#Except Ebisu. I just remembered I’ve talked to her.

[bosburakh]

I’m kind of fascinated by the whole insular community here that I’ve never interacted with at all despite being mutuals with most of you.

[thisisthepartwhereyou]

BEASTARS MINI-STORY #8: “Shower me with Insights” by JCL

---

TEXTBOX: Somewhere in the ghetto, not far from the Back Alley market.

We find ourselves in a neighborhood somewhere in the ghetto, which is mainly composed of poor-looking apartment buildings that stand in close proximity to each other. We are a few stories up, the air between them criss-crossed by old wires and clothing lines heavy with clothes that’s been hung out to dry.

One of these lines is moving, as its content is getting pulled towards an open window. In it we can see Cosmo, the okapi-stripper whose life Louis and the Shishigumi once saved. She is removing the clothes from the line one by one, presumably to feed a basket next to her.

Suddenly, a swift shadow moves across her, as if something is passing over her in the air above. Her ears twitch and she looks up.

COSMO: "Huh?"

She can't see anything except more lines and the outlined roofs of the buildings around her, which are about two stories above from where she is. As she can’t see anything strange or out of order, she lowers her head and continues.  

COSMO: "..." (Must've been my imagination)

Pulling off a bra and a Lil Bomber t-shirt, her eyes widen as another shadow moves across her. T-shirt still in hand, she looks up again with a mildly annoyed look.

COSMO: (No, there's definitely something moving up there. What is it, birds playing tag?)

She continues to look up, dead set on finding out what it is. Then, after a short while, she is given an answer:

It is Legosi, who is leaping from the roof above Cosmo. He seems unaware of being seen by anyone as he makes it across and disappears over the roof of the opposite building.

Cosmo drops her t-shirt, stunned by what she just saw.

COSMO: "WHAT THE FU-"

---

We go up and over the roofs, where we can clearly see Legosi chasing Kyuu.

The female rabbit runs and makes short but frequent leaps across the rooftops parkour-style. Peaking over her shoulder, she is looking back at the wolf. He struggles to keep up with her, as the distance between them keeps growing between them.

KYUU: "You're never going to catch me like that!"

Legosi, panting and sweating, realizes that she is right.

LEGOSI: (IMAGINARY CHIMERA)

The blurry image of Legosi's Imaginary Chimera-self manifests over him. While being just an optical illustration, the effect of the technique is clear: The wolf's standard running-style, which is quite rough and wide-stroked, turns more rapid and graceful.  It's like comparing a spear thrown by hand suddenly moving like an arrow that has been launched from a bow.

---

We cut to the street down below, where we see a female tiger with her five-year-old son standing by a pedestrian crossing. She has her phone in one hand and her son's hand in the other; the two of them waiting for a traffic light to turn green.

The cub has an ice cream cone in his free hand, which he is licking profusely. Looking up with a bored expression, the cub's eyes suddenly widen as he spots Kyuu getting chased by Legosi from rooftop to rooftop. He turns to look at his mother.

TIGER CUB: "Momma, do bunnies and wolves fly?"

The mother, preoccupied with her phone, replies without looking up.

TIGER MOMMA: "Sure they do sweetie, all the time."

---

Going back to Legosi, we can see that the wolf is now catching up to Kyuu at a steady pace.

LEGOSI: (That's it! Just one more rooftop and I'll catch up!)

Kyuu makes a longer than average jump over to the next building, which is about a story lower than the one she jumped from. She lands on a scaffolding, makes an extra jump over to the roof and runs across it.

Right behind her, Legosi makes the jump as well. But on account of his larger and much stronger legs, his leap allows him to soar straight over the scaffolding. He is still in the air as he homes in on Kyuu like a triumphant-looking rocket!

LEGOSI: (NOW I GOT HER!)

However, Kyuu suddenly spins around. She has pulled out six throwing knives out of her ears, holding three each in-between her fingers. She proceeds to throw them at him in two simultaneous sweeps.

Legosi looks shocked. Having not landed yet, he’s unable to dodge! Out of alternatives, he stretches his arms out in front of him.

He then lands on the roof in front of Kyuu, bending over like he's hurt. But then he stands up. We can see that he is unharmed and has actually managed to catch all the knives between his own fingers.

Kyuu turns around and tries to continue her flight. Her eyes widen though, as she finds herself unable to move.

Legosi stands on one knee, leaning over Kyuu. Zooming out, we can see that he has grabbed her by her lower body. His hand is so big compared to her that his fingers have reached over her back and gripped her around her abdomen.

LEGOSI: "Tag."

His tail is wagging, showcasing that he has taken an instinctive canine delight in catching her. Kyuu on the other hand looks annoyed.

KYUU: "Okay, you won. Take your hand off or lose it."

---

We skip ahead a little, to where the two have returned to the roof of the abandoned breeding house where Kyuu, San and Louis were originally raised for meat-eating purposes.

LEGOSI: "You didn't say anything about having to defend myself while chasing you."

Kyuu, who is fiddling with the knives in her right ear, glances at Legosi.

KYUU: "It'd be very little purpose to train you to deal with surprise attacks if they're not a surprise."

She takes one of the knives out, holding it up so that she may inspect it.

KYUU: "Besides, you would have been fine anyway. These are totally dulled down. At most they would have cracked a rib or two."

Legosi sweat drops at this.

LEGOSI: (Yeah well that would've been a lot better...!)

Kyuu continues to inspect her knife. The edges of it gleams in the light of the sun.

KYUU: "Your defense has improved greatly, but you still show little initiative with your offense. For instance, if I had been an unfamiliar opponent, I could've misread you hunching over as having succeeded in fatally wounding you. My guard would've been down as I had moved in for the finishing blow, during which you could have either taken the opportunity to punch my head off or turn me into chop suey with my own knives."

Legosi grimaces at these ideas and leans back against an air vent. He raises his left hand and wipes some sweat off his brow.

LEGOSI: "I am really not good at forming such dark thoughts...!"

Kyuu lowers the knife and gives him an impatient look.

KYUU: "Mastering parries and dodges without any attacks doesn't make you a great fighter, just an exceptionally skilled coward. I've seen you at your fiercest. If you can master that instead of just using it as a last resort, you might have something. Otherwise you'll remain as half-assed as you are."

Legosi's left ear flickers at this.

LEGOSI: "Half-assed? I think I'm doing pretty good... Didn't I tell you about the buffalo?"

He refers to his fight with Mongo the caped buffalo in The Horny Horror Picture Show. Kyuu doesn't look overly impressed by said feat though.

KYUU: "You mean the muscle bound retard from Old Town?"

Legosi cringes at Kyuu's politically incorrect choice of words, which Kyuu ignores as she looks at him scoldingly.

KYUU: "Don't get me wrong, you are clearly above average, but you NEED to be more than that. You've done well so far, but with your current profession you'll eventually face opponents who are more formidable than you because they have one thing that you lack: a killer's instinct. That's the one thing that separates you from elite-fighters like that horse's ass of a Beastar you answer to. The only time I've seen you really use it is when you're cornered and there's no other way out... If you intend to continue doing this without getting yourself killed, you'll have to be able to whip it out like a switchblade!"

Legosi looks down. He has a melancholic and reluctant look on his face. Seeing this, Kyuu's expression softens a bit.

KYUU: "Speaking of which... Have you thought about what I told you back at that board game place?"

Legosi meets her look, remembering the time from a while back when the two of them talked with each at Yanni's, in Everybody Play the Game.

LEGOSI: "Yes."

KYUU: "And my little proposition in light of that?"

LEGOSI: "Yes."

KYUU: ".... And?"

LEGOSI: "I don't like it."

KYUU: "Like it or hate it, it is the most sensible option. Not everyone of your enemies will go straight to you in order to take you out of the equation. Some will go for where you are the most vulnerable. And in your case..."

---

We shift over to a collage featuring key-people in Legosi's life.

KYUU: "... It's your loved ones. Your former roommates, the members of the drama club, the tenants of the hidden condo and that girlfriend of yours. You can't protect them at all times from where you are now."

This collage feature images of his fellow-701s (Jack, Collot, Voss, Durham and Miguno), members of the drama club (Bill, Juno, Aoba, Kai and Els), his neighbors in the hidden condo (Sebun, Zaguan, Ebisu, Mugi, Raika and Fina) and finally his girlfriend, Haru.

---

The collage sequence ends and we return to Kyuu and Legosi.

KYUU: "Didn't you say you had a grandfather too? He might become a target as well."

The corner of Legosi’s mouth twitches as he thinks about Gosha, his badass komodo dragon-grandpa.

LEGOSI: "I pity whoever tries to go after my grandpa.”

Then his ears go down though as he thinks about his friends and loved ones.

LEGOSI: “But I am concerned about the rest. Most of them have no idea...! Still, it'd feel manipulative to do this without telling anyone about it, especially Haru. She if anyone should know if she's in danger."

Kyuu crosses her arms and gives him a skeptical look.

KYUU: "There are a lot of things that have happened since last Rexmas which you most likely haven't told her. What is another secret on top of that?"

Legosi's ears go even lower. You can tell that he feels really guilty.

LEGOSI: "Another addition to the pile of things I feel bad about... She still thinks I work at the Udon restaurant. I want to hell her the full truth... I am just not sure how she's gonna take it."

KYUU: "Look, I don't know squat about relationships, but if you can live through getting shredded by a psychopathic hybrid, surely you can survive getting yelled at by your girlfriend?"

Legosi turns to look at Kyuu. He is smiling.

LEGOSI: "You haven't met Haru. She can make me feel powerless in a completely different way... It's a kind of power you can't really fight."

Kyuu looks down. Feeling powerless when facing someone you're fond of is not unfamiliar to her, as we can see her think back to her savior and former teacher, Gouhin. Looking up at Legosi again, Kyuu suddenly wrinkles her nose.

KYUU: "...You stink of sweat. My nose is not as strong as yours, but even I can tell that you reek."

Legosi look surprised by the sporadic turn of this conversation. He then rubs the back of his head (which also happens to be drenched in sweat) with an apologetic look.

LEGOSI: "I'm sorry. It's unusually hot for this time of year."

KYUU: "We'll call it quits for today. Just go down and take a shower."

LEGOSI: "You have showers here?"

KYUU: "It's on the third floor, behind the orange door with two-three-seven written on it. There should be some soap and towels in there for you to use."

Legosi stands up with a grateful expression.

LEGOSI: "Thanks Kyuu-chan!"

Being called 'chan' earns him an annoyed glare from Kyuu.

KYUU: "Don't call me 'chan'. It makes me sound like I'm a little kid or something! Just 'Kyuu' or 'Kyuu-san' will be fine! You don't hear me calling you 'kun' do you?"

Legosi scratches his cheek.

LEGOSI: "Well no... But, considering my position... Shouldn't you call me 'aniki' or something?"

SHINK!

Legosi looks down. The knife which Kyuu had previously been holding has now been launched and embedded in between his legs, a few centimeters below his crotch.  

He looks up and sees that the mere suggestion of having to call a dumbass, five-year junior wolf 'aniki' has led to Kyuu adopting an exceptionally pissed off look and summoning her own, monstrous-looking Imaginary Chimera, which is standing behind her like a rage-filled demon.

Realizing he may have overstepped his boundaries, Legosi gives off a nervous smile, raises his leg and steps over the knife.

LEGOSI: "Then again, I don't like to be pedantic. Just 'Legosi' is fine!"

KYUU: "Just head to the showers...!"

Legosi does as he is told and runs down the stairs.

---

Legosi manages to find the door on the third floor. Walking through it, he finds himself in what appears to be a changing room-like area with tiled floor and walls. Like the rest of the building it has the appearance of being degraded by time and disuse, with several of the tiles sporting cracks and ingrained dirt. The area is composed of two sections; the small square section that Legosi just entered, with benches and coat hangers along the walls around him.

The next section is longer and rectangular, with about a dozen long showerheads poking in from both sides of the long walls.

Legosi spots a couple of towels and a bar of soap lying on a bench nearby, as well as a few scrubbing brushes and an old raincoat dangling off one of the hooks.

LEGOSI: (I wonder why they would need showers in a place like this)

He then sees something alarming underneath the bench: a long chain with shackles. He looks disturbed.

LEGOSI: "...!" (I don't think I want to know)

He starts to undress, pulling his shirt over his head.

---

A few moments later, Legosi walks into the showers with the soap in his hand. He goes to the middle of the room and turns the closest tap. As he does, the showerhead gives off a strained, metallic sound before spitting out a stream of water that hits Legosi. The wolf shivers.

LEGOSI: "Ugh!" (FREEZING!)

Soon enough though, the water heats up and he becomes more relaxed. He rubs the soap in his hands, making it bubble and foam. As he does, he thinks back on Kyuu's words to him earlier, her face being visible in his background.

KYUU: “If you intend to continue doing this without getting yourself killed, you'll have to be able to whip it out like a switchblade!"

He sighs and closes his eyes as he washes his head and body.

LEGOSI: (Continue... I guess I have to continue, but I didn't get into this line of work because I wanted it... It just happened)

???: "Will you pass the soap?"

The wolf's eyes open wide and he turns to look at his side. He now sees that he is not alone in the showers. Next him stands San, the alpaca. He is naked and taking a shower as well.

Legosi looks surprised and instinctively takes a step back.

LEGOSI: "HUAH?! Where did you come from?"

SAN: "I came in right after you... Man, Kyuu really must drive you hard if you're so exhausted that you can't even notice a naked herbivore approaching you in the shower."

As he talks, Legosi can't help but to look at the alpacas's body. To his great shock, San is extremely skinny... Kind of like Christian Bale's character in The Machinist (2004).

The alpaca extends an open hand to him and raises his eyebrows.  

SAN: "Now, if you’re finished with that soap...?"

Legosi politely puts the soap in the alpaca’s hand.

LEGOSI: "Here..." (I can practically see all the little bones in his torso! Is he ill or something?)

SAN: "Thank you."

San takes the soap and proceeds to wash his own body, taking special care of his long and fuzzy neck.

Trying not to look at San, Legosi continues to wash himself. As he does though, he notices that the alpaca is looking at him... Quite unabashedly.

LEGOSI: "..." (Why is he staring at me? He's not even trying to hide the fact that he's looking... Is it because he noticed me looking at his body?)

Legosi gulps and blushes as a thought crosses his mind.

LEGOSI: (Maybe he is into males?)

He turns his head to San with a civil expression.

LEGOSI: (Perhaps he'll stop if I show that I know he's looking) "Did you want something?"

The alpaca appears to be completely unmoved by Legosi's awareness.

SAN: "No, just looking."

LEGOSI: (It didn't work at all!)

Legosi grimaces, thinking back to moments when San has been around as he has trained with Kyuu.

---

We enter a brief flashback, which shows us one of Legosi and Kyuu's previous sessions. This one is special, as he is dodging an oncoming assault from the rabbit, who is wielding a chain sickle.

LEGOSI: (Now that I think about it, I know very little about San...)

We can see that unlike Kyuu, San doesn't physically partake in the training. Instead he sits down on a wooden box in the background, watching the two as they train.

LEGOSI: (He is sometimes around when Kyuu trains me, giving little advice here and there, but most of the time he's not around)

---

We return to the present, where Legosi is still thinking about this.

LEGOSI: (Though with a frail body like that, I wouldn't be surprised if he’s unable to do any physical training)

SAN: "You are a very good-looking animal."

Legosi turns and arches his head back.

LEGOSI: "HUH?!"

SAN: "Your body. Your muscles. They speak of an animal in great health... Do you exercise outside your training?"

LEGOSI: "Not really... I mean had gym class at school and I did some training with Gouhin, but I've never really gone to a gym or anything."

SAN: "Hm, I guess that kind of physique could be pretty average for male wolves then... I haven't showered with one before so I can't really tell."

He then points straight at the wolf's groin.

SAN: "Speaking of which, is THAT considered average by wolf-standards?"

Legosi crosses his legs and covers his junk with his hands. He feels targeted.  

LEGOSI: "I ASSUME IT VARIES!"

San gives the wolf an amused expression.

SAN: "Ahaha, so that is the case! I am sorry, am I making you uncomfortable?"

LEGOSI: "YES."

San turns his head and looks ahead, proceeding to soap up and wash the spot between his ears.

SAN: "Sorry, old habits die hard. Checking out the anatomy of others is kind of my thing... Has been so as far back as I can remember… Did you know that our carnivore captors would take us when we were little? If you saw the chains, then you may have already guessed it."

---

We enter a flashback, in which we see a group of herbivore-children between ages three and five lined up in very same showers. They have no clothes and are linked together by shackles that go from ankle to ankle, with a long chain running through them.

SAN: "We would get cleaned, trimmed and deloused. Probably the most care that was ever shown to us."

The showers are running, and the children are all getting cleaned by carnivores in raincoats, who are roughly scrubbing them with brushes.

SAN: "Not that there was any real affection behind it though, it was just business. I mean who would want to eat meat with a side order of typhus?"

In the middle of the chain we see the young San, Louis and Kyuu standing in a row next to each other. San is getting the fur of his neck trimmed with a thinning scissor, Louis gets scrubbed behind his ears and Kyuu gets applied DDT through a large spray pump. The powdered cloud of insecticide causes her to cough.

---

The flashback ends. Despite the dark subject matter, San has maintained a jovial expression.

SAN: "At that time they would also take the chance to check us, to make sure our bodies had just the right amount of produce... It was probably there that I picked up the habit of checking the bodies of others, cause I knew that if I saw someone who looked particularly nice and healthy..."

San’s eyes go down to  Legosi’s muscular and scarred torso, rising slowly up to his face. Something in his stare causes the wolf to look increasingly uncomfortable.

SAN: "... He or she would soon be gone."

Suddenly, the soap slips out of San's grip and slides across the floor.

SAN: "Whoops!"

San goes over to where the soap is and kneels down in order to pick it up, water dripping off his fur and forming a pool around his feet. We can see it even clearer from his back that he is alarmingly malnourished, with vertebrae, ribs and shoulder blades sticking out like the detachable appendages of a Mr. Potato-doll.  

SAN: "What an upturned world, when being healthy seals your fate… Makes me glad I've always been quite skinny. I mean... Would you really want to take a bite out of this pitiful body?"

San glances back at Legosi with a grim look.

SAN: "Still, if I was cooked well enough, one could probably suck the meat off my bones the same way you'd lick the batter off a spoon..."

Legosi stares at him with an unreadable expression.

San purses his lips, looking kind of disappointed that he's not getting any interesting reaction out of Legosi. The alpaca then tries to stand up, but appears to slip and fall over, his knee hitting the tiled floor hard. He gives off a pained groan.

This prompts a look of concern from Legosi. He rushes over and kneels down next to San.

LEGOSI: "Are you okay? You’re not injured are you?"

San spins around, using a pool of water on the floor as a lubricant to move with a remarkable speed. He then makes a whipping motion with his forearm which launches a splash that is aimed straight at Legosi's eyes.

Legosi instinctively pulls back and raises a hand up to his face, managing to protect his right eye in the last second. The rest of the water hits his unprotected eye though, which he closes tightly. Apparently the soap in it really stings!

San's right hand shoots out at him, aiming at the left side of his chest. Legosi manages to block this blow with his left hand, holding San's bony hand back by his wrist. The wolf grits his teeth at him.

LEGOSI: "Stop! What are you-"

San's free hand shoots up and he pushes Legosi's left shoulder with two fingers.

Legosi's eyes widens. With his hand still around the San’s wrist, he throws alpaca away from him.

San stumbles back. He meets the wolf's shocked look and smiles.

SAN: "She HAS trained you well."

He then puts one of his hands over his other hand in a respectful, Bao Quan Li-gesture.

SAN: "Sorry about that, but I heard you were being tutored in surprise attacks today, so I felt obliged to contribute. I have to say you performed well, pulling a good, though imperfect, block as I splashed at your eyes. If I had managed to hit BOTH of your eyes, you would've been in serious trouble right about now."

Legosi doesn’t seem to hear this though, as his attention is entirely focused on his left arm, which hangs down and looks completely limp!

LEGOSI: "My arm... What did you do to my arm?!"

San raises two fingers and waves them at the wolf in a playful fashion.

SAN: "I hit a pressure point which rendered your arm numb and useless. I know it's a bit of a cliche to use in martial arts, but it's really useful if you ever get caught in and can't get loose. Don't worry, it's an easy fix though."

San walks up to Legosi and uses these fingers to hit the same spot on Legosi's shoulder as before.

SAN: “Boop!”

Legosi twitches. He then blinks, and slowly raises his formerly limp arm. Inspecting it with a confused look, he then uses it to wipe his closed eye. He has San fixed with an open, wary eye.

San scratches his chin and watches Legosi with a sense of intrigue.

SAN: "... Tell me though, did you try and cover your eyes on instinct, or did something tip you off to my intent?"

Legosi lowers his arm. Both of his eyes are open now, though his left has turned pink and bloodshot from the soap water.  

LEGOSI: "By the time I knelt down I felt a nagging suspicion. You may look sickly, but as I recall you managed to immobilize Louis in just a few moves the first time we met, so I figured that you couldn't be as frail as you look... At first I thought you were looking at me because you liked males, but now I think you were taking a better look in order to further map out my physical weaknesses… You were baiting me."

SAN: "Exactly."

San gives off a jolly smile again, as if what had just transpired hadn't transpired at all! He then adopts an explanatory pose with his hand raised, as if he’s about to give a lecture.

SAN: "It’s called Deceptive Display: an old technique developed by herbivores that is meant to draw carnivores to you."

We see an illustrative scene playing out in San's background, featuring an old and limping wildebeest with crutches surrounded by the shadows of ill-willing carnivores with their eyes gleaming and tongues sticking out.

SAN: " See, for the average carnivore who is on the hunt, the notions of easy prey is irresistible. This instinctively draws them to the weak and injured before the strong and healthy. Deceptive Display exploits this, taking advantage of their dropped guard."

The illustrative scene fades away. San maintains his friendly smile, but his eyes have adopted more of an edge.

SAN: "However, you're not that average, are you? I had to act out a bit more, drawing you in by your unnatural sense of concern rather than your natural instinct to devour me."

Legosi stares at San, seeing the alpaca in a different light from before.

LEGOSI: (Kyuu-san is a tougher fighter than San, but San has more of a devious vibe to him…! Knowing he's been hiding such techniques this whole time behind such a lax and friendly face…)

His tail bristles and wraps around his leg.

LEGOSI: (It makes my skin crawl!)

KYUU: "Personally I think it's a one-noted fighting style."

Legosi blinks. He slowly turns to look down his right and discovers that Kyuu is standing next to him, stark naked and turning the tap of the shower head next to him.

The wolf's jaw drops, but Kyuu doesn't seem to be embarrassed in the least.

KYUU: "Trickery and deceptive tactics are invaluable if used sparingly, but are altogether too predictable for someone to fully rely on. If an opponent calls your bluff and you don't have anything else up your sleeve, you’re screwed."

She adopts an annoyed frown as no water comes out of her shower head.

KYUU: "Damn pipes...!"

San nods in admittance.

SAN: "Sadly enough, she has a point. I couldn't really fight in underground pits anymore after my opponents figured out how my technique worked."

Kyuu and San turn to look at Legosi, only to discover that the wolf has disappeared from where he was a second ago, leaving a Legosi-shaped imprint in the still flowing showerwater. Kyuu and San turn their heads to look at the way out, deducing from a series of wet footprints on the floor that Legosi has left.

SAN: "... What flew into him?"

KYUU: "Female nudity must embarrass him."

SAN: "Huh, how strange."

Kyuu takes Legoshi's place in the still running shower, and San goes to take his original place in the shower next to her.

KYUU: "I know, right? Males and females only differ in a few fleshy appendages left and right... What is there to be embarrassed about?"

Kyuu rubs her hands over her head, getting accustomed to the temperature.

KYUU: "Then again, he wasn't forced into shared showers when he was a kid. The differences between genders must be a big deal to him because he hasn't been exposed to them to the point of indifference."

Now being completely wet, the rabbit turns to the alpaca and extends an open hand.

KYUU: "If you're finished, hand me that soap."

SAN: "Sure thing."

San begins to hand over the soap, but his fingers pinch it, causing it to slip out of his hand and land on the floor behind Kyuu.

SAN: "Whoops."

Kyuu looks over at the dropped soap with slight annoyance. She turns around, bends over and reaches for it.

KYUU: "Still using the dropped soap-trick, even after my little speech about fleshy appendages and indifference? You're so transparent it makes me want to throw up."

SAN: "What can I say Kyuu-san? I'm male, you're a female. You may be embarrassed by your female drives..."

As she bends over, San can't help but to stare at the bunny's curvaceous backside. We can see that she has a few scars across her back; most likely from previous fights.

SAN: "... But I quite enjoy stimulating my male ones."

Getting up with the soap in hand, Kyuu proceeds to use it as she washes her armpits, her ears and her tail.

KYUU: "Giving into your urges so easily is one of the things that make you so predictable... It was no wonder Legosi could read you right away."

SAN: "Should you really be the one lecturing me on that? I wasn't the one who tried to proposition myself to that wolf the same night we met."

Kyuu’s deadpan expression breaks somewhat. She turns to give the alpaca an unamused glare.

KYUU: "I didn't proposition myself. It was part of his training."

San laughs.

SAN: "Yeah right, I bet that's all it was... I guess I would be way off for thinking you just wanted a taste of that desirable carnivore-strength through the raw, sexual onslaught of his HUGE-"

FWUP!

San looks stunned as the bar of soap gets launched into his mouth. He gags and spits it out. As he starts to cough up bubbles, Kyuu starts to whistle the Bubble Bobble (1986) theme song while she wrings the water out of her ears.

---

We skip over to when Kyuu and San have finished in the showers and are putting their clothes back on. San, now with his pants on, has taken a seat on one of the benches. He has his hand over his mouth and looks sick.

SAN: "My mouth still tastes like soap...!"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Kyuu puts her own pants on.

KYUU: "Be glad that's all I did, considering your little street fight in the showers."

San looks up at her with a skeptical look.

SAN: "... What, you didn't like it? I just added a bit of extension to your lesson today. Considering surprises are my speciality, it’d be criminal if I just stood on the sidelines and did nothing to contribute."

KYUU: "There's a big difference between throwing a knife a dull knife at his face which you know he can catch and poisoning him and expect him to build up immunity to it on the fly."

The alpaca adopts a confused look.

SAN: "What are you talking about?"

KYUU: "Don't play coy."

Kyuu puts on her t-shirt and then her red training jacket over it.

KYUU: "I saw the whole thing. You tried to hit the pressure points on the left side below his ribs, which would've affected his heart and liver."

Kyuu turns around. Her deadpan eyes have become sharp and her lip has turned up to form an angry sneer.

KYUU: "If you had made a successful hit, he could’ve gone into cardiac arrest, putting his life in danger!"

San looks unaffected by Kyuu’s accusation. He leans forward, cups his chin in his hand and stares at her.

SAN: "... Why are you so upset? You mean to tell me you don't endanger his life during your training?"

KYUU: "I don’t throw lethal techniques at him before I'm confident he can handle them! He's not ready for what you're trying to pull… He probably doesn't even know that pressing pressure points is a real-life thing! You'll end up killing him if you pull more of that crap. And that’s not the only reason I’m upset."

Kyuu proceeds to pull something out of her pants pocket: one of the throwing knives she used earlier.

KYUU: “I took these for the training knowing they were dulle... But guess what I discovered just a little while ago?”

She then throws it across the room, aiming at a raincoat that dangles next to San. The knife pierces through the coat and becomes embedded into the tile on the wall behind it.

San turns to look at the knife. Meanwhile, Kyuu glares at him.

KYUU: “They had been sharpened. Sharpened to the point that I could penetrate the aluminum of an air vent! I sure as hell didn’t sharpen them, so it couldn't have been anyone except you! If I had hit Legosi with even one of them…!”

SAN: "If he would’ve died, he would’ve died.”

Kyuu looks a little shocked as she hears this from San. The alpaca turns back to give her a cold look.

SAN: “Survival of the fittest Kyuu, that’s the rule of the back alley market. If someone isn’t strong enough, fast enough or clever enough to keep the death at bay, then why should he amount to anything more than chopped liver? Isn’t that the exact words you’ve used in the past?"

Hearing this, Kyuu looks down and thinks back to the moment when Legosi asked her to command him to 'stay' in preparation for his fight with Melon; seeing that very memory play out in her background.

KYUU: "That was before..."

SAN: “I’ve been keeping watch you know. The training sessions you’re giving him now are freaking filler compared to when you started. You’re not acting like someone who wants to further him as a fighter. I don’t see a trainer teaching a pupil, but a girl who is enjoying a males company.”

Kyuu starts to look increasingly irritated (and quite possibly a bit embarrassed) by what the alpaca is suggesting.

KYUU: “Watch it...!”

San stretches his arm out and pulls the knife out of the wall. He looks down at it with a sneer.

SAN: “Just admit it already: You’re soft for him, otherwise he wouldn’t have caught back on that roof.”

---

We enter a flashback, at which we can see San standing on the roof of the building. Looking through a pair of binoculars, he spies on Legosi and Kyuu from a long distance.

SAN: “I could see your face.”

He witnesses the moment right after Kyuu has thrown the knives at Legosi. As Legosi bends over, San can see Kyuu’s face clearly.

She looks concerned.

SAN: “You looked concerned for him.”

Going back to San, we see him lowering the binoculars with a grim look.

SAN: “It distracted you, made you hesitate. It wasn’t because he was better that he caught you, but because your concern for him delayed your reaction.”

---

Returning to the present, we see Kyuu looking at San with a pair of big eyes. That look though is enough for San though as confirmation that his statement is true.

SAN: “You ARE soft for him… And because I am not, one can say I am a far more impartial teacher than you are being right now.”

Kyuu looks down. She seems to struggle at coming up with an appropriate response.

SAN: “... Let me ask you something, what is it about him that makes you THAT concerned about him?"

Kyuu grits her teeth at him, the question clearly irritates her.

KYUU: "... Louis and Gouhin trust in him. Isn’t that enough?"

San shakes his head at this.

SAN: "Louis and Gouhin also trust the Shishigumi, but I don’t see you hanging out with any of them in your spare time, acting all playful."

Kyuu blinks. Then she crosses her arms, fixing the alpaca a squinted look.

SAN: “Then again, maybe you would. With all that friendliness you are showing that wolf, maybe you would like a lion or two for the sake of variation. Maybe teach them an Imaginary Chimera or two while you’re at it?”

KYUU: “... Is that the core of your issue? Me being friendly with carnivores?”

SAN: “That tone in your voice makes it sound like I’m being petty. Don’t treat it like it's a small thing…! It’s when herbivores and carnivores kid themselves that they can co-exist as friends that they set themselves up for misery and bloodshed, with the herbivores getting maimed and carnivores weeping over their bloodied corpses."

San bends over and grabs a hold of the chain under it.

SAN: “You and Louis and this whole damn society is heading to that place because you forget one important thing:”

He throws the chain over to the floor in front of Kyuu.

SAN: “Every carnivore is the enemy of a herbivore. Remembering that is what keeps us alive!”

Things go quiet between them. Kyuu looks down at the chain... Two of it’s shackles are open and almost look like they're reaching out to bite her.

KYUU: "... Before Gouhin freed us, either of us were not seen as people. We were just consumable items… Meat to be eaten.”

Her arms go from being crossed to reaching further around her body and hugging herself, reservedly displaying a rare case of vulnerability.

KYUU: “Afterwards, each of the numbers went their separate ways… Found homes and families and what-not. The only ones who stayed here were you and me… We’ve spent our whole lives together… You’re my closest friend San, and because of that, you see me exactly as I am: A weak and self-serving turncoat... You may not say it aloud, but you KNOW IT. You don't judge me for it, and you’re my friend despite that... I am grateful, but I’ve also come to realize that that’s part of the problem.”

San stares at her, looking confused as to where she’s going with this.

KYUU: “My point is that I have never been seen as more than what I am… EXCEPT by that stupid wolf. For some reason, he thinks MORE of me, even after knowing what an ungrateful affair that has been to him! I still have no idea why he trusts me so whole-heartedly... Or why he doesn’t just see me as the gutter-filth who sold him out for money!”

She looks increasingly angry and frustrated the more she talks about this.

KYUU: “The Kyuu inside his head must be so far attached from the real thing that it’s laughable...! HE’S SUCH A FUCKING MORON I SOMETIMES WANT TO PUNCH HIM! And yet..."

Kyuu's imagination paints up a picture of Legosi's friendly face from before, as he thanks her and calls her ‘Kyuu-chan.’ This appears to melt her anger, making her adopt a calmer expression.

KYUU: "He’s made me realize that I want more out of this life… Not just possession-vice, but to be more as a person. Because of him… I want to be less like the Kyuu I am and more like the Kyuu he believes in."

San stares at her for the longest time after she says this. He then snorts and grins at her.

SAN: “Sorry, but… What a load of bull!”

Kyuu’s eyes widen and her arms go down on her sides.

SAN: “I know you. You want to be close to Legosi, and Gouhin if I remember things right, not because you think either will make you a better person, but because you HATE other herbivores.”

Kyuu tightens her fist and grits her teeth as San continues his talk.  

SAN: “You hate us, thinking our line of thought and sense of self-preservation is what is holding animals like you down. Socializing with carnivores is just a way of catering to your envy of them… To make you feel more like one of them than one of us.”

Kyuu looks so angry at this moment that she appears unable to talk. But then, her fist loosens and her face relaxes. She closes her eyes, sighs through her nose and opens her eyes to meet San’s look.

KYUU: “Believe what you will… But consider the fact that you may not know me as well as you think.”

Kyuu turns and walks off to the door and opens it. She stops in the doorway and looks back at San over her shoulder.

KYUU: “I don’t hate other herbivores... But just because I am one, doesn’t mean I am required to love them.”

Her eyes turn sharp and bitter.

KYUU: “Carnivores may have kept us, carnivores may have wanted to eat us, but it was herbivores who sold us to them to begin with!”

She then walks out and slams the door after her, leaving the alpaca by himself.

---

Kyuu walks back to her room. Passing a staircase on the way, she stops to look down like she's noticed something.

We see that Legosi is still around, sitting at the bottom of the stairs.

KYUU: "You're still here?"

Legosi looks over his shoulder as he hears Kyuu. We see that he is still quite wet, with patches of water soaking through parts of his shirt (as he was in such a hurry to get away from the showers that he didn't stop to dry his fur off). He rubs the back of his head.

LEGOSI: "Ah... Well... I figured it would be rude to leave without saying goodbye, so I waited until you were done."

Kyuu gives him an incredulous grimace.

KYUU: "... What the hell? You don't have to be so polite. If you were gone, I would have just assumed you left."

LEGOSI: "Still, it wouldn't have felt right..."

Kyuu shakes her head at this, like she's thinking 'he's unimprovable'.

Legosi then stands up and gives Kyuu a more serious look.

LEGOSI: "I also wanted to tell you I've thought more about your suggestion... And I’ve decided on something."

KYUU: “Oh?”

LEGOSI: "I want to tell Haru first, before I say yes or no."

Kyuu blinks. Then she sighs, goes down the stairs and sits down in front of Legosi.

KYUU: "Very well then... When will you tell her?"

LEGOSI: "Golden week."

Kyuu raises an eyebrow.

KYUU: "... That's in like two weeks, why not right away?"

LEGOSI: "There are other things I want to tell her in the meantime... Some of which I think are better told as she meets someone very special to me. Golden week is the best time for that."

KYUU: "How very ceremonious of you. Personally I think the sooner the better but whatever, I’m not your fucking nanny. Do what you think is best.”

Legosi nods.

LEGOSI: “Thank you Kyuu-cha- I mean Kyuu-san. Oh, and thank San for the lesson too... It was very educational.”

Kyuu tilts her head in a questioning manner, like she’s not exactly sure whether the wolf is serious about appreciating San’s dangerous lesson or if he’s just being sarcastic.

Legosi turns around, looking like he’s about to leave. But then, he pauses and turns back to face Kyuu. He looks like he wants something.

LEGOSI: “Um...”

KYUU: “What now?”

LEGOSI: "Well, before I go… You know those swiping moves you made with the throwing knives... What do you call that?"

Kyuu gives the wolf a confused look.

KYUU: "Call?"

LEGOSI: "I mean, what is the name of the attack? What would you cry out while doing it?"

Kyuu gives him an incredulous look.

KYUU: "Cry out... What do you think this is, KAMEN RIDER?! What would be the damn point to cry out the name of a technique for the whole world to hear?!"

Legosi holds his arms out in an urging gesture.

LEGOSI: "Cause it'd be cool! You know, people would be like 'oh no, Kyuu's about to do her famous KNIFE SPLASH!'"

Kyuu stares at him with an open mouth, like she can't even compute the nonsense she is hearing.

KYUU: "... Knife splash?"

LEGOSI: "You know, cause the way it spreads is like water splashing... And it kind of sounds like 'knife slash'."

She continues to stare at him.

KYUU: "... Knife splash."

The rabbit smacks her mouth with an odd look, like she's trying to taste the word and it's turned out to be an acquired taste.

KYUU: "Knife splash... You'd like me to yell KNIFE SPLASH on the top of my lungs whilst doing it?! You don't do anything like with any of your attacks!"

LEGOSI: "Well not externally anyway."

KYUU: "Why Gouhin took you under his wing I'll never understand...!"

As they continue their banter, we go up the stairs and see that San is standing leaned up against the wall just out of sight. He is listening in on the conversation with an unreadable expression.

THE END... FOR NOW.

---

[quietlysatan]

An Invincible Summer - ShanaStoryteller, AO3

Link: Here!!

Rating: T for read the warnings, but don’t worry too much because of them

Favorite Quote(s): I legit wanna tattoo this next quote on me somewhere

"Oh, the things that can be accomplished through ignorance of their impossibility," 

And this Straight Up Fact

“There’s no such thing as cheating as long as you win,” Natsu says, and the brat’s not wrong.

This one’s just funny

“Chouza,” Inoichi forces himself to say evenly, “Your teachings produced Ebisu and goddamned Gai.”

“Genma’s pretty normal though,” Chouza sighs, “I never could get through to that boy.”

Gently Gai casually caring about Kakashi’s well-being is my entire reason for living, speaking of which if someone wants to come be my Gai that’d be really fucking nice because us Kakashi’s don’t do too well on our own

He hesitates, but says, "Not that I do not find your newfound mentorship to be a most youthful endeavor, but -"

"I don't know," Kakashi interrupts his friend, "I met her while she was taking her genin exam and she, I don't know, adopted me or something. She just keeps showing up."

Gai nods thoughtfully, "Stubbornness is a useful skill to have when trying to cultivate a friendship with you." Kakashi elbows the other man, but doesn't protest besides that. "She's a good cook."

And this one because I love it when people Get It, ya’know?

That's really why he won't say anything, why he won't reveal that the Kyuubi's container and the fourth Hokage's child is still alive: they already killed him once. Naruto and Shikamaru are the same age, they would have been in the same class, and the idea that anyone could want to harm his innocent, precious son makes his blood boil 

And this one, for accuracy

"This sounds like a most youthful endeavor. I will bring Anko! She will fan the flames of youth in our young Konoha blossom!"

Both Itachi and Kakashi look at Gai, horrified. "Please don't," Itachi says weakly, like he knows it'll fall on deaf ears but he has to try anyway.

"Don't worry," Gai attempts to assure them, going into his Good Guy pose, "They will produce youthful flames of feminine excellence!"

"They're going to burn down Konoha," Kakashi says flatly.

Gai's hair and teeth sparkle in the sunlight, and he doesn't attempt to deny it.

Another important one

"The world is a terrible place," she says, and she has to swallow before she speaks again, "and it's full of terrible people. But I don't have to be one of them." 

I love that Natsu-chan has great balance, this is my number one favorite character trope, and I wish more people would write it

She bends down to look at him upside down, and Itachi can feel that she's not using chakra to stick onto him, and sometimes her balance just isn't logical. 

I just love the idea of tiny genius Naruto, and I love that Natsu-chan is a seal master at like, fucking seven and a half lol

Itachi knows it's actually far more complicated than that, but just as he does not tell her minutia of the past shinobi wars in their history lessons, she does not overcomplicate her explanations of sealing. Usually he's grateful for that, but when she appears to break every known law to sealing and chakra, he's not.

"That's," he blinks and he's not going to tell her it's impossible because it clearly isn't, "new," he settles on.

A mood honestly

Inoichi now feels the urge to bang his head against the table top, because 'a huge pain' to Natsu is 'literally impossible' to everyone else.

Another mood honestly

Inoichi watches his former genin dig in with resignation. “When are you guys going to start picking up the tab? Feeding you all isn’t cheap you know.”

Hana swallows her mouthful, “Sensei, I am but a lone healer’s apprentice –“

“I have been a chunin less than a month,” Kabuto pouts, wounded, “and already you seek to profit-“

“Do you have any idea how much sealing paper and ink costs?” Natsu demands.

“Okay, okay,” Inoichi grumbles, but it’s not very effective considering he’s smiling, “I take it back, jeez.”

Okay so, since this is a 100k+ word fic, I’ve been doing this thing lately literally just now on this fic review where I only feature quotes from the first chapter (Depending on length.) but, I’m making an exception because I’ve never seen these three characters and my thoughts on them summed up so well by someone I don’t know which is to say anyone, no one I know cares about my interests really lol

"Maybe a little," he admits grudgingly, "Sakura's really smart, but she acts dumb for some reason. And her endurance is really bad. She probably would have been failed on that alone if she didn't have such good aim with shuriken. And Sasuke's good at like, everything, I still don't get why he didn't graduate earlier. He's just so-" Kiba rubs his hand over his face.

"So what?" Hana prompts, even though she's heard this particular complaint before.

"Sad," the genin sighs, "He's miserable all the time, and he works hard and if you yell at him for long enough he'll work with you, but - crap, I don't know. He's got this really great poker face so you think he's just a big jerk, but I can smell his emotions, the big idiot, and he's just this sad lonely kid who won't listen to anyone."

Hana hums, because if she opens her mouth she'll probably start cursing the Hokage and his dumb rules and his dumb ideas, and that is not the type of thing that leads to a long life.

Just one last quote because dudes, guys, pals, friends of mine it’s important and you should all stop and read it.

 “Thanks for being cool with – everything. I’m really happy you’re not mad at me for not being honest with you.”

“You are my friend,” Gaara says warmly, “and you have always been honest about that.”

Words & Chapter(s): 136,306 words of greatness, and 6 full chapters of nicely done completion

Summary: When Naruto is five, he's gutted by a drunken civilian and presumed dead.

Six months later a girl with ash pale hair and dark blue eyes enters the Academy. 

(Guys I swear on my cool as fuck username, and all around internet personality as practically satan and probably Lucifer and whatnot that nobody we like stays dead or severely injured)

Score: 13, this is one of my favorites for a reason, this is actually my second technically third time rereading this in as many weeks

Pairing(s): Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto Hatake Kakashi/Umino Iruka, background Haku/Zabuza, but don’t worry anything you’re thinking of is addressed quite nicely in the fic ultra background but still there’s a lot of relationships and I’m not going to tag them all

Warning(s): Naruto technically dies more than once because this is Naruto we’re talking about but they also technically don’t??? You gotta read it, but basically temporary character death, only the bad guys stay dead in this one.

Nobody knows that Naru-chan lived so there’s that angst for you, however, to be fair it’s not like this whole story is just characters mourning and crying and whatnot, at this point it’s mostly just passing thoughts and memories which, again, to be fair, does almost feel worse at times... Huh, regardless it’s not overly angsty

Kakashi is adopted whether he likes it or not by Natsu-chan, we love both of our emotionally fucked over fair-haired ninja in this house so you won’t have to worry about that sorta fic coming outta nowhere from me BTW... but anyways, Kakashi freaks out a bit, much like the abused dog he always reminds me of, but Natsu is the sweetest and most gentle, yet forceful person he could’ve possibly caught the attention of. (This is canon)

The Akatsuki are still bad, BUT ITACHI ISN’T technically SO WHO FUCKING CARES!!!! (The Massacre still happens tho...)

Mentions of The Flower District and what that implies, and also things a Kunoichi might definitely do

Oh my fucking god the Hyuga... Who would willingly do something so horrible as that? Of all the things... Warning for... The Hyuga branch family situation, it’s dealt with nearly as soon as we are informed but, gods, my blood ran cold, and my face whited out, my sister thought someone had died when she saw my face haha,,, who the fuck does this? And do they die? In canon I mean? I think I only watched up to the chunin exams or Pein’s attack, I can’t remember which tho...

Natsu cries because people are nice to her sometimes. And honestly that’s fair, I burst into to tears once because I imagined someone kissing my forehead softly so, Natsu is completely valid... Sidenote, I’m touch-starved and have no cure for this beyond younger siblings and my cat because I don’t have the ability to ask my mom for a hug without literally gross sobbing and I have A Thing about embarrassment sooooo... yeah if anyone has some therapy justu for me that’d be nice

Mentions of Gross Men that apparently want to have Natsu’s increasingly growing collection of the absolute most dangerous people she can befriend pay them a visit. And by that, I mean an old fuckwit has the gall to leer at a TEN-YEAR-OLD and a FUCKING THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD!!!!!! Ugh, I hate those kinds of pathetic worms.

On that note, there is technically underaged things going on, but they are also Ninja soooo???? They’ve killed people and are technically in their version of an army, and by the laws of their lands they’re all adults, actually I’m pretty sure by shinobi life expectancy Kakashi is middle-aged, Inoichi is a senior citizen, and Hiruzen is a walking corpse tbh

Alcoholism??? I don’t really think it is but I’m not sure, but some characters do drink often, and usually when stressed courtesy of Natsu and co. but still... I don’t actually know if it is because it doesn’t actually happen much, more like every few weeks/months

Mentions of past sexual assault, and attempted past sexual assault, neither happen in fic or to any of our main characters, the experiences are not graphic though they do talk about it in chapter five, it’s not to graphically described.

Also, a bunch of off-screen lemon

A Thing (That I copy-pasted from the author so that all of you will see it and not say a single word against it.): If you thought Natsu was too mature for her age - she has seen and been through some really horrible shit. But also: my cousin has, since he was like 4, hung out with kids that were about 4 years older than him because those were the kids that were in his neighborhood or whatever. Point being, even after he started school, his main group of friends was consistently older than him. He very quickly adapted to that, and to this day (he's 12) hangs out with that same group, and considers children his own age 'kids' because he adapted to the behavior of the group he was surrounded with. I hardly believe Natsu would be any different.

And also

4. Quick little note because some people mentioned liking my portrayal of the Sandaime. I base his decisions/motivations (and Itachi and Danzo's to a certain extent) around this quote by Clementine von Radics: "It is so hard to live half monster, to hurt everything you love by trying to protect it wrong."

Pros: Watching Natsu just casually disregard the idea of gender with little to no thought is the greatest thing anyone will ever experience beyond, I dunno, the party we’re all gonna collectively throw when soggy Cheeto dies (I still haven’t decided which song we should make chart number one when that happens)

Given that I’ve technically read this three times you should already know the writing is fucking amazing, like, whoa, mind blown type of amazing, like, wow, so good, I usually hate rereading something I’ve read before, and especially so soon after the fact but geez Louis is this fic amazing

Natsu is just as easy to fall in love with as Naruto, and they are still the same people with slightly different personalities as is to be realistically expected with a situation like Naru’s was.

Also, GENDERFLUID REPRESENTATION DONE FUCKING AMAZINGLY IS ALWAYS A PLUS!!!!!!! 

The author manages to convey a very realistic genderfluid character in an incredibly believable manner, while also still keeping Natsu/Naruto themself. They’re still the Naruto that we knew and loved, but they’re different too, as is to be expected. when Natsu is a girl no-one stumbles, she is a girl without a doubt, even the author doesn’t trip up on societal expectations, and when Naruto is a boy there is next to immediate acceptance of this fact with absolutely zero (0) Zero bullshit from transphobes, which, as a genderfluid person myself, is always fucking nice to see. You’ll have to read it to know more though.

Natsu running around creating seals is honestly the greatest thing ever, and the end scene with the village made me cry a lil bit, and dammit this fic is so fucking good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, there’s a scene, where Natsu heals Kakashi, and the way the author handled explaining the intimate not sexual relationship between two of my favorite characters ever is just, so subtly beautiful, the sibling-bond these two have is beautiful, and a part of me wants to cry sometimes when I read it, and usually do cry a little when I get to this scene, and only partially because of what happened directly before it.

I love the way everybody just gets up and moves past their trauma and just decides to politely ignore it, oh they still have it, they still deal with it, but they care, and they are careful about it, and even though it hurts them like a knife-wound to the kidney in slow-motion they still get back up and keep fucking going. That’s hella admirable and I can respect that, I can respect even more that they slowly but surely let themselves heal as time moves on. This fic is beautiful on so many different levels but it is this one perhaps, that is the most magnificent. Perhaps.

Sasuke is adorable and depressing and adorable and I love it. And Ino is still a bad bitch but she’s a kid so we only see it like a handful of times in the first two chapters. The Akimichi/Yamanaka/Nara are all great, and I occasionally pity Inionchicause like, he’s putting up with a well-informed seal genius that’s still hyper, a slightly frightening medic-kunoichi with giant dogs, another slightly more frightening medic-nin who isn’t the greatest fighter but damn can he be intimidating and also really good at pointing out “Certain Things” while judging you about them which, honestly, is my greatest pastime. Itachi is so sweet and then so tragic oh my gods, and Natsu never even considers giving up on him. Kakashi is so sweet, and he slowly becomes less of a beaten dog as time goes on and I just love all of these characters.

Except for Hiruzen. Well, no, I still love this particular incarnation of Hiruzen, for all that he’s got one hell of a pathetically small backbone, I get why he does shit. But that doesn’t make me happy. Still, he’s better than dumbledouchebag. Granted that’s not difficult, and you might have to actively put an effort in to be as bad as that guy, but still. Plus, his hearts in the right place, and he’s less about the greater good then... certain disgraces to teaching and being in charge of a large group of people... Hiruzen is actually kinda sweet and admits he has issues and actually has an excuse that’s understandable for the shit that he pulls which is great, if sadly uncommon.

Anyways, Sakura is terrifying, and I remembered why I had a crush on her. She’s so badass, also, she ends up Princess Mononoke basically which, honestly, is fucking great, and the best thing we could’ve asked for, I love all of these characters so much!!!

Aesthetic: It reminds me off beefy stew (We don’t eat beef, so we used vegan soy beef stuff instead, and it was just as good.) it reminds me of the warmth, and friendship, and home that I felt after my mom and I make dinner together with nothing but a little music on and jokes passing back and forth between us. It reminds me of scraping my knee and having my friends help me to their mom, it reminds me of loyalty and compassion. It reminds me of dancing outside at night, alone in the forest with nothing but the moon for company and wind for music. It reminds me of the first time I realized that I could love someone despite their gender and that I should despite mine. It reminds me of finely spun handmade lace, and all it’s delicate while also reminding me of the sturdiest of steels, it reminds me of so much. It reminds me of acceptance, and understanding, and so much more. If I were to say what food and drink it reminds me of, I’d say chicken noodle soup, and sweet lavender-lemon tea.

Music Aesthetic: So, I made a playlist while I was reading this the first time around, and instead of a gif or twenty like I would usually prefer to do I’m going to add that playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbhXmTSBbAyjk0m1b4BZUp3t0RHL83LDK

But if I were to add a gif or two it’d be these

Because something about this fic reminds me of rainy days with tea and baggy clothes.

Every time Natsu/Naruto decided to fight ever, to be honest.

[beautiful-fiscal-siren]

I was originally just going to write a little post about why Yato is great, but then I figured... who better to say it than his friends? It’s not much, but enjoy a little fluff:

Hiyori fidgeted with her skirt as she waited in Bishamon’s dining room with everyone else. What if he didn’t show up? What if he was disappointed? What if he thought the whole thing was unoriginal? After all, they had done a surprise for Yukine, too, although this was a little different—

Just then, the door opened and Kazuma backed in, followed by Yato who was saying loudly, “What does that skank want this time—”

“SURPRISE!!”

Everyone cheered and popped the party crackers that Hiyori had brought. Yato stared around the room. Over a dozen smiling faces looked back at him—Kofuku, Daikoku, Tenjin, Mayu, Ebisu... even Bishamon looked rather happy.

“Welcome to your party, Yato!” said Hiyori.

“Long overdue,” added Yukine.

“Y-you guys did this for me?” asked Yato, still staring around in shock.

“Mmhmm. There’s beer and junk food and sweets and...” Hiyori grimaced. “A dance floor.”

Yato just gaped at her, which made Hiyori a little uncomfortable. Did he not like it? No. Not possible. She steeled herself and marched over to the head of the table, where she pulled out the middle chair. 

“For you,” she said, gesturing for Yato to sit. She sat down next to him, with Yukine on the other side. 

As everyone else made their way to their seats, Hiyori picked up a yellow paper crown from the table. Yato flinched when she reached over his head.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Relax,” said Hiyori. She gently set the paper crown on his head. After a moment’s consideration, she adjusted it to sit at an angle. It suited him better that way.

Yato prodded the crown. “You know... gods don’t really do birthdays, right?”

Hiyori laughed. “That doesn’t mean we can’t throw you a party.”

Yato smiled a little, but he still looked dazed. Nothing to do but press on—Hiyori stood, and all the faces in the room turned to her. 

“Uh, thank you all so much for being here. Let’s start with toasts. Bishamon?”

Hiyori sat back down as Bishamon stood up, champagne glass in hand. She looked uncomfortable. Kazuma patted her arm reassuringly. 

“Right. Yato...” Bishamon cleared her throat. “You’ve been there for me, er, several times when I was being stubborn... when I needed someone on my side and was too stubborn to ask. You’ve—you’ve saved me. The fact that I am able to stand here today, my current happiness, is thanks to you... Yatogami.” 

With a nod, Bishamon sat back down.

“Hear hear!” said Daikoku, raising his glass. 

“Hear hear!”

“Hear hear!”

Hiyori glanced over at Yato and saw that he was smirking slightly, sipping his beer. Hiyori caught Ebisu’s eye next and nodded at him. He stood up. Unfortunately, that only made him shorter, so he climbed back onto the chair and stood on it. 

“You’ve been my friend from the start, Yato,” said Ebisu, holding up his glass of juice at a dangerous angle. “I know that you were brave and saved my predecessor from Yomi, but that’s not why you’re my friend. Since I was born, you’ve been there for me, looking out for me, and teaching me things I need to know. Like how to make people happy. Although I will never understand your financial habits... in every other way, I hope I grow up to become like you.”

Ebisu raised his glass higher, causing some juice to splash onto his arm. “To Yato!”

“To Yato!”

“To Yato!”

As everyone clapped and glasses clinked, Hiyori stood up shakily. It was her turn. She had been thinking about what to say for days, but she still wasn’t really sure what was going to come out of her mouth.

“Yato,” she began, her voice wavering. Oh no. She wasn’t going to cry. She looked up at the high ceiling. “You—you’re always there for me, but that’s not... um, that’s not why you’re so special to me.”

She looked down at him and remembered to breathe again. He was watching her with those steady eyes—not smiling, but content. Present. He always had this look when all his attention was on her, and she loved it. 

“I’ve see how much you care for Yukine, and for Kofuku and Daikoku, and everyone here, really,” Hiyori continued, gesturing around. “You protect us and make us laugh and listen to us. And on top of all that, you make wishes come true for tons of humans. You work harder than anyone I know to make sure people are happy and safe. So I know it’s not—” she blushed, “It’s not just me. You make everyone happy, because deep in your heart, you are a god of happiness. I don’t think you could change that if you tried. So, Yatogami,” Hiyori clapped her hands together and bowed her head. “Please continue to bless all of us who believe in you.” 

Yato just looked at her for a moment. Then, slowly, he held up his hand with all five fingers outstretched.

Hiyori rolled her eyes—really, Yato? Still?—but she pulled a five-yen coin from her pocket and handed it to him. He twirled it in his fingers and grinned. 

“Your wish has been heard loud and clear.”

“Kanpai!” said Yukine, raising his glass. 

“Kanpai!”

Everyone emptied their glasses. Mineha and Yugiha wheeled in carts of food (pre-packaged convenience store food, mostly—although Hiyori had a hard time convincing Bishamon these truly were Yato’s favorites). The room was suddenly full of laughter and talking. 

Yato nudged Yukine. “You didn’t want to give a toast?”

“Public speaking...” Yukine mumbled. “Besides, Hiyori said everything I would’ve said. Except...”

“Except what?”

Yukine blushed deep red. “Except... thank you.”

Yato got teary-eyed and pulled Yukine into a hug. “We’re family, Yukine. You know I’d do anything for you!”

“Yeah, yeah I know,” said Yukine, resting his forehead against Yato’s shoulder. “But wait! No!” He jumped back. “You’re always doing stuff for me. Today I’m supposed to be the one doing stuff for you.”

“Really? Like what?”

“Whatever you want! But just for today. Seriously.”

Unsurprisingly, Yato took full advantage of Yukine’s offer. Yukine fetched Yato more beer, more bread, more cake—on and on. As the evening wore on, someone switched off the lights over the dining table and switched on a disco ball over the dance floor. Kofuku and Daikoku were the first ones out there, flawlessly performing dances from all eras while Aiha and Kinuha DJed. 

“I can’t believe they have a disco ball,” Yukine whispered to Hiyori in awe. 

“I know for a fact it was Kazuma’s idea,” said Hiyori, watching Kazuma pull Bishamon onto the dance floor. 

Hiyori mostly sat back and observed the party, but as Yato’s requests for Yukine got wilder and wilder, she decided she would have to intervene. He had started telling Yukine things like, “Go ask Bishamon if she has any fluffy slippers; mine aren’t comfortable enough,” or “Tell Ebisu that I have some suggestions for him on economic policy; we should set up a meeting.” Hiyori was about to stop Yukine and insist that he relax for the rest of the night when Yato grabbed Yukine’s arm and whispered something in his ear. Yukine ran off towards Aiha and Kinuha. 

“What did order him to do this time?” asked Hiyori.

Yato smiled. “Hey, DJs are supposed to take requests; it’s part of the job. Now,” Yato stood up as a slow song started to play over the speakers. He looked down at Hiyori. “Will you dance with me?” 

Hiyori looked into Yato’s eyes—those same steady, focused eyes that she knew so well—and she realized that he was actually nervous, even after all the time they’d been together. Oh well, that was fine. She would do her best to reassure him—right now and whenever he needed to hear it—that she always wanted to be by his side.

“Of course,” she said, and she took his hand. 

[angelicichor]

What kind of relationships does your oc have with the rest of Dorohedoro cast?

Oh... Oh God, this will be a bit long so I’ll make it a “read more”, but here we go (Please remember that I’ve only watched the anime! If someone’s not mentioned it means she wouldn’t know them.):

13 - Doesn’t know him personally, but has caught a glimpse of him during one of her VERY rare visits to The Hole and loved his jacket.

Chidaruma - Saying that she hates his guts would be an understatement, but to put it simply - she doesn’t appreciate him much.

Ebisu - They only really interact if Ebisu comes around with Fujita or during the Blue Night, she likes her air-headed nature, but doesn’t have a strong opinion otherwise. Ebisu thinks she’s okay, too.

En - En doesn’t care much for her personality, but her ability is interesting to him and he’d like to have it under his wings, so it could be utilized properly. She’s scared shitless of him. They’d have a kind of “weird uncle”-”scared niece” kinda relationship, where both try to warm up to eachother, but by HELL is it AWKWARD. 

Fujita - She bullies him, a lot, but in a loving manner. If she was looking for one, she’d make him her partner at a Blue Night Festival, but again, she isn’t really interested in that. Plus that position was usually occupied by Matsumura and now she can see that Ebisu is interested.  He owes her his life and is all too aware of that. Since she’s older than him (She’s 21, he’s 18) they have more of a sibling relationship.

Matsumura - Never spoke to him much, but got sad when he died. That just meant Fujita would get heartbroken.

Jonson - Saw him ONCE during her time in The Hole. Cried in fear. “Fuck bugs.”

Kaiman - Only heard about him from Fujita and from Noi and Shin. She hasn’t met him (yet), but for now her opinion is rather negative.

Kasukabe - He gives her the WORST vibe, but Shin owes him his life, so she won’t speak ill of him. She thinks he acts too nice for someone so smart, so she keeps her distance. Met him personally while visiting Shin that one time, after En made Nikaido his partner. She doesn’t like intruding on the family’s business, so she didn’t say anything.

Kikurage - “...but why is it so ugly?” - words she’s too scared to say out loud.

Nikaido - Noi says she’s a good fighter. En’s partner.

Noi - Thought she was a man at first, because of the track suit, but got awestruck the second Noi took off her mask. Has the fattest fucking crush on her and whenever they get to fight alongside eachother, she freezes, just watching her beat the living shit out of people and being worryingly excited about it. Noi is the second most respected character for her. She admires her power, but also character and devotion to the people she loves. A lot of people with her power would’ve just turned to medicine or scamming people, but she shaped herself up to be an amazing fighter. 666/10, would let Noi break her spine any time.

Risu - Actually ran into him a few times back in the past. Usually in stores and saw a few of his outbursts. She doesn’t think bad of him, but then again she doesn’t know anything about his connection to Kaiman or anything like that.

Shin - He’s the person she respects the most and gets most bashful around. It’s a story I’ll never write out, but I imagine that the first time she met Shin was during one of the common occurrences of someone getting bitchy about a product they bought. Another asshole getting pissy over a woman that rejected him, even though he bought an expensive ring. It was an usually common thing, except this time the guy was getting physical. It didn’t last long, though, since all it took to stop the noise was one swift hit from Shin to knock the guy out and probably cause him major brain damage. She likes to act unbothered by most acts of violence in the Realm, but a girl can’t help but get a little flustered when a huge man knocks out an asshole for her. The magic was quickly broken when he mentioned that En had sent him to order another untastefulness statue of himself. “Boss wanted something red, ruby or... carnelian was it? Don’t know... He’ll pay you once you’re done... geez, doesn’t he have guys like Fujita to handle things like this?” He left quickly after, but she spent the rest of the day thinking about the scene she witnessed and giggling like an idiot, imagining the dumbest little scenarios with a guy whose name she didn’t even know.  When they actually got to hang out a bit she learned to just chill around him and Noi, but if either one of them gets too close, she panics like the Bisexual disaster she is. We’re talking full on red beet face here, folks.  Still, while she WOULD agree to a training fight with Noi, she’d NEVER allow Shin to fight her. He gets too serious too quickly and the one time she DID let him fight her she hot her hand smashed off. No thanks!

[dragonshost]

Happy Birthday, @papalogia! I wrote you some ShiSaku to celebrate, with a hefty side of ItaSaku.

I hope you’re having an amazing birthday.

Fandom: Naruto Pairing: Sakura x Shisui

Takes place in the same AU as Study Date.

Sakura and Shisui have gone on a lot of dates for people who aren't actually dating.

Sakura's hands curled against her legs, sweating in her leather, fingerless gloves. The heat in the room was stifling, but she dared not show any weakness in front of the man before her. He was peering at her curiously, processing the request she'd come to him with. The box fan in the corner, gentle hum lost beneath the cicadas cries, was doing little to alleviate Sakura's discomfort, and she wondered how it was that Itachi could look so unperturbed in his solid black outfit.

The fact that she hadn't been denied outright was promising, she felt.

Finally, Itachi addressed her. "You wish for me to... fake date you?"

She swallowed thickly, and nodded. "Yeah. It's kind of an emergency. Mom's been on my case ever since I hit twenty about settling down, and I finally caved and told her I had someone in my life just to get her off my back."

A wry smile touched his lips. "I can relate."

No doubt he could. The pressure was probably even worse on him as clan heir. "Mutually beneficial for both of us, then," Sakura stated. "We both get our mothers off our cases, and neither of us will expect anything of the other."

She could see him waffling. Sakura hadn't survived early childhood with Sasuke for nothing - she could read an Uchiha like no one else. Itachi's weak spot was always his mother and his brother. And he was easy to trust, somehow.

"Mebuki and Mikoto are both formidable women." He considered it further. "I must ask why you came to me, however. Wouldn't Sasuke or Naruto make more sense?"

"My mother would never buy it," Sakura replied, flat. "She wouldn't buy Sai, either, before you ask. My options aren't great - most everyone else already has a significant other. I got so desperate, I even asked Ino to be my fake date."

That seemed to deeply amuse him. "And how did that go?"

"She laughed me out of the flower shop."

A true smile tugged at the corners of Itachi's lips. "Then I will assist you. A few hours of socializing with your family is something I've managed before. When did you need me?"

"This Friday night?" she asked hopefully.

Suddenly, he sighed. "My apologies - I'm afraid I have a prior engagement that evening." The way his face twisted up with distaste, Sakura could venture a guess that it was something clan heir related. His dark eyes swept over her with something resembling pity.

It was her turn to sigh. "No, thank you for even agreeing at all. I'll just have to suck it up and eat crow." She was not looking forward to this in the least. Her mother would hold this over her forever. Maybe even use it as an excuse to set up a marriage meeting. No. That outcome needed to be avoided at all costs. Maybe she could convince Kankuro to make the journey from Suna. Dealing with one crow was preferable to the other variety, and she could swing, 'hey my boyfriend can't stay long or visit ever again because he lives in another country.' She would need a suitable bribe. If he couldn't do it, she was absolutely sunk, though.

Her obvious despair must have incited further compassion from the stoic man, as Itachi then offered, "I might know of someone else willing to entertain your request. He's another member of my clan, and so long as you state it clearly for him, he won't try to read into the situation."

Leaning forward, Sakura nodded vigorously. "Go on. Who is my savior angel?"

A smirk crawled across Itachi's face. "A certain Uchiha going stir crazy right now thanks to a certain medic's house rest recommendations."

She had been wrong. That was not compassion she had stirred in Itachi. It was cruelty.

Sakura groaned. "Not... not Shisui."

"Shisui," he confirmed.

"You're enjoying my suffering, aren't you," Sakura accused with a glare. "But I really am out of options... and his ribs should be healed enough by Friday to go out with supervision..." She sighed heavily. "Fine. I should at least ask him."

Itachi rose to his feet, patting her shoulder as he walked by. "I'll let him know to expect you. A visitor might..." He winced, and that was honestly all Sakura needed to know what she was in for.

"It's only been two days," she muttered. "He can't possibly be that..." She trailed off as well, and Itachi nodded solemnly in understanding.

This was going to be almost as unpleasant as showing up dateless would be.

The malicious glee on Shisui's face when she arrived at his home was almost enough for Sakura to turn on her heel and forget the whole ordeal. She was seriously reconsidering - not for the first time - her something-feeling for the man, and if she shouldn't just cut her losses and go with Plan Kankuro.

"So..." Shisui began, lying on his back in his futon, like she had prescribed (which was somewhat surprising, actually). "My wonderful cousin tells me that you're in need of a favor. Well, you're in luck because I'm in need of one as well."

"I'm not clearing you to leave your house," Sakura informed him bluntly. Medic duties came before personal feelings, and she took her job very seriously.

He grimaced. "Not interested, then. Do you have any idea how out of my mind bored I am thanks to you?"

"It's only been two days, and I'm not the one who broke your ribs," she reminded him. "Blame your wonderful cousin for that. And you can't bully me like you do the other medics so you're just sour."

Shisui rolled his eyes. "Since we can't reach an agreement, please leave my house. Just having another body next to me is stifling in this heat."

Why were all shinobi like this when it came to recuperating? Not all of them were as bad as Kakashi, but damn if they weren't all obstinate about what should be common sense. At least Shisui was obeying her orders, though. She would have had to physically tie down Kakashi or Naruto. (And good luck getting Shikamaru out of bed.)

But this was an emergency, and she really, really needed Shisui's cooperation.

"Wait!" The cry escaped her lips before she could stop herself, and tinged with far more desperation that she would like. "I can't clear you right now, but on Friday you can go out... with supervision."

He hummed in thought. "That's great, but you would have cleared me anyway as a medic. What else have you got?"

Sakura grit her teeth. Obstinate. All Uchihas were obstinate to a fault. "You would get a large homemade meal out of the deal."

His eyebrows shot up.

"With considerable leftovers."

"I'm in!" he agreed. "You had me at homemade meal. Haven't had one of those in forever. So what do you need from me that's so important that you're willing to stoop to bribing an invalid?"

"I need a fake date for dinner with my parents on Friday night."

"And I'm out," Shisui said. "I don't do parents. Parents are terrifying. Especially yours - I've met them. Mebuki, in particular, is extremely terrifying."

"And so is Itachi," Sakura reminded him. "Don't forget - he specifically recommended you to me. He'll dismember you if you winge on something you've technically already agreed to."

A strangled noise emanated from Shisui's throat as the truth of that statement sunk in. "You make a compelling argument."

Sakura could play Uchihas like a fiddle. Very annoying, whiny, high maintenance fiddles half the time, but still a valid comparison.

"So do we have a deal?" she asked.

He sighed, looking very put out, and Sakura resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Fine. I'm in! What do I wear."

"Casual is fine but, you know, nice."

Shisui blankly stared at her for a long moment. "How about you just go to my closet and pick something out for me. Trust me, that'll be better for both our sakes."

After a second of consideration, Sakura agreed.

"And," Shisui added, "since you're getting up - mind bringing me some water? Then we can hash out the details about our sordid, nonexistent love life. Because, again, I've met your parents. They are going to grill me and serve me with soy sauce." He paused, as realization dawned. "Wait, I'm not the homecooked meal, am I?"

This time, Sakura did roll her eyes, and he gave her a grin.

Dinner, thankfully, went off without too many hiccups. Thankfully Kizashi and Mebuki were too busy squabbling over their daughter actually having a boyfriend to do much damage to the man's psyche.

That being said... the pair were exhausted by the end of the evening from the work of keeping the charade up.

"You know, it's lucky we're good friends and your mother's cooking is delicious," Shisui said with a smile as he waved goodbye to Sakura's parents. "I would not wish that awkwardness on anyone." He paused, and then added, "Except maybe Ebisu."

He didn't even know the half of it. Having your parents meet your boyfriend was nerve-wracking enough without it also being fake, and with the man you were not-quite-crushing on. Whoever invented feelings was a sadist. "At least you won't be asked every other day about how the nonexistent relationship is going," Sakura replied, tightening her grip on his arm in mild retaliation for her pain. "Tell me, how long do you think until I can tell them that we've broken up?"

"I'd give it two weeks, at least."

Sakura's face relaxed into a real smile (and so did her grip on his arm) as they rounded the corner and escaped her parents' line of sight. "Thanks for helping me out, Shisui."

He shrugged, unconcerned. "What are friends for, if not to fake date each other in times of need?"

"Yeah, you say that, but I distinctly recall you refusing at first."

The Uchiha shrugged again. "I don't remember that. Must have been the heat stroke talking."

"Uh huh," she said, unconvinced. "Well, if you ever need anything, I owe you one."

He looked a little too excited by that prospect. "Anything? Then, the next time I get injured..."

"You'll obey my orders as a medic-nin and enjoy it," she interjected.

His mouth closed with a snap. "Drat. Okay then... how about next time, you keep me company. Job permitting, anyway. It is seriously boring to just lay in bed all day for a week by myself."

Sakura nodded, warmth spreading across her cheeks. "Sure thing. I can do that."

They walked, arm-in-arm, across Konoha to Shisui's residence. They'd agreed ahead of time that Sakura could stay in the guest room that night. It would help with the illusion, and it was late, besides. There was also the fact that Sakura had meant it when she said Shisui wasn't to be out and about unattended, so dropping her off at her apartment was out. This was better all around for both of them.

As they neared the building, Sakura suddenly broke the comfortable silence.

"What do you think about ganging up on your cousin tomorrow for forcing us to endure this?"

"I am in."

[kurisus]

Noragami general thoughts

Special reread edition, since I finally finished my reread and am ready to die when chapter 73 (which doesn’t exist) comes out

This is going to be very long so buckle down

The ENTIRE outcome of Kamuhakari was foreshadowed starting in the Underworld arc.

Meaning Adachitoka had all of this planned for a VERY long time

You can see from my Snapchats that beginning with Ebisu’s forceful execution the characters are kinda like “Uh idk if that’s entirely necessary” “Why does heaven think of this as a game” and so on

Not to mention later on Kazuma talks about becoming Yato’s enemy and protecting Bishamon till his last breath

And Yato half-jokes that he will commit high treason

Overturning heaven’s rule is discussed several times as well

There’s a lot more but you get the gist

Not to mention, this arc also plays on the Underworld arc’s use of irony, except here the irony only becomes apparent once you’re looking back on it knowing what happened

Point being, there was a lot of obvious foreshadowing we overlooked because of the month-long wait and there being more important things to focus on at the moment

Remember when everyone was praising Yukine for becoming a hafuri? And then you find out that maybe that’s not such a good thing, and then our three known hafuris are all put through different hells concurrently (really, it’s no wonder Kiun doesn’t want to be one)

Not to mention the whole “blessed” and “burial” thing and the very real possibility that Yukine died by being buried alive, though I’m also pretty sure Amaterasu or someone used that phrase when he was sealed in the box (which was also called a stone coffin or sarcophagus....hmm......)

One of my main reasons for rereading also is because after chapter 72 everyone’s pretty much in agreement that the arc is over and we can put these nasty memories behind us

Also because there IS disagreement about how the arcs divide up so I wanted to see if the arc being over was the case

Because I always thought we were in the same arc since chapter 42 or so, but then I see people talking about the “Sakura arc” and “hospital arc” and “rebellion arc” and that sort of thing so I was like “am I remembering wrong are we in a new arc”

So pretty much everyone agrees about where the first three/four arcs of the show begin and end--Introduction, Yukine, Bishamon, Underworld, and after is where we run into problems

I’m hoping that my viewpoint can provide us with a little more consistency as far as what exactly happened

Basically, the arc I’m gonna call the “god’s greatest secret arc” began with chapter 43 (42 kinda hinted at it but the term wasn’t dropped until 43) and continued through all those other things

The reason those other mini-arcs aren’t their own separate things each is because we never got a break

After the Yukine arc we got a couple of chapters to calm down, same with Bishamon, and the Underworld arc had two chapters to close out the resolution since a lot of stuff happened, and then chapters 40 and 41 were just kinda random silliness (especially 41; 40 was about Yato trying to become a god of fortune so it was looking to the future) and then 42 begins to shift the tone back to dark

The so-called Sakura arc was only like three chapters, as was the hospital arc, and there was no break between those and the chapters around them; the dark tone shift kept right on going through the end of Kamuhakari

So did chapter 72 end the god’s greatest secret arc?

Well, I hate to admit it for a multitude of reasons (this arc STILL not being damn over being the primary one), but I’m not so sure it did

It COULD have, but we really need more information to determine so and I don’t like saying it because we’ve been waiting SO LONG for this arc to end

It seems to me that 72 was more of a bridging point--whether this is between two arcs or just continuing to a different part of the same one remains to be seen

There definitely was an ending there, don’t get me wrong: the good guys won their fight, everyone lives, they’re spared and cleared of charges, and they all go back home

Not to mention the fight at Kamuhakari was a buildup of stuff since the 40′s, like the god’s greatest secret, Kazuma betraying Bishamon, Yato finally becoming a god of fortune, and the whole deal of if a god can actually change their nature

But there are also a LOT of unresolved plot points: what will become of Kazuma, what Nana will do now, Yukine remembering his past slowly, the heavens still not willing to let Yato and Bishamon off the hook so easily, the list goes on

On that note, I’m still unsure as to the reason Kazuma stung Bishamon--the eye on his neck appeared after he said he was going to protect her, so was this when he decided to flee?

Haha man I really missed a lot of stuff in the recent chapters because I was reading with a very elevated heart rate so the small details flew over my head but now that I know how it ends I was able to calm down somewhat and figure out the bigger picture

The trio is back together for now, but all is not completely secure, concerning Yukine especially

Oh my god I have so many feelings about Yukine

He DIDN’T want to go to Kamuhakari, he DIDN’T want to fight Takemikazuchi, he DIDN’T want to defy heaven

Talk about not deserving something, damn

No wonder Yato blames himself for everything--Yukine wanted no part in this but got dragged right into the middle of everything

Honestly, this just makes everything so much worse because I think I knew of this but didn’t really think about it and/or forgot the extent of it

I’m sure this is also a fact that Yato is painfully aware of, so it will be interesting (suffering?) to find out how he progresses from here

Basically, in summary, this arc’s “end” is tentative at best because it seems like a bridging point to another segment of the same damn arc

But again, we won’t know for at least a few chapters yet, so we’ll see how everything pans out

If this arc is not, in fact, over yet, we’re left with the frightening and all-too-real possibility that this could be the final arc of Noragami and they just started moving into it very early

I have my doubts about that but I don’t think we have too many arcs left either way considering the typical length of monthly mangas and how long the god’s greatest secret arc was (at most, two arcs are left in this series’ run)

Honestly, the whole Kamuhakari event was so painful to read monthly (I caught up a couple weeks before 55 came out so I’ve been here since before then even) and we were complaining about how much it “dragged on” (a term I’ve always been reluctant to adopt because there was a lot that needed to be resolved after all)

But rereading it does give me a new perspective; the fight goes by MUCH faster and MUCH more cohesively when you look back on it in this way

So actually, while this single fight was longer than the whole Underworld arc, the second time around it has a lot to it and is very complex but it is a fast read as well

If you get the feeling that the fight did drag on I do recommend you reread it since your perspective does change a lot

That being said, I will always have awful memories of waiting month after month in the hopes that finally this stupid fight will be over since I was anticipating the arc’s end from the moment Bishamon pulled Nana from the box, and things still went on for over a year after that

And THAT being said, I almost feel like it couldn’t get worse but Adachitoka will challenge that and hurt me much more than ever

So what I’m expecting out of the next few chapters, aside from some comedy for a damn change, is an explanation of the covenant, some light shed on Father and Nora (Yato DID say he would explain things to Tenjin and Ebisu later), and Yukine’s past because now that it’s starting I’m just so rabidly curious

I’m sure I forgot a lot of what I wanted to say but this post is already a fucking novel so just take it for now

[frostmarris]

“kakashi is a shitty sensei” drabble for @mouseymightymarvellous !!

basically a condensed version of a fic I wanna write one day hehe

::

It was only natural for Kakashi to assume that his duties as the sensei for his genin team would be put on hold when two of his three students left Konoha (one for definitely more controversial reasons than the other).

However, maybe he should have considered the fact that his remaining student might still be interested in continuing her training with him.

A full week passed after Naruto left to train abroad with Jiraiya - a touching farewell at the Konoha gate where both Kakashi and Sakura wished Naruto luck on his training - and, unbeknownst to Kakashi, Sakura continued to head to the bridge Team 7 met at before training, every morning. Of course, for the first two days, she waited because she was never under the impression that Kakashi would no longer be her sensei (and she waited well past the time her tardy teacher usually finally made his appearance before returning home, confused and upset) but, by the third day, she stood on the bridge for more sentimental reasons, quietly contemplating the small stream below as she wondered how her teammates were doing and why her sensei seemed to be avoiding her.

(He wasn’t doing it on purpose, he’d just kind of… forgotten about her.)

It was after that first week that Sakura requested an audience with the new Hokage and asked Tsunade to train her.

She later sought Kakashi out on her own and informed him that she’s started an apprenticeship under the Godaime.

Kakashi is, of course, surprised by the news but he smiled fondly and ruffled her hair before wishing the young kunoichi luck.

He didn’t catch the way her expression turned crestfallen and he never could have guessed her thoughts - “Why is Kakashi-sensei so quick to accept the news? Does he not want to be my sensei at all? - and they part ways.

Kakashi saw very little of his pink-haired (former) student over the passing months, mostly because he spent very little time in the village as he was often out on missions to fill his now abundant free-time.

But, as the months passed, he began to notice the oddest things.

::

Asuma was the first to approach him, clapping him on the back as he was wandering the streets of the village. The first thing out of his mouth is a question in regards to his training with his former genin team. Kakashi is confused but Asuma doesn’t seem to notice, mentioning briefly that Sakura has seemed to long-since perfected walking on water and was even giving pointers to his team.

Kakashi smiled weakly and nodded and Asuma bid him farewell.

Inwardly, the Copy Nin couldn’t recall ever actually teaching his student the technique.

But, he shrugged it off, remembering fondly how she quickly perfected walking up trees and figured she must have figured it out on her own, the clever girl.

However, he ignored the odd feeling of guilt he had at the thought.

::

Kurenai is next.

She caught him at one of the cafés and immediately started bombarding him with questions about what sort of training techniques Sakura tended to thrive under. From her chatter, Kakashi is able to deduce that, for some reason, Sakura has started spending some training time with Team 8. Kurenai offered many compliments in regards to the pink-haired kunoichi and asked him which techniques she’s already mastered, so she need not waste time in the future.

He was a little confused and offered the barest of responses - "Yes, well, she’s usually good with any sort of instruction. I usually only needed to give her directions once and she’d have a better grasp on the concepts than the boys, so I’d usually focus on them. I’m sure she’s gotten down whatever techniques she’s attempted.” - and Kurenai frowned in response.

He assumed she was merely unsatisfied with his (as usual) lackluster responses, and they part ways.

::

It happened again and again.

Various nin make passing comments to Kakashi, congratulating him on his clever kunoichi student and complementing her growing skills - Shizune, Asuma, Kurenai, Gai, Ebisu, even Genma - and, piece by piece, he began to figure out that Sakura was seeking guidance from other Jounins and senseis. Inwardly, he was proud of her tenacity but, even deeper, he was slightly confused.

Were they all really talking about HIS former student? He’d never noticed much of interest in her abilities besides her near-perfect chakra control but, then again, maybe they were just seeing details he hadn’t.

::

Two years have passed and Naruto has returned and, as Kakashi sat at the bar, staring down at his drink, he contemplated the rehash of the bell test he has just put his two former students through. Gai plopped down next to him suddenly, quick to notice his wide-eyed look.

“You’re looking a little bewildered there, Rival! I heard Naruto returned so I can imagine that you’re in awe of how much he’s undoubtedly grown!”

“Yes and, well…”

“And?”

“Sakura. She’s-”

“Ah, yes!” Gai interrupted, clapping Kakashi on the back. “How is the young lady? My beautiful students always enjoy sparring with the lovely Sakura! I’ll have to invite her to a training match again sometime.”

Kakashi buried his face in his hands, replaying how his former student had destroyed the ground with a single punch - sweet, tiny Sakura who had never been too gifted in taijutsu, except for the occasional burst of surprising strength.

“She’s so strong, Gai. Ridiculously strong. How did she learn how to do that.”

Gai was eerily quiet and Kakashi finally glanced up, shocked to find his rival regarding him with a confused, yet surprised look.

Kakashi paused before reiterating, speaking carefully.

“She reduced the field to rubble with a punch. She DECIMATED the earth with such ease, it was terrifying.”

“Yes.”

Kakashi’s mind was reeling, unable to grasp why Gai was giving him such a matter-of-fact look.

“You didn’t know the young Miss Sakura could do that?”

Kakashi felt like he was swimming through the air, the world spinning around him while everyone carried on as if nothing new was happening.

“I knew she had some impressive bursts of strength, but I’ve never…”

Gai laughed, almost awkwardly, and gave Kakashi’s shoulder a sympathetic pat.

“What do you think she’s been learning while she’s been apprenticed to our Hogake?”

And, suddenly, Kakashi felt like a very unsatisfactory, neglectful sensei.

[thisisthepartwhereyou]

BEASTARS MINI-STORY #3: “The Pitfalls of Thin Walls pt. 4″ (Final Part) by JCL

Legosi, who has now changed into a new t-shirt and sweatpants, stares at something with a deadpan look in his eyes. HARU: "So... How do I look?" We see that Haru has changed clothes too: She is wearing a pink blazer over a pink shirt and a pink skirt, basically looking like a rabbit-version of Jackie Kennedy. Legosi continues to stare at her. Then he begins to go pffffft as he fails to contain his laughter. Haru on the other hand looks anything but amused. LEGOSI: "I'm sorry, but it's so not your style!" HARU: "Damn straight it's not my style, none of this is mine to begin with!" (That woman next door...!) -- We see a flashback, where an apolagetic Sebun is standing in the doorway of Legosi's apartment. HARU: (It was nice enough of her to apologize for making such a ruckus and even borrow me some of her own to me in the meantime, while she is having mine and Legosi's clothes washed) A yakisoba-covered Legosi and Haru stares at her as she talks. Legosi looks neutral, while Haru looks pissed. -- Back in the present, Haru looks down at her borrowed outfit and adjusts the skirt, all the while Legosi is doing his best to keep from laughing out loud. HARU: (I am grateful we have about the same size, though what is up with all this PINK? Is she part flamingo or something? Plus, if it hadn't been for her...!) She thinks back to when she and Legosi were about to kiss in the last part and gets a melancholic expression. Anime-tears of frustration begins to run down her cheeks. HARU: (DAMN! We were so close!) Legosi, who seems to have tapped out with all the laughter, points at Haru's clothes and tries to cheer her up. LEGOSI: "On the plus-side, it does make you look more mature." HARU: "Oh yeah? Well," -- We are now in Sebun's apartment, where we see that Sebun has joined the rest of the gang with a glass of her own pressed against the wall. HARU: "-who wouldn't look like an old spinster in these clothes?" This comment seems to hit Sebun like a brick. Her offended expression gets covered by a dark aura of self-conscious depression as she begins to mutter through clenched teeth: SEBUN: "OLD SPINSTER...!" A textbox with an arrow pointing at Sebun appears. TEXT: 29, SINGLE AND OVERLY SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT IT Ebisu gives her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, though like the rest of the gang, he can't help but to find the situation humorous. EBISU: "There, there..." -- Back in Legosi's apartment, Haru exhales. HARU: "My folks are going to have a laugh, that's for certain." Legosi smiles and puts his hands in the pockets of the sweatpants. LEGOSI: "Probably... It's been a pretty strange day, hasn't it?" HARU: "Eventful, though not that strange." Haru begins to count up the general events of their  dinner-date with the help of her fingers. HARU: "I mean we had dinner, I got drunk, we (kind of) went to second base, had some coffee, sat in the wok and played dress up. I'd say it was a pretty fun dinner-date. Generally speaking, I'd say it was pretty normal too." Legosi looks surprised, then cocks a brow. LEGOSI: "You really think so?" HARU: "Well, maybe you shouldn't take my word for it, I mean I didn't exactly do dinner-dates before we met. Or even date for that matter." LEGOSI: "Really?" HARU: "Really-really. I was a tramp, remember?" Haru's blunt acknowledgement to her past prompts Legosi to adopt a thoughtful expression. HARU: "Though maybe we should avoid contact with liquor from now on, I mean I don't want to nurse a hangover each time afterwards." Legosi walks up to Haru with a determined look in his eye. He stops, and looks down at her, like he wants to tell her something important. LEGOSI: "Haru... " HARU: "Yes?" LEGOSI: "I..." Legosi bites down on his lip, like he's struggling with what he's trying to say. Haru looks a little confused. HARU: "What?" Though, we see in Legosi's background that he is thinking about his mother, his father and his grandfather. This morphs into uglier details of his family history, including the last time he met his mother, his father walking away and disappearing and how badly treated his grandfather has been on account of his species. We can see in Legosi's face that he struggles to process all of this, like he wants to share it with Haru, but just can't. His arm suddenly shoots back and points at the terrarium. LEGOSI: "You know, I haven't named that beetle yet." HARU: "Huh?" LEGOSI: "I was thinking about calling him Smoochy, you know, after that movie with the pink rhino, but..." Haru blinks and notes with a deadpan voice: HARU: "That is a terrible name." Legosi nods and fidgets with his fingers. LEGOSI: "Exactly. I've always been bad at naming things, and back when you talked about us having a daughter, you said a lot of good ones. So... I wonder if you'd like to name him for me?" Haru continues to stare at Legosi, like she's thinking 'this is what he had such a hard time saying?' LEGOSI: "It could be your housewarming gift." Haru looks past Legosi and onto the rhinoceros beetle. HARU: "... Josuke." Legosi blinks. LEGOSI: "Josuke? Why?" Haru puts her hand in front of her forehead and extends a single finger from it, imitiating a horn. In her background, as an illustration, we see a wolf-version of Josuke Higashikata from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. HARU: "His horn makes me think of the hairdo of a character from a manga I used to read, named Josuke." Legosi looks happy, like an enthused kid and turns to greet his freshly named pet. LEGOSI: "Josuke huh? Oi, Josuke!" Haru rolls her eyes and proceeds to open the door. HARU: "Anyway, I think I should be leaving now. So... Bye." She begins to walk out into the corridor. Legosi however quickly turns and catches up to her in the doorway. LEGOSI: "Wait." Haru stops and turns around. Legosi goes down on one knee so that they are on the same eye level. LEGOSI: "Look, I want to be honest and upfront to you about my family... But I'm sorry, I just can't tell you about all of that right now. I can tell you about my grandpa though. He practically raised me all on his own. He is a good person; probably the friendliest and most considerate person one can meet." As he talks, Haru's expression gradually softens. LEGOSI: "He is strong, honest and would go to hell and back to protect his loved ones. You two are the ones I care about the most... And I want you to meet him some day." HARU: (Strong and honest... So that's where you get it from?) "I would love that." Then, straight out of nowhere, Haru darts forward and plants a kiss on Legosi's lips. Legosi's eyes widen, though before he can react further, Haru pulls back with a grin. HARU: "See ya." She then begins to skip down the corridor. Legosi seems like he hasn't quite processed what just happened, and stands frozen in the same position like a statue for a second or two. Then his face goes completely red and he bolts back with a flabbergasted face. As he begins to compute that he's had his first real kiss with Haru, he gets to his feet and calls to Haru. LEGOSI: "HEY! Haru!" Haru stops, turns around and gives him a sneaky look. HARU: "What? You can surprise me with dinner and I can't surprise you with a kiss? Get real! When you're with me, there'll be plenty more surprises!" She then disappears out of sight down the stairs. Legosi touches his lips with his fingers and then gives off a little laugh. Then a sudden crash is heard nearby. Legosi turns his head to see what caused it. What he sees is that the gang in Sebun's apartment, including Sebun herself, has fallen out through the door. They're now piled on top of each other, looking awkward as Legosi stares at them. The only exception is Zaguan, who is standing in the doorway and giving Legosi a little wave. ZAGUAN: "Hello Legosi!" LEGOSI: "What are you doing?" Sebun, who is at the bottom of the pile, sweatdrops. SEBUN: (I forgot to close the door again...) -- EPILOGUE #1 Haru is now back at her parents house. She is taking off her shoes in the hall when her father comes out, holding a cup of coffee. HARU'S DAD: "Hey honey, did you have fu-" He gives her an odd look as he notices what she's wearing. Then he begins to go pfffft and proceeds to laugh out loud. Haru shoots him an annoyed look and begins to stomp away to her room. HARU: "Grrrr....!" She passes her mom, who looks after her with a questioning look. She then turns to her husband. HARU'S MOM: "Who was that lady just now?" Haru's dad can't stop laughing. -- EPILOGUE #2 We see that Sebun is now at her job, sitting behind her desk and working a computer. She is wearing dark pink jeans and a light pink turtleneck with her sleeves rolled up. She looks a bit uncomfortable though, as she is gaining the attention of at least five male co-workers.   HYENA CO-WORKER: "Whoa! New outfit huh?" COUGAR CO-WORKER: "Looking good in the new duds Sebun-chan!" COYOTE CO-WORKER: "Pink is a good color on you!" SEBUN: "Uh, thank you..." (I've worn these clothes before though!) -- EPILOGUE #3 We see Raika, with Fina on his shoulder like usual, walking back to their apartment. He scratches the back of his head and gives Fina a look. RAIKA: "Um, no reason in particular for bringing this up, but if it hadn't been for scale and proportion, you'd actually consider dating me?" Fina gives her roomate an ugly look. FINA: "No. Comment." -- EPILOGUE #4 We see that some time later, Legosi has regained his and Haru's clothes from Sebun. He is currently inspecting his t-shirt. LEGOSI: (The clothes are nice and clean again) He then looks confused as he holds up yet another copy of Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. LEGOSI: (Though why did Sebun give me a copy of Harold and Kumar too?) -- THE END