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alyjojo · 4 months ago

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Love Reading 🍼- July 2024 - Leo

Singles:

Who is Coming In: 4 Wands, 6 Swords rev, King of Wands rev

Regarding: The Empress

Long-Term Potential: 5 Pentacles rev

If you’ve been in a long-term commitment or even marriage that’s on and off, a baby mama/daddy, or you’ve spent some time apart but maybe haven’t actually “separated” officially - legally - that’s who is coming back around. And it could work. Some of you (or them) may have been staying with a parent while you two have had issues with each other - if it’s that story then you’re right in the thick of it. If you live together, or did, they’re coming home/back.

Separately, if someone has moved away, they’re coming back too, this could be someone you know through your mother, sister, or someone in your life you’d consider as that to you. Someone with kids perhaps, yours especially. Either way, there’s a glow up, someone is very beautiful and has only grown more into themselves than ever, you or them. Someone has also been through hell, either because of you/them or something else, and it’s only made them stronger & more secure in who they are. Over time, time is very important in this reading. Long-term, I don’t get a mushy kind of love, I get healing. Healing abandonment issues and deep seated wounds from that, healing debt and any financial problems that have been a struggle, healing tempers or issues of control and lastly, healing from pain and betrayal. Who did what idk. Can this turn into something beautiful, it seems so, yes. With time ❤️

Messages:

- Old Time Romance 🌹

- I love our walks together.

CLOCK 🕰️

- Needing Time

- Cycles & Takes Time

- Time to Heal

- Progressing

Duality Dance 🕺

Seek balance amid the chaos and find harmony within yourself.

Right Track 🚂

You are going in the right direction, so just keep moving forward.

Signs you may be dealing with:

Taurus, Libra, Gemini & Leo

Couples:

Them: 4 Pentacles, The Moon, 10 Wands

Regarding: 2 Wands

I see a particular fight, conflict, something that causes a separation, even if it’s just distance between you in the same house. Your person is letting out all of their confusion or frustration, and they could be projecting a little out of fear. I don’t know if you travel a lot, or you do something active that involves traveling. They don’t know where you go, physical places. Or they fear there are things they don’t know, if you live a distance away from this person it’s not something that’s easy for them to deal with. Like they wouldn’t even choose that kind of a relationship outside of it being *you* specifically. They seem to suspect you of being cute & cheeky with other people.

The other story I get involves a 3rd party, family or work most likely, and the issue is with that person. Your person may be considering a transfer or leaving a job/family situation due to someone they don’t get on well with, for whatever reason. Someone may be forcing travel on you or your partner and they aren’t sure how to plan their way through this, because of the heavy pressure this puts on them; there’s already a lot going on and whatever this is just adds to it. The example I’m getting is your boss telling you to travel to some other branch of work, 200 miles away, for the next two weeks because they need training or some kind of specific thing only you/they can do. But you or your person also has so much to do outside of this thing that it’s like…fk. Almost too much. It’s eating away at your/their peace of mind, because of the questions and worries someone has about it.

Messages:

- I CAN’T CHANGE 💯

- I can’t TRUST you 😣

LOVE CALL ☎️

- Expressing Love

- Messages of Love

- Thinking of You

- Informing You

Harmony’s Call ⚖️

Embrace equality and pursue justice, harmonizing the energies to manifest a balanced and just outcome.

You: 2 Pentacles rev, 10 Pentacles, 6 Swords rev

Regarding: 7 Cups rev

It’s repeated someone has to travel or is, somewhere they’ve been before because it’s like ughh 😬 to go back. Or until they get back. One person is left holding the fort down while the other one does whatever it is they have to do. They see it as having a choice and planning the way forward, you see it as having no choice at all. There will be a period of being apart, whether because you’re having relationship problems - or there’s just a lot going on and being asked of one of you. The other one is on laundry/household duty (temporarily) and probably feeling a way about it. Any separation will be met with reconciliation, seems like work & family too for some, or they’re why 💯 If your person is worried about you, I don’t see anything going on that would show something is off, if you’re the one traveling then you’re a very busy person. Vice versa. They have a lot of pressure, you’re juggling everything else, Temperance is at the bottom showing a need for more patience and cooperation between you. One day at a time.

Messages:

- ✨ I See You in My Dreams ✨

- Soothing Presence 😌

SEPARATION 🥀

- Sadness, Bitterness

- Missing You

- Thinking About You

- Uncertain Future

Seek Truth 🔍

Embrace clarity as revelations unfold. Keep an open mind, for answers illuminate the path to understanding.

Mutual: 8 Pentacles rev, King of Cups, 5 Swords

Regarding: Death rev

Difficult but helpful, whatever this situation is has the potential to trigger real growth in your connection, either to your person, boss/coworker, family member, whoever. There are no endings here, the struggle lies in how to confront and address our feelings in a way that’s leading in a positive direction. 5 Swords is here, 6 Wands clarifies, at the bottom it’s showing you as manipulative or that’s what they/you fear in the other/outside person. This is pure ego. Rather than being opposition, tit for tat, proving your point and then they get snide and then you do some ornery shit, back and forth in a power struggle - both of you need to put more effort into addressing your feelings and expressing them in healthy ways so that the other person may understand them, and seek to understand the other person rather than square off. Mercury will be going retrograde through Virgo and your sign in August, which is likely to make communication more sharp and impatient - be mindful of how you say things. Them too. Someone needs to be addressed directly and feelings expressed, even hurt ones, whether it’s you doing it or them, that seems to be mutual. But with that, progress can be made 💯 That’s the beauty of retrogrades. Ascending and Seed of Potential at the bottom are reassuring and optimistic, so there may be a bit of a showdown, but everyone gets to vent, and something good will come out of it. Someone is kind of a brat when they’re mad, you/them. Both?

BACK STABBING 🔪

- Heartbreak & Pain

- Separation & Loss

- Deception & Lies

- Shocking Attack

Cavern of Secrets 🤫

Unveil the hidden wonders within the shadowy depths of enigmatic secrets and concealed wisdom.

Signs you may be dealing with:

Heavy Scorpio, Capricorn, Aquarius, Virgo & Aries

#leo #love reading #July 2024 #singles reading #couples reading #monthly #tarot #love #relationships

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twxins · 9 months ago

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☤

@redlips-blooddrops-deux

My character has been committed to an asylum. Send me ☤ for their reaction to yours visiting them.

The twins lived a life of violence - they were desensitized to blood, gore, pain and death. Rarely does such a lifestyle unfold in a vacuum. Neither brother was a stranger to how dark other humans could be. However, following a lengthy recovery after his brush with death on the train in Kyoto, time soon revealed that the complex string of events that had led up to his lengthy comatose state had left a mark of its own on one of them.

Tangerine always had been more susceptible to periods of mental decline, often exacerbated by the substances he would lean on to cope. And after learning of what had truly unfolded behind the scenes, Tangerine had become increasingly 'tin-foil hat'.

Anyone who sat near him at a restaurant, anyone who walked behind him or caught his eye across the street, any car that pulled up within a few yards of distance - they were all agents of the White Death, here to reap revenge for the failure of their sordid plan, to finish what the world's most feared boss had started.

As time went on, they weren't just out on the street. No, the White Death's goons had cameras in the bathroom; all the mirrors were double-sided, and they had poisoned their tap water and all their food was laced with tiny little microchips that they would use to track both him and his brother wherever they went, or even read their minds or control their thoughts.

Lemon had been in a hell of state after services came knocking, which had been a whole fuss in itself - he may have been a bit sick, but Tangerine was still as feisty as ever! As if he would ever go quietly...

Nevertheless, Lemon had called Lily up, on the brink of tears after Tangerine had failed the assessment and Lemon had subsequently failed to persuade them not to take him; that the public incident involving an unsuspecting black-suited bystander whose eyes had apparently lingered a bit too long had merely been a one-off.

If someone's fuckin' paranoid 'bout someone else bein' out to get 'em, how the Hell is lockin' 'em up gonna help?!

Of course it was horrible for him to watch after nearly losing his brother once already. But it was, perhaps, for the best. His brother was unwell, after all. He needed off the drugs, and he needed help.

That said, he was quite clearly dosed up on a different kind of drug at this point - an ironic means to an end. Sitting in the visitor's room wearing a white dressing gown and pair of padded restraint cuffs, he looked pretty zoned out.

And yet, there was still a visible twinkle in his eyes when Lily came around the corner.

"Hi..." the word came out in a breathless murmur, moved as if he were being graced by the presence of a deity. "F-Fuck...I've ya' missed, doll. I missed ya' face so goddamn much. God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everythin'. I know things 'ave been crazy, an' tha' I've been crazy, but...it's alright. I got it figured out, okay? I'm gonna' make everythin' better, I promise ya', luv..."

He placed his cuffed hands on hers and gave them a loving squeeze. He was already whispering, but as he leaned forward, his voice dropped a few decibels further.

"We jus' gotta talk quietly, okay? The White Death might 'ave tiny microphones embedded in the woodchips of the table; his crew could be listenin' to everythin' we're sayin' right now. An' don't drink none of the water they give ya', or the coffee, no matter wha' they tell ya' - it's all a set up; tha's probably why they let ya' in 'ere, it's a false sense of security, to make us think they're on our side. They probably put sumin' in it, like microscopic robots or some shit tha' they'll use to track ya' wherever ya' go after ya' leave-...an' you guys 'ave gotta stay safe for me, yeah?"

#redlips-blooddrops-deux #mental health crisis tw #paranoia tw #delusions tw #paranoid delusions tw #ptsd tw #trauma tw #drugs tw

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argent-l-p · 2 years ago

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I Would Walk Backwards into Hell for You

One Shot based on my interpretation of the Encanto Madremonte AU by the lovely @c-rose2081

Trigger warning! Blood, Injury, Violence, Possibly Death, Swearing, and Description of Injuries.

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“Some people, they'll never accept him, but some will and he seems to know how to find the good ones.” -Grandma Paguro, Luca

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It becomes easy to track prey when its skin has been split open and blood begins to spill. Predators had adapted their senses to such a degree that they could pick out the metallic iron scent of blood from miles away. It didn't matter how far something tried to hide itself or how much distance one could try to put between them and sharp teeth, a hunter would always pick up the scent.

In much the same way, they can identify familiar smells; the flowers around them combined with the river, the smell of rot within another rival's territory, and the smell of rain about to fall. So, it should not be surprising that the oldest Madrigal grandchild immediately sprinted into the jungle at the smell of blood coming in the direction of her home with Mirabel. And neither should anyone have been surprised at what happened to the would-be murderers.

It was supposed to be a quick and easy trip from their hidden home to Casita. Isabela had seen how focused Mirabel had been on her sketches of the new flowers that had bloomed in the nearby river and had insisted on going by herself to Casita. It was supposed to be an opportunity for her to keep drawing and for Isa to begin to make her trips alone.

She had kept one ear trained on her sister as she had left, "No te preocupes Isa! I'll be fine." The smile on her face had comforted her anxiety about the situation then, but imagining it now as she ran and vaulted over dead trees, the screams of men off in the distance and the smell of fear, she wanted to tear her teeth into whoever made her bleed.

Isabela was finishing her visit to the Madrigals when the wind shifted and the smell of blood came from upwind. She had thought it had been an animal. It wasn't strange that other predators brought down a kill in her area of the jungle, most of the prey animals having moved closer to it for the protection it garnered. Her ability to sustain herself through photosynthesis had remained and that made her a somewhat safe option to prey animals. She was a predator, yes, but she had never needed to hunt like so many others. She had almost ignored it until she realized that it didn't smell like that of an animal.

Snapping her head around to look over the walls, dread had begun to pool in her heart and he stomach began to drop. She stood from where she was crouched next to Antonio and tuned out any noise coming from around her. Her ears flickered, she started to breathe deeply, and her muscled began to tense; she had never looked more like a hunter than she had now.

At her sudden movement, the little boy startled, "Isa? Isa what's wrong?" But she wasn't completely there anymore, Isabela was now completely focused on the smell. To the east there were a couple of homes built into the jungle, the people who lived there preferring a more secluded home to the bustling streets of the Encanto. She had seen their inhabitants before in passing, but their jobs didn't have a great risk of injury, so that meant, "Mirabel!"

The tree in the middle of the courtyard had suddenly, and almost violently, moved. Isabela had all but thrown herself onto the incoming branch, running up to the very end and was launched over the eastern wall. When she reached the ground, plants and trees began to sprout, helping her reach the jungle quickly and into the already reaching arms of the forest. Bark began to climb up and cover the little skin that had been exposed, the familiar weight of her mask settled along her temples and over her face.

Branches reached for her and a path was cleared as she sprinted through the dense greenery, roots erupting from the ground and strengthening to allow the trees to move. Vines wrapped around her waist and pulled her into the air, whipping around like snakes ready to strike. The jungle itself was livid and raged against the earth, animals that had been sleeping ran from the warpath being carved in Isabela's wake, and Madremonte, who had never once lost her temper, was out for blood.

It was almost too easy to track the smell of spilled blood once she reached the edge of her territory. Hearing the snap of wood, she turned on her heel and watched as Mirabel stumbled out from the right and lifted her into the trees before she hit the forest floor. Looking at her sister Isabela began to feel the beginnings of a growl rumbling in her chest as her more obvious injuries were noticed. Mirabel had a deep slash wound running down the length of her arm, her temple was bleeding as if she had been struck from the side, and there were cuts and bruises on her hands. Looking into wild eyes, she grabbed her sister 's shoulders and grit her teeth, "Que paso? What did this?"

Her sister took in a ragged breath and curled in on herself, "Cazadores, Isa. They snuck up behind me and they had machetes; They were hunting us, Isa."

Any thought of scaring away a large predator was completely ripped away from her. Hunters had been a somewhat common fixture in the jungle as far as she can remember, they were the ones that brought in meat that wasn't fish caught in the calmer parts of the rivers. There had been poachers before, those who had tried their luck in hunting the jaguars and rarer animals, but never had there been hunters who focused on her. She had been a legend and a guardian of the jungle, barely a superstitious entity in the minds of the residents of the Encanto. She didn't exist for the better part of a decade and Mirabel was a Madrigal, she would have been protected, but obviously that wasn't the case anymore.

Far below them, she heard the snapping of branches and slowly turned her head down in the direction of the noise, ears flicking into the best position to listen closer.

"She couldn't have gone that far. She was bleeding and I slammed the bottom of the machete into her head."

"Well, la perra isn't here. We had her right where we needed her! Just one more minute and her head would have been ready to present to Senora Madrigal!"

"Both of you quiet! We can still find her. It's early and we have all day, let's not lose any more ground on her."

There were three of them walking under the tree, two sounded young, younger than the men she had watched on the shores of the river, and the last one had a voice that felt like rough stone and smelled of smoke. They were so familiar, but where had she seen them?

The plants below shifted ever so slightly, creating a trail heading off to the right and away from them. The blood left on the plants during Mirabel's flight from danger was obscured by the movement and overlap of vegetation. The jungle itself had moved softly in order to not alert the men of their position, the leaves of the tree catching the dripping blood in their wide bowls, branches bent to gradually obscure their bodies from below, and far off in the distance a log was toppled by the roots of a tree.

The great crash of wood on the ground made the men whip towards the sound and seeing the path of pushed over branches the older one smirked, "Hombres! Looks like there's a trail. Stupid girl didn't even try to hide." He lifted his machete up to point, "Let's not waste any time talking, we still have the older one to hunt."

Their movement went past them and she could still hear them talking as they moved away, "What do you think Senora Madrigal will give us when we give her the abominations?"

A snort escaped one of them, "I think that getting rid of them will give us freedom to ask for what we want. Personally, yo quiero garantía que mi nina will have a betrothal to the boy."

"Idiota, delivering their heads will make them give us whatever we want. Senora Madrigal will be your tickets into guard and to higher positions, so don't speak when we are offered a reward."

Snickers sounded off the trees as the younger men laughed and Isabela had to restrain herself from dropping down on them and tearing their throats out. They talked about them like they were prey; like they were mere animals to kill and skin.

Not for long, she thought with a curl to her lip. There was a reason why she was the most feared being in this jungle and there was a reason why people from outside the mountain range kept the more foolish poachers from trying their luck in breaching the barrier.

Turning to her sister she helped her higher into the tree, keeping an eye on the direction the trees shifted, it wouldn't be good if they came back this way. When Mirabel was situated up in the canopy, she looked her in the eye and turned serious, "Stay here. Whatever you hear, stay and don't move until I come a get you, mi rayo the sol. Entiendes?" At her sister's shaky nod, Isa smiled, her teeth bared and climbed down part of the tree and into the waiting branches of the next tree over.

It wasn't hard to find the three men, they were noisy and could be heard far before she even approached them. Looking at them from above, they weren't very impressive. The younger two men didn't look anywhere near prepared to hunt anything and the older one repeatedly made louder noises that alerted anything with ears to their presence. She watched as they stood still for a moment and as they turned their heads to look for the trail, she realized where she recognized them from.

As far back as she could remember there had been groups of people patrolling the very edges of the valley, but closer to the interior were structures that housed more people. Some were older and looked like they had been through battle, while most were young warriors yet to see combat. She had evaded and walked alongside them from the shadows, but as recently as Mirabel's thirteenth birthday there had been discontent amongst some of the older men and women. She had gone to investigate once to survey the situation and discern whether or not she would have to intervene in some capacity, and watched as an older man yelled at one of the regular inhabitants of the barracks; he'd had two boys with him, barely old enough to be considered adults. They had ended up being run off when the older took a swing at the other man and dragged the boys away.

Isabela shook her head and refocused on the men as they were led away by sound of rustling branches further away, none of that mattered at the moment and if need be, she could always drag their bodies back for identification.

A pair of almost slitted golden eyes watched as all three walked in single file and waited for them to enter a particularly dense area of underbrush to let a low and sinister rattle loose. They all froze and she watched as one by one understanding began to bloom on until it appeared on the old man's face. He swallowed as his face started to pale, "Josue, was there any blood in the ferns this way?"

A startled and fearful voice answered, "N-no. I thought you had been tracking the trail, Abuelo! The plants looked like they had been moved through!"

"Espera, what do you mean?" The other Young One, looked around wildly, hoping in vain to spot where the sound had come from.

Isabela began to creep forward and the roots started to reach up like clawed hands when the older man finally understood what was happening. Already pale faces turned deathly in pallor when he breathed out in a trembling voice, "We're being hunted."

In an instant, roots shot out from the earth and pulled one of the younger men into the earth, his screams abruptly cut off as he was yanked under and away from the area. The root systems tangled themselves around his arms and legs, mercilessly taking him though the earth and out into the open air as rock face of the cliffs gave way to twisting trees violently shooting out to wrap around his body. The trunks tightened, constricting his limbs until sickening snaps erupted from all four. Both his arms twisted in unnatural direction and his legs dangled uselessly in the air, pain lancing across his body making him shriek and wail; He would live, if only to satiate her anger.

In the wake of the commotion, the other two sprinted away from their third and the Old One started to yell, "Run! Don't look back!" The groaning of trees echoed around them as they ran away, one ahead of the other and rapidly leaving their counterpart behind.

A large dead trunk was suddenly thrown in front of the one left behind and he was forced to turn sharply to the right, dropping his weapon in favor of getting over suddenly rising roots. His increasingly desperate attempts at escaping were met with growls and too close rattling from above. His mistake was made when he startled so badly at a hissing to his right, that he never heard the crashing of a large tree coming down. Too late to move, he noticed movement in his peripheral and was knocked down. An intense weight landed on his legs, the overwhelming pressure forced a strangled yelp from his lungs, and every attempt to free himself only resulted in more pain. So focused on trying to get up he lacked the foresight to make sure the danger was gone. A second trunk began to slowly topple over and by the time he went to look up the additional weight had landed and forced him into unconsciousness.

With two of three threats taken care of, Isabela crashed through the canopy and chased after the one in the lead, the older one, never giving herself away as the canopy closed overhead and it suddenly turned dark. Closed off from the light, Isabela was practically a phantom and the Old One, a dead man walking.

Something that most in the family didn't realize was that even though Isabela had returned to a more stable form and looked more human, she was more Madremonte than she was Isabela. She was not like Mirabel who had only lived with the complete takeover of her curse for less than an hour, Isabela had lived close to sixteen years co-existing with the changes of her body; Nails were claws and canines sharp enough to cause major injury.

So, when the Old One faltered in his step, when he decided that Mirabel was prey and not Madremonte's precious one, he made a mistake that would cost him everything. She gained on him quickly after taking care of the last man and now that it was just him left running, she outpaced him and launched herself back.

Knocking him down, she dug her claws into his skin and broke through the barrier. Isabela didn't feel the burning sensation of a blade slicing through her thigh, didn't feel the lacerations of a machete on her back, all she could feel was the boiling well of rage beginning to overflow. She slashed her hand down giving him the same injury they had given Mirabel and gave him more for the terror he had wrought.

When Isabela finally noticed the blade, she seized his hands and broke them, every bone snapping as if they were made of flimsy branches. The machete dropped to the floor, wet with her blood and his. I wonder if he used it to hurt Mirabel, she thought and it served to push her further into the punishment she had chosen for him.

As he writhed and screamed on the ground, the jungle quieted until only the sounds that could be heard were the shrieks and cries of the other men. She stood and brought the weapon with her, vines starting to slither and entangle him, binding his body to the ground with no way of stopping what was coming. That incessant look of arrogance was replaced by primal fear all prey had when they realized there was nowhere to run, and Isabela bared her teeth with a grin and leaned down, "No deberías de haber echo eso, maldito hombre."

In a quick flash, the blade was buried deep within his thigh and roots shot through his hands. Any blood that might have spilled was stemmed by the tight fit of wood through the wounds and the slight magic that lived within her plants. He would live even if she had to drag him back from hell itself to answer for his crimes against who she adored. Slowly, the noises of the jungle returned and light filtered down from above, the trees settled once more in their homes and watched the scene like tall sentinels waiting for the next order.

(Isabela couldn't have known, but in that moment every living thing released the breath that had been held in the moment Mirabel cried out.)

With only a twitch, branches began to form cages around her captive prey and vines swooped down to wrap around her. As she was lifted up into the canopy, patches of skin began to appear from beneath their protective cover and her mind mellowed now that the danger had been eliminated; all that mattered now was Mirabel who was waiting for her to come back.

Approaching from the canopy, she could see her sister waiting for her, eyes darting around to spot any incoming threat. There were no words that Mirabel could use to express the deep-seated relief that coursed through her at the sight of her rock-protector-sister-Isa. When she was close enough to hug, Mirabel simply fell forward into safe and protective arms, resting her weight on Isa as she was pulled in close.

A rattle vibrated against her cheek and Isabela soothingly rubbed her back, "It's okay, Mira. I'm here, I'm here." When she felt a thumb wipe under her eye, she realized she was crying and not the tears she would shed if she was sad, the type that dripped continuously without stopping and made it hard to breathe. No, these were tears of terror, relief, and pain. The type that leak out without warning and are the only reaction a body can muster under duress. She was too tired to think or speak, so Mirabel buried her face in her sister's neck and clung to her for a long time, until her exhaustion caught up to her and she was asleep.

Isa waited until she could feel breaths even and picked her sister up carefully, vines tying around them both, holding them together as she scaled down the tree to the canopy and moved away towards the distant light of Casita and the Madrigals who waited for them to come home. Blood dripped slowly from her back, leaving a trail of red behind, but she never stopped, never let it slow her down. She could eat some of the food Julieta made later, they needed to get somewhere safe for the night.

The next few hours were blur, when they arrived the Madrigals rushed to them, frantically calling for them. Their cries turned to screams as they saw the red painting their bodies and the last thing Isa could definitely remember with clarity was that she had been sat down with Mirabel in her arms and given food to eat, worried eyes staring at her from all around.

The following week would become chaos as she recounted what had happened to Mirabel and she had heard from the men, how she had hunted them down like they had done to her Precious One and how they had planned to do to her after. Prompting led her to bring the matriarch and the town guard to the guilty, and she watched from above as their eyes widened at those that stared at them from their prisons.

She, along with the rest of the village, would learn that Senor Guerrera had been planning hunt the "devil sent" Madrigals and deliver their heads to Alma in an effort to curry favor and allow his grandchildren entrance into the guard that they had been denied.

They were sentenced to exile, the town watching from all around as their judgement was handed to them and were told to ready what they could to be brought with them as they were taken away from the Encanto. The Old one would never be able to rid himself of the violent tremor of his hands, Josue Guerrera would lose all feeling in his legs and Simeon Guerrera would be the one to escape with only a limp as a reminder of her wrath.

Around the Madrigals, the Encanto stood next to them in support of Isabela and Mirabel, but this also became the reminder that while Isabela had begun to return to them in increments, they would be wise to remember one thing, if only to ensure they didn't become prey.

Isabela was Madremonte, the protector of their hidden paradise, and she would not suffer fools who decided to remain willfully ignorant of the fact she would burn the world for Mirabel.

#mirabel madrigal #encanto madremonte au #encanto au #madremonte au #isabela madrigal

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vrishchikawrites · 3 years ago

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You know what would be interesting?

JC never lost his golden Core.

And Wei Wuxian did not lose his.

But he still gets dropped into the Burial Mounds. And like I dunno how, but he comes out of there having mastered the new form of cultivation.

Jiang Cheng acts like a dick that's par for cannon. And this Wei Wuxian who has survived the burial Mounds with his golden core intact has no time for his drama.

He definitely confesses to Lan Wangji o ce he is out of the burial mounds.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji in the Sunshot campain would be brilliant. Cultivating and * *wink wink nudge nudge* * dual cultivating.

JC is seething with jelousy. He has everything. The gentry name, the money and sect leadership but the whole world is only speaking about Wei Wuxian and his like awesome cultivation. Both the sword style and with his flute.

Wen Qing and Wen Ning- Wen Ning convinces his sister to join the war. Wen Ning wants to be on Wei Wuxian's side.

What would JC throw a tantrum over if he doesn't have anything to throw a tantrum over??

Like for example he blames Wei Wuxian for Lotus Pier burning. Obviously it's not his mistake. But one day he is yelling at Wei Wuxian about it and sect leader someone maybe XiChen, maybe Sect leader Nie. Whoever. Comes and like defends Wei Wuxian.

What would he do then faced with the facts? Cling all the more to his warped world view? Or apologize?

It will be interesting to see.

You don't have to take this prompt if it's too messy or whatever. I love you and your writing.

Also, thank you for choosing to write my previous prompt.

XOXO.

(this is a little similar to trapped and patient but also quite different. Hope you like it! The format is a bit different because this is a lot of time to cover in a short prompt)

When he stumbles out of the Burial Mounds, Wei Wuxian is stunned. He can't believe he made it, that he was able to survive it, without his sword.

Wei Wuxian walks forward shakily, one unsteady step at a time, putting distance between him and that wretched place.

He feels weak, drained, devastated in small ways.

But he is free.

---

Yiling offers shelter in unexpected ways. He's able to hide in a temple to recover. His condition is wretched enough that he's mistaken for a beggar. A few people take pity on him and offer fruits and buns.

It takes him a week.

That's all it takes for him to recover.

Wei Wuxian washes all traces of Burial Mounds off him, soaks in icy river water for hours on end until he feels purified and reforged.

Now, he's ready for revenge.

---

Wei Wuxian has only tried his cultivation method on the dead. He has used it to repel the fierce corpses, fierce ghosts, and spirits soaked in resentment.

When he tests the method on the Wens, it proves to be even more effective. They scramble like mindless beasts, driven by fear and confusion. The sounds of his Dizi pierce the air and induce madness.

He watches from a distance, indifferent as the Wens turn on each other, swinging their swords, shouting at phantoms, all sense and intellect gone.

He turns away.

---

Jiang Cheng's arms wrap around him and the fog around his mind starts to slowly recede. He stands stiffly, blinking a little before looking beyond his martial brother.

Lan Zhan is there, staring at him with wide eyes. There's so much open concern on his usually stoic face that Wei Wuxian wants to turn away.

"Wei Ying,"

It is only then, under the power of that golden gaze, that his fugue state dissipates. He sees Lan Zhan step forward, almost reaching out only to pull back at the last moment.

Jiang Cheng pushes him away and punches his shoulder, "Where have you been? How dare you abandon us and just frolic off somewhere?"

Wei Wuxian swalllows with difficulty and answers their questions with his habitual dismissive charm.

But that honest expression of open concern on Lan Zhan's beautiful face doesn't leave.

He meets those golden eyes and feels something shift within him.

Shaking his head, he dismisses the feeling. There's no time for sentimental reunions. He turns his attention towards Wen Chao, unsheathes his sword, and kills him in one clean strike.

There. Done.

---

The war is already in full swing by the time he joins it. His martial brother and Lan Zhan are quick to take him to Qinghe, not even letting him ride his own sword.

"Wei-gongzi, I'm happy to see you safe," Lan Xichen greets, running a discreet eye over him. The older Lan brother's concern is well hidden but Wei Wuxian senses it nevertheless.

The man looks like he's just about ready to banish him to the healing halls.

He opens his mouth to reassure Lan Xichen but Nie Mingjue intervenes, slapping his back solidly, "I hear you're responsible for the devastation at Yiling. Good work!"

Wei Wuxian smiles brightly, hoping to banish that increasingly familiar look from Lan Zhan's face. "Thank you, Nie-zongzhu." He smiles up at the man, "I can give you a full report of what happened if you wish it."

The Chifeng-zun's expression shifts into one of approval and he nods, "I do wish it."

"I would like to know as well, if you don't mind," Lan Xichen says and Nie Mingjue nods before he glances at Lan Zhan.

He chuckles, "Lan er-gonzi can join us as well."

---

Wei Wuxian doesn't realize he's been spending more time with the Lan brothers and Nie Mingjue until Jiang Cheng angrily points it out.

"You're too good for us, are you?" He demands, "Abandoning us in favor of your new friends! Even in the battlefield, you and Lan Wangji are inseparable! Have some shame! How dare you abandon your responsibilities and mess around with that man?"

"a-Cheng," Shijie reprimands gently but her voice is weak.

"Aiya, Jiang Cheng, who keeps track of such things amidst a war? They're all our allies. It's not like I have abandoned everyone." He still trains with the Jiang disciples and leads them in battle after all.

"Wei Wuxian!"

"Jiang Cheng," His voice makes his irritation clear, "Is this really the right time to worry about such trivial matters? Who cares about appearances during war? Are were not all one when on the battlefield?" He asks, narrowing his eyes on the furious Jiang, "We don't know whether we'll live or die when we ride out and you're concerned about who fights alongside me? Just who are you speaking of?"

"Who I am speaking of?" Jiang Cheng snaps in return, "Your obsession with that man is unseemly and reflects poorly on the sect! You know it and yet you carry on shamelessly-"

"My obsession?" He demands, "Just what are you trying to imply, Jiang Cheng? You're going to be a brat just because Lan Zhan happens to be the only one able to keep up with me?" It is no secret that his three month stint sharpened his cultivation in ways people find hard to fathom. He didn’t just develop a new cultivation method, he grew. Surviving the Burial Mounds is a feet beyond the skill and endurance of most cultivators.

Wei Wuxian has earned his already formidable reputation.

Jiang Cheng reels back at the reminder, his face twisting with rage.

Never let it be said that Wei Wuxian takes things lying down. He has spent a lifetime appeasing Jiang Cheng and dealing with his insecurities.

He no longer has the patience.

---

He reaches out instinctively, pulling Lan Zhan out of a blade's path, spinning around to block the strike with his bare arm.

His thick leather brace manages to minimize the damage and he doesn't lose his arm but it is a near thing.

With a hiss, he crowds against Lan Zhan and brings Suibian down in a sharp slash, cutting the Wen before him from left shoulder to right hip.

"Reckless." Lan Zhan says later as he carefully stitches the cut.

"I couldn't let you get hurt." Wei Wuxian says softly, peering down at the kneeling figure before him. He has seen Lan Zhan in various states of indignity, covered in blood, robes soaked in the disgusting sludge of a war-torn field.

Nothing diminishes his beauty.

Wei Wuxian's heart races, his head spinning as he smells the scent of sandalwood. He swallows as Lan Zhan shifts closer, carefully snipping the excess thread and studying his neat stitches.

This close, he feels overwhelmed and realization dawns.

"I love you," He breathes, stunned.

He loves Lan Zhan. The knowledge strikes him now, suddenly, without warning. "How did I not know?" Wei Wuxian feels strangely dazed. How could he not know? It is so obvious to him, his constant need for Lan Zhan's attention, "I hate it when you ignore me." The feeling of those snapping golden eyes on him when he finally manages to gain Lan Zhan's attention, "It's thrilling when you don't."

He has never met anyone more beautiful, "I find you better looking than any maiden." Lan Zhan's proximity now makes him feel-, "Breathless," He says, "When I'm close to you I feel- how did I miss-"

Lan Zhan grip is like vice around his wrist.

Wei Wuxian stops, going pale as he realizes how brazenly he had just confessed love to a man. If Jiang Cheng were here, he'd definitely gut him with Sandu, "Lan Zhan, I-"

Lan Zhan surges forward, eyes blazing and expression dark.

Warm lips slide over his and his mind goes silent.

He doesn't think a single thought that night.

---

War doesn't wait for anyone and Wei Wuxian doesn't say anything in protest when Lan Zhan pulls away from him. He watches with heavy eyes as Lan Zhan shrugs on his discarded outer robes and glances at him.

"Is your body alright?" He asks and Wei Wuxian feels a blush crawl up his neck.

“No! Of course it isn’t,“ He complains even though his body is buzzing with lingering pleasure. He pouts up at Lan Zhan, who studies him with careful golden eyes, “Really, going on and on, taking your pleasure without any care for my virgin body.“ Lan Zhan’s ears are delightfully red, “Who knew er-gege could be so bold?“

“Wei Ying,“ Lan Zhan’s expression is flat but his voice carries a hint of a waver. Wei Wuxian just grins in response, “Be serious.“

In all honesty, his body is already back to its regular state of being. His Golden Core is still spinning furiously and the lingering energy from Dual Cultivation has healed any aches and pains he might have.

“Fine,“ He says in a petulant tune, inwardly delighted that Lan Zhan is now his, “But er-gege must kiss me to make me feel better.”

Lan Zhan doesn’t hesitate, leaning over him and gently tipping his chin up for the demanded kiss.

Wei Wuxian sighs, sinking into it as a curtain of silken black hair forms a private cocoon around him.

---

The war ends but Wei Wuxian’s problems don’t end with it. Three issues stand before him; helping the Wen remnants, helping rebuild YunmengJiang, and figuring out how to marry Lan Zhan.

One obstacle stands in the way of two of these three goals. Jiang Cheng absolutely refuses to lift a finger to help the Wen remnants, even though Wen Qing’s assistance helped them win the war. Jin Guangyao may have killed Wen Ruohan but Wen Qing prevented thousands of casualties.

Wen Ning was also responsible for rescuing Jiang Cheng from the Wen capture before he lost his Golden Core. It was fortunate that Wen Zhuliu had been called to visit Wen Ruohan and Wen Chao had to wait to enact that punishment.

Wen Ning and Wei Wuxian managed to steal Jiang Cheng away just hours before Wen Zhuliu returned.

And yet, Jiang Cheng chooses to side with the Jins on the matter instead of listening to Lan Xichen or Nie Mingjue. Wei Wuxian knows it is partly because their sister is marrying into the Jin clan and they can’t afford to make things difficult for her, but still.

Jin Zixuan will obviously protect shijie. There’s no need to be so cautious, especially if three out of four sects oppose imposing any sort of punishment on innocent people.

On a personal front, Jiang Cheng’s disapproval of his relationship with Lan Zhan is blatant.

Jiang Cheng can’t really stop Wei Wuxian from marrying whoever he wishes. He doens’t need the sect leader’s permission as he’s not really the member of the family. But his shidi is making things difficult with his sneering disapproval and contemptuous comments in public.

He has already alienated Lan Xichen completely by calling Lan Zhan’s honor in question (boy did he earn the punch Wei Wuxian had leveled at him - sect leader or no). Nie Mingjue will never side with some upstart over Lan Xichen.

Lan Zhan himself doesn’t care. He has never liked Jiang Cheng and he never will. He only retaliates when Jiang Cheng tries to attack Wei Wuxian.

His protective er-gege as no tolerance for anyone trying to harm him.

Which is what, ultimately, breaks Wei Wuxian’s ties with YunmengJiang.

The confrontation is embarrassingly public. He doesn’t mind Lan Xichen or Nie Mingjue being present but feels upset about Jin Guangshan and Jin Guangyao being there as well.

“Twin Prides of Yungmeng, isn’t that what you promised me?“ Jiang Cheng demands, “Where will your pride be if you break all of your promises and get into...” He waves his hand at Lan Zhan in disgust, “Is this how you intend to repay us? My father raised you to be the Head Disciple of the Jiang Sect and you would rather be some sort of deviant?“

“Jiang Cheng-“

“And you would side with the Wen dogs too! Was this always your intention? Did you always want to bring down my sect and support its enemies?”

“The Wen remnants have helped us. They’re not our enemies.“

“They’re not our enemies now,“ Jin Guanyao interjects calmly, his voice soothing and patient, “But surely you see that it may not remain so? We cannot risk another war.”

“They’re barely a few hundred people and we have already taken most of their resources. They’ll live as poor peasants. How can they be a threat to us?“ Wei Wuxian asks.

“You’re indeed naïve, Wei-gongzi,“ Jin Guangshan says in a gentle, placating tone, “Perhaps your fondness for Wen-guniang is making you turn a blind eye. Beautiful women have a tendency to do that.“ He chuckles indulgently.

The sly implication in his tone isn’t lost on anyone. Lan Zhan’s expression turns frosty and Wei Wuxian feels a surge of fury strong enough to make his blood boil. There are so many things wrong with that statement that Wei Wuxian, for once, is rendered speechless.

“You question the honor of Wei Wuxian of all people?“ Nie Mingjue demands, taking a step forward, “I have stayed silent because Jiang Sect business isn’t my business but I will not have you slander and belittle a proven warrior in my presence!“

“Indeed,“ Lan Xichen says calmly but there’s no mistaking the sharp look in his eyes. Lan Xichen rarely reacts to provocations or interferes in sect matters that don’t concern him. But he’s not going to let anyone upset his younger brother carelessly, “The matter of the Wens is easy to resolve. Let us give them a small piece of land, let them set up a village, and forbid cultivation among them.“

“Er-ge,“ Jin Guangyao begins but Lan Zhan is out of patience.

He steps back and bows to all assembled before placing a hand on Wei Wuxian’s back, “Wei Ying will choose his own path. Wens will remain free. Wei Ying and I will marry.“ He meets Jiang Cheng’s furious gaze, “Jiang-zongzhu must decide whether his brother’s happiness matters to him.“

Wei Wuxian winces.

“My brother’s happiness?“ Jiang Cheng demands, “All everyone has ever cared about is his happiness! What about me? What about our Sect? A sect he nearly destroyed because of his loyalty towards you.“ Jiang Cheng looks at him, “Did you forget my mother? My father? How do you intend to repay the enormous debt you carry, Wei Wuxian?“

Wei Wuxian stares back at him, “What is my repayment, Jiang Cheng?” He asks softly, “What will it take for you to consider that debt repaid?” It has been over five years since the fall of Lotus Pier. Wei Wuxian has bled and slogged through war to restore that place to its former glory. He has kept Jiang Cheng safe, helped renegotiate shijie’s marriage, and used his name to draw skilled cultivators to YungmengJiang.

What more can he give?

“Loyalty.“ He stills, “You devote your life to YungmengJiang and nothing else.“

Lan Xichen makes a faint, alarmed noise while Nie Mingjue huffs in disapproval.

Wei Wuxian takes a deep breath, feeling Lan Zhan’s fingers flex on his back. He levels a flat look at Jiang Cheng and thinks on the matter of debts. He thinks about Madam Yu’s refusal to bend, of Jiang-zongzhu’s passivity and lack of planning. He thinks about the Wen’s unprovoked attack on Cloud Recesses and the inevitability of war.

He thinks of his Lan Zhan and shijie’s Jin Zixuan, without swords and facing an armed group of Wens under Wen Chao’s orders.

He thinks of love. Of what it means to be truly, unconditionally loved.

No sorrys and no thank yous. No debt owed for simply being a part of someone’s life.

He thinks of acceptance that comes with an older brother’s amused smile. He thinks of an uncle’s gruff admonishment to behave followed by a stiff reminder to eat, you’re skin and bones already.

He takes a deep breath and decides.

“No.“

#short prompts #Wei Wuxian #Lan Zhan #no golden core transfer #anti jiang cheng

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violettelueur · 4 years ago

Text

— JUJUTSU KAISEN EPISODE NINE || SMALL FLY AND REVERSE RETRIBUTION

↳ featuring : gojo satoru + ieiri shoko (mentions of fushiguro megumi + kugisaki nobara + zenin maki + nanami kento) from jujutsu kaisen

↳ warnings : mention of corpse + mention of blood + EXTREME grammar issues

↳ form : story

↳ published : 09 march

↳ pronouns : she/her

↳ word count : 2.4k

↳ synopsis : within the jujutsu world, there were three famous clans to be aware of, the Kamo clan, Zenin clan and the Gojo clan. However, unknown to many sorcerers there was one last family that was known to be apart of the three, only for them to disappear after the golden era leading some to speculate that they had died in battle after the sealing of ryomen sukuna, but....

↳ previous episode : boredom

↳ next episode : idle transfiguration

↳ barista’s notes : hi there everyone! right now i know i haven’t been the most active i have been but i really thankful on how patient you all are ʕ •ᴥ•ʔゝ☆ once again, thank you all for the birthday messages you have given me and the love that you all have for Y/N, i’m really glad that you love her character ╲ʕ·ᴥ·　╲ʔ i hope you enjoy today’s episode even though it isn’t that interesting at all to be honest...

BEFORE READING, I NEED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THIS:

1. the whole story belongs to Gege Akutami and the credits go to them and them only.

2. the spell curses used belong to Tite Kubo due to them being the ‘Kidos’ being used on the manga and anime ‘Bleach’ - but none is mentioned in this chapter.

2.5 for the ‘cursed spells’/kidos (bleach) i will link this video here and tell you the time stamp to check out what i am intending to show - remember i add a few twist here and there by adding the katana to link with Y/N’s cursed technique

no cursed spells used this episode..

3. if you are confused on anything, please don’t hesitate to message me since i know this whole thing is so confusing.

“At this point, I’m not going to get any sleep if I keep doing this,” you mumbled quietly to yourself, as you leisurely walked down the stone steps that lead to the familiar track field you had been going to for the past few weeks for training due to the up and coming Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event.

Currently, there was nothing more than a few mild wind breezes as well as the brightness from the moon keeping you company as you decided to come out of your room for the night - how many times have you done this? You wouldn’t even know the answer yourself, you just let yourself go outside to get some fresh air.

Finally reaching to the bottom of the steps, you casually made your way to the tree you always sat under during training with your classmates and second-year upper-classmen before taking off your black longline coat to place it on the ground like a cover as you processed to sit before laying right on top of it leading your view to change from the field to the sky that was slightly shielding by the branch and leaves from the trees.

“What...am I even doing here?” you questioned yourself while raising your arm slightly above your face as you stared at your hand absently like the answer you were looking for was at the back of your hand.

From what you have learnt at being at Jujutsu Tech for some time, you learnt that everyone had a purpose of being at the institution that you were currently residing in now.

Everyone you have met and knew here at this moment in time had a purpose or a goal of being a jujutsu sorcerer.

What about you?

Fushiguro thought the world was unfair and the reasoning behind his reasoning of becoming a sorcerer was to be a tool within a system that ensured kind people were given more chances in living. However, unlike you, you weren’t really fond of his reasoning at all.

What happens if those ‘good’ people you saved become the criminal you refused to save? What happens if those ‘good’ people you deemed ‘good’ become the most immoral and sinful person you ever encountered? What happens if those ‘good’ people you save that smiled at your actions for them lead that smile to fade?

Like you mentioned, you weren’t fond of his reasoning at all. There were too many risks.

Kugisaki's reasoning was humorous as she wanted to move out of the countryside without any worries of financial issues but you knew somewhere in your heart that there was another reason she wasn’t telling you when you asked her during your usual weekend shopping trip with her. On the other hand, you admired her in some way, she was the personification of not needing to choose between strength and beauty.

However, that wasn’t the answer you weren’t looking for at all.

Zenin (Maki) wanted to escape the ties of the Zenin clan due to her situation of not being able to possess any kind of cursed energy compared to the averaged sorcerer, yet with the heavenly restriction that was traded with the lack of cursed energy, she processed superhuman physical prowess that was more powerful than most sorcerers you come to know.

Her reasoning? To become the head of the Zenin clan to irritate the other members.

When she mentioned her ambition to you, you were quite sceptical in the beginning but that slowly diminished once you saw the cheeky grin on her face, you soon came to realise that she wasn’t like any of them from whom you could recall due to your mother’s knowledge of them when she was still alive. Zenin was extremely strong-headed and straightforward which led to her motivation causing your respect for her to slowly rise up as each day went by.

On the other hand, you had escaped the ties of the clans, you had that advantage ahead of her since the day you came into this world, yet that changed the second you came into school that night. That wasn’t the answer you were trying to discover.

Then there was Gojo Satoru. A man that is known to be the strongest in this generation as he processed both the Limitless technique as well as the Six Eyes after 400 years assumingly and was the lone standing member of the Gojo clan unless your adoption made a change to that to which you knew it wasn’t likely at all.

To be honest, Gojo never told you his reasoning on becoming a sorcerer and it must be said that he didn’t really have a choice, to begin with. He was immediately placed into this world as the fate of the jujutsu world was resting on his shoulders while your clan was the maintenance of that order and if anything happened to the man himself, you were the next sorcerer to restore the stability of the world.

‘Ugh, what a drag…’

Although, without his words, you could predict what he wanted. Gojo seemed like he wanted a revolution. A change and actively collecting sorcerers that had the same mindset as him was one way of beginning it. You couldn’t deny that Gojo was a smart man but one with a hint of narcissist meaning to it.

Slowly, you come to realise that you were a tool within his plan.

Something you slowly wanted to take advantage of for the time being.

However, as much as his plan was one you were tensely going to follow, that still wasn’t the answer you desired at all.

“Because I’m not supposed to exist Fushiguro, you’re a Zenin by blood, you should know that my clan shouldn’t exist after the golden age, we disappeared,”

“That’s right...I wasn’t supposed to exist…”

Slowly you finally placed your arm back down to your side before closing your eyes allowing the darkness to consume your sight but you didn’t allow it to consume the whole of you since you weren’t willing to fall asleep outside in the world where you felt most vulnerable.

It was quiet.

From what you could sense around you at this current moment in time, there was no one around you right now, no sound of footsteps that were out of place and no lingering sense of cursed energy around you.

You felt free.

Completely free.

Even if it was for a couple of seconds.

“You know, instead of being a drag, maybe inform that you are here,” you stated, as you opened your eyes slowly to discover a well-known face staring down at you as their body towered over yours.

“You can sense me that quick?” Gojo asked, with a cheeky smile painted on his face as he tilted his glasses down to reveal his crystal indicolite eyes that somehow looked as if they were brighter than the moon that was above the both of you right now.

“You have an immense amount of cursed energy, it’s quite easy to sense you to be honest...too easy,” you mentioned, before turning on to your side as if to avoid eye contact with him due to the feeling of him studying you like you were s subject - it was creepy.

“If you are going to study me about my ability, just go to the library in the school to read about my clan, I’m sure that is enough,” you informed your teacher, causing him to giggle at your comment before inviting himself to sit next to you.

“Nah, I got the real thing of the lingering L/N clan here and I don’t like reading~” Gojo amusingly stated, before placing a hand on the top of your head before gently ruffling your hair. “Besides, you and I both know that something is going on right now,” Gojo seriously mentioned, causing you to become slightly tense as you began to recall the unexpected attack against him that he was hinting to you.

“Do you know any curse users that are willing to work with the two curses that you encountered?” you asked Gojo in the same serious tone he gave you only for silence to fill the atmosphere leading you to turn your head slightly to see what was wrong with your adoptive father, only to notice him staring off into the distance with a nonchalant look on his face only for it to change instant with the usual playful smile he always showcased to you.

“By the way, I told Shoko to expect you tomorrow to practice your reverse cursed energy technique,” the playful teacher stated before removing his hand from your head as he stood up on his feet. “It might be difficult for you to understand since she’s not the best at explaining, but I know you’ll get it! Get back inside and get back to sleep~” he said with a teasing tone, before making his way back into the Jujutsu Tech building, leaving you alone again with your own thoughts as you stared at the direction that he had headed off to.

“What a drag…”

ꕥ

“Shoko-san?” you called out, once the metal door slid open only to discover her standing between two metal tables with what seemed to be curse corpses resting there with blood splattered messily on their resting surface.

“Oh Y/N! Satoru said you were going to come by,” Ieiri mentioned with a small smile, as she turned to look at you while tying her hair back leading you to notice the very visible purple under eye bags she had.

Ieiri Shoko was the doctor within the Jujutsu Tech institution and was one of the only people that was able to use reverse cursed technique like you but more at an advanced level leading you to mentally thank Gojo for allowing you to learn from her since you had been struggling to use it to the level that she was. Even your mother was struggling to help improve your technique since the only time you were able to use it to your full potential was when you were in critical danger.

“What’s going on?” you curiously asked as you observed the gruesome sight in front of you while trying to ignore the horrible smell that was coming from the corpses as you gently placed your hand over your nose to block the scent.

“There was been an incident in Kinema Cinema and I have been asked to check out these since one of the sorcerers that were assigned to the mission stated there was something odd about them,” Ieiri explained before handing you a black elastic band leading to a confused look to invade your face.

“And I want you to help since Saturo said you have a really good sense of seeing residue of cursed energy, as well as sense, cursed energy itself,” Ieiri informed you leading you to take the hairband from her grasp as well as the other surgical mask that was needed in case you both needed to dissect something.

“Are you sure I’m allowed to do this? I don’t have a license,” you questioned, as you placed the mask over your mouth causing Ieiri to look at you before saying to not worry since she was here - which caused you to look at her with a sceptical expression before going on to the task at hand as you stood next to her to peer over one of the deceased curses that were laying on the metal bench.

While observing the gruesome sight, you began to steadily see a trail of the lingering residue of cursed energy from the whole body, yet for some reason, there was a connection to the brain as you continued to stare that the sight much to your dismay.

“Human?” you stated in a perplexed tone while continuing to look at the head as the most amount of residue was there for the most part. “There’s a connection to the brain, so I assume the brain stems have been tampered with to alter the formation of the body, but the person wouldn’t know any of that due to probably their now impaired consciousness...it’s as if the human has been transfigured in a way like the other one behind us,” you informed Ieiri, who seemed to agree with you as she lightly nodded her head.

“Though the relationship between the brain and the cursed energy is still a black box right now, they died because of the modification and not because of the sorcerer,” the doctor added, causing you to give a side glance in her direction as you continued to listen to her explanation.

“Do you think it’s to do with the soul?” you asked, as you fully turned to look at her while she looked at you in confusion.

“Right now, we’re looking at it in a biological sense but if we are talking about a cursed spirit like Sukuna for example that is doing this, it has to do with the soul rather than the body itself,” you informed the doctor, causing her to look at you with widened eyes as she didn’t expect her old schoolmate’s daughter to have such a high capability to come to different ideas since it was Gojo that was your parent after all.

“Kento will have to ask the culprit about their cursed technique to see if your theory is correct,” Ieiri mentioned, leading you to look at her confused once again as you threw your surgical mask in the bin, only for her to swiftly inform you that a grade one sorcerer by the name of Nanami Kento was the one to inform her about the situation.

“I have to make a quick call to him to explain the discovery we made. Can you step outside and wait for me before I call you back so we can proceed to your lesson?” the doctor asked you with a smile leading you to nod at her before making your way towards the metal door that had come through before as you took one more peek at the Jujutsu Tech’s doctor’s direction with a perplexed and doubtful sense.

‘What’s the reason for me to be out of the room if I got involved with the investigation? What are you hiding from me?’

However, you didn’t want to make a whole fuss about your suspicion since you really didn’t have the effort to voice out your concern leading you to leave the room with more questions plaguing your mind as the ringing tone carried itself in the air.

“This is such a drag”

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seiijohhh · 3 years ago

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the slow demise [1/?]

summary: He’d found you coated in blood, surrounded by death, and decided then and there, you were perfect. pairing: megumi fushiguro x f!gojo!reader a/n: this has been reposted from my original account @justauthoring -- so, if you recognize it, that’s why. im also tagging those who originally requested to be tagged in it, so they know where to find future parts. tags: @thatprofessionalfangirl - @sugarandsoft - @honeyy-honeyy-sweets - @strawberryflavoredjeans - @flowersbloominthedark - @juliajempire - @princess-bumblebee - @sageandberries-png - @yue-caelum - @a–nonymousse - @aryksworld - @godsentkita - @kat-su-ki

part one - part two - part three - part four

“This is a hundred percent your fault.”

Deadpanned, Fushiguro glowers down at you. “How is this my fault.”

“Dunno,” you shrug, stretching your arms above your head with an exaggerated sigh, making sure to keep your eyes trained on Fushiguro. Your intent is to make him feel guilty (even if he is right, it isn’t his fault) but that’s far easier said then done. The boy’s as stoic as ever. “Just is.”

“It was about time you came back to the school anyway,” Fushiguro huffs, and you blink slightly at the somewhat distressed tone of his voice – that was definitely off.

He doesn’t let you dwell on it very long before he’s walking off ahead of you, glancing around the rugby field the both of you found yourselves on. Purely because of curse power that basically reeked from it.

“I never was part of Jujutsu High School,” you cut in, rushing to catch up with him. “So I wouldn’t be returning. I’m not returning.” He turns to look at you, to which you glare at him, hoping that’ll make it perfectly clear. But he merely shrugs, not even bothering to respond to you, turning back to the field.

Huffing, you cross your arms over your chest, glancing down just as a curse pops beneath the veil, gurgling and groaning, before disappearing from sight once more. “What’s with this rugby field anyway?” You call out, turning to look over your shoulder at Fushiguro whose gone off the other direction. “Is there a dead body buried here or something?”

“Even if there is,” Fushiguro mumbles, and you turn to see the same curse from before climbing up a pole, “I’m surprised to see one this high-leveled. It’s probably a grade two curse.” Then, meeting your eyes, he frowns. “Must be that cursed objects influence.”

Shuffling on your feet slightly, you glance up at it; “should we exorcise it?”

“Nah,” Fushiguro shrugs, walking past you and up the steps from the field.

Frowning, you glance back at the curse before moving to catch up with Fushiguro. “Why not? It could hurt somebody, the schools littered with stupid teenagers all day.”

“Nobodies walking on this field,” he gestures to the sign in front of him. “Not for a long time anyway.”

Eyeing the sign the blocks off the entrance to the rugby field, reading the words ‘No Unauthorized Entry’, you shrug. You were just tagging along because he forced you to, no need to put in anymore effort then necessary if Fushiguro wasn’t going to.

“Still, it’s presence is too strong to pin down. It feels like it’s close by, but it could still be far away, too. This special-grade curse is really a pain.”

Glancing over the boys shoulder at the photo of the curse he’d been provided, you raise a brow; “it’s been moved, right?” Fushiguro nods, “who could’ve been stupid enough to move it? And where is it now?”

“I have–”

“Over here! Coach Takagi is taking on Itadori from West Middle.”

“Woah, what are they competing for?”

Blinking at the new, bolstering voices, your head turns in the direction before your eyes gleam with excitement. Now, this is what you called exciting. Tugging on the sleeve of Fushiguro’s shirt, you turn to him with a gleam in his eyes; “we have to watch, Megumi!”

“We should really look for the–”

But you’re already pulling him along by the wrist, barely giving him any time to argue further, making it just in time to see what you assume is the coach previously mentioned lugging a weighted ball across the field. He throws it a respective distance, eyes lighting up with excitement as he cheers himself on in celebration.

“Fourteen meters!”

“Oooh,” you sing, clasping your hands in front of you.

Fushiguro eyes you, “what’s so exciting about track and field?”

Turning to him, you laugh; “it’s so…. simple!”

“Simple?”

“Yeah!” You nod eagerly. “I mean, we train every day, exercise curses every other day, but everyone here,” you gesture around you to the kids the exact same age as you, “has no idea and is living a perfectly normal teenage kid’s life. It’s… It’s amazing.”

You’re back to the scene before you, eyes caught by a shade of bright pink, that you don’t notice Fushiguro’s wandering gaze. You’d said it all with a smile on your face, but Fushiguro couldn’t help but notice the absolute longing in your gaze as you watched.

His attention, however, is caught by the growing volume of the crowd as they all cheer on ‘Itadori’ – the boy with pink hair and lanky arms that nearly topples over when the weighted ball is dropped into his hands. However, he swings it with ease and your jaw all but drops when it tosses it as if it weighed nothing, soaring through the air.

“Uh, roughly thirty meters.”

You turn to Fushiguro with a blank expression; “that wasn’t simple.”

All Fushiguro can do is nod.

“Or normal.”

Tugging you forward, Fushiguro and you come to a stop in front of the boy and who can assume is his friends. Knowing Fushiguro is doing the same, you pause, eyeing the boy.

“No curse energy.”

You nod, “pretty amazing.”

“I wonder if he’s like Zen’in-senpai.”

You shrug; “maybe.”

“Well, c’mon,” he sets a hand against your back, gently guiding you forward, “we should start looking for the–”

“Megumi!”

Pulling him back and out of the way from the approaching steps, your head turns in time just to see the boy from before, Itadori, racing past the both of you, with incredible speed. However, it’s the sharp shock of cursed energy you feel the second he runs past and the pair of eyes that seem to stare deep within your sole that have you gasping for air, blinking in surprise.

“Hey! You!” Fushiguro calls, obviously having sensed the same thing, but it’s hopeless – the boys too quick.

“Y/N,” Fushiguro calls, setting a hand on your back as you press your own against your chest. “You alright?”

“Yeah,” you breathe, shaking your head. “I’m fine.” Then, meeting his eyes, you glance in the direction Itadori had run off. “Are you going to follow him?”

“Try to, at least,” he huffs, shoving his hands in his pockets. “You felt it too, yeah?”

“Nearly took my breath away,” you sigh, “but I think I should stay here.”

His brows furrow; “why?”

“I can still sense it here.”

Fushiguro frowns, glancing in the direction of the boy before back at you, lips pursed and worry clear in his gaze. He may pretend not to care, but it’s moments like these the truth bleeds through.

Shaking your head, you huff; “go.” You nod at him, “I’ll be fine. It’s not like I have been sitting on my ass these past months,” you tease lightly, sending him a wink but Fushiguro continues to just stare down at you, causing you to sigh.

“I’ll call you the second something shows up.”

He nods, content, moving to walk off.

“But Megumi?”

He glances back at you, brow raised.

“You call too, okay?” And at the look he sends you, you keep your face impassive, nodding; “the second something happens.”

With a simple nod, he’s off.

You really should’ve trained more.

“Fuck!”

Ignoring the pang that radiates throughout your entire body, and the blood that fades into your vision, you push yourself up, pressed against the wall. Originally, you’d thought that you’d be able to control the curse for just long enough that it’d let go of the two students it was trying to swallow and then you’d focus on getting the curse.

Fushiguro would scold you – tell you that getting the curse was the first priority, but you could stomach the thought of sacrificing lives just for a single finger. Even if that finger was one part of a whole to an incredibly strong, the strongest of all, King of Curses, Sukuna…

None of it really matter however – the finger was making the curse stronger, and you could barely control it for a second before you’d been flung back by your own power. Now, both kids and the finger were about to be swallowed, and you had no idea what to do.

And your phone had been crushed long ago that you had no way of contacting Fushiguro. You had no idea where he was or if he’d be coming back; which meant you were utterly and completely alone.

Ducking from a hit made directly for your head, you slipped past, sliding your hand along the body of the curse, infusing it with your curse power. You used speed you didn’t know you could still have with a pounding head and blurring vision, pointing your left point finger up, the right down, thumbs connection; “Cursed Technique; Domination: The Imprisonment Of One!” before flipping your hands.

The curse stops, your heart thumping and chest panging, but you can barely focus on that when you need to move fast. Rushing forward, you slide to your hip, moving to strike your hand up. And you land a good hit, moving to grab the girl first, before something wraps around your ankle, and pulls you up and away before flinging you across the hall.

You smack into the ground, rolling, your chest seizing as the wind is knocked out of you. Your vision darkens for a moment, and you think you’re going to pass out, but the pain is all too conscious and you realize with a huff that your ankle has been sprained with how it had thrown you.

“Fuck!” You call again, putting all strength in your hands to sit up.

“Y/N!”

Relief floods you almost instantly. You may be half awake, but you’d recognize that voice from anywhere. Hands land on you, and a small smile curls onto your lips almost subconsciously when you find Fushiguro staring down at you. His eyes flicker across your entire body taking in the blood and wounds, before meeting your eyes.

“It’s strong,” you huff, voice raspy, “I can’t hold it and fight.”

Glancing back, Fushiguro growls; “it’s trying to swallow her along with the cursed object?”

“I can hold it,” you call, grabbing his arm and squeezing, pulling his eyes back on you.

“Y/N, you can barely–”

“Just go! I can do it,” you interrupt, voice sharp, “you just have to–”

You’re interrupted by the sound of glass shattering, and before you know it a blur of familiar pink is flickering across your eyes once more. Your eyes widen when you realize it’s the boy from before, Itadori. What the hell was he doing here?

“Itadori!” Fushiguro calls, just as stunned as you. He moves to a stand in front of you, blocking you from sight, and huffing, you lean forward, trying to find the strength to stand.

He grabs the two students, pulling them from the curses grasp, making your eyes bulge in surprise – how did he…?

“So, this is a cruse? Not what I was expecting.”

Pushing yourself to a stand, ignoring the way your ankle throbs, you grab Fushiguro firm around the arm; “Megumi, what the hell is he doing here?”

Sighing, Fushiguro shakes his head; “it’s a long story.” And with a final glance forward, he steps towards the curse, exorcising with one more simple hit since it no longer has the finger so close in it’s grasp, before he moves towards Itadori.

“Honestly,” you huff quietly to yourself, “I leave him alone for a few hours and he’s already dragging an innocent kid into this.”

“I want to ask you what you’re doing here,” Fushiguro calls to him, his demon dogs snacking on the curse behind him, “but good job.”

“Not good job,” you growl, leaning on the wall for support as you glare at the two boys, specifically Itadori; “you could’ve gotten seriously injured,” you ignore the pointed look Fushiguro sends you, “or worse, killed.”

“Why so haughty?” The boy tilts his head; “by the way, what’s that munching on the curse?”

“My shikagami,” Fushiguro answers, shoving his hands in his pockets. “You can see them, then? Normally a curse can’t be seen. Not unless you’re on the verge of death or in special places like this.”

“Oh,” Itadori’s lips part in understanding; “I’ve never seen a ghost or anything before tonight.”

Lips parted, you eye the boy; “you’re not scared?”

“Well, I was scared for a bit,” he answers honestly, still holding his classmate in his arms. “But did you know? People really can die.”

“Y/N, help me!”

“Please. Y/N, stop…!”

“I… I–I can’t–I don’t–!”

Blinking, you force the memory away, shaking your head.

“Huh?”

“So I at least want the people I know to have proper deaths.”

“You’re killing us!”

Pressing your hand against the wall, your breath hitches, Fushiguro turning to you in concern briefly before turning back to Itadori as moves to stand; “not that I really get it myself.” And as he does, the curse slips from his classmate’s skirt pocket, catching it with ease reflexes; “this it?”

“Yeah,” Fushiguro nods, “that’s the special-grade cursed object, Ryomen Sukuna’s finger. It’s a miracle it didn’t get swallowed, though, I think that’s mainly thanks to Y/N,” both eyes fall on you, to which you offer a half-smile.

“Why would anything eat it?” Is the first question that leaves Itadori’s lips, “is it tasty?”

“Don’t be stupid,” you cut in, shaking your head, “you’d do it to gain stronger cursed energy.”

“It’s dangerous,” Fushiguro adds, holding his palm out; “so hand it over already.”

“Sure, sure.”

You notice it a second too late, the curse from above.

“Megumi–!”

You move to pull him back, just as he pushed Itadori out of the way, but the sudden weight on your ankle causes you to lose balance and instead, the hand from above crashes directly onto Megumi. Dust and debris make everything blurry for a moment, but the huge curse holding Megumi is easy to spot as your eyes widen in panic.

“Megumi!”

“Fushiguro!”

It pulls Megumi to it’s mouth, but Fushiguro makes quick hand signs, calling for another one of his shikagami; Nue. However, before he can, a burst of lightening flashes from the curse and he’s slammed against the wall, blood splurting from his lips. Heart racing, you move to stand once more, cursing the way your ankle throbs and throws you off balance once more.

Before you know it, the curse is breaking a hole through the concrete and sending Fushiguro flying through it.

“No…” Teeth clenching, you turn to Itadori who looks torn between helping you and rushing after Fushiguro.

“Go!” You call, shaking your head and ignoring the worry in your chest; you were the one to scold Fushiguro for bring an innocent kid into this fight and now you were sending him off to save your comrade. But this was the only option. Fushiguro wouldn’t last on his own, so, if Itadori could just hold off the curse long enough for you to get your bearings, it’d be okay. “Help him! Please!”

Itadori doesn’t need another word otherwise.

“Get up!” You call to yourself, the bangs and commotion from outside causing your heart soar. “No one else dies because of you, remember? That was your promise!”

Forcing yourself to your feet, you ignore the pang and force the other foot to step in front of you the other. It takes you a minute, but when you look out the gaping hole in the wall and get a good look at what’s happened; you can tell you’d made a severe error in judgement.

“There is a way to save everyone!”

He can’t be serious…

“I just need some cursed energy, right, Fushiguro?”

He really is.

He just… ate Sukuna’s finger…

You just cost a boy his life…

Then, a flash of cursed energy burst from him, ripping the curses hands to shreds, and your eyes widen. It couldn’t be possible. That was rare, incredibly rare…

But the markings that start to cover his skin and the cursed energy pooling around him tell you otherwise.

Itadori… no, Sukuna destroys the curse in one hit.

His laugh echoes, even from where you’re stood, his claws clear as day to your eyes, you’re unable to look away. “I knew it!” He laughs, his voice more deep, twisted then Itadori’s; “the light feels best in the flesh!” Shredding his hoody into pieces without any effort, Sukuna races towards the edge of the roof, glancing at the open area. ��A cursed spirit’s flesh is so boring. Where are the people? The women?!

“What a wonderful era to be in. Women and children are crawling everywhere like maggots. Wonderful! It’ll be a massacre!”

But then he’s pulled back, a hand gripping his own jaw, feet stammering backwards; “what do you think you’re doing with my body? Give it back.”

It’s Itadori’s voice.

“How are you able to move?” Sukuna.

“I mean, it’s my body.” Itadori.

“Don’t move,” Fushiguro calls out, voice sharp; “you’re no longer human.” And he crouches, hands moving to make the necessary signs. “Under Jujutsu regulations, Itadori Yuji, I will exorcise you as a curse!”

“Wait, Megumi–!”

You’re suddenly picked up in a pair of arms, a flash of white and purple, before, somehow, you’re behind Fushiguro.

“What’s the situation?”

Turning to the person carrying you, you glower when you realize it’s him.

“Gojo-sensei?! Why are you here?”

Setting you down carefully, he smiles at Fushiguro; “hey! I wasn’t planning on coming, but man,” his eyes drift from you to Fushiguro, “you’re both roughed up. I should show the second years.” He starts to take pictures, specifically of Fushiguro, to which you slap him sharply on the arm.

Huffing, you glare up at him; “never mind that, I’ve told you to stop doing that with me!”

“Sorry, sorry,” he waves you off, “but you looked a little stuck.”

Flushing, you turn away from him.

“The higher-ups wouldn’t shut up with a special-grade cursed object gone missing,” he moves to explain, “so I stopped by while doing some sightseeing. So, did you find it?”

“Um,” Itadori slowly speaks up, raising his hand as Gojo turns to him; “sorry, but I ate it.”

There’s a pause, then; “for real.”

And all at once, all three of you answer; “for real.”

Gently letting go of you, Gojo sets you against the rock the Fushiguro’s leaning on, and you notice the way your vision blurs in response, dark peering in around the edges, before blinking it away and focusing on Gojo. He’s stepped towards Itadori, leaning forward with his head in his hands, eyeing him closely.

After a moment, he lets out a laugh; “damn, it really did combine with you. That’s hilarious.” He steps back, as nonchalant as ever. “Anything off with your body?”

Looking at his arm, Itadori shrugs; “not particularly.”

“Can you swap out with Sukuna?”

Your eyes widen.

“Sukuna?”

“The curse you ate.”

“Oh,” Itadori shuffles on his feet, “yeah, I think I can do that.”

You really, at this point, shouldn’t be surprise.

Moving away for more room, Gojo lowers into a crouch, stretching out; “then, give us ten seconds. Once ten seconds are up, come back to us.”

“But…” Itadori tries to argue.

“Don’t worry,” Gojo calls out with a smug grin, “I’m the strongest.”

“Megumi,” he calls out, “hold this.”

He tosses the bag that’s been in his hands this entire time, and, falling to a seat next Fushiguro, you curiously peek in.

“What is it?”

“Kikifuki from Kikusuian,” he explains, still stretching, and your eyes dull. “It’s Sendai’s specialty, and it’s super good. I recommend the zunda and cream flavour.”

“You went out and bought mochi while people nearly died!” You call, glaring at him.

“It’s not a souvenir, and it’s not just mochi,” he turns to grin at you and Fushiguro, “I’m going to eat it on the bullet train home.”

Yeah, and I think I’m going to throw up.

“Behind you!”

Gojo is barely phased by Fushiguro’s call, and even as Sukuna gains on him he continues to explain; “Kikufuku’s not like other souvenirs…” Before there’s a crash, dust flooding your already wobbling vision. Fushiguro pushes you behind him, arm outstretched as you both prepare for impact, only for you to open your eyes and see Sukuna directly before you, Gojo sitting on him.

“And the whipped cream inside is simply exquisite…”

You can’t focus on the fight. Things start to fade and the sounds of a fight almost seem like it’s miles away. Your skin feels hot, sweat beading on it, and the edges of your vision is turning black; except this time it isn’t fading away. You feel tired, extremely so, all strength fading. You don’t hear Fushiguro call for you, nor do you feel your body falling.

It’s okay though, right?

After all, despite how annoying he can be, you know you can trust Gojo…

He really is the strongest.

A little girl covered in red, coated in it.

Bodies surround her. Torn, ripped apart, limbs apart from bodies, heads apart from bodies.

Everything is silent except for the sound of wailing.

Loud, screaming wailing. Sobs retching, coughs echoing, but the girl doesn’t move, even as she sobs.

She’s frozen in place.

Terrifed.

“I can help you, don’t you trust me?”

“What’s this? Who are you?”

“So little to be covered in so much blood.”

“How about I train you, huh?”

“I’ll help you control them.”

“All of them.”

Eyes blinking open, you frown at the familiar ceiling above you.

You were home. Or at least, your room. It didn’t feel like home to you, but the soft cushion beneath you was definitely comforting with the lasting panging in your head.

Raising your arm, you glance at yourself, the faint bruises, before pushing yourself up so you’re sitting. A small groan leaves your lips, but you ignore the pain, pulling back the sheets to glance at your ankle; it’s been wrapped and treated, but you’re sure that if you were to try and walk on it, it’d still hurt.

You were alive, but you hated being stuck bedridden.

Head falling, you sigh; you wonder what happened with Itadori and Sukuna–

“I’m visiting Y/N.”

“Oooh! I want to say hi, I never properly introduced myself.”

Clearly, he was still alive.

Eyes flickering over to your bedroom door, you simply smile as Fushiguro pops his head in, making sure you’re awake before inviting himself further inside. Itadori bops in after him excitedly, a happy grin on his face despite his scenario which you could only imagine, and of course; Gojo behind the two, smiling down at you.

“Glad to see you both okay,” you smile softly at the two, eyes lingering on Fushiguro’s a little longer.

“You gave us a quite a scare,” Gojo comments, leaning against the frame of your door. “Passing out like that.”

Rubbing the back of your neck abashedly, you let out a small laugh, flushing slightly at the intense look Fushiguro regards you with. “Guess I hit my head harder then I thought,” you mumble, “sorry…”

There’s an echo of silence, and hating it, you hurriedly turn to Itadori.

Sticking your hand out, you grin; “Y/N Gojo,” you laugh at the wide look in his eyes, “it looks like you and me are classmates.”

But honestly, the widened looks on both Satoru and Fushiguro are way better.

“What?” You call to Fushiguro who hasn’t stopped staring at you; “I’d miss all the fun if I didn’t come back to school now.”

And at that, Fushiguro lets a small smile curl onto his lips, Gojo clapping his hands like a small child as he calls out cheerfully “I knew you’d change your mind!” all while Itadori continues to stare at you blankly.

“Gojo?”

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capseycartwright · 2 years ago

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i wrote this a while ago. and apparently never shared it. and i like it a lot. so if ur also a girlie who never got over your study abroad year pls enjoy

i went back today, for the first time in two years. i never intended for it to be so long, between return visits, but the pandemic got in the way - and in a funny way, i needed the time and distance and i don’t think i would have ever given that to myself if the universe hadn’t forced it on me.

i went back today - and i was apprehensive. every return journey so far had been filled with anxiety and nostalgia and a deep, burning desire to do the impossible and turn back time and live it all over again. the nostalgia would start from the moment i stepped off the train and suddenly i was 22 again: arriving here for the first time with the world at my feet, or suddenly feel on the cusp of 23 again, leaving the place that had become my home with no clue of how i was going to just walk away from a place and people i loved so dearly. i would start the quiet walk to the city centre and i would relive every moment i spent there: the times i cycled by, listening to music and feeling as though i was living in a movie of my own, the times we had dinner or coffee close by to the university, the places where memories were etched into the very stone of the buildings and into the rounded street corners.

you have always been full of ghosts. from the moment i left, you haunted me: i was haunted by ghosts of the people i love who no longer live close, haunted by the perfection of the memories and the regret of the things i didn’t do all in the same breath. i loved and loved and loved and loved and loved, all within the confines of you, and i lost you all the same, and not through any fault of my own - no, i lost you to the unstoppable passage of time: the one guarantee in life is that sun rises and sets and new days will always begin and you were only ever mine for one single, magnificent year.

you have always haunted me, haunted me as i have changed and grown and pursued the life goals loving you almost knocked me off track of, because for a moment, i wondered - if love was enough of a reason to throw plans to the wind and pursue a different life. i decided it wasn’t enough of reason - and past, present and future me have to live with the consequences of that decision. i stopped fixating on the rightness and wrongness of that choice in these last two years: the decision is made, and it has always been my decision to live with, because it was the decision that made it so there would never, ever be an Us.

you’ve always haunted me - and these streets are forever filled with ghosts, but finally, finally, i don’t feel haunted by them anymore.

no, i feel comforted by them now, comforted by their lingering presence in my life: memories of the boy i could have loved forever, but only got to call mine for a few months, memories of classes and tutorials and the crazy parties and all of the incredible adventures we had. memories of the friends i made then, friends who remain at the very heart of my life even now, five years on, friends who were only mine for that blissful year but friends i remember fondly, all the same. memories of the twenty two year old girl who booked a one way ticket with no idea that the next eleven months would fundamentally change her life. or how she would keep changing and evolving and growing and that you, precious brilliant you, a city i moved my life to on a whim, were only the start of that journey.

it’s funny, really - how i have spent two years of the pandemic longing for peace and all i needed to do was return to you to know that peace had finally been earned. today, i went back to you, and i felt like a tourist in a place i once called home, and for the first time since i left, it didn’t hurt to know i would never call you home again. for the first time since i left, i felt at peace - at peace knowing you will forever be one of the very best experiences of my life, and no change or evolution will ever take that away from me, but that it was over, and there was no going back, no reliving it. my memories of the people and the experience and all this city gave me are forever contained within those magnificent streets: but the love for the people and the place and the experience has found a new home, settled in the brightest part of my heart, the place where the Good and Unforgettable has always been stored.

i went back today - and i don’t know when i might go back again. it feels strange to admit that. i don’t feel like i need to obsessively plan the return trip the same way i used to - desperate for the familiarity and in search of the way living in you made me feel. life doesn’t make me feel that way anymore: and the thing i have learned in two years of distance is that well, that’s okay actually. love isn’t supposed to feel the same every time and my not so new home (because can it really be new when it’s been my home for four years now?) makes me feel a different kind of love that this pandemic and being forced to stay put here has made me appreciate and treasure - not in the ways i treasure you, no, because what i will always treasure about you is the naivety and innocence and the way everything felt so Possible. i have done my truest and realest growing up, where i am now - and when my life was with you, all i had to do was think up all of my big, brilliant dreams. and i did. and i have pursued them with a passion i think you’d be proud of. some of those dreams are a reality i live every day and some of them are forgotten, bested by reality and the things i have learned in the years since i left you, and some of those dreams are still left to achieve - and some of those dreams are new, and i think you’d be utterly, completely confused by them.

today i went back. and for the first time, i didn’t call you home, and i didn’t feel like i was home: today, finally, rightfully, you were a wonderful memory i got to visit and relive for a day, a memory i got to bask in the joy of for a few hours before i got back on the train to the place i have called home for four years now. and that was enough.

you’re a dear old friend - and one i was glad to see again. and one i think i won’t see again for a while. and that’s finally, finally, okay with me.

#anyway.............#there we are now pls enjoy #in which i ramble #my writing tag #i just miss erasmus man

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mintygracious · 3 years ago

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Viego x Rookie!Female Reader Part 1

This is taking place after all the Ruination stuff. Because Viego needs some love. Riot did him dirty. And I know it’s mostly the female reader in the scene than Viego. If you want me to continue this story, you can suggest me some ideas so I can actually make it into a more suitable Viego x reader story. Tell me if I made any mistakes. I'm still new to writing "you" instead of "She/he". Thank you

The waters of the sea stood peacefully, peaceful waves washed over the land of the lost kingdom, only filled with silence and grieve. The black mist that once surrounded the land no longer took it's place in the land, off to the shadow isle where a new king awaits for them.

Sounds of small splashes were heard in the distance, the peaceful water pushed back to create small waves. A small boat entered the lonely scenery, making it's way to the shore.

The boat soon reach the shore, you being on board stepped out of the wooden material and stepped on the land. You quietly reached back on the boat and took out a weaved basket made with honeysuckle.

You held back your hood tight, fearing that it would drop any moment and reveal the person that laid withen. You glanced around the land, it was peaceful and silent, just the way you remembered the last time you were here.

It wasn't a fond memory yet here you are again again when you swore you wouldn't come back. Your breath shallowed and quickened as you stepped back at the boat. Perhaps you shouldn't had came back here, you have long finished your mission here and went back to training.

Yet you came back here, why?.....

The past few months wasn't great for you, you have grown worry over the broken hearted king, despite him trying to kill you and others when he was on the lose to find his queen around the world.

You despise him yet felt somewhat pity for him but that wasn't your main reason coming here...Which was why you decided to come back to this place. Senna and Lucian weren't fond of the idea and so was Gwen but they finally let you go after many convincing and talking.

Gwen did suggest coming along but you declined the suggestion saying it was better going alone. Oh how you regret it at the moment and wished you accepted her suggestion.

But it was done now, there was no going back, this was your idea and you have to deal with it. You cursed yourself silently, calming yourself and stepped out of the boat once again.

Step by step, you slowly made your way towards the path where it lead you towards the lost forbidden kingdom town.

The place was still exactly like what you last remembered when you were here, all living plants were undead by the mist and the air was filled with fogs and full darkness. Sure, the black mist no longer scout across the land but the damage still stood.

Your walk was silent but not peaceful, your mind kept bothering you with regrets and curses that made you lose focus on your track, causing your journey to set off to another track.

Realization only hit you when you almost tripped over a small staircase. You weren't where you were meant to be in. The scene gave you a familar chill, your body shivered even when no wind was presence. Your eyes glanced left and right in fear, your breathing quickened. This was the place...The place where the Ruined Queen was bought back together and the place...you almost died.

You had prayed that you wouldn't come back here in the alter, you had agreed on leaving gifts for the now freed Queen's spirit here instead of the Shadow Isle but ended up here. Senna was definitely gonna shoot your head off.

Your panic soon recovered, quickly realising that you have nothing to truly worry about. The Ruined King was restrained by the hallowed streamstress’s work, he wouldn’t do any harm anyways.. You and the others had defeated him, the ruination had ended but yet the black mist still lingers, a new ruler stands by now.

You turned around, about to head back to the other path you were meant to go. Yet something stopped you... deep within the back of your heart, you somewhat felt pity.

The Ruined King did worked so hard to bring Isolde back...only to be wasted. Sure, what he did was bad and dangerous for the world, making him a villain to many eyes. But he was just seeking for love, the only thing he ever wanted from being all those years alone.

You turned back and walked forward the abandon castle, Senna was definitely not gonna be happy when she finds out what you were probably gonna do next, but you hoped it was worth it. Viego was a human..well once a human, he could change right? The Black Mist no longer flow through him, making him weak. He is a human and he still deserves to be free and learn from his mistakes..A second chance.

Your steps echoed through the empty alter, only to stop when you notice something familiar laying on the ground, broken into pieces of two. The music box, one of the items that once held Isolde’s soul fragment. You picked the artefact up, one hand holding the music box where Isolde was only standing and the other that held the seperated Viego piece.

You stared at the artefact for awhile, then fully bought your attention to the person that stood in front of you, restrained by the hallowed mist strings. He was there, just as you and the others last left him, frozen in time.

You shakily reached for your basket and took out a small blade that was covered with the hallowed mist, a gift Gwen had gifted you to protect yourself if anything went wrong, even though you have your Wayfinder....

You looked at the barrier that was sewn with the hallowed mist. Whatever decision you made, it will either destroy everything or change your life, were you ready to face such consequences just because you felt pity over a man that once ruined their world and almost killed you?

You thought over again, then pushed the knife over the barrier, cutting it open and proceed to do the same with the strings that trapped the Ruined King.

Cutting the restraint, it freed the man from being frozen in time, causing him to fall over you. But you quickly react and caught him before he crushed your body with his.

You kneeled down, your body not capable to handle much of his weight. You felt him breathing slowly, slowly gaining his consciousness back.

You stayed still, letting him regain his strength. You were still feeling mixed over your decision but.... it was done. You'll have to face the consequences of your actions.

"My Queen?" Viego quietly cracked, not recognising you as he embraced you. You stiffened.

“I..uh.. I’m not Isolde.” You spoke out, trying to free from his embrace which kept you in position.

“ You are not?” He let go of you and backed away from your form.

You let out a breath, glad that he had let go of you. Sure, you have freed him and sort of forgiven him and his actions due to your pity for him. But you still held that fear, scared that he would harm everyone again because it was your fault of letting him free.

“You..I remember your face. ” Viego recognised you, his face darken, anger and hatred clearly written. He rushed over to you, grabbing you by the neck and lifted you up in surprise. Even if his powers no longer works, he still was fast and caught you by surprise. “ How dare you all refuse to return my Queen to my side?”

Panic filled you as your breath started to shorten, the basket swinging around your arm felt heavy suddenly and started sliding off. Viego’s glare pierced through your skull. “Now you shall die!” His voice echoed through the alter, gripping your neck even tighter

Tears pricked your eyes, is this how you are gonna die? Just because you decided to free the very villian that caused the ruination. You started struggling to breath, choking.

The basket fell off your hold and so did your little hallowed knife. Your body was starting to weaken, you reached for your Wayfinder but your strength was failing you, causing the gun to fall off the moment you had hold of it.

This was it..This was how you going to die.

Suddenly, you felt your neck no longer on choke hold, he had let go of you, causing you to fall towards the ground and hurt yourself. But that wasn't what matter at the moment, you gasped and took in much air as possible, regaining your strength.

Without even thinking, you grabbed your Waymaker and pointed towards Viego's direction shakily. " I..I will shoot" You coughed.

The Ruined King picked up the little hallowed knife then looked down towards you. His expression no longer held the anger and hatred from before but something else...Shock?

"You freed me? " He questioned.

You lowered your Wayfinder, hesitating for a moment to answer but nodded.

"But..why?"

You opened your mouth then closed it, processing on how to answer the question. A few second of silent passed, your fingers played with the handle of your Wayfinder.

"I felt pity.... How we left you.... it wasn't right. Even though you bought ruination to the world and killed innocents..still you deserve a second chance... like any others.. we all make mistakes but that's how we grow through it"

Viego was silent, you took the opportunity to continue on. "I know it's gonna take awhile since Isolde is now in rest. But just hear me out.. it will be alright. She loves you and that's enough.. Loving someone means letting them go and rest sometimes and sometimes fighting to keep them safe when you need to, but not always... it's like a balance set"

"But how can I live when I am nothing without Isolde? Tell me, young Rookie. How? How can I live without love?" Viego kneeled next to you, desperate for answers as he shook you.

You winced abit when he called out your nickname Senna and Lucian had given you, but you didn't blame Viego either..You were called that name throughout your whole journey to take down the King and he only heard them calling this name on you.

You let out a sigh, placing your Wayfinder on the ground and used both your hands to hold on to his. Perhaps it was worth to release him from his prison, the guilt on you no longer linger but you felt the responsibility to help him out.

"I can be your first friend and show you and stay if you're willing to let me be" You caught his emerald eyes, placing a small smile on your face.

That caught Viego by surprise, why would a sentinel care for him enough to be friends with him? He just was trying to kill them a few months back and now here is one of them, willing to stay with him and befriend him. He was confuse. "You will? But... why?"

"The past is in the past.. Yes I and the others suffered from your actions..But you also suffered from what happened. And no one should be left alone in the dark to suffer..even villians. We are just people with emotions that needs to be cared for"

For the first time after many years of suffering and being alone, he didn't felt alone..He felt a familar warmth growing on his chest, knowing that there was another person than Isolde that cared for him and willing to show him the meaning of love which he never had in the princely life.

"I thank you for your kindness" He gave a small smile, squeezing your hand.

"How about we start by introducing ourselves? It's a start..I know it's gonna be hard recovering but we'll get there" You suggested, pulling your hand out of his. The King gave a nod, gesturing you to start.

A smile spreaded on your face. This was the start of both of your friendship, it will be a roller-coaster and of course the sentinels won't approve but you were willing to give another chance.

"Great. I am Y/n"

#league of legends x reader #lol #league of legends #viego x reader #viego league of legends #viego lol #viego imagines #rookie reader #sentinel #reader #league imagines

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dukethomas · 3 years ago

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Summary: Duke’s parents recover and come home. Written for Duke Week 2021 Day Six: Family Bonding.

I was going to write something angstier for this prompt, but it actually turned into just the comfort part of hurt/comfort. Sometimes I need a good cry about something good happening to characters I love.

Also read it here on AO3!

His parents were back.

His parents were back, and Duke could cry and cry and cry forever. He sobbed into his mom’s shoulder for who knows how long when he saw them. His mom pat his back—he was taller than her now—and murmured to him, “It’s okay, baby bird. We’re here.”

The use of the nickname he hadn’t heard since he was in elementary school made him sob harder.

His mom and his dad were, were okay, their mouths weren’t contorted into unnatural grins and they didn’t carry that gleam of hatred and they said they were so sorry and they loved him so much and wow, hadn’t he grown up so much—he turned out to be the spitting image of his mother, didn’t he think?

Duke didn’t think he’d ever stop crying.

“I missed you,” he blubbered. “I missed you every day, I swear, I tried so hard to find a cure or something—”

His dad smiled at him, softly, tears in the corners of his eyes. “And you did. We’re right here, Duke. You brought us back.”

He had to call Jay to pick them up, because his parents no longer had licenses and Duke didn’t trust his hands to not shake in the full force of his joy.

In the days that followed, Duke didn’t go out as the Signal. How could he? This all felt like a fever dream; he’d been wanting this for so long. If he didn’t spend every waking moment with his parents, he feared they could revert back to what they were, and it would be a dream after all.

Jay took a few days off of work, and Duke called in sick for a few days at school. The Thomas family glowed with genuine grins, because they were whole. They spent the time catching his mom and dad up on what they missed, and having fun playing games or going out the rest of the time. To his dad’s chagrin, Duke had gotten much better at chess, but no one could beat his mom at Monopoly.

Then life came crashing down around them. Jay had to go to work, Duke had to go back to school, and his parents needed to begin a new chapter of their lives. Unbeknownst to Jay and his parents, Duke skipped his first day back at school to chase down a string of thefts he’d read about in the news.

He could never stay away from Signal for long. Gotham needed him, needed all the help it could get.

It wasn’t a difficult case, by any means. Mad Hatter was about as subtle as a barge. Still, Duke embraced the thrill of hunting them down, as the trail of clues led him right towards a newly opened costume store, Wonderland Haberdashery.

Again. Subtle as a barge.

“What are we waiting for?” a man dressed as a giant white rabbit complained.

The dormouse next to him shushed him loudly. She hissed, “The boss’ signal.”

Duke took that as his cue. He launched into action, running forward with a well-timed punch to the rabbit’s face. “You’ve got one right here.” (Those jokes never got old.)

He let himself loose, using all of his training as well as his own metahuman power to demolish his way through the storybook-themed goons. He couldn’t fight the grin on his face; he was having too much fun. His heart reached a thunderous frenzy in his ears and he loved every second of it. These guys couldn’t touch him.

When the time came to knock out Jervis Tetch himself, Duke obliged with glee. He’d just finished tying him to the wall when his phone buzzed with a notification.

It was three, school was over, and he should be heading home. His parents should be home.

His parents were home. It still felt surreal.

He ran into Jay’s apartment and kicked off his shoes faster than he ever had when doing a superheroic change of clothes.

“Hey Mom! Hey Dad! I’m home!” he called. When he heard no response, a chill went down his spine, and he rushed to the living room. There, his parents sat on the couch, fixated on the TV. The news channel was on, talking about an altercation at—oh.

It was talking about him.

“That’s you,” his mom said without turning back to look at him.

A wad of bile as large as a stone formed in his throat. He knew Bruce probably had contingencies for if anyone guessed his identity. Deny it, prove that he was in school, get a shapeshifter to pose as Signal in the same room as him. But he couldn’t stop himself from saying, “Yeah.” He couldn’t, he wouldn’t lie to his parents. “Are you upset?”

He’d imagined this scenario many times. What would his parents say about his vigilantism? He was risking his life every time he was out there, and no parent would want that, but he was helping Gotham. He was helping Gotham’s people, just like they had taught him to do.

“Let me take a look at you,” his mom told him, beckoning him towards the couch. Duke listened, sitting in between his mom and dad. His mom cupped his face with her rough hands, and he leaned into the touch. “It’s dangerous,” she murmured; Duke squeezed his eyes shut.

A firm arm reached around his shoulders, holding him tight. His dad. “But you’re happy,” he said.

Duke nodded, his chin trembling.

They dwelled in a moment’s pause, until he was being hugged from both sides. Duke opened his eyes to see his parents with faint smiles. “We couldn’t be there for you,” said his mom, “but you found yourself.”

“I did,” Duke whispered, crying for the millionth time this week. “I did.”

“We’re so, so unbelievably proud of the person you’ve grown up to be, baby bird. We just wish… we just wish we could have been here to see it happen.”

His parents laid down some ground rules. No more skipping school unless he had all his assignments done and he had straight A’s. He had to be home for dinner, and after sundown he was off his shift. He could join night shift with the other Bats only twice a week in a limited capacity, and he had to go to sleep before midnight on school nights. And he would tell Jay his secret.

That had been the hardest one. Duke could barely get the words out, suddenly filled with shame for not telling Jay earlier.

But as it turned out, Jay already suspected it. “I’m no genius, but you’re disappearing constantly. I can never find you. Wayne takes you out of Gotham all the time. That’s not just an internship, Duke.” His jaw hardened. “But don’t think that I’m going to be the cool cousin now and let you break any of those new rules your parents set. Safety first.”

Duke rolled his eyes and hugged him. “Love you, man.”

“Love you too, rascal.”

He had to let Bruce know. He’d been keeping in touch with Bruce throughout all of this, but sparingly. He got the vibe that Bruce was keeping his distance out of respect for him and his parents.

Well, no more of that. Duke shot off a text to Bruce to let him know he was coming, then pocketed his phone. “Hey, Mom? Dad? You wanna ride with me on my motorcycle to Wayne Manor?”

He wouldn’t have actually done it (it was too big of an identity risk), but it was worth it to see his parents’ briefly stunned looks before his dad started chasing him with a noogie at the ready.

Jay drove them all to Wayne Manor. His mom and dad walked out of the car tentatively, scrutinizing their surroundings. Duke fidgeted with his shirt, wondering what they thought. For all intents and purposes, this was his home, if only for a little over a year.

Duke rang the doorbell, ready to greet Alfred, but it was Bruce who opened the door for once. The way he held himself struck Duke. It wasn’t extravagant and flighty like Brucie, nor grim and tense like Batman. Duke’s family were some of the very few to see Bruce Wayne as he really was, without a persona.

“You took Duke in while we were… unavailable,” his mom said before Bruce could say hello.

“Yes,” replied Bruce calmly, wearing something on his face Duke didn’t often see. Vulnerability. Anxiety .

His dad held out his hand. “Doug Thomas. Thank you. Thank you for taking care of our boy.”

“It was a pleasure.” Bruce shook Duke’s dad’s hand. “Duke was a delight to mentor and guide. I’m glad he has you both back.”

Duke grinned. “He says I’m a delight but he didn’t think so every time I snuck out of the Manor to track down a lead.”

“You were supposed to be on bed rest.”

“And I rested, in a bed, after I solved the case! I do it every night when I sleep—that’s working overtime on bed rest, Bruce.”

“And you won’t be pulling any of that with us, young man,” his mom told him in a stern tone.

Duke quickly made his eyes as wide, pleading, and innocent as possible. He would never, he was about to say, when Bruce told them to come in.

“A better man than I expected him to be,” his dad said once Bruce had moved far enough he wouldn't hear. His mom hummed in agreement. “And Duke, you felt safe with him?”

Duke snorted. “Define safe.”

“Smartass,” Jay muttered, behind the three of them. He’d been through the tour already. He had a begrudging respect for Bruce, but he wasn’t impressed.

“And who taught me to do that, ever since I was a little kid?”

Duke yelped as he dodged a smack from Jay. “I’m fragile, don’t hurt me!”

“You’re not fragile,” said the amused voice coming from down the hall. Cass, here because Duke asked her to be. Because he wanted his family to meet his family.

“Oh! Mom, Dad, Jay, this is Cass.” He dragged them over to meet her. “She’s like… she’s my sister.”

Cass nodded, observing Duke’s family. “Good to meet you.”

At his parents’ confused glance, he told them, “When you were gone, I made new friends, but I also found new family. Cass isn’t your daughter or Jay’s cousin, but she’s my sister.” In his chest, he felt a weight alleviate, one he hadn’t even been aware of. “Wait until you meet Damian. Remember how I always wanted a baby brother when I was a kid, but you guys kept telling me that I was enough of a handful?”

As he kept introducing his parents to the family he made, he felt a warmth grow within him, tickling his ribs, infecting his lungs. It was like he couldn’t do anything but beam from ear to ear, now that he had almost everyone important in his life gathered together. (He would introduce them to Izzy, Riko, and the rest of the Robins soon.)

His family had been shattered, but Duke had picked up the pieces and created something new. And it could never be the way it was, but that was okay. Duke was happy with his family the way it was now.

His parents were home; all his family was home. Duke couldn’t be happier.

#dukeweek2021 #duke thomas #doug thomas #elaine thomas #dc #batfam #crys writes #this doesn't actually have..... a plot. but that's okay <3 #me writing duke and his parents: so how do normal people without my specific parental issues act

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ikeromantic · 3 years ago

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In the Spotlight

A Mitsuhide Akechi fanfiction, approx. 1700 words. This scene occurs after the events of the romantic epilogue and includes some of what happens in the part 2 introduction. Mostly fluff!

First: Mitsuhide and the Maiden

Previous: Uncomfortable Questions

Kyubei bowed low and held the position. It wasn’t his first time to report to Nobunaga, but it was his first time to do so without explicit instructions from his lord. He was nervous, but it didn’t show. Kyubei could hold an icy composure as well as Akechi.

“Report.” Nobunaga’s tone was flat, hiding his own frustration.

Hideyoshi and Masamune weren’t trying to hide theirs. The one-eyed dragon was pacing and Toyotomi’s scowl could have peeled paint.

“There is no evidence,” Kyubei cleared his throat, “that the forces at Kasugayama are involved in the attacks on Azuchi. However -” he paused. This was the part that made him sweat. “The disappearance of Lord Akechi and the lady chatelaine coincide with the vanishing of their ninja, Sarutobi Sasuke.”

“I don’t believe it.” Masamune stopped, one hand dropping to his sword hilt. “There’s no way that ninja got the drop on Mitsuhide.”

Hideyoshi nodded. “Agreed. My guess is that they are working together.”

Kyubei interrupted. “I find that unlikely, my lord. At least, in the manner you suggest. If I may?”

Nobunaga indicated he should continue.

“My sources tell me Shingen Takeda is ill, and between the loss of his ally and his ninja, Kenshin is unstable. Seeking conflict within his own forces as well as outside. It is unlikely he is aiding Kasugayama. Though he must have known Sarutobi's absence might . . .” He frowned, wondering how much he should imply, what he could suggest.

Ieyasu saved him the need. “Mitsuhide was making plans for an extended absence. I think we should consider that he has left, with Sasuke, to visit the chatelaine’s homeland.”

Mitsunari nodded. “This would make sense. There could be something about the events of the night he disappeared that forced them to leave sooner than he expected.”

“There’s more to it, and if I know that snake -” Hideyoshi’s rant was cut short by Nobunaga’s raised hand.

“Enough. I did not wish to bare Akechi’s secrets, but Ieyasu is correct. Mitsuhide sought my permission to take the chatelaine to her home. He was uncertain how long they would be gone.”

The room exploded with sound, warlords talking over one another. Hideyoshi was ranting about safety and plots; Masamune demanded permission to seek them out. Keiji was laughing. Ieyasu and Mitsunari were relatively silent, waiting for the excitement to die down.

Nobunaga’s carnelian eyes quieted each man in turn.

When he could be heard again, Kyubei continued. “I made contact with Ranmaru. He is seeking out the forces responsible for the attack on Azuchi, along with other spies in our network.”

“Ranmaru? That boy is afraid of his own shadow. Completely unreliable,” Hideyoshi muttered, not unkindly. “He should be here.”

Kyubei couldn’t help the slight smile at that. He didn’t approve of Ranmaru’s tangled loyalties, but one could not argue with his ability to act a part. “Of course, my lord. But Ranmaru insisted. And he does have many friends to rely on for information.”

Ieyasu stood. “This doesn’t answer my questions though. Where is the chatelaine? Is she safe? When will she return? We all know Akechi has his . . . plans. I’m not worried about him. He’ll turn up when and where he wants to. But she’s -”

“You’re worried about her!” Mitsunari beamed. “I knew you were just trying to hide it when you told me-”

“Shut up.” Ieyasu glared. “I’m just . . . the enemy could use her against us. We need to know where she is.”

“Agreed,” Masamune spoke up. “I will put together a team. We’ll find her.”

“My lords, I am afraid she and Mitsuhide are beyond any team.” Kyubei sighed. “The greater concern is what this impacts and how it will be used against us. The Ikko Ikki are moving. The Mouri clan have resumed pirating, and we know it was Kichou that executed the attack on Azuchi. In addition, we have rumors the shogun in exile is drawing a new following.”

Mitsunari frowned. “Yes, I reviewed several shipment records and troop movements from old loyalist daimyo. It appears we are not done with the shogun as of yet.”

Kyubei bit his lip. The scribe they’d installed should have been satisfied to live in luxurious exile, but it seemed the old shogun’s loyalist stirred his greed. Or maybe they were using him as a puppet. He had no way to know, as the spies in Ashitaka’s court had all fallen silent.

Nounaga spoke again. “Hideyoshi, you and Keiji will pursue the Mouri. Masamune, I want you to make contact with Kasugayama. Offer a truce. See what they can offer up about their missing ninja. They may be willing to hunt down our enemies with us, as it does them no benefit to see this land descend into chaos.” His gaze fell on Ieyasu. “You will join Kyubei’s efforts to track down Mitsuhide and the chatelaine. Your research and his current knowledge will yield results.”

“May I assist Lord Tokugawa?” Mitsunari’s innocent smile could have been worn by an angel. He was completely oblivious to the sudden grimace on his friend’s face.

“You may, in your spare time. I need your mind fixed on calculating provisions, troop movements, bridges, and roads. There will be fighting soon.”

Mitsunari acquiesced with a bow.

Kyubei delivered the rest of his report, and then was dismissed. He went straight to the Akechi mansion and opened a bottle of sake. Alcohol was a vice he rarely indulged in, but today he felt like he needed it. He’d exposed some of his lord’s business without permission. He had no idea how or if this would impact Akechi’s plans. And now . . . he’d be working with Ieyasu. It would be difficult to keep the secrets he needed to keep.

He kept drinking until the room spun and the lights all wore halos. Kyubei might have kept it up, but he ran out of bottles and couldn’t make the walk to fetch more. Instead, he fell asleep, sprawled out on the floor of his lord’s office.

***

Mitsuhide felt a mix of relief and distress when his little one explained the plastic stick on the bathroom counter. It meant they were not having a child together. Not yet, at any rate. And this was good. He was in no position here to father a child. But . . .

The image of himself holding a child. His. Hers. His heart felt too big for his chest, thinking of what such a child would be like. His very own son or daughter. One with his love’s sweetness. His eyes. Her nose. His perception. It made him ache, as if he had an old bruise, a wound that hadn’t healed. Which was completely irrational.

He looked out the train window at the rapidly passing countryside. Trees. Hills. Houses. Different and not so different from the world he knew. He should be spending this time planning the next few days, not moping. Kitsunes did not mope.

“Are you ok? Are you nervous?” His little mouse put her hand on his leg, comforting.

“Yes and yes.” Mitsuhide turned his head to give her a sideways smile. “I have never had to meet the parents of my betrothed.” He had expected Nobunaga to marry a woman to him for political purpose. Some well-bred woman who knew how to run a house and had courtly manners. A woman he would never love, but could put up with, at a distance. Yet here he was.

She laughed. “It will be ok, really. I talked to okaasan and she is excited to meet you. She’s happy for us.”

“And you father?” Mitsuhide raised an eyebrow.

“I’m sure he’ll get used to the idea. He’s just . . . to him, I’m still a little kid. But I’m sure once he sees us together, he’ll come around.”

Mitsuhide was less certain about that. He’d known several fathers and they fell into two categories, most of the time. There were the men who could care less about their children beyond their use to the clan. And there were the men that treated their children as things of wonder. Not that they coddled them - but they cared. About their education, their work, their friends. He was sure his lover’s otousan fell into that second group.

The train stop came sooner than he might have liked. The two of them disembarked. There were only a handful of people getting off the train here, so it was easy to spot her parents.

They were dressed conservatively. Her father was a little shorter than Mitsuhide, and a little thicker around the middle. His greying hair was thin on top, and he wore glasses. Her mother was small and wore a smile he would have known anywhere.

The parents caught sight of them at about the same time Mitsuhide’s study of them finished.

“Otou-chan! Okaasan!” His little mouse flung herself across the platform, and was swept up in a hug from both sides. Tears ran down her face, and her cheeks were stretched in a wide smile.

Mitsuhide felt out of place in this moment of familial warmth. He had no such experience himself, and did not want to intrude either way. He stood quietly, holding their bags. Waiting as they exchanged hugs, kisses, and stammered apologies and explanations. As if they could make up for half a year apart in a few minutes.

Her father finally looked up and met Mitsuhide’s eyes. His were dark and suspicious. Protective. “You.”

His little one smacked his arm. “Be nice, papa. This is my fiancé, Mitsuhide. Mitsuhide, this is my father, Minoru, and my mother, Youko.”

Mitsuhide bowed low. “I am pleased to meet you both.”

Her father didn’t reply, but her mother did. “We are so glad to meet you too! It was such a surprise . . . our little girl . . . disappearing and then -”

“And then coming back with a weird boyfriend,” her father interrupted.

Oh yes. This was already going very well. Just as expected. Mitsuhide straightened and put on his best ‘trust me’ smile. “If there were any way we could have done it differently, I promise we would have. I hope we’ll be able to lay any worries you have to rest.”

She stepped over to his side and took his arm. “Yes, I plan on explaining everything.” His little mouse was the one to look nervous now. And no wonder. After much discussion, they’d decided on telling her family a version of the truth.

In fact, Sasuke and Miyake were supposed to come out the following day to provide backup evidence for their story. But even with that, they were asking her parents to accept a lot all at once. Mitsuhide did not see their chances of success as being very high, but for her, he would try anything.

Next: Bonding

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen mitsuhide #mitsuhide akechi #kyubei #otome guys #otome #fanfiction #fanfic #fluff #hc

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loverdrew · 4 years ago

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Do It For Me | b.b

Synopsis: Y/N may never be able to forgive Bucky if he goes through with his decision. (pre-endgame with a twist, very inaccurate storyline and writing I know but it’s all fiction)

Warnings: a few cuss words here and there

Based off of Greys Anatomy (between Izzie and Denny)

My first ever Bucky Barnes fanfic! I’m getting more into writing for Marvel characters.

I had been sat up in my room at the Avengers compounds for the whole day at his point; harnessing my magic, drawing/reading to calm me down, and just enjoying a nice day off. Everything seemed quiet, a little too quiet for my taste. No one had come knocking on my door to talk or check up on me. After a few minutes I started to hear talking through my headphones and it was coming from outside my door. I slowly let my earbuds drop from my ears, silently opening up my door and creeping downstairs. It had seemed to more I got down the steps, I saw more people come into view. All backs were turned, some arms crossed, but voices were definitely raised. It felt like more than one person kept trying to speak and once at the bottom step, I saw the one person who was the center of it all.

Wanda was the first one to see me, cutting her sentence short, and soon everyone followed. Steve’s face dropped, biting his lower lip and looking at the floor. Bucky stood up, eyes almost bulging out of his head. I looked around stunned at everyones faces as they all made a collective sigh.

“W-what’s...what’s going on guys.” Wasn’t so much of a question, but more of a ‘tell me now or I’ll crush you guys with just a thought’. My powers were growing, everyone knew this. With one scream, a whole city could go deaf. With no swipe of my hand, I can send more than 10 men flying 100 feet. Most of the time they wouldn’t dare bother me in fear of my emotions becoming heightened and possibly destroying something. But something tells me right now might be the first time that happens.

“I said, what’s going on.” My hands glowed purple, the color of my powers. Wanda immediately rushed in front of me and looked me in the eyes, rubbing her hands over mine. When she found out I also harnessed powers from an infinity stone, Tony made it a point to have her help me maintain my magic. Her touch softened the glow, instantly calming down my heart rate. She repeated the same phrase to me; ‘don’t let it take control of you, take control of it’. The purple glow went away, as she guided me towards the group.

“Thanos is coming, Y/N.” Tony spoke up.

“And we’re trying to figure out how to stop him once and for all but...there was an idea brought up.” Bruce chimed in, and I followed his gaze right to Bucky. His head laying low. My mind went to the darkest of places. Bucky had never looked so ashamed. All I wanted to do was hug him and rub up and down his back, he always liked that. The last time I did that for him was a few nights ago when he had yet another nightmare and I found him downstairs watching TV even though I knew he was exhausted. He was too afraid to fall asleep. I remember that night, thinking about how badly I wanted to tell him how I felt. He had been my rock since coming into the compound, even if nobody else saw it. Our friendship consisted of late night snacks and conversations, training together making each other stronger, and always communicating and tell each other the truth no matter what. But oh, how I wanted that friendship to mean more to him as it does to me. But I would panic, thinking I wasn’t ever going to be good enough for one of the best people I’d ever met. He deserved a woman who was just as great as he was.

“Tell her.” Natasha spoke, anger laced in her voice.

“Bucky...” I whispered.

“My greatest wish in life is to take back every bad thing I did in this world. Every person I had killed, hurt, ruined their life.” He looks at Tony with deep regret. “And I can’t ever do that physically, but maybe in another way, I can.” He was rubbing his hands together avoiding my gaze.

“Okay? Bucky that’s great that you’ve figured out how you want to do that-”

“You didn’t let him finish.” Sam said with a monotone voice.

“We need to be ready whenever Thanos decides to come. And the only way for me to get my wish is to...be the one that’s sacrificed during the battle.” My heart stopped and the ringing in my ears began to pick up. Wanda could see my hands glowing much brighter and more rapidly this time. I could feel her hands come up to the sides of my arms but within a flash my whole body shook the entire room like an earthquake.

“What!!” I walked over to him and slammed down on the table. “Are you out of your god damn mind Barnes!”

He tried to reach out but I raised my hand, stopped his movement and moving his arm to stay at his side, unable to move it.

“No, no, no you’re not doing this. You guys please tell him he is NOT sacrificing himself! You have no idea how much power those stones are! Just look at me! I have the same powers as a stone yet I can’t control shit Bucky! It’s out of control you’ll be dead before you can even use one stone to fight off Thanos!”

“I’ve been working with Tony and Shuri on a way to help me harness the power. They’ve been working on a suit for me that is stronger than Tony’s. Y/N you have to understand that this is my way of righting my wrongs, if I die then I die a hero who saved the whole world, not someone who use to kill hundreds of people with no remorse.” I turned towards Tony, his eyes becoming scared as he held his breath.

“You...” I throw my hands up and thrashed Tony into the wall, shattering it. He couldn’t move, paralyzed by fear at what I could do to him. Wanda yelled out to stop, but I couldn’t hear anything over my own boiling anger. “You knew about this. You knew he wanted to die and didn’t try to stop him!”

“I-I was just doing what I thought was the only option.” I slammed him again into the wall.

“There’s other options Tony!” I began to cry out, tears instantly springing from my eyes so quick it took me a second to realize I was even crying. With each puff of my chest my powers weakened as I wasn’t paying as much attention anymore, my brain becoming overstimulated with dark thoughts.

Bucky came up behind me and brought his arms around mine, his cheek pressed up against the back of my head.

“You’re not doing this Buck, we’ll find another way.” I said in between cries. I looked around seeing everyone else become emotional at my breakdown. Natasha was like a mother figure to me, this was the first time I was seeing her tear up. Wanda was my protector, but she didn’t know how to protect me from my own feelings. And everyone who surrounded me, who watched me grow from a 20 something year old uncontrollable witch to a grounded and a fantastic Avenger, wore heavy hearts and hooded eyes. I turned around quickly wiping my eyes of any tears and stood tall. My breathing coming back to normal. “It’s okay we’ll-we’ll find another way. There’s gotta be another way right?”

“Y/N...” He said sadly, clutching my hair. I pushed him off and walked away giving some distance between us, actually, between the whole crew. I stood on one side of the room while the rest remained where they were.

“Don’t do that. Don’t try to make me okay with this. Alright, you did some shit in your past Bucky, so what we all don’t have the best track records as angels. And I’m sure you don’t feel like you deserve to live with all of the trauma you’ve endured but guess what? You do! You know how you get the fix things? You become a better person, a fighter and protector of the world! People change Bucky and I’ve seen it first hand in you! You deserve to live just as much as anyone else!” Everyone remained silent, so I assumed they agreed with me. “And if you tell me one more time about sacrificing yourself because that’ll right your wrongs in this world, so help me God, I will kill you myself right now!” And without thinking, my hand shot out a purple beam of light, latching onto a glass vase and chucking it around the room, creating a whole in the wall and the glass shattering everywhere.

He walked up to me peacefully with his hands held in the air.

“Y/N, please. I’m going to be alright, you don’t have to worry this much. You should be more concerned about protecting yourself. I definitely wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I didn’t do this and something worse happens to you.”

I laughed in sadness.

“What about me? What about me when you die!” I saw multiple people begin to shed the same tears I was. We had all grown fond of Bucky when he joined us. He really proved and showed deep down, behind the trauma HYDRA had left him, he was a great man. That’s why I fell so deeply in love with him. “That’s the worst thing that could ever happen to me Bucky! I will die inside if you don’t exist in this world!”

“Y/N-” more tears sprang from his eyes. His voice cracked and got lower. It’s like he couldn’t find the words to describe the pain in his heart at the thought of leaving you behind. Without having told you that he loved you too.

“No I get it! You’ll be okay, you’ll be fine with it but what about me? Please, don’t do it for yourself, do it for me please!” I hunched over, the grief and pain overtaking my body. I felt too weak to even stand and continue yelling at him. “Please Bucky, please do this for me! Don’t leave me please don’t do this, I can’t take it please! You have to do this for me, because if you don’t I will never be able to forgive you!”

He stepped closer at a slower pace.

“For dying? For saving the world?”

“No for making me love you!” I began to cry out harder, the ring in my voice shaking the room once again, making everyone’s hands fly up to their ears as I got louder and louder. Natasha at this point was full on bawling, along with most people in the room. I think it was safe to say everyone knew of my affection towards the man at the center of attention, and maybe that’s why everyone had left me alone today. Afraid of this exact situation. The one person, the one thing in this world that can bring me to tears at my feet.

Bucky’s eyes filled with adoration as he ran up to me and held me on the floor in between his legs. I clutched at his arm crying into his shoulder. He looked back at Tony, who only gave him a nod. They had agreed together that one of them was bound to be the sacrifice when it came to defeating Thanos. Bucky of course still wanted it to be him, he felt it was the most right option. But when he looked back at Tony, clutching the love of his life in his arms, Tony took that as a final answer. Tony was okay with the decision he had come to long ago. He was ready to die for the good of everyone else, but nobody knew that yet. Bucky wasn’t giving up the fight, but now it only became that much harder to leave her behind. It was easier not knowing her feelings, but it had come to the light. Bucky wanted a life like Tony, the kids, the wife, everything. But at what cost? He was still going to fight to the death if he had to, but the decision to be the one to end it all was fading away.

“It’s okay Y/N, I promise we’ll talk more about it and find another way if we have to.”

“We have to Bucky, we have to.” My cries didn’t stop, but my voice lowered. My eyes caught everyone else’s, almost embarrassed at my sudden outburst of devoted love to Bucky, but everyone knew, they just never heard it from me. “Just hold onto me please.” I pleaded.

“I’m here Doll, I promise I’ll stay right here.”

#marvel #marvel imagine #bucky barnes imagine #bucky x you #bucky barnes #bucky fanfic #the avengers #avengers imagine #sebastian stan imagine #sebastian stan #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan x you #bucky barnes x reader

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20moonchild21 · 4 years ago

Text

𝗦𝗲𝗵𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵𝘁 [𝗯𝘁𝘀]

⇉ 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 10

[pairings]

JK x female!oc, Bunny!JK x human!female!oc, Jin x female!oc, Leopard!Jin x human!female!oc, Jimin x female!oc, white Tiger!Jimin x human!female!oc, Taehyung x female!oc, black Tiger!Taehyung x human!female!oc, JK x Jin x Jimin x Taehyung x female!oc

[warnings]

actually none who need to be mentioned

[words]

4.1k

[author]

Today was soo exhausting for me, but uploading a new chapters somehow makes me happy again. I hope you all have an amazing day!

If you want to make your day even more amazing, I can only suggest you to check out Inferiority complex written by my favorite author @starlightauroras-main. Please, make sure to show her your support, because she deserves it so so much!

You can also leave this chapter a like or comment, if you want to. It would make my day!

Stay healthy and safe!

Mꨄ

[chapter 9 ||| chapter 11]

“Jin.” The girl nudged the older boy’s shirt, as he was about enter the kitchen. “Could I talk to you for a moment?”

It had become quiet in the apartment, since the sun had set a few hours ago. She had waited for the right moment to talk to Jin, because Jungkook had been around him all day long but right now, it seemed like he was occupied in his room.

Jin had followed the girl into the kitchen. He looked quite confused, as Hope looked back into the hallway to make sure no one would ear dropping, before she turned to the leopard, a wide grin played on her face.

“Where is Jungkook?” She almost whispered.

“Ehm – I think he was already asleep when I left the room.” Jin’s confusedness began to grow. “Why? What is with him?”

The girl’s grin went even wider, when she walked past Jin over to the end of the kitchen. On the counter next to the fridge was his cookbook laying upside down. When she reached it, she flipped it around and pointed her finger onto the opened recipe.

“Kookie’s birthday is tomorrow, do you remember?” She said happily, while clapping her hands in excitement. “I thought that you could help me to surprise him?”

Jin didn’t say anything at first. He just kept staring at the book with his eyes wide open, while he mumbled the word ‘birthday’ under his breath. Hope knew that they had probably never celebrated his or Jungkook’s birthday, but this chapter of their lives had ended when she adopted them. From now on, she would give them anything they deserve.

“Yes, his birthday and I am planning on surprise him.” She carefully pushed the book over the marble counter. “You will help me, won’t you?”

Jin nodded immediately, he started to gather up all the supplies he would need to prepare the cake from the book. Meanwhile, the girl got all the wrapping paper from her storage, before she spread it out on the dining table. She had printed and framed the picture of Jin and Jungkook after she had gone to the authority, a few days ago. This picture, she would just hang up at the wall for him as a surprise when he would look over the wall in the morning.

In addition to that, she had also printed another picture of Jungkook sitting on the couch and staring at the camera with his eyes wide open and his ear up in the air. This picture would perfectly fit onto the small shelve under the TV. She looked at the picture for a few seconds, before she started wrapping it up.

She placed the picture of Jungkook upside down onto the sheet od wrapping paper, before she carefully folded and taped it. When she was almost done, the sound of an opening door suddenly rang through the apartment. Hope stopped in her track and prayed that not Jungkook would come out of his room or else the whole surprise would be ruined.

To her luck, someone else stepped out into the hallway: Taehyung. The black tiger sniffed the air, before he cocked up his eyebrows and slowly walked up towards the sitting girl. When he had reached the table, his eyes fell onto the picture of Jin and Jungkook.

“Aww, what a cute little picture of your pets.” He had taken the picture from the table and was now fake-marvelling over it.

“Please, don’t break it Taehyung. It’s fragile.” She tried to sound stern and be quiet at the same time. Taehyung just gave her a look, before he carefully placed to frame back down on the table. She quickly took it and placed it in a safe distance next to her, before he could have a sudden outburst. “How can I help you, Taehyung.”

“My brother is snoring.” He pulled himself a chair back and sunk down.

Hope cocked an eyebrow up at his reason to be up this late. She didn’t know what he wanted, but she deeply hoped that he wouldn’t reveal her birthday secret to Jungkook because he couldn’t stand the girl.

“Jimin is – snoring?” She asked again, and he nodded. “You wanna tell me that a snoring Jimin caused you to leave your room and sit down next to me willingly?”

Taehyung didn’t say anything to that. He kept staring at the girl with wide eyes and nose trail, before he breathed out and sunk his head down, mumbling something under his breath she couldn’t understand. When she asked him to reaped what he had just mumbled, he just tapped his fingers against the wooded table, before he turned his head after a few minutes.

“My arm hurts, okay?” He snapped at her, crossing his not injured arm over his chest. “Just – just help me human. Please.”

If it wasn’t so damn funny to watch him jumping over his pride, she would clearly be angry at the boy. Anyone could see that he was embarrassed to ask her for help, but somewhere deep, deep down inside her, she somehow felt proud that he had asked her willingly for help.

“Okay.” She sighed and shoved the wrapping paper to the side, before getting the first aid kid. “I will look over your wound. But please try to stay quiet, I don’t want Jungkook to wake up and see his surprise.”

“Ah, you want to surprise your bunny.” He sarcastically stated, leaning back in his chair. “What did he do? Is he finally potty trained?”

Hope just rolled with her eyes and kept unwrapping the bandage around the boy’s arm. She could understand that he was angry with her, but why he couldn’t stand the other Hybrids, she didn’t know.

“No.” She simply relied, tossing the blood stained bandage aside. “It’s Jungkook’s birthday tomorrow. We will give him presents and eat the cake Jin is preparing right now. You are very welcome to join us, if you behave and not ruin his day.”

His arm didn’t get any worse over the day, which was a good sign. The skin around the scratch wasn’t as swollen and red as two days ago, and on the top there was already a new layer of skin forming.

“Naaah, I think I won’t come.” The tiger tried to sound cool, but she didn’t miss the sad undertone in his voice, as he kept talking. “Your cat and that bunny can’t stand me joining you at the table.”

Hope sighed. She knew that Jungkook overreacted the previous day when he had growled at Taehyung and Jimin, but the young boy had also been knew to this situation. He never had to share his territory with strangers, and the past day had been simply too much for him to process all at once.

“No one does not want you here, Taehyung.” The girl carefully added some more salve onto his arm, before she looked up at the older boy. “Jungkook – he is just scared, like you and – “

“I am not scared.” Taehyung quickly interrupted her.

“Whatever.” She just rolled her eyes and wrapped the new bandage around his arm. “What I wanted to say is that you and your brother are welcome here. Jungkook just needs to warm up to the both of you, and I think he already likes Jimin. He is a good boy.”

Taehyung just looked away, not saying anything else. Hope knew that secretly he just wanted to belong somewhere, where he and his brother would be accepted and loved. He wasn’t a bad person, but he was thought to act the way he was, because he had no other choice.

“Okay, your wound is okay. I will give you some painkillers, though. It will make the pain go away within the next minutes.” Hope announced, before she stood up and went into the kitchen, where she had placed all her medicaments.

When she came back, Taehyung was still sitting in the same position like when she left, but now, his eyes were once again fixed on the picture of Jin and Jungkook. She felt her heart breaking when she saw the sadness in his eyes. She waited a few more seconds, before she carefully placed the pills in front of Taehyung.

He quickly took them and stood up from the table. When he stood there, she could see his mouth opening to say something, but in the same moment he closed it again, before slightly shaking his head. Instead, he bowed his head almost unnoticeable and turned around to go back to sleep. It wasn’t the ‘thank you’ she had expected, but it was a beginning.

She tossed away all the supplies she had used to change Taehyung’s bandage, before she sat herself back at the table to continue wrapping up Jungkook’s giftss. While she thought about how she would set the presents and cake up the next morning, she heard how Taehyung just opened the door to enter his room, but he didn’t went in.

“I – “ He stopped his sentence, and the girl shot her head up. “I think he will like his presents.”

Before she had a chance to reply, the tiger was already entering the room, carefully closing the door behind him. Hope looked surprised into the dark hallway, before a small smile formed on her lips.

“One more step, Kookie.” Hope pulled the bunny’s hand slightly, until the four of them reached their final destination.

So far, it had been a wonderful birthday. When Jungkook had woken up this morning, he didn’t even remembered that it actually was his birthday. He had been so surprised when he had stepped out of his room and saw the set table in the living room.

Jin and Hope had prepared the table at night and just added the candles and cake in the morning before the bunny had woken up. They had placed the cake in the middle while gathering the candles and presents around it. In addition to that, they had added some confetti, balloons and streamers. Jin had already been overwarmed form all that colours, but Jungkook’s reaction had been priceless.

His eyes had been so wide that they had seemed to pop out of his head, when she had told him that they had prepared all this for him, and only him. But he looked even more speechless when he had opened his gifs.

First, Hope had bought him ‘The Lord of the Ring’ in addition to his hobbit book, hoping that he would also read something else if hobbits were included. All her worries had been gone when he immediately had started to flicker thought the pages, almost forgetting about his other present. Before he had the chance to unwrap it, a curious Jimin had come out of his room, lured by the scent of the cake and the candles.

The white tiger had looked shocked when he saw all the colourful balloons and streamerss. He had shyly asked what they were doing, and when they had told him that they would celebrate Jungkook’s birthday, Jimin had backed away immediately. He had told them that he didn’t want to be a burden and that he would just go back to his room, but to the girl’s surprise Jungkook had told him that he was welcome to celebrate with them.

Jimin had hesitantly agreed, but he didn’t want to sit down on the table or step too close towards it, so he had just been standing a few inches away, watching wide eyes what Jungkook was doing. Meanwhile, Jungkook had been occupied with opening his second present. Once he had pulled away alle the wrapping paper, he had been looking like paralyzed at himself at the picture.

Together, they had placed the framed picture at the small shelved under the TV, next to the single portrait of the girl that had already been placed there. While Jungkook had squeezed the girl to death, she had announced that she would need a single picture of Jin too, so he could be the next one on the shelve.

Despite all the happiness she felt when her two Hybrids were excited about their new found ‘family shelf’, she hadn’t missed the sad expression on Jimin’s face. He had wrapped his tail tightly around his leg, with his ear pressed against his head and his head sunk down. She had been wishing for nothing more than to hug him tightly.

So right now, the four of them were making their way over the photo wall. Jin had blinded his younger brother’s eyes with his hands, Hope was guiding the bunny by his hands and Jimin was trailing behind them down the hallway.

“Where are you taking me?” Jungkook asked for the fifth time, as he twitched his ears back and forth, hoping to hear something that would reveal the surprise.

“Here we are.” Stopped and turned back towards the still blind Hybrid. “Are you ready for you last surprise, Kookie?”

Jungkook didn’t hesitate a moment. He nodded his head like crazy, as the girl gestured for Jin to take his hands away from Jungkook’s eyes. The younger boy moved his eyes wildly around, trying to take in his surroundings. When his gaze fell onto the wall on front of him, he pulled his eyebrows together in confusion.

“Why are we here?” He asked, eyes still roaming round his favourite pictures. “Not that I am complaining but – “

He suddenly stopped in his mid-sentence when his gaze fell on the new picture hanging on the wall. Hope had replaced the picture of her friends with the picture of Jin and Jungkook. It wasn’t an easy decision for her, but she knew that it was time for her to move on.

Her friends form high school would always be her friends, but with them moving away all around the country, they hadn’t been able to hold their contact with each other. They had stopped talking, and they had stopped meeting several month ago, and she for a long time now, she had loose hope that they would ever talk again. It was time to move on.

“Is that – is that – “ Jungkook looked wildly between the photo on the wall and the girl, who was smiling like a child on Christmas eve. “But how – why – that is Jin and me.”

“Yes, Kookie. Do you like it?” The girl was looking at him with wide eyes.

Jungkook had her wrapped in his arms so fast, she didn’t even had a chance to react. He buried his nose in the creak of her neck and pulled her closer, squeezing and hugging the small female in his arms.

“But Hope.” The bunny suddenly pulled away, cocking his left eyebrow up. “What is with your friends? Why did you remove them?”

“You know, Kookie.” She sighed, as she looked at the spot where now the photo of Jin and Jungkook was hanging. “I haven’t seen them in a very long time and I think I won’t see them in a very long time again. I just – they are not in my live anymore. It felt right to let go of the past, because I have you now as my family, and I just thought that it was the right time to move on, you know?”

Jungkook’s eyes were wet, as his gaze flickered between the picture and the girl. It was heart-warming to his hi happiness. That was everything she had every wished for.

“Come on, Jimin.” Tae heard Jin saying from outside of his room. “We want to cut the cake soon. You should join us.”

The black tiger was standing next to the door inside his and Jimin’s room, with his ears pressed against the piece of wood. It wasn’t difficult for him to take in the voice from the other since he had animal-like instincts.

Today was the bunny’s birthday and Jimin had been with them the whole day. He had asked a few times, if Tae wanted to join them, but he had refused every time. It wasn’t that he cared about that bunny or even the girl. The only reason he was leaning against that door, ears roping what the people outside were talking about, was because he wanted to make sure that Jimin was okay. Yes, that was the only reason. At least, that was what he told himself.

“I – can I ask my brother if he wants to come, too?” He heard the quitter voice of his brother. “Maybe he wants to come out of the room today.”

Quicker that quick, Taehyung pushed himself off of the door when he hear the steps getting closer. He sprinted over to the bed, threw himself onto it and leaned against the headboard, before he crossed his legs and grabbed the book from beside the him.

Jimin entered the room, quickly closing the door behind him. Trying to look as if he wasn’t caring, Tae flicked open another page, not looking up at his brother, who was just about to sat down next to him on the bed.

“You smell like those people.” Tae muttered when Jimin put his head against the younger one’s shoulders, wrapping his arms tightly around his slim torso.

“I helped Hope with decorating the table earlier.” Jimin whispered.

Taehyung growled slightly when Jimin used her name. He had seen the way Jimin was warming up to the girl and her Hybrids over the past few days they had been staying here. He had joined them for breakfast a few times and today, he had spent the whole day celebrating that bunny’s birthday. He didn’t want his brother to be so close to them.

“I don’t like you smelling like them.” Tae just muttered back flickering open another page of his book.

“Hmm.” Jimin completely ignored his younger brother’s statement and lifted his head from Tae’s shoulder, looking up at him and the at the book Tae was holding in his hands. His eyebrow cocked up. “Are you really reading this or are you just flickering the pages, because you are holding the book upside down?”

Taehyung breathed out sharply, before throwing the book at the end of the bed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Stupid human book.” He hissed, as he looked at his brother. “I can’t understand why they are reading this. This is nothing but boring.”

Lie. The girl had given the book to Jimin the other day, recommending to read it. Because he had been bored, Taehyung had started reading the first pages. The book was quite interesting. It was telling the story of a small white whale and a boy named Ishmael. The other night, Tae had found himself being fascinated by that book, but there was no chance he would admit that.

He tried to tell himself over and over again that that girl and her pets had some bad intentions in everything they do. He tried to find something he could use as a reason to hate her, but he couldn’t. And that was what made him even more grumpy.

“Maybe if you weren’t so negative you would like it.” Jimin suddenly chuckled, as he put the book back onto the nightstand next to the bed.

“I am not negative, Jimin.” Tae snapped back, rolling his eyes when he saw Jimin’s amusement.

Jimin had always been the one to always see the positives sides of life. Even if they had been threatened badly or they had been living on the streets for months, Jimin was joking and smiling constantly. Even though he knew that Jimin was also putting up a façade, he sometimes just needed his bubbly personality.

“Whatever.” Jimin mumbled. “Jin made a cake and they invaded us to join them. I thought that maybe you would want – “

“No, I don’t want to.” Tae’s voice changed into an angry tone, before he stood up from the bed and walked over towards the window, not wanting to face Jimin. “You can go and eat with them but without me. It’s not like they want to have me there anyway.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and looked outside, where the fresh autumn wind was twirling around the colourful leaves. He didn’t like that time of the year. Autumn always reminded him that winter was coming, and winter meant that they would have to be out in the cold for a couple of months again. They would have to find a warm place to stay, they would have to find something to eat. He hated that time of the year.

“Why would you think that they don’t want you there too?” Jimin’s innocent voice ripped him out of his thoughts, as the older one walked up behind him.

The black tiger wrapped his tail tightly around his thigh when he thought about that night a few days ago. He knew that he had tried a few times to intimidated the girl or the other two Hybrids, but when he heard that they were really scared of him, and only him, it was like someone would punch him into the stomach.

“They are scared of me.” He just muttered, his voice held a tiny spark of sadness, but he tried to over play it.

“Why – why would you think that, Tae?” Jimin was fiddling with his hands when Taehyung turned around to face him. “I don’t think they are scared of us.”

“No, Jimin. They are scared of me, not of you.” He walked closer and towards his older brother, who was looking heartbroken because of what he was hearing. “Since the night we first came here, I can hear that bunny guarding her door at night. He said that he wouldn’t trust me, and that he thinks that I want to hurt her at night. I heard them talking about me. Pah, pathic little bunny. As if I would get my hands dirty with some human blood.”

He had sat down onto the edge of the bed, fiddling with his fingers while talking. It somehow bothered him that the girl and her Hybrids were that scared of him, even though he knew it had been his own fault when he showed off his fangs a few times. But it also made his jealous that Jimin had already found such a good relation towards the other three.

“He was just worried about her, Tae.” Jimin had waked up and sat down next to Tae. “He cares much for the girl, and when we came into his territory, he was just scared about her. I don’t think he really thinks that you would hurt her or his brother. You and me would do the same, Tae.”

Jimin was right. Of course he would try to protect his brother if there were any random intruders strolling around his territory. He really couldn’t blame that bunny.

“Come on, Tae.” Jimin whined as he stood up from the bed. “I don’t want you to pout in that room by yourself all the time. Let us enjoy the time we are allowed to spend here.”

Unwillingly, Tae’s gaze fell onto his still wrapped up arm. The girl had offered them to stay until he was healthy again, and that day would be coming along soon. His arm was getting better with every day.

A shiver ran down his spine when he thought about being on the streets again. Alone and scared, not knowing if they would survive the next night, or if someone would catch them and bring them God knows where to.

He only noticed Jimin’s absence when he heard the clinging sound of dishes and the sound of singing coming from outside. Slowly, he rose from the bed and walked towards the door. His pride was arching in his chest, as he battled with himself whether he should go out or not. He carefully peaked his head around the doorframe.

Down the hallway, at the dining table, he spotted Jimin, the girl and the other two Hybrids sitting at the table, clinking their glasses and eating the cake which’s smell was swirling around the apartment. The warm light the candles from the table and the happy voice sounded inviting to Taehyung, as he was still watching them having fun.

He wanted to go out and join them. He wated to sit at that table too, like Jimin did, but his pride and his pain were fixed too deep in his bones. At some point, they would have to leave anyway, so there was no use in getting attached to them. It would only break his heart at the end, so he took one last glance at the four people in the living room, before turning away and leaving the scenario.

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januaryisnotanartist · 3 years ago

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So day 5 of KanSang week is Wang Clan! Liu Sang.

Which got me thinking about how would Liu Sang fit in with the Wang Clan (and Wang Can) and still be Liu Sang (and not secretly Wang Can), and how could I get KanSang from such a universe?

I derailed directly into Liu Sang & Li Cu are bros.

(warning, this (d)evolved into a kinda fic as I was rambling.)

We begin with “Wang Can is the younger half brother of Liu Sang”, top it off with a bit of “evil step mother who was willing to burn her step son alive in an attempt to frame him for attempted murder gone wrong clearly belongs to a crazy death cult and was secretly a Wang operative the whole time, so when she and her husband died the Wang Clan swooped in to pick up the free orphans freshly traumatised kids ripe for brainwashing indoctrination into their cult clan.”

So now we have Liu Wang Can, who was raised by a woman who was already preparing him to join the Wang Clan, and Liu Sang who, because I need him to have a reason to firmly resist the Wang's Anti-Zhang propaganda, is from the Worship False Idols universe. (Which is to say: Liu Sang was rescued from human traffickers by Zhang Qiling before he moved in with his estranged father and wicked stepmother.)

Wang Can dives headfirst into the clan and evil assassin training, while Liu Sang keeps his head down because: where else can he go? His brother is here, he has no one left to turn to, and this clan is out for his ouxiang. Liu Sang chooses to stay so he can learn everything about the man who saved him, and more? importantly: about the clan who plan to hurt the man who'd saved him.

Everyone assumes Wang Can is the more terrifying “twin”. They're wrong.

Liu Sang has to watch as his brother strips away his own humanity despite Liu Sang's best efforts.

And then comes Li Cu.

Liu Sang would laugh if his brother's poor reaction to having a crush wasn't so... horrifying. He's not even sure Wang Can has realised his increased brutality and douchebaggery are attempts to show off for Li Cu.

As a big brother, Liu Sang thinks it might be his responsibility to explain some things before Li Cu kills Wang Can in self-defense, so he tracks down the new comer at one of the out door firing ranges while Li Cu's taking a break.

(Liu Sang hates the firing ranges, they always give him sensory overload, then Wang Can has to go out on extra dangerous missions just to prove they're useful and Wang Liu Sang isn't a burden, because like hell is he ever going to tell them just how much he can hear. They, because they're always considered as a unit, because both of them cling a little too much to one another. There's a reason they can't shake the foul rumours about their relationship, they're both too possessive.)

He remembers to make noise loud enough for a normal person to hear before he gets within striking distance, finds a nice crunchy leaf and crushes it under foot to get Li Cu's attention. Li Cu's first reaction almost makes Liu Sang laugh out loud.

“The hell did you do to your hair?!”

Because Liu Sang's hair has always had more red than Wang Can's, and they wear it differently. He doesn't stop the smirk though, tosses Li Cu a candy bar (technically contraband while off mission) and waits to see how long it takes Li Cu to realise he's not Wang Can.

It takes a few less sentences than Liu Sang hoped for Li Cu to cotton on, but still long enough for it to be funny.

They don't become friends, but they certainly aren't enemies, and they aren't nothing to each other.

Almost something like friends maybe.

Liu Sang reminds Li Cu not to lose himself to the Wang Clan, because they're very good at acting nice, at choosing just the right person to send to get under your skin. Every person you trusted in the Wang Clan was another way they had to get you to do what they wanted.

Liu Sang getting close to Li Cu ends up riling Wang Can, who can't figure out which of them he's more jealous about, so the higher ups send Liu Sang off on a mission.

“Only a week or two.”

Liu Sang says goodbye to Li Cu on his way out.

“Do ever think about leaving the Wangs?” Li Cu wants to know. “Just, go missing in the middle of a mission on not look back?”

“My brother's here,” Liu Sang tells him. Because the Wangs know how to use connections, and if they'd ever sent both brothers out together, Liu Sang would have given in to the temptation to run away years ago. To drag his brother back to some semblance of humanity and not the murder puppet the Wangs had turned him into.

Liu Sang returns to a compound devoid of life, the secret regrouping call had gone out, he knows where he's supposed to go but there's a terrible weight sitting in his chest as he walks through the building. The poisonous gas no longer a threat, he can see where the infiltrators' bodies would have been.

They'd taken their own dead and left the Wangs to rot.

He'd have found it funny if his brother hadn't been one of the corpses.

Liu Sang can't hear himself screaming over the ringing in his ears, his world falling apart at the seams. He'd kept himself together through the hell of the Wangs by focusing on trying to take care of his brother.

Who is he if he's not Wang Can's gege?

His brother is dead, and he knows exactly whose fault it is.

There's a grenade pin by his brother's corpse, and explosive damage by on of the vents, and the Wangs had made his brother such a good little soldier.

Liu Sang thinks of the man with the tattoo who'd saved him from one hell only to leave him to another. The man the Wangs hated more than any other.

He has no path forward but one. Liu Sang takes the information he'd gathered painstakingly through the years in secret, always too afraid to use it, and heads to the meeting location.

When his is the only heartbeat left there, he goes to find every safe house and backup location left.

He tracks down every member of the Wangs he can find and ensures no one loyal lives.

And then he's left back where he was. Alone. No idea what to do next.

Li Cu thinks he's hallucinating the first time he sees Liu Sang across the street.

To be fair, he hadn't even been sure it was him, Liu Sang had vanished almost as Li Cu was noticing him.

He'd never mentioned Liu Sang to Wu Xie and the others, it hadn't felt right. Liu Sang wasn't a Wang, not really. He'd taken the name, the tattoo, but unlike his brother, Liu Sang had still hung on to his old name, a secret Liu Sang had only shared once when he'd been tired enough to be tipsy.

Now Liu Sang was here, and obviously wanted to talk to Li Cu judging by how often Li Cu caught him watching. Liu Sang had apologised more than once for Wang Can's poor social skills, but Liu Sang's weren't exactly up to par either, unless they were being directly compared to his brother's.

So Li Cu makes himself available, waits in the cold, dark night for Liu Sang to appear from nowhere. And by cold, dark night, Li Cu means he takes to haunting a quiet table at a street food vendor while he tries to study.

Liu Sang sits down across from him with food, and they just share the table for a while, eating, studying, waiting.

From up close Liu Sang looks terrible, and not for the first time since Wu Xie had raided the Wang base, Li Cu wonders what happened to Liu Sang.

“Sorry about your brother,” Li Cu doesn't realise he's going to say it out loud until it's already out of his mouth. It seems like the kind of thing he should be saying though.

Liu Sang freezes, chopsticks halfway to his mouth, a clump of rice drops back onto his plate.

“You don't have to lie about it,” Liu Sang says at last, “I think part of me always knew we weren't both leaving.” He puts his chopsticks down and looks a little lost. “Sometimes, I wonder I there was ever anything in him that I could have saved.”

“Not by the end,” Li Cu says, and there's a look of realisation on Liu Sang's face, and Li Cu gets the feeling Liu Sang knows now that Li Cu had been there when Wang Can had pulled the pin from the grenade.

They sit in silence so long, Li Cu wonders if he should go back to his food or his textbook, but then Liu Sang finally starts talking again.

“I actually, tracked you down to ask...” Liu Sang looks like he'd rather swallow razors, “for a favour. From you. I want to ask you to do me a favour.”

Of all the things Li Cu expects to follow, learning tattoo artistry is not one of them. It takes months before Liu Sang is happy with Li Cu's skills, by which time Li Cu has long stopped asking why Liu Sang doesn't just go to a proper tattoo artist.

He doesn't ask where Liu Sang got the equipment, or how he'd managed to get the studio for an entire day, he doesn't know if he wants an answer or not.

Li Cu knows that Liu Sang already has a tattoo, all the Wang Clan members had had one, a phoenix on the back of their right shoulders that only showed in the heat. Li Cu had been not far off having to get one as well, something that had repulsed him so deeply he'd been shaken by the depth of it.

His back had already been mutilated, like hell he'd let anyone else mark him against his will again.

(He hates that he suddenly understands why Liu Sang had gotten him to learn to tattoo.)

To his surprise, there's also an unfinished tattoo across Liu Sang's chest, and it looks vaguely familiar to Li Cu.

“Qilin?” He thinks he knows why.

Liu Sang nods, and turns his back so Li Cu can press a hot cloth against his shoulder. Once the phoenix is visible, Li Cu places the stencil carefully so it aligns just right then readies the tools while they wait for the phoenix to vanish from sight.

Li Cu has only been practicing for a few months, so he's not very fast, but he makes sure the lines are steady, that the shading is right.

It takes all day, and they won't be able to check the cover up has worked for another few days, but in the end Li Cu is confident no amount of heat will let the phoenix show through the multi-tailed fox he's inked onto Liu Sang's shoulder.

Before they part ways again, Li Cu pulls Liu Sang into what is probably the world's most awkward hug, and makes sure he has Li Cu's contact information.

“At least let me know you're alive every once in a while, yeah?” Because Li Cu already knows Liu Sang's leaving.

Liu Sang nods, but Li Cu isn't really expecting much.

Three days later he gets a picture of a town sign from an unfamiliar number, accompanied by the words: Not Dead Yet.

Liu Sang keeps in contact, more than Li Cu thought he would, not that he minds. Except that Liu Sang has a strange penchant for meerkat memes and keeps being weirdly funny at the worst possible times.

Like a few years later when Li Cu learned Liu Sang was on a job with Erbai's crew after Liu Sang sent him a text, which caused Li Cu to snort his drink through his nose and all over his freshly complete collage homework.

Help! He's a Himbo! My One True Weakness!

#dmbj #lost tomb reboot #reunion: the sound of the providence #liu sang #li cu #sand sea #tomb of the sea #I just think himbos would be very attractive to liu sang because the key ingrediant of a himbo is being nice #and liu sang has had a life sadly devoid of such people #himbo recipe: thicc of heart. dumb of ass. shredded as f.#kan jian #kan jian (dmbj)

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everythingsinred · 3 years ago

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Let's Talk About NatsuMikan: Natsume (pt.10)

WOW we did it folks. 10 parts to an essay that we're like. a quarter of the way done with. That's pretty great! More or less, by the time you finish reading this post, you'll have read 35k words worth of analysis and I'll have spent countless hours writing it. What amazing dedication we have to this manga! We should get an anime reboot as a reward!

Anyway, let's go crazy stupid trying to wrap up this arc, where we can see the extent of Natsume's selflessness. As we approach the end, something will happen to make Natsume's plans to distance himself from Mikan very difficult. Let us begin!

Also I've been forgetting to put trigger warnings up for these but I put them on the first few so hopefully you know they're all like that. Child abuse is a huge topic we'll cover throughout, as well as all the consequences that come with it, so be wary.

Chapter Forty-One

Medusa--Mihara-san--is amused to see that the frightening, powerful, and awe-inspiring “Black Cat”, who demonstrates a trained command of his alice despite wearing an alice-restraining mask on missions, is actually just a little kid.

Natsume doesn’t care about being impressive; he cuts to the chase, asking where Mikan is. Medusa makes his comments, but Natsume stays on his point: his new mission is to save Mikan, after all. Though keeping Mikan and Ruka safe had been his personal mission from the get-go. But just as Natsume isn’t interested in anything Medusa has to say if it isn’t about Mikan, Medusa isn’t interested in any topic that is about Mikan. So the small talk ends and Shiki is commanded to test the kids’ abilities.

Natsume cares about one thing right now and it isn't his DA alias.

They are in the midst of some kind of battle or standoff when Mikan reappears, safe. She calls out to them, excited to see them again. Ruka and Tsubasa are happy to see her safe as well, so they call out too. Natsume is not as thrilled. He’s good at staying on mission and keeping his attention on the dangers around him, like Shiki and Medusa, as well as the countless other Z members, all with mystery alices.

Mikan suddenly appearing and making herself known is dangerous, and she’s immediately under attack, unwittingly. He runs to protect her, using his alice as a barrier between them and the man who just tried to hurt her, but when he turns back to look at Mikan, he’s livid.

The art in this scene is so gorgeous, I could stare it forever. Look at how silky Natsume's hair is. Pretty.

Tsubasa and Ruka have never been on a mission like this. They were just eager to see Mikan unharmed. She was also just excited to see her friends again after being separated. But Natsume knows better. On a mission, you have to stay vigilant and always careful, and Mikan was careless. He yells at her, scolding her. But even through his emotions, he stays vigilant, protecting her even more when the enemy tries to take advantage of the distraction.

This is what he came for, not just to be the brains and keep them on track throughout the journey, but also to protect them, because that’s what he always does, what his priority always is. He will use his alice to ward off enemy attacks, and use his body as a shield, even if he winds up exhausted and bleeding and hurt. And he is.

But he still tells Mikan to stay behind him, to stay safe, so he can properly protect her this time, because he couldn’t do it before.

He doesn’t expect Mikan to get up and tell him that he doesn’t have to worry. She doesn’t want or need him to protect her; instead she wants to help him. She tells him, for once, that he doesn’t have to be the only one hurt anymore. He’s understandably surprised to hear this, because it means that someone other than Ruka has been paying attention. She understands that he’s been through the wringer, and she doesn’t want to just sit back and benefit from his effort without giving anything back. But more than just saying she’ll take on the brunt of things for him, she wants to help. She wants to be his strength, not a burden on him.

She has been noticing him, even the things he doesn't want her to notice.

This shocks him enough that it actually distracts him from his vigilance, and suddenly it appears that Ruka is in danger. He leaves her side just long enough for her to be captured by Shiki instead, and immediately teleported to Medusa’s side. They needed to get Mikan out of the way, after all, so that Medusa could use his alice, which he immediately uses to petrify Tsubasa’s leg.

Chapter Forty-Two

Right off the bat, we’re shown just how much the stakes have risen. Medusa’s alice is deadly, not just dangerous, and he’s already managed to hit Tsubasa with it. His next command is to have Yuka steal the kids’ alices, and to start with Natsume. It would make things easier on him, anyway, Medusa says, obviously privy to the idea that a child like Natsume wouldn’t want to be a child soldier at all, unlike Reo who mused that maybe Natsume would be more content with just a change of employer.

But Yuka makes it clear that her alice isn’t strong enough to steal all of the alices at once, trying to spare the kids from losing their abilities. So Medusa then goes to a Plan B, convincing the kids that his alice will only be temporarily affecting them until they agree to work for Z. After all, Natsume can’t really use his alice when Medusa has Mikan in his clutches. He’s been in this situation before, practically living in it, having the lives and happiness of his loved ones held over his head so that he will be pliant. Medusa comments that he loves torturing people like him, and he must not be the only one, since Natsume’s been tortured in this way for years now.

Ruka is hit in the shoulder while trying to shield Tsubasa from another attack from Medusa, and the shoulder region is particularly life-threatening, as it’s close to the heart and he might die from the loss of blood flow soon. Of course, this sets Natsume into berserk mode, but before he can use his alice, he coughs violently. This gives Medusa an opportunity to strike Natsume in his dominant arm, his left one.

He tries to use his alice, despite being at a new disadvantage, and still angry from what’s happening to Ruka. So his leg gets hit too.

Medusa gets temporarily incapacitated by Mikan’s nullification, so he sends Yuka to steal Natsume’s alice, which should be a walk in the park because he’s lost control of his arm and leg, so he can’t run away.

It’s here that Natsume reveals to the reader the secret he’s been keeping for the past few days, the one that we must now keep as well, that Mikan is Yuka’s daughter.

This is another one of those situations, where the stars align in all the wrong ways. Something you've always wanted is within grasp, but there's too many reasons not to take it.

Natsume stands there, unable to move, and ponders his situation as Mikan desperately screams for him to run away.

He wonders if he was waiting for this exact moment, if that’s the reason he came along at all, so that he could meet Yuka and have her steal his alice away.

Earlier, Natsume left a conversation about losing alices because it was too painful. He doesn’t feel the same way about his that the rest of them do. It’s not some fond part of him that he can’t stand to lose. He hates it. It’s been a hindrance since the day he was born. People of all sorts of organizations, including the government operated Academy and terrorist organizations like Z, have coveted his power. It’s put his loved ones in danger. It’s made his life a living hell. He’s been robbed of a fun childhood, of smiles and friendship, of peace. It’s stolen opportunity from him, so he can’t even feel free to pursue a crush, or make bonds freely, or let himself laugh. It stole his future from him, and he dies a little bit more every day. He won’t live long enough to go on a date, graduate, get married, get a normal job, have kids, grow old. He might not even make it to middle school, and he knows it. He lives his whole life in eternal emotional, physical, and mental agony. He’s always under the gun, always careful, always selfless, always defensive.

Why would anyone want that?

And this is his chance to lose it all. Things could be easier, better, safer. He could lose it and finally exhale. He could go back home to his dad. He could be an actual kid for once. Yuka could steal his alice and all of his responsibilities and the deadweight he’s been carrying on his back for his whole life could be gone.

Of course he almost lets her steal it.

But Mikan has been screaming in anguish for him to run away, and he remembers what she said when she saved him during the Reo Arc: that it was too late to give up, and that they should return to the academy together, because a bright future must be waiting for them.

And because of that, Natsume makes his first move to escape Yuka’s alice.

Does Natsume really want a future if his friends and loved ones would still be in danger? Would it be worth it if he was safe, if it came at the price of their safety? If Natsume doesn’t use his alice to keep them safe and protected, then who will? Who can?

Natsume smacking Yuka’s hand away isn’t selfish. It’s not him realizing he wants to keep his alice, that maybe deep down, he might actually love it. It’s not dear to him in any way. It’s still the thing that wears his body down and forces him to cough up blood. No, this act is selfless, yet again, because his own happiness and even his life come dead last to him. He has to keep them all safe after all.

Yuka snatches his wrist anyway, ready to steal his alice away, until she realizes she can’t. Mikan is using her alice from all the way across the room to protect Natsume.

So basically, the idea of Natsume leaving the academy causes this kind of reaction in Mikan, something Natsume has no choice but to see for what it is: fondness.

He looks at her with surprise, because this is an act of affection. Mikan has just used her alice to keep him with her. His life isn’t in danger, but she wants him to stick around. Now more than ever, Natsume can see proof that she cares about him, even despite all the bullying he’s done, despite all the mean words he’s thrown her way, even after he told her cruelly that he hates every single thing about her. Up until now, Natsume had no reason to believe she was doing anything but tolerating him, and though that was the outcome he was working for, deep down he does want the girl he likes to have some fondness for him too. This is the first time Natsume can really see that he means something to her too, as more than just a classmate or a partner. He is someone she doesn't want to part with.

And Mikan has fulfilled her wish, to be Natsume’s strength, because now Natsume is able to yell at her to duck and blow up the wall behind her.

Usually such huge explosions are the result of him at his angriest, using his ability to punish the people who hurt his loved ones. He’s probably also done similar things on missions, maybe even when he’s completely calm. But this time Natsume is weaker than ever, his dominant left arm completely out of commission, unable to move, under duress. He finds the strength to cause that explosion because of Mikan, because she wants him around.

While everyone is distracted, Natsume tells Yuka to go help Mikan, hinting that he knows her secret.

So Yuka stabs Mihara-san and has the petrified kids lick his blood off the blade. It’s confusing to the other kids why she would do this, but Natsume knows exactly why.

It would be interesting to see more interaction between Yuka and Natsume. Surely Yuka knows that Natsume is Kaoru’s son? It would be interesting to see if she noticed that his name matches Mikan’s. What does she think of him? What might their dynamic be like? I will always mourn that we’ll never find out.

Chapter Forty-Three

This chapter is the one that should officially designate this manga into the “tragedy” category. Yes, there’s been some heavy and deep stuff so far, most having to do with Natsume and the heavy abuse he deals with, but even with all that it’s managed to be mainly a cheerful and upbeat story. This chapter makes it clear that horrible and heart-wrenching things can and will happen, that we can’t count on a happy ending every time.

The kids are close to escape. They’re about to head through a warp zone back to school, and it’s urgent they move fast because the hide-out they’re in is currently imploding. Unfortunately, Mikan has dropped the antidote to the bullet that hit Hotaru, so she refuses to leave until she’s retrieved it from under a pile of rubble.

Pengy finally has a chance to prove itself, wriggling under and saving the antidote for Hotaru. It has helped Mikan, and because that’s the best thing someone can do, Natsume is grateful.

Natsume's smile (even a small one like this) has incredible powers, like giving robots a feeling of self-worth, making his classmates fall in love with him, and making me think he is a good boy. It would be irresponsible to overuse it.

Just like when Tsubasa showed his worth back at the high school division when he used his alice to help Mikan, Natsume has a new respect for Pengy, who was able to do something amazing to help the group, and Mikan especially. So he gives Pengy a slight smile. It’s really subtle and nothing outstanding on anybody else, but it’s a rare thing to get from Natsume, even for those whom he loves. “I guess you can be a little useful,” he says. This is the best sign of appreciation someone can get from him, and Pengy glows for a moment (ahh… the power of Natsume’s smile), until things fall apart.

The floor gives way under Mikan’s feet. They’re able to pull Mikan up, but Pengy is still too far to reach. Despite Mikan’s desperation, Pengy understands that they’re wasting time trying to reach it. Finally, after Pengy has proven its use to Natsume, it refuses to be a hindrance again, and sacrifices itself so that everyone can safely return the antidote to Hotaru.

They’re all through the tunnel, hit with the knowledge that Pengy is gone. They all react somewhat differently, but Natsume feels guilt.

Pengy's smile has evil powers because it makes me cry.

Natsume had considered Pengy a robot, something unfeeling and mechanical, just a useless thing Hotaru made once. It was something that could be discarded, and after it had proven to be troublesome, he’d even advocated that it should be discarded. He’d considered it useless all along, but when it really counted, Pengy was able to save Mikan and the antidote. It proved not only that it could be useful, but that it wasn’t just another mechanical robot. When Natsume smiled at it, it smiled back. And in its final act of sacrifice, it acted out of love for both Hotaru and Mikan, and Natsume feels sorry for what he’d said about it.

Natsume has a habit for establishing a bad impression of someone, and then having that person work hard to prove themselves to him. Pengy is one example, but he’s like this with Tsubasa, Mikan, and all sorts of people at first. People (and robots) that he despises until they show him what they’re really made of, winning his respect and sometimes even affection. It makes sense he would be so distrustful, seeing the life he has to live. Trusting the wrong person can get you hurt sometimes, and can lead to disaster. And having something useless like Pengy can cause a mission to fail. But Natsume is sometimes wrong about his first impression of a person, and the same qualities that could lead him to believe something is useless or annoying can end up being strengths that he respects.

Chapter Forty-Five

Yes, I skipped 44 because that’s more noteworthy as a Mikan chapter. Natsume doesn’t do anything I found particularly intriguing and I didn’t want to make anything up or repeat myself. In fact, for the rest of this arc, there’s very little left for me to say, so I apologize if this is a short analysis to conclude with.

The first thing we’ll address is the ESP and Persona discussing the insubordination that has just occurred. Yes, an injured student has safely recovered, and a Z hideout has been destroyed, but it wasn’t their plan for things to happen that way. Narumi needs a warning, for one. Natsume, according to Persona, needs simply to be punished back into obedience. From the way Persona talks about him, we can see how little he thinks of Natsume, how easy he can be to manipulate and control, which is all he is good for anyway. To them, Natsume is nothing more than a pawn in their game. Sure, he’s a useful pawn, the Black Cat that strikes fear into the hearts of the school’s enemies and successfully completes his missions even with a punishment mask on, but he’s still just a pawn. Nothing more.

While watching Mikan and Hotaru’s reunion, Tsubasa teases Natsume about joining the group hug. Natsume ignores him, and makes to walk away, but stops just long enough to toss his healing alice necklace to him. Tsubasa can borrow it to make up for having Subaru put Natsume’s injuries first. He makes it clear that he doesn’t want anybody looking after him, and that might seem like a snub, but this is kindness too. Natsume calls Tsubasa by his name, though he’ll do his best to avoid ever saying it again, and lends him a source of comfort and healing to pay back Tsubasa’s compassion. This is a growing moment, because Natsume has opened himself up to the idea that he could care about more people, even if it means more to lose.

Saying people's names is another rare magic from Natsume, I guess.

Natsume has learned things on this mission too, just like Mikan has. He’s a bit more open-minded now. He judged both Tsubasa and Pengy, and ended up changing his mind about them both, even if only by a little. He’s also discovered that Mikan has affection for him too, and it will completely undo all the effort he’s so far tried to make in distancing himself. It’s one thing to stay away from the girl you like when she hardly stands you. It’s another thing when she enjoys your company, and your feelings are turning into love. His feelings have intensified, or maybe they were always so intense but are just newly solidified, as he’s not hiding from them as much anymore.

He won’t be able to distance himself from her anymore, so he’ll completely stop trying.

Conclusion

Natsume has realized that Mikan holds a degree of fondness for him too, and because he is now very deeply in love with her, he will not be able to stay away like he'd resolved to before. Tomorrow we will begin our essay with Natsume's birthday, a very exciting way to start looking at his new approach to his relationship with Mikan.

The last essay (pt. 9) in particular inspired people to tell me that they were learning new things about Natsume, and as a result even loving him more, and that makes me so happy! Natsume is one of my favorite characters ever, and I want people to love him as much as I do! I love when people leave comments or questions! Really, I'm just so happy and over the moon that people are reading and enjoying, because again--this is a LOT of words. It's a long essay, and it means so much not just that people want to read about Natsume and his feelings for Mikan, but that they want to hear what I have to say about it! Thank you so much for supporting me! Isn't it exciting that we're about a quarter through? <3

I can’t put a song in the tags cuz I have too many tags. So. Church by Fall Out Boy.

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#gakuen alice #alice academy #hyuuga natsume #natsume hyuuga #natsumikan #sakura mikan #mikan sakura #my meta #ga #mine #ga meta #ga meta: nm #ga meta: manga #ga meta: manga nm #let's talk about natsumikan #let's talk about natsumikan: natsume #yes natsume is a leftie and i will bring it up a thousand times #hes left handed. as if he wasnt oppressed enough #might make an appreciation post for natsume being left handed #also his cute little smile! he is BAbEY #hes my son i will protECT him #also! when it comes to picking the title pictures.... its so hard #i try to pick pictures from the era #particularly a chapter cover from the arc that i like #sometimes im not lucky and theres not a grand selection #i also have to save some pics for mikans essay. so. limited options #i really am trying to do my best here and include good pics!#i was gonna pick a lil snippet from the aeiou book but i dont have any good quality images of that book so the pic i got was grainy #i chose this instead. closer to the era i think #could be better. im sorry

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