#mai iseya

[turtlyni]

girls girls girls!

[twewytransswag]

Round 2A, Match 7 - Tournament 2

[trickerys-domain]

I was tagged by @contrivedcoincidences6 to make my OCs this picrew!! Thank you for tagging me, I finally got it done lol!!!

Iseya Tabris: A headstrong and compassionate duelist/assassin rogue. Blunt, and sometimes vengeful, to those who show corruption, incompetence, or cross her; but endlessly kind to those in need. Absolutely did not want to get married, but always wore Nelaros's ring to honor his sacrifice and as a reminder (yes, I did full ass sacrifice a whole item spot for this in game the whole game). Iseya thought she would always sacrifice anything for her family and people, including her found family and her lover Alistair. She was prepared to die to stop the blight, and would have if not for Morrigan's offer.

*Hilariously I named my Warden years prior to the release of The Last Flight novel, but it really added a great element to her character.

Marian Hawke: A two-handy Reaver Purple Hawke who loves her family especially her sister. Even Gamlen grows on her after the death of her monther as she finally is worn down enough to see him better. Marian starts off as a confident sassy jokster who tries her best to make a new life, but as the years go on and she loses and lose and loses, her jokes become a coping mechanism. A mean streak also appears. By the end she's so tired and depressed that she doesn't even notice Anders pulling away from her. She spares and stands by him anyway because she needs this one thing to stay in her life.

*I just really like the default Hawke Names, I think they fit Hawke really well.

Shiren'ne Lavellen: A compassionate, kind, yet firm and decisive person, Shiren'ne prepared her whole life to become a worthy Keeper for her clan. Yet after she ends up with a new calling she takes it with stride, understanding her role in the world is now beyond just her people, but she always rebuffs being sent by Andraste and stands by her gods. Shiren'ne's favourite thing about the Inquisition was getting to know everyone and learn so much about other cultures and customs, and was always happy to share and demonstrate her Dalish culture (within reason). And although she had been so ready to be Keeper and she is Dalish to her core, after everything she knew she could never return and instead found a new quiet life with Cullen. Shiren'ne prefers slower ritual and practical magics and leans towards old nature and healing (I wish spirit healer had been a subclass), but is eager to learn about the fade, spirits, and the journey of ones soul after death, showing this by choosing vallaslin for Falon'Din.

*Took some research, but her name essentially means Voice of the Journey. She chose the name herself for her Valleslin ceremony as part of accepting and stepping into her role as First.

No pressure tag to @wolfwhisperertf, @the-nameless-nerd, and anyone else who wants to ❤️

[popagan]

Still insane about your comic and now I’m just thinking that while Izaya rants and rambles about flowers and mythology and whatnot to Shizuo, Iseya does the same with Eiwajima only to be greeted by said flower from his monologues the next day

Eiwajima may get it or not but he thinks that if Iseya wants a flower he can get it for him (´༎ຶོρ༎ຶོ`)

He just tells him “is that from a boom or smth?” And Iseya laughs and then dries the flowers Ei gives him between his books

- scrambled

Oh my god, one of these days I’m going to get a noise complaint from my neighbors for screaming too much.

[straw-beri-jam]

Drrr-kuramerukagari post ketsu swap au

Basically iseya/eiwajima switching places with izaya/shizuo

I’ve never really posted abt things before and this is the first time I’m attempting to write abt something in such detail, so please bear with me🥲

I want to emphasize that this is all post ketsu but prob before sh and sunset novels bc I’m literally ignoring some characters.

Iseya is shocked to find himself in a wheelchair, looks for the one person he knows and trusts, eiwajima, only to find someone slightly different, in appearance and also behavior. When they meet he looks at him like he’s grown a second head, the wheelchair shocks him too but he also wasn’t expecting izaya to just appear in front of him with no purpose. Iseya just looks at him, comments on the hair that while he does look good blonde he prefers his natural brown.

Shizuo thinks he’s playing games so he shouts and takes a step closer and they’re both shocked to see izayas body tremble. Iseya gets glimpses of the battle in his head, his mind repeating the events over and over again and he understands. They’re not together, they’re hardly even friends. They’re enemies. How he can’t even begin to understand, how he could come to hate this man? He’s so much like eiwajima, just with sharper edges.

He takes a look around people are staring and whispering, some recognize them both and think they’re gonna get into a fight. He doesn’t like hearing them talk, despite his love for people he doesn’t really want to be seen right now, not in front of him like this when everything’s so complicated but also not. He doesn’t really know what to do now. He wanted to confine in the one person he knew he could talk to, but that person doesn’t exist the way he does in his memories.

Shizuo doesn’t understand what’s going through the fleas head but he can see him thinking. He almost looks sad, which is weird because izaya would never show emotion, especially not to him.

Iseya understands their rivalry more or less because despite everything it’s still them, so he tells him that he remembers him differently but he doesnt want to hurt him. He wants to learn more about him. He doesn’t know how long he’ll stay here or even how he came here, but he knew from the start that something was different. And so if he’s gonna have to stay here it’ll be with this alternate version of eiwajima, whatever their past may have been.

Shizuo is dumbfounded but agrees bc this guy, whoever he is, seems much easier to get along w than izaya, or maybe it’s just a side of izaya he never got the chance to see. (Or maybe in the very back of his mind he’s actually still playing games w him)

After talking (he realizes that this being a lie is too much of a stretch even for izaya) he feels sad to find out that they exists somewhere and they’re together, they’re friends they talk and laugh and are happy. Iseya, he calls himself, tells him about eiwajima and how he is, what his life is like and he is so jealous of his alternate self because he really is living the life he’s wanted since he found out he had this cursed strength.

He feels this loss, that he could have had that if he tried hard enough. The voice in his head telling him that eiwajima makes iseya feel good while he put izaya in a wheelchair. Eiwajima has wooed iseya while he scared izaya away. He really wonders if he has anything in common with the guy, but he must because iseya is staring at him like he’s holding the sun.

Iseya kisses him at some point and shizuo finds he doesn’t know what he’ll do when this guy leaves because he’s really enjoying their time together.

Alternatively if it’s eiwajima switching places, he’s rather confused at the hair and doesn’t like hearing people talk abt him while he walks, it seems they have nothing nice to say and they all avoid him like he’d crush them with his glance.

Of course he seeks out iseya only find a wheelchair bound man who feels like iseya but has a very unsettling vibe. He is obviously wounded if the wheelchair wasn’t enough to go by but apart from that the man freezes at his appearance and is trembling.

He immediately realizes that they don’t share the same relationship and past he knows to be true. What’s more they not only don’t get along but things have escalated between them so far that he’s managed to traumatize the man before him.

He doesn’t know what the best course of action here is, he doesn’t want to speak for alternate him because he doesn’t quite understand the extent of their situation, but “iseya” looks at him with such hatred and demands answers that he quite frankly doesn’t have.

He decides to come clean bc he couldn’t pretend to hate him even if he tried. He explains who he is and what he actually wanted by coming here and alternate iseya is so confused. He starts ridiculing him and it does kinda piss him off but when he accidentally punches a hole through the wall in frustration and “iseya” freezes again all his anger goes away.

He tells him that he cares about him. That despite what they’ve been through here he misses iseya and wants to see him. He tells him that they’re alike in some ways and he finds them endearing and wouldn’t trade what he has w iseya for anything. That they’re happy.

Izaya looks so bitter and hates that what this fake Shizu-chan is saying actually makes him want it, he realizes that he might be jealous and gets pisses bc as if he’d be jealous. He tells fake shizu that fake him is prob just lying to him and actually hates him but he’s hiding it to use him for his own advantage, bc that’s what kind of person he is really and if they’re anything alike then that’s what’s gonna happen.

Eiwajima just gives him a sad smile (which pisses izaya off even more). He knows what the words mean, that the world he’s describing, his home, is making the other man emotional. He strongly and confidently says that iseya loves him and he knows it. It’s not possible to fake their kind of love, and he doesn’t mind being used by that man, they love eachother and that’s all that really matters.

Izaya has never hated anyone more than this man before. He’s so much worse than shizu-chan bc he doesn’t get angry, he doesn’t react to anything he just sits there, spouts all this nonsense and looks at him like he’s actually in love w him and he really doesn’t know how to get out of this situation, he doesn’t want to be here but he’s so incredibly curious abt their life. He knows this guy is telling the truth but he refuses to believe it bc it seems so dreamlike and unreal, he can’t fathom being happy as described, much less with this man.

Eiwajima wants to stay with him, despite the fact that he didn’t actually do anything to bring this man such pain he still sees the emotions swimming around in his eyes and he wants to help him. Despite the fact that it’s not his iseya, it’s still this worlds version of him and that’s enough for him to try and fix whatever they have going on, or at least help in some way. He tries to get close, as close as he’s allowed and talks about whatever he remembers from his home, all things almost always leading to iseya of course. He tries various topics hoping the other will come in at some point and they’ll have a normal conversation, as normal as it can get anyways.

Izaya eventually does, they talk like they’re friends. Izaya can’t comprehend what’s happening but he’s trying not to think about, fake Shizu-chan is interesting, he likes hearing about this world of theirs and his life there, he realizes that he’s having a casual conversation and it’s easy too he’s easy to talk to and listen to. He’s enjoying this more than he originally thought he would. He wonders if his Shizu-chan is this nice to be around when he’s not throwing things at him, which he knows is probably true, he just has never been on the receiving end of shizuo’s kindness. However this “eiwajima” he’s very charming, and he can’t seem to look away from those eyes.

Idk where this is going but yeah I just want them to find out abt their alternate lives separately and cry abt how miserable they are. Maybe they would try to find each other and start over (in a sense) after this happens so they can actually make a happy ending for themselves (or a happy new beginning)

them actually swapping places makes it hurt more since they’re inserted into this foreign world. They would both be shocked to find their supposed enemy sleeping next to them and the ppl around them liking them, I don’t think they’d ruin anything, well maybe izaya would try depending on what would happen but I don’t think he’d would want to make these ppl hate alternate him even just to spite him bc they prob wouldn’t, I mean they know what he’s like and they like him so…

shizu would be so shocked to see ppl liking him random ppl not afraid of him but wanting him around, he’d be afraid to talk to them so as not to hurt them. And then as far as their relationship goes they’d be happy but also sad that they can’t have it.

Overall it would mostly be sad (bc as it seems I love angst), heartbreaking really, to see what they could have had but weren’t as lucky as the other two. There’s a lot of reasons as to why the two of them never really got the chance to get along (which I’m not gonna get into now bc that’s a whole other story and lots of ppl have already made theories on it) but I think that seeing versions of themselves happy and well is like a slap in the face bc had their circumstances been different they could have had that, had they tried to do things differently they could have had something similar.

This has been in my head for a while (post ketsu usually is on repeat) and I really had to get it out bc it’s too much, and it turned into a whole ass essay🥲 this is the first time I’m attempting this tho so pls don’t look into it too much, it’s a mess of thoughts that I can’t quite put together. I apologize if there’s any mistakes or holes in it, it’s def ooc so yeah…

Thank u to anyone who decided to read it and made it this far! If theres anything anyone wants to add pls go right ahead I’m starving for these boys. Thanks again for reading! 🥰

[notokra]

メンズノンノ MENS non-no 1998年4月号 表紙 伊勢谷友介 宝生舞　木村拓哉 いしだ壱成　香取慎吾　浅野忠信　一色紗英　SMAP

[anamon-book]

SWITCH 2001年5月号 MAY 2001 Vol.19 No.4 スイッチ・パブリッシング 表紙＝ARATA（井浦新）・伊勢谷友介 特集・是枝裕和 [映画が作られるまで]

[imasallstars]

SR/SR+ 【Singing With The Rain】Shiki iseya

Skill:「Combo Bonus」 　　　For every 8 seconds, there is a 32~50% chance that you will gain an extra 24% COMBO BONUS for 4 seconds.

Center Skill:「Physical Style」 　　　 All PHYSICAL-type cards gain a 60% boost in their VISUAL stat

※ This card is available through scouting from the “Fun Rainy Season Campaign“ gacha available until the 11th of June 2022 14:59 JST. This card may return, in the case of a rerun of the gacha.

[mia-japanese-korean]

Intermission, Itō Shinsui, May 1925, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Japanese and Korean Art

portrait; head and torso of woman wearing purple floral kimono and green and white obi; arranging her hair and looking in a small black and yellow mirror Shinsui rarely worked for publishers other than Watanabe Sho_zaburo_. However, during a short intermezzo from 1925 until 1927, he designed five beauty prints for Iseya Tatsugoro_, smaller than those Watanabe published. Size: 13 × 8 7/8 in. (33.02 × 22.54 cm) (image) 23 × 19 × 1 1/2 in. (58.42 × 48.26 × 3.81 cm) (outer frame) Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper with mica

https://collections.artsmia.org/art/62306/

[autisticidolfan]

Ranking my gender envy's from the least and most weird

10.

Joker from persona 5

I was 14 when the game first released and honestly almost every trans persona fan that i met wants to be this guy so pretty common.

9.

Raizor from genshin even though he isn't the most popular genshin gender envy he is more common than other characters in this list because he comes from a really popular franchise

8.

Tsukasa tenma

He is very gender his oufits and his personality is what i aspire to be tbh (even tho he is annoying that's why i envy him)

7.

Shiki iseya also from his looks and personallity he ranks lower than tsukasa because the idolm@ster side m isn't very popular in the west so not many people know about him

6.

Clear simply because i want to be the gendered robot tho he is only my gender envy when he has his gas mask on

5.

Shun kaido

A character from saiki k he looks pretty normal anime boy envy standar so why is he so low? Well because he is a short chuuni loser but that's what nakes me want his gender for some reason

4.

Kotaro from zombieland saga

This may be odd and a little personal but why do i want him as my gender? Well as my mom said "he kinda reminds me of your brother" so yeah i always looked up to my brother and wondered why i could be born a man just as he well kotaro is basically my brother personality mixed with mine of being an absolute bastard so yeah that's it

3.

Araragi koyomi

Tbh i don't even know why he is one of my gender envy's that why i find it so weird my monke brain just said me wann be him and that's all

2.

Kiibo from danganronpa V3

He also seems pretty standar at first glance so what makes him different from the other? Well they are also a robot and actually genderless they don't mind what pronouns you use for him so the reason that he ranks low is because he has no gender at all.

And finally....the weirdest.....

Number one!!!!

Fuking ze mole from south park

Not only he has the title as my wierdest gender envy he also holds the title of the first i ever had

This one needs backstory

I was like 8 years old watching the south park movie with my brother (young me already watched south park) so when he appeared in all his god hating glory i knew i wanted to be him like i just rewached the movie and once again i was like oh fuck i want to be him

So anyways

Crongrats to the mole for being my most bizarre gender envy to this day

[zyzix]

Neo Twewy Social Network Profiles M-R (by alias, nickname or given name if given)

machastree

Mai Iseya

Maito Minami

Manami Akita

Marino Orihara

Masaya

Michihisa Tadashima

Miharu Nakano

Miki Saionji

Miko Yamamoto

Miss Banks

Mitsuhide Tojo

MKN

Momoka Owada

Motoi Anazawa

Naoto Kuwata

Reaper Commentator

Reaper

Rei Mogi

Renka Sakuma

(Raimu) Rhyme Bito

Rieko Kawahara

Riko Sekinohara

Rina Todo

Rintaro Nakagawa

(Trader) Ryoji

Ryoma Utsumi

[bm-asian-art]

Ueno Yamashita, No. 12 in One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, Utagawa Hiroshige, 10th month of 1858, Brooklyn Museum: Asian Art

This is the area down as Yamashita ("Below the Mountain"), the broad open space extending from the southern approach to Kan'eiji (the "mountain": see previous print) along around its eastern side. Here the stone-walled enclosure (the black wall at left center) leads into the temple compound. To the lower left is a procession of parasoled ladies, possibly a group of ladies-in-waiting from one of the daimyo mansions, on their way to Kan'eiji to pay their respects on the memorial day of the Tokugawa ancestor buried there and enjoying the cherry blossoms along the way. The small shrine hidden in the woods is Gojo Tenjin, and the adjacent restaurant, the Iseya, advertises a dish known as shisomeshi, rice blended with pickled shiso (a minty herb). Iseya later adopted the flying-goose motif from its ridge ornament as the basis of a new shop name, as well as a new dish: Gannabe ("goose-pot"), a kind of chicken stew. The interior here shows a fish shop below and the restaurant above; all depicted in bright detail. A flock of crows flies overhead. This is one of three prints in the "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo," together with pls. 41 and 114, that bear the censor's seals for the Tenth Month of 1858, the month following Hiroshige's death. The artist may have left completed designs at the time of his death which had not been formally approved. However, the theory has been advanced that these three prints were in fact the work of Hiroshige II. Reference is made to Uchida Minoru, "Hiroshige" (1930). It may be that Hiroshige himself executed preliminary sketches and that it was only the final version which was executed after his death. It is also possible, noting the close master-disciple relations, that a disciple other than Shigenobu, the future Hiroshige II, was involved. Size: Image: 13 3/16 x 8 3/4 in. (33.5 x 22.2 cm) Sheet: 14 3/16 x 9 1/4 in. (36 x 23.5 cm) Medium: Woodblock print

https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/121627

[pocasu]

the readyyy! mobile game may be long gone but the project isn't so here's me promoting the boys

※ Preface: this is just a simple unit rundown, I totally recommend checking out the Wiki for detailed character info!

Readyyy! Project was first announced in February 2018, and utilized a full cast of talented rookie voice actors. The mobile game was aired a year later, but announced closure in just two months, and the game stopped service on June 28th. The project, however, lives on through its music. There are a total of five units, each with a unique theme and music style.

(SP!CA) A standard prince-like five person idol unit with bright songs and vibrant choreography. The group has been reformed three times before but failed to debut; this time, under a new leader, they step onto the stage. Its members are (L->R) Azusa Konno (third year, former leader/center), Hiro Igarashi (second year), Mitsuki Kuze (second year, leader/center), Samon Nishikido (third year), Takumi Kurumizawa (second year). [Special Nu World MV]

(Just4U) A first and third year combination group with the atmosphere of a warm, but decidedly eccentric, family. Each member draws out the other's unique charms. Its members are (L->R) Tatsuma Akashi (third year, leader), Sui Yanagawa (third year), Komugi Ayasaki (first year), and Riku Orikasa (first year). [大胆不敵に恋したい (I want to fall in love fearlessly) MV]

(RayGlanZ) A unit with overwhelming charisma and talent who will settle for nothing but the best. There is a tense atmosphere between the group members, who have gathered for the sole purpose of making music. Its members are (L->R) Chihiro Usui (second year), Touya Munakata (third year, leader), and Ango Kousaka (second year). [GO NOW! MV]

(摩天ロケット/MatenRocket) A bright and high energy unit fully comprised of first years; their friendship bonds the group close together. Their unit name is a portmanteau of "skyscraper" (摩天楼/matenrou) and "rocket" (ロケット/roketto). Its members are (L->R) Soushi Fujiwara (leader), Zen Iseya, Junnosuke Sanada, and Aki Takachiho. [キミが見た空 (The sky you saw) MV]

(La-Veritta) An ethereal duo unit with a genius composer/vocalist and the lyricist that unwaveringly supports him at every turn. Revel in the harmony and ambience of their music. Its members are (L->R) Genshin Shimizu (second year, lyricist) and Uta Kamijou (third year, composer, leader). [BEAT IN LOVE MV]

If you've made it to the end, thank you for reading! I really hope more people check out this project; the music is absolutely phenomenal, and the cast deserves your support!

[pami-ke]

Kogarasumaru

Rakugo cômico de Utamaru Katsura, que recebe o mesmo nome da lendária espada "Kogarasumaru". Para quem ainda não conhece, rakugo é uma forma de entretenimento humorística japonesa focada em contar histórias através de monólogos. Clique em Keep reading para ler o rakugo.

Em Edo, numa das vilas do feudo de Kanda, havia uma famosa casa de penhores chamada Iseya. Seu dono, Kouemon, era uma pessoa tão boa ao ponto de ser chamada de Hotoke. Ele era viúvo e como tinha popularidade, status e dinheiro, o número de moças interessadas era grande, mas ele estava mais empenhado em viver tranquilamente acompanhando o crescimento de sua jovem filha. E, por causa do jeito de Kouemon, também existiam várias mulheres que queriam que ele se tornasse de fato um Hotoke.

Após a demissão da antiga criada líder, uma mulher chamada Okaji passou a ocupar esse cargo. Ela trabalhava diligentemente e vivia servindo Kouemon. Beber antes de dormir era uma das formas de entretenimento dele, mas em uma noite, ele acidentalmente teve um caso com ela. Assim sendo, de pouco em pouco os dois acabaram se tornando cada vez mais próximos, ao ponto dela se tornar a sua segunda esposa. Devido a essa mudança, Okaji deixou de trabalhar e passou a ficar bebendo todos os dias, desde o amanhecer ao anoitecer.

Um dia, o terceiro filho do ex-retentor oficial do shogunato, o acupunturista Matsuzaki Teian, sigilosamente passou a frequentar a Iseya. Eventualmente, ele acabou se tornando muito íntimo da Okaji, ao ponto de praticar adultérios com ela. Todos em volta de Kouemon sabiam da situação, mas como tinham medo dela, permaneciam quietos sem revelar nada.

Um dos fregueses, Katsugorou, que era chefe do grupo de construtores da vila, era um homem muito generoso e que andava de mãos dadas com a justiça. Em uma de suas visitas à loja, ele entregou um texto ao Kouemon, alegando que queria muito que ele o lesse, já que na verdade se tratava de um senryu tentando alertar sobre a situação da Okaji. Após receber explicações sobre qual seria o tópico principal, Kouemon sentia que estava chegando cada vez mais perto da resposta.

“O devedor bebe três copos e sai escondido.”

- Que engraçado, não tem outro senryu igualzinho a esse?

“Quando o dono está fora, o devedor aparece.”

- Esse devedor é mesmo um malandro.

“Até quando não está em viagem, dentro da loja também aparece um bandoleiro.”

- Então algum mau-caráter invadiu a propriedade dele.

“O único da vila que não sabe disso é o próprio dono.”

- Se ele não está em viagem, não tem como ele não perceber isso. Não me diga que você, que também fica em casa todos os dias, não compreendeu. Fala sério, você tem que entender...

- Eu dei tantas dicas, achei que você entenderia. E pensar que você é um homem tão gentil e alegre...

Kouemon sugeriu para Katsugorou, ao invés de buscar água caso não estivesse com vontade de tomar chá, ir para o segundo andar, onde Okaji e Teian bebiam, para assim se juntar aos dois. Contudo, ele se irritou ao ouvir isso.

- Será que, se eu deixar a situação um pouco mais agitada, ele não vai perceber?

Resmungou o chefe dos construtores enquanto perambulava até a cozinha. Até que, em um dos quartinhos pelas redondezas, ele acabou trocando uma conversa com a filha do proprietário da loja.

- Se o que você diz for legítimo, então eu também serei sincera, eu quero sua ajuda para fazer algo em relação aos dois.

Assim, após discutirem um pouco sobre o assunto, ambos se separaram.

Teian, que estava bêbado, tinha ido até a cozinha buscar um pouco de água, onde por coincidência se encontrou com a filha de Kouemon. Ela, por sua vez, utilizou suas técnicas de sedução e declarou que estava apaixonada e queria fugir com ele para algum lugar. Então, Teian disse que para fugirem, seria necessário uma quantia de cem ryou e da espada Kogarasumaru, que estava armazenada no galpão da loja. Dizem que essa lâmina, quando desembainhada, atraía todos os pássaros da proximidade. Também falam que, antigamente, Taira no Koremochi utilizou essa famosa espada para exterminar demônios pela montanha de Togakushi na província de Shinano. Desta maneira, os dois combinaram dele se esconder pela porta dos fundos assim que o oitavo sino da noite soar.

No fim, pela porta traseira da Iseya, eles decidiram ir de palanquim ao príncipe. Pouco antes da residência real, em Asukayama, os carregadores começaram a pedir o pagamento, então Teian os afugentou com uma lâmina. E no momento em que fez a garota passar a caminhar, ela disse para ele entregar as bagagens mais difíceis de carregar, os cem ryou, a Kogarasumaru e ir sozinho para algum outro lugar.

Quando a situação passava a ficar mais violenta, com ele exaltando que ela pagaria por ter mentido e o levado até lá, Katsugorou apareceu. Ao retirar uma adaga de dentro do kimono, Teian tentou avançar para cima, mas Katsugorou fez um movimento e conseguiu derrubar ela das mãos dele. Sem pânico, Teian desembainhou a Kogarasumaru e a segurou firmemente, acreditando que uma revoada se reuniria em sua volta. No entanto, apenas sua falatória incessante se aglomerava por lá. Quando olhou melhor para a Kogarasumaru, percebeu que ela era apenas uma réplica feita de bambu.

Obra original: Kogarasumaru, de Utamaru Katsura.

Ilustração: Kogarasumaru no Hitokoshi, de Katsushika Hokusai.

Tradução do japonês por: pAMI (Twitter: @pAMI_pAMI_).

[darkdevasofdestruction]

My Neo Geisha ~ Kinshiro Toyama

“Heeey, Kinshiro, I’m back. You better have those dumplings ready, I’m starving.” I stretched and yawn as soon as I slid the door to Kyokatei, hoping to smell the appetizing smell of warm food.

However, as soon as I stepped in the main room, I noticed a petite, beautiful young maiden with gorgeous pink hair, and that everyone was looking at her, making her embarrassed enough not to be able to raise her gaze from the floor.

“Oya oya...? What do we have here? A little mouse in a den of lions?” I stepped right in front of her, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look up at me. “U-U-Uhm...E-Excuse me, miss...My name is Yui...” she stuttered, clearly intimidated by my gesture, looking like a scared fawn looking for her mummy. “Y/N, dear, calm down, it’s not what you’re-” the green haired magistrate got to his feet, carefully talking to me, but honestly, he’s done it. “Myyyy, Kinshiro, why didn’t you tell me we had the company of such a lovely darling? Yui, dear, being so sad is unbecoming of such an angelic face like yours...Kin, can we adopt her? Pretty pleaseeee~?” I suddenly hugged the poor girl close to my chest really tightly, patting the top of her head, shocking everyone around me. “U-Uh...Y/N...She’s not a puppy...And we have enough puppies at home anyway. Yui here is going to be our new member of the vigilante.” Kinshiro explained, which made me stiffen, and slowly turn to face him with a solemn expression. “What did Tori do again?” I muttered, gritting my teeth as I tried to contain my growing anger. “H-How did you know it was about Tori, miss Y/N?” the girl’s soft voice called out as she carefully tugged on my sleeve, almost as if she was seeking protection. “Well, darling, wouldn’t you like to know...” the corners of my lips turned upwards just a little, to suggest the irony of the situation to Kinshiro.  “Her parents got wrongfully killed by Tori and his men. She managed to sneak away, as they didn’t search for her. The only thing she has left in her possession are the money given to her by her mother and her father’s dagger, but she used the money to make a request for us. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?” Kin fidgeted on his feet, crossing his arms to his chest. “Oh, Lord, have mercy! If only there was a group of benevolent vigilantes when I was her age! Well, no matter, all’s fine now. I can only assume her wish is to kill Tori, and, coincidently, so is mine, so it will all work out in my favour, after so many years of waiting very patiently to get my revenge.” I dramatically flung around the large haori sleeves. “What part of you has ever been patient, Y/N?” Aoi jabbed at me, ruffing my hair. “Kinshiro?” I called out in a grim tone, letting a graveyard silence take over. “Where is she going to stay? We can’t let her stay here in Kyokatei, it’s the red light district, and she’s much too pure and innocent to stay here. It will destroy her somehow, and I don’t want another girl getting crushed by life like that.” I explained carefully, the shadow of haunting ghosts glinting in my eyes. “We can let her choose where to stay. Out of everyone here, Soji stays here, Aoi has a terrible schedule and work in the red light district...And Sion stays at Iseya, the famous Geisha house. He may be the safer option, but it’s her call.” Kinshiro told Yui her options, and she bit her lip, looking down, before raising to look at me with eyes glimmering of tears. She grabbed both of my sleeves and bowed deeply. “Please, Miss Y/N, would you allow me to stay with you? You remind me a lot of my mother, and I miss her very much.” she called out in a desperate voice, and I could only stare at her with wide eyes, my face getting redder and redder than any japanese rose. “I-I-I...U-Uhm...K-Kin...U-Uhm...I-It’s your house, y-you decide.” I could feel myself trembling softly, completely unable to move, leaving fate to be merciful. “Well then, I guess it’s settled. Yui will stay with us. Then, I call this meeting a success, and we will await further notice about how we shall proceed in the future with this issue. It’s about time we deal with Tori after all the injustice he’s done.” Kin clapped his hands together, getting everyone to leave to their homes, including the three of us. “I’m sorry if I put you on the spot, miss Y/N. I didn’t know you lived together with mr. Kinshiro.” Yui spoke, still clinging to my arms. “It’s alright, little mouse, you couldn’t have known. And, besides, I led you on by saying I would adopt you...But I hope you aren’t afraid of dogs, I adopted a few stray ones before.” I spoke nonchalantly, only to hear Kin laugh and put his arm around me. “When I said we have enough puppies, I was referring to the other vigilantes, not to our actual dogs!” his mirthful voice made me smile up at him, leisurely draping my own free arm around his broad torso. “A-Ah, well, yeah, I guess you’re not wrong...I guess I really am everyone’s mother nowadays. how ironic.” I chuckled softly, blushing a bit as I snuggled up into his chest.

I prepared a room for Yui as soon as we finished eating, but the poor girl was too afraid to sleep on her own, so I let her sleep with her head on my lap as I sang her a little lullaby, and she fell asleep like the baby she is. After carefully putting her in her futon, I raised and saw Kinshiro smiling tenderly at the sight in front of him, and I could only blush and drag him to our room, pouring a cup of sake for the both of us.

“You really would be a great mother, you know?” he commented as a matter of fact. “Yeah, with children older than 15 and animals. With others, I’d lose my temper. And besides...What are we going to do with this situation, anyway? I...Never thought that I’d see another girl like me...Well, I guess not everything about this is similar to what happened to me, but for her, it’s much worse. I could deal with everything...But her? She’s much too innocent and soft for this kind of tragedy to happen to her.” I sighed, downing the sake cup in one go. “Don’t take your own situation lightly, Y/N. I know you want to forget, but your life hasn’t been easy either. That’s why you took her in. You want to protect her, hoping that it will get you some kind of redemption and you’ll protect your own past self.” Kin sighed, moving his seat next to me and holding me to his side, stroking my hair soothingly. “It feels like a lifetime ago when we first met...And I can’t imagine my life without you. I can’t believe how far we’ve gone...Can you? I mean, I tried to kill you, and now, I don’t want to leave your side.” I chuckled lightly, only to hear a soft knock on the wood and the paper door sliding, revealing the pinkette. “U-Uhmm...Would it be too much to ask if I can stay here? I...Our rooms are next to each other...And I heard you talking about your past and how you relate to me. Would it be alright if I were to listen to your story?” she asked, and the two of us looked at each other, and extended our arms towards her, welcoming her in our arms, almost as if we were her parents. “Well, how did it go, anyway? We met at that business meeting you had with Tori so long ago...And I had a dagger at your neck when he went to pee.” I grinned at him, but as much as he was laughing, poor Yui had a horrified expression on her face. “Wh-What?! H-How could that happen?!” Yui gasped, looking up at us with wide eyes. “How could this man, who is the magistrate of the South ward, ask someone to marry him after this certain someone almost killed him? Well, Kin, that’s a great question, why don’t you answer us?” I nudged the green haired man who frowned a bit, remembering the bad times, only to pat the pink girl’s hair.

--- When she was barely 15, Tori killed her parents under what could seriously be the most ridiculous reason, but before he could leave the house, some of his henchmen got killed. Drawing his sword, Tori pinned the enemy to the wall - Only to be revealed to be a young woman with tears in her angry eyes - And that’s when he realised that he could seriously use a female assassin, since nobody would expect it.

For the next 5 years, he made sure to have her be taught how to me a Geisha and an assassin at the same time, and he was proud of her - She was a prodigy, so much better than so many of his useless men, that is.

And that Toyama...That damned Kagemoto Toyama...He needed to be killed.

Tori called a meeting with Toyama at a private room restaurant, having Y/N as the sole Geisha, occasionally touching her lecherously, as a way to get Toyama to lose his mind for her beauty and her talent in entertaining him with her beautiful voice, her dance and her flute playing...

But in a matter of seconds, Tori left the room and after a brief, tense silence, Toyama only had to blink to then find himself with his back flat on his back and the cold blade at his neck, dangerously digging into his skin, but not yet making it bleed.

“You poor girl...You’ve been very hurt, haven’t you? You don’t have to bloody your hands, miss. I can help you. You can turn your life around, I promise you.” Kagemoto’s voice was warm and comforting, his hand going to touch her white face. “No...No, I can’t. My fate has been sealed by the demon who slayed my family. He chained me and threw away the key long ago. There’s no escaping his grasps.” she shook her head, forcing herself to keep her eyes open so he wouldn’t somehow retaliate...But he didn’t. “Yes, you can. You are in the South ward now, under my protection. He can’t touch you here. You are a beautiful and talented woman, miss Y/N, you could turn your life around very easily, I can assure you. There are many people like you in here, and if you continue being a normal citizen, nobody is going to bother you again. You just have to take my hand. That’s all.” Kagemoto caressed her face, wiping away the stream of tears going down her face. “He will hunt me down to the ends of the world. I know the atrocities he’s done, and he knows the sea of blood that I bathed in because of him. How can I turn my life around and pretend none of that happened? It wouldn’t be fair to the people I killed...I don’t deserve it.” the grip on her blade completely vanished, allowing Kagemoto to get in a sitting position, cupping her face and kissing her forehead, the warm smile on his face giving her some hope. “Everyone deserves a chance for a better life, especially since you didn’t choose to live this way. I can protect you. But you must choose fast, before Tori comes back, because if he does, he will take you back to the North Ward, and from there, there’s no coming back. Choose fast, and choose wisely.” as her bottom lip quivered, she bowed to the ground, desperately yelling at him to get her out of this hell, the raw emotions clawing at her throat impressing the green haired man. “Please, Magistrate Toyama Kagemoto, please save me from Tori and his men. I don’t want to kill again, I don’t want my parents’ memory to be reminded this way. I want to get revenge on Tori, but I don’t want to be his puppet assassin again. Please, Magistrate, please save me.” her words shocked the man, at the same time melting his heart with her story, and feeling pity on her, he pet her hair before lifting her head up and offering her a reassuring smile. “Hide in there, and I will tell Tori you left to bring more sake. He will suspect you ran away and will try to hunt you down, but you will be under my protection at all times, and you won’t have to take another life again. Go now, hide there, I think i can hear footsteps coming.” the magistrate hurried her to the cramped closet where she stood like a scared, small animal for the whole duration of the meeting.

Seeing Tori angry scared her enough to flinch a few times, having been used to his capricious behaviour and overly drastic discipline methods, but she kept quieter than a mouse, even after the villain finally left. It wasn’t until the green haired magistrate came to take her out of there himself that she finally got the courage to let out a breath of relief.

With the help of some women employers from Kyokatei, his own tea house, the girl was dressed in a very modest kimono, her hair put in a bun, to avoid showing off the unusual, yet gorgeous hair colour, and her make up was completely removed, and yet, her beauty was still shining.

As soon as she arrived at his home, she saw the mess and without realising, she rushed to tidy things up, only to get stopped by the owner of the house, both of them looking at each other with very confused expressions on their faces.

“You are my protegee, not my maid. There’s no need for you to go to such lengths.” he tried to calm her down, only to see her shaking her head. “I saved me from that guy, and now you let me stay in your house. It’s the least I can do until I can earn some money and repay you...Although money won’t exactly be able to be an equivalent for your kindness...” she spoke a bit more assertively, only for him to start chuckling at her. “I think I have a solution for that, if you will. As you saw, having a beautiful, talented woman at a business meeting smoothens things enough to reach a compromise, so you can come with me whenever I have anything official to do. And when I don’t, I’m around Kyokatei, and I beautiful waitress or arts practitioner would definitely be welcomed.” Kagemoto tried to compromise, but the girl still shook her head. “I can’t take your money, Mr. Toyama! I will work for you and do whatever you wish me to do, but I refuse to take money for you after everything you’ve done for me, and you just met me today. Nobody would do what you’ve done. I owe you my life.” her cheeks reddened slightly, almost angry or offended at the insination that she would ever take his money like that. “Okay, okay, that’s fine, I understand. I have a few connections at the Kabuki theater nearby, I can talk to them to hire you. They have no woman among them, so I’m sure they will benefit from having you there. I have a friend there, Hotaka, he sometimes plays the female leads. I’m sure you will get along well. Accept at least this, please. And if it really makes you feel better, you can go ahead and do whatever you want around this house, alright?” the magistrate sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, only to see the corners of her mouth lift upwards, making her look like a happy kitten. “Yes, I suppose I can agree to that. I already gave you enough trouble with my stubbornness. A bit more and I think you’re gonna strangle me in your mind.” she laughed casually, turning around to continue tidying up. “Tomorrow you’ll have to show me everything around the house and around this ward so I know what I’ll have to do. Is that alright with you, Mr.Toyama?” she asked, neatly folding the clothes and putting them in a pile. “Ah, actually, don’t call me that please, it’s too formal. Makes me feel very old. My friends call me Kinshiro when we’re alone, but around official people, I am Kagemoto. In case you hear someone calling me by a different name than what you’re used to. I have some dumplings and sake from earlier this day, let’s eat, shall we? It must have been some many long days for you, lately. Tomorrow we can talk more about what’s there to be done and how are things here, in the South Ward.” he explained to her as he guided her to a table where they sat together, her pouring alcohol, while he placed the dumpling plate, and enjoyed their meal in a comfortable silence. “Okay...Kin.”

---

“You’ve been an assassin since 15...And you also had to train as a Geisha to avoid suspicion...And bear with the killer of your parents by your side all the time...That must have been terrible! How did you even manage to keep your composure for so long?! I wouldn’t have been able to...” Yui looked at me with pitiful eyes, only for me to shrug casually. “Dunno. I wanted to live, I guess. When he said he’ll keep me alive if I kill for him, I said sure. I’ve been blocking the memory of my parents ever since...And then I got to meet Kin who turned my life around completely...Then I worked all day long, so I had my mind occupied all the time, I worked around with Hotaka, I often helped Wakasa with his medical practice, then the vigilantes were formed and here we are. But before all this...I was just like you. A young, hard-working girl always helping around the house since there was nothing else to do in the North.” I stroked her hair motherly, wiping away the forming tears from her eyes. “You are really amazing, Y/N...I don’t know how you can do everything so perfectly...But you’re my role model! Please take care of me!” Yui bowed her head at me, but I instinctively laughed before apologising. “I, uh...If you mean the Geisha and assassin thing...I screwed up a lot. The amount of times I got punished and grounded by Tori for messing up...Is honestly monumental. If we talk about life in general, well...After not socialising with actual people my whole life, I had quite a few misconceptions about how things should be, and I think I scared Kinshiro and his friends a bit...But then we kinda adopted them since I take care of everyone...So I don’t have a clue what I’m doing, but it’s fun. I’m sure you’ll blend in with everyone very soon.” I ruffled her hair lovingly, making her grin widely in appreciation. “Trust me, Yui, it took a loooong time gettin Y/N to separate her own self from both her Geisha and her Assassin persona. Whenever she was supposed to be a normal person, she’d get so awkward and clumsy, you wouldn’t believe it was the same person! I think she had to buy a new china set every week because of that, and sometimes, she’d forget to speak when serving customers at the tea house. She was so cute when she’d cry from frustration and embarrassment!” Kinshiro’s mirthful laugh boomed throughout the room, making the girl giggle, while I could only look at him with a forced smile. “I’ll kill you.” I hummed in fake cheerfulness, but he clearly wasn’t phased in the least, since he’s known me for more years. “Sure, go ahead.” he teased, still holding that fake-innocent smile on his face. “You two remind me so much of my parents...They were very sweet and loving to each other, but they also liked to tease each other a lot. This is really...It’s really nice.” Yui smiled sadly, looking down, before Kin pulled her in between us so we would hug her like proper parents. “Well, Yui, it’s really getting late, and a young lady like yourself needs to sleep plenty to have enough energy and grow even more beautiful than you are now, so off to bed with you, dear. Can you handle sleeping by yourself, or do want to stay with us for the night?” I asked the girl who looked up at us with a happy smile. “I’ll sleep by myself, thank you...But if I have a nightmare, I hope you don’t mind if I come over.” her voice was soft and clearly grateful, so both I and Kin were fine enough with letting her do as she wished.

Not even two weeks later, the poor girl and I somehow managed to run into this weirdly tall Dutch supposed merchant, but the vibe I got from him... He was stinking of blood and  his aura was one of complete danger - Despite the amiable and charming facade he tried to have, someone with experience knew all too well it was far from the truth.

However, as we left the tea house, we noticed Tori entering the place, only to meet up with the foreigner. I stood pressed to the outer wall, keeping my hand over Yui’s mouth, trying to make sure she doesn’t utter anything, and as soon as I deemed I heard enough, I dragged her to Kyokatei in a rush, calling up a meeting with some of the vigilantes.

“Kin, bad news. The foreigner is in cahoots with Tori. I think they’re trying to cover up some kind of illegal trading with the basic harbour stuff every foreign merchant does.” I explained gravely to the 4 members of our group, whose faces instantly fell somber as well. “What happened? Yui is clearly shaken up...Did they threaten you somehow?” Sion asked, but the pink haired girl quickly shook her head. “N-No, nothing of the sort...We met up with the foreigner...And, uhm....He was very...Physical with us...And then Y/N dragged me to the tea house, only to see Tori walking in, so we quickly left before he could notice either of us. I have to thank Y/N for keeping me grounded, otherwise...I-I think I’d have marched to Tori and socked him in the face.” the girl hung her head in embarrassment and guilt, but Aoi quickly ruffled her hair reassuringly. “No, it’s normal for you to feel that way. I wouldn’t have been able to stay there either if I was in your place.” the blue haired man smiled at the girl, clearly not wanting her to feel bad about her emotions, but also, being somehow impulsive sometimes. “The foreigner knows about Yui. He said he saw us around a lot - Including you, Kin - And said that Yui is definitely the daughter of the man and woman they recently killed. Not to mention, this guy has an unusually creepy vibe around him...And the stench of blood is...Not obvious to the common folk, but for us...It’s much too obvious. I think we should try and act soon, one way or another.” I explain the information I gathered from eavesdropping. “Things may look bad, but they are going in the right direction. Just today, Tori asked for an official meeting with me, so tomorrow, here, at Kyokatei, we are going to talk business. I need Soji to stay above us while Sion and Aoi stay with Yui in the other room and listen in to our conversation.” Kin explained, and I could only sigh, raking my fingers through my long hair. “...You owe me your haori. But I want the blue one, not the green one...It suits you better than it suits me.” I muttered, crossing my arms to my chest, looking away. “I’m sorry, Y/N, but you know what you have to do.” Kin’s expression turned into one equally as upset as mine, as he put his hand on my face, and I could only lean into it. “As long as he doesn’t grab me again, like the uncultured barbarian that he is, I suppose it’s not going to be anything different than what I’ve been doing for so many years now.” I shrugged, biting my lip, remembering that time, many years ago, when I met Kinshiro. “I won’t let him touch you. It may be official business, but I’m still the enforcer of rules in the South, and I have to make sure nobody touches the most beautiful woman in the world.” softly lifting my face, we shared a tender look that comforted the both of us, at least a little bit. “U-Uhm...I’m a bit confused...What is going to happen to Y/N?” Yui asked, clinging on Sion’s shoulder as a way to get him to look down at her and answer. “I’m going to be a Geisha again for Kinshiro and Tori. I need to find my flute and see how rusty I got. Sion, I don’t have to ask you, I’m sure you know what I’ll need tomorrow...Aoi, you’ll help me with my hair and make up, and with Hotaka, we can do the physical work...Those damn outfits are impossible.” I chuckled dryly, and despite the jokes we tried to make, we all knew the meeting will be very tense. “N-No, y-you can’t do that! What if he recognises you?! If he last saw you as a Geisha, he’ll remember you that way, not as a normal person!” Yui exclaimed, clearly worried about me, but it only made me chuckle at her cuteness. “Darling, have you seen a group of Geishas or Courtesans together? The make up, hairstyles, accessories, faces, hair colours...They’re all the same. Honestly, even I would have a hard time recognising myself if I didn’t know I was myself. Besides...Iseyas’ kimonos are the most beautiful and rich in the whole country, there’s no way Tori would ever be able to compete with something like that, so I’d look different from what I did over 5 years ago. So, don’t worry, I’m a professional.” I winked at her, before waving to everyone and dragging Kinshiro home. “Oh, Sion, can you please take Yui over at yours for the night? I and Kinshiro have some things to work out for tomorrow’s meeting, and I don’t want her worrying or something.”

For most of the night, I cleared the rust from my flute, dancing and singing skills and tried to get a better, more graceful posture as I poured tea and had to keep a straight, demure face at all times, no matter what my beloved would say to get a raise out of me or anything similar.

Consequently, Kinshiro would go over everything he had to talk to Tori, all the papers and personal requests from his higher ups, and it was truly one of the longest nights either of us ever had.

When we were finally done with work, we went to cuddle in our futons, and just before I fell asleep with him stroking my hair soothingly, I heard him softly mutter a loving ‘I love you’.

The next day I was physically unable to express any kind of emotion on my face, and that was for the best, thankfully, as I let Aoi and Hotaka help me out with the kimono, and I swear, the most annoying thing about this whole ordeal is how incredibly long it takes to get everything one perfectly.

But the end result left everyone mesmerised, and I couldn’t recognise myself...Again. It took everything out of Kinshiro not to hug or kiss me in that exact second, but he’ll have to keep it for after this whole mummer’s show.

As everyone was in position, I waited for the South Ward’s magistrate to bring that jerk to our room, where I was ( not so ) patiently waiting on the pillow in front of the table, ready to pour the prepared tea, while I sometimes spoke with Soji up above, fearing that he’d get tired sooner or later.

The rea challenge came as soon as the paper door opened and the North’s magistrate got in, a lecherous smirk painting his ugly face as soon as his eyes spotted my waiting form.

Despite pretending not to be completely indifferent to their conversation as I practiced my arts, occasionally pouring tea, at first, only to get changed to sake later, I was paying attention to each and every word both of them would utter, especially the aggressive ones that failed to be concealed under the veil of politeness from the North’s magistrate who had no idea what civilisation meant.

Which is exactly why, just as expected, once I went to refill his sake cup the 4th time, he grabbed me harshly by the waist and I fell in his arms with a surprised squeak, unable to breathe from the shock.  After a few seconds of barely keeping myself not to strangle the shameless drunk on the spot, Kinshiro raised to his feet and helped me up, motioning for me to sit on the pillow next to him, scolding Tori for not knowing proper etiquette, then offering to take him out of there since he wasn’t lucid enough to talk business anymore.

And thankfully, they left, and as soon as the door closed behind them, Soji was able to jump down, his limbs aching, most likely, but I didn’t move from my spot, letting my emotions bubble inside of me until my lover came back, knowing he was the only person able to calm me down when I was like this.

I could tell by the heavy, yet paced footsteps that the person approaching was Kinshiro, and as the door opened, I jolted to my feet, my expression clearly pissed off.

“DO I LOOK LIKE A FUCKING WHORE TO HIM?!” the rage was obvious from both my voice and the twisted expression on my face, as I was trying to rush out of the place, to kill him, only to be hugged from behind, around my waist, Kinshiro’s arms securing me in my place. “Calm down, Y/N. He’s gone now, and we can’t kill him yet, we have to make a set up. We will do it soon, and I will let you and Yui take him down with your own hands.” Kinshiro reassured me, only for me to rapidly snatch the sharp ornamental needle accessory from my hair, letting it cascade down my back elegantly, a clear antithesis with the bloodlust I was feeling right now. “My weapon is ready to drink his blood. It better be soon, or I’ll get really angry.” I still struggled in his grasp instinctively, but I knew it was no use - At least for now. “It’s good that everyone was present so they could hear what was going on, so now we can come up with a flawless plan and finally make everyone’s wish come true. Tori has been a nuisance for so many people over the past years and we can finally get revenge for all the atrocities he’s done.” Kin managed to calm me down, patting my hair as he talked to all the vigilantes. “We’ll need everyone’s help, but I’m sure that together we can do anything.” I nodded in agreement, instructing them along with their leader on what to do further from now on until we properly get the plan finished. “You were really brave, Y/N! Please go home and relax now, you deserve it!” Yui encouraged me, and I could only snort in mock amusement, grabbing Kin’s wrist and getting out, ruffling the girl’s hair as I passed by her. “Thanks for tonight as well, Sion.” I signaled to him quickly, eager to just get home already.

As soon as we got to our home, Kinshiro picked me up and got me to our room, carefully placing me on his lap, my legs straddling him as his hands cupped my face. We shared a few seconds, just looking each other in the eyes, before placing a tender kiss on my lips, and then another, and another, each one with more warmth and passion, eclipsing the previous one.

“Kin...You should let me get in my sleeping wear. You’ll get make up all over yourself, and it doesn’t taste good at all.” I blushed softly, my arms resting on his shoulders, our foreheads touching, offering a secure sense of intimacy. “I’ll wash your make up, but after. Right now, all I need is you, and to make sure you can’t feel his disgusting touch anymore. You did an amazing job, my love, but I’m sorry that had to happen.” he sighed, muttering in the crook of my neck, as he carefully caressed the kimono off my shoulders, leaving my cleavage be shown, just as the rich courtesans do. “It’s alright, my love. You protected me, as you always do, and I’m forever grateful that I met you, and that I was lucky enough to have a man love me endlessly and show me that it’s alright to be myself.” my fingers ran through his smooth hair, taking it out from his ponytail, making it fall in green waves down his shoulders. “You’re too kind to me, Y/N. Let me show you my appreciation to you, darling.” despite living alone, only the two of us, the amount of time we get to be intimate like this and just show each other how much we treasure everything about them, with no inhibitions or restrictions...Just the two of us, in our own world, and nothing else to bring us back to real life.

Since we all were incredibly nervous, almost trebling with anticipation and bloodlust, but finally, we planned everything to the littlest detail, enough to unmask Tori to the shogunate for the illicit deeds he was doing, then we dealt with his henchmen, unveiled his secret warehouse and made sure the foreigner won’t bother us, and that we, in turn, won’t bother him...Foreign affairs are a drag.

Soji, Aoi and Sion dealt with the guarding henchmen, then made sure Yui was safe until I dealt with Tori, so we can both impale him, since he wronged the both of us. With a subtle sign from Soji, I leaped from the roof right behind Tori, in a lonely, dark alley, and went to strike him, but apparently he was expecting it, as my sword quickly got parried and he managed to jump away from me.

He kept talk and talking, trying to inquire who I was, why did I want to kill him and all that stuff, but I knew better than to let my emotions get the best of me, or give him a hint of my identity until I was sure he was dead for real.

However, as soon as I managed to unarm him, his katana flying out of his grasp, I felt the cold metal of a gun barrel to my temple, and the atmosphere changed into a much eerier one.

“Miss, I believe you are a much more talented assassin than your male colleagues, not to mention, you are a true beauty. If I didn’t know better, I’d have liked for you to come with me back to my home. I would have spoiled you with the most lavish luxuries you may not even be able to imagine.” Willem spoke with a feign pity in his voice, which only made me chuckle lowly. “If I didn’t already have a husband, I would have killed Tori and eloped with you. Alas, maybe in another life.” I shrugged, letting my sword drop to the ground, because, for some reason, I didn’t actually feel any kind of true malice in his actions. “Yes, yes, Toyama is a lucky man, I’d say. Well, it is in my moral code not to kill such a beauty, so I propose a truce, to you, and your ridiculous band of assassins that think I haven’t spotted them up there on the roof, along with the younger girl you eavesdropped with previously.” the blond took away the gun, taking a step to the right, allowing the vigilantes to see me again now, as previously, Willem’s tall, broad form completely eclipsed me. “You sure know everything, don’t you, Willem?  Yes, I’m sure you completely figured out our plan anyway, which is why you’re here. I can presume you’re going to abuse your foreigner privilege, aren’t you? As you may already be away, we took this into account, and I’m telling you, our main goal was revenge on Tori for killing both my and Yui’s parents, along with numerous other atrocities. If you don’t bother out plans, you can go back to your country as if you were never even here, and still get the money this guy promised you. Two different people, two different businesses, as if we’ve never met. Is that alright with you?” I asked, proposing my end of the deal, which seemed to please him very much. “If you take your hair out of your pony tail and let me see your face, then yes, I will agree. I want to see a fierce, untameable and brave, beautiful woman who does as she wishes, before I return home. As you can imagine, there aren’t many women as enticing as you, I’m almost tempted to just kindap you.” Willem kept talking as I ruffled my hair, letting it gracefully fall down my back, framing my face delicately, then removed the mask from my face, extending my hand for him to shake so we can finish this truce already, but as soon as he shook my hand, he lifted my chin, kissing my forehead, then disappeared, shocking everyone, without a doubt. “Well, there we go, Tori. It seems your darling foreigner favoured me. Now then, are you ready for your judgement time?” I chuckled, signaling for the others to leap down, as I took out Yui’s dagger from underneath my assassin gear. “Tsk, women are such a nuisance. You take everything personally. Both of you would have been better off dead than alive. Once you kill me, that stupid Toyama will have only problems piled on him, and you will forever be haunted by the fact that you are nothing more than murderers, just like me.” Tori threatened, but as he stepped backwards, he was met with Aoi’s hair needle, prickling at his throat, rendering him unable to move. “Ready, Yui?” I asked, handing her the dagger and putting my hands over hers, both to stop the shaking, and to make sure the deed is done. “...Yes, I am.” despite the obvious fear she held, her voice didn’t tremble, so I counted for her up to three, and telling her to keep herself steady, I plunged the dagger deep into our common enemy’s chest.

But he wasn’t yet dead, and I could feel that Yui was fine with the fatal wound she inflicted...But I wasn’t. I grasped her shoulders and turned her around as I took out the dagger, wiped the blood on my clothes and handed it back to her, before taking out my own  hair needle and repeatedly stabbed it into his face, feeling a burning sense of satisfaction hearing the desperate shrieks of agony he let out.

Before I could properly finish him off, I felt myself dragged away by a pair of strong arms who then took away the weapon from my hand, throwing it far away.

“That’s enough, Y/N. You’ve got your revenge. He’s dead. Now allow yourself to enjoy what happened and calm down. It’s over, alright? It’s all over. Everything will be fine now. You don’t have to ever get violent again. It’s alright, Y/N, my dear, you’re safe. He won’t ever harm you, Yui, nor anyone ever again, I promise you. I promise.” Kinshiro cupped my face, making sure I look at him in the eyes as he spoke, as this was really the only way he could get me to hear anything when I was in my Assassin mode, and thankfully, my muscles relaxed feeling his warm touch. “Okay...Okay...Yeah, you’re right...But it felt damn good....And now it’s over...No more of this mess with Tori...Everything else will be nothing but small fishes. That’s great.” I gingerly placed my palms on his chest, tracing them upwards so I could grasp his shoulders to keep myself sustained. “That’s right, dear, things will only get better from now on. For all of us, including the people from the North. Everyone will benefit now that it’s done. You won’t have to keep being stressed over revenge, and Yui can finally live a normal life...With the one she loves.” Kin winked at me, nodding his head toward the purple haired assassin who was holding the girl protectively in his arms. “Yeah...You are right....Kin?” I called out to him, smiling softly. “Let’s go home.” my grin widened as soon as he started smiling as well. “Let’s go home.” he agreed as he picked me up bridal style with shocking ease, then started walking towards our home, as we giggled at each other like little mischievous children.

As Kinshiro declared the mission was a success, he let the vigilantes scatter and get a good rest, for the next day we will meet to share the reward for killing Tori and everything, then we finally went home.

I don’t think I ever felt better in my life, nor did I ever feel safer, warmer, more loved or anything, but I was genuinely happy that I had no need to stress or feel angry over injustices like this.

Life was finally making much more sense now, and thankfully, I can continue doing whatever I wanted to do, be it Kabuki theater, being a waitress, an assassin, or a Geisha for Kinshiro, and none of the fun or gleam of life will ever subside.

All was finally well.

[dilebe06]

Joker Game [movie]

Dal Giappone con amore….

Non mentirò: quando l’ho iniziato ero convinta fosse uno di quei pipponi drammatici storici pieni di angst e scene strappalacrime. Non so esattamente perchè io abbia pensato questo, visto che la stessa trama fa pensare ad un film di spionaggio: 

Ambientato sullo sfondo di una seconda guerra mondiale fittizia, in Giappone, il tenente colonnello Yuki ( Yusuke Iseya ) raccomanda la creazione della scuola di addestramento per spie "D Kikan". Nel frattempo, Kato ( Kazuya Kamenashi ) sta affrontando la pena capitale per il suo rifiuto di seguire l'ordine di un superiore. Kato viene quindi assoldato da "D Kikan". Affronta un duro periodo di addestramento e affronta la sua prima missione come spia al fine di prendere i documenti riservati dell'ambasciatore americano Graham, il "Black Note".

Segue una battaglia internazionale praticamente, per impossessarsi del "Black Note" tra Kato, una donna misteriosa di nome Rin ( Kyoko Fukada ), l'Agenzia di spionaggio britannica, l'Agenzia di spionaggio sovietica e l'esercito radicale in Giappone. è qui la festa?! manca qualcuno?! 

il film scorre fluido e dinamico per tutto il tempo, tra inseguimenti, sparatorie e soluzioni al limite della magia. Alcune cose infatti sembrano giochi di prestigio più che tecniche di spionaggio. 

Comunque sia mi sono piaciuti molto i combattimenti, poco realistici ma sicuramente di ottimo impatto visivo.  più che combattimenti paiono balletti Ottima anche la fotografia ed il montaggio: alcune inquadrature erano spettacolari! 

Essendo un film d’azione non c’è spazio per l’introspezione dei personaggi ma si riesce comunque a capire le personalità dei characters. Senza togliere nulla a Kame il mio preferito rimane Yuki: freddo, autoritario, elegante. Mi sono innamorata subito.

Tuttavia devo fare una nota: alcune cose sono state abbastanza prevedibili o hanno funzionato solo per grazia del Signore perchè MAI nella vita potrebbero succedere. Diciamo che è un film che punta all’effetto spettacolare più che alla logica e al realismo. Mi sono comunque divertita. ;-)

Voto: 7.6

La trama, che ho preso da AsianWiki perchè sono troppo pigra, in realtà contiene un errore: dice che Kame - povera stella - si è fatto un durissimo allenamento per entrare nell’agenzia delle spie. 

Sbagliato!

Kame arriva all’addestramento che è praticamente già una spia. Lui sa tutto, sa fare tutto. Da smontare una pistola ad occhi chiusi ad indovinare a bruciapelo il numero esatto di oggetti su un tavolo coperto da una mappa. In meno di 10 secondi smonta una cassaforte, in 2 cambia travestimento ed in 3 ha già memorizzato tutte le Capitali del mondo. Cioè... O_O 

Questo film ricorda il cartone animato di Lupen ed esattamente come il ladro, Kame ha lo stesso suo difetto: le donne. Appena ho visto come guardava la cameriera avevo già ipotizzato che si sarebbe messo nel guai per lei. E infatti... sveglio sveglio e poi appena sente odore di girl...rincoglionito.

Sule versante dei “miracoli” - io li chiamo così - degno di nota è ciò che accade nel finale: Kame in pieno delirio Targaryen style, decide di bruciare vivi tutti. Riesce a creare un percorso con della polvere da sparo collegata a della dinamite per delle scale di una torre ma ahimè..il percorso si interrompe. Casualmente si certo come no Kame getta dal punto più alto una foto che viaggia per tutto il percorso fino ad arrivare al pezzo di polvere da sparo mancante e ..BOOM! 

Madò i miracoli! 

2 Km di polvere da sparo e guarda un pò il caso botta de culo la foto si posiziona proprio lì.