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letsveganlove · 6 years

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Like Sands Through the Hourglass

This was written for the TIME prompt for Tsubasa Month but, of course, I’m LATE, go figure! But, anyway, er.... here’s something. I don’t know if I’m even using tumblr right. Anyway....

Fai held an hourglass in his hands, studying it thoughtfully as he let his mind wander, past memories and thoughts popping up...

Fai stared helplessly up at the man that towered over him. Kurogane did not look pleased at all. They had only been traveling together now for several weeks and Fai was finding himself having a little too much fun with the nicknames and riling the ninja up. It was quite entertaining and, for whatever unfathomable reason, Kurogane might rant and groan at the directives he received from Fai, but he still followed them. Something that stunned Fai the first time and the second time and the third time and now he just kept giving directives to see if the other man would refuse him. Kurogane never did anything without grumbling about it, but it still got done.

There was a heavy weight in Fai’s chest when he looked at Sakura and Syaoran, already well aware of their fate, but now he was finding that weight was there when Kurogane came into his field of vision. He didn’t know why; of them all, wouldn’t Kurogane be the one with a happy ending- he’d go back to the country he loved, that he never wanted to leave and it sounded as if he had people that cared for him there. A good care, not the care that Fai experienced in Celes with Ashura. That weight, that block became heavier and heavier and as time wore on, Fai realized it was because he wanted to be part of that happy ending with Kurogane. That was impossible, though, and he continued to smile widely and try to quash all these feelings that welled up within him. With the kids, he could try to justify his distance, but it was for naught. He had no justification for trying to keep distance between him and Kurogane with the exception the man could easily kill him if he wanted. Kurogane didn’t respect this distance, though, in fact, he went out of his way to obliterate that distance whether intentionally or not, Fai couldn’t figure him out. And that was frustrating because Kurogane seemed to be having no trouble figuring him out.

Fai already felt as if time was slipping away from him, he knew he wouldn’t have much more time with this Sakura and Syaoran and he began to wonder how much more time would he have with Kurogane? Certainly not enough time to figure out Kurogane. When they arrived in his country, would the ninja simply elect to stay there and wave the other three off with Mokona? The pressure built in chest as he found himself getting deeper and deeper into things, much more intertwined with these other travelers than he wanted. To the point, they were no longer travelers, more like friends and even beyond that, he wondered if this is what a family truly was. Was this how it would have been in Valeria if things had been different? And Kurogane- he was the one Fai still couldn’t figure out; apparently, never would. He was too scared to, afraid of what he would have to admit to himself and he knew time wasn’t on his side because Kurogane was the witch’s pawn, not Reed’s.

He felt the hands of time squeezing him and he only found comfort in the fact that he had no plans to be alive after this was all said and done. Because how could he live with himself after he betrayed these people, this family? There was no way he would be able to continue living on after that betrayal; he didn’t even want to think that they might be hurt by him but, deep down, he knew they would be. He didn’t want to but he had to and he felt so much guilt because he didn’t want to hurt them but he also didn’t want to abandon his brother, the real Fai. He had to give this life back to Fai, he had to amend and atone for his wrong doing. And the immense guilt he felt for even second guessing himself weighed heavily upon him because what did that say about him? How could he doubt for even a second that he shouldn’t bring his twin back to life, that the sacrifice required was too great; not just of Fai, but of Sakura, Syaoran, and Kurogane? No, he couldn’t think that way and time was slipping by and he was growing closer to those three and even Mokona who he had only first viewed as a magical creation but was now actively worrying over the thing.

Then Tokyo happened with it’s ugly acid rain and horrid devastation and that world was something nightmares were made of. He felt time constrict further around him because what on earth had Kurogane done? Fai had finally had an escape, he finally didn’t have to suffer through the immense guilt and suffering he felt when he thought of his twin, his blood family, Ashura, he didn’t have to deal with the conflict he felt when he thought of betraying his traveling family, he wouldn’t even have need to feel anything anymore. He would be free, free, free! He could hopefully see his brother again if he were allowed, if his brother would even want to see him. Sakura and Syaoran would be safe and not have to feel the bitter sting of betrayal brought on by Fai. And Kurogane- and Kurogane would be free of him because he clearly needed to be set free; that much was clear in how easy and readily Kurogane had agreed with Yuuko’s plan to save Fai’s life despite the sacrifices he’d have to make. And Fai hated him for it because now it would all be Kurogane’s fault, he was alive now and couldn’t very well abandon his plan and how had he let this happen? When and how had Kurogane grown this fond of him that he would save his life like this? Was there something that Fai didn’t see, something he didn’t understand? Fai reflected on the person he was and saw nothing but faults and efforts to push all of them away, Kurogane included but the ninja must have been seeing something totally different and Fai was at a loss.

Then Celes happened and that was….. Something that even now Fai had trouble grasping. Kurogane was there the entire time, never leaving and even being willing to fight but for an entirely different reason than Fai. And at the end, Fai had failed in his mission to save his twin, but now he knew what his twin had been thinking about at the end and Fai knew his brother held no ill will towards him. He was sure that his brother would still be in his nightmares but not with the accusations as before. It didn’t matter, though, because he was going to die anyway. He figured he would finally be able to join his brother in death, but there was Kurogane again, pulling at him frantically and determinedly and Fai had his mind blown at the lengths this man was willing to go for him.

Then there had been Nihon, Kurogane’s country. Fai was relieved when they landed there and Tomoyo sought them out, knowing that Kurogane would need immediate medical attention and even comforted Fai as he cried over the prone figure that was Kurogane, Syaoran still holding Sakura and looking around uncertainly, unsure what to do, until he spotted the calvary heading in their direction. Fai was worried, he waited for news of Kurogane’s condition and was relieved that he would be okay. Now the next worries started flooding him and he wondered if Kurogane would simply choose to stay here? They were in Nihon now and what if he stayed behind? For some reason, that twisted Fai’s heart all sorts of ways, the same as the image that played over in his mind again and again of Kurogane yanking him out of that magic sphere even as blood spewed out of him. Why had he done that? Fai knew he had to do something and contacted Yuuko. Yuuko looked at him with pained eyes, knowing everything that had happened and knowing some of what was in store, he was sure. She had agreed to get him the fake arm but informed him of the price. When he agreed, she paused and asked if he would check with Kurogane first and Fai shook his head simply stating that Kurogane hadn’t checked with him about his arm first so fair was fair. Yuuko couldn’t disagree with that kind of logic. Fai wanted to at least give the man something in return for all the trouble he’d brought to him before they left him in this country.

There were hands on Fai’s as he turned the hourglass again. “Fai?”

Fai looked up to find Kurogane staring down at him in concern and there was something else in his eyes that Fai always had trouble believing was meant for him. Tomoyo told him once that Kurogane adored him and Fai laughed but when he looked like that, Fai couldn’t exactly say that Tomoyo was wrong. He hoped his own eyes reflected some adoration but he was sure his eyes only expressed awe because he was still in awe- always would be in awe- that someone thought he was worth as much as Kurogane did. And not only did Kurogane think that but Sakura, Syaoran, Mokona, Tomoyo, Yuuko, people- there were people out there that didn’t think he was nothing but misfortune. They all acted like they were fortunate to have met him, for him to be a part of their lives and them to be part of his.

“Fai?” Kurogane repeated, squeezed his hands gently, waiting for a response. Fai smiled at him, one full of sincerity and bliss and Kurogane’s mood was instantly brightened at the sight. He brought one hand up to rake through golden hair and pulled Fai closer to him. “What are you doing?”

“I was just thinking of time and how it slips away,” he explained. His voice dropped to a whisper, “I used to think I’d have a very limited amount of time with you.” Kurogane’s arms tightened around him protectively and he looked down at Fai.

“Time is an annoying thing,” Kurogane commented lightly, though his expression was serious. Fai said nothing but leaned into Kurogane’s touch; he thought of the place without time he had once been banished to. “But time can heal, too,” Kurogane explained as he began dragging his hands across Fai’s body and Fai was glad the hourglass he held was plastic because he dropped it. Soon they were creating new memories and Fai was glad that he had so much more time with this person before him.

#tsubasachroniclemonth #spoilerstrc #spoilerstwc #prompt: time #fai #kurogane #kurofai fanfic #fanfic #2018

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kurogabae · 4 years

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Fai: *says anything to any member of the family*

Kurogane, Sakura, and Syaoran: *not being 100+ years old* ok boomer

Fai: i should have sold you all out when i had the chance

#Tsubasa Family #TRC #Fai Flourite #ok boomer #spoilersTRC #ADVENTURES IN SHITPOSTING

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kurogabae · 5 years

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A Post About Fai’s Loyalty

for @completeoveranalysis

I word vomited on him a little while ago in DMs but I’m gonna put it all in a nice little post so he can archive it and reblog it as he likes at his request.

I have to talk about Fai's "shift" in loyalty to Sakura AKA his loyalty never shifted.

In Tokyo you said that Fai wakes up and makes a choice to side with his new family and not with his old motivations (which we now know are FWR’s motivations and Fai’s wish to bring his brother back from the dead/switch places with him). He never actually decides to side with his new family. He’s not at all stepping away from his old ways, in fact, he’s stepping more firmly towards them after coming so close to losing them.

He swears his oath to her after he learns that 1) he got Too Close to the family as a whole and Kurogane loves him (maybe he doesn’t think he’s IN LOVE with him, but he knows Kurogane cares enough to sacrifice his freedom and safety to become Fai’s Game) and 2) Kurogane let Sakura go out into the acid desert alone. You know, Sakura. The key to Fai's entire goal? The key to bringing his brother back to life and fixing everything Fai believes he's done wrong? The entire purpose of Fai even bothering to exist at all?

So he isn't choosing his new family when he swears an oath to Sakura to be her knight to defend her, he's continuing to double down on his original plan and deciding that he's going to protect One Girl because that's been the point of this whole journey and if something bad happens to Sakura everything was for naught. Was there some actual care in the action? For sure, but I think he made the declaration in such a formal way as to help Fai remind himself that he is not there to care for her but to protect her until the time comes to hand her over and bring his brother back. He's trying desperately to regain any resolve he might have had at the idea of betraying this LITERAL CHILD but he is not in any way choosing to take his new family's side.

The love and devotion he was shown by Kurogane has scared him and reminded him (along with Cloney losing his soul and reverting to "merely" a tool for FWR) that he doesn't belong with them and that he is a traitor among them. He is on borrowed time and everything he is, everything he has given them, is falsehoods and lies.

It also adds another layer on to his rage towards Kurogane when he finds out that Sakura is out in the acid desert to fulfill the price for the water. For the first time in the entire manga, Kurogane has made a move that possibly gets in the way of Fai’s goals. Fai holds Kurogane responsible for “allowing” Sakura to go out alone. In Fai’s mind Kurogane should/could have stopped her and done it himself, as was originally intended. This is a multilevel betrayal to Fai and the concern he is showing is at least half towards what Sakura is to him, not who.

Kurogane tells Fai to wait, but waiting is more than just worrying that he daughter might die. It’s waiting to find out if everything he’s been doing for over a year is about to get eaten by a giant worm. Fai is going out to find Sakura, the central piece to fulfilling his goal, the key to reviving his brother, not just his daughter. He threatens Kurogane with violence, but in the back of Fai’s mind we all know he can hear FWR reminding him that he has to kill Kurogane.

Fai does not step into the light at the end of Tokyo, he bitterly embraces the shadow he had nearly escaped from.

#TRC #Fai Flourite #Sakura hime #Kurogane #my meta #spoilersTRC

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kurogabae · 5 years

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Had a thought I think you'd appreciate... What if when Kurogane cut his arm off, instead of going in the hole to save Fai, it just flew off in a random direction?

Arm-kun: YEET!!!!

Fai and Kuro: D:

#this is absurd and i love it thank you #ask Ryssa #spoilersTRC #TRC #mythicalheartbeat

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kurogabae · 5 years

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a helpful infographic for @completeoveranalysis to understand Fai and Yuui’s immediate family since the translation is wonky

#TRC #completeoveranalysis #Fai and Yuui #Fai Flourite #spoilersTRC #my edits

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kurogabae · 5 years

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listen i know what i’m talking about i have a phd in tsubasa

#TRC #my edits #spoilersTRC #i'd die for you meme

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kurogabae · 5 years

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Hanahaki Unending

disease: a fictional disease where the victim coughs up flower petals when they suffer from one-sided love. It can be cured through surgical removal, but when the infection is removed, the victim’s romantic feelings for their love also disappear.

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [Hanahaki Unending tag]

Now on AO3

It had been months since Kurogane had felt so at peace.

He is in incredible pain – the part of his shoulder where he had cut through muscle and bone to sever his arm in order to rescue Fai aches and burns, the whole side of his torso where that insane king had managed to blast him with attack magic rages between stabbing ice and tearing electric shocks. On top of all of that his body feels like one whole bruise and even without moving he can tell he will be weak and stiff, and among all of that are a hundred stinging cuts and scrapes that cry out for an application of soothing balm.

He can breathe clearly, though, and the air he tastes is terribly familiar.

Tomoyo is the second thing he sees when he opens his eyes to the familiar ceiling of Shirasagi Castle’s private medical wing. She is sat by him, eyes soft and voice warm as she welcomes him home. It is what he has been looking for, what this entire, insane, ridiculous journey has been all leading towards. He is finally back at his princess’ side.

Without the Hanahaki tearing him open from the inside he can feel the full pain of the realization that it isn’t all he needs anymore.

The way that Tomoyo speaks to him, though, makes him think that she knows this already, that she expects him to remain by the sides of those he had arrived with. Part of him feels like a traitor. He had sworn an oath, he has a duty, but if Tomoyo gave her blessing is he really breaking his oath? She is, afterall, the one who sent him off in the first place.

This is entirely her fault.

Which reminds Kurogane of something he wants to ask her, now that he can.

“I see you’ve finally learned the true meaning of strength,” Tomoyo says proudly. She touches the empty sleeve at his side gently, her small hand brushing the fabric with only her fingertips. Her hand falls back to her lap as she speaks again. “And that the condition the others were concerned about has cleared up as well.”

He supposes he shouldn’t be surprised that Syaoran and Fai brought up the Hanahaki to Tomoyo and the medics. In the end, he agrees with their choice.

“Speaking of that,” he says. “Did you know this would happen?” He does not insult her by accusing her of anything. The question is what it is; a question. “Is that why you always made me read that fairytale to you?”

Her smile is rueful for a moment, and then she shakes her head. “I didn’t know this would happen,” she clarifies. “But I knew you were someone who was particularly susceptible to the Hanahaki Disease, I needed a way to prepare you, just in case you ever came down with it.”

That is not at all the answer he expects, and it must show on his face when Tomoyo continues without prompting.

“The Hanahaki Disease is an illness that is born of the heart, and those who feel deeply and fiercely are more likely to fall victim to it than those with shallower emotions,” she says, looking up at Kurogane, who feels his jaw slacken slightly. “You have always been someone who deals in extremes, Kurogane, and I knew you would one day leave my side to go on a journey. I had no idea if you would find love on this journey, let alone if that love would be returned or not. I did what I could.”

There is a pang in his chest, one of gratitude and love. It is bittersweet and leaves a dull ache, but it is by no means a bad feeling. It takes a few seconds, but Kurogane does manage to smile, small but heartfelt, and thank Tomoyo. It’s probably the first time he’s thanked her since they were children. He will have to be better about that.

Tomoyo looks happy and proud, there’s a twinkle in her eyes that reminds Kurogane of his mother and when he catches sight of it he doesn’t immediately turn away. He thinks this might be what healing is. It’s a good feeling.

Then, she turns towards the screen door and the rest of the world comes into focus for Kurogane in a snap. “Thank you for waiting, you may come in now.”

How he had failed to sense anything outside of his room is beyond him, but that he didn’t sense Fai standing just on the other side of that thin paper door sends his mind spinning. He nearly panics, his instincts calling for him to rise and double- no triple check the perimeter. His body is unable to meet those demands, but his mind feels as if it may force obedience regardless.

It doesn’t have the chance, though, because Fai is there, whole and alive and wearing a beautiful furisode that Tomoyo no doubt fashioned specifically for him. His hair reflects the warm light of the candles in the corner of the room and the cool moonlight that pours into the room from the open veranda doors where it falls into his face, hiding his one good eye and most of the eyepatch from view. He is breathtaking and Kurogane can feel his pulse quicken with each measured step Fai takes towards him.

He schools his features, waits for several seconds to see if Fai will speak first, and when only silence meets his ears Kurogane says the only thing he can think to, “Hey.”

He is hit soundly on the side of his head, probably the only thing left undamaged from their latest near death adventure, and taken so off guard and so off balance that he finds himself tumbling backwards into the frame of the shoji. He blinks up in confusion and surprise, but before he can demand any explanations he sees it.

Fai is smiling, fist still held up and eye shining with… Kurogane doesn’t know what. He has never seen that look on Fai before, but it’s one he likes. “That’s payback, Kuro-sama.”

If the Hanahaki had not already cleared itself from his lungs it would have at that point. Kurogane’s heart is soaring as he grins up at Fai and promises to kick his ass, the exchange familiar and new all at the same time. He notices Tomoyo take her leave without a word, and is thankful once more. He needs this time with Fai. There is a lot to be said.

And yet they sit together in silence for what could have been days, but what Kurogane knows is probably just shy of an hour. Fai helps him wordlessly to the veranda, eases him down to sit and look out into the familiar sky Kurogane has known all his life, and tucks himself close to the side that is now missing an arm. Even through their clothes and the bandage wrappings, Kurogane can feel the warmth of Fai. He’s hyper aware of their proximity now after so long of having distance forced between them.

The feeling is nice, and the silence isn’t uncomfortable even as it is humming with words unspoken between them. Kurogane knows they should talk, that they need to, but he’s stubbornly unwilling to release this delicate peace he’s been granted. He realizes that he’s worried it will all shatter and be taken away from him again.

So when it’s Fai who finally speaks it’s both a relief and a shock.

“The children are okay,” he says. “More or less.”

Kurogane is glad to hear as much from Fai, but he’s not surprised by the news. He hadn’t been worried over the fate of Syaoran or Sakura, if something had happened to either of them Tomoyo would have made sure to tell him, she wouldn’t have been able to hide it from him. Still, he thanks Fai for the news.

“Tomoyo-chan fussed quite a lot over Sakura-chan, I suppose that might be something that will always be,” he continues. He’s avoiding the true topic at hand, but Kurogane can’t be mad, he’s not doing any better himself. “Everyone’s more or less healed up, except you.”

Fai leans ever so slightly more into Kurogane’s side and Kurogane feels his heart rate pick up. Fai must hear it, the vampire ever tuned in to him, because he leans back almost immediately, an apology half formed on his lips.

Kurogane cuts it off. “Don’t,” he says. Don’t apologize, don’t run away anymore. Don’t put anymore distance between us. He reaches over awkwardly with his single hand and pulls Fai back to him. “It’s okay.”

And it is. It’s all okay. It’s all out in the open now and it’s okay. Or it will be.

“Kuro-sama I-”

“How do you want to be called now?” Kurogane asks, unable to stomach any sort of apology from Fai. He would be a liar if he said he hasn’t been thinking about it either. “The same or with your proper name?”

Fai can only stare at him for what feels like ages. Eventually he snaps out of his stupor and shakes his head. “Is that it? That’s all you have to say?” He doesn’t sound angry. Perhaps incredulous. “After everything you saw, everything you learned, you ask me which name I want to use?”

Kurogane shrugs his uninjured shoulder, the movement awkward for it’s false nonchalance. “I think it’s an important question.” And he does. One’s name is a sacred thing, especially in Nihon. And this man beside him has not used his own birth given name in lifetimes.

“Fai. It’s all I have left of him,” he says, gazing out into the starry night sky. “If I use his name, some part of him still gets to live on.”

Kurogane nods and hums his approval. A good answer and a fine reason. He would have accepted anything Fai told him, but this decision sits well with him easily.

“Now it’s my turn for a question,” Fai says with little preamble. He’s still looking into the stars. “When we arrived we warned the medics and healers about the Hanahaki, but they said it was nowhere to be seen. How can that be?”

It is impossible to tell if Fai had asked Tomoyo about this and had been denied an answer or if he had been agonizing over this question silently while Kurogane slept, but either way, Kurogane is glad to have an answer to give him, especially since he technically owes him one as it is.

“Because the condition to cure it was applied,” he answers. He waits for Fai to meet his eyes before he explains. “Only three things rid a person of Hanahaki; death, the removal of the flower and the sufferer’s love, or the reciprocation of that love.”

Fai’s eye is wide and shimmering with unshed tears. He opens and closes his mouth a few times in false starts until he can finally speak. “But I… I never got the chance to say…”

“When the manjuu was transporting us out of Celes,” Kurogane says. “You said ‘please don’t leave me’ remember?” Fai nods quietly, clearly not understanding. “I knew then. After everything I had seen and everything I knew about you, you never would have said that to me if you didn’t love me as well.”

Love is selfish, and it was that knowledge and the following realization that cleared Kurogane’s heart and lungs of the cursed flower back then. The first clear breath of air had been icy and painful in a way that Kurogane was familiar with for reasons other than heartbreak. He watches Fai absorb what he’s been told and ignores the burning in his cheeks. It’s not an easy thing to speak so frankly about his emotions, he’s not used to it and the words feel clumsy no matter how honest they are. But this is honesty Fai deserves, honesty Kurogane has wanted to give him for too long. It’s the least of the things Kurogane wants to give Fai.

The honesty seems to be enough, though, because Fai reaches up a hand to cup Kurogane’s cheek. He’s smiling and a few tears have fallen from his eye, but there’s no sadness in that beautiful, loved face, and Kurogane thanks every star in the sky for that blessing.

“You stupid, stubborn, wonderful man,” Fai says through a mix between a sob and a chuckle. “You could have died, and for what? To be in love with me!”

Fai is all but in his lap without warning, keeping balance for them both as he kisses Kurogane. It’s gentle and he can feel the tears on Fai’s cheek, but it’s perfect and Kurogane could happily spend the rest of eternity doing nothing else, forever in this moment with this man. But Fai pulls away all too soon and between one breath and the next Kurogane finds himself unable to suppress a yawn.

Smiling playfully, Fai taps Kurogane on the nose. “Big Puppy is still recovering, he needs his rest and to take it easy or he’ll open up the stitches the healers worked so hard on.” Fai slides easily to his feet and helps Kurogane up. “Last thing we need is for you to go and bleed to death on us now.”

Ahh, speaking of…

“Mage, when did you last drink?” Kurogane asks as he slides the outer door shut with a soft click.

At first Fai freezes, reflex mostly Kurogane is sure. He watches it fade away, hears the low hiss of a breath that Fai releases, measured and purposeful.

“When we arrived,” he says. “There was plenty of your blood already outside of you, I took advantage at Syaoran-kun and Tomoyo-chan’s insistence.”

“How long was I asleep?” Kurogane asks. Fai doesn’t answer, but the lack of response is answer enough. “Mage,” he says warningly. “Don’t make this continue to be difficult.”

“You’re still healing,” Fai says, and there is icy steel in his tone. He’s trying not to be unkind, trying to keep away from how things have been for the last couple of months, but he cannot fight Kurogane about this without real barbs.

Even so, Kurogane still fights a little dirty. All the better to quicken the pace and bring an end to this nonsense. “I’ll worry if you don’t.”

That gets Fai to turn on his heel, blue eye blazing. He knows that Kurogane has gone for the kill and he looks just a touch betrayed, but he takes in Kurogane, standing before him, open and honest and now knowingly in love and the change in his body language is obvious.

“Only a little.”

“So long as you aren’t skulking around starving yourself,” Kurogane concedes. He’ll accept this compromise for now. He’s tired and this regained closeness is too precious to test with a proper argument just yet.

“Get in bed,” Fai commands with what can only be described as a pout. “You’re already tired, I’ll bet you knock out after I take a mouthful.”

Kurogane rolls his eyes, but obeys nonetheless, slipping under the sheets of his futon with weakened limbs. He can tell that it will take weeks for him to be back to normal again and he’s already impatient at the thought. There’s too much to do, he hasn’t got the time or the luxury to slow them all down with his healing. But he does have tonight, and he has Fai, so he lets the frustration pass from his mind as Fai extinguishes the oil lamp on the far side of the room.

“Are you going to stay?” Kurogane asks. It’s easy to watch Fai move towards him in the shadows. The moon outside is bright and it’s gentle glow highlights Fai’s fair features beautifully. It also makes it easy to see the surprise flit across his face before a smile, soft and genuine, settles on his lips.

“For as long as I’m wanted,” he says, adjusting the folds of the unfamiliar clothing awkwardly as he lowers himself onto Kurogane’s lap. It’s a graceless motion, but Fai is careful to ease himself into Kurogane’s space and avoid causing any pain to his plethora of injuries.

Kurogane reaches up and runs his fingers through golden strands of unruly hair. “I’m always going to want you,” he says, exhaustion and unbridled joy at finally being able to be with Fai like this ruining any brain to mouth filter he had. “I thought I’d made that clear.”

Fai laughs quietly, chiding and playful all at once. “You have,” he says, “I finally understand now.”

There is still a dangerous road ahead of them. A monster is lurking at the end of the road and they have little choice but to face him, but this time they will face him as one. No more are they frightened, confused children fearing shadows and uncertainties. They aren’t alone, and they have something to fight for, something tangible and real. They have their children, they have each other.

Tonight they will rest, wrap themselves in one another and find comfort in softer, kinder things. Tomorrow is another day, and it will wait for just a little while longer.

#KuroFai #TRC #CLAMP #Kurogane #Fai Flourite #my fics #Hanahaki Unending #spoilersTRC

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kurogabae · 6 years

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Tsubasa: Trainwreck Chronicles

And Why Bee Train Personally Owes Me At Least a Grand; an Essay by Popular Demand

part 1 part 2

For those of you who might not know, I love Tsubasa Chronicle. So much. But for the love of Kurogane’s beautiful biceps is the anime awful. Now, I’m not one of those “manga purists” who always insists the manga is better than the anime, I tend to find them equal pretty often. This is not one of those cases.

Once upon a time CLAMP made a deal with Bee Train for a Tsubasa anime. Cardcaptor Sakura had done so well! CLAMP was a solid name to back! Bee Train had nothing to lose - except the trust of every CLAMP fan ever. I don’t know how hands on CLAMP (or rather Ohkawa) were in the production but I feel like “not at all” is a fairly solid guess. It was a mess folks. Production was rushed, story was disregarded, plot was cut up and Frankensteined back together, I’m not even going to talk about the English casting.

In fairness, it wasn’t without it’s good points. The soundtrack was flawless, the Japanese cast was amazing, and when Bee Train tried they really did manage to make the series look nice, which imo makes the rest of the subpar animation even more of a slap to the face. They even had some genuinely enjoyable filler episodes - the chibi episode and the Kero and Mokona episode are always the first to come to my mind - but overall? Not even a hot mess, just a mess.

Under the cut we’ll go arc by arc. I’m not going to rewatch the series just to write this so forgive me if I’m missing facts or if something I say is slightly inaccurate. Also, beware of spoilers for the manga if you haven’t finished reading it. That means you Nick. I’ll write you up a spoiler free copy of this later. Anyway, let’s go.

Opening and introductions:

You’d think, as the start of your series, you’d want the first episode or two to look really nice right? Catch the eye, impress the new viewer. Not Bee Train! [x x] The whole thing is subpar at best. Syaoran and Sakura’s introduction isn’t so bad for the most part, they’re cute and Bee Train tried to add a little more interaction between them before Sakura loses her feathers, which I am all kinds of behind, but... there’s a point where they run from castle guards. And Syaoran sort of just... grabs her and runs and Sakura is left literally flapping in the wind? [x] Also Sakura looks stoned out of her mind in like 90% of the shots she’s in. Touya probably thinks Syaoran is giving her drugs. But honestly, I don’t have too many problems with how the intro happens, mostly just the way it looks.

Fai’s intro can go by with almost no comment aside from the fact that his face looks like it’s melting. Sadly, this is not the worse his face will ever look. Pretty meh.

Personally I think Kurogane’s intro got the short end of the stick visually and I’m not just saying that because he and Tomoyo are my favorites. They both look pretty awful and, as always, where’s the beef???

Also Yuuko deserved better.

Hanshin:

If possible, the animation gets even lazier. We’ve added Mokona to the party and they cannot decide how big she is. I’m not being nitpicky either. Her size fluctuates wildly. Here are just a few examples set only in Hanshin. This problem persists throughout the series. Also I don’t know how to exactly put this into words but... everyone’s eyes are just extra jacked up.

Plot wise we mostly follow canon. Until they decide Sakura should get more screen time. “Great idea!” I can hear you say. “We love Sakura!” Well so do I. Problem: she has one (1) feather to her name and is comatose. Sakura is not really going to do anything. Yet the camera keeps going back to her- oh wait she’s awake. Sort of. Oh she’s getting dressed now, we even get a very weird little montage of her trying on clothes. Now she’s wandering the town, meets up with the leader of the Mohawk Gang whose kudan Kurogane beat the crap out of. Luckily she’s a super cute girl (who is barely conscious and doesn’t even talk? She’s so far from Mokona she probably can’t even understand these guys anyway but...) so they take her out to lunch instead of doing something Terrible. To the restaurant Touya works at. He serves her and doesn’t recognize her, meaning there is no Sakura in this world, at least not one related to him. This happens a lot.

In the anime Sakura is sometimes, for reasons unexplained and inconsistent, “drawn” to her feathers. She’s looking for her feather. There is an absurd Looney Tunes moment where she climbs some sort of tall thing (oil rig? construction site? world’s weirdest flag pole?) and jumps off of it before Syaoran and Co. (who have located her after Arashi, who would never have lost track of her in the first place let’s be real, tells them she’s gone AWOL) can stop her.

And then she flies. Literally and truly fucking flies. Through the sky. Thanks I hate it.

Syaoran catches her, brings her back home, and the story pretty much continues. One fun change was that the whole family had to share a room, they didn’t get separated like in the manga, so we get treated to this Gay Fucking Scene(tm) of Kurogane waking up and the first thing he sees if Fai sleeping while angelic music plays in the background. So that was nice.

Oh god hang on, I had to come back and add this because I literally always forget: Kurogane sees a version of Tomoyo in this world and goes running after her, leaving Fai and Syaoran to meet Touya and Yukito on their own. This results in both of them missing Kurogane’s kudan fight and Kurogane missing the “same face, different person” talk/reminder. They still can’t draw Tomoyo.

Also this.

Koryo:

Where’s the beef?

Much in the spirit of Hanshin, Koryo keeps mostly to the plot and has overall meh animation with a few choice moments of dear god why. Surprisingly, they made a few changes that I didn’t hate - the village had gotten a group of rebels together against the Ryanban. He also stole Chu’nyan’s mother’s body, making it so that her spirit could never find peace, making him even more of a dick.

This is where we see the first instance of the anime really being geared towards younger audiences than CLAMP had planned for. In the manga Sakura wins everyone new clothes via dice gambling, but in the anime she wins a lottery. Not a big deal, but we see more of this. Another thing change is that there’s a whole secondary plot added to everything when they try to, again, give Sakura a more active role. There are better ways to do this, but Bee Train sort of just tosses her into action and then tosses Syaoran in after her. It’s always bad and pointless and never amounts to anything.

Anyway, she ends up inside the castle, somehow Syaoran manages to follow after her. Goodness knows what the dads are up to. (Probably this.) Some Really Weird Stuff happens and from what I remember the spirit of Chu-nyan’s mother hops a ride out of the castle with Sakura. Who, uhh, teleports her and Syaoran out. Yeah.

The rest of the arc goes pretty much how the manga does with a handful of minor changes - like the fact that Kurogane never bought a manga in Hanshin, so in order to block Kiishim’s killing blow he’s tucked the hammer he was using to fix the roof in his shirt, which is a much smaller shield than a whole ass book and I think that’s dumb. Still can’t get Mokona’s size right, to awkward and hilarious results.

And remember kids, we won’t show you dice but we will show you this.

Big Lake and Shipper Fish:

The animation in this part is actually pretty nice. Considering. The things they changed were needless and weird.

Sakura and the fish talk. How? Why? We don’t know, it’s never explained or examined. We are meant to accept it Because Sakura, which only works most of the time. The fish tries to tell Sakura that she knows Syaoran - we all know this will not and cannot work. Why does this happen? What was the point of adding this? It is so weird and awkward. It messes up the flow and is so extra. I understand your desires Shipper Fish, but please, let things take their course.

Jade:

Fuck you and fuck your animation. It looks The Worst, which is a bummer because this world changes the fewest amount of things. Anything I could point out are really minor:

somehow Fai can read

they never show how the family gets their clothes, and 99% of the scene in the tavern is skipped

breaking and entering!

Mokona bites Kurogane in the ass

they don’t have horses

no Kuro-dork looking at the snow like an excited child

they nerf Kurogane’s BAMF

the feather isn’t hidden behind a wall, they need the pure hearts of children?

Kyle was a way lazier villain

Filler #1 - Lightning Jazz Hands:

Alright, that looked neat as hell, I’ll admit. My compliments end here.

Story: nosy little shits got themselves cursed. Gonna fight in a competition to win a Big Magic. Is the Big Magic a feather? Stay tuned! (It’s not, because then the girl would die and that would be Too Sad.)

So the people in this country can shoot lightning out of their hands, that would be awesome and possibly scary, but I guess Kurogane is water/ground type because he gets it and only says, and I quote, “it tingles”. So your lightning powers mean nothing, add no stakes, and the Fam can’t do it so what is the point?

This filler is also famous for its KuroFai baiting, which is impressive, seeing as the anime tried very hard to make them Not Gay. I mean it failed but yeah.

Syaoran is the only fighter they have left because Kurogane and Fai are children and Sakura is making friends with the cursed girl. Keefer... Keepha... fights Syaoran, and obviously Syaoran wins because we’re supposed to think this is a feather. They really play it up to, even after we learn the Big Magic isn’t a feather Syaoran still hesitates before handing it over. For dramatics I guess? I don’t know, there’s literally no reason for him to not give it to the needy couple.

Boring filler. Only fun was watching Kurogane get excited over fighting people.

tbc... with Outo

[part 1] [part 2]

#Tsubasa Trainwreck Chronicles #my meta #sort of?????#TRC #spoilersTRC

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kurogabae · 6 years

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Tsubasa: Trainwreck Chronicles

And Why Bee Train Has Failed Me Not Only as a Company, but as a Concept in General; an Essay by Popular Demand

part 1 -- part 2

In part 1 (linked above) I spoke about the anime adaptations of the opening/introductions of our main cast through Jade and our first filler. These were episodes 1-16. Out of 26 for the season and 52 for the series. I don’t feel like my time has been wasted with pointless, endless, literally 30+ second long shots of characters staring at each other or into the distance for no reason. No. Not at all. Those moments added a lot of needed and organic tension and suspense.

Really.

But Sakura gazing longingly at a giant fish aside, we’re going to get into what is probably my most hated canon arc of the anime - Outo. Now, I loved Outo in the manga, it was an amazing world and it really kick started a lot of character and plot developments in TRC, not to mention that it was just generally a lot of fun. It was the longest world thus far and it had had the most characters in it as well. Outo was great. It’s one of my favorite worlds, right along side Piffle and fanon!Yama.

Bee Train did me dirty guys. Real dirty.

Outo:

So the animation swings wildly in this arc from “yeah that’s not so bad” to “Fai is that your hair or a giant yellow spider eating your head?” - pretty par for the course as far as the anime goes. Mostly. But then we have the changes to plot, both for the sake of the Children(tm) and... Just Because? It’s also in Outo that we start really noticing that whoever was in charge of directing the music usage was really just throwing music at the animation and hoping something stuck.

I’ll try to keep this linear but I make no promises.

We start off pretty normal - arrive, greeted by The Ladies, whisked off to City Hall. Fai gives them all their delightful Outo names while Syaoran looks on in a mild panic. They buy the cafe and get attacked - and here I have my First Issue.

For some reason, probably to make me hate them more than I already do, they change the events of the Oni attack just enough that Kurogane doesn’t grab Sakura out of the way of the ambush, iirc Fai grabs her. This might seem like nothing, but the anime has kept Kurogane and Sakura’s interactions to basically zero and if someone were to only watch the anime they would miss out on a lot of very small but meaningful moments between those two. Also, it’s important to me okay!

Morning comes and plot is still basically on track - Syaoran and Kurogane become oni hunters and Fai and Sakura open the cafe.

Now, when the family gets their costume changes, things get a little odd and the music is to blame. Sakura wakes up and goes to greet the family, who are all wearing what they’ll be sporting for the rest of Outo. As her view pans (ba-dum tss) over each of them a weird smooth jazz sort of music starts to play. I don’t know what to call it, but the tone makes it feel vaguely sexual/romantic, or at least like that’s what the intent is. Now if this had happened over Syaoran alone it probably wouldn’t have been weird, but funny. It doesn’t just happen to Syaoran though, Kurogane gets the music too (Fai is the first she sees and the music only starts playing as Sakura begins to look away). It’s a really strange music choice for this moment.

When Sakura changes into her cafe maid outfit and the boys see her it isn’t just a Sakura and Syaoran moment, which would be fine. If they weren’t playing that music again. And also Kurogane hyuus. At Sakura. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It was all very weird. I didn’t like it. Could have been just me.

Night one of oni hunting is here and so is another change that I don’t understand? Before when they added characters to the scene it was Sakura and I assumed it was them trying to give her more screen time, but Sakura is very much left out of this whole bit while Fai, who should be back at the cafe with her preparing to open up a business, is with Kurogane and Syaoran. Why? “I like to watch you at work, Kuro-sama.” (Which would have been simply amazing foreshadowing if we were ever going to so much as glance at Fai’s backstory in the anime, which we aren’t. Hell, at this point we don’t even know what it is because Celes hasn’t been published yet, so Bee Train is pulling this out of their ass. What a waste.)

Syaoran and Kurogane kill some oni, there’s very vague talk about Syaoran’s blind eye (they never outright say he’s blind in it, just that he “has trouble with it”), and we get to meet Yuzuriha and Kusanagi. Syaoran does not fawn over Inuki and I am once again personally insulted. It’s here that Kurogane learns about the names.

Fai manages to make it all the way back to the Cafe alive before Kurogane corners him. Also, even though Fai was gone all night with the puppies he still has a chocolate cake made and ready to serve to Yuzuriha and Kusanagi after they follow his and Kurogane’s immature murder trail home. Which is frankly bullshit. I know Sakura didn’t make that cake.

Syaoran and Kurogane don’t have to fight to prove their worth to the information seller, which is whatever I guess. Probably just trying to save time and budget, but that didn’t really help you now did it Bee Train?

Now, surprisingly, I actually liked the change they made to the bar scene/the fight before the bar. Fai and Kurogane don’t have their Moment in the bar, since this time they’ve missed Oruha and will have to come back. And instead of fighting on the way to the bar, the oni attack them on their way home. The song “Kaze no Machi he” plays over not only the KuroFai vs oni fight, but also sweet moments between Syaoran and Sakura in the cafe, effectively setting a very nice parallel between the two couples while still contrasting them. It’s a wonderful scene and it’s part of what makes me so extra mad at Bee Train for how they treated the whole series, because they clearly know how to do their jobs, they were just too lazy to give TRC the effort and care it deserved.

It was a really great scene and I would suggest watching just that couple of minutes, even if you don’t watch anything else from the Bee Train anime, simply because of how well it’s put together. Was it all just a happy editing accident? Maybe, but it’s one that I love.

Of course, like all things I love, Seishirou soon shows up to ruin them. This time with bad special effects.

This is of course after a pretty much canon-compliant intro to Ryuu-ou and Souma, complete with Kurogane dropping his freshly injured boyfriend on the ground in shock. Followed by pouting that I will take as a personal apology.

It’s not enough to make up for the lack of drunken shenanigans. Not even close.

Syaoran’s learned that not all of life’s problems can be solved by kicking. Sometimes you need to stab them. He asks Kurogane to teach him, but unlike in the manga where this is a sweet, if somber, moment between just the pair of them, Fai is, again, on the scene where he shouldn’t be. He’s also acting rather bitchy and tells Syaoran that if Kurogane teaches him to use a sword he needs to be ready to kill with it. Now this new dialogue is fucked up on a couple of levels.

Firstly, this is the same night Kurogane just lectured Fai about valuing his own life and admitted to killing more people than he could count in order to protect what he considered important to him. I’m sure we’re meant to read this as a type of semi-protective warning on Fai’s part towards Syaoran, but it comes off as petty at best and out right cruel at worst, to both Syaoran and Kurogane. Syaoran because he’s thirteen and he just wants to help save the love of his life who he is convinced he’ll never get back. Kurogane because he’s having this thing that’s pretty central to him at this point in his life thrown in his face with venom and treated like a danger towards his own adopted son.

Second, and big spoilers, if you’re watching this after Tokyo and Celes have been published (which at the time of the airing they were not) Fai telling Syaoran to “be prepared to kill” is fucked up. It’s clear in Tokyo that Fai has known for a while (we don’t find out how long exactly until Celes) that Syaoran is a clone. He also has known that Syaoran is a very real threat, basically a ticking time bomb. Fai would not be egging him on like this.

So, the whole exchange is very drastically changed in tone by giving Fai a small handful of lines, and in my humble onion it isn’t for the better.

Do you wanna know what is better though? The quality of these weapons compared to the everything else that’s been seen in Outo so far, and we don’t get better. The animation takes a noticeable dip from here on out. It’s especially noticeable because Bee Train has gotten into the habit of padding episodes with flashbacks and recaps of things we saw only a few episodes ago like they’re fucking Naruto and when you cut from one of the decently animated flashbacks to the current shitshow it’s really jarring.

Quality aside (for the moment) the puppies finally get their swords but before they had left, Sakura asks Syaoran about what he and Kurogane are planning to do during the day. It’s a fair question since they’re heading out early, but no oni can be hunted until night. For some reason he doesn’t tell her they’re going to get weapons? Or that he’s going to train with Kurogane? He just says “It’s nothing to worry about” and like... why?

On several levels why. First we have the whole why have Sakura ask if Syaoran’s not even going to tell her anything - maybe to add tension, as if they didn’t have enough, maybe to add angst, as if they didn’t have enough. He’s got no reason to hide this. She knows he hunts oni, telling her he’s going to better arm himself would only be a good thing, hell if he really wanted to avoid saying that he was going to get a sword he could have said that he was going with Kurogane to get one since Kurogane’s broke the night before. Second, Syaoran not answering only makes Sakura feel bad and worry more and I’ve never been so frustrated in my life. Yes, Syaoran tries to keep things from hurting Sakura but in the manga he doesn’t treat her like spun glass.

And then Mokona just tells her anyway so honestly the entire exchange was 95% meaningless and I demand to know who made these choices so I can meet them in the pit!!

Really the purpose is probably to waste time and pad the episode, but there’s enough in Outo that they really shouldn’t need to do this? But hey, what do I know? I’ve only read this series 10 times and done I can’t tell you how many analysis essays on the characters and plot. Surely some hacks who probably only glanced over the material know better.

So now Kurogane is throwing rocks at Syaoran. Not a whole lot is different for a while - we throw rocks at Syaoran, we blindfold Syaoran, we leave Syaoran all on his own to wander the city, Ryuu-ou stops Syaoran from getting his ass kicked by oni that he’s too focused on puzzling out to dodge, they flirt, they flirt so much.

Ryuu-ou takes Syaoran to see the Biggest and Prettiest cherry blossom tree in Outo, because Ryuu-ou goes big or not at all and he’s got a boy to woo.

Meanwhile, Fai has gotten a piano for the cafe that he can’t play and Sakura can speak to musical instruments, kinda. After another TouYuki cameo where they don’t recognize Sakura, Fai leaves Sakura to look after the cafe for reasons I can’t recall but that are probably dumb. Oruha shows up and she and Sakura have a Magical Musical Moment where Oruha plays the deus ex baby grand and learns all about how Sakura can’t remember Syaoran and somehow sees all the memories that Sakura can’t see/doesn’t have and folks I could not tell you what this adds to the story other than more confusion to people new to the series and frustration to people who have read the manga.

Let me break it down - Sakura doesn’t have these memories. Yuuko literally took them away as payment, they no longer exist. If they try to exist Sakura goes through a soft reset as seen earlier in this arc. Oruha should not be able to access them, super special VR powers be damned. The memories aren’t there to access. 404: Childhood Friendship not found.

This is all without touching on the creep factor of someone casually rooting around in Sakura’s head without her knowledge or permission. Hasn’t she’s lost enough autonomy?

Magic Music Memory time over, Oruha leaves and we’re spoiled and shown that Outo is VR and not actually the world we think it is, ruining both a really neat reveal and the weight of Syaoran and Fai’s “deaths” later in the arc. Do you want suspense and angst or not Bee Train?!?!

After reading some notes I had on the anime I think Fai left Sakura alone to go drinking with Kurogane because it’s now that they have their Moment in the Clover bar and finally meet Oruha (who stopped at the Cat’s Eye, sang with Sakura and read her mind, and then popped back to Clover because fuck you).

So. The dads are drinking and gathering info, the boys are flirting, and Sakura is doing what she did in Hanshin - where she enters zombie mode and autopilots towards her feather. Yuzuriha appears in the nick of time to stop Sakura from meeting Seishirou and for this I think she should receive a medal of some sort in all honesty.

As the girlfriends make their way back to Cat’s Eye Seishirou summons a Giant Deku Baba (seriously, Nintendo should look into copyright) and attacks the boyfriends. Ryuu-ou has to, once again, pull Syaoran out of harm’s way as he stands there aghast at the sudden turn of events. Things get a little too close to becoming a very uncomfortable tentacle based hentai and everyone escapes with their lives and virtue intact.

Syaoran tries to defend Seishirou’s honor because he thinks Seishirou has honor to defend, but no one is buying it. We also get a brief look at our resident Lava Lamp Dweller (who I might remind you all we never get answers about in ANY form in the anime) before we are swiftly moving along to another moment between Syaoran and Sakura where he’s pretty much lying to her face about things he doesn’t need to lie about and Sakura ought to chew him out.

Why? Why Bee Train? This is so OOC. Rewrite this fanfic.

It’s Tower of Terror time and Kurogane is Delighted about the 3% chance of survival he’s been handed. So far we’re back on track. Except we’re not.

Manga readers will remember looking back on this as one of our first Big Hints about Kurogane’s past - his hang ups about the demons leaving behind no bones or bodies of their past victims, implying that they’ve been eaten whole, and how that seemed to bother him. There’s the vaguest of hints that Kurogane still has a personal grudge with demons here in the anime, but it’s a lot less impactful and I don’t know how much meaning it would have to someone who didn’t have prior manga knowledge to fall back on. I feel like it falls a bit flat (especially once we see how Kurogane’s past has been sterilized for a younger audience).

Aside from that, the tower is more or less the same, bad hentai jokes and all.

Things also go very similarly at the cafe - Sakura works herself up into a tizzy and passes out, Fai feels the first emotion outside of Guilt and Horny he’s felt in upwards of a century, and Mokona tells him that he’s fine and that no, that’s not heartburn it’s affection.

Enter King Trashface. He’s holding the feather in some sort of weird space disco ball? Not the worst thing, just an odd choice? He and Fai exchange words (starting with Fai telling Seishirou to fuck off in the most polite way ever) - during which Fai’s animation makes it seem that the closer Fai gets to “death” the more his face distorts, which is terrible and hilarious.

Before Fai gets turned into demon chow though, Seishirou calls him out on being Mr. Deathwish, especially since Fai is fighting without using magic that could very possibly save him. At this point Fai flashes back to his and Kurogane’s “how about we don’t die” talk earlier and Fai says that he might want to live after all. Which is like. Bullshit at this point in the journey. He doesn’t want to live, he really really doesn’t and the very fact that he’s not using his magic is proof positive of that (see: Le Court). Though also, even with a bum ankle he thinks he can take Seishirou until he pulls out the feather. At which point Fai basically tells Mokona to pay attention to how he dies so she can tell the others about it. Which is so... against what he just said?

This is well before we ever see even a manga version of Fai with anything resembling self preservation or a proper will to live, but we have enough of his character for the anime writers to know that this is a very big leap for him to be taking so soon. I feel like if they wanted to give him a hopeful outlook (which is what I think they were trying to do after coming off the scene with Sakura and Mokona) they could have had him seem more wishy-washy about it, or phrased it as a curiosity. “Something I didn’t expect has happened and I wanna see where it goes” is a much better way for him to have made the same statement. At least in my opinion.

Anyway, he dies and I find his death scene really funny because you just see his legs dangling slowly and it’s so... idk it might just be me but I couldn’t stop laughing.

Now I am pretty sure Seishirou causes this but Outo starts glitching. Everything starts going full Matrix rainbows on us and all the NPCs vanish. Souma is worried about the game falling apart and Ryuu-ou and Yuzuriha are both worried about their potential love lives new friends.

Here we come to a few things I very much HATE that were changed. Once Fai is dead Sakura goes zombie again and starts to follow after her feather/Seishirou before the puppies get home, so only Mokona is there waiting. This means I have lost yet ANOTHER FATHER-DAUGHTER MOMENT!! It also means that when Syaoran runs after Seishirou and gets murderized she not only sees it happen but... dies? with? him? Because she hugs him while the game is transporting him out? I dunno. It’s bad and dumb and I hate it.

So Kurogane thinks they’re ALL DEAD, which is great. It’s not like he isn’t already having a bad enough day. Not that you could tell by looking because the animation doesn’t have him emote at all. He looks basically bored as Mokona tells them that Fai is dead while Syaoran is a step away from a full on meltdown. @beetrain you do know that Kurogane has emotions other than anger and Fight Me(tm) right?

And now Seishirou is idk posturing? Bragging? He talks about how there’s no one left to oppose him now that the 13 year olds are dead, completely ignoring the pissed off ninja murder machine that has nothing left to lose that’s coming for his sorry ass. I don’t remember him being that cocky in the manga? Am I misremembering or did the anime somehow make Seishirou even more unlikable? Either way, Kurogane finds the slimeball and, to my extreme annoyance, only asks if he killed Fai and Syaoran - not Sakura - even though he believes all of them to be dead. The anime keeps doing this and I have ranted about it so much I’ll spare you the retyping. For now.

A quick list of minor things that happen that I dislike:

Fai’s coat and Sakura’s cloak both pull random appearing and disappearing acts between episodes

No one is even a little surprised when Syaoran’s sword sets itself on fire

The pacing could kill a man. Unfortunately Seishirou lives.

My soap opera isn’t real and this is

Seishirou knows Syaoran is a clone and drops hints about something we are never getting resolution to

Oruha, after allowing Seishirou to fuck off, just, you know, tells Sakura that she has missing memories of Syaoran

Memories that she somehow was able to access even though they no longer exist within Sakura

If Yuuko says no memories she means NO MEMORIES!!!

FWR watches the demon rampage across Edonis. He’s probably reminiscing. Like an asshole.

Outo wraps up and is it the worst of the arcs? No. But am I bitter about the things that were done to it because it changed a lot of fundamental things about the characters and the plot? Yes.

See you next time, where I’ll probably talk about more than one arc. Until then, have this.

[part 1] [part 2]

#Tsubasa Trainwreck Chronicles #my meta #TRC #spoilersTRC

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kurogabae · 6 years

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robophantom

“@kurogabae I’m 99% sure this is how Ceres went.”

It’s been a while since I read TRC, but I’m pretty sure it’s canon that Kurogane was specifically chosen to be Yuuko’s spanner in the works against FWR.

I mean yes, but I also mean that I don’t think FWR ever meant to try and get Kurogane on his side like he does with Fai when he attacks Suwa. My theory is that FWR’s end goal for that whole hot mess is for Kurogane to end up dead because he is literally the thing that ruins ALL of FWR’s plans.

Kurogane was Yuuko’s pawn because he wasn’t dead, not because he wasn’t FWR’s.

#robophantom #talky talks #spoilersTRC #TRC

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kurogabae · 6 years

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@tsubasachroniclemonth Day 12 - Mother and Son(s)

You are the dawn of new day still waking A masterpiece still in the making

#tsubasachroniclemonth #Sakura hime #Syaoran Tsubasa #Watanuki Kimihiro #TRC #xXxHolic #spoilersTRC #spoilersHolic #my art

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kurogabae · 6 years

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“You are not going without me” any Sakura

Any Sakura? Why not ALL SAKURA!?!?!?

“You are not going without me.”

She was the youngest of them, the sweet school girl with a round face. She was also the most powerful, her magical limits untested but far reaching. She stood before them, a simple girl with a simple wish - to help. Always to help. They had only just met mere hours ago, but they were all the same at their cores, and so they had always known one another.

Tsubasa wanted to argue. This girl was a child even as her magic radiated like a sun from within her. It would break her heart to see her come to harm, but her copy reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Sakura shook her head and then extended her other hand towards the girl. “The come along,” she said. “There are people who need us. We can’t keep them waiting.”

Stars in the sky above were put to shame by the light shimmering in the girl’s eyes as she rushed forward, one hand outstretched for Sakura to take, the other holding fast to a staff tipped with a crystal star. Tsubasa still wished to keep her safe, she wished to keep her copy safe as well. If it were possible she would have faced this threat alone, but with a steadying breath she shed her worries. They were strong, and they were together.

Everything would surely be alright.

#Kinomoto Sakura #Sakura hime #Sakura Tsubasa #Cardcaptor Sakura #TRC #spoilersTRC #CLAMP #my fics #mokonamania

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kurogabae · 6 years

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I keep thinking about your hanahaki au and i just got it stuck in my head that Yuuko, like, offers Kurogane a Steal of a Deal where whatever price it will be to maybe remove the flowers will be discounted if he can take everyone one of his petals and put it in a jar she provides (bc I also can never forget kobato apparently) and so he asks for help from his family in making sue he gets all of them bc he apparently is the only one in this family who doesn't think he has to do it alone (1/2)

even if he doesn't, like, tell him what hanahaki is beyond its a magical disease from nihon with complicated cures. and i make myself sad but then i make myself somewhat happier by thinking mokona would use her suction technique to catch stray ones and sakura would find, just like, random flowers and give them to him so earnestly even if they're not always ones he coughed up but she thinks what if he coughed while i wasn't looking for two seconds and i love her (2/2)

Oh my gosh I love this and it is SO TOTALLY NOT HOW THIS STORY IS GONNA GO DOWN but how about we have a little fun with some “what if” alternate ficlet?

It seems that his family has had enough breaking and are unwilling to chance another fracture. Kurogane thinks that he should feel guilty for being the one to have risked bringing them all that much closer to shattering for good, but he’s exhausted and his heart hurts in more ways that he could ever have guessed that was possible. He lets the princess and kid corner him in the bedroom he and Syaoran trade off in using, Mokona is perched high on Sakura’s head, Fai stands silent and dark by the door, clearly playing at guardsman to keep Kurogane at bay. He doesn’t have to bother.

Kurogane will not run.

“Kurogane-san, enough is enough,” Sakura says. Her voice is tiny, but it does not falter and her shoulders are set. She meets his eyes and they are the eyes not of a child or lost little girl, but a queen ready to ascend to her throne. “We can’t ignore whatever is wrong with you any longer, and if we can’t cure you we have to ask Yuuko-san for help.”

They both know the cure is not something that Kurogane can obtain. Kurogane still doesn’t know how Sakura found out about the details, but she understands his situation. He knows it hurts her nearly as much as it hurts him to consider removing the Hanahaki flower, to remove a piece of who Kurogane is, but apparently the pain of losing him entirely outweighs that. He can find it in himself to respect her decision.

“Curing this is out of my hands, princess,” he confirms.

Syaoran looks, shockingly, angry about it all. “I’ve never heard of this disease,” he says through clenched teeth. His hands are balled into fists and his shoulders are so tense they’re shaking. “If we ask Yuuko for help the price is going to be heavy.”

He isn’t wrong. Losing his love isn’t the price the witch is asking, it’s simply a side effect of the flower. Kurogane has no idea what else the witch will ask of him. He doesn’t want to know, but he can’t look at Sakura, Syaoran, and Mokona gathered before him so worried and desperate to help him and refuse to reach out for her help.

Kurogane reaches out and smooths down Syaoran’s messy hair absently. “Then let’s get this over with before it gets any worse,” he says. He motions for Mokona to hop onto his shoulder and waits for the image of the witch to appear.

She’s surprised to see them, Kurogane especially. He doesn’t even need to speak for her to know why they’ve called her.

“You’ve changed your mind about taking me up on my offer to remove the Hanahaki flower, I see.” Pity is clear in her voice and eyes and it leaves a bitter taste in Kurogane’s mouth. “There will be a price to remove it, of course.”

“Of course,” is all he says in response.

“Mokona wants to help!”

“Yes,” Sakura adds, stepping up next to Kurogane. Syaoran followers her lead, telling Yuuko that he too is willing to help bear this burden. Behind them, Fai is silent, but Kurogane can feel him shift and sees Yuuko’s eyes flick over to him.

“No,” is Yuuko’s answer, and all of them are shocked. Syaoran opens his mouth to argue before Yuuko raises her hand to quiet him. “You all wish for Kurogane to live, if you all were to make this wish it would drive the price up so much none of you would be able to pay the price,” she explains. “Kurogane has approached me for a reason, if he alone makes this wish the price will be... less.”

And so the wish is made. It feels like a death sentence of its own.

Kurogane is given a large, glass jar. Every petal he coughs up from that moment forth he must put into the jar until it is full. If he misses even a single petal Yuuko will be unable to remove the flower, and Kurogane will be forced to ride out the Hanahaki like he has been intending, but if he succeeds then she will be able to draw it out. The price is simple and amazingly low, so much so that Kurogane doesn’t need to ask if he will make it out with his love for Fai intact or not.

Collect the petals, survive until the jar is full, give away the love he feels for Fai that is slowly killing him. How could something be such a small price and yet such a monumental price at the same time?

Days pass and the jar fills slowly. Kurogane turns to his family to help, and they answer him with determination in spades.

Syaoran snatches up stray petals with the single minded focus that his clone would show when pursuing the princess’ feathers. Mokona uses her suction abilities far more often than strictly necessary to make sure not a single one strays where they can’t reach it. Sakura brings Kurogane his petals and, on more than one occasion, petals that are very clearly not petals that he has coughed up. She insists it’s simply to be sure she hasn’t missed anything, but when he catches her smiling at the mismatched collection of blooms sitting on the kitchen table he thinks he managed to catch on to the underlying purpose.

Fai continues to avoid him, to address him by name, and starve himself. Kurogane forces him to drink, and nothing more.

He tries not to think about how soon it won’t matter. He wonders if he’ll still try so hard to keep Fai alive when he’s no longer in love with him, if his sense of duty will be enough to carry them through this hardship. Will Fai be able to piece things together by how differently Kurogane acts afterwards? Will Kurogane just tell him, no longer so concerned about protecting Fai’s heart?

There’s so much unknown about what’s to come. It’s just one more thing about this journey that Kurogane doesn’t understand or have answers for, though. He’ll do what he can when the moment comes. The jar is nearly full, and he and the children have been so careful to collect every petal, and just like with that, Kurogane will not face his life after the Hanahaki’s removal alone.

What he doesn’t know, is that Fai holds a single petal, waiting until Kurogane has filled the jar. It is his last ditch attempt to learn the secret cause of this mysterious disease - the petal for the information.

#KuroFai #TRC #Kurogane #Sakura hime #Syaoran Tsubasa #Mokona is Mokona #Fai Flourite #Hanahaki Unending #my fics #spoilersTRC #alternate plotline????#i really love this idea though anon i hope this ficlet shows that #Anonymous #ask Ryssa

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