š Thanks!
Itās a little intimidating, but since itās something I do want then Iāve gotta gird myself and go for it, yeah?
Well, we all know that Shikako is uninterested in romance but I think it’s worth considering Surprisingly!Smooth!Shikamaru? After all, Shikaku stealth romanced Yoshino pretty fiercely, according to the sidestories, and Shikamaru was the only one of the rookies to actually be shown *dating* in canon. (As far as I remember, anyway.) Uh, so prompting for contrast!twins in which Shikako is totally oblivious and Shikamaru is the master of the (lazy) date.
Hahahaha, I actually think Shikako comes off as a lot more charming/smooth to those who didnāt grow up with her (ie Team Ten and Sakura) but she doesnāt actually do it on purpose/know what to do with it. So Shikako accidentally-flirting-with-people-and-not-knowing/intending-to-follow-up is how I headcanon her properly in DoS, while Shikamaru is way suave in all aspects of dating in comparison.
Itās definitely a cool idea, but Iām not sure how Iād implement it. Like, does Shikako finally get asked out and she has no idea what to do so she turns to her brother for help and sheās over here planning it out like some kind of battle while heās just likeā¦ no, Kako, thatās not how it works. Or is it Shikamaruās POV of the trail of admirers his sister leaves behindāand possibly having to carefully screen through his own dates to make sure not to go out with someone who once had a crush on his sister because that would be weird?
But Iāll put it on the list, anon, and hopefully something will come to me. š
—
He says this with the utmost respect and the deepest of loves:
When it comes to people’s opinions of her, his sister is unbelievably oblivious.
He is sitting guard by her bedside–chakra exhaustion, a gouged hand and forearm, and the usual scrapes and bruises that comes from their line of work–a lamp on behind him casting his shadow long across the room. Anyone who wants to come near her would have to enter his range.
A knock at the door, a curt if polite scuff of feet.
This must be the fifth visit his sister has gotten since he began his watch–he’s only been sitting here for a few hours.
“Come in,” he says, exhausted, the tone of someone who has fought beyond his limits, nearly lost his sister, and may very well still lose both of his teammates.
The Sand shinobi that enters is familiar and a recent field ally, but he also remembers that the first time they met Temari was on the opposite side of an invasion. And it was his sister that had decided the Sand Siblings’ fates when they were vulnerable.
His shadow roils, cautious.
Temari raises her hands in front of her, both of them open at first, before clasping them together–a practiced, almost casual motion meant to convey one is not concealing any weapons.
It doesn’t really mean anything–not with her talent in wind ninjutsu and the giant metal fan strapped to her back–but the intent behind the gesture is appreciated.
She’s still in range of his shadow anyway, and they both remember how their tournament fight ended.
“May I sit?” she asks, tilting her head towards the other visitor’s chair.
Shikamaru shrugs, which is permission enough.
The silence between them is far from comfortable, but at least it’s not charged with hostility.
“Your sister…”
Shikamaru, if he ever did relax, snaps back to attention.
“… she’s interesting,” Temari finishes, simply.
And maybe it’s the stress of the day, or just how much of an understatement that is, but Shikamaru knows it’s both compliment and question and so he just starts to laugh.
After a moment of surprise, Temari smiles at him.
~
A/N: Uh… not completely in line with either your prompt or my own a softer world self-prompt, but it’s been many moons of languishing on my giant list of prompts and I figured something is better than nothing?
And I know Shikamaru starts dating TenTen after the Sasuke Retrieval Arc–but this is more pre-Shikamaru/Temari than actual…
Man, I could read about how Sasuke is g o n e for Shikako ALL DAY. I love the Road One snippets. Also, congrats for getting in to the writing workshop! I hope you have fun and learn something useful.
Thanks! (For both!) š
Regardless of whether or not they end up together, I just cannot unsee Sasuke being in love with Shikako so itās not HARD to get into his head but its also a little embarrassing becauseā¦ boy, please, a little restraint. (Nah, Iām just kidding. Itās way too amusing to interpret Sasuke as a lovestruck fool. And I mean that in the fondest of ways)
The writing workshop is very much for scriptsāwhich I only have limited, unofficial experience ināas opposed to prose narrative which I do here and have developed more so itāll definitely be a change of pace for me.
One of my many many āfantasiesā is to write a podcast much in the style of Welcome to Nightvale, so this is a step in the right direction for sure.
Writing Workshop!
I donāt know why Iām making this post, since itās not a missed post announcement, but Iām very excited and considering this is my writing blog itās not too irrelevant so here goes:
Iāve joined a writing workshop/class for the next couple of weeks, and I have a 3/17 chance of having my short story script actually produced as a play. Not very high, yes, but itās a step in the right direction and even if I donāt get my play produced then Iām still learning an amazing amount so…
Wish me luck? š
I might post bits and pieces of it here (like the outline or some dialogue which I have to do for homework) so Iād appreciate some constructive criticism! (Does this count as cheating? Ah, dang… I donāt know…)
prompt(kinda): where Shikako’s mum stuffs her into a kimono with all the bells and whistles, while sasuke is looking on awe-struck and shika’s just in the bavkground giving him the suspiscious stink-eye
ā¦ OOooooOOOH!! I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THIS! š
Iāll have to research some things, though. (Either that or make up some stuffāthen again, this is fanfiction, is that not what Iām supposed to do?)Ā And it wouldnāt be compatible with certain other ficlets of mine.
Excellent prompt, flamingosspace!
(Iām also a little bit drunk right now, so hopefully what Iām thinking will still look fantastic in the light of day)
I do not believe in love at first sight.
But god damn.
ā¦
(Look at you.)
ā
Sasuke keeps his face forward, barely breathing, trying not to meet the gaze of Shikamaru who would, if he could, set Sasuke on fire with the force of his glare or at the very least stab him a couple of times.
Sasuke also does not want to meet Shikaku-sanās eyes which, while not as sharp as his sonās, are probably far more intimidating.
The heads of the Akimichi and Yamanaka clans are no less formidable.
Really, he ought to just consider that half of the room off limits and focus on his half which are full of his family who are happy for him on this day and donāt want him to die a horrific, bloody deathā¦
ā¦ and thereās Shisui making faces in an embarrassing and unconvincing attempt to hide his tears of joy; Aniki who is barely stifling his laughter into their motherās similarly vibrating shoulder; and Father whose stalwart resistance to slapping his nephew upside the head is manifesting itself as a twitching eye and throbbing forehead vein.
Facing forward it is.
The strains of music begin, finally, the procession entering: priests in full garb, then the bridal party in their own colorful kimono. Naruto and Kakashi near to the end holding up paper parasols in front of thenāfinally, pleaseāaboveā¦
Beautiful. Radiant. Mesmerizing.
If he was barely breathing before, then heās definitely stopped now.
ā¦ Shikako. Stunning in her white wedding kimono, the hood and the makeup unable to hide her soft but honest smile.
He can feel the responding smile grow on his face, and he knows he must look like an absolute awestruck idiot, but he doesnāt care.
Today is not about looking cool or not getting killed by his in-laws or the continuing mortification he gets from his family. Today (finally finally finally) heās marrying the woman he loves.
~
A/N: Uh, soā¦ Iām doing some belated āspring cleaningā on my massive list of unfilled DoS prompts and decided to combine it with the a softer world prompts because they are very lovely and why not?
Hereās some cheesy wedding fic for you, flamingosspace (aka @blooming-stars? Itās been so long since you originally asked that your name has changed?!) apologies for the VERY LATE (and kinda short) response.
469 for never lookin’ to come back?
ā
(Never Lookinā To Come Back)
If asked, each of them would say that it was the other who started it.
The smuggling, that is.
Sure, Kiba was the one who āfoundā that first crate of rationsāmarked as heading towards ROOT training facilities (and if they needed it so badly, they should have kept better track of it.) He was just being a dutiful XO when he brought it to the captain.
What happened after that was entirely her decision.
āI couldnāt just let that town starve,ā she argues, magnanimous for a fleeting moment before continuing with, āā¦ and we needed to offload it somehow.ā
Kiba laughs, no matter how many times heās heard it and the fact that he was there for it. Itās the telling of the story that makes it great, not the event itself.
///
According to the system, Lee has violated his parole.
The fact that someone as good and kind as Lee could ever even be arrested shows how flawed the system really is. The citizens of the small moon Lee calls home would say, too strict.
They would not say corrupt.
(Lee was arrested for defending a young girl from the mayorās unwanted attentions.)
Not out loud, anyway.
The people of his hometown loved him, loved him enough to pool together their meager money and send him far away in a ship that could use another hand and didnāt look too closely at oneās legal background.
One day, Lee will go back home and free them from tyrannyāuntil then, he sends the townspeople money and always wears the ugly orange leg warmers they send back.
///
No one outside of the Organization is actually sure what they are.
(āIām putting my money on fancy hookers,ā Kiba says, grin sharp and toothy and itching for a fight.
Not even the blankness of his face can mask the sheer irritation in Sasukeās eyes.
āYou better hope so,ā TenTen responds, shifting over on the bench where Shino has kindly enough made space, ābecause if youāre wrong, youāre really gonna get it.ā)
Theyāre beautiful and well trained, always on the arm of influential people and frequently at the scene of major incidents. Twice, theyāve had to make a quick get away at Sasukeās behest, hours before news broke of some scandal and a sudden death.
Shikako learns itās better not to ask.
Still, he does have very good connections to various port authorities, and so long as he pays his rent on time, she doesnāt mind what he might get up to.
///
According to the system, Naruto doesnāt exist.
If they knew he did, theyād kill him immediately.
None of them know it yet, but the most illegal thing on their ship isnāt the Hyuuga chancellorās missing daughter, or the crates and crates of contraband.
No, itās the key to the Coreās greatest and worst secret: the conspiracy to end all conspiracies.
The truth behind the destruction of Uzushioāthe would have been fifth member of the core planets.
~
A/N: Just little sprinkles of backstoryāI didnāt think TenTen would be an outright criminal, and Shino works more outside the law than against it soā¦
Thanks for the prompt, anon! š
1, with platonic Shikako/Sasuke/Naruto
ā
(Reasons To Keep Living)
The forests around the growing town of Konoha are haunted. At night, there are sounds and shapes and lights and movements that make their way out of the thick curtain of trees; it is eerie and fearsome and beautiful.
If a man goes into the forest, he is never heard from againāor so it is said.
Good thing you are no man.
///
The stranger has travelled from far away lands, dressed in strange clothes and riding a long horned deer.
She comes in search of a cure for her brother and she knows she is in the right place:
Either it will be found in the town at the forefront of progress, or it will be in the forest of magic and miracles.
///
All your life you have been told to stay away from the forest. There are dangerous things in there, beasts and monsters and horrorsāa good son would not make his parents worry so, just look at your brother, what an upstanding young man.
But they are too enamored by him to notice you, and you are ever so curious about what secrets are within.
When you are told to act as the strangerās guide, you see an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream.
///
Youāve been to the town beforeāitās your best kept secret, because if your father knew, heād eat you, just as heās always said.
You love the forest, of course you do, itās your home: the cave where you and your father curl up together for warmth, the rivers where the otter clan chatter and play their tricks, up in the treetops the monkey clan howl and down below the boar clan stampede.
You love your home, but you want to see the world outside of it.
///
The kodama come out at sunset, when the Shishigami walks the forest and begins to transform;Ā they watch and click their curious little heads, observing a phenomena that has happened daily for centuries and yet is still so breathtaking.
Sometimes, the fox boy joins them, head tilting in unison, mesmerized.
Sometimes, from the very top of the town walls, the second son can see the top of the Night Walkerās head breaching the canopy.
They both wait, though they donāt know it, for the stranger to arrive.
~
A/N: Out of order sectionsāthey were written as I thought of them, sorry, and it seemed weird every time I tried to put them in chronological order.
I donāt know about you, anon, but I got very strong Princess Mononoke vibes from the prompt? Or was that just me? Regardless, new AU! š
ā¦ I might have turned Naruto and Sasuke into Disney princesses what with the whole āwanting to see the world outside my forest/town/castle.ā
4, Shikako/Sai ( if you have time )
ā
(Friendship Is A (Mutual) Con)
Shikako stares at Sai, the breath for her response caught in her throat, more confused than concerned, but a healthy amount of both.
Sai stares back, guileless.
āā¦ we can work on that,ā Shikako finally says, hesitantly. She is angry and horrifiedābut not at him, itās not his faultāand it takes effort to keep it out of her voice.
āIāve read many books on this subject, so Iām quite confident Iāve mastered the theory,ā Sai responds, holding up his tablet which proudly displays the title: Love and Other Mysteries.
āā¦ thatāsā¦ā this time there is no hiding her skepticism, āWellā¦ think of it as needing field experience. Cooperation leads to teamwork, teamwork leads to friendship, and friendship is a great step towards love.ā
Sai nods as if what sheās saying actually makes sense and isnāt something sheās just making up on the spot.
And itās not like anyone else on the teamābesides Sakura, that isāis emotionally competent enough to dispute that.
///
Shikako realizes she still has her comm on ten minutes after the screaming fight with her brother has already ended.
Mostly because Sai, showing his developing social acuity, quietly clears his throat before asking, āDid he not like your gift?ā
She sighs, exasperated and embarrassed with herself and, maybe, a little unapologetically petty at Sai for eavesdroppingālet him deal with the audio feedbackābut if he had to wade through that awful argument then she does sort of owe him an explanation.
āNo, he was grateful for it. Itāll speed up his recovery by months, if not years, and itāll definitely make his PT easierā¦ā
āThat didnāt sound like gratitude.ā
Shikakoās chuckle is more bitter than amused, āHeās worried about how I got it, instead of focusing on his own health which is what really mattersā¦ā
She sighs again, exhausted. Itās been months of this, she just wants that easiness that they used to have.
āā¦ sometimes love is hard.ā
///
This is their final heist as a teamāor as this team, at least: Sakura returning to her previous team, Yamato clearing his name and getting reinstated, and Kakashi finally obtaining the peace that had eluded him for so long.
āWill you be staying?ā Sai asks her as he packs up his rigāthere is a strange lack of urgency and so he takes his time to stow everything away neatly instead of just shoving things in his bag as someone else drags him away.
āYes,ā she answers, swiftly, simply, no consideration needed. She tilts her head over at Naruto and Sasuke, who are both saying their goodbyes and trying (and failing) to be professional about it. āThey need me, still.ā
There is a pause as Sai continues to pack and Shikako watches, not wanting to interfere.
āAnd you?ā She finally asks, as the last zipper is zipped.
He shoulders his bag, two hard shell cases in either hand as well, and answersāswiftly, simplyā
āI havenāt finished my lessons, yet.ā
~
A/N: I donāt know why this was so difficult for me, anonā¦ itās not the pairing thatās the problem. I think maybe because this prompt was already asked with a blank check platonic pair and I had to NOT do the same thing hereā¦
Anyway, hope you enjoy!
Well, I see KHR’s timeline as three arcs where Tsuna gets his respective powerups. Based on the anime, there’s Tsuna before Reborn came as a starting-point, Tsuna after his battle with Xanxus, and then the Millefiore arc where Tsuna trains to battle Byakuran? I haven’t read the manga haha, but I do know that it has like, two more arcs? I think lol. It’d be pretty cool to see statistics for KHR! Or for whatever AU/fusions you have with that series. :D
I used to read the manga but I had to quit midway through the Ten Years Later/Millefiore arc? The serial style made it difficult for me to keep track of what the heck was going onāI probably ought to make another go at it since I can just read through the arcs all at once instead of waiting a month between very short chapters.Ā (I have no idea what the other arcs after that are, either :P)
Those do seem like pretty good points of growth for them, anon, so thatās one less issue with adapting the Character Stat set up. I guess now I have to figure out what actual data points Iāll be using for the KHR characters since its not as if there is Nin/Tai/Genjutsu. Or, I mean, there are equivalents, but mostly it depends on what everyoneās Flame Type and chosen weaponry is. Except for Mists, no one would have genjutsuā¦
Thanks, anon! Iām glad to know youāre interested in this ongoing addiction project of mine š
Character Statistics: DoSxDescendants fusion, Lost Kids
First
(data as of Academy Graduation, Dreaming of Sunshine Chapter Four;Ā summoned to Konoha)
—
Second
(data as of Sound Four Arc, Dreaming of Sunshine Chapter Sixty One; deployed as reinforcements)
—
Third
(data as of Shippuden; summoned to Auradon)
—
Mal
Carlos
Evie
Jay
~
I am way too fond of making these Character Statistics posts, but am clearly running out of teams to do. Anyone have any suggestions?
Iām also considering how to adapt this for other media–Katekyo Hitman Reborn seems like it wouldnāt be too much of a stretch, but I also donāt know the timeline of that series very well…
JackSGreyson Says 