#not the least for how usagi did it without hesitation

[drainslo]

Brains & Brawn- Chapter 10: Confession

“Hey.” A voice you vaguely recognized woke you. The other day you had immediately collapsed into a dreamless sleep when you got back, exhausted by the mental and physical games you had played.

You blinked a couple of times to shake off the grogginess of the morning. You wanted more than anything for the voice to go away so you could fall back asleep.

“Hey,” it repeated again, softer this time. You waved your hand impatiently in the general direction of the voice, but whoever was there was clearly not going away. You groaned and sat up in bed to make eye contact with your intruder.

It was a pleasant surprise to find Kuina sitting on your bed. You smiled genuinely when you realized that she was the only person you truly wanted to see.

“Let’s go sparring,” she said. “It would be good to let off steam.”

“Okay,” you said smiling and got up to change.

You sparred, and expectedly lost over and over again with each round of fighting. Kuina would hesitate to strike the final blow, but she never needed to. You were always out of breath, or keeling over in pain by that point. 

You knew you needed to get over that mental barrier. It was only practice, and although Kuina had problems with the final blow she didn’t hesitate to deliver the bruises that littered your extremities. It was a problem that would be fatal if it came up in a game.

You had to be able to directly hurt her and other people. 

Initially, you couldn’t figure out why you could leave the other team to die in the five of spades without losing too much sleep over it, but you couldn’t get over yourself to take sparring more seriously. No, you did know you finally realized.

You could attribute their deaths to the games, but it was different when all the responsibility was on your hands. You had blood on your hands once, and you didn’t relish the feeling of having it happen again. 

Over the next week, Kuina kept dragging you out of bed to fight. You had no time to even think about going to the shooting range. You were either training strenuously, or felt so physically exhausted it hurt to move. 

Even though you never won, you got noticeably better. Especially with your dodging.  Kuina didn’t let you rest by just getting away from her in fights. She made you practice punches and kicks with a bag instead, criticizing your technique until you became more precise and accurate.

You felt yourself closing the gap between the difference in skill, slowly but surely. Eventually, Kuina had an especially hard time pinning you down from how nimble you became. Once, you even reached a stalemate from both of you being too fatigued to continue.

The days floated by, sending the rest of the week into a blur. You sparred with Kuina until you were so physically exhausted that most nights you barely had the energy to drag yourself to the Beach’s bar. Sometimes, when you went that way, Kuina instead disappeared with Chishiya, returning the next day with a guilty look in her eyes that you hadn’t seen since you initially met.

You felt that you weren’t supposed to have a part in the thing she was hiding. Whatever it was, it involved Arisu and Usagi, the newcomers. Frequently, you saw them together in discreet places within the Beach that few people knew about. They were always talking in hushed whispers.

Sometimes when you snooped around Kuina, you bumped into Niragi. You tried to avoid him like the plague. When he saw you occasionally he vainly attempted to talk to you, but you adeptly maneuvered away from him every time. He was always with a different woman now, and when he didn’t think you were looking he leered at them like they weren’t human. 

You also avoided Chishiya. Or kept extensively planning to at least. You stayed true to your word, and wrote on notes of paper when the militants would be out so Chishiya could use the shooting range in his free time without you. You even left him a pair of earplugs, which felt rather generous compared to what he did.

You only could tell that he went to the range sometimes when the earplugs would shift their position, moving slightly left or right from hands that moved them when you were out of the room.

You still couldn’t believe that he kissed you, and let you disappear from his life without a question. It was you who avoided him, but he did nothing about it. Nothing to fix it. He was probably staying with Kuina. You felt used, full of a hurt so deep, so indescribable that it practically hollowed out your insides.

Tuesday came around as it always unfortunately did, and for once Kuina didn’t wake you. You felt ironic. If you weren’t going to spar, you only had one other way to spend your time: shooting. 

You slipped out of the room to the range with your favorite gun and glanced around cautiously. Nobody was there. It was always so much better when you were alone.

Your aim got ever so slightly worse due to the days you had gone shooting. Or maybe just the target felt particularly difficult to hit that day, you couldn’t tell the difference. 

You squeezed the gun to fire a round that barely missed the center. The clear ringing sound of the gun made you realize that one of your earplugs was in fact not in your ear.

You turned to the side to find a familiar man in a white hoodie standing by your side. You almost dropped the gun in surprise, but ungracefully kept a handle on it. He had to have snuck upon you extremely quietly and carefully in order to remove the earplug.

You realized with a deadening feeling that you were at the shooting range and again– it was Tuesday. Of course Chishiya was so meticulous to track you down on your appointed training schedule without forgetting about it.

Silly you. You didn’t consider the fact that he wouldn’t let you just cancel the lessons you planned because of your feelings.

This is why you were the spades player, and he was diamonds.

“Why are you here?” You lowered the gun and pulled out the other earplug as you spoke.

“I admit I’ve been doing some thinking.”

 You snorted. “Really?” This wasn’t exactly groundbreaking news for Chishiya.

He paused, gently prying the gun out of your hand to place it on a wall nearby. “I am quite an empty person,” he said quietly before making eye contact with you. “I don’t think I’ve ever genuinely had feelings for somebody. I’m not even sure about you.” 

You were glad that he took the gun away from you, for you would’ve actually dropped it from surprise. 

“But,” he continued without waiting for a response, “I feel different about you now. I can’t explain it. I had my own reasons for being around you originally that I contrived, but suddenly–.” Chishiya looked unsure of himself for once as he broke eye contact for a moment, then turned back to you. “I was doing things without thinking. You made me start to consider things that I never imagined I would think about.”

Your face flushed at his confession. Could it even be a confession?

“I kissed you to see if I would feel anything,” he said softly. He looked away and absentmindedly traced his hand over the gun. So that was all he had to say after so long.

Your heart was in emotional turmoil. It managed to simultaneously drop into your chest and race at the same time. You didn't want to ask if he felt anything or not. It would be more than awful if he didn’t. So you said something that was sure to leave you with more regrets if it didn’t go right.

“Do you want to try again?”

Chishiya’s glittering eyes lifted to meet yours, his face expressionless. You immediately wondered if you had made a terrible mistake. Then he approached you so slowly that you thought he would never reach you. He carefully placed his hand to the side of your face and leaned in. 

For a moment, he stayed like that. You could smell the faint mint on his breath.

You thought he was going to pull away when he kissed you for the second time. Soft. Sweet. Slow. You shivered even though it wasn’t cold after his lips met yours.

His tongue teased your bottom lip clumsily, and you smiled into the kiss. He didn’t have to say anything about how he felt. The way he kissed you told you everything and more even if he wouldn’t verbalize it.

Chishiya broke the kiss, and you thought of what to say until you felt his mouth on your neck. He found the spot that felt sensitive almost immediately and teased it gently with his teeth before sucking on it. Your mind immediately went blank. It was so good, he was so good you couldn’t possibly remember being mad at him ever.

Even still, the crackle of someone stepping on grass nearby didn’t escape your notice. You gently pushed Chishiya off of you and looked around. Somebody had to be there to make that sound. But you could only see Chishiya.

“Maybe,” your voice cracked with uncertainty. “We should continue talking in my room.”

He nodded almost seriously before giving you the ghost of a grin. You carefully linked your arm around his, looking at his face to read his reaction. He stiffened slightly, but didn’t do anything to shake you off. 

“Follow me,” was the only thing Chishiya murmured quietly. He took you through the Beach’s halls in an intricate way, taking so many detours and turns that you had never seen before. Somehow, without you realizing how you got there, he found the familiar hallway that led to your room.

You didn’t know why he took such an extensive way back to your room until you realized that you hadn’t seen or passed any people. He was hiding you. You didn’t want to be treated like some secret. 

It felt like you weren’t good enough for him.

“Chishiya I think–” you began to speak as the door to your room shut behind you. He interrupted you with another kiss, pressing your back to the wall eagerly.

“Let me do the thinking, yeah?” he said in between peppered kisses. 

“No Chishiya–” you awkwardly stepped back away from him and flopped over backwards onto the bed. 

He raised an eyebrow as he watched you do so and said, “I didn’t know you were this spontaneous.” You reddened as you registered the implications of going on a bed.

“Oh,” you covered your face in embarrassment and felt the bed shift. It was like a heavy weight suddenly dropped onto it. “No it’s not that. It’s just I feel like there’s always been this distance between us, and every opportunity you get you try to extend it. You’re there, but you aren’t.”

You removed your hands from your face and scooted backwards so your back was leaning against the headrest of the bed. “You’re like this now,” you smiled sadly and made eye contact, “but tomorrow it’ll be different.”

Chishiya’s face became expressionless once more as he watched you coolly. You had no idea what he was thinking.

“Come sit next to me,” you patted the side of the bed. It was like you were calling over a skittish dog. Chishiya maneuvered his position to be next to you somewhat clumsily and hesitated before attempting to put an arm around you. You leaned into him so it wasn’t as clumsy, and finally it felt right.

“With that face, I bet I’m not the first girl,” you said quietly. To your surprise, you felt Chishiya’s body shake gently as he laughed to himself.

“You’re right, but not because of what you think,” he smiled and caressed the side of your cheek. “I was with a girl once back when I first entered medical school. She even met my parents.”

He watched your surprise with amusement as you playfully slapped his arm. Chishiya ever dating someone was news to you. He was very attractive, but his cold demeanor would be off-putting for most girls. “She met your parents?” your voice raised as you questioned him. “What happened to her?”

“We broke up fairly quickly. There was nothing between us. My parents once mentioned that their coworker thought it was odd that I wasn’t dating anyone for being such an eligible male. So I brought somebody they could talk about to their colleagues.” Chishiya’s voice was so monotonous as he recounted this fact that you could hardly believe anyone dated him.

“You’re a heartbreaker! I knew there was something off about you,” you exclaimed which made Chishiya laugh again. 

“Maybe.” The corner of his mouth quirked up which gave you the urge to lean to the side to kiss him.

“What did you plan to be in the real world?” Chishiya suddenly asked.

“I wasn’t sure,” you confessed. “I was considering going into shooting competitively but it’s hard to make money through a sport. I love sports, so I wanted to do something like sports medicine. I was considering moving to Shibuya before I landed in the Borderlands.”

“Medicine is quite difficult. It’s highly intensive, and stressful for even very bright doctors.”

“Are you calling me stupid?” You made your voice serious to poke fun at him, and saw a flash of concern flicker over his face although he kept it even. You burst out laughing and he flicked your forehead in annoyance.

“Very droll. Though the patient care aspect is the worst part,” he remarked sarcastically.

“I can imagine that it is for you. Apathetic diamonds player. Have you played many hearts games?”

He ignored your question about the hearts, choosing to instead continue to ponder thoughtfully. “You know, a patient once gave me his dying wish.”

“What was it?” 

“I actually don’t know. I couldn’t be bothered to deliver it so I threw it out.” Chishiya drawled and looked at you impassively.

“What?” you blurted, your mouth moving before you could even consciously process what he said. It was just as you said earlier. There was no reason for him to confess this unless he wanted you to think of him differently. It was that distance again.

“That’s so…” your voice trailed off as you thought about it once more. “Why?” you asked gently.

“It’s just as I said. I had no interest in his final affairs.”

There was a brief silence, and you focused on Chishiya’s chest rising and falling and the sound of his faint breathing. He was so alive, but so empty too.

“Would you do the same here?” you asked, thinking of how he watched you leave for games.

“Probably.” His vague response made you feel like there was something more to it, but you didn’t press the point.

You fell back into a silence that eventually lulled you into sleep in Chishiya’s arms. His rhythmic breathing was comforting, and you didn’t feel like arguing further with him.

You woke up with Aguni standing over you, and no Chishiya.

“Get up.” Aguni’s harsh voice roused you compared to what Kuina had made you used to.

“The fuck?” You groggily felt the side of the bed where Chishiya was. It was barely warm, the only trace that he was ever there. 

“(Name), you’ve participated in acts that are considered traitorous to the Beach.” Aguni’s words snapped you out of your sleepiness and you froze in fear as the reality of the situation hit you. 

Aguni was standing before you, delivering what was basically a death sentence.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for being off so long, I had to finish this chapter properly. This bad boy is probably the longest one so far, and perhaps my favorite. Hope you liked it :)

#aib chishiya #chishiya x reader #alice in borderland #chishiya shuntaro #imawa no kuni no arisu #shuntaro chishiya #imawa no kuni no alice #shuntaro chishiya x reader #chishiya alice in borderland #aib #chishiya shuntaro x you #chishiya #chishiya shuntaro x y/n #chishiya x you #chishiya shuntaro x reader #kuina alice in borderland #kuina hikari #chishiya x fem reader #chishiya x fem!reader

[ilivelikeimtrying]

Leosagi enemies to lovers AU (based on the song: Your Stupid Face by Kaden MacKay) where Usagi works for Big Mama/A Crime Boss and him and Leo cross paths a lot but instead of Leo falling first it's Usagi.

So something like this:

Leo /Usagi

(this song does not in anyway belong to me, please go check them out)

-

Leo:

☆

I just really hate your face

Though I know that won’t surprise you

But, to me, your skin is one giant wart

And your laugh’s one big snort

And you stink, so, in short, I despise you~

☆

You disgrace the human race

‘Cause you’re more of a mosquito

I would rather have the dentist and drill

Then this swine in the swill

And if you were a bill, I would veto~

☆

And if the world was perfect

You would be gone without a trace

But since the world could never be that great

I’ll just hate your stupid face~

☆

Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo~

Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo~

.

(after a few more accidental meet ups)

.

Usagi:

Oh no...

Nooo...

✧

I just really like your face

You don’t have to look so happy!

I’m not really into love that you flaunt

In some glittery font

But if that’s what you want

Make it snappy!

✧

I just feel so out of place

Well, except for when you’re near me

When you’re gone, I’m like a plant with no root

Or a song that’s on mute

Don’t you dare call it cute!

You should fear me!

✧

And if the world was perfect

You would have never invaded my space

But since the world’s obsessed with saying “psych!”

Now I like your stupid face

✧

Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo

✧

Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo

.

(A reluctant betrayal)

.

Leo:

✿

I just really miss your face...

Though, by now, I must disgust you

I had tried to be the stubbornest mule

‘Cause I knew life was cruel

So I guess I was foolish to trust you...

✿

But I wait here, just in case

Though I know I’m being senseless...

How could I have ever been so naive

And wear my heart on my sleeve

When I knew it would leave me defenceless...

✿

And if the world was perfect

You would be here in my embrace

But since the world denied me one last kiss

I’ll just miss your stupid face

...

Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo...

.

(cue signature Leon stubbornness to not give up on Usagi)

.

"Usagi!"

"Leonardo? What are you doing here?"

"I- I wanted to see you again-"

"Leo-san there is nothing to say. You saw me as I am, a monster, and even ran-"

"I didn’t run away! …It was a strategic retreat!"

"...."

"I wanted to, to talk-"

"What is there to talk about? It’s over—I ruined it."

"No you didn't! I know that wasn't you! And I know how sorry you are, aren't you?"

"Well yeah, of course I’m sorry, but—"

"Then that's all I need to know, and I've already forgiven you Usagi, without hesitation."

"No- no! Don’t forgive me! Why do you do that? Why give me another chance to mess things up... ?"

"Because I.... I... "

"... Because you WHAT ?!"

.

.

.

Usagi:

★

Those three little words

Out of the blue

Completely uncalled for

Especially from you

★

Why don’t you hate me?

Why do you care?

Can’t you berate me? Isn’t that fair?

Where is your glare?

★

Don’t you dare leave our problems and pain on the shelf!

Because if you don’t hate me, I can’t hate myself...

★

But that’s why I need you

You shatter my fear

‘Cause despite my misdeed

You are still right here

★

Though it’s stupid to date me

You’re willing to try

And if you don’t hate me

Then why should I?

.

.

.

"Are you sure you don't want to give up on me?"

"Uh- yeah, pretty sure dude."

"You're a moron...”

.

.

.

Both:

♡ ♡

So you think that we could work?

Here I thought I’d been the dumb one

("What?") You’re forgiving me for all I did wrong

You’re unmuting the song

And again, I belong to someone

♡ ♡

No- You can drop the stupid smirk

Though, by now, I guess you’ve earned that

‘Cause no matter how intensely I pout

Your stupid face will win out

And I guess it’s about time I learned that

♡ ♡

And though we go together like a Chanel No.5 and mace

At least it’s not as dull as fitting like a glove

‘Cause you’re a nightmare that I’ve not been dreaming of

But I suppose that when push comes to shove

("Fine.")

I love your stupid face

♡ ♡

Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo

.

.

.

"Your stupid face."

#rottmnt #tmnt #leo #usagi #leosagi #katanashipping #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles #rise if the tmnt #did this with ROTTMNT Leon in mind #but then realized that it could fit with the other Leo's too #so yeah #in my head it's still ROTTMNT leosagi #tmnt leo #tmnt leonardo #rise leo #usagi miyamoto #miyamoto usagi #leonardo hamato #hamato leonardo #leonardo #i love these dorks #i know this is kinda cringe #but if we can't be cringe here where can we huh?

[universestreasures]

@chxmpionofjustice​​ Sent: A 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓 (Accepting!) 

008. an bright arcade, coins falling from machines and claws grabbing at soft toys . (@ aichi)

Aichi had no idea where his newest friend, the kind hearted and energetic Usagi Tsukino, was taking him that afternoon. She had managed to rope him into a mystery outing without much of a fight, even if he was certainly a bit hesitant. He wasn’t exactly the most...social guy. Sure he had tons of friends, but they all had been made through Vanguard. The fact he managed to connect to Usagi without his favorite hobby in the world was a miracle in of itself.

Guess that just shows how much he’s changed ever since Vanguard and Kai came back into his life. He certainly wasn’t the same Aichi Sendou from over a year ago. That was a fact. Though, that did not mean his entire nature had changed. He was still as timid and soft-spoken as ever when he wasn’t in his element, Aichi not speaking much as he allowed the other to guide him to the mystery location she kept talking about.

The teen’s head then looked upwards as they stopped in front of a store front, one called The Crown. It was a place he’s never been to in the city. Then again, he hadn’t exactly had much reason to do exploring. He was already comfortable with his regular hang out spots. Though, learning about more places to do outings with the Cardfight Club certainly wasn’t a bad thing. He can get that out of this trip at the very least, along with getting to know the excitable blonde better.

He then takes a step inside, his eyes widening at the sights before him. A large array of arcade games surrounded him, from racing games, to claw machines, to even classic platformers. Despite being an avid player of Vanguard, he wasn’t really into other kinds of games. He can’t even recall the last time he’s ever been to one of these, if he’s ever been to one at all. His little sister Emi would remember those details better, surley. He could be forgetful at times, after all. 

“Oh wow...This is....amazing...There are...so many games in here...I don’t even know where to look...” A soft voice of awe and wonder escapes his lips. Even if he wasn’t a video gamer, he can’t deny how incredible the sight of all of these machines was. Just shows how little he actually got out if he thinks this is impressive, considering how common arcades are in Japan.

He then turns towards Usagi, realizing something as he gets over the initial shock and awe. “Wait...Does this mean you enjoy playing games, Miss Usagi? Is that why you brought me here? So we could...play together?” 

~

#💎 Moon Crystal Princess Of Love And Justice (Chxmpionofjustice) #💎 Paladin Treasure (Aichi Sendou) #💎 Paladin Answers (Aichi Asks) #💎 Paladin's Treasured Homeland (Aichi Main Verse) #(ARCADE FRIEND HANGOUT HECK YES #(USAGI HELP AICHI GET OUT MORE I SWEAR. HE LIVES IN HIS CARD SHOP AND SCHOOL AND NO WHERE ELSE #(HELP HIM FIND GOOD PLACES TO TAKE HIS TOTALLY NOT BF OUT ON A TOTALLY NOT DATE LMFAO

[tirorah]

Ah yes, here it is. The moment.

Everything was going so well up until this point. Rei and Minako are a good team, and they could even be a great one...if the sides they'd first shown one another was all they had. But of course, that's not the case.

Funnily enough, while Minako's first introduction to Usagi was disastrous, their second meeting turned out to be an incredible experience for Minako. Here we see the reverse: The chemistry, the bond, the teamwork, it's all built up in one episode. Then it explodes. Everything is lost, at least for now.

Minako expects her order to be followed without hesitation, but it isn't. Rei's concern for Minako trumps her sense of duty here, and you can tell from the sudden desperation in Minako's voice that this is a highly unwelcome development. She immediately switches to her leader persona and disciplines the hell out of Rei.

And Rei... Rei has never looked like this before. Minako's words are few in number but great in power. Rei is thoroughly chastised and she lowers her head in shame. She just disobeyed her Princess. How could she even dare to--

...WAIT A SECOND.

The moment Rei looks up again, her expression changed into one of anger, the church bell tolls as well. Perhaps to signal the death of all the good things they'd just spent a few scenes building together.

I think what Rei is struck with here is a sense of unfairness. If I remember correctly, Minako did expressly order the Senshi to protect the Earth from the Dark Kingdom. She herself was working alone and didn't need their protection. But everything Luna has taught them involves protecting the Princess, and it's not like Minako DIDN'T tell them to protect her if she was in dire straits during a fight.

Yeah, maybe Rei should've done as ordered and gone after that Youma. But then she'd be leaving the Princess alone, possibly injured. There's a Shitennou about somewhere; he could come in and kill Minako while Rei is busy chasing the Youma. That's unacceptable too.

Basically, Rei has no 100% right option in this situation. And yeah, that's what a fight tends to lead to. But she wasn't completely wrong for acting the way she did. Besides, had Minako not broken off their teamwork in the hopes of a quick kill, she might not have even been knocked down. Part of the blame lies with her too, so Rei's not about to shoulder all of it herself.

There's another layer to this, though. Their first encounter as normal people started what could be a wonderful friendship. It was enough for Minako to come running to Rei's aid. If you take that into account, isn't it exceedingly unfair of Minako to judge Rei? This is the exact same thing! There's no way Rei was merely concerned for the Princess' well-being; she was worried Minako was hurt.

Anyway, the damage has been done. Rei rises in a burst of defiance. Minako stares back, her authority challenged. No longer does the camera put Minako on a pedestal of power; she and Rei have just become equals in this conflict. Everything's gone wrong.

The cross keeps spinning.

#tirorah rewatches pgsm #pgsm ep 17 #pretty guardian sailor moon #pgsm

[keyofjetwolf]

I was going to make a joke about Usagi living her best Bugs Bunny life right now, and how her diary entry for today is going to be MASSIVE, but then it hit me -- and I feel incredibly slow for having taken this long to realize -- how this episode is flipping the “body double” thing between Usagi and Minako. Usagi is obviously in no real danger; the odds on one of Minako’s crazed fans throwing a delivery van at her are relatively small by comparison. Still though, we have Usagi making people think she’s Minako and keeping them busy so Minako can go about her life, and that parallel set-up is GLORIOUS.

#JW watches PGSM #pgsm ep 12 #not the least for how usagi did it without hesitation #again i realize these are not actual direct equal situations #but as a branch to exploring minako's feelings about everything? #DON'T MIND IF I DO

[beewolfwrites]

The Oar in the Sand - Chapter Eight: Polyphemus

@cheshiya @tenseoyong @szallejhscorner @something-more-original-please @ofsunsetsandpoetries @nek0dzuken @allozaur @hiqhkey @serenzippity

Finally finished editing this! It certainly took long enough :’) Hopefully the Odyssey themes are starting to work their way in more now. 

Thank you for being so patient with me! I’ll get started on the next chapters as soon as possible.

AO3 Link. 

-------------------------------------------------

The beat of silence that followed stretched on forever, the way a moment of dread moves in slow motion, or the instance you run from a nightmare, only to find your heavy feet stuck to the ground. But this wasn’t a nightmare. Pinching my cheeks wouldn’t wake me up from this dream. 

And so, with a squeak of my shoe against the vinyl, I ran.

A series of crashes resounded behind me as he gave chase. Him. Niragi. The one who was supposed to be dead. Chishiya had torched him alive, Aguni had taken him down with the hotel… so how? 

And why me of all people? 

Why do I always get the short straw? 

I had no idea where I was running to, just that I needed to get out. Now. There were no signs for the exit, no matter which direction I looked, and I could feel him gaining on me as the hospital halls stretched on and on.

Ducking into one of the wards, I skidded to the ground and slid under one of the beds. The white sheets draped over the edges, obscuring me from view. It still wasn’t enough. I eyed the room from beneath the sheets, hearing the dull clap of footsteps and the slam of doors as he billowed through the hospital. 

And then his toes peeked around the door to the ward. He was barefoot, the skin becoming more blistered and red before the bandages around his torso hid the worst extent of the damage. That awful patterned shirt was still wrapped around his head, obscuring most of his face, yet his grin was unmistakable. 

‘Come on out, little spy,’ he sang, padding softly between the beds. ‘Let’s have some fun.’ 

Spy?

Was he still that paranoid? 

As he grew closer, I noticed the skin on his face was irritated and scabbed in places. He’d pulled his shirt over one eye to hide the damage. 

‘If you come out now, I won’t kill you,’ he said. 

Every nerve in my body prickled, attentive, as he stealthily came closer, inspecting each bed one by one. His feet appeared beneath the white sheets, and the mattress dipped with a creak above me. Under Niragi’s weight, my chest was crushed against the ground. 

I can’t breathe! 

I couldn’t move either. I was neither living nor dead, detached from it all in one numb vacuum as I stared at his feet from under the sheets - my only defence. 

And then, as if by some miracle, he stood up and the mattress lifted.   

With a hiss, he strode out of the ward and back into the main hallway. Slowly but surely, the pad of his feet softened into nothing and he disappeared. I wasn’t sure how I stayed there, swathed by walls of white linen, until I eventually inched out from under. 

He’s alive. 

Even now, I still couldn’t believe he had survived. During the final stretch of the Witch Hunt, he hadn’t hesitated to shoot at me, and now, if he got his hands on another gun I would be a dead woman walking.  

The hospital was silent once more, and there were no signs of Niragi anywhere. Though I wasn’t prepared to go back for the water dispenser; there was no energy left in me to lug the thing. The dread of what was to come was already far too heavy to carry home. 

Home. 

Is that what this was now? 

No, it wasn’t my home. It was a used furniture store in the middle of a city I was a mere tourist in. 

I trudged through the first emergency exit I saw and followed a set of steps down into the bushes overgrowing at the side of the hospital, before wandering out into the empty city once again. 

The air was cloying in my chest, and just as I dipped between two cars, I felt the first few drops of rain lightly speckling my cheeks. No matter how much the rain picked up into a strong patter, it wasn’t enough to break through this thick cloud. 

When I got back, Chishiya was on the roof, hood pulled up against the rain. I felt his eyes trailing after me as I walked up the steps and pushed through the entrance. The exhaustion suddenly became too much and I sank into an armchair, mulling over what had happened and wishing it would all go away. The front door opened as Chishiya joined me inside.

‘Let me guess, you cleared the Jack now too.’ 

It was callous. Uncalled for. I pushed my face further into the armchair. 

‘Actually, I thought you’d be clearing the Jack,’ I mumbled. ‘You didn’t go?’ 

I heard him sit down on the couch, and exhaled. The weight of his iron gaze was pulling me towards him, as if I was about to be scolded for something that wasn’t my fault. Again. 

‘Do you accidentally run into trouble,’ he said, ‘or do you purposely go out looking for it?’

I slowly shuffled around, wishing I could sink into the folds of the chair and disappear forever. Chishiya appeared either annoyed, apathetic, or something in-between. 

‘How did you guess?’ 

‘It wasn’t a guess. You’re just easy to read.’ 

‘Niragi’s alive,’ I said. 

There was no reaction, or at least something akin to the reaction I had expected. He hummed slowly and his lips tilted into a sly smile. ‘He must really want to survive.’ 

‘Did you know?’ 

‘Not at all.’ 

‘You don’t seem surprised.’ 

‘That’s because I’m not,’ he replied curtly. ‘If he survived after I set him on fire, he’d survive after Aguni knocked him over.’ 

‘It was hardly a knock,’ I reminded him.

The Witch Hunt already felt like a long time ago, but maybe that was because of how time is in the Borderlands. Without smartphones, traffic, work and the hectic stream of everyday life screaming into one constant blur, an hour stretched on for days. But I could still recall it so clearly, even if it was like recalling a dream, how Aguni, the man who’d once tried to force Usagi back to his room, decided to throw himself directly into the line of fire for us.

‘Did you get what you wanted?’ 

The bluntness of Chishiya’s question pulled me back to the present. ‘I’m sorry?’

‘You said there was something you wanted.’

For the slightest moment, I’d assumed he was throwing accusations around again

‘Not quite… I wanted a water dispenser. I thought it’d be good for us, instead of having all these bottles.’ Another thought hit me, and I rubbed my tired eyes. ‘We’ve run out of water too.’ 

‘Actually, we haven’t.’ 

‘What do you mean?’ 

He had that knowing expression, the kind when he’s solved a game within less than a minute and he’s only waiting for you to catch up. ‘I put some buckets outside when it started raining.’ 

That’s why he’s a genius and I’m not. 

How did I not see the obvious solution to our water problem? After all, the Beach collected rainwater and relied on it constantly. If there was a storm coming, we’d have more than enough water for two of us. 

The relief was peaceful, and the lull of the raindrops against the window was pulling me towards sleep. Truth be told, I needed a bath. But there was no point bringing the buckets in while it was still raining. Instead, I got up and dropped onto the couch beside Chishiya. He flinched a little when I lay down and rested my head in his lap, but he soon gave in, and his fingers wound their way into my hair. 

‘Don’t.’ I reached up and tapped his hand. ‘It needs washing.’ 

He ignored me and continued his ministrations. ‘So does mine.’ 

I started telling him all about my run in with Niragi in the hospital. Just discussing it was reassuring, as if I wasn’t the only one carrying this fear. When I saw him, he was all burnt up, the skin blistered and yellow where his bandages didn’t cover; no wonder he was searching for the morphine. However, someone had attacked him, and I wasn’t talking about Chishiya. He’d pulled his shirt over one eye, but the skin around it was blue and black, and his lip was scabbed in the corner. 

Fire didn’t bruise. 

But who? 

Who had the nerve to beat up Niragi?

‘Who wouldn’t want to beat him up?’ Chishiya chimed in, after I’d voiced my thoughts. ‘I’m sure the list is quite long.’ 

‘We’d be near the top of it. Whoever it was must’ve been brave.’ 

Chishiya huffed lightly. ‘I lit him up with a homemade flamethrower. Does that not count towards bravery?’ 

I thought of that rooftop where everything collided at a head. Chishiya had taken his time to build his own weapon. He’d come with a plan, and Niragi had been patiently waiting. 

‘Let’s put an end to this, shall we?’ 

‘If I hadn’t been there at that time,’ I asked, ‘would you have still gone after Niragi?’ 

‘Of course.’ There was no hesitation. ‘It was bound to happen anyway. I wanted to take him down while I was prepared.’

Or before Niragi found him first. 

‘He’ll kill us if he finds us, won’t he?’ 

‘Probably. But isn’t that part of the fun?’ 

I was too sleepy to answer. His fingers were trance-like, sweeping through my hair with a reassuring gentleness that someone like him would never admit to. I must’ve dozed off into a dreamless sleep, because when I woke up, the rain had stopped and Chishiya had disappeared, having placed my head on the couch cushion instead. 

Stretching awake, I found him messing around in the kitchen, boiling water from a bucket to make tea. 

A bucket. 

That’s right, we have water now!

‘Hey.’ 

Chishiya didn’t turn around, although his silence had become normal now. I had a feeling he was annoyed or uncomfortable about me using him as a pillow, even if he didn’t protest at the time. As he busied himself opening up a pack of tea bags, I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck from behind. The only thing holding me back was the knowledge that he’d hate it. 

‘I hope you don’t mind if I use some of the water for a bath.’ 

He continued as if I wasn’t there at all. Then in a quiet voice, he said, ‘Just don’t use it all.’ 

So he wasn’t entirely mad at me. Whatever was getting him down, I’d get to the bottom of it eventually. For now, I briefly ran my finger along the back of his elbow, like he’d done so many times to me. He stilled, but didn’t say anything more as I left the kitchen. 

A bath in the Borderlands was no longer a luxurious dip in a tub of hot water and bubbles. At the Beach maybe, but that life was in ashes now, slowly washing away into the river. Outside, I discovered the line of buckets that had gone unnoticed earlier. They were overflowing with fresh rainwater, and I carefully dragged one inside. It would be a waste of gas to heat it all up on the camping stove, so I took it straight into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. 

I tested the water with a finger and immediately yanked it out. 

Ah! It’s freezing! Though I suppose I can’t complain. 

When Kuina, Chishiya and I set up a camp here, we were pretty lucky. The bathroom had tile floors and a drain in the corner, and we cleared enough space for several buckets and a pitcher. It wasn’t like the hot showers and baths we’d grown used to at the hotel, but bucket baths were commonplace in a number of countries, and if it was good enough for them, it was good enough for us.

Removing my clothes, I used the soap, shampoo and pitcher to wash myself. Once I got past the cold, it was refreshing. I finally felt I could wash away all the traces of that hospital and the fear of being hunted. After everything we’d survived through, to die by Niragi’s hand would be humiliating, like admitting defeat. 

I reached for the bucket, and froze. 

What… what is this?! 

The water was thick with blood. 

#alice in borderland #aib #Imawa no Kuni no Arisu #chishiya #chishiya shuntaro #chishiya alice in Borderland #Chishiya x reader #chishiya x oc

[jaybug-jabbers]

Pokemon Gold/Silver Beta Pokemon: The April 2020 Leak

Look, 2020 was a rough year. So maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised that the April 2020 Gold/Silver source code leak flew almost entirely under my radar. If you Google about it, you’re find it’s very rare for news outlets to cover it. This is probably because many folks are hesitant to cover leaks. Also, the US was warming up to a truly awful pandemic around that point, not to mention other civil unrest, so it’s no surprise some people were a tad distracted. 

But the fact is, another leak turned up in April of last year, following a recent trend of huge Nintendo leaks. And this one was a doozy. I’ve only truly realized its full extent in the past few days. As such, I’d like to do a post that covers some of the new information. In particular, I’m focusing on beta pokemon that were cut or heavily reworked.

Now, back in 2018, the Spaceworld ‘97 Pokemon Gold/Silver Demo was leaked online. I made a post about some of my favorites. So, from this leak, we already knew of a while slew of beta pokemon. However, as it turns out, there were still more new faces to find-- and a lot of them! I list 45 new beta pokemon here, in fact!

In the April 2020 leak, several sprite sets were found as internal files, each at different phases of game production. The sprite sets were dated May 6, 1998, June 13, 1999, June 21, 1999, and September 17, 1999. The August 17, 1999 Spaceworld ‘99 Demo build was also found, so we have information on that as well.

Essentially, if you want to see this information at The Cutting Room Floor, then head to this page for the sprites discovered as internal backups/sprite banks. Head to this page for the Spaceworld ‘99 demo information page. And, if you need a refresher for the older leak, you can go to this page for the Spaceworld ‘97 demo build.

For this post, we will focus on the May 6, ‘98 set of sprites, which contain the vast majority of new faces. So, without further ado, onward to the pokemon!

(#300) Kokopelli Pokemon/Celebi

(May 6, ‘98)       (Spaceworld ‘99 Demo)

This first pair of sprites looks very much like Kokopelli, a fertility deity of some Native American cultures. This deity can be seen in ancient Native American petroglyphs, as a humpbacked flute player with feathers on the head. Surprisingly, we find that Celebi in the Spaceworld ‘99 Demo seems to be an updated version of this design, making Celebi’s design origins much different than expected. However, its fertility diety inspiration is still somewhat apparant in the modern Celebi, as a creature that causes plant life to flourish.

(#301) Eel Pokemon

While the sprite files did not reveal a name or other data, this eel’s sprites were numbered right beside the Gurotesu (Grotess) and Ikari (Anchorage) sprites, suggesting it once was the start of their evolution chain. 

(#304) Fire Fox Pokemon

This little fellow is a fox that seems to have a fiery tail. It’s possible this fire fox was inspired by kitsune (just as Vulpix/Ninetails were) and that it was later redesigned as Fennekin. 

(#305 - 308) Snow Bunny Evolution Line

These four pokemon seem to belong to the same evolutionary line. The second one seems to based on the Yuki Usagi, a ‘Snow Bunny.’ In Japan, these cute little critters are made in the snow (using leaves for the ears). They also sometimes make these Yuki Usagi as little marshmallow or mochi treats. So this pokemon line could be inspired by either of these. Considering the leaves and the snow, I would guess these would have been Grass/Ice. 

(#309) Elephant Pokemon

You might wonder if this chonky boy-- looking tough with horns on his head and back-- was an early version of Donphan, but Donphan and Phanpy were present in the Spaceworld ‘97 demo. Indeed, this elephant and Phanpy/Donphan both exist in the same set of sprites from May ‘98, so it was simply a case of two types of elephants. This pokemon also calls to mind a glimpse of a cut beta pokemon we saw from Generation 1 (from ‘Satoshi Tajiri: The Man Who Made Pokémon’):

Same fierce eyes, at any rate! Alas, these both never saw the light of day. However, it’s possible this elephant was reworked into Piloswine, which is not in the May ‘98 collection but does appear in the June 13 ‘99 collection (although Swinub is absent). While Piloswine and Swinub are more akin to wild boars, there is also some relation to mammoths (an inspiration more heavily leaned on with Mammoswine in later games). Then again, there’s another pokemon you’ll see a little further down this list that might have inspired Piloswine instead.

(#311) Natu/Xatu Mid-Evolution

What is clearly a mid-evolution (its file number sits between the two). Has a peacock-like tail. Honestly, I think this works really good as a mid-evolution, and I don’t know why it was cut. I want to name it “Watu.”

(#313) Drunk Kiwi Pokemon

This one is just hilarious to look at. It appears to probably be a kiwi-bird? A very crazy-eyed, loopy one. I can see why this one was cut. The goofy, simple design kind of looks like a knockoff cartoon character for children. 

(#314) Scorpion Pokemon

A pretty badass-looking scorpion, although a rather basic design. I dig the funky head, though. It seems like it has a single, beady eye and is rather menacing. This pokemon may have been later reworked into Gligar, a pokemon that first appears after this sprite set, in the June 13 ‘99 group:

Admittedly this is rather different from the Gligar we know, but it is an early design.

Or, who knows-- maybe this little fellah was later reworked into Skorupi. (If so, it’s a shame, as I don’t dig the weird accordian-like design of its limbs and its evolution.)

(#315) Quail Pokemon

A pudgey little quail pokemon. Doesn’t seem related to the kiwi pokemon. It’s a very cute little thing, and has lots of potential to evolve into something interesting, but it seems they scrapped it pretty quickly.

(#316) Music Note Bird Pokemon

Although these sprites are numbered right after the quail, and they are both birds, the designs are very different, so they seem unrelated. It seems the beta pokemon were simply blessed with a lot of birds. This little bird is in the shape of a clef, giving this bird a musical theme. It seems very likely it was later reworked into Chatot, a bird with a music-note shaped head and metronome tail.

(#319) Boar Pokemon

A cute, grumpy little boar with antlers. Probably what eventually led to Piloswine found in the June 13 ‘99 group. A bit of a shame, in my mind, as I kind of prefer this design.

(#325) Spikey Dog Pokemon

The curious thing is that this dog looks very similar to “Pudi,” a pokemon we saw in the Spaceworld ‘97 demo, which was intended to be a pre-evolution of Growlithe. But Pudi is also in this same collection of sprites!

Perhaps they were toying with the idea of re-designing Pudi (and had already scrapped a bunch of baby pokemon) and just hadn’t bothered to remove the old Pudi yet. It’s hard to say. Ultimately, these both were scrapped, but at least we still have Subbull/Granbull.

(#331) Yūrei Ghost Pokemon

This little ghost has two things that are common in Japanese folklore: the hitaikakushi (the white cloth headband it wears) and the two little balls of fire called hitodama. It is unknown why this ghost pokemon was scrapped, but perhaps they thought the little fellow wouldn’t translate well overseas? 

(#344) Viking Ship Pokemon

Look at this beauty! A pokemon based off some sort of Viking ship. I absolutely adore this one. It’s creative and charming. I hope to see it in the future.

(#349) Wooly Dog Pokemon

This canine-like creature is fluffy as all out. Honestly I think it’s a tad odd, with how tangled and disheveled its fur looks. I can’t help but compare it to the early desings of the three Legendary Beasts, since they also are very canine-like:

These three designs are present in this same May 6, 98′ sprite collection as the representations of Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. Were they possibly playing with a different design idea for the Legendary Beasts? Perhaps Suicune. The Wooly Dog is just such an imposing sprite, that I can’t help but wonder. All pure speculation, of course. 

(#350) Rabbit Pokemon

This rabbit has a rather intense look about him, and it makes me curious what the ideas were behind it. TCRF suggests it’s a possible pikachu clone.

(#351) Snake Pokemon

This cute little worm or snake seems to be wearing a feather headdress, suggesting its design may also be Native American inspired, like the Natu line. On the other hand, this could be inspired by Quetzalcoatl, a feathered serpent deity in Aztec culture. I would have loved to see this little guy’s evolutions.

(#352) Scarecrow Bird

A bird with a hat that kind of looks like a scarecrow. Honestly, it’s a super-cute idea.

(#353) Gargoyle Pokemon

This crouching beastie sort of looks like a gargoyle with a long, sharp tail. I can’t quite tell if those bits on the side are little wings or just a part of its legs. It would be interesting to see this creature standing in a different position-- I feel like that would give us a better understanding of what it looks like. Interestingly, there are striking similarities with Aerodactyl:

I wonder why they are so similar?

(#354 - 356) Manbō Evolution Family

The first of these three fishies was someone we already met in the Spaceworld ‘97 demo-- it was named ‘Manbō 1.′ In the demo, it evolved into  Ikari (Anchorage) and then Gurotesu (Grotess). It seems it’s now been split off from those and given a new evolution family here. While I find that neat, and I quite like the expressions on these fish, they are admittedly a little bland. 

(#360) Flying Squirrel(?) Pokemon

TCRF guesses this is a flying squirrel, and it seems to be wearing a sheathed sword. Not sure about the headgear it’s sporting. Is that a ninja star? 

(#364) Early Cyndaquil

So, this May 6, ‘98 collection is really exciting. The original Gold/Silver fire starter line we saw in Spaceworld ‘97 (Honooguma’s line) is still present in this collection (as is the water-type ‘Cruz’ line and Chikorita’s line). So, what we have here seems to be an early Cyndaquil before they decided to turn it into a fire type and make it the fire starter! In fact, those spikes might even be icicles (like Alolan Sandslash), for all we know. If so, Cyndaquil’s typing pulled a 180.

(#377) Early Furret?

Possibly an early Furret. Looks pretty awkward, not gonna lie; I’m glad it was probably refined into modern Furret, with more body definition between the head and tail.

(#378) Stork Pokemon

It’s a stork, based on the myth of where babies come from. A cute idea, although its curly ‘hair’ looks a little funny to me. 

(#380) Squid Pokemon

A squid with drills for its mantle and arms. Since that’s kinda Beedrill’s thing, I’m glad they scrapped the idea. The backsprite lacks drills so it’s probably from a different design stage. 

(#382 - 383) Early Burmy/Pineco

Burmy/Wormadam/Mothim is based off the bagworm. Bagworms are grubs that use silk and lots of bits of leaves, bark and other objects to create a camouflaged cocoon. When they turn into adults, some species of female bagworms just look like their larval stage, while the males turn into winged moths. That is why Burmy/Wormadam/Mothim have their unique evolution situation. Clearly, these two beta pokemon are playing around with the bagworm idea. They probably went on to inspire both Pineco (another pokemon based on bagworms!) and the Burmy line in gen 4.

(#386) Koala Pokemon

It’s so cool to see they were thinking about a koala pokemon this early. We would not finally get one until gen 7′s Komala.

(#387) Tanuki Pokemon

A Tanuki that is carrying campfire kindling on his back, but the kindling has caught fire. Apparently based on the Kachi-Kachi Yama folktale, which is a surprisingly violent story, but I suppose folktales often are. Who knows why it was cut, but Sentret is the closest thing we have to a tanuki pokemon for now.

(#392) Megaphone(?) Bird Pokemon

Yet another bird pokemon! There sure were a lot of beta birds. This one appears to have a megaphone-shaped beak. Or, possibly, its head is shaped like a gas mask (the strange eyes seem  to support this idea). Honestly I really dig the look of this one.

(#397) Frog Pokemon

It’s tough to tell but it has a small horn on its head. It has a long tongue and is probably shouting “ribbithhhhhh!” It’s cute, but a little plain.

(#400) Tiny Hippo Pokemon

Look at this little weirdo. I think it’s a tiny hippo? With a mohawk and a big grin and wild eyes. It doesn’t really seem to have a head, its mouth/eyes/ears are just stuck directly to a body. Looks pretty awkward, probably needed some polish. No idea what they were going for with it, but it’s interesting.

(#401) Skeleton Pokemon

A very spooky, bipedal, living skeleton beast. It has a long snout and sharp teeth, almost like a crocodile or a dinosaur-like creature. Its head and shoulders have bony spikes and the front of its snout has markings that seem to be a nasal cavity. Very detailed. It also reminds me of Missingno, as some Missingno used the fossil skeletons as their front sprites. I would have loved to have this pokemon, and it’s a real shame they didn’t use it.

(#402) Rodent Pokemon

A mouse or bunny with gigantic, spotted ears and no arms. Those are some serious ears; it almost looks like it could fly with them. 

(#403) Fly Pokemon

A bug-type!! It has a huge, creepy face, curly antenna and wings strangely really close to its head. I love it?? But it’s a bug, so of course I do.

(#404) Plant Pokemon

The Snow Bunny was likely part grass-type, but other than that, this is our first grass beta! It has one eye, a spikey head, and almost foot-like roots. I love how grumpy it looks. There’s a possibility it was a pre-evolution for Sunflora, before they had created the idea of Sunkern (which is not present in this collection).

(#405) Ant Pokemon

Another bug!! This one looks a lot like a winged ant. (Those do exist-- usually a temporary thing for mating flights) It’s possibly related to the fly pokemon above, sporting very similar wings. However, it doesn’t really seem like an evolution.

(#406) Dinosaur Pokemon

A little dinosaur-like pokemon, looking up at you. It’s unclear if that’s a tough, bony skull, or if it’s maybe a hat. The clubbed tail makes me wonder if it’s related to #415 below, but it’s probably unlikely. However, it is pretty likely that this later became Cranidos.

(#407) Early Cherrim

This clearly was a design that was picked up later, in gen 4, to create Cherubi/Cherrim’s sunshine form. I am glad the design was improved, because the lips on this one scare me.

(#412) Early Dunsparce

Dunsparce looking quite different. No wings, no drill tail, with a much more typical snake-like face. 

(#415) Dinosaur Pokemon

It looks like an aquatic version of an Ankylosaurus or something similar. It’s possible it’s related to the Viking Ship pokemon (as a pre-evo), but there’s no way to know. I quite like it, though.

(#416) Flying Fish Pokemon

This magnificent beast, this miracle of creation, is surely my favorite beta pokemon of all time. Revel in its glory. You may not like it, but this is the ideal pokemon body. What a perfect way to round off our collection of betas.

#pokemon #pokemon gold/silver #beta pokemon #april 2020 leak #pokemon betas #pokemon beta content #mycontent #pokemon discussion

[skies-shifting]

🌙⛅ Hi systemblr!! ♡ 🌙⛅

We're the Skyshift system! We're an undiagnosed (but working on it!) DID* system of around 50 alters. I'm the host, Meia!

*we're pretty sure it's DID after tons of research abt it and similar disorders. might be wrong tho, we're not professionals!

We're a very fictive-heavy system bc of a reliance on fiction as a coping mechanism, so please don't judge!

✨ general system info ✨

We've been a system since we were no older than 6, but I as the host have only been aware of it for a couple years now, since 2019.

I (Meia) am not the original host, but I've been the host from a very young age. The original host I believe integrated with myself and a traumaholder.

Most, if not all, of our mental issues stem from the childhood abuse + neglect we experienced, along with long-term isolation at a young age and csa.

We rely heavily on fiction as escapism, especially anime. Like I said earlier, that means we are very fictive-heavy. Respect that we do not choose or control who forms in our system, or how many of us are fictive or not.

💫 host + common fronters 💫

💫Meia (they/them): Host! Semi-human? Formed based off of the 'magical girl' trope in anime, integrated with a shadow person alter and now I'm not entirely sure what I am. My role was originally to keep myself, the system, and the people we care about happy, or at least appear so. Now I just want everyone to be safe and enjoy themselves! You can find more about me on my carrd!

🎮Alex (he/him): Main Protector + Co-host. Very chill, 'ironcially' self-proclaimed gamer, stealer of snacks. Basically like every middle school boy but he's 17-18. Usually comes out when Meia is overwhelmed or when they can't handle a situation.

🌹Camelia (she/her): Primary caretaker. Does a lot of self-care, cooking, cleaning, etc when other alters can't or won't. Also helps calm alters when they're not doing well. Very caring and soft. Cottagecore lesbian vibes- really likes flowers!

💋Juniper (she/any): S*xual alter/protector. Can change gender depending on what someone is attracted to, but is female by default. Proud thot. Will front for sexual situations, voluntary or no. She was formed to be able to enjoy even the horrible involuntary things we endured.

⛅ other notable alters ⛅

🍼Mallow* (she/her, child alter)

⚠Virus (they/it, digital protector)

❌R* (she/they, su!c!d4l alter)

🔥Ruth (he/him, anger holder?)

❓Zero (they/them, traumaholder)

🎀Princess* (she/her, traumaholder/child alter)

♦Homura Akemi (she/her, gatekeeper)

♏Vriska Serket (she/her, protector)

🐾Meulin Leijon (she/her, traumaholder)

🐰Usagi* (she/her, traumaholder/child alter)

❄Fuyumi Todoroki (she/her, caretaker)

💉Himiko Toga (she/her, yandere alter)

📱Yuno Gasai (she/they, yandere alter)

🎭Ayano Aishi (she/they/it, yandere alter)

🌷Nihachu (she/her, caretaker)

✂Liu Woods (he/him, h0m!cidal alter)

⚡Yuu Nishinoya (he/him, fragment?)

📍Ray* (she/it, traumaholder)

*real name not disclosed for safety reasons.

🌟 tags 🌟

#😶anon - posted by an alter who does not wish to be known

#about us - a post w/ info related to our system or one of our alters

#stardust✨ - info and advice

#fireflies🔆 - posts from littles

#sunset🌅 - n.s/f.w posts

#glittery🌌 - wholesome and funny posts

#motherfcker - vent about my abusers

✴ dni ✴

'endogenic / non-traumagenic systems' and supporters

syscourse (system blogs who also do syscourse sometimes are fine)

(no)maps

ed vent, 'thinspo,' + similar (ed vent sideblogs are fine if it won't show in activity often)

n.s/f.w and k!nk blogs (again, sideblogs are fine)

anyone who disrespects us, our rules, or our triggers will be blocked without hesitation.

--♡- tysm for reading this through!! enjoy your stay! -♡--

#did #did system #system #system blog #alters #traumagenic system #dissociative identity disorder #did blog #intro #about us #💫Meia

[fizzingwizard]

I could cry y’all. Episode 37 was SO GOOD. So good!! It truly felt like a Mimi episode, and it truly felt like Digimon Adventure, in multiple ways. It’s seriously fantastic!

I feel at once super duper relieved that this show is, really and truly, capable of this time of episode, and also super duper confused why, if it could do this, it hasn’t been doing it the whole time??

Anyway, we’ve now had four or five solid episodes in a row, so I’m letting myself feel hopeful again!

This episode is called “Mimi Wars,” but I feel it might be more aptly titled “Sailor Mimi”

In the name of employee rights, I will punish you!

More below!

Okay... so as I was watching this episode, I really got the feeling that they were parodying something again. Like last we had a Mimi episode - far far away in the distant past though it was - when they very obviously parodied Castle in the Sky. That’s twice now Mimi’s been compared with a girl with twin tails, Usagi’s pigtails and Sheeta’s braids xD

Although the poses Mimi uses aren’t exact replicas of Usagi’s, though, so maybe I’m wrong. I got the Usagi vibe from her personality even more, so maybe using the poses would have been considered copyright infringement and so they had to change them a little. Or, maybe Mimi is parodying someone else who also uses dramatic hand movements and talks a lot about justice in spite of being generally clueless...

See the resemblance? XD

But what I REALLY think is going on is, they’re spoofing the genre in general, while also taking it seriously. That’s important. It’s not just a joke here. This is the girl power episode, in a way, and in my opinion, it’s a better girl power episode than the fare I got used to growing up, which went more or less like this:

Guy: *does something with good intentions but inept*

Girl: Ugh! Men don’t respect women!

Guy: I’m sorry, what did I do wrong?

Girl: I won’t tell you because feminism! C’mon girlfriends, let’s assert our confidence as women by going on a girls night out shopping spree and making a bunch of random guys stare in awe at us for no clear reason!

Girls: Yes! This is third wave feminism!

... that was more or less the formula. It was... awkward. I’d like to blame on “those episodes were written by men who think all feminists are angry feminists,” but I think if I went and checked who the scriptwriters were, there’d be some women in there for sure.

What we got in THIS episode is something I’d actually want my daughter to see. First off you’ve got Mimi, who loves pink and pretty things and comes across as a real girly girl, not to mention a bit of a ditz. And the show’s straight up, “but just because you have flaws doesn’t mean you can’t grow into a great person. Also, being girly is not incompatible with being a boss.”

Mimi doesn’t need to be a man, nor does she need to be a hard ass, nor does she need to be especially kind and sweet to soften her orders. All she has to do, according to this episode, is care about her craft, care about quality, and care about worker conditions.

I mean... a show where the girl boss wasn’t a Russian spy in a former life?? A show where the girl boss isn’t a Stepford wife who got where she is by marrying rich and funding her perfume company that way? She’s... she’s Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde. She gets to be flawed and girly and fun-loving and bossy and ditzy all at the same time. She loves diamonds - but diamonds are no longer a “girl’s best friend.” Rather, Mimi herself is the diamond in the rough!

This actually makes her a really good set with Sora. Sora continues to be both a tomboy and very sisterly. Mimi’s very girly but very bossy. Between the two of them, they can conquer the world. Of course, I don’t know that the show would take it any farther than they already have, but I’m just happy to see this development for Mimi at all. We had it to a degree in 99 Adventure, and Kizuna took it a bit further by making her an entrepreneur. Reboot Mimi is a remix of that for the 21st century.

*deeeeeeeeeep breath*

so... back to our regularly scheduled programming!

As awesome as Mimi is, she’s not the only one who’s great in this episode. The others get to let their real personalities shine, at least. We needed this episode sooooo bad like 20 episodes ago... le sigh.

Anyway, we start off having mad camp, for some reason (why aren’t they just staying on Komondomon?? whatev)

Food! They’re going to get food! They’re splitting up and making a plan in order to get food!!! I still miss the “food desperation” of 99 Adventure but hey, at least they’re acknowledging that they need to eat.

Sora advises Hikari and Takeru not to go too far on their quest and Tailmon swears like a knight of the round table to protect Hikari with her life.

Taichi: Oookay... note to self: don’t piss off little sister’s hotheaded partner...

Taichi adds that they’re also counting on Patamon, who is just thrilled to go off and play with Takeru.

Tailmon: *BIG SIGH*

Lol I really love that they’re bringing back the old Patamon/Tailmon dynamic where she’s all grown up serious and he’s got the priorities of a toddler most of the time... It’s Black Widow and Hawkeye bahahahaha

We even get to see them COLLECT FOOD what did I do to deserve this they are COLLECTING FOOD IT’S NOT HAPPENING OFF SCREEN I REPEAT IT’S NOT HAPPENING OFF SCREEN

Taichi even has to warn Agumon not to eat the food becaues they’re supposed to be gathering it to share ;___; omg... we actually get on screen proof that Agumon is a glutton??

Then Taichi tries to “help” by shaking the tree and the tree falls and they -

BAHAHAHAHAHA

humor!!! Poking fun at Taichi even!! Over food!! Because he has a klutz for a partner!!! And because he himself was overzealous!! ;_; I could die of Cute.

Sora absolutely shocks me this episode too. I expected she’d just watch Taichi and Agumon drift away with their folly while sighing and shrugging her shoulders or something.

NOPE

She jumps DIRECTLY UP and into the water without a moment’s hesitation, like they’re going to die without her - I don’t even know what her plan is here, she seems to want Piyomon to evolve and pull them out, but why does that mean Sora has to be in the water too?

I think her sisterly instincts just freaked out on seeing Taichi looking wet and confused and clinging to a tree trunk so she just did the first thing she could think of which was “Get to him!!”

Piyomon then fails to evolve, reason unclear, I suppose she’s hungry... they never do eat though so I’m not sure why she can evolve later xD (probably they eat off screen)

But I mean I just love that we got this bit with Sora. I call it freaking out but she doesn’t seem freaked out - she stays calm and seems decisive and takes action - all good things. It’s just hard to understand her thought process xD But it’s all good info about Sora. (again stuff we needed more of AGES ago)

Now I had thought this was all just a funny bit that was separate to the main story, but this is how Taichi and Sora end up washed up in the rocky area Mimi is. This does mean Koushirou, Takeru, and Hikari aren’t much in the rest of the episode, sadly. Not sure why but the reboot does seem to struggle with writing episodes for the whole group.

Like last week, I’m somewhat miffed that, in the end, the main group finds the stragglers instead of the other way around. It’s even worse this time because at least last episode Koushirou told them where he was and they had a reason to go there. This time they have no idea Mimi’s gonna be there and it’s all a big coincidence. On the other hand... I do think Mimi was born under a lucky star, so that explains it. :P

Taichi and Sora suddenly find them selves trapped Gulliver’s Travels style and they’re both immediately like, “Hmm... something about this situation seems very familiar...”

Taichi and Sora: Oh that’s RIGHT we totally forgot that the pink cowgirl we hand out with is also TOTALLY BATSHIT

D’awww. Our future overlord is just so adorable, I don’t even mind when she flogs us in the street

TBH, up till now they’ve woefully underestimated just how batshit she is. And it’s wonderful.

So Mimi has happened upon some poor, disenfranchised Digimon who are being forced to work for an evil boss who collects the beautiful gems that grow in this area. Like in 99 Adventure, Mimi will have none of this sort of crap. Her reasons, though, have evolved with the times:

omg... she voted for Bernie Sanders!

This is how Harry and Ron reacted when Hermione said she was starting a house-elf welfare organization called SPEW.

Though I joke - like I said before, even though Taichi and Sora are rather mind-boggled by Mimi’s mood swings and fits of passion, and there’s definitely humor there, Mimi herself is not a joke here. We are shown strongly that, however in the clouds her head might be, her heart is not only in the place, it’s also already internalized the fact that people don’t always get treated well in the real world and it’s up to those with power to ensure that are protected.

I mean. At this point, I’m going, “Sorry but ISN’T MIMI THE REAL LEADER IN THIS SHOW?!?!”

Of course she does have another, less lofty motivation... she really likes pretty stones.

Buhahahaha.

Mimi’s names are as creative as they are incredible, just like her. Taichi and Sora have trouble keying in with Mimi due to how changeable she is, but they never talk badly about her or reject her. They never try to wrest leadership from her either! Taichi might think Mimi’s names for the stones are over the top, but sort of sidesteps it and just goes along with her plan.

Reason #14567876867867 why I love Yagami Taichi: when someone else is the leader, he can be a follower. And he’ll be the BEST follower. Keep reading to see why.

The story of how Mimi befriended the enslaved rock Digimon here is pretty much how Goku became besties with Vegeta.

Men communicate their hearts through their fists! Or swords, depending on the anime. ANOTHER AWESOME SUBVERSIVE MOMENT FOR MIMI - she’s now even got cliche shonen hero tropes assigned to her!

Taichi and Sora, like I said, don’t try to change Mimi’s mind - they’re actually touched by her strong feelings about workers’ rights and her desire to help her new friends -

Taichi: Wait... what?

Sora: Well, she’s still a ten year old girl.

The rock Digimon show their allegiance to Princess CEO Mimi. They don’t even mind having their names and identities stripped away and being reduced to numbers on an Excel spreadsheet...

Taichi: I hate Excel.

Sora: I do too, but I’m more impressed that she remembers the numbers she gave us back in episode 6.

Taichi: Impressed? More like filled with a sense of impending doom

Only Taichi seems to understand Mimi’s unique power bahahaha.

But back to what I said earlier, about Mimi being the real leader: I don’t know if the show’s gonna keep doing anything with this at all, but I really like that they didn’t NOT do this in order to ensure Taichi’s the only leader. (I mean, Yamato’s so far not made much of a bid for leadership so he’s been pretty uncontested thus far. He also hasn’t had to do all that much leading given how often the group is separated... but I digress)

I love the idea that Taichi can step back and let someone else take the reins when they’re best suited. Which Mimi is, due to her easy ability to make friends and gain trust. Mimi had this ability in 99 as well and it was used in the final battle to muster the troops, so to speak. It ought to have been a bigger deal but wasn’t since she missed most of the final battle :/ But I loved that “social, able to make friends” wasn’t some stupid “Girls talk too much” trait, it was actually something that was useful. This is a great place to take that with the reboot.

At the same time, while Mimi and Taichi both have similar leadership traits, there are places they diverge that potentially make them leaders for different situations. Taichi’s pretty cool and strategic even in emergencies. He was more of a hothead in 99, but Mimi’s always been quick to anger. (And quick to cool down.) As we’ll see in this episode, that’s sort of where Taichi’s true ability lies: he’s serious, determined, strategic, and reliable as well as brave. But this is Mimi’s episode, and Taichi isn’t going to get to be the hero anymore than he (almost) was last week with Koushirou. Because more than one character can have positive leadership traits! Hallelujah.

Quick nip over to Komondomon and the others - Koushirou’s group is going to try to find them, but Komondomon falls asleep. Oh noes. I wish someone (Koushirou) would ask, out loud, “Gee, what are these strange symbols that appear when we communicate via digivice? Do they mean something? How were they assigned?” I really thought we’d get a hint what with all the conveniently colorful gemstones this episode, but still nope.

My girl looking like a BAMF!

Mimi explains her plan to her servants employees. She is surprisingly artistic!

Sora plays the role of bait to create a diversion while Greymon digs a tunnel to get to where the gems are stored. Mimi congratulates herself on a job well done.

Taichi: A job well done? Who d’you think has been doing the work here?

Greymon: That would be me.

Taichi: Right, right I was going to say you >.>;

So we do see bits of Mimi’s self-centered side as well - she’s not perfect, but who is? Taichi just lives with it. Mwehehehe.

... will be fired! LMAO

No. 72 is Taichi, btw. Mimi gave up calling people by their names for Lent.

Taichi: Lent’s not for over a month.

Mimi: It’s never too early for religious sacrifice.

Taichi: And you’re not Catholic.

Mimi: I celebrate Mardi Gras.

Taichi: yOU JUST LIKE THE COSTUMES AND KING CAKE

He’s miffed and he.... just lives with it. Again. xD

It’s hilarious. And adorable. I love both that 1) Mimi is an awesome boss while being, in fact, rather bossy, and that 2) in spite of being a boss type himself, Taichi not only listens to Mimi, but he totally indulges her like he’s her older brother or something x’D He wouldn’t be out of line for saying “I have a name you know!” On the other hand, I guess he knows her well enough to understand that she doesn’t mean anything by it, and... there’s no stopping her when she gets like this :P

Feel the wrath of Tachikawa Mimi!!!

So Mimi’s plan has worked so far, and she’s got everyone listening to her despite her questionable business practices, and then she... suddenly rushes off in another direction.

Taichi: That’s it, I am through being her personal assistant if she’s just going to change the plan on a whim!

Taichi: ... I don’t want to see her get hurt or be sad though...

Greymon understands Taichi’s heart ;___; and enables him to go after Mimi. I don’t really get why it’s wise to split up given that Taichi can’t fight big rock Digimon without his partner... x’D So I’m going to chalk this up to, Greymon understands that Taichi is, at his core, the team Dad. He’s got to be allowed to worry and check up on the kids, even when it’s not so advisable. Awwwwwwwww.

Indeed, Taichi doesn’t get to be the hero this ep, but small moments like this give us waaaay more character development than always being the hero!

Fortunately Mimi does have her own partner and she’s not afraid of the enemy’s rock hard abs. :P

They make it into the storage center for all the gems. IT’S SO COLORFUL. Ten year old men is squeeing just like Mimi.

Come on!! She’s holding yellow/orange topaz and purple amethyst! It could be the material for Taichi or Takeru’s and Koushirou’s crests! (I always liked fire opal for Taichi though xD)

Taichi’s been promomted!! To chief pack animal x’D Just because it’s a cool name doesn’t mean that’s what the job is, Meems.

Taichi’s just like, “I think I’m too young for that position.” Bahahaha.

He’s going to be carrying her books to school before long.

Then something big and hard hits Taichi in the head!! He freaking starts to cry, it hurts so bad!!

Taichi: Owww! Omg I think I got a concussion from that! Help someone call an ambulance!

He was hit in the head by a diamond, which Mimi loves. So she goes off on a monologue about how much she likes diamonds. She never asks him if he’s okay x’D

Taichi: Don’t worry about me, I’m fine, not that you asked or anything.

Mimi: Please, everyone knows your head is already harder than diamonds.

Taichi: ...

The pile of gems looks like Fruity Pebbles. Mmmmm

It turns out the mastermind of this whole operation is Gogmamon, who is the bastard child of Gogmagog I assume :P He eats the gemstones as well as Gotsumon for power. He then produces the diamonds?? I didn’t quite understand if he was spitting out the diamonds because he didn’t like them, or he was creating them inside him when eating and then spitting them out like... diamond turds...

...

they’re diamond turds aren’t they >__>

Mimi is not interested in big business bulldozing the mom and pop shops and small upstarts. And she hates sweatshops! She is pro-Fair Trade all the way! And she will yell it in your face!

Taichi: It’s the yelling part that I’m having trouble with.

Mimi: A good speech from the boss is what keeps up employee morale!

Taichi: Yeah, that’s less true when the boss is about to be gobbled up herself...

Golemon and Togemon try to fight Gogmamon and this results in Golemon falling to pieces.

Taichi: Are you okay?

Golemon: My HEAD was knocked off, but sure I’m doing JUST FINE -____- little brat

Taichi stands protectively in front of Golemon’s head. Lol. He’s thinking of strategies... perhaps regretting rushing after Mimi and leaving his own partner behind...

Mimi joins him and Gogmamon finds her a formidable opponent in the war of words. Gogmamon argues that all the rocks, all the Digimon, everything here belongs to him and him alone! And Mimi brilliantly counters with:

“Fuck that! They belong to ME!”

x’D He just like... under his breath... “she admits that’s how she thinks of us...” hahahaha... I laughed out loud...

It might not be 3D but this is an excellent evolution sequence xD I haven’t said so yet but the animation in this episode was good! Good for the show anyway. It was smoother than usual despite some mechanical-like mouth movements and more than that, it had character and expression!

okay important question everyone: Taichi = Kermit, Mimi = Miss Piggy... discuss??

So Gogmamon has a pretty cool-sounding attack, “Curse Reflection.” I have often complained that the villains we fight and get new evolutions with aren’t that scary, but Gogmamon not only seemed pretty formidable (if not the smart, I mean he does have rocks for a brain), he also had a good story build up. My one disappointment in this episode is that the ending is so fast and Gogmamon so easily dealt with. This would have been a good time to introduce Rosemon (like how last week would have been an appropriate time for HerculesKabuterimon). But in both cases, we’re definitely supposed to take away at least that these guys are almost there... Anyway yeah, I would have liked a tiny bit more meant to the resolution but.

So here’s ANOTHER cool thing! Taichi notices that Gogmamon rejects the diamonds, and realizes they’re the key to defeating him. But he doesn’t just tell that to Mimi. He asks her “Did you see that?” And guess what - she did!

So even though the show couldn’t resist telling us that yes, Taichi would have been able to handle this situation - it doesn’t even let him give Mimi a hint towards victory. She figures it out for herself! The most we can say he does is point out the diamond, but she understands the implication and is able to use it against Gogmamon through her own intellect.

TAICHI DOESN’T MANSPLAIN Y’ALL. HE’S NOT A MANSPLAINER. HALLELUJAH AND PAST THE PEAS!!

Mimi is very influenced by her hardworking, CEO grandpa, Tachikawa Genichiro, who’s taught her things about business and things about values, and it really reads as if she’s the one who will inherit the family business - like she’s the family investment. You know, the role that traditionally only falls to sons. That’s changed with the world, and apparently Tachikawa Genichiro-jiisan is totally on board with his granddaughter being more than just a pretty heiress!

... btw what are they making...

“You’re fired!” Mimi yells as Lillymon takes Gogmamon down x’D kill me I love it

Like last time (and it sure was a long time ago that we saw it ;_;), the aftereffects of Lillymon’s powers is plants start growing everywhere. This is such a cool effect, I don’t get why it’s not used more. Right now I feel like Mimi/Palmon are the best set in the show.

(I did think it was funny when Mimi gives the diamond to Lillymon to use against Gogmamon and Lillymon acts like Mimi’s making this huge sacrifice since she loves diamonds so much. But 1) it wasn’t the only one, and 2) they were spat out by Gogmamo! that’s gross! that’s got to cut into the value! hahah)

The others finally catch up and the day is saved. Golemon is an employee for life now. Awww.

AWWWWWW.

I gushed about all this before so I won’t repeat myself, but yeah, I’m so happy with this episode.

Lol Sora and Taichi have accepted their places in Mimi’s world, in the end. They might have numbers instead of names and their boss might change her mind about things every five seconds, but other than that it’s a pretty nice gig overall.

Again the art, so sweet. This reminded me of Miyako yelling to Mimi about how she wants to be like her when she grows up in 02 so I capped it.

And I absolutely love this little play on words since it’s in English! Wow!

SO CUTE. How did a Mimi episode kick every other episode out of the water? Scratch that, we always knew Mimi was fantastic. A shojo hero for the 21st century.

Well I said a ton and this is really long now so I’m gonna assume you all get my thoughts on this episode. 9.5/10, really awesome, totally unexpected but perfectly suted to Mimi. I’m so so happy this show seems to have figured things out and remebered that it’s supposed to be freaking Digimon Adventure, it seemed like it forgot for a while there. I just hope we haven’t wasted too much time on those more lackluster episodes, I want so many more stories like this one.

Next week looks like another winner:

OK, that concept is hilarious x’D I’m so sorry. But also, leave it to Yamato and Gabumon to get the tragedy episode.

The mood maker will be this guy! I’m totally psyched for Yamato and Jou. Taichi’s been important in the past two episodes even though they were centered on Koushirou and Mimi, so I wonder if/when he’ll be involved this time? Or maybe it really will be just Yamato and Jou - my dream combo?? I can’t wait either way.

DID NOT CHECK FOR TYPOS! See y’all next week.

#fizz watches digimon 2020 #digimon adventure 2020 #digimon adventure: #digimon adventure reboot #digimon #digi spoilers #this took forever because i loved it so much #so many caps so many comments hahahahaha

[remmushound]

Curse of the Clan, part 12! @scentedcandlecryptid @selfindulgenz

Content warning: Violence, blood!

“That was the first time I had ever seen a lion. I had heard stories about them, of course; but to see one in our province was a shock to me. The thought of lions had always sparked images of open savannah and hot deserts, not the chill of the northern lands. I know better now, of course, that creatures often pop up in the most unexpected of places. My curiosity was one that could not be ignored. That night when we stopped to rest, I just knew I had to see that grand sight once more.”

“Where are you going?” Kenichi asked in the dark of night when he noticed the ghostly outline of Usagi crawling out of the back of the cart.

Usagi froze like a deer caught in lamplight. He looked quickly to make sure their escorts were still sleeping before he held a finger to his lips to silence his companion. He motioned Kenichi to follow him as he crawled the rest of the way out of the cart and into the snow. Kenichi scrambled to his feet to follow, forsaking Usagi’s silent approach to instead jump down in a single bound, crunching the snow loudly under broad feet.

Usagi shushed him once more, waving his hands out in front of him to Kenichi’s annoyance. Usagi led him a longer distance away from the cart where they couldn’t be heard.

“What are we doing out here?” Kenichi asked, ears pressed against his head to avoid the howling winds.

“I’m gonna go see that lion.” Usagi said.

“Why?” Kenichi scrunched up his nose and stuck out his tongue. “He smelled weird.”

“I didn't even know there were lions in this province!” Usagi said, “And he looked like, suuuuuper old! Old people always have good wisdom!”

“But Usagi, it’s cold out here, and the older bucks told us to stay away from him.”

Usagi didn't care about Kenichi’s hesitance; his mind was already made up on the matter. “Stay here if you want, but I’m gonna be the best samurai I can be! Who best to learn from than a lion?”

“A rabbit, a fox, a weasel— dedicated turtle—“

“And lions!” Usagi said, “You don’t have to tell with me, just please don’t tell the senior bucks about it! I’ll be back before morning.”

“I’m not letting you go alone!” Kenichi grabbed Usagi’s hand and gave a devilish smile.

“So we went together into the heart of the lion’s den, so to speak. We hadn’t gone far from our initial meeting place, and we were able to follow his scent right back to his home. We told him why we had come, and he greeted us with the utmost warmth and hospitality.”

The lion slammed the door shut, locking them outside in the cold and making both kits jump back in a fright at the sudden, deafening noise. They both stared at the door for a long moment, then looked at each other in the same, timed motion.

“That was unexpected.” Usagi gawked.

“And we waited. We figured he would open the door eventually and not just let us freeze. We knew we were going to miss our window of opportunity to return to the wagon, but we didn't care. We were too dedicated, too stubborn. Too young. We sat out there waiting all night. When he did finally open the door to find us still sitting there, he tugged us by our ears all the way back to the senior bucks.

“They were furious with us, and Kenichi by extension was furious with me. When we reached the Dogra School, our punishment was given. For weeks we were stuck on cleaning duty, but by the end of the first month I already had a sword in my hand. I studied at the school of Dogra for three years before I saw that lion again.”

The small patrol stopped when they smelled the lion on the breeze. Kenichi and Usagi exchanged looks, the scent forever etched into their minds even if they hadn’t seen the lion ronin since that night they snuck out together to find him. The other kits their age were immediately unsettled by the scent, fur ruffling and ears falling back, but the older ones of the patrol, made up mostly of rabbits well into their teens and on the path to graduation, seemed almost excited by the intruder.

“Should we go get the headmaster and his guard?” Whispered one of the younger rabbits.

“We can handle this.” Said an older rabbit of black and white; his name was Youdai. He pulled forth his katana and shoved his way through the tall grass, the rest of the patrol having no choice but to follow. The bold young rabbit pointed his katana in the direction of the lion when they came to open land and witness the predator. “Katsuichi.”

The lion didn't respond to his name. He stood up a little straighter, holding a small goat under one of his arms and a little straw hat on his head to keep the sun out of his eyes. He looked just as big and powerful as he had that first day Usagi had met him, the scars and muscles chiseled on his body telling a story of a lifetime of battles won. The gray in his mane, however, told of a warrior in the sunset years of his life. The year's best spent in relaxation and peace.

“This is the last time you step foot on our grounds.” Youdai declared.

“I apologize. My goat got out of her pen and I had to retrieve her.” Katsuichi said.

“I’m tired of your excuses! If you really want to apologize, then give us the goat.”

Katsuichi didn't flinch at the threat. “I need her for milk.”

“Who says we don’t need milk more, hm?” The rabbit laughed, “It’s the least you can do for us!” He stepped forward reaching for the goat.

Katsuichi dropped the goat and grabbed his longsword. The minute his hand touched the sword's hilt, all the rabbits present drew their blades. All except for Usagi. Usagi’s eyes glanced over to Youdai and the other rabbits, widening at the sight of the blades drawn and aimed toward the old lion. Usagi didn't know what guided his feet, but before he knew it he was standing between Youdai and the lion with his arms outstretched.

“He didn't do anything!”

Youdai’s dark eyes widened at the gall of the younger white rabbit, flashing with hate for just moment before it was replaced with a cold malice. He lunged forward and grabbed Usagi by the scruff of his neck as the kit tried to run, yanking him away from the lion and holding Usagi tight against his chest.

“You know what?!” Youdai shouted over the astonished cries of his peers and the struggling of Usagi, “I have an idea that is even funner!”

“Let him go, Youdai!” Kenichi cried.

Youdai held Usagi tightly around the throat until the kit stopped struggling, his nose twitching his fear as tears stained his cheeks. Once he was certain that Usagi would stay still, Yodai pulled out a tiny mulberry from his lunchbox and perched it on top of Usagi’s nose.

“If you can cut this mulberry in half without cutting Usagi, then you can keep the goat.”

The rest of the rabbits huddled together, whispering and shaking their heads at the sight as terror filled them just as it filled Usagi.

“But if you cut his pretty little face, even just a little, then we get the goat. Do you accept the challenge?”

The lion gave a low rumble in his throat, looking between Youdai and the fear-frozen Usagi. He licked his lips, his nose flaring, and raised the point of his sword to Usagi. Usagi gave a whimper and closed his eyes, expecting the cutting pain any moment, but it never came. He opened his eyes to find the lion returning his longsword to its sheath and pushing the goat in Youdai’s direction without comment. Youdai laughed as he grabbed the goat by the bell collar around her neck and yanked her into his arms.

“I expect you off of our land before sundown.” With a twitch of his ear, Youdai signaled for the other rabbits to follow. They all fell into place behind him to return to the tall grass.

Usagi didn't move. Fear still froze him to the spot, ears flat and mouth hanging open. Kenichi turned to face him.

“Usagi, come on.”

Youdai turned at the call, his ears pricking and then flattening as he flashed pointed teeth. “What are you doing?”

This wasn’t right. They threatened this old man, stole his goat, when he did nothing wrong! He looked over at Youdai and couldn’t help but imagine if the buck had been in his position once, on the bad side of a cruel, older buck for daring to voice his opinion. The thought of himself growing up to be that cruel and selfishly motivated left a bitter taste in Usagi’s mouth.

“Usagi, if you aren’t here within the next five seconds, you’ll be labeled a deserter.” Youdai decided and he immediately started to count, loud and slow.

“Usagi, it’s not worth it!” Kenichi tried to urge his friend, “What will your dad think?”

Usagi didn't move nor break his silence.

“Usagi please…”

Usagi closed his eyes and lowered his head as Youdai counted down to five. At first, Youdai seemed frozen, as if he hadn’t expected Usagi to truly disobey him. Then astonishment turned to rage.

“You have until nightfall to be out of my sights, Usagi, and never return.”

Youdai disappeared into the tall grass, taking all the other rabbits and Kenichi with him. When the sound of their retreat had faded, only then did Katsuichi speak up.

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

“But I did.” Usagi said.

“Why?”

Why. That question was so frustratingly simple that it made Usagi want to pull his hair out.

“What they were doing wasn't right.” Usagi said. “I believe my father would want me to do better.”

Katsuichi nodded, turning his back to Usagi and starting to walk away. Usagi felt his heart drop into his stomach and flutter, until the lion cast a look back at him.

“You better start walking if you want to reach my den by sundown. I’m guessing you still know where it is…”

“You recognize me?” Usagi asked, bounding forward ro follow him.

“Ain’t ever seen another rabbit with ears like yours.” The lion chuffed. “And I’ve seen a lot of rabbits.”

Usagi stopped for a moment as he tried to process wether it was an insult or a compliment. Then he continued to hop after the lion ronin.

“The challenge was rigged, if that makes you feel any better about losing the goat.” Usagi commented.

“Rigged? How so?” Katsuichi chuffed.

“I mean, there’s no way anyone could cut a mulberry in half, especially not without—“

Usagi didn't realize what had happened until several seconds after the fact. Katsuichi had turned to face him, sword more like a whip than a blade. The slash of air, the flinch when Usagi registered something coming at his face. And then opening his eyes just in time to see the mulberry still on his nose now fall off in halves off of either side of his muzzle.

“After that, he started to teach me. The first thing he did was take away my blade. The second thing he did was send me down to the river two miles out from his home every day for a year to gather three pails of water and bring them back to him. Never once in that year did my hand touch the hilt of a blade, and never once did I complain. Not for a whole year. But then that year slowly started to turn into two, and the patient obedience of a child began to wane until, at last, I asked him for a blade. He said no. That next morning, he gave me my first proper lesson.”

Usagi caught a scent on the breeze that stopped him in his tracks. His ears became erect, his nose lifted to the wind to smell the scents it had to offer him. The scent of a hunter— the scent of his sensei! He knew his sensei was there! In the most obvious place too! Behind a tree, the only tree for on a long stretch of empty land. Could this finally be a lesson? His first proper lesson? He had taken lessons at the Dogra school from day one! This one would have to be a good one if it took an entire year to prepare. Usagi put his buckets of water down on the ground and waited. For an hour he waited, and then another.

Halfway into the second hour, still nothing had happened, and Usagi was starting to get concerned. Why would he just be sitting there for that long without moving? Was he hurt? Was he even there? Now that he was smelling the wind again, he started to guess that maybe he hadn’t smelled his sensei there to begin with. This was Katsuichi’s territory, so of course his scent to be everywhere. And here Usagi was, making a fool of himself waiting for something to happen when his master wasn’t even there!

He picked up the water again and went to pass by the tree. The moment he did so, a powerful body slammed into him. The water went flying and Usagi was slammed to the ground by the weight of someone much larger than him. Claws slashed one of his ears and released a steady trickle of blood from the sensitive, torn skin.

Katsuichi was furious. Froth was spilling out from over his mouth, his eyes constricted to pin pricks and his lips pulled back in a snarl. “You knew I was there!” He slammed his claws down beside Usagi’s head, digging into the earth in a display that he could have done far worse. “You knew I was there and you still walked past the tree! If you’re dumb enough to do that, what makes you think you’re ready for a sword?!”

“Try as I might, I didn't have an answer. That was the first scar I got.” Usagi raised his hand to touch his torn ear. “I spent the next few months trying to make up for my mistake. I learned from it. He still didn't let me touch a sword until five years into our partnership, and only after fifteen did he dare present me with a sword of my own and a dilemma of which path I would choose to guide the rest of my days. He had taught me all he could teach me and I had to choose my own way now. I chose the path of the Musha Shugyo. A wanderer honing my skills and going as fate guides my paws.”

“How did fate guide you to Nuriyuki?” Leonardo asked. He hadn’t realized how far forward he was leaning, nearly falling off of his rock due to the story drawing him in so deeply. Usagi opened his mouth to respond, but it was Nuriyuki who spoke next.

“Oo! Oo! Oo! Can I tell him?”

Usagi nodded to Leonardo seeking approval. Leonardo smiled and nodded. “Of course, little man.”

Nuriyuki gave an excited squeal and finished off his lizard before starting his part of the story.

The tiny badger cub skipped happily along, holding his mothers hand as she so tenderly guided him down the halls of their palace. The guidance led him into the main hall where his father was joined with several guards.

“Daddy!” With arms outstretched, Nuriyuki ran into his fathers arms and was immediately scooped up by the bigger, heartier badger that gave a loud chuffle as he tickled his nose against his sons cheek.

“Nuriyuki, I would like you to meet Usagi.” Damiyo Tanuki bore his tiny son over to the rabbit who stood tall and proud in royal garments. “He will be your new sword fighting tutor.

“Er… how did the next part go again, Usagi?” Nuriyuki looked to Usagi for guidance.

“The daimyo had taken notice of my skill as I traveled across Japan. My father had been the one to train him, and he could think of no one better to train his own son. He sent a palanquin to bring me to the palace, and paid me handsomely for my services.”

“Oh! Oh oh oh! I remember the next part!” Nuriyuki declared. “I woke up in my room because it smelled all yucky, and there was smoke everywhere! I couldn’t find my mommy and daddy, and there were monsters roaming the halls!”

“Yama-inu. They’re—“ Usagi started.

“Wolf yokai.” Leonardo sucked in a breath. “I’ve been reading up on Yokai.”

Usagi bowed his head and closed his eyes. Nuriyuki went on with the story.

“Then Usagi found me! He carried me out the window and into the snow!”

“We stole a cart.” Usagi said, “And we’ve been moving ever since.”

“Where are you going?”

“We’re trying to reach the home of my master. If you… still want to stick with us, then maybe he can be the one to give you the blessing you need to save your clan. He fits your description. He is a ronin’s ronin.”

“How far is the journey?”

Usagi licked his lips. “Far. Two hundred hours as the crow flies.”

“How many hours as the turtle and rabbit and badger walk?”

Usagi gave a soft smile and shook his head, sucking a breath in through his nose. “It would go by a lot quicker if I had someone to take shifts with the cart.”

Leonardo grinned widely, leaning forward to extend his hand out to Usagi. “Then let’s head out.”

#Usagi’s tale! #foreshadowing in this one~

[docholligay]

LIVESTREAM WINNERS AND TOP POINT COMMENTS

THose of you who read the schedule already know this but the winners are:

HOLLIGAY INVOKES THE SPIRIT OF CLOSET GHOST 

and

WE COOK FOR DINNER IN THE APOCALYPSE

Please join me for both! It’ should be a terrifying, thrilling time. 

AND NOW, THOSE OF YOU WHO MADE ME FEEL THE WARMEST. Thank you to all who answered--I know this was super self indulgent and it means a lot to me that you took the time. So, literally 12 out of the 13 of you got at least one point (One person did not give any details, or even a quote) MAZEL. 

Point allocations are below!!

One point winners: 

4(?)ish years ago, you sent Jet a series of letters/cards/funeral lilies, from different Sailor Moon characters. The lilies were for Mako. One card was from Michiru, after Haruka's death. I have never been able to find them again, but I just loved the care you put into them--how they were all written specifically from the character, the fact that you even put tear stains and perfume on the cards. It was just so creative and touching, and it felt like the characters were real for an instant, mourning and living and giving you a peek at their lives. --- @kumeko (That was A Little Letter, and Mako’s was actually a separate thing for the same contest!) 

   “Before you get yourselves killed I want to go on record as saying this is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done.” Rei stood with her hands on her hips at the front of the garage- from that short story about Mina and Haruka strapping an engine to a shopping cart. You can really feel how rei must feel, the resigned exasperation mixed with genuine, but hidden, concern for Mina and haruka’s safety. I think i have said the exactsame thing before people i know do stupid shit. --- BeefSalad33  (oh ma, an oldie but, I think, a goodie) 

OH MAN. I am always thinking nonstop about that piece where Minako confronts Seiya about bullying Haruka, specifically for the line where Mina spits out "you think she'll love you for this?" and UGH that LINE. it HAUNTS me, I want to BITE DOWN ON IT AND NEVER LET GO, I WANT TO PUT IT EVERYWHERE EVER BECAUSE IT HURTS SO GOOD, AND I DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT SEIYA. --- @wouldntyoulichentoknow (I’m so glad that I’ve managed to make both you and jetty grit your teeth and care about Seiya at some point ahahah) 

"*But flowers grow from death and decay, don’t they? That has always been true, you know that, Mako. You are a rose of perfect beauty, grown in the rich fertilizer of your loss.*

She threw the stress ball across the room, knocking over the cup on the sink, spilling the ice down the drain."

The contrast between reminding herself of how life works, and then still being bitter about it, and knowing what she is and being frustrated about it. It's a lot, when sorting out various issues- i have trauma, and that makes me better at empathizing with people, i'm adaptable long-term, and that means i can put up with some bullshit, that kind of thing, but that doesn't mean those are wholly good things. It's nice to see it put into words, and so plainly, and with such a strong reaction of it.

Roses can still grow wild, as pretentious as that sounds with how your passage resonates to me, but it's still nice to feel that. ---- @katrani (I’m so glad it resonates with you! I liked that line a lot! ) 

2 point answers:

Christmas Carol, Stave 1 - “You are a terrible person,” she jutted out her chin, feigning strength. “Fareeha deserved much better than you. But,” she took a deep breath. “I still hope she forgives you, someday. Someday, I hope you will deserve it.” It feels like cheating to use the most recent thing you’ve written, but nonetheless this section conveys so much about your take on Mercy, so quickly. She may be an idealist, the peacekeeper and builder, and she may want Pharah to have a relationship with her mother that’s not this disaster, but that doesn’t stop her from acknowledging that Ana’s been the primary factor in making it what it is and telling Ana that directly. I love how you write Mercy (and Tracer for that matter) as very warm characters who try to see the best in their situations but won’t gloss over the fact that sometimes, someone does have to be shot in the fucking face. “Good” doesn’t mean “hopelessly naive”, even with a pacifist, and I appreciate that you have characters who show that. 

Bonus, and a fringe case as technically part of the Fushigi Yuigi hateblog: “She was still trying to get home, had been unable to get Tamahome to let her poison him, and then Nakago had hugged her into his chest until she had been forced to flatten him with a punch to the nads. She was tired, she was hungry, and she was trying to have a moonlight bath to consider her options and wash the stink of a man off of her.

And then, Tamahome, again.” - Haruka-gets-dumped-into-Fushigi-Yuugi-as-Yui was a delight that entire episode, but this post was one of the best. Is it really just narrativizing your frustrations with the many, many writing choices that were made here? Absolutely. But it’s a fun little bit of comedic pacing here, especially with the utter exhaustion of Haruka that this bullshit isn’t over yet. (“Fuck my life” to the moon wondering if Usagi could help and regretting how hard it would be to drown herself are close runners-up on that front.) --- Regalli 

(Mercy is, in many ways, my attempt to write someone who is MOSTLY a pacifist that I can respect. It’s not easy for me! I often find pacifism to be cowardice, because so often in life the people I know who are pacifists are, well, not the folks in the street. So i thought, could you write someone who is very hesitant to kill, who believes that even Doomfist, even Reaper, even whoever, deserve care if they are hurt, who believes that a sword will not leave her hand free to uplift the fallen, and make her brave? And make her strong? And so was born, Mercy, who proved that, yeah that person, at least in my mind, can exist.) 

I think one of my favorite passages from your writing is from "The Rest is Commentary". Particularly the part that starts with "I am a doer. " That entire paragraph is wonderfully written, with mix of beautifully descriptive language to describe *why* you don't trust words. It's slightly paradoxical, but it also fits with the rest of the essay (?) so well. And even beyond that,  I love reading when you write about your faith. You are deeply devout woman, and a personal aspiration to me. When you write about your faith, it reminds me that there is work that needs to be done to live it, and not easy work either. But it is very much worth every bead of sweat, and every drop of blood. --- @shavedjudomonkey 

(Thank you so much! I love that people have connected so much with my Jewish writing) 

3 point answers: 

From Requiem for the Great Consummation, I adore the word play with "compose." Ie, in the line, "Michiru folded her hands in her lap and composed herself." Why? I'm a musician. So, Michiru, with her music, holds a special place in my heart. (Why Ami gets the music attacks is beyond me. WTF?)  I don't think the writers ever really understood what it takes to be a musician, and while fanfic writers often include Michiru's music, I've never really seen it done well. (I'm sure it has been. I just haven't seen it.) Music is all about structure. It has to feel free and soaring, but it can only be that because of the intense amounts of tension and structure underneath. A kite without a string plummets. When I reach for high, soaring notes, that's when I have to be most conscious of having a solid base. Making music Is constant tension. So, often when I see writers portray musicians, it's all "she never felt so free and untethered as when she sang/played the,violin/piano/whatever." And I think, "wow, really? She must have been Crap." So, back to compose/compose. This wordplay shows that tension. The "I have rehearsed this 5,000 times and am still working so hard I'm sweating standing still in this freezing auditorium so that it can look and sound completely free and easy." This is Michiru's entire life. She is composing herself. She is outlining complex rhythms and tensions and resolutions that even though you hear when the piece is played, you don't fully take in or understand, and all you consciously comprehend is 'wow, pretty.' Because that's how music works. Organs have keys that can't be heard by the human ear, and composers include them in their pieces. Why? We can't hear them! But we feel them. If you look at the score for an orchestral piece, it contains So. Many. Notes. So much going on. But when you listen, all you hear is that melodic theme. But if you take out anything underneath, things change and cam fall apart. Michiru lives her life like that. She creates herself, composes herself, and it looks elegant and free and easy, but it is so so very tightly controlled and rehearsed, and that particular wordplay showed off that side of Michiru's music, which is one I don't get to see explored much. --- @incorrecttact 

(Thank you so much for this!! I am NOT a musician, but so much of Michiru and music speaks to me, the structure of it, the discipline, the way it allows you to express yourself while hiding behind something else. And yes! I think of that double meaning so much!)

I want you to know... that this was very, very difficult. I made a notepad and collected shit I'd pulled out from your work where I could find comments where I did such, and then I AGONIZED. Here is where I landed but know it's so close with other things god. 

"Winston worked in earnest at his inventions, and Emily went back to teaching, and the two of them began to cook for each other again. Family dinners once a week resumed, grew with some of the new recruits that were being folded into their family. Pharah and Mercy’s daughter took them to the zoo, the park, out into the world. Dva had continued the game they had all been playing before Tracer died, their party picking up after the terrible and well-done loss of their beloved rogue. ***Life did not return, but it grew forward. It bloomed again.***" — A Clock's Fading Chime

I ended up choosing this one because I hate it a little when I read it. Not because it's not good but because it's SO PAINFUL. I love so much about the way you talk about love, and I think grief is all a part of that. We grieve because we loved. The idea of the grief period, especially for those in a close circle of a lost person, being like the cycle of the seasons where a flower may die but life blossoms in the soil it left behind is so evocative and perfect and everything leading up to that last line is the soil for which that line got to bloom. The slow, simple way life returns to them, that they adjust to the heavy rock in their pack (A piece of yours I revisited for this and a metaphor I will always carry with me) and start growing stronger together. And that they find it WITH EACH OTHER too just god, it kills me. But would I rather wish it wasn't necessary? YUP. FOR SURE. It hurts to think about someone who plays Lena's role dying in our own lives and trying to mend the rift between those left behind. But it brings all those possibilities and who may have gone already before to mind because it feels so grounded in the reality of what these experiences are like and shit it's just a great sampling of everything I love about your work. Beautiful prose, saying so much with so little, grounded in stuff that feels read, and ending on a banger, transfixing line. ---- @thoughtfulfangirling 

(Thank you so much! I LOVED that whole series of fics around that, as it is in the way that I often like to toy with the nature of grief, and the way that we go on. Things aren’t ever the same, but we go on. And I’m so glad you gt into it too! It’s very self-indulgent for me, basically everything with OW, so I love when other poepl like it) 

4 point answers: 

Given that I am not Jewish, I hope this isn't overstepping my bounds, but your passover Seder speech really spoke to me this year. Specifically the bits about the relationship between cowardice and metaphorical bondage: 

"This is a celebration of our freedom from bondage, but it is a also a reminder, a call that we must ensure we do not, in cowardice, return ourselves to bondage. "

Without explaining too much, and risking the kind of parasocial oversharing that you lamented the other day in a post, this particular push and pull has been at the forefront of my mind this year. The intense gravity that the familiar, the easy, the safe, can have, versus the genuine terror of pressing out into the unknown in search of something better.

Trying to change, and to do better, and to press on, is fucking terrifying, and hard. But, that is not an excuse. And I appreciated the reminder.   --- @blastoise-m 

(Not overstepping at all! I am so glad that it speaks to you, I really, really love this kind of writing, and I really should get back to doing more of my Jewish writing. My rabbi is leaving, because we apparently don’t have the money to have a rabbi! And he’s readying people to be lay leaders, and called on me to be someone who could give Divrei Torah (sort of like our sermons) because of my tendency to do stuff like this, and it’s very scary! But really exciting as that’s the kind of stuff that had me interested in being a rabbi, is picking this stuff apart and applying it to our own lives HI YOU ASKED FOR NONE OF THIS SORRY) 

"There are no beautiful deaths in this world, and am sorry that you must know it. Rei never was allowed to say goodbye. I watched Haruka grow weaker and more ill every single day. We each have been jealous of the other, at turns, but I tell you this truth now: Our lives mean much more than our deaths. You and Seiya had a wonderful love story, and you raised a wonderful daughter, and unfortunately it is very often difficult to finish a story in a satisfying sort of way. It is not the end of your story, simply of hers. For you, it is a new chapter"

I think this is still one of my top 5 fav fics that you've ever written. I still think of it randomly once in a while. It's such a small moment but it sold me Usagi and Seiya in a way never would have expected. It's such a moment of growth for both Usagi and Muchiru. A small moment of connection for two people who are so different.

This is wrapped up in the entire MaS series, which I could never separate from this work let alone this quote. The entire series is a series about love and all its many permutations. About finding meaning in a world when you think your meaning has been taken away. About carrying on when you think there's no reason to do so. And I think this quote really encapsulates all of that. 

This story, this entire series, is one the favorite things I've ever read and I'm so glad that you decided to share it. --- @madegeeky

(I truly and in all ways love how much you love this fic, it cheers em and makes me so happy every time I am reminded of it. And thank you for loving that line! I FEEL that line. It’s been true for every death that has come to me, so I love when it has meaning for others. ) 

The 5 point answer:

"God separated the sky and the sea, and that’s true, but there will always be the horizon where they blend."

I'm not much of a quote person. I'll often remember the feeling or the takeaway but rarely the words themselves. This, though, has stuck with me.

There is so much in this world, and so many people, who see everything as absolutes. Black and white. Good or bad. Right or wrong. And as I've grown and changed, that has come to bother me more and more.

This quote is such an elegant and accessible way to express how that oh-so-common point of view is a fallacy. And really it's just a lovely line that invokes both lovely imagery and feeling. ---- @seolh

I FORGOT I WROTE THIS, and like the completely arrogant piece of shit I am, when I read it was I was like, “Oh fuck, that’s a solid line.” And yes I am with you on getting older and relizing that the horizon line can be so fuzzy out there, sometimes, and this quote WEIRDLY came back to me when I needed it, a lot, and so thank you! 

#names for thing

[saiilorstars]

Ch.3: Memories

Chapter summary: The next Shadow Sailor Guardian has awakened and is determined to find her princess no matter what, leaving Azula, Mamoru and Meroko scrambling for numbers and a good plan against her.

Fandom: Sailor Moon (Crystal)  – – [Rewrite of season 2, AU-ish in that there’s new OCs and the fusion of plots from the manga, crystal and the og series]

Pairings: Eventual OFC x OMC, Usagi x Mamoru

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @perfectlystiles 

{If you’d like to be added to this OC’s taglist, let me know!}

// Story Masterlist //

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Sailor Hemera and Prince Endymion walked alongside each other along the dry field.

"My people were originally from the Sun," Sailor Hemera gestured to the setting sun in the sky. "But then it became uninhabitable and we had to move. We found a home in Shadow and merged with its people. They procreated and now here I am."

"But you're not...exactly like the people from...Shadow?" Endymion gestured to where the supposed Shadow kingdom was. He was still tempted to try and go through the invisible barrier but he was also interested in this Sailor Scout before him. Up until this morning he believed there were only Sailor Scouts belonging to Silver Millennium.

"No," Sailor Hemera shook her head. "With each new generation we began to lose our Sun abilities and now they've become almost scarce. The powers of the light on Shadow are truly rare nowadays. I have been gifted with these powers and I believe they were given to me to use them for a higher purpose."

"And what would that be exactly?"

"To protect my Kingdom, my Queen, and my Princess."

  Mamoru woke up from his sleep with a terrible pit in his stomach. He had been dreaming about that Sailor Hemera ever since she first appeared on the street. But not only was he dreaming about her, now he was getting brief compilations of other people. There were other men - generals, he believed - and then there were girls who had strange powers. What got him worse was the repeating girl with a golden crescent moon on her forehead he kept seeing. It frustrated him that her face was never clear.

He felt like he had done this before, but that was all a dream.

But then he saw another girl, with flaming red hair that he knew he had seen somewhere…

He was going to lose his mind, he was sure.

~ 0 ~

Azula ran her hands through her bright red hair for the tenth time and released a big, tired sigh. She rubbed her forehead and reached for the keypad in front of her. "I've gone through every facial recognition here, done the algorithms too, but this Sailor Hemera could be anyone, Luna," Azula dropped her hand from her forehead and gazed up at the large computer screen in front of them.

She and Luna were back in the base under the arcade trying to figure out who Sailor Hemera was. It had been days since the woman's first appearance and since then she had been flickering in and out saving those who fell under 'Senka's' path.

"Can't you, I don't know, go to the Moon again and do something magical there?" Azula gave Luna a weary glance. It had been days sleeping in late and waking up early for school because of this research.

"Usagi left it meaning everything there doesn't work," Luna reminded. Usagi had chosen to continue living as a regular human, without her memories, and so everything on the Moon would soon again perish from disuse.

"I swear to God one day I'm going to make a big ole supercomputer that can find me anything," Azula let her head drop on the keyboard much like Usagi would have done in that situation.

"I think you should get some rest, Azula. You've been working very hard since Sailor Hemera appeared," Luna truly appreciated how much the girl committed to taking care of the city and the memory-less scouts. "I can call Artemis in while you're out."

"That's great," Azula raised herself up and took a big breath in. She felt her stomach grumble and decided maybe taking a break wouldn't be so bad. She grabbed her purse on the floor and promised Luna she would be back later.

When she was out on the street she buttoned up her coat and did her best to fight against the cold. It had been getting mysteriously colder with each day. She walked into the Fruits Crown Parlor and ordered some nice, steaming coffee. That'll keep her awake for the day.

"Azula?" Minako called from her booth.

Azula, unsurprised, turned sideways to see Minako and Makoto sharing the booth while having lunch. Since Sailor Hemera's appearance, the two girls apparently had gotten to know each other better now. They had also been talking to Azula more now and it worried Azula that it would trigger their memories. Fortunately, nothing of the sort was happening yet.

"Unazuki, bring the order here," Minako called to the waitress. "Azula, you'll be having lunch with us, right?"

"Sure," Azula smiled weakly and went over to the two. "How are you guys?"

"Oh, you know, battling exams," Minako pretended to shiver.

"It would help if you studied," Makoto giggled but Minako rolled her eyes.

"I wanted to try out for the volleyball team!"

"And did you make it?" asked Azula curiously. She remembered that before everything happened with the Dark Kingdom, Minako desired nothing more than to join the volleyball team at her school.

"Yes!" cheered the blonde.

"The problem is-" Makoto began, earning herself a small glare from Minako for ruining the moment, "-that now her practices are getting in the way of her studying."

"It's not my fault! I mean, seriously, who can be expected to remember everything Haruna says?" Minako dramatically sighed. "I wish I was like that genius Mizuno Ami. She could probably remember everything just by looking at it."

Azula smiled to herself at the thought of Ami. She rarely saw Ami now. Like Rei, Ami barely left her home without her old friends. Azula figured the girl would probably spend her afternoons studying on her own. At least Azula could catch Rei sometimes at the nearby mall but it was really rare.

"Azula, you seem tired," Makoto remarked after catching Azula languidly blinking into space.

Minako reached for her soda can and glanced at Azula. "High school must be very difficult."

Azula didn't want to discourage them from their future. She smiled through her tiredness and shook her head. "It's the best. You guys will love it when you get there. I've just been having some rough nights."

"Probably trauma from that weird cloud thing calling herself Senka," Makoto offered, making Minako nearly choke on her soda.

"Don't remind me!" went the blonde.

Azula found it hard to believe this was the famous Sailor V, now scared of the mere mention of a cloud-shadow thing. Memories of that particular Sailor Guardian had also been erased, and thoroughly.

"You guys hear of the other attacks?" Makoto lowered her voice when she asked. "This Senka thing really wants to find that Shadow Crystal at all costs."

"What even is that?" Minako made a face.

"Wish I knew," Azula said with a small sigh. Because she, Luna and Artemis had been trying to figure that out ever since the first appearance.

The cats speculated Sailor Hemera and Senka were from another civilization among the galaxies. It was just hard to figure out which one. No matter how impressive those of the Silver Millennium are, their minds are not infinite to hold every information of every civilization in the universe. It was a long job to do, which explained the tiredness Azula carried.

After lunch was over, Azula figured she should get home to take a well needed nap. She had come down the stairs of the cafe when she spotted a familiar blonde stepping out of the arcade with ginger-haired girl.

"Oh hi, Azula," Usagi greeted her kindly and cheerfully. "You remember Naru?" she gestured to the girl beside her.

"Yeah," Azula nodded.

"I should go," Naru said, backing away, "We have that test tomorrow, Usagi. You can't forget!"

"I won't!" Usagi exclaimed but Azula knew damn well she would.

"Did you win at the Sailor V game today?" Azula asked after Naru was gone.

Usagi's face fell. "No," she muttered. "That game has to be rigged!"

"Impossible, I played it yesterday and I won," Azula said proudly but it just ticked Usagi off even more.

"I'm going to win one day-"

"Mhm…"

"I will!"

Azula laughed and stepped back, bumping into someone in the process. "Sorry!" she quickly said but began to stammer when she saw it was Mamoru. He turned sideways and stared her with a new look in his eyes, nothing like before. "S-sorry...I-I didn't mean…"

  "You can't be serious," Mamoru put down a photograph on the table. His face was contorted into utter irritation.

Azula sat across him wearing a devious smirk. "I did the math, rose boy. It has to be you." Mamoru was not amused and Azula knew it. She laughed at it honestly. "You are Tuxedo Mask and there is nothing you can do to make me think otherwise. Your disappearances from school coincide with every public appearance Tuxedo Mask made, and Sailor Moon's for that matter. It's you."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I got bored."

"You're crazy," Mamoru let a little laugh out, but it was a shaky one. "I'm not him."

"Won't matter if I open my mouth," Azula leaned back on her chair. "All I have to do is point out your odd absences, your odd fashion choices, lack of coherent thoughts, and radical distancing...that should do the job. Doubt is very easy to implant in people who got nothing better to do."

"What do you want, then? Money?"

"My Dad owns the Crown arcade and the Fruits Crown Parlor shop. Money I got."

"Then what?"

Azula's smirk was wide as could be. "I want to meet Sailor Moon."

  Mamoru blinked fast and rubbed the side of his head. Azula was staring in concern but didn't say anything. "Y-your name is Azula, right?" he finally spoke.

"Yeah…" the red-haired confirmed. There was something in his eyes that was flickering and Azula dreaded it. This was something she had seen in Usagi herself before truly discovering her identity.

Mamoru took an unexpected quick leave. Azula thought it was for the better, honestly.

"Wooooow," Usagi giggled beside her.

Azula noticed the blush on Usagi's cheeks and groaned. "You have got to be kidding me. You couldn't have had more than 30 seconds to look at him!"

Her words flew over Usagi's head. "Do you know him? Does he go to your school?"

"You're not kidding," Azula concluded. She didn't know much about love but she figured this had to be something about that cosmic, star-crossed love story of theirs. It appeared she wouldn't be getting her nap because Usagi was dead set on asking and asking about Mamoru.

~0~

Sailor Hemera was not used to working alone. Sure, she had guarded the sacred barrier between the Shadow Kingdom and the Earth Kingdom for countless years, but at the end of the day she would always come home to the palace where she would see her fellow guardians, Princess and Queen. Working alone had never been a part of her. She wasn't built like that...and yet here she was, awakened in a future where she knew no one. Humans surrounded her by the thousands.

"I must find my sister," she set herself for one goal at a time.

She understood that being awoken meant something was going to happen that would endanger her Princess. The problem was, she barely remembered herself what had happened centuries ago. Her mind wasn't completely awake yet. She was just sure that her Princess had been reborn, not awoken like she had, but truly reborn and reincarnated. Being that the case, it also implied that the Princess knew nothing of her real self and much less that she was in danger. Senka was on her way to find her and Sailor Hemera needed all the help she could get.

"Asteria, where are you?" Sailor Hemera whispered in the lonely, abandoned factory she had turned into her temporary home.

There were no leads so far on any of her people. They were probably still sleeping - well, Asteria was probably on her way to waking up judging by that coldness that never seemed to leave the air now.

"But what if I'm not entirely alone?" Sailor Hemera got to thinking about the only other person she'd managed to remember besides her Guardian comrades, Princess and Queen. "That Earth Prince had to have been reborn too. It's law that every planet have a protector."

So maybe she could start her search with him first. After all, he had powers too and any help towards finding Princess Reign was good.

  "Your world is fascinating, Prince, but humans are humans. They have no power," Sailor Hemera had said so calmly and kind. She did not mean any offence but was merely pointing out a fact.

"No, but that does not mean we are any less brave," Prince Endymion said, sure of himself.

Sailor Hemera gave him a sharp look. "Your highness, Queen Nyx informed my comrades and I that the royal human family did hold several unique powers. I know for a fact you have powers."

"Your Queen seems very informed despite living behind this…" he gestured to the invisible barrier beside them, "...wall."

"Well, she held a close relationship to your family."

"But not with me."

"She knew that you were young and still learning. But she has gotten ill, you must understand."

"Must I prove myself to meet with her?"

"No, you-"

But Endymion did not wait for the answer. He was growing impatient not being able to see this Queen Nyx who had settled herself onto his planet. He stared at Sailor Hemera with a new look, a powerful one too. Before she could figure out what he was doing, she heard his voice in her mind.

'I have a right to see Queen Nyx and discuss her stay on my world. If I cannot see her, I demand to see the next in line.'

Sailor Hemera was in utter shock. "You can...you can go into my mind!?"

The prince simply smirked. "And the best part is, due to your linkage with your Guardian comrades, they have heard the warning too."

  "Oh he will definitely help me," Sailor Hemera nodded to herself.

He owed Princess Reign, after all.

#ocappreciation #sailor moon #sailor moon crystal #fd: sailor moon #sailor moon oc #sailor moon fics #sailor moon imagines #oc: azula keena #oc: sailor reign #fic: reign from the shadows

[master-ray5]

After the Cauldron: Return of the Cosmos

This is the end. My last entry to the After the Cauldron Series. Focusing on everyone's OTP, Usagi and Mamoru. It also fits in perfect with @idesofnovember​ and the third day of their UsaMamoWeek challenge. Sometimes everything just lines up perfectly. Enjoy. 

0.0.0

“It’s always better when we’re together.” – Jack Johnson

O.o.O.o.O

Sagittarius Zero, found in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy was the location of the Galactic Cauldron. A nexus in the universe where cosmic energy of the stars and planets gathers together. The only location in existence where Star Seeds, fragments of pure light and Chaos Seeds, slivers of condensed darkness were produced. When complete, these vessels of power erupt from the Cauldron, fly across space, and seek out hosts to whom they resonate. Those who bear Star Seeds will become Sailor Senshi, individuals charged with the eternal mission of preserving life and purifying the hearts of those who are swayed by the carriers of the seeds of Chaos.

It was at this location, Eternal Sailor Moon, the enhanced form of Tsukino Usagi, did battle with Sailor Galaxia, an individual possessing a Chaos Seed so powerful, the being chosen demanded to be referred to as Chaos. The power of Chaos was immense and nearly defeated Eternal Sailor Moon, but instead she joined with Sailor Chibi Chibi Moon, the spirit of the Cauldron itself awoke to prevent Chaos from throwing off the equilibrium of the universe. Blessed by the power bestowed on her, Tsukino Usagi became Sailor Cosmos, a being who was able to match and conquer the darkness of Chaos.

The battle over, Sailor Cosmos was able to manipulate the power of the Galactic Cauldron and made two commands. First, she forgave Chaos and allowed the continued production of the Chaos Seeds ensuring the balance of power was maintained. The second, she breathed new life into the Star Seeds of those defeated by Sailor Galaxia, allowing them to regain their human forms.

With a wave of her hand, Sailor Cosmos made this decree, watching as the Star Seeds of those she called friends and family were ejected from the Cauldron. In a flash of light, the Star Seeds transported away from Sagittarius Zero, leaving the Sailor Senshi with the power of a goddess alone to converse with the spirit of the Cauldron which now lived inside of her.

0.0.0

Hikawa Shrine, the home of Hino Rei, Sailor Mars, and thought to be the unofficial base of the Sailor Senshi of the planet Earth. It was here the Star Seeds were delivered and as the energy which had brought them faded, the stasis surrounding them disappeared as well. As the energy bestowed on them from the Galactic Cauldron took effect, the bodies of each of the fallen Sailor Senshi formed into place. Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn, Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus all found themselves alive and well. Soon, those not native to the planet, Sailor Star Fighter, Sailor Star Healer, Sailor Star Maker, and the princess they protected Sailor Kakyuu were blessed with their human forms as well.

The last to form was the Sailor Senshi of the planet Earth. In his former life, he had been known as Endyminion but in this lifetime he was known as Chiba Mamoru. The warrior awoke to find himself in his sailor persona of Tuxedo Mask but also discovered himself full of energy. Digging through the pocket of his suit coat, he found three small shards of crystal and the four jeweled stones which held the souls of his the Shittennou, his four generals in a previous life. The last of the energy from the Cauldron had washed over the objects and caused the souls inside them to be reborn as well. In a flash of light, the four stones became Kunzite, Jadeite, Nephrite, and Zoisite and the three small shards became the guardian cats Luna, Diana, and Artemis, who had lost their lives in the battle against Chaos’ forces.

Alive and aware of their situations, the Sailor Senshi and their allies found themselves engaging in displays of affections and rejoicing. Group hugs were given, the Sailor Starlights bowed to their Princess, and the Shittennou swore their undying loyalty to Mamoru, insisting they would work to make up for the damage they had done while under the control of Queen Beryl. Though Sailor Mars was hesitant to trust the Shittennou as they made their pledge, she could not help but smile as she watched Sailor Venus lunge at Kunzite, and throw her arms around his neck and hold him tight in an effort to rekindle the love they once shared in their previous life.

As Mamoru smiled at the tender embrace of Venus and Kunzite, a shadow passed through his mind with a dark through which chilled him to the core. A simple notion of what could make this moment absolutely perfect and what was missing from this heartfelt reunion. His eyes darted through the gathering and his heart began to pound with fear as he opened his mouth and asked a terrifying question, “Everyone...where is Usagi?”

The area was immediately filled with silence as they realized she hadn’t returned. A shiver ran down as the fear they would never see Usagi again became a possibility in everyone’s mind and the very thought caused the feeling of warmth to leave their very being. The crowd’s eyes darted everywhere, hoping they would catch sight of her. Hoping she would appear from behind a tree, clumsy tripping as she rushed toward everyone to embrace and show everything was fine.

No one spoke. Everyone was too afraid to ask if she was coming back, as if even asking the question would risk challenging fate and preventing Usagi from returning home.

Time seemed to come to crawl for everyone as they stared at the starry sky. Seconds turned to minutes, turned into an hour. The crowd was afraid to move, scared to even suggest they should engage in a single action without Usagi present. Frightened over the thought one moment without her would lead to many and soon, Tsukino Usagi would be nothing but a memory.  

For Mamoru the waiting felt as torturous as being caught in the limbo of death he experienced while caged by Sailor Galaxia. Like all the Star Seeds which had been locked in her menagerie, his soul had been tied to the vessel, unable to experience heaven or hell, only an endless void of nothingness. Now, the very thought of the woman he loved not returning and having to face a future where Usagi was not by his side felt just as barren and empty. He would not sit ideally by and let such a possibility gain momentum.

“I’m going after her,” Mamoru stated firmly, knowing what needed to be done.“I’ll find her and bring her back to Earth.”

“The entrance to Sagittarius Zero appears and disappears throughout the Galaxy for seconds at best,” Princess Kakyou explained, her eyes unable to mask the pain from knowing such a mission was destined to fail. “It only stayed constant due to the involvement of Chaos. Without such dark power to keep the entrance in one place it will again become the most elusive and valued treasures in all of the universe. You could easily spend ten lifetimes living on rumors and leads and never find it.”

“Then tell me...can Usagi ever be freed from the power we felt her obtain or is her soul forever now bound with the cauldron unable to even achieve reincarnation,” Mamoru asked, wanting a straight answer. Princess Kakyuu cast her eyes to the ground, knowing the answer and not wanting to expressly say such a fate had befallen her comrade. A fire burned in Mamoru as he obtained his answer. “Well...then I will spend TWENTY liftimes if I have to and find the entrance to Sagitarious Zero. I will crawl through Hell itself on my hands and knees if it means I can look into her blue eyes for another moment. I would rather live on waning hope and fading dreams than imagine an existence that Tsukino Usagi isn’t able to inject the world with the energy she radiates. Now...I am going...you will not stop me, you will only delay me, even if it means you kill me. I will go and find her!”

The crowd stood in awe at the young man’s declaration of love and devotion. The Sailor Senshi smiled with the familiar love they shared, as the man they loved as a brother made his intentions clear. The Shittessou beamed with pride at how strong their prince had grown. Even one who had never interacted with him before, Sailor Star Fighter, stood in amazement at Mamoru’s statement.

“Wait,” Sailor Pluto objected as she noticed something out of the ordinary. “Diana is still there. If she is, then the timeline with the future of Crystal Tokyo must be in alignment. Usagi will return.”

A brief calm, washed over the crowd, but left just as briefly as another hour passed as they stood around hoping any second Usagi would appear and reward them all with a smile.

“Well, I don’t plan on waiting around,” Mamoru insisted, looking towards the Shittessou. “I will make arrangements for you all to stay at my place while you reclaim your lives.”

“You are delusional to think for a moment we are going to let you go off alone without at least someone coming with you,” Kunzite interjected, shooting a brief glance to Sailor Venus as if to say “ I may have to go with him but I swear I will return to you. ”

“Let’s get a plan together!” Sailor Mercury declared, hoping to bring calm thinking back to the situation. “ We will find a way to bring her back.

“Yes but…,” Mamoru’s attention was distracted as he noticed an object in the sky. A ball of light was approaching where they stood. In a flash of light the bubble collapsed and Sailor Cosmos was standing in front of the group. A burst of energy blinded the group and when it faded, Usagi was standing looking up at the winged form of Sailor Chibi Chibi.

“Thank you for your assistance,” The tiny cherub complimented Usagi for her help. “Chaos would not have been stopped without your help. The universe owes you a great debt Sailor Moon.”

After the tiny winged finger thanked Usagi, it flew around the group twice before jetting into the sky and out of sight. Shocked by what had just happened, everyone looked from the sky to the returned form of their friend.  

“Sorry I am late,” Usagi chuckled nervously. She could tell immediately her friends had started to worry when she had not returned right away. “I used the power of the cauldron to send Chibi-Usa and the Sailor Quartet back to the future. Did I miss…”

Usagi was cut off as Mamoru pulled her into his arms and held her close. A moment later, both Inner and Outer Senshi surrounded the couple and a large group hug took place. The princess has returned to her friends, her lover, and her family. It was a time to celebrate.

O.o.O.o.O

Hours past until it was long past midnight. Farewells were said as the Sailor Starlights and their princess left the planet so they could return to their home in hopes of rebuilding. Sailor Pluto promised she would personally make sure Diana would be able to return to the future safely. The Sailor Senshi and Shittessou insisted they would meet up tomorrow and have a discussion about how to help the men reclaim the lives the Dark Kingdom had stolen from them. Mamoru voluntarily gave his resurrected friends his keys, insisting they could stay at his place for the evening while he took the time to escort Usagi home. After many emotional moments, the couple found themselves alone on the streets of Tokyo, walking hand and hand.

Neither of them spoke, one would think they were drained from the experience they had just endured but this was far from the truth. Instead, having experienced the agony of losing the other, each secretary was fighting a desire to succumb to physical passion.

“You…,” Mamoru began as he knew they were only a few blocks from Usagi’s home. His body screamed at him, insisting he wrap his arms around her and never let her go. His logic filled brain did not listen. “You must be tired. You had an incredible experience.”

“Yeah,”  Usagi agreed as she stopped walking. Her heart ached for his touch and her body felt the same torment. “I guess I am but I don’t know how I feel. A lot has happened. It’s all a bit overwhelming.”

"I can’t even imagine. You truly are the strongest of us all,” Mamoru complimented, his very being tense with desire. He wanted nothing more than to taste her sweet kiss again.

“I was so scared the entire time,” Usagi admitted, remembering the torment of seeing Galaxia manipulate Mamoru’s body into acts of humiliation and submission. “All I wanted was to give up...all I wanted was to know peace.

“Then, you need a night to just relax. We should probably just take things slow," He whispered, licking his dry lips. He was thirsty for salvation only she could offer. "We went through a lot."

"Y-your right," She lied, denying her own sense of longing. "I guess you can just walk me home and we'll say...goodbye."

The rest can be found here:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13449794/5/After-The-Cauldron

or 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25553095

#sailor moon #sailormoon #sailor moon fanfiction #usaxmamo #Usa/Mamo

[shnuggletea]

Chapter 22 is now LIVE on fanfiction and AO3! 

For those of you keeping count, this is twenty-two of twenty-four chapters. Now that the voting has closed, I will be finishing up the finale! Thank you to all of you who voted! I will be getting that chapter to you soon! Chapter 24 will be live on Patreon asap, I have to finish writing it! But! You guys voted so now I can write the finale based on your thoughts!!

Just so people that are interested know, I’m currently working on the next chapter of Enchanted. No, I haven’t forgotten and yes, I am going to finish it someday. Better read it while you can though cause I’m going to turn it into an original and take it off the site pretty much as soon as it’s done!

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Wanna catch up from the beginning? Fanfiction here and AO3 here!

Chapter 22

“Your memory feels like home to me. So whenever my mind wanders, it always finds it’s way back to you.” ― Ranata Suzuki

Waking to black hair in the bed with her had been startling until she remembered and realized it was just Rei, her back to her as she slept.

Rising carefully, she managed to remove herself from the bed without waking either black haired guardian within it. Tiptoeing to her dresser, she traded out her PJs for a pair of jeans and a thick sweater. As quietly as possible, she pushed her feet into her boots and pulled on her coat as she left the apartment, all occupants snoring softly inside.

The frozen ground crunched under her soles as she walked, the grass-covered in ice from the morning dew that froze in the cold. Even in the middle of winter and night, the park still looked beautiful, the trees glittering slightly from the frost that covered them. The moon was still up, high in the sky as it slowly made its way down to the other side of the world. It seemed to glitter as well.

Once in the park, it didn't take her long to find him, standing in front of the pond they shared a kiss at in one of their lives. Without a word or hesitation, they wrapped their arms around each other once she neared him. There was no explanation for it, the two of them just knowing to come to this exact spot and knowing the other would be there.

He planted a kiss on her forehead, still holding on to her tight. "I'm sorry I didn't keep my promise to protect you."

"Why didn't you? And why don't I remember any of that?"

He chuckled, "Usako, you were four years old. I'm surprised you remembered your name!"

"But you weren't. If I was four then you were seven. Why didn't you remember and tell me before?"

He stiffened and she felt it all as it rushed through him to her. Her arms around his waist, she pulled him in as tight as she could. "Oh Mamo, I'm so sorry."

Silence fell over them, or at least, they would appear silent to anyone who happened to pass by at such a late hour. The two of them consoling one another with all their might. Him for not being there for her as promised at no fault of his own and her for the loss of his family and memories. She desperately wished she had memories of them for him, to share with him. If only they had gone inside; if she and her mom had gone in just to say 'hi' or let his parents know what he had done….

"Stop, Usako, it's not your fault." She let it go, nodding in understanding. Not wanting to upset him any further. "I wanted to show you something."

Pulling herself from his chest, she found him with a grin and a twinkle in his eyes, reminding her very much of Endymion at that moment. "Really? Haven't you already shown me enough?"

His grin turned to a smirk but said nothing from his link or his mouth. It fell past her face so small and fast, she wasn't sure she really saw it. But then more began to fall, the small white flakes each perfect in their own way.

He released her and she stepped away, watching as the sky turned white. Her hand stuck up in the air, catching a few flakes as if to test if they were real. Then she let them both fly out, catching as many as she could in her palms. She giggled, spinning in the white fluff, it sticking and starting to pile up on the ground already.

Even though she already knew he was, she turned back, finding his eyes on her and her heart raced. "I know what you are doing by the way." He flinched slightly, not sure how he thought he could hide it from her. "But it doesn't matter now, whether I am like Serenity or not."

A smile slowly formed on his face. "And why is that?"

Her heart was beating erratically, barely containing it inside her chest. "You know why."

He made his way to her, the thick snow crunching under his feet and not another sound other than the snow softly hitting the Earth. "I still want to hear you say it."

Her arms across her chest, she did her best to protect herself, even though there was no point. "I don't need to be Serenity because you love me." He nodded, wrapping his arms around her again. "And I love you, Mamoru."

With her heart already pulsing, she actually needed the alarm from her communicator. Mamoru released her just enough for them to look at it together. "Usagi-chan, Youma. Downtown shopping district."

Luna sent the coordinates, even though she didn't need them, already feeling the pull. She pulled the rest of the way free from Mamoru, readying to transform. "What is with these bad guys? Why in the world would they attack that area in the middle of the night?"

"Usako." He grabbed her arm, stopping her from moving or transforming. "This isn't about other people, it's about you."

"What?"

"Think about it. That last attack, they set it up for you. They are targeting you."

A shiver ran through her, a combination of their fears and worries. "Do you think that's why they attacked me in the arcade?"

His head shook, "I don't know. But it didn't feel that way. They must be targeting Sailor Moon and Usagi."

She slumped, looking at the now white ground. "Great… just great."

"I won't let anything happen to you."

"I'm more worried about something happening to you." He tried to pull her back to him, but she twisted free. "We should go. Get there and end this before anything bad happens."

~*O*~

He really should be focusing more on the fight they were racing towards, but all he could do was watch the goddess next to him as they both raced. Leaping from one building to the next, her body arched across the skyline, snow dancing around her. He probably should stop the snow now, it only being an impediment for them in battle. But it made Usagi so happy…

This wasn't going to do, he was far too distracted. Pushing, he cleared his mind of thoughts that weren't helpful at the moment and focused on the throbbing pain in the back of his brain. A reaction to the Earth and the people on it getting wrecked in one way or another.

But none of it prepared him for what they found when they arrived at the scene of the crime. Because it truly was a crime scene. It took him too long to react, grabbing Sailor Moon and pulling her into him to hide her eyes, even though she had already seen it.

Bodies. Everywhere. At least 20 all completely drained of energy.

"Welcome to the party, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen!"

It was the same voice from before, the one that had taunted them last time. All they could tell for sure was that it was a male voice. Or at least, it sounded male to them as humans. Sailor Moon pulled away from his hold but he kept her close, a hand on the small of her back that was ready to grab and pull or toss if necessary. With their link and his touch on her, he could feel the tension she held in her body. It matched his.

"What have you done, you monsters!"

The heartache and tears Sailor Moon had were felt by him and heard by all in her voice. A high pitched and annoying giggle filled the air, a second creature taking the 'mic'.

"We took what we needed before but this time, for you Sailor Moon, we took it all!"

Rage growled from deep in his belly, the bodies around him that were killed for no reason amplifying his feelings. "How about you show yourselves you freaking cowards?"

"Hmmm… no I don't think we will. Not yet anyway."

He felt like he could spit fire at the both of them, the male in particular who continued to mock them from his hiding spot. But someone else did come out of hiding, a creature that looked like a tree with legs. Brown bark made up the skin of it and branches from the middle and bottom where its legs and arms. Its hair was twigs and leaves, twisting and shaking with every step it took closer to them.

On instinct, he threw Sailor Moon behind him. If the creature was any part of an Earth tree, this would be a short fight. Focusing, he watched as his golden cords fanned out and then wrapped around the monster. But they went no further, unable to penetrate the bark and dig into the Youma and take control. It wasn't from Earth at all.

The monster shrugged off his power, recoiling back to him with a snap and having him step back into Sailor Moon slightly. Then it started to shake, small at first but getting more and more violent until something burst out of its branches on the top of its head. Mixing with the falling snow, dark pink mixed with white, fat petals falling from the sky. Twisting, he wrapped his cape around Sailor Moon, even in her protests and shouts of fear for his safety. She was his priority.

But the petals didn't come near either of them, watching as they floated with a mind of their own only to land on the corpses around them. Attaching themselves to multiple parts and spots on their bodies, he watched in horror as the dead flesh began to twitch, tremor… then stand.

His arms still around her, they took several steps back but were quickly getting surrounded. "Tux…"

"I know, I know."

Pushing her behind him again, he punched a zombie that had gotten too close in the jaw. It hit the ground hard, a sick crunch from its bones, only to get right back up again. Laughter filled the air, his nausea burning his throat or his anger.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to do better than that, Tuxedo Kamen. Unless you want to just give us Sailor Moon?"

"Fuck you!"

Both voices erupted in laughter and his brain began to burn. Spinning on his heel, he found a wide-eyed Sailor Moon, tears brimming and making her blue pools sparkle. "Sailor Moon… they are already dead. Remember that."

Taking his staff, he pulled and unlocked the blade that hid inside it, the metal dull in the dark and early morning. The sharp intake of breath from Sailor Moon was deafening, only making what he had to do that much harder.

"Close your eyes, Usa." He whispered and prayed she obeyed.

But that wouldn't be Usako.

Grabbing it out of his hand, she flung the blade far, only getting a shocked glare shot at her before she ran from him. To make matters worse, the damn things followed her.

"Sailor Moon, cut it out!"

"I can't just let you… cut their heads off!"

He took off after her, kicking and punching as many of the walking dead out of his way as he followed. "They're already dead…"

"It doesn't matter! Think of what it will do to their families? What it will do to you!"

The idea of cutting someone's head off, dead or alive, did make his stomach turn. But it was better than the alternative, them getting Usagi. The nightmares would be nothing compared to the overwhelming pain he would feel if anything happened to her.

For a quick moment, he split from her, grabbing his blade back up and getting to her side. Sailor Moon reached for it to toss it again, but this time he was ready pulling back from her grasp to keep it in his hold. Now their backs were literally against the wall, the high brick wall that surrounded the parking lot they were in was behind them while zombies rounded on the two of them.

"Where the hell is everyone else?!"

Sailor Moon shivered from his tone and he pulled her closer to him, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"It will be okay. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

"It's not me I'm worried about."

Her voice was shaking, the fear she had for him snaking through their connection. He couldn't stand it, her being so scared, all for him. The ground was quaking under them, his emotions taking control. But for once, he was thankful for it, the ground splitting open before them to create a deep barrier between them and the dead.

Just as they started to breathe easier, the dead began dropping into the hole. One after the other and Sailor Moon shrieked after them. It seemed pointless until they began to pile up. They were all reaching out for them, for Sailor Moon. It was enough to have his stomach turning again.

Not a moment too soon, fire filled the hole and he had to grab Sailor Moon again, covering her eyes. But nothing saved them from the smell. "Someone, kill the goddamn Yoma already!"

Now, ash-covered and charred arms reached for them, a few still on fire as they crawled out of the hole. Sailor Moon was sobbing while he was trying not to vomit. It would have been better if he had just cut their heads off after all.

"So much suffering for just one person…"

The bodies all went limp, the air shifting before them until a man stood before them. Well, not really a man, but he looked like one in a way. "You…"

"Oh? Have we met?"

Shit. This creature had attacked Mamoru not Tuxedo Kamen. He had almost fucked up royally.

"You are the cause of this? Ugly piece of shit like you?"

The creature fell for it, grimacing back at him. There had been two at the arcade the other day…

He felt it too late but still managed to throw Sailor Moon away and across the hole from them. The pink-haired bitch nearly sunk her claws into his blonde and he had to grab hold of her wrists to keep them from sinking into him.

"Tuxedo Kamen!"

"Just go!"

Sailor Moon was still on the ground, staring wide-eyed at the two of them. "Just go, Usako. I'll catch up!"

Their link was truly a blessing and a curse, her not believing him in the slightest and not moving from her spot on the ground save to get to her knees. Pain shot through his shoulder, having been distracted he now had long, pink knives sticking out of it. They appeared to be the monster's nails.

A roar erupted from his throat, now tossing the bitch at her lover who did not catch her correctly, both of them going down. Leaping across the void, he scooped up Sailor Moon and made for the others with her; Mars, Jed, Venus, and Kun going toe to toe with the tree creature. They weren't far and yet, no matter how hard he ran, it was as if they were going nowhere. It was then that Kun looked up at the two of them, his face going pale that he knew something was really wrong.

"Run all you want. Wear yourself out, it will make sucking you dry easier."

Setting Sailor Moon to her feet, he threw a rose, only to have it soar on endlessly as if time and space didn't exist. Or gravity, it hanging in the air as if it had none. "What did you do?!"

The girl shimmered before them, cackling. "Oh, not much. Just put you in a sort of...space vacuum. You're in what we like to call a time bubble, it doesn't really exist in here. And there is no exit."

"What do you want?"

He shoved Sailor Moon behind him but her words still made it out, the answer he knew he didn't want to hear. The male appeared next to his mate, looking Sailor Moon over like dinner. "Your energy was so… effective. And we are in need. So I'm going to have to ask you to give it to us. All of it."

"Will you let him go?"

Twisting, he growled back at her, but Sailor Moon didn't even flinch. "Sure. If you surrender to us!"

The smirk on the female's face told him it was all bull shit. They were going to drain Usagi dry and then him and whomever else they wanted. "Don't fall for it, Sailor Moon. They will never let either of us go."

"Tux…"

She was clawing at his back, pulling hard on his cape. He turned to her as much as he could without taking his eyes off the pair. "Sailor Moon, if you think for one second I'm going to just let you go then you are…."

She screamed, grabbing him and pushing him hard. He had been an idiot, taking his attention from them for a second to look Usagi in her eyes in hopes of bringing his words home. Instead, they had taken advantage and fucking up whatever he had hoped to tell her. His face hit the dirt but he didn't feel it, Usagi's screams making him numb all over in the worst way.

The male had her in his hold tight, pressing her against him, front to front that had him seething all the more. The female tried to stand between him and the two, putting on some sick pout on her face. There was no more control over himself at this point. Because they were touching Usagi, his Usako. So now they had to die.

His skin popped with electricity, it arching out and striking the female. She went sailing but he didn't watch to see where she landed. The male looked, watching the body of his lover go flying. But he held onto Sailor Moon still, now using her like a shield, the fucking coward.

"Let. Her. Go."

The creature shivered for a moment, but then smirked, twisting Sailor Moon around so that she was now facing him. "No. I don't think I will. Because you will never hurt her even if I do."

Sailor Moon whimpered, her arms locked in the creature's hold. She was being foolish, not wanting to strike the guy because he was similar to a human. But he wasn't human and he had killed several innocent people. She needed to snap out of it and take the fucker out!

It happened in slow motion, feeling so helpless as the creature held the woman he loved captive as a shield… and then leaned over to run his tongue over her neck and jaw.

His bones cracked from the pressure, his power surging but having nowhere to go. The creature had pissed him off so much, he wasn't sure he could contain himself and keep from hurting Usagi as well. The look on Sailor Moon's face was one of shock, having turned away from the assault to her skin. But it didn't last, her turning slowly to look at the beast as much as possible.

It was smirking, looking like he might do more to her. But then the monster started to shake, starting in his shoulders and chest and then all the way down to his toes. He could see it, the beautiful coils of Usagi's silver energy as it wrapped and twisted around her capture. The monster only felt the pain, soon losing his hold on Sailor Moon as the agony he had to feel took control of his limbs. Suddenly, his limbs snapped back, going up into the air and bending at an unnatural angle.

"ALI!"

The heart-wrenching scream woke up Sailor Moon, unfortunately, releasing the prick that had just held her for ransom. And she was still too close.

Time slowed again, him reaching for her while the female reached for her simultaneously. Her claws were out, planning on ripping Sailor Moon's heart out and he begged her through their link to move. But she was in shock, drained too, the energy she expended making her slow even though it wasn't much.

The night was just too much for her mind, making her sluggish. He wasn't slow though, grabbing her with just enough time to spin her out of the way and block the blow. Pain shot through his spine this time, the 'nails' digging in and going deep. It felt as if they touched his heart, it tripping over itself. But then he realized, it was the draining of his energy that caused the sensation, it getting siphoned off quickly.

Bright white light filled his vision, the nails getting ripped from him just before he hit the ground. "Mamo!"

She was whispering harshly in his ear, tears streaming down her face. He wiped them away with his gloved hand. "Shhh… it's okay. I'm fine."

He didn't feel fine, his accelerated healing not as quick as he needed it to be as he bled out. And shit, their link was a curse again, her hearing every thought in his weakened state. "Let me take a look…"

"No, Usa. Just get out of here. I'll be fine, I can take them myself."

"You can't even stand!"

She was right, half on the ground (and half in her lap) Usagi was holding him as he laid limp. It was as if his spine was broken.

Oh...it was.

Severed by the creature's claws. But his neck worked, looking around for the threat only to find them limping away. The two of them held onto one another, neither in good enough condition to help themselves let alone one another. They shimmered away so he looked for the other creature, catching it as it turned to dust thanks to a large blast of fire from Mars. Usagi was safe, he could rest now…

"Don't you dare close your eyes, Mamoru. I will NEVER forgive you if you die on me again!"

"I'm just going to… rest for a minute…"

"Mamoru?...Mamoru!...MAMORU!"

#sailor moon fanfiction #sailor moon fandom #love lost #shnuggletea #faulkner writing #fluffy #usa x mamo #senshi x shitennou #shitennou redemption #doom tree arc #OTP FEELS

[beewolfwrites]

And When I am Formulated, Sprawling on a Pin - Chapter Twenty-One: Tread Softly

I’m sure some of you have been looking forward to this chapter. Some truths are starting to come out now :) 

I know I put this on every chapter, but if you’re new here, this is a Chishiya x OC/Reader fic, and i’ve put the link to the full fic on AO3 right here. 

Enjoy! And thanks so much for reading! You have no idea how much it means to me <3

----------------------------------------------

A shiver swept through me, and everything went still. The flames, the tendrils of smoke, the gunfire, they all blurred into nothing, and all that mattered was this very moment.

‘The other day, you asked me for the reason why you’re here,’ he said, ‘but the real reason had nothing to do with your usefulness to the Beach. It was because you were useful to me.’

He spoke as if he were telling a well-rehearsed story, as if he’d predicted this outcome all along. He wasn’t even looking at me, but simply staring off into the smoke.

‘From our first game together, it was obvious you cared too much about others. I was looking for a third person to complete the plan, and after the Tag game, when I brought you to that pharmacy, I knew you were perfect.’

Every word sent a new wave of disappointment washing over me, eventually settling and making way for numbness, as I realised how much he had played me for a fool. And the most devastating part was that I should have seen it coming. After all, he was the one who’d told me my naivety would be the death of me.  

‘And after that?’

‘Everything I did after that was all to gain your trust.’ When he finally looked at me, his expression was indifferent. Detached. ‘I was going to send you into the royal suite, just like Arisu.’

The wind shifted, and the cards grazed around our feet, settling once again on the rooftop. An orange glow had lit up the hotel windows, and as the fire spread, it sent embers floating up into the night sky. And in the middle of it all, was the million-dollar question.

‘So why am I still alive?’

‘Because somewhere along the way,’ he said, ‘I changed my mind.’

But... why?  

He was speaking in riddles, evading my question like he evaded everything, and quite frankly, I was tired of it. I just wanted out, and to not have to worry about whether he was going to throw me under the bus.

‘What are you saying?’

‘I’m saying I decided against the idea.’ He sighed, his expression darkening almost imperceptibly. ‘I’m not sure exactly when the decision happened. It crept up behind me, without me realizing it.’

I froze.  

‘It sort of creeps up behind you, and by the time you realise it’s there, it’s too late. You’re already trapped.’

Those words… they were mine, back from that time in the jewellery store. He knew how I felt, and he was still trying to get into my head and twist me.

My fists clenched. ‘Stop,’ I hissed. ‘Stop trying to play with me like this.’  

‘Play with you?’ His eyes shone with amusement. ‘Who says I’m playing with you?’

Hot tears spilled down my cheeks, and I squeezed my hands until the fingernails cut sharp crescents into my palms. The flash of pain offered little remedy. The fact that he was toying with me so casually... I didn’t know whether I loved or hated him.

‘You were going to use me for something else then,’ I said. ‘If not for your plan, I would have come pretty handy in a game. A human shield, maybe.’

He laughed, a soft huff of air. ‘The thought did come to mind, but like I said, I decided against it.’

Despite how much I wanted him to leave me alone and let me focus on finishing the game, there was still a part of me that childishly clung onto the hope that he was telling the truth. I despised that part... I wanted to stamp in into the ground until it was buried forever.

‘I can’t....’ I shook my head. ‘I don’t understand.’

For a long moment, he stared at the rooftop in quiet contemplation, and then he spoke. The words were low, slipping out as if they didn’t truly want to be heard, and something inside of me buckled.

‘You’re a train whistle.’

I cried, hard. Even while the wind scattered the cards around our feet, and the gunfire slowly ebbed away, I sobbed into my hands like a child because this was my dream, the vision that I had wanted for myself. Yet here he was, standing before me with his trickster smile and his cruel apathy, trying to steal it from me.

‘I’m sorry.’ I rubbed the tears from my face with the backs of my hands. ‘I just can’t believe you.’

His jaw tightened for a fraction of a second. ‘You can’t believe me, or you don’t?’

‘Both,’ I replied. ‘If you’re telling the truth, you’d have to find a way to prove it. And even then, you’ve lied so much, I just can’t trust anything you say anymore, even if I really want to.’

‘And if I found proof?’

I shook my head. ‘You can’t.’

That was the cold hard reality.

However, there was another reality, one that was surrounding us in swathes of smoke gusting from the windows downstairs. The fire in the hotel was spreading fast, aided by the cold breeze that seeped through the singed holes in the back of my hoodie and sent goosebumps across my skin. Chishiya didn’t seem particularly bothered by the flames. His impassive gaze was focused on the ground, and he seemed preoccupied with something else.

Probably whatever ‘proof’ he’s going to concoct.

‘We should pick these up and go back inside,’ I said, drying my eyes on my sleeve and eyeing the playing cards dotted across the rooftop. ‘We need to find the witch before we all burn alive.’

Chishiya was silent as he helped me collect the cards before the wind carried them off. Once we re-entered the hotel, I could hear his footsteps following behind me, but I didn’t turn. Until the timer on our phones ticked down to zero, we would be allies and nothing more.

------------------------------------------

The halls were empty, and as we made our way to the balcony overlooking the lobby, it became clear why. All of the survivors were gathered here, including Aguni and the militants. Chishiya and I stayed close behind a pillar, remaining hidden on the floor above while watching the scene. The air was stiff as the survivors backed away, crying before the militants who waited with their guns poised.

‘Kill them all,’ Aguni said.

The militants readied themselves, adjusting their grip, all except one who shakily clutched his gun. ‘Jun,’ he said to the man beside him. ‘I can’t... I just can’t do this anymore.’

‘We’ve gone too far to stop,’ Jun replied. ‘There’s no way we can go back to our original lives after killing this many people’

I flinched as Aguni kicked Jun to the ground. ‘You heard me before, right? Anyone who goes against me is a witch.’ His expression turned dark, and he pointed his gun at Jun’s head.  

‘Shoot me then!’ Jun cried.

I bit my lip, my fingers tightening around the balcony as Aguni placed his finger on the trigger.

‘That’s enough!’

That voice… he’s alive.

A familiar face appeared from the sidelines, and the crowd parted to make way for Usagi, the girl in the yellow t-shirt from earlier, and a boy I knew to be named Tatta. Between them, they were supporting a heavily injured Arisu. Blood was smeared across his face and clothes, but I was glad to see that he had made it.

I should go down there, I thought. I should be supporting them.

I made a move towards the staircase, only for Chishiya to wrap a hand around my forearm. Glaring, I tried to yank myself free. He only tightened his grip in response and shook his head.

‘Let’s end this game!’ Tatta said, moving back to let his friend stand upright.

Arisu hobbled over to Aguni. ‘I was tied up by you guys the entire time, even before the murder happened. I can’t be the witch, and if none of you guys are the witch, there’s no need to kill me. Please cooperate with me.’

Aguni casually strolled over, then smashed his fist into Arisu’s nose. There was a crunch as he kicked him square in the chest, and Arisu’s body rolled across the floor. I recoiled, turning my head in the direction of the staircase – anything not to have to look at Arisu’s bloodied features. Chishiya’s fingers squeezed.

Once again, Arisu stood up to face Aguni, who advanced like a predator. Before he could swing a punch, Usagi lunged at him. He tossed her aside like a rag doll.

‘I see now,’ she said, scowling from where she lay sprawled on the floor. ‘The reason you attacked Arisu even though he’s the only one with an alibi, it’s because you’re the witch.’

There was a moment where Aguni hesitated. Something unreadable came over his face, then he spoke, confident. ‘That’s right. I’m the witch.’

The room filled with whispers. Several people took a step back, eyeing the guns of the militants and Aguni’s unwavering certainty. There was something about it that didn’t sit right with me. Aguni had more of a reason to kill Arisu and Usagi than he did Momoka. Not to mention Kuina had been guarding outside his room earlier. He had been in there all evening.

‘Why is he lying?’ I whispered to Chishiya.

His mouth tilted knowingly. ‘I have a feeling we’ll find out soon.’

I bet he already knows who the witch is.

I scanned the room, trying to figure it out for myself, but there were so many elements to this puzzle. Aguni wasn’t the witch, that was obvious. He probably murdered Hatter though, and I had a feeling there was more to it than just rising tensions. It was only when he walked towards the militants’ outstretched guns, daring them to shoot him, that the bigger picture started to come together.

He wants to die…

Hatter’s death, he felt guilty for it, and now he wanted to die. Could that mean they had been genuine friends before things at the Beach got out of control? But that still didn’t make Aguni the witch. If this was a Hearts game, the real witch was someone we’d least expect… a solution that would leave us distraught.

Apparently, I wasn’t alone in thinking this, as Arisu yelled, ‘don’t shoot him! Aguni’s not the witch!’ With Usagi’s help, he lifted his head from the ground. ‘This is a Ten of Hearts game. Killing him won’t help you win.’

He’s right, it’s a Hearts game, which means the witch will be hidden in plain sight.

The rules stated that we had to find the witch and burn her body. They never mentioned anything about killing anybody, and the rules never lied.

It’s a solution that that still involves burning a body…

My eyes drifted to Momoka.

‘He has an ulterior motive,’ Arisu continued, struggling to his feet. ‘The one you killed wasn’t Momoka… it was Hatter. I found out after I saw your eyes. They were the same eyes I had after killing my best friends.’ He stumbled into middle of the room until he stood face to face with Aguni. ‘If you had this many firearms, the militants would have gained control a long time ago. In reality, you and hatter were both helping each other. There was no conflict at all. You were best friends with Hatter in reality, right?’

With one subtle twitch, Aguni’s expression gave him away, and he crashed his fist into Arisu’s head. Several people jumped onto his back, but he shook them off easily, picking up Arisu by the scruff and socking him once again in the jaw. It was hard to believe he was still conscious as he writhed on the carpet.

‘Just who is the witch?’ Usagi cried.

‘I know who it is,’ Arisu whispered. He swayed as he got to his feet. Then he pointed across the room, and everyone turned to the body lying there. ‘It’s possible that the witch is Momoka herself.’

I looked at Chishiya who was calm as ever. ‘You knew this already, right?’

He smirked softly. ‘So did you.’  

For the tiniest second, there was something else in his expression, something I didn’t have a name for, and some of the pain I felt softened in response. But the moment disappeared, as down below, the room erupted into disorder.

‘What a joke!’ Aguni threw Arisu to the floor yet again. This time, the action sparked something as all the remaining survivors threw themselves at Aguni, swarming in an attempt to subdue him. With gritted teeth, he flung them aside one by one. ‘I’m the witch!’ he yelled. ‘It’s me!’

It was no use. They circled him in a mess of limbs, arms grabbing and pulling desperately. If they could take him down, or at least keep him distracted, there was a chance the game could finally be cleared. But then a new voice broke through the madness, and things took a strange, strange turn down the rabbit hole.

‘Listen up everyone!’ The girl in the yellow t-shirt, Momoka’s best friend, stood unflinching in the middle of the room. ‘I’m the dealer for this game!’

A bright red laser struck the ceiling and pierced her body. She dropped, limp against the floor.

A Dealer?

My mouth fell open in surprise, and at the same time, it all fell into place… the reason why certain games had others playing against us… why they seemed to be designed and run by gamemasters rather than computers. Were the people in this world split into dealers and players?

I glanced at Chishiya finding him equally taken aback. His fingers slackened around my arm, and seeing my opportunity, I pulled away, heading towards the stairs.  

The least I can do is help them carry Momoka’s body to the fire.

I didn’t get far. Chishiya’s hand grabbed my hood and dragged me right back. I staggered, trying to get away from him after everything he’d done, only to freeze when he said firmly, ‘not just yet.’

‘Why?’ I hissed. ‘So you can use me as a shield in case they see us?’

He didn’t reply, but the look on his face left no room for discussion. Everything inside me bristled as he kept his hand tight around my wrist. He had no right, no right whatsoever to do this, keeping me here without even telling me why. However, the sting was washed away when I saw Kuina stumble into the room, Ann by her side.

Kuina!

It was such a relief and a joy to see her alive and uninjured, although at the same time I wondered how much she was in on. Did she know that Chishiya had been manipulating me? Was she only friends with me because he had told her to be? She had mentioned once that he was the one who asked her to bring me food that time when we first met. The confusion was tearing me apart; I no longer knew what was real and what was fabricated.

Ann held up the missing knife from the body. ‘The fingerprints on the handle show a reverse grip,’ she said. ‘Momoka killed herself.’

It only meant one thing; she had committed suicide for the sake of starting the game.

Then in that case, they were both ‘dealers’, whatever that means.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this now. Were they forced to participate, or did they choose to create all this mess themselves? If so, why would they want to do something like this? And why would the girl in the yellow t-shirt help Arisu if she was in on the game?

‘FIVE MINUTES REMAINING.’

The acrid scent of burning fabric filled the air, and everyone looked around, trying to pinpoint the source.

The fire!

I had forgotten all about it, and now there was no time to waste standing around like this.  

‘We only have minutes left!’ Kuina shouted. ‘We need to get her body onto the fire.’

Several people scrambled to lift Momoka’s body and bring this entire massacre to an end. No more deaths. No more blood. No more betrayal. However, this was just wishful thinking, cut short by gunshots bursting through the lobby. A familiar figure stumbled out through the smoke, and I instinctively took a step back.

Niragi’s alive?!

He’d wrapped his torn shirt around his head, and every inch of his upper body was blistered with glistening red burns. In his hand was a submachine gun, and with an animalistic growl, he unleashed a spray of bullets throughout the room.

Bodies flew back and tumbling to the ground, blood splattering the walls and carpet as people stumbled over one another in a frantic struggle to escape. I saw Arisu and Usagi duck, while others crouched low, covering their heads. Bullets ricocheted off the walls as Niragi aimed wildly in every direction, shooting everything that moved.  

And then he looked up.

Even through the charred skin and the tatters of fabric, that familiar glint shone in his eyes when they locked with mine. Teeth bared in unrestrained fury, he raised his gun.

I felt Chishiya’s hands on my shoulders.

It’s just sound and fury…  

He fired.

#alice in borderland #aib #imawa no kuni no arisu #chishiya #chishiya shuntaro #chishiya x oc #chishiya x reader #chishiya alice in borderland

[mutated-green-things]

In Circles

I commissioned this picture from @shellsweet awhile ago and ended up writing a whole fic for it! Only I’m a slow well editor so I’m only just getting around to posting everything. I’ve been thinking about this idea, this story and image for a long time though, and wanted to make sure it was something special. Mostly for me if I’m honest, because I think about these two all the time, but also so I could give something special to everyone else who loves this ship.  Anyway, I hope you all like it, and again thank the amazing @shellsweet for the artwork. You can click the read more to look at the fic or you can simply go to the AO3 link here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20896832

Leonardo glanced up, stared for one, two, three beats, and then trained his eyes back onto the grass outside the farmhouse. April and Casey had chosen an amazing spot for their summer wedding, and though Leo and his brothers had drawn some seriously unwanted attention to the event, everything seemed to be gliding along smoothly now.

Music was playing, alternating between upbeat and slow. Paper lanterns hung from the large green trees and were filling the air with warm, buttery light. People, mutants, aliens were all talking, dancing, laughing. April and Casey were the spotlights of course, and their beaming faces just seemed to make the space glow even brighter. Michelangelo was dancing alone, but every time a fast, poppy song came on he'd tear up the floor and then bow for his adoring crowd.

Raphael and Donatello were even better off. Raph wasn't graceful, but Traximus must have learned how to dance somewhere because the way he led through every slow ballad looked effortless.

And though Donnie wasn't dancing with Leatherhead, they were both making eyes as they chatted in the corner, just outside of the lantern-lit grass dance floor.

Leonardo, well, he was watching it all unfold. He fit well into the shadows of the trees, and there was a lot to sit back and contemplate. Or worry about if he was being honest with himself. That attack had been troubling for starters. He was glad Karai had finally laid their vendetta to rest, but it seemed that even with the foot out of the picture, and even on a peaceful celebratory day, they'd always have enemies.

Worse was as much as Leo tried to focus his family's future, on strategy and battle plans, his mind and eyes kept wandering to the presence of a rather unexpected guest.

He still wasn't sure how April had gotten an invitation across dimensions to Usagi Miyamoto. The process of opening the portal must have been complicated enough. Leo could only guess how she had managed to hunt down that info. Mikey was his first guess, and that was only if his little brother had decided it was worth it to memorize the symbols and the chant. In the end, it mattered little how she'd managed it. Usagi was here. He'd shown up with a gift in his arms and a smile on his face.

A smile he'd directed at Leonardo. Leo had returned it despite his nerves. He was just glad that a customary greeting for Usagi was a bow. Leo's hands were already clammy enough without them touching. And after all the pleasantries and that crazy, dangerous, eventually calm ceremony, here he was, trying, and failing, not to stare.

Leo's choice to be on the exact opposite side of the dance floor was exactly that. A choice. His nerves and the way had been skirting around exactly what their relationship was had made the last few months... weird.

Usagi had been... well relieved seemed like understating things when he'd found out that Leonardo was still alive and had simply spent that past year locked away in the future. They had missed each other so much that Leo was sure the longing looks and subtle touches would come to a head.

That moment never came though. Usagi had seemed... hesitant, had looked away when one of them stared and pulled away at the briefest touch. Whatever doubts Usagi had reverberated, making Leonardo unsure, lost even. A few months ago he'd been confident in his feelings and Usagi's. He was just looking for the right time to confess. When Usagi shied away though, Leo began to doubt himself, and his confidence crumbled until he was left with what he had now. An awkward friendship and a lot of questions about what exactly the samurai had been thinking and feeling.

Leo flicked his gaze back up. Usagi was still there, chatting away with their other extra-dimensional guest, Gennosuke. Leonardo contemplated the rhino. He'd shown up with his own volition, inviting himself before Usagi could say no. Or at least that's what Usagi claimed when Leo and his brothers had given Gen strange looks.

Ugh no. Being confused was one thing, second-guessing Usagi's motivations and words was another. They were friends, no matter how messy Leonardo's feelings were at the moment.

Leo banished those thoughts and turned his mind outward, letting his gaze drift again. From Gen to the object of his tempestuous emotions. As he did, Usagi's eyes turned too, and for a few intense moments, they made contact. The soft light of the lanterns flickered against the pink of Usagi's irises. Leo was transfixed by the way the light moved, no danced in his gaze. Leo broke away. The cool, dark grass welcomed him, steadied him as his heart pounded in his ears and through his body. All he could focus on was the thump thump thump of it. He tried to take deep, calming breaths, but each one shook out of him as he lifted his head again. Usagi wasn't there. Gen looked perplexed, and Leonardo found himself even more confused.

He scanned the crowd for Usagi, head whipping here and there, but the stark white of his pelt was just... gone. He wondered briefly if that stare had made things worse, if Usagi had perhaps left the party early, left this world even. Leo was about to accept that theory, about to stop looking, when soft footsteps against soft grass drew his attention.

He spun, hands on his swords. It was the natural reaction of a warrior, and he's unsurprised to find Usagi mirroring him, a hand tightly clutched around the hilt of his katana. Of course, as soon he recognized the white fur and wry smile, Leo dropped his hands to his sides. "Usagi-san."

Usagi dropped his fighting stance too and then frowned. "Leonardo. What are you doing out here?"

I could ask you the same thing. Except he couldn't when Usagi has asked him to drop the formal 'san' so many times he'd lost count, and when he was certain why Usagi was there. So instead, he tried for a half-truth that seemed believable. That seemed the most like Leo. "Watching over the party. I just want to make sure we don't have to deal with any more funny business."

Usagi paused and blew out an amused breath as the wry smile slid back into place. This time though, there was a sadness behind it. A little dimness in the fire that sparkled there. "Can't you do that while celebrating the happy couple? Or at least a little closer to the festivities?" Usagi stepped closer, not waiting for permission to lean into the tree Leo had chosen as his lookout spot.

Leonardo didn't scoot away. He was tempted to at first, but his mental conflict left him indecisive, so he ended up staying put, close enough for their shoulders to just press together. Not much, but enough so Leo could feel Usagi's presence rather than just sense it. That alone was enough to make his head spin, so it took him several moments to realize he needed to say *something*. "I uh..." He could only manage that at first, but he cleared his throat, and more words tumbled out. "This gives me a better vantage point. To spot anyone sneaking in from the woods."

Usagi didn't protest, nor did he comment on the pauses. "True enough. But perhaps I could stay here and watch for you. I promise I'll be vigilant."

Leo didn't doubt that. Truthfully Usagi's long years of spotting ninja made him an exceptional lookout for their tricks, maybe even better than Leo himself. They've discussed many a time how much knowing a ninja's mind factored into thwarting them. "I know but..."

Leo tried to think of an excuse, but all he kept coming up with is the fact that the person he wanted to celebrate with was right next to him.

"But?" Usagi prompted.

"I have no one to dance with." It wasn't the truth, but it was close enough that when he looked at Usagi, his pink eyes widened just the littlest bit.

"Michelangelo? He seems..." Mikey had taken a break, breathing heavily and drinking water as he waited for another jumpy techno number to come on, but they'd both seen his moves.

Leo shrugged. "He always outperforms me here. I don't have the rhythm to keep up with him. Plus, we can't exactly dance together to every song." Leo splayed out a hand, referencing the couples swaying in the soft light.

"I see."

Another pause filled with beats and melodies, ballooning out and out until neither of them could stand it.

"I'm sorry Leonardo-"

"Usagi I understand-"

They stared into each other's eyes, stunned for one, two beats, and then they laughed together softly. Leonardo was struck by that laugh, by how much he missed the warm connection that used to hang between them. Before things had gotten messy. Before he'd been filled with doubts.

Usagi spoke through his last couple chuckles. "I suppose we have a lot to talk about. I... just wanted to apologize Leonardo. I know..." he trailed off and stared at his hands, fiddling with the fur between his paw pads. "I know I've been cold recently. It was an overreaction on my part. I did not... I still want to be your friend. I want to be close like before. I just hope you can forgive the way I backed away from you."

"I understand." Leo tried those words, but they sounded wrong coming from his mouth. "Well I don't, not really. But I..." He looked over Usagi. He seemed to shimmer in the dim light. Pink eyes and glowing fur dyed soft orange and yellow by the flickering flames. "I want your friendship Usagi. I always have. And I will gladly give mine if that's truly all you want."

Usagi nodded, but it seemed weak, sad again, the light dimming as he forced a smile. It wasn't enough, or maybe Leonardo just didn't want to believe it. He reached out, setting his heavy, calloused hand on Usagi's soft shoulder. Leo spoke as they gazed into each other's eyes. "No, Usagi. Is that really all you want?"

"I..."

"Because if that's the case then I understand. I just. I need to know."

Usagi kept his gaze focused on Leonardo's face, searching it, eyes scanning each wrinkle, each small scar. Then he turned and watched the lights, and the dancing couples, the soft, slow music coursing through them.

When he looked at Leonardo again, his gaze was still sad, but there was a fire dancing again in his pink irises, a determination that made him reach up and touch the hand Leonardo had laid on his shoulder. The next couple moments were a little awkward, as Usagi tried to tangle their fingers together, but eventually, they managed the spacing, and for the first time they were tangled together intimately.

Leo looked at him, dumbstruck, but smiling. Usagi was smiling back and then speaking, each word sugared with excitement, contentment. "I saw your interest from a mile away. Even before I started... dropping hints that I felt the same." Leo beamed at that. He'd been right after all, and the confirmation made his chest, his shell fill with bubbling warmth. "But we are friends, and what started forming between us. The long looks, the letters, the way you'd sigh and smile just being in my presence. That was equal parts amazing, and terrifying." The warmth stops, still there, but held with trepidation. Terrifying? Why?

Usagi didn't let go of Leonardo's hand as he dropped his gaze to the grass. "I have told you how my last relationship ended, but I don't know if you knew how close a friend Mariko was before she became my lover. Moreover, you do not know of the countless people my pilgrimage has led me away from. The path I walk is usually lonely, Leonardo, and I was afraid that, and the complications of romance, would leave our friendship torn and tattered. I'm still afraid, in fact. I..." He turned his eyes back up, that determined blaze shining again. "I want more. I do. I won't lie to a friend. But I also still fear losing one because of my desire."

Leonardo mulled on that for several moments, not moving, still holding onto Usagi like a lifeline. "We're you afraid that you were seeing things? That your attraction was blinding you and making you think..."

"Niceties were flirtations?" Usagi finished the question, then shrugged. "Of course. All the time."

"And you worry jealousy or anger or fear or the simple march of time may drive us apart?"

A simple nod.

Leo looked out, past the party, past the lights, into the dark forest beyond. His gray-blue eyes grew dark and heavy, stormclouds billowing inside them. "I fear it too. I fear I'll make mistakes. I fear my responsibility as a leader, as a brother may become more important than you. I fear I will drive you away, or worse, hurt you."

"But..." he looked back at Usagi. The storm behind his eyes calmed. "If we share that much. Then I can assume you feel what I feel. The electricity in the air, right now, just from touching you this much. The way your chest gets tight and warm and feels like it will burst when I tell you I feel the same way you do. The way your lungs clutch for breath when our eyes meet. The hunger in your gut to touch more, to hold and squeeze me close." He took a staggering breath. Then spoke, asked with desperation behind each word. "You feel that too, right?"

Usagi Miyamoto was rarely speechless. He didn't ever run his mouth, no he was far too polite for that, but he'd always had a talent for putting the right words in the right places. Now though, with yearning the only thing in Leonardo's face, in his words, he could only gulp down his nerves and nod. Leonardo clasped his other hand over Usagi's, and held it tenderly, carefully. Like a fragile treasure.

Leo smiled, and the amusement danced up into his eyes. "So we've been torturing ourselves, scared and worried at what the other might say. Which definitely seems like us."

Usagi's little laugh made Leo's heart and stomach flip places. "Yes, the two of us, always so determined to suffer in silence."

Leonardo took just a moment to rearrange his body back into place, just a breath, and then he continued. "Yes and..." He had to keep his stare down at his own hands clasping Usagi's. His bright smile was too much. It kept leaving Leo speechless. "And if we were to step away. To stay too scared to try. Well, then we'd still suffer. We'd question every day if we let a golden opportunity slip through our fingers."

"So..." Usagi said it tentatively, but when Leo glanced up, his eyes looked so bright and sure.

"So we try it. We get closer than ever before. We..." Leo didn't turn his head, but his eyes flicked back to the party. "We dance?"

Usagi laughed again, and gods above it was worse this time. Leo had to remind himself to breathe. "That sounds like a good start yes."

So they stood. Their nerves, overflowing emotion, and the soft light made it all seem surreal to both of them. A dream neither wanted to wake from. But with their hands still entangled, they walked down the hill, to the dance floor. It welcomed them with warm lights and knowing smiles. Mikey even winked at them. Not that the teasing mattered. Leonardo was too happy to be embarrassed, and Usagi only had eyes for his dance partner. They would care later, when the slow music, the glowing lanterns, and the sensation of sliding close, of soft fur against coarse scales, had faded away. All they could think about in that moment was the fact that now, finally, their futures were tied together.

#tmnt #katanashipping #leosagi #Leonardo #usagi miyamoto