#omg takasugi <3

[sebfreak]

#gintama #gintamaedit #sakata gintoki #takasugi shinsuke #animangaboys #dailyanime #dailyanimatedgifs #anisource #animationsource #fymanganime #fyanimegifs #shounenedit #animangahive #animeedit #gintama the final #movie #sebfreaks gif #finally i´m fit enough to make gifs again #omg takasugi <3 #cherry blossoms

[lilac-5ky]

I was reading your "Takasugi is just like a butterfly" theory (excellent meta btw!) and now I am curious: do you like his actual manga!yukata design? as in which version do you like better? ofc Takasugi looks hot good in both lol--is just that I have never seen his actual manga design anywhere in fics or in fanarts (never even seen his manga panels colored T_T) but yeah the manga!yukata design is way more... complicated(?) so I can see why the anime decided to change it. what can I say, this man is a fashion icon 😭

omg I'm terribly sorry for getting to this so late! I've neglected my inbox a bit while working on my fanfic ideas, so this got buried in there T-T

Honestly, I love both equally and I can't speak in favor of the manga yukata since, like you stated, we haven't seen a colored version of it, BUT if we did, then perhaps that one would outshine his anime butterfly one. The design of his manga yukata is so intricate and the meaning behind it is well thought of! I've read this theory on aminoapp about its design and you can find it here if you'd like to read into it, but I'll quote some of the things mentioned regardless.

Manga!Shinsuke's yukata analysis!

Looking at Shinsuke's most iconic yukata, we can see the theme of nature in the form of sakura flowers, mountains, clouds, and trees.

Sakura blossoms are known for being ephemeral, an attribute shared with butterflies. Sorachi might have made his yukata have a simpler butterfly pattern for the anime so that it's easier to draw and anime, but the concept remains the same. Ephemeral beauty. Something that doesn't last long, unlike the impression it leaves behind. Therefore, sakura blossoms and butterflies are both perfect symbolisms for a man whose life, albeit strong, held an unparalleled beauty in its entirety.

On the other hand, mountains could be seen as the exact opposite of sakura blossoms and butterflies. Mountains are unmoving and unyielding. They remain even after all nature around them dies. This could indicate Shinsuke's unyielding focus to his goal, the memories and the comrades he never forsook, and his ideals. No matter what, mountains can be viewed as a symbol of strength, and Shinsuke surely is a very strong individual.

As for the clouds, in a way, they too symbolize impermanence and are also linked to the divine due to proximity, but personally, when I view the clouds in relation to Shinsuke, I think of his famous poem-like saying in the Rakuyo arc. Clouds bring rain, and we all know how Shinsuke's sick of seeing the rain. The rain to him is both something he can't escape and haunts him, as well as something he's initiated himself. The clouds are an omen of his struggles and the pain he's brought upon himself; the very pain he is tired of feeling.

To sum up, the pattern of his kimono shows his life's flow, his ambitions, and his struggles. It's a very intimate exposure of his inner world, and for a man who doesn't let others in, he sure likes to put all that he is on display.

Since we got into this, I want to include another similar yukata of his, and the meaning behind it.

They look very much alike I know, BUT this one has two notable elements: Peony flowers and Shochikubai.

Starting with the latter, Shochikubai is an expression for Sho, chiku, and bai, the japanese words for pine tree, bamboo, and plum (picture below for reference on what the basic design is supposed to look like). Shochikubai traditionally refers to the 3 friends of winter and it's associated with good fortune. To quote this article right here, Shochikubai is an allegory for weathering hard times through various attributes of each element. A pine tree is tenacious and rooted deep enough to hold. Bamboo can bend in the breeze without breaking, while plum trees are the first to blossom in winter like a promise of hope.

It's hard to properly discern them in this image, but the leaves definitely belong to the pine trees and the little flowers are a mix of sakura blossoms and plum blossoms. Anyway, tenacity is a trait that defines Shinsuke, and the hope that is carried through winter is similar to the hope for a miracle that carries him through his rebellion.

Lastly, the bigger flowers are peonies, a symbol of love and nobility that is mostly preferred by women. A lot of people say that Shinsuke went down this path because of revenge and hatred, but really, his love for Shinsuke and all that he held dear from his days back at Shoka Sonjuku drove him. Nobility is something that Shinsuke himself has forsaken and claims to have never had, but many times he's shown kindness towards others and done the righteous thing. They are both elements of his personality, albeit well hidden.

To conclude this unnecessarily LONG answer, the kimonos he wears in the manga have such deep symbolism that one cannot ignore. They are a small peek into who he is as a person and all he represents, and because of that, I'll have to give them an extra point over his iconic butterfly yukata. One thing's for sure, Shinsuke surely knows how to dress to impress and he might as well be the most fashionable character in the entirety of the show. Hopefully this wasn't a snoozefest for you, I just thought it'd be interesting to explain why I favor his manga yukata more and provide proper reasoning.

#anon asks #mirto answers #anon ask #takasugi shinsuke #gintama #takasugi theory #gintama theory #gintama analysis #takasugi analysis

[xostrawberry-milkyox]

How Gintama boys (Gintoki, Hijikata,Sougo,Katsura,Takasugi) react when they became character in otome game. It will be hilarious how they will steal heart of female lead.

Omg I love this *cue love choriss arc*

The scenario will be they all end up in the same game together.

Type of Otome Game: ikemen sengoku (samurai!)

Gintama Boys in an Otome Game

I'll say it now, Shoka Sonjuku doesn't care about the lead at first. but for different reasons.

for gintoki, he can't get enough that the game setting is prime samurai era.

he can carry a sword with pride and no one will look down on him for it.

but when he finds out he is in a game with people he knows,

it immediately turns into a competition of who can win over the lead.

when he meets the lead, he uses the best pick up line he can think of.

it's smooth and terrible at the same time.

"gin-san your sword is different from the rest. why do you carry a wooden sword?"

"if you love swords so much I have another one I could show you while we're alone. 😉"

he fights takasugi almost every time they make eye contact.

it's so petty.

"hooo if it isn't takasugi. hey (y/n)-chan, isn't it funny that his name's takasugi when he's so short?"

when alone with the lead, he likes to tease them or listen to whatever narration they have.

he gives advice if they're troubled and if they've warmed up to him maybe a head pat.

katsura doesn't care about the lead at first because he's in shock.

Shoka Sonjuku #2.

no sword ban? 😧 I can freely use my sword? 😯 samurai are respected!? 🤯

when he finds everyone else in the game he's relieved he's not alone.

when he meets the lead, he's so respectful.

he's such a gentleman.

the lead gets a minor injury (paper cut) and he overreacts.

yelling and screaming for doctors as the rest just stand there like "calm down."

if the lead grows close and ever tries to give him a nickname though he will correct them.

"katsura you seem close to gin-san. is that why he calls you zura? can I call you zura as well?"

"it's not zura. it's katsura."

"..."

when alone with the lead, he'll listen to anything they have to say.

he may make occasional remarks, and they're usually pretty stupid.

he's a dumbass, a loveable dumbass.

Shoka Sonjuku #3

he just wants to fight anyone and everyone.

the first being gintoki as soon as he figures out he's in the game as well.

he's not as competitive about winning over the lead. he just wants to go home.

in the introduction phase, he's the mysterious one.

remember when sakamoto said the girl who took interest in him said he was boring?

yeah...

talking to him is like talking to a brick wall.

but if the lead takes interest in him, then walls were made to be broken.

"what's something you wish for?"

"I want to destroy everything."

"...oh."

he's the type to say "you should be careful around guys like me."

and then proceeds to let the lead get close to him.

if he's grown close to the lead.

he shows his soft side when alone together.

listens to whatever they have to say and vents about anything that may be troubling him.

when he finds he's in a game with everyone, he gets competitive.

his first interaction with the lead though is just...

*sadist mode activated*

he's the bad boy.

poor guy's closest romantic experience is bdsm.

remember love choriss arc? what his partner looked like?

"oi I think you would look really cute with this collar around your neck."

"sorry what?"

he thinks all otome games are like that now.

sabotages hijikata's moments alone with the lead.

teases non-stop.

he is similar to takasugi in the sense that you have to break down walls in order to see his soft side.

he loves head pats.

he (and takasugi) doesn't realize showing his soft side can actually help him win over the lead.

hijikata, gintoki, and sōgo are the three most competitive about winning over the lead.

i've said before in the past that hijikata's really good at flirting.

probably the best out of the bunch.

so he uses a really good pick up line when he meets the lead.

"you're really easy on the eyes (y/n)-chan. i'd love to get to know you."

it might backfire on him because the lead could mistake him as a flirt.

whenever the group is up to their nonsense - takasugi and gintoki fighting for example - he takes it as an opportunity to get closer to the lead.

*sigh* "those guys don't know when to quit do they (y/n)-chan."

"you could say that again."

"it's giving me a headache. come follow me and we can get away from all the drama."

all this build up only for sōgo to come in and ask the lead to help with something.

he does manage to have alone time with the lead, eventually.

he'll ask personal questions to "get to know" the lead.

#tag yourself & who's route you'd pick #i choose gintoki 💙 #gintama #sakata gintoki #katsura kotaro #takasugi shinsuke #hijikata toshiro #okita sougo #gintama headcanons #sakata gintoki headcanons #hijikata headcanons #sougo headcanons #takasugi headcanons #katsura headcanons #thanks for the ask! #anonymous

[kurenaiienishii]

BROTHERS AND SISTERS THEY AND THEM EVERYONE come look at the bomb the official anime studio just dropped 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Look at my babies they finally get to reunite with their beloved teacher 😭😭

Look at my Gintaka and how intimate this ship is. Look at how Takasugi slightly sit closer to Gintoki than everyone else. Look at their postures aren’t those the classic hizamakura pose I swear the staffs just didn’t want to make it too obvious Gintoki definitely is lying on Takasugi’s thighs 👁👄👁

Zura finally got a proper interaction with Shoyo. I’m still mad at the last chapter for leaving them only 2 seconds of seeing and talking to each other (not even directly but through a screen wtf? Shoyo didn’t even say his name) I just think it was so unfair to Zura he’s one of the disciples too 🥺🥺 Now they look like the proud father and brother watching those two idiots they’ve always been looking out for finally be at peace 🥺🥺❤️

Gossshhhhh I can’t wait for y’all to watch the movie I need someone to talk to about this scene this particular scene with the boat and the sakura river omg 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Also someone please tell the studio to stop dropping bombs like this out of no where ya girl has the average 3 hours of sleep per day for weeks and she’s dying but now Japanese Twitter won’t let me go to sleep 😭😭😭

#gintama #gintaka #joui #joui 4 #gintama officials #sakata gintoki #katsura kotarou #joui4 #gintoki #katsura #yoshida shoyo #shouyou's disciples #shouyou sensei #takasugi shinsuke #takasugi

[deluxinn]

I posted 6,070 times in 2021

39 posts created (1%)

6031 posts reblogged (99%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 154.6 posts.

I added 20 tags in 2021

#gintama - 5 posts

#wip - 3 posts

#mine - 2 posts

#gintama spoilers - 2 posts

#gintama the final - 2 posts

#mahstory - 2 posts

#i saw at least one of these in soulsborne - 1 posts

#takasugi shinsuke - 1 posts

#omg what if we’re mutuals and we swiped on eaxh other - 1 posts

#haha jk - 1 posts

Longest Tag: 85 characters

#my friend literally said i’m not conventionally attractive and i thought of this post

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

@bizzyfish tagged me to do this 30 questions and tag people i’d like to know more about thing. Thank you!

1.     Name: Lux, Lucky, Yureisha,,

2.     Gender: Male

3.     Star sign: Scorpio

4.     Height: 5’5"

5.     Time: 10:15

6.     Birthday: October 29

7.     Favourite band/group: Marianas Trench, Spyair, DOES, AliA

8.     Favourite solo artists: Wow I never really thought of it but from the top of my head.... Hikaru Utada

9.     Song stuck in my head: She WIll Be Loved and Say You Won’t Let Go, I’m not sure why since they aren’t particularly my faves or anything

10.  Last movie: Escape Room I think

11.  Last show: Bring It On Ghost (Lol)

12.  When did I create this blog: December 2013, damn LMAO

13.  What do I post: Really just reblogs, very occasionally stuff I write

14.  Last thing I googled: Games for the Wii/Gamecube

15.  Other blogs: LOL I have a bunch like an nsfw one but I’d prefer not to share that one. My more serious one with refs and stuff is @canyoustilllovethisplace

16.   Do I get asks: Not really since I turned off anon

17.  Why I chose this url: I used to be plenty of long urls but basically I just shortened it to yureisha. But now that’s an actual OC I’ll probably write publicly about year(s) from now

18.  Following: 518

19.  Followers: 569 (How many are porn/spam bots tho LOL)

20.  Average hours of sleep: 6 - 9 maybe?

21.  Lucky number: 3, 4, 21, 29

22.  Instruments: Trombone and Kazoo

23.  What I am wearing:  Sweater and swim trunks

24.  Dream job: I wanna make vidja games, but not the 24/7 crunch kind

25.  Dream trip: I dream to trip

26.  Favorite food: Karage, ramen

27.  Nationality: Texanianannan

28.  Favorite song: Samurai Heart but if you want a song in English then All To Myself 29.  Last book I read: That’s a good question.... LOOL 30.  Top three fictional universes I’d like to live in: Persona just cuz I wanna have a Persona, Kingdom Hearts like you die but then you don’t and also could sleep for decades and look the same (Maybe that’s a character specific thing, hm), and Payday cuz bullets only teleport you to a jail you could get out of pretty easily

If you’d like, I tag these people: @sakudrew @venke @newtypetokyo @skurt-purt @fruitcakefiona @sammilimyy @xninja20 @your-1up-girl

5 notes • Posted 2021-01-05 16:37:22 GMT

#4

Hey, the very cool, nice and awesome @bizzyfish​ tagged me!

I tag @newtypetokyo​ @fabujasu​ and uhh anyone else here who is a mutual and would like :)

6 notes • Posted 2021-01-25 04:50:41 GMT

#3

As much as we liked fighting, I would’ve loved to drink with you just as much

7 notes • Posted 2021-08-05 02:17:29 GMT

#2

8 notes • Posted 2021-07-22 19:27:13 GMT

#1

166 notes • Posted 2021-09-07 23:57:26 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

#my 2021 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #Spotify

[authcenter]

ur fucked up evil new f/o is takasugi from gintama /hj

idk hes very kind of fucked up and evil but i feel like you'd be like "omg haha u wanna destroy the world :flushed: thats so hot" (/lh)

bro he’s so... yea <3

yes king go destroy stuff <33 you’re so cool

#his hair oughggh #bestie bing🍃

[nijiro-no]

- 将 -

Baby Joui gives me life ( °͈꒳​°͈ 　)

#ep 320 related #Zura this week omg #he deserves all the hugs in the world #and the 2 others two #Gintama #Joui 3 #Katsura Kotarou #Sakata Gintoki #Takasugi Shinsuke #Gintama 2017

[razberryyum]

A Gintama chapter a day keeps the ending away…Lesson 703

MY 20 FAVORITE MOMENTS IN LESSON 703 (spoilers):

When I read this chapter after it was first released a couple of weeks ago, I actually held it together pretty well since I was very satisfied with Takasugi’s end: he got as a heroic and noble a death as he could possibly ever have since he saved the world and his beloved Shouyou. I still feel satisfied, but maybe because 704 is coming out in just a few hours that I also felt especially vulnerable tonight because I was completely wrecked when I revisited this chapter. I cried so much I had to take a nap and now, it’s the middle of the night and I feel all screwed up. Too tired to sleep and yet too tired to really stay awake. I hope I end up making sense in my comments. I pretty much love this entire chapter, even more so after reading it again, even if I’m left in tears. I already miss Takasugi so much. 

1) I just love so much of the writing in this chapter. So beautiful.

2) He’s so beautiful.

3) I was so unbelievably relieved that the last chapter wasn’t the last we would ever see of Takasugi. So glad he was still present in Utsuro!

4) I CHEERED. This was so good. So RIGHT.

5) Just LOVE the three contrasting reactions here.

6) I still can’t believe that Shinpachi and Kagura actually gets to meet Shouyou. In my wildest dreams I don’t think I EVER thought of this possibility but my gods am I glad we were blessed with this.

7) I was really hoping it would stick this time.

8) Omg, I loved Gintoki’s words here…

9) …and here SO DAMN MUCH. This is where my tears started up.

10) Omggg Gintoki’s eyes as the flashbacks are happening…it hurts me to even look at them now.

11) Such a beautiful smile. The last time we will ever see such a beautiful smile.

12) Even before the dust was settle, I knew Gintoki’s strike had to stick this time, and I was so relieved. It’s not the 10-on-1 pile up battle that I had hoped for, but it was still satisfying.

13) Bless Shinpachi. I loved him so much for saying that to Shouyou. 

14) My heart almost couldn’t take this.

15) I’m tearing up all over again right now! I really wanted to hug Shinpachi for saying all that to Shouyou.

16) Loved that it was his sword.

17) I think it was at this moment that I realized it finally was the end for Takasugi. I really don’t have much to say after this point…I think the scenes speak for themselves as to why I love them.

18) 

19) 

20) 

SHIPS TALLY:

Gintoki x Takasugi: for those who ship them, congratulations, I’m truly so happy for you, and also, my deepest, sincerest condolences. I wish I could give you all a big hug.

#Gintama #Gintama manga chap 703 #spoilers #Takasugi #Gintoki #GinTaka #Shouyou #Shinpachi #Utsuro #Silver Soul Arc #Life and Love #THANK YOU Sorachi-sama

[gomumeranomi]

I've just finished Gintama! This gonna be just random blog or something liddat

First of all, spoilers alert!

I don't know how to feel, really. I've spent approximately 3 months on this anime alone, focusing on finishing it, ignoring all updates from other mangas and now I feel like a part of my life just ended.

I thought about if it is the greatest anime ever or not (in my opinion ofc), and when you think on how Sorachi introduce us to the characters slowly and making us watch their funny lives and get attached to them before the serious arcs started, I think he really is a real devil. And for actually successfully making me attached to every character before killing my faves (especially Shige and HOW HE KILLED TAKASUGI OMG), I think he's a great strategist and thus, Gintama (in my opinion) is the best anime/manga ever. Thank you Sorachi for making such wonderful characters. Thank you for making funny episodes that I can watch over and over again during lunch time. Gahhh, now I need to think on how to move on from this manga lmao ok thats it!

#gintama #sorachi

[yorozuya-aki-chan]

Omg this fan edit by Berries and Cubes is so funny!!! 

Sugita (Gintoki), Koyasu (Takasugi) and Morikawa (Sasaki Isaburo) voiced these 3 birds in Youkai Apartment Ep 1. As someone commented, these are some really expensive birds.   

#youkai apartment no yuuga na nichijou #sugita tomokazu #koyasu takehito #morikawa toshiyuki #gintama #jojo

[execurse]

truth is subjective ( meme ) .

character  truths,   bold =  always / often   ; italic  =  sometimes

takasugi shinsuke

1.    smoking:   the  action  or  habit  of  inhaling  and  exhaling  the  smoke  of  tobacco  or  a  drug. 2.   binge  drinking:   the  consumption  of  an  excessive  amount  of  alcohol  in  a  short  period  of  time. 3.   drug  abuse:   the  habitual  taking  of  illegal  drugs. 4.   nail  biting:   a  common  body  language  sign  of  anxiety/tension. 5.   lip  biting:   a  common  body  language  sign  of  anxiety/tension. 6.  night  owl:   a  person  who  is  habitually  active  or  wakeful  at  night. 7.    early  bird:   a  person  who  rises,   arrives,   or  acts  before  the  usual  or  expected  time. 8.   negative  attitudes:   a  philosophy  of  approaching  life  with  criticism &   pessimism. 9.   positive  attitudes:   a  philosophy  of  approaching  life  with  optimism   &   confidence. 10.  swearing:  the  use  of  offensive  language. 11. superstitious:   an  irrational  belief  that  an  object,   action,   or  circumstance  not  logically  related  to  a  course  of  events influences  its  outcome. 12.   inspecting fingernails: a common body language sign of boredom. 13.   scratching  your  neck:  a  common  body  language  sign  of  uncertainty. 14.   foot  and  finger  tapping:   a  common  body  language  sign  of  stress/impatience. 15.   nose  touch:   a  subtle  body  language  sign  of  deceit. 16.   flipping  hair:   a  common  body  language  sign  of  craving  attention. 17.   twirling  hair:   a  common  body  language  sign  of  flirtation. 18.   cracking  knuckles:   a  common  body  language  sign  of  readiness. 19.   hands  behind  back:   a  common  body  language  sign  of  confidence. 20.   finger  pointing:   a  common  body  language  sign  of  authority.  22.   hands  in  pockets:  a  common  body  language  sign  of  mistrust/reluctance. 23.   frequent  touch: a  common  body  language  sign  of  warmth/familiarity. 24.   throat - clearing:   a  common  body  language  sign  of  rejection/doubt. 25.   jaw - clenching:  a  common  body  language  sign  of  hostility. 26.   eye - rolling:  a  common  body  language  sign  of  irritation. 27. head - tilt:  a  common  body  language  sign  of  interest. 28. whistling: to  emit  high - pitched  sound  by  forcing breakthrough  a  small  hole  between  one’s  lips  or  teeth;   usually  to  a  tune. 29.   humming:  make  a  low,   steady  continuous  sound  like  that  of  a  bee;   usually  to  a  tune. 30.   perfectionism:   refusal  to  accept  any  standard  short  of  perfection. 31.  photographic  memory:   the  ability  to  remember  information  or  visual  images  in  great  detail. 32.   paranoia:  a  mental  condition  characterized  by  delusions  of persecution,   unwarranted  jealousy,   or  exaggerated  self - importance,   typically  worked  into  an  organized  system. 33.   exaggeration:   a  statement  that  represents  something  as  better  or  worse  than  it  really  is. 34.   intuitive:   using  or  based  on  what  one  feels  to  be  true  even  without  conscious  reasoning;   instinctive. 35.   quick - witted:  showing  or  characterised  by  an  ability  to  think  or  respond  quickly   &   effectively. 36.   interrupting:   breaking  the  continuity  of  a  conversation  with  one’s  own  statements. 37.   doodling:  to  scribble  or  make  rough  drawings,   absentmindedly. 38.   irritable:   having  or  showing  a  tendency  to  be  easily  annoyed. 39.   gambling:   to  play  games  of  chance  for  money;   bet. 40.   travel - sick:   suffering  from  nausea  caused  by  the  motion  of  a  moving  vehicle,   boat,   or  aircraft. 41.   sensitive: having  or  displaying  a  quick   &   delicate  appreciation  of  others’  feelings. 42.   melancholy:   a  feeling  of  pensive  sadness,   typically  with  no  obvious  cause. 43.   chewing  gum:   the  exercise  of  chewing  flavoured  gum  which  is  not  intended  for  swallowing. 44.   fidgeting:   to  make  small  movements,   especially  of  the  hands   &   feet,   through  nervousness  or impatience. 45.   skeptical:   not  easily  convinced;   having  doubts  or  reservations. 46.   neat - freak:   compulsively  obsessed  with  cleanliness. 47.   gossiping:   divulging  personal  information  about  others. 48.   prim:   feeling  or  showing  disapproval  of  anything  regarded  as  improper;   stiffly  correct. 49.  abbreviating:   giving  others  nicknames/shortening  names/giving  pet  names. 50.   having  a  catchphrase:   having  a  sentence  or  phrase  typically  associated  with  a  specific  person.

TAGGED  BY: @aevitatem ; thank you i love cc so much omg TAGGING: @wretchedtm , @bellidyr , @brazcns , @eyugen , @sinspell , @juuheart , @serirosea and anyone else who wants to do this !

#meme tag ; #canon takasugi doesn't have pockets he just kinda hangs his arm in his shirt #well it's not really a shirt i mean like the top part of his kimono #wait did pockets exist in ancient east asia #i don't think they did in korea wait a second

[sebfreak]

#gintama #gintamaedit #sakata gintoki #utsuro #gintama utsuro #takasugi shinsuke #dailyanime #dailyanimatedgifs #anisource #animationsource #fymanganime #fyanimegifs #animangaboys #shounenedit #gintama the final #movie #sebfreaks gif #omg takasugi <3 #animeedit

[lilac-5ky]

Killing Butterflies (Part 8: Hard Truths cut Both Ways)

A/N: It's been so long since I've written this story omg (or anything for that matter). Ngl, I wasn't sure if I should make things go this way or another way or whatever, but I feel like this is closest to what I had envisioned! This chapter is mainly Takasugi-centric and there will be a bonus A/N at the end to explain something. Hope you enjoy and that the route I chose didn't disappoint!

Warnings: Again tons of violence, emotional abuse and a fuckton of angst.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 7

gotta reinforce my shinsuke manga screenshot collection ;-; even from this angle he looks so good tho :3

The first thing to capture your attention upon entering the final room at the end of the corridor, was the sliding paper doors that separated the space into two parts. Closest to the entrance stood a short legged table, decorated by a single quill, and a paper blank of any words, while on the side of the window laid the creased sheets of a futon.

Unlike the rest of the rooms you got to see during your rather prolonged stay in his ship, this one resembled home the most. From the wooden finishes of the few furniture, to the earthy tones of the walls, this room could only belong to someone with great knowledge of Edo’s traditions.

And that was when it finally dawned on you. This was no ordinary room. This was his room. The room he lunched and dined in. The room he devised tactics and wrote lengthy letters in. The room he slept and sought refuge in, whenever the weight of this world felt too heavy for him to shoulder.

You wondered how many times he’d gazed outside that window. How many sleepless nights he’d spent contemplating over the past and the future and everything in between. You could easily see him leaning with his back against the frame, foggy smoke pouring out his lips only to clash with the panes. A reminiscent of the time he spent under the shade of your estate’s old cherry tree. Old habits die hard, after all.

Moving onto the other side of the room, your fingers traced a long line along the dusty surface of his desk. Did he use it often, you wondered. You’d never thought of him as the scholarly type, but then again he always spent his free time reading. Did he insist on flipping through the pages of the same rusty green book, or had his interests perhaps shifted?

The hushed shamisen behind the table suggested this much. Your hand ghosted over its neck, imagining a gloomy melody to accompany the monsoon. Even in there, the rain kept haunting you both, foreshadowing what was to come.

“If you are done inspecting-” His words were cut in half by a foul strum. You’d nearly forgotten of his presence, along with the reason behind you being in there. This was no field trip, but your chance at getting a taste of the truth.

Stepping away from the shamisen, you turned around to face him. He was standing by the futon, his yukata barely draped over his torso as he cautiously tugged at the wrappings, tearing them off his body one by one.

You watched his every move with bated breath, silently sharing his distress while he struggled to replace the bloodied bandages. He seemed to be in much greater pain than he previously was, repeatedly grunting in frustration and wincing at his own touch.

But even so, he didn’t dare ask for help. He kept inconveniencing himself over and over again, until the sight of his suffering became too much for you to ignore, and you rushed to his aid.

Takasugi quirked a brow at your gesture, evidently taken by surprise. At this point, keeping appearances up didn’t sound right. Whether you cared enough to admit your feelings for one another, he kissed you and you kissed him back, and that remained the sole fact you were certain of. Helping him out when he was in such pain seemed only reasonable.

The wound itself didn’t look so bad. Other than a minor thread coming loose, his stitches seemed intact for the most part, with only bits of dried up blood lacing his abdomen. You grabbed a clean gauze, cutting it in half and then gently wiping him clean. He was compliant enough to stand still, although, whenever your fingers hovered too close, you could feel his muscles tense up.

“You don’t have to do this.” Takasugi mumbled through gritted teeth.

He was right. You didn’t have to bother. But when you thought of how he’d done the same thing for you a little while ago, you couldn’t help it. Your injury was because of him, and now his injury was because of you. It was only fair you got even.

Ignoring his suggestion, you spotted a spare roll of bandage through the slew of medical supplies. Even when your expertise was next to nothing, this much you could do. Placing a palm upon his waist, you stilled him enough to wrap the first layer of bandage around him, followed by another, and then another, until the entire roll was used.

Come to think of it, this was the first time you saw him bare himself like that. He had no qualms about flaunting his body left and right, but when it came down to you actually touching him, this was a first for you both.

Every curve, every peak. The firmness of his chest and the softness of his stomach. You got to experience all that as you mindlessly trailed your fingers along his toned physique. You’d like to think you were doing him great service by fixing him up, but at the same time, you couldn’t refute that part of you enjoyed this. Just how you’d enjoyed the way his hands took hold of your cheeks, just how you’d enjoyed the way his lips crashed against your own mere moments ago.

“I think you can take it from here.”

You stopped before your thoughts could escalate, first averting your gaze and then you steps away from him. Last thing you wanted was to be ridiculed over your reactions. It was only natural that in such situation you’d fail to keep your cool, especially when it involved Takasugi of all people.

After a while of you refusing to face him and him working on his attire, you heard some light rattling from his direction, though you didn’t have the courage to check on the sound just yet. For now, being away from him was all you needed, and so, you let things be.

“Tea?” He more or less announced, as he presented you with two ceramic cups.

Explains all the commotion.

You hesitated to accept, but seeing as there wasn’t much of a choice, you went along. Rainy days did call for hot beverages, and you couldn’t even remember when was the last time you had something that wasn’t preheated.

The warmth was much appreciated, however, the fishy smell emitted by its murky depths made you reconsider. It wasn’t as if he was trying to poison you, right?

Or that’s what you wanted to believe, up until you took the first sip. Horrible was an understatement. It tasted as if someone had combined the world’s worst ingredients and scorched them till they burnt.

Immediately, you cringed away, battling the urge to spit it back in, while Takasugi huffed in amusement, having downed his own share in one go. How could he offer you such a thing? And more importantly, how could he afford to drink it himself?

“What’s in there?” You spelled in between coughs.

“Not poison, that’s for sure.”

You scowled at his antics and he smirked at your reaction, finding great satisfaction in how your tongue repeatedly clicked against your mouth’s roof, desperately trying to rid itself of the foul bitterness.

“Couldn’t you have offered some Yagult instead…”

“Yakult.” Takasugi corrected without thinking twice.

The two of you shared a look. So much had changed over the years, yet in just one day, you’d both let your guard down almost completely. It was easy to joke around and tease each other as if nothing had ever gone wrong. It was so easy that honestly, it scared you. Taking care of him, sharing a laugh with him, loving him. All those things felt much easier than hating and resenting him.

It was time.

“Sit down.” He instructed, pointing at a floor cushion before moving to his desk.

You did as you were told, bracing yourself for what was probably going to be the hardest conversation of your life.

There were so many questions you meant to ask. Answers that once given, would only cause you more heartache. Still, it had to be done. No matter what he had to say, you would listen and you would accept, and coming out of this room, you’d finally start to heal.

Takasugi returned with a light yellow folder, one you’d certainly seen before, despite being unable to place in your memory. It looked worn out, half torn at the seams, but still intact for you to read the name on the front page; Tsugaru Michihiru

“What’s this?” Your heart tightened within your chest.

“Why don’t you see for yourself.” He suggested, sliding the folder across the tatami.

You took it in your hands, fingers brushing over the dried ink of your father’s name. You remembered now. He used to hold onto this folder, continuously scribbling words in its pages when he thought himself alone.

Once, you’d jokingly taken hold of it, but before you had the chance to do so much as take a peek, he apprehended you. What was it that he said? That it’s improper to look into others’ journals? It must have been something along these lines. However once you started going through the pages, you realized how far from the truth you were.

It appeared to be a ledger of some sorts. A list that went on and on, featuring names you’d never heard or seen before. Some were underlined, others were crossed, while others had completely faded into incomprehensible ink stains. You honestly couldn’t make much of it. Any of it, for that matter.

“Who are these people?”

“These are the names of people I once happened to know. People I once worked with. People who were, but no longer are.” Takasugi said, bitterness waning past his words.

“What happened to them?” You already knew the answer.

Your eyes locked in with his, expecting something that would prove you wrong. For so long you’d lived revering your father and his memory. He was a good man, a great man even, one who worked hard to help peace prevail, one who helped people. He was your father after all. There is no way he could-. There’s absolutely no way he could have ever done something like this.

“Sometimes life isn’t as simple as a story, Y/N. Sometimes, rather than noble samurais and just magistrates, you encounter vicious beasts who seek to destroy everything in their passage, and greedy villains who seek to exploit till there is nothing left. Unfortunately, you had to face both in just one life.” He said, grabbing the ledger from your hands and then pointing you at the final page.

A couple of letters were caught in between the endpaper and the cover. It was unclear who the recipient was, but the sender remained the same, his name engulfed by the golden peony seal.

“Tsugaru Michihiru was the one responsible for every one of their deaths. Not the Amanto, not the war. He and the government of puppets that backs the Bakufu up is what killed these men.” Takasugi flipped through the pages again, pointing at a name.

“I remember this one. His folks thanked me for keeping their son safe, only to see his head on display not long after. I heard the old lady was driven mad by the sight and took her life a few days later. Can you imagine it, Y/N? Can you imagine the horror on their faces? The horror of seeing their son’s corpse paraded around as if he were a traitor?”

You winced away from his words, finding the picture he described too horrid for your brain to process.

Was it true that your father was responsible for their deaths? That he could really do such a vile thing as order these war heroes be executed for no reason at all? You wanted to deny his claims, to argue against such fabrications. It’s easier to dispute the claims of a liar and a murderer, but if everything Takasugi presented was the case, you wouldn’t know who to trust anymore.

“Are you still insistent on hearing my truth?”

And slowly, you nodded.

Sandals clicking against hardwood. One step following the other into the hollow corridor, steps defined by both certainty and impatience. No matter how many years had gone by, for Takasugi, the memory of that day remained rather intact, vivid as if it were yesterday. With the fingers of his left hand clenched tight around a small red-lidded bottle, and his right fist ghosting over the doorknob, he contemplated whether to enter the room, or not.

It was a quarter past twelve; precisely six hours since you parted.

All night long, his persistence had kept him from getting a wink of sleep, as he merely settled for the comfort your body offered his. He wanted to savor that moment. To imprint each color of the sky as it crossed over your features, so that he never forgets. So that it lasts him a lifetime.

One night only, and that was it.

The end of your regrettably short love story came with his carrying you into your chambers. Carefully, he replaced his yukata with your duvet’s cover, making sure no limb was left to dangle. You were so docile while sleeping. Nothing like the typhoon of a girl that swept everything in her wake.

But even in your sleep, you didn’t stop reaching out to him. Your hands kept tagging at his sleeves and fingers, begging for him to stay, and honestly, he would. He wanted to. There was nowhere else he’d rather be, than by your side. No other sight he’d rather behold, than the one before his eye.

When he thought of how the first thing you’d do upon waking up would be to search for him, he wished to be found next to you. To take in each and every one of your confused, yet cute expressions once you’d realize he’d been there all along.

Would you hide yourself from him? Jumble your words and turn bright red? Or would you be shameless enough to scoot closer and curl in his arms? Both sounded equal parts endearing, and while he couldn’t decide on your reaction, he was certain of his own.

He wanted you. He wanted to kiss you, touch you, have you, worship you, defile you. He wanted you to call out his name in between heavy breathings and light whisperings. He wanted your clothes to carry the scent of him every morning, only for it to be rewritten every night. He wanted you to be his in each and every way a man could possibly hope to possess a woman.

One night with you was all it took to incite his greed. To make him wish he could have another, and then another, until he’d spent a thousand nights holding onto you. But even then, he knew that wouldn’t be enough. Even then, he’d keep on asking for one more, until his every night was shared with you; filled by you.

A sudden pang of remorse in his chest forced him still. What was he doing? What was he thinking? He’d come to terms with the idea of letting you go. He was confident that when he dropped you off this morning, he’d made it to the finishing line, yet somehow, his feet had dragged him back to your door-only this time, with a token of his affection in hand.

He could argue that he was simply honoring a promise; that you’d earned it. Perhaps that was the sole lie he wouldn’t feel guilty of.

“Takasugi-dono?” A somewhat familiar voice made the smile drop from his lips.

The old spinster who served as your attendant stood behind him, her sharp hawk-like eyes boring in his own. This wasn’t the first time, he noted. Even when the two had exchanged no more than a few words, he’d always found her staring at him with nothing but contempt.

Contempt, as if he were a disappointment. Contempt, as if she disapproved of his very existence. Contempt, which felt oddly familiar, and that was when he realized. Her eyes were the same as his father’s.

“Are you here to see the young miss?”

His glance traveled between his fist and the door. What else could he be standing here for?

“What if I am?” He asked in a defiant tone.

“In that case, I must inform you that Lady Y/N is still in deep slumber. Courtesy of your late night get-together.” She was quick to add.

“Is she?” He crossed his arms over his chest.

It wasn’t surprising that the alcohol did a number on you. Someone as inexperienced downing about half a bottle of sake shouldn’t hope to get away with no consequences. Besides, spending an entire day asleep beats having to with the excruciating headache of your first inebriation.

Forget acting all coy or shameless. You’d most definitely throw a fit if you woke up in the same bed, accusing him for your faults as if they were his own; as if he got you drunk on purpose. That seemed more in line with your character.

Without being too aware of it, Takasugi found himself smirking at the image, agitating the woman even more. To think that someone his age,- someone she couldn’t even discipline-, dared treat her with such impertinence, had Harumi throwing one furious huff after the other.

“I know you are but a mere guest. However, this house has a certain order; certain rules that ought to be followed by everyone, guests included.” Her semi stunned expression persisted even as she recited the clan’s doctrine.

He was beginning to regret his visit. Decorum and protocols were of little interest to him, and there was no reason to pretend otherwise.

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Seeing as there was nothing left to be said, he was about to get going, when Harumi stood in his way. For a woman who detested him, she appeared awfully desperate to keep this joke of a conversation flowing.

“Takasugi-dono, pardon my intrusion for I must ask.” She initiated, awkwardly clicking the heels of her shoes together. “What are your intentions?”

“My intentions?” He repeated. Surely that old hag hadn’t caught up to him, right?

“What are your intentions regarding young miss? How far has the relationship between you two progressed?”

So that’s what it’s all about.

“Are you asking me whether I’ve yet to deflower her?” He sneered, earning himself another, more infuriated call out of his name.

Making others uncomfortable for the sake of dodging such difficult topics was second nature to him. A haughty suggestion here, a vexing comment there, and no man who valued his sanity enough would insist on receiving answers. Still, it didn’t seem as if that’d be the case here. If anything, the resolve in Harumi’s eyes burned brighter than before, at last, earning a fraction of his attention.

“Lady Y/N isn’t someone you can fool around with. She might be our clan’s treasured heir, but she remains a young girl. An impressionable one, at that.” Harumi clasped her hands against her stomach.

“You’ve certainly been in her company long enough to realize how she differs from girls her age. Notably, girls her status. She possesses a certain childlike quality that doesn’t befit the harsh reality of society. Such… innocence is most endearing, but the naivety that comes with it is quite alarming.

“Young miss was deprived of a normal childhood. For the longest time, she’s remained sheltered by these four walls, as if she were a songbird entrapped within a cage. One that’s been taught when and how to sing, as well as when and how to keep quiet, if needed.

“Perhaps, my inquisition seems out of the ordinary, if not uncalled for. But the reason behind my words is of grave importance, I assure you. After a lifetime of serving young miss, it troubles me to admit that my sermon and admonition resonate with her no longer. Ever since she met you, she’s been chirping new tunes, and for the first time, she’s dared express her will to fly.

“Takasugi-dono, I’d much rather not interfere with my employer’s personal affairs. As the clan’s most senior retainer, it is my duty to see Lord Tsugaru’s plans through. However, as Lady Y/N’s most trusted companion, I solemnly wish for her happiness.

“You see, young miss is quite fond of you. She speaks of you as if you put the stars in the sky, and in spite of her recent defiance, she’s been far livelier than before. I know little of romance myself, but I know when I see true happiness. If your encounter caused such happiness to sprout, then I can only imagine how a potential union would contribute to its growth.

“Do you share that sentiment, Takasugi-dono? Do you cherish young miss the way she cherishes you?”

Cherish you. That was a way to put it. Would someone who cherishes another really mean to hurt them like this? Would they come knocking at their door like the grim reaper and threaten to take all that was theirs? Would they have no qualms about leaving them in shambles? Could someone like that truly claim to cherish another?

Someone like that was incapable of such profound statements, yet his hesitation suggested otherwise. If he was as indifferent as he thought, then why was he standing there? Why was insistent to hear the ramblings of some nosy crone? Why was he not putting an end to this charade?

Maybe cherish was too small of a word to express his adoration.

“Takasugi-dono?”

Her voice caught him off guard. Not because he was lost in his thoughts or anything, but because of how mellow it suddenly became. When she spoke of you, her entire demeanor shifted. All those formalities he abhorred had given way to genuine concern, and in place of that shrewd look, a far gentler expression embellished her features.

He was wrong, he realized. Those weren’t the eyes of an imposing father anymore, but those of a considerate mother.

“Interesting. Very interesting.” A strained chuckle was caught in his throat. “A formalist retainer who’s willing to go against the very rules she’s sworn to preserve, and all in the name of feeble sentiment. Truly interesting.”

“There is more than meets the eye, Takasugi-dono. My affiliation to Lady Y/N runs far deeper than any conviction or oath does.”

“Your loyalty is quite admirable, but you haven’t considered what entrusting me with that girl’s precious future entails, have you?” He asked, expecting no answer.

“A domesticated bird in the wild can only be as good as one with its wings plucked out. No matter how fervently it flaps them together, it’s pointless if it can never reach the skies and soar beyond. For someone like her, the ends of her cage mark the ends of her potential, and that’s precisely why there’s no survival for her outside that cage. Only fall.”

For a moment, it looked as if the woman was about to object, and for that, he couldn’t blame her. Not when he didn’t mean a single word he uttered. Hypocrisy was an intolerable flaw, but in this case, hypocrisy was the only way out. For him, and for you.

The steps of a third person filled in the short-lived silence, revealing the figure of a man Takasugi recognized to be one of Tsugaru’s personal guards. His worn out eyes eclipsed past the dusty gray of his hair, depriving them of a clear look at his face.

“Tsugaru-sama has called for you.” He said in an abrupt manner before slightly distancing himself from the two.

Glancing at the door a final time, Takasugi slid the bottle back inside his sleeve. This is for the best. It was never meant to be, after all.

“Stop wasting your breath on me.” He directed to Harumi. “Whether you plan on transferring Y/N from one cage to another, beats me. I don’t intend to stick around long enough to see the end of it, either way.”

And so, his steps echoed more hollow than before.

In the company of the guard, Takasugi began to wonder; had the second floor always been this vacant?

The perfectly polished image of the corridor- porcelain vases on each side, expensive crystal chandeliers that seemed more akin to a western household, and lastly, a handmade carpet of 1200 combs- implied the opposite. Still, he couldn’t quite get that visceral feeling out of his system. Something about this place felt unnatural, if not unnerving.

Door after door, tile after tile, and the only people they encountered came to be their own reflections glaring at them from inside the windows. No one was around. No maid to wipe the non-existent dust off the picture frames, and no guard to assume the duty of a watchdog. Everything was quiet, and while he knew to appreciate a moment of peace, he could tell there lied purpose in the silence.

Suddenly he stopped. The last sliver of sound was gone the moment his feet stayed put, little by little confirming his suspicions. He took one step and then another. And then he skipped two more, just to make sure. There wasn’t a single fall out in the rhythm. No second footing to obscure his.

Each step the guard took was perfectly attuned to his own, matching the pace down to the light grazing of his sandals. A predator’s imperfect attempt of lowering his prey’s defenses, something of which a mere sword-for-hire could never be capable of.

By the time they reached the end of the second hallway, Takasugi became certain of two things; The first being that, however great his disguise, this man hardly was the one he impersonated, and the second being, that today would be his last day in this place.

The time to show his hand had finally come.

“That’d be enough.” He waved dismissively. “I don’t need further escort.”

“Tsugaru-sama was adamant. I am to personally bring you to his office.”

“And so you have. But I suppose your orders don’t conclude there, do they?”

Not until you escort me to Sanju river, that is.

“I’ve heard of your organization’s special services, although I didn’t expect to be on the receiving end so soon.” A smile masked the gentle gesture of his fingers as they swiftly grasped the hilt of his sword. “Oniwaban.”

Without giving him the chance to react, Takasugi forced his blade through the center of the man’s chest, impaling him all the way through. Despair glinted in his eyes, while his lips remained pursed in a straight line, refusing to betray further emotion. He didn’t try to to scream nor fight back. The moment he realized what was coming, he quietly embraced his destiny. That was Oniwabanshu’s not-so-finest for you.

Perhaps taking down the Bakufu wouldn’t be as much of a struggle as he originally thought it’d be.

In one rapid move, Takasugi yanked the sword out, letting the body collapse onto the floor. A thud followed in its stead, putting an end to the pretense of silence along with the man’s life.

He looked at him. He looked at his face, the face that wasn’t even his, and for a second, he was tempted to pull at the invisible strings of his façade, but he held back. Whether he got to peek at his real identity or not, it didn’t matter. He’d quit of counting faces and keeping score a long time ago. This was nothing but a drop of blood in a path carved by carnage.

Shaking his sword clean, Takasugi rose back to his feet. One shinobi was hardly gonna be the end of it, and judging by the ease of which he fell, the second batch was bound to be stronger. He turned around, readying himself for an attack that wouldn’t come just yet. Instead, he was met with the horrified expression of the incident’s sole witness.

Trembling hands covered gaping lips, failing to truly conceal the terror in their owner’s eyes. The whites had blended with the paleness of her complexion in a manner that was unsightly, though not unsightly enough to compete with the spectacle beyond.

“What have you done?”, was what he’d imagine Harumi saying, if words could come out of the meddlesome attendant’s mouth. She was at loss. Even when her right index managed to point at the lifeless body, no such comment or shriek was formed. She simply stood there, utterly frozen in time

But he wasn’t.

“Take Y/N and get the hell out of here.”

“Wh-what?”

“There’s no time for explanations. If you don’t want to join him, then do as you’re told.” He coaxed, turning his sword in her direction. “Now!”

To threaten an unarmed woman -one that he very much knew you regarded as family- meant hitting new lows, even for him. But what else was there to do? As unlikely as the possibility of them touching a hair on your head sounded, he couldn’t deny you wouldn’t try anything stupid, and the last thing he needed was to worry about your safety while duking it out with paid assassins.

Whether Harumi saw him as a monster, he couldn’t care less. Right now, he wanted her gone, and you to be gone with her. If scaring her into leaving was all it took, then so be it.

Fortunately, the direness of the situation seemed to have caught up with her. That or, his bluff finally did the trick. Either way, Harumi’s inner conflict had reached a dead-end. She could stay in place and test the sincerity of his words herself, or she could make a run for it and risk far less than she would by challenging him upfront.

What empty threats could not affirm, the corpse sprawling before her feet attested. Only one real option remained for her to choose from, and so, she got moving before Takasugi could change his mind.

Relieved, he allowed himself the privilege of a sigh. He didn’t trust that woman one bit, but should it come down to it, he trusted that she wouldn’t hesitate to put her life on the line for you.

Still, that wasn’t to say he was completely unbothered. The fear with which she looked at him kept haunting him long after she was gone, making him ponder whether that’d be the only look others would spare him from now on. Whether one day, that’d be the only look you’d spare for him, and that alone was enough to weaken the grip on his sword.

How foolish, he mumbled, staring down at his hands. He never really cared about how others perceived him, yet he’d been so used to that unconditional puppy love of yours that the thought of losing it scared him.

The rustling of the leaves grew louder, drawing his attention to the window. A lone reflection stood there, slowly turning its back on him as he pulled himself together. They were coming. He couldn’t tell where from or how many it was, but he knew for a fact this was no time for self-pitying.

Gritted teeth turned into a brazen smile and hesitant fingers locked into decisive fists.

They are here.

Stepping among scattered corpses and broken pieces of ceramic, the hallway’s refined image had long faded into oblivion. Metallic skeletons hung naked from the skies, the invaluable gems that once bejeweled them reduced to stardust that continuously fed into the sea of blood below, one that Takasugi was determined to traverse.

With his sword serving as paddle, he hushed the leftover groans and whimperings of those around him. It was a fierce battle, and a close one too. A single misstep was all it’d take for him to meet his demise, though perhaps it’d be better if he did. At least then, your tears would be for him and not because of him.

But even with that thought in mind, he couldn’t bring himself to die there. He fought valiantly till he was the last one standing, because deep in his heart, he knew he could never give up.

Those who’d fallen in battle would never return. Sensei would never…

He owed it to each and every one of them to keep on going. To show the world the samurai had all but gotten wiped out, though that wasn’t quite right either. His cause wasn’t so noble. In the end, all he wanted was to curse, and thrash, and destroy everything that got in his way, until he’d have no anger left to pound the world with.

Fury was what led him to your father’s office, and fury was what made him push that door wide open. For so long he’d held back, but there was no reason to anymore. Bakufu was about to take its first punch in the guts, and Tsugaru Michihiru would finally pay for his countless crimes.

The man in question was seated in the middle of the tatami. His hands were placed atop his knees, and a tanto knife rested on a low stand in front of him. Dressed in white garments from head to toes, he’d painted quite an image for himself, one that perfectly matched his little seppuku theatrics. Except of his snide grin, that is.

“You’ve made it!” He said in excitement. “Those damn crows insisted there was nothing left of that man, but I’m seeing the living proof with my own two eyes. Takasugi Shinsuke, commander of the Kiheitai and Yoshida Shouyou’s disciple, you’ve exceeded my expectations. Pleasure meeting you, at last.”

“So you knew.” Takasugi smirked. “Guess Tsugaru Michihiru is more than the pawns I just broke.”

“Your words are flattering, but I’m afraid I lack the battle prowess.”

“Is that the reason for the act?” He nodded towards the knife. “Didn’t take you for the type to give up so easily.”

“Give up?” Tsugaru laughed. “Not quite. Considering the role of the kaishakunin was taken, I simply thought I’d assume that of a daimyo myself. Isn’t that how it went down between Hideyoshi and the disgraced Hojo clan?”

“As far as I’m concerned, Hideyoshi merely instigated Hojo’s suicide. I intend to end you with my own two hands.” Takasugi sternly replied.

“Such hateful words! One would think that after months in my care, at least some warm feelings would remain.”

“Don’t deceive yourself into thinking I ever warmed up to you.”

“But you warmed up plenty to my daughter, did you not?”

“How about we cut straight to the chase?” Takasugi spat through gritted teeth. “Nothing you might say will amount to a different result, so why not speed the process?”

“Oh, but there’s plenty to discuss.” He cackled, entertained as ever. “Unlike Sada Sada and the fools behind him, I consider the era of samurai far from over. It’s true that allying ourselves with the Amanto increases our chances of survival, but what’s to say they won’t go pointing their fancy canons at Edo again? Rather than disposing of our dogs, don’t you think we ought to train them harder, and keep them close, should push come to shove?”

Now was Takasugi’s turn to laugh at the outrageousness of his ideals. It was either that, or repeatedly bashing his sword into his skull till he made dog food out of his brains.

“Tsugaru, you—You actually thought that by taming me, you could use me to tear at their throats instead of yours?” He scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “A wild beast can never be tamed. My ambitions aren’t so cheap as to be bought off with money, power, or any of the fragile things you deem important.”

“And this is what makes taming you all the more fascinating!” He countered. “Why do you think I made you tag to all those pointless meetings? Why do you think I let you in on my secrets? Why did I turn a blind eye to you mixing it up with my daughter?

“Before adopting a pet, you test its capabilities. Someone who knows about tactics; someone who uses their wits along with their sword; someone who stays dedicated to their goal no matter the distractions; someone like that, has the potential to become the finest of hounds.

“Tell me, Takasugi. Did she not move you? Did you not falter because of her? Those files you smuggled out my office, they were what you’d been after all along, right? So why is it that even when you had the means to put an end to this, you stuck around? If not for her, why did you only make your move after I made mine?

“I’ll tell you why. It’s because, even when you have no leash around your neck, your heart dictates your every move. Be it an emotion as meaningless as love, or one as powerful as vengeance itself, I want it. This sword, this heart, this spirit of yours. I want it all. Rather than you lending your strength to me, I want to consume it.

“I’ve fed you, I’ve trained you and I’ve tested you, and now it’s time both you and I got our rewards. There’s much bigger fish out there. The Shogun, the Crows, the Heavens themselves. If it’s revenge you’re seeking, then I’ll give you the means to exact it. If it’s a house, a title, a wife, or something to clear your name, I’ll offer it to you.

“Your owner lives no more. There’s no need for you to live like a ghost on his stead. As long as you sit down when I tell you to sit, and bite when I tell you to bite, I’ll make sure you achieve your goals.”

Anyone in their right mind would be tempted by the easy route Tsugaru presented. By sparing one, Takasugi could not only gain direct access to all his targets, but he could also have a real chance at a living.

He could go back to being a samurai, one of far greater prestige than his father ever dreamed for him to become. He could rid himself of the stench a traitor’s name carried, and he could even make you his wife, turning each and every one of those stupid intrusive fantasies into reality.

So much to gain, yet such empty benefits did not faze him in the slightest. If he wanted fame and riches, he wouldn’t have turned his back on his family. If he wanted a clean slate, he wouldn’t have taken this road. And if he wanted redemption, then he wouldn’t have left Gintoki and the others to pick their pieces on their own.

Those were his choices. His decisions. His mistakes. And as for you, he’d soon get to name you as another one of his regrets.

“You talk big for a man who’s about to lose everything. But you know, big words rarely translate into equal strength.” Dragging his sword against the wooden floors, Takasugi slowly approached him.

“Whether you’re another Bakufu lapdog, or the one who carries their leashes for them, it doesn’t concern me. Right now, you’re nothing but a useless mutt that’s expired its usage. To think that I would side with you-I knew it.” He paused. “Bakufu really is built upon the corpses of idiots, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure their foundations strengthen by adding one more corpse to the pile.”

“Drop your weapon!” He stuttered. “I said drop it now!”

“And I said, I have no intention to become pet to a lapdog who refuses to get his hands dirty. Where are your orders now, Tsugaru? Who’s left to follow them? Who’s left to fight for you?” He raised his sword, waving it left and then right. “There’s no one left, so quit lamenting.”

For the first time since their conversation began, Tsugaru’s complacency seemed to subdue. With his hands pushing his body backwards and his rare soon backing against the desk’s legs, he resembled more of a lamb before slaughter than a powerful faction’s daimyo.

Pitiful, pathetic and utterly powerless.

“Takasugi!” He hissed. “If you do this, know that she will never forgive you!”

“Perhaps. No, I know that she won’t.” A sorrowful smile clung onto his thoughts. “But that is fine by me. I’m counting on that. I’d much rather play the role of a heartless villain, than have her cry over a worthless father who hid behind his daughter’s name even in his final moments. Keeping this between you and me is the first and last kindness I can spare for that girl.

“So rest assured. I don’t seek the forgiveness of either one of you. What I really want is to destroy every last vermin until this house of cards you call government falls apart. Your death will be the first quake.”

In the end, all the memories he’d made, the dreams and hopes he’d shared with you, didn’t get to sway him any more than the wind swayed a mountain. Inevitably, he’d reached the same conclusion, finding himself in the same spot he was destined to stand with his blade high above his foe’s head.

This was it. The beginning of his ambitions and the ending of your own.

He stared down at Tsugaru who kept pleading for mercy with both hands and eyes however best he could. He was scared and he was angry, though he remained full of wicked pride in spite of his undoing.

A man who’d always had his way with others did not know how to lose. He didn’t know what it felt like. He didn’t possess the slightest idea as to what losing everything really was like. The demons that accompanied you through every night; the hell you were forced to walk through every day; the agony that stayed with you through an entire lifetime. He knew none of those.

And it pained Takasugi that this abomination of a man had to go without learning of any of those things, when he was forced to endure everything himself. It saddened him, and it angered him, and before he knew it, he was aiming that sword at his throat and swinging forward with all his might.

Father!

The sound was meek and frail, but it was enough to make the blood in his veins freeze within an instant.

Father!

The voice grew louder and his determination dimmer.

What kind of sick joke was this? You weren’t supposed to be there. You were supposed to follow Harumi and leave. You were supposed to be safe, you were supposed to escape, but then again, he shouldn’t have put all his eggs in one basket.

It was too late to go back, and for better or worse, that was something Tsugaru became well aware of on his own. In the blink of an eye, the man plunged forth, snatching the knife and then shoving it deep within his guts. A sinister cackle diminished to a low grunt as the slash deepened, the pits of his stomach pouring out his white kimono.

Takasugi took a step back, lowering his sword at once. His eye was glued to the man, watching as he struggled to maintain his posture. This was far from how a typical seppuku ritual goes, though Tsugaru never had any dignity or honor to begin with.

“You should know, a kaishakunin would end your suffering.” Takasugi smirked, attaching his sword back at his hip. “I’m not that honorable.”

“Even if I die at the hands of a scum, I refuse to die by their hands.” Blood spewed out his mouth, drowning his every word in crimson “Bakufu won’t fall. No matter how many snake heads you cut, rest assured that new ones will come to replace them. Bakufu will not fall that easily, it won’t-”

“Maybe not. But my aspirations were never this meager.” Takasugi interrupted. “Between the world and the Bakufu, let’s see what breaks first. Shame you won’t be around to see either.”

Tsugaru kept yapping until his words became muffled whispers behind a closed door. There was no reason for Takasugi to witness his death. Judging by the cut, the man had a little less than a few minutes’ time before succumbing to his wounds.

It was over. It really was, yet oddly, he didn’t have it in him to celebrate one bit. Not when the sound of your voice constantly rung through his ears, and certainly not when you finally entered his field of vision as an awkward bundle of limbs that tried to find their way through the darkened corridor.

You looked so lost and frightened, searching through the bodies while calling out to someone-anyone who might be alive enough to hear. Back in the city you couldn’t even stand to gaze upon those corpses, but this time, you closely examined each face as if you were searching for something.

No, you were definitely searching for something. Someone to be precise, and it broke his heart that you had to be the one to find that “someone”.

To him, Tsugaru was no more than a lowly insect in need to be disposed of, but to you, that man was the one who’d raised you. The man who’d shaped you into who you were today. The man who’d instilled his values in you. The man who meant the world to you.

Without realizing, he’d shifted from thinking about you to thinking about that damn day. Shouyou’s smile. The last words he never got to hear. Gintoki’s tearful expression as he held that sword. Katsura’s faint grunts. His own cries. And again, Shouyou’s smile.

Why did he have to smile? Why did the last thing he got to remember him by had to be that smile? Why did he have to be so compliant as to accept a death that was unjust after they’d fought for so long to free him? Why did he have to swing that blade?

The lines between who was whom and who did what became blurred in his brain. So blurred that he couldn’t follow up on any of his thoughts anymore. He was endlessly trapped in that day, and soon, you’d find yourself trapped in that day too.

Part of him wanted to jump out of the shadows, grab your hand, and take you someplace far away from all the horrors that door concealed, so that day would never come to haunt you. There was no reason for you to suffer as much as he did, but he knew best that certain pain was unavoidable.

You were one step from following in his footsteps, and if you were lucky enough, then at least you’d get to say your goodbyes. That’s more than he got.

Before you had the chance to cross paths, Takasugi hid past a half-torn folded screen, allowing for you to enter the office undisturbed. After what you’d seen, there was no stopping you, though that was exactly what you did. With your hand clenching around the knob, you hesitated as if you already knew what lied ahead, and that only tempted him to intervene.

But he didn’t.

He patiently waited for you to push that door open, and then he waited for you to say something, only to realize he hadn’t braced himself to tolerate the sound of your wailing.

He knew those tears. The desperation and sadness they carried. The feeling of utter incompetence and helplessness that went with watching everything slip from your fingertips. Tears that gradually turned into misty fog and ashen cinder. Tears he’d shed himself not too long ago.

And that was when he made up his mind. He’d had enough of this despicable sound.

“He is right. You should have never trusted me.”

“I wasn’t the one who killed your father, Y/N.” Takasugi said, breaking free of his narration. “His arrogance and greed drove him to his demise, and while his blood does not stain my sword, it stains my hands all the same. I was the trigger, and had it not been for his suicide, I would have taken his life without remorse. That is my truth, the only truth there is to the story.”

You didn’t know what to say. Even when he’d spoken in such great detail, you were none the wiser, and the longer he went on, the more you wished for him to stop.

His every word stomped on your memories, tainting and defiling them one by one till nothing of actual value remained. This monster he described couldn’t be your father, but no matter how much you waited for Takasugi to take it all back, he wouldn’t.

A single lie could never obscure the actuality of a thousand truths, nor would it ever be enough to ease the pain they brought. What your heart refused to acknowledge, your brain knew to be true. The man in the story was the same as the man who raised you, the same man who’d threatened to eliminate Takasugi all those years back, and the same man that ended up eliminating himself in the face of disgrace.

How could he do such a thing? How could either of them do such things? Your father’s death. Takasugi’s betrayal. The sorrow you felt for the one and the hatred you felt for the other. The years you’d spent in desperation over a love that never came to be and the immediate guilt that feasted upon your conscience. How could they subject you to such cruelty?

Many a times since he finished talking, you tried asking him, only to get further sucked in by the vortex of your unpolished emotions. If he wasn’t the one who killed your father, then why did he lie as if he did? Why did he run away like that? Why did he leave you behind?

Because he was the one who led him to it. Because he would have done the job himself if you hadn’t interrupted. Because after it was done and dealt with, he wanted nothing more to do with your kind. Because of you.

It hurt.

It hurt so badly that you yearned to claw the thoughts out your skull. You couldn’t even bring yourself to face him. Not without choking on your own tears, that was. Drop after drop, they slid down your cheeks and onto your palms, slowly but surely soaking the cuffs of your kimono.

Suddenly, he got up and walked to your side. He must have caught onto your crying, though he didn’t say a thing. He simply loomed as a shadow over your head, one that attempted to both console you and get you to look up, but you didn’t. You couldn’t.

And then a hand reached out to you, urging to close around your shoulder, but it didn’t. He didn’t. He couldn’t. It was as much painful to you, as it was to him, and when there was nothing either one of you could do to comfort the other, he walked again, this time towards the door.

“You can stay.” He said in a gentle tone. “Rest.”

“Was it real?” Your question was sudden and it took him by surprise.

Eyes that met halfway answered all there was to know, though you weren’t sober enough to interpret the meaning of his gaze.

And so, you rephrased.

“Was any of it real? Were we… real?”

He furrowed his brows and shut his eyes, inhaling sharply and then shaking his head, without quite denying or confirming anything.

“Rest.”

“Has anyone ever told you how heavy you are?” Takasugi complained, his arms numb from carrying your body around.

He didn’t have much of a choice. There was no other way. Lies he sought justification in for unjustifiable actions. In reality, he did have a choice, and there certainly was a better way that didn’t quite involve knocking you unconscious.

He could have stayed out of it. When you didn’t know, when you hadn’t seen him, he could have made a run for it and disappear completely. But if he did, hope would remain in his stead, and he knew all too well how dangerous hope could be.

No, this wouldn’t do. You had to be certain, and wholeheartedly believe that he was the one responsible. Only then you’d survive. Only then you’d move forward.

“Heavier than Tatsuma and that silver haired idiot, for sure.” He murmured, pressing a palm flat against the back of your head as to protect it from the banister.

Before he had the chance to move past the first step of the stairs, you shifted closer, nuzzling right into his touch. He took a quick glance at your face. Your eyes were shut and your lips were sealed. No need for him to be alerted. You were still passed out, or else you wouldn’t be cozying up to him.

It really was the last time. Even when he previously deluded himself into thinking the opposite, no room for doubt was left.

He smiled. An unhappy smile he didn’t mean in the slightest.

“You shouldn’t do that anymore.” He scolded, though he couldn’t bring himself to pull away. He was scared that if he did, he’d get used to your absence and he didn’t want that. Not now, not ever.

How was he supposed to? How was he supposed to live in a world without you? A world without your smiles. Without your laughter, without your voice, without your warmth, without everything he’d fallen in love with.

“Say, Y/N. Do you still think of us samurai as heroes?” He knew better than to wait for an answer. “You said a lot of stupid things that day, but this one struck me the most. Maybe that’s the reason why I’m doing all these unnecessary things right now. In the end, you got it your way. Is this close enough for you? Are we close enough to be sharing such painful memories together?”

“I suppose we are.” He admitted. “We should be, or else why would I volunteer to carry this heavy burden for you?”

Downstairs was about as empty as the second floor was, albeit free of the countless bodies that adorned the latter. He wondered if he should just leave you there, but you’d probably rush upstairs the minute you woke up.

Where’s that old hag when you needed her?

“Say, Y/N. If the offer still stands, then it’s not too late to confide in you, is it? In that case, listen carefully because I don’t plan on repeating myself.

“Someone once taught me; it takes more than a sword to win a fight and less than a battle to lose a war. That man-he used to say this every time I sparred with that idiot. I kept writing his words off as loser’s talk for motivation, but I think I finally understand. Even though you never won against me, it’s been a while since I lost to you.

“You don’t know what that means, do you? Even if you were actually listening, you still wouldn’t know, would you?” A chuckle broke through the eerie silence.

“How could I let myself lose to such a stupid girl?” His voice caressed your ear devoid of any malice as he leaned closer. He considered planting a kiss on your forehead right where he’d hit you, but he quickly shook the thought away.

“You should hate me.” He drew his lips back. “No matter how hard it gets from now on, you’ll only endure it if you hate me. I won’t ask you to erase me, so instead, hate me with all you have. Hate me until no other emotion remains, until you can no longer remember how to love me again. Hate me, and get your revenge. Let hatred fuel your blade, and when the day comes, lead it into my chest. I’ll be waiting. I won’t die. As long as you insist on living another day, I won’t die.” Takasugi paused, pulling the door open with one hand and holding you with the other.

Finally, you’d made it out of this hellhole.

“You were never weak, Y/N. No matter how many tears you shed now, I’m sure that next time we meet, you’ll have the means to defeat me.” He continued, pacing across the porch and towards the main gate.

The faint outline of a silhouette awaited at the end of the road. Unruly gray hair matched the woman’s frantic steps, both moving in opposite directions. He could sense Harumi’s worry from where he stood, though he couldn’t quite condone her negligence. Because of her you had to see what you otherwise wouldn’t have, and because of her he had another’s pain to shoulder.

With his destination now set, Takasugi became more unwilling to let you go than before. His arms snared around your waist, lifting your forehead against his own. He breathed in your scent, allowing it to override all senses for a moment’s time.

You smelled so divine. He doubted he could ever love anyone’s scent the way he loved yours.

“If I don’t let you go right now, I don’t think I’ll ever will, Y/N.” He mumbled, feeling his heart flatter at the notion. “I just might be selfish enough to force you to love me like you always have. Like I always have. Like I… love you.”

Admitting it was far more painful than keeping it to himself was, though he couldn’t deny it to be liberating. At least now he knew what saying those three words out loud really felt like.

Lowering your head from his, he began to move again, until Harumi became aware of his presence. Hurried movements succeeded incomprehensible shrieks as she took hold of you, not so gently browsing your body for injuries and then sighing in relief once she realized you got none.

“Tell her I-” He initiated, only to nod the rest of his sentence off. “Tell her that I did this. All this.”

Without lingering a second longer, Takasugi let himself be guided by the first gust of wind away from there. So long as he left this place behind, the destination matter not.

And so, he kept on walking, and he kept on sprinting, and he kept on dragging his feet forward until the streets thinned and the trees densened. Until the sun set behind him and the winds stop carrying him forward. Until your story ended and a new one began.

A/N: Some of you may wonder why there seems to be a difference between what FL remembers (as per chapter 1) and what actually happened. I never meant for the dream she had in c1 to be a 1:1 description of how things went down. Memories get distorted over time, especially when they are traumatic. So, nope, Takasugi didn't stab her, there wasn't any smoke, the bloodshed was restricted to the top floor and those who died were mostly Oniwaban if not for a few actual guards here and there.

Anyways, that's about it for this chapter! The way I see it, about two chapters remain, tops three but I doubt that. I'm looking forward to ending this story because writing full on angst stories takes its toll on me, but at the same time, I don't intend to rush it. Will however take a short break before chapter 9 so I can do some requests.

#killing butterflies #takasugi shinsuke #takasugi #takasugi gintama #takasugi shinsuke x reader #takasugi x reader #takasugi reader #takasugi angst #takasugi fanfiction #takasugi imagine #gintama imagine #gintama fanfiction #gintama angst

[luckychi7]

Gintama Chapter 676 Thoughts

Took a good 3 months to decide, and I was like let’s do it Chapter Thoughts style because wow just wow. I’ve been saying it for a longtime Hideaki Sorachi has been doing an amazing job with handling Gintama and more importantly the final arc of the series Just when you think the final battle would be finished there would be an epilogue to completely wrap up everything up, but honestly I’m glad that is not the case. Yes, things are wrapping up make no mistake about that, but Sorachi is taking his time with wrapping everything up, and that’s what I really appreciate about how he’s been handling the series even from the beginning of the series. 

I know I know, get to the chapter at hand..  First off all, Otika vs “Kanna” was really amazing to see especially the way the comedic moments were sprinkled within the chapter itself and for it to make sense was just spot on. Kanna catches onto the fight explaining that Otika isn’t taking the fight seriousl. Also  In terms of the whole Kanna situation we learn from her that Kagura was too ashamed of the Yorozuya breaking up because of her selfishness to come and that’s why  Kanna came in her place.  

Then we cut over to Gintoki deflecting from arrows coming his way only for him to fall into the water, and to findout he still can’t swim is just absolutely hillarious to see especially if you catch jokes Sorachi threw along with a certain fruit.... I’ve said too much as it is lol A nearby boating containing bombs blow simultaneously  which leaves us wondering at that point if Gin was done for? Oh hell no!! no not Gin is he okay is he alright? the questions omg!!! Whatever will we do? Sorachi save the day?? 

We quickly cut back to Kanna continuing to fight off against Otika only for Shinpachi to step in to prevent it from continuing any further. It would’ve worked except that he was used almost like a human kind of ball being tossed around to the side which once again was really handled well from Hideaki Sorachi and mad props to say the least. At the same time, Otika is convinced Kagura is around somewhere as she wouldn’t just stand by to do nothing even going as far as holding her by the grip of her neck. It is only when Shin attempts to fight back and be stopped by Otika’s attack causing a trigger to Kanna.The same expression that her mother had before we quickly jumped back to Gin who  did survive which no surprise, but still amazing to see after the explosion where Takasugi stands before him. 

This last page(s) of the chapter  show Shin and Otika to view what just happened with “Kanna?” Why the question mark you ask? It’s quite simple because it seems to imply from Otika’s sentence that this entire time Kanna was actually Kagura this entire time which Sorachi did a phenomenal job about the the way they things occurred, and that I really really appreciate about this series so far ,and I have no doubt Sorachi will continue to deliver. Overall thoughts on the chapter, I’m going to give this chapter of Gintama an Amazing+.  That’s pretty much all I’ve got to say for the time being. 

#Gintama #gintama final arc #Gintama Chapter 676 #Gintama 676 #chapter thoughts #manga #anime/manga #silver soul

[charmingstrangeness]

If you still take questions for the writing ask (sorry I didn't notice it sooner!), then 2, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14! Bonus: 20, where Karamatsu and Katsura have a moment where they connect through pure painfulness and become best friends.

omg i completely forgot i reblogged that lmaoooo thanks for sending some!!!

fic writing questions

2. Favorite piece overall?

it’s a hard tie between oversight and the fisherman and his brothers, i’d say? from stuff i’ve published, at any rate. they were both a lot of fun to plan out and write and they both turned out really well. oversight could be a little better quality-wise but it makes up for that in heart.

4. Which has the most “you” in it, however you’d define that?

this is lowkey a cop-out i know i’m sorry but the answer is 110% an unfinished WIP i’ve been chipping away at for like a year and a half (not 2 get too into spoiler territory here but it’s a character study featuring karamatsu and music so i mean.)

5. What is an image/set of images that you’re particularly proud of?

every instance of painfully tacky fashion choices in any fic i’ve written (looking at you, oversight & distraction) also there’s a moment towards the end of the fisherman and his brothers where karamatsu is waiting for the fish to show up and he nonchalantly watches the wind just rip a tree out of the ground in the distance. that image just makes me laugh every time i think about it i love it so much

8. Favorite plot point/chapter/moment?

djfghlsjdhfg picking favourites uhhHHHHHH h e ck i’ll cheat and do a favourite for each i guess???

plot point - all the notebook shit in WtMC and like basically every scene it appears in i’m still so proud of that entire clusterfuck

chapter - rei’s POV chapter in day in the life. it’s getting close to two years since i wrote that fic and god knows it’s not my best writing but rei’s chapter was so much fun and it’s just sweet and hilarious and maybe in a few more years when my writing has further improved i’ll re-write it as a reigisa oneshot or something just because it honestly deserves to be written well.

moment - this isn’t specific enough for me to have a top fave so i’ll take this time to highlight the part in pacifists are the best mediators where sakamoto hoists takasugi over his shoulder and calls him an angry sack of potatoes; that’s a solidly good moment i’m definitely a big fan of it lmao

11. If I’m showing off just one of your pieces to someone, which one should it be?

the fisherman and his brothers is flat-out the single best thing i’ve ever written in terms of both concept and execution and i accepted a long time ago that nothing will ever top it. it also has a lot of edge on basically everything else i’ve written because it got some top-tier beta reader attention

in close second would be WtMC for basically the same reasons lol

14. Would you want to write canon for any of your fandoms (like be hired by showrunner to do an episode)? Which one?

do i even need to answer this i think everyone here knows the answer is osomatsu-san (although it’d be fun to write canon for gintama too but i think i’d do a better job for oso). my fic ideas list for oso is miles and miles long and almost every single idea on it would make a fantastic episode also lbh the fisherman and his brothers deserves to be animated & made canon i’m just saying

20. write me a little ficlet-whatsit using a character/image/line I shall now specify:

i dont want to skip this but i’m going to just because i’m a bit too writer’s block on, ironically enough, a zura & kara scene in the crossover fic (among a couple other scenes dkfjgkfd i have like every scene of this chapter started but not completed i’m in h e l l )

some food for thought so that i dont totally fail this question - an animated sequence of karamatsu and katsura arriving in the same room and both of their theme songs play simultaneously in a perfect mashup. also to consider: that episode where they all turn into zombies with unibrows (for context it was a tribute episode for kochikame’s 30th anniversary) and zura keeps trying to get everyone to call the zombies “mayuzomu” – in a crossover situation, karamatsu would be the first to use that nickname and katsura would be so smug that someone else was on board with it. however, instead of the nickname eventually catching on through sheer persistence, absolutely no one would use it just out of spite.

#die-einzelgengar #reply #thanks again for sending one ahh!! #i'm sorry i didnt write a thing for number 20 but i did make significant headway on the chapter im working on #specifically because you asked #so thanks for the motivation i guess???? #extras #behind the scenes

[mochidoodle]

everybody lives AU | AKATSUKI • setting — the Last •

Akatsuki becomes a mercenary group for hire, as they did in Road to Ninja.  This is more appropriately named the “everybody comes back to life and somehow things work out AU”... but as promised, 10 Akatsuki members in the timeline of The Last! Designing is fun (esp the village flak jackets) (・∀・)

See more extensive character/AU details below the cut!:

AME TRIO:

Ame Orphans run the Akatsuki out of the Hidden Rain (where it doesn’t rain so much anymore). Nagato resumes status as the mysterious village leader and occasionally disguises himself as an instructor at the newly instated academy. His style is heavily influenced by Jiraiya.

Yahiko keeps the piercings because they were a pain to remove and Konan thinks they’re cool they’re pretty rad. For some reason he gets strange looks when he goes to Konoha on assignment. He gives Chouji a heart attack.

Konan becomes friends with Kurenai and Rin. She becomes “Auntie Konan” to Mirai. Back in Ame, Konan takes up a team of genin to lead. 

She constantly nags at the members, especially Sasori because he straight up forgets to eat, Deidara because he’ll follow suit, and Obito (they are on surprisingly good terms) when he forgets that arms aren’t disposable and becomes reckless on assignment. all hail Akatsuki Mom

KONOHA LIAISON:

Obito is the official Konoha liaison to the Akatsuki, and since he is part of the Konoha Council (AKA team Harass Kakashi), he has the authority to extend Akatsuki communications to other villages as well. 

He still helps old ladies cross the street, but cross him and suddenly 4th Shinobi World War Tobi™. 

He scares Hinata at first, but she discovers that he’s?? Really?? NICE??? Tenten asks for help with time-space ninjutsu, and he teaches her tricks on storing shinobi tools more efficiently. 

Obito occasionally lends a hand at the hospital because (he sighs about this) Madara taught him how to perform various operations, including eye surgery. Sakura is lowkey impressed.

ARTIST DUO:

Sasori and Deidara pair up again. They’re always arguing. Always. It’s something petty every time...people start wondering if they argue for fun.

Sasori becomes good friends with Sakura; they talk poisons/antidotes a lot. When in Suna, he gives Kankuro tips about puppet design and where to get the best materials.

Sasori now has two scrolls: one is a dragon, one is a lion (think Chinese festival/lion dance style)

Deidara befriends nearly everyone his age. He hangs out with Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi whenever he’s in Iwa. Quickly befriends Kankuro when he tags along with Sasori to Suna (where he also gets strange looks). Deidara and Naruto have a running contest to see who can drag Obito harder. RIP Obito, take 3.

Ino and Deidara mutually agree that they both have great style (I mean, do you see their hair? Brilliant) They often shop together and Ino rants to him, sometimes about Sai. Deidara’s replies are usually “dump him" and escalate to “blow him up” but Ino obviously doesn’t follow this advice.

ZOMBIE COMBO:

Hidan becomes Macklemore?? ?

How and why Kakuzu and Hidan are alive is beyond me. Their entry is prohibited in several villages (thank Shikamaru I guess) but they often sneak in under the guise of construction workers. Kakuzu is still in charge of finance, but (hopefully?) everything is legal. 

the Zombie Combo is usually sent on assassinations bc a) Kakuzu still steals hearts and b) Hidan still sacrifices people. This is an issue since the nations are at peace and no one hires assassins?? Shh we don’t talk about these two...look away...

ok but Macklemore

KIRI/KONOHA ANBU:

Itachi cuts his hair (it was getting super long), but grows it out again when Sasuke subtly mentions how his long hair reminded him of their mom. 

Resumes status within ANBU but mostly carries out missions with Kisame, who joined Kiri’s ANBU. 

Often seen hanging out with Shisui and Izumi at a dango place. (Shisui, btw, takes up a position on the general police force). The three of them revive the Uchiha district’s popular senbei (rice cracker) shop.

Bee won’t give up Samehada so Kisame kinda just...  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Gai is known as the Beautiful Green Tour Guide. He and Kisame have a strange but good friendship. Gai doesn’t forget him this time. Kisame and Itachi appreciate Gai’s extensive knowledge of restaurants in Konoha.

Sakura and Itachi regularly try to check in on one another whenever both are in town. Of course, they talk about Sasuke. Mostly embarrassing Sasuke stories (Itachi about baby Sasuke, Sakura about genin Sasuke).

GENERAL:

All members are affiliated with their original villages and thus wear new hitai-ate without the symbol crossed out. Everyone has a sash (kind of like Asuma’s 12 Guardian Ninja sash) but some of them wear them as armbands or leg..bands... wtf Hidan

A lot of their efforts are directed towards recovery from the war, including the protection of destroyed towns that are often ravaged by bandits.

Base of operations is in Ame, but they usually don’t have to convene unless it’s something urgent, like the moon falling...

They work on shutting down underworld crime, including drug/weapons/human trafficking rings, illegal gambling, illegal shinobi fighting (see: the Coliseum from Sasuke Shinden), etc. They also provide aid to village police forces for special assignments if needed. (Nagato tracked down a serial killer once...)

And yes, they still have that glowy hologram meeting thing.

#naruto #akatsuki #uchiha itachi #uchiha obito #deidara #sasori #everybody lives AU #there's so many people to tag #anyway I FINALLY FINISHED HOLY COW #jfc feet are so hard to draw #i wasn't intending on drawing full-body and then i realized that references should be complete... #i love designing though?? so it was very fun #tried to get the style of the Last in the flak jackets bc everything else is just plain clothing #i hate myself bc i went and colored it...smh steph #I have a few doodles of references (back of flak jacket and shirts and gear etc) that I'm working on #I can't believe I finally finished this before break ended #do you know how much i procrastinated? #anyway here's the rest of the tags #konan #nagato #yahiko #hidan #kakuzu #hoshigaki kisame #mochi doodles