Arc: Rikkai

Ebook cover for the arc

The stories focusing on Rikkai and Angel Sanctuary’s Belial. Yukimura/Sanada/Yanagi plus Belial/Rikkai/Rikkai.

What’s in a Name

Belial and Kanzeon have tea. Drama, I-2

Belial took another sip of hir tea and aimed a glittering smile at the being across the table. "So. We’ve caught up on gossip, traded fashion tips, and one has flattered your latest blend. Don’t you think it’s time we got around to business?"

Visiting Hours

Mad Hatter visits Yukimura in the hospital. Drama, I-3

An individual of duller perception might have assumed se was seeking younger patients to entertain. A fool might have lashed out in a misguided effort to drive hir away.

It was not Seiichi’s judgment that was numb, and no one could call him a fool.

Under the Knife

Mad Hatter and Yukimura start to get acquainted. Drama, I-3

"Experimental surgery, hm?" he asked without turning away from the window.

"One could just snap one’s fingers." Hatter’s breath was warm against the back of his neck. "One gets the impression from your other visitors that a miraculous recovery would be only what’s expected from you."

Long Story

Belial introduces hirself to Rikkai. Drama, I-3

Masaharu nudged his partner. "Who’s that?" he asked, nodding at the slight, lean figure in black lounging against the fence. Yagyuu finished a swallow of much needed water and raised a brow.

"I think that’s Yukimura-san’s visitor. The one from the hospital that no one ever quite managed to meet."

The Shine

Sanada and Belial talk about Seiichi. Drama, I-3

"What do you want with Seiichi?" Genichirou asked, bluntly.

"His soul," Hatter answered.

Genichirou reminded himself, strenuously, of Renji’s caution that he wouldn’t get anywhere with Hatter unless he could keep his temper. He told himself it was just like dealing with Niou in a really bad mood.

Talking Sense

Kurai and Noise explain things to Sanada. Drama, I-3

Belial waved a hand. “Not at all,” se said. “Her Majesty is here to relieve certain misapprehensions regarding her husband’s domain.” Se glanced pointedly in the direction of the boy se had indicated previously, who was standing a little ways off and obviously trying not to look too much like he was hovering.

Yukimura followed the glance. “Ah,” he said. “I see.” He looked back at Kurai. “In that case, welcome.”

Belonging

SanaYuki make up smut. Porn with Characterization, I-4

"Seiichi…" Seiichi blinked; even when they were alone, Genichirou rarely let his voice soften so much. Genichirou’s arms closed around him, almost lifting him against Genichirou’s body. Seiichi released a tiny breath of his own and let himself relax into that support.

"I’m sorry," Genichirou murmured.

Profession

Belial chats with Sakaki, who turns out to be an old ‘friend’. Drama with Humor, I-3

Sakaki Tarou paused on his way across the grounds of Rikkai Dai to visit his contemporaries on staff, and watched the junior high tennis team practicing. This team was always worth watching, but this time something specific caught his attention. Something about them had changed, since the last time he’d observed these players. It was most notable in Yukimura-kun, and Tarou sighed faintly as he contemplated the inherent disorder of what he was seeing.

"Taken," a light voice stated next to his ear.

Games Without Frontiers

Yukimura decides how to deal with Belial. Drama, I-3

"You know," Belial observed, voice a little husky, "this is one of the things mortals and celestials really aren’t supposed to do."

"I’ve already sold my soul to a demon," Seiichi noted, dryly, against Belial’s collar bone. "Breaking another rule is supposed to concern me, why?"

History Lesson

Belial talks to Rikkai about the past. Drama, I-3

"One is not kind," she said, very precisely, without looking around. "Nor benign. One has corrupted lives and souls and cities. Most recently, one provoked the Host to attack an ally and caused the destruction of Kurai’s kingdom and people. One led Kurai herself into a marriage that would have sacrificed her life, by lying to her at nearly every turn. You should remember this."

Over the Bone

Sanada and Belial spar a bit, verbally and otherwise. Drama, I-3

Genichirou had known it was dangerous to invite Hatter to spar with edged weapons. He had, however, been confident that Hatter wouldn’t kill him, or even significantly damage him. He didn’t normally like the idea of handicaps, but in the case of a demon he’d take it.

He was coming to the irritated realization that, even restraining himself, Hatter was fast enough to touch him.

The Dotted Line

Belial gets a tennis team. Humor, I-2

"Absolutely no interfering in the games in any way, shape or form, or the whole deal’s off," Sanada declared, firmly.

Belial leaned hir chin in hir hand. "Doesn’t that conflict with the clause about injury-proofing, though?"

The Morning After

Some embarrassment over the seal. Drama, I-3

Genichirou, Renji noted, seemed unwilling to look anybody in the face—no, that wasn’t strictly accurate. There were specific people he wasn’t looking in the face, and all of them had just signed the same contract.

Baiting

Rikkai encounters shinigami at Nationals. Drama, I-3

The day was clear and hot, good weather for their first match at Nationals. Renji supposed it was cosmic parity for something else to go wrong. He sighed when he saw Hatter’s eyes brighten, as the team made their way toward their assigned court. What had caught her attention this time? He looked in the direction she was starting to edge in and suppressed the urge to put a hand to his forehead. Of all the people for Hatter to decide to tease, of course it would have to be Fuji Yuuta, and, by extension, Fuji Shuusuke.

The Sound of Music

Sanada gets enspelled and everyone gets a surprise. Humor, I-1

Belial really couldn’t help but find it entertaining that Genichirou complained about Hell’s demons not being serious enough in their work.

"I mean, really," Genichirou was currently holding forth, "this is ridiculous, what am I doing here? I’m in the wrong story!"