Day 8-Free Day: Reiji x Tsukikage (covenantshipping)
A family outing. I can’t get over how underrated Tsukikage is and this ship. There’s a trust between them and I think they deserve someone they can each rely on.
I was really upset with the lack of Tsukikage in ships so I just shipped Tsukikage with all the Lancers + 2 other ships I like. I really like Tsukikage okay?
Nothing much to say here. I like this one too. Bit of AU around/right before the time that Roger loses his mind and abducts Yuzu, only to get curbstomped by our favorite scarf nerd.
"Tsukikage," Reiji murmured over their comms, "I give you leave to finish these people off."
The Obelisk Force soldiers gaped and guffawed at their prey, seemingly not believing their luck in this four-on-two Battle Royale, but Tsukikage felt no fear or wonder; he just smirked.
"As you say, Reiji-dono."
Twenty seconds later his ace monster had all four men on the ground, writhing, twitching, but down for the count.
He glanced around, checking for any more; finding none, he quickly moved to his superior's side, leaping from debris to pillar until they stood just out of reach of other foes.
"What direction is our next one?" he asked.
There was a manic yell from the hallway that had both their heads jerking in the direction of the main meeting room the Lancers had once used to appeal to the Council. It sounded like the source of all their recent troubles was attempting to make his escape.
Sure enough, Reiji turned his attention to that shout, swiftly and precisely.
"Roger has made his play," he said. "Taking Hiiragi Yuzu was a desperate move, but also an inevitable one, because he needed some bargaining chip to crystallize his power. The uprising of the Commons--"
"--has given us an opportunity to strike," Tsukikage finished for him, as he refastened the duel disk on his own arm. "One that we may not have received before. I noticed as well."
"Let us take that opportunity with haste, then. A game with Roger leaves little room for error."
They started running, leaping from their perches to dart toward the commotion. Tsukikage had to slow his pace to ensure that Reiji could stay with him, but he was pleased to see that he didn't have to hold back too much.
Doors blew open before them; a few more Obelisk soldiers staggered in from open windows and secret passages they'd found with explosives, but they were swiftly dealt with and their communications cut and rerouted. The distraction was aggravating, but all they could do was handle the threat and move on.
Just as they arrived in the grand central room, Tsukikage's attention was captured by too many events at once:
The Council that ran Synchro Dimension was cowering in a corner, their voices overruling each other's as they shouted protests and recriminations at their foe. Across from them, with light sprinkling down on him as if to illuminate him as an ascended being, Jean-Michel Roger shrieked back at them, his face and hair flushed and wild. It sounded like he was repeating his earlier claims of superiority and plans for domination. He had Hiiragi Yuzu in a vice grip under one arm, and in the other held a button that he seemed to have been frustratingly pressing without any result before Tsukikage and Reiji arrived behind him, out of sight.
There was so much noise that at first the ninja felt overwhelmed, like he had missed something--but the moment Reiji sucked in a breath next to him, he turned his attention to whatever was disturbing his dueling partner. It didn't take long to spot it.
Akaba Reira was standing between Roger and the Council, his duel disk bright and held high on his tiny arm, his eyes wide at all the shouting and posturing, but standing there firmly nonetheless--brave, unwavering, fiercely protective.
"I won't let you take her!" he was saying. "You won't get past me. Duel me!"
Roger laughed--howled, cackled, mocked. "Duel you? Little boy, you hold no use for me, and defeating you is not worth my valuable time. I have a dimension to push under my heel--stand aside!"
"I won't!"
Reiji glanced between the tyrant-to-be and his brother, looking pale and uncertain for the first time. "Reira..."
Tsukikage gripped his wrist, keeping him from leaping forward for now. "He is all right--he has not been harmed. We must not act in haste--our foe is mad, and one wrong move from us could see Hiiragi Yuzu seriously hurt."
The CEO stared still at his brother's impassioned challenging back-and-forth with Roger, as though seeing how strong and yet fragile Reira truly was for the first time.
"Hold, Reiji-dono. I will never compromise Reira's safety, not for anyone--not even if you asked it of me."
As Reiji gave him a grateful look, Roger heard voices and decided to make his escape. He threw more taunts the way of his longtime rivals for power, with a few throwaway insults against the Lancers and the Chairman in particular, and suddenly detonated a smoke bomb at his feet.
Yuzu's shriek cut through the smog--Tsukikage, sensing where he needed to look as he attempted pursuit, found Roger hoisting her up and away as he cleared the nearest detonated exit and headed for his bolthole.
"Nii-san!"
Meanwhile, Reira had been found by Reiji.
The ninja followed his senses to them, grateful that always keeping his mouth covered was finally coming in handy. As the smoke cleared, he found his partner and reached for his hand. Reiji reached back and let Tsukikage take it.
"Are you well?" they both asked Reira in tandem.
The boy shook his head sadly. "I'm fine--but nii-san--Tsukikage--he took Yuzu, we can't let him take Yuzu!"
The ninja was inclined to agree--and when Reiji looked to him as he always did, seeking silent council, he made that apparent.
"Very well," Reiji said, determined anew. "You're both correct--Roger cannot be allowed to leave this dimension with Hiiragi Yuzu. No matter the cost, we must retrieve her, if only to grow the Lancers' ranks."
And strengthen Sakaki Yuuya's resolve for the war, Tsukikage added to himself. There was only so long Yuzu could be dangled in front of him like a tantalizing carrot before he lost the will to continue pursuing her, much less to complete their greater mission.
He squeezed Reiji's hand, but the other boy had abruptly paused, staring between the madman's fleeing path and his small, vulnerable brother.
It was not often that Tsukikage saw his partner freeze or display any kind of indecision--but this was a clear case of Reiji's mind following one path and his (admittedly-stiff) heart following another.
Finally he spoke, or at least began. "I will remain here. Tsukikage--I trust you to pursue Rog--"
"No," Tsukikage said bluntly.
Both Akaba brothers stared blankly at him. Reira's mouth was open and gaping. Which, of course it is, I've never before said no to his brother. I've never denied or averted any order he's given me for the cause. I didn't even think I could.
Yet on this he wouldn't be budged.
"I'm sorry..." Reiji returned slowly, letting their hand-hold break, "have I missed something? I don't understand why--"
"Reiji-dono, did I not recently say that I would not endanger or otherwise compromise your brother even if you asked me to do so?"
Lights started to come on in their leader's head. "You did. However, I don't see how--"
"You are thinking with your heart," Tsukikage admonished. It was an understandable problem, but it was also one he had been recruited to corral and correct--no matter how much his own feelings got in the way.
"You trust me to track down and defeat Roger and secure Hiiragi-san's safety--and your trust warms me, I assure you. In the meantime you think to stay with Reira and secure his safety--which I am sure warms him. But it is the wrong move."
Reiji tensed. His teeth gritted. "...How so?"
"Your emotions are causing you to gamble, which normally you would not.... Reiji-dono, your best decisions come when you are focused and stoic. Though I am flattered that you have enough faith to send me against Jean-Michel Roger, I know this decision is not among your best. Roger would defeat me at my current level, and escape with Yuzu.”
It hurt to say, to even think--but Tsukikage was a master strategist, just like Reiji. They both surveyed, manipulated and outwitted their opponents. He saw no possible future where he could defeat such a brutal, unpredictable Academian agent, much less halt his desperate advance.
But he did see himself continuing to keep Reira safe, and guiding him to the other Lancers to await Reiji’s victory. Better that than failing his superior at the most critical moment.
“You must defeat Roger and rescue Yuzu, because you are the only one who can. I will stay and put my life before Reira’s in your stead.”
“But--” Reiji looked from Reira to the Council, to the renewed sounds of yelling and screaming all around them with no small amount of concern.
I must make him understand. Bring him to his senses.
Desperation made Tsukikage take Reiji’s closest hand and kneel, bowing over it. He felt Reiji startle and try to pull him up, but he didn’t budge, because even if he had to beg it was imperative that he be heeded.
“Your dueling is unparalleled, and it is needed now more than ever. I need you to trust that I will not let any harm come to Reira, and trust that he will not let any harm come to himself.”
“He’s right,” Reira whispered; his quiet voice grabbed their attention nonetheless. “I’ll be fine. I tried to protect Serena, but I couldn’t... nii-san, please protect Yuzu.”
Reiji relaxed for a brief moment at the words, looking back down at Tsukikage with an intense look, as though he wanted to memorize his face while he could. That reminded the ninja that that sentiment could very well be true--he might not see Reiji for a long time once they parted ways here.
If ever.
The moment ended when Reiji squeezed his hand and let it go again without taking his eyes off him.
“There is no one I trust above you, Fuuma Tsukikage,” he said. “When you give your word, you keep it. Very well. Remain here and pr--work with my brother to locate and reconnect the other Lancers. I will halt Jean-Michel Roger’s advance.”
Sensing his resolve and the return of his logic, Tsukikage nodded, unbending, and stood up straight. He did not offer any further form of goodbye, except to keep his gaze on Reiji as the other boy shuffled his deck and headed toward the sounds of strife growing softer all the while. It was strange not to be following him, dueling beside him, smiling at him and being smiled at in return. Reiji was not even in any danger yet and he missed him already.
And yet.
Our time together is not done, he thought. This is the right choice. Roger will be defeated, we will finally gain Synchro’s people as allies in the war, and then Reiji and I will take the fight to Fusion.
