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Meeeeeeme~
I've been wanting to do this one ever since ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
half_sleeping posted it more than two months ago (looool), but I put it off until this round of Undercover was finally done because I knew I would want to ramble on and on about that fic. XDPick a paragraph (or any passage less than 500 words) from any fanfic I've written, and comment to this post with that selection. I will then give you a DVD commentary on that snippet: what I was thinking when I wrote it, why I wrote it in the first place, what's going on in the character's heads, why I chose certain words, what this moment means in the context of the rest of the fic, and anything else that you'd expect to find on a DVD commentary track. (Mostly this probably means I gloat and gloat and *_*)
...:D?
Also, welcome,
demoneyeskyo87 and smilypie! And Happy Birthday to katsumeragi! ♥
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Had to pick a Yama/Wall
He goes down hard, the somehow-familiar impact reverberating through his bones. The shadow looms closer; he looks up, dazed, and gapes in stunned recognition.
Towering imposingly before him, the wall is somehow more menacing than ever before, its sleek black surface reflecting, like a mirror, the shocked gaze of the longtime rival who once again lies crumpled before it.
As Yamamoto stares in horror, the wall gazes back dispassionately, its rectangular outline leering at him as if to say, Hello again. Did you miss me?
And as the grim hexahedron begins to glide forward, all Yamamoto can think is: It was fate.
Then onyx stone fills his vision, and he knows no more.
Re: Had to pick a Yama/Wall
He rounds the corner, and that’s when he smacks into the wall.
I like how the impact still all but KOs him in spite of the fact that this time he was walking at a normal pace. I don't consider it a plot hole, though, because. It's THE WALL. Its natural rapist aura probably drained the life energy right out of him or something.
He goes down hard,
UNF
the somehow-familiar impact reverberating through his bones. The shadow looms closer; he looks up, dazed, and gapes in stunned recognition.
This reveal was so much fun to write. Possibly the most fun I've ever had writing anything.
Towering imposingly before him, the wall is somehow more menacing than ever before, its sleek black surface reflecting, like a mirror, the shocked gaze of the longtime rival who once again lies crumpled before it.
The funnest (lol grammar what's that) part of all was trying to come up with different ways to describe the wall. I wanted to paint this bleak, horrific picture, the more over-the-top, the better. Hence, lots of words like IMPOSINGLY and MENACING and so on.
As Yamamoto stares in horror, the wall gazes back dispassionately,
I use entirely too many adverbs. But in this case I have no regrets.
its rectangular outline leering at him as if to say, Hello again. Did you miss me?
"Because I missed you."
And as the grim hexahedron
Best thing I've ever written.
begins to glide forward, all Yamamoto can think is: It was fate.
THEIR DESTINIES WERE MEANT TO BE ENTWINED. Somewhere around here is where I started cracking up and couldn't think properly and decided it was time to end the fic already before I ruined it somehow.
Then onyx stone fills his vision, and he knows no more.
And of course, the other reason I had to end it is because Wall was being all like, "Can I noncon him now?" and I was like, "HOW COULD YOU EVEN DO THAT, THAT IS PHYSIOLOGICALLY IMPOSSIBLE," and he was all, "Oh, you know I'd find a way," and I was like, "Okay, and that is where we cross the line from 'funny' to 'horrifically disturbing,'" and knew that we were done.
Re: Had to pick a Yama/Wall
Re: Had to pick a Yama/Wall
In an attempt to cheer myself up
No Holds Barrels
When he opens his eyes again, Gokudera is standing there, a little singed from the blast and still reeling a bit from the effects of Attacco di Squalo, but at least still on his feet, which is more than Yamamoto can say for himself. Yamamoto laughs, then stops short with a pained grunt. It feels like he may have bruised a few ribs… but, he thinks with a grin, it was probably worth it.
Re: In an attempt to cheer myself up
When he opens his eyes again, Gokudera is standing there, a little singed from the blast and still reeling a bit from the effects of Attacco di Squalo, but at least still on his feet, which is more than Yamamoto can say for himself. Yamamoto laughs, then stops short with a pained grunt. It feels like he may have bruised a few ribs… but, he thinks with a grin, it was probably worth it.
Gokudera is feeling so, so smug right at this particular moment that it's not even funny. The whole reason he challenged Yamamoto in the first place was to reestablish his superiority as a fighter and a right hand man candidate (lol, Yama is absolutely right about his making everything into a competition. And in my mind this fic takes place fairly soon after the end of the Future Arc, and while Gokudera was a little familiar with Yamamoto's fighting style and upgrades (having listened in on his rematch with Genkishi), Yama hadn't really seen Dera's upgrades in action, and frankly Gokudera just kind of wanted to show off, because for once he might actually be able to show up Yamamoto in a fight). And it worked magnificently, and for once it was a fight where there was no doubt whatsoever that he was the victor, so he was just kind of standing there, eating it all up. ...And making sure that Yama was, you know, not dead or anything. NOT THAT HE CARES. But you know. >_>
Yamamoto did end up with a couple of bruised ribs, they found out later, but since it's KHR, they healed in about a week or so. SHOUNEN MAGIC.
And not that Yamamoto normally enjoys losing, but if there's anyone he wouldn't really mind losing to, it's Gokudera (especially if it put the other in an uncharacteristically good mood, which it did |D). And it's not like he really considers it a crushing defeat or anything; it was just a spar, after all, and he'll just have to do better next time.
Re: In an attempt to cheer myself up
Oh, Yamamoto, why so overly nice to Silver-head McGrumpyPants? xD
Re: In an attempt to cheer myself up
BECAUSE HE LOVES HIM. <3 And because he's hilarious. XD
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Down the Stairs
Taking the Beretta in his right hand, he turns and looks at Yamamoto. Yamamoto just stands there, looking right back.
Do it. That little voice is back again. Shoot him already. Now, while you’ve got the chance.
He raises the gun. Yamamoto doesn’t even blink.
…Fuck. There’s just no way he can do it now. He clicks the safety on, and puts the gun back in his pocket.
There’s a long silence.
Yamamoto breaks it first. “Thanks, I guess,” he says with a wry sort of half-smile.
And because his confusion is finally beginning to outweigh his anger and even his mistrust, Gokudera just continues to stare back. This is the last thing he anticipated; he expected to face a cold-blooded killer in this alley, not someone like this. Someone who’d actually risk getting shot by letting the would-be shooter go. Someone… almost like Tsuna.
Finally, because none of it makes any sense and he can’t think of anything else to do, he asks, “Why?”
Yamamoto just shrugs.
Leave, the common sense part of Gokudera thinks to himself. Just leave, before reality snaps back in place and he remembers you’re on different fucking sides.
He takes a step back. And then, before he can stop himself, “We’ll still be enemies after this, you know.” Because this isn’t right, after all, and fuck.
“I know,” Yamamoto replies, not sounding like he expected any different.
“After what you did to Squalo, and all the others, don’t think you can just…”
He stops short. Just what? Become an ally? Of course he can’t, so why would his mind even suggest that possibility?
“I know,” Yamamoto repeats.
It doesn’t feel right. Any of it. The logical part of him still wants to turn and run, but a greater part is becoming louder and more urgent by the second. It’s insane, but suddenly Tsuna’s voice is there in his head. If things had gone differently, maybe we would have been friends instead of enemies.
“…Come talk to the Tenth.”
He knows how stupid the offer is even as the words leave his mouth. And yet, a part of him can’t help but think: maybe it is fate, that they were both here tonight. Maybe this is why. Maybe the Tenth was right after all. All he knows is, somehow this is the only option that doesn’t feel completely wrong.
He knows it because for the first time tonight, Yamamoto actually looks surprised. And then something else, something almost like longing.
And then his face goes steely again.
“I can’t.”
Gokudera frowns. “This is a one-time offer,” he warns.
Yamamoto nods.
“…Good night, Gokudera.”
A moment later, he brushes past Gokudera and walks out of the alley. And Gokudera just stands there.
What the hell just happened?
He should be relieved. Hell, he should be thrilled that one of Vongola’s worst fucking enemies didn’t take him up on possibly the dumbest offer he’s ever made.
But he’s not. Instead he just feels vaguely unsettled and not a little pissed off.
…Shit.
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Don't worry, you won't see me complaining. :D
Only this might end up going over the comment limit, whoops. Oh well, I can split it up if that's the case.Taking the Beretta in his right hand, he turns and looks at Yamamoto. Yamamoto just stands there, looking right back.
Do it. That little voice is back again. Shoot him already. Now, while you’ve got the chance.
He raises the gun. Yamamoto doesn’t even blink.
This commentary will be kind of interesting because I actually have plans to redo this whole scene (or most of it, anyway) from Yamamoto's POV. The weird thing about this encounter was that Gokudera just happened to have extraordinary timing; any other occasion, and this meeting would have probably ended up being a lot more violent than it turned out to be. I don't think Yamamoto would have killed him, but he probably wouldn't have just let him go either.
But the thing is, the reason Yamamoto was even at the bar in the first place? Is because this was just after he found out that Enrico was the one who killed his father. So he was just kind of reeling from the news--that all this time, he'd been working (not just working, murdering) for the very same guy who'd pretty much ruined his life. And so he was in a very bad place at this moment.
When he was facing down Gokudera in this scene, and asked him "How do I know you'll just leave?", it occurred to him right then that maybe he didn't care if Gokudera did just turn around and shoot him. So this scene, the part where Dera's aiming the gun at him and he's just staring back--he almost wanted Gokudera to just pull the trigger and end it.
…Fuck. There’s just no way he can do it now. He clicks the safety on, and puts the gun back in his pocket.
But Gokudera can't, because by this point he's already been Jesused by Tsuna and is no longer the type of guy who can kill an unarmed enemy (particularly one who let him go even though he could have killed him).
There’s a long silence.
Yamamoto breaks it first. “Thanks, I guess,” he says with a wry sort of half-smile.
And the moment of "fuck, just end it" is gone again, and Yamamoto has now remembered that he still has unfinished business with his boss, much as the whole thing is wearing on him. So it's a sincere thank-you.
Also, he doesn't realize it, but he smiles more around Gokudera. Despite being in a completely fucked-up, near-suicidal state mentally, this is actually not how this Yamamoto normally behaves around enemies, believe it or not. XD There is a reason he's such a feared killer that he has a stupid mafia nickname. But even a few minutes around one of the people who in another life should have been his fellow guardian, and there's already a very subtle difference in his demeanor. Enough so that just a little bit of his old self comes through; he teases, chuckles a bit, and so forth. And it kind of sucks, because if they'd just had a little more time, or if Tsuna had been there, maybe it could have all turned out differently...
Part 2~
And there's the rub--Gokudera still has a weakness for the Jesus-types. As hard as his own life has been in this 'verse, a part of him still wants to believe in the kind of brighter, optimistic future that Tsuna sort of symbolizes. So when he sees someone do something insanely naive and trusting like this, he can't help but be drawn to it.
Finally, because none of it makes any sense and he can’t think of anything else to do, he asks, “Why?”
Yamamoto just shrugs.
Because the answer is extremely complicated. XD
Leave, the common sense part of Gokudera thinks to himself. Just leave, before reality snaps back in place and he remembers you’re on different fucking sides.
He takes a step back. And then, before he can stop himself, “We’ll still be enemies after this, you know.” Because this isn’t right, after all, and fuck.
“I know,” Yamamoto replies, not sounding like he expected any different.
He really wasn't. He let Gokudera go because he's just realized they're not on different sides after all.
“After what you did to Squalo, and all the others, don’t think you can just…”
He stops short. Just what? Become an ally? Of course he can’t, so why would his mind even suggest that possibility?
Because they're supposed be be allies, of course. Even though so much has happened in this AU timeline to screw that up, there are still forces at work drawing them toward each other. It was kind of hard to write this and try to get that across without making it seemed cheesy or forced. XD But they really are kind of tied together by fate, and Tsuna too.
“I know,” Yamamoto repeats.
It doesn’t feel right. Any of it. The logical part of him still wants to turn and run, but a greater part is becoming louder and more urgent by the second. It’s insane, but suddenly Tsuna’s voice is there in his head. If things had gone differently, maybe we would have been friends instead of enemies.
Yeeeeeep. Can't fight destiny, kid.
“…Come talk to the Tenth.”
He knows how stupid the offer is even as the words leave his mouth. And yet, a part of him can’t help but think: maybe it is fate, that they were both here tonight. Maybe this is why. Maybe the Tenth was right after all. All he knows is, somehow this is the only option that doesn’t feel completely wrong.
He knows it because for the first time tonight, Yamamoto actually looks surprised. And then something else, something almost like longing.
It never, ever occurred to Yamamoto that Gokudera would ever make that offer. And because a part of him is also feeling the same twinges of fate that are pinging Gokudera, the instead those words are out of Gokudera's mouth, he does feel a bit of longing--rather powerfully, at that. Because for a very long time he's been working for someone... preeeetty much evil, and doing things that are pretty much evil too, and he's been doing them unquestioningly because he is very much the type of person who feels lost if he doesn't have a place or a goal. And when he lost his dad, the goal became revenge, and unfortunately his place became at Enrico's side instead of Tsuna's, because Rico got there first.
But it's not where he should be, and while he's felt that vaguely before on occasion, this is the first time he ever feels, for a moment, that there absolutely is somewhere else where he belongs.
And then his face goes steely again.
But the instant he does feel that, the weight of everything that's happened and everything he's done comes crashing down on him again, and he realizes that it's really not a possibility at this point. It's too late.
MAN HE IS A DEPRESSING GUY IN THIS AU. ;; I'm almost worried it's OOC, but well, a lot of shit's gone down. XD
PART 3, LOL
“I can’t.”
Gokudera frowns. “This is a one-time offer,” he warns.
Yamamoto nods.
“…Good night, Gokudera.”
And off he goes, before he can be tempted to change his mind again.
A moment later, he brushes past Gokudera and walks out of the alley. And Gokudera just stands there.
What the hell just happened?
He should be relieved. Hell, he should be thrilled that one of Vongola’s worst fucking enemies didn’t take him up on possibly the dumbest offer he’s ever made.
But he’s not. Instead he just feels vaguely unsettled and not a little pissed off.
…Shit.
And Gokudera, of course, is still kind of blown away by the whole thing, and very confused by his conflicted feelings about Yamamoto (up till now, he's pretty much been hating the guy from afar, and he really did not expect this up-close-and-personal meeting to screw with things as much as it did). GOD DAMN IT, WHY WAS HE ALMOST NICE, WHY DON'T I WANT TO KILL HIM, AND WHY THE FUCK DOES IT FEEL LIKE SOMETHING'S GONE TERRIBLY WRONG. Sob it's been a very strange night for him.
This whole excerpt was kind of the pivotal scene in the fic (or one of them), actually, because it's the point where I finally finished setting things up, and then went and twisted them around again, because even when Yama's the bad guy, he isn't really. Lol. XD And then it starts things moving toward the climax, so yeah. I'LL STOP LISTENING TO MYSELF TYPE NOW.
Re: PART 3, LOL
Re: PART 3, LOL
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Down the Stairs
The tip of something sharp and blade-shaped pokes into his back to drive the point home. Slowly, all the while berating himself for being such a fucking idiot, Gokudera raises his arms, and reluctantly lets his gun hit the ground with a clatter. Then he turns around, because if he’s going to die, at the very least he’s going to do it facing down his killer.
The first thing he notices is that sure enough, Yamamoto’s bamboo sword is gone, and in its place is a long steel katana. So the rumors were true. His second thought is that Yamamoto himself is oddly human up close. Unnaturally composed, perhaps—there’s no mistaking how coolly steady that hand holding the sword is—but now that he’s not in the midst of a battle, it’s startling how normal he looks overall.
It’s always the ones you least suspect, a part of his mind reminds, and immediately he remembers that this is still Yamamoto Takeshi, the Shadow Sword, and probably the last person he’ll ever see.
“Huh… I didn’t expect to ever meet you like this,” Yamamoto says out of the blue, and with a rush, Gokudera recalls the raid and Squalo’s arm and the way this man’s blade had come close, so close to cutting through his beloved boss, and a surge of pure hatred swells through him.
Yamamoto smiles faintly. “I guess you’re still mad about that attack on your base, huh?”
Fucking son of a bitch, taunting him, even now. “If you’re going to kill me, get it over with already,” Gokudera growls.
Yamamoto jerks his wrist slightly, and Gokudera doesn’t flinch, but he does suck in a very short breath because this is it, now—
—and then the katana in front of him transforms back into a bamboo sword.
8D
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“Sorry, but you’re going to have to put it down. Or else I’ll make you.”
GOKUDERA SUCKS AT STEALTH, LOL. Yama actually spotted him shortly after he first sat down, but since Gokudera wasn't doing anything shifty, he just kind of let him be because he was more wrapped up in his own problems at the moment. Like I said above, this was actually just after he found out that Enrico had killed his dad :(, so he was busy drowning his sorrows in alcohol. Sort of.
And then he got up and GOKUDERA STARTED FOLLOWING HIM, and he was like, man, fuck this shit. So he double-backed and came up behind Gokudera because dude, what are you doing trying to start trouble when I'm busy angsting over here. No thanks.
The tip of something sharp and blade-shaped pokes into his back to drive the point home. Slowly, all the while berating himself for being such a fucking idiot, Gokudera raises his arms, and reluctantly lets his gun hit the ground with a clatter. Then he turns around, because if he’s going to die, at the very least he’s going to do it facing down his killer.
He really does think he's screwed at this point. His first few thoughts after he felt the sword poking him were all about how not to embarrass himself any more before he dies a horrible death. XD
The first thing he notices is that sure enough, Yamamoto’s bamboo sword is gone, and in its place is a long steel katana. So the rumors were true. His second thought is that Yamamoto himself is oddly human up close. Unnaturally composed, perhaps—there’s no mistaking how coolly steady that hand holding the sword is—but now that he’s not in the midst of a battle, it’s startling how normal he looks overall.
He's just a guy. A katana-wielding, assassin-killing, natural-born-hitman type of guy, but still a guy. Gokudera was expecting something a little more villainy (and well, this is KHR. Can you blame him?).
It’s always the ones you least suspect, a part of his mind reminds, and immediately he remembers that this is still Yamamoto Takeshi, the Shadow Sword, and probably the last person he’ll ever see.
But of course, this is also a series where tiny, tiny babies are among the most feared of all warriors, so yeah. Best not to underestimate him. XD
I gave Yama the nickname "Shadow Sword" because I had figured that if he really was going around killing all these d00ds in this universe, it was more likely than not that people were going to give him one of those stupid mafia nicknames.
Smoking Bomb, anyone?This was the coolest one I could think of, which goes to show you how bad I am at coming up with nicknames. But it kind of had that cheesy shounen feel to it.And I was actually thinking of using it as the title for the sequel, so watch as no one actually reads that. XD
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“Huh… I didn’t expect to ever meet you like this,” Yamamoto says out of the blue,
Because it just occurred to him that this is their first meeting, really, the two right hand men of the two rival Vongola bosses. And it is a peculiar setting, there's no doubt about that.
and with a rush, Gokudera recalls the raid and Squalo’s arm and the way this man’s blade had come close, so close to cutting through his beloved boss, and a surge of pure hatred swells through him.
HEY, YEAH, I STILL HATE YOU. >:O!!
Yamamoto smiles faintly. “I guess you’re still mad about that attack on your base, huh?”
Yama's thought process: 1) Damn, he looks pissed. 2) Oh, right, he's probably still mad about that attack. 3) (Say that last part out loud, because my brain-to-mouth filter is very indiscriminating about this kind of thing.) 4) (Smile, which is actually somewhat out-of-character for me in this universe, because in spite of my justified dark and suicidal mood, and despite the fact that this guy's kind of my enemy, I can't help but find his ridiculously expressive "GRRRRR!!!" facial expression somewhat endearing.)
And I would just like to note that within three lines of dialogue, Gokudera's already managed to coax a smile out of him, which is somewhat amazing and says a lot for how much healthier Yamamoto could be even now if he left Enrico and joined Tsuna's side.
Fucking son of a bitch, taunting him, even now.
This makes me lol secretly because as you can see, it actually wasn't like that at all. Heh.
“If you’re going to kill me, get it over with already,” Gokudera growls.
Watch it, boy, you go around talking big like that, but you never know who might actually take you up on the offer.
Yamamoto jerks his wrist slightly, and Gokudera doesn’t flinch, but he does suck in a very short breath because this is it, now—
SEE?!
—and then the katana in front of him transforms back into a bamboo sword.
Yeah, he's not going to kill him. Any night before this, and he might have fought him at the very least, but now it's a whole different ballgame, and he knows that Tsuna and his side have really been in the right all along.
...And then about two seconds later this whole conversation becomes a whole lot less jocular and a whole lot more serious, sob. Oh well.
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Amen.
Gokudera was expecting something a little more villainy.
Like popping a marshmallow in the mouth. Going Kufufufu~ Or trowing a whiskey bottle at someone's head.
This was the coolest one I could think of, which goes to show you how bad I am at coming up with nicknames. But it kind of had that cheesy shounen feel to it.
Don't worry, I'm terrible at naming something too. And Shadow Sword is totally fine.
Yama's thought process: Made me snort irl
And I would just like to note that within three lines of dialogue, Gokudera's already managed to coax a smile out of him, which is somewhat amazing and says a lot for how much healthier Yamamoto could be even now if he left Enrico and joined Tsuna's side.
God, my heart ;;
I'm gonna re-read the whole thing now. ;;
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Yes, exactly. Or sprouting sixteen vicious dinosaur heads out of thin air.
Haha, I'm glad it didn't pull people out of the fic for being too cheesy, at least. "Shadow Sword? Seriously?" Lol I'm paranoid.
Even as a depressed evildoer he's still, um... special. XD
I may or may not have had Nine Inch Nail's And All That Could Have Been on repeat at certain points while writing this. :(
Re: 2
Re: 2
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I want to try out this meme but maybe later, ;)
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Heh, no problem. *watches your icon because wow that's attention-grabbing*
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“We’re going to have to change the original plan. I realized it a little while ago… we can’t just bring everyone here from the past and take the rings. That’s why I sent you the designs for the new boxes.”
And Irie leans forward in shock as realization finally hits. “You can’t mean—”
Tsunayoshi nods. “As much as I hate to admit it… this isn’t our fight anymore.”
Irie opens and closes his mouth a few times in disbelief before finally stammering, “But you—they—they’re just kids.”
“You’ll have to space it out instead of bringing them all at once,” Tsunayoshi continues. “That’s why I needed you to stay undercover—this way, you can control things on the Millefiore end. So that they’re not overwhelmed. So that we’ll have time to train them and get them ready before they finally have to face him.”
“This is insane,” Irie finally mutters, already knowing that it’s futile.
“Irie-san… you and I both know that Byakuran can only be defeated in this era. I’ve thought it through… and as much as I hate it, this is the only way.”
He looks at Irie pointedly, and finally Irie closes his eyes, forced to accept that even if he’s still not convinced, Tsunayoshi is, and there’s nothing he can do to change his mind.
“I’m sorry,” Tsunayoshi says, quietly breaking his thoughts. “To put this all on you.”
And as Irie opens his eyes again to meet Tsunayoshi’s, he feels a wave of helpless devotion.
“I thought it would be me,” he confesses very softly. “Who’d end up getting killed over this. Not….” He can’t finish the sentence.
Tsunayoshi smiles. “You’re a sun type, aren’t you, Irie-san?”
Irie blinks at him in surprise. “Yes.”
Gently, Tsunayoshi reaches out to touch the Mare ring sitting on Irie’s finger.
“Then it shouldn’t surprise you.” He grips Irie’s hand, and slowly pulls it up. “After all, what are the characteristics of a sun flame?”
Irie looks at him in wonder. Tsunayoshi laughs.
“You’re not meant to die… you’re meant to heal.”
1
“We’re going to have to change the original plan. I realized it a little while ago… we can’t just bring everyone here from the past and take the rings. That’s why I sent you the designs for the new boxes.”
And Irie leans forward in shock as realization finally hits. “You can’t mean—”
Tsunayoshi nods. “As much as I hate to admit it… this isn’t our fight anymore.”
This whole scene was written to be as deliberately vague as possible, truth be told. Because I knew that canon was probably going to step in at some point and give us an actual explanation for Tsuna's FRANKLY INSANE plan of bringing the kids to the future to fight in place of their TYL!counterparts. But I couldn't for the life of me figure out what that explanation might be, except that it might have something to do with the shounen-esque notion that the younger Vongola had more potential because they are the BRIGHT SHINING HOPE OF THE FUTURE! or you know, something like that that makes absolutely no sense at all. XDDD SO, ANYWAY, when I was writing this, the challenge for me was to have Tsuna convince Irie without... actually saying anything convincing. XD UM.
Irie opens and closes his mouth a few times in disbelief before finally stammering, “But you—they—they’re just kids.”
Irie, the voice of reason and common sense. All of his "Wtf, are you insane?"-ness comes directly from me. :P THE AUTHOR IS IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU, SHOU.
“You’ll have to space it out instead of bringing them all at once,” Tsunayoshi continues.
Note how he doesn't address Irie's concerns at all. Smooth, Tsuna, very smooth.
“That’s why I needed you to stay undercover—this way, you can control things on the Millefiore end. So that they’re not overwhelmed. So that we’ll have time to train them and get them ready before they finally have to face him.”
This much, at least, canon had already told us. At least one thing actually made sense. XD
“This is insane,” Irie finally mutters,
WORD.
already knowing that it’s futile.
“Irie-san… you and I both know that Byakuran can only be defeated in this era. I’ve thought it through… and as much as I hate it, this is the only way.”
He looks at Irie pointedly, and finally Irie closes his eyes, forced to accept that even if he’s still not convinced, Tsunayoshi is, and there’s nothing he can do to change his mind.
And there it is--Tsuna successfully wins Irie over despite having never actually given an argument with real substance. HAHAHA. I tried to write it so that it appeared there were things going on that both of them already understood without having to discuss. And to also show that part of the reason Irie just gives up is because he knows there's no way he'll convince Tsuna to abandon the plan. But I still don't think I quite pulled it off, sob.
2 (I really need a Shou icon)
And he really is; he knows it's one hell of a crappy burden to bear, and that Irie's already been shouldering it mostly on his own, and that if he dies, Irie will be all alone. He wouldn't wish that on anyone, but the thing is, he knows Shou is up to the task, as hard as it will be. Vongola intuition and all that; he can see Irie's potential to rise up to that challenge.
And as Irie opens his eyes again to meet Tsunayoshi’s, he feels a wave of helpless devotion.
EVERYONE IS GAY FOR TSUNA.
“I thought it would be me,” he confesses very softly. “Who’d end up getting killed over this. Not….” He can’t finish the sentence.
He really can't stand the thought of Tsuna dying, let alone comprehend how Tsuna can face that possibility willingly. He's kind of awed, and at the same time it makes him feel very small and inadequate, because he feels like Tsuna is a much better person than him overall (because he was on the right side to begin with, after all), and he doesn't deserve this, but he can't do anything to stop it.
Tsunayoshi smiles. “You’re a sun type, aren’t you, Irie-san?”
And this is one of those Jesus!moments where he knows exactly what to say...
Irie blinks at him in surprise. “Yes.”
Gently, Tsunayoshi reaches out to touch the Mare ring sitting on Irie’s finger.
“Then it shouldn’t surprise you.” He grips Irie’s hand, and slowly pulls it up. “After all, what are the characteristics of a sun flame?”
I had thought of this exchange even before I started writing this fic, to be honest. It was one of the things that made me want to write it. LA LA LA, SYMBOLISM, LA LA LA.
Irie looks at him in wonder. Tsunayoshi laughs.
“You’re not meant to die… you’re meant to heal.”
And Shou is just kind of blown away by that. For Tsuna's part, like I said above, he already has complete faith that Irie will be able to handle things, because he sees what a strong person he is. And he wanted to say something comforting and symbolic, and because TYL!Tsuna's shounen powers are like ten times more Jesusy than his little self's, he went and said something really gay only it kind of wasn't because it was heartfelt and he can pull that kind of thing off because he's earnest like that.
As for me, I'm 100% with Tsuna on this one. Shou is awesome, and I don't think it's a coincidence that he's a sun type and that sun flames can heal. Like all sun types, he has an ability to fix things and make things better, and where Reborn does that by beating people up until they have shounen epiphanies, and Ryohei does it by punching anyone who threatens to hurt his family, Shou does it by working as hard as he can to right things, whether it's by building cool shit, or waging an incredibly creepy cold war against Byakuran while working undercover right under his nose. He's amazing. *loves on hiiiim*
Re: 2 (I really need a Shou icon)
lmao Reborn beats people up to heal them....I wonder if Amano is ever going to show us what happened between Shouichi, Hibari and Tsuna when they were planning all this orzEVERYONE IS GAY FOR TSUNA.
You speak the truth, sob.
Re: 2 (I really need a Shou icon)
Shouichi did finally give us a nice, long, detailed explanation of exactly what went down, so I don't know if we'll get a full flashback eventually, but I wouldn't be surprised if Amano goes back and shows more of Hibari and Tsuna's parts, at least.
Everyone he meets falls in love with him a little. Heh.
no subject
Choosing a Yama/Wall fic passage too because
I'm a filthy biterthe wall stalking Yamamoto in the night is beautiful.His eyes snap open in the middle of the night, hand groping for the shinai beside his bed before he’s even aware of it.
Then he wakes up fully and pauses, sitting up and taking a look around. Everything looks normal, sounds normal. What was it that woke him up?
It’s curious, but it doesn’t seem like anything’s wrong, so after a few moments he sets the shinai back down again. But just when he’s about to try and go back to sleep, the room suddenly grows darker, and his pulse quickens.
Then the moonlight shines back in again, and he’s out of his bed, racing to the window, trying to determine the source of the shadow that just passed. Sliding the window open, he reaches back to grab the wooden sword again, ready to transform it at any second. He sticks his head out (and maybe that’s a little dumb, but he’s not exactly in a position to be thinking clearly), looking around, his instincts fired up, ready to fight if need be.
But again, there’s nothing but the sounds of cicadas whispering in the night. Nothing else. If there ever was a threat—if it wasn’t all just in his head—it’s long gone.
At last, he pulls his head back out of the cool night air and closes the window once more. Settling back in under his covers, he folds his arms behind his head and stares at the ceiling, as bewildered as he’s ever been in his life.
A minute later, he reaches over, picks up the shinai, and tucks it under the sheets beside him. Just in case.
no subject
Haha, the nighttime stalking scene. OH WALL, THAT PERV.
His eyes snap open in the middle of the night, hand groping for the shinai beside his bed before he’s even aware of it.
"MY NATURAL BORN HITMAN SENSES ARE TINGLING!" Even when he's asleep, it takes a damn stealthy wall to pull a fast one over Yamamoto.
Then he wakes up fully and pauses, sitting up and taking a look around. Everything looks normal, sounds normal. What was it that woke him up?
SO CONFUSED. His instincts spell trouble, but logic says there's nothing wrong. Probably just his imagination...
It’s curious, but it doesn’t seem like anything’s wrong, so after a few moments he sets the shinai back down again.
For some reason, when I was writing this I had a complete mental fart and totally forgot that the sword actually had a name. XD I suppose I could have gone back to edit it, but... eh.
But just when he’s about to try and go back to sleep, the room suddenly grows darker, and his pulse quickens.
DANGER MODE. THERE IS SOMETHING AFOOT. Actually, the fact that Wall was kind of peering in on him through his window and blocking out the moonlight is pretty creepy! WHAT KIND OF UNSETTLING HUMOR FIC IS THIS.
Then the moonlight shines back in again, and he’s out of his bed, racing to the window, trying to determine the source of the shadow that just passed.
I guess Wall can fly or something. He can pretty much do anything, sentient, godmoding, flat vertical surface that he is.
Sliding the window open, he reaches back to grab the wooden sword again, ready to transform it at any second. He sticks his head out (and maybe that’s a little dumb,
Maybe??
but he’s not exactly in a position to be thinking clearly), looking around, his instincts fired up, ready to fight if need be.
Thank the heavens that he didn't end up having to fight in that position, idiot boy. XD What was he going to do, headbutt the thing? But it's not really his fault; everyone loses a few brain cells in horror movies. Or horror fics.
But again, there’s nothing but the sounds of cicadas whispering in the night. Nothing else. If there ever was a threat—if it wasn’t all just in his head—it’s long gone.
I loved writing this whole section. SUSPENSE, SUSPENSE--and then nothing! What was it? WE SHALL SEE. And of course, I had to mention the cicadas chirping, because as we all know that is the quintessential nighttime "nobody here except us bugs" sound.
At last, he pulls his head back out of the cool night air and closes the window once more. Settling back in under his covers, he folds his arms behind his head and stares at the ceiling, as bewildered as he’s ever been in his life.
I'm amazed he was even able to go back to sleep. Probably he wasn't, at least for a while. Coming down from the spookiness and the adrenaline rush and all that.
A minute later, he reaches over, picks up the shinai, and tucks it under the sheets beside him. Just in case.
Who needs teddy bears when you've got Shigure Kintoki? XD
Sob, this fic.
no subject
"Haha, the nighttime stalking scene. OH WALL, THAT PERV."
Yama= the Bella to Wall's Edward, Y/N?
/SHOOOOOT.
It IS creepy that a huge dark wall is just...there in the middle of the night. I was actually on my toes when I first read this (not knowing it was the freaking WALL that was the problem) expecting...something relatively serious to happen lolol
"I guess Wall can fly or something. He can pretty much do anything, sentient, godmoding, flat vertical surface that he is."
It disappeared with it's ~*~*Illusion Mist Powers of Creepy*~*~
I love that throughout the whole thing it's like he's slowly loosing his mind XDD It's pretty sad, poor kid.
"Who needs teddy bears when you've got Shigure Kintoki? XD"
It is true that teddy bears probably can't turn into a deadly sword that can't be beaten. Though would Yama probably just finds it fun to hug fff XD
no subject
LOL. It's true.
Haha, that's what I was going for. I wanted to psych people out. XD So that when the BIG REVEAL comes, everyone is either laughing or wants to kill me.
I picture him being like one of the ninjas from Naruto with their WHOOSH! appearing out of nowhere and WHOOSH! suddenly they're gone again! Only instead of a ninja, he's a wall. Which is even better.
Yeah, nothing like being stalked by a nameless, faceless evil to make you lose your marbles. But writing paranoid!Yama was kind of. Really fun. XD
It's more of a security blanket thing than anything else. "Fffff what the hell is going on, I'm just going to cuddle up under the covers with the awesome sword that daddy gave me. :/ IT WILL PROTECT ME FROM HARM."