Autumn Anniversary - A Yoshi X Kurohime Story

Yoshi’s wolf-like face took in the sights of the coffee shop. The environs were alive with the sights and smells of autumn drinks. The conversations were many, some couples and some people chatting with the employees. He scanned the crowd as he came in.

         “Must you wear that face all the time, Yoshi? I’m sure you can relax here now.” A light feminine voice whispered into his ear.

         Enter Kurohime Hanaka, a woman that the world didn’t deserve. At least, that was what Yoshi thought of her. A kind-hearted soul of a Japanese woman, one who came to life from a legend told so long ago. Yoshi felt himself smile.

         “Yea, I know, I don’t smile often. But I am tryin’. Believe me, I am.”

         “I can tell. That frown of yours isn’t as permanent as I thought, surprisingly. But seriously, you could stand to relax a little.”

         “Yea? Try sayin’ that when the next monster comes along and recognizes us. It’s like we can’t walk around without someone wantin’ a piece o’ me. Seriously…”

         His gaze met hers, seeing her smiling face before him.

         “All the more reason for us to enjoy today now, don’t you think, Yoshi?”

         His scowl lessened, nodding in her cradling hands. The couple shuffled past the tables in the place, finding an unoccupied booth in the back. Afternoon rays of sun peered through, shining on the autumn-colored leaf stickers.

         Yoshi sighed as the booth welcomed him into the seat. For once, he could relax. No monsters, no chaos going on, just being able to enjoy today. Especially today. Picking up the menu, Yoshi scanned everything there was.

         “Hmm, what looks good to you, Kuro?”

         “All of it, actually. Although, I wouldn’t mind trying one of the autumn drinks. What about you?”

         His eyes narrowed on the many autumn drinks. Most were new, some he hadn’t seen or heard of before.

         “Hm. Guess I could try one of these, too. Just not sure which one. Though usually with fall drinks, I kinda like warm stuff. Cold enough here in Manhattan as is, y’know?”

         “Good thing we’re here, then. Out of the cold. Together. Just like back then, remember?”

         Her fingers guided his to her warm palms as she sat across from him. Yoshi’s smirk nearly mirrored her smile.

         “Yea, I remember. It was a lot colder then, too. Today’s practically heavy compared to what happened that day. A lot less blood, too.”

         Her playful shove made him laugh. She couldn’t help but laugh herself, calling him on his wit. A young waitress came by, welcoming the couple and introducing herself. Kurohime’s fancy was the cinnamon maple latte, pointing at the picture.

         “Looks pretty sweet. More ways than one, I’d say.”

         “It really is. Had a few myself, actually.” The waitress said. “And for you sir?”

         Yoshi glanced back at his menu, looking at the drinks himself. Decisions, decisions, all around him in that menu. His eyebrows rose at the drinks with a smirk turning as he dropped the menu.

         “I think I’ll have the Campfire S’mores Latte. With four chocolate chip cookies, please.”

         Kurohime’s eyes widened in surprise. Four of them?

         “Alright, sir. It should all be ready soon.”

         As the waitress left, Kurohime looked to Yoshi. He only smirked back, chuckling at her.

         “A s’mores latte and four cookies. Do I have to put you on a diet now? All that sugar…”

         “Oh, please. I rarely even eat the much sugar on a good day, least of all on holidays. I just decided to get a little somethin’ more since it’s a special day, ain’t it?”

         Kurohime sighed as Yoshi smirked back. That wolfish grin she hated. She always hated that grin, made her feel dirty somehow. But this time, she only smiled back at it. Whenever Yoshi smiled, she smiled, too.

         Used to be that I made him smile at times… now look at him. Doing it all on his own now. It’s almost cute.

         The drinks came, both carrying those scents unique to this season. Cinnamon, hazel, chocolate, maple and marshmallows. All the scents that gave this season as much colors as the leaves outside.

         “Wow…” Kurohime said.

         “My thoughts exactly.” Yoshi said.

         His light cool hands drew love from the warm mug. Yoshi rarely felt the cold, but he loved the warmth that the Fall made him seek.

         “Damn, even gave me marshmallows to dip in the drink. Want one?”

         She smiled, taking one from his dish. The tiny sweet pillow floated for a moment in her drink. Liquid cinnamon and spice slapped her nostrils and throat in her sip. Yoshi couldn’t help but watch her, seeing her set the mug down and chuckling.

         “Must be good, seeing as how your pupils are as big as Madison Square Garden.”

         “Oh, hush. You didn’t look any different when I first met you.”

         He stared at her before laughing, shaking himself to the core.

         “Yea, I remember. I honestly thought I was gonna die that day. Was running on my last legs ‘til you came along and got that centipede venom out.”

         “Yea. But I wouldn’t have let that happen. Even if those gangs told me to kill you when I saw you, I still wouldn’t have let that.”

         Yoshi nodded, remembering that time. He let out a silent “Yea” before sipping his own drink. Part of him didn’t want to remember that day. The day they tried to make her do that.

         That drink rather suits him. Black and white of it all, chocolate and marshmallows.

         Yoshi felt the bitterness of that day melt in his sip. Sweetness, both fluid and fragrant flowed into him. Damn… He felt his nostrils flare just from that sip.

         “How is it?”

         “In a few words: damn sweet. And pretty warm. Like a liquid you.”

         Taking some whipped cream to her finger, she pricked his dark nose playfully. Yoshi scowled at her only to get a laugh from her. He only watched as her hime-style hair swaying as she sat next to him. She didn’t demand Yoshi’s gaze, but her presence often got him following her.

         Part of him hoped she didn’t turn around. That was when he really followed her and she knew it. She always knew, that smile of her own that she always had.

         She was a rare sight among most. Dangerous curves that only Yoshi knew lay hidden under her brown coat. And her smile all the more seductive than innocent.

         “Aww, look at you. You’ve got cream all over your nose.”

         Her arm linked with his, gardener fingers entwining in his war-callused hands. No warning was given as her tongue lapped the cream from him. He had no words, almost no thoughts. Only a tingling in the back of his neck and a shudder rocking him somewhat. The reaction tickled his sweetheart to no end.

         “You should see yourself right now…” She whispered. A kiss behind his ear snapped him out of it.

         His stupor died in seconds, bringing him back to the coffee shop. Yoshi looked to her, seeing her wave at him innocently. That Cheshire cat smile of hers. He took a long sip of his latte, warming his belly with a blanket of chocolate-marshmallow liquid.

         “When did you go and get so bold, woman?”

         “Took a few classes from you, Mr. Shogun. Which wasn’t all that long ago, if you think about.”

         “Six years. Yea, not too long. But they were pretty crazy days, huh? Nice to not deal with a bunch of monsters for today…”

         “Indeed.”

         Her lips leaned into his, tongues tasting their lattes on each other slowly. The warmth of the drinks only fueled the warmth in the booth.

         Conversations of past adventures went back and forth with Yoshi and Kurohime. Many of them fond as well as those frowned-upon, brushes with danger many and times of rest few.

         “Still can’t believe we lived through all that mess. And the world is back to normal. More or less normal for New York, anyway.” Yoshi said.

         “Yes. Never imagined that I’d be trapped in the Otherworld on this same day too.”

         “Don’t remind me. Still hate that you had to stay there with them…”

         His gaze peered outside at the setting sun, the intense stare in him that gave off his look. It was a silent stare, but there was more noise in it, Kurohime knew. The resentment in his eyes said it all, that moment still fresh in his mind.

         She was a kitten, her head curling into his shoulder. A reminder that she survived, that she was here with him. That he got her out of that place once and for all. His stare softened, looking to her.

         Kurohime eyed many of the other couples, some getting refuge from the cool autumn air. It was something she liked to see, reminding her of her early days with Yoshi. It was what they became without knowing it. So effortless.

         Yoshi’s latte started to get lower and lower. Only one of the cookies disappeared from them both. Reaching for one more, he eyed her. She gave him that kitten look.

         “Relax, hun. I was gonna give you one. Lil’ monster.”

         She looked at him, smiling before taking a bite of the cookie. Taking the last half, she dipped it in her drink and fed him. Yoshi admitted it tasted better than before, enjoying the spicy-sweetness of it. Didn’t beat her lips, though.

         I heard that. Her voice popped into his head.

         Smiles exchanged between them. The coziness of all this moment, it was everything to the two heroes. The healer and the samurai, hanging up their swords and ninja tools. No monsters to fight, no people that needed saving. No nothing to put and end to this day.

         Obscured by the silver spires of Manhattan, an autumn sunset painted the sky orange and star-speckled darkness following it. The moon poised and ready to take the sun’s shift.

         Nothing was said out loud for Yoshi and Kurohime. No need for words to be said, none that couldn’t be heard by the healer. Silent wishing for the day to not end, remembering all that happened six years ago. From being humble heroes to big heroes. Still hard to believe they survived through so much.

         For Kurohime and especially for Yoshi, peace was something that they earned. And something more that they never asked for. But it happened anyway. No complaints.

         Guess we should be getting’ back to the guild, huh?

         Yes. You know how they tend to worry when we’re out for too long.

         I do… still don’t feel like goin’ back though. Haven’t we done enough for them?

         I know. Being heroes like we are, very rare we get much time to ourselves these days.

         They looked down at their lattes, warmth still in the mugs.

         So, would it be so much for us to just spend what little time we have left today to just enjoy each other? All the craziness we went through and just enjoy now?

         Nah… wouldn’t be.

         The wanting for the day to go on flowed in his calloused grip. His chi, though steadied, had always been chaotic. It was something she counted on, in many ways. When he got her from the Otherworld, this energy cut through as many monsters, oni, and creatures that meant her and him harm. Only four years ago, they fell on this day, too. Even if it was against orders, Yoshi did it all.

          It was something she would remember forever.

         Ahh, forget it.

         “Waitress, ma’am? Excuse us, but could we a refresh on our drinks at all?” Kurohime asked.

         “Oh, of course, ma’am!”

         Yoshi’s eyebrow rose as he looked to Kurohime. Her grin mirrored his wolfish one.

         What are you doing? I thought we were going back and--

         Her finger crossed his lips.

         Like I said: forget it.

         Little claps came her as their same drinks came back, refreshed and warmer than before. Yoshi shook his head, smiling at her.

         I really ought to set better examples…

         Maybe later. For now, let’s enjoy more of our time.

         Warmth returned and autumn bliss came back, a respite from the cold world outside Yoshi and Kurohime. The fire stayed alight with their sweetness and spiciness.