Two Haru gift fic recs!

[geri_chan]

I just wanted to share a couple of awesome Yoshizumi/Kenzaki fics that bronze_ribbons wrote, playing around in my Comeback universe! The first is actually a gift for snapelike, and the sequel is a gift for me, and both were an absolute delight to read. They were originally posted on the Youka Nitta IJ Asylum, but although the posts are not locked, commenting is restricted to comm members due to problems with spambots.  For that reason, they were also posted at Archive of Our Own, where anonymous commenting is allowed.


Title: Just Dessert on IJ, or here on AO3
Author: bronze_ribbons
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita
Pairings: Mochimune/Miyasaka, Yoshizumi/Kenzaki
Rating: PG, mainly for some swearing
Wordcount: ~1025
Inspirations: This is a present for snapelike, in celebration of a journalversary. Written completely on the fly today, in a "OMG get this bunny out of my head so I can get on with my life" flail, so there may be some tweaks later. It was prompted in large part by my current obsession with geri_chan's Yoshizumi/Kenzaki arc in her Comeback universe, so this is arguably an AU futurefic for that series as well.
About the dessert: I happened to be looking at this page in a dim sum cookbook last night, about a dessert that looks like Kodak rolls and is nicknamed as such in Hong Kong. I couldn't find any online references to the nickname, so the link will take you to a scan of the page from the cookbook. You can also see a photograph of the dessert at the Wiki entry for black sesame rolls.

This is a wonderful fic, set sometime in the future after the events of my current fic "Unmasked" are over (perhaps a couple of movies down the line). A simple gift of a dessert from Yoshizumi to Mochimune sets into effect a number of silent power plays, while a clueless Miyasaka remains oblivious. It's lovely to see how, without any need for dialogue, Kenzaki and Yoshizumi are now a couple, comfortable in each other's presence, while Mochimune and Miyasaka haven't reached that level of connection yet. It's also great to see the arrogant Mochimune put in his place a bit--his frustration at meeting in his match in Yoshizumi (power-play wise, not romantically, I should add), while at the same time respecting the fanatical devotion to their work that both men share.

A simple comment I made in response infected Ribbons with a brand-new brain-devouring plot bunny, which I will not apologize for because it resulted in an even more amazing sequel...


Title: Flattered and Insulted on IJ, or here on AO3
Sequel to: Just Desserts
Author: bronze_ribbons
Fandoms: Haru wo Daiteita/WMLM. Future/AU fic set inspired by geri_chan's Comeback series.
Pairing: Yoshizumi/Kenzaki
Rating: PG
Summary: A script from Mochimune leads to a discussion between Yoshizumi and Kenzaki about their jobs.
Warning: Really just a chunk of meta dressed up in a fluffy jacket. Another one of those "Oh, I'll just take ten minutes to scrawl out a drabble for her" moments that promptly exploded on me, so to speak. I never learn.
Wordcount: ~ 3500
Notes: This is for geri_chan, who set the demon-bunny loose in her comments to "Just Desserts," and also in tribute to the epic awesomeness that is the Comeback series. I've tried to stay compliant with the backstories for the Comeback versions of the characters, and some of the language here deliberately echoes Geri's; key episodes include Family Visit: Okinawa (see part 4 for Mochimune's film school background), Yoshizumi's Night Out, Interlude, and "Unmasked" (particularly Part 7 and Parts 13-17).

Mochimune has written a script, partially in revenge for the events in the previous story--too brilliant to be turned down, but containing enough personal details about Yoshizumi and Kenzaki that it was obviously intended to make them squirm a bit. Kenzaki has been offered the co-starring role alongside Yoshizumi, and the two of them discuss why it might or might not be a good idea for him to accept, and that inspires a surprisingly deep conversation about their respective fields of work, and I was impressed by how much thought Kenzaki put into his decision, and the effect that accepting the role would have on his career as a host.

I also love how much Kenzaki and Yoshizumi love and respect each other, and how big a role honesty plays in their relationship--they're able to speak bluntly and honestly to each other without hurting each other's pride. This is AU, of course, but it feels like a natural growth and extension of the events in my series, and I can really picture K&Y settling down together like this in the future after they've managed to work out their current problems.

There are serious moments, but there are a lot of humorous moments, too--like Kenzaki thinking about opening a new host club called "The Shisa" (I was tickled by the little reference to my fic 'verse), or Katou and Kikuchi both sending (unbeknownst to each other) bottles of Dom Perignon to Yoshizumi to congratulate him on having the guts to stand up to Mochimune. There's also a funny and affectionate scene where Kenzaki teases Yoshizumi about being so unromantic and they both crack up--these guys are the most romantically unromantic couple I've ever seen, if that makes any sense at all! ^_^

I could go on and on raving about this--I already left four lengthy comments on the IJ post--but I'll close by saying that it's a great character study of two of my favorite supporting characters in Nitta-sensei's works. I'm so thrilled to have a great writer like Bronze Ribbons playing around in my sandbox--not to mention inspiring me with more plot bunnies than I know what to do with, argh! ~_^ (Our comment exchange already has me itching to write two new OCs and a Haru/Antique Bakery crossover!) I guess in a way, it's come around full circle, since it was Ribbons' Yoshizumi fics that got me interested in him as a character when otherwise I might not have looked so closely at him.

So anyway, please read, and leave a comment if you like them!