#as an excuse to buy and play yakuza 1 because he NEEDS to know what’s in it

[designernishiki]

I wanna flesh out a yakuza oc but every time I think about it I end up thinking about an oc of mine who already Exists who’s not a yakuza oc. but is, in fact, an oc who is a yakuza. and that fact is genuinely completely unrelated

[cryingcow]

Character Story - Mine (Holiday) [RGGO]

Due to certain personal circumstances, I’ve moved up Mine’s story on the list. Thank you @chaoticcandies​ and @firstorderglory​ for the request!

Story: Right before Mine goes on his Okinawa field trip, Daigo informs him that another one of Kiryu’s bodyguards has been killed. Daigo asks him to investigate while in Okinawa to see whether someone does or does not have a plan to assassinate Kiryu. Mine solves the problem by funding and formulating Kiryu’s assassination plan himself.

Daigo: “Now Mine, I want you to make sure Kiryu-san is safe, okay?”

Mine, buying several rifles: “Yes, Daigo-san.”

Daigo: “That means I want him alive and not dead, you hear me?”

Mine, writing Kiryu’s name on his portable guillotine: “Loud and clear, Daigo-san. :)”

Notes:

1) Match pump - “lighting a match and stopping the fire with a water pump”. In other words, solving a problem that you yourself made in the first place. The phrase also came up back in Sera’s story, I think.

2) Like a beehive - “turmoil”

.

CHAPTER 1

.

|The Nishikiyama Family field trip by Kanda completed their itinerary without delay, and they returned back home. However, Mine remained in Okinawa on his own . . .|

Boy: “Ojiisan! It’s the long-awaited summer vacation, play together with us more!”

Kiryu: “Yeah, let’s invite everyone to play baseball later.”

Boy: “Hooray! Absolutely, Ojiisan!!”

Girl: “Ojiisan! I can’t find my colored pencils . . .”

Kiryu: “Recall when you last used them . . . maybe you’ll find them soon?”

Girl: “Hmm . . . where could they have gone?”

Mine: “. . . Is this the orphanage ‘Morning Glory’?”

Mine: (. . . Indeed, for me to be ‘the’ Fourth Chairman’s bodyguard . . .)

----

|A few days before the Nishikiyama Family field trip.|

{Mine knocks on Daigo’s door and enters.}

Mine: “Excuse me.”

Daigo: “Mine, I’m happy to see you. I heard from Kanda, are you going to Okinawa?”

Mine: “Yes . . . I’ll be in trouble with Kanda-no-aniki otherwise. He doesn’t care that it’s inconvenient for me.”

Daigo: “Heh . . . However, this time it’s convenient.”

Mine: “. . . What do you mean?”

Daigo: “There’s a problem in Okinawa. It cannot be made public.”

Mine: “. . . Is it related to Kiryu-san?”

Daigo: “. . . As expected, you make good guesses. That’s correct.”

{Daigo is silent for a few seconds.}

Daigo: “The Fourth Chairman is secretly being guarded in Okinawa.  . . . But the other day, one of the escorts was killed.”

Mine: “So you’re asking me to investigate.”

Daigo: “Yeah . . . many people in the Tojo Clan don’t like Kiryu-san. If someone dies because of that, it will cause unnecessary waves in the organization . . . Investigate this matter. And ensure the safety of the orphanage . . . Mine, can I ask this of you?”

----

Mine: (. . . Nothing else to do about it. It’s a direct order from Daigo-san. I should set aside my personal feelings and fulfill my mission. Now, I was able to confirm Kiryu-san’s appearance. Should I join the escort staff . . . ?)

----

Mine: “Are you Chinen?”

Chinen: “Mine-san? I’ve been waiting for you. Let’s move over here . . .”

Chinen: “I and Osugi, the escort who was killed, were keeping an eye on ‘Morning Glory’. That night . . . Osugi and I were doing different things. The attack happened then . . . The next morning, Osugi was found floating along Kubochi River . . . he was shot in the head at close range.”

Mine: “What is the criminal’s aim?”

Chinen: “That’s still unknown . . . However, investigations are underway on those who are connected to Morning Glory. Apparently a man named Teruya who is helping Morning Glory is being looked into.”

Mine: “To survey the supporters of Morning Glory instead of the orphanage directly . . . how strangely roundabout.”

Chinen: “Yes. So I thought I’d get the information and went straight to that Teruya . . . but he was being strangely vigilant, I didn’t get anything out of him at all.”

Mine: (It’s obviously not the work of a civilian. It’s not unreasonable to be wary, but . . .)

Mine: “There must be a reason for this Teruya to be vigilant. It might be best for me to listen to his story. Show me to Teruya.”

----

Teruya: “I’m very sorry for the other day. For that person to be Mine-san’s subordinate . . .”

Mine: “No, there appears to be a misunderstanding . . .”

Teruya: “I see . . . so why is someone like Mine-san here?”

Mine: “I heard you are in a critical situation as someone minding the orphanage ‘Morning Glory’. Maybe I can help . . . If you don’t mind, could you tell us the story?”

Teruya: “. . . Actually, the company’s server was hacked and the stolen information is being used as blackmail. The other day, yakuza-like men rushed into the office and said to give them 200 million if I didn’t want anything to happen to my customers . . .”

Mine: “Did you pay?”

Teruya: “No, I couldn’t come up with the money right away, so they’ll wait a week for me to ready it by then . . .”

Mine: “I see . . . the next time the men arrive, prepare the money. And for the hacking, I’ll provide you with the security we use.”

Teruya: “Th-Thank you very much . . . but, to give them the 200 million . . .”

Mine: “I’ll get it back later. We’ll let them grab the money and swim home so we can gather information.”

Teruya: “Will the plan really work that well?”

Mine: “Please be assured. Leave everything to me.”

----

{Mine and Chinen are hiding behind a corner as they follow the yakuza-like men with the money.}

Chinen: “They don’t seem to notice our trail . . .”

Mine: (Get back the money, extract information from them, hit their organization, rebuild Teruya’s business . . . then the orphanage is protected and business is completed. But-- Is that really okay? The escort was killed because he tried to protect Morning Glory . . . in other words, people were sacrificed because of civilians like Kiryu. Daigo-san was worried, but that a situation like this could greatly shake up the Sixth Chairman’s structure . . . Then what I really need to do now--)

{A noise comes from their hiding place.}

Yakuza-like Man A: “. . . Oi, who’s there!! Come out!!”

Chinen: “! Mine-san, I’m sorry . . .”

Mine: “. . . No, it’s just as well. There are no witnesses and I can hit them here.”

Yakuza-like Man A: “I’ll tell you what to hit! Did you come here to get the money back?!”

Yakuza-like Man B: “We’ll make you spit it out!!”

{Mine beats them up.}

Yakuza-like Man A: “Huwee . . .”

Yakuza-like Man B: “That guy has the money, let’s run!!”

{The other two run away.}

Mine: “Chinen, chase them!”

Chinen: “Yes!”

{Chinen runs after the two.}

Mine: “Oi, you . . .”

Yakuza-like Man A: “H-Hiii?! Do-Don’t kill me!!”

Mine: “I won’t kill you. I just have a request for you . . .”

Yakuza-like Man A: “Re-Request . . . ?”

Mine: “Get in touch with your boss right now.”

Yakuza-like Man A: “Wha . . . What do you want with my boss?”

Mine: “Hmph . . . would you rather die here?”

Yakuza-like Man A: “I-I understand!! I’ll do as you say!!”

{The yakuza-like man makes a call.}

Yakuza-like Man A: “I-I’m sorry, Boss. I’ll hand over the phone now . . .”

Mine: “. . . Are you the boss of this guy?”

Man: “Wh-Who are you?”

Mine: “Heh. Don’t worry about that.  . . . I’m your collaborator.”

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 2

.

Man: “. . . A collaborator? Who are you.”

Mine: “You don’t need to know that.”

Man: “. . . Do you think we’d trust someone no one knows?”

Mine: “. . . How about credit? Heh. I’ll give you 500 million. How’s that?”

Man: “5-500 million . . . ?! You’re bluffing . . .”

Mine: “You can decide later whether it’s a bluff or not.”

Man: “. . . Why would you go so far . . .”

Mine: “What you’re attempting to do is convenient for me . . . that’s all there is.”

Man: “. . .”

Man: “Bring the money and let my subordinate guide you. Once I receive it, then I’ll trust you.”

Mine: “Understood.”

Mine: “Oi.”

Yakuza-like Man A: “Hiii . . . ! Y-Yes . . .”

Mine: “The boss wants to see me. Take me to him.”

----

Mine: “The promised 500 million. Also the 200 million taken from Teruya.”

Boss: “. . . Certainly. You did bring it. I trust you. I’m Inami, leader of the Inami Family. You want to cooperate with our plan, but how much do you know?”

Mine: “Your purpose is to encroach into Okinawa’s resort development plans, which have been stopped for several months. The orphanage supported by Teruya is on the planned development site. Teruya is being threatened to acquire the land. Is it because Kiryu Kazuma is on that land that you chose such a roundabout method?”

Inami: “. . . That’s right. Previously, the Tojo Clan’s Tamashiro Family was aiming for that land . . . They were almost destroyed by Kiryu. It’s a well-known story around these parts. We don’t attack the orphanage directly because we fear Kiryu’s retaliation. We don’t have enough weapons and soldiers to deal with Kiryu.”

Mine: “What if I said I would pay for that?”

Inami: “! No way . . . you want Kiryu to be . . . ?”

Mine: “No need to snoop around any deeper. However, hasn’t my financial strength given me ‘credit’?”

Inami: “. . . All right.”

Mine: “Heh. It was nice to meet you, Inami-san.”

Mine: (These guys will get rid of Kiryu as part of their job. Kiryu’s existence is Daigo-san’s Achilles heel. I will cut off any future worries here.)

----

|That night. Mine met up with Chinen while hiding his relationship with Inami.|

Chinen: “I see . . . it was the work of the Inami Family? Was their aim to crush Morning Glory without provoking the Fourth Chairman . . . ?”

Mine: “Yeah. I was careless and let him escape, but I heard their goal.”

Chinen: “But what do we do? Even if we know who the enemy is, there’s only two of us. This is originally a top secret mission. We can’t expect support from the Head Family.”

Mine: “The enemy will try to do more damage to Teruya. Leave that to me. You should go back to being Kiryu-san’s bodyguard.”

Chinen: “U-Understood!”

----

|A few days later.|

Teruya: “--Then, I will try to do as Mine-san says.”

Mine: “This is expected to increase sales by 20%. Management should be fairly stable.”

{Someone knocks on the door and enters.}

Yakuza A: “Sorry for intruding when you’re busy, Teruya-san.”

Teruya: “Who are you guys . . . ?!”

Yakuza A: “Teruya-san’s place seems to still be fine, so we thought we’d like to get a little more money . . .”

Teruya: “I-I have no money to pay you!!”

Mine: “. . . What do you mean by coming to the office without an appointment? Truly there is no common sense among yakuza.”

Yakuza B: “Oh yeah? And who are you . . . ?”

Mine: “Would you like to be sent back quickly?”

Yakuza A: “Don’t be a fool!! We’ll beat you both up!!”

{Mine beats them up and sends them running.}

Mine: “That doesn’t mean they won’t come here again. Let’s keep meeting up here regularly for a while.”

Teruya: “I sincerely thank you very much.”

Mine: “Hmph. No, this is all for Morning Glory.”

----

Inami: “As mentioned, those at the bottom that I sent don’t know about you.”

Mine: “Yeah, thanks to that, Teruya trusts me completely.”

Inami: “. . . Phew, I’m glad you’re on our side.”

Mine: “Until Kiryu has been done away with . . . perform the next step in the plan well.”

Inami: “Should we take over the system by exploiting the security vulnerabilities introduced into Teruya’s company?”

Mine: “Yeah. I’ll then act like I noticed the exploitation and stop it.”

Inami: “So it’s a match pump?  . . . You’re a con artist.”

----

|A few more days later.|

Inami: “Hehe. Thanks to you, Teruya’s company is running smoothly. But is it necessary to help Teruya just to get rid of Kiryu?”

Mine: “There is this situation here . . . That being said, the weapons have been procured . . . how are things on your end?”

Inami: “We’ve pulled out enough men from the surrounding organizations to strengthen our force . . . are you ready to go anytime?”

Mine: “Is that so . . . then let us move the plan to the final stage. Kidnap Teruya tonight and have him call Kiryu as a hostage.”

Inami: “! Having a hostage to block his movements would have Kiryu like a beehive, right?”

Mine: “That’s right. Don’t mess it up.”

Inami: “We’ve set up the table this far. Failure isn’t an option.”

Mine: “I’m counting on it.”

----

Yakuza A: “Thank you for your hard work.”

Mine: “The confrontation happens tomorrow. Don’t mess it up.”

Yakuza A: “Yes sir!!”

{The yakuza runs off.}

?: “Huh? Mine-san?”

Mine: “!”

Chinen: “Mine-san, why did you come out of the Inami Family office . . . ?!”

Mine: “Chinen . . . ! You . . . should be monitoring the orphanage . . .”

Mine: (Damn . . . I was caught off guard . . . ! I should have foreseen that something would go wrong . . . !)

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 3

.

Chinen: “Mine-san . . . you’re getting along very well with the Inami Family . . . what is the meaning of this . . . ?”

Mine: (Shit . . . I wasn’t careful of my actions . . .)

Mine: “. . . Chinen. It was wrong to keep quiet. But please calm down and listen.”

Chinen: “. . .”

Mine: “As you can see, I have a cooperative relationship with the Inami Family. But that’s to extract their information.”

Chinen: “Then it wouldn’t be necessary to hide it from me. I’ve never been in contact with the Inami Family.”

Mine: “That is . . .”

Chinen: “Don’t try to deceive me! Mine-san, are you connected with the Inami Family?!”

Mine: (Tch . . . Is it impossible to salvage the situation anymore . . . ? Then I’ll have to get rid of him here--)

Chinen: “. . . Just kidding. Ahaha.”

Mine: “? . . .”

Chinen: “Ahaha. Don’t worry. Actually, I’m also a traitor.”

Mine: “. . . What did you say?”

Chinen: “I’m also colluding with the Inami Family, trying to crush Morning Glory. Are you surprised? So was I when I heard Mine-san had joined hands with Inami. But I agree with assassinating Kiryu to wake up Daigo-san. I’ll cooperate too!!”

Mine: (. . . Have I been turned around? Was it all by Chinen’s hand from the start?)

Chinen: “I’ve heard the plan from Inami. Let me in on it too! Mine-san!”

----

Mine: (If everything goes as planned, Inami, who has kidnapped Teruya, should have gotten in touch to call Kiryu . . .)

Haruka: “Ojiisan! Are you really going out alone . . . ?!”

Kiryu: “Yeah . . . Teruya’s life is in danger if I don’t obey.”

Haruka: “Could it be the Tamashiro Family who has Teruya-no-ojiisan, just like before?”

Kiryu: “No, that is absolutely impossible. At the time, Daigo promised, ‘I will not touch Okinawa’. He’s not one to break his promises.”

Haruka: “. . . not Daigo-san . . . ? Then, who on earth . . . ?”

Kiryu: “It doesn’t matter who they are. Teruya is a friend who supports Morning Glory. You can’t abandon your friends. Isn’t that right?”

Mine: “! . . .”

Haruka: “Ojiisan . . . you’re come back, right?”

Kiryu: “Yeah, I’m definitely coming back. Haruka, look after the kids while I’m gone.”

Haruka: “Yup . . . ! Please take care, Ojiisan.”

Mine: (Kiryu’s words . . . he’s not riding on his strength. He should know what would happen when he boldly goes out alone. Nevertheless . . . Friends . . . ? Even if he’s just a total stranger who’s in it for the money . . . !)

Mine: (. . . Kuh. That is Kiryu Kazuma . . . the man Daigo-san is aiming for . . .)

----

Inami: “To really show up alone . . . the legendary yakuza seems to know no fear . . .”

Teruya: “Ki-Kiryu-san . . . I’m sorry . . .”

Kiryu: “Teruya . . . ! Are you hurt . . . ?!”

Inami: “Oops, don’t move, Kiryu . . . if you move, this gun will blow his head away, okay?”

Kiryu: “Taking a civilian as a hostage . . . you’re a lowlife.”

Inami: “Anyway . . . is it wrong for a yakuza to get what they want by any means necessary?”

{A big group arrives.}

Kiryu: “! . . .”

Inami: “You notice? Countless muzzles are aimed towards you . . . you’re already a trapped mouse!”

Mine: (It seems that things are going according to plan . . .)

Kiryu: “At the time, Daigo promised, ‘I will not touch Okinawa’. He’s not one to break his promises.”

Kiryu: “It doesn’t matter who they are. Teruya is a friend who supports Morning Glory. You can’t abandon your friends. Isn’t that right?”

Mine: “. . .”

Mine: “. . . Hmph. I’m hesitating.”

----

Chinen: “Mine-san! This is the end. We have Kiryu covered from the rear--”

Mine: “--No, I can’t let this go through.”

Chinen: “Mine-san, what are you saying . . . ?”

Mine: “I’m cautious. Until I am certain of something, I try not to come to conclusions. In other words . . . Kiryu’s murder is on hold.”

Chinen: “! Do you mean to betray us . . . ?! Why now . . . !”

Mine: “Hmph. You don’t need to know.”

Chinen: “Don’t play around . . . !! It’s only a little longer until Kiryu can be killed!!! If you get in the way, we’ll kill you too!!!!”

{Mine defeats all of them, and they all collapse.}

Mine: “Now, the reinforcements are taken out . . .”

Mine: (The rest depends on your efforts. Please do your best to hold on . . . Fourth Chairman.)

----

Inami: “Kuh . . . Reinforcements haven’t come yet?!”

Kiryu: “What’s wrong. You seem to be getting very impatient?”

Inami: “Sh-Shut up!! Do-Don’t move!! You want something to happen to him?!”

----

Mine: “The distance is roughly 200 meters . . . Well, that’s no problem . . . I didn’t think the rifle I bought would be used for this . . .”

{A shot rings through the air.}

----

Inami: “Guaaa?! M-My hand?!”

Teruya: “Hi-Hiiii?!”

{Teruya breaks away from his hold and runs.}

Inami: “W-Wait! Did he escape--?!”

Kiryu: “I don’t know who . . . but someone helped.”

Inami: “O-Oh no--”

{Kiryu beats everyone up.}

----

Mine: “Is that the ‘Dragon of Dojima’ . . . ?”

Mine: “Heh, you’re too obstinate.”

Chinen: “Because of you, my plan is ruined . . . My sister and her husband committed suicide from a large debt because Daigo stopped the Okinawa resort plan . . . ‘Protecting Kiryu’s whereabouts’ is a dumb reason! Killing Kiryu so that Daigo will taste the sadness of losing a loved one-- guhaa . . . !”

{Chinen gets punched by Mine and collapses once again.}

Mine: “I’m not interested in your story.”

----

|Thus . . .|

Woman in swimsuit: “Um . . . are you alone?”

Mine: “Am I? As you can see, I’m alone.”

Woman in swimsuit: “Yes . . . sorry for suddenly calling out to you. So . . . are you sightseeing in Okinawa?”

Mine: “No. Had to do a bit of business from Tokyo.”

Woman in swimsuit: “You’re from Tokyo?! I hear the city is nice! So . . . have you finished your business yet?”

Mine: “Yeah. I just had to handle some trivial trouble. It was a minor job.”

Mine: (Teruya’s company is safe after what happened. Both Inami and the Inami Family have been taken care of . . . I’ve reported to Daigo-san that everything was the undertaking of Chinen.)

Woman in swimsuit: “U-Um . . . In that case, why don’t we have a meal together at a nearby shop?”

Mine: “. . . Heh. Yeah, if it’s okay with you.”

Woman in swimsuit: “R-Really?! I’m glad . . . !”

Mine: (Kiryu Kazuma . . . I understand why Daigo-san looks up to you. I withdrew this time . . . heh. Do you have any idea what’s coming next? . . . Fourth Chairman.)

.

-END-

Masterlist

[bakatenshii]

Katsuki x Leese HCs

I uhhh have no excuses for this. This turned out so much longer than expected and I just?? Hope you don’t lose too many braincells hehe Inspired by our mutual obsession love for the Yakuza. For @lookslikeleese 3.5k! U make my kokoro doki doki ♡︎ \٩(๑`^´๑)۶/ ♡︎

So we all know Weese Leese as this saint, an angel sent from above, a pure soul that could do no wrong.

Leese, who puts up with our spamming, random bursts of thirst at 4am, answering everyone with nothing less than kind words straight out of a self-help book.

The reincarnation of Mother Theresa herself, if you will (minus the controversial problematic part)

Except I’m bout to blow your mind right now, cue the big TRIGGER WARNING: MIND BLOWING INFO AHEAD:

She’s a bit of a closet brat. No, not the kind that’s outwardly sassy, she’s just not a pushover. And maybe a lil stubborn.

Especially if someone who has no right to challenge her is speaking down to her.

See: 6’3, beeg beefy undercut Katsuki

Katsuki, who’s patrolling his district in the Kabukicho, making sure no one’s doing illegal business in his area, his property

He probably didn’t need two bodyguards with him, he could handle himself just fine. (He doesn’t know that they were just there to keep him in line, make sure he doesn’t blow up a hostess club because a man walked in who looked like Deku)

But it was a spectacle to see either way, three massive tatted men storming down the rowdy streets like it’s nobody’s business— (soon there might be none left if they keep scaring the fucking customers away)

Don’t get impatient, we’ll tie them together somehow I promise, and no they’re not going to fight over spilt boba this time

(Or any mugging of any kind, though that’s a good fuckin trope that I will shamelessly re-use)

Weese Leese is walking home from work, and sees some sketchy men in a dingy alleyway in sunglasses and suits— she knew right away that they were Top Tier suspy

I mean, if the way they were trying to coerce an innocent-looking girl in school uniform didn’t already give it away, the sunglasses at 8pm definitely did the job.

So Weese Leese took her whole Mother Theresa, Thou Shalt Not Hurt an Innocent Girl (pls no one religious attack me please) ass over

Because she’s too good for this world, honestly

Can’t help but jump in to try and help someone in potential danger, she knew it all too well herself.

Of course the men flip out, screaming at her to fuck off or take the poor girl’s spot

(for the sake of this AU we’re going to pretend that either we all speak fluent anime Japanese or it’s in English, plotholes be damned)

This is when Big Boss Katsuki comes marching in, wide as the alleyway itself, and—

Doesn’t come to Weese Leese’s aid, SIKE yall thought he was gonna be a knight in shining armour?

Nah, he’s pissed that a random woman is sticking her nose in somewhere she doesn’t belong

There’s a lot of ‘aniki’s and ‘oyabun’s and ‘kumicho’s going around, and Weese Leese has seen enough Yakuza movies fantasized about enough tatted men with missing pinkies to understand that she fucked up

Sort of.

This 200lbs of pure muscle of a man is the Head of Some Family, probably, and like, yeah, realistically she should be flittering in fear, but the only thing she’s getting are fanny flutters (alliteration or whatever, we out here)

BUT how much she wants to fuck this man still doesn’t excuse the fact that his subordinates were trying to force a (most-likely) underage girl into fuck-knows-what

So when Katsuki, in true aggressive on-brand fashion, practically roars out a

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, woman? Stay in your lane, this is my business”

She actually, to everyones surprise, retorts:

“Maybe teach your subordinates to use their brains a lil and pick out someone who’s not clearly underage and still in uniform next time, then.”

So now we’re back to the beginning, end of the: record scratch, freeze frame, ‘Yup, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got here’ sequence

Told you it’d all tie together, sans-boba

Back to the show:

Katsuki’s fucking shocked, kinda impressed, but mostly pissed off that some ‘stupid woman’ is talking back to him telling him how to run his business

Weese Leese is… kind of terrified, mostly turned on though, because her brain’s wiring must’ve gotten tangled when she turned into this alleyway.

Sucks for him because she had a point, and Katsuki’s not fucking blind— he can see the uniform clearly on this stupid girl’s body.

They deal with it some Yakuza way, I’ll spare yall the details and me the work of doing research and writing more nonsensical irrelevant waffle (because weese has the attention span of a 3 year old and doesn’t like long drawn out narratives boohoo)

Cut scene back to Katsuki, his two irrelevant bodyguards, and Weese Leese, stood alone in the alleyway.

He’s fuming because she’s demanding an apology for his attitude, his bodyguards are only slightly worried they might have to repave the alleyway (again), and Weese Leese is…

scanning any sliver of exposed skin for some yummy scary tattoos

Long story short, one long passive aggressive (from Leese’s end), straight up aggressive (from Katsuki’s end), argument later, he swallows his pride and offers her a drink at a local bar he owns as a means of apology.

because he’s not saying those words

(also to flex, he’s a proud bastard, he is)

We’ve all read Weese Leese’s hcs about drunk! Leese right? So we know how bold she is?

And how touchy she is and how her brain-to-mouth filter takes a holiday on a Caribbean island so she’s spouting shit like ‘show me your tattooooooos’ and not noticing how he’s blushing in response?

Drunk! Leese gets too drunk, and conveniently loses her keys (she just can’t find them, dont worry we’re not losing deposit money here) so in true Josei manga fashion, he takes her to a hotel��

(THAT HE OWNS, HE OWNS EVERYTHING, OYABUN KATSUKI COMING THROUGH)

Because he can’t take her back to his, obviously. Not only is that embarrassing but also dangerous.

(Not that he cares what happens to her, obviously)

Stupid fucking tsundere

Do they diddle the do at the hotel? You decide, but they definitely diddle the do the next morning when she wakes up, sees him splayed on the bed on his stomach and she absentmindedly traces over the back-piece he’s got.

Yeah, he’s for a back-piece. It’s entirely self-indulgent, I don’t care. He’s also got all ten of his fingers because I say so.

And he wakes up with a raging boner mighty need and a half naked girl in his bed caressing the muscles on his back and

BLEEP

Insert censor bar here.

He doesn’t admit that he likes her, of course he doesn’t. Do you even know how tsunderes work?

He just thinks she’s nice, and comforting, let’s him be loud and angry all he wants, but can also stand her own ground and so, so lovely fun to be around. She’s great company, that’s all.

The head of a house needs a woman to play around with, right? That’s what all his shateis say (see: Yakuza term for younger brothers)

So what if they don’t buy their women flowers, take them to fancy dinners at restaurants they own, pound them against the penthouse windows of hotels they own, and begrudgingly take hot soaks in the fancy marble bathtubs the morning after.

He’s just better than them, that’s all.

He’s always the best at what he does, always has to be #1, so courting a woman shouldn’t be any different.

It’s not until his shateis poke fun at how soft he’s become and asks him when he’s inviting her to move in when he realizes—

fuck.

He’s in too deep.

But there’s something special about fucking his woman on the ancient tatami flooring of the house, (he’d only had to replace two holes, so he’s doing alright to be fair) 

Or outside on the wooden planks of the hallway, legs pushed down to her ears as he plows her in front of the judging eyes of the Koi fish in the Japanese garden.

Or having her parade around in clothes he chooses for her, proudly displaying her as his. And so they live happily ever after, Yakuza movie style.

They might pop out an heir within the next two years, but that’s all for the better, right? Gotta continue the bloodline and whatnot.

edit: weese made a picrew with yakuza! katsuki

[pulaasul]

Rairyu - IRL - 1

[lit. Thunder Dragon] Ryuji and Futaba promised to meet in Sword Art Online with Ryuji going in first to scout for suitable grinding areas. However, before Futaba could get into the game, Sojiro stopped her and revealed to her the status of Sword Art Online as a Death Game. [Prologue is an entry for #kissryujiday]

note:  This work is inspired by the crossover between Sword Art Online and Persona 5 in Integral Factor. This is also my entry for #kissryujiday

FFN I AO3

-----

Ren was in the middle of class when his phone rang. The ring disturbed the class that he had to excuse himself from the teacher and his classmates as soon as he saw the name of the caller.

“No matter.” The teacher spoke. “You can answer the call right here, we’re done for the day.” He dismissed.

“Stand!” The class representative stated as the class followed the instruction.

Ren tuned out the class dismissal ritual in favor of answering his phone.

“Makoto, what’s wro-“

“It’s Ryuji.” Makoto stated somberly. “He’s trapped.”

“What do you mean he’s trapped?” Ren questioned in worry.

As if on cue, the phones of the entire class, even the exiting teacher’s phone, rang. Ren noticed that everyone mirrored his expression of worry.

“Makoto, what going on?” Ren asked. “What happened to Ryuji?”

“He’s trapped inside a virtual world.” Makoto answered.

“Tell me everything later.” Ren decided. “Call everyone else we’ll meet at Leblanc.”

“We’re meeting there as we speak.” Makoto informed. “Futaba and Sojiro are presently in Ryuji’s apartment.”

------

After a quick change of clothes and a quick message to his parents of his whereabouts, Ren immediately boarded a train to Shibuya, with Morgana in his bag.

“What’s Ryuji done now?” The cat whined.

“I don’t know.” Ren answered honestly. “Considering Makoto’s words and the current news, it’s not something he’s done.” He explained. “It’s someone else’s deed.”

Morgana decided to take a peek at Ren’s phone and he read about the current Virtual Game news about 213 people being dead because of the virtual reality equipment. He remembered Ren and Ryuji’s conversation about the Virtual Reality a few months and how Ryuji got enough money to purchase one.

“Maybe it’s a prank.” Morgana offered. “You know how of a jokester he can be.”

“Maybe.” Ren shook his head. “I don’t think even Ryuji or Futaba would go that far for a joke.” He added. “In any case, we’ll know more once we arrive.”

------

As soon as Ren arrived at Leblanc, he half-expected things to just be a prank. He really hoped that everything was just a prank just for him to ditch his hometown and visit Tokyo.

But no.

He arrived to a scene where everyone was somber. An inconsolable Futaba as Makoto and Anne tried to comfort her with Yusuke and Haru looking at their youngest member, unsure what to do.

Ren and Morgana also noticed the absence of one Ryuji Sakamoto.

Usually it was Ryuji who would console anyone in a heartbeat, would console Futaba in this situation, but he wasn’t here.

“It’s all my fault!” Futaba sobbed. “I-I-I-”

“Ren.” Yusuke and Haru announced his arrival.

“Glad you could come on short notice.” Makoto offered a sad smile.

“I came as soon as I could.” Ren replied. “I’ve read the news.” He continued. “Is it true?”

“Yes.” Anne looked away from their leader. “Ryuji was even the first to exit the school as soon as it ended.” She explained. “He said he and Futaba were going to play for a few hours.”

Ren looked at the inconsolable Futaba.

“Boss managed to stop Futaba from playing the game.” Yusuke explained. “As soon as the news broke out, he immediately left and went to his residence.” He continued. “He left the café in Haru’s care that was when I arrived here.”

“Boss is at the hospital with Ryuji’s mother.” Haru informed. “He and Futaba managed to stop her from removing the Nervegear from Ryuji’s head.”

“Futaba-chan, it wasn’t your fault.” Anne comforted her. “You couldn’t have known that this would happen.”

“He told me that he’d go in first and scout for suitable leveling areas then we could party together.” Futaba sobbed. “If that stupid teacher didn’t hold us back for some stupid announcement then maybe Ryuji wouldn’t be alone in there.” She continued.

“No.” Ren declared. “Futaba no, just no.” He shook his head as he approached the youngest girl in the group. “If anything Ryuji would be happy that you didn’t make it.” He offered the young girl a smile and knelt before the girl. “If anything, Ryuji would beat himself up if you were caught up in there with him.” He added. “So don’t blame yourself.”

“I agree.” Morgana seconded. “As much as he annoys me, he’s very selfless.”

“It makes you think.” Anne voiced out. “We almost lost him a bunch of times because of his selfless nature.”

“I just hope he won’t commit suicide in a misguided attempt to help his mother.”

“What do you mean?” Ren’s eyes narrowed. “I know he tries to help his mother by working part time.” He added. “But he wouldn’t go that far. Would he?”

“I don’t know.” Anne admitted. “Ryuji fell out of public favor since he punched Kamoshida.” She explained. “Everyone who knew what happened despised him.” She added. “His reputation really never recovered.”

“He’s told me about that a few times.” Ren admitted. “He cooks for his mother, he puts his mother on top of his priorities and everything.” He added. “I don’t think he’d go that far, right?”

“Don’t underestimate Ryuji’s love for his mother.” Anne countered. “He borrowed money from me just to buy his mother a souvenir.” She shared. “Despite what others may think, Ryuji’s aware of his family’s finances.” She added. “He buys his games and consoles with his own money.”

“Considering the medical fees.” Makoto hummed. “I can see how you’d come to that conclusion.”

“If only we can change Akihiko Kayaba’s heart.” Yusuke voiced out. “Maybe we can save Ryuji and everyone else.”

“Let’s not dwell on that.” Ren stated with finality.” Let’s just visit Ryuji and offer his mother some support.”

Everyone nodded.

“It’s unanimous then?” Morgana questioned.

“Yes.”

------

Hearing about the number of people trapped inside Sword Art Online versus seeing the number of people admitted into one hospital for the same reason felt different. The former Phantom Thieves of Hearts can’t place what they were feeling.

Even moreso hearing about Ryuji’s situation. The only person who actually saw Ryuji was Futaba, the rest of the Phantom Thieves were distraught, but no one could ever be ready for the terror they felt upon seeing their friend unconscious on the bed hooked to an IV and with his VR headset.

Their desire to change Kayaba’s heart was even more apparent now that they’ve seen Ryuji in such state, however they can’t.

They successfully ended Mementos’ existence from all of Japan, even the Jails that propped up recently ceased to exist after their battle against EMMA.

“This is just wrong.” Morgana whispered to himself. “Ryuji’s supposed to be brash, and loud.” He added. “Not this quiet, this still.”

“I know.” Ren acknowledged.

“Anne-chan.”Someone greeted. “Are you here to see Ryu-kun?”

The woman in question had eyes that were red from crying.

“Yes Sakamoto-san.” Anne nodded. “Let me introduce everyone else.”

As soon as introductions were done, the elder Sakamoto allowed Ryuji’s friends inside the room and lead them towards her son’s bed.

“You kids are here.” Sojiro commented. “I’m going out for a bit, anyone want me to buy something?” He asked the group.

“We’re good Boss.” Ren replied. “We ate before we rushed here.” He informed.

“Hope you didn’t deplete my ingredients.” Sojiro offered. “I’ll be back.”

Sojiro gave the group one glance before leaving the room.

“So how’d you all meet Ryu-kun?” Ryuji’s mother asked the group. “It’s kind of surprising him making a few friends considering what happened with that teacher.” She added bitterly.

Everyone else took a turn and narrated how they met Ryuji from Ren’s fateful meeting on his first day at Shujin High.

Yusuke, when Ryuji stopped him from approaching Anne.

Makoto, when she was blackmailed by the yakuza

Futaba and Haru during their lowest point.

“That boy.” The elder Sakamoto shook her head. “He can’t really leave people alone when he knows they need help.” She offered a sad smile. “Then all these misfortunes happen to him.” She sniffled. “I wonder if I’m such a failure as a mother.”

“N-No!” Anne immediately debunked the notion. “You know how much Ryuji loves you Sakamoto-san.” She assured her friend’s mother.

“B-but I can’t even defend him against his father and his teacher.” The elder Sakamoto now had tears in her eyes. “Now I can’t even save him from this death game.” She sobbed.

“Your son’s a fighter Sakamoto-san.” Ren assured Ryuji’s mother. “I’m sure he’ll fight to survive.”

“I hope so.” Ryuji’s mother cried. “I really hope so.”

-------

“I’ll be back as soon I’m rested Ryu-kun.” Ryuji’s mother stated before kissing her son on his forehead. “Your friends offered to watch over you for a while.” She smiled.

Ryuji’s mother left with Sojiro, who offered her a ride back to home. The two of them left the Phantom Thieves to watch over their friend.

“Is there some way we can help Ryuji?” Anne voiced out. “I just can’t stand that for all the things he’s done for us we can’t do anything for him.”

“If only we can use our Personas and communicate with him directly.” Futaba sniffled.

“What do you mean?” Makoto asked.

“No Futaba’s right.” Ren agreed. “Every time Navi communicates with us, her voice, for lack of better term, are sent immediately to our brains.” He explained. “We don’t exactly hear her when she speaks.” He finished.

“You’re right.” Anne’s eyes widened in realization.

“Can we send Sophie?” Haru suggested. “She’s still an Artificial Intelligence right?”

“We don’t even know if Sophie can enter Sword Art Online.” Anne sighed. “The reason she can enter Jails was that she was the prototype for EMMA.”

“I don’t know.” Ren hummed. “Don’t dismiss that idea just yet.” He continued. “We need to talk to Ichinose first.”

“What do we do in the mean time?” Yusuke questioned.

“Offer him some words of encouragement.” Ren smiled. “Hear that Ryuji!” He exclaimed. “We’re all counting on you to wake up and exit that game.”

In their own way, the thieves gave Ryuji Sakamoto moral encouragement even when he’s unconscious. They continued to do so and continued to converse anything and everything they loved about him.

-------

As time went on, Sojiro returned to the hospital. He got the thieves to return home and offered to watch over Ryuji at the hospital, provided that they walk Futaba home before they did.

The thieves nodded and went to Ryuji one by one to say their farewells and promises to return the next day.

“Make sure you survive okay!” Futaba stated in tears before she gave Ryuji a peck on his cheeks.

“For all that you’ve done, it’s time to return the favor Ryuji-kun.” Makoto smiled as she kissed the boy’s other cheek.

“We are counting on you to return to your usual boisterous self.” Yusuke stated as he kissed the boy’s forehead.

“We’ll be waiting for you Ryuji-kun.” Haru smiled as she kissed Ryuji’s nose.

“Make sure you return okay!” Anne stated as she tried to hold back her tears. “I don’t think I can take losing you the second time.” She sniffled as she kissed Ryuji’s cheeks.

“I haven’t realized before, but you’re the glue that’s keeping us together.” Morgana meowed as he stood on Ryuji’s chest. “Make sure you return and I promise not to nag on you so much.” He finished before licking the boy’s nose.

“Hey man.” Ren began. “I know how much effort you guys went through when I was stuck in juvie.” He continued. “I knew you and Makoto lead the team and others so that I could walk away and clean my name.” He smiled. “It’s my, no our, turn to make sure you get to escape that death game.” He added. “We’re counting on you to escape that game and give us more laughs and just be yourself.” Ren finished as he kissed Ryuji’s forehead before ruffling the hair that was now showing its black colored roots.

“Let’s go.” Ren announced as he faced the other Phantom Thieves.

“We’re waiting for you Ryuji.”

[umathurman2]

MAFIA DOGS - 1

Synopsis:  Ishii Ishikawa is an infamous yakuza boss of the 1940′s, whose goal is to succeed where her mother failed - in business, in life, in love. She is willing to go through anyone to come out the better, even if that person is her soulmate, American mobster, Bucky Barnes. MAFIA AU, SOULMATE AU, BUCKY X OC

First time posting a fic on Tumblr. Bear with me while my formatting and links stay messy for a couple of weeks lol. All fics posted on FF.net under colouredred. Will link later.

Please read and enjoy.

mafia dogs masterlist

----------------

MAFIA DOGS. ONE.

The woman buying out Sergeant’s extensive hotel empire was a bitch in a Dior dress and Mary Jane shoes. She owned any room she walked into, and it wasn’t all because of her diamond-tier inheritance. Black hair hung straight and sleek to her waist. Her hands lay across the arms of her velvet chair, where she sat tall and elegantly draped. Her ankles were slender and exposed, and her neck arched back as she shot champagne like sake. The other hand, by her side, kept a firm grip on the black sheath of a Kinamon-original sword. She who had power of death, commanded the living more than money and beauty ever did.

Her reputation did not precede her. In her homeland of Japan, the casino would have nearly emptied itself at her presence. The hotel managers would have been rushed downstairs from their office, throwing themselves into deep bows, until she grew annoyed enough to tell them to stop. Her entourage would have been seven body guards, a chauffeur, and a personal assistant.

In America, the gamblers gambled on. Music played not to the tune of whatever she preferred, but to the jazz beats of the 1940s. She was afforded only one attendant, who was of course handpicked and her most trusted confident. In some ways, Kishi Kiyamoto was more fearsome than even her boss was. She dressed in a completely forward-fashion suit, with high-rise pants and a fitted jacket long enough to hide the weapons she used in her position as bodyguard. Being muscular and scowling and scarred down her right cheek, she was masculine in the ways of social rejects.

The two of them attracted their share of side-eyes and odd looks. It bothered Kishi more, who ground her teeth and found her fingers twitching. She only stilled when a glass of champagne was pressed into her hand, and downed in one, swift go.

“Arigatō, bosu.” Kishi shifted on the spot, and then placed the glass back on the polished dining table before them. Her worn spot against the wall was taken up again, where Kishi could watch the casino-goers all around. “Anata wa kinchō shite imasu ka?” she asked.

“It is polite to speak the foreign tongue in their country,” the other woman replied, “…And I am not nervous. I have already decided to tear out the bar, open up the floor so performers can play, though they cannot have music like we do.”

“Ippantekina inu.”

She smiled, and touched a hand to her cheek. “Call him a dog to his face.”

“I will, boss,” Kishi said, and nodded across the crowd, “Sergeant is here, now.”

The two women looked from their seat through the casino. Glittering, glass chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling. Games of poker and luck were dotted across the tiles, and attended to by patrons in glittering dresses and expensive suits, with gold jewellery to complement their reckless tastes. Though the people were thick, they parted ways for a group of men in black suits. Through the jazz and the air thick with smoke, they moved with an ominous air. Dark, brooding, all tall and threatening, though she was the one with the sword at her side.

She stood to great them, and was rigid as their boss stepped forward from the pack. He was tall and well-built, with a handsome face and grey eyes. She met him nearly level in height, and did not look down nor bow. His lips teased a smile, and without invitation, he took her free hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles – “A pleasure to be meeting you, Miss Ishikawa.”

“Yakuza inu,” Kishi spat, offending the suits without them knowing what she had said.

“-A traditional greeting in Japan,” Ishii Ishikawa excused her bodyguard, “Among our kind, at least – please, sit.”

“In my own hotel?” replied the man, “Don’t mind if I do.”

They took their seats and he took his glass of whiskey. Kishi squared off with his four bodyguards, whom she was more than capable of taking on if she wanted to. Ishii’s approach was subtler, and involved a sip of champagne, a firm grip on the sheath of her sword still. She leaned back in the chair, and waited for New York’s top dog to take a bite of her. In their world, on this soil, Sergeant James Barnes was the force to be reckoned with.

“You don’t dispute that it’s my hotel,” he said next.

Ishii let the alcohol settle. “I do not need to dispute it.”

“Ya mean to stake your claim regardless of our back-and-forth?” He laughed, “Endearing, doll. Should we start on a bottle of red?”

Kishi stepped forward to stop one of his men from pouring another glass. “Boss does not drink that crap.”

James Barnes leaned back in his seat, waving the wine away. “Sorry to hear it. Can I get ya anything else to make ya more comfortable?”

“No, thank you. I feel right at home already,” Ishii declared, with an impersonal smile, “And I would like to get down to business quickly. Tell me your price for the hotel.”

“Tell me what you’re offering.”

“…Given the work I would have to do, I can offer you ten million.”

“Ten million?” Barnes arched his brows, leaned forward, and then leaned back with the same incredulity, “What work are ya talking about?”

“Without offending you, I am of course meaning the outdated lighting, the repainting of the walls, taking down the ceiling roses, though the most important change is moving the bar so you can have dancing, the right way,” Ishii replied, “A stage for some kabuki, or some Hattori-style bands.”

“We have dancing in America, Miss Ishikawa. That’s more offensive than any of the other defects you’ve listed about this hotel, which,” Barnes added firmly, “Is worth five times your offer.”

“Theft,” Kishi could not hold her tongue any longer, “If you have done research to know what boss can offer up, you would know your income from this building has been dropping, and so has the property in the area been valued less. You do not have heritage in this building, no history, no tradition, only fake gold chandeliers.”

Barnes fixed her with a chilling gaze, which she didn’t turn away from. Those men behind him seemed to lean forward, waiting for a command. He had a reputation for killing people for less, among all the other rumours of illegality chasing him. Ishii Ishikawa, with her sword, could not have stopped them from pulling a gun. He turned to study her, relaxed as ever in her chair, but with such a wicked glint in her eyes that he wondered if he was mistaken. Her father, the famous swordsmith Kinamon, was supposed to have stopped a bullet with his naked blade. Perhaps she had inherited that superhumanity. The effect of her freckled cheeks was inhuman, undoubtedly.

After a moment of consideration, he leant forward and made for the hand Ishii had placed on the table. Her other hand moved quicker, bringing the sheath of her sword to his chin swiftly. Sleek black forced him to look along the length of it, the gold embossing, the white hilt, the ribbon wrapped around it. It would have been remarkable to see it unsheathed, though not as it was now, tip to his neck. Ishii forced his head up, even though her eyes remained lower.

Barnes’ shirt hung open, loosely unbuttoned and low around his chest. On the inside of his right shoulder, a long slash of a birthmark ran the width of a rib. A soulmate marking. Pity the person who ended up with he, mob boss of New York, as their one-and-only.

“-A lover’s mark, don’t you think?” James Barnes remarked, an edge of flirtation in his voice. There was a sly look in his eyes that brought Ishii back to herself.

Of all possibilities for her soulmate to be, a lover was not one of them. “My own belongs to my rival.”

Barnes leant back in his seat again, and tugged up the collar of his shirt over a gold necklace. The bodyguards behind him relaxed again, and their hands left their suit pockets empty. Though a strange look passed between Ishii and himself, she was unshakeable. “…I was gonna ask ya dancing,” the mob boss explained, nearly laughing, “Ya seemed keen enough on the idea, though I suppose it’s informal by your standards. How about a tour instead, and I’ll show ya just why you can consider this a hundred-million-dollar investment, if ya can swing that?”

Ishii’s empire was more than just the hotels in her name, but two hospitals and a restaurant chain in her homeland. If Barnes hadn’t discovered those in his research, she was willing to let him play with the idea that a hundred-million was too much for her. She would love to see him offer a contract, and to snatch up his business out from under him. She had come to the States expecting underhanded tricks from American mobsters, and had prepared her own accordingly.

She agreed to the tour, and the two of them stood. Barnes offered his arm to her, which she refused. She preferred both hands free and on her sword. If he took offense, it didn’t show on his face, though scathing looks from the one blond, bodyguard that accompanied him let her know anyhow. Kishi gave him in equally fierce look, which cowed the man visibly. Even Barnes was amused by the dynamic, and made a teasing comment about it to them all. Ishii ignored it and redirected the conversation to the hotel amenities.

Barnes led her from the dining towards the bar, first, so he might order another drink. The bartender just about wet his pants upon serving him, to which Barnes told Ishii, “Happens every time.” He then led her to the poker tables, where he explained a little of the rules and leaned close to her to do so. She let the sword trade hands so it remained a barrier between their bodies, though it wasn’t able to ward off the heat. Kishi did her best to keep the cool, with a lot of icy stares thrown around.

Whenever he explained some detail of the casino to her, Ishii made sure to counter with a negative. They argued over aesthetics, on which he had surprisingly strong opinions, and all of which involved gaudy ideas. Ishii believed firmly in not taking shortcuts, and pointed out several of them around the hotel. No doubt, there were shadier going-ons backstage, a siphoning of money headed towards his pockets. Each remark of hers somehow became a flirtation on his tongue, a string of pet names and a way of standing around her that betrayed his personal intentions.

Ishii watched the way his neck moved as he shot back whiskey. When he lit a cigarette, his lips curved around it and shaped circles of smoke when he exhaled. When the tour came to the staff offices, he threw his suit jacket over his chair and rolled the sleeves of a crisp button up to the elbows. Barnes truly was the devil in New York.

Ishii remained constant over the course of the evening. Her Dior dress kept its shape, and her legs remained long in her evening heels. The ankle straps drew attention to the slenderness of her shape, her fair skin under stockings, perfect for kissing. Though Barnes’ casinos were known for ending rough with their customers, not one hair on her head was ever out of place. She walked untouched through American glamour, and only brushed her freckled cheeks twice with her hand. Kishi knew the gesture was meant to hide amusement, and hoped Barnes was too distracted by her constant beauty, constant rebuttal, constant affability, to notice. If Ishii stared to much at his chest and that preoccupied him too, it was good enough for Kishi.

“Well, if my business is as bad as ya say, what’s driving ya to come all the way out to America to buy it off me?” Barnes put the question to her, settling in behind his desk.

“…I like a challenge.”

“That’s it?”

Ishii nodded, and moved to the window to peer down the alley outside. She wondered about the murders that had happened in those gutters. “This business is my mother’s legacy, and she worked hard for it,” Ishii explained, “I am going to surpass her.”

“Ah, family are like our greatest enemies, as much as we love each other.” Barnes tapped the ash away from his cigarette, and continued lightly, “Just like soulmates, right? Two people absolutely made for one another, unless ya don’t happen to find each other – and then, they’re killing ya, sucking the feelings right from ya. I wouldn’t know whether to bow down to that kinda power over me, or kill ‘em for it. Though I’ll tell ya, when I do meet my soulmate, before there’s any kind of killing going on, first thing’s first – I’d fuck them with all the love I’ve been saving up.”

Ishii looked him in the eye as he made that declaration, and the words crawled up her cunt and into her bones. There was a sinful glint in his eyes, a knowing look. He was a man used to being on top, and who acted as though he had it all figured out. Those dark curls falling in front of his eyes were too innocent to be real.

“-So,” he added, right back to sweet-talking, “Maybe I can change your evaluation of my hotel if ya see the rooms themselves. Should we start with the penthouse?”

He had stood and offered his hand to her again. Though Ishii again hesitated to take it, he was insistent this time, and more patient than she realised.

“Boss,” Kishi began in warning.

Ishii accepted his hand knowing there would be other conditions with it. His pleased grin told her so. “I’m honoured,” he led her towards the door, where he turned back to Kishi and one of his own bodyguards, “Miss Ishikawa and I still have quite a bit of business to discuss. Set Miss Kiyamoto up with a room on the thirty-sixth floor so she might relax for a few hours.”

Ishii made a show of her sword so Kishi would not object any more in public. ‘Bodyguard’ did tend to creep into friendship where the two of them were concerned, and their familiarity had to be leashed when it came to business matters. There were no more arguments on either side to stop them, so Barnes was quick to lead her to the embellished doors on an elevator, where he assured her the contraption had been tested with the newly-invented automatic-braking system. Ishii didn’t care either way.

He showed her inside the room, which had mirrored walls around, above and below. The floor numbers were on gold buttons just inside of the doors. Barnes closed those metal doors before pressing the penthouse level. They stood a foot apart, looking ahead steadfastly. There was no music to fill the silence there, only the beating of her heart.

“-Show me your mark.”

Ishii was expecting the demand without pre-empt. She turned to face him with cool eyes, her tongue coming out to touch her lip.

Barnes took one step closer, his face twisting. “Show me your soulmate mark. Ya have too. You’ve been staring at mine since ya saw it, and I know ya recognised it. Show me – end my agony.”

Ishii’s fingers lay at the top of her dress. Black velvet was soft against her fingers, and rolled easily down her neck. Freckles ran across her collar bones, were spattered over her shoulder. The swell of her breasts teased him as she folded her dress lower, and lower, where a sliver of a birthmark sat just above her heart. Barnes took in her soulmate mark, as familiar to him as his own, because it was his own. His exact match stood before him in Ishii Ishikawa, his most enchanting business rival yet.

The elevator had reached the fifteenth floor now. Barnes covered the distance before they made it another level, and his hand curled around the back of her neck, crushing her up into a kiss. He did not hold back. He poured his every possessive instinct, his passion, his hatred, his adoration, into that kiss. Those feelings which had once faded from his memory returned in full force, completing him, as his soulmate kissed him back with fervour and force of equal measure. She wanted those emotions back too.

The elevator shuddered as it stopped at the penthouse floor. When those doors opened, the two of them were standing forward as they had been, and she was wiping smudged lipstick from her lips. Barnes was cool as he walked her to the penthouse door, taking the key from his pocket, letting her inside first.

He locked the door after them, and grabbed Ishii by the arm before she made it further than the hall. She hit a wall, he bearing down against her now, all composure gone as he stole another kiss from her. The sword in her hand fell to the floor. Her desire matched his, surpassed him, and Barnes fell to his knees.

“I have been waiting so long for ya,” he whispered, and clutched at her dress, ran his hands up her waist, “I’ve been looking so long for ya – soulmate.”

Her fingers twisted through his hair. Barnes was kissing her leg now, rolling her dress up as he went higher. Ishii could think of nothing to say under the onslaught of so much emotion. Really, he was already saying it best.

“You’re so beautiful, soulmate – how can it be you? I want to ravish ya, fuck ya until you can’t stand, give ya everything,” Barnes murmured, and had her dress above her panties so that he kissed her through the satin, “-I wanna make ya feel.”

Ishii managed to unzip her dress, pulling it over her head. His fingers twisted around her garter belt, the clips that held her stockings up, slipping her panties to the side so his tongue could tease her better. She grabbed his cheeks, pulling him up, kissing him until he understood he was meant to carry her to the bedroom. She took no notice of the apartment she intended to buy, other than what she saw of the white walls of the roof, the silk sheets beneath her in the dark. What she felt was his hands on her legs, breath on her stomach, lips kissing above and below her soulmate mark. There was a pressure in her chest she hadn’t felt for years, in a sense more than physical.

A cool blade pressed against her skin, erotic against her heatedness. “…Where was that hiding, Sergeant?”

He used the switchblade to cut through the satin on her underwear, laughing at her question. “Call me by my name,” he whispered, between her legs again, “Tell how much you want me.”

“I want you,” she breathed out, “I want you to kiss me, and fuck me, and make me feel, James.”

He knelt and stripped immediately, and rained down kisses over her. When she had him cradled to her breast, Ishii rolled across the bed, ending up on top and in charge. Her legs caged his hips, a hand spread across his chest, the other reaching below and positioning him teasingly below. She ground against his length, and drew a deep groan from him. His fingers tightened painfully on her thighs.

“How can ya be real?”

She thought about those words each time he entered her that night. She thought about the way he spoke them, with so much husk and longing that it curled around the ‘r’s of the words. In the desperation of his hard, long, sensual fucking, there was frustration too. How could she be real, freckles all the way from her cheeks to the lips of her pussy? Hair so impossibly long and soft as true silk, so different from the imitations he outfitted hotel beds with. Legs that tightened around his hips, that turned white where he held them, that shook when he took her from behind. The stockings and garter belt were cute, and the heels were fun, but his world only rocked when she came by his hand, her own fingers twisted in his bed sheets.

And how could the tightness in his stomach be real? His head was light and filled with laughter, and he never laughed. He made fun, and he charmed, and he teased, but he never felt joy the way he had as a child. His boyhood returned to him that night, too, in memories of toys and bikes downhill in city streets, and the streetlight shining was the same he had once slept under out on the street. He was young and happy and had no blood on his hands, that night – and that could not be real. Sergeant James Barnes was an American-made killer.

Ishii fell sated and full of feeling into bed beside him. Like a mantra, she whispered, “How can you be real?”

Barnes rolled over and pulled her close, kissing her roughly and stroking her hair until her eyes were heavy and closing on their own. She fell asleep there, and he didn’t want to wake her, see her leave. Before joining her in dreaming, Barnes slipped off her heels and pulled the covers over them.

Likes always, his sleep was fitful and he woke early, as soon as those early morning rays were coming in through the open curtains. He turned one way, and then the other, so that he was looking at Ishii directly. His heart stopped again – thinking of when he’d said, “I’ve been looking so long for ya, soulmate,” ­– as he realised it was one thing to face a person in the dark and another in the morning afterwards.

She was still as enchanting to him as she had been when he had spotted her across the casino, but it was in a different way. She wasn’t defensive like before. There was no sword in sight. Her hair was mussed up, and her lipstick rubbed away. The nakedness of her shoulders and back was unguarded. He had to face her not as a business rival, and not as a faceless soulmate, but as a woman named Ishii.

She woke slower than he, and he enjoyed watching her. She stretched like a cat, and yawned like one too. Her morning ritual was to stare up at the roof and its ornate ceiling rose.

“…Ishi.”

She did not blink. “You are saying it wrong.”

Barnes propped himself up to look down at her. “Can’t I call ya by a nickname?”

“No,” she replied, and slid quickly out of bed. She found her underwear torn in two on the floor, and so skipped that and went straight for her shoes. “We are strangers,” she said.

“We’re soulmates, doll.”

She rounded on the bed and knelt over him as she had last night, pushing him down with one hand. Her garter belt and stockings were all she had on, and Barnes found his face hot once again. “I have said to you my soulmate will be my rival,” Ishii explained, “You have said – you said you would fuck them first, and we have done that – so you must move on to killing me, and we can be comfortable with that arrangement, because I will be in Japan in two weeks, after we close this deal – and there, a whole mob of yakuza will be waiting to take your head if our rivalry should end with a single scratch on me.”

Her brown eyes were not warm nor cold, but impersonal in a way he resented. Barnes retaliated by remaining naked as he followed her out of the bedroom and into the penthouse. The rooms beyond were open plan and flowed circularly. It was by far, more lavish than the casino downstairs. Ishii took this in, and then found her dress in the hall.

“These rooms add value to the property – I will think about raising my offer,” Ishii remarked, and then turned away from Barnes, “Zip me.”

He did so, then wrapped a hand around her waist so she was pressed against him. “I had ya speaking in tongues, doll,” he whispered into her ear, lips against her skin, “And I want my soulmate, so don’t go thinking this is the end of it.”

He released her a moment later. Ishii went straight for her sword, and then to the door. She turned and faced him one last time, to say, “We will be in contact to discuss the price of the hotel in a few days.” She walked out of there with her Dior dress and Kinamon-brand sword, a reclamation of the title; bitch.

--------------

no taglists, sorry! 

Thanks for reading and drop a comment :)

[pentacass]

More Halcyon Drabbles would be great! I'd like to see Ana and Kamilah back together again in present day Overwatch if possible! PS: Bonus cookies if Pharmercy is there to entertain them XD -Florayna.

A/N: How about, Pharmercy and Hana and Genji? :3c (Though it turned out more Hana and Genji lolol)

-

“Ana, stop sniping!” Hana yelled through their headphones.

“Why not!”

“You suck at it! You never hit anything-”

“Excuse you,” Ana scoffed, despite clicking her mouse five times and missing their virtual enemies each time. “I hit everything.”

“Oh yeah, like the sky, the ground, the houses, the barrels- SHIT, MILAH!”

“I’m coming,” Kamilah said calmly, activating her character’s shield and jumping in front of Hana’s, absorbing a big bulk of damage from the boss. Hana managed to stun the gross amalgamation of human and octopus, and they fell back to where Ana stood so Kamilah could work her healing magic.

The two Amari were in their room at the base, where Hana had set up two gaming rigs so the semi-retired women could have some entertainment when not busy with their duties. Like today, when the three were off the duty roster.

“Ana, just use your damn SMGs. You and sniper rifles don’t agree in this game-”

“More like I don’t agree with this entire game,” Ana retorted. “It’s ridiculous. All the guns have recoil but no, you don’t need to account for wind speed and elevation and movement when using sniper rifles. This ‘realism’ sucks.”

“Realism?” Kamilah laughed. “This game has magic, guns that shoot flaming knives, grenades that spawn explosive plushies, and you still expect realism?”

“It’s all hard-wired into my bones, albi. I always snipe. Like how you and Angela always become healers in the group, hm?” Ana shot her an impish smile, getting an eye roll in return.

“Someone has to keep your useless asses alive.”

“Alright, alright,” Hana broke in as Ana gasped in mock hurt. “Ana, put your sniper rifle away and we’ll push this bastard back.”

“Fine.” Ana took out her dual SMGs, and followed Hana’s lead towards the disgusting tentacled human that was their target. Her accuracy with the automatic weapons was remarkably better than with the sniper rifle; combined with Hana’s well-aimed shotgun blasts and Kamilah’s healing, phase 1 was completed in record time. The boss howled and retreated farther into his lair.

The room’s door slid open then, followed by Fareeha’s voice, “I told you they’d be gaming.”

They glanced over at the doorway, where Fareeha had walked through with Angela by her side.

“Your mission’s done?” Ana asked quickly, before turning back to the game at hand.

“No, we stopped halfway and flew all the way back here for a break. We’ll head out again later,” Fareeha deadpanned, pulling over the extra chairs and taking a seat between them.

“It’s your fault our daughter’s such a smartass,” Kamilah said offhandedly.

“Said one smartass to another,” Ana drawled.

“Alright, stop bickering,” said Angela, smiling. “Better focus on the game before Hana starts yelling at you.”

“She is yelling,” Ana informed her. “But not at us.” She pulled out the headphone jack, and Hana’s voice blasted from the speakers.

“I said, hands off my snacks, you asshole!”

“I’m just taking one packet of nuts!” Genji protested. “I love them!”

“Oh yeah? Then buy your own nuts. And that’s my last packet, put it back!”

“I’ll refill your stock, alright?”

“And my soda stash.”

“Damn,” Genji laughed, his voice sounding closer to the mic. “You hustle just like a yakuza. You would’ve done well in my family.”

“Yeah, thanks but no thanks. I prefer having all my original body parts.”

“Ow, low blow. But look on the bright side. At least you can walk around naked and pretend it’s normal.”

“...The entire Amari family just heard you say that, you know.”

“Oh.” He paused, then continued without shame. “Hi, everyone!”

“Hi,” they replied, hearing an echo of their own voices through the channel - Hana had put them on speaker too.

“So how’s gaming, Captain? Hana’s a pain in the ass to play with, huh.”

“Oh, she’s quite alright,” Ana said.

“Seriously?”

“Ha! You’re just bitter I never let you play ninja characters.”

Ana smiled as Genji grumbled under his breath. She had witnessed the ‘ninja-ban’ for herself once - it was hilarious watching Genji die repeatedly from his unfamiliarity with in-game guns. But it also was fascinating to see how deadly he was when allowed to use knives, swords, and daggers. They had never blown through a level quite that fast before.

“Okay, here we are,” Hana said as they reached the final arena in the level. “Ana, remember-”

“No sniping, yes yes. Let’s get this over with so we can go for dinner.”

“Aw, yes!”

“Wait, you're having dinner together?” Fareeha asked.

“We are, habibti. We’re having Korean barbeque.”

“I thought Hana hates having Korean barbeque with us?” Angela said. “Because she always ends up doing the cooking.”

“That’s because you all suck at barbeque, Angie,” Hana explained. “Hell, Genji is much better at it than you.”

“Yay! So can I come?”

“No! It’s ladies’ night.”

“Am I not one of the ladies?”

“You wish.”

“You can come if you want to, Genji,” Kamilah said.

“Milah!” Hana exclaimed as Genji gave a triumphant cry. “Why!”

“So he can do half the cooking for you.”

“Ugh. I guess,” Hana muttered. They fought off the first wave of enemies, then the tentacled boss made his entrance. “Okay, there he is. Let’s go, team.”

Ana grinned, and tapped a button.

“Ana, what the fuck did I say-!”

Ana cackled, jumping into the fray with her forbidden weapon in hand. 

“360 no scope, bitches!” 

[megatheory]

Dissociation in “Pleasures of the Flesh”

Pleasures of the Flesh (1965)

Pleasures of the Flesh is an exploitation film first and foremost, though it is tinged with Marxist critique as well. This perspective follows from the political leanings of the Japanese New Wave movement, whose films often traded in sexuality and violence to more directly convey political allegories.  The film's protagonist Atsushi is a murderer and serial womanizer, so he is difficult to identify with. The trajectory of the narrative, as well as the bleak worldview it portrays, is consistent with film noir. Money is the primary factor which determines people's fates, and which causes misfortune as it circulates. Within this paradigm, we are inclined to judge some characters more harshly than others. It makes sense to judge Atsushi as the most evil character, because he ruins several people's lives in the wake of his self-destructive behavior. And yet we do come to understand his motivations. He experiences life in a state of constant dissociation, rationalizing his actions through the excuses of "fate," "revenge," and other lofty concepts. Cinematography and editing are employed to visually represent his dissociation, which is also reinforced through the temporal ellipses in the plot. We can recast dissociation as a philosophical concept, as a kind strategy of alienation from the symbolic (social) order. Slavoj   Žižek in his book Looking Awry describes a complete break from the symbolic order as psychosis, and we can definitely read this character as psychotic for a number of reasons. Instead of mounting any kind of rebellion against society however, the protagonist spends money to instrumentalize women. Even then, his money gets away from him and is used in ways he does not intend. Which is to say, one's dissociation from the symbolic order does directly lead to revolutionary thought, it is merely an opening up which can just as easily be recaptured by hegemony.

In order to demonstrate just how exploitative and grimly satirical this film is, we need to attempt a summary of the plot. First we see a scene where a woman is getting married, named Shoko. Then, we receive narration which summarizes the events leading up to this marriage. Atsushi tutors Shoko, then a high school student, while he is in college. Her parents appear to be well off, judging by their capacious house with a sprawling garden around it. Somehow, they manage to convince Atsushi to murder someone who molested Shoko when she was a child. Because he is in love with Shoko, he decides this is the right thing to do. One scene in which the two frolic in her family's garden and nearly kiss, is used with Atsushi's voice over to show his feelings for her. He leans toward her, but her eyes are closed and she fails to notice his intentions. He then boards a train specifically to find the abuser, and throws him off of the train successfully. He returns to the parents and states that he has "taken care of it," and in turn they give him a small envelope of cash for the favor. The circulation of blood money sets a precedent for the events which follow.

About a year later, a middle aged man in a suit and coke bottle glasses comes to visit Atsushi at his home. This man was on the train when the murder was committed, and thus says he can "trust" Atsushi with a job. But in reality he is plotting to commit blackmail, and threatens to expose the murder if their promise is broken. The businessman works for the government, and has embezzled 100 million yen in taxes. He is giving 30 million yen to Atsushi to hold onto, because he knows he will soon be caught and go to jail, and estimates he will serve five years in prison. Working for the government, he has an intimate knowledge of how the law functions. The implications are terrifying, which is that no knowledge is truly concealed from the law, and every criminal will be punished in due time. It is the same logic that would allow this man to be present as a murder witness on the train, and to miraculously find the culprit himself. And so, he threatens to turn Atsushi in to the police if he spends this money. Our hero agrees as he doesn't really have a choice. Four out of these five years pass, and one day Shoko turns up to Atsushi's home, and she invites him to his wedding. When he offers to run away with her and the money, she refuses. This moment is what spurs him to further criminal action, not his act of murder. Therefore he decides to spend all of the money "on women," as he says plainly. He propositions a womaned named Hitomi in a nightclub, and agrees to pay her 1 million yen a month to live with him. However, he finds out that a Yakuza member is extorting some of this money from her, and furthermore she is technically married to him. She was "given" to this man as a favor from their boss. She cuts off her own pinky finger to buy her freedom, and the arragement is over.

The next case concerns a woman named Shizuko, whom he takes home from a nightclub once again. He shares a private room drinking with several women, though he forces himself on one of them in particular; it is implied that he rapes her. Afterward, he buys her off in the same way as before. She is married with child, and she sometimes sneaks away to give her husband money. Eventually this arragnement falls apart due to the strain it places on their family. Again, the money is going somewhere our protagonist does not expect. Next, he finds a nurse named Keiko in a doctor's office and strikes up a conversation with her. She had just quit her job after a doctor was sexually harassing her at work. We only glimpse a forced kiss between the two, their heads poking above a privacy screen. She agrees to the one million yen per month arragnement, though she is hesitant to have sex with him at first. He cheats on her with a mute prostitute named Mari. But even Mari really "belongs" to one gangster in particular, who tells him not to come around to the brothel any more. Just then, the embezzling businessman shows up and demands his money. He tries to drown our hero, but Keiko saves him. At this time she ends their relationship. Then he desperately keeps pursuing Mari, and buys her off from the gangster. The gangster is impressed with his bravado and wealth, and then tells him a secret: he is employed by the embezzler, trying to catch some tutor who ran off with the money. Atsushi laughs, and reveals that he was the wanted man all along. Mari shows up to the scene and shoots the gangster dead, miraculously. After that, Shoko surprisingly shows up to Atsushi's home asking for money. Even though she married a rich president of a pharmaceutical company, somehow the company went bankrupt. She already possessed the knowledge that Atsushi was rich, and even saw him spending time with women at the nightclub. At this point he reveals everything to her. Natrually, she calls the police and he is finally sent to prison. He almost eats a suicide pill, but changes his mind when the police tell him Shoko was the informant.

Turning back to the initial wedding scene of the film, we can recontextualize this as Atsushi's central trauma which he is doomed to repeat in his memories. The audio of Shoko saying, "Teacher, please come see me in my wedding dress" is played over slow-motion footage of the wedding as it is actually occurring. We do not hear any diagetic audio which actually matches with the event as it is happening. The church is very dimly lit, with one spotlight beaming on Shoko. She turns her face in close up behind her to see the teacher, and the look in her eyes is vacant and anxious. In other words, this marriage has the appearance of being shrouded in darkness, and not being particularly joyous. And because we discover that Atushi is an unreliable narrator, this scene is cast into doubt. It is consistent with how Shoko is portrayed to us throughout the film. She is an enigma to Atushi, and he is unable to grasp her emotions. While he is shown teaching her in her parent's yard, she is smiling and biting on her pencil, which he appears to take as a sexual innuendo. Later as they are both lying on the grass, Shoko is gazing upward at the sky, and then closes her eyes. At this time the tutor turns on his side and tils his head slightly as if to kiss her. Before he can, she opens her eyes wide and smiles, but her gaze is still directed straight up, and her train of thought has moved on. They fail to establish true intersubjectivity, as Atsushi entertains Shoko's speech while failing to have meaningful dialogue with her. As the film progresses, Atsushi is haunted by hallucinations of Shoko wearing a pink dress. One such hallucination occurs while the tutor is living with Shizuko. After he beats her husband who is begging for his wife back, he gazes into the forest, and "sees himself" putting a noose around his neck. He also sees Shoko. In a similar scene where he is at the beach with Keiko, the two of them are laying down together in the sand. Suddenly a pair of policemen speed by in a buggy, but leave the lovers alone. Atsushi stands up contritely, and watches them drive away. This threat of prohibition emboldens him, and he then wants to make love to Keiko. He  hallucinates that Keiko has transformed into Shoko. He grasps at Keiko even as she refuses him, tearing her black and white dress. Disgusted, she begins to stumble into the ocean with her high heels still on. She looks back at Atsushi as he chases her into the water, dressed in a gray suit. These events are presented in an extreme wide shot, recalling a composition we might see in an Anontonioni or Mizoguchi film. The cloudy sky refracts to the gray ocean -- thus, the gray suit and the black and white dress appear to recede into the waves. Eventually he bargains with her, agreeing to get married before having sex.

Two of the most memorable shots/sequences in the film are constructed with multilayered superimposition. In both cases, this device communicates a feverish passage of time through the frequentative tense. In the first such sequence, we see layers of a christmas tree, neon signs, and the nude figure of Hitomi applying perfume and putting on makeup. The close-up shot of Hitomi first focuses on her arm and shoulders, and then tracks upward to show her nose and lips. Her human figure is abstracted and objectified in this space. Dialogue between Atsushi and Hitomi is present, wherein he is concerned how much money she spends on perfume. She doesn't care because she is enjoying herself, and she even entertains the idea of plastic surgery. Within this context, we can understand Hitomi accepting her body as participant in a circulation of commodities, which is visually represented by the figure of her body merging with neon lights. Immediately before this scene Hitomi asks, "Where will you take me next? ...Tokyo has every kind of food and entertainment," and she lists off the various leisure activities one can pursue in Tokyo. Atsushi does not return her enthusiasm, clearly still ambivalent and guilt-ridden. The other such sequence of superimpositions occurs in a montage suggesting the frequentative tense, as Atsushi keeps returning to have sex with Mari. A close-up of her mouth is sumperimposed over their entangled flesh, then this mouth is duplicated once, and yet again. Her three disembodied mouths form a kind of monstruous triangle which occludes the otherwise conventional sex scene. Going beyond sexual pleasure, the image of sexuality morphs into something unholy and anxiety-producing.

So if we take these "subjective" shots which broadcast Atsushi's state of mind at their face value, we could issue an armchair diagnosis of psychosis, which was brought on after his act of murder. However, we don't know what happened to him during the four years before he learned of Shoko's marriage, so we have no claim to any psychotic symptoms during that time. Indeed, he focuses much more on Shoko's marriage as opposed to the murder he committed. His internal monologue contextualizes his cruelty as a sustained act of revenge for this particular trauma. If we also include a feminist reading of the film, Atsushi has been objectifying women from the start, and was waiting for an inciting incident to act out and possess women freely. A large sum of money gives him the perfect means to act out his antisocial fantasies, which he pursues after receiving a flimsy justification. And yet our reading is shallow if we simply write him off as a psychotic misogynist. Looking at the other characters, we can see that they are looking to Atsushi as a means of escape from their own lives, where money is constantly siphoned from them, in contexts where they have limited agency. And yet, they give up even more agency by living with this man and taking his money. Through his surplus of money, Atsushi opens up an emotionally toxic void of affluence. He psychologically ruins the women he "buys" while giving them money which might materially improve their lives later on. There is no positive moral judgment to pass on Atsushi, but I think it is possible to read nearly every character as motivated by the desire to "escape" wage labor and debt by psychologically destroying themselves and entering into a traumatic fantasy space. The "strategies" of psychosis and dissociation are not sufficient to escape the flow of capital, because the fantasy space itself is penetrated with the tendrils of a capitalist logic and was only opened up through a surplus of money in the first place, which must circulate. In other words, this desire to dissociate has been entirely thwarted, and in this failure we can better understand what kind of psychic work is occurring in this text. Poisonous capital is turned into poisonous affect, which cannot help but circulate until death.