Tag: anonymous

I saw the latest post on the BH6-au-ideas tumblr and thought you might like it. It’s part 2 of a crossover/fusion between BH6 and Descendants. It looks a bit intriguing and I was wondering what you thought of it.

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Ah, okay, you mean these posts, right? Or at least the ones that are connected… It’s definitely very interesting, and I do appreciate how OP has adapted the BH6 characters into the Descendants world. They’ve clearly put a lot of thought and effort into it and I like the decisions they’ve made for who’s related to who… but it’s not really my cup of tea, I think.

It’s a lot of characters to juggle, and it almost feels like the BH6 crew kinda of usurp the Descendants kids. Which, I mean, given the blog is called BH6-au-ideas makes sense–of course they’re going to focus on the BH6 crew–but I almost wonder if it wouldn’t be better to just either full on replace the Descendants kids (that is, Honey Lemon isn’t Evie older sister, she just takes Evie’s place, same with Fred and Ben, etc.) or, have them be separate and adjacent to the Descendants kids? Like–these are the villain kids left behind on the Isle, angry that they weren’t chosen? Or these are hero kids that we didn’t get the chance to see.

Personally, if I were to do this I’d most likely do just a straight crossover–no fusion at all. Because, I mean, Hiro and Baymax literally go through a portal into a different dimension. Like… whose to say that dimension isn’t basically the space in between universes?

And then, well, you can kind of go in two different directions–either Hiro and Baymax (and Abigail?) appear on the Isle or they appear in Auradon. Does Callaghan also go into the portal? Well, you can sort of hand wave some minor canon divergence and say he does. In which case, it’d be interesting to decide who appears where.

Because on the one hand, Callaghan as Yokai on the Isle essentially hijacking the villains while Auradon is distracted by Ben’s exchange students and the sudden appearance of Hiro, Baymax, and Abigail could be cool.

But what might be even more fun is if Hiro, Baymax and Abigail end up on the Isle having to make do with scraps to rebuild the portal, whereas Callaghan schmoozes and charms the royalty by saying a villain (aka Hiro) has stolen his technology (either Baymax or the nanobots). And then there’s the big Abigail is still alive reveal. So…

I mean if you REALLY want to hand wave some minor canon divergence, you can have the entire crew get sucked into the portal (because, well, giant dimension crossing portals in the sky) and end up in the Descendants world.

I guess if I were to try more on the fusion side, rather than strict crossover, I’d probably… hm… without directly replacing the Descendants kids OR having them completely derail the movie plot…

OH! Okay… so… I don’t super know if the ages would match up or if someone would have to be de-aged, but Honey Lemon as Snow White’s daughter (or niece via Rose Red). Which will make it interesting because both she and Evie are super into chemistry. [[Actually… given that the main four Lost kids are 16ish, maybe they’re looking into colleges? Or Auradon Prep alumni come back for the coronation? So that everyone is still the same ages as they are in their respective movie…]]

Anyway, so… wouldn’t it be interesting if each of the Lost kids matched up to a BH6 member? So… Wasabi as Audrey’s older brother who, during his own time at Auradon Prep preferred science to sports and wasn’t really that cool despite being royalty. But, you know, he stuck with what he wanted/was passionate about despite what his parents would have preferred. Alternatively, son of Tiana and Naveen who did encourage him to follow his dreams even if that means not being the stereotypical prince.

I do rather like GoGo as Aladdin and Jasmine’s kid, as the OP suggested–and like hell she’d put up with Jay’s bravado. Although I have heard, alternatively, that Jay is actually Aladdin and Jasmine’s kid that Jafar stole. And, I mean, the naming convention does still apply as Jasmine’s son. (And he was totally channeling street rat Aladdin in the movie). So maybe… ooh. What if GoGo was adopted (as a once street rat herself?) whereas Jay is the biological son of Aladdin and Jasmine.

And, I dunno why, I just really like the idea of the Hamada brothers basically being the sons of the Radcliffes (is that their name? the ones with all the dalmatians) and, well, considering their aunt has a Lucky Cat Cafe. Although maybe the Hamada family used to have a lot more cats but Cruella actually succeeded in making a fur coat out of their cats. Okay, sorry. That just got super morbid. My bad. Anyway, technology and creativity setting you free etc etc for Carlos.

Fred, obviously, is also a royal. But I’d rather not have him be Ben’s older brother, mostly because the whole line of succession thing and just why is Ben king at 16? I’m trying to think of which royal family would suit him best though… because on the one hand, him being the slobby older brother of Chad Charming could be hilarious, but on the other hand he’s pretty spot on for what I imagine either Rapunzel and Eugene OR Anna and Kristoff raising their kid as. Like, yeah, he’s still royalty. But not really the kind of royalty that uh, sorry to cross tracks but, would “play the game of thrones” you know?

…

Uh… yeah, sorry about that. I kind of totally derailed your question. Or my own answer. Uh, I haven’t slept in forty hours so… please excuse any… strangeness in this post.

Down Every Road: Or, Some Ways Shikako and Sasuke Get Together, 1/? (2016-04-09)

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jacksgreysays:

jacksgreysays:

(one: arranged marriage)

Shikaku’s daughter is a quiet creature. Content, but silent; solitary. She would rather read books or watch the grazing deer or follow in his and Yoshino’s footsteps than go outside and play with the other children.

It’s nothing to be worried about: Shikamaru is much the same, switching shogi for books and deer for clouds, though he, at least, has Chouji. Shikaku had been self-contained as a child, too, it is the way of most Nara children, he thinks, though he remembers, hazily, how Ikoma had been a little more active.

Eventually Shikako will come out of her shell–or perhaps she won’t, there is no rushing these things, pressure will only make the matter worse–Shikaku is prepared to be patient with his daughter.

Patience is not the problem.

“You want… what?” Shikaku asks, blindsided for the first time in three years–the last time had been when the ambassador from Cloud double crossed them and tried to kidnap the Hyuuga heiress–and by his own daughter no less.

His tiny, quiet daughter, who looks up at him, head tilted slightly, as if he’s the one acting oddly. “An engagement,” she says, with an odd twist to her mouth, as if the very word is bitter on her tongue, “to Sasuke Uchiha.”

He looks at Yoshino who also has an expression of bewilderment on her face.

“Shikako, sweetheart,” she says, stalling for time, trying to parse her thoughts, doing a better job than he is at the moment. “Just because you have a crush on this boy, it doesn’t mean you need to marry him. You can,” she pauses, glances at Shikaku, finding some sort of comfort from him, “Start small, honey, try being his friend first.”

It’s sound advice, truly; it probably would have ended the conversation if this were in fact a discussion about a girl with a crush on a boy.

It is not.

“I don’t have a crush on him,” Shikako says, entirely honest, no hint of embarrassed denial in her tone, “I don’t want this for me, I want this for…”

She drifts off. Neither he or Yoshino want to interrupt, and so they stay silent as she thinks. Searching for the right words.

“It’s the smart thing to do.”

—

[She is only a child, an untrained child, but what is the point of having this knowledge if not to save lives? She cannot stop this as a shinobi, not with her chakra hypersensitivity and her less than a year’s worth of training, not against S-class ninja who would sooner kill her than look at her.

But in this world she is not only a child. She is a Nara. The clan head’s only daughter, and that means something.

The Uchiha were isolated, seething and resentful, planning for a coup against a village that had already betrayed them. But what if she could change that? What if somehow, she could bring them back into the fold? The Uchiha were one of the founding clans of Konoha, and they just have to be reminded of this fact.

She is a Nara, and with her comes her clan. And where her clan goes, the Akimichi and the Yamanaka follow. And four clans is enough, has to be enough. Danzo cannot kill them all, not when the Akimichi are so deeply entrenched in the civilian sectors. Not when the Yamanaka pervade every branch of the shinobi forces. Not when her father is the Jounin Commander, as his father was before him, as, likely, his son will be after him.

She can do this. This isn’t something that requires chakra and jutsu and strength she doesn’t yet have and might never get. And, anyway, marriage is such a small thing to sacrifice to save so many lives and to prevent so much grief and hardship. It may not have to be a sacrifice at all. Sasuke, as she knows him from the past, was a product of his tragedy, twisted and angry and bitter but still with some moments of kindness and courage. Sasuke as she knows him now is just a little boy, but there is still kindness in him, and maybe some courage. More smiles, that’s for sure.

She will marry him and maybe they’ll become friends, maybe they’ll grow to love one another, maybe they’ll be happy together. But even if they don’t, even if they are cold to each other, civil colleagues forced to live together, then she’d still do it.

It’s the smart thing to do.]

~

A/N: Well… that was a quicker turn around time than I thought it would be. Also… I was supposed to go to sleep three hours ago but… oh well.

This is for you, anon, who wanted some Shikako/Sasuke. But that’s not all! As you can tell from the title I will be doing more installments of this in the future. Probably not as quickly–but it will definitely happen! Though, I’d definitely appreciate some Shikasuke-specific prompts to help with future installments

Title (or at least, the main title, not the subtitle) is from the song “The Only Dream” by Tyrone & Elina because it’s one of the few love songs in my favorites playlist and also it kind of works really well for the Shikasuke ship. Not this particular ficlet, but the general vibe I get of the ship from DoS.

Further Down Road One, (2016-04-15)

(shogi)

Someone is testing his patience–unfortunately, Danzo doesn’t know who.

His plan to destroy the Uchiha and steal their Sharingan–justified by preventing a coup, of course–has been thwarted by a single engagement. Which ought to point out the culprit as that upstart Nara clan head, especially given his tenacious tracking of supplies Danzo has appropriated for ROOT, except there is more:

The Merchant’s Guild, primarily a civilian organization, has begun making inquiries into some of Danzo’s less legitimate businesses–though they are several times removed from himself. The Intel Division, who aren’t worth the title shinobi, are enacting a stricter review over mission assignments and reports, restricting his soldiers’ movements.

The Uchiha Police Force–yet another reason to exterminate those overpowered menaces–have received anonymous tips, turning certain deaths from “accidental” to “potential foul play.” Most are easily avoided, but some lead directly to the younger recruits recently orphaned on his orders.

It is too many instances to be Shikaku Nara, beyond his scope as Nara clan head and Jounin Commander. And yet, the timing is far too suspicious to be merely coincidental.

Someone is testing his patience.

[She is still a Nara, no matter what she’s consigned herself to be in the future, and there are some parts of her heritage that she refuses to lose. Shogi may seem like such a small thing, but it is a connection she refuses to sever. She will remember these soft, lazy days with her parents and her brother fondly.

Also, the lessons are useful.

She has stepped into a shogi game spanning the entire village. Danzo has his political contacts, his wealth, and ROOT as his pieces. In opposition are her clans–present and future–their allies, and herself.

Danzo is paranoid, increasingly so, but not enough to correctly guess the identity of his opponent.

Shikako is piece and player, both.]

—

(friendship)

He is so busy straddling the line between clan heir and loyal ANBU that when news of his little brother’s engagement finally makes it’s way through the fog of stress and desperation, Itachi is completely blindsided.

Shisui is, too, so it’s not like he has any high ground to stand on. “Your little sister in law is very cute.”

“Future sister in law,” Itachi says back, just to be contrary, “Also, she’s six.”

“Yeah, which is why I said cute; smart, too, quiet, though,” he smirks, “She reminds me of you, actually,” he says pointedly enough that Itachi meets his eyes in curiosity.

There is danger in speaking out loud, unsure of who may hear, and so Itachi and Shisui have developed their own silent language.

Shisui can’t actually be thinking about bringing a six year old into their counter conspiracy, can he?

“She’s six,” Itachi repeats out loud.

“And what were you doing when you were six?” Shisui responds, dryly, “Anyway, I’m not saying we do anything until you actually talk to her.”

Itachi hums noncommittally.

“Ask her about the engagement,” Shisui suggests, “about whose idea it was.”

[She isn’t really expecting to make friends, doesn’t have the time to, what with the silent war she’s undertaken. She has her brother, she doesn’t really need anyone else. And anyway, allies are one thing, but friends? Not likely.]

—

(cats)

Mikoto has always had a soft spot for Sasuke: he is her baby, after all, unlike Itachi who has the weight of Fugaku and the clan elder’s expectations. Which is why she keeps such a close eye on her daughter-in-law to be. Mikoto is not against the engagement–Shikako Nara is a good match for her youngest son, and a sweet girl from what she’s seen–but she’ll be damned if her baby ends up in a marriage that makes him miserable.

As it is, perhaps she is too busy expecting the worst, focusing on Shikako instead of Sasuke, because he seems to be quite content with the engagement. Happy, even. Maybe even in love–though they are both only twelve and it is too early to say–at the very least, on the path to it.

Sasuke is her baby, so she was planning to pass down her summoning contract to him, but it appears as if he has other ideas:

“It’s an Uchiha contract,” Fugaku denies, never mind that it’s not even his decision to make, trying to divert his youngest son from this notion with a cold tone of voice.

But Sasuke holds his head up, standing firm against his father, and easily says, “Shikako will be my wife. She will be an Uchiha.”

The confidence, the devotion, the clear, pure conviction that he is right, that he will do this for his bride-to-be, no matter what his father–who might as well have been his god–says. It doesn’t matter what Mikoto thinks of Shikako Nara, not really, because she knows enough about the girl from this single moment to know. Sasuke may not love her yet, but he’s definitely on the way: as far as Mikoto is concerned, if Shikako is worthy of that, then she can be worthy Mikoto’s other legacy.

[She knows there is a deer summons. Knows that, because of the engagement, she will never be allowed to sign it. She may be a Nara for now, but she will not be in the future, and and children she has will be Uchiha not Nara. The deer contract should remain in the clan, she knows that, it’s enough that she still gets to learn shadow jutsu.

It’s a minor thing, anyway, summoning. There are powerful shinobi who don’t have summoning contracts and it’s not like she was guaranteed to have the deer summons, anyway. It was just a spare thought. Something that would have been nice to have–not something she needs. She resigns herself, something she’s been doing a lot of, to never being a summoner.

Except Sasuke changes that. His mother has a contract, and while it was originally meant to be for him, he’s convinced her to offer it to Shikako. And that still doesn’t guarantee anything–maybe the cats won’t like her, maybe they’ll reject her as a summoner–but it’s far more than she was expecting.

Cats are not deer, and being an Uchiha bride is not the same as being a Nara daughter, but it’s more than what she was expecting. More than enough.]

~

A/N: @book14reader and I had a very lengthy discussion (transcript here) about the consequences of a Shikasuke engagement. Primarily? The Problem of Danzo. And while I still basically sidestepped the issue, I thought it was important enough to brush over. In a way, this AU’s ultimate Big Bad isn’t Akatsuki or Madara, it’s Danzo. So… there you go.

Also, the other two were just kind of cute thoughts… and two POVs who I probably wouldn’t be able to do otherwise? Given… the obvious.

Even Further Down Road One (2016-06-04)

(friendship–jealousy)

“Little brother,” Itachi says, barely a warning before he musses Saskue’s hair. Now that he’s a genin with the forehead protector to go with it, his brother can no longer do his usual greeting flick. But Itachi has adapted easily, finding another way to simultaneously express fondness and casually exert dominance.

“Aniki!” he complains, trying to straighten the mess.

“Little sister. Naruto-kun,” Itachi continues, instead, gently tugging on Shikako’s braid. Which is, frankly, unfair. The idiot also gets treated to a hair ruffle, but considering his hair is always a mess, it hardly makes a difference.

“Itachi,” Shikako says with a smile, “What are you doing here?”

Here being Team Seven’s usual training grounds, sans their jounin sensei since no one knows where Kakashi might be at any given point in time. Certainly not where he’s supposed to be.

“We both just got back from missions and we wanted to check up on our favorite genin,” Itachi answers, with a smile of his own.

An evil smile.

“We?” Sasuke repeats, dread already pooling in his stomach.

“Sasuke-chan!” A terrible voice rings out before, yet again, a hand ruins his just neatened hair.

Shisui.

Fortunately, the offender moves on to a different victim. “Naruto! What embarrassing things has my baby cousin been up to?” Never mind–it’s unfortunate.

“Shisui!” Shikako says, delight in her tone and eyes. She doesn’t even flinch away when the bastard pulls her into a hug. “I thought you weren’t coming back for another week.”

“Well,” Shisui half shrugs, one arm staying around Shikako’s shoulders. Unnecessarily. “I couldn’t just let my adorable little sister languish without her favorite Uchiha.”

Okay, that’s it.

“Go away!” Sasuke shouts, just barely resisting the urge to physically shove Shisui away because that might jostle Shikako with his proximity. “Go bother your own team!” Because maybe that’ll work. “And she’s not your sister,” he adds.

“Little brother,” Itachi sighs, shaking his head in disappointment, “There’s no need to be rude.”

Shisui, infuriatingly, just smirks. “It’s okay, Itachi. I understand,” he nods, smirk growing wider, “Puberty.”

The inarticulate noise that claws its way out of his throat does more to ward off his brother and cousin, because–after yet another set of hair ruffling–they leave.

“Jeez, Sasuke,” Naruto says, because he never met a situation that he didn’t decide to aggravate immediately, “What’s wrong with you?”

Shikako is too tactful to ask, but looks equally interested in his answer. Sasuke tries not to blush, already embarrassed at how easily flustered he was.

“Nothing,” he mutters, “Let’s just spar already.”

Hopefully by the time Kakashi arrives, she’ll have forgotten his complete lack of cool.

—

(shogi–respect)

Sasuke has known–ever since they were children at the Academy, even before their engagement–that Shikako is a genius.

Sure, it probably started as a childish, self-absorbed acknowledgement–anyone smarter than him had to be a genius by default–but now that they are older, Sasuke has realized just how much of a genius his fianceé truly is.

She is constantly working on one project or another, always improving herself to tackle even bigger challenges. She sees beyond what everyone else can, always three steps ahead. So why would she do this?

“I’m not going to fight my brother,” she repeats, after returning to the viewing area, after forfeiting to Shikamaru of all people–the laziest person Sasuke has ever met.

He doesn’t understand. Even if her relationship with her brother is different from  his relationship with Itachi–which is, admittedly, probably more of a one-sided competition than a true sibling rivalry–that doesn’t mean she was only left with the one option. The preliminaries are hardly death matches, and it’s not as if she couldn’t have at least sparred against Shikamaru. Chances are, if it had required even a modicum of effort, Shikamaru would have been the one to forfeit first.

Sasuke doesn’t actually say so out loud, wouldn’t want to verbally undermine her decision in front of so many people, but she can probably see the confusion in the slant of his eyebrows, the twist of his mouth. Shikako’s always been able to read him so easily.

She smiles back at him, a poor attempt at reassurance given the tightness in the corners of her eyes. He likes to think he can read her just as well.

“Who knows the next time my brother will ever get close enough to a promotion?” She tries to joke, and while that’s enough to put off the others, it’s not enough for him.

Softer, so only their team can hear, she adds, “There’s a different battle I need to prepare for,” her tone tamped down to something serious, almost concerned.

He doesn’t understand, and neither does Naruto from the look on his face, but Kakashi seems to. For now, at least, Sasuke will trust their jounin sensei on this matter–at least until Shikako is ready to reveal more.

Somehow, even though she’s the only member of their team not part of the third round, Shikako trains harder than either of he or Naruto during the month long gap. Sasuke’s time is split between Itachi and Kakashi, Naruto’s split between Kakashi and some weird old pervert he randomly happened across, apparently, but Shikako? Has been participating in training with Kakashi, Itachi, Naruto’s old perverted mentor, Shisui, her parents, and even Sasuke’s mother. He would call it major overkill if it didn’t seem so important to her.

Just what is she preparing for, anyway?

The answer comes soon enough when, in the middle of his fight against Gaara, a genjutsu falls over the arena.

An invasion–by Sand and the snake bastard who tried to bite him in the Forest of Death–what the hell?

Sasuke goes after Gaara and his siblings because, well, he’s already fighting him so why not? Shikako and a bunch of the other Rookie Nine appear not long after, and if he weren’t so glad to see her, he’d probably be confused as to how easily she steps up and takes charge of the situation. As is, he’s still pretty damned impressed. Also, proud.

Now he understands why she forfeited during the preliminaries. An exam? A promotion? Those don’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things.

This is the Shikako he knows–observing everything, three steps ahead and already reacting. A genius.

And he’s going to marry that girl.

—

(cats–affection)

Usually when Shikako and his mother train together, Sasuke tries not to hang around. He doesn’t want to distract them and, plus, he gave up his right to the cat summons. Also, sometimes, their training devolves into his mother regaling Shikako with baby stories which he’d rather not be around for. Bad enough that she hears them; if he’s not there to witness it, at least he has plausible deniability.

But given that they do train at the house and he, well, lives there, he can’t always avoid it.

Thankfully this time the two of them are actually summoning cats.

“Summoning Jutsu!” Shikako calls out, a familiar pattern of ink spreading from her fingertips. The chakra smoke is minimal, because Shikako has always had excellent chakra control, but the result is still… less than ideal.

A kitten mewls curiously, before shakily walking around.

Shikako sighs.

“Well,” his mother says diplomatically, “At least this one’s capable of moving.”

Shikako sighs again, even louder. Disheartened, she sits: legs crossed, elbows on her knees, head propped in her hands. She watches the kitten makes its sluggish trek across the floor.

“You’re actually doing quite well,” his mother tries again, “I didn’t even start learning how to summon until I was older than you.”

It doesn’t appear to be working, even though Shikako nods politely.

And it’s not as if Sasuke thinks he can do any better, but he hates seeing her so dejected. So he takes a seat beside her, scoops up the kitten, and holds it out to her. He tries to smile at her: it’s only strained as it is because he’s risking hearing really embarrassing childhood stories about himself and also the kitten apparently hates him and is using it’s tiny claws and teeth on his hands. What the hell, it might be breaking skin.

Shikako understands, because she gives a soft chuckle before taking the summon from his hands. Unsurprisingly, it stops fighting, rubbing it’s face affectionately against her skin.

Sasuke doesn’t need to say anything: he just sits quietly at her side and lets her know he’s there for her, no matter what.

~

A/N: God, Sasuke, way to be SUPER obvious about how totally in love with Shikako you are! That’s embarrassing… 😀

For this anon–I tweaked the prompts a bit, but hopefully you’ll still enjoy this. But seriously, y’all need to let me go down the other roads already. 😛

I’ll upload this to ao3 later.

I’d love to see anon’s idea about Down Every Road!Grass Chunin Exams, because enraged and emotional Sasuke is always a delight to see. As for other prompts… (Can I just list a bunch? Pick & choose as you please) Some insight on their interactions; maybe Ino/Naruto, or Itachi seeing their mutual desire to protect Sasuke? Or maybe an older Sasuke on a long mission and sending a hawk summon with a letter or sumthing to Shikako? Basically anything is gr8, because Shikasuke is consuming my soul ;o;

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Oh, wow, anon. This is a lot! Okay… let me see if I can unpack this:

1) enraged/emotional/protective Sasuke (does it have to be Grass Chuunin Exams?)

2-4) Ino, Naruto, and Itachi’s POV of Shikasuke

Or, alternatively,

5) Ino, Naruto, Itachi and Shikako bonding over being part of the “protect Sasuke” squad

Or, even more alternatively,

6) Ino, Naruto, and Itachi bonding over being part of the “get Shikako and Sasuke together” squad

And then finally,

7) long distance relationship Shikasuke (via letter writing and unamused summons, no doubt)

Did I get everything? Well, these all sound like pretty good ideas, anon, though I may make first prompt outside of the Grass Chuunin Exam context, if that’s okay.

Thanks! 😀

Hey Jack! For the continuation of Down Every Road, I have some prompts: 1) Sasuke gets jealous that some prince from some land or even Gaara are becoming too close to Shikako and gets grumpy. Shikako is just confused while Naruto is laughing. 2) the Grass Chunin Exam from this universe. 3) Shikako successfully learns how to summon the cats and shows Sasuke. Sasuke is proud. Thank you.

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Hello anon!

I definitely like these prompts for an Even Further Down Road One installment, though I may tweak them a bit, if you don’t mind.

Thanks, anon, I know exactly what I want to do with these. 🙂

Chances Gone By, a Toki/Shikako fic (2016-05-27)

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Or, Five Conversations Toki Almost Had With Shikako

She is still running on the tumultuous rush of avenging her family and revealing her secret and endangering her life and killing a man and opening her lands to his people and the chanting of her name by her own people and the sudden ticking of the watch she thought forever broken and–

Toki is grateful for Shikako, an emotional port in the storm in the shape of a girl younger than herself with eyes that can be so warm and welcoming, but just as easily turn sharp like a steel blade. Toki feels safe around Shikako, a sensation she hasn’t had for such a long time–from even before Sagi was killed–and this is something she wants to have for as long as she can. Or, at least, bottle up to save for days when she can’t.

She thinks maybe–she wants this, she can have this, she deserves this–all she has to do is ask. But she is Daimyo now, truly, not just playacting in her brother’s place; she cannot be selfish anymore.

“You won’t stay will you?” Toki asks, even though she already knows the answer. It seems as if all good things leave her at one point or another.

Shikako smiles, and even though it is a small, slanted thing, Toki wants to see more of it. “To tell you the truth, I’m not really trained for this. I’m making it up as I go along.”

And Toki laughs, the first real and honestly happy laugh she’s had since… gods, such a long time. Toki wants to return the favor, “The secret is… so am I.”

It’s successful, to some extent: Shikako’s smile blooms full and bright, and though she doesn’t laugh, Toki feels the warm flush of victory.

After a comfortable silence, Toki picks up the thread of conversation again. “What kind of training would you need? To be qualified for this, that is,” she asks, and hopes the question sounds interested without being desperate.

Shikako doesn’t seem to suspect anything, pondering the question seriously, “Well to begin with, for a body guarding mission in general, I’d need to be at least a chuunin. Our original mission was to help Chishima-san investigate the ghost sightings, but our missions tend to go in unexpected directions,” she flashes another smile alongside the understatement.

“But a mission of this caliber? With your status and not to mention the matter of the Watari clan…”

Toki was hoping to put off thinking about that particular spontaneous decision until tomorrow at least.

“… Well, they’ll probably have at least a special jounin on the replacement team, if not higher.” Shikako shrugs, as if to say the matter is out of her hands. They settle back into a comfortable silence, and Toki finds herself drifting, soothed by the rhythm of Shikako’s breathing.

Toki understands, life doesn’t always work out so neatly or as immediately as hoped, but she can be patient. She can wait for Shikako to rise in rank.

—

On the day of Toki’s coronation, there are so many people fussing over her–her clothes, her hair, what she’ll say, where she’ll stand–that she finds she hardly has to worry about herself. Instead, she lets her eyes and thoughts rest on Shikako. She notices the way the younger girl, so confident against danger and battle, fidgets; fingers twisting with the end of her braid, hands alternately tugging and smoothing her clothes, eyes glancing over at her ruined sandals by the door.

“I have a kimono in your size, if you would like,” Toki offers. So many people fussing over Toki, Shikako deserves at least one person fussing over her.

The other girl looks up, a spill of pink spreading across her cheeks. Oh no, Toki didn’t intend to make her feel embarrassed.

“Come with me,” she says, and reaches out to hold one jittery hand in her own, “The palace has a bathhouse, and we both deserve more than just a quick wash after the days we’ve been through.”

Shikako laughs, a bright, brief giggle, before nodding, “That does sound amazing.”

Toki waves away the servants, and they obey, albeit anxiously. The two of them enjoy their baths, though they can’t linger for long: she does have a coronation to attend, after all. But it’s enough that Shikako relaxes, accepting the kimono without any protest and the aid of a servant to put it on. Toki’s own finery requires a team, but that is expected.

“Are you nervous?” Shikako asks, and while the servants working on Toki’s hair look at her with scandalized expressions, Toki herself is not offended. They have revealed greater truths to one another already.

“A little,” she admits, “but not as much as I thought I would be.”

When Toki is crowned daimyo of the Land of Birds–officially and as her true self–Shikako is standing, proud and protective, only a few steps away.

—

A few days later, more ninja from Konoha come, and Toki knows that means her ninja have to leave.

“This is Raido Namiashi,” Shikako introduces, “special jounin of Konoha.” Just like she predicted.

Toki is polite–she is the embodiment of her country now, she cannot be anything less–but she doesn’t want her last words in who knows how long to Shikako to be empty small talk. Shikako and her team are prepared to leave, but Toki calls out before they depart.

“Special jounin, right?”

The boys and Toki’s new bodyguard probably think she’s asking for confirmation of his rank, but Shikako nods answering a question that Toki hasn’t had the courage to ask out loud.

Shikako will be back one day, Toki knows, she just has to be patient.

—

Their reunion is actually far sooner than Toki expects, and all the more awkward for it. Standing between Raido and Hokuto at the Grass Chuunin Exams, she feels all too keenly the weight of her title, the distance between them.

Shikako, too, is with others. Her team–at least for the purposes of this exam–and another stand behind her, listening. They cannot be as intimate as they were before, but that does not mean Toki cannot be honest.

“You were a great help to me,” she says quietly, “So I’m glad that I can help you in turn, even with a small thing.” Toki draws the silver token given to her earlier from her sleeves, and holds it out to Shikako. “Good luck with your tests!”

The participants bow, Shikako included, and Toki wants so much to reach out, but she resists. They turn to leave, Toki lets them go.

“Toki,” Shikako calls back, “Chuunin first, then special jounin. You’ll see,” she smiles, and Toki would be lying if she said it hadn’t taken her breath away.

As daimyo, she is afforded an excellent seat during the tournament, even if her country is small. She watches, eagerly, and does not even pretend to be unbiased. But for all that she knows Shikako is a strong ninja, Toki only knows of her battle against other ninja second-hand–through Shikako and, later, Hokuto.

She knows Shikako is strong, doesn’t hold the first two fights against her even as the other audience members chatter in boredom. Her current bodyguards seem impressed, which means there is something about the fights that non-ninja cannot understand.

But everyone is blown away by her third fight.

“Chuunin, then special jounin,” Toki repeats to herself; maybe she won’t have to be so patient.

—

She has grown fond of Raido during his time as her bodyguard, he is a good shinobi and, more than that, a good man. Even his arguments with Hokuto, heated as they may be, are no longer as barbed as they were in the beginning. Konoha has sent her not only a bodyguard, but a skilled diplomat.

Regardless, he is not who Toki wants beside her. And Raido knows it.

Which is why, when Shikako is promoted to special jounin–not even a week after the Chuunin Exams–Raido is the one to bring the good news to Toki with an amused smile. But he also explains why Shikako cannot immediately return to Land of Birds–about special training and rotations in the Intelligence Division and, quietly, of preventing burn out.

Toki listens, understands. She was prepared to wait longer, before. She is only a little bit disappointed.

She is patient.

And it’s not as if she is just idly waiting: She has an entire country to run, a hidden village to build from the ground up alongside the Watari clan whose trust she is steadily gaining and vice versa. She is a daimyo going against tradition and the carefully crafted balance of the Elemental Nations. She is a busy woman, not just a girl waiting for a hero.

But she is still excited, a few months later, when Raido comes to her again, same amused smile, bringing news from Konoha.

Two days. It only takes two days for a ninja to travel from Konoha to the palace of Land of Birds.

When Shikako arrives, Toki is holding audiences with the public–a new monthly practice she’s implemented to better connect with her people. Like the others before her in line, Shikako goes to her knees and bows. When she rises, Toki can hear the murmurs–Shikako’s battle against the Kazekage during the Chuunin Exams put her on the map and, more specifically, she was an integral part of the Toki’s own rise to power. And the Watari clan’s settlement.

She is not an unfamiliar face, even before she introduces herself:

“Shikako Nara,” she says with a smile, “Special jounin of Konoha.”

—

(And One She Really Wanted To)

At night in Toki’s room, just the two of them, it feels like when they first met. It hasn’t even been a full year, and yet it might as well have been a different life. Toki, reeling from loss and anger, pretending to be someone else. Shikako, drifting and uncertain, injuring herself to survive enemies stronger than herself.

They are stronger and wiser and yet, in the darkness and silence, the same.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Toki says, low and soft.

In the moonlight, Shikako’s smile gleams. “So am I.”

~

A/N: WHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT UP!!!! I had to write this furtively as my family flitted in and out of my personal space, but HERE IT IS! For you, anonymous who wanted some Shikako/Toki. I hope you like it 😀

I will also add this to the Dreaming One Shots ao3, later.

Hey Jack, I binge read your DoS fanfics and I find them great. Could you continue Down Every Road? and Tsunade coming to heal Hokage Shikako one? Thanks!

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Hi anon, I’m happy that you enjoy my writing, so thanks!

My main priority for my DoS recursive fic is to finish off Quest for the Queen (aka, Naruto’s POV of Tsunade coming to heal Hokage Shikako) since that one I have fully outlined and it only has two more installments.

As for Down Every Road, I have a few–very vague–ideas about future installments, but I think having Shikako x Sasuke prompts would make it easier so I could hone in on something concrete. And they don’t even really need to be very specific prompts either? Actually, I’d prefer it if they weren’t too restrictive. Maybe something like “Shikako x Sasuke, Daimyo’s Court” or “Shikasuke, ships passing in the night” or… something.

Again, I’m glad you like my fic, anon. 🙂

Shikako Nara (from DoS) is reincarnated as twin sister of Lily Evans. She becomes a muggle-born Slytherin during the Marauder’s era. How would she manipulate the First Wizarding World? Maybe ship her with Regulus?

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Oh anon, oh you darling cuttlefish of an anon… oh gosh, I hope you’re not the same anon that asked for Shikako as Sakumo’s genin teammate because I hate doing this to you twice, but–I have a conflict of interest with this prompt, too.

It’s technically a Katekyo Hitman Reborn x Harry Potter crossover, but I already have a “third Evans sibling” series called Growing Strong (Burning Bright). Although it’s more about Harry’s estranged uncle Branton trying to find/recruit his magical relatives as a defense against the growing wave of Flame users from KHR canon and then along the way getting entangled in the wizard war instead. Uh… it’d probably make more sense if you read it.

It’s only five installments long for now, and I know it’s not Marauders era, but I don’t think I can commit myself to a different “third Evans sibling” series. It does sound interesting, though, and if it’s something that you want to pursue for your own story I would be more than happy to help you brainstorm the idea. 

Thanks for the prompt, anon, but I don’t think I’ll be filling this one.

How do you feel about that Sidestory where Shikako was found cold and unconscious by her mum as a child? I find it interesting, since it’s one of the only glimpses where we can see how she’s initially affected by the nature and atmosphere of this new world that her mind/body’s trying to adapt to. There was this other reincarnation fic where, after completing the plot, the OC’s body stops working and suddenly refuses to accept whatever supernatural elements she has and starts dying. (1)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment
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I view that chapter more as Yoshino/Konoha’s interpretation of what is happening with Shikako into terms that they already know, a case that has precedents… Actually, I’m now wondering what if previous cases of chakra hypersensitivity were other reincarnated people who may or may not have been able to handle chakra as well. Because, that would be really cool? A little bit like Reincarnation Roulette…

(Maybe this is something for the Team Medic AU!AU, where Shikako researches her own diagnosed condition out of curiosity and discovers a mission/secret society spanning generations… the only other living person with hypersensitivity is in their eighties and couldn’t overcome it enough to become a shinobi, but they have been keeping records of what’s happening in the world to pass on to the next member of their unofficial club)

I do think it’s an issue more of mind over matter–her consciousness is confused by the existence of chakra (much less chakra coils and tenketsu points) that her brain can’t actively process it. Especially given that chakra is a mix of spiritual and physical energy, if half of that–her spirit/soul–doesn’t expect chakra, then it’s like a person’s immune system attacking itself.

I suppose I’d have to read the other reincarnation fic, but I’m not sure I like the idea of the OC’s body ceasing to function after completing the plot. Mostly as a story teller–it brushes into breaking the fourth wall without actually doing so? Because how would the gods/spirits/supernatural elements deem how much interference is enough interference?–but a little but in a morally outraged sense because that’s so unfair! To have to follow a set destiny and then get killed immediately after? I would be pissed off!

I can see how this would work in a time-traveling fic: travel back in time five years, and after five years when you converge with your departure your body just disappears. But for a self insert OC fic, I guess I can’t quite understand why that would be.

I mean… if you were born into a sickly body and pushed through all the plot points out of sheer desperation and determination and only after everything became peaceful your body gives up the ghost then… yes. I can see that. But if you’re in a healthy body that functions well enough through the plot points and then dies? It seems out of nowhere? The best kind of “plot twist” is one that has been hinted at in the very beginning. For example, in Sixth Sense (… spoilers…) it’s established pretty early on that Cole can see dead people. So Dr. Crowe being dead the entire time? That is both thrilling and believable.

A more believable “Shikako’s body breaking down post Madara/the plot” route would be if she somehow overreaches in battle. Like if she turns into shadows and kind of burns out–she can go back to her human form as a thin shell, but she’s mostly shadows inside and she can’t really use chakra because… she is chakra? OR!! (sort of like my Stories of Ancient Gods) if she were somehow “infected” with Kaguya’s genetics, or maybe bijuu chakra and her chakra coils are forever ruined.

So probably something that has an in-world cause, not some kind of fated deadline; that’s kind of against the style of DoS in which Shikako’s existence is one small change that snowballs out of control. She only rarely makes deliberate changes, and even that is more pulling on friendships she’s gradually built than any single moment of action.

(I hope I’m not coming off as dismissive, anon. It is an interesting idea, but I just don’t see it happening in canon DoS or even the recursive fic more grounded in DoS canon. Maybe something like Dreaming of Sunshine Switch by Lady Hallen: like Shikako’s body is kind of unstable in the canon universe and so her chakra is kind of like antimatter? Her existence is so discordant that it can’t sustain itself in the canon universe…

Or, like I said, a time travel fic in DoS–what if everyone fails to stop Madara/Kaguya/whoever so she uses sealing to go back in time and fix her own changes to the universe… So there’s still the same “complete the plot” deadline but the reason for her body turning on itself isn’t reliant on fate/omnipotent writer)