#Lullaby of Takeda

[merriclo]

anyways i fell asleep to japanese folk music last night and woke up to some old guy yelling about fish in japanese which is a lovely way to start the day

if yall ain’t listening to folk music from around the world you’re missing out

[angelpuns]

Here's more of Yoshi being a dad!!!

Mikey really hates water in this au - like he refused to take baths for a long time. It was a whole thing. Mikey is also the fastest so he would RUN to get away from bath time. ZOOMING FR. Ages might not be accurate to dates since these were really rally early sketches, light right after I designed Yoshi/Splinter :)

uhh Yoshi once sent Leo to the village on an errand to get the doctor ( Which ended up being Yuichi's aunt) because Yoshi was afraid to leave the kids by themselves, but he couldn't take them all ( Raph was also sick and Mikey was too young to be left alone)

YOSHI HOLDING RAPH AND TELLING HIM THAT IT WAS FATE FOR HIM TO FIND HIM AND HIS BROTHERS

LIKE

AIGUHHGHHGHGHGHGH Raph i so importat to me i cry every time

Also Yoshi singing Lullaby of Takeda ( which is an excellent excellent song it warms my heart augh) to Donnie ( he sang it to everyone but for these sketches he was singing to a sick Donnie)

I'm just. sugh. Raph. Raph hearing this song when they're older and crying. I am just thinking about it.

Rural au masterpost

[i-like-popcorn-milk]

A couple weeks ago, I was listening to music and it auto played a song that immediately gave me pause. It was a recording of "Takeda Lullaby," and as soon as I heard it I was hit with an intense wave of nostalgia, and a weird mix of comfort and profound sadness. I immediately HAD to go learn the song, and it was stuck in my head for days.

The other day I went to see my dad, and I asked him if he knew the song. Sure enough, he did. In fact, he used to sing it to me when I was a baby. When I heard it, I couldn't recall having heard the song before, and I didn't have any memories attached to it. I don't really have any memories from until I was around four-ish. But, even though the memories are lost to me now, my brain remembered that song. I remembered the way I felt when I was a baby, being sung to sleep. It's what gave me such an intense emotional response. Music sticks, even when the other things don't. And I think that's just so cool.

My dad's father also sang it to him when he was young. His father sang it to him. And so it goes, for generations back--likely for the last 200-400 years. I don't know the names of any of my ancestors before my grandparents' generation. I don't know what they did, where they came from, what kinds of people they were. I've met my grandparents once in my entire life, and I was only two years old at the time. I was born and raised on the other side of the world. I don't know which of my ancestors first heard the song, or which of them it was sung to first, or even if one of them knew the person who wrote the song in the first place. But I know this song that they sang to their children, and that was sung to them. I know how it feels to hear it, to sing it, to play it. I know this song, even as removed from my culture and my history as I am. Oral traditions have power. Oral traditions stick. And I think that's just so cool.

[runningfrom-responsibility]

Curly stares for a few moments. He's singing to him. It... was silly, but comforting, in a way. Daisuke always found the weirdest ways to make people feel better, he noted.

He didn't understand a word of Japanese, other than a few phrases he remembered, but the melody was soothing. Curly couldn't exactly sleep, considering his lack of eyelids, but he could certainly rest his body and mind for a bit. So, that was what he did. He shifted, staring up at the ceiling as his once fixated gaze became unfocused. The words meshed into a faraway voice.

For the first time in a while, Curly felt at peace. He wondered if Daisuke felt that way, too, at least for a little while.

((you dont have to reply with a longass message too,, I just like to set the scene and stuff!! ^_^))

Today seemed off in a new way.

Most things looked the same, with one key difference; Captain Curly was nowhere to be seen. With nowhere else to look, the medbay was the last room to check. Thankfully, the door was unlocked.

All one could be met with was a man- if you could call him that- laid down, one bulging eye moving to the door once he heard someone open it. Oddly enough, he looked relieved at the sight of someone entering.

--(@runningfrom-responsibility)

Daisuke stares at the... man, hunk of bandaged flesh, whatever. The sight makes him sick, the gore, the pain. He approaches the bed hesitantly. His hands hover uncertainly near the patient, not sure if contact would cause him pain.

What happened to you? Are... are you... Curly?

This is a dream. It must be. He pinches himself.

It isn't.

[tgrailwar-zero]

Tries humming “Lullaby of Takeda”

ALTER-EGO: "Ah… I heard an insect chirp… don't stop, louder. LOUDER, I said. So I can find you and pick you up by your wings."

Her voice rumbled through the air, delicate and feminine yet also deafening and venomous.

You felt the air grow tense as the other Servants ducked lower into the brush, weapons at the ready.

THRUD: "The gýgr is more perceptive than I though. We'll have to keep our voices low."

[sasorikigai]

🛀🧸👿 ( for both canon and modern verses )

sleepy headcanon questions || @sonxflight || accepting

🛀 What does their bedtime routine look like?

Canon: Hanzo rather keeps it simple with the mix of relaxation/mindfulness, hygiene, and muscle relaxation routines. He likes to focus on winding down the mind and body before sleep, and does activities such as taking a warm bath, practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation, or reading a book. Obvious hygiene routine such as brushing teeth, washing face, and changing into a simple robe will most definitely follow. When Hanzo was happily married with Harumi and had Satoshi, Hanzo would almost always read his son bedtime stories, talk about the day, and sing lullabies. With Harumi, the couple would often use calming scents like lavender to massage and gently stretch each other and cuddle. He also used to drink chamomile tea to further promote relaxation and better sleep.

Modern: Not that he is unconcerned with his bedtime routines and his general hygiene, but as his schedule is unpredictable and very inconsistent at times, he often will forgo all the mix of routines aforementioned and simply prefer to get as much shuteye as possible. When he has ample time, he will most likely engage in simple stretches, perhaps even go out for a light jog or lift before unwinding for rest. Other than that, when his profession demands him of such, he will frequently carry his work even to bed, engaged in reading, creating reports, and even being on call in the middle of his rest. But more often when exhaustion hits, Hanzo will simply pass out on the couch or even the floor with either his work attire or in his boxer briefs.

🧸 Do they sleep holding anything? E.g. a pillow, a stuffed toy, etc.

Canon: Since Hanzo isn't really attached to having material things, and he gets just enough sleep to function enough (as Shirai Ryu Grandmaster, he is often the last to slumber and the first to rise at the crack of dawn), he will sleep even without the comfort of having a pillow or a blanket at times. Although he used to place such vehement sentimental value over Satoshi's stuffed teddy bear (a HC I have drawn from Scorpion's MK11 'Friendship' fatality), he no longer holds it or cradles it as if the teddy bear was the manifestation of Satoshi Hasashi as he has let this go. Takeda Takahashi used to have it until he saw no need for it, so it is being passed through generations, passed onto the newborns of the Shirai Ryu as Hanzo has the most experience raising a kid (or two).

Modern: Unless he has his significant other, nothing in particular other than his sanity.

👿 Has your muse ever suffered from sleep paralysis?

Both: Since Hanzo suffers severely from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which is one of the prominent causes of sleep paralysis, he has frequently experienced sleep paralysis as well. He is more susceptible to experiencing sleep disturbances because of his trauma-related stress and anxiety, which can disrupt his normal sleep patterns and increase the likelihood of experiencing sleep disturbances. While Hanzo has no problem lulling himself to sleep, whenever he has sleep paralysis, he cannot seem to wake up from his nightmarish visions that engulf him whole. He often feels paralyzed and cannot seem to let himself awake, or feel palpitations and feel the sensation of pressure on his chest or having difficulty breathing.

[kuwajima]

21 and 22 🇺🇲🇺🇲‼️‼️‼️‼️

21. Do you listen to music as you write?

Sometimes! I have certain “get stuff done” playlists, and right now I’m really into the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack? It’s not inspiring my fics or anything but whenever I hear a song from it I feel like I must finish a few paragraphs at least. Unfortunately my taste in music is pretty strange but not in an indie sort of way.

22. If you had to assign a theme song to [fic title], what would it be?

This might be cheating, and I don’t think I actually mentioned this by name in Once More, With Feeling but the song Zenitsu is singing to himself is the Takeda Lullaby. Because that comes up so often, I’d say that’s the theme song.

[kaito-yuki]

Timeline [Fairy Tail, Kaito & OCs]

Date: Event character(age) // comment + events will diverge depending on verse & ship + (potential) FT manga/anime spoilers below!

Unknown: // 400 years ago

Yukimura Village is sacrificed to summon/release the ice demon Cyros

Kaito is found by the Ice Dragon Eiselogia and is raised as his son

Eislogia actually fought with another ice dragon over Yukimura village

Kaito is sent into the future (paired up with Wendy)

X765: Kaito is the same age as Erza/Mira/Jellal/Lyon X766: Gray/Cana/Elfman/Elfman are born - 1 year younger X767: Lucy/Juvia/Lisanna/Levy are born - 2 years younger X772: Kaito(7) is found by Ul and taught Ice Make Magic // optional + Kaito(7) is found by Makaorv at Mt Hakobe and joins FT X773: Kaito(8) finds (Exceed) Shiro’s egg and it soon hatches + Lyon trains under Ul X774: Gray(8)’s family is killed by Deloria, trains under Ul, joins FT X776: Kaito/Erza(11) escape the Tower of Heaven and joins Fairy Tail // Ice God Slayer AU, Erza ship X777 Jul 7: Eiselogia and other dragons disappear + Natsu is found by Makarov and joins Fairy Tail X779: S Class Trials: Kaito (almost) kills a participant + Kaito(14) leaves FT to train under wind mage Hayate Sorata X780: Erza(15) is promoted to S class mage X781: Mira(16) is promoted to S class mage + Kaito(16) returns from training, but has become an angsty teen X782: Mystogan is promoted to S class mage X783: Kaito(18) grows up (emotionally) after spending time with his uncle Tatso Sorata, returning to Fairy Tail - Dec 15: Kaito(18) is promoted to S class mage // vs. Mest

X784 Jul  2: Lucy(17) joins Fairy Tail and meets Kaito(18) X774 Jul 10: Kaito(19)’s Birthday - Lullaby Arc: ? - Galuna Island Arc: Kaito meets Lyon - Phantom Lord Arc: Kaito while out on an S Class job, defeats Phantom Lord’s subdivisions on his way back (with/instead of Mystogan) Tower of Heaven Arc: ? X784 Oct 15: Kaito(19) joins Laxus’ Battle of Fairy Tail - Orocion Seis Arc: Kaito meets Blue Pegasus member, (OC) Hiroshi Takeda - Edolas Arc: Kaito meets his counterpart, Kaito Snow X784 Dec 15: Fairy Tail’s S Class Trial begins then is cancelled // optional 7 year aging during timeskip, trapped on Tenrou Island

X785: Macao becomes Master + Bisca and Alzack get married X790: Kaito (with Yukino) join Sabertooh // Sabertooth AU, Yukino ship + Kaito meets Sabertooth member Toshiro Yurei // Sabertooth AU XX91 April: Fairy Tail members return + Kaito trains for the Grand Magical Games X791  - Jul 01: - Grand Magical Games begin - Jul 07 - Final Day of Grand Magical Games + Kaito is defeated by Gray // Sabertooth AU, Minerva ship + Kaito is defeated by Kagura // Sabertooth AU, Kagura ship - Sun Village Arc: ? - Tartarus Arc: Kaito confronts the ice demon Cyros - 1 year timeskip: Kaito goes to train or joins the Magic Council X792 - Jul 1-7: Grand Magical Games, Natsu returns - Sep: Alvarez War Arc + Kaito's SO is killed in battle by Gra + Katio becomes like Future Rogue // Dark Future AU X792 - Sep: 100 year quest + (optional): Kaito already has his (first) child with his SO

[agnieos]

Lullaby of Takeda [Takeda No Komoriuta], Japanese Folk Song - The Red Bi...

[merriclo]

fukuzawa for the ask game?

YAY OMG MY MIDDLE AGED MAN !!!!!

favorite thing about them

his patience. it’s such an integral part of his character, and it’s what allowed him to bond so closely with Ranpo and the other members of the Agency. plus i love getting to read his internal monologue in Untold Origins as Ranpo annoys the shit out of him and he forces himself to remain calm. that one post that said just like courage isn’t the absence of fear, but moving forward despite it, patience isn’t the absence of annoyance, but remaining kind despite it. him fr

least favorite thing about them

there really isn’t anything i dislike about him. he’s very well written, and most of his flaws are part of his character development. i guess if i had to pick something, it’d be the distance he keeps with his employees. he doesn’t share much with them, and it results in him being revered a bit more intensely than i’d prefer. then again i am biased bc i love found family ADA so fucking much. stop being a heavily respected figure and get your ass out there and be a mother.

favorite line

“I could no longer tell whether I was murdering for my country, or simply for the moment of the kill.”

IT’S??? SUCH A GOOD FUCKING LINE????? when i initially watched his backstory unfold, i really hadn’t expected it to be as intense as it was. this moment is also such a good example of how strong he is mentally. if my memory stands correct, there’s only four characters who stopped killing: Odasaku, Dazai, Akutagawa, and Fukuzawa. of the four, only Fukuzawa stopped entirely of his own volition. the others were influenced by another person (Odasaku by Natsume, Dazai by Odasaku, and Akutagawa by Atsushi.) i’m not saying that it makes any of their own decisions less significant, just saying that it’s fascinating how Fukuzawa was so,, alone in his own redemption, for lack of better terminology. i could rant about this for years but im gonna shut up now

brOTP

i think he and the Café Uzumaki manager are decent friends. other than that, i like to think that he and Haruno are also good friends.

OTP

I’m sorry guys i’m such a sucker for FukuFuku. what do you mean that Fukuchi’s the man Fukuzawa trusts the most in this world. wdym. i’m gonna sob they mean so much to me.

i also fuck w FukuMori but in a “we’re divorced even tho we never got married” kinda way. they met for the very first time and Natsume made them fill out divorce papers

nOTP

there’s so many. anything with him and a member of the Agency, but the most common i see are FukuRan and Fukuzawa/Haruno. fucking nasty

random headcanon

when he was younger, all the grammies absolutely adored him. they thought he was such a sweet young man. Fukuchi has so many stories from their teenage years of them getting stopped mid-outing because the grammies wanted to dote on him.

also would i get flamed for saying trans Fukuzawa

unpopular opinion

HE IS NOT AN OLD MAN HE’S 45 HE’S MIDDLE AGED. HE DOES NOT YET PARTAKE IN OLD MAN YAOI.

song i associate with them

older by Isabel LaRosa WHO SAID THAT. anyways i associate my favorite lullaby with him, Takeda No Komoriuta. it has no lyrical parallels to him, but every time i listen to Japanese Folk songs, my mind always wanders back to him, and this is my favorite of them!!

favorite picture of him

so funny you think i’m only choosing one

in conclusion i’m normal about this middle aged man

[ask-kanetsugu-naoe]

Fine.

*sings you a lullaby*

Mori mo iyagaru bon kara saki nya

Yuki mo chiratsukushi ko mo naku shi

Bon ga kita tote nani ureshikaro

Katabira wa nashi obi wa nashi

Kono ko you naku mori wo baijiru

Mori mo ichinichi yaseru yara

Hayo mo yukita ya kono zaisho koete

Mukou ni mieru wa oya no uchi

Mukou ni mieru wa oya no uchi

~Takeda lullaby

Oh how I wish he would sing for me... I want to hear his singing voice once in my life 👉🏻👈🏻🥺😳 @ask-kanetsugu-naoe

[genesisrose74]

𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 • 𝘴. 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢

a/n: the title kinda sucks but i promise the actual fic does not! going back to my shoyo loving roots on this one to write something sweet and indulgent, but this time it’s third year hinata! the story has some manga spoilers referencing the timeskip, but otherwise it’s a ton of fluff without any necessary warnings lol. hope it’s a good read! <3

pairing: hinata shoyo x (fem!) reader

warnings: hq manga timeskip references

words: 3218

The softest of breezes lifted a handful of sakura petals into the air, whisking the cherry pink flowers into a swirling dance that soon laid each one to rest onto the plush grass of Karasuno’s school grounds. Spring had arrived in full force on that sunny afternoon, one in which students of all grades delighted, flocking to the courtyard for lunch after such a long and dreary winter.

While it had taken some time for the greenery of the surrounding community to thrive after the harsh season’s end, the vibrancy that two week’s time delivered made up for the wait. Even then, Shoyo Hinata could hear the distant chirping of tree sparrows as they bickered back and forth. He couldn’t be more welcoming of the sound.

Practice for the day wouldn’t begin until later on — much later than usual, in fact, that the student had ample time to relax beforehand. Takeda was adamant about getting more game experience before the Interhigh Preliminaries came around, and a last minute scrimmage scheduling was evidence enough of his commitment. As a result, the team was instructed to stick around campus if they could, and wait until their matchup for the day could arrive to play.

Impatient as the boy could get in regards to volleyball, Hinata expressed little exasperation with the practice delay this time around. He could live with such a thing so long as he got solid experience from the upcoming scrimmage, and the weather was just right to wait around in without much complaint. What good timing for a change in season.

On a barely elevated, gently sloping hill of grass near the outskirts of school, Hinata found himself in one of the best spots on campus after the final toll of the school bell. Its placement allowed a stellar view of the school’s western courtyard and the accompanying baseball field, the former of which always happened to have students roaming around within. A single cherry blossom tree sat atop it all, with a curving trunk that basked students in its shade whilst fully bloomed. Unsurprisingly, it was a popular location for classic declarations of love to take place on Karasuno High’s grounds. On sunny spring days exactly like this, though, it was simply easy to pick up the clinking of metal bats against cowhide covers, synced almost rhythmically with the song of the sparrows lining nearby trees, and the incessant chirping of cicadas alongside them. Baseball never failed to be popular in the prefecture, it seemed.

Shoyo took everything in with a contented sigh, amber eyes fluttering closed for a moment as he listened to the near-indiscernible chatter of fellow schoolmates. It wasn’t until you shifted against him that his gaze fell to his lap, focus falling to your sleeping figure as you murmured something unintelligible.

The enthusiastic ginger had easily roped you into his break time at the end of the school day, taking advantage of your club meeting’s cancellation and promising a ride home that evening if you stuck around with him. You’d merely laughed at his eagerness when he cornered you during homeroom to pitch the idea, pointing out that you didn’t need any coercion to take up the offer. His elation at your words made the agreement all that sweeter, though.

It took no more than twenty minutes after arriving on the hill that you had fallen asleep against his chest, the familiar and steady beat of Shoyo’s heart in your ear acting like a soothing lullaby. He had taken up such a comfortable spot leaning against the sakura tree that you couldn’t resist cozying up with him, the third year having opened his arms to wrap you in a hug. While you were able to hold conversation for a while — test score this, best friend that, lunch spread whatever — it was clear as the l afternoon sky that you were dozing off.

With a fond smile and a hum of acknowledgment from your boyfriend, he helped the nap along by playing with loose strands of your hair, endearment swimming abundant in his eyes as your sentences trailed into mere murmurs.

“You’re so cute,” was all you could recall him saying before slipping into unconsciousness, a lopsided smile shining through his tone and lovingly guiding you into the world of dreams. Even after half an hour, the boy never faltered in his subtle affections, letting his fingers scratch gently against your scalp as he listened to your steady breaths. The faint smile that danced on your lips in slumber made him feel more fulfilled than any achievement ever could.

Another swell of wind caressed the Miyagi countryside, loosened pink perianths dwindling from their place on swaying branches and resting soundlessly around your relaxed figures. Shoyo observed with a giggle as a stray petal found its way onto the crown of your head, and he determined internally that the sight was too good to change, letting it sit for however long it stayed along your hairline. If it weren’t for the fact that you’d stir at any major movement, the boy would have grabbed the phone in his back pocket to snap a photo before it sailed away on the breeze.

Although, he didn’t have to wait long for another interruption to take its place.

“Shoyo!” a sweet voice resounded through the otherwise stilled air, clearly having spotted him from across the way. A snapshot of short blonde hair, not to mention the familiarity of her voice alone, was enough to notify Shoyo of Yachi’s appearance as she crossed the clearing from courtyard to hillside.

The third year simply glanced at you with a relieved sigh, glad that you’d yet to wake from the unexpected appearance. As his classmate approached and finally made note of your sleeping form in his lap, he slowly put a finger to his lips — a subtle indication that Yachi acknowledged in stride.

She mouthed a small ‘sorry!’ as she shuffled towards you both, an apology that Hinata waved off nonchalantly as she crouched down beside him.

“It’s okay,” he whispered back, tilting his head a fraction to show she was alright to talk—albeit quietly. “What’s up?”

The Karasuno manager gestured behind her, pointing in the direction of the team’s practice gym. “The first years want a key inside to get serve reps before the scrimmage. I usually have mine to give, but I remember you used it last night to lock up.”

It only took a second of registration for Shoyo to become painfully aware of the keys sitting heavy in his pocket — right next to the phone he’d thought about just moments earlier. There was little chance of him handing over the tiny (and ridiculously loud) things without disturbing you, but it looked as though this time he didn’t have much of a choice.

“If it’ll wake her up, then don’t worry about it!” she added hastily, seeing the hesitance flit across his face. “I can track down Tadashi when he gets back from Ukai’s store and grab his.”

The middle blocker simply shot her a kind smile. “That’s sweet of you, Yachi, but it’s alright. Probably time for me to head over there anyways, so I’ll wake Sleeping Beauty here and we’ll meet you with the key on the way.”

“You sure?” she persisted.

“Mhm! I’ll make it up to her.”

Yachi let out a faint laugh at that, nodding as she stood up and brushed herself off. “Well then, I’ll see you both in a minute.”

He gave a wave goodbye as she turned away, before looking down once more to find the object of his affections. You’d barely shifted from your initial spot against him throughout the conversation, although your head had moved ever-so-slightly to nuzzle against his uniform shirt. Hinata felt a pang in his heart at the thought of having to rouse you into consciousness — and the manner in which your cheek had smooshed adorably against his chest was just tempting him to stay a couple minutes longer. Yet, with a silent groan, he noted that practice was around the corner and his underclassmen likely needed to let out some pre-match nerves; the decoy knew the latter from experience.

Reluctantly, Shoyo began to nudge your shoulder gently, his unoccupied hand coming up to brush away the stray petal still in your hair. Your nose scrunched up with the change, although the student observing from above could see that drowsiness still pulled at you heavily. It was going to take a bit more than a meek shake to get you up.

“Angel,” your boyfriend cooed softly, hands moving to run up and down the sides of your arms, “break time’s over.”

“Hmgh…five more seconds. Or hours,” you groaned wearily.

“As much as I’d love that, practice is soon. Gotta let the first years warm up.”

Pushing yourself up against his shoulders, you could not have been a more captivating sight to the teen in front of you. It took a few attempts at blinking before a sea of springtime colors gained full clarity in your gaze, but at last you were met with a lazily grinning, copper-haired, completely enamored boy, one who seemed to hold the entire world in his grasp at that very moment.

“Hello,” you hummed, smiling as you raised a hand to cup his face.

Shoyo leaned into your touch without a second thought. “Hi.”

“How long was I out?”

“Mm, ‘bout a half hour.”

“Oh, wow.”

He laughed wholeheartedly at your surprise, observing how some embarrassment seeped into your tone at the information.

“I’m sorry, Sho,” you sighed, “I didn’t mean to just pass out like that.”

“Don’t apologize,” he reassured, sending you a comforting smile. “I should be asking for your forgiveness, really, since I woke you up and all.”

“Well since you have practice, I’m choosing to say we’re even.”

Finally gaining the willpower to stand up and make way for your boyfriend to follow suit, you held out a hand to him as he steadied himself on the grass. He happily engulfed your outstretched palm with his own, immediately swinging your interlocked fingers back and forth in a childish manner.

You silently realized how big of hands he had - he’d grown so much since first year, but he still maintained that familiar, radiating warmth everywhere he went. How the hell was that?

“You think the rest of the team is already there?” you pondered aloud, starting the walk towards the volleyball gymnasium.

Shoyo shook his head, step-for-step beside you. “Nah. Yachi said Yamaguchi was at Ukai’s, and I doubt Tsukishima stuck around without him.”

“Kags?”

“He’s always early — the damn perfectionist. Doesn’t even have a key, but he’s never not waiting around nearby.”

Your giggle rang through the air. “Constantly committed, as usual. Sounds like someone else I know.”

The third year beside you rolled his eyes, scoffing at the comparison. “Yeah, but I’m the cooler one.”

“Oh really? Why is that?”

“Cause I don't look like some stalker sitting outside the gym every day. And I have a funner position. And I’ve got a super pretty, mega smart girlfriend. That’s basically unbeatable.”

You couldn’t help snorting. “I’m glad to be held in such high regards.”

Shoyo hummed happily at the sound of your amusement cutting through the serenity of the beautiful springtime day. His hand unconsciously squeezed your own as he thought about your final school year together, imagining all the little memories to be made before graduation. Without even registering it, he had started thinking beyond the possible high school memories, branching off to future hypotheticals in which he could picture you so clearly.

Brazil was apparently gorgeous year-round. You could come by every few months. Or weeks. Or days. You’d been so supportive of him that it only felt right to have you visit often. He wondered how much more beautiful you’d make the beaches look in the summertime. Could you surf? Maybe you could teach him if you did. What did the internet say were the best spots to visit in Rio again? He’d have to—

He was drawn so deep into those glimmering little daydreams that he nearly didn’t pick up the sound of your voice.

“You got a petal in your hair.”

The Karasuno athlete blinked owlishly at you, gaze snapping to yours in an instant as his free hand fumbled through already-tousled locks of tangerine hair. “Oh crap, did I get it?”

An entertained smile stretched across your lips, growing exponentially wider as each attempt to shoo the blossom away remained fruitless.

“Hold on, hold on!” you advised him, hand slipping from his grip to put your arms out like a stop sign. “Lemme get it, before you pull some of that pretty hair out by accident.”

Hinata felt a rush of heat dust his face at the sound of you calling his hair pretty, but he dipped his head to let you help all the same. Within seconds, you were able to coax the little petal from its spot between tangles of tangerine, triumphantly showing off your efforts once it sat in your palm.

“There we go,” you sang, offering a glimpse of the obtained flower to the boy in front of you.

Apparently though, a viewing of your success wasn’t all he was getting. Shoyo practically jumped out of his shoes when you leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on his cheek, his face alight with surprise when you pulled back.

“You—that isn’t fair!” he whined, tailing behind you as you turned away with a cheshire grin.

You waved a hand dismissively, eyes trained on the gradually approaching gymnasium so as to avoid breaking your resolve. “That’s totally fair. You woke me up, remember?”

Shoyo being Shoyo, however, caught up to your quickened steps in no time, falling easily in pace beside you as an arm wrapped around your shoulders. “I thought you said we were even,” he pressed.

Your breath unintentionally hitched with his unexpected proximity, his breath just barely tickling the side of your face when you turned your head. “Is that what I said?” you managed to retort, your boyfriend’s unbelieving gaze sparkling with playfulness at the sorry excuse for a comeback.

Wow, his eyes were really something special. Like orange sherbert and fresh mango on a particularly warm day, each beautiful shade intertwining to orbit irises as intense as a solar eclipse. Where in the world did he get such beautiful genes?

The third year leaned into you further, his steps trailing into a slow walk as his nose brushed against yours. You worried that the sound of your rapid heartbeat had grown deafening with how much distance he’d closed.

“Mhm, you did,” he muttered, picking up on your expectant expression with ease. “Do you need more compensation?”

Heat crept up the base of your neck. “What do you have to offer?”

The main entrance to the gym was close enough that you could eye the cherry red double doors in your peripheral — well, if you had bothered to take much notice of your surroundings within the past few minutes, that is. It was difficult to stay observant when you’re trying to anticipate the next moves of an enigmatic third year.

Without wasting another step, Shoyo bridged the remaining gap and pressed his lips against yours, a giddy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth even as he kissed you softly. Your body was near-entirely turned towards his own frame at this point, any and all movements towards your destination ceased whilst you were provided with due reimbursement for the earlier (and quite frankly, insignificant) nap disruption. The ginger let his hand fall from your shoulder to your waist as you wrapped an arm around his neck, a barely audible huff of laughter bubbling in his throat at your easy reciprocation.

He could stand in that same spot forever, Hinata thought. Screw the gym keys; screw the rest of third year; screw Brazil. You were happy and smiling and kissing him so sweetly in the springtime that he couldn’t find himself to care for anything else at the moment. The first years and time itself could wait for just a bit longer. Yamaguchi would get back in due time and take care of—

“Hinata!! Yachi said you have the keys and—”

“Yaotome, can’t you see he’s occupied?”

The first years. Oh yeah.

You both jolted away from each other, Hinata sighing long and heavy as embarrassment flared up on his face. You weren’t faring much better, he discerned, seeing that you’d ducked your head down and away from the frantically apologizing voices of his kouhai.

The ginger finally turned to eye the little group of his younger teammates that had formed around the gymnasium entrance, gaze ever-kind but lined with something a touch exasperated as he tossed a mortified Yatome the keys from his pocket.

“Give them back to Yachi when you can,” he advised the libero, who caught the object before scurrying off like a spooked animal.

“Yes, sir! Sorry again, both of you!”

You made your way back over to your boyfriend once again, hiding your face in his shirt and letting out a muffled, weary groan.

“So that just happened,” he stated matter-of-factly, tilting his head towards the azure sky and trying to contemplate the day’s terrible timing.

“Mhm.”

“…Want me to ask Yamaguchi to make them run?”

You laughed, lightheartedly smacking his arm. “I’m not a monster. I want the underclassmen to like me, not relate my existence back to ladder sprints.”

“They wouldn’t. Most of ‘em already think you’re angelic for bringing snacks so often.”

“Should I get them some to show I’m not mad?”

“Mm, only if you wanna.”

You leaned back on your heels to get a good look at the still-flustered middle blocker, finding his focus had already settled back on you. His expression was apologetic, dusted with a receding pink, and softened around the edges (as-per-usual). It was clear he felt responsible for all of those little disruptions throughout the course of the afternoon, but you made it clear that he was not at all faulted, planting a swift kiss on the bridge of his nose.

“I’ll get something nice at the bakery for the end of practice,” you asserted, flashing a dazzling smile at a now-reassured Hinata. “Can I watch the scrimmage when I get back?”

He nodded enthusiastically, offering that blinding grin of his. “Of course you can! Yachi will be happy with the company, too.”

With that confirmation, you nodded affirmatively and turned away towards the school’s entrance, already wondering what a group of tired teenage boys would want to devour after a match. You’d barely counted twelve steps before a call of your name made you turn your head back.

Shoyo practically radiated affection from where he still stood, looking on after you with a sheepish smile. “Hurry back?”

The question was simple and sweet, but it brought your stomach to life with butterflies. “I won’t be long, don’t worry!”

Springtime came on the perfect day, even in spite of its little disruptions. It made you want to bask in its warmth for just a little while longer. Luckily, there was an entire season in front of you to go.

[bcbybats]

                      GIVE ME BACK MY HEART & SOUL

  ・ﾟ✧ It's like you're next to me, telling me it's not so bad, don't be so sad.

A Vampire is an undead evil creature from folklore that subsists by feeding on the vital essence of the living. A Magical Girl is a pure good witch whose body has been transformed into pure Magic, their sole purpose is to bring love and hope.

          Kaiden and Kokoro were on the opposite sides of Good and Evil, but being enemies helped them understand one another. Their hate, fear, and confusion turned into love, trust, and understanding. 

The vampire Kaiden was always believed to be beyond help, believed to be completely controlled by his impulses to kill but, Kaiden showed the magical girl everything wasn’t so black and white, that people, monsters like himself have to do what they have to survive. He tried to prove that the world was one cruel circle of life, but she showed him that there was more to the world than just surviving, that he didn’t have to kill, and that even the undead can have a life if they tried. She did everything in her power to show him that life has meaning, that it’s worth something, everything! That it’s beautiful and worth saving. 

            For a year they fought over the interpretation of life, them both fighting to prove their points to the other, but on the battlefield, Kaiden found himself unable to truly harm her. Every time they clashed, she ignited a little spark of hope with her words, and over time, he wanted her to be right, and after so many battles with the short pink witch, he surrendered but only under the condition that she stayed with him. With the “peace treaty” made, he followed her around, even when fighting other forces of evil, and he watched her help people regardless of the problem just out of the goodness of her heart. He watched her save lives and spend hope throughout the realms. Kokoro, with her persistence, with her kindness, love, and hope, made the vampire fall for her. She changed him...

And he changed her, helping her understand the darkness in the world better. Over 300 years of stories, odd perspectives, and helping put reasoning to “evil”, or those who may just be the misunderstood. Kaiden’s words were eye-opening, and thanks to him, she was able to help more than just humans, it helped her reach out to monsters, even the darker ones as they too deserve help. The vampire made her strong, and regardless of how weird he was, she still found him charming, loveable, funny. 

            They were married happily for 20 years, and they had a daughter, Panori, who Kokoro would comfort with the Takeda lullaby, train in the ways of magic and teach her in the ways of love so she too could be a  great magical girl. However, one day, Kokoro could feel it, a great evil that threatened her family, the planet, and everything she holds dear. So leaving Panori in Kaiden’s hands, she told him it wasn’t the end, that she would be back for them, that it would only be for a few weeks... but she disappeared four days later, presumed dead. But it seems she took whatever she was scared of with her, a hero.

It’s left a void-like black hole in the vampire’s chest, but he tries for his daughter, he tries so hard for his wife’s memory, but he HATES the world for taking her away from him, and he would have already turned against it once more, but even in her absence he tries to trust her and trust in the words she taught their daughter.  “The world is beautiful and we're saving. Reach out, help people. No one deserves to suffer.” 

[le-sad-demiurge]

you might regret this

green is for folk song renditions that I particularly like. sometimes songs from a soundtrack are under their actual writer/performer, sometimes just the OST

tried to limit it to one song per whatever folder it came out of, but not always possible, also tried to avoid any that are too obvious (everyone likes Footloose, there's no point)

this is heavily pruned. there's 1000 folders of music in my hard drive and I love half of them

yes this is overkill, I like occupying myself with busywork so it's no skin off of my back

ABBA ~ Gimme Gimme Gimme

Adrienne Bailon ~ Big Spender

Akai Tori ~ Lullaby of Takeda

AKB48 ~ Sugar Rush

Alaw ~ Santiana

Amaany Clarke ~ Kill Shot

Amy Winehouse ~ Rehab

Anberlin ~ Unwinding Cable Car

Antii Martikainen ~ To Valhalla!

Aqua ~ Like a Robot

Arany Zoltan ~ Oró sé do bheatha bhaile

Art Crew ~ Леле, Яно (Cover)

Avalon ~ Testify to Love

Avril Lavigne ~ Complicated | Here's to Never Growing Up

AWOLNATION ~ Kill Your Heroes ||| THISKIDSNOTALRIGHT

Ayumi Hamasaki ~ Evolution

BabyMetal ~ Shanti Shanti Shanti

Bayonetta OST ~ Fly Me to the Moon ||| Mysterious Destiny

Beast In Black ~ From Hell With Love

Bee Gees ~ Flesh and Blood | For Whom the Bell Tolls | The Bridge

Belinda Carlisle ~ La Luna | Summer Rain

Black Future '88 OST ~ Streetlights

Black Hill ~ a wild river to take you home

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ~ Little Thing Gone Wild

Blondie ~ A Rose By Any Name

Bloodywood ~ Tunak Tunak Tun Feat. Bonde do Metaleiro (metal cover)

Boney M ~ Bang Bang Lulu | Daddy Cool | Rasputin

BRADIO ~ スパイシーマドンナ

Brave OST ~ Noble Maiden Fair (A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal)

Breaking Benjamin ~ Blow Me Away

Bring Me the Horizon ~ in the dark | MANTRA | sugar honey ice & tea

Britney Spears ~ Make Me...feat G-Eazy

Camille Saint-Saëns ~ Danse Macabre

Capital Lights ~ His Favorite Christmas Story

Caramell ~ Ooa Hela Natten

Carly Rae Jepsen ~ I Really Like You

Casey Edwards ~ Devil Trigger feat. Ali Edwards

Celtic Woman ~ Siúil a Rún

Chasen ~ Castaway

Christopher Tin ~ Mado Kara Mieru (feat. Lia, Aoi Tada, Kaori Omura) | Témen Oblåk (“Dark Clouds”)

CHVRCHES ~ Miracle

Circus-P ~ iNSaNiTY feat. SF-A2 & Kaito

CL ~ Hello Bitches

Clamavi De Profundis ~ Veni Veni Emmanuel

Crusher ~ ECHO feat. Gumi

CupcaKKe ~ Barcodes

Daft Punk ~ Instant Crush | The Grid (Instrumental)

DAOKO ~ ダイスキ with TeddyLoid

Darren Hayes ~ Crush (1980 Me)

DC Lacroix ~ Devil's Son

Dead Or Alive ~ Hooked On Love | Something in My House

deadmau5 ~ Drama Free feat. Lights

Death Grips ~ Beware

Deborah Cox ~ Absolutely Not

Def Leppard ~ Action | Make Love Like a Man | Undefeated

Dixie Flatline ~ Just Be Friends feat. Megurine Luka

Doja Cat ~ Like That feat. Gucci Mane

Doll Patrol ~ So You Could Breathe

Don't Panic OST ~ Don't Panic Theme (instrumental)

Dragon Force ~ Soldiers of the Wasteland | Through the Fire and Flames

Dzivia ~ Dzikaje Palavańnie (Wild Hunt)

Eartha Kitt ~ I Want to Be Evil

Electric Light Orchestra ~ 10538 Overture | Evil Woman

Elfen Lied OST ~ Lilium

Ella Roberts ~ The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond

Ellie Goulding ~ Lights | Only You

Ensemble Trakia ~ Aishinko, Pilya Shareno (Aishinko, You Motley Bird)

Evanescence ~ Whisper

F-777 ~ Flower Bazooka | Memories 2 | Sramai (ft. Bog, Snapski)

FalKKone ~ Fragrant Plants (remix)

Family Force 5 ~ Love Addict | Zombie

FamilyJules ~ Butterfly (feat. Adriana Figueroa) (metal cover)

Faun ~ Blau Stunde | Diese kalte Nacht | Walpurgisnacht

FEMM ~ Astroboy feat. Honey-B & W-Trouble | Fxxk Boyz Get Money

FireCityFunk ~ Surrender to Me

Fireflight ~ Unbreakable

Fitz and the Tantrums ~ MoneyGrabber

Five-Eaux ~ Lullaby of Takeda

Florence + The Machine ~ Drumming Song

Francesca Battistelli ~ Free to Be Me

Frode Fjellheim ~ Cantus Eatnemen Vuelie

Garbage ~ Supervixen

Genitorturers ~ Lecher Bitch

Ghost ~ Dance Macabre (Carpenter Brut remix) | Square Hammer

Girls' Generation ~ Lazy Girls

Grimes ~ Kill V. Maim | We Appreciate Power

Halestorm ~ Love Bites (So Do I)

Hanz Zimmer ~ Through Heaven's Eyes

hatsuko ~ A Tale of Six Trillion Years and Overnight Story feat. IA

Heather Dale ~ Hero | Mordred's Lullaby

Helly Luv ~ Bale Bale

Hildegard von Blingin' (bardcore covers) ~ Hurt | Pumped Up Kicks | Somebody That I Used to Know

Hoàng Thùy Linh ~ See Tinh (Cukak remix)

Icon For Hire ~ Get Well | Off With Her Head

Ida Maria ~ Scandilove

Ilona Sekacz ~ Northanger Abbey theme

In Extremo ~ Krummavisur

Insane Clown Posse ~ Explosions

Jars of Clay ~ Dead Man (Carry Me)

Jerry Galleries ~ Shape of You (80s Remix) | 狂ってる (Mad)

Jessie J ~ Do It Like a Dude

Jimi Hendrix ~ Crosstown Traffic

Joe South ~ Hush

Jon McLaughlin ~ So Close

Jonathan Thulin ~ Dead Come to Life (feat. Charmaine)

Jonathan Young ~ Hello Kitty (metal cover)

Jumpstyle ~ Loituma

Kaoru Akimoto ~ Dress Down

Karl Jenkins ~ Adiemus

Kat Deluna ~ Run The Show feat. Don Omar (Spanish)

Kate Bush ~ Cloudbusting

Katy Perry ~ Chained to the Rhythm feat. Skip Marley | Circle the Drain | E.T.

Kesha ~ D.I.N.O.$.A.U.R.

KidneyThieves ~ Taxi Cab Messiah

Kimbra ~ Come Into My Head | Warrior

Lady Gaga ~ Applause | Judas

Lana Del Rey ~ High By the Beach | Summertime Sadness

Left 4 Dead OST ~ Your Brains

Lil Mariko ~ Don't Touch feat. Full Tac

Lindsey Stirling ~ Activate | Roundtable Rival | Senbonzakura (cover)

Loreena McKennitt ~ All Souls Night

Máddji ~ Dawn Light

Marilyn Manson ~ Disposable Teens

Mariya Takeuchi ~ Plastic Love

Mayumi Tachibana ~ Belladonna of Sadness theme

Metro Station ~ Shake It

MGMT ~ Electric Feel

Michael Sembello ~ Tear Down the Walls

Mike Oldfield ~ Crime of Passion feat. Barry Palmer

Mindless Self Indulgence ~ Straight to Video

Miriam Stockley ~ Perfect Day

Mitsunori Ikeda ~ Fallen Angel (ft. Aimee-B)

Muse ~ Supermassive Black Hole

My Bloody Valentine ~ Only Shallow

My Chemical Romance ~ The Sharpest Lives

Nana Mizuki ~ Secret Ambition

Nick Phoenix ~ Splitsar

NicoNicoDouga ~ Happy Synthesizer feat. Neko96 & Kagamine LEN

Nightwish ~ Nemo

Nochiura Natsumi ~ Renaisentai Shitsurensha

Nomico ~ Bad Apple!! (extended)

OneRepublic ~ Counting Stars

Owl City ~ Fireflies

Pasha Parfeni ~ Soarele şi Luna

Pentatonix ~ Mary, Did You Know?

Phil Collins ~ In the Air Tonight

Poppy ~ Church Outfit | Money | Play Destroy feat. Grimes | Say Cheese

Powerwolf ~ Stossgebet

Rainy Ram ~ I=FANTASY feat. SeeU (Demo)

Red Velvet ~ Huff n Puff

Reliant K ~ Devastation and Reform

Rob Thomas ~ This is How a Heart Breaks

Rob Zombie ~ Dragula

Roby Save Environment ~ Wish I Could Be Yours, Swain

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards ~ Auld Lang Syne

Ruby Friedman Orchestra ~ I'm Not Your Friend

RyanDan ~ Tears of an Angel

Sabaton ~ Night Witches

Sean Dagher ~ Leave Her, Johnny

Selena ~ Enamorada De Ti

SEREBRO ~ Mi Mi Mi

Shakira ~ Peligro

Shiny Toy Guns ~ Ricochet!

Shloime Taussig ~ Kedai

Silva Hakobyan ~ Sasna par

Sissel ~ Molde Canticle

Skillet ~ The Last Night

Sleigh Bells ~ Kids | Riot Rhythm

Smile.Dk ~ Butterfly 09 (United Forces Airplay)

Solid Base ~ Come 'n Get Me

Soundgarden ~ Black Hole Sun

Stefanie Scott ~ Hit Me Up

Stereo Alchemy ~ God of Love | Monster of the Sky

Sturgill Simpson ~ Sing Along

Superchick ~ Stand In the Rain

Taylor Dayne ~ Tell It To My Heart

Tchaikovsky ~ Dance of the Swans

Tears for Fears ~ Everybody Wants to Rule the World

The Darkness ~ One Way Ticket

The Donnas ~ Take it Off

The Dreadnoughts ~ Roll the Woodpile Down

The Letter Black ~ Hanging On By a Thread | Sick Charade | Smothering Walls

The New Seekers ~ I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing

The Offspring ~ Slim Pickens Does the Right Thing

The Pussycat Dolls ~ Flirt

The Shangri-La ~ Remember (Walking in the Sand)

The Swan Princess OST ~ Far Longer Than Forever

Thomas Bergersen ~ Avalanche (duet remix) | One Million Voices | Starvation | Xunia

Thousand Foot Krutch ~ Let the Sparks Fly

Tiggy ~ Abracadabra

Tinasha ~ Party Favors

Topa ~ Oysya Thousand

Toto ~ Don't Chain My Heart

TRONICBOX ~ Love Me Harder (80s remix)

Two Steps From Hell ~ Flight of the Silverbird

UCD Choral Scholars ~ Mo Ghille Mear (My Gallant Hero)

Un Chanson Ouigour ~ Joyful Dance

Uppermost ~ Revolution

Urusei Yatsura Italian Dub theme

Valrvn ~ Krummavísur

VocaCircus ~ Our Belief feat. SF-A2 Miki

Voces Thules ~ Krummavísur

WALK THE MOON ~ We Are the Kids

Weezer ~ Feels Like Summer

Wagakki Band ~ Senbonzakura (metal cover)

Yang Mi ~ Love of the Support theme (i think that's correct)

Yoko Oginome ~ Dancing Hero (Eat You Up)

Yoko Takahashi ~ Cruel Angel's Thesis

ZOEgirl ~ Dismissed ~ Even If ~ With All of My Heart

八王子P ~ Kimagure Mercy (can't for the life of me find whoever made my favorite version of this song)

Ooh I appreciate the music rec (and flattered that you trust my taste) but my means of listening to music is comically inefficient, not sure how else to describe it. My thousands of tracks do not indicate which album they are from, I just kinda listen on a song-by-song basis. It's a very inelegant system.

Amazing. You remind me of my friend who only listens to music through a type of automated YouTube to mp3 program. He knows the names and artists because he only listens to old country and South Park Mexican, so he just has them memorized. He’s 21 going on 70 and I’m terrified of his power.

So instead of albums, what are a few of your favorite songs??

[creaturepower]

The last post except Splinter sings the boys Takeda lullaby for the first little while because while he wouldn't change his life for anything something about a song about running away from the child you have to care for resonates.

[remmushound]

Part 12 of my bay/rise crossover! @brightlotusmoon @errorfreak88

It hurt. Everything hurt and he didn't know where he was and he felt sick. He bellowed out into the cold, dark room. He cried again, this time louder as he tried to stand on instead legs. His head spun. Powerful bounds around his wrists and ankles held him down, and moving sent electricity down the length of his body that made him roar. Something on his face covered his eyes— not his mask, something far darker. He couldn’t see, he couldn’t move— he couldn’t hear anything other than his own echo. He was alone.

****

“... come to find out it wasn’t really a car show. It was a destruction derby and I… he just wanted to use my car to win it so he could get another trophy.”

“I cannot understand how upsetting that must have been for you.” Splinter’s head was low as he watched the steam rise off of his tea, “I am certain you treasure your creations just as much as my Donatello. I am sure your father meant no harm, but even the best of intentions can come off as… less than that. When my son was having diffuclties as leader, he said and did many things that upset his brothers.”

“Really? My Raph’s never done anything like that.”

“Your Raphael?” Splinter looked to Donatello curiously as he sipped his tea.

“Yeah. I mean, he has his moments but he’s usually pretty chill toward us— the stress of being the leader leader gets to him sometimes but—“

Splinter choked on his tea. He dropped the cup in favor of covering his mouth during the intense coughing fit that followed. The cup shattered on the ground and spilled tea all across the cold stone of the lairs floor.

Donatello sipped his tea calmly. “You okay, buddy?”

Splinter waved that he was fine as he slowly recovered from the fit. Donatello helped himself to another buiscit.

“Ah— my apologizes, Donatello. Your words just started me is all.”

“Ok.” Donatello didn't ask why. “These are really good buiscit.”

“Thank you, but a… clarification question if I may?”

“Ok.”

“You did just state that your Raphael was your leader, correct?”

“Yeah? He’s the oldest, so leader by proxy. Why?”

“I apologize— when I stated my son was having some difficulties, I should’ve clarified it was Leonardo. The leader of my sons…”

“Gasp. Now it is my turn to choke.” Donatello put his cup to his lips and purposely inhaled some of it. He immediately fell to coughing just Splinter. “ACK! GAG! CHOKING NOISES!”

“You really are a curious fellow.” Splinter hid his mouth with another cough as he laughed. The mutant’s ears pricked to attention at the sound of a disturbance from the opposite side of the lair. “I believe we are not alone.”

Donatello wiped his mouth and looked behind him trying to see whatever Splinter had seen.

“Stay here.” Splinter gave Donatello a pat on the shoulder as he ran past.

Donatello gasped, and then squealed. “OH AM GOSH! A positive touch from a parent aged adult! Dreams really do come true!”

Donatello drank the rest of his tea happily, starting to wiggle in his seat to try and get his nervous energy out. All of the anxiety flooded right back into him when he heard Splinter’s loud scream.

“Splinter!” Donatello was on his feet and running before his mind could catch up, initially on the rats trail but quickly turning paces when he spotted a broom in a corner. He grabbed it, holding it like it was his own staff, and sprinted finally into the room Splinter had entered.

The rat had his own staff at the ready, backed into a corner with his eyes locked on the beast that filled a great deal of the room. The snapping turtle's jaws were frothing over with white foam in his panic, his tail lashing like a whip to further show the agitation of the red beast. Around his wrists and ankles were ropes that had once held him down, now snapped at the base and swinging as he struck out wildly and blindly toward the assumed attacker. Raphael couldn’t see them— his eyes were covered with a tight blindfold that made him lash his head back and forth trying to find any stimuli to tell him where he was.

Donatello recognized the fearful motions immediately— he’d lived with Raphael all his life and learned to recognize the motions his brother would go through for fear or anger or pain, and this wasn’t the second. But one so unused to recognizing the different cues that the snapping mutant had could easily misinterpret any one of them as an anger response.

Splinter brought his staff down at the bridge of Raphael’s shell trying to force him into a corner. Raphael roared in response and swiped a counter strike, just barely missing the staff's quick motions as it hit him in several more places though it was more like gentle, guiding taps.

“Wait— nonono!”

Raphael made a sharp movement when he heard Donatello’s voice and tried to search for it, colliding with Splinter and making the rat stumble slightly before he found a more secure footing.

“Raph, it’s me!” Donatello ran forward, trying to reach for the blindfold, but the moment he touched Raphael, the mutant shouted and slammed a massive fist into Donatello’s stomach.

Donatello stumbled back into the wall, gagging and clutching as he stomach as he tried to both catch the breath that had been knocked from him and try not to throw up. He did, of course, have plating over his plastron just as his brothers did— it was just covered with soft skin instead of hard keratin—but the bone only served to make the pain worse somehow as Raphael’s fist collided with enough force to knock a grown man off his feet.

Raphael immediately recognized who he had hit and started to panic even more.

“Don-nee?” His head thrashed back and forth trying to shake off the blindfold obscuring his vision.

Donatello tried to call out to him, but only a wheeze was produced.

“Donatello, stay where you are.” Splinter took a defensive pose in front of Donatello.

“Nah…” Donatello tried finally, pushing himself off the wall and trying to stumble to his brother's aid, but Splinter’s tail directed him back. “Don’t hurt—“

“I’m not.”

“But he doesn’t know that!”

Splinter jabbed the tip of his staff into Raphael’s chest, making the savage mutant grunt and try to grab at whoever kept poking him.

“I swear… ah…” Donatello felt his way across the wall trying to get behind Raphael without being hurt again or singled out— if he could separate his noise from the racket Splinter was making, then maybe— “I’m… so gonna beat those other turtles shells… if I have any spoons left by time they get back. RAFFEREL!”

Raphael grunted and turned quickly at the sound of the voice.

“Listen to me! Your name is Hamato Red, but when you were nine and me and Leo were eight and Mikey was seven we all chose names we thought were cooler from an old library book April gave us, and you became Hamato Sanzio Raphael.”

Raphael listened intently, his breathing still labored and body tensed, but all senses locked onto Donatello. Splinter stopped his assault to listen as well.

“And when we were little hatchlings and you’d go into your fits, dad always calmed you down with the Chūgoku lullaby. And Leo and Mikey and I were always jealous because you got your own lullaby, but every night Splinter would sing the Takeda lullaby to all of us before we went to sleep. Do you remember the Chūgoku lullaby?”

Raphael didn't respond.

“Come on. You know how it goes! Nenneko shasshari mase, neta ko no kawasi… okite naku ko no… nenkororo, tsura nikusa, nekororon, nenkororon…”

As Donatello went slowly through the lullaby, Raphael started to chur softly and sway. Halfway through he started to hum along, and once Donatello was sure Raphael was calm, he approached Raphael without stopping the song. Donatello reached gently to Raphael’s head, hesitating as the great beast flinched but quickly recovering enough to take off the blindfold.

As Raphael blinked in the sudden light, Donatello gently fell to unbinding the ropes from Raphael’s wrists, and the song wrapped up perfectly as he removed the final knot.

“There we are.”

“Don!”

Donatello screamed as he was yanked into a hug, then fell to growing as Raphael rubbed his cheek against Donatello’s battle shell.

“Oh come on Raph you know I’m afraid of togetherness—“

Raphael moved to rest his head on top of Donatello’s, holding the softshell tightly to his plastron. “You’re okay…”

“Of course I’m okay you idiot you threw yourself on top of me!”

Raphael kissed the top of Donatello’s head and continued to hum happily while the softshell struggled for his freedom.

“Oh, really? Really with the kiss? You were just trying to kill me two seconds ago!” Despite his words, Donatello’s heart flooded with warmth at the snapping turtles quick rebound from beast to brother.

“Donnie, I don’t feel good…” Raphael sniffled.

“What kind of don’t feel good?”

“Like I’m gonna be sick.” Raphael stuck his tongue out, “And my back hurts- it is bad—?”

Donatello grabbed Raphael’s face before he could turn around to look at the bandages, forcing the snapper to look back at him. “He probably just gave you oxycodone to help with the pain.”

“Oh okay.” Raphael nodded, not quite understanding but trusting his brother's judgement. “But uh. Who is ‘he’?”

“I may be able to help best.”

Raphael gave a confused grunt and turned around, pulling Donatello along with him as he saw Splinter for the first time.

“Hey, pops got taller! Good for him.”

“That’s not dad you idiot— well it is kinda— but not our dad!”

Raphael blinked. “Raph is confused!”

Splinter laughed, finally letting his staff back down into a relaxed position and resting on it. “I’m going to need so much more tea.”