#HER ONLY GOAL IN LIFE IS TO CARRY OUT THE SHOGUNS WILL

[stellar-skyy]

in my 'no one appreciates them like i do' era with kujou sara

[hydrangeawrites]

If Bansai was the one who helped Takasugi get back up from the lowest point in his life, then Takasugi was the one who gave him a purpose. 

Look at Bansai’s face in these panels. 

He looks disillusioned in these panels. Disillusioned, bitter, even angry in some sections. Almost lifeless, compared to how we know him in the present day. 

We don’t know too much about Bansai’s backstory before meeting Takasugi, but we can put some things together. Around this time, he was already called hitokiri, which literally means “manslayer” or “man-cutter” (人斬 - 人 “person” + 斬 “to slay/cut”). He’s based off of Kawakami Gensai, one of the four renowned assassins of the Bakumatsu period, who grew angry with the shogunate after they entered into a series of unequal treaties that essentially forced the country to cede land, pay reparations, and open up to Western powers. A lot of assassinations have been attributed to him, but only one - his murder of a Japanese politician Sakuma Shozan - can be proven. 

I guess the Gintama spin on this would be that he was angry with the shogunate for the Kansei purge, surrendering to the Amanto, quelling the war and the rebels by force, and, in his eyes and many others too, giving up on the samurai who protected it for as long as they could. He doesn’t like the hitokiri title - he denies it, either because he’s a wanted man  (although he definitely calculated the risk of going out in public beforehand) or because he’s not proud of it - but clearly he’s done what he’s needed to in order to fight back against shogunate actions. 

He was testing Takasugi here with Matako, even though he definitely wanted to save her. He heard stories about Takasugi and Joui 4 before this and probably also heard about how fast the country abandoned them, how they went from war heroes to war criminals after the war ended. And now he meets Takasugi for the first time, who’s also disillusioned, bitter, and carrying anger with him (even if it’s a different kind of anger), and Bansai wants to see what he’ll do. How will a samurai who’s been labeled a wanted criminal and is being hunted by authorities, who has been abandoned by the country, react when given the opportunity to save someone? And, like he says later, what kind of man is Takasugi Shinsuke? 

Takasugi saves her, and they go to prison. And then they have this exchange. 

Takasugi, who talks about destroying the world, saved a girl who was captured for being seen with him instead of abandoning her. He passed Bansai’s test. 

And then Takasugi asks him this. 

The anime shows him laugh a little bit after this part, but in the manga he doesn't laugh at all. He’s wondering if Takasugi is being serious, and whether or not it would be worth it. And so he tests him again. 

Takasugi says some big words here for a war criminal with no army, no funding, and no support, and Bansai’s well aware of it. But he believes, or at least is willing to believe, in what Takasugi’s capable of, even if all it looks like in the moment is “boasting” or a “grand lie.” 

And then the prison break happens. 

To me, this is where he really starts believing in Takasugi’s words for sure. This is where he realizes that Takasugi isn’t boasting or selling him some grand lie about crushing the country; he’s actually going to do it. They break out of prison with Matako, Takechi, and the rest of the imprisoned Joui, and the rest is history. 

Like Nizou says in the Benizakura arc, Takasugi has a light that draws people to him. Before meeting him, it’s probably safe to say that Bansai was an unsheathed, disorganized sword - skilled but angry, bitter, and killing people without a long-term goal in mind or a cause to fight for. He might have gone on doing it forever, but Takasugi recruited him, helped him point his sword towards the future, and gave him a purpose. 

[glazesunflower]

Least To Most Likely To Be The Best Boyfriend/Girlfriend

Characters: Xiao, Ei, Childe, Sara, Ayaka, Diluc, Beidou, Hu Tao, Yoimiya and Thoma.

Warnings: None!

A/N: Hello! This wasn’t a request per se, but I thought it was really interesting & deserved of an analysis!

Xiao has zero interest in romance. He has watched all of the people he once shared a bond with die through insufferable means, so there’s not a chance he’s risking being close to people again, least of all a human. Plus, with his karmic debt he’s constantly in physical pain, and I doubt he would want to open up to being vulnerable with other person. So, zero chances.

Ei doesn’t have the time or the interest to engage in romance. As much as I love her, Ei has an enormous emotional baggage that she needs to work through in order to stop shutting out people and start working towards bettering herself, as an Archon and as a person. Also, she has witnessed all her loved ones wither as well, I doubt she’d be interested in having an emotional bond with a human, who’s life is but a breeze in Ei’s lifespan as a god.

Childe would’ve been open to love if his circumstances were to be different. He’s devoted his life to the Tsaritsa’s plans and his happiness comes through fighting, so he doesn’t have much room for love. He also uses a Delusion, a powerful vision-like object made by the Fatui that we know shortens the lifespan of the person the more it’s used, so Childe is quite literally selling his life out for power.

Sara simply isn’t interested. Her mind is constantly focused on the Shogun’s wishes and in carrying out the tasks for the Tenryou Commission as best as she can to repay the kindness of his father, who took her in as a child. She’s by no means interested in wasting time or focus on emotional matters.

Ayaka would be interested in love, but she simply doesn’t have the time for it. Being part of the Yashiro Commission takes most of her time, and as the Kamisato’s eldest daughter, she has another great deal of duties she needs to fulfill, so she wouldn’t have the time to spend on a lover. She often fantasizes, though, of finding a lover for her own one day and not having to marry for political purposes. But for now, it would be nice to simply make some friends she can keep.

Diluc isn’t particularly interested in romance, he’s focused on his life goal of protecting Mondstadt, but if he found the right person, he would be a very good lover. Hesitant at first, because it’s nothing he has done before, not to that extent, but he’d be caring and very protective. It would take him a while, but I think he would be open to find someone to share his life with.

Beidou is interested in romance, she’s a very physical person so she’s in constant need of being around people and expressing herself, and she enjoys the feeling of cherishing someone and being cherished. She would be a good lover, always complimenting you and making sure you know how great you are and how you make her feel, she’s not shy. However, she’s constantly at sea, so if you don’t accompany her on her travels, you’d possibly only see her once ever three weeks at best.

Hu Tao is a very affectionate person, and I think she would enjoy having a lover quite so much. She would show you her affection in her quirky way, through pranks and poems, and she would most definitely drag you to advertise her coffins, but she would be overjoyed to have someone who doesn’t think she’s an outcast and who loves all of her shapes and angles.

Yoimiya is interested in romance and she would be quite good at it. She’s a very cheerful person so you would hardly argue with her, she would plan the most fun dates and you’d help her with her fireworks. She would appreciate it endlessly if you were as excited as her for the fireworks shows. Also, she’s big on pda, so expect to have your hand taken as you’re walking or your hair played with as you’re laying down.

Thoma would simply be perfection as a boyfriend. He’s attentive, caring, fun and very loving. He would make sure you’re healthy and well-rested, making your favorite meals for you. He would compliment you on a daily basis on the smallest of things, Your hair looks beautiful today!, Or, You’re wearing the sweater that I made for you, it looks so good on you! And he would like pda as well, only if you reassure you’re okay with it, he would be overjoyed to hold your hand while walking through Ritou, showing you off. He works very hard for the Kamisato’s, but he would 100% make time to be with you every day, to take you on dates playing with the stray cats and dogs of the city, or to simply stay in your house and cuddle while you talk about your day.

If you enjoyed this, please consider liking or reblogging it <3!

You can check more of my writing on (this link!). Thank you!

[zorkaya-moved]

IF I do make a Tsaritsa sideblog in December (no earlier nonono), this is how she’ll look like because I simply lacked adult!Bronya FCs to fit what I see in Tsaritsa:

1) APHO Bronya and Star Rail Bronya as my FCs. Iconless writing most likely; just banners.

2) Cold-hearted and logical, hiding away her kindness because she knows her people MUST be strong even if they think she doesn’t love them; she believes that they must be strong enough to survive if she will not be there AFTER they take on Celestia. 

2.5) Respect Harbingers and treats them as her ���knights’ but will not be afraid to remind them of the mission if they stray away. She knows what Il Dottore does and she does not stop him as it’s a necessary sacrifice to reach their goals; however, she is not above limiting any Harbinger’s resources. Would be quite disappointed in how Signora provoked Raiden Shogun, on the outside looking only disappointed but internally mourning the Scarlet Witch’s death as well. She cannot show any weakness.

3) Cannot stand Venti for many reasons and will never treat him with any courtesy; usually says that he’s lost his pride as an Archon and she does not trust anything he says or does. Any time he is brought up into conversation, she gets ten times colder and says she does not wish to speak of a bard who sold his heart for a silver tongue. 

4) Greatly regrets what happened to Khaenri’ah and that is one of the reasons she is rapidly moving her region into improving its technology. More to go if I’ll write about it actually. 

5) Archer Tsaritsa, Archer Tsaritsa with both a bow & arrow AND A GUN LIKE SKIRMISHER (both APHO and SR references). 

6) Strongly respects the previous Cryo Archon. The history I’ll write for those two will be a direct reference to historical empresses Catherine the Great and Elizabeth Petrovna. Meaning, the previous Cryo Archon has taken Tsaritsa under her wing when she had been sold out to marry one of the nobility working right under Tsaritsa countless years ago. Tsaritsa has also abandoned her previous name and does not respond to it, ever. If anyone who knows her maiden name calls her by that, she will be insulted. She is no long [___], she is Tsaritsa, the Cryo Archon watching over Snezhnaya. 

7) She does respect Zhongli as the oldest Archon, but she treats him as an equal. As much as she knows that he has accumulated countless years of knowledge, she has her own views on how she perceives him, meaning she does not put him above herself and naturally never below herself. Very strictly equals and that is why she ordered Signora to carry out the contract.

8) Does not agree with any Archon that make people dependent on them. As seen with Inazuma, Tsaritsa would see Raiden Shogun’s search for eternity meaningless because humans evolve and change with or without Archon’s approval. As Snezhnaya is moving straight ahead with its technology, it is the opposite of Raiden Shogun’s search for eternity, meaning they will not see eye-to-eye despite the respect Tsaritsa will show to the other. 

9) My Tsaritsa will be ready to give her life for Snezhnaya without any doubt at the end. Even if she appears cold-hearted and secluded, she loves her people and her region but she also knows she must raise them as independent nation. She does believe that she will die while fighting against Celestia, but she does not speak of it with any of the Harbingers. If she has to die to bring it down? So be it. She knows her nation will persist just like they’ve survived through harshest of winters. She taught them well. She made them not rely on her love and kindness. They’ll be fine. 

10) I WILL be making tons of parallels between Zarina and my Tsaritsa because I can and I will. I did imagine Zarina as a Cryo Archon at first when I wanted to write a Genshin verse, but I was swayed and I really like what I’ve got now. 

[ikeromantic]

An Uncertain Alliance

A Mitsuhide Akechi fanfic- this scene occurs at the start of Ch. 11 (romantic route- picking one was hard!). Approx 3000 words of fluff and stuff. 

First: Mitsuhide and the Maiden

Previous: Fox Hunt

Mitsuhide took a few more days in Kyoto to wrap up his business. He could have managed most with letters, but he wanted to be here for any reply from Mouri. The madman’s participation wasn’t a requirement to move forward, but his access to men and weapons would make life so much simpler. And it was an excuse to pamper his little mouse.

Not that he let her know that was his objective. To her it was just happenstance that their trip to visit an informant passed by a beautiful garden or a talented street performer. Or that the tea shop they stopped in surprisingly carried her favorite snacks. Her joy was Mitsuhide’s pleasure. He stored every memory of her delighted smiles and happy sighs. The look in her eyes when something took her breath away. 

And so he was almost disappointed the day the letter came, informing him Mouri would meet him at an upcoming festival in Kyoto. Mitsuhide didn’t want to discuss Mouri with his little one. Besides, he wasn’t sure what he could say that would do justice to the man and his reputation. So all he told her was that they’d be going to the festival together. 

It was a good location for a contact. Any city guards would be busy keeping order and no one there would likely know either of them on sight. Plus, the crowds would make it hard to get away with any violent double-cross. Still, it made him uneasy.

Meeting Mouri in a place he chose meant trusting there was no trap. And trusting Mouri was like expecting a rabid dog not to bite. Or, not to bite you anyway. 

“Are you worried about our mission,” she asked him as they walked through the crowded festival avenues. 

Mitsuhide glanced down at her and smiled. “No - not about our mission.” His little mouse looked as if she might squeak up again, so he added, “Let’s not think about it and just enjoy the festival together, hm?”

She frowned. “How can I not think about it? I mean, the sho-ah, shark-eyes, is planning our destruction as we speak!” 

“As we are planning his.” He stopped and faced her. “Right now, I am more interested in plotting a pleasant evening with you.” The half-truth stung, but he needed her to relax. To smile. To be his light. Because he knew he would do terrible, dark things still and without that balance, he would lose this sliver of peace they’d made together.

His little one blinked, surprised by the intensity of his response. “Oh. Well, that does sound nice . . .”

“Look,” Mitsuhide pointed toward a nearby food stall. “Candy sculptures.” The distraction worked as intended. Her gaze lit on the delicate confections, twisted around sticks into all kinds of shapes. 

She clapped her hands together in excitement. “They are so pretty! Can we get one?”

“We can get as many as you like,” he chuckled, letting her lead him to the stall. While she was ogling the display, he asked for two crane candies. Cranes were life-mates. Bonded from the moment they touched. He wasn’t sure she would understand the symbolism, but that was alright. 

Then they walked on, hand in hand, enjoying the sugary treat. 

“I’m glad you decided to bring me here,” she said after a moment.

“Well, it was you that reminded me humans - and kitsune - cannot go on without rest.” Mitsuhide watched her from the corner of his eye. She was finally smiling. Her small, pink tongue darted out to taste the candied crane. It made him want to kiss her. To taste the sugar on her lips, which would be far sweeter than the confection in his hand. He quite suddenly wished they were back in their room at the inn.

“Good.” She grinned over at him and bumped her hip against his leg. “So, why cranes? There were horses and dragons. Those colorful fish ones.”

A slight blush stained his cheeks as he realized she might have caught on to his choice. He cleared his throat. “Did you know that cranes mate for life?” He used the candy to ‘kiss’ her cheek. 

Her eyes went wide and her smile was soft and full of affection. She raised her candy up to give him a kiss on the lips. 

Mitsuhide took advantage of the moment to ‘kiss’ the crane back, which brought a rosy color to her cheeks too. The moment ended all too soon though. He saw the man they were here to meet approaching. Tall, and limned in red-lantern light that stained him blood-red. Motonari Mouri.

“Look,” he gestured toward the figure. “That is one of our potential allies. What lucky -”

“So this is the real reason we came to the festival. I knew it had to be more than a fun night out!” She looked up at him, eyes dancing. “You can’t fool me, kitsune.”

Mitsuhide smiled fondly. “I suppose not. But a nice evening with you is also part of the plan. This is just the part I didn’t mention earlier.”

Her gaze went back to Mouri. “Who is he? What does he do?”

“Hmm. I suppose you could call him an artisan of violence. A creatively murderous fighter. I almost shudder to think of the horrors awaiting anyone that crosses him.” Mitsuhide’s tone was playful, but he was deadly serious about Mouri. He wanted her to understand this was not a kind soul they were allying with, but a killer.

His little one nodded once, squaring her shoulders. She might have asked more, but Mouri was too close now for further conversation.

“I gotta say, Kyoto knows how to have a festival.” Motonari greeted them with his usual swagger. “Nice as it is, this place is gonna be yer funeral if I don’t like what ya got to say. Savvy?” He took in Mitsuhide with a wary glance and then looked to the chatelaine. Where his eyes lingered longer than necessary.

Mitsuhide felt his jaw twitch and did his best to restrain the reaction. 

His little one took a step back, her face going pale. This only encouraged Mouri. 

“Who’s yer little friend here, eh?” Motonari took a step closer to her, raising a hand as if he was going to touch her.

Mitsuhide stepped between them smoothly. “This is my fiancee.”

Motonari grinned wider. “You brought your little lady to parley. With me.” He laughed, a sound edged with madness. “I like a man that doesn’t respect the rules.”

The chatelaine poked her head around to look at Mouri. 

“My love, this is Motonari Mouri. I’m sure you’ve heard of him.” Which he was because he’d given her that lesson himself. 

“Of course.” She came out to stand beside him, putting her brave face on. “You conquered the whole south but . . . I thought you died?”

Mouri laughed again. “I gotta say, the best part o’ that introduction is the bit where yer eyes went wide with horror.” 

Mitsuhide did not appreciate the way Mouri’s gaze swept up and down his little mouse, or the rise of his brows as he tried - in his crude way - to flirt. “Yes, she is a delight isn’t she? Touch her and you’ll leave this meeting with one less hand.” A crude threat for a crude man . . . or so he rationalized.

“That so? Guess it depends on how many parts you plan ta leave behind.” Motonari threw back his head, laughing so hard he shook. 

The chatelaine interrupted with a polite cough. “If - if I may ask - how did you two meet?”

“Until recently, we were both in the service of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki,” Mitsuhide replied. He didn’t want to give Mouri the opportunity to characterize their relationship, such as it was.

Motonari got control of himself in time to nod, adding. “I slipped out before Mitsuhide here. But I promised him a good bloodbath before I left.” He wiped a fleck of spittle from his lip. “So, out with it. Why’d you invite me to meet?” 

Mitsuhide watched Mouri slide his gloved hands into his jacket. He took out a pistol and spun it lazily, waiting for an answer. “Motonari, there’s no need to play coy. You know why I contacted you. You watched my little drama play out at Honnoji, from start to unsatisfying finish.” He pointedly did not look directly at the gun and kept his expression one of thin-lipped indifference.

“Mind-reader. No wonder people get so twitchy around you.” Mouri shrugged one shoulder, his eyes narrowing. “You want help killing the shogun.”

“Very much so.”

Mouri pointed the pistol at Mitsuhide. “Does it get drafty in that big empty space o’ yer head? I didn’t come here tonight to get disappointed!”

The chatelaine bit her lip and looked for a moment as if she might run. Mitsuhide could feel the way her body tensed, but she held still. 

All he did was raise an eyebrow. “Oh? What part of this disappoints?”

Motonari scoffed. “How ‘bout the whole damn thing? Tell ya what - I got one goal. Just one. And that’s ta get you and Kenshin. Shingen. Nobunaga. Hell, anyone worth a damn, into one big, bloody melee.” His lips twitched into a half smile. “If everyone’s not trying to kill each other, then it’s not much of a party!” 

He gestured at Mitsuhide with his gun. “Ya think I’m gonna waste my time with some small fry like the shogun? I should shoot you right here, right now, in place o’ asking fer an apology. In fact.” He stroked the unlit fuse.. “I think I will.” Mouri pressed the barrel against Mitsuhide’s head, digging the iron into his skin.

Mitsuhide knew his little one was contemplating some mad attempt to ‘rescue’ him and rather than reply to Motonari, he first looked at her. Waiting to see a slight nod that meant she understood she was to stay still. He had this handled. In fact, it was going better than he’d expected. Mouri was playing right into his hands.

“I see. You plan to leave the shogun free to roam, ensuring that your long dreamed of bloodbath remains only a fantasy.” Mitsuhide sighed. “I expected better from you.”

Mouri raised an eyebrow. His pistol didn’t so much as twitch.

“Surely you see it.” Mitsuhide waited a beat, then continued. “The shogun will never engage with Nobunaga - or any of his enemies - in open combat. If he did, he might lose. Instead he will seek to assassinate them, one at a time. Subtly. An accident here, a mysterious illness there. Until there are none left to take the field. No celebration. No battle. Only quiet, pathetic deaths. One enemy after another. Who knows, perhaps he would even target you.”

“I’m not afraid of him.” Motonari’s defiant reply was somewhat spoiled by the nervous way he licked his lips.

Mitsuhide smiled. “Of course not. But your bloodbath will be severely lacking when there is no one there to bleed. A good party requires . . . guests - does it not?”

Mouri chuckled. “Ya got a silver tongue. But it’ll be so much viscera on the paving stones when I pull this trigger.”

“Mhmm. I imagine parts of me would travel quite far. Perhaps spattering the food stall there, or some of those festival-goers.”

“They told me you were tricky, kitsune. But no one mentioned you were mad.” Motonari closed the distance between them until he was close enough to kiss. 

Mitsuhide stared into the depths of his red glare, imitating the madman’s own body language. Gold on scarlet glinted in the light of the festival lanterns in this space of tense silence.

Then Motonari started laughing. His breath smelled of sake and tobacco. “Alright. Ya got me. I’m in, just this once.” And he lowered his pistol.

Mitsuhide watched as the madman carefully wiped down the barrel and placed it back in the holster. His hand found the chatelaine’s icy fingers. He gripped her hand tightly. She was alright and so was he. The gambit had paid off.

“The only place I’ll let Nobunaga and the rest die is in a sea of blood and gunpowder. By my hand.” Motonari sounded certain as he said this. As sure as he would be telling them the sun would rise in the east.

“Then I believe we have a deal.” Mitsuhide knew the bargain would only last so long as Mouri saw the necessity of it. And stayed entertained. Hopefully they could locate the shogun quickly and be done with this.

Motonari gave a snort that might be agreement, then gestured to the candy Mitsuhide still held. “Say, why don’t ya treat yer new ally to some o’ that fancy candy, huh?”

“You . . . want candy?” Mitsuhide couldn’t help the ways his eyebrows rose. 

“Yeah. So run along and get some fer me. The lady an’ I will wait fer ya right here.” Mouri took a step toward the chatelaine. 

Mitsuhide didn’t need to be psychic to know what ran through his little mouse’s head. It was written in her face in large, panicked script. ‘Don’t leave me alone with this maniac!’ The kitsune thought fast. “I am sure I could deliver a better token of friendship to you at a later da-”

“I ain’t asking fer a better token o’ whatever.” His voice rasped and his hand moved toward the holster of his gun again. 

That was the problem with unstable allies. They couldn’t be relied on. Even the simplest things could set them off. Any situation could become a violent one at the drop of a pin. But what bothered Mitsuhide the most was this. There was only one reason for this particular request. Mouri wanted to be alone with the chatelaine. Why?

“Yer girl will still be here when ya get back.” Motonari smiled like a shark. A hungry one.

“Go ahead, Mitsu. Get him some candy. I’ll be fine.” She gave Mitsuhide an uneasy smile.

“I’ll be right back.” It made him feel ill to say it but Mitshide knew it would be better to go along with the madman than to fight him on such a small request. And besides, if he tried anything, the chatelaine would scream. Then, Mouri would lose more than his life. So it was reasonably safe to leave them for a few minutes.

Mitsuhide glanced back at them as he hurried away. Mouri was sitting beside the chatelaine now, almost close enough for his hip to touch hers. Bile surged in his belly. No one should be so close to his little mouse. No one but him. Just hurry up, he told himself. Hurry and get back.

He found a closer stall with the same kinds of candy and picked out a fish for Motonari. Then hurried back. His little one was smiling at the madman and Mouri looked . . . confused. Jealousy burned through his veins in a wave, and he almost ran the last few steps, shoving the stick of candy between the two of them. “There. Your candy. Now get away from her.”

The last sentence was almost a growl, and Mitsuhide couldn’t help the way he reached for his little one. Pulled her close. She was his, her smile and her laugh. Her kind eyes. Mouri deserved to be close to none of it. 

Even as the jealousy burned through him, a colder, more logical part of Mitsuhide scolded him for his rash behavior. This was not like him at all. This display. What did it hurt, even if Motonari was flirting with the chatelaine? Nothing, really. Except . . . except Mitsuhide didn’t want her to be anywhere near that madman. She could get hurt. Not just physically - but her heart and her sweet spirit. He had to protect her.

Motonari seemed unaffected as he took the stick of candy and popped it in his mouth. “There’s somethin’ wrong with yer lady friend. She’s crazier’n I am,” he said around the stick.

“There is nothing wrong with her. She is perfect.” The words were out before he’d even had time to consider his response. This was . . . odd. He never spoke without thinking. Never.

“That so? Cause from here it looks like her madness is contagious. Gettin’ worse from person to person.” He chomped down on the candy, crushing the spun sugar figure between his teeth.

Mitshide’s first instinct was to slap the sweet out of his mouth and break his teeth with a well-placed elbow. But he held himself still, rigid. His heart was beating fast and he felt hot - shaky. Acting now would be . . . ill-advised.

Motonari shook his head and stood up. He addressed the chatelaine. “Better hope yer man doesn’t get tripped up by his love-addled brain. If he does,” he took the candy out of his mouth and pointed toward her with the jagged, chewed end. “I’ll fall on you.”

This threat was more than Mitsuhide could stand still for. He pushed his little one behind him and grabbed the hilt of his sword. “You will stay away from her! If you take a step closer to her - now or ever - I will remove your head from your neck.” The words were a barely audible snarl.

If Mouri was worried about this, it didn’t show. He only smiled his shark-like grin. “Where’d your disguise go, kitsune? Your real face is showing now. Barking like a fox in a trap.”

Mitsuhide tried to get control of his breath. To push the murderous rage in his chest back down. To slide his mask back into place. 

From behind him, his little one hugged his back. “There’s nothing to worry about. My Mitsuhide won’t trip up.”

Motonari shrugged. “We’ll see.” Then he was walking away, swagger firmly in place.

Mitsuhide watched him go, and when he was out of sight, finally let go of his sword hilt. He was shaking. He turned to wrap his arms around his little one. Feeling her warm body pressed tight, the steady rhythm of heartbeat and breath, calmed him. She was here and safe and his. 

“Are you alright,” she asked, her voice muffled against him.

“Yes. I . . . I’m fine.” But he wasn’t. This was only the first of several dangerous meetings they would need to undergo in this quest to see the shogun taken down. There would be more meetings with Mouri and others. He had to find a way to control this - this response of his. Otherwise Motonari was right.

Next: Future-Speak

[ameshowdown]

Ame

Early life

Born as a shogun’s first daughter and 3erd child not much is known about the time or year. She was born a healthy baby with a small birthmark under her lip. she was said to have jewel like eyes and singed dark brow- to black hair. A baby who never cried, and well behaved was adored by her parents and older brothers.

-

Her mother passed away when she was still a toddler, sparking a chain of her fathers madness. Before Ame was conceived her father started to lose father with the Emperor, desperate to keep his honor, social standing and family security. He was easily swayed by Hannibal Roy Bean, searching for a perfect test subject for the Loa Mang Lone soup. But the potion of the dragon was incomplete, faulted and missing a something. While it gave him power, it came at a price. Instead of immortality, it began to age him. Quicker and Quicker, but his thirst for the potion and violence only increased.

-

Ames mother passes due to consumption, whatever was keeping her moralities bound to this world died with it.

-

by time Ame could walk her and her 2 older brothers started intense and cruel training. Both of them perished along the way. But Ame during one especially cruel and deadly training exercise (being dropped into a frozen lake) fire powers awoken.

-

for many years Ame trained with her sword Enbu No Hono, a shen gon wu like blade that increases ones fire elemental abilities, Along with the star hanabi (both gifts from her mother.)

-

Ame fights in her fathers war regaining the Emperors favor.  Ame not only works as her fathers top general but also as a dragon hunter. Culling the species to near extinction. To satisfy her fathers desperate and growing need for the soup.

Ame is a emotionally shut off person, she may go weeks without speaking during this time. She is a perfect solider and never fails. But unfortunately due to living under such tight and traumatizing control Ame is unable to make a single decision for herself. If she is not ordered to eat she would starve. During times when Ame is made to think for herself, she asks the Star Hanabi simple yes or no questions. Flipping it, heads yes and tails no.

-

After Ames father betrays the Emperor her moves the Shogun palace north causing death and destruction in his wake. During this time, a man over in china hears about this, none other than Grand Master Dashi and decides to do something about it. Taking Wu he can carry he crosses the sea. As dojo is fearful of Japan due to the dragon killings. Its during this time that Dashi learns more about the “Shogun no Zetsubo”. It turns out that the people think Ame and her father are one and the same.

Her fathers monster form is that of a giant black dragon. Razor sharp teeth, bird like talons, red demon eyes and covered in spikes. Told to give off a smell of rotting flesh and ash.

-

Dashi learns here that his master, the one whom he gifted the shen gon wu Star Hanabi to, and the one who taught him how to weave magic into objects. Was married to the Shogun. He understands why they call him the warlord of despair.

after seeing the devastation caused by him, dashi feels he has no choice but to confront him. But instead he finds a girl

-

Ames father had left her alone in the palace, searching out a haylin witch over seas to try and “cure” him. He left Ame alone, with the only order to protect the fortress. Here she meets Dashi. Who takes away her star hanabi after it landing on tails 3 times (sparing his life when Ame did not know what to do).

Dashi is sadded to find out the girl before him, says she has no name. That she is only called daughter. And her only goal is to follow her fathers orders. She tells Dashi he will die if he defies him, and she will be the one to kill him. Dashi always the cool guy rejects her logic, and tells her she should abandon a father who cant even name his child.

Then Dashi shows her a vision through the crystal glasses shen gon wu. Were Ame sees her father curing his curse, by devouring her. Horrified she successfully kicks Dashi out and spares his life.

-

Her father retuns and gives her news that the heylin witch Wuya will cure him. but for a cost.

The Grand Master Dashi’s head. He gives Ame the order to find him and kill him. Ame never disobeying an order accepts and sets off.

Ame being born from someone who drank the potion has above human level scenes. Using her adapt sense of smell and hearing she is able to chase after Dashi. But she notices that were the ash once fell for miles, killing the land around them-

it is now spring, people have already started farming. She passes a group of farmers and is outwardly bewildered. But without her star to ask questions she forces herself to not think about it, nor do anything about it. -

after a week of tracking she finds him, and nearly kills him. But Dashi traps her in the Spear of Yun. Draining her of all her powers. Unknowingly severing the link between her and her father. The thing was that Ame’s father was too much for his feeble body to handle, so he had created a psychic link, moving his evil power between him and his daughter.

For the first time that Ame can remember she can think clearly. Causing her to have an emotional almost childlike out burst. But Dashi just leaves her in the sun to cool off. Ame unable to escape the sphere begins to meditate to find some sort of clarity, were she relives her dream of her father. HIs proclamation of how now that hes devoured her flesh, he can regain the power hes lost.

-

Dashi is able to cox this information out of her, after a long time trying. It doesnt actually take a whole lot to convince her to leave her father. And to stop him.

Ame had always been a soilder and choice was a frightening thing. But her instinct told her she could not kill this man before her, and going home empty handed would be death.

Together, and slowly Ame and Dashi formed a bond, he was also the one who gifted her, her name Ame. After a rain shower one day that made him think of her.

They spent a total of 9 months together. Defeating her fathers evil soldiers, saving towns folk, and teaching Ame some martial arts of his. Along with showing her just how beautiful the world could be . (dojo eventually joins them)

-

At the height of mount Yari, they are ambushed by her Father, 10x his last size and decaying all over. Its a grueling fight, pushing both of them to their limits. Ame severs her fathers head with the very blade he gave her.-

after deafening her father Ame fell curse to the very thing killing her father, in a last stitch effort to save her life, Dashi used magic and Wu to turn her to stone, saving her life temporarily. And stone she remained for 1500 years.

[yodawgiherd]

You Were Never Truly Gone ch.9

>>>Read on AO3<<<

This chapter was... difficult to write after the full ending, and I will put deeper reasoning in the end note. Anyway, I hope that you will like it, it's basically plot only ^^

“I’m not going to marry the Shogun because I will be one.”

Those words were supposed to mean something, but they just hopped around inside Kiyomi’s mind before flying out, leaving nothing behind. They just didn’t make sense, put together like this.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I will be Shogun.”

“No, you will marry the Shogun you…”

“No, I will be the Shogun.”

There was no spark in Mikasa’s eyes as she spoke, no hidden smile, but it was so absurd that Kiyomi burst out laughing anyway.

“That has to be the worst joke I have ever heard, lady Mikasa. Now…”, she tried standing up, the chair scraping the floor, “let us go before…”

“Sit.”, this time it was from Eren, and she found herself seated before Kiyomi even realized why, “Mikasa is not finished.”

“She is, obviously, she is simply making fun of me.”

Slowly and surely, the raven shook her head.

“I am not.”

“You are joking, you have to be,”, Kiyomi rambled, “all you ever wanted was a quiet and peaceful life, right? I can… I can give it to you, I can give you that solitude you want…”

She half-raised her hand, almost reaching over the table.

“You never asked to be special, you never wanted that burden on your shoulders. I understand and I will help – all you must do is follow the plan and you can have everything you ever asked for. Please, stop this nonsense.”

Mikasa’s eyes didn’t budge, meeting Kiyomi’s pleading ones without flinching. Her hand holding onto Eren’s tightened a bit, but other than that she remained still, as her lips formed the word the old woman feared.

“No.”

“B-But…”

“Listen, I know that you mean well for me, that all you want is for your country to be stable in this ruined world. You are right in almost everything you said, but realize that as the world changed during the war, so did I.”

Mikasa’s voice was not very loud but it carried a commanding tone, one filled with the inner strength Kiyomi admired.

“Do I want a quiet and peaceful life with those I love? Yes. But that is no longer an option.”

“It is if you…”

“Let me finish.”, again, even when interrupting her Mikasa didn’t raise her voice, “Please.”

Seeing that the old woman backed down, the raven continued.

“I have lived my whole childhood behind walls, believing that we are the only human society left. Then, as a teenager, I fought the titans who I believed to be the true enemy of humanity. As an adult, I was told that it was all wrong.”

Behind her, Eren shifted a bit but didn’t say anything, leaving Mikasa in charge.

“You can’t blame me that all I wanted was a safe and stable home, a place at peace. But the world is hellbent on preventing me from having it, in a different way than before but still a valid one. Even if I and Eren hid, even if we ran from it all, the best possible scenario is a delay in the destruction – with the course Paradis is on, it will end up destroyed. I don’t care if it’s a hundred years from now, I don’t care if it's two hundred, I don’t care if it’s a thousand years. In my life, in our life, I want to make it a place that is open and peaceful with the world, not an island marked for destruction. Because if we can’t make it safe for our children and grandchildren, then what did we fight for in the first place?”

Her fingers squeezed Eren’s between them.

“You are right that I would still prefer to have a quiet life somewhere, but I am prepared to sacrifice that solitude in order to have that dream. After all, I realized that home is not a place for me anymore.”, she tilted her head a bit to the side, a tiny smile mirroring that one on Eren’s lips, “It is something I can take with me, anywhere in the world.”

For whatever reason, Kiyomi had a feeling that Mikasa wasn’t talking about the goat.

“Look, that is a nice speech and all, but why would they ever accept you as a Shogun? It makes no sense.”

“Hizuru fell to ruin while it relied on itself – granted, it was mostly caused by the rumbling but your council did little to unite the country. I will bring an outsider perspective, a new and open book that represents Hizuru in its post-war world. Still, without anyone supporting me I would say that you are correct and I have no chance, but I will have a very strong ally on my side.”, once again, the grey gaze speared the old woman in place, “You.”

“No, you are crazy.”, Kiyomi was shaking her head, “I will not support you in this insanity.”

“You don’t really have a choice.”

“I... I don’t have a choice? Me?”, fed up with this, Kiyomi’s fist slammed the table, “You don’t realize that we are in my country now, and I control what happens with you. The Faceless outside? They are sworn to the Shogun but you are not one yet – if I order them to take you they will do so without a second of hesitation.”

She leaned over the table, fuming.

“I can have you locked up in a second, both of you. Sure, your will might be strong but I can take my sweet time breaking you and…”

“You could when I came here,”, Mikasa interrupted her, “But not anymore.”

“… What are you talking about?”

“The parade. All the people who saw me, both here and the harbor, happy and alive and going of my own free will. What do you think they will do if the hero you brought from beyond the sea, the Shogun’s descendant and the last link to his bloodline, will disappear?”

So this was why Mikasa wanted one… this was why she, being usually a very reserved person, insisted on being paraded through the city. This was why….

“You never told the public about your plans, did you?”, the raven went on, “The ruling council knows, but not the ordinary folk – you were preparing this bid for new Shogun and his foreign wife in secret. So, simply exchange it for my scenario – young and motivated ruler, coming from a horrible was she was a hero of. Scarred by her past but ready to be the one we need in these trying times.”

Mikasa was right too, Kiyomi realized to her horror, the situation in Hizuru was on the knife’s edge already, and if the one bargaining chip she brought suddenly went missing that would be enough to boil it over the point of no return. The peasants would storm the very gates of the palace, just to save the blood of the revered Shogun.

“They won’t accept it…”, Kiyomi muttered in her slump, “They will never let you be their ruler.”

“Maybe, but do you realize all the power you could keep? I don’t understand ruling, I am a simple soldier, I would need the council’s help. I would need your help too, Kiyomi.”

Mikasa saw it, saw the tiny flash of greed in the old woman’s eyes, and that’s when she knew that she got her hooked.

“My help?”

“But of course, all the pains and responsibilities… I would very much appreciate it if you were there to help me carry them.”

Power, so much power that could be squeezed out of this situation. A young, inexperienced woman thrust into a role she didn’t understand. She, an old and skilled schemer. Together, they could be unstoppable.

Was it such a risk to Kiyomi herself? If the council went fully against Mikasa she would bow out to save her face – sure, she would lose some credibility and reputation, but it wouldn’t be too bad. If she went carefully about this, she could express her support of Mikasa’s claim without sticking her neck out for her.

So, then…

“I am willing to give it a try.”, she let out slowly, weighing every single word, “However, if everyone turns on you I will not go down with your plan. You have to understand that the chance of the council going with your proposal is minuscule at best, and if they decide that you will marry instead then I won’t be able to stop them.”

A tiny light of hope flashed in Mikasa’s chest.

“That’s all I ask for,”, the replied curtly, “I believe that I can convince them.”

“Remains to be seen.”, standing up for like the third time today, Kiyomi stretched her back with a pop, “Shall we go then?”

“One more thing.”, jerking her thumb towards Eren, Mikasa gave her an apologetic smile, “Do you have a spare Faceless uniform around?”

“……..”

“Well?”

“You want to bring him to the meeting?”

“The Faceless never remove their masks, you said it yourself.”

“Sure, but…”

“I know that you dislike Eren, but he and I are a package deal, I thought that I made that clear.”

“How do you think that the rest of the Faceless guard will react if you just jam your lover between them?”

“I figured that they won’t question it if the order comes from someone as high ranked as you.”, Mikasa had the audacity to blink at her, “Was I wrong?”

Where did this woman come from? Last Kiyomi remembered Mikasa Ackerman was a quiet and timid woman so shocked by her revelation that she couldn’t even speak correctly. This sudden change…

No, it wasn’t sudden at all. Kiyomi remembered this Mikasa too, she showed during the battles and fights, when the goal wasn’t to speak but to fly around and knock skulls together. This goddess in a human form found a way to project her sureness from the battlefield to her everyday life and looking at the man behind her Kiyomi could guess why.

It took her years and an apocalypse nipping at her heels, but Mikasa was a way more adult version of herself now. In a way it made Kiyomi happy because seeing her reach the full potential was amazing, on the other hand it complicated her own schemes. This Mikasa wouldn’t let herself be led around.

“No, I think that I can arrange it.”, pushing herself away from the table, Kiyomi made her way out of the room but not before shooting a last look at the pair.

Impressive.

It was also smart because no one would question a Faceless accompanying the future shogun’s wife -if anything they would congratulate her on integrating into their society so quickly.

The Faceless guard was trained in a lot of ways – fighting, protecting, dying for their master, and most of all not questioning orders. Normally they only took those from a Shogun, but because there was none Kiyomi, as a member of the ruling council, effectively commanded them. Finding a uniform for Eren “Aaron” wasn’t difficult, and soon Kiyomi was waiting outside of the room while Mikasa helped him change.

“There,”, she pulled the last strap tight, “That should be good.”

“Hmm, I hope that it will be enough.”, Eren’s fingers brushed over the mask, “Me getting recognized…”

“… is not going to happen.”, Mikasa finished for him, “Now stop worrying and give me a good luck kiss so we can go, I’m sure that Kiyomi is tearing her hair out by now.”

It was supposed to be just a peck but she wasn’t satisfied with that. Her hands circled Eren’s shoulders while one found its way to the thick of his hair, pushing his face down to meet her height. And then it was teeth, tongue, and everything until she pulled back, a blush dusting her cheeks now.

“There, now I think that I’m ready.”

Grinning, Eren fastened the mask in place, making sure that all his features were hidden from view.

“Shall we?”

Kiyomi’s scowl grew from anxious to disgusted when she saw Mikasa’s red face, very quickly connecting the dots and realizing what took them so long. For once she didn’t comment on it, only motioning for them to follow and taking the lead.

The chambers they were looking for were in the palace, but with the sheer magnitude of the building it was quite a journey. One that got interrupted, by a man that walked up to them with wide eyes and a surprised expression all over his youthful face.

“Mikasa? Lady Ackerman? Is that you?”

“Do I know you?”

“Not yet, but I hope that we will get to know each other soon.”, a cocksure laugh, “Lady Azumabito, would you do the honors?”

There was a badly concealed pained expression on Kiyomi’s face as she gestured towards the man.

“This is Daigo Sawamura, heir to the Sawamura clan and one of the most influential men in Hizuru.”, a short nod towards Mikasa, “Your future husband.”

He was…. young, about Mikasa’s age, with a pleasant face and trained manners. Someone who was born to wealth and raised in it, would probably die in it too. This man never had to fight for his life, never had to starve or scavenge on the streets for the smallest scraps of food. He might be nice, as Kiyomi claimed back on the ship, but almost instantly from meeting him Mikasa could say that life with him would be unbearable to her. Their worlds were miles and miles apart, and she had a feeling that no amount of time spent together would bridge that gap.

Now then, there was no need to be rude.

“O-Oh.”, Mikasa’s eyes ticked from left to right, “I.. Uhm.. nice to meet you?”

Behind her, Eren let out a long breath from behind the Faceless mask. Jealousy was not a new emotion for him, and having it from someone who was introduced as the “future husband” of his lover was understandable. Then again, he couldn’t act on it, since he was… well…

Dead. Or at least supposed to be.

Unphased by her embarrassment and ignorant of Eren’s internal struggle, Daigo took a step forward.

“I’ll admit, I was doubtful when lady Azumabito described your beauty to me, especially considering that you were a soldier your whole life, but now I see how wrong and stupid I was. She didn’t overplay your beauty, she didn’t give it justice instead”, with a practiced and elegant movement, he kissed Mikasa’s hand before straightening with a tight and easy smile on his lips, “Consider me smitten by your uttermost perfection.”

In a way Kiyomi enjoyed the way Eren’s hand tightened, shaking dangerously close to where his sword was. But having Daigo cut down by a “Faceless” would do nothing but throw whatever plans she or Mikasa had out of the window. So, Kiyomi did the smart thing and stepped in.

“I am very sorry, but we are expected by the council.”

“Of course, don’t let me keep you.”, he winked at them, “I was told to meet you there, but I simply couldn’t wait to see you for myself. I heard so much about you, lady Mikasa, all about the barbaric society that you were raised in, all about the heroic deeds you’ve done in the war - I must say that I admire you, you are a hero.”

“T-Thank you.”

“And seeing you now, I do hope that you won’t be offended when I say that our children will be perfect, beautiful, and will indeed save Hizuru. Me and you, our dynasty will lead this country to a glorious future, and it will start by our marriage that I’m already looking forward to.”, he leaned even closer, whispering but they all heard the words anyway, ”Especially the wedding night, my dear fiancé.”

God damn it Daigo.

“That is very kind, but we have to go now.”, pushing herself physically between the smitten noble and Mikasa who was one bad touch from showing him what personal space meant, Kiyomi forcefully separated them, “Excuse us.”

Pulling the girl behind herself and hearing the footsteps of Eren, who luckily didn’t stay behind to gut Daigo, Kiyomi retreated to a safe distance before letting go of Mikasa’s hand. She turned to the girl, fists on her hips.

“How close were you to punching him?”, she asked.

“Very.”

A chuckle from Eren, followed by a muffled “Nice.”

No matter how old he got, Eren Yeager would apparently remain a suicidal blockhead. Attacking a noble in the palace was nothing but trouble.

“I can assure you that decking him would have done a disservice to whatever you are planning.”, Kiyomi deadpanned.

“Then I’m glad you were there with me.”, Mikasa latched on, “See? You are already guiding me, it will only get better once you can instruct me when I’m Shogun.”

Stroking her ego, huh? Well played.

“We should get going, the council is not known for its patience.”

Crossing one corridor and the next, Kiyomi slowly but surely led them towards the ruling chambers. Each and everyone was holding their breath – Kiyomi in her nervousness, Mikasa while she was reciting what to say in her mind, and Eren because his eyes kept going left and right and searching for a possible escape route if the plan went haywire.

With last few steps they were at their destination, a large door guarded by two men in ceremonial armor. Upon seeing Kiyomi they both saluted and were ready to open the entrance on her command.

“You ready?”, the old woman asked Mikasa, getting a shaky nod in return.

Eren wanted to hug her back then, stroke her hair and tell her that everything will be fine, but such an act would break whatever illusion he was hiding behind. Steeling himself against the mushy feelings in his chest, he remained still with back straight, the perfect image of a well-trained guardsman.

After a few more deep breaths Mikasa’s next nod became firm again, and Kiyomi deemed her ready to face the council. With a mumbled order to the men, the door creaked open and the trio stepped in, ready to lay their cards on the table.

[takoyakitenchou]

can i have headcanons of seijuro and auden, pls?

yus here are some random hcs strewn about my google drive (and the margins of a few midterms lol) 

everything under the cut bc it’s kinda long

Ibusaki Seijuro, fuckboy extraordinaire

height in 2nd year: 5′11 (180 cm) 

weight in 2nd year: 160 lbs (73 kg)

preferred clothing brand: does not care as long as they’re Hawaiian shirts

favorite movie/show: Fight Club

favorite book: Shogun (Clavell)

top song on Spotify he’s on the Kurokiba family plan lol: 3 Nights by Dominic Fike

non-culinary activities: billiards and breaking (pop culture calls it breakdance but that is not the right term)

Sei is the first son of Ibusaki Shun and Sakaki Ryoko. He has his mother’s magenta hair and father’s slate grey eyes

Hawaiian shirts and Totsuki ties. Hawaiian shirts. He has an incorrigible belief that there is not enough color at Totsuki (obviously he hasn’t seen his hair lol) and therefore only wears the brightest colors possible. Sei can typically be seen in the early morning running daily laps around Legislation wearing his prized Birkenstocks

When he’s in the dorm or at Nakiri Mansion, however, he wears turtlenecks and sweatpants (with Birkenstocks)

Cooking in front of an audience is Seijuro’s true forte. He makes an elaborate live show out of every dish, spinning around in his basketball shorts, Hawaiian shirt, Totsuki tie, and Birkenstocks. Sei does not wear aprons lol but at the Autumn Elections, the Nakiri cousins persuaded Auden to coerce Seijuro into wearing at least semi-formal attire but he showed up in a flamboyant flannel instead. Wild af

He started getting into Spanish cuisine after he discovered Dia de los Muertos and the colorful calaveras, and he makes a point of making pan de muerto for the Nakiri-PSD members every year to celebrate the holiday. The only death he’s celebrating, though, is the death of Auden’s sanity (more on that later)

By virtue of his parents’ sake and smoked foods empire, he also dabbles in their specialties but he won’t be the heir to their company (working title IbuSakaki if I can arrange the kanji properly LOL). His max is fermenting sake for gang parties but after the SenAudpocalypSei (Sena + Auden + Seijuro + apocalypse), he starts smoking cigarettes and this is what really drives the final wedge between him and Auden

Sei and Auden stagiaire with the brothers Aldini and they learn how to use a mezzaluna. Extremely proficiently

One night he and his best bro Auden get on the drunker side despite both of them being notorious heavyweights, and they go to a tattoo shop and Sei gets six piercings in one ear. And two on the other. He doesn’t even notice until like six days later when one of the helixes on his left ear gets infected

Sei is the girl magnet of the school, and most people assume that he has like 593 girlfriends (or at least 593 girls that he fools around with), but in reality he’s almost always been in love with Marui Sena, and he’s actually not as much of a fuckboy as his reputation explicity states implies. But rep is rep, and he loves being the center of attention, so he lets the rumors spread like wildfire. And he does have a hoe-ish personality but this is completely repressed as soon as Sena transfers into gen 120 for high school

Sei’s one true weakness is his loyalty to Auden and his affections for Sena. Ultimately, his attempt to keep both on either side of him will serve as a catalyst for the SenAudpocalypSei and they’ll tear Totsuki up by its roots

He hangs out with Nakiri Jouichirou a lot (Asahi’s son, 117th gen and serving as the youngest lecturer in the history of Totsuki) and eventually learns the Crossed Knives technique from him. Jou acts more like an older brother than a professor to Sei and they grow extremely close

Kurokiba Auden, would-be Planet Earth narrator

height in 2nd year: 6′0 (183 cm)

weight in 2nd year: 165 lbs (75 kg)

preferred clothing brand: Billabong

favorite movie/show: Planet Earth

favorite books: Fountainhead (Rand) and The Prince (Machiavelli) his choices were heavily influenced by the Sorina and Akisako children

top song on Spotify: Wonderlust by Will Post

non-culinary activities: swim

Auden is the only child of Kurokiba Ryo and Nakiri Alice. When he was born, Souma and Erina were in that hazy pre-dating phase and so Alice and Ryo were unsure if the Sorina baby would be named Nakiri or Yukihira. They decided not to name their kid Nakiri Auden because Alice would do anything to avoid a repeat of the Nakiri cousins conflict (she inevitably has lingering resentments from being in Erina’s shadow for the first 18 years of her life) but Auden is the legal heir to the Nakiri-Totsuki Group. Obviously, Ryoali had no idea that Yukihira Kaede would end up not even being in the culinary business lol

The only potential competition for Auden’s inheritance ends up becoming Nakiri Jouichirou, who is the only one in the family from the next era who carries the Nakiri name. But Jouichirou is completely disinterested in running the empire so Auden has no trouble assuming the throne later on

Auden’s eyes are different reds. His heterochromia isn’t as noticeable as Kaede’s but his left eye is a few shades darker than his right. Especially after he joins the Elite Ten and gets no sleep (dark circles lol), he looks exactly like his dad but with shorter hair (think Central Arc but shorter). He uses his dad’s bandana on occasion but it only returns him to normal function. His voice is literal heaven. He could’ve been a narrator for Planet Earth.

He’s extremely soft and mild mannered, with none of his mother’s (and his father’s, to be fair) eccentricities. Auden is the most responsible out of the Elite Ten and pretty much the entire cast of the Genesis verse, 92′ers included. He has no emotional extrema (part of the reason why the bandana hardly affects him) and this is a relief for his parents, because it lessens his chances of dissociation and fugue

Auden specializes in Danish cuisine from a bit of a molecular standpoint, resulting from his time in the lab with his mom

In his second year of middle school, he dips a week to compete at national swim competition in Osaka and easily wins. He’s sponsored by Totsuki’s Sports Association and its founder/pres, Luc Tadokoro-Aldini

When he was younger, Auden spent a lot of time with Auntie Hisako, who drilled a whole bunch of medicinal knowledge into him because being a Ryoali child is a hazardous occupation so later when he meets Sei he finds out abt his smoking (Auden thought smoking as in cigarettes but Sei meant smoking as in food) and makes Sei promise not to smoke. It’s their first and only promise as best bros, and Sei picking up cigarettes in 3rd year pretty much destroys their friendship

Auden cuts the sleeves off of every t-shirt he owns, and ripped jeans are kind of his thing. Unlike Seijuro, who at least wears the Totsuki tie, Auden does not own a single article of the school uniform lol but Dean Hayama pretends not to notice

His goal is to be head chef for one of Tsukasa Eishi’s restaurants. This is pretty much the trigger for SenAudpocalypSei

I won’t go into too much detail about the SenAudpocalypSei bc that’ll take center stage in Renaissance anyhow but a vague summary is that Auden puts his career over his friends and Sei completely loses faith in him. Although the conflict stems from Auden’s career goals, it ends up revolving mostly around the love triangle between Seijuro, Auden, and Sena; ultimately they destroy a lot of the Totsuki dynamic that developed under Arato-Hayama Hikari’s tenure as first seat

[gintokissilverbells]

The First Time

Pairing: Kawakami Bansai x Female Reader

Warning: A little angsty and a bit of fluffy/semi-romantic?? moments. A bit of a sad past, but I promise it gets better! I think...

TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of family death and grieving (break down??).

Summary: When misfortune befell on you; you were given a chance to seek revenge against those who wronged you, but you got a bit more than what you bargained.

Word Count: 2.3k

A/N: AAAHHH!! My first request!! I’m not gonna lie, I panicked a little when I got this request. (I deleted it by accident, but hey I got a screenshot of it). Sorry that I took a bit of time. I got carried away when writing this request. It was supposed to be short but I ended up getting into it, and I ended up editing some things out because this WASN’T MEANT TO BE SAD WTF... Anyhow, my writing is still improving and my grammar isn’t the best, but I will definitely edit this out for any grammar mistakes on a later date.

To the Anony: Thank you sweet pea for your well wishes!!! It makes me happy knowing someone out there is looking forward to this request. I hope this lived up to your expectations, or at least grazed your expectations a little. I hope to hear more of your asks if you wish to send some more.

- Mrs. Sakata

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Life has a funny way of turning sour things to sweet, and vice-versa. You never know when the wrong side of the coin will land on top, or when misfortune befalls on you.

You lived a comfortable life as the daughter of the shogun’s top general. Your upbringing and education were of the best quality, and your family were loving and supportive. As your family tradition dictated, every direct descendent of the family’s main branch were required to learn the art of the sword and martial arts.

You excelled at whatever given tasks, and even advanced to learning strategy and war tactics from your father himself. You were the perfect only daughter of the (y/l/n) clan, and the one who was given the hope of surpassing your father’s intellect and strategy. Your growing connections with the wealthy, the politicians, and influential people were making you a reliable future head of the family.

Until the day misfortune befell on your family, and ultimately on you.

The greatest and exemplarily man of your life had slipped up, and he and all of your family paid for it. The man who you called your father was found guilty of treason against the Bakufu by aiding various Jouishi extremist groups with supplies, investments, and most importantly, weapons. The most notable extremists of them all, the Kiheitai. The Army of the Demon Soldiers. By aiding these extremists, your father was taken and executed along with most of your family and servants.

Escaping with only your father’s precious sword, the (y/l/n) clan’s former glory and status had all but plummeted. You were all alone and being persecuted, with only a sword to really call your own.

Then you stumbled on the very people your father was helping with overthrowing the Bakufu. You don’t know what really happened, or how you became to join the Kiheitai officially. It was all a blur, a lot of noise, and a lot to process. Yet, you found yourself sitting amongst the dangerous leaders of the group instead of being forced to death by your family’s killers.

You found yourself quickly introduced into the ranks before you had completely assimilated the absence of your family. It was too much all at once, and to add to it, the mastermind behind her rescue was no other than the Kiheitai’s leader: Takasugi Shinsuke.

It was no secret to you—or to anyone—for the reason of your recruitment. He knew he had lost a valuable backer and spy with the death of your father—and he made it known that even if this setback their plans slightly—he still intended on using you and your connections amongst those who are willing to back the Kiheitai. And you willingly allowed it to happen. After all, the Bakufu were the reason for you losing everything that was dear to you, and you were not going to rest until you saw the corrupt organization burned to the ground.

Of course, ideals are all good and pure up until the dirty work came around. It wasn’t all sunshine and daisies, nor was it easy to work with experienced soldiers, tacticians, and assassins. Being second-guessed, fighting for your position, and defending yourself against the toughness of ral life; you were quickly maturing to a level you never imagined you will reach. Where once you were amongst the rich, now you were there amongst real people, real suffering, and real pain. You weren’t the spoiled brat that was able to defeat your father in a game of war anymore. You were someone else now, and you weren’t quite sure what that meant beyond the revenge you seek for your family, and for your father.

Amongst everything that happened; there was a silent supporter amongst some of the opposition you faced. He was quiet, always hearing his music and seemingly ignoring his surroundings. When listening to something he particularly liked, he will bob his head to the beat and make his teal green hair flutter with the movement. When you first arrived at their main base of operation, he was the one who silently guided you through the Kiheitai ranks and guided you to a new beginning for a new you. Your first impression of him did not go beyond that of a good-looking man and wondering what type music he was listening to. Now, he was a mentor of sorts, and you often accompany him in negotiations and transactions made between the extremists and Amanto mercenaries.

Now, in your current present, you were sitting by yourself in one of the observatory rooms of the ship. You saw the stars pass by you as the ship sailed into the black void. As you looked on, you held the last memento of your family close to you. Scattered around you were products that you needed to clean your father’s sword, and you ceremonially cleaned it with respect and care.

You hadn’t noticed there was someone else in the room.

Going on about your business, the man you thought about lately stood next to you. Looking up in surprise, you saw him keep his gaze on the sparkling stars. There was silence between you two, not awkward, but pure and simple silence. As you were about to go back to your cleaning and maintenance, you saw him settle down next to you after taking off his shamisen from his back and holding the instrument on his lap. At first, there was a pregnant pause before he spoke,

“Have you’ve gotten used to life here?”

It was a random question and so very out of the ordinary for him. He wasn’t a shy man, and he had no trouble speaking, but often enough he just chose not to. You knew him as being quiet and usually did not initiate any conversation unless he found some interest on what he saw or heard. Most of the time, when it was just you two, you will be the one to start the conversation. It was always work related though.

“You can say that… It is better than what fate and the Bakufu had in store for me back then,” You answered as you ran a soft rag over the long blade of your father’s katana.

“­­Are you comfortable?”

You looked at him quizzically, but you indulged him with an answer,

“Yes…”

“…You sound unsure.”

Bansai looked at you through his maroon rimmed shades. His light brown eyes staring right at your soul and maybe your inner thoughts. You sighed, looking away from him in hopes he took the hint and dropped the future topic. You really did not want to talk about your state of comfort to him with his weird interrogation/caring questioning. Instead, you decided to busy yourself looking at the stars and questioning him,

“Bansai-sama, with all due respect, what brings you here? I doubt you came to question me about trivial things as the state of my comfort.”

You didn’t mean to be rude or trying to get rid of his presence. You were merely questioning his motives. After all, this was extremely out of his character.

Without missing a beat, the man ignored your question and repeated his statement,

“You sound unsure.”

You sighed and turned to look at him. He seemed to have not moved at all from the position you last saw him in. His staring became a bit more intense, and finally you gave in after having a small staring match with him. With a sigh, you looked down at your sword and found your face being reflected on it.

“It’s not that I’m unsure. I am comfortable. I have food, a place to sleep, and a roof above my head. There is no need to worry about that. It’s just… I guess I just miss what I had…”

You paused. This is the first time you had ever talked to him about a personal matter… or to anyone to begin with. You were always busy with something else or making meetings with potential backers and the such. There was no real time to worry about comfort, or to remember. To remember what you took for granted, and how much you missed it. 

Clearing your throat, you smiled forcefully and looked towards the man next you,

“Do not worry about me, Bansai-sama. I will be alright. You don’t have to worry about my performance or my ability to complete my duties. I will follow through our goal to my very end.”

Bansai stared back, and for a few moments the emotions in his eyes shifted into something soft before going back to being passive. Observing her as if she was something hard to understand.

Looking away with an embarrassed soft blush, you returned to cleaning your sword. At this point, you were just trying to make yourself busy rather than cleaning the sword. It was already clean to begin with.

A soft sigh came out from the man next to you before he spoke up,

“I had passed by to see if the room was empty. I was wrong, obviously… When I saw it was you… You held a sad expression.”

You almost didn’t catch the last part of his sentence, but for some reason it still rang in your ears loud and clear. A little stunned, you stared at him with a slightly confused face; mouth slightly agape. 

This was the first time he had expressed any concern for you. Ever.

He looked down on his instrument and prepared himself to play it. Ignoring your existence for a moment, he started to play a tune. This was also the first time you heard the instrument being played in such proximity. Almost like a private concert. You were entranced by it at first, the movement of his skilled calloused hands and the concentrated expression he held on his face made him look different to you.

This was different from his usual demeanor.

Finishing up, he finally opened his eyes and looked at you. A little mesmerized you complimented him,

“That was amazing... so beautiful.” 

He widen his eyes and his cheeks only so slightly turned pink, but he didn’t turn away from you. 

“Thank you.”

You smiled a little before looking at the glass window, the black nothingness outside peppered with stars. The silence that transpired between you two stayed liked that for a few moments, and you decided to speak again, 

“Father would’ve thrown a fit if he saw me following his footsteps. He would’ve for sure locked me in my room and tell me to study instead of playing with fire.”

She smiled down on your sword with a wistful expression. Raising it up, you let the light gleam on it’s sharp edge, “He often told me stories of the Joui wars, the amanto invasion, and how he served the Bakufu despite everything... The look on his eyes... they were those of a guilty man in a nightmare. I should’ve guessed his intentions from the very beginning.”

Your eyes started to water, and you let the sword rest on your lap. Biting your lips, you hid from the gaze of Bansai as you spoke again, “He wanted a different future for me... Ah dang it, I’m sorry... it’s been a few months and it still hurts so much... I don't even know what I am saying anymore. Forget-”

His voice interrupted you, “Instead of forgetting... and pretending to be strong in front of a man who also has known lose, you should remember the good and the bad times and let the tears flow. Do not pretend that it did not happen, it will only hurt more and for a longer time than what you will wish for. Instead, take it as the driving force to what makes you now, and what drives you to move forward. As twisted the path is, it is still forward. That is what (Y/Father’s/N)-dono would’ve said, I daresay.”

You were biting your lips so hard, you were sure to draw blood from them if you kept on trying to hold back the tears. A few traitor ones slipped by and finally a gasp for air was heard from you. Then there it was, you felt the few awkward comforting taps on your shoulder. You slowly turned your head to the only other person in the room, your eyes meeting slowly, a small hiccup leaving your lips before...

“... Bansai-sama? Are you alright?... You look... constipated.”

The man’s expression looked like it was in that sort of pain when you know it’s there but you can’t push it out because you think your whole existence will go with it. You know, THAT pain? Well that’s the look he had. 

Bansai looked at you with a dangerous glare as you mentioned it to him. Removing his hand quickly, you couldn’t help but snort before starting to laugh even with the snot clogging your nose.

The tears you tried to hide became those of laughter, and the look that Bansai gave you was enough for you to die down a little. Cleaning a tear away, you sighed when you finally completely stopped.

“I needed that. Thank you Bansai-sama.” You gave him the brightest smile you could and he returned a semi-soft one in return.

“This is the first time I see you smile like that...” You gave him a surprised look, cheeks flushed, but nevertheless you gave him another one. You felt lax, and a little lighter. The hurt was still there, but the pain was easier to bear today than yesterday.

He held a smile as well, not as expressive, but definitely reached his passive eyes. This was the first time you saw him show so much emotions to you, and you felt a different connection to him from the one that had transpired earlier.

There was always a first time for everything, and that time in the observatory was the first time to a blooming relationship.

[annerly-san]

History’s True Path:  Ishida Mitsunari

Author’s Note:  

Prepare lots of tissues and water to replenish yourself after you cry

Contains:  character death, small disclaimer if you’re sensitive at heart.  But if you like Mitsunari’s suffering like what I’ve seen from a certain fairyy’s post... then gg

good luck everyone.  roast me in the comments

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fate never meant to be trifled with.  And history had a certain knack to stay true to its course -- one way or another.

When she had originally been warped into the Sengoku period, history had altered in the quake of her presence and actions.  The great unifier of Japan was pulled from his fate of death due to the actions she took to save him.  A ripple effect translated throughout the rest of the events that should have happened in true history, forming a Sengoku period completely anew from the one recorded in the books of her time.

Originally, the difference in time and the transition to her new life gave her an unbelievably voluminous amount of stress and grievance.  Isolation, ostraisition and loneliness ate at her heart and soul.  But her momentary darkness was illuminated by the grace of the saving words: “I’ll be there for you, and that’s a promise.”

Ishida Mitsunari was the epitome of all that was good in the world.  He was an angel that descended upon the earth, and she often referred to him as such.  He was the first to welcome her, the first to console her, and the first to love her unconditionally as he did.

When she thought she that she loved everything about him, she was proven wrong time and time again.  Each day that they would spend in one another’s company led to a revelation, an insight on yet another part of him that she did not know about.  From his immersion in books to the extent of self-neglect, to his naivety of worldly things that made him seem too innocent, and to his undying affection that arose at the most unsuspecting times, she loved him.  And she was not alone in her affections.

And though she thought that the rest of her days would play out in peace, and that their love would transpire forever, how unfortunate it was for history to turn back to its original course.

The events conspired simultaneously.  

It began with the horrifying news of Nobunaga’s passing at Mitsuhide’s hands.  The traitor then in turn perished at the wrath that was Hideyoshi’s vengeance.  The latter, determined to carry upon the will of his deceased lord, took upon the goal of unification and passed shorter thereafter.  

Spontaneous.  The events which had been wrought out of its destined course cascaded one atop another in order to catch up to a singular date in that period of time.  October 21, 1600.

Both she and Mitsunari were at Hideyoshi’s side when he let out his final breath.  They, alongside Ieyasu, Masamune and some other vassals, departed from the former warlord with the promise to raise his young son to be the next shogun.

And yet, to both hers and Mitsunari’s dismay, they broke it.

“Ah, this must be some kind of mistake…”  Mitsunari’s usually calm demeanor had the edge of anxiety upon it.  “Lord Ieyasu would never betray Lord Hideyoshi like that.”  His hands clenched at the report that was just delivered.  “...We promised, after all, to protect and raise Hideyori…”  He stumbled across his words and fumbled with the report in his hands, scanning it twice to ensure the meaning of its contents.

“...Mitsunari…”

“A bad report.  A misinformed one.  There’s no way that-”

“Mitsunari.”

“Ah, Princess!”  A typical occurrence as he would often get lost in thought and forget her presence.  “It’s just that I-”

She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her head in his chest.  “It’ll be alright.”

Ieyasu always held his ambition.  His painful upbringing and the lingering darkness of his past paved his character to be the resolute and hardened character that he was.  It was something that she knew from her time in the future, as well as something that came up in discussion with Sasuke.

“For now, let’s just keep Hideyori safe and out of Ieyasu’s way.  We’ll still be honoring Hideyoshi to some extent.”

The crackling of paper resounded from Mitsunari’s hands.  “B-but-”

She held him tighter.  “Let’s just keep Hideyori safe.  Promise me?”

Her eyes met his.  For the first time did she see the emotions of torment and confusion in him.  The pain he felt when he tore away from her gaze and averted his eyes to the side to avoid hers.  His face crinkled with hesitation and conflict.

She knew the course of history was already decided.  She knew the fate of Tokugawa Ieyasu to become the final unifier of Japan.  And she knew the fate of Ishida Mitsunari to perish as a traitor to the nation.

She managed to stop history in its path once.  And she will do it again.

“Do you remember what you promised me when we first met in Azuchi castle?”

It was a distant memory.  One so long displaced in the peace of the past, that it seemed to her as a dream that she awoke from and lost in the gaining of reality.

She softly put her hands on the sides of his face, turning him towards her.  Those amethyst eyes of his had lost their vigor in the conspiring of recent tragedies, but they still retained that glimmer of affection for her.

“Of course I do,” was his soft reply.  That all too familiar smile tugged at the corners of his lips.  “I promised that I would always be there for you.”  He gently pressed his lips against her forehead.  “I can think of nothing more important to me than you.”

Her heart leapt.  Despite his constant presence and actions around her, she was never able to still her pulse and racing heart.  “Then promise me that you won’t put yourself in danger.  Please promise me, that you’ll still be here with me.  And be here with me, despite all the things that are happening now?”

He met her gaze.  There was a reluctance in his expression that gave a sense of falteration before he buried his head against her neck and gave a small nod.

Her fingers found themselves in his hair, brushing the silvery strands in small strokes.  “Thank you, Mitsunari.”

“But of course.”

Mitsunari sat in the waning light of his candle, and looked out at the moon outside the window.  His beloved had long gone to bed at his insistence and left him alone to process the according measures to take next.

A single scroll lay untouched upon the corner of his desk.  He need not open it to read its contents for he already knew of what foreboding warning it held.

He, not Hideyori, was the greatest threat to Ieyasu’s ambitions.  And the both of them were in danger.

The promise that he had made moments ago was a forsaken one.  He clutched at the robe against his chest.  The pain of an empty promise ate at his conscience and heart.  It was the first lie that he told.  And the recipient was one that he had never wished to lie to.  Despite his heart prayed that this would be the last lie that he would tell her.  He knew.  He knew that it wasn’t.

To keep both of them safe, he would have to play the offensive.  He never wished to turn upon his friends and had never the intention to do so.  Yet the situation gave him no other alternative.

The light of his candle flickered, indicate its dying light.  His mind was made up.  He had to protect the both of them, despite all of the unbecoming things that he had do.

“I would resort to the dirtiest of tactics… to keep you safe.”

~~~~~~~~~~

“I’ll return to you!  Don’t worry!”  The guilt ate at his heart with that lie.  He smiled at her before giving her yet another kiss.  “I’ll be back before you know it!”

She smiled at him.  She felt guilty for doubting his words.  He never lied to her.  He never broke his promise.  He will return.  Her uneasiness was overridden by the guilt that she felt for doubting Mitsunari.  “Good luck!”

He begun towards his steed before pausing and turning back around to face her again.  

He bore a smile that she did not think she ever saw on him.  A smile barely able to mask the misery and grief he was holding inside.

“I did remember to tell you, didn’t I?  How much I love you?”  He engulfed her in his arms and buried his head in her neck.  He clung to her with an uneasy strength.

She returned his embrace, stunned by the revelation.  “You did.  You said that this morning, yesterday, and the day before.  You’re always told me, Mitsunari.”  She relaxed in his arms.  “I love you too.  Today, yesterday, tomorrow, and every day that exists in this world.  I love you.”

He bit his lip.  He was careful not to let his eyes water from the sentiment of their final farewell.  He knew, it would be the last he saw of her.  This was the last time to hold her, kiss her, and tell her that he loved her.  Before he couldn’t anymore.

“Me too.  I love you today.  Tomorrow.  And every day.  Forever.”  He was careful not to choke up at his words.  Careful to not let her know that this was their final moment together.  

He kissed her.  Fervently, with all the passion he could muster.  Their last kiss.

When he pulled away, he gave her a final smile.  He bid her a quick farewell and turned quickly as to avoid her seeing his tears.  Mounting his horse, he rode off with the rest of the men under his command.

~~~~~~~~~~

The slamming of metal resounded through the dungeons.

“Ieyasu!  Masamune!  Please listen-!”  Bruised hands slammed against the cell of her enclosure for the thousandth time that day.  “Please!  Don’t hurt Mitsunari!  I’m begging you!”

It had been months since she bid her Mitsunari farewell.  But it was only a couple of weeks ago that she found out that he hid his true intentions from her.

Ishida Mitsunari declared war on Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Multiple attempts were staged to assassinate Ieyasu, but to no avail.  As clever as Mitsunari was with his strategies, he was unable to account for the large network of connections that Ieyasu held with various clans around Japan.  Ultimately, Mitsunari resorted to gathering up his own allies to rally against Ieyasu in a war.

When news of that reached her ears, she made haste to meet with both Ieyasu and Masamune, who were allies in this upcoming war.  Her pleas to convince them to call it off with Mitsunari were futile.  Her reminiscence of the past and their relations were disregarded when it came to discussion about making peace with Mitsunari.

They would fight until either Mitsunari or Ieyasu drops dead.  And that was it.

With their unwavering intent and her failure to convince her two friends of the past to withdraw from this forsaken war, she made an attempt to go find Mitsunari.  Only to be stopped by both Masamune and Ieyasu.

They took to holding her captive for her own safety-- locking her up in the dungeons of their castle.

The war rapidly approached and the date of destiny was soon upon them.

Her cries lingered through the dungeons.  Her eyes were dry from emptying her body of water from all the tears she spilled.

“Please…”  At this point, she knew not whom she was pleading to.  To Masamune and Ieyasu to spare Mitsunari, or to Mitsunari to keep his promise to return to her.

His words played back in her mind like a broken clock.  “I love you.  Today.  Tomorrow.  And every day, forever.”  She recalled how he would hold her, in a gentle and warm embrace.  How he would tell her that she looked beautiful and how grateful he was to have her by his side.  “I’ll always be there for you, and that’s a promise.”

Her hand slammed against the bars again.  Red and purple from its abuse.  “....Mitsunari…”  Her chest roared in an unbearable pain.  “You said…”  Another slam.  “... you promised…”

A sudden clank sounded out.  An ominous creak.  The dungeon doors opened to reveal Ieyasu and Masamune, dirtied and dyed in a mixture of blood and mud.  Both held crestfallen faces, and neither would meet her gaze.

She was almost too afraid to speak.  “M-mitsunari…  w-... w-what about M-mitsunari…?”  The thundering of her heart in her ears were the only things she was able to hear.

A loosely wrapped bundle of cloth was flung to the cell’s door, unfurling as it hit and ricocheted off of the bars.

Her angel returned to her.  Just like he promised he would.  But he had fallen from heaven and was plucked of all the feathers from his wings.

The severed head of her beloved, covered in crimson, laid in front of her.  Those amethyst eyes which had so lovingly gazed into her own so long ago stared back blankly into her own.

[myanime2go]

6 Anime Like Dororo

So 6 anime that are similar to Dororo?, hello everyone. So you want to watch another anime with a moody dark tone about love, greed, revenge and betrayal. Dororo was produced by Tezuka Productions and MAPPA, and is the brainchild of Osamu Tezuka- who is considered "the father of manga". For creation of classics like Astro Boy. And for those not familiar with Dororo yet; Dororo is an anime that follows the story of Hyakkimaru, whose greedy and selfish father Kagemitsu Daigo, sacrifices his body to demons to gain power (yes he won't be winning any father of the year awards). We Follow Hyakkimaru has he defeats demons to regain his body with a mischievous child Dororo. Now back to the main topic: So with Dororo over, what can you use to fill that space, you asked and I answered;

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

Episodes 26| Aired April 2007 | Produced by Production I.G Moribito is an anime series that like Dororo follows two strangers who meet by chance, Prince Chagum-- the emperor's son and whose also thought to be the reincarnation of a water demon that is causing drought to their empire, so therefore most be sacrificed. And Balsa-- the kick butt heroine who saves the prince's life during an assassination attempt and later begged by his mother to keep him safe. The same themes are present as in Dororo from the emphasis on the beauty of life, nature, family and the bonds that can be fromed by two strangers who embark on this journey together. https://youtu.be/9I8doA-vYvU

Katanagatari

Episodes 12| Aired January 2010 | Produced by White Fox Katanagatari is set in the edo period Japan, where the Shogunate and samurai are still very active and ruling. And there are many different sword-fighting techniques. We follow Shichika Yasuri--a wielder of a sword technique that uses his own body as a blade. He is also the seventh head of the Kyotouryuu school, living quietly with his sister Nanami. Until he meets ths strategist Togame, who he falls for. She has been sent by the Shogunate to retrieve 12 unique swords called "Deviant Blades", he accept to help her on her mission because he likes her. So their dangerous adventure beings. Katanagatari similarities to Dororo is in it historic setting and our two characters, Shichika and Togame whose continued association on their journey to retrieve the 12 swords, causes major developmental growth in both characters. Making them both better and more relatable. https://youtu.be/nocsfRZxt3M

Afro Samurai

Episodes 5| Aired May 2007 | Produced by Gonzo Afro after witnessing the death of his father in a dual with a man named Justice for the Number One headband. Afro vows revenge against Justice who killed his father for the Number One headband. But there is a catchy on his path to vengeance he has to possess the Number Two headband, if he wishes to fight the new Number One. And even after possessing the Number Two headband, he will have to fight pretty much everyone in the world people to get to the Number One. Because unlike the Number One, the Number Two can be challenged by anyone. Afro Samurai to me is similar to Dororo in it's setting of samurai and the moral lessons, it constantly resounds in us that "how far is too far?" on our path to revenge. Is revenge really done for what is lost to us? or really more for us to find a way to cope with our loss. Are we really hurting anyone but ourselves has we chase revenge? and What remains after, of us when we have carried out our revenge? https://youtu.be/yB8_cdvEGZM

Samurai Champloo

Episodes 26| Aired May 2004 | Produced by Manglobe Samurai Champloo follows three unlikely pair Fuu, Jin and Mugen. Brought together by chance but stuck together by choice or blackmail?, out of a debt to pay to Fuu after saving them from being executed. They follow her on a wild adventure to different places in their search for the samurai that smells of sunflowers. Samurai Champloo and Dororo are similar in the delight you will get in watching them on their journey, it really makes you feel like you are setting out on an adventure. Characters having both minor and major goals they wish to accomplish, which make them more relatable. Both animes have an historical setting and many interesting characters they meet along the way, also with their minor or major goals that make them very human like instead of just 2 dimensional characters. https://youtu.be/Bq-Y6DKnOXQ

Stranger: Mukou Hadan (Sword of the Stranger)

Episodes 1| Aired September 2007 | Produced by Bones We follow the story of an orphan boy named Kotarou, his dog Tobimaru and Nanashi a ronin. Having a random encounter in a small temple, where they are attacked by assassins sent by the China's Ming Dynasty to kill Kotarou but the two are saved by Nanashi. After Kotarou offers Nanashi a gem in exchange for his continued protection and escort to their destination, he agrees and dangerous journey with many twists and turns begins. Sword of the Stranger shares similarities to Dororo with it's historical setting, main characters being similar in both series are young, orphaned and streetwise youth, with a strong and older brotherly figure. Growth for both character, happen also from having the other at their side. The duo feed of each others being, making them become more relatable characters. https://youtu.be/dYGpmgxKpNs

Berserk

Episodes 49+Movies| Aired October 1997 | Produced by OLM / Millepensee, GEMBA Berserk is an amazing story that is hard to know where to begin from explaining it, like Dororo it's a story filled with love, loss, greed, betrayal, revenge and so much more, just with the story more gritty, darker and mature. We meet Guts a mercenary with an horrible childhood, who finds some one he respects and trusts, only to be betrayed and have everything taken from him right in front of his eyes by the person he thought was a friend, in the most gruesome way possible. https://youtu.be/FnbwFiZf9vg So that's my top 6 animes similar to Dororo, is there one you think should be on the list, leave it in the comment section below we are always glad to hear from our readers. Till next time continue to watch anime...... Read the full article

[jonathanraychapman]

My Thoughts on Current FGO

I’ve been playing Fate Grand Order (a mobile game) since a few months after it came out.  While I don’t want to throw out a monetary number, I’ve spent nearly as much money as Touhou or Shotgun Shogun on this game.  I’ve played every event except the first Nerofest - leveling up characters and skills along the way.  I’ve been following the anime series since it first came out and that’s first and foremost what got me into this game.  I play the game quite a bit.  It’s how I start my morning.  Sometimes it’s how I spend my lunch (jamming to music in my car and playing the game to get away from the office).  I often play the game while watching movies or videos or while hiking.  It’s something I can do with my mobile phone to pass the time.

Anyways, here’s some of my thoughts on the game.  This is partially to explain my position playing it to people that follow me and partially to give Shotgun Shogun some ideas for talking to the creators at anime conventions.

Things I like about the game:  

The Flexible Difficulty:  It’s as hard or as easy as you make it out to be.  If you’re in the farming mood you can either brute-force the game with your powerful servants or take your time and use the less-used characters in your roster (with more-casual characters that have fun interactions).  This customization of gameplay is extended - based on the class system and ability to use command seals.   If those archers are too easy, then fight them with a neutral class.  Really want a challenge?  Bring your sabers to fight the uphill battle.  This carries over to events with the different tiers and challenge quests.  I do wish the tiers had some niche or reason to play them for flavor or secondary advantage.

The Humor:  The translations are pretty good overall and some of the dialogs or in-jokes in the game are fun.  Sometimes I wish that - story-wise - FGO would dial things back to scary or dramatic or intense more.  You get a little taste of this sometimes (like Liz’s scenes during the Kara no Kyoukai event - where she realizes what she’s done in her lore).  While I enjoy my Tamamo/Kiyo memes or Blackbeard lolli humor, I want more balance.  The Camelot storyline was a pretty good example of how things should be while the London story was not great.  If you were just playing the game you might not get the dramatic story behind characters (it’s like FGO is just the meme version of the series).

The Art:  I think the game does a fantastic job on the details in the backgrounds.  And I like the different art on the characters and their noble phantasms.  The music is great too (especially some of the event music), but I mostly leave the sound turned off (since non-skippable NP animations get really repetitive).

The Lore:  The lore of the series is a huge part of the appeal of this game.  And it’s not necessarily even done by the game as much as the anime and visual novel games that precede it.  It’s fine for the game to ride on the coat-tails of the story as long hints to character lore are preserved out (and they are for the most part).  I do get the feeling that the mobile game is sort of a meme of Fate moreso than I would have expected.  That might be because half of the events are around holidays and those really are where the game breaks the fourth wall (it’s also mostly what I remember because of all the grinding).

Things I dislike about the game:

Lack of Player Interactions:  The only way we have to interact with other players in the game is through the friends list and guest system.  Unless you know people in real life, this make the game overall a pretty cold experience.  I know the can of worms that having chat would open up, but man it would be nice to let people know what you like and maybe don’t like about their servant lineup.  I’d also love to add different kinds of supports.  I want to share Tamamo for arts teams to use while having Waver for other teams.  I’d like to share my Nero Bride for her skills while letting people use my Okita for stars or for her NP damage (or my Saber Artoria for farming).  A friend can only bring one of your servants (and it’s mandatory) so why not give them more options?

Lack of Company/Community Communication:  So I have watched the convention events when I could to see what’s coming up, but those are far and few between (and there’s been a lot of problems with news being held back because of a convention).  That’s just not how to run things - especially online.  The communication just really isn’t there with the player base and it hasn’t gotten better.  Often the twitter account will post about events that started days ago so if I had relied on that for news, I would be in a bad spot (I’d be a couple of days behind on farming an event).  And the events are kind of odd (like last year’s Thanksgiving banner).  When seeing announcements through streams, It’s like watching the event in another country (maybe because there’s a lot of Japanese and a lot of translating and it’s not done very well).  I get the voice actors being Japanese and I get that the game is natively Japanese in origin, but this is the US market and a US port/translation of the game.  Please get a more-native PR spokesperson that’s also enthusiastic about the game and add more polish to these announcements.

Can’t Skip Noble Phantasm Animations:  I’ve read about this being a purposeful decision and I get that the company wants players to take time to watch the art for the experience (and likely psychological reasons), but after seeing the Arash explosion for the literal 1000th time, it’s not adding to my experience.  And that’s a quick animation.  There’s also the animations that seem to take forever (like the Lancer Artoria one).  I wish that tapping the screen would somehow shorten the NP.  Also, often when the animation finishes, I can barely see the numbers on the damage before the whole screen wipes.  Sometimes I’m trying to figure out if an enemy was demonic by testing it with a NP or skill and it’s just hard to with the NP animation obfuscating things.  It would also be great to be able to see the traits of enemies.  I’d like to know if a skeleton is a humanoid because my Florence gets a buff against that type.  Or I’d like to know if the Skeleton King is considered demonic to use my Rama against.  I know later in Japan we get to see the crit star distribution, but I’m not sure if we ever get to see attributes.

Gatcha System Too Greedy (And the Statistics Inaccurate):  FGO is a gambling game and I totally get that.  The company might not want to admit that too freely out of fear or regulation, but the players know it’s about getting players to spend money to roll for characters.  I absolutely enjoy spending money and gambling for characters and I’m fine with it being this way.  But the rates are just really bad and the side-rewards (i.e. CE/Character cards you burn) don’t justify the expenditure.  I don’t want to dwell on this too much because I’m sure others have called it out, but the game gives too little back while gambling.  When you do a 10-spin and get a minimum roll (meaning a 4-star junk CE), it really feels like you got cheated.  I also frequently have one five-star character on rate-up - meaning I have a 0.07% chance of rolling them, only to go through two or three other five-star servants before getting the one on rate-up (and the chance of that is extremely low).  I know it’s not just my bad luck.  There’s definitely something wrong with the rate-up statistics posted (I’ve just seen it happen too many times over thousands and thousands of quartz).   Also, the banners could be tweaked to let people have a good chance one one servant or the other.  When you put up a banner with two five-stars on rate-up (one of which I don’t exactly like or I already have a NP5 of), it’s not a banner I’m going to roll on.

Farming Materials Too Tedious:  I get that you need long-term goals to feel like you’re progressing as a player, but some of the materials requirements are just kind of ridiculous in regards to the amount of time needed.  When you grind a free node with a supposed 19% chance to drop crystals for 8 hours to maybe get 10 crystals (when you need 20 per skill), that’s just not fun.  It’s also ridiculous when an event drops and gives you easy access to crystals or the rate is now 60% or you can buy 10 from the shop for basically nothing.  It just doesn’t feel rewarding and it makes you have to grind the game when you don’t really want to (especially around holidays).  That’s just too much of a grind for most players and it takes a toll on me as well.  Take hearts for example.  Right now, you can spend a whole day and maybe get one heart from a caster daily node.  So you basically have to get these during events or from their shops.  And there’s a lot of servants requiring a lot of hearts.

I’ll be honest.  I’ve either burned or not rolled for characters after looking at their materials requirements (Tristran I’m looking at you).  I don’t want that character sitting in my roster with low skills and I don’t want to grind it out to increase their skills if they’re just not good.  So I just avoid the whole thing (especially if they’re not someone I exactly care for).  The same is true for characters that just have really weak kits but high-end requirements (like Stheno).

Can’t Really Customize Characters:  I know we get a few some skins/costumes later-on, but more of this would be a really welcome addition to the game.  Maybe just being able to change colors on the outfits or buy skins would do so much to make the game feel more personable.  If part of the appeal of this game is the waifu thing, then why not lean into this area more and make some money.  And if it was implemented, let it be a DLC type of purchase instead of a gatcha thing.  Or maybe it could be a secondary reward for excess servants or gold mana prisms - like something to do with the 11th copy of Fion you’ve picked up.  Every character in the game should have alternate costume/skin options.

[sparda3g]

Gintama Chapter 682 Review

In my last review, I talked about how Sorachi uses time-skip in a very effective way and why it stands out brilliantly. I thought the war would be enough satisfaction for me to endure before it ends. Never would I thought a time-skip that could have simply be an epilogue would have me so absorbed. This chapter is another case of why this direction is brilliant, pumping up the excitement for one definitive conclusion.

The beginning is plot heavy, but it gives you everything to consider, including the main problem. I will separate my thoughts on the characters and the main plot because the narration uses Takasugi and Katsura to explain the main agenda of Tengenism. As a whole, it does create a gripping tale that set you off with thrills and chills. Undoubtedly, it’s as final as it can get.

Let’s begin with the plot. The chapter does recap the last moment with Takasugi stabbing Oboro’s bones and himself to obtain one more chance, and yet it doesn’t feel like time has been wasted. It still feel powerful as before, only it connects deeply with the next phase in which I thought he was about to go on a killing spree. On the other hand, if that was the case, Tendoshu may not have lived. Sadly, he passed out, only to wake up when everything is done.

I am amazed with Sorachi manages to squeeze in the explanation of using Utsuro’s blood for semi-immortality. I was fine with the simple dose of blood equals immortal, but this is necessary for many reasons. One in which is to explain the reason why Oboro was slowly dying. He kept spilling blood. The more blood he spilled, the less time he has left to live. Once the body dried out, it’s over. In short, stop getting hurt or you will die eventually. As for the other and main reason, I will save it for later, because this is where it becomes plot heavy.

Takasugi recites how Liberation Army became delusional with the thought of resurrection and immortality, hence working together with Tendoshu. It amazes me how important are Enshou’s words about the people cannot be satisfied for what they may have accomplished. Its meaning holds significant value for the plot to move forward. In this case, these people weren’t satisfied with war ending if they lost their loved one. This is why time-skip is effective.

I like how Takasugi points out that it was all done by normal people, which wages on the thought of how anyone can do anything. They weren’t special or anyone from a hidden organization; they’re just normal people that would do anything with any mean necessary. They only become different when they join the religion or cult, Tengenism, but the point is how anyone can become anything in a matter of deep desire. That is actually scary.

While it did go in-depth, the info isn’t new. The main point however is the establishment of Tendoshu now back in control; this time, they’re no longer frail or decayed. It’s a clever rebound to make them credible because Utsuro is immortal, so he can fight for eternity and Tendoshu has used up their body for so long. It’s a convincing way to not undermine their prowess after being defeated. That’s why the intimidation aura didn’t fade away, so when they returned, I felt fear. Takasugi tried to kill them in places and he did in some, but the revival was complete.

Tendoshu convinced people that immortality can be achieved for everyone, especially how they managed to manipulate Utsuro’s blood to recover their body. The goal is to obtain it in its perfected form alas everyone will become like Utsuro. It’s a hell of a compelling plot that has serious background that makes a whole lot sense, including why Edo is still targeted after 2 years. Utsuro’s heart is needed for them to examine and get closer to achieve their goal, which is why Naraku is being used further, unknown to the actual agenda.

Now we go into the characters because this takes the cake. Takasugi has gone into my top 5 favorites and in Gintama, that is mighty difficult to achieve. He’s so good in this chapter and I don’t mean because of his six pack. I mean his personality and character’s development has been stellar. I thought I wouldn’t like him this much, but this chapter did it.

I don’t know if I should classify him as a tragic character, but I would prefer not because he has been so compelling and compassionate. Takasugi gambled to obtain a second chance, but time is running out. I was sadden of how he couldn’t accomplish the one thing to do 2 years ago and as his body slowly dying out, he at least has the chance to be sincere and do what he really wanted to do. It’s sad how he spent so much time on hating the world, but once he got his passion and care, his death clock is ticking rapidly. That’s the main reason why semi-immortal was explained. Gintoki’s reaction strikes me hard. They may have conflicting issues and indifference agenda, but they’re still friends at heart.

I love the last scene with Gintoki and Takasugi’s interaction so much. It’s when they discuss about what should they do with their beloved sensei when they meet him one more time. In a very rare moment, Takasugi shows his true feeling that deeply cares for Gintoki. He won’t stop him from saving Shouyou, but he wants him to know that he and sensei has suffered enough. Isn’t that the truth?

What got me emotional struck is Takasugi’s encouragement; thought I would never say that in a lifetime. Hell, it’s probably why Gintoki is awestruck by his words; I mean look at his reaction. Takasugi will work together to save sensei because after series of development, they can do it. He has become so sincere that it’s pretty touching; I almost want to cry. Development is a wonderful thing. So not only we have a subplot with Tengenism but we also have one on whether those two can save sensei or not. This arc or part is seriously amazing.

The problem arise when Takasugi announces their destination. It is Edo. I’m scared yet happy. Scared because that would mean another war at Edo, only this time is more concentrated on a personal level. The objective is to take the Altana, which is another reason why Edo is involved. It makes sense since it is technically part of Utsuro, which would evaluate their research further. Happy because Yorozuya reunion is happening earlier than expected and I cannot wait. This is one family that never disappoint.

Speaking of family, another one that hasn’t disappointed me is Shouyo’s disciples. With Takasugi becoming a gentleman, the family is filled with lovable characters. Katsura is not going to be left behind, even as a Prime Minister. That’s very reassuring. I’m not amazed on how much info he has learned in his position because when he gets serious, he gets the job done. Shijaku may channeled some fans’ reaction on his intellect, but for me, it’s Katsura being Katsura. Once again, I was struck by his wisdom for going so far to learn about Utsuro; reminding everyone that he kept his word about helping Gintoki. The reunion is going to be amazing.

That said I am worried about the way Takasugi and Katsura raise their death flags. While the former seems inevitable though fingers cross on miracle, the latter can prevent it. Still, it’s heartwarming of how Katsura prepare for his life to be on the line, goes as far as giving a farewell message to Shijaku. He even thought about how it would feel to be buried with Shoguns. I believe it’s his way of saying that he will achieve peace for Edo. You can say he’s carrying them on his back, metaphorically speaking, so this holds a lot of weight for him to do so.

I was relieved that the guys that are chasing those two are Sougo and others. After the heartfelt and depression tone, this was a great change-up for a good humor. I laughed at Shijaku’s reaction after building up the fear for their true enemy yet they ruined the momentum. What’s funnier is most of them are after him instead of their prime target, Katsura. Sougo just wants bodies hit the floor, so it’s all good. It’s a funny red herring, though it’s only matter of time when the actual enemy arrive.

The deepest thought that reminded me on why I love this series is the end scene with Kagura and Shinpachi. I love the fact they can pinpoint and understand what Gintoki is trying to accomplish all this time, so no need to ask questions. It connects to their reaction towards his undertone sadness after he chased after Utsuro before falling into the Altana. I love how those small details mean so much in the long run. The one question is asked that I was floored and stunned to hear: what should Gintoki do?

I joked about the meme, “the coolest guy ever” because of how Shounen tend to give a villain a slap on the wrist despite the damage they caused. But not Gintama. They made it into a serious discussion, hence why I was stunned. This series isn’t going to sugar coat anything. Gintoki has two choices and it depends on the outcome of Utsuro’s being. If he kills him, there is no going back. He love his sensei, so killing him again will break him as evident throughout the series. If he let him live, the people around him will hate him, deem him as a villain. It’s him or them. That’s deep; is this Shounen?

I love the end with Kagura and Shinpachi thinking on what to do if they were in his place. It’s a hard-hitting question and with this in mind, it can deliver a powerful message for everyone in the end. As long as there is no copout involved. The one message that is great is whether you are stuck in a question, keep going towards your path because your answer will appear. They’re growing up so fast. Gintoki and Takasugi are back in Edo. My hype is through the roof.

This was a heartwarming chapter with signs of sadness coming soon; at least I hope not. The subplots are really intriguing with a lot of grounds to make it believable. Yorozuya reunion is happening sooner and that alone is enough to be hyped. The artwork is solid with tender emotional reactions. The hard-hitting question is planted and the answer can deliver a powerful message for highly likely wonderful conclusion. Seriously curious what Sorachi has in mind. But in due time. For now, enjoy it while it lasts.

[keptin-indy]

Exalted: Saigoth Gates 52

Last time, Ardor attacked Mnemon during a a stalled negotiation and despite West’s best efforts to save his grandmother, Krait disintegrated her in front of his eyes.  West swore vengeance after the Never Was threat had been dealt with and the circle split up to lay low in the immediate aftermath of their political assassination.

Previous installments

The circle (minus Krait, still in hiding) settled on a more dramatic variation on that plan and entered the Imperial City, which was in the midst of a celebration. As the only two remaining candidates, Cathak Cainen had officially adopted Tepet Ejava and named her his Shogun, making him Emperor by default with her as his heir.  Shashaka snuck into the remaining parts of the Palace Sublime, carrying Krait’s amulet into the private chambers of the Mouth of Peace.  During the Mouth’s daily prayers to the five Dragons, when she approached the altar of Mela, Shashaka activated the portal, which opened in a bright circle, wafting incense and heavenly hymns (courtesy of Ardor).  Through the portal stepped Mela in her human form, radiant and dignified (and actually West in supernatural disguise).  Mela gave a short speech, declaring that she had sacrificed her time in the mortal world in order to redeem the souls of the Solar Exalted, for they would be needed in the coming war.  She further declared that any Solar who fought for Creation against the Never Was would have their sins forgiven and commanded the Mouth to spread this message before dropping a blue jade token with the seal of air and leaving back through the “heavenly” portal.  The Mouth of Peace was awe-struck and made a quick prayer to Mela to say that her will would be done, but since it wasn’t the real Mela she had been thinking of, the prayer instead went to a very confused West.  The Mouth announced the revelation she had been granted, causing many to question this sudden about-face, but thanks to Kes’ quick efforts to quietly stoke a pro-Solar faction amongst the peasantry, little outright hostility was voiced.  The first Solars who publicly presented themselves for the Mouth of Peace’s blessing were actually followers of Ejava’s general, Cynis Avaku, who had evidently been shielded by their patron for some time.  The circle went as a group and returned (some of) the artifacts that they had taken from the defeated Wyld Hunt in Medo, including Peleps Deled’s famous direlance, the Sting of Dana’ad.  Mnemon Antares was officially forgiven for the crimes Mela had attached to his name in exchange for his help rebuilding the Palace Sublime.  In celebration, Naran slept with Kes again, who was much happier now that his nation was no longer threatening civil war.  Naran also instructed his Creation-spanning merchant empire to make sure the amnesty offer was spread quickly and beyond Realm territory.  West asked Kes to make sure the other Houses didn’t jump on House Mnemon’s holdings now that their matriarch was gone, but Kes pointed out that the Mouth of Peace - also a Mnemon - now had a pack of “tame” Solars which no one was eager to challenge.  Official House leadership would likely be determined via martial arts tournament in the nearish future, since so many Mnemon elders were Immaculates.

With the Realm finally (more or less) stabilized and made less hostile to the Solar members of the war coalition, the circle headed back north to tell the Bull they’d achieved a quiet takeover and that he should abandon any plans to invade.  Ardor disembarked the ship like a victorious general and publicly proclaimed their success with the Immaculate Order and their new acceptance of Solars.  The Bull agreed to call off his invasion provided the Realm acknowledged his sovereignty by not interfering with him.  The circle thought that the Bull and the Realm ignoring each other was the best possible outcome and chalked it up as a win.  After some barbarian carousing (and Ardor privately wondering how to get out of marrying the Bull when this was all over, as that appeared to be what he was angling for), they returned to the Vengeance to find a very short list of chapter headings from Talespinner, this time for the West (the direction, not the Twilight).  They collectively decided not to try and recruit “The Dragon of Water” after the debacle of dealing with Mela, leaving only “The Skullstone Archipelago”, which an unhappy West explained to the others as being a relatively new nation ruled by something that was almost certainly a Deathlord, where the undead were a part of daily life.  West and Shashaka weren’t thrilled about the prospect of negotiating with them, but the rest of the circle was curious what the so-called Silver Prince was like, and so they steered toward the Northwest corner of Creation, as far as it was possible to get from their ultimate goal in the Southeast.  Along the way, with more time in between landings than usual, West completed his sorcerous working to make Typhoon into a real elemental dragon, fulfilling the thunderbird’s lifelong ambition, but also making him too big to carry around in West’s anima anymore.

Upon reaching the archipelago, the Vengeance did an invisible reconnaissance fly-by, finding that the entire place was a shadowland and that all the tasks normally relegated to the working class were here performed by mindless undead (leaving some of them to wonder what had happened to all the living peasants).  They disembarked and entered the capital city, Onyx, where both the living and the dead dwelt in surprising comfort, even to the point that the living corpses were enchanted not to stink.  The ruling class seemed to be made up exclusively of intelligent undead and both the living and dead worshipped someone called the Bodhisattva Anointed by Dark Water, who the circle eventually figured out was another name for the Silver Prince.  Naran worked his business magic and arranged a meeting with the Prince the next day, leaving the circle the rest of that day to explore the unexpectedly utopian city: Ardor got herself drafted into an opera performance while West and Shashaka decided all of it must be a sham masking some secret hideous atrocity.  The next day, the circle entered Onyx’s central palace and met with a striking man in a silver mask that betrayed no expression.  The Silver Prince greeted them as Solars, but hadn’t heard of their specific exploits.  Naran gave him the practiced rundown of the situation, which the Prince hadn’t heard about since the trouble was on the exact opposite side of Creation, and he agreed that horrors from beyond crushing all individuality and ambition would be bad for the world (and, by implication, the Prince’s plans to take over said world).  He said that he had an armada he could lend to the cause and insisted that it could get there in time through unspecified methods.  Naran asked about his feelings on the Mask of Winters and the Prince said that they were rivals, but that he was willing to work with the Mask against a common foe, provided the Mask extended him the same courtesy of not betraying him.  Ardor set about discussing the tactical deployment of his Black Fleet, roping West in for his specific knowledge of ships, despite his distaste for their owner.  The discussion revealed that this was no regular armada, but one made of artifact ships to rival the glory of the First Age, except made entirely of soulsteel, which had extremely ominous implications for their source, no matter how affable the Prince was being.

["Mela's" revelation to the Mouth of Peace (written in approx 10 minutes during game: 

My time here is brief, so heed my words and do your duty for peace and the will of the Dragons.  In my recent time in the mortal world, I came to an understanding that the time for dividing our forces has come to an end.  There are forces arrayed against Creation that are beyond any individual peoples' ability to defeat and even enemies must band together to save the whole.  To this end, I have sacrificed my time in this mortal realm in order to cleanse the blight of the Anathema from their souls.  Their dread power is needed in the coming struggle, and those who lend their might to this righteous war may prove themselves worthy of throwing off the stains on their souls.  Therefore, I declare an indulgence of sins for those Solars who fight for the good of Creation, paid for with my own loss.  Spread this revelation to the faithful, that my will be done and our world shall be saved.]

[furederiko]

"A universe without Naga... I can't even imagine it" Can Balance save his BFF, and bring him back into the light? Kyuranger's 31st episode delivers the answer, and it's a tearful one...

- Expecting a utopian present after defeating the real Don Armage proves to be a wishful thinking. According to Hammy, everything remains the same and Jark Matter's reign is still at large. In a way, it also feels that our heroes is losing more winning this war. The team is no longer the 12 members unit as it was with Commander Xiao and Champ being left behind 333 years ago in the past. And they don't only lose one, but seemingly two Orions: the warrior who gave up his life to give Lucky the miracle power-up, and ORION the spaceship that is heavily damaged due to the time travel trip. - Things aren't faring better for the 'Save Naga' team either. Ever since Lucky went to the past, Balance has gone MIA, and both the Blues were captured by Dark-Naga and Akyanba. Dark-Naga is now using Garu and Kotarou as baits to lure out Balance, because he wants to "get rid of him, personally". Ouch! On the opposite side, Echidna is still determined to eliminate Naga. Since this new formation of Kyuranger also refuses to aide her, she decides to do it alone. Which is obviously NOT a wise choice. - The battle between Ophiucus Metal and Echidna is shortlived, but it does get pretty dark. The former now has the ability to take control her body with his freezing ray! Great goodness, he's only mere seconds away from making Echidna kills herself!!! Thankfully the Kyurangers (sans Raptor and Stinger) arrive just in time to prevent that. Pursuing his goal, Ophiucus Metal specifically targets Libra Gold, and unleashes the Black Hole Kyu Globe to eliminate him. Leo Red jumps in to protect Libra Gold... and, the two of them are obliterated. Wait... WHAT? - Well, if you somehow sense the over-the-top "Mamma Miaaaaa!!!" reactions of the other Kyurangers feel... bizarre, then you're totally not alone. And no, it also doesn't mean that the director simply forgot to tell these actors to act. This scene was nothing more than a deliberate ruse! A brilliant one at that. Beside, Kyuranger has pulled off many emotional scenes that were waaaaay better executed than this, so clearly something is amiss. - But seriously, what happens to Leo Red and Libra Gold, then? This is where things get faux-sciency. Turns out, Balance hasn't been sulking or sobbing in a bar, making himself wasted due to the loss of his BFF (unlike... a certain someone I'm familiar with). All these time, he has been actively working for a solution: analyzing the people who were also 'emotionally' affected by Akyanba, and tweaking the Microscopium Kyu Globe as the tool required for his big rescue plan. Last we saw this Skill Kyu Globe in action, Raptor used it to detect the 'microscopical Mothma' affecting ORION's control. With Balance's special add on, the Kyu Globe not only magnifies object, but actually gives its user the ability to SHRINK down into microscopical size! Ladies and gentlemen, Kyuranger had just officially gone "ANT-MAN" on us. Marvel-ous surprise. LOL. Fun fact: the same episode that debuted Microscopium, also had Naga as 'victim' to a supposed-crime incident. In actuality, we all knew he only passed out while practicing expressions in front of the mirror! At the time, it was set as a silly humor. But was that really a coincidence, knowing this episode revisits the same Kyu Globe, while also trying to rescue Naga as a victim? Hmmm... I don't think so. - You see, there's a faux-scientific reason to why Akyanba's victim got emotionally warped. Turns out, she planted microscopic Indavers into their brains, and they messed around with their nerves (remember, emotions are triggered by particular neurons. That's actual science...). Don't get the wrong idea though, Naga DID have his emotions unlocked by the Vice-Shogun. He wasn't mind-controlled, and still accepted Akyanba's offer on his own free will. But at the same time, Akyanba also infected him with the same 'virus' that caused every victims to go berserk, hence the aggressive result. It all made sense! I can't believe I didn't realize this sooner, when the evidence (the civillians? duh...) has always been there in plain sight. That's brilliant writing, I say. - As Lucky and Balance cleans up the Indavers that are twisting Naga's neurons, the other Kyurangers are also able to track their location to free Garu and Kotarou. Now, the 'BRAIN' setting is where things get a bit... surreal and/or metaphorical. When Balance is approaching 'Good Naga' to free him, Malistrate Microtsuyo-Indaver stops him and seemingly summons 'Dark-Naga' to the place. This is NOT actually happening in reality, because the real flesh and blood Dark-Naga is still on the ground, guarding his two captives. Simply put, Balance is fighting the 'virus', or negative conscience that takes the form of 'Dark-Naga', so he can free the body's positive conscience (something like... immunity system, perhaps?) that's taking the form of 'Good Naga'. Get it? - Then again, understanding this tricky metaphor shouldn't really be much an issue. I'm sure any audience would pretty much be carried away by their own emotions, that they don't have time to nitpick or pointlessly analyze (like what I've been doing LOL). Seriously, if you don't feel an inch of pain and sadness or concern as you see Balance taking all the hits, even throwing away his own life to protect 'Good Naga'... then you probably don't have a heart. This scene is heartfelt and moving, and amplified to the optimum when the other Kyurangers (with Hammy as the lead) begin calling out Naga's name to 'come back'. No kidding. Those flowing tears from his eyes? Dang it, the feels. And that flashback of him wanting emotions so he can cry or be angry? Aaaaaw... THE FEELS!!! T_T - Of course the rescue plan would be a success. 'Good Naga' champions over 'Dark-Naga' to protect Balance, winning back the control over his emotions. It's basically a "Persona 4" situation of fighting their own demons/shadows. Naga himself chose to have emotions, so it's him who needs to choose and filter how it would take shape of. But there's one more surprise to the outcome. Naga gets to keep his power-up in tact!!! After the BN Thieves team up to take down Microtsuyo-Indaver (who grows giant... into regular size. Comedy gold. LOL), Ophiucus Silver transforms into benevolent Ophiucus Metal! He then uses the Black Hole Kyu Globe, combining Leo Red Orion's "All Star! In-Finish Blast" with his "Metal Ophiucus Crash" to defeat Akyanba. Other Kyurangers then use their own finishers. Everyone (just 6 members) form Kyutamajin to deal with giant Ophiucus Metal, a manifestation of Dark-Naga's rage that has built up inside Microtsuyo-Indaver's body. The Vice-Shogun walks out alive, but the battle is still won. NOTE: Leo Red Orion's space manipulation to create portals in battle is wicked-awesome to see in action. The scarf/mantle part is really effective to add flare in battles. Even in stage performance, as evidenced by the G-Rosso's theatre footage that was aired during commercial breaks. However, the dearly-missed reunion of Libra Gold and Ophiucus Silver naturally sucks up all the attention and glory. It's just really good to see the BN Thieves together again, am I right? That includes taking the spotlight in that ending sequence. As for Ophiucus Metal, worth noted that it's pretty rare for recent Sentai series to assign power-up to a non-Red member. The last one whom I recall received similar treatment was Super StarNinger who achieved a new poncho thanks to the Gekiatsutou. - The closing scene takes us back to another heartfelt moment. Despite his carefree facade, Balance can no longer hold back his feelings, and cries his heart out for Naga. Such a moving scene. Aaaaw... the feels. Dang it, Kyuranger! Dang it. Echidna witnesses this teary celebration, and attests that everyone is strong because of their emotions. I WAS kind of expecting her to have a more important role, perhaps a twist of her being someone's close to Naga or something. Alas, that turns out not to be the case. I'm definitely not disappointed or anything, but it's still a potential that could've been explored. Then again, before heading home, she decides to let Naga's supposed 'treasons' slide. Since Naga is off the hook, does this mean Echidna has a change of heart? After all, he does prove that having emotion isn't that much of a threat for people from the Ophiucus System... as long as one can contain it to focus only on the positive sides. I wonder if this turn of event will encourage change to their home planet? - Celebration time! Unfortunately, this celebratory mode is not fully shared by everyone in the room. One particular Kyuranger, is firmly setting her sight on another pressing matter: the ORION's condition. That's the story for another day...

Overall: This tearjerker episode had a tough task, coming out after a powerful entry that was last week's episode. Comparison between both episodes, particularly for nitpickers like yours truly, would be inevitable. In general however, I personally call this a success. It had a fine balance of tone shift that wondrously transitioned from emotional moments, to humor and action in between without ever breaking the flow. The 'Evil Ranger' arc was wrapped nicely, and it was crucially tied to the next plot right away. More importantly, the minor/personal arcs of both Balance and Naga that began since their debut, were given a sweet and wonderful closure. The BN Thieves are bounty and treasure hunters, so it's heartwarming to know that the ultimate treasure they have been looking for, has always been close by all along. Balance discovered, realized, and acknowledged that the greatest treasure he could ever wanted, was none other than the BFF he cared and trusted the most. While Naga's desire to acquire true emotions was obtained, fulfilled through darkness, but only made full circle with the selfless love and help of his BFF. The pair complemented and strengthened each other, proving why they were always meant to work as a duo, and not solo. Not unlike Chewbacca, and Han Solo, right? Next week: Story of Raptor & dear uncle ORION PS: TV-Nihon has released their fansub for the first episode of "High School Wars". Word of advice though, you might want to postpone any desire to see it. Do NOT watch it until late October, unless you're okay having the next four episodes (episode 32 to 35) to be potentially spoiled. The mini web-series works as a coupling to V-Cinema "Episode of Stinger", which according to report, takes place around episode 35. So it's probably best to avoid "High School Wars" accordingly as well, at least until episode 35 airs.

Episode 31 Score: 8,2 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: September 27th, 2017 - Version 2.15. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

All images are screencaptured from the series, provided by the FanSubber Over-Time. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.