#goshi thoughts

[goshikko]

I’m gonna set a boundary here after seeing an artist draw eroguro art (Yucky gore fetish art) of Mahito penetrating Nobara’s eye with his “you know what”: IF YOU SHIP MAHITO WITH NOBARA, YOU DESERVE TO GET BLOCKED!!!

Idc if you do it as a joke or if you’re being for real, I will block you for fetishizing gore and shipping them together. NOBARA IS A FUCKING 16 YEAR OLD MINOR AND SHIPPING HER WITH MAHITO WHO LITERALLY HAS THE APPEARANCE OF A FULL GROWN ADULT IS MAD FUCKING WEIRD!!!

And if you come over here with the “fiction doesn’t affect reality” attitude, well guess what dude… Your favorite pedo ship is affecting others who are victims of grooming and SA (including me). No one wants to see that and you are NOT WELCOMED near my spaces or communities if you ship them!!!

Stay away from me and do not interact if you ship Mahito x Nobara. They will never love each other and your pedo ship will never make sense. Bye!

[ayamari-no-goshi]

Weird things I’m thinking about at 3am again

You know, I’m aware that Batman and at least some of the Batfam have the mental fortitude to shake off types of brainwashing/drug induced hallucinations.

-> off the top of my head, I know both Bruce and Jason have overcome fear toxin, and I know Dick basically made a telepath cry cuz mental training

But, with all the crap that happens in Gotham and the fact it is canonically cursed, it does surprise me they don’t have wards against supernatural possession (at least to my knowledge). While we don’t tend to see too much in the way of the supernatural in the main Batman comics, we do know Gotham is a city who has a spirit from one of the Hellblazer comics.

Like, my brain is telling me that it wouldn’t be surprising for Gotham to try to manipulate her heroes. Or stronger ghosts trying to possess or at least influence the vigilantes in hopes of getting avenged. Or evil spirits/demons openly trying to possess those in the city.

And it as a result, I could see the vigilantes of the cities carrying a ward with them or painting it on their skin for protection.

Look, I know Bruce seems to naturally intimidate a lot of supernatural things, but they do exist in DC. And with Gotham being Gotham, it honestly surprises me the heroes of the city don’t encounter it more.

[withoutzeuzey]

Comfort

[zedleaked]

I saw this picture and I immediately thought about your goshi fankid

just appeared one day I suppose...

but hate to break it to you buddy but they had SEX and Atlas was given BIRTH to...

[drvirgus]

Protecting (my heart)

Idol! Minji X bodyguard! Reader

Description: getting a new job as NewJeans bodyguard isn't really something Y/n thought would happen to her. What exactly happens when she suddenly felt attracted to one of the NewJeans members? Can Y/n stay professional or are her feelings for Minji too much to handle?

Warnings: stalking; harassment; kys jokes; suggestive language; death threats; mention of abuse; mention of murder; Smut; g!p reader

Chapter: First Time (Fully written)

Masterlist

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Sighing, I leaned against the ropes of the boxing ring. My body was bent forward as I closed my eyes for a few seconds. Minji was in the locker room changing, while I had already picked her up, dressed and ready. My eyes remained closed as I took several deep breaths.

The stalker looked familiar. Very familiar. But from where?

My jaw tensed as I racked my brain over the whole situation. Naturally, I was worried that the stalker, having already made contact with Minji once, might repeat it. The fear that the stalker might snap and harm Minji had kept me up all night.

“What are you thinking about?”

My eyes opened, and I immediately saw the taller woman a few meters below me, as she hadn’t climbed into the ring yet. A small smile appeared on my face as I shook my head slightly. “Nothing special. Come on up,” I said, extending my hand to her, which she took without hesitation.

I pulled my ex-girlfriend up and helped her through the ropes until she was fully in the ring. Minji sighed softly, smiling at me. My eyes, however, fell on her outfit, and a lump formed in my throat that wouldn’t go away despite repeated swallowing.

She was wearing a tight black tank top and white wide-leg sporty pants. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail, drawing my eyes to her neck.

I swallowed again, feeling my heartbeat quicken. I quickly turned my head to the side, trying to banish every single thought from my mind. A clearing of the throat interrupted my flow of thoughts, and my jaw tensed again as I automatically became more serious.

“How strong are you?” I asked, causing Minji to look at me in confusion. “Do you mean how much I can lift? Like… around-” she began, but I cut her off immediately. A smile on my face as I stepped closer to her. I positioned her in the middle of the ring and stood facing her.

“I’ll show you some moves from Judo, Krav Maga, and Jiu-Jitsu. You can decide which ones you like, and we’ll refine your technique,” I said, and Minji nodded. Her eyes were fixed on me. I got into position. “Attack me. The first move is called O-goshi,” I said with a small grin, waiting for Minji to make her move.

Minji’s eyes widened as she suddenly landed on her back on the ground. Confused, she sat up and looked at me. Smiling, I offered her my hand, which she took without hesitation. I pulled my ex-girlfriend to her feet and couldn’t help but laugh at her bewildered expression.

“You grab the opponent by the collar and the sleeve, turn your back to them, pull them close to your hip, and throw them over your hip onto the ground,” I explained with a small smile, showing her the key points on her body and the opponent's body that she needed to grab.

“Come on. Give it a try. Don’t be afraid to hurt me... I probably deserve it,” I murmured quietly, causing Minji to look at me with a furrowed brow. Her jaw tightened as she began to breathe incredulously. She immediately grabbed me at the key points and tried to throw me to the ground, but it didn’t go as smoothly as she hoped.

Minji’s eyes narrowed as she hissed loudly, trying repeatedly. My smile faded, and I gently removed my arm from her grip. “You… seem tense,” I said softly, noticing the tears forming in her eyes, but she quickly looked away to avoid my gaze.

“Hey,” I whispered as I placed my hand on her upper arm. “I’m sorry.”

Minji turned her head back to me, her eyes shimmering with tears she was determined to hold back. Her lips pressed together as she took another deep breath. “Why… did you really break up with me?” she asked softly. My eyes widened, and I withdrew my hand from her arm, but she immediately grabbed my wrist.

“Don’t avoid me, Y/n. I’m not stupid,” she said, looking at me with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. My mouth opened slightly as I first looked at her hand, still gripping my wrist, and then into her eyes. “You don’t… have to be afraid anymore,” I began quietly, causing her eyebrows to twitch and lift. “I’m close…”

Minji’s eyes narrowed, and her grip on my wrist tightened. “Close?” she asked, looking at me questioningly. A sigh escaped my throat. “I’m close to catching the stalker,” I confessed, newfound confidence in my voice. I lifted my head to look her straight in the face.

I swallowed as Minji released my wrist. “We should continue,” I said, stepping back a few steps from the taller woman. My jaw tensed slightly. “You need to learn to defend yourself,” I added more seriously, and Minji sighed before nodding in understanding.

Minji nodded, determination replacing the earlier sadness in her eyes. She adjusted her stance, signaling her readiness to continue. I took a deep breath, refocusing on the task at hand.

"Alright," I said, my voice steady. "Let's try another move. This one's called 'Ippon Seoi Nage.' It's another judo throw. Watch closely."

I demonstrated the move slowly, explaining each step. "Grab your opponent's collar and sleeve, turn your back to them, drop your hips, and throw them over your shoulder." I executed the move fluidly, and Minji watched intently.

"Okay, your turn," I said, stepping back and getting into position. Minji approached, hesitating for a moment before grabbing my collar and sleeve. She followed my instructions, her movements a bit tentative but precise.

Suddenly, I felt myself being lifted off the ground and thrown over Minji's shoulder. I landed on the mat with a thud, a mixture of surprise and pride flooding through me. Minji looked down at me, her eyes wide with shock and a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"You did it," I said, getting back to my feet. "That was perfect."

Minji's smile grew, the earlier tension in her shoulders easing. "Thanks, Y/n. I wasn't sure I could do it."

I nodded, a smile tugging at my own lips. "You did great. Let's keep going. The more you practice, the more confident you'll become."

We continued training, going through various moves and techniques. Minji's determination was evident, and she picked up each new skill quickly. As we worked, the atmosphere between us grew lighter, the earlier tension slowly dissipating.

After a while, we took a break. Minji leaned against the ropes, breathing heavily but smiling. "This is actually kind of fun," she admitted.

I chuckled, leaning next to her. "Yeah, it can be. And it's important. You need to be able to protect yourself."

Minji nodded, her expression growing serious again. "I know. Thank you for helping me, Y/n."

I looked at her, our eyes meeting. "Of course, Minji. I'll always be here for you."

For a moment, we just stood there, the unspoken words hanging in the air. The bond between us was still strong, despite everything that had happened. And as long as we were together, we could face anything.

"Ready to go again?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Minji grinned, pushing herself off the ropes. "Yeah, let's do it."

We resumed our training, and with each move, each throw, I could see Minji growing more confident and strong. It wasn't just about learning to defend herself—it was about reclaiming her sense of security and power.

Breathing heavily, I threw the taller person onto the mat once more, but suddenly she pulled me down with her. My eyes widened as I felt her legs automatically wrap around my waist and her hands grasp my collar. I stared down at my ex-girlfriend, Minji, whose wide eyes locked onto mine.

The time we spent together—every single second, every emotion, argument, and even the moments of silence—flashed through my mind. My left hand pressed against the mat to create some distance between our bodies, while my right hand rested on her leg.

Minji was also drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Her eyes were larger than usual as she simply gazed into mine. Suddenly, she lifted her head from the mat and placed her lips on mine. My breath caught, and my eyes widened even more as I felt her soft lips press firmly against mine.

My body visibly relaxed, and I immediately kissed her back. My eyes closed as I poured every single feeling I had into this one kiss—every bit of longing, love, worry, and fear of losing her. Naturally, I also felt a deep sense of regret.

I had hurt the person I loved...

"Minji," I murmured as I broke the kiss, my eyes slightly narrowed as I looked at the beautiful woman beneath me. "We shouldn't—"

"Shut up."

With that interruption, her lips were back on mine. Her hands slid under my top and pulled it off. Shortly after, she grabbed the nape of my neck and pulled me closer, our lips locking once again in a kiss that was now wilder, more desperate, and filled with a burning desire.

My eyes opened during the kiss as I felt Minji trying to pull down my sweatpants. Her hands tugged at the fabric, hoping it would come off on its own. A smile crept across my face as I slowly pulled away from her lips, glancing down at myself.

The bulge in my pants, thanks to the heated kiss, was clearly visible. I licked my lips before looking into her eyes. "Are you... sure?" I asked, my right hand grasping her wrist to stop her from tugging further.

"Yes. I'm sure," she replied, her voice filled with certainty.

My heart pounded in my chest as Minji's confident words resonated in my ears. The gravity of the moment settled over us, and I knew I needed to make this experience perfect for her. This was Minji's first time, and I wanted to ensure it was something she would cherish forever.

"Okay," I whispered, my voice gentle as I looked into her eyes. "We'll take it slow."

Minji nodded, her gaze unwavering. I leaned in, capturing her lips in a tender kiss, conveying my love and reassurance through the connection. My hands gently roamed her body, exploring her curves with a soft touch, making sure she felt every bit of my adoration.

Slowly, I broke the kiss and trailed my lips down her neck, placing delicate kisses along her skin. Minji's breath hitched, and I could feel her body responding to my touch. I moved my hand down, brushing my fingers lightly over her chest, eliciting a soft moan from her.

"You're so beautiful, Minji," I murmured against her skin, continuing my journey downwards. I took my time, wanting to build up the anticipation and make every moment count. My hands caressed her hips, slipping beneath the waistband of her pants and gently easing them off.

Minji's eyes fluttered closed, and she let out a soft sigh as I helped her out of her remaining clothes. She lay there, exposed and vulnerable, but there was no hesitation in her gaze—only trust and desire.

"So beautiful," I breathed, not moving a single muscle as I stared at the stunning body of my ex-girlfriend. My eyes captured every curve, every imperfection, every muscle. My fingers began to trace her stomach, causing the woman beneath me to shiver.

"So damn pretty," I continued to whisper. My lips parted as I stroked the muscles on her abdomen. I bit my lip automatically to quell the urge to just plunge into her. Taking a deep breath, I bent over her once more to connect our lips.

This time, my lips traveled to her neck. I gently bit her there, while my hands roamed over every bump and curve of the beautiful woman. "Minji," I whispered softly as I moved further down. My eyes looked up to catch every little reaction on her face.

Her eyes were glassy, her lips parted and caught between her teeth. A hum escaped my lips as I took in the already hardened nipple of her left breast. Once more, I licked my lips before gently brushing my tongue over the stiff bud.

Minji's body jerked and a gasp escaped her lips, but she quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. Her face flushed deeply as she looked aside in embarrassment. "What's wrong?" I asked, raising my head to look directly into the idol's face beneath me.

Minji turned her head back to me. "I... I make weird noises," she confessed, looking at me helplessly. A smile spread across my face as I gently moved her hand away from her mouth. "Good. I want to hear every single sound," I whispered softly. "Don't hold back. Just enjoy it."

After a rather hesitant nod from her, I enveloped the hard nipple with my lips, pressing my tongue against it before gently starting to suck. My eyes remained fixed on her, watching for every single reaction or any sign of discomfort.

My hand grasped her other breast, massaging it. A smile spread across my lips as I felt Minji starting to move beneath me. Her body quivered and sounds came much more frequently from her beautiful mouth. My teeth gently nipped at the skin of her left breast before I gave a firm suck.

No one would see a hickey here...

My kisses traveled under her breast and along her stomach as I kissed, sucked, or even licked every little spot. My hand on her breast slid down her side before resting on her thigh. I chuckled softly as I looked up once more. Minji watched me with wide eyes as I showered her stomach with love. "Are you ready?" I asked once more, and received only a quick, eager nod from her.

"Words, baby. I need words."

"Y-Yes. I'm ready."

A smile spread across my face as I slid down further. I ensured her left leg was bent and began by caressing her inner thigh. My breath came in ragged gasps, finding it increasingly difficult to focus on anything. Minji's pleasure, however, was paramount...

With one last look into her eyes, I buried my head between her legs. My tongue parted her folds, savoring her intoxicating taste. My eyes closed as a moan escaped my lips. My lips quickly found her clit, and I sucked on it almost immediately.

My fingers dug into the bent legs of the beautiful woman. Minji's moans grew louder, and she writhed. "Y/n. Fuck, Y/n," my ex-girlfriend gasped out. Her eyes were half-open as she looked at me, her lips parted as she struggled to breathe normally, failing to do so as she would have liked.

A grin formed on my face as I ran my tongue through her folds once more. I teased her entrance and slipped the moist muscle inside her before pulling it out again and focusing entirely on her clit.

Minji's breath quickened, and her hips lifted off the mat. Her hips instinctively rolled into my face, causing me to suck even harder. A moaning scream escaped her throat as her eyes widened, and she arched her back off the mat.

Somehow, Minji managed to sit up, grabbing my head with her hands and pulling me closer. My right hand also ventured into her warm and wet core. My fingers collected every drop of her wetness before I traced one finger around her entrance, gently pushing the tip inside before withdrawing it again.

"Y-Yes," Minji moaned loudly, sending shivers down my spine. I had always loved Minji's voice, but now? So full of lust and desire? That raw edge? If I wasn't careful, I might reach orgasm just from the sound of her voice alone.

Minji's hips began to tremble as I inserted my finger into her, moving it slowly and gently in and out. My lips focused entirely on her clit. I could feel Minji, who had her hands in my hair, starting to pull at it. Her body leaned forward, and I whispered, "Relax," but Minji only responded with a moan.

Amused, I let out a breath and slipped a second finger inside her. My fingers moved slowly in a scissoring motion to spread and prepare her entrance. Minji threw her head back, "Shit. I'm coming," the younger woman moaned as her hands dug deeper into my hair. She arched her back, lifting her hips off the mat.

I withdrew my fingers from her and opened my mouth wider, determined to lap up every drop. My tongue danced over her clit, while my fingers spread her open, preparing her for what was to come. Her taste was intoxicating, and I wanted to make sure her first time was perfect.

Minji's moans grew louder, filling the room. Her body quivered as she reached her peak, her hips bucking against my face. I held her steady, not missing a beat, ensuring she rode out her orgasm fully.

When her body finally relaxed, I looked up at her, a smile on my face. "So beautiful," I murmured, moving back up to kiss her deeply, letting her taste herself on my lips. Minji's breath was still heavy, her body trembling slightly from the aftershocks of her climax.

I kissed her softly, my fingers trailing over her sensitive skin. "Are you ready for more?" I asked, my voice low and gentle, wanting to ensure she was completely comfortable.

Minji nodded, her eyes filled with trust and desire. "Yes, Y/n," she whispered, her voice trembling with anticipation.

I positioned myself carefully, my length brushing against her entrance. "This might hurt a little at first," I said, wanting to prepare her. Minji nodded again, biting her lip as she looked into my eyes.

Slowly, I began to push inside her, feeling her warmth envelop me. I moved inch by inch, giving her time to adjust to my size. Minji gasped, her fingers digging into my shoulders as I filled her completely.

"You're doing great," I whispered, kissing her neck softly. I started to move, slow and steady, allowing her to get used to the sensation. Minji's moans became louder, her body responding to mine as we found a rhythm together.

Each thrust was deliberate, aiming to bring her as much pleasure as possible. My hands caressed her body, my lips finding hers in a passionate kiss. The connection between us was intense, and I wanted to make sure Minji felt loved and cherished.

As our pace quickened, I could feel her walls tightening around me, signaling that she was close again. "Let go for me, Minji," I murmured against her lips, my thumb circling her clit to bring her over the edge once more. With a final cry, Minji reached her climax, her body convulsing around me.

My mouth opened as my body began to tremble. My breathing accelerated rapidly as I felt myself on the verge of orgasm. "Shit," I panted, suddenly remembering that we weren't using a condom. My eyes widened as Minji held me by the neck.

"Fuck," I moaned again, ensuring that Minji would finally release me. With a swift movement, I pulled out of her and started stroking my full length before coming on her beautiful stomach. I watched as the white, creamy semen landed on her perfect belly, exhaling in relief.

Relieved that I had managed to hold back just long enough.

My eyes immediately turned to the stunning woman beneath me. "Everything... okay?" I asked, slightly concerned, my brow furrowing automatically. Minji gasped for air, a smile forming on her lips. "More—more than good," she replied, still breathing heavily.

A smile spread across my face. "Good," I whispered, connecting my lips with those of my ex-girlfriend once more.

The kiss was tender and lingering, filled with the emotions and passion of the moment. As our lips moved together, I could feel the remnants of tension easing from both of us, leaving only a sense of deep connection and satisfaction.

Gently, I pulled back and looked into Minji's eyes, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You were amazing," I murmured, my thumb caressing her cheek. Minji's smile widened, her eyes softening with affection.

"You too," she whispered back, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest.

We stayed like that for a while, basking in the afterglow and the intimacy we had just shared. Eventually, I got up to fetch a warm towel, returning to clean her up carefully. Every touch was gentle, filled with care and tenderness.

Once she was clean, I lay down beside her, pulling her into my arms. Minji snuggled against me, her head resting on my chest. The room was quiet, save for the sound of our breathing and the steady rhythm of our hearts.

"I've missed you," Minji admitted softly, her fingers playing with mine. "I've missed us."

I kissed the top of her head, holding her closer. "I've missed you too, Minji. More than you know."

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Taglist: @itzzyyyyyyydaaaa@acegaydar@alexxeey @sixflame438 @pandamiswifey

[svtellify]

i personally think the reason why so many people struggle to like guren is bc he’s v representative of humanity. of us. how many of us could honestly say we wouldn’t sacrifice everything for our family of choice? what makes guren hard to like is that he forces to confront this “less moral” side of all of us because he does. he sacrifices the world, the entire human race, to get his squad, his family back.

it’s cute when yuu says it for mika bc we’ve seen their characters as children, but we’re first introduced to guren as an adult. he’s 24 in vampire reign, and since that’s how he’s first introduced, he sticks in our heads best at this age. we forget that he was 16 when he lost shinya, sayuri, mito, goshi, and shigure⎯the same age yuu was when he chose mika over the world (kind of. they’re working on a plan, but it’s pretty obvious that if it comes down to it, he absolutely would choose mika over everyone.) but because we’re used to seeing guren as an adult and a high ranking military officer, there’s this expectation that he’s responsible enough to not make that kind of decision.

and yet, we watch him continue to make those decisions to bring back humanity without losing his family, because that’s his modus operandi. at the end of the day, there’s is no one more important to him than his family.

and honestly, how many of us can truly say we wouldn’t have done the same thing in his place?

(i’d also like to point out that i was around 14 when i first found the series and caught up on everything⎯i didn’t like guren v much the first time around and thought he was honestly, quite annoying. at 19, and a whole pandemic later, i think i understand where he’s coming from. he’s quite brilliantly written in that way, the definition of “you’ll understand when you’re older.”)

[drawbauchery]

I mean damn that’s like 1/3 of the ships on this bus. I’ve never had this thought. This thought has never entered my mind. I’m just agreeing and applying this factual analysis to the appropriate parties.

ah? the goshi shipper has never thought about every ship's size difference? never?

[imagoddamnonionmason]

OH MY GOOSE ITS GOSH! GOSHUA IS BACK! GOSHIE :D

I don’t know if you’re ready to discuss ideas yet, but I have been tormented by visions with our OCs since you’ve went on hiatus 😭😭😭 I’m so happy to see you back!!!!

I need to yap about Annika and Keith like right before Stitch dies, when they’re more respected and people don’t give them (at least not Keith) the side eye. This is assuming that Jodie is Bell, and Annika wasn’t at the airport.

Since they’d be WAYYYY higher along in Perseus now (I imagine Annika would only be a rank lower than Keith), the duo wouldn’t be in shit holes as often as they used to be. However, to their dismay, they are so good at risking their lives they get dropped in highly dangerous missions anytime they’re assigned together.

Like when Annika’s by herself, “Assassinate this guy.” Okay done. But when her and Keith are put on a mission together it’s like “You are infiltrating a highly secured military base under the guise of janitors. If you break your cover, you will have every model of tank after you, 400 guys, jets, and helicopters after you. The LZ can only be accessed with a key located in the leader’s ass.” That’s over exaggerated, but it’s how it feels sometimes.

“Wells! Voronova! I have a mission for you two!” Fuck me.

They’d be huddled in a corner, freezing in the middle of Siberia and be wondering aren’t we supposed to be their top operatives?

I have WAY more shit to ramble about, but that’s just what I have so far! Lemme know what you think!

RIGHT FIRST OF ALL I HAVE MISSED BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE ABSOLUTE SHIT SHOW THAT IS ANNIKA AND KEITH, imagine a dark comedy show that literally follows their time during missions. It's a little like "Hi, my name is Keith, welcome to Jackass!" *Annika in the background using the Sigma 2 to take down an enemy bird*

Cuts to them, like you say, in the middle of Siberia on a reconnaissance mission, watching the movements of their enemy to then report back the rotation of the guards so another infiltration team can then head into the base without alerting those inside. Their noses are red, Keith feels like growing a thicker beard was a good idea but Annika disagrees because "your snot is frozen to your moustache and now you disgust me".

I ABSOLUTELY HOWLED WITH LAUGHTER AT THE 'the LZ can only be accessed with a key located in the leader's ass'. Like, so true though! Top Operatives get the most complex missions.

Once they get back to their safe house, they both literally crawl through the door and glare at Stitch.

"Mission was successful, yes?"

Keith, with a cold fury in his eyes, imagines smashing Stitch's head again the wall repeatedly.

Always feel free to send in whatever ideas you have, I love hearing them, they're always well thought out and your kind of humour absolutely sends me. Hope you liked my additions!! <3

[schneereggen]

I saw another anon's question to nayruwu abt whether or not shinya is imp to guren and then I read you analysis on shinya'd character.

I see why shinya thinks so highly of guren, becoz he gave shinya a reason to live. But then why does guren care abt shinya. I mean when they met shinya was just a person who had killed all so many and if it's abt someone he can trust then guren had mito, goshi and his subordinates, then why is shinya so important?

I mean there must be something abt shinya right? Something aside from him being a killing machine and just spitting some life morals. You said shinya realised that human bonds are important after he became close to guren, but then why would guren care abt befriending shinya if shinya didn't care much abt human bonds before meeting guren.

Ok I guess, how shinya admires guren, guren does not or does? And if he does then what exactly does he admire abt shinya?

I know this can be really basic question, but it would be great if you could answer my question🌺🩵

That's a very interesting question and I am glad you are asking as I have a headcanon foe, that I just never specified. Maybe briefly in another analysis. Thanks for the question ☺️ Here we go!

What does Guren make him so attached to Shinya specifically ?

We know that Guren - despite being around many people before - was always trying to keep others away and not build any bonds. Sayuri and Shigure try to get closer to Guren but he doesn't want them to be close. We see him constantly pushing them away and lying to them. Though he kind of likes their company, he doesn't want to get too attached or let them see any of his true feelings and nature. Guren puts on a mask around them. He tries to fulfill the role to be their master, their leader rather than be himself. Which probably is very exhausting for him in the long run.

The only person Guren seems close to at the beginning of the novel is his father. Though Guren also tends to put on a mask around him, they both know each other long enough to notice when something is up.

But back to Mito and Goshi. Mito was always described by Guren as being annoying and Goshi is... Well... over the top to say at least. Goshi has little to do in common with Guren though he works really well in their friend group as the "clown", the one to make jokes and lighten up the mood.

In the case of Mito Guren notices that she didn't have many friends or rather none before she met Guren. She bonded with Goshi in the first few weeks of high school (rather a competitive relationship but that counts) but as they all meet up at Guren's place, it is said that she never had friends before. To me it feels like Guren pities her for that. Mito's and Guren's relationship is kind of complicated but we can say in the end Guren values her a lot as his friend and don't want to hurt her just as he tells her when she confessed to him.

In general, Guren mainly enjoys being around Sayuri, Shigure, Mito and Goshi. He likes that they are lively and joke around. Guren likes being around people that are enjoying themselves. And that's also probably one of the reasons why he enjoys being around Shinya.

But how is Shinya different from the rest? What makes him special for Guren?

Though Guren enjoys the company of his friends, he still keeps a lot of his feelings and thoughts to himself. His friends accept that and don't question that. And Guren seem to like that he isn't judged for his behavior. But in my opinion, though he's accepted by his friends he still tries to keep up an act around them.

That's the part where Guren's relationship to Shinya differs from the rest.

Shinya not only doesn't judge him for his behavior, but he actively calls him out for it. In the first novel Guren was very fond of his acting skills but Shinya saw right through him. Shinya kept pushing him, trying to get him out of his comfort zone. Shinya is one of the few that is able to actually challenge Guren not only on a physical but at an emotional level. This made Guren try harder to keep the mask and get the upper hand over him and Guren seems to enjoy this competition that only Shinya imposes on him.

By having found an equal on Shinya, Guren starts trusting him very early on without knowing why. If I had to guess I would say it's because of their very open conversations. Shinya is very honest and Guren is not able to hide anything from Shinya. Yet Shinya never makes use of this knowledge apart from teasing Guren.

During the novels this develops into a trustful relationship where Guren starts to understand that he can actually tell Shinya everything. Shinya would understand, Shinya would even understand if Guren would not fully be able to express it verbally.

Shinya is the only person that Guren feels understands him. He doesn't have to lie or act differently around him. Shinya understands his emotions and most of all - Shinya knows how to respond to them.

Whenever Guren doesn't know what to do, Shinya will be there and help him find a solution. He would push Guren in the right direction. That's most visible in Resurrection where Shinya exactly knows what to say to make Guren feel better.

If anything Guren admires Shinya's way of talking honest with him. Shinya would always tell him straight forward what he needs to hear. And Guren values his opinion. Plus, Guren doesn't have to pretend because it's useless anyway.

Shinya is the person that will always help him when he's in need. He's Guren's anchor when he lost directions - and Guren doesn't even ask for it. And his moral compass because Shinya is the one that made him believe in human bonds in the first place when Guren didn't even wanted to have bonds or friends.

It would be nice if Guren would realize that he can also always actively come to Shinya and not make Shinya do all the work. But we might see that in Resurrection one day? At least I hope because Guren knows he needs Shinya. He just can't say it out loud. Tsundere *cough*

Guren is lost without Shinya. Shinya is the only person that understands him - even without words. In a world of lies, Shinya is the only person he can open up to and fully trust.

Remember when in chapter 83 Shinya said "You want me to stop you."? That's basically it. Guren wants Shinya to see his true self when he can't show it himself.

[azuretl]

B-PROJECT

I am honored to announce that I was part of the fantastic localization team that's bringing Ryusei*Fantasia to the west!

With Ryusei*Fantasia announced, I thought I could write a little bit about my experiences with B-PRO and the interesting coincidences that led me to this fantastic franchise. Since I wasn't sure what I was going to do with this blog, and I'm deadly sick still, I might as well do a bit of random writing and talk a bit about the project! Weird rambling under the cut.

So, I actually knew about B-PRO when it was first announced years ago. My sister and I are huge fans of TMR (TM Revolution, aka Takanori Nishikawa) which stemmed from our love for the Sengoku Basara franchise. (I can go on forever about that one... We did cosplays, photoshoots, nightly gaming sessions [we had all the games in Japanese], I wrote fanfics... um yeah. It was...*a time* :P ) We caught wind that TMR was producing a new virtual idol group...and that's when I learned about B-PRO.

I didn't know the boys, but I did know that the music was going to be FIRE... And after seeing images of the characters, they didn't really have a lasting impression (except for Korekuni... At the time, I recognized him as "Kishio Daisuke's character" :'D I'm also a seiyuu fanatic, so...).

(Ahhh...the Daisuke team for KITAKADO...)

Fast forward to a few years later, B-PRO was still in its infancy, and, being the huge seiyuu fan that I am, I listened to a lot of seiyuu music. (I-CHU, Actors franchise, i7, etc. etc...) When just playing a random song list, I ran into some B-PRO music. That's really the extent of what I knew about it... It had a great voice cast and the music is FIRE.

I also found out that Kato Kazuki is voicing in it :O (And then I was certain the music was going to be SOOOO GOOOOD). I'm also a huuuge tenipuri fan (POT head here :'D. Cosplays, fanfics, fanart, dream novels [do people even remember those?] I've done it all.) and naturally, I became a huge Tenimyu fan as well (Prince of Tennis Musicals... I even got a group of friends together to cosplay + reenact some dances from Tenimyu for cosplay contests...and won quite a few of them too ;) ). My favorite Tenimyu cast was the Dream Live 3 group. (I guess they're considered season 2 Seigaku?) with the D-boys and Yanagi Kotaro/Endou Yuya as their Ryouma. (People who don't know Tenimyu, sorry for all the terminology that probably doesn't make sense to you lol... *sweat*) And my favorite school happened to be Hyoutei.

Now, for those who don't know, Kato Kazuki (voice of Aizome) played the captain of Hyoutei's tennis club in the musicals (Atobe Keigo) and he EMBODIED that smug, ore-sama sonuvabitch <3 aura. If you don't know PoT, Atobe is basically Aizome but younger and filthy rich. And naturally, Tenimyu being a musical, meant Kato Kazuki had to sing live... and I fell in LOVE with his voice. He is such an amazing singer! And actor! (I also started watching Kamen Rider Kabuto because of him... he plays one of the Kamen Riders and he is, again, a smug, ore-sama sonuvabitch... I guess he gets typecasted a lot...)

All this is to say, I really really really like Kato Kazuki...as an actor, singer, performer... he excudes sexy and he has so. much. presence. Seeing him working in an idol franchise was pretty refreshing and exciting!

(Side note, Goshi's voice actor- Toyonaga Toshiyuki is also in the Prince of Tennis musical... and he shared the stage with Aizome's voice actor, Kato Kazuki, quite a lot. They also interacted a lot in the backstage behind-the-scenes videos. They're really good friends so... queue my utter surprise when I found out how Goshi and Aizome interact in the stories >>;;;; )

So that was really the extent of my knowledge of B-PRO. Great music, great cast, great character designs. So when I was approached about joining the team, I was very eager to throw my hat into the ring. (PLUS my absolute favorite voice actor, Kakihara Tetsuya is in it... I HAD TO!!!) But boy, oh boy, was I hit with UTTER SURPRISE when I found out how much DRAMA and INTENSITY and STORY the franchise actually has!!!

What I thought might've been "just another idol game" turned out to be so full of drama... It was such a nice, pleasant surprise. I won't go too much into the process and the stories, since you'll all have to play the game to find out! But wow, all the boys were *nothing* like I thought they were at first.

Just for fun, here's what I thought at first vs what I think of them now. (Opinions are my own... and I'm sorry that some of my earlier opinions were...for lack of a better word, *dumb* )

THRIVE:

Goshi Typical bad boy chara -> I would love to have this character as a bigger brother. He's caring and really looks out for his kouhai... How can anyone NOT like him??? He's my second favorite...!

Aizome It's Kato Kazuki...so the typical Ore-sama kei, smug, flirty -> Ore-sama kei, smug, (playfully) flirty, and someone with so, so much depth. I want to be his friend...just to be there for him. He needs Goshi and Ashu more than he thinks. And you'll never convince me that he and Goshi aren't an old married couple that gets into fights literally every two seconds.

Ashu Genki boi #1 -> I remember his scenes very strongly, oddly enough. THRIVE needs him. Aizome and Goshi need him. He may act like a happy-go-lucky boyo with too much energy, but he's the water that helps keep the other Aizome and Goshi flowers alive, whether they realize that or not. He's also a really, really good senpai :')

KITAKORE

Kitakado Prince-kei. It's Ono Daisuke so...guessing we're gonna get something like his Starry Sky counterpart. -> Pretty much that... but he's also sooo silly whenever Korekuni is involved. Has a silly side to him, and a very loving and charming side too. He's a good guy XD and no one can convince me that he's NOT a married couple with Korekuni ._.

Korekuni Kishio Daisuke!!!! The Daisuke combo! Pretty boy. Guess he's snobby? -> I see a lot of myself in him. He's highly professional and demands the same level of professionalism from his peers, though that can come off as strict. He's so much more than his appearance, and he's not afraid to show that.

MooNs

Masunaga (I'M SO SORRY FOR SAYING THIS)I thought he looked...kinda boring...? -> He was one of the characters that I did the most research on because I wanted to grasp his character and who he really is...and when I did, boy... the tears were everywhere. I just want him to be happy. His side story is one that I remember MOST vividly. He's a good leader and a good person and I just really really really want him to be happy.

Onzai KAKKIIIIIII *screams and flails my arms around* I thought I would love him the most because of his voice actor. (I am obsessed with Kakihara Tetsuya) -> *pats his head* You're a good boy. I wish you will love yourself and realize how much everyone loves you ;~; He's more than his pretty looks... and he's very insightful. He really understands his teammates and cares for them deeply.

Osari The last time I heard Morikubo Shotaro voice a genki boy was GET BACKERS. [I KNOW I'M SHOWING MY AGE BY SAYING THAT...] Genki Boi #2. -> The mood-maker and a ray of sunshine. His crazy nicknames almost drove me nuts 8'D but he's such a lovable character. It's impossible to dislike him. I know one of the TLers on the team REALLY likes him and I can understand why!

Nome I love this character design SO MUCH!!! He's so good-looking! -> He's still really good-looking...I love his hair color...his build...his everything. Character-design wise, he's still my favorite. Was funny when I found out he's a gym buff :'D makes sense... He would also make a good big brother to the boys ;u; Though I THINK he has a big brother?? If I remember one of the special events I translated right...

Sekimura I'm usually not a fan of megane-types. He's okay. (I'M SO SORRY FOR SAYING THAT...AND I HATE MYSELF FOR NOT APPRECIATING HIM MORE BEFORE) -> WOW where to start. I want him to be successful. I want him to be happy. He has SO, SO, SO much depth. He deserves SO, SO, SO much. He breaks the usual megane-type trope and he's his own self that stands out SO MUCH. I appreciate him so much for his faithful, loyal support of his friends and I just REALLY want him to be happy. And no one can convince me that he's NOT madly obsessed with Onzai. He'd date him if he got the chance. :P

KiLLER KiNG

First off, before diving into characters, can I say that THESE BOYS ARE THE FURTHEST THING FROM SOMETHING AS EDGY AS "KILLER KING" I expected super edgy boys in this band... ._.;;

Haruhi Genki Boy #3. Ah, I think this will be my favorite genki boy. -> He is not my favorite genki boy :'D He's still great of course!!! But it's funny how that didn't turn out the way I thought it would. He's also a giant ray of sunshine, though a bit selfish, but that's part of his charm. The side story for him though... *Haaah* Haruhi... just...whyyyy... But I really really really liked his backstory. He admits his faults and grows to overcome them and I truly, really respect that.

Yuduki The gloomier of the twins. Lack self-esteem? -> He does lack self-esteem, but he grows from it too. I actually really like Yuduki...I was surprised because I didn't expect that. Again, he's another boy that had way more depth than I imagined. He takes good care of Haruhi, but he's not limited to being Haruhi's shadow. His individual stories away from Haruhi are where he really shines, I think. Go for it, Yuduki! Ganbare!!!

Akane Genki boy #4. -> MUST. PROTECC. AKANEEEE. *HISSSSS* The BIGGEST surprise for me is that Akane became my TOP. FAVORITE. BOY. His background story and his interactions in the special event stories made me empathize with him A LOT. He has INTENSE imposter syndrome and he doesn't know when to stand up for himself...so he needs his friends to help him. And in response, he LOVES his friends and will do anything to help them. He's selfless for his friends but tends to forget to care for himself. I can go ON AND ON but please, please PLEASE check out his backstory when the game comes out!!! That hit me really hard... and it resonated with me a lot. It might not with others, but it really did with me. Akane love. *sob sob sob*

Shingari Ah, it's Egu... Egu? With that kinda character design? I guess he's the silent type then? -> There's more depth than I imagined. I remember his backstory quite well, too, because it showed a more vulnerable side to him, and I came to understand Shingari really well after it. *pats his head* He's a good boy. I hope him success. Don't worry, you'll have your friends and your senpai with you! It's okay to be a bit vulnerable sometimes!

So...that was my evaluation of the characters before and after working on the series. It's okay if you don't agree with my views on the boys, I'm not saying they're the only view and the right view...it's just *my* view, after working on the select parts of the game that I did. It was *amazing* how much my opinions changed. No one was really entirely what I thought they were like...that just shows how much depth the characters really have. They're not bound to just their trope, but there's so much more about them... and I came to appreciate them and the franchise EVEN MORE than ever.

I am so genuinely blessed to have gotten the chance to work on this series and I am so genuinely grateful to PQube and the team that was put together for this title. I can't wait for all of you to play the game and experience this yourself, whether you're new to B-PRO or a veteran fan.

[nayruwu]

hello ! i hope you’re doing well :)

i just wanted to ask what your thoughts are on the whole ‘shinya not being part of the official squad in vampire reign’ situation

also i absolutely adore your art, as well as your thoughts and opinions on everything ons, they’re so interesting to read :D <3

AHH THAT'S SO KIND thank you!! <3

funny that you ask, because i do actually have one thought on this! but before that, i assume shinya was eventually taken out of guren's squad because he was promoted and became too important, and vampire extermination squads were set to have only five members, not six. there's so many reasons i want a resurrection continuation, and one of them is that i would love to see the squad's reaction to this change. i'm sure it was hard on them - both because this meant that they could spend a lot less time with one of their own, and because they had to get used to goshi being their only support in battle, when before they had shinya covering everyone's backs from afar as well.

and my one thought is that i think it would be quite interesting (and painful) if guren was actually the one to ask for shinya to be taken out of his squad. since shinya being too close to guren could eventually lead to him finding out, especially when guren plans to make contact with accomplices such as ferid during missions.

imagine the drama! guren and shinya standing in front of kureto as he tells them of this new arrangement. shinya being appalled and looking over at guren expecting a similar reaction but guren can only look down at the floorboards in shame while kureto goes "why are you so surprised? ichinose was the one who asked me to do this, after all." the absolute hurt and confusion in his mind but guren avoids him until he drops it. haha! i love pain.

[goshikko]

I ain’t gonna lie, these past couple of weeks since I’ve talked more with other Mahito fans in a Discord server, I’ve grown to love Junpei Yoshino more than I did before. (All thanks to @ebbing-terror)

When I first watched JJK Episode 9 when he and Mahito first appeared, I did love Junpei, but I didn’t care TOO MUCH about his character. However, I do relate to him when it comes to bullying and being hyperfixated over an interest (and understandably hating school and humans for A LOT of reasons), which are part of why I liked him and his reserved personality. I did felt bad when Mahito killed him, but I still think he was so stupid and naive for falling for him like that. (Poor boy doesn’t know any better to trust his instincts… 🥺) LOL

NOW… I love Junpei even more to the point where I came up with an AU where he’s still alive and I ship him with my heart demon cursed spirit OC who is now named Kuroai Shoshin (NOTE: Aiko and Kuroai are not blood related. They are a curse species of Heart Demons like how animals are.) She didn’t have a name at first when I first drew her because Kuroai wasn’t important to what I have in mind headcanonically for JJK and my OCs (Mostly cursed spirit OCs, Aiko, Noguri, and Umiyuu).

**The black-red heart demon cursed spirit is Kuroai Shoshin! 🫀🖤 The other two are still considered! And of course, bottom girl is Aiko Shoshin (Heian Aiko before she got rebirthed).**

In this AU, Kuroai got summoned and rebirthed by someone who was messing with another copy of “The Forbidden Book of Heart Demons” (Like what Geto did to summon and rebirth Aiko). The guy wanted to summon a heart demon for the sake of a “better replacement than finding a real woman” (Eventually he got killed because Kuroai dislikes his personality, his nasty smell, and overall, everything about him). Ever since then, she’s been running around the cities of Japan (Mostly Tokyo, which I assume is where Junpei lives at) to run away from the overwhelming encounters of humans and in a secluded area where Junpei was alone, that’s when she first met Junpei (while in a maid dress because I think it’s a funny idea). Ever since that day, she’s obsessively in love and seductive over him (She loves shy, timid, weak, nerdy/geeky boy losers who would submit to her dominant and teasing behavior. She finds them cute and it’s her type of man.) Junpei eventually got to know her and understand her better, introduced her to his interests in movies, and he’s used to her teasing/bullying him (Not like the kind of bullying from his school, but more like flirtatious teasing). He also doesn’t mind teaching and explaining to Kuroai how do humans do things. Since Kuroai is a cursed spirit, she’s not gonna obviously know everything, unless her cute little loser, Junpei teaches her the ways of how humans do things. (To clarify, Kuroai hates humans as much as Junpei does, but she trust him because she can sense that he’s different... And she knows he’s her type. ;3 🖤 She also teases/bullies him like how Nagatoro bullies her senpai).

Anyways, I just thought of rambling about my Junpei x Kuroai JJK AU since I’m starting to love Junpei more than before and one of my Heart Demon OCs is into weak humans who are shy, timid, and nerdy/geeky so I just thought it’d be cute to ship them in an AU in JJK (Also to clarify: Mahito and Aiko are still together in this AU, but Aiko is unaware that her old friend is rebirthed nor does she remember anything about her unless she touches her to regain her memories of associating with Kuroai back in the Heian period. Kuroai has a strong memory so she remembers Aiko and knows mostly everything about her even if she looks different. However, in this AU, Kuroai doesn’t forgive her for agreeing with Sukuna’s orders on challenging Aiko’s love for him by dealing with him emotionally and mentally. Therefore, she wants rebirth Aiko dead because she thought she was the reason that heart demons are extinct in the Jujutsu world, when really Sukuna was the one who wiped their species entirely).

[ayamari-no-goshi]

One of my favorite things to do when people come to the house for the first time is to show off the letter opener, which looks like a tanto.

Why is this important to me?

I collect blades. The big ones are on display, and the small ones are hidden throughout the house. Seriously, if you open a drawer you’re likely to find anything from a pocket knife to a hatchet. So, friends get shown where things are as a precaution. And cuz I think they’re pretty.

And while I’m in the middle of pointing things out, I just whip out that letter opener. And it just throws everyone off. :)

[luci-j]

Pre-Christmas art dump. From top left.

1. Laroshi in her punk wear/piercings and Goshi in all his... Being all... Surprisingly alive.

2. Unfinished Rocket sketch.

3. Detailed look at Lir's exosuit that helps with his mobility. He's a stroke survivor, so this helps him with being able to move more.

4. Sleepover time! Princess Linx, Meti, Rocket, snd a character that hasn't dropped yet named Andriss. He's a poet, among other things.

5. Incredibly out of context, but long story short, Meti needed to think of something, ANYTHING comforting, and his imagined version of Rocket... Wasn't impressed by what Meti thought of.

6. Baby Skye Geer. She loves naps and not being put down by Rocket ever.

Enjoy!

[zedleaked]

some real shit, The way you write Goshi reminds me of the song

“We’ll never have sex”- by Leith Ross

The ace rep is fucking amazing and I am in love

wonderful song actually thank you for showing me,, it is very them methinks...

They are so ace to me,, personally, I like to think Ryoma is sex-repulsed and Gonta is sex-neutral...

In the past Ryoma was sex-neutral/positive but after a certain event the thought of having sex repulses him.

Sex doesn't cross Gonta's mind in the slightest, he'd probably only do it to make a partner happy but he'd have to be guided through it and constantly reassured.

ty again this ask made me really happy...... <:]

[talesofedo]

Today I Learned (TIL), Okada Izo version:

+ Okada Izo 岡田以蔵 was born on 14 February 1838 (by the western calendar) as the oldest son of Okada Yoshihisa and his wife, Rie.

Izo's father has been described as a kind person who enjoyed the good fortune of others and was known in his neighborhood as a bit of a matchmaker.

+ Izo had one younger brother, Keikichi, who was born in March 1844.

+ Izo's personal name (imina) was Yoshifuru.

+ He was born in Iwamura village and when he was 10, the family moved to Enokuchi village, outside of Kochi castle town.

The particular neighborhood where his family lived was called Shichiken-machi 七軒町 ("seven eaves row") because his street had seven houses in a row.

The characters "七以", using the first character of 七軒町 (Shichiken-machi) and the first character of 以蔵 (Izo), were sometimes used as code for him in writings related to the Kinnoto (Tosa Loyalist Party).

+ Izo's father was originally an ashigaru who later bought his way into the rank of goshi with money.

Buying your way to a higher rank, or even buying your way into the samurai class from being a farmer or merchant, was not uncommon. Even Sakamoto Ryoma's family were originally merchants before buying their way to becoming goshi.

However, like ashigaru, goshi belonged to the class of low-ranking samurai (kashi) and in Tosa, which was a particularly conservative domain, a great division existed between kashi and joshi (upper-class samurai), making kashi the subject of discrimination and restrictions.

Those restrictions often dictated even small details of everyday life: kashi were not allowed to carry umbrellas, and they were not allowed to wear tabi socks or geta, even in winter.

+ Izo is often described as having been illiterate, but this idea originates from Shiba Ryotaro's fiction.

In reality, Izo had a normal education but was not a talented student, had little interest in books, and often found it difficult to articulate his thoughts. There were many instances people referred to him as "stupid" and "that idiot" throughout his life.

+ Izo was self-taught in swordsmanship to some extent. It's likely he initially learned from his father and then practiced on his own before formally joining a dojo.

I've been trying to unravel some of the sources and it appears he joined the fencing hall of Asada Kanshichi Naomoto in Kochi when he was 12 or 13 years old.

Asada was a master of the Ono-ha Itto-ryu (Nakanishi-ha Itto-ryu) who had previously studied at Shigakukan, one of the big sword schools in Edo. He was also the sword instructor for Tosa's han school.

It was here Izo first met Takechi Hanpeita, a fellow student 9 years his senior, who would become his mentor, someone he looked up to and followed without question for most of his life.

Izo joined Takechi's school in 1855, at 17 or 18, which was the year Takechi opened his own dojo. A lot of sources put Asada's and Takechi's schools together when talking about Izo's training, so it's confusing.

Izo was quickly recognized as being very talented and none of the other students provided him much of a challenge except Takechi himself. He finally found something he was good at!

+ In 1856, when Izo was 18 or 19, Takechi (and perhaps a recommendation letter from Asada) helped make it possible for him to travel to Edo and train at Shigakukan, Momoi Shunzo's school, where he earned his Menkyo Chuden (middle license) in the Kyoshin Meichi-ryu style before returning to Tosa in 1858.

However, perhaps because Izo didn't have the same foundations in swordsmanship as the others, Momoi called his sword "vulgar and without dignity."

+ In 1860, Izo was able to leave Tosa for training a second time, again helped by Takechi, who was using these trips for his own purposes: to gather others to his cause of Sonno Joi and build connections with shishi from other domains.

After spending time in Chugoku and Kyushu, Takechi left Izo behind in Oka domain to study the Jikishi-ryu style, while he (Takechi) went to Edo and worked on establishing his Kinnoto (Tosa Loyalist Party).

+ Izo returned to Edo in May 1861 and joined the Kinnoto out of loyalty to his teacher.

However, because he had no real interest in politics and his comrades excluded him from their political discussions, considering him too stupid to participate, Izo slowly became more distanced from Takechi, and when his teacher returned to Tosa later that year, Izo was once again left behind.

+ In January 1862, Izo set out to return to Tosa himself, but he became ill along the way and had to stay somewhere to recover before he was well enough to continue traveling home to Tosa.

Perhaps Izo should have taken the hint because things did not improve for him from there:

When Izo set out for Kyoto in June 1862 alongside Takechi and other comrades from the Kinnoto, they were hounded by the metsuke Inoue Saichiro, who was investigating the murder of Yoshida Toyo.

That murder had been ordered by Takechi and carried out by three members of the Kinnoto. Concerned that Inoue would arrest them, Takechi ordered Izo and three others to kill him.

This was the first in a number of assassinations Takechi ordered Izo to carry out that year, mostly in Kyoto. More about these here, in a separate post.

+ In January 1863, Izo suddenly left for Edo.

I'm not entirely clear why, nor do sources seem to agree. The most common theories are:

(1) Izo's services as an assassin were no longer needed because things were going poorly for the Kinnoto and Takechi returned to Tosa, leaving Izo behind once again;

(2) Izo had become more estranged from Takechi and his comrades and chose to leave, perhaps at least partly because he didn't want to be an assassin for a cause he didn't care about;

(3) Takechi reprimanded Izo for his behavior and told him to leave.

Whatever the reason, Takechi removed Izo's name from the membership roster of the Kinnoto.

+ After he arrived in Edo, Izo lived for a short while with Takasugi Shinsaku. However, when Takasugi was recalled to Choshu, Izo was once again left in limbo.

+ It was around the time Takasugi left that Izo was introduced to Katsu Kaishu, either by Takasugi Shinsaku or more likely by Sakamoto Ryoma, who had known him since they were young boys in Tosa. Izo became Katsu's bodyguard.

Katsu Kaishu mentioned Izo in his writing:

As I was walking through the city that night, three samurai suddenly appeared in front of me on Teramachi Street and drew their swords. I was so startled, I started to run, but Okada Izo, who was by my side, quickly drew his long sword and cut one of the men in half. The other two were so scared, they ran away. I barely escaped but I was impressed by Okada's quick action. Later I said to Okada, "You should not enjoy killing people." He said, "Sensei, if it weren't for me, your head would have been cut off." There was nothing I could say in response.

+ Izo left Katsu Kaishu and returned to Kyoto later in 1863, for reasons that are again unclear.

This was a terrible decision: not only were Shogunate troops cracking down on ronin in Kyoto, and the city was overall in turmoil with pro-Shogunate and pro-Sonno Joi groups both causing each other trouble, Izo was also considered homeless (無宿, mushuku): someone whose name had been removed from the family register because he was considered a deserter from his domain. (He did not return when other Tosa retainers had been ordered to return.)

With nowhere to go and without any money, Izo, who was using the name Tetsuzo as an alias, started to borrow and extort money, drowned his sorrows in alcohol, and eventually even sold his long sword to make ends meet while trying not to get captured.

+ In May 1864 he was arrested by the Kyoto magistrate for breaking into a merchant's house.

He was subjected to a public beating, tattooed as a criminal, and handed over to the Tosa metsuke who returned him to Koshi in June.

+ In Tosa, Izo faced being brutally tortured and interrogated for information about his former comrades and about Takechi's involvement Yoshida Toyo's murder.

Takechi, resentful Izo had been caught and worried he would easily succumb to torture and give away his comrades, complained "I wish that fool had killed himself!" He reached out to both Izo's father and his younger brother Keikichi, a member of the Kinnoto, with a plan to poison him.

Whether that plan was carried out is unknown: Izo may have become aware of the plan, he may have taken the poison and survived, or he may have given in to more than 10 months of torture. Whatever the reason, in the end he gave up the names of many Kinnoto members, and confessed his own crimes.

Takechi complained: "Izo is truly the greatest crybaby in all of Japan."

+ On 3 July 1865 (western date), Izo was beheaded and his head was put on display by the riverbed for three days.

He was the only member of the Kinnoto whose head was put on public display after death.