Chapter Text
~*~
"You little bastard !"
The sound of glass shattering on the ground made Togame jolt, standing in the middle of the dusty living room, he did his best to keep his eyes on the blackberry bush in the garden, or was it a lemon tree ?
He blinked trying to stop the water from falling on the cranky wooden floor, but the more he did the more the planks seemed to batten with liquid. His nose started to sting, this wasn't water.
Togame eyes widen, pupils retracting in a small point. The strong smell of alcohol took life in front of him, its long black fingers almost breaking the back of a chair before throwing it at him.
He tried to dodge but he was like his legs were glued to the ground and he felt a swift of air when the furniture landed a few centimeters next to his head.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you ! You owe me respect after all I did for you ! I gave you food, put a roof over your head, little ungrateful asshole." The roaring made his eardrums bleed in agony.
Togame throat burned, air incapable of flowing to his lungs as the beast grip tightened around him. He tried to land a kick in the monster mouth but his limbs felt weak, atrophied after days of staying sitted in his small room.
His back violently met the now concrete wall, an ugly beige paint replacing the traditional decor. He tried to stand up but the beast jumped on him, all Togame could do was try to stop it's claws from beheading him with his arm.
~*~
Togame violently sitted up, pushing away the covers. The sweat was sticking to his skin and he forced deep breath inside his chest to make his heart find back it's pace, *A dream, it was just a fucking dream.*
He exhaled, eyes trailing around and finding his jacket first, the yellow of the material made the muscles of his back relax first, then the notebook on his desk made his fists loosen on his palms. He turned around, the Shishitoren banner above his bedhead finally made him exhale.
He lit a cigarette, the smoke finishing to stop the trembling of his body.
He flopped back on the mattress, pressing a hand on his face. Today was the fight with the Bofurins, they had to win, no matter what. The survival of the gang depended on it.
....
Seira exhaled in front of her mirror, smoothing the creases of her uniform sleeveless blazer. She had a hard time falling asleep last night, chastising herself for her lack of reaction last evening. She had stood up in that corridor for a good 5 minutes after Togame left, *like a stupid fool...*
She breathed out again, she just wanted to help, if he didn't want to talk about what had happened, fine, she wouldn't have pushed it.
She knew better, after all but his reaction made a tight knot set in her stomach, weren't they friends? She tought so after Wednesday, *Of course you're not friends, he was just doing you a favor, don't get cocky thinking otherwise.* She clenched and released her fingers, shaking her head to extricate her own tought.
She grabbed her graphic tablet, placing it in her bag before putting on her 2 inches leathers loafers and thanking all the gods her first class has been canceled, she wouldn't have to rush and overuse a sore muscles. Results of yesterday practice.
She really should ask one of the boys to come hang the hoop and silk for her, it'll save her from going to the club after school when she wasn't working. For now they're was only the pole dance bar in the old office of her appartement and she had an hard time enough installing it.
At least her pole performance of tonight will be on point.
She put on her earphones, blasting the Strut remix of her performance and repeating the movements in her head while taking off for school.
Once arrived, she eyed the campus, searching for a familiar pink head in the middle of all the students.
"Hey Star girl~!" two arm encircled her from behind.
"Don't call me that, Rosalia. It's Geto-senseï surname." She withdraw herself from the loving grip.
"Hmmm, and why is he the one with the exclusivity ?"
She ignored Rosé pout, "Because I decided so."
"Is that it ? Do you love him more than me now ? Have I really lost your heart just like that ?" Seira puffed at her bestfriend fake tears.
"Stop it, you idiot." She catched the pink haired girl hand, "we're going to be late."
"But I don't wanna goooo."
"Common, Rosa it can't be that bad..."
"Of course it can...I start with art law."
Seira winced, patting her bestfriend back to ease her wails. Art Law and ethics was one of the few class almost every curriculum had in common and well... let's just say that every student despised it dearly.
"I came to an Fashion School to learn art not the laws." Rosé kept complaining as they passed the second gate.
"Common Rosa, it just an hour."
"You can talk you start with design principles !"
"Actually I don't, the senseï is sick."
"Huh ? What are you doing here so early then ?"
Seira rolled her eyes at her bubble-gum. "I came to hear about the texts between you and Gojo 2.0 but all I do is hear you complaining."
"Ahhhhh !" She closed an eye at Rosé squeal, "Girl, I have so many things to tell youuu~!
"Well spill then !" She grabbed her arm to get closer from the pinkish's mouth, "I want to know everything~"
....
Taking the direction of the ori, Togame tried to focus all his energy on erasing the last bribes of nightmare still in his mind. He was strong, and wouldn't kneel to anyone. Not some stupid visions of the past nor the Bofurins.
Tonight, him, Choji and all the others will be celebrating their freedom and he would relax while Choji's appetite will finally be satisfied. Hopefully, Arima's dealer will have brought him something too. He smiled at the perspective, everything was going to be fine.
......
Waiving Rosé goodbye, Seira took the direction of the Limitless to rehearse for tonight. She could have gone home to rest a little before but the perspective of crossing Togame path made her tongue feel heavy and her lips numb from embarassement. Also, Gojo had bought new bodysuits and oufits for all the performers and secretly promised to keep the cutest for her.
...
Togame sighed, at the end he was wrong but it never felt so right. Everything was going back to normal, it won't be easy, him and Choji will have a lot to do to be forgiven, *I'll never advert my eyes ! Nor betray who am I !* Sakura words resonated in his head like a bell, chiming the liberation of the lion's heads. They were truly free now, no more tied down by they're hunger.
He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, they're was still things that needed to be done for it to be real, a true apology to their members first and then, *Kame-chan, we need to talk, what I did to you...*, him and Choji must have a real talk. Not now tho, now they must rebuild their home, stone after stone.
He climbed the few stairs of the stage that was their arena a few hours ago, "time to place some new foundations."
"Kame-chan," the hand of his bestfriend stopped him. "Thank you, but you already cleaned enough of my shit. This... this I must be held accountable for."
Togame smiled, the sunlight in his bestfriend pupils warming him.
"Yeahh... go on, General." He took a step back.
"Attention everyone !" Togame inhaled, all the eyes of their members were on Choji now.
This was the moment of truth, if they decided after everything that him and Choji weren't fit to lead them anymore, they will step back.
Even if Umemiya gracefully refused to cast them away, they couldn't be egoists after all they did to their comrades. If it was their choice, then they will leave the Shishitoren. Togame throat tightened at the perspective.
"What I did, I know that it's inexcusable. I've made you all suffer because of my own greed. I-," the croak in Choji's voice forced him to articulate "I twisted our principle."
The sobs shaking his shoulders were clearly visible now, but Choji did nothing to try and hide them.
"For what I did to all of you... and what Kame-chan had to do... I am really sorry ! Please forgive me !"
Togame joined his bestfriend, resting an hand on his shoulder before imitating him, bowing in front of the assembly.
"I am really sorry too !" Arima emerged from the crowd. "I had no idea of what's was going on, I should have done something !"
Kanuma quickly followed him, "Yeah. We-we should have seen, should have done something to help. Instead, we acted like idiots, please forgive us."
"They're right ! You two, our leaders needed us and we didn't do anything !" A voice from the back yelled and in a blink of an eye, dozens were joining it.
"Our leaders are so cool !"
"Holding their burden to protect us !"
"The lion's heads are truly the strongest !"
Togame cocked his head to the side, this wasn't making any sense anymore. All of them were getting carried away in their own enthusiasm, he should stop them, what they had done was serious, it couldn't just be brushed off.
"Wait, ya guys don't understand. I-"
"They understand." Sako calmly interrupted him. "In their own way. We all do, but now... now, it's time to move on. To make the Shishitoren what it must be."
Togame looked at the assembly, Choji was in the middle of them bouncing and holding their banner. And all of them had true smile on their faces.
"Yeah, You're right." Togame lips softly lifted up.
Things were alright, he still had a lot of matters to settle, other apologies to give but for now, he could indulge in some festivities.
.....
Hanging upside down, knees wedged in her hoop Seira smiled, at the view of her stage.
Her eyesight wasn't as good with the lenses than with her specs but she was two hundred percents sure that there was at least 300 000¥ there.
It was either her that was doing amazing or her new outfits was doing more wonder than she thought. She opted for both, because she was doing even better than usual, confident in her skin thanks to the girl group that was hyping her up from the bar. She sent them a flying kiss on her final move, silently thanking them for their support.
Now both feet on the ground, she slipped back in her shoes that her security guard for the night handed her and collected her tips, forcefully placing some of them in the guard hand. Even tho it was a silent agreement between all the performers and their security, some of them were still shy taking the money. It was cute.
They made their way to the backroom, unhopefully, despite all the security effort, Seira personal space still got invaded by the party animals that were dancing around, none of them had bad intentions, but the smell of sweat and alcohol made her pull on her vape pen a little more harder than usual.
She eyed the clock of the lodge, it was 00:30 am already, two more hours and she could go home.
She yawned at the thought, no way she was rising early tomorrow, after all she had nothing to do beside some homeworks and that could definitely wait, she was back to her apprenticeship on monday.
She grinned for herself, she missed the studio and Geto promised to help her work on her techniques. She hummected her upper lip ,maybe she could indulge in a new piercing too.
......
Togame grin stayed plastered on his face the whole way back to his home, notably because Arima and Kanuma insisted on accompanying him, Choji and Sako back home since they weren't as injured as them and also because, well the weed he smoked to celebrate and lull away his pain was still going strong in his system.
He chuckled, remembering how him and Arima almost fell over the pavement a few hours prior, it has been a long time since he had this much fun.
Togame waived them goodbye at his intersection, crossing the last feets to the gate of the complex's.
He inhaled, taking in the fresh breeze of the night, usually he didn't like how cold it get after sunset but he was too giddy to feel it right now, intoxicated on both his own happiness and the substances.
Arrived in front of his building, his eyes catched the lights of one of the appartement and he exhaled deeply.
There was another apology that he owed and Choji couldn't do it for him this time.
Togame winced in the elavator, what could he even say, *Sorry that I have been an asshole, I had a incredible shitty day but now I'm better.* Yeah, no. At best the kitten will laugh to his face and at worst well... he didn't want to think about it, although he probably deserved the worst she could offer. She had been genuinely kind since their meeting and he had acted like a dickhead.
He cringed when the automated doors opened, his head was less fuzzy now and he still had no idea of what to say, but he didn't want to just go home without talking to her.
Gathering the last bribes of recklessness enabling his brain, Togame knocked on the door and waited.
After a moment he decided to try again, *she just didn't hear me.* He licked his lower lip, trying to comfort himself in this idea.
"Kitty, it's J !" His voice came more powerfully than what he intended and he hoped all the others neighbors were already fast asleep.
She wasn't responding, he folded an arm on the side of the doorframe, resting his forehead on it. "Well, fuck..."
He was about to turn around and go home when the door opened, his head rose up from his arm and Togame whole body froze as he eyed the very cute kitten standing in front of him.
She was wearing simple cotton booty short and tank top, the fabric was tight and he could clearly decifer the curves of her waist and her tits, also, for his good bad luck it was showing her legs and a good part of her tights.
*Shit...* Togame felt his mouth salivate and quickly removed his eyes from her silhouette, all to be hit by her face.
Maybe it was the purple neons behind her, maybe it wad the rest of weed making him lose touch with reality but he felt his brain turn to mud once he met her eyes.
They weren't as sparkly than usual and he couldn't help but inner slap himself for that. Although, even without shining, Togame felt himself drown inside the two sapphires and he had no intentions of fighting to get back to the surface. The two orbs aspirated him, and he felt his chest tighten and go limp at the same time.
The only reason he averted his eyes from hers was so he could appreciate the soft tint of her lips, she was biting the inside of her cheek making them look even more plush. Maybe if he took a bite he'll knew if they had the same taste as ramune. His gaze got back to her eyes and he catched the quick lift of her eyebrows.
Shaking his head to stop himself, since how much time was he standing here like an idiot ? Togame cursed Arima's dealer, that shit was way too strong, making him loose his track like that. He coughed to regain some stance.
"Hey."
"Hi." He twitched at the ice in her voice.
Togame inhaled, and he thanked himself for keeping a hand on the doorframe because right now he felt his knees quiver under the blue gaze.
"I umm, I came to apologize... for yesterday, I was an ass and ya were just tryin' to help-"
"Togame-San, are you high right now ?"
The question took him by surprise, he was expecting a lot of things but being called out wasn't one of them. He saw her jaw tighten on her cheek and he used all his strange to keep his hand on the frame. She'll hurt herself if she didn't stop.
"I'm not, well, I smoked but I'm not high anymore." She crossed her arm on her chest, eyebrow lifting again.
He probably wasn't very convincing right now, eyes bloodshot and no shades to hide them. His tongue kissed the inside of his cheek.
"Does it bother you ?"
"I'm bothered that you didn't share, now I'm really thinking about staying mad at you."
Togame felt the concrete lift from his chest.
She was pouting, sapphires shining again and the ice had melted and been replaced by the usual rapid melody.
"Sorry, I was with the others and ya know the occasion and all..."
She giggled, looking up at him "Yeah, you totally not high, right ? Does the occasion have something to do with your looks or...?"
Togame blinked, his brain scraping to understand and he winced when it made the connection. Even if he got patched up and showered at the Ori, his clothes were probably dusty and his hair were all tangled, and that without forgetting the patch on his cheek and the dryed blood on his shirt.
"Ya could say that...it's complicated but in a good way."
Her smile was so soft. "Alright then."
He felt his breath get stuck again when she leaned on the doorframe, head resting just below his hand.
Her long hair were in those two braids again and his fingers itched, all he had to do was rip the damn hair ties to see them flow on her back.
She was eyeing him from below, expecting an answer, but again he had no idea of one.
That was it. He apologized like he had planned and now he should be going home. Wish her goodnight and turn around to his own door, but he was still lost in the ocean of her pupils, his hand on the wooden frame keeping him still like an anchor hooked by the sound of her voice.
The growl of his stomach startled him in his contemplation.
"S'rry," he bashfully looked away, " I'm kinda hungry."
Seira bited down on her lips to stop the giggle, "Well, I don't know if you liked them but," she peered behind her, "I still have some cookies in the kitchen..."
"I liked them."
"Come in then." She side stepped to let him enter and Togame cursed the weed again for almost making him loose his balance.
Togame eyes tried to focus on the decor, anthracite grey and wood mostly, but his gaze quickly catched the Yen bills on the counter.
"Ahh, sorry for that. I was counting my tips when you knocked."
"It's 'lright. Look like you had a good night."
"I did, customers are always more generous on friday nights."
She pushed the money aside, and he took place on one of the stool.
Togame gaze didn’t leave her as she get the cookies jar to him, tank top lifting just a little so he could catch a peek of the smooth skin of her hip, but also of some ink encercling her belly button.
"What's that ?"
"Hm ?"
"On your belly."
"Ow," she lifted her top a little and Togame swore she was trying to kill him. "You mean my tattoo or my piercing ?"
"Both, actually."
He trailed the lines of ink with his eyes, they were on both side of the small jewel. He licked his lips, her caramel skin looked so soft, and the tattoos would look even better coupled with the marks of his hands next to them.
He inner slapped himself to change the direction his brain was going, his eyes following the movement and falling back in hers.
"Did it hurt ?"
She tilted her head, finger going up and down on the skin between the ink and the jewel and Togame wished he could bang his forehead on the counter.
"The tattoo Did a bit, the piercing not really, I'm thinking of getting another, actually."
"Piercing ?" She nodded, "where ?"
Seira rolled her shoulders, "I've got some ideas but I'm not decided yet."
She finished organizing the notes, putting them in small plastic wallets.
"I'll be back." She took 4 of them and disappeared behind a door.
Togame eyes followed her when she came back, eyebrow cocking when he saw her scatter the 2 other wallets in "stashes" in the living room and throw the last one in the freezer.
"Ya remember that I'm part of a gang, right ?" She snorted at him.
"Like you'll remember any of this tomorrow."
Togame rolled his eyes, "I told ya, I'm not high."
She stood next to him, leaning over the counter to grab a cookie, tank top lifting in the same motion as her short. Togame clenched his hand on his knee, he had a glimpse of the beginning of her ass and her tights were so damn sinful.
"You're not clear-minded either." Yeah, that was an understatement.
She was now almost between his legs and Togame slightly manspread more. The scent of blackberry and whipped cream was mesmerizing, flowing inside his lungs and making his head dizzy.
He could just grab her hand, make her take a step in and lick the cookies crumbs off her lips, he was ready to bet it would taste better that way.
He tousled his hair, he really needed to get a hold of his habitual restrain or else his turmoil was going to be very obvious, even in the large material of his pants.
Hand still on his nape, he clicked his tongue, he really should go cut those.
The perspective of waking up tomorrow and having to tie them again made him frown, they're was no need for that anymore.
Hair holded memories, and he had kept them, treasuring them to keep him from losing his mind when things were going bad, but now, neither him nor the Shishitoren needed them.
"J !" The sharp mutter made him snap out of his trance.
"Hm ?! S'rry kitten, what was that again ?"
His eyes met two worried sapphires, Seira had made a small step toward him, her hand lingering a few inches from his face.
"Sorry, I asked if you were okay but you weren't answering..."
"Ah yeah, was lost in my toughts" He smirked a bit at her pout, "I almost didn't catch ya call me J."
Togame couldn't really discern the color a cheeks took in the dim lavender light but he knew she was blushing.
She looked sideway, averting her gaze from him "Yeah well... it was the only way I could have your attention."
Togame felt his lips curl, his brave little kitten had gathered the courage to call him by a surname but she was so shy about it. She was so cute, bouncing on her tiptoes, hands behind her back.
Togame didn't know what was more endearing to him her reaction or the fact that he was the cause of it.
"Don't worry kitten, ya never have to ask for my attention." The word escaped him and he almost regretted it until she hid her face in her hands.
If Togame didn't guess she was blushing before, he sure had guessed now.
"Don't say that, you idiot !"
He grabbed the hand she laxly threw at him, using it to close the space between them. He felt her whole body tense as she didn't dare to move, they're weren't touching except for his fingers on her wrist, carefully tracing circle into her silky skin.
Togame didn't dare to glance at her face, preferring to concentrate on the lines adorning her left collarbone.
He exhaled and smiled at the view of her goosebumps. He straightened up a bit, peering over her shoulder to see her long shiny hair fall behind her back.*They'd look better loose.*
"Say" He felt her move slightly, but she didn't take back her wrist, "you know about hair stuff, right ?"
"Hmm yeah, why ?" She whispered back to him.
"Would you cut mine ?"
"Now ?" He nodded, "you don't want to wait for tomorrow or at least, you know...to be not intoxicated."
He rolled his eyes, raising his head just enough to finally meet her gaze.
"I'm fine, kitty. And I was thinkin' about it way before smoking, it's just...I waited enough for this."
She was examinating him and he sinked in her ocean while she searched something in his eyes. He felt the air get stuck in his lungs for nth time when she twirled a strands of his hair with her fingers.
"Alright then, I'll do it."
"Thanks."
"You'll need a shampoo first tho." He hummed.
Seira rolled her eyes, smiling at his behavior, he really wasn't helping.
"So, we have to move to the bathroom."
"Don't wanna."
"J..." she gave him a pointed look.
"Okay..."
She stepped back turning away from him and Togame exhaled of agacement, the cold attacking him now that she wasn't near.
He stood up, leisurely trailing behind her and plopped back on the small stool his kitten had installed, tilting his head backward in the sink like she had instructed.
Togame stayed silent, basking in the gentle touch as the hot water and the massage on his scalp coupled with the sweet scent of fruits unwinded his poor muscles.
He risked a peek at her this time, she was so focused, and in all her concentration she didn't seem to remark how her tight was brushing against his knuckles. All he had to do was raise his hand just a little to grab it, feel the delicacy of her skin not just on his fingers but under his whole palm.
Like she felt his gaze, her eyes catched his. Togame kissed his teeth, caught in the act, but instead of teasing him, she curled her lips softly, moving a strand of wet hair away from his temple.
He didn't avert his eyes tho, how could he ? she looked like a goddess right now, and Togame felt blessed to witness such vision.
The lights from the bathroom forming a halo around her, her velvety touch lulling him, and he was sure her scent was intoxicating him more than any drugs ever could.
"Does it hurt ?"
"Hm ?"
"If I touch there, does it hurt ?" Her hand ghosted the emplacement where he had received Sakura kick.
"Nah, I'm good don't worry."
"What do you mean don't worry ? You have bruises and patch on every visible part of your body." Her knitted brow made him grimace in guilt.
"Sorry kitten."
"It's okay, I know that you can handle it, it's just...well I can't help it."
The statement tug a small string on his heart.
"Thanks kitty, for worryin' for me."
"Yeah well I have to" She giggled, pink patches appearing on her cheeks, "who's gonna protect me from bad guys if you're all broken."
"Don't worry, that won't stop me." She rolled her eyes, giggling some more.
A confortable silence settled while Seira finished to wash his hair, lightly dampening them with a towel before placing it on his shoulder, taking her time to comb his hair before grabbing her scissors.
Togame kept looking at her through the glass, each strands being cut liberating him from a weight, chains snapping at the same time as the scissors.
"Alright," she grabbed the trimmer, "this is gonna be the hard part, please don't move."
"Yes Ma'am."
She ignored his little joke, making the small machine buzz next to his ear.
Togame felt her hand tilt his head to have better access, even when she was moving him around, she was still so gentle, like that time, at the festival.
He felt his eyelids grow heavy, his muscles relaxing under her touch so much he didn't feel the fatigue catch him.
She moved to the other side, putting an hand on his opposite cheek, the cold of her skin felt nice compared to the hot air of the bathroom. Togame couldn't help but nuzzle himself deeper in her palm, it was so smooth.
He groaned in discontent when she moved to the back of his head, all to almost purr when she slowly scrapped his scalp, holding the hair strands she didn't want to cut.
He absentmindedly noted the buzz of the machine stopping, but his eyes stayed shut as the fabric of the towel made the last ray of light disappear from behind his eyelids before being taken away. The smell of hair conditioner embalming his nose as two hands lulled him furthermore in the dreamland.
He slopped behind even more and felt a pleasant shiver run down his back when his shoulders met her belly, containing a moan when the back of his head comfortably landed between her breast. He could stay like this forever.
"J... I'm done, you can look."
he forced his eyelids to open, adjusting to the lights before admiring his new style.
The taper was well done as well as the undercut, he smirked a bit tousling the whole.
"Thanks kitten. It look good."
"You're welcome." She scrunched her nose in a happy grin.
Still standing behind him, Seira rested a hand between his nape and the beginning of his shoulder, fingers of the other hand mindlessly scratching the fresh undercut.
He was so handsome like that, It was irritating how he would look good with any style.
She glanced in the mirror, his eyes were shutting again and Seira almost pouted. She didn't know what had happened today or what kind of realization he had on his drug induced trip but they looked so soft now. All the loneliness in them had disappeared, like someone had put the sunlight back, making his beautiful emeralds gleam again.
His weight fell back on her chest again and Seira fought the need to hug his shoulders.
"J..." she muttered, "Don't fall asleep like that."
He hummed back, not paying her any mind and sinking more in her breasts. Seira lifted her eyes at the ceiling at his behavior.
"Common big boy, up." she tugged on his arm, guiding him back to the living room.
She was about to open the sofa, but Togame slumped himself in the cushion before she could.
Seira sitted next to the man stretched on her couch, brushing the bang on his forehead as he shamelessly yawned. Cute.
"Wasn't that hard, right ?"
He didn't open his eyes, humming while throwing an hand between the arm rest and the back of his head.
"Hmm, I'm tireed..."
"I'll get you a blanket."
She stood up, yearning at the vision below her, the dim purple light reflecting on his skin making it glowy, the shadow making his nose even more angular and his lips... for once they weren't in his typical smirk, resting in a thin trait complimenting his sliced jaw.
He looked so appeased, chest slowly raising and falling with his breathing.
She shook her head quickly going to her room and grabbing two pillow on her bed and a blanket in the wardrobe. When she came back Togame was already fast asleep, snorting lightly a hand on his stomach.
She placed one of the pillow below his head as gently as possible, prolonging the contact to steal some of the heat of his neck. He groaned at the sensation and she speedily took back her hand, aspirating her lips in fear of waking him up.
He didn't and she unfolded the cover on him, tossing the second pillow on the other support pad. Seira settled in, squeezing her Kuromi plush and tangling her legs between his, *so warm...*, he was so comfy she internally squealed.
She will probably be utterly embarrassed when they'll wake up, but for now she decided to revel in the giddy atmosphere. What will happen when she'll get up was a problem for tomorrow's Seira.