Personal Life: December 16th, 2022 (Warning: Sad)

Personal Life: December 16th, 2022 (Warning: Sad)

This is something I did not want to ever have to post. But life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. There are sad moments, too.

This morning, my cat Baby, who I have had since I was 12, passed away. My family took turns sitting with her, so she wasn’t alone when it happened. I spent most of the day with her yesterday, giving her as many pets and as much love as I could.

But even though I internally knew this was likely to happen and was trying to mentally prepare myself, it still hurts. Thankfully, I have a couple days off work to grieve. But I will need some time to do this. So I will probably need to put a hold on posting for a few days at least.

Rest in peace, Baby. You filled my life with so much fun and love. You were the best cat I could have ever asked for. I love you so much.

It’s another smol!!! Yahoo!!! It’s been a while since I last did one, hasn’t it? Don’t worry, I have not forgotten about handheld snek!

The last one was a bit angsty. So how bout some fluff? Sweet, tasty fluff.

Suggested by Sapphire. Written by me. Enjoyed by you. Hopefully.

“Come on, Hajime! We need to hurry! We don’t want to be late!” Nagito cried out from his spot on his table. He was out of the terrarium in a small comfortable sweater and eagerly waiting, impatiently if the tail tip twitching was anything to go by.

“It’s alright. We still have plenty of time. And besides, I can’t go out in public to a store with no shirt on,” Hajime replied from the other side of his room, pulling a few drawers open and choosing from his options.

“Is that really necessary? I’ve seen you shirtless. It’s a very nice sight, if I do say so myself.”

“Nagito!” the human exclaimed, face turning bright red. “You are absolutely not permitted to say anything like that when other people are around!”

The small naga laughed. “Alright, alright. But I shall still speak my mind when in our home.”

Hajime somehow managed to control his flush as he finished getting his shirt on. Running a quick hand through his hair, he closed his wardrobe drawers and turned to face his roommate. “I am here and ready now. Happy?”

Nagito gazed up at him with half lidded eyes. “Oh, I am very happy now.” He then stretched up, balancing on his tail as he raised himself as high as he could go. “Now come on! Pick me up!”

Rolling his eyes, Hajime did as requested. He reached down and scooped the small creature up into his palm, then lifted his hand up to his shoulder. He felt the smooth scales transfer over from his hand to his neck, tightening around comfortably. “All good?”

Tiny arms hugged his neck. “Very good.”

The human couldn’t help but ruffle the soft white hair. “Okay. Now we can leave. Again, with plenty of time.”

If Nagito had been part cat, he was sure that he would have been purring from the contact. “It’s still good to be cautious of time. You never know what may happen.”

“You punctual python,” Hajime teased, starting to move out of the bedroom and to the door.

“Excuse me!? I am not a python! I am a glorious member of the viper family! There is a huge difference!” Nagito proclaimed with much pride.

Hajime chuckled a bit. “I know, I know. I’m also grateful you can control your venom. I’m sure Kaz would have not had a good day if you had injected any in him.”

The naga huffed with faux annoyance. “Of course I have control. I am not a wild beast.”

Another ruffle, then Hajime took his hand away to open the door. “I know you aren’t. I am very grateful for the company you provide. And I am thankful especially for your help in this situation. I definitely would have been at a loss if I was by myself.”

He felt Nagito get comfortable as he prepared for human travel. He mostly rested on folded arms on Hajime’s shirt, holding on with his tail. With how the human walked, he didn’t need to worry about falling off. “Happy to help. Is Komaru joining us today?”

Hajime was careful as he shook his head. “I think she isn’t ready to interact with too many humans. She’s probably only comfortable with Makoto currently. That’s fine, though. I don’t want to force her into a stressful situation.”

He felt Nagito lean his head against his neck. “So kind and considerate. I am truly lucky to have fallen into your life.”

It made the human crack a smile. He too felt lucky with the surprise encounter. Never did he think an elusive naga would become so important to him. He cherished every moment they had. Nothing could ever replace it or be better.

The walk was comfortable, the temperature nice and pleasant. And they weren’t interrupted at all on their trip. The store was reached in no time.

They spotted Makoto standing by the store’s entrance, looking around. He saw them as well after a few seconds, waving and approaching. “Hey! Thank you again for this. Both of you.”

“No problem. It’s a good excuse to leave the apartment anyways. I know this one has wanted to go outside for a while,” Hajime responded, poking the green tail around his neck.

The tail tip wrapped around the finger, squeezing as if hugging it. “Yes, indeed! So I of course wished to accompany you.”

Makoto smiled. “I am very grateful. Now, shall we go in?”

He received two nods in return, so they all entered the pet store.

In all honesty, Hajime had been so sure that Nagito would be offended the first time he brought him here when looking for supplies for his roommate’s living situation. But the naga had actually found the place to be amazing. He adored seeing all the things there, even in the sections for other animals. Much of the stuff in his terrarium had been purchased from here. So it was a good place to go if one suddenly had a naga living with them. Like Makoto now.

“Let’s try to not get distracted. Straight to the reptile section,” Hajime declared, grabbing his friend’s wrist and tugging him along behind him.

Makoto sounded fine with this. “Oh! Sure! You are the expert here.”

Soon enough, they were in the aisle of reptile supplies. There were so many options, for all different kinds of creatures. Hajime recalled being lost the first time he had come here. Thankfully, both that time and this time, he had help.

“Oh, look! That stone decoration would work amazing for shedding! And that cave would be great for hiding if she gets overwhelmed. Especially if you have company over. And those fake plants are lovely! The ones with the flowers? I feel that she would love those.”

Nagito didn’t miss a beat, launching into a list of his recommendations. He gave his opinion on several things they saw, at one point requesting to be placed on the shelf to examine things up close. They did garner some attention from people walking down the aisle, including a few kids who lit up at the sight of the tiny creature. But again, no one tried to grab or touch him. Something they were all very thankful for.

Not long after, keeping in mind Makoto’s budget, they had a nice selection of items in the cart. The younger man looked excited, eager to show Komaru what they had found. So off to the register they went, Nagito curled around his favorite human’s wrist.

But before they arrived, Hajime noticed something. Nagito’s gaze had become fixated on something in another aisle. It made him curious. So he told Makoto to go ahead, as he wanted to look for something. He got a confirmation, so he followed the naga’s gaze.

Which ended up being the shelf of stuffed toys. More specifically, a cute green plesiosaur.

Hajime was pretty sure he knew what this meant. And to test that theory, he lifted his wrist up to the shelf, next to the dinosaur. The coils around him loosened as the naga slithered off and moved to the toy. He wound around its neck, hugging the head to his chest tightly. It was extremely adorable.

So Hajime decided to spoil his snake. “If you like it that much, how about we take it home with us. Do you like that idea?”

Nagito’s green eyes flew towards him with sparkles. Several rapid nods occured before going back to rest on the soft plush material. Guess he was very much in favor of the idea.

Carefully and slowly, he picked the plesiosaur off the shelf and into his arms. He did so in a way that wouldn’t jostle the small naga clinging to it. And just as gently, he walked them back to the register, getting in line behind Makoto.

“You found something?” he asked, smiling when he saw the sight.

Hajime looked back down, seeing the content snake hugging his new toy. “Yeah, we did. I just hope he doesn’t mind that the toy will need to be scanned before I can buy it.”

Turns out, he didn’t really need to worry. He kept still and silent even as Hajime extended the toy over to the cashier to scan the tag. Much adoration was had by everyone nearby, to which the human was in agreement on.

The payment was completed, both for him and Makoto. So now it was time to leave. “Stay safe when going back. And do let me know if you need any more assistance,” he said to his classmate as they finished loading his car.

He got a grateful smile. “I will. Thank you again for all the help. I take it you guys are going back home as well?”

He grinned. “Yeah. I think we will need to redecorate his terrarium. Now that he has a new friend.” He glanced down again, noticing the relaxed posture and peaceful expression. “Or maybe a nap with his new cuddle buddy.”

Masterpost

I… uh… I did another Nagizuru. I couldn’t help it! It’s such a fun idea!

Au belongs to @karugoround . And I also want to mention this art done by @aliveko. It’s so amazing! Nagizuru being spoopy!

Anyhoo, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!

Izuru had memories from when he was Nagito Komaeda. He was very aware that the scientists had tried to wipe away everything of his previous identity. But some did remain. Including the memories of being sickly.

Something he did not miss. And sadly something that kept going even after the surgery.

Such unfortunate luck, he thought to himself as he laid on his bed with a fever. It wasn’t anything very serious. It was a result of him being locked away and drugged so often. His immune system couldn’t repair itself well with all that went into his body. He was sure that if given enough time away from the sedatives and other drugs keeping him weak, his body would go back to being healthy on its own. But that was not in the cards for him with the ones keeping him here. They feared him and his luck. So this was how his life would be until something changed.

Hajime had noticed when examining him in the morning. He appeared worried once he realized. But it also looked as though he was thinking hard on something. A little plan was forming in that brain of his. Oh, it was positively adorable to see. And if he had been more well, he would have pointed it out to get a reaction. But not this time, as he could barely move from the combination of sedatives and illness. What a pity.

So he was currently laying under his sheet with his eyes closed. His mind would not let him fall asleep so he was having a hard time resting. But there was not much else he could do. At least the clock was muffled by the stuffiness. So it was far more quiet. The one upside he could find.

Time passed. He didn’t care to try and keep track. Not when he was feeling like this. He was trying to conserve every ounce of energy in case movement was required for whatever reason. But it was difficult, even for him. This room felt suffocating at times. And it didn’t inspire positive emotions.

Not that he had many emotions anymore.

An unexpected sound interrupted his musings, to which he looked over. It was Hajime again. Much earlier than usual. And his expression was subtly different. He seemed excited about something. But he was sure he would find out soon.

And he was correct. “I told the doctors about your condition. I was able to convince them to let you walk around outside your room. They are certain you won’t be able to do much while like this. So we have half an hour to go to the outdoor courtyard. Can you stand?”

Outside? He hadn’t seen the outside since the very beginning of his existence. His only experiences with the outside was gazing out his window in his regular room. But he had been in solitary confinement for a few weeks. He desired to see it again. And being able to actually go outside was something he could absolutely find the strength to get up and go see. “I shall. I may require you to help keep me steady, so be prepared for that.”

He ignored the questioning ‘huh’ from his caretaker, instead focusing on getting to his feet. It was a dizzying experience. But Izuru was not about to let this opportunity slip by. A change. Something different from the normal routine. It made his heart beat faster with excitement. An emotion he had not felt in so long. It overpowered the illness he had for a brief amount of time. So he knew it was best to get to the courtyard as quickly as possible. “Lead the way, my dear caretaker.”

Hajime coughed awkwardly, a hint of red on his cheeks. But he opened the door and held it for the human experiment. Izuru walked through gracefully, instantly feeling a change in temperature. It was cold. And the hospital gown he was wearing did little to warm him. He loved it.

He heard Hajime close the door behind him before stepping in a specific direction. “This way. It’s not very far.”

He silently followed, eyes darting around to memorize every detail around them. He had not left that room in so long. When he was brought to this room, he was always unconscious. But now he was getting some semblance of an idea of how the whole building was constructed. He would file all this information away for future use.

Unfortunately, his body decided it couldn’t go on for very long, making him have to pause as he tried to regain his balance. Something his observant caretaker noticed. “Are you out of breath? Do you need assistance?” he tentatively asked, a bit hesitant to voice the question.

He was lucky that Izuru was very amicable today. “Yes,” he stated, grabbing an arm with one hand and winding the other around the broad shoulders, gripping tight. It left no room for escape. “Proceed.”

Hajime took a second to register what was happening. But he recovered and did as instructed, practically carrying the white haired experiment. The brunette did appear to be quite strong, as he was able to carry him without any difficulty. Or perhaps he had become incredibly lightweight from his inactivity. Regardless, either option meant that they arrived swiftly to their desired location.

True to his word, it was an outdoor courtyard. Various flowers and a few trees were present. But what struck Izuru the most was the air quality. It was fresh. It was open air. It was outside. HE was outside again. After so very long.

But again, his body betrayed him. He was losing strength in his legs. But he would not go back so soon. Instead, he had another idea. He squeezed the shoulder he was holding, getting his caretaker’s attention. “There looks to be a soft patch of grass under that tree. Take us over there and sit down. I shall utilize your lap as a pillow. I will not take no for an answer. Understood?”

Hajime nervously swallowed, but was quick to fulfill the request. They were soon under the tree, the brunette sitting with his back against the trunk. Once there, Izuru did as he proclaimed, laying his head down on the other’s lap with his eyes facing the scenery. This was much better. He was obscured by a large flowering bush so the sunlight wouldn’t be blinding. Already his dizziness was fading, him feeling more relaxed than he had ever been. But, he could think of one other thing that might help. “Use your hands to brush my hair. I desire the tangles to disappear.”

He felt Hajime startle at the unexpected request. It was something he had never asked for before. But like a good caretaker, he did as he was told. Hesitant hands ran through his long hair, growing more confident when there were no complaints or admonishments.

Izuru did not receive physical contact often due to his… current living situation. But even then, he would not accept it from just anyone. If one of the doctors or scientists tried while he was conscious, they would surely find their arms shattered. So again, Hajime was extremely lucky that he was given express permission to do this. And he would admit that it helped him relax. It was soothing. And productive. He was only allowed to use a brush under extreme supervision. Mostly Hajime. It was due to an… incident that may have ended in brutal injuries. Who knew a small plastic brush could cause so much damage to the doctor he detested?

But putting that aside, this was good. If being ill meant he was able to experience this, he would gladly accept every upcoming fever.

It really was nice. Which made the interruption all the more aggravating.

“Hey! I see you there! Answer me!”

A voice he had heard before. He searched his memory. It seemed to be one of the directors. One that talked big but in actuality did very little for the team. A waste of human life, really. All of these things he had overheard from others. So he was not well liked by his colleagues. And based on the tone, Izuru would say those thoughts were not unfounded.

But Hajime was still in a position under him. And as such, answered to him as a subordinate. “Good day, sir. I shall be heading back to Izuru Kamakura’s room momentarily,” he said politely and respectfully.

But it appeared that the respect only went one way. “You are that abomination’s caretaker, right? What are you doing here?! Slacking off? You dare to do such a thing? After the graciousness we gave you? We could have kicked you to the curb to waste away without any opportunities. But we didn’t. And this is how you repay us? Ungrateful brat. Just wait until I tell the others of this insolence. You won’t be coming back ever, mark my words.”

“Oh? So I’m an abomination? It is nice to know what some really think of me. Even if this information comes from a pathetic insect that doesn’t know his place.”

All blood seemed to drain from the older man’s face, realizing exactly who had spoken. He began to tremble as Izuru lifted himself off Hajime’s lap, standing up to his full height and red eyes practically shining with malice. All with a wide smile that never went away.

“Y-you… I… I just… S-stay back!” the director screamed out, but wasn’t able to do much more than cry pathetically and take one measly step back.

Izuru sensed Hajime getting to his feet behind him, but not making any move to try and stop the superhuman experiment. He was smart. Unlike the roach in front of them.

“Stay back? I suppose I can do that. But it is very foolish of you to think you are safe from that distance.” He turned his gaze skyward, seeing dark clouds rapidly forming and the wind picking up. A storm. He was interested in how this would play out.

His red eyes lowered again, making eye contact with the director. “Let us see what Lady Luck has planned for you. I can assure you that it won’t be painless.”

A startled and pathetic yelp emerged from the older man. He tried to back away towards one of the courthouse doors. But a sudden gust of wind made him lose his footing, sending him falling into the small pond. Izuru knew what would most likely happen next. So he turned and grabbed his caretaker’s hand, tugging him away from the courtyard and to the other door. He shut it behind him and pulled Hajime in close just as an earth shattering BOOM sounded behind them. Then the lights shut off, kicking on the emergency power. “Another lightning strike. Good thing we exited the courtyard before anyone of significance was hurt. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Hajime’s head was tucked under his chin. And through the embrace, he could feel minute trembles. He had unfortunately experienced a lightning strike before. It had left a scar on his torso, one Izuru knew ached on occasion. So he could forgive this moment of silence, of not answering back. Fear was very much a present emotion in his caretaker.

So he rearranged them, hands and arms winding around Hajime until he was the one being carried. Still no response other than an instinctual need to grab onto the hospital gown for support. “I got some good rest today. I was able to recover some of my strength. To thank you, I shall do this. I recall the way back. Don’t move.”

Hajime again proved to be obedient, staying as still as he could. Not even his collar and chain made a noise. So their walk was silent, save for his footsteps. The blinking red lights didn’t hinder his ability to see, so he had no trouble navigating through the short periods of darkness. Miraculously, for everyone else in this establishment, they ran into no one else by the time they reached his room.

“We are here,” he announced, putting Hajime back down. “Now then, if you would open the door.”

The caretaker, to his credit, recovered fairly quickly. “Of course, sir.” He regained his normal composure, getting right to unlocking the door. It opened, allowing access to both of them. Izuru beckoned for his caretaker to follow him in, which was done instantly. The experiment sat back down on his bed, looking up at the one standing in front of him. “I predict that this experiment of theirs was a success. They truly can be cruel when they feel like it.”

Hajime looked confused. “What do you mean? If you don’t mind my asking.”

Izuru grinned wickedly. “It was not out of the goodwill of their hearts that I was allowed out today. The scientists wished to test how my luck would be if I was ill. That director was likely not informed intentionally. They eradicated a pest while getting results. Clever.”

“They sent him… to die?” Hajime questioned. “Would they actually do something like that?”

He raised himself again, this time cupping the caretaker’s cheeks in his hands. “Oh my dear, sweet Hajime. You have yet to see the true cruelty that mankind is willing to inflict on their fellows. Such innocence. Such naivety. I wonder how long it will last.” He brought their foreheads together, seeing the fear in the one hazel eye. “I shall be keeping an eye on you. But you knew that already. So do continue to entertain me, won’t you?”

He released him, sitting again on the bed. He watched as Hajime tried to calm himself, taking deep breaths. And he decided to be kind. “You have done well today. I did enjoy our time outside. I shall rest now. You may go and report the… unfortunate accident of your superior. I shall see you later.”

He didn’t wait for an answer, positioning himself in a comfortable way on his bed. He drew the sheet up to his chest and closed his eyes, evening his breathing. It seemed to relax Hajime, who’s heartbeat slowed down more after this. “Rest well,” he whispered, taking his leave with no other additional words.

The door clicked as the lock set. Leaving him alone once more. But his mind was abuzz. Much had occurred on this day. Events that he would surely replay over and over again in his sleep. It was… thrilling. He had been so close once more to death. Not only him, but his caretaker as well. But what exactly was this emotion?

He turned onto his side, the corners of his mouth widening. He was most eager to ponder over this.

Masterpost

Well, I certainly did not expect the sudden increase in views of this au fic series. But I am very happy! Thank you thank you and welcome welcome! I hope you enjoy what I have to offer!

So let’s get to it! More Nagizuru for the world to enjoy!

And yes, part of this chapter was inspired by @rufus-in-space’s tag on @valictini‘s recent post. And @karugoround‘s art of it. I had to.

Finally, the day had come. At long last. Hajime had gotten permission from his superiors to move Izuru Kamukura back into his bedroom. He saw that message and practically leapt out of his chair. This was fantastic news. Izuru could leave the solitary confinement chamber.

It was a little after breakfast when he got this notification. He was glad about this, as it meant he could get straight to the point instead of needing to complete certain tasks first. So with some extra energy fueling his gait, he walked over to the elevator.

He was a single floor below Izuru’s floor. It was convenient for his job, as he could easily travel to his charge’s rooms. The possibility of being able to attend to Izuru’s needs swiftly was a reason for this. His superiors at least considered that when placing Hajime’s room on the floor below. On the floor with everything necessary for Izuru’s daily needs, such as food and clean linens.

So it didn’t take long for him to arrive at the door, scanning his card and entering. “Forgive my intrusion. I have good news, sir.”

The pale man slowly rose from his bed, smile ever present. “Oh? Pray tell, what could it be?”

Hajime beamed as he answered. “The scientists think it has been a sufficient amount of time from the last disaster. You can go back to your nice room. We can go now if you want.”

Izuru hummed, his own smile widening a bit. “I shall be able to gaze out the window once more. That is most excellent news. Very well, let us be off.”

Then nothing. Izuru simply sat there with his smile, making no move to stand. This greatly confused Hajime. “Um… sir? Is… something wrong?”

The experiment’s head tilted, as if the answer was obvious. “I have been injected with sedatives recently. I have little strength. I don’t believe myself to be capable of transporting myself to my room. So now, my dear caretaker, what will you do?”

Hajime stood there in shock. He wasn’t… suggesting what he thought he was, was he? To carry him? But the longer he thought about it, the more certain he was that it was correct. And it made his face flush deep red.

But he had a job to do. And he was determined to do it the best he could. So if Izuru needed to be carried, he would do it. He could do this. He needed to.

Repeating that in his mind, he walked over to the bed. “I understand. I shall help you get there.” He turned so that he was kneeling with his back to Izuru. “Climb on. I’ll get you there.”

He could practically feel the intense gaze on his back while he waited. But he dare not move, waiting patiently for what came next. His only warning was the soft rustling of the sheet, then the thin, light body of the Ultimate Hope positioning himself on his back. “My, my. You certainly are perceptive. And quite willing. Excellent traits to have for one in your position.”

Hajime stood back up, arms keeping a tight, but gentle grip on the thin legs. He felt the long arms drape over his shoulders, one hand grabbing his chain. “So strong. So capable. The doctors don’t realize how lucky they are with hiring you.” Then Izuru leaned in close, his warm breaths landing on the back of Hajime’s neck. “But I do.”

Those three words sent a shiver down his spine. He was so close. And with this position, there was practically nothing Hajime could do to change the distance. Izuru had trapped him. He was fully under the experiment’s control.

Fighting the storm of feelings, he took a step to test his mobility. And it proved to be quite easy. Izuru was extremely light, most likely from the minimal amount of food he was provided and all the sedatives. But that wasn’t something to focus on now. He had a location to get to.

That’s what fueled him to begin moving, walking carefully to not jostle his passenger. They exited the room, the door sliding shut behind them. He found himself commenting aloud, “I hope that you won’t have to go back to that room for a long time. I can’t imagine spending that much time in there with nothing to do. I feel like it would drive me crazy.”

A humorless chuckle arose from the one he was carrying. “A nice sentiment. A kind one. If only your hope was possible. Man takes great lengths to protect themselves from a perceived threat. The staff here are perfect examples of this.” The chain was gripped harder, tugging it so it was pulled taut. “And who’s to say that we aren’t already in Wonderland? That we aren’t already mad? Delusioned with fantasies of what is impossible?”

The brunette was grateful that the collar was a fixed shape and didn’t restrict his breathing when pulled like this. But even still, he found himself stuttering. “F-fantasies?”

“Yes, Hajime. Even I have fantasies. And what of yours?”

The brunette nervously swallowed. “I… think we should get you to your room.”

“A not-so-subtle attempt to change the subject? Could it be that this is territory you are not comfortable sharing? Hmmm?” The grip loosened, chain slipping from the pale hand. “Very well. I shall let it go for now.” The arms then tightly wrapped around his chest, the warm breath now on the shell of his ear. “Hurry on then, my dear caretaker. So that I may have you all to myself in our own little world.”

Every section of Hajime’s face turned red. How was he supposed to function after being told that? It actually made him pause in his tracks, too stunned to move. He stood there frozen, with the Ultimate Hope on his back.

That was, until a finger poked his chest. “As curious as I am to know exactly how long it would have taken for you to recover from this, I would prefer to be on my bed. So proceed, Hajime.”

That helped him begin moving again, wishing to fulfill Izuru’s desire right away. No more was said throughout the rest of the journey, to Hajime’s slight relief. He scanned his card on the reader, the device beeping and opening the door for him.

The second he looked into the room, he felt his annoyance levels rise. “They didn’t keep the room clean. Of course they didn’t.” There was dust everywhere and it was obvious that the laundry hadn’t been done at all either. He would have to do it all and do it now.

He pulled off the top cover on the bed and tossed it onto the floor before carefully setting Izuru down onto the mattress, tugging the remaining sheets to cover his legs. “I apologize for the state of your room. I’ll begin cleaning straight away. And I’ll bring you a clean comforter, towels, and robes.”

He didn’t wait for an answer, quickly gathering the top cover and the laundry hamper and hurrying out the door. He rushed over to the elevator, calling it and impatiently waiting for it to arrive. Internally, he was still irritated at the other staff. They couldn’t step away from their offices for ten minutes to straighten things up? Of course not. They are simply all above that kind of work. Too important to even think of assisting in this way.

He could have gone on much longer, but the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Thankfully the elevators were quick so he was on the next floor in no time. And so he got to work. He pulled out his own laundry from the machine and placed the more important articles in, starting the machine. He was grateful that it was a washer and dryer combo, as he wouldn’t have to come back to change machines. He set the settings and nodded with satisfaction once it began. He then busied himself with gathering cleaning supplies and putting them on a cart. Once everything was there, he returned to Izuru’s room.

“I have all I need now. I shall begin cleaning,” he announced as he pulled the cart through the door. Izuru had not moved at all save for a head turn. He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or worried about this.

“I see. Take your time. It wouldn’t do if you left any spot unfinished,” the white haired man said calmly, red eyes fixed on his caretaker. It was clear what he had chosen to observe for the time being. He was more interesting to the Ultimate Hope than his window looking outside. Something that made his heart pick up the pace.

But he couldn’t focus on that right now. He needed to clean. So after grabbing his broom, that is what he began to do. There was so much dust and long strands of white hair. Even a few spiders had crawled their way in through the window and had made webs. But none stood a chance against Hajime’s broom. It swept over the floor, gathering it all into a nice pile.

At one point, he knelt by the bed and swept underneath. And as he predicted, several hidden clumps flew out and into sight. He stood back up and walked over to them, fully intending to sweep them all into his pile.

But he had to pause. His working eye had landed on the largest of the dust bunnies. It was so white and looked fluffy, with random tufts sticking out every which way. It kinda looked like…

Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw Izuru laying under his sheets with his smile. With his fluffy looking white hair. With tufts sticking out.

He turned back quickly and snorted with laughter. It was too perfect. He wouldn’t have been able to stop it in any way. But right after the glee had ended, he felt a sense of dread. Would Izuru be offended that he laughed?

“Your mood increased in positivity just now. Why is that?”

The question made him even more worried. Clearly, his snort has been heard. Should he explain himself? Maybe Izuru would understand somehow. So that’s what he decided to do. “Um… the dust bunny reminded me of something. And I… uh… found it funny.”

The red eyes glanced down to see the dust bunny. “Ah, I understand. You were comparing it to my hair. That is certainly amusing.” A few breathy and soft laughs emerged from the eternal smile.

Hajime was stunned. Did Izuru… also find it amusing? Or was he simply imitating laughter and amusement? He couldn’t tell. But he didn’t really care all that much to figure out which it was. He was getting a ticket out, and he fully intended to take it. “Anyways, I’ll continue. Apologies for the brief interruption.”

“Continue as you were,” Izuru said, leaning back against his pillows and closing his eyes. He must have been tired from the drugs in his system. It was best that Hajime finished quickly to give him some peace and quiet.

And so he did, cleaning both the bedroom and the bathroom with speed. And he made sure everything was perfect. Not a speck of dust was visible anymore. It was all tidy once again.

All he had left to do was grab the laundry and return it. Which wouldn’t take very long. So he pushed his cart to the elevator, taking it down and putting his supplies away. The load was complete by the time everything was back in place. Excellent.

Grabbing the still warm clean load, he once again rode the elevator to his destination, scanning his card to allow entry. Izuru opened his eyes to observe him, but not moving otherwise.

“Here, I’ll put the comforter on now. It’s still warm so it should be quite nice,” the caretaker commented as he carefully laid the top cover back onto the bed. He brought it up to the experiment’s chest, tucking it in around the body underneath. His attention turned back to the rest of the robes and towels, folding them up and putting them into their proper places.

Soon everything was exactly as it should be. It filled Hajime with such a sense of satisfaction to have it done. Exiting the bathroom, he went to tell Izuru the good news.

Only to find him holding a shirt and staring at it intensely.

Where… did he get that? He hasn’t left the bed and he knew Izuru didn’t have any shirts. Then he had a realization. That shirt was one of his. It must have gotten accidentally left in the machine when he took his clothes out. And it had gotten caught up in the comforter, sticking to the underside so he couldn’t see it. And now it was in the Ultimate Hope’s hands.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for that to get mixed in. I’ll take it and put it back,” he apologized, stepping forward with the intention of grabbing it.

Izuru looked over to him. “I see no problem here. Everything is fine. There is nothing for you to return.”

Hajime paused in his steps, very confused. “But… isn’t that my shirt?”

“Perhaps at one point. But no longer. I shall take over ownership of this article,” Izuru stated, folding the shirt and placing it on the windowsill next to him. It sent a clear message. He was not getting that shirt back.

And Hajime knew better than to try and fight the Ultimate Hope. “Of course, sir. I shall take my leave now. I’ll return with lunch at noon.” He stepped out of the doorway, watching it slide shut and hearing the electronics locking in place.

The caretaker allowed himself to slump for a brief few moments, as now there were none to witness it. Today… had not gone as expected. Every plan he had in his mind for the day's events had been altered or different. But he couldn’t find it in himself to be upset by this. Today had even been… good.

Straightening back up, Hajime neutralized his expression. Time to go report to his superiors about the successful transfer.

Masterpost

Oh boy. I have been eager to get to this one. Like, y’all have no idea. This was a suggestion by groundhog0202b and I got excited to do it.

And yes, they will be recurring characters in the upcoming drabbles. Who are they? You will have to read and find out!

Reminder that you can suggest things you wanna see!

Hajime was pleased as he felt around on his ribs. The dark splotches had disappeared and the pain was non existent. He had healed completely.

Much to everyone’s delight and relief. Especially Nagito, who expressed this by immediately picking him up and nuzzling once he was told the news. “Ahhhh, this feels so wonderful to do again! I bet you missed this, too. Don’t you worry! We shall continue for a while!”

Hajime rolled his eyes but didn’t protest or push against the actions. He knew that the naga had been holding back throughout his recovery. He was extremely gentle with all his movements, treating Hajime as if he was the most delicate object. He abstained from long nuzzling sessions the entire time, which the human knew took an incredible amount of self restraint.

And now he was going full force, nuzzling the smaller man like it was his life’s mission. And it kept going until the naga was satisfied. “Perfect! You are all good to go. Now let’s head off!” The giant body turned and headed to the forest, bringing along Hajime for the ride. Not that he minded. He too was eager to get back to sightseeing in their forest.

Nagito kept him cupped in his hands as he maneuvered through the trees. A stable platform that the human trusted to keep him safe from falling. It was one of his personal favorite ways to travel now. Though he would always claim the fluffy white hair as the perfect place.

But putting that aside, Hajime gazed around. The colors of the leaves had drastically changed during his weeks of recovery. He always did love the colors autumn brought around. And the chill in the air was kept at bay from the warmth of the hands around him. It was wonderful.

Nagito began rambling in his excitement, pointing out various things as they passed by. Hajime happily listened and responded, glad to see the naga being so energetic. A stark contrast to the worry and fretting from the previous weeks. It was relieving.

It continued for the hour they traveled, neither one getting tired of each other’s company. Eventually, the human recognized the area. “Oh wait. Are we going to your cave? Haven’t been there in a while.”

This delighted the naga. “Yes! I’m so glad you could tell! I haven’t come back in a few days. I want to make sure everything is still fine.”

“Gotcha. But I’m sure the bears are fine. And whatever else you have in there. How large is that cave, anyways? I don’t think I’ve been all the way to the back.”

“Oh, it is very large. I’m sure multiple nagas could comfortably live in there. Maybe we can go to the end today! Is that fine with you?” Nagito lifted him up to better see his reaction.

Hajime nodded, reaching forward to pet the face in front of him. “Yeah, I like that idea. Your shawl will help with the cave’s coldness, I’m sure.”

Nagito giggled. “Yes. It is nice to have. I feel all warm outside and inside.”

The naga wore his gift constantly. But he took excellent care of it, the lilac fabric never appearing dirty or worn. And it was clear that he loved every fiber of it. It was also very cute on him, in Hajime’s opinion.

And he was extra glad that he had given him it as they entered the cave. It was certainly not warm and Hajime knew that snakes didn’t do well in the cold. But Nagito appeared to be doing just fine.

He found himself placed down on the stone floor, near the entrance where several plants were growing. “Ah, just as I feared. It does appear that some creatures have entered while I was away. Thankfully the bears are too high up for anything to touch them. But they certainly made a mess.”

Various bits of dead plants and fur were on the ground. Clearly some animals had made themselves comfortable here. Much to Nagito’s annoyance.

“I bring my beloved Hajime to my cave for the first time in so long and this is how it looks. Of course. Why wouldn’t it not be a total mess? Just perfect,” Nagito began muttering to himself, grabbing a large wad of moss and dipping it into the spring water. “Am I the only one in these woods that has a sense of neatness? All the animals here are hopeless. Pathetic. Can’t even be bothered to pick up after themselves. They should be ashamed.”

Hajime snorted at this. Hearing the naga go on a rant was something he didn’t know he needed to witness. It was too amusing. He collected himself and raised his voice enough to be heard. “I’ll stand by the entrance while you clean. Don’t get too stressed over details, alright?”

An ear twitch indicated that his words had been heard. But continued grumbling was all that was said. Hajime smiled and shrugged his shoulders, heading to the cave’s mouth. He looked around and took a deep breath. The air was clean and fresh. Truly a treasure that the world was gracious to offer.

He took notice of a few trees off to the side, several full red apples hanging off the branches. They looked really good. So he thought it wouldn’t hurt if he went over and grabbed one.

With that thought in mind, he began walking over to the tree.

“Halt. Who dares to enter and witness my presence?”

That… was unexpected. A deep voice was audible from somewhere in the trees. He paused where he stood, rotating slowly towards the voice’s direction.

“Who’s there? I’ll have you know you are on my private land. So I have every right to be here. Come out and explain yourself,” he demanded in a firm tone.

“Ah, so you are this land’s possessor?” A man emerged from the trees, black and gray hair, pale skin, and a long purple scarf dangling over his shoulders. “What do you plan to do with this land? To the animal population?”

“Huh?” Hajime was taken aback. He felt as if he was the one being interrogated. As if he needed to prove his innocence to this stranger. “Nothing. I want to keep these woods as is. I promised someone I would do everything I could to protect it.” He crossed his arms. “Now why and how are you here?”

The man struck a dramatic pose. “I am Gundham Tanaka! The Supreme Overlord of Ice! Master of the Dark Arts! Tremble before my might, mortal!”

Hajime just raised an eyebrow. “Come again? You are what now?”

That seemed to take some of the wind out of the stranger’s sails, as he appeared to deflate from the lack of reaction. “You appear to be immune to my malicious aura. You are stronger than you appear.”

Hajime took some steps towards him. “Listen, I get the feeling that you mean no harm. But you really do need to tell me what you are doing here.”

Gundham stood straight, piercing eyes watching his every movement. “I would suggest you keep your distance, foolish mortal. My Lady requires much space in order to not be tainted.”

“Your… Lady?” Hajime asked. It was then that he noticed movement from behind the man. Lots of movement. The type of movement he recognized. “Wait… is she…?”

The answer was revealed with the movement’s creator revealing herself. Just as he thought, it was a naga. Her scales were blue in color with cream belly scales. She was wearing what looked like a light blue ruffled crop top, not a speck of dirt visible on it. Her blond hair draped far down her back, partially held in place by a silver tiara on her head. And her stormy gray eyes were locked onto him.

“Ah, so you are the one Gundham was speaking to. Apologies for intruding. We were simply enamored by this place. These woods are certainly amazing,” she said, voice smooth and calm.

“I… I guess,” the brunette stammered, a bit unsure of how exactly to go about this. He didn’t want to call for help, as it might antagonize the two in front of them. They seemed amicable enough, so perhaps he could discuss his way through this.

But it quickly became far more difficult to remain calm as the blue naga leaned forward, practically hovering over him. “You are a strange one. Many have run in fear at the sight of my kind. But here you stand.” Her tongue flicked out a few times, eyes widening. “Wait… you have the scent of…”

“GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!”

The sudden shriek startled them all, the blue naga jolting away from Hajime. The brunette then found himself grabbed and lifted off the ground in a dizzying rush. He was pressed against lilac fabric, pressure around his body from the grip surrounding him. And he could both hear and feel the threatening hissing.

“I will not allow for my Hajime to be harmed by another one of my kind. Don’t even think about trying anything. I will defend him with my life,” Nagito stated with anger. His green eyes glared at the two, fangs in full view.

The two looked incredibly startled. Speechless for some time. But the naga recovered first. “Oh, please forgive us! We didn’t realize these were your woods! And I didn’t intend to do anything to your human companion. But I realize that it appeared quite horrible from your perspective. My sincerest apologies.”

The hissing stopped, Nagito now appearing confused. “You… are apologizing?”

The female naga nodded. “Of course! It was very rude of me. I do hope I can make it up to you somehow. Please know that I have no intention of causing distress. We were simply looking for a place to live. Had I known these woods were yours, I would have not entered. My… sense of smell isn’t the greatest. It only registers when I am close by a creature.”

Hajime wiggled enough to get Nagito’s attention. “We had been talking when you weren’t here. They didn’t do anything to me. I think we are okay.”

Nagito took a few deep breaths to calm himself. His posture became less threatening and more relaxed. “Okay. Hajime has vouched for you so I’ll listen. You were passing through? Nagas only travel when searching for a place to settle. Did you lose your previous home?”

The stormy gray eyes became clouded. “Yes. Despite Gundham’s best efforts, my forest was destroyed to build a new human factory. I wasn’t sure what to do when that happened. But he encourage me to search for a new home. A place that could be better protected and maintained. He was so kind as to accompany me. I am blessed with such company.”

The man on the ground grabbed his scarf and used it to hide his blushing cheeks. “M-my Lady! You have not been blessed! My presence is a curse! The most horrific of curses! Please remember that for future interactions.”

The previous low mood was quickly eradicated, as the blue naga smiled fondly at him. “Ah, yes! My apologies. I shall correct my statement!” She turned back to Nagito. “As he said, he is a curse!”

Hajime cracked a smile. This was really entertaining. “By the way, what’s your name?” he called out, wanting to satisfy his curiosity.

She perked up at that, making a polite bow. “My name is Sonia. A pleasure to meet you both.”

Nagito nodded with a happy expression. “I’m Nagito and this is Hajime.” He raised one of his hands to gesture towards her head. “That’s a really pretty accessory. Where did you get it?”

Sonia clapped her hands in delight. “Gundham had it made for me! Isn’t it pretty!? I love it so much! And your shawl looks wonderful! So pretty and warm! Did Hajime make it for you?”

That just elated the green naga even more. “Yes! It’s my prized possession. Oh! Want to see my other things? My cave is right over here!”

“I would be honored! Thank you so much!” she replied, slithering closer to him. “Please lead the way.”

Hajime was lowered and placed down next to the other human. “I’ll be back soon. I just want to show her around,” Nagito explained, moving away and with excitement towards the cave entrance with the other naga.

The humans watched them go, observing until the last bit of tail vanished from sight. “Well, that happened,” the brunette muttered to himself.

“Indeed,” Gundham replied, having heard this. “I am aware that many of the naga species are not as… drawn towards companionship. But it appears she has found another who is like-minded. This bodes well.”

“Yeah,” Hajime agreed. “Sonia mentioned looking for a new home. And I anticipate that Nagito will allow her to stay, seeing as they are getting along very fast and easily.”

“That would be beneficial. She deserves only the finest of locations. And this one is truly spectacular. A fine job you have done, mortal!” Gundham declared loudly.

Hazel eyes were rolled before he thought of something else. “So where will you go? Will you try and stay with her here in the woods?”

Gundham looked pleased with the question. “I am so glad you brought up the subject! I shall request to make myself a residence here should the emerald one allow us sanctuary. But do not fret! For I shall take up the financial responsibility! I can compensate you for all that is required. Be it supplies or something akin to leasing the section of land I choose to inhabit. Now then, does that sound like a fair and reasonable bargain?”

Hajime crossed his arms and thought about it. There really wasn’t much reason for him to refuse. He got the impression that Gundham was just as, if not more, firm on keeping the forest as natural as possible. So he wouldn’t cause any issues in that regard. And the forest was enormous. If he took up residence in the woods to be with Sonia, it wouldn't interfere with his privacy and work. The offer to compensate was also nice, he wouldn’t deny. “If Nagito says yes, then I see no problem with allowing you to live in the forest. Are you sure you would be fine out here?”

Gundham laughed boldly. “You underestimate my survival skills. I shall flourish here!”

“Alright. I’ll believe you. Just… make sure to let me know if there’s an emergency, okay? Check in every once and a while,” he requested.

“I suppose I can do that. Then we have a deal. Shake my hand, mortal. So that this agreement shall be forged onto our souls!” Gundham said as he stuck his hand out towards the other human.

Hajime chuckled as he clasped the other’s hand in his. “Here’s to a hopefully beneficial new relationship. For all of us.”

Masterpost

Hello and welcome! Name is Kira! You can call me that or Draconic or Sparkle or whatever you want really. Been having a swell time creating fics. Mostly Danganronpa and Rain Code. Also a huge fan of Pokémon and several other franchises. Feel free to send asks or messages! I am happy to chat with people!

Here is a masterpost of all my works. Cause I realized that it’s a bit cluttered here without it. This should make things easy to navigate.

I do hope this helps!

Enjoy!!!

Pic by @noodleartz

Danganronpa Fics

The Peak of Hope : God au where Hajime gets possessed by a god Izuru. Complete

Wings and Scales : Dragon au where Nagito is a dragon and Hajime is his caretaker. Complete

Hajime’s Cats : A fluffy episodic fic of Hajime and his cats Izuru and kitten Nagito. Complete

Differing Heights and Rationalities : Borrower au with borrower Nagito and human Hajime and Izuru. Complete

Sunshine and Shadows : Spirit au with human Hajime rescuing light spirit Nagito. Complete

Childhood : Prequel to Sunshine and Shadows. Would highly recommend reading SAS first as this contains heavy spoilers to the ending of it. Complete

Sweets From Alice’s : Size changing gt fic. Episodic in nature. Complete

Naga Nagito Drabbles : Au created by @tortadecereji; Another series of episodic chapters with Hajime interacting with Naga Nagito. Big or small, but mostly big. Complete.

Nagizuru Au : Au created by @karugoround; Where Nagito became Izuru and Hajime serves as his caretaker. Complete

Lost Souls : A Pokémon/Danganronpa crossover fic where Hajime and Nagito need to work together to help a lost Pokémon return home. Complete

Children of the Cosmic God : Eldritch horror Izuru adopts orphaned Hajime and Nagito. The two must make a difficult choice when they come of age. Complete

One Shots

Parenting in the Apocalypse

Eternal Happiness? I Found It!

Octopath Traveler Fics

Little Thief : Octopath Traveler g/t fic. Complete

Short Stories : Octopath Traveler 2 gt one shots. Complete

The Hound and His Little Lamb : Octopath Traveler 2 knightlight fic. Complete

Rain Code Fics

The Masks I Wear : Rain Code sibling fic. Complete

Family’s Friends : Sequel to the The Masks I Wear. Complete

The Offer of a Lifetime : Part 3 of the Twin Detectives series. Complete

Our Differences : Part 4 and finale of the Twin Detectives Series. Complete

Take Care : Part 5 extra bit to the Twin Detectives Series. Sickfic. Complete

He Who Defies Death : Post canon au where Makoto receives the Book of Death. Complete

Transparent : Viviakou fic where Vivia is a ghost haunting the house that Yakou and Yuma move into. Complete

Safe In The Nocturne : Yakou Fathero adopts Yuma fic. Complete

The Dragons and Their Detective : An au where the Master Detectives are dragons. Complete

One of the Flock : Sequel to The Dragons and Their Detective. Complete

Which On Is It? : Kokolight vampire au oneshot. Complete

Feed : Prequel to Which One Is It? Complete

Blood Bond : Kokolight vampire au where Yakou learns a fun fact about vampire bats. Complete

There’s a Bat in the Agency! : Vampire Au where bat Yuma is discovered by the NDA. Complete

His Shield : Vampire Au where Vivia gets angy and causes some damage cause someone hurt the smol bean vampire. Complete

Beverage of Choice: Vampire Au after the explosion at the agency. Yuma meets someone who seems… oddly knowledgeable. Complete

I’ll Serve the Mirrors: Vampire Au post game. Yuma and Vivia decide to allow someone else to join them in their vampiric feeding sessions. Complete

A Nightmare Under the Full Moon : Kokomare werewolf au where Yuma is extra floofy. Complete

Artificial Mind, Artificial Heart : Rain Code au where Makoto is an artificial intelligence program learning to be human. Still ongoing

Going For The Throat : One shot where Yomi does something to make Makoto angry. He suffers the consequences. Complete.

Cat Yomi: Makoto finds cat Yomi in a rainstorm and brings him inside. Complete

Double Life: A what if scenario where Yakou survives the Blank Week with his clone. Complete

The Two Chiefs: Sequel to Double life. The two Yakous spill the beans on the Blank Week Mystery to the NDA. Complete

Web of Truth: Au where Makoto is a monster and gets curious about the human that shares his face. Still ongoing

Rain Code Ship Week 2024 fics

Different Body But Same Soul: Domestic Kokobolt. Complete

The Damsel Who Isn’t In Distress: Prince Vivia and his dragon guardian Yakou. Complete

Captive Heart: Dark makoyuma fic with a possessive Makoto. Complete