Glittering droplets trickled along the petals of the garden surrounding her, eyes closed and the whisper of rain echoing through her mind. The reds, blues, and pinks of velvety petals decorated the porch and yard in steady bushes of green.

The skies crying rejuvenated some of the slightly withered roses that had suffered from the mid-summer drought. She held one such flower between her delicate pale fingers, brushing the dried spots are they crumbled at her touch.

She hummed a small tune and opened her eyes, glancing up at her father standing in the door.

"Ouka, what are you doing out here in such terrible weather?"

"It's beautiful," she gestured to the garden of roses, "Moms flowers will heal."

Her father sighed and gave a slight grimace, "Her garden manages to keep going, just like her."

Oukas mother had fallen ill many times, but she always recovered. Even when doctors said it was impossible, she showed them otherwise. Right now was one such time. Her mother had caught a stomach bug and couldn't eat, she lost weight from it until the doctors put her on an IV.

"There is a boy at the door asking for you," the tone held a protectiveness to it, "Said his names Hakuren."

She bounced up and brushed pass her father, "Oh gosh! I forgot we had a project to work on," she explained and hurriedly opened the door.

Hakuren smiled to her and came in while she painickly rushed him in, "I have the layout, but I can't draw so I'll leave the molecule designs to you."

"Okay," she chimed and led him to the study room, waving to her dad on the way. He set down the box containing the work he'd done in a chair.

"I heard about your mom... Are you okay?"

Ouka paused for a moment, "Of course!" She turned to smile at him but he could tell it was just a face.

He owed her so much for all the help she had given him in coping with the fear of women his father had instilled with constant questions of how he should marry by 18, even though legally that was the age he had to wait for.

From then he had developed an intense protectiveness of his friend.

She ceased when he gave a disapproving glance, "Fine. I'm worried about mom."

"I understand-"

"Don't do that, how could you?" Ouka teared up and glared even as Hakuren sighed, "My mom is bedridden. She has a cancer that can only be removed with surgery, but it's bad enough she can't go anywhere..."

"Oh."

"So I understand. Here," he passed her a tiny box, "Oh! A marble cake?"

"From that new bakery, Blue Sauce. The baker, Haruse, gave me this as a sample. I thought you might like it. He said his helper Kuroyuri asks we review them on Yelp in exchange.

"Okay," she accepted the cake and picke up the fork, sawing the sweet in half, "eat with me?"

He nodded approval and took the bite she held up in his mouth. She smiled and took a bite, repeating the pattern until the cake was finished.

A devious smirk crossed her lips, "Does this mean we indirectly kissed?"

"W-what!?"

"Oh calm down, I'm just teasing." Tapping him on the nose with the fork she tsked. He sighed and shook his head.

They quietly sat for a little bit and Went over the project. It wasn't til near the end Ouka cleared her throat and decided to ask if he ever thought he liked someone but wasn't sure how they felt.

"Yeah. It's happened twice, but one I'm sure is impossible."

"And the other?"

He hesitated, "I think I would be interested in seeing if it's possible. But I think she likes someone else, but it's unrequited I think."

"Hmmm, sounds a bit familiar... Hakuren. Do I know who you're talking about?"

"More like talking to," he blushed slightly and Ouka giggled, "I think I like you."

She thought for a moment before clapping, "Well, we could try dating as long as we agree that it won't ruin our friendship."

"Can do," Hakuren responded and held out a pinky which Ouka locked her own with.

In a hushed whisper Ouka smiled and added, "It's a promise."

That had been what felt like centruies ago and they had both learned of the mutual crush on Teito. At this point it was also clarified Hakuren liked both men and women... The latter being after he got more comfortable around them, but he identified more as Bi.

Meanwhile Ouka stated she was Asexual, while she had not sexual interest she was interested in romantic relationships. Usually she had only been romantically inclined toward men so far.

They had arguments but more often than not resolved them easily and quickly. Teito often interjecting and forcing them to admit when they were wrong.

Oukas mother recovered and so did Halurens in time. Their mothers were so excited for their children that they paid for them to go to the movies together.

The two spent more time together over time and had reached an understanding that the relationship wasn't going to interfere with studies and Hakurens tutoring sessions.

At one point Ouka mentioned part of her crush on Teito came from when the boy fought a guy who got Ouka drunk and tried to have a one night stand. Teito had beaten the perpetrator to a bloody pulp the next day when Ouka came crying to him but promised he hadn't gotten far after touching her ass.

Hakuren later thanked Teito for all he did for Ouka and received a blush and mutter. Teito told him after asked why he wasn't expelled for such a thing that Oukas father who was the Principal heard the reason and expelled the boy instead of Teito. Thanking him for protecting his little girl.

Eventually every first Saturday of the month they created a ritual of going to a nearby park together and watching the sun set. Sometimes they stayed for the stars because Ouka loved watching them twinkle brightly in the night.

Her father had been reluctant at first but soon was okay with it after a year, realizing it was a loving and lustless relationship eased his mind.

It was the date of their anniversary now and Hakuren had insisted on taking her out to watch the stars by the lake tonight. They went to eat at the nearby Italian restaurant before heading out and watching as the sky slowly darkened. The moon full and surrounding by the glimmering stars.

She snuggled close leaned his head on her shoulder and him laying his head against hers. She dozed off after a bit and he gently carried her to the fountain near the parking lot and placed her in the backseat of his moms borrowed car, driving her home and only waking her once back at her house.

Ouka apologized profusely for falling asleep, a bright blush on her cheeks. He chuckled and told her not to worry.

"Sorry again!"

"It's alright," he kisse her forehead, "Get some rest, okay? Oh and here." He passed her a small box with a beautiful pink stoned ring.

She blushed harder, "A-ah. Um, okay. Thanks for everything Hakuren." She placed a brief kiss to his cheek, taking the gift smiling. She waved as she walked inside to tell her mom how well the date had gone. Not forgetting to put the ring on her finger on her way.


It is incredibly difficult to upload from a phone. Luckily I got this type of phone though because I was able to write all this in the google doc app while on the bus.

I like diversity so I piled what I felt most fitting for the characters "sexuality" wise

Long overdue backstory of how they got together.

Still gotta do Shuri and Mikage...