#{ Arriving Back In Makai }

[dxrknessembr8ced]

12:10 P.M. makai

The makai realm, the dark realm full of such horrible undesirables. Dark magic, demons and worse horrors. However makai had now changed over the years as the dark realm of makai fully embraced modernity as a whole, yet the customs, as well as the traditions of nobles still remained. Now? The realm is now in a brink of a horrific civil war between horrors all thanks to the returned of Jedah. Half of the horrors and the other demons of makai pledge loyalty towards him while the much larger percent of them rebelled which lead to be oppressed and treated unfairly by him since he now rules all of makai with an iron fist. However he doesn't realized that in ruling makai and bastardize makai and even mistreat the people he had angered has dire consequences which led to the mother and progenitor of all horrors, the messiah very enraged and so are even the most powerful category of horrors, the legendary horrors as they were responsible in building their rebellion. One particular legendary horror, a rebel amongst the other horrors and also a tragic yet powerful creature zaji, a girl who lost everything from Jedah's cruelty as her family have been associated with the family that is the Aensland family and her family are a loving yet destructive force for her family's destiny is killing the greatest among the makai knights by the title of Garo as of now her family were torn apart by jedah but only a few survived his wrath, mainly her, as well as her father and twin sister which she will be seeing. For the girl is traveling back to the city ruled by jedah after her time in the war against him, when she returns to the place she once called home her life changed into from hope and opportunity to broken dreams and false hopes as society within the dark realm isn't what it use to be even in the current climate in the T-Erebus before and the aftermath. In the cruise ship full of the ship's crew that are all comprised of horrors and mado horrors alike operating the large ship Zaji knocked on the door to get her friend out of the room so they can get off the ship that is about to set on land but uhh, well, he's going to down with one of the succubi as she hears him screaming and moaning along with whipping.

" DONNY'S BACK YOU BITCHES AHH YEAAHH!!! "

" Uhh? Donny? C'mon out! "

" DONNY'S BACK YOU BITCHESS!! "

" Oh my god... "

She sighed.

She kept knocking until one of the crew just calls out on her to come on as it's time to get on the main land of makai city.

" Yo-! Zaji? The fuck are you doing? "

" Donny is not coming out. "

" leave him! We got to get this thing working before we go! to do c'mon let's go! "

" Alright alright... "

Walking through the corridors with the said crew member walking up the stairs now the two outside staring at the beautiful city in makai, modernized and advanced ever since even before Jedah's rules makai was not the same since modernity overshadows those old makai traditions. The crew members all celebrated the fact they're going back home after the great civil war to meet their family, their friends and such. Zaji let out a sigh as the crew ship member and she walked all while carrying bags and their luggage to the ship that is about to set on the docks soon. Once the ship finally set on the dock these former rebels walk down the steps along with Zaji whose watching them reunite with their families and friends while she remain alone waiting for her sister to come in and pick her up, she heard that she's living into the so-called american dream in this depths of makai. Waiting for few minutes a car just appeared driving to the dock parking by as Her twin sister Zaija appeared out of the car with smiles and open arms.

" ZAJI MY SISTER!!! "

" HEY-! "

Both sisters hugged it out smiling and just laughing as they pat each other in the back reuniting so long at last after her bloody war against jedah.

" I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE HERE IN THE SHIT HOLE WELCOME TO MAKAI CITY-! "

" Драго ми је да те видим сестро! "

{ " Good to see you sister! " }

" Eh wha-? "

" Good to see, sister! What did ya forget our language? "

" Uhh.... купус? "

{ Uhh.... Cabbage? }

Zaji let out a soft chuckle as Zaija chuckled along with her as she helps her carry her luggage to the car trunk.

" Ah-! Maybe a little! I've been here for almost a fucking year now long since Jedah fucked us over, you can speak english and makai language! Even our language like the american dream big sis! "

[tobiasdrake]

Well, Daima's off to a really slow start. First episode kinda sucks, but it'll hopefully pick up now that the plot's begun.

I know Toei's gonna Toei but spending ten straight minutes watching two new characters watch the Majin Buu saga of Dragon Ball Z feels like a bit much. I sure hope Majin Buu winds up being an important character in Daima because boy howdy did we recap the shit out of who he is and how he came to arrive at this point.

Toei, you're not adapting a manga; You don't need to throw in filler to pad the runtime.

Elephant in the room, Shenron can't actually do this. The wish made at the end of the episode is beyond his power. Weird how obsessed post-Z material is with reverse-aging the characters; They've done this in GT, Super, and now Daima's entirely predicated on it.

They threw in some stuff about "The Saiyans are all using white magic and reverse de-aging them is a white magic wish instead of a black magic wish so it bypasses the established rules and will work!" It's nonsense, but it's kind of necessary nonsense to make the show's premise work so it skates by.

Trying to critique the wish too hard runs afoul of the "Look do you want a show about the cast turning into kids and exploring the Demon Realm or not?" problem.

And I do, so I won't harp on it too much.

But man, it's amazing how little happens in this episode. We get a little establishment on King Gomah and Makai. I'm guessing Degesu and Dr. Arinsu are Makaioshin, a concept that up to this point only existed in supplementals.

They're evil counterparts of the Kaioshin, which is pretty self-evident in the show proper. Especially since they're apparently East Kaioshin's siblings?

Also, I caught that bit about "Dabra's predecessor, King Abra". Well played.

I hope some of the other characters get involved with Daima's plot. "Turn everyone into children and scale back all the power levels" seems like a golden opportunity to give weaker characters their time. It'd kinda be a waste of a premise like that if it still winds up just being the Goku and Vegeta show anyway.

I dunno.

This episode left me feeling about the way I felt before I watched this episode. That is to say, "Oh boy, I can't wait until Dragon Ball Daima starts."

[typingatlightspeed]

TF2 Fanfic - The Extreme Path Chapter 4

Spy witnesses the Makai family's threats firsthand, and with no doubt left in his mind, has to reconcile with the fact that a promise made to him almost forty years ago was being broken. Yoko is horrified about this revelation of Spy's past, and poor Sniper, Scout, and Kazuhiro are caught in the crossfire. Good news, however, the team's final member has arrived, and man oh man is he immediately gunning for the team's gunman.

Ao3 Link! Part of Monstrous Intent!

I promise I didn't mean to rip off a major plot point of Ryu Ga Gotoku/Yakuza 1, it just ended up happening that way! o-o Also warning for domestic violence, as well as murder but this is ostensibly a TF2 fic so murder is part and parcel yanno?

---------

Yamamori Ryokan, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan. June 6th, 1970.

The crash of splintering wood woke Spy with a start. He heard men yelling, and sprung to his feet. Snatching his balisong and watch from beneath his pillow, he tore out of his room in his underwear, skidding barefoot to a halt in the lobby, where Yoko stood. Her hands were clenched into fists as she watched Kazuhiro charge outside with a wooden practice katana clutched in one hand.

"Yo-chan?"

"They're back again. Those Makai family assholes."

Spy made to follow Kazuhiro out, but was stopped by Yoko's hand on his bare shoulder. He turned to see her holding one of the yukata from the rack behind her, and looked down at himself. "Ah, yes. Merci."

A loud crack filled the air as wood shattered and broke, creaking as the sign for the ryokan toppled over, its supports broken yet again. A burly hibagon, an ape-man covered in shaggy black fur and wearing a suit with an ornate lapel pin, hefted his sledgehammer up over his shoulder, laughing at the destruction he'd wrought.

"Oi, Aniki! Looks like you got the bird-man's attention," called a man with white cat ears and a long black and white tail that split into a Y-shape, standing beside a car that had been haphazardly parked halfway up the walkway from the road. He was a nekomata, and he too wore a suit with a lapel pin, and a gold chain around his neck, shown by the open buttons of his garish purple shirt.

"Looks like I did," the hibagon replied with a chuckle, turning to stare down Kazuhiro as he approached, practice sword in hand. He widened his eyes. "Decide to pay up yet?"

"Get off of our property, or I will throw you off," Kazuhiro threatened, bringing the sword to bear.

The hibagon bristled. "See, that worked last time: your little samurai routine. But this time you're a little outnumbered." He motioned to the car, and two more thugs, both human in appearance, climbed out, grinning. They were dressed similarly, all glaring with wide eyes, looking wild and eager to fight.

Kazuhiro held his ground, his face stern.

"You got two options, tengu. Either you pay up, or we beat your ass and burn this cute little onsen to the ground while we carry off your woman." He dropped the sledgehammer down to just above the ground, ready to bring it to bear.

"You'd have to fight her first. May as well cut your own throat and save yourself the trouble," Kazuhiro countered with a smirk. "I'm out here to be the nice one."

"Don't think the whole nice approach is workin' for you, bud."

A knife pressed to the hibagon's throat, and in a puff of smoke, Spy decloaked, wearing the shape of his Frenchman self. "Oh good. I hate the nice approach."

"Aniki!" the nekomata yelled, holding back from charging forward as Spy forced the hibagon to turn, giving him line of sight to everyone involved. He snarled, fangs on display. "Who the fuck is this white boy?"

"I'm the guardian kami of this spring," Spy snorted, holding the knife closer, cutting through a chunk of fur to press the blade to skin. His eyes flickered to the pin on the thug's lapel, taking in its details before returning to the nekomata.

"Real fuckin' funny," the hibagon grunted. He dropped the sledgehammer and looked to Kazuhiro. "You think hirin' muscle's gonna help you? We know what you are, and some hired goon ain't gonna save you from your customers findin' out. You got 'til the end of the week to pay up, or Captain Nagoshi's making sure all of Osaka knows what you two are."

"You're makin' an awful lotta threats for a guy with a knife to his throat," Spy hummed, smirking.

"You gonna murder me on the doorstep of this ryokan? Sure that'd be great for business."

"Nobody would miss a lowlife chinpira like you."

"You talk a lotta shit for a foreigner."

"You talk a lotta shit for a dead man."

"Stop!" Kazuhiro called, looking pleadingly to Spy. "If we kill the messenger, do you think they're going to hold back on exposing us?"

Spy scoffed and pulled the knife away, shoving the yakuza thug away with an annoyed, "Tch."

Rubbing at his throat, the hibagon backed up to the car, nodding to his companions, who all climbed back in. "Friday," he growled. He stalked over and got in, slamming the door loudly. The car backed sloppily out onto the road, knocking over a jizo statue on its way and crushing a lantern, and sped off down the mountain road from whence it came.

Spy sagged. "Sorry."

"Don't be," Kazuhiro replied, sighing as he beheld his re-broken sign. "They would've beaten me bloody if you hadn't showed up."

"I'm surprised Yoko wasn't out here backin' you up."

"I don't want her dealing with them if I can avoid it," Kazuhiro reasoned. "Unlike you, she wouldn't have moved the knife."

Spy flipped his knife closed and shifted back to Shigeru. "That's true. Either way, I got a look at those lapel pins. No mistake, that really is the Makai family. Which doesn't make any sense."

"Why not?"

"Because Patriarch Ugaki swore an oath to me that the family would never touch the Morimoto foxes."

*

Sōemonchō, Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. April, 1932.

"Han!"

"Are you serious? This is fuckin' bullshit!"

The clacking of gambling tokens and clattering of dice filled the smoky room of the little gambling hall. Tucked away in a side alley, it was a large, mostly unadorned room with old-fashioned decor, a wall with a sliding door separating it from the back of the house. Upon the tatami floor sat a host of gamblers sitting across from a few dealers running cho-han, shaking dice in small baskets and upending them in games of guessing evens or odds. An angry young man dressed in an ill-fitting suit jumped to his feet, pointing accusatorily at the dealer in front of him.

"This game's rigged! No way it's han five rolls in a row!"

"Sir, please be seated if you wish to continue to play," the dealer—a pretty young woman dressed in a kimono—asked, lifting the dice between her fingers and dropping them back into the basket.

"The fuck you mean 'sit down'?" the young man barked, leaning in angrily, towering over the seated woman. "I want back all the money you fucks stole from me!"

"Sir." The dealer looked past him and flashed a hand sign, then looked back up to him. "Sir, I understand losing is difficult, but I must ask that you calm down. You're making a scene."

"Makin' a scene?! Good! You're straight-up fleecin' me!" Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a pocket knife, flipping it open to a chorus of gasps and the thumping scramble of other patrons moving away. "I oughtta cut your tongue out for takin' to me like that!"

The dealer stared at him, looking exhausted.

The wet thump of impact interrupted any further threats, as the man fell to the ground in a heap, his knife clattering to the floor beside him. Behind him, Shigeru tucked his blackjack back into his pocket and smoothed out his jacket, which bore a lapel pin showing the Makai family crest. He took a drag from his cigarette. "Dipshit."

"Thank you, Morimoto-han," the dealer said, bowing.

"Don't worry 'bout it," Shigeru replied, stepping over the unconscious patron and past the line of dealers. He slid open a door behind them and poked his head into a room with a low table, where a group of men in finely-tailored suits were seated on the floor around it, sharing sake and chatting. "Captain Ugaki?"

A slim man with a wide nose, rounded eyes, and close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair lifted his head, smiling slightly at the sight of him. "What's up, Morimoto-chan?"

"Guy out here makin' a ruckus, drew a knife. He's takin' a nap right now. Should I take the trash out or should I make sure it's properly disposed of?"

Captain Ugaki shook his head with a laugh. "Just toss the asshole in the street. Take his wallet as a warning shot. If he decides to start shit with the family again we'll put the boots to him."

"On it, Oyaji," Shigeru said, slipping out and sliding the door closed.

*

Yamamori Ryokan, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan. June 6th, 1970.

The sliding glass doors to the ryokan were locked. A pair of sliding wooden doors were locked in front of them. The broken sign still laid in the rock garden beside the path. In the lobby, the phone rang unanswered.

On the second floor of the main building, in Yoko and Kazuhiro's small apartment, the team sat on the living room floor around a short, square table. A sake cup rested in front of each person, a small jug at the middle of the table.

Yoko stared at Spy, not breaking eye-contact as she slugged back her sake and set the cup on the table, clacking it loudly.

Spy picked up the jug and refilled her cup.

Yoko's brows furrowed, and drank her cup again, clacking it down a little louder.

"Yo-chan..." Kazuhiro started, but was silenced as Yoko held a finger up to shush him, not sparing him a glance. She kept her eyes firmly on her brother.

Spy refilled her cup again. Yoko drank it in a single gulp and slammed the cup onto the table, rattling the other cups, making Scout, Sniper, and Kazuhiro jump.

"So tell me, Shigeru. What the fuck were you thinking?" Yoko barked, tails lashing in annoyance.

"It was after I got into espionage, but before the war. The guy I was working for had been blackmailed by someone on the extreme path—"

"Yakuza."

"What?"

"Don't use their words for themselves. They're fucking yakuza."

"You're awful venemous about them considering how much crime you've done yourself over the years."

"There's a difference."

Spy scoffed and continued. "The blackmailer was in the Makai family. Guy name of Daito Shigeki. So I came back over to get into the family to get close to him."

"Using your real name?"

"Not at first. I was goin' by Sawamura Kazuma at the time. Turned out Daito wasn't just blackmailin' foreigners who did business with the clan. He was a mole in the family, workin' on a plan to assassinate the family captain, Ugaki Goro. My employer just wanted Daito dead. The family, once I gave them a small mountain of evidence I'd gathered over a year, made that happen. But to prove all of that to Captain Ugaki, I had to play my hand about bein' undercover. Captain was so grateful anyway he made us sworn brothers, and asked if I'd stay in the family." Spy shrugged. "The Makai family targeted youkai businesses and interests, both to keep 'em as turf and to keep human families from causin' 'em trouble. The protection money was in exchange for actual protection, for the most part. Still extortion, but they at least walked the talk. So I stuck around, 'cause I knew bein' a kitsune named Morimoto on their payroll might put other kitsune named Morimoto on their radar. So if I were in the family, I could keep 'em away from anythin' you and Ken-chan might be up to."

"Don't play like you did this for our sakes."

"At first? No. Once I realized I'd fucked up royally by being exposed? Believe what you want, but I'm tellin' you that's why I stuck around."

"How long were you with them?"

"Two more years. Then it all went to shit. The patriarch, Kanda, was dating Captain Ugaki's sister, Rie. Always on the bubble of not treatin' her good, but nobody saw nothin', and even if we did, what could we say to the patriarch? But we all got the feelin'. He didn't put much respect in his mouth when he talked to her. Well one day they had it out, and he ended up hittin' her somewhere you could see it. And her brother found out."

"What'd he do?"

*

Sōemonchō, Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. April, 1934.

Everyone had heard the screaming. By the time Shigeru had arrived, he could hear police sirens in the distance. Drawing himself up, he charged up the stairs to Ugaki Rie's apartment, his guts drawn tight.

The door was ajar, the frame broken by forced entry. Splinters of wood were everywhere. He could hear a woman sobbing. Steeling himself, Shigeru pushed the door slowly open and crept inside into the darkened, single-room apartment.

Moonlight shone in from the balcony, reflecting off of a darkened puddle on the wood floor, silver-white on shadow-blackened crimson. A woman, Ugaki's sister Rie, was curled up against the side of the kitchen cabinets, holding her knees to her chest and crying. Her skirt was ripped, her hair a mess. In the middle of the room lay the body of Patriarch Kanda, dead. Deep, ragged gouges covered his body, slashed by claw and fang, his throat torn open. Hunched over him, a man-shaped otter youkai—a kawauso—knelt, blood dripping from his claws and soaking his suit.

Shigeru stopped, choked on his own breath, barely croaking out, "Captain..."

The kawauso turned, blood splattering his face, and slowly shifted into human shape, agony creasing his tear-stained features. "Morimoto-chan..."

"Captain, what—"

"I... I couldn't stop myself. When Rie called me, said he was yellin', gettin' violent, that he hit her before and she was afraid he was gonna do worse this time..." Ugaki shook his head, looking down at his hands, "I snapped. I ran the whole way here, and ripped his fuckin' throat out. I... I'm sorry, kyodai."

The sirens grew closer. "Sorry?"

"That you're gonna have to deal with a patriarch like Lieutenant Nagoshi. If the family don't just dissolve."

"The family ain't dissolvin'; what're you talkin' about?"

"The patriarch's dead. Ain't no way I ain't goin' down for this, Morimoto-chan. If the cops don't get me, the clan will. Patricide..."

Shigeru knelt beside Ugaki and looked down to the lifeless body of Kanda on the floor. "No." He shook his head. This was his sworn brother, defending his family. He'd have done the same or worse if Yoko had been in Rie's position. Panic welled in his heart as he realized the decision he'd already made, with absolutely zero deliberation. He slammed his hands down into the puddle of blood and began to wipe it on himself, soaking his hands in it, smearing it on his arms, his face, his suit.

"What the hell are you doin'?" Ugaki barked, grabbing hold of Shigeru's wrists.

"My duty as your sworn brother. The family needs you. Rie-san needs you. And you know there's not a prison that can hold me. You need to run, before the cops get here. Get to the river, ditch those clothes. Lay low, and get back to the family." He dug in his jacket pocket, pulling out a large pearl, about the size of a tennis ball. It glowed softly, subtly, barely lighting the hand that held it, and he handed it to Ugaki. "Hide this somewhere I'll expect. I'll need it once I break out."

"Your hoshitama? Shigeru, no..."

"Look, I discovered my sworn brother's sister was bein' brutalized, and I went to take matters into my own hands before the family even found out. I—I'm a new swear-up. Kasuga Akira." Shigeru shifted his face to something generic, an everyman who didn't stand out, and looked to Rie. "Rie-san? Do you hear that? My name is Kasuga, and I came here to defend you! Your brother had no idea!"

Sniffling, Rie nodded, eyes blackened and swollen nearly shut, her nose bloody. Shigeru looked back down to Kanda's corpse and snarled. Being mauled was too easy a death for what he deserved.

Ugaki nodded, clearly unable to change his subordinate's mind. "Fine, okay. I'll get you an identity, a-and I'll lawyer you up and make sure you don't hang. But you better get outta prison like you said."

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, a sad smile crossed Shigeru's lips. "Just promise me somethin'."

"Anythin'."

Shigeru leveled a severe glare at his captain. "The family never touches the Morimoto foxes."

Ugaki took Shigeru's hand and clasped it tightly. "I swear you this oath. Nobody touches the Morimoto foxes."

Satisfied, Shigeru gave his hand a squeeze, then released him. "Thank you, kyodai. Now go! Get outta here before the cops show up!" With a wave of his hand and a flash of magic, he pushed an invisibility spell onto his captain and shoved him away, staring at the empty air as his unseen sworn brother took flight, his footsteps retreating until sirens drowned them out.

Looking back down at Kanda, Shigeru let his hands slip into claws, and gave the son of a bitch one last gouge for good measure.

*

Yamamori Ryokan, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan. June 6th, 1970.

"You went to PRISON for them?!" Yoko yelled, slamming her hands on the table and pitching up onto her knees. The other cups on the table clattered, and Kazuhiro recoiled in shock. Sniper and Scout shared a nervous look, while Spy remained nonplussed.

"For three months. Their security was a joke. Captain Ugaki hid my hoshitama on the roof of the family office, which I took and left without contact. I was back in Paris before the season changed."

"NOT THE POINT!"

"Then what is the point? Yo-chan, the amount of morally suspect shit I've done in my life, both before and after leavin' Japan the first time would turn your fur white."

"If my fur were white then I'd be able to get a job workin' for Inari-okami and I wouldn't be here puttin' up with your bullshit!"

"She's awful mad," Scout mumbled, leaning in to Sniper. "Should we..." he jerked his thumb over his shoulder, wordlessly suggesting an exit.

Sniper nodded, and looked to Kazuhiro, who made eye contact and slowly nodded in agreement. Each slugged back their sake and quietly made their egress.

*

"She's a spitfire," Sniper muttered as the three descended the stairs into the ryokan proper, the 'staff only' door at its bottom left open.

"Like gettin' yelled at by Ma. Same kinda attitude, like 'is this the time I finally push 'er over the edge an' she stabs me?'"

"Yo-chan is often more calm," Kazuhiro replied, his English hesitant, and thickly-accented. "She hate yakuza."

"I mean, can't say I blame 'er," Scout replied, carefully hopping down the last step to avoid scuffing the hardwood with his hooves. "They keep rollin' in an' wreckin' 'er shit. If I built all this up by hand I'd wanna light the fuckers on fire too."

"Strewth."

Scout winced as a tirade he couldn't understand echoed down the stairs in Spy's voice. "You think they're gonna be okay?"

"I think they will. Lot of emotion," Kazuhiro assured him, looking nervously back the way they'd come.

"Tadaima!"called a man's voice from the entryway, startling all three men.

Kazuhiro dashed through the lobby, sliding to a halt on his socks as he saw a man dressed in a business suit stepping out of his shoes and onto the hardwood floor, both doors closed behind him. "Kenji-san! How did you get in here?"

Sniper and Scout trotted in after Kazuhiro, eyes on the newcomer. He was about Scout's height, but broader, athletically built even under the concealing lines of his navy suit, which bore a lapel pin in the shape of a rounded sunflower with a balance scale at its centre. His face was narrow and clean-shaven, with golden-brown eyes and an aquiline nose. His short salt-and-pepper hair was parted to one side. From his backside, three orange tails trailed, the white at their tips more pronounced than Spy's and Yoko's. He had a duffel slung around his torso, with one hand resting on the strap.

"Well I knocked for about ten minutes, then just gave up and picked the locks. Don't worry; I locked up behind me. You know, if you're expecting visitors, you should really be listening for them to arrive," the man, Kenji, explained with a chuckle. He looked to the foreigners, lifting an eyebrow, tensing and almost-instantly relaxing the moment he saw Scout's antlers and cervine legs. "You have guests?"

"Oh, these are friends of Shigeru-san, from his work in America."

"Of course Shige-chan surrounds himself with gorgeous men," Kenji snorted.

"He's a man of taste. This is Mun—"

Kenji surged forward and offered Sniper a handshake and bow together, his eyes roving the taller man, checking him out without any attempt at concealing it. "Morimoto Kenji, a pleasure to meet you," he said in English, flashing him a winning smile, complete with fangs.

Sniper smiled in return, taking his hand for a hearty shake and bowing in addition, making sure to make an obvious show of appraising him in return. "Mundy," he replied. When Kenji released him, he gestured to Scout. "And this is Scout."

"Nice to meet you," Kenji offered, affording Scout a far less lacivious but still pleasantly flirty handshake and bow combination.

"Yeah, right back atcha," Scout replied with a wink, glad he was willing to talk to him rather than just let Sniper translate. "Your English is real good!"

"Thank you," Kenji chuckled, releasing Scout. "I don't speak as many languages as Shige-chan, but I like to think I'm no slouch. And in my line of work, it's more helpful than you'd expect."

"Whatcha you do for a livin'?"

"I'm a defense attorney," Kenji chirped proudly, tapping his lapel pin. "I specialize in representing youkai in court, since we have differing needs compared to humans." He looked to Kazuhiro. "Speakin' of youkai, where are Shige-chan and Yo-chan? I brought some sweets from the city."

"Upstairs. It seems Shigeru-san has a more... intimate knowledge of the situation than any of us had thought."

[aemcroberts]

🌌 "In the end, even the deepest roots can find the light." 🌙

🚨 This is it, stargazers and cosmic dreamers—the final bloom of Makai Tree: Roots of Destiny has arrived. The last two chapters are here to wreck your heart, mend it again, and leave you sobbing into your starlight tea. 🌟

✨ Chapter 25: A Memory of Love and Starlight – Mamoru remembers everything, and it’s raw, beautiful, and absolutely devastating in the best way. Moonlight Knight? Meet Mamoru. Endings, beginnings, and a love that transcends lifetimes. Get ready to clutch your locket and weep.

✨ Chapter 26: The Dawn of Forever – Ail and An’s fate. The Makai Tree’s final bloom. Usagi and Mamoru’s love story, stitched back together like a constellation reborn. It’s the ending you didn’t know you needed, with enough cosmic plant metaphors to keep your heart rooted for days. 🌳💖

And guess what? The complete ebook of Makai Tree: Roots of Destiny is ready for you! Filled with all the drama, dreamy vibes, and yes—adorable art to cherish forever. Download it for free and let it bloom in your library. 📚✨

🔗 Get the full story: 🌟 Fanfiction.net 🌟 Wattpad 🌟 Archive of Our Own

This is the ending of an era, but like all great roots, it’s just the start of something new. Thank you for growing with me through this cosmic, emotional, snarky plant adventure. Let’s bloom again soon. 💫

https://archiveofourown.org/works/60909607/chapters/155588884

[webvampzz]

main stories of pc-98 / touhou 1-5. basically what the wiki says but reworded since i cant understand some of it and i hate using wikis

please inform me if i got anything wrong!! since i used the wiki!!! and those are very incorrect sometimes!!!!!

touhou reiiden ~ highly responsive to prayers :

reimu hakurei is a shrine maiden. more specifically, she watches over the hakurei shrine. although she cannot harm her enemies directly, she wields a yin-yang orb that can deal damage. the shrine was wrecked by something idk

there is basically no story until stage 5, where you can follow the gate into hell or go to makai. she did destroy what wrecked her shrine. both have different enemies. depending on the ending, the yin-yang orb can turn into a fairy or something that destroys everything. for the bad ending, it turns into a black hole that destroys earth.

nearly none of the characters appear again except mima, who resides in the hokora near the hakurei shrine. a hokora is like a tiny shrine

touhou fuumaroku ~ the story of eastern wonderland :

reimu battles multiple creatures and machinery, some examples being the bakebake, shrine tank, and some cannons. she proceeds to run into rika, who tries to lure her into a trap. fortunately, both her and her flower tank were defeated. then, she finds meira, a samurai fixated on obtaining the power of hakurei (idk) for herself. reimu beats her and enters the world of fantasies, faces the five magic stones and defeats them.

after stage 3 it can be inferred that she entered reimaden, which is implied to be located inside the world of fantasies. mima or the final boss returns from hrtp, and she summons her apprentice marisa kirisame before either of the two can battle. (which fun fact marisa is red haired here!!!!) after defeating her, she faces mima herself. reimu explains the hakurei clans real power: the controlling of the yin-yang orbs. they feed off of the users power, and once fully loaded, can release lots of energy at once. mima was still defeated, and sealed back into the hokora despite all attempts to get it.

touhou yimejikuu ~ the phantasmagoria of dim dream :

yumemi and chiyuri create a space/time traveling ship called the probability space hypervessel and use it to travel to gensokyo so that yumemi can prove her theory

reimu wanders into the garden and realized theres a grand ruin near the hakurei shrine. mima and marisa reappear and mima explains it:

the ruins were accepting "visitors" and the people in charge would give gifts to them according to the pamphlet. there is a small notice that says only one person is allowed inside, and to figure out who should enter, they have a battle between rikako, kana anaberal, ellen and kotohime. whoever gets in first meets chiyuri and yumemi.

in order to prove her theory, yumemi wants to beat the player, take them to the real world, and perform experiments on her. if the player beats yumemi she can grant them a wish, as chiyuri's pamphlets had false information on them.

touhou gensoukyou ~ lotus land story :

first, they defeat orange, an ordinary youkai who was just flying around before arriving at a blood-filled lake. they then find a vampire named kurumi, who is the guardian of said lake, and they battle her twice. they find a chasm in an island at the center of the lake. which at the end of the passageway, there is a mansion called mugenkan. they find the gatekeeper elly, who explains that they are at the boundary of fantasy and reality.

she explains that the other character had defeated her already and entered the mansion. after defeating the

mansions housekeepers, they meet once again in a dark chamber in the center of the mansion. reimu accuses marisa of planning something nefarious, to which they both battle once again. whoever wins tells the other to leave before venturing farther into mugenkan. the remaining protag awakens a youkai, yuuka kazami, who despite her tiredness has very powerful attacks. yuuka panics and runs away after being defeated.

touhou kaikidan ~ mystic square

large amounts of youkai and demons are traveling from makai to gensokyo.

within the cave, whoever you chose as the player (reimu, marisa, mima, yuuka) finds the guardian of the gateway to makai, sara and defeats her easily before beginning a high-speed flight through the boundary between worlds. they find a demon travelling in the opposite direction named louise. the player arrives in makai, then soon being attacked by alice margatroid and her dolls.

after defeating her, the player flies toward a dark fortress in the distance, encountering themselves with the witches yuki and mai, who failed in attempting to stop the player from advancing forward.

entering the forest pandemonium, they fly through multiple crystal designs while battling even more enemies. at the top, they are greeted by shinki, who explains in a nice manner that the demon invasion is due to a civilian travel agency whomst arranged tours to gensokyo. before the player can figure this out or make any sense of it, they are interrupted by yumeko, who insists that she leave so she may battle them. after fighting the maid, shinki re-introduces herself. it turns out that she was in fact the god of makai, and alongside that, had created it.

re-stating what i said earlier: please tell me if i got anything wrong, missed any important details, etc.

[kalina-moonbride]

First Time Sleeping Together

Context: Level 84 quest “Returning Home”. Spoilers: References to character beats from Shadowbringers. Warnings: Sexual interactions and innuendo, non-explicit. Challenge: @ffxivpolyamoryweek! Details here.

Kalina Moonbride and Y'shtola Rhul stood outside the andron, their conversation drawing to a close with Y'shtola satisfied in the Warrior of Light's well-being. “I suspect it will grow colder as the night wears on,” said the sorceress, “so do be sure to stay warm. Sleep well, and may the shadows keep you.” She bowed, with arms folded and held forward: the little parting benediction of the Night's Blessed.

Cold or not, Kalina's heart melted in that moment. She and Y'shtola were the only ones in the whole of the Source for whom that gesture held special meaning. Thancred and Urianger were familiar, sure, but they didn't believe, they hadn't practiced it. Being of the Night's Blessed was a small, strange, secret bond between these two women alone in all the world.

She had declined an invitation to enter the andron, when she arrived, but maybe… “Shtola… don't go yet, please.”

The Miqo'te's ears twitched at the affectionate omission of the tribe marker from her name. “I've said what I came to say. Is there aught else?”

Kalina looked down, willing herself past shyness. “You wouldn't have to … say … anything.” She reached out and put a hand under Y'shtola's, open, that she might freely withdraw if she wished. “Help me stay warm? Like you want me to?”

“Ah…” Her pale eyes filled with sadness, and she too couldn't look into the other's face. But she closed her hand over Kalina's.

“I know you miss Runar. Maybe not as much as he misses you, granted.” Kalina glanced up to see how that landed; Y'shtola smiled a little, wistful, not offended. “I don't want you to forget. But I could help fill the absence, if you'd have me.”

Shtola reached up with her free hand, touched Kalina's fur at the collarbone. Her fingers slid under the chain that connected the bodice of Kalina's Makai jacket to the choker around her neck, closed around it, a faint tug. “This is your desire? To be something more than friends and comrades?”

Ilms away from those fingertips, Kalina's heart raced. “Yes! It has been, for some time. I… guess I lacked the courage until tonight.”

Y'shtola let out a breath between her lips, not quite chuckling. “That you of anyone would speak of failed courage! But it is a dangerous thing, is it not.” She looked up, searching Kalina's face with those literally soul-piercing eyes. But whatever she found there seemed to settle her mind. “…Very well. Let us see what comes of it, together.”

Gods, she wanted to freeze this moment, keep that look on Shtola's face and those hands right where they were, but… the door. She tightened her grip on Y'shtola's hand, turned and pushed through into the andron.

“Oh?” Y'shtola hesitated, and let go of Kalina's hand, as the door shut behind them. There, curled up tight with a pillow and a blanket atop a little padded bench, lay G'raha Tia, sound asleep.

'Oh' indeed. Whoops. “Uh.” Kalina lowered her voice. “Right. Raha came knocking too, maybe a bell ago? For much the same reason as you did. Checking on me, like, to see if I was okay?” She made frantic, meaningless little gestures with her now-free hands. “And yes, I invited him in, too, just like you but… no, different! It's not, um, physical, with him?” She found it more and more difficult to keep her voice to a whisper. She fussed with her choker and its chain, beneath which her skin still felt hot. “I mean, even if it were, it'd be fine! It is fine! We can all be together, it's okay.” She met Y'shtola's eyes directly at last, her expression desperate and pleading. “If it's okay, I mean. With you?”

Y'shtola's body language went very tense and strange, as if she were caught between three different possible reactions at once. Was she about to turn back toward the door, or put her hands on her hips, or lean her head onto one palm? But finally her shoulders relaxed and her expression softened, and she let out a little huff of suppressed laughter. “You're sure he wouldn't object?”

“Yes!” She said it at full volume, and realizing as much, clapped a hand over her mouth. Thankfully, the man on the bench didn't stir. She lowered the hand along with her voice. “We've talked about it, even. What it'd be like, if some of us Scions were … closer. He'll be delighted, I promise.” A parade of thoughts came crashing to a halt in a disastrous pile-up. “But, um, it'd be kind of us to let him sleep. We shouldn't do anything… loud.”

Shtola giggled, the most girlish outburst Kalina had ever witnessed from the woman. Then she closed the distance between them with three long, slow, stealthy strides, and looked up at Kalina.

“I think we can manage.”

[kazimakuwabara]

Final Date 5

Prev Part

Summary: The conclusion! Kuwabara's "Final Date," has arrived! Have the boys done enough to keep him alive? (Humor. 800 words+)

***

May 18, 2006.

It arrived sooner than Hiei, Kurama, or Yusuke felt ready for. A lot had been done in an effort to keep an eye on Kuwabara, but no one had any way of knowing if their efforts had altered Kuwabara's, "final date." So, therefore, the group planned to stake out his apartment until the nineteenth arrived. The plan was easy enough. Kurama greeted Kuwabara with a special smoothie, Hiei would tail Kuwabara the whole day, and Yusuke would badger Kuwabara at lunch. Then the group would meet up and watch his room at night.

Very simple, and the plan went off without a hitch... until night.

The only problem with this plan was apparently watching Kuwabara from outside his apartment. Despite hiding their auras, and Yoki, Kuwabara became quite paranoid. It seemed his spiritual awareness was warning him to his three stalkers, and yet he couldn't pinpoint where anyone was. He had also picked up Hiei throughout the day, but couldn't pinpoint him either. This meant Kuwabara had been jumpy at work, on the street, and now in his own home.

After Kuwabara broke another mug in his kitchen, Yusuke leaned over to Kurama, "I feel a little bad."

"I think I feel better about giving Kazuma one anxious day, rather than him passing away some time without us here," Kurama consoles, patting Yusuke on the back.

"...I could knock him out with the Jagan," Hiei suggests. "It's evening. We'll put him to bed, and he won't have to be on edge."

Kuwabara shattered another dish inside.

"Do it," Both Kurama and Yusuke advise.

When Kuwabara cleans up the mess and makes it to his couch, Hiei puts the Jagan to good use and knocks Kuwabara out. Kuwabara flops on his couch, Eikichi meowing at him at his sudden sleep.

The group snuck inside, Hiei complaining loudly, "It shouldn't be this easy to break in here. He's unprepared."

"Hiei give it a rest," Yusuke hissed, hefting his best friend up, "He has his territory properly set up."

"He's got the whole house set up so only those who are friendly can enter. If a demon tried to break in here, they'd turn to ash," Kurama explains.

"Since when could he do that?" Hiei muttered, begrudgingly impressed.

"Since we left for the Makai tournament. He hung out with Mitarai and learned how to prepare his own boundaries in a psychic territory. It ain't half bad!" Yusuke answers, tucking Kuwabara into bed. He pauses, "Should I leave him in his work clothes?"

"No, here, I'll help you strip him," Kurama sighs.

As the two bent over to the task, Hiei scanned the room. His expression became fierce, and he suddenly charged toward the attached bathroom and flung open the door. He jabbed his sword warningly out, and right into Koenma and Botan's face. The pair shriek and Koenma's scream is pitched the highest. Kurama and Yusuke both jump with fright, Kurama jumping the highest and straight up like a cat. When the pair recover from their fright, they both spin to face Botan and Koenma, a whip in Kurama's hand, Yusuke's glowing index finger pointed at them.

The noise is too loud, and so Kuwabara suddenly sits up, his expression groggy as he starts to become aware.

Kuwabara blinks around the room, "What are you all-"

Hiei waves a hand at Kuwabara without lowering his sword, forcing Kuwabara back to sleep with his Jagan.

Kurama catches Kuwabara before he falls to the floor like a sack of potatoes.

"What are you doing here?" Hiei growls.

"What are all of you doing here!?" Koenma squawks.

"We know about Kuwabara's final date!" Yusuke snaps. He points accusingly at Botan and Koenma, "How can you let Kuwabara die in his thirties!?"

Koenma and Botan sag, and Koenma goes, "Oh you know this? How do you...?"

"I saw a paper on Botan's desk," Hiei boldly announces.

Botan groaned and rolled her eyes, "I shouldn't have left that out."

"So it's true. Kazuma will die?" Kurama asks, tucking Kuwabara into his bed.

"No!" Both Botan and Koenma snap.

Hiei relaxed his sword, "No?"

"People's potential due dates come into my desk all the time," Koenma sighs. "Death, as much as we would like-only because it'd be easier, is not set in stone. Final Dates, or death dates show up all the time. And we review them, and reject them or pass them."

"...Or we show up too late and some dumb kid dies way too early by throwing himself in front of a car," Botan grumbles.

"So Kuwabara's not dying tonight?" Yusuke asks hopefully.

"No, I haven't approved it." Koenma huffed, "Look Kuwbaara's done a lot of good work for me, so If possible, I'd like him to live well past a hundred!"

"Why are you both here then?" Hiei demanded.

"I have to stamp the human with a special seal to dismiss the Final Date," Koenma sighed producing a seal. "And Botan is here as my transport."

There was a pause of silence, before Kurama asked, "Well, what would have killed Kuwabara?"

"Yeah, we've been looking after him all week!" Yusuke huffed.

Botan hastily pointed at a spider's web in the corner of Kuwabara's bedroom, "That. It's a Brown widow spider... it was going to bite Kuwabara in his sleep." She produced a little book, and ripped two sheets of paper out of it, "They're not aggressive, it was going to be an accident. I'll just sweep the spider up and dump it outside."

"That little guy was going to kill Kuwabara and he gets off scot-free?" Yusuke huffs.

"It is just a spider," Kurama mutters, taking the paper from Botan and trapping the spider out of its web.

"I say kill it," Hiei snapped. "I'll get the fool's cat. It can eat it." And then Hiei headed into the living room.

"That's not a bad idea," Kurama mused following after Hiei.

"You two! Leave that poor thing alone!" Botan gasped hurrying after the two.

"It's not murder, it's the circle of life!" Yusuke hissed, following last out of the room.

Koenma hung back, peaking out the door to make sure the group was reasonably distracted. Putting the useless seal away, Koenma held a hand out over Kuwabara's body. With glowing eyes, Koenma saw through Kuwabara's flesh, and bone. In a moment he was looking at Kuwabara's brain and a bundle of nerves and vessels that had swollen slowly inside Kuwabara's head. An aneurysm was growing inside Kuwabara's brain, and before midnight tonight, it would have burst.

Koenma's hand glowed and the aneurysm slowly began to fade away.

Koenma had told a bit of a lie about what they had been doing. "The Final Date" of a human was actually the human's assigned final day in the living world, a date assigned at birth. It was not something that could be rejected or dismissed. Not without some interference from the ruler of spirit world... and well, wasn't Koenma fortunate he was the current ruler of the spirit world?

'You're not dying on my watch Kuwabara. Not this soon. Maybe Botan and I lied a little bit about what was going on... but I think it's in everyone's best interests that your friends don't find out the full truth, right?' Koenma thought dropping his hand as the aneurysm fully vanished from within Kuwabara's brain.

At that moment, Eikichi came tearing into the room and hid under the bed with a hiss.

"Leave the cat alone!" Botan hissed from the living room, the sound of her hands slapping on someone's chest or arm echoing out into Kuwabara's room. Koenma sighed and to Kuwabara's sleeping face whispered, "Sorry about all the trouble Kuwabara. I'll make sure all your uninvited guests leave tonight."

Then very carefully, Koenma crept out of the room and shut the door.

Kuwabara slept on, none the wiser.

[toku-explained]

The Fire Alchemist

Hagane wo tsugu mono: Garo is back, along with Dougai Ryuga, this with season is I believe the character, beside Zaruba, with the most appearances, if he wasn't already. It's been over 5 years since his last appearance, and 10 years since his debut but the man who restored Garo's shine is here again. So HAGANE, despite its status as the generic armour worn by nameless Makai Knughts has appeared all of twice in the franchise, once in the Makai Senki finale, where we saw legions, and one in Honoo no Kokuin, used briefly by Marcelo, and been depicted a little in side media, Raiga is seen donning one in PGARO Saeijima Kouga, and I believe Akatsuki is implied to have acquired one in Yoseki no Wana. Nameless Knights have frequently appeared, but until now one has not been a main character. PS: Official Subs on youtube.

A Horror using LCD advert boards as a gate is interrupted in hunting by Ryuga and Zaruba (back to the classic design it seems), after a fight it tries to flee to the gate, but Ryuga destroys it, forcing the Horror, Chaurus to fight, he destroys it by summoning his armour, for he is Ougon Kishi GARO Sho. On his way out he is approached by Makai Priest Koyori, who delivers Orders from Mutsugi, her Priest superior, requesting his help, as the Gate of Destruction is opening, she wants him to accompany her to CREACITY. A Gate of Destruction is apparently a particularly ancient gate, able to increase people's Ingatestone so they fall, they know it is opening as Horrors have been appearing more and more, from people who shouldn't have been at risk, Zaruba agrees there is a darkness in the air. The city is lively, and while Koyori confirms they have a Makai Knight in town, she doesn't discuss him further, instead sharing how she wants to protect her home. A construction foreman is hung out to dry by his boss after their attempt to skirt regulations was discovered, and in that moment of despair and rage is seduced by a Horror, murdering the boss and a henchman with a hammer, the last man flees. Ryuga and Zaruba sense the Horror and rush into action to Koyori's amazement. Ryuga interrupts as the Horror has the man cornered, fighting the Hammer wielding form of Regrege while trying to protect the man, he is saved by Koyori arriving, though her hand-to-hand strike doesn't achieve what she hoped, she still helps Ryuga keep the Horror off balance until it flees then takes care of the man as Ryuga chases. Ryuga's chase is interrupted by a Makai Knight in Hagane Armour, who manages to destroy the Hammer then cut down the Horror. The Makai Knight is annoyed to see Ryuga in his territory, even when Koyori turns up, leaving while snapping not to get in his way. Koyori explains he is Shirahane Souma, Makai Knight for CREACITY.

Blazar: The 3rd Wave Kaiju, observed by cameras on the dark side of the moon, has been dubbed Vallaron, and is placing organic bombs with the aim of causing explosions large enough to disrupt the lunar orbit and send it in to earth. On hearing if this development Dobashi burns Emi's father's journal. Haruno has been relieved of duty to make up for SKaRD disobeying orders, and they are now expected to take the rushed to completion Earth Garon Mod.4 to fight Vallaron. Anri and Teruaki will pilot, with Gento and Yasunobu controlling the Mod.3 unit. With 24 hours before they are mission ready, Gento gives everyone 18 hours leave. While the others have moments relating to their focus episodes, Gento tries one last attempt to have Haruno talk, and Emi discussed with Earth-kun how they still don't know what the V99 Kaiju's motive is, leading it to reveal it does know but program blocks prevent it discussing it, but in the name of friendship it gives her an encrypted SD card with the data. After talking with his family, Gento returns to duty while Jun is asleep. Earth Garon deploys, and as it approaches the moon Dobashi intrudes in CCP to watch the mission up close, and Emi starts trying to look at the data in Mopy. Earth Garon is hit by a bomb explosion point blank, knocking out everyone except Gento, including Earth-kun, and he has to strongly request Blazar's help, while Dobashi's men come to stop Emi just as she gains access to the files. Blazar struggles with Varallon until another string of explosions knocks down the immobile Earth Garon and knocks the moon out of orbit, Blazar grabs Earth Garon and leaves it to drift back to earth, then puts massive effort into trying push the moon back. Recognising the exertion is knocking it out, Blazar says a goodbye to Gento and returns him to the cockpit before freezing as well, the moon back in its proper place, but Varallon was blasted free and is now en route to earth. Dobashi orders it be destroyed before making planet fall, but with only Gento conscious aboard an immobile Earth Garon, and Blazar's body drifting near the moon, is there any true hope.

Gotchard: Minato has disappeared and nobody at school remembers him. Greyon tells the Abyssal Sisters that the dolls are only suited to creating Malgam, leaving other stuff to Minato. Renge is basically giving up before the Malgam appears and captures both her and Sabimaru, then snatched Kudoh next to Ichinose, who with Gotchard Daybreak manages to fight it off using JungleJan and RaiDenji. When his counterpart offers him the Gotcha Igniter Ichinose refuses, knowing he should create his own power, he is told he'll have to create it from the treasured item he first created with Alchemy, and lent Daybreak's TimeLord to go back. He finds himself in the Ouroboros Realm 10 years ago, and is shocked to find his younger self there playing with Hopper1 and SteamLiner, and witnesses the Chemies create for him the item, a replica of his father's goggles. While he was warned not to interact with himself, Ichinose accidentally does so and plays while trying to make a plan, TimeLord comes under strain after the interaction. Hopper1 suddenly detects a presence, Greyon and the Abyssal Sisters arriving looking for Kudoh Fuga, they find his book which includes the plans for the key to the door of darkness. SaboNeedle attempts to drive them off, but encased in golf by Greyon. Fuga arrives, Greyon informing him he's already altered the assemblies' memories to believe him a traitor who stole the Chemies. Working in sync with UFO-X, X-Wizard and X Fortress, Fuga incapacitates the sisters and struggles with Fuga, who starts gathering the Chemies in one place, young Hotaro tries to shield his friends, and ours in turn shields both him and the Chemies. The distraction gives Fuga the edge he needs to drive Greyon away. When the dust settles young Hotaro gives the goggles as thanks, and when Ichinose is gone Fuga thanks the boy for his courage, secretly erasing his memories while hoping he keeps the memories if his friends in his heart. Returned to the present, Gotchard Daybreak tells Ichinose that in 5 years Greyon will have nearly wiped out humanity and Chemies alike, as such, to Alchemise his Gotcha Igniter, Ichinose infuses his wish of a world where Chemies and Humans can have peace. When he confronts the Malgam and becomes Fire Gotchard, Gotchard Daybreak notices the form is distinct from the one he created, feeling his counterpart has changed the course of their fate. Fire Gotchard saves everyone and completely defeats the Malgam to save NemineMoon. Gotchard Daybreak, seeing TimeLord cannot keep him there any longer, gives some last encouragement, Ichinose realising his word choice reveals him as his future self too late. Renge and Sabimaru are now motivated to help despite the lack of the Academy, while Minato assures Greyon he will deal with his errant pupil.

Kingohger: While Yanma is forcing Racles to sort gears, he suggests the others kings should try and awaken their sealed royal powers, sealed by the original 6 kings 2000 years ago along as Shugoddom's Ohger Crown was. Yanma starts studying his ear piercing, about the only thing the previous N'Kosopa king left when he abandoned the nation, Himeno's crown, Kaguragi's amulet and Rita's glove chain, and Racles suggests they decide a leader, to Yanma's irritation. Dugded decides it's time to put Tikyu in the collection, sending the Jesters to clear things out. The Kings gather for a competition to decide the leader, despite Gira arguing they don't really need one, Racles acting as judge, but it soon devolves into a full on fight to Gira's horror, and when he asks Yanks for help he just uses the now unlocked power to blast the Shugods and Shugoddom with lightning from God Tonbo, laughing as he declares himself on top. Gira was blasted down to the city, finding the people also fighting, only now realising Hilbill has controlled practically everyone. Kaguragi, immune, distracts her enough for Gira to rush to Yanma as Dugded starts preserving citizens in amber, Gira slugs Yanma and reminds him of his duty of protection, as Hilbill self hypnotises herself into believing herself invincible and grows giant. Now aware and properly able to use his kingly power, Gira and Yanma form King-Ohger and successfully destroy Hilbill. Later, Yanma asks Racles how he felt when he was ruling the world, Racles admitting that despite all his goals he felt on top of the world and drank on power, even revelling in Yanma's seeming death. Realising now he isn't so different from Racles, Yanma goes to everyone to request a resigning to the Six Kingdom Alliance, one establishing everyone as equal and imposing a duty to stop any of the kings if they are endangering the people. Suzume visits Racles in his cell to tell him of this, realising he suggested finding a leader to make them realise this, as he explains the 6 powers were originally one, and the original kings split them in the hopes that they would only be awoken again when their successors united as one in purpose for the good of their people.

[devichilinfo]

White Book - Part 8

“Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children: White Book”

Game Summary / English Translation (Gameboy Color, 2001)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 /  Part 8

This is a (mostly-complete) translation of the story portions of the game as well as a summary of story-related text in chronological order. Names and dialogue have been edited for easier reading. Scene locations are labeled using square brackets. I will be using default names for characters who can be renamed.

Part 8 - Prayer Tower

[ Harajuku Tower ]

Masaki will overhear Takaharu arguing with Rei:

Takaharu: “Why are the Angels bringing a war to Makai, Rei? There’s good, kind Demons there—why are they ignoring that fact!?”

Rei: “I have no answer for this. Have even I begun to question their plan?”

Takaharu: “The Angels claim they are ensuring eternal bliss, but I cannot agree with their methods, and I’ll have no part in it!”

Rei: “Takaharu… let’s not overthink this! Surely, the Angel’s great plan will end in a paradise for all!”

Masaki approaches.

Takaharu: “Oh, hey Masaki! What’s up?”

Masaki: “Hi Takaharu! I’m heading back to Heaven.”

Takaharu: “To Heaven… wait—! Are you sure you want to go? Your Devil power will be sealed away as soon as you set foot in there!”

Masaki: “Then I’ll have to go without. I need to meet the Angels and make them explain themselves.”

Takaharu: “That’s my Masaki all right—though I doubt the Angels will be accommodating. Truth be told, I want to hear their explanation and I have a few questions I’d like answered myself!”

Takaharu: “Hey—don’t be careless when you’re running around up there. The Angels are probably just waiting to strike you down while you’re stripped of your power, Masaki!”

Masaki continues to the Circle Gate.

[ Heaven – Transparent Maze ]

Masaki exits the Gate and proceeds forward, where he encounters Uriel again.

Uriel: “Halt! You imbecile… You dare tarnish Heaven with your tainted footsteps, Devil Child?”

Masaki: “I go wherever I want and do as I please, without a thought for anyone else—you know… just like how you Angels do.”

Uriel: “Devils are powerless in Heaven. You still dare to advance?”

Uriel rushes forward.

Uriel: “I said halt! Fall before the soldiers of Heaven!”

Combat versus Virtue. When Masaki wins:

 Uriel: “How can this be! Such recklessness… I was not prepared…”

Masaki can now proceed onward to the next Circle Gate.

[ Elysian Fields ]

As soon as Masaki arrives, Takaharu will call to transfer a DVDAS entry for Neo Pheonix.

Continuing through the fields, Masaki will encounter a fork in the path. To the north is Green Town, to the east is the way to Saint Classico, and continuing south through the forest will lead to the Tower of Prayer.

[ Green Town ]

Green town has a shop, hotel/bank, Mysterious Mansion, and Training Center. Masaki can talk with the Angels in town to learn the following:

This region of Heaven is called the Elysian Fields.

Above the Elysian Fields is the Crystal Ring, and above that is Cosmos City.

The Pontiff oversees the Elysian Fields.  

The Pontiff can be found in the Tower of Prayer to the south.

The residents of Green Town are secluded and live a peaceful life.

The Pontiff is not taking visitors at the Tower right now, so Masaki heads on to Saint Classico.

[ Saint Classico ]

Saint Classico is a larger settlement with a shop, hotel/bank, Mysterious Mansion, Training Center, VinE Center, and a casino. The door to the east of the VinE Center is an Art Gallery.

Masaki can learn the following from the Angels in the city:

This city is named Saint Classico.

The Angels hold rules and order in great reverence and will uphold their laws for eternity.

The Angels are shocked at the rumor of a child holding the power of Devils appearing in Heaven.

Nearby is a shrine that holds a sacred treasure.

If anyone should try to steal the sacred treasure, the Pontiff will intervene.

The Pontiff’s permission is required to cross the bridge east of Saint Classico.

Masaki enters the Art Gallery:

Greeter Angel: “Welcome to the Saint Classico Gallery! Please view the paintings at your leisure.”

Masaki can examine the framed paintings. Starting from the paining closest to the south entrance:

Lord Raguel, Governor of Heaven. Self-portrait painted in Cosmos City.

Portrait of a young Imp, Harmil. Artist: Great Angel Nathanael.

A painting depicting the battle between Hoshigami, the Star God, and Jashin, the Wicked God: “Before the beginning of all, these divine powers battled against one another. The Star God stood for creation and life, while the Wicked God stood for destruction and chaos. The Wicked God was relentless and vicious in his attack, nearly destroying the Star God. She felt herself fading… as the Wicked God moved to strike the fatal blow… the Star God summoned the last of her strength to shield herself. The Wicked God’s attack was reflected, and he was defeated by his own power. The Star God had won. But, she was merciful and instead of ending her foe’s life, she sealed away his power. The Wicked God was no longer a threat, and so the Star God commenced the creation of our world. She bestowed upon our world three divine powers; Angelic, Demonic, and Humanity.”

Portrait of Cupid Paku. Artist: Lord Raguel.

[Blank painting]

Painting depicting the Path of Wind in Ventus Makai.

Painting depicting the Crevasse in Glacies Makai.

The Angel near the blank painting is an artist.

Artist Angel: “Did you hear the legend about the shrine by the lake? There’s a special treasure hidden inside!”

Artist Angel: “Oh, I’m an aspiring artist. May I paint your portrait?”

Masaki can decline or accept. When Masaki accepts the offer:

Masaki: “Make me look good!”

Artist Angel: “Alright! Hold still for a minute. Mmm-hmm, good pose…… and my rough sketch is done. Come back to see my painting when it’s finished!”

Masaki heads through the North Gate of Saint Classico and enters the shrine.

[ Lakebottom Shrine ]

Proceed through the underwater maze and find the switch. Masaki presses the switch and hears a noise. Masaki encounters Lindwurm in the water.

Lindwurm: “Who goes there? Were you unaware that I—Lord Lindwurm—guard this water shrine? Hmm… this trespasser is only a child! Regardless, none are permitted to enter these waters, and the rule will be enforced!”

Masaki: “Okay, so, my bad on the trespassing—but this is the only way I can think of to get the Pontiff’s attention!”

Lindwurm: “I care not for your baffling excuses! I will see that you enter an eternal sleep, drowned in these dark waters!”

Masaki battles Lindwurm. When Masaki wins:

Lindwurm: “This power… what kind of power is this…?”

Masaki exits the water to talk to the Pontiff, who has suddenly appeared.

Pontiff: “Ah, it’s Masaki! …Lindwurm was said to protect these waters until the world ended. Have you gained some prophesized power from his defeat?”

Masaki: “I’ve been told by everyone that my power is the Devil’s power. But, I still don’t know who gave it to me.”

Pontiff: “The power of Devils is sealed away in Heaven—yours is something other than that. What… do you want from coming here?”

Masaki: “I want answers… what do the Angels want? Why are they invading Makai and attacking demons? And why are they manipulating humans on Earth?”

Pontiff: “An invasion of Makai…?? Can it be true? And this boy is… You—you were born the same day as Takaharu, correct?”

Masaki: “You know Takaharu? Yeah! We were born at the same hospital on the same day!”

Pontiff: “Yes, that’s right! Just as Takaharu said. So, you really are that child…”

Masaki: “Yeah. Where’s Takaharu, anyway? Is he here in Heaven?”

Pontiff: “Yes, Raguel has taken guidance of him.”

Masaki: “Raguel…? Where can I find them?”

Pontiff: “In the highest level of Heaven—Cosmos City. They are engaged in their duties of governing the divine realm.”

Masaki: “Fantastic. How do I get there?”

Pontiff: “You must ascend to Cosmos City from the Crystal Ring… However, one bearing the Devil’s power will be forbidden from entering. The Heavenly Army has already stationed its strongest warriors to bar your path.”

Masaki: “Don’t care. Already made up my mind. Gonna go find my bro.”

Pontiff: “………There’s no reasoning with this kid.”

Pontiff: “Very well! I grant you passage! To reach the Crystal Ring, proceed beyond the bridge to the east.”

Pontiff: “I hope that you discover the source of your mysterious power!”

Masaki: “Wadda’ya……?”

Clay: “Onwards, Master! We’ll give the Heavenly Army a demonstration of Devil Child’s power!”

Masaki opens the treasure chest left by the Lindwurm to obtain a Double Chamber for the King Raiser gun.

[ Saint Classico ]

Head to the south gate of the city. Paku and Harmil are nearby. If Masaki talks to them:

Harmil: “Heya, Misaki! I’m really bust right now, sorry!”

Paku: “Wha! I didn’t do anything!”

Walk toward the south exit to trigger a cutscene.

Harmil: “So, uh, Paku? …you were at the hospital that night, weren’t you?”

Paku: “Um? Uhhh? I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

Harmil: “Still denying and playing dumb? Come on, you’re breaking out in a cold sweat! I’m not fooled by your acting!”

Paku: “I did nothing! Nothing! ……”

Harmil: “Then why are you avoiding my questions?”

Masaki: “Hey guys! What’s going on?”

Paku: “Eeeep! I must be going!”

Harmil: “Hey!! You’re not escaping me!”

Paku and Harmil exit.

Clay: “…how strange? Paku behaves so frightened in your presence, Master.”

Clay: “What next, Master? I believe it would be wise to meet with the Pontiff once more, before proceeding to the Crystal Ring.”

Masaki heads to the Tower of Prayer.

[ Tower of Prayer ]

Masaki is now permitted entrance to the Tower. Ascend to the highest floor and speak to the Pontiff.

Pontiff: “You must ascend to Cosmos City from the Crystal Ring… However, one bearing the Devil’s power will be forbidden from entering. The Heavenly Army has already stationed its strongest warriors to bar your path.”

Pontiff: “There is a passage in the Book of Raziel which I never understood, until my meeting with you. I pass it on to you, now.”

Masaki obtains Book of Raziel #4.

Book of Raziel #4: “At the end of his odyssey, a new path will open to the world. In deepest shadows, it stirs awake and clashes with the trinity.

Masaki can talk with the Pontiff again:

Pontiff: “Continue on, Masaki! I return to my prayers.”

[ Elysian Fields ]

Masaki passes over the eastern bridge and accesses the Tenkai Gate.

End of Part 8

[ariadnasdiary]

Espero que no sea demasiado tarde para preguntar esto ¿pero cómo te la pasaste en tu cumpleaños, Ari? ¿Qué te regalaron? ¿Tuviste una fiesta sorpresa? ¿Qué te dio Kino 😏🤭?

Translation: I hope I'm not too late for asking this but: Ari, how was your birthday? What did they give to you? Did you have a surprise party? What did Kino gave to you 😏🤭?

Ariadna: Aww, it's ok! It's never too late to ask about my b-day, I assure you!

Ariadna: For instance, I was woken up by Noami with a cute cupcake with a candle. It really meant a lot to me, since it reminded me of the times I was woken up by my family back in Mexico! I almost cried, but Naomi cheered me up! Naomi gave me a huge present box and inside was the prettiest dress and shoes ever! That's what I used for the day!

Ariadna: We all went to Naomi's home in the human world and had breakfast! Later, Naomi said she had to work and Yuri said he'll make her company. So Kino and I went on a date all day long until it was diner time and we'll all reunite once again.

Ariadna: We had a nice date in the park and we even had a picnic there! It's been a while since I had a date in broad daylight~ There was a nice weather and there weren't many people. Kino was really well behaved and allowed me to choose what activities I wanted to do, so I took the chance and I did many things I couldn't do due to them being closed by nighttime~! It was incredible! I had lots of fun!

Ariadna: When dinner time arrived, we headed back to the Makai and we went all together to have dinner in a beautiful restaurant with a gorgeous sight! Naomi invited dinner and she said that would be her present as well a cute necklace! I thought the dress and shoes given to me were her present, but turns out they were Kino's present! He was annoyed I didn't know it, but Naomi laughed and told me it was her doing to mess with Kino. Of course I apologized to him and we all laughed.

Ariadna: Later, Kino and I took a small walk over the restaurant's balcony and I couldn't help but thank Kino for the marvelous day he had made possible. I loved the dress and shoes he gifted me and over that the day he planned for me! He seemed pleased and forgave me since he said it was all Naomi's fault *giggles*.

Ariadna: Without notice, he took me into his arms, wished me a happy birthday, but most importantly: he told me how much he was glad and thankful I was born and being able to be together all this time! He can be a sweetheart sometimes… Naomi took us a photo from the distance and it holds an even more special meaning after his words. I now have it by my night table, so it's the last thing I see when I go to sleep since then. I'm so happy for being this fortunate: for having marvelous friends and a loving boyfriend… I couldn't ask for anything else really!

Mun Ari: thank you for asking Sugar! And so sorry it took me some time to answer :'D.

[illusivekati]

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Hey everyone, its that time of year again and its 3:49am On Christmas Eve over here in Australia, I won't be back on till the new year unless I go to Makay, Queensland to see my Uncle & Auntie in Law and Baby Cuzzy then I wont be back on til May :) I am wishing everyone a Merry Happy Christmas & Happy New Year I wont get chances to jump on when my sister and nephew arrive today Enjoy your Christmas & New Year I will see yous in the new year :) take care all now I must try and squiz in some sleep before chaos insures here much love :)

~Kati

[dxrknessembr8ced]

Meanwhile...

With the world finally in a state of restoring where the golden fog like mist breathed life again inti the world, eradicating remnants of the former lethal strain of T-Erebus and give humanity and darkstalkers alike hope and to endure, to evolve and adapt to soon to be a new world. Through the bright skies above a horde of soul bees have arrive under orders of Q-Bee who had appeared alongside the rest of her kind, now fully evolved into both a beautiful and a more terrifying creature as she's now a combination of both a bee and a beautiful moth due to her large beautiful wings colorful wings flapping through the skies. She wanted to save her ally which she symbiotically bond with through a war that is already over, what she arrive to into a now restoring world on a stand still as both the zombies and bio organic weapons have now turned into chunks of gold.

In there place Homo-Librium wander into the streets celebrating, cheering and they danced for the day the world is saved and Hsien-Ko had restored the planet back into normal, but also helped all of life evolve and endure giving them a chance to live creating a new world in her image. Q-Bee along with the rest of her species flies down towards these new descendants of humanity not out of hunger, but out of curiosity expecting the Homo-Librium to be creations of her friend. They reminded Q-Bee of Hsien-Ko so much and it saddened and also worries her that she thought it was too late to save her now.

Instead of outright killing them and eat their souls, the soul bees communicated with the homo-librium, as they smile at them as one of them offered it's hand, towards only the soul bee queen as a sign of peace, if she can symbiotically bond and befriend Hsien-Ko so will she befriended and coexist with the descendants of humanity. Q-Bee took the hand of the youngest of Homo-Librium and finally achieved the impossible, what none had ever did. Coexist with the darkstalkers but not just any darkstalker, they coexisted with the most ravenous species of makai both these descendants of humanity and the soul bees cheered as their coexistence had achieved without bloodshed, which had not only bring hope for humanity and those darkstalkers but for all life meaning that the both races can coexist. Bringing humanity more hope for their future further down the line. This also gives Homo-Librium a chance to study and learn more about their allies to understand soul bees and preventing such disruption of peace. Despite their ravenous hunger, the soul bees are intelligent but also reliant of their now more powerful and fully evolved queen. Dead or not Q-Bee will do all in her power protecting them, as if they are Hsien-Ko.

[thuganomxcs]

❝poltergeist report: 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 | 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 : It had been years since she seen yusuke enter the demon world. She had almost dated other guys. ‘almost’ but each time she tried to get close to someone something in her mind said ‘hey. I’m coming back. Don’t forget’. Keiko walked on the beach with Yukina and Kazuma. Hiei and kurama were here to. That’s when she heard a familiar voice behind her. He was here. Really. Truly here. She turned seeing him down the way and ran to him to close the gap. Practically tackling him as she sat on his waist. “And just where have you been?”she chided as she had grown up and filled out since he had seen her last. She wasn’t the innocent go lucky girl as she had once been. How could you. After everything they had been through. | client: @federationmuses | 𝙰𝙲𝙲𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶.

It was so anti-climactic the way he returned. Just after she had voiced her opinions on him leaving towards the horizons..but then again sometimes Yusuke himself was not very good with theatrics. But made himself known with a simple sentence once he arrived from makai. He was pleasantly surprised by how Keiko had grown, and with longer hair just as he liked it. Now while he was initially expecting a lecture he had gotten a silence embrace instead. It caught him by surprise to the point that both of them were now upon the sandy floor of the shore.

━━   ❝   𝐘𝐚 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.   ❞   There was that cheeky mouth of his that even offered her a smile. “Sorry it took me..longer than I wanted. Let’s just say I did somethin’ I wasn’t supposed to and left the old man’s turf in economic shambles. Couldn’t just leave everything the way it was…would’ve been here a few years earlier with Kurama.”

[banditcoyote]

Echo didn't seem entirely moved by this little speech, "Killing out of necessity and revenge is an entirely different animal than using people like chess, betraying and killing simply to move your own piece forward...and I enjoy it Miss Kotei, sometimes I really enjoy it. I was worried about you last night, enraged that someone would take my lover. I acted out of that anger and desperation, but truth be told...I enjoyed myself. The bullets and the wounds..." he brushed it away. "Pain is a temporary moment, I don't even feel it anymore, but I'm still relishing in squeezing the last pulp from that still beating heart." and his wings gave a little shudder at the thought, and he turned away to hide his expression for just a moment before he turned back to her. "But even that display, was for a nobel reason wasn't it? I was saving you, those men were attacking me. It's easy for you to explain it away." He sighed. "I'm an arms dealer." he said finally, "weapons of mass destruction, guns, munitions. Not only do I engage in violence, I specialize in it, I help create it, I relish in it. I used to be a war lord in the makai, that was how I acquired Yaroslava, I conquered her village, she was a gift to me to spare her family. A child bride that I've trained up to be as violent and unhinged as I am." Echo and Yaro had both danced around the subject of her being young when he met, but he was putting it out there now that their beginnings were purely possessive. He gestured to the house behind them. "I own all of them Sasuga. And I sell them too. I mean that literally. The fairies are my biggest sellers, most of the house staff that you've been introduced to are permanent residents, but they do get leased out to Gaultier, fairy dust as you know is a hot commodity, but I'm not here to rat out Gaultier, even if he's fairly transparent about his own career. I personally picked Julien for him, and I was paid handsomely. But I would be lying and misleading to say that all my transactions end in happy marriages. The wolves have belonged to me for ages, and I control their families, their movements, their positions in rank. For the most part I work to keep them happy, we've arrived at a solid agreement, I need to keep them happy so they work to keep me safe, but sometimes trades to other packs do need to be made, to freshen the bloodline, it's only natural after all. "And then of course the Casinos, which are never a charitable business from the legal table games straight up to the illegal high rollers clubs. Simon was lucky that you bailed him out, he never would have been able to pay off that loan, he would have become my slave....The irony of that is, he's doing superb in the fighting ring...and I'm thinking of adding him to my roster, which wouldn't have been possible had he been working in a night club....Fighting might be the only thing I do not pull strings in, but you know....I'm a fan, it wouldn't be fun if I were rigging games....In fact...I was banned from fighting because I enjoyed it so much, you remember Rupert? I told you I was the one responsible for tearing off his wings. You tried again to explain it away, that things happen in the ring. But it didn't, The fight was over, I had him pinned, the whistle was blown, but I was the heel, you saw the poster. I already won, and I thought....why not? And I tore them from his back while he begged for mercy, I clipped his perfect wings and ruined his life because I could and he was there....and I don't regret it. In fact when I think about it I find myself feeling tremendously satisfied that he is forced to think of me every day and what I did to him, and I couldn't explain to you why other than I'm a sadist." He paused again. "Am I missing anything?" he said out loud to himself and he turned to Sasuga. "Do you have any questions?"

Blood and Moonlight

Sasuga woke in what was at first an unfamiliar area but as she blinked fully awake she realized it was their closet that Coyote had decorated for them. She smiled and took a careful kiss from her mate who was still sound asleep next to her. It really had been an amazing night with the family and then with her husband. As she slipped from his arms, she took a moment to look at her reflection in the mirror, her fingers dancing over the fresh marks on her neck and hips. She couldn't have asked for anything more from the night and it was with some reluctance that she dressed. She picked out a pair of warm leggings and a short little skirt to pull over them with some knee high boots and a thick sweater. She slipped from the closet and moved to the bathroom to comb her hair and brush her teeth and get ready for the big day ahead. She gave a stretch and headed downstairs only to find a familiar face waiting for her. "Raphael..." she smiled and moved to greet him with a hug. "I see you are still alive." she smirked. "Want some tea? Coffee?"

@banditcoyote

[kachikirby]

SD Gundam Gaiden Knight Gundam Kikoushin Densetsu: Extra 2

Extra 2: Seal of Makai

Post Seikihei Monogatari, the Lacroa Knights head back through Naraca valley because Indy heard a monster crying. Indy says not all monsters are bad, just under evil influence. The group finds a dead family of monsters and are attacked.

Amuro is sucked into a hole in the wall and the rest are taken out. Guntank sends a Messenger Haro to Dabat for assistance. Naraca Valley is where Satan is sealed and it'll be bad if he's revived, so Roux summons Cloud Buster to take GP01 there quickly.

Amuro meets Satan, who tempts him with enough power to beat Sieg Zeon and his monsters upon revival. Amuro remembers what Indy said and rejects, leading him to get beaten up until GP01 arrives. Two of the four seals have broken and Satan can move out of the barrier.

During the fight, a third seal is broken, leaving Satan stronger. Amuro shields them with a fragment and the spirit of Superior Dragon appears. He says GP01 will see him and Gunrex again and will lend him power this time to defeat Satan.

GP01 defeats Satan for good and Cloud Buster seals the door to Makai. The group questions Sieg Zeon's revival, but conclude that they are prepared for it due to their passionate friendship.

End of extra 2

<- Previous | Table of Contents | Extra 3 ->

[ruki--mukami]

((teenie gwen has arrived!! and i hope this is okay 😫))

Oh man… They ran really far this time. They hadn’t meant to leave the Makai all together, but it wasn’t too bad for them. The farther, the better, in their opinion. Gwen was in a packed city now… So cool!! So this was Japan! Wait… They didn’t know Japanese.. Man…

With a sad pout on their face, they reached down to re-lace their shoes— Though did hop out of the way once he noticed someone walking a little too close to them. Were they really too small to be visible? It couldn’t be!

Looking up, the met an older man’s stern gaze; one that almost made them jump back, if they didn’t notice the collection of… Books(?) he was carrying? They couldn’t quite tell, with them in the bag as they were.

“Woah… You look intense-“

They had mumbled quietly to themselves, though it was still quite apparent that they were talking about the person in front of them.

“‘M sorry for getting in your way! What kind of books are you carrying? Why so many..? Do you like to read!”

"Ah, pardon me. I nearly didn't see you there, little one," he stopped in his tracks. English? Encountering a foreigner was a rarity indeed, but luckily for Ruki, he knew languages other than Japanese. "You should seriously watch where you're going next time."

Ignoring the other's incessant questions and odd comments about his appearance, the Vampire looked around in both directions in an attempt to scan the area for any distressed adults looking for their lost child to no avail. Everyone passed by, continuing their days as normal, not a single stressed individual in sight.

"Hm... Are you perhaps without your parents? They must be worried sick about you," he sighed dejectedly. "It can't be helped..."

Seeing a child, abandoned and without any guardian nearby, made his stomach churn as memories of his past resurfaced. He soon pulled the young person along away from the streets of Japan and off to the side where no one could easily bump into or disturb them. With a squat, Ruki leveled himself with the child's height.

"Tell me, where did you come from? These novels are of little importance right now. I was just on my way home from the bookstore until you appeared. Look. I'll help you return to where you need to be, but you'll have to cooperate with me first. Don't worry. I don't bite." He stifled a chuckle. "Well, not children, anyway."

(( No worries, I think teenie Gwen is so adorable T_T sorry for the late reply!! ))