#sleep and Sora.. the perfect hand in hand

[valorxdrive]

Sleep Meme!

type of bed.

Before the adventure: A plain Full Size bed. While the mattress was bought, the framing was actually made by his dad who took up wood carving alongside of fishing.

During the adventure/Post-games: His primary bed is one actually made from Soft-G gummi blocks. Malleable and form fitting, it practically adjusts to his body's size and position making for extremely relaxing/revitalizing sleep. At other times during rest in the wild, he'd actually just sleep on his Balloonga spell for the same descriptions as the above.

number of blankets.

He'd either go with one blanket or none at all. Sleeping upon a tropical climate to the adjusted set up of the Gummi ship, Sora's warm disposition would make blankets more of a hindrance compared to anything else. If anything he'd come to use it as additional bedding for underneath the body.

That said, when he's upon colder worlds he'd actually rack up the blanket count to two. Being someone who already loves his sleep to begin with, the blanket cocoon + chilly weather combo does wonders in knocking him out quick.

Honestly speaking though? His favorite type of 'blanket' would be to just embracing his special other.

number of pillows.

He'd either go with one or none at all. Too many pillows would wind up hurting his neck. That said, he does prefer just having one giant pillow instead. It does wonders for those nights he likes to have his arms spread out.

type of clothing.

Boxers while usually accompanied with either a T-shirt or a tank top of his choosing if he's on the ship. During camping trips on various worlds, he'd pack some sleeping shorts too alongside the aforementioned, just incase he needs to wake up and handle some action-y business or talk to someone.

does it matter where they sleep ?

Not really no. Give Sora enough time to acclimate to the environment he's in and he'll find comfort in just about any setting that's reasonable to rest in. Through Merlin's and Donald's teachings, he's learned how to use his magic for convenience in making that a lot more bearable.

Idle spells such a flow of mana that keeps bugs at bay, bad scents or any other pest/annoyance that would get in his way.

what do they do if they cannot fall asleep ?

If he's within a new world during the Keyblading usual, he'd take that time to keep watch as his companions come to rest.

If it's his turn to sleep, he'd stay up a little longer, talking with either whoever is up or just going through his belongings for more fond memories. Normally those would quell the disturbances within his heart to help him get some genuine sleep.

At other times, his Dream Eaters would nudge at his Heart if they could feel their friend has trouble dozing off. They would coddle it, bringing a wondrous sense of security. They would allow his restless Heart freedom from the body, allowing for it to rest as Sora's essence shakes off the excess energy in other ways.

Being awake as a Heart thankfully doesn't burgeon as an issue to his physical body.

frequent dreams, nightmares.

For Sora the dreams are rarely dreams anymore at this point. It happens semi-frequently, and often it's his heart just propelling itself off to the hidden sides of the KH cosmos for one reason or another. Whether it's just personal peace, preparation for events to come, or handling dreams in a more bizarre fashion is up to circumstance.

That said, he does still have dreams! They're usually a primordial soup of events he's already dealt with, memories that are continuously trying to give hints that he still has them, but that he needs make a more appropriate reach for them.

As for nightmares, they're pretty seldom. The Dream Eaters are protective of Sora's heart in this regard, so they make conscious judgements on what to and what not to filter. Normally if it's for his development, even if it's tough, they'd let it pass. While nightmares made from burgeoning shots of his negativity are promptly devoured, as they're irrational in essence, allowing for him to have a more sound mind.

Very rarely would he had those nonsensical, fun type of dreams. These are naturally what Sora enjoys the most as it's like a little adventure in their own right, even though he'd hardly remember them as he wakes up.

deep slumber or naps ?

Sleeps like an absolute rock. Normally when someone is getting him up, they're quite literally giving his Heart a reminder to realign with his body again. Naps sparsely if never happen at all, as momentary rest like that is a sign that things just aren't okay for him.

Sora is someone who once he's up, typically keeps awake for the rest of the day, that is if he's slipping on getting his full hours. In that case naps would be a lot more common, just as a means to catch up on the missing rest.

That said! If he's extremely bored with a situation (Such as waiting for results while people fuss over computers), he will not hesitate to get a few winks of sleep in. Situations where he has to wait like that just makes it too easy. That said, the hum of machinery also has a little magic in making him doze off as well.

when do they sleep ?

Probably the most complicated question on this list. LOL.

See for Sora's case, traveling to different universes means entering different time/space axis's overall. Where some worlds have it at night time, others can be in the day, in between, so on and so forth. Being someone who is a Starseeker, the best answer would be whenever the opening for it really crops up.

Normally that would be on the Gummi Ship rides in between, or when night time strikes at the particular world he's frequenting.

It's impossible him to get a schedule established with a frame of hours. For him, it's the situation itself that opens up when he's going to get adequate rest.

what could wake them up ?

Loud noises. Animals licking his face. A lot of shaking to his body, or an abrupt cut to his dreams/heart travels.

tagged by. @regnantlight Much appreciated!

tagging. @foolshoujo, @ghostlyanon, @redfabled, @cursedfortune, @spiras-summoner, @knightshonour, @keytosolidarity and anyone else who wants to hit up tbh. Go nuts!

[sanjifucker42069]

Calm Him Down- Sanji x Reader

Word Count: 2000

Warnings: mentions of Sora Vinsmoke. Sanji has a panic attack. First ever hurt/comfort lmao, so there's that. Slight OOC as Sanji kinda breaks down, letting people in without costing an arm and a leg, the stubborn bastard. Reader's gender is not specified, but you do sleep in the women's quarters, which like, look at the gender ratio on the Sunny. There's heaps more room in the women's quarters, makes sense to chuck you there. 

It's up to you how you read their relationship here. In my mind they're close friends pining for each other, but it could easily be read as platonic or established relationship.

------

It was a peaceful day on the Sunny; the seabirds were squawking, the ocean lapped at the boat lazily, and Zoro and Sanji were arguing. Go figure. Your eyebrow twitched, where you say at the kitchen table giving you perfect access to the argument. You don't even remember how it started, probably something banal. Beside you, Chopper was reading a book, fully immersed in its pages. You tried tuning out most of the fight.

"You're lucky I don't come over there and kick the shit out of you. I've had enough of your disgraceful behaviour." Sanji growled.

Zoro regarded the blonde with a sneer. “What shit-cook, you gonna cry to mummy about it?”

CRASH. SLAM. 

You whipped your head to the kitchen, seeing Sanji staring down the swordsman with barely-contained fury. Blood turning to ice, your breath hitched. You’d never seen the sweet cook look so murderous. There was a fire in his eyes that broke your heart, like it was a glimpse to the true man underneath. You swear you could catch a hint of vulnerability, but he was stamping that down, waves of violent palpable pain rolling off him.

“You know nothing about my mother, so shut the fuck up.”

The silence that flooded the room was suffocating. You flinched, physically feeling how all warmth was sucked from the air. Sanji growled, deep and furious.

“Get the fuck out of my kitchen. All of you.”

“Hey, I didn’t me-” Zoro started weakly.

“Sanji.” You breathed.

“Get. out.” The snarl that rewarded you knocked the wind out of you. Wordlessly you collected Chopper, taking him by the hand and helping him out of his seat. The reindeer looked shocked, tears threatening to spill. You rubbed small circles into the fur above his hoof with your thumb. Sparing him one last glance, you grabbed Zoro by the ear with your free hand, dragging the hissing man. If you purposefully pinched hard, then who was to say. Surreptitiously you flicked your eyes to the cook, but Sanji had his back to you, arms bracing the kitchen counter. His hands were clutching the wood in a vice-like grip, none too gentle. You sighed, hauling the two out of the galley. Softly, you let go of Chopper’s hand and pulled the heavy door closed. Your fingers pinched Zoro’s ear hard one last time, before releasing. 

Before the swordsman could open his mouth, you shushed him. “I know. I know, okay, there’s no way any of us could’ve known. Just. Go cool down. It does no good, us being here.”

Zoro’s lips thinned into a blank stare. He muttered out a simple “Yeah,” before turning and leaving the immediate area. With a small nod you crouched down to the small doctor, cradling his little face.

“Hey Chop? It’s okay, okay? He’s gonna be okay. Do you think you could tell the others to stay clear of the kitchen for a while? Maybe you could make something to calm him down?” It was imperative you kept Chopper busy. The cute boy nodded, sniffing back his tears. You ruffled his hat against his head. “There’s our doctor! Thank you sweetheart.”

Once the small reindeer had left you leant against the door, heart breaking. In all your time as a crew, from Merry to Sunny, you had never seen Sanji so upset. Yeah, the man had a temper, but not a severe temper. Sanji could always be calmed down or diverted. It was clear. He was hurt. When you thought about it, you don’t think you’d ever heard Sanji talk about his family. You sat there in silence for a few moments before you heard it.

Tears?

No, fuck that. You don’t care if he banned you all from the kitchen, you weren’t going to let him cry alone. As quiet as you could, you crept back into the galley. Sanji was nowhere to be seen. Impossible. You’d heard him. 

“Sanji?” You asked quietly. 

The silence of the kitchen was unsettling. You weren’t imagining it, there was an almost imperceivable sniffle. The room felt suffocating, hurt and panic strangling the air. You began inspecting the room, making your way to the kitchen island. That’s when you heard it, a small voice, deep and rasping, but trying so hard to not be heard.

“Please go away.”

Oh.

You peered over the kitchen island to find him. Sanji was curled inwards, sitting on the ground. His knees were drawn to his chest, head lowered. He looked utterly defeated, slightly shaking as he held back tears. Before your brain could even process you had rounded the island at a rate of knots, sliding to a crouch. You held your hands out like you were trying not to startle him. Sanji flinched at hearing you, no, feeling you so close.

“I said go away.”

“I’m not leaving you Sanji.�� 

“Go. Away.” The mumble that escaped his crying form broke you. 

“You would have to kill me for me to leave. Come here.” Sanji ignored you, his arms cradling his own body. A sigh broke its way out of your chest. He looked so small, like a boy trying hard to be brave. The shaking increased in frequency with your words. You couldn’t let him suffer like this alone. “I’m sorry Sanji, but I’m not leaving.”

The man jumped as if electrocuted when you wrapped your arms around him. You took advantage of his surprise, pulling his head against your chest. Sanji struggled, trying to distance himself, but you latched harder. The push and pull continued for a while, until you heard Sanji sigh shakily. He went limp, allowing you to pull him to you, one hand smoothing his hair, the other clinging to his back.

“You don’t have to tell me anything, just let me be here for you.”

That did it. Sanji grabbed at you, wrapping his hands around your back, crushing you. It was a desperate attempt, clumsy and clawing, clear the man was upset. You grunted quietly at the pressure, trying not to startle him. It was quickly apparent you didn’t have to worry about making a noise, as you felt your shirt become damp with tears, Sanji desperately trying to cry quietly. You knew what Sanji was like. It would scare him off if you acknowledged his tears. All you could do was try comforting him, rubbing his back and kissing his hair.

“She’s dead.”

Your breath hitched. No wonder he reacted the way he did. You tried to not feel furious with Zoro, he didn't know, but the anger was still there. Soft sobs permeated the air, each sound chipping at your heart.

"Oh Ji." You sighed, hugging him even harder. He'd have to suffocate soon with how tight you held him, but you noted how he clung to you, as if he was afraid you'd disappear. Sanji's words were clipped and shaky.

"Died when I was a kid. My fault she died, was too weak."

Shock invaded your senses, a freezing feeling travelling through your veins. You weren't sure what he meant, but you knew in your bones there was no way that was right. Sanji always struck you as a sensitive individual, all the more to cement your belief that he wasn't at fault for whatever he was thinking. "No honey, no, that's not true."

“I miss her.” Sanji’s voice was hoarse.

“I know.” You cooed softly, delicately carding your fingers through his hair. "She must have been an amazing woman if she birthed such a wonderful son."

That was the wrong move. It was like a dam burst. Sanji began crying hard, torn between seeking your comfort and escaping. You felt the tendrils of panic surfacing as you watched him struggle to breathe between sobs. Sanji's heart rate picking up, he began shaking in your arms. You watched horrified as he tried to downplay it and seem unaffected, but you knew better.

"Oh, fuck. Ji? Sanji? I'm so sorry. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't your fault, okay?"

Your attempt failed, and you felt Sanji pull away. Shit. Shit, he was having a panic attack. It shattered your heart as you watched him hyperventilate, unable to calm down. Without thinking you cupped his cheeks, forcing him to stare at you.

"Sanji. Honey. Its going to be okay. Breathe with me, okay? In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Try with me. Good." You coached him through, trying to encourage deeper breaths. Sanji's visible eye was bloodshot and frantic, eye flitting between your facial features. You noted his eye was not focused on anything in particular, he seemed distant. His nose was red, no doubt sore from sniffling. Shaky breaths escaped him, and you tried desperately to seem calm. "Eyes on me. Breathe. You're okay, you're here on the Sunny. We're here. You're doing good baby."

Breathe. 

Breathe with me.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Sanji crumpled against you once his breathing was finally steady. You cradled him, rocking the two of you gently. You were certain Sanji would prefer to just exist in the silence, but you couldn't help the word vomit that escaped.

"You don't have to go through this alone Sanji. You have us, you have Zeff and the Baratie. You have Nami, and Robin, and Luffy. Usopp, Brook, Franky, Chopper. Fuck even Zoro!" You were rambling, tears of your own escaping. "And me. I'll always be here if you feel overwhelmed. You can't get rid of us Sanji. We love you."

"Why?" His voice cracked. "Why waste your time?"

Sanji froze as you tilted his chin up to stare at him. You eyes were serious and vulnerable. "Time spent with you is never wasted. You are capable of being loved, and I'll be damned if I let you think otherwise."

You watched as Sanji stuttered out a shaky sigh.

"Your mum would be proud of you Sanji." Anxious, you continued. Sanji's breath hitched. "I'm sure she'd see the man I see before me; who's kind beyond a fault, who is sweet and sensitive. Who can cook the most mouthwatering dishes, who protects and cares for those around him. You're a good person Sanji. You need to let yourself believe that."

You were rewarded with a teary smile, one not reaching the eyes. Sanji looked tired, dark under eyes and pale skin. With a smile back, you gestured to get up. The quizzical look he gave you warming your heart.

"C'mon. I'll kick the girls out for a couple hours. You look exhausted, come take a nap with me."

"Oh, no I couldn't. I need to finish making dinner, a-and it wouldn't be right for me to-mmph." 

You silenced him with a gentle finger to his lips. "We're mostly adults Ji. One night of subpar food from Usopp's cooking is not going to kill us. Now c'mon."

Sanji let you lead him to the girl's quarters, specifically your bed. He watched where your hand held his, it looked like they were made for each other. In any other circumstance he'd blush and coo over the display, but right now he felt beyond exhausted, a weariness deep in his bones. He weakly protested as you took off his jacket.

"Get comfy. I'll be right back." Your voice was quiet and warm. Sanji wanted to melt. Instead, he nodded and sat down on your bed. In another situation, he might squeal and bury himself in your scent, or be embarrassed at how in charge you were. Instead, he removed his shoes, placing them neatly on the floor near your bed. He sat there awkwardly, eyelids heavy from tiredness and crying. 

The door squeaked back open. 

"Got you some water and some painkillers. I know I always get a wicked headache after I cry." Sanji gratefully took the pills, knocking it back with the full glass. He didn't realise how parched he was. Slipping your shoes off, you crawled behind him, making yourself comfortable. Sanji could see you spread out on the small bed out of the corner of his eyes. He watched you spread your arms out.

Wordlessly the lanky man laid down next to you, shuffling into your warm embrace. Sanji lightly startled when you pulled the blanket over the two of you, before you closed your arms, hugging him gently. The feeling of your hand back in his hair was comforting, so too was the small humming of Binks' Sake, lulling him gently to sleep. Before he could pass out he nuzzled against you.

"Thank you (name)."

"Anytime Sanji. Get some sleep."

And sleep he did, soon drifting off in your arms. Once you made sure he was fully asleep you frowned. Poor man. He really didn't know how precious he was. His soft snores rewarded you, and you felt your own lids get heavy. You couldn't help it, and so, cradling your own treasure, you fell asleep tangled around him.

[kaziwi]

Don't Mention It

Character(s): Law

WC: 1,153

Summary: You and the crew celebrate Law's birthday...but not in the way he'd expect

Note: happy birthday law <3

Law slowly opened his eyes, waking up from a good nights rest. It was rare for the captain of the Heart Pirates to get his full 8 hours, but after Bepo had asked to cuddle he couldn't say no. The soft fur and warmth radiating from Bepo lulled him to sleep, and now he lied awake, way behind his schedule.

He knew what today was. His birthday. Law just never liked the idea of birthdays...and the memories that came with them. Each year he begged the crew not to mention it, and treat it as a normal day, but they always failed to do so. He hoped this year would be different.

Law quickly changed out of his pajamas and made himself look presentable. He could already hear the teasing from Shachi and Penguin for waking up late. As he left his quarters, he noticed the Polar Tang to be surprisingly quiet. He made his way to the kitchen and was shocked to see a whole buffet of food laid across the table. And the best part...there was no bread.

"Mornin Cap! Never thought I'd see the day when you slept in," Ikkaku teased as she washed the dishes. He didn't even notice her here.

"This is more breakfast than we usually eat...is it for...special occasion?" Law obviously knew this was for his birthday, but for some reason he wanted to hear someone else say it.

"Hmm, I don't think so...unless I'm forgetting something."

Oh...that was kinda weird...Ikkaku didn't mention it was his birththday. No matter, someone else was bound to eventually.

Law sat down and began to take some of the food that was spread across the table. In all honesty it was probably the best breakfast he'd ever eaten. He handed his plate to Ikkaku and began to make his rounds.

He had expected to see Shachi and Penguin goofing off, or having to fix something that Bepo messed up, but everything was perfect. The ship was at top maintenance and all of the chores were completed. When he had gone back to question Ikkaku about where everyone was, she said they had all gone out to the island they docked at to explore.

It's not like Law didn't enjoy the quiet, he basically begged for it everyday, but it just felt strange. He decided to use this opportunity to go to his room and read a new medical textbook he got. Hopefully that would help to pass the time.

Knock Knock

"Captainnnnnn open upppppp!!!"

Law didn't even know how much time had passes, but it seemed Shachi and Penguin were back from exploring the island. Law reluctantly let them in, knowing that they were going to make a big deal about it being his birthday now.

"Cap you will never believe what we found," Shachi started.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hands okay, trust us," Penguin said excitingly.

Law let out a long sigh and indulged their request. Something was put in his hands. It wasn't too heavy...but it wasn't light either. He opened his eyes, and his jaw almost dropped. It was the limited edition Sora Warrior of the Sea art book. He could see how Shachi and Penguin's faces beamed at his reaction.

"I knew you'd like it Cap! We saw it while exploring today and knew we had to get it for you!" Penguin said while Shachi nodded in agreement.

"Wow this is...," Law started, "Amazing, thank you both.."

Caught up in the excitement of his new gift, Law almost forgot that this had to be a birthday gift, there was no way it wasn't.

"So, what prompted you to get this gift," Law questioned, "Was it because it's a special day today?"

"Is it? We just saw it and thought you'd like it," Penguin said, looking at Shachi.

"Yeah, I mean we can return it if you'd like," Shachi chimed in.

"No! No you don't have to. I really like it, thank you again," Law said with a hint of disappointment. Was it really a coincidence that they bought him this gift, or were they lying about not knowing it was his birthday. He ushered them out of his room and sat back his desk. There was no way the whole crew forgot it was his birthday....right?

Throughout the rest of the day, each one of the Heart Pirates made their way to Law's room and gave him a gift. Even Bepo came in with a bouquet of flowers (they were actually weeds) that he has picked just for Law.

Law was very appreciative of all the gifts, but was a little sad no one had said happy birthday yet. He knew each year he begged them not to, but now that they hadn't acknowledged it at all....he almost missed the attention.

It wasn't till later that night, after they had eaten his favorite dinner, made only entirely by "coincidence", that he got his first happy birthday.

Knock Knock

"Come in Y/N-ya," Law said, eyes not looking up from his book. He could already tell it was you, since you were the only one not to visit today.

You walked in, holding something behind your back.

"Happy birthday Captain," you said with a big smile. Law looked up, a little shocked by your words, and stared into your eyes.

"You..said it.."

"I mean, I'm sure you realized that all of the gifts, the ship being in tip top shape, and the food wasn't all a coincidence. Everyone wanted to make your day easier and fun! We just didn't want to mention it was your birthday since you always tell us not to....but I'm sure by now you figured it out."

Law really hadn't thought that all of these acts were for his birthday. He had a small suspicion, but without anyone confirming it he didn't want to get his hopes up.

"I know my gift isn't as big as everyone else's," you smiled sheepishly, "But I still hope that you'll like it!"

You handed a small box to Law as he took it with caution. He opened it up and gasped at it's contents.

Inside was about 40 collectors coins, all ones he didn't have in his collection.

"Y/N-ya...how...I mean.."

"I started finding them a few islands ago and decided to get as many as I could for your birthday! Everyone else also pitched in a little and gave one to me if they found one!"

He dumped the coins on his desk. Each one with a new island's name on it. Sabaody....Water 7....Alabasta...and even some places he hadn't even heard of.

"Thank you," Law said, a soft grin appearing on his face, "Tell everyone else I said thank you too."

"Of course Captain," you said as you left the room, eager to tell everyone that operation "Celebrate Law's birthday and also respect his wishes by not mentioning it" was a success.

[inoreuct]

horse girl zoro/prince sanji au that @redgitanako and i talked about way back when because it suddenly crossed my mind OKAY HERE WE GO

zoro’s a travelling bounty hunter with three horses. yes, three. don’t tell kitetsu and enma but wado’s his favourite

wado was kuina’s horse; when kuina died she was so sad because she didn’t get why kuina was gone and for a while zoro had to emotionally support a horse AND himself, but horses are smart creatures. wado understood by herself after a while. they don’t really talk about it.

on that note, zoro talks to his horses. people look at him like he’s a few crayons short of the whole pack but they don’t say anything because he looks scary as hell; built like a brick wall, one eye gone, gnarly scar across his chest and all

(they’ll never know that he’s having an argument with enma about buying supplies where one party is contributing in possibly-misinterpreted horse looks. the crayons aren’t missing— but it’s admittedly a little hard to prove they’re there, zoro, we can’t keep defending you like this)

sanji's the third prince of the kingdom that hires him; sora’s the queen, and his siblings are all decent other than regular sibling assholery. judge is on the run and they’ve made the collective decision that they want his head on a stick.

zoro expects sanji to be a stuck-up priss because he LOOKS like a stuck-up priss— look at his perfect hair. his clothes. his heeled boots and his stupid curly eyebrows

but NO. well, yes, sanji IS a little bit of a stuck-up priss but also, he’s good with horses?? wado takes to him like a DREAM and zoro's flabbergasted because anybody who has ever tried to coddle her other than zoro or kuina has gotten kicked in the head, but sanji's petting at her neck and cooing at her in baby-talk and she's licking sugar cubes and apple slices out of his palm. zoro feels so betrayed.

like of COURSE his horse had to take a liking to the boy he hates OF ALL PEOPLE.

(zoro. at this moment the horse is smarter than you. listen to her.)

reiju’s the princess here, but sanji’s the one who got all the magic-esque affinities. animals LOVE him. he would be a literal disney princess if not for the fact that he doesn’t love them back

like SQUIRREL. WHY ARE YOU SHITTING ALL OVER MY YARD. GO AWAY. WHY IS A DOG TRYING TO LICK MY HAIR. WHYYY IS THIS BIRD BRINGING ME STICKS ALL THE TIME. he’s trying to fall asleep. he hears a TSKTSKTSKTSKTSKTSKTSK. he sits up and gets right out of bed and starts yelling at the lizard on the ceiling.

he does have a pretty mare called maple, though! (and zoro can’t help but love her too; it’s a sign that the mosshead doesn’t clock until much, much later)

and then zoro comes into his life with his three horses and sanji yanks him in by the collar like "listen up, swordsman. i do not CARE how sweet your horses are. i do not CARE how— how— WHATEVER you are. if you stink up my stable i will make you sleep in it, are we clear?" and zoro just nods because he’s having a bit of a gay crisis

sanji is 1. pretty 2. entirely able to hold his own and 3. Wado Approved™ and zoro does NOT know how to deal. at all. he’s holding onto wado’s reins for dear life. he wonders if the same ultimatum would apply if he swapped out the word stable for bed and immediately wants to dunk himself into the horse trough.

meanwhile sanji isn’t spared at all. sora sits on her throne, one eyebrow raised as her son goes on and on about how "mother i hate the swordsman you hired. he's green. and ugly. like a troll. like an OGRE. his hands are too big. his boots are too shiny. his earrings are cute but only because i want them. his EVERYTHING smells like horse. he might as well be a horse with how strong he is, did you know how many hay bales he carried at once??" and she’s just like,,, "honey are you sure this is hate"

she certainly wouldn’t mind them being together. zoro is rough around the edges and does smell a bit like horse, admittedly, but he was clearly raised right— he’s respectful in his own gruff way and he does things with immense care. sora’s noticed. she knows her son well enough to know that he’s noticed, too.

one day sanji bumps into zoro on his way out of the baths and wow. okay. so he doesn’t smell like horse ALL the time and oh his hair is damp and there's a towel around his waist and he is very, very shirtless and sanji turns around in a panic and walks face-first into a pillar.

he watches zoro care for his horses, carefully brushing through their manes and coats as he speaks to them softly, and alright. maybe this guy isn’t all bad. animals, sanji has noticed, are brilliant judges of character; horses especially can be testy and temperamental, and they don’t hesitate to kick anybody they don’t like.

zoro’s horses love him, and it’s obvious. maple looks forward to the snacks he slips her when he thinks that nobody’s looking. that says a lot more about his character than anything else.

after a few days zoro has a solid plan down and sets out to find judge, and suddenly the stables are empty. sanji finds himself going out with maple more and more, exploring the woods around their forest to pass the time because he needs something to keep his mind occupied and there’s only so much he can cook. judge might be a piece of shit, but he’s also an evil genius, and sanji refuses to admit he’s worried even though he is.

and then zoro comes back with judge’s war helmet wrapped in a cloth, gore dripping off the bottom edge as he sets it at sora’s feet.

he’s a little banged up, tired as hell with a couple of scratches here and there— nothing serious, but sanji still drags him to the infirmary and cleans him up perhaps a little more emotionally than either of them had expected

he passes out for a good few days afterwards but sora invites him to stay for a little longer, a time frame that nobody specifies. zoro just kind of… doesn’t leave. it’s strange for him; he’s wandered, always. he gets antsy staying in one place for too long, but this blond prince that is strangely kind and gives back as good as he gets is really something else.

the days pass. they race and bicker and soon enough, all three of zoro’s horses have brass name plaques tacked above what are now their stalls. he had a room in the palace and a place at the dinner table. sanji’s hair has grown long, now, and neither of them talk about the way that zoro’s stay has become something that feels more permanent—

until zoro finally finds the balls to give sanji one of his earrings as a courting gift. it’s the first one of many, but at that moment sanji just looks at it wide-eyed and zoro starts to shrink back all like "if you. don't want it that's alright. i'll get you something new, something else—" because look, he knows he’s not much. he has money, but not enough to give sanji something really nice. not enough to get something that’s more impressive than all the jewels and gold that the prince could have at a whim. he’s a bounty hunter that came from dirt and this earring is the most precious thing he has to offer, but he understands if—

sanji kisses him. yells something borderline incoherent along the lines of about fucking time as he shakes zoro by the shoulders, but he’s smiling very brightly and he’s very beautiful and zoro has a feeling they're going to be just fine.

(sora and the siblings breathe a collective sigh of relief, because the pining looks and dejected sighing were really getting a little ridiculous.)

(they speak too soon. after they get together it somehow gets WORSE.)

this was a ride… (get it. get it.) okay i’ll stop HOPE YOU ENJOYED HEH i know a lot of places are having a flu season/covid wave going around rn so make sure to hydrate and eat well!! muaks 😽

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x37 - Perfects Charge! Sparkling Angewomon / Wizardmon's Gift

Previously on Digimon Adventure: In a fit of personal responsibility, Jou kidnapped Takeru from his mom and nearly fed him to a sea monster. Meanwhile, Phantomon went off on their own initiative for five minutes and immediately won the whole plot. Amazing what you can accomplish when you're not distracted by obsession.

We open on a brief reminder of last episode's cliffhanger, seeing Phantomon levitate Hikari into the air, and then cut to Yamato and Sora unpacking what happened. Yamato pounds his fist on the wall in frustration.

Sora: How could this happen...? Yamato: (punching the wall) I... I... I promised Taichi that I would protect her! Sora: Yamato, getting upset won't change anything. We have to rescue Hikari-chan! Garudamon: Let's focus on what we can do. Garurumon: Let's go, Yamato! Yamato: You're right. I get it.

Yamato is quite understandably losing his mind over this. As a big brother, he knows how he'd feel if it were Takeru. But Sora and the Digimon ground him and bring him back into a problem-solving frame of mind.

The dub opens with an expanded version of Matt yelling at Kari not to give herself up when it's too late for her to change anything.

Matt: KARI, DON'T!!! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!! YOU CAN'T GIVE YOURSELF UP TO MYOTISMON!!! HE'LL DESTROY YOU AND GAIN CONTROL OF BOTH WORLDS!!! KARI NOOOOOOOO!!!-- (Immediately cut from Matt's scream to punching the wall) Sora: It's not your fault. Matt: Yes, it is! I blew it! Tai asked me to protect her and I couldn't! I let everyone down! Sora: Alright, Matt, it seems to me there are two things you can do about this. Number one, you can stand there and beat yourself up about the whole thing or number two, we can find a way to rescue Kari. What's it gonna be? Matt: You're right. Let's get her.

"It's not your fault," Sora says. Which is kinda rich when, as it was happening, her line "DON'T, HIKARI-CHAN!!!" was changed to "HURRY, MATT, STOP HER!!!" Dub Sora put this on Matt last episode and is now hastily having to backpedal.

Poor Garudamon and Garurumon don't get to deliver their lines because Sora talks over them. It's a small loss; We don't get the support group atmosphere of everyone talking Yamato down together and instead Sora browbeats him into submission. But it's not a huge change because they were just supporting what she said anyway.

Cut to Taichi and Agumon on their way into the Big Sight convention center.

Narrator: At this time, Taichi and Agumon did not know that Hikari had fallen into Vamdemon's hands, and was heading into Big Sight to rescue Mimi and his parents.

It took Taichi the full two hours he gave Yamato to wait just to reach Big Sight. He vastly underestimated how hard it would be to get here.

Mind you, he didn't know he was going to Big Sight until he ran into Sora. Most of that two-hour timeframe was spent wandering aimlessly around Odaiba hoping to find a lead on where Vamdemon took everyone. A thing Toshiko and Piyomon accomplished much more cleverly.

Taichi's reckless boldness remains his best and worst quality. He sorely underestimated how hard it would be to even get here.

On his way in, Taichi spots PicoDevimon flying overhead.

Taichi: Huh? What's that?

Inside, Vamdemon is overseeing the ongoing filtering of Odaiba children. Mimi has joined the crowd for some reason. Is she... Is Vamdemon going to have her tested for Eighth Child-ness? Is his tunnel vision really that bad? In any case, PicoDevimon swoops in with news.

PicoDevimon: Vamdemon-sama! Vamdemon: What is it? PicoDevimon: We've found the Eighth Child! Vamdemon: WHAT!? Mimi: (gasp) They've found them!? Tailmon: (thinking) Hikari.... Vamdemon: Did you hear that, Tailmon? Tailmon: (scowl) Vamdemon: Excellent. In that case, I have no further use for this place. PicoDevimon: Yes, sir. What should we do with these twerps? Vamdemon: Put them to sleep. I'll keep them for later.

PicoDevimon does not use his new hypnotism eyes to put the children to sleep, but instead wafts pink gas into the room to do it instead. Um. I guess in addition to hypno-eyes he now farts sedatives or something. Must be what the Pico Darts are filled with.

With the kids conked out, Vamdemon picks up Tailmon and departs. Taichi and Agumon watch from outside as Vamdemon and PicoDevimon make their exit.

Taichi: Vamdemon.... Agumon: I wonder where he's going?

Since the dub doesn't like to lean on static narration, Tai fills that role by inexplicably explaining the plot to Agumon, who already knows.

Tai: Hurry, Agumon! The convention center is up ahead! That's where my parents are being held prisoner! And keep an eye out for Myotismon! (DemiDevimon flies in) Agumon: Huh!? Tai: What's that!? (Cut to Big Sight interior) Myotismon: Well, Gatomon, is this the Eighth Child!? Gatomon: Mm-mm. DemiDevimon: MYOTISMON!!! Myotismon: What is it!? DemiDevimon: You'll love this, boss! I found the Eighth DigiDestined! Myotismon: YOU DID!?!? Mimi: What!? How did he do it!? Gatomon: (thinking) Oh no, not Kari.... Myotismon: You hear that? It's over! Gatomon: (scowl) Myotismon: Well, I have no use for these little brats anymore. DemiDevimon: Right. What should I do with them, oh evil one? Myotismon: Make them go to sleep. I'll find a way to deal with them later. Hmhmhmhm.... (DemiDevimon knocks out the kids and they depart) Tai: Myotismon! Agumon: Where could he be going?

Pretty faithful, though a subtle and funny difference in Mimi's line. In the dub version, she doesn't sound like she's freaking out that the Eighth Child was found, so much as she's baffled that Demi Fucking Devimon was the one to do it.

Which is fair; He is absolutely stealing credit from Phantomon right now.

Though PicoDevimon's unexplained pink sleepy-time gas was effective against the kids inside Big Sight, the holy energy in Mimi's Crest acts up to purify her from it.

A huge wall of Bakemon appear to stop Taichi's infiltration, but Greymon evolves and barrels through it. A single shot of Mega Flame obliterates the entire crowd, setting them on fire before vaporizing them into pixels.

Taichi: Thanks, Greymon!

Suddenly, Mimi comes upon Taichi and Greymon.

Mimi: (relieved) Ahaha! TAICHI-SAN!!! Taichi: Where are the others? Mimi: Everyone was put to sleep. More importantly, Vamdemon said he found the Eighth Child! Taichi: What? (thinks) Could something have happened to Hikari...? Mimi: Hikari-chan? Taichi: LET'S GO!!!

Taichi doesn't even stop to explain who Hikari is to Mimi. Her life's probably in danger; We can recap on the way.

In the dub, Tai opens us up with a recap once the Bakemon are dead.

Tai: They didn't stand a ghost of a chance! Mimi: Tai! You made it inside! Tai: Mimi!? Where are the others!? Mimi: They're all fast asleep! Myotismon put them under some kind of spell since he found the Eighth Child! Tai: Oh no, that means he's got Kari! Mimi: Huh? Kari? Tai: LET'S GO!!!

Again, very faithful with the addition of Tai's quip. I want Tai and Phantomon to duke it out. There will be puns everywhere.

Cut to the FCG Building, where we last left Hiroaki and Koushiro watching Phantomon take Hikari.

Koushiro: Ah! There's Yamato-san and Sora-san! Hiroaki: What!? Yamato!? What is he doing here!?

Hiroaki goes to the window to look and sees Sora and Yamato riding in on Garudamon and Garurumon.

Hiroaki: WAUGH!!! K-KAIJU!!! Koushiro: They're not kaiju. They're Digimon. Hiroaki: Eh!? Koushiro: The kaiju that were being broadcast on the news are actually Digimon. But don't worry! The ones you saw with Yamato just now are on our side! Hiroaki: On our side? In that case.... Koushiro: There are bad Digimon and good Digimon. The ones you see outside are good guys. They're part of our nakama! Tentomon: That's right! (beat) Hiroaki: (stunned) K-Kansai dialect...?

It's weird enough that Tentomon speaks but the fact that he has a regional accent is too much for Hiroaki. XD I love that Tentomon's been hanging around with them since Hiroaki pulled Koushiro into the closet, but it's only now that he realizes the strange ladybug monster is with them.

I guess he thought Tentomon was another strange monster wandering about, but this one was harmless so he was letting it be.

Koushiro drops that fun word nakama again. As a reminder, a nakama is a group of people assembled around an activity or goal, such as a sports team, project group, or military squad, that forms tight-knit relationships around their mutual pursuit of it.

In the dub:

Izzy: Hey, look! There's Matt and Sora! Hiroaki: What!? Matt!? What's he doing here!? (Hiroaki goes to the window and sees Garudamon and Garurumon inbound) Hiroaki: WAUGH!!! MONSTERS!!! Izzy: Actually, sir, the technical name is Digimon. You see, they're not like the pretend monsters you've seen in those old movies destroying a bunch of Japanese cities. ...hey, well, maybe that's a bad example. But anyway, the Digimon Matt's riding on is definitely on our side. Hiroaki: What do you mean, "our side"? Izzy: Well, you see, there are good Digimon and bad Digimon. The good Digimon are our friends. Just like Tentomon here! Tentomon: I'm more than good, I'm exceptional! (beat) Hiroaki: ...I wouldn't dare doubt ya.

I love that we translated kaiju to simply "monsters" and yet, while he's Um Actually-ing Hiroaki, Izzy still feels the need to compare the Digimon to Godzilla films. Though the punchline, when he realizes we are in fact doing a kaiju film, is pretty solid.

The dub team is now comfortable enough with the unlocalized Japanese setting to make jokes about it. Good for them.

Unfortunately, the original punchline about Tentomon's dialect doesn't make it across since Dub Tentomon speaks your typical Hollywood English with no discernible accent. Choices made when the show began now render this gag unusable, so they wind up having to make up a bit of banter to end the scene on.

Outside Odaiba, Zudomon's still making his way through the fog. Jou and Takeru contemplate the unconscious Wizarmon in front of them, still holding the Eighth Crest.

Takeru: I wonder why he has a Tag and a Crest? Jou: He said it was the Eighth Child's Crest, but is that the truth? Wizarmon: ...nnn.... Takeru: He's waking up!

Wizarmon rouses to give Jou and Takeru more information about the Crest. But, in order to get there, we're going to have to play a bit of Who's On First.

Wizarmon: Who are you? Takeru: I'm Takeru. It's nice to meet you-- Wizarmon: Hikari! Where's Hikari!? Takeru: Hikari? Jou: What do you mean by hikari? Wizarmon: (holds out the Crest) I have to give this to Hikari. Jou: ...give it to hikari? (beat) Jou: O_O By "hikari", you don't mean Taichi's sister Hikari-chan, do you!? DOES THAT MEAN HIKARI-CHAN IS THE EIGHTH CHILD!?!? Takeru: TAICHI-SAN'S SISTER!?!? Wizarmon: Yes. (holding out the Crest) This is very important to both Hikari and Tailmon. Jou: TAILMON!?!? Takeru: Doesn't Tailmon work for Vamdemon? Jou: SHE'S HIKARI-CHAN'S DIGIMON!?!? Wizarmon: That's right.

Freshly recapped, Takeru and Jou exchange glances like they've gone crazy in the fog.

Poor Jou ran afoul of Hikari's very meaningful name. There is a lot of hikari going around this plot. As a reminder, hikari is the word for "light". Jou and Takeru initially thought Wizarmon was saying, "I must give the Crest to the light." A confusing statement that warrants clarification.

The dub can't use Hikari's meaningful name pun, both because they shortened it to Kari and also because hikari isn't an English word. So they're going to have to come up with something else for those lines.

T.K.: But Joe, why does Wizardmon have a Tag and a Crest? Joe: He said it belonged to the Eighth DigiDestined. You think it could be true? Wizardmon: ...hnnn.... T.K.: Are you awake? Wizardmon: Huh? Who are you? T.K.: I'm T.K. Nice to meet you-- Wizardmon: KARI!!! Joe: Huh? Wizardmon: Where's Kari!? T.K.: Kari? Joe: Who's Kari? Wizardmon: (holds out the Crest) You've gotta give this Crest to Kari. T.K.: Whoa. Joe: You mean you want us to give that to Tai's little sister Kari? T.K.: Huh? Joe: But if we have to deliver the Crest to Tai's sister Kari, then that must mean... SHE'S THE EIGHTH DIGIDESTINED CHILD WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL ALONG!!! T.K.: Gee! I'm always the last one to find out! Wizardmon: (holding out the Crest) We have no time to waste. Kari and Gatomon need this Crest. Joe: GATOMON!?!? T.K.: But she's one of the bad Digimon that works for Myotismon! Joe: Are you saying that Gatomon is one of the good guys!? Wizardmon: Exactly.

They came up with nothing. Joe doesn't know who Kari is until the space allocated for the joke is past, then suddenly he knows exactly who we're talking about.

Back at Fuji TV, Koushiro and Hiroaki slip out of the building to meet Sora and Yamato.

Koushiro: Yamato-san! Sora-san! (Garudamon and Garurumon come forward, depositing their human partners) Sora: Koushiro-kun! So this is where you were. Hiroaki: Yamato! Yamato: Dad! Hiroaki: You were supposed to stay put! Yamato: (sheepish) I know....

Suddenly, Garurumon pokes his snout into this conversation, startling Hiroaki. This results in a very difficult joke to translate.

Garurumon: Yamato's father, we meet again. ^_^ Hiroaki: Again!? What are you!?

Hiroaki exclaims, "Omae wa nani mon da!?" That's a pretty rude way to ask his question, inquiring about what manner of thing Garurumon is instead of who he is. Hiroaki's freaked out by these monsters and is not being civil about it.

However, what Garurumon hears is, "Omae wa Nanimon da!?" which means "Are you Nanimon!?" From his frame of reference, that's a valid question, so he answers it with a smile.

Garurumon: I'm not Nanimon. I'm Garurumon, evolved from Gabumon. Hiroaki: Gabumon? Evolved?

That gag is not making the jump to English. The dub plays it this way.

Izzy: MATT!!! SORA!!! HEY, YOU GUYS!!! HEY!!! (Garudamon and Garurumon come forward, depositing their human partners) Sora: Izzy, what are you doing here!? Hiroaki: Matt! Matt: Dad! Hiroaki: I told you to stay out of sight! Matt: I'm sorry, Dad. (Garurumon pokes his nose in, startling Hiroaki) Garurumon: Hello, Matt's Dad. Good to see you again. Hiroaki: What do you mean again!? Who are you!? Have we met? Garurumon: You know me! I Digivolved from Gabumon. Hiroaki: Gabumon? That's you?

Like the Hikari-chan/hikari bit, they remove the gag but don't have anything to replace it with. The exchange ends up drier than the original, but at least this time it flows well enough.

Before they can discuss this any further, someone else finally makes landfall. Given that they're coming in from what used to be the Rainbow Bridge and the FCG Building is right along that shoreline, it's not hard for our two groups to find one another.

Jou: HEEEEEY!!! Sora: Jou-senpai!

Jou and Takeru sprint towards the others, with Zudomon looming in the background.

Takeru: ONII-CHAN!!! PAPA!!! Yamato: TAKERU!!! Hiroaki: (stunned) ...Takeru...? Takeru: PAPA!!!

Takeru goes straight for his father, grabbing and embracing Hiroaki's legs.

Hiroaki: W-Why are you here? Takeru: I was so worried about you and Onii-chan that I had to come. Mama came with me, but we got separated.

Hiroaki says nothing in response. He pats his son's head and he smiles affectionately.

In the dub:

Joe: Hey! Sora: Joe! T.K.! T.K.: HEY, MATT!!! DADDY!!! Matt: T.K.!!! Hiroaki: (gasp) T.K.? T.K.: DAD!!! (T.K. runs up and hugs Hiroaki's legs) Hiroaki: (awestruck) What are you doing here? T.K.: When I saw all that stuff on television, I just couldn't stay home anymore. Mom wanted to come too but we couldn't bring her. Hiroaki: (pat) It's okay, son. T.K.: (shot of Hiroaki smiling) I missed you, Daddy.

Slightly different, and they use reverse-shot dialogue to keep the conversation going after the lip flaps stop moving. But nothing major, I think.

While Hiroaki and Takeru are having this reunion, Wizarmon approaches Lilimon.

Koushiro: Who is that Digimon? Yamato: What is he up to!? Wizarmon: Was she attacked by Vamdemon's Dead Scream? Sora: So what if she was?

There was some confusion last episode as to the pronunciation of Vamdemon's attack. When he called it, he pronounced it as "Eh-To Scream", with a clearly audible "t" sound on the second syllable and no consonant on the first.

There is no such ambiguity with Wizarmon, who unmistakably says "De-Do Scream". So, there we have it. Vamdemon just pronounces it fucking weird.

Wizarmon casts a spell to rejuvenate Lilimon, restoring the color and energy to her.

Sora: Lilimon! Lilimon: Huh? I....

Lilimon flutters out of Garudamon's hand and smiles at everyone, saying nothing further.

In the dub, Izzy recognizes Wizardmon despite not having met him before. Sadly, the Digimon Analyzer cannot explain this plot hole because it only records Digimon he (or another kid whose Digivice he scans) has encountered.

Izzy: It's Wizardmon! Matt: What are you doing here? Wizardmon: She was attacked by Myotismon, wasn't she? Sora: So what if she was? (Wizardmon restores Lillymon) Sora: Lillymon! Lillymon: Hm... What's this? Wizardmon!? (martial arts kiai) HIIIIYAH!!!

Man, everybody knows Wizardmon by name, apparently.

In one of the most awkward context shifts of all time, they try and make it sound like Lillymon's attacking Wizardmon when she flutters out of Garudamon's hand, despite the fact that she's facing the children with Wizardmon behind her.

This is probably because the next shot has Takeru standing out in front of Wizarmon with his hands out, like he's trying to guard Wizarmon and calm everyone down. But it does not work and is one of the most confusing moments in the dub.

Takeru: This Digimon isn't a bad Digimon! He has a Tag and Crest! Sora: Eh!? A Crest!? Jou: It's true! He's not lying! Look!

Wizarmon holds out Hikari's Crest for the others to see.

Yamato: This is...!? Wizarmon: Hikari's Tag and Crest. Yamato: Eh!? Wizarmon: Tailmon's been taken by Vamdemon and needs help. Sora: Tailmon? Takeru: Tailmon is the Eighth Digimon! Koushiro, Yamato, & Sora: EHHHH!?!? Wizarmon: Where is Hikari? Yamato: ...that is....

Yamato cringes, his guilt getting the better of him once more. We cut briefly to a shot of Phantomon holding Hikari prisoner, answering Wizarmon's question that Yamato can't bring himself to.

The dub segues this scene out of Lillymon's extremely awkward kiai.

T.K.: STOP!!! Don't attack him! Wizardmon's a good Digimon! He's got the Tag and Crest! Sora: T.K., he could be lying. Joe: No, Sora! It's all true! Just look! (Wizardmon holds out the Tag and Crest.) Sora: Oooh... Matt: Ohh! Wizardmon: This Tag and Crest belong to Kari. Sora & Matt: Huh!? Wizardmon: We've got to help Gatomon. She was captured by Myotismon. Sora: Gatomon? T.K.: Yeah! Wizardmon said Gatomon belongs with Kari! Izzy, Matt, & Sora: WHUH!?!? Wizardmon: Now, where is kari? Matt: Mm.... Wizardmon: Well!? Matt: He's got her.

Matt manages to muster up an answer for Wizardmon in this version, though he's still clearly pained by it. Sora's more skeptical of Wizardmon's claims than her Japanese counterpart.

Koushiro's turn to explain why he's here.

Koushiro: According to the email Gennai sent me, that is where the source of Vamdemon's barrier is!

Koushiro points to the sphere on the FCG Building. However, while everyone's looking, they see Vamdemon flying in. Vamdemon has Tailmon in his grip, in a fashion that's too goofy to be as menacing as it's meant to be.

(What is he doing? He looks like he's using her as a searchlight.)

Yamato: IT'S VAMDEMON!!! Wizarmon: Tailmon!

Vamdemon looks down, seeing them all, and grins triumphantly.

Vamdemon: Hn.... Wizarmon: (bitterly) Vamdemon....

In the dub:

Izzy: Gennai sent me some email a little while ago. If I recall correctly, he said the TV station is the center of Myotismon's fog barrier! (Izzy points out the sphere) T.K.: HEY!!! LOOK!!! Matt: It's Myotismon! Wizardmon: He's got Gatomon. (Myotismon looks down and grins triumphantly) Myotismon: Huhuhaha! Wizardmon: ...but not for long!

Wizardmon's a little more battle-ready than his Japanese counterpart but not by a lot. This is a more emotional moment for the original Wizarmon, while Wizardmon comes off more mission-focused. But it's a minor tonal difference; They're both angry and they both want to save Tailmon/Gatomon.

We have a mission and a time crunch; It's time to roll out. Yamato gets everyone on track.

Yamato: EVERYONE!!! Let's go up to the observation deck! Hiroaki: Right. I'll guide y--

Tuskmon and Snimon explode from the ground suddenly, with Snimon almost landing a kill-shot on Sora thanks to the element of surprise.

Fun fact: The sphere is referred to as the tenbou-dai, which means "observation deck". However, this is one of those instances where having English as a first language is funny, 'cause it sounds like he's saying "Let's go to the pinball!" to my American ears.

Do not refer to the spherical observation deck as the pinball if you visit Odaiba. I am pretty sure they're legally allowed to push you into the bay.

In the dub:

Matt: Come on, let's head for the viewing platform! Hiroaki: Right, I'll show you the way!

No change.

Reacting to Tuskmon and Snimon's arrival, Garurumon Super-Evolves to join Garudamon in the assault.

WereGarurumon clears the path, laying out Tuskmon with a kick to the chin before nailing Snimon with an elbow strike to the gut.

Garudamon: We'll take care of them. Zudomon: Go rescue Hikari! Yamato: Understood! Hiroaki: Right, let's go! Kids: Yeah!

Really, team? It takes three Perfects to kill two Adults? Garudamon and Zudomon won't fit in the building but we could at least take WereGarurumon with us.

The kids make for the door, but Wizarmon loses his strength and falls to his knees.

Takeru: Wizarmon, are you okay!?

Hiroaki comes back, crouching down and offering Wizarmon a hand to help him to his feet.

Hiroaki: Let me help you up! Come on.

In the dub:

Garudamon: Leave this battle to us. Zudomon: We can handle these Digi-Clowns. Matt: We'll get Kari. Come on, everyone, let's go! (Wizardmon falls) T.K.: Hey, Wizardmon... Are you alright? Hiroaki: Hey, let me give you a hand. Here.

Again, very faithful with the added "Digi-Clown" crack by Zudomon. Not the best quip in the show but PG insults are hard to write sometimes.

Inside the Fuji Broadcasting Center, Vamdemon is able to enter the observation deck through the ceiling via a magical bat portal that lets him phase through the ceiling.

That's cool as shit. One of Dracula's powers is the ability to enter and exit locked rooms; This is how Vamdemon manifests that ability. It's typically portrayed as him turning into mist, but Vamdemon already covered the mist reference with his fog barrier.

This is such a fantastic arc.

There's no dialogue in this scene; He brings Tailmon to Hikari, at last standing face-to-face with the Eighth Child, and simply chuckles triumphantly.

Vamdemon: Hmhmhmhm....

The dub adds a Wizard of Oz reference.

Myotismon: I've got you, my pretty. And your little cat too! Hahahahaha Hmhmhmhmhmhm!!!

It's pretty funny for meta reasons. This is not one of their better silence-breakers. They try to disguise the fact that his mouth isn't moving by having him start talking during a wide shot where he's seen from profile, but you can still see that his mouth isn't moving.

Then he starts laughing while the camera sweeps slowly up from a close-up on a hopeless Tailmon to a close-up on his triumphant face. This is where he chuckles in the original. For the dub, he starts out openly laughing but then suddenly has to switch to the closed-mouth chuckle as soon as his face is visible on camera.

You probably wouldn't notice it on a casual watch. But for me, doing the comparison, watching Myotismon frantically try and skirt around the fact that Vamdemon gave him no lip flaps is hilarious.

Outside, Mimi and Taichi ride Greymon back to Aqua City. Fortunately, Fuji is right next to Aqua City so it doesn't take them long to see the action.

Soon, they see the fighting underway. Garudamon and Zudomon wrestle with Tuskmon and Snimon while WereGarurumon unhelpfully supervises.

Mimi: What is that!? Taichi: Faster, Greymon! Hurry! Greymon: Okay!

Meanwhile, inside the building, Vamdemon meets Hikari. He could just kill her but we all know what a Chosen Children lore nerd he is by this point.

Vamdemon: Little girl, why did you reveal yourself? Do you understand what I'm going to do to you? Hikari: I can guess.... Vamdemon: Then why? Hikari: Because everybody's suffering. Tailmon/Vamdemon: (shocked) ...what...? Hikari: (suddenly angry) BECAUSE YOU'RE HURTING EVERYBODY!!!

Vamdemon is stunned silent for two seconds. Like. He cannot fathom making a sacrifice like this for the sake of other people. It legit never even occurred to him that he could bring the Eighth Child out of hiding this way.

But after a moment, he composes himself again.

Vamdemon: Hmhmhmhm... You're a brave little girl.

We get a brief shot of the kids, Patamon, Tentomon, and Lilimon following Hiroaki up a flight of stairs. They're on their way.

Vamdemon: Tailmon, why won't you look at the Eighth Child? Tailmon: Because it isn't true. She's not the Eighth Child. Vamdemon: I see. (fingersnap) Hikari: (offscreen) AUUUUUGH!!! Tailmon: HIKARI!!!

Tailmon reacts too suddenly, without thinking, and gives away the confirmation that Vamdemon's looking for. We briefly see what made Hikari scream. PicoDevimon grabbed onto the back of her hair and is yanking it.

Hikari: Ow! It hurts!

While, still clutched in Vamdemon's hand, Tailmon realizes her mistake and freezes up like a deer in headlights.

Vamdemon: I see. The Eighth Child's name is Hikari.

In the dub:

Mimi: What's that!? Tai: Greymon, hurry! They need your help! Greymon: You got it! (Greymon speeds up; Cut to Myotismon confronting Kari) Myotismon: Little girl, why have you chosen to show yourself to me!? Do you have any idea what's about to happen to you!? Kari: I've got a guess.... Myotismon: Then why? Kari: Because you were hurting all those people. Gatomon/Myotismon: (shocked) ...huh...? / Hmm!? Kari: (suddenly angry) SOMEONE HAD TO STOP YOU FROM HURTING INNOCENT PEOPLE!!! (Two seconds of stunned silence) Myotismon: ...my, what a thoughtful little girl, you are. (Shot of the humans and Partners coming upstairs) Myotismon: Gatomon! Why won't you look at the Eighth Child's face? Gatomon: Because she's not the Eighth Child. Who is she? I've never seen her before in my life. Kari: ...huh? Myotismon: Is that right? (fingersnap) Kari: (offscreen) OWWWW!!! Gatomon: KARI-- (realizes) NOOOOO!!! (DemiDevimon is pulling Kari's hair) Kari: OWWW, MY HAIR, OWWW!!! Myotismon: Kari? Interesting that you know her name, since you've never met her before!

Very faithful to the original. I do think Myotismon's final line hits a little harder, throwing Gatomon's lie back in her face.

The one thing I find notable is Kari's angry outburst. Another minor tonal shift in favor of the more aggressive American dialogue; Kari somehow manages to make the sentiment, "I traded my life for the safety of others," into a boast of badassery. The original line's just mad at Vamdemon for being such a dick.

Downstairs, Hiroaki's reached the end of the line.

Hiroaki: Hurry! It's up there! Yamato: Great! Thanks, Dad!

Leaving Hiroaki behind, Yamato leads the kids and Digimon up the stairs in front of them. Everyone but Wizarmon, who Hiroaki's been helping walk.

Wizarmon: I'm going too. Hiroaki: Are you okay? Wizarmon: I'm okay.

Wizarmon separates from Hiroaki, following the rest upstairs to confront Vamdemon.

Upstairs, I guess Vamdemon dropped Tailmon because she's free now. She sprints over to Hikari's side, standing protectively in front of her.

Vamdemon: Hikari. Tailmon. I wonder if you're ready for this? Hikari & Tailmon: ... Vamdemon: DEAD SCREAM!!!

This time I can hear the first 'd' in De-do Scream from Vamdemon too. Though the distinct 't' sound is still there on the second syllable, sounding more like Ded-to Scream.

No explanation was offered in the original for why Hiroaki isn't going up with them, so the dub comes up with their own: It's because Matt ordered him to stay behind.

Hiroaki: Hurry! It's up here! Matt: Got it, Dad! Wait here! (Everyone goes upstairs) Wizardmon: Thanks for the help. Hiroaki: Are you sure you're alright? Wizardmon: Yeah! Digimon heal fast!

Somehow this explanation makes less sense than no explanation. If my son told me to hang back while he went off to fistfight Dracula, I sure as well wouldn't obey that command.

Wizardmon is lying to Hiroaki's face.

Upstairs, the dub has Gatomon call out to Kari before Myotismon starts talking.

Gatomon: (runs to Kari) KARI!!! Myotismon: Together again. Too bad it will be short-lived. Hmhmhmhmhmhmhmhm.... Kari & Gatomon: .... Myotismon: GRISLY WING!!!

Vamdemon gets cut off before he can throw the attack, so they can insert whichever of his moves they want here. Though it's an interesting note that Vamdemon went for the stasis technique Dead Scream/Nightmare Claw, intending to incapacitate Hikari and Tailmon so they can't do anything. Vamdemon was probably planning on drinking Hikari's blood once she was paralyzed and helpless.

Myotismon, meanwhile, just wants to kill them now and get it over with. He picks Night Raid/Grisly Wing for his attack; His go-to execution technique that he used on Pumpkinmon, Gotsumon, and - less effectively - Wizardmon and the incapacitated Lillymon.

Before Vamdemon can fire his attack, Tentomon evolves into Kabuterimon and attacks him with Lilimon.

They jump him with Flower Cannon and Mega Blaster. Vamdemon exhales really hard, redirecting their shots up into the ceiling.

The two blasts hit the ceiling together, blasting the roof off the observation deck and blowing out the windows. Wanting no part of this on the cusp of his triumph, Vamdemon takes the opportunity to flee the scene, levitating Hikari and Tailmon with him.

Vamdemon: It's gotten noisy in here. Let's go somewhere quieter.

Phantomon and PicoDevimon fly after him as they all lift out into open air above the Fuji Broadcasting Center.

No change in the dub.

Vamdemon may be trying to escape, but the Chosen Children have no intention of letting him go.

Yamato races to the broken window, shouting:

Yamato: WE WON'T LET YOU!!! WEREGARURUMON!!!

Down below, Snimon and Tuskmon crumple to the ground, but they don't disintegrate. Tough buggers. Nonetheless, WereGarurumon has finished supervising and leaps into action, scaling the building in seconds to cut off Vamdemon's departure.

Vamdemon: Hmhmhmhm.... Sora: This is no time for you to be laughing!

In the dub:

Matt: Not so fast! WEREGARURUMON!!! (WereGarurumon scales the building) Myotismon: Hmhmhmhm.... Sora: I am really getting sick of that laugh!

Garudamon grabs Zudomon by one of his shell spikes, flying them both up the side of the building. Not sure that roof can support Zudomon's weight but I guess it's worth a shot.

Accelerating the dogpile, Kabuterimon Super-Evolves too so that AtlurKabuterimon can join the fray. This looks really promising, but there's a nagging feeling in the back of my head. A nagging feeling called "Show Me Your Brave Heart is not playing despite how bad these odds look for Vamdemon."

The musical spoiler says we're somehow going to lose this fight.

Koushiro gives the order to attack, ending the momentary calm and sending the team to war.

Koushiro: ATLURKABUTERIMON!!! SAVE HIKARI-SAN!!!

AtlurKabuterimon charges with Horn Buster. Vamdemon demonstrates more of that redirectional telekinesis, altering AtlurKabuterimon's course mid-flight and sending him into WereGarurumon instead. The attack narrowly misses, knocking WereGarurumon off the ledge.

WereGarurumon grabs onto the edge of the building to catch himself. Vamdemon follows up with Bloody Stream, lashing WereGarurumon's fingers to send him plummeting back down to the ground.

Yamato: WEREGARURUMON!!! Vamdemon: What a waste of time. Hmhmhm--WAUGH!!!

Something hits Vamdemon from behind, taking him by surprise and sending him stumbling to his knees.

The dub has a hard time trying to fit Koushiro's lip flaps to Izzy's lines on this one.

Izzy: WE NEED YOU!!! GET KARI!!! MEGAKABUTERIMON GO!!!

There's a rhythmic cadence to his lines that makes him sound like he's cheerleading. It's hilarious.

When Vamdemon redirected AtlurKabuterimon, he let out a simple grunt of exertion. Myotismon opts for a mocking cackle, to add insult to injury.

Matt: WEREGARURUMON!!! Myotismon: Oh, that's got to hurt. (beat) Myotismon: DAH!!!

He does not, however, chuckle triumphantly after disposing of WereGarurumon. There's about a second of awkward silence before the surprise attack hits him. I guess he spent all his merriment on MegaKabuterimon.

Turning around, Vamdemon's assailant is revealed.

Vamdemon: What!? Wizarmon: HIKARI!!! CATCH!!!

Seizing the momentary advantage, Wizarmon fastballs Hikari's Crest into her hands. It's not gonna do much right now since Taichi still has her Digivice, but it's progress.

Tailmon: WIZARMON!!! Vamdemon: You're still alive? Wizarmon: I'm the type who always repays my debts. Vamdemon: SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

There are a variety of ways to say "Be silent" in Japanese. Urusai is the common one, which means "Noisy". In fact, that's the word he used earlier when he fled the observation deck. It has a variety of uses, from playful to angry.

But that's not what he said here. Here, his composure breaks and he screams "DAMARE!!!" There is no spectrum of uses for damare. It is the most aggressive, most rude, most obscene way you can tell someone to be quiet.

Vamdemon is freaking the fuck out at this point. This withdrawal is somehow adding enemies to the fight rather than subtracting them, including a guy he already killed. And now Hikari has her Crest.

He manifests that lividity in a pink energy ball he shoots from his palm. The attack hits Wizarmon dead-on, throwing him back against the wall of the observation deck. Wizarmon, who was already struggling to even remain standing before, crumples to the roof beneath him.

In the dub:

Myotismon: What!? Wizardmon: Kari, here! Catch! (Wizardmon throws Kari's Crest to her) Gatomon: It's Wizardmon! Myotismon: So, you're still alive! Wizardmon: That's right! It will take more than the likes of you to destroy me! Myotismon: WE WILL SEE!!!

Myotismon still yells at Wizardmon but does not scream obscenities at him, which should not be surprising.

The big change is Wizardmon's line. In the original, Wizarmon seems resigned to his fate. He knows he's probably not leaving here alive. He's been on his last legs, barely hanging on to life since Jou and Takeru fished him out of the ocean. He's been making false assurances to everyone because he needed to get here, to deliver the Crest and make good on what he owes Tailmon.

He came up here to die. Because he has a debt to pay, and he honors his debts. There's a lot of Jou in this character.

Dub Wizardmon turns it into an aggressive boast of badassery. Like, he seems to think he's going to win this fight. That's tragic.

Things move quickly once Wizarmon's down.

Tailmon: WIZARMON!!! Vamdemon: Little girl! Give that to me! Hikari: (protectively grips the Crest) NO!!! Vamdemon: DO AS I SAY!!!

He raises his hand, about to shoot Hikari like he shot Wizarmon.

Taichi: STOP!!! Vamdemon: Hnn!?

Brief cut to Mimi joining the others in the observation deck.

Lilimon: Mimi!

Then cut to the opposite roof, where Taichi has somehow smuggled Greymon all the way up here without a sound.

Taichi: LAY A HAND ON MY SISTER AND YOU'LL REGRET IT!!! Hikari, catch!

Taichi tosses Hikari's Digivice to her. She catches it, but PicoDevimon snatches it from her hand a moment later.

PicoDevimon: Vamdemon-sama! As long as we have this, there's nothing to fear! Vamdemon: Good work. (to Taichi and Agumon) You're not even worth fighting! Taichi: What did you say!?

Following up on Vamdemon's cue, Phantomon suddenly rushes Taichi.

In the dub:

Gatomon: NO, WIZARDMON!!! Myotismon: Now give that to me, you little brat! Kari: (protectively grips the Crest) NO!!! Myotismon: That wasn't a request! (Myotismon holds his hand up to shoot) Tai: WAIT!!! Myotismon: Huh!? (Mimi joins the others) Lillymon: Mimi! (Cut to Tai and Greymon) Tai: You just picked on the wrong guy's little sister, Mr. Fang Face! KARI!!! HERE, CATCH!!! (Tai throws Kari the Digivice, but DemiDevimon snatches it) Kari: Hey! DemiDevimon: I got the Digivice! You can thank me after you take over the world, boss! Myotismon: That's nice work. Go get them, Phantomon! Tai: (silent lip flaps)

You know, I did say I wanted Tai and Dub Phantomon to duke it out.

Mr. Fang Face calls Phantomon into battle like they're one of his Pokemon, leaving poor Tai with nothing to respond to when his line comes up.

Suddenly, Greymon Super-Evolves into MetalGreymon. Phantomon screeches to a halt upon realizing this fight just got harder.

Taichi: Go, MetalGreymon!!!

Ignoring Phantomon entirely, MetalGreymon unloads his Giga Destroyer into Vamdemon. Vamdemon telekinetically catches the missiles, then dissipates them.

Taichi: What the...? PicoDevimon: Heeheeheehee!

The other Perfects converge on Vamdemon at once. Horn Buster, Hammer Spark, Shadow Wing, and Flower Cannon, all sent at Vamdemon simultaneously. He telekinetically stops all of their attacks, then dissipates those as well.

(All that binge-drinking in Shibuya to store up power is really paying off for him.)

Yamato: He's strong... Too strong....

The dub gives Phantomon a hilarious line when he backs off and retreats to Myotismon's side.

Phantomon: TIME OUT!!! Tai: GO GET HIM, METALGREYMON!!! (Myotismon dissipates MetalGreymon's Giga Blaster) Tai: But how!? DemiDevimon: Hnhnhnhnhnhn.... (Myotismon dissipates the other Perfects' attacks too.) Matt: He's strong... Too strong....

Takeru and Patamon exchange glances, and Patamon flies outside. Triumphant, Vamdemon turns to Hikari once more.

Vamdemon: Are we finished, everyone? What a shame there's no time for regret. (faces Hikari) NIGHT--

Vamdemon: Oh no!

Yet again, Vamdemon is interrupted mid-attack, this time by the heavenly glow of Angemon's arrival. Before he knows what hit him, Angemon's signature move Heaven's Knuckle brings Vamdemon to his knees and one-shot kills Phantomon. Holy shit, Angemon.

(This is what Devimon was so afraid of. He went after Takeru like Vamdemon's going after Hikari. Devimon knew.)

In the dub:

Myotismon: Are you done? I'm bored! It's time to finish you off! NIGHTMARE-- (Patamon evolves into Angemon and joins the fight) Myotismon: Now what!?

In the dub, Angemon's attack is Hand of Fate. Vamdemon's momentary and swiftly validated panic is dropped, replaced by irritation at another interruption.

Also of note: this time Vamdemon tried to go for the swift execution via Night Raid/Grisly Wing, while Myotismon attempted Dead Scream/Nightmare Claw for some fucking reason.

While Vamdemon struggles to hold himself together, Angemon floats overhead. Vamdemon's hanging in there, but he's sweating hard.

Angemon: Vamdemon! Give yourself up! Vamdemon: Don't think that was enough to stop me! (whirls on Hikari) NIGHT RAID!!! Taichi: HIKARI!!!

Just when hope seems lost, Wizarmon comes in with the Piccolo Sacrifice. In fact, this is so unapologetically the Piccolo Sacrifice that it doesn't make sense in context. The attack was a swarm of bats. Why the swarm of bats can't just go around Wizarmon and get Hikari is beyond me. Night Raid has never exploded and self-terminated on contact before.

Vamdemon: Imbecile! Getting in the way like that....

In the dub, Angemon's offer of surrender is more aggressive.

Angemon: Have you had enough or do you want some more!? Myotismon: Actually, I was about to ask you the same question! (Myotismon whirls on Kari) Myotismon: GRISLY WING!!! Tai: KARI!!!

For reasons I cannot possibly fathom, the dub splices in repeat footage of Wizardmon winding up to throw Kari's Crest to her. I guess it's supposed to be him jumping in front of the attack or something? The shots of him taking the hit and falling then continue unedited.

Myotismon: Next time, don't get in my way!

Hear that, kids? There's going to be a next time! He's not dying! It's fine!

Hikari and Tailmon hurry to Wizarmon's side.

Tailmon: WIZARMON!!! Hikari: WIZARMON!!! YOU CAN'T DIE!!! DON'T DIE!!! WIZARMON!!! Wizarmon: ...are you alright, Tailmon...? Tailmon: (crying) Wizarmon.... I'm so sorry.... Wizarmon: For what? Tailmon: I'm sorry I roped you into all of this. Wizarmon: It's fine. If I'd never met you, I would have lived a life without meaning. I'm glad to have gotten to know you.... Tailmon: T_T Wizarmon.... Wizarmon: ...thank... you....

Wizarmon closes his eyes and his body goes limp. He does not disintegrate into pixels but I guess they were worried it might ruin the moment if he did; He is absolutely dead this time.

In the dub:

Gatomon: OH NO!!! Kari: Wizardmon! You're gonna be alright. Please don't leave. Wizardmon! Wizardmon: ...are you alright, Gatomon? Gatomon: (crying) You saved me... I'm sorry.... Wizardmon: About what? Gatomon: Sorry I got you involved in this. Wizardmon: Don't be sorry. I don't have any regrets. If I hadn't met you, my life would have had no meaning. I'm glad that you and I were friends. Gatomon: Best forever.... Wizardmon: Thank you for everything, Gatomon.

Here's where the dub plays a trick to obscure Wizardmon's death. They cut the footage of his eyes closing and his head turning, and instead replay the shot of Kari at Wizardmon's side.

Kari: Wizardmon? Are you okay? Please answer?

He stops talking but his eyes are still open and he's not for certain dead. There's some deniability there.

Over in the original, however, Wizarmon is most certainly dead and Hikari has feelings about it.

Hikari: T_T No... Wizarmon... NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Her emotional outburst activates her Digivice. In PicoDevimon's talon. PicoDevimon quickly discovers that maybe gripping a holy device as a creature of darkness isn't such a good idea after all.

PicoDevimon: WAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGH!!! Taichi: Hikari's Digivice! PicoDevimon: It's killing me!

Unable to hold onto the Digivice any longer, PicoDevimon drops it. Taichi catches the Digivice.

Taichi: HIKARI, CATCH!!!

Taichi again catches the Digivice and tosses it straight across the gap to Hikari, who this time clutches it between both hands to avoid any further interception.

Vamdemon: Oh no!

In the dub, the cuts continue. Because they cut Wizardmon's death scene, they further cut Kari's emotional reaction to it. Her Digivice activates suddenly, for no clear reason.

DemiDevimon: WAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGH!!! Tai: Look, it's Kari's Digivice! DemiDevimon: I CAN'T HOLD ON!!! (DemiDevimon drops the Digivice; Tai catches it) Tai: KARI, HERE!!! (Tai throws the Digivice to Kari) Myotismon: NOT HER, NO!!!

This time, Myotismon's panic translates across. Vamdemon uses the same reaction, "Shimatta!", for both Angemon's arrival and Hikari getting her Digivice. But the dub translates them very differently. Myotismon was annoyed by Angemon, but he's losing his mind at Hikari getting her Digivice.

For good reason, as we finally hear the tension-negating tones of Show Me Your Brave Heart flare up. Tailmon CHO-SHINKAAAAAA!!!

All of the kids get reaction shots when a second angel Digimon evolves among them.

Hikari: Tailmon is... An angel...? Angewomon: Vamdemon! Not only did you interfere with the Chosen Children's mission, but you invaded the real world and you killed my friend Wizarmon. Learn the weight of your sins! Vamdemon: To plunge this world into darkness, to merge it with the Digital World, and to become its supreme ruler.... I have only done what I was destined for! Angewomon: -_-

The camera hangs on Angewomon's frankly meme-worthy unimpressed face for two seconds. If this were the nineties, Angewomon's -_- would be all over Tumblr for a few weeks.

And. Uh. Yeah, Vamdemon just said his endgame was merging the human and digital worlds together like fucking Shao Kahn. So that's fun!

Also, this marks the first official usage of the terminology デジタルワールド Dejitaru Waarudo or "Digital World" to refer to the Digimon's world by a character. The narrator's already used it a couple of times, but Vamdemon is the first character to say it.

In the dub:

Kari: Gatomon is an... angel...? Angewomon: Myotismon! You've tried to destroy the DigiDestined and attempted to conquer Earth. In doing so, you have ruined the lives of Digimon and humans alike. How can you justify yourself? Myotismon: I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you! It is my destiny to plunge this world into darkness and become king of the Digital World! And no angel or Digimon has the power to stop me! Angewomon: -_-

Angewomon and Myotismon have to talk around so many things here. Angewomon can't use religious speech like "the weight of your sins," that's a no-no. Also, she can't mention that Myotismon killed Wizardmon, that's another no-no.

She makes it work pretty well, though there's still one other key difference. She comes at Myotismon for trying to kill the DigiDestined, while Original Angewomon has a broader critique; She accuses him of interfering with their mission.

Even if he wasn't attempting to murder them, this entire Tokyo endeavor is pulling them away from the task they were summoned into the Digital World to complete. Vamdemon is a side quest that has gone too far.

Myotismon's retort omits the part about merging the human and Digital Worlds together. Without that connecting tissue "Plunge this world into darkness and become king of the Digital World," seem like separate, unrelated tasks. Uh, last I checked, Etemon was king of the Digital World. Go take that up with his corpse and leave Odaiba alone.

Angemon gives Vamdemon one last chance.

Angemon: Vamdemon. Does this mean you have no intention of repenting for your sins? Vamdemon: Hmph. DEAD-- Angewomon: SAINT AIR!!

Nice try on that Dead Scream buddy but Angewomon was ready for it. It's almost like your abuse victim knows your self-destructive cruelty so well.

Saint Air is a support technique. Angewomon creates a zone of space around herself glowing with rainbow light. It simultaneously paralyzes Vamdemon mid-attack and also restores the stamina of all the other Partner Digimon around them.

Don't fuck with healers. On a battlefield, the white mage is God.

MetalGreymon: My strength is being restored! WereGarurumon: (finally climbs back up) NOW!!! Garudamon: GIVE YOUR POWER TO ANGEWOMON!!!

In the dub, again, we're not allowed to say things like "repent for your sins" on American children's television.

Angemon: Myotismon. Don't you have any regrets for the things you have done? Myotismon: Ha. NIGHTMARE-- Angewomon: HEAVEN'S CHARM!!!

Wait. Hold up. Why can Angewomon's attack be Heaven's Charm but Angemon using Heaven's Knuckle wasn't acceptable? Was it the "Knuckle" part? Did they just object to the idea that Heaven would punch someone?

Mm. That's a possibility, actually.

MetalGreymon: My power! It's... It's growing! WereGarurumon: NOW!!! Garudamon: Everyone give your power to Angewomon!

Dub MetalGreymon's line is ambiguous. It kinda sounds like Angewomon is buffing them all, rather than restoring their stamina.

With everyone's stamina restored and Vamdemon frozen in the wind-up to his Dead Scream, they converge their attacks on Angewomon's Saint Air halo, creating a pool of power for her to draw from.

You know, in a roundabout way this is basically the same technique that killed Devimon. How oddly appropriate for his evolution.

Angewomon calls down the combined energy of the team and concentrates it into her Holy Arrow. Paralyzed and facing down the barrel, at the last possible second, Vamdemon pleads for his life.

Vamdemon: (voice breaking from terror) STOP!!!

Then she fires. Angewomon's Holy Arrow pierces straight through Vamdemon. His body crackles with dark energy, wrestling against the arrow's holy energy. Then he explodes in a burst of holy-white lightning, streaking up into the sky.

The dub opts for "Celestial" Arrow over "Holy" Arrow, which is still pretty close.

Myotismon: No! Don't!

Myotismon's last-second cry isn't quite as pitiful as Vamdemon's but it's still up there.

At long last, Vamdemon is slain! And all this kaiju fighting on its roof has destabilized and destroyed Fuji TV! Hooray-- Wait, we're still up here. OH SHIT.

Hikari: Vamdemon disappeared.... Taichi: HIKARI!!! Other Kids: HOORAY-- (Suddenly the building begins to shake) Sora: It's dangerous here! RUN FOR IT!!!

The Perfects use the last of their strength to grab their kids and bail before the entire observation deck falls from the broadcasting center and crashes into the ground below.

I sure hope Hiroaki wasn't anywhere near that!

Down on the ground, the Chosen Children regroup and their Partner Digimon finally degenerate Agumon and Gabumon are strong enough to retain Child stage, but the rest are drained back down to their Baby forms.

Taichi: We defeated Vamdemon! Jou: I knew we had it in us! Right? Mimi: Uh-huh! Yamato: Do you think the world's returned to normal now? Sora: What's wrong, you two?

Sora calls out Takeru and Hikari. While everyone else is sharing jubilation, Takeru and Hikari are looking at the sky. They seem unsettled.

(Also, Tailmon retained her form post-Perfect too.)

Takeru: Look around. Takeru: At what? Hikari: (nervous) The fog. It's not going away. Taichi: What did you say?

The rest of the kids look around and, sure enough, the fog remains. We close on one last ominous shot of Odaiba, still shrouded in Vamdemon's power.

In the dub:

Kari: Myotismon is gone! Tai: Kari! Other Kids: (miscellaneous cheering) (Suddenly the building begins to shake) Sora: Let's get out of here before we're crushed! (Ultimates ferry the kids safely down) Tai: You guys are the BOMB!!! I can't believe we finally destroyed Myotismon! Joe: That wasn't so tough after all! Great! Mimi: Yeah! Matt: Hopefully now the real world will return to normal. Sora: Hey, you two, what's wrong? (T.K. and Kari are staring at the sky) T.K.: Look up there! Matt: What is it? Kari: The fog! It's getting thicker! Tai: Impossible! Kari: But... Myotismon is gone.... Joe: Maybe not. Maybe he's still out there somewhere! What if we just made him stronger? Narrator: Is Myotismon truly gone or has he Digivolved to a more powerful form? Find out on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

Fucking spoilers, Joe and Narrator. The kids use some silence-breaking dialogue to meticulously explain the ominous cliffhanger in case the kids watching don't understand what the fog sticking around means. And they go so hard on it that they wind up stepping on the toes of the next episode.

Assessment: End of the line. The Eighth Child has finally be found and we are right on the edge of the Vamdemon arc's conclusion. With the debut of what is easily one of the most popular Digimon in Adventure 01, and for good reason. My favorite evolved Partner is still Lilimon, though. Sorry, Angewomon.

It's funny that Taichi's half-cocked plan to go rescue everyone amounted to nothing more than keeping him away from the action for most of the battle. But it wasn't for nothing; He did send Sora back to join the fighting. If he hadn't gone, she'd be the one wandering aimlessly around Odaiba for most of the action.

Also, he transported Mimi to the fight but her Digimon was already Perfect and at the scene, so her physical presence contributed nothing. I cracked up when the tense confrontation between Taichi and Vamdemon had to make time for her to walk in and go "Hi guys, I'm here now." XD

The dub keeps things very faithful in this one, though it falls apart around Wizardmon's death. There's a few other questionable choices or weaker scenes, but also some solid additions to the material as well. I'd say it falls short of being perfect, but is still overall pretty good.

[sashi-ya]

𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 [+18] 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐱 𝐟! 𝐩𝐫𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫! 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 [final chapter]

ʚ masterlist: part 1; part 2; part 3 ; part 4; part 5 ʚ tw: finally, some good smut! love making. fingering. oral. vag. love love love confession! this is the last part of this story, but... is it really? 😏 wait and you will see...

𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐬

“Nevermind…” you sigh, going back inside. The night is too beautiful to be enjoyed on your own, and you should be finishing some last details on your cosplay. “Back to sewing…”

As your fingers work with the last part of the hem of Sora’s wife’s cape your eyelids feel heavy. And even if your mind won’t stop thinking about Law and his “surgery”, soon the sound of the waves outside lull you to sleep.

Her hand on his inked one, their bodies sweating on a tiny hospital office. A woman so refined, so pretty, and desirable, lets her white coat fall back as he pins her against the desk.

“Dr. Trafalgar… do you think this is proper?” she asks, giggling so devilishly as his kisses attack her neck.

“Even if it’s not proper, I can’t wait no more… Nico-ya…” Law sighs, loudly, opening the blouse to reveal the turgor of her breasts. He is desperate, in need of sex and release. And the tanned skin of his colleague seemed to be the right place to dig in.

Her deep blue eyes scan with lust the way Law opens his ripped jeans and lifts the yellow shirt up. He tucks it under his chin, while the white coat still remains on.

Dr. Nico Robin’s tight black skirt ends up looking like a belt around her waist as Law comes closer and lifts it up to gain a better access to her core.

“Let me fuck you now, Nico-ya” he grunts, pumping his hardness closer to a dampened fine lace panty of hers.

“Fufufu- fuck me now, Dr. Trafalgar… this surgery can take as long as this night lasts for ~”

Tears sprout from closed eyes, a painful image to look at. Your head over the table of your kitchen, and a ray of light hitting your eyes making you wake up.

In between sobbing you notice it doesn’t seem to be the sun but artificial light. The little led of your sewing machine reminds you that you had fallen asleep while working on a costume.

“Fuck…” you swear. “It was just a dream. That’s it… just a dream…” you try to calm yourself down as you check the time on your phone. Four hours have passed since you started working, enough time to finish if you hadn’t fallen asleep.

Dragging your feet to the refrigerator, you search for a trusty energy drink. The sweet and sour flavour of chemicals will do to keep you awake. However, you are sure that it won’t be the only thing…

You take a look through the window; the noctilucas are on full display over the coast and the blueish gloom tinting the beach looks like a perfect magical place. Maybe the doors to a different universe in which pirates rule the world and people have powers like being made out of gum.

“I wish you were here Law…” you sigh, painfully remembering the dream you just had. Imagining Law being with another woman breaks your heart…  but seeing him unleash sexual desires over her; that’s even worse.

You decide to check your phone; the last time Law used his was the exact moment he bid you goodbye. You are not very sure if he is indeed operating, or he simply turned off his phone so that you wouldn't bother him while being with another girl.  In any case there is no point on keep worrying about it. So, you sit down again at the table and start sewing the last part of your cosplay.

A sudden knock in the middle of the silence of the night, creeps you out. “Who could it be at this hours?”

Carefully you stand up and walk towards the door. By taking a swift look through the peephole you discover that nobody’s standing there. A shiver runs through your spine, and you wonder if you are again in danger or not…

Immediately, the memories of what happened six months ago hit you;  however, this time there isn't any hero around you called Law. This time there is no officer Roronoa, nor Penguin, Bepo or Shachi.

You silently grab the keys, squeezing the white fluffy ball that Law gave you. You take them from the door trying to make the least sound possible and walk backwards. Grabbing your cell phone, you check on your security camera app discovering that by the porch off the door there is a package with a bow that looks like a gift.

A million thoughts run through your mind; you are sure that this is something similar to a scene you saw on a Halloween movie. You feel like you're sweating, but it is cold. You ponder if you should call 911 or not… after all if there is nobody there, and it’s just a package they will probably call you crazy.

You take a deep breath. You ponder all of the possibilities.

“All right this is probably someone trying to kill me. And if I open the door to grab the damn package, for sure someone will come in and try to kill me. YES! that's it! What if it’s a fucking murderer clown? Or a guy wearing a coat with pink feathers and glasses that wants to kill me with strings around my neck??!”

You think of the stupidest things, even if today they do not sound that stupid… And frankly, when you grab your phone, you realise that you shouldn't be calling the person that you're calling… But you can’t help it…

The ringing tone seems eternal. Law isn't answering his phone. Of course he is. And if he's either operating or not, he is busy… he won't pick up the phone.

“This is Doctor Trafalgar Law speaking. I am not available in the moment to answer but please, leave a message after the tone. Thank you.” His voice resonates in your head like echoes of losing hope.         And as you curl up into a ball, by some corner of your kitchen in total darkness, you speak to him.

“I don't know why I'm calling you… but I'm scared, and I know you can’t do anything because you're on the other side of the country. But I really think you are my safe place… so, if something happens to me tonight, I need you to tell you something… I’m madly in love with you Law. Goodbye.”

Which theory eyes the next you hear is a new knocking on the door. This time it isn’t suspicious, this time is desperate.

“(Name)-ya! (Name)-ya! It’s me!!! Open me please!”

“LAW???” you stand up, sniffling. At this point you are sure you are hallucinating.

“(Name)-ya, please open! It's me, Law! I didn't mean to scare you; I was hoping that you will find this a pleasant surprise!” the desperate voice of your lover sounds in your eardrums like a balsam.

You wipe your tears with the back of your hand and run to the door. Unlocking the latch, you let the summer breeze hit your heated cheeks.

His image, standing right by the door, feels like a dream… what is Law doing there? He was supposed to be on a surgery, or… or with Dr. Robin.

“L-Law?” your lips tremble, giving your beloved doctor a sweet look of helplessness. Like a scared little girl to his father, you stretch your arms to him.

Law sighs; he is so relieved to see you safe and sound. He immediately hugs you, lifting you up and pressing your body against his.

“I’m here. Don’t panic…” he murmurs, nuzzling on your temple while you do the same on the crook of his neck.

The scent of his skin, something you wonder you had forgotten, still is as delicious as you remember. Once again the feeling of safeness with his arms around your frame. Once again him, nobody but him.

“Wha- what are you doing here, Law…?” you whisper, both unable to move nor break the hug. The need for one accumulated all throughout six long months.

“I- I wanted to come and see you…I am aware that this wasn’t very well planned, but I…” he whispers back, inhaling, after, the perfume of your hair.

You giggle. He shouldn’t be apologizing; it was you who ruined his surprise.

He puts you down, carefully, and softly.

“Law… I…” you lift your eyes to look at him. You wanna say something, but the sudden memory of your love confession strikes you. Did he hear you through the door? Has he already listened to the voice memo?

However, none of that matters anymore because without warning, neither mercy, desperate lips crash with yours in a scorching kiss.

Law’s mouth feels like paradise. A heaven you never knew it existed and to where you wish to be taken. The taste of his tongue on yours, so deliciously intrusive… for how many nights you imagined this?

When the first kiss finally breaks - because your lungs were rioting for at least a molecule of oxygen- he fixes his needy orbs into yours. “I owed you this since the airport” he pants.

You blink slowly, still unable to process what has just happened. He still feels the salty taste of your tears, while you drown into a pit of butterflies attacking your stomach.

“And… I’ve been waiting for it since that day…” you murmur, biting your lower lip too sexily for the surgeon’s imagination.

He moves that mysterious box that was still resting on your porch, inside. He didn’t even lift it up, he just kicked it in, with care.

Closing the door behind you, he lifts you up again, this time by your legs. You, quickly, surround his waist with them trapping his body for it to be only yours.

He walks towards your kitchen, kissing you so desperately with grunts and growls that sprout so easily from his throat. Law moves inside as if he knew your home, as if it was his own.

Of course, had other type of stuff be over your table he would have pushed them away, but he didn’t want to ruin your progress. So, Law keep walking through the little glass door that you kept open in your kitchen. Such door leads to a little deck that offers you the most beautiful views of the beach right across the street.

He deposits you over the little railing of your deck, amazed by the breath-taking scenery ahead of you. However, Law still believes that there is nothing more beautiful than you. That nothing, not even the Noctilucas, shine as bright as you.

His tattooed hand lands on your cheek; soft blessed fingers, trained to save lives, killing you slowly with a loving caress.

You enjoy the way his caramel skin shines bright by the blueish phosphorescence of the Noctilucas on the coast. Under a dark sky, a dot of brilliance beats like two hearts finally able to join after so long.

It is impossible for you not to get emotional. Eyes once again getting humid, this time because of pure joy.

He gets lost in the view of the coast; and the beating sounds of your hearts that match the waves crashing against the sand create a beautiful melody of love.  

“I missed you so much…” he murmurs once he looks back at you. “I missed you too, Law… I… I…” you need to tell him how much you love him; even if he really knows. Of course, he does.

Law’s lips get closer to yours, barely touching them. His hand slides from your cheek to your shoulder, a finger tangling on the strap of your lose dress. And it falls, uncovering your body, showing the man of your dreams a skin so ready to be loved. So ready to be adored.

“Don’t say it just yet…” he utters, as he begins to kiss your shoulders with loving pecks that will remain carved in your flesh for the first time and for the rest of your life.

You nod, because you understand completely why he wants you to wait. And you really don’t mind about the rest of the world, even if your bare back is on full display towards the coast during a lonely Friday night.

As Law goes down with his kisses, leaving a trail of lust, you play with the soft yet messy hair of his. Combing through it, with your nails, you watch him approach your breasts.

He discovers, with love and praise, how perfect your anatomy is… this time for real, because you both are willing to offer one to the other. Cupping your right breast, he gets your protruding nipple in between his lips.

Sucking, ever so softly, you feel like exploding. The sleepiness has eased away, and now there is just love and need. Desire and lust.

Your throw your head back, with your mouth wide open, letting a low moan to scape your chest. The way he pulls, and nibbles so delicately, is like the delicious starter for a full curse banquet.

And a banquet, a feast is what Law wants from you. To do with you. He finds your skin taste to be delightful, and he can’t wait to check that indeed your core is as ambrosial as he imagined it to be.

He kneels in between your legs, spreading them from your inner thighs. A place where he firstly squeeze, and then kiss. Diving underneath the flowy skirt of your pleaded yellow dress.

Your belly spasms in anticipation; Law’s hardness seems too painful for those blue jeans. The wet spots on your panties are everything the surgeon desires to enjoy, and little by little the tip of his nose reach for them.

You try to close your legs as in an unvoluntary muscle reaction, with knuckles turning white as you grab yourself from the railing not to fall.

“Keep… them open, (Name)-ya” he orders, sending a sting of pleasure with a simple command that sounded so dominant.

“Y-yes…” you barely mouth, knowing that you must try your best to spread your legs so that he can rejoice with your sex.

You can sense what he is doing right under your skirt, with playful finger that graze the dampened fabrics that cover your sex. Law uses his thumb, rubbing it up and down, painfully slowly over your covered slit. And taking all of his sweet time, he finally moves away your lacey coverings.

“Heh” you hear him scoff, followed by the warm sensation of his breath getting closer to your labia. You squirm, passing your nails through his nape, or at least the little part you can reach as you don’t want to lose your balance.

First, the tip of his tongue. Then all of it, eating your whole, drinking your elixir drop by drop. The technique, so immaculate. Sucking, touching, licking the right parts, showing you exactly how much of an expert he is in terms of knowing the human body.

And when your legs begin to shiver, to quiver instead of spasming, and your moans become louder… Law knows it’s time to enjoy the beautiful expression of raptured pleasure your face must be holding.

He stands up, cleaning the brilliance off his lips but never taking two fingers out of you. Those two fingers that keep you at bay, won’t let you finish but won’t let you lose the heat either.

“Can I make love to you, right now?” he asks, with his lips grazing yours, in a sexy and raspy voice.

You swallow. He said “make love…” not “fuck”…

“Ye-yes, please… make love to me, Law ~”

The surgeon smiles sweetly. Even if lust would lead you both, there is also something deeper. There is love with no words, pure adoration.

“Where is your bedroom?” he asks, taking his fingers out of you and holding you back in arms.

You point at the glass door next to the kitchen one. Your cheeks on fire, your insides too. Your heart combusting, with sparks flying from such burning.

He slides open the door with a swift motion, grunting to discover you didn’t lock it. “You should close this…” he scolds you and you simply giggle.

When he gets to the foot of the bed, he kneels with you still in arms. You sit on his lap, with noses grazing, both breathing desire, with your sex over the bulge forming underneath his jeans.

“Are you sure?” he asks, again. “Yes, because I…” you wanna say you love him, but his inked index stops you from doing so. Not just yet.

Law slowly takes his finger from your lips and kisses your forehead.

Your breasts pressed against his chest are dying to feel his skin against them. Thus, you surely begin to pull up from his shirt.

Caramel skin, yet again barely bathed by the blueish light filtering from the coast through the glass door. The black lines, tracing a heart pattern forever carved on his flesh like the memories of that man who saved his life… the man he told you about during endless texting before bed nights.

Planting sweet kisses on his neck and collar bones, you enjoy with no hurries every inch of skin. But it isn’t enough, he is hurting. The jeans jail’s been too much already, and he needs relief. He. And you, too.

Surely and quickly, you stand up just enough for him to take his jeans off. And Law delivers almost instantly. You discover clean legs, this time with no tattoos like the rest of his body and wonder if there is something he is waiting for to get them permanently drawn with.

Your fingernails trap the hem of his boxers, and pulling them down, you finally give his shaft a so needed freedom.

It is hard, it is perfectly sized and healthy too. The way its tip is covered in shiny essence, pushes you to gloat before such tempting imagery.

But he can’t wait no more. Law needs to feel the warmth of your insides surrounding him, like a wet hot hug of clenching shelter.

His nails bury into your hip sides, guiding you towards his dripping masculinity. As drippy as your core that drizzle with connecting strings of wetness, his purplish tip.

Looking up, with pleading eyes, Law awaits. You put an end to the torturing inches that separate both bodies, sitting so perfectly on his lap, letting his sex slide inside you, feeling the way it opens its way towards your centre.

As you finally reach the deepest point, Law’s arm surround your lower waist, pressing you so hard against him. Both take a moment to enjoy the connection, looking into each other’s eyes before he starts ramming in and out of you with merciless hips thrusts.

Your body on its own coordinates its motions to match Law’s, going back and forth, around, and up and down. Lips grazing, sloppy wet kisses, grunts, and whines…

It is time now, right? When the body, the soul and the heart reaches its climax…

“(Name)-ya, I’m madly in love with you ~” “Law, I loved you since the very beginning…”

You want an epilogue?! Yes! And it’s coming soon :3

[sunflowerandstrawberryspice]

Songs the Ninjago Fandom is Sleeping on.

Okay so while I do art there's only so much my chronic pain ridden hands can produce and so animatics/animations aren't really in my wheelhouse BUT I have a bunch of ideas and songs that the Ninjago fandom should use + some ideas that yall can totally use (@ me or send them to me though if you do cause I want to see them)

The Songs in question (it's be song-artist btw):

Always Gold-Radical Face: Is literally a perfect song for Wu and Garmadon, like it's literally about two opposite brothers treading wildly different paths like what more could you want

Brutus- The Buttress: Yall please I am begging that someone does something with this song relating to Morro's hatred/jealousy towards Lloyd because this song is absolutely perfect for it! Lines such as "-and if you want I'll call you king but why do I lie awake each night thinking "instead of you it should be me"" and "Please know my actions are not motivated only by envy, I to have a destiny" there are so many more but I'll let yall do the rest of the work (Also you could kinda do it with Wu and Garmadon but ehhhh)

Human Enough- ONR: This could work for multiple of the characters if you ask me but if you ship anyone with Zane or Pixal the song could totally work those two them specifically cause it talks about the singers partner/love interest being "made perfect" and idk we need more Pixal content soooo. Honestly any of the characters that get de-human-ed (for longer than one episode) would do great with this song, like Cole in his ghost arc, Nya after Seabound or Garmadon at like any point in the story. Line examples: "Cause you are made of perfect stars and I was built from broken parts" and "I'm not human enough to love yo right now/ I'm not human enough to cry or cry for" are my personal favorites.

Laplace's Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!)-Will Wood: Lloyd, Sora or Wu (Specifically the young version of him from the Spinjitzu Brothers books) song about the weight of the world being on your shoulders and not knowing what to do and like the consequences of actions and fun stuff like that

Easier- Crane Wives: Misako, like seriously so many Crane Wives songs work well for this woman because A) her whole attempt to change destiny or B) Her failure as a mother and you know the whole kinda cheating on her husband thing, but this one specifically cause it's a song about leaving someone behind and feeling bad while also not being able to stay. Lyrics such as "If you woke and I was gone from the house that we made our home would it bend yo, break you, overtake your heart?" and "I won't move but I can't stay here. So what the hell am I supposed to do?" and "If I were someone else, would this be easier?"

Stranglers Fig- This could definitely be a Cole (specifically relating to his father and dance backstory) or Kai song, many of the lyrics involve someone being pushed to do more and more and finally snapping because they've done everything they can and there's nothing left but their desire to be better. Lyrics "You bult your kingdom around me, now I'm trapped within your walls and all I want is to be free" and "Climb me to the canopy, higher, higher 'till there's nothing left of me." and "You're the culprit so don't blame me."

And that's all for tonight cause I'm tired BUT I will be posting a couple more of these cause I have a bunch of these floating in my brain and I'd love it if some of these idea's inspire people. I really wish I could do it myself but chronic pain is a bitch so instead I'll throw it out for yall to try out! Anyways I hope you have a great day/night! Peace out!

[weepingbluebirdblaze]

Helios

2.PITY THE WEAK

Synopsis: Reader finally meets giyuu

------------------------------------------- Warnings: Giyuu x Fem!reader, Blood, wounds, Injection, Anesthesia, a little mention of Aoi and Shinobu, Baseball!

-------------------------------------------

You wheeze in pain as you gently pat down a damp cloth over the cut, day before yesterday too when you cleaned it off it started bleeding out even more. you must've lost gallons of blood since right now you feel extremely faint. the cut did not bleed anymore but it stinged even more, after cleaning it off for the nth time Now you put ointment and a flimsy bandage on it, you decided to skip college for one more day since you were not in position to attend, both physically and mentally. glimpses of that terrorizing night were still haunting your brain. you were not able to get any sleep, thoughts and unanswered questions were running a furore in your mind. the uncomfortable bleeding and stinging of the cut made it all even worse, you had stopped crying a very long time ago since your tears didn't persist after that, the scandalizing incident made you realize that the humans are even worser form of demons.

they put you on a pedestal if you benefit them, when you don't they throw your expanses out. and if you cross them, they eat away your very hope to live peacefully and die after living a long life like a hayena who has caught his pray. and that is exactly what is happening with your life right now the three hayenas chased you till you were cornered, lunged at you and the started eating away you peaceful life, it was all not fair, really not fair. why do people who have power in their hands always have to make other's life miserable?, this question always ran around your thoughts. why? when you can actually use for a good cause then why inflict pain on others? why make their lives miserable? you never got the answers to these questions and you don't think you ever will, because you certainly don't hold any power or the need to make someone cry for their lives.

01:30 the clock showed, it was time for your academy right now but you didn't want to go. you informed sora that you didn't feel good yesterday to attend both college and practice. but today you felt like you should go, practicing while being injured would be imprudent but you needed your mind to be off of that incident so you decided to go for the practice matches.

you changed your bandage to a fresh new one but tied a thin cloth tightly around your waist and over the injury to make sure that even if the wound reopens it doesn't bleed out for anyone to notice then you wore your baseball clothes. it had a full-sleeved black t-shirt under the dark navy blue cropped Jersey, it had your player no. and name at the back and the name of your academy plus the sponsor in the front, the garment was perfect to Hide your bleeding (if it even happens) due to it's darker shade. you put your hair up in a ponytail and wear your cap over it. "this will do" you whispered looking at your attire in mirror, your attention then moved to your face, you looked awful. your skin was pale, your cheeks slightly hollowed in, your eyes had dark circles under it, your lips were chapped and bruised due to all the nervous chewing you did on it. you put ChapStick on your lips since they looked like they were about to bleed and left for the practice.

-

The air felt pleasant

it's a cool breeze with mix of mud wood, oceanic and leafy smell to it. it is lightweight and feathery unlike the tension going on around you, you're walking with a slow speed to your destination enjoying the scenery that you've seen thousands of time with no change but still couldn't get enough of it, your eyes taking in the delightful contrasts of life. Children playing, an old couple sitting on the bench and some middle aged people taking a walk, but all of them had one very thing in common. they had a minute pronouncement on their faces whereas you had a woeful one, the one that people have when they are struck with tragedy but can't lament over it. and that is exactly what's going on with your person, you're struck with cataclysm but can't mourn it, because you're not in the position to, safe to say that Merriness didn't have a place in your life, it was only contended with desolation and grief.

you reached your very destination after not-so-enjoying the walk you had, you were about to pass the gate when you were grabbed by your shoulders and spinned around to your opposite direction. the action caused you yelp and put your hands to you face in defense, after a few seconds two hands gently removed your hands from your face, you look up to see Sora standing in front of you with a concerned but stern look on her face. you swear after seeing her your heartbeat eased off maybe because she was the one to turn you or that she is safe, whatever it was but you felt relieved.

"S-Sora" you stutter she suddenly smacks your forehead, "where were you till now?!" she inquires in a loud voice, "do you even know how worried I was?!" she asks, "you only told me that you are sick and that too through a message!" she tilts her head to the side and crosses her arms over her chest. "I-I am sorry" you breathed to which she furrows her eyebrows, "are you still sick?" she asks putting her hand on your forehead to check if you have a fever, "n-no no I am not sick anymore, just a little bit tired" you stammered. "why are you stammering tho? are you sure you're okay?" she says removing her hand from your forehead, "yes I am certain that I am perfectly fine" you recompose yourself and look at her with your chin up. "if you say so" she replies releasing her arms to her side, suddenly she flicks your forehead again, "ow! what was that for?" you whined "don't ever keep me worried" she says looking at you and Rolling her eyes, she then starts to move towards the academy door, and you join beside her "yes ma'am" you replied to her, for moment you forgot about the heinous incident that took place just a night before.

-

"go [name] it's your turn now" one of your teammates says to you, to which you smile at her and pick up your bat. "do your best!" she says tapping you on the shoulder in an motivating manner, "sure will" you again smile back at her. you completely forgot about the night, you sure could say that baseball does get your mind off the things no matter how trivial they are.

you ready yourself on the homeplate, your shoulders squared and tighten, both of your hands holding the bat just beside your right ear, your knees bended a little and and the muscles of your legs tightening, you can hit the ball better if your strength is divided equally throughout you whole body, it makes more woke and aware to the direction of which the ball will come. you tighten your hold around the hilt of your bat as you see the pitcher ready to throw the ball, you count in your head, one.. two.. three.. and your arms move then you hit the ball with the strength you had. after realizing the impact from the hit, you throw the bat and start to run, you were about to reach the third plate when you were touched on your shoulders by a glove, you look at it to see that it was holding the ball that you hit, you stop. "Out!!" the referee yells, to which you look at him with your eyes wide. this can't be true.

it's not like you haven't lost before but not this easily, you look at Sora who was looking at you with the same shocked expression but she quickly smiles at you, you go to the side bench again and sit down in thought, did this happen because you were distracted or were you weakened? no, you can't be the latter, you forgot about everything that happened that night and were just focusing on your game so why did this happen? only one reasonable answer, you are weakend. you had lost too much blood just a night before and you're here right now, playing baseball to get your mind off of things. although it seemed Like a reasonable explanation of getting out in just your first turn, you didn't want to believe that you can be weakened. no, you don't want to believe it. but you also don't want to believe that you can be distracted from your game so for now it was safe to say you too didn't know what it was.

"[Name]?" you hear Sora, she was standing just a few steps away from you. "is it your batting now?" you ask giving her a meek smile, "yeah, it is" she breaths out and picks up her bat, "I think there is something wrong with you" she remarks, "you were distracted just two days ago, then you suddenly fell Ill and now you seem to be weaker than usual" she ponders "tell me [name] is something really wrong?" she surveys you with her eyebrows knitted together. she really can look through you. you open and close you mouth at her statement then look down at your Lap for a few second before responding "I don't Know Sora, maybe it really is my health? since I've been feeling down lately?" you say smiling softly at her, to which she gives you a puzzled look then she walks infront of you, swinging her bat to her shoulder and sighing "I guess is really is your health" she says quietly, then leaves.

You smile to yourself knowing that Sora was there for you, caring about your wellbeing and helping you. even though you only knew her for a few years she could look through you, she almost knew everything about you except for the things you either forgot to tell her or just kept them to yourself but you knew she cared deeply for you, unlike someone who you thought cared for you.

"come on [name] we need more fielders!" you heard one of your teammates yell, you got up with your baseball glove in your Hand and strech. you will not be distracted now, you will give it your all, you finish stretching and take your position as the left fielder and stand in a ready stance, the ball didn't come to you for a first few time after then it did. you run to catch it, and that's when you look through the corner of your eye, a suited figure standing in the audience oriented seats. you catch the ball then throw it to the 1st plate's direction. then you look towards the suited figure,it was a man, he had a katana stealthed on his back, he had zero expression on his face, his dark blue eyes seemed to have no light in them. you think that you've seen this man before, he was talking with your coach but he still didn't have any expression on his face, he turns his head slightly and both of your eyes meet. then it hit's you.

"there was a case of dept collection I think" Sora's statement roars in your head like a lion in distress, who's trying to save it's dear life. you Froze in place, why is he here?

that day you asked Sora after the lecture who exactly were these people and she told you that they worked for a secret organization called 'Demon Slayer Corps' she told you that they were Authorized by the government about dealing with any Demon cases but they were far from promoted publicly. only those who've encountered them with a demon knows about them, and since her father did run into one in his young age he knew only a little about them. they deal with everything related to demons, they even punish those who shake hands with demons.

"if you tell anyone about us, your dear friend will have to pay the price" the words repeat in your head again and again, your fixated on the man infront of you. were you going to be punished? what will happen to Sora? what if they got to know about the dept collection, all of these questions start to numb your brain from any other thought, your legs were stuck, you couldn't move, the air felt too heavy on your shoulders, your vision was getting blurry, you were about to pass out from the miasma in the air. the man infront of you however stood still and composed, glancing at you from time to time.

[Name]! a Loud voice of your teammates called out your name "what are you doing?!" one of you teammate shouted at you "huh?" you look down to your right side and see the ball sitting just few steps away from you, "uh-yes" you quickly pick the ball up and throw it in the same direction you threw earlier. the action made you more dizzy, your body had loosened up, unlike before your legs were about to give up on you. just don't look in that direction and focus!, you tell yourself and try to straighten up your body one more time, the ball was hit in your direction one more time and you lunged backwards to catch it and fell to the ground on your side, after feeling the weight of the baseball on your glove you swiftly stand up and one more time throw the ball in the direction of the first plate, but this time with all your strength. this thing went on for three to four times and finally the game ended.

it was getting dark, and you had to get back home. you glance behind you and saw that the man was nowhere to be seen, you sigh of relief and go to sit down on a bench, you touch your torso to ease yourself and that's when you feel something wet. your widen as you look down at your hand, it is covered in red. [Name!] you hear Sora as she puts her hand on your shoulder, you move away from her. "um Sora I have to go to the bathroom, it's urgent" you give her a nervous smile "okay, I'll wait for yo-" you cut her off "you can go!" you said in a loud voice "it's getting dark so you can go, you don't have to wait for me" you say softly this time, her eyebrows knit together in frown "no, I am not leaving you here" she says and grabs your hand "whatever it is I'll come with you" she says with a stern look on her face, "Sora please, just for today listen to me and leave" you tug your Hand free and hold her's tightly on your hand. "what is up with you?!" she shouts at you "you're just leaving me without any explanation! why?!" she demands "I'll tell you everything, when the time comes I will! but just for today, go" you plead at her, now holding her hand in both of yours. "fine" she tugs her hand free harshly from your hold and strides away. you take long deep breath as you see her leaving the ground, you relax yourself by taking few more deep breaths.

But your relaxation doesn't last long, you feel a pang of pain down your wound. the adrenaline has rushed out of your nerves and you could feel the pain Inflaming, your eyes widen and you rush towards the Baseball Equipment room of your Academy your legs stumbling and the pain making your chest feel heavy, you were about to pass out from the excruciating feeling.

you finally reach the door of the Equipment room, closing the door you lift the layers of your baseball uniform and see that your wound has been your reopened, you hiss and scrunch your nose at the damage. you put your bare hand on the wound and it Stinged even more, you buck your torso upwards removing your hand from the wound. you then tumble your way over to the mini lockers kept across from the door it was most likely for you to find a medical kit there, you open different lockers and rummage through them, you find many things deemed useless for your situation right now but not the medical kit. "Fuck!" you scream in frustration as you throw the things you were holding on the floor, you go back to searching through the lockers for the medical kit and you finally find it, with shaky hands your try to open the box but it fell from your hands on to the ground making an even louder noise than before. you were about to bend down to pick up the box when you heard the door being slammed open.

It was that same man, but this time he had a wary expression on his face. unlike the former times you've seen him this time was the only time when you saw signs of life in his eyes. seeing you the expression in his face changed from wary to confused, his tensed posture relaxed. however the mere signs that he was an alive body only lasted for a minute, he again regained his straighten figure and his face went back to being expressionless. but you felt more confused in this situation since moments ago you were scared of him, but now you're studying expression. "you're bleeding" his smooth but deep voice broke you out of your stance and the adrenaline started to rush back in your body, you shoulders tensed, hands curled into a fist, the pain in your torso gone. the man infront of you took a step forward which caused you to step backwards into the lockers that were neatly closed just few moments ago but were now opened and discarded around.

"my name is Tomioka Giyuu, I mean no harm to you" he says removing the kitana from his back to which you flinch back further into the lockers. looking at your reaction he discards the sword he was holding to the side and lifts his hands up to his head "I only intend to help you out, the cut seems to be too deep since you're bleeding a lot" both his voice and face had no expression, it almost felt like he was an ornament. which made you even more scared, a man who punishes humans for joining demons being devoid of humane feelings felt like a nightmare. "I-I am fine" you choke out, you didn't realize that tears were forming in your eyes. "I-I'll dress up the Wound a-and leave" you said, your voice wavering. "it's dark outside so I am afraid I can't let you do that" he says, which only made you tense up more. "W-well then I'll stay here till the morning" you say, you almost hate that you sound so childish. "please ma'am I only mean to help you, so cooperate with me" he says, but this time he had a tone to his voice. which made you relax. you look down to the side in thought.

"f-fine" you say looking up at him with glossy eyes, and you swear to see some emotions in his eyes. he slowly comes closer to you, "I'd need to inspect the injury to see if it is in need for a doctor" he says standing a few steps away from you, Almost afraid to come any near. you slightly lift up your T-Shirt and show him the area of Lesion, you look to the side when you see him look down at your Torso "the cut seems to be too deep, we'll need a doctor" he says softly and turns "come on, I'll take you" he says turning his heels towards the door.

"c-can't we just do it without a doctor" you try to reason, you didn't want your circumstances to be known by anyone and including a doctor into the matter will only make it all worse. you look at him only for your vision to be blurred. the pain shooting back to your body, you yelp and fall to your knees, you could feel the blood trickling down your thighs. "this will need a doctor I am afraid" he says in a hurried voice but bended to your level. "it won't take long for us to get there, so please come with me" he says with a slight pleading tone, his Eyes once again showing a hint of emotion. you nod your head and try to get up on your foot but the pain pinned you down to your knees. to which the man infront of you slides his shoulder under yours, putting his hand lightly on the other side of middle and keeping the distance from your wound to not inflict any more pain. lightly nudes you up from your position to make you stand on your feet, you stumble and fall to him, which he let's you.

-

the walk to the doctor's felt long and agonizing, you reach to the destination the said man told you there was a doctor that he knew. thinking about it now to your walk to the doctor he didn't say a word or even look in your general direction, "we're here" he says uninterested "Really? oh my god, I couldn't tell" you say frustrated with the pain Panging down your chest, he leaves you to sit and knocks on the door. you look at the house infront of you, it had larger area covered that your room and a larger door. it looked more expensive than the houses afforded by middle class people. after waiting for few seconds which felt like ages to you, a small voice spoke "who is it?" "Tomioka Giyuu, I have an injured person with me and I'd like for them to be treated" he said again in a bored voice. after few more seconds the door finally opened, and there stood a girl with blue eyes and black hair with a stern look on her face. she seemed to be in Highschool by age, she turned to you then fully opened the door and came to you. "I'll take the lady from here, you can leave Mr Tomioka" she says in quite tone, to which the man that brought you here turned his heels and left, your eyes following him. "can you walk fine miss?" she asks you in a soft tone, "y-yes" you say and get up. she then turned to the house and said "follow me"

you follow the girl inside and enter into what seemed like a living room since it had vintage ornaments hanging from the ceiling, and a big sofa sitting just a few steps away from you, the room had a yellowish lighting further adding to the origin time aesthetic, the girl then takes you to a big hallway where there were three rooms with sliding doors, she opens door in the middle, "Mr. Tomioka bought a lady with him, she seems to be heavily wounded" she says bowing down a little "I see, send her in" a thin voice says. "Master Shinobu will treat you, so I'll take my leave now" she says and bows her head a little to you. you nod and step inside the room, you saw a woman with a small figure doing something with her back turned to you, the room seemed to be messy and different from the other rooms that you've seen till now. it just had a floor bed, a big table and a drawer. all seemed to be containing medical equipment, the women then turned to you, she had black and purple hair, deep Violet eyes and a soft smile on her face. you swear she's one the most beautiful but familiar woman you've ever seen. She may have been the woman you saw with Tomioka that day.

"oh my, it seems like you've bled out too much" the smile on her face drops for a few seconds before coming back up, you look down at her statement, the pain was still there but you got slightly used to it. you saw your shorts and the black Stockings underneath it covering all of your leg was covered in blood. "it's okay, if you eat plenty I am sure you'll be back to your Plump shape" she says softly. her voice was smooth and honey-like, it almost felt Like she was singing you a lullaby with each word that she spoke. "take off the top half of your clothes and lie down, I'll treat you in a minute" she says turning back to the table. you took off your jersey and the full-sleeved black t-shirt and lied down on the floor bed. the Thin cloth that you wrapped around your waist was discarded a long time ago.

"I'll inject you with Anesthesia first, so that you don't feel anymore pain when I stich you" she says coming up to you with a fresh injection, cotton and an unsealed bottle of the said anesthesia, she was wearing gloves now, she put the medicine inside the injection and cleaned off an area on your arm, then injected the medicine. "done, now I'll clean your wound, you'll fall asleep in a few minutes" she says looking at you with the same soft smile she had before, she then goes back to the table she was working on before.

You look up at the ceiling and there was also a smaller vintage ornament hanging from it, but the room did not have the relaxing yellow light, it had an eye Stinging bright white light which you suppose was to look at patients better. Soon the dizziness made it's way up to your head and, your sight soon became blurry and your eyelids starting close. You hear the Woman's voice before Drifting off to the nether dreamland "Tomioka will inspect you tomorrow, so for now have a good sleep"

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Note: I am so very sorry for the uploading the chapter so late! I've been getting busier and busier week by week, and I can't even make the chapters longer! I Apologize that it seems a little rushed but I assume that the next week won't be so busy for me so I'll try my best to upload quickly.

Thank you Reading!

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[mislamicpearl]

Thoughts on DR S2 episodes 16-17:

These two episodes were SO good!

Spoilers below

Aww, Zane patting Lloyd's shoulder as he breathes a sigh of relief.

Dang, I really wanna see Zeatrix get revenge on Ras honestly.

Wait a minute wait a minute, the forbidden five member that's with Ras has an elemental power? What is it?? He never uses it in the games, he just uses shatterspin!

Yo, Arin was finally able to do proper spinjitzu just from one short session of second-hand teaching from Frack. I can't wait for him to throw that in Lloyd's face!

But also his tornado had some shatterspin lines in it?? Was I seeing that right?

I literally said out loud "if Lloyd loses to this guy (invisible man) that would be REALLY pathetic!" But no, he's protected by his protagonist status. Sora and Nya were protected by their girlboss status. Cole and Zane unfortunately had neither so they had to be cannon fodder.

Wow I was certain they were going to pit Cole up against Geo. Still sucks he lost though (but still not as embarrassing as Zane, who literally just had to fight a dude *still grumbling*)

OMG Cole falling a long distance AGAIN ahahaha!

BUT this time he finally learned and used earth bending to catch himself up! Nice.

"I can't control metal!" You should attend Toph's metal bending school Cole. I'm sure if Nya could make ice that ONE season, you can use your power to master metal.

Aww, despite Frack (still a dumb name, that's what I use to swear when I don't want to swear) working with Ras, I think the rapport he has with Cole is very sweet. If Cole's not careful he's going to end up adopting another child lol.

Yoooo the Arin and Sora friction is so good, I'm loving this drama!

Ohoho, Ras wants control of all the elemental powers, what a surprise.

"Your anger isn't helping Wyldfyre." "It's helping me stay angry!" Love Wyldfyre ahahaha and Cole's face!

The fact that I was actually outraged when the crystal disappeared right as Nya was going to grab it!

WU SPRITE CAME TO COLE AGAIN! Are you going to tell us where it took you last time Cole??

Omg yes, Nya's going straight after Jay, thank you!

And awwww the goodbye hug between her and Lloyd, ugh the sibling energy of these two.

Nya and Kai communicating literally through the power of their sibling bond.😍

It's so hilarious and perfect that as soon as Kai hears about Jay his first reaction is to insult him hahaha.

Ohhhh the forbidden five member that's sleeping in the Nether space is the one possessing Jordana!

Glad to see Arin didn't let his anger with Sora overtake his job, he's actually doing pretty good with his suspect board!

"My social encounter algorithm registered high levels of cringe" OMG I HAD TO PAUSE THIS I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD, THIS IS JUST BEGGING TO BECOME A MEME! INTERNET GET ON IT!

My sister: Brent Miller must have been dying laughing trying to read that line.

Me: Brent Miller probably WROTE that line. XD

Geo has apparently been rendered mute since he and Cole met up lmao, is this Lego's attempt at damage control..?

It's going to turn out Wyldfyre was right and Blekt (dumbest of the dumb names) actually is the one behind all this isn't he?

"He probably got distracted by all the temple city conce...ssions..." *both Cole and Sora stare off into the distance* lmao what was that??

When Frack said he had a question about Cole's power I totally expected him to ask why the earth was screaming - are we ever getting back to that?

NEURO!!! OMG THANK GOD HE STILL EXISTS, HE'S HERE! Probably they didn't want to get his VA back and that's why he wasn't put in a position to talk to the ninja?

Oh and that purple haired girl was probably Chamille.

Man, all of the fights with everyone using multiple powers was so cool!

Ahahaha Zeatrix's face at the bubble power was hilarious! Same girl, what a dumb power.

Except that she used it like a freaking queen??? That elemental bomb was so cool and smart, she pulled a Kuma! (@ One Piece fans again.)

Okayyy we finally get to hear the name of Lloyd's power, he's master of life! Like in the movie right? Neat.

Bro really said the word "YEET" hahaha

Holy frack, Zeatrix killed Lloyd!

[the-fluff-piece]

Hello, me again lol.

Idk why, but...

I sometimes see Law insecure about his own s/o.

It's hard to explain but like, whenever he'd stare at (y/n) he'd suddenly just... Stop what he's doing and stare, thinking a lot of thoughts until (y/n) would hold his hand, knowing what he was doing at the moment.

As well as maybe Law would purposely wake up earlier (whenever he does sleep) just to watch his own s/o wake up. Either rudely or him placing gentle kisses.

But at the same time, if given a chance, law would go on this 6 hour long rant of explanations on his favorite things and hobbies like Sora and his love for coin collecting while (y/n) would just... Listen.

He'd think they never "listens" to him because they just stare at him only to find out that either (y/n) gifted them this ultra rare Sora, warrior of the seas book or this coin that law knew was a hard find.

I am still thirsty of this maaaannn

Hello my sweet, thanks again for the great story! Still sick.

But thirsting for "I faint and he catches me" content ngl

I absolutely see him rudely staring at (y/n) with dark circles under his eyes and when they wake up, startled like hell, he'd just stare more and lick his lips.

I also see him receiving a great gift and, trying to gift something back, absolutely losing it because no gift will ever be perfect enough. Penguin will have to go out and get something while Law breaths into a bag.

Perfect mix of bad boy with super powers and poor baby needing reassurance and love constantly XD

I just want to feed him and comfort him and tell him he's doing great T-T

[silver-rings-and-rabbits]

Open Heart 2 - Chapter 1

Prognosis

Author's Note: Please read 'Landing' to get caught up with the events between books 1 & 2 :)

Matthew focused, furrowing his brow and frowning at his watch, closing off all distractions as the minute hand swept up to…

“Midnight!”

His announcement was met with whoops and cheers from his surrounding friends. He, Jackie, Sienna and Elijah were crowded round a table in Donahue’s beer garden, Bryce emerging from the bar with a tray of drinks that he passed around.

“Looks like I have perfect timing once again.” He took a beer glass for himself and raised it high. “Here’s to kicking ass and running Edenbrook as second year residents.”

The group clinked glasses. Matthew looked around them.

“I’ll always look back fondly on first year. It gave me you guys, after all.”

“How many of those have you had?” Jackie asked, ruffling his hair. Matthew ducked away with a smile.

“Just enough to spill my emotions over this table.”

“One more, and we get him dancing. Drink up, Matthew!”

Matthew couldn’t help laughing as Sienna hopped over to his side of the bench to give him a big hug.

“I can’t believe it’s been a year since we met. So much has happened since then!” she said, her eyes bright.

“You got that right,” Elijah said. His eyes slid to an empty spot on the bench that might once have been occupied by their old roommate, Landry. Or Matthew’s ex, Rafael.

Matthew didn’t miss Landry since he had moved out of the apartment and transferred to Mass Kenmore. It was Rafael he couldn’t move on from.

Someone called Sora had moved back to Boston two months ago, in April. He and Rafael had dated when they were in high school and Matthew didn’t think anything of it…until Rafael thought he might be developing feelings again for Sora and, after thinking it over, decided to break things off with Matthew.

He hadn’t seen it coming. Despite his best efforts to accept things the way they were, he was left hanging. They had been going great, meeting up after work to walk home or into the city. Rafael had integrated himself into the group, which had been the best thing after he said he felt like he didn’t belong. It seemed almost like a joke now.

Matthew glanced over at Sienna, perky and cheerful. She’d had a nightmare last year, but almost had a fling with Danny the nurse. She decided she wanted to take some time for herself and Danny – sweet and understanding – had given her that. They didn’t talk much anymore, but they were doing OK. She hadn’t lost any sleep.

As she laughed with the others now, Matthew wished he had been able to just pick himself up and move on. He had tried: Bryce and Jackie had been his wingman and woman when the opportunity presented itself. But none of his casual dates captured his heart the way Rafael had done. No one else got him dancing in the street. It had felt like what they had was real, but it turned out that Rafael had been waiting for someone else. Even though, for someone he had so much history with, Sora had never once been mentioned.

Matthew shook his head, focusing in on his friends around him.

“I’m proud of us for making it this far together,” he said.

“And with our medical licences intact.”

“Don’t tease him, Jackie! I still have nightmares about that ethics hearing!” Sienna shrieked. Matthew couldn’t tell if she was exaggerating or not.

“Sienna, please stop worrying about me—”

“Of course I worry about you!”

The talk and laughter of the group made Matthew relax. Two months since his break-up and it was still fresh, but time with his best friends made everything easier. It was almost impossible to feel alone.

He didn’t hear the back gate of the beer garden opening, but Elijah’s eyes widened and he sat up in his wheelchair.

“He’s back!”

The group turned to see Dr Ramsey strolling through the garden, pausing as he passed their table.

“Doctors. Rookie.”

A smirk ran round at Matthew’s nickname. It seemed odd to hear it again after two months.

“It’s good to have you back, Dr Ramsey. How was working with the WHO?”

“The conditions were rough, but we achieved what we set out to do. Have a good night you lot.”

He disappeared inside and Elijah whistled.

“I gotta grow a beard like that, then maybe my patients will stop thinking I’m fifteen,” he said, referring to the beard Dr Ramsey was now sporting: there hadn’t been much time to shave when fighting an epidemic in the Amazon.

“Still think we were doing fine without him” Jackie shrugged. Sienna turned to Matthew.

“Are you nervous?”

“About what?”

“Tomorrow’s your first day on the diagnostics team. I would be totally freaking out!”

“Good one, Sienna! If he wasn’t before, he is now!” Jackie laughed. Matthew chuckled too, but truthfully Jackie was closest to the truth. In the midst of his heartbreak, it had been difficult to think too far ahead. Suddenly it was upon him.

“It’ll certainly be a change of pace, juggling the team with my normal cases…and teaching an intern,” he added. Edenbrook had decided they would be running their intern program slightly differently than they did last year: whilst they had had Zaid and Ines monitoring their group, there were enough second year residents and interns coming in to pair them up, one-on-one. Matthew wasn’t sure which option sounded preferable.

“Now that part, I’m looking forward to.” Jackie was in an extremely good mood tonight.

“What, teaching an intern?”

“Yes: teaching them the meaning of fear.”

“Jackie!”

Bryce had been leaning against the tabletop enjoying the conversation, but now he started to laugh.

“I’m so glad surgeons don’t have to deal with this. I get to sit back and relax whilst you all wrangle with mini-versions of yourselves!”

“Mirani and Ramsey think I’m a colossal pain in the ass!” Matthew spluttered suddenly. “I don’t want to be responsible for another me!”

“Now that I’ve gotta see!”

Matthew thunked his head against the table with a groan. Sure, the more doctors the better, but he had not made his residents lives easy last year. He only hoped that, whoever his intern was, they were a stickler for the rules.

A little while later and it was Matthew’s turn to get the next round. The bar was relatively quiet for once, a couple of groups gathered around the pool tables and dartboard, a few more patrons, including Ethan, at the bar counter. The owner – Reggie – was moving fast with a drink order and just nodded at Matthew in acknowledgement. Matthew’s eyes wandered as he waited. There were a number of faces he didn’t recognise and wondered if he might see any of them at orientation tomorrow.

However, there was a doctor he did recognise: Dr Thorne, a plastic surgeon, was leering at a young woman who sipped a bottle of beer and steadily ignored him. Matthew had never had to work with Thorne, but had heard he was notoriously difficult to work with, and was extremely unpopular amongst the nursing staff. Now, as Dr Thorne licked his lips and ran a hand over his hair, Matthew realised he was also a creep.

“And what’s a pretty thing like you doing on her lonesome? You know, I could fix that if you want—”

“Pass.” The woman didn’t even look at him as she took another mouthful of beer. Thorne’s eyes narrowed.

“Wow, you’re kind of uptight. Maybe another drink would loosen you up…”

He trailed his hand down the woman’s back and, in a flash, she had wrenched his hand away and slammed it into the bar with a loud crack that made Thorne cry out. The bar-goers jumped and looked over at the commotion.

Shock had passed over Thorne’s face, then it became humiliation as he noticed the watching crowd, and then fury when he rounded on the woman. She glared back at him, her jaw set in defence.

“You…you broke my hand,” he snarled. “You’ll pay for this you little…”

He shoved her and her dark eyes went wide as she toppled to the floor. The beer bottles on the table shattered around her. As the shards hit the woman’s leg, Matthew leapt forwards and grabbed the back of Thorne’s jacket, stopping him from advancing.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” he cried.

“That bitch broke my hand!” Thorne roared in Matthew’s face. “I’m a plastic surgeon! I’m pressing charges! I’m going to sue that bitch to hell and back—”

“Garrett, shut up.” Ethan had come over and slammed a hand on Thorne’s shoulder. “Put your good hand to use and call yourself a cab.”

“Back up, people,” Reggie added, coming through with a brush pan. Meanwhile, the woman was limping out the door.

Matthew thought fast. He ducked behind the counter and grabbed a clean bar rag and a small bottle of grain alcohol.

“Reggie, I’ll bring it back!” he called as he rushed out the door.

“What?” Reggie had completely missed that.

Matthew found the woman outside, half-hidden round the side of the building. She was scowling as she delicately plucked the shards out of her leg. Her black tights were all torn up.

“Hey, are you OK?” Matthew asked, cautiously kneeling beside her. She jumped a little and looked up at him.

“Never better.”

“Let me help you.”

“Why?” The woman tensed slightly.

“Because you need help, and I’m a trained doctor.” They glanced down at her leg which was bleeding steadily. “You don’t have to be alone right now,” Matthew added, softly.

She pursed her lips, and then nodded and offered her leg to Matthew. He soaked the bar rag with alcohol and got to work cleaning the cut, glancing at the woman as he did so. She had shoulder length black hair, thick and wavy, her eyes were heavily lined, and she wore a lot of silver jewellery. She didn’t flinch, even as the fresh alcohol touched her wound.

“I didn’t need saving, you know.”

“I know. But someone had to speak up. From what I know of that guy, he’s a jerk through and through.”

“I messed him up pretty bad, huh?” There was a hint of pride in her voice.

“If you ask me, he got what he deserved,” Matthew said. The woman’s leg relaxed in his hand.

Once the wound was clean and free of glass, Matthew wrapped it in the cloth. It didn’t need stitches, but she would have to be very careful.

“I can take you to Edenbrook and bandage it properly if you want.”

“I’ll be fine.” The woman pulled herself upright without assistance and carefully put weight on her leg. “Thanks,” she added, walking away without looking back and only limping slightly.

Matthew smoothed his hair before returning inside, passing Ethan bundling Thorne into a cab. His friends were grouped by the bar. The glass had been cleaned up. Matthew returned the liquor to Reggie, who declined his offer to pay for what was used.

“What went down, Matthew?” Elijah asked.

“You know Dr Thorne, the plastic surgeon? He wouldn’t leave this woman alone. It got…intense.”

“Ugh,” Jackie grimaced. “I always knew that guy was gross.”

Reggie called for last orders as Ethan returned to the bar. Fear rolled in Matthew’s stomach. Sienna was right, he was suddenly freaking out about starting on the diagnostics team.

“Man,” Elijah yawned. “I’m about twenty minutes away from falling asleep on my wheels.”

“Good thing we can get you home in fifteen then,” Sienna said. “I’ll make us some cocoa to take to bed.”

Bryce sighed dramatically.

“I can’t believe I could be so unfortunate to miss out on moving in with you guys. We could all be up late, drinking cocoa, but instead I have to take myself home and prepare my own cocoa and—”

“Would you like to join us, Bryce?”

“Yes please!”

“So not subtle.” Jackie ribbed Bryce as they left the bar. Matthew said goodbye to Ethan as he followed the others out into the night.

Jackie pushed Elijah’s chair and Sienna and Bryce chatted animatedly during the short walk. Matthew trailed behind a little, his hands in his pockets. He couldn’t help thinking about what Rafael would do if he was here. He most definitely would have intervened to stop Thorne advancing on the woman. And if he wasn’t here, he would be at work, or volunteering somewhere, or seeing his family, but he would still find the time to check in with Matthew. Maybe they’d still be able to walk home together. Even now, Matthew had to admit he still wasn’t quite used to walking without him.

Sienna put cocoa on immediately when they got home, Spooky the chinchilla perched on her shoulder and nibbled her hair. The five of them chatted for a while longer as they drank, then Bryce took his leave and the others retired for the night.

Although the company and warm cocoa soothed his nerves, he still struggled to sleep properly. He tossed and turned in his too-big bed before rising with the sun. There was no point trying to sleep any longer so instead he met Aurora and her suitcase at the T station with a cup of coffee. Today was her official move-in day, after Landry’s agreement had expired. She had spent the last month slowly moving boxes into the apartment, which sat in the room waiting to be unpacked.

“How are you doing?” she asked him as they walked towards the apartment block.

“I’m doing OK,” he said. Aurora nodded sympathetically.

The other roommates were up and about by the time they got back, and they were greeted with big smiles and the smell of food.

“Morning!” Sienna said. “I’m making bacon sandwiches.”

“And I put on a pot of coffee,” Jackie said. “But I see you’d rather bow down to corporate greed and waste your hard-earned money on overpriced, oversugared crap—”

“Chuck my cup away would you, Jackie?” Matthew said, cheerfully, passing his cup into her hands before she could object, and taking Aurora’s case into her new room. Aurora looked on, bemused.

“They do that a lot, but you get used to it,” Elijah said to Aurora. “C’mon, we’ll help you unpack.”

In the few hours they had before work, Aurora instructed them on how she wanted her room organised: her clothes were hung up neatly, her medical textbooks were arranged alphabetically, and her novels organised by genre. A mood lamp sat on her bedside table and fluffy pillows adorned her bed. Elijah arranged various pencil holders on her desk, Matthew arranged the snow globes on her dresser. With thirty minutes to spare, Aurora looked around the small space, happily.

“I can’t believe it all fit! You have a lot of stuff,” Sienna said, serving up the sandwiches.

“Well, it all serves a purpose.”

“Get a sun lamp when you can,” Jackie said. “It gets dark easily on this side.”

“It’s good to have someone filling that room again. It’s about time we replaced He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,” Elijah said as they settled in the living room.

“What happened with that guy—OH MY GOD, A RAT!” Aurora suddenly jumped half a mile into the air, grabbing Matthew’s arm. There was a very brief moment of panic before realising the ‘rat’ was just Spooky. Aurora had just noticed her, sitting on the TV stand.

“That’s Spooky! She’s our chinchilla!” Sienna said. Spooky hopped over for a petting as Aurora looked almost horrified.

“You guys failed to mention you had a free-range chinchilla?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to her,” Matthew said, happily. Spooky was one of the few things that could currently put a genuine smile on his face.

Aurora seemed doubtful as she gave Spooky a suspicious look before turning to the roommates…her roommates.

“I know things weren’t great between us last year, so I want to thank you for agreeing to let me move in.”

“No problem. If the rent’s lowered, I’m happy!” Jackie said, and Aurora smirked a little.

“It’s a new year at work. The perfect opportunity to start afresh,” Matthew reminded everyone. He tried to believe himself. Starting over could be easier said than done.

They walked down the road together, enjoying the summer morning. Second year meant they didn’t have to wear scrubs all the time, so they had all gone shopping for smart new outfits. Matthew had a v-necked sweater and a tie and it strangely made him feel more confident, even if ties weren’t his favourite accessory.

The hospital looked the same as it did every day, but somehow there was something different too. A year ago it had been huge and imposing, but now it was just a place of work. It was probably supposed to be seen as a safe place, but Matthew almost immediately ran into Dr Thorne. His hand was in a brace and he glared at Matthew with a sneer.

“Dr Valentine, is it?”

Matthew looked from Thorne’s injured hand to his face.

“That looks like it hurt,” he noted. Thorne’s eyes went even tighter.

“Believe me, Doctor, it’s just begun to hurt.”

He walked away and Aurora raised her eyebrows.

“Did you do something to piss off Dr Thorne? Watch out for him. Aunt Harper always hated that guy.”

“Wait, really?”

“Uh…you didn’t hear that from me!” Aurora hissed as they joined up with the rest of the second years for the Chief of Medicine’s welcome.

Harper Emery, Aurora’s aunt, had been Chief last year before deciding to return to Neurosurgery. In her place stood Dr Naveen Banerji, welcoming the residents with a kind smile. He had completed his recovery from the bacteriophage that Matthew had diagnosed, and was now standing without the assistance of a cane. He gave Matthew a sly wink when he caught his eye.

“Welcome back to another year at Edenbrook Hospital!” Banerji addressed his residents. “Now, I have called you all here because today Edenbrook will have a very special guest.”

“Please be John Carpenter…” Elijah muttered as Harper Emery joined Dr Banerji.

“The Governor of Massachusetts will touring the hospital ahead of a state budget meeting and it’s important that we show her the excellent work we do here in order to preserve both our funding and our not-for-profit status for the future,” Naveen said.

“In short, people,” Harper continued. “We need everyone working at the top of their game today. No mistakes…now go and do what you do best,” she added with a smart smile to a brief applause before the crowd dispersed.

“We’ve got an hour before the interns start,” Elijah said, checking his watch.

“I can’t believe they’re starting at 10AM when we were here at the crack of dawn last year.” Jackie rolled her eyes.

Matthew loosened his tie a little.

“Well, I should make myself useful and find the diagnostics team.”

“Good luck in the big pond, little fish!” Jackie called after him.

Matthew took the lift up to the seventh floor. He hadn’t come up here very often in his intern year, but he knew it tended to be reserved for diagnostic patients, those with rarer diseases, and a few end-of-life care cases.

The office was located on a wide corridor, on the same side as the main entrance to the building, made with a glass door and large windows. Matthew could see the interactive whiteboard and a round table, as well as a smart mahogany desk.

Matthew exhaled as he finally entered the room, taking it all in. He had worked for this. He had earned this.

“I’m really here,” he said softly.

“Hey, me too.”

Matthew jumped as he whipped round to see a small, black leather sofa where he hadn’t noticed the older doctor reading a medical journal. He jumped again when he noticed the doctor’s face.

“Zaid?!”

The man in front of him looked exactly like Zaid apart from the glasses, and the fact that he had combed his hair until it spiked upwards, and wore a t-shirt, something Zaid never did. If this was Zaid, he was having one hell of a nervous breakdown.

“Ah,” the doctor chuckled. “I take it you’re one of my twin brother’s residents.”

He held out a hand for Matthew to shake. He was still coming down from the shock.

“Baz Mirani’s the name, immunology’s the game. Slash specialty.”

“Sorry, I didn’t even know Zaid had a twin.”

“Well, for some reason, he prefers to go out of his way to pretend we’re not related.” Baz suddenly laughed. “Did you know when I applied for med school, he said he was going to be a teacher? He taught third-graders for a while!”

“I’d like to see that,” Matthew said.

“But he couldn’t resist his love of medicine for long, hence I’m a few years ahead of him, career-wise. When I heard he got into Edenbrook, I transferred over here too!”

“I bet he loved that.”

“He did not,” Baz gave Matthew an odd look, then grinned sheepishly. “Right, you were being sarcastic. I don’t really pick up on sarcasm. June does though, hi June,” he added.

Matthew turned to see a tall, thin woman with long, shiny, black hair, entering the office. He had seen her before, during rounds last year. She gave Matthew a welcoming smile.

“Dr Valentine, I presume?” she said, with a lovely English accent. “I’m Dr June Hirata, psychologist and consultant neurologist.”

“Pleased to meet you, Dr Hirata.”

“Call me June. We’re all friends here.”

Matthew smiled. The two of them seemed friendly and neither of them appeared to be judging his age or experience. He had been prepared for uptight doctors who looked down their nose at him, and condescendingly told him to make coffee.

“Introductions done?” Dr Ramsey had just walked in. “Good. We have work to do.” He had shaved the beard and looked surprisingly fresh-faced for someone who had flown back from the Amazon just the night before. “We have an incoming patient from Manhattan Presbyterian.”

Ethan stuck a CT scan to the whiteboard as Baz and June took seats at the table. Matthew did the same.

“Describe the patient?” Baz asked.

Matthew prepared to take notes.

“Male, aged 45, Asian-American,” Ethan said. He was writing faster than Matthew.

“Symptoms?” June asked

“He presented with a fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, and was treated for the flu. He returned several days later with enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal pain and a rash on his shoulder.”

Matthew raced to keep up.

“What did his former doctors think it was?”

“Hodgkins Lymphoma.”

“Amateurs. And his blood?”

Matthew gave up trying to take notes. The other three doctors were blazing through theories and questions much too fast. He tried to say something, but couldn’t think of what hadn’t already been asked, and then when he did, someone else asked it before he opened his mouth.

Matthew swallowed, feeling a little sick. Maybe he wasn’t ready for this. Jackie had joked that she’d be able to take his place if he couldn’t do it and now he was starting to worry if she should be the one sitting here, not him. Maybe it was just a fluke that he’d diagnosed Dr Banerji, especially since the initial idea had come to him without him really thinking about it…

Matthew shook his head and refocused on the conversation. Getting caught up in his insecurities wouldn’t help anyone. He stopped worrying about notes and listened to the rapid-fire question and answer session.

“Six months ago he was admitted again with flu-like symptoms and a rash on his arm.”

“That could be the key, did they biopsy it?”

“They didn’t.”

“Any history of dermatitis?”

“Was he on any medications prior to being admitted?”

“No and no.” Ethan was writing it all down.

“It could be cutaneous Kikuchi disease,” June said.

“The symptoms do add up,” Baz nodded.

“I agree.” Ethan turned to look at them with a satisfied smile.

Matthew tried to wrap his head around how they had just diagnosed a patient they hadn’t even seen so quickly when Danny knocked on the door.

“Doctors.” He shot a quick smile to Matthew, who returned it. “Your patient has arrived.”

“Thank you, Danny,” Ethan nodded. “OK. Dr Valentine, run a biopsy on the patient’s rash. If we’re correct, we’ll begin the patient on a treatment plan of nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatories and prednisone.”

“And if we’re wrong?” Matthew asked, hesitantly.

“We’ll re-evaluate.”

“But we won’t need to,” June said, confidently.

“Team dismissed,” Ethan said. “I’ll page you if I need you.”

Matthew felt a little dizzy as Ethan returned to the desk and Baz and June prepared to leave. Baz chuckled and squeezed Matthew’s shoulder reassuringly.

“I made a similar face when I first joined the team,” he said. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”

He walked away with a kind smile. Matthew watched him leave for a minute, before turning back to Ethan, who was already updating the patient file on the computer.

“You should have time to run that biopsy before you have to meet your intern,” he said. “You’ll need to get used to balancing work here with your resident duties. Now that you’re a second year, that will include free rotations at the clinic.”

“Yes, Dr Ramsey,” Matthew murmured. His head continued to spin and the reminder of his other work didn’t help. “Erm…will we always diagnose patients before seeing them?”

“No. But we could have patients coming in from around the world at a moment’s notice, and it’s a good idea to keep our diagnostic skills sharp.”

He looked away from the screen and up at Matthew, frowning a little. Matthew shifted on the spot, glancing away.

“Is everything alright, Matthew?”

Matthew bit his lip, then asked, “How are you so sure you made the right diagnosis?”

“We’re not,” Ethan said, unhelpfully. “But in medicine the most logical answer is the correct one. In this case, the most logical answer was Hodgkins Lymphoma.”

“But the other team already eliminated that.”

“Correct. So we took it off the board and considered the next most logical answer. The patient has a persistent rash, so paired with the symptoms presented, the most logical answer is Kikuchi disease. As to how, I’m not sure, so you’ll be running the biopsy. Never just assume we are correct; arrogance fails us as doctors.”

“So…I should use logic and be humble.” It sounded too simple when he put it like that but, as Matthew thought it through, the approach made a lot more sense.

“Read journals too,” Ethan nodded. “I want you to turn yourself into a walking disease encyclopaedia. You can’t diagnose if you don’t study up. These patients wouldn’t have been referred to us if they had a more common disease.”

“Got it.”

Matthew relaxed as he read the teams qualifications framed on the wall. The prospect of the workload didn’t phase him, he was used to burying himself in books. Besides, it’s not like he had a partner taking up his time.

“So, what did you think of the team?” Ethan asked. “It was myself, June and Baz working with Naveen last year before he put himself out of pasture.”

Matthew snorted. “You mean, became Chief of Medicine.”

“Yes, that’s what I said.”

Matthew chuckled. “Well, June really knows her stuff. And Baz seems really cool. He was here before I was and we got chatting.”

“He’s actually hard not to like,” Ethan said. “Walking proof that genetics aren’t everything.”

“Apparently Zaid wasn’t thrilled that he transferred over here.”

“He cleared it with the old chief before the transfer was approved…although I’ve heard a rumour that it was Baz pretending to be Zaid.”

Matthew spluttered. The idea was ridiculous and he had to know whether or not it was true. He had been a twin, but fraternal twins didn’t have the advantage of pretending to be the other.

“How are you feeling?” Ethan asked suddenly.

“…Like a clueless intern all over again.”

Ethan sat back in his chair.

“You are clueless, comparatively speaking. Don’t forget, you’re only just into your second year of residency. Now you’re competing with a collective thirty years’ experience. But you’ll rarely find a better opportunity to learn. If it inspires you to be a better doctor, that’s how you should feel.”

After two months of living one day at a time, not being able to eat properly, and interrupted sleep, it was a very welcome reminder of what he was supposed to be doing. He didn’t need a romantic partner to be a good doctor. He had thought like that all through med school and he would start thinking like that again.

“Thanks Ethan.”

“You’re welcome.”

Matthew rushed down the stairs to the atrium, where he was supposed to be ten minutes ago. The pep talk and biopsy had taken longer than he thought, and then the lift had taken too long so he had opted for the stairs.

A group of fresh-faced interns stood in a cluster with expressions that ranged from fear to eagerness. The second-year residents faced them with expressions ranging from welcoming (Sienna), to nerves (Elijah), to apprehension (Jackie).

“Nice of you to join us, Valentine,” Zaid said, dryly.

It was extremely disorienting, switching from Baz to Zaid. Matthew looked back at him, trying to picture the two of them growing up together as brothers. Zaid glared back.

“Why are you making that face?”

“…No reason.”

Ines clapped her hands together, commanding the attention of the room.

“As I was saying,” she said, bright as ever. “We need everyone on top form during the governor’s visit, so second-years, please keep a close eye out for your interns and, interns, ask for help if and when you need. Don’t suffer in silence!”

“While the likely outcome is ‘unmitigated disaster’, we’re gonna shoot for the stars and aim for ‘mitigated disaster’.” Zaid glared at the group. “If anyone so much as sneezes too loudly, I’ll personally write a ten-page recommendation transferring both of you to a hospital in Antarctica.”

Matthew just about caught the whispers exchanged between Elijah and Jackie. Elijah was actually tempted by Zaid’s offer, and Jackie questioned the sensibility of having the governor visit on the same day a large group of inexperienced doctors were having their very first day on the job.

As the new Chief Resident, Zaid went down a list of residents and introduced them to their interns. Aurora was introduced to Dr Talia Evans, a woman with a blonde bob who instantly asked if she was related to Harper Emery. Aurora smiled and confirmed she was, but her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched.

Elijah cautiously wheeled himself forward to meet Dr Sothy Youen, a wiry intern with a mass of curly black hair. He seemed excited and referred to the two of them as Batman and Oracle. He panicked in case Elijah took it as a wheelchair joke, but it just so happened that Elijah loved Oracle.

Sienna bounced over to meet a strong jawed, strapping intern by name of Dr Mitch Keller. She welcomed him warmly. He towered over her and visibly fought not to laugh at the prospect of Sienna being his boss. Matthew frowned. Sienna could stand up for herself, but he had a bad feeling.

Finally his name was called and he stepped forward to meet Dr Esme Ortega.

Matthew’s jaw dropped when a small woman stepped to the front of the crowd. Her dark hair was thick and wavy, her eyes were thickly outlined, and her short sleeved scrubs revealed a tattoo around her bicep. Around twelve hours ago, Matthew had watched her break the hand of a powerful plastic surgeon.

“You’re my intern?” he said, stunned.

“Guess so. Hi, Dr Valentine.”

Tags: @sazanes @rafasgirl23415 @ceruleansnake0

[suiseisyojo]

to belong in a magician's hat.

「sakasaki natsume x akiyama reine // natsurei + platonic wataru」 ↳ commission for @kunehori ! wc: 1,592 a/n: thank you sooo much for commissioning me! kohaku and i thank you dearly♡

They say a single rabbit is a lonely rabbit—that they’re social creatures who thrive in having company. But for Reine, who has always been on her own, she found herself occluding the radiance she didn’t know she had by hiding in the shadows and small, makeshift burrows away from others.

How long has she been doing this?

“Are the lights not fixed yet?” Natsume’s mellifluous words caressed Reine’s ears as he leaned over her petite frame, golden eyes probing the way her fingers moved punctiliously across the control panel.

Shaking her head in disappointment, Reine’s vexation towards herself bypassed the way the tips of her ears brightened up from the propinquity between her and Natsume. “I can’t seem to figure out the timing between the third set and the chorus⋯ No matter how many times I adjust it, it’s always off somehow⋯”

The noise of the booth’s door creaking open resonated within the compact space, galvanizing the pair into leering over at Anzu who had just timorously stepped inside, her voice meek yet filled with benignity as she asked, “Do you two need some help?”

“Ah, Kitten♪” Natsume’s eyes appeared to twinkle as soon as Anzu padded in, those elusive and charming sparkles making Reine’s heart ache. “Little bunny and I are trying to rearrange the lights for Switch’s upcoming Live.”

“I don’t mind taking a look at it,” Anzu proffered her expertise, glancing between Reine and Natsume as they made way for her to examine the panel, “Switch always has elaborate light shows during their performances. It can be pretty tricky.”

The way Natsume and Anzu talked to each other⋯ it was cordial, familiar.

“Thank you; you’re already familiar with how we like them to be. And I want the lights to be perfect, because 「I want my special someone to look at me and fall for me」,” Natsume sent a wink towards Anzu as he beamed.

Reine didn’t like it. She didn’t like it at all; and yet, she still wanted to see that twinkle in Natsume’s eyes forever.

“Um⋯ I-I’ll leave you two to it here,” Reine stammered out before she could even make sense of the entanglement of harrow and pain twisting in the pit of her stomach, “I should go check on Sora-kun⋯!”

And before Natsume or Anzu could even bid her goodbye, Reine rushed from the booth—all while ignoring the pair of eyes that followed her figure.

✧.

In the palm of her hands, Reine gaped at the stars scintillating there—wanting to stop them from slipping through her fingers, yet slowly cleaving her hands apart in order to fulfill their true potential.

Ever since she bound herself to a personal contract, Reine had been making subtle (or at least in her eyes) efforts to garner opportunities for Natsume and Anzu to be alone together; or to have them think of the other.

Unfortunately, each attempt, no matter how little, exacerbated the queasiness coating the seams of Reine’s body.

Why did she have to feel so sick all the time? So tired? So exhausted in a way that only leaves her feeling worse?

Asleep in the sunshine, with her silhouette still standing, Reine was incognizant to the boisterous and spirited presence approaching from behind her.

“Ta-da!☆” Copious doves went flying around Reine as Wataru popped up next to her head, cheek almost pressing against hers. He only ascertained she was startled awake when she relinquished a panicked squeak. “Oya? You were asleep, Usagi-chan?”

“Y-Yeah⋯” Reine heaved an anxious exhale as a yawn soon followed, her glossy lips parting cutely.

“No wonder my birdies were reluctant to pop out! My apologies,” Wataru expressed his contrite with a sigh of his own, his hands promptly gripping her waist as he guided her to the nearby benches, “Still, it’s dangerous to sleep in the middle of the walkways!”

That’s when Reine realized her location outside Yumenosaki, small body being nestled down by the ever-eccentric senpai. Even she knew she never would’ve done that normally—falling asleep in the open? Without hiding?—and she had no choice but to blame it on the pulsating pain searing her core.

Was she allowed to feel jealous when she’s the one trying to pair two people up? When she’s the one stabbing herself over and over again?

“I know, I’m sorry,” Reine apologized to Wataru, albeit she could tell her own tone was disheartened and gloomy when she hadn’t meant to sound so execrable.

“You seem trouble, Usagi-chan,” Wataru observed smoothly as he sat himself down beside her, silvery locks descending over his shoulders as his head tilted towards her, “I’m a pretty good listener; I’ll hear what’s plaguing your heart with sadness♪”

Wataru talked even funnier than Natsume, but Reine supposed that’s because he is the one who taught Natsume a lot of his magical tricks. Could she even trust Wataru with her own feelings like this? They hadn’t really interacted much before⋯

“I-I’m not sad,” Reine corrected, strained voice and half-lidded gaze betraying her want to stay calm-and-collected, “I’m disappointed all my efforts aren’t being seen.”

“Your efforts? You aren’t talking about your work as a producer, are you?” Wataru hummed, his shrewdness once again bursting forth like confetti from a true magic show.

“No⋯ I’m talking about Natsume-kun and Anzu-chan,” Reine elucidated, trembling fingers playing with the hem of her skirt as she gathered her hands in her lap, “I’ve been trying to help them get closer, but it just hasn’t been working.”

Reine wanted them to hurry up and realize their feelings so that she can start to stitch together her broken heart; start to pick up the shattered pieces and heal. Because she was in love with Natsume.

“Oh, Usagi-chan, you’re trying to play cupid?” Wataru suspired with sympathy in his words, reaching his hand forward to tilt her head up with his fingers, “It’s not working because you’re pulling the arrow from your own body.”

Perplexity suffused through the aperture leading to her thoughts, and Reine couldn’t fathom the unorthodox articulation. “What do you mean, Wataru-senpai?”

“You’re trying to make the vestiges reach somewhere they were never supposed to be,” Wataru further said, only magnifying her confusion as his finger pokes over her chest, “the magic you’re looking for is already long gone.”

Wataru was definitely an even weirder wizard than Natsume.

✧.

Reine couldn’t understand what Wataru was talking about, the equivocations behind his remarks feeling more akin to a curse than a spell, and she continued to be left alone with her thoughts as she rested her head upon an abundance of towels whilst curling herself into a ball.

Images of Natsume’s enthralling visage coruscated in her head as her eyes fluttered shut, the way he looked at Anzu—the way they talked and laughed together. It hurt.

Natsume was the one who pulled her from burying herself completely, who’s dazzling smile and spells saved her time and time again. And here she was again, trying to conceal herself after all the protests she’s lived through.

Squeezing her eyes shut with more force, as if her negative thoughts impelled her to do so, Reine bawled as the door to her nesting spot was ripped open.

“Found you~♪ You were in here, little bunny,” it was Natsume’s countenance that enveloped her vision as her blue irises blinked rapidly, lashes flitting, “You sure love this broom closet.”

“H-How⋯?” Reine faltered in her words as his appearance before her obfuscated her mind, nearly causing her to blank out, “No, what are you doing⋯ Were you looking for me?”

Crouching down onto his knees, Natsume bowed himself down to her diminutive height as she remained laying on the closet flooring; cleaning towels and rags cushioning her body. “Why did you run away earlier?” he questioned, squinting his eyes to evince an iota of tetchiness.

“Run away?” Reine swallowed thickly, perceiving that faint annoyance in Natsume and wanting to cringe away from it. She knew what he was alluding to, yet she was too bewildered to properly talk with him.

“As if you have any business with Noeri-senpai. You’re so obvious,” Natsume in spite of the festering defeatism felt his lips curving into a unbridled half-grin, “You always have the same excuse when leaving. Are you trying to be subtle?”

“What.”

This conversation was happening too fast for Reine to unravel and register—and yet, Natsume continued.

“So, tell me⋯ what are you doing here instead of by my side?” Natsume asked softly, the melodic power his voice retains gripping her as another frown overturns his mouth. “I have fun playing with Kitten, but I miss you too much to enjoy myself to the fullest.”

They say rabbits can die of loneliness.

Dewy tears coalesced in Reine’s eyes as she fixated on Natsume, the pain that’s been besetting her spilling over in the form of a choked sob, “I’m trying to help you find happiness.”

The stress of losing a beloved companion or partner can be all too much to bear.

“Haah, I already found my happiness,” Natsume reassured her, bringing his hand forward, “I found it in this closet a long time ago.”

It’s time to stop hiding—the brightness she yearned to belong to her is right in front of her. Sliding her hand into Natsume’s, Reine felt herself being pulled from the darkness once again.

Not able to squander another moment, Natsume pressed Reine’s body up against his and brought his lips to her cheeks; kissing away each and every glistening tear.

It’s been inside her all along.

[drift-compatible-poll]

Preliminary Round: Kingdom Hearts

Sora and Riku vs Sora, Riku, and Kairi vs Larxene and Marluxia

Propaganda for Sora and Riku: "Look. I know that the kh fandom isn’t powerful enough to make them win but I swear they are perfect for this. They worked out like all their issues in the first game through weird villain betrayal arc bs and ever since then, they’ve been hopelessly in gay love and perfectly in sync. As soon as they had their whole reunion in KH2 the game entirely shifted to ��let’s demonstrate how close Sora and Riku are in the most blatant of ways”. I’d highly recommend footage of their fight against the final boss Xemnas as proof of this, along with footage of their special duo Limit attack “Eternal Session”. There are multiple point at which they effortlessly hand their keyblades, special magic weapons that manifest from one’s heart, to each other in attacks. Apart from their synchronization in combat, they’re also extremely close as friends/possibly more. Riku is the only one trusted to dive into Sora’s heart to save him at the end of Dream Drop Distance, and in that game he also did the absolutely insane thing that is uh. He subconsciously changed his species to Dream Eater (lil magic dream creatures) (but Riku still looks human) because of his innate sense that Sora was in danger. Riku seems to have a sixth sense for Sora’s emotions in general because he once noticed Sora was crying before Sora even started crying (that was weird. Birth By Sleep) and noticed he was upset without looking (KH3, Keyblade Graveyard take 1). Sora also seems to consider Riku his first priority a lot, even choosing to keep looking for him to save him at the end of KH1 rather than to return to their home islands with their other friend Kairi (who is usually positioned as love interest, but it’s really lackluster and barely happening at this point and she’s just absent a lot and lacks characterization, and Sora seems to think a LOT more about Riku than he does about Kairi) and be safe. Riku’s dedication to Sora is kinda unhealthily dependent at times because he straight up spent a year once being depressed and fighting off possession while working himself to death trying to wake Sora up from a coma and recover his memories. And then spent another year later leading search efforts for Sora when he disappeared after KH3. Lastly, I am of course obligated to mention the Gayblade (no official name, move summoning it is called Nightmare’s End/Mirage Split), which is a special giant keyblade with heart decals and a paopu fruit (fruit that supposedly intertwines people’s destinies when they share one) and it’s like half light and half dark and is just straight up made from the two of them basically combining their hearts, which… if that’s not being in sync, what is? Sorry for ranting. Anyways, Soriku Endgame Actually, and please consider them for your poll."

Propaganda for Sora, Riku and Kairi: "Their Hearts are so connected to each other in so many way that more than once they brought each other back from death, in various combiantions. Also have you seen their combo finishers? They're so good."

Propaganda for Larxene and Marluxia: "(writing it down as Marluxia and Larxene for the sake of the poll runner's organization but let it be known that i also mean them as Lauriam and Elrena) You are not partner in crime for multiple millennias and multiple realities, finiding each other even after being separated by death, without being drift compatible. Also Sterlizia is with them in spirit, since it's her death that brought them together. Fight me on that." "Real ride or dies. They befriended each other while trying to find their missing sister/friend respectively, had to go to the future and (presumedly) lost their memories, and joined an evil organization. Upon meeting again, they decided everyone else sucked and the two of them attempted a coup. It failed and they kinda died. For whatever reason, Marluxia decided to rejoin afterwards and Larxene, who very clearly hates everyone else involved, follows along just to stick with him."

[nehswritesstuffs]

Baratie: Home to Chefs, Strays, and the Occasional Sword Goblin - Part 7

Still not dead--just running into a couple plot blockers while busy turning another maladjusted Northern lad into an accidental dad. When all is said and done, this is going to be a bridging chapter (so not filler, but also not too plotty), but I figure a reward for your patience is warranted.

First chapter on [tumblr] - [FFN] - [AO3]

Prior chapter on [tumblr] - [FFN] - [AO3]

A letter arrives, a snail call is made, and comfort is offered. [3269 words]

Sitting on the balcony outside his bedroom, Sanji read quietly in the warm sun with Asido cuddled into his side. It was a day off for him, so he was spending quality time with his nephew, the boy presently tuckered out after pushing himself hard during training. For not having a directly-altered Lineage Factor, he certainly was unnaturally athletic and capable of learning quickly. Even his little body had limits though and he was now snuggled into his uncle’s side as he slept. Sanji idly scratched at the boy’s scalp, which pulled out a content squeak. He braced the book against his leg as he turned the page one-handed, not wanting to disturb the kid’s nap. Actually, this was nice… admittedly.

Eventually, Sanji’s ears caught the News Coo coming on the wind. When it was in sight and clearly headed towards him, he put the book face-down and waited for the bird to glide his way. It gave him a letter and waited shiftily, not leaving until it got a bit of the crisps Sanji had been munching on. He looked at the handwriting on the front and knew this was something he couldn’t let slide—Reiju had replied to him, after weeks of nothing, despite the inherent risks involved. Opening it carefully, Sanji checked to make sure that Asido was still sleeping before going over his sister’s flowing script.

‘Sanji,

‘Thank you for letting me know you received the azuki in a timely manner. I was not entirely certain who to gift them to, but I’m glad to know I chose well. Beans like the azuki are said to be auspicious and extremely versatile. I hope they only bring good things to the Baratie.

‘I do not know when it is that I can visit, though it is something I would like to do sooner rather than later. Father is planning future campaigns now with Notice as a physical base, monetarily, militarily, and socially. That much is public knowledge and assumption, making me free to write it. What they do not know—details I’m sure you recall so I do not compromise them—is that I am already going through much of the same treatments Mother did; Father is trying to build his Perfect Germa, and now there’s nothing I can even take to ward him off. All my future children will be perfect in his eyes. He has even taken me off active duty for the duration of the treatments and the lack of things to do is… unnerving. I was placed in Mom’s room; you know the one.

‘Please do not tell Zeff of our correspondences—I know how much he distrusts me. That much is something I would not blame him for, as I’m not exactly the center of charming stories. I think every day of what I have done to you, both in the past and now, and I shall likely never stop. If I could hold you in my arms and never let go again, I would. I wish you could have been at the wedding, that I might be at yours one day, and that they would have both been performed out of love. For now, I guess I shall have to learn to live with being pen pals, in a way.

‘Until the next letter,

‘Reiju’

Sanji carefully stuffed the letter back in its envelope before placing it in his book as a bookmark. His blood boiled at the thought of Judge torturing his sister—let alone anyone else—with his Lineage Factor experiments, but to keep her hostage in their mother’s old room while doing so? The threat was unspoken but clear.

One wrong move and she would meet the same fate as Sora did all those years ago.

After taking a deep breath to steady himself, Sanji gently shook Asido awake. “Azuki bean, time to get up.”

“I don’t wanna…” the boy murmured.

“You won’t be able to sleep tonight if you keep going,” he said. Asido rolled out of the chair and flopped onto the balcony floor, making his uncle roll his eyes. “Come on—we can visit with the geezer in the meantime.”

That got Asido perked up and the boy jumped to his feet, seemingly awake in an instant. Sanji shook his head and sighed before following his nephew through his room and over towards Zeff’s.

“Grandpa Zeff! Grandpa Zeff! Uncle Sanji taught me a lot of stuff today!” The boy nearly skipped into the old man’s bedroom, coming to a stop at the foot of his bed. He tilted his head, staring at him. “Why are you back in bed? It’s early.”

“I just feel like it, azuki,” Zeff bristled. He let out a wheezing cough and Sanji paused.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” he frowned. Now that he got a look at him, Zeff was pale, the bags under his eyes more prominent, and the book seemed too heavy for his hands.

“It’s just how I’ve been coughing the past few months.”

“No… that’s how you were coughing when I first dragged Chopper over here,” the younger man said. He checked Zeff’s temperature with a hand to his forehead and hissed—he was hot to the touch. “Shit. I’m getting the fever reducer.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re sweating through the sheets you fucking stubborn old coot.” Sanji pulled a bottle from a nearby table and poured two pills from it into his hand before shoving them into Zeff’s along with his water glass. “Take this.”

“Fussing over nothing,” Zeff grumbled. He took the medication, however.

“I’m fussing because I’m not ready to lose my dad just yet,” Sanji replied icily. Zeff looked away—that was probably the only word that Sanji could use that could get him flustered—and muttered something under his breath. “Hmm? What’s that, shit-geezer?”

“I’ll go when I’m good and ready you prissy little eggplant!” Zeff snapped. Sanji rolled his eyes and glanced over at Asido, who was fidgeting nervously.

“You should have seen him when I first rolled back into here,” he scoffed, trying to seem aloof for the boy. “Don’t worry; part of why we’re here is so that the old man gets better.”

“Yeah…?”

“Yeah. Now stay here and make sure he doesn’t move while I get some more of the medicine he was on before.” Sanji ruffled Asido’s hair, ignoring Zeff’s grumbling about how he wasn’t going to take the shit anymore. It was all a bunch of hot air, the younger chef knew, and gave his nephew a wink before heading out into the corridor. It was just his luck that Zoro nearly ran into him by the stairs, causing him to jump in surprise. “Ah, fuck, marimo. Perfect timing.”

“What the fuck do you want?” the swordsman grumbled. “It’s my day off.”

“Yeah, and the old man just took a turn,” he said, motioning back towards the door with a flick of his head. “Go watch him as I grab some medicine. Kid’s in there now.”

“Fuck,” Zoro huffed. “I thought we were watching the kid, not traumatizing him with elder care.”

“Just shut the fuck up and make sure they’re both fine,” Sanji snapped. He quickly descended the stairs and went into the geezer’s office where he was storing the rest of the medicine since it generally stayed cooler than the rest of the ship. Bringing it upstairs, he had to dodge a few of the other cooks before he had Zeff’s room in sight. The geezer was still coughing profusely, while Zoro had collected Asido in his arms so that the boy could hide his face in the moss’s shoulder.

“I don’t need that shit,” Zeff wheezed between coughs. Sanji ignored him and began to pour a spoonful of the lime-green liquid into a spoon.

“Don’t be a fucking pussy,” he scowled. Sanji waited until it seemed like Zeff recovered before jamming the spoon in his mouth without warning; it worked and Zeff took the stuff. “There. Was that so bad?”

“Could’ve been better,” Zeff cringed. “Can’t the reindeer make medicine that tastes decent?”

“You know that if there was a way, he’d’ve found it by now.” Sanji deposited the spoon and medicine both on the nightstand and looked over his shoulder—Zoro wasn’t there and neither was Asido. “Alright, now get some fucking sleep and I’ll come check on you for dinner.”

“I’ll just stay here then, wondering if I should murder Patty and Carne when I see them next.”

“Not only you wouldn’t, but you couldn’t.”

“Just wait until I get better and fucking watch me.”

Sanji simply rolled his eyes.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

The thing was: Zeff didn’t really improve, let alone get back to where he was before.

He was still coughing a lot, his heavy wheeze reminding Sanji of how he’d get on particularly rough days, making him glad he was attempting to cut back on the cigarettes. A fever would come and go—sometimes high and sometimes barely there—and he was sweating a lot. Between Sanji, Patty, Carne, and Zoro, someone sat with the old man most of the time, only giving him a reprieve if they were all asleep. After nearly a week Sanji had enough of his yoyoing and left the moss-brain in charge of Zeff while he slipped into his room with the Den Den.

It rang. And rang. And rang.

“Hello!” Ah, it was Chopper’s bright and cheerful voice—the last time Sanji had called, Kureha answered. That had been an… experience to say the least. “Who might I ask is calling?”

“Hey, Chopper, it’s Sanji.”

“Oh, hi Sanji! Ah! There’s your eyebrow! The snail must be slow to copy today. Are you calling to give a report on Zeff’s progress?”

“That’s almost why I’m calling,” he replied. “The old man’s having a relapse; started almost a week ago and although it’s stable, it’s not getting any better.”

“Huh… that’s an interesting development. It should be something we can work with, though. What are his current symptoms?” Sanji told him and the snail nodded along. “Has he stopped any of the rest of his treatment?”

“Not that I’m aware of; even put him back on the original shit you left us with.”

“Then that makes this all the more interesting. It might be a delayed immune response by his specific blood type. Instances are rare, but they’ve only been observed in normally-healthy people under thirty-five.”

“Is the medicine still effective?”

“Yeah—there should be no reason for it to have waned in efficacy. I’m just wondering what could have triggered this response.” Sanji could see the snail’s face scrunch as Chopper pondered the situation—he was always such a professional when he got into Doctor Mode. “Have you been giving him additional fever reducer?”

“Yeah, like you showed me before you left,” Sanji replied. “It seems to work for the fever fine, but he still has his cough, and if the shit wears off then it gets real bad before the next dose kicks in, so I’m technically overlapping.”

“It’s good that he’s responding to that at least. At the amount prescribed, he can’t overdose or find his tolerance messing with it, not for a long while yet.” Chopper went quiet for a moment, the only sound being a shuffling of papers. “Do you think you can keep him under control like that for a bit longer?”

“I can do my best.”

“Excellent; I’m going to be coming over in a couple weeks. Robin and Franky are scheduled to pick me up and the five of us will make the trip together. We can make it a pit stop before we see Usopp, Kaya, and the girls.”

Sanji had to think for a moment. Oh yeah, that’s right, he wasn’t the only one in the crew who had found themselves thrust into parenthood over the past few years. “Hey, uh, Chopper? Can I ask you something?”

“Anything!” Sanji could hear the cheer in the reindeer’s voice, which honestly broke his heart.

“Can you make sure you bring along the right equipment to give a young kid a checkup?”

That piqued Chopper’s interest. “Is Usopp dropping the girls off with you early? I know they’re due for one and that you had offered to take them.”

“No…” Sanji bit his lower lip—there was no going back from this. “There’s a young boy I have here, nearly five, and I don’t know the last time a doctor looked him over. You’re the best there is.”

“I see.” The line went eerily quiet as Chopper contemplated the new information; he honestly preferred when the reindeer blushed and swore at such a compliment. “Can I ask how he came to be under your care?”

“You can, when we’re not speaking over a tappable line.”

“Fair. Is he there now?”

“No, he’s with the moss.”

Another pause.

“Zoro’s there…?”

“Live-in babysitter and geriatric’s companion extraordinaire, that one,” Sanji scoffed. He frowned when Chopper didn’t respond. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing—I just have a lot to prepare for,” the reindeer said.  “You know, Luffy’s going to freak out when he learns about this.”

“No one’s seen Luffy in years—he’s going to freak out about a lot of things, to be fair.” They shared a bit of silence, where Sanji could tell his old crewmate was attempting to not panic. “I cut back because the kid’s around, if it’s any consolation.”

“You did?!” The snail’s face brightened again. “That’s great! How often do you go through a pack now?!”

“I dunno… about a week? Five days?”

“That’s already an improvement!” Chopper marveled. “You used to chainsmoke for months straight; being near a pack a week is impressive!”

“Well, let’s say I have some pint-sized motivation.”

“That’s good! That’s good!” There was another voice in the distance—probably Kureha—and the Den Den cringed. “I’ve got to go! I’ll send you some extra medicine by Coo and I’ll see you in a couple weeks!”

The Den Den clunked off and the imitation of Chopper vanished from the snail’s face. He left a snack for the snail and left his bedroom, heading out into the corridor the same time Zoro was exiting Zeff’s room.

“Patty’s turn,” the swordsman grunted. He caught the look on Sanji’s face and raised an eyebrow. “What’d Chopper say?”

“He’s sending more medicine via Coo, but he’s not coming for a while yet,” Sanji replied. “Apparently this shouldn’t even really be happening… not to the old man, anyhow.”

“We’ll get there.” Zoro awkwardly placed a hand on Sanji’s shoulder. “You know we will.”

“Yeah.” Sanji did not brush Zoro’s hand away, although he did walk out of his grasp, heading over to Asido’s room. He found the boy reading at his desk, legs kicking merrily in the air as he jerkily pulled his pointer finger over the varying speech bubbles, sounding the words out quietly. “Hey, what’cha got there?”

“Oh, just Sora,” the boy replied. He held the tankobon up and beamed. “I don’t have to ask for a lot of help with the words! Isn’t that neat?!”

“It is,” Sanji agreed. “Hey, listen: I just got off the phone with another old crewmate of mine. He’s a doctor and is going to come here to check on Grandpa Zeff. Have you met a doctor before?”

“No. What’s a doctor do?”

“A doctor tries to make sick people healthy, or make sure that healthy people don’t get sick. Have you ever been sick?”

“Nope! That’s when you don’t feel good, right? Like Grandpa Zeff? Is that why your doctor-friend is coming over? So that he can make Grandpa Zeff better?”

“He is, and while he’s here, he’s going to make sure that you and Zoro-oji and I are still doing alright, to check and see if we caught anything.”

“Really…?”

“Really-really; his name’s Chopper, and you’re going to love him. He’s a reindeer.” Sanji watched as his nephew’s eyes grew in wonder and a million questions raced through the boy’s mind. Asido’s mouth couldn’t keep up with his brain and the boy began to stutter, only making vague noises instead of words. “He’s not coming for a few more weeks yet, so don’t get too excited.”

Too excited? The boy was practically bouncing off the fucking walls.

It took a while to get Asido calm again, Sanji only really able to do so with promise of updates on when Chopper was scheduled to arrive. With the boy somewhat placated, his uncle slipped back out into the corridor, only to see that Zoro was still standing there with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall.

“Don’t you have anything else better to do?” Sanji sniped. He closed the door behind him, hopefully shielding Asido from whatever fight was about to happen. “Well…?!”

Zoro did not answer, instead remaining where he stood.

“Your room’s that one, if you were wondering,” the blond sniped. Fuck, of all people, it was the marimo he had to put up with. He made a move to head down the stairs again to start on dinner when Zoro pushed himself off the wall and grabbed Sanji’s hand. Before he could react, Zoro had yanked his arm and pulled him close for a hug. Sanji tried to get away, but the idiot’s grip was too tight.

“Calm down,” Zoro grunted sourly. Okay, so at least he wasn’t completely cracked.

“What the fuck is this about?” Sanji hissed through grit teeth.

“Take a breath,” the swordsman said. “You’re doing that thing again.”

“What thing?!”

“That thing where you’re going to keep fussing and stressing until you drop.” Sanji kept struggling, not wanting to use a kick in such tight quarters. “It was shit when we were with the crew and it’s shit now.”

“You can’t tell me what to do, shitty marimo.”

“No, but I can tell you that the kid’s beginning to pick up on your pissy habits,” Zoro warned. “I’m glad he’s not like your shitty-ass family in the emotional department, but this is going to mean you’ll have to watch it.”

“My nephew, mossball, not yours.”

“…that you want me to help you watch, so put a fucking cork in it.”

Sanji sighed and let himself grow limp, resting his forehead against Zoro’s shoulder and allowing his own arms to fall to his sides while the idiot held him up. There was no fucking use in fighting this, so he closed his eyes and breathed in deep through his nose—at least the marimo had showered recently.

“Alright, alright, I’ll try not to stay so fucking wound up, for the kid’s sake if anything.”

“Good.” Zoro gave one final squeeze before he let Sanji go, the blond pushing away from him with his face flushed pink in embarrassment. “I don’t care how weird you are about it: I will get your head out of your ass if you get it stuck again.”

“I’m not that limber; find a better turn of phrase.”

“If I have to put something else up your ass in order for you to calm down, I will.”

Sanji’s face went from pink to red as he almost ran to the staircase. Stupid fucking marimo saying stupid fucking inappropriate things outside his nephew’s door… worse yet, outside Zeff’s door. He did his best to calm himself down the the time he entered the kitchen, though it still felt as though all eyes were on him.

This was exactly the shit he wanted to avoid with Zoro there, and yet it was happening anyhow.

He was gonna kill Usopp.

[moonferned]

I LOVE KINGDOM HEARTS!!

AND I LOVE THE FANDOM <3

Here's some fandom theories/headcanons/au's that I love:

(Will be updating)

Sleeping realm theory

Roxas being homophobic to Riku and only Riku

Touched starved destiny trio

Destiny trio poly (soriku/sorikai/rikai/sokai are all perfect mwah mwah)

Heart hotel

Vanitus being a rat bastard

Just anything where they are all happy

Trans sora

Trans fem sora

Trans xion

Trans

Kairi having a personality

Sora having braces

Sora and the sorta's being siblings

Anything with Repliku <3

Also, just the teens being teens. Like cmon (let sora say fuck)

Destiny trio having night terrors and then comforting each other

Sora being super clingy cus hes scared of loosing his friends (ie hold hands, share bed etc etc )

Mickey mouse is Riku's new Dad

Donald and Goofy being Sora's parents/uncles

Sora and Max.

cROSS OVERS WITH OTHER PROPERTIES

[wh3r3sth3l0ve]

Sora x Tifa

Part 18

Part 17 below

When they were back home, Tifa said:

- I think you should stop renting a room. You are barely even there.

- Are you asking me to move in with you?

- You are practically living here. - she laughed.

Sora laughed back and felt warmth inside.

Soon they were in bed, cuddling.

- Yes. - Tifa whispered.

- Yes, what? - Sora asked, surprised.

- Yes, I want to be your girlfriend.

She kissed him delicately and Sora felt his heart skip a beat. He kissed her passionately, holding her tight in his arms. A minute later he pushed her a little to look her in the eyes.

- I want you, really bad. - he whispered.

- Then what are you waiting for?

His eyes sparkled with lust as he pulled her closer to kiss her with even more passion. Their hands were wandering, exploring each other's bodies. Soon they were both naked and Sora was kissing and caressing Tifa’s breasts, hearing her little moans of pleasure. She placed her palm on his chest and felt his heart beating fast which sent waves of warmth through her whole body.

- Take me, I want you inside me. - she whispered, breathless.

He didn’t need a second invitation. Slowly and carefully, trying not to hurt her in any way, Sora entered her and moaned with pleasure. They moved in a perfect harmony, taking their time together, getting to know each other even more than they did yet. They looked into each other's eyes, panting louder and faster with each move. Sora grabbed her left breast and felt her heart absolutely racing underneath his hand. In a moment they both climaxed loudly and were trying to recover laying next to each other. Tifa pulled his head to make him place his ear above her still thudding heart. It was beating so hard, his whole head was moving. He stayed like this until her pump returned to normal speed.

- You know, - Sora wanted to express his thoughts. - as I recall, for years I've been chasing hearts but yours is the very first I've heard.

- I don't think that those hearts you were chasing could ever make a sound.

- Yeah, you're right, they were more like souls. I think I prefer your real heart. - he made himself more comfortable, still listening to the sound in her chest.

Tifa smiled to herself and got ready to drift off to sleep. She felt Sora's breathing become slow and deep and assumed he's already sleeping.

Sora sat up suddenly, waking up in the middle of the night. His whole body was covered with sweat. Tifa opened her eyes and asked:

- What's wrong sweetie? Bad dream again?

- I don't think it was just a dream. - he answered with a shaky voice.

- What do you mean? - now she was completely awake.

- I think it was a memory. It just came to me in a dream.

- And what was that about? - she asked, curious and worried.

- In this memory I… - he looked for the right words. - I sacrificed myself. For her.

He couldn't even say Kairi’s name, it was too much pain.

- Tell me everything, please. - she sat next to him, with her arms around his neck.

Sora looked her in the eyes and sighed deeply.

- I was fighting Riku but… it wasn't really Riku. It was Ansem, the bad guy. He told me that her heart was hidden in mine. She was there too, but unconscious, without her heart.

- You've had her heart… inside yours?

- Yeah, I know it's weird but I'm positive it was true.

- Ok and then what? - Tifa couldn't believe what she just heard.

- Then I took Riku’s keyblade and stabbed myself with it.

- That's terrible!

- I know. - he sighed again and continued. - I remember changing into Heartless. That act made her alive again and she ran away with Donald and Goofy and I was chasing them. That's… when I woke up.

The last sentence wasn't true but Sora didn't want to reveal what happened. Kairi was the only one to recognize him somehow and her feelings helped him return to his normal form.

- So you have given up your life to save her.

Tifa really tried not to show her jealousness and anger towards Kairi. Until this moment she was trying to understand that this girl's feelings changed and she never wanted to hurt Sora but after what she heard, she felt different.

- Yeah but she was always somewhere there, ready to do the same.

“Until she got bored of you. You are boring and you don't deserve love.” He looked at Tifa with his eyes wide opened in terror and said:

- Tifa, help, that voice is back.

He was on the edge of falling into anxiety, he felt like he was spinning without any control. She quickly sat in front of him, making him look straight into her eyes.

- Easy, breathe slowly, I am here and nothing will change that. I love you.

Those last words surprised her, she didn't mean to say that.