#PLEASE TOEI SHOW ME MY BOY

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - Lesbians WIN & I'm excited about a Thai BL again!

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

April 2024 Wk 4

Ongoing Series - Thai

My Stand-In (Thai Fri iQIYI) ep 1 of 12 eps - Adaptation of Chinese novel Professional Body Double by Shui Qiang Cheng. Stars Up (Lovely Writer) and Poom (Bake Me Please) directed by the same team as KP (not a recommendation IMHO - my biggest criticism of KP was the clashing directing styles). The MDL description made it sound complicated af but actually it's not so bad. In fact it's GOOD.

Stuntman Joe dies on the job and wakes up in the body of another Joe who has an entirely different life. But our Joe just gets his new body right back into his old existence, full of friends, enemies, and one troublesome ex. Poom is absolutely killing it in the lead. Mek is perfectly cast as the Actor du Jerk. I’m not sold on Up’s bratty brokenhearted rich kid... yet. The show though, I like it. I like a one (two) night stand starting things off and I like a lot of morally gray characters. Fun fun!

Deep Night (Thurs iQiyi) ep 8fin - The lesbian moms are the cutest thing in the world and my favorite thing this week. Bar none.

Summation:

It's about a host club and all the gay boys in it and some stuff that's not important because... PEOPLE OF EARTH WE HAVE A HONEST REP OF POLY IN A BL. Stand up and raise your hands in prayer to the Thai BL gods because sure as shit no one else was ever going to give this to us. For that alone this show gets 8/10 from me. Bonus Lesbian moms and great kisses.

Two Worlds (Thurs iQIYI) ep 7 of 10 - Say what you want about MaxNat all these years that they've been paired makes them great onscreen boyfriends. And you know me, I'm a total sucker for linguistic negotiation. Makes my heart go all mushy. That said, now that the leads are together, I’m really uninterested in all the drama around the ex-boyfriend/triangle. I'm glad this is only 10 eps.

1000 Years Old (Thurs iQIYI) ep 11 of 12 - They gave me the tiniest teaser for the kinky vampire BL that I have wanted my whole life. And now I'm just fucking annoyed with the rest of the show. 

We Are (Weds iQIYI) ep 3-4 of 16 - Q & Toey are the only interesting thing going on. I actually didn’t like this pair in My School President, but I’m enjoying them here. The others are all fine but these two have my heart. I have questions like: did Phum ever get his shopping bags back? And why is Phum driving a different colored car half way through the ep?

Only Boo! (Sun YouTube) ep 3 of 12 - The quality is good (it’s GMMTV) but the acting is... not. Still I loved that Moo just made the confession for both of them. Very in character. Does this plot remind anyone else of Footloose? Just me? Side couple was cute but now a bit too stalker for me. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Unknown (Taiwan Tues YouTube & Viki) ep 10 of 12 - It’s fantastic. Such a great show. We are so lucky. This is basically Taiwan’s The Eights Sense. I didn’t know they had it in them, but I’m really glad that they did.

Living With Him AKA Kare no Iru Seikatsu (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 3 of 10 - As JBL’s go this is way more my speed (than Alaska). It’s just so sweet and awkward but charming about it. The confession was so earnest. 

Blue Boys (Korea YouTube) 2 of ? No MDL link - It’s very sexy this one. Not sure what Korea thinks it's doing, but I’m not mad about it. 

Gray Shelter (Korea Thurs iQIYI) ep 5fin - summation: About a slacker nursing a crush on the (brief) older stepbrother who abandoned him. Upon finding him again he moves in with him, upends the mans lost suffering life. A dark gritty piece with confusing subs making it too chewy to really grok. It's trying to do too much for its length. The tension is real and the acting is good, it's just everything else stymied clean execution of the core concept. Frankly I spent this show expecting (and wanting them) to just fall into bed together - in a kind of desperate fight sex. It didn’t happen, and I’m disappointed by the non-ending we got. (Whether it’s going to have more in the series or not.) 7/10 I'm open to changing the rank if a part two fixes this one's flaws.

Boys Be Brave AKA Roommates (Korea Thurs Viki) ep 1-2 of 8 - Oh dear. Terrible hair. Jock nerd pairing. OCD baby cakes. Cohabitation trope. Killer side couple. Def unhinged. 

At 25:00 in Alaska AKA 25 Ji Akasaka de (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 2 of 10 - I’m still genuinely not sure about this one. It’s just a little too awkward for me in the wrong way. I expect all Japanese BL to have a certain aura of awkwardness so I don’t know what it is about this one turnign me off. I do enjoy that we’re getting both stories, the one between the actors, and a little bit of the roles that they’re playing on screen but... yeah

Love is like a Cat (Korea Mon Viki) eps 7-8 of 12 - The leads finally had a moment but there is negative chemistry. Why am I watching this? 

It's airing but...

Lady Boy Friends (Thai WeTV grey) 16 eps - reminds me a bit too much of Diary of Tootsies only high school. Not my thing. DNF unless it turns a corner and is truly amazing.

Memory in the Letter (Thai WeTV) - 6 eps, when it's done, tell me if I should bother?

In case you missed it

Kiseki Chapter 2 (Sun iQIYI) 6 eps - finished its run but I won't be finishing it. Stays dropped.

GMMTV announced the second half of their 2024 line up. I got excited and picked my favorites, details + trailers here. Basically my ranking is:

The Heart Killers

ThamePo

Revamp

Sweet Tooth

Perfect 10 Liners

The Ex-Morning

Ossan’s Love Thailand

Next Week Looks Like This:

What happened?

Knock-Knock Boys (Thai WeTV) - 4 college friends conspire to help their friend lose his virginity. Familiar faces like Seng (yes, Billy's previous pairing) and Best, news here. But will it actually air this month?

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENT

I have adopted him. He is MINE. I love him, your honor. (The Stand In)

I love them SO MUCH. (Deep Night)

(Last week)

Streaming services are listed by how I (usually) watch, which is with a USA based IP, and often offset by a day because time zones are a pain.

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly @renafire

If ya wanna be tagged each week leave a comment and I will add you to the template. Easy peesy.

[watchingblsnowandforever]

Hello!!!

Welcome back to my crack posts! =D

We Are ep 9 is as hilarious as it's frustrating, and I will continue to the whys below with a healthy dose of crack. <3

Warning: long post 😊😅

Ohoho, our little boy is jealous and... its not even 5 minutes in (2 minutes since the actual start). Is that a new record?

Kluen: can I just sleep beside you- 😊

Phum: No. 🙂

Poor Toey getting roped into this too 😭

(something something, Chain helping Toey get Q jealous while Phum uses Toey as a buffer for the cause of his jealousy)

Our favourite old married couple hehe (who aren't actually dating yet-)

My poor Phum 😭

Okay, as much as I don't like Kluen, I have to give it to him for being so straightforward, going as far as telling Phum that he likes Peem when he realizes that Phum might does like him too.

Also the t-shirt: We Are Volunteer.

Yes! Call him out!

We really need more call out-ers in BL.

I laughed so hard my cat looked at me weird 😭😂

Children really are the best eyy

Phum looks so betrayed oh gods 😭

The 'I know what you're doing but I'll still play along cause I like you too, ai'kwai' look. Ah, a classic from thai bl.

This reminds me of when Tinn says "How can I be your friend? I like you!" when Gun finds him after he ran away from the MV shoot.

(And Gun replies, "You think I can?")

On one hand we have Phum who bribes children with chocolates (that he just happens to have in his pocket) to lure away his crush from his rival.

On the other we have Q who simply up and runs away when his friend faux-swipes his crush's sweat simply to make him jealous.

*looks between them and shakes head* these boys are absolutely hopeless

Our favourite married couple part 2 (who are actually dating)

continued:

Pun and Mick just here playing around 😭👍🏼

Peem was right, if they were the only ones in charge of cooking, no one would get any food T~T

But... how exactly did "cut into round shapes" get converted to "cut into round glasses" to "rectangles"? 😶

Fang is so done with these idiots 😭👍🏼

In this moment, I kid you not, my brain played the "what did he sayyy" meme 😶

Phum: *bombastic side eye of death*

Yes, please. We've been waiting for this for 8 and a half episodes.

Yes, and you are the nosiest peep, now continue.

Ah, so Fang is actually the violent sibling, and him and Phum (and Tan, apparently) got into frequent fights, it seems like.

Got caught red handed 😭

Tan is so dead

Wait... so Tan and Fang had a beginning much like Phum and Peem? 👀

Rivals to lovers for both brothers it is, then.

And I feel so bad for Phum, poor guy has been a third wheel since his high school days 😭

...somehow, I think Chain and Pun will put even TanFang to shame when they actually start dating 😶

'Course you have. You just played with water with your besties the other day

And with friends like yours, Peem? It's unlikely you'll go one day without playing around with something or the other

Beer doing God's work here 😭🙏🏼

I love how Beer is both perceptive and observant of his friends, and knows just what to say to get them moving.

He wants the best for Phum and even tells him how he's happy that Peem came into his life, and Phum is a lot more lively these days. (MSP flashbacks again anyone? No? Just me?)

He might not be as playful or enthusiastic as Peem's friends, but he knows what his friends need and he'll try his hardest to make sure they have it. He's just such a good friend.

Phum telling him about the Deal™ also shows us just how much he trusts Beer.

Love him <3

Sweetie, I understand you need some space, but you don't talk to your future boyfriend possible crush like that 😭

Nothing to see here, just a goodnight kiss.

Jokes aside, I like that Peem tries to figure out what's wrong, but he doesn't push too hard. And even tries to provide some comfort to Phum.

And in these moments with just them, Phum has bursts of courage to show his affection, and show Peem how much he means to him, instead of just telling him.

I don't think this is him being emotionally constipated (he is, no doubt about it, but strangely not as much when it comes to Peem), but more of him being unsure of where he stands with Peem (as I mentioned in last week's post).

Are they just friends because their friend groups merged? Acquaintances forced to be close due to circumstances? Just creditor and debtor? Is the deal all that's holding them together?

Well, Phum needs to find the answers. (Preferably and possibly within the next episode)

*sigh* they're gonna kill me with fluff (and I'm gonna die happy)

This is my favourite scene of this ep. Just crushes cuddling each other with sleep, the rest of the evil world (Kluen) forgotten for the moment.

Ah. I love cuddles even more than kisses, not gonna lie

Also, ep 10 seems promising!

Anyways, that's all for now, see you next week! And if you made it this far, thank you so much for reading! 😊

Here, have a bubble tea and a cookie 🧋🍪

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

It's the penultimate episode... so many feelings. *wistful sigh*

Wait, the Matt Mick thing is actually happening? Lolol.

BUT WHO IS GOING TO KISS BEER?!?! Boy is doomed to keep being the witness to all these gay shenanigans, he needs his own boyfie! Papang, still time for a cameo...

Q, you are turning into quite the smooth romantic...

I love that they tease Q about having a romantic moment when both Chain & Mick are keeping a constant hand on their boys, and Tan literally can't stand upright without holding onto Fang.

Six minutes in and I'm already dying.

Also Poon, Satang, & Boom living the dream, getting to feed cute little penguins for work.

Omg, Chain! You need to walk up to him and say "I like you!". (Also yes, I acknowledge as an American I have a strong bias on what counts as direct communication, lol. But the point still stands that Pun needs it right in his face to get it).

But also, please, yes, do a penguin dowry.

Also, it is funny to me that Tan, who has been pretty oblivious to every other couple's feelings, has picked up on Chain. Which shows how everyone knows but Pun.

I know I've said this pretty much every time, but I just adore how this show keeps showing that they are all friends with each other, it's never just about the couples.

Aw, Pun asking for snugs. Ooh - is Pun actually starting to get it?

Q literally can't see anything else when Toey is around, my heart.

You know, I think Toey still doesn't quite grasp how deeply Q loves him... it was one-sided for so long, he's still catching up on what it feels like to be cared for back. Don't worry boo, you'll get there.

Ok, was not expecting this! But I am here for it!

I also have to point out, in my obsession with what this show is doing with tropes, that Toey is the closest we get to a blushing maiden in this show, and he may be shy and inexperienced, but he still gets to enjoy sex. Excellent.

Lol, Phum does not have to be told twice he has a green light. Dude has been waiting since day one for this.

Gotta say though, the TanFang scene was still the hottest. AouBoom are so ready to be leads.

I love that Fang 100% knew Tan would come find him and demand kisses.

Lol, it's handy being friends with your boyfriends brother, you can get the intel.

Why does Pond holding a teddy bear always make me so weak?

Oh god, not the sad puppy noises.

I love that the most implausible part of this plan is Tan not being free for Fang.

Phum is so happy, I'm going to cry.

Lol, of course Beer already gave him a gift, he is the one who is always ahead of everyone else!

Swoon. Just swoon.

I love how they are communicating about Peem going to meet Phum's family. It's so lovely to have a couple who actually talk about things.

And this!

I know there will be people in the tags flipping out if Phum forgives his dad, but this is his story and his journey. It's not about if it resonates with every viewer, it's about Phum figuring out what he needs to move on with his life, whether that includes forgiveness or not.

Another stellar costume choice.

Also Tan making Fang wear pink, lol. He's going to show that love dammit!

Omg, not the whole group waiting for Pun to admit he likes Chain.

Good boy Chain! Love the confidence!

Perfect use of the festival to show how the love in this entire group has just expanded and deepened over the past year.

Gotta admit, I had some penultimate episode anxiety, but nope! Still fluffy!

[mirai-e-jump]

UTB (Up to Boy) Magazine, February 2024 Issue (Vol.334) ft. Hirakawa Yuzuki Interview and Photo Shoot (translation below)

Publication: December 22, 2023

Immovable Upside

Currently appearing in "Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger," the currently airing Super Sentai series, actor Hirakawa Yuzuki-san makes her second appearance in our magazine. She's changed her hair, having it cut into a shorter style, as she presents her pure and mature duality, which has become even more transparent.

-We've been rushing through the year-

"You've cut your hair short, and your look is totally different from the last time we saw you. Personally, how do you feel about your current short hairstyle?"

Hirakawa: Before I started acting, I always kept it short, so it somehow feels nostalgic. I cut it because of my role, but I thought it was abit of a waste since it's been that long for about 5 years (laughs). Still, I think it'll be fine since it grows quickly.

"Starting from episode 27, the second chapter of King-Ohger is set two years later. We think the change in hairstyle made it easier for you to make changes in your performance."

Hirakawa: That's true. I think I'm able to show more strength. I think that after two years, they're more aware and prepared as a king, and that they have a greater sense of responsibility.

"Now that the story has progressed considerably, are there any memorable moments from the episodes that have been broadcast so far?"

Hirakawa: In episode 25, the sense of distance between Rita and their retainer Morfonia, or rather, the values of their relationship have become much closer. It was a time where Rita gathered the courage to take another step forward on their own, so that episode left quite an impression on me. From there, the way they interacted with Morfonia changed completely, so I think it was a turning point for them. Also, in episode 38, they reveal the face they've been hiding up until that point, and showed all kinds of facial expressions as an "idol," so I hope you enjoyed it.

"It's already aired, so if you haven't seen it yet, please catch up and watch it…..! By the time this magazine comes out, filming for the final episode will be underway, right?"

Hirakawa: In about another month or so……"We've got such a long time before it starts!," is what I thought, but only for a moment. I think it was more instantaneous after the Summer film ended. Until then, we weren't used to filming, and everyone was in a state of just trying to figure things out. The cast members have been good friends since the beginning, but since we spent alot of time together, including during the regional promotional campaigns for the Summer film, we became even closer, and that time really flew by.

"For those who view things similarly, the "loss" seems to be intense."

Hirakawa: It might be because me and the rest of the cast are starting to become aware of the end, or maybe it's because some fans are also like, "It's coming to an end….?" I still go out to dinner with all the cast members after filming, so I think we'll still probably see each other again ever when it's over. We've been together for a year and we've gotten to know each other very well, so when I imagine the end of filming, I feel incredibly sad.

"As a fan, I'm going to miss seeing everyone's friendly conversations on Toei Channel very much……Now, 2023 will soon come to an end, looking back, what kind of year was it?"

Hirakawa: We've really been rushing through the year. I've been working hard during the filming of King-Ohger in order to make it better and to help myself grow. I was able to experience many things this year, as there were quite a few jobs that came about as a result of King-Ohger, and it was the most thrilling year for me as a performer. Of course, there were many things I worried about, but I think it was also an extravagant year, filled with many happy and frustrating experiences.

"What kind of year do you want 2024 to be?"

Hirakawa: I think I'll be apart of King-Ohger until the first half of the year, when we perform at G-Rosso, but after that, I'll have to move forward on my own. I'd like to "polish" my inner self and become a more appealing person. As for my work, I'll do my best to continue to appear in productions without taking any breaks inbetween.

[baileypie-writes]

~My Thoughts on Wonderful Precure: Episodes 11-15~

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I decided to keep note of all my different thoughts while watching Wonderful Precure. I forgot to upload this a while ago, so here it is now!

~~~🎀~~~🎀~~~🎀~~~

Episode 11 - A Giant Creature Hiding in the Mountains?!:

- The classmate girl with the pigtails and red bows is so cute! I love her design!

- The amount of times Komugi opened her big mouth in this episode: 2(seriously girl, be more careful…)

- I love how Komugi’s dog attitude remains, even at school. Did you see how she zoomed over to her desk when the bell rang? She’s still super obedient!

- Satoru really thought he was going on a date with Iroha💀

- Dang, Iroha and Komugi need to slow down. Poor Satoru😭(@ when they left Satoru in the dust while hiking)

- Satoru is so sweet to remember Komugi!(@ him making dog safe cookies for her)

- Oh, it’s those fashionable old ladies again. I strive to be like them in my older years.

- Omg, I never noticed how Mayu has a little Yuki keychain on her bag. So cute!

- Omg?? Yuki as a human??? She’s so pretty! I didn’t expect her to be blonde. But I guess Wonderful Precure’s going for more natural hair colors for their civilian forms.

- How on earth did they hike all the way up that mountain? I would’ve died😭

- Number of things Satoru taught me about animals in this episode: 3

- I really hope Satoru gets to be a Pretty Cure. With his knowledge, he’d be really good!

- I wonder who the figure in the cloak is? What’s their mission here?

- Dang it Friendy! Why’d you have to step on a twig?

- Ooh, new Kirarin Animal!(@ the Kirarin Bear)

- Cure Nyammy revealed?!

My Rating for This Episode:

8/10 - B-

~~~~

Episode 12 - I’m Cure Nyammy:

- I don’t know why, but Mayu having an old fashioned sewing machine is so funny to me.

- Strawberry Yuki shirt! I want it in my size!(@ Mayu’s absolute masterpiece!)

- So Yuki keeps disappearing, huh? Wonder why/sarc

- Those two girls giggling at Satoru definitely know about his crush on Iroha lol

- I love how Iroha still pets Komugi’s head, even when she’s a human!

- Dang Yuki, why are you eating so fast? The food’s not going anywhere💀

- Yuki does NOT like the owl camera lmao

- Awww Mayu’s so happy to have a friend🥺(@ her reaction when Iroha calls her her friend)

- RAAH CURE NYAMMY!! Also, nice save!(@ when she saved Mayu)

- Woah, she actually beating the Garugaru?(@ when Cure Nyammy started kicking it)

- Oh boy! She has claws!(@ when she scratched the Garugaru)

- So it was Nyammy who scratched the Kirarin Bear last episode!

My Rating for This Episode:

9/10 - A-

~~~~

Episode 13 - Search for Cure Nyammy!:

- Why did you have to make Nyammy blue, Toei? It would’ve been so easy to label her as white!(@ Mayu, Iroha and Komugi describing her as white)

- Number of times Komugi opened her big mouth in this episode: 2

- Girl you said you’d keep Komugi talking a secret😭(@ the little girl telling her mom right after promising not to)

- Why is there just a random horse-pulled carriage? What is this, the 1800s??

- The lady who owns the Komondor has such a cool design! I wish she could be a bigger character!(marry me please, Komondor lady💍)

- Number of things Satoru taught me about animals in this episode: 2

- Yay, those old ladies again! I love them. I want to join their club.

- I love how Mayu’s mom sings “Nya nya nya~” it’s so cute!

- Does nobody look for twigs in this show?😭(@ when Mayu stepped on one and got caught by the Garugaru)

- Wow, Nyammy just picked up Mayu like that? Dang

- Lmao, Nyammy ditched them😭(@ her leaving Wonderful and Friendy with the Garugaru)

- That interaction from Nyammy to Mayu felt oddly… flirtatious? Oh goodness, please don’t let this be a romance… that’s Mayu’s cat!

- Oh no, what’s wrong with Yuki(@ the preview for the next episode)

My Rating for This Episode:

8/10 - B-

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Episode 14 - Mayu’s First Sleepover:

- Poor Yuki! I hopes she’s okay. Poor Mayu too… she must be terrified:(

- Oh good, she’s just tired. Wonder why/sarc

- You are jealous Satoru lmao(@ him insisting he’s not at the girls having a sleepover)

- Mayu’s so me. I hate when my parents talk about me to others like I’m not there😭

- I want Iroha’s dad to cook me dinner😔

- Ooh Yuki’s jealous hehe(@ her being mad about Komugi sitting on Mayu’s lap)

- I love the small detail of Iroha’s popsicle being purple, and Mayu’s being green

- lol, Komugi snores, just like my dog!

- Omg, Iroha’s dad wears a nightcap to sleep😭

- Number of times Komugi opened her big mouth in this episode: 2

- Oooh, new eyecatch(I think that’s what they’re called)! I love it!

- Poor Yuki! She wants out!(@ her pawing the door to her kennel when Mayu leaves)

- Oh boy, Mayu’s finding out about the Pretty Cure!

- Awww, Wonderful’s poor ears!(@ her ears getting hurt from the Garugaru’s call)

My Rating for This Episode:

7/10 - C-

Episode 15 - A Day in the Life of Mey Mey the Butler Sheep:

- Mayu’s so lucky! I wanna pet Mey Mey’s wool😭

- Yuki must be so confused. Imagine if your owner just disappeared into a magic suitcase!

- Flying on swings hung by birds to get to the Kirarin Animal’s homes? Cool! But what if you fall?…

- Woah, they have extinct animals in Niko Garden? But I guess there’s no humans to hunt them, so…(@ the giant moa)

- “Oh, hey Mey Mey.” Someone please pay attention to the poor sheep!(@ Kirarin Penguin not noticing him at first)

- Mey Mey keeps all that stuff in his fur? He’s just like Mary Poppins!(@ him pulling all the gardening stuff out)

- The Kirarin Animals can contact each other from their forehead gems? That’s so cool!

- Anyone else wanna see the inside of the Kirarin Animals homes? Or is it just me?

- What are those animals planning?(@ them acting suspicious)

- Why doesn’t the Kirarin Lion’s mane cover the back of his head? It’s just a ring of fur…

- I wanna try a Niko Fruit! They look so squishy and juicy!

- Aww Mey Mey thinks they’re throwing a party for him. Why do I think that’s not what it is…

- I love the sound Mey Mey’s hooves make when he walks!

- I don’t think the Garugaru’s a deer. Deer have different shaped antlers. It looks more like a… gazelle? Or something like that.(@ Satoru calling it a deer)

- OMG MEY MEY CHANGED INTO A FLUFF BALL!

- New Kirarin Animal!(@ the Kirarin Fawn)

- Also, Mey Mey’s eyes when he got “purified”😭

- Aw the party was for the Pretty Cure. Poor Mey Mey! Don’t worry sweetie, I appreciate you!

- Yay, they did something for him after all!(@ the picture the Kirarin Animals made for Mey Mey)

- Oooh a crossover episode? Can’t wait!(@ the preview for the next episode)

My Rating for This Episode:

9/10 - A-

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Overall Score for These Episodes:

84% - B

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~~baileypie-writes

[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (221/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball,  which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made  on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: This story This story takes place about 66 years after the events of Dragon Ball Z.

[6 March, Age 745. Earth.]

"This is important, Goku. If you ever meet a girl, treat her nice. Do you understand?"

The little boy nodded his head, then put his hand to his chin thoughtfully. At last he said: "No, Grandpa, I don't."

Son Gohan chuckled and sat down on a well-worn tree stump. He ran his fingers over his thick white mustache for a moment before explaining.

"Listen, my boy," he began. "It's one thing to act up and be silly with your family. That's all well and good. But around strangers, you have to be a little more polite. It's just showing the proper respect."

"Okay!" Goku said. "I guess that makes sense." He began to sniffle, then he wiped his nose with his arm and wiped his arm onto the front of his blue gi.

"See, that right there. That's what I'm talking about, son," Gohan said. "You shouldn't do things like that in front of people you don't know! They'll think you're being mean and they won't want to be your friend."

"Ohhh," Goku said. "Sorry, Grandpa."

"That's all right, Goku," Gohan said. "But you really should be more careful with your clothes. They don't wash themselves, you know."

"It's okay, Grandpa!" Goku assured him. "They'll get good and wet the next time I go swimming. That'll clean 'em off for sure!"

"Hmm… I suppose that would do the trick, yes," Gohan said. "Anyway, we're getting off topic. It's just you and me out here in the wilderness, which is fine and all--"

"What about that old monster that you warned me about?" Goku asked. "The one you said only comes out when the moon is full?"

"Huh? Er… never mind him," Gohan said. "He doesn't count."

"How come?" Goku asked.

"Well, er… well… Because you said it yourself," Gohan sagely replied. "That monster only comes here on nights when the moon is full. He must not live around here all the time, like we do."

"Oh yeah," Goku said. "I never thought of it that way."

Gohan sighed before continuing. He had once lived on Mt. Paozu alone, using the solitude to hone his skill in the martial arts. Then he found the metal ball lying in a crater. He knew little about such things, but his only guess could be that it had been sent to Earth from some other world. He found a baby inside, but the boy was stronger and more developed than any Earthling infant he had ever heard of, and he had a tail, like that of a monkey. Son Gohan took the boy in, but when his parents never came to find him, he gave the child a name, 'Son Goku', and resolved to raise him as his own grandson. He saw a bright future for Goku in martial arts, but had second thoughts when he learned the boy's secret.

When the boy looked at the full moon, he would undergo a terrifying metamorphosis, becoming a gigantic ape-like creature with immense strength. Even Gohan, one of the world's foremost martial artists, was helpless against the ape's ferocious power, and only moonset seemed to reverse the transformation. And so, Gohan was unsure how to proceed with the boy's upbringing. He could warn him against looking at the full moon, but he thought it best to train him in seclusion until he was old enough to learn to control his power.

The problem with this approach was that he had to teach Goku how to behave in social situations without any society present to demonstrate. For Goku, the world began and ended with Mt. Paozu and his grandfather. He simply knew nothing else.

"Think about your mother and father, boy," Gohan said as he tried again. "We don't know what happened to them, or why they left you out in the woods as a baby. For all we know, they might still be out there, wondering what happened to you."

"Huh," Goku said. "Maybe they forgot about me."

Gohan suspected the truth may have been much darker than that, but he had decided long ago to keep the spacecraft a secret from Goku. The only person he had ever told about it was his martial arts teacher, the invincible old Master Roshi. Roshi agreed that they should never speak of it to anyone. Nevertheless, Goku's curiosity about his parents was one surefire way to get his attention.

"For all you know, you might bump into them someday and not even realize it," Gohan said. "And you'd want to be nice to them, don't you? So the only way you can be sure of that is to just be nice to everybody."

"Gosh. I never thought about it that way, Grandpa," Goku said. "But that's okay, because you already taught me to be nice to people, so I was gonna do that anyway!"

"Good, then you do understand," Gohan said with a smile.

"No, I don't," Goku replied. "I know why I'm supposed to be nice, but I've never seen a girl before."

Gohan blinked a few times as he realized his oversight. As he considered the problem, Goku sat down on the smaller stump beside his, and began kicking his heels as he waited for his grandfather to continue.

"Er, uh… well," Gohan said, tugging on the ends of his mustache as he considered the problem. "I hadn't thought of that. Girls are, uh… well, they're very special, son."

"Uh-huh," Goku said. "But what do they look like?"

"Well, they're…" he blushed as he considered it. In his younger days, Gohan was quite the ladies' man, and now… well, he was eighty-seven, but he wasn't dead. He didn't want to give Goku too narrow or too broad of a definition, and he taking him to the nearest town wasn't an option either. All the while, Goku stared at him with those loving, admiring eyes, eagerly waiting his grandfather's answer.

"Er, I'll explain it to you when you're older, Goku," Gohan finally said. "Let's just say it'll make more sense to you then."

"Aww," Goku said.

"Trust me, son, you'll know a girl when you meet one," Gohan assured him. "And they wouldn't likely keep it a secret anyway. But when you do( meet one, I want you to show them a lot of respect, you hear? Don't just fart in front of them like you do in the house."

Goku laughed, "I think you do that more than me, Grandpa!" he said. "It'd be pretty funny if I was a girl, and then you had to hold it in all the time! You'd probably pop!"

They laughed together for a long time after that.

[9 May, Age 791. The Tuffle Planet.]

A few months after his fateful clash with Beerus the Destroyer, Son Goku was contacted by another god, the Supreme Kai of Time. She warned him of an attack on West City that was connected to a wider conflict involving the Time Patrol, the band of mortal warriors who helped her safeguard history. The Kai deputized Goku into the Time Patrol, and assigned him to defend West City against three villains who had been revived and enslaved by the Demon God Demigra. There he was joined by one other Time Patroller, Luffa the Legendary Super Saiyan who had lived a thousand years before him.

He took an immediate liking to Luffa. She was brash and rough around the edges, and she reminded Goku of many of the other Saiyans he had met in his lifetime, but she also had a tender side to her that she wasn't very good at hiding. She also seemed to hold Goku in high esteem. They didn't always see eye-to-eye, and sometimes she expressed annoyance with his personality, but she believed there was a bond between them as fellow Super Saiyans, and it meant a great deal to her.

After they defeated Demigra, they agreed to fight each other, and Trunks had arranged a special battleground in an isolated fragment of time. The Tuffle Planet was a recreation of the world where Goku was born, but in orbit around the Earth's sun. It was uninhabited, and therefore the perfect place for an all-out brawl between Super Saiyans. Luffa had cooked Goku breakfast before the fight. Goku told her that it was Luffa's example that inspired him while he struggled to control his own Super Saiyan transformation. She wept when she heard this.

She had tried not to show it, but Goku knew. She had said she was chopping onions, but there weren't that many onions in his omelet. He wasn't always good with reading people's feelings, but Son Goku's stomach had an uncanny perception for these things.

No one remembered Luffa. Most of the Saiyans in Goku's era were dead, and few who remained knew anything about the Super Saiyan legend. Vegeta had said that the last Super Saiyan had only been able to maintain his power while in the giant ape form, and even then, his rage caused his power to consume and destroy him. In fact, that Super Saiyan was a woman named Luffa, and she had proven to be very much in control of her power. But her story had been lost to time, and so she was very touched to hear that Goku had heard anything about her, and that her example had helped him in his own ascension.

He respected her a great deal. He had done everything he could think of to give her the kind of fight she craved, to be an opponent worthy of her ancient status. But she was still standing, still too strong, still expecting more.

During the fight with Beerus, Goku had briefly used the power of an ancient form known as "Super Saiyan God". His body somehow "memorized" that power, and he discovered that he could continue to tap into it even after the god form expired. But it was getting harder to do as time went on. At first, he could approximate the Super Saiyan God form simply with his ordinary Super Saiyan form. But each time he tried it, he lost a little more of that god power. He found that advancing to Super Saiyan 2 would compensate for this, but not completely. It was still a tremendous power, though, and it was good enough for most opponents, but not Luffa. It just wasn't enough.

There was only one thing left to try.

It wouldn't be easy, but it he had to attempt it.

For her.

All Luffa knew was that Goku had withstood her last attack and he was now floating in the air and screaming. She couldn't get a clear reading of his ki because she had polluted their battleground with her own ki to interfere with his teleportation ability. Still, it was clear that he was trying to raise his power level, and she imagined that he was pushing himself beyond what she had seen from him so far.

That worried Luffa a great deal. She had surpassed Goku in strength and was certain she had nearly defeated him. Whatever he was doing now could only be a desperation play. He no longer cared whether it was prudent or safe. Now Goku was just looking to make his last shot count as much as he could. And while Luffa was honored by the gesture, she was horrified by the implications.

Luffa had never heard of Super Saiyans before she became one. The mighty heroes of Saiyan mythology were just that: Saiyans, with no mention of them having glowing yellow hair or green eyes. There was no one, dead or alive, who could completely assure her that her transformation was natural, or permanent, or safe. Over time, she grew more comfortable with the form, but in the back of her mind, she always wondered if the next time she transformed might be the last. She wondered if her body would simply tear itself apart from the strain.

As she watched Son Goku now, she discovered a new dimension to her fear. He had already done the unthinkable with his Super Saiyan 2 form. What if he had finally pushed himself too far? What if he didn't realize how fine a line he was walking? What if he burst apart in a flash of light, right before Luffa's eyes?

"Kakarot!" she shouted. "You've got to stop it! You're going to hurt yourself! Kakarot!"

He did not answer. With the way he was screaming, she wondered if he could even hear her. A wind rose up and the folds of Luffa's yellow pants began to flap like a flag in a storm. The turbulence was so intense that she wrapped her tail around her waist to secure it. She held her arm over her face to protect her eyes, but she never looked away from her opponent. She was afraid that if she lost sight of him, she might never see him again.

"Kakarot, answer me!" she screamed. "Give me a sign! Dammit!"

There was no reaching him. If he could still hear her, then he wasn't listening, or perhaps he couldn't understand. That left her only one choice: to stand by and watch him die.

"Like hell…" she muttered as she charged her ki. She had lost enough in her short life. Her family, her friends, her place in history, and all the little indignities she had suffered along the way. On some intellectual level, she understood that Goku had already died twice before and could be resurrected again if necessary. But emotionally, none of that mattered. She would not lose him. That was all she could think about.

As she had done so many times during their battle, Luffa charged at Goku once more, but not to defeat him. This time, she was determined to save him from himself.

It was dangerous to attack a warrior while he was raising his power level so drastically. Most martial disciplines frowned upon it as dishonorable conduct, but even the more ruthless warrior cultures understood that it was foolhardy at best. A rapid increase in ki energy was unpredictable, and the opponent might become much more resistant to attack from one moment to the next. That made it difficult to determine how hard to strike, and what body part to target.

As a Super Saiyan, Luffa had enough of a power advantage that she didn't have to worry about such things with most of her foes. She preferred to let them power up anyway, since she wanted them to give her as great a challenge as possible. But she had seen what happened to weaker opponents who tried to attack her in mid-transformation. One raider captain had tried to take her by surprise, and the feedback nearly killed him. It was possible for Luffa to transform safely in close contact with other beings, as Zatte could have attested, but in a combat situation, it was best to just let the enemy carry on with their business.

But Goku was in grave danger, and Luffa was willing to risk the consequences. If she could just hit him hard enough to knock him out, then everything would be all right.

This was the sole thought in her mind as she pushed through the air currents and inched closer and closer to the edge of Goku's brilliant aura. She led with her fist, and just as she thought she might reach him--

Luffa was flung back like a bullet hitting a steel plate. It was also like the plate was electrified and a bolt of lightning zapped the bullet as it bounced away. And the bullet felt a great deal of pain from the experience. And the bullet began to mutter ancient Saiyan obscenities.

Luffa did not fly to a safe distance, for the sheer force of Goku's aura was enough to drive her back whether she wanted to be pushed away or not. As she recovered from her first attempt, she continued to stare wide-eyed at Goku and wondered what she could possibly accomplish with another try.

"There must be a way to get through to him," Luffa said, almost pleading with herself to find it. "A ki blast would just bounce off him at this point. Hell, it might even blow him up even faster. What's left? Dammit, I've been trying to beat this guy all morning and nothing's worked! What else is left?!"

She began starting at her hands, which were trembling now, almost as badly as they ever had. Then the answer came to her, and she steeled herself for another advance on Goku's position.

"Please, let this work," she murmured as she forced her body closer and closer to him. Once more, she led with her left hand, but instead of a closed fist, she extended her fingers, hoping to touch Goku's face.

Saiyans possessed a measure of telepathic abilities, and as Luffa advanced from Saiyan to Super Saiyan, she discovered that those abilities had increased. She could read the minds of other beings, even aliens, simply by touching them and applying her ki the right way. It had little use in combat, and she had never considered using it against Goku since she assumed another Super Saiyan could resist it. But this was no longer a combat situation, and she hoped that if she could get through to Goku's mind, even for just a moment, then she could get through to him long enough to calm him down.

It had to work. It was his only chance.

She was still inches away from his face, but somehow she could feel it working. She just had to get a little closer…

And then, she made contact!

Luffa immediately regretted it.

What he was doing now wasn't easy, but he had to keep pushing. He had to keep trying!

It wasn't just the pain of loss! It wasn't just anger! There was something more!

He was a small boy, waking up to find his grandfather was gone. There was a full moon out the night before, and the monster had come and smashed the house and the trees and everything else. He looked and looked for his grandfather, and finally found his dead body, crushed inside a gigantic footprint.

He was a young man, in the fight of his life against the Saiyan Prince Vegeta, who had just revealed he had the power to transform into a monstrous giant ape. Gradually, the horrible truth became clear, and he knew that he and Vegeta were both monsters, but at least Vegeta took ownership of his monstrosity. He, on the other hand, had killed his own grandfather without even realizing it.

He was a boy cradling his best friend's corpse in his arms. He swore revenge, but the enemy beat him within an inch of his life. Then the one who ordered Krillin's death came, and there was nothing he could do. His heart stopped, and he was left for dead, helpless to save anyone, even himself…

He was an orphan, when his brother appeared and revealed to him his true origins, proudly declaring that they were the last of a race so wicked and cruel that he was ashamed to be one of them.

He was on the ground, bleeding out from a hole in his chest the size of a baseball. He had sacrificed himself to save his son, only to leave the boy to face a hostile world without a father.

He was in the afterlife, sacrificing himself again. The explosion of Cell's self-destruction was like falling into a giant furnace, and then… oblivion. And then… the bitter realization that his sacrifice was not enough.

He was on the battlefield, feeling a pressure inside his chest so intense that it seemed like his entire body would burst. The virus had affected him so suddenly that he never knew to take the medicine until it was too late. But now he was on the battlefield, at the worst possible time, and the pitiless machine that had been programmed to kill him would not wait. Eagerly, the assassin stepped forward…

He was on the heavenly palace, dead for seven years, listening to his youngest son calling him a coward. What answer is there? All he can do is bear his son's contempt and wait for a chance to redeem his reputation.

He is a patient in a hospital, for there are no senzu beans left to heal his broken body. For weeks he lays helpless in a bed, while his son journeys headlong into danger, taking his place. His beloved wife, who is so much stronger than she will ever know, is wracked with worry and heartache, but she bears it with all her strength. And still he lays there, unable to do anything but wait…

He is a boy, battered and beaten at the hands of the martial arts prodigy Tien Shinhan. The beating is nothing, but the paralysis is what truly enrages him. For long, agonizing minutes, he can only endure the pain, helpless to fight back.

He is a young man, and in a moment of indiscretion he receives a terrible injury to his shoulder and chest. Piccolo is not satisfied, and he breaks yours legs and injures your other arm as well. And you know you can still seize victory from the jaws of despair, but you have to wait for your moment, and in the time that takes, you must lie helpless and endure the cries of your dear friends, your beloved wife, and the men who taught you so much. You want to tell them it will be all right, that you can win this and make it right, but you have to wait, and wait…

You are a coward. Why didn't you fight Majin Buu? Why didn't you save Vegeta and Gohan? How could you just let them die?

You are a fool! Why did you let Trunks and Piccolo and your own sons die? So you could save Dende and Mr. Satan instead?! Ridiculous!

You are a fool! Why would you send your own son to defeat Cell and then give him a senzu bean? What have you done?

You are a fool! Why would you give Vegeta a senzu bean? What have you done?!

You are a fool! Why would you give Piccolo a senzu bean? What have you done?!

You are a monster! You killed your own grandfather, the man who took you in when no one else wanted you. He raised you like his own child and you repaid his kindness with blood!

You are a monster! Your own brother says so. His only regret is that you aren't as monstrous as he is! He boasts of unspeakable atrocities and demands you kill a hundred innocent people and display their bodies on the shore just to prove your worth! You can refuse, but it only proves your weakness. The monstrosity remains, Kakarot!

You're a failure, Kakarot! You call yourself a Saiyan from Earth but you get beaten to a pulp almost as soon as you arrive on Namek to save the others. You say you'll fight Frieza alone, but you end up watching helplessly as he slaughters Krillin before your very eyes!

You're a failure, Kakarot! Why else would they send you to Earth, where you couldn't possibly be hurt? And yet you kept getting hurt anyway!

You're a failure, Kakarot! Bora deserved better and you were powerless to avenge him!

You're a failure, Kakarot! Krillin and Master Roshi and Chiaotzu deserved better!

You're a failure, Kakarot! Too slow to save Yamcha or Tien or Chiaotzu or Piccolo!

You're a failure, Kakarot! Best to shuffle out of life and hide in death, where your enemies cannot find you. It is the only way to save the Earth from the same fate as Planet Vegeta!

You're a failure, Kakarot! Cowering in your grave, and leaving your sons to fight in your place. What kind of man sends boys against a creature like Majin Buu!

I am Kakarot, alone and abandoned, left to die in the wilderness!

I am not Kakarot! I am Son Goku!

I am the World Champion! Number One Under The Heavens!

I am the Saiyan who came from Earth, for the sole purpose of beating you!

I am the warrior you've heard of in legends, pure of heart and awakened by fury! That's what I am!

I am the Super Saiyan, Son Goku!

I won't lose!

I won't lose!

Oh well, a loss is a loss, but I will not lose!

I will train hard and become even stronger, and I will not lose!

I know it's hard, but this is the only way! I have to do it! For all of them, for myself, and for her!

She fought so hard, all by herself…

She gave me her strength when we needed it the most!

She deserves to fight me at my absolute best, and I will not let her down!

No matter how hard it gets, I have to keep pushing! It's the only way!

It's not like the other forms, awakened through the pain of loss, or through rage!

It has to be awakened through regret! And through shame, and all the lingering doubts that I always manage to sweep aside!

Let them pile up again, like the dirt on Grandpa's grave! Like your friends' whispers when they realized you killed him and they couldn't bear to tell you!

It hurts… so much…

But that just means it's working! Don't give up now! Don't you dare give up on her!

This next energy… has to come deep inside! Push hard to find it!

He had to push harder! It was the only way to go even… further…beyond!

The backlash was even worse than it had been the first time. The first time, Luffa had only tried to punch Goku. This time, she had actually touched his mind, and when she came to her senses she found herself kneeling on the the ground with blood trickling from her nose.

Luffa did not know how long she had been unconscious. She awoke to the sound of distant screaming, and found herself on one knee, doubled over like she had been genuflecting for some alien potentate. She quickly rose to her feet and returned her attention to Goku.

Her mind was still reeling from the flood of memories and emotions that she had received from Goku. It didn't entirely make sense, but it seemed that whatever he was doing, it was intentional. He had not lost control of his power, but he was deliberately forcing his body to harness his power in a certain way. And he was channeling all his darkest emotions to do it.

For her.

"I don't deserve it," Luffa said in a small voice. "I don't want it. You have to stop this! Please. It's not worth it!"

There was nothing she could do, and so all that was left was to beg.

"Stop it now, Kakarot!" she shouted. "You'll tear yourself apart like this! Please! Don't do this to yourself!"

His screaming continued, only now it sounded even more painful, more desperate. It sounded like a cat being tortured in a nightmare, except she was wide awake, and helpless to stop it. It was horrible.

"Goku! You've got to stop!" she yelled. "I… I'm sorry!"

She winced at the thought of calling him by his Earthling name, but she didn't know what else to do. It was a core tenet of Saiyan culture to address one another by their Saiyan names. Even despised enemies deserved that much courtesy. But Goku was unfamiliar with the custom, and she was running out of words.

It was getting harder to see him now. He was glowing so brightly, and the tears in her eyes only made it harder to look at him.

"Just stop it," she whispered. "We'll call the whole thing off--"

And then, just when it seemed like the horror would never end, there was a brilliant flash of light from his body, and Luffa had to look away. In that moment, she realized it already too late, and she wondered if she could escape this unscathed.

Then the next moment came, and Luffa found that she and the planet were still there. So was Goku. The only thing that had been lost was the scream. A silence had fallen upon the battlefield. The quiet was so profound that Luffa almost missed the scream.

Warily, Luffa floated up to meet Goku, for she could not see him well against the yellow glow. As she approached, she saw his aura pulsing around him at an intense rate. It sounded like fish sizzling on a frying pan.

As she drew closer, she was relieved to see he was unhurt, but his hair had changed again. It was still bright yellow, but much, much longer now, and hung down over his back. A single cowlick from his bangs dangled in front of his forehead.

His eyebrows were… gone. The brows themselves seemed thicker and more pronounced. From beneath that heavy brow, Goku's blue eyes started out from the shadows. Unlike the Super Saiyan eyes she had seen before, Goku's eyes now had visible pupils in the center. It was a minor difference, and yet it made his expression all the more frightening to behold.

More than ever, Luffa understood the terror Saiyans had experienced when they saw her in the transformed state. Despite everything she had learned about herself, despite everything she had come to accept, there was still an internalized loathing for what she now saw. She swallowed her superstitious prejudice, and moved closer, pausing only to wipe the blood from her nose.

"What have you done to yourself?" she asked, her voice shaking as she reached out to him.

He smiled at her, as though seeing her for the first time, and Luffa found this even more frightening. From the nose down, it was basically the same man she had been fighting the whole time. It might have been easier to take if he had been replaced with a whole new person, or turned into some hideous creature, but the familiarity made it that much more unnerving.

Then, at last... he spoke.

"I'm sorry that took so long," he said. "But I've always had trouble with this one, and I wanted to make sure I got it just right. Besides… heh! It's like you said before. This is a special occasion. This is what I call a Super Saiyan 3."

Luffa said nothing. She could only float there, in stunned silence.

NEXT: It's a Fight From Here On.

[citrus-cactus]

Oh my god what if we actually get hot grown-up Wallace in the new 02 movie

I know he was *technically* in Kizuna but if he got an actual close-up

I might die

[firebirdsdaughter]

On the other hand...

... Saikyo Battle just dropped one hell of a plot bomb...

HOW ARE YOU GONNA SQUEEZE ALL THIS INTO FOUR EPS GUYS?

SPOILERS BELOW.

IT IS THE ARMOUR.

IT’S THE DAMN ARMOUR.

THAT’S why it’s looking for the ‘strongest.’

IT WANTS A BODY.

So I guess we can only presume that it was using Luka when it fought the Gokaigers at the start? And now it’s got Takaharu...

But if it’s got Takaharu, where did it leave Luka? Was she the one sneaking up on Stinger at the end there? There’s a preview image that implies he ends up fighting the armour as well, though. So... Does the armour multiply every time it find someone new?

There’s also an image that makes me think the armour is gonna be like ‘if you destroy me you’re gonna kill him too’ bc it’s standing in from of Marv’s gun sticking its arms out like ‘I dare you to shoot.’

Other facts: Stinger discovered some kind of alchemy lab, and apparently some big clue. Also I swear to god he was grumbling about Tsurugi after getting no answer via com. And he’s possibly about to get murdered. Though maybe it’s Luka. Actually, I feel like that wouldn’t change anything. Rita’s definitely up to something.

Most important of all, though, is that I need to ascertain whether or not Kakeru reminded us he was a veterinarian.

[dbzebra]

Different anon here, but I don't think I could even begin describe my visceral irritation at Toyotaro's reveal that this Super Hero mini-arc was apparently mostly developed with Trunks SOLELY in mind, and for that matter, the rather notable implication that Goten is only involved in the first place BECAUSE Trunks was going to supposedly be a big focus for this thing.

UGGGGHHHH I KNOOOOOW

I don’t know if you saw my other posts about the recent chapter but I said from the start that I had a bad feeling Goten would just be a sidekick (AGAIN) but wanted to give it more time.

When the chapter came out, I knew it deep in my gut. I knew Goten was just to the side and it was clearly a Trunks story, but I was holding out hope that he’d still get things to do on his own

That scene where Trunks bails on Goten to make plans with Mai should’ve been obvious enough to me but I was in denial. I still kinda am

I purposely didn’t allow myself to get excited from the moment I saw Teen Goten in that outfit in the promo art because deep down I KNEW.

And Toyotaro proved me right 🙃

Goten gets shafted in favor of a romcom between Trunks and Mai. Like come on man. This shit isn’t funny anymore. He can never be his own character, he’s just forever Trunks’s tag along :(

Just please leave my boy alone. Don’t even show him anymore if you’re just gonna do that. It’s really a shame.

Like for real I do love Trunks and I’m happy he is getting spotlight but why at the cost of Goten? He is pretty much an afterthought by everyone in his life

This is why I like to joke that I stole Goten from Toyo/Toei/Toriyama and that he’s my character now because clearly they have no interest in using him so I will

Maybe I’m just on huge copium that Goten will still get his own things to do, but it’s not looking good man

It’s not fair :(

[watchingblsnowandforever]

Hello!!

I'm back to crack posting about my favourite shows and/or characters! =D

We Are ep 8 was gold. It had comedy, friendship, silliness and romance in the absolute perfect amounts.

Warning: long post 😊😅

This scene with Peem and Matt is peak comedy. I rewatched it so many times hehe

Phum: I'm gonna ignore every inch of space to stand right beside you. <3

Peem: *bombastic side eye*

Also Peem: *leans into him*

Khaofang woke up today and chose violence 😭👍🏼

Let's be honest though, that was not the sibling we'd expected to throw fists.

Meanwhile, Toey: that's my hia Fang 😊

Isn't that the million dollar question Mick 😭

If they got together already, how would the series run for 16 eps 😭

Toey with his hias ^ (also Matt edging him on like he's in a competition I'm dying 😭)

Toey with his P'Q:

However savage Q may be, he still shares the same braincell with his friends 😭👍🏼

IT WAS SO MEAN OF THEM TO MAKE MATT PAY WHEN THEY'VE HARDLY EVEN TAKEN A SIP! T-T

Peem before, when Phum even touched him: LET GO YOU ASSHOLE

Peem now: *fond, indulging smile* what do you want to do?

*shakes head with a sigh* boys in love ay

The motorcycle 'hold me tightly' trope being reused with a bicycle aka how to make them sit even closer

Peem saying so-so when Phum asks if he looks handsome: Peem, babe, you were the one who called him handsome first remember? 😭

What secretly. Phum was about as subtle as a football directly hitting your painting (yes I think I'm very funny).

With all due respect, please get the f out and let my boys be. Please and thank you. :)

^This is the answer to any question about Pun. 😭👍🏼

This scene is so, so beautiful. I am absolutely loving how they’re giving friendship/platonic love as much importance as romantic love because yes. I've been waiting for a bl like this forever (or at least since I got into bls hehe-). Bad Buddy and MSP came close, but We Are took the trophy. They love each other so much. Kill for each other? Nah, they'd go together and make that person's life living hell, and that would make my day.

I really really love that they're still so silly with each other in college, and are close to and comfortable enough with each other to be able to be childish and play in the middle of the day, to be each other's safe space.

This friendship is so precious and close to my heart. Even more than the romantic parts of the story, this is what makes me want to watch this series every week to see what new shenanigans they've got up to.

I love them. So much.

Beer is me, I am Beer.

Smiling at them so softly. Oh, he knows. And he ships. 👍🏼

This scene was also so beautiful.

They've finally started acknowledging that there's something between them.

I think more than Phum being unable to express himself, he's taking small steps to guage how Peem reacts. He wants them to be on the same page before he takes the next step.

Like with the kiss, he didn't hesitate to talk about it, to tell how much it means to him and then kiss Peem again. But he waited until Peem kissed him first, and till he was sure that Peem wanted to talk about it.

I really like this about him. He's not taking a step back per se, just making sure that when he takes a step forward, he's not leaving Peem one step behind.

Phum explains again and again how Peem is his safe space (his dialogues this time reminding us of Peem's little speech to his own friends and Fang talking about why he likes Tan with Phum), to make sure Peem knows.

It's already been told to us how alone he's been most of his life, so Peem and his ragtag group of friends is very new for him, but it's fun, and it not only brings him closer to Peem but also a friend group - a support system he didn't really have before. Sure, he has Fang, Beer and Mick, and Tan, but it's nothing like this silly little group that puts paint on each other then plays with water and gets almost black out drunk on a regular basis.

Also, did anyone else notice the two matching rainbow coloured jars behind Peem here? No? 👀

Simp. (affectionate)

I always love these call scenes where one of them somehow travels through his cell phone to land in the other's bed hehe

Peem is so done with Phum and his branded fashion outfits 😭😭

"You were born in Thailand."

Pond and the "I'm Thai" meme 😭

wait.

A bl lead realising he likes someone (his romantic interest) all on his lonesome??

Colour me surprised!

I actually didn't think I'd get to see this happen ever in a Thai bl, but good for him lol

So that's that for this week! If you've gotten this far, thank you so much for reading! 😊

Here, have a bubble tea 🧋

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

We Are Day! *happy dance*

Love these sweet boys. And that this show will never stop reminding us that this is the center of it all.

Adding "They Call Me Pigfish" to the list of inexplicable but hilarious t-shirts in BL.

Omg, these boys are pure chaos.

Hmm, I want to give Kluen credit for not being pushy with Peem, but he's also not in any position to be telling Phum not to hurt Peem. He's not that level of friend. That feels over-steppy.

Tan, boo, you know I love you, but you were literally described as a playboy earlier. Don't be silly about Fang having one ex.

Lol, but of course he's so easy to make happy again. Fang knows how to run this man perfectly.

Fai is all of us.

Jesus, Pond, sometimes you are too good at your job. I am taking damage from this look!

Lol, the horns. Never change Peem.

We saw that look Chain!

He wants to be your little princess, Peem, we've already established this.

Haha, blushing Peem is so cute. These two are going to be merciless in their boyfriend era.

Ok, it's hilarious that Phum is already planning the wedding, but it's so much better that HE CAN LEGALLY PLAN A WEDDING NOW, whoop, whoop!!

Fang has found his happiest and safest space in the world and I am not normal about this.

Arggh, Chain, how can you not jump on this man who is sitting there saying "I need love"? I get that you don't want to spoil the friendship, but please smoosh him already!?!

Not Q being so proud to show off Toey to Peem's mom! Oh, my heart.

Haha, and then Tan just being all "this is my boyfriend, k, bye!".

But it is kind of funny to me that presumably Q, Tan, Chain, & Pun also all grew up near here, but would rather visit Peem's family than their own.

TanFang and QToey cuteness all so close together, I am swooning.

Lol, Mom wants to party with the boys, she's awesome.

His dad calls him Cat, that is so cuuuute!!!

Oh Phum, my heart. To grow up feeling so much cold in your family, and then to see this...

Omg, Chain is finally doing something!!!

Q carrying Toey up those stairs? Dude, you are a beast!

Oh, so next episode is going to just straight up kill me. Got it.

[shohokubasket]

So, personally I am really looking forward to The First SLAM DUNK (2022) and think it will be a lot of fun! I think it's great that they are incorporating a new story and approach. I like the new voice actors as well and love how excited they are to be a part of this project. Also I like the character design (Mitsui's missing scar is my only confusion lol) and the CGI! Anyway, I will not be getting into criticism about the appearance of the movie lol.

One thing I WILL say though: I do kinda agree with some of the opinions that I've seen surrounding the marketing of the movie. I think whoever was in charge of the marketing (presumably Toei) dropped the ball on how to advertise the movie when they found out Inoue wanted to get new voice actors, try a different animation style, and kind of take a new approach to telling the story.

I just think that it would have been cool if they had actually used this to their advantage to say things like "this is a whole NEW slam dunk!" and "look forward to a new generation of voice actors telling this story!". This way they can still keep further details a mystery while also being clear about the goal and expectations for the movie. It's not like they promised maintaining any of the elements of the old anime at all, and I think people understand that, but I do think the huge reputation of the original anime and lack of clear info until kinda last minute really contributed to some people feeling bamboozled. I kinda imagine maybe some of those people were disappointed because they had already purchased a voucher, but idk that for sure of course.

Even if I personally expected them to take on new voice actors and songs, because I feel like most reboots do lol, I can empathize with people who hoped that they would maintain some of those elements (for whoever is still active in the industry, of course). I also think it would have been cool if they maybe spaced out the announcements: show an interview with the voice actors one week, interview the music artists the next week, show the trailer the following week, something like that for people to either warm up to the movie or not.

I can even understand people who feel like they should have maybe waited to sell vouchers, that they feel like Toei "purposely hid" information. However, it's kinda hard for me to fully sign on to this argument when I think about how the general delays in the production may have contributed to this conundrum, but I digress.

Anyway, that's just my two cents on this matter. I know that with reboots like this you can't please everyone, plain and simple, but I just think the movie team missed an opportunity to try and spin things more in their favor and have fans (old and new) be more open to this new approach.

Anyway, I'm SOO excited to see the boys again!! While it will be nice to get an update on REAL one day, I gotta put my family first ✌

[izzyizumi]

Digimon Adventure/02/tri./Kizuna x Ghost Game {Ep #19} (A.M.V) [Pre-view] ~ “The Dragon Boy” [As this is a pre-view, it is Un-finished {For now}] featuring DUO/O.T.P.: Ken Ichijouji x Daisuke Motomiya {Eventual! Focus}/{as Ship} [Other Adventure Chosen {notably (brief appearances of) 02!Koushiro} may also appear slightly more in the full version] From: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi {“Spirited Away”} Digimon Adventure 02 (C) Toei Animation/“““Akiyoshi Hongo””” {Using symbols in places / tags to keep from showing in Search} (This is a FAN-work; I do not own DigiAdvs or OST usage!)

Notes: - Currently un-finished, we’ll see if I can ever finish it effectively - Maybe the upcoming “02″ thing may inspire me to finish it?! - Minimal spoilers for the very first scenes of Tri and Kizuna (Chosen are not shown, only sceneries for emphasis/parallels) - Ghost Game scenes are used primarily for showcasing yet more scenery/thematic parallels, however, Perhaps something more “unusual” is also going on? - While it is not connected directly to my Alternate Universes fic-“verse”, {most of my current works involve Taichi and Koushiro A.U.s focus}; this could have perhaps been a part or at least concept of my original “fic-verse” for 02?! (Maybe they slightly connect?!)

{And then this series keeps providing me with quality lore, so!}

{Additional note: this post is mainly intended AS SHIPs/PERSONAL PREFERENCE. please remember + RESPECT this when interacting please tag only as the ship name[s] and DO NOT tag as only “brotp” or the like only*, thank you!} (*It is ok if you tag as “friendship” or the like along WITH the ship!!) {Failure to acknowledge interacting rules WILL result in a block}

[imthatchishiyasimp]

HELLOOOOO!!!

I'm freaking out this is my first post, like the first one shot I post and write about AIB and Chishiya.

I really hope you all like it, please please please tell me what you think about it and whatever you want to tell me.

It's long (4444 words), I know, but I hate small things because I get upset. It's very close to the story and it doesn't have lot's of changes, I wanted to try first to write about something I know. In the future I will write more original and new stuff. Also, I wanted to get used to the universe and to the characters first.

HAVE A NICE READ 💚

“THIS WAY TO THE GAME ARENA”

The sign flashes all around the city. I slowly walk towards the Toei Sendagaya block apartment, focused on the cube in my hands. Due to having no electricity, I’ve gotten used to pick random things from stores to entertain myself.

It’s still shocking to feel the city so silent and calm, and at the same time it feels terrifying. One would think that being that people die every day, the streets would be forgiving. You can’t even lower your guard now. Even since the first day, I’ve liked walking around the streets, checking out shops and random apartments. I kinda feel powerful, but it’s something that deep inside I know it’s just fake and limited. And I’m not giving up, but at least I’m going to enjoy now that I can, until ‘they’ decide that I’m not needed around anymore.

The tall complex shines between the bushes and buildings, its lights on every floor lighted on. I place myself a few meters hidden behind the stairs leading to the central lobby. From there, I sit and watch people climb the stairs. A couple of them look pretty scared and lost, showing signs of this being their first game. The rest all look shaken up but used to this. When it looks like no one else will come, I get up and get to the crowd around the phones.

There’s thirteen people waiting and all of them look at me while I pick the phone from the table. When the facial recognition is finished I can see that there’s only a few seconds left for the game to start. Almost didn’t make it. Would have been stupid to die because I was daydreaming.

‘Move aside’ I say to Chishiya, elbowing him after not having a response. He looks at me annoyed and slips off his earphones. He finally moves to let me place my back at the wall and get my hair in a bun.

“REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 14 PARTICIPANTS. THE GAME WILL NOW COMMENCE.”

It’s so easy to point out who the newcomers are and the ones that are sick of playing. You can also name who’s going to be willing to put themselves first and who’s going to scary run the whole game.

I start rolling the sleeves of my sweatshirt up when a boy with a cap starts talking to some guys. They look lost, but not new to this. Might be the first week here. I eye them from my spot, not saying a thing but listening to the whole exchange.

“Excuse me, do you know what this is?” He asks a black haired boy. Honestly, he looks a mess, like he has just gotten up from bed and hasn't changed in a few days. “I ended up here and I have no idea what’s going on”.

“It’s a game” He answers. At the same time, the blonde man next to him, probably his friend, tells him to stop it. I chuckle and cover it up with a cough, earning myself a glare from both Chishiya and Aguni. I might be prone to get in trouble with people and they won’t be happy if I screw a game up. Better be quiet.

The blonde guy whispers to his friend and I try to pick something up from the conversation. Not get close to the new ones and something else.

“DIFFICULTY: FIVE OF SPADES”

The card flashes on our phones, telling us the kind of game and the level of difficulty. I was so curious about the card when I got to my first game, I didn’t know what it meant and what I was supposed to do with it. I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I admire the cleverness behind the rules and the method of the games. It’s the work of both a psycho and a genius.

A sporty girl starts to stretch just after the card shows, so she must know what it means. She’s calm and collected and I bet she’s willing to put all of us on the killing zone before she goes down. We could be friends, I think.

I hear a sigh next to me and I catch a glimpse of Chishiya rolling his eyes. He doesn’t exactly hate physical games, but they sometimes mean having to run or climb and he’s not a fan of working out. And, even though he won’t admit it, he doesn’t like having his white hoodie dirty. Not going to judge, I don’t love spades games either, but I will choose them over the hearts ones a million times.

I get down to tie my shoes tighter just in case. I would hate tripping like the clown I really am in front of all these people. Some guy in a hat starts explaining to the two friends from before what it means a spades game. Club games are hard if there are more newcomers than experienced people. I mean, if it's a game where team work means everything, you bet you prefer working with someone who knows the way around the games. Diamond ones are a bit weird: being clever will get you through them, but sometimes the answer is so straightforward that you get lost looking for the catch. Heart games are the worst. They will kill you even if you survive, and pray that you don’t get to play with a friend or someone you know.

“GAME: A GAME OF TAG.”

“RULE: RUN AWAY FROM THE TAGGER.”

“CLEAR CONDITION: DISCOVER THE SAFEZONE HIDDEN IN ONE OF THE BUILDING ROOMS WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT. YOU CLEAR THE GAME WHEN THIS OBJECTIVE IS FULFILLED.”

“TIME LIMIT: 20 MINUTES.”

“AFTER 20 MINUTES HAS PASSED, THE TIME BOMB HIDDEN IN THE BUILDING WILL EXPLODE.”

I turn around to face Chishiya, grinning like a mad girl. He doesn’t even flinch when he stops me from talking. “No, I’m not racing you to the top.”

“But…” I sigh and watch as everyone starts running to the stairs like lost puppies. “You are so mean”. I punch him in the shoulder and cross my arms, walking towards the lift. No need running seven floors up and wasting energy if I’m not even going to be able to brag about having won a race.

Chishiya follows closely behind, probably guessing I’m going to try and leave him there.

“TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE GAME STARTS.”

We get inside the lift and silently wait until we get to the seventh floor. It’s been a long time since I used one, not everyday you get to play in a building apartment. Feels nice, and like we’re back to normal.

Once we get to the top, we both choose a position that lets us have a good look at the whole complex. He goes to one wing while I leave for the other one. No point leaving a flank unseen. I take my cube out and restart it, keeping an eye on the people looking around scattered through the floors. I don’t get why someone would choose saying in the lower ground when a tagger is supposed to chase you through the whole building. Dude, that’s the most critical place to start.

“Hey, don’t get distracted with those games of yours.”

“Don’t be mean, Chishiya. You know I’m paying attention.” Anyway, once I finish the cube, I keep it in my pocket and rest my arms on the banister.

Aguni and his new friend get to the seventh floor and both of us wave towards him. Like always, he completely ignores us and keeps walking towards another high point.

“That’s nasty” Chishiya says and I nod along. Aguni is always so serious during games, it’s boring.

“I place my bet on those two guys and the sporty girl surviving”. I firmly say. They look like they will make it, but not without having a rough time.

He has the audacity to snort and laugh at me and I look at him surprised. “You’re joking. Everyone looks like they’re about to die, as usual. Just look at them, they don’t know shit about what to do”.

“Were you this calm in your first games? Don’t be mean, they are trying their best. No one wants to die.”

“But, where you that stupid?” He says while pointing to a couple of girls on the second floor who are touching their phones desperately. “I’m not saying you gotta be a genius from the start, but if you don’t collect yourself quickly, you are already dead.”

“Well, my majesty, not all of us are like you, and some people need a little more time, and a little more help.”

Chishiya looks at me and, as if I had imagined, a caring and sorry look crosses his eyes. He probably remembers the first time he saw me get through the games and how I completely lost it once. It wasn’t easy.

“THE GAME WILL NOW COMMENCE.”

He nudges my arm with his elbow and I look at him.

“THE TIME LIMIT IS 20 MINUTES.”

“Hey” He says with a soft voice.

“GAME START.”

“Don’t die this time.”

“Wasn't planning to.”

“THE TAGGER IS NOW ON THE MOVE.”

As if we all had planned it, the whole complex goes silent, trying to locate this said tagger. A trumpet goes off and everyone looks scared, ready to bolt to wherever they can.

The sound of the lift’s doors can be heard from our position, so the tagger is probably on the sixth or fifth floor.

Not a penny drop can be heard. Not a breath.

Some people start walking and try to open doors. The rest are all watching closely until something happens.

And it does.

Gunshots run through the dense air that surrounds us. I try to see where they come from and I finally catch sight of the tagger. Probably a man, judging for the height, with a horse head and a really mean gun. He’s on the sixth floor, just in front of the stairs.

I point at him and nudge Chishiya, but I already know that he has seen him.

There’s now thirteen of us.

And then shots are fired again and we can see the two friends and the one with the hat running down the stairs, away from the tagger.

“Told you, they are gonna get killed.” Chishiya says with a smirk.

“Oh shut up, this is not a TV show we are talking about. And I have faith in them”.

They split up on the third floor, the hat man keeps going down while the other two try to hide in the hallway. Not long after, on the ground floor that the tagger chases and shots the first one and finds another man freaking out. I don’t know if it’s better that he died because he went off the game zone instead of being shot by the tagger. Anyway, he’s also dead. And that makes three dead players.

Eleven participants left.

“See, they are smart. At least the cute one”. I say smiling.

Chishiya looks at me and raises an eyebrow, silently questioning just what I said.

“What? It’s not like I’m lying; he is cute, and smart.” I laugh and wink at him, cutting eye contact with him. If we are going to have an awkward moment, please don’t be while we are playing for our lives.

The killing spree of the tagger continues with the pretty and lost two girls. They sure are on their first game, because they look so freaking scared and unprepared. I mean, who would have come with heels and handbags. I scoff and shake my head watching how one of them falls dead and the other one wastes an incredible opportunity of getting away while the tagger reloads. Well, not all of us are strong enough to leave our friend and not panic at the same time. Shame she has to die, anyway.

So now we are nine players still alive.

Looks like everything’s gone silent again, until shouts break the silence and we all look for the source. It’s the cute guy and I laugh when I understand what he’s saying.

“Everyone! The tagger is currently at the second level of the central area! The tagger has bad vision because of his mask! Let’s inform each other of the tagger’s location and search for the safezone together!”

“Oh my god, did he seriously turn a spades game into a club’s one?” I laugh again and Chishiya scoffs under his hood. “I want to be best friends with him”.

“Don’t be stupid.” Chishiya says. We move a bit to see where they are going now that they are all running. “It’s a good idea, not going to lie, but no one will answer him.”

He mutters something else, but I don’t really catch it. I think I saw the tagger doubt his step when he heard the guy shouting, but he definitely looks annoyed when the sporty girl shouts back.

“The tagger is moving from the fourth level of the central area! Anyone nearby, run!”

I celebrate and raise my hands, clapping and laughing in Chishiya’s face. He looks surprised and tells me to shut it.

The girl runs from the tagger and finds an elderly woman in the hallway. With the tagger on their back, they are probably going to get killed. I grip the banister and hold my breath. She seems friendly and clever, I’m internally rooting for her.

Suddenly she jumps off the balcony and starts climbing the pipes up to the next floor. The other woman dies behind her, and the tagger tries to catch the girl but fails.

“She’s pretty good.” Chishiya mutters. “You just wish you could do that. It’s called envy”.

“As if you could do that too. You are just as weak as me.”

“Hey! Don’t throw me in the same casket!”

“EIGHT MINUTES UNTIL THE GAME ENDS.”

“THERE ARE CURRENTLY EIGHT SURVIVORS.”

Already? We should start moving.

I look at Chishiya under my hair and he frowns at something. I follow his gaze and see the tagger looking at the cap boy from an upside floor. What’s shocking it’s him starting to shoot from there. He has been killing just people he casually finds while walking around, not shooting from that distance.

The boy goes down, but looks unharmed. The two friends are on the same floor and get to him, running away from the door he was trying to open.

Not bothering to ask Chishiya if he got that, I start jumping on the place and keep my phone in my pockets. He slides off the hood and shoves me towards the stairs.

“Shall we, ma’am?”

“THERE ARE FIVE MINUTES REMAINING.”

From the corner of my eye I catch Aguni intercepting the boys and I make a face. It doesn’t always go well when he does that, he tends to let them die in order to have his way. The sporty girl stops to talk to them and she starts jumping from floor to floor.

“Do you think someone’s going to get it too?” I ask out loud. Chishiya shrugs and keeps on walking. I tsk and stay behind him when we get to the hallway. I turn around and watch my back, even though I heard a fight somewhere near. Probably Aguni, who are we kidding.

Just when we are arriving at the safezone apartment, the cute boy appears from the other side.

“Cute boy! I’m glad you realized it!” I happily say without thinking. I mouth a silent sorry when he looks at me a bit perplexed. Chishiya elbows me, hard, and I whine a bit. That’s mean.

He picks the doorknob first, but doesn’t open it. The three of us are watching closely, and honestly I’m a bit nervous about the time. I don’t like risking it as much as Chishiya.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” he asks.

The boy answers a couple of seconds after, lost in his thoughts “Why did the tagger chase us? He could have just waited here.”

He is onto something. Now, I’m not liking this at all.

“Seems like there’s something else we don’t know.” Chishiya says, keeping his calm exterior. He’s going to use this poor boy in case he has any doubt of a risk. “However,” he adds, taking his phone out “if you don’t open it…”

There are three minutes left.

Sweat starts running down my back, making me shiver and hold my breath while I watch the boy start turning the doorknob. All our phones beep announcing the time left until we all die with the bomb.

Slowly, he opens the door with caution. We all walk inside, in silence and with darkness surrounding us. It 's empty. No furniture, neither personal objects nor some leftovers of someone’s life. A few steps in we notice a door at the end of the room and we all walk towards it.

It’s not until we are too far inside that another tagger walks out behind the door.

“Look out!” the boy screams and pushes us out of the shot range.

Gunshots fly around the apartment and I duck behind the bathroom door. Chishiya uses the taser and the tagger goes down, but recovers quickly and starts shooting again. I scream when a bullet gazes at my arm. It fucking hurts, but at least the bullet didn’t got me completely.

I can hear the apartment door being shut and the other door at the end closing too. They must have gotten through them. I hope they aren’t harmed.

I wait, trying not to make any sound in case the tagger comes to finish me off. I search through the room, but nothing seems lethal enough to use like a weapon. I hate bringing weapons to games, I don’t really want to kill anyone if I can help it.

Gunshots are fired and I cover myself up, even though they are not directed towards me. Fighting blade weapons? I’m okay with that. Fighting people? Not against it. But, I have nothing towards a gun. I mean, it can take me from a long distance! No point.

“Everyone! The safezone is in apartment 406! It’s impossible to clear the game alone! We need two people to do this!”

Are you kidding? This is so mean. What if you were the only survivor? Not fair, not at all.

Well, it seems like I should get moving and try to do something useful in this game. I haven’t done shit, now that I think about it.

Slowly, I open the door just in time to see the tagger shoot the door and break the safelock. I take small steps following it, ready to throw myself to placate it. Just when the gun is going up I jump and kick the tagger in the knee, managing to bring it to the floor.

I hear a scream coming from the tagger and a lady cursing from behind the mask. She starts shooting and I scream trying to cover myself without being hit. The guy bolts and tries to help me get her off the gun, but she keeps fighting like a mad person.

We both go down before she gets us with the bullets and I catch a glimpse of Chishiya at the door, trying to help but having to cover himself because of the lost shots.

The phones all inform us of the ten seconds remaining at the same time that the sporty girl jumps through the glass of the balcony. The tagger kicks me and gets the gun pointing at my face and I panic just a bit before I push back. The other guy tries to help me, but with no help.

“Hey!” Chishiya shouts.

I’m on the floor fighting the tagger with the gun under my chin, trying to get it off my face, but I see him throwing the taser to the girl and she quickly gets the tagger down.

I let out a sigh before I heard the time almost coming to an end. My eyes search for him and we lock our gazes. I can feel the breath we are both holding and the silent words running through our minds. My fingers clench and I swallow, accepting death like a forgotten friend, saying goodbye with a blink.

But, just like that, with a blink, it all finishes. The buttons are pressed on the last second and we all hear the beeps from our phones.

“GAME CLEAR.”

“CONGRATULATIONS.”

In that same moment, the tagger gets the mask off and we can see an old lady crying looking at us. The collar in her neck starts beeping faster and faster and I scramble to get away from her. Chishiya grabs both my arms and I scream at the touch in the bullet gaze from before, but he doesn’t let go and gets me away at the same time that the collar explodes, killing the lady.

My whole back is covered in blood and I roughly grab Chishiya’s hoodie. I don’t want to look at her and see what we did, even though it was unintended. She was also playing, and she died because we won.

Chishiya and I are left in the room with the dead tagger, and he grips my hand and makes me let go of him. He starts checking the pockets of the lady and gets something out, but I don’t register exactly what.

I get out of the apartment to breathe. I hate this part where we really think about what went down here. Lots of people died, and we got a few days to live just to have to risk it again in the next game. Could have we saved someone? Not really, I know that. But it doesn’t make it easier anyway.

“I’m Arisu.” Someone says beside me. I turn and the cute boy is there, watching me from a distance. “I wanted to thank you, for risking yourself back there. We are alive thanks to all of you.” He sticks out his hand to me and waits.

I’m speechless. No one has thanked me like this in any game. I didn’t really do a thing, but he’s thanking me. I should be the one doing it, he cooperated with the other girl and they stopped the bomb. We could have died there.

I let out a small laugh and shake his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Arisu. And thanks to you, you did the dirty work inside the room.”

I look back inside and watch Chishiya stick the paper in his hoodie and walk towards us.

“I look forward to meeting you somewhere else, hopefully not dead in a game. Be careful and enjoy the warm water in the ocean now that we are all alone in the city.”

With a wink, I walk out of the apartment building with Chishiya not too far behind. I think he heard me talking to Arisu, but he doesn’t comment on it.

We walk, and we walk, and we walk. Neither of us likes to go back to the Beach in the cars, so we always take a stroll through the streets, enjoying the silence and the stars shining above us.

“Does it hurt?” he asks.

“Mmh?” I look at him questioning and he nods to my bleeding arm. “Oh, yes, like a bitch. But I’ll have to wait until we get there.”

He tsks and grabs my arm, leading us to a pharmacy around the corner. I don’t say anything, knowing he will shut me up and will only be a waste of time. We get inside and he starts looking for some disinfectant and bandages.

He knows his stuff. I was surprised at first to discover he knows his way around the medical grounds; and I’m glad he does. It doesn't hurt having someone nearby capable of dealing with nasty wounds.

He silently works and I watch him closely. He’s handsome. And he knows it, that’s why he smirks feeling my gaze on his face. I trace his features taking my time. His eyes are the most scary thing I’ve ever met. They hold so much knowledge and feelings. I always feel like he could take me apart just with his eyes. He mostly covers his emotions, so even though you search for micro expressions, you will come empty handed almost always.

I bring my free hand up and run my fingers through his hair. I love it, it’s so smooth and soft. And the fact that he always wears white to match his hair makes me smile like an idiot.

Chishiya clears his throat and starts covering up the wound. My hand drops and rests in his arm, basking in the heat he’s making.

Once he’s done, he brings down my sleeves and looks me in the eye, silently checking if I’m okay. I nod and take his hand, quickly gripping and, just as fast, letting go. I can hear him sigh behind me, and he follows behind.

“You know, I’m glad I met you here, but I would have prefered meeting you in the real world.”

“Why?”

“Because I know I will be safer here with you, but I also know the probability of us having a happy ending is minimal while we are here.”

“You are not wrong.” A couple of minutes goes by until he adds: “But that doesn’t mean you can’t try and make the most of it while you are alive. It will hurt more, but at this point, who cares?”

I let out a breathy laugh and turn around to hug him. Hard. He stops and lets me hug him, finally giving in and hugging me back. I hide my face in his neck, breathing deep and closing my eyes. I can feel his pulse and his chin coming down on my head, his hand running through my back.

“You are an idiot.”

“And you are mean. Deal with it.”

I swear I can feel his lips kissing the top of my head, but it’s so fast I can’t be sure. He starts walking again and I run to catch him before I lose him.

We may have a complicated relationship, if you can call it that. We are there for each other, not sure of what to do, what to give, what to take. But we do not give up. I’m just glad I’m not alone, and thankful that I have someone looking out for me.

I smile all the way to the Beach.

[giuliafc]

Let the Masks Fall

Ao3 || FFN

Written by: JuliaFC

Beta: miraculyfe, Lots_of_free_time, unreliable_trash

Summary: No, it couldn't be! She had been so careful.  And yet, as she saw the ethereal mask appear on his face and him raising his fists to the sides of his head and screaming his lungs off, she knew she had failed.  She had broken his heart again, and if she wanted to save him, and the world too, she had to trust him. And tell him the truth.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by (c) Thomas Astruc, TS1 Bouygues, Disney Channel, Zagtoon, Toei Animation. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Written for the "Snippet July" challenge of the Miraculous Fanworks Discord server @miraculousfanworks AND for LadyNoir July @ladynoirjuly . Day 2 — Ethereal/Masks. Let me know what you think!

oOoOoOoOoOo

"Chat Noir, NO!" shouted Ladybug,  her eyes going wide in pure horror as the butterfly hit his bell. 

No. It couldn't be. It was impossible.  She had been so careful.  She had tried so hard not to fall in love with him. She had tried so hard to keep that wall that separated them, make it bigger, keep things professional. She had watched anything she said to avoid any chance that he discovered her identity.  When she desperately needed to talk to someone,  she had ended up confiding in Alya over him, even if it hurt her soul that he wouldn't be the first to know. Because she didn't want this to happen. 

And yet, as she saw the ethereal mask appear on his face and him raising his fists to the sides of his head and screaming his lungs off, ordering Papillon to leave him alone, she knew she had failed.  She had broken his heart again by working so hard to keep her distance. And she had broken her own heart too—because as much as she didn't want to admit it, she loved him. Now, as she watched him struggle to fight the voice of their nemesis in his head, she realised that she'd done it all wrong. She shouldn't have pushed him away. The words he had said to her before the butterfly hit him made her realise it. The words he was shouting at Papillon now made her realise it even better. 

"Get your filthy voice out of my head," he roared.  "She may not value me, but I'm not lowering myself to take on a deal with a monster." He growled worse than a caged lion. "You need to try harder than this, grandpa.  She rejected me too many times already; I won't fall for that!"

Every word was a knife stabbing her in her heart. She wanted to scream that it wasn't true, that she does value him, that she was trying to prevent this very thing from happening. She wanted to scream that she loved him—and not as a partner. She loved him for real, but she didn't know what to do. She was terrified that by saying anything she would disrupt things and cause his akumatisation rather than preventing it. She was afraid she would break his heart even further. 

Then she heard it. The loudest scream a human being could possibly utter. So loud that the words came out only as a whisper. A painful, terrifying whisper. 

"F-FATHER?" Chat Noir's eyes were as wide as saucers as tears started streaming from his eyes. "No, it's impossible.  Impossible!"

Ladybug died inside. Poor boy, he didn't deserve that. He didn't deserve a shock of that sort. That was too much. She could see him hesitating. She could see his determination faltering. 

"Chaton, don't listen to him.  Please stay here with me, mon minou!" She grabbed his clawed hands and squeezed them, bringing them to her mouth and placing a soft kiss on his knuckles.

"You don't understand! He's my father Ladybug! My father! Mayura was his assistant! I loved her nearly like my mother! What kind of failure superhero has two supervillains in his own house and doesn't even notice? I'm not worthy of this ring!" He put a shaky hand on top of the black ring sitting on his right ring finger and made to slide it off, but Ladybug stopped him. 

"It's not your fault, Chat Noir.  None of this is. You wouldn't have been able to know. It's his fault, not yours. And I…" She closed her eyes shut and lowered her head, pushing his hands on her forehead. "I'm sorry. It's my fault too. I… was terrified that something like this could happen if we grew closer and I kept pushing you away. I've allowed you to feel rejected and alone. To feel that you had been replaced." 

She raised her head, expecting to see a white spandex wrap around him. Expecting to see those icy blue eyes full of hate and madness that had lived in her nightmares from the day she first saw them. 

Instead, she saw black. She saw green eyes, full of tears. Papillon's mask was still covering his face, but he wasn't listening to him. He was listening to her. Ladybug gulped. She still had time. She could save him. She could save them all. But to do it,  she had to trust him.

"I... love you, chaton. Not as a partner, not as a friend. I love you for real." She saw his eyes widening in shock. Her heart in her ears, she lifted her weight on the balls of her feet and placed a soft peck on his lips that made butterflies—of the right kind—storm into her belly. "I still love the other boy too," she admitted, her hand gently stroking his cheek as a flash of pain shone in his eyes. "But this doesn't mean that the feelings I have for you aren't as strong."

She grabbed his bell and with a firm movement, she detached it from his costume. Her gaze never left his as she broke the bell, released the akuma and purified it. Then, she showed him her hand and waited patiently for the boy to get out of his stunned stupor and take it. 

"Where are we going?" he asked with a shaky voice.

"Home," she whispered back. She held his gaze as his brows furrowed into a confused frown. "My home." A timid smile popped on her lips when comprehension dawned on him. She heard him sucking his breath in and giggled.  "I'm not allowing you to go back to him. Not after what I just heard, chaton. It's time to be truthful. It's time to let the masks fall."

That said, she twirled her yoyo and plunged away, waiting for him to follow. He smirked and extended his baton, right behind her, as always.

‐‐-----------------

Author's Note:

Hi! Here's day 2! Wow, that was angsty… luckily the ending made up for it. Sorta. Hope you liked it. 

I'll be back soon, hopefully tomorrow if inspiration will strike again! In the meantime, please let me know what you thought of day 2! As you're aware, your comments are what pushes me to continue writing. I haven't forgotten my other stories, and I also haven't forgotten the promise I made to you all back in February so… keep following! ;)

[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (167/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball, which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: This story takes place about 1000 years before 66 years after the events of Dragon Ball Z.

Because Mike demanded it!  Cell!

     [26 May, Age 767.   Earth.]  

Goku was a Super Saiyan, but it made no difference.  He lay beaten and bloodied next to his allies.    Vegeta, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Piccolo, were all down.    The only one still on his feet was Goku's son, who was fighting a losing battle against a terrible creature.  

"So, you refuse to show your true power," the creature sneered, as he increased the ki of his energy beam.  Gohan was already on the verge of being overwhelmed, but this made the mismatch into a debacle.   And then, as if to add insult to injury, the creature was joined by seven other monsters, each a miniature replica of himself.   With their combined strength, Gohan could not hold out any longer.    

As the boy was consumed by the energy blast, a man stood laughing over the bodies of Goku and the others.  He was an Earthling, and if he understood that Gohan's defeat heralded the destruction of his world, he did not seem to care.   A purple aura rippled around him as he watched his planet come to an end.    

*******

     [1 March Age 850.  Toki Toki City.]  

"Wait, is that you down there?" Luffa asked.   She was eating a rack of spareribs in one hand, and pointed at the Scroll of Eternity with the other.    

Trunks nodded as he paced around the octagonal table that stood in the center of the Time Vault.   This was the heart and soul of the Time Patrol's operation.    The Scroll of Eternity was a record of cosmic history, and when temporal incursions took place, the Scroll would burn with a cold purple flame.   Recently, there had been a rash of these incidents, forcing Trunks to seek help in containing the damage.    His new partner, Luffa, had been extremely helpful, but there was still a great deal of mistrust between them.  

"That's me," Trunks said.   The Scroll of Eternity showed moving images of events, and it was currently displaying a young man in blue unitard with white boots and gloves, and an armored vest of white and gold.  He was lying face-down in the dirt, his fine lavender hair spread out in all directions.    

Luffa looked at the Scroll, then regarded the man standing beside her.   Aside from the shorter haircut and black trenchcoat, there was no appreciable difference.    

"I was nineteen back then," Trunks said.   I trained with my father to defeat Cell, but... well, you can see how well that went.   Gohan is supposed to win this battle, but even in the true history, I didn't fare much better."

"Was this before you started carrying the sword?" Luffa asked.  

He was surprised by the question.    "Er, no.  I used it before this, but it was broken in another battle, so I had to do without it for a while."

"I don't follow any of this, Trunks," Luffa said.   "You said you weren't even born in the year of the last mission, but now you're practically a grown man in this one.    But Gohan's not that much older."  

"It's complicated," Trunks said.  

"Cell, that's the big green monster, right?   And those blue things are his... offspring?"

"He made them during the battle," Trunks said.   "Don't ask me how.   They just popped out of the end of his tail.  I still get queasy just thinking about it."

"And they made short work of Kakarot," Luffa said.   "So the big one, Cell, he must be pretty strong.    Wait, so this freak was just sitting around on Earth the whole time Vegeta and Nappa invaded?  And then he waited patiently for everyone to come back from Namek?"

"Cell was a bioweapon, created by Dr. Gero," Trunks explained.  "Gero wanted revenge against Goku, so he designed a killing machine that would counter all of his powers.    But Cell didn't become active until well after the battles on Namek."

"Bioweapon..." Luffa mused.   "Interesting."   She replayed the altered history on the scroll, and watched the struggle between Cell and Gohan.    "He's using Kakarot's move.   The Gallick Gun-looking thing.  The Commie-whatever."  

"Kamehameha," Trunks said.   "Cell was programmed with knowledge of all of Goku's techniques."

Luffa raised an eyebrow as she looked back at Trunks.   "This freak can do the Spirit Bomb?" she asked.  

"So he claimed," Trunks said.  "But it never came to that.  He knew plenty of my father and Piccolo's moves, too.    And Frieza's."  

Luffa made a low whistle.   "Impressive tech," she said.    "And that's Gero laughing over there, I take it."

"No, that's... uh... Mister Satan," Trunks said.  

"Whose side was he supposed to be on?" Luffa asked.   "Before Towa got her claws into him, I mean."

"He was a civilian, actually," Trunks said.   "Look, um, most Earthlings in that century, they didn't know anything about ki or advanced martial arts.   Mister Satan was a popular fighter, and he thought he could defeat Cell because he had no idea how strong he actually was.  He thought all of Cell's powers were tricks."

"You mean you guys just let him walk right up to this anti-Saiyan weapon and didn't try to stop him?" Luffa asked pointedly.    "And they tell me I'm reckless."

"Look, it's a long story," Trunks said.   "And even Mister Satan has a part in it, I promise, but I can't go over the whole thing right now.   There's a lot of moving parts to this battle, but it looks like the enemy has influenced Cell and Mr. Satan, and that's why Gohan can't win.   So you'll need to keep Satan alive and stop Cell from doing anything too drastic."

"Fair enough," Luffa said.  "I've gone into worse situations with less intel than this.   But shouldn't you be the one going back, Trunks?    I'm happy to jump into this mess, but you've lived this battle before.    You must know exactly what to do and when to do it.   And you've got your sword this time."

"You're right," Trunks said, "but it's because I lived through this that I can't take the risk.   The actions you take on these Time Patrol missions won't actually alter history, because we can seal off the altered time and isolate it from the true history.   But if you make too many major changes, like killing Frieza on Namek before he's supposed to die, then it makes a bigger mess."  

"So you've told me," Luffa said.  

"Well, if I go on a Time Patrol mission to a period I lived through personally, it could make an even bigger mess.    Cell might get confused at seeing two of me, or my younger self might learn too much about his own future.   And sure, the Time Patrol can clean that mess up, just like we're cleaning up the messes that Towa and Mira are making--"

"But it just makes the job harder for us," Luffa finished.   "I get it.    I guess it's easier to send in a complete stranger like me.   Besides, like I was saying, this scrap looks right up my alley."  

She licked her lips, and Trunks wasn't sure if she was doing that for effect or because she was seriously considering eating someone on the battlefield.     He had already seen her chewing on dead Saibaman flesh.  

Ideally, he would have dealt with this tension by moving slowly, and getting to know Luffa as he gave her a more complete context for her missions.   The unofficial motto here in Toki Toki City was "There's time."  But when it came to Luffa, that never seemed to be true.  Now that her true identity was revealed, there was a serious risk in showing her too much information about her distant future.    For now, the best Trunks could do was to try to get her through the missions as quickly as possible, before anything had a chance to go haywire.

"Are you ready for this?" Trunks asked.   "You sure you don't want to test your earpiece again?"

Luffa tapped her left ear.   The communication device mounted there was barely visible, but a faint plastic click confirmed that it was still there.    "Nah, I think this one's proved it can handle the stress.  What about Gohan?"

"Huh?" He had been dreading this, and was rushing through the briefing in the hopes that she wouldn't ask.    

"This whole fight seems to depend on him," she said, pointing at the scroll.   "Am I supposed to protect him or leave him to his fate?"

He was expecting her to ask about his power level, or the spiky yellow Super Saiyan hair on the boy's head.    Instead, her question turned out to be much more cutting, however unintentionally.  

"Don't... don't worry about him," he finally said, trying his best to sound cold, but probably failing.   "Worry about Mr. Satan, and don't try to defeat Cell by yourself.   He makes Frieza look like a pushover.  Trust me, I've fought them both."

Luffa shrugged and took the Scroll of Eternity in her hand.  She vanished a moment later, leaving Trunks behind to monitor her progress.

*******

     [26 May, Age 767.   Earth.]  

Luffa didn't blame Trunks for playing things close to the vest, but there were times when it seemed like he was insulting her intelligence.  

Son Gohan was a Super Saiyan.   If his bright yellow hair and sea green eyes weren't enough of a clue, then his performance against Cell should have confirmed it.    Even in the altered history, the scenario where Cell won and the Earth was utterly destroyed, Gohan was the last warrior to fall.   He had outlasted his Super Saiyan father, against a monster who was supposed to be even stronger than Frieza.    What other explanation could there be?

It did raise more questions than answers, but Luffa knew better than to take those questions to Trunks, who clearly had his own secrets to keep.   There was something between Gohan and Trunks, judging from the way he had reacted, and judging from the look of things in the mission.   Here, on the battlefield, Goku and his comrades were lined up for action, and the younger Trunks kept looking over at the even younger Gohan, almost like a student regarding his master.  

"Hi!" Goku said when he spotted Luffa approaching the group.    The others had noticed her too, but he was the only one to speak up.   "I'm Goku!  Are you here to fight too?"

Luffa glanced back at Mr. Satan, who was bloviating to a pair of journalists nearby.    Between Satan and Goku's group was a large square platform, seemingly hewn from solid rock.    Four spires stood at each corner of the platform, and in the center was Cell, who crossed his arms and waited patiently.

"Yeah, I am," Luffa said.   "But I'll try to stay out of your way."  

The younger Trunks looked confused.    "Is this a friend of yours, Goku?" he asked.   "Is she part of your plan?"

"Nope, never saw her before," Goku said.  

It amused Luffa to see Trunks being kept in the dark for a change.  

"So you're a Saiyan too, huh?" Goku said, noticing her tail.    

"That's right," she said.  "I was just passing through, and I thought I'd see what the fuss is about.   What's with the stage?"

"This, stranger, is the ring I constructed for my Cell Games.   Have you decided to enter?"

Luffa looked over at Cell, who had finally deigned to address them.   He was nearly two meters tall, with a chitinous green exoskeleton that covered most of his body.   Luffa had encountered dozens of alien species with arthropoid body plans, but Cell seemed to possess a few Saiyan characteristics as well.  His face and hands resembled Frieza's, although his cranium was adorned with a green flange that extended up from his head like an alien miter.   A pair of black wing cases hung from his shoulders like a cape, but there were no visible wings underneath.    Between these was an appendage that looked like the stinger one might find on an animal's tail, but this was haphazardly mounted between Cell's shoulder blades.  

"Cell Games?" Luffa asked incredulously.    

"None of us could stop him, so he came up with this event to fight us all at the same time," Trunks explained.  

"I thought you were a bioweapon," Luffa asked Cell.    "Are you saying you already won and decided to do a victory lap for fun?"

"Hmm, I suppose that does sum it up pretty well," Cell said idly.   "I could have destroyed this miserable planet days ago, but I'm in no particular hurry.   This way, I can finally test my perfect body against the likes of Son Goku, and... well, whoever you are.   I didn't think there were any other Saiyans lurking around the Earth, but maybe you can provide me with a little amusement.  An appetizer before the main course."

Luffa had so many questions that she was beginning to lose count.   How had Cell managed to get this far without anyone stopping him?   Who was the red-haired man in the green body armor?    What was Trunks' role in this?   Why was he dressed in the same blue uniform as his father?   What was the point of a "Cell Game" when most of the participants were clearly no match for Cell?   How and when had Gohan become so powerful?   And what was that squeaking noise Cell made when he stepped toward her?

"I've got bigger fish to fry than you," Luffa said.    "But sure, I can take a few minutes to try you out-- huh?"

Goku had stepped beside her and waved to get her attention.    "Uh, actually, I was hoping to start things off myself.   Is that okay with you?"

"Now just a damn minute!"

Before Luffa could respond, Mister Satan jumped into the ring and shouted them all down.  Luffa could sense a ki signature from the man, but it was negligible compared to the others in attendance.    Only the newsmen in the background had lower power levels.    She could tell from his brown attire and his musculature that he was a seasoned warrior, but he was simply out of his league in a battle like this.    

"I don't know who any of you hicks are, but this is my fight!   As the World Martial Arts Champion, I am the only one qualified to put this trickster down once and for all!   So why don't you just stand back and let the champ handle this?"  

"Look, uh, whoever you are," Goku began, "you really don't know what you're getting into here.    I really wish you'd get out of here before you get hurt--"

"Oh, you don't know who I am?!" Satan roared.    "Well let me tell you-- No, no, no.   Let me show you exactly who I am!"  He pointed at Goku, then pointed at Cell, who was staring at him from across the ring.    "Ha haaa!   That's right, Cell.   I am going to show the whole world exactly who I am, when I expose you for the fraud you are!   And after I tear your worthless carcass limb from limb, there'll be no denying the awesome power of the one true Champion of the World!    Yeeeaaahhhh!"

Luffa stole a glance at the Earthlings in Goku's party.   She had seen Krillin in action the most.   She was somewhat surprised to see him at all, since her last mission saw him killed by Frieza on Planet Namek.   Likewise, Tien and Yamcha had perished on Earth some time prior to that.    She assumed the Dragon Balls had revived them all, but they had also become far stronger in the meantime.   She doubted any of them could stand much of a chance against Cell, but they were still leaps and bounds ahead of Mister Satan, despite his claims of being the planet's champion.   Apparently the Earth's mightiest warriors were too modest for their own good.  

She assumed the red-haired man was another Earthling, but she could sense no ki from him at all.   It was as though he were a machine, or perhaps he simply had a profound talent for masking his energy.   Even this would have made him more impressive than Mr. Satan, who seemed to have no idea what he was getting himself into.  

"I like your spirit, Satan," she told him.   "If you want to go first, that's fine with us.    Just save a little for me, all right?"

"Huh?" Goku asked.    

"He'll be all right," Luffa said quietly.   "I promise."

If Mister Satan appreciated Luffa's endorsement, he didn't show it.   The man seemed to view himself as entitled to the spotlight, and saw no reason to thank anyone for giving him his due.   His coiled hair bounced slightly in the breeze, and a ferocious grin spread across his thick mustache as he delivered a fiery speech to Cell, promising him nothing but desolation and sorrow.    

"Are you sure about this?" asked a voice in Luffa's ear.    It was Trunks, the older version she had left behind at Toki Toki City.    She felt an impulse to glance over at the younger, long-haired Trunks nearby, but she kept her eyes focused squarely on Cell.  

"You saw it in the Scroll," Luffa said, quietly enough that no one else would overhear her.   "The last ones standing were Cell, Gohan, and Mister Satan.  The enemy was using him, and one way or another, he became strong enough to survive anything that could happen here."

"But Cell!" Trunks objected.  "He held back against Satan in the original history, but only because he's a sadist.   If the enemy influences him, he might not show the same restraint--"

"Leave that to me," Luffa assured him.  

Then the battle was joined, such that it was.    Satan pummeled Cell with a flurry of punches and kicks, but Cell didn't budge or react to a single strike.   Satan refused to acknowledge reality, and continued on the offensive, until he finally wore himself out.    As he stepped back to catch his breath, Cell raised his hand to strike back, and Luffa spotted a curious gleam in his red eyes, and a flash of purple smoke around his head.  

"There!" Trunks said.   "He's going to--!"

Before he could finish the thought, Luffa leaped into action, dashing onto the platform and kicking Mr. Satan out of harm's way.   He flew clear of Cell, out of the ring, and all the way into a nearby hillside.  

"You're quite the fickle one, aren't you, stranger?" Cell growled.   His words had their usual cheek, but his tone suggested he was no longer amused.    

"I said I'd let him start," Luffa said with a smile.  "I never said I'd let him finish."

With that, she transformed, and raised her hands to fight.    Cell regarded her yellow hair and flashing aura with bemusement.    

"New Saiyan, same old tricks," he grumbled.    "And here I was hoping for something novel."

"Nothing new about me," she said as she rushed forward to punch him in the gut.   Cell blocked her with ease.    She tried to follow up with an elbow to his head.   He blocked this as well.    She continued her assault, and he continued to block each and every strike.    It was essentially a repeat of Mister Satan's performance, except Cell was at least bothering to move his body around to defend himself.  

Up to this point, it had been easy to forget that Cell was an artificial construct, a weapon programmed to carry out a vendetta.   He had shown such personality, such self-awareness, that it was very tempting to think of him as a traditional warrior, however vile and egotistical.    But in battle, there was no mistaking Cell as a biological machine.   There was a finely tuned precision in his movements.   Each block, each riposte, seemed almost perfectly timed.   It was such a smooth and beautiful style that it was very easy for Luffa to fall into the same rhythm, like a dancer letting her partner lead.   She was starting to see how he might have given Son Goku some difficulty.

"I know!  Tell him about how we found his blueprints in Dr. Gero's lab," Trunks said into her ear.    "It might throw him off, like you did with Frieza!"

Luffa would have rolled her eyes if she hadn't been so determined to keep up her attack on Cell.  She already had her own ideas on how to handle this situation, and if Trunks had wanted to work out a plan, he could have done that before she left the Time Vault.   She would have said as much out loud, except she was too close to Cell for that.   She didn't want to tip him off about her communicator--

Suddenly, Cell threw a right hand, which Luffa only narrowly avoided.   One of his chalky-white knuckles grazed her cheek, and as she contorted her body to react, his left hand suddenly snaked out and grabbed at her ear.   Confused, Luffa backed away, only to find that she wasn't hurt at all.  

Cell stood passively before her as he held up the Time Patrol communicator she had been wearing.  

"And what do we have here?" he asked.  

"It's a radio," Luffa said with a smirk.   "Music helps me get in the mood."

"Uh-huh.   Nice try, but I could hear someone talking to you a moment ago."  Cell tapped one of the square ports on the side of his head.  "The Namekian cells from Piccolo that were woven into my cellular structure give me excellent hearing.    I may have inherited Frieza's ears, but don't let that fool you.  Now, I couldn't quite make out the voice, but it almost sounded familiar..."

Luffa hoped that Trunks would at least have the common sense to stop talking now that Cell had discovered him.   She didn't understand the rules of time travel very well at all.   For some reason, Towa's interference with history was very bad, but sending Luffa to interfere was okay, or at least manageable.    Sending Trunks to do the job in person was somehow bad, even if he only did the same work Luffa was planning to do.   Luffa imagined the continuity of spacetime like an old patchwork quilt.   Chronoa, the Supreme Kai of Time, could repair the quilt, but there were some holes that were easier to fix than others.    She wasn't sure where this particular hole fell on the spectrum.

"You built this little playground for your 'game', Cell," Luffa taunted.   "Are you really that confused with me using a few gimmicks of my own?    That guy back there with the camera.   You don't seem too worried about him."

He made a cruel smile and crushed the communicator between his fingertips.   Luffa tried not to show any relief.   She was hoping Trunks would help walk her through the mission, but it would be worth losing him if it meant keeping Cell from finding out about the Time Patrol.    

"What I really want to know is why you don't seem to be taking this very seriously," Cell said as he stalked towards her.   "You're not an... untalented fighter, by Saiyan standards.   Yet you don't seem to be trying very hard.   Normally I'd say it was fear holding you back, but I've seen fear in so many helpless beings.   After all, I arranged the tournament so that I could see this whole world thrown into a panic.    So I'm something of an expert in terror, and you don't seem to have very much."

Luffa looked him right in the eye.   "I've seen worse.   Maybe I'm waiting for you to show it to me."

"Is that so?" Cell asked with a chuckle.   He loomed over Luffa and raised his hand over her menacingly.   "Then by all means, allow me to demonstrate."

"Enough!"

Luffa didn't move, but she recognized Mister Sayan's voice, more by his furious bluster than anything else.  She hadn't hit him hard enough to kill him, but she would have expected him to be out cold for longer than this.   And the ki she was sensing was nothing like his own power

"Stop... getting... in... my... way!"

He rushed back to the ring with a truly inhuman speed.   His body was glowing entirely purple now, with an intensity Luffa had not seen before in any of Towa's other victims.   And the sheer power Mister Satan was generating was far beyond anything he should have been capable of.   Before, Towa's magic had only given fighters a minor boost.   But Satan had somehow gained powers far beyond his means.   In a matter of moments, he had surpassed Krillin and the other humans, and his energy was still rising.  

"This is my moment, you hear me!  I'm the world's strongest!   Me!"

Cell smirked at Satan as he leaped into the ring.   Despite Satan's dramatic change, he was as unimpressed as ever.   Many of Goku's group were either indifferent or mildly concerned.  They didn't know about Towa, or the dangers she posed, and Mister Satan was little more than a distraction to them.    As for the news crew...

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Jimmy Firecracker bringing you an incredible development!  Our hero, Mister Satan had been illegally knocked out of bounds by a mysterious woman fighter with a tail.    It seems that she couldn't wait her turn, but her cowardly sneak attack didn't put down the champ for long!   Now he's back, and ready for one more round, and it looks like he means business."

Luffa looked at Satan and her eyes went wide with concern.   Was Mister Satan stronger than Frieza now?   It was starting to look that way, and his ki wasn't leveling off.   He was still no match for Cell, but he seemed to be driven to challenge Cell at all costs.   Among other things, she had to keep Satan alive, and it was becoming clear that she couldn't just kick him into a hillside to keep him quiet.  

"Fight fans, we saw this woman turn her hair blonde and burst into a golden flame, but it seems that Our Savior has matched her bizarre transformation with one of his own!   Do not adjust your sets, folks.   This reporter can confirm that Our hero, Mister Satan is indeed glowing purple, and his eyes look like burning rubies!   Is this another one of Cell's sinister tricks?   I would ask the World Champion himself, but he is clearly too busy to take questions at this time!    For now, I can only offer breathless speculation!   As we know, Mister Satan is the strongest man in the world, which means he has conquered the limits of human ability.  But what lies beyond those limits, we ask?    I dare say, loyal ZTV viewers, that Mister Satan is discovering the answer to that question as I speak!   Perhaps it was his unfettered rage at the insidious Cell, or the unmitigated gall of the golden woman's sneak attack, but one way or another, Our Hero has been pushed to a new level of martial arts mastery, a level so unthinkable that it has transformed his very body!"  

"Hold on," asked the cameraman.    "Are you serious right now?"

"What other explanation can there be, Larry?!" Jimmy shouted.     "We're witnessing a transcendental moment in the history of combat sports!    You see, Larry, we're not dealing with the average World Champion of Martial Arts.    This is a Super Satan!"

Luffa groaned at the sound of that, but she couldn't disagree with the term.   By now, Mister Satan had become so strong that nothing less than a Super Saiyan could keep him from interfering with the Cell Games.     This meant that there would be no one to keep an eye on Cell himself.    And if Trunks had any useful advice for Luffa, that was lost with the communicator Cell had just destroyed.  

"Hey."  

She was so flustered with her dilemma that she hadn't even noticed Goku entering the ring until his hand was on her shoulder.    She would have expected to sense another Super Saiyan's approach very easily.   The turbulent churning of her own ki seemed like something that would be hard to ignore.   Yet Goku's power was completely suppressed and calm.  He was in the transformed state, yet completely passive.    

"You seem to be worried about this guy," Goku said, gesturing to Satan.    "Why don't you settle things with him, and leave Cell to us?   We've been training for this for a while now."

Despite his easygoing tone, there was an undercurrent of confidence.  Luffa recognized a wild look in his eye, but it was tempered with something else, something reassuring.   Luffa wondered if this was what her friends had always seen in her.   She had always seen her Super Saiyan form as looking like something of a hot mess, but Goku didn't look that different.

"I hear you," Luffa said with a smirk.   "In other words: 'Get out of the ring and give me some room,' is that it?"

Goku made a small laugh.   "Somethin' like that.  You can always jump in later, if you want."

"Well, I'm pleased to see you've agreed to take turns," Cell boomed from the other side of the ring.   His arms were crossed and he looked more impatient than worried.   "I was hoping to save the best for last, Son Goku, but these two fools are a waste of my time, and while I made the rules very clear during my broadcast nine days ago.   One.   At.  A. Time. So if the also-rans would care to step aside, we can get down to the main event.

Reluctantly, Luffa ignored him and tackled Mister Satan.   It would have been satisfying to let Satan go and triple-team Cell, but she had a mission and that was the priority.   As she had told Cell before, she had bigger fish to fry, and she was hoping a fight with Mister Satan would flush out Towa and Mira.   As the two of them rolled in the dirt, she pulled her punches, hoping to defeat Satan without seriously hurting him.  

"Get off me!" Satan shouted.   "I'll break you in half!   Consequences will never be the same!   I will rock your world, I will shake your foundations!"

Unfortunately for Luffa, Mister Satan wasn't nearly as concerned for her safety as she was for his.   He was fighting with everything he had, and Luffa's greatest advantage was that he was inexperienced at fighting on this level.   She knocked him into the air, and was somewhat surprised to see him hover for a moment before flying back at her.   He had managed to get a handle on flight very quickly.  

She decided to test him, dodging his attacks and constantly changing her altitude to outmaneuver him.   Fighters without flight capabilities tended to think in two dimensions.    Cell's fighting ring was a testament to this mentality.   She had seen similar stages used in martial arts contests throughout the galaxy, where the goal was simply to keep fighting until one competitor could be physically forced out of bounds.  The concept lost some meaning when you had the entire sky to work with, but Cell seemed more interested in theatrics than challenge.  Even fighters who learned to fly with their ki had trouble adjusting their tactics at first, but Satan was picking it up rather well.   He was anticipating Luffa's movements from above or below, although he hesitated to change his own altitude.    

"I can see how you talked yourself into coming here," Luffa said.   "You let your success go to your head, and you didn't realize how outclassed you would be, but you're no slouch.   Even so, it looks like this was as far as Towa was willing to take you, so I'll put an end to it..."

"Gahhhhhhh!" replied Mister Satan.

*******

Not far away, Towa and Mira observed the action, safely concealed within a mystical field that prevented them from being detected by anyone involved in the battle.  

"Nicely done," Towa said cheerfully as she watched Mister Satan block a punch from Luffa.    "For a human, he's handling your power very well, wouldn't you agree, Mira?"

Beside her, Mira loomed like a shadow, his mood just as grim and inscrutable.   "My expectations of Earthlings are extremely low," he replied coldly.   "I does not impress me to see them surpassed."

Towa turned to smile at him.   "Still, you must feel some sort of satisfaction from this, right?   He's fighting that Saiyan woman, your little rival.   And he's using energy I borrowed from you to do it.   Your power, my will, he makes a very nice proxy, doesn't he?     It's almost like you're fighting her yourself.  That must be pleasing to you, Mira."

"It is not," he said plainly.    

"Oh, right, the pride of the martial artist," Towa said, making no effort to hide her sarcasm.   "You've really let this girl awaken something in you, Mira.   Not too long ago, you would have been content to see my enemies destroyed by any means.   If she suddenly dropped dead from a heart attack-- right this second-- I think you might even shed a tear."

"That is unlikely," Mira replied.   "Unless you require me to do so."

"You know, I ought to be jealous of this other woman in your life," Towa said casually, "Most spouses would be, but I'm far too intrigued by these newfound passions of yours, Mira.   And of course, I'm pleased with how much progress we've made today.   I've drained more energy from Cell alone than from all of our recent missions put together.   And now that we've improved the 'duck blind', we can position ourselves even closer to our targets, and my control over them becomes that much more potent."

"It is quite an improvement," Mira said.  

"But it doesn't look like Mister Satan can win like this," Towa observed.    "I suppose I'll have to find some other way to kill her.   And you'd prefer to handle that yourself, I'm sure."

"You did promise to destroy her if she interfered with us again," Mira reminded her.    

"So I did.   But first, let's test your rival, Mira.   At the level she's currently fighting at, if I removed your power from Mister Satan, her next strike would easily kill him.    I wonder if she could react in time.   What do you think?"

"Why should she care about his survival at all?" Mira asked.  

"Oh, I have my suspicions on that," Towa said.  "For now, it's clear that she could have killed him some time ago, but she doesn't want to.    So... let's take that decision out of her hands."  

With her right hand, she raised her enchanted spear, and waved it in a tight circle to begin her incantation.   The long white bang that hung over her pale blue face jostled slightly as she weaved her spell, and then the tip began to glow purple.

"Your move," she said.

To her credit, Luffa caught the sudden drop in Satan's power level, but she was in the middle of throwing a punch at his face.   The best she could do was to stop her fist, but the compressed air ahead of it was another matter.    The shockwave hit Satan head-on, and knocked him back several hundred meters.  

"There, you see, Mira?" Towa said.   "If she didn't care about his life, she would have left him for dead.    Instead, she's going to check up on him.   I wonder..."

"He still lives," Mira said.   "Perhaps you have underestimated the level  of energy that he could handle."

"Really?"   Towa waved her spear again, and a crystal ball appeared in her free hand.   She gazed into its surface, which showed Luffa at Mister Satan's side.   He was grasping his face and kicking his heels into the dirt as he cried with pain.  

"Remarkable specimen," Towa said.   "He's even still conscious.   Yes, Mira, I think I have underestimated this one.   He's not a pawn at all.   Maybe a knight.    Or a bishop.   I always forget which one is more valuable.    Prepare yourself, Mira."

Mira straightened his posture even more than he already had, and Towa touched his chest with the tip of her spear, which was now glowing even more intensely.   She then pointed it out into the distance, towards the spot where Satan had landed.    Mira grunted painfully, but only once, and gave no other indication of his discomfort.  

"You've earned a second chance, little mortal.   World Champion, huh?   Now you can try to be my champion."

 NEXT: The Enemy Within