#and WHO WAS GOING TO TELL ME TAIGA MADE A SONG CALLED THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE CAUCASIAN

[sunberry-strawflower]

#curtissonweek2023

I have no excuse for being hella late. I was just procrastinating throughout the whole day😭😭I finished it thoo

This work is, like the last three, an entry for @blue-fanlady's curtisson week!

This one is just little over 1k words domestic curtisson where they literally share a house and everything and yet they're not married?? 🤨🤨 yea I'm gonna have to call bullshit (but yea I didn't make them married in this story sorry)

ALSO I'm just as tired as them in this story rn and I'm not gonna lie I wrote parts of this fanfic half asleep so‼️‼️whoops ‼️‼️I'll proofread once I wake up cause a little after I post this I'm going to bed (at...7am HEDJHFJR)

Word count: 1.2k

Curtisson Week Day 4: Sleeping

Burt was sitting on the couch in the living room of he and Sven's shared house with a book in hand. He had it open, but wasn't really paying too much attention to the story. It was mostly just to pass the time as he waited for Sven to come home from work. He looked back at his watch. 9:43pm. That's around the time Sven got off, so he should be home soon.

Burt was lucky enough to be sent off of work early. Though he was kind of upset at the same time because usually he and Sven got out of work around the same time (Sven getting out about 30 minutes after him), so he never had to wait too long for him. This time, though, he was sent off three hours earlier than he usually was. He wasn't sure why, but he didn't question it. Time off work is time off work.

Though…maybe he should've offered to work the three hours anyway. Just so he'd have something to do.

Sven and Burt had moved in together fairly recently, so while all the necessary stuff were set, such as cooking supplies, a bed, a couch, dressers, etc, etc., they were still lacking some things that they were planning on getting once they had the time.

For now, though, most things involving entertainment weren't present. Aside from like, his phone and a few books. Which he was usually alright with. He was content just sitting there, drinking his morning coffee on their porch. "Like an old man." Sven would say. But it wasn't morning, nor was it really the time for you to be chilling out on your porch. Way too cold at night.

He was feeling a little tired, but he didn't want to sleep without his boyfriend in his arms, and chances are Sven felt the same way. Though, maybe doing a relaxing activity such as reading wasn't helping his case much. But eh, nothing much else to do that'll keep him distracted.

He decided that he might as well take a shower while he waited, so he set the hardcover down on the coffee table and went into their bedroom to pick out pyjamas. A loose orange shirt and pants fit nicely. He added some matching socks there too, for extra comfort.

Once he got in and out of the shower, he put his comfy pyjamas on, and went back into the living room. He sat back on the couch and tried to read the book again. It wasn't a bad story by any means, just not what he was in the mood for. Which he finally realized and decided to just scroll through his phone instead.

A few minutes later, he heard the front doorknob rattling and assumed that it was Sven. He turned off his phone, putting it on the coffee table in front of him, and looked towards the front door expectantly. He let a gentle smile appear on his face when he saw Sven walk in, closing the door behind him. “Oh, welcome back,” he said. “How was work?”

Sven moved to sit next to Burt on the couch. “It was fine,” he sighed. “How was yours?”

“The usual,” Burt replied. "Are you up for dinner?" He asked, tilting his head over at Sven.

Sven shook his head. "Too tired…can we just go straight to bed?"

Burt smiled softly at that and nodded. "Of course." He then stood up, expecting the other to follow him to their bedroom, which he did. They walked in and Burt turned on the lights so they could see better.

Sven flopped down face first on the bed, groaning as he hit the sheets, letting said sheets suppress his voice a little.

"Hey, hey, you have to at least take a shower first," Burt chuckled, gently lifting Sven up from the bed. The other grunted once more, but reluctantly agreed. He'd feel a lot more comfortable after a shower anyway. "I already took mine, so I'll just wait for you, yeah?"

Sven nodded, and waited for Burt to leave the room so he could have some privacy.

Burt patiently waited outside of their bedroom door, letting Sven finish doing his thing.

About 10 minutes later, he heard the clear. "Okay, you can come in now."

Burt opened the door and stepped back in, greeted with Sven looking much more comfortable. And adorable. "There you go. Let's get to bed, then." Ah, yes. The moment they've both been waiting for.

Burt turned out the lights and took Sven with him on the bed. He took his headphones and top hat off, putting them on top of the nightstand. Sven had taken off his own hat right after getting out of the shower so he didn't worry about it. They were both under the covers, lying next to each other. They were pretty close together already, but apparently that wasn't enough for Sven and he slid closer to Burt, before mildly gripping onto his shirt.

"Someone's clingy." He teased, leaving the other flustered. Burt couldn't help but snicker at this. His boyfriend had always been easy to tease. He never overdid it, though. Just whenever he really wanted to see his reaction. And Sven delivered every time.

Sven looked up at him, his cheeks pink from the proximity and the teasing. He stopped gripping on his shirt for a minute, instead just laying his palms on top of his chest. He kept letting his gaze wander to Burt's lips, and couldn't resist kissing him right then and there.

Burt was taken aback by the sudden kiss, but he wasn't complaining. Not at all. He closed his eyes and kissed back, letting his hand slide up into Sven's hair, twirling it around his fingers.

Sven found Burt playing in his hair to be very relaxing, and kept the kiss going for a little longer. He loved nights like these, where he could just lay down, cuddling and kissing his boyfriend after a long day of work. Without a care in the world. It felt amazing.

Unfortunately, the kiss had to come to an end eventually. Especially whenever a thing called oxygen existed. They both pulled away, letting out a soft breath as they did so.

Burt had stopped running his fingers through Sven's hair, now just resting his hand on his head. Sven buried his face into Burt's neck. "Can you…keep doing that?" He whispered into the crook of his neck.

Burt raised an eyebrow. "Doing what?" He asked.

"Combing your fingers in my hair…" he replied. "It feels nice."

Now it was Burt's turn to get flustered. Thank God Sven couldn't see the pink in his face, but perhaps he could tell anyway and he was just too sleepy to care or say anything.

"Okay…" he obliged and started to run his fingers through the others' hair again. His hair was always soft and well-kempt, making it nice to play with.

Sven relaxed even more than he already was, which was good for both him and Burt. It was nice seeing him not so tense.

Sven then placed a soft kiss on Burt's neck. Then another, and another. At first Burt tensed up from how sudden it was, but he slowly relaxed himself. Sven planted one more soft kiss onto his neck before nuzzling into it.

They both felt themselves begin to drift off. Neither of them tried to fight it. They let themselves fall into a deep sleep.

_______________________________________________________

So sleepy 💤💤 sleepy bfs :]

[shyinadarkplace]

Bucky are you still there?

Summary: When their Soul bond is broken, the reader unable to bear the pain tries to end it all. The only question is will Bucky make in time to save her?  (Please be kind this is my very first time publishing a work)

Pairing: Bucky x reader. *I do not own Bucky Barnes or Sebastian Stan or any of his works*

Word count: 5k (I am sorry I might have gotten carried away)

Back ground info: This is an AU where there are Soulmates. If the connection between soul mates is somehow broken the mates have usually at max four years before everything gets unbearable. Also Tony is alive.

Prompt: Mountains/Forest and the song “Jealous” by Labyrinth. I also included another song “Dark side of me” by Coheed and Cambria. There is also an original poem by me in there.  *I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION TO USE ANY OF MY WORK AS A WHOLE OR IN PART, IN ANYWAY, ON ANY PLATFORM. *

Warnings: Proceed with caution. TRIGGER WARNING: There is mention of blood, extreme depression, suicidal thought and tendencies. That’s all I can think of, but please if you need help with any of the above mentioned things https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  1-800-273-8255.  Please please reach out.

Title: Bucky are you still there?

Outside a winter storm raged deep in the Taiga, and while you were warm physically inside you felt just like that storm. You felt like the swirling mass of ice and snow, like the -54° C that currently raged outside your home. The added fire that sat blazing in front of you did little to assuage the pain that wracked through your chest. The ring on your hand glinted in the firelight. A familiar wave of heartbreak began crashing through you, even after all this time. When the much too familiar tears fell, another layer of ice layered around your heart. You stared into the fire and let your mind wander where it would, allowing your grief take its course.

Memory of your first meeting:

There was a pull in deepest part of your being. A tingling in the back of your mind. He was close. You could feel him brush across your consciousness like a gentle rain, and you returned the gesture. The room seemed to full of people why did Stark tower feel so crowded today? All you could do was stand frozen where you were running up a metaphorical flag screaming here I am. Your eyes quested searching desperately for someone doing the same, for the one who turned your spark into a firestorm. Suddenly there he was. Your eyes met and suddenly it was like you were falling, but gently, into warm blue eyes, into dark strands of hair and stubbly jawline. In man and muscle. Falling into him. Your feet were moving before you even realized it. Standing face to face with him, you felt like your heart was going to beat out of your chest “Hello, I’m (y/n). I have been waiting for you.) Your voice barely above a whisper almost afraid that if you spoke to loud it would somehow be just a dream. “Hello doll, my name is James Buchanan Barnes. I am so glad you waited.” Thus began your world wind love affair with the Winter Soldier, Bucky, White Wolf. And it was perfect. You two were perfect for each other been through so many of the same things. It was like you had discovered the theory of everything right then and there.

“6 years ago. Can you believe it Benji. Just six years ago Earth was upside down as a planet, but personally I was in heaven. I had met my soul mate.” The big wolf hound/wolf mix just laid his big black head on your lap, offering the silent comfort he always did. “We were married for three years. It was like magic.” A fresh batch of tears ran down your face. It had been 3 excruciating years. 3 years of feeling utterly alone. You had heard what it was like when someone lost their soulmate, it was like they were a zombie. They lost some of their humanity. It was like when a clinically depressed person masked, they looked and sounded fine for the most part but something was just off. Most of the time when one lost their soul mate they died too, unable to carry on without them or unwilling too. So many times you had been tempted to walk out in weather like this and let the Taiga take you. So many times you sat staring into the flames and thought about ending it all. After all there were thousands of ways to die. It had been 6 years since what the world came to call the Endgame. Since something had snapped inside Bucky during that battle and he had vanished. The end of the third long and bitter year was coming up, a person can only take so much.

Memory: You were probably 100 yards away from him when it happened. You could feel something wrong with Bucky, you had to get to him and help him. You got distracted next thing you knew a long thick metal rod had you staked to the ground. You couldn’t move it was embedded too far in the ground behind you. So you fought on like that, on the ground taking blasters and weapons from anything you fought with as the Super serum running through your veins kept you alive, easing the bleeding. You kept fighting hoping somehow you would be able to get up to get to Bucky. Hot tears streamed down your face and a scream ripped savagely from your throat as suddenly the constant connection that you had with Bucky was gone. It was like it had never existed. All you could feel was an iron wall. Utterly impenetrable. You couldn’t tell if it was just the limit of your consciousness or if it was him somehow cutting you off. Or if the worst had happened. Then the world went black.

When Steve found you, you had passed out from blood loss. You were in a coma for a week due to the severity of the wound but you remembered your dreams and they were sweet.

In your dreams it was just after you and Bucky had gotten married. A week to the day actually. You had curled up beside him and asked you could read him something you wrote. He didn’t need to say anything. All of his attention focused on you. A blush crept up your neck as you read what you had written.

“You always looked like trouble but the very best kind.

Even before I knew what you looked like.

You looked like everything I wanted at 16.18.20.26.

You looked like whiskey and smoke before I even knew the taste.

You looked like a hot rod idling at a stop light.

You looked like my addiction before it developed. Like my favorite kind of pain.

I don’t know how but I always just knew, that your eyes where blue. Blue. Such a cool tone. The kind that reminds you glaciers or ice cubes against passion heated skin. Like Blue flames, that seemed to sear clothes off with a glance, and pool fire in my belly. And when you smiled I really knew you were trouble then. But the best kind. The kind I couldn’t live without. The kind that kept me breathing. When you smiled at me the first time, I was yours.

The first time with you…oh god it was like nothing before. I had spent so many hours over the years before I met you, day dreaming about my fingers in your hair, your hands blazing trails of fire against my skin. Your lips crushed against mine…

By the time you placed your hand against my cheek and started kissing me, it was like you had kissed me a thousand times before. By the time your hands caressed my skin in expectant reverence (a shock to my system) it was as though your hands had always known my skin.

When I touched your skin, I was in awe at the newness of the sensation and yet it was so familiar. As I felt like your hands had always known my skin, I felt I had always known yours.

That first time didn’t feel like the first time. It felt like we had been together since the beginning of time. I didn’t need to question anything, because we knew each other so intimately words were not needed.

No need for words because I knew where to kiss you, as if some instinct worked within me. Knew where to touch. Knew how to kiss you wherever my lips landed. Knew when to bite and when to soothe. I knew it because you had always been mine. I was made for you.

No need for words because you knew, knew when to be gentle, when to be firm, knew everything you needed to get me high. With you it was natural as breathing. You brought me back to life the way a smith does a cold forge. With you it was the first time but it felt as though we had been there a thousand, thousand times before.

When I first saw you it all became real, I had already spent years falling in love with the idea of being with you. In the ease and comfort and debauchery of your presence. Suddenly every dream I had ever had about my soul mate blazed into existence.

You looked like my addiction when it formed, like my favorite kind of pain. You looked like someone I had loved a thousand, thousand times. “

You two had been so tangled up in each other it was hard to tell where he ended and you began, the line between him and you blurred. You were in complete bliss. At least while you were sleeping.

Steve was there when you woke up. As soon as you saw him and not Bucky your heart began to fracture. It looked like he had been crying, like he had not been to slept. Everything inside you went cold. Your mind reached out for Bucky, for the comfort of your soulmate and touched…nothing it was like he was dead. But he couldn’t be right? Even though you felt like you were dead, with the only sign that you were alive being the beeping of the monitors in the room, he couldn’t be, right? But that is what it felt like because there was just…nothing like the connection had never been. You tried again and again to push past whatever was stopping you but it was no use because there was nothing for you to grab on to. “(y/n) you have to stop pushing against that wall. It won’t help.” Steve’s voice broke and he took your hands. “It won’t help, he’s gone and…and we don’t know where he is or if he is gonna come back. So you…you have to stop pushing and focus on you right now.” He wiped the tears from your face and gave his best smile, though it did little to ease the pain “You have to be stronger than ever. I know that I am asking a lot. But you’re his best girl and you gotta be ready to kick his ass when he comes back.” All you could muster was a small twitch at the side of your mouth. “If …I was his best girl…why’d he leave me Stevie?” you whispered so softly he could barely hear but damn if it didn’t break his heart.

Then it was dark again. This time there were no comforting dreams. Steve sat there by your bed and let his chest heave as he cried quitely. He cried for a lot of reasons. After a while he stood up, and left the room for the first time in days. He knew he would have to be there for you if you were gonna make it so it was time to get cleaned up and eat something, maybe try to catch some sleep. There was a long road ahead.

It was a whole day later when you woke up again. Steve was sitting in the window of your hospital room. “Hey Stevie… see anything good out there?” He jumped at the sound of your voice and grinned at you. “Hey there sweetheart, how are you feeling?” he said softly coming to sit next you once again. He took your hand and when he squeezed gently, you squeezed back. You closed your eyes and took a few deep breaths. “Honestly? I feel like my insides have been scrubbed with sandpaper. I feel raw and bloody…I feel the most incredible pain and yet completely numb. But…” You paused trying to steady the sick feeling in your gut. You looked directly in Steve’s soft blue eyes and they offered a little comfort in their familiarity. “But…” you continued “I know I need to get out of this hospital bed. I need to regain my strength and take care of myself, because I know he is out there. I have to find him Stevie. Now I need you to tell me everything.” Steve nodded a slight grin coming to his face “I knew there was a reason you were meant for that punk. I will tell you everything but how about you shower, get changed and we get you some food first huh?” You sighed, it bothered you to put off the inevitable but you knew you probably smelled like a trash truck and you were hungry. So you did what Steve asked and you two had lunch together. For a couple hours you both pretended like all was right in the world.

When Steve finally started talking it sounded more like a debriefing and less like his best friend was missing, honestly though it was almost easier that way. Thinking of it like another mission rather than losing your soulmate. “Well, to be honest I can’t tell you a whole lot. All I know is that Buck and I were maybe 10 feet apart. Everything was fine. Everything was fine until it wasn’t. I can’t say what happened, one second I looked over and he was fine. He was Bucky. The next he was Winter Soldat. Then Tony snapped and the fighting stopped, but I lost sight of him. I guess once there was no enemy he just took off. We do know that he stole a Wakandan air ship, but he must have damaged enough of the important components to make it untraceable. We don’t know where he is. I can guarantee though that he learned from last time, we won’t be able to find him if he doesn’t want to be found.”

You took a deep breath eyes closed. The urge to just give up right then and there was almost overwhelming. You knew there were ways to kill a super soldier. Hell you had come pretty close to it in the past. “Sweetheart, don’t go there. We both know it won’t it won’t work.” Steve’s voice yanked you sharply from the dark thoughts that crept into your mind. You sighed “Yeah, I guess you are right Stevie.” There was nothing either of you could do, except move on. Survive.

After that you and Steve were as close as could be. When you couldn’t sleep you it always seemed like Steve was up to. If you needed comfort he was there. You did everything together. Both of you knew it wasn’t really healthy but at the same time it helped with the healing. You went to therapy and got mental help. You stayed combat ready. You continued blowing minds working with Tony and Shuri on tech. You picked up new hobbies like gardening, and painting and drawing. You did everything you could to keep yourself somewhat distracted from the hollowness that ate at you.

You never cried in front of anyone but Steve, but everyone knew. Even if they couldn’t hear the crying they could hear the music that came from your room. No matter the tune no one knocked when the soft static of your record player was on. You were living in the past, trying to cope the best way you could dancing alone to songs that you and Bucky loved. Listening to your past and his with every pop of the speaker. Sometimes Steve would stand outside your room with his head pressed against the door and just listen. He’d sway along with the music because it brought back memories for him too. Eventually he would feel guilty because he wanted nothing more than to go in and take you in his arms. Kiss you. Comfort you. Part of him believed that Bucky really was gone. Part of him didn’t think he even had a soul mate and he was so fucking lonely. But he never did. If anyone ever noticed, they never said anything.

A year had passed since Bucky left.  A year you spent in therapy, spent pretending every god damn day that you didn’t want to just die so the pain would stop, clinging to Steve like a fucking life raft and Steve clung back. You both knew it wasn’t healthy but you needed each other in ways that other people couldn’t understand. Steve was the only other person who really knew Bucky. Who could understand the things that you had went through. Who was just as lonely as you. Steve was your best friend. The day after the one year Painaversary, something incredible happened. Steve finally met his Soulmate. It hit you like a slap in the face from Hulk. You had already lost your Soulmate but now you had to lose your best friend too.

Steve sat on the edge of your bed staring daggers in to the floor. He kept his eyes down when you came out of the bathroom. “Hey there (y/n/n). You wanna tell me why you have what’s the word ‘ghosted’ me for the past week.” His voice was cold and harsh. Not what you expected. Not that you had been expecting Steve to be sitting on your bed when you came out of the shower but the tone he used was the more shocking thing at the moment. “You know why Stevie.” You said moving quietly to get dressed, unable to bring your voice above a whisper. He didn’t look up until he heard a soft sob. You were standing fully clothed in Bucky’s sweats and a worn t-shirt, with your head against Bucky’s dresser. “You know why. Just because Soulmates can’t be unfaithful doesn’t mean this is okay, Stevie.” In his heart he knew you were right but it killed him, gently he picked you up, turned off the lights and tucked you into bed. Then like most every night before he climbed in behind you. His body heat a silent invitation more of a pull like a magnet, one that you couldn’t resist right now. So you snuggled into his arms your back against his chest. As he wrapped his arms around you, he whispered voice rough with emotion, “This doesn’t have to end (y/n/n). “You knew what he was trying to do. “Stevie. It’s okay. We’ve been holding on to each other so tightly because we both were drowning. You can’t make Janey hurt. It’s okay. We will still hang out, but no more late nights like this.” It hurt to say. If it was possible he pulled you closer and held you closer. His heat wrapped you up like another blanket. You sighed. He just nodded and pressed a kiss to the top of your head. He could feel your tears on his arm as he held you. Why did it feel like his heart was getting shredded? For a while there was silence. “Stevie?” “Yeah sweetheart.” “I miss him so much, this hurts so fucking bad. Why did he leave me? I wish I would have just died there. It would better than this.” You curled up in a ball, trying to make yourself as small as possible, hoping somehow it would help. Steve sat up, propped all the pillows behind him, picked you up like you were a child and tucked you safely against his chest. The sobs and half screams that tore from your throat brought tears to his eyes. All he could do was hold you, stroke your hair, kiss the top of your head and whisper “I know sweetheart. I know. I’m here. I got ya. We’ll find him I promise. We will make all of this right. I promise.” Eventually there were no more tears to cry and you relaxed. Your voice was hoarse when you whispered “I was to move to the Taiga.” “Alright sweetheart we will make it happen.”

            A month later you had everything you needed to move. Tony had help you engineer a sort of mini arc reactor that supplied your home with 100% clean energy, and all of the wood used to build your house and furniture (which admittedly was a lot) was sustainably farmed, all of the pipes that brought water to the house from the lake had all been lain with minimal disruption to the landscape.

Stevie was the one who came along and helped you actually build the little house. It had two bedrooms, a kitchen and living room. It was a cozy little place, all the modern amenities but an old time feel. Plus you had your 1945 Jeep and a snowmobile. You had everything you needed.

You and Steve held hands as you stood back admiring the house one last time.

“Looks good sweet heart. You sure you are gonna be okay out here?” His voice was light but the concern was evident by the gentle squeeze he gave your hand.

You heaved a deep sigh “Yeah. Yeah. I think I will be fine. I feel better here and now than I have since he left. I promise I will keep in contact. I mean how could I not according to Tony I have my own satellite.” You returned the squeeze of his hand to reassure him. Gently he pulled you into a great bear of a hug. You were pretty sure if you hadn’t been a super soldier he probably would have broken you, you just laughed and hugged him back. “I want you to know I love you (y/n/n) and hell I’m going to miss you. So please be safe and if you need anything call, okay?”

“I love you too Stevie, I will miss you too. I promise I will call okay. Hey you better get going you got places to be.” He held you for a moment longer, kissed the top of your head and said “Yeah you are probably right. But before I do I have one more thing for you.” He goes over to his jeep and pulls out a box with holes in it. As soon as he sets it down you open it, to be greeted by the most adorable ball cute you had ever seen in your life. You picked it up finding that it was a puppy. “Janey picked him out for you. He is probably going to be huge, but she thought he would be perfect to keep you company out here.”

“Tell her I said thank you. I think this is just what I needed.” You said cuddling the sleeping puppy to your chest. Steve nodded and smiled. You watched as he went and started his jeep and drove away. You felt as close to content as you could with your heart in ribbons.

Present

By the time you snapped back to the present the fire was low. Benji was asleep at your feet and the howling outside had stopped. You decided to grab some coffee, bundle up and go outside to watch the night sky. It was breath taking. The Northern Lights danced and swayed shifting colors as they went. The stars shone brilliantly uninhibited by light pollution. You sipped your coffee and mindlessly started to hum as you watched the night.

No one knew you could sing. All evidence destroyed from your operative days, no one knew except Bucky. Your heart swelled and your eyes closed. You lifted your face toward the sky and started to sing and you thought it was fitting when the words only came to you in Russian, while the one person you wanted to hear was god knows where. Still he was the one you sang for…or perhaps you sang for the memory of him.

“Я завидую дождю. (I envy the rain)

Он падает на вашу кожу (It falls on your skin)

Он ближе, чем мои руки.(It’s closer than my hands)

Я завидую дождю.(I envy the rain)

Я завидую ветру (I envy the wind)

Она течет сквозь твою одежду (it flows through your clothes)

Он ближе, чем твоя тень. (it’s closer than your shadow)

О, я завидую ветру(oh I envy the wind)

Я завидую ночам. (I envy the nights)

Которые я не провожу с тобой (which I can’t spend with you)

Интересно, с кем ты лежишь рядом? (I wonder who you lay next to)

О, я завидую ночам. (oh I envy the nights)

Я завидую этой любви (I envy this love)

Любовь, которая была здесь. (this love that was here)

Осталось поделиться с кем - то еще (left to share with someone else)

О, я завидую этой любви (oh I envy this love)

Потому что я пожелал тебе всего самого лучшего. (Because I wished you all the best)

Все, что может дать этот мир.(all this world can give)

и все же ты меня бросил. (still you left me)

но мне нечего прощать.(but there’s nothing to forgive)

Но я всегда думал, что ты вернешься и скажешь мне, что все, что ты нашел, это ...

(but I always thought you would come back and tell me all you found was…)

Горе и страдания(grief and suffering)

Мне трудно сказать, я завидую этому пути.(its hard for me to say, I envy the way)

Ты счастлива без меня (you are happy without me)”

Your voice broke as the last note sounded. Subconsciously you reached for ghost of the connection you shared with Bucky. For a moment you almost thought you felt something brush back. Tears welled up as you fell to your knees in the snow. You couldn’t take it anymore. A scream of pure anguish ripped through your body.

After a moment you collect yourself and took the knife you always carried from its sheath. You stripped off your coat and laid it on the ground. Rolling up your sleeves you smiled softly thinking that maybe once you were gone in a way you would be with Bucky again.

There was no hesitation as you drove the knife blade into the pulse point of your wrist and slashed up, not waiting to repeat the process to the other side. You lay on your back and gaze up at the sky. In the distance you hear a motor. No it couldn’t be. Felt something brush against your mind. You smiled at the thought of your brain trying to make you fight. You knew it was going to take a bit longer to bleed out since it was so cold. You didn’t mind it would be over soon anyway.

You weren’t sure how much time passed, but your eyes started to feel heavy. Black started creeping into the edge of your vision. You let out a sigh finally.

“(Y/N/N)!!!!!!!! NOOOOOO (Y/N/N) PLEEAASSEEE!!!”

You could see a blurry figure coming toward you.  You knew that voice. It was like they were moving in slow motion and talking underwater. But that couldn’t be right.

Suddenly you heard that stupid motor again. Then something touched your skin. For a moment you felt fireworks. You opened your eyes. “Fuck (y/n/n) please hold on. I am so sorry doll. I’m so sorry, please don’t go. Please.” Bucky’s voice rang in your ears like a call to prayer. “Baby girl please.” His voice was hoarse and choked up. Barely able to speak through the lump in his throat at the sight of you.

You forced your eyes open and took in the sight of him for what would probably be the last time and whispered “Buck?” Then the world went dark as a scream that was like the torture of a thousand hells ripped and tore through the landscape.

In the aftermath a melody played 

"In those discouraging days

I always missed the mark When we were comfort and close I would neglect to keep

Oh, you safe and unexposed A portrait of time repeats This moment now replaced With an empty wish to give I give, I gave

I gave my everything For all the wrong things In this cold reality I made This selfish war machine

Oh, this has become hell How can I share this life With someone else? I promise you There is no weight that can bury us Beneath the ghosts of all my guilt

Here in the dark side of me Here in the dark side of me

Now in your absence I wade Through the coursing, lonely, lost And in this tragic dismay I never could believe what I became

I gave my everything For all the wrong things In this cold reality I made This welcomed war machine

Oh, this has become hell How can I share this life With someone else? I promise you There is no weight that can bury us Beneath the ghosts of all my guilt

Here in the dark side of me Here in the dark side of me Here in the dark side of me Here in the dark side of me

Oh, I couldn't give you What you needed It's all my fault Too coward to believe I lost it all

I gave my everything For all the wrong things In this cold reality I made This selfish war machine

Oh, this has become hell How can I share this life With someone else? I promise you There is no weight that can bury us Beneath the ghosts of all my guilt

Here in the dark side of me Here in the dark side of me"

 "Buck are you still there? I don't want to die."

[writingpaperghost]

There is a Me Who Can Become Strong (Chapter 24)

Chapter 24: Go Together, Embracing Your Ambitions!

It's time to refight some Bugsters, and what's with Masamune's new stand in? He's kinda weird...

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/32857183/chapters/85003771

Emu was… feeling better today, at least. He’d been spending a lot more time in bed, since the incident with Gatton. For some reason, he’d been overcome with this terrible feeling, his Game Disease flaring in a way he’d never experienced before. He didn’t understand what was wrong and Masamune seemed unbothered by it in a way that… hurt.

But Emu didn’t say a word, instead curling in on himself in bed, letting out only quiet whimpers and gasps when the pain became too much even for him. He dragged himself out of bed, ever briefly, for water, food, bathroom, rinse and repeat. At some point in the night, he thinks that maybe Graphite would stop by, but he’s often too tired to realize.

After several days, Emu finally felt well enough to get out of bed. He notices his broken Gamer Driver on the table there and for a moment, he feels himself getting sick again, but shakes it off. Around that point, Masamune enters, not an ounce of concern present. He, of course, had more important things to worry about than Emu not feeling well.

“It seems you’re starting to feel better,” He notes, taking in Emu’s appearance. Emu hadn’t seen his reflection – he doesn’t like his reflection – but he knew he probably looked worse than usually. His hair, he could tell, was certainly more messy than normal. He dreaded the thought of trying to brush is out, it was probably all tangled and now he didn’t have Kuroto and Graphite to help him. Well, Graphite could probably help him tonight.

“Y-yeah…” Emu nods, quietly, “But… isn’t it going to be a problem that my Gamer Driver is broken?”

In response, Masamune shakes his head slightly, “Nothing to worry about, Mu,” He gestures towards the broken Driver, “It can be fixed, if necessary, and you have Level X, which is much stronger than your current Gashats.”

Once more, Emu keeps his disdain for Dangerous Zombie to himself, he knows Masamune doesn’t care. He’s also not sure that Masamune knows anything about how the Drivers were made, nor sure that anyone other than Kuroto did. Perhaps someone could fix the Gamer Driver, but he doubted it.

For now, Dangerous Zombie was all he had.

“Regardless,” Masamune continues, “I came down here because there’s something I feel you should know.”

Emu frowned, unsure of what it could be, “There is?”

“As the Chronicle is almost complete, I’ve decided that I’ll be… taking a break from acting as president of Gemn Corp. Instead, Ren Amagasaki will be taking over.” It was a bit surprising, Masamune always liked to be the one in charge of things.

“Are… are you sure about that?” Not that Emu wanted to question Masamune’s choice but… “He’s a bit… Well, you know. Wouldn’t he just cause problems since he’s kinda… uh, skeevy? I guess?”

“He has a way with people,” Masamune assured, “Which will be necessary to ensure the Ministry doesn’t try to stop the game.”

Some part of Emu frowns at that. In theory, shouldn’t the Ministry of Health be trying to help people, especially with a disease. So why were they working behind their back? Shouldn’t they work with the Ministry, certainly the CR and the Riders would understand, especially since the CR was formed jointly between Gemn and the Ministry. Masamune always assured him it had to be this way, but thinking about it now… That didn’t really make sense.

But he couldn’t say that to Masamune, that would only upset him. Emu knows he shouldn’t upset people, especially Masamune. So he keeps his wonders to himself, keeps the thoughts that maybe Masamune isn’t right. Then he buries them away, because if Masamune isn’t right, then what does that mean for Emu?

---

It had been quiet for a while, a longer stretch of little happening. For that, Parad had been grateful, it let him focus on his internship, especially with them coming to the end of his surgical internship. It… almost felt wrong, though, to continue. Perhaps it was just because he was using Emu’s name, knowing now that Emu was still alive. Every time someone at the hospital called him by Emu’s name, he had to resist the urge to flinch. It felt wrong.

Of course, it wasn’t that bad when he was with the CR, they would call him by his actual name and he could… He could not be Emu around them. It was nice, in a way. Yet there was a nagging at him, that with every passing day, Emu seemed to be floating further from him. Not just the farther and farther that it seemed Emu would find himself going but… but also the way that it felt like Emu was distancing himself in general.

But with the comparatively relaxing silence, Parad forced himself to focus on his internship. Emu or not, he had a goal and now… Now it was his goal, not just Emu’s – if Emu even still held such a dream. He’d keep helping his patient’s smile, no matter how hard he had to keep working.

As it were, Saki had just finished a surgery, stitching some internal wounds on a member of a band. Some equipment had fallen on her, causing her to need the surgery. Of course, as soon as their patient was awake, her band mates came to check on her. A glance into the patient room showed that they were already arguing.

It, in a way, reminded him of the Riders, when they’d been trying to defeat Graphite. The way that they could fight together, but not work together, because they each had their own goals. Of course, in this case, the band members seemed to have their own ideas of how to reach the goals, so it was something of an inverse.

Squabbling aside, Parad isn’t too concerned about it, they probably had this disagreement before, by the sounds of it. They could probably handle it and it wasn’t like these were their Game Disease patients – then he’d be more concerned about the possibility of stressing them.

Though, the moment he had thought this, the three began to glitch, prompting him to call Saki over. The two rushes into the room, Saki’s Gamer Driver ready while they both have their Gashat’s in hand. From the three, Gatton, Motors, and Kaiden appear from the three, prompting Saki to stage select them somewhere else.

The two transforms, challenging the three Bugsters. Two on three weren’t good odds, especially since Saki only had access to Level 5. But Parad at least had Level 20, which was something, though he’d feel better if they at least had someone else to fight with them.

Like she was psychic though, or perhaps just good timing, Nico arrived, pulling out the Gashat Gear Dual and transforming to Level 50. The arrival of Nico alone was enough to even the odds significantly, the fact that she was at Level 50 only helped.

“Hey, didn’t we already fight these guys?”

Nico wasn’t wrong, the last Bugster they’d fought was Gatton and they’d certainly fought Kaiden and Motors before – Motors twice before, even. Which did make it odd that they were seeing them again. Though, thinking about the Bugsters that Emu hadn’t collected the data of… Maybe it was simply a matter of stalling for time before they were all collected.

“We have,” Saki answers, “But they’ve infected new hosts, so we must fight again regardless.”

Despite their best efforts, they weren’t able to defeat the three Bugster, instead, Gatton and Kaiden escaped, though Saki and Nico were able to tag team Motors and stop him from fleeing. Returning to the hospital, they quickly moved their original patient, Sora, Motors’ host, to the CR.

Deciding that obviously the source of the three’s stress, at least initially, was their argument, Parad chose to talk with Sora once she awoke. In the meantime, he noticed his phone suggested an article to him, stating that Masamune Dan was on a break from acting as president of Gemn Corp, the role being taken over by Ren Amagasaki. That was… strange, and certainly a bit concerning.

Scrolling further through the article, he finds that Amagasaki had already announced a new game, one that would change how people viewed games and Gemn Corp forever. That was… honestly a bit worrisome. Such grand claims and the new suspicion that they had on Masamune, thanks to Nico’s discovery.

While concerning, though, it was something to worry about later. Saki and Nico were hunting down Kaiden and Gatton, hoping to be able to defeat the two Bugsters, which left Parad here in case Motors appeared again. Not that Parad didn’t think he could handle it. Trying to fight three on two was hard, but one on one was much easier.

---

Unlike Nico, Taiga didn’t have quite such a great mental map of Gemn Corp, but he remembered enough to find where Tsukuru was. In one arm, Taiga carried Kiriya’s laptop, knowing enough about what was inside that it could suit their purpose well. If Kiriya was right, this wouldn’t just counter Dangerous Zombie’s immortality, but also be a great help against Bugsters. Though the actual notes made it hard to tell whether it would really work, or if it was going to be very specific about who used it. Still, it would be better than nothing.

Sitting across from Tsukuru, Taiga sets the laptop on the table, “I’ve found you something to make a Gashat out of.”

---

Now that Sora’s finally awake, Parad can talk to her, hopefully get an idea of what might stress her or her bandmates. According to Sora, their band hadn’t been doing well, but they’d entered a contest Gemn Corp was holding to create a song for their new game. Now that Sora was hurt, though, they wouldn’t be able to compete.

She did mention, though, that the three of them had a dream to one day play at Seito Stadium. Parad was pretty sure that there was his answer, so he imagined that the two Bugsters would probably attack there. Not that he was going to say that to Sora, he didn’t want to stress her out more.

“I’m sure you can all come together and achieve that dream, someday,” Parad smiled, doing his best to assure Sora, “We’ll cure you and your bandmates, then you’ll be able to return to your goals.”

A while later, a curious arrival comes to the CR, a man who Parad recognized from the article he’d read. The stand-in president of Gemn Corp, Ren Amagasaki. Which was really weird and immediately set off alarm bells. That and this general feeling that there was something wrong about him. Parad couldn’t explain it, but he knew that just like Masamune, he didn’t trust Amagasaki.

“Hello,” Parad says, thankfully still in his Emu disguise, “What are you doing here?”

Because even Masamune didn’t arrive at the CR without reason. The question prompted a lengthy explanation about how they were making a new game at Gemn Corp and were holding a contest for the theme – blah blah blah, more or less what Parad had heard from Sora. Except Amagasaki adds on that he’d heard that the singer of one of the groups was here and had wanted to talk to her.

Figuring he was talking about Sora, Parad decided that it probablywouldn’t hurt to let Amagasaki talk with her. So, though still hesitant, he let’s Amagasaki into the patient room, watching him warily.

“Who’s that?” Asuna frowns, watching as Amagasaki introduces himself to Sora.

“Gemn Corp’s new president,” Parad answers, “I don’t like him.”

At that, Asuna frowns, “Why not?”

“I don’t know, he just gives me bad feelings…” Parad doesn’t get a chance to continue, as Amagasaki said something to Sora that stressed her, causing her Game Disease to flare. Parad pulls out his Gashat while rushing over, while Asuna annoyed, shoved Amagasaki out of the room. It’s times like these that Parad wished he had a Gamer Driver.

Though he didn’t have to worry, given Sora stood up, clearly controlled by Motors, and runs out of the room, Parad and Asuna chasing after. To little surprise, Motors brings them to where Saki and Nico are already fighting Kaiden and Gatton respectively. Then, appearing from Sora’s body, is Motors. Emu activates his Gashat, ready to fight.

Between the three of them, each fighting their respective Bugster, they’re able to defeat the three Bugsters this time, curing the band members. It was surprisingly easy, which only made Parad further think that there might be something else going on. Not that Parad knew for certain what. Maybe it had to do with all the quiet that they’d had since they’d first fought Gatton.

No Emu, nothing else. Just three Bugsters and their patients.

The three band members talk, and it sound like they’ve strengthened their resolve to reach their dream. It makes Parad happy, all three of them are smiling. At least, until Sora collapsed. He’s closest to Sora, so he reaches her first.

“Motors making her run like that seems to have torn her stitches…”

Saki is the next to arrive, taking over in checking Sora. Behind them, Nico whips out her phone, calling for an ambulance. To the side, Asuna and Taiga watch – Taiga having arrived at some point, though no one’s quite sure when.

While watching them, Taiga comments, “They make a good team, huh?”

“They do,” Asuna nods.

---

“Emu,” Masamune’s voice quickly gains Emu’s attention, “We’ve almost completed Chronicle.”

Warily, Emu nods, “We… we have,”

“There are only three more Bugsters we must collect the data on,” Masamune continues, “I think the best one to go after would be Para-DX.”

For some reason, the idea of having to kill Para-DX didn’t quite sit right with Emu. But he wouldn’t have a choice, unless he could convince him to come with Emu. Yet, Emu had seen Para-DX’s resolve, that would never work.

At least Emu was stronger than Para-DX, a higher level. He just had to make sure that neither Snipe nor Brave would be there. That would be the hardest part. As much as Emu didn’t want to kill another person… he could at least take solace that Para-DX was a Bugster, he would come back in the game, like all the others.

“Of… of course,” Emu nods, “That makes sense.”

“Good,” In response, Masamune turns away, “I’ll look into how to get the DoReMiFa Beat Bugster, I think Lovelica will work well.”

“And… and Graphite?”

Masamune pauses, “A… complication. It seems Graphite has already been revived.” Emu tries not to tense at that, though he’s not sure why. Perhaps it’s because he fears that Masamune would be upset, particularly because Emu hadn’t told him that Graphite was alive. “It may make retrieving his data more complicated, but he is fond of you, I’m sure it won’t be much trouble. We’ll simply have to find him.”

Hesitantly, Emu says, “Yeah… that is weird…” He fiddles with his sleeve, not quite meeting Masamune’s eyes, “Well, I’m sure he’ll show up…”

“Mu?” It seemed like Masamune had noticed his odd behavior.

“Anyway! I’ll start trying to figure out how to get Para-DX’s data,” Emu chooses to change the topic, hoping that it would distract Masamune. Besides, Para-DX could easily be considered a more pressing matter. “It would be easiest to fight him without Snipe or Brave to interfere, though getting him without one of the other Riders might be tricky. Right now it seems like Snipe has the Gashat Gear Dual, so maybe if I just make sure she isn’t there? I could deal with Level 5 easy enough…”

It seemed his plan to distract Masamune had worked, as Masamune merely nodded, “I’m sure you’ll figure something out, Mu, it’s just a part of the game.”

“Of course! I just need to do something thinking about it.”

[caffeineovercals]

Feel.

i want to fall in love, i want to feel something so intensely i’m overwhelmed by the mere thought of it. I want to have someone who seems almost too good to be true; something simple and sweet. whether i feel that deep burning sensation in my chest from being in love and getting butterflies every time i think of them or from hyperventilating on the bathroom floor sobbing perpetually, i just want to fucking feel something as deeply as that.

I work at a coffee shop and one of the shift managers has a girlfriend who is also a shift manager at the establishment, last night she was off work and still came in to see her boyfriend. she had a drawing ipad and i would occasionally peek over the counter to see what she was drawing, a very muscular bunny. At first i was a little deterred because of the total abstraction of the piece but as i thought about it, i realized she’s an artist. She is so creative and unique that she made her own art style and basically has something special to her that she is passionate about. i want that. i want LOVE not just a crush liking me back, i want to feel so deeply connected to a person that i can see how they glow when they talk about their interests and how they work so diligently while chasing something they want. how their facial expressions change depending on what they’re talking about and how they react to uncertainty. i just want simple real deep love.

Theres this guy i know, we’re just gonna say his name is C. C is 5 years older than i am and let me tell you the story of how we met... I drive a very small convertible and it is perfect for taking pictures out the side of it of moving cars, otherwise known as Rollers. C is a self proclaimed photographer and one day my friend asked him to take some pictures of his new car so without introduction, C got in my car and i drove him and we made fun of my shitty car and shitty driving and how a 6’5 guy could hardly fit in my tiny miata. Later we went to a car meet and He asked my friends for my snapchat and after that we have texted every single day. Getting to know each other, well, i was getting to know him... C likes mushrooms and photography. he has 6 dogs but 1 of them is his own his name is Rover. C loves nature that’s why every time we hang out we go on hikes or drives to scenery. C paints his nails and only shops at Goodwill, he wears those nasty keens sandals and calls them “tactical crocs” even though they are the cheugiest things i’ve ever seen haha. he has curly hair in a mullet and listens to lil peep. his favorite water brand is Deer Park even though i think it’s disgusting. his favorite food is tacos al pastor, his favorite four loko flavor is the Gold one, his favorite fruit is watermelon, he loves rap music but only listens to indie around me because for some reason he doesn’t like the sexual talk around me(reminds me of sigmond freud’s madonna whore complex theory) i want love with someone who doesn’t wanna use me for sex, from someone who just wants a simple life where we do chores on sunday and brag about how clean our lawn is and who wants to read books and have picnics and go on hikes and find mushrooms to take home and eat. i want C but C doesn’t want me and maybe C doesn’t want me because he’s 5 years older than me or because i’m chubby or have a big nose or that i don’t know how to talk to him. or maybe he has me figured out. He calls me palm top tiger like taiga from toradora so perhaps he knows i’m not the best with emotions and i just have a bad home life. Either way, whether i’m wasting my time or i’ve found the one i’m just gonna attach the song that comes to mind when i think of this. xxx❤️

[lunawings]

King of Prism All Stars Prism Show Best 10! Initial thoughts/summary/review

So I’m going to be splitting this post into several sections with space in between to make it easier for people maybe to skip over spoilers they don’t want to read. 

Table of contents is as below: 1.) Day 1 Greeting Show Live Viewing brief event report 2.) Weekly theatrical video (week 1)  3.)1-10 Ranking and my personal thoughts 4.) New content (intro, ending, in-betweens, etc) 5.) Shin’s new show

1.) Day 1 Greeting Show Live Viewing brief event report

They had a live viewing for one of the greeting shows in Toyko. It was attended by Junta Terashima (Shin), Masashi Igarashi (Minato), and Takuma Nagatsuka (Leo). 

The day 1 greeting shows are always kinda awkward. Especially if it’s a live viewing and ESPECIALLY if it’s before the show because they aren’t allowed to give spoilers. 

Masashi Igarashi seemed even MORE pumped and emotional than usual. You could tell he really wanted to talk about Minato making it into the ranking, which should be a surprise for no one because he was really high in the preliminary ranking, but he still wasn’t allowed to talk about it. 

So he had to like dance all around it with wide hand gestures about how.... these ten shows.... and how amazing it was...... that these particular shows...... hahah ahhh man you could tell it was torture for him and torture to watch. 

Naganyan said that if by chance Leo made it in, he wanted us all to shout IIZE! for him. 

At one point the showed off kanji they wrote to symbolize the new year (a Japanese tradition). Junta said he wrote 変 I think (the first kanji in “change” but it also means strange) but he didn’t have the board with him for some reason so I wonder if he messed it up backstage and they didn’t have another one? Haha. Naganyan wrote 華 (flower). Masashi wrote 手 (hand) and he talked about how hands can symbolize a lot of things, like holding hands and “taking that first step” but then he was like “wait that’s feet....” And it was said in a way where it was difficult to tell if he only just realized that now or not. Judging from Junta and Naganyan’s reactions maybe it wasn’t on purpose hahaha. But then he doubled down on it, and as he was explaining why hands are significant he kept forcefully grabbing Junta’s hand and being like “See? Don’t you feel something??” while Junta was just kinda looking at him like “ummm”. 

I love these dorks so much they’re my favorite. EVERY SINGLE TIME I see them at an event together, Masashi Igarashi just goes on this HUGE rant about something and Junta Terashima is like “...........................................what?” (And Takuma Nagatsuka, if he is there, is like slowly inching away from them.)

I CAN’T WAIT to see them for real in Nagoya next weekend AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. 

2.) Weekly theatrical video (week 1)

So King of Prism movies always have rotating intro or ending videos exclusive to the theater. (The first movie had the characters appealing to be in the Prism King Cup, Pride the Hero had the regional dramas, and SSS had shorts after the credits.) Best 10 has “Prism Star Interviews”. Basically, you hear audio of one character interviewing another which plays to a static image of the characters. 

Week 1 had Shin interviewing Hiro, Yu interviewing Kouji, and Taiga interviewing Kazuki. It was fairly low key. Hiro talked about getting his driver’s license, Kouji talked about sending weird food photos to Minato from abroad, and while Taiga was interviewing Kazuki someone (implied to be Kakeru) slipped him the question “Which do you prefer, tigers or dragons?” After going back and forth for a while, Kazuki ultimately says he likes them both because they are both strong. Taiga is not too happy about this. 

Something to note about the intro videos is this time is they have four weeks’ worth planned, but there are only three courses of the movie. This means the course and intro video are not necessarily connected and as time goes on it will get out of sync and you won’t be sure which intro video you’ll see. I feel like this was probably done on purpose. After a while we never knew what intro videos we would get for the first movie and it was kinda exciting. 

3.) 1-10 Ranking and my personal thoughts

10.) Yu / Shiny Stellar (SSS) 9.) Taiga / Fly in the sky  (SSS) 8.) Shin/Shine / Platonic Sword  (SSS) 7.) Yukinojo / Hyakkaryouran   (SSS) 6.) Leo / Twinkle Twinkle  (SSS) 5.) Kazuki / Freedom (Thunder Storm ver.) (Pride the Hero) 4.) Minato / Sailing  (SSS) 3.) Kakeru / Orange Flamingo  (SSS) 2.) Shiny 7 Stars [SePTENTRION] / Brilliant Oath  (SSS) 1.) Hiro / pride (Prism King ver.) (Pride the Hero)

So I think the voting for this was actually pretty fair. Basically, people who bought the SSS soundtrack CD got a code which could be used to vote only once. So although it would technically be possible to buy hundreds of CDs to try and sway the vote, I kiiiinda doubt that happened? It’s not like event tickets.

First of all, I was surprised at how low Taiga ranked considering he’s always been the most popular SePTENTRION member. But then again, although I really like him too, there are several SePTENTRION member shows I would have voted for before him. I guess that’s because I would assume everyone else would vote for Taiga so he doesn’t need my help? So maybe everyone else thought that way too that’s what happened. 

I’m also shocked at how high Leo is. He beat Yukinojo. HE BEAT TAIGA. After his ranking was announced the first time I actually started crying during his performance just because I hadn’t seen it in a while, and also I had literally JUST finished translating this.... so I was just like..... MY SONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN IM SO PROUD OF YOU (....dammit I forgot to yell IIZE. MY SONNNNNNNNNNNNNNN)

Platonic Sword is at 8 which is OK sure. But you know, to be honest, although I was so distressed by this show at first I’m actually kinda diggin’ it now that I’m used to it because it’s a whole lot easier to enjoy out of context (I don’t have to see Shin crying every time). But it’s just really weird to have THAT smacked right there it at number 8, right in the middle-ish. This supposedly 0 karat show. 

0 karats my ass. 

AND MINATO AT NUMBER 4 AHHHHHHHHHHHH 

I can’t believe it. After all this time. He finally FINALLY got the recognition he deserves. The only SePTENTION member who ranked higher than him is Kakeru and I have no complaints about that because I definitely agree Kakeru deserves that number 3 spot. (You know, I wonder if this means Kakeru actually surpassed Taiga at some point to be the most popular SePTENTION boy? I’m just so used to it being Taiga, but..)

Hiro at number 1 feels right. I’m happy with it. It would be the same in-universe too. (Actually in-universe it would be like ALL Over the Rainbow but y’know.)

It’s really crazy how all of SePTENTION made it in (if you count Platonic Sword for Shin, although they did credit it as Shin/Shine which was nice). I think that’s part of what Masashi Igarashi was trying to say at the theater greeting: To think that the new cast could have come this far. To think that exactly four years ago I left the theater after seeing the first movie for the first time, and I couldn’t even remember over half their names... and look where they are now!!

Although I am certainly not unhappy with the results, and I know the SSS shows are... objectively better, it did make me a little sad that nothing made it in from the first movie at all though. Because those shows had a bigger emotional impact on me overall. I don’t regret using my vote for Minato, because I feel better having contributed to him getting the recognition he deserved than I would have if I had voted for something that didn’t stand a chance. But at the same time, Shin’s Over the Sunshine at the end of the first movie is probably the most important prism show to me, in actuality. 

But they are doing different courses to show the prism shows that didn’t make it in. The first week they are showing a montage of all of Over the Rainbow’s shows. Watching them back-to-back with the SSS shows in this movie really highlighted how old they look in comparison, especially the Hiro/Kazuki Boy Meets Girl. Back when the only texture they used was for Hiro’s stomach...

But anyway, the credits revealed the other courses will show Alexander, Joji, The Shuffle, and Louis’ shows. It is also rather sad that none of the Schwarz Rose boys made it in. Especially since Alec is so popular! I wonder if Alec fangirls didn’t vote for Survival Dance in protest since Alexander has never gotten an original song. I felt the saddest about Louis though... because Shota Aoi and his voice and...... (C.... Can I just slip in the back room, cut out Platonic Sword, and edit in I know Shangri La?)

PS. I think the shows were pretty close to the same versions we saw originally. One notable change is that they added in some subtitles for cheering. Specifically “SHISHO!!!” in Yukinojo’s show and “YO! Daddy I did it!” in Kakeru’s. So I guess we were originally supposed to yell that. (Oops.) As I hoped it would be, Brilliant Oath was also stitched together without that long break in the middle, so in this version it just looks like SePTENTRION created the goddess on their own with their prism jump. But hey! It’s nice to have a complete version. Also Platonic Sword was missing the Prism Axel. (Maybe that’s another reason I could enjoy it this time around.)

As is tradition, the credits are set to a new SePTENTRION song. This one is called Love Gravity.

4.) New content (intro, ending, in-betweens, etc)

There are two new, very brief, traditionally animated segments. The first one is a cold open of SePTENTRION as power rangers fighting Alexander. What makes this even more hilarious is it basically starts right where the original Prism Show Best 10 left off. They even used the exact same background I think!? Some of the boys’ ranger costumes are... interesting... Kakeru’s (and I’m afraid this won’t translate that well to English so I might as well explain it now) is missing the entire backside. The joke is about the contrast between his two sides (business and party: lit his front vs back in Japanese). I think this segment also has the first ever anime/movie reference to Alexander being weak to Leo. (It’s referenced in Prism Rush all the time.)

The second new traditionally animated segment is at the end, and it involves SePTENTRON in the bath discussing different genres of dramas or movies they could do now that their careers have taken off. I’m pretty sure it’s a metaphor for “So much has happened in King of Prism, what now?” After all the discussion of different genres, Shin starts to get worried it means they won’t do prism shows together anymore. But they all agree that of course they will. 

Then there are the Dorachi and Torachi segments. They are simplified and look as though they were animated in flash. In addition to counting down the Best 10, Dorachi and Torachi also have two language teaching sessions. First Dorachi teaches us some “useful” English phrases, i.e. Alexander’s “Go to hell!” etc. Then Torachi teaches us Aomori dialect. What makes this sequence so hilarious is how seriously they take it. Like, as seriously as you could imagine a chibi tiger and chibi dragon teaching you something would be. The Aomori dialect was pretty challenging too, and Torachi actually broke down the sentences, pointing out where the intonation was different and like.... IT WAS ACTUALLY EDUCATIONAL. LIKE..... I ACTUALLY LEARNED SOMETHING. The first two sentences we practiced in Aomori dialect were Taiga’s dad asking him if he thinks his grades can get him into high school, and that random background character saying the nebuta floats won’t be ready in time. But then we got a completely new Taiga line of him confessing to someone which needless to say was NOT in the show BUT...... the background was clearly the scene from the end of episode 3 when Taiga was trying to tell Kazuki something. Pfff. 

There is also a longish short anime during the intermission done in the same style. Torachi finds Dorachi out of power, and the two get lost together trying to find a power source to charge him. Meanwhile Taiga and Alexander don’t come looking for them until after dark because they are too busy fighting. Moral of the story: Dorachi and Torachi are secret BFFs and Alexander and Taiga are terrible parents.  

5.) Shin’s new show

My...... heart............................... my heart felt so full............. nnnghghhgphhhh.........

The context is that Shin is finally performing the song Yu wrote him in the costume Leo made for him at the Rose Party. So it’s taking place chronologically after SSS. 

Daisuki Refrain is a very heavy audience participation song. Perhaps the most intended participation in a King of Prism song we have had so far? There is a beat to clap to, callouts, and even a dance in the middle and it’s pretty clear even during your first viewing what you’re supposed to be doing at all times. 

Also, as I guessed from seeing Junta Terashima perform at the CD release event, Shin’s hat is a huge part of his choreography. What I did not guess is that it’s also a magic hat that grows and you can ride on it if it fills up with prism sparkle hahahah.

Ahhh man.............

....Okay. If you have seen it, I know you’re probably expecting me to talk about that.... one part...... So. I will. Okay. Here goes. 

At one point in his performance, Shin partially obscures his right eye while his left eye shines red. W......Why is that in there WH--okay I kinda know why. I think Shin has been gaining a lot of popularity recently since the end of SSS specifically because of Platonic Sword, and because he has that edge now. So although they gave him a happy, fluffy, traditional Shin show, they still put in a little fanservice for the fans who like the edge. A little reminder that he’s still in there. While I’m like.... YOU... YOU STAY IN THERE. IM WATCHING YOU. Ahahaha. 

One thing though, I could have sworn in the preview showing that Shin’s right eye (the one which would be yellow if he was Shine) was completely obscured.  But when I saw it again on the premiere day, I could see it was only partially obscured and it was clearly the normal red. So. Surely I was just so surprised that they did that in the first place that I just didn’t fully register it. It’s not like they changed it in between the preview and the premiere, right..... RIGHT?

Right. 

Okay moving on sorry that was too long. Haha seriously that scene is like 2 seconds and Shin’s show is SO CUTE AND SO GOOD. I really REALLY did like it and I’ve been singing the song all day. 

And his new prism jump......................

I........

Nnngfdnnnphhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I really don’t want to spoil itttttttttt..... while I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you just wait and experience it for yourself firsthand like I did, at the same time.... not gonna lie... I also really want to talk about it. Because Shin. So I’m gonna end this post here but also write about it at the end anyway. So if you absolutely must know. It’s down there. 

But. 

Thanks for reading! READY SPARKING!

<3

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Okay so Shin’s new prism jump. It’s called Mugen Hug Together.

And it’s basically. 

A reverse Mugen Hug. 

So Shin Mugen Hugs the crowd, but then the crowd reflects it back to him and he’s like AAAAUUUGH and, of course, it takes all his clothes off. 

(And then there’s like an uncomfortably long black screen. Where it’s like.... did we kill Shin?)

(Did we kill him? With our love?)

(We did not.)

(I guess he needed time to get his clothes back on.)

Shin has one of his speeches where he says he’s embarrassed about how he wanted us to feel good but the opposite happened. Then the second part of the jump starts (or I guess it may technically be a second jump), part of which can be seen in the trailer. The part where you take Shin’s hand and he gets wings. Then he takes you around the world. 

The end. 

[medea10]

My Review of Fushigi Yugi

[luseriana]

Prism Stars Short Story & Interview Relay #09 Kougami Taiga

from PASH May edition 2017 [REPOST]

my old (accidentally deleted) translation blog suzunoyuu is now moved to here! im currently slowly reworking to rebuilding the blog!

Short Story DL : google docs

all translations under the cut +

Prism Star #09 Kougami Taiga

Birthday : May 4th Blood Type : A Birthplace : Aomori Prefecture

Kakkyouin Academy 3rd junior year. Has a sister.

He acts tough but actually has a pure heart. He doesn't know how to handle girls and will lose it if a girl touches him.

He is a big fan of Nishina Kazuki and thinks that "Kazuki senpai is mine!". Loves festivals. He doesn't wear anything when he sleeps but is unconscious of it! (You can read this in an SS where Taiga sleeptalks complaining about how it's so hot and he unconsciously keeps taking off his clothes lol)

The rash, newbie prism star who respects Nishina Kazuki from OTR : Kougami Taiga is actually a straightforward, pure, and honest boy. This showed in the interview!

Q. Your solo song "Legend World" is a song about the feelings towards an admired person isn't it? Can you tell us what's behind the lyrics, "You've always been looking at me" ?

Ever since I saw Kazuki-san's concert, I decided to myself "I'll definitely get close to this guy!" So I made it all the way to Edel Rose...

The Kazuki that day was really passionate and it burned into my mind... different to what Kazuki-san's like lately though!

Q. Were did you get those badges and wristbands you wear?

An OTR concert... I bought all the Kazuki goods...

Q. You like festivals* don't you? What do you like about them? Also, if we were to go to one what is the one thing you must absolutely do?

What I like about festivals? Why do you even ask!? Festivals are tough, manly, passionate! Every guy gets fired up when it comes to festivals! I'm gonna wear a happi coat and watch the Nebuta* And I'm definitely not giving up the mikoshi's hanabou!*

Q. What do you do in your free time?

Sleep.

Q. Can you cook? Do you have a dish you're good at cooking?

A dish I'm good at cooking... I can only at least cook deep fried tempura... What?! Well excuse me for not being good at cooking...

Q. You seem to not like apples, can you tell us why?

What I don't like is the sound of biting into an apple with the skin. The sound it makes the moment your teeth sink in... I can't.

At my home we had lot's of neighbors who grew apples, so there was a lot of that. Since we just had so many apples my parents would make me eat them all the time so i just hate them now. At home there's apples... At my friend's place there's apples.. At school apples... In the streets apples... apples, apples, apples....

Q. What is your favorite phrase?

"With fortitude and vigor"

Q. May 4th is your birthday right? What kind of presents would you like to receive? Also May 5th is Kazuki's birthday, what kind of plans do you arrange for his birthday?

A birthday present...I don't need anything. I-I mean... I'll accept it but, It's not like I'd want anything in particular...A best present is by action and heart right... Hah? D-don't call me nice!

For Kazuki I think recently he's been wanting new paint brushes... Also maybe stuff he'd use a lot like towels or shirts would be good... He also seems like he'd wear wrist bands... I mean, no it's not like I'm planning to get him a present or anything! He gets tons anyway!

Q. In 2016's "Grand Election, Next Generation Prism Star" you won first place and secured a spot in the upcoming Prism King Cup. Can we have your thoughts on this?

I don't really care about it but I'm gonna wake up the Kazuki-san who's been really lukewarm lately.

TN*

- Nebuta, The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, a summer festival that takes place in Aomori, Taiga's hometown

- Mikoshi, is a portable shinto shrine, there are the shrine bearers who carry the shrine around for the festival

- The hanabou is the main rod that supports holding up the mikoshi, and is the longest rod out of all the other rods for a shrine bearer to hold

The Animal Café of Wild Beasts

Having just gotten home from school, Taiga makes his way to the dining room only to find Minato, Kakeru, Yuu, and Leo chatting while watching TV.

Minato : Ah, Kougami. Welcome home

Leo : Welcome back ♡ We were watching this program on TV about animal cafes and we were thinking about going to one. Taiga-kun do you want to come?

Taiga : Animal cafe?

Kakeru : It seems popular with the girls these days

Yuu : We think it'd be a nice way to refresh our energy from doing prism shows

Leo : Taiga-kun, between cats and dogs, which would you prefer?

Taiga : I don't know.. whichever..

Leo : I’d really like a cat or a bunny ♡

Kakeru : I’m interested in foxes. What about you, otouto-kun?

Yuu : Lion. Of course I’d take the king of the jungle!

(Foxes, Lions...!? They can't possibly have those in cafe's! Tokyo is amazing...! Wait, how BIG is the store anyway, and is it alright to keep a lion in there!? Won't someone get hurt?!)

Taiga's mind is whirling with questions…

Kakeru : So it's settled, this Saturday at 10am. Yankee, you show up too okay?

Taiga : I'll pass

Kakeru : C'mon now don't say that~ Teamwork and solidarity is important y'know? If our prism jumps level up except for you don't come crying to me later~

Taiga : Ugh you've gotta be kidding...

Kakeru : Then it's settled! Shikuyoro~

Saturday noon, the kids have arrived in front of an animal cafe at Akihabara, which seemed to be a single room in a multi-tenant building.

(What the heck, it’s a normal building… I wonder if the lions are okay)

Taiga can't seem to calm down his fidgeting

"Welcome. What would you customers like today?"

Kakeru : Let's see, I want a fox, Yuu wants a lion, Leo-kyun wants a bunny, and Minatocchi... a snake would be fine right?

(A snake?!?!)

Back at Taiga’s hometown, Aomori, he’s had a few memorable encounters with snakes. He always had to look out for them whenever going to the mountains

Taiga : Minato-senpai... you're amazing... you have my respect

Minato : Hm?

Kakeru : For Taiga how about we go with your name- Tiger? Our lunches are gonna match the animals we choose, by the way

Taiga : (Crap... I'm... I'm not brave enough to face a tiger or a snake yet) … I'll go with a cat…

Kakeru : Heeh~ You're going for the cute ones? You go Taigacchi

"Alright then.  In the room over there there’ll be clothes and accessories for you.”

Taiga does as the receptionist tells him and makes his way to the dressing room, and then a few minutes later…

Taiga : Kazuo you bastard!!!! Where are you!!!

Taiga comes flying out of the fitting room with a blushing red face

Taiga : What the hell is this costume!!!

Kakeru : It's a cat cosplay?

Taiga : I thought you said this was an animal cafe with actual, I don't know, ANIMALS!

Kakeru : Taigacchi what are you talking about? This is an animal cosplay cafe

Leo : Taiga-kun, those ears and tail really suit you ♡

Minato : Mine seems more like a suit rather than a cosplay (laughs) Suzuno's looks really cool though

Yuu : Hn, of course it looks cool if I'm wearing it!

Kakeru : Leo-kyun's fluffy one piece camisole is super cute!

Taiga : ....What... why are you all complimenting each other... in these.. embarrassing, ridiculous, things! I'm going home!

Leo : Please don't say that...

Kakeru : A~ah. Taiga made Leo cry

Minato : Kougami.

Minato grabs hold of Taiga’s arms from behind. He smiles and emits a dangerous “You can’t run away” aura and Taiga reluctantly surrenders.

Minato : They say we can take pictures over there

Kakeru : Okay~ Everyone pose~ Eh- hey, Taiga don’t just stand there

Taiga : Don't touch me

Leo : Taiga-kun's a cat so do a nyan nyan pose. You put your hands above your head like this and say nyan-nyan ♡

Taiga : Like hell I'd do that

Leo : ..*sniff*..

Kakeru : A~ah. Taiga made Leo cry again

Minato : Kougami.

Taiga : O-Okay! I'll do it! Nyan-nyan right?! Look, nyan nyan!!

Kakeru : Okay~ let's do a different pose next, Taigacchi lie down. Okay, now lift your head and purr-

Taiga : Gaaahhhh, Kazuo stop it!!!

Kakeru : Nyahaha

20 minutes later Taiga’s dead body, cause of death, embarrassment, rolls out of the room

Minato : Kougami they say they serve lunch over there. I’m excited to see what kind of food they serve

Kakeru drags Taiga’s lifeless body across the cafe

Kakeru : Oh, me, Minato, and otouto-kun got meat. Delicious steak cooked rare~

Leo : I got a rice salad with lots of vegetables ♡

Taiga : …

Kakeru : What’s wrong Taigacchi?

Taiga : What’s up with this rice!?

Minato : Cat Rice, huh. It looks delicious

Leo : Eh~ where I’m from they call rice added with miso soup Cat Rice. But this looks like rice with bonito flakes and soy sauce

Taiga : I don’t care about that- why do you guys get meat and I get just rice?!

Kakeru : Cuz you’re a kitty?

Minato : They say that these bonito flakes they used cost 8000 yen

Kakeru : I’ve never eaten those kinda dishes before though so I envy you a bit

Taiga : Then trade with me

Kakeru : No way (laughs)

Taiga : Ha?

While Kakeru is trying to cut a piece of meat he is suddenly attacked by Taiga

Kakeru : Taigacchi, not my face! If you ruin this beautiful face my fangirls are gonna be devastated!

Minato : Fufu, Kougami and Kazuo get along so well

Leo : I’m going to show these photos to Shin-kun and Yuki-sama since they couldn’t come because of work ♡

Kakeru : Hah… hah… Taiga-kyun you really don’t know when to give up do you. I’ll send these pictures to Kazuki-san for payback ♪ Aaand, sent. Teehee

Taiga : Don’t ‘teehee’ me! Shyaaaaaa!!!

Kakeru : Ah, a cat punch attack ♡

Minato : A fight between a cat and a fox, it seems like the cat would win. Fufufu

[prism-rush]

Prism Rush Main Story Episode 1 Chapter 1 (King of Prism)

Beyond the Rainbow!! -sparkling acceleration to spring-

Episode 1: The Challenging Road to Revival #1

Translators note:  I have skipped over the first two episodes “Digest” and “Prologue” because they are largely just a recap of the first King of Prism movie, and have gone straight to “Episode 1.″ So, this begins right after Shin has performed Over the Sunshine at the end of the first movie. This story ultimately links the first movie with Pride the Hero.

Oh, Yukinojo references a Kabuki show in this one. I didn’t get the joke. If you got the joke, let me know.

Shin: The future of Edel Rose is up to us....

Yukinojo: With everyone’s feelings abreast, we must embark on a new journey.

Yu: And our powers combined we’ve got to revive Edel Rose...!

Shin: Yeah!!! Alright, let’s do it!

Leo: Hey, Shin-kun?

Shin: Hm? Leo-kun, what is it?

Leo: About what we’re gonna do... what should we do?

Shin: Um... about that.....

Kakeru: Shin-chawan.... could it be that you don’t have a plan?

Shin: Umm... well..... yeah!

Taiga: Seriously?! How can you be so straightforward about even that!

Minato: Well, you have to admit Shin’s honestly is one of his good points.

Shin: I’m sorry....

Minato: Don’t apologize! From here on out we’ll decide what to do together. 

Shin: Yeah!

Taiga: If it’s gonna get all lovey-dovey I’m out of here. 

Minato: Oh no you don’t. We’re all going to figure this out together.

Taiga: You guys can just decide whatever you want.

Minato: But it’s about all of us! So. Let’s. Talk. It. Out. Together. .....Right?

Leo: Minato-san... even though he’s smiling, his eyes are scary. 

Yukinojo: He’s torturing him with kindness....

Taiga: O-okay!! I got it! We’ll talk!

Minato: Yes, yes. Good boy. Now, Ichijo, where do you think we should start?

Shin: Um... well, I want more people to find out about Prism Shows! I want everyone to know how much the world is shining!

Kakeru: Well, how about we do a spectacular spectacle, like WOW! We can rent out a hotel in Macao. Oh, and call the president!

Yu: Sure. Like we have the money for that. The one who has money around here is...

Yukinojo: A show that will captivate everyone’s eyes. Leo, how about we do  Father and Son Lion Dance?

Leo: I don’t think so! Twirling like that will make my head spin!

Yukinojo: I see. Too bad.

Kakeru: It seems the princess of the Kabuki world has some... different ideas...

Leo: Let’s do a show in animal pajamas! I’m sure the kids will love it!

Taiga: NO WAY IN HELL.

Kakeru: Well, Taiga, do you have any bright ideas?

Taiga: To get lots of people.... Ah-ha! A festival!

Shin: Oh? A festival?

Taiga: A festival is the best way to bring people together! If we give out rice cakes lots of people will come! 

Yu: I don’t really think people care that much about rice cakes these days...

Taiga: What. Don’t you start talking shit about rice cakes. 

Minato: Boys, no fighting. 

Kakeru: How about we cover an Over the Rainbow song? They are so popular it will have lots of appeal. 

Yu: No, wait...! 

Shin: What is it, Yu-kun?

Yu: I am the all knowing all powerful Zeus! I’ll show you something even Over the Rainbow can’t do!

Kakeru: For example...?

Yu: That is.... well... I’m still thinking!

Taiga: UGH. Just like I thought, this is getting us nowhere. 

Kakeru: It seems we all have different business tactics...

Shin: But, no! We have to work together....

Yukinojo: I’d like to be alone to think for a while.

Leo: Oh! Yuki-sama wait!

Yu: Ah, dammit. What should we do. 

Minato: Maybe it would be better if we all took some time to think. 

Shin: ....Okay....

(Shin goes outside.)

Shin: Nobody can agree on anything. How are we going to get anything done when we’re all so different. I have no idea what we should do...!!! 

Shin: Ah.... I’m yelling at a river. ....Huh?

Louis: Shin. Long time no see.

Shin: Louis! We both ended up here again. 

Louis: I came here because I wanted to see you. Ehehe.

Shin: I have to do my best for Edel Rose. But everyone has different opinions and nobody’s getting along. Oh... what should we do... Ah! I’m sorry! You have nothing to do with this! I shouldn’t be taking it out on you. 

Louis: Shin, do you like Prism Shows?

Shin: Well... yeah, of course I do! I saw my first Prism Show because of you, Louis. My heart was thumping and it was like my body was wrapped in such happiness! Everything around me was bright, as if to tell me, the world is always shining! 

Louis: ........

Shin: Louis? You staring at me like this is making me kind of embarrassed... 

Louis: You just look so radiant whenever you’re talking about Prism Shows. 

Shin: Radiant... 

Louis: I want to see more of your Prism Shows, Shin. 

Shin: ...I see. I want more people to see Prism Shows. I want to tell so many people that the world is shining! I want them to know about how much fun it is! So!! There is no reason for me to be moping around! Thank you Louis, I think I finally.... huh? Where did he go?

(Back at Edel Rose.)

Hiro: I’m home... huh? You could cut the air with a knife in here. 

Minato: Welcome home, Hiro. We had a bit of a falling out...

Hiro: What happened? And where is Shin?

Yukinojo: It seems he was really worried about us not being able to agree... he went out and he hasn’t been back since. 

Leo: Shin-kun... I’m worried about him....

Yu: Without Shin, things just don’t seem right.  

Hiro: Shin... I hope he’s alright....

Shin: Hey everyone I’m back!! Oooh, it looks like I’m just in time for dinner!

Hiro: Huh? He doesn’t seem like he has a care in the world!

Shin: Yup! I stopped worrying myself! 

Hiro: Already? That was fast....

Shin: Since everyone is so different, I don’t think we’ll always get along.  But, for the sake of Edel Rose, we just have to keep moving forward! So, let’s just do our best together! 

Leo: Shin-kun!!! I’m so glad you’re back!! 

Shin: Ahh! Leo-kun, my face!!

Yukinojo: Just as I thought, when Shin’s gone it’s lonely in here, as though we’ve lost our light. 

Yu: Shin, where were you!

Taiga: Ugh, you made us worry....

Kakeru: The party can’t start without you, Shin!

Minato: Ichijo, everyone was waiting for you!

Shin: Thank you! From now on we’re gonna do this togeth--

Yamada: Hey! Are you all in here?

Shin: Yamada-san? What’s wrong all of a sudden?

Yamada: Just shush up and watch.

Shin: ....wHAAAAAAT?! Louis... is doing a Prism Show with “pride”?!

Hiro: HuaahuhhaaaaAAAAAh.

Click for Chapter 2!

[zukalations]

Blazing Wind: Strategist Takenaka Hanbei roundtable talk

This discussion of Nanami Hiroki’s 2017 Bow Hall took place during rehearsals of the show and was published in the January 2017 issue of Kageki.

Blazing Wind: Strategist Takenaka Hanbei roundtable talk

Participants: Suzuki Kei (Director), Nanami Hiroki, Maaya Kiho

Suzuki: While I did want to make a show about the Warring States era, the reason I settled on Takenaka Hanbei as the topic was that, among all the Warring States generals I thought he was the one who most fit my image of Nanami Hiroki. Since this is Kai-chan's (Nanami's) first solo lead, I basically wanted to write something that suited her well; there's not really any other reason.

Nanami: I really like Director Suzuki's straightforward scripts, so I was very happy to work together with him this time. Besides that, I really feel like he's helped me out at many critical turning points. He's always looking after me (laughs).

Suzuki: You're welcome (laughs). I feel that Hanbei, as a person, was someone who valued life, even in the violent world of the Warring States. This is expressed in his tactics; he tried to preserve the lifes of not only his allies but his enemies as well. Therefore, for this show I want to use the theme of 'life' to tell the story of Hanbei's lifetime and within that show my image of Hanbei.

Nanami: When I read the script, it reminded me of a Taiga drama*, how you can feel the emotional conflict between different people, and it seemed like the feelings from the performers would change the way it can be seen from day to day; that would be really interesting to see, I thought. Also, since many different commanders from the Warring States period will be appearing, I think people will be really excited about that. And besides that, Hanbei's way of life was just really cool.

Suzuki: Too cool...

Nanami: Not to mention the contemporary accounts say that he was really good looking. No matter how much I research about him, I can't find any failings; if someone like him was here now I think he'd be super popular.

Suzuki, Maaya: (Laugh)

Suzuki: I think the fascinating part about writing something set in the Warring States period is that you have to fill in the details that do not remain in contemporary accounts with imagination. Therefore, since I can't say everything about Hanbei is correct, I think Kai-chan's sensitivity in creating her Hanbei is certainly correct. This isn't restricted to Hanbei as things are the same for his wife, Ine; in fact, no documentation remains about her at all.

Nanami: But her grave is placed right next to Hanbei's. Therefore I'm sure they must have been close.

Maaya: When I first read the script, I felt that Ine was a place where Hanbei's heart could rest. Also, Hanbei was such a lovely person...What a wonderful husband Ine had! I thought. (laughs)

Suzuki, Nanami: (laugh)

Maaya: I think she must have prayed day after day for her husband's safety. I don't want to just have the feelings and lifestyle of women of those days in my head, but to fully feel those emotions during my performance.

Suzuki: I have a really strong image from scenes in dramas and movies where the wife of the castle's lord would say 'I will protect this castle!' You see those kinds of scenes a lot. While Takenaka is seen as very strong, I thought that of course a military leader who is responsible for the lives of so many thousands of people would certainly also be battling his own concerns. Therefore, I thought that the wife of someone fighting on the battlefield must have enough strength of her own to support him, so I feel Ine must have been that kind of strong person.

Nanami: This is my first time to act with Kii-chan so much. But I knew about Kii-chan before we were in Star Troupe together.

Maaya: Once you were reading a book about dramatic theory that I'd left in the corridor of the theatre, right?

Nanami: Right. It was so interesting that I was wondering whose book it could be, and it turned out to be Kii-chan's. Back then I thought you must really like acting. Therefore, when we ended up in the same troupe I wanted to perform together with you sometime. I'm very happy that I was given this opportunity to perform with you before you go to Snow Troupe.

Maaya: Since I'd recieve acting advice from Hiroki-san all the time, I also wanted to perform together with her and so I'm very happy about this. Also, she is my first husband in a play (laughs).

Nanami: Really (laughs).

Maaya: Since I'm so happy, I'm going to do my all to work together with Hiroki-san.

Suzuki: Yesterday was our first time rehearsing the songs; how was it?

Nanami: I love those kind of catchy Takarazuka songs that you can't forget after hearing once, and make you hum all the way home from the theatre. I was dying to have something like that, and Yoshida, the composer, created something totally perfect for the show.

Maaya: Everyone started humming them right away yesterday, didn't they.

Nanami: They did! The lyrics are so clear, so that when I sang 'My Life's Path' I just started crying. I think it's a really important song since it conveys the message to the audience. Kii-chan's camellia song is also lovely.

Maaya: I sing about Hanbei in it, and it uses the flower language of the red camellia**.

Suzuki: I thought the idea of 'modest virtues' and such was perfect for Hanbei.

Maaya: The melody and lyrics are very straightfoward, and I thought I'd never get something else where they worked together so well. I also have the chance to sing a duet with Hiroki-san, and our voices fit together in what feels like perfect harmony.

Nanami: It does feel wonderful. While there are a lot of songs, of course, this show also has a lot of dance numbers and fight scenes.

Suzuki: Yes. I think the dance scene of otokoyaku wearing armor, and the stage combat scenes, will be really memorable.

Nanami: I think when fans see that otokoyaku scene they'll be like 'Aaaah!'

Maaya: I'm like 'Aaaah!' just thinking about it (laughs).

Suzuki: The armor and other costumes are certainly a highlight of the show. The helmet Kai-chan wears in the poster wouldn't have been so large in reality, but we had it made based on a bust of Hanbei and other portrayals.

Nanami: When I did the photoshoot for the poster I felt like I was three times bigger (laughs). Since there are all sorts of armor pieces and such to put on, I'm worried about costume changes, but relying on the help of the dressing staff (laughs) I want to look great in the show.

Suzuki: So, in the end why don't we talk about what we're excited for. Maaya, you start.

Maaya: Since acting is something you can't do alone, I am hoping that when I hear the lines from my acting partner I can clearly convey the emotions that well up in the moment. I'm really grateful that I've been allowed to play Hiroki-san's partner in her lead show so I'll do my best.

Nanami: Since I have the lead in this show I'm of course thinking about how people will see me, but more than that I want people to see Hanbei's life. Therefore, I want to work hard so that the audience will feel 'Hanbei is so cool' rather than just me. Since this show has the message 'the world I live in can change through my relationship with someone else', I am hoping that if anyone sees the show while they're feeling down, once the show ends they can think 'I'll do my best from tomorrow'; that's the kind of show I want this to be.

Suzuki: Like when Kai-chan was talking about the theme songs, I feel it's true that Takarazuka has traditions that have to be preserved, so this time I wanted to make something new while protecting those traditions. If I can link that up with writing a story about Japanese history that is also new that would be a success, I thought. Also, though I keep saying things like this, since this is Kai-chan's lead show, if through playing Hanbei she can show people a new Nanami Hiroki I'd be very happy. That's all I'm working towards.

* Taiga dramas are year-long historical dramas broadcast by NHK, often biographies focusing on specific historical figures. (In fact, there is one about Tenju Mitsuki’s character in Blazing Wind, Kuroda Kanbei.)

** Japan has its own flower language, called hanakotoba. According to this website, the red camellia is associated with ‘unassuming splendor’, ‘elegance without affectation’, and ‘modest virtues’. (The wikipedia article on hanakotoba does not appear to be reliable.)

[mymistakewriting]

“You Don’t Have To Be Invincible” - Kuroko No Basket - HanaKaga

Song playing while writing: Invincible - David Archuleta

Okay, so I don't have an excuse for this. I know a lot of people don't ship this, but?? It was brought up by some friends that there needed to be more Kaga ships, and that there's a huge lack of ships between Kagami and the KiriDaii boys so??? This became a thing and I'm actually really proud of it. This was actually written as a gift for Io, so... @zografa here ya go!!! I hope you like it!

Upon first glance, their relationship wasn't something many people could understand. Hell, it wasn't easy for them to understand but it worked somehow so they weren't about to complain. They each offered the other something that no one else really could - Kagami let Hanamiya relax instead of having to call all the shots and think out every possible outcome, and Hanamiya challenged Kagami enough to keep him fighting for what he wanted when he felt like he was going to give in. And that was enough for them to be bothered enough to keep going through the fights and disagreements and clashing beliefs. But one thing they didn't seem to realize was that they were in no way prepared to handle each other's problems and meltdowns. Hanamiya's weren't too bad - he got angry and would yell, throw the occasional punch, but for the most part he let things simmer and planned to destroy who or whatever had pissed him off so badly. There were a few times that Kagami had to play damage control to counter some of what he said to his teammates, but aside from that it was usually a self-fix. But Kagami's were a train wreck and a half. They were full of quiet times where he just didn't have it in him to explain, and he'd shove people away, or he'd insult himself if he did talk. None of it was good, and none of it was something Hanamiya had been ready for when he first got together with him. It wasn't simple or easy and there was no way to fix it that seemed to make sense and work out well enough. And the worst part about it all was once those moments were gone, Kagami acted like nothing had happened. So Hanamiya could see it each time he went to see one of Seirin's games - something was bothering Kagami, he was overthinking and it was affecting his playing in a way that wasn't obvious to anyone who didn't know him as well as Hanamiya did now. And it bothered him because he may hate how pure Kagami's team was on the court, but he hated seeing his boyfriend so down a hell of a lot worse. And so, during one of those games, he moved, leaving his own teammates behind to head down to stand by Seirin's change room just before the end of the first quarter. Once they got there, he spoke without looking at them. "Kagami Taiga, we need to talk," Kuroko gave Kagami a searching look before he headed in without his friend, giving the others a cue to follow as Kagami stepped to lean against the wall across from the door beside Hanamiya. They may not trust him on a court, but Hanamiya was pleased to note that they trusted him with their teammate outside of the game. After all, it wasn't as if he'd ever give them a reason to revoke that trust. He wasn't about to hurt his boyfriend. Once the door to the change room closed, Hanamiya spoke again, looking over at Kagami as he did. "You need to take a step back, or ten, from whatever the fuck is going on in that head of yours right now," he pointed out. "It's affecting your playing and... I'm worried, damn it," "Don't be," Kagami said with a careless shrug, eying Hanamiya with a frown. "Then tell me what's going on and I'll consider it," Hanamiya countered with narrowed eyes. When Kagami went to argue, the other reacted just fast enough to crowd him against the wall as opposed to how he had been pushing off it to head into the change room to end the conversation. Silence fell for a moment before Hanamiya spoke again, his tone firm. "I don't recall giving you an option besides tell me or taking this chance to put some distance between you and whatever's wrong with you," "And I don't recall giving you permission to bring this up to me," Kagami countered. Hanamiya let the quiet last for a moment before he bared his teeth at the other for a moment. "How about you focus on basketball for the next twenty minutes, then, hmm? Don't let your precious team down," he offered, tone biting. "Because wouldn't that be a shame, losing because their ace player was too busy locked inside his own damn head," Kagami tensed and Hanamiya pushed off the wall with his hands, a smirk showing on his face. "Ready to talk?" "I'm ready for you to let it drop so I can go hear what the fuck I'm supposed to be doing?" Hanamiya went to argue, then just shrugged and stepped aside, motioning him towards the door. "By all means, go." Kagami took a step towards the door, then paused and glanced at Hanamiya. "We'll talk after the game ends." he offered, then disappeared into the change room. Hanamiya huffed, then headed back to his seat.

The game ended with Seirin winning - that didn't surprise Hanamiya, but it did serve to amuse him a bit. Kagami had been much better in the second quarter, which was interesting. It seemed that the other had taken his advice to take a step back from whatever had been happening inside his head. Hanamiya was waiting at the entryway when Seirin reached there after changing out of their uniforms. Kagami gave him a brief look before he huffed and brushed by him. Hanamiya rolled his eyes, but followed, throwing his hand up in a wave as he did, figuring he should probably try to be sort of friendly currently. Just in case he needed back-up on fixing the dumbass. Once they were far enough away from everyone else, Hanamiya spoke. "Feeling any better?" Kagami glanced back at him before he sighed. "You're a fucking asshole," he spat. "I'll take you trying to pick a fight as a 'no, I'm not feeling any better'," Hanamiya decided, crossing his arms as Kagami glared at him. The quiet that followed was tense, and Hanamiya made no move to end it, watching as Kagami settled to pacing. Anxious habit, Hanamiya thought, but didn't interrupt the movement either. Just as the silence was getting annoying, Kagami spoke up, his voice much quieter than Hanamiya liked hearing it. "Am I weak for this, then? Is that why you're here watching me?" Hanamiya watched as Kagami turned his eyes to him - crimson was brimming with a dull fire that was nothing like what was usually there. A certain sense of dread had dulled it. "Weak? No, no Taiga you're not weak. I'd say you're a lot stronger than I thought, to be able to lay those masks of yours aside to let me see you like this right now." Hanamiya said, his tone a mix of firm and soothing. "I'm here because if I wasn't, you'd never get this out of your system and it'd kill you," Kagami didn't respond, but he did look away, and Hanamiya let him. Embarrassment was rolling off him in waves, and it was something that they couldn't fix right then. It didn't matter enough to fix it right then. Another beat of silence, then Hanamiya spoke again. "You distanced yourself from it for the second quarter of the game, you were playing better," Kagami looked back at him before he hummed. "It was easier than talking about it," he admitted. "Do you want to talk about it now?" Kagami shook his head. "Right now, I want to go get Maji Burger and go home," he decided. Hanamiya didn't ask if it was an invitation, because of course it was. He wasn't letting the other go alone, after all, and his team seemed to have other plans when he threw a look over at them to get a nod of understanding from Kuroko, confirmed moments later by one from Riko. "Then let's go,"

Once the two were sitting at Kagami's, Hanamiya had the privilege of seeing all those masks and walls Kagami had up earlier shatter. What he didn't like was the fact that with that brought a look that Hanamiya knew was paired with self loathing. He said nothing, though, letting Kagami get comfortable before he reached over and threw his arm around the other, settling it comfortably around Kagami's neck and letting him know someone was there. No words could fix this, and they both knew it. So instead, Hanamiya said nothing when the frustrated tears finally found their way into the open, just let the silence filter between them, sometimes torn to shreds by Kagami letting out a frustrated yell that eventually faded into silent screams. It was painful to watch, even for someone like Hanamiya, and as soon as it all stopped, Hanamiya left him sitting there to go get a damp cloth for Kagami to use to wipe his face down to remove the traces of tears. Once he'd settled back down after that, he spoke, his voice loud in the silence despite being barely above a whisper. "Better?" Kagami looked up at him before he offered a small smile. That's all that Hanamiya needed to know the answer, though, and as soon as Kagami had stopped wiping at his face, he pulled the other into a kiss that was bordering on harsh. He rested his forehead against Kagami's once the other had finally responded, and gave a loose smile. "Do me a favor," "What?" Kagami asked, letting his eyes flicker between seeing Hanamiya's smile to look him in the eyes and back. "Stop trying to be invincible. You don't have to be, that why you have a support system," Hanamiya said, his tone slightly amused despite the serious nature of his request. Kagami hummed his agreement, but didn't respond beyond that and another pressing kiss. And hell, as long as it was this sort of fight going on with Kagami, Hanamiya figured he could handle it. But he didn't want to ever have to witness a meltdown like that from his fiery boyfriend again.

[paigewritestrash-blog]

Terrible Things - Kagami Taiga x OC

This is my first post on this account woo! This au was inspired by the song Terrible Things by Mayday Parade.

Warnings: angst

"By the time I was your age, I'd give anything To fall in love truly, was all I could think That's when I met your mother, the girl of my dreams The most beautiful woman, that I'd ever seen." Another usual and exhausting day at practice. Or so I thought, when I saw her walk in with coach. Her black hair was pulled back in a ponytail and it stopped at the middle of her back. Her bright green eyes caught me off guard, and I had to do a double take. She's gorgeous. I feel a sudden pain in my head, and the basketball bounces to the floor. "Kagami-kun, what is your problem?" Kuroko asks. But he follows my gaze to the girl, and sighs. He jabs me in the side. "Go talk to her." I punch him in the side. "No way! Who do you think I am?" I cry out. She's out of my league. The thought of talking to her makes my stomach do flips. I've never been this nervous, not even during basketball games. "I'm too nervous, anyways." I sigh. Kuroko wears a small grin. "That's a shame." I raise a brow. "She's coming over here." Kuroko pats me on the shoulder and smiles. "Good luck." "Oi, Kuroko! Wait-" He walks over to Kiyoshi, leaving me a sweaty mess as the beautiful girl walks over to me, wearing a smile that makes my heart race. "Riko tells me you need help learning how to use your left hand." Her voice is like music to my ears. I can feel my face getting hot. "Um, y-yeah, I do." I scratch the back of my neck nervously. She smiles. "It's nice to meet you, Kagami. I'm Felicity." Her American accent slips through when she says her name. "You're American?" I ask. Felicity nods. "My dad and I moved here in middle school." She picks up a basketball on the ground and spins it on her left hand index finger. "I played a lot of basketball there." She winks. "Thus why I'm going to teach you to use your left hand better." Felicity dribbles the ball and then dribbles it back and forth between each hand. She then turns to face the other half of the court from where we stand, at free throw line. She shoots with her left hand, yet I can't watch the ball. I can't take my eyes off of her. 

"She said, "Boy can I tell you a wonderful thing? I can't help but notice, you're staring at me. I know I shouldn't say this, but I really believe, I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me." Now, son, I'm only telling you this Because life can do terrible things."

She looks at me and flashes me a smile. My heart flutters and I feel hot. "Can I tell you a wonderful thing?" She asks. I nod, not sure what to expect. "I can't help but notice the way you're staring... I know I shouldn't say this, but I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me." I think my heart stopped beating completely. My face is burning up and I can't say anything. Felicity simply smiles at me again, her cheeks red too. "It's okay if you are. I don't mind." She winks and runs off to the other side of the court to get the ball she shot. I run my fingers through my hair and heave a sigh. Get it together, you're being too obvious. I'd be lying if I said Felicity isn't a good teacher. She made me play a game of one on one only dribbling with my left hand, which she dominated me at. As she predicted, that made me work harder. By the end of the night, even after everyone had left hours before, she had taught me how to switch hands in the air when I dunk. "You did great today!" Felicity exclaims. "Once you learn something, you perfect it very easily." She takes her hair out of her ponytail and shakes it, her long hair flowing to the waistline of her skirt now. I give her a shy smile. I can't stop staring at her. Every time I look at her and then look away, I want more. I can't help but be entranced by every movement she makes. Every word that comes out of her mouth is beautiful and I have to tell myself to snap out of it before I become a flustered mess. No one has ever made me feel this way... "Thank you." I say. "It helps when I have an amazing teacher, too." Her cheeks get red and she smiles. "Since I worked you pretty hard, what do you think about me buying you dinner?" I smile. "Dinner sounds nice. But you don't have to pay." I can't make her pay for my meal, what kind of gentleman would that make me seem like? I may not be good at romance, but I do know that the guy usually pays for the girl. Or at least that's what I learned watching romantic comedies with Alex. "Now, most of the time we'd have too much to drink And we'd laugh at the stars and we'd share everything Too young to notice, and too dumb to care Love was a story that couldn't compare."

After that night, we went on many dates afterwards. After our sixth date, we shared our first kiss, and I determined in that moment, I wanted to marry her. I wasn't one who cared about any of that, but Felicity... I want to call her my wife. And I will one day. We lay on our backs on her roof passing back and forth a bottle of alcohol. She's more of the smoking type, but due to the basketball team's drug tests, I can't. It takes a lot for me to get drunk though, and Felicity is what most would call a lightweight. Although, I don't need to be under the influence of anything to feel good when I'm around her. When she says my name, I feel at peace. "Taiga, what would you do if you won the lottery?" I think hard. "I could eat anything I wanted... And I could have all the shoes I wanted, too." "Shoes and food, that's all you care about?" She laughs. "And you, of course." I say. The longer we date, the more comfortable I get with flirting and being romantic. She moves her head to lay on my chest, and I wrap an arm around her. "If I won the lottery... I'd buy a beautiful house. One with a basketball court, a big, indoor pool..." She trails off. I can hear the smile in her voice. "I'd buy a really nice car. But one I can drive all year around, of course." She stays silent for a minute, thinking. "Oh! And I'd want my house to be fit for children." "Hm, you want kids?" I ask. I've never thought about having children, seeing as I'm only seventeen. I guess girls are different. "I do." She sighs. She doesn't have to be looking at me to tell what I'm thinking. "Don't worry, Taiga." She lets out a small giggle. "I don't want them anytime soon." Her index finger trails up and down my chest lightly. She takes a gulp from the bottle and sits up to straddle my waist, sitting on me. "I love you." Felicity smiles with her words. I know she's drunk, but I guess a drunk mind speaks the sober truth. "Saying it just makes me feel so good. I love you, Kagami Taiga!" She shouts, thrusting both hands in the air. She flops forward and her face is inches from mine. "I. Love. You." She kisses me after every word, and it makes my cheeks turn red. I laugh and swallow hard. I'm slightly buzzed, making this easier to say. "I love you, Felicity." A smile spreads across her face and she hugs me tight. She doesn't let go, she just lays on me with her arms wrapped around me. I don't question it and wrap my arms around her, too. In that moment I hold her as tight as I can. I don't want anything to happen to her. "I said, "Girl, can I tell you a wonderful thing? I made you a present with paper and string. Open with care now, I'm asking you, please. You know that I love you, will you marry me?" Now, son, I'm only telling you this Because life can do terrible things You'll learn, one day, I'll hope and I'll pray, That God shows you differently."

It's the fourth quarter of the winter cup championship game. I'm a third year now, and after this, I'll retire from basketball. After high school I'm going off to school in Tokyo with Felicity. She wants to be a teacher, and I want to become a professional basketball player, and the best player in Japan. This game is going to determine my future, and I feel the pressure as the opposing team continues to score on me. My jumps can overpower them, but it's hard when their players won't even let me jump. After walking back onto the floor after a time out, I hear a familiar voice from the silent crowd. "Kick their ass, Taiga! I believe in you!" My girlfriend waves her arms in the air, wearing a giant smile. That easily brings a smile to my face as I give my team mates one last look before taking my place on the court. The thrill of winning the winter cup again is enough to make me overflow with joy. But when I see Felicity running down the halls to congratulate me, I could burst with happiness. I feel the box in my pocket shift as she jumps onto me, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. I hug her back with as much force as she uses. "I'm so proud of you! Congratulations!" She smiles wide down at me and gives me a sloppy kiss, grabbing my face in her hands. "That last play you made, oh my God!" She exclaims. I'm not sure why, but when she watches me play it makes her... Excited. I set her down on the floor and intertwine my fingers with hers. "I know just how to celebrate. I'm treating you to dinner, and you can order as much as you want." She smiles up at me, swinging our arms as we walk. "Felicity, you don't have to-" "Taiga, don't argue, okay? You deserve this. Treat yourself." As we walk the box in my pocket keeps nagging at me. I'm so happy in this moment, I don't want to wait... I was going to do this tomorrow, but I can't help myself. I stop walking, causing Felicity to give me a confusing look. "Is something wrong?" "Of course not. Can I tell you a wonderful thing?" I let go of her hand and swallow hard, pulling the box from my pocket. Her face twists into a smile. I hand the box to her, which she stares at. It's wrapped in a bow that took me a tedious amount of time, and tries, to tie perfectly. "This was supposed to be for your birthday tomorrow, but I can't wait." "Taiga..." She whispers. "Open it with care, because I'm asking you, please," I wait for her shaky hands to open the box and reveal the ring inside before I get down on my knee. "You know that I love you so much," I try to speak strongly, but my voice falters with my nerves running wild. "Will you marry me?" She doesn't speak, she just nods rapidly through her tears and pulls me to my feet to hug me so tight air escapes my lungs. My heart still beats rapidly as I put the ring on her finger. "Oh, Taiga. You just made my night- No," She shakes her head. "My... My life! I'm so excited, we don't have to rush a thing. I'm just so happy to wear this! It's beautiful-" She talks a mile a minute, her hands around both of my arms, squeezing me tight. "I love you so much, fiance!" Felicity stands on her tip toes to kiss me. I wrap my arms around her and pull her closer to me. This moment is one I've only thought of a million times... Being able to say that I'm going to marry this girl, it makes me so happy words can't explain. Tears are welling in my eyes just thinking about this. My life at this moment is perfect, and I couldn't ask for anything better. "She said, "Boy can I tell you a terrible thing? It seems that I'm sick and I've only got weeks. Please, don't be sad now, I really believe, You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me."

It's been about a year and a half since we graduated high school and went off to college. We may have had a change of plans... Instead of going to school, Felicity agreed she would stay home to raise our child. She hasn't been feeling well lately, though, so the three of us bundled up to face the cold winter weather and go to the doctor. I was forced to stay in the waiting room while she got the results. Our son sleeps soundly in carrier, and I lay my head back against the wall. I hope it's nothing serious... That's all I can think about. When the door opens, I shoot my head to look to my wife, so wears a straight face. "Can I tell you a terrible thing?" Her voice is almost a whisper. My heart stops. I don't want her to say anything else, but she does. "It seems that I'm sick and I've only got weeks... Please don't be sad," She rushes over to me to cup my face in her hands so I look her in the eyes. Her face is blurred with tears that have already formed. It feels like someone dropped a two hundred pound weight on my chest and it's making it hard to breathe. "You are the greatest thing that ever happened to me." I shake my head, biting my lip. "Taiga, it'll be okay..." I shake my head again, sniffling as tears wet my cheeks. I bury my face into her torso, clutching her shirt as I let out muffled cries. "Taiga, please... I love you." Her fingers run through my hair and she rubs my back. "Let's make the most of this month. Do that for me, please?" She asks, her voice shaking as she sniffles. I nod, letting go of her to finally look at her face. I take in everything about it I can. Her beautiful black hair and sad, green eyes that usually twinkle with life. "Of course." I manage. "Let's go home." "So don't fall in love, there's just too much to lose If you're given the choice, then I beg you to choose To walk away, walk away, don't let her get you. I can't bear to see the same happen to you. Now, son, I'm only telling you this Because life can do terrible things."

I finish my story, sitting across the kitchen table from my son, who's now thirteen years old. He's asked me for years about her, and at first I ignored it, and told him I'd tell him when he got older. "So is mom in Heaven?" He asks with tears in his eyes. It breaks my heart to see him sad, but after years of giving him short answers, I realized there is no better time than now. I want him to know his mother, as I did. Remembering her as she was when we were together, it brings back that hole in my chest I felt the day she told me she was sick. It aches and makes it difficult to breathe. I nod, biting my lip. "She is. And you know where else she is?" I ask. "Where?" "She's in our memories, too." I bite my lip and exhale shakily. "She's watching both of us, and she's always with us. Remember that." He nods and gives me a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to feel sad now, dad. It's just like you said, she's watching both of us. Plus, you always have me. We're a family." His red eyes seem solemn. My sadness has affected him all of these years. I give him a sad smile. "You're right." I sit back in my seat and heave a sigh. "I'll try to be better from now on. For you." The dull ache in my chest isn't as dark and brooding. She's always with us.

[uta-no-knb]

[Song-Fic] "Try"~ GOM + Kagami x Insecure Reader

This was another tumblr request I wrote a few months ago....The story does have some song lyrics from other songs. I”ll list them at the end. 

Anyway, on with the chapter. I do not own any of the songs in the story

THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS EATING DISORDERS THAT MAY BE TRIGGERING TO SOME READERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Click here for the song

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

"Freak"

"Goth"

"Ugly fat bitch"

You sighed as you looked at yourself closely in the mirror as those comments from your classmates back in middle school echoed in your head.

Every day you looked at the same thing. Your eyes. You really didn't like them. You hated the color; they were a medium shade of orange. And what made matters worse, they clashed with your black hair. You were often called "Halloween" or "Jack-o-Lantern" because of the combination of the two colors and you really didn't like it.

Sure you got used your eye color, but all your life, you've noticed that your left eye was always slightly turned inward and that made you feel really self-conscious(1). And on top of that, your body wasn't like the other girls-you were a bit on the chubby side.

...You really hated it

Even though your friends, whom you have dubbed the 'Generation of Skittles' constantly tell you that you're perfect and amazing, it still was no match for the nasty comments from your peers (although one complement from a Tsundere is iffy).

None of them ever understood why you would never believe them; believe any of the words that came out of their mouths.

"It's what's underneath your skin that matters."

"It's the beauty that shines within, (Y/N)-chi!"

"Stop this foolishness at once, (F/N). You're fine the way you are, nanodayo"

"Eh? (F/N)-chin is pretty no matter what she wears."

"You're a perfect original, (F/N)-chan."

"You have great boobs!" //slap//

You couldn't help but sigh. It was a miracle that they put up with your stubbornness because you refused to believe them. You were grateful for all they would do and say to make you feel better, but every compliment they gave, you replied with the same thing.

"You're just saying that because you're my friends."

To make all matters worse, one by one they all began changing. Their usual personalities slowly disappeared until you were left with friends whom you didn't know.

Turning away from the mirror, you walked over to your bed and once on your bed, you turned off the lights.

Tomorrow is the start of a new academic year; the start at a new school where no one knew you. It will be fine.

♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥

Being a first year at Seirin was going well for you so far-mostly because you had a familiar teal phantom around to make sure you kept your sanity; you were grateful that he didn't change like the others. It was going well that you even became the manager of the basketball team-and managed to befriend a certain ombre power forward by the name Kagami Taiga. You even helped the team win the winter cup; and with the help of Seirin's shadow and light duo, your friends from Teiko returned to their normal selves (or as normal as they could be).

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.

Due to all of the late training during the winter cup, most of your meals were from Maji Burger. Usually you would prepare your dinner ahead of time, but coming up with training regimens, focusing on each player so they can be their best takes up so much time that you weren't able to make food. And the result of all the fast food-you gained even more weight, and with that weight, the bullying that you thought was over at Teiko, resurfaced.

"Look at how fat she's gotten."

"She looks more like a jack-o-lantern now. She's round just like a pumpkin."

The insults were getting worse and worse and the confidence that you once had disappeared. You found yourself crying every night and even stopped yourself from inflicting self-harm.

One night, you finally had enough. You were going to do something about this.

♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥

"Oi, Kuroko," Kagami asked, walking up to the shorter male once they were done with practice.

"Yes, Kagami-kun."

"Have you noticed how (F/N) has been acting lately?"

The shadow was silent, briefly looking over at their manager as he shot a basket with his 'phantom shot'. A sigh escaped his lips. "So you've noticed too."

"Was she ever like this back at Teiko?"

He nodded and faced his light. "She was bullied a lot because of her appearance, often times being called words relating to halloween. No matter what I or the other miracles did or said, she wouldn't believe a single thing."

Kagami was silent and was about to break the silence until a loud voice echoed throughout the gym.

"Bakagami! Kuroko! DId (F/N) leave?”

"She just left.”

“Damn it...She’s been slacking a bit. BOth of you find out what’s wrong. NOW”

♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥

Its been weeks and while you still attended school, you slowly gained more confidence that you decided to go back to school; your body was slimming down. People at school were noticing the change in your appearance, and the rumors stopped; you had never felt more relieved to go through a whole day without hearing anything-you were even getting complements from the girls who bullied you.

However, there was one person who was suspicious of your actions and that was your best friend, Kagami. He noticed that you wouldn't eat as much as you used too-you would usually eat anything that was in front of you, but lately, he's noticed you just picked at certain food that you ordered. Not only this, but you wouldn't walk home with him and Kuroko anymore-you were always at the gym after his practice. Adding onto this, you were always drinking water-you couldn't part from your water bottle and usually had to refill it every thirty minutes; plus you would always go to the bathroom after lunch, every single day.

It has been a few months since he noticed all these changes you were doing, and he never said anything about it.

The next day, he waited for you by your locker and when you appeared, he definitely knew something was up. Your black hair was now a light brown and your eyes were no longer orange-they were brown. What really changed was the fact you were wearing makeup, which you rarely do.

"Morning!" you said as you looked up at the red head.

"Good morning," he replied, looking at you with an emotionless expression. "You look....different."

"Thanks!" you replied, with a smile on your face. "We need to get to class, yea?"

"Yea....we should."

♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥

"Something bothering you, Kagami-kun?" Kuroko asked, as he took a sip from his milkshake.

"It's (F/N)-"

"You should be happy she's back to her normal self."

"I am happy, idiot," he replied, as he took a bite out of his burger. "Didn't you see her today?"

"Kagami-kun, we've established that she was at school today," Kuroko said with no emotion.

"Shut the hell up and listen," he growled. "She doesn't walk home with us anymore, she's always at the gym, and carries that damn water bottle around as if it was her life-support." He paused as he saw the bluenett open his mouth to comment. "Let me finish. She's looking paler and she's wearing make-up now."

"So you don't like makeup then?"

The taller male facepalmed. "That's not the point, Kuroko. She's covering something up and not to mention, her clothes have been getting baggier and baggier."

"What are you implying then?"

"...I think she's starving herself," he replied, causing Kuroko's eyes to widen in shock.

"...She never did that at Teiko. Why would she-" the quiet male couldn't finish his sentence; he was so surprised. "What do you think we should do, Kagami-kun?" Kuroko asked.

"You and the rest of the miracles were friends with her right?"

"Yes. She was really close with all of us. I've mentioned that before, Kagami-kun."

"Shut-up," he growled. "Anyway, since tomorrow is the weekend, I thought that if we could get the rest of the Generation of Miracles together, we could have an intervention."

"...For an idiot, you sure came up with a good plan."

"Teme!"

♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥

It was the next morning as Kagami opened his eyes. Getting out of bed, he stretched his arms and looked at the clock, finding that it was already 11:30 in the morning. With a yawn, he opened his bedroom door and walked into the kitchen, completely unaware of what was going on in the living room.

"Ohayo Kagami-kun," a voice said.

"Morning Kuroko," he replied as he continued to make his food, only to freeze in realization. Letting out a scream, he turned around to face the guy. "What the hell, Kuroko! How did you get in!?"

"The front door, Kagami-kun. You left it unlocked."

Mentally facepalming, he sighed and turned around again, going back to making his breakfast. "Would you like something to eat, Kuroko?"

"Thank you, Kagami-kun."

"Oi, Bakagami! Where's the grub?!" another voice said from the living room.

With a shocked face, the male scrambled out of the kitchen only to let out another scream. "What the hell! Where's the damn leprechaun that let you guys in!?"

"He's right next to you, Kagami-chii."

"Kuroko!"

"You said to get them all together and I did."

"I didn't mean here!" he complained.

"Does it really matter though?" Akashi said, grabbing everyone's attention. "Kuroko said it was an important matter that involved all of us and that we would be doing a favor for someone."

"Neh, Aka-chin. Do you think we can get food before we start?"

"Oh, thats right. (F/N)-chan is going to arrive at 12:30 for lunch."

"STOP INVITING PEOPLE OVER TO MY HOUSE WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE!"

"I suggest getting a move on and start making lunch," Aomine said, with a yawn. "Also, are you sure you're a high school guy? You don't own a single porn magazine-"

"AOMINE(kun/cchi)!"

~~Time: 12:30~~

"Are...are you sure that she's starving herself?" Akashi asked, taking a sip of the drink he was given.

"I'm pretty sure. She's gotten a lot thinner."

"Well, we'll find out when she gets here."

At that moment, the doorbell rang and Kagami got up to answer it, leaving the miracles to talk amongst themselves (and keep Murasakibara from eating before you and Kagami returned)

"Neh, Kise-chin, why do you look so nervous?"

"Its just," the expression on the blond's face shifted. "the last time I saw (F/N)-chii, she was happy and to hear this...I just..."

"It's alright Kise-kun," Kuroko said, patting his friend on the shoulder. 

"What is going on?" you said, as you finally enter the living room, only to see the Teiko Rainbow team sitting there. "What are you guys all doing here?"

"We heard that (F/N)-chii was having lunch here and since its been awhile since we have seen you, we wanted to come say hi."

You looked at each of the members there and just smiled. "Alright. It has been a while afterall."

~~~~~~~

"Murasakibara, hold your chopsticks correctly and chew with your mouth closed, nanodayo."

"Hah? Mido-chin, you're not my mom!"

"Kise-kun, stop trying to take my food."

"But Kuroko-chii! Yours look so good!"

"...Kise, we're all eating the same thing."

You couldn't help the smile that appeared on your face as you watch your friends interact with each other. It brought back all the memories from Teiko, before everyone changed.

Yet, something was confusing you; why would they all be here, especially Akashi and Murasakibara, since they go to school in Kyoto and Akita.

"What's wrong, (F/N)?" Kagami asked, grabbing your attention. "You've been poking at your food this whole time."

"Hm? I'm fine Kagami-kun," you smiled.

Shaking it off, he went back to having an eating contest with Aomine.

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

Lunch came to an end and everyone found themselves watching a movie; everyone was surrounded by popcorn, soda and different kinds of candy (the only exception was Murasakibara who had two bags of his own candy).

You didn't know that Kagami and the others had purposely set it up to see if you would take the bait-Murasakibara just showed up because he wanted the food. However, you finally realized that something was indeed going on.

"Enough," you said, finally getting fed up with everything, and grabbing the attention of the others. "What the hell is going on?"

"What do you mean, (F/N)?"

"Don't play dumb, Bakagami. While it was delicious, the food you made for lunch was my favorite-and now I'm surrounded by my favorite junk food. As much as I love seeing all of you idiots again, why are you all here?! Kyoto ad Akita are far away from Tokyo! Enough is enough"

"(F/N), this is an intervention." Akashi said, gripping your shoulder after a moment of silence.

"An intervention? For what?!"

"You've been different. Not to mention that you look different," Kise said, extending his hand to allow strands of your hair to go through it. "You dyed your hair and you're wearing contacts now."

"I just wanted a change in my appearance, Kise," you replied. "I don't need an intervention for that."

You let out a gasp when you found Midorima's hands on your side, holding them in a gentle grip. "What are you doing!?"

"I can feel your ribs, (F/N). I shouldn't be able to feel them that easily, nanodayo."

You backed away from him, only to have your back collide into a wall-which happened to belong to a titan.

"Neh, (F/N)-chin, you've gotten lighter. That barely hurt."

"Nothing can hurt you, you titan!" you exclaimed as your eyes widened slightly in worry.

"Plus your boobs have -."

"Aomine(kun/chii)!"

Luckily for him, he dodged Akashi's scissors.

"(F/N)", Akashi said, approaching you.

That was it. The tears that you had been holding back escaped and trickled down your face. Your shoulders shook as you silently cried; your legs buckled from underneath you.

Gingerly, Akashi carried you bridal style and sat you down on the couch and everyone followed suit. Akashi was seated on your right while Kagami was on your left. Murasakibara and Kuroko were leaning forward against the back of the couch while Midorima was seated on the arm of the couch. Kise and Aomine were sitting on the floor.

"What's going on (F/N)? Why are you hurting yourself like this?" Kagami said in a soft voice.

"Teiko is happening all over again," you sobbed, as you leaned forward and covered your eyes with your hands, resting your elbows on your knees. "Nasty comments are being said about my looks. The same exact ones that I heard all throughout middle school. None of those students even went to Teiko."

"We've told you to not listen to them-"

"And while I'm grateful for those comments, you guys are my friends and you're obligated to say those things-"

"No one's obligated to say anything!" Kagami exclaimed, startling you and everyone in the room. "I've had close friends who would be blunt and honest with me and after playing with these guys, I know they would never lie."

"Kagami-kun is right, (F/N)-chan," Kuroko said. "None of us would ever lie to you-never. You know us....better than anyone else."

"But all of you guys are attractive and you hang out with an unattractive gir-"

"(F/N)," Kuroko started again. "You don't have to try so hard. You don't have to change a single thing about yourself."

"I'm pretty sure I can say on behalf of everyone in this room, that when we see your face, when you smile, there's not a thing anyone of us would change...because you're amazing just the way you are." Akashi said, rubbing his hand on your back.

"You're always lighting up my world, (F/N)-chii! And I can't believe you don't know you're beautiful!"

"None of us want you to feel like you're less than perfect, nanodayo," Midorima chimmed in. "You're perfect to all of us."

"Wow, the tsundere was being sincere," Aomine joked, only to be hit in the face with a pillow.

"URASAI!"

"You're original (F/N)-chin," Murasakibara said lazily as you turned to look at him. "No one can replace you. You have to show people what you're worth."

"I guess its my turn now," Aomine said, grabbing everyone's attention. "I"m being honest when I say this, (F/N). All that matters is what's underneath your skin. There's beauty within you and it shines within. Don't ever forget that."

"Aomine," you whispered.

"Also you still have great boobs-"

"(F/N)," Kagami said, as you turned to face him-and luckily missed Akashi attempting to stab him with his scissors. "You just met me this year. You say that the comments everyone here said was "forced" because they're your friends?" You only nodded in response. "Listen up then." He took a pause and resumed. "I've observed you in class. You were always looking through those stupid magazines and your mood instantly switched; you come in happy, only to feel sad afterwards. Who cares what other people think about you. You're you, be proud of who you are." Placing his hands on your shoulders, he guided you to a mirror, followed by the other males. "Look at yourself."

Lifting your head up, you stared at your reflection, and it shocked you. Your eyes didn't have that excited glow anymore and you had dark circles under your eyes. Your skin was paler, and the makeup did nothing to help.

"This isn't you, (F/N)," Kagami said, as he wrapped his arms around your upper chest. "I know that I can speak for everyone here that we don't like you because of the way you look. We like you for who you are. And you know I don't say things likely."

"You guys.." you started, your voice cracking as you got out of Kagami's embrace and turned to face the colorful rainbow players that you grew up with. "I-I'm-"

"You dont have to say a single thing, (F/N)-chan," Kuroko said, placing a hand on your shoulder. "You don't have to try."

"I love you guys," you whisper, as you wiped a tear away from your eye as you smiled.

♪♬ Take your make up off Let your hair down Take a breath Look into the mirror, at yourself Don't you like you? Cause I like you ♪♬

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

Akashi: Hello everyone

GoM: *waves*

Akashi: Jupie has a message she would like to say

Jupie: Thanks guys!

So I know that society puts a lot of pressure on us to look "perfect" - especially towards us women. You see all these celebrities and models with super thin bodies, big boobs-

Aomine: Did you say boobs!?

*Aomine knocked out with a basketball*

Jupie: ....and flawless skin that make us feel....well, worthless and not pretty. Ladies, everyone is beautiful. The way you look, the way you talk, everything about you is unique and makes you one of a kind. The moment where reader-chan mentions that her left eye is slightly turned inward-that is actually what my left eye does; it bugs me, but I have always had it. II have beauty marks all over my back and scars from having some of those removed. I've accepted it; its apart of me and I've embraced it. I'm unique.

So whether you have scars, a slightly inward eye, whether you have a loud personality *cough*thisisme*cough*, whether you're a bit over-weight or very over-weight; coming from someone who has "love handles", you are beautiful. If you feel that the way you look will affect who you date or marry....here's a newsflash....it doesn't; they're just shallow S.O.B.s who are not worth your time. Screw them! if they can't see you - the real beautiful you- for who you are, then its their loss.

The same applies to the male species; you are handsome in your own ways. From a woman's perspective, yes, we are and can definitely be shallow, but not all of us are like that. Trust me on that.

I'll leave you with these quotes from an inspirational book, the Bible

"You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you." ~ Song of Solomon 4:7

"But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."' ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

**Note: The quotes are just inspiration**

Akashi: So,

Aomine: On behalf of us Generation of Miracles-

Kagami: Oi!

Kuroko: And Kagami-kun,

Midorima: We just want to say-

Murasakibara: *much*that *munch* you -

GoM + Kagami: are all beautiful

Kagami: So don't EVER forget that

♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥ Still working on the other requests, don’t worry! 

Uhhh, this was rushed so I literally just copied and pasted what I had on my wattpad to here....So yea...

[superchicalonelyviking]

Blog post number 3

Hello!

So it’s been two weeks since our last post and in that time we’ve finished the trip across Western Russia and Siberia and made it across the Sea of Japan to (guess where) Japan! This might be quite a long post but will try not to go on too much!

So to pick up from where Mat left off, he eventually did get that game of chess out of the bear guide but we didn’t go for dinner in the end after finding some mystery baked goods at a station- on the platforms there are usually ladies with boxes of food to sell, with everything from ice cream to salads, from cucumbers to a kind of ravioli with potato or cabbage inside which seems to be a popular Russian dish. I think it’s called Vareniki. There are lots of these savoury donut - type things with sausages or other meat or cheese inside. At one point there were lots of ladies carrying armfuls of smoked / dried fish which everyone on the train seemed to love! Of course everyone also brings instant noodles as there is a samovar of hot water in each carriage so you can make a hot meal in a few minutes.

We were third class on the train which meant sleeping in the open car with around 50 other people, but everyone has their own bed and a place underneath for belongings, and the atmosphere on the train was much friendlier and more relaxed than I expected. It’s an interesting mix of people- some very old, some very young - on the first night a toddler was wandering up and down the train getting bits of food off different people, there were a group of young men on what sounded like a ‘lads lads lads’ type trip to Moscow being kept in check by an elderly lady (wearing a crocheted white cap- nana if you’re reading this, it reminded me of your sofa protectors!) sleeping beside them and later drunkenly advising us on how not to book a taxi in Irkutsk whilst also playing games with the kids in our ‘bit’ .

The train route passes through a lot of thick forest and by some small towns as you head out toward the Ural Mountains which mark the edge of 'European Russia’ and the beginning of Siberia. There are many vast modern cities with huge blocks of flats- apparently 85% of Russians live in the city now- and in between are very traditional-looking villages with usually one storey wooden buildings, often painted in turquoise, green or yellow, with a vegetable garden outside.

A lot of time is spent just gazing out of the window. It’s amazing how long you travel for before reaching anywhere - it really makes you appreciate how huge the country is and how isolated some of the places would have been before the railway was built at the end of the 19th century.

After 4 nights on the train we were glad to arrive in Irkutsk, near to Lake Baikal- Irkutsk was traditionally a trading/tax post for furs and other goods from Siberia, and is now a modern university city. An event which contributed to the development of Irkutsk was the arrival of some of the Decemberists - a group of very well educated Revolutionaries from Moscow who failed their attempted coup in 1825 and some of whom were exiled to Siberia, and here helped develop local education and living standards.

Irkutsk has lots of beautiful buildings, some of the traditional Siberian wooden style and other more grand stone buildings, many of which came with the development of the area at the time of the gold rush. We stayed with a host family in a large modern apartment block by the Angara River, they had both lived in this part of Siberia for most of their lives and had a very cute 1 year old daughter- they’d asked for an English children’s book so we took the Alfie and Annie Rose story book. One night we made them a Toad in the Hole and some Cairney scones which went down very well!

We arranged a trip to Lake Baikal from Irkutsk- Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world, and contains roughly a quarter of the entire planet’s freshwater. To be perfectly honest I wasn’t hugely excited about Baikal because I’ve seen plenty of lakes before (I mean come on, you can’t beat Windermere!) but it is truly breathtaking- the sheer vastness of the lake hits you as soon as you lay eyes upon it, with the snowy mountain peaks beyond, and very little in the way of anything on the shores aside from several small villages. That day we decided to hike up the Great Baikal Trail - a project set up by volunteers to make a path around the entire lake , yet to be completed - walk round to a beach on the other side of a hill overlooking the lake and back again (expecting this would take around 3 hours). 2 hours in we’d only just reached the top of the first hill , and our provisions consisted of an empty water bottle and a small bag of pine nuts so at this stage we decided to give up and go back, though we did get a fantastic view of the lake from the top, and it was a beautiful walk through thick, untouched woodland with nothing but a few Siberian style houses down by the lake. Back by Baikal we found some of the local food which is smoked fish from the lake in a kind of bread roll, and some shashlyk, I decided to go for a “swim” (it was extremely cold, after putting my ankles in I decided to abort the plan but the combination of peer pressure from some people watching from the beach and a particularly slippy rock was too much) and we walked back along the path by the lake , past the houses with people smoking fish on a fire outside. It was a very sunny and warm day, and very peaceful- it’s true what they say that Baikal does have a magical sense to it. I would love to go back one day.

The following day was the next leg of our trans Siberian trip- our host very kindly gave us a lift to the station, the family was going to their Dacha which is a kind of large allotment, usually with a summer house, which is a very popular thing in Russia for city dwellers. We had bought a second class ticket for this train as it wasn’t much more expensive and meant we got our own room. Our compartment was very nice and felt like true luxury after third class! I did some watercolour painting(thanks Shing!), we both read a lot, mat wrote a song, it was a nice few days. The scenery changed quite spectacularly from the dense forest and 'taiga’ of the more western parts and there were now huge purple mountains - we think on the border to Mongolia and China - with forest, small lakes and rivers and grasslands in the foreground.

After 3 days we reached Vladivostok, the end of the trans Siberian railway. It was very misty and grey the morning we arrived at the grand station, but we soon had a warm welcome from our host who picked us up and drove us over to their flat. Their place was at the top of a large block of flats overlooking the city and they made a really nice breakfast of tea, pine nuts, honey, aubergine pate and home made bread. They were really friendly and really into jigsaw puzzles ! In the evening Mat helped their 6 year old daughter (who apparently makes friends with guests by using them as a human climbing frame) complete one whilst I made the third Yorkshire pudding of our trip so far which is fast becoming a Yorkshire pudding tour of the world !

Vladivostok has been an important military base for centuries and was closed until the 90’s, so it’s a fascinating place to pass through! We stayed just one night and the next day left Russia for Japan, this time by sea!

The ferry to Japan was also a lot of fun, with its own night club, sauna and karaoke! There were lots of merry Japanese people partying and later sitting around on the floor playing a kind of game which we never quite understood. We met a great German couple from Berlin who were doing a similar trip to us but with bikes, and whilst the ferry stopped in South Korea we found a Korean restaurant and had an amazing lunch of a kind of ramen style dish, rice and lots of small dishes with different vegetables. South Korea was very beautiful with an extremely neat and tidy port town with lots of very clean looking factories and slick blocks of flats interspersed with farming fields, and lush mountains beyond. It was a baking hot day and the whole feel of the place was a world apart from Vladivostok ! There was a beautiful sunset from the deck of the boat that night, and just a few hours later we were in Japan which is a whole other story for another day- I’ll let Mat tell you about this place!

So all in all it’s been a fascinating trip across Russia to Japan, it’s been really interesting to learn about Russian history - which is helpful for understanding the rest of Europe and Asia- whilst travelling across it! We’re really looking forward to exploring more of Japan, China and Mongolia before beginning the journey back home through Russia once more.

Really missing you all back home and enjoying the updates!

Love Libby and Mat

PS haven’t included names of people we met as I wasn’t sure whether you’d want that - if you don’t mind, let me know !

[afreviews]

January Releases - I

As we begin February, let’s look back at all the new music released in January. Here's a recap of the first two weeks.

Beginning the year with new music is a tough job. You need to set the tone, you need to set the bar high, and some of these artists have. Check it out.

2 - Michael Millions, Hard to Be King

Apple | TIDAL | Spotify | SoundCloud

At the start of the year - literally, the second day of the year - Michael Millions released his third studio LP. Serving as the follow up to his 2015 Beautiful, Hard to Be King comes in at 19 tracks and features the likes of Francoise Hamilton, Anakin, Angie Doe, Brionya James, Nickelus F, and Melodic. On the production tip, he recruited NameBrand, Nickelus F, JL Hodges, Mitchy Luv, EPTheOutkast, Melodic and Sycho Sid. It’s a solid project with intricate and deep lyrics waxed over smooth and hypnotic beats. It’s a must listen, and officially part of my rotation. 

4 - Mila J, January 2018

Apple | TIDAL | Spotify

Mila J released a project, January 2018, dubbing it the soundtrack of the month. It begins with her looking back at the past year, being part of a relationship that concludes along with 2017. She continues on missing him, trying to move on and then seeing him with another woman. Tables turn, and we see his side in “Missed Call.” That’s a voicemail far too many of us are familiar with. As men feel the heartbreak a little later on, her ex reaches out after they ran into each other in the song before. We hear this mystery man crooning on about missing her and admitting to all his faults. At only 6 tracks, it’s a good project from the songstress. Mila J’s vocals flow beautifully with the acoustic mellow R&B sound. And while it’s a short project that tells a story, could we be seeing a follow up soon? Mila J is always hard at work and is consistent with her music, so it’s not impossible.

5 - Various Artists, One Week Notice

Apple | TIDAL | Spotify

A compilation project perfectly titled One Week Notice, it features the likes of seven artists who put this project together in a matter of seven days. The 13-track project is brought to you by Jarren Benton, Dizzy Wright, Audio Push, Demrick, Emilio Rojas, Reezy, DJ Hoppa, and Kato. Producer Kato had this to say:

"Where else would you put seven really dope artists and four really dope producers together in the same studio at the same time, and challenge them with creating as much music as possible in a week. That’s something that doesn’t just happen. So, to give fans something new and fresh that would come out of that experience, I think it’s important for hip-hop, period.”

The project is pretty good, offering different flows and content that helps highlight each artist. And the combination of artists is perfect, they mesh well as working together and not overshadowing each other. Everyone involved with One Week Notice has the same goal and know how to work together in order to get to that goal: make some damn good music.

8 - Maxo Kream, Punken

Apple | TIDAL | Spotify

Maxo Kream finally releases his long-awaited debut album, Punken. The 14-track project features the likes of D. Flowers, Trippie Redd, and 03 Greedo, while produced by Sonny Digital, Ethereal, Tommy Kruise, Teddy Walton and more. Last year, Kream warned XXL his debut:

“I’m about to go full throttle into it, It’s more emotion, it’s more feeling telling the story of Maxo that niggas don’t always get to see. Not just the guns and this and that but really pain the picture. I want to take all my fans on a walk with Maxo.”

And that’s exactly how it plays. A hustler at heart, if that trap life isn’t for you there are many special moments amongst the fuckery. He indeed gives more emotion as he takes moments throughout the album to reflect, and in these moments you see how much his writing has excelled. 

“Grannies” for one has a lot of replay value. With just the second track, Maxo flexes his storytelling skills as he tells this story of all of these colorful characters It’s hilarious and real - this is really how “Grannie’s” be. It’s a story of when he was younger and living at his Grandmother’s, and how his relatives were always in and out of the house. There’s always that relative who steals money, you still love them just hide your shit. There’s the uncle that got you high for your first time, and the auntie that won’t snitch on you to cops but sure as hell will tell Grandma. That same auntie who will smoke all your shit, but of course you can’t tell on her. He must have just been sitting around, observing and writing. However harsh or funny (or crazy as hell), those are the times that define you. As he shares it with the world, these are the times that defined Maxo Kream: “Grinding with your family through the struggle / Hold them down regardless.” Take a listen for yourself, and see what the Texan has to tell you.

12 - Sylvan LaCue, Apologies In Advance

Apple | TIDAL | Spotify

Luckily, I built castles around these wild emotions

I’m always a sucker for concept albums. Rising lyricist, Sylvan LaCue, drops his new album, Apologies in Advance. Conceptualized around the idea of an AA meeting, “but for emotions,” as LaCue explained via Instagram. 

“Each song on the album represents an emotion to confront. My goal for this album is to get as many of us to start opening up and talking about some of the issues that we deal with on a day to day basis in an effort to heal.” 

The album is brilliantly put together. It’s full of raw emotion, with moments that hit close to home. In an interview with Billboard, LaCue talks about drawing inspiration from Jay-Z’s 4:44 and Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It was Jay-Z’s taking accountability for his actions and telling others to take accountability for theirs is what led LaCue to feel like he should take matters into his own hands. Track 20, “5:55,” is actually a response to 4:44. He also discusses how he wanted to make a Miseducation for millennial and focus on emotions rather than love. I definitely see the connection with the group therapy sessions, which as Miseducation it aids in the connection to his audience.

"I’m writing records that are therapeutic for me but I wanted to include other people in the album so that whoever listens realizes that it’s not just about me, it’s about all of us. We’re all going through these things and that’s the overall message. Let’s take accountability. Let’s face ourselves so we can heal ourselves and we can heal other people as well."

Oh, and I see Kanye was an influence as well. As the album is modeled as an AA meeting but for emotions, it makes sense to model "Perfect Imperfections" as Kanye West's "Addiction" - like wait, I know that back and forth.

Apologies in Advance is a well-constructed concept album that takes you through all the feels. Truth weaves in and out of smooth and methodical beats. With his strategic and tangled up bars, it’s so hard not to get lost in the album. Even the interludes are on point! Not will you find who Sylvan LaCue is in Apologies in Advance, but you will find yourself. Best believe that. Take a listen to the 20-track, 9 of which are interludes that signify the 12-step program. I’ve been looking a long time for something like this, two words: heavy rotation.

12 - Bandhunta Izzy, Code Blue

Apple | TIDAL | Spotify | SoundCloud

The West Baltimore rapper made his debut with Code Blue this month. The tape features the likes of Key Glock, Peewee Longway, Young Crazy, and even his brother, Bandhunta Jugg. Coming in at 13-tracks, the project supplies some heavy hitting beats that are laced with some heavy lyrics. Izzy uses his debut to really branch out and Code Blue is his growth compared to past singles and collab projects he’s been part of. The 21-year old lyricist does have a long way to go, but it’s a pretty good debut.

12 - K. Forest, When It’s All Said and Done

Apple | TIDAL | Spotify

With all these artists nowadays trying to gain more streams with drawn out projects, my appreciation for the EP has grown. K. Forest released his 5-track When It’s All Said and Done this month and damn. With his first project since his 2016 EP Eyes of Taiga, the Canadian singer switches up his R&B flow from dark and brooding to a much lighter and smooth sound. A bit reminiscent of the 90’s Golden Era. This is no surprise as he has said before, “I just go with what sounds great,” as long as it connects with him spiritually. Well, amen! This new sound definitely works for him.

Stay Plugged

We also saw releases from: 

Moneybagg Yo, Moneybagg Yo Presents: NLESS x Beard Gang

CupcakKe, Ephorize

Money Man, Grow God: Apple | TIDAL | Spotify

Lil Skies, Life of a Dark Rose: Apple | TIDAL | Spotify | SoundCloud

4K Tay, No Rap Cap

Mari & Jimmy Lit, Mari Lit: Apple | Spotify

Juicy J, SHUTDAFUKUP

And as always, stay plugged for more January releases.

[lunawings]

King of Prism Stage Show: Over the Sunshine

Last week I got to attend the King of Prism Stage show and, with MUCH thanks to NicoNico, I got to rewatch it as well. This gave me a chance to both compare two versions of the show and confirm some things so this post isn’t just from memory. 

I mentioned before that there were Pride the Hero “spoilers.” Basically what they did was take a few particular scenes and rework them into the plot of the first movie. But they wouldn’t be spoilers unless you knew they were, and seeing them as part of this show instead would still be legit. So I am going to include some of them without calling attention to them and it’s up to you if you want to read this/watch the play.

I am going to be mostly talking about what was different between this show and the first movie, assuming you know the movie scene-by-scene in the way that I do. (If you don’t haha I don’t care why are you reading this go watch it.)

First of all, I admit the actors playing Shin and Hiro weren’t quite as bad the second time around because I was prepared for it. Same with the singing. For the record, when I was complaining about the singing before it was because it was different, not “bad.” A lot of it actually did sound bad in the recording. But I imagine it was because it was taken directly from their mics - it did not sound that bad in the actual theater with the acoustics there and such. 

Also I have to explain how cheering worked. So basically everyone had cyalumes and stuff, but we were only allowed to cheer when these blue lights on the side were on. So that’s why you can only hear voices at certain parts while the audience is oddly polite in others. We are all yelling the stuff we would usually yell in the movie theater, which I could basically do in my sleep at this point haha. It was a reasonable system, but towards the end I wondered what the point was since the lights seemed to be on a lot more often than off. They lights were also off in a few key scenes with notorious callouts, for example when Alexander challenges Kazuki. We were all screaming in our heads like mad trust me. 

So the show opened with a performance of the usual “Boy Meets Girl”, this time including all the characters even Hijiri and Scwartz Rose. 

Then it went right into the scene where Shin gets the pendant from Louis. They decided to do it chronologically (and honestly it works better this way). The scene ends with Louis seemingly kissing Shin (although the actor blocked it with his hand). 

During the Over the Rainbow concert you first get to see that all of the characters have heelys so they can “skate” around the stage. They did during in random scenes when they weren’t performing as well. (This was the one thing they couldn’t do at the MRS live concert and I really appreciated it.) 

So, like in the original movie, they let you know what kind of show this is right away when Shin is literally brought up on stage before all his clothes are ripped off by stagehands revealing rainbow heart underwear. (Interesting choice Shin.)

In the scene where he meets Hijiri, the bike crash is done in super slow motion as Shin “falls” down the stairs while the stagehands move his bike. Of course I wouldn’t want the actor to hurt himself, but man it was cheesy ahahah. Also instead of a mysterious shadow in the background, the Louis appearance is obvious.

While in the original movie Shin doesn’t meet Kakeru until almost the very end, in this version he meets him right away at the same time as the other boys. Similarly to how he thought Leo/Yukinojo were girls and Yu was an elementary school student, Shin looks at Kakeru and is like “a businessman?!?” (Lit: Salaryman. Love it.)

Yamada-san’s character was cut and Shin is introduced to Edel Rose via song instead. 

The church scene with June and the Over the Rainbow flashback were both cut of course. 

Instead of the flashback where Shin gets the pendant which was done earlier, we have a scene where Louis teaches Shin how to do a Prism Jump (instead of Kouji). I think this works way better as well. They still make a big deal over Shin and Louis hugging though, which is strange in this version because it was like wait, but didn’t they already kiss oh well. 

I had imagined they would probably cut the onsen scene due to limitations of what they can do on stage with real actors?

But no. 

They EXPANDED it. 

Shin exposes himself to Leo and Yukinojo as always, showing the audience his entire ass in the process (but you can see a peach band around his waist so you know he does have something on in the front). 

And then instead of Leo and Yukinojo just leaving like they do in the movie, ALL the other boys come IN including Over the Rainbow AND they do a song wearing towels. Basically the continuation of the welcome to Edel Rose song. 

At one point they put a plastic sheet up as they all take off their towels and swing them over their heads. (All except for Leo who, wearing a full body towel, looks on somewhat horrified from the side.) In the recording it really looks like they are naked but…. in the theater it was obvious they were all wearing peach underwear. Haha sorry?

Although, that being said, seeing this live was…. something….. At one point I was just like.. I am literally watching a real life King of Prism striptease. I… am not going to think about it too had. 

It also wasn’t as obvious in the recording, but in the theater they made it obvious Shin was trying to hide an awkward teenage boy erection after his debacle with Leo and Yukinojo. (….after he already knew they were boys.)

So anyway. Next we go to Scwartz Rose and it’s a totally new, original scene. Joji comes in and and just starts going fucking crazy. While I was watching this I kept thinking… was Joji always this kind of character? But then I remembered we barely even know him haha. He’s in the stage show like 200% more than he’s in Pride the Hero (and yet he still does basically nothing). At one point he leaves and comes back connected to four puppets representing the members of the Shuffle, which we are supposed to think are real. and it is pretty hilarious.

So Joji introduces the audience to Scwartz Rose in song joined by Louis, Alexander, and Jin in the same way that Minato introduced Edel Rose. In this version you find out Louis is at Scwartz Rose way earlier, as Jin’s line about Louis being like a younger version of him is in this scene. 

There is a part in this scene which I didn’t know was improvised until seeing the recording later. When I saw it in the theater Jin asked to speak with Kokoro alone (but Kokoro was a puppet who could not be separated from Joji, resulting in hilarity). In the recording, Jin asked Joji to do a Prism Jump on his own (which he could not do because he was connected to the puppets, also resulting in hilarity). 

Also during this scene Kakeru comes up with a gadget which he can use to scan Prism Stars and find out their power. He sees Joji is nothing much but is quite impressed by Alec. Scanning Louis gives him an error. 

After everything that happened in the onsen scene, when Kazuki and Alexander came out in battle outfits my first thought was “Ok how are they gonna come off” but they didn’t haha. I guess they filled their naked quota already. 

In the first version I saw, Alexander dropped the watch when Kakeru threw it to him, but his “Hmph I don’t need this” reaction was so good I thought it might have been scripted. Also they didn’t show it in the recording, but he doesn’t actually stomp on the watch at the end. (After all, it is expensive.)

The Kouji/Shin battle was my favorite anime -> real life translation IT WAS BRILLIANT. Shin being wrapped up in literal red string. Kouji leaning down and shaking his ass for the audience while stage hands made honey pots fly around him O.M.G. I have various opinions on the actors but I will say this, KOUJI. WAS. PERFECT. Whatever technology they used to extract DNA from an anime character and clone him needs to be shared with the world.

Also, another notable change, Shin is able to perform Mugen Hug because Louis suddenly appears and encourages him (and then disappears again). Plus, Shin hears directly from Kouji to use the song Over the Sunshine to make everyone smile if Edel Rose is ever in a pinch (instead of via Hijiri). I liked that. 

After the battle with Alexander, Kazuki tells Taiga to take care of street style at Edel Rose, making it more apparent that it was specifically this battle which made him decide to quit. 

Now we go to the dinner scene, where Shin learns about the magic of celery in a more direct way: Celery falls from the ceiling onto Shin and he has to catch it. (Everyone clapped when he did. He caught it both times. Honestly I thought it would be more entertaining if be dropped it and had to scamble around the stage to get it though haha.) This scene is also apparently complete improv. In the first version I saw Minato threw the celery to Yu and told him to make a song about it. He nervously sang… something while the audience clapped along. I wondered if it was improv at the time and this was confirmed in the recording when they tossed around the celery and talked to it instead. Taiga was the only one who didn’t say anything, so they teased him endlessly. 

The TV scene was cut since once again Yamada-san was cut. It goes straight to Over the Rainbow’s performance at the Rose Party. 

Now here’s where the most dramatic change is: Shin does not perform Over the Sunshine at the Rose Party. Instead they are just like “Edel Rose is dead” and the scene ends.

The next scene Hijiri is telling the boys they are going to perform at a Christmas  party at Dear Crown. Shin doesn’t know what Dear Crown is, causing comic fainting and mentions of Naru and June in the explanation!!

But everyone’s excitement about the party is quickly dashed because Scwartz Rose will be there and they don’t think they can do it without Over the Rainbow. 

The boys try to convince Yu to write them a song but he resists, prompting a long series of taunting him by threatening to call Ito instead. “Kouji said if Yu ever refuses to write a song we can just call Ito!” “OKAY I’ll write the damn song!!” “Aww darn I thought we were gonna meet Happy Rain….!” They talked about Ito so much for a moment I wondered if she was actually going to come out (but no haha).

After agreeing to write the song Yu then sits in the same position for days without eating or writing one note. He avoids his writers block by telling the others they should be working on their Prism Jumps. Likewise, they have no idea what to do. So Leo suggests they make a Prism Jump together by working in everything they like. So they all call out random things they like (Yukinojo likes fall leaves, Kakeru likes the “like” button on Facebook/Twitter…). Taiga’s not saying anything, so Kakeru goes up to him and says “You like Kazuki right?” Taiga denies it and in his flustered frustration admits he likes “pudding a la mode.” Needless to say they tease him endlessly. Did I mentioned Taiga was also PERFECT. 

Their Prism Jump is a jumbled mess. 

 But anyway too late, time for the show!!! Jin is there, which is a surprise for some reason. (Didn’t they know Scwartz Rose was coming?)

Joji performs with “the Shuffle” except this time the puppets were operated by stage hands who actually sang the parts. 

Everyone had their performance outfits from Prism Rush in this scene (even Alexander) so I imagine they are their official performance outfits. Neat.  

Taiga tries to take revenge on Alexander during his show. It’s not clear who wins. Everyone stops it and Jin brings out Louis who does an original song. Next it’s the Edel Rose boys turn but they are all terrified. Remembering Kouji’s words, and with encouragement from Louis as well, THIS is what finally prompts Shin to do Over the Sunshine. 

Seeing everyone pile on Shin afterwards was much more satisfying in realtime heheh. 

Even Joji was impressed by Shin, but Jin of course leaves in a huff.

Now that their spirits are lifted the Edel Rose boys finally perform. But the song they do was described by Yu as being a song by a legendary idol group. (I guess Yu didn’t write them a song after all? I did not get the reference. All I heard was a random Christmas song.) Their jump was called “Edel Rose Christmas Party for You!”

So yeah, Jin swears revenge at the Prism King Cup, Louis comes out and says he loves Shin for no reason, and this is where the recording ends. 

There were actually many more encore performances we saw in the theater but I don’t remember them all. I think the Edel Rose boys got one more song, the Scwartz Rose boys got one more song, Over the Rainbow got one more song, and even Hijiri and Jin got a song?! All original. There will be a CD out in spring as well as the DVD!

The end. 

[t4194]

Around Escape

Kuroko No Basuke— Tadatoshi Fujimaki

Around Escape — t41g4

Please understand, if : Character in this fanfic could be very OOC, my grammar is very bad, errors of writing everywhere, plot is not clear and confusing, and various other mistakes.

..

Taiga rubbed his eyes as he heard a rustling from outside his window.

Him forehead creased, he free hands clasped a blanket.

"W ... who ..." he whispered softly. The inside of his cheek he bite hard. Every moment was so tense. The room with the dimly lit room light made him curl up like a feather ball on a mattress.

The sound of rustling came close, making the boy with the red-and-black hair shrink in fear.

"W ... who is there?" He asked again, louder. The cute boy named Taiga is now covering his entire body with a blanket. His shoulders shook with fear.

"It's me," the outside replied, before a low whistle sounded, making Taiga almost squeal like a little girl. Whatever it is out there, it is now being on the balcony of him room, and Taiga is too afraid to call him mother or father.

Taiga listen a 'tok' tok 'sounds from the tapped glass.

"Taiga! Taiga! "The call was heard again. "It's me, Daiki," he continued.

"Eh? Daiki ?! "

After knowing who was knocking on his window, Taiga rushed down from his bed. He almost stumbled over the blanket he threw away in a hurry.

"What are you doing in the middle of the night?" Taiga asks with a sullen face after opening the window of his room.

"I ran away from home."

Taiga's eyes flickered after hearing Daiki's remark. "You ... what?"

Daiki rolled his eyes, before grabbing into Taiga's room.

"What do you want to do?" Taiga asks with an annoyed look when he sees Daiki deftly pulling his backpack out of the bookcase.

"Did not I tell you, I ran away from home," Daiki replied lightly.

"What's that got to do with this ?!"

Daiki rolled his eyes again "Is not it obvious, you must go with me too!"

Taiga was amazed to hear Daiki's explanation.

"But-"

"Nothing but we're going now," Daiki decided unilaterally while carrying a backpack Taiga to the balcony of his room.

..

Taiga first got to know Daiki while he was in elementary school. At that time, he was just a new transfer boy from America. Striking hair, red eyes, eyebrows, tan skin, speech is not fluent. Complete already everything that can be used for someone to bullying him. In reality, however, he was treated like an artist, and so did Daiki treat it.

The boy named Aomine Daiki was once a cheerful boy, his daily life in addition to fishing in the river is hunting beetles in the forest near our village. However, everything has changed since the company where his father worked was threatened with bankruptcy. Her mother turned crazy enough to beat a ten-year-old child with a wooden block.

So, Taiga was not at all surprised when Daiki invited him to flee from the house, the only thing that surprised him was the fact that they would pass through the jungle just by being illuminated by the flashlight at night.

Taiga rubbed his hands hurriedly, his steps fast and tight, following Daiki.

"Is it still long?" He asked nervously, some naughty mosquitoes perched on his nose and cheeks, making him even more frown.

"In a few minutes I think ..." Daiki replied—full of uncertainty.

Taiga step closer to the boy in front of "Do ... do not say if we get lost." His teeth chatter while his body shivering. One thick piece of jacket can not keep the cold air around.

"No, we're fine," Aomine said, trying to calm down.

The strange sound listn from above the tree, made Taiga tiptoe, his hand naturally holding Daiki's arm tightly.

He 'hiii ~' slowly before saying, "Can not we leave at dawn? Let's go back to the house first. "

Daiki sighed at Taiga's complaint. "And you think, where are we going?"

"Tree House! We can spend the night there first," he suggested.

"No, my mother might find me if I were there. I don't want."

Taiga scowled. "But I'm afraid stupid!"

Daiki did not answer he was more cool poked around with a flashlight he was carrying.

"Daiki! Daiki! "

"What?"

"I'm afraid!"

Daiki sigh. "I'm afraid, too, so be quiet, so we'll hurry up."

"But ..."

"Well, what I said, do not be 'but' again. Shut up or I'll leave you here. "

Taiga whines again. "But I swear to see someone following us behind!"

Hearing Taiga's words, Daiki immediately dragged him to run.

Their tiny legs break through the ground and the uneven roots of the forest. Several times also their clothes stuck with tree twigs, their faces and hands did not escape the scratches of sharp thorns.

Fortunately a 24-hour shop at the end of the forest is beginning to show up.

..

"Hey, boys! What are you doing? "The bearded old man of the shop owner came and questioned them. His white eyebrows went up and down before his mouth spoke, "You run away from home."

In contrast to Taiga who looked surprised and scared, Daiki himself did not care.

"It's good you stayed last night. Traveling at night is dangerous. "

"It's none of your business, old man!" Cried Daiki loudly.

The old chapel just chuckled before getting back into his shop.

"Daiki ... I'm afraid ..." Taiga muttered as he chewed him lips. His face was restless and his hands were sweaty. Some of the cuts have been treated and bandaged.

Daiki chuckled "What the hell are you afraid of? He will not report. "

"Then ... why are we here, later when he calls our parents, how?"

Daiki cleared his throat, he always knew if Taiga to do something violating like this is quite troublesome—because he is so easy to panic.

"We're here to find a ride, we'll go to my grandmother's house, everything will be fine, calm down."

And luckily it worked. Little by little Taiga was calm.

..

Taiga sat quietly in front of the shop holding a large cola bottle. Want to drink anyway, but Daiki said the money is limited, so they have to save whatever they have up to his grandmother's house.

Not far from him, Daiki was busy talking to a fat man. It seems that Daiki is really serious about what he says about it.

Taiga exhaled tired breath.

Actually he did not really want to leave home.

That is, he did not have so much trouble at home. His father is rich, his mother is good, and his family is quite happy—even though his father rarely goes home. But it was impossible to let Daiki go alone. After all they've talked about this before—at school.

And Taiga understands that Daiki's reason for going away makes so much sense.

So there was nothing wrong with him, yet he had never been to a place far away without the supervision of an older man before.

"Hello ~" an adult voice makes Taiga look up.

Gray eyes blurred without pupils saw it from above.

"Ha ... hello too ..." Taiga replied timidly. His grip on the cola bottle grew tighter.

"Are you lost?" The man who was all pale gray skin asked in a strange cold voice.

"No ..." Taiga shook his head as he shifted his position to move away from the strange man.

"Hoi, what is this ?!" Daiki's voice makes Taiga then turn, making Taiga call his name silently.

"Hello, my name is Cihihiro, I see this kid alone, so I think he needs help."

Daiki was silent for a moment, while his eyes highlighted his appearance.

"Indeed ... what are you up to?"

The man smiled, weird and cold-according to Taiga. "We brought the van."

"We?" Taiga suddenly asked loudly. Make Daiki look at him in confusion.

"Yes, we are. Inside the van there's me and my twin brother. "

"That sounds good," Daiki replied. "Can we ride up to the station at the other end of town? We plan to go up after that. "

The man smiled—once again strangely, according to Taiga. Her lips seemed to be pulled on each side.

"Sure, why not."

..

Taiga kept shifting uncomfortably.

They are inside a narrow van.

While Daiki sits in the front seat with Cihihiro, Taiga sits behind with his two siblings. Behind Taiga himself there was a pile of odd plastic plastics that always rustled every time the car moved.

The two of them—Chihihiro's little brother—did not say much, but still they were strange and gratifying—according to Taiga. Their eyes were empty, his eyes very cold, almost like ice. But it was a little bit advantageous, since Taiga sat beside the window, so he could see the dark forest scene out there from the strange atmosphere inside the van.

Daiki himself did not say much, except to answer some questions asked by Cihihiro, the rest only the sound of a humming radio channel controlling the whole little van.

Too bored, Taiga decided to divert the view to the two twins, but apparently the two had been staring at him all along.

"Wa ... what?"

Both shook their heads together, before staring back at him.

Taiga wants to whine at Daiki about his decision, before a strange debater sounds as Cihihiro drives across the cobbled streets.

Taiga turned back, a vast spot visible which previously had lots of plastic piled up.

"That," he pointed out, "What is it?"

"It's nothing," replied the light blue.

"But it seemed to fall."

"It's okay," replied the different eyed.

Then both silent, looking straight at Taiga.

..

Several hours passed, and it felt really awful for Taiga.

The twins had slept comfortably, so did Daiki. While Taiga himself is too afraid to close his eyes.

He wanted to go home, but he knew Daiki would be angry and leave him if he said that.

"Taiga-kun is not sleeping?"

Taiga gulped bitterly gently before shaking his head.

"If you need anything, wake up Seijurou and Tetsuya," he said.

"Thank you ..." Taiga replied with difficulty.

Taiga plays the tip of his T-shirt, while his legs are raised, trying to disturb Daiki's sleep by pushing his chair.

While the radio kept spinning the old songs that accompanied their journey, it did not take another hour at four in the morning.

And the bad news is that Taiga still can not sleep. Taiga thought that would not be a problem, he could sleep later on the train. So he chose to take his drink.

As he did so, his fingers felt something small, soft, plentiful, and wriggled at the end.

"Ci ... Cihihiro-san ..."

"Yes, Taiga-kun. What is wrong?"

"Can we stop ... I want to pee ..."

..

"Why should I take you anyway! You're big, "Daiki grumbled, rubbing his eyelids.

Taiga did not bother about it.

"Hey, where are we going?" Daiki asked in confusion as Taiga dragged deeper into the forest.

"Shut up!" Taiga hissed horribly as his hand gripped on Daiki increasingly cocked.

Taiga knows where he is going. Slightly into the forest and straight up north.

Eventually they ran with haste, until finally Daiki jerked his hand.

"What's wrong ?!" he asked with emotion.

"We have to go, I swear we have to run !"

Daiki shook his head to see Taiga sobbing.

"What the hell do you really want ?!" snapped Daiki again as he clucked his waist, "Oh, God! I should know that asking you is a bad idea. "Daiki closed his eyes with his palms, his shoulders slumped.

"No! You're wrong about that! "

Taiga's reply made Daiki a little confused.

"You mean?"

"Do you remember when I said I thought we were being followed by someone in the woods?"

..

They ran inside the pine forest so quickly. Some branches of the tree wounded them again, and made some of the previous scratches open again, but they did not try to quit.

Taiga's shoulder bag rocked gently. Luckily Daiki's bag is united in a large bag, so they do not load too much.

Some dead trees they jump over quickly. While Daiki looked at his watch, it was half past six in the morning.

The fog began to appear and blurred the view, but the light of the sky with a yellow-orange tinge that began to light was already visible.

Daiki did not dare to pass the same route he told Cihihiro. So, he chose to go to the nearest village, as he had planned at the beginning of their escape.

Both did not dare to look back. They just keep quiet while running.

Until they reach the outer freeway to the next village.

As Daiki stepped out of the forest, Taiga's hand swiftly restrained him.

"I heard something," he whispered, dragging Daiki toward the overgrown area.

A few minutes later they heard the sound of the engine roar approaching. It made them silent while holding their breath.

Taiga was frightened, his hands were sweaty, and his face was pale, Daiki was just as bad.

And not long after, a large truck passes at a moderate pace.

"That's it!" Taiga shouted.

"What are you waiting for! Let's go! "

Taiga nodded and followed Daiki behind him.

Both of them ran while shouting, hoping the fat guy who was driving the truck would stop.

Fortunately their efforts are not in vain.

The fat man stopped when he saw them from the rearview mirror.

"Hey, boy. What happened? "He asked after Daiki and Taiga forced his way into his truck.

"Please do not ask now, we're really tired of running for over an hour," Daiki replied.

Taiga who sat on the end of the corner suddenly jerked.

"Sir ... I think you should start driving, because I hear the same old machine roar we rode yesterday on."

"Hah?"

"Yes! A strange van driven by a freak and we rode last night until we got here, "Daiki explained.

The fat man did not say anything, but the truck they rode slowly faster.

..

The fat man drove them all the way to the platform, he also gave them two burgers as a farewell before they left.

"Hey, you know. The reason why I decided to continue my journey when it was early morning was because the forest was not an ordinary forest. Something as bad and mysterious as it surrounds there. "He took a breath before continuing," When I was your age, there was a group of teenagers from out of town who decided to camp there, they never came back. And I saw him while staying at the store with my dad to deliver the goods. A strange figure like a shadow stood watching. The only reason they did not attack the shop was because of some amulets that old shopkeeper put up. "

"Actually I do not know what you are going through, but whatever it is, I believe in what happened to you," he continued. "Here, a talisman for you. Remember! Never lose or forget, it's to protect you are. "

"Then what about you?" Taiga asked with an anxious face.

"Do not worry, I have a lot in the car."

"After this, be a good boy," the message before their train departs.

..

Fin

..