#tsukikage fuma

[oddeyesarcpendulumdragon]

Ahhh no i missed a day :( that just means we get three guys in one day then, cause our ninja boys Tsukikage and Hikage have joined in, and candy kiddo Sora has also arrived! Hopefully I stay on track for the rest of my month and this was a one time fluke.

I also forgot to put the full chibi of Dennis on the last one, so I'm adding him to this one!

[insomnia-arts]

It is not fair that Arc V has given me ANOTHER ninja to obsess over, goddammit

[worstygocharacter]

I agree anon is def needed because this is about to become witness protection. I am so sorry.

Bobasa (DM): Bad : (

Vivian Wong (DM): Unfortunate case of Sexism and Racism Disease.

Vector (ZEXAL): Cool design! Stella voice performance! His writing just doesn't land for me and his character pacing is all over the place. I just wish the writers would either commit to evil Vector or nice Vector, I hate the flip-flop.

The Tyler Sisters (Arc-V): Why are they here.

Yuri (Arc-V): In a dark timeline I could've been obsessed with him. Headcanons are fun, but he just doesn't have much going for him aside from being evil Yuya tbh.

Ryoken Kogami/Roken Kogami/Revolver/Varis (VRAINS): Like Vector, he is rocking a major set of flip-flops and Duel Links is doing him no favors.

Mimi (SEVENS): The issue isn't that she's a single mother who looks eleven; it's that she's a single mother who acts and only hangs out with people who are eleven.

Wasted Potentential Speedrun: Kisara (DM), Jasmine/Junko Makurada (GX), Mindy/Momoe Hamaguchi (GX), Moon Shadow/Tsukikage Fuma (Arc-V), Yuzu Hiiragi/Zuzu Boyle (Arc-V), Rin (Arc-V), Ruri Kurosaki/Lulu Obsidian (Arc-V), Skye Zaizen/Aoi Zaizen (VRAINS), and Go Onizuka/George Gore (VRAINS)

There are others but they've already been stated by others and I'm already so sorry for how long this list is.

all added! no worries about longness!

[arcvfanficsupremefamily]

Masterpost

Just a masterpost about this blog. Early apologies if the formatting is horrible (especially the archetype section since I have no idea on how to format that)

Story Link

AO3 - https://archiveofourown.org/works/45543628

FFnet - https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14206612/

Character Profile

Standard Dimension

You Show Duel School

Yuya Sakaki - Yukio Sakaki - Yuzu Hiiragi - Yuna Hiiragi

Leo Duel School

Reira Akaba - Shingo Sawatari

Fūma Duel School

Tsukikage Fuma

Gongenzaka Dojo

Nobaru Gongenzaka

Leo Corporation

Reiji Akaba

Synchro Dimension

Commons

Yugo - Yuiki - Kori - Rin - Crow Hogan - Shinji Webber

Tops

Jack Atlas

Xyz Dimension

Heartland Duel School, Spade Branch

Yuto Otari - Yugen Otari - Shun Kurosaki - Sagi Kurosaki - Ruri Kurosaki

Heartland Duel School, Clover Branch

Allen Kozuki - Kaito Tenjo - Sayaka Sasayama

Fusion Dimension

Academia

Yuri - Yunio - Mitsuki Akaba - Serena Akaba - Leo Akaba - Sora Shiunin

Original Dimension

Zarc - Ray Akaba

Archetype

Standard Dimension

Yuya Sakaki

Performapal - Magician

Yukio Sakaki

Performadragon - Enchanter

Yuna Hiiragi

Mythflow

Yuzu Hiiragi

Melodious

Reira Akaba

C/C - C/C/C

Shingo Sawatari

Dart (formerly) - WATER (formerly) - Yosenju (formerly) - Abyss Actor

Tsukikage Fuma

Ninja - Ninjitsu Art

Nobaru Gongenzaka

Superheavy Samurai

Reiji Akaba

D/D - D/D/D

Synchro Dimension

Yugo

Speedroid

Yuiki

Dravroid

Kori

Gale Frost

Rin

Windwitch

Crow Hogan

Blackwing

Jack Atlas

Red

Shinji Webber

Battlewasp

Xyz Dimension

Yuto Otari

(The) Phantom Knights

Yugen Otari

(The) Phantom Drake

Shun Kurosaki

Raidraptor

Ruri Kurosaki

Lyrilusc

Sagi Kurosaki

Majestical Musoraid

Kaito Tenjo

Cipher

Allen Kozuki

Train

Sayaka Sasayama

Fairy

Fusion Dimension

Yuri

Predaplant

Yunio

Predavern

Mitsuki Akaba

Moongear

Serena Akaba

Lunalight

Sora Shuinin

Fluffal - Edge Imp - Frightfur

Leo Akaba

Spirit

Original Dimension

Zarc

Supreme King

Ray

TBA

School/Organization/Location

Standard Dimension

Maiami City

A city set on the coast of Japan. The development of the city's technology is focused on Dueling. The headquarters of the Leo Corporation is located here, along with preparatory Duel schools such as the You Show Duel School and Leo Duel School. Maiami City is the home to the Leo Corporation's ARC System that gave birth to Action Duels, which started here and is now popular across the world. Maiami City is located in the Standard Dimension, a dimension of unknown origins where Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz Summoning all exist, as well as where the Pendulum Summon originated. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Lancers

The Lancers, short for Lance Defence Soldiers, are an organization of Duelists affiliated with the Standard Dimension that were organized by Reiji Akaba in order to fight against invaders from other dimensions. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Leo Duel School

A preparatory Duel school. It is located in Maiami City and owned by the Leo Corporation. It is considered to be the most prestigious of the Duel schools. The school offers courses for Fusion Summoning, Synchro Summoning and Xyz Summoning. Reiji Akaba also wants to include Pendulum Summoning in the curriculum. The school is currently headed by Himika Akaba. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Leo Corporation

a gaming company in Maiami City. The company created "Solid Vision with mass", which led to the birth of Action Duels. Same as the Industrial Illusions, this company makes cards. Its CEO is Reiiji Akaba, who succeeded his father after his mysterious resignation and disappearance. (Credit: Yugipedia)

You Show Duel School

A preparatory Duel school located in Maiami City. Its current owners are Yusho Sakaki and Syuzo Hiiragi. Among its students are Yuya Sakaki, Yukio Sakaki, Yuzu Hiiragi and Yuna Hiiragi. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Synchro Dimension

Tops

Refers to the upper class of New Domino City's society. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Commons

A term referring to most residents of and area of New Domino City. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Neo Domino City

A major city in the, located in the Synchro Dimension. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Security

An organization that attempts to maintain law and order in New Domino City that. It is lead by Jean-Michel Roget. There are two special divisions of Sector Security: the Duel Chasers, who engage criminals in Turbo Duels, and the Stomptroopers, who capture fugitives who have escaped from the Facility. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Xyz Dimension

Heartland City

A location in the Xyz Dimension. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Heartland Duel School

Duel schools in Heartland City of the Xyz Dimension. Their purpose is to train Pro Duelists. There are two known branches, the Clover Branch and the Spade Branch, which are said to be rivals. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Heartland Duel School, Clover Branch

One of the branches of Heartland Duel School in the Xyz Dimension. They are rivals with the school's Spade Branch. The school trains professional Duelists. Prior to the invasion of Heartland City, Yusho Sakaki taught at this Branch. Among his students were Allen Kozuki, Kite Tenjo and Saya Sasayama. After the invasion, students from this school formed parts of the Resistance, including Allen, Saya and Kaito. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Heartland Duel School, Spade Branch

One of the branches of Heartland Duel School in the Xyz Dimension in the Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V anime. They are rivals with the school's Clover Branch. The school trains professional Duelists. Prior to the invasion of Heartland City, Yuto, Shun and Ruri Kurosaki attended this Branch of the Duel School. After the invasion, students from this school formed parts of The Resistance, among them Yuto, Shun and Ruri. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Fusion Dimension

Academia

A school that trains "Duel Soldiers" and is located in the Fusion Dimension. It is administered by Professor Leo Akaba, a man stated to be from the Original Dimension before its sundering, and serves as his forward operating base. The goal of Leo Akaba and as such the goal of Duel Academy, is to revert the Four Dimensions to their original state. In order to accomplish this, Duel Academy employs its army of Duel Soldiers in order to conquer the other Dimensions by turning its populace into cards. This goal is referred to as the "Arc Project". (Credit: Yugipedia)

You Show Duel School

A preparatory Duel school located in a City of the Fusion Dimension, and a branch of the Standard Dimension's You Show Duel School.[1] Yusho Sakaki opened the school when he came to the Fusion Dimension. (Credit: Yugipedia)

Original Dimension

TBA

Tags

#supreme family - you can find this on any post that isn't an ask

#character profile - as the tag says - tag I use to post character profile

#ask - self explanatory

#original card - tag I use to post my card I created for this fanfic

#chapter update - when I post a new chapter

#archetype profile - tag I use to post orginal archetype profile

#different effect - cards that existed that have a different effect than the tcg/anime/manga

# Scale X art - the art from each chapter

[quattro-arclight-the-aroace-boy]

Dumb ship memes

[imalrightifyoudontask]

YGOrarepairweek (on twitter)

Day 8-Free Day: Reiji x Tsukikage (covenantshipping)

A family outing. I can’t get over how underrated Tsukikage is and this ship. There’s a trust between them and I think they deserve someone they can each rely on.

[entamewitchlulu]

Experimental Methods Meeting, 0X-XX/2XXX

<BEGIN TRANSCRIPT>

Dr. ██████████: I simply think we need to start considering the consequences of this experiment.

Dr. L. A████: And what consequences are those, Dr. ██████████?

Dr. ██████████: This has gone beyond correlation. The number of subjects who participate in the experiment directly matches the number of defectors. We’re bleeding soldiers.

Dr. L. A████: Academia is vaster than I think you imagine, Doctor. But if you’re starting to have second thoughts...

Dr. ██████████: That isn’t the problem. I’m as fascinated by these revelations as you are. But we need to discuss what is causing participants to be so much more likely to defect.

Dr. L. A████: We can discuss it. Perhaps our experimental groups need to start expanding their reach.

Dr. ██████████: Perhaps if I could understand exactly what it is, you’re looking for, L██.

Dr. L. A████: And perhaps if you continue to ask questions about things beyond your clearance, I’ll find someone else to run this experiment.

[puzzlevision]

[dreary-doll-writing]

Goose, Ninja's Natural Enemy

A goose chases a boy right to Shay, who just wanted a peaceful day in the park.

Fandom: Yu Gi Oh ARC-V

Rating: G

Pairing: Shay/Moon Shadow

Word Count: 486

(Cross posted on AO3)

Shay was trying to enjoy a nice day in the park, sitting under a tree with a book when a boy right around Shay's age trips over him.

"My apologies!" He cries, moving to get off of Shay quickly, and a loud honk comes after.

Shay looks the strangely dressed, dark haired boy for a moment, choosing not to comment on the...ninja getup, before turning his attention to the goose currently trying to pull the other's hair.

"Hey, why don't you be nice?" Shay waves the goose away, and it moves to widen open up its wings and flap them at Shay instead.

"Knock it off," Shay taps it's beak and it tries to bite him before giving up and just hunkering down to lay in the grass and glare at Shay.

"That bird has been torturing me for a few minutes now and you have tamed it in less than one," the other boy states in astonishment.

"She should leave you alone for a minute, what did you do to tick her off?"

"I have no clue, she just dislikes me I guess."

"Well, why don't you get out of here before she decides to start round two?"

"Good idea, thank you."

"No problem."

Once the other boy starts to leave the goose jumps back up and starts yanking on the tail of the scarf he was using to cover his mouth.

"Stop that!" He tries to yank it out of the goose's beak, only to have her try to drag him back towards Shay.

Shay can't help but laugh, "I think she wants you to stay here."

One final tug finally frees his scarf and he sits down with Shay, "Are you happy now?"

The goose hunkers down again and Shay laughs more, petting her head, only to get nipped at and a heavy glare.

The other boy goes to stand up again and is met with a honk and warning flaps.

"Just sit down for a bit, she'll leave eventually, and then you can too."

After a few moments of silence, save for the angry honks from the goose, who Shay can't seem to stop trying to pet, the other boy clears his throat.

"My name is Moon Shadow," he introduces.

"Shay, Shay Obsidian."

"You really seem to like geese, Shay," Moon Shadow points out softly.

"And they don't seem to like you."

"Touché," Moon Shadow laughs.

The goose lets out one last, angry honk at Shay trying to touch her and she flies away.

"You should be free now, if you feel like leaving."

Moon Shadow gets quiet for a moment.

"Would you mind if I just...sat with you for a while?"

"Guess not, maybe some company could be nice."

"Maybe," Moon Shadow moves to lean against the tree next to Shay, and the two sit in a comfortable quiet until Shay gets a call and has to go home.

[baddyzarc]

The Viewing Sphere

[merryfortune]

Day 5 - Regret

Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V

Ship: Sora/Tsukikage

Warnings: Past Character Death Technically (Carding)

Word Count: 1.1k

  Sora smacked his lips and plucked his lollipop from the tight seal around them then glanced to Tsukikage. “I know your there.” He said.

  “I prefer to be… in your peripheries.” Tsukikage said and then contradicted himself by joining Sora on the park bench that he was enjoying snacking on and taking the view in on.

  A silence settled, a silence which was more or less disrupted by the rustle of trees from behind them. Somewhere, a dog barked, and an owner scolded it. The silence settled again, and Sora placed his lollipop back in his mouth again. His cheek bulged and then, using his otongue, he pushed it to the other side. Now, it was his right cheek which bulged. Tsukikage awkwardly crossed his arms. Sora sighed and removed his lollipop again.

  “I’m sorry I carded your Older Brother that one time.” Sora said.

  “Every battle, every war, has its causalities. It was an unusual ending, I suppose, not one completely unlike what we were mentally and emotionally preparing for in the event that the conventional death did occur.” Tsukikage replied.

  “I have some – many – regrets about that duel.” Sora said.

  Tsukikage made an unusual noise which was muffled by the blue cloth that he wore around his face. His eyebrows quirked. Sora huffed.

  “I should elaborate, yeah?” Sora asked.

  “Only if you wish.” Tsukikage replied.

  “I wish I had duelled him better.” Sora said, his voice incredibly flat.

  Tsukikage regarded him suspiciously. His eyes slid towards Sora and he tried to analyse him but to little avail.

  “I really respect you, Tsukikage.” Sora confessed. “And, by extension, I respect your brother. I wish I had given him a better Duel. He deserved a more fitting end, even if it was brief.”

  “That is a rather gratifying thing to hear.” Tsukikage said.

  “Thanks. I was kinda worried you’d take it the wrong way, but it was something that I wanted off my chest.” Sora added.

  “I’m flexible.” Tsukikage replied.

  “Sucks, doesn’t it, though?” Sora murmured. “Having to prepare for the eventuality that you might die. That your comrades might. I didn’t really get that back at Academia. For me it was that only you could look out for you, but I get it now. I get it now super hard.”

  Tsukikage petted the top of Sora’s head. “I’m glad you understand that, but as is the course of life. We all but prepare. I will admit, I’m beyond thankful that the carding process was reversible.”

  Sora’s eyes widened. “So, would you say that you’re over the moon?”

  “Don’t.” Tsukikage said and he decided that Sora’s bad pun was more than enough cause to cease petting him.

  Sora pouted. “Why’re you here anyway? I was prepared to stew on that one for ‘til, I well, ‘til kingdom comes I guess.”

  “I just wanted to check up on you. Not much work for a ninja in a modern and post-war society. I’m sure a soldier can relate.”

  “Nope. I can’t.” Sora very happily chirruped. “’Cause I ain’t a soldier.”

  “Oh? Truly?” Tsukikage said.

  “Yep. Just a regular ol’ schoolboy nowadays. But good luck finding work, you weirdo.” Sora said. He exhaled glumly and kicked his legs slightly. That’s when Tsukikage noticed that Sora was so short that his feet didn’t reach the ground.

  “I’ll try.” Tsukikage said through a guffaw.

  “But maybe you should at least consider some new ways. You gotta play hard and work hard.” Sora said with as much wisdom as he as he could impart, so it came across as immature but Tsukikage didn’t doubt Sora’s lived philosophy.

  He smiled and closed his eyes. Nearly unthinkingly, he hooked his fingers over his mask and pulled it down. Now, the mask had become a blue bandanna around his neck. Sora’s eyes widened. Tsukikage was slightly more handsome than Sora would have otherwise thought. Maybe a little average, but like… also above average. Though, he did have a rather long jaw.

  “I’ll think about that.” Tsukikage said. “So, what sort of regrets do you perceive me as having if I’m all work and no play.”

  “Hm, good question.” Sora hummed. “Well, you know how us schoolboys are like. Always getting crushes and whatnot. Unlike soldiers; not allowed to fraternise in the force, after all. Maybe, um, something related to that. Just a thought.”

  “I see.” Tsukikage replied and there was a thrum on his lips.

  Sora huffed. “I’m inviting you to kiss me, dumbass.”

  “I know. I just like teasing you.” he replied.

  Sora blushed and as Tsukikage spoke, he caught flashes of his teeth. No wonder he wore that mask, he had a rather unusual set of teeth. Some were chipped, others were capped, and some not there at all. Sora wondered what other sort of injuries that Tsukikage may have been hiding since those were the obvious ones. Sora had his share of similar stories and was lucky that most of his damaged teeth had to be removed anyway as they had been baby teeth. He lost his at an unusually old age.

  “But, since your so impatient, I suppose that I shall relent. Throw a dog a bone, though, in your case, it might be more like sugar pearls before swine.” Tsukikage said.

  “Ha-ha, so funny. So original.” Sora retorted but he supposed that it made them even for his prior jab at Tsukikage.

  Still, Sora lifted up his head and Tsukikage leaned down. Somewhere in the middle, their lips met. Sora tasted like artificial grapes; a rather saccharine taste that Tsukikage very much disliked but he didn’t dislike Sora himself, so he kissed regardless. Perhaps more chastely than necessary to avoid too much of that sort of thing but it was a kiss, nonetheless. Besides, its not like Sora could taste Tsukikage over the taste of artificial grapes either. Thus, the kiss ended quite shortly. Barely six or seven seconds of lip to lip contact but it was enough to send Tsukikage back into hiding. He scrambled to return his bandanna to around his mouth so that it functioned as a cloaking mask. Sora didn’t mind. He smiled. Kicked his legs too.

  “Thanks for checking in on me, Tsukikage. I appreciate it.” Sora chirped.

  Tsukikage glanced away. “No problem. It’s a pleasure, really.”

 “Glad t’ hear it then.” Sora replied, far too smug, and he popped his candy back into his mouth and crunched down on it, to Tsukikage’s disgruntlement as that noise was rather unsettling but then again, Sora was unsettling in general and he was rather comfortable with that.

[oddeyesarcpendulumdragon]

oh my god i found this in my folder and realized i never posted it last month for arc v anniversary ; w ;

based on this: https://deviantart.com/machiavellical

[hole-in-the-sky-library]

Twenty-Five Snowflakes [Day 13]

Prompt: Peppermint

Ship: Stealthshipping (Tsukikage / Sora)

Summary: The hard part about buying Christmas gifts for each other when you’re both trained in stealth is that keeping it a surprise is almost impossible.

Ao3

Tsukikage knew Sora was following him, but he pretended he didn’t.  He pulled his scarf up to his nose, breathing a puff of haze through it.  A few snowflakes drifted down from the dark sky, swirling through the street lamps.

Hikage glanced at Tsukikage.  It was imperceptible, the way he glanced back to see where Sora was hiding, but Tsukikage noticed.  Sora probably did too.

“Do you...?” Hikage started.

Tsukikage nodded without looking, instead wandering over to one of the store windows decked out with lights nearby.

“Do you know why?” Hikage asked, following him.

“I suspect he’s trying to decipher what I want for Christmas,” Tsukikage said.

Hikage actually laughed, but softly in that way of his, muffled into his scarf.  They hadn’t worn their ninja garb in many months, and these thicker, winter scarves felt somehow surreal.  Tsukikage made a point of glancing at some of the things in the window near him, and then moved on.

Sora was incredibly good at stealthing.  If Tsukikage hadn’t been trained as well as Sora had, he would not have noticed Sora moving into his next hiding spot.

“I thought you were planning on getting him something today, too,” Hikage said, clearly trying not to look at Sora.

“I was.  I believe this is the game we’re going to be playing tonight.  I’m buying something for him while he’s following, trying not to let him know what it is I’ve gotten, while he’s trying to decide what to get for me without letting me know that he’s there.  I suspect he’s trying to see what I buy for him so that he gets something of equal or similar value.”

“Do you think he knows that you know?”

“Oh, I’m sure he does.”

Hikage laughed again, shaking his head.  Tsukikage cracked a smile himself, noting as Sora blended in neatly with a group that passed them — so perfectly for a moment that Tsukikage almost lost him.  Almost.

“You’re having fun,” Hikage said.

Tsukikage ducked his smile into his scarf.

“Is it that obvious?”

Hikage chuckled, nudging his brother with his shoulder.

“Maybe this game of yours is your real Christmas gift to each other.”

“Perhaps.  But I do intend to find something for him, and I do intend for it to be a surprise.”

He nodded into the store next to them as they walked.

“I’m going in here.  Will you come?”

“I think I’ll leave this game to the two of you,” Hikage said.  “Good luck.”

He laughed again, shaking his head, and started down the street.  Tsukikage waved, and then ducked into the store beside him. Sora had gone a little ahead with that last group he’d hidden with.  A clever move, to move ahead of the person you’re following so it’s less obvious that you’re actually following them. However, that would give Tsukikage a few seconds to duck into this store, perhaps unnoticed — or at the very least giving him a few moments to browse before Sora caught back up with him.

The sweets shop was much bigger than it looked from the outside, but it was also very cramped.  It would be difficult to see for a long distance in here. Perfect.

He couldn’t help but grin as he ducked into a random aisle.  It would take Sora a few moments to catch up and decide which way he’d gone.

Or so he thought, as he tucked himself into a corner to look at the wrapped cookies, glanced back, and saw the faint flicker of a jacket going around a corner.  The lack of any footstep to go with it was quite clear — Sora had already kept up with him, and Tsukikage had only barely noticed. Ah, well now the game was really on.

Tsukikage waited for another customer to walk down the single-file aisle, blocking him off from Sora’s only line of sight, and then slipped down an aisle in another direction.  He heard the tiniest of clinking sounds as something shifted on a shelf, and realized with a start that there was plenty of room beneath a few of the well stocked tables for someone Sora’s size to crawl under.  Clever. Well, Sora wasn’t going to keep up with him that easily.

Keeping very lightly on his feet, Tsukikage masked his movements with the movements of another browsing customer, and then ducked into an area where there were too many boxes under the tables for Sora to take that route.  Taking advantage of Sora’s inevitable momentary recalculations, he slipped out the door. That store had been a fake out — there was a different sweets shop he was going to instead.

Tsukikage took a back way to that shop — and by back way, he meant darting through alleys and crawling over fire exits to mask his trail.

Confident now that he’d lost Sora, Tsukikage quietly entered his actual target store.  This shop was much more spacious, with fewer places for any small individuals to hide. The main display, alight with lights and bags decorated with holly and wreath designs, sent brilliant light throughout the store, topped off with a large, cartoonish polar bear wearing a candy-cane hat that stood beside the table.  Tsukikage made a beeline for the display behind it. He needed to take advantage of the time he’d lost Sora. There they were — the peppermint lollipops that he’d seen Sora looking at in another shop a while ago. Perfect.

Tsukikage took the package and headed up to the counter.  There was only one person waiting in line, so he took a moment to check around the store and make sure Sora wasn’t hiding somewhere he hadn’t noticed.

His phone buzzed in his pocket as he reached the counter.  He didn’t want to drop his concentration, but he dug it out while the cashier rung him up, giving it a quick glance.

Oh, he thought.  The text was from Sora?

Hey nerd if you’re not busy meet me at that big ass tree in the square in fifteen minutes

Tsukikage cracked a smile.  As though Sora hadn’t been following him around all day and knew exactly what he was doing.  He tapped out a brief response to say he would be there, took his giftwrapped package, and headed back out into the cold.

Snowflakes started to swirl with more vigor around him as he made his way back towards the square.  He took another shortcut, mostly just for the fun of it. He was allowed to indulge, wasn’t he?

He saw Sora before he reached him.  The boy sat on a ledge near the ice skating rink, fiddling with his phone and chewing on one thumbnail.  His eyes flickered as Tsukikage approached — immediately, a huge, triumphant smile broke over his face.

“Hah!” he said, jumping up to stand on the ledge so that he was taller than Tsukikage.  “You thought you lost me, didn’t you, sucker!”

Tsukikage couldn’t help but smile, covering it with his hand.

“Am I to assume you did manage to follow me to the second store?”

Sora grinned, puffing out his chest.  The effect was somewhat lost by the fact that his puffy coat made him look even smaller than he was, but it was adorable nonetheless.

“It’s not just about following — it’s about anticipating,” he said.  “I knew you’d try to throw me off by going into a decoy store! But I had already guessed your real target, so after I tricked you into thinking I was going under the tables, I got to the other store before you!”

Tsukikage laughed softly, tucking both hands into his pockets with his package tucked under his arm.

“So, please, indulge me — where were you hiding?”

Sora grinned.

“Inside the polar bear,” he said, hands on his hips.  “And I saw what you got, and had time to text you and go finish shopping myself.  So there! I win!”

Tsukikage couldn’t help but feel a bit of competitiveness rise up in him, and Sora seemed to notice the change in his smile immediately, his own triumphant expression turning suspicious.

“Why are you smiling like that?” he said.  “I don’t like it.”

Tsukikage laughed, burying his face into his scarf for a moment.  Then he stepped forward, hopping up to stand on the ledge next to Sora.  Sora pouted at him, folding his arms.

“Because,” Tsukikage said, pulling his free hand out of his pocket with a small package.  “What you saw me buy wasn’t your present.”

Sora’s eyes bulged.

“What?  When’d you buy that??”

“A few weeks ago.  I thought if I telegraphed I was purchasing it, you’d try to figure out what it was.”

Sora flapped his hands, mouth opening and closing a few times with the utter shock of it.  Then he gave up with a flop forward, letting his head fall against Tsukikage’s chest.

“I can’t believe you beat me,” he grumbled.

Tsukikage laughed, wrapping one arm around Sora lightly.

“It’s like you said,” he said.  “It’s not about following. It’s about anticipating.”

Sora blew a raspberry at him.  Then he flopped down to sit on the ledge, patting the cold stone beside him.

“Okay, winner,” he said.  “I’ll bet I got you a cooler present though.”

Tsukikage laughed again and sat down beside Sora.

“We shall have to see.”

Sora dug inside his coat and pulled out a small, red and green wrapped box.  He shoved it into Tsukikage’s chest, and Tsukikage took it while passing his own gift to Sora.  He set the peppermint lollipop box in between them. Sora glanced at him then.

“At the same time?” he said.

“That would be fair.”

Sora tugged at the ribbon on his box, and Tsukikage peeled back the paper on his.  He heard Sora make a little sound of surprise, but he himself didn’t quite notice, because he was too focused on what appeared when he took the top off of the box.

It was...it was a rose.  A dark blue blossom, delicate and glistening...glistening?  He touched it lightly, and his fingers found metal instead of petals.  He lifted the metal rose from the box, turning it slowly to watch the light catch over the incredibly delicate, twisting petals.

He heard Sora rustling the paper of his gift then, and tore his eyes away from the rose to watch Sora unwrapping the candy-shaped box.  Sora’s eyes brightened as he turned it around, looking over the embossed cover of the box, decorated with images of twisted candies.

“The key is taped on the side,” Tsukikage said.  “I heard you say you wanted something to be able to keep things in that you could lock up...”

“This is perfect!!” Sora said.  “Thanks, Tsuki!! I love it!!”

He glanced at Tsukikage then, his face getting a little guarded as his eyes flickered to the rose.

“Uh,” Sora said.  “Do you, uh, like it?  It’s kind of a weird gift, I guess, um...I just saw it and it made me think of you and...uh...”

Tsukikage smiled, feeling everything within him growing soft and warm.  He reached out to wrap an arm around Sora, pulling him close.

“It’s perfect,” he said. “Thank you, Sora.”

Sora nestled his head against Tsukikage’s shoulder, sighing as he hugged the box to his lap.  For just a moment, they sat there, in the quiet and the cold, just snuggled close.

Sora tapped on the box of peppermint lollipops then.

“So anyway,” he said.  “Are you gonna eat these, or can I have one?”

Tsukikage laughed, squeezing Sora’s shoulders.

“Go ahead.  They were for sharing.”

“Yes!”

Sora popped back so that he could pop the box open.  Tsukikage cradled the metal rose in his hands, feeling the cold of the metal against his bare skin.  It shone in the streetlights as he twisted it.

“Merry Christmas, Sora,” he said softly.  “I love you.”

Sora nearly choked on one of the lollipops, quickly pulling it out of his mouth.  He ducked his head for a moment, cheeks going beet red. A moment later, though, Sora reached for Tsukikage’s hand, and Tsukikage turned his to grasp it.

“Merry Christmas,” Sora mumbled, flushing.  “I love you too.”

[lupin-the-3rd-case-files]

Part 2: Episodes 36-40

I’ll be honest and say I zoned out during a few of these episodes. They weren’t quite as funny or engaging as some of the previous ones have been. That being said it was cool to see the Fuma clan return, and the chicken episode was pretty funny. It definitely feels like by this point they’ve hit a stride and a formula for how many of these episodes go, but give them enough variation to not feel too formulaic if that makes sense. Anyway, the gang manage to make off with a healthy amount of treasure in this batch of episodes.

The Riddle of Tsukikage Castle

Target: Tsukikagemaru

The Fuma Clan returns! Always nice to see recurring elements. In this episode the gang go to Tsukikage Castle to try and solve a riddle and obtain the treasures hidden away. Meanwhile they’re pursued by Fuma ninja. The gang end up tricking the Fuma clan and unlock the secret treasure, but only make it out with the Tsukikagemaru, the sword that Goemon was after in the first place. It’s solely for Goemon so I’m going to say Lupin gets nothing here.

Lupin’s Reward: $0

Khan Job

Target: Ghengis Khan’s Treasure

This episode rewrites history and says Ghengis Khan was actually Yoshitsune Minamoto, two historical figures. Before Yoshitsune left Japan he left a massive treasure at the bottom of a lake. The gang pursue the treasure but ultimately find themselves in a bank? I was a bit confused as to how this happened, but so were the characters so I guess it was intentional. The gang make out with three potato sacks of gold bars. I can’t calculate how many gold bars can fit in a random potato sack so we’re going to go with a previous measurement involving fitting gold in a briefcase. Remember a few posts ago where we talked about that, we determined a briefcase could hold  $44,266,370 in gold bars. Three of those equals $132,799,110.

Lupin’s Reward: $132,799,110

Happy Betrayals to You

Target: Antarctic Star

In this episode, Fujiko joins interpol in chasing Lupin but secretly it’s all to get to a jewel called the Antarctic Star. This episode was kind of boring to be honest, I glazed over a good part of it. I don’t remember if the value was mentioned in the english dub but the subbed version says it’s worth “several billion yen.” Several is generally more than 2 or 3 of something, so we’re going to say it’s 4 billion yen, which is roughly $40 million.

Lupin’s Reward: $40 million

Pretty Cluckin’ Insane

Target: Smuggled Diamonds

The treasure in this episode is a bit goofy. Basically the villain is smuggling diamonds to Hong Kong via chickens, having them lay eggs with the diamonds in them. I’m pretty sure that’s not how eggs work but I’m not going to get picky I guess. Anyway, Lupin, Jigen and Goemon hatch a plan to get the diamonds but are betrayed by Fujiko at the end, giving them alligator eggs instead. Fujiko makes it off with the stolen diamonds, Lupin instead gets baby alligators.

Lupin’s Reward: $0 but a basket of baby alligators

Payload

Target: $900 million in diamonds

I love it when they make my job easy and just tell us straight up how much the treasure is worth. I’m going to be honest I zoned out a bit during this episode and don’t really understand why the cops were trying to load these diamonds onto a missile. There was a lot of weird decisions in this episode like giving the victim a pet tiger and then just writing it out of the story part way through. Well, the gang manage to get the diamonds out in this episode and it’s implied they successfully make off with them. 

Lupin’s Reward: $900 million

[yuyas-awesome-hippos]

Tsukikage is completely right. Shinji has suffered, but you know Tsukikage and the Fuma Clan have done nothing to him. They’re not the cause of his suffering nor have they assaulted or insulted him. Shinji has no right to insult them. 

No matter what your suffering is, you have no right to make others suffers. 

[captainwilldeezer]

An Example of Inept Writing

Release the Spyce Episode 4: “Never Say Never Together”     An Episodic Impression by WillDeezer

    “Never Say Never Together” starts with Tsukikage being put on a mission to hunt down a drug ring. The mission quickly takes back seat to Mei and Fuma’s mentorship/apprenticeship. After a few disagreements, Fuma tries to prove to Mei that she is a good ninja. This sends them into re-discovering their friendship.      It’s nice to see the show focus on different characters. We’ve been stuck on Momo endocrine for the entire series so far. However, this episode is very predictable. It goes exactly where you expect it too. It doesn’t make the episode terrible. I like Mei and Fu’s friendship creates the cutest moments we’ve seen so far. Mei’s guitar ballads are lovely, even if it’s used to a cheesy montage effect.      Release the Spyce is a polarizing show. The show has cute moments with great music, but the show is poorly written. The characters run into each other all the time in a big city. It isn’t the girls only. The climax to this episode happens because Mei and Fu see the bad guy walking around. It shows how lazy the story is being handled outside of the girl’s relationships with each other.      Another example of inept writing in this one episode is the scene in the hallway. Mei saves Fu; who gets in over her head trying to prove herself, by jumping in front of a group of men with guns. We hear the men fire, but we don’t see what happens. The episode cuts to Mei with a tiny bandage on her head. This moment could have been a great way to show Mei’s skills over Fu. Instead, we get this lame jump cut. It feels like a waste.