#i’m taka and i approve this message

[dgrpprideflags]

birthdaygender flag picked from kiyotaka ishimaru!

requested by: me

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Reaper in the Reflection.

...

...

*Taka and Mondo look into a security camera that points inside Uchui’s cell.

...

*Uchui himself just sits on the bed, his head lowered and his hands held together.

Hey, I’m here.

Oh, finally...Where have you been?

I’ve sent decrypted messages to our friends in London so they’re aware of the situation. I intend to do the same to our friends in America after Uchui’s trial.

Have there been any updates?

Not much. He’s been pretty compliant actually.

Hey...are we sure this is the right guy? I mean, it’s not like he actually confirmed he was the traitor, and he did turn himself in pretty easily.

True, but it’s not like he denied it either...And I’m uneasy.

Traitor or not, it’s clear he’s up to something.

...

After all this is over, what are we going to do with him?

I want to help him Taka. Regardless of what side he’s on, the one thing we can say for sure is he’s an emotionally damaged kid.

Unfortunately, I don’t actually have the authority to interfere with his situation.

You don’t? But, you’re the Acting Branch Chief.

Yeah, I am. But Uchui ISN’T a member of Future Foundation. At least, not contractually.

Uchui is registered to Branch 15, the Reserve Branch. He’s amongst the candidates that are called in from businesses the Future Foundation funds and sponsors in case of an emergency.

He’s staying on main camp though due to special circumstances. The legal documents were apparently approved by Makoto.

Makoto? When and why did he authorize that?

Actually, I think the answer is pretty obvious.

Kuripa Kurafto is one of Makoto’s most trusted cohorts in his branch, and one of his most reliable workers, to the point where he’s rarely ever not at Makoto’s side. Take his insistence to go to Washington with him and the others.

In spite of Kurafto’s unfortunate track history, Makoto relies on him and trusts him more than most. If he put in a good word in with his boss, I’m sure Makoto thought nothing of it.

Wait...does that mean Kurafto’s in on this too...!?

Huh?

The only reason Uchui got close enough to steal the info he leaked and spy on our members is ‘cause Kurafto talked Makoto into lettin’ him stay here. Does that mean they planned this?

No. I sincerely doubt that.

Uchui was granted his workspace way before the Foundation ever found out about Organization Zetsubou. Additionally, if Uchui’s own words are really true, and that he brought the V3 kids to our world, that would include Shirogane.

Which means Organization Zetsubou were only founded after that incident. Needless to say, when Uchui first arrived here, he didn’t have such ill intentions.

In fact, I don’t think Kuripa really knows about Uchui’s betrayal.

Ah...I see...so that’s why you’re delaying explaining the situation to the Washington team?

Shit...What the hell is Kurafto gonna do when he finds out.

We have Uchui’s trial first, and then we deliver the news. I’m leaving it to Makoto to sort him out.

In any case, if Uchui originally came here with good intentions, it means something must have changed in the time he’s been here.

Hm...But...what?

...Uh...guys? Something’s up.

Huh?

What?

Look.

*Mondo points into the security camera.

... ... ...

*Uchui is not standing up and facing towards the glass. His lips move to form words that cannot be heard.

Is he...talking to someone?

Has he got a communicator on him!?

Impossible! We checked, and even if we missed something, we ran him through a device detector! He couldn’t be talking over a radio or a comm!

*Chihiro turns to one of security team

Is someone down there with him?

Security: No one’s showing up on security cameras...He seems to be talking through the glass though.

Turn on the audio. Let’s listen to what he’s saying.

*The security do so.

You know...I hate to admit it, but...you were right...

This won’t end even if I get prosecuted, will it? So? Are you happy now?

The Future Foundation are aware of the things you’ve done, and now they think that I’m one of you. Isn’t this what you always dreamed of...Uncle?

Uncle...!? He’s talking to his Uncle?

That can’t be...Ryuichi Kamukura is long dead...!

...

In real life, yes...

But...not in Uchui’s head.

You mean he’s-!?

Yeah, he’s got to be hallucinating right now.

Keep an eye on him. In case he goes feral.

You really are a little fool, you know that?

Yeah. I figured. Something tells me that even if you were impressed with me, you’d never readily admit it. You never did like it when people were better than you.

True that may be, you aren’t better than me. You want to get your hands on the Hope Serum, but you have no intention on using it for yourself!? Coward!

You’re right Uncle. I am a coward. But that has nothing to do with my ideals.

We Kamukura’s always chose to go the extra mile for the sake of science. What’s the difference with my method? That no one’s dying? Is that a necessity?

If you truly wished to comply with the family legacy, then why not use that serum on yourself!? Your father would be proud of you if you, the failure that he was forced to raise, became the Ultimate Hope that he desired to build!

“Forced to raise!?” Hah! My father abandoned me! All I ever was to him was a lab rat and resource hole!

My point stands...

First of all, does this body look like it could handle the Hope Serum? If not for my father extracting blood and tissue from me for his experiments, then maybe my body would be healthy enough to consume it.

And even if I was, what good would the Hope Serum do me? Beyond completing my research, I have no such desires.

Not even revenge?

Against who? The Future Foundation have never done anything wrong to our family. They only exist to undo the catastrophe that was unleashed due to our family’s mistakes!

We’re scientists Uchui. We learn more from our failures than we do our successes.

You won’t be doing much learning when you’re dead.

Then why do you wish to die so much? Sounds like a waste of knowledge to me...Unless you’re THAT desperate to be free of me.

I’ll be lucky if death parts us.

Regardless, I don’t mean against the Future Foundation...I mean against Kuripa Kurafto. With your strength as an Ultimate Hope, you might have the power you need to take down that monster!

...

Why so frustrated?

Do you have any idea what you’re asking right now? I will prove myself to you, and I will comply with the family legacy, but I will NOT turn on my friend! Those two are completely different things!

I will not serve your ideal for petty revenge against him! You’re just mad he KILLED you!

!!!??

!!!??

!!!?? (Ryuichi Kamukura was killed by KURIPA!?)

He did more than just kill me. He humiliated us! Ruined us! Made us weak!

Where’s the “us!?” Your loss isn’t the family’s loss! It’s a result of your sheer incompetence!

You underestimated him. I will never do such a thing. Even if I did have the Ultimate Talents the Hope Serum prescribed, I’m not confident it would be enough to put Kuripa down.

For a scientist, you’re not very good at basic calculations.

Sounds like an excuse. So long as Kurafto is a factor, who’s to say you won’t go back on your word? You want to make me proud? Dispose of him!

I swore that I would walk over anyone to prove myself...To live up to this family’s legacy...If I don’t, I might go crazy...!

But...I haven’t lost what shred of humanity I have left in me after you sucked it all away. I have chosen to walk the path of humility.

Humility that cost you your freedom! These Foundation whacko’s have made you soft.

Haha...I’ve always been soft. Nothing’s changed there.

*Uchui turns his back to his grim reflection.

Chihiro Fujisaki and the Future Foundation are teachers of humility. I have betrayed them, and sold them out to Organization Zetsubou, and yet the Acting Chairman still wishes to trust me; to help me.

I only wish we’d had a chance to talk sooner. Maybe, I wouldn’t have gone down this path...

I have no desire to listen to this dribel. You are a failure, plain and simple.

...Krgh...

You were born a failure, you’ll die a failure, you’ll live your sorry life as a failure.

STOP! STOP!

Mondo! Get down there!

On it!

*Mondo and a few other soldiers exaunt to the cell.

...

Just...please...leave me alone...

...

*The shadow of Ryuichi vanishes for the moment.

...

I see why you so desperately wanted to help him...I should call Miaya, shouldn’t I?

That would be nice...

That said. You! Get all of that on recording!

Security: Yes sir!

*The security team plays back a recording of the last 4 minutes.

What did you do that for?

Did you not just hear what he said? “I have betrayed them, and sold them out to Organization Zetsubou, and yet the Acting Chairman still wishes to trust me; to help me.”

We have a confession. And we have video proof of his psychological condition. 

Which means we can move ahead with his trial. The preparations are already in order, so we can bring the young man in front of the Branch Chiefs later today. Is that ok with you?

...

Yes. Let’s finish this...

[Meanwhile...]

Food Staff: Morning.

Guard: Oh, hey. That time already.

Food Staff: Guess things have been a bit more hectic with the traitor having been outed.

Guard: Trial’s tomorrow. Kinda feels weird knowing the death machine over there is the last thing we need to worry about...

...

*The guard indicates to Nagito, currently plastered to the cross.

*BEEP!* *BEEP!*

Guard: Hm?

Food Staff: Everything ok?

Guard: Hold on a second...The scanners are picking something up, do you have any dangerous items on you?

Food Staff: Hm...No, not to my knowledge. Here, I’ll check.

*The Food Staff employee checks his pockets and the guard packs him down.

Guard: Did you put anything in the food?

Food Staff: What, like drugs? How am I supposed to hide anything in this, it’s a bagel for god’s sake!

Guard: Fair enough...hm...Must’ve been a glitch. I’ll check it after you leave, just go on through.

*The Food Staff employee cautiously enters Nagito’s cell and places the plate of bagels down onto the table. He then swiftly leaves.

Ngh...!

*After the Food Staff leaves, the door to Nagito’s cell closes and his arms and legs are unlocked from their restraints.

Ah...my favorite...

*He sits down at the table, picks up the bagel and takes a big bite.

OW!

Guard: What!?

...!

*Nagito checks his bagel.

Nothing...I just bit something hard...

*Nagito swallows... 

[aztecbrujeria]

Vixen Uncaged: HQ Mafia AU x OC’s

NSFW CW: Domestic violence, Violence, Gang Activity, Blood, Physical and Mental Abuse

Word Count: 3.3k

Summary: When Shinsuke Kita, The Miyas, Rintarō Suna, and Taka Kit had crashed into Ava’s apartment they were greeted by the sight of blood and a broken woman. This is the beginning of the Inarizaki Vixen’s that had lost contact with the team after high school only to be found living a life of crime and luxury. Follow along the chaotic life of the Inarizaki compound and the girls’ many interactions with the other boys and clans.

A/N: This series introduces Ava and Kit along with future Aria intro. My friends and I spent many convos covering the HQ teams as different clans in a mafia world. Please be kind…

Chapter One: Lost & Found

Sitting and staring into the vanity mirror aimlessly, carefully putting her concealer on the bruises and blossoming black eye as her routine dictated, it was my fault...I shouldn’t have told him to make his own dinner...this was my fault...She didn’t register the hot tears that escaped her dead mismatched eyes streaking down her warm cheeks. No one would have ever guessed that she was once a bright and lively girl, she was once loud and proud of who she was and who she knew, she used to be able to do what she pleased and see her best friend whenever she wanted; she had really lived at one point. However, when she went into med school and entered her first year as an intern, her life changed when she thought she fell for the right man.

The signs were there, any outside observer could see them, Ava had put her blinders on because she didn’t realize she was lonely. Every backhanded comment, every time she would tell Kit she couldn’t make it, every excuse to hide her sadness, before long she had become isolated and completely alone. He would watch her messages, her phone calls, and dictate her study time. It was too late, she was in too deep, the first time he slapped her it was because she embarrassed him in front of his friends, “What did I tell you about speaking when it wasn’t your turn...How could you make me look so stupid?!” She just made the excuse that she should have remembered her manners...manners she had, it was now a daily thing to be reminded about her manners in the form of closed fists.

By the fourth time she was slapped it escalated to closed fists and the beginning of the end of her spirit. He had succeeded in breaking her, making her meek and afraid, he had won in making her a husk of what she used to be. The last time she saw Kit for coffee she knew she could never see her again, “Ava...Ava did you hear me?...I see you; I see the small bruises, I see that your cheeks are hollow too…Wait! DON’T GO!! AVA!” That was the last time she saw Kit after the coffee date; he blocked her number and ended up breaking her wrist. Ava felt her tears fall upon her arms and came to wipe them away and finished hiding the evidence of her broken self from the outside world. Once she was finished, she put her hair up, just the way he liked, putting her scrubs on to go to her final year of residency and walked to gain approval from him before going to the hospital, “Did I say you could wear blush?” Slap, she apologized and reminded him she had to go to the hospital and proceeded to wipe away the blush from her cheeks. When he was happy with her appearance, he gave her a kiss on her cheek and told her to be home right after her shift.

It was a tough shift, it was the beginning of her 48-hour shift, and the emergency room was packed for trauma season. While elbow deep with a gunshot wound, she focused herself on her work, never complaining, never angry, just a robot for medicine and of all days and of all people she didn’t expect to run into someone from her past. “Doc? Miss...Dr. Medina?” Ava snapped back to reality, she stood at the sink washing the patient’s blood away, “Hmmm, can I help you? I’m needed in the next trauma bay.” His voice was deep and made something flutter inside of her briefly before dying again, “Ava?...Chibi Chan?” Her eyes widened and she grabbed some paper towels, Shit I hope he doesn’t notice, “A-Ava Medina is that you?” Carefully turning towards him she looked up to see the familiar permanent bedhead, “Tetsu?” He smiled and he went in for a hug. When she flinched and retracted into herself his eyes became sad, “Ava…” She smiled, as much as she could muster, “I have blood on me and you’re wearing, what looks like, an expensive suit...I, what are you doing here?” Kuroo beamed down at her, she felt the anxiety and thought of him finding out she was talking with another man, “I own the supply chain company and pharmaceutical company that gives to this hospital and was just doing my quarterly visit.” Right as she was about to come up with an excuse to escape, a trauma code was called overhead, “Well, it was nice to see you! I gotta go...duty calls.” She left him there looking dumbfounded and concerned when he saw the large bruise, deep purple blossoming like a blood infection upon her flesh, peeking out from her scrub top on her bicep. Kuroo wanted to reach out and just hold her, he knew something wasn’t right, he saw that she was afraid and meek, nothing like the Ava he knew from high school. As he was walking out of the emergency room, he immediately got Kenma on the phone and reached out to Kit, “We need to talk…”

Ava had made it, her 48-hour shift from hell was finally over, as she walked out from the hospital her phone dinged, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU...YOU BETTER BE HOME IN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES!!!!!...Ava almost dropped her phone and could feel the panic set in as she realized she lived twenty minutes from the apartment, Fuck! He’s going to punish me...I am so screwed...Ava started to sprint towards her apartment. When she got home her hair was out of place and she was trying to catch her breath, “I’m So-...” A strong hand dug its digits into her hair and pulled her into the main room. She felt her knees take the brunt of her weight as she found herself on all fours upon the unforgiving hardwood floors. She felt him pull her hair again as he forced her to look up into his soulless black eyes, “You think I like waiting for you?!... You think I enjoy looking like a loser house husband while you’re out being a doctor?!...You think I like being the lesser!?!” Ava tried to tell him absolutely not, that she never meant to make him feel less, that was until his fist met the right side of her face. She saw the stars show up behind her eyelids and heard the punch ricochet off the inside of her skull. “WHAT WAS THAT!?!?...” She tried to put her arms up to protect her face, but was too disoriented, instead he became angrier and hit her harder with every punch. She lost count and could taste the copper of her own blood in her mouth when she finally collapsed to the floor. She thought he was done but felt the steel toed boot he wore to work begin a barrage on her side and stomach. The air left her lungs with every kick, she desperately tried to make him stop, however she was too weak and could feel her consciousness slip in and out.

Finally, after what felt like hours of violence, she thought he was done, she saw through the blood in her eyes from the open cuts in her face him standing over her before he knelt, took his stained hands, and began to choke her. She felt his grip tighten, putting strain on her trachea, she knew how strong one needed to be to crush it and end her suffering. She tried to claw and scratch his arms but to no avail and finally began to see the blackness of her vision encroaching in, this is it...I’m sorry Kit...Kita...Samu...Suna...anyone help me… She was close to death when her front door crashed in, “AVA!!” She had mustered enough energy to look at the broken door and saw Kit, Kita, Suna, and the twins in the doorway before she passed out from his hands still around her throat.

Kita and Kit couldn’t believe the sight before them, it looked like a murder scene, Ava was in a broken heap upon the floor and in the middle of her own blood while the bastard of a husband sat on top of her choking the life from her. Kit looked at her best friend and saw her smile just enough and tried to reach out when Ava lost consciousness, she felt hot tears sting her eyes, her anger was greater than her sadness making her start to scream. Kita felt his stomach drop seeing one of his vixens marred and beaten like nothing but trash. He had become the angriest he had ever been, making his vision turn red. Suna, Osamu, and Atsumu rushed into the apartment behind Kita and Kit and immediately rushed to tackle the Piece of shit onto the ground forcing him to finally let go of Ava, “MOTHERFUCKER!'' This time the husband was on the floor getting the shit kicked out of him, Suna had his first few hits before Atsumu and Samu pushed him aside to start their own vengeance. Kit and Kita ran over to Ava, Kit reaching her first and letting her tears fall onto her while falling to her own knees, “Ava!?!? AVA!?! Wake up damn you! Please wake up, I should have come a long time ago...Ava!!” Kita checked her pulse on her bloodied wrist and sighed with relief when he felt a very faint heartbeat.

“Kit...Call Kuroo and tell him what’s happened, we’re gonna need supplies and a trustworthy doctor…” Kita saw how broken she was as she cried over her best friend. “Kit! Please! Go and call Kuroo, we’ll bring her out to the car.” Kita watched as Kit got up and rushed outside to get the car and call Kuroo he looked down and pushed soiled hair out of Ava’s swollen eyes and felt his heart hammer inside his chest, “My little vixen...baby girl I’m sorry we didn’t come sooner...I’m sorry we never came to save you...You must have been so scared…” Samu touched Kita’s shoulder, “Shin? What’s the plan?” Kita picked up Ava’s hand and placed a kiss on her limp arm, “Bring him...Kit’s gonna want her revenge...We can teach him a lesson before we need to call Daichi and get rid of him…Suna, grab a clean blanket she needs wrapped up before we walk outta here.” Kita wanted to wail and howl at how broken she was, “Shin...Let me carry her… please…” Kita took a moment before he nodded to Samu. Suna had walked out with a fresh blanket and helped wrap her up and place her in Osamu’s strong arms. Suna wasn’t one for emotions, but Samu saw tears escape his eyes before wiping them away from the back of his arm to help gather the husband for transport. As Osamu walked out, he heard Kita begin to curse at the man and land a few blows before Suna and Atsumu pulled him off and reminded him he needed to be alive for Kit.

Ava remembered warmth and a gentle touch as she thought Kita, Kit, and the boys came to get her. She was sure she was dead as she heard Kita’s voice call her vixen one more time and Kit there crying over her. She couldn’t feel anything anymore and felt weightless and could have sworn she smelled Osamu and her favorite body wash. In and out she thought it was nice and heard a strong heartbeat, “Samu...missed...you smell...home…” she could have sworn she saw his pained smile and heard him call her by her special pet name, “My little Onigiri…” She smiled and thought she was ready.

That was a month ago, she felt her eyes flutter and close them just as fast as she tried to adjust to the bright lights above, she finally was able to take in her surroundings as she moved the non-rebreather from her face. She heard the alarms and beeping of fluids and felt one of her hands weighed down and warm. Feeling a small twinge as she looked down to find a dark head of hair lying beside her hand resting with their strong callused palm squeezing hers, “S-Samu?” He stirred and she raised her free hand carefully, feeling her ribs ache with the movement, and reached to touch his hair she felt the brim of hot tears threaten to escape her eyes, is that my cookie... She watched as he finally awoke. He sat up quickly and looked into her eyes, “Ava...AVA! Hey, don’t move too quickly…thank god...I…” she watched as he took her hand and placed kisses on the back of it before he carefully reached to stroke her hair, “I have to go get the others they’ve been waiting for you, especially Kit.” Ava squeezed his hand, “I thought I was dead...I thought you I was in heaven...I thought you all were my sign that I had finally escaped…” Ava watched as Samu’s eyes filled with tears before he got up and placed a chaste kiss carefully on her forehead, “We’re not sending you yet baby girl...We will always be there for you...Always...Never again are you gonna live in fear…” Ava sighed and then looked down asking in her smallest voice, “Samu...can you help me to the bathroom...I need to go pee…” Samu chuckled and carefully helped her sit up on the side of the bed, “Yes I’ll help you...but then I have to go tell them you’re awake okay...we gotta have the doctor check you out.”

After getting help from the bathroom and being carried back to the bed by Samu Ava could feel the anxiety of him leaving, “WAIT!!....” Samu saw her begin to sweat and hyperventilate, while reaching out a frail hand, “Baby girl, what’s wrong?” Ava couldn’t help it, “Please...Don’t go...Don’t leave me by myself…” Samu almost doubled over and immediately sat behind her on the bed, “Can I hug you? I understand if you don’t want to be touched…” Ava wrapped his arms around her small frail body and began to calm down. “Please, don’t leave me alone...I’ve been alone for so long…” she finally began to cry and turned her head into Samu’s chest staining his black shirt while he rocked her body back and forth letting his own tears quietly slip down his cheeks. When the nurse finally came in to check on Ava, she was shocked and surprised to find her asleep in Samu’s arms, “Why wasn’t I notified!?” He gave her cold eyes, “Do you think I was going to leave her when she begged not to be left alone...Besides, you're five minutes for her pain meds. Don’t think the Inarizaki clan didn’t write down all the points of her care and do not know her time schedule.” The nurse closed her mouth with a quick huff, “Now, call the doctor, and call my boss to tell him she’s awake.”

Ava felt warm and she heard voices surround her, Samu you’re always so warm, “How is she?” Does she remember what happened…” Ava scrunched her eyes and heard Suna and Atsumu, “Hey...loser...I’m alive.” Ava opened one eye and smiled at Atsumu, he tried to hide his pouty face, but she saw it, giggling as she reached out to squeeze his hand. “I’m okay...just sore.” Not wanting to leave Samu, he motioned for Rintarō, “Suna...I’m so glad you guys came for me.” Suna looked down at her, noticing how small and thin she looked once compared to her muscular curvy body. “Ava...I…” She lifted her arm, and he immediately flew into her and Samu. She inhaled through her teeth and Samu grumbled at him, “Ava...my Wonder Woman...I’m so sorry we should have come sooner...I am so worthless...I…” Ava, with little strength, squeezed Suna close to her chest and shushed him, “You shouldn’t apologize for anything...I was…” Ava felt her body begin to shake and tears brim from her eyes again as she saw the flashes of all those years of abuse play behind her dull mismatched eyes. Suna and Samu felt her begin to shake and they wrapped their arms around her and held her while she felt the sobs escape her body; bone deep she felt the mix of raw emotions escape the confines of her mind. Atsumu rushed over and joined the group hug and put his head atop hers and could only be there and he began to feel hopeless as he saw his brother and friend begin to break down around the small woman that was his Peach’s best friend.

They didn’t hear them enter but Kita and Kit looked alarmed when they saw the large men pile around the frail woman letting her sob into their bodies. “What is going on?!” Kit raised her voice slightly and began to tap her foot, “What the hell guys, she’s supposed to be resting...not be mauled by your dumbasses...remember broken bones and bruises.” The boys looked up and gave Ava space, sniffling and wiping tears away, Ava began to panic and latched onto Samu before Kit walked over and sat in front of her. “Ava…” She looked into her best friend's eyes, Kit’s Hazel eyes flashed with pain and concern, “I…” Ava let go of Samu before jumping onto Kit before they both enveloped each other and started sobbing together. “I’m sorry I should have listened to you...I should have let you take me home that day...I’m...Kitty Kat!” Ava buried her head into her neck and continued to hiccup between her tears. The girls continued to rock back and forth, Ava’s long hair escaped her braid and spilled around her shoulders, “Ava...Shhhh...Shhh...You did what you needed to protect yourself...I should have pushed harder to find you and go get you when you stopped talking to me...I should have...” Ava pulled back and kissed her friend on the cheek before kissing her eyes, wiping away her tears.

“Don't be sorry for anything...ever…” Ava went back in for a hug before she felt a strong hand placed gently on her shoulder, “My little vixen, Ava, I am so glad you’re awake.” She looked up and reached up to cup Kita’s face, “Shin…” He Sat behind her and enveloped her and Kit, “This is where you should have always been...I should have found you sooner...it broke me seeing you so destroyed...I’m sorry I wasn’t there…” He buried his head into her thick wavy tresses and smelled the scent of jasmine and clean linen. He began to cry into her as he thought she finally began to smell like sunshine in the summer again, not the smell of fragility and the veil. Kita had never felt so inadequate as a man, holding his bruised and battered vixens both mentally and physically, he let it wash over him knowing his family was complete once again. “I will never again let you two go...we will do whatever we need to protect you and to care for you...this is why we started the clan and went into the business...We will always be a family.” Kita felt Kit reach around Ava and squeezed them both tighter.

Chapter 2

[ghostofviperwrites]

Suzuki Gunz Crime Family - Chapter 3

Warnings:  Mentions of child abuse, child sexual abuse, do not read if sensitive to those topics; violence. Not graphic

July 7, 1997

It had taken two years.  Two years since Minoru Suzuki had taken over and rebranded the Suzuki Gunz Crime Family for his Kobun to be complete.   In those two years there had been attempts at usurping him from power, attempts from both within and outside his family.  Those attempts had failed in spectacularly bloody fashion.   Minoru had a flair for the dramatic and when he wanted to send a message he went big.  While they were still small and making their way up the hierarchy of crime families, the Gunz were no longer a laughingstock as they had been when word spread that a 17 year old was heading the family.  The naysayers had quickly and violently learned that this was no boy to be trifled with.   Minoru Suzuki made his mark.  His messages were delivered very loudly, very publicly and very dirtily.   Now whispers of fear accompanied the name Suzuki Gunz.  

Tonight was not a night of violence.  Tonight was a night of ceremony.   Tucked away in their secret meeting room in the bowels of Minoru’s family estate a very important induction was occurring.  Several inductions actually.  This would be the last of these ceremonies.  Tonight was also a night of finalities.  The final touches being added to Minoru’s trusted circle and the final night operations would be based out of this home. 

Kanemaru sat to his right, index finger tapping rhythmically against the marble table top as he idly listened to the conversation going on between Taichi and Iizuka.  Taichi sat to Minoru’s left with Iizua on his other side.   There had been a small disturbance with one of their pickups last night and the two were discussing an appropriate course of action.   Iizuka was serving as the voice of reason while Taichi was of the mind to paint the streets with the interloper’s blood.  

“It’s rather difficult for someone to spread a message if they’re dead Taichi,” Iizuka pointed out earning a shrug from Taichi.

“Let him live. Cut out his tongue,” Minoru spoke abruptly.  “He can write the fucking message.”  Kanemaru choked back his laugh, meeting Minoru’s amused eyes with his own.  The quadrant’s attention suddenly shifted to the door, the four men sitting up straight and settling into business mode as 14 year old Taka Michinoku entered the chambers. 

Minoru gave him a minute nod in greeting as Taka took the seat at Kanemaru’s right.  He carried himself well, which Minoru respected.  Barely any hint of his nerves shone through.   Minoru was sure many were going to think him crazy for bringing a child into his kobun.  He didn’t give a damn what they thought.  His men were in agreement with the move and that was the only approval that mattered to him.  Minoru had known from the moment he first saw Taka that he was destined to be his family.  Leaning back in his chair Minoru thought back to the night Taka Michinoku had come into their lives.

Flashback - December 13, 1995

As the coronation of the Suzuki Gunz Crime Family carried on in his family’s mansion, Minoru Suzuki disappeared into the night.  He had said what needed to be said.  There was no further need for his presence.  His kobun would remain at the party, circling and learning.  Tongues would be looser without the Boss in attendance. 

When he wanted to think Minoru walked.  It wasn’t uncommon for him to be found along the backroads surrounding the family estate wandering.  It was when he did his best planning.  When he felt the most clear-headed.   He was on an endorphin high, feeling energetic despite the fact he hadn’t slept the past two days.  Between overthrowing his father’s kobun and preparations for the coronation tonight sleep had been an afterthought.   This walk would calm his thoughts enough for him to find slumber.  Minoru’s steps slowed as he sensed a shift in the air.   Narrowing his eyes he scoured the surrounding landscape with his gaze, looking for the disturbance that had caught his attention.  Minoru wasn’t stupid.  He knew people wanted to kill him.   He would never let it be said that he was killed because he had not been aware of his surroundings.  

A small movement in the corner of his eye had Minoru stepping towards it, his hand already unsheathing his blade as he saw the corner of a tennis shoe peeking out from behind a large bush.  Assessing the situation Minoru stepped off the road and once again surveyed his surroundings noting nothing out of the ordinary apart from the bush.   Slowly circling around with his knife at the ready Minoru struck as he came up behind the intruder.  Knife immediately at the throat, Minoru pulled the small body against him with a hissed warning.  A frown formed on his face as Minoru realized he held no more than a child.  A tenacious child at that Minoru thought with a smirk which quickly turned to a wince as a sharp elbow landed in his ribs.   With a grunt Minoru pushed the kid away with a sharp rap upside the back of his head.  The kid barely made it two steps before he fell to the ground making Minoru frown.  He certainly hadn’t hit him hard enough to hurt him. 

Taking a hesitant step forward Minoru reached out to the boy rolling him onto his back making the kid scramble back looking up at him with defiant eyes.  Minoru’s protective instincts rose as he looked him over, sharp eyes noting new and faded bruises covering his face.  Fresh blood trickled from his lip and Minoru could only imagine the damage hidden by the ratty clothes the boy was wearing.  He was definitely malnourished, Minoru could tell that much upon quick perusal.  A familiar feeling fell over Minoru as he stared down at the kid.  It was the same sense of family he got from Kanemaru, Iizuka and Taichi.   Kneeling down so to present a less frightening figure Minoru made a big show of sheathing his knife and keeping his hands in plain view of the wary eyes that watched his every move.  Rage filled Minoru as he saw the pain the boy tried to hide as he pushed into a sitting position.  Someone had hurt this boy and they were going to pay.   

“What is your name kid?”  Minoru asked. 

“Taka.”  The kid responded sullenly. 

“My name is Minoru.  Where is your family Taka?”  Minoru inquired his fists clenching as terror entered the boy’s eyes and his head began shaking.

“Please don’t make me go back!”  Taka shouted uselessly trying to gather the strength to get to his feet and run.  “I’m sorry I bothered you. Please just let me go.  Don’t make me go back.”  

“I won’t make you go back.  Ever.”  Minoru vowed fiercely.  “You are safe with me.  Do you understand?”

Taka stared warily back at this stranger who had shown him more empathy in five minutes than he had ever experienced in his life.   He so desperately wanted to believe.  Hope wasn’t something he had experienced in his life. 

“I swear to you Taka.  On my life.  I will not let them take you back.”  Minoru said calmly rising to his feet.  “My home is just up the street.  Would you like to come with me?  You can get something to eat and clean up.” 

“Do I have to stay?” Taka asked trying to inject confidence in his tone.  To let this man know he wasn’t a pushover.  

“No Taka.  You will never have to do anything you don’t wish to.  If you want to stay, there is a place for you.   If you don’t.  You can go on your way.”  Minoru assured him.  

Taka stared back into Minoru’s face, scrutinizing everything he saw there as he thought through his decision.  His stomach was crying out for him to accept, willing to walk into danger in the hopes of getting food.  With a sign Taka nodded.   It wasn’t like anything worse than what he had been through was going to happen.  Besides, his instincts were usually spot on and they told Taka that he could trust this man with his life. 

At Taka’s nod Minoru carefully helped Taka to his feet taking stock of every wince the boy made and vowing to inflict ten times the pain on whoever had done this.  Letting Taka lean heavily on him the two some walked in silence down the backroads and through the basement entrance into the Minoru’s house.   It was a slow process, having to stop on multiple occasions for Taka to recover, every waylay increasing Minoru’s ire and desire for revenge.  Something about this boy, though only a few years younger than himself, had struck a chord in Minoru.  An almost fatherly protective instinct.  

Once in the house Minoru took him directly to quarters down the hall from his own and urged Taka to rest while Minoru found a suitable meal for him.   Heading to the kitchen Minoru ignored the staff bustling about in ongoing preparations for the party guests and went into the pantry.  Looking over the offerings Minoru got a selection of breads and crackers before moving to the fridge and grabbing sliced deli meats and some fruit.  When his knock received no response Minoru slowly pushed into the room, gently setting the tray on the end of the bed as he saw Taka had stripped off his clothes and burrowed under the blankets and fallen asleep. 

Hating to wake him, but knowing he needed sustenance Minoru softly shook Taka’s shoulders cursing himself when Taka screamed and jumped from the bed, rushing to the corner of the room and huddling his arms wrapping around his knees as he softly whimpered no repeatedly.   Tampering down the rage that wanted to consume Minoru breathed deeply to calm himself before slowly approaching Taka murmuring soft words as he knelt just out of arm’s reach hoping to give Taka the space he needed.  Slowly the whimpers died down and the tense hold on his knees relaxed, Taka raising his eyes and taking in his surroundings before he locked eyes with Minoru.   A sense of safety he hadn’t experienced before filled him making him release his legs and push to his feet.  It was only when fire rose to Minoru’s eyes as he examined his body that Taka remembered that he was unclothed. 

“Who did this to you?”  Minoru growled as he surveyed the extensive damage to Taka’s body.  Obvious cigarette burns peppered his flesh, old and new scars littering even the most sensitive of areas.  Minoru methodically categorized each and every bruise and mark on Taka’s skin making mental note to exact punishment for each one.   With gentle hands that belied the anger on his face Minoru turned Taka around to see his back, tears that would never fall sheening his eyes as he saw finger shaped bruises on Taka’s hips and dried blood between his buttocks.   “Tell me Taka.  Who did this?  I will make them pay.” 

Taka shook his head shame coursing through him knowing Minoru knew what had happened to him.  He refused to speak and Minoru wasn’t going to force him.  The poor kid had enough choices taken from him.  Minoru was not about to pile on to that. 

Stepping into the ensuite bathroom Minoru pulled down a thick plush robe that was hanging on the back of the door, ready for the next guest to stay and moved back to the bedroom wrapping it around Taka’s shoulders.  It was way too big on his small frame, practically swallowing him and dragging along the floor as he padded behind Minoru.  Scared it was going to be taken from him Taka slowly reached towards the crackers, eyes on Minoru in case he lashed out.  Grabbing a handful Taka backed away and greedily shoved several in his mouth almost choking as he tried to swallow.

“It’s yours Taka.” Minoru assured him gesturing towards the food.  “I’m not going to take it.”  Rising to his feet Minoru moved to the bedroom door deciding it was probably best to let Taka get acclimated on his own.   “Take your time and eat.  There are towels in the bathroom cabinet so you can clean up.  I’m going to look in my closet and see if there is anything you can fit.  I’ll leave what I find outside your door.”  He met Taka’s worried expression with a small smile.  “There’s a lock on the door.  You can use it.  Nobody will be coming in here without your permission.  I’m just down the hall if you need anything.  The phone on the nightstand has a line directly to my room.” 

Taka stood silently long after Minoru left, waiting for everything to come crashing down around him.  This was too good to be true.  Nobody did anything nice for him.  Not without extracting payment.   But his instincts were telling him that Minoru was family.  Real family. Not the assholes he called blood.   Moving back to the bed Taka winced as he sat, every movement reminding him of things he would rather forget.  Pushing aside those dark memories Taka slowly ate everything Minoru had brought savoring each bite like it may be his last.  He almost sagged in relief when he stepped into the hot shower.  He couldn’t remember ever having a warm shower.  Usually he was dunked in a cold shower when the felt he got too dirty.  Looking down he frowned watching the dirt mixed with blood swirling down the drain.  

Minoru managed to find him so clothes which Taka found outside the door, hurriedly grabbing them and locking the door again.  Yes he believed Minoru wasn’t going to hurt him to an extent, but he didn’t know who else was in this house.   Certainly Minoru couldn’t live here alone.  He only looked a few years older than Taka himself. 

Sliding on a pair of sweats Taka crawled back under the mountain of blankets he had created and circled in on himself as he fell into a fitful sleep. 

It was two weeks before Taka finally opened up to Minoru, finding solace in the older man’s calming presence.  For two weeks Minoru talked to Taka, not receiving much interaction, but keeping up a steady conversation as Taka listened with avid interest.  Minoru didn’t hold anything back, letting Taka know exactly the kind of man he was developing a kinship with.  He wasn’t going to lie.  Taka deserved to make an educated decision when the time came and he wouldn’t be able to with half-truths.   Minoru discussed Taka with his kobun.  They would meet him at the appropriate time and let Minoru know their opinion.  While Minoru believed he was going to be an integral part of his family, he would never make such a call without their approval. 

“Michinoku,” Taka said softly at the breakfast table with Minoru.  Looking up he saw Minoru’s questioning glance.  “My family name is Michinoku.  Riku is my father.  My mother died when I was a baby.   My brothers are Reo and Touma.  My father and my brothers are the ones who…”  Taka paused taking in a steadying breath.  “They are the ones who touched me and hurt me.”   He looked down at his plate, shuffling the nori around his plate as he waited for some type of reaction.  

“Himari!”  Minoru called to the housekeeper sharply.  “Call Kanemaru and tell him I need to see him.  Immediately.”  He ordered once she appeared.   Nothing more was said, Taka slowly eating his food as Minoru sipped his coffee and read his morning reports.  

“MiSu,” Taka startled at the amused voice behind him, shifting his body to keep an eye on the newcomer.   “You rang?” Taka watched with wide eyes as the two men hugged a rare genuine smile lighting up Minoru’s face as he greeted his friend. 

“Kanemaru, this is Taka Michinoku,” Minoru said gesturing to Taka who jumped to his feet bowed his head respectfully in greeting.  “None of that Taka.  Not here.  Not with us.”  Minoru stopped him, motioning for him to sit.  “Taka, this is one of my closest friends Yoshinobu Kanemaru.   He is my saiko komon.  He prefers to be called Kanemaru.” 

Kanemaru stared at Taka after acknowledging the introduction and Taka sat deathly still feeling like this inspection was vital to his future.   Finally Kanemaru broke his stare before nodding in approval to Minoru. 

“I see it.”  Kanemaru said, pulling out a chair and grabbing a piece of flatbread from Minoru’s plate.  

“I thought so.” Minoru nodded happy his friend seemed to see what he did.   “Now Taka has been slighted.  Greatly.  I wish you to bring me Riku, Reo and Touma Michnoku.” 

“You got it.”  Kanemaru agreed easily.  “When are Taichi and Iizuka going to meet him?” He nodded towards Taka. 

“Later today I will introduce them.”  Minoru said rising to his feet as Kanemaru pushed away from the table. 

“Looks like I have some hunting to do.” Kanemaru said with a smirk.  “Later Misu.  Later Taka.”  

Taka stared after Kanemaru with something akin to awe.  He just seemed so self-confident and assured.  Taka wished he had an iota of that confidence.  

“Why are you getting my father and brothers?”  Taka asked.  Minoru was pleased he didn’t seem scared or to think that Minoru was going to turn him over to them.  Even a week ago Minoru was relatively sure the response would have been panic.  

“To get you revenge Taka.  For every mark. For every time they touched you in ways they had no right to.”  Minoru said fixing Taka with his cold stare.  “We’re going to kill them.  But before that, we’re going to make them pay.”  

Japanese Translations:

Kobun – underlings/cabinet

Kumichō – Boss

Saiko komon – senior advisor – like consigliere in American mafia

[sole-cuore-amore-e-droga]

Tel Aviv 2019: Straight outta Denmark to Eurovision with a cute multilingual jingle

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix is... a NF I don’t really have anything to say about. Like, you expect me to rile up 3 big paragraphs about the pre-NF dramas and what-not, but honestly... what’s the point.

Well, aside from the fact people did not really get excited over the lineup this year. Me neither from the names alone, actually. Even last year was more interesting to look at despite with another lineup of songs you can’t give a fuck about and then move on - I noticed they had Sannie who used to be known as Whigfield (”Saturday Night” <3333 the duck quacks <333), Ditte Marie (anyone remembers “Overflow” from 2012?) and Albin Fredy (which seems to be the same Albin that brought me my one of the two DMGP 2013 favourite songs, “Beautiful to Me”???). This year was a big “WHO IS SHE?? WHERE DID YOU FIND HER???”, so I just left DMGP in the corner where it picked cobwebs until not too long ago when someone got chosen.

Well, this NF keeps being a NF where I don’t personally feel too emotionally fucked about any of them entries, so that’s a big plus in my book, which will mean that I won’t throw a “THIS WAS ROBBED!!!1″ post on Denmark NF-wise... at least this year and the last year because I really loved “Venter” in 2012 and the said “Beautiful to Me” and “Invincible” in 2013 (I also liked “Only Teardrops” but I was mad its victory was so obvious xD). As for why I like it when the NFs don’t toy with my feelings, A Dal 2019 is an obvious demonstration, but more on that on my Hungarian writeup, which is significantly longer than this one - that’s how much of a demonstration it is.

Anyway, let’s talk about the chosen song, shall we? Performed by a smol skater girlie Leonora (Jepsen), here comes “Love Is Forever”, which was co-penned by the ever-so-notorious Lise Cabble - the champ-mastress of writing Eurovision songs for the Danes (by that I mean she wrote their 1995 entry... and then none of her entries got chosen for ESC until 2011 lol). And this is a significally softer turn of hers compared to “Only Teardrops” - ever since Anna Ritsmar in 2018′s DMGP, she tends to write cute, acoustic tunes sung by young ladies with their lil cute and lil crispy voices. “Love Is Forever” is just that, tbh.

Well THAT and also it sounds like a lovely acoustic background song for those funny photos/student quotes/test answers/etc. compilation videos on Youtube (I actually am talking about the channel Scoop, because other kinds of compilation videos use Youtube Audio Library-like pop songs or something straight off NoCopyrightSounds). Or the theme song for a TV programme for animals. Or the theme song for a children's programme they show at hospitals. There's so many places you can insert it into, I guess. At the same time it feels like a cupcake with pink frosting that tastes nice. And a cup of warm cocoa with whipped cream and sprinkles. It's a delightful bite. Yum.

Realistically though, the song itself has an easy noddable-along-to rhythm, cute violin string plucks, the capability to melodically progress to sound even more joyful (I mean, the chorus just adds more and more layers of brass as it keeps repreating, just giving it a bit more of a typical Scoop channel background music material), the D flat major key of this song’s uplifts the spirits of this whole shebang and it also somehow includes lines in some more languages than expected in a Danish song ever, how odd it seems like??? And it’s especially given that we haven’t really heard Danish in a song since like what, 1997?? We only got “shout insh’allah” and “taka stökk til hærri jörð, taka” ever since then, and these aren’t remotely Danish lines. But this year we’re getting some Danish, and French, and even German. Feeling the love in multilingual. L’amour est pour toujours, y’all! Liebe IST für alle da!

There are also people that aren’t buying into the song all that much because Leonora looks way too creepy to sell a song about love love peace peace, like someone emerging out of a demented cabaret. I suppose that other people think that this song was forced onto Leonora when she didn’t really want it, and now has to pretend that we have to spread love to the world, make friendships with others, don’t get too political, and then act all supercool about it. The saddest bit that she does sound like that person that would sing a song like that... young, with a passion for skating, looks like a person that could probably hug you when you least expect it, the one that posts light purple sweater pictures with a glitter effect applied to them on Tumblr, the one who would wear white mittens with a giant red snowflake painted on/knitted into them... I don’t know if that’s all Leonora wanted to compete with in DMGP to make a breakthrough with her singing career after skating so darn much, and if she even believes in what is she singing (this is my rare reminder of the war situation in Israel that’s going on, and I’ll probably never have to speak of this again in any writeup, hopefully. Yeah sure, love is for ever...), but I somehow buy it, sue me. Those acoustics and that touch of brass instruments won me over.

So my final thoughts on this song is that it’s a joyball with that kind of song message so overused I cannot be angry on it because it’s not slapped on a dreary Russian peace ballad - it’s a singer-songwriter-esque small showtune, which makes it all seem a lot different because love is cute and this song is cute. So I guess I have no issues with it, whereas I can’t stand the aforementioned Russian peace ballads all that much because if you remove the good singers singing it, they’re cliché af; “Wars for Nothing” (Hungary 2015) sounded too innocent while having a full gun tree serving as a backdrop for them and if you looked too much into Boggie’s eyes, you could very well feel her penetrating your soul with war imagery; and Iceland last year was a knock-off Russian peace ballad that sounded too good to be unbearably dreary and the vocalist wasn’t even a belting girl. So yeah, I like it. More adorable songs about spreading love, less overdone ballads about world peace.

Thing is though, why did she really dress like a barista from a late-night-open cocktail club? I get that looking like a princess à la Maria Olafs won't cut it anymore as it would look way more saccharine, but Leonora is up like she's there to serve you your damn drink as soon as possible so she could go outside for a small smoke break, not to advertise love. Watch me make "when you have Eurovision at 9 and job at a cocktail bar at 11" memes on the night of the 16th. Seriously, her image barely even fucking suits the song!

Approval factor: Well, one of my faves won DMGP again, for the 2nd time in a row, so why wouldn’t I approve? ^_^ Love from me is forever!

Follow-up factor: For Denmark it kind of seems like a decent follow-up? For all those out here that remember Denmark as the nation that plagiarises every other entry, it would just seem logical for them to finally send a generic royalty free ukulele song for Youtube videos. Which is spectacular! No one knows which song did this one exactly plagiarize - the entire concept was ripped off! Jokes aside, it’s an interesting one after Rasmussen. After a song that urges you to lay your weapons down in a war and go find higher ground more peacefully, we’re now getting a morale on the fact that love is for ever and everyone. Isn’t it sweet. I’d rather these than a bland love song about laying down armours and guns. ^_^

Qualification factor: depends. For now I feel like writing it off because to the 1% of the people who’ve already heard this song beforehand and hate this song, the whole thing feels like “love :) is :) forever :) please love everyone you little shit :) :) :)”. To some others however, like Luke Malam from ESCXtra, it’s a song that definitely makes them feel the love being forever, just like “yaaaay we love each other and the world yaaaay!!! ^o^”, so it’s perhaps a bit of a mixed bag. I wanna see it through though, just as much as I want to see Lithuania, about which I will be talking next in these write-ups. But I see it very much so as a borderline because... idk, just a gut feeling. Sometimes songs that ooze loveliness just don’t quite get themselves across the other hand side of the viewer thus they don’t really qualify, for example, Finland 2012, another song sung by a lady better known as a sportswoman rather than a singer (but maybe that’s just because there was too much intimacy of hers with her and her celloist’s mom, and she looked too awkward to pass the intimacy to the viewers so they too could feel the loving bond and the life metaphors coming from a Finnish entrant singing in Swedish). For now from me it’s a positive borderline. Yes, I think that it probably will make it and we’ll see that large Ikea chair prop with many people swaying to the rhythm on it next to Leonora on Saturday as well.

NATIONAL FINAL BONUS

Even with me not having much to say about DMGP, I will go ahead and cherrypick the favourite songs from the event:

• The big favourite of mine this year was brought by Julie & Nina, who served a bilingual schlager-like midtempo track, “League of Light”. Hats off to sounding properly Eurovision-y but without using a “rent-a-NF-songwriter” songwriter for to write this! It’s soaring, majestic, somewhat memorable and inclused Greenlandic. Yeah. Do you believe that this would have been a year where we could’ve gotten more exotic Language spins? Now we have lost both Aboriginal and Greenlandic out of Eurovision, hopefully just for this year so the languages can return again sometime. I’m proud of these women being so courageous and delighting some that really wanted schlager pop that still can click with some that are bored of Eurovision NF schlager cliches. Oh and this song is in A flat minor, probably one of my favourite keys in music. Not too bad, everything this was, although the aggression they transmitted through the song during their live DMGP performance kiiiiinda made them looked like pissed-off housewives imo?

• Them both and this guy below, Sigmund, were picked to the superfinal to compete against Leonora. What was Sigmund’s contribution and why did he deserve to be there so much? Well, I really love his colourful flamboyant electropop track that has piano influences, “Say My Name”, which lyrically reflects on the song’s protagonists big power that he will probably have if only the invisible force Sigmund’s singing to would just “say [his] name”. And I definitely think he deserved his spot over some really nice pop entries that the fandom definitely overrated. Oh and the song is in A flat minor too. Maybe I’m biased, maybe I’m not. You judge. >:)

• See, I don't feel like talking about the DMGP songs this year. It's a cool bunch of songs that some of them I like but nothing quite outstanding to talk about beyond those I already have paragraphs for. Well maybe you'd like to look up the entries by Humorekspressen (for to get a pub singalong song) and Jasmine Gabay (for to get yet another Latino-influenced Havana club track). But that's it. Here from me the last one you'll be getting is Simone Emilie with her teen-flavoured light radiofriendly dance-ish song "Anywhere". Why didn't it do better despite having the power to click with the Eurofans quite much? Well, maybe it's because her backdrop and the fairytale-esque dress went for another kind of atmosphere than it was required to have on the song.

• I don't know, I just find this particular winning reaction shot funny. Not sure if she's yawning or being like "yaaaazs bitchesss ;) 😄 ✨" in here. I gotta say - her lipstick was definitely on fleek that night.

That guy below her takes the cake at making this shot memorable too. Do you want the invisible meal Leonora is about to take a bite of too?

And besides that moment I don’t really have any on-show moments besides songs that were somewhat memorable. Why do Danes always have to be this vanilla in the Nordic country barrage, I will never get. That’s it. That’s their crime. Of being average. And being sued for plagiarism a lot in the past.

For now I’d just wish Leonora good luck in Tel Aviv and show ‘em that love can and will prevail before hatred does, if only people remember to love... ah wait, wrong kind of philosophy.

[emilyplaysotome]

Chapter 14 - Goodbye and Hello

Catch up on all Chapters here:  http://emilyplaysotome.tumblr.com/post/173554646607/down-the-voltage-rabbit-hole-the-sequel-master

“There’s no way it’s him!” Soryu exclaimed, holding the icepack to his cheek.

He was sitting on my couch and had hit the side of his face on the sidewalk when he’d collapsed as his old memories flooded back. Not wanting to make more of a scene than I already had in front of my building I dragged him upstairs and patched him up.

Similarly as I’d done with Hiroshi, I explained everything that had happened, including the fact that he’d tried to mug me on the train. 

He apologized profusely, cursing the king and what had happened as well as reiterating once more that he was, “not the man he once was” despite the fact that it seemed his true nature was destined to be that of a criminal. When I explained that things would be complicated from here on out seeing as how he was now involved with the New York City mafia scene, his eyes drifted down and I saw actual tears start to well up in the gangster’s eyes.

“Seriously? I…I…”

“I know you worked hard to change. I have an idea that’ll fix this but I don’t know how you’ll feel about it.”

“I’ll do anything to avoid sliding back into the man I once was!”

“Then we’ll ask the king to send you home. Back to the Tres Spades and we’ll say goodbye right now.”

“Goodbye? But…Naomi.”

I could feel myself getting choked up too but I nodded, “I want you to be happy Soryu and I know that’s not going to be here…with me.”

What Soryu didn’t know was that the king had already decided that he would be going back. Like me, he knew that Soryu would never be the man I’d choose and that this “second chance” was only a byproduct of the game I was currently playing. Of course Soryu was hot, and of course I was fond of him and proud of him for turning his life around. It was especially because of that last fact that I knew the king was right when I read the message, “2/6 - time to send this one back to my realm for his own good.”

The mob here was not some otome fairy tale that ended with Inui being sweet and clumsy. The mob here was ruthless and if we weren’t careful the reformed Soryu would quickly get snuffed out for fear that he might rat on his previously illicit activities.

“I want you to know that I still love you,” he said. “I’ve always loved you. And I’ve worked to become the man that you deserve - one who will never make you scared…ever again.”

“Thank you,” I said, gently taking the ice pack from him before I wiped the dirt from his scraped face with a warm cloth. “But I hope that you realize that as you are now you’re a better man than you once were. I might have been the catalyst for you to change, but I sincerely hope that you continue to live this way...for your own happiness. And for a future you can be proud of.”

It was then that my ex-boyfriend, ex-mobster, cold-as-ice Soryu cried like a baby, and I held him in my arms for a good fifteen minutes until he regained his composure. 

When he did, we agreed to spend our last few hours together in good spirits and seeing as how he was Eisuke’s best friend, I figured that I might as well get his take on whether or not he thought it possible that the other king from his realm might be part of my game.

“There’s no way it’s him!”

“You’re positive?”

“I just…Eisuke knows how I feel about you. He’s my best friend and despite what people say about him, he really is a good person.”

I understood what Soryu was saying and I didn’t want to push the idea any further with him. I agreed that it would certainly be surprising if Eisuke was in fact the sixth man, but the way Soryu was dismissing the idea had far more to do with his feelings about me and Eisuke than it did as an objective third party to the situation.

“Just like his best friend,” I replied with a smile as I returned the ice pack to the freezer.

“How does it look?”

“You’ll probably have a bit of a bruise but you always look handsome when you’re a bit roughed up. I’m sure once you’re home the women of the Tres Spades will be falling all over themselves to try and land a date with you.”

A disgusted expression passed over Soryu’s features and I laughed, “You could stand to give more women a try you know…”

“No. You were different.”

“The only thing that was different about me was that you got to know me...as a person.”

He started to reply, then pursed his lips with a slightly confused expression and said, “Explain.”

“You had to get to know me because I was living with you. You initially saw me as a woman and then started to see me as Naomi as time went on…you have to do that with women.”

“But they all like perfume, and dresses, and they only want me for my money and connections!”

“Maybe some, but not all. And you won’t know until you actually have a real conversation with them. Just talk to them like you talk to your friends.”

“But they’re women!” He insisted.

I laughed, “I got news for you Sor, women are people - even in your realm. I know that because I’ve played a teacher, a baker, a police officer…you name it. They had hopes and dreams and opinions and you’d be happy with any of them. Maybe even a maid at the Tres Spades...someone you never noticed before but who is capable of loving you more than I ever could. And you deserve that. This man who worked so hard to better himself…he deserves it.”

His dark eyes looked back at me with a melancholy expression, but he forced a smile and quietly said, “I understand.”

“I’m glad. Be happy Soryu.”

It felt like a natural goodbye and I was unsurprised when a flash of light filled my apartment, revealing the king who nodded at Soryu with a polite smile. It was obvious that since he’d sent that message, the king had been watching me and he looked pleased at how entertaining our goodbye scene had been.

Neither of us fought was about to happen, and Soryu gave me a hug before stoically walking over to the king.

“Are you ready?” The king asked.

Soryu glanced back and I smiled despite the fact that I was crying. When he turned to face the king I caught one last glimpse of those broad shoulders and large back before he was gone.

“I have to say Naomi,” the king said with a smile, “you’re starting to make me sweat a little. Good luck this week.”

The king didn’t wait for a reply from me - he was someone who thrived on the dramatic and that last remark was enough to make me question if he was about to throw a massive curveball my way. Regardless, the day had taken its toll and I was ready for bed.

Seeing as how I had to work out with Hijikata tomorrow before I went into the office, I figured I might as well call it a night despite the fact that it was only 10 pm.

I woke the next day refreshed after a solid eight and a half hours of sleep. I had closed a chapter with not one, but two of the men in this realm and it was time to see how I felt about a third who was a bit of a mystery.

I threw on some workout clothes and ate half of a protein cookie at home and the other half during my walk to the gym, in the hopes of not passing out during what was about to be a strenuous hour. When I entered Edge Fitness, I saw Hijikata waiting for me with a smirk and he nodded in approval seeing as how I’d arrived 5 minutes early to my 8 A.M. workout.

“We’ll warm up with a light 2 mile run today,” he said, leading me to the treadmills after I’d dropped my bags into a locker.

“Ok!”

“Someone’s energetic this morning,” he said with a sneer, “I guess that means I can really go hard on you today.”

“Do your worst!” I said with a smile, though not meaning a word of it.

Hijikata let out a laugh and the second he did I saw this world’s iteration of Shinsaku Takasugi antagonistically drape his arm around Hijikata.

His light brown hair clung to his skin, which was covered in a even sheen of sweat. Standing side by side the two were built very similarly, and their tight attire made that all the more obvious. They both wore shorts that hugged their muscular backsides with Edge Fitness tank tops that left little to the imagination when it came to their impressive chest and arms.

The image felt as if it were something out of a Boy Love manga - a smooth looking, well built man covered in sweat as a slightly grumpier one wore an expression of protest beside him.

“The demon trainer laughs? Who knew.”

Hijikata immediately shook Shin’s arm off of him and snapped, “Get outta here Taka, I’m working.”

Shin didn’t seem to care, and instead he chuckled and used the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead purposely giving me a peek at his perfectly defined abdominal muscles. I was feeling painfully thirsty that morning and though he and I didn’t have the best history together (not that he seemed to remember anything from Otento), seeing his abs first thing in the morning left me with a little grin on my face.

“Hey, we haven’t met before - everyone calls me Taka. I’m going to be training you after I retire Tosh,” he said to me with a confident grin.

“Don’t call me that!”

“Naomi,” I quickly said, which only seemed to make Shin smile wider and Hijikata look angrier.

“I’m jealous that Tosh is allowed to train such lovely clients. A demon like him should never be allowed near someone as delicate as yourself.”

“Oh but that’s where you’re wrong,” I said with my head held high, “I’m quite strong and you’d be quite foolish to underestimate me based on my appearance.”

The comment caught both men off guard in the best possible way, and I watched as their attention stayed on me and their eyes filled with something in between lust and admiration.

“With that said, it’s already been five minutes into my warm up and I haven’t started so…it was nice meeting you.”

Hijikata smiled triumphantly and stepped up onto the treadmill beside me, away from Shin. 

He hit a few buttons and before I knew it I was running 2 miles at a ten minute pace, which doesn’t sound too difficult but proved to have me panting after a minute or so. Shin left us to it after I started running, though he did say something about looking forward to seeing me around the gym.

I could tell that his comments irked Hijikata and I hoped it was because I was making progress in getting him to see me as more than just a client. That day however, his workout kept me moving at a pace that had me out of breath and barely able to think, let alone seduce.

By the end of our hour, sweat was pouring off of me and I felt incredibly smelly and unsexy as Hijikata used our last few minutes together to help me stretch. I didn’t particularly want him touching me in such a state, but I tried to keep my cool as his hands ran over my calf as he extended my leg.

“Have you been meditating?” he asked.

“Yes,” I lied, “I’m really trying to make it part of my routine.”

Hijikata smiled triumphantly, “Checking in with your body only leads to having a healthier one.”

I gave a little nod and Hijikata pushed my leg a bit further, causing me to let out a little yelp.

He chuckled and when I asked why he was laughing he cooly lowered my leg back to the ground and said, “That was cute. Good job today. I’ll see you tomorrow at 7.”

I smiled and nodded, happy that he had remembered that Mondays the company lets us roll in closer to 10/10:30 whereas the rest of the week I try to get in by 9/9:30. It was a small detail that showed he was thinking of me enough to remember something like that, and I made my way to the showers.

Seeing as how I lived a few blocks away, I could have easily gotten ready at home. However, that wouldn’t have let me show Hijikata how cute I looked in my work clothes and so I made the plan to get ready and dressed and say goodbye looking my best if only to put in his head what it was that he might be missing.

The past few workouts he’d seen me looking like a total scrub, and in order to undo that image, I gave myself a sleek blowout and donned a tight black dress that was still office appropriate. 

I was feeling pretty good about myself as I applied a bit of tinted moisturizer to my face and a light coat of mascara on my lashes. Once I felt completely confident that this was going to be the best I was look, I jammed my belongings into their appropriate bag and attempted to walk in the wedges that would soon be exchanged with a pair of flats once I was back home. I planned to drop off my belongings and make the quick swap before heading into work, but I wanted Hijikata to think that I was the kind of confident woman who could rock some wedges that made her legs look amazing.

The second I exited the locker room, I saw Shin and Hijikata arguing about something at the front desk. They were so focused on each other that I worried my hard work would be in vain, so I tried to be as breezy as possible in my approach.

“Thanks for today - I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said to Hijikata with a smile, hoping that he would be so awed by my beauty that he’d feel compelled to ask me out then and there.

As if my mind had been read I heard a voice call out and say, “Hey - we should go out sometime.” 

I froze at the stairwell hoping that it belonged to the right otome man in the game I was playing but when I turned back, and saw Shin smiling at me as Hijikata stared daggers at him.

“You’re not my client, so I don’t see a problem with it. We can talk about it tomorrow,” Shin said and before I could shoot him down, he walked away.

I stood frozen on the spot, my plan having backfired slightly and to make matters worse I had no idea if Shin was asking me out because he was indeed the sixth man or if it was merely to get a rise out of his rival.

Posting this guy early because I’m prepping for a busy work week! Hope you guys like it :)

If you’ve enjoyed the story, please show your support by sharing it with a friend or buying me a coffee!  

Thanks for reading :)

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[ptw30]

Ficlet: The Blood of the Covenant

Part of the Blade!Shiro series

A lovely prompt from NightWings on AO3:  

Oh I had another idea what if Keith and Shiro wanted to do some thing for their blade family/pack like Father's Day kinda thing?

That is such a lovely, fluffy fic idea! I love it! 

...of course, my angsty mind went here (I’m genuinely sorry...): 

Summary: Shiro meets the one person from his past he never thought he’d see again, and it makes him appreciate all he’s gained in his young life. 

Shiro’s head jerked up when he heard a freed prisoner murmur his name.

Coran, whom she asked, boasted in a kind jubilation, “Ah! Do you know Shiro from his time in a Galra prison?”

The woman – tall with long graying braid – shook her head. “No. I left him back on Earth with his father before I went on a mission to Kerberos. I – I had heard others calling a paladin ‘Shiro’ and heard most of the paladins are human. I wanted to see if perhaps my son is among them.”

Coran’s look of absolute earnest over the woman’s head maimed Shiro but not quite as much as the awkward hug he shared with his birth mother when he introduced himself. They ended up in the common room, his mother nursing a steaming cup of nunvil while he simply listened. She’d been captured on Kerberos and experimented on the Galra. They thought she was a paladin until they realized her part in the universe’s ballad had been significant but not topical.

“I always meant to come back for you,” she explained, curt in a cold tone that didn’t quite convey heartache. “I see your father took care of you.”

Shiro kept silent for a long moment, churning the words in his mind, before he finally settled on, “I will always be grateful to my father and stepmother.”

Akira Shirogane knew he didn’t mean her. “I see.”

“They gave me the greatest gift they ever could.”

The door to the common room opened then, and Shiro found himself smiling even before he heard, “Taka! Coran said – ”

“ – I have other duties to attend to. Thank you for the reminder, Keith.” For some reason, one he didn’t care to seek, Shiro couldn’t bring himself to introduce his birth mother to his little brother. “I must be going. Coran and Allura will see to your needs, and I’ll make sure you receive safe passage to the nearest planet in the Voltron Alliance.”

Keith’s ears drooped; his tail stopped lashing. “But Taka – ”

“Thank you,” his mother replied, standing as well. “It was good to see you again, Takashi. I – I had wondered about you.”

Wondered, not missed.

Shiro simply nodded, wrapped an arm about his brother’s neck, and all but dragged him from the room.

“Taka – Takashi!” Keith struggled against his brother’s unyielding gripping. “That’s – That’s it? Isn’t she going to stay? Aren’t you going to ask her to stay?”

“There’s no need.”

“But – But Taka! She’s your – ”

“She gave birth to me, Keith. That’s all.”

Which Shiro knew Keith could relate.

“Hey.” Shiro loosened his grip on his little brother and tasseled Keith’s hair. “Let me grab Coran, all right? Then we’ll go a few rounds on the training deck. You and me?”

Keith’s ears remained drooped, but he nodded nonetheless. He never gave up an opportunity to best his brother – or at least try to.

Shiro found Coran on the bridge and made the necessary arrangements for his mother before sending off a coded message to the Blade of Marmora. He then met Keith on the training deck and lost himself in the usual rhythm of their sparring. The sparks of their bayards, the soft hum of his arm, the shallow breaths and vicious growls – they reminded him of their youth, spending hours with Kolivan and the pack in the Blade of Marmora headquarters. Keith only began to join them in the later years, but he cherished those times, helping to teach his brother and learning from the pack’s awesome guidance.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Keith asked in between gulps of water during one of their breaks. “You know it’s okay if you’re not.”

“I’m fine,” Shiro exasperated, and when Keith’s tail lashed expectantly, Shiro rolled his eyes. “Despite what you think, I never expected to see her again. And – And I knew she was never coming back for me. It’s just – I had one of those feelings. You just…know.”

Keith’s tail eventually came to rest upon his thigh, curling behind his knee, and he smacked his shoulder into Shiro’s. “Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. She can’t have you.”

That tugged a smile to Shiro’s lips. “Thanks, kid.”

They broke after the third varga, and even though Keith promised to stay by his side, Shiro urged him toward the mess to help making dinner as per routine. Shiro retired to his room to shower and change, and only managed to tug on a shirt and a pair of boxers when a secure transmission came through from the Blade. He accepted it immediately and warmed when Kolivan’s tense face greeted him.

“Takashi, are you all right? Antok said you messaged.”

Shiro collapsed back to his seat at his desk, one leg hitched up on the cushion. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just wanted to check in and see – ”

“Is Keith all right?”

Shiro blinked, caught off guard, and took a moment to answer. “Yeah…? He seemed okay when we sparred earlier –”

“And the rest of your team?”

Shiro shrugged, still unsure why Kolivan flung so many questions at him. “Well, Pidge is working double-time trying to find her brother and father, now that she has a lead. And Lance and Keith are doing this awkward hormonal dance about each other. I’m not looking to giving them the safe sex talk. Hunk is the most adjusted, actually, though we need to go over some maneuvers in his lion since he was trained as an engineer.”

“So…all is well?”

A shoulder jerk. “Yeah, I guess…? I mean, no one’s burned down the castle yet, but the evening is young.”

Kolivan’s face smoothed and relaxed, and he leaned back in his chair with a knowing smirk. “Hm. It sounds like you have your claws full. Regretting taking custody of four cubs already?”

The sober words slipped from his mouth before he could stop them. “Did you ever regret taking Keith and me in?”

Though Kolivan tensed again, his reply came instantaneously. “No.”

“Oh, come on, Kolivan,” Shiro scoffed, dropping his leg to the ground to glare. “You can’t tell me you didn’t want to jettison me from the Blade at least once that first annual.”

“Jettison? No. Perhaps lock you away in your chambers, yes. I…” The steward leader struggled to find the appropriate wording. “…I worried over you. I still do, but that first year – I feared for your survival. You were not one of us at the time.”

“You can say it, Kolivan. You regarded me as a lower lifeform.”

“I will not. But…yes, I held ignorant beliefs, but even then – not once did I regret taking you in. You are pack.”  

His cheeks burned; his eyes diverted from Kolivan’s piercing gaze. “Keith and I – we weren’t easy.”

“No, you weren’t,” Kolivan relented. “At times, you were downright insufferable – but I enjoyed you and your brother. Perhaps if I had a regret, it would be that we did not find you sooner.”

Shiro shifted uncomfortably in the chair, bringing his legs underneath him, when Kolivan continued, firm but concerned, “Taka, why did you call me? What happened?”

“Nothing’s happened,” Shiro replied, smiling up with a rather open expression. “I just – I guess I just wanted to talk to you, Kolivan.”

The leader of the Blade of Marmora blinked, eyes blowing wide and mouth dropping agape, so Shiro found himself rubbing the back of his neck and rambling, “I’m…sorry if I bothered you or you’re busy. I’m sure Hunk and Keith are almost done with dinner, so I should probably go join them. I’ll leave you to –”

“It’s all right, Taka,” Kolivan soothed. “I’m free to talk. Always. You never need a reason.”

Shiro had known that, but sometimes the heart and the mind conflicted in what they believed. But hearing it from Kolivan calmed his frayed nerves and curbed his wild tongue, only for Kolivan to rile him up again.

“So when are you and Keith coming back to the base? It’s been almost three months since you’ve been home.”

He expected this from Ulaz, not from Kolivan. “Well, we’re working on freeing the Yingus Galaxy, so it might take a few more – ”

“Next week. The Fourth Quintaint.”

“I – I can’t make any promises, Kolivan. I don’t know what the princess has in mind for – ”

“Princess Allura can make wormholes in order to travel vast distances in a matter of moments,” Kolivan reminded with an admonishing tone. “You will be here on the Fourth Quintaint.”

Shiro learned long ago not to cross Kolivan and relented with a sigh. “Keith and I will be there on the fourth.”

“Good. Bring Lance. We can do the safe sex talk here.”

“Yeah? You’d do that for me?”

“Of course.” Kolivan’s face remained neutral, which only unnerved Shiro. “I never had the safe sex talk with you, either. Might as well get them all out of the way at once.”

That surprised a laugh from Shiro, a hearty, unbelievably cathartic roar that received a second wind when Kolivan added, monotoned, “I’m serious, Takashi.”

The irony was just too much for him, and yet he knew Kolivan was deadly serious. And that just made it all the more hysterical.

When he finally calmed down and Kolivan had managed a tiny smirk, Shiro murmured, “Kolivan…thank you. For everything.”

A beat. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!”

“I have the primeval urge to ground you. Tell me why.”

Shiro growled through his clenched teeth and tipped his head back against the rest. “You can’t ground me. You’ve never been able to ground me.”

“You were sent to your room when you did things I did not approve.”

Shiro’s head snapped up; his eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about? There were times the lock to our quarters didn’t work, but that was only a few times a – quiznak! You locked me in my room!”

Kolivan shrugged. “Locked, sent – It was only a few hours each time.And mainly, I did it not when you misbehaved but when there was a mission I did not want to endeavor.”

“Keith and I aren’t coming on the next fourth quintaint.”

“Hm. So the pack will visit you on the castle-ship, then.”

“…is seven-thirty at the base a good time for you?”

More from the Blade!Shiro series.

[headspacedad]

Two Minutes (part 3)

All right!  So, I’ve been sitting on this one for a bit to see if Ryou would write differently for me but no.  He is very controlled, very consumed angry and he’s not done.  So here it is, for everyone screaming (with me because I was too) in agony over how Ryou would react to his twin’s disappearance and the ‘pilot error’ tag the mission got.  Ta da!  And, just as a reminder, this is all @theprojectava‘s fault because they drew a picture that put the burr under my saddle and got me writing for Ryou in the first place.

Also I feel I should warn.  I’m pretty sure this is the last chapter.  Because the next chapter would be the start of a very long fanfic I do not have the ability to get into right now.  Or anytime soon.  If anyone else wants to take it from here, throw a link to my part in your disclaimer and go for it!  If anyone just wants to talk shop and speculate, I am so here for that too, public or private.  And on that note - I hope you enjoy my suffering offering.

Chapters 1 and 2 if you need them.

-------

Whatever you create you are responsible for.

Ryou moved through the work shop with driven, ruthless efficiency.

Whatever you create - you are responsible for.

A year and a half.  A year since Little Magpie, the ship his brother had staked his life on, the ship Ryou had built as a promise to him, had gone silent.  A year and a half since his brother had left Earth.  And now this.

Ryou hadn’t stayed at the Garrison.  How could he?  How dare they?  ‘Pilot error’ his ass!  ‘Pilot error’ was just a fill in, just short hand for ‘we don’t know what happened’.  Just an excuse so Ryou’s own promising career wouldn’t be gutted.  ‘Pilot error’.  When the whole command staff knew the ship had made a safe landing, when there was no piloting going on at all.  When -

the fault had to have been with the ship itself.

...

With Ryou’s ship.

He couldn’t stay after that.  He couldn’t.

He could have moved to the private sector.  ‘Pilot error’ covered his sins.  Any of the corporations would have hired him for exorbitant amounts.  He could have hidden away in his work, he could have pretended half of him hadn’t been left to drift forever, slowly baking in cosmic radiation in the pathetic gravity of a god-forsaken moon.  He could have -

he couldn’t.

He couldn’t ignore his betrayal.  He couldn’t ignore his helplessness.  He went over the schematics of the ship until he saw them in his sleep, obsessive, driven, ruthless.  Trying to find where he went wrong.  Trying to find what he’d missed.

Trying to find out how he’d killed his own brother.

A year and a half.  A year and a half of purgatory, lost and adrift.  Where did he go if there was no Takashi to follow?  What mattered if there was no Takashi to smile his pride and approval?  His parents and grandmother mourned in their own way and never spoke a word of guilt to him.  They might not think there was any. But he knew.  He knew.  And he had to fix it. Somehow.  He always fixed things for Taka...

He’d ignored the calls three times, numbers with Garrison opening codes, before he’d picked up the fourth time and what his one-time colleague had told him had him jamming gear into a backpack and pulling strings back to America.’

Checking his comm messages on the way there had left him no more enlightened.  Just the team code for ‘respond immediately: emergency’ on two of them and nothing but static on the other, a bad reception on the edge of its transmission range.

And now here he was.  In one of the Garrison’s underground hangers with less than two hours of promised privacy thanks to both decontamination procedure and command scrambling to find someone who ranked enough up the chain to take charge of this.  And this was a ship the likes of which Ryou had never seen before.

His teammate hadn’t known how the Garrison had gotten it, just that it had just arrived and no one recognized a single piece of it.  Ryou didn’t either but it hummed to him, strange and foreign, the way all ships did and excitement threatened to make his hand shake too badly to work as he stepped into the cockpit past the scorch marks on the side of the doors and floor, over the outline of something the scientists had already removed. 

His colleague was going to get worse than fired if anyone ever realized she’d called him.  Ryou was going to get worse than arrested if he was caught.  And yet - the risk was worth it.  Because - finally - he had an answer.

Not a whole one.  It was wrapped in more questions than he knew to ask.  But - if Taka had been able to fly anything - Ryou had been able to build it.  And he’d started it all when he’d reverse engineered his late grandfather’s clock.  The ship wasn’t a clock - and he had less than two hours to figure it out.  But he would.  Damn everything left in the world - but he’d figure this ship out.

Because there was something else out there.  Something beyond the Garrison.  Something mankind hadn’t known about.  Something that had reached through the long emptiness of cold space to touch them.  Something this ship was a part of. 

Something that might - a year ago - had silenced a little magpie as it rested unsuspecting on a dead moon circling a human star.  It was a ridiculous theory.  Outlandish.  Possible but not probable considering the vastness of space and how far on the edge of things their tiny solar system was.  It was a fairy tale for tech heads. 

It didn’t make any sense.

But for the past year of his life, nothing in Ryou’s life had made sense.

He was willing to step away from what was sane.  And this ship would tell him.

No.

This ship would take him.

To find his brother.  To bring his body home.

And to find out what had happened to his magpie and make anyone responsible for it pay.

Pay like hell.

(continuation)

[dgrpprideflags]

rosegender flag picked from kiyotaka ishimaru!

requested by: anonymous

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Hidden Enemy: Part 1.

Hello? May we come in?

...?

*Chihiro notices Mahiru and the others enter, but seems so busy that they only nod in approval.

Let’s give them a second. They seem occupied.

Hang on...What’s this then?

*Twogami’s attention is suddenly turned to the corner of the room.

...

...

Oh, hey, you guys are here too? What’s going on with you two?

Nothin’ good, we’ll give you that much. 

Is that...a Monokuma head!?

*Hiyoko gasps as she sees what the two boys have sat on the table.

Yes. It’s one of the Monokuma’s we salvaged from the training camp. Check this out.

*Taka presses a button on a remote connected to the head, and all of a sudden, the Monokuma’s eye glows, and a small static speaker radio starts to sound from it.

Radio: The location of the target is a new Future Foundation training camp. In your instructions is a list of coordinates. The targets are most likely located at the campsite deep into the forest. One of your coordinates details the location of the campsite. Assault that building. Make it a top priority.

...This is...!

*BZZT!* *ZZRK!* *POP!*

*After the Radio plays out it’s message, the head of the dismantled Monokuma fizzles with electricity, and then suddenly pops and starts steaming.

Blast!

Crap, we’d better take care of this!

*Mondo grabs a blanket or some other such object, and covers the head before the smoke can get out of control.

*sigh* Alright, I finished that up. Sorry for acting so dismissive just now Mahiru.

It’s ok sir. We just need to ask you for a favor.

*Mahiru, Hiyoko, Peko and Twogami run by their plan to Chihiro and the others.

You’re planning to stop the gas machine?

And, hopefully, free the sky from this crap. Problem is we don’t know WHERE the machine is.

Hm...alright, I might be able to help with that...In a sense...

*Before anyone can asks what he means, Chihiro goes to his laptop and loads it up.

Good morning everyone. Or...is it the afternoon?

It’s...well...actually, at this point I’m not sure myself...

Alter Ego. Could you do us all a favor?

Go down to the connection room on the floor below us and search the internet and news satellite’s for any sign of the machine that’s causing the polluted sky. The faster we find it, the better chance we have of disposing of it.

Of course sir.

*Alter Ego vanishes off the screen, jumping through networks. 

*sigh*

Are you alright, Chairman?

Haha...Still not used to hearing that...

And yeah, I’m ok. I knew I’d be busy and under a lot of pressure when I took over, but boy, I’m not having a good time easing into this.

You seem to be doing a good job so far.

Yeah, well, I’d like to think so. And then I have to deal with things like this...

*He indicates to Taka and Mondo’s experiment.

Well, it looks to me like we’re not the only one’s having a bad day...

It’s far worse than it seems. Mondo and I have run this device through this creature several times.

Byakuya made it pretty clear that the new facility was designed as a way of hiding from Zetsubou. Which is why the camp was so secret, even amongst the higher members of the Future Foundation heirarchy.

But those bastards had ALL our intel. Not just coordinates, but potential plans and locations throughout the forest. It’s like they had an entire goddamn map.

Well, that would explain their ambush. And their success in doing so.

That...and also they knew about the Satellite right from the start, and exactly what we were doing with it.

AND they knew the EXACT route where Celeste would be transferred, even though we tried to keep that close to the chest.

No shit. They knew EVERYTHING...!

That...doesn’t make sense. How could we have left ourselves so vulnerable to a security breach?

...

I don’t think we did...

*Everyone suddenly turns to Chihiro.

What’s that now?

To be honest, after I received the information that the camp was under attack, and Jabberwock Island as well...I’ve been coming up with my own theories as to how and why Zetsubou were so well informed...

Chihiro...you think someone...infiltrated our defenses?

That’s indeed possible...It would have to be someone cunning and resourceful enough to gain access to all our plans.

You don’t think Tsuchiya managed to swipe the data digitally?

I highly doubt that. The Foundaiton network is locked up tighter than the pentagon. There’s only certain tidbits of information Tsuchiya is capable of possessing.

How do you know that?

Well, if Tsuchiya was capable of cyber-theft against the FF, there would have been no need for Celeste

That’s...true...

Even if it WASN’T Tsuchiya, and it WAS someone cunning and resourceful, that STILL wouldn’t explain why they had all this intel. 

No...You’re right...

And...THAT’S where my biggest fear comes into play.

Your biggest fear?

...

Alright...I’ll tell you, but this theory must remain STRICTLY between us, ok?

Chihiro...you’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, are you?

At this point in time, Zetsubou have shown off the pinnacle of their cunning. I wouldn’t put something like this past them.

What do you mean?

...

What if...

Celeste wasn’t the only traitor?

...

Wh-What...!?

What if Celeste...wasn’t the only traitor? A-Are you saying-

You think there’s ANOTHER spy?

Think about it for a second. Smuggle in two spies to feed Zetsubou information, and one of them gets caught.

When they get caught, we as the FF naturally assume it’s all over. And we end up lowering our guard around each other.

Which means that not only would a SECOND spy be able to get info from us more openly, but we wouldn’t even know they exist...!

I-It’s a trap...I-It’s all ANOTHER ONE of Zetsubou’s traps!

That’s so simple, but so ingenious...!

Now, now. This is still only a tentative theory. I don’t have any evidence other than the patterns I’ve seen between the case with Celeste, and this one.

And also...I can’t even begin to imagine who would want to betray our people to the Organization.

It’s just something to think about. Lowering our guard after Celeste’s capture was a mistake, regardless of there being a second spy or not.

Believe me. I’m not trying to make you doubt your comrades. There are plenty of other explanations after all. But I’m saying just be careful, just to be sure.

Right...

Sir! I’m back!

*Alter Ego reappears on the monitor.

I’ve managed to find every public news report pertaining to the gas I can find. If Mahiru and the others would meet me downstairs, I can help them find the one they’re looking for.

Alright. That settles it.

Yeah, let’s get going. Thank you for lending us your time.

...Hey! Mahiru!

*Everyone bows and courtesies before leaving, but before Mahiru can exaunt, Chihiro calls her back.

Yes sir?

Just one more thing. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to keep this mission highly confidential. If there is somehow another spy, then it could be anyone. Let no one outside of your group know of your mission.

...

*Mahiru nods, then follows her companions.

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