#life mission usagi

[daedelweiss]

you need to talk abt LMleosagi more, i want to know

will be posting more about LM!usagi later but here's some things about him and his relationship with leo 👀

• his full name is daichi usagi (he's not yuichi from the show) • him and leo met when they were 13. leo was trying to steal toys from usagi's family's toy shop when usagi caught him in the act. when he found out he was stealing for his missing brothers, usagi cut leo some slack and agreed to hold onto the toys until leo can pay for them. • leo hangs out with him whenever april can't go with him in the Hidden City. it's usually his only chances to be a kid and just not worry about anything. • both struggle on their role as "hero". leo because he only cares for his family and loved ones, usagi only wants a simple and peaceful life (he landed on the hero role by accident). they both bond over it a lot. • usagi was the first one to fall in love with leo. there wasn't really a big moment when he realized it. it was mostly small moments that built up to a realization and he's freaked out over it ever since. • usagi has two younger twin siblings. they tease him a lot over his crush with leo. • unfortunately for usagi, leo is a dense mfer (and demiromantic) that he doesn't see through the hints: the twins teasing, usagi being a bit more jumpy whenever they hung out, april nudging him. • april knows usagi and has met him shortly after leo met him. usagi told her about his crush and confides in her a lot about it. april is lowkey pissed at how stupid leo is but thought it's also entertaining. • usagi actually confesses shortly after donnie's arc starts (this won't appear in the main comic because i want to focus on things that are canon to rise). that was the moment leo realized he actually saw usagi as more than a friend but he wasn't ready to jump into a relationship yet, so he told usagi to wait until things calm down and they've saved the world from the whole shredder business. • they do get together after the events of the comic 💖 they're absolute dorks.

that's most of the things i've thought up about LM!leosagi 😄 some info i've withheld because i want usagi to have a short story/comic about how he became to be a hero (it's going to be like one comic) and because i want to give him a proper introduction outside of being leo's love interest 😛

i will draw them a bit tho because i have a soft spot for dramaless romances and are just wholesome 🥺💖

[dianagj-art]

Kappa is losing Cool Guy points

Context: we were talking if the Usagis would be able to tell their Leos apart and EW!Usagi has a very simple way to find his

AUs left to right:

Bloodbath @trubblegumm

Gemini @tangledinink

Red Rover @red-rover-au

Empyrean Weeping @cupcakeslushie

Even More Disaster @3lectricinsomnia @teaableu @evenmoreofadisaster

Never Better @less-depresso-more-espresso

Separated Leo - me:D

The Night @y0unginhumans @the-saturn-project

Life Mission @daedelweiss

Tentative Devotee @s0fti3w1tch

[ladyloveandjustice]

Say what you will about TV Tropes, and I've said a lot, but they blew my mind with this entry on Zuko:

They're so right, he is??? How did I never realize this?? Zuko would bond so much with Fate and Rue and pretty much every antagonist-turned-Precure. They're the same.

(though tbh I don't think most magical girls that have dark magical girls as foes fit the "running away from duty" thing--Nanoha doesn't, Ahiru doesn't (except for ten minutes at the end but Rue's already normal by that point), Precure protagonists don't, even Usagi has developed past running away from her duty by the time Black Lady and Sailor Saturn/Mistress Nine come along.

I think more accurate would be that while a magical girl will have a life outside her duty--she'll have friends, she'll enjoy relaxing, having fun, goofing off and she'll have goals and things she likes to do outside her mission--dark magical girls generally don't have those things, and the only thing they're living for is their mission and/or pleasing their abusive parent. Which is also pretty perfectly Aang and Zuko for season one and a good chunk of Season 2. Capturing the Avatar and earning Ozai's approval is the only thing Zuko thinks about, he repeatedly refuses to have any life outside his mission of hunting Aang, including just relaxing and socializing for five minutes. Meanwhile, Aang has friends, has fun, can socialize and live a full life and think of other things besides being the Avatar).

Aang really is so magical girl coded when you think about it too. His personality, his vibes, pulled into his destiny when he'd rather just be normal, the way he advocates forgiveness and tries to help even his enemies see the light...elemental powers...he even has animal mascots! It was right there in front of me the whole time.

[reagi-df]

Runt and Usagi: Bonding

A bit of lore notes

Spending your whole life fighting for your place in the world makes you realise your nothing, Runts just been going from one fight to another. The Heads need strong soldiers and if your not strong enough then your as good as dead.

Runt is the prodigal son and has high expectations, groomed to be The Heads finally weapon against the Kraang, however being sent on the mission to try and bring in Mikey, Raph and Donnie into the fold is their down fall, as Runt begins to realise how messed up his upbringing was and gets to know what it’s like to have a family.

Usagi is the bastard child of the Usagi family, sent to The Heads as a last ditch effort to see if he’s worth anything. All he’s ever wanted was to be loved by his parents, to not be cast away like he had been, and he’d do anything to show his family he’s worthy even if that means betraying the ones he called friends. He’s always had to live in Runts shadow, even when he’s way ahead of the turtle.

The Heads want the Shredders armour and he’s sent to retrieve it when Runt fails in his mission.

(Please ignore the young runt and usagi drawing it was a last minute 😂 also still trying to figure out how to draw them young)

[gonetoforks]

Introducing; Yuichi Usagi-Cuddles!

There’s a slight typo in his basic character bio, (first, grey image) other than “yuich,” his family in America lives in the part of the hidden city under Jersey. He lives in Jersey. He’s a Jersian. So in terms of leosagi, it’s gonna be an enemies-to-lovers comedy-of-errors muahahahaha!!

More (a LOT more) info about him as his own guy under the cutoff :D ⬇️

Basically; He’s a silly guy! I feel like his kinda buffoonish, embarrassing personality in canon is simultaneously PERFECT for Rise’s writing style & grievously underrated in fanon depictions. So he’s this clownish type of character, haha.

Okay, time to go hyperfixation mode.

Adhd & his stubborn attitude;

He has ADHD! Executive function issues makes it hard for him to start tasks & manage himself, so he relies on his teams (the Mad Dogs when he’s training & the Rise equivalent to his canon friend group on his own time) to not only instruct him, but also hold him accountable & keep him on task. He’s body-doubling without even realizing it.

Although, he resents the things he does to accommodate his disability. He doesn’t notice that doing the things he does genuinely helps or why so he thinks he’s using them as a crutch because of incompetence. Every time he gets stubborn and ignores the things he needs to do, he crashes and burns. When he was new in town with no teacher & no friends who liked martial arts, he became a huge sad sack until the kraang invasion.

His character arc is about being able to rely on other people & accommodations. That relying on a bit more help than other people doesn’t make you incompetent, choosing to seek out the support you need so you can do your best is the true mature thing to do. I was inspired by canon Yuichi’s struggles with paying attention and Rise’s themes of cooperation. (& also my own experience with adhd and learning with executive function issues & junk)

Relationships w/ the turtles;

The Mad Dogs agree to let him like, intern with them? So he can see what it’s like to be a vigilante, they offer him advice and they occasionally go on low to mid-tier missions with his help. They take him on cause they think more heroes and allies out there, the less work they have to do haha. Also, one of the writers mentioned a season 3 would have them adjusting to being ~official heroes,~ I think this would be them trying to be “real.”

He’s closest friends with Mikey out of the whole group! (Adhd solidarity) Then it goes Donnie -> Raph -> and finally Leo (for now muahaha)

I tried to give Leosagi an interesting dynamic with constructing his character like this; They have similar insecurities from drawing self-worth from technical capabilities that they can develop past together, but Leo is clever and calculating about it vs Yuichi being rash and impulsive. So like smart x stupid but they’re the same actually.

His Family in Jersey;

He speaks english fluently because he’s visited his American family frequently his whole life, they’re very close. He has an accent though since he mainly speaks Japanese.

I haven’t fleshed out this concept enough, but I think members of his jersey/Cuddles half of the family would be spoofs of characters from the original yojimbo comics, implied to be reincarnations? Except Miyamoto ofc. (i’ll explain later..)

Reusing the ninja orphans plotline from the original show, his family utilizes their cute appearances to run an orphanage too. They wonder why this Chizu lady is constantly showing up with unhoused children, but they’re just grateful they’re safe now.

Everyone in his family HATES Mrs. Cuddles, they all think she’s in prison and are happy about it. She might’ve given him that scratch on his face.

Additional;

He is gay.

Thank you for your time.

[goodlucktai]

7 for Leosagi?? 🥺

dialogue prompts

7. “No. No, stop. Stop talking like that. You’re gonna be fine.”

i'm so sorry in advance. here's a song rec ❤️‍🩹

x

It’s not like Usagi expected to get a happy ending out of the apocalypse. It’s not like a happy ending could exist anymore—that idea went up in smoke the day Raphael died and took a part of every single person who loved him right along with him. 

Leo hasn’t been Leo since then, not really. That magnetic person Usagi first met in Run of the Mill, with brilliant gold eyes and the loudest laugh in the room, is made up of smaller parts, and those parts run around in color-coded bandanas. 

Losing Donatello was devastating for all of them, and in some ways was the final nail in the coffin that no one wanted to admit they had already dug a grave for in their minds. 

Oh, Usagi realized that night, in between holding Leo and praying he’d scream or cry or do anything other than stare vacantly at the wall, I’m never getting him back again, am I?

That shining boy Usagi fell in love with was long gone by then. 

But the man left behind still woke up in the morning and went to work, and his unyielding heart still beat for them, and his brand-new way of smiling with half the life he used to have was becoming more familiar every day.  

Usagi knew that he and April were two of Leo’s touchstones, important and integral and necessary. He also knew that Michelangelo and Casey Jr. were the real miracle workers. 

Mission room, quick, Mikey had sent one day with ninpo rather than a communicator, more of a feeling that gave the impression of words than an actual message. But Usagi had been an unofficial adoptee of the Hamato clan long enough that the turtles’ ninpo had a well-worn little nook inside his soul to rest in, and he was moving before Mikey’s voice had faded. 

April was already in the doorway when he skidded into the hall, and he didn’t have a chance to ask what the matter was before he heard what had to have put that stunned look on her face.

Laughter. 

Leo and his little brother and his little ward were sitting around the table, and what had probably begun as a lesson in strategy had devolved into what sounded like a homebrewed D&D campaign. Mikey was sitting cross-legged on the table, forming little figurines out of light as Casey requested them that became solid as they traded hands. 

It was a pocket of goodness Usagi never would have guessed he would find that day. Mikey looked over his shoulder and beckoned them in with a nod of his head, smile widening to include them. 

“Living up to your name every day, Angelo,” April murmured, hopping up to sit on the edge of the table and bumping her shoulder into his. 

“You guys make it easy,” Mikey said as if his little miracles were unremarkable. 

Usagi circled around the table to sit on Casey’s free side, rewarded with a samurai rabbit figurine and a backstory that sounded a lot like a fictionalized version of the horrifying disaster of a mission of four years ago, when he had led a pack of Krang hounds away from a cluster of survivors and somehow managed not to die for his troubles. Casey’s rendition edited out a lot of his panicked swearing, and made him sound more like a hero than anything. 

Usagi had only told his fiancé the finer details, so this heroic Yojimbo character had to have come from him. It made his heart warm, and he listened to Casey’s earnest, inherited storyteller voice and Leo’s indulgent, leading questions fill the room for long after he should have gone to find some work to do. 

And then the Krang arrived by the hundreds, with their hounds and their parasites, and crashed over the resistance like high tide. Everything fell apart, their forces scattering to survive only to be picked off one by one. Usagi lost sight of his family in the chaos, but then a beacon went up. It attracted attention for miles, and Usagi gritted his teeth and fought like hell to get there first. 

He felt it when Mikey’s ninpo went supernova—an echo inside his heart that felt like loss. That felt like grief. 

No, Usagi thought. Please no. 

He found Leo lying on his plastron in an obscene pool of red, too much red to make sense. There was a portal open behind him—not blue like the ones he used to make, or burnt orange like Mikey’s, this was the color of the sun on those summer afternoons before the sky turned a perpetual pink. Shining so bright it was impossible to look at head-on. 

Usagi barely looked at it for longer than a second before he was crashing to his knees at Leonardo’s side. The turtle’s carapace was a ruin and he was so still and Usagi didn’t realize his mouth was moving on autopilot, a steady stream of his inner no no no no, until Leo made some tiny noise that was sign of life enough to stall Usagi’s impending meltdown. 

“Hey! Hey, sweetheart,” Usagi said, too-fast, leaning over him. The blood was still warm, seeping into the knees of his trousers. That was good, wasn’t it? That it was warm? “Tried to party without me, huh? That’s not how married life works, you know.”

The ghost of a smile touched the corner of Leo’s mouth. Usagi curled a hand against his cheek and touched his thumb to the smile, committing it to memory next to all the others. 

“Sorry I never got to marry you,” Leo mumbled. 

“No. No, stop,” Usagi said. He almost couldn’t hear himself over the sound of his own heart pounding in his ears. “Stop talking like that. You’re gonna be fine, and you’re gonna marry me. We promised when it was over, we’d—”

“It’s over,” Leo told him, cracking one eye open. The gold of it was so dull. Somewhere in there was the love of Usagi’s life, and he crawled closer, trying to find that spark he followed all the way here. The light that had survived every moment of darkness until now. 

Then that eye crinkled, and Leo’s smile deepened beneath Usagi’s thumb, and he said, “It’s my turn to take a selfish.”

There he was. The laugh that came spilling out of Usagi was half-hysterical. The air smelled like smoke and metal and the pungent tang of the Technodromes and Leo was quoting a TV show they binged together as teenagers a lifetime ago.  

“Anything,” Usagi said. 

“Behind you,” Leo managed, blood on his teeth. “The door. Mikey made it.” 

“The time gateway?” Usagi asked. They had discussed it once, years ago, but when Draxum brought up how dangerous it would be for their resident mystic warrior Leo shot the idea out of the air so completely that no one present in the room that day had dared bring it up again. 

And now Mikey was gone. Usagi chanced another look at the brilliant starlike portal and knew instantly where he had gone. Accepting the loss of him was like accepting you would never see the sun again. Acknowledging how bleak your existence was about to become. 

“The kid already went through,” Leo went on, his voice barely more than a wheeze. “The mission—it’s his now. He’s our g-greatest weapon. Always has been.” 

Their little hope. Bright-eyed and optimistic, growing up in a burning world. If anyone could save everyone, it was Casey Jones. 

“I need you—you to go, too,” Leo said. 

“What? No,” Usagi said, reeling, light-headed with a sudden super-intense fear. Abruptly understanding the shape his own personal hell was about to take. “I’m not leaving you. Don’t ask me to do that.”

Leo laughed, a gusty exhale that seemed to take the last of his strength. “Not if I leave you first,” he mumbled, an apology and a farewell and all the wryness of a joke he knew no one would like. Tears wet Usagi’s fingertips, smearing into the blood and dirt on Leo’s cheek. “I love you. I’m sorry.”

Usagi was a Hamato the way April and Cassandra and Draxum and Casey all were. The way the turtles had been, once upon a time. Taken in and given a home. He couldn’t weaponize the ninpo but he had never had any trouble feeling it. 

And he could feel it when three different hands joined his on Leo’s shoulder. When Leo closed his eyes and didn’t drift from Usagi as much as he was lifted up into strong arms and carefully carried away. The body that Usagi was holding was empty. The man he loved—the shining boy he first met—was whole again somewhere else. 

Go catch up to Junior, Mikey’s voice whispered in the back of his mind. We’ll see you on the flip side. 

Usagi realized how Leo must have felt all these years, simultaneously carved from stone and insubstantial enough to float away if the wind blew hard enough. There was nothing left. There was literally, he thought, standing under a smoldering pink sky, the man he would have married dead at his feet, blood sticky and staining his fur, Mikey’s last act of love burning like the sun at his back, nothing left.

But there was still Casey. Alone, on a mission to stop this future from happening. 

He thought of that day in the missions room, listening in on a lesson-turned-game, and Casey’s bright young voice rewriting history. The bold, daring characters. The brighter end. 

Usagi kissed the dull red stripe on Leo’s cheek and pulled off his bloodied mask. Lifted the cracked blue katana from the ground and slid it into place next to Edgewing. Tied the tattered blue mask securely around his topknot.

One more run. One more stupid story to tell later. 

“I bet you’ll get a kick out of this one,” he said to whoever might have been listening, and stepped into the light.

[lauri-rosehearts]

Rare Sailor Moon related post on here but one of my genuinely favorite things about Rei’s manga characterization is that on a surface level when you first meet her, she’s pretty much the exact opposite you would expect from a fire based character. She’s introverted, cynical, calm, dignified, and to an extent…actually kinda cold.

She’s pretty closed off and is hesitant to let people in, to the point where shortly after becoming Sailor Mars, she actually keeps both Usagi and Ami at arm’s length for a little while and even expresses resentment at the sudden change in her life that came with awakening as Sailor Mars and suddenly being dragged into a mission she just learned about. Over the course of the first arc, she opens up to the others as the team becomes more complete and as she realizes these people do actually care about her as both a friend and not just some team asset.

Once she fully embraces the others as her true friends, she makes it clear that she is passionately committed and loyal to a fault, and overall a pretty warm person when it comes to the people she loves. All traits which are more associated with fire more than her initial coldness and cynicism. She’s always had those fire-type traits, but she just needed time to unveil those traits beneath the cynical mask she puts on.

I love that this is how Naoko handled her fire-based character because rather than making her a stereotypical hot-head (which the 90s anime ended up doing), she made her a sort of closed off Ice queen who starts to WARM UP to the others and show the more warm sides of her personality soon after the literal fire within her awakens (aka when she transforms into Sailor Mars for the first time) and she feels more comfortable opening up to the others

[aliceinborderlandscrolls]

Dream Of Me

Chishiya Shuntarō x reader

Your last night in the Borderlands

Fluff / Angst

“Have you seen Chishiya?” I heard Kuina ask.

My eyes lit up as I slid in beside her, all of us crouched down and hiding behind cars.

“Shuntarō? You’ve seen him?” I asked as my eyes began to quickly look at my surroundings, “Where?”

“A couple blocks that way.” Arise admitted, but began to panick as I stood up, “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to go find him.” I stated, but before I could run off Usagi grabbed my arm.

“We need you here to help take down the King of Spades.” She spoke calmly.

“But…” I trailed off.

My eyes held worry for the man that has always been within arms reach since the start of the games. I couldn’t help the knowing anxiety that has flooded my chest since we got separated by the very King of Spades who means to end my life now.

I shook my head, “Chishi could be hurt. I’m not going to lose him to this stupid game-” I stated as began to move.

“He’s fine!” Arisu assured me, his voice sharp and panicked, “He’s safer where he is than here with us.”

I felt torn as too much turmoil struggled inside me.

“We need you.” An said seriously.

After a moment of heavy debate, I relented my mission with a sigh. I knelt to the ground, keeping a look out for any chance of the King of Spades seeing us.

“If you say he’s alright Arisu then… What do I need to do?” I asked.

“We need to draw him away from the other players.” An suggested.

“Alright.” I nodded, “Fine, but as soon as we beat this guy, I’m going to go find Shuntarō.”

“Ah, to be young and in love.” Kuina teased.

I gave her a look, “You’re younger than me?”

“Only by two months.” She muttered.

I raised my eyes before returning my attention back to our friend, “Let’s do this.”

…

I couldn’t feel the concrete underneath my body as I coughed up dirt and blood. My mind felt fuzzy and my breath labored as I listened to the King of Spades chase after Arisu.

I hope he will be alright.

I knew I needed to get a hold of myself and fast. I was loosing too much blood from the two bullet wounds I bore in my stomach. Not to mention the few cracked ribs I received from the ruthless beating. At least I was able to break a few of his fingers… I humored myself with the thought.

I wiggled my own fingers to see if I would be able to get up and felt relieve in the small movement.

I grunted in pain as I slowly sat up. I lifted my arms to take off my torn shirt and use it as a gauge to wrap around my stomach. Once I felt it was secured enough, I grabbed on to a railing beside me and heaved myself up with a frustrated cry.

The sound of my name stopped me from taking anymore steps out of this cursed alleyway.

“Kuina… An.” I breathed out, “Are you alright?”

“Could be better.” An hummed.

“I agree, this hurts like a bitch.” Kuina grunted in pain the moment she laughed.

Worry flashed over my face at the two, “What can I do?”

An shook her head, “There is nothing you can do.”

The sound of the blimp exploding shoved us signaled that Arisu had won and the King of Spades was no more.

An continued, “Only Arisu can save us now. Soon this hell will be over…”

“I need to…” My face trailed off as I gripped the railing, a new found urge to get to Chishiya taking over my heart.

“I know.” Kuina smiled, “Say hi to him for me.”

I nodded with a small smile before beginning my journey in the direction Arisu had pointed towards earlier. I could only hope that he was still somewhere over there… I wasn’t exactly sure on how much time I had left.

It was night by the time I reached a large opening filled with multiple abandoned cars. The blood from my wound was beginning to seep through my shirt from the exertion. I was worried that it wasn’t a clean shot through and that the bullet could still my inside. It sure felt like it was.

“Shunta?” I called out his name again, it coming out as a cry as I struggled to keep myself standing.

I was beginning to lose faith from the thought of never see him again. Never hear his condescending gravely voice or his beautiful patronizing eyes. Would never be able to see his intelligent mind work or the way he would look like a cute chipmunk when he ate. Or feel his lips against mine that he poured every ounce of feelings and love he had for me.

“Please…” I tried to wipe the tears from my eyes to no avail.

I was beginning to lose hope… Until…

“Over here.” He said and it was then that I saw his outline.

He was on the ground, leaning against a car and it was when I stumbled closer that I could make out dark patches in his jacket. He held his side protectively, but his face looked as calm as a clear sky.

“Oh Chishi.” I cried out, stumbling to the ground beside him.

My hands shook over his wounds, unable to do anything as I gazed teary eyed at him, “What happened?”

“Niragi.” He lightly shrugged, “My conscience decided to get the best of me today I suppose.” He gestured to my lack of clothing, “Though I didn’t realize you’d have your shirt off.”

I shook my head with a short laugh, wincing at the pain as I fell into him, careful not to touch his side. My head fell onto his uninjured shoulder as I allowed myself to cry.

“I thought I’d never see you again.” I spoke as well, “I wish I would’ve jumped out of that car that day.”

“You would have been killed, easily.” Chishiya spoke simply.

I scoffed at the blunt honesty, immediately regretted it afterwards as I held onto my side.

Chishiya ignored me. “I need to check your wound.”

“My fate is up to Arisu and winning against the Queen of Hearts.” I stated, “What happened to Niragi then? Did he…”

“Still hear.” I heard his voice a little bit away.

“If I was able to get up right now, I would-”

“You’d kill me. I know.” Niragi’s voice was sarcastic and I swear I could see his eyes roll.

Chishiya brought my attention back to him, “I need to remove your shirt.”

“This isn’t the time for that.” I tried to joke, but I could see the glare in his eyes, “It’s nothing, really.”

“Don’t tell me it’s nothing, I can tell it’s a bullet wound from the blood seeping through your poorly wrapped excuse of a bandage.” Chishiya sat up a bit with a grunt, “At least you made it this without dying. Means that the bullet didn’t hit anything vital.”

“Such kind words for a dying person.” I rolled my eyes.

Chishiya only raised his eyebrow, “Do you want to know if the bullet is still lodged in there or do you want to die?”

After a pause he did something I never thought he would do…

“Please.” Chishiya pleaded, something very unlike him.

I saw the worry held in his eyes a relented with a soft nod, “Okay.” I turned away, my face hearing up as his fingers gently grazed my skin.

He gently untied my shirt and peered closely to see an exit wound, “You’ll live.”

“Thanks doctor.” I muttered.

I could hear him grunt as he tore a piece of his shirt off and properly bandaged my wound.

“I’m… Glad that you didn’t… That I got to see you one last time.” He spoke softly.

Tears filled my eyes, “Me too Chishi…”

I leaned back against him, taking in the cool night air.

“Do you think he’ll do it?” I wondered.

“It’s Arisu.” Chishiya stated plainly.

I pressed my face into the crook of his neck, “I don’t mind dying like this…”

Chishiya didn’t say a word opting to secure his arm around my side. Minutes seemed to turn into an hour. My eyelids felt heavy as I began to doze off.

A gentle nudge prompted me awake, “Seems like he had it in him.” Chishiya said as a voice echoed above us.

“Choose to remain here as a citizen or leave the game.”

“What will it be?” Chishiya asked as if the answer of our fates belonged to me.

I already knew my answer, I just hope that we would still be together regardless of the outcome.

“I… I would like to leave.” I admitted.

“Then it would seem that I would like to leave as well.” Chishiya gave his final answer.

My grip tightened around his jacket and I couldn’t stop the overwhelming flow of tears, sorrow, and relief.

His hand brushed gently over my side, “Why are you crying?”

“I don’t…” I sobbed, “What if we forget about this place? I don’t want to forget you. Please tell me we won’t forget each other.” My words were grasping on pleading as I clutched onto him.

“I can’t tell you that.” Chishiya answered truthfully causing my heart to break.

I buried my face further into his neck and cried.

“I can tell you this.” He said and my ears picked up on the sound of his calm voice, “Nothing will keep me from finding you.”

“Promise?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“On Niragi’s life.” Chishiya chuckled, earning a scoff from afar.

Seemed Niragi was still alive as he spoke his wish of wanting to leave.

“Chishi…” I whined.

“I promise.” He stated truthfully.

I say up so I could look him in the eyes as I said, “Then all I ask of you until then is to dream of me.”

He nodded as our foreheads touched. His lips softly brushed against mine before my eyelids began to grow heavy once more.

“See you soon my heart.” Chishiya whispered.

…

Chishiya opened his eyes being faced with a bright light. Everything felt soar and numb all the same. He released a sigh before looking around the hospital room. His roommate for the next couple weeks had been sleeping and so he rang for a nurse to fill him in on his condition.

It wasn’t too long before he heard rustling beside him. Chishiya glanced over to his roommate without the faintest recognization.

“Why are you staring? Do you want something from me?” The stranger asked.

“Apparently, your heart stopped too.” Chishiya stated.

He stared up at the ceiling as he asked, “How the hell do you know that?”

“It seemed to have happened to me as well.” Chishiya answered.

He chuckled, “What a fucking coincidence.” The burned man glanced at his roommate, “I’m Niragi.” He introduced himself.

“Chishiya.” He returned.

It was silent for a minute before Chishiya spoke again.

“Since… you almost died Niragi.” Chishiya tilted his head towards him, “Do you feel like something has changed to you?”

“I’m not entirely sure… I guess I looked a lot flashier before the incident.” Niragi mused, “How about you? Do you feel different?”

“I have wasted my life until this moment. From now on I think I will live a more useful life.” Chishiya hummed.

Niragi took a breath, “You were a good for nothing jerk too then, huh?”

Chishiya stared at the wall ahead of him, “Yeah.”

“You also mutter in your sleep.” Niragi continued, “I couldn’t make out anything except the word, promise.”

“It’s strange, I don’t remember what the dream was about.” Chishiya answered his brows furrowed slightly, “But it felt important.”

[s0fti3w1tch]

Tentative Devotee AU (TBC Soon)

Leonardo is a Foot trainee, raised and trained by Lieutenant and Brute since he was 9. Life before then is fuzzy at best. — In the past several months, he's been going on his first proper missions, quickly aware of a persistent threat against the Foot Clan: 3 mutant turtles and a human who've foiled them time and time again.

What he wasn't aware of was that they were 4 siblings who never gave up on finding their missing brother.

CONTENT WARNING! This AU will explore: Mourning of family / Mourning of a child (who isn't actually dead, but believed to be). Violence is canon-typical up to the standards of the movie— That is also a reference point for the tone of this AU. There will be cult themes and dips into the topic of cult trauma, alongside family issues.

Main Comic:

Enemies || [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ tbc... ]

Baby Blue || [coming soon]

[TBA]

Minisodes/Mini-Comic:

Donnie's Apology Gift

First Mission Mishaps!

PSAs: Triggering Content, Why Leo will not have a "Dark Side," Cult Parents

More content below the cut! ♥︎

Scrapped/Changed Ideas or Scenes:

"Maybe this is the lowest point of my life" / Severing Ties

Usagi's first design + role

Mona Lisa first design

Reference Sheets:

Leonardo's Room

UPDATED LEO FULL REF

Leo's Outfit Change + Sorta-Timeline

Hand Marking

Scarf

Leo's Guitar

Eyes (outdated)

Nail Polish

Butterfly Charm

Future!TD!Leo

Usagi WIP

Doodles:

More Lore/Story Heavy = ♥︎ / Just More Fun = ☀︎ / 💬 = answer to an ask

Leo Solo!

"Keep it together, Leo"

"What I know about family?"

He/They/Xe of the day! / Speed-Color ☀︎

Scooter Boy! ☀︎

He's Writing Fanfic ☀︎

Guac Baby ☀︎

"Yeah, of course! But also..." ☀︎

Animation Test

No Sleep

[ i was listening to sonic music while drawing this ] ☀︎

disillusionment

Cook :P ☀︎

3 Swords?! ☀︎ 💬

Peepaw'd :) 💬

Head Empty + Leo kinda mad ♥︎ 💬

Blep! 💬

Feelings Down ♥︎💬

Multi POV

TD Spoilers Over Memes [1]

Trust in the Foot ♥︎ 💬

"Keep your brother safe" ♥︎ 💬

Big Sisters ♥︎

Turtle Sister to Turtle Sister 💬

Foot Clan Family

Motorcycle Theft! 💬

Shell Cracks + A Small Moment ♥︎ 💬

Trans Sibs!!! ☀︎ 💬

Hamato Clan

Not Growing With Us ♥︎💬

Recognition? 💬 ♥︎

"Donnie, stay out of this"

Unknown Tension

Protective Older Twin 💬

"Can we be brothers?" 💬

Donnie's hope (colored ver: here)

"Donnie, whatcha got there?" ☀︎

Drawing for Donnie 1

Yōkai Connections

Hueso's First Encounter With Leo 💬

+ All my AU Crossover Content linked here~!

Separated Leo Crossover : Bathtub Arc ☀︎

Preview Comic (Test)

TMNT AU Competition Basketball Saga ☀︎

DOUBLE-HANDED BACKHAND SWING

Nail Bat Recieved

Leo Hype Squad!

No PomPoms

I didn't intend for this AU to be that big, but I realized I did want to give this a go and make at least something. It's my goal to finish this project eventually.

The AU will be told in segments, comics of various points of the story.

Bonus! Miscellaneous info that doesn't play big into this AU but matters enough to me:

Leonardo is transmasculine, uses he/they/xe pronouns and is referred to with primarily masculine terms.

A version of Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo comics exists and it's Leo's second favorite comic series in this AU.

'Tentative Devotee' is the name of the fanfic I was originally going to write. It was just gonna be a 2-shot fic and a way to navigate some feelings as someone who was born and raised in, and eventually left, a cult.

The initial tone/direction of this AU was much different, Leo ending up in the Foot Clan under different circumstance (i.e. direct kidnapping from Lieutenant and Brute). I found this didn't quite work for me.

[cupcakeslushie]

I’m really looking forward to more of Leo and Mikey interacting! We haven’t gotten the chance to see them have a relationship beyond flashbacks to when the two were young or the tiny snippets you give outside the current comic. Usagi clearly seems to be a massive part of Leon’s recovery, Raph seems to be the sibling who will be facing the brunt of Leo’s rage, and the disaster twins in Rise are a law- but Michael is still such a kind and loving presence that I can’t imagine he isn’t a massive reminder to Leo that the world isn’t as worthless as Oroku Saki tried to make it.

Love my tide-pod babies in every iteration, the two ingenuitive minds of the 5

(Also migraines are the worst! I’m glad you’re feeling better)

This arc is definitely gonna be for the Tide-pod duo lovers! Mikey is ready to burn down the whole Foot Compound to get to Leo. And he will drag his brother kicking and screaming back into their loving family, if he has to.

Usagi will be a huge part of Leo’s recovery after the Shredder!Leo Arc, but not really while Leo is reacclimatizing to the family. Usagi knows the proper thing to do is step back, and let the Hamatos get reacquainted on their own. They’ll have enough to worry about without him in the mix. Also in Usagi’s mind, he’s only on the current mission to make things right, and offer his knowledge of Saki’s private Compound, but he’s still very much convinced that Leo doesn’t want to be saved, even if it would mean death. However, Cass asked for his help, and he’s gotten to know Mikey and Raph pretty well, so he wants to at least do what he can.

It won’t be until later, when Usagi can see that Leo is finally someone he can get to know, instead of this mysterious blank canvas with nothing real behind it. And that growth will be thanks in large part to Mikey. Because you’re right, Leo will benefit greatly from having that sunshine back in his life—he’s been denied it for too long. He’s lost any and all hope he had, and Mikey will help Leo discover it again.

[awarmbowlofhomemadesoup]

There’s some weird dissonance reading Leosagi fics first before watching Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. I mean it, I enjoyed the fics, truly. But some of them made Yuichi more like Miyamoto Usagi than himself (and I’m not saying it’s a bad thing). It’s just funny after finishing 2 seasons of SRTUC because:

While Miyamoto Usagi has a resting bitch face, Yuichi did NOT inherit it. Yuichi has a resting space face when he’s not getting excited about his ancestor or Yokai.

2. He wants to be like his ancestor so bad, but he’s just too wholesome.

3. A lot of people have already said this in a lot of posts, but dude is a disaster (affectionate):

Whooping and swinging his sword and yelling he doesn’t need a sensei after making a promise to his auntie that he would find one and treat the sword with respect.

Almost got run over by heavy traffic (and is not aware of it)

Pissed off every single one of his would-be friends who were ready to beat him up.

Was given a wide selection of mystical weapons, and ended up with a yoyo because he got distracted by it. 

AND went to jail. That’s just his first day in Neo Edo. 

He is not easily distracted, he's "momentarily focused" on other things ("oh look, a bird!")

Went into a self-induced drug trip after trying so hard to meditate

4. While Yuichi can be spacey and distractible, he’s already a skilled swordsman with good instincts and reflexes. What he lacked was experience and something to temper his one-track mind.

5. When the show said he’s “all ears, no brain,” they meant it. Guy keeps syrup packets in his pockets so that he’s always prepared. (for desserts, ig) 

6. “All ears, no brain,” was said within his hearing range and it just went through his head because he’s too excited about fighting yokai like his great-great-greatx grandpa.

7. Has the selfishness and self-centeredness of someone with ADHD (and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing). He can be so caught up in wanting to be a hero, he would sometimes not listen to his friends, or hog the mission for a chance to be remembered for a thousand years.  

8. He wants to be the main character so bad:

Jumped into conclusions with Gen and made a wanted person escape.

Attacks yokai on sight to live out his fantasy of being like Miyamoto Usagi

Tries to pilot a giant robot and did well for 1.5 seconds.

Risks his life more than once by making contact with a giant magic crystal that could’ve burned him alive with too much power.

He’s goddamn lucky his show is for a younger audience or he’d be traumatized along with Leo (and his bros) from rottmnt, Luz from TOH, and MK from Lego Monkie Kid. 

9. Likes one-liners because it’s like in his comics/manga of his greatx grandpa. (”Put down the pig, or I’ll put down the hurt -wait, I can do better than that.”)

10. But yeah, all of that and he’s still a polite and considerate kid who sincerely wants to help people and his friends and will do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. 

Saves the three people who were going to beat him up.

Got delighted when the three people who were ready to beat him up were there to rescue him. (”Are we friends now? :D”)

Wants to hug them in the first hour of meeting them.

Somehow convinced one of the most terrifying yokai to be his sensei.

Would babble about yokai in the middle of fighting one.

Risks the city for an alien.

Like I know some people can’t stand its animation. It’s not the best, but it’s not bad either. Anyway, this is the Yuichi Usagi that I have known from the show and I’m glad I’ve met him. 

[tmntartblock]

TMNT LEOSAGI AU

FIND ME IN THE FUTURE

Chapter 3: The lost child, part 1

previous chapter | next chapter

Leo couldn’t sleep. He was thinking all the possibilities, reconsidering every interaction with Usagi. Everything what he had said about himself, his world and their relationship.

The time before the last time, Usagi and Leo had had a long talk, sitting on a tree while looking at the sunset. Everything was peaceful at that exact moment. Leo had felt that everything was going to be okay. They saw each other less and less since Usagi was having harder time sneaking out. It was because the general’s had started to keep more eye on him and said that he had potential.

“I really wanna leave”, Usagi had said. “Come here and live with you. We could watch sunset together every day.”

“Why not? Is it such an impossible scenario?” Leo knew it was a stupid question but couldn’t help himself.

“Leonardo-chan...” They both knew the army would not let Usagi down easy. They hunted Usagi’s friend Gen years after he left. They did not let go of their citizens easy even if they had no interest in fighting.

“It’s not even about being on the run for the rest of my life”, Usagi said. “I… I have the responsibility to my Realm."

Even though Usagi didn't love the army, his Realm he talked about very dearly. Whenever Usagi described his planet, it sounded like the most beautiful place in the universe. The landscape varied from high, dangerous mountains to wide lands of field of blue crystals that the farmers cultivated from their land, mainly due to the government's orders.

"I… I promised to my mother to keep the realm safe from monsters who are trying to take what is ours.”

Usagi rarely mentioned his mother and the first time had been only few years ago. Usagi had never told to anyone else than Leo what had happened.

Usagi didn’t remember a lot from his childhood, only his mother and the wide field he used to run on with his wooden sword. They didn’t have a lot but the government support was enough for the two of them. 

“The last thing I remember from my mom was that I… I yelled at her. She took away my sword and said not to use it anymore. I got so angry.” Usagi stared into abyss, into his own nightmares that had never really left him. No matter how much he tried to suffocate them. He never talked about his past, at least not like this.

“And you know what I did?” Usagi turned back to Leo, eyes filled with disgust to his younger self. “I ran. I thought I could make my own sword. But then the evening came and I got hungry so I went back home and… And the house was on fire. There were few army soldiers trying to put out the fire but it had spread too far.”

Usagi tried to swallow the tears that were forming in his eyes.

“I… I just stood there.”

“It’s not your fault”, Leo said but Usagi did not believe him. 

“That’s when I met my current mentor, sensei Kuma. She was a third rank sergeant who trained soldiers but also took missions to countryside. 

“This is what the enemies do to our realm”, she said. “They want these precious crystals and are willing to do anything to get them. Your mother gave her life for this realm.”

“Why you didn’t come earlier? You could’ve saved her!” I remember being so sad it turned to anger. I couldn’t fathom that my mother was inside those flames. 

“We came here as soon as we could, little bunny. The real question is - why weren’t you here to protect your mother?”

Kuma made sure that I understood that the army was the reason I was still alive. She knew I didn’t want to join them but as an orphan I really had no choice - I belonged to the government. I owed my life to the Realm and I had to protect it at all cost. My mother would’ve wished it. 

It made sense. Why else she would’ve give me that sword to practice, right?

We visited my mother’s grave only once. A new family had moved in the spot to take care of the crystal field. Parents with a kid who was running on the field without any worry in the world.

I promised there and then to my mother that I would honor her sacrifice.

You know, I was really angry. I hated everything about the army at the time. The strict rules, awful food, pretentious people who are there to kick your ass. Everybody saw me as a fragile and small bunny who could barely hold a real sword.”

“When I met you, everything changed. We had the field trip to Earth with our squad. It was my first - everything was so loud and big and terrifying. At the same time I was fascinated. For a few years that I had already been in the army, they had told me stories of different planets and civilizations and how they all were barbaric and just out to get us. 

“This is Earth. Right now it doesn’t really pose a threat to us but it is developing fast”, our instructor had said. But I was not interested at all to just walk the dark and dirty streets. I wanted to see the people.”

“Of course I got lost.

And of course I lost the stupid portal necklace to get back to my realm.

That’s when I met you, Leonardo-chan”, Usagi’s smile widened. “It had started to rain and everything just looked the same. I was miserable and thought yeah, this is it, I’m gonna die now.

And then you showed up so concerned and I couldn’t understand your thick Earth accent.”

“I remember that”, Leo said, smiling at the memory. “And when I asked if you needed help and you just said to go away, bandana frog.”

“In my defense the Earth fauna is not that familiar to me.”

“Luckily I understood you called me a band dog.”

“How is that any better?”

“Made you seem more out of your mind so I didn’t take any offense”, Leo responded laughed. The memory was from years ago but it felt like yesterday.  

“Damn your father was scary to meet”, Usagi said after some silence. 

“He’s always been little hesitant with strangers.”

“Luckily master Splinter let me stay even though we didn’t quite understand each other first.”

“Yeah it took like couple of days. But honestly I don’t pay any attention to it anymore. You are easier to understand than Raph with that Brooklyn accent of his.”

Usagi laughed. 

“After you finally understood my situation we started to search for that damn necklace.”

“It really felt like an impossible task. You had no idea where you had lost it.”

“It’s not my fault all the streets look the same! Just gray and full of trash. But damn I had fun.”

“Me too. We searched everywhere.”

“Not just the search. Those few weeks that I got to live with you has been one of the happiest periods of my life.”

“I’ve never had such a comfortable bed.

So much good food.

So many random bursts of sparring. So much playing.

And just have someone to talk and laugh with. I could talk about anything and everything. You always listened to me with all your attention and made me feel seen. Like a real friend that I never had.

To be honest, I didn’t want it to end.”

Usagi’s smile faded away.

“I remember how it felt like finding that necklace. First the excitement that quickly turned into sadness. I remember us thinking to keep it as a secret but I guess our sense of responsibility was already so strong at that age.

I had kind of hoped that master Splinter would let me stay even after finding the necklace but he was very eager to send me back home. He looked very concerned.”

"It was one of the hardest good byes ever", Leo admitted. "I thought I would never see you again."

previous chapter | next chapter

/////Hope you liked this little flashback down the memory lane :)

[kudouusagi]

Buddy Daddies Drama CD Vol 1 – When one door closes, another door opens

*Gun sounds*

*Large explosion*

Video Game: MISSION FAILED!

Rei: Gah...? I lost?

Rei: *Sighs* Right now I'm so... bored...

*Stomach rumbling*

*Presses button on phone*

Concierge: Good Morning, Suwa-sama!

Rei: I'm making an order. Mild beef curry, a steak, a cola...

Concierge: Thank you so much for doing business with our hotel. However we need to discuss your payment with you...

*********************

Rei: I can't use it?

Concierge: That's right. This card has been suspended. Do you have another form of payment

that you could use?

Rei: Ugh...

*********************

Concierge: Wait!

*Rei running*

*Car honks*

Driver: Hey you! Watch where you're going!!

Rei: This is bad... The family card has been cut off... so I don't have money!

*********************

Kazuki: I'm gonna score big! RED!

Crowd: Ohh!

Girl 1: Wow! You’re betting it all?

Girl 2: Kazu-kun, you're so brave!

*Chugs drink*

Kazuki: Ahhh! I’m on a roll today! I'm gonna win this one and be rich!

*Ball rolling to a stop*

Kazuki: AAAHHHHHHH!!!!

*********************

*Kazuki shivering*

Girl 1: Come again, okay?

*Kazuki sneezes and drinks more*

Kazuki: Ugh... Ah... My life is over...

Kyuutarou: Don't just decide that on your own.

Kazuki: Kyuu-chan!

Kyuutarou: Kazuki. Come to Yadorigi.

*********************

Kyuutarou: Can you even work a proper job after all this time? The only kind of work for you is dirty work. Isn't that right?

Kazuki: Yeah... that's right...

Kyuutarou: You keep failing your jobs and I haven't been able to contact you. Is this really the time to be drowning yourself in alcohol?

Kazuki: I'm sorry...

Kyuutarou: How many years do you think it's been since that accident? Can you face Karin-chan like this? 

Kazuki: Ah...

Kyuutarou: This is your last chance.

Kazuki: Last?

Kyuutarou: If you mess up this job... I'll kill you.

Kazuki: Wait...! Anything but that!

Kyuutarou: Then make sure this job is a success.

*Paper crinkling*

Kazuki: Huh? Who's this...?

Kyuutarou: Suwa Rei. The son of our organization’s leader, also known as the "murder machine"

***************

*Convenience store bell ringing*

Cashier: Welco-...me...

Rei: *Grumbling*

Cashier: Eh? That guy's kinda creepy! His hair and beard are both unkempt and he’s stumbling around.... He seems like he'd be able to kill someone...

Rei: Umm...

Cashier: Y-yes? How can I help you?

Rei: How much is this?

Cashier: A teriyaki dog? It's 150 yen.

Rei. Mmm... *counts coins* 39 yen...

Cashier: Ah... Not enough, huh...?

Rei: *Sighs*

Cashier: Sir... Is something wrong?

Rei: Coat...

Cashier: Huh?!

Rei: Nevermind...

*Rei walks out while groaning*

Young Girl Cashier: Ah... Thank... you... What was with that guy?

***************

Rei: I’m an assassin. I can't bother civilians.

Thug: Aniki!

Aniki: Yeah? How'd it go?

Thug: I got the ransom! Here it is!

Aniki: Great job! Let's see it~

*Rei grabs bag*

Aniki: Huh?

Thug: Who are you!?

Rei: I'm borrowing this!

Thug: Huh!? Hey, give that back!

Aniki: Hey! Come on! Stop!

Thug: We’ve lost him!

Aniki: That thief! I'm gonna find him even if I have to turn this whole town upside down! Go find him!

Thug: Okay!

Rei: How annoying...

*Gun clicks*

Rei: Should I kill them...?

Kazuki: Hold on!

Rei: Who’re you?!

Kazuki: I found you, murder machine, Suwa Rei. My name is Kurusu Kazuk- Woah, woah, woah! Where are you going!?

*Running and panting*

Kazuki: Hey! Wait!

*More running and panting*

Kazuki: Fuck.

Kazuki: He’s so fast! I guess it's to be expected from an elite of the Suwa family? Fuck... I can't keep up...

Even though I'm confident in my running ability... all that drinking’s messed with me. Useless assassins will be gotten rid of... If he gets away now... then I'll...!

*Stops running and catches breath*

Kazuki: Maybe that's for the best. I’m a useless drunkard. There’s no one to mourn for me. That's just what I deserve. I'm finally... going to hell...

*can clinking*

Kazuki: Hm? Over there?

*Mechanical door opens*

Kazuki: Come out! Suwa Rei!

*Fist fight*

Kuzuki: Fuck.

*Gun clicks*

Rei: You know my name. You must be in the same line of work.

Kazuki: Wait! You don't understand!

Rei: You must protect yourself again-Hrk! (Idiom: 降り懸かる火の粉は払わねばならぬ Meaning: You must protect yourself against any possible dangers. Literally: you have to brush off any sparks that land on you)

Kazuki: Huh? What? He suddenly fainted?

*Stomach grumbling*

Rei: I’m... hungry...

Kazuki: Huh?!

*****************

*Rei groaning*

Kazuki: Oh! You’re up? Hold on, it's almost done.

Rei: Where...?

Kazuki: My place.

Rei: It’s dirty.

Kazuki: That's all you have to say to the guy who saved your life? I've had a lot going on so I haven't had time to clean.

Kazuki: Here~! Eat.

Rei: Food?

Kazuki: You're malnourished, aren't you?

Rei: Are you sure?

Kazuki: Don’t spill it.

*Slurping sounds*

Kazuki: How is it?

Rei: Udon.

Kazuki: You can tell just by looking at it! How does it taste?

Rei: Like soy sauce?

Kazuki: Because it’s udon! I'm asking if it tastes good?

Rei: It’s normal.

Kazuki: What the hell are you?! At times like this it's only polite to tell someone “It's so delicious!” as thanks even if it's just flattery!

Rei: Hmm!

Kazuki: Huh? Damn, man... Your file said you don't understand polite society and have zero life skills, but you're really like a robot! So... you ran away from home?

Rei: Yeah...

Kazuki: And you're already broke? The money in that bag... it's the ransom from the kidnapping case that’s all over the news, isn't it?

Rei: Probably.

Kazuki: Did you do a kidnapping?

Rei: I borrowed it.

Kazuki: Borrowed it?

Rei: From the kidnappers.

Kazuki: You liar! You stole it!

Rei: I didn’t have any money.

Kazuki: Ugh... Why in the world did you target such troublesome people?

Rei: I can't bother civilians.

Kazuki: You're strangely conscientious.

*Rei continues eating*

Rei: Done.

Kazuki: Osomatsusama (Set phrase to thank someone after they eat your cooking that means sorry for the crude food)

Rei: Kurusu... umm...?

Kazuki: It's Kazuki.

Rei: Kazuki.... Why didn’t you kill me?

Kazuki: Oh, don't get the wrong idea. My job was to protect you.

Rei: Protect?

Kazuki: There's a certain order to this town. Having a lone wolf like you running around wild is a problem. But you’re quite skilled, aren't you. There’s plenty of troubles you can deal with around here. If you work for Kyuu-chan, this town'’s boss, I'm sure you'll make good money.

Rei: Money...

Kazuki: Did you really think you could run away from home and become a normal person? The only kind of work for us is dirty work. Isn't that right? Do you want to slowly die from malnutrition or do you want to play with the cards you’ve been dealt?

Rei: Umm...

Kazuki: Hm? What is it?

Rei: Get me in contact with that boss.

Kazuki: Oh! Okay.

Rei: Thanks.

Kazuki: Huh? Nah I just did my job. You don't need to thank me for anything!

Rei: Mm.

Kazuki: Mmm... What?... It’s not like I’m happy that you thanked me or anythi-

Rei: Move!

*Rei shoves Kazuki to the ground*

Kazuki: Ah! Hey! What’re you do—?!

*Bullets and yelling from thugs*

Thug: We know you're in there!!

Kazuki: Gah! you idiot! Stop! Hey! My place will-!!

Rei: It’s fine. Leave it to me.

Kazuki: Rei?!

Rei: I’ll take responsibility for this. 

*Thugs yelling and shooting*

Kazuki: Wah! Wah! Hey! Wah! Stop! Wah! Not- Not my place!!!!!!!!!

**********************

Kyuutarou: Welcome.

Kazuki: Ah... Hey, Kyuu-chan... I took care of those two jobs.

Kyuutarou: I’m relieved to hear you're actually able to do your job now. Now you just need to improve your skills.

Kazuki: I'm only second rate anyway. I'm nothing like the elite Rei. But he’s amazing, isn’t he? It hasn’t even been a month yet and how many jobs has he done?

Kyuutarou: 30 jobs.

Kazuki: Seriously? We're going to go out of business! He’s probably earned a lot already. Ah, but when I saw him here the other day, his beard and hair were still as much of a mess as ever. Is he even living decently?

Kyuutarou: I found a place for him to stay.

Kazuki: Huh? Kyuu-chan, do you also work in real estate?

Kyuutarou: Well, I have connections. Should I refer you too, Kazuki? You haven’t found a new place yet, have you?

Kazuki: Ahh... well I’ve been busy with work... Even though my last place ended up riddled with holes I really liked it.... *Sighs* Why did it end up like that? Ahhh... This sucks...

Kyuutarou: Oh, right. I have a request for you. Rei is perfect at his job but he never leaves his house so I never see him. So I'm sorry but could you take the information for his next job to him?

Kazuki: Yeah, sure... I was just wanting to complain to him about my wrecking house anyway.

*Kazuki walking away*

Kazuki: Bye! Tell me if you get another job for me!

Kyuutarou: Yeah!

*Door opens and closes*

Kyuutarou: Well... I hope it goes well...

*********************

*Elevator dings*

Kazuki: Wooooow... How good of an apartment does he live in? Is this normal for a son of the Suwa Family? He must be raking it in. Damn it!

*Doorbell rings*

Rei: Yes?

Kazuki: Umm... Kyuu-chan has a job for you so he asked me to bring you the information.

Rei: Ah...

*Kazuki opens the door*

Kazuki: Pardon me... Gwah! Hnk! It reeks! So bad! Hnrk! Eh? This place is so dirty! Eh!? Dirty! Dirty!It’s bad... It's so bad!

Rei: Huh?

Kazuki: Don't just say "Huh?" What is this on the floor?!

Rei: Pizza.

Kazuki: The leftovers of one, right?! And that green stuff isn't basil, is it?! There's something awful growing out of it, isn't there? Aghh! And this delivery sushi is all dried out! Wah! And there’s a cup noodle with the soup left in it! Throw it out! Throw it out! Now what about the kitchen...? AHHHHHHHH! THE SINK! THE SINK IS FULL OF A STRANGE COLORED LIQUID!!! HEY, REI!! DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PLACE!!!

Rei: Maybe I'll hire a maid?

Kazuki: Wait, wait, wait, wait! Have you forgotten what you do for work? Your place is full stuff like sensitive

documents and weapons! It would be bad if you let a normal person in here!

*Rei’s starts playing video game*

Rei: Oh well then.

Kazuki: Huh? Stop escaping from reality! *Sighs exasperatedly* Fuck, okay then! I’ll help you clean this place up!!

Rei: Thanks.

Kazuki: You're helping too, you shut in! And I'm going to tame that wild hair of yours too so be prepared for that!

Rei: *sighs in frustration*

**************************

*Boiling*

Kazuki: Hm... *slurp* Mmm! Perfect! Okay! 

*Turns off stove*

Kakuzi: Hey, Rei! Food's ready!

Rei: There’s so many plates.

Kazuki: Complaining about strange things as always but oh well. Here you go. Go ahead and eat your fill! Since the money for this came out of your wallet anyway.

*Rei starts eating*

Kazuki: He can't even say Itadakimasu, huh?

Kazuki: So? How does it taste?

Rei: The curry... is a little spicy.

Kazuki: I thought you'd say that! But whatever.

Kazuki: If you're eating it so fast, then I guess it was worth making it. It felt nice to cook in such a large kitchen again anyway. Ahh... I want a kitchen as big as this in my new place. It would be impossible with my pay though...

Rei: You don’t have a place to live?

Kazuki: Because someone completely destroyed it!

Rei: Mmm...

Kazuki: Huh? Ohh! Are you feeling guilty?

Rei: Want to stay here?

Kazuki: Huh?

Rei: I have extra room.

Kazuki: You... wow...! You just want to use me as your housekeeper, don't you?

Rei: Yeah.

Kazuki: HE JUST ADMITTED IT!!! JUST HOW SHAMELESS ARE YOU?! Ah, but... hmm I guess that might not be so bad actually?

Kazuki: I'm good at housework and Rei is amazing at his job.... so we can cover for each other's weaknesses...

Rei: We're playing with the cards we've been dealt.

Kazuki: That’s not what I mean!

Rei: Oh?

Kazuki: Fine! Then I guess I’ll be staying with you for a little while.

Rei: Mm.

Kazuki: Thanks, shut in.

Rei: Thanks, freeloader.

[evenmoreofadisaster]

So is there a particular reason that Two hate Usagi so much? Or does he just find his vibes to be rancid (jealous that One would give attention to someone/thing other than Two and Draxum)

We go into the reasons Two hates Usagi in this post, which also has links to other previous discussions on the topic. I think Two would find his vibes rancid in that they are objectively not rancid lol. Since Usagi is nice, he must have an agenda.

I wouldn't say Two is jealous about One giving Usagi attention but more that he's annoyed that One's diverting his attention to Usagi instead of focusing solely on their mission. I also think he's made uncomfortable by the idea that One is building a little bubble of caring and normalcy for himself with Usagi that Two has always considered to be out of reach for them. If anything Two may be subconsciously jealous that One gets to have a taste of a normal life and be himself without the pressure of living only for the mission. I think we talked about that idea in another ask but alas i cannot find it.

[themattress]

The Brilliance of Sailor Moon Cosmos

Because I watched it on Netflix last night and I'm sorry - I ain't done talking about it!

First off, some background: the Stars arc is the fifth and final story arc of the Sailor Moon manga. According to Naoko Takeuchi's editor, things in the worldbuilding such as the Galaxy Cauldron were a thing in Takeuchi's head since starting the series, and that he was the one who convinced her to make the Stars arc to wrap things up after she initially intended on ending the series at the fourth arc (which was after initially intending to end it at the third...and before that, the first. The second arc was the only one not designed to potentially be the end, despite half of it ironically transpiring at a later chronological point than the other arcs).

Naoko Takeuchi served as the supervisor of the Sailor Moon Crystal web series, which became the Crystal: Infinity TV series, then the Eternal film duology, and finally the Comsos film duology. One particularly cool thing is that Sailor Moon Crystal begins including this shot:

It's the Milky Way galaxy....and Sagittarius A is very noticeable, setting up the end stage from the very beginning, which shows Takeuchi was dead set on adapting the entire manga.

What the preceding Dream arc, adapted in the Eternal films, did perfectly was set things up for this final arc. Things appeared to come full circle as the Sailor Senshi faced an evil queen nemesis to the Silver Millennium that predated Beryl and Metalia, the source of Mamoru's power and connection to Usagi's power was revealed as the Golden Crystal (Golden Crystal and Silver Crystal, Golden Kingdom and Silver Millennium...perfect symmetry!), the Inner and Outer Senshi were fully united, Chibiusa came into her own, and the goal Usagi's had for a while of reaching Neo-Queen Serenity's level finally transpired with her becoming Eternal Sailor Moon, with a heavy emphasis on how it's her loved ones who give her that power.

The end message seemed to be that nothing was more invincible than a Sailor Senshi.

So how does the final arc begin?

An evil Sailor Senshi rips out Mamoru's Golden Crystal, and he fucking DIES!

Oh, wait, sorry; that wasn't how it begins. It actually begins with a meteor shower.

Sound familiar? Well, no, not if you've watched Crystal sadly. But in the manga:

It's a way of saying "Oh, you thought the Dream arc brought things full circle? Just wait."

Now, I didn't care for the Sailor Starlights in the manga. I didn't hate them like in the anime, but I didn't really see the point of them. They were primarily build-up to Princess Kakyuu's character, and there's nothing they did that couldn't have just been given to Kakyuu if she was out and about from the beginning. However, I actually liked them in Cosmos! I think getting to hear their voices in things like their songs plus getting fully animated facial expressions did a lot for them, as did the big change in how they ultimately get taken out. In the manga, they were knocked unconscious by Sailor Lethe and stay that way even as Sailors Phi and Chi eliminate them to take their Sailor Crystals. In Cosmos, they are awake and take an active last stand in protecting Kakyuu, reaffirming that this is their life's mission and that they are proud to fulfill it. It's a stronger send-off and a far better emotional moment for Kakyuu, who now has to watch them die for her rather than simply watch them die.

Chibi Chibi is a fantastic subversion of expectations. She enters as a little pink-haired child from the future with an umbrella, which gives even the characters the impression that she's a Chibiusa retread of sorts. In reality, she couldn't be further from that, as we will later see.

So, Rei and Minako are absolutely a couple. I just can't take this scene any other way.

Another interesting thing to note about the Dream arc in relation to this one is that Usagi, quite deliberately, did not have much of a character arc. Chibiusa took center stage instead, with Usagi's role being more about proving how much she's matured and cementing that, in the words of Kingdom Hearts, her friends are her power. It perfectly sets her up for now, where she has a character arc that shakes her to her core and puts everything that she is to the ultimate test. Those friends are gradually and methodically taken out, starting with her true love. She actually represses that memory and lives in a haze of denial for a good while before finally being forced to confront reality. All of the strength and maturity she's developed seem to be failing her, her hope and faith are threatening to be crushed, and she is tempted to give in to feelings of rage and hate toward Sailor Galaxia. It's all as Galaxia herself plans, as she knows that to claim the Silver Crystal from Sailor Moon, first she has to break her.

Sailor Tin Nyanko of Shadow Galactica is utilized to show how the Sailor Animamtes aren't evil at heart. When Sailor Galaxia attacks their planets, she gives them the sadistic choice of perish with the rest or assist her in destroying everything, with those who accept having mind-controlling bracelets that grant them power put on and their Star Seed holding their soul extracted, meaning that if the bracelets go, so do they. Nyanko is the only of the Animamates that still feels a connection to her soul and still has good intentions behind following Galaxia: to ultimately get her Star Seed back and the bracelets removed, and become the new Sailor Mau on a new planet to honor the memory of the old one and her old planet. After seeing Sailor Moon protect Luna, Artemis and Diana, she lets her live...at the cost of her own life.

My favorite of Takeuchi's story arcs, the Black Moon arc, gains even more relevance in this final arc. First of all, we have Usagi still haunted by Safir's words that she and her Silver Crystal are the cause of everything wrong, which is a sentiment that goes hand in hand with Nehelenia's words in the preceding Dream arc about how light will always beget darkness.

We then get a huge fix to an issue from the previous two arcs: the Black Moon arc set up a definitive future where everyone makes it out OK, so the stakes of the Infinity and Dream arcs feel neutered when you remember this. But here, Sailor Galaxia point-blank challenges the notion that the future is set in stone...and indeed, what we see transpiring in the future shows that she might just be on to something, a theme that is revisited with Chibi Chibi's character.

And finally: Wiseman / Death Phantom! The series' best Big Bad returns with a major role in Sailor Galaxia's backstory. Projecting himself from the future with the Malefic Black Crystal's power, he is the one who guides Galaxia to the Galaxy Cauldron...and, of course, to Chaos.

While both Eternal and Cosmos do the same thing of dividing the manga arc in half, with the first movie being the first 5 and 1/2 chapters and the second movie being the next 5 and 1/2 chapters, Cosmos does it better. Eternal had to close out its first film with the second half of its 6th chapter and open the second film with the first half, which made it feel a little disjointed and caused the first movie to end rather abruptly. Cosmos, meanwhile, has its first film just end on the first half of its 6th chapter, which is a way more appropriate place to finish given that it follows a battle with Sailor Galaxia herself and has Usagi firmly rediscovering her heroic resolve, cutting off just before she and her new friends leave Earth to go into space.

I love Sailor Lethe and Sailor Mnemosyne. They have a sad and understandable backstory regarding how they joined Shadow Galactica and what they seek to gain from it, the compellingly tragic factor of Lethe hardening her heart and bloodying her hands all for Mnemosyne's sake with the latter having to anguish over this, and a great redemption with Mnemosyne finally stepping up to stop Lethe and undo the damage she's caused which is shortly afterward followed by the previously stubborn Lethe finally standing down after Usagi is willing to allow herself to be killed in order to secure a better future for them. I also love that after they are killed, they are included in Usagi's flashback to all of the friends she has lost.

Sailor Heavy Metal Papillon is the definition of a One Scene Wonder. She's only on screen for two minutes, but my God: the butterflies in a funeral procession, the graveyard of all Sailor Senshi that Shadow Galactica has killed, the gravediggers she has digging fresh graves for Usagi, Kakyuu and Chibi Chibi, the way she fucking crucifies them and then tries to burn them alive all as she relishes it....it's simply unforgettable. But OK...she goes out like a bitch. One-tapped by the Sailor Quartet doing a circus routine kind of puts a damper on her overall.

The Inner and Outer Senshi as mind-controlled zombies is a twisted but perfect penultimate hurdle for Usagi to overcome: can she kill her precious friends, the source of her strength? But I will admit to groaning when Mamoru showed up as well. "Whaaaat? Tuxedo Mask is brainwashed and evil!?" Haven't seen that before! No, wait, we've seen it twice before! It's no longer effective. He really could have just stayed vacantly at Galaxia's side and not said a word before getting shoved to his second demise and that would have been perfectly fine.

The animators spared no expense on this battle. Hot DAMN.

Bad touch, Galaxia! BAD TOUCH!

Speaking of Galaxia, her plan is brilliant. She not only deliberately broke Usagi down, but she also fully counted on Usagi building herself back up, which would make it all the more devastating when Galaxia melted all the loved ones she sought to revive into the Galaxy Cauldron, followed by Chaos revealing the truth about itself to her. Usagi would then be so unstable that her power would go out of control. When Chaos then tries to possess her and the Silver Crystal, Usagi would wipe Chaos out along with herself, leaving the Silver Crystal and control of the universe for Galaxia. Another full circle type moment calling Beryl and Metalia to mind. And it would've worked, too....were Chaos not fully aware of it, of course.

Speaking of Chaos and the truth about itself: it's a being that failed to make it out of the Galaxy Cauldron and become a star, which warped it and turned it into pure evil, negative energy. While still unable to escape the Cauldron, parts of Chaos have been able to leak out of it, and they became all the major enemies Sailor Moon has faced. The point is that so long as Chaos exists, so too will conflict. The battle between good and evil will rage on forever.

After Usagi defies all of Galaxia's expectations by saving her life from Chaos, we get one of the story's biggest, most subversive twists. Chibi Chibi, in reality Sailor Cosmos, the Big Good, has all this time been waiting for the moment at hand where she can urge Usagi to destroy the Galaxy Cauldron in order to destroy Chaos...even though this ultimately means the death of the galaxy since no new stars will be born. She is the advocate for the wrong solution. And then Galaxia, the Big Bad, becomes the advocate for the right solution through a resigned acceptance that no matter how much power you have, you cannot control the nature of existence. Even if this galaxy dies, another one would be reborn, and the conflict between good and evil would continue. Destroying the Galaxy Cauldron is not the answer.

This also leads to Galaxia's death scene, and despite how horrifically evil she has been, it still got me a little misty-eyed. Galaxia was not born evil, she was shaped that way through a truly hellish life on a barbaric medieval planet, and she always sought to heal the wounds it left on her soul with more and more power, attempting to make herself into a god in order to finally feel a sense of belonging. But only now at the end does she see that Sailor Moon, the person she had tried so hard to break, is actually the true sort of person she wished to become, and that true security and belonging lay in her values of compassion and acceptance. She is the star Galaxia has sought for so long, but as she puts it, she can't reach it. It's far too late for her to be that sort of person. But at least she can hope that Sailor Moon will last forever, since as long as she does then wretched souls like her can still find salvation in her light.

I mentioned before that this arc and its thesis statement is sort of like Puella Magi Madoka Magica, but there's actually another comparison to be made: to Neon Genesis Evangelion. The messages of "so long as life goes on, as existence exists, then there will always be hope no matter how dark things get" and "every human at their core yearns to be with others and achieve a sense of belonging" are in both. And Usagi's epic final act displays this beautifully: combining Galaxia's Sailor Crystal with her own so that even she too can be reborn, she dives into the Galaxy Cauldron and pushes the ascendant Chaos back downward, her heart resonating with the Cauldron's power in the process. She succeeds in causing the Cauldron's energy to erupt like a geyser and send all the Star Seeds within back into the galaxy, and even attempts to embrace and purify Chaos, who pushes her off and accepts falling back into the primordial sea rather than be redeemed. It's a stunning and truly inspirational conclusion.

Can I just say how hilarious it is that all of the Sailor Senshi, including Sailor Moon herself, die in this arc....except for the Sailor Quartet, who somehow manage to outlive all of them and never once get killed and reborn. Never underestimate those four circus trolls, it seems!

When I originally read the manga, the whole Sailor Cosmos stuff was the most confusing to me, but the movie clarified it a lot better. Sailor Cosmos is the future version of Neo-Queen Serenity, who has achieved the highest possible level of power due to tapping into her bond with the Cosmo Crystal (the Galaxy Cauldron's own Star Seed) and Guardian Cosmos (basically God) that she achieved through this big sacrificial act. The Japanese version was far more blatant about this connection, as Sailor Cosmos had Guardian Cosmos' voice.

If Cosmos is God, then Chaos is the Devil. And in the far future, Chaos finally escapes the Galaxy Cauldron and incarnates as Sailor Chaos. Rather than just be grateful that she's now a star, Chaos continues to lash out in resentment of all those who became stars before her and wreaks destruction as she tries to conquer the universe. The brutal war between Sailor Cosmos and Sailor Chaos lasted so long that for all her great power, Sailor Cosmos lost all hope of prevailing, which is why she transformed into Chibi Chibi and went back in time in order to persuade her past self to destroy Chaos and the Galaxy Cauldron. But witnessing her past self's hope and faith utterly shamed her, making her realize that she can never truly be the ultimate incarnation of Sailor Moon unless she recovers that same hope and faith. Honestly, this is an ingenious Izuru Kamakura-style deconstruction of a Power Fantasy - Usagi can become immortal, insanely beautiful, and powerful to the point of being a living god, yet still end up as a failure and a coward who is outshone by her greener teenage self.

The movie adds this scene of Usagi going home and reuniting with her family and Luna to address two long-standing fan complaints about the manga. The first was that we never saw any of the cats after their death, which I always found to be oversensitive: we confirm that the Crystal Tokyo future is coming to pass, meaning Diana will be born, so of fucking course Luna and Artemis are alive again; everyone who died in this arc was revived when the Galaxy Cauldron erupted and the Star Seeds released. But the other, which is far more valid, is that we don't see Usagi's Earth family again following the scene where she leaves to go to space and Ikuko starts crying because she feels like it will be the last time they ever see her. This feels like a more valid complaint, since it feels cruel to have that scene be indeed the last time Usagi's Earth family ever sees her on-screen, plus it reinforces their importance to her.

Finally, I appreciate how the scene where Usagi wakes up in bed with Mamoru frames her as having forgotten much of what transpired in the arc as a result of her going in and out of the Galaxy Cauldron...not everything, of course, but a lot of it is now hazy. This means that she most likely doesn't remember Chibi Chibi, which in turns means that will allow her to become Chibi Chibi when she's Sailor Cosmos in the far future. It seems to reinforce that in the setting of Sailor Moon, time travel is in fact incapable of changing history, only fulfilling it. Crystal Tokyo and Neo-Queen Serenity wouldn't have happened without the Black Moon Clan trying to destroy them in the past, Neo-Queen Serenity also couldn't have come into being without the Holy Grail which was partly made by a time-traveling Chibiusa, Sailor Pluto couldn't have been on hand when she was needed had she not died in the future and gotten reincarnated in the past, Galaxia couldn't have met Chaos and set everything in motion if Wiseman hadn't projected himself from the future to tell her about the Galaxy Cauldron, and Sailor Moon couldn't have made her big decision concerning the Galaxy Cauldron if not for Sailor Cosmos as Chibi Chibi being there trying to push her into making the opposite choice.

Bravo, Naoko Takeuchi. I know it was a pain to have to keep working on Sailor Moon for longer than you ever anticipated, but you could not have ended it on a more perfect note.

[real-life-senshi]

10 (Mostly) Spoiler-Free Reasons to Watch Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon 2003 Live Action

A countdown to the 20th anniversary of Act 1 air date!

Reason 5: The captivating story!

Ultimately, I would say the live-action stayed true to the essence and intention of the original source material when concerning the Dark Kingdom arc.

I’m choosing to use the word “essence” though, because it is also factual that in multiple aspects, the story does diverge from its source material, but with the intention of further amping up the stakes and angst for drama, and possibly even pulling in elements from story arcs beyond the manga’s Dark Kingdom arc into the one season we (sadly) only have.

Sometimes those differences could be due to limitations of CGI and execution methods in real-life filming, while others could be due to updating the content to appeal to the newer generations of viewers in the early 2000s.

Regardless of what's faithful or not faithful to original source material, I think PGSM did really well striking a balance of making it a kid’s show, and also adding some complexities to appeal to viewers who were kids or teenagers that grew up reading the manga or watching the '90s anime, who would be in their late teens or adulthood or even parenthood by the time the live-action aired.

Warning: Going forward these series of posts will contain minor spoilers to introduce some live-action only elements. It will only be at the introductory level though!

Staying true and delving deeper into source materials

Personally, I can’t speak much to the ’90s anime, but I can confirm the live-action pulls many elements from the manga source material where possible. Here are just a few:

Introducing the Sailor Senshi!

The story of how Usagi and Ami discovered their Senshi power largely follows the same story, while Rei and Makoto's intro episodes heavily reference the original manga chapter and use the same theme behind the attacks that lead to them accessing their transformation. There's no magic bus to whisk victims away in Rei's case, and there's no wedding dress ghost story in Makoto's, probably due to the feasibility of recreating those scenes.

The Forbidden Love & the Past Life lore

The live-action definitely deep-dived into the 'forbidden love' concept when it came to Usagi and Mamoru, and further created a whole complexity of the storyline to justify WHY it's forbidden. In the manga/anime, it felt like the idea of their forbidden love was purely political and mostly glossed over since the past life kingdoms were dead, but in the live-action, there were actual stakes and consequences to consider even for the present.

And the ABSOLUTE MOST AMAZING THING and by far my favourite twist to the live-action storyline is they actually ventured into exploring the impact of making teenagers soldiers of war! There is actually ample screen time and dialogues AND monologues dedicated for us to see individual Senshi AND the team together grappling with the pros and cons and exploring both extreme sides of the need to follow the past life mission to avert tragedy regardless of the sacrifices made, versus the necessity of making one's choice and finding ways to live in the present in spite of the past life lore! Do they support Usagi's and Mamoru's love for each other or not???? Do they know for sure whether their love WILL cause misfortune again or not or can they trust Usagi to know what she's doing????? FASCINATING AND ANGSTY STUFF RIGHT THERE!

Rei’s Personality

More as an FYI, but Rei’s personality is much more similar to the manga Rei’s personality, instead of ‘90s anime Rei. More cool beauty and calm, less aggressively hotheaded and abrasive. And very importantly, NOT boy-crazy.

New, original dramatic elements

On the other hand, here are some live-action exclusive dramatic elements that I'd like to highlight:

Aino Minako the idol

Even many who haven't watched the series would have heard about how Minako's character is drastically changed in the live-action. Indeed, Minako is an acclaimed teenage idol and singer with best-selling songs in the show!

It's basically as if the live-action screenwriter pulled in the Outer Senshi elements from the Mugen arc into Minako's character: she's famous, experienced, and serious. Minako has full access to past life knowledge and is ultimately mission-driven like Haruka and Michiru are in the Mugen arc, which causes some of her decisions to maybe not be as morally white as we'd expect her to be (I think her costume style of white and black is a nice nod to the idea of her double life and her sense of moral).

Now, that's not to say live-action Minako is completely a new character, you can certainly see manga/anime Minako's character traits here and there if you pay attention - pun-loving, prank-loving, mischievous. For god's sake, the girl named her album Venus, and one of her most iconic songs is called C'est La Vie, which sounds exactly like "Sailor V" pronounced in Japanese. Just imagine this girl playing a vigilante life, and having a chuckle every time she sings her best-selling song that basically announces her identity to the world and no one realizes. lmao

Basically, Minako's character embodies the extreme result of what happens if a teenager is burdened with all the knowledge of the Past Life war and has the weight on her shoulders while working alone.

If you can get past Minako's changed character setting in the live-action, you'll find there are still plenty of Dark Kingdom arc manga/anime Minako elements in there, just some more exaggerated while others are more subtle. (Coz to be fair, Minako didn't start becoming Usagi's twin until after the Dark Kingdom arc.) And her relationship with Artemis is absolutely heartwarming to see in the live-action.

Who's in the wrong? Who's an ally, and who's not?

While our Senshi team is clearly the heroine, and the Dark Kingdom the villains, the live-action takes a more interesting take on what's considered "good" versus "evil", and more importantly, who's in the wrong on how things ended badly in the past life. Who is actually the person the Senshi needs to protect the world from? And that drives the story into a direction that is more complex than what you'll ever find in manga or anime, and certain characters react accordingly and act more grey than black or white - from both the heroine side and the villain side!

Shitennou & Endymion

Something we didn't really get to see as much in the manga and anime, while we know who the Shitennou are, we don't really see the Shitennou and Mamoru interacting until after they... became their name-sake rocks (okay, technically, GEMS). And we don't get many hints on what their past live relationships were, so for many years fans have taken to pen/paper/tablets/keyboard and filled the gaps with their amazing imagination and creative work instead.

In the live-action, we get a much more expansive and interesting take in seeing the Shitennou - technically still under the Dark Kingdom's influence, interact with Mamoru as they all grapple with what happened in the past life.

How would the prince's ex-guardians act seeing their master again? How would Mamoru react? Choosing to accept his responsibility for his past life or not? After all, they had such fond memories of arm-wrestling each other! (Spoiler alert: Nephrite won.) :P

I must once again emphasize that I love what they did with the Shitennou's characters and gave each of them a different story trajectory. They are written so well they pull at your heartstrings!

If you want some canon-material for writing the Shitennou in the age of Elysion Kingdom, definitely give the live-action a go!

Power up! The Senshi Needs Training

Because the live-action only gets one arc, there's no room for us to see the Senshi team (conveniently) get upgraded transformation like they do in each arc in manga or anime. Instead, the live-action takes a different, and I dare say, a more realistic approach, where the Senshi learns that their initial access to their transformation isn't the full access to their powers as they expected. They are put through some legit, and some questionable training of the body, mind and spirit, and each of them has to overcome something within themselves across the series to access their power!

This approach highlights and solidifies each Senshi's strengths AND ties in really well into the girls' character development throughout the series. As well, it makes it feel like the Senshi did have to put in work to get strong and gain access to their power, instead of relying on the plot to get them new powers at the right opportune time, seemingly out of the blue.

Remember: THEY ARE IN SCHOOL!

Yep, sometimes in the manga and in the anime, it's so easy for us to forget that the Senshi are kids in school when they are in the thick of a crisis or fighting evil. Somehow, it always seems quite clean and convenient that the Senshi could separate their school life and their heroine life, doesn't it? How the responsible adults in the world may wonder... "Gosh, where did that kid go in the middle of [insert context]????" Or for a fellow peer in school to wonder - "How the hell did this random group of girls come together like an odd band?"

The live-action takes time to make room for some reality checks in their episodic storylines to explore all the different repercussions our heroine's double (or triple) life has on their normal life, and with that ties in personable and relevant topics and themes into their episodic plots:

Family relationship

Peer relationship

Romantic relationships

Moments that remind everyone how awkward and tough it is to be a teenager.

The toll of lying through your teeth to keep a secret, etc

I cannot emphasize enough that the screenwriting is superb in the series! Not one thing is referenced only once and left out the window, everything that happened builds up into a moment of learning or lasting impact for our characters!

To people who've not watched the live-action, PLEASE GIVE IT A CHANCE! At least give it 6 episodes, and you'll probably be hooked!

You can watch the subbed versions of the series at:

Miss Dream Fansubs

Sea of Serenity Fansubs

The series is also on other online streaming sites, but be cautious to only visit them with good adware and firewall installed.

6 days till the 20th anniversary of Act 1 air date!

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |