#after Gau woke up for him

[astral-from-afar]

RAIKOU NOO!!

#astra liveblogs #nabari no ou #don’t let us lose him #after Gau woke up for him #that would be miserable

[sirwow]

Time for part 2 of Clouded Mind, first part can be found here

(Same CW: eventual; Self harm, abuse, drug use, and suicide)

Cain the next morning woke up later then the rest of the orphanage and sneaked down as everyone else was having breakfast. Cain sneaks back into the cold dark kitchen of the orphanage grabbing for a drawer to get something to eat. Just as he found a can to cook, Carrion Queen, caretaker of the orphanage, grabbed his wrist from the dark. She asks snarky if Cain had forgotten his punishment but before he can respond, Carrion drags him by the ear past the others eating and out the front door. Cain falls to the walkway and carrion slams the door leaving him to sigh and start scouring the town for something to eat.

Cain spends his week in the same loop of being refused food, searching the trash for something instead or stealing food, and ranting to keeper about Az while keeper puts his hand on his shoulder. Once the week suspension is up and both return to school, Cain immediately starts looking for Lazarus to grab. Once he finds Lazarus he goes to grab him but gets smacked away by Azazel who gets inbetween the two. Cain tries to ask if Az was seriously siding with Laz but Az just tells him to piss off for he’ll blast him with brimstone. Cain huffs but scurries down the hallway with keeper.

Cain curses Az out for betraying him but keeper advises Cain to drop it since Az would kick his ass if it came down to that. Cain does but is still obviously bothered. Still needing money though he spots Esau alone in the hall and get keeper to help him bully Esau for his cash. Esau is much less of a pushover then Lazarus but not wanting trouble hands over his money when keeper threatens to hit him. Cain and keeper split as keeper has work and Cain bothers to go to his first class, bored. He spit balls Esau from the back of class but quickly dipped when the bell rang and Esau’s hair started flaming up from anger.

Cain skipped the rest of his classes to the alleyways of the darkest corner in the slums. He stops at one alley and looks around before going in to meet a golden eyed greedling. Cain pulls out cash he hid from keeper and trades it in for 5 spiked vapes from the greedling before both split quickly. He vapes on the riverbank while counting stones but is suddenly called out to from the sewer pipes behind. Blue steps out, worried and Cain rolls his eyes before taking another puff. Blue tries to confront him saying keeper wouldn’t like to see him doing this but Cain bluntly told him to mind his own business n that keeps doesn’t need to know anything. Blue sighed before giving one more warning about keeper and crawling back into the sewers. Cain grows nervous but shakes it off and heads home.

Cain hobbles in but pauses when he hears sobs from the room over. Cain asks Samson what’s going on and he explains Eve was comforting Apollyon again as he had a rough day. Cain looks pissed but just mumbles to himself that she should just get a new brother at this point before locking himself in the bathroom. Cain lays in the old tub tapping his foot and thinking before letting out a raspy quiet groan and reaching for his razor. He let his blood clot watching quietly after a cut but soon put gaus over it and going down his arm. He sat there for the next few hours till the old grandfather clock outside rang 6 pm and went to his room early to try and sleep.

That’s all for Pt 2, a lot slower then the first but the set up is needed for context lol. Ask box is open per usual

#tboi au #tboi #forgotten keys #tboi writing #writing #tboi cain #cw self harm

[realhankmccoy]

final fantasy 7 is my fav video game

funny thing is that in 1997 i didn't recognise the storyline as shocking

i found other things about the game shocking -- the graphics, mainly

replaying it for a few hours, i'm shocked at how woke 1997 was compared to now

i guess back then it just fit everything about my value system so much like a glove that i didn't even take note of it, crazy as it is

comparing it to how everyone acts now in the era of T Swift, Trump Swift and Elon Pud... it's just very vitalising and revolutionary-seeming

i think that mostly gets lost once you're out of midgar

and certainly that feeling and attitude has departed from me in my life at various times in various ways

i'm far from a perfect person

i used to call Minneapolis -- the dead end neighborhood i lived in by a big waste incinerator or whatever it was -- 'my own private midgar' to try to cheer myself up

pretty pathetic, eh kids, a 35 yr old man doing that and referencing his part of town as an industrial slum under a grey metal sky, but that's how i CHEERED MYSELF UP

for fuck's sake

the party i liked to use was Cloud, Red XIII, and Cid i was big on Red XIII and related to him and cloud -- hard to relate to the other characters, but a tad in Cid, and i could relate to Aerith fairly well but of course she died.

Barrett -- i'm not a gun guy, so never did, but now that i'm old enough to, you know, better remind myself these are fake video game guns, i'd be more into him

Tifa -- not a gambler, not a boxer, but again... now that i'm trying to broaden my horizons... also i thought it was prob a tad perverse, some of her tit action, on purpose and i'm sure it was now, i'm not really hetero enough but maybe with the boxing

Vincent -- coul back relate then, but just not into vampires anymore, i'm into werewolves

Yuffie -- always seemed a goofy theif, the Gau of the series, but allegedly is a strong character despite me not being drawn to the personality... maybe if i were less uptight i could get over that, always so serious

Cait Sith -- does anyone like this charater, i like that they did something weird and creative but just hard to adore for any reason, not even a Mog

anyhow, i felt like i was getting at some points here

you kids prob have no idea how conservative this time period, 2024, is and how gross it is when even 1997 seems radical and serious -- and jesus, that Nelson Algren book i read from 1961 was way more left-field than 1997 or FF7 that's for sure

zizek prob never told you you're under an ideology of 'enjoy' as americans but you are

like dummies, like Babycuck and Babydad and Babybro, you're like that very minor character dismissively watching the most basic news only while wanting to be king himself above ground like the rest someday, feeling smart as he did -- the idiot in the slums of midgar who thinks he's totally not deluded and that you're free of political ideology because you're neither in Avalanche nor Soldier, because you took both pills or no pills, because you don't have a clue because you think the point is to be... and that's why your lives go nowhere and stay in a slum, however middle class your American suburban slum might be -- call it an intellectual slum, a spiritual slum, a slum of the heart, a slum of nothing to care about and nothing to fight for

i should get my own permanent residence, perhaps, someday or at least my own television and video game system because i guess video games aren't all worth throwing out the window forever after all

i guess i'm a more spiritual person than i thought i was

there will be meaning in me wearing my bandanas and going to carbondale tomorrow, and i shouldn't give up on the dreams of my former self before i became so incredibly jaded and responsible, because the world needs some adventure to live for, too. at least i sure do. new orleans, st. louis, phladelphia and mobile are on my likely stays list in the future. not really into Nashville as that's where all the wonderbread head to, and not into Portland as that's liberal Wonderbread. Seattle gets a lot of liberal Wonderbread too but I do like the city in spite of that, but i don't like 'white flightvilles' and so i'm not gung ho about heading back to Washingotn or Washington DC which to be properly enjoyed you have to bring plenty of money for the restaurants which i don't feel like coming up with

there's plenty i could revivify myself with by thinking of Tifa, Barrett, Jessie -- maybe those three in particular -- even as active as i've been the last three days sociopolitically, i don't think i'm really living for 'the struggle' like i should be or in a way that i'd feel better about myself for being. i know i've called myself a bourgeois backpacker a lot for years now, kind of awareness of how paltry and cushy i've let myself become -- even as i stay in places a lot of people never have and never willl due to low quality, it's the lifestyle -- it's fundamentally bourgeois backpacker -- it's a matter of rotten priorities. in many ways i've been living for my stomach for 15 years now. paying $23 after tip for king trumpet mushroom Chinese with tofu today could prob be a nice wakeup call to just stop it. what am i even doing with my fucking life? what would Avalanche do? you know, my dad used to write checks that said Greenpeace because he gave them some money. i don't notice that side of my dad existing at all anymore, not truly. i can't see myself as the sort chaining himself to a tree or going deep green necessarily but there's really a lot of shortcomings to who i've turned out to be that i should deeply consider.

characters in FF7 some from horrific manufactured false backgrounds -- and yet -- they still have choices. i guess i should toughen up and realise while i was produced under a lie and then thrown away when no longer useful, this doesn't mean i have nothing to fight for or that my whole life is to be staying put and moping and a hopeless case of forces too strong to fight. maybe the whole situation is hopeless but in the case of certain individuals, i can snap people down to size if needed and i can even do it gently and probably will

there's more im not considering with this game, which goes from radical anti-corporate, slum-dwelling eco-terrorist to more of a spiritual humanism and a 'destroy those inhuman planet-threatning forces wanting total godlike power' but i feel like the first half of that, the Avalanche slum-dwelling seriousness -- that's what's been missing from me. i do plenty of spiritual humanism and punching upwards trying to destroy trump and musk and even lesser forces up there. i think i have to focus on all the midgar events and why 'my own private midgar' brought me comfort in my painfully grey, lonely and empty neighborhood in minneapolis... but i'll sleep on it.

#final fantasy 7 #final fantasy vii #mommie queerest

[m6trot]

The first settlers of Gau

I often tell myself that I would travel around the country first, go to places where I have never been to before I can decide on maybe taking a world tour. One of the places that’s on my list is the island of Gau, which is located in the Lomaiviti Group.

Today I can proudly say Gau, you have been crossed from my travel list. However, in saying that I plan another trip to the island to complete the collation of stories, as there are still some villages that are yet to be visited.

Gau is the fifth largest island in Fiji with 17 villages. The highest mountain Delaco rises to 738 metres.

After a week’s travel I must say Gau is indeed rich in untold and unwritten history. I hope and pray one day the history books in our schools will be filled only with legends, myths, religion, and politics about Fiji.

The interesting thing about oral history is there are always a lot of interpretations, some may differ from another.

This article does not intend to create dispute, confusion or animosity among villagers, nor does it intend to create hatred or sever relationships.

Over the next few weeks, this newspaper will bring you interesting accounts of history from around the island of Gau.

This week, we take you on a journey of how the island of Gau was first settled. This legend was relayed by Poasa Qalokivuya the village headman of Nukuloa Village.

Nukuloa Village is nestled under the Ului Kaba mountain range, the wai ni kenani river runs beside it, and sits next to Nukuloa Village School and Levuka Village.

It is home to 134 villagers who dwell in 25 houses.

Nukuloa is about a 20-minute boat ride from Lovu where the airstrip is located that is on the south western part of the island, and about an hour’s boat ride to Qarani the main centre which is on the northern part of Gau.

Travelling was equally important for The Fiji Times chief photographer Eliki Nukutabu, since the last time he set foot in his village was 40 years ago. So for him, it was a time to rekindle his family ties. There is one interpretation that the island of Gau was first settled by one man and his sister who are said to be the descendants of the Tui Wai from Nakauvadra.

The legend states that when the siblings reached Kaba on the coast of Tailevu, the young woman wanted to rest, so her brother allowed her to rest while he climbed a tree and looked out at sea for land.

When his sister woke up, she asked what was he looking for. He replied, “I see before me an island, half of the island is very cloudy, the other half the sun is shining brightly on it. The island looks very fertile.” After hearing this his sister agreed that they must make the journey to the island. As they arrived on a beach and because they were tired they fell asleep.

They were awoken by waves splashing on to their feet, thus the origins of one of the two yavusa in Nukuloa, Nasevaua, which is derived from the word sevuta na ua, meaning to be washed or splashed by the wave. Perhaps the more precise and accurate account was the one which was relayed by Mr Qalo. After the presentation of the isevusevu and traditional request of the account, the village headman started his story.

According to Mr Qalo, Rokomautu — one of the four sons of Lutunasobasoba — had departed his home in Verata, Tailevu in search for land. With him was, what Mr Qalo was told, Rabakanawa one of Rokomautu’s right hand men, a lady by the name Adi Ranadi, who is thought to be either Rokomautu’s grandaunt or aunty.

When they reached Kaba, Rabakanawa climbed a tree and look out to sea and such was his observation;

“Dua na yanuyanu au raica tiko qo e wai, ia na ucuna e cake e sigasiga, ucuna e ra rugurugua, ia na gau ga e drokadroka vinaka ka levu kina na wai.” (I see an island, the sun is shining directly on the northern part of the island, while the southern side is cloudy. But in the middle of the island I see fertile land and a lot of water source).

The name of the island Gau, according to Mr Qalo, was given by Rabakanawa when he was scouring for land from Kaba. He said the word “Gau” meant in the middle. Whenever there is a function on the island of Gau, a question is often asked “are the people of Gau here?” meaning are those from Nukuloa present at the function.

Rokomautu decided that they must go to that island.

“E tukuni na kena itukutuku na daveta oqo na nodra lako mai, a sega ni daveta levu sara. A qai cavu mai e dua na bati Adi Ranadi mai galegalena me dola kina vavinaka na daveta qo. Ko yaca tiko kina ni daveta oqo o Nagalegale.” (When they approached the harbour there was a small opening so Adi Ranadi pulled her molar and with it enlarged the opening to the harbour, thus the origin of the name of the harbour Nagalegale, which means the jaw, because the molar was pulled from jaw).

Mr Qalo said they when they reached shore, the beach had black sand thus the name of the village Nukuloa, which means black sand.

He added Rokomautu and others went around the island, where some were left to occupy Lamiti and Malawai Village on the other side of the island.

Before making his journey to Bua, Rokomautu said he would send someone who will become their chief.

Mr Qalo said when Rokomautu finally returned to Verata he sent Radikedike and the yavusa o Tuatua. Radikedike is said to have maternal links to Verata.

“Na vakatakilakila ni vanua me cabe kina me makataka mai na gauna e loma kei na dua na vu ni tavola. Na vu ni tavola qo se tikoga qo. Ra sa lako mai o Radikedike kei na nona lawalawa, ratou sa calata na vu ni tavola. Qai lai donumaka e dua na vu ni tavola e tiko mai Sawaieke, qai lai cabe cala ekea. Io na ka e tukuni tiko na vanua ena lai cabe kina ena koro turaga ena yanuyanu oya. Na ka eda rogoca tu, sa qai lai cabe ekea, sa qai takali kina i Gau (Nukuloa) na veiliutaki ka sa lai soli e Sawaieke, ka lai basika na itutu vakaturaga oya na Takalai-Gau.” (A tavola tree on the beach where Rabakanawa had landed when they first arrived was to be where the second arrival of Radikedike, the chief, was to land. However he missed it and landed in Sawaieke and that is why today Sawaieke is the chiefly village. Because Radikedike missed Nukuloa thus the village missed the opportunity of playing host to its chief. This is the origin of the title Takalai Gau. Takalai comes from the word takali which means gone, passed or missed).

During the tribal war days, Mr Qalo said Nukuloa was never defeated because they had fearsome warriors.

Tobu Ni Sisili Nei Tui Levuka

I was surprised when Etika Macedru of the yavusa Nasevaua told me that at Nukuloa is the pool known as the tobu ni sisili nei Tui Levuka, the pool where the Tui Levuka from Ovalau bathes after being traditionally installed.

According to Mr Macedru, legend has it when the great army of Lovoni was waging war around Ovalau, the Tui Levuka feared that his people were under threat and would be subject to the people of Lovoni, so they requested help in Verata. The Ratu of Verata informed him to go to Nukuloa in Gau and request the assistance of their warlord.

Mr Macedru said the tobu ni sisili nei Tui Levuka, had always been the pool the warlord used bathe from whenever he returned from war. Upon the request from the Tui Levuka, the army from Nukuloa travelled across the sea and protected the Levuka people. As their form of gratitutde, the warlord was installed as Tui Levuka.

Mr Macedru said after his installation he told his people he needed to return to his pool to have a bath.

It is rather unfortunate that the name of the warlord could not be remembered.

Mr Macedru said the late Tui Levuka Ratu Kolinio Rokotuinaceva, who passed away in 2008, was the last Tui Levuka to bathe at the pool in Nukuloa after being traditionally installed.

The process is once the traditionally installed chief is at Nukuloa, the yavusa o Vadela of which the Tui Vatu is the chief will present the tabua (whales tooth) for him go and bathe.

For four nights the warriors from Lamiti, Malawai and Nukuloa will guard the chief. During this time, noise and movement are restricted until the four nights are over followed by a solevu or merrymaking before the Tui Levuka is traditionally farewelled to return his people in Ovalau.

Wai ni Kenani

Earlier in the day we were just about to present our isevusevu when I asked for a glass of water, my reaction, “OMG, this water is sooooooo good.”

My tastebuds would never lie to me, I can say no bottle water comes close to the water in Nukuloa.

According Nukuloa villager Sakiusa Bulivorovoro, the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was on his campaign train with the Alliance Party in the 1970s when he tasted the water and named it, wai ni Kenani (water from Canaan — referring to the Israelites in Christian spiritual contexts).

Credit: Fiji Times

Photo Courtesy of Phillip Colla.

[atopearth]

Piofiore: Fated Memories Part 2 - Dante Falzone Route

Hmm maybe Dante's route will answer why Lili seems to be so important to the Falzone and the church? Is she a descendant of the people who were tasked by "angels" to create this church and thus led to the creation of the Falzone or something? I wonder how Orlok is involved though~ Interesting to see Dante personally come to the church to protect and save Lili even though I doubt Orlok really meant any harm. Loll at Dante though, he seems like such a silly awkward boy that doesn't know how to properly communicate with others, he wants to keep her safe in the Falzone estate but doesn't even properly tell her that he intends to do that and just kinda assumes it by giving her a room and everything lol. Honestly though, I feel sorry for Lili, although she's being "protected", it's practically as if she's been kidnapped since she's not even allowed out of her room, and no one from the church or wherever is supposed to know that she's here, I would feel so uncomfortable if I was her. I guess at least she tried talking to Dante about it, too bad he refuses to say anything😪 I love how Leo is such a pure and earnest soul though, he is so kind and sweet to Lili, he tries so hard to help her too, it's nice that Leo is such an understanding and thoughtful bodyguard.

Lmaoo when Lili made a silk rope and tried to climb down the balcony to escape. To be fair, I would risk doing the same thing, Dante really isn't helping the situation by hiding everything from her. The CG of Dante catching her when she fell is so pretty though! I knew that Dante was hiding how the people were doing at the church because something happened to Sister Sofia but I didn't expect her to have died... Awww it was so cute how Leo thought Lili tried to run away because he was stuck to her 24/7 loll, he gives her so much space, there's no way he's overbearing! He's such a good boy🥺 especially now that she's not eating after finding out what happened to Sister Sofia, so he's trying to find a way to get her to eat. I love the suggestion of getting Nicola, Leo and Dante to eat with her to try and motivate her in a way. Too bad Dante didn't do it, but it's nice to see Nicola spending time naturally chatting with her and eating with her, I think eating together with someone really helps to make the food easier to take in. Omgg, Leo is such a cinnamon roll, he even took time out to buy her books and flowers since he felt bad that he didn't have permission to eat or do anything with her🥺 Ohh, Dante told him to get the gifts for her! Hahaha, omg, he's so cute🤣 It's actually kinda funny but so sweet how attentive and efficient Dante is. She just told him that she's a bit lonely since Leo has been busy and he tells Leo to get her a kitten the next day lmao. I'm actually impressed at how good he is at thinking of gifts to help her be more comfortable here. Dante's gentle expression patting the kitten was so comforting, I loved it. It was also nice to see Lili finally properly cry over Sister Sofia's death with Dante consoling her by rubbing her back🥺 Oh okay, I thought Sister Sofia dying was weird, but I didn't think that Dante would lie about such a thing to Lili especially knowing how important she was to her, I'm not surprised Lili felt betrayed. I'm glad Dante sincerely apologised for lying to her though.

HAHAHA, I loved how when Nicola was flirting with Lili and seemed to be coming on to her, she just shoved him away and ran off lolll! Although I'm happy that Leo is so considerate of Lili to bring her to the church whenever they have a chance to sneak out, it's obvious that something is going to happen now that she's out hahaha. As expected, the Lao-Shu are on the move for her, but I didn't expect Yang himself to be here for her. Omgggg I never expected to hear about Gau Lung Seng Caai aka Kowloon Walled City in here, I guess it would make sense for Yang to come from there since it was basically fully controlled by triads back in the day~ It's kinda worrying that Orlok can invade the Falzone estate and get to Dante so quickly loll, on the other hand, Orlok is a disciple of the church? Ugh, I wanna punch Nicola, like seriously, it's come to the point where they're running away to hide somewhere others don't know about and Nicola STILL insists that no, Lili shouldn't know anything because it's a secret and who knows if it's true since it's so long ago blah blah. Honestly dude, it's not important whether you think it's true or not, the truth is that people like Yang are going after her because they find value in her being the Key Maiden that can unlock the seal to the sacred relic (kinda the symbolic thing that gives the Church power in Burlone since back in the day). They obviously know that her life is in danger because of this, hid it from her all this time "because it's for her own good" when really, they're just treating her like a literal key they can drag from place to place to "protect" disregarding the fact that she's a human and has her own emotions and thoughts. And what? Nicola wants to blame her for sneaking out? Excuse you, yeah she's wrong, but don't make it sound like you guys are right for basically locking her up in the manor without telling her anything important. Like yeah, the Falzone are the guardians protecting the sacred relic and her so of course they know their mission and stuff but there's a huge difference when you know something and when you don't, being kept in the dark just makes everything worse. Honestly they could have just made up some lie to her instead.

Oh how interesting, they even have Disciples like Orlok to monitor the Falzone to see if they're properly fulfilling their roles as guardians?? That kinda seems...silly? Like, why don't you share protection of the relic instead? Also, how do you even know if they're properly doing their job or not? Like, you need the pure Falzone blood (and that's why they're so adamant on the importance of pure Falzone blood) to open the seal and get to the relic but you don't need it to protect it? But I guess there's more to this~ Anyway, Dante blushing on the sofa when he woke up with Lili nearly tripping down on him was cute haha. I'm not sure if I missed it though, wasn't Carlo the cat supposed to stay at the manor? Lmao at Dante being bad at household chores, at least he tried I guess. Yeah, Nicola likes to cause trouble huh? Now Lili thinks Dante is only nice to her because she's the Key Maiden, which is a legitimate worry, but it is pretty slack of her to avoid Dante when he's earnestly trying to approach her and understand what's wrong lol, I feel bad for him.

Like, I don't want to call the Falzone family weak since I feel like depending on the route and stuff, the story "makes" them weak when they want to so that the story can go whichever way they want but c'mon, laced wine that Nicola and Dante didn't notice? I'm surprised they fell for something like that. Nicola is definitely in on it, and Dante is careless lol. But then again, I feel like all our Mafia bosses here make questionable decisions too so I'll just roll with it lol. It was so heartwarming to see Dante so relieved to reunite with Lili and confirm that she's safe. Others can act as the Key Maiden??? So what's the point of Lili then...? Just more convenient? Anyway, the Falzone sure fell in reputation faaast from a newspaper report about corruption with police blah blah, like um, you knew they were Mafia so obviously not everything is going to be all colourful with rainbows, and it's so hilarious how the townspeople can just treat people like Giulia like shit now, excuse me, but I'm sure if Dante and them wanted to, they still have the numbers to oppress you guys, he's just too nice spoiling you all and you tread on him like that after he treated them so well over the years. Ungrateful people. Anyway, their confession was cute, but it sure took a long time for Lili to properly assess her feelings and be honest about her thoughts, but I think Dante being frank about his thoughts was the highlight. A bit like an explosion of all his feelings, his inadequacies, his worries and everything, it's nice that Lili was beside him, because I'm sure Nicola betraying him always hits him hard. On a whole though, sometimes I find it kinda funny how Yang is the only one Mafia-like in that he's actively trying to gain more power and territory, whereas Gil and Dante are pretty chill with the situation (as long as the power balance stays I guess) aside from the troublesome Yang guys lol.

Hahahaha okay, I thought I was vulgar for thinking that Dante and Lili needed to have sex for her "mark" as the Key Maiden to become prominent as needed for the seal (according to Emilio) but to think it really was that!! Okay, funnily, I didn't expect the sacred relic to actually be Jesus' dead body which apparently refutes all the church's teachings since Jesus would be seen as a "normal human" that died, which for me feels kinda silly? I'm not sure what the general consensus is and I never realised that Jesus' body was "stolen" or just cannot be found, but I guess I never really thought that when Jesus died, his body disappeared? I always assumed that Jesus "came down to Earth" and died for our sins in a mortal body, so obviously if he dies, the body will remain but the soul and the spirit or I guess the Holy Spirit leaves and kinda forms the Holy Trinity again? Anyway, I don't know my Bible stuff anymore so I'm not sure anymore, but for me, I feel like this "revelation" is pretty weak and honestly shouldn't be able to undermine the Church but that's just my opinion lol. Anyway, I love how after all that, Yang is just like I'm gonna kill you guys because he hates the Church anyway and he's lost most of his men so he's got nothing much to lose anymore so he might as well take them down with him, I feel like Yang is so random sometimes but I'll roll with it since it's much more amusing to watch him haha. Honestly, I feel so sad for Orlok dying to protect Lili when I feel like she never really saw him for how kind he was, and now he's being relentlessly stabbed by the crazed Yang that's probably on drugs. On the other hand, this might sound crazy but I like this ruthless Yang and I feel like I'm finally seeing a bit of the terror and bloodshed I expected from a game about the Mafia hahaha. Anyway, I'm glad Lili shot a bullet into the air distracting Yang and allowing Dante the opportunity to kill him, I think Yang would be satisfied with that since it seemed like he was just looking for an entertaining way to die. I'm glad that Nicola properly apologised to Lili for his crappy attitude towards her lol.

Well, the best ending was definitely more plot than romance, and I'm honestly not a fan of the plot here haha, it was more boring than I thought. Anyway, that made the romance part have less time so yeah..but seeing Dante propose to Lili was still cute haha. I actually prefer the good ending much more, it felt like it was straightforward, simple and sweet without the unnecessary plot haha, I also liked how she decided to stay at the church and didn't feel like she was ready to leave and stay in his manor with him yet, which is very understandable imo and I liked how they are spending more time properly bonding instead of living in those moments so focused on protecting her and everything. It felt much more natural. Honestly, Nicola dying by Dante's hands to protect Lili in the tragic ending was expected, and it was sad since Nicola always wanted the best for Dante and he's right that the Mafia will slowly become more and more redundant as time goes by, but I think Dante accidentally killing Gil and Lili going into a coma to protect Dante was really unnecessary. It just basically took away the impact and focus on Nicola's death that should torment Dante forever and tried to make it as "tragic" as possible but it just made me not care about it lol. Especially since Lili is in a coma, Dante will focus on that instead of the fact that he killed his best friend and his "brother" with his own hands and I think that's much more tragic than what happened to Gil and Lili.

Overall, I like Dante’s character more than Nicola, but I can't really say I cared for the story here either haha. It's nice that there were answers to the questions about the plot such as the Key Maiden etc, but the reveal and everything was more boring than I thought haha, so sadly that was disappointing. Otherwise, I think Dante and Lili were pretty cute. But I think I enjoyed the beginning of their relationship more, mainly because it was nice to see how they both worked hard to try and spend time with each other, get to know what the other likes to support them and other things like that, it felt really sweet. But once they moved into the hotel together, I don't feel like much happened and they just kinda got together because that's how it is? I don't know, guess the later parts didn't live up to the vanilla of the beginning haha, CGs were super pretty as usual though~ I do like Dante as a character though, like he can get a bit frustrating at times for being the moralistic Mafia boss but it suits him, and I guess it's nice to have someone like him who is seemingly cold but probably feels the most "feelings" out of the others haha. I think it's pretty cute how Dante has known about her since he was a child and always thought about her even though it was unnecessary lol. Anyway, tbh, I kinda prefer crazy Roberto than the actual plot lolll.

#piofiore fated memories #piofiore no banshou

[silverfootstepswrites]

title With Me summary I’m sorry I’m not more like you pairing itasaku, tobisaku, hot messes

Part i | Part ii | Part iii | Part iv | Part v | Part vi | Part vii | Part viii | Part ix | Part x | Part xi | Part xii | Part xiii | Part xiv | Part xv | Part xvi (here) | Part xvii | Part xviii | Part xix | Part xx | Part xxi | Part xxii | Part xxiii | Part xxiv | Part xxv | Part xxvi | Part xxvii | Part xxviii | Part xxix | Part xxx | Part xxxi | Part xxxii | Part xxxiii | Part xxxiv | Part xxxv | Part xxxvi | Part xxxvii| Part xxxviii | Part xxxix | Part XL (it ends here)

Sakura ran her tongue along the backs of her teeth. She stared over the railing, cheek in her hand. She glanced down at her watch.

“Do you want me to tell him to hurry up?” asked Tenten. Sakura flapped her hand at her.

“Don’t bother. He looks like he’s having fun,” she replied.

The wet smash of Sai’s bat filled the room. In the pauses, as he swung, she could hear his laughter. Sakura looked down at her watch again. Let out a sigh. Watched the second hand pass the diamonds under each number.

On second thought=

“Sai lo,” she called out. He didn’t stop. Sakura leaned further over the railing. 

“Little brother!” Sakura called out again. Sai swung his bat up again, but then he lifted his head. Blood flecked his face. His entire shirt was drenched dark red. His hair was wet too. 

“I’m heading back. Can you clean up on your own here?” she questioned. Sai looked down at the tarp-covered floor. Underneath, it was covered with a thick layer of clear vinyl. The edges were sealed with waterproof tape. Even the puddles of blood that had gathered in the folds shouldn’t have touched the concrete underneath. Sai ran a red hand through his hair. He smiled, eyes crinkling.

“Yeah, Boss. I’ve got it,” he replied. 

He held out his hand. One of the underlings came forward with a hammer. Sakura disappeared back over the railing. The thud that followed made Tenten flinch. Rubbing the back of her neck, she followed Sakura to the door. 

“All this time, I thought that was his real name,” she remarked. Sakura looked back at her, smiling.

“No. I call him Sai for Sai Lo, like little brother. It’s cute, isn’t it?” explained Sakura. She looked at Tenten for a second longer as she pulled a cigarette out of the pack. 

“Why? You want to be called little sister too?” she asked. Sakura offered the pack to Tenten. Tenten made a face as she took one and lit it. She stuck it in her mouth, still making that mild look of disgust. Sakura laughed as she leaned in to light her own. Tenten met her eyes, and Sakura could see how hard she was trying not to laugh too. 

Sakura walked ahead, hands in the pockets of her coat. Smoke trailing after her like a long tail.

“You’re really not sick of me yet? I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, you know.”

“Not at all, Boss.”

The first day of August, Sakura woke with her sheets soaked with sweat. Her eyes snapped open. 

She fumbled on her nightstand for the remote for the air conditioner. Lowered the temperature several degrees. And then laid on her back, arms spread. Fingers touching the edges of the mattress. As the air conditioner pumped out the cold air, Sakura waited for the sweat to dry. For her breathing to even out again. 

The clock said that it was almost 6 am. She had gone to bed less than two hours ago. She knew that something in her dreams had woken her. Not the heat or the too-soft bed. But the harder she tried to remember, the more the details slipped away. Like trying to grab water with her bare hands. 

It was really only at times like these that she glanced over. Glared at the empty pillow like it was to blame for all of this. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand. Out of the few people that she wouldn’t mind talking to, none would be awake at the moment. 

Almost as a joke, she found Itachi’s number. Sent him a message. Dozed off again with her phone tucked under her cheek. She opened her eyes again when it lit up half an hour later. 

Well, if you’re awake anyway, would you like to have breakfast? he asked. 

Sakura squinted down at the phone. Almost laughed.

Have you lost your mind?

A little. Only when it comes to you, though.

Reading the message, Sakura tossed her phone aside. Clicking her tongue against her teeth, she glared up at the ceiling. 

She shouldn’t have messaged him.

When Sakura got out of bed, it was to pour herself a drink. And then another. She tossed back the first, but then let the second one sit. Whiskey warming in her hand. Sat on the foot of the bed, glaring out the window. 

Her phone lit up again. 

Then, would you be more open to having a drink later?

Sakura stared at the message. Face blank. And then her eyes drifted to the dresser. To the single vase of cool water roses. Light purple, almost grey petals spiraling together. For some odd reason, the florist hadn’t trimmed the thorns. 

Blue Note. 4.

She tossed the phone aside. It surprised her when the screen lit up again. 

Sorry, my little brother has a special presentation at school today. Are you free a little later tonight?

Sakura scoffed. She ran a hot bath. Sipping on the whiskey as her toes turned into prunes. 

Sai found her in Akihabara that afternoon. He walked into the tapas bar, already looking irritated. 

“Who comes to Tokyo to eat tapas?” he grumbled, taking a seat at the bar next to her. Sakura only raised her eyebrows. She pointed at her wine. He shook his head. 

“You seem like you’re in a crappy mood. Anything happen?” Sai asked. She looked at him. Unsmiling. He sighed. Put his elbow up on the bar as he watched her order for them. When the waiter was gone, he flicked idly at a speck of dust on the bar.

“You know, Boss...” he drawled. Sakura turned her head towards him. “If you wanted a drinking buddy. You could have just asked.”

Sakura ignored him. Sai motioned for the bartender.

“Get us two more of whatever she’s having,” Sai said, pointing at Sakura’s glass. 

But an hour into their meal, just when Sai was going to suggest heading to the club soon, Sakura’s phone vibrated on top of the bar. In fact, the entire screen lit up. And the calls and texts she had ignored dragged down the screen like a list to hell. But the one call buzzed bright at the top. And it wasn’t one she wanted to ignore. She sighed. 

“Wei,” she answered right there. She had bought out all the other seats in the place. There was no one around to eavesdrop.

“So... you remember Sam Ma, Boss?” Tenten said. Sakura could hear the wind crackling past on the other end of the line.

“Yeah. Dirty Sam. Good source of clean H,” recalled Sakura. He was an old face, from way back when she was still pouring drinks at the karaoke bar. Sai’s eyebrows rose. He already had his phone out. 

“Well, when I sent some of the boys to collect this month’s payment from him, he said he was working for Fai Tsai now,” snapped Tenten. Sakura heard tires screech in the background. A car horn blared. And then Tenten screamed at someone to fuck their mother. 

“Diu. That’s a shame. Dirty Sam was kind of handsome,” Sakura remarked, looking down at her nails. She would have to get them done again.

“Was?” repeated Tenten.

“Was. Dirty Sam made a deal with me. Personally. So I’ll handle this. Personally,” Sakura declared. And then she hung up. 

“One ticket back home, Boss?” asked Sai, scrolling through the flight times.

“Two. Charlie can stop in to check on things while we’re gone,” replied Sakura. Her phone rang again.

“And get me a window seat,” she added. And then she strode out of the bar, barking into the receiver: “Diu lei lo mo. Can’t you do anything right? Why is it that Tenten had to call me to let me know about this? Are all your fingers broken? You couldn’t even text me?” 

That night, mist clogging up the stars, Sakura’s plane landed. Zabuza and Tenten picked them up in the usual black car. Tenten glanced over the sheer white blouse and high-heeled sandals. While fitting for the tropical weather, it wasn’t as practical for night’s scheduled activities.

“Do you need time to go change, Boss?” asked Tenten.

“No,” Sakura retorted, arms folded across her chest. 

They found Dirty Sam at his usual hangout. A dingy little yum cha place. He was shoveling soup dumplings into his mouth when Sakura walked in. Broth dripped from his lips. Plastic chopsticks clicking against the sides of his bowl. The sounds of Sakura’s heels clicking against the tile made him freeze mid-slurp. He lifted his head. Eyes darting to the exits until they settled on her. 

Sakura slid into the empty seat across from him. She put her elbow up on the plastic table, cheek in her palm.

“Do you want to talk or do I have to make a scene?” she queried. 

Letting out a nervous laugh, Dirty Sam rubbed the back of his neck. “...Mei, it’s been a while. Have you eaten?” He pointed at the bamboo steamer sitting between them. There were still some dumplings left. Sakura’s glare shot straight through him.

“Sam.”

He lowered his finger and his eyes. 

“He offered me a huge deal with ridiculous profits. Just to move my stuff through Korea. And I needed the cash bad...” Sam mumbled.

“Who did?” Sakura demanded. 

“Fai Tsai,” answered Sam. He eyed the steamer with longing. Clicking her tongue, Sakura shoved the food closer to him. He gobbled another one down while she grimaced. Only her eyes moved as she watched him chew. 

“In person?” she queried.

“Huh?”

“Fai Tsai came up to you in person and said this?” Sakura demanded, leaning in on her forearms. Sam leaned back. Eyes wide.

“Uh... I mean, no. Nah, it was some guy,” admitted Sam. Sakura smashed her open palm against the table. The crowded restaurant went silent. 

“Ong lan gau, are you serious?” she swore at him, shaking her head.

“But the dude looked like 24K. He had the right tattoos and everything! The Red Arrow tattoo. Right there,” Sam went on, pointing at his forearm. 

“You dumb fuck. Any country peasant could go to a tattoo parlor and get that done,” Sakura snapped. 

“And he knew shit that only real 24K would know. I’m serious, Mei,” Sam insisted. 

“So you almost got yourself killed over some random guy who isn’t even real 24K. Ong lan gau,” Sakura berated him again. Sighing, she sat up straight again. Clicking her tongue against her teeth, she fixed her glare on Dirty Sam. As she got to her feet, Sam grabbed her hand. Held it between his sweaty palms.

“Look, Jing-Mei, we’ve known each other for a long time. You know that I’m stupid. I made a mistake. I’m sorry,” Sam groveled. That was his thing. It wasn’t his hygiene that had earned him that title. It was that smile. How he managed to wriggle out of any situation with that greasy grin. 

“Oh, Sam. You really haven’t changed,” Sakura sighed. Gave a smile in return. She could see the hope twinkling in his eyes. Then her hand moved lightning fast. She gripped the front of his shirt.

“But neither have I. Let’s go,” Sakura then ordered. Sai stepped out from the shadows to grab hold of Sam. They dragged him to the car. People averted their gazes as Sakura walked past.

Sakura showed up in the karaoke bar a few hours later. Pushing past the guards, she stomped upstairs. Hands in the pockets of her leather jacket. She pushed the door open with her foot. Tobirama’s men looked up, and so did he. Sakura nodded as she walked past. 

She headed straight for the tiny bathroom. There was only a sink and a toilet, but it was good enough for her. She peeled her wet jacket off. 

“So, I’ve got bad news,” Sakura called out as she twisted the tap. She waited for the water to heat up before she began washing her hands and arms. The water ran red before it swirled down the drain. She looked in the mirror. Saw Tobirama twist around to look at her over the sofa. Their eyes met in the reflection.

“Dirty Sam is dead,” Sakura informed him. Tobirama’s forehead wrinkled. He got up. 

“The Suns? The cops?” he demanded. 

Sakura leaned over to wash her shoulders too. Straightened, arms dripping.

“No. It was me,” she told him. She tried to wash her arms again. Looked down at her stained shirt. Gave a long sigh. 

“I give up. Should have just drowned him in the harbor,” she grumbled. When she looked up, Tobirama was staring at her.

“Little rat tried to cross me to work under Fai Tsai instead,” Sakura explained, voice lowering. He took a few steps closer, stopping in the doorway. He pressed his forearm to the doorframe. His eyes were hard, and so was his answering sigh.

“That brings us down to three suppliers, Jing-Mei,” he hissed out between his teeth. He ran both his hands through his hair, rings glinting. Sakura glowered as she whipped around to look directly at him.

“I’m not the one that killed York Ng,” Sakura responded. She leaned her hip against the edge of the sink. Water dripped down her chest, arms, off the points of her elbows, onto the faded tile. His gaze flickered down, following the drips. And then focused back on her face.

“And to be honest, your brother would have killed him anyway. I did him a favor by offing him first,” she added, fingers tapping against the sink. She lifted on her tiptoes to peek over his shoulder. His men were playing cards, feet up on the tables. One of them met her eyes and nodded. 

“Did you at least clean up after yourself?” asked Tobirama. He kicked at the discarded jacket on the floor. Sakura gestured at her wet shirt. It was still stained with red. Her entire right sleeve dyed crimson. Even her shorts were flecked, like a bad tie-dye.

“Ah. I took that off Sam. Not like he needs it anymore,” she explained. Making a face, Tobirama kicked it to the side. 

“I appreciate you not walking through the bar looking like that,” Tobirama replied, pointing at her bloody shirt. Sakura smirked at that. She folded her arms across her chest. 

“I aim to please.”

Tobirama shed his button up shirt and tossed it to her. She pulled her arms through the sleeves. Wrinkled her nose.

“Ugh, this smells like menthols,” complained Sakura, sniffing at the shirt.

“Fuck you,” chuckled Tobirama. 

“Anyway, what are you going to do to Kabuto? He’s been starting a lot of shit lately,” Tobirama then asked. 

Sakura folded the sleeves. Pushed them up her forearms. 

“Nothing... yet. Although, since he’s been pissing me off, maybe I’ll send a message,” mused Sakura. They didn’t have much else to discuss. Sakura took the other stairs down to the back door. Shoved it open with one careless kick.   

She turned when she heard someone stamping down the stairs after her. 

“When are you going to finally kill Kabuto, Sakura?” 

Sakura let the door slam shut in her face. Turned. Tobirama leaned against the wall. Eyelashes lowered. Almost smiling. 

Her eyes flickered up. The door at the top of the stairs was closed. The single bulb dangling from the ceiling buzzed.

“Are you crazy? Your brother would never allow it,” Sakura answered. Tobirama shook his head.

“Kabuto is a nuisance at best, and a detriment to the 24K at worst. As much as you hate Mad Dog, you have to admit that at least he knew how to run his shit,” Tobirama pointed out. Sakura sighed.

“Did you hit your head somewhere, Tobirama?” she snapped. Tobirama’s eyes narrowed. He took a menacing step toward her. Sakura held her ground. Glaring up at him.

“Kabuto gives us someone to hate. Do you really think we would get along this way without a common enemy?” she went on.

He shrugged one shoulder.

“It would work out somehow. My brother would find someone else to take his place,” replied Tobirama. 

Sakura ran her tongue along the backs of her teeth, twisting her mouth. 

“You really are a dumbass. Without Fai Tsai, we’d be at each other’s throats, Tobirama,” Sakura scoffed. Tobirama took another step, his forearm hitting the wall beside her head. He loomed over her. Then he lowered his head, smirking.

“Are you trying to turn me on?” he murmured. 

Sakura’s eyes turned cold. She shoved him in the chest. 

“You know I hate that shit. Sweet talk,” she sighed. She turned her head away. Still, Tobirama didn’t take a step back. His left hand found her neck, smoothing up the back of it. She avoided looking into his eyes. 

“Then I’ll just tell you what I want, Jing-Mei,” he tried again. He pushed her into the corner. The concrete cold against her back. Wet shirt sticking to her body. His fingers tangled into her hair. 

“I want to fuck you. Hard and dirty.”

His whisper was low and hot in her ear. 

“I want to make you scream as you come all over my cock. Is that what you want to hear?”

“You have an awful personality,” Sakura accused. Tobirama smiled as he lifted his head again. 

“So?”

Sakura clicked her tongue. She shoved past him. 

“You know where to go,” she stated. And then she walked out, door slamming shut behind her. 

She didn’t return to her apartment in North Point until almost dawn. Tobirama was waiting, burning a cigarette on the balcony. He glanced over his shoulder at her when he heard the door slam. He took his time stubbing the cigarette out. 

Her mouth was still filled with the taste of wine when he kissed her. Buttons popping off, scattering across the floor. His rough hands dragging down her back as he pulled her down and down. Into the liquid night. Where there were no sweet words or lingering gazes. Just the heat and weight of his body moving over hers. 

Part i | Part ii | Part iii | Part iv | Part v | Part vi | Part vii | Part viii | Part ix | Part x | Part xi | Part xii | Part xiii | Part xiv | Part xv | Part xvi (here) | Part xvii | Part xviii | Part xix | Part xx | Part xxi | Part xxii | Part xxiii | Part xxiv | Part xxv | Part xxvi | Part xxvii | Part xxviii | Part xxix | Part xxx | Part xxxi | Part xxxii | Part xxxiii | Part xxxiv | Part xxxv | Part xxxvi | Part xxxvii| Part xxxviii | Part xxxix | Part XL (it ends here)

#eastern suns #writing #itasaku #triad!sakura x yakuza!itachi #tobisaku #sorry i missed sunday #it's been a crazy week #triad!au