#Engraved Sakura memories

[vinomino]

Worming your way into his bed his heart

Featuring: Sakura Haruka x f!Reader

Warnings: none…sfw

WC: 700

Entering Sakura’s apartment, you heard the shower running. Deciding to just wait for him to come out, you sit down on his mattress. One that you nagged him to buy after he starting complaining of a sore back.

Puffing up the newly bought pillows, you slipped them into some pillowcases and placed them on the bed. “Oh, Sakura!” You noticed he stepped into the room.

He stares at you for a moment.

You take this moment to engrave what he looks like shirtless into your memory as much as possible. Muscles hardened and tones from the amount of fights he’s been through.

“W-W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE—?!” He shouts, covering himself up with his arms. His entire torso was red.

“Mmm? You look even cuter shirtless!” You snicker, making him toss the towel at your face.

Sakura now has a T-shirt on and is crouched in the corner, staring at you. “Why’re you so far away, come here.” Patting the spot next to you. He reluctantly comes closer. “Lookie here, I got some pillows!” You say patting at one of them.

Sakura is holding his breathe, trying to look anywhere else, but you. Which is hard to do when there’s nothing in the room.

You’re wearing shorts, your thighs look so smooth and plush— wait are those sleeping shorts. Is that a tank top underneath your flannel—

He can faintly see the outlines of your— through the thin gray tank top. Wait…you’re not wearing one of those bra-ma-jiggys—

Sakura slaps his hand over his mouth, dropping his head to stare into the tatami mat at his feet. So much blood was rushing to his head causing his hearing to deafen.

“Sakura…Sakura!” You tap his shoulder. He turns to look at you, breath hitching when he sees how close your face is to his. He scrambles back, “W-Wha—BUT WHY’RE YOU HERE?!” Pointing a finger at you.

You tilt your head, “You said I could spend the night…?”

Oh right— he responded to your text saying fine, but he didn’t expect “can I come over” to mean “can I spend the night with you”. But he can’t bring himself to kick you out.

He should kick you out. How is going to be able to sleep with you beside him? The prettiest and sweetest girl he’s ever met is laying next to him— he tries not to think anymore.

One sheep, two sheep, three sheep…sixty-four sheep….

Nothings working, he just can’t fall asleep. Sakura peeks over at you, you’re staring at him. He jolts, “Why’re you looking at me—“ Trying to shout while whispering is proving to be difficult. However, it’s late and he doesn’t want to bother his neighbors.

“I can’t sleep…and you’re very pretty Sakura.” You mumble, just loud enough so he can hear.

Pretty? You think he’s pretty? A freak like him? You’re the one who’s pretty— a strange warm feeling is blooming inside his chest. He bites back a whimper.

“I like you…I like you a lot, so I’ll wait for you to say it back.” You stare into his two-toned eyes. Maybe the drowsiness is giving you confidence, but you’re glad you got it off your chest. It felt freeing, freeing enough to lull you asleep.

Are his ears deceiving him? You like him? Were you lying? Is it really okay for him to be liked? Does he like you?

All these questions swarm his head. The way you say his name with that honey voice and the way you playfully tease him. The thought of you doing that to another guy, makes his stomach churn green with envy. He hates the weak and you’re not weak, you’re strong, strong enough to take the first step when he can’t.

Maybe it’s alright for him to allow you to— what if you leave him? No, Umemiya taught him, so did Kaji, and Suo, and Nirei, and Kotoha— everyone in Bofurin taught him— No, he won’t let you go, not without a fight. You’ve wormed your way into his heart and he isn’t going to let you disappear so easily.

You shift in your sleep, curling up under the covers. He finally allows the words to come out of his mouth, “I like you too.”

[meimi-haneoka]

{drabble} I'm here - Akiho/Kaito

Alright, how do you do any of this...😂

I guess what you need to know it's that it is a Akiho x Kaito / YunaAki drabble, it's based on canon (set 3 weeks after the series ended), and it's based on the assumption that, differently from what the ENG translation said in ch. 80, in the JP Sakura affirmed that thanks to his stopped time Kaito wouldn't be hurting more than that...this means that his seizures would continue, just they wouldn't get worse than what we've seen till now.

This is mainly a hurt/comfort drabble, with glimpses of happiness. After all, Akiho is happy with him. And it's mainly a way for me to vent some complex feelings about the finale of Clear Card. I have a Kaito POV on the way (edit: here's the link, go read it after you finished this one!), but it's more difficult to write for him (and, uh, more depressing) so it'll come in the next days.

Easter egg: a line is a direct reference to the lyrics of Anata by Hikaru Utada. 😉

I'm not a native English speaker so forgive me if any line sounds weird!

Finally, I have to thank the "enabler" dandelion-stuff-and-fluff (not tagging in case you don't want to!) for giving immediately support to my whims! 😂

Excerpt:

I could feel the tears emerging, but I kicked all of them back, as I threw my 13-year-old self out of the window and summoned the part of me that helped me survive all these years. The resilient one.

Akiho's POV 

Three weeks had passed by, from that fateful night. 

Most of our stuff was packed, and our days were spent between checking everything for the imminent departure and hanging out with Sakura-san and the rest of the group, making the most out of the remaining time. Everyone was so lovely to us, showing all the support we needed. I really felt like I had acquired a family in Tomoeda, and the thought of it made me incredibly happy.  I was going to miss them so much. Just like I would miss this big mansion full of memories.... and mysterious protective forces, apparently, as I was told by him. 

Kaito-san revealed to me that when we came to Tomoeda almost one year prior, he had chosen this mansion specifically to protect me, as I was carrying a dangerous magical artifact that my own clan had engraved in me.  We talked quite a lot over the span of those three weeks, and swallowing the truth had been hard, at first.  But all of that was gone now and like waking up from a nightmare, the memories of it were getting more and more hazy as time went on. Only a permanent scar remained. 

Both of us were in the kitchen, cooking dinner. The clang of kitchen utensils, the sizzle in the frying pan made me strangely happy. It sounded warm. It sounded normal. I love cooking with him. This was the corner of the house where we declared to each other how much we cherished one another, without even fully realizing it. 

“Akiho-san, could you hand me the salt?”  “Here you go!” I said, smiling brightly at him.  He smiled back at me in that soft way that made my knees weak.  God, please, give me this for the rest of my life. Every day, immutably. 

“Done! We’re ready.”  Removing our aprons, we were getting ready to bring everything to the table. 

And then I saw it.  

He stopped in his tracks, his complexion paling by the second. 

Another one was coming.   My blood ran cold, and I rushed to the other side of the room, while he slowly crouched to the ground, out of breath, groaning in pain.   Each cry stabbed me in the chest like a knife. I could feel the tears emerging, but I kicked all of them back, as I threw my 13-year-old self out of the window and summoned the part of me that helped me survive all these years. The resilient one.   I hastily opened a cabinet and took out a finely decorated small box, toppling other items in the process. I didn't care.   Hiiragizawa-san had sent us, through a magic portal, a series of pills he made weaving a complex magic spell over them, to help Kaito-san cope with the seizures. He said they wouldn't do any miracle, but hopefully they could reduce the duration of the seizures and ease the pain a little bit. Cause the pain he was experiencing wasn’t caused by anything ordinary, and no ordinary medicine would’ve been effective. 

I grabbed a towel, flung it over my shoulder and ran back to Kaito-san with a glass of water, spilling some of it in the process. I watched him as he struggled to swallow both the pill and the water. 

How many times did he experience this excruciating pain, completely alone?   How many times did he force himself to not crumble down in front of me, to protect my peace of mind? Just thinking back to all the times I could feel something was not right, and how he tried to deceive me to keep dealing with it all alone.... it brought back in me an anger I didn't know what to do with.  

Yes, I didn't get over it yet. The wound was still so fresh.  But we agreed that we would’ve dealt with this together, from now on.  ...And just like that, the fit of anger quickly vanished, as a gentle feeling got a hold of me, and I began unbuttoning the collar of his shirt to let him breath better, then dabbing his damp forehead with the towel.   "It's okay.... it's okay... I'm here" I whispered softly, like a lullaby. 

As if surrendering himself to me, he held onto my arms and leaned over, trying to regain control of his breathing. I supported him, thanking in my head a hundred times that his time was halted. Yes, we were trying to look for a way to eventually make it flow again, but it was in moments like these that I remembered how numbing the fear to lose him again was.   I couldn't live with that. With that feeling of hollowness. Not again. 

That's why, I said to myself, this time I would've done anything in my power to not lose him, come what may. I wouldn't have spared any effort. Losing him would’ve been a hundred times more devastating than the pain I was feeling in that moment, seeing him in those conditions. After all, he was feeling like that because of me.  

“Momo...please give me strength”, I thought, missing my beloved bunny more than ever. Who knows how many times she had witnessed all of that, and how she dealt with it. I could’ve used some advice in that moment. 

His ragged breath became more regular, the pill was starting to kick in. He raised his head and looked at me.   Those eyes I loved so much, now covered by a mysterious dark fog - a remnant of the dragon appearance, as they explained to me – seemed to regain finally focus.  His face was so close to mine. In another situation, in another more oblivious period, there’s no doubt my heart would've exploded from embarrassment, red in the face like a tomato. But right now, I was preoccupied with something completely different, as I looked at him holding nothing but worry and sadness in my eyes. 

"I'm sorry...", he whispered. 

I could feel my heart catching fire, and it reminded how much I love him, despite being so hurt by his reckless behavior.  But I didn't answer to his apology. Cause that wasn't what I wanted to hear from him.

Instead, I asked him “can you stand up?” and helped propping him up when he nodded. We proceeded slowly towards the couch in the living room, where I helped him lying down. Despite having tons of lovely memories here, this house was starting to be a bit too big for us and for emergencies of this kind.  Hiiragizawa-san's pills had a sedative that inevitably caused Kaito-san to fall asleep, to recuperate. He looked so exhausted.  I arranged some cushions on the ground and sat down beside the couch, watching him closing his eyes and drifting quickly into sleep. I moved some of his hair to the side and dabbed the towel over his forehead one more time.   Then I went back to stare at his peaceful face, lost in thought. Was I truly prepared for this, when I decided that the life I wanted was this one? Probably not.  Would I have chosen anything else? Absolutely not.  Being with him is my happiness, after all.

[protect-namine]

I put up a poll on which events will likely happen first in genshin and someone actually said that we'll get venti's second story quest before exploring natlan, and I'm like. oh buddy. I soooo badly want that to happen, but at this point I think the fatui will gather all the gnosis before we even get that story quest lmao

for context: the fatui has all the gnosis except natlan's (presumably). the archons' second story quest usually introduces interesting Fundamental™ lore and a new weekly boss. zhongli introduced the idea of erosion and traveler being a witness; ei showed chaotic spacetime dimensions and just... the weird flow of time using the sakura tree, nahida and apep gave us dragon lore and the idea of memories being convertible to energy.

I guess it's up in the air what fontaine's will be. 'cause from what I understand, technicallyyyy... there is no hydro archon anymore. the divine seat was destroyed so the authority is back with the hydro dragon sovereign instead (the gnosis is more like an elemental amplifier, but it's not really the source of elemental "authority"). so I guess it could be neuvillette's second story quest that will introduce something new, but it could also still be furina's. idk.

anyway. so like. regardless when venti's second story quest will appear, what is he gonna reveal this late into the game? it can't be about preserving history through songs, because zhongli already covered erosion and we also already saw in wanderer's interlude quest that fiction may contain more truth than memories and historical records. it can't be about time travel and dimensional pockets (domains) where spacetime is chaotic, because ei already showed us that (plus... everything that happened in that interlude quest with xiao and yelan).

so, this late into the game, what information is he gatekeeping from us that we can't discover through others? natlan will probably drop more dragon lore, so that can't be it. alchemy is albedo and rhinedottir's whole thing; astronomy/hydromancy is mona's and barbeloth's; fates and the fake sky might even be wanderer's, 'cause I guess his vahumana thesis is gonna be his future story quest and he introduced the idea of the sky being fake. or, I guess nicole's too. structure of teyvat might be alice's thing (since she takes care of teyvat's borders). dainsleif always reveals new khaenri'ah and abyss order lore. surlatogi and skirk probably covers the abyss stuff.

so that leaves us with... descenders and celestia? omg can venti give us descender lore pleaseeee I think he should actually be the one to clear that up for us, especially since it's possible he was the one that summoned the twins to teyvat in the first place. but I guess celestia would work too. the statue of barbatos is engraved with "gateway of celestia" after all.

[tsukuyomii45]

Obito brainrot?? Now we're talking

One thing that I dislike about his character arc is that he died

Not only because I like him, really, but because dying means he refused reality in some way AND got no real consequences over his actions

He went to heaven(?) with Rin, the person he loved the most in all his life, and she doesn't hate him (I still think Rin is more merciful than God) after all he had done

Isn't his character supposed to accept reality and face the fact his actions do have consequences?

*runs hand over hair* *fixes tie* *places briefcase on the counsel table*

"Obito's criminal defense attorney, presiding."

~~

*clears throat*

Hello, anon.

Before I begin talking about Obito, I want you to look at this post here because it addresses WHY Rin forgave him and never hated him in the afterlife after all he's done.

Just give it a quick read and it should provide some proper understanding in regards to Obito's character and the way she feels about him.

~~

Now then, let's talk about Obito:

Anon, we shouldn't forget that Obito was going to die either way, regardless of whether he gets to suffer consequences or not. As soon as the husk of Juubi was extracted, he was bound to die one way or another. He was going to remain paralyzed and in a permanent coma if it weren't for Naruto healing him with his newfound powers from the Sage of the Six Paths. But even with that, he was still going to die. His time was very short and he had to make the most out of it.

*picks up paper* Tackling your allegation that Obito has "refused reality in some way and got no consequences" by dying - I would like to say that this is untrue because Obito in fact, REMARKABLY LOST to the reality of the world he very much tried to destroy.

He would've escaped reality and suffered 0 consequences if his plans actually worked. But no, he ended up getting defeated.

Also, here are the following consequences that he suffered for being a criminal: -He's hated by the rest of the world, and the only people that respect and appreciate his efforts, and know of his efforts, are Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Sakura. They're the only witnesses to his attempt in redeeming himself. Everyone else was stuck inside their eternal dreams and they failed to see Obito awaken and choose to fight alongside Naruto and save the world. They failed to see that he's the one that betrayed Madara again and saved Naruto's life.

-He lived the life of a war criminal with a costly ambition, and achieved nothing. I mean, come on, anon. Seriously, who would want to spend 20 years of their life plotting, controlling, killing, sacrificing - all for the sake of what they think is "the greater good", only to end up being played like a puppet? He was 31 years old, and he achieved nothing because he was manipulated from the start. Even if he did survive, he doesn't even get to be the Hokage. He's simply a lost cause. Isn't that a fitting end for a criminal like him?

-No legacy. Obito left nothing behind but a trail of corpses and traumatizing memories. The only ones who did get to see his good side towards the end are Team 7. But he didn't leave anything behind for the future generation to live by; all he did was play a role in saving the world by sacrificing himself to save his old friend and ensure that Naruto would be the one to carry on his lost dream.

I'd also like to note that the way he died was pretty fucked up. He didn't get to be buried. Like, he didn't even fucking die in the land he was born in the entire time - he only has his name engraved on a big stone (after Kannabi), and he died in a whole other dimension; the same dimension that Kaguya was sealed in. Seriously, even his death was just depressing - he crumbled into fucking ash. And just as he was disintegrating, Black Zetsu was literally slandering the shit out of him (I found it hard to watch because damn), and even after he crumbled, he was still getting slandered.

Sure, he wasn't getting called out by the alliance (they actually wanted him executed after he got the Juubi extracted from him), but still - imagine just getting called names right before you're about to turn into ash... like it's just so fucked up. His entire character is just so tragic and depressing.

Lastly, to address your question - he did accept reality. He told Naruto that there will be more suffering on the way. He literally lost to the real world - and his death is an acceptance of that. He too, admitted that his fucked up death is fitting for the criminal that he is.

So no anon, he did not refuse reality - he embraced it.

Thank you.

Next case!

[lilover131]

Chapter 68 Analysis

It’s new chapter time!! And boy, was this a good one! I haven’t been this excited about the next chapter in quite some time, but that’s how you know for sure that we’re definitely in the climax of the story!

Also, this gif totally was my vibe while reading this chapter. 

Without further ado, let’s delve in! 

Call it Tsubasa PTSD if you wish, but seeing a absolutely adorable color page always has me worried that something bad is about to happen. Lmao! CLAMP has a tendency to give us these really heart warming pictures before crushing our hearts, but I’m going to have faith that there is a different meaning here. Perhaps this is to remind us of Syaoran’s promise to not let Sakura become unhappy. Or perhaps it is also a reminder of what Sakura said when she made the new Mirror card. She said she wished she could look in the mirror and see herself the way everyone else does. And in a way, Syaoran becomes her mirror in this chapter, but I’ll delve into that a bit more further into this analysis.

 The chapter starts off very similarly to the ending of chapter 50 where Momo narrates and asks what happiness is to her, and how it is that she can always believe everything will be all right even during times of hardship. ‘Alice’ comes to on a gondola-like boat moving down a calm stream between two huuuuuuge shelves containing thousands of books (I wish I had a library like that). I love CLAMP’s landscape designs once again, but the incorporation of the trees is quite nice here. It gives the vibe that this library is not just full of books but is alive.

The Red Queen asks ‘Alice’ whose voice she heard and asked if it was something important. Something flashes across her face that indicates that perhaps for a moment, a brief moment, Sakura is starting to remember who she is. The smile in particular feels much more like herself than the character of ‘Alice’. And it seems practically confirmed that she did have a brief glimpse of self recognition based on ‘Mr. Cat’/Kaito’s brooding expression and clenched fists. Lol!

 Kaito seems most displeased and doesn’t hesitate to let Momo know he doesn’t appreciate it by asking her not to give Sakura any more hints. He also reminds her that she’s supposed to not assist the characters in the book. Momo explains that it’s ‘narration’ she’s helping move things along by facilitating and not assisting in any way. Lol. Kaito gives his usual smile at her scolding, which is so weird on Syaoran’s face, and I feel this is his way of covering up how irritated he actually is by this. Hahahaha. He lets Momo know he’s still not particularly happy about it, but decides to let it go for now so they can continue following them.

 ‘Alice’ comments on all the books surrounding them, and the Red Queen states that books are incredibly important in this land, and that they have always been there for her. As we know, it was shown many many chapters ago (our first glimpse of Akiho’s past) how she had no friends as a child, and books were her only friends, so it seems almost like a flash of the real Akiho here. She’s still in there, though not out quite yet.

 However, these books in this library are no ordinary books. The Red Queen explains that each book holds a person’s memories and serves as a record. They contain a person’s feelings, hopes, and even the magic they created. I am totally creeped out by this because we know Akiho’s Clan (aka the Squid Clan or Asshats), performed a spell on Akiho so that she would absorb the contents of all grimoires that pass before her and engrave them on her very soul. She is an artifact meant to absorb magic, so all of these books….are potentially magic and memories she’s stolen (unconsciously I’m sure) from people. And that’s absolutely horrifying to think about. I figured she had absorbed a lot of magic from people, but that is way more than I ever imagined, so it’s no wonder why she’s so close to breaking!

 This also brings another theory to mind. Since we know they are in the Alice in Clockland book, I find this fascinating how when Akiho tried to absorb Sakura before in the pool chapter, it was pages of a book that sprung from her feet to capture her to ‘bring her magic inside the book’. And now that we know what else the Alice in Clockland book contains (memories), this leads me to believe that the book isn’t just something that Akiho owns, but is a reflection of her own soul. And currently, it is writing Sakura’s story within it to ‘record’ it too (this is a theory, so I’m not stating anything definitively here).  This might explain why Akiho can read the book when no one else can, why she dreams of the stories within its pages, why Kaito seems to be so invested in Sakura’s life and history, and even why Momo said before that they were synchronizing. What if Sakura’s story and magic are being written inside of the book that is Akiho’s soul? The one that was considered a ‘blank book’ by her clan before. What if they actually turned her soul into a book so it could literally be written upon?

Sakura seems confused by the name of the book, as she still is recognizing herself as ‘Alice’ and asks Akiho if she is the Red Queen. She states she does not remember who she was before she came to Clockland, but that she remembers she had a very special person and that ‘Alice’ has a name more befitting of who she is. The Red Queen begins to lift her veil, and it seems in that moment that she has returned to being Akiho and is bringing Sakura back to remembering her own self. @meimi-haneoka​ also mentions in the Japanese version that the font changes in her speech, which collaborates with Akiho coming back to herself (strong girl!).

 However, it seems it wasn’t needed as Syaoran comes to the rescue, shouting her name loudly and cutting through the world to get to her (I love how the cuts reveal book pages. Guess Syaoran skipped a few chapters. Hahaha). Kaito is quick to respond to this interruption and he applauds him for managing to not get kicked out of the world by the trickery he pulled earlier using Mirror. He states that only one cat can be here right now, and he lunges forward to try and grab Syaoran. But suddenly, Syaoran seems to vanish in his grip and the light left behind zooms behind Kaito to..Syaoran? That’s right everyone, Syaoran fooled Kaito using Mirror, and I am absolutely living for it. Like, I am so proud of my boy, I can’t even. What a freaking 1000 IQ move.

Sakura calls out his name, indicating she is fully herself now, and Syaoran apologizes for his late appearance (not that he needed to, since he totally made up for everything in that moment). Sakura shakes her head and gets emotional (man, I would too) about how she couldn’t remember who she was until he called her name (which is exactly why Kaito wanted him to stay away!). Syaoran continues being cool af by telling her that she will only ever be Sakura to him and no one else, which seems to reassure Sakura that everything will be okay. It’s almost like he was telling her “I will always help you find your way back”.

Kaito returns to his usual form, but potentially not by his own doing? He states that Syaoran didn’t just retrieve the Sakura card version of Mirror, but that he also dispelled the illusion created by the new Mirror. It’s unclear if Syaoran forced this change on his own or if just happened by default due to Kaito’s ‘attack’ on him. Momo had mentioned before that even the slightest of magic tricks could ruin his disguise, so it’s possible.

 Syaoran is looking up at him rather intensely, and Kaito starts to analyze Syaoran again, praising him for a moment at his magical growth, before stating personal details about him. I swear to god, Kaito get so chatty when he’s around Syaoran, and I find it so fascinating to observe. I speak a lot more on this particular subject in my post titled “Syaoran and Kaito Analysis” which you can find here.  It has definitely been observed by me and others that Kaito particularly likes to bring up details about Syaoran’s life to him, and it’s unclear exactly why he does this, but it’s entirely different from how he interacts with other people, and I love it.

 Technically, he mentioned Syaoran’s mother and her divination skills once before, but since time was turned back the last time they fought, Syaoran actually doesn’t remember this conversation, so it is a bit of a repeat now. However, he does actually say something not entirely confirmed before but now is. He confirms for us that Akiho’s clan (the Asshats) takes particular interest in the Li clan and despises them due to their connections to Clow Reed. Now, this was implied before in Akiho’s first backstory chapter where the clan was ranting about Syaoran’s birth and how they felt they were being beat by the Li Clan due to Akiho being the only child of the same age and having no magic of her own. It was very likely this anger over Syaoran is what stirred them to do what they did to Akiho, but having Kaito confirm this just gives it another creepy factor. I mean, in a nutshell he just told Syaoran “I know this information about you because this magical family who hates your family stalks the ever living shit out of you”. Being “famous” to a clan that hates you is not a good thing at all. Not good indeed….

 But Kaito doesn’t say much more and flashes his pocket watch, claiming that Syaoran cannot stay here. His pocket watch looks more broken than ever, a metaphor for his life, and it really seems he doesn’t have much time left. Syaoran, not sure of what is coming, uses Mirror to copy Flight, and OMG THE RESULTS ARE SO FREAKING COOL. SYAORAN, WHY ARE YOU SO COOL IN THIS CHAPTER?!! He forms really cool looking wings made of glass, which resemble the glass pieces that stem from the Mirror card’s back, and Flight respectfully goes to both Sakura and Akiho. I was seriously wondering how much Mirror would be able to help him last chapter, but holy moly is he making amazing use of her.

The chapter ends with an intense stare down between the boys and Syaoran making a declaration that he will definitely bring Sakura (and Akiho implied too in the Japanese version) back with him, which obviously goes against Kaito’s master plan. It seems obvious the next chapter is going to include an epic fight between these two again, and I cannot wait!!!

I also cannot forget to mention Akiho’s sudden quietness once Syaoran appears. Her lack of reaction and the fact that CLAMP specifically keeps her face concealed has me incredibly concerned that she’s gone into ‘book-mode’ and that will certainly complicate matters in the next chapter if so. GOD, I’M SO EXCITED.

 Anyways, I’m very much looking forward to the Christmas chapter, and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!!

[oivsyo]

Why I’m still creating for Narutoverse?

The thing is, thanks to one particular thread on Twi, I’ve figured out that I only watched Shippuden until episode 54 in my teenagehood. Now I have watched it selectively up to the end ofc, but I think this  fact is the reason why I didn't give up on Naruto and it still inspires me. I grew up during the best years of Naruto and skipped the downfall of the story, so I mostly have positive memories about the story and characters.

It all started when I was 14? (now I don't remember exactly), and my friends brought me anime titled Naruto on a flash drive, because then I didn't have the Internet yet. They said 'try this, you may like it'

OG and the beginning of Shippuden were very good. VERY GOOD.

OG is generally my favorite part of the story, the characters shone in all their glory and developed very logically. It's no surprise that these characters have made so many people fall in love with them. Also in OG, the tone of the story was completely different. The world was more cruel and gloomy, more realistic. In the first OG arc, there are two ambiguous antagonists who die dramatically in the end. The fights were about taijutsu, weapon and strategy - exactly what you would expect from a ninja story. Yes, even in OG there are many inconsistencies and plot holes, but this story IS fascinating. The Chunin exam arc is still one of my favorite arcs of all Naruto.

The space on the flash drive on which the episodes were brought to me was very small, and I couldn’t watch many episodes in a row. So I have watched many of them over and over again. I remember that before the start of the summer holidays, my friend brought me episodes with Neji VS Kidomaru. I've been tormented for 3 months about not knowing if Neji would survive. With the beginning of the new school year, my friend brought me new series with a sequel, and it turned out to be Shippuden right away.

Shippuden started very cheerfully and confidently. Euphoria that I experienced bc my favorite characters returned was beyond any words. Characters matured, their designs changed. 

Sakura immediately became my goddess because the growth of her character was very much felt compared to all the others. From a useless and annoying crybaby, she became strong, strong-willed, skilled, she became a real kunoichi. I’m sad that her development and training were not shown properly, but even so the impression was very good. It's not an exaggeration to say that Sakura from early  Shippuden, was a role model that I wanted to look up to as a teenager.

In the first arc team Gai was shown. Neji’s redesign won my young heart, probably it‘s Neji to blame that I’ve developed a crush for long haired men. Even though his interactions with Hinata were not shown in the beginning, it felt like he had changed a lot and softened up towards everyone. 

I also really liked Hinata's design, but I remember at that moment I thought - ‘ how could she grow such long hair in such a short period of time? Apparently the Hyuga clan has some special recipes for hair care’. That was one of the reasons why in my AU I decided to make the timeskip longer - 4years instead of 2,5.

I really wanted to see how the grown-up Neji and the more self-confident Hinata interact with each other. I was sure that it would be an arc dedicated to the Hyuga clan and how the two of them, with the help of Naruto ofc, change the clan. Unfortunately, my aspirations were not destined to come true.

Ep 41 where Naruto loses control and hurts Sakura - is a chef's kiss. The fox feels like an absolute evil with which such a sunny and good person like Naruto has to deal with. Aand ofc Naruto wa supposed to loose control bc this evil is too much for  him. Naruto being possessed by the demon and hurting his beloved ones is a theme that I like and I'm very sad that it was wasted.

An intriguing and long-awaited meeting with Sasuke - a moment that is well engraved in my memory as one of the last ones I watched. 

Then I abandoned watching Naruto and anime in general for reasons I can’t remember, but probably it was because of graduating from school. Some years later I heard the news that Hinata confessed to Naruto and that Neji died in the manga, but at that time it didn’t make a big impression on me, firstly, I wasn’t already involved that much, secondly, I had a premonition for a long time that if Neji and Hinata are not supposed to be a couple at the end, then one of them will definitely die - most likely Neji, bc MC needs a girlfriend. So when I found out that Neji died protecting Hinata and Naruto, I just thought "NejiHina is canon and now it’s confirmed". But it didn't become a traumatic dramatic experience for me. I also remember everyone hyping that the Naruto manga was over. I even read the last chapter. I felt a slight sadness at the sight of Hinata at Neji's grave and that story that had a strong influence on me when I was a teenager is over. That was it. I again forgot about Naruto for a very long time.

Two years ago, in a rather difficult period of my life, I experienced an irresistible urge to watch Naruto. And I did it. I had a very mixed impression of what I saw.

Perhaps the last arc that I liked was the arc when Asuma was killed. I liked the villains, I liked the drama of Asuma/Kurenai, of InoShikaCho and Shikamaru’s personal growth. It was good. 

Then I witnessed the degradation of the plot, the characters - of everything. I don't know what was the reason, but the series just got boring. Previously interesting and deep characters have turned into cardboard mannequins. 

The more Shippuden developed, the more villains that “were not villains” appeared. There was no one comparable to Zabuza and Haku or Orochimaru from OG. A breath of fresh air for me was Hidan and Kakuzu, who simply enjoy making a fuss, torturing and killing.

The whole atmosphere of the series has become somehow very sterile and toothless. Naruto as a character became very shallow and at times even annoying for me. Becoming stronger and gaining new powers he at the same time stopped developing as a charater. Probably the only time I liked Naruto in late Shippuden was when Naruto got depressed because of Sasuke in the Land of Iron.  

The fights bacame more spectacular, but were no longer as interesting as in the beginning, now everything has turned into “who has a bigger and stronger technique”. 

Kaguya as a villain is just nothing. She is just a doll, very powerful, but a doll. Moreover, even such a powerful doll was subsequently weakened for the sake of the plot. In general, this "for the sake of the plot" is what characterizes Shippuden, especially the later episodes. The characters do and say what is necessary for the sake of the plot, because of which they feel like fools or cardboard for me. New characters appear to replace the old ones, which are not developed enough, the final battle of the war, where the villains hatch one from the other almost saying "It was me, Dio!" and “I’m stronger than the previous one!”

For example, I know that a lot of people like Madara, but for me he is almost never remembered, just one of war arc villains. Although I can’t deny that the intrigue about him was built up really well. And i like his design.

Akatsuki, who made an impression of a very serious opponent for the characters in the OG and the beginning of Shippuden, in fact turned out to be just an unorganized group of people who weren't so scary. It’s still not very clear for me why many members of the organization are there at all.

Itachi.... He used to be one of my favorite male characters. But the “the truth is that he is a good guy’ seemed far-fetched to me. Probably because it wasn't planned from the beginning so his previous actions contradict a lot with his intentions. Therefore, none of his good intentions forgive his asshole attitude towards Sasuke in OG. The fact that his "ingenious plan" worked is only due to the fact that it was necessary for the plot. To me, he was a very cool protagonist, but trying to make him an anti-hero only ruined him. However, I still think Itachi looks awesome.

I have not much to say about the events after Shippuden. I watched the Last. By the way, over the past year I have watched it as many times as probably no average fan of TL has watched it (I want to redraw some scenes and need to understand the logic of the original plot very well), and my opinion about the movie has changed - for the worse, unfortunatly.

I watched Boruto a bit, 15 episodes or so and I must say that I even liked it. I’m not joking. The characters are quite interesting. The focus is not on the main character (as it was in the beginning of Naruto). I liked that the academy period was shown. Although sometimes what is happening is absurd and too fanservice, Naruto really lacked this. Because of what, it seemed that 1) the OG characters did not learn anything at the academy 2) they did not communicate with each other there all 6? years of the academy, and only after graduation, becoming genin, they began to interact.

In Boruto I especially liked Chocho, she is a beautiful goddess and I kneel before her. This girl rocks with her awesome self-esteem. I also liked Shikadai. 

However, the attitude towards the old characters and the lore of OG and even Shippuden leaves much to be desired there. When I managed to ignore the fact that Boruto is a continuation of the story for more than 500 episodes, then it hass become ok to watch. I think this is the reason for the difference in the perception of the old audience that grew up on OG and Shippuden, and the new fans who watched Boruto first. These are really two different works and it’s very difficult to perceive them together, because in some places they simply contradict each other.

And probably someone will now think - ‘well, since you don’t like everything and you complain so much, why the hell are you staying in this fandom?’ and the answer is actually quite simple - there’re a lot of things in Naruto that I really like and that inspire me. If you want a metaphor, I choose grains from a mountain of husks and this grains inspire me a lot. I have critical thinking and imagination, what’s more important - I don’t know how to love unconditionally and don’t consider this a manifestation of pure love. I see a lot of flaws in Naruto as a story, plot holes, inconsistencies, wasted characters, etc., but I still like Naruto a lot. I prefer to focus not on what I don't like, but on what I like. Such things have a greater weight for me on the scales. And thanks to this approach, I continue to do what I do with great pleasure, it keeps me productive. No, I'm not bothered  that 'it’s not like this in THE CANON!!!’(c), NEJI IS DEAD(c), and even more it doesn't bother me that someone thinks about it and that there are some ppl who don’t like my art. I like the concept of multiverses and for me Narutoverse is kinda Minecraft where you can create different stories and events useing bricks that were given in the canon. And I enjoy doing it. That's all.

What is the conclusion of all this? Well, nothing in particular, I just shared my story about Naruto bc I felt like sharing. The only thing, perhaps, if I continued to watch Naruto back then 1) most likely I would be disappointed and quit watching, the series would leave a bad impression on me and I would hardly draw Naruto after so many years 2) I had been more involved in what was happening, then Hinata's confession and Neji's death would have hurt me more, as well as many other fans who left the fandom after these events. And I just don’t take it that seriously. In general I have a rather chilling attitude to the canon, I just want to have fun and nothing else matters to me. Probably because I didn’t watch the entire series in my youth in my vision of the characters  based on OG and early  Shippuden images of the characters and I use them in my drawings ideas for drawings.

[cherryxxmoon]

– 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭-𝐦𝐞-𝐧𝐨𝐭

Rating: T Fandom: Naruto Relationship: Haruno Sakura/Uchiha Sasuke Characters: Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke Blue. He loved blue. He preferred it to black, although he now wore the latter much more frequently. Even if it didn't seem like it on the surface, Sasuke loved colors, liked to admire them, surround himself with them. Red, pink, green. These were his favorites- Wherever he saw them they reminded him of her, and he smiled spontaneously, wishing he could see her again soon, imagining the expression which would be painted on her face once their eyes met again.

Now there was only blue, intense and vivid. It accompanied him every day on the route he now methodically traveled. The Yamanaka's flower shop, where the blonde at the counter reserved for him the usual sympathetic glance, to which, however, the dark-haired paid little attention.

Strange to say, but by now he no longer even cared about being pitied, about instilling compassion in others. He did not exchange a word with her, leaving the store to walk toward his destination. And there he found himself now, beneath his onyx irises there was only blue.

"Sasuke..." Although he recognized the voice, the dark-haired did not turn around, enraptured by that now sadly familiar tone. He knew he would meet another pitying gaze, blue as well. "You're here again." There was no surprise in the other's tone, only resignation. Naruto bent down to deposit a flower. Pink. A single pink spot in all that blue.

And it didn't jar, it only went to complete a picture with a sad palette, a canvas painted with blue, painted with sorrow.

"Let's go home." But Sasuke did not move, did not react. He continued to see only blue. "You can't be here all the time every day. It's been a year, Sasuke..." 

A year was nothing compared to what awaited him. A life tinged with blue but without the slightest spark of pink, of that cheerful, bright hue which could bright his soul and warm his heart.

"It's my fault." A thought mistakenly voiced. A whisper addressed to himself but to which the blond replied by sighing and bringing a hand to his face.

"It isn't. It was a mission, it could have happened to anyone..."

"But it happened to her." Blue became completely tinged red in his mind. Red with anger. Red with blood. The one she had spilled. "And I wasn't here."

Naruto did not retort, perhaps because he was now resigned, perhaps because he was unable to find the right words, the words that could disprove him, for they did not exist. He was not there and now of her remained an engraved name surrounded by blue.

He looked at her grave, the many flowers towering over it and covering every corner, leaving only the engraving visible. Sakura Haruno. A name, a face and a color etched in his mind and heart, where they would be forever.

It has always been you, only you. And it will always be you.

A promise he would not struggle to keep, for his thoughts, his memories were claimed by pink, even though only blue was now imprinted in his eyes.

[jesseevelann]

Wind rustled through the leaves gently, the warm afternoon sun filtering through the branches and hitting Sakura's fair skin. The river water rushed down stream, splashing at her legs as she sat in silence.

She sat with her eyes shut, listening to the sounds that nature provided. Birds singing and crowing, animals rustling through the bushes, and faint chatter from children exploring the forest for their classes. They never approached the river though, as the current was too harsh and unsafe.

It was routine for her now, meditating in solitude on her birthday. She never celebrated it, outside of her teammates insisting on giving her a gift. Sasuke and Naruto were gone now, one seeking revenge and the other seeking guidance and training.

She had made new friends in their absence of course. Rock Lee was determined to be friends after the exams, even if she didn't reciprocate his crush. After all he had done for her and her team, Sakura agreed to forming that bond without much convincing.

Shikamaru came along about a year later. Once Sakura had become a Chuunin, they were put on missions together and became close working with each other. Sakura remembered the first time Shikamaru saw her truly in action. He didn't think a medical ninja would be able to fight.

The memories brought a small smile to her lips. She wouldn't mind going on another mission with him, but her studies prevented her from leaving the village as often. She'd make up for it with a game of Shogi later.

A sudden presence made Sakura tense. It wasn't familiar to her, not even the scent gave her a hint. She listened closely to the footstep pattern, turning her head to see the Hyūga from Lee's team.

"May I sit?"

Sakura shrugged, he knelt down and joined her side. They sat in silence, watching the river rush. Neji slowly pulled a gift box from his bag and held it out for her. Sakura eyed it suspiciously.

"... Lee told me it was your birthday today."

The box was wrapped in dark red paper, with a ribbon of a lighter hue wrapped around it to keep it shut. She took it in her hands, feeling the weight in it and trying to guess what it was.

More importantly, she wondered why Neji was gifting her something. They hadn't spoken much outside of when she visited Lee at training or on the few missions she had. They hadn't had many real conversations. She looked to him for an answer, studying his expression for some kind of hint.

His pale eyes looked back at her. His irises were large, no semblance of a pupil anywhere. The only colour in his face was the light purple in his iris and the blue-greenish hue of his veins near his eyes.

"What's this for?"

Neji glanced to the box, signalling to open it. Sakura slowly unravelled the ribbon and looked inside. A kunai sat neatly in the box, red silk cushioning the blade. A sakura flower was engraved near the handle.

"You lost quite a few weapons on our mission the other week... I... wanted to thank you for saving my life."

Sakura carefully pulled the knife from the box, the blade shimmered under the sunlight. Her eyes softened.

"I don't normally accept birthday gifts, Hyūga..."

"Then please, do not think of it as a birthday gift... but instead a gift between friends."

Sakura laughed a little, putting the kunai back in it's place. She would never use it, it was too beautiful and endearing to put it at risk of damage, but she would find a good place for it in her home.

"I s'pose I can do that for you, Hyūga."

She held up her fist and smiled. Neji smiled, recognising the gesture from when she and Lee would say their goodbyes. He gently bumped her fist with his own.

"Please... call me Neji."

[bogbees]

Prob never possible but if Kakashi could unlock the damn mangekyou sharingan do u think Iruka dying would be it Like kakairu verse Kakashi ends up trusting Iruka so much and loving him and being…. vulnarble in the connection 10:09 AM · Dec 24, 2017

The poor sod's like "this is fine, I don't need to worry ab him dying, he's a teacher," bc after all the death he's faced from his loved ones, he's scared to open up again and get attached

But whoops Naruto is fantastic at creating bonds and now Kakashi and Iruka are friends and they like each other enough and Naruto is sorta like their son Oh no Kakashi is imaging being domestic with Iruka oh nooo

And it happens! Naruto fucks off with his grandfather figure, the two find themselves still hanging out as much as they did with him in town And then it becomes more than friendship

It's mutual and Iruka grumbles about how it's against everything he stands for, but it's good bc it didn't happen from superficial reasons, and Iruka pulls him in for a kiss under the eaves as the rain torrents

Kakashi is cloud nine and he hasn't been more happier, Iruka accepts him as he is, baggage and all, and he finds more things to love ab Iruka each day he spends with him. He teases keeping it all in the sharigan's memory and Iruka laughs, calling him an idiot

But then Naruto, their pride and joy, returns and life speeds up, no more quiet dates, no more week long sleepovers, everything is rushing forwards at Naruto's own pace

All of a sudden pain us attacking the village and Kakashi is a moment too late to come to Iruka's side, there's a lot of blood but the man claims he's good, and Kakashi has to fight pain now---

It's over and they take a moment to breathe and Iruka isn't here anymore. Naruto takes it the hardest and Kakashi would soldier on and pretend like nothing happened only Naruto calls him out on it

Kakashi sobs, quietly but each shudder he finds it harder to breathe and he pulls off his gross mask and cries himself to sleep

Naruto and Sakura are there in the morning, they found some coffee and think he should drink some Naruto makes a comment how he was sure his first time seeing his face would be walking in on them making out

Kakashi is done crying, there's no more tears to shed, so he makes a sad smile, "he'd probably throw something at you for being rude," And Sakura sniffles, "one of your plants probably" And Kakashi hides his face behind pakun for the rest of the visit

He finds himself musing to his friends how he really should have used the sharingan when he was with Iruka They call him a pervert and Gai just starts crying for him

Gai seems to get the gist of the reasoning for his confession, claims it's profound and beautiful and so cool that he wants to engrave Iruka's memory into his eyelids

Kakashi's pretty sure he'll be on his death bed talking about how Iruka reacted when Kakashi presented him with the most beautiful handwriting ever The best 37 hours and 43 minutes of his life, he'll tell the nurses, "I loved that guy" he'll probably confess too

And it's after this realisation, after this conversation with Gai, and his mental talk with Iruka at the memorial stone ("I'll be on my death bed talking ab how much I loved your dick" "kakashi." "Oh alright, how much I love you") that it happens

And boom He's got the mangekyou now Several weeks after Iruka's death, cause he tried to not be bothered, not to think about how deep Iruka rooted himself into Kakashi's life, bc he's got other things to be at like damn he can't take time off to mourn when there's a war going on

Not sure how this would affect the later events bc there's so much stuff otg and honestly the mangekyou would probably kill him the moment it started, all that poor chakra control

That ends my hour long au rant for today Thank you for coming to Iruka Dies, Devastating Konoha episode 2

[inkspellangel]

Find the Word Tag

I was tagged by both @writingpotato07​ & @theskeletonprior so I’ll do post for both, since I’m a bit behind and all :D

If I don’t have a word I’ll give you a fun fact about my NaNo project(the Strong, the Stray & a Punk). The rest will be from the WIP Keep Me Breathing

Potato: STRAY, SHATTER, HEART, DRIFT, RING Skeleton:  fail, better, blue, guess, and surprise.

I’ll tag @andromedatalksaboutstuff​ @fearofahumanplanet​ @kyofsonder​ @elijahrichardwrites & open tag, as per usual.

Your words are: Hate, Understand, Bridge, Against & People

POTATO Part

Stray

Fun Fact: The “Stray” in the title was unclear for a while. But when I finally figured out who it referred to I actually got a plot out of it.

Shatter

Fun Fact: Rio is a survivor of childhood illness and since Kaleb lost his grandmother in his early teens, he has a hard time letting Rio in, in fear that he would relapse and die on him.

Heart

“I've seen that look enough times to know that it's something.” She wasn't lying. Kaori Leaf had sported that distant emptiness since before she was born. Longing for someone that'll never stand before him again. His heart still not able to accept her death completely. “It doesn't matter if you tell me or not. Just know that I'm here if you need me.”

Drift

Would he be happy if Fuki found him? She'd always been a little worried that he preferred her friend over her. Would this be any different? Would he ask about her or would he simply forget about her?

Something gently stroke the top of her head. From her forehead to her hairline. A soft hand. It couldn't be Casey, since he was at the door and his hands were rough, it had to be Sandr's.

She already wasn't able to keep her eyes open and she soon drifted off to sleep, letting go of the grip she had on Sandr's other hand.

Ring

It was a wire chain, loops had probably been twisted to create a line with a ring at each end, and those loops were linked together to form a chain of maybe 40-50cm. From the middle of the chain hanged a small charm-like plate. It was shaped like a small circle, surrounded on one side of a bean shape and with uneven sticks poking out on the other side. An engraved zigzag pattern lined the inside of the bean shape and the number “5249” was stamped in the middle of the bean.

SKELETON Part:

Fail

She couldn't help but laugh. The smoke must be what made the comparison so fitting. Smoke. The memory of Casey in the forest came back. She probably should thank him for saving her.

Maybe he wasn't that bad after all.

She turned towards the shower, away from Sakura. She was afraid she'd see through her thoughts. “I know, I know!” Her voice didn't fail her. It didn't give her away. It sounded just like it always did. Good. “I'll get to it.”

Better

He turned to her when he heard the bathroom door open and the fear in his eyes took away all thoughts about her eyes. She shifted her gaze between her two friends for a while. What was going on? Hadn’t she seemed better just a few minutes ago?

Blue

He walked past her into the kitchen and she was once again reminded of how tall he was. His eyes were a color between grey and blue, and looked like ice crystals, and she thought the silver chained epaulettes on his suit made him look like a prince. Even more so when he, like now, paired a silver headband with his usual high ponytail. This time however, something seemed off. She couldn't figure out what but it was like he was bothered by something, but at the same time very happy, as well as just his usual formal self.

Guess

“Well 10 or 25 doesn't matter. They'll still get angry if we're late for the lunch. Will they not?”

He quickly let go. “Right! Lunch.”

She handed him a handkerchief. “Well I wouldn't mind not going but I guess that's not an option.”

He dried his tears and was soon back to his usual collected self. “Nope. You're going. If not for mum's sake, do it for Gideon. Because I wouldn't want to be there when he realizes you're not showing.”

Surprise

She looked around before she sat down by a small table and ordered a coffee. She thought about the fraud. “C something was his name?” She thought. This was like that time when we waited for Sakura by the vehicles back at the inn, and she thought that somehow she wouldn't be surprised if him or someone like him would just sit down by her table and start talking to her.

[reginrokkr]

☾ Thoma is taking the moment to place a crescent shape charm in the form of a necklace around the Twilight Sword's neck. Embellished in gold while the charm itself holds a silver crescent similar to the moon, he draws a content smile at the sight before allowing his hand to settle along Dainsleif's shoulder. "While it isn't much, I do hope this empowered charm serves well on your journeys to come. I've had it blessed by the Shrine Maidens to be a ward from malicious energies. Not to mention with a touch of my own will for additional protections." "I believe in your strength, but I'd like to always keep in mind that in one way or another, I intend to walk the path along with you."

■  ■  ■ Crystal clear surprise reflects within icy sapphire depths since the first moment Thoma braved to ask his permission to step closer to him, with the promise that he has something for him. Out of respect to let the suspense and the giddy stirring of his heart with anticipation does Dáinsleif keep his gaze to the front, stilling himself to not let curiosity get the best of him and look to the small item that comes with the necklace. He takes the lingering hand atop his hand as a gesture of conclusion and so he looks downward at long last. Azure irises widen in a subtle manner as he rises a hand to cup gently the golden white crescent moon that lays atop the palm of his hand, soon to soften with fondness for the gesture born from selfless kindness.

For a moment, he wonders about his charm shape choice when he occupied his mind to decide what may suit him best. Does he remind him of a crescent moon? The thought, though tentative, leaves his mind as soon as it entered. No— that would be too flattering to him were that true.

But deep down in his heart, he rejoices at one line of thought: Were he able to be like the moon, shining the way to the lost in the darkness, then his quincentennial life would be for naught.

Platinum blond locks sway gently with the soft shake of his head to the protector’s words in disagreement. ❝Perish the thought. It is more meaningful than you can imagine.❞ His gaze peels off jade irises to look at the charm once again, his cool eyes softening some more the more he thinks about all the thought Thoma must’ve put on this simple gesture, albeit deep in meaning as the vastest sea. ❝...It’s beautiful.❞

So he had it blessed by the shrine maidens at the Grand Narukami Shrine to ward off malicious energies. For all their journeys are worth, he must have noticed certain tendencies in the relevance of his presence in specific places that contain such energy. To think that despite everything he has seen from his capabilities— from fighting to curative ones... even if that would invite the logic that he would not need any blessing, he still insisted that he is protected when his next objectives lead him far from Inazuma.

The onyx gloved hand encapsulates the silver crescent moon in his gentle fist as albescent lashes flutter to a momentary close to feel its energy. The might of pyro is recognizable to its fullest as Thoma’s essence, especially after witnessing a nigh fall for chasing that tempting power were it not for his guiding voice to remain grounded lest he burned himself to completion. Their journey from the far south in Tsurumi Island to the depths of Arami... all of these memories are engraved in this tiny charm alongside the defender’s will within it. ❝Thank you.❞

So that’s what it is. Even in the distance, you want to be with me.

He almost chuckles at his own jest, better kept in his mind rather than offer it as a gentle tease to the man after he has just gifted him something this precious. Cyan eyes open anew in time to see a single electro sakura blossom landing on his strawberry blond hair, and a new line of thought crosses his mind. The corners of his lips lift in a gentle smile as he reaches out his free hand forward. Unbeknownst to Thoma, a nigh invisible sapphire flame illuminates his hand when it is out of the other’s field of vision to touch one of the forehead protector’s horns with the tip of a finger, thus imbuing it with curative, purifying and fortifying might of a lunar aura in the guise of Irminsul ether that, unbeknownst to Dáinsleif himself, was never lost to him even after several centuries. Ultimately, he removes the soft pink blossom— the forehead protector glistening in response to the now encapsulated energy he gifted to him.

❝So long as petals still fall like snow upon this island, we will surely meet again. Our fates shall be forever entwined like those of the sakura bloom.❞

@scarletooyoroi ✦

[randompizzadeliveryguy]

|Engraved Sakura Memories|

[bluexiao]

#you were there until you weren’t

—where they try cope with your death, but they couldn’t

CHARACTERS. Albedo, Childe, Diluc, Gorou, Kaeya, Kazuha, Scaramouche, Thoma, Venti, Xiao, Zhongli

THEMES. pure angst with little to no comfort. was an established relationship.

WARNINGS. mentions of death and being killed. language for scara’s part. major character death. might have VERY slight spoiler for thoma but it’s not really obvious.

can be considered as a part 3 of “An Unfortunate Witness” and “Losing you was like Losing a part of me”

ALBEDO buried himself in his work right after he buried you. Actually, he wasn’t even working the same way as before. Yes, he was conducting his experiments, but he was not the same as before, as both Sucrose and Timaeus could tell. His expressions had never shone as brightly as it did when he was with you that even Klee could not make his smile reach the edge of his eyes. In his mind, with Science, everything is possible. If this work of his would lead him to a fate that would help him see you again, then he’d do anything for that to happen. Anything.

CHILDE smiles and acts like before, but it was quite obvious from his lackeys that he’s easier to anger nowadays. Some would even say he’s slowly becoming a little like Scaramouche at some point. Either way, in the end, he never really did move on from your death. He says he did, but he never will. Within the depths of his soul, the smile that’s on his face and the laugh that he gives are all but a farce, a mask much permanent than his own.

DILUC doesn’t look like it with his cold front, but he blames himself everyday with what had happened. Everyday he loses sleep, and everyday at least once would he utter your name, unconsciously. Before he’d rarely remember basic necessities and always had your help with them, but now all he could remember is you and how different it was when he lost you. No one will remind him now how he should take care of himself, how he should properly sleep at night, or how he should take breaks when handling matters regarding Dawn Winery. No one.

GOROU is the general—was your general. Not anymore. He was praised for his work and leadership, but he could not even protect his own lover who was one of his soldiers—a shame and utter defeat. He cried over your body that day and growled at anyone who dares come near you, but now, there was nothing he could really do. Everyday beneath the raining sky and thundering clouds, he repents. Everyday he tries to tell you he was sorry for not being able to protect you, to offer you Sakura Blooms near your grave, but it seemed… “Not enough,” he hisses, his knees and palms falling onto the ground, head bowed down, unable to look onto the name engraved on the stone—your name. Once again, he apologizes a thousand times, but like the storms in Inazuma, nothing was ever enough.

KAEYA has had nightmares before, but now, he only sees your face. He could barely even call it a nightmare until he wakes up with sweat all over his body, breathing hard, mind still dazed at the memory of your last moment with him. No matter the day, it was always the same dream, same nightmare, same ending. It’s as if the world was telling him that nothing could be changed now, that all of these feelings were all a result of him not confessing to you earlier on. He wouldn’t be regretting now if he had said those three words before, not when you were already gone. He tries his best to hide it, to hide the pain like he does to everything, but everyone knows that the only reason the Chivalry Captain only visits the Angel’s Share is because of you.

KAZUHA still writes haikus for you, even reciting them into the empty wind, hoping it will carry his voice for your spirit to hear it. He had accepted it long ago but deep inside, he held you dearly in his heart, gripped you unlike when he would when you were still alive, when he thought that everything was okay. He was too at ease, and the worse came, just like when it had before. Unknowingly, he closed his heart for anyone else because it was too full of you and his memories with you. He still couldn’t let you go, after all.

SCARAMOUCHE had been antsy. Was he losing his touch? Hell no. He was in the same condition as before, no one could barely tell any difference. That is until one of his lackeys woke up that night and was sneaking for some food, ears catching up onto the wails from the forest, screams that soon followed by a clasp of electro, its light flowing between the trees. SCARAMOUCHE has had sleepless nights, but these days have been far worse than ever. Barely being able to sleep without seeing you being killed in front of him, only to feel his anger rise up even more when he remembers that it was his own that did it. If he could have done anything differently, then maybe… No. He can’t do anything now but to fulfill his duty for the Tsaritsa and let his boring life go on. That’s right. Just like yesterday, he will continue on, even without you. Tomorrow he might act like this, but does he really have any other choice now?

THOMA was hiding in your house when it happened, when everything was stripped away from both you and him, and all was because of him. Your dreams, aspirations, your life… it all ended because-“Don’t blame yourself,” your voice echoes in his mind, and he grieves even more. “Why does it have to be you?” he questions aloud, but only to be met by the stars and the silence of the night. Once again, emptiness envelopes his chest. He was the type to never feel lonely, but he didn’t realize that losing you would make him feel this way.

VENTI was the same. He acted the same, but the difference was; everyone looked at him with pity, and it was more difficult to keep up the facade any longer. Before you came, he knew he was miserable, but after you were gone, it was everyone’s turn to know. Why must they look at him this way? Can’t they see that he’s alright? Can’t they hear him singing happy and sappy songs and can’t they see him interacting with others well… only to end up being entirely closed off as the night progresses; his songs reminding him of you, the sight of Angel’s Share making him recall moments he had with you there, of when you talk to him each and every night. Turns out… he hasn’t moved on after all.

XIAO hears the way you called his name for the very last time; the day when he failed to save you, where he was the reason why this even happened, and it still haunts him till this very day. He never slept because everytime he did, he would only see your face and never want to wake up. He remains composed, and he still acts like usual, but anyone who knew him truly could feel it, could see the way he had been more dismissive and aloof than before, if that was even possible. Even his fellow adeptis could barely talk to him now. They thought it was best to leave him with his business or else it would get worse, but they never knew that his love for you was strong enough for him to handle for the next few years, or maybe a hundred. He already knew love, and it was with you—only you.

The child you left ZHONGLI reminds him of you. It aches his heart, but the child was also his source of joy in moments that he felt so alone. In a world where a god surrendered everything for his mortal lover only to lose the said lover, your child was the only connection that he had with you, and he spends every second of every minute loving, caring and protecting his child. But every day, he still longs for your smile, and every night he longs for your voice whenever you say you love him as he replies the same. He might be a god, but he knew of these feelings because of you, and he owes them to you, as well as he couldn’t help but feel negative with it. This love was worth it, but without you here, was it really?

NOTES. i really feel kind of sad yesterday and today so… why not? Hehehe. this hurts but i really planned on doing this so why not:) plus getting skyward blade and losing my pity for baal’s sig weap was heartbreaking for me so…. enjoy:) hope you brought tissues.

TAGLIST (pls see pinned post). @tartagliaxx @idontevenknow129 @kimbapsana @masterdilucs-c0cksleeve @fukuzawazluvr @albedoeuvre @midnightangelfox @fullyhira @rhythmboo @lolibles @kinekyuroo @niceandspicy @blackberri-jelli @softlybeloved @rheaintheclouds @psycho-nightrose @iheartganyu @colorless-cora @fancystark @touzaa @chichikoi @hutaoscoffins @freedomaboveallelse

[cozymoko]

NARUTO {PART. 2}

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Updated: 5/20/22

Note: Contains letters N-Z

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Part One: Naruto!

I passed the limit for Naruto links so here's a pt.2

NARUTO UZUMAKI

Yandere Naruto

S/o who loves his yandere tendencies

How...fell in love

"Please pay attention to me!"

Hate to Love

S/o who wants a divorce

Oblivious s/o

Spending more time with your friend

"It's all right, just divorce them."

S/o who's obsesses over an Author

"She's way out of your league!"

Divorce

April Fools

Making their s/o cry

S/o gets cheated on

When you wear someone else's scarf

NEJI HYUUGA

Yandere Neji

Yandere Neji w/ a wife and son

Manipulation ‼️

Prompts: Teeth, Scratches, Bath towel

S/o who tries to trick them

OBITO UCHIHA

Being Obito's crush...

Turning you into Rin

S/o who tries to trick them

Confession

PEIN / NAGATO

Dairy

SAI

Spending more time with your friend

SASUKE UCHIHA

S/o who's a heavy sleeper

S/o who likes his yandere tendencies

Yandere Sasuke

S/o death ‼️

Sasuke with kids

Yandere Sasuke with a crush

Yandere Itachi helps Sasuke

Pregnant s/o

S/o escapes; they meet years later ‼️

S/o has Stockholm Syndrome ‼️

Losing your memories

S/o loves their kids more than him

Pregnancy struggles

Breastfeeding

Pregnant

S/o likes Sakura

Busy Sasuke

Peaceful s/o

Punishment

Yandere Alphabet: A, D, G

Smut Alphabet: D, H, J 🔥

Yandere Alphabet: C, F, H

S/o who lost everything

Engraving ‼️

Prompts: Posion, Stickers

Prompts: Knives, Restraints

NSFW Alphabet: E, J, Q, R 🔥

Sour and Sweet

Prompts: Scratches, Gun

Can his darling join Team Taka?

Sick Lover

Playful but strong s/o

Dating Naruto's twin

African American s/o

Promiscuous s/o

Intelligent s/o

Similar to Itachi

Bisexual s/o

Yumeko Jabami like s/o

Smut Alphabet: F, O🔥

If his plan succeeded

Oblivious s/o

Insecure, Chubby s/o

Possessive, spirit s/o

S/o wants a divorce

Trying to be Karin's friend

Hypocrite s/o

Popular s/o

A very close friend

Divorce

April Fools

Making s/o cry

Reader gets cheated on

SHIKAMARU NARA

S/o who tries to trick them and escape

SHISUI UCHIHA

A very dependent s/o ☁️

A s/o with an ugly laugh

SUIGETSU

Yandere Suigetsu

TEAM TAKA

Team Taka

More team Taka

TOBIRAMA SENJU

Yandere Prompts: #19, #38

Pesky Rival

Rebellious s/o

S/o who posses a dragon

[emblemcrowned]

{ tag dump: Sakura }

♔⎜spring comes to your heart ⦗sakura: ic⦘ 

♔⎜the fluttering; scattered cherry blossoms ⦗sakura: self⦘

♔⎜awakens long-forgotten memories ⦗sakura: about⦘

♔⎜only within a distant dream ⦗sakura: headcanon⦘

♔⎜whispered unforgettable words ⦗sakura: musings⦘

♔⎜a calm tone coming into hearing ⦗sakura: melodies⦘

♔⎜the season of white cherry blossoms ⦗sakura: aesthetic⦘

♔⎜even the moon disappeared ⦗verse (sakura): pre!war⦘

♔⎜the flow of this river ⦗verse (sakura): revelation⦘

♔⎜i begin to walk in the lukewarm wind ⦗verse (sakura): birthright⦘

♔⎜the time engraved in me cruelly ⦗verse (sakura): conquest⦘

♔⎜the blowing wind strokes my cheek ⦗verse (sakura): feh⦘

[night-rook]

Only Regret

Word Count: 1,054

Reader Type: Female

Story Type: Jujutsu Kaisen, Historical Japan Timeline (?)

Beware: Angst, one cuss word

Summary: Sorcerers always have something to regret. Even Sukuna.

Key terms: n/a

Rook’s Notes: I just felt the sad wave and this happened. Sukuna is probably- most likely- OOC, but oh well

A deep growl escaped from deep within his chest as the humans gathered around his towering body. Bewildered crimson irises darted in every direction, recognizing the faces that hid beneath each clothed sorcerer. Their gathered cursed energy bound his body to the cold dirt. Unable to move as they drew closer to him, the giant could only clench his fists. His nails digging into the palm of his hands due to the growing frustration. The large curse made a feeble admit of breaking the chains, but the grouped sorcerers’ energy outdid his strength. What else did he expect with the large mass of humans?

Closing his eyes, the man tilted his head up towards the lunar star above. It’s gentle light illuminated around him, painting the griming atmosphere with more serene. A soft night breeze blew through the woods as it glided his floral locks back, like a ghostly hand brushing back the loose strands. 

The little time he had left to roam was spent on having his limbs manacled. As the shaman begin their ritual, Sukuna used the little energy he had to perform a simple technique. His eyes remained closed as he envisioned a small garden around him. 

Bushes of roses, sakurasou, and ume decorated the greenery. The sakura tree was in full bloom as its petals flowed down before the wind carried them away. The fade red petals trailed gently to a small child as they kicked the termari ball up into the air.

The ringing of the bell rang with each kick before they missed and caused the ball to escape from them. Their eyes followed the ball as it stopped at the feet of the floral haired curse. Their eyes widen at the sight of the man before running up to him.

“Daddy! I missed you!” they cheered with the brightest small their tiny face could mastered.

Sukuna kneeled down and wrapped his arms around their small frame, pulling them close to his chest. “Hello, my little one. I missed you, darling.” a dry chuckle slipped through him.

He pulled away slightly to see their youthful appearance. Their messy mop of hair being a blend of his and their mother’s. The innocent glow behind their irises were nothing like his but the color was nearly identical. Healthy skin painted their child body as it was clothed in a kimono similar to his. Sukuna could only smile down at them as they bask the blissful hold of their father.

As he engraved the appearance of his offspring, an audible gasp caught his attention. Looking away from the small being in his arms, Sukuna was greeted by the sight of his lover. Their white kimono is bright compared to the burgundy walls of the shrine, nearly emulating the moon. He reached out a hand to his love. Without hesitation, they went up to him and held onto his hand with a smoothing touch.

Their eyes traced his exposed skin as they picked up on the bruising around his inked wrists. Looking up at him, they knew what was happening almost immediately by simply reading his blood eyes. His iris that held a bloodlust for violence yet warmth with affection towards them, the same eyes held lamentation.

His lover leaned into his touch as he stared into their eyes. He rubbed their cheek as a tear escaped from them.

“Why is mommy crying?” his child tilted their head, puzzled by their mother’s sad expression.

“I’m not..,” His love quickly blinked away the remaining tears as they shook their head, placing their hand over his as he held their cheek, “I’m not crying.”

Sukuna stared at his love a bit more, reminiscing on their beauty once more despite the sorrow they tried to mask. Turning away, he focused his attention to his child. “Can you make me a promise, little one?”

They gleefully nodded and bounced in his arms. He chuckled at their excitement, nearly forgetting the situation he was placed in. He reached one hand up to pat the top of their small head and leaned close so he was in their eye level.

“Promise to always help your mother. Be there for her,” his voice wavered slightly from the pain being inflicted onto him. His physical body getting hacked apart by the wretched sorcerers, yet he kept the manifestation up. “You are going to be Mommy’s guardian-”

“Just like Daddy!” Sukuna nodded as they grinned up at him with pride.

Sukuna leaned in close to them and little bumped his head against theirs. “Yes. Just like Daddy.” a childish giggle rang as his child stared into his eyes.

The king of curse slowly raised up and held up his child, pulling his love closer as he felt her body shake from her deep despondency. The two humans in his arms, the two most precious gems that he was leaving behind were tucked away safely from those dreadful jujutsu bastards.

“My little curse, I want you to know that I love you both. I love you so much.” His hold tightened around them as his manifested body started to flicker in strength. Sukuna knew his time was drawing to a close. “I’ll always look over you. For all eternity..”

He smiled down at his child once more before pressing a tender kiss on their forehead. Their giggle forever repeating in his memory. A little yawn escaped from them as their eyes fluttered closed, accepting the need of sleep.

Sukuna turned his head towards his love and gently tilted her head up. The despair shadowed her eyes as his presence was weakening. He drew close to her and captured her lips in one last kiss, pouring what remained in his still heart to her.

He gently slipped their sleeping child into her arms. The feeling of regret grew within him. Sukuna held his love close to him once more. His arms wrapped around her as tightly as he could, to remember the feeling of their body pressed against his while she held onto their child.

His love watched his manifestation fade into the night. Slowly drifting away from her sight as the moon grew bright around her. Looking up at the starry sky, she let the silent tears fall at the loss of her beloved king. Their child unaware of their father’s sealing.