#(no you're right. The tension is sharp enough to slice through my existence)

[midnight-ranger-general-jiyan]

Jiyan stood firm, his eyes narrowed with determination. "I know that lives will be lost, Geshu. That is the nature of war," he began, his voice steady but laced with a quiet intensity. "But there is a difference between inevitable loss and unnecessary sacrifice. Calculating and ensuring low casualties among our troops is not just important, it is essential. We cannot afford to aimlessly send a horde of soldiers to overwhelm the TD outbreaks. There is strength in numbers, yes, but the losses that come with it are avoidable if we employ proper strategy and carefully consider the risks."

He paused, his gaze unwavering as he watched Geshu Lin’s expression. “Three years after you went missing, the retroact rain began again. The same events repeated themselves, just as when you first manifested as a phantom. By avoiding the deployment of troops during the retroact rain, we managed to lower casualties significantly. It was a calculated move, and it saved countless lives."

Jiyan’s frustration with Geshu Lin’s disappearance simmered beneath the surface, evident in the way his hands clenched at his sides. He took another step closer, the tension between them palpable. The breeze played with Jiyan’s hair, while it passed through Geshu Lin as if he were not there, a reminder of their different states of being—one alive, the other a spectral presence.

“You talk of sacrifice, and I understand its necessity,” Jiyan continued, his voice softer now, almost a whisper. “But your disappearance…your sacrifice…it left a void. It left us without a leader, without a guide." Jiyan's expression hardened as he continued, his frustration evident in the tension of his jaw and the clenching of his fists. "Your sacrifice, your disappearance—it was a choice you made. But that doesn't mean it was the only option. When you talk about sacrifice, about leaving something behind… I don't agree with the way you vanished."

Jiyan's eyes softened for a moment as he regarded Geshu Lin, a hint of something deeper flickering beneath the surface. He reached out, his fingers almost touching the space where Geshu's shoulder would have been. He stepped back, the momentary vulnerability replaced by a steely resolve. "I will fight, and I will lead, but not by sacrificing the lives of those who follow me. There is another way, General, and I will find it. When I do fall, it will not be because I chose to disappear. It will be because I chose to fight for every life, for every chance to avoid unnecessary loss."

Jiyan's eyes locked onto Geshu Lin's, a silent challenge burning within them. "And perhaps, when that time comes, there will be more left of me than there was of you. Not because I seek to outshine you, but because I choose a different path. One that honors the lives we fight for, and the sacrifices we make—not out of desperation, but out of hope."

It was that time of the year again when the lives lost on that fateful day were honored. Three years ago, many had lost their lives and yet, nobody seemed to honor the one who led the battle. While the circumstances surrounding the incident were still unclear, Jiyan knew that the former general did not deserve to be vilified. As he walked alone to the Crescent, he looked up at the overcast sky which seemed to mirror his melancholic mood.

Entering the statue of the Threnodian was out of the question but Jiyan layed a few Emortia flowers on the ground that overlooked the statue, as if to commemorate Geshu Lin's sacrifice. "We may have disagreed on a lot, but standing where you once stood with the position you once held, I know why you made the decision you took even though I still do not agree with it."

He didn't know why he was speaking to himself and why he was here. Perhaps the phantom he saw during the awakening of the Threnodian shook him much more than he'd like to admit. - @midnight-ranger-general-jiyan

The clouds above the barren landscape shifted with unshed rain, seeming to darken the further any willing soul dared to traverse further into the battlefield that was, for once in its history, devoid of combat.

On the outskirts, it seemed one such soul was willing to venture close. A light rain was beginning to fall, drizzling over the cracked earth. Yet the rain that fell here never seemed to have an effect on the vegetation— or the lack thereof.

The rain landed on the offering of flowers, pattering against the small petals of the Emortia before seeming to retract. The rain was weak, but that was still enough.

Geshu Lin faintly phased in and out of visibility, his conscience struggling against the phantom’s desire to simply reenact the same experiences and memories that kept him tied to this land. His presence was faint, but still there nonetheless.

He glanced to the flowers that Jiyan had brought, unsure of how to feel about the offering. It was the first anyone had brought in his name, and he narrowed his eyes as the rain picked up, granting him a little more control over his phantom form, though still restraining himself from speaking.

Instead, he listened, feeling a wry, crooked smile form on his scarred lips as he stood behind Jiyan, who looked as composed as ever despite Geshu knowing he was likely distraught on the inside.

He stayed silent for a moment more, the sound of rain around them. “…well. What do we have here? I suppose since you’ve proven yourself, I should be addressing you as General, Jiyan.” He murmured, his voice slightly distorted, sounding like an echo that had traveled through many chambers before being audible to human ears.

[imastrangeone98]

Into the Unknown - Chapter 2: Complete Strangers

(A/N: guess who's back... back again... with a shitty story not a single person is gonna read~~)

Spoiler warning: nero is a real one, what a nice boi 💙 also, my Dante is very different from canon Dante, and it makes vergil very confusion

"I said, back up, Dante!" Nero shoved the devil hunter away from the girl, keeping an arm extended to keep him from trying to rush her. "She's telling the truth!"

"I ain't trying to do anything!" Dante replied, hands lifted defensively in the air. "I'm just sayin', if she did some weird demon shit to Vergil, I'm gonna slice her head off! Simple as that, see?"

"So you really are Dante?" the girl- Faith, she called herself- stepped closer to him, carefully observing him from head to toe. She was so close that his cheeks started to redden, nose flaring. "How'd you get so old? And what's happened to the office? Why is it so dirty now?"

"Uh, alright, lady- Faith, right?" Nero attempted to distract her from the very frazzled 40-year-old virgin. "So, just to clarify, we need to take you to the middle of bumfuck nowhere to fix this huge mirror that's actually a mystical portal to different worlds?"

"Pretty much, yes." She showed the two men the fragment; if not for the slight golden tinge to the glass, it would have easily been mistaken for a simple mirror shard. "By any chance, did you happen to have anything like this?"

"Yeah, now that you mention it."

Nero recalled the past few days: a mission dead-set in the countryside, with demons swarming an abandoned town- the empty church in particular. After the rubble and demon corpses had been cleared, right on the dusty altar was a shard similar to the one currently in the girl's hand.

"I will look after it," Vergil had said, taking the shard into his palm. "Neither of you have the sufficient knowledge to-"

"So you did find one," Faith mused. She was busy scooping trash off of Dante's desk, even going so far as to wipe it down with a wet cloth. The hunter had the decency to look slightly embarrassed. "It seems we both messed with the pieces a bit carelessly; that's probably how your brother and I switched places." She looked at Nero. "I know of a way to bring him back. But you'll have to trust me. Do you think you're capable of doing so?"

He thought about it for a few seconds; despite the circumstances, his demon instinct told him that she was trustworthy. And he, for one, wasn't someone to ignore his gut.

"Alright," he nodded in agreement. "I believe you. Let's get this shit done, and fast."

Dante rolled his eyes but made no complaint. "...If it'll get my brother back, I don't give a flying damn what happens."

She nodded. "Then it's a deal. Now, would you happen to have some money on you?"

[...]

"Fucking hell!" Dante paced the floor, viciously turning on his heel that it left dents on the wood. "So we really have no choice but to go back there?"

"Back where?" the newly arrived Vergil hissed. "If it will take me back to where I belong, then take me there immediately-!"

"Shut the fuck up," his now significantly younger brother snapped. "You're very lucky I'm not tempted to smack you to hell and back right now!"

Vergil recoiled for a second, mildly surprised at the raw venom in Dante's voice, but recovered just as quickly, his grip on the Yamato tightening. "Such bold words, coming from you, little brother."

"You fucking-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" A sharp gunshot broke through the tension, the two "brothers" snapping their heads towards Lady. "You two fighting about whose dick is bigger isn't gonna help us solve the problem. We need our friend back, you need to go back. Simple, yes?"

Vergil's jaw tightened, but he reluctantly nodded.

"Good. Then it's decided: you're coming with us."

"To where?" he asked.

"To the place where it started," Dante muttered, slinging his sword over his back. "That shitty town. Cael."

"...There exists a town called Kale?"

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

A/N: I got distracted by life so I couldn't post it sooner but it's doneeee! The next chapter will also probably done in a few days but maybe it'll be earlier if I'm motivated enough (see what I did there?)

[capri-ramblings]

Queen & Chaos

An original Yandere Twst Fic.

Summary: In the Rose Kingdom, far but near, peaceful yet chaotic, a coup has overthrown its original Queen of Hearts, leaving her throne vacant and no later filled by Riddle Rosehearts, a young yet powerful mage with a ruthlessness as sharp as any blade, but the hidden sceptre he keeps near him is what terrifies people the most.

With the smile of a Cheshire cat and a glimmer of madness made only for the Hatter, You stand in-between the chaos of this Twisted world as if you're dancing to a tune only you can hear.

Pairing: Yandere Riddle X FemReader

Chapter one

Riddle woke up to the sound of thudding outside his room. The walls of his castles trembling at what seemed to be a rhythm of marching soldiers.

His eyes fluttered open and saw the ceiling first, his limbs heavy and mouth dry. He tried moving his body but found that he could not.

Instantly, his mind went back to the tea party he had earlier that day and he bitterly decided that someone had spiked his usual tea with some sort of paralyzer.

"How dare they?" The words screamed in his head, and though he had no control over his own expression, Riddle was scowling internally.

Once he knew the culprits,it would be off with their heads.

When the marching stopped and the door to his bedroom swung opened, Riddle heard a familiar voice; The current Knight Commander's.

"Is he awake?" Asked a voice Riddle couldn't recognized, hushed and timid.

The Knight Commander strode to the side of his bed,eyes narrowing at the sight of the immobile Riddle.

"He is."

There was a silence before the second voice spoke up again, somehow a tad louder and filled with rejoice.

"Then, we've done it?" They said "We've subdued the Queen of Hearts?"

A string of cheers came after that, and Riddle felt the rush of his own blood boiling within his veins. To think that there would be those who would oppose of his ruling...Riddle partially held the blame to himself. He should've been more aware. Should've kept a tighter leash on his people.

The frustration must've shown on his face somehow, because the Knight Commander seemed to hold a pitiful look in his stern eyes when he stared down at him then.

"Forgive me." Was what Riddle heard as the man took out a small dagger and placed it against Riddle's throat.

He pressed hard into his skin, would've slit his throat in that moment if the footsoldiers at the door entrance hadn't suddenly started dancing.

The Knight Commander turned his head to the group, puzzlement in his gaze as he told them to stop.

"What are you doing? The mission isn't over yet! This is no time to celebrate!"

"W-We're not,Sir!" Said one of the soldiers before he did a turn and linked his arm with another.

"We can't seem to control our bodies!"

The Knight Commander then whipped his head back to Riddle, a look of panic residing in his features.

He wanted to speak but his train of thoughts were cut off by a laugh that echoed through the halls.

"What do we have here,I wonder?" You waltzed into the room via the strings of dancing soldiers almost effortlessly. Steps light and quick whilst you switched from soldier to soldier until you came to the foot of Riddle's bed and gave the Knight Commander a curtsy as a finishing touch.

The man looked to you with a mix of disdain and horror. The realization of his mistake dawning on him harshly.

"Curiouser,and curiouser" You murmured, thoughtfully before your gaze went up to Riddle's stiff form and a smile graced your lips.

"Did the Queen of Hearts got pushed into a stalemate? I would've never thought I'd see the day, really. You're full of surprises aren't you,Your Highness?"

Your words are playful. A lilt of fondness and admiration laced in a twisted obsession.

Yes. The Knight Commander had forgotten one important detail in his meticulous plan. He had omitted your existence, and that truly was an unfortunate choice.

After all, how could a Queen rule without her sceptre?

"I would applaud you, Sir" You said, turning promptly to the Knight Commander who immediately placed his hand on the hilt of his sword while the one with the dagger tightened, its blade pressing into the nub of Riddle's throat.

Something in your stomach churned at the sight of it all. Seeing how Riddle looked ever so defenceless and how a man of great esteem was risking his and many other lives to ensue the end of a tyrannical rule.

You felt like crying. Oh,how pitiful.

How exciting.

"But I don't think an applause is what you're after"

"I am after the rights of the people" He snapped "The right to have a ruler who would not run their people down to the ground at the slightest hint of disobedience."

"Oh?" You nodded your head, an empty habit rather than an understanding gesture. "You sound so serious all of the sudden...Tell me,were you planning on killing him?"

You trailed your gaze back to Riddle,then felt the silence given to you by the Knight Commander as a form of a 'Yes'.

"Well,you can." You said "I'd let you do just that if that's what you really desire."

Riddle didn't have to say anything then for you to know he was cursing your disloyalty at the moment. The way his chest heaved heavily was already a sign of his great displeasure.

But alas, you were simply making an offer. He didn't need to be so ruffled up. He wasn't going to die, yet.

"How about it?" You prompted with your hands held in the air, surrendering. The smile you wore was so genuine, so very absent of ill intent, and yet the Knight Commander couldn't help but flinch from it. The bitter taste of cruelty dripping from the way your eyes seemed to glaze over.

"What are you implying?"

"Come now. Didn't I say it already? If that's the greatest desire you have, then I'll let you fulfill it."

"You're going to let him die?" The Knight Commander scoffed, "I know who you are, and if your reputation exceeds you then you would never let him die."

Your heart did a small flutter at that. A tinge of embarrassment causing your cheeks to flush. Did your dedication seem too vivid? Oh, how unsightly.

"He is my Queen,yes. That much is true, but in speaking of this current matter, I wouldn't really be letting him die if you agreed to my offer"

You placed your hands behind your back, stealing a quick glance at Riddle who still seemed under the influence of the drug.

"What offer?"

Your lips smiled at the question. You really thought he was going to draw out this conversation with how stoic he was, which would've ended this whole dilemma quickly since then you would've been annoyed and killed the entire group yourself.

"Oh, it's a promising one!", Your hands clapped together as you cheered this out, before the lightness of your demeanor disappeared and the room suddenly fell into a dark disposition. A swell of tension and cruelty intertwined.

"You're free to kill him and bring peace to your people as you said you would, but then I get to have your men. The entire battalion. Your army of dutiful soldiers would be my collection of dancing nutcrackers. Fair deal, isn't it?"

It was such a quick shift of mood, that when the Knight Commander hurled his sword in your direction, you almost thought you'd lose your head.

"Are you mad?" He yelled, breathless and ragged. You smiled at him oddly,head tilting.

"I'm not." You replied then grinned half heartedly. "But you seem to be filled to the brim with it,don't you? Your eyes are flaring, Commander."

"Do you think I would give my people to you? Do you take me as a desperate fool?" The tip of his sword glistened maliciously in your face, and you estimated that if he moved toward you then you'd have no chance of deflecting.

"Well, what did you expect? The price of a Queen would be an entire army wouldn't it? How could I give away something so valuable without expecting anything in return?".

"I refuse." The Knight Commander growled,his expression taut and etched with a sort of rage that had you frowning in annoyance.

"Won't you think it over a bit more at least? Your men would die if you don't choose a side."

"What?"

Ah,that seemed to catch his attention, didn't it? A small smile formed on your lips and you nodded your head again.

"It's obvious isn't it? If you choose to kill the Queen in exchange for your men, then at least one group would walk to see another day. Oh,but if you refused, then you'd all die. Which is a shame. You know I've always wanted a set of toy soldiers ever since I was young"

The force of the blade coming at you was overwhelming, but quick to slither away, you stepped within the circle of the dancing soldiers and had one of them take the first slice of the blade.

The blood curdling scream escaping the poor soldier caused the Knight Commander to seize his attack, as he watched one of his men fall the ground with a dull thud. The deep crimson of his blood soaking the wooden boards.

He stared, horrified at what he'd done before his gaze lifted and he flared his anger in your direction.

Though, when he began to move forward, you were frowning and seemed to be glaring back at him.

Or rather,behind him.

"Enough of your games."

The Knight Commander spun around a second too late as Riddle snatched the dagger from his hand and thrusted it into the nape of his neck. His cold rage tinting the grey in his eyes as he stared the man down from where he stood on his bed.

Riddle felt the last shred of energy he had left him in the breath he took to calm his nerves, and as the Knight Commander began struggling to take the blade out, he fell back onto his mattress.

"Clean this up,____" You heard him mutter out, the sound of your name on his tongue making it harder for you to stay irritated at the fact he'd ruin your fun.

Letting out a sigh, you pursed your lips.