#like I did for the aki concepts

[meownotgood]

smile................

[memento-morri-writes]

writing share - body horror edition

So, the lovely, amazing @space-writes expressed interest in reading my fucked-up body horror that I wrote last night/early this morning, and who am I to deny a friend? So, here you go:

A brief bit of context: Just under two days ago, Sigmar, Rook's beloved mentor and kinda-sorta father figure, ended up being revealed as a corpse being puppeted by the BBEG, Dr. Purity. The rest of the party brutally killed him while Rook watched. (Via tooth and claw, and also a sonic shockwave from a magic guitar.) And just today, Warren, the party gunslinger, a werewolf and Rook's other kinda-sorta father figure, died (like perma-forever, never-coming-back died) in order to save Rook's life. (Or rather, in order to resurrect Rook, since he was dead at the time.) Now Rook is extremely sleep-deprived and also being affected by mind-altering parasites, two factors that are working together to give him some pretty vivid and fucked-up hallucinations.

(fair warning, this isn't written out fully to the best of my abilities because this scene hasn't happened yet. So this is just my description of what Rook will be seeing and hearing, not a full prose write-up with his internal thoughts and all that. I will almost certainly do that after next week's session, though, so let me know if you want to see that then.)

major tw for extreme gore & maybe body horror under the cut (also emotional manipulation/guilt-tripping)

Rook hears a strange sound, like clumsy, disjointed footsteps. He looks around wildly for the source, and freezes. Out of the hallway we have just come from looms a horrible sight: Sigmar’s corpse is lurching towards him, somehow propelling itself on shattered limbs. All of his joints are dislocated, giving his body a freakishly elongated appearance. His shredded clothes are soaked with blood, and every inch of his skin is covered in hundreds of claw and tooth marks, all of which are weeping blood. A web of dark black veins branch out across his face, and thick black ichor drips from his mouth. It falls to the ground, splattering onto the tile with each step.  He reaches out towards Rook with jagged, broken fingers, and says, “Rook… your friends killed me. Slaughtered me. Ripped me to pieces like wild animals.” He takes another staggering step towards Rook, who backs away, shaking. Sigmar’s face is pleading as he says, “You said you trusted me. You promised to help me.” Rook takes another stumbling step backwards, shaking his head. “No…” he mutters, “no!” Sigmar points an accusing finger at Rook, and his demeanor changes, a dark fury crossing his face. For a moment Rook can see why people fear him. “I should never have spoken to you. I should have burned down Warren’s house with you still inside. It’s what the two of you deserve.” As if on cue, another shape lurches out of the shadows of a hallway across the way. It’s Warren. His chest has been blown open, his ribs pointing in every direction, and the remains of his guts are dripping from the hole where his stomach used to be. His body is splattered in gore. He’s missing one of his hands, the arm ending in a jagged point of bone surrounded by burnt and blackened flesh. He opens his mouth to speak, revealing pointed canine teeth that clash with his human appearance. “Rook, you stupid bastard. I died for you. You.” He bares his teeth and snarls at Rook, an animalistic sound that rattles him to his core. He takes an involuntary half-step backwards. Warren scoffs in disdain. “We should have left you to rot in that fungi-infested hallway. You brought him to us.” He glares pointedly at Sigmar, then looks back to Rook. “You’re the reason those two attacked us – attacked Cherry. You’re the reason I’m dead. The reason Cherry won’t ever have a father.” Sigmar steps closer, looking Rook up and down, disgust plainly visible on his face. “Speaking of fathers, yours was right: You are a useless piece of shit.” He spits in Rook’s direction, then takes another step closer.  Across the room, Warren moves to flank him. “Traitor.” “Liar,” Sigmar adds as the two stalk closer, matching each other step for step.  The corpses lumber forwards, stumbling on broken legs until they’re so close that Rook can smell them. The awful scents of Warren’s burnt flesh and the blood soaking Sigmar’s clothes fill his nose, nauseating and overwhelming. They’re right in front of him now. He tries to shrink away, further into the corner, but to no avail. His limbs refuse to obey, and he stays frozen in place. They reach for him, one with shattered fingers, the other with a charred stump of an arm, and say in unison, “good-for-nothing”. As they do, he hears a third voice layered over the other two: his father. But he doesn’t have time to think on this, because in that moment their outstretched arms reach him, and everything goes black.

[sinkat-arts]

It’s a rough sketch, really, and I want to do more with it... but just in case I don’t, here it is. I’m reading the manga, and finally made it to the first significant interaction between Aki and Angel... and ok, y’all, I get it now. 

I feel like this is gonna get pretty painful, huh?

[anisespice]

“ hate your boyfriend ” || tokyo rev. pt. 2

one

synopsis: " you can pick me or your little boy. "

pairing: college!toman x gn!reader

warnings: mature language, sexual themes, MDI. toxic!toman, cheater!reader (pumpkin eater!!), enabling behavior, mild violence, vague descriptions of sex (cause i’m lazy), vulgar language, corny marvel joke, dirty-talk, moral compass is a roulette wheel in this one lol and i think that’s it :P 

notes: did a little continuation of the first one before doing more characters lol i’m happy you guys liked the concept, lemme know who you’d like to see next :))) i don’t hate this one, but i don’t love it either (except maybe mikey’s) buuuut hope yall enjoy! <333

tagged: @fantasycantasy , @spacegirl05​

A week had passed since the whole kick-back fiasco, and MIKEY had gone awol. Aki was over the moon about it, for obvious reasons; as far as he was concerned, he scared him off. Besides, the less you hung around the delinquent, the better for both of you.

“That guy’s just a nuisance, babe. Good riddance.”

Little did he know, this was a regular occurrence. Mikey always did this—Disappeared for days on end, only to pop right back up like he never left. Whether it be due to gang related issues, or because he felt like it, this frustrating habit was one of the reasons you invited him that night, despite knowing he’d pick a fight with Aki. You had missed him…in more ways than one. You knew it was only a matter of time before he came back to you.

And in the wee hours of the night, not far after said boyfriend left your place, you received a lone message from the former blonde himself.

from : bad influence ♡ 11:03pm     “ omw. ”

Short, but effective. His timing was impeccable, how he always managed to text the second you were alone was beyond you, but it made your heart race all the same. It was wrong, you knew that, Aki deserved better than someone who snuck around. You didn’t mean for it to get this far, but that was a guilt you’d deal with later. Mikey was your drug of choice, and tonight you craved another fix.

to : bad influence ♡ 11:07pm       “ okay. but just for a little while. ”

Even if you tried to play coy, to salvage whatever weak moral you had left, it didn’t matter—The only one you were fooling tonight was Aki.

from : bad influence ♡ 11:08pm      “ mhm. sure, angel. ”

It was a wonder how you didn’t draw blood with how harshly you clawed at his shoulders, fighting between wanting him closer or wanting to push him away. Mikey didn’t mind, though. On the contrary, he encouraged you to leave marks. As tempted as he was to leave his own, he figured beating up your insides would suffice.

Knowing you’ll struggle to walk tomorrow was all the reward he needed.

“God—fuuck,” he slurred, after a particularly hard thrust made you arch off the bed, forcing him to sink deeper. He gazed down at you with an all too pleased grin as you begged him for more. How could he deny you when you sounded so desperate? “Taking me so well, angel…always so good f’me…”

“J-Jiro..! Ahplease!” You sobbed, your knees practically knocking upside your temples as he increased momentum. Mikey snickered, angling his hips to continue ramming the spot that made your eyes cross, moans reaching octaves you didn’t even know you could hit.

“Mm, been feening for this dick, huh? Yeah? Maybe we should call up that smug bastard, let ‘em see how such good friends we are, right [______]? Bet he was real proud thinkin’ he got me to fuck off…but we both know who you really belong to. Don’t we?”

He wasn’t sorry. That’s the short end of it.

The moment Takeru decided to act all big and bad, breaking stuff in a place where he paid no bills, it was in DRAKEN’s right to set him straight; mama may not have raised him, but he still ain’t no bitch.

It took some coaxing on your end, but you were able to reel Draken back from turning your boyfriend inside out. But, after he forced him to pick up every broken piece of the lamp, he told Takeru to choose a number between one and ten.

“…Why?” Was his response. Draken raised a brow.

“That’s how many shards I’m gonna shove up your nose.”

“Ken!”

The look on the shorter male’s face was worth it, earning a threatening smirk from the mechanic as he slapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. “Ahh, y’look like you were about to shit yourself, man! Nah, I’m not gonna hurt you.”

For a moment, there’s relief in your boyfriend’s eyes. It was short-lived, of course. Especially once Draken’s grip tightened around his shoulder. “But I will. Don’t ever let me catch you pop off on [_____] like that again. Would hate for you to have to pick yourself up off the floor next time. You feel me?”

With a gulp, he gave a shaky nod; now he really looked like he shat himself. “Y-Yes…”

“Hah? Yes, what?”

“Y-Yes, Draken, sir?”

He rewarded the poor sucker’s obedience with a couple taps to the cheek just to spite him before sending him on his way. It was met with little protest, Takeru scurrying out of the room with lamp pieces still in his palms, not even sparing you a passing glance. 

“Text you later?” You called at his retreating form. When all you got was the sound of your front door slamming shut in response, you swiftly turned on your heel to aim a dejected frown at your other houseguest. Draken sardonically pouted back at you, reaching over to pinch your cheek until you swatted his hand away. “Why’d you do that, you totally freaked him out!” 

He wasn’t sorry. Draken shrugged. “Good.” 

Merely rolling your eyes, you headed for the small broom and dustpan in your closet to gather what little pieces Takeru left behind–Might as well busy yourself to delay addressing the elephant still in the room. Unfortunately, said elephant wasn’t about to let that happen. Before you could even think of sweeping anything, Draken gently grabbed your elbow, those same eyes that stared death into your boyfriend’s soul now filled with something else as they appraised you, melting through whatever cold exterior you tried to aim at him.

He leaned down closer, sporting a slanted grin that sent signals straight down to your core. Sometimes, you despised how easily he made your insides flutter by just existing.

“How much longer y’gonna entertain that fucking loser, huh? He wouldn’t know the first thing about handling someone like you.”

You hummed, fighting the giddy tremble in your body at the challenging air that surrounded you both. With the inkling of boldness you had, you took the bait. “What, like you would?”

He wasn’t sorry; you’d be though.

The way Draken split you in half would make Lucifer himself bite the pillow. Hovering over his gigantic frame, chest bare with your hands perched on each pec, he manhandled you to take every unforgiving inch of his dick, having you feeling downright discombobulated as your hips struggled to keep momentum.

Forget about seeing stars, at some point, you were certain you saw into the quantum realm; say hi to Ant-Man for me.

“K-Kenny...I can’t...t’s too much!” 

He cooed up at you, though there wasn’t an ounce of sympathy in his tone. If anything, Draken enjoyed himself thoroughly, tongue-in-cheek as he watched you fall apart in his lap, just like he knew you would. With the way you tightened up around him like a vice, as if your own body was against the thought of him stopping, the former blonde chuckled breathlessly.

“Use the safe word then, doll.”

You glared down at him, to the best of your ability. With him practically jabbing you in the lung, it was more than difficult to say the rebuttal as smartly as you wanted to. “Y-you think…you’re so-oh! So f-funny…”

He did. Absolutely he did. By making your boyfriend’s name the safe word, nothing would soften his dick quicker. Plus, he knew you didn’t need it; just like you didn’t need Takeru.

“What? It’d be the only way you’d ever scream it anyways.”

“Welcome back.”

You paused mid-step upon entering your apartment, not expecting the ravenette to still be there. With a deep exhale, you paid him no mind as you kicked off your shoes, irritated after a tiresome process of checking your boyfriend into the hospital.

To say BAJI did a number on him would be an understatement…Man’s fucked him up. Sure, maybe Makoto could’ve watched his tone when talking to someone with such a short fuse, but Baji could’ve at least exercised a little restraint.

…Oh, who were you kidding? It’s Baji.

“What, ya not talkin’ to me?” Barely sparing him a glance, you set your bag on the coffee table before heading for the bedroom for a much-needed shower. Baji didn’t take kindly to being ignored. He huffed, standing to meet you halfway as he trailed behind you. Even when you attempted to close the door in his face, he shouldered his way in anyway; it was gonna take more than that to deter him.

“Quit being mad…said I was sorry, damn.”

“No you didn’t,” you replied, incredulously. You really tried it with the silent treatment, but knowing him, it was only a matter of seconds before he'd get you talking again. Taking off the sweats you threw on in haste earlier, you continued. “You said, and I quote, ‘Talk shit, get hit,’ then fell asleep on the couch while I had to haul Makoto to the emergency room!”

Baji shuffled his feet, “…Well, I meant to say it. Jus' forgot.”

You scoffed, walking into your bathroom. "What are you even still doing here? Don't you have someone else's day to shit on?”

“Y’kicking me out now?” He teased, raising a brow. What he didn't expect was for you to start throwing your toiletries at him. Although his reflexes saved him for the most part, Baji still got hit a few times as he attempted to dodge between a shampoo bottle and mouthwash. "Whoa! Hey-!"

“Maybe I should! Do you have any idea how hard it was to get him in and out of my car with all that dead weight, let alone into the building? Not to mention, his emergency contacts were his uppity-ass parents, so after they chewed me out, I had to lie and say he saved me from getting mugged.”

“...They buy it?”

You tilted your head, exasperated. "Wow. And here I thought the next thing out of your mouth would be that apology you 'forgot' to say earlier…[Sigh] Whatever. You just better hope when Makoto wakes up he doesn't remember anything, or else we're both in deep shit."

“Tsk. The fuck’s he gonna do?”

“He could literally sue us.” You deadpanned.

“He’s a pussy, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to try me again. And if he gives you any shit for it, you let me know. I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh, you mean like how you did today? Pass.”

He groaned, “I said sorry!”

“No you didn’t! And still haven’t!”

At the moment, it felt like the conversation would just continue in circles. With Baji stubbornly claiming he was in the right, and you combating his warped logic with colorful language and more stuff thrown at him, it's a wonder how things ended up here–With your face pressed against the cold shower wall as he gave you his fucking apology.

Over, and over, and over again.

While one hand wrapped around the column of your throat, fingers shoved knuckle-deep into your mouth to pacify the excessive whines tumbling out, the other made use of gripping the meat of your thigh, giving you no chance of running from the punishing thwap of his hips ramming against your wet ass-cheeks. The water cascading over your bodies had long turned cold as Baji chased after orgasm number five, his muscles ached from the strain, but he'd be damned to stop until he was certain all was forgiven.

Even if it meant missing every single one of Makoto's phone calls.

“God, I am so, so sorry, Takashi. Can’t believe he just…I-I’ve never seen him act like that before. Does it hurt?”

MITSUYA, despite the sting in his split lip, gave you an easy grin. “Nah, y’know I’ve been through worse. Fucker hits like one of my younger sisters.”

You had brought him back to your place to ice the bruise forming on his jaw, still frazzled over what occurred in the last half hour. Back at the restaurant, everything seemed fine when you excused yourself to the bathroom, having a blast knowing that your two favorite people were actually getting along. Unbeknownst to you, there was a storm brewing in Hajime. And the second you were out of sight, he used this opportunity to set a record straight with Mitsuya.  

Evidently, he allowed his fists to do the talking. 

You groaned, rubbing down your face in distress. “We’ll probably never get to set foot in that restaurant again...’m so embarrassed.”

“Hey,” he softly reprimanded, “Don’t sweat it, t’s not your fault-”

“I’m the one who begged you to let him come with us in the first place. I mean, I know you two butt heads from time to time, but I didn’t think it’d ever turn that serious. Please, Taka, just tell me what happened.”

Mitsuya shook his head, about to lower the ice pack until you shot him a pointed look. With a small exhale through his nose, he kept it on his jaw while he spoke. “I told you, he was probably pissed he couldn’t get a free meal outta me-”

“Don’t bullshit me, Haji wouldn’t explode like that over a fucking chicken sandwich.” You huffed, frustrated at his evasive behavior. He was holding back information on purpose, you were certain. Ever since the fitting, he'd been acting weird all evening. And that fight only solidified your suspicions. “Just tell me what started it!” 

"Doesn’t matter."

"Taka-"

"Let it go, [______]." He laid back on your couch and made himself comfortable, even so much as turning on your tv to fill over the dead conversation. Mitsuya trained his eyes on the lit-up screen, still icing his jaw as he subtly avoided eye contact.

You could just scream.

Childishly, you snatched the remote from his hand and switched it back off. The lavender haired threw his head back in defeat, the hand holding the ice pack slowly coming down as Mitsuya eyed you from his peripheral; so stubborn.

“Be honest. It was about me again, wasn’t it?” His silence spoke volumes. “So it was then. Ugh, okay listen, I get that you’re both really protective of me, I do, but that doesn’t excuse-”

“I’m in love with you.”

You choked. Though, only on your words.

With that now hanging up in the air, you gaped like a damn goldfish, the remote slipping out your grasp and clambering to the floor with a clack. Mitsuya exhaled; no turning back now. “You…huh?”

“Yep. Have been for a while, actually.” He placed his arms behind the couch, wry smirk on his face. “Planned to tell you over dinner tonight, but that backfired fast, no thanks to that walking steroid you call a boyfriend.”

“Y-…You’re messing with me. Right?” The designer offered a humorless laugh, gesturing to his split lip and bruised jaw.

“Didn’t get hit for saying what a great pal you were, [______].”

Now it was your turn to be silent. A lump began to form in your throat, overwhelmed with the newfound information, borderline confession.

“So then…what did you say to Haji to make him so angry?”

For a split second, you saw a glint within his pools of amethyst as they slowly rendered to a deep violet. Staring at you from beneath his pretty lashes, Mitsuya resembled that of a starved animal on the verge of cornering its prey, causing a sudden warmth to envelop you as you squirmed under his heady gaze.

Sitting up a little, he merely beckoned you to his empty lap. You blinked widely at him, sputtering as you tried to protest the idea. But, what he said next played into your curiosity.

“C’mere, and I’ll show you.”

You blinked at him, uncertain; he made no move to rush you. If you were against the idea, you were more than welcome to decline and tell him to shove it. However, when you eventually crawled into the awaiting throne, settling all your weight on top of him to the point he couldn’t keep from groaning shamelessly, Mitsuya was fucking elated.

You gripped his shirt at the shoulders, sporting that signature pout you’d do whenever you wanted something from him—The designer was more than ready to give it to you. All you had to do was say so.

“Hajime’s gonna kill you if he finds out, though. Don’t want you getting hurt again because of me…”

Mitsuya chuckled, hands slowly rubbing up your thighs until they settled on your hips. “Don’t worry about it, sweet thing. He may have gotten two hits on me today, but all I need is one tomorrow.”

© 2023-2024 anisespice ッ all rights reserved.   likes, comments & reblogs much appreciated!

[satocidal]

𖥔 ִ ་ ، ˖ ࣪ ་ ˖ ʿ𖥔 ִ ་ ، ˖ ࣪ ་ ˖ Unfortunately, Yours

↳ Gojo Satoru x Fem!Reader

Episode 1:-

↳ ||Masterlist||Taglist Form||next chapter(two)||

Synopsis: It is when the birth right is snatched from your hands that your eyes truly ever open—especially when it’s always been there, right in your grasp. The Throne was yours, that was the truth promised and yet- yet your fate lay sealed with a certain Gojo. With an arranged marriage set in plan, alongs sets the plan of murder—within a wife who wants the throne and a husband who wants nothing but power, but suffers with them the present and the future of other two—especially when the lies of the past start surfacing.

— Word count: 3.9k

— A/n: ahhhh I have so many nerves lmao because this is the first chapter and I don’t wanna ruin it at all lol. And I wanna keep everything so subtle yk? But hope you guys like this!

— Warnings: Asshole Satoru; Asshole reader; mentions of adultery; slight objectification(?); Fem Bodied! Reader; usage of feminine terms; author thinks she can write💀 ps: I’ve never seen Christian weddings (or whatever I’ve written idk lol) so bare with me; typos

Hands that were trained, calloused once with bruises, prepared to be painted with blood now sat idle—a diamond ring in the finger.

Fate- the red string- two ends.

About 8 billion people walked the surface of earth—it was said, heard, stated, passed—The Greek god Zeus split each one of us into halves, punished to roam the earth and find our other half—the soulmate. Fatalism stated that everything was predestined- so it must be true, the concept of it.

Marriage—sacred, pure.

The day was clear as ever in your eyes—your father had entered the room, a solemn look on his face, a ring in hand; the entire month you had watched as the Gojos became a usual Tomorrow; you had watched as your sisters giggled at the premonition of your marriage; you had watched as the tables shifted and you had watched, and watched and watched.

Eyes numb, heart aching and mind a mess, you watched for that was all you could do now.

It was rushed, the whole process of it—a month ago your wedding planned and a month later you were gone. You didn’t want the wedding, you were sure Satoru Gojo didn’t either—“He’s so in love with you,” from your cousins deluded you—“I’m so lucky to have you,” from his mother.

Mind filled with thoughts of a man you’d only meet at the night of your wedding.

No amount of convincing could’ve been for you to utter a yes—but a definitive “You will do it,” from your father did wonders.

“You’ll be alright,” a whisper—your mother’s, soft, harsh.

“You have to be alright,” a demand—your father’s, careful, adamant.

“Promise me you’ll be alright,” a thought—your sister’s, empty, or so you dared to think.

And that was true, in a lonesome bind, you thought a lot.

You thought when your sister braided your hair, pretty, elegant—nothing you’d ever found yourself to be defined as.

You thought while your mother and grandmother, aunts and maids—they giggled, old wives’ tales falling off chastised lips like honey.

You thought when you found your father’s eyes hiding—nervous, you’d noted but you only thought.

And you thought still when the morning arrived, you sister kneeling beside you—eyes focused, narrowed, fingers working fast to smoothen the white.

Perfect the white.

Perfect your impure white—the dirty kind.

And finally, alone with your sister, you spoke.

“You must be glad,”

A silence met you, heavy.

“Don’t be shy about it, not anymore,”

A sigh— she got up slow, eyes focused still on your white gown—“you look gorgeous,” a mumble you heard.

You found yourself staring at her curls—when did she curl those you wondered, but then she’d answer that you didn’t care and perhaps, you didn’t.

Not usually.

“We’re sisters Aki,” you pestered, “you can tell me ya know?” You winked—a smirk, a tease—all to prove your point.

“The wedding is to begin in an hour now then, be prepared,”

“Don’t change topics. Tell me you’re happy about it, about all this,”

Another sigh—a glare and a huff, “Has father stuffed lies so deep your throat that you’re begging to hear them now?”

Again, silence.

Father—

Your eye twitched—nose puffed and eyes flared at your form in the mirror—you did you look gorgeous, or at least, different. A good different, arguably.

“Alright,” she mumbled quietly then, “c’mere—” her hands beckoned you close, her own navy blue contrasting to your pure white—ironic, you mused.

“What,” face scrunched, you let out—causing your sister to chuckle, “At least smile at your own wedding y/n,”

A scoff—“I’ll cry if I damn want to—and no, not for the dramatics,” a chuckle, this time, mutual.

“I’ll miss you,” you heard her whisper against you, entrapped in an embrace you stood, stiff—your eyes lay blank.

“Was it…my—”

“It’s not to chastise you,”

“It’s no less than that,”

“Endure it,”

A tear, quick, rolled down your cheek—wiped off all too quickly by your own sister—for you were to look perfect tonight.

Perfect for your perfect husband.

“Find your happiness there,” she whispered against your shoulder—you sobbed, “Why is he sending me away?”

Cruel. Cruel. Cruel.

“He sent us all away- even mother,” her hands patted your back- the touch felt foreign—“Not me,” your voice rasped, “I was different, I was better, I was the best he had,” her hands tensed around you—“I don’t know,” she confessed, “but promise me, you’ll be happy there,”

You nodded- empty.

“He’s going to be a fool in love,” her voice adorned, his mother- sharp- “So fortunate to get someone like you in my house, such a sweet pretty thing you are,” you smiled in accordance- hands clenched.

It was for her sake, you believed, the Gojo family worked in her shadow— a finger lifted meant everyone had to stand, a finger pressed and silence—in some way or the other, she stood to be your admiration. To hold power was to be nothing however to call power, now that, you admired.

It was in the way she was subtle but oh so glorified—Kana Gojo, perhaps the only woman or human you’d dared to look upto.

You smiled as she’d walked you around—parading shops through shops, looking for what she deemed the perfect dress—perfect, she wanted it to be—perfect not for her son but perfect in every sense of it.

-

A gift placed in your hand- bribe—“Aren’t you the sweetest Hm?” A smile, vaunted- his father, a careful spendthrift in every sense of the word.

You smiled, nodded and chuckled—“only learned from the best,” your eyes zoom over to your mother—never learned anything from her, you didn’t, and yet—formalities and a certain charm, you graced them evidently.

The head of the house, at least on paper—he didn’t hold much prowess with the profits but then, Gojos barely needed any more profit for the empire was built well and well enough to not crash. He did, however, hold his hands high and wide—welcoming, warm; everything his wife was not.

Not yin to her yang but the epitomised silver to her gold — Ginji Gojo, perhaps the only man to accustom himself to his wife, the only man you never truly could understand, along his son, of course.

You grinned as he lead you, hand held in his own—eyes searching for the perfect diamond to adorn not your finger but your marriage.

-

Shy glances and shyer hello-s he muttered, it was cute—you supposed, in the way a letter found is way in your hands—“Read it when you’re alone please,”—his cousin brother, innocent.

‘Hello,’ it began—cut off—‘Dear Y/n,’—cut off—‘assume I said something cool,’ you chuckled, the rest, a memory nestled deep in your mind.

He was young, 9–someone you hoped to inspire—Megumi—he didn’t know much, or anything at all, a subtle age of nine after all. But he knew enough.

Not enough to strike competition but smart enough to be called his successor; he was a smart kid you’d mused, a polite greet everytime you two met, a sweeter letter handed everytime.

Twice he cut off the beginning every time and deliberate you’d found it be—cuter still. And he lead you still, hand holding onto yours as he helped you decide on the flavour of the cake.

The girl, you watched from the corner of your eyes, chuckled, a hand reaching out to slap her father’s hand away—he chuckled, smiled, conversed—something and everything you never had.

A tear rolled down your cheek, salty—“Crying already?” The voice was gruff, your father’s.

“Father,” you muttered, hands reaching upto wipe the tear away quick—“Don’t,” he muttered, “Tears are useful.”

You could only nod.

The man stood beside you, taller by a decent inch or two—hands stuffed in his pocket and a bow tie tight around his neck; the man was slender— a ghost of the figure he used to be, could’ve been. A potential wasted, he called himself—a potential wasted, you too.

You watched him as he moved around you, hefty eyes felt heavy, scanning your form—“You look fine,” a compliment he’d deem it—perhaps it was, “Didn’t know white was your colour.”

It wasn’t.

Did he know anything about you? At all? No.

“Suppose it is, today onwards,” he smiled, you frowned, “That’s my girl.”

Another tear rolled quick, then another and they kept rolling, you stood blank.

“No,” you scowled defiantly—his hands working quick—scowl, mirroring yours as he wiped the tears—“When I said tears, I didn’t mean these many. You cannot possibly be this dramatic.”

An empty grin.

“Dramatic?” Voice pitched, brows raised, heart shattering you stared at him—“I am being dramatic?” Loud enough you were to have people raise the awareness that the bride was moody- or so they’d gossip and so you’d let them.

His eyes narrowed—a sign, quite usually telling you to quieten down—not today, “Why are you doing this?” You finally asked, shoulders relieved, heart heavier still—afraid the answer might me the truth you’ve fed yourself.

“Is this some- some-” you paused, a breath caught, eyes cast down—“punishment? Did I do something wrong?”

And in that moment, perhaps you were nothing more than a little girl—perhaps in that moment you wanted nothing more than your father’s reassurance—perhaps things could’ve been better.

But they weren’t—glory of fate itself.

“Don’t create a fucking scene,”

Had hearts really been made of glass, your father would’ve heard yours break—not once but a million times in that second. Again and again and again.

A noise—static.

“Yes sir,” you muttered, eyes dancing along his hands—you shuddered—he twisted his own.

-

His hands were soft as they held yours, he lead you slow, your father did.

The white veil that you’d spent hours to decide upon, the one you would never care about—it swept beside you, gasps escaping the lips of many as you walked out.

And there, there your eyes met his.

Poised he stood, white hair slicked back—nothing like those superficial memories his mother had told about, nothing like the tabloids you’d seen. This man, the one on your altar—that was Satoru Gojo.

Not the Toru’ you’d heard of, not the Heir of Gojos you’d kept your eyes upon, not the stubborn and hardheaded Satoru-san his maids had warned you about, not anything you’d known.

This was Satoru Gojo, your husband to be.

You hadn’t assumed your wedding to be a fairytale—in all honesty, you hadn’t assumed anything at all.

A prison you’d deemed it on the first day and perhaps that was all it was—but something, just something in you cried all too much when Satoru didn’t slip so much as a smile towards you.

Don’t get me wrong, he’d grinned and smirked all night- teased by his friends—congratulated by everyone—he did show joy, in some meaning of the word.

Not to you- but I suppose a win that was too—after all, a marriage is built on the truths right?

Eyes moist, a tear he did let go off—superficial it was, you knew it, but a hero Satoru Gojo would be deemed the next day in the magazines his family would pay good money to.

Yours was never meant to be that perfect wedding, not at the core of it—you knew that from day one of the sequenced wedding but then—just something, someone in you cried a little too. Just someone broke inside when you realised it wouldn’t be your husband who cried the moment he set his eyes on his bride—it wouldn’t be you telling those cute stories about your wedding day.

It wouldn’t be you—it was normal you’d heard, for grooms to be overwhelmed in there weddings- the thought of spending a forever with his bride, the supposed memories flooding their mind—but it wouldn’t be for you. He stood there with hands behind him, eyes awaiting you presence still.

A smile he held—empty as you joined him—eyes were very telling you r father had preached, never once had you found him to be wrong.

His hands felt cold as you held them—cold like your father’s, colder still somehow was his presence. And your realised, heart — to what you had thought to be a void — breaking as you realised that the marriage was a cage to him as much as you. Neither happy—he wasn’t happy with your presence.

Pathetic. But again, did it truly matter?

The wedding had begun— officiated, soon your “I do”s would slip, the wedding couldn’t be stopped now, not ever.

And in that moment your eyes flickered to your own mother—she stood regal.

Embroidery she’d fought into you, cooking and baking, sewing a skill she’d made you own too—pity she couldn’t teach you controlling your emotions—pity your father was your influence.

Your eyes managed to flicker onto him—saintly, your brain mused—your heart couldn’t help but agree. And those saintly features held an ugly heart you told yourself, solace to a lonesome mind.

“Satoru, do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect Y/N, forsaking all others, and holding only unto her forevermore?”

When he took a moment to answer with a blank gaze, you could feel tiny pricks being sent straight to your heart. Just a mere glance at his stolid mien was enough for you to believe that he was going to call off the wedding and run away—mayhaps you wanted that, mayhaps, you didn’t.

What else could you expect?

He clearly didn’t want this, understandable was the fact. It wouldn’t surprise you if he took a step back and announced that he couldn’t go on in making an oath to offer the rest of his life with you. That he would rather get out of this hell hole and be somewhere else than to proclaim a love that was being forced out of him.

“I do,” he professed, despite the inner turmoil that plagued his head.

You sighed—soft.

“Y/n, do you promise to love, honour and cherish and protect Satoru, forsaking all others, and holding only unto her forevermore?”

Your eyes were quick—a glance here and there and everywhere—the pause was heavy; you watched your father’s nod of encouragement—your mother’s sharp eyes—his mother’s smile, fake- his father’s sip of champagne—your sister’s eyes’ were hazy; his best friend tipsy.

You couldn’t say no—“I do,”

“Bride and Groom, you have heard the words of love and marriage, have exchanged your vows and made your promises, and celebrated your union with the giving and receiving of rings. It is at this time that I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant declared, “you may now kiss the bride.”

Your eyes widened behind your veil- your first- the breath hitched as Satoru removed your veil—crystal seemed his eyes, crystal clear was his distaste. He was tall—comical in fact—you tip toed slight, he leaned in a bit—the kiss was warm, chill, foreign. His hand rested upon your cheek, a stroke—a pull, brief.

Your eyes watched as he pulled away, a new smile on his lips—an actor he could’ve proven to be.

A million thoughts clouded you and him—known to only the two of you—marriage worked quick in that sense you supposed, mother and you sister weer perhaps right. But when all was said and done—the marriage was officiated.

And your eyes met then—a thought passed between you and your husband—stuck together—Unfortunately, Yours.

Hair slicked, ivory, elegant.

For a man who was yours even when he wasn’t—you supposed he was good.

Gojo Satoru swept across the room—a smile on his face, gentle; gentler was the rhythm he walked at. Here and there, he conversed, after all, a man of his charm he was- taking after none but his father.

Idle gossip danced along his ears while he giggled with women—politics fell off his lips as he sipped on the champagne—he teased and played with children too, laughing and joking with them—Gojo Satoru smiled to all but his wife-to-be. She sat there, quiet, unmoving, unrelenting—she lay still.

“It’s the fifth time you’ve stared at her in the last 3 minutes,” a glass in hand—a black suit adorned, Suguru waltzed beside him—a sly grin on his face, “I know you’re married but that’s really desperate, even for you,”

“Shut up,” Satoru muttered, grinning wide at the new set of guests—hand motioning the waiters to attended to it.

Suguru chuckled again, “Your dad really didn’t help out today either huh?”

“Old geezer’s getting drunk,” voice, plain—monotonous, hands clenched at his sides —begging to run through his hair—to ruin it all.

“How was she?”

“Boring,”

Suguru’s eyes zoomed on to the specific waitress—limping—he sighed, “Your mother was worried sick and you’re having affairs already?,” he began, hands reaching up to fix the shirt, “And today is your wedding today—have some etiquette,”

Eyes rolled—the same dialogue slipped off his mouth—“You’re becoming my mother—and she isn’t random; as is I’ll get her fired now,” he grinned this time around, “but not anymore, I’ve already got another woman to fuck around with,” a hand—sharp—landed on his head.

“Respect her,” the raven haired boy muttered, eyes focused and cast down, “She’s your wife today onwards—not just some woman you can fuck whenever you want,”

Satoru scowled, hands rubbing the back of his head, the spot where Suguru struck, “That’s all she means,”

“Don’t tempt me to make her a widow before she’s even married Satoru,” a grin, a huge one Suguru masked—words deadly balanced.

“Treat her well Satoru,”

“You marry her then,”

“Suck it up and smile,”

“Fuck you,”

“I will,”—a grin, a chuckle and that was that. A hand patted Satoru on the back—“Treat her well,” Suguru muttered again, both their eyes cast onto you—where a smile rested on both their lips, only one was genuine. Your eyes found tracing their oath to their spot too, black and white—they seemed a beautiful set—your eyes cast to your own gown and your sister’s. White and navy blue—all the same.

A couple and another, a pair of four.

Suguru let his eyes cast down to his watch—about time for the dance—“Satoru,” his voice was smooth, “it’s time for your dance,”

He hummed—“Her father, or I suppose mine too now—he wanted her first dance,” Suguru raised his brows, “and you let him? What happened ‘I don’t share’” A small smirk played on the younger male’s lips.

“I don’t share what’s mine—not all that-” another strike, harder.

-

Inhale, exhale- again.

You hands shook, and ears ringed—you were married. The statement related in your mind for the 5th time since.

Married. Tied down.

“Entertain me with the first dance m’lady?” Your eyes narrowed—sharp—“Father?”

Beside you stood you father indeed, an aura different—an aura that had become his past.

He smiled, kind—your confusion only grew—“It’s time sweetheart,” Your teeth clenched; sweetheart?

You nodded still—be his good girl—his hand held yours; yours, his.

The music was slow- none that you recognised, you needn’t, you’d want to forget the moment already. The applause for you was blurry, everything around you was too. Eyes didn’t bother running off to your mother, nor your husband—they never did around your father.

And in the moment, you could’ve sworn to the vain memory you held—your father seemed like the man you once knew; seemed like the one who had abandoned you. Rage seized a decent part of your mind—desperation to hold onto him took charge of the other.

He held you close- an embrace not felt in forever, “You’ll be fine baby,” he mumbled into your ear—“don’t say that,” you were quick to add.

“Don’t be like this,” you added next, his heart broke, yours already was.

He knew however, what you meant- not a single objection he raised, guilt all too evident on the face that held its own wisdom. Evident however, only to those who knew him and pity lay such, he never let you.

“Just entertain me here,” you finally spoke—a minute left of your song—“why did you agree to this? We’re not- we’re not in need of money, we’ve the perfect military- you’ve raised me enough for me to take over at any given instance then why—why them?”

His gaze should’ve hardened—you expected it; it softened.

“I apologise.”

You nodded yet again- an answer unkempt.

-

Satoru’s hand felt the same it had the altar, soft, scented- something you perhaps wanted to hated.

He spun you around—a man of honour your mother would call him, you beckoned yourself to him—a lady of grace his mother would call you.

People danced all around you, your eyes found their way onto your sister, smiling and giggling—suitors all around her, you smiled.

Eyes couldn’t help but falter at Suguru Geto- Satoru’s best friend, you’d learned—his presence too. In a shy corner he stood- girls around him, you wouldn’t blame them—he sought that attention after all, evident.

“You like this song?” Your eyes snapped onto Satoru—“Pardon?”

“This song, do you like it?” Your eyes gazed everyone—all the while, his, you.

“I’ve…never heard it before—”

“—well I particularly hate it,” your brows raised—“Oh alright,” you nodded, “I’ll make sure to not add it to the playlist ‘Wedding 2.0’,”

Smiles you both held- not for each other, formal entirely—“Hilarious,” he muttered, “Makes two of us,” you snapped back.

A momentary silence fell and you couldn’t yourself—“Don’t try to play the husband here, you don’t accept me and I don’t accept you which is all but fine by me but I don’t need you to make idle conversations.” Voice sharp- eyes more so.

He grinned—“Feisty Hm?” Your nose flared—“alright I’ll entertain you with the non-idle kind,” eyes looked down at you condescension, was it?

“Daddy raised you as his war general yeah?” Your jaw clenched, “what did they call you? His right arm? His best gem?”

“Domestic abuse,” you began slow, “is a very real concept Satoru,” you smiled dangerously sweet—“Pray tell, the way you speak may make you victim soon,”

He chuckled quietly, nothing humorous, “Daddy also taught you weaponry?”

“Don’t speak of him like that-respect him,” you warned, teeth gritted—both of yours eyes zooming onto him—Satoru smiled.

“Of course, nothing against my father-in-law,” another grin, “But I can say whatever to you right baby?”

You hated him.

Your eyes scanned his, his- yours.

A frown, a grin.

A cough sounded beside you just then—the man just as tall as your husband, just as, if not more so, elegant.

Your eyes met his—a pit, yours and his.

“M’lady,” he smiled smoothly- bending just enough to kiss your hand—eyes cast quick onto Satoru, “One dance with the lady of the night please?”

Never a question, only a statement.

“Yes please,” Satoru muttered all too quick- a sharp glance, yours and Suguru’s.

Before you knew it you were swept right away, Suguru danced faster—a style which complimented yours, Satoru? Quiet the very same as yours, clashing.

You smiled as he picked the momentum with you, a chuckle his too—“You look stunning tonight,”

A nervous smile you passed-“All the very same to you sir,” his eyes crept onto your skin quick—“Why, seems like it’s just the two War Generals appreciating each other,” he laughed.

You laughed along- your eyes pausing to scan the hilt of his dagger in the suit—“Talent sees talent, eh?”

Another laugh- empty. What had swept you off was pleasant, what danced with you was hollow.

“The wedding,” Suguru added—your ears perked.

“Yes?” You reflected instantly—“You helped in the management right?” He smiled—your eyes narrowed.

Bastard, you both mused.

You nodded politely, “Well a good wife has to take care of things yeah?”

He grinned, “Oh you’re all too good m’lady,” voice a whisper, “Seems to me you’ll give me a run for my life,”

You grinned back, “Bless my heart Suguru—never to my family.”

Eyes hollow, minds ran fast—‘Interesting’ you both wondered as Suguru handed you back to his best friend and your husband.

‘Interesting indeed’.

Reblogs and likes highly appreciated!

All of this work is original and entirely my own, please refrain from copying or reposting.

— Taglist: @rizzmin @4sat0ruu @lavendervogh @yooiimiya @gojoismybitch

[sugar-grigri]

The nail that sticks out gets hammered down

Guns, nails, katanas: I think it's interesting to read this title not just in terms of the chapter's construction, but as three notions serving the same idea, which is what we're going to develop. 

The chapter opens with the students, followers of the Church of Chainsaw Man, who don't really know what to do with their weapons. They weren't even aware that they had so many, which marks a continuity with the last chapter, when Nobana wasn't even aware that there were weapons.

Their reaction becomes the opposite when their superior gives them a reason to interpret the weapons differently - they're no longer guns in the hands of children, but a continuation of Chainsaw Man's message and power.

I think that's an easy interpretation to have, but it's one worth establishing for the sequel. The guns are only a third part of the reasoning, after all. 

When the fiend arrives on the scene, it's also interesting the moment and the way they's cut off. Strangely enough, the fire doesn't start until they begins to suggest that children shouldn't be holding weapons, as if someone wanted to prevent them from provoking an awakening of conscience. All symbolic, of course. 

I insist on the fact that the response of the weapons is instantaneous because in French the line is well cut (I read both versions because sometimes it helps me to have a re-reading on certain lines and I perceive better the indicators notably on the tone… And yes, you missed the fiend saying Ouh Là Ouh Là Là… )

The fiend seems to have a strong desire to protect children. Which gives us an idea of the demon they might embody. A common trait that could be given to fiends is that they are beings (and I say this with all the love I bear them) intellectually limited or rather who have a way of reasoning that is more animal and demonic (logical, they are demons they embody) than human.

Whether it's Power, who only reasoned through the prism of domination, or Beam, who considered himself Chainsaw Man's pupil and follower, the possessed reason strictly through hierarchy, or rather through a kind of food chain, which is typically bestial. 

Seeing what looks like a fiend, or even a devil, reasoning in terms of child protection induces the idea that they must have something to do with these children to reason in such an abstract way as child protection. 

Especially as it's something they embodies rather than understands themself, since they remains demonic, bashing in the skull of a child they themself wanted to protect, but had spoken to wrongly, as if this "lesson" were also part of his upbringing. 

That's why I interpret this fiend as harboring the devil of studies. Which is logical? It's one of the main fears of young people in particular, whether it's the choice of direction, exams, or even because it's related to the future, studies are a subject of anxiety. 

Particularly in a Japanese system in which the costs of studying are considerable, with university rankings that can be quite anxiety-provoking for high-school students. 

That's why this fiend is so revolted by the sight of children with weapons, and nails them to walls rather than brutally killing them all.

Moods and compassion are not necessarily inherent concepts in the fiends, even if they are capable of them, as we saw with Power.

But then again, if Power changed her behavior, it was only with regard to Denji and Aki, because they were part of her pack and her entourage, just like Meowy.

Sacrificing herself for Denji, even if she did in the end, was by no means obvious, hence the fact that there were several pages before her second death where she considered two options: her survival by helping Makima and her certain death to protect her brother. 

That's why the fiend's words are so strange and put me on the trail of the study demon.

Skull-hammering, or being overloaded with information and knowledge to be accumulated, is symbolized by this protruding brain. 

In the same way, the fact that the demon possessed has no eyes symbolizes the school system, whose aim is to develop students without actually seeing them. 

I was thinking about the hammer, but the title indicates that it's the nails we should be thinking about.

Hence the title of this analysis, which takes up a famous saying :

The nail that sticks out gets hammered down

Obviously, this saying alone cannot reflect the complexity of Japanese society, which is sometimes even used as a caricature by the Western media. 

Nevertheless, without falling into caricature, it symbolizes a simple idea: Japanese society, unlike Western society, puts the collective before the individual. 

This doesn't mean that the individual is completely erased, but that he is encouraged to consider his behavior from a more global angle, one that transcends himself. 

It's simply a saying that can be understood as advice: if you step out of line, you can expect to encounter more difficulties.

This is as true for a Japanese society as it is for a Western one. I'm not establishing any hierarchy of values.

Hence the nails, which freeze individuals where they belong. 

That's why this possessed person has an aversion to seeing students with guns: it's not just for protection, it's also for compartmentalization. Society doesn't give students the role of assailants; their role is to have a criterion in their hands. 

We continue with this superior, who also happens to be possessed by the demon of justice. His posture is not only interesting in that it's a completely instrumentalized justice in the sense that it puts children in danger for a better purpose, but it's above all the thesis of necessary evil, i.e. fighting evil with evil. 

If human morality were to be summed up, it would be through this maxim: preventing wars with wars, protecting like Chainsaw Man while endangering students - that's the whole human contradiction.

So, of course, the fiend find him vain when he argues that he is the best incarnation of justice.

It's typical of man to imagine himself superior to other species. 

We end on Katana, who arrives with a cutaway (which I loved) to declare that there's no justice with Chainsaw Man. 

So, in one line, we put back in place all the originality of this character, and I find it incredible. 

This line is both true and ironic!

True, because Chainsaw Man humiliated him by killing his grandfather, winning against him and beating his private parts with Aki to avenge Himeno. 

But above all, Katana Man has been brought up among the Yakuza, who he believes are governed by the same principles as his grandfather, to the point where he firmly clings to this position.

Katana Man hasn't evolved at all on this issue .

Ironic, given that Katana Man's grandfather was Denji's debt collector, the man who ended up ordering the overindebtedness and dismemberment of a child.

Indeed, Denji has no idea what justice is, for his life is profoundly unjust, whether it's being indebted for his father's misdeeds or dying prematurely. 

Above all, he doesn't take justice into his own hands; Denji didn't take revenge on Aki and Power with Makima, he saved her, just as he pursues his own personal goals of killing demons; they don't slaughter demons to bring justice to all those unjust deaths, he fights because they turn him on, he's an instrument, not a vigilante. 

What the chapter speaks to in these three themes is the whole paradox of protection, whether it's seeking justice through the church by sending children as gunpowder.

Whether it's trying to protect these children by enclosing them in a school system.

Whether it's protecting ideals that are unfounded. 

Once again we follow the analysis of the last time, public hunters choose weapons or possessions that limit the damage to the teenagers who constitute the nation's precious asset. The church uses children as a kind of barrier, not because they think they're good soldiers, but because they're moral barriers. So they send a possessed man convinced that he's protecting the children.

Or a weapon who thinks he still has a man's heart.

It's not just a clash between the two camps; it's also a battle for public approval.

Katana Man and Chainsaw Man are two sides of the same coin, the same story. While one has known a loving grandfather whom he loves so much that he closes himself off in denial (to the point of always refuting Denji's version that he murdered his grandfather as a zombie, even though the only legacy he left him was a zombie weapon), the other has known the monster and has therefore not internalized concepts such as love, compassion or justice.

Katana Man is a weapon who has been instrumentalized by the Yakuza, and is still deluding himself to find meaning in his existence, while Denji is one of the few weapons living strictly for himself at the moment.

He's the only one who truly follows his heart !

[ren-054]

Infodump about my Kitsune Clans Backstory (including Natsu)

I’ve been thinking on it and I realized, if I ever wanted to artistically present my view on the kitsune lore, I’d have to either write a whole novel or make a game because I absolutely do not have the time or energy to plan out the reveal of all the info I have

Like I still have ideas for some pieces I’ll want to make, but I’m a yapper first and foremost and I wanted to just put my ideas on the table for future reference

Notes on the screenshots: I should correct the “why would you go to war” line with “if your leaders were mutually super competent”

I would never say that the kitsune never knew what they were doing, but when push came to shove, they all fell short of their duties unfortunately and couldn’t maintain peace

It was a long running tension between all the clans that came to a head with part of the Summer clan being the instigator, but the Winter clan, under Fuyu’s command, technically declaring the war out of vengeance and to exercise their power in the face of being horribly disrespected by their neighboring clan

Leading up to this instigating event, the Autumn clan was in the (possibly unprecedented/emergency) process of exchanging leadership and were not in the position to be doing risky diplomatic decisions while Aki was still adjusting

While with the Spring clan, I genuinely view Haru as a passive individual (at least during the time before the wars) who really didn’t have the experience or wisdom to use his authority with purpose. He prided himself on maintaining peace within his clan and his clan alone. It may have also been within the interests of his advisors or the Spring clan’s culture in general

As for Fuyu, he’s an old man who holds a sense of self righteousness and dignity about him at all times, at least from what I’ve seen in game. He’s a man of pride, to a fault. I’d assume Fuyu would’ve felt off-put by Natsu’s more forgiving and lax leadership style due to their closeness in age—only a difference of about 200 or so years.

Fuyu had a much more pragmatic and cold method of leading which didn’t make him the most popular authority figure in his community, to be honest, whereas Natsu was loved dearly by many his clan members, almost cultivating a family-like dynamic. Fuyu objectively knew why his relationship with his people was so different from Natsu’s, but still it nevertheless stung.

Fuyu ended up being too prideful to realize that Natsu needed direct (and probably less accusatory) confrontation about the issues Fuyu was noticing before they got out of hand like they did. I feel like his lack of understanding and slight jealousy over Natsu’s comparatively gentler nature festered into a resentment that Fuyu wished to watch be “corrected” through Natsu’s own error.

This ultimately led to The Incident, and Fuyu, mad at himself (subconsciously) and Natsu, had no other choice but to take action

————-*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･* —————

Ahhh god that’s so much text _:(´ཀ`」 ∠):

This isn’t even talking about Natsu’s time post-escape OR his recovery but fpfpakdjs

If you made it to the bottom of my post, thank you here’s some Natsu concept sketches as a reward :3

[easy-revenge]

its been over 2 years since i read volume 9 of chainsaw man and it still apparently has the power to make me sob uncontrollably when i think about it so im going to talk a bit about aki and denji being shown as children during the snowball fight and why it's currently making me wanna rip my hair out :)

aki is already gone during this scene for all intents and purposes, having very little comprehension of the events his body is in and just waiting to be set free. his mind reverting back to the moment he lost his family is not surprising, since that's when his life permanently changed trajectory.

he's not to blame for being stuck in this moment, as it would make sense for any kid his age. however, he didn't put himself on the path towards revenge, which inevitably made him unable to let go. that was makima. she took him by the hand and gave him this "purpose", something she very well knew he was never going to achieve anyway. she trapped him in this predicament and made sure he stayed there till there were no options left for him.

to the very end, aki's life was never his own, but planned for him. aki never left that snowy forest. he wasn't allowed to.

as a result, the essence of aki that remained within the gun fiend after his death materialized as the last genuine version of aki that ever was. a kid playing in front of his house.

moving over to denji, who is the one that got me crying today. his appearance as a child in aki's mind is partly to parallel the bond they shared and the bond between aki and his little brother, whom he lost that day. of course. however i think there's a lot of significance to this choice for denji's character as well.

denji grew up remote and very disconnected from society. he never got the chance to learn how to navigate his feelings and relationships with other people. he had to figure it all out as he went, first with pochita, whom he got attached to and later with aki and power. even with makima.

makima was the first person to ever give him attention and affection, to give him the things he always wanted, but she never treated him like a person. she never helped him get any closer to learning how to be one. he was used, much like aki was, and was given a purpose that was never going to be for his own benefit.

as a result, denji took a while to go through the motions of being surrounded by humans and being taught by them. the first time we saw him face the concept of loss was with pochita, an event that didn't really give him much in terms of experience considering all the implications and how suddenly it changed his life. in its nature, it wasn't a type of loss he would've been able to navigate as a human.

im not going to go into the situation with his father since we saw very explicitly how incapable he was to handle it to the point of blocking it out and having it haunt him till the end of part one. he surely didn't get much data out of that experience either, or the abuse he went through before it.

the first real time he got to see loss occur very close to him was himeno's death. he had no emotional reaction to it, which confused him since he was able to observe its effect on aki and other people around him. he questioned his own humanity for the first time and it upset him, if only momentarily. it gave him a hint of perspective.

sadly, he was going to find out what loss meant the hard way.

with makima still treating him like an animal and the circumstances forcing him to still rely on his instincts, denji's emotional maturity wasn't really prioritized. he did inevitably grow closer to aki and power, without necessarily being able to recognize those feelings for what they were. again he just had to go through the motions.

fast forward to the gun devil arc. he's told by makima on the phone to not think, to just fight aki without thinking about it. we see the progress that's been made in how clearly unable denji is to follow that order, aki being the closest thing to family he's ever had by this point.

he fights his best friend, not even thinking about himself, but of how aki would feel if he were conscious of how much destruction he was causing. still up to this point, denji doesn't know that he loves aki. it hasn't computed to him as a piece of info, only as an experience.

him being shown as a child in the snow, a contrast to the violent reality that his body is in, has as much significance as it does for aki.

denji never really grew up, he never got past his father's death or anything that happened to him before and after that. he was kept from it by his life and makima herself, once again. his ineptitude was weaponized and he was nowhere near being aware of it. he was also stuck.

in that scene, denji experiences real loss. he loses someone he loves and someone who loves him back. someone who thought himself unable to do so but was the first to love him like a human.

he was just a kid, losing his family by his own hand again, only this time he had been loved.

it's highlighted in the next chapter, where he appears unable to grieve and looks kind of numb instead. then we have the ice cream scene, where he thinks the words for the first time and throws up immediately.

his confusion after it happens, him being unable to fathom why his body would have such a reaction, breaks my heart almost more than the entirety of the snowball fight itself, from denji's pov.

im not going to talk about what happens directly after that and its implications bc im gonna end up talking forever, but his behavior throughout the next chapters very much shows how out of his depth he is when it comes to loss and grief and how lost and helpless he is in makima's hands.

my point is, both aki and denji were used, weaponised and kept from growing up while also having to deal with the world and its cruelty at the same time. even the closeness they achieved was planned and used against them both. this is only one of many angles of the snowball fight scene that can be looked at and interpreted in different ways. but it was the one that made me ugly cry today :)

[littengamer909]

Fully Charged Episodes/Things I WISH We Got

(prepare for incoming YAPPING at mach 2!!)

B-Team. I want to see Bert and Ashley working together! I think that their personalities would bounce off each other really well and make some hilarious dialogue. I specifically want to see them forced to be the heroes when Aki and Suna are unavailable.

Chaotique interacting with more characters. Her sense of humor could gel really well with Ashley, Suna, or a lot of the Robot Masters. I think an episode with her and Fireman could be really interesting.

Sick Day Episode. Yeah, yeah, I've always got whump on my mind, laugh it up. But, really, this could be fun! Every American cartoon needs a sick day episode (and yes I know that most of the voice actors are Canadian).

A bigger exploration of at least one of Aki's love interests. The romance felt so forced - just kinda shoe-horned in there - but with an episode or two devoted to fleshing it out, it could really work out! Bonus points if they make it canon that Bert has a crush on Mega Man (he basically does but it would be fun to have).

More Miniblast. I did NOT see the romance between these two coming, but I do like it! I would love to see them go on a date, it would be so much fun to watch.

FIREMAN. WHERE DID HE GO??? I NEED ANSWERS!!!

Daini Redemption Arc. Yeah, it's the obvious one, but I'm not wrong!

If you have anything to add PLEASE reblog this and tell me, I'd love to see some of your concepts!

[shouritsu]

Happy Inazuma PV Day! To celebrate, have my work so far for GO designs for those that didn’t show, part 1 of ??? whenever I get inspired again haha

Quick rundown of the concepts, Rika is working to take over from her mom and is coaching the GO gen of Osaka gals as well, of course! She and Touko are too busy to meet up a lot as adults, but when they do it’s as fun as ever. I like to think they could’ve tried dating for a time, but the distance was too much. Still besties tho.

Yagami has become a detective, so that she can mind cases that are important to kids who felt hopeless as the Sunshine Garden did before. Although as cool as ever while working, she makes sure to use her salary to buy the kids in the orphanage nice gifts.

Domon and Ichinose are pro players in America! At least one of them is dating Aki canonically. Non canonically maybe they’re polyamorous. I like to think they do road trips and have a travel blog.

Ootani feels like she could be a very pleasant flight attendant to me and I’m not sure why. The alternate thought is she could be another teacher at Raimon. Tamagorou I feel didn’t stick with soccer to become a pro himself, but it would be neat if he was a manager! I imagine he’s a lot more confident now but still has bouts of nervousness.

[duskmachine]

!! CHAINSAW MAN CHAPTER 167 SPOILERS !!

the newest chapter of chainsaw man and the reaction to it is actually making me feel like i've been blasted into a wall and broke every bone in my body. chapter 167 is the cumulation of everything denji theoretically wanted. he lost everything: his family, his home, his normal life. yet, he wished to become chainsaw man and wanted to "have tons and tons of sex!!"

it's happening all over again: denji was given a family, a home, good food, a normal life. but he, in his mind, killed aki. the guilt is eating at him; "there's no way i could ever have a family. i mean, i killed my own dad." nayuta even says, "i'll fill him up with happiness... then destroy it." and denji, failed to protect his only family, nayuta, ultimately "killing" her. (at the time of this post we don't know of her status)

so what does that have to do with chapter 167? the abuse has become part of denji's heart. he has no solid understanding of familial love, just that he seems to have an instinctual want for it. the same type of instinctual want that is his sex drive. he's moving purely with his heart which is driven by desires— desires that are fulfilled by a devil.

in chapter 167 both asa and denji have been assaulted. asa was not in control and denji did not utter a single word throughout the entire interaction. both are confused teenagers who function under selfish and conflicting wants. asa, who wishes to save denji because really she wants to be revered as a hero and seem like a better person. denji, who even in the face of great loss, wants to have "tons and tons of sex" because it's the only coping mechanism normalized for men.

these are desires of the heart and these devils exist to manipulate these desires into truths that exist in the most twisted way possible. chapter 167 is horrifying, not because "fujimoto how could you draw two teenagers in a sexual situation!!", but rather because these two teenagers will be irreversibly changed from their traumatic experiences because of the world of adults. they have been forced into using tools adults weaponize against each other: literal weapons, but also concepts of "justice", "love", and "sex". denji and asa are constantly being told what to do, and even worse, forced to do the biddings of adults and devils alike.

the chainsaw man church who claims all americans are "ultra violent" is immediately met with doubt from denji because he has been exposed to real americans who have all been relatively normal (at least, according to denji's definition of "normal"). denji can think for himself, but it requires him to be exposed to healthy and safe environments that allow him to learn... just like any other kid! this applies to asa too! she has never learned how to have healthy friendships, the one friend she has ever made put the adult responsibility of "justice" onto herself and became a monster. and asa had to kill her.

kids become monsters under heavy pressure from adults and the cycle of abuse never ends. i feel deeply sad that the reaction seems so reactionary and trivial. the horror of chainsaw man is the horror every teenager has to live through.

[lets-try-some-writing]

Hey, remember the time you did the TFP Autobots learning about the human names. I just remembered the Human Factor episode where Rafael's mom barged in his room, yelling his full name. "Rafael Jorge Gonzales Esquivel!" What are the Autobots reaction to learning that some humans have long names?

Welp I couldn't resist, enjoy more made up lore.

Long Names

Technically every Cybertronian has a long name, however due to how they work the name into a singular or two part syllable word while still maintaining the deeper meaning, they often forget how long their names really are. Bumblebee's name alone would span an entire page if every small glyph portion and meaning had to somehow be put into English. And even then he is still very young and has yet to gain many nicknames and titles to tack onto his name glyph. With that in mind, a mech like Optimus who is both old as dirt and a Prime with all sorts of names, titles, and achievements under his belt would have his name be about the length of a short light novel when put on paper in English.

With this in mind when the bots learned that some humans have longer names than just the simple one they were given, that being the first and last name, they were slightly confused. It wasn't that they weren't capable of understanding why the humans had long names. They had long names too after all, no the issue lay for them in the simple fact that the humans didn't seem to simplify their names at all. Whenever they signed things they had to write their entire name, and for humans like Rafael, that was a bit of a chore. It made no sense to the bots, there was a reason they carefully and methodically crafted a unique glyph to encompass their entire identity, otherwise they would be writing whole thesis lengthened signatures.

Watching the human children write their full names out on papers every single time they did homework was almost painful to watch. To the Autobots it was far easier to write out their name glyph, an act that takes dedication and skill, than to write out their whole name. Which when looking at the sheer length of their names, even the human children had to agree. Having to methodically write out the most complex yet beautiful mess of lines and squiggles when signing papers instead of a whole novel seemed far more acceptable. Still, despite the human children's names being far simpler in comparison, the bots still tried to find a way to simplify the name writing process. The whole team ended up getting together to try and figure out a way to combine the English words that made up the children's names as they would with Cybertronian glyphs. However they swiftly found that English is both far simpler and far harder to work with than glyphs.

Optimus spent weeks during his freetime studying everything about English to better understand how to combine the letters and words. Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee sat around for the same length of time struggling to throw the letters around to make an odd English glyph thing that looked somewhat acceptable. More often than not they just fought about it though due to varying naming preferences. At the same time Ratchet went straight to June asking about how naming works to get a more practical understanding of the human take on the concept.

In the end the team came up with three glyphs made of English letters that they were all content with after weeks of effort. And so feeling very proud of themselves they carved the glyphs into three charms as would normally be done on Cybertron, and handed them off to the children. The children were of course happy at receiving the gift, but wildly confused as to what the heck they were holding. Even when it was explained, they still just stood and stared as their charms for a long while. Jack got himself a glyph that looked a lot like Norse runes smashed together in an odd geometric mix as the English letters had been simplified to the point of near nonexistence. Miko gained a name glyph that was more akin to Chinese in style due to how many letters had been jammed together into the strangely elegant yet still unreadable charm. And Rafael received a glyph that was strangely akin to old Latin writing, even almost being readable if it weren't for the odd disjointed but still pleasing design that the letters had been carved into.

In the end the children thanked the bots for their efforts but put forth the concept of shortened signatures as well, showing the bots that human names are often shortened to something like M.N in Miko's case. As soon as the bots saw this, most grumbled something about it not being nearly as thoughtful or pretty as their glyphs and wandered off a little sulky about having spent so long working on their glyphs only to find out short signatures are a thing.

[the12thnightproject]

Chapter 31 - Alternate View. Okatsu and Mitsunari have only one night left before she returns to the future. So why is Mitsunari wasting time talking with… Shingen? 

Mitsunari x OC; Nobunaga x Mai

Previous Chapter

Logline -  In order to protect a political alliance, Katusko and Mitsunari must pretend an engagement. But this “all business” arrangement is threatened by a coup against Nobunaga… and by feelings.

From the Military Notes of Ishida Mitsunari…

I understand the basic concept of alternative timelines … however, what I do not know if there was, at some point, only one Katsu, and the splitting of our timeline created several, or, if these multiple timelines have always existed with only minor differences. If I get a moment, I will ask this Sasuke what he believes.

A more pressing concern – the other timeline’s Okatsu (or, Katsu as she preferred to be called) is in love with Lord Shingen. Does that mean that my Okatsu is destined for this timeline’s Lord Shingen?

I am torn. I wish her to be happy. But the thought of her with him is more painful than anything I have ever experienced before.

As it happened, Sasuke and Toshiie arrived at the wormhole site before we did… and they had a third person with them. Even at a distance, I recognized the taller figure poking at the fire as the man I had just met at Aki’s. Lord Shingen. “Another one?”

I heard a soft sigh from Mitsunari’s direction. “While it was no strain to meet two additional Okatsus, I could have lived happily without encountering two Takeda Shingens.”

The Shingen at Aki’s had seemed pleasant enough –  he had also been thoroughly focused on Katsu. But of course, he was an enemy of the Oda, and as such, Mitsunari’s history with him was probably not as benign.

Once Mitsunari and I got closer to the other group, I realized that this Shingen was … not as healthy as the one we met earlier. He was thinner, and his skin had a yellowish cast to it. It appeared he was Sasuke’s sick friend that Toshiie had gone to treat.

All three of them stood up as Mitsunari and I approached. Sasuke again greeted us in that overly formal way he had. “Okatsu, Mitusunari - you made excellent time. I didn’t expect you until tonight.”

“Oh well. We sort of took a shortcut.” I’d have to tell Sasuke the rest later.

Lord Shingen looked at me and smiled. Ok. That is a weapon right there – though his smile didn’t have Mitsunari’s sweetness, it carried a metric ton of charisma. “Hello Angel. The future is looking brighter already. To meet such a dazzling creature as yourself is evidence that fortune is smiling upon me today.”

Whoa.

Dude.

Dial. It. Down.

Behind me, I sensed Mitsunari bristle like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on. Lord Shingen looked past me to Mitsunari, then said in a much less (much much less) friendly tone of voice, “Ishida Mitsunari.” His confident demeanor didn’t change, though the warning behind the words was somewhat mitigated by a wheezing cough.

Mitsunari saw the cool tone and raised it with a barely polite bow. It wasn’t icy. Mitsunari didn’t do icy. But it held none of his normal friendliness. “Lord Shingen. I had never expected to see you outside of a battlefield.”

“I intend for you to get that opportunity as well.” He glanced at Toshiie. Yup that was a consulting my doctor glance.

“I look forward to that.” And perhaps Mitsunari was. As obsessed with military theory as he was, I figured he would be interested in turning theory to practice. “However, at the moment, you are standing far too close to Lady Okatsu.”

“Ah. I see now.” Shingen’s laugh was interrupted by that terrible cough. “’Lady’ Okatsu? You are the mysterious Oda Princess who accompanied his entourage to Genba?”

How the hell did he know that?

Mitsunari stepped closer to me and said quietly into my ear, “Lord Shingen’s spy network rivals Mitsuhide’s.”

“It’s better than Mitsuhide’s.” So, apparently, is Lord Shingen’s hearing.

Worried that Mitsunari and Lord Shingen were about to get sidetracked into a discussion, I stepped in to ask Sasuke, “What time tomorrow?”

“Wormhole? Er, late morning. Or early afternoon. Theoretically.” He reached into his kimono and pulled out a bundle of papers with long sets of computations. “I confirmed these numbers before Toshiie and I left Kyoto, but over the past week, my observations have revealed contradictory information.”

The past week? As in the week that three Katsukos, another Shingen and another Sasuke were in that strange waystation? Yeah, we really needed to talk. I looked at Lord Shingen and wondered how much Sasuke had told him about time travel. Obviously, he wouldn’t be here if he weren’t aware of the concept. “Are you bringing Lord Shingen to the future as well?”

“Hopefully,” Toshiie said, just as Lord Shingen replied, “I have yet to be convinced that the healers in your future will be able to cure me. The idea continues to be a point of discussion.”

“It’s true that I can’t guarantee success.” Toshiie inclined his head toward Lord Shingen. “But I would know more after running some tests.” Under his breath he mumbled something inaudible, but knowing my brother, he was likely indulging in more Dr. McCoy style disparagement of Sengoku era-medicine.

“I have not made a final decision on the matter. It’s difficult to agree to this journey when the people of Kai are homeless, and our lands are overrun by Nobunaga’s brutes.” Mitsunari bristled again (IMO rightfully so – I wouldn’t have characterized any of Nobunaga’s inner circle that way – some of them were annoying, nosy, and micromanaging… but not brutish) while Lord Shingen paused to catch his breath. “If there is no cure to be found, I will have wasted my final months chasing a dream, rather than on the battlefield with my people.”

The Lord Shingen that Mitsunari and I met earlier today had been to the future – and he seemed much healthier than this one. While I wasn’t sure about the rules of time travel when it came to revealing the future, it would also be medically unethical to keep such information from him. Besides, I wouldn’t be revealing this timeline’s future – I was revealing another timeline’s past. Right? “Um, I think it worked.”

“Worked?” Sasuke picked up on the past tense, as I had intended him to do.

“It’s… a long story – but it also might explain why your observations gone haywire.” A very long story, and I didn’t want to continue to stand around in a circle telling it – especially when there appeared to be a bowl of stew of some kind sitting on a tripod over the fire. Technically, Mitsunari and I hadn’t eaten in a week.

Proving that he at least had the observational skills of a spymaster, Lord Shingen herded us all toward the fire. “This appears to be a tale best told with a meal… and…” he opened a basket which contained an assortment of pastry, “of course, sweets.” He sat down, then patted the space next to him. “Come sit by me, Angel, and tell me more.”

“Shingen, do I have to remind you that Katsuko is my sister?” Toshiie sat himself down in the space that Shingen had indicated.

“We can’t take him anywhere.” Sasuke magically produced two extra bowls from his Mary Poppinsesque ninja gear. Once Mitsunari and I had performed our traditional exchange of carrots for mushrooms, we all settled down to eat.

I’m not an idiot. I sat next to Mitsunari, as far away from Lord Shi- The Warlord from the Brothel! That was where I had seen him before. Huh. Yeah. Staying far away from him. I don’t know how Katsu managed to tame that one in her timeline, but I knew a heartbreaker when I saw one. Belatedly, I realized I had been staring at him since I sat down. He clearly realized that too, and he smiled and winked at me.

Oof. I scooted closer to Mitsunari. “Aki disappeared – right after you two left for Kasugayama.” I again summed up what happened at the tower. “Mitsunari and I went looking for him today. Or, well, last week, I guess.” I shook my head. I was confusing myself, as well as everyone else.

Mitsunari took over for me. “What Okatsu means is that for us, our search has lasted a day, but we spent the afternoon in a place where time has no meaning. When we left, we discovered a week had passed.”

“Time has no meaning? Holy Crap on a cracker!” Sasuke nearly spilled his dinner in his excitement, but used to flying crockery, I caught it before it spilled. Sasuke didn’t even notice. “Where is this place? Is there time for us to go there? Where does it lead? How do you -?”

He paused only when Lord Shingen held up his hand authoritatively. “Sasuke, rather than sending them various avenues, allow them to continue their story uninterrupted, until they complete it.”

Ok, I could now see how this one was also a spymaster. Toshiie was looking at him like he was a tasty treat…. Ooh, someone has a crush! But I figured his medical ethics would ensure he kept his hands off a patient.

Mitsunari explained about finding the rotating wall and the hidden room. “The room was nearly empty, aside from two trunks containing clothing that Okatsu recognized as Akihira’s. However, before we could investigate further, we were interrupted by two other people looking for Akihira.” He looked at Lord Shingen. “One of them was you.”

“Multiverses! I knew it!” Sasuke pumped his fist, then subsided at a quelling look from Lord Shingen.

“The other person… was me. Except, not-me. Anyway sir,” I directed my comment to Lord Shingen. “You, or rather he, was not at all ill – he appeared to be strong and healthy, and he did not have a cough or any problems breathing. He and Katsu said that they had travelled through a wormhole previously. Therefore, I figure that whatever disease you have is treatable.”

“Beauty and brains. Thank you, Angel. Yes, that does appear to be a logical conclusion.” Lord Shingen nodded, and a weight seemed to fall off his shoulders. Toshiie seemed to relax as well – so he hadn’t been completely confident that modern medicine could cure Lord Shingen.

“Two of you. My childhood would have been horrible with two Katsukos always getting me into trouble.” Toshiie stuck his tongue out at me. I threw a twig back at him. And since I have fantastic aim, it thwapped him right in the forehead.

Mitsunari got our story back on track. “Katsu mentioned having been in the wrong timeline prior to this – however we were interrupted again. The second interruption was from you, Sasuke.”

Once again, Sasuke looked like he wanted to leap up and perform a tribal dance of joy, but he restrained himself to another first pump. “Was I with the other Lord Shingen and the other Katsu?”

I sighed. “Um. No. You were with a third Katsu.”

My comment prompted Sasuke to scramble for his notes. Before he could get too far off track, I hurried to finish the story, with Mitsunari jumping in to fill in details that I had forgotten or missed. “When we returned to this – timeline – a week had passed. Although neither Okatsu nor I felt hungry or tired.”

“Interesting that you were able to exist in the same space as the other Katsus.” Sasuke pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. “In some multiverse theory, it’s impossible for the alternates to meet without causing damage to the fabric of reality.”

“Alternates? I’m already weirded out enough without slapping a sci-fi label on it.” ‘Other-Katsu’ was clunky enough.

“You aren’t twins or clones, and ‘duplicates’ seemed even worse.” Sasuke waved that all away. “However, it might be a good idea for your brother to take your vital signs.”

I couldn’t see where that would yield any interesting data, but it seemed like a harmless idea, so I shrugged and agreed.

Sasuke had wanted to hover over the “medical exam” and continue to quiz me about the room outside of time, but in the end decided it would be better to examine the sky for updated wormhole data.

“Did the stethoscope or the cuffs freak anyone out – ow!” I glared at Toshiie when he inflated the blood pressure cuff too tightly.

“Not at all. In fact, Shingen wanted to take the stethoscope apart to see how it worked – I think he wanted to Macguyver a version of it that could be used in spying.” We looked over at where Shingen and Mitsunari were having what appeared to be an actual friendly conversation. Their mutual interest in tactics and strategy had allowed them to temporarily put aside their differences.

“Interesting. Your pulse just shot up. Katsuko, don’t go there. Shingen is a brilliant man, but he goes through women like butter.” Toshiie frowned and poked through his medical bag of anachronisms.

“Mixed metaphors much? I think the saying is mmmmph.” Toshiie shoved a thermometer in my mouth.

“I said what I meant. Women melt as soon as he starts flirting with him. When he even looks at them.” He stuck some kind of probe thing in my ear. “And you just sent a hungry look his way.”

I hadn’t been looking at Lord Shingen.

As my mouth was still full of thermometer, I kept that to myself.

“Shingen plans to stay with Sasuke, but we’ll all probably spend a lot of time together. So, just… be careful. You and Sasuke have spent years here, and Lord Shingen may gravitate to you because you’re a bridge to both eras… Lean forward.” I obeyed as Toshiie listened to my lungs.

Toshiie continued to lecture me. “Have you thought about what you want to do with your life? You could go back and finish the physical therapy training.”

I resented the parental way he was treating me. Had he forgotten we were the same age? Maybe in his mind, I was still the teenager I had been when we were first separated, but I wasn’t, and in this era, I was much better equipped to take care of myself than he would be.

Although… what would I do in the future? I’d just spent seven years running and fighting and scouting. Maybe I could get a martial arts certification and teach? I mean… it appealed to me more than going back to college. Once again, I glanced at Mitsunari, who was still intently listening to Lord Shingen.

Toshiie pulled the thermometer out of my mouth and checked it. “Ok doofus, you are disgustingly healthy.”

“There is nothing disgusting about Okatsu.” Mitsunari, demonstrating that he could, on occasion follow more than once conversation simultaneously, piped up to defend me. “Okatsu, you are as… you are like… you are not disgusting.” His shoulders slumped.

“Mitsunari, it’s ok. This is just the way we talk to each other. I know Toshiie loves me. We like to tease each other sometimes.” I thought for a moment, then added, “Sort of how Ieyasu is – he sounds grumpy but deep down, you know he really likes you.” Deep deep down.

Still, for whatever reason, Mitsunari continued to look miserable, and I would have tried to reassure him further, but Sasuke’s ears had perked up at Ieyasu’s name and he plopped down down next to me.

“Ieyasu – that’s right, you got to spend time with him. I’m kind of a huge Ieyasu fanboy and I’d love to get your impression of him.” To be honest, Sasuke’s questions kind of faded in and out of my consciousness, because Mitsunari had once again embedded himself deeply into a conversation with Lord Shingen.

Even though I absently answered Sasuke’s questions, my mind was still on, as Kayten had called him, the cinnamon roll. This was our last chance to hang out before I returned home. It had been bad enough during the times Shohime had demanded his attention – I had never imagined I’d also have to compete with Lord Shingen!

By the time I went to bed, Mitsunari was still talking with Lord Shingen. Waiting around for him would be rather obvious, so I dug my blanket out of the bottom of my pack, and curled up on the ground.

I used to be able to sleep under the sky without any problem – in fact, I often preferred it to sleeping inside. But my years here unrolled inside my head, from Aki’s rescue of me, through the months of training, all of the times I had ridden across the …

Damn it.

What was I going to do about my horse? If things had gone to plan, I would have left her at Aki’s. But I hadn’t known the place would be deserted (and potentially protecting a hellmouth).

I couldn’t just leave her. Could she come through the wormhole with us? Sasuke, Toshiie, and Lord Shingen hadn’t brought horses with them, so probably not. Even if I could bring her, could I take care of her in modern Japan? Also probably not … I still wasn’t sure if I could take care of myself in modern Japan.

Eventually, I decided to ask Mitsunari to take her back to Azuchi – maybe she would make a good mount for Mai, once her own riding improved. Yes. I’d ask Mitsunari. If he ever stops talking to Lord Shingen.

Meanwhile, it might be nice to get some sleep, but though I could shut my eyes, I couldn’t turn off my buzzing thoughts. Face it, Katsuko, you can’t sleep because you’ve gotten used to Mitsunari’s presence nearby.

I resigned myself to lying awake until dawn, and once I’d accepted that, I rolled over on my side, rested my head on my arm, and watched Mitsunari and Shingen for a while. The firelight played off Mitsunari’s face, highlighting that intent expression. Whatever Lord Shingen was telling him, had inspired that ‘learning something fascinating’ look. I tried to burn that expression into my brain, so that I could take it out and savor it some lonely night in the future.

Sometime later, when I was half awake and half lost in a dream about being stomped on by a dinosaur (likely prompted by a rock that was lodged under my spine), I opened my eyes to see that Mitsunari had spread a blanket on the ground next to me. He seemed to be asleep, with one hand stretched toward mine. I let my hand drift closer to his, and then as if we were magnetized, our hands snapped together, and he gave mine a squeeze.

I looked to his face, he was awake too. He smiled at me, one of those smiles, the ones that could always calm me. I squeezed his hand back.

“Will you come back? At least to visit, if nothing else? Will you be able to do so?” He inched closer and rested his head on his other hand.

“If I can – I don’t know. Either way… you’ll take care of my horse, won’t you?” I didn’t want to believe that I would never see Mitsunari – oh, and everyone else – again. But it had taken seven years to find a way back to modern Japan. Maybe it would take another seven years to figure out how to return here. By that time, who knows what will have happened?

“I’ll take her back to Azuchi with me.” He let go of my hand and brushed my hair out of my eyes. “I will miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.” I summoned a smile. “We’ll always have Genba.”

I felt a drop of water on my face. Great. Was I about to spoil a great goodbye line by crying?

BOOM!

Thunder crashed, sounding almost on top of us. Not tears then. Rain. Another drop hit my nose, and then as if the first two had just been the advance scouts, the sky dumped buckets on us.

In the mad scramble to get up and find shelter, I heard Toshiie yelling at Lord Shingen to put on his mino and try to stay out of the wet, then Sasuke scanned the heavens, as I realized that it was only dark because of the clouds and not because it was still night. “The wormhole’s materializing.”

Forget shelter. We hastily grabbed our things, as Sasuke barked out instructions to stay together.

In the distance, the wall of fog crept down the mountain, like a writhing avalanche.

“Mitsunari.” Sasuke gently patted his shoulder. “You need to stand back, unless you want to spend an indefinite amount of time in the future.” He bowed to him. “I have enjoyed knowing you.”

“Katsuko! Hurry!” Toshiie yanked on my arm.

“I’ll be there in a sec.” Trust Toshiie to pick this moment to be early for the first time in his life.

I turned and hugged Mitsunari. “Goodbye. You were the best fake fiancée I’ve ever had.”

He hung on tightly, his grip strong and unusually fierce. “It did not feel fake,” is what I thought he said, but it was raining so intensely that I was no longer sure.

I stepped out of his embrace and turned to follow Toshiie toward the future.

@lorei-writes @bestbryn @katriniac @lyds323 @briars7

[stellar-constellations]

"I'll cheat death; it wouldn't be my first time."

GIF by kilruas

        Carefree! Devil hunter! Fem! (Y/N) x Angel Devil

        Reincarnation is mentioned.

        (Y/N) is scared of spiders.

        (Y/N) is intended to have romantic feelings, but the ending is vague, so you can choose how you interpret it!

        (Y/N)'s devil contract is with the Dog Devil! It does not explain her sacrifice.

        God is mentioned once or twice but (Y/N) isn't confirmed to be religious.

        (Y/N) is said to be from America.

        Manga spoilers!

        Working in Public Safety's Division 4 isn't exactly the most favorable branch. The only reason I'm in it is because it's closest to my apartment. I, coincidentally, live in the same apartment complex as Aki, a coworker in the same branch of work as me.

        The apartment complex is very chaotic and noisy considering there's two fiends living on the same floor. In the morning, you can hear Power yelling about breakfast and Denji arguing with her while Aki smokes on the balcony. In the meantime, I'm usually cooking a quick and lazy breakfast if I'm hungry (or trying to get extra shut eye since Power and Denji never seem to calm down, even when the whole complex is trying to sleep, but they've gotten better at being quieter). 

        The train ride is also very miserable for us and the passengers. Power doesn't quite understand the concept of trains, trying to break the window whilst Aki scolds at her not to. Denji is usually sitting next to Power yet is looking away, pretending to not know the crazed Blood Devil. I, too, am looking away from the scene, pretending not to know who these people are despite wearing the same uniform as them.

        When we finally get to work, everyone finally calms down. We're assigned missions from Makima to track down the Gun Devil's scattered flesh (that we're more often than not sent all together).

        I was with Aki, Himeno, and the two fiends when the Gun Devil's henchman attacked the Public Safety divisions; the only reason I'm still alive is I was in the bathroom during the attack. Almost all of the human agents died, excluding our special little team led by Aki. Somehow, we lived thanks to normal cotton jackets hiding our uniforms. Aki lived thanks to Denji taking the hit last second. If Denji was a second too late, Aki would be just like Hirokazu who I later found out died (rest in peace, I guess). 

        Kobeni survived. How she did, I'm not sure. I'm more shocked that she decided to stay in Public Safety, but I heard from Aki that she stayed because bonuses to the surviving agents would be handed out from Makima (I could use some of that money anyways). 

        But anyways, thanks to those jackets, we were able to survive having our brains become a morbid display on the small restaurants floors. Somehow, the gunmen exploded where they stood after Denji transformed to his devil form and fought the Katana Man that was in the restaurant. I later found out from Denji that Kobeni saved his ass from being kidnapped by Katana Man and that Snake Devil user, who we discovered her name was Akane Sawatari. She died, her Snake Devil killing her in a form of suicide, which Makima believes was immediately after she breached the contract she shared with the Gun Devil. 

        It took a couple days of me laying low before I met up with Makima. Makima congratulated m for surviving the attack, then immediately ordered me to meet up with Kishibe—apparently the best Devil Hunter out there—and his team to help defeat the Zombie Devil. I didn't need to be bribed of money or safety; I finally had something fun to do. 

        "It's like we're super agents! Working for the government to create world peace and defeat the enemy!" Denji cheered.

        "That's cause we're doing exactly that." I stated. 

        "...Yeah, but there's like no car chase scenes or super slow motion walking away from an explosion." Denji spoke.

        "That's just foolish human propaganda!" Power commented. "But I, too, wanna see the machines explode in black blood!"

        "You just don't see the big picture." Denji groaned, his comment directed towards me.

        We walked to the building where Makima told us to go to. Police cars were parked outside of the building along with a man—who looked like a depressed elder man and sounded even older—was talking with a squad of police officers. He had a jacket on, yet we could see the Public Safety tie.

         If I was working for, like, 30 years of this job, I'd be pretty depressed and drained out too. I thought to myself, shoving my hands in my pocket and tapping my foot on the asphalt ground, impatiently waiting for the man to hurry up and explain to us what we're expected to see inside the building. 

        "Listen up, you included." The elder, Kishibe, spoke to all of us, pointing at me, then focused back at the officer.

        Must've noticed the uniform...

         "Special Division 4 is comprised almost entirely of non-humans." 

        Oh? We have other fiends than Power and Denji? I wasn't aware of that. Perhaps Makima wanted to keep the fiends away from the humans in case of "accidents". I guess all the fiends in the branch became so much that it was bound to have fiend-human teams working together eventually.

         "If any of them get loose in the city, it'll mean worse casualties than the terrorists could've caused. I'm going to explain their unique characteristics because you need to be prepared to engage with them. Not the terrorists."

        "There's the Shark Fiend. He can swim inside of any surface, including walls and floors. He can also transform into his devil form for brief periods of time."

        That sounds kind of cool. Being able to swim in concrete and bricks. It's like phasing through a wall like some kind of ghost. 

         "The Violence Fiend. Normally, becoming a Fiend makes a devil weaker than they were, but even as a Fiend, this one's dangerous enough that we make the Violence Fiend wear a mask that dispenses poisonous gas. That masks stays on, no matter what."

        The hell is the mask on for if it has poisonous gas? Is it supposed to make the Violence Fiend weaker or something? If that's the case, then what would be the problem if it's in there killing devils? It should have all the strength it needs, especially if it's on our side, but I suppose you can never be too trusting to a devil. 

        "The Spider Devil. Most of the time she assumes a human form. Humanoid devils tend to be friendly, but at the end of the day, they're still devils. They'll kill you for looking at them funny."

        Aw, jeez. It better not be a huge spider. I'm scared of spiders. I'm probably one of the people who helped that devil become so strong by fearing it. 

        "The Angel Devil, bit of a special case: no enmity towards humans, but you'll wanna keep your distance. Physical contact means your lifespan gets drained away." 

        Angel? Like, the angels you see in movies with wings and halos? Or the biblically correct ones with horrifying appearances? 

         "Special Division 4 is fighting the Zombie Devil. You will be joining them—but be careful since if a human gets bitten, they turn into a zombie too." Kishibe explained.

        "Like the Walking Dead." I commented.

        Kishibe didn't look too pleased that I was a devil hunter in that moment. He sighed and took a flask from his pocket, taking a swig from it. 

        Well, that's definitely alcohol. He must drink bourbon since he looks like he's seen some shit. 

        I decided to get started with my mission as I walked into the place, finding the devils and fiends fighting zombies in the basement since I heard all the noise they were making.

        A man was punching zombies with just his fists, literally knocking their blocks off. The guy had a gas mask on, so he must be the Violence Fiend.

        I noticed Aki fighting the zombies with his katana, one I've actually never seen him use until now, so it's interesting to see him fight.

        "Inu, tsk tsk!" I clicked my tongue.

         A impossibly large black dog appeared from the ground, running around and biting the heads off zombies. 

        "Wow, big dog!" the Violence Fiend commented.

        "Beam too!" a man with a shark fin on his head spoke. Suddenly, his whole head became a shark head with six eyes and insanely sharp teeth. So that's the Shark Fiend.

        "Wow." I muttered, impressed to see the fiend in action.

        "Oi! I didn't know you were contracted with the Dog Devil! Or any Devil for that matter." Denji shouted, pointing a finger at me as his other hand held a axe.

        "I hate dogs! My Meowy is way cooler!" Power shouted loud and proud, causing a bark of protests from the Dog Devil.

        "You never asked." I explained, watching as the ten-foot shadow dog ran around, crushing zombies under his feet as I avoided said zombies from where I was.

        "Dogs are gross; their spit gets everywhere." A man with a halo and wings spoke as he carried a zombie head with a piece of its head bitten off.

        The man had pretty reddish pink hair and dark red eyes. That's the Angel Devil; a fictional angel at that, not biblically accurate (thank god).

        "I apologize that you have no taste." I spoke. "Would you like a handkerchief in case you cry or need to wipe slobber off of you?" I questioned.

        "That'd be nice, actually. I do need one to wipe this blood off my shoes." The Angel Devil spoke.

        I lowered my gaze at his shoes, seeing just a bit of blood. I raised my eyebrows, silently saying "really?" with my face, but I sighed and allowed him to walk over to me, handing him a handkerchief.

        "I'm surprised you came this close, since I can shorten your life with a touch." He commented

        "Trust me, you'd be doing me a favor..." I muttered, shrugging my shoulders before looking down to the cloth. "You can keep it. It's not like I'm using it anyways." I stated, avoiding eye contact as I forced myself to not converse with the Angel Devil any longer; he was making me feel weird. 

        The Angel Devil suddenly became interested in what was behind me, causing me to turn around. 

        BANG! BANG!

        The devil's wing quickly concealed me from the shots as he muttered small "ows."

        "I apologize, I wasn't looking for you to get hurt because of me." I questioned, seeing Aki take care of the gunman with a swift and powerful punch to the face that knocked the grown man to the ground unconscious. 

        I would not want to be on the receiving end of that.

        "I'm fine." The Angel Devil answered, an eyebrow slightly raised as he looked at me a little confused.

         "Thanks for protecting me, Angel. Thank you too, Aki." I spoke.

        "Devil, take this one outside." Aki ordered.

        "It wouldn't hurt to add a 'please' in that sentence." I commented.

        "...Please." Aki hesitated, sighing as he raised an eyebrow at me, silently saying "is that better?" 

        I answered with a smile back.

        "He gave me an order..." The Angel Devil seemed slightly dazed, talking to himself. "But I'll take that over fighting, I guess." 

        Guess he's a pacifist, just like an angel.

        We both watched as he easily picked up the man and walked outside. Me and Aki made eye contact before looking away, continuing on with killing the zombies we saw. 

         .

         .

        I walked the Tokyo streets alone, having to since Makima wanted everyone in Division 4 to partake in the man-hunt with the Gun Devil. I didn't have to build my reputation to join in on the hunt, I've been here long enough, but for those who weren't really with the company for long—such as Aki and Kobeni—they have to kill more popular Devils in order to even enroll their name to the hunt.

        I've been in Public Safety for almost eight years now, since I'm 23. I'm around the same age as Aki, the only difference is that I've been in Public Safety since I was 15. 

        Speaking of Aki, I can see him and the Angel Devil hanging out next to a soft-serve ice cream shop instead of working. 

        That's strange. I never thought I'd see the day Aki rebelling against Makima's words. 

        "I'm disappointed in you boys." I spoke, stopping behind Aki and clicking my tongue. 

        "Ah! (Y/N)!" Aki jumped, his face showing shock before it quickly morphed to his usual stoic expression.

        "Makima would sure be disappointed." I commented.

        "It's not like that. Makima paired me up with him, yet he just wants to sit around and eat ice cream." Aki sighed.

        I looked at the Angel Devil, watching as he ate the clump of ice cream whole, minus the cone. My teeth hurt just looking at him pull off that accomplishment. I could never, since my teeth are sensitive to the cold. 

        Do devils not experience brain freezes? 

        "Why don't you just work while eating ice cream?" I questioned, looking over at the Angel Devil.        

        "No, he doesn't need anymore. He's already had three. Let's get to patrolling already." Aki sternly spoke.

        "It's tiring to eat ice cream... Apparently even eating things takes stamina." Angel spoke.

        Relatable.

        "I also don't really want to work any more today." Angel stated calmly.

        "There's going to be an expedition now that we know where the Gun Devil is. In order to take part in it, I need to build my reputation some more by taking out some big devils." Aki explained. "That's why I want to search for more devils. You're my buddy now, so help me out here."

        Angel finished eating his cone and wiped his mouth with his hand.

         "Hmmm...yeaaah." He dragged on, as if he was thinking. "How about I think about it after eating one more cone?" 

        "Get up. If I report you to the brass that you're unusable, you'll get killed like any other devil. Or would you rather die?" Aki demanded, placing his leg on the bench Angel was sitting on, trying to intimidate Angel.

        I felt like I shouldn't get caught up in this, yet I stayed. I glared harshly at the back of Aki's head instead of verbally speaking up. There's no reason for me to get involved with their team drama, yet I'll express my argument with body language. 

        "Hmm... If it means having to work, then I guess dying is probably slightly better..." Angel spoke, his tone strict yet disinterested at the same time.

        Relatable, again.

        I bribed the Angel Devil off his feet, getting me and him both an ice cream cone (much to Aki's disappointment). I decided to tag along with Aki and Angel. It would suck for Aki to try and kill Angel. I also liked Angel's carefree and lazy attitude, it was a nice difference compared to dealing with stuck-up Aki all the time. 

        Aki fought what seemed to be the large Pig Devil in an alleyway. Me and Angel sat back and watched him kill the devil, out of breath when he finally slayed it. 

        "I've taken out the devil! Everyone please be careful not to touch its blood or flesh!" Aki declared loudly as bypassers stuck their noses into our job.

        "Good work, Aki." I complimented. "You got done with that faster than I expected."

        "Thanks..." Aki hesitantly responded to my passive-aggressive compliment as I smiled.

        "Looks delicious." Angel spoke, crouching next to the dead remains. "Hey, Human. Come here for a minute." Angel demanded, pointing at Aki. "This guy seems like a private devil hunter. It looks like he was eaten by this devil, but his lower body is gone, so he's as good as dead." 

        I walked closer, seeing what Angel was talking about.

        "Tsk." I clicked my tongue. "Well, that sucks..." I sighed, looking away from the gross scene. 

        "I- Ki- Ki-" I knew immediately what the man was trying to say, despite him not being able to spit it out, a sentence all humans say when they're in agonizing pain. "Kill me..." he finally requested after a couple tries. 

        "You can kill him painlessly with your power, can't you? Just let him go in peace." Aki passively-demanded.

        "...Huh? Don't wanna." Angel spoke, disinterested with no remorse in his voice.

        That's a little messed up. I thought. Well. I wouldn't really want to willing touch some covered in blood and devil spit too... 

        "I'm a devil before I'm an angel. I think humans should suffer as they die." Angel spoke, looking back at the dying man.

        Cold, like his soft-serve. I thought to myself. 

        It makes sense though. Everyone always thinks of devil when they see him. It's how Aki speaks to him too. Being discriminated like that, it's no wonder why he'd want humans like us to die painfully. But if that's the case, then unless Makima forced him into the company, why is he working and conversing with humans on a daily basis? He also willing eats human food instead of humans or blood, and he shows some hate towards people to let the man experience something such as this when he has the power to do something about it.

        Aki's stoic face was pissed, despite it seeming expressionless. He raised his sword high and stabbed the mans face. The man let out a broken "thank you" before dying.

         "Yeah, I can't fake it. I just can't get along with you." Aki stated. 

         "That sounds like something you'd say." Angel commented.

        We all walked away from the scene, Aki slightly pacing ahead. I looked over to Angel, observing his face and feeling my heart speed up.

        Hm...

        "For what it's worth, I like you." I spoke, watching as Angel looked at me, then stopped walking.

        He observed my face blankly as I stopped and waited for him.

        "...I don't care." He answered.

        I shrugged my shoulders. "That's okay." I commented, then continued following Aki. 

        Aki killed more Devils as I occasionally made small talk with Angel, not that he responded back much unless it was to say a compliant or something that would piss off Aki. I felt a drop of water hit my head and I looked up, feeling another drop fall on my cheek.  

        "It's starting to rain." I acknowledged. 

        They both looked up and Aki spoke. "It looks like it'll be coming down hard too." He said, observing the clouds.

        The civilians started to run indoors as we walked under a street roof, watching as the rain started to pick up.

        Suddenly, Angel spoke up.

        "Who do you think had it better? The Country Mouse, or the Town Mouse?" 

        "...What are they?" Aki hesitantly questioned. 

        "It's one of Aesop's Fables." Angel answered. 

        I knew the answer, remembering it from when I was in intermediate school, yet I listened and enjoyed the sound of Angel's voice as he explained it.

        "The Country Mouse can live in peace, but can't enjoy the good food of the city. The City Mouse can have delicious food, but has to deal with the higher danger of getting killed by people or cats." Angel paused, a distant look on his face as he spoke up again. "I think the Country Mouse had it better... but I was caught by Makima and dragged into the city." 

        I looked up at Tokyo's bright and flashy lights, the skyscrapers all around us and compared it to the quiet countryside I lived in when I was in America. I wouldn't like the sudden change either. 

        So I was right. Makima dragged him here. 

        It's interesting how Angel could turn a childish fable into something he can relate and speak about. It's his own way of expressing what he remembers of his life.

        "My heart is in the countryside though. I'm not interested in getting dragged into danger with a town sort of guy like you." Angel spoke. I knew he was talking about Aki, so I didn't feel no kind of offense.

        "Um..." Aki muttered.

        He decided not to go against it as he didn't say nothing more. I, however, wanted to enjoy the weeping of the rain.

         .

         .

        It wasn't long before I ran into the Angel Devil once again, except this time he wasn't with Aki. The Angel Devil was hanging out at the same soft-serve ice cream truck I found him last time. I was off duty, and since Aki wasn't around Angel, I'm guessing Angel was off too, yet he still wore his uniform. 

        "Hey, Angel." I spoke, watching as he looked up from eating his ice cream. 

        "Oh, hey..." He seemingly paused as I stared, waiting for him.

        "Did you forget my name?" I questioned as he looked down. "It's Y/N." I spoke, sitting down on the bench next to him.

        He looked at me but didn't question it. 

        "Do you have a name other than the Angel Devil?" I questioned. 

        He paused, looking up and thinking.

        "No...not that I remember." He spoke.

        "Hm... I really like addressing you as Angel. I think it suits you." I spoke, then sighed. "Well, whenever you want to be called something else, just tell me. After all, you did say you're a devil before an angel. I don't want to accidentally offend you in any way." I spoke, leaning back on the bench and making myself comfy. 

        "It's not like my opinion matters anyways..." Angel muttered.

        I sat up straight, glaring at him as he looked at me blankly. 

        "Don't be a Negative Nancy." I hissed through my teeth as I flicked his forehead. "Your opinion matters to me at least, so don't go walking around saying things like that, especially in front of me." 

        He looked at me, eyes wide like he saw a ghost as he stammered.

        "Y-you touched me... You can't just do that!" Angel scolded.

        "Yeah, yeah, I lost some minutes of life there. That's fine with me, it just shows how much I care for you and what lengths I'd go to show you I care." I waved my hand, pretending like I don't care.

        I do care. Anyone would care that they're a step closer to dying. Humans run away from death and danger, it is a natural instinct for humans to abandon one another to help guarantee their chance of survival. However, devil hunters aren't exactly in touch with their human side all the way.

        We sought out the strongest evils there were to sacrifice important things to us—whether it'd be an eye, an organ, your lifespan or your own sanity—just to get a measly portion of their inferior power. Devil hunters have found ways to not only bring peace, but preserve it by working with the enemy. 

        Dying sooner is just another flaw of being a devil hunter—nothing more, nothing less. It's that kind of thinking that makes regular civilians both admire and pity us. A saying that Himeno heard from Kishibe, then brought down to Aki, who eventually made it to telling Denji who told me: "Devils fear hunters with a few screws loose."

        Well, those of us in Special Division 4, are pretty crazy, especially if we're sticking around merging Divisions 2 and 3 to Division 4, fighting alongside fiends and even full-on devils, we might just be as crazy as Power—we just express it in different ways. 

        So, I do care that I'm closer to dying. I do care, because I'm not satisfied with the amount of devils I've killed. I need to kill more devils. I still need to fall in love and have a family. I need to see whether I'd be a good or shitty person. I need to see if I'll find a new band I like. I need to cry at Himeno's funeral just like she requested. I need to pay my respects to Hirokazu for taking two bullets for the team. But in order to do all of that, I need to live. 

        "It's a pretty serious thing." Angel spoke. "Humans like you have short lifespans, so you should care."

        "I never said I didn't care, did I?" I smiled, looking over at Angel who seemed confused and frustrated. "I do care. Something tells me I'll live a long life; I can't do that if I'm worrying about you though—you'll bring me to my early grave." 

        Angel looked down at his lap, watching as his fists clenched and unclenched, seemingly speechless but as well full of vibrant words and saying to scream and cry to me.         

        "I heard from a little blue Stellar's Jay that you don't fear death, in fact, you've been preparing to die for quite some time now." I spoke, looking up at the sky.

        "It was Aki, wasn't it?" Angel sighed, his face slightly contorted to what seemed of anger and frustration.

        "Perhaps." I smiled, letting out a soft hum to ease the mood slightly. "You remember when I said I liked you, right? I meant it. I enjoy your company. Because of that, I'm going to be selfish and not allow you to die. If, you somehow do die, I'll wait till the end of the world and longer until you come back to the Earth world." 

        "That'd probably be a long time; longer than you'd live." Angel stated.

        "I'll cheat death; it wouldn't be my first time." I chuckled. 

        Angel paused, thinking, because letting out a soft hum of his own. "So...you're aware of how Hell works? I thought you're human?" Angel spoke, his tone questioning. 

        "I am. I do research on what I'm fighting—I'm not an idiot; therefore, I'm aware that you died in Hell once since you're now a devil, and because of that, if you somehow die here on Earth, you'll probably die in Hell again, and I'll find you. Sorry, Angel, but you're stuck with me." I smiled.

        Angel went silent for some time, looking deeply in my eyes and thinking. "...You're one of the most complex humans I've met, and I've met Makima." He sighed, making it his mission to avoid eye contact with me.

        I smiled, appreciating the compliment.

        "Thanks. You want ice cream? I'm starting to crave it after sitting here next to the truck." I offered.

        Angel hummed, showing his agreement. 

        Well, I got somewhere with him today. 

         .

         .

        Even after it's been years since everything went down. While many resigned from being devil hunters after what happened with everything: specifically, the crazy Bomb Devil hybrid chick that came from the Soviet Union—Reze, the international assassins, and even the Gun Devil, I decided to stay in the program since it's the most entertainment I get and there's still devils out there to kill.

        Turns out me and many others were right about Makima being evil. She was the Control Devil, but she was murdered, then Denji—though stupidly yet smartly—ate her remains, effectively killing her and sending her down to Hell, where she was then killed in Hell and reincarnated as Nayuta, a small toddler that's in Denji's care since Kishibe ordered him to look after her since if she was taken to the government and raised by them once again, she'd just become Makima again.

        I help Denji financially since he's a high school student that's being subtly-not-so-subtle at trying to disguise his devil persona, and since he resigned of being a devil hunter, is now a high school student which means he's not allowed to have a job, and he rips-off homeless people for money. He has no reliable source of income other than me and Yoshida (occasionally Kishibe, but that's when a miracle happens). I also help babysit Nayuta when he's at school purposely trying to blow his cover as Chainsaw Man (luckily, Yoshida saves the day every time that happens). The only reason I do it is to one: make sure Denji's doing well and the government's now after him, and two: Denji's a hopeless dumbass that needs help of taking care of a of a two-year-old(?).  

        It made me realize something. If Angel died to Makima on Earth, and if Makima died in Hell, then Angel must be somewhere in the Earth world since Makima's stronger than Angel, yet she died. 

        It's funny to think that my promise would actually be kept. I really did want to keep it, but it was almost impossible to keep a promise such as that, yet somehow, he made sure that I would fulfill it.

        I was walking back to my apartment after leaving the grocery store. It was dark with the streetlights turning on so civilians could see what's around them, looking out for devils and such. I noticed that at one of the benches, a young boy was sitting down on a bench, a glowing yellow halo and white wings being able to be seen perfectly under the streetlight. He ate an ice cream cone peacefully and I could almost laugh at how much he looked and acted like him. 

        Anyone who saw the boy immediately turned around, running away from him. I walked towards him, sitting down right next to him as sighed.

        "I can drain your lifespan with a touch." He blandly spoke, his voice was young, yet his words seemed aged and old.  

        "I'm aware." I smiled, then sighed, relaxed and relieved that he acts just like how he used to. "So, do you have a name? Or should I stick with calling you Angel?" 

        He finished eating his cone, then looked to me, confused. His eyes seem to widen as he looked at me, surprised. 

        "...You seem familiar." He said. "Have I met you before?"

        "In another life, you have." I replied. "I'm surprised you kept our promise. You must've lied when you said you didn't care about me." I laughed as he looked at me with confusion. "So, do you have a place to go? Or are you living with someone?" I questioned, looking at his physical appearance.

        He must've not been younger than five, his hair and face caked with dirt. He must be around six or seven, yet his dark red eyes were still just as expressive as when I last saw them. His hair was now long and black, his reincarnation being different than his last Earth-life's appearance. 

        He shook his head, looking out into the dark. 

        I hummed. "Wanna stay with me? I can give you a nice place to sleep and eat. I can enroll you in school so you'll have an education and a bright future." I suggested.

        His eyes traveled back to mine. They were deep and broody as he thought it over

        "...That sounds troublesome, but I suppose I could..." He muttered. 

        "Okay, Angel. Let's go home." I sighed in content as I stood up from the bench. He followed my lead, allowing me to guide him.

        It might've been selfish, but I didn't want to bring up Public Safety. Being a devil hunter is what got him killed, and I'm not sure if I'd ever see him again if he got killed once more. Who knows what the future will hold? It's like those reincarnation books where the young reincarnation meets their old lover and dedicates their life to making sure their elder lover has the best time of their life as they could, before passing on (just I'm not in my eighties).

        I'm not exactly sure what kind of relationship I'll have with this new Angel. Maybe I'll find myself to loving him like his past Earth-life. I'll protect him and love him as if he was my own lover, or I'll protect and love him like he was family—like his mother or like his older sister (like how Denji is with Nayuta). However, It doesn't really matter to me. All that matters is that I don't lose him again.

        "Let's stop by at the next store we see. I need to get you a lot of stuff. And I need a pair of gloves." I spoke.

        "...What do you need gloves for?" Angel questioned.

        "So I can hold you hand. I don't need you getting lost in the crowd." I smiled.

        It might've been a lie since I could easily spot him with his large white wings and glowing halo, but I wanted to make up of lost time. Besides, something a child needs in their life to not become a psycho or sociopath is to experience motherly love and care as they grow up, that way they can be functioning members of society and understand other emotions.

        Angel blessed me with a soft smile and nodded his head.

        "Okay."

Have any requests? Check my masterlist to see the characters I write for: Masterlist

[the-uncanny-dag]

We need to kill the found family concept with hammers like a beloved friend turned the walking dead. Because why did I just see someone get their panties in a twist over Aki/Denji & Denji/Power fanfics

[remy2fang]

Old fanart I did last year (June 2022) of F.A.N.G and A.K.I. when no one had any idea what the latter’s personality was going to be like. Almost all of my fanart of AKI at the time had her serious and unsmiling. Her concept art portrayed her as such, and almost everyone had that notion too. Until later when concept arts, the comic and especially the trailer came out, that’s when everyone realized that AKI actually has much more varied personality. Funny how out of all the fanarts I’ve done of her prior to the reveals, the one where I thought I was just being silly was perhaps the most accurate depiction lol

This was actually a redraw of an older fanart of mine when we knew AKI as Phantom:

https://twitter.com/remy2fang/status/1239750198428987392?s=46&t=iEGeYIIN_aP028wRnoVcUQ