#Nara cannot write short things

[naralanis]

little bumps in the road (pt. 10)

Previously on LBitR...

“Calm down,” Lena whispers, even though she’s having trouble doing exactly that at the sight of the empty bench where she had left Kara waiting not even an hour ago.

“Don’t tell me to calm down,” Alex hisses; the muzzle of her gun dis rather painfully on her back, and Lena would really like to step away from it, but the agent has her arm locked in a vice grip. “Where the hell is she, Lena? She was here when I followed you in!”

“Walk with me,” Lena says, quickly scanning the area--they’re standing in a stiff, unnatural way, and the last thing she wants is to draw any attention, especially when they’re both wearing stolen LuthorCorp lab coats right outside the building. She takes one tentative step away, hooking her arm around Alex’s as if they were just friends walking down the street arm-in-arm.

Thankfully, Alex understands Lena’s not-so-subtle hint faster than Kara ever could; her image-induced expression relaxes into a smile that barely looks forced, and her grip of Lena’s arm, though still tight and borderline painful, shifts so that it appears more casual.

“Is there any way you could have been followed?” Lena asks, subtly looking around them, noting that Alex is doing the same.

“That’s always a possibility,” Alex admits, sounding both panicked and defeated at once. “But I was very careful.”

“OK, let’s not panic yet,” Lena tells both Alex and herself. “Kara and I made plans to rendezvous back at the motel if I was gone too long or if anything happened.”

Alex gives her a look--it’s weird to have a patented Alex-Danvers-look-of-disapproval coming from a stranger’s face. “You weren’t gone for long, though.” She doesn’t voice the alternative.

Unthinkably, Lena reaches out and gently pats the hand on her arm. She means for it to be reassuring--it’s the kind of thing she would do for Kara--the kind of thing she has been doing for Kara over the last couple of weeks, but Alex looks just as puzzled by the action as Lena is.

She removes her hand and clears her throat. “Still, our best bet is the motel. Did you drive here?”

Alex nods. “Great,” Lena continues, mind already working a mile a minute. “Kara probably took the bus back--we didn’t want the car to be seen downtown,” she explains, and Alex lets out an undignified snort.

“That’s remarkably sensible of you,” she quips sarcastically. Lena ignores her.

“What I’m saying is, if you drove here and we take your vehicle, we may beat Kara to the motel, or get there shortly after her. It’s one hour from LuthorCorp to the motel by bus--she’ll switch routes at least twice on the way.”

Alex looks impressed despite herself. “And if she doesn’t show, what then, genius?” she challenges, lips pursed.

Lena breathes out steadily, calmly. “She will,” she says with as much conviction as she can possibly muster in her tone, because the alternative is simply unthinkable.

Alex smacks her lips, slowing her walk as she considers their limited options. “Fine,” she finally concedes, dragging Lena down an alleyway.

They dispose of their lab coats in a trashcan in that same alley, and Alex practically hauls Lena towards a secluded spot behind down another alley a few blocks away.

“You better hold on,” she says, removing a few strategically placed cardboard boxes to reveal a sleek black motorcycle, discreetly parked behind a dumpster. “I did not bring an extra helmet.”

Lena does hold on, mainly because Alex weaves and cuts through traffic like an absolute manic as she follows the directions Lena has to practically shout in her ear as they go. She knows Alex is desperate to find Kara and make sure she’s OK, but Lena also wishes she would ease off the gas a little; she’s got enough to be afraid of at the moment.

She feels like her heart is about to burst out of her chest when they finally reach the hotel; they’re nowhere close to the room she and Kara had checked into, but she’s already fumbling in her purse for her key card. with Alex hot on her heels.

They stumble into the room together, and Lena has to stop, has to take a second to try to stop the cold dread she immediately feels at finding it empty, exactly as they had left it this morning.

Alex begins pacing like a caged tiger immediately. “She’s not here,” she gasps, tapping at the image inducer at her temple, and then it’s Alex, really Alex, looking worried and panicked and slightly disheveled in this empty room, and now Lena is belatedly realizing it’s up to her, Supergirl’s would-be killer, to try and comfort the hero’s sister while they wait.

As if she is not on the verge of a panic attack herself.

“We knew she wouldn’t be,” she tries to reason, keeping her voice as even as she can, though she can’t stop tugging at her fingers out of sheer nervousness.

She’s doing the math in her head, thinking of the bus schedules, of which one Kara probably had gotten on and when; she’s mapping out the routes in her mind, considering the usual trip times, factoring in the average Metropolis traffic at two in the afternoon on a Thursday.

Alex takes one look at Lena’s fidgeting hands and immediately sighs, sinking into one of the beds. “Take that stupid wig off,” she barks. “Blonde you is freaking me out.”

That lets out a little chuckle, but it feels like some kind of hysteria. She takes a seat on the opposite bed, and Alex regards her quizzically.

“Kara said something similar yesterday,” she explains, carefully removing the wig and setting it on the nightstand. “That’s too bad; I really thought I was pulling it off.”

The attempt at humour falls completely flat--Lena can see it plainly in Alex’s wooden expression. “You definitely weren’t,” she deadpans. Her knee is bouncing up and down, up and down, up and down, boot tapping dully on the carpet.

It’s driving Lena insane.

“Kara will be here soon,” Lena says, still tugging at her fingers. Alex doesn’t look convinced. 

“And if she doesn’t?”

Lena has no answers to that, refuses to consider the possibility.

“She will,” she says again, in an almost silent whisper, for her own comfort. “She will, she will, she will.”

Alex says nothing, only continues with her bouncing knee, keeps her gaze locked onto Lena. And Lena, Lena tries not to squirm under the agent’s scrutiny; she fidgets, she stares at the blinking red numbers of the alarm clock, steals glances at the door--she looks at anything and anywhere to avoid Alex’s gaze.

When Alex does speak again, her voice is low, but it still startles Lena enough for her to jump a little in surprise.

“What do you remember about that day, Lena?”

When Lena turns to face her, Alex’s eyes are as hard as stone. Her scowl has returned, and the way her brows are furrowed is far more telling than the cold tone of her voice. It says, plain and simple, I don’t trust you.

It takes Lena a long time to come up with an answer Alex may find even remotely satisfactory--she knows that ‘I don’t know’ that is on the tip of her tongue simply won’t cut it, even if it is the honest answer. Her memories, the few that she does have from that day, are murky and sparse, and don’t feel altogether hers.

She struggles to recall any details, searches the blurred images interred somewhere in her subconscious and tries to make sense of the tangled mess she has been left with. “Flashes,” she tries, settling for as much truth as she can muster at the moment. She swallows. “I remember... I remember Kara falling--I remember seeing her from the top floor at LuthorCorp.”

Alex raises a brow like she doesn’t fully believe her. “The top floor?” she asks, voice oddly neutral. “Not from the basement labs? You didn’t watch it from the screens?”

Lena furrows her brows, tries to poke at whatever remnants of memory she has latched on to. “No, I don’t...” she closes her eyes, sees Kara falling, riddled with green, her body limp falling past her windows as fast as a bullet. “I-I don’t think so, I was... I think I was at the top floor.”

“You were apprehended in the basement, Lena,” Alex says brusquely.

“N-no, that can’t be right,” Lena chokes out, but all she sees behind her lids is Kara’s body falling, and her mind provides the most horrifying sound effect as it hits the pavement. “That can’t be, I watched her fall, I w-watched from my window.”

Alex shakes her head. “What do you remember before the rockets?”

Lena rattles her brain with difficulty; her lungs can’t quite return to their normal rhythm with the images her mind is supplying. “Before?” she gasps, keeping her eyes shut so she doesn’t have to see, doesn’t have to wither under Alex’s unyielding disappointment and doubt.

“M-myriad, the, um, the Fortress, ah... I was there with K-kara, and--”

She’s close to hyperventilating; she can’t get the image of Kara’s body--her bloody, broken body falling, falling--out of her mind.

“The Fortress? Lena that was two weeks befo--Lena? Lena, are you OK?”

Lena can’t respond--she can’t speak, she can’t even breathe. her brain is giving her the most terrifying flashes of memories, memories that don’t feel like her own, and she’s scrambling to fill that gaps at the same time as the images come, unbidden, to her mind. Her mental boxes are teetering, swaying in their little organized, compartmentalized stacks, unbalanced, and she can’t, she can’t breathe.

“Shit,” she vaguely hears Alex say, marginally registers the agent rushing to her side, but then someone is touching her and there is another flash--it is white hot and painful in her brain, like an electric shock, and she feels someone grabbing at her shoulders, pushing her down hard, pulling, and dragging, and, and--

Lena yelps and recoils, bats away at the hands reaching for her shoulders in uncontrollable, all-consuming panic.

“HEY!”

It’s another voice, worried, coming from someone bursting through the door with force, nearly slamming it off its hinges. Lena’s only somewhat aware of Alex yelling--she sounds happy, surprised, worried, and a whole gamut of other things Lena cannot focus on, because suddenly, there’s just warmth all around her.

She’s being held, tight, tight, tight, but it isn’t restrictive--it’s the opposite, warm and comforting and it envelops her almost entirely, like a heavy blanket, muting the sounds of her own frantic heartbeat.

“Sh, Lena, it’s just me. You’re OK. I’m here, I’m here.”

It’s Kara’s voice--low in a soothing murmur, rumbling in her chest as she whispers right at Lena’s ear, and the vibrations are soft, reassuring, and tranquil, almost enough to ease Lena’s trembling.

She’s wrapped tight in Kara’s arms as her awareness returns, slowly and fuzzy. Kara’s hand rubs circles on her back, and Lena instinctively tucks her head under Kara’s chin, seeking more of her warmth. Kara is taking deep, deliberate breaths, and Lena finds herself subconsciously trying to match them at every inhale and exhale, using the pressure of the rise and fall of Kara’s chest against hers as guidance.

When the flashes cease, she dares open her eyes again. Over Kara’s shoulder, her gaze locks with Alex, who’s awkwardly standing to the side, watching them closely.

“OK,” the agent says, gaping a little. “What the fuck?”

Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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[sylversmith]

ShikaTema FanFiction Recommednations

Hey all. As many of you know, I’m an unapologetic ShikaTema fan. Although I’ve been writing fanfiction for several years, I’ve been reading it for much much MUCH longer and amassed a pretty long list of favorites across multiple platforms. At the request of a few friends, I finally took the time to put together a list of fic recommendations for my all time favorites.

The list is arranged in three categories- Canon, canon compliant (for the most part) through Naruto chapter 700 and the light novels (note: it will not be guaranteed to be compliant with Boruto content); Canon Divergent, pretty much all fics that feature them in the Naruto universe, but vary in terms of how they get together or major events in the manga; and Alternate Universe, everything else outside of the Naruto universe.  Ratings are assigned per the fanfiction.net guidelines and stories are organized in alphabetical order. Every entry will include the title with an embedded link to the original fic, the author, the story status (if not complete), the word count, the rating, and the author’s summary (occasionally edited by me for relevance and length).

A few notes:

Story titles that are bolded mean that they are one of my all time favorites and would highly HIGHLY recommend.

I only selected stories that feature ShikaTema as the main pairing. Some stories in this list do have other side pairings that I have not tagged. Note: If you are interested in other story favorites that feature ShikaTema as a side pairing, feel free to reach out to me and let me know. I am not currently planning on posting a follow up for fics like that, but if there is enough interest, I could change my mind

I tried my best to stick with completed fics or collections of independent oneshots. However, there are a few incomplete (aka abandoned) and in progress fics that I included, and marked accordingly.

At the end, I include a short list of my very favorite ShikaTema authors with links to their profile pages so you can check out some of their other stories (you’ll see that my list has a bunch of their work included).

MOST IMPORTANTLY: I specifically tried to populate this list with older fics that newer fans (or even some older fans) may not recognize, and catered to my own reading taste. As with any list, there are still plenty of incredible fics on ff.net and AO3 that are not listed here. I strongly encourage anyone who enjoyed these fics to show their love for the pairing by continuing to read, favorite/kudos, and review/comment fics that are posted.

Without further ado, let’s jump into it!

Canon

4,572 Days Later by therewithasmile (18,961) K+ : Post-canon shikatema drabble collection.

The 700th by glockcourage (11,368) K+ : No summary

Approximation by lollipop-mania (9,035) T : Some nights — usually nights, but occasionally during the day too — he catches her looking at him.

Attunement by Eclipse Shadows (17,084) T : Temari is halfway through her pregnancy when she runs into a little problem. The type of problem that involves explosions and destruction by her own hand, and it's not even on purpose! 

Family Life by Aspire2B (141,527) T : A collection of oneshots centered on Shikamaru and Temari's lives post chapter 699.

Father’s Brains and Mother’s Attitude by Kimiz (1,435) K+ : Shikadai might have his father's looks and brains, but he's got a little more Temari in him than she would have thought.

Lazy Love by existence555 (9,755) T : Love doesn't get more dysfunctional than this. Then again, it doesn't get more passionate either. Drabbles, all 100 words and under.

The Nara Family by SpicedGold (80,848) Ratings Vary : A series of loosely related stories about the Nara family. All canon compliant, and all can be read independently of one another. (Author tries) to update this series at least once a month.

The Penny Drops by KuriQuinn (1,697) T : After the misunderstanding at the inn and hot spring, Shikamaru comes to a rather belated realisation about a certain Suna kunoichi.

Wrong Things, Right Things by Jayne Foyer (15,667) T : When assassins are sent to dispose of the Kazekage's heir, Shikadai Nara, his parents devise a plan to keep him safe. Said plan may or may not involve a permanent move to Suna. Shikadai doesn't like the plan, but if it's the only thing that'll keep him safe, he doesn't get a choice.

Canon Divergent

39 Days by Mussimm (52,702) (Incomplete) T : A challenge, a deadline and a mission. Fire and Wind are intertwined, the fate of their people will be decided in 39 Days.

59 Moves by Oh Dee (4,120) T : It only took fifty nine moves for checkmate.

A Prickly Pair by Endoh (10,252) T : Shikamaru tries his damnedest to ensure Temari’s first birthday they spend together is perfect…but life has a way of turning the best intentions upside-down.

Addiction by Ash2Ash (Incomplete) (200,535) M : "I can stop anytime I want to." Not a fluffy story because neither Shikamaru nor Temari appear to be purposely fluffy people. Watch them grapple with reality and either sink or swim.

An Interesting Engagement by Picture (17,185) T : A series of unrelated one-shots, each resulting in the engagement of Shikamaru and Temari

Arranged by PSITeleport (Incomplete) (96,545) T : Shikamaru has a mission to Suna, which must be completed before Tsunade's death. But there's more in store for him than a six-day round-trip and a paycheck.

The Bend and Snap by SunaPrincess7 (12,132) T : Temari decides to teach Hinata how to woo Naruto- unfortunately for Shikamaru, using him as her model.

Candlelight by DrErrRedclaw (6,305) M : How much do you do for someone when you're not even in love?

Catch 22 by Lotos-Eater (32,342) T : Temari has a problem: she wants to marry this guy, but he happens to belong to another hidden village. Shikamaru has a problem: he wants his girlfriend in his bed, but she keeps insisting that she lives somewhere else. How to fix this?

Changing Her Mind by Violetnightshade (22,768) M :  Shikamaru's relationship with Temari crossed beyond the boundaries between ninja years ago; such a bond is a major liability, and must be handled appropriately. Ironically, it's Temari who makes the logical choice.

Collide by SunaPrincess7 (3,879) T : The thing about war is that it makes you think.

Curious by spiritedarray (9,367) M : You didn't make love in the ANBU, you made war. ANBU AU

Dear Kishimoto, You Can Bite Me by PSITeleport (8,175) T : Shikamaru and Temari are trapped in a hopeless scenario. It doesn't matter how smart Shikamaru is, or how strong Temari is, there's one man that has all the power. And, this time, it may very well be game over.

Endgame by spiritedarray (8,539) M : "Then why don't we play a game?" he offers, knowing she'd be hard-pressed to refuse such an enticing invitation. "Seduce me, I dare you. Give it your best shot. Make me sorry I ever broke up with you."

Embracing the Inevitable by PSI Teleport (14,073) T : A moment of impulse leaves Temari with a lifetime of responsibility and a confession to make. A story about women, accepting the paths of life that cannot be avoided.

Flat Irons, Makeup, and Mayhem by Twi-Smile (16,576) M : A girls night at Ino's house in which, Sakura, TenTen and Hinata led by Ino try to get the truth out of Temari about her relationship with Shikamaru.

Heartbeat by Mussimm (34,510) M : She wasn't fooling me. I had seen her turn a square kilometre of forest into firewood. There was nothing modest or sweet about Temari, she was pure destruction disguised by a curvaceous figure and an eloquent tongue.

The Hero She Deserves by BlackMajjicDuchess (14,616) M : Several years into the Great Ninja War, death is almost a certainty. In her desperation to feel alive, Temari has given over to random carnal encounters in the anonymity of darkness, but Shikamaru is the only man she ever wanted. Staying alive is priority number one, but all bets are off when the war is over... if it ever ends.

In Memoriam T by SunaPrincess7 (7,369 - Angst) T : "I hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it when I sorrow most; 'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." A rebuttal.

Inside the Black Ant by Troublesome Shikamaru Fan (11,064) T :  Temari knows how to conceal her emotions, but everyone has a limit...and Kankuro thinks it's time she exceeds hers. Poor, poor Shikamaru...

Intertwining Fate by glockcourage (176,173) T : The Kazekage wanted his first born to be male, forcing the medic to make a switch. Years later, the secret of the past still linked the Kazekage's lazy son and the Nara's blonde daughter.

It’s All in Your Head by heimai (17,923) M : Nara Shikamaru is 100% prepared to someday find his girl that isn't too ugly and not too pretty, and does his best to keep his distance from Temari during her stay in the Hidden Leaf because he Does Not care and he Does Not like her. Unfortunately for Shikamaru, he can't control his dreams, and they seem to be telling him the exact opposite.

Me and My Shadow by DrErrRedclaw (2,414 - Angst) M : Temari, Black Queen of the Sands, and an anniversary she'd rather forget.

Mistake by lollipop-mania (3,329 - Angst) M : If a mistake is only supposed to happen once, why do they keep making it?

On Beating the Learning Curve by Thinkette (2,562) M : "I'll be damned if some other woman came along and gathered the fruits of my labor." Exploring Shikamaru Nara's romantic life through the eyes of his troublesome woman. "It made me realize that he was no longer that clumsy boy fumbling with my underwear."

Playing Cupid by A.Pevensie (7,180) T : They say God helps those who help themselves, but for the clueless or lazy, Yamanaka Ino is happy to provide her services as a matchmaker. Shikamaru and Temari are her first project - they just don't know it yet.

Prisoner by lollipop-mania (6,681 - Angst) M : She was never meant to be his prisoner, it wasn't his job and it sure as hell wasn't his interest. But, there she was after almost ten years, cuffed.

Recent Photo by PSITeleport (5,566) T : What starts out as a normal, administrative operation turns into a rather stimulating game. But who will the real winner be?

The Rules by lafolleconnasse (21,871) M : This wasn’t how their game was played. The game that the two of them had been playing for who knows how many years, the game that the two of them liked to pretend didn’t exist, but they both knew had clear and well-established rules.

Serenade by kimi no vanilla (2,747 - Angst) M : There is an old saying in the Nara family: Don't walk with the shadows for too long, or you'll become one.

Shadowplay and Hurricanes by CosmicStorm14 (Incomplete) (58,123) M : Follows Shikamaru’s and Temari’s volatile on/off relationship, which also includes encounters with other characters in later chapters. Some fluff, mostly smut. Alternating POV.

They Are Good At Many Things by lollipop-mania (46,340) M : So, dating wasn't exactly their thing, but that didn't mean they weren't good, well, GREAT at other things. A series of one-shots describing moments in Shikamaru and Temari's relationship.

Three Days by Lotos-Eater (14,185) M : The Nara doth protest too much, methinks.

Three Simple Words by Starving Lunatic (9,002) T : Three words change the course of Shikamaru and Temari's relationship.

Troublesome Crybabies by ichilover3 (13,177) T : He was beyond lazy. She was beyond troublesome. It was beyond love. A series of oneshots.

Tsuris by NessieGG (2,768) M : They played each other every time, both physically and mentally.

Zombie Plague by wingedmercury (36,820) T : "Temari, there's no such thing as the Zombie Plague," Kankuro mutters. "You're wrong," she rasps. "I'm definitely a plague victim." Her hands tremble as she dry heaves; she would rather die of the Zombie Plague than be pregnant.

Alternate Universe

A Nameless Fic Because Shikamaru Said So by Oh Dee (72,858) M : Shikamaru thinks high school is troublesome enough without a foreign exchange student. Temari thinks hell is bad enough without a pineapple haired lazy ass. Funny how things work out

A Stupid Excuse for a Fairy Tale by TaintedMoonlight (41,954) T : Princes aren’t real, but demons are; kingdoms fall, but others are discovered. The heroine shines and everyone else dulls. Modern day fairy tales are hard to come across and this one isn’t one at all.

The Anecdotes by SunaPrincess7 (38,669) T : "Life is something to do when you can't get to sleep." The moments in Shikamaru's life when he is not asleep. Drabbles

Blue Notebook by LalaMoped (8,330) T : She didn't know who he was, but read his notebook anyway. Is it possible to fall in love with someone based solely on how they write?

C Plus by viiisenya (68,148) T : Temari met his eyes as soon as she bit down onto her fork. Greatness echoed Asuma’s voice, sending a chill down his spine. She grinned at him, something candid and believing, leaning forward slightly. “And, just so you know,” her voice was hushed as if she was telling him a secret, “a C+ GPA doesn’t condemn you to a C+ life.”

Candyman by Coelha-chan (2,559) T : There's nothing more dangerous than a boy with charm. Sakura, Ino, Shiho, and Tayuya discuss the merits of Shikamaru.

Chains by Valerie Sabrina Verzoe (91,437) M : The Suna Princess left her homeland when the Konoha army invaded. She fell into the hands of the Konoha army and ended up a courtesan in a magnificent manor, where she met the lazy genius of Konoha. Where will the chains of fate lead her? And what sinister plans lurk in the grandeur of the city? Will Suna rise again?

Coffee Shop Soundtrack by viiisenya (Incomplete) (55,795) T : In his four years of coffee making, he had never made a mistake. So, when that Bothersome Blonde he’d never seen before came trudging to the counter complaining about her order being made wrong, Shikamaru couldn’t help getting irrationally defensive and argue with her. It also didn’t help that she happened to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his entire life.

The Desert and the Deer by nahra (28,187) M : Shikamaru has no idea how long he’s been a death god. All the lives he’s taken have become a blur, the faces a haze. Until he’s sent to kill the wind witch Temari. She recognizes him for what he is and immediately invokes the Laws of Old, forcing him into a dangerous gamble that changes everything.

How the Prince Met the Girl, How He Lost Her by Oh Dee (52,348) T : Prince Shikamaru has no intention of getting married or taking over the throne, but when certain circumstances give him no choice, he decides to make a plan that will have his future wife running for the hills.

The Levels on Which We Lie by pearlsong (Incomplete) (65,667) M : College is a drag, but it doesn't have to be. (Alternatively, two dumb geniuses playing relationship chicken)

Slave by SunaPrincess7 (Incomplete) (71,542) M : Suna has lost the war. Badly. Temari is captured and taken to Konoha as a slave. There she ends up working for a rich family, the Nara's.

What It Takes to Make Her Smile by TaintedMoonlight (23,449) T :  Not every fairy lives a happy life. Not every curse is made to last. Not every girl is doomed to laugh. They say she cannot smile for if she does, then she must grant any wish her jester chooses to bequeath and her life will fade with every wish.

Notable Authors

DrErrRedclaw (ff.net)

Lollipop-mania (ff.net) or Lollipopmania (AO3)

Lotos-Eater (ff.net)

Mussimm (ff.net)

PSITeleport (ff.net)

SpicedGold (AO3)

Spiritedarray (ff.net)

SunaPrincess7 (ff.net)

[shikamarubase]

Scarred -Chapter Two-

A/N: Happy Nara Week, everyone! I was supposed to write something else for the first day, but please accept this overdue chapter for the ANBU prompt instead. You can find the first chapter here! I hope you enjoy! <3

—————

Chapter Two:

Shikamaru was, without a shadow of a doubt, late for the meeting.

Rushed for time, he dashed across the hallway leading to the Hokage’s office after changing into his full uniform. His hands fumbled over his ANBU mask as he ran, and he couldn’t stop the string of curses from escaping his mouth when the material got tangled in his windswept hair. Letting his dark hair fall over his shoulders instead of bundling it into the usual ponytail minimized the risk of being recognized during missions; his job was dangerous enough without the additional threat of being hunted down by someone with a grudge. Nevertheless, during times like these, he regretted ever agreeing to wear his hair down for ANBU business.

By the time he unceremoniously stumbled into Kakashi’s office, Ino and Chouji were already standing raptly in attention. He mumbled a quick apology as five pairs of eyes flickered over to him.

Five? Shikamaru arched an eyebrow and surveyed the figures inside.

Ino’s and Chouji’s faces were unsurprisingly hidden beneath their respective ANBU masks, but he didn’t need to read their expressions to confirm there was something amiss by the stiffness of their shoulders. Kakashi, however, was the picture of calm. He casually leaned back into his chair and regarded him thoughtfully with one eye, as if he already knew what was going through Shikamaru’s mind. The remaining two unfamiliar guests stood by the Hokage’s work table. Shikamaru was suddenly glad for the mask he wore over his face, otherwise they would have noticed him gaping at them. He was not one to judge appearances, but they wore attires he would describe as either needlessly fancy or completely ludicrous.

The taller one of the two wore a dark hood with cat-like ears over his head, a sharp contrast to the bright face paint decorating his face. He sneered in contempt, and Shikamaru couldn’t help but imagine he was being hissed at by an angry feline. “Oi oi, you dare call yourself a member of the ANBU Corps when you can’t even be on time? Kakashi, are you sure this guy is suitable?”

Next to him, the man with a mop of red hair cupped his shoulder. “Brother, stop.”

His voice was soft, but was laced with authority and a twinge of danger. Shikamaru couldn’t contain the small shiver that ran up his spine as he eyed the smaller man. When he raised his head, Shikamaru caught a glimpse of a tattoo hidden underneath his fringe. His instincts tingled in anticipation. He wasn’t particularly scary or huge, and yet there was something almost intimidating in the way his emotionless green eyes met his.

“Excuse my brother’s rudeness. He has been a bit wired ever since he allowed our sister to slip away.“

The older man’s jaw tightened in protest. “Oh c’mon, Gaara. You know Temari would’ve snuck out no matter how many guards we assign to watch her, and—”

“And that’s precisely why we’re here,” Gaara finished for him. His eyes lingered on Shikamaru for half a second longer before fixing them back on Kakashi. “Can I assume we have all gathered to begin our discussion?”

Kakashi straightened himself before giving a quick nod. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Before Shikamaru could wrap his head around that, the Hokage was already gesturing at him and speaking to snarky cat ears. “While Kurohi may not look or act the part, I assure you he is one of our best and brightest. Your sister will be in safe hands, Prince Kankuro.”

Your Majesty? Prince? His head swirled from the prestigious titles thrown inside the room, he didn’t acknowledge when Kakashi addressed him by his given ANBU name nor did he wait for Kankuro’s response.

He was in the presence of royalty. That would explain the extravagant clothing they had on and why Ino and Chouji looked so stiff. They had to deal with the temper of an impatient royal, because he was tardy. Suddenly the entire room reeked of power, and while Shikamaru wasn’t particularly fazed by ranking, he had to acknowledge that half of the people in the room could easily sentence him to death and he would have no way of stopping them. He mentally kicked himself for not figuring it out sooner—Gaara had a cape strapped to his back, for shinobi’s sake! For the better half of his life, he’s had family, friends, and even complete strangers tell him how intelligent he was behind his unmotivated facade. If they could only see him now, they’d understand why he always disagreed.

From Kakashi’s place behind the desk, he spoke to the trio directly as Gaara and Kankuro settled comfortably into the couch. “I’m sure you have figured it out by now, but the two gentlemen before you are none other than King Gaara and Prince Kankuro from Sunagakure. Another unit was assigned to escort them on their way here, but the next step requires the kind of teamwork only the three of you can offer.”

He paused when Gaara suddenly stood up, his cape fluttering behind him. “Lord Hokage, I’d like to tell them the details myself, if you don’t mind.”

If Kakashi was in any way shocked by the offer, he kept it to himself. Instead, he extended a courteous gesture before he sat back down and folded his arms.

Gaara trained his eyes on them. “As you all know, Suna and Konoha have been...at odds for almost a decade, ever since the last great war tore apart any chance of establishing an amicable relationship between our villages. And while we persistently tried to convince him otherwise, our father had blatantly refused to ally with another, so we have been...out of touch for the past few years.”

Shikamaru’s attention shifted when Kankuro scoffed lightly into his hand, a small scowl curling at the corner of his lips. Although his first impression of the temperamental Prince was less than appealing, he could understand where he’s coming from. If they were related, Gaara’s words would elicit an eyeroll out of him as well.

‘Out of touch’ was a severe understatement. The people of the desert kingdom were already known to keep to themselves and constantly avoid direct contact with foreigners, but after the war King Rasa kept the kingdom under lockdown and made sure not a single sandrat could sneak in or out. Anyone who tried was declared a terrorist and executed on the spot. Under the orders of the former Hokage, Shikamaru had snuck in once before for an espionage mission, and nearly lost his neck trying to sneak back out. In the short time he was there, one thing was clear: fear amongst the Sunan civilians was palpable. Sunagakure was a prison cell under the guise of a kingdom; Guards from the royal palace took turns patrolling the city in the interest of enforcing public safety. But rather than give off the image of being protected, civilians behaved skittishly and stepped outside the comforts of their homes at odd hours, almost as if they were afraid to bring attention to themselves. Shikamaru guessed the guards were really stationed to make sure no rebellion sprung up to overthrow the throne. He had to hand it to the former king—he was nothing if not ruthless. Rumors have it he’d trained thousands of soldiers inside the castle grounds in preparation for the next war, and he wasn’t modest about it either. Every other week, Shikamaru would hear news of how “the power-hungry King Rasa” had razed through yet another small neighboring village with no military power to assert his dominance and expand his domain. He was a detestable man who left only destruction and tragedy in his wake. His reputation preceded him, even in death. Despite the grotesque details surrounding his demise, everyone breathed a sigh of relief when he was finally out of the throne.

Sensing the tension in the room at the mention of the former King, Gaara cleared his throat. “As I was saying, now that I have ascended the throne, my first agenda is to rebuild my people’s trust in the royal family and to keep them safe from terrorist attacks. Father’s...excursions brought him enemies who’d love nothing more than to eradicate the royal bloodline and destroy our kingdom. The Land of Wind is one of the five founding countries, with rich history stemming from the beginning of civilization. We cannot let it fall so easily. Which is why, as King, I have decided to form a pact with your Hokage and ally ourselves to your nation...in exchange for your protection.”

Shikamaru’s mind raced at his final statement. It was customary for ANBU not to ask questions during mission briefs, but before he could stop himself concern tumbled out of his open mouth. “Pardon my rudeness, but why would you need our protection?”

Next to him, he felt Chouji tense but forced himself to keep his eyes trained on Gaara through the cover of his mask. The King brought a hand to his chin and regarded him curiously. “The Land of Fire boasts the strongest soldiers of all countries. Ninjas from this land are especially talented. Although I wasn’t able to take part in the last Great War, I’ve heard stories of how Konoha soldiers fought valiantly and pushed the war back despite their shortage of manpower.”

Shikamaru nodded briefly at this. It was a story he’d heard over and over as a child. It was his father, Nara Shikaku, who devised the strategies that led to their success in the war. “But I believe you’re mistaken,” he responded, his voice uncharacteristically clear and crisp even to his own ears. “ANBU normally don't fight in wars and most of us aren’t as powerful as you think. We only possess skills suitable for stealth missions, so I don’t see what we can do for you. If you want raw power, it’d be better to seek it from our Jounin or your own soldiers.”

“Kurohi,” Kakashi started to say, but Gaara raised a palm to cut him off.

“Sunagakure has a great number of skilled soldiers, yes. If this were for any other occasion, you’d be right. But as it stands, we need your expertise.”

Shikamaru arched an eyebrow as Gaara started pacing back and forth in front of them.

“Our soldiers are naturally proud and hot-blooded; we pride ourselves for being brave and we never back out from a fight. It is in our nature to rush into battle, even if we have nothing but the clothes on our backs. Some call it foolish, but we call it courage. Unfortunately, our courage makes us more prone to life-threatening situations. While we make up for it with overwhelming strength, our strategic planning is severely lacking. I soon realized, there is no point in winning a war if the soldiers don’t make it back home. When we heard there is a genius with an I.Q. of over 200 in Konoha, working behind the scenes and ensuring successful missions with almost zero fatality rate, we knew you would be the right man for the job.”

Gaara stepped forward and grasped Shikamaru’s shoulder, fingers curling into his skin. “There’s no need to hide behind your mask now, Nara Shikamaru.”

Shikamaru’s blood ran cold. Every bone in his body screamed for him to rip his hand away. This man was dangerous, his instincts gnawed at his head. He was the opposite of Kankuro, who seemed to instill fear through the volume of his voice and biting threats. And yet, the air around the current King was more than enough to keep him frozen in place. It almost felt as if he was facing a veteran soldier, a comforting presence to have around as a comrade but not someone he’d want as an enemy.

Shikamaru lifted his hand to heed to the command, his dark hair swishing over his shoulders as he removed the mask and shook his head slightly. When he lowered his chin to meet Gaara’s eyes, there was no longer any barrier between them.

“What exactly do you need me for?” He mumbled.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Gaara’s lips before he turned his back and went back to his original position. “I need the three of you,” his eyes flitted over to Ino and Chouji, “to guard my elder sister.”

The tension in his chest dispersed. That was not the kind of S-rank mission he had in mind.

As if sensing his disappointment, Kakashi stood up and waved a folder in his hand. “To seal our alliance, Princess Temari is to be wed to our Feudal Lord, Madoka Makoto, and your team has been assigned to be her bodyguards,” he explained.

That earned a small squeak from Ino. She always went on about how handsome the young leader was. If they weren’t in a meeting Shikamaru would’ve rolled his eyes.

“Our father’s assassin is still at large, and we have reason to believe they’ll be coming after us next. We have curbed countless rebellions over the last few years, all of which demanded to bring an end to our sovereignty. While we want to use this opportunity to establish a trusting relationship, they see it as a plot to continue our bloodline and expand our rule.”

“And, is it not?” Shikamaru raised a dubious eyebrow.

Gaara chuckled, the first time his face ever broke out of its stoic mask. “It is an amusing idea,” he admitted, “but I could hardly say I am cunning enough to come up with such an elaborate plan.”

His features clouded over as he added, “Brother and I have mastered swordsmanship, but Temari has no means to protect herself from criminals. They will surely capitalize on the opportunity to attack her and reveal themselves in the process.”

In Shikamaru’s head, his words easily translated to, “I’m using my sister as bait to lure out my father’s killers.”

Finally catching on to their hidden motive, his mind whirled with questions. If the princess was meant to be a catalyst for the alliance, why was she not a part of the meeting? And he had met his fair share of government leaders, and they were definitely not this chatty, especially for someone who’d practically admitted to having a target on his back. Suspicion gnawed at him like a persistent bug. If there was one thing he was sure of: the Sabaku Royal Family weren’t hanging around for entirely diplomatic reasons. And one more thing bothered him...

“What does she look like?” He blurted out and scrambled to cover his outburst. “We can’t protect her if we don’t know her face.”

“Indeed.” As Gaara took the folder from Kakashi and handed it to him, Shikamaru’s thoughts flickered over to the blonde woman he ran into that morning. A foreigner running around the city in a fancy day gown the same day he was assigned as a bodyguard to the Sunan King’s sister? It couldn’t be a coincidence.

He slowly flipped the folder open, his eyes scanning the description of the mission until they landed on a photograph. She looked exactly as he remembered; perched daintily on a wide couch in a lilac princess gown, with four bundles of blonde hair sticking over her head. Her lips pursed together into a pout as her striking teal eyes stared into the camera.

“If you show your face around me again you’ll be sorry!” Her parting words reverberated in his head as his worst suspicions were realized.

He inwardly groaned. This job was going to be more troublesome than he bargained for.

[dicedungeons-and-dragons]

Waylan’s Sabbatical (5/?)

A chunk of writing following our party NPC (and my Son) as he breaks away from the party. Our campaign uses names of places from various fandoms for fun but they have no real relation to the source material. (We also call the Raven Queen Nara because of some hasty Wiki reading)

TW: Mentions of past torture, general violence, injury.

Part: First | Previous | Next

The next time he makes his way back to the ruined castle is because there’s a storm coming. He spots the clouds gathering as an inky blotch on the horizon and notes the various creatures desperately trying to go to ground before it hits. With so many monsters in the forest he doubts he’ll find any kind of proper shelter that will keep him safe from the onslaught he thinks is coming. So after a short debate, wondering if the Black Knight will extend the same hospitality as he had the first time, he decides that he’s better off dealing with the lich than the stampede of creatures moving through the woods. 

He gets to the ruins before the rainfall starts. There are fresh bodies in front of the castle and he doesn’t bother to pick through their belongings, instead making his way straight to the front gate and calling inside,

“Black Knight!” His voice echoes against the stone, dulled under the sound of the raging winds. “It’s Waylan, I was hoping that I could find refuge from the storm with you!” 

There’s a long pause and he has to leave soon if he’s unwelcome. He could probably get to some of the spider catacombs, blast out one of the smaller caves with a few fireballs and take shelter until the rain passes. 

But what remains of the gate starts to click and groan as the old chains are used to lift it from the ground. 

“You are always welcome, traveler.” His voice is low, but Waylan catches it as he ducks into the ruins. It’s still loud inside, enough cracks in the old stones that the wind is rattling through, but it’s not too much. And it’s certainly warmer inside. 

“Thank you.” He says genuinely. 

“The storm might not pass for some time, follow me.”

Liches play the long game. Waylan knows that. Knows that creatures that live for hundreds of years are more likely to stab you in the back after you’ve shown it to them twenty times, but there’s little motivation for the lich to kill him. There are enough adventurers that come to the castle that he must have sacrificed enough souls to live for another two hundred years at the very least. So he follows the knight through the halls, up a spiraling staircase and out onto one of the towers. 

“If you are going to stay here you will need water.” Waylan spots the overturned barrels that look like they’ve been up here for years, but a few of them aren’t crumbling with age. “The well turned putrid many years ago.” He and the Knight set them upright to collect the rain water. But as the first few drops begin to fall the Knight ushers him back inside, and not a moment too soon as the sky splits open into a downpour. 

“Thank you.” And he means it. “I don’t mean to continue to impose.” 

“You cannot impose here. What you do is visit. The dead outside impose.” 

“Still, you saved my life last time. All I did was burn some spiders you could have killed yourself.” The Black Knight concedes the point with a nod before gesturing for Waylan to follow him back down the staircase. 

“Allow me to show you what remains of my home.” 

****

There are places in the castle that cannot be traveled through, areas where the floor is too weak to support weight, areas where the vegetation has collapsed the ceiling, but aside from the areas that are unsafe there are no places that are off-limits to Waylan. 

“Where are you from?” The Knight asks. He stokes a fire to life inside of a study, larger than the meeting hall of the council building. Waylan is eating a portion of rations, sat on the stone floor. The expensive rugs that had once likely lined the entire room have been eaten away by insects, sunlight, time. It feels ancient as he sits with this creature who has existed here for centuries. 

“I’m from Oshime.” 

“Ah. When I was alive there were only nine provinces, I believe there are more now?”

“A few.” 

“I have not heard much about the world beyond Okren since I became this, will you tell me about it?”

Waylan hasn’t ever been much of a talker. Not when it wasn’t trading sarcastic barbs, but he’s safe and dry so he figures he owes the lich at least some world history. 

****

After waiting out the storm he comes and goes from the castle. The lich seems to enjoy his company and Waylan appreciates his reserved demeanor, which considering liches are evil creatures probably says more about him than anything else. But it’s nice to have a ‘home base’ to return to as a resting point between the deeper sections of the Dark Forest and the kingdom’s capital. Eventually the Black Knight even shows him a different entrance into the palace, through a servant’s tunnel that allows him to slip in and out when the lich is not home. 

He never asks where the creature goes. 

The lich always asks why he’s still traveling the forest. 

****

When another storm drives him back to the castle a few weeks later he finds himself alone. The lich is nowhere he can find and without much else to do he begins to wander the castle. Everything is swathed in a thick layer of dust, so it’s easy enough for him to spot a door that looks like the knob has been polished in comparison. Waylan hesitates in front of it, inspects the floor, and the lock, the lintel above. Because he’s seen Ray stabbed, poisoned, and dropped into enough pits to know that checking for traps is an essential part of being an adventurer. 

But the door reveals no ill will. 

So he turns the knob and enters. 

Nostalgia hits him like a warhammer to his sternum as he peers into the dark room. It’s a massive space, nearly triple the size of his own modest bedroom back home. And here is another moth eaten bed and what what once ornate furniture that’s long since gone to ruin, but the desk, that stretched the entire length of one wall, is mostly intact. There are bottles and books strewn on every surface, piles of crystals, scrolls, tapestries, cauldrons, beakers, even a small pile of scrying bones left casting an ill fate from two hundred years ago. There is magical paraphernalia from what he suspects were all corners of the world at one time. 

He wonders briefly what Faith did with all of the things he left in the basement of his home. If she had to go through his and his father’s stuff, the boxes of his mother’s belongings that were stored up in the attic. Maybe he’ll ask her about it if he sees her again. 

Waylan is careful as he picks through the room. The books on the table are too fragile, even the slightest touch sends the brittle pages crumbling. But the ones sandwiched into the bookshelves are a little better. Their spines are loose and the binding fragile, but he manages to open a few of them. Some are in common, others in what looks like elvish, even some celestial. He knows four languages, but even common isn’t helping him here. Not when the books are written in such an outdated form. 

When the Knight opens the door hours later Waylan is sat on the floor, having found the one text written in draconic and using it to translate the common notes scrawled in the margins as best he can. At least dragons hold a longer lasting fidelity to their language, though it shouldn’t come as a surprise considering how long they live. 

“How long have you been in here?”

“I don’t know, since mid afternoon maybe? You weren’t home.” 

“I’m aware.” The Knight exits the room and Waylan just shrugs and continues scrawling notes into the small journal that he’d bought once he realized that if he kept scrawling notes on his map he wouldn’t be able to read it anymore. He makes it through another two and a half pages before the door opens again. The knight carefully picks his way across the floor until he can kneel down beside Waylan. “It’s past midnight.”

“Shit, really?” Where had the time gone? He startles when he sees the Knight offer him what appears to be a steaming cup of tea. “Thank you.” He doesn’t point out that the Knight long ago told him that he doesn’t bother with stocking things to eat or drink. It’s not hard to make tea from the plants in the forest, and he already knows the lich keeps herbs on hand for whatever reason. “Is this your room?”

“No. My room was down in the barracks.” He sits back, looking around the room. “This was Prince Westly’s room.” 

Waylan is a lot of things-- sarcastic, rude, broken-- but he’s not stupid or unobservant. “I’ll put everything back. I didn’t mean to intrude.” 

“You can’t intrude on a space that has not belonged to someone in two hundred years, Waylan. He would have been happy to show you every inch of this room, all of his research, a dozen times over if he thought you were interested.” It’s the first piece of information the lich has offered him about the old inhabitants of the castle. 

And for some reason he feels like he owes a bit of his own history in return. “Where I grew up there weren’t any magic users. That was big city stuff. When I could suddenly light my hands on fire I didn’t have anyone to teach me. So I got my hands on as many books as I could find. They helped me get through the years I was alone.” 

Waylan feels the tectonic plates of their relationship shift. It’s slight, and he’s cautious, but he doesn’t see the harm in it just yet. He wonders what the reverberations will shake loose. 

[minyoongijjangjjangmanboongboong]

Ephemera Chapter Nineteen (END)

Ephemera: In art, transitory written and printed matter (receipts, notes, tickets, clippings, etc.) not originally intended to be kept or preserved.

Alternatively, things that exist or are used for only a short time.

Description: Nobody knows who Vante really is. Everything about the popular artist is shrouded in secrecy: from his face to his name to everything in between. After years of working for his art gallery, Y/N feels she may just be the closest thing he has to a friend. Between her success at work and her relationship with campus hot-shot Jeon Jungkook, Y/N’s life has never been better. But is Jungkook truly who he says he is? And who will Y/N protect now that she knows Vante’s livelihood may be on the line?

Genre: Romance, Drama, Fluff, Angst

Pairing: Jungkook x (f) Reader x Taehyung

Word Count: 7.0k

Tags: Non-Idol!Au, Gang!Au, Art History Student!Reader, Film Student!Jungkook, Art Student!Taehyung

Warnings: Swearing and mentions of alcohol, although infrequently

A/N: GUYS THE ALBUM!! THE MV!! JAMAIS VU, MAKE IT RIGHT, DIONYSUS!! TRULY THE BOPS OF ALL BOPS I CANNOT BELIEVE THE LEVEL OF ARTISTRY! EVERY TIME I THINK THEY’VE GOTTEN AS GOOD AS IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE, THE DO SOMETHING BETTER!! God, I loved it. Anyway, this chapter! Haha we’ve finally reached the end of our journey! I can’t believe it, really. Anyway, please don’t be shy and send feedback, critique, questions, theories, and comments my way. I’ll be sure to respond to all asks I receive within a day of receiving them! Links will be added later, so for now check my masterlist to find previous chapters!

And again, if you want to follow my Twitter, my username is @/plzpunchmebts. I’m super active over there and hopefully in the future I’ll do some livestreams/chats with you all! And concert videos!!

ALSO BIG UPDATE: I’ll be taking a couple weeks off from writing series’ until after the BTS concert on May 4. I don’t want to get into a posting routine only to have to throw it off for that weekend. That said, I’ll be working on finishing REALLY OLD requests that I haven’t gotten to yet, so I’ll be posting! Just not series. (Although, I do have my next series planned and started. If you guys want spoilers for that, plz send me an ask hehe)

- Mercury

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Masterlist

Weekly updates: Sunday, 1PM (PST)

My daughter,

I’m sure this letter comes as a bit of a shock to you. It’s a bit of a shock to me as well. I don’t know exactly where to start.

Leaving you was the hardest decision I ever had to make. But now that you’re older, I hope you can understand me. Even just a little. You were the biggest hope in my life, but I didn’t feel worthy of you. I didn’t want to raise a daughter whose only mother was dependent on someone else to support her. I didn’t have any options in the countryside, but I thought if I went to Seoul and came home successful…maybe you’d grow to respect me.

It sounds selfish writing it down. It was selfish. I am selfish.

To be honest, I didn’t intend on reaching out to you. As it stands, I’m working for a small company as a web designer. Not exactly the lofty dream I had when I left. I didn’t want to face you until I’d made something of myself, so you’d understand why I had to leave. But…well, things change over time I suppose.

I keep a close eye on the tabloids in Seoul because of my job, and when the news about Vante dropped I was intrigued. Truthfully, I’d been trying to get in with him for years. Ever since he showed up in the art scene. I wanted to help him market himself online.

I was perplexed, however, considering the fact that he seems quite reclusive and yet had a female companion with him in almost every photo. For a while, I was trying to figure out who that girl was so I could reach out to her. And as it turns out…you know the rest.

I don’t want you to think I’m exploiting you. I’d never want to do something like that. I’m really glad you were the girl, and not just for career aspects. I was shocked when I found out, and I immediately called a PI to find your address. It wasn’t cheap. But being able to speak with you after so long is a blessing.

I’d love to meet with you in person. Catch up. Talk about what you’ve been up to all these years. You’ve grown into such a beautiful young lady, and you’re doing so many exciting things. I’d love to hear all about them.

Please meet me at the address below on Sunday at 1 PM if you can. It’s a little coffee shop I like. I think it might be a nice place to reunite.

And I apologize for not writing a return address. I’m not sure how you’ll receive this, and I don’t want any legal trouble should you decide this letter is worth litigation.

Hoping to see you there.

Sincerely,

Mom

I’d read and reread the letter enough times to burn the script into my mind forever. If I shut my eyes, her words still floated around on the blacks of my lids. I’d never expected to hear from her again, and was content living my life independently from hers. Perhaps some deep, dark part of me was hoping to rub my success in her nose somehow, but…not like this. The nerve of her. To reach out to me after all these years…

Just because I knew Taehyung.

Something about that stung me in a place that was too tender to look at closely. I didn’t know why the pain was so visceral, but it felt deeper than just a blow to the ego.

I stared at the letter sitting on my coffee table, wrinkled and worn from my chronic folding and unfolding. It had only been a day, and my mind was still swimming in the letter. What right did she have to disrupt my life this way? Who was she to me anyway to be able to affect my waking hours? To consume my thoughts?

I sighed and flipped it over so I only saw my address. What a joke. She thought I might hand over the letter to the police or something? Everything about the letter disgusted me.

So why was that address now burned in the back of my mind?

I touched my pointer finger to my necklace, the ruby one Taehyung had given me so long ago, as I waited in the Sanyo Industries reception room. Yoongi sat beside me, playing with his hands. As decided during our meeting, Yoongi and I were dressed sharp: him in a nice pair of slacks and a pressed button-down, and me in my work skirt and a blouse I had to steam to get the wrinkles out. The reception area was vast, a wide room with wide windows and lots of empty space. The employee behind the desk eyed us now and then, and it was clear by the way she’d received us that she knew exactly who Yoongi was. She’d practically stuttered out her greeting as we entered the modern-looking office.

“Why should the son of a CEO have to wait in the reception office?” I mumbled under my breath with a sigh.

I hadn’t bothered asking Yoongi if he’d gone to meet Nara like I suggested, mostly for his own sake. Emanating from Yoongi’s very core was a jittery sense of anticipation. His eyes flashed wildly around the room, toward the elevators, toward the front doors, toward the marble floor. I’d never seen him so visibly nervous. He was always like Troy, impregnable. But it seemed his father was his own Trojan Horse, his undoing. I eyed him, awaiting a reaction, but none came. Almost like he didn’t hear me at all.

I gave his arm a poke and raised my brows as he jumped and looked at me with wide eyes. “Huh?” he asked, swallowing hard.

I sighed and crossed my arms. “Yoongi, you don’t look so good,” I said, tone softening as I watched him with furrowed brow.

He inhaled sharply and held his breath for a few seconds before letting it out in a puff that startled the receptionist. “Sorry,” he said quietly.

I smiled, attempting a gentle pat, but he was so jumpy that the touch of my palm on his shoulder almost made him shout. “If this is too much, you can go. Honestly, we mostly needed you to get me inside,” I said, then rolled my eyes and glanced out onto the street where Namjoon stood, smoking a cigarette. “Well, me and that idiot.”

Yoongi shook his head and braced himself on his knees, knuckles white as he held on to the tops of his knees. “No,” he said, shutting his eyes with a steadying breath. “I’m not here just to help you guys.”

I nodded. “Listen…you wanting to take responsibility — for yourself and for Nara — it’s really noble. I respect it. But…well, if you don’t mind me being a little nosy, you seem super rattled. I don’t know if this is the best move for your sake,” I said, watching him for any reaction.

He only opened his eyes and nodded, somber. “It’s probably stupid,” he said with a humorless laugh. “But…after spending so long with my head in the sand, I guess the guilt of it is catching up with me.”

“Guilt?”

He shrugged. “How many innocent people have had their lives ruined by my dad’s business? How many people like Nara have I just…left behind? Because it was too much responsibility?”

I raised my brows. “This is the first time I’ve heard you talking about reformation. You seemed a bit ambivalent,” I said, then shrugged. “Like Seokjin.”

“Neither of us are ambivalent, Y/N,” he said seriously, finally meeting my eyes head-on. “We both grew up seeing all the corruption and didn’t see any ways of making it better. Rather than ambivalent…we became cynical.”

I smoothed down my skirt, thinking. “I bet you’re not the only ones to become disillusioned,” I said, recalling that letter on my coffee table with a scowl. “Sometimes all we can do is accept that things are messed up and try to do the right thing on our own.”

He shook his head. “But what if I can’t accept that anymore?” he asked, brows knit as he implored me with his tender gaze. “What if I’ve been accepting it to avoid doing the right thing? Because the right thing is hard?”

I blinked at him, disarmed by the vulnerability in his eyes. “Yoongi…”

“I don’t deserve a free pass,” he said, serious as he scanned me. “Not when people are getting hurt.”

“What do you plan on doing?” I asked, raising my brows.

He settled back against his seat and his jitters slowed, knees stopping their anxious bounce. He anchored his gaze on something far away, perhaps something not physically here at all. “I’m gonna fix it.”

“Fix it?”

“The company,” he said with a steady nod. “From the inside. I’m gonna make it so that people don’t get hurt anymore. Like Ori.”

I watched him for a long moment, watched the way his jaw went staunch against his neck, and couldn’t help but admire his determination. Righteous outrage and a little bit of guilt. I exhaled in a puff and smirked, eyeing him sidelong. “Min Yoongi,” I said, and he glanced at me. There was an innocence in the rounds of his eyes, in the expectation in his parted lips. “You’ll do great,” I finished with a smile. I gave his shoulder a pat and nodded once.

He met my eyes and, slowly, a halfway there smile touched his features and he returned my nod. “Thanks,” he said, chuckling once, sharp.

“Excuse me?” called the receptionist, sounding uncertain. She had risen to her feet and was staring at us with her hands clasped in front of her stomach. She gave a smile I recognized from wearing it myself at work. “Mr. Min is ready to see you.”

I nodded and gave her a bow before catching Namjoon’s eye outside and jerking my head toward the elevator. He quickly stomped out his cigarette and rushed inside, smelling strongly of nicotine. I gave him a grimace and he responded with a smile, resting his hand on the small of my back and leading me down the hallway toward the elevator.

“Ah! Do you need help finding the office?” the receptionist called, craning her neck to peer after us.

Yoongi chuckled and shook his head, waving at her as he called for the elevator. “I think we’ll be okay. Thank you,” he said with a smile her way.

She blinked a few times before adjusting her hair and bowing, her head disappearing back around the corner. And, in silence, the three of us entered the elevator.

The CEO of Sanyo Industries was not the imposing man I was expecting. Perhaps I’d built him up as some sort of malevolent deity, but looking at him sitting in a chair that looked several inches too big for him, glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose, it was hard to see Mr. Min as the ruthless businessman I knew he was.

The office was spacious, like the reception area, and decorated with classic mahogany browns and deep reds. It looked like the sort of office you’d see in a rich man’s mansion. But Mr. Min himself didn’t quite match it. Mousy in the face with sallow skin and salt-and-pepper hair, he looked like someone’s quiet uncle, the one you only see at family get-togethers who you have trouble even making small talk with.

He cleared his throat and stared up at Yoongi and I, raising his brows. “Son,” he began, then chuckled, rubbing his nose bridge and shutting his eyes. “Is this some sort of marriage announcement?”

Yoongi sighed. “You’d know about any marriage before I would, Dad,” he said, eyes going dull.

“Well then, what brings you two here?” he asked, eyeing me. “And furthermore, who are you if not a fiancé?”

I glanced at Yoongi, waiting for him to speak. But he simply kept his eyes ahead, perhaps trying to tether himself to reality somehow. It wasn’t a part of the plan for me to be too vocal. And besides, I wasn’t so sure it was safe to speak much. If what yoongi said about his father was anything to go by, I’d be smart not to oppose him.

Namjoon had planned everything pretty meticulously. For the first time since arriving, I felt concerned that I’d mess up my role. And with Namjoon himself waiting outside the office so as not to spook Mr. Min right off the bat, I felt ill at ease with all of his attention squarely on me.

I played with the pendant on my necklace. “Uh,” I began, meeting the CEO’s eyes once more. “I’m, uh…I…work with Yoongi.”

He cocked a brow and smirked. “Ah, another criminal?” he asked, scoffing. “Really, Yoongi, when are you going to come to your senses and get serious?” His tone had taken a shift. Gone were the fleeting moments of jest and teasing. In its place was nothing short of frightful intensity, his gaze on Yoongi, boring into him through thin-rimmed glasses.

“Today,” said Yoongi, facing his father. “If things go well.”

Mr. Min leaned back and coughed a little, one of those innocuous old-man sounds that once again threw me for a loop. Was he any suburban dad you might see at the Han River or was he a cutthroat criminal?

“That’s…very good news,” he said, then eyed me with a scowl. “Although if you’re looking to get your friend a job, I can confidently say not a chance.”

I was nearly hurt by his comment before remembering just what sort of company he ran. I took my bruised pride and, clearing my throat, crossed my arms. “I’m not looking for work,” I said.

He hummed. “Well, Yoongi, I can’t say I’m unhappy to hear about your change of heart,” he said, giving Yoongi the ghost of a smile.

Yoongi cleared his throat and rubbed his palms together. “There’s a condition.”

“Condition?” asked Mr. Min, his expression darkening.

“Call off your hit on Ori.”

He chuckled. “You think having you under my wing is worth letting my biggest competitor go?” he asked, raising his brows. “That’s shockingly confident. Even for you.”

Yoongi shook his head. “No,” he said, locking eyes with his father. “I know that’s not enough.”

“Then what’s the rest of your bid?” he asked with a smirk. “You know you can’t prove I’ve got a hit on Ori.”

I cleared my throat and took a step forward, rifling through my bag to grab my phone. “That’s,” I began, but had to pause since my phone was hidden beneath my wallet. I chuckled to myself, nervous, and continued once I had my cell phone in my hand. “That’s where I come in.”

Mr. Min stared at me, but his teasing once again halted. Quietly, I pressed play on my cell phone. The recording played and I took the moment of respite to lean back, inelegant and unceremonious, to knock on the door twice, alerting Namjoon to his cue.

Mr. Min’s gaze went hard like obsidian and it locked on me. “That’s Kim Seokjin?”

Yoongi stepped forward, crossing his arms. “Take action against Jin and we’ll release the recording and tell the press. You might not be aware, but Y/N has become pretty intimately familiar with news outlets these days, being Vante’s secret woman and everything.”

Mr. Min’s face flushed and his eyes skittered between us like a cornered animal. “You’re her…,” he said with a nod. He rubbed his temples and an almost childish smile touched his face. Shutting his eyes, he nodded again as the door opened and Namjoon stepped inside. “You’ve outplayed me, haven’t you?”

Yoongi adjusted his cuffs and cleared his throat. “Sorry, Dad,” he said, sighing. “But I can’t sit back and watch you ruin people’s lives anymore.”

His father opened his eyes and they were sharp, angry, but there was a margin of respect in them. “So this is your offer? You come on under me and you don’t air Sanyo’s dirty laundry?”

Yoongi nodded once sharply. “Yes.”

He smirked and glanced at Namjoon who had taken the spot at my other side. “I suppose you’re here to discuss the logistics,” he said, chuckling. “You two can leave. This is a discussion between businessmen.”

Namjoon grinned and pulled out the plush chair in front of Mr. Min’s desk before settling in. “It is,” he said, turning around to smile at Yoongi and me. “I’ll meet you two downstairs when we’re done here,” he continued. Yoongi and I each turned halfway toward the door, and as my fingers clasped around the doorknob, Namjoon called, “Oh and Y/N?”

I glanced at him over my shoulder. “Yes?” I asked, eager to leave the intimidating place.

He smirked. “Have your friend send her resume to my secretary. She’ll schedule her for an interview with my hiring department.”

A small smile spread across my face as I opened the door. I nodded and he returned it, grinning. “I will,” I said, leading Yoongi out into the hallway once more.

I awoke to pounding at my front door. Groaning, I rubbed my eyes and pushed myself upright on the couch. I must have fallen asleep shortly after returning home from Sanyo. Namjoon had emerged two hours later with a big grin and a new contract with Yoongi’s father stating neither company would attack the other moving forward. And although Namjoon hadn’t been the one to strike first, his strategic prowess had proven extremely useful as by the end Mr. Min was offering a collaborative project. Namjoon wouldn’t tell me whether he’d accepted the project or not, but I suspected I knew his principles well enough to know exactly where he’d told Mr. Min to shove that offer.

Yoongi had stayed behind to hash things out with his dad, and he told me not to worry about him. Of course, I worried anyway, because as his back retreated back toward the elevator, he looked so small. Too small for this big corporate world.

But my worries were quickly assuaged as he turned slightly before entering the elevator and shot me a playful smirk and a wink. As I moved to respond, he quickly hopped into the elevator and that was the last I saw of him.

Once I’d gotten home, I’d practically fallen into a puddle on the couch, turning on the TV and letting whatever cable show was on play as my mind wandered away from me. I wasn’t sure when I’d fallen asleep or how long I’d been out, but the knocking was incessant and demanding.

Groggy, I wandered toward the door and opened it without checking the peephole, rubbing the back of my head with a groan. “Hello?”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

I pried my eyes open and saw Taehyung fuming in the doorway. I furrowed my brow and blinked at him. “What time is it?”

He sighed. “It’s midnight. Why are you still dressed up?” he asked, finally scanning me before shaking his head and waving his hands. “No, that’s not important! Why did you keep this whole plan from me? Don’t I have the right to know?”

My senses had returned to me and, gently, I took his forearm and led him inside the apartment. He followed, albeit unwillingly, and pouted down at me. He was dressed in leisure wear, likely having run here from his apartment once Namjoon told him what happened without so much as grabbing a jacket.

I sat him down on the couch and smiled. “I’m sorry,” I said.

He opened his mouth to say something but shut it quickly with a sigh, gripping his nose bridge. “Shit,” he mumbled. “I can’t scold you if you apologize first.”

I laughed and nodded. “I know,” I said, then shook my head. “I really am sorry, for what it’s worth.”

He eyed me from between his fingers and cocked a brow. “Why didn’t you tell me, though? Really?”

I rubbed his arm with a smile. “I didn’t want you to take this on too,” I said. “With everything that happened with the gala…I figured you’d do something unnecessary again. You’d handle things on your own and demand I stay out of it,” I began, pausing to rub my hands together. “I know it’s annoying, but I thought that there had to be a way to fix things without someone sacrificing themselves.”

“What about your friend? That Yoongi kid? Didn’t he sacrifice himself?” he asked.

I chuckled, remembering that mischievous wink, that boy with his head in his computer, that guy who saved a stray dog and bought expensive food for it. “No,” I said, smiling. “He’s found something new to be passionate about.”

Taehyung sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I hate that I can see your point,” he said, shaking his head. “I wish I could’ve helped you more.”

Gently, I touched the pendant on my collarbone and smiled at him. “You did help, Taehyung,” I said, and his eyes flashed toward me. “More than you can possibly know. You showed me that I’m stronger when I speak out. That I have what it takes to advocate for myself.”

His shoulders slumped with a sigh and he glanced toward the coffee table where Mom’s letter still sat, wrinkled. “You would’ve figured it out on your own eventually,” said Taehyung with a pout.

I smiled. “No,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t think I would have.” I sighed and watched the letter as if it might change the longer I looked at it. “It took you to shake it out of me.”

“Well…that’s one contribution at least,” he said with a sigh.

“It bothers me.”

He sat upright and stared at me wide-eyed. “Huh?”

I shook my head. “Not that you’ve been helping me, but that it took someone else pushing me for me to finally get myself together,” I said, brow furrowed as I leaned back against the couch cushions. I crossed my arms and stewed over it, still staring at the letter. “I feel like everything I’ve done has been because of either you or Jungkook.”

Taehyung stiffened. “Wait, what?”

I sat up and frowned. “Yeah. The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get,” I said, thinking about that stupid letter. If not for Taehyung, I probably would never have heard from my mom again.

“Y/N, you just got home from blackmailing a billionaire CEO,” he said, raising his brows. “I don’t think any of that had to do with me or Jungkook.”

I shook my head. “I dunno,” I said, trying to name the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Taehyung sighed and leaned into the couch, glancing up toward the TV. “What’re you watching?”

“I’m not sure,” I said, reclining beside him albeit uneasily as my thoughts kept swirling.

We both watched the screen for a moment and I felt the call of sleep beckoning again. Why with Taehyung did I always fall asleep? Perhaps he was a comfortable person. Our relationship had after all began when he left me trinkets while I slept at work.

“My agent wants me to start thinking about doing a documentary,” he said, like the thought couldn’t remain in his head.

I hummed. “Weird,” I said with a nod. “About you?”

“Yeah. Since public interest is so high right now, she thinks it might be a good time to start working on something,” he said, then shook his head. “But I don’t wanna be followed by a big film crew that I don’t know and everyone she’s suggested has been awkward.”

“Hm,” I said, resting my head against the back of the couch, eyes fluttering shut.

“I just want a small company, you know? If I’m going to do it, that is,” he continued, but his voice was growing more and more distant.

And before I knew it, I was asleep.

“Hey-wait, what the fuck?”

“Oh…sorry.”

“I…you…what are you even doing here?”

“I fell asleep.”

“Why were you here late?”

“Because I-…ah, forget it.”

I groaned and rolled over, tumbling off the couch and onto the rug. I stared up at the front door, the source of the noise, and saw Jungkook in the doorway. Smiling, I gave him a wave and pushed up to my bottom.

“Morning,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

Jungkook gave me a pout. “Don’t give me that cute face,” he said, jerking a thumb at Taehyung who, by that point, I’d only just begun to register as being in my apartment at all. “What’s he doing here?”

“He came over last night to scold me,” I said, standing to my feet with the help of the coffee table. My fingers brushed Mom’s letter and I recoiled like I’d touched a hot stove.

“Scold you?” asked Jungkook, eyes round. He tuned to Taehyung and frowned. “Why were you scolding her? And why didn’t you do it during business hours?”

“Jungkook,” I said, laughing as I approached. I gave his shoulder a pat before breezing past him into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I’d slept in my work skirt and blouse, so both were horribly wrinkled now. Great, and I still had to get to work in a few hours. “What are you doing here, Kook?” I called out into the hallway.

But to my surprise, both boys had followed me in to the bathroom and were beginning to cram themselves into the small space with me. I shouted as Jungkook shoved my pelvis into the countertop with his hip so he could perch on the toilet seat. Taehyung left a more reasonable distance between us and lingered in the doorway.

“I heard about what happened with Yoongi. Jin told me Yoongi’s leaving Bangtan and gave me an out too,” he said, then gave Taehyung a cautious look. “Can I talk about this with him?”

I chuckled and nodded, swishing my mouth with water. “Mhm,” I said.

Taehyung hummed. “So you’re leaving the shady business?”

Jungkook, his defenses lowering, nodded and returned his eyes to me. “Yeah. I want to do what I love instead.”

“What do you love?” asked Taehyung.

“I wanna make movies,” said Jungkook with a soft smile. “I bet you’d get it, being an artist and everything.”

Taehyung smiled and nodded. “Boy do I,” he said with a sigh. “Deciding to leave home and go it alone was really tough, but once I did it I never regretted it. Not even for a second.”

Jungkook grinned. “That’s comforting to hear, at least.”

I glanced between them a few times as the beginnings of a scheme began working in my brain. “You two are actually really similar, now that I think about it,” I said with a nod.

Jungkook scoffed. “No way,” he said with a snort.

I shot a warning glance at him and he quieted down. “I mean it,” I said. “You both see beauty in the ordinary and want to capture that.”

Taehyung raised his brows. “Is that something you’re interested in, Jungkook?”

He pouted and shrugged, watching the floor. “Yeah, I guess.”

Taehyung chuckled. “Man, I wish I would’ve known sooner! I take photos, so if you ever want to go and get some material, I’m free.”

Jungkook glanced up with wide eyes. “Huh?” he asked.

Taehyung nodded. “Yeah. Video is really dynamic, but I don’t have an eye for it. I’d love to see your process.”

Jungkook smiled, just a little, and sat up straighter. “Wait, you mean it?”

“Yeah, of course,” said Taehyung with a laugh. “Give me your number and we can plan something.”

I smiled knowingly and leaned back against the wall so the two could exchange contact information. “You know,” I began, rubbing Jungkook’s shoulder. “Jungkook’s working for a film company now.”

Jungkook stiffened. “N-Not yet! I just sent off my video, but-,”

“But you’re in. I saw that video, Kook. And, as an art curator, I’m telling you it’s good,” I said.

Taehyung’s eyes went wide. “For real?” he asked.

Jungkook shrugged, his knees spread wide as he sat slumped slightly. “Yeah. Probably, anyway.”

Taehyung scoffed. “Well…I might have a really big project for you guys if you’re interested.”

Jungkook stiffened. “What?”

“Let’s chat about it today. Y/N, do you mind if I steal him for a while?” asked Taehyung.

I smiled and gestured toward Jungkook with both hands. “He’s all yours.”

Jungkook glanced up at me, wide-eyed. “Wait, what’s happening?”

I chuckled. “Meet me after work, okay?” I asked with a smile, patting his shoulder as I slid past both of them to get ready for my shift.

As I was getting ready to leave work, I noticed a few text messages on my phone from while I was working. Smiling, I unlocked it and read over the text.

Nararawr: I’ve got an interview with Ori.

Nararawr: The receptionist said I had to interview properly if I wanted the job, no handouts.

Nararawr: IDK you did, but…thank you. I’ll be sure to do my best!

Nararawr: Yoongi came by my class on Monday. I assume that’s also your doing :P

Nararawr: He said he had some things to explain to me, so we’re meeting up on Friday to talk about everything. Methinks it’s a…*gasp*…DATE?!

Nararawr: At any rate, thank you. I won’t waste this opportunity. Thank you for letting me get this myself. I appreciate you more than I say.

I ran a finger along my screen and chuckled. Of course he’d gone. I knew he would. Gently, I typed out a response.

Y/N: Hey, I didn’t do much. I’m just glad everything worked out. Let’s meet up on Saturday to chat! I’ve also got some things to explain to you. And besides I wanna hear about you…*gasp*…DATE?!

I smiled and slid my phone into my purse, removing my ascot and stuffing it inside along with it. The shift was quick, quicker than usual as I’d been scheduled during a busier time of day. The midday rush had died down by the end, and Areum gave me a four-fingered wave goodbye as I made my way back toward the exit from the break room. But as I stepped into the hall, Mr. Kwon jogged up behind me and grabbed my shoulder. I jumped a little and spun around to face him.

“Y/N! Thank God I caught you,” he said with a breathless laugh.

I smiled and gave him a bow. “Is there anything I can help you with, Sir?” I asked.

“If you have time, I’d love you to join me for a meeting right now,” he said.

“With who?” I asked.

“It’s-,” he began, but paused with a chuckle.

He grinned and glanced over my shoulder as the elevator dinged and out walked a few familiar faces. No way. Two of the Japanese philanthropists I’d sold paintings to all those weeks ago. It felt like a lifetime. I bowed deeply at each of them.

“Hello,” I said once I stood upright once more.

“Ah! Are you going to be in the meeting as well?” asked one man with a smile.

I took a peek at Mr. Kwon who gave me an encouraging nod and a smile, and turned back to the philanthropists. “Um…yes,” I said with a smile.

“Wonderful!” he said. “I was telling Mr. Kwon that we’d love to have you.”

“Have me…?” I began, but Mr. Kwon simply laughed and shuffled me back into the gallery, leading all of us to his office.

I stared at the letter on my coffee table, now dressed in my favorite turtleneck and the same skirt I’d worn to meet Jungkook for our study date, months and months ago. Any minute, he’d show up in his car, awaiting my arrival so we could go somewhere. Anywhere.

And still, here I was. Staring at that stupid letter. What did I think would happen if I kept looking at it? Would it suddenly sprout wings and fly away? Would it burn up in flames?

My phone buzzed and I knew he was here. I leapt to my feet and, without thinking, swiped the letter and pocketed it before rushing out the front door to meet Jungkook downstairs.

Jungkook and I sat beneath the dome stars, resting on a blanket in the grass at a park by my apartment. One I hadn’t been to in a long time. Neither of us was saying much, not after the initial flood of information exchange. How he was going to be in touch with Taehyung regarding that documentary, how the two are actually pretty compatible, how everything had gone with Yoongi at Sanyo.

Now there was just silence. The comfortable kind.

I knew I had to tell him about what had happened in the meeting today. If anyone needed to know, it was him.

But I let myself indulge in the silence for a moment longer. “My mom wrote to me,” I said, resting on my palms as I stared up at the fresh, cloudless autumn night sky. Stars splayed out like paint splatters.

Jungkook glanced at me, eyes wide. “She did?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. She wants to meet me.”

“She…she does?”

“Yeah,” I said with a chuckle. “I thought…I thought I might feel really vindicated when this moment finally came, but I kinda just feel…empty.”

“Empty…,” repeated Jungkook softly.

I nodded. “Because she wants to meet with me to get to Taehyung,” I said with a nod. “Isn’t it a little pathetic? Reaching out to your estranged daughter once she can benefit you?” I chuckled. “And what’s more pathetic is that I’m actually considering going.”

“Y/N,” said Jungkook softly, chiding. “I’ll support whatever choice you make,” he said, eyes boring into me intently.

I smiled and leaned toward him, giving him a chaste peck, and nodded. “Thank you,” I said with a sigh. “You know, it’s been bothering me for a while now,” I said, touching the ruby necklace where it met my skin. “I wonder what I’d be on my own. Who I’d be. Without you or Taehyung or Dad or Nara or anyone supporting me.”

“That’s a sad thought,” said Jungkook softly.

I shook my head. “It’s not,” I said. “I wanna know, Jungkook. All my life…I’ve been holding on to people so tight that I forgot I’m also a person worth holding on to. I forgot that I’m a person at all.”

Jungkook reached out and laced our fingers gently, inching closer. “I understand.”

“And I appreciate you for that,” I said, chuckling. “But…I wanna know what I’m made of when I’m on my own. Up until now, the only thing making me move forward has been circumstance. I haven’t done anything by myself. I haven't grown because I actively wanted to become better, but because I’ve been forced to through my relationships with you. With Taehyung. With Namjoon. With…everyone.”

Jungkook nodded. “You wanna stand on your own two feet.”

“Yeah.”

“You wanna see what you’re capable of,” he said, smiling.

I smiled too. “Which is why I’m gonna take a job offer in Japan.”

Jungkook coughed a little, sputtering, before staring down at me with wide eyes. “Wait, what? Where the hell did that come from?”

I laughed. “Today, my boss at the gallery offered me a year-long position at a new gallery they’re opening in Tokyo. He’s been having these talks with a bunch of philanthropists who I sold paintings to. I guess they really wanted to have me on the team at least for the first year to train new employees. I’ll be done with my degree in a few months anyway and I’ll be a manager,” I said, watching his expression change from shock to something like respect, mingling with a tinge of sadness.

“I…Y/N, that’s incredible,” Jungkook said, laughing as he swept me up in his arms. “I mean, I’ll miss you like hell but this is an amazing opportunity. You’d be crazy not to take it.”

I smiled and held on to him tightly, inhaling the sweet, gentle scent of his cologne, feeling the firm expanse of his chest. He rubbed my side, tender, and pulled back to press his palm against my cheek, smiling. “Let’s call it…our test period,” I said with a grin. He raised his brows. “After everything that happened, I can’t say I trust you one-hundred percent.”

He nodded. “I get it.”

“So…this year abroad,” I began, resting my hand atop his as he smoothed his fingers against my cheek. “If we still feel the same way about each other when I get home, then we can start again. For real this time.”

He swallowed hard and smiled, his thumb rubbing circles into my warm skin. “A test period,” he repeated with a nod. “I know I’ll pass.”

I laughed and gave his stomach a poke. “Don’t get cocky. I also have to pass,” I said with a smile.

“I’ll make sure you pass,” he said with a wink.

I shoved him away and stuck out my tongue, miming gagging. “We’ll see,” I teased.

He smiled. “I’m really proud of you,” he said.

I raised my brows. “You are?”

He nodded. “A few months ago, you wouldn’t be able to take this opportunity. You would have held yourself back and let it go to someone else.”

I blinked at my lap as I thought. “I…I guess so, huh?”

“The you from before…I don’t think the you today would like her much,” he said with a chuckle. “Do you?”

The letter suddenly felt heavy in my pocket, like it was burning a hole. Without another word, I pulled it out and stared at it, off-white, worn at the corners. And I took it in both hands before yanking each corner, tearing it clean in half. And again. And again. And again and again until the pieces were small as confetti. Then I opened my palm and let the gentle, chilly breeze carry the scraps away, gone forever into the streets of Seoul.

“That was brave,” said Jungkook from beside me, rubbing my back.

I smiled, a sense of ease washing over me, and turned to him. “I’m about to do something braver,” I said, meeting his curious eyes with a smirk.

I reached out and clamped both hands on his cheeks. He gasped a little as I yanked his face down to meet mine. I tried to convey with a kiss exactly what I needed him to understand. That he wasn’t a bad person, just lost for a while. That he deserved to be happy. That he was strong and smart and talented and so full of potential. That what I felt for him wasn’t something transient, like receipts, like a memo. That it was forever.

He leaned into the kiss, deepening it slightly with a tilt of his head. His lips were sweet with chapstick and soft, never pushy, gentle always. And as I slowly let my fingers play with the hair at the nape of his neck, I felt him growing flushed, the heat from his face reaching mine through the small fraction of space between us.

Slowly, I pulled away and met his eyes, smiling. “I love you, too,” I said finally.

His eyes glittered with growing moisture and he smiled slightly, scoffing. “Jeez, baby,” he said, wiping his eyes. “You surprised me,” he mumbled.

I chuckled and reached around to the clasp on my necklace, removing it and holding it in my fingers. Slowly, I took his hand and flipped it palm up. I dropped the necklace and smiled at him.

“What’s this about?” he asked, eyeing me.

I closed his fingers around the necklace and patted his fist. “Hold on to that for me,” I said. “And don’t give it back to me until I come back from Japan.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll only take it back when I’ve proven that I can stand on my own two feet,” I said with a nod.

He furrowed his brow before meeting my gaze once more. “You want me to keep this for a year?”

I smirked. “It’ll also keep other girls from getting too cozy if they see that in your room.”

He gaped. “Y/N!” he shouted. “You really think I’m gonna be seeing other people while you’re gone?!”

I shrugged. “I dunno.”

“Wait…are you gonna see other people?!” he shouted, pointing an accusing finger my way.

“I dunno,” I repeated, giggling.

He frowned and leaned down to press a pouty kiss to my lips. “You’d better not or I’ll fly over there give you an earful.”

I laughed, ruffling his hair. “One year…are you sure you like me enough to hold out that long?”

His expression softened and he took my hand in his, pressing a kiss to my palm. “That much and more,” he said gently. “I’ll wait as long as I have to.”

And with that, I smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. I didn’t know where life would lead us, or what might change in a year. I wasn’t sure how I’d tell Dad, how I’d tell Nara. But I knew enough. I knew that the people in my life were good, that they deserved to be beside me. I knew that the ones who walked away from me weren’t meant to stay, and that they weren’t meant to come back either. I knew that the person I was becoming was someone I could finally believe in. And I knew that I could trust the people I loved to be there, always.

[thestartline]

DAY6 Interview with Billboard Japan

JYP Entertainment has released groups such as 2PM, GOT7, and TWICE into the public. From the company, the first band artist group DAY6 has released their second Japanese best album “THE BEST DAY2″. Because of their unique differences, the 5 member band has the mindset of “Try it first”, and has tackled various genres, gaining fans from all over the world. For the band, this album is an achievement and also includes original Japanese singles. Now we’ll like to see how this band called DAY6 works, and through the interview we’d like to get to know the 5 members better.

When there are a lot of choices, we first try all of them.

As it is your first time on Billboard Japan, will you please introduce yourselves?

Sungjin - I’m Sungjin. I’m in charge of the guitar. I like songs that overflow with emotions, regardless of the genre. For example, Bruno Mars. I also like artists with a nice voice.

Jae - I play the guitar, I’m Jae. I think this is the same with many people, but I’m the type that their music taste changes depending on the time. These days I’m listening to a lot of artists under the “88rising” label. Like Joji and Lexie Liu.

Young K - I’m Young K. I’m in charge of the bass. I like punk rock, hip hop, and pop music. 

For example?

Young K - Hmm, if its punk rock, I like SUM 41 or My Chemical Romance. If its pop, I like Maroon 5 or Coldplay. I like music that has a pretty melody.

Wonpil - I’m Wonpil. I play the keyboard. I also don’t listen to only one genre but lots of genres, but out of them, I really like Coldplay. I think their sound is very unique. 

Dowoon - I’m in charge of the drums, I’m Dowoon. I like songs which the vocals and the track matches well. I like the Korean artists Narae Lee. 

Everyone has different music tastes, but how has that variety influenced your work as a group?

Jae - We both write our songs and lyrics, but we also work with various songwriters. So not just within our members, but we have many occasions where we are able to come to contact with many different sounds, which gives us the ability to master it, I believe. Even when we are writing our own songs, we are able to think of many different ways. When we are writing one song, we all like something on our own, and we put the spotlight on different areas, which allows us to broaden our music. 

Sungjin - I think because each member has their own preferences, DAY6 can challenge many genres. And, when we are listening to a particular type of song, what one personally cannot feel can be felt by another member, and as we share this feeling, we learn a lot. 

When DAY6 was first established, what sort of ideal image did you have in mind?

Young K - Since we were first established, we did not have one fixed genre, and that it still continuing today, but as for where we were headed, we wanted to be a band which can engage with the audience. When we saw a band communicating with the audience and singing songs with them, we though “we want to be a band like that”. 

When there are so many genres, it also means there are as many choices, and it might make you feel lost at times. At times like that, how do you find the best solution?

Young K - When there are a lot of choices, we first try all of them. Once we create a lot of things, we talk to the members of the team we work with, and in the end, we are left with the good things. 

In October, you released your 3rd Korean Album “The Book of Us; Entropy”. Please tell us your response.

Sungjin - When I listened to the album before it was released, I though “Did we try to many genres?” but there were a lot more people who found that appealing. I once again felt that it was important for not only us to judge, but to first create something we think that is good, and then have a lot of people judge for us. 

Wonpil - In July, we released our mini album “The Book of Us: Gravity”, but the difference in happiness after we completed a full album is difference. This full album really incorporates songs from many genres, and I’m happy to have been able to show the fans a new side of us. 

Was there a specific theme or concept?

Dowoon - Our last mini album “The Book of Us: Gravity” was the first in the series, and “The Book of Us: Entropy” is the second. The “Gravity” in “The Book of Us: Gravity”, means that we are pulling each other to one another, and represents the start of a relationship between two people. The “Entropy” in “The Book of Us: Entropy” represents disorder, and this album depicts the change in the relationship.

Does this “The Book of Us” series still continue?

Dowoon - I believe so. I think it will continue. 

We want to be a band that can connect with many people.

This time, your Japanese 2nd album “The Best Day2″ has been released. Please tell us how you have improved or changed from your last album, “The Best Day”

Sungjin - We have released many albums in Korea, and every time we have challenged various genres, which birthed a lot of songs. We were able to collect much of those songs in “The Best Day2″, and we were also able to add in our original Japanese Songs “Finale” and “Kiminara”, which I believe shows a different colour of us. 

What was the process for creating “Finale” like?

Young K - We talked about our most recent album “The Book of Us: Entropy” earlier, and the songs in this album was created in a short amount of time. “Finale” was one of the songs created in this period. The image was the curtain of a concert falling down, and I created it with the intent of overflowing energy. 

Sungjin - If we are talking about the message portion, the word “Finale” on its own means “the end” or “curtain fall”, but we imagined the curtain call after a concert, and the message of hoping for human relationships to have a happy ending is in the song.

How about the second song “Kiminara”?

Young K - This song is very bright, and full of energy. I think the lyrics of this song has something similar to the lyrics of “Finale”. “You can make me happy”, “I’ll can trust my future with you” are lyrics that are full of hope. 

Both songs mention “Kimi” (You), and seems to be a song sent to someone very close, but to all of you, who is the “Kimi”?

Jae - First of all, the members of DAY6. And of course, to the fans who enjoy our music, and make their hearts one with us during our concerts. 

Sungjin - Perhaps “Kimi” is not the right term, but on a larger scale, I think it is the people who leave a good influence on DAY6. This might be family, friends, and the staffs. 

What made both songs have similar or the same themes?

Sungjin - In most cases when we write songs, we first and foremost think of wanting to help someone, to be someone’s strength, so I think the songs came out of a natural process.

Young K - And, the songs we’ve released in Japan so far has been quite dark or had some sadness in it, so we wanted to put in a hopeful message this time.

We believe that is a very happy message for the Japanese fans. Is there anything in particular that you remember from your Japanese activities?

Young K - When we performed at Summer Sonic 2017. That was before we debuted in Japan, and we performed on a outdoor stage. The people who were walking behind us stopped and listened to our music, and there were people who had fun with us, which was very memorable. 

Wonpil - The Japan tour was very memorable. Back then, it had been a while since we had performed at a live house, and the fans were very close to us and sang with us. It made me very emotional. 

Now for the end, please tell us what you would like to challenge even more, your goals and ambitions if you have any. 

Jae - We want to continuously create music we want to do, and become a band which can connect with more people. I want the band DAY6 to grow even bigger, and to have more chances to perform.  

Sungjin - In terms of challenge, I believe the songs we have created till now has all been a challenge, so as we have been doing now, I hope to challenge ourselves in the future as well. 

Original interview

Jap to Eng trans @dalomls (twit)

[wafflelate]

Could I request some nice interaction between Shisui and Kako? Any verse. Work this week was UGH I want to read something cute and funny and Those Two are the best.

lmao i started writing something else for this this morning and it was so sad and serious i had to start something else for you instead

shadows under water verse! that’s the one where Shikako is born the same age as Shisui.

here is a short tale about a D-rank and probably the fluffiest thing i’ve written

word count: 1420

                   ————————————

“There are lots of chakra tricks you can practice while we do D-ranks,” Amano-sensei tells them. The next morning they’re due for their first mission, which Amano has already selected for them.

“My sensei was a fan of taking any D-rank that would make us water-walk,” Amano goes on. “We’re not up to that point yet, of course, but I have a quick trick to teach you that you’ll find useful for this mission.”

Shisui can see Shikako-chan lean forward just a little. She loves chakra tricks, he’s noticed — already he’s caught her at about ten of them, half of which he’s never even heard of before. The most impressive one was the one with the water, but she’d called it ‘basically useless’ even while changing a sphere of contained water into a cube and then a pyramid and back in an amazing show of control. Shikako-chan is very curious and very knowledgeable and very humble.

“This is the great secret of the Hyuuga clan,” Amano adds in that totally-serious way he has of being not serious at all. Uzume-ba says he got that tone from playing devil’s advocate for all the interpersonal client drama they’d stirred up on their C-ranks.

(Shisui can’t wait for their first C-rank, although he thinks Muta will be the one playing devil’s advocate and Shikako will watch like Aburame Shibi had. This Team 4 isn’t exactly like the last Team 4. And that’s good, because Yūhi-sensei was a real dick and a bad teacher, although Shisui is never supposed to say that out loud.)

Shisui flickers his Sharingan on to watch Amano-sensei’s chakra trick. His teammates watch closely, each in their own way — Shikako with her sensing, Muta with a faint buzzing noise.

“Tell me what it does,” Amano-sensei says, because he also needs them to learn how to gather intelligence on unknown techniques.

Shisui knows what it is the moment he starts using it, so he keeps his mouth shut like a good student. Muta and Shikako will enjoy investigating more than being given the answer. And it’s fun to watch them decide things like this, because they work off each other and they do it a lot different than Shisui would.

“It… surrounds you with chakra,” Shikako says. She sounds frustrated, like she can’t believe that’s the only thing she can tell with her chakra sense. Shikako-chan has really high standards for herself.

“So it’s not localized,” Muta says, and he doesn’t glance at Shikako or anything, but Shisui knows he said that only to make sure Shikako would know she’s provided him with information he likely wouldn’t otherwise have. “It also repelled the bug I had on sensei, and my kikaichu cannot land again, although it can feed.”

Both incredulous and uncertain, Shikako asks, “Amano-sensei, is this the first step of Kaiten?”

Amano blinks at her. “How do you even know about that?” he asks.

“What’s Kaiten?” asks Shisui.

(Of course Shikako-chan knows — all she did in the Academy was read. She maybe knows everything.)

“Are you allowed to teach us this?” Shikako blurts out, and then immediately her shoulders shrink again. Shisui gets the impression she was just trying to keep from having to answer where she’d learned what she knows.

Amano-sensei clearly thinks the same thing because he just gives her that secretly amused look he gets when Uzume-ba thinks she’s successfully stirred him into starting an argument she wanted to have but didn’t want to initiate.

“It’s a high-level Hyuuga technique that I don’t know how to do,” Amano says. “This is just a chakra trick to keep yourself clean. If you get really good at it, the transition to the scent-hiding technique is very easy.”

“Ah,” says Muta. “This is how you were clean after your spar with Uzume-sensei.”

Amano nods. “It’s a pretty common Hyuuga trick but it’s not clan knowledge or anything. If you can cover your entire body including anything you’re wearing, it works as a good stopgap for airborne and contact poisons. Unless you breathe in.”

Shikako’s eyes have lit up, her shoulders straightened out. She likes opportunities to learn new things, especially non-Nara things.Shisui’s not really sure what the deal is with her clan — isn’t she clan heir? — but he’s glad she got a kickass team to support her ambitious curiousity.

“We’ll practice this today and tomorrow you’ll have a chance to test it out in a controlled environment,” Amano says. “I’m sure you’ll all pick it up quickly.”

He activates his Byakugan and uses it to watch their progress, to tell them how to move their chakra. He tests them with little handfuls of dirt, too, probably just to be a jerk.

In the morning, they meet at Hironobu’s bakery and are surprised to find that their breakfasts are on the house.

“Oh, didn’t I mention?” Amano-sensei says. “Akimichi Hironobu is our first client.”

Shisui cheers and throws his hands up. Muta and Shikako don’t do either, but he can tell from the way Muta straightens and Shikako leans back, relaxed, that they’re really happy too. Or, he’s definitely sure about Shikako. Muta is probably happy, but maybe is just aiming to be vigilant about the details of their first mission.

As far as missions go, it’s kind of an awesome one.

“We’re rolling and cutting dough!” Hironobu announces. “My wife’s cousin Uchikatsu is getting married and wants a selection of cookies instead of a cake, but all my usual extra workers are busy with other wedding things.”

What follows is a crash course in baking a variety of rolled cookies, starting with basics like keeping the dough chilled and rolling it out evenly. Hironobu quickly reveals the reason Amano had taught them this new chakra trick: they’ll be rolling with powdered sugar and cocoa powder

It’s messy and it’s fun. They all have different cookie cutter shapes, and Shisui scores the butterfly.

“It’s an insect,” Muta says. He seems to be looking hard at Shisui behind his glasses.

Shisui clutches the cookie cutter. “It’s mine, client’s orders,” he says.

“But it’s the best one,” Muta says.

“Yes,” Shisui agrees, and doesn’t give it over. He gives the boar to Muta because he’s so stubborn about his bug theme and gives the deer to Shikako because obviously. Amano-sensei is helping, too, but he’s on dough-fetching and oven-watching duty, so he doesn’t get a cookie cutter.

“Ah…” Shikako says when they turn to their cookie cutting stations. She’s looking down at her deer cookie cutter. Shoulders hunched. Does not continue whatever she was thinking about saying.

Red alert! Red alert!

Shisui sighs theatrical, because over exaggerating the exchange is better than trying to minimize it. “You want the butterfly, too, huh Shikako-chan?” he says. “My one true treasure in this world? The only worthwhile thing I’ve ever held in my entire life? You’d ask that of me?”

“Shisui, you’ve only had it for about two minutes,” Muta says, sounding irritated but in the good way — like Amano gets irritated when Uzume does something dramatic and loud that he secretly finds hilarious.

“Love has no concept of time,” Shisui informs him. “But… in the spirit of teamwork… and since Shikako-chan is my favorite teammate…”

(“Thanks,” Muta says. Shisui beams at him, but then resumes his tragic character.)

“…you should have it, and I will just suffer through my feelings from a distance,” Shisui finishes, holding the butterfly cookie cutter out to Shikako.

He gets a smile from her, and a little laugh. A laugh! They swap deer for butterfly and get to work, Amano-sensei calling out to them when he sees their new chakra trick wavering. To Shisui’s surprised, Shikako is best at it — or maybe it’s not a surprise at all, given how often he’s seen her passing the time trying to fold paper with just her chakra, or get a marble to stick to her skin but slide around under the control of gravity.

At the end of the mission only Amano-sensei is spotless and they’ve made a mountain of cookies and each of them is given a small package of cookies to take home in addition to the money they’ll make. Amano will bring his to Uzume-ba’s house, but Shisui stops by the Uchiha clan orphanage house with his package.

Shisui is a real shinobi with a real team that he even enjoys taking D-ranks with. He’s gotta spread that good luck around as much as possible, because the clan needs it.

[borusawa]

tagged by my baby @shikastemari​

RULES: Answer 21 questions and tag 21 blogs you’d like to get to know better.

Nickname: when someone’s name is ana, she doesn’t get a nickname

Star sign: Sagittarius, the best one and I can prove

Height: 162cm

Last film I saw: so important that i cannot remember. (okay, according to my netflix historic was “the 40-year-old virgin”)

Favorite musician: i’m pretty sure it’s blackbear

Song stuck in my head: jets and cigarettes - hooligin

Other blogs: my main blog

Do I get asks: requests, mostly

Blogs following: 383

What I’m wearing: t-shirt and shorts and cat ears

Dream job: diplomat/astrophysics i dream like a 4-year-old

Dream trip: Bali, Mumbai, Veneza... oh, i need money

Play any instruments: HAHAHAHAHA no :(

Languages: portuguese and english. and i can say “i can’t speak ...” in 4 different languages (spanish, german, japanese, french) because for me that’s the most important thing to know.

Favorite foods: pizza, popcorn and french fries

Random facts:

- i won a popcorn machine Sunday and I've been eating popcorn everyday. i don’t regret a thing.

- i never watched ladybug but i ship her and cat noir strongly just because.

- i have great relationship with most people i know because they get attached to me FOR NO REASON (i’m not nice)

- rn i have four different wips waiting but i’m looking for cute fanarts of my ships instead of writing anything hahaha 

- i consider myself part of the nara clan. 

Favorite songs: maybe “YOU TOO.” it’s a really good song so let’s say it’s my favorite for now.

[raendown]

Chapter 70

@redhothollyberries I couldn’t help but write the whole thing. I was inspired. The latest chapter of the Soulmate Collection is the rather unique pairing of Tobirama/Tobirama. Yeah. Yeah you read that right. ;)

Under the cut or on AO3!

Pairing: TobiramaTobirama Soulmate au: The one where you have the age you will be when you meet your soulmate on your wrist

He was in the middle of a meeting of the village’s clan heads when it happened, a bright flash of light and the cracking, rending sound of space and time being torn apart. Every person in the room leapt away from the source, assuming battle stances and bringing to hand the weapons that they weren’t technically supposed to have on them during these meetings.

When the light cleared they were all left blinking in confusion. Why hadn’t Tobirama gotten out of the way like the rest of them had? He was standing in the center of the room, looking around with no more than a mildly curious expression. Something was off, however. Tobirama had come to the conference in formal robes, just as the rest of them had. So how was he now wearing nothing more than casual dark pants and a short sleeved yukata top, mesh undershirt peeking out from beneath?

“Fascinating,” Tobirama murmured.

“Rather,” an identical voice answered from one corner of the room. “I hadn’t thought it worked.”

Heads whipped around to see a second Tobirama. This one was obviously the original, he was dressed the same as before and he was standing in front of his brother, guarding the Hokage like a good sibling should. He didn’t look at all distressed by having a copy of himself staring him right in the face however. It’s possible he was used to it as the creator of the Kage Bunshin which had immediately been forbidden upon its conception.

But where did this one come from? The only man in the room who knew how to work this jutsu had been standing in front of them all and outlaying the itinerary of their discussions that day. If he had made any hand signs everyone in the room would have seen it. He was fast but not that fast.

Both Tobiramas hummed as the original stepped forward to walk around the copy, inspecting him from all angles. “It was an instant process for you?”

“It was. I certainly hope you kept your notes on this,” the copy replied.

“Of course. Do I ever dispose of my notes?”

“No. True. You say you believed this to be a failure?”

“There was no indication of success. I thought the clone to have dispersed sometime during the journey. I had many speculations as to why the memories were never returned to me.”

“Shall I disperse now?”

“I have other questions first.”

Heads whipped back and forth, from speaker to speaker, as the rest of the gathering watched Tobirama converse with himself as though this were an everyday occurrence. It was Madara who ran out of patience first – not that this was such a large surprise. Madara was rather notorious for his lack of patience, even more so around the younger Senju brother.

“Enough!” the head of the Uchiha clan snapped. “What the hell is going on?” Both Tobirama’s turned to give him a long-suffering look.

“This experiment is integral to the future of shinobi-kind as we know it and I will thank you to keep your unwanted nose out of things that are above your cognitive abilities,” the original scolded him. Madara bristled.

“You say that about every one of your damned experiments and how many of them have been deemed too dangerous to use?”

Tobirama huffed and both he and his double crossed their arms. “You always get louder when you understand less.” They both smirked. “Not an attractive trait, Uchiha, but very telling.”

Madara growled and his fingers curled in to claws as he stepped forward to attempt thrashing the impertinent Senju. Luckily for the furniture and everyone else in the room, Hashirama stepped in to stop him before he got too far.

“I think it would be best to postpone the meeting until this new matter has been dealt with,” their Hokage said to the room at large. “Shall we reconvene tomorrow at nine o’clock?” He plastered on his most diplomatic smile and utilized his most reasonable tone, the combination that usually tricked people in to believing he really was a responsible adult that was capable of running an entire village without the dramatics of a five year old.

It was obvious that the other clan heads had no desire to leave. They were curious to see what would happen and hear an explanation as to why this copy had appeared so suddenly and spectacularly in to the middle of their conference. But they did as they were bidden to anyway and allowed themselves to be herded out of the room, throwing strange looks over their shoulders at the two identical men standing in identical stances.

Once Hashirama closed the door behind the Nara representative, however, he bound across the room towards his brother with an excitable grin.

“Cool, Tobi!” He declared with unmitigated glee. “So where did he come from?”

“The past, actually,” Tobirama answered. His copy nodded.

“It was an experiment trying to modify the hiraishin seal I use for my teleportation,” the second Tobirama explained. “I was attempting to go faster, break the limits of time. I set a seal upon myself and attempted to summon myself forward in time. I was not expecting to go so far forward, however. How long has it been exactly?”

“Six months,” the original answered.

The clone looked down at his wrist, at the bold ink that depicted the number 25 on his skin. “Still of the same age then. And have you…?” The original Tobirama shook his head.

“No, I’ve not found them yet.”

“Ah.”

“Hold on!” Hashirama waved his hands around while Madara strolled over to settle at his side. He hadn’t left with the others but no one had actually expected him to. “You mean to say that you sent yourself forward in time!?”

Both Tobiramas shook their heads while the original answered. “A clone of myself. If I had sent my actual self forward I would have disappeared, brother.”

“I…oh. That’s true, isn’t it?” Hashirama scratched at his head. “So, this means the experiment was a success then? You’ve actually invented time travel?”

“Yes and no. It did not work as intended. I would require much more experimentation in order to feel safe allowing actual people to try this but I stopped the research because it was heading in to a dangerous area. Time travel, brother. Even if I could make it work, imagine the implications if my research were stolen? It’s an area far safer left alone.” He stopped when Madara snorted.

“It’s unlike you to actually think of how your actions will affect others,” Madara sneered. “Are you sure you’re feeling well, bastard?”

“Madara!” Hashirama pouted at his friend. “Be nice! But you’re right, Tobi. I didn’t think of that. So…now that he’s here…what are you going to do?”

Tobirama shrugged. “We spoke while you were clearing the room. I’ve asked all the questions I need to. Unless you have more to ask yourself, I shall allow him to disperse. It’s good to know that I succeeded where I had thought I failed. Unfortunately I am still of the opinion that this topic is far too dangerous to delve in to.”

“I doubt I have any questions that you didn’t already ask except…” He hesitated as he looked to the copy of his brother. “What did it feel like? Time travel?” The copy shrugged.

“I felt the same as any other teleportation I have done. Perhaps the pulling sensation was a bit more intense. But it was nearly instantaneous and I was unaware at first that I had gone so far forward. I was only meant to jump a few seconds, minutes at most.” The two Tobiramas hummed and gave each other a look of disappointment. “It was meant for use in battle and it’s regrettable that it cannot be used so.”

“Oh.” Hashirama looked a little disappointed at the anticlimactic answer. “Then, no I suppose I don’t have any more questions.”

The clone nodded, then simply stood there for a minute, blinking and looking confused. The original Tobirama tilted his head while his copy make the release seal several times, each with no result. Finally he said, “I cannot seem to disperse.”

“Explain,” Tobirama demanded.

“You are aware, from the memories of previous clones, that there is a sensation to dispersal. The feeling of the chakra leaving your body, returning to it’s original.” He waited for his creator to nod before continuing. “That sensation is not happening. The release seal is attempting to throw my chakra but it has nowhere to go. Perhaps because you are not, in fact, my original creator. You are you, of course, but you are a future version of yourself.”

“And therefore a different person, yes, I see your point. Fascinating.” Tobirama leaned in close, inspecting the mirror image of his own face. “If you are unable to disperse, I wonder if you are permanent. Can you expend and recover chakra like a normal human? Can you take a wound without disappearing? Can you bleed and heal?”

“We should return to the lab and test this,” the copy exclaimed, an excited gleam in his eye.

“Absolutely.”

They both turned for the door, almost startled to see the other two men were still in the room.

“Is there two Tobi’s now?” Hashirama asked faintly. “Forever?

“Kami save us all, tell me it isn’t true,” Madara groaned. Both Tobiramas sighed.

“Perhaps with two of us we’ll finally have enough brainpower to figure out what your problem is, Uchiha,” they grumbled at the same time.

Then they looked at each other with a slight smirk and the original moved to pat his clone proudly on the arm. The moment he touched the clone’s skin, however, the room was lit up with light for the second time. It emanated from the matching marks on both of their wrists, the bold ink that announced to the world that Senju Tobirama would be 25 years old when he met his soulmate.

The light was a sign that one had indeed found their soulmate. Yet, all Tobirama had done was touch his own shadow clone, one created months ago. One which now was unable to dispel itself. The two of them stared at each other, then at the ink that was slowly turning red on their wrists, both of their minds racing.

“And here I thought you could not possibly get any more narcissistic,” Madara said.

“Wha-?” Hashirama looked extremely confused.

“He’s his own soulmate. His soulmate is himself.” Madara snorted in disgust. “Is that not the most narcissistic thing you’ve ever heard?”

Both Tobiramas continued to blink at each other, questions and theories running rampant through their minds. After a few minutes, though, they both came to the same conclusion: who else would be able to keep up with Tobirama but himself? No one else’s mind could match his own; no one else’s speed could match his own; no one else seemed to understand his obsessions or moods. It made sense.

And it seemed as if this moment were fated. If his soulmate was himself then this moment had been preordained, he was always meant to make a miscalculation which would send a shadow clone to the future and strand it there. Which opened up an entire new world of possibilities about fate and destiny and, more importantly, time loops.

“Lab?” his copy asked excitedly.

“Lab,” Tobirama replied.

He would worry about the opinions of others later – or never. He’d never cared about what others thought of him before and he certainly wasn’t about to start now. He was much too preoccupied with the world that was opening up before his eyes. The things he could do with two of himself. The experiments, the projects, the tests, the advancements.

First thing, however, he needed to discover how hardy this clone was, how permanent. They would need to test chakra capacity, ability, speed, whether he could be injured and heal on his own, whether he was fully human to an ocular dōjutsu.

Actually, he amended mentally as the two of them disappeared with a flicker, the first thing he needed to do was give his clone a name. They couldn’t both be Tobirama.

[kuriquinn]

Prompt / Request: ShikaTema Belated Realisations

Anonymous said:

I have been wanting someone to write this for ages, and I love the way you write... Are you up for a different ship? Remember when Temari was confused about Shikamaru'a request that she go with him to the hot springs room. I imagine him on his own at home no longer flustered by the whole miscommunication and finally realizing that Temari essentially said yes to sleeping with him. He can't sleep for the rest of the night because his brain won't shut up...

Blanket Disclaimer

AN: Here’s my second Friday Fic Request - I meant to put it up yesterday but I was sooooo exhausted when I got home from Quebec City I basically published the thing I already had finished and passed out. 

Anon, I hope I did okay with this. Thanks for the opportunity to write a different ship from usual :) Luckily, I actually enjoy ShikaTema.

Shikamaru stares down at the shogi board, glaring at the formation of the pieces as if they hold all of life’s answers.

Usually playing against himself in the evening is a good way to wind down from the day, but today he just can’t seem to get his thoughts in order. It might have something to do with the throbbing bruises across his entire body or the slick, all-pervasive sense of mortification from the day’s misunderstandings.

Seriously. I thought I was being pretty clear. Why the hell would she think I wanted us to go to an inn together?

He and Temari have only ever had the one dinner together, and they spent most of it talking about work. It wasn’t an actual date and he can’t think of any point in time when he might have indicated…

Damn it, this is Chōji’s fault.

In fact, Shikamaru is fairly certain that his friend set him up. The guy might have food on the brain at every waking hour, but they’ve known each other long enough for Shikamaru to be familiar with the hidden deviousness that is his best friend. What makes Chōji especially dangerous is that he is such a gentle soul, no one expects it from him – and when his occasional bursts of premeditated evil manifest, no one is ever prepared.

Even Shikamaru, who analyses patterns and factors the incalculable into every decision, cannot predict when Chōji will tap into his secret slyness, because it happens so infrequently and without pattern.

Which is why he’s definitely sure Chōji set him up, because he hasn’t ended up in such an embarrassing predicament since the time his friend thought it would be an excellent idea to soak Ino’s training bra in wasabi.

His left cheekbone still aches before it rains...

There is a short staccato knock against the door frame and then the shoji slides open to reveal Shikamaru’s mother.

Yoshino Nara is a little greyer and has a few more wrinkles than she did before the Fourth Great Shinobi War, but her tongue has lost none of its sharpness. In fact, with her husband gone, she’s even more focussed on her son than she ever was.

It’s a drag.

“You’re still out here?” she demands, not bothering with a greeting. “Don’t you have work to do tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I’m just clearing my head before bed,” Shikamaru replies as she closes the door and looks him up and down.

“What are all these bruises?” she wants to know. “You don’t get bruises like that apprenticing as Hokage’s assistant – you’re not getting into fights now, are you?”

“No, it’s nothing,” he dismisses.

When his mother crosses her arms and frowns at him, making clear that she won’t leave him alone until he gives her aa batter answer, he sighs.

“Temari and I went to a hot spring together and there were…misunderstandings.”

His mother gapes at him.

“Temari?” she repeats. “The Kazekage’s sister? You’re seeing each other?”

“What? No, we’re not, it’s was just –”

“Then why on earth did you take her to a hot spring, unless your relationship is progressing in that way?” she snaps, and then smacks him upside his head. “And why didn’t you say anything to me about this? If I had known you were courting someone so important, I’d have told you to make yourself look more respectable!”

“’Courting’?” Shikamaru echoes, and chokes. “No – no it wasn’t like that! I’m planning on giving Naruto and Hinata a honeymoon at a nice hot spring, but I needed help getting a woman’s perspective so I asked Temari to come along.”

His mother purses her lips, and then asks, “And did she know that?”

“Of course – well, at first there was a bit of a mix up, but at the end of the day we figured it out and she said it was fine.”

“Before or after she beat you?”

He winces. “After.”

Yoshino considers his bruises and shakes her head. “Judging from how deep those knuckle prints are, I imagine you waited longer than you should have to have that conversation.”

“Geez, you’re both blowing it completely out of proportion,” he complains.

“And you’re making light of it!” his mother barks, making him recoil. “That girl went around with you all day operating under the assumption that you were looking for a hot spring from the two of you.”

“So? It’s really not that…big…a deal,” Shikamaru begins, but his mother’s words sink in.

Temari thought they were looking for a hot spring and an inn for the two of them. The whole day, she was walking around thinking that they were going to spend the night together.

To stay in.

Together.

Alone.

And she still went along with him.

Which means not only did she pretty much agree to the idea of sleeping with him from the onset, but considering she could have left at any point, she actually wants to sleep with him.

Or, wanted to, before his monumental stupidity.

“How did I raise such a clueless idiot?” Yoshino sighs and walks back into their home. Shikamaru is still having such a hard time processing how he feels about this whole thing that he has no rebuttal to offer.

Temari.

The sister of a former homicidal maniac and a grown man who makes creepy, poisonous puppets.

A woman who can probably decapitate men without even using that fan of hers.

Shikamaru blinks.

On the heels of that idea is a mental image of Temari leaning over him, brandishing her fan and pressing him back into the ground with one foot. Her chest heaves with effort, but she smirks down at him, drawling at him in challenge.

“Give in,” he imagines her saying, in that husky voice of hers.

That image should not be as appealing as it is.

Shikamaru swallows now, and glares down at his lap.

Inappropriate erection – damn it!

He jumps to his feet, nearly spilling the shogi pieces all over the floor and paces back and forth, trying to will himself back under control.

“This is your fault,” he tells his father, glowering in the direction of their home butsudan, where a picture of his father rests. “You and your genes and passing on your submissive tendencies to me – all your fault!”

He never really understood why his parents got married or what attracted his father to such a brash woman as his mother and now –

Now he’s thinking about parent sex, which is far more disturbing than anything he has ever thought before.

No. None of that. And I don’t even like Temari in that way.

So what if he starts stuttering the simplest words, and suddenly finds forming proper sentences impossible when they are around one another?

Or that earlier he thought it was kind of endearing the way she got flustered when he mentioned the word “honeymoon”. It’s always such a treat to see her change from hard and intimidating to beautiful –

That’s a fact, not a personal opinion, he reasons quickly, as if defending himself from some inner cross-examination.

Although…

Although, he can’t help feeling a little honoured of the fact that someone like her even considers him a potential sexual partner.

The mortification begins to ebb now, replaced by something warm and primal and proud.

And then he shakes his head again.

No, no, no, there’s no time for this, especially not now with so much going on with Naruto and Hinata’s wedding coming up. And I have work, and she’s organizing the exam. Not to mention she’s from another village. This really is the most inconvenient situation, so there’s no point to pursuing it.

Of course…he might just be overthinking it.

Maybe it���s all just about sex.

Temari wants to sleep with him – have sex with him.

This could be a good thing.

Humans are sexual creatures and need release in order to function well. He’s always been too lazy, or too uninterested or just too busy to find anyone he’s wanted to sleep with. His right hand does the job well enough, and allows him to keep from wasting his time.

But an actual woman to have sex with…well, he’s lazy, but he’s not stupid. He knows which option is the most preferred, biologically and socially speaking.

And hey, he’s a man, he has fantasies…and if those fantasies have started to resemble a certain blond, green-eyed warrior woman in recent years he doesn’t intend to admit that to anyone, least of all himself.

But being with an actual person in that way presents complications.

What if she starts expecting things from him?

That’s what women do – they expect grand gestures and attention and relationships. And he doesn’t want to do any of those things because from what he’s seen of his paired-up friends, it seems like a lot of effort. And headaches.

Maybe she just wants to have sex.

It would certainly be uncomplicated, which is his preference, but does that mean they could be casual about it and continue to work well together when she visits Konoha? Or would sex just screw up their friendship?

And if she decides after a while that she wants something more?

She’ll expect him to step up. And she’s not the type to wait around, which means if he wasn’t ready, she could easily find someone else.

That feeling in his stomach is back now, although it’s more hot and angry, an ugly, clawing feeling that he has to swallow down.

No, he doesn’t like that idea. Not at all.

The idea of another man touching her – or even having her grace him with that flustered, demure glance – makes Shikamaru feel sick.

“Damn it,” he sighs.

It seems quite without his awareness or permission, his appreciation of Temari has gone from casual affection to actual feelings.

Possibly even something as inconvenient and irritating as the beginnings of love.

It seems wedding gifts are the least of his problems now.

“And I’m going to have to apologise, too,” he groans, rolling his eyes to the heavens. He’s not going to sleep tonight trying to figure out how to do that. “What a drag…”

終わり

 Reviews and constructive criticism are much appreciated!

クリ

[nashvilletonihon]

Trial By Fire

So I had to update this intro a little bit considering I started writing this post like, 2 weeks ago...It’s the end of desk-warming season here and I’m patting out the butt shaped imprint I have worn into my chair over the last month and am finally getting back in the classroom. (At Kumihama anyway.) For those of you unfamiliar with the Japanese educational system, the brand new school year just started and we welcomed those bright eyed and bushy tailed 一年生 ichinensei (first year students) as they make their high school debut. 

It seems only appropriate then that I just recently finished a whirlwind week long side gig playing tour guide to my mom and sister as they came to visit Japan for the first time ever. Being able to show them around my town, introduce them to my co-workers, friends and the people who have been so influential while working on creating a new life, sharing the history, my favorite foods and secret spots was so incredibly gratifying in the most selfish way. That being said, there is an added level of stress and anxiety to hosting friends and family while living and working in a foreign country. Especially one that doesn’t speak English as it’s first language. Unlike if I was living in the U.K., Ireland, Canada or some other English speaking country, I couldn’t leave my mom and sister alone anywhere. I couldn’t tell them to meet Jacob and I at a certain train station, restaurant or temple for fear of them getting lost and not being able to find them for hours. I couldn’t hand them a menu to let them choose what food to eat or suggest they casually peruse a shop or convenience store because they would have no idea what anything was. (Heck, I don’t know what everything is.) Having to be ‘’on’’ all the time is completely exhausting and honestly, by day number 3 I was about ready to choke my little sister out as I screamed ‘’JUST FIGURE IT OUT LIKE I DO’’ over and over again.

One thing I’ve noticed the most about being a foreigner in Japan is that, like most adult experiences I’ve had, it’s all trial by fire. Of course people will go out of their way to help you, don’t get me wrong. The myths about Japanese politeness are all true, but they’re also just as likely to sit back and watch you struggle. It’s all about balance I guess... Just when you think you’re getting the hang of things (and maybe a little too big for your britches) Japan laughs and knocks you back down again. A prime example would have to be what I now and will forever refer to as, The Parking Incident. As I mentioned, my mom and sister were in the country a few weeks ago, so here’s a very brief look at our schedule: (trust me, it’s pertinent to the story...)

Sunday - They arrive!! Monday - Drive on up to Tango (Where I live.) Tuesday - Tango Wednesday - Drive on down to Kyoto City/Uji (Where Jacob lives.) Thursday - Kyoto City Friday - Nara Saturday - Osaka

The reason our schedule is important to the next bit of my story is because while we booked my mom and sister a hotel room in Kyoto City, Jacob and I stayed at our apartment in Uji. (Don’t worry, I still live in Tango. It’s my future ‘’new’’ apartment.) In a moment of immense clarity and ‘’good thinking’’ on my part, I decided to leave my car at the pay-per-day parking lot next to Ogura Station in Uji, which is about an 8 minute walk from our apartment. Since Jacob and I would be taking the train to and from the city, my car could just chill there for the 4 days I wouldn’t need it. At ￥600 a day (or roughly $5.37 USD) it was a gosh darn STEAL. Now let’s fast forward to Sunday after my mom and sister left. Jacob and I are going to Costco because, PIZZA, (and other stuff too I guess). We’re laughing and having a great time despite the rain that’s starting to fall when I ask Jacob to tell me which number spot I had parked in. His first response if 6. I punch in the number and the machine says I owe ￥600. I tell him that can’t be right because I’ve been there for longer than a day. He then proceeds to tell me it was actually 5. So I press 5 and I swear to the gods above, if I had been drinking something when I saw the price I would have done a spit take. ￥13,400 ($119.97 USD). I shake my head and stutter ‘’That...that can’t be right. Are you sure it’s 5???’’ trying not to let the immense amount of panic I am now feeling rise up and take control. Jacob checked again and it was, indeed, number 5. I did the quick mental math and, while I’m no genius, I should only owe ￥2400. ￥600 a day X 4 days = ￥2400. I certainly shouldn’t owe as much as the tiny green machine was telling me I did. So Jacob and I decide to divide and conquer. We check every sign and piece of paper once, twice, three times in search of ANY kind of information that could be in red to highlight it’s more important than the rest. When none are to be found, we both agree it’s a good idea to call the help number and neither one of us are surprised when no one on the other end speaks English. In the worst and most rudimentary broken Japanese Jacob tries to explain the situation while also asking if there is anything that can be done. We have no idea why it’s so much and are begging to understand. After 20 minutes of this, the man on the other end of the line just keeps repeating one phrase which we later figure out loosely translates to ‘’Your loss.’’  Not satisfied with that answer, I decide to call my friend, and Prefectural Advisor, Leah. She’s parked in these types of lots before so I knew she would be familiar with them. After explaining the situation, I send her a photo of the largest sign at the front of the lot. 30 second later she informs me that in small writing underneath the daily fee it states ‘’If here for more than 48 hours, the charge will be ￥600 every 20 minutes.’’ I’m not exaggerating when I say that I literally dry heaved. For a little over 2 days my car had been charged almost $6 every 20 minutes until it reached a whopping $120. Tears spring to my eyes as I hang up the phone and tell Jacob the news. I’m going to have to pay all of it to get my car out... 

The best part about all of this is that the machine only takes ￥1,000 or roughly 10 dollar bills and coins. Neither Jacob nor I have that much money on us in the bills needed. Gritting my teeth I march toward the nearest convenience store to use their ATM while Jacob walks to his bank across the street. As I furiously punch buttons on the ATM, I silently curse Japan. I curse the language that I cannot speak, the words I cannot read, the culture I cannot understand. I curse  myself for thinking I had it all figured out without a moment’s hesitation at the thought that maybe ￥600 a day was a little too good to be true. I mean, where in America do you find that type of price without some kind of catch??? I snatch the money from the machine and stalk back outside, down the street and back to the parking meter. A few moments later Jacob is next to me helping feed bills into the slot. With about ￥8,000 left we run out of ￥1,000 bills. I’m so mad I almost punch the machine. At this point it’s raining and I’m honestly wondering if things can get any worse. Jacob tells me it’s going to be ok and runs off to get more ￥1,000 notes. I stand there fuming and jamming what little amount of coins I have in my wallet into the meter until Jacob come back, sweaty and out of breath, with more money clutched in one hand and a 鯛焼き taiyaki (a fish shaped pastry with any number of fillings inside (but mine was chocolate)) held in the other. He smiles and hands me the 鯛焼き before putting the final 1,000 yens into the machine. (There are many reasons why I love that man but the fact that even in the face of what seems like an impossible situation, he still thinks to bring me a sweet treat is definitely near the top.)

We get into the car and quietly share the 鯛焼き while I try not to pout on the way to COSTCO. Having to pay that much money was absolutely awful no question, but the worst part about the entire ordeal was not being able to explain the situation to the help desk worker over the phone. It was the immense feeling of utter helplessness that frustrated me the most. And it’s not just this one isolated situation either. That feeling of helplessness is ever present and all consuming. The things I took for granted while living in America, such as being able to schedule my own appointments, go to have my tires and oil changed, mail a gosh dern letter, are all MONUMENTAL accomplishments over here. Jacob and I talk about this all the time. It’s the one thing we wish people would understand more when it comes to asking about our lives over here. EVERYTHING. IS. SO. FREAKING. DIFFICULT. No, we can’t just ‘‘call the help number and speak to someone about our issue’‘. No we can’t just ‘‘walk into a health clinic and request to be seen.’‘ Hell, we can’t even check the labels on the dang food at the grocery store because it’s much more than just a simple task. It’s mentally preparing yourself to translate, reorder the words and be able to communicate your problem or question correctly. It’s hoping and praying the person you’re speaking to doesn’t use complicated words or phrases you are’t used to hearing that often. (Spoiler alert: They ALWAYS do.) It’s trying your best to meet them halfway and falling embarrassingly short every. single. time. It’s terrifying and frustrating and upsetting. You feel like a child who can’t do the most basic of tasks for themselves and it’s humiliating. You truly have to put your pride aside and swallow that bitterest of pills in order to just...survive. 

I’ll step down off my soapbox now and say that I guess the biggest thing I’d want someone reading this post to take away from it, is this: Be kind to those people who are not from your home country. Be kind to the immigrants and the visitors who are there either trying to make a living or just simply enjoying themselves but who may not be able to speak your country’s mother tongue. They’re doing the best they can. Be patient. Be helpful. Be courteous. As a woman living and working in a country not her own, the smallest of kindnesses can make a world of difference. Japan may be one trial by fire after the next, but I refuse to crack under the pressure. 

 がんばっります。(I will do my best.)

じゃあまた (See you!)

- レイチェル (Rachel)

Oh hey!! Just like at the end of a Marvel movie, here’s a post credits scene consisting of photos showcasing my mom and sister’s time in Japan!!

On their way into 東大寺 Todaiji Temple in 奈良 Nara the deer city.

Elizabeth greatly enjoyed the 鹿 shika (deer). This photo was taken not long after one bit her in the butt because she wasn’t feeding it cookies fast enough. 

My American and Japanese family met for the first time. It was magical. Please ignore Japanese Christoph Waltz in the left hand side of this photo.

One of my favorite places in 奈良 Nara, 春日大社 Kasuga-taisha (the stone lantern temple) is full of beautiful bronze and stone lanterns surrounded by lush, green foliage. 

If you can’t tell by my enormous grin, I was beyond excited to have these gorgeous people all together in the same place.  

[melodyfromanotherworld]

List of AUs

Because I have AUs of AUs. Sorted by likelihood of you lot ever seeing them.

Stuff I’ve Written For

Rookie Team 3 AU

AKA: “Let’s Start from the Beginning”

Basically Kourubi, Ryou, and Mai are the same age as the rest of the Konoha 12. Instead of having her consciousness swap places, Kourubi is simply a reincarnation.

Pairings: SasuKouNaru, KibaRyou, MaiSaku

Mage/Familiar AU

AKA: “Baby, There’s Magic in You”

Set in a fantasy version of the Elemental Nations, humanity is split into three categories: normal humans with no magical potential, mages who have large stores of mana that they can manipulate, and familiars, shapeshifters who have access to natural magical energy (or ‘chakra’) which allow them to change between an animal form and a human form. Each familiar has a ‘tell’ that gives away their animal form as well as a singular magical talent powered by their chakra. Mages bond with familiars in order to perform magic.

Pairings: Same as MFAW canon

Black Cat AU

AKA: “A Black Cat Followed Me Home”

In which Ryou’s sassy mouth pisses off the Hokage and ends up getting him custody over Sasuke instead of Kourubi. Kourubi’s attention is pretty much solely focused on Naruto, leading her to officially adopt him as her younger brother, tell off Jiraiya at every opportunity, and leave with the two of them when they go off on their training mission. Mai, feeling left out of the whole ‘protege’ thing, ends up taking Sakura under her wing. The end result: healer/weapons expert Sasuke, brawler Sakura, and swordsman/seal expert Naruto.

Pairings: No idea, but nothing like MFAW canon

Stuff I Might Write Eventually, Even if Just for my Own Amusement

Arranged Marriage Omegaverse AU

Kourubi’s folks aren’t as much on the up and up as originally thought, and arranged for her to marry the Uchiha spare before she was even born. And then they don’t bother to tell her until she brings Sasuke home after the Third Exam prelims. Ryou is also stuck in an arranged marriage to Neji, though he’s not sure if it still stands after he ran away. He’s thinking probably.

Pairings: Alpha!SasuOmega!Kou, Alpha!NejiOmega!Ryou

Coffee shop/College AU

In which team 3 works at a little coffee shop on the corner of campus that’s frequented by too many hot people and they complain about it. Featuring Running “club” Kourubi and friends, and “Runners appreciation club” Ryou and Mai, who honestly just want Kourubi to keep hydrated while they watch butts move in tight shorts. Kakashi and Iruka are their faculty sponsors but they’re not entirely sure how they got there.

Pairings: Basically just Team 3 lusting after everyone

Kingdoms Omegaverse Harems AU

AKA: an au that’s way too common with me and my friend’s characters (hi erik)

In which Kourubi, Ryou, and Mai are each rulers of their own kingdoms with long, long traditions of royal harems and the shenanigans that comes with that.

Pairings: Omega!KouHarem, Omega!RyouHarem, Alpha!MaiHarem, Beta!GaiOmega!Nobu, Beta!LeeOmega!Yu

Emo Punk!Team 3 Modern AU

AKA: This is what happens when you hear ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ for the first time in like two years, and then your friend encourages you (hi again, erik)

Team 3 are college freshmen. Kourubi is the ‘music saved me’ emo who wears band shirts almost exclusively, and when she’s not, she’s wearing anime graphic tees. She double majors in Music Theory and something like History or International Studies. Mai is the classic leather jacket punk who lives in her leather jacket and combat boots except when she’s living in her jacket covered in patches about beating up cat-callers and being a lesbian (plus an aspec solidarity patch for Kou’s sake). She’s a Women’s/Gender and Sexuality Studies major and probably rides a motorcycle. Ryou sits somewhere between pop-punk and scene emo and pretty much only shops at Hot Topic. He’s a nursing major who drinks his coffee black with a monster energy drink dumped into it during finals week.

Kakashi is the grad student who somehow always ends up as the TA of any and all lit classes they take. No one knows if he actually goes to class and he won’t answer any questions about what his field of study actually is. A purveyor of ‘poor college student chic’ he goes places for the free shirts and leaves immediately after getting one. He’s worn the same jeans all week.

Iruka is a Early Childhood Education Major who’s so straight-laced and sweet that it gives people cavities. Sweaters are a staple of his wardrobe. Also cardigans. He carries around coloring books and crayons during dead week and passes them out to people who look like they’re about to cry. He, Kakashi, and Genma are the triangular core of normalcy around which the weirdness revolves. But everyone has a few marbles loose, so this doesn’t end up meaning much.

Genma is the Farmer’s Market Hot (TM) single dad who is strangely charmed by Ryou’s half dead, Caffeine high flirting at the Sunday Farmer’s Market that Ryou dragged them too because it had coffee as black as his soul and Kourubi wanted to test if the Farmer’s Market Hot theory was true. Turns out it was. But she wasn’t the one who ended up with a man. Genma ended up with Umeko after her pediatrician intervened and told her Crazy Vegan mother that no, babies cannot survive on almond milk. He may or may not basically end up as Ryou’s sugar daddy.

Noboru is their hipster, grad student RA who introduced them to the farmer’s market in the first place. Gai is his jock boyfriend who seems to spend more time at the gym than in class. Hangs out with Genma at the farmer’s market and is horrified at Ryou’s flirting and Genma’s acceptance of it.

Hinata is the pastel/soft loli who Kourubi ends up RA-ing with the rest of the Konoha twelve her sophomore year. She and Mai end up being the ultimate lesbian power couple on campus.

Stuff I’ll Probably Never Write but are Fun to Think About Anyway

Silver Millennium AU

AKA: this is all @purple-possibilities fault

Set during the Silver Millennium of Sailor Moon lore, Sakumo is the younger brother of Queen Serenity, making Kakashi and Usagi/Serenity II cousins. Basically this is just an excuse for Moon Prince Kakashi. All the major clans of Konoha send their heirs to the moon along with the Sailor Senshi/Princesses because peace is brought through understanding or some bullshit. The Uchiha clan are from Mars, the Hyuuga from Pluto, the Karasuno from Jupiter’s moons, Uzumaki/Namikaze and Inuzuka from Earth, the Nara from Saturn, the Yamanaka from Venus, the Aburame from Mercury, and the Akimichi from Uranus. Kaguya Ootsutsuki is the matriarch of the Dark Moon Family, and is basically one of those bitchy, gossipy noble women that has far too much influence for her own good.

Pairings: Doesn’t fucking matter. I’ve got me Moon Prince Kakashi

[ai-da-ice]

[B-PASS] Da-iCE NEXT PHASE

In order for Da-iCE to go to the NEXT PHASE, the members discuss what it is necessary for each of them to do. From positive things to earnest dismissals?!?

First of all, shall we about Toru and what he needs to do?

Taiki: Starting from me. I'd like to see Toru-kun with his bangs clipped up! I have seen him with split bangs, but never with them tied up Hayate: I'd like to see Toru with short hair for a while. Toru: It was so long that I surprised myself yesterday. I came back from Nagoya by bullet train and I saw myself through a mirror in the bathroom at Tokyo University Station, "I grew out my hair?" (laughs). It grew considerably in just one hour! Yudai: Certainly, it keeps growing! Taiki: It seems you can’t go to sleep on the bullet train without it growing Toru: It really grows so fast. Fufufu Taiki: I want to see Toru-kun's sexy raised bangs image

What does Yudai-kun need to do?

Taiki: Yudai should do a jazz part, a solo jazz part! I took jazz lessons in the past, and I seriously think he’d be good at it. He should try it on tour. Hayate: I can imagine it, and I think it would also be good Yudai: It certainly sounds fun! Sota: Well then, please come take jazz lessons with me! Yudai: Let’s go! Sota: Jazz, house, and break dancing! Yudai: Also ethnic dance and jazz dancing Sota: If you remember ethnic dance, you can do any dance!

Next is Taiki-kun.

Toru: Contrary to what you usually do, please write sparkling lyrics. An un-Taiki-like feeling, with straightforward content Yudai: I don’t think he’ll bend on that Taiki: No, I haven’t written anything like that, but who knows about the future?(laughs). I will maybe write songs like that! Sota: I know the future isn’t set, but if you write it in your head now, you can make the future set (laughs) Everyone: (laughs) Taiki: I know I have good and weak points about this. Yudai: If you bend just a little, maybe you can envision this kind of song Taiki: Well, I guess I’ll try and write it and create something with lyrics like “FANTASY”

And Hayate?

Sota: He falls asleep before photoshoots, and then when it’s time to shoot, his eyes are so red (laughs). Please lower the amount you sleep Hayate: I’ll sleep soundly and cure it with eyedrops Toru: You spent this year’s New Years sleeping again Hayate: It was seriously because of my family! It was 11:40, everyone was sleepy, so we just went to bed Taiki: And Hayate, you still haven’t played the guitar you were excited about buying Yudai: You can’t play if you rest so often! Hayate: I thought I'd play if I bought a good one.... it’s at my friend 's house now (laughs)  Taiki: You also can’t dance if you play the guitar Hayate: Then, I won’t dance and will just play the guitar Taiki: You can join our tour as a band member Hayate: I will do my best!

The end is Sota. Taiki: Sota ... ...nope.  Sota: Just say it! Hayate: I have one. He should do his stretches Toru, Taiki, and Yudai: He does! (laughs) Taiki: In a dancing sense only, it would help him not get hurt. I think that he will wind up tearing something if he isn’t more concerned with the condition of his body Yudai: Even if it’s just in the studio, I think the sound when he lands his jumps is different and worrisome Sota: Because the movement of my waist is a bit dull... Hayate: After you land on the floor, you shouldn’t move so quickly Taiki: It feels like your steps are heavy Sota: But if you can move right away, shouldn’t you do it? Taiki: When you go to lessons by yourself, you are stretching there, aren’t you? Sota: But if everyone’s arrived and I’m still warming up, it makes me look stupid Toru: I can see that clearly enough in the studio mirrors (laughs) Taiki: But you’re too stiff Hayate: You'd be better if you stretched Sota: I will do my best this year ... 

Da-iCE is in their sixth year since formation and since the members are just like family, they often announce their feelings of gratitude and appreciation to each other! They have many episodes to show their mind and relationship.

Let us take this opportunity and ask the members to be personal.

From Hayate: I really appreciate that the five of us were gathered together. I’m here now because of the five of us. Because you’ve been looking after me since I was a high school brat, I’m happy I met such good brothers!

From Toru: Taiki → Thank you for always speaking a lot for us as a leader. Yudai → Thank you for always making the mood good and thinking about the atmosphere. Sota→ Thank you for dancing and singing hard, I’m always fascinated by your performance Hayate→ Though you’re the youngest, your dance history is the longest, so thank you for always watching out for Da-iCE’s dance steps

From Taiki Yudai, Sota → Thank you for singing. Our songs can be so good because they are 80% filled your two voices. And thanks for taking on the stress of dancing as well. Hayate → Thank you for being the youngest. Toru and I are only different in age from the AAA-sempai by a little, so Hayate brings a needed feeling of youth. If there was no Hayate, I don’t think we would have been able to debut. Toru → Thank you for supporting from behind. Backing support, balancer. Person who I ultimately rely on in an emergency.

From Yudai: Taiki → Thank you for being the leader. I think that the pressure you feel and the pressure we feel is different. Hayate→When I’m not dancing well, you are the one who gently and carefully teaches me. My dance teacher is also a member. You are our reliable youngest. Sota→I'm thankful our vocal tone is different. There are other groups that have similar sounding singers, but I appreciate how our music resonates with our different personalities. Toru → Thank you for staying with me. We came to the academy on the same day, so we understand each other’s struggles. You listen like a sponge. You’re easy to understand (laughs).

From Sota Because of a common destiny, thank you for walking the same path with me. When I am at work, it’s the best time of my life when all of us are together. There will be good things from now on and if there are bad things, we will face them together, so thank you.

KEY WORD TALK

Q.1 "NEXT PHASE" → "Fate” What was a fateful encounter you recently felt?  Q.2 "Step Back!" → "Eternity” What/who can you be with forever?  Q.3 "Chocolate Sympathy" → "Empathy” What are some strange things you do that fans may be able to empathize with? Q.4 "Free Falling" → "Losing control” Have you ever been so obsessed that you lost control?  Q.5 "FANTASY" → "Surprise" Have you ever had a surprise party?  Q.6 "REASON" → "Memory" What is your oldest memory? Q.7 "TWO AS ONE" → "Sign" Comment on your signature

Toru Iwaoka

A1 What I ate in Hiroshima. In Hiroshima the other day, I ate some really thick and excellent sushi! A2 Friends! A3 Before I am done using the toilet, I am impatient to push the "flush" button early. It’s weird, but the members tried to sympathize with me (laughs). A4. I love watching soccer games in general, but since I originally played soccer, I wind up cheering like crazy A5 I had a surprise party for last year’s birthday! I had an idea because of intuition, but I was still surprised A6 When I was 3 years old. When I was spinning around an iron bar at that young age, I struck my head on a brick which was behind me and was covered in blood. A7 When I was as young as 3, I thought that I would be a famous Japanese soccer player, so I asked my parents how to write my signature, and they told me to try it in English, and that’s how I got my present signature.

Sota Hanamura

A1 The mascot Sento-kun from Nara. A2 Family. No matter what happens, it is family. A3 Because I wear white shoes, they get dirty immediately, but if they become dirty, I need to buy new ones, so in order to get new shoes, I can just blame my surroundings A4 It’s a 400cc motorcycle right now A5 Since I am always at work, I do not have much of a private life. I don’t get to go out often on my birthday and Christmas  ... ... so there’s no way to surprise me (bitter smile). A6 I was about to fall off the window on the 2nd floor when I was 3 years old! I was playing on the sofa in front of the window and I jumped too much and my sister grabbed my clothes and I was saved. A7 I draw the A as a capital and it looks like a star. It was more difficult before, but I sign it a lot now and can write it in one stroke

Yudai Ohno

A1 A sirloin at a yakiniku restaurant in Nagoya! It was the best seasoned cut of sirloin steak A2 Love A3 Not acting like my appearance. When I meet fans at hand shake events, they always tell me “When you speak, it feels so kind” like they’re very surprised! A4 Overseas dramas like Walking Dead and The 100. I can watch them for hours on my days off. A5 Many times A6 Collecting slugs around my house in a bottle at the age of 2 A7 I thought I was going to be a soccer player when I was little, and practiced a signature for that. Then I started using it when I was first in an acapella group.

Hayate Wada

Al An MA - 1 jacket.. I saw it when I happened to enter a store. The outside is black and the inside is orange, so I waited a few days and it went on sale and I bought it! A2 Family. I cannot cut myself out of it. A3 I will not take a step out of my home on a day off. I wake up then sleep after eating a bit, but basically just sleep (laughs) A4 I was playing LEGO with my brother, and the instructions were very easy to understand, so it was fun to keep making it without thinking of anything! A5 When I celebrated my birthday with my friends A6 I was riding behind my grandpa's bicycle when I was three years old and went by two people on the way to a local amusement park. Even now, there is no other early memory so strong A7 I learned how to spell Haayte in the cursive alphabet from a cram school teacher, so I started using it as my signature.

Taiki Kudo

A1 A clothing brand called kolor. I was interested from the net and wanted it for the new year. When I went to the store, the size was perfect, so I decided to make it my brand this year  A2 Curiosity. I think that it will not go away. If it does, I don’t think I’ll be able to work anymore A3 I think people with the same wavelength as me can understand me with forcing them to, and people who are not like me will have a sense of distance to some extent. A4 When I am making music, the time goes by quickly, and I think that my concentration ability is tremendously high and it’s so much fun.  A5 I often have had that happen. A6 The memory that I went to the park with my grandfather and was playing around with the water is something I remember clearly from when I was around 3 years old.  A7 I changed between the alphabet and kanji spellings of Taiki. The signature at the time of EVERY SEASON was so easy to write.

[cometokagawa]

If you are interested to come to Shikoku and experience the Shikoku Pilgrimage of 88 Buddhist temples you might wish to know about the central figure, monk, poet, holy pilgrim, and founder of “Zen Buddhism”, Kukai.

Kukai (空海) , these two characters are “air” and “sea”, is known by a lot of other names too. As a boy he is reported to have been called, “Toutomono” (Precious One), and “Mao” (True Fish). But one name you will hear when people refer to Kukai is “Koubou Daishi” (弘法大師 ), and this means “The Great Teacher of Dharma”. “Koubou Daishi” is the name given to Kukai posthumously.

There is a massive amount of information we can find on Kukai, as much of his life was documented and he was very much a real historical figure. In addition to what we know of him historically, there are also several fantastic legends that are also associated with him. You will need to decide for yourself what to believe as you hear both history and legend.

For example, we know of the years in which he traveled to China to study and learn Esoteric Buddhism, specifically the Mahavairocana Tantra which was unreadable to him because it was written in Sanskrit, specifically the Siddham script, which was beyond his academic reach at the time.

Kukai went to China and deeply impressed Huiguo, the master of Esoteric Buddhism in China, and because of the student’s great aptitude, and the failing health of the teacher, instruction and initiation was accelerated over a short period of time.

Soon after, Kukai returns to Japan, and what follows is an incredible list of achievements in his short life. He writes books. A lot of books. Attributed to Kukai are: Indications of the Goals of the Three Teachings, The Admonishments of Konin, The Difference Between Esoteric and Exoteric Buddhism, Attaining Enlightenment in This Very Existence, The Meaning of Sound, Word, and Reality, The Meaning of the Word, The Ten Stages of the Mind, and The Precious Key to the Secret Treasury.

You will hear the term “Shingon Buddhism”. This is the kind of Buddhism that Kukai developed, and is a revolutionary style of Buddhism which would, over time, eclipse the former kind of Buddhism which is called, Tendai Buddhism.

Kukai is the creator of the “kana” system of phonetic readings of Chinese characters. This is a huge contribution to the reading and writing power of the entire nation. Kukai is like the Johannes Gutenberg (father of movable type and printing press) of Japan. The educational and information reformation to the country cannot be understated.

Kukai is a master civil engineer and put into motion the construction of some incredible temples and structures that you can see and enjoy even today. He is the mastermind behind Toudaiji (東大寺), the great Eastern Temple, of Nara, Touji (東寺), the East Temple of Kyoto, Saiji (西寺), the West Temple of Kyoto (sadly this one was burned down), as well as the Mannou-Ike (満濃池), which is an artificial water reservoir still used today in Shikoku. The creation of the reservoir has saved thousands and thousands of people from certain drought and starvation.

Poet, negotiator, consensus maker, engineer, civil servant, monk, priest, leader, healer, writer, and artist. Kukai was many things to many people and a genius as well as deeply spiritual. Kukai also established the 88 Buddhist Temple Pilgrimage, which you can surely walk and enjoy as you go along.

This very short blog on Kukai does not do any justice to the man, but I hope that it is a start of your introduction to Koubou Daishi, and that it gives you some inspiration to read more and learn more as you go along. Some people revere Kukai as a saint and a holy person, so you might want to keep that in mind as you meet other pilgrims. We do know for certain that he was a powerfully important and significant historical figure, that he existed for real, and that there are artifacts and structures that exist today as testament to his having been here, and to have made life better for many people both in his day, and in the lives of people centuries to come.

Who is Kukai? If you are interested to come to Shikoku and experience the Shikoku Pilgrimage of 88 Buddhist temples you might wish to know about the central figure, monk, poet, holy pilgrim, and founder of "Zen Buddhism", Kukai.

[evanafter-jy]

While I generally prefer to write opinionated material while it’s hot and fresh on my memories, I am not afraid of letting the emotions from my Japan tourism experience chill down before writing about it. Only downside is I won’t be able to articulate these experiences in a more chronological manner. 

Naturally my own experiences are going to be skewed by past travel experiences. I am going to instinctively draw comparisons of my experiences in Japan with Korea, Vietnam, and China (and of course, our own Malaysia).  Mostly Korea because of geographical and some cultural similarities, and also has a lot to do with the travel ‘format’ being similar: both are nations whose primary language are not shared (I am slightly more comfortable with Japanese because anime subtitles), I visited both countries on winter, and both trips involve following a tour group.

My main attraction here was food. Aside from some minor inconveniences (mainly inclusion of cabbage, one of few substances I am less willing to consider food), everything I have tasted there is good. By everything I meant food ranging from seafood, sushi, barbeque, and street food, to staples like set meals and noodles. I had been looking forward to every meal and opportunity to snack. It is easier to just list down the few things I didn’t like about eating there. Some cabbage, some onions, and I don’t really understand Japanese curry. Oh, and KFC wasn’t that great there. Everything else is amazing. Japan set entirely new bars for food quality as plenty of effort is visible even in simple combination of ingredients. In contrast, Korean and Vietnamese food got dreadfully unexciting by the third lunch.

Even their fresh fruit tastes better. I actually thought that I had been quite biased regarding this, but when I came back and had local strawberries from Cameron Highlands…..I couldn’t help noticing the lack in sweetness in comparison to the Japanese ones. Maybe it’s healthier here.

So looks and architecture in general. One difference is that Internet is less accessible compared to Korea, so for tourists it is quite integral to purchase a mobile internet package. There are some free Wi-Fi spots left and right, but mobile internet access (usually unlimited data) will prove to be much more reliable. I generally didn’t have too much issues with this as the environment was engaging enough to keep me occupied without Wi-Fi, from the housing exterior design, skyscrapers, traditional buildings, streets, and skies. There are occasional scenes that really just look right out of an anime, no exaggeration here.  I have always taken a liking to anime that puts a lot of detail in backgrounds and sceneries (Project K etc), so this part here really satisfied my visual nerves. I can’t really tell if it’s really more ‘scenic’ than other countries, but factor in things like the extreme increase in general cleanliness and orderliness, I know my expectations for future tours will be much higher.

There are also some small ‘quality of life’ improvements over any place I have seen. Most notably: accessibility of awesome vending machines and convenience stores. One of the things I missed the most is how accesible a bottle of plain unsweetened tea or hot coffee was. In Japan, vending machines were at every city corner, packed with both cold and hot beverages. I also enjoyed visiting their convenience stores and just seeing their impressive arrays of items, including cakes, bentos, hot meals, juices, sodas, and alcohol. Always made a mental note to try out new snacks every visit.

ps: Always good to have J-Pop and anime music in the ambience too.

So, what about the culture in general?

Japanese culture is one of the most intriguing I have encountered, intriguing enough for me to want to include it as an academic interest. Traditional Japanese culture can be argued to be a branch of ancient Chinese culture, which has taken a very distinct form since the separation. They have words to describe subtle experiences which Chinese words will need some major somersaults to capture. Three major religions are being practiced by almost everyone, yet nearly very few are actual theists. Their traditional world of customs, rituals, food, and drink blends in seamlessly with their technology driven modern world riddled with sophisticated vending machines, internet forums, and otaku culture.

There is this weird and vague psychological theme that permeates through every aspect of Japanese life I was fortunate enough to be exposed to. From the effective use of small spaces, careful planning of cities and railway, to the rushing salarymen on the trains and speckless roads, and the politeness of every being I met (even the deers at Nara Deer Park), I couldn’t exactly pinpoint what exactly is their culture. What is it about Japanese people, scenery and food that makes them ‘Japanese’ aside from their geographical location? What is it about their instrumental music, literature, and anime that makes them ‘Japanese’ aside from being crafted by Japanese hands and heads? Was there an underlying effort to rebound from a warmongering past?

There seems to be this collective will to instill some sense of human order in this chaotic and scarce natural world, that is only unique to this place. Personally, I left a coin purse behind at the airport, and was able to recover it within minutes after realizing as someone sat there waiting for me to return. How come I can only expect this to happen here, not anywhere else in the world? Why is the society here transcending evolution-imposed human tendencies for selfishness and crime faster than anywhere else?

Enough digression. My short writing (long to-write list) and late recall cannot do this trip justice with words and phone camera alone. I think I have already made a case that Japan is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. I could have enjoyed the trip better if we had a better tour group (we only get to see Osaka castle for 15 minutes, at night). If anything, I really recommend visiting independently and depend on communicating with the locals. Every city district can keep one occupied for weeks if one has the initiative to research rail routes and communicate with the helpful locals.

Several friends actually asked if given only one choice, which to visit between Japan or Korea? 

I actually recommend going Korea first, simply because its slightly more affordable and has a lot of Asian culture to interest. Japan as a whole is an entire level of its own, and having the Japan expectations on a Korea trip might be disappointing. I personally didn’t find anything interesting in Korea over Japan aside from the more available Internet and wider convenience store selections of food and drinks. Comparing the two tours I have experienced, my better experiences in Korea is still available in my Japan trip, while I can’t really say the same for the other way round.

J a p a n While I generally prefer to write opinionated material while it's hot and fresh on my memories, I am not afraid of letting the emotions from my Japan tourism experience chill down before writing about it.

[passportrequired]

The Japan Experience!

Yes, Japan!!! and all of it! Well, not all, but most. For my end of the year holiday, I decided to take a trip to Japan. This came about while looking up random places to go in August 2016. When I was searching around for different places to go, I realized Japan was somewhere I haven’t been yet so, I started my search. Through various search engines and platforms, I was able to score a RT flight from Singapore to Tokyo during the end of the year for US$350.00.

Before I bought, I talked with a few people who have already been and asked them about the average fare price during that season and they all quoted me with much higher costs. I knew I had to seize the moment and book right there. But wait, that’s not all that is needed for Japan; finding a flight is the easy part.

  Japan is a place that is fairly spread out. With that being said, you have to find out what your goals are (only you can determine this but I will lend my advice about it). As I was able to take such an extended trip, 17 days to be exact, I wanted to venture around as much of the country that I could (and it was definitely worth it)! Because I was travelling during the Christmas holiday with one of what I consider the best travel agencies Trans Siberian railway tours, that also allowed me to experience Japan’s seasonal affects in regards to different events that happen only during winter. So, I started to do blanket research on what to do and interesting places to go. Upon my search, I realised there were many places that were outside of Tokyo itself. This forced me to think about when and where I wanted to go and in which order. This is extremely important because of the way Japan’s transit system is. In my research, I learned that there is a bullet train called the Shinkansen.

As a tourist, you HAVE TO BUY THE RAIL PASS BEFORE YOU GET TO JAPAN!!!! You will be sorry if you don’t! In most countries you can buy them from a retailer in your home country but if not, you can purchase directly from their website and they will FedEx it to you, wherever you are around the world at www.jrpass.com. Depending on how long you are there, where you want to go and how many places you want to go will help to determine which pass to get. I ultimately decided to stay in Tokyo for my trip and travel to different parts throughout the extent of my trip. [Learn this phrase: {Kore (insert name of train stop) ni ikimasu, ka?} This means, Does this train go to (said train station?)] As many people struggle with the English language, this will surely help. I ultimately decided to get a 7-Day JR Pass for my trip.

When I went, I knew I wanted to go to Nara Park. This is the deer park where the deer roam free and you can feed them. But, the best part about this deer park is that when you encounter ANY of the deer, you bow to them, as in traditional Japanese culture and…. wait for it…… THEY BOW BACK TO YOU!!!!!! So cool!! As I am a person that loves experiences, this is one I simply couldn’t pass up. This is the tricky part about taking the bullet train from Tokyo to Nara city; don’t just take a trip to the park by itself. While you’re out there, take a two or three- day trip over to Kyoto city because they are so close to each other. Kyoto is full of culture and history (vastly because it was once Japan’s capitol city). There’s so much to do and see in Kyoto that you can find whatever fancies you to make that trip worth while. I would suggest to stay in Kyoto and just take a short train ride over to Nara for a few hours then head back to Kyoto because the majority of your time will be spent there and not Nara.

  After a few days in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, I returned back to Tokyo for a couple of days and met up with my ex-colleague and his girlfriend to show me places in Tokyo. The food, the people, the temples, the shopping online with free delivery using www.forsale.plus, the sights are all amazingly unique to Tokyo. For food, I would recommend Shibuya and Asakusa (pronounced Ah-sahk-sa) because it is where all of the best local foods are. If you see a really small alley somewhere in these areas, go down it. They’re all filled with amazing local eateries even though they’re the size of a walk-in closet. I’m not one that really suggests eating at international eateries like McDonalds but you have to go to McDonalds in Japan; their menu is freaking awesome with my faves being the Egg Burger and Shrimp Au Gratin Burger.

Going to temple was an emotional experience for me because I am Buddhist (though I’m not a vegetarian). I cannot express to you what to feel when going as everyone has their own emotional connections to these temples (My favourite is in Harajuku right outside of the station in a park behind the train station) and you have to experience it for yourself. Speaking of Harajuku, you have to visit Takeshita Street. There’s a bunch of things to see and try there like their crepes and their giant cotton candies. Harajuku is also known for some of the best thrift stores in Tokyo (if you’re into that like I am).

  When it comes to all other types of shopping, I suggest you venture off to Shibuya area (it’s also great for nightlife). There’s even an All- Men’s Mall there. Shibuya is also home to the Hachiko statue. If you don’t know who Hachiko was, I suggest you google and find out (I’m not going to give you all the answers, lol)

After my first week in Japan, I went to Nagano Prefecture to go skiing for two days. If you’re into skiing, you will definitely need to have a travel agent orange it for you in Japan because everything is in Japanese. My travel agent came in the form of a friend who lives in Singapore that is Japanese and reads/ writes/ speaks Japanese. If you want to know more about skiing there in general, just give me a buzz and I’ll give you more info on it. I will state, however, go to an onsen (public, nude, hot bath- think giant jacuzzi) but be forewarned that if you have tattoos, you can’t get in unless it’s private because the Japanese affiliate tattoos with the Yakuza (even in today’s day and age). After I returned back to Tokyo from skiing, I took a rest day (trust me, you’ll need it).

  After my rest day, I went to DisneySea (the sea- themed Disney Park). Though I had a good time there and have made it a personal mission to go to every Disney Park around the world, it was honestly a bit lacklustre. I think it might have had something to do with the number of people there (it was a lot for even Disney) as the majority of rides had a 3-4 hour wait time. Even the food queues took an hour (Asians like queues- no, seriously, they really do)! If you do decide to make DisneySea or DisneyLand (right net door to each other) a part of your Japan trip, I really suggest you get the half- day/ after 6pm ticket to not have to wait in lines so long.

The rest of my trip, I just wandered to different places around Tokyo and took my time doing so around different parts of Tokyo. This leads me back to the JR Pass. I researched and learned that using the pass for the bullet train for the first 7 days of my trip was more financially beneficial for me and to just get a Suica Card to travel around Tokyo area for the second week. The good thing about this card is that you “top-up” the card like a prepaid credit card and can use it in many places like 7/11 stores and not only on the train. There’s even an entire mall that that accepts the Suica Card so you don’t have to carry cash (just don’t lose the card- keep it safe like your credit cards and ID). In total for my 17- day stay in Japan, including lodging (try a capsule hotel btw for the experience), train passes, flights and food and random shopping, I spent US$1002.51. All in all, was it worth it.

Now we are going on a next adventure in Bhutan the Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge. We got great deal on the best bhutan pelyab tours, this place is known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains.

  AND TO END MY JOURNEY WITH JAPAN, YOU BET YOUR ASS IT WAS AND I’D DO IT ALL AGAIN!!!!!!!! Now, Get Out There!!!!!

The Japan Experience! was originally published on Passport Required