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Kazuki Hiyori couldn't sleep. Now, this wasn't groundbreaking by any means, Hiyori was often plagued by nightmares and general restlessness, tonight wasn't that different than any other. However, Winter had calmed her icy temper for the past week, so Hiyori felt comfortable leaving her house in the late hours of the night.
The air was crisp and the night sky was clear, it was quite beautiful. After getting herself a drink from the nearby well, she sat on her porch and just watched the stars.
She liked to imagine a larger, calloused hand on her back, pointing out the stars and constellations, teaching her about the sky, the world above her head.
But that hand wasn't there, would never be there. Hiyori blinked, swallowing deeply to keep the tears at bay.
All at once, a shuffling sound came from somewhere off to the side. Hiyori jumped in shock and locked her eyes on the bushes that were shaking as if a windstorm were landing on that spot only.
Eventually, a white furry shape emerged from the greenery and Hiyori's eyes widened almost comically when she saw the creature. A massive white and green wolf slowly approached Hiyori, backlit by the full moon. Huge red horns arched up past its ears and an achingly familiar nio-dasuki wrapped around its waist. It took another step towards Hiyori, and she flinched. The wolf paused, then put its paw down. It tilted its head, as if studying Hiyori, before settling on its haunches and watching her carefully.
It was waiting for Hiyori to do something. But what?
Wait a minute. Something about the wolf's expression was familiar. Where did Hiyori see this creature before? Hiyori's gaze was drawn to the nio-dasuki, studying it, before she realized.
Yamato, son of Kaido wore the same nio-dasuki! Wasn't Yamato a devil fruit user? What was it called again? The dog-dog fruit?
Hiyori's eyes widened again. This majestic creature is supposed to be Yamato? Why is he here? What is he doing? In any other situation, with any other man, Hiyori would tell them to fuck off and walk away. But something's tugging at her subconscious. She sees something in Yamato's eyes, something that intrigues her.
They've met before, when Kaido had hired Hiyori's services for his son. However it became increasingly obvious that Yamato had no clue exactly what service Hiyori was providing and had just assumed Kaido had hired someone to talk to him, for some reason. He'd excitedly walked Hiyori through every single thing he owned and even regaled her with some stories he read in none other than Kazuki Oden's journal.
At first Hiyori thought she was being mocked, that Yamato knew of her heritage and was bragging about his own father's triumph over Kazuki Oden. But she quickly realized that wasn't the case. Yamato hated Kazuki Oden's execution almost as much as Hiyori herself did, and his wish to emulate Hiyori's father came from a place of such genuine respect and care Hiyori could feel it like a physical force. She found herself smiling and laughing more that night than any night she could remember.
Slowly, Hiyori stood and approached Yamato, who followed her every movement with eyes that burned like molten gold.
She knelt nearby Yamato's head - which was bigger than her entire torso, now that she was paying attention - and raised an arm.
"So, you couldn't sleep either, huh?" Hiyori commented, but before she could move, Yamato raised his head and met her halfway.
Slowly, she stroked Yamato's head. He tilted his head to the side, indicating he wanted her to scratch behind his ears. She complied and heard a deep contented growl erupt from Yamato's chest. It was frankly a terrifying sound, but Hiyori's heart was pounding for an entirely different reason.
Yamato was warm, in fact he was burning like a furnace. His fur was soft, but not unnaturally so. He kept looking at Hiyori with his eyes of burning amber, such trust in his gaze, like Hiyori could bring a knife out of her sleeve and he'd just compliment her on her excellent taste in metal weaponry.
There was something about Yamato that was so earnest, so pure, that Hiyori can't help bit feel just a little dirty in his presense. She felt her eyes begin to droop and her body relaxed against her will. Yamato shifted his frankly ginormous body, so Hiyori could more easily lay on her side against his neck, arm outstretched to continue petting Yamato's head. The brisk winter breeze couldn't reach her with her proximity to the wolf-dog. The gentle, content rumble in Yamato's chest, a sound that should send her running in terror, instead comforted her, and lulled her into a pleasant drowsy state. She allowed her eyes to lay half shut and a gentle smile to spread.
"I think I- really like you, Yamato." Hiyori's voice was soft, and if she wasn't half-asleep she would have noticed Yamato suddenly freeze, going quiet.
Yamato lifted his head, studying the sky. It would be many hours yet before sunrise, so it would be best to find somewhere indoors to rest ones head.
He shifted back to his full oni shape, lifting Hiyori into his arms in a bridal carry. He made it back to Hiyori's porch before she stirred again. He set her down on the porch and they sat together, and unspoken agreement between the two of them.
Yamato found himself studying Hiyori's face. Her skin looked so soft, and her eyes are so fascinating. The irises weren't a perfect shape, they looked almost square shaped, but that only lent to her beauty in Yamato's opinion.
As if sensing Yamato's gaze, Hiyori turned. Suddenly nervous, not wanting to get caught staring, Yamato turned to the sky, studying the stars intently. His eye caught on something and he latched onto it immediately.
"Y-you know, the Drum stars are especially bright tonight."
Out of the corner of his eye, Yamato noticed Hiyori tilt her head in curiosity, her long teal hair falling over her shoulder and framing her face perfectly. Yamato felt his heart stutter, then start pounding harder than a storming sea train.
Against his better judgement, Yamato wrapped an arm around Hiyori's shoulders and gestured to the sky.
"You see that cluster of stars there? They're called Tsuzumi-boshi. Because they're shaped like a drum, they're also called the drum stars."
"Ah?" Hiyori questioned.
"Y-Yeah," Yamato stuttered, unable to meet her eyes all of the sudden. "I read it in Kazuki Oden's journal, you know he has whole sections on stars and constellations? There was one he mentioned you can see in the north sea that looks like a dragon devouring its own tail, it seems truly incredible!"
"Oh? Will you travel there just to see it for yourself?" Hiyori asks, seemingly entirely oblivious to how she shone in the starlight.
No, stop! She's asked you a question, stupid!
"Maybe," Yamato shrugged. "I'd like to have a crew to go with me, at least one other person who shares my goal." He smiles widely and Hiyori returns the smile softly. She lifted a hand and brushed it over her nose, a nervous gesture.
"If you'd like," Hiyori started, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "I'd love to go with you, to explore the stars with a good friend sounds lovely."
Yamato gaped. Did she just say what he thought she said?
"We- You consider us good friends?"
Hiyori smiles widely, an expression that looks heavenly on her. "Of course! Why wouldn't we be?"
Yamato grinned back, chest exploding with warmth and affection. He met Hiyori's eyes and giggled.
"Okay then! We'll explore and study the whole world's constellations!"
Hiyori giggled in response as well. "Well, maybe not the whole world, but I'd love to travel with you."
The casual confession made Yamato grin even wider.
"In that case, did you know-?" Yamato continued excitedly explaining each and every star within sight and even going beyond to constellations they couldn't possibly see. Hiyori never lost the fond smile on her face, even when Yamato eventually ran out of things to say and instead they sat silently stargazing together.
Eventually, Yamato shifted back into his dog shape and together they moved inside Hiyori's home. They settled down on Hiyori's bed together, arranging themselves so Yamato was curled around Hiyori and she was cradled against his stomach.
Yamato almost immediately fell asleep, snuffling and breathing deeply. Hiyori grasped Yamato's fur in both hands and curled into his warmth. She smiled in pure bliss and fell asleep almost just as quickly.
That night, Hiyori slept peacefully for the first time in years.