When you accepted that bet with Leo, you truly had no idea what you were getting into. You've lost, and now you have two options: be his slave for a whole month or ask a ghoul to wear a ridiculous, sound-reactive cat tail for a week to save you. Sounds stupid and humiliating? That's the intention! But hey! It's that or obey Leo for a whole month… And anything is better than that.
Think of your reward: If you manage to get the ghoul of your choice to wear the cat tail for a week, Leo will have to wear another one for the following week! THINK OF YOUR GLORIOUS REVENGE! MAKE UP YOUR COURAGE AND GO OUT THERE!
Red as a tomato with embarrassment, you hide the cat tail Leo gave you in a backpack as best you can and text your trusted ghoul: "Hey. Listen, this is going to be really awkward, but I need you to do me a favor." You don't wait for a reply, you just go straight to them.
𝔽𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕞
𝒥𝒾𝓃 𝒦𝒶𝓂𝓊𝓇𝒶𝒾
You approach Jin carefully, scared of his reaction. "Spit it out, servant! Don't mess with me." You jump in your place and explain everything that happened with Leo as fast as your tongue lets you as Jin's icy eyes stare into your soul. Finally, you present him the tail: white, soft-looking and fluffy. You bow as deeply as your back allows you to bend down, apologizing.
Jin stares at it like if it offended him personally. "You've lost your damn mind." After a beat, he adds sharply. "Next time, you come to me. I'll deal with Kurosagi." The look in his eyes tells you he's just doing this to help you to get your revenge on Leo. "Tsk." He get's up and glares at you. "Don't stand just there." He snaps. "Don't waste my time! Clip the fucking thing on already!"
You freeze for a moment, then you clip it over his belt. Jin swears again, making the tail lash and slap you across your face. If that weren't a toy tail, you'd swear Jin did it on purpose. Thankfully, the tail's fur is quite soft. It's ironic how much it resembles his real hair. He looks down at his back. "Of course it moves."
"Sorry." You whisper one more time.
When Tohma enters the room, you want to crawl into a hole and never come out.
"Captain..." Tohma hides a sly smirk behind his gloved hand.
"Finish the sentence," Jin's voice is deadly calm, "and you're dead." The tail twitches behind him.
"Understoond." Tohma presses his lips together and bows down.
Jin doesn't leave his room all week. You may not have become Leo's slave, but you're certainly Jin's faithful servant for the week. He has a reputation to uphold and won't go out in public like this. After completing the challenge, Jin simply pretends it never happened. But he already planned his revenge and Tohma is on board with the plan.
𝒯𝑜𝒽𝓂𝒶 𝐼𝓈𝒽𝒾𝒷𝒶𝓈𝒽𝒾
When you explain everything to Tohma he just asks you. "You want me to dig up his dirty secrets, my dear?" You shake your head furiously and insist that you just need him to wear the tail for a week. Even if a part of yourself wants to accept his offer and teach Leo a lesson, your good heart wins. You'll play fairly.
"I'll have to say," he gives you a malicious smile. "I believe that the public humiliation Mr. Kurosagi will suffer from wearing a cat tail for a week will be far worse than anything I could do to him."
"Aren't you mad?" You ask.
"No. Why would I? I find it kind of amusing." He chuckles. "Would you help me?" Tohma turns around and lifts his jacket slightly.
You hurriedly grab the tail of your backpack. "There's no rush, Y/N. I think both you and I will greatly enjoy the consequences this will have for Mr. Kurosagi." Tohma reassures you.
You start wondering who's more eager to see Leo with a cat's tail for a whole week. You, or the cunning vice-captain of Frostheim. When the tail wiggles for the first time, Tohma adjusts his monocle as he looks his reflection in the mirror. The tail is fluffy, cream coloured with a light brown tip.
"Huh, impressive engineering."
Jin, passing by behind him, stops dead. "What the hell are you wearing, Tohma?"
"Oh, captain." Tohma turns around. "I'm just helping our beloved inspector. Don't worry about this." He gestures gracefuly with his hand. His new tail copies by pure casuality his movement, making Jin frown. "This won't affect my performance, I can assure you that much."
"Tsk." Jin, for the sake of what's left of his mental health, decides to ignore it.
"Maybe I should get a pair of matching ears." Tohma looks terrifyingly pleased with the situation.
He's the one who's adapted best to the tail, that's for sure. He's even started using it to show his mood and emphasize his threats. Who would have thought the Frostheimers' vice-captain would be scarier with a tail than without? They all sigh with relief when he finally takes it off. Tohma even seems disappointed to give it back; he might ask for it again in the future. "It's a nice change of pace." He says. When you leave Frostheim, he's making some calls. He will make sure Leo won't enjoy his time with the tail when the time comes.
𝐿𝓊𝒸𝒶𝓈 𝐸𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓉
He takes it way too seriously. "If this helps you, then of course I'll do it" He replies without hesitation. "A week is nothing." Then he pauses. "...Though I would very much like to know why Mr. Kurosagi thought this was appropiate." Then he smiles at you. "But it's fine. Anything for a friend."
He's so polite that it almost makes you feel bad for asking him.
"It's lighter than I expected." He murmurs once you clip the dark brown tail to his belt. It's gentle movement makes him go stiff. "...It moves."
"Yes." You rub your neck, unconfortable.
"Incredible." He seems genuinely fascinated.
During the next week he wears the tail earnestly, never complains, never hides it. Just apologizes if it moves too much near someone.
By the end of the week he thanks you for trusting him with that inconvenience of yours. You apologize again. But he's just glad to help. Inside, he's actually very mad at Leo for making you go through this whole ordeal. He will have a word with him the next time he finds him.
𝒦𝒶𝒾𝓉𝑜 𝐹𝓊𝒿𝒾
"... Wait. You're telling me... I have to WEAR A TAIL?!" He squeaks. "Like... A cat tail... FOR A WEAK?!"
You nod. His hands fly up. "NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! THERE'S NO WAY I'M DOING THIS!"
But when you offer it to Luca, Kaito magically has changed opinions. He's definetly not going to let Luca steal his opportunity to help you out and be your knight in shining amour. But he complains. ALL. THE. WHOLE. DAMN. TIME.
You reassure him it's just temporary.
When you clip the yellow tail on his pants it inmedately starts moving, making him scream. Again. "IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!" He spins around in panic. "It's moving on it's own! How is it moving! What is this witchery?! IT'S AN ANOMALOUS TAIL!"
Luca and you manage to calm him down.
"...It's ... It's... Okay, right?" He tatters. "People won't think I'm crazy, right?" He turns around himself trying to see the tail again. "Does- Does it fit me? How do I look?" He scratches his nape.
"Ridiculous." Romeo snaps behind him, making him shriek and run behind Luca. "What the hell you have attached to your back, Fuji?"
Before you can ever react, Kaito is running away, tail twitching nervously behind him, making the scene incredibly comical.
"HEY!" Romeo stops his foot on the floor. "Come back here, PDL! You own me money!" His hand reaches instinctively to the keychain in his waist where he wears his special artifact.
A few hours later, Leo has published a video on WichHive where you can see Kaito with a puffed tail running away from Romeo, who's shooting at him with his rifle. It goes viral.
The week seems endless for Kaito, who spends the day apologizing and overexplaining the situation to everyone. He becomes strangely quiet and shy during this time, trying to avoid noisy and crowded places as much as he can so his tail doesn't react. He curses Leo and his whole bloodline, promising a dreadful revenge on the influencer. But of course, his threats will never come true. He's too much of a coward for it and he knows it. Plus his tail seems to have an agenda of its own, twitching, wiggling and flicking furiously at everything, like reacting to his emotions.
At some point he starts to talk to his tail: "Okay, breathe... Tail, please, please. Be good... Uf... Ok. Good. Thank you."
By the end of the week he swears he has PTSD. But sometimes he misses the tail, because some girls called him cute while he was wearing it and asked him to pet it. Ok, you got him, maybe... MAYBE... He ended up liking it. JUST A LITTLE BIT, HUH?!
𝕍𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕞
𝒜𝓁𝒶𝓃 𝑀𝒾𝒹𝑜:
Alan already knows, of course. He's the captain of Vagastrom and is well aware of the mischief his ghouls and student generals get up to. The moment you approach him, holding that ridiculous little device in both hands like it's contraband, he knows his week is gonna be very, very long.
He doesn't say anything at first. He just stares at it: black and dark green fur, clip-on... Completely absurd. "Y/N" His voice is low and restrained. But he's not angry. "You don't have to. I can talk to Kurosagi to-."
He's surprised by your answer. "Please, Alan, please! I have to if I want to have him on a tail for a week too!"
He's reluctant, but the fire in your eyes convinces him. His jaw tighten as you explain to him the challenge, Leo's conditions and the alternatives you have.
"I see." That's the only thing he says before he reaches out and takes the tail from your hand. His fingers brush yours for half a second. He pauses, then - without thinking - rests his palm on top of your head. Like if he's saying: I've got your back. Your eyes shine in gratitude.
He clips it on and automatically starts to wiggle, responding to the deafening noise of Vagastrom's garage. Alan freezes, like if someone has a loaded gun against his spine.
Leo is laughing his ass off behind him. "OH MY GOD, YOU DID IT!" He takes a photo of his mortified captain. Alan can't do anything more than take a deep breathe. "Leo..." He warns. "One more word and I'll lock you in the Pit." The tail wiggles behind him, making him look like a mad big cat.
Sho just facepalms on the background.
By the end of the week, Alan is a legend among the students at Vagastrom. Fragile masculinity? What's that? Next time he sees Leo, he's gonna have a word or two with him... In the Pit.
𝒮𝒽𝑜 𝐻𝒶𝒾𝓏𝑜𝓃𝑜
"What's that?" He stares at the white tail you hold in front of him. After a few moments he understands everything. Sho doesn't even need further explanation, he already figured it all out by himself. "You serious, sempai?"
You just nod shyly, praying for him not to laugh in your face and tease you to death.
"Man... That guy's the worst." He sighs, running a hand through his hair. Then snorts. "Guess I'm a cat now, huh?" He clips it on and looks at the tail for a few moments before shrugging his shoulders. "Whatever. I've worn dumber stuff."
Leo is already recording with his phone and Sho cracks his knuckles. "Say a single word and I'll shove this thing down your throat." The tail lashes to the sides, reacting to his annoyed tone. "Oh, yeah, baby! This thing's got attitude!"
Then his hand reaches for Leo's hair and he walks out dragging Leo with him. "Bye, sempai!"
Alan is confused, but he doesn't ask.
Sho is considering keeping the tail at the end of the week. He says it gives him more expressiveness. After this, it's clear that Vagastrom doesn't know the meaning of the term "fragile masculinity."
Plot notes: Name of chapter based on "Let it go" lyrics.
MASTERLIST. / NEXT CHAPTER (Ongoing).
The north wind howled beneath a pitch-black sky. Stars danced across the sky amidst the lights of the aurora borealis. On the ground, between polished walls of ice, dance those who will one day hold the world in their hands. Welcome to Frostheim, where the hearts of the students are as cold as frost and anything goes as long as they win. The home of rough diamonds, born under the pressure of an inheritance many of them will never understand, destined for a greatness they believe they are ready for. How many of them truly deserve all that they possess? That's what Tien wonders, as she watches them twirl in the ballroom, draped in silk and velvet. If there had been even a trace of humility in that cursed room, it had been fumigated by the overwhelming stench that polluted the air. The unmistakable cacophony of fifty different designer perfumes, each one more expensive than the last. To call it overwhelming would be a gross understatement.
Viewed without context, the scene looked less like a late-night pastime for students and more like a courtly dance from the age of the great Western empires. And in part, it was exactly that. Among all those faces, Tien couldn't stop wondering: How many of them truly deserved the positions they held? The revulsion that thought provoked made her choke slightly on her champagne. She swallowed hard and schooled her expression into composure. They were watching her. There were always eyes on her – there always would be. As long as she bore the Kamurai name, the world would never look away, and the weight of that scrutiny was exhausting.
"You seem distracted, my queen. Is the evening not to your liking?"
Tohma's calm voice had always been, without fail, irritating. Her fists itched every time he opened his mouth. But Tien would be lying if she said Tohma wasn't reliable when it came to keeping Frostheim afloat. As much as she disliked his personality and his venomous tongue, he wasn't someone she could easily afford to do without. Every court needed a shemer, and Tohma Ishibashi fit that role perfectly. The power vacuum left by Jin's absence was too vast; no single person could keep all the snakes in that dormitory in check alone.
"I appreciate your interest, Ishibashi. But your concerns are unfounded, my good friend. The evening is proving delightful - perhaps even more than usual. With such pleasant company, who could possibly complain? Don't let such trifles spoil your caviar."
The sweetness of her words contrasted sharply with the almost vulgar way her pink lips circled the rim of the champagne glass and she downed it in one gulp. As a final flourish, she offered him a mocking smile, set the empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray and took another, sparing the man a glance. “Thank you.” She muttered, before turning her attention to Tohma again. "What a viper's nest,” she added quietly. “Remind me why I keep descending into Dante's Inferno instead of staying in my ivory tower." She swirled her glass, watching the ballroom doors ripple across the surface. Leaving – returning to the quiet comfort of her room - was an appealing thought.
"For things like what's about to happen, my lady." The malicious glint in Tohma’s eyes made her stomach tighten. Tien existed the urge to grimace as she followed his gaze.
“Vice-Captain,” she asked softly, “who are we observing?”
"Third year. General admission. Brown hair, blue Italian designer dress,” he murmured, barely moving his lips. “I'd say the color choice has ulterior motives, but she's missed the mark. Too indigo."
Tien scanned the room from right to left. It wasn't hard to find the only other blue dress in the room besides her own. "Oh."
There she was - body and soul, the embodiment of everything Tien loathed. Spoiled, steeped in money to the core. A French manicure and soft hands that had never had to carry anything heavier than a Louis Vuitton. Yumiko Sumitomo: only daughter of a business magnate, heir to an empire that would either collapse under her father’s financial schemes or crumble the moment it passed into her care. Tien's first thought was what Romeo would say if he saw her. The hairstyle clashed with the dress, and the cut and neckline were painfully unflattering. In her mind, she could already hear the Vice-Captain of Sinostra ranting in a thick Italian accent about how the accessories overwhelmed the rest of the outfit.
“Honestly. Where on earth is Jin?” Yumiko complained to one of her friends. “I really wanted to speak with him…”
Tohma and Tien exchanged a glance – brief, precise, laden with meaning. Quietly, they moved through the crowd, blending into a nearby group of students engaged in animated conversation. The group greeted them with visible respect, even enthusiasm, and welcomed them into the circle. Both Tohma and Tien feigned polite interest while listening intently to Yumiko, justifying their eavesdropping with the unspoken truth that anything involving Jin was very much their concern.
“Well, he hasn’t been seen at all lately, has he?” Another girl said. She wore green. “From what I hear, he hasn’t been on any missions for quite some time.”
“Oh my, how troubling,” Yumiko sighed. “I even ordered a dress all the way from Italy so we would match.”
Tien coughed softly into her hand and murmured to Tohma, “Poor choice.”
Tohma raised his gloved hand to conceal a smirk. “Poor taste.”
They shared a look of mutual disdain and fell silent again, nodding occasionally to maintain appearances in front of their subordinates.
“What on earth for?” Yumiko’s friend asked dismissively. “The space at both of Jin’s sides are already taken by Tohma and Tien, isn’t it? Besides, you should be careful. Blue is Tien’s color. You know that. It could get you into trouble. Tien is not known for benevolence toward her rivals.”
“I’m quite aware, thank you.” Yumiko replied smoothly. “My intention is far from trying to compete against our beloved former Vice-Captain over the influence she still holds. If anything, it is reassuring to know Jin has their support.”
Tien raised an eyebrow. The excuse was so flimsy it bothered on insulting.
“There seems to be an unshakeable bond of trust between the three of them.” Yumiko continued.
Her friend wisely attempted to steer the conversation away. Everyone in Frostheim knew blue was forbidden to women. Only Tien could wear it to balls – an unwritten but universally understood rule. Anyone else doing so was making a statement, and it could only be read in two ways: an ambition for Tien’s position, or an open bid for Jin’s attention. Neither was taken lightly.
The girl swallowed as her eyes flicked to the hem of Tien’s cobalt dress and quickly changed the subject, unwilling to make an enemy of the Queen of Frostheim. Yumiko, however, seemed incapable of letting the matter go.
“I was quite shocked by Jin’s behavior after his friend disgraced himself”, she said. “I heard it was a terrible blow for Tien as well. Some say – and I agree – that the emotional toll was simply too much. That is why she stepped down as Vice-Captain. Such a shame. She performed admirably. But filling Jin’s role? Who could truly manage that?”
The girl shook his head, sorrow quickly giving way to something sharper. “Then Tohma stepped in, almost as if it had been planned.”
A poor choice of words.
Tien felt Tohma shift beside her. She knew he would intervene.
“Well actually,” Yumiko continued, “from what I hear, Tohma helped Tien to clean up the mess that the Clash left up in Frosthein before she stepped down. And for Jin’s friend – he had something to do with his transfer to–”
“Good evening, I hope you’re enjoying the party. Oh? Yumiko, I didn’t know you were here.” Tohma’s lips curled upwards in a mocking smile.
His sudden appearance made Yumiko gasp and jump back. She'd been too outspoken and was now paying the price. The group of students nearby, the same ones Tien and Tohma had blended into, turned their heads toward her, and murmurs quickly arose among them. Although gossip was common in Frostheim, openly indulging in it was considered tasteless – proof of poor breeding and worse manners.
“I thought I heard my name just now.¡,” Tohma continued. “But it appears I was mistaken. Please, excuse me.”
Yumiko’s friend paled and tried to salvage the situation. “Oh–no. We were just – ”
“Discussing how unfortunate it is that Jin couldn’t join us this evening,” Yumiko cut in.
Tien took that as the cue to make her entrance and appeared behind Tohma. "I see." She placed one hand on her chest and held the hem of her dress with the other. With a graceful gesture, she curtsied herself, befitting royalty. "As the bearer of his name, I offer my deepest apologies.” Tien straightened her back before continuing. “Our captain is very busy and is feeling unwell.”
“Can we help with anything?” Tohma asked politely.
“We’re quite all right, thank you!” Yumiko rushed to answer. “Please, give our regards to Jin.”
“We certainly will.” Tohma adjusted his tie as his shrewd eyes fixed on Yumiko’s appearance. “Oh? Yumiko, you look a little pale. Are you feeling unwell?”
“No? Quite the opposite, in fact.” She stuttered.
“Is that so? I assumed you must be feeling quite anxious.” Tohma stifled a giggle. “I heard that your father might step down from his post at Saionji Trading next fiscal year.”
Yumiko went pale. “H-How do you know that?!”
“Just a vicious rumor, I’m sure.” Tohma couldn't contain his laughter this time. Beside him, Tien hid a smile behind her glass. “After all,” he continued. “An executive wouldn’t resign unless they’d been involved in some sort of major scandal.”
Yumiko lifted the hem of her dress and turned on her heels. “I really must get going.”
Tohma quickly cut off her retreat. “Yumiko. Don’t tell me that rings a bell?” His expression shifted to one of fake empathy. “You poor thing.” He took her by the arms and gave them a light squeeze. “If you’re in trouble, perhaps I could be of some assistance?”
Yumiko became visibly nervous and quickly made an excuse to shake the Vice-Captain off. Tohma looked ready to devour her alive, but a light touch to his shoulder dissuaded him from continuing his attack.
“I think that will be all for tonight.”
Tien, who had remained silent through most of the exchange between Tohma and Yumiko, decided she had indulged that circus long enough. Her clear voice rang through the ballroom, effortlessly commanding attention.
“Dear comrades of Frostheim,” she continued, “on behalf of our captain, I thank you for attending this evening. Your presence—and your active participation in the affairs of our honorable house—are what make us great.”
She stepped away from the corner she had occupied and ascended the stage where a small orchestra had been playing. The musicians fell silent the moment her heels crossed onto the polished platform.
“At this, our inaugural school dance,” Tien said, “allow me to take a moment of your time to share a message.”
She paused—not out of hesitation, but intention—ensuring every gaze in the room was fixed upon her.
“Following the tragic events of last year, I sincerely wish for peace and reconciliation as we begin this new chapter of our education at our beloved Darkwick Academy.”
All eyes were on her.
All except Yumiko’s.
The girl was already striding toward the ballroom doors, her steps hurried and uneven. Tien did not allow herself the indulgence of triumph and continued without faltering.
“Just as we once were, we must again stand as examples of integrity, discipline, and diligence. Let us not allow the shadow of conflict to scorch our hearts. We must look to the future.”
She raised her glass.
“No matter what difficulties lie ahead, we will shine above the darkness of our fears. We will erase doubt from our minds.”
Her voice swelled with conviction, resonating against the icy walls.
Then—
A sharp clink echoed through the hall, coming from the silver chain that hung from her hip, just above her skirt.
In the next instant, Tien was holding her trident—her special artifact—in one hand, the champagne glass still poised in the other.
“Let us not allow anything,” she said evenly, “or anyone, to sow conflict again. Not within Frostheim. Not beyond it.”
That was all it took. Yumiko pushed through the ballroom doors and vanished.
“Let us make a difference once more,” Tien continued, lifting her trident higher, “and guide our peers—members of other houses included—toward the tomorrow we all aspire to. Not with superiority, but as our captain, Jin Kamurai, would.”
She came to a deliberate halt and raised the trident above her head.
“With leadership. And with sincere passion. And when our journey here ends—only the stars will stand above us.”
“Hear, hear!” Tohma raised his glass and drank.
The room erupted into applause and cheers.
Later, as the students filtered out toward their quarters, Tohma stopped Tien with a quiet gesture.
“I see you’re still as charismatic as ever, my lady.”
TOKYO DEBUNKER - Unknown references 1. - Taiga Hoshibami theory.
Canonically, we know—and can even deduce it without consulting the wiki—that several characters in Tokyo Debunker are based on various popular anime series. Here are the obvious and confirmed ones:
His character is heavily inspired by Gojo Satoru from animanga series, Jujutsu Kaisen. - Professor Hyde, Tokyo Debunker Wiki.
His character, especially the color-coding of both character's emotions, may be based off of the character Koro-sensei from the animanga series, Assasination Classroom. - Professor Moby, Tokyo Debunker Wiki.
His character is heavily inspired by Zenitsu Agatsuma from the animanga series, Demon Slayer. - Kaito Fujo, Tokyo Debunker Wiki.
The HUNDRED DEVOURING FAMILIES, also known as the MOMOBAMI CLAN, are a conglomerate of various branch families that are distantly related to eachother. Most of them are very wealthy as well as hold a fair amoung of influence over politics of the entire nation. Their surnames end with the suffix "-BAMI" witch mean "DEVOURING" in Japanese. This clan appears are are characters in the animanga series Kakegurui.
THEIR BRANCHES AND THEIR SPECIALITIES:
Jabami = Snake devourers. - Gambling.
Totobami = Rank devourers. - Peacekeeping between clan branches.
Inbami = Shadow devourers. - Poisons.
Yobami = Sun devourers. - Medication.
Honebami = Bone devourers / bone smasher. - Cleaning-uo troubles.
Mushibami = Insect devourers. - Torturing.
Warakubami = Joy devourers. - Entretainment.
Obami = Tail devourers. - Swindling.
Komabami = Unknown. - Unknown.
Tsuibami = Final devourers. - Financing.
Momobami = Peach devourers. - Clan leaders.
Batsubami = Banished devourers - Banished members of the clan.
Kakegurui sinopsis: At Hyakkaō Private Academy, millionaire students enjoy certain benefits due to their more developed skills and intelligence, while the rest suffer from the problems of those of low status and their lack of strategy in gambling games. The students' ages range from 16 to 18 years old.
Kakegurui means compulsive gambler.
Taiga's surname, Hoshibami, means star eater / star devourer. It seems like quite a coincidence that the character addicted to gambling, adrenaline, and who is not afraid of risk, has such a distinctive last name with the suffix "-bami".
Personally, I believe he's based on this series. And you could even write a good fanfic about Taiga being part of Hyakkaō Academy before going to Darkwick, since the ages do match up. In Darkwick, the characters seem to be between 21 and 25 years old (from first to third year). We deduce this because characters like Ritsu and Yuri have professions they can practice, and for that, they need degrees. Furthermore, characters like Romeo have owned or still own companies and businesses.
Let's start with the most obvious thing: Romeo and Taiga are looking in opposite directions, while Ritsu is standing with his arms crossed in the center. However, Ritsu is on the same side as Romeo, while Taiga is on the opposite side.
There are two factions in Sinostra at odds with each other; those loyal to Romeo and those loyal to Taiga - Episode 16: The City Of Ill Omens. (Sinostra House - Wiki).
Each one leads a faction opposed to the other. But Ritsu is in the middle; he is neutral, supporting neither Romeo nor Taiga. Also he's trying to make them work together.
The reason Ritsu is next to Romeo in the same direction has to do with what the characters think of each other:
Ritsu about Taiga and Romeo: "I have come to the conclusion that it is futile to try to change the violent behavior of the captain, Taiga Hoshibami, as well as the vice captain, Romeo Scorpius Lucci. From now on, I will defend them and certainly win the Laurel Crown."
Romeo about Ritsu and Taiga: "I'm fed up with my boss. No matter how often I say the same thing, it's a WOE. Ha? "Waste" "of" "effort" obviously. Then, as for Shinjo, I'll be giving him a thorough education from now on, and we'll see how he turns out."
Taiga about Romeo and Ritsu: "Lulu gets so angry every day, I could never get bored of it~ ...Ah~? Shinjo? Who the fuck is that?
Romeo has high hopes for Ritsu, while Taiga doesn't even seem to remember him. This explains why Romeo and Ritsu are in similar positions. Furthermore, we can see that their outfits (Romeo and Ritsu) are more alike; they are both more formal and have similar pieces: ties, jackets with buttoned cuffs, vests, and so on.
Another important detail is the background of the image. We can see many playing cards, but only three are visible.
Taiga, the reversed King of Hearts: This represents a kind-hearted, honest, and spiritual man, someone who is in love or deeply loves another person and is healing a broken heart, or someone who can't stop thinking about another. However, being reversed also means he is a man of dubious intentions, and caution is advised around him. However, he is a leader, a patriarch (he is technically the leader of the mafia that is Sinostra) and a great protector (He protects Romeo). This makes sense given Taiga's erratic yet protective behavior. - In a flashback during Episode 22: Who Killed Robin? Act II, Elias says "You wouldn't know it to look at him, but Taiga's a sensitive soul. Maybe he's just waiting for someone who truly believes in him."
Ritsu, the Jack of Spades: Symbolizes a young, astute person who is ready to overcome any obstacle and is confident in their abilities. They trust their quick mind. But it is also the lowest-ranking card among the three: Taiga is the king (captain), Romeo is the queen (vice-captain), and Ritsu has no rank, but is important for being the third ghoul of Sinostra, therefore he is the jack.
Romeo, the Queen of Diamonds: Represents stability, security, and a focus on material things. It is associated with perseverance, dedication, and the ability to achieve goals and objectives. In the financial sphere, it suggests being realistic and practical when making decisions, as well as creative in finding new solutions. It predicts a period of economic stability and financial success, but advises prudence in managing money.
As for the background, we can see more things. The closer we get to Romeo, the more gold coins there are, while next to Taiga there's nothing but the roulette wheel (remember, his card is Wheel of Fortune). Ritsu only has one coin nearby, and he was the Knight of Pentacles. Meanwhile, Romeo, the King of Pentacles, is the one with the most coins nearby.
Turning to Romeo's attire, we can also observe the details: It's clear he comes from a wealthy bourgeois family, as he refers to others as "Nouveau Riche." The purple (of his eyes) is associated with royalty. Another element that connects Romeo's past as the heir to a rich family is the fleur-de-lis around his neck. The fleur-de-lis symbolizes purity, nobility, power, and perfection. It also appears on the coat of arms of Florence (Italy, Romeo's birthplace) and represents the Holy Trinity in Christianity (there are three ghouls in Sinostra).
Ritsu is the only one who's gaze is fully focused, he's fully determined. And he's the only one we know what he wants: To win for Sinostra the Laurel Crown, defend the reputation of Sinostra, Romeo and Taiga. He wants to succeed to prove himself that his abilites and himself are at the same height as his father's.
EDIT POST-REVIEW OF THE IMAGE: We can see that Taiga has his arms crossed behind his head, that's a familiar gesture/posture that we have seen in the character before. Often acompained with a non-chalant facial expression, but in this case, he looks deep in thought or even sad. Maybe indicating that his attitude is merely a façade. He's probably thinking about both the past (maybe what happened during The Clash and something that has to do with Romeo and Hyde) and the future (Romeo's and his plan to frame and kill Hyde in revenge for what he did to Romeo).
Meanwhile, Romeo is also deep in thought, but he seems more determined, more focused. He has something in mind, maybe his plan to end off Hyde or something else, related with economic matters.
A/N: Please excuse any mistakes in my writing in English; it's not my native language. I also don't have extensive, let alone professional, knowledge of Japanese culture and history. Everything I've written is based on the anime canon and information I've researched online to the best of my ability. I don't know how reliable all the sources I've consulted are, especially those on mythology, which vary greatly. Sorry if anything doesn't fit with strict Demon Slayer canon.
Characters: OC (Momo).
Content warnings: death, angst.
Plot notes: There will be references to the lore of the Ghibli Studio film "Princess Mononoke" (1997). Much of Momo's lore is based on that.
MASTERLIST. / PART 1.
After the last tear fell from her eyes, Momo straightened her back and turned to what was left of her people. Her paws, stained in mud, trembled as she walked among them. “Our friends have sacrificed themselves to give us another chance to live. Fifty of us have managed to escape.” Momo’s heart ached when she said the number out loud, and her sight went numb again with unshed tears. She clenched her teeth and bit her tongue, refusing to cry again. That wasn’t time for being weak. Her people needed her. “We are the only ones left. Nobody will come to help us.” Some animals and spirits lowered their heads. The truths she spoke were setting their moral lower, if that was possible. Momo looked to a side, those weren’t the words she would have liked to tell her people. “But… I say: This is not time to mourn.” She made a virtue of necessity. Laments and sobs would not save her people. She needed to take action. “This is time to fight! Time to thrive in adversity! No more running!” Momo leaped onto one of the ancient statues in the ruined temple. The wet, mossy surface was slippery beneath her paws, causing her to nearly fall face first onto the ground. Digging her claws in as best she could, she managed to steady herself and continue her speech. “There will be no place to run if we lose this new temple. This place, ruined and abandoned as it is, will be our last stand.” The animals' gazes around her were still dislocated and broken with the shock of the night, but behind the shadow of the trauma, a spark of hope lighted up. “I say: NOT A STEP BACK!” Momo screamed as she spread her six tails behind her like banners. “I say: We will thrive here or fall! But this time, whatever happens, we will FIGHT!” The animals and spirits began to emerge from the shock and fear, whispering words of support and agreement. “Humans are not friends anymore! They are the FOE!”
“They are our enemies!” “Murderers!” “Traitors!” A bunch of mice screamed at her feet. “War!” A raccoon spirit yelled, raising a stick. “TO WAR!” “War against humans!” Others of his kind chored.
“They will be treated as what they are!” Momo barked. The forest beasts roared and squeaked furiously. “Humans won’t be allowed anymore in our kingdom. We will close the borders of the forest! Nobody goes out and nobody comes in. This will be our last stand! We won't die without taking as many enemies with us as we can!”
At Momo’s paws, the small crowd cheered. She took a deep breath, feeling relieved by seeing her people having hope again. She managed to give them a reason to keep going, to live. Maybe the end was near for all of them, but at least now they could face it with honour. She raised her eyes to the treetops, the sunlight was starting to slip through the gaps. The dawn was there. Her eyes closed to let her feel the soft morning breeze against her fur. Something in her instinct told her that things were about to change for better. When she opened her eyes, Momo felt renewed, as if she was given a second chance at life. For the first time in a long time, she felt hope in her heart.
She jumped from the statue, landing among her followers. “My friends! My brothers and sisters! There’s no time to lose! Let 's get started. We have a long way to go before we can call this a home.”
The crowd cheered again. “Hear! Hear!” “Momo-sama, tell us what to do!” “We are not done in this world yet!” “Momo-sama, lead us!” Their voices gave her enough strength to smile. She turned to the temple and sit as she tilted her head to the side, analysing the situation. After a moment, she got up again and started giving orders. “We need to clean this place. Fix the windows and the roof. The rest of you, go hunt, gather food!”
At the end of the day, there was still a ton of work to do. The temple was old and it had been abandoned a long time ago. But at least it wasn’t completely ruined. At least they were able to fill the holes and gaps on the roof and floor with mud and twigs and the floor was more or less clean. For the night, they made beds with hay and leaves. All the survivors entered the temple no matter their size and they tried to snuggle together the best they could. They didn’t have much, but it was enough as long as they had each other.
The next days were as exhausting as the night they escaped their forest. The smallest creatures with the most skillful hands worked tirelessly to make the abandoned temple as welcoming and decent a place as possible. The task was arduous: mold, moss, and nasty bugs were everywhere. Not to mention the dust, dirt, and dried leaves accumulated in the corners. Some of the floorboards and ceiling were rotten. Momo looked up and thanked the Shinto gods that the temple beams were still sound and would last another century or two, because they were made of good wood. The worms and damp hadn't yet taken their toll.
Momo patrolled the edge of the forest to familiarize herself with her new surroundings while the sun was high. She located several small villages near the forest. Humans were thriving at an alarming rate. "It's still early, but in less than a hundred years they might start venturing into the forest to search for iron mines." Her claws scraped the ground. "These humans and their dark ambitions. They don't know how to take without destroying." She stood there, patiently counting each and every human she could see. "Less than a hundred. Not a large number. But they can cause trouble if we're not careful." Her tails twitched nervously. "Is what they say true?" She said, looking at the sun. "Have you also turned your backs on us, like the humans have?" Momo wanted to scream, shout, and demand answers from the gods. She wanted to glare at Heaven for letting its subjects suffer such cruel ends, but her heart wouldn't let her. With resignation, Momo looked at the ground. She knew she wouldn't get answers. "We will not fall," she said to herself like a promise. "And if the Light has abandoned us, then we will grow strong among the Shadows." With that, Momo retreated into the forest.
Mononoke. Chapter 1. "Last One Standing." (Momo & Muzan).
A/N: Please excuse any mistakes in my writing in English; it's not my native language. I also don't have extensive, let alone professional, knowledge of Japanese culture and history. Everything I've written is based on the anime canon and information I've researched online to the best of my ability. I don't know how reliable all the sources I've consulted are, especially those on mythology, which vary greatly. Sorry if anything doesn't fit with strict Demon Slayer canon.
Characters: OC (Momo) and Muzan (Mentioned).
Content warnings: death, angst.
Plot notes: There will be references to the lore of the Ghibli Studio film "Princess Mononoke" (1997). Much of Momo's lore is based on that.
MASTERLIST.
Time brings change. In turn, change brings conflict. Conflict brings suffering. Suffering brings sacrifice. And sacrifice means death. In 15th-century Japan, the so-called Muromachi Period (1336–1573) took place, a time of intense industrial and cultural transformation that brought the natural world of ancient spirits and the human-dominated industrial world into conflict. Humans advanced, leaving behind the spirits they once feared and revered. Amid the bright flames of progress, a new sentiment appeared in human hearts and spread like a disease, helping humanity overcome its fear of the unknown and the sacred. This was ambition, the irrepressible desire to control everything within its reach and destroy everything that would not bow to its rise. Feelings and instincts like these ones made humans not very different from demons. What made sense, since it was the former that engendered the latter.
The shadows of death loomed over life. The spirits vanished with their forests in the wake of human iron. And among humans, their darkest creations began to move, as hungry for power and world domination as their progenitors. With the rise of humanity came the retreat of the faerie beings, who ascended golden stairways into infinity when they heard their names called from the clouds. The time had come; the age of the gods was over. But the Heavens have not yet claimed the lives of their spirit children. Not all of them. Some, hidden from human sight, clinged to what remains of their realms, refusing to perish. They remained, hoping that one day they will once again walk alongside the humans who once worshipped them. Or perhaps, over their corpses. If our protagonist shared something with the rest of the main characters of this story, it was their stubborn desire to survive. And they'll do anything to avoid the eternal dream.
Muzan had given his all to live. His entire existence revolved around a single idea: to prevail, above everything and everyone. His body would never know the cold embrace of the earth, and he would run over anyone who stood in his way to achieve that goal. And like him, others, hungry for power and fearful of death, followed him along the path of shadows toward victory or hell.
Momo was also ready to give her everything. When the Heavens opened to call all their messengers back, Momo and her people decided not to take the path of salvation. They rejected the call of the Gods and clung to the hope that they could continue living in harmony with humans, refusing to accept that the time of the great spirits had come to an end with the arrival of industrialization. Out of honor, out of blind faith in their former mortal friends, or out of love for their people, those lesser spirits who would not enjoy the call of the gods nor know salvation, a few celestial kitsunes set out to walk the dark paths of disillusionment and death. Like good captains, they led the way, prepared to go down with their ships. The Gods would only call their names again once their physical forms had vanished. When there was no more magic left in that world that had turned against them.
At first, they attempted dialogue, and those were the first to fall. Those who succeeded them decided to entrench themselves in their forests, take under their protection those who managed to run away from the other devastated kingdoms, and create sanctuaries. To prevail for as long as they could. Humans were now enemies; hopes of returning to those days of prosperity and veneration vanished as the forest kingdoms fell silent one after another. The bodies of their kin piled up by the thousands. The luckiest ones faded to dust. Others went mad from the effect of the iron contaminating their bodies. Those who hid, lacking magic, were hunted for their meat and furs. Those who lived, fled, praying that the neighboring kingdom would hold out a little longer.
With the rise of the Dark Lord Muzan, humans organized themselves into the Demon Slayer Corps. But these katana-wielding humans didn't always kill demons.
“No! Please! We're not demons! Stop!” – Momo screamed helplessly as the katana cut through her palms, refusing to attack the demon slayer. Momo had never killed a human. Not even when they deserved it.
"We won't fall for your tricks, you evil fox! You and your little monsters attacked that village!" the human shouted, already covered in the blood of innocent foxes.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry... Please. It wasn't us. This isn't the temple you're looking for! We have nothing to do with it. My foxes and I are good people, we protect humans." Faced with a refusal to kill, Momo could only kneel and beg for mercy for her people. "Please! Please don't kill him. He hasn't done anything wrong to anyone. He's never met humans, he's never even stolen a chicken!" Momo yelled at another of the men who had broken into her temple. He had a fox's tail crushed and was about to cut off the animal's head, as it squealed desperately. "NO!" She fell to her knees as she watched the head of her last subject roll away. Her golden eyes were wide open, unable to even cry. Her white fur and clothes were stained with the blood that had splattered. Unaware of the katana hovering over her neck, Momo looked down at her hands. "Why? What have we done to you to deserve this? We have never been cruel or indolent toward your prayers. My people have been generous to yours since the sun rose over these lands. Why, dear humans? Have you forgotten all we have given you? Everything you asked for: health, prosperity, crops, and protection. Was it not enough? Why do you want our blood? You will achieve nothing with it."
The slayer hesitated for a second, but one of his companions shouted at him. "Don't hesitate! Foxes are clever! They'll create illusions to confuse us and turn us against each other. Never trust a kitsune, no matter how white its fur is!" Resigned, Momo closed her eyes, accepting her fate while reciting a silent prayer to the gods. Praying that there would be enough room in Heaven for all her animals. Asking for forgiveness, for not having been able to protect the forest. Until…
"You must live, Momo-sama." A monkey spirit leaped onto the slayer's face, whose sword slipped from his hands, sparing Momo’s life. "Live to avenge us! Monkey brothers, boar brothers for our fox brothers! Let us avenge the death of our friends! We must let Momo-sama escape."
Stones and sticks flew from the trees as the monkeys fell upon the temple attackers. "Run, Momo-sama! Save yourself! Our kingdom will not have perished if you live! Take those who are left and leave!"
Momo, on the ground, shaken by the massacre and her friend’s sacrifice, was unable to move until a boar charged at her to save her from another attack. The poor animal was impaled on a spear. "Momo-sama, save the spirits." The boar spat blood and squealed once more before dying. Sore from the blow, but with renewed energy, Momo shed her heaviest clothes and ran through the forest until she could no longer maintain her human form. Then, she ran like a fox. Those who could followed her along the paths.
They didn't notice when they reached another forest, or when they passed through the gates of another temple. The screams and roars of their friends and family were still fresh in everyone's memory. Some thought they could still hear those left behind dying at the hands of humans. Safe and far away, the animals and spirits of the forest huddled by Momo's tails, staring at where their home had once been, until their fine ears stopped hearing the sounds of battle. Then everything fell silent, as if the world mourned the fall of another magical kingdom, and they all wept soundlessly. They lowered their heads and ears until they almost touched the floor of the abandoned temple. This was a sign of respect for those who had given their lives for theirs. Once hundreds, there were barely fifty left. A tanuki—a raccoon yokai—with a little more strength than the rest, found a voice to intone a short farewell prayer while clasping its paws in front of its prominent belly.
The survivors of the massacre clung to one another. And those who had no one to cling to hugged their tails and wept into their fur until it was soaked like a rainy spring day.
"Not all heroes are innocent. Not all villains are guilty." - Momo. (850 a.C - ???)
A/N: Please excuse any mistakes in my writing in English; it's not my native language. I also don't have extensive, let alone professional, knowledge of Japanese culture and history. Everything I've written is based on the anime canon and information I've researched online to the best of my ability. I don't know how reliable all the sources I've consulted are, especially those on mythology, which vary greatly. Sorry if anything doesn't fit with strict Demon Slayer canon.
Characters: OC (Momo), Muzan, Kokushibo, Douma, Akaza, and other characters (in this fanfic, the Pillars, protagonists of the anime, and other characters related to the Demon Slayer Corps are generally secondary). I'll announce which characters appear in each part as the occasion arises.
Content warnings: This fanfic will be somewhat chaotic and will likely have its own extensive lore to properly introduce Momo's character. The interaction between Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan is explored tangentially; there may be some NSFW chapters that will be marked as such. The rest is as per the series: lots of blood, lots of drama, lots of traumatized characters.
Plot notes: There will be references to the lore of the Ghibli Studio film "Princess Mononoke" (1997). Much of Momo's lore is based on that.
"Mononoke" (物の怪) is a Japanese word that is not a proper noun, but a general description of a vengeful spirit, ghost, monster, or supernatural being that appears in Japanese folklore, often blamed for unexplained causes such as illness or death. In the Studio Ghibli film, it literally translates as "The Princess of Vengeful Spirits," though it is commonly used as the title of the work. In this fanfic, the word used as the title has this meaning.
This post was made while I was laughing over cute endearing moments over the characters eating and liking food. Specially Sasha.
The second young man did not speak, but deposited his armload of firewood, swallowed his cake, and went to kneel before the icons in the corner opposite the door. Now he crossed himself, stood, and kissed the image of the Virgin. “Praying again, Sasha?”
DID YOU KNOW? That the famous honey cakes they eat during are called pryanik. Nowadays are made often with ginger, but originally they were made with honey, rye flour and berry juice. And were known as simply honey cakes, because the name literally means honey cake.
Later, since the XII century, spices were added to the recipe, thanks to the comercial rutes with Eastern regions.
This cakes are so popular that they are included in proverbs like: "You can't buy pryanik without working" and "Go buy a pryanik" (this last means "well done").
Here you have some scenes of people liking honeycakes, and our favourite saint eating. Somehow I find it funny, cute and cozzy at the same time.
╰⊱⭐⊱╮꧁ ꧂╭⊱⭐≺
“What goings-on, Dunya?” Sasha inquired. He had come into the kitchen in time to hear the tirade.
“Vasya,” said Olga succinctly, and told the story of the honeycakes and her sister’s escape into the forest.
Sasha laughed. “Well, Vasya will come back when she gets hungry,” he said, and turned to more important matters. “Is that pike in the stew, Dunya?”
╰⊱⭐⊱╮꧁ ꧂╭⊱⭐≺
The children had been led away, and Varvara had sent off the waiting-women. Soup came, steaming. Sasha swallowed it and asked for more.
╰⊱⭐⊱╮꧁ ꧂╭⊱⭐≺
Sasha sighed when the heat touched his weary limbs.
Dmitrii also sighed, unhappily, when he saw the meal laid out. He would have liked
some fat meat, roasted slowly in a hot oven. But Sergius observed fast-days strictly.
“Best we strengthen the walls first,” said Sasha, pushing aside his second bowl of
cabbage soup, “before we go out searching.”
╰⊱⭐⊱╮꧁ ꧂╭⊱⭐≺
A honeycake (bought from a glorious stall all wreathed in steam) restored Solovey’s good humor.
How to set up an Icon Corner at Home? - The Winternight Trilogy explains:
The second young man did not speak, but deposited his armload of firewood, swallowed his cake, and went to kneel before the icons in the corner opposite the door. Now he crossed himself, stood, and kissed the image of the Virgin. “Praying again, Sasha?” said Kolya with cheerful malice. “Pray the snow comes gently, and Father not catch cold.”
The young man shrugged slim shoulders. He had wide, grave eyes, thick-lashed as a girl’s. “I do pray, Kolya,” he said. “You might try it yourself.” He padded to the oven and peeled off his damp stockings. The pungent stink of wet wool joined the general smell of mud and cabbage and animals. Sasha had spent his day with the horses. Olga wrinkled her nose.
In past times, every Orthodox family's home would always have a shelf with icons located in the most visible place. This was known as the front corner, the beautiful corner, the icon corner, holy corner, God's place.
This corner was opposite to the front door and was the first thing you would see when entering the home. It was a way of reminding them of their beliefs and the commands they had to follow acording to their religion.
The essential icons (the must-have in religious terms) where: The Savior and the Mother of God, an image of Lord Jesus Christ and the Theotokos (Mother of God)
THE WINTERNIGHT TRILOGY from the perspective of ALEKSANDR PERESVET.
CHAPTER 1. - The boy and the angel.
We all know the relationship of Vasya and the frost demon Morozko, as well as the story of Konstantin with the devouring demon Medved. The most influential and relevant characters in this saga have always had a supernatural companion… All except Sasha. But what if Aleksandr Peresvet had never been alone, what if instead of a pagan demon he had had an angel from Heaven?
It was a warm, bright morning in Lesnaya Zemlya at the beginning of the warm season. A child's cry echoed through Pyotr Vladimirovich's estate in the first light of dawn. The mistress of the land, Marina Ivanovna, had given birth to her second son. ‘His name will be Aleksandr.’ Marina said with a smile. ‘He was born at dawn.’ Pyotr murmured proudly. ‘It's a good omen.’
The morning light warmed the room as it streamed through the window. Then a small breeze blew in, caressing the black locks on the newborn's head. Marina, who had a little magic, thought she heard a voice say to the baby, ‘You will bring The Light into the world, little one.’ Marina's gaze remained fixed on her son's cradle and she thought she saw someone stroking the child and smiled.
Between the felt and woollen blankets, Sasha opened her eyes to the world for the first time and marvelled at the light of it. Turning her head, she was met head-on by a pair of silver eyes staring unblinkingly at her. Beside him in the cradle was a little girl, with pale hair and wings on her back. All children are supposed to cry at birth, but Sasha pulled the corners of her mouth up and laughed. That seemingly meaningless gesture gave hope to Pyotr Vladimirovich, who said proudly, ‘This one is special, Marina. Our son will be great.’ His large hands, hardened by the use of sword and axe, cradled the newborn. ‘Love the world, little Sasha, the world will reciprocate.’
Years later, two children were running through the wheat fields. ‘Wait for me, Zadira!’ Pyotr Vladimirovich's second son shouted to the winged girl. She turned to him and stuck out her tongue. ‘Let me think about it… No.’ She kept running towards the river until she stopped on the bank. But the boy was going too fast and his long legs wouldn't let him slow down. With a ‘chof’ the two ended up on top of each other in the river.
‘Clumsy.’ Zadira laughed at Sasha and splashed water at him with her wings.
Shielding himself from the attack with his arms, the boy approached his guardian angel while she was distractedly flapping furiously over the surface of the river to get him wet. And when he was close enough, he wrapped his arms around her, restraining her movement. ‘I've got you.’
‘Let go of me, human!’ shrieked Zadira kicking at the air. She blushed like a human maiden as Sasha carried her like a bride towards the riverbank. Sasha let out a playful giggle and prodded her angel in the side to tease her. The girl squealed again and the two of them scampered off again. - Someday I'll be so fast and so agile that you'll have to run after me -thought the boy as he shook the water out of his hair.
Sasha and Zadira grew up and learned together without anyone seeing them, as the angel was only visible to him. She instilled in him a curiosity to explore, a love of freedom and devotion to God.
‘Isn't she beautiful?’ Zadira asked him as she braided the mane of a mare. This one had a tame character, had been born the same year as Sasha and was named Mysh. Pyotr had promised his second son that he would ride her when she was old enough. And that day was not far off. Sasha was growing at a good pace, he had always been a tall and healthy boy, like a young oak tree. Though he was not as broad and stocky as his older brother, Kolya. Normally, Sasha was enthusiastic when his father let him look after the horses. That day, however, he was subdued and seemed absent.
‘Yes, beautiful.’ Replied the boy with a distracted air as he brushed the mare's right side with some reluctance. Zadira had her wings spread over the beast's shoulders and was sitting on the withers. In an oversight, Sasha didn't see where her hand was going and ended up combing the angel's plumage. Zadira ruffled her feathers and retracted her wings, disgusted by the rough texture of the brush's bristles. She looked like an angry owl. ‘Sorry.’ He dropped the brush onto the hay in the stable and hurried to take the angel in his arms. His brow was furrowed, he'd been making a lot of mistakes doing his homework lately and it frustrated him. He hadn't been able to fully concentrate on anything for a while.
‘It's okay.’ She shook her head, taking the heat off the matter. ‘You've been distracted lately, Sasha. Is something wrong?’
‘Mother's pregnant again, she'll be due in the winter. She keeps saying she's fine, but I've overheard Dunya talking to father and the old woman fears the worst. Mother is too thin and old to bring children into the world. I know that is the duty of women and yet…’ Sasha pressed Zadira's body to her chest in a helpless gesture. ‘I fear for her life, Zara. I love the baby. But every time I think of my mother giving her life for my brother's or sister's, my heart shrinks.’
‘It's normal.’ She muttered. ‘It's your mother. You care for her.’
Distressed, the child pressed his cheeks against the plumage of his divine protector and two tears fell from his eyes.
In early November, with the first snowfall, Marina gave birth to a baby girl and her soul was reunited with her ancestors at dawn. The news was colder than the winter that was closing in on the ranch. The pain of the loss of that good and vivacious woman, who had been wife, mistress and mother, nestled deep in the hearts of the family she had left behind. So deep were its roots, that it blossomed into bitter resentment towards the wretched creature who would never know her mother except through the stories others would tell of her. Especially in Pyotr and his daughter Olga. The girl, barely eight years old, loved baby Vasya like the children she dreamed of having in the future. But a part of her bled at the thought that it was that tiny green-eyed being who had taken her mother away from her.
At the funeral, as many tears were shed as snowflakes fell from the sky. Amidst the grief-stricken crowd, the second son of Pyotr and Marina held Zadira tightly to his chest. The daughter of God did not move throughout the ceremony and was indulgent in letting Sasha drench her wings with his sadness.
Did you know that Sasha has a film? The animation is quite bad, but I think that frame by frame (as drawings) it's a work of art. If you watch the film, you will never imagine the Winternight trilogy scenarios the same.
I don't know how accurate is all historically, but since it was made by Russians (by the Ministry of Culture and the Patriarch of Moscow), I don't think it to be a mess like Gladiator.
He wanted to demand promises, pledges, confessions, if only to delay the realization that there were some things he couldn’t change. But he bit back the words. He knew they wouldn’t do any good. She had survived the frost and the flame, had found a harbor, however brief. Perhaps that was all anyone could ask, in the world’s savage turning.
"We shall wed her to MOROZKO, the lord of winter. Can any maiden ask for a finer or richer bridegroom? Why, he is master of the white snow, the black firs, and the silver frost! [...] Some say he is naught but a cold, crackling breeze whispering among the firs. Others say he is an old man in a sledge, with bright eyes and cold hands. Others say he is like a warrior in his prime, but robed all in white, with weapons of ice. No one knows."
The cold man—the frost-demon—stood in the center of the room, and at least she could look at him. His dark, unruly hair hung to his shoulders. The sardonic face might have belonged to a youth of twenty or a warrior of fifty. Unlike every other man Vasya had ever seen, he was clean-shaven—perhaps that was what gave his face the odd note of youthfulness. Certainly his eyes were old. When she looked into them, she thought, I did not know anything could be that old and live. (x,x)
