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“No. Rashōmon can’t come out! We don’t want to be drawin’ attention to ourselves.” Tachihara hissed.
Rashōmon’s black and red face dropped its smile. It almost made Tachihara and others feel bad… Almost .
“I don’t see a problem with it; if people get scared, they’ll leave us alone, and we get the whole rink to ourselves.” Akutagawa cleared his throat.
Atsushi nodded. He added on Akutagawa's side of the conversation, “That would be nice. Remember when we all went to the mall and Rashōmon was holding all our stuff? It was so not-crowded in the mall… such a calming feeling.”
Tanizaki shrugged. “I don’t know, you two… remember the scolding we got from Kunikida and Chuuya?”
Normally, getting yelled at by the two individuals would have been a laughing matter for the polycule, but the idea of being on the receiving end of the yelling from both of them together was scary for the group.
Tachihara, Atsushi, and Akutagawa all shuddered.
“How did they both even find out about it? And why were they together?” Inquired Akutagawa. His boyfriends simply stared at him.
“You don’t know?”
Akutagawa shook his head. “What is there to know? Another grand revelation to me about our superiors' love lives that’s common news to you all?”
Atsushi rolled his eyes at his boyfriend’s sassiness. He replied with the same attitude, “Yeah, maybe it is another ‘grand revelation’,” the weretiger did air quotes, “Tell him, Tachihara!”
Tachihara shrugged. “Okay.” They placed their left hand on Akutagawa’s shoulder. “Kunikida and Chuuya are… business partners.”
Akutagawa stared at the redhead. Tachihara sighed. “It’s true! Ask the others.” Akutagawa turns to his boyfriends for answers.
“Business partners is one way to put it…” Answered Tanizaki and Atsushi. They both avoided eye contact with Akutagawa and went to arrange their belongings.
Tachihara glared at their other two boyfriends. “These two…” They took a deep breath and looked Akutagawa in the eye. “Y’know friends with benefits, no?”
Akutagawa’s eyes widened ever so slightly. Tachihara gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’d be a bad detective,” They teased. Akutagawa frowned.
The faint sound of Atsushi and Tanizaki bickering could be heard in the background.
“I told you, I’m not letting you cut my hair! Nor will I let you braid it! It hurts when you do it, you pull on my hair.”
Akutagawa cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t mind Tanizaki braiding my hair.” The ginger’s eyes lit up.
“Oh my god, thank you! Finally! Someone who appreciates my hairwork!” Tanizaki happily approached Akutagawa, holding a comb and their pouch with an assortment of hairpins and hair ties.
Atsushi slowly stood beside Tachihara. He whispered to the redhead, “I kind of want my hair braided now…” Tachihara looked at him with a mischievous glint in their eye.
“I will braid you!” Boasted Tachihara. They pointed to their boyfriends. Tanizaki and Akutagawa looked at them and Atsushi, clueless. “How about we redheads see who braids our boyfriends better?”
Tanizaki smiled. It didn’t seem like they were interested in the competition, but they enjoyed the thought of the four of them together doing activities like this. “Alright. We have to make it quick, though, we still have to get to the mall early before the line for the skating rink gets long…”
Akutagawa summoned Rashōmon. “Long lines won’t be a problem.” His boyfriends all stared at him, each with different emotions written on their faces – Atsushi’s eyes were scolding him, Tanizaki’s eyes were encouraging Akutagawa and his ability, Tachihara’s eyes were walking the line between the two.
Akutagawa’s ability dissipated back into his coat. “Don’t worry. He won’t kill anyone. Rashōmon will only scare the people.” The man smiled for a split second. Tanizaki gave him a thumbs-up.
Tachihara positioned themself in front of Atsushi, their hand gently holding the long lock of hair hanging on the right side of Atsushi’s face. “I don’t know how to braid hair, sorry.”
Atsushi furrowed his eyebrows. “Then why would you–? Nevermind. It’s quite easy, actually.” He divided his hair into three parts and gestured for Tachihara to get ahold of one part. Tachihara looked over to Tanizaki and Akutagawa, then looked back at Atsushi. Calloused hands started to braid the weretiger’s hair.
It was silent in the room, a few minutes passed and Atsushi and Akutagawa were facing each other – Atsushi pointed out how braids lessened how intimidating his boyfriend usually looked, and their redhead boyfriends agreed.
“Let’s get going already.” Akutagawa swiftly untangled the braids and his hair was wavy.
Tanizaki made his way to the line, looking for his boyfriends, with tickets in both hands. He had a huge smile. Occasionally apologising to those the ginger bumped into.
Once Tanizaki found his boyfriends, he made sure to give them each a kiss. The ginger had a proud look on his face. “The estimated waiting time’s around 20 minutes, by the way.”
Akutagawa summoned Rashōmon. “It doesn’t have to be.” The people in line near the polycule distanced themselves from the four.
Tachihara shook their head in disapproval. “We talked about this already! Put that away!”
“I thought Rashōmon was a ‘he’?” Atsushi chimed in. Akutagawa nodded and made Rashōmon hang menacingly over Tachihara – the redhead stared blankly at it.
Tanizaki, on the other hand, was profusely apologising to families and couples in line with them. They used Light Snow to entertain the children, and slowly, many kids gathered around them.
Atsushi made his way through the group of kids surrounding his boyfriend. “Excuse me, sorry! I’ll just… get my boyfriend!” He interlocked his arm with Tanizaki’s. “You’ll have plenty of snow later while ice skating – I think! It’s my first time doing this, so I’m not sure – anyway, bye!” Atsushi and Tanizaki hurriedly walk away from the crowd and back to their mafioso boyfriends.
.
.
.
It was loud in the ice skating rink.
The noise and volume only coming from Tanizaki, Akutagawa, Atsushi, and Tachihara was loud enough. The polycule and ice skating was a chaotic combo, to say the least. They stayed close to the barrier.
Rashōmon helped Akutagawa maintain his balance, despite his boyfriends’ protests. He had all the fun getting a rise out of the three. Akutagawa would rather die than admit it, but he found it adorable – how his boyfriends would scold him for using his ability out in public, when said boyfriends would use their abilities in public as well.
“Shame, I thought you’d find it nice that I’m not using my ability to kill, weretiger.” Akutagawa coughed into the back of his gloved hand.
Atsushi shrugged. “Well, I am! I haven’t said anything, though? About Rashōmon being out like that?” He sniffled, his nose was red. “I don’t know if I should. There’s not really any ease in convincing most people – and the staff – to go back to the rink with a known member of the Port Mafia.”
“Obviously you won’t complain,” Tanizaki spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, “If you did, you know we’d shift the focus to your tiger ears. And tail. It’s amazing how you keep falling over everything but that .” The illusionist used Light Snow to, well, project snow onto the rink; which made the experience even more magical for the four of them.
Atsushi’s eyes widened. “My… ears? And tail ?”
Tachihara nodded. “I don’t know if it serves you any purpose other than looking cute. At least you get to use your ability for somethin’–” They raised their right foot and pointed to the blade of the ice skate – “if I used my ability, I probably would’ve been under the ice by now.” They scoffed.
“No one’s telling you to use my ability. For that exact reason.” Retorted Akutagawa. He kicked his foot and was in motion, with Tanizaki following behind him. Tanizaki extended their hand for Akutagawa to hold, which he did.
Surprisingly for Tanizaki, Tachihara, and Atsushi– Akutagawa was good at ice skating. Especially for a beginner – he didn’t need too much of Tanizaki’s guidance.
Atsushi, on the other hand…
Tachihara helped the weretiger get up. “Don’t stress too much, love. It’s just like skating, except on ice, and instead of there being a skateboard you’re wearing two ice skates– yeah, I’m not the best teacher.” They turned to the other redhead of the polycule, one with brighter orange hair. “Tanizaki?”
Tanizaki let go of Akutagawa and took one look at him. “You’ll do fine, no?” Akutagawa nodded.
Tanizaki then skated over to Atsushi and Tachihara. They asked, “What’s up?” but they didn’t really need a verbal answer, just the sight of Atsushi holding onto Tachihara’s jacket in a panicked state was enough for them. The younger ginger extended their hand for Atsushi to (gladly) take.
“Just… don’t think too much, alright?” Tanizaki lightly squeezed Atsushi’s hand.
Atsushi took a deep breath. “I keep falling… and making you guys fall as well.” He frowned. Tanizaki noticed how his tiger ears and tails dropped down as one of his boyfriends sulked. “I wanted this to be fun for everyone. I’m sorry.” Atsushi sighed.
“Hey, we are all having fun, okay? Even if you fall a lot. You’re not ruining the mood. You don’t hear us complaining when we help you get up. It’s because we’re here for you, Atsushi. We love you! Even if you don’t notice some things around you.” Tanizaki pointed to Atsushi’s second feline set of ears with a gentle smile.
Atsushi’s ears turned red. “Thank you, Junichirou. I love you. I love all three of you.”
Tanizaki was doing it for him and on the behalf of Tachihara and Akutagawa when he planted a gentle kiss on Atsushi’s lips. “We love you too.”
“Now, think penguin!” Tanizaki exclaimed. He continued, “I know it sounds confusing, well, not really? Just odd. Sorry we didn’t really get to teach you properly. I think I speak for all of us when I say we got too excited.” The two chuckled.
Tanizaki cleared their throat. “Move your body weight from one foot to the other and back to the first and so on and so on. But be careful! I mean slight moves. Do not try to throw yourself on each foot of course. Any abrupt move reduces your balance.” They demonstrated their explanation, with Atsushi following suit.
“Don’t look down.” Added Tanizaki. “And bend your knees. Uhm, try to think like. Battle stance? Stuff like that. The lower your centre of gravity, the more balance and control you have. So you must bend your knees, even just a little when you’re gliding so that you keep better balance.”
Atsushi nodded and followed Tanizaki’s words. He felt the nervousness slip away from him. A smile made its way to the weretiger’s face, Tanizaki shared the same glee with him.
.
.
.
Tachihara skated to Akutagawa and the two began to fall into a rhythm, and soon eyes were on them. People who were courageous enough or didn’t care less about the fact that Akutagawa’s face can be recognised from wanted posters – it didn’t seem like the cold murderer was that person the public grew to fear.
Akutagawa’s expression was ever so stoic to an unknowing eye, but the person in front of him knew there was warmth. They could feel it in his hands holding Tachihara’s hand, as he supported the redhead as they twirled.
Tanizaki and Atsushi had to stop their mini-lesson, in awe of their partners. Tanizaki snaked his arm around Atsushi’s waist, almost as if he were embracing the weretiger. Atsushi snuggled closer to the illusionist. He felt like he could melt at any given moment.
“Do you want to join them?” Asked Atsushi.
Tanizaki nodded. “Of course. You?” Atsushi nodded as well.
“I might cause all of us to trip again , but that’s fine. We’re all having fun, aren’t we? I don’t know why I’ve been so embarrassed of tripping over and over, but – well, I do know why, but whatever.” Atsushi beamed a smile at Tanizaki, and bashfully pointed to his lips, then at Tanizaki’s.
Tanizaki felt his cheeks grow warm at his boyfriend’s actions. He leaned down a little, and had a cheeky smile on his face. “Why just from me, though? How about a kiss from all three of us?”
Atsushi’s face grew redder than before. He nervously laughed. “It’s really cold.”
Tanizaki removed their coat, and they shrugged. “I don’t think so? Why’s your face all red?” They faked a gasp. “Are you not feeling well? I know just what to do to make you feel better!” Before Atsushi could respond, he and Tanizaki glided along the thick ice, the Light Snow wielder swiftly guiding Atsushi through the sea of people and towards their boyfriends, Tachihara and Akutagawa.
“Guys!” Tanizaki feigned concern. Tachihara and Akutagawa turned to them. Akutagawa (almost often) falls prey to the illusionist’s fibs – this one, in particular.
Akutagawa cleared his throat. “Is something wrong?” He noticed Tanizaki quickly making eye contact with Tachihara, then his eyes landed on Atsushi. “Are you okay?” He asked.
Atsushi felt like he would explode. “N– no.”
Tachihara, who had known about this gambit before being added to the polycule, weighed in on the conversation. “That’s so sad…” They hid their laughter in between coughs. “D’you need help with somethin’?”
Atsushi stood silent. The blush on his cheeks were getting more noticeable. Tanizaki looked at him, voice laced with mischief, “What’s wrong? You can tell us, y’know?”
The weretiger buried his face in his hands. “Juni… I am so done with you…” He murmured.
“You aren’t.” Tanizaki whispered.
Atsushi sighed. “You’re right. I’m not.”
In need of affection and warmth, Atsushi took a deep breath. “I need– ki…”
Both Tanizaki and Akutagawa asked, “What ‘ki’?” Though Atsushi and Tachihara could easily discern which one of the couple was genuinely concerned.
Atsushi managed to choke out, “A kiss…”
Akutagawa didn’t hear him.
Tachihara and Tanizaki, however, were skating by the side – (silently) dying with laughter. Tachihara showcased their skills on ice skating to Tanizaki, who would parade them with kisses whenever Tachihara managed to land on both feet after a spin.
Akutagawa and Atsushi looked at the two, then back at each other. “So? What do you need?”
Atsushi sighed. “A kiss.”
Rashōmon quickly faced Atsushi, the weretiger almost fell on his back. “What is your problem?!”
Akutagawa rolled his eyes as his ability retracted itself. “If you wanted physical affection, you could’ve just gotten straight to the point.”
Atsushi pointed to Tanizaki in a panic. “His fault! You and Tachihara were having a moment and so were Juni and I – then I suddenly asked them for a kiss and then they were like: ‘what about from all three of us’? Of course, I wasn’t going to decline–!”
Tachihara gave Atsushi a quick kiss on the lips. “That’ll shut you up. Don’t worry, it’s cute– your little gimmick.”
“I don’t get it. Why don’t you just ask for kisses in the first place?” Akutagawa asked.
Atsushi answered, defensive, for some reason. He was more flustered than offended. “Would you directly ask us for kisses? When we aren’t all going out, you just stand next to us menacingly.”
Akutagawa shrugged. “So?” He was standing still in front of Atsushi menacingly. The weretiger examined his boyfriend– Something dawned on him.
“ Oh my god… you are just like me.” Atsushi tugged on Akutagawa’s coat. “May I… May I give you a kiss?”
Akutagawa nodded. Atsushi held his hand and they skated away from Tachihara and Tanizaki, the redheads of the polycule skated to their hearts’ delight while Atsushi gathered the courage to kiss Akutagawa on the cheek.
“What’s taking you so long–?” Just as Akutagawa turned to Atsushi, the weretiger’s lips landed on his. The two melted into the kiss, then were forcibly pulled apart by a kid skating into them.
“So– I’m sorry!” The kid hurriedly skated away from them.
Akutagawa choked out an, “It’s okay.” But the kid was long gone.
Tanizaki skated over to them with Tachihara behind and giddily took Atsushi’s and Akutagawa’s hands and spun them around. “My turn!” They exclaimed before peppering kisses all over Atsushi’s face, then did the same to Akutagawa– with permission.
Atsushi and Akutagawa felt themselves losing balance after their boyfriend’s previous actions. Luckily for Akutagawa, his ability could prevent him from falling.
A tiger’s tail? Not so much.
Thank goodness for the fourth boyfriend.
Tachihara caught Atsushi, they had this grin on their face and Atsushi swore he could kiss them right then and there. He was hesitant to do so. Atsushi only needed a push.
“Kiss our boyfriend, Atsushi! For me! For Ryuunosuke!” Cheered Tanizaki. Tachihara and Atsushi looked at their boyfriends, who were happily skating together – Tanizaki can be heard talking about their previous ice skating experiences while they were a student. Tachihara and Atsushi focused back on their current situation.
They were still in the same position– Atsushi almost falling and Tachihara’s hand on his back. “So, are you going to kiss me or what?” Tachihara smiled smugly. Fortunately, Tanizaki cheering the two on was all the push that Atsushi needed.
Atsushi closed the distance between them.
Tanizaki and Akutagawa skated near the two; Tanizaki was cheering and Akutagawa clapped softly.
“This reminds me of that one show Junichirou won’t stop talking about.” Akutagawa remarked, “The one with gay people and ice skating.”
“YURI ON ICE?”
Akutagawa nodded. “Except there’s four of us and none of us are professional ice skaters. Just gay people ice skating. For the first time, for some of us.” He looked at Atsushi.
Atsushi closed his eyes and started thinking. “I guess..? I haven’t watched it–” Tanizaki gasped.
“ WHAT . But… we cosplayed Yuri and Viktor?”
“Oh! That was cute.” Tachihara smiled. But Tanizaki, still in shock, ignored them.
Atsushi smiled meekly. “You wanted to, and I know you love it so of course I cosplayed them with you! Also, I was going to say I haven’t watched it all ? I started it. Last week. Plus, at this point, I know what happened because you wouldn’t stop watching it whenever you come over.”
Tanizaki couldn’t stop himself from grinning.
“How much time do we have left?” Asked Atsushi.
Tachihara checked on their watch. “About… 5 minutes. I’m pretty tired, what about you guys?”
Akutagawa shrugged. Tanizaki answered, “Yeah..? Although, I would understand why you’re tired. You kept spinning.”
Atsushi laughed. Earlier whenever Tachihara landed after spinning, they would kiss each of their boyfriends, and each one would have a different reaction.
Atsushi’s whole face turned red, from the cold and excitement, then Tachihara would dive in for another swarm of kisses.
Next was Akutagawa, he coughed loudly. The man would rather die than outright ask for affection, but his boyfriends knew every time. Tachihara spun Akutagawa around before kissing him, it was fun to see his coat spin around with him.
Tanizaki welcomed Tachihara with open arms, the two were shameless with PDA. No hesitation to show affection to each other, or to their partners. Sometimes, Atsushi and Akutagawa think that the two redheads even enjoyed teasing their boyfriends. (Which was very true.)
“Do you guys want to clock out early then eat?”
The polycule agreed.
“Ah, didn’t Tanizaki say that he would try cooking a new meal for us?”
Tanizaki nodded. “Yeah! Thanks, Ryuu.” He smiled at Akutagawa. “It’s a secret! But I cooked this for Naomi first before I wanted to cook for you guys, I wanted to, like, get the hang of cooking it already.”
Tachihara crossed their arms. “Come on, we’d eat whatever you cooked. Don’t you always tell us it’s made with love?”
“Of course. What’s that got to do with this?”
Tachihara replied, “Nothing. Let’s go.” They held Atsushi’s hand, and Atsushi held Tanizaki, then Tanizaki held Akutagawa. The polycule skated towards the exit.