#like the whole daigo seeing mine as a friend long before he was ever useful to him. the utter breakthrough in mines worldview .. like he was

[dirt-str1der]

Love getting asked my opinion on minedai , like what can i say other than what the two of them had was painfully real

[arysthaeniru]

aAAA the joy of seeing an update on your current favorite fanfic is just aAAA

I always felt that kiwami 1s Nishiki was just a bit too,, I dont know how to describe it; but essentially he just felt off, granted yakuza 1 is a product of its time and therefore the plot is a bit dated and whack as all hell

The way you write Nishiki just feels so much better and realistic; in the original he just seems so uncaring towards Kiryu? which just feels kinda OOC? You'd think he still cares about Kiryu despite it all, especially when you take Yakuza 0 into consideration; and i feel like you portray Nishiki much more accurately

I never thought much about Yumi, because honestly, in the original she was kinda just, there? You actually made her a very interesting person! like I'm actually invested in her in your story! (side note you ever think about her clone who got tortued and died? yeah who WAS that???? thats never brought up is it??)

Theres so much more to talk about but in short; This is the best fix it/rewrite of a game plot I have read to date and it brings me joy in my current stressful school life. and no I will not stop praising it or the author, because this work has made me very happy. ;)

I just have a gift for picking favorites that end up dying,,aand another favorite of mine is Mine

imo theres a lack of soft, reassuring Minedai, i just feel like he'd need a reminder that people love him as a person and not just for the money he can provide, even if its obvious

I'd love to see how you'd write them, but I understand if theres more interesting/appealing drabble requests!

- Carp

CARP, thank you for this <3 this is so sweet!!!!! I’m so happy you enjoy my Nishiki! I had fun playing with what Yakuza 0/the Kiwami additions gave us about Nishiki’s personality and outlook on the world, and trying to reconcile that with the plot that Yakuza 1 initially had. Ultimately, I fell on the side that you did: even if Nishiki’s ambition took him down a monstrous path, I don’t think he’s the sort of person who neglects to pay back his debts. And he’s aware of the huge debt he owes Kiryu. Not to mention, their bonds of trust and love vanishing completely because of jealousy felt unreal to me. Their relationship becoming twisted or strange? Yes, but vanishing entirely felt unsatsifying to me. 

And Yumi!! I had so much fun excavating her character from the clues we get of her in canon. I worry sometimes, that she’s unrecognizable, because you know, I’ve given her a college education, and a whole bunch of interests beyond hostessing alone, but people seem to like it and like her, which is great!! I hate fridging women characters, so keeping her and Reina alive was important to me, hahaha. (RE: fake!Mizuki, there’s this substory in Kiwami that actually addresses who she was, BUT IT’S EVEN MORE HORRIFYING. So that’s why Yumi in my fic is the one captured and tortured by Nishiki’s men, because the thought of this poor innocent woman getting dragged into the mess was just untenable to me.)  

Anyway, thank you for your support and kind words, and I hope you’ll continue to read and that my fic can continue to relieve stress. I--tried to write this about Mine, but Daigo kind of stole the spotlight a little??? I hope you still like it--if not, I will try a ficlet from Mine’s perspective too. I enjoy minedai a lot, but I haven’t had room to think out their dynamic yet, so this took me a while. 

Daigo’s no stranger to being desired. He’s attractive, he knows this—his mother’s beauty lives in his veins, and he’s always had the money to look after himself. Fancy soaps to wash his face, the invisible retainers to keep his teeth straight, fancy suits and skin-tight shirts to show off his frame. For all that Kiryu insists his charisma is something that comes from the soul, Daigo knows it wouldn’t be able to draw the sort of attention he does without being attractive.

Which is to say that Daigo’s not especially thrown off by the intensity of Mine’s gaze. It’s happened before, and it’ll happen again. The thing that surprises him is how much he relishes in being seen by Mine.

Maybe it’s because Mine’s an island in a stormy sea, one of the only yakuza his age who’s sensible and level-headed enough to make it big. Maybe it’s because Mine’s gaze is always so reserved, polite, never overly lusty or overstaying its welcome, and Daigo has so rarely been desired so quietly. Or maybe it’s because Majima and Kashiwagi so clearly disapprove of him—Daigo’s always been something of a rebel, and he hasn’t shaken that off, even now he’s in his thirties and is the arbiter of rules for the Tojo Clan.

Daigo can’t quite put a pin on why he’s so comfortable with Mine’s yearning looks, but he’s never been one to hold back when he wants to indulge in something good. Not exactly a hedonist, not by yakuza standards, but Daigo has never kept himself from enjoying life, in the name of some dubious ‘honour.’

Which is why, in an after-hours meeting with Mine, as they eat cheap takeout sushi together, Daigo takes his chance. A momentary slip, the slightest hint of wasabi left at the corners of Mine’s lips and Daigo swoops in, rubs a thumb over the corner of Mine’s lips. Mine stutters to a stop, mid-sentence through a rundown of the real-estate that the Hakuho Clan’s been purchasing up, and stares at Daigo, eyes bewildered.

“Sixth Chairman?” he asks, his voice still remarkably composed.

“Wasabi.” Daigo says, nonchalantly, as if it’s nothing, and sticks his thumb into his mouth, slowly licking it off with a lingering lave of his tongue. He feels a sharp stab of satisfaction as Mine’s eyes turn darker, and his gaze follows Daigo’s hand down.  

Daigo straightens up, languidly, and cracks his neck, casually. At this point in the day, he’s untucked his shirt, and he knows that a slight strip of his stomach will be visible when he stretches out his arms towards the ceiling. And as predictably as clockwork, Mine’s gaze darts downwards, to that pale expanse, to catch that brief second of skin. Daigo can’t help but feel warm. Something about being watched by Mine is exhilarating.

“Smoke?” offers Daigo, but as usual, Mine refuses, with a polite shake of his head.

Daigo knows from hearsay that Mine’s something a health-freak, so he’s not entirely surprised. It’s already too late for Daigo to preserve his health—he knows that his liver’s already been pretty ruined from long nights of binge-drinking as a youth, and this job’s too stressful to withhold from vices like smoking and drinking, without an optimal end-goal. So he walks over to the window, cracks it open a little, and lights up.

The breath of nicotine curls over his body, a tender caress, and Daigo feels his shoulders drop, as the relaxation hits. He pulls off his cufflinks, tosses them into his pockets and rolls up his sleeves. He takes it slow, runs his fingers over his skin a little more than strictly necessary. Surreptitiously checking the reflection in the window, Daigo watches Mine watch him, and smirks at how intense that gaze is, how Mine’s mouth has opened, and Daigo can just see the soft pink of his tongue.

“Dojima’s just fine, you know. When it’s just us two.” Daigo says, turning over his shoulder. He smiles, one of those charming smiles that had always gotten him whatever he wanted as a child, “We’re same-aged friends, after all.”

“Dojima-san.” Mine acknowledges, after a brief pause.

Daigo turns around, to properly look at Mine and lifts an eyebrow. “Dojima. Or Daigo, preferably. Dojima-san’s always my father in my head.”

Mine nods, face impassive. Daigo can’t read him like this. Maybe that’s why he likes when Mine stares at him, filled with longing. At least then, Daigo feels like he knows him. In moments like these, his implacable gazes might as well be a brick wall. “Right. Your Father was also in the Tojo Clan.”

Daigo smiles, wryly, and blows out a puff of smoke. “One of the most horrible men I’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting—and I had to call him Father. But damn if he wasn’t good at the job.” He sighs and stubs the cigarette out against the ashtray. “...sometimes feel like I’m competing with his dead spirit. Everybody’s looking at me and wondering if this is what my Father would do. Or what Kiryu-san would do.”

“You’re doing better than any of them.” Mine says, immediately, with a vicious ferocity that Daigo wasn’t expecting. He can’t quite stop his eyebrows rising in surprise, and Mine straightens upwards, looking self-conscious immediately. Daigo regrets his instinctual reaction, immediately. “That is to say, Dojima, that I think that you’ve pulled this Clan into somewhere far more respectable. From what I’ve heard of your Father, he didn’t have the temperament to do proper business on this level—too insistent on formal obeisance and unable to be flexible as the times require. And Kiryu-san might be very honourable, but we are yakuza. There are certain things you have to do as a Chairman, that he couldn’t bring himself to do. But you are practical and do what is necessary, while also not overstepping into excessive violence. You are uniquely suited for this job, Dojima.”

...he’s taken aback a little, he can’t deny it. Daigo wonders if his cheeks are colouring, wonders if his obvious shock is offputting, wonders if this is how Mine feels every time Daigo teases him lightly about his obvious attraction. A startling warmth spreads through his chest, and Daigo can’t stop the slight smile that touches his face. Has anybody ever said something so unreservedly kind and measured about Daigo before?

Maybe this is the difference between everybody else’s gazes on him, and Mine’s gaze. It’s based on something more than desire alone. Respect.

Daigo runs a hand over his slicked-back hair and ruffles it free, with a rueful smile, a smile that he couldn’t take away from his face, even if he tried. “I appreciate that. You know I couldn’t do it without you, right?”

He’d never really believed himself capable of attraction to a man like Mine. All of his previous childhood crushes had been on bright, cheerful conversational, pure-hearted people. Daigo had always figured they would balance out his sardonic cynicism. He’d never thought someone as reserved and principled as Mine would ever make his heart flutter. But then, there was something about that deep hunger and passion that Daigo craved. Perhaps it was because he was no longer the gloomy punk of his youth. Maybe his tastes have changed towards tall, dark and handsome. Maybe Mine’s just that special.

“Dojima—” Mine says, clearly trying to refute it, but Daigo cuts him off.

“I mean it. Everybody in this fucking Clan wants me to do something or be somebody else. Kashiwagi-san wants me to be my mother. Majima-san wants me to be Kiryu-san. Everybody else expects my Father. But not you. You deal with me honestly, and with candour, and never hold any expectations against me except success. I appreciate your faith in me.” Daigo takes a couple of steps forward, until his shoes almost brush up against Mine’s own. He leans down over Mine’s chair. “I could not do this without your backing and help. Truly. I don’t think I’ve ever had someone like you in my life. A true friend.”

Mine tilts his chin up to meet Daigo’s gaze, a hungry devotion in his eyes, and Daigo, for a moment, wonders if this is wrong. If he should hold back, like Kiryu would. But Daigo is Daigo, and Mine clearly wants him anyway, so he leans down and kisses him.

Mine’s mouth is velvety smooth and wet and hot and it is oh-so satisfying a feeling to put his hand against Mine’s broad neck and feel his warmth up against Daigo. He pulls back, with a satisfied sigh, and feels the burn of wasabi across his lips, a final parting kick.

[ask-the-phan-site]

The Lion Rider of Lust

>It’s time.

We’ve got some lions to ride.

I am really looking forward to this.

Our first space mission. Now or never, right?

Now, let’s carry out our plan.

>Mona and becomes our van and we head off to steal Daigo’s heart.

>The Castle of Lion at night. In the Bay room, the Voltron Force, former and currant, as well as future, were gathered around.

King Keith: Cadets Dudley and Daigo, tomorrow, you will undergo your final test. If you can pass it, then you shall raise up and take up the task Lance and Hunk will leave as members of the Voltron Force.

Queen Allura: We wish only that good fortune smiles on you both. If you both succeed, you will enter a new chapter of your lives. You will become Defenders of the Universe. Pilots of the Red and Yellow Lions.

Not to worry, Your Majesties. We won’t disappoint you.

And neither shall I.

King Keith: Good. Now get some sleep. You both will need it.

>With that, the Rulers of Arus head off... To their separate rooms.

Okay, you two. Tomorrow’s the big day. Are you sure you can do this?

Dudley: I hope so. I know I’ve done a lot of things that weren’t considered right and I know Daniel and the others are still cautious of me because of what I tried to do to them.

All water under the bridge now.

Just try not to go overboard if you don’t make it.

Dudley: Don’t worry. In case I do go overboard over how I failed, I’ve given Hunk my permission to beat me to my senses... Literally.

I’m not so sure about that.

I don’t know. He sounds serious.

Dudley: Believe me, I am.

Daniel: Okay.

Daigo: Vince, I look forward to working with you when I pass the test.

Uh, thanks.

Daigo: And Dudley.

Dudley: Yes, Daigo?

Daigo: I ask that you not worry. I’m sure... That the beating Hunk will give you after you fail won’t be so harsh.

Dudley: (sarcastic) Thanks, I feel so much better.

Hunk: You know you should be a little more nicer to your fellow cadets, Daigo. They might actually help you one day.

Daigo: Can’t I help it that the one with a dangerous obsession with Voltron will be joining us... Along with a leader with a dark secret.

Daniel: I’m not sure I should impressed about calling me that or offended.

Princess Larmina: That probably won’t last long. Especially after this morning.

Daigo: There is no guarantee that that calling card means anything. I do not fear mere thieves.

Lance: Alright, enough chit-chat. It’s getting late and we all need a lot of sleep. We’ve got a big day coming up.

Pidge: And I have some important guests coming in the morning.

Hunk: Good night all.

>With that, they separated for the evening. Daigo was half way to his room.

Daigo: It’s just the ramblings of some children. Nothing to be worried about.

???????: And this coming from another child?

Daigo: !

>A red wave passes and the scenery changes.

Daigo: Th- This is...

>However, this Forge was different. Instead of statues of the Krelshi, there were statues of Vince. And at the end, a destroyed statue... of Daniel.

?????: You look down on those you think have nothing to do with Voltron, yet Voltron has something to do with them.

?????: You have some effed up ideas about who is worthy and who isn’t. But that don’t mean you can decide for ‘em!

????: You claim that you have a right to become the Yellow Lion pilot just because your planet had something to do with Voltron, and yet you don’t act like it.

>A forge oven spits out fire. When it was gone, we appear.

Joker: Target: Daigo of Ariel.

You’re attempting to ruin the future of someone who dreamed his whole life of speeding to the stars.

You’re so focused on what Daniel is now that you have completely missed what he could be. And it’s certainly not an enemy.

You desire Vince so much that it’s putting a large strain on his friendship with Daniel.

Daniel may now have a darkness within him, but he can over come it, but only if you give him a chance.

But since you won’t, we came to make sure you do.

Fox: We won’t let you destroy the life of the leader of the Voltron Force before any hope can even come.

Skull: That makes you no different than the enemies Voltron fights.

Mona: Your distorted cognition will soon be defeated and no one will ever experience grief from you.

Joker: That’s right. Tonight, for the sake of the Voltron Force and Voltron himself, we will take your heart!

Daigo: Never! My intentions are pure. Daniel is not pure. He’s just some kid who go lucky to be on this ride.

Joker: Daniel thinks that, too. But did that stop him for doing what he loves? No. But you remind him in a way far too cruel and wish to replace him with someone who’s clearly better with the Green Lion.

Daigo: How would you know? You are but mere thieves. You seek only to side with some infected with Haggarium. The essence of the evil witch, Haggar. If you wish to side with him... That makes you enemies of the Voltron Force.

Queen: So you’re admitting that you want to get ride of Daniel even if you know how unhappy it will make others? And here I thought the people of Ariel were pure. But I guess when someone becomes obsessed with people with destiny, you lose all sense of reason.

>Daigo’s eyes were already yellow that we couldn’t tell if his Shadow had shown itself. However, the whites of eyes turn black. Now we know.

Shadow Daigo: Friends of the Unworthy One, you shall not take that what is rightfully mine. My place with the Worthy One.

Panther: Vince will only let you have a place with him if you share it with Daniel!

You’re just some perverted zealot who doesn’t know how heroes work!

Shadow Daigo: How dare you! You will pay for this outrage against me! The Foreman of the Forge!

>The Shadow then changes his shape.

Oracle: Time to check this out. Persona!

>Necronomicon scans the Shadow.

Oracle: Scan complete! Kumbhanda is weak to Ice.

Fox: Then I will fight. For the sake of Daniel. Persona!

>I change Personas.

Joker: Persona!

Noir: I’ll help, too. Persona!

Queen: And me as well. Persona!

Oracle: One more thing, guys. Don’t use any buffs. He’ll just negate them.

Noir: So we’ll just have to attack and defeat him as soon as possible. Got it.

Fox: Let’s hope we can.

Kumbhanda: You cannot defeat me. I have Voltron on my side.

>Kumbhanda uses Stagnant Air. Goemon uses Bufula. It knocks him down.

Fox: Now! Let us strike!

>After the attack, Kumbhanda was still up. Sui-Ki also used Bufula, but missed. Milady uses Tetrakarn on me. And Johanna uses Vajra Blast. It was a critical hit.

Queen: We can end this right now!

>After the attack, Kumbhanda was still up.

Kumbhanda: Is that really the best you can do? Let us see you can deal with this.

>Kumbhanda uses Wage War. Me, Fox, and Queen dodged it, but Noir became enraged.

Noir: Now you’re going to get it!

Fox: Not if I can help it.

>Fox uses Harisen Recover (fanless, of course) and snaps Noir back to normal.

Noir: Thanks. I let myself go there for awhile.

Queen: It happens to all of us.

>Goemon again uses Bufula, but Kumbhanda dodges it. Sui-Ki also uses Bufula again. But he dodged that too. Milady uses Psio and Johanna uses Freila. Both did significant damage. Kumbhanda uses Tempest Slash on me. It was a critical hit and I was down.

Fox: You'll pay for that one, lion boy. Go, Goemon!

>Goemon uses Deadly Fury. It made significant damage. I get back up and I have Sui-Ki use Bufula. But Kumbhanda dodges it. Milady uses Tetrakarn on me again. Then, Johanna uses Flash Bomb. It left him Dizzy. He tried to attack, but he missed. Goemon uses Bufula. This time, it knocks him down.

Fox: I will slice you to pieces!

>After the attack, Kumbhanda was still up, but now weaker.

Oracle: You're almost done. Keep going!

>Sui-Ki uses Headbutt, Milady uses One-shot Kill, and Johanna uses Freidyne.

Kumbhanda: I shall not... LOSE! Hear me, O Worthy One, grant me the POWER!

>The statues of Vince began to glow and they heal Kumbhanda and even removed his Dizziness.

Oracle: This looks bad. We’re going to have to deal with the statues before we can defeat this guy.

Fox: I shall deal with them. If they are art, then it should be no problem.

Queen: Right. We’ll try to buy you some time.

>With that, Fox runs off to deal with the Vince statues.

Joker: Let’s keep him busy!

>Sui-Ki uses Bufula. It knocks him down, but we don’t do an All-Out. Milady uses Psiodyne and Queen attacks. Kumbhanda gets back up and uses Hysterical Slap on me. Luckily, the Tetrakarn did its job and protected me, causing the attack to go on him instead. He didn’t go into a Rage. Then, Milady uses One-shot Kill. It missed. Then, Johanna uses Vajra Blast. Kumbhanda uses Hysterical Slap again on me. Luckily, I didn’t go in a Rage.

Fox: Now’s my chance.

>Fox moves a little closer to the front of the statues. Suki uses Bufula. It knocks him down.

Joker: Let’s do it!

>After the attack, Kumbhanda was still up. Milady uses Pisodyne and Johanna uses Freidyne. Kumbhanda uses Stagnant Air.

Kumbhanda: Try as you might, you cannot stop destiny.

Fox: (whisper) We shall see about that.

>Fox finally makes it to the front of the statues, his katana at the ready. Sui-Ki uses Headbutt. It didn’t make him Forget. Milady uses One-shot Kill. It took a lot of health. And Johanna uses Freidyne. Kumbhanda uses Hysterical Slap on Queen. She became enraged... But that won’t help him.

Kumbhanda: Wait. I thought there was four of you. O Worthy One, grant me more strength to finish this!

Not if I can help it! Be gone, fowl excuse for art!

>With one swipe of his katana, Fox destroys the Vince statues. This also causes Kumbhanda to be knocked down.

Joker: Now you see that Vince is no god. you want him so bad that you don’t even have real faith in yourself.

Kumbhanda: It... It can’t be! It just can’t...

Believe me. It can.

>After the attack, Kumbhanda was still up, but now weak. Sui-Ki uses Bufula. It knocks him down.

Kumbhanda: No! Vince is supreme! The Worthy One! Not that Daniel! He’s the Unworthy One! ... HE DOESN’T DESERVE TO BE THE LEADER OF THE VOLTRON FORCE!

Will you just SHUT UP!

>After the attack, the Shadow resumes his normal form and a light comes out of him.

Mona: The Treasure is ours!

>I take the Treasure. It was a lion statue.

You Arielians must really like lions, huh?

Daigo: Well, now we know why. Is Vince really not worthy?

Queen: (back to her sense) I’m sure he is worthy. And so are Daniel and Dudley. The Voltron Force is a team and a team needs to have faith in all of its members. If you focus more on just one member, you won’t know what the others are capable of.

Oracle: We know that Daniel is infected with Haggarium, but you shouldn’t give up on him... Some friends of ours are even coming to help Pidge find a permanent cure.

Daigo: They... They are? 

Noir: Yes. I know Daniel may seem like just some kid off the streets... But he can be way more than everyone sees him as. Just believe.

Daigo: ...

Joker: Have faith in your teammates, Daigo...

All of them.

Daigo: ... I... I will. I’ll try to have more faith in Daniel since he will be leader of all of our future missions... I wonder if the Yellow Lion will still accept me as its pilot.

Joker: That depends on you.

>Daigo smiles hopefully as he returns to his true self. With the Treasure now with us, we take our leave.

>It seems we’ve had another successful heist. We’d tell you if it worked, but we wish to keep this post as short as possible. But don’t worry... You’ll see soon enough.