#i miss you mr izumi .....

[koushirouizumi]

[Index] Koushiro{u} Izumi {DigiAdvs} Scenes (J.P.N Ver.)

{This is still actively being worked on; Please be patient as I continue to add more!!}

Because I got tired of not being able to immediately refer to scenes without having to use piles of caps / etc.

{More to be added shortly!!}

NOTE/DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THIS SERIES. I do not make $$$ off my posts. This is being posted for Reference. Please actively support the series via any official means in your location{s} as well!!

{Adventure}

Ep02: Koushiro + rapid Maths Calculations {+Moments; with Jou} Ep05: Inside the Battery; Interests + Adoption {+ Friendly; with Tentomon} Ep10: Koushiro Guides Mimi Out The Maze {+Friendly; with Mimi} Ep13: Koushiro stands to signal support for Taichi’s decision {Friendly} Ep18: Koushiro and Yamato discuss their Crests {+Friendly; with Yamato} Ep20; vs. Etemon Arc (Near-End); Koushiro assisting Taichi Ep21: Hosoda!Koushiro; Communicating from Vademon’s Dimension? {+Moments; with Taichi} [+Taichi’s Monologuing that follows in relation] Ep24: Searching for Crest; & Vademon’s Dimension {+Friendly; with Tentomon} Ep24: Koushiro’s laptop + “Cosmic Power”?? activates communication with Taichi Ep24; Koushiro regains Inquisitive Heart + “I Want to Know!” {+Friendly; with Tentomon} Ep24: Koushiro Snaps Awake {+Friendly; with Tentomon} Ep28 vs Tri. Kyousei: Motimon/Tentomon’s “Bond” {“Kizuna”} with Koushiro Ep28: The Gate sequence {+Friendly, with Taichi} + Part 2 Ep28: Ending moment; Taichi with hand on Koushiro’s shoulder Ep29 x Tri. Soushitsu x 2020 Ep59: Motimon / Tentomon Parallels Ep30: Koushiro {physically} intervening to defend Jou / Pushed from Bridge Ep31: Koushiro’s Polite{ness} +(J.P.N) speech {+Familial; with Mrs. Izumi} Ep31: Koushiro’s Excuses + Adopted!Koushiro Scene {+Familial; with Mrs. Izumi} Ep31: Koushiro’s Bad/bland jokes + Adopted!Koushiro  {+Familial; with Izumis} Ep31: Koushiro’s Guilt + Adopted!Koushiro & Izumi’s concern + Taichi’s worry Ep36: “Just leave your computer behind!” {+Familial; with Izumis} + “Let’s BELIEVE in Koushiro, in our son.” - Mr. Izumi, to Mrs. Izumi [Koushiro sets up Gennai’s “barrier”; Izumis discover Tentomon] Ep36: Koushiro sets off to help the fight; Izumis send him off with love Ep38: the Adoption reveal / “It’s not wrong for you to be obsessed with Computers!” Ep38: Koushiro & Izumis Figure Out the Prophecy {+Familial; with Izumis} Ep39: Koushiro Displaying Compassion for Parents {+Familial; with Izumis} Ep45: Yamato & JouMi Leave the Group {+Moments; with Yamato & Chosen} Ep48: vs. Mugendramon Arc (Start); Koushiro showing concern for Yagamis Ep48: vs. Mugendramon Arc; +Andromon; Fake-Fights {+Friendly; with Taichi} Ep48: vs. Mugendramon Arc; Taichi’s Confession {+Friendly; with Taichi} Ep50: Koushiro (Totally Not) Showing off Skills {with Adv!Chosen; & Taichi} Eps 52~53: “Why WON’T YOU LET ME FIGHT?!?” {+Interaction, with Taichi} Ep52: vs. Piemon; crying out for Jou + teary-eyed {+Friendly; with Jou} Ep53: (Near End) Koushiro’s realizations {+Friendly; with Tentomon} + Tentomon: “But that’s what I like about you” Ep53: (Near End) Adventure Lore about The Crests

[mefilas]

faiz brain came back. Its over

[littlebigmouse]

List of Small Things™ I enjoy about Fullmetal Alchemist in no particular order

Everyone in FMAB/manga is just Some Guy™ and very human and I love that so here goes:

Falman getting stuck with a serial-killing suit of armor in his appartment for days and his reaction to it. It may have been weeks. He's been on sick leave the entire time. He's a guy in his early thirties with a flock of early-greying hair because being in a dead-end-role in the military is stressfull, ok. He gets stuck at home with a funny little serial killer (and eventually some foreign body guards, and a foreign prince?? lighting signal fires in his backyard?? like man what a week)

The whole military ambush against the Devil's Nest was yes, kind of kickstarted by the gang kidnapping Al for Greed, but it was mostly kickstarted because Ed was down south to do his yearly official report and Bradley and Armstrong just happened to be present when he was informed Al had gone missing. Greed's entire operation was done in by a teen doing his paperwork

on that note, Greed really decided to spend his immortality wisely by pursuing absolutely none of his supposed ambitions and just decided to settle down with a bunch of buddies. An offshot of the buddies he was initially made to guard, too. I don't think Greed is aware of this either

everyone on that radio building. The radio host 100% down to get some coup-shenanigans into his station to drive engagement. The guys sympathising with Mrs Bradley and taking care of her. Breda taking control of the narrative with a perpetual frown by the skin of his teeth.

I know the story of how the Bradleys met is technically not canon(?) but Mrs Bradley slapping her future husband upon their first meeting because he got his flirting tips from his siblings will never not be funny. Idiots. All of them.

EVERYTHING about Darius and Heinkel. They lost their jobs and became wanted criminals upon helping out some scrawny 15 year old. They have families they miss dearly. They haven't looked back since. "You guys don't HAVE to help me save the world" - "It's not like we have anything better to do"

i was going to say the Ice Cream Truck, because it's iconic, but actually, when told to disguise a vehicle, 15-year-old pinacle of edgelord fashion Edward Elric turned it into a colourful nightmare of spikes that barely resembled a car but might be closely related to the worlds deadliest parade float. None of this was necessary. Ed is just like that.

Hawkeye growing her hair out after meeting Winry, and Winry getting piercings after seeing Hawkeye's

Denny Brosh bursting into tears when he sees Maria Ross is still alive. Dude managed to not quit his job despite working in the same city (department?) where his best friend's killer was his supervisor. They were also very real for showing us that this is a guy who oversleeps and is older brother to at least three younger siblings. There was no need to give us more on Denny Brosh but every little detail hit so hard when they reunited.

okay so remember that time Ed and Ling ate Ed's shoe. Remember that Ed spend some time on a "deserted island" as a kid. Gluttony's stomach had nothing on him. Izumi raised some anime-ass boy-scouts. 100% Farm boy behaviour. These kids are so 15 it makes me want to bite things

immortal, soul-spliced dwarf in a flask got rid of his Sloth and still managed to procrastinate on his world domination plan until the last minute. Most Human disaster.

the entire half-episode they spend on Dr. Knox and his regrets and family. FMA is so good about humanising everyone.

everyone bullied Yoki because he was a small town fraud exploiting workers for his own benefit. Simply a jerk. He also hit Pride with a car in an epic rescue, and cried and screamed the whole way through

that one shot of a kid curiously poking a soldier they found bound on the ground with a stick

(I know it's technically not canon, but-) "I'm trying to save your life, asshole!"

Edward Elric

[renm1nt]

Since I love both japanese BLs and jpop I have wonder how many jpop idols/japanese artists have acted i BLs for quite some time now. So here’s a list of jpop idols/japanese artists i j-bl. This list was so hard to make so apologies in advance if I missed anyone.

List of Jpop idols in BLs (updated as of June 2024)

2016- Kasa wo motanai aritachi wa (role: Maruta Keisuke) - Kato Shigeaki (NEWS)

2019 - Shujin-ko (role: Ikeda Yujiro) / 2024 - Love is better the second time around (role: Miyata Akihiro) - Hasegawa Makoto (the rampage from exile tribe)

2019 - His-Koisuru Tsumori Nante Nakatta (role: Igawa Shun) - Kusakawa Naoya (One n’ only)

2020 - Love stage (role: Sena Izumi) - Sugiyama Mahiroi (JUNON SUPERBOY ANOTHERS)

2020 - The corned mouse dream of cheese (role: Otomo Kyoichi) - Okura Tadayoshi (Kanjani8)

2021 - Given (role: Sato Mafuyu) - Sanari (solo)

2021 - Utsukushii kare (role: Kiyoi Sou) - Yagi Yusei (Fantastics from Exile Tribe)

2021 - Utsukushii kare (role: Koyama Kazuki) - Takano Akira (solo/ex-Dream5)

2021 - My love mix-up (role: Ida Kousuke)- Meguro Ren (Snow Man)

2021 - My love mix-up (role: Aoki Sota)- Michieda Shunsuke (Naniwa danshi)

2021 - Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko aka Zettai BL (role: Takimoto) - Kusachi Ryono (ENJIN)

2021 - Zettai BL (role: Usui) - Kondo Yohdi (solo)

2021 - Zettai BL (role: Ryouta) - Yabe Masaki (DISH//)

2021 - Zettai BL (role: Mayama) - Wada Hayate (Da-ICE)

2021 - Zettai BL (role: Toma) - Kobayashi Ryota (ex BOYS AND MEN)

2022 - Mr unlucky has no choice but to kiss (role: Shinomiya Naoya) - Sato Yusuke (lol)

2022 - Old fashion cupcake (role: Nozue) - Takeda Kouhei (ex PureBoys)

2022 - Minato shoji coin laundry (role: Minato Akira) / 2020 - Cherry magic (role: Rokkaku Yuta) - Kusakawa Takuya (Bullet train)

2022 -Amagi-kun and Takara-kun (role: Amagi Taichi) - Oriyama Nao (Shonen Ninja)

2022 - Amagi-kun and Takara-kun (role: Takara Shun)- Sato Arata (IMP.)

2022 - Candy color paradox (role: Onoe Satoshi) - Kimura Keito (Fantastics from Exile Tribe)

2022 - Candy color paradox (role: Kaburagi Motoharu) - Yamamaka Jyutaro (M!lk)

2023 - I cannot reach you (role; Ashiya Kakeru) - Haru Kasiwagi (Bullet train)

2023 - Tokyo in april is…(role: Ishihara Ren) / 2024 - Love is is better the second time around (role: Shiraishi Yuto) - Aloha Takamatsu (Bullet train)

2023 - Tokyo in april is… (role: young Takizawa Kazuma) - Takeno Sena (ICEx)

2023 - My personal weatherman (role: Tanada Yoh) - Atsuki Mashiko (Genic)

2023 - If it’s with you (role: Kaido Amane) - Okara Takato (Genin wa Jibun ni Aru.)

2023 - Takumi-kun series 6: nagai nagai monogatari no hajimari no asa (role: Hayama Takumi) - Morishita Shion (S/TEAM BLOOD)

2023 - One room angel (role: Takashina Takashi/Angel) - Nishimura Takuya (lil Kansai)

2024 - Sahara sensei to Toki-kun (role: Toki Kanade) - Hachimura Rintaro (Watwing)

2024 - I became the main lead of a BL drama (role: Akafuji Yuichiro) - Abe Alan (7ORDER)

2024 - Ossan no pants ga nandatte ii janai ka (role: Igarashi Daichi) - Nakajima Sota (Fantastics from Exile Tribe)

2024 - My strawberry film (role: Ichikawa Ryo) - Fukada Ryusei (Shonen Ninja)

2024 - My strawberry film (role: Toyama Hikaru) - Yabana Rei (7Men Samurai)

Note: Some of the jpop idols/jpop artists are not in BLs (movies/series centred around MxM romance) but are included because the have played gay roles.

[thatonelostgirl-blog1]

Okay I have been rewatching the nanny and I cannot stop envisioning a fic where Zuko gives off Mr. Sheffield energy and Sokka prances around and teases 24/7 like Miss Fine. Like imagine this... it is some time after the war. Zuko is a single dad to Izumi. Sokka visits for an ambassador meeting or something and immediately hits it off with Izumi. Sokka weasels his way in and starts joking about being the nanny of Izumi and next thing you know he has a bedroom in the family only wing of the palace. He's attending meetings, planning fancy parties, and helping Zuko with his work(by helping I mean bursting into Zuko's office hopping on top of desk in a killer outfit while ranting about Zuko needing a vacation from being fire lord). Sokka will drop hints about getting together and Zuko will ignore him out of a sense of honor to his position and out of fear of ruining their friendship. And then when Sokka goes on dates Zuko will send bodyguards/spies to keep an eye/mildly sabotage Sokka's dates. There's a near death experience perhaps an assassination attempt and Zuko says I love you but then takes it back. Sokka gets super bitter and sassy and it's adorable and hilarious. I could go on and on. Like it exists so clearly in my head someone please write this.

[ippenx]

A3! Prologue Thoughts | Reread

I think most of us missed the incredible Kamekichi art on the flyer Izumi got. Did Matsukawa draw this?? Was it a self-portrait? Did Kamekichi approve the use of his image for promotional purposes? So many questions ...

I honestly forgot Tasuku is the LITERAL FIRST SPRITE WE SEE and was not expecting to swoon so early. I guess it really was love at first sight, fufu.

If working for the enemy, why hot?

I also think it's important to talk about just how strong Izumi is. If Tasuku Takato specifically came up to me to apologize, I would collapse.

For real though, I like Izumi. She is very funny.

I also like Mrs. Backhoe - she is also very funny.

When and where do we get akigumi cabaret play???

Izumi is, again, very funny.

I'd bonk this guy over the head with a cactus. How dare he.

I will allow Sakyo to give her a hard time because he does it lovingly.

This is how I imagine people reading my 50 chapter long fics where nothing happens and everyone just pines for years.

All things considered, I like how they've managed to portrays Sakyo in a way that seems mostly stand-offish and a little bit tsundere, but in hindsight you can see how deeeply he's invested in Mankai and how much he cares!

And Izumi's really amazing. I love her, absolute queen :)

Next: Act 1 Part 1 →

[danco110]

“Izumi! Stomp that blasted thing!”

“There’s no need for that, Mr. Yamada.”

The security guard rolled her eyes at the panicking businessman under her watch. She stepped between her employer and the metallic leech skittering across the ground, lifting the clawlike creature in one hand to show to the other kitsune.

“See, sir? There’s no cause for alarm.”

“A-Are you sure?” hissed Yamada, as he warily eyed the writhing machine.

“Quite sure, sir. And not to worry. Data should be along to collect it shortly.”

“You mean to say, this wretched creature belongs to someone?”

“Yeah. Me.”

Yamada wheeled around, and was shocked to find an armored nezumi right at his back. Izumi, however, showed no such surprise. She again stepped between the two parties, offering the leech to the new arrival.

“I believe this belongs to you, Data?”

“Yes, it does! Thanks a million!”

The ninja eagerly voiced her thanks, her tone garbled by a staticky filter of some sort. She reached out with an arm - one that was suspiciously missing a paw - and the leech firmly embedded itself in the end of the limb with a satisfying click.

“Ah, scans show minimal damage! Thanks for not busting it up!”

Izumi ignored the sound of disgust from Yamada. “Don’t mention it. Nice voice scrambler, by the way.”

“Aw, you’re making me blush! Now, if that’s all, I’ll just be-”

“Hold it!”

Data turned to leave, only to be interrupted by a flustered Yamada, whose attention was still half-focused on the nezumi’s paw.

“We’ve met before, haven’t we…Reckoner?”

Data gave the businessman a playful shrug. “Guilty as charged! Ah well, I guess hiding your voice doesn’t do much when you’re a hulking half-robot ninja, like me!”

While Data flexed dramatically to prove her point, Izumi quickly tapped Yamada’s shoulder.

“Sir,” she whispered, “even if you two have met, do you really want to call her on it?”

Yamada stared at Data’s flexing, which made her reinforced metal limbs plain to see.

“Er, perhaps not…?”

“Good call,” Izumi snickered.

[felixcloud6288]

Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 83

I missed Lin so much.

We finally have the name of the lion chimera. He's Heinkel.

Y'know, Lin has effectively gotten what he wants on his journey and the only thing left is to either wrest control from Greed or convince him to go back to Xing. Lin has no personal reason to tell Ed about Father's plan.

So yeah, Lin really is Ed's friend and wants to help him out.

The Homunculi like to go on about their pride and superiority to humans, but what they have is less pride and more like ego. They all mindlessly follow the orders of their "loving" father who has some grand ambition for himself and never once question what they do. And they continuously look down on people calling them weak, powerless, foolish, etc. Meanwhile, they have no actual ambitions or achievements to call their own. They just have their empty egos.

And I think Greed knows that. He is ambition made manifest and he cannot tolerate being bound to someone else's will.

But another thing the Homunculi lack is camaraderie. They exist only for Father's purpose and there is no true love between them. Ed gave him an unconditional offer to be his ally, and Greed didn't know how to process that. And then he turned it down because of his Homunculus ego.

Greed, you feel empty because you've actually experienced true friendship and had it all taken away.

No but seriously, why do Darius and Heinkel follow Ed around?

Olivier Mira Armstrong is showing us her Armstrong heritage, complete with the Armstrong sparkles.

This is the most Armstrong she's ever been. I suppose being around her family will do that. The only thing missing is she never mentioned her skills which were passed down the Armstrong line for generations.

We have the first main chapter appearance of PHILIP GARGANTOS ARMSTRONG, Mrs. Armstrong, and Catherine Elle Armstrong. And you can just feel the sheer Armstrong vibe in the room.

Olivier Mira Armstrong and Alex Louis Armstrong's fight is one of those moments that you need to watch in the anime. In the manga, we just hear all the fighting while the rest of the family packs their things to go on a vacation. In the anime, we actually see miscellaneous background events while the shot is still focused on the family packing up and leaving.

When Alex asked Olivier if she sent the family away so they couldn't be used as hostages, she just smiled and told him to get out. It kind of implies she was doing it for her own sake, but I'd say she did it for Alex's sake.

Olivier is the kind of person who is willing to act even if it would put her family in danger. But Alex is not. By sending the family away, she's telling him "When the time comes, you can do what you think is right without worry."

And now let's check the information chain. Hohenheim knows when the Promised Day is and he told Alphonse. Al then called Izumi's store and passed the message to Mason. Then Sig called Mason to get the information and they went to Briggs to pass the message to Miles and Buccaneer. Falman then passed the information over to Graman who gave Rebecca Katarina leave to go to Central and visit Hawkeye and Sergeant Major Black Hayate. Rebecca passes the message to Hawkeye, who hides it in a pack of cigarettes she gives Havoc, who then gives it to Roy.

The only major outlier to that information chain is Izumi and Sig. It feels like wild happenstance that they would happen to be traveling north and Sig just happened to call the shop and got the message from Al. Also, Al is not privy to the North-East alliance against Central.

I guess if I were to headcanon-conspiracy theory a guess, Izumi and Sig have allied with Hohenheim after meeting with him again. They may have headed North to check for signs of the underground tunnel there similar to how Hohenheim went to Reole to check for it there. And Hohenheim was planning to inform Izumi about the Promised day after he'd gotten confirmation.

Then Hohenheim told Al about Izumi's involvement and Al added that she should seek out Miles and Buccaneer to give them the info as well. Al knows Briggs is on their side. The fact that the East HQ is allied with them as well is just an unexpected bonus.

Meanwhile, Ed found out from a direct source. Maybe he'll try and contact Roy about it only to find out the Colonel already knows. Roy is surprisingly competent at gathering intel.

Quick note: Rebecca appears in the title art for chapter 53. She's on the photo in the bottom-left corner, just hidden under the chapter title.

And I guess Black Hayate is neutered.

And y'know what? I had thought Roy's team were the ones who came up with all these secret code systems to share information. But after seeing this insane display of covert information sharing, I'm going to guess they were all trained by Graman. He's known ever since Raven approached him that Central has been up to something so he's probably been training every person he can trust in the art of espionage.

back

[powerpolyculeshowdown]

Round 1 Match-Ups

I made 2 brackets and cut both in half in hopes this will make it easier to zoom in and read, but there's no side A or side B, which is why they aren't facing each other.

(reminder, i am willing to change stuff up if ppl ask nicely, so you can ask but there's not guarantee that i'll do it - these were randomized)

Masterpost has been updated, but here's a list of the match ups under the cut:

Kieran/Ray/Gemma (Trigonometry) vs Nicky/Joe/Andy/Booker/Niles (Old Guard)

Eugene/Rapunzel/Cassandra (Tangled the Series) x Sasha/Anne/Marcy (Amphibia)

Neal/Peter/Elizabeth (White Collar) x Jade/Dave/Karkat (Homestuck Epilogues)

Anzu/Kazuki/Junta (Romantic Killers) x Pyrrha/Commander Wake/Gideon The First (The Locked Tomb)

Syenite/Innon/Alabaster (Broken Earth) x Breq/Mercy of Karl/Seivarden/Ekalu (Imperial Radch)

Taylor/Theo/Josey (3) x Tessa/Will/Jem (The Infernal Devices)

Kieran/Cristina/Mark (The Dark Artifices) x Sofiane/Victor/Luisa (Mortel)

Jack/August/Rina (The Wicker King) x La’gann/Coral/Rodunn (Young Justice)

Roguish Semiotician/Infamous Mathematician/Player Character (Fallen London) x Alphonse/Seth/Listener (Bittersweet)

Emiya/Saber/Rin (Fate Stay/Night) x Winter/Moon/Qibli (Wings of Fire)

Amber/Reese/David (Adaptation) x Jack/Emma/Izzy (You Me Her)

Camina/Michio Pa/Serge/ Berthold/Oksana (The Expanse) x Enrique/Hypnos/Sofia (The Gilded Wolves)

Max/Jack/Anne (Black Sails) x Keiko/Miles/Kira (Star Trek)

Shikimori/Izumi/Ai (Shikimori is Not Just Cute) x Quincey Morris/Jack Seward/Arthur Holmwood/Lucy Westenra (Dracula)

Camille/Nyra/Dendro (Muted) x Turtle Heart/Melena/Frex (Wicked)

Storm/Helen/Mira (Love and Luck Podcast) x Neptune/Venus/Jupiter (We Know the Devil)

Nathan/Vlad/Ursula (Hunger Pangs) x Leif/Thorn/Kale (Leif and Thorn)

Haruka/Michiru/Setsuna (Sailor Moon) x Ichika Hoshino/Saki Tenma/Shiho Hinomori/Honami Mochizuki (Project SEKAI)

Sadie/Walt/Anubis (The Kane Chronicles) x Sherlock/Watson/Mary (Sherlock Holmes movies)

Dianda/Simon/Patrick (October Daye) x Caleb/Astrid/Eadwulf (Critical Role)

Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot (High Noon Over Camelot) x Mukai Naoya/Saki Saki/Nagisa Minase (Girlfriend Girlfriend)

Dashawn/Steve/Jose/Cupe R III/Otto/Arturo/Gregory/Quackers McQuack (Bojack Horseman) x Fluorite (Steven Universe)

Logan/Jean Grey/Scott/Emma (X-Men) x Uzui/Hinatsuru/Makio/Suma (Demon Slayer)

Eddie/Venom/Anne/Dan (Venom) x Ben/Ryn/Maddie (Siren)

Nathan/Gabriel/Annalise (The Bastard Son and the Devil Himself) x Peter Quill/Aradia/Mors (Guardians of the Galaxy)

Aizo/Yujiro/Hiyori (HoneyWorks) x Kyle/Rogelio/Lonnie (She Ra)

Princess Glisselda/Seraphina/Lucien (Seraphina) x Tess/Jacomo/Margarethe (Tess of the Road)

Daniel/Sam/Jack/Teal’c (Stargate SG-1) x Quanxi/Pingsti/Cosmo/Long/Tsugihagi (Chainsaw Man)

Wu Zetian/Li Shimin/Gao Yizhi (Iron Widow) x Tree Trunks/Mr. Pig/Alien Husband (Adventure Time)

Miss Piggy/Kermit/Gonzo (Muppets) x Rajan/Wolfgang/Kala (Sense8)

Megaera/Thanatos/Zagreus (Hades) x Rilla/Arum/Damien (Penumbra Podcast)

George/Gilda/Thomas (Design for Living) x Asmodeus Alice/Clara Valac/Iruma Suzuki (Mairimashita, Iruma-kun!)

[esidolmail]

dear Mr izumi sena,

when will you come home? I've been missing you since your fs2 debut! have you been well? eating and of course being/staying as happy as can be! are your idol and modelling work tiring you out as much? please rest well! take good care of yourself for your fans and people who loves you a little too much. I hope you're not being mean to anyone especially your dear knights!! (⇀‸↼‶)

I hope you know you drive me crazy 24/7. bot only do I think of your well-being, but I wanna cry whenever I see your photos. you're doing an amazing job as always, fantastic, beautiful and all the great vocabs you can think of to describe your work. I love you so much, keep striving for more, teehee~

from ଳ

[meenatranslates]

[R] Taichi | Emperor Penguin's Invitation

I’d look cute if I wear ‘white’, but I’d also look cool if I wear ‘black’... Which one’s good for me...? I’m torn between these two choices~!

Lead Skill: Cool or Cute

Adlib Skill: Mr. Penguin Waving Hands

*Card and skill names may change

Starting the new year with a Taichi translation :D

From here on, I'm gonna combine two parts into one post, since it's easier that way to import the doc to here. im lazy

Translation under the cut

__________________________

__________________________

I Want to Keep Using This Forever - Part 1

*Director's default name as Izumi

―Living Room (Day)―

Izumi: The shooting for “VELUDO” this time is in Hokkaido, so are you done packing for the travel?

Taichi: Not yet! But I was actually about to do it though.

I’ve already decided what to bring so I think I’ll be done with it pretty soon!

Izumi: Sounds like you’re gonna be fine, huh.

―Taichi & Omi’s Room (Evening)―

Taichi: Director-sensei will get worried if I delay this packing any later, so let’s get to it now.

Which bag to use...... Think I’ll go for the usual one.

Omi: Hm? Taichi, you’re going to use that duffel bag? I don’t think you can fit all your stuff in that.

Taichi: Huh? I use this every time I go travel so I’m sure it’ll be fine!

Omi: Really? If you say so...

Oh, look at the time. I better go and prepare dinner since it’s already this late.

Taichi: Okay, see you later~. I can’t wait to eat the dinner for tonight!

Omi: I’ll be making delicious dishes later, so look forward to that.

Taichi: Got it!

*Omi left*

Taichi: ...Right, let’s start packing our bag now!

―(Night)―

Taichi: ...I’m finally done!

Man, I’m so hungry~. It’s already dinner time, so I better go eat now!

―Living Room―

Kazunari: Oh, Taicchan! You done with packing already?

Taichi: Yeah, but how d’you know that I was packing my stuff?

Muku: We heard Omi-san and Director talking about it.

Kazunari: We were wondering how you pack your luggage just by using a duffel bag~! (1)

Taichi: ‘How’ you say, like normal!

Muku: But still, you must be good at packing since you managed to fit all your stuff with just a duffel bag for going to Hokkaido.

I’m a bit curious to see how you did it.

Taichi: If that’s the case, I’ll bring it here after we’re done with dinner!

Muku: Thank you!

―――

Taichi: Here it is!

Kazunari: Huh?! Seriously? You really gonna use this only?

Izumi: It’s smaller than I thought...!

Tsuzuru: You’re going to go Hokkaido with just this? That’s amazing.

Yuki: That’s not enough no matter how you look at it.

Taichi: But all the necessary stuff are in here! Look, here’s what I packed...

_________________________________________

(1) May be or maybe not but seems like Kazu is using Shokotanese slang here. Near the end of the original line for this is “気になりまくりんぐ～！” (ki ni nari makurin gu)

りんぐ is a word in Shokotanese that is used like “verb” + “ing”.

I’m guessing the closer translation would be "I’m so curious-ing~”.

_________________________________________

I Want to Keep Using This Forever - Part 2

__________________________

Taichi: ...And that’s all! My clothes and even underwear is included too, so it’s all perfect~!

Muku: Um, it’s true that you’re not missing anything...

Tsuzuru: Don’t you think your clothes are too thin? You’re going to Hokkaido, you know.

Kazunari: You’re gonna catch a cold with just these, Taicchan!

Taichi: You think so? I thought it’d be fine if I just wear one more layer...

Izumi: Nuh-uh, it’ll be tough for you to handle the winter at Hokkaido with just these alone.

Yuki: I think so too. But if you don’t mind getting frozen, then I guess these should be okay enough.

Taichi: Uuuhh, I don’t wanna get frozen, so I’ll go back and get some thicker clothes!

―――

Umph... Hnnngh...

No good~! I can’t close the bag at all! Winter clothes are too bulky~!

Citron: Taichi, you should use this at a time like this!

Muku: Is that a compression bag?

Citron: Yes, it is!

Yuki: Where the heck did you even get it from?

Kazunari: But hey, your winter clothes should be able to fit in this now!

Taichi: Yeah, I’m gonna try it!

Okay, so I put all these in, and zip it up...

Muku: Now we just need the air to get removed.

Taichi: Aight, gotta roll it and push out the air...... AH! The zipper’s opened up...

Izumi: Is it because there are too many clothes in it?

Yuki: Could be.

Kazunari: Let’s try lessening them and do it one more time!

Taichi: Right, let’s see... Gotta take out some clothes...

Zip 'em, then roll it...... Wait, huh?!

Muku: Oh no, the zipper...!

Taichi: It broke~!

Citron: Oh, was it a cheap item?!

Izumi: Hm, we can’t use this compression bag anymore...

Taichi: Yeah...

Tsuzuru: You’ll need it in the future too, so how about you buy a bigger one?

Taichi: I want to, but I’m out of money right now...

Yuki: *sigh* Can’t be helped. I’ll make a bag for you.

Taichi: EH! You will?!

Yuki: I still got some fabrics left, and I also have some time to make something like a bag anyway.

Taichi: Thanks, Yuki-chan. I’ll take up your words then!

―Next Day: Taichi & Omi’s Room (Evening)―

Yuki: Taichi, the bag’s done.

Taichi: EH?! Already?!

Yuki: Yeah, here.

Taichi: Woahhh! It’s so stylish! I really like it!

Yuki: That’s a given since I’m the one who made it. I went out of my way to make that bag, so you better use it a lot.

Taichi: Of course! I’ll use this for the rest of my life!

Yuki: You don’t need to go that far...

Taichi: This will last me a lifetime because you made it for me after all!

Thanks a lot, Yuki-chan! I’m gonna use it tons of times later, so I’ll take really good care of this!

Story Clear!

[strawberista]

⚅— @lollipopsandgunshots asked: —⚅ ⚅— "Good evening, Mr. Hanekoma," Natsuki smiles, peeking in to the cozy little cafe she'd grown so fond of. "Sorry to catch you while you're probably closing up, I just wanted to bring you something." She holds up a small basket as explanation, before setting it on the counter in front of him. Inside is an assortment of freshly-baked cookies and muffins. There's also a small, postcard-sized watercolor painting of the cafe. "I wanted to thank you," she explains, with a polite bow. "For everything you've done for me, and for Koki, for Uzuki and Izumi... For all of us." —⚅

— ★ ⚄ ★ —

Hanekoma had been right where he would have been expected to be, standing behind the counter and waiting for customers to arrive. He'd pulled his usual smile her way when she came in, but he didn't try to interrupt or talk over her. And once the basket came out, his expression turned over to surprise and then beaming joy as the gift was presented to him. He couldn't believe even Natsuki felt the need to come to him with gratitude and well-wishes after all the times he'd failed to be what they all needed, but he wasn't about to turn down such an honor. She had put so much love and work into all of it, it made his whole heart melt down into the radiating warmth that spread over his whole soul.

"Well, thank you, sweetheart," he purred, lifting up the painting to better view it. "This is beautiful. You know I would always work to support you guys, right? But... even still... I am... so honored that you would put so much work in just to make me a present. I'm really gonna enjoy alla this to the fullest... Hey, you wouldn't wanna sit here and enjoy these sweets with me, would ya? I could get some milk an' we could just sit and eat and talk for a while. I've missed ya, so... You wanna?"

[jokertrap-ran]

[スタオケ] La Corda d'Oro Starlight Orchestra Mikado Ukiha Cast Story Chapter 3 Translation

*Starlight Orchestra Masterlist | Mikado Ukiha’s Personal Masterlist *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *Mikado's Route Tag will be #Ukiha’s Star *T/N: MIKADO CAN CRY ON COMMAND??? HELP???

Ukiha: We have been walking for quite a while now. Are you tired?

Ukiha: There are many shops along Sanjo-dori Street, and many tourists are satisfied just by shopping around the area.

Ukiha: Take the shop we just left earlier for example. They always have a different selection of products every time.

Ukiha: Each and every encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Miss it, and there are no second chances. I hope you can find something to your liking during your stay here.

Ukiha: Things have a more modern feel to them now that we have reached this area.

Ukiha: The museum over there and the post office next to it are both buildings from the Meiji period.

Ukiha: The way they are built with red bricks can be said to be what gives them the retro look.

▷Choice: You're good at giving tours

Ukiha: Hehe, thank you for the compliment. Seeing you happy makes it worthwhile for me to do so.

▷Choice: This kinda building's great too!

Ukiha: Indeed. Although traditional Japanese houses also have their own allure, you can also sense the historical vibes red-bricked buildings like these have. Ukiha: This is much better than trying to deliberately give a place a historic feel.

Ukiha: That being said, I am sure there is an abundance of such modern Western-style buildings in your city. After all, Yokohama is a port city.

▷Choice: I’ll guide you around Yokohama, no problem!

Ukiha: …Oh, now that you mention it… I will also be going to Yokohama if I really join the Starlight Orchestra. Ukiha: Hehe, I can’t believe you are thinking that far ahead even though I am just a temporary member. Ukiha: Plus, the Concertmistress herself is going to be guiding me around… It is truly becoming something to look forward to.

Ukiha: Alright, we should get going. I would like to rest longer as well, but I am afraid that we will be late if we continue.

Ukiha: Are you not going to be performing at the Kyoto station later? We should head there earlier so that we do not keep the others waiting.

Ukiha: And we will have to take a train there from here. Train schedules are much easier to track compared to the buses. Besides, the station is also nearby.

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Ukiha: …Brilliant. It looks like we are the first ones here.

Ukiha: Let us go to the shaded area over there and get out of the wind.

Guy 1: …Huh? Mikado-kun?

Guy 1: I knew it! Man, you’ve changed so much that I almost didn’t recognize you.

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Ukiha: Mr. Kawamura…? Long time no see.

Ukiha: You have my apologies for deviating from our conversation, (L/n)-san. Let me introduce you, this is the father of one of my former classmates.

▷Choice: I'm (L/n)

Guy 1: Oh, is that a violin? I see. Has Mikado-kun picked up playing instruments again? Looks like the rumors are true.

Guy 1: Young lady, did you know that he’s skilled at not only the clarinet but also the piano?

Ukiha: You flatter me. It has been a long time since I have played the piano… and the one at home has already started to go out of tune.

Guy 1: Aw, now that’s a pity! Oh! Isn’t there a piano at the station? Why don’t you try playing it?

Ukiha: I think that the piano I play might be an affront to the ears of others…

Guy 1: I’m sure you’ll be fine. Izumi-san thought highly of your skills, so I’m sure your fingers still remember how to play!

Ukiha: …

Guy 1: I’m sure you want to hear Mikado-kun play the piano too, right, young lady?

▷Choice: I do want to hear it

Ukiha: …

▷Choice: (I can tell he’s very reluctant about it…)

Ukiha: …

Ukiha: It is truly unfortunate, but I do have plans after this.

Guy 1: I see… Well then, feel free to come visit our place the next time you’re free!

Guy 1: My wife will definitely be elated to hear you play the piano again after so long. Do come by anytime!

Ukiha: …I sincerely thank you for your invitation.

Guy 1: Oh, by the way, I really want to hear that song again. You know, the piece that Izumi-san composed. You often played it before.

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Mikado: …!

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Mikado’s face momentarily stiffened…

▷Choice: Say something to stop him

Guy 1: Of course, I don’t mean right now. You can drop by whenever you have the time. Why don’t you come too, young lady? Guy 1: Do you know of that song as well? I’ve not heard it much as of late, but it’s a really good piece. It was something that Mikado-kun used to play all the time.

▷Choice: Watch quietly from the side

Guy 1: Do you know of that song as well? I’ve not heard it much as of late, but it’s a really good piece. It was something that Mikado-kun used to play all the time.

Guy 1: And Izumi-san would beam widely whenever he played it. Ukiha: …

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

…!

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Guy 1: M-Mikado-kun…!?

Ukiha: …I apologize… about my father… I…

Guy 1: Ah, oh, that's true. Sorry! That was careless of me. I forgot that you're still feeling…

Ukiha: I apologize for suddenly tearing up. It must be putting you in quite the spot… I am truly sorry. I will make it stop at once…

Guy 1: Um, no need! I'm the one at fault here! You're still grieving, I'm sure…

Guy 1: I'll head home for today, so sorry about that!

The guy scampered away…

▷Choice: Um…

Ukiha: …Phew. He finally left. Ukiha: Now then. Sorry to keep you waiting, (L/n)-san. We should head over.

Mikado, for all intents and purposes, had seemingly regained his usual composure.

Ukiha: Oh, my bad. Did I worry you? I was not really crying earlier.

Ukiha: I no longer feel negative about such trivial matters now that I've reached this stage… After all, the storm is already over.

Ukiha: I only did that because it would no doubt be a long conversation, had he continued on. My successful plan brought a curt end to things, did it not?

Ukiha: Or, would you like me to demonstrate it to you by doing it again?

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Ukiha: …Like this.

Mikado's eyes watered, gleaming as tears started to form.

▷Choice: Are they really just crocodile tears!?

Ukiha: Yes. Are you convinced now?

▷Choice: Tissue— No, wait, here's a handkerchief!

Ukiha: Hehe… Thank you, but I can make these tears go away in a heartbeat, so you need not bother.

Ukiha: It’s a special skill of mine. Handy, right? When other people see you crying, all conversations miraculously become easier to handle.

Ukiha: Hehe, want to practice doing it too? I am sure many will fall for your tears and listen to whatever you say.

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬Ukiha’s Star♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Previous Part: (Chapter 2) Next Part: (Chapter 4)

[the-iron-tipped-quill]

Introduction to the Twisted Rose

iron here with my longest writing piece yet

word count: 3.2k words

This took me two months please give me validation that you like it

people to tag; @lemeowade @steamfunkoo7 @uselessmoss @lafilianore (idk if the two of you wanna be tagged but I’m gonna guess yes)

and now, the longest thing I’ve ever written:

“I forget Dorren has multiple children, not just Maiya.” Izumi said, taking smaller steps to not trip on the uneven pavement.

“What’s this one’s name again?” Aria responded, draping her long blue coat over her arm, sewing tools in full view. A small group of about five or six pins poked out of the left side of her mouth as she adjusted the needle and seam ripper to a more acceptable size.

“Elias, he is an almost identical copy of Dorren, minus about 5 or 6 tails.” Elise responded, clinging to her archival book, the one bearing the information needed for the meeting today. She was visibly on the verge of having a full blown panic attack.

Kyoka walked with Izumi, silent as usual.

Aerylyn strolled along, lost in thought about a woman she called Evie to the other members. Her twin tendrils were fashioned into a bow on the back of her skirt. 

Izumi was the one to knock on the door, eyes narrowed as she steeled her nerves. She was going to meet the man known as the iron rose. A figure with barely any information known about him. The leader of the cult-like circus troupe of The Twisted Rose.  Well, any information she was able to access from Elise’s archives was little to none at all. 

The first thing the 5 of them noticed was a man who looked exactly like Dorren answered the door, with a few minor differences. Namely that he looked much younger than Dorren and seemed rather on edge. He seemed to be gripping at some kind of blade that wasn't there. 

“You must be the people that Raven mentioned.” The brown haired man said, eyes surveying the group in front of them. The group of 5 that shouldn't have been able to access the estate. Nobody besides Him and two others should have had access to the estate. 

“That would be us, Izumi Mika, Priestess and head of the Midway Point.” Izumi said a minor glimpse of her true form showing as she bowed respectfully.

“Elias Rosen, head of the eastern branch of the Rosen Family.” Elias said, motioning them to enter. “I hear you have good relations with both my sister and father.”

“That would be correct. Miss Hisau and Mr. Rosen have good ties to our organization.” Elise said, trying her hardest to calm her nerves. 

“And you would be Miss?” Elias said, eyes on Elise.

“Kimi, Kimi Welton.” She responded out of habit. 

Elias’s eyes narrowed but he didn’t press further. The woman seemed.. Familiar.. Maybe a little too familiar for his liking. 

“Kyoka Mika. The knight.”

“A woman of few words it seems.” He quipped, looking directly at Kyoka. 

“Mhm.” Kyoka nodded.

“You will call me The Seamstress.” Aria said, glaring at Elias. 

“Aerylyn, pleased to meet you.” She said, twin tendrils extending from her back Unfolding from the bow she had fashioned out of them on the back of her dress.. Elias took note to be more friendly to her. Aerylyn smirked as she tasted his intimidation.

“Is there a particular reason you have shown up here?” Elias asked, sitting down at his desk looking back at the 5 women in his office.

Elise placed her book down, motioning for Elias to read it. As his eyes scanned the text, his demeanor changed. 

“You know that I am a Sinworker. That changes the meaning of this meeting completely.”

“We all know a great deal more than you think.” Aria said, pin twirling in her fingers. 

“You want my help then. Is there anything you will do for me?” 

“I am the archivist of time. I can change things in time to a degree. I can remove all traces of you being there from memory. 

“All traces? So you're like the perfect version of Miki’s program then.”

“Miki?” Kyoka asked, head tilted to the side.

“Mikiya Casey, my assistant. Creator of a program called The Diamond. A program that can wipe the data of anything. Any government database, books, files. Anywhere you get information.”

A woman entered the room, brown hair tied in two neat braids. A pale pink shirt peeked out from her blazer. A simple pair of glasses on her face, round golden frames. 

“Speaking of you and you appear Miki, a lovely sight.” Elias said, seeming more at ease with someone he trusts. Aerylyn pouted as she wasn't able to feed off of Elias anymore.

Miki only nodded at him, sitting next to him silently. 

“You seem to have very few employees you keep close to you.” Izumi noted, motioning for Elise to continue the conversation. 

Elise picked up her offer. “Mr. Rosen, If you help us you can stop an extinction. You will have the support of one of the most powerful mage associations in this universe.” 

“The Point. That's who you people are.”

“Yes, I mentioned that when I entered.” Izumi said, her expression changing to that of relief.

“I must have missed that. I would say employing a Sinworker is a bad idea but we are already too far into this discussion for that to be a disadvantage.” Elias responded, thinking over the offer. 

“If memory serves,” Aria said, pausing to think. “You are the only remaining Sinworker to have survived the war of ruin.“ 

”Correct. Me, Elias Rosen, The Arrows Eye. That's what the League designated me as anyway.“

”The Arrow's Eye?“ Izumi asked, tilting her head to the side, looking slightly confused. 

”Indeed, it is a strange title to have, despite my weapon being a blade.“

Miki poked at Elias and made some vague gesture, Elias understood this as her wanting an explanation. 

“Miki, as I have refrained from explaining the War of Ruin to you. Allow me to explain how I fit into it.” Elias said, turning to Miki. 

The War of Ruin was an event that happened around i think 200 years ago. The War of Ruin was a war happening between the Lady of the Void deciding to have her own army of sinworkers and the Lord of life not particularly liking that. The Lord sent his army, I only know of them as the Daybringer, the others in the void refused to tell me more. Into the Void of oblivion, the lady of the voids domain. She retaliated with her army of sinworkers, humans who had been sucked into the void and gifted abilities connected to a random weapon. I fit into this story as I was a literal child at the time the void took me away from Dorren and Echo. for a century I wandered the void, forced to grow, adapt and survive in it. I was given a single sword as my weapon, and I had to force myself to use it to keep myself alive. Then the daughter of the lady herself found me. Lady Divinia, already late into my 20s by this point, Divinia took a liking to me and kept me within her palace, until I slowly began to go mad from the twisting iron walls whispering to me to become one with them to escape. 

Izumi spoke up, “Apologies for the interruption, I believe this Divinia you speak of is still alive. She works as one of Lady Liliths harbingers. Seat 8 of the 14 if memory serves.”

Elias only nodded before he continued. 

I managed to escape before the end of the war of ruin. However in doing so, I remain the only Sinworker left alive. If divinia is still alive that puts an interesting predicament on our hands. From my understanding both the lord and lady were slaughtered during the war. Meaning if Divinia is here on earth, the void has no lady to rule it. 

The room fell into silence, and Elias paused, returning his thoughts to the offer at hand. 

”What do you say Mr. Rosen, Do you accept our offer?“ Izumi said, switching conversation topics back to the main reason for their visit.

He paused, and you could tell he was thinking it over.

Miki, who had been sitting silently for most of this meeting, piped up with how she felt, using the little information she had at her disposal.

“Elias.. I think it would be a good idea to accept the offer.” Miki said, voice barely above a whisper.

“You think so? Should we get Raven's input on this?“ Elias asked, turning to face Miki as she rubbed her hands together nervously. 

”I think Raven will go along with whatever we decide.“

”If you would like, Ms. Casey, I can show you the benefits you would receive from this offer. It is not just Mr. Rosen who benefits from this. It is all 3 of you.“ Elise stated, understanding that both she and Miki were anxious. 

”H-how do you know my name?“ Miki asked, staring at Elise with her eyes wide.

”As unfortunate as it is, my job is to know things.” Elise said as she handed the book she clutched closely to her chest over to Miki. “Besides that, Mr. Rosen has also mentioned you as his greatest asset.” 

Miki read the text with a fear in her eyes that gradually turned to pure terror as she realized just how much this strange silver haired woman knew about her and her talent.

“You... You know what I've done... H-how do you know?“ Her voice was shaking, she was terrified, the things she had done in her past, the things she worked so hard to remove from her history. 

Aerylyn who had been unusually silent finally spoke up to break the silence. 

”Darling, as much as your fear is quite a treat to feast myself upon. Your mistakes and actions cannot be truly erased away. I have done much, much worse actions in my lifetime.” She paused, smiling as she reminisced in the glory of what unspeakable acts she had done. “I know the power you wield so closely to you, I know that fear you have of it falling into the wrong hands. I can help you, all of us can help you. You just need to trust us to help you.” Aerylyn said, extending her hand to Miki. 

Elias just seemed to nod, and Miki understood that as there was no underlying motive. 

Both Elias and Miki in unison said, ”We accept your offer.“ Elias continued talking. ”You have the aid of both the eastern branch of The Rosen Family, and the aid of the Twisted Rose.“

Izumi smiled, clasping her hands together, almost as if she was praying. Her mouth moved silently. She picked up a single ward, and placed it against the wall, it vanished instantly, and she returned to her seat. ”You now have the blessings of the creator itself, and our aid and support.“ Izumi said, a smile coming over her. 

”Miki, If you would like, I am willing to teach you to best wield your power, but you have to be willing to let me teach you.“ Aerylyn said, focusing her attention on the brunette. 

“...” Miki froze, silently staring at Aerylyn. “Are... Are you really willing to teach me? to help me learn the limits of my power.. to... to not fear it anymore?” Miki asked.

“Indeed I can. You just need to let me help you learn.” Aerylyn replied, dragging Miki off to another room.

The only ones remaining in the office now were Elias, Izumi, Kyoka, Aria and Elise.

Kyoka motioned that she wished to leave and wander the estate grounds. I saw Elias wave his hand, motioning her to go ahead and do so. Izumi seemed to just walk out, Aria had vanished a long time ago, leaving only Elias and Elise in the room.

“ You evade my puppeteer's gaze, how does one manage to evade the gaze of something that is all seeing?” Elise asked, staring at Elias, the unnatural blue of her eyes missing, replaced by an obsidian black color, the mark of Azaka, The Archivist of Time, a title Elise also held, controlling someone.

“Your gaze cannot reveal someone who is as inhuman as he is supernatural. A Sinworkers job is to remain hidden and work for the lady of the end.” Elias said, pacing around the room. Slowly collecting soulforce as a precaution.

“My eyes see everything Sinworker. I see into the void your power calls home. You cannot evade me fully.” The voice coming from Elise no longer sounded like her own, it was raspy, it sounded like it was hissing out the words, and it spoke in the language of the Sinworkers. 

“So Azaka does speak the language of the great void. A welcome sound to hear.” Elias said, body pulsing with Soulforce. Keeping his eyes on Elise to make sure nothing would happen. 

Elise coughed up a black fluid, eyes returning to her natural blue. Elias released the soulforce flowing through him and went over to help Elise, seeming very worried about her. 

“Are you alright?” Elias asked, any anger he felt towards her vanishing instantly, replaced by worry over this strange figure nearly collapsing in front of him. 

“I am… I am unsure. I am slightly cold and I feel as if I missed the past couple of minutes.” Elise said, pulling a pack of tissues out of one of her jacket's many pockets, and wiping away the black liquid that she coughed up. It reminded Elias vaguely of blood, but it seemed almost alive.

“What exactly is… That?”

“I will never understand it, Azaka refuses to tell me despite being bound to my body.” Elise replied, gathering her thoughts and sat up again. 

“You seem… Familiar somehow… I cannot seem to place it.” Elias said, looking carefully at her attire, it reminded him of a uniform, but for an organization whose name he had long forgotten. 

Elise stood up, stepping away from Elias, eyes full of panic and horror, almost as if she was worried he knew something he shouldn't, and vanished in a single flash of blue, gone from the room and the estate entirely. 

~~~~~~

 Aerylyn and Miki walked over to the area of the house dedicated to Miki specifically, the right side of the basement held what looked to be a storage closet tucked behind a single unassuming door. Miki picked up her ring and pressed the metal rose against the door lock and it popped open. Miki just seemed to step inside without a second thought, entering the space practically was like stepping into another world. It was oddly clean, but it looked lived in, a comfortable world away from the world around them. 

“Nobody really thinks that anyone lives down here, but it does help that if you lack the key to this place, it just looks like another unfinished area of a long abandoned basement.” Miki said, bringing Aerylyn around, kind of giving her a tour. 

“Interesting.” Aerylyn said, making a mental note. “Does this work as another facet of your abilities?” 

“It does indeed, If I tint my glasses into certain colors, I can change the variables I manipulate.” Miki explained, leading Aerylyn over to what seemed like a kitchen, and snapped her fingers and the room seemed to get bigger, leading to a small breakfast nook in the corner, replacing the sink near the stove.

“That seems incredibly helpful to just be able to do.” 

Miki only nodded, seeming like she was concentrating incredibly hard, she sighed as the breakfast nook took hold into the kitchen, motioning for Aerylyn to sit down. Miki pulled something from a cabinet and placed it on the table, it appeared to be a small tray of homemade cupcakes.

“I wasn’t actually the one who made these, but I did code in the ingredients so Raven could make them.” Miki explained, sitting across from Aerylyn. 

“This little area, it’s like a virtual paradise.. but it’s real..”

Miki only nodded, and slowly ate one of the cupcakes prepared for her by her girlfriend. The lenses to her glasses were a baby blue color, and Aerylyn could not figure out what the lens color meant.

“What does each color of your lenses change to mean?” Aerylyn asked through a mouthful of cupcakes. 

“Blue is the color they turn to when I’m here in my area of the house, though I do not know why. Lavender is when I code something into the world, more specifically something insignificant, clear means nothing, green means I can code in life, red means I am deleting code from the fabric of reality and pink means I am manipulating the code relating to feelings.” Miki explained shifting the lenses through each color. 

“Interesting, now what is that Diamond program Elias mentioned you made?” Aerylyn asked, still through a mouthful of cupcake. 

“...” Miki paused, obviously caught off guard by the question. She paused, clearly thinking about if she could even tell Aerylyn what it was. 

“Elias explained it a bit but I want the full details.” Aerylyn said, using a tiny bit of her power to influence Miki to tell her everything. 

Miki was a fountain of information following that little push, explaining everything. “Well… the diamond is exactly what it sounds like, it's a singular diamond that when destroyed, due to the fact it's relatively weak in structure, as it is a false diamond. It will erase Elias from wherever it is he appears. Erasing him from all magical archives, all databases, all records. As much of the areas he can be recorded in as my programs can access. I cannot access every single archival book your archivist keeps, however I can access your library. I need to keep the fact that a Sinworker lives out of the question.” Miki finished, and Aerylyn withdrew the power she had used to get the information out of Miki. 

“I suppose I should take leave now, I can practically hear Izumi screaming in my head that it's time to go.” Aerylyn said standing up to leave.

“Goodbye..” Miki said, waving as Aerylyn seemed to just fade away out of the room. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Kyoka wandered the grounds, finding a place to organize her thoughts, hidden in an area that looked like a greenhouse, she organized her thoughts about the figures she had met today. Without thinking, she had made the plants and everything around her begin growing, taller and taller they grew. Months, if not years of growth happened instantly.  Kyoka opened her eyes and walked out, changing her current mental objective, before she ran into Izumi, who had been frantically searching for her for the past couple of minutes, as it was time for the 5 girls to return back to the point. 

“Kyoka! There you are, I've been looking for you everywhere!” Izumi exclaimed, running over to Kyoka, who seemed very confused.

“Izu, it’s only been a couple minutes no? Why do you seem so frantic to search for me?” Kyoka asked, looking up at Izumi, her armor clanking loudly.

“It's been an hour since we were set to return to the point, I've been worried sick.” Izumi said as they left to return back to the point, a new alliance was secured, and another card drawn to her hand.

[jonathanvik]

Starlight Dream - Chapter 44

“It’s going along super well, Chō!” Seina said. “At this rate, you’ll have a true classic. All of Aiko’s friends are talking about your manga!” 

“...” As usual, Chō gave no response, but Seina detected an edge of smugness in the girl’s expression. But Seina didn’t begrudge her this. The pair worked hard to make their creation a reality. And with new manga in short supply, people were eating it up. 

“Thank you, Seina,” Izumi said, abashed. It’s always a pleasure to have you drop by. Despite visiting every few days for almost three months, the mangaka was still star-struck at Seina’s presence. The cost of being a famous hero, she supposed. 

“Yeah, I can’t wait until the next issue! You just had to end on that cliffhanger, didn’t you?” Colten had gotten hooked on the manga, visiting the newsstand every morning, so there wasn’t a chance he’d miss the next issue of Shoujo Jump. 

Seina found it silly that he bought a magazine for a single chapter of one manga. The fairy didn’t care for the other manga in the collected issue, considering them too girly for his liking. Well, whatever. She liked them, so the purchase wasn’t a waste. 

“...”

“Yes?” Seina replied, hoping she’d hit the mark on whatever the girl wanted. When Chō tapped her toe in annoyance, Seina realized she’d gotten it wrong, again.

“She’s asking how Emiyo is doing?” Izumi said, supplying his friend’s meaning. He was always more in tune with Chō’s thoughts than Seina. 

“Oh, that. She’s fine.” Seina paused for thought. “I think she’s doing odd jobs around town. I don’t see her that often.” Emiyo lived in another building with another family, a mother and her child. With the former lieutenant's insistent need to keep busy, it wasn’t easy to catch sight of her. Far different from Takako, who enjoyed lounging around and reading manga all day. 

“...” 

“Right,” Seina said, giving her typical automatic reply. Inwardly, she sighed. Despite her best attempts to become friends, they hadn’t really gelled. The same with Emiyo.

I suppose not everyone is meant to be friends.

“...”

“Good plan.” Izumi whipped his brow. It was the middle of summer, and the humidity was killing them all, despite the poor fan in the corner's attempts to keep them cool. Since the vampire’s defeat air conditioning was an almost unknown luxury. “Lunch sounds nice.”

“And ice cream!” Colten added, with Seina nodding in response. For some reason, the ice cream vendor seemed to hate her guts, but Seina tried her best to be friendly with the woman, regardless. 

Before they could leave, a figure burst through the door, surprising them both. “You! Are you Seina?”

“Yes?” Whoever was at the door, she didn’t recognize them. The girl wore her deep purple hair in an elaborate braid that hung over her shoulder. She was tall for a magical girl, standing almost a meter taller than Seina. The newcomer’s broad face wore a deep frown, her eyes fraught with tension. 

“Good, you are here.” A more familiar voice said. Behind her followed the frantic stranger. 

“Takako? What’s going on? Who’s this?” Immediately, Seina sensed something was wrong. A deep foreboding struck her, knowing her peaceful days had finally ended. Much to Seina’s surprise, Liam, Himari’s partner, was hovering behind her. A quick glance revealed that, strangely, Himari wasn’t with them. 

“Too much,” Takako replied. “This is Kyoko. It’s best if she told her story.” 

---

“Craziness,” Seina said, his voice filled with grim disbelief. 

“Bastards!” Mr. Kiyojiro said, uttering an oath. Chō and Emiyo remained silent, staring down at the floor. 

“Why?” Nothing about the Devil Princess’s plan made much sense to Seina. While she’d known they were villains, the fact they wanted to cause such widespread destruction defied belief. 

“They’re advancing some plan,” Liam said, nodding. “What, It is it’s impossible to say.”

“We have to stop them!” Seina said with feeling. 

“But that’s what they want!” Emiyo said, breaking in. “It must be some sort of scheme to lure you out!”

“Would they go that far?” Mr. Kiyojiro said before shaking his head. “No, Liam is right. They are plotting something else. This goes far beyond anything involving Seina.”

“...”

“Chō is right. Going to Starlight Dream is tantamount to suicide!” Emiyo said, her fist quaking. 

“We don’t have a choice!” Seina slammed a fist into her palm. “We’re the only ones who can stop this!”

“If we can defeat Yuuka Tsujikawa, the Mad, we can beat the other Devil Princesses,” Colten said, backing up his partner. 

“It’s suicide! I’m not kidding!” Emiyo replied. 

“Neither am I,” Seina said, her tone resolute. Whatever the cost, she’d finish this. 

“Whatever happens, I’m with you, Seina,” Takako said, finally voicing her opinion. Her partner, Neir, nodded in agreement. 

“Me too!” Liam pumped a paw.

“Thank you,” Seina said, her gratitude overflowing. 

“Crazy, all of you!” Emiyo threw up her arms, but Seina noticed she hadn’t said she wouldn’t help. 

“...” Chō said, sighing. Her response made Emiyo deepen her scowl. 

“Utter madness,” Emiyo said, turning away. 

“Hey, they haven’t beaten us yet. I have some ideas. First, we need to rescue the old queen from her imprisonment. I’m not sure that we’ll win this without her help.” Seina said. Anyone who could scare the Devil Princess was worth having on your side. 

“You really want to free the Wicked Queen? Really? And why am I agreeing to this?” Emiyo said, her tone distraught. “What then? It’s still us against three Devil Princesses!”

“We’ll need to isolate them. Then, they’ll be more manageable to fight.” Takako smirked. “I have some ideas on that front.”

“...”

“Okay, if you’re sure.” When Emiyo noticed everyone’s confused glances, she supplied what her friend had said. “Chō has an idea about how we might find the Wicked Queen’s prison.”

“So we have a plan!” Seina said, her mood brightening. 

“A fool’s one.” But Emiyo didn’t say she wouldn’t help. They were in this together. Both Emiyo and Chō had turned their backs on Starlight Dream. 

“We’ll leave in the morning, sunrise. Do whatever you want till then.” Seina figured everyone had something they needed to do first. She won’t dare leave without giving Aiko a hug. 

“Mr. Kiyojiro, could you make some provisions for us?” Seina asked her bodyguard after everyone else had left. It’d be nice to have some snacks when fighting for their lives. 

“More than that. I’m coming with you.” Mr. Kiyojiro replied. 

“Sorry? But..” It was crazy. He’d only get himself killed. 

“I’m not leaving your side again.” Mr. Kiyojiro said, her tone uncompromising.

“But you don’t have magic! You’ll just get yourself killed! Starlight Dream isn’t a place for ordinary people!”

“I don’t care. I’m coming with you.”

Oh my gosh, he’s serious. Yet, his refusal to abandon her regardless of the danger heartened Seina. “Okay.” 

“This is crazy if you ask me,” Colten said, worried. Despite some early tension, he’d become good friends with her bodyguard. 

After a quick smile, Mr. Kiyojiro returned to the subject at hand. “Where to now? Aiko’s apartment?”

“No.” Seina swallowed bile as she prepared to confess her idea. While loathsome, it needed to be done. “I need to do something before we leave for Starlight Dream.”

“Oh?” Her bodyguard asked, curious. Colten also perked his head up in interest. 

“I need to visit my parents.”

“What? No!” Colten said in automatic protest. He’d been there when Seina’s parents had tossed their daughter to the proverbial wolves to save their own necks. “Forget those monsters!”

Her bodyguard, however, said nothing. Instead, he studied his charge, deep in thought. “Are you sure? You don’t need to. No shame in cutting them from your life after what happened.”

“Yeah! They don’t deserve it, Seina!” Colten added. 

“But they’re my family. I want some closure, I guess. I don’t know.” While she hated them, a part of Seina still loved them and wanted their returned affection. She couldn’t bear leaving without at least a goodbye. 

“Okay.” Her bodyguard said, nodding. “Family is still family. But we’ll be here for you.” 

“Yeah!” Colten said. “We’ve got your back!”

---

“Is this the place?” Colten asked as they approached the hovel, a hut constructed from scrap and other salvaged metals. Hundreds of similar structures surrounded it, a miniature city born of necessity on the outskirts of Osaka. While humanity struggled to rebuild, many lived in such dwellings until the city constructed more permanent, safer residential buildings. 

But her parent’s hovel stood out, tidy, and well-maintained among the more thrown-together hut. Just like her mother to make the best of a bad situation. Seina’s stomach grumbled as her nose caught a whiff of stew wafting from the open window, reminding her of lost times. 

“You can still turn back. You don’t need to do this.” Mr. Kiyojiro said, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder when he noticed tears glistening in her charge’s eyes. 

“No, I got this!” Seina said, slapping her cheeks. If she could face down armies of hundreds of bloodthirsty vampires, she could tackle meeting her parents. With a bold stride, she stepped through the front door. 

“Seina?” Her mother said, eyes widening in shock as her daughter entered. Even after a year and a half, her mother appeared the same plump, homely woman as ever. She was attending to a pot over a gas stove. 

“Hi, mom. I’m home.” 

“Father!” Her mother yelled across the dwelling. A moment later, her father appeared from a side passage.

“Seina! Hello! It’s been too long!” Her father said, giving her a tight hug. 

“It has.” Her mother hugged her next. 

“Hi.” But Seina was less receptive, giving a weak smile. 

“Who are your friends?” Her mom asked, always the graceful host. 

“This is my bodyguard Mr. Kiyojiro, and my partner Colten,” Seina said, gesturing with a hand. 

“Pleased to meet you!” Her father said, all smiles. He flinched as Mr. Kiyojiro returned it with a wintry smile. He had no intention of being friendly.

“Aren’t you the cutest thing?” Her mother said, pulling Colten’s tiny cheeks. 

“Hi.” Her partner said without enthusiasm. 

“Sit. We were just about to have dinner.” Her mother guided Seina towards the dinner table dominating the room and pushed her into a seat. 

“Sure.” Mr. Kiyojiro said, pulling a seat for himself. 

“I’m sorry. If I’d known you were coming, I would have cooked your favorite! But beef stew should suffice.” 

“It will be as wonderful as ever.” Her father said, laughing. The room paused as a baby suddenly started crying. Much to Seina’s bafflement, it was coming from the next room. 

“Looks like we woke her. One moment.” Her mother darted from the room. 

When Seina gave her a questioning look, her father supplied the answer. “That’s your new baby sister, Seina.” Seina blinked in surprise, her sister! Her mother brought out the infant for everyone to see. 

“So cute.” Her eyes boggled as a tiny black-haired girl waved her arms, gurgling in baby language. She beamed, staring the baby in the face. “Hello, I’m your big sis, Seina! It’s nice to meet you.”

“That’s pretty cute.” Colten winced as the baby pulled his long fuzzy ears, but didn’t complain. He rubbed her tiny scratch of hair, laughing. 

“What’s her name?” Seina asked, still enraptured by her baby sister. She’d always wanted a sibling. 

“Didn’t I already say it?” Her father said, confused. “It’s Seina.”

Seina froze, blinking in confusion. She couldn’t have heard that right. “Eh? Her name is Seina, like mine?”

“You named your second child the same as your first?” Mr. Kiyojiro asked, just as baffled. 

“Oh my goodness.” A horrible memory returned, making Seina put her face into her hands. After pushing Seina to her seeming death in the battle pit, her parents promised they would have another Seina to replace her. It seemed they’d done just that, assuming they’d never see their first daughter again. Rage and consternation bubbled like a boiling lake, but she got them under control. “I see.”

“This is going to be so confusing,” Colten said, rubbing his forehead.

“Dinners ready!” Her mother said, apparently not noticing her daughter was on the verge of exploding like a volcano. 

“Sure. I’m starving.” Seina said, her words tight. Food would make an excellent distraction. Besides, she’d enjoy helping to feed her baby sister. It wasn’t her sister's fault their parents were so terrible. 

After everyone seated themselves, her mother poured everyone a generous helping of stew, with the older Seina getting the largest. For all her faults, her mother always ensured her daughter got the most food, regardless of their poverty. Despite still being skeleton thin, she’d been healthier than most other children during the vampires’ cruel reign. 

“Itadakimasu.”

“So flavorful,” Seina said, delighted. 

“Our neighbor across the street grows herbs.” Her mother replied. “She sells them at a very generous price. Never underestimate what some parsley can do.”

“Your cooking is always the best,” Seina said, taking another spoonful.

“Indeed, you have my compliments.” Considering how much of a strict, avid cook her bodyguard was, it was an impressive endorsement.

Seina watched in delight as her mother lifted a spoon of baby food to little Seina’s lips. It created a mess on her cheeks, and her big sister was ready to wipe it clean with a cloth napkin. They spent turns helping feed the baby, Seina being more interested in attending to her sister than eating herself. Already, she adored little Seina. 

But something odd caught her notice, making her frown. “Is something wrong, dad? You seem agitated.”

“It’s nothing.” He replied. “The stew isn’t agreeing with me.”

“That’s a shame. Could I have the rest of yours?” Seina asked. It was a superb stew. 

“Go right ahead.” Her father said, pushing his bowl forward. 

“Can I have some too?” Colten asked. 

“Sure thing.” Seina poured half of her second bowl of stew into Colten’s tinier one. Despite their size, fairies had a decent appetite. “So, dad. What is it you do now?” 

“I work for a construction company. Do some odds and ends. Help keep their paperwork in order.” Her father replied. He used to be an accountant before the vampire, so the job suited him well. 

“Father’s helping arrange the demolition of buildings too rundown to be any use.” Her mother said. 

“I heard about that. Construction teams are finally pulling down the condemned building for new ones.” Mr. Kiyojiro said. “About time. In a decade, we should hopefully return to the days before the vampires.”

“How old are you?” Her father asked. “Seina was barely a toddler when King Lothaire took over the world.”

“Old enough.” Mr. Kiyojiro said, his tone brooding. As usual, her bodyguard avoided talking about his past. 

“Would you like another bowl?” her mother suddenly asked. 

“Um, okay.” Seina was full, but it’d be rude to reject it.

“Here you go.” Her mother had already passed her one before Seina had even finished speaking. 

“Okay?” For whatever reason, her mother’s warm smile was making Seina ill at ease. The furtive glances her mother kept giving her father weren’t helping. Her bodyguard frowned, also noticing something odd. They all jumped as the front door slammed open. 

A pale, lanky man almost seven feet tall slid inside her parent’s dwelling, his posture cocky. “Well, well. Who do we have here? The nightmare girl herself, Seina Kamiyama.”

“Who are you?” her bodyguard said, already standing. They both noticed the glinting fangs partly hidden in the man’s mouth. A vampire.

“Raheal Dagger. The future King of Vampires.” The man replied, spreading his arms wide. 

“Big talk from a small fish,” Colten said with a snort.

“I’m smarter than Lothaire and Lilha. Seina, I ensured your death well before I made my move.” Raheal made an elaborate gesture with his hands. “I studied you, learned your weakness. And I struck right when I knew you’d be the most vulnerable.”

“Uh, huh,” Seina said, bored. These vampires sure like to talk, didn’t they?

But the vampire seemed convinced of his victory. “Already, you’re dying, Seina Kamiyama. In that stew was a deadly nerve agent made from my toxic blood. Right now, it’s eating you away from the inside, your every nerve failing. In less than a minute, you’ll be dead.”

“Eh?!” Seina said, eyes boggling.

“What?” Colten said, spitting out his stew. 

“And best yet, your loving parents were your killers. I knew you’d eventually come back home. They were more than willing to betray you.” Raheal said, his tone gloating. 

“What?” Seina stared at her parents, horrified. They wouldn’t, not again. 

“You.” Rage filled her bodyguard’s expression, turning murderous by the second. 

Her father only shrugged. “He promised us a lot of money.”

Her mother nodded. “It’d better help us raise little Seina. Don’t look so scandalized, Mr. Kiyojiro. You would have done the same if you heard the amount he offered us.”

“Like hell.” Her bodyguard seethed.

Seina only stared in disbelief, her entire world somersaulting from her parent’s second betrayal. 

“And look at you, talking instead of acting like fools,” Raheal said, chuckling. “This was too easy. How do you feel now? Does every nerve burn? Are you wishing for death, so the pain can finally end?”

Seina blinked. “Um, not really?” Beyond being furious beyond words, she felt fine. 

“How long did you say she had?” Her bodyguard said, leaning forward. “Less than a minute? By my count, it’s been almost two.”

“Really?” Rapheal’s certainty faded, giving the magical girl a nervous glance. “But she can’t be immune. My blood can kill fellow vampires! You gave her the poison, right?”

“I did.” Her mother said, nodding. “In the first bowl and the second.”

“And I dosed mine when I noticed the poison wasn’t doing anything.” Her father added. 

“I hate you! You’re the worst!” Seina said, standing up. Tears burned her eyes, pent-up emotion bubbling to the surface. “I never want to see you again!”

Again, they’d betrayed her without a second thought. She really meant nothing to them, didn’t she? Why had she bothered trying to reconnect with them? When her eyes fell on her sister, Seina, a hard line formed on her mouth. 

“And I’m taking her with me.” She stole her sister from her highchair, bouncing the baby as she began crying. Little Seina had also caught the terrible atmosphere in the room. 

“You can’t take my baby.” Her mother snarled. “She’s mine.”

“No. And you can’t stop me.” A cruel smile formed on Seina’s lips. 

“Yes, it’s illegal!” Her father said, standing. 

“You forget, father. I’m friends with the Prime Minister Kenji Ogawa. I doubt he’ll look favorably on you when he learns about this!” Seina took pleasure in how pale her parents had become. “You don’t deserve her! Both of us deserve better parents than you!”

Her payback satisfied, Seina stormed out of the room. For their sake, they better not see her again. 

“Well, uh, it was nice meeting you.” Raheal said, giving an awkward smile, “I better get going! Have a good night!”

As the vampire turned to leave, her bodyguard acted. With one swift motion, he broke one of the table’s chair legs and hurled it like a javelin. Caught unaware, the vampire howled as the projectile pierced his heart from behind. Raheal collapsed to the ground, his dead body twitching. Both Seinas and Colten watched in wide-eyed amazement. The dirt floor sizzled as the monster’s blood touched it, before dissipating into a black sludge. 

Her bodyguard only shrugged. “She isn’t the only one who knows how to kill vampires. I’m not Seina’s bodyguard for nothing.”

Her parents squirmed as her bodyguard's wintry glare bore into them, tensing as he casually picked up a knife and played with its tip. “For your sake, I better not catch you around either Seina again.” The smile he gave made both her parents shallow in nervous tension. He wasn’t kidding. They flinched as he drove the knife into the kitchen table hard enough to split wood. 

After a grim smile and nod, she left her parent’s house with her friends, refusing to look back. She cradled her sister, offering kind words. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re happy and loved.” Tears returned. “Better than what I got.”

---

“Is she tucked in?” Seina asked her bodyguard.

“Little Seina was upset about being separated from her mother, but she’s sleeping peacefully now.” Mr. Kiyojiro replied. 

“What now? A baby is a huge responsibility.” Colten said, fluttering to sit on his partner’s shoulder.

“I hate to leave her, but we still need to leave for Starlight Dream.” A wave of protectiveness washed over her, wanting to guard that little life with everything she had. Now, more than ever, she needed to stop the Devil Princesses for her sister’s sake. 

“I’ll contact someone I know to watch over her while we’re gone.” Mr. Kiyojiro said. 

“You’re still coming with us?” Colten asked, somewhat perplexed. 

“Yes.” That simple word said he won’t compromise this decision, no matter what. Despite how scary the situation was, it brought Seina comfort. Deep in her heart, she wanted him by her side. 

“Thank you.” Tears spilled onto her bodyguard’s shirt as she hugged him. 

“Always.” Mr. Kiyojiro said, stroking her head. 

“Why can’t they love me?” The words blurted out before Seina could control them, her heart-wrenching that her parents could never provide her this love. 

For a long moment, Mr. Kiyojiro was quiet before he finally answered. “Some people are pieces of shit. They don’t understand what they have, so they throw it away without a care. You’re a special girl, Seina, better than they’ll ever be. They’re unworthy of being your parents. But understand this, even if they don’t love you, others can fill that void. They can be your family instead and love you like you deserve.”

“Mr. Kiyojiro.” Seina sniffed, unable to control her tears. 

“Yeah, forget them! You have us, Seina!” Colten said. 

“Thank you.” Tears threatened to slip as a warmth blossomed in her heart. She didn’t think it was possible to love anyone more than this odd pair who’d been unexpectedly tossed into her life. She gave them both a tight hug, happy beyond belief. These two were her real home. 

[the-badger-mole]

"She'll be fine, nephew," Iroh assured the younger man. Zuko sat on the hard plastic bench with his head in his hands.

"I should be back there with her," he said. His voice was thick with heavy emotion. He had clenched his fist tight in his hair, and Iroh began to genuinely fear that Zuko would start ripping out his dark, shoulder-length locks in a moment.

"The doctors need us to wait here," Iroh said. "Izumi is going to be fine."

"You didn't hear her scream, Uncle.' Zuko looked up, showing Iroh the dark circles under his eyes. Iroh sighed and sat down beside Zuko.

"I remember when your cousin, Lu Ten broke his leg when he was five," Iroh said. "I panicked, too. I won't tell you not to worry. You're a parent. That's what we do. But any moment, the doctor is going to come for you and you're going to have to be brave for your daughter, otherwise, she'll be afraid, too." Zuko scowled half-heartedly at his uncle, but then he sighed and rested his forehead on his uncle's shoulder.

"I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there." When Izumi fell out of the tree in the yard, Zuko was in such a state that he would have been in serious danger of crashing if he'd driven. Fortunately, Iroh had been visiting, and he was able to get them all to the hospital safely.

The doors to the waiting room opened and a severe-looking doctor strode in. He had to be approaching seventy, and Zuko wouldn't have been surprised at all to find that he had never smiled once in all that time.

"I'm Dr. Pakku Noatok," he greeted the men. "The child has a mild concussion. We want to keep her overnight for observation, but aside from that, there were no serious injuries." The doctor eyed Zuko with mild disapproval. "You may go see her. And while you're in there, Mr. Kaji, you may want to explain to your daughter that climbing trees and carrying on is inappropriate for little girls. Perhaps you should enroll her in dance lessons to help her control her energy."

Zuko scowled at the old man. Any other time he would have knocked the sneer off the doctor's face, but his uncle was tugging at his elbow. Izumi was waiting for him.

The first thing Zuko noticed on entering the hospital room was that Izumi was sitting up in bed, grinning happily despite the white bandage covering her head. She held her stuffed dragon, Druk up to the doctor for examination.

The doctor was the next thing he noticed. Worry and fear for his daughter began to subside the moment he saw her alert and smiling. It had subsided enough that Zuko didn't miss the fact that doctor was absolutely gorgeous. She turned to him with kind eyes and a dimpled smile.

"Daddy!" Izumi greeted Zuko excitedly. "Dr. Katara gave Druk a bandaid!" She held up her stuffed dragon for Zuko and Iroh to inspect. Sure enough, there was a bright pink kitty bandaid on Druk's wing. The doctor, Katara apparently, stood up and held her hand out to Zuk on then to Iroh.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Katara Imiq," she said. "I'll be taking care of Izumi."

"I-I thought the other guy was..." Zuko stammered.

"Oh, no!" Katara lauged. "Dr. Noatok works in the emergency room, not pediatrics."

"Good," Zuko grumbled. Katara chuckled wryly.

"Yeah, he gets that reaction a lot."

They lapsed into silence, and Katara seems to be waiting for him to say...something. after a moment, Iroh cleared his throat.

"Why don’t I go grab us some tea?' He suggest. "You and Dr. Imiq can discuss Izumi’s care. Dr. Imiq, can I get you anything? "

"Oh, no thank you sir, I'm fine."

"Can I have an ice cream sandwich?' Izumi requested.

"Anything for my favorite grandniece." Iroh winked. "As long as it's alright with your doctor? "

"Ice cream is great medicine," Katara said. Iroh headed out of the door. As he went, he caught his nephew's eye from over Katara’s shoulder. He widened his eyes and jerked his head meaningly.

"Ask her out!" He mouthed. Zuko’s face went beet red. He wasn’t great with women. He'd been out with a string of women in the years since Izumi’s mother had walked out, but they had gone nowhere. He hadn't really been that interested in trying, truth be told. But then Katara turned to assure Izumi that both she and Druk would make a full recovery, and Zuko knew his uncle was right. He couldn't leave that hospital without asking for her number