#Kusanagi asking her if she's decided what she wants to do when she grows up and Anna being all determined

[ridiasfangirlings]

When she's finally an adult, Anna visits her aunt.

I wonder if Honami would remember her by then, like did the brainwashing wear off with the destruction of the Slate. Maybe it's started to weaken, Homra hearing about how some other people who had their memories wiped by the Golds have started remembering things and this is what gets Anna to decide to go visit her. By this point Anna's all grown up and maybe she's even like steadily dating someone and possibly planning to get married, and while of course she wants her Homra family there she also wants Honami to be there too, her precious aunt who took care of her. She's worried about going to visit though, Anna's thought about it multiple times as she was growing up that she could stop by and see Honami but the idea that Honami would look at her like a stranger, assuming she's Mikoto's relative and not really seeing who she actually is, it's too painful.

She really wants Honami at her wedding though and she decides to go visit, even if Honami thinks she's a stranger Anna will bear it as long as she can get Honami to agree. Kusanagi offers to go with her but Anna shakes her head and says she has to do this on her own. Honami still lives in the same place and imagine Anna walking to the home that she used to live in, feeling all nostalgic for when she was a child and how Honami tried so hard to protect her. Anna stands by Honami's door and just shifts nervously, gathering herself and then finally knocking on the door. Honami answers and at first she doesn't recognize Anna, Anna introduces herself via her relationship with Mikoto and Honami's face gets this vague look as she remembers that time Mikoto brought Anna by when she was just a little girl. Honami invites Anna in for tea and Anna accepts.

Honami asks what brings Anna here and how is Mikoto doing, Anna looks down as she quietly says that Mikoto isn't here anymore. Honami's upset hearing that and Anna says she wanted to come by and invite Honami to her wedding. At first Honami seems confused and about to decline but then she stops and says it's the strangest thing, when she talks to Anna something feels very familiar – it feels like she's lost something very precious and has been looking for it for years and finally found it. Anna quietly looks down at her hands and says even if Honami doesn't remember Anna would like her there, not because of Mikoto but because Honami is important to her. She thanks Honami for the tea and gets up to leave, as she's going to the door Honami suddenly drops her drink. Anna turns and Honami is staring down with tears running down her face, Anna gets worried and starts to go to her but Honami reaches her first, hugging her tightly. Anna says her name, confused, and Honami says it really is strange – she doesn't understand how she could forget, how she let herself forget this most precious important thing, this person who she wanted to protect more than anything, but now that Anna's in front of her Honami's finally remembered it.

[blackhakumen]

Shingo Yabuki's Protection Squad Headcanon

It's been a while since I did any of this, but I thought about foing this a few days ago and I give this sort of thing another go. So this is these are the members of the Protection Squad for the lovable KOF's biggest fanboy himself: Shingo Yabuki!

Chizuru Kagura (Founder/Leader/Senpai/Swan Mom)

Chizuru, one of the founding members of the Three Sacred Treasures, first met Shingo before the eleventh tournament, where she assigned him to team up with Kyo and Iori in order to investigate Ash and Those From the Past's whereabouts. Unfortunately for the three of them, an unexpected turn of events has caused Iori to lose the Yasanki Jewel and Kyo and Shingo to be hospitalized. Feeling guilty for what happened, Chizuru made it up to him by paying his hospital bill no question asked. The selfless act alone has caused the young aspiring fighter to return a flavor by watching over her in the sidelines of the 13th tournament until Yata Mirror was finally returned to her.

Ever since then, the two has formed a very close bond overtime. So much so that Shingo has started looking up to her as a mentor and his own senapi. And it was thanks to his kindness and lighthearted nature that caused her to make a vow to not only to help guide him to being a confident fighter but also look out for him at all cost, like any mother figure would.

Saisyu Kusanagi (Co-Founder/Mentor/Pops)

After the seventh tournament, Saisyu decided to take Shi no under his wing in order to show his son, Kyo, the humanity of fighting. It wasn't long for the old master of the Kusanagi Martial Arts to grow attached to the young thanks to his determination of being his role model's equal. So much so that overtime, he starts seeing Shingo as the second son never thought we would wanted until now.

So once Chizuru explain to him the protection squad she wants to start developing for Shingo in question, Saisyu was eager to tag along as the co-founding member.

Rock Howard (Best Bud/Partner in Crime)

Rock and Shingo first met at Athena's Coffee Shop located in the city South Town where the latter works there with Malin and Hinako and the two immediately hit it off since then. While Shingo thinks he's is one of the coolest guys he has ever met, Rock, in return, admires his determination and free spirit from destiny weighing him down (Which he struggles with himself)

While he thinks Shingo's the strongest and the most passionate person he knows, Rock still couldn't help but worry about his safety sometimes, especially after he told him everything that happened to him after the eleventh tournament. Therefore, he decided to join the squad along with the others in order to keep a close eye on him.

Blue Mary (The Muscle/Second Mom)

Blue Mary has been Rock's second mom ever since the day he was little. So naturally when he started making friends (Shingo, K', and Kula) in his recent teenage years, she would usually treat the gang like her own and Shingo was no exception.

In fact, she thinks he's a good, sweet kid despite his overthinking and occasional reckless actions. She'll always be happy to look out for him when the time calls.

Kula Diamond (Ice Princess/Little Sister)

Kula always like spending time with Shingo. He's kind to her, he gives her sweets on some occasions, and he would always try and do everything he can to help her out with something (Cheers her up from a nightmare she'sexperiencing, help beat K' in various of video games, and etc.).

And as time keeps going forward, it wasn't long for the cheerful ice princess to see him as one of her big brother figures. So she promises her to do her very best to return the flavor and look out for him like any good little sisters should.

K'Dash (Mr. Cool Guy/The Enforecer)

K' Dash was never a problem person. He easily gets annoyed with everyone and everything that comes near his pressences. But out of all of the people he met in his mundane lifetime and while he does annoy him in some capacity, Shingo Yabuki is still one of the few people he tolerates and (to some extent) generously cares for.

He also sees him as one of the most gullible out of bunch. So as such, he might as well make sure the dork in blue doesn't get himself into too much trouble. (No matter how tiring it'll get.)

Malin and Hinako (Co-Workers/Secret Admirers)

Malin and Hinako are two co-workers Shingo works with at Athena's Coffee Shop from across the town. As the more days flew pass, their bond and cooperation has started to grown significantly ever since.

With Hinako Shijou, a young, up incoming sumo wrestler, touched by Shingo's passion and drive of being a fighter and Malin, a sneaky troublemaker who is the self proclaimed rival of Yuri Sakazaki, thinks that Shingo is the most funniest (and somewhat cutest) guy she ever have the pleasure of meeting.

There might be possibility that the two of them may have feelings for their goofball of a co-worker. But neither of them wants to dwell on it just yet.....

After Kula told them about the protection squad one of their recurring customers, Chizuru, is forming, the two took no time at all to accept the invitation, making sure their goofball is safe and happy.

Benimaru Nikadio (Electrifying Role Model)

Both Beni and Shingo have their fair share of working with one another in the past and while he do think Shingo's chances of creating his own fire are slim to none, that doesn't really stop him from enjoying his company every once and while.

So it wouldn't be too surprising of the certified lady's man to teach the goofball the ways of being the hit with the ladies whenever they see each other again.

Kyo Kusanagi (Unofficial Memeber Who is On Thin Ice)

Kyo Kusanagi, the well known champion of the King of Fighters Tournament, a high school drop out, and Shingo's......former role model.

When he asked to join the squad, most of the members were skeptical of his inclusion (most noticeably K', Kula, and even Chizuru herself) mainly because of his poor treatment to the young fighter in question, for multiple reasons (He made him get free food in order to keep training him, abandoned him at the end of the seventh tournament, beats him up a tournament after that just for being cocky and using a match, the list goes on from here, folks.)

It wasn't long for the hothead successor to the Kusanagi clan to finally admit to liking Shingo and sees him like the annoying little brother that he never had. As skeptical as they still are about the decision, the squad has reluctantly add Kyo as an unofficial member of their cause. Doesn't really change the fact that he's still on thin ice though.

@helsic

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[midnight-in-town]

About the current (last?) arc of AnY and going full circle

Sorry if some fans already mentioned those ideas but I’ve been rereading the current arc, because it’s been quite long and the pace has its flaws sometimes, so I wanted to broaden my perspective on the story. 

First of all, as an introduction can I just say that I’m, as always, impressed by Hak’s character. He had so much cliché and shallow potential when the story started (I really used to roll my eyes at him), but he became one of my absolute favorite by how deep and strong-hearted he actually is, once he allows people behind the walls he built around him. Anyway, my love for his character & development knows no boundary. I had to say this, ok. I’ll explain why later in the post. Moving on. 

A conflict of generation

If there is one thing I love about Kusanagi-sensei, it’s the feminine touch she adds to her writing. For example, when she naturally addressed periods during the Xing arc and it fit perfectly, because that’s just how her writing goes. In this arc, it shows through the initial bold move to tell us readers about the past through the thoughts and words of a character we’ve never met, that is to say, Yonhi, Yuhon’s wife and Suwon’s mother. 

And yet, it made absolute sense, because Yonhi was the reason behind the cataclysm that eventually led to Yuhon killing priests, as well as the falling-out between him and his younger brother, Il. All along, Yonhi was the silent but pained witness to this feud, watching as the ego of two brothers destroyed everything when none of the two backed down, leading to first Kashi’s death, then Yuhon’s murder and finally Suwon’s coup. 

So, in a way, even if I think Suwon makes a far better king than Yuhon or Il, his circumstances kinda precede the logical decision to get Il out of the picture before he completely annihilated his own kingdom in poverty and war, because there is too much resentment and hatred that fueled Suwon while growing up, even if we readers know that his motivations are primarily about saving Kouka from war against the Kai Empire.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely despise both Yuhon and Il but, unfortunately for Suwon, Yona growing up sheltered and mostly unaware of the horrible truth highlights her own decisions throughout the series to be completely selfless and wanting to own up to her father’s misjudgement, rather than trying to get back at Suwon, effectively breaking the cycle of hatred amongst the royal family. 

Why the Wind Tribe kept on supporting Il when everyone else could notice that he was betting on his daughter as the reincarnation of King Hiryuu to save his country is beyond me (Mundok plz explain). Not that Yuhon was better, preaching wars, and I’m glad that Il eventually reconciled with Yonhi, telling him that he would accept Suwon’s judgement but...

...I can’t forgive him for his words. 

Like Yonhi, I’d rather he would have hoped that his conflict with his brother did not reach his children than entertaining it the way he did.

Hopefully though, now that Yona read Yonhi’s memoirs, she will work towards achieving that goal. Not that I have any doubt, since she never really managed to hate Suwon. 

Speaking of the past generation, reading the latest chapters I couldn’t help but wonder about Yona's sad dream... could it be that she inherited Kashi’s gift? Kashi did say that she had these prophetic visions since very young which doesn’t seem to be Yona’s case, but I’ll keep the idea in mind, because it’s interesting. I mean, from Yonhi’s memoirs, it seems that Kashi envisioned that the child she would have would be Hiryuu’s reincarnation (whoever the father was going to be), so Yona inheriting the same prophetic gift from her mother would make sense. 

What an ironic parallel to Suwon inheriting the Crimson Illness from Yonhi if that’s the case, am I right? 

Yona as Kouka’s next Queen

And by that I do not mean Keishuk’s plan to marry her to Suwon, because of her popularity with Kouka’s people. Obviously, the story always was to conclude in Yona getting her throne back and that’s even easier to imagine with Suwon’s disabling illness, but becoming a ruler is tough work and Yona had no real experience acting as a leader for an entire country. 

She didn’t know much before her father’s murder and, even after she became a runaway with Hak and the rest of the HHB, she finely dealt with crises affecting some parts of the kingdom but never the whole kingdom at once, like it’s doomed to happen with the war against the Kai Empire. 

So I really appreciated her stepping up when Suwon couldn’t, because that’s definitely good training and we see the results in the latest chapters:

To be fair, I always thought that Keishuk would be the biggest thorn in Yona’s side during this arc but, as many characters have said in this arc, he’s rather clever and honest about what he intends to achieve, which is why it’s not in his interests to get in the way of Yona if they share a similar goal. 

Looking forward to her facing even greater challenges. Good luck, Yona. <3

War against the Kai Empire: there is strength in unity

The Kai Empire has been depicted as the story’s big bad for a long while now and the common goal for which Yona’s faction and Suwon’s allies could unite, but I’m glad to get more specifics and new characters to explore that part of the plot.

Namely, Mei and Vall. With Chagol, they seem like the perfect foil trio to Suwon, Yona and Hak, except that Chagol seems like a real thorn in the other two’s backs, when a strong bond still ties our main trio in spite of the sad circumstances of the beginning. I particularly love the mirroring reflection between Mei and Yona...

&

...except that Mei is not at odds with one kingdom but with two and that she also deals with the Crimson Illness. :/

Now that war has started, the big threat that South Kai represents will obviously be dealt with, but Kouka kingdom will need more than its five tribes to win this. That’s where I’m sure we all expect to see old “enemies” come back, namely Xing Kingdom, since Kouren signed a military agreement with Suwon, thanks to Yona and Tao. I would bet that this won’t be enough either, but Xing are the only known allies that Kouka kingdom has. 

There is another “enemy” we know from the previous arc though, who have strong feelings against the Kai Empire, specifically about rulers treating their women badly and they are...

...Ying Kuelbo and the Tully tribe. 

The big difference between Xing Kingdom and the Tully tribe is that Suwon never met or dealt directly with Kuelbo the way he did with Kouren and Tao. The Tully tribe lost and Kuelbo ran away, betrayed and having to find a new way to take on the Kai Empire. That’s why I think the Tully tribe would eventually make for a good ally in this war: it showed good promises when Yuran and Yona got along and I think Yona understood where Kuelbo was coming from, especially now that Mei is with them and can probably tell them in details about Chagol.

Not saying this will happen soon, but since there is someone who met and fought against Kuelbo, probably gaining his respect, if this person was to seek the Tully tribe to make them Kouka Kingdom’s ally on Yona’s guidance, I think Kuelbo would give it a thought. That’s right, I’m talking about Hak, who’s currently on his way with Yoon to the Earth Tribe to fetch a drug that will not be able to save neither Suwon nor Mei, thanks Zeno for spoiling us. 

That’s what I meant when I said that Hak slowly became one of my favorite characters throughout the story. While the Sky Tribe seems to be taking bets on who between Yona and Suwon will eventually sit for good on that throne, there is a good chance that Hak will be one of the key players when it comes to winning that war against South Kai. Not that we should expect any less from the Thunder Beast. <3

To be very honest though, I expected this arc to be very tough for his character, because the truth behind Il’s death and Suwon’s coup would never be easily understandable to him (Yona’s own words, not mine): 

Yet, surprisingly he was able to at least listen and, no matter if he will ever understand Suwon’s choice or not, he decided to trust in Yona’s decision to back Suwon in the rising political issues.  

In general, I love how Hak is the least bound by the past before Suwon’s coup. He did respect Il as his king, but he did not protect Yona in the beginning for anyone else’s sake but her own. Just like Kashi once asked him to always protect Yona (which is sweet since she could see the future) but, considering he never even thought about her words once in the story, it’s likely he doesn’t remember that at all, making the choice to be by Yona’s side defined as solely his own. 

It’s this strength of his that eventually led him to say recently that he would go fetch that drug with Yoon, knowing that it was for Suwon’s sake (surprising Suwon himself), just like he will definitely fight for Kouka Kingdom, not because Yona wants him to but because it’s clearly his own desire (see ch211 where he let Yun go alone so that he could help the Earth Tribe fight):

All that makes Hak the wildest card of every agency in the plot, not simply because he’s strong and reliable and the biggest worry of the Sky Tribe, but because...

...Yona and the four dragons will never give him up.

Through Hak, Yona will be able to assert her political weight and he will be there for her, like he always was, making it impossible for their little group to lose. What a power move, I love it. 

I think I should stop there because I already rambled so much. Looking forward to the rest of the arc, it’s going to be a wild ride!! 

[itsuki-minamy]

“RAINY AVENUE MAN”

Translation: Naru-kun Raws: Ridia 

It was cloudy in the morning, and it was a day when he moved, he was heavy on the surface of his body and the warm humidity clung to him.

At the HOMRA bar, Kusanagi was enthusiastically preparing for the night business.

He made artichoke and olive mini-pizzas, Kyoto-style meatloaf, pickled oil oysters, wrote the menu on the board, selected the fruit, polished the glass, and sharpened the ice.

While doing such skillful work, the bar door opened,

"Oh, Anna, could you buy condensed milk?"

Kusanagi said as he arranged the contents of the refrigerator under the counter. He had asked Anna to use it, so he thought she was back. But when he got up, Kusanagi realized that he was half right and half wrong.

Anna was not alone.

An unknown and robust man was holding Anna in one arm. The problem instantly strained Kusanagi's body. Not because the man was big and sharp, but because he was a skilled man to hold Anna with one arm.

Kusanagi also experienced many fights, although not as much as Suoh, and many events have happened.

He normally plays the role of a suppressor in Homura, but naturally he was equipped with something like a sense of martial arts.

The feeling of danger was told to him. The man standing at the entrance to the bar was not just a person.

The man who saw Kusanagi's face grow stronger,

"I want to explain the situation."

When Anna was laid on the ground, Kusanagi was dominated by the person holding her.

"Izumo is different."

Then Anna said that suddenly.

"I have help. This person is a good person.”

Kusanagi blinked instantly at the words. When he turned his eyes, the man looked at him with a sharp look and a slight smile.

"I don't know if he's a good person. Well, it is a fact that helped.”

Anna was not even a narrator, and the man was a vindictive member, but she and the man spoke alternately about the following.

After finishing shopping at a nearby store, Anna tripped on a small step outside the store and injured her leg. Every time she tried to walk, she felt a sharp pain in her ankles and she bent down. Although the people passing by looked at her, there was no one actively trying to help Anna.

Among them, only the man with one arm...

"Could I help you out if you don't mind?"

Although he had an awkward tone, he wanted to assist her. Anna was a little lost, but decided to accept the favor. He looked scary, but he didn't seem like a bad guy. The man came here with Anna without difficulty. After talking, Anna...

"Yes, Izumo. Condensed milk."

She hands Kusanagi a shopping bag. Kusanagi, for a moment, was embarrassed by his uncertain attitude, and when he left the counter, he bowed politely in front of the man.

"You really took care of her."

"Was nothing."

The man shook his head, a small smile on his mouth. Few words,

"So I'm leaving now."

He turned to leave. Shortly after Kusanagi stopped, he opened the door and tried to get out.

At that moment, lightning flashed and suddenly it began to rain heavily as if the bottom of the cube had fallen.

In front of the man, the raindrops hit the ground hard. The man seemed angry since he was a little confused.

Kusanagi suddenly burst out laughing.

"This type of water is called rain. How is it? If you stay in the rain. I can't make much of a problem because it's before the store opens, but I'd like to thank you for bringing Anna here.”

After the man closed his eyes for about two seconds,

"Well then, I will accept your offer."

He lowers his head.

Anna received first aid with a compress and then retired to her room.

Kusanagi thought he would take her to a nearby orthopedic surgeon today if it seemed more bloated.

Currently, there were only Kusanagi and the man in the store. Suoh hasn't woken up after a long nap.

"What is your favorite cocktail?"

When Kusanagi asked, the man said...

"Sorry. I am not familiar with these stores.”

He seemed a little embarrassed. Kusanagi said...

"Then we will do it properly."

After some thought, she made an old-fashioned bourbon cocktail and put it in front of the man.

"Thank you."

The man drinks the cocktail,

"I don't usually drink this type of cocktail... but it's really delicious when a good person makes it."

He expressed his impression in a calm voice. Kusanagi bowed silently. The man deftly opened the paper bag he had while drinking a cocktail with one hand and pulled out a book from inside. Flip it over.

It is a somewhat difficult Buddhist textbook with the title "Honen and that time". Kusanagi confirmed it from the side.

(At the bookstore, coming home, and then I think he found Anna. Wow, is it a perfect coincidence that he came here?)

He was guessing that.

At this time Kusanagi was convinced that the man had the power of a Strain.

(And he's not just a Strain. Probably from the Blue Clan. That's a pretty good man.)

The man straightens his spine, reads the book quietly, and drinks softly. There is no indication that the work is slightly dusty.

You would definitely know where this is.

It is the same place for men in the enemy land.

Kusanagi remembered it. There was a man who belonged to the ancient Scepter 4 and killed his own king to become a fighter.

(A certain name is a good article.)

After Kusanagi was lost,

"I mean, ask Anna's benefactor something like this..."

When he was trying to confirm the man's identity, the man controlled the tip of the machine and quickly raised a hand. Shake his head from left to right.

"I'm a ghost from the past. You have nothing to worry about."

He said that. Kusanagi narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"Sorry."

Apparently it was a little unpleasant. He looked at the book again as if the man had nothing. Apparently, it seemed like he was going through an anonymous man here. And when the man had just finished drinking the cocktail, the rain stopped.

The man…

"It became a party."

After checking the exterior, he stood up. Kusanagi also bows his head.

"This was for helping Anna."

And I call the man who walked to the door.

"Will there be another chance to meet again?"

Once the man looked back...

"Now. How is it? The old fashion was delicious.”

He made a small bow and left. Kusanagi exhaled his accumulated breath.

Scepter 4 still has a formidable opponent.

He wanted to pray that he would never collide with a man like him on the battlefield.

[vrainsrewatch]

episode 19 thoughts

this is... the most screenshot heavy post i’ve made so far, lmao, so please bear with me. as i’ve said, this is one of my favorite duels, and there’s a lot that gets covered here. like, seriously, i haven’t written this post out yet but i can guarantee this will be my longest so far lmao.

the beginning of the episode starts off fairly standard, and mostly dueling:

i really do love the pacing of this duel. i was glued to the edge of my seat while watching these episodes. i remember it so clearly, too, because i’d been binge watching from episode 16 that day, and got to like, 24 by the time i stopped, lmao.

ai does a lot of cute/funny stuff this episode, to help break up some of the more dark tones of the rest of it, like this:

it really makes me miss hi in this form :( i really like his soltis form, don’t get me wrong, but i miss him on yusaku’s wrist lol. i would say when things were less angsty, but, well. lmao.

we very quickly get akira’s rad boss monster summoned out:

and seriously, i just love the animation for it. it’s so sick. the door, the fire, how it looms behind him at first.... aaaaaa. so cool.

and of course the classic:

the worst part about this line is it’s said so often (esp in arc v LOL) that i actually. have slipped up and said it in normal, day to day conversation before. my boyfriend looked at me for like a minute and gave me the deepest sigh i’ve ever heard the first time i did that pff.

also:

i couldn’t not screencap this, given what my blog is for LOL

every time something reminds me of that painful final duel, i have to screencap it and make you guys sad with me. if i have to be sad seeing all this stuff, knowing where their relationship goes and how the series ends, so do you.

also, though, i forgot how often this was brought up before the bohman duel lmao. it makes that theory look a lot more credible, so it’s cool that it had all these little hints towards it, even if it ultimately wasn’t true.

seriously, my heart. i don’t think i need to talk much about this scene to make y’all sad, but really. they went from this to i loved you. ugh, god, i’m so sad thinking about it lmao.

there is so much to talk about between akira and playmaker and even blue angel in this episode, so i guess we’ll start here.

it is hard to decide that you want to take control of your trauma and do something about it. it is not easy. to see yusaku fight for that right so thoroughly is incredible, and really, really validating.

more sadness! seriously, this is too much. this deck was created specifically for him by ai. i don’t like this anymore lmao

but even besides that, often times the protag’s decks mean a lot to them, obviously, but i love that it wasn’t built strictly by yusaku. his cards were literally made by ai, and i think that’s such a cool twist. 

but then, akira’s speech:

i talked last time about akira wanting to handle things himself, and i briefly touched on him thinking he knows best...

but i really admire how calm yusaku stays at that tbh. he gets angry, reasonably so imo, but he takes this so well. i know i was a much more volatile kid then he is, so respect lol

i’ve spoken at length already about akira, but i also want to talk again about how oblivious he is. he is so blinded by his own thoughts and feelings on the situation that he doesn’t stop to think about how yusaku might be feeling -- and worse, honestly, how his sister might be feeling.

it was why he was so visibly shocked when emma mentioned a few episodes ago that aoi wasn’t just a little kid anymore. it’s so clear that he still, at the moment, sees her as the six year old girl he swore to protect, and not the sixteen year old person she’s become. he doesn’t think about how she might be feeling towards his actions, or why she does what she does.

this is highlighted as early as episode 6 iirc, when he asks her why aren’t you happy? as much as i, personally, dislike his character, i can’t deny it’s very realistic and well written.

speaking of aoi:

i love how she’s written in this episode, too. but her entrance here is great, and i love how she stands up to him about this. it’s minor, but it’s still a good step. when she’s blue angel -- or blue girl, or blue maiden -- she feels comfortable doing that. at least a little, and it obviously grows throughout the series. i hope that transfers over to the real world for her, too.

and then, we finally get the full story:

i remember flinching when he started talking about it, remembering the shots of yusaku getting electrocuted from his duel with revolver.

i really love this. i said it last episode, but vrains handles yusaku’s trauma so realistically and it’s amazing.

i remember originally staring open mouthed at my tv screen while this part played. we got a bit of it from the other episode, but the full context truly shocked me. where’s that post that says “who thought this was an acceptable backstory to give to a card game protag” bc honestly??? YEAH

it’s still hard to watch. it’s still hard to see play out, even if it’s only fiction. even though i’ve seen these clips so many times, and written about them in detail a few times too. doesn’t matter lol. watching it in context actually still made my stomach drop.

which leads me to talk about reactions to this, actually:

the two that vrains focuses heavily on are blue angel’s and kusanagi’s, and they contrast really well here imo.

blue angel’s is a normal reaction. it’s horrified, both at the thought of it happening and at the fact that someone would actually do that to another person -- a six year old child, no less.

kusanagi’s is strained. he is angry hearing about this, thinking about jin. we’ve been told, and have seen in the last few episodes, how much the lost incident impacted kusanagi and his brother, but i really love that the show tells us that here, too, and shows the difference between hearing about a tragedy and being involved in some manner.

i did not expect it at all when first watching vrains, and honestly, it still impresses me how gracefully they handled it coming off of arc v (cough, shun i love you but really cough cough). no hate on arc v at all, it’s my third favorite ygo very close behind gx, but the difference between the two on how they handle these things is staggering.

this whole section makes me thing that ryoken talked to yusaku fairly often, after the first time. which is something i don’t see brought up often? but that’s so important imo. it meant that yusaku had someone encouraging him not just once or twice, but on the regular, but also it meant that ryoken was constantly risking himself to comfort that child. 

we don’t see too much of ryoken when he’s a kid, but we do see him scared and crying over the lost incident. the fact that he was able to talk calmly to this child so many times is really amazing. it also makes more sense as to why ryoken feels so guilty over calling the police -- he probably felt that maybe if he had just kept up his encouragement, the kids would’ve all gotten out okay and his father wouldn’t be in a coma. 

this was so powerful. it’s obvious, and i think anyone with half a brain would understand that the LI isn’t something that a kid would recover from easily, but i love this anyways. 

he wasn’t saved. and even if he was in body, it’s still something he and all the other victims will live with for the rest of their lives.

this also is something i don’t feel like people bring up enough, but does this mean that yusaku went around asking the kids at the hospital when he was rescued? it’s not hard to believe they were all put together, at least for a short amount of time, but it’s still something i feel like people overlook. 

i also love this, because it’s nice foreshadowing to how revolver feels. he’s not captured, not like yusaku and the lost kids were, but he is a prisoner. and just like ryoken saved yusaku, way back then, he is determined to repay the favor.

not just because of that, either. because that voice meant so much to him. because that voiced saved him. because that voice understood him, and was there for him in his hardest moments. god i love them.

i love this shot. it’s so dramatic, how the match the drum beats with flashes of everyone’s reactions.

but it drives home his point, and while i know most of akira’s development came through emma and aoi, i’m sure this helped, too. 

i’ve sung vrains praises this entire post, but i’ll do it again -- this is incredible. this is so realistic. it’s so well portrayed. and it’s really honest to god incredible that we got a protag in ygo who was shown going to therapy. 

ygo has always dealt with some pretty dark subject matter, and it’s never really been shy about showing it on screen. i’m not saying that at all. arc v obviously dealt with some pretty heavy stuff, and while i haven’t seen zexal (keep shaming me please) i know it does, too. 5ds obviously has the dark signer arc, and the later arcs concerning bruno and also yusei’s father, and gx has... well, it’s entire third and fourth season. 

but we see everyone healing via card games. we see those shows talk about these things, but kind of at the same time, skirt around the subject matter; or if they do go deep into it, they pull out (ie 5ds) or the characters don’t get resolved properly (ie arc v). 

idk where i was going with this but i just really love that this happened, this was shown on screen, and they stuck to yusaku’s character. they didn’t just... up and make his trauma and his world view disappear at the end. he has a bittersweet ending, but it suited him and his development. a lot of people were mad about it, and i get it -- i wanted him to be happy, too.

but that’s not always the case, and it’s really important to me that vrains doesn’t pretend it is.

anyways, though, i’m almost done with this episode i promise lmao. before the episode ends, we get this:

and i think it’s honestly kind of cruel that akira says this, after everything, and still maintains his point of handling it himself. he has heard, first hand now, how horrible the incident has scarred yusaku for life. and yet, he still is stubborn in refusing to relate or at the very least empathize.

what i mean by that, since we obviously see him attempt to last episode, is he refuses to look at it from someone’s else’s perspective or in a way that might make him uncomfortable. the way my boyfriend describes these kinds of people is that they “haven’t had their bubble popped”.

everyone has a bubble when they’re born, and that bubble shields you from realizing that the world is a cruel and hard place. even if you go through hardships, sometimes your bubble stays put, and you think that is the worst of what can happen. 

i’m explaining this very poorly, because i’m running on not much sleep and i’ve been typing about this episode for like, far, far too long, but essentially, he refuses to step out of his comfort zone and recognize, in playmaker’s case, that he doesn’t have a right to interfere and that playmaker’s desire to handle it himself is justified and helpful for his healing. and in aoi’s case, that just because he does a lot of good for her doesn’t automatically mean ignoring her for work and keeping her locked in their house is an okay trade off. and also that she’s not a child anymore -- she’s nearly an adult and she deserves to be treated as one. 

those thoughts seem to unsettle him. you can kind of see it in how detached he is after hearing all that come from playmaker. blue angel is visibly shaken up by what he’s said. akira doesn’t even flinch, because he’s not really listening right now. 

i’m glad he learns to, or at least learns how to start, later on.

anyways, i think that’s enough for this post lmao. this took forever to type up, so let’s hope i actually have time to cover up to 21 here today LOL. if you read all that, thank you for your time on my kind of dumb vrains thoughts :’)

[akatsukigadaisuki]

I HAVE WRITTEN A FIC

after months i finally had the motivation and energy to write a new fic!! check it out on ao3 here or click to read under the cut!!! 

When Yata’s ears and cheeks turn as red as his hair, it can mean one of two things: either he’s really pissed, or really embarrassed. Today, it was the first.

“Yata-chan, try to calm down,” Kusanagi pleads, slowly growing frustrated at the continuous string of curses that had been filling his ears for the past hour.

“It’s unfair, Kusanagi-san!” Yata shouts for what seems to be the one hundredth time that afternoon. “There’s no way in hell I’m going to do anything with that damn monkey!” He hammers his fist down on the table, startling one of his fellow clan members.

Kusanagi feels stripped of his soul with each dent Yata makes in his precious bar.

"I'M NOT HELPING WITH THAT PARTY!" Yata yells even louder, when nobody says anything, only increasing his rapidly growing frustration.

“You have to. You two are the only ones who aren’t busy this weekend." Kusanagi sighs with a surprisingly calm tone, setting down the wine glass he had just finished cleaning delicately. "Christmas is in two days, can’t you lighten up?”

Before Yata can shout again, he’s held back as a small hand grabs the sleeve of the hoodie tied around his waist. He looks down and sees HOMRA’s youngest member, Anna, looking at him with her eyes shining under the dim light hanging above them. "Please, Misaki," she says softly, tightening her grip. "It won't be as bad as you think it'll be."

"But...A-Anna..." Misaki begins, before biting his lip; he knows he can't argue with her. Taking a deep breath, he looks away, staring at a streak on the floor created by his board a few days ago.

"It's our first Christmas with SCEPTER 4. Let's try to enjoy it, yeah?" Chitose brings up, holding his hands out in front of his face in case Yata decides to punch him.

But he doesn't. Instead, he shifts his gaze to Chitose for a split second before turning around, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't get why we have to celebrate with them just because..." he trails off, not knowing how to finish that statement.

"You can do it, Yata-san," Kamamoto says, trying to lift his spirits and prevent the destruction of any more furniture. "Who cares if you're working with Fushimi? Whatever you do is amazing, so make this party awesome for all of us, okay? And don't let him get all the credit for it!"

Yata's ears perk up slightly at that, slowly draining of the red color and returning to the normal soft peach. "Huh...you're right," he says. His gloomy eyes suddenly light up, and a determined smile replaces the frown on his face. "This party will be so great that everyone will remember it forever!"

"Nice one, Rikio-chan," Kusanagi whispers to him with a wink. Kamamoto chuckles modestly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"HELL YEAH! I'LL GO GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY, EVEN IF THAT LAZY MONKEY DOESN'T SHOW UP!" Yata yells with a burst of energy. He grabs his skateboard and tosses it to the floor, placing his foot on it and pushing forward. "I'll see you all later! Get prepared for the best party of your lives!"

"Well that changed his mood fast," Chitose says, blinking, once Yata's out the door.

"Thankfully, and now everything is going according to plan," Kusanagi adds with a mischievous smile. Anna reflects his expression, nodding.

"Is there something we should know about?" Kamamoto asks, confused.

"Oh, don't worry about it. You'll know soon enough," is all Kusanagi says in response to that.

Kamamoto and Chitose share a glance before turning to stare at the door through which Yata left, wondering if all of this was more than just what meets the eye.

"Tch. You're late, Misaki."

That's the first thing Yata hears when he shows up to the party hall carrying piles upon piles of decorations. He almost falls off his skateboard as he spots a familiar looking figure standing before him, leaning against the back wall with his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Saru, what the hell are you doing here?" Yata exclaims, steadying himself after setting down the boxes he was carrying.

"Are you that stupid, or did you really forget that we were assigned to decorate the party for tomorrow together?" He clicks his tongue, an annoyed expression taking form on his face.

Yata's face scrunches up, like he'd just walked into a garbage dump. "Fuck you! We weren't even supposed to meet until later this evening!"

"Then why are you here?" Saruhiko asks with almost no emotion to his voice.

"I...I wanted to start early," Yata states as he kneels down to open the first box, turning his head to hide the embarrassed blush burning at the tips of his ears. He shakes out a string of lights, holding the tangled mess out in front of him. In his peripheral vision, he catches Saruhiko shifting his position, so he adds, "Also, I don't need your damn help. I can do this by myself."

Saruhiko pauses for a moment and then simply clicks his tongue, closing his eyes. "Do whatever you want, Misaki. I'll just wait until you mess up and then fix everything afterwards."

Yata resists the urge to fire something back at him. Instead, he uses his anger to pull apart the lights in a feeble attempt to untangle them. He mutters incoherent things under his breath, not handling the wires with the care he should be handling them with.

Saruhiko opens one eye when he hears a mix of grunts and bulbs clacking. "Don't be so rough, Misaki. You'll break them."

"I don't need your damn criticism," Yata says through gritted teeth, not bothering to stop pulling apart the lights as a lion would rip apart a deer. "And quit calling me by that name!"

"Why? I think it suits you rather well, Mi~sa~ki," Saruhiko says with a grin, steadying his gaze on Misaki's small, chiseled face.

At that, he's had enough. His patience never really lasted long anyway.

Yata stands up abruptly and takes a step forward to punch him, but ends up tripping over the string of lights, falling face first onto the floor. Clenching his fists, he attempts to stand up again but can only sit up awkwardly as he realizes he's tangled within all the cords.

Saruhiko laughs, his grin only growing wider. "I didn't realize you were so clumsy. Looks like you'll always be an idiot."

"Shut the hell up you bastard!" Yata yells, struggling to get out of the mess of knots. His brows are sharply furrowed, his teeth pressed so tightly together that they just might shatter. "This is all your fault!"

"My fault?" Saruhiko scoffs. "I didn't even touch you."

"Just fucking help me," Yata grumbles, feeling as if the world is closing in on him and eradicating his existence.

"I thought you said you didn't need my help," Saruhiko reminds him, his expression shifting to more of a serious one.

Yata looks down at the floor, because at this point, anything is better than looking at the solemn face of a traitor, a man who was once his best friend in the whole world. Normally he'd be so outspoken, shouting at anyone who dares to try and destroy his precious pride, but lately he's been finding it harder and harder to say things that came directly to his mind. Especially when it came to Saruhiko.

He expels a puff of air, hanging his head low. He thinks of Anna, who held him with a gentle yet desperate grip, telling him that this wouldn't be as bad as he thought it would be. He wanted to believe her, but so far, even after just a few minutes since arriving here, he'd only been feeling like complete shit.

Yata predicts he'll be stuck forever in this room that's suddenly become too hot, when a pair of nimble, pale hands reach towards his direction, startling him. He raises his head slowly, surprised to see Saruhiko with an annoyed expression reforming on his face, helping him out of the tangled mess of lights.

"Saruhiko...?" Yata starts.

"Don't look so depressed, stupid Misaki. It doesn't look good on you," Saruhiko says, swiftly yet carefully working his way through the knots. "What's wrong with you anyway? You seem different."

Yata looks visibly offended. "Nothing's wrong except for the fact that I'm stuck here, being forced to work together with you," he mutters. "And how would you know what I've been like, huh? It's not like you spent time with me these past few ye–"

"As much as it annoys me," Saruhiko cuts in, not wanting the conversation to head in that direction, "hearing you shout is better than this. What the hell is actually bothering you?"

The fire in Yata's irises blazes when it meets the blue in Saruhiko's eyes. "What makes you think there's more, huh? Just because you're smart and all doesn't mean you know everything!" Yata spits out in a burst of frustration. "Why the hell do you even care? It's not like you ever cared about my feelings anyway! Isn't that why you left, damn traitor?! You didn't even think about how I would feel once you were gone!"

Saruhiko's expression twists into a deeper frown, and he almost breaks the wire he's holding. In any other situation he would tease Yata, but something made his heart twist grossly, causing him to refrain from doing so. "And what about you, Misaki? Did you ever care about mine?"

A short moment of silence followed that question, and Yata stares at Saruhiko as if he couldn't recognize him. "The fuck are you talking ab–"

"Do you ever stop to think even once in your pathetic life?" Saruhiko interrupts, stopping his hands for a moment to look up into Yata's eyes.

Yata's eyes don't meet his. They're still searching his face, as if this is some complex math problem he can't seem to comprehend in the slightest.

"You're a terrible person, Misaki..." Saruhiko says softly, and Yata can now see the visible hurt in his eyes, something he didn't seem to recognize before but instantly knew that it had been there for a while.

A sudden pang attacks his heart, and the layer of pride and arrogance that Yata values so much dissipates for a moment. "Saruhiko, why didn't you tell me before?"

"That you're a horrible person? I'm sure I did tell you a couple of times," Saruhiko says with a scoff, but even Yata isn't fooled by the amusement he's trying to use to cover up the pain within.

"That's not what I mean! Why didn't you tell me how you were feeling?"

"Even if I did tell you, you'd never understand."

"Don't say that!" Yata shouts suddenly, disrupting the softness they had just a few minutes ago. "If it's you, Saruhiko, I'll do whatever it takes to understand. I want to know why you did what you did...there's no way someone I liked so much could end up being a horrible traitor!"

Saruhiko yanks apart a strand of lights that's holding Yata's arms together, setting them free. He then turns around, staring at the wall in front of him. "Shut up, Misaki."

"Saruhiko..." Yata says with desperation, pleading him with his eyes to turn around and face him.

But he doesn't. Instead, he responds with, "I can't even tell if you hate me or not. Your words confuse me."

Now it's Yata's turn to be silent. In short, he doesn't know the answer either. All he knows is that in this very moment, he can't stay mad at him. So, without giving it much thought, he closes his eyes and leans his head on Saruhiko's back, feeling as his muscles tense up upon the contact.

"Misaki, what are you–" Saruhiko begins, but Yata cuts him off.

"I shouldn't be the one saying this, or at least not the only one saying this, but I'm sorry."

He says it in such a soft manner that it takes a second for Saruhiko to register that it's his voice. He knows Yata means it, that he's genuinely sorry, but still, it only makes him angry.

"Don't play these stupid games with me, Misa–"

Before he can finish his statement, Yata's arms wrap around his torso, rendering him speechless.

"Wh-"

"Shut it, Saruhiko." Yata squeezes his eyes shut, plunging into the depths of his heart and soul. Yata's never been one to think too deeply about things. If there's anything he's realized over the years, it's that he can't stay mad at Saruhiko forever, no matter what he does. Even if it's as shitty as betraying the clan he values more than anything.

It's because of the fact that Yata Misaki simply can't focus on the bad things in life that makes this a little easier for him. He always searched for the light at the end of every dark tunnel he's ever been in, strongly believing that life was too short to think negatively about everything. Whether it's in a fight or a tough situation, Yata made sure to bask in that light instead of drowning himself in the shadows.

And now, he wanted to be the light for Saruhiko, because his best friend had been in the shadows for far too long.

Yata doesn't let go of Saruhiko, and wouldn't let go even if Saruhiko tried to pry his arms off. He holds him tighter, pulling him close until he can feel his own heartbeat resonating through his skin.

Saruhiko still can't find the words he wants–or thinks– to say. All he knows is that he doesn't want Yata to let go, ever, because he's been wanting this for so long that the fact that it was happening now made him delirious.

Shakily, he reaches down and places his hand on top of Yata's. His hands are so thin and pale compared to Yata's tanned, callous ones.

Yata's so close to him that he can feel his smile on his back, and all Saruhiko can do in that moment is smile too. A real, genuine smile, for the first time in years.

The next morning, a tired Kamamoto and Chitose enter the party hall only to find out that it hadn't been decorated in the slightest.

"Huh?!" Kamamoto screeches, staring at the bare walls. He and Chitose exchange a look, sharing the same confused expression.

Earlier, Kusanagi and Anna had called them in to check out the 'special surprise' in the party hall, but they were not expecting something like this.

"Shh! You'll wake them up!" Anna whispers, but it's loud enough so they all can hear.

"Wake who up?" Chitose asks, looking around.

She points towards the floor, and Chitose gasps.

There, in the middle of the linoleum floor, lie Saruhiko and Yata. They're huddled close together, their breathing soft and in sync. Yata's legs are wrapped in Christmas lights, his head is resting in the nook of Saruhiko's neck, and his fingers are firmly holding on to the fabric of Saruhiko's uniform. Saruhiko has his arms around Yata, holding him in a way a mother would hold her baby.

"Aren't they adorable?" Anna asks with a smile.

As Kamamoto and Chitose continue to stare at Yata and Saruhiko as if they were some rare species, Munakata Reisi walks in through the door with an elegant smirk on his face.

"Looks like our plan worked to perfection," he states proudly, pushing his glasses up with a grin.

Kusanagi mimics the gesture, a smile creeping across his face. "Oh, it sure did."

[emeraldwaves]

Title: Cacophony Chapter 8 Read from the beginning Music/Band AU Pairing: Mikorei, side Izuseri, Rating: M Word Count:  4,208

AO3 Summary for Ch8: Muna and Suoh deal with the band no longer being together thanks to @its-love-u-asshole for reading this over! Only a couple chapters left

Things should've felt more normal. Should've. Or so Munakata had thought, and yet he felt like he was missing out on so much. A week went by without practicing with Homra, then another, and it wasn't long before it had been almost an entire month with no practice.

That didn't mean Munakata wasn't playing. He'd been working on his original composition much harder than before. Scepter's admission audition was only a few weeks away, and Munakata was still going to audition as planned.

Still, it felt different. He truly did believe his playing had improved, even now as he sat at the piano, writing out the notes of his new original composition, he felt something for the piece. It held a sadness Munakata's music had never depicted before, and depending on his mood, he could also feel anger resonating from his fingertips. He still hadn't quite determined where the emotions came from, but he could finally feel them there.

Before, his music had seemed intelligent, and it had come from a place of his technical talent. There had been nothing wrong, but nothing had been emotionally interesting either. Looking back on the piece he had wrote before, he could see why they had found his music to fall flat.

This time was going to be different. If he could actually finish the damn song.

He'd taken to walking around out in the snow, listening to the bustling noises of the city. The cacophony of sound would swirl in his head like the whooshing of the wind blustering through his bangs. The sounds sometimes inspired him, and it was as though he could hear the beautiful sounds in his head. However he usually heard it as a band, as a combined unit, not just his solo piano music. Then he would return home, sit down to practice, and the sound would feel off. Like it was missing something.

Really his whole life felt like it had been missing something.

He hadn't meant to fall in love with the band, and the style of music, and...

Well, it didn't matter. Suoh had split up the group, decided to leave the rest of them behind, and there was absolutely no way Kusanagi and Yata were going to play without Suoh. It had been such a silly little blip in Munakata's career. It was supposed to only be a gig for a few months, then he would move on once he had the life experience.

Which he now had, and yet, for some reason, he missed it. He missed practices.

"How has the new composition been coming along?" Awashima asked. She had stopped by to pick up a few music books Munakata had borrowed during what he had called his 'planning phase'.

"Ah, it is much better than my last, Awashima," he chuckled. "Though...I still feel like it's missing something. Or perhaps I am missing something."

"You were rehearsing quite frequently in a completely different genre of music for a long time," Awashima stated, always true to the facts. "Maybe you miss playing more casually?" she suggested.

"I suppose it very well could be that," Munakata admitted. "The thought has crossed my mind. How is Kusanagi doing?" he asked, genuinely curious about the man's well-being.

A soft blush slipped across Awashima's cheeks, as it always did whenever either of them brought up the topic of Kusanagi. "I think he's trying to decide what direction to take his life in," she said. "I know he wants to keep playing music, but he feels strange doing so without Yata and Suoh."

"Yes, well Suoh made his choice quite clear," Munakata snapped.

"I take it you haven't spoken to him then?" Awashima asked. "Izumo asked me if you had, but at the time I didn't have an answer for him. I suppose I do now."

"Indeed," Munakata said, regaining composure. "I have not spoken to him since. He is not much of a talker anyway, so I don't see the point. I don't foresee him changing his mind."

Awashima nodded. "Izumo seemed to think the same thing, but this wasn't for his lack of trying," she sighed. "I think he goes to Suoh's apartment almost everyday," she explained. "He wants to make their band work. Would you...go back if they asked you?"

For a moment, Munakata wasn't quite sure how to respond. Of course there was a part of his heart which was desperate to return to the rush of feelings he'd felt upon that stage, and yet, it also felt so impossible. He had a goal, and he wished to stick to it. Munakata wasn't the type to give up, and he'd been shooting for Scepter University for so long, he couldn't imagine changing his mind to go do something else. Perhaps he could try and do both?

"I...apologize if that was an odd question?" Awashima's voice broke through the silence and Munakata blinked for a moment, shaking his head.

"Ah...no it was not. I suppose I hadn't thought much about it, since it does not seem to be a possibility, even in the near future. Besides," he said, pressing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I really am focused on my audition, and you and I both know if I am accepted I would have barely any free time."

"...True," she said, though Munakata did not miss the slight hesitation in her voice.

He said goodbye to Awashima, ready to return to his piano for the evening. He felt as though he was close to finishing the composition, and then he could make tweaks and rehearse it. Perhaps he simply needed to get over the challenge of writing.

And yet, even as he sat down to focus, he found his mind drifting once more, to the stage, to the sound of the music resonating across the audience, to Suoh's voice. The truth was he adored that rush, and if Suoh came back, Munakata most likely would've jumped at the chance to play with them again, even if he felt like he shouldn't...or couldn't.

With a sigh, he brushed his fingers over the keys. He had to focus. Scepter University was what was important now. He was going to continue on his path to becoming a classical pianist, just as he always had planned. He couldn't afford anymore distractions, especially ones which weren't going to follow through.

~~

The snow was beginning to melt, since the spring season was slowly rolling in. The breeze was growing warmer, and Suoh finally could sit outside on his balcony and enjoy a cigarette. Also if he sat out there, the chance of missing Kusanagi was much higher.

His best friend had come over almost everyday since Suoh had decided he didn't want to play in the band any longer. And everyday Kusanagi would ask for the exact same thing. Suoh however, would never relent. He wasn't going back to the band.

He placed the cigarette in his mouth, taking a long drag as he leaned over the railing. He never wanted to touch his guitar again. Never, not without Totsuka, and especially not with stupid Munakata.

Munakata had gotten far too close to Totsuka, and it hadn't sat right with him. It had been a month, and nightly, the concert would haunt Suoh. He would hear the way Munakata's fingers pushed over the keys, the sound echoing in his mind. He hated the thought that he would turn around and see someone playing Totsuka's songs who wasn't him...and he was playing them better.

So he had to end it.

"And what the hell are you going to do now?" Kusanagi had yelled at him. It was no surprise Kusanagi was angry. Hell, Suoh had expected it, but it didn't change his resolve. He wasn't going to play with the band anymore.

"Dunno," he shrugged. "I'll figure somethin' out."

"You can't smoke and sit in your apartment for the rest of your life," Kusanagi had said.

But as far as Suoh was concerned, he was more than happy to do just that. Which admittedly, was what he had been doing for the past month or so. Playing music was too complicated, and it evoked too many feelings Suoh didn't feel like feeling.

There was a knock on the door, like expected, and Suoh rolled his eyes. He knew it wouldn't be the last time Kusanagi tried to get in. Shaking his head, he held the cigarette to his lips and sucked in a long drag, puffing out the smoke. It swirled with the spring breeze, and flew away from his balcony. It would've been easier to do the same.

Sighing, he kept his cigarette between his teeth and opened the door, his face unchanging when Kusanagi pushed past him to step into the apartment. Suoh shut the door behind him, and made his way out onto the balcony.

"So I don't even get a 'hi' now?" he asked.

Suoh shrugged, waving his hand.

"Thanks..." Kusanagi muttered, pulling a cigarette from his own pack as he walked towards the building. "Mikoto...You can keep living like this. You're gonna waste away."

"Yeah?" Suoh grunted, letting another puff of smoke slip from his lips.

"Why did you quit, Mikoto?" Kusanagi sighed, leaning against the railing with him.

"I already told ya'. You've already asked me. I don't want anything to do with music." Kusanagi had forced him in the first place, and Suoh was sticking to his original plan. "I played the damn concert. It was practically a month ago. What the hell do you want from me?" he grumbled, shaking his head.

"I want you to be honest with me. Mikoto."

"I don't want anything to do with music," Suoh grunted.

"Are you scared? Of continuing this path without Totsuka? You actually looked like you were having a good time on that stage, and even during practice."

"I wasn't," Suoh muttered.

"You're being stubborn," Kusanagi said, glaring at his best friend.

Suoh sighed. "Ya'. Stubborn. You've come over here every single day to see if anything would change and it hasn't. I dunno what you're expecting."

"I'm expecting my best friend to pull himself out of this funk and realize what it is he loves doing. I wish you could've seen how great you looked. Hell, we all looked great. And what happened to spreading Totsuka's music? Mikoto, you could write new songs and share them with the world, be inspired by what Totsuka did-"

A long sigh trailed from Suoh's lips while Kusanagi talked. "I already told you Izumo," he mumbled. "We went through this before you practically forced me to come back against my will. I said I didn't want to in the first place, and I don't want to now. The concert changed nothing."

Admittedly, there had been a moment where Suoh had considered it. When he'd taken Munakata's stupid ass to that concert, seen how his face had lit up...He'd realized he liked teaching the idiot about the world of music, he liked seeing Munakata learn new things and grow. But when he got too close, their kiss, the strange feelings which were slowly growing inside of him, Suoh wasn't sure how he felt. It wasn't until Munakata had fully grasped Totsuka's songs, almost to the point of surpassing him, that Suoh realized he needed to stop. Munakata would never be Totsuka. They were nothing alike, and Munakata could never be as good as him. Even if he seemingly was.

Suoh hated that.

Kusanagi sighed, snuffing out his cigarette against the railing. "Fine," he grumbled. "I'll be back tomorrow."

"...right," Suoh grunted. He used to tell him not to bother, but after many weeks of this, Suoh knew it wasn't worth it. Kusanagi would come back whether Suoh wanted him to or not.

The two didn't say anything else and Suoh finished his cigarette, but stayed outside. He wondered for a brief moment what his life would've been like had he chosen to stay a part of the band. It wasn't like Munakata was going to stay with the group. No, he would've left and joined his pretentious university, leaving them all behind. All that work Suoh had done had been so Munakata could push himself forward and forget they had ever existed.

Perhaps that had been part of the reason why he'd quit. He'd never looked at it that way, but now that the thought crossed his mind, it made Suoh angry. There was no point in staying in a group that would have to keep cycling through people, and Suoh wasn't going to teach them how to be little mini Totsukas each time Kusanagi found a new pianist who inevitably wouldn't be good enough.

No, Munakata never would've stayed, and even if he had, Suoh didn't want to get closer to the guy. Suoh didn't want to get close to anyone.

~~

The stage looked exactly the same as it had so many months ago, and Munakata felt his hands begin to tremble. He wasn't the type of person to get nervous, but something about reliving the experience from before, made him feel uncomfortable.

The stage felt cold, and unwelcoming, the light shining down on the solo piano was enough to make Munakata feel nervous. He didn't know why though; a little over a month ago, he'd played piano in front of a huge crowd of people. And that hadn't even been a genre he was truly familiar with.

Before the classical stage had always felt like his home, but now, he wasn't so sure what he felt exactly. However, he knew it was a feeling he didn't much enjoy.

Taking a deep breath, he made his way out to the stage, bowing to the small group he was about to perform for. "Hello, my name is Munakata Reisi, and this will be my original piece performance," he said.

A man gestured for him to take a seat. "Whenever you are ready."

Nodding, Munakata pulled out the bench and sat in front of the grand piano. He placed his fingertips against the keys, and shut his eyes. He smiled for a moment, letting the thrill wash over him. This time he was going to do it, this time he was going to be successful. He would walk out of this building, prepared to be a student in the spring; he was sure of it.

With a sigh, he pressed his fingers down on the keys, and began to play. He knew his piece by heart now, and he glided through the beginning, a slower more somber part of the piece. The music felt like it flowed from his fingertips, and though it didn't have the same rush as performing on the concert stage had, Munakata could still note the difference in times he'd been on this particular stage.

The tempo of the piece began to pick up; Munakata's fingers pressed harder against the keys as the anger began to seep through. It was so frustrating, how different things felt now. It was as though Suoh had ruined him. Perhaps ruined wasn't the proper word. Changed? Classical music was his life, and he could tell this piece was exceptional. Scepter University would truly be crazy to not accept him after this, but Munakata didn't feel the same thrill he had while playing with HOMRA, and he despised that.

His fingers angrily slammed down on the keys, his emotion shooting through his fingertips. How dare Suoh change everything he'd known about music. Yes, perhaps he was a better performer now, as much as Munakata hated to admit that, but also he hated that the joy he'd felt had seemingly dissipated.

Or maybe he'd never really felt joy at all.

Finally, he moved into the final movement of the song, a somber ending, laced with a bit of resentment.

All his life, he'd wanted to do exactly what he was doing now. Sit on a stage by himself, and wow the classical world with his talent, skill, and art. He was finally capable of doing so, and yet he felt as though something was missing. The loud roaring of the crowd at the end of a song, Suoh's grungy vocals which were so incredibly captivating it wasn't fair. He missed HOMRA, that stage was where he wanted to be, not this one. This one was far too lonely, and empty.

But he didn't have much of a choice. HOMRA didn't exist anymore, and this stage had beckoned to him, had been his 'dream' for so long. Munakata had no choice but to push forward. His fingers danced over the keys as he played the last few lines, filled with a resignation to the fate he had chosen for himself.

He pulled his hands back, opening his eyes, and he waited for some kind of response. Slowly he turned his gaze towards the audience, trying to gauge what they could possibly be thinking. All of them were sat, mouths open, staring at him.

Finally, one of the men stood up and began to clap, the others now following suit. All of them cheered and clapped, and it took Munakata a minute to process what was happening. Months ago, this would've been his proudest moment, but Munakata didn't feel much of anything.

He stood up from the bench and bowed, stepping forward to the front of the stage where he had spoken to them before.

"Excellent," the man in front of him said. "Simply, excellent. It seems you really took our criticism to heart. It was like watching a different man up there!" He was so excited, so Munakata pulled his lips into a smile.

"I thank you," he replied, and bowed once more. "I've been working on this original piece for quite sometime now."

"And it greatly shows," A woman continued. “Your improvement shows just how capable you are. And in such a short amount of time."

"We'd be happy to offer you a position at our school. You have definitely earned it," the man said.

"Thank you so much," Munakata smiled, and bowed once more. "I am very grateful that you have given me this opportunity, and that you even gave me the opportunity to prove myself once again. I know not many people are given a second chance."

"You have an extremely promising future here," the man said. "We could tell your technical performance was absolutely perfect, and when we gave you instructions to better yourself, you did. We could not be more pleased with your results. So, I take it we will see you in the spring?"

Bowing one more time, Munakata nodded. "Of course," he said, smiling widely.

"Marvelous!"

Grabbing his music, Munakata exited the stage. He had finally been admitted to the greatest music program, and he knew he should be happy. He should've been elated, thrilled and any other word one could think of for happy. And yet, as he exited the building, he couldn't help but wonder if he was making the right choice.

~~

"I hear Munakata got in to that Scepter University he wanted to get into," Kusanagi said, letting out a puff of smoke into the air.

"Tch," Suoh scoffed. "Figures."

"You sound mad?"

"Not mad," Suoh grumbled.

"You sound it," Kusanagi teased, gripping the railing with his hand, he leaned back, staring up at the sky. "What did you expect him to do?"

"Nothing. I expected him to do that," Suoh said, shrugging his shoulder.

Kusanagi chuckled softly. "Yeah I guess he did kinda join our band with the idea that he would leave after everything was said and done so he could do his university shit."

"Yup," Suoh said, shoving his cigarette aggressively against the railing as he turned around and headed back inside. He walked towards the kitchen, and grabbed a beer, plopping down on the couch.

Kusanagi's brow furrowed, and Suoh hated that look on his face. It usually meant Kusanagi was thinking about something Suoh would not want to talk about, and he was going to bring it up, whether Suoh wanted to talk about it or not.

"You really do seem mad," Kusanagi chuckled, grabbing his own beer to take a seat next to him.

"Izumo. M'not," he grunted, taking a long swig of his beer.

With a sigh, Kusanagi leaned forward. "Lemme ask you something."

"You're gonna anyway," Suoh muttered, leaning against the arm of the couch.

"Would you have stayed with HOMRA if you thought Munakata was going to stay?" Kusanagi asked and Suoh sighed.

That was exactly the question he'd been expecting, and it was just another question Suoh had no desire to answer.

"S'got nothing to do with him..." Suoh muttered. "He was just a shitty replacement for Tatara."

"Yeah at first. We needed a pianist, but I think it's more than that," Kusanagi said. "The two of you got pretty close."

"We didn't..." Suoh groaned, and pushed himself off of the couch. "Izumo. I don't want anything to do with Munakata. No one would be as good as Tatara, especially not him."

Kusanagi frowned and stood up. "Are you really going to spend the rest of your life hung up on Totsuka? Look, I know you loved him. I get that it was incredibly devastating to lose him, he was one of my best friends, and he should never have died like that. But what do you think Totsuka would say if he saw you like this? Saw you sitting around doing nothing? Do you know how mad he would be?" he hissed.

"Izumo," Suoh rolled his eyes lazily. "Don't bring Tatara into this."

"I will, because I know that's the only sort of thing you listen to. And you know I'm right," he snapped. "Munakata is incredible, and you know that too. Hell, you liked him. Don't even try and deny it. I know you two haven't been talking anymore since you quit, but he was good for the band, he was good for you!" Kusanagi yelled.

"I dunno what you want me to do Izumo," Suoh sighed. "I'm not coming back to the band, and even if I had stayed, Munakata would've left. I'm not going to keep training people to play Totsuka's songs half-assed."

"Munakata didn't play them half-assed and you know that," Kusanagi accused.

"Izumo, shut it. Stop telling me what I know. If you think I know it, why the hell are you talking to me?"

"Because you won't say it. Did you ever consider asking Munakata to stay?"

Suoh froze. It was such a damn catch-22. Asking Munakata to stay would've meant accepting that he was Totsuka's replacement, and it meant he might actually stick around. Which in turn meant that Suoh would have to stay a part of the band, something he was hell bent on not doing.

"He wouldn't have," Suoh said finally. It was easier to push the blame on that asshole.

Kusanagi frowned. "Y'know, I think you're wrong. At the end of everything...he seemed really happy. I mean I didn't know him as well as you, but it really seemed like he wanted to...keep playing with us."

"Yeah, well he's got a fancy university now."

"So you're not even willing to try? We could keep the band, and play together," Kusanagi asked.

"I told ya' I didn't wanna do that anyway."

"Even if Munakata was there?" Kusanagi asked. There was hope in his voice, as though he'd finally found the reason why Suoh had quit, and he was partially right. Partially.

"...yeah," he grumbled.

Kusanagi chugged back the rest of the beer. "Fine. Be stubborn," Kusanagi grunted. "I don't care anymore. When you realize that you're doing exactly what Totsuka wouldn't want you to do, come find me, and maybe we can actually do what we're good at doing. And maybe when you realize Munakata is good for you, you'll actually try and talk to him again."

After his speech, Kusanagi immediately stormed out the door, slamming it behind him. In the silence, Suoh wondered if this meant Kusanagi was going to finally give up on getting the band together.

He pursed his lips and glanced around the room, his eyes falling on his guitar. He hadn't touched it since the concert. He hated when Kusanagi spoke these things out loud because he was always fucking right, and he made Suoh actually think. Totsuka would be incredibly mad if he knew Suoh was sitting around doing nothing.

'You're the best guitar player I know!'

'I love your voice, Mikoto!'

The words echoed in his head again...and he hated it. Just as how Totsuka's voice had convinced him to play the concert, it was starting to convince him not to give up music, not to give up Munakata.

'Don't think, just go.'

With a grunt, Suoh began pacing around the room. Don't think, just go. Totsuka was right. Totsuka was always right. Grabbing his jacket, Suoh yanked the door open and left his apartment, heading for the place he needed to go.

[thisweekingundamwing]

This Week October 8-14

After a few edits and additions, here is the revised This Week. Sorry it’s out a bit after noon.

-mod Clara

Fanfiction:

@anaranesindanarie

Dose of Angst

This is gonna be a collection of angst. Yes you read that right. Angst.

angst

Annelda Michelle

The Hidden Pilot Asset

FORMALLY KNOWN AS DUO, I'M YOUR SISTER. Who really starts Operation Meteor? with the love she has for her family Annelda starts on a journey to find her brother Duo and be an asset to the other pilots who have already been sent to Earth. It has love and loss, adventure and mystery. I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I have writing it. 

@chronicwhimsy

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Sequel to 'Such Little Things' and 'Schoolyard Blues'. Liangyu is now fifteen, and has two years left of high school. The growing pains are not even close to over, though, but everyone tries very hard.

post-canon

Saudade

The summer following the Barton Uprising, Duo joins Trowa to tour with the circus around Europe. It's an attempt to run away from issues, instead of dealing with them, and Trowa finds that in helping Duo face up to his problems, he works through a few of his own. Things are muddling along nicely, until Duo decides to help with Trowa's love life.Saudade: a Portuguese word for a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves.PREQUEL TO SALVAGE.

post-canon, underage drinking, mentions of underage sex

@claraxbarton

Even If

It's Heero's birthday, and the former pilot is introduced to a Terran custom.(Okay. That summary is horribly misleading but I have no other idea what to say)

spanking, voyeurism

Diana_Lua

Ónoma Ὄνομα

Sometimes it's necessary to choose a new name to live freely. [AU; 'Where my demons hide' side story (can be read independently of it); Something about Duo's past with Solo; Angst; Shounen-ai; probably yaoi/lemon at ending (Angel incest); Pairing Duo & Solo]

incest

duointherain

A Dark Wolf

It's a long time after the wars. Heero's been missing for a very long time, more than a century, and Duo is still watching for clues, but has nowhere to search for his lover and friend. He's a small town sheriff in the Pacific north west.He thinks Heero's never coming back, nothing ever happens in his town, and he's fucking fine.He's so wrong.

werewolves

@gw-ficrecfriday

The Soul of Outer Space is Dead

Quatre Winner woke up dead one morning, only it was afternoon and technically speaking he was still alive. But they had cut it out of him. They’d sawed through his skull and they’d drilled into his brain and they’d spooned it out of him, scraped him clean.

angst

@helmistress

Mashed Potatoes

Duo didn’t know what it was about mashed potatoes but he always felt better after having some.

comfort food

A Puppy for Heero

Heero gets a new puppy he never knew he wanted.

Tattoo Shop AU

Zechs’ Teeth

WuFei and Zechs have a sword fight. 

The Italian Job

Zechs and Noin have a hitman to take out in Siena but with all the beautiful scenery and unique places to eat, will they be able to focus?

Quitting the Circuit

Heero is a famous NASCAR driver and it makes his boyfriend worry. He's decided to put a stop to that.

Nicknames

Quatre is forever insulting Zechs, and Zechs wants to know why.

Excerpt from Noin’s Stationary 1

A small poem from Noin's stationary.

How to Love an Axe Murderer

Quatre gets revenge on Duo for planting the 'Axe Murderer' criteria in Heero's head before their first date.

Hair Extensions

Duo fulfills the want of Relena Bloom to braid his and his husbands' hair together for Pride Day. WuFei isn't exactly happy about it.

Dinner’s On You

Duo is tired when he is finally able to drag himself home after a long day at work. But his husband knows just how to wake him up.

Alliance Carwash

Zechs gets a summer job at Alliance, the local carwash, and falls for the manager's daughter.

Maxwell’s Water Refinery

Trowa blushed, there was no stopping it. "Sorry, I." DON'T F*ING SAY THAT! HE'LL THINK YOU'RE SOME KIND OF CREEP! His mind screamed at him making him pause. The delicate brow quirked at him had his only true answer spilling from his mouth anyway. "I wasn't expecting you to be so gorgeous." Violet eyes blinked at him, a stunned expression washing over the man's face

@invidiamalice

Skeptics and True Believers

Trowa is just your not-so-average college student that wants to make it big in the music industry with his band. Will his secret test his relationships and hurt his chances in music? Trans!Trowa

Language, explicit sexual content, trans male character

@kangofu-cb

Control

Heero is waiting at home with a much-appreciated surprise for Duo.Kinktober 2017 prompt from Ro, "Rimming"

Kinktober 2017

Practical Demonstration

Prompt response for Kinktober "Deepthroating"Shameless smut, mostly plotless.Duo and Trowa are at a karaoke bar with the others, and Duo convinces Trowa it's time to leave.

Kinktober 2017

Kariana Kusanagi

Gundam Wing: Gemini

A singer from the colonies arrives on Earth for a concert, but when she encounters the Gundams, the very foundation she knows just may be torn apart. Faced with what she knows, will she be able to survive the war? 

Krysnel_nicavis

Episode 01-The Boy With The Green Eyes

Sometimes, fate sucks at her job. Other times, she seems to know what she’s doing. Heero and Trowa have just suffered a tragic loss. Harry is soon to experience a loss himself but, thanks to two former Gundam pilots, his loss won’t be anywhere near tragic. Maybe they'll all learn something in the process.

Mpreg, miscarriage, HP-GW Crossover

Episode 02: Small Matters

Sometimes, fate sucks at her job. Other times, she seems to know what she’s doing. Heero and Trowa have just suffered a tragic loss. Harry is soon to experience a loss himself but, thanks to two former Gundam pilots, his loss won’t be anywhere near tragic. Maybe they'll all learn something in the process.

Mpreg, miscarriage, HP-GW Crossover

Episode 03: Propriety and Planning

Sometimes, fate sucks at her job. Other times, she seems to know what she’s doing. Heero and Trowa have just suffered a tragic loss. Harry is soon to experience a loss himself but, thanks to two former Gundam pilots, his loss won’t be anywhere near tragic. Maybe they'll all learn something in the process.

Mpreg, miscarriage, HP-GW Crossover

@lifeaftermeteor

LAM

Duo Maxwell’s Apartment Brussels, Belgium 207 May 13

Luvsanime02

Some Things Are Ageless

Trowa loves to goad Zechs, especially when it results in times like this.

Kinktober 2017

A Performance to Remember

Trowa asks for a memorable performance, and Duo aims to deliver.

Kinktober 2017

Something Blue

Duo didn't know what he was expecting when Quatre said that he wanted to show off his latest attempt at a Halloween costume, but it wasn't this. Not that he's complaining.

Kinktober 2017

Turbulence

The story about what Agent Frank Parks has been up to between Evasion and now.This is the seventh story in Navigation, a fem!Heero series.

fem!Heero

Maldoror_Chant

The Arrangement

Wufei, struggling with his demons, agrees to a wartime fling with Heero, no affection needed or wanted. But the 'arrangement' lasts and grows as they join the preventers. It could become a source of strength for both. If they let it.

Non-consensual drug use

Nil by Mouth

Preventers get into lotsa fights, and sometimes we get a tooth knocked loose. I'm fine with going to the dentist, but Heero? That's another matter. Fortunately he's got me to drag him over there, because someone's gotta. And yes, I remembered to disarm him first; I rather like our dentist, and there aren't many like him who's willing to take care of us ex-Gundam Pilots for some reason.

dentist things

The Source of All Things

Center, a planet where magic and technology blend. Or more accurately, fight tooth and nail. A planet of Sources, holes in our boring dimension letting through arcane power, chaos and pseudo-deities. In this hot-house of myths and very real dangers, Trowa and Quatre find a mysterious man at the end of a shamanic voyage. Portents suggest this Heero Yuy is crucial to Center’s survival. He’s important enough to have some interesting enemies after him, at any rate: a devious killer and thief called ‘Shinigami’, and a very irate Dragon. Beyond them looms an even greater threat. Indeed, the greatest of them all.(Alternative Universe, far-flung future sci-fi/fantasy. There are elements from the anime that exist here, albeit in very different forms; Gundam mechas, Zero, and lovely G-boys for instance. They are perhaps a universal constant we are not yet aware of. This fic was original started over a decade ago. It has been heavily rewritten and should now be eventually finished)

sex, mild description of self-harm, weird science

Mistaken-Miracles

When The Tides Change

Preventers learn of a new underground rebellion group, along with the arrival of a new ally. Can Heero put his feelings aside to trust this ally or will new discoveries create tension between the Gundam Pilots? Can they work together to keep the peace? Or are there too many complications to control? 

@noelleian

The Pact

After seducing Quatre, the other four ex-pilots brave the uncharted waters of their new abilities and learn to cope with the unintentional gifts they were given. But as always, power requires responsibility and the humbling acknowledgement of humanity's weaknesses. The struggle to stay true to themselves becomes a dangerous and terrifying endeavor as they skirt the boundary where conscience bleeds into chaos and the dark abyss of temptation.

Non-Graphic Violence, Alpha/Omega

orphan-account

Time

Duo resorts to drastic measures following heartbreak, and Wufei is the only there to pick up the pieces. Sometimes, healing just takes time.

suicide attempt, past abuse

Pokeyonekenobie

Bombshells

A misunderstanding drove them apart. Now an emergency will bring them back together. But will they ever manage to repair the rift in their friendship? 

@renmaxwell, @shinigami-of-excellence

We Don’t Belong

Just as the war was coming to its climax, the Gundam pilots were about to take out White Fang in space, when an attack from Earth knocked both parties out of the sky. The Alliance had been in hiding and building a weapon to take out both of their enemies, a massive nuclear beam capable of knocking an entire colony out of space. The Gundam pilots are captured and put on trial for their crimes. Their punishments are as cruel as the new masters of this world, the foundation that had been manipulating world governments secretly for years and who now openly reign. What will become of the Gundam pilots in this reality?

Pedophilia, sexual slavery, forced sex, forced prostitution, canon divergent

ShenLong

Bound, Bonded and Betrayed

Heero is the eldest son of the King of Colonia. His 21st birthday is approaching and as tradition dictates his betrothed is soon to arrive. However he is also bound by tradition to select his own personal slave. The events that unfold lead him down a path that not only tests his sanity but his humanity and love as well.

bondage, slavery, angst, sex, violence

Strawberrywaltz

The Forgotten

The entire universe thinks that Quatre Winner is dead, but when Heero starts having strange black outs he begins to realize the rumors of Quatre's death might not be true.

Implied non-con, non-consensual drug use, temporary character death

sylvieforaday

They Say It Was a Concussion

Duo takes a spill and Zechs is just what the doctor ordered.

AU

@thehiddenbaroness

Resurrecting the Viper

Following a routine visit to Vingolf, Orga, Mikazuki and Merribit are surprised by the sudden appearance of a practically naked, injured woman. Although Artima seems to have full recollection of who she is, she does not seem to understand the outside world. Against Orga's better judgment, the Isaribi is soon entangled in Artima's quest to find and destroy her old mobile suit - and discover both she and it are relics from over three hundred years ago that could hold the key to Tekkadan's future.

Gundam Wing/Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans

The Manwell

May Demons Rest: Shinigami Sleeps 2017

A re-write of my 2004 fanfic "Shinigami Sleeps"To find and free Duo from his demons, Trowa leaves his uneventful life at the circus for the mean streets of an obscure colony in L2.

rewrite of Shinigami Sleeps

Fanart:

@alicia-makes-things

Relena

@bassrocks

Duo

@chronicwhimsy

OC-October- Chang Liangyu

Liangyu, Duo and Wufei

@gundamwing-ellesmith (This was tweaked with this week.)

http://gundamwing-ellesmith.tumblr.com/post/166258263409/gundamwing-ellesmith-the-indomitable-bhg-i

@lbro009

Sally Po and Wufei Chang

Minimony

OC Akane Yora (OC of @cosmostar, art by Minimony)

@sailoriceprincess

OC from Trials and Memories

@shinigami714

Duo

@space-husband

Gundam Wing gunpla

@ssj5toast

Wing Zero gunpla

@vegalume

OC characters from GW fanfiction

Quatre

Duo

Zechs

Trowa

Heero

Snippets:

@claraxbarton

6x2 Snippet involving how to properly eat chocolate

@gundamwing-ellesmith

OC Profile: The villain from Left Unsaid

@the-indomitable-bhg

Drabble: The Piano

Meta:

@claraxbarton

Math Homework: OT3 Metrics on AO3

Calendar Events:

Gundam Wing Eve War Event @gw-evewar

Open Science Fiction Themed Event

(Saturday) December 23, 2017 - (Sunday) December 24, 2017

*** event will be observing Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) ***

Submissions: Fanfiction, Meta essays, Personal Headcanon, Fan Art

Rules: All works must feature a science fiction theme. Alternate Universes, and cross-over fiction are welcome. There are no limits to characters, pairings, audience rating, time frame or universe.

OC October @gwoc-october

For the month of October, we can post everything and anything pertaining to fan OCs in Gundam Wing with weekly themes and perhaps a featured OC every other day or so. This includes fic, snippets, art, OC profiles, headcanons, ships, discussions, and anything you have as long as it’s about an OC. Even if this OC of yours is still in the mulling-stages, we want to hear about it! Let’s embrace OCs and celebrate our collective awesomeness.

Unnatural November @gwblockparty

The entire month of November.

Supernatural, Otherworldly, Spooky, Alien Techy, Unnatural things will all be taken! Join the fun!

Archives/Sites:

Gundam Wing Pod Fics on AO3

Come and take a listen!

Gundam Wing fanfiction Archive List by @vegalume

https://gundamwingarchive.wixsite.com/fanfiction

Talliya’s Domain by @helmistress

https://ayeeshadragon.wixsite.com/talliya/links

Gundam Wing Diaries Fanfiction Archive by ShenLong

http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.foreverfandom.net/gw/main_Updates.htm

[messier-45]

GoRA Kizuna Meeting #6 Q&A

Q&A from Kizuna Meeting in Ikebukuro on Jan 22nd. This is really long so I categorized them into 5 groups: ①Munakata, ②Fushimi, ③Scepter 4, ④Homra, ⑤K Project, including K7S.

Munakata

Q: Did Munakata study abroad out of his own intention? Red: He received government grant.

Munakata's major was information engineering. (I saw a dozen tweets regarding this. Shocking, isn't it?)

Q: Is there more setting about Captain's studying abroad? Green: The government recommended him to, since it's about time for the country to become more open.

Based on every GoRA member's opinion, Munakata's awakening gotta be an airplane incident. There was a proposal of crashing the plane, making Munakata the only survivor. But... Red: Once we decided that Awashima should be by his side in his awakening, it turns out this way. Green: The only timing for their encounter... Red: That's right. As with Tatsuka & Kusanagi being by Suoh's side when he woke, we want Munakata to have Awashima by his side.

Q. How did Munakata suppress the hijackers? Green: I think he practiced battle skills such as martial arts. Oh and his swordsmanship isn't amateur either. Basically, he's like a superman.

Q: Did you appoint the "Producer Munakata" in R:B? Green: Oh. It was random. I picked the most interesting one among the designs (kimono and such) I received.

Q: Does Munakata-san have any friends besides Mikoto-san? Green: Lol. Umm how should i say this. I think, in school days he hung out with classmates, but that was different from with Suoh. I guess in terms of friends like Suoh, the answer is no.

Q: What's the age difference between Munakata and his older brother? Red: It's decided. But I don't have the notes at hand, so I can't give the exact number right now.

Q: Did Munakata read the documents in "E Archive"? Red: I think he did. Q: Did he talk to the Special Ops about it? Red: No way. He was like reading by himself and thinking, "So that's how it is."

Q: What happens to the sand castle in the short novel "Sand Castle"? Yellow: Not decided yet. It's interesting if it remains. But without the power of the slate, it might crumble a bit.

Fushimi

(Fushimi got especially many asks since Yellow is the only one who can answer them, yet she doesn’t participate in Kizuna Meeting often.)

Q: What happened to Fushimi's uniform and saber after he left (in anime #8)? Yellow: Hidaka brought it back, I think. He'd be flustered like "What should I do? What should I doooo???"

Q: Does Fushimi know that Munakata paid 30 million Yen to save him? Yellow: I'll have to ask Orange to confirm this. But if he knows, I think he'd say things like, "Are you stupid or what?"

Q: In R:B, Akiyama and Benzai fought Fushimi. Do they remember this battle? Green: Since all three of them are intelligent, they can get along well while knowing, "yep, so he was that guy back then."

Q: Can Fushimi drink? Yellow: He doesn't have high alcohol tolerance, but can handle social drinking.

Q: After the ending of season 2, would Fushimi's attitude toward the Special Ops change a bit? Yellow: Sure will! I want to write about what happens afterwards.

Q: Fushimi, in spite of being excellent, values himself low. Does he ever give himself 100 points? Yellow: Um. Rarely, I think, such as when he got something done really well.

Q: Is there any food Fushimi likes? Yellow: Nothing to the extent of "like". If you ask him what food does he like, you'll get "nothing" as a reply.

Q: Does he have a favorite dish in Yata family's cooking? Yellow: Didn't really think about it. I think he'd say "hmm so this is family taste".

Q: In LSW, while being attacked in Jungle mission, did Fushimi feel that Totsuka protected him? Yellow: I wrote "like bathed in sunlight" in the novel. Yes. Fushimi felt it, since the beginning.

Q: What do Fushimi think of Totsuka? Yellow: He doesn't dislike him, but thinks he's annoying. ("Not dislike" is already special, comparing to what he said to Aya.)

Q: When Fushimi left Homra, what were Kusanagi's and Totsuka's reactions? Yellow: They both saw this coming, especially Totsuka. Now that I think of it, Kusanagi would feel so lonely.

Q: Will Fushimi interact with Kusanagi in the future? Green: As the important intelligent units of their clans, they will.

Q: Does Fushimi visit Bar Homra after the ending? Yellow: Basically no, since he feels awkward to. But if invited, he might.

Q: Who has better alcohol capacity? Fushimi-san or Yata-chan? Red: About the same. But Yata seems weaker. Q: What alcohol do they drink? Red: Um... Calpis Sour, like students do.

Q: Would Yata and Fushimi meet Aya again after season 2? Yellow: Not decided whether they should meet or not. Q: I'm curious about how Aya's doing afterwards. Yellow: Thank you. It'll be great if I can write something about it.

Q: Does Kisa know that Fushimi joined Homra and Scepter 4? Yellow: Homra is underworld, so she doesn't know he had been there. Scepter 4 is a government institution, so she's aware of this, I believe.

Q: Will Fushimi and Kisa reconcile? Yellow: Not in the near future, but it'll be nice if they come closer.

Q: Why did Niki marry Kisa? Was it some plan? Yellow: Niki, in his own way, loved Kisa.

Q: Why is Saruhiko's hairstyle like Niki's? Yellow: This can't be explained with reasons.

Q: What's Fushimi Niki's parents' family like? Yellow: It's a family of ancient extraction. Niki was a maverick among them. (Note: Fushimi's family being quite grand isn't really surprising. It was hinted in LSW when mentioning "head family [本家]". If it's an ordinary family without some heritage, no one cares about head family or branch family.)

Scepter 4

Q: Does Saruhiko set his hair every morning? Yellow: Yes. With hair wax, I suppose.

Q: Does Akiyama set his hair every morning, or is that the result of his hair naturally disarranged during sleep? Red: You'll have to ask the anime director regarding this.

Q: Among Munakata, Fushimi, and Enomoto, who has the worst eyesight? Yellow: Munakata. Not decided who comes second, but Munakata has the worst eyesight IMO.

Green: Scepter 4 members goes to family restaurant often. Especially Special Ops, since unlike Munakata, they are common people with common people taste.

Q: Who has the best alcohol tolerance in Special Ops? Red: Akiyama drinks quietly, but he's really good at it. It seems that he often enjoys drinking nice and slow with Benzai.

Q: When did Akiyama and Benzai first meet? Red: When they were students, attending the same school. They've known each other since long ago.

Q: Doumyouji kept going to blind dates (in Countdown manga). Any luck? Red: I think yes. He has good looks to begin with. But in the end, he gets no progress.

Q: Is Konomura (in Case Files of Blue) doing well? Red: Good as ever. He's still travelling around the world. BTW I plan to write about this too.

Q: What's Kusuhara's role in Idol K? Red: He joined Scepter 4, but didn't make a debut yet. He might have the chance to.

Homra

Q: Is Kusanagi-san happy? Green: Don't worry. He finds happiness in bringing happiness to the people around him. So he gets his happiness alright.

Q: Does Kusanagi-san have various recipe for red bean paste cocktail? Green: I heard that red bean paste cocktail does exist in reality. But Kusanagi improved his in trial and error, day by day.

Q: In the after story, did Munakata drink that red bean paste Martini? Green: Kusanagi can make red bean paste Martini tasty. However, the one he made for Munakata was deliberately not.

Q: What brand of cigarette does Kusanagi smoke? Green: What does that dude smoke? ...Nothing weird, just ordinary brands.

Q: Does Kusanagi get to fight in K7S? Red: Oh will he? Um... (really long thinking) ...Ah! He will!

Q: Did Suoh know the arrangements in Bar Homra's kitchen? Did he step into it at all? Red: I think he went in once for dish washing. He basically wouldn't set foot in the kitchen though.

Q: Will Anna attend Ashinaka Academy? A: Not decided yet, but this sounds like a nice idea.

Q: If Anna goes to junior high school while Suoh and Totsuka were still around, what will they say? Green: They'd be like overly-fond parents, won't they! Tatsuka would be acting like a big brother, while Suoh getting a bit jealous about it.

Q: Did Yata's mom name her children Misaki, Minoru, Megumi for a reason? (Note: Misaki means flowers beautifully blooming. Minoru means fruit. Megumi here means spout. Nope, Misaki does not mean vanguard. That's a pun.) Yellow: She gave them plant related names, representing her hope in them growing fast and well like plants.

Q: Are details of Kusanagi-san's siblings decided? Age and stuff. Green: Kusanagi? (Turns to Yellow) Say, any plans for Kusanagi's siblings? Yellow: Eh? We haven't discussed this yet. Green: That's right. Pending.

K Project

Q: How are K characters' birthdays decided? Green: We decided together. "This character should be this zodiac sign. What do you say?", sort of like this.

Red: Ady's middle name might be revealed in the future.

Q: I wonder about Kokujouji's tomb and funeral. A: I think he had a quiet and solemn ceremony.

Q: Did the slate just get wracked without having actual settings? A: We didn't have time to show it in anime, but we did come up with settings, which might be revealed if necessary.

Q: What happens to Homra insignia after the slate is gone? Red: It remains. Q: Including Fushimi's? Red: Yes.

Q: Is there a reason why Neko and Nagare both got heterochromia? Green: Kagutsu Incident did a great deal of damage. Their heterochromia is due to its effect as well.

Q: Will Habari Jin show up in K 7 Stories? Red: Habari in K7S? Eh... Well... Q: Is this a secret? Red: It's a secret.

(This one was from last week's Q&A.) Q: Will Fushimi show up in K 7 Stories? Red: Yes. I suppose every character will. Q: Including Kagutsu? Red: We have visual of him. Can't say if he's gonna speak or not. I guess that counts as yes.

Q: Will some clans' past be elaborated in K7S? Red: Yes. Oops, I shouldn't tell. Please look forward to it.

Red: Last year was for making preparations. This year we'll show the world!

[ridiasfangirlings]

Now that the slate's gone, so she's no longer a King and clans don't technically exist anymore and everything has calmed down, do you think Anna would go to school? Shes the right age to be in Middle School and maybe even go to High School and College afterwords? Or do you think she'll just continue with homeschooling or whatever it is she's been doing?

I think it's been mentioned in at least one of the post-series short stories that Anna is going to school now like a normal kid. I can definitely see that being the choice too, like now that the Slate is gone and there's a chance for her to have a 'normal' school life I think Kusanagi would want that for her, to let her meet some kids her age and make some friends and get to enjoy being a kid a bit more. I think the final decision was probably up to her though, I imagine some time not long after the Slate's destruction Kusanagi notes that a new school term will be starting in a couple months and that it would likely be safe for Anna to go to a normal school, she's not likely to be targeted by anyone anymore and he thinks maybe it's time for her to broaden her world a little outside of Homra. He doesn't intend to force her to go if she doesn't want to and he's perfectly happy to continue homeschooling her if she feels more comfortable that way but he also doesn't want to hold her back and make her hang around rowdy guys all the time either. Anna's a bit nervous about it and she would probably take a little time to consider her options but in the end she decides to try and go to school.

All of Homra would be super supportive of her decision too, like imagine they all band together to go school shopping for Anna. Kusanagi finds a good middle school for her that's not too far from the bar (and which just so happens to have red school uniforms) and he drives her there the first day to make sure she gets there all right. For the first couple months in fact I could see the Homra guys accompanying her to school, either driving her or walking there with her just in case because they know that there are still Strains around and even under normal circumstances a girl walking alone can't be safe right, everyone being just a bit overprotective. Eventually Anna's determined to go to school on her own though and Kusanagi gets to watch as his fledgeling leaves the nest and starts to grow up all on her own. Anna I think might struggle a little right after starting school, just because she's so clearly different from the other kids that people are hesitant to approach her and it's hard to make friends. Eventually I think she might become fairly popular though, she's kind to everyone and I could totally see her being considered the school's 'princess' (and people wonder if she really is a princess too, like look at all her bodyguards that meet her going to and from school, and that guy in the sunglasses who shows up at all the parent-teacher meetings).

Then eventually from middle school she'd likely go on to high school (Yata's all proud of her because he never went to high school and Kusanagi's kind enough not to mention that most people don't drop out after middle school). I kinda like the idea that Anna eventually goes to college in order to become a teacher like Honami, knowing how her aunt was able in some small way to touch Mikoto when he was in high school and wanting to become someone like that. I think she wouldn't have much trouble getting into a good school either, I'm sure Kusanagi would start setting money aside for her education as soon as she starts going to a regular school and all of Homra would be ready to pitch in if she needed any help (and then imagine when she becomes a teacher there's rumors always going around that no one messes with Kushina-sensei because she's protected by some kind of yakuza or gang, if anyone ever asks her about it Anna just smiles gently and doesn't reply).

[swipestream]

New Release Roundup, 2 March 2019: Fantasy and Adventure

Arthur returns, samurai clash with cultivator mages, and fourteen authors roll the dice on famous battles in this week’s roundup of the newest releases in fantasy and adventure.

Arthur Dux Bellorum (A Light in the Dark Ages #4) – Tim Walker

From the ruins of post-Roman Britain, a warrior arises to unite a troubled land.

Britain in the late Fifth Century is a troubled place – riven with tribal infighting and beset by invaders in search of plunder and settlement. King Uther is dead, and his daughter, Morgana, seizes the crown for her infant son, Mordred. Merlyn’s attempt to present Arthur as the true son and heir of Uther is scorned, and the bewildered teenager finds himself in prison. Here our story begins.

Arthur finds friends in unexpected quarters and together they flee. Travelling through a fractured landscape of tribal conflict and suspicion, they attempt to stay one step ahead of their pursuers, whilst keeping a wary eye on Saxon invaders menacing the shoreline. Arthur’s reputation as a fearsome warrior grows as he learns the harsh lessons needed to survive and acquire the skills of a dux bellorum, a lord of war.

Defiler (Monster Tamer #3) – 

Monsters. Girls. Mayhem.

The Darkness has taken Malem. The Breaker fights for Vorgon now.

But that doesn’t mean Malem is going to let anyone harm the five women he’s bound to. They give him the power to control monsters, after all. Besides, they’re super hot.

Vorgon doesn’t like the devotion Malem shows his women, so the evil demon decides to send him on a fool’s errand—-his mission is to infiltrate the kingdom of the Tree Elves and Break their queen. No easy task, given that she is surrounded by an army of bloodthirsty fighters and merciless mages, not to mention a crapload of monsters.

This errand might just backfire on Vorgon, however, because if Malem succeeds, he will grow in power far beyond anything the demon ever dreamed of…

A Mighty Dawn – Theodore Brun

Hakan, son of Haldan, chosen son of the Lord of the Northern Jutes, swears loyalty to his father in fire, in iron, and in blood. But there are always shadows that roam.

When a terrible tragedy befalls Hakan’s household he is forced to leave his world behind. He must seek to pledge his sword to a new king. Nameless and alone, he embarks on a journey to escape the bonds of his past and fulfil his destiny as a great warrior. Whispers of sinister forces in the north pull Hakan onwards to a kingdom plagued by mysterious and gruesome deaths.

But does he have the strength to do battle with such dark foes? Or is death the only sane thing to seek in this world of blood and broken oaths?

Simple Things (The Valens Legacy #13) – Jan Stryvant

Sean’s found himself trapped in the realm of the demons, and he’s also found a mystery there as well – a lioness. How and why she’s there, and if she’ll help him, he doesn’t know yet. But if anyone knows the lay of the land, the demons, and how to get out of there, he figures it would have to be her.

Back home, Adam is doing his best to fit in and not make too many mistakes. At least he heals fast so no one notices the bruised shins from being kicked by Roxy all the time. The war however is already starting to heat up, even without the main gateway being open. Apparently Sean’s actions are having an effect, and not necessarily a good one.

But people are pulling together and everyone is starting to discover just how high the stakes really are.

The Sword of Kaigen – M. L. Wang 

On a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire’s enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name ‘The Sword of Kaigen.’

Born into Kusanagi’s legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: to master his family’s fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen’s alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might not have much time to become the fighter he was bred to be. Worse, the empire he was bred to defend may stand on a foundation of lies.

Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her growing son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of an impending invasion looming across the sea, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface.

When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies even reach their shores?

Those in Peril (The Phases of Mars #1) – edited by Chris Kennedy and James Young

Fourteen outstanding authors. Fourteen worlds that never were.

Throughout the human experience, historians have wondered, “What if?” What if Japan had been on the side of the U.S. in World War II? What if things had been just a little different in the Falklands? What if Russia had started World War Three?

Wonder no more, for these questions, along with many others, are answered within the pages of this book. Told by a variety of award-winning authors, like Sarah Hoyt, the 2018 Dragon Award Winner for Alternate History, and Kacey Ezell, the winner of the 2018 Baen Reader’s Choice Award, “Those in Peril,” deals with naval warfare that never happened in our world…but easily could have.

The first book in the exciting new “Phases of Mars” anthology series, there is something for everyone inside! From sailing ships, to steam, to today’s modern aircraft carriers, “Those in Peril” traces several centuries of naval warfare…that wasn’t. From adding a psychic…to making a different choice of friend or foe…to something insignificant toppling a kingdom, this book has it, so come aboard and find out “what if” all of these things had changed history…just a little. You’ll be glad you did!

Viridian Gate Online: Firebrand – J. D. Astra and James Hunter

New worlds get new kings, and that’s exactly what Abby thinks she’s found in her boss’ hacked code.

With a cataclysmic asteroid careening toward Earth, the VRMMORPG project Viridian Gate Online has become more than just a game, and Abby thinks her boss, Robert Osmark, wants to be more than just its founding father.

Now, Abby holds a hacked key to the kingdom that could earn her a punishment worse than death. To uncover the secret that drug lords and corrupt politicians paid millions for, Abby must dive into the game she helped create and team up with one of its AI creations. It’s a race against the clock as she tries to discover what’s hidden in the secret code before Osmark can crown himself ruler over all that remains of humanity.

Underlord (Cradle #6) – Will Wight

A tournament approaches.

All around the world, great clans and sects prepare their disciples to fight against one another in a competition of young Underlords. Even the Blackflame Empire is drawn in, but their youth are not strong enough to compete.

Yet.

New Release Roundup, 2 March 2019: Fantasy and Adventure published first on https://medium.com/@ReloadedPCGames

[ridiasfangirlings]

Fem Fushimi with an interest in 50-60s dresses and styles. She looks absolutely gorgeous but until post Rok she doesn't wear them that much in public. When she does everyone's jaw just drops and maybe she and Anna bond a bit over having specific fashion tastes and swap styles on occasion. [ I just started watching Queens Gambit and thought femshimi would look really nice in the form fitting waist lines with flowly skirts ]

I kinda like the idea of Fem!Fushimi going from probably not giving a shit about her clothes to realizing that she actually likes wearing nice outfits, like it makes her feel more comfortable and confident. Like I always imagine female Fushimi never caring about her clothes when she's younger, she always wears shapeless oversized clothes and cuts her hair short and Yata doesn't even realize she's a girl for ages. When she joins S4 she starts growing her hair out and showing a bit more skin when it comes to her uniform but off duty she's mostly in oversized cardigans and drab clothes, she probably even looks down a lot on girls who like to dress cute because Fushimi sees it as a pointless frivolous thing. It's the despair of the alphabet squad, who would love to see her in miniskirts and cute knee highs (and Munakata, who very much wishes to see Fushimi-kun in a fetching sundress) and even Awashima tries to get her to come shopping on occasion because Awashima knows how fashion can be a woman's strongest weapon and she thinks Fushimi might feel less gloomy and more open if she felt cute in her own clothes.

What gets Fushimi to realize she likes a certain style is say there's some undercover mission where she has to dress in kind of a 50s/60s type style, like the Strain S4 is after enjoys holding parties themed after different decades. Fushimi gets to wear a cute pinafore (with a nice flowy skirt and big hidden pockets for lots of knives) and she has to actually make an attempt to socialize in order to find the target. Fushimi isn't particularly happy about this, complaining when Awashima's doing her hair that she doesn't see the point in dressing like this and why does she have to talk to people and Awashima just smiles and tells her these clothes suit her well. When she enters the party Fushimi's initially hesitant and avoiding everyone but she does eventually have to, like, interact with other humans and Fushimi's surprised to find that it's easier than expected, like she still doesn't enjoy talking to people but she feels really comfortable in these clothes and it's giving her unexpected confidence. After this maybe she occasionally dresses up in secret, like she'll hide in her room all day on a day off playing on her PDA but at least she's doing it in a cute dress.

Post-ROK when she's really trying to overcome some of her issues is when Fushimi starts just wearing what she wants in public. The first time she steps out of her room in this super cute dress that accentuates her thin waist and nice figure all the S4 guys nearly run into walls staring at her and it's almost enough to make her go back into her room, imagine them all quickly trying to reassure her that she looks great (and then Hidaka compliments her boobs and almost gets a knife to the face). Munakata and Awashima are both pleased to see Fushimi starting to become more comfortable in her own type of style and even Homra gets to see how much Fushimi actually looks like a girl now, imagine her stopping by the bar and Chitose hitting on her before she draws a knife and he's like oh shit it's Fushimi (but she's still hot so he asks her on a date anyway and Fushimi's like I'm going to need more knives in this skirt). Anna comes over and tugs on her skirt, telling her that she looks pretty and Fushimi finds herself unexpectedly pleased by the compliment. Maybe Awashima's mentioned to Kusanagi that Fushimi's finding her confidence in dressing how she wants and Kusanagi decides to suggest Fushimi spend some time with Anna, who could use a good female role model, as a way to help them both. This definitely leads to Fushimi at some point ending up in a big frilly dress and being irritated about it, though as Anna gets older maybe she starts enjoying some more aristocrat-type fashion and that Fushimi actually doesn't mind, she can look very intimidating in a waistcoat.

[ridiasfangirlings]

Kusanagi overheard young Yata and Anna talking about what they like about HOMRA with Yata saying "Mikoto-san is so cool! I wanna be just like him someday." with Anna agreeing with him. Kusanagi then look at Mikoto whose sleeping on the couch and decides to have Mikoto at least act like a better role model to the impressionable children in their group.

Poor Mikoto, he didn't ask to be a role model to impressionable children (well, Fushimi hates him so there's at least one impressionable child who isn't interested). Imagine this shortly after they rescue Anna though so Fushimi's still in Homra and he and Yata are still fairly new to the clan and the youngest members outside of Anna herself. Yata's all eager to get along with Anna the way he does everyone, like he doesn't think of her as a 'girl' really and anyway she has cool powers and she's one of them now so he wants her to feel comfortable in Homra. He's talking to her about all the cool things in Homra that she can be part of now, like we all go to the beach sometimes and we beat up evildoers and we all go eat ramen and it's the best. He looks over at where Mikoto's napping on the couch and adds that Mikoto is the greatest King too, Yata wants to be just like him someday. Kusanagi's within earshot cleaning some glasses and he chuckles a little at that, but then he hears Anna reply '...Me too. I want to be like Mikoto.' Kusanagi freezes and glances back at them, Yata's grinning and fist bumping Anna like this is great idea and Anna's just looking at Mikoto with a very serious face.

So then later once the kids are off doing something else Kusanagi prods Mikoto awake, he's got this exasperated look on his face and Mikoto's just like I didn't do anything. Kusanagi sighs and says 'those kids' look up to Mikoto and maybe he should be a better role model. Mikoto lights a cigarette and shrugs, saying isn't Kusanagi supposed to be the role model. Kusanagi says it isn't the same, everyone sees Mikoto as their illustrious King after all and maybe it's time he acted more like one. Mikoto gets this pinched look on his face and Kusanagi chuckles a little like well maybe that's too much to ask of a guy like you after all. Mikoto's like I didn't ask to be a role model and Kusanagi says it was fine when all they had were rough guys around here but now they've got a kid, he should think about Anna too. Mikoto's like that kid'll be fine the way she is and Kusanagi's like hey what kind of parental attitude is that, do you want Honami's niece to grow up to be a delinquent too. Mikoto's like you're worrying about it too much and Kusanagi says at least maybe he could curb the smoking a little, and less swearing and burning things when the kid is around, that's all he asks. Mikoto grumbles like you smoke too and Kusanagi says they all have to adjust a little to being new parents of so many kids all at once. (And meanwhile as he's giving this lecture Totsuka is probably upstairs telling Anna a bedtime story about that time King burned a guy's face off while she listens in rapt fascination).

[ridiasfangirlings]

I keep wondering about an AU that i created in my head that the truth about Misaki's father doesn't appear is because he is a strain that have crow wings and is able to understand what birds say so in a normal night they go out to a restaurant but they get assaulted so he tells his wife to go while he holds him off but he gets shot and dies so when the police finds the corpse they recognize the person and find out he is a strain so in an act to protect their son his mom leaves the city to make a new life with her son so she tries to hide from the scepter 4 and then some years later the scepter 4 starts to search for the family of strain that died and the power that he inherit from his father starts manifesting but i don't know if i write some fanfic about it what do you you think

This reminds me of those AU asks I've gotten where Yata's dad is Kagutsu, maybe say in this version his dad is a Strain who was like working for Purgatory before he met his wife and that's why he ends up dead. Like Yata's dad got a mix of tengu/Disney princess Strain so he can both grow wings and talk to birds. The wings he can like retract for at least a small amount of time so that he can pretend to be 'normal' but say it's difficult for him and he prefers to allow his wings to be seen freely. When he first became a Strain the old Scepter 4 tried to talk with him and he got worried, not being able to get a job due to being a Strain he ends up falling in with Purgatory. He begins doing like all this crime and causing trouble, but then one day Yata's mom is like coming home from her job and she sees him with his wings. He's worried that she'll scream but instead she just thinks he looks like a superhero, Yata's dad ends up talking to her more and eventually they fall in love and have a kid. Yata's dad is worried that maybe Yata will have wings too but he seems to be a totally normal baby.

Now that he has a family Yata's dad wants to leave Purgatory but of course they won't let him go so easily. He's at a restaurant one day with Yata's mom when some Purgatory guys walk in, Yata's dad tells his wife to run and tries to hold them off, Yata's mom escapes but his dad is killed. Scepter 4 gets called in to collect the body and they recognize that he was the Strain they've been looking for. Maybe Scepter 4 thinks Yata's dad might have had some information that could help them get the upper hand on Kagutsu so they try to track down his wife. All Yata's mom knows about Scepter 4 is that her husband told her never to talk to them and she worries that they're some bad corrupt police force or something so she decides to take her kid and leave Shizume to start a new life. Eventually she remarries and returns to the city figuring that now that she and her son have a new last name they won't be recognized and everything will be fine.

Yata has no idea about any of this but say he starts feeling these pains in his back one day and he doesn't know what's wrong. He also feels like maybe he's getting sick because he thought he heard the crows in front of his apartment arguing this morning and he actually understood them, he must have a fever. As he's alone in his apartment imagine his back starts hurting worse and worse and suddenly these crow wings just pop out. Yata's initially freaked but once he gets over being suddenly a Strain he'd probably think it's cool (and imagine him like jumping out a window all 'I bet I can fly!' and dropping like a stone because flying requires a little practice). Yata doesn't know how to hide his wings so he ends up tossing on a big coat even though it's spring and carefully makes his way to Homra, where everyone's shocked to see what's happened to him. Yata asks Kusanagi if he thinks that Yata got hit by some Strain power or something and Kusanagi says he'll check with his contacts to see if any Strain with this sort of power is active right now.

At the same time say there's been like some activity from this other old criminal Strain who used to work with Purgatory, Scepter 4 has been doing research into him and they find out about this other Strain who was associated with him and died years ago, a guy with crow wings. Maybe Yata's dad like stole something valuable from the Gold clan before dying, like some kind of strong power amplifier and this other Strain is looking for it. Scepter 4 needs to find it first but they need to figure out if the dead Strain had any associates or family who could have information on the missing item. That's when Fushimi gets some intel about a Strain with crow wings who's hanging around Bar Homra and decides to go investigate (and at the same time the other criminal Strain hears this rumor too and suddenly everyone wants to talk to Yata and meanwhile Yata is just innocently attempting to jump out of the bar's second floor window because if he has wings then dammit he is going to learn to fly).

[ridiasfangirlings]

Dragon Prince AU: Yata is the human prince of Homra, son of King Mikoto and 'Queen' Tatara. Anna's his younger adoptive sister. She's half elf. His personal knight's a childhood friend, Kamamoto. Kusanagi's the King's advisor/a human mage. S4 members are all elves of the same clan and were sent to assassinate the Homra royal bloodline. (Maybe because they think they stole Anna?) But Fushimi can't bring himself to kill Yata. They eventually fall in love & unite the elf/human races.

Nothing wrong with Totsuka being queen, same sex royal relationships are canon in Dragon Prince :P So Yata is the child of rulers Mikoto and Totsuka (maybe he was adopted as a baby precisely to have a successor or something) and he's very popular in the kingdom even though he's not a very regal prince all things considered. He spends a lot of time hanging out with his sister Anna, a half-elf child who was rescued by Mikoto from the mystic forest as a baby. Mikoto's predecessor Kagutsu started a war with the elves which Mikoto was trying to pull back on, figuring if his people don't bother the elves they won't bother his people either. During the last battle Mikoto finds baby Anna abandoned and takes her in, all the elves had already retreated and he figured if he left her she would die. Totsuka was perfectly happy to have a new daughter and Yata immediately becomes protective of his new sister, wanting to make sure she grows up loved and happy.

The kingdom has become relatively peaceful but Mikoto's adviser Kusanagi starts hearing intel that the elves may be trying to make a move again. Mikoto thinks this a pain and doesn't want to have to deal with, telling Kusanagi to just keep an eye on them but don't do anything to start a war. Unknown to him and the rest, Anna is actually an elven princess who the elves believe was 'kidnapped' years ago by the human kingdom. They've been trying to plot ways to get her back and finally it's decided to send an elite team of assassins, led by Munakata, to kill the Homra royal bloodline and take Anna back. Fushimi is the youngest member of the squad, chosen for his particular skills and speed even though he's never been on such a huge mission before. Munakata has full faith in him though and Fushimi figures when the time comes he won't hesitate.

As the elves get closer to the castle Fushimi goes out on like a reconnaissance mission checking around the perimeter. He ends up getting momentarily distracted and maybe ends up caught in like an animal trap. He's quietly freaking out about how this could ruin the mission when someone sets him free. Yata was wandering around the castle grounds and spotted him, thinking Fushimi was just some random person who got caught Yata set him free. Their eyes meet and Yata realizes that Fushimi's an elf, Fushimi pulls a knife all ready to kill him when Yata's eyes light up and he's all 'you look so cool!'. Fushimi has no idea what to do in the face of all this enthusiasm, like he knows he needs to kill Yata to protect the mission but he somehow he can't bring himself to do it as Yata sits there asking him all these questions about elves. Fushimi retreats instead, not telling anyone that he's possibly just fucked up the mission because he's worried that he'll like be kicked out of the elven guard if they know how he screwed up. Instead he vows to find Yata in the castle and kill him the second time, making sure to finish the deed he couldn't do before.

The elves attack the castle like right before Mikoto and co. learn about what's going on, Yata accidentally lets slip that he met the coolest elf the other day and Kusanagi realizes belatedly that the elves must be there as part of some advanced attack. The sky outside suddenly goes dark as the elves make their attack, Yata is sent off with Anna and his guard Kamamoto in order to keep them safe. In the commotion though Yata and Anna get separated from Kamamoto and are found by Fushimi, who attacks Yata with the intent to kill him, determined not to be a failure. Anna stands in his way to stop him, unconsciously using some of her elf powers and Fushimi realizes who she must be. He decides to grab her and take her with him but of course Yata won't let that happen and the three of them end up running off together. Yata asks Fushimi why they're trying to kidnap Anna and Fushimi's like you're the ones who kidnapped her, Yata's like wait we didn't kidnap anyone and they all realize that maybe there's like a big misunderstanding happening here.

Fushimi takes them back to where the elves were supposed to meet after the mission ended but no one's there, there's still a bunch of commotion back at the castle though and Fushimi refuses to go back with Yata to explain things. In the end they decide to take Anna to the elf homeland and try to stop everyone from going to war. Fushimi isn't particularly thrilled to be traveling with an idiot human and Yata's not into following a jerk ass elf (who's okay maybe kinda cool). Even so the more they travel together the more they start to understand each other and become close, Fushimi doesn't want to admit that he might have feelings for a human but when he thinks about Yata possibly being hurt if they make it to the elf homeland the more he starts to worry (also eventually he hears a rumor that Queen Totsuka died in the elf attack and Fushimi doesn't want Yata to know, thinking that if Yata hears Fushimi's people killed his dad Yata won't ever want to speak with him again).

[itsuki-minamy]

“RED HOT VACATION“

Translation: Naru-kun Raws: Ridia

Kusanagi and his friends surrounded a campfire in front of a camping tent on a night when the babble of the river could be heard pleasantly.

At the campfire made of red-hot charcoal, Kusanagi cooks the paella in a Dutch oven, cuts a whole French loaf, cuts bacon, tomato, onion, olives and cheese, wraps it in aluminum foil, bakes it over the coal fire and cooking in hot sand and skillet, there are also delicious shrimp floating in olive oil with garlic, a variety of dishes, and grilled salted fish, which Totsuka serves and were caught by Yata.

"This is delicious bread! Let's taste the pizza!”

Kamamoto rips the French bread with melted cheese out of the foil and says cheerfully as he chews. "In winter, I will go with everything."

Kamamoto is a beautiful young man whose usual appearance is like a lie due to the mysterious change that occurs every year in summer.

"If you bring something in winter, it will disappear at a time like this!"

“No, I am cooking in the camp, I bake the meat! That is all! I just said what I felt.”

"After a little research on camping food, I thought it was unexpectedly stiff."

"It's fun to cook like that outside."

Mikoto. With Misaki's help we catch fish. It's delicious?"

"Yes."

At the end of the Obon Festival break, Suoh, Kusanagi, Totsuka, Anna, Yata and Kamamoto arrived in the mountain camp. The idea is to start summer vacation and go somewhere.

Kusanagi thought that it would not be necessary to go out during the holidays since people who work seriously every day have to work, but he said: "Even the HOMRA bar will have a great summer vacation!" That was in the face of a dozen claims.

Certainly, the HOMRA bar is currently closed during the summer. Kusanagi was returning to Kyoto for the Obon Festival, but he was not going to stay long and would return to the city in two days and one night, so the rest of the day was pure rest.

When Kusanagi accepted, Totsuka was shocked and immediately decided the fate, prepared the equipment for camping, invited Yata and Kamamoto, and took Suoh and Anna. Even at this time, there were not many people, and the river that flows to one side came to this site that seems to be a beautiful place.

"We came to camp for first time."

Anna smiled slightly. Today, because she is outdoors, Anna is not dressed as usual, wearing stretch pants, a shirt, a hoodie, and sneakers. She has a fresh and different tenderness than usual.

"Are you enjoying your first camp?"

When Totsuka asked her, Anna answered confidently.

"It's fun. It's my first camp... the first summer vacation.”

Anna, who had been through many difficulties in the past, hardly ever attended school. Naturally, she didn't know the excitement of summer vacation and had no memories of summer with friends. Kusanagi lowered his eyebrows at that somewhat complicated thought.

"Tatara, what were you doing during the summer holidays?"

“I was playing a lot because I met King and Kusanagi during middle school, so I had a lot of fun over the summer vacation. Did you go to the Omatsuri festival?”

"When I went there, I just passed the food street."

"King, do you remember too?"

"There was baked corn."

“The festival has much more fun! I went to the festival with my brother and sister…”

Yata, who was talking happily, lost her momentum along the way and stopped as if it were a bad thing. He had probably been to the festival with Fushimi.

Kamamoto takes over the story brilliantly as he follows Yata.

“When you were child, you played a lot with me during the summer holidays, Yata-san. Catching beetles and ride a bike.”

"Ah, I even made you fight beetles!"

"It looks like fun."

Narrowing her eyes, Anna said that in a slightly enviable voice, Suoh looked down from the side.

"If you want to, you will in the future."

Anna was surprised at the words thrown by Suoh's careless tone, and looked at him.

Suoh was no longer looking at Anna and exhaling tobacco smoke in the opposite direction. Instead, Totsuka smiled at Anna.

"That's right. Anna, let's do a lot of games this vacation. The bar summer break is over, but luckily we have summer break every day, right?”

"That's right, Anna, I'll teach you how to find beetles! There are many in the forest around here.”

"Hey Yata-san. A little girl catching insects..."

Speaking of summer, split watermelon or pool? Watching the dolphin shows in the aquarium is also fun. The best classic is the sea…”

"Jellyfish will increase in the future. Well, will we go to the sea next year?”

Kusanagi thought: Anna has no memories of summer vacations, during this time in "Homura" it could be like a long summer vacation for her to grow up.

And I think it could be similar. I wonder if I've been on a hot, loud, intense, and endless summer vacation since I met them.

"And fireworks! Launching fireworks is also great. Oh, I'm sorry. I wish I had fireworks today.”

When Totsuka said it in a disappointing voice, Suoh said "Ha." and laughed briefly.

"Is there gunpowder?"

The next moment, a flame appeared in Suoh's hand.

A vivid red flame that is incomparable to the bonfire flame in front of them. Suoh moved it in such a way that the fireball came loose from his hand. The flame climbed up into the starry sky with a thin tail and spread like a hollow explosion.

At that time, the entire area turned red.

The environment becomes brighter and the brightness of the stars disappears. Only a moment of red light and heat dominated the place.

There is no emotion like fireworks. In any case, it is the atmosphere of the crash site of the explosion. But…

"Beautiful red."

Anna said that in a sighing voice. Nothing was wrong with that word.

"Ah! No Blood! No Bone! No Ash!”

Yata begins to push his fist into the sky while getting excited.

"Well," Homura "fireworks! So, me too.”

Totsuka got up and stretched out his hands to the sky. He created a fire butterfly from his fingertips that fluttered skyward. A series of butterflies made of flames fly upward, splashing flakes of fire dust.

Yata and Kamamoto face off, lowering their hips and screaming, flailing arms with fire and shooting a series of fireballs into the sky.

"A competition."

Kusanagi smiled with a bitter smile, but he also opened the lid of his lighter when he saw that was not a bad thing.