my very first cycle...!"

Ichijou let the silence hang for a moment. "Part of it...the early part of that evening...it felt good. Really good. So don't feel as guilty."

Godai's relieved smile was like the sun coming up, and it makes Ichijou's heart flutter all over again. Yes, there's no regrets about being with him now, no regrets about coming out of the closet for his sake. Sugiyama is arrested, and Ichijou himself still has his rank in the police force. Once HQ has been freed by the others, all will be as it should be once more...

"Help me sit up a little more?"

Godai nods, sets the pills and glass on the nightstand, and helps prop up Ichijou's upper body with some careful shifting of pillows. Then, he hands the pills to Ichijou, who faithfully takes them and washes them down with every drop of water in the glass. "...I saw that there were some dishes in the fridge..."

Ichijou now looks a little abashed. "...I dropped by your family's restaurant, the other night. I wanted to surprise you with your favorite dishes...but I don't know if any of them are still good anymore."

"I can check. I can turn any good ones into donburi, since you seemed to have stored them away properly."

"Well, I did have a chef regularly lecture me on how to properly wrap and store leftovers during our first few years together..."

Both men laugh, and then Ichijou winces a little as his body flares up a little from such laughter. But it was worth that brief moment of pain, just to see that smile reaching Godai's eyes again.