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amadiasishere · 1 year ago

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oh wow.. i’m honestly a bit lost for words. it’s such a beautiful thing to read into people’s work, especially if it’s their first, and see complete raw talent. you have such a gift for this.

your prose flows so naturally, and the way you describe lighting, actions, and settings, all give the impression that we could very well be there watching higuruma and kusakabe’s dynamic play out. it’s such a sweet sort of cocoon you’ve developed - the whole thing feels very warm and nurturing, exactly how kusakabe is when taking care of higuruma and chastising him for not taking his own self in stride.

i love the way you’ve characterised both of them. the possibility that kusakabe had felt the same way, a foil of higuruma, but that dreadfully good pining and unknowingness and ‘what-ifs’ kept them both strung along makes this such an eager read. i think it’s so nice to see both of them, normally in such a tragic setting, be able to feel so strongly and love each other without fear. here, they can share in each other, and nothing can hurt them.

i just love the little things you’ve put in too - the arrangement of sunflowers, the way kusakabe picked up on all kinds of tidbits so he knows higuruma is around such as the chip in his heel, the fact that higuruma had accepted his coat despite protesting because he knows that is what is in kusakabe’s nature, to protect and nurture. you’ve massively outdone yourself. the whole thing is so sweet and syrupy, and will be re read so many times.

it’s an honour to know and be friends with you. you are incredibly talented with an amazing eye for detail, and you should be as proud of this being your first full work as i am of you ♥️

KusaHigu : Can't Sleep

By @kusakabesimp

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Hiromi has been struggling to get a good night's sleep for weeks. He'd like to say it's the thought of the upcoming fight with Sukuna that's gnawing at him, but that's a lie. Every night, he lies awake, staring at the ceiling, before he eventually ends up roaming the empty halls of the building. He listens for it. The rhythmic click-clack of Kusakabe's wooden training mannequin, being struck time and time again. Hiromi is drawn to it like a moth to a flame. It's a familiar and comforting sound, a lullaby that helps soothe the heartache he feels for the man he's watching.

Kusakabe always stands with his back to the door, his focus directed entirely on the mannequin in front of him. Hiromi studies the graceful movements of his hands and wonders how they would feel on his skin. What's going through Kusakabe's mind? Is he just having trouble sleeping, or like Hiromi, is he also trying to figure out how to address the growing attraction between them? It's like this night after night; Hiromi watches from a safe distance, trying to come up with the words to express his feelings, to tell Kusakabe how much he means to him. But no matter how hard he tries, the words simply refuse to come out.

He always retreats back to his room, spending hours obsessing over what he could have said, replaying different scenarios, and crafting confessions that he'll never say out loud. But what about Kusakabe, he wonders? Does he also lie awake at night, consumed by the same thoughts and emotions, practicing what he'll say with the same conviction he practices his martial arts? It's ironic, Hiromi thinks, a lawyer and a samurai, bound by the same codes of truth and honor, incapable of being honest with each other.

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Tonight, the dojo is deserted. There's no lullaby, only the sound of Hiromi's footsteps echoing off the walls. Feeling restless, he decides to go up to the roof, a place he rarely visits but now feels drawn to for some reason. As he pushes open the door, the cool autumn breeze hits his face, and he shivers involuntarily. Looking out, he can see the city lights in the distance, but his attention is immediately drawn to something else that takes his breath away. Kusakabe sits against a wall on the other side of the roof, with his head buried in a book.

As Hiromi takes a cautious step forward, he hears a familiar deep voice call out. "Can't sleep?" Before he can ask how Kusakabe knows it's him, he's offered an explanation: "The heel on your left shoe has a chip in it. It makes a distinct scratching sound when you walk." He looks up from his book and motions with his head for Hiromi to join him and watches as he settles down next to him against the wall.

"You can't sleep either?" Hiromi asks, trying to hide the nervousness in his voice. Kusakabe shakes his head. "I've had a lot on my mind lately. The weather's cooler tonight, and I thought it'd be nice for us to get out and enjoy it." A sudden rush of warmth rushes through Hiromi's body. Did he say...."us"? Does Kusakabe know he'd been visiting him every night, that he was deliberately seeking him out? The tension between them is almost palpable, and they sit there in silence for a few minutes; the only sound the rustling of pages as Kusakabe goes back to reading.

A sudden burst of cool wind rushes by, and despite the sweltering heat inside him, Hiromi shivers. The sound of a book snapping shut catches his attention, and as he turns to look, he sees Kusakabe shrug his broad shoulders out of his trenchcoat and hold it out for him to take. Hiromi hesitates for a moment, his hand hovering in the air, before waving it nervously and insisting, "No, no, I'm fine." Despite the protest, Kusakabe leans closer, draping the jacket over Hiromi's shoulders with a gentle touch that makes his heart skip a beat. Large hands take their time, brushing against the nape of Hiromi's neck as the collar is adjusted to fit his frame, carefully folding the lapels over one another in front and making sure every fold is in place. Finally, Kusakabe leans back against the wall, admiring his work with a smile of satisfaction before opening up his book again.

The fabric of the jacket is surprisingly soft, almost velvety to the touch. Hiromi takes a deep breath, and the fragrance of Kusakabe floods his mind with a thousand memories of moments they have yet to share. The rich earthiness of oak moss and cedar: their summer hikes hand in hand through the lush forests near Mt. Haguro. Wet stone: when they were caught in a sudden rainstorm, and Kusakabe pulled him under shelter, kissing him until he was breathless. Sweet orange: the fresh fruit from their garden that Kusakabe slices every morning, the playful chase of lips sweetened by his ever-present lollipop. As the other man's shoulder presses gently against his, Hiromi feels his eyelids begin to droop. And wrapped up in the warmth of the jacket and Kusakabe's comforting presence, he drifts off to sleep.

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Hiromi slowly opens his eyes and sees the sun just starting to climb across the sky. As he looks around, he realizes he's lying across Kusakabe's lap, with the other man still leaning against the wall. One of his strong hands is splayed over Hiromi's chest, while the other one cradles his katana -- Kusakabe's unwavering commitment to protect him ever-active, even when he's asleep. Hiromi's gaze lingers on the weapon for a moment before he looks up at Kusakabe, sleeping soundly, his breathing even and measured. The soft morning sunlight plays off his features, highlighting the chiseled angle of his jawline and the smooth curve of his lips. Hiromi tries to etch every detail into his memory. But he can't shake off the feeling that he might still be dreaming, that any moment now, he'll wake up and realize that Kusakabe was never there. He takes a long, deep breath and shuts his eyes tightly, hoping that when he opens them again, he'll find the other man still holding him close.

"Mornin'," a deep voice from above him calls out, still rough and laced with sleep. He looks up to see Kusakabe with one eye half-open, a slight grin playing at the corners of his mouth. "Sleep good?" Hiromi nods silently, staring up at him before squeaking out a nervous response, "Did you?" Kusakabe leans forward over him, looking him full-on in the face. His amber eyes are flickering with a deep intensity, like a summer storm brewing on the horizon. "Yeah....yeah, I did," he replies, his voice carrying a low heat that makes Hiromi's heart race. The silence between them feels heavy with words left unsaid until Kusakabe speaks again, his voice now soft and reassuring. "You need to rest," he says. "You're going to wear yourself down."

"I'll be fine," Hiromi murmurs. "You don't have to take care of me." Kusakabe gently sweeps aside a few stray curls from Hiromi's forehead, smoothing them down and brushing his thumb along his temple. "You're right," he says. "I don't have to, but I want to. If you can't sleep, just come to me. You'll know where to find me."

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The dojo is empty again tonight, but a faint light peeks out under the door of Kusakabe's room next to it. It's a clear invitation, but Hiromi lingers in the hallway, unsure if he has the courage to accept. He takes a deep breath and knocks softly on the door, his heart pounding in his chest. As the door swings open, Kusakabe scans him head to toe with the same intense gaze as the night before. "Can't sleep?"

Hiromi finds himself struggling to maintain eye contact, his gaze wandering nervously around the room behind. It's beautifully simple; a small table is tucked into a corner, stacked high with books and papers, with a small ikebana arrangement of sunflowers nestled in the center. A single bed, neatly made with two pillows, occupies the other. One has Kusakabe's open book, while the other holds his trench coat, carefully folded. The room seems to whisper I've been waiting for you. Kusakabe smiles and extends his hand, inviting Hiromi to take it. "Neither can I." After a brief moment of hesitation, Hiromi crosses the threshold, taking Kusakabe's hand and closing the door softly behind him.

Author's note: This is my first time writing anything lengthy, but this pairing has now consumed my life, so I wanted to try. Thank you to everyone who has liked and/or supported my other works, and to all the amazing people in the KusaHigu community who inspire me to keep going.

Image source: Lila17324 on Twitter

#just gorgeous

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amadiasishere · 1 year ago

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i was inspired.. 🥹

thank you @kusakabesimp for being such a wonderful steadfast during my writing, i have never been more ready to put pen to paper in my life!!

#jjk #jujutsu kaisen #atsuya kusakabe #hiromi higuruma #kusahigu #miwa kasumi

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amadiasishere · 1 year ago

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ohhh my gosh you are evil 😭 thank you so much for the gift. words can’t explain my gratefulness.

i’m always so amazed by how you write. you develop such a shallow, less written relationship (though i wish kusakabe and miwa were better formatted in the manga) into something very sensitive and beautiful. i can feel the tenderness radiating from this.

kusakabe is a brilliant role model even though he fairs not to give himself credit, and it’s so clear in your writing how much miwa admires and looks up to him. i loved how gentle you made kusakabe. people forget he is a very big hearted and giving person (shown in how he requested for his nephew, whom he lost, to be reput into a cursed puppet for his sister who was grieving over her son), and you portray this perfectly.

kusakabe’s words are so wise! we fight for those we love. i like to think that ending maybe doesn’t have tragic implications (💔) but is instead that kusakabe loves so many people, they would be there forever instead of training! also hope i’m not reading too much into it that miwa may be fighting for kusakabe, too?

blown away as per usual ♥️

Kusakabe Dad HCs Pt 2 - Stronger Than You Think

Source: ponoyon on Pixiv, text by me (@kusakabesimp)

Miwa's frustration boiled over as she flung her bokken to the floor, the clatter echoing through the dojo. "I can't do it! I'm just not strong enough." Her shoulders slumped as she stared down at the wooden sword, her eyes filled with disappointment.

Kusakabe let out a deep sigh and crossed his arms over his chest. "Tch, not strong enough? Well, what's the strongest thing in the universe? The first thing that comes to your mind?" he asked.

Miwa furrowed her brow, her gaze shifting off to the side. She let out a huff of annoyance before responding, "I don't know why you're even asking me that! Everyone knows it's Gojo-san."

Kusakabe shook his head, a small, affectionate smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, yeah, Gojo's one of the most powerful sorcerers out there, but remember that we're not just sorcerers; we're humans too, with the same emotional needs as anyone else," he said, his voice softening. "Love, and caring for the people we love, is just as powerful as wielding a katana. And when we use that to strengthen us when we fight, that's when we become unstoppable."

With a gentle hand, Kusakabe picked up the bokken and placed it back in Miwa's grasp, his hands wrapping around hers as he guided her fingers back to the correct position. "I want you to think about someone you care about. Your little brothers, Itadori-kun, maybe? Before you swing the katana, before you go on to any battlefield, think about them and what they mean to you. If they’re important to you, they're worth fighting for. Draw on that for strength."

Miwa finally lifted her gaze to meet Kusakabe's eyes, her heart heavy with emotion. "And what about you, Sensei? Who do you fight for?"

Kusakabe's rough, calloused hand gently brushed away a solitary tear rolling down Miwa's cheek. A warm smile lit up his face. "Don't worry about me," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "C’mon, let's go again."

This is a gift for @amadiasishere, who requested more Kusakabe girl-dad, and who always inspires me to keep writing.

#wow i love this

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amadiasishere · 1 year ago

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IF NOTHING ELSE you will always do excellently at analysing and depicting kusakabe’s character. i’m MARVELLED!! could not have said things better myself ♥️

In Defense of Kusakabe - Ch 253 and Analysis

We respect Kusakabe Atsuya in this house. I've seen a lot of back-and-forth on this chapter, and I need to defend my King. So, let's get into it!! Author's note: I intended this as a short post, but now it's a 1600-word dissertation, and I'm not even sorry. >_>

The chapter opens with a flashback with the narrator asking jujutsu sorcerers who is the strongest Grade 1. I take everyone at their word here: Mei Mei has praised Kusakabe's skill on multiple occasions, Nanami is known for his strong situational awareness, and Gojo is always brutally honest. They say he's the strongest Grade 1; I believe them.

Kusakabe has a reputation for downplaying his skills. We know he's confident; we've seen him hype himself up during fights, but he's not the type to brag about it. It's worth noting that he uses the masculine and assertive pronoun "ore" when referring to himself, in contrast to Gojo's softer "boku" and Nanami's ultra-polite "watashi." He has the confidence, but he keeps it subtle.

(Also, it's unclear who Usami is, but Atsuya probably knows this sorcerer well since he doesn't use an honorific when he mentions them.)

So, why defend Kusakabe?

There's a lot we don't know about Kusakabe's abilities, and what we do see isn't fully explained.

He blocks Kenjaku's Maximum Uzumaki using a technique from New Shadow Style; however, the technique itself isn't named, and its actual execution isn't shown. Uzumaki caused massive destruction, leaving a wide zone of wreckage and a crater on par with Hollow Purple. Kenjaku wasn't holding back, so blocking his attack would have required a huge amount of strength and cursed energy.

And speaking of Kenjaku, he goes so far as to compliment Kusakabe on his technical skill, saying, "It's nice to face someone with a little know-how." This is a rare moment of praise from someone who considers all sorcerers garbage. This alone speaks volumes.

Simple Domain and the fight with Sukuna: there is a lot to unpack here. Simple Domain has different rules and applications depending on who is casting it and who or what is affected by it. The primary purpose is to neutralize the one-hit effect of Domain Expansions, but Kusakabe isn't using it as a debuff for Malevolent Shrine. Instead, he uses it because he knows Sukuna's Cleave/Dismantle can work outside his DE as a standard Cursed Technique. Kusakabe's Simple Domain is designed to cancel or at least lessen the effects of cursed techniques, making this a perfect application in a hand-to-hand fight to minimize damage or protect an ally. Kusakabe later confirms that getting hit by Cleave or Dismantle at point-blank range is a guaranteed fatality. Yet he didn't die. Even with the protection of Simple Domain, there's something else in play beyond what we're seeing. And considering the versatility of Simple Domain, it's almost guaranteed that Kusakabe can use it in several other ways we don't know about.

Kenjutsu: I've heard people describe Kusakabe as a modern-day samurai, and that's an accurate comparison. Kusakabe is highly skilled in New Shadow Style sword techniques, the style itself based on an actual kenjutsu style known as Shinkage-ryū. So far, we've seen only one of these techniques, Battō. This is an iai sword drawing technique where the katana is coated with additional cursed energy, allowing it to be unsheathed and wielded with lightning-fast speed. I say 'additional' because Kusakabe's blade is always imbued with his energy, but this technique has an extra push. We see the beginning of another iai technique called Yūzuki (Evening Moon), but he's interrupted before he can draw. He seemed excited to use the technique, whatever it was. It's worth noting that both of these techniques parallel the Shinkage-ryū school emphasis on using low stances to protect the body while simultaneously using the legs to increase speed and power. The goal is to respond to a situation as quickly and efficiently as possible, the philosophy of 'the sword cuts only once.' Killing or cutting with one strike takes extreme precision and skill. Given that he's a master of New Shadow Style, there are definitely other iai techniques we haven't seen yet.

We know he's incredibly fast. In Chapter 246, after Higuruma's Deadly Sentencing fails, Sukuna returns to using Cleave and Dismantle. Despite being on the opposite side of the battlefield, Kusakabe managed to shield Higuruma from the attack. He was already moving in that direction before Sukuna used his cursed technique, but it's still impressive that he outran the fastest attack in JJK while simultaneously expanding the radius of his Simple Domain to include Higuruma.

Soul Exchange CT: In Chapter 222, Yuji and Kusakabe switch bodies/souls. The switch is confirmed both in the dojo and in an aside where Kusakabe expresses his enjoyment of being in a younger body; outside of that, we don't know anything about this technique. It never reappears in the manga, and Gege doesn't explain how it works. Like with Simple Domain, each sorcerer has their own specific rules for how the body and soul interact and how their cursed technique ties into one, the other, or both. It isn't clear if Yuji inherited this technique or learned it, but there's no doubt that he mastered it under Kusakabe's guidance. It's worth considering the possibility he may have even learned it from Kusakabe himself. Gege left this scene intentionally vague and confusing, along with the many times New Shadow Style techniques are described only as "forbidden for outsiders." There are too many unknowns to rule it out.

Other things that work in Kusakabe's favor:

The man KNOWS sorcery. He has extensive knowledge of cursed techniques, domains, and the uses and effects of cursed energy. This was made abundantly clear in the Sukuna vs Gojo fight, where he helped explain what was going on (because, let's be honest, even we weren't sure what was happening). Kusakabe's working knowledge is invaluable, which is one of the reasons he's a great teacher. Gojo is also an exceptional teacher, but he's on another level altogether and doesn't know the more practical aspects of sorcery that Kusakabe excels in.

He's an excellent tactician. He played a crucial role in pre-planning for the Sukuna fight, creating backup plans for the backup plans. When things went sideways after Gojo's battle, he stepped up, and the other sorcerers followed his lead. He's a valuable source of guidance on and off the battlefield, identifying an opening, hitting strategic cues, and re-directing resources to support allies. He's also demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt plans and strategies on the fly.

So that brings us to the last panel -- where he's staring down at The King of Curses, asking himself if he's willing to fight. A lot of people say no, he won't, and brand Kusakabe as a coward, but I don't follow that train of thought. There is no doubt that he will risk his own life for those he loves, and he has proven that time and time again.

He frees Panda from the isolation cell, and though he claims it's a way to repay Yaga for helping his sister and nephew, it's evident from other moments in the series that he holds a deep affection for Panda that extends beyond mere obligation.

A man who refused to enter platform BF5 for fear of encountering a special-grade curse later jumps in front of a special-grade technique cast by a special-grade sorcerer to protect Miwa.

On multiple occasions, he tells Higuruma that he will do everything in his power to protect him, even if it means giving up his own life. He doesn't hesitate to jump in when he sees Higuruma struggling to keep up with Sukuna in hand-to-hand combat, shielding him with Simple Domain. He also sends Yuji to support Higuruma when he cannot do so himself.

Everyone seems to be forgetting that Kusakabe chose to be there; he's already been fighting, and he's still there. He made it clear that only those with RCT, those who wanted to die or didn't mind dying, should be the only ones going to confront Sukuna. Some sorcerers didn't go, but Kusakabe did. When he isn't supporting others on the battlefield, he's leading the teams on the sidelines, adjusting strategies and coordinating the next round of attacks. He wants to be there; otherwise, he would have left long before things reached this point.

There is no way of knowing if Kusakabe will win; I've given up trying to figure out how Gege's mind works. But I know he will fight.

Need further proof? Let's zoom in on that last panel.

When drawing a katana, the sheath is positioned at an angle across the body, and the tsuba (handguard) is aligned with the center of the body. The sword is released from the sheath by pushing up on the tsuba with the non-draw hand and pulling it up and out with the draw hand. The index finger is relaxed until the sword reaches a point where it can be rotated for the cut.

Even as Kusakabe thinks, "Is this really happening?" he's already decided to fight and is drawing his blade.

Whatever happens, we respect Kusakabe Atsuya in this house.

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