Summary: The year is 1947. Lieutenant Inuyasha no Taisho finds himself in the center of postwar reconstruction. Having grown up Westernized, he thought he knew himself and his family. He wasn’t expecting the sudden malaise of coming to a country he knew nothing about. Falling in love with a woman he just met. Nor the very upending of his identity and culture. While the language is known to him, the customs of their world are not: the constant downcast eyes, the bows, the polite way of speaking. The waves of people looking back at him reminded him of his mother, long gone, and a history he never cared to learn.
But she is there: with her quiet smiles and quick wit. Her blue eyes hold a fierce determination of a story to come. This world couldn’t be so bad if she was there.
And his mother asked for one last, dying wish. Who was he to deny such a passionate request?
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi is responsible for the Inuyasha series, I only lay claim on the story I have written.
Mountain View, California, United States of America
April 15, 1935
My dearest son,
I hope you can forgive my absence in the years to come, for I fear that I do not have much longer on this earth. I have asked Mr. Myoga Ogata to hold off on sending this letter to you until my passing. I did not desire to be an unnecessary burden during this most important time in your pursuits. I hope you know that I wish to continue in this life— believe me, my heart and soul— but that I no longer have the strength.
Your father, whom I was death on with each breath, gave to me the greatest gift— a sweet, innocent, little boy. You, Inuyasha, have been my most precious legacy. For many years after your fathers’ passing, I was able to concern myself only with you. I watched how you grew from a tot, into a young lad, into the man you are today. I had thought many times you would settle into a calf-love as your father and I had but instead, you chose to be a scholar. You have the grit to see it through and to do what your father and I have not.
I hope you know how jovial you have made me. Even when I am no longer of this life, you will continue to make me right peart. Your father would be proud, for he was most thrilled in the early days of my motherhood.
My health has me returned for now and with it, my spirits. The consumption has yet to take me!
I count the days though, for the end will be upon me yet. I will have failed as a mother, and as a wife, if I did not console you in these times. Please, my son, know that you have done everything you could. It is not you, nor the doctors, who have failed me. It is the failure of my own body to fight off the coughs, the fatigue, and the pains. Most nights I wake in cold-sweats, and now, the doctor has diagnosed me with a sickness called hemoptysis.
I will walk into the night one day but do not despair— for I will walk hand in hand with death Himself. Please do not pity your mother. It is because of you, and because of your father, that I have lived a life most fulfilled. A life with happiness, laughter, and light. I could not have asked for more.
In a time long past, I spent the early days of my youth walking along the shores of Kujukuri-hama. Once upon a time, I was the daughter of a wealthy lord. Hitherto, I was to marry a samurai, Setsuna no Takemaru. I spent many of my days’ longing for more: beyond the shoes of Tokyo, and of Nippon. It was your father who fulfilled those desires for many years, until his own death. Then, it was you.
Now, I long for nothing more than to lay upon those very shores as the water lap on my toes, my feet, my legs. To stretch upon the grains of the sand. To hear the gulls cry out as they circle above! To feel the warmth of the sun on my face! To hear my native language once more, among those that accept me without provocation. With each passing day, I long more and more to return to where the sun rises eternally. Where your father rests peacefully. He waits for me yet…!
You may be most sad now but remember, these moments in life are only momentary. One day you will walk amongst others and this intense pain you are holding onto, you will soon forget. I hope that one day you will find beauty in the most unexpected of places. That you will find, and accept, wisdom even when you have not sought for it. And that one day you will find love, and strength, in even the most onerous of journeys. You may feel sadness now, and loneliness may wrap your heart, but that is only brief. Without these feelings, you would not feel the joy and compassion that will bear itself to you, like a blossoming flower in the melting snow.
You will always be a part of me, as I will always be a part of you. Your father too will always be with you. Our blood forever runs through your body—for it is from our bodies that you were once part of.
Mr. Myoga Ogata will be sounding the passing bell; I ask that you take my ashes back to the rising sun. Back to where your father rests, along the shores of Shichiriga-hama. I am told that he was laid at Koyurugi Jinja. It is my most ardent wish to lay alongside the man who gave me everything when I could not give even a grain of rice.
I have bequeathed to you all which I inherited from your father, and from your fathers’ father, and from his fathers’ father. That which belonged to my native country is the ring which rests on my finger, and the kimono that I cherished most before leaving Nippon.
Treasure them as I have treasured you.
Forever with love,
Izayoi no Taisho
Tokyo Bay, Honshu, Japan
September 15, 1945
0945:37
The sounds of water rushing against the naval ship bring Inuyasha back to the present moment. Molten amber eyes look beyond the port side, over the vast ocean, and out towards the horizon. The faint outline of islands begins to emerge beyond the fog. Overhead seabirds squawk as they attempt to land on the deck. Brandished away, they perch along the crosstrees, high up from human interaction.
“Lieutenant no Taisho, sir.”
The man folds the letter along the creases. After so many years, the missive has become discolored from exposure. The ink, however, stood out clear and crisp. Too many times he read, and re-read, this very letter. He knew every word by heart. Even now, he could picture the slanting of his mother’s chancery cursive. He imagines the slopes of her a and the quick-dash and crosses on her t. She often tended to confuse her f’s for p’s, sometimes to the point he would have to reexamine the word and sentence. Was this a result of learning a new language as an adult, with little help and no education?
Inuyasha returns the letter to his breast pocket, careful to avoid loosening his pinned insignia. He turns about-face towards the Chief Warrant Officer saluting him. Returning the gesture he raising his arm sharply, palm down, above his eye.
“Chief Warrant Officer Johnson.”
Both return to a formal stance of acknowledgment.
“Sir, I am here to inform you that we are approaching the islands of Japan. We should hit shore before the end of the day, sir.” As the CWO Johnson speaks to him, Inuyasha loses himself in memories long forgotten. Of feelings lost to him until now.
“Sir?” Brown eyes gaze up at him all the while standing to attention. CWO Johnson’s arms press steadfast to his side, shoes polished as they reflect light from the sun above.
Blinking, Inuyasha realizes he has yet to dismiss CWO Johnson.
“Thank you, Mr. Johnson. You are dismissed.”
The CWO salutes him once more before he leaves, walking in the direction of other sailors. For a moment, Inuyasha’s eyes follow his path before he turns back towards the sea. He inhales deeply, tasting the sharp, brisk seawater on his tongue.
Had he not been on and off naval ships for the last decade, he probably would have choked on the sudden intrusion. As it were the scents around him were dependable, comfortable, and familiar.
More familiar than the country his mother left. A country ravaged and destroyed by times of war and despair. Could he truly impart her final wishes in such a place, so far from the nation he grew up under? So far from him? He had no family here. No ties to link himself to a return trip.
Except for his mother, now.
An ache settles in his mouth, from whence Inuyasha has clenched his teeth together. He releases the pressure, moving his jawbone side-to-side to decrease the tension.
It was her dying wish to be laid to rest alongside his father. Even if he never knew his old man, he loved and cared deeply for his mother. The least he could do was respect her most impassioned desire.
Tokyo, Honshu, Japan
September 15, 1945
1728:15
“Did you hear? A new boat landed today.”
“Marshall MacArthur sure is busy. I hope they brought more of their American food. I haven’t been able to grow anything in months.”
The word ‘American’ sticks out, a harsh emphasis on the last syllable. Higurashi Kagome peers at the two women in line before her, in hushed tones talking to one another. A slick sheen gleams against the tanned skin of one of the women. Her dark eyes survey around her before catching Kagome’s own blue ones. A small, shy smile spreads across her face and she looks away, pretending she had not been listening.
The sun began to set, leaving behind hues of blues, pinks, and reds. Across the horizon, it beams as a deep ochre in the sky, emanating a white-gold ring and rays of orange across the land. A whitetail streaks across the faint blues, pinks, and reds left behind by an aircraft.
If not for the rubble, the scorched lands, or half-torn buildings, Kagome might have thought the setting sun beautiful. The ration ticket scalds against her skin though, reminding her of the situation at hand. She refocuses her attention to the front as allotments are distributed.
Would today be the day they receive the wheat and oats necessary to survive another week or month? There were only so many ways one could stretch over boiled rice. Adding wheat and oats turned congee into tasteless gruel, but it upped the calorie intake.
The line moves faster as rations are given. Soon, Kagome finds that she spies only eight heads ahead of her. The two women continue to chirp, talking of black market deals and spools of fabric costs. It reminds Kagome of her younger brother who, in only a span of three months, grew three inches. Maybe she could extend his yukata with some of her old and wearing kimono. She didn’t think she could afford this month’s rations, the charcoal to cook them, and a new spool of fabric. Inflation continually depreciated the value of yen.
As Kagome decides this is the best way to keep costs down, she realizes a hushed whisper has come upon the group. The women point excitedly and talk fast; Kagome almost misses the words “Japanese-American” and “nay-vee”. She follows the trajectory of one finger, where a small group of military personnel stands off to the side.
It is one man that the group talks about and, for a moment, Kagome convinces herself they are mistaken. His headgear is off and he holds the visor between his thumb and pointer, arms crossed.
The setting sun caresses unusual blond hair, flecked with hints of platinum. It creates the illusion of a halo around him. Unlike her own paler complexion, his skin is tanned from years of sun exposure. His eyes, the color of burnt amber, slant downwards and betray his lineage. He is wearing the standard service uniform, a button-down, and trousers. She doesn’t understand military ranking, but his shoulder boards denote a star.
Next to him, a pretty Japanese woman dressed in nurse garb leans over in conversation; her own features illuminate tales of lost origins. Large, almond-shaped eyes scan the crowd, momentarily pausing as they meet her own.
A hand on her shoulder startles her back to reality, and she sees a gap between herself and the two women in front. She bows, apologetically, before closing the space in line.
Only three heads wait in front of her now. She thinks though that the two women in front count as one.
Chapter Summary: She finds solace in the menial house-tasks; washing the floors, scrubbing the laundry clean, even airing out their furnishings. The tasks keep her busy and her mind doesn’t wander on the what ifs.
But suddenly, he is there. And demanding things of her. What does he want?
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi is responsible for the Inuyasha series, I only lay claim on the story I have written.
“Sota! Hurry up, your friends are here to walk to school with you. And don’t forget your textbooks this time!”
Kagome uses her free hand to hold open the bamboo screen, the other holds tight to her futon-tender, a long bamboo stick with intricate loops at one end. Behind her, three students entertain one another with conversation. Her blue eyes turn back to them and inform of her younger brother’s descent. She hears behind the curtain Sota’s loud footfalls as he approaches the entrance.
“I don’t know why I have to go— it would be more helpful if I worked in the fields with Mama and jii-chan.”
A lanky dark-haired young man pushes up the curtain. His bangs usually pushed to the right, are greased back in a professional manner. A frown sets on his face as he speaks to his sister.
Kagome glares at him, placing her hands defiant on her hips. The stick almost knocks into him and he is forced to take a step back. He stands a head taller than her, but this doesn’t daunt her one bit.
“Absolutely not! You are to go to school every—single—day and finish. Education is so important these days! Do you know how hard Mama and I work to make sure you graduate?” Kagome jabs a finger in his chest as she punctuates her words. His friends chuckle as she lectures him.
Her words rang true though— there was so much at stake, and Sota could have a future she would never have. A formal education, the opportunity to study abroad, a life full of happiness and prosperity.
If only he would stop forgetting his textbooks at home!
“Go on now— did you grab the book as I said?” This time, Kagome is pointing the bamboo stick at him. He holds up a faded hardcover volume clutched in one hand.
Sota rolls his eyes as he moves past his older sister. He falters a moment and glances over his shoulder. Shadows cast over honey-brown eyes. “Don’t work too hard today, nee-chan. You look like you need sleep.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Kagome’s lips twist down. She turns back to the wooden drainboard.
The heaviness of the last few years weighs upon her. She has been in a state of perpetual exhaustion. When was the last time she even had a restful night of sleep? There had been so many years sowed with anguish.
With the brunt of her strength, Kagome begins to dust out the thick futon slung over the drainboard.
It started with the death of her father in the uprisings of 1935.
She remembers how her mother fainted upon hearing the news. Within a few short months, Mama who was once so full of life and vigor withdrew into herself. Soon she was so thin that Kagome feared that any embrace would snap her in half. In the wake of her fathers death, and the brief time of her mothers depression, Kagome took it upon herself to help out as a farm tenant in the afternoons.
Then in 1940 Japan entered into the Tripartite Pact.
That year was especially difficult. The country had already been barren with food shortages. The rice rations happened not only in the mainland but beyond to the colonies in Korea and in parts of China. Upon entering the treaty, pre-war efforts put a strain on the communities already struggling. This also meant their borders would be forever closed to their friends in the West, who still funneled resources into their economy. Likewise, it was the year she decided to leave school to work full-time alongside her grandfather and mother as sharecropper, concluding a chapter in her life.
The sun begins its ascent above her with nary a cloud shielding its bright beauty. Sweat beads on Kagome’s forehead and she takes a moment to fan herself cool. A thin haze of dust surrounds her like a fine mist. One could almost compare it to the fog created on a humid day in the winter season.
Kagome brandishes her arm to dissipate the cloud but is unsuccessful; tasuki ties back her yukata sleeves, the knot pressed between her shoulder and axilla. Suddenly she hears the reverberating sound of a car backfiring. An angry squeal and a holler sound in the distance.
Raising her free hand above her eyebrow as a visor Kagome peers down the road. The distinctive shape of a utility vehicle, its blue-green paint reflecting the sun, is parked down the street. The American flag hangs off the right side of the vehicle. She could make out the shape of a military man behind the wheel of the car, seeming to throw his hands up in frustration. Pursing her lips, Kagome returns back to the futon, continuing her previous exertion.
At the beginning of the 1941 winter, Japan declared war on their American friends.
Kagome was fearful that her mother, who had not yet turned forty, would be called into service. Her grandfather, on the other hand, had lucked out of service. He had turned sixty-two that year; he held his head high and spoke proudly of joining the war efforts, had he been in better health and allowed to.
Through the next few years, as men were conscripted into the war, they were able to make a meager living as farmland tenants. Under the laws at the time, their landlord acquired the majority of their harvest, which was subsidized to be sent to the military. Despite the fact that the price for the sale of rice rose, their labor wagers did not reflect those changes. What scanty income they did make, Kagome always made sure to put away money for Sota’s schooling.
“Higurashi-san.”
The previous year, 1945, was the worse though.
In March, the bombings started. Her mother and grandfather thankfully had been outside the city edges at that time. Her grandfather had terrible pains and neighbors recommended a foreign doctor, way out in the countryside. It was a day walk away and even by carriage took several hours.
“Higurashi-san.”
Sota had been on the other side of the city. He was staying with a friend for the evening to work on extra coursework.
Unlike her mother, her grandfather, or even her brother, Kagome hadn’t been so fortunate. She had finished selling the last of their shared crops in the towns center when the first bomb struck. Although not at the epicenter, the fire that sprouted in the aftermath could have killed her.
She was luckier than most with minor physical scars. As long as she wore her kimono sleeves down, no one was the wiser.
“Higurashi-san!”
Chest heaving, Kagome turns to the voice calling out to her. Tears threaten to spill but she holds well not to allow it so. Her neighbor, Okamoto-san, stands in front of her. Next to her is the man that she immediately recognizes as the Nisei Officer. Although he wasn’t the only Nisei on the island, he was the only one holding a rank higher than most. He was so well-known that his prominence neared that ofMarshall MacArthur.
He stands several feet above her and is so tall that she actually needs to tilt her head back and still, she only catches the bottom of his chin. It makes her realize how close he stands and takes a step back.
“Hello.” She speaks softly and casts her eyes downward. As she does so, she swipes away the tears from her eyes. When she glances back up amber eyes focus not on her face but on her arm. She feels a hot shame overcome her and loosens the knot at her shoulder. The straps loosen and as she covers the red welts that wrap around her forearm.
“May I help you?” She speaks slow, trying her best to pronounce the words in English correctly. The words form shapes her mouth does not often make, movements foreign to her tongue. Amber eyes train themselves back on blue, and a quiet contemplation swims behind the gaze. The officer is as surprised by her shame as he is by her words.
“Do you speak English?” The words come out in a quick burst. It takes Kagome a moment to roll the words back and forth in her head as she attempts to translate them.
“I know only a bit of English.” She gestures with her forefinger and thumb.
The man drums his fingers across his clipboard, a frown written across his lips. His eyes are staring down at the list before him. They flick back up to her and then down again.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” He asks, eyes trained downward. One hand tightens around a pen that begins to tap with impatience against the side of the rigid board. Before she has a chance to give a response though, he sighs with exasperation.
“Is there an adult here? Perhaps I can speak to your father?” He questions instead. And then he peers behind her at the small hovel, with its thatched roof and missing doorframe. It takes all of Kagome’s willpower not to slap him across the head with her stick.
“My English is not so good, do you speak Japanese?” She says instead, this time in her native language. She allows the switch of language to buffer her anger. “Is there something I can help you with?”
He nods, finally glancing at her. The sun shines against his eyes and amber irises glow gold. It also highlights the speckles of silver in his blond hair. The officer is a handsome man with a strong jawline and a straight nose. His skin is tanned andstanding close she sees freckles smear across the bridge of his nose. His hair is combed over to one side on top while the sides taper off around his ear and neck.
“I am Lieutenant no Taisho, with the Committee for Land Reform. I have documents that your family is registered to take over as new owners for this hectare? It states that the previous owner was one…Akitoki Yuji.” He is all business now and unblinking.
The name pulls at her heart and she quickly squashes the memories.
“We need to make sure that all the paperwork has been properly put together. In addition, it is important for us to understand if your family will be working farm landowners or non-working farm landowners. We also need to know how many hectares of farmland you will be leasing and the financial aspects of the payment conditions need to be evaluated.” Lieutenant no Taisho explains in Japanese. It is so clear, and his accent is perfect, she could have mistaken him for a native-born man. His words, however, cut through her like a knife in water.
She stands unmoving for several moments, thinking at the list of responsibilities she suddenly has. It reminds her of the continued situation that she, and her family, found themselves in the wake of a post-war society, grappling with aspects of the economy they had never had to worry about before.
Azabu, Tokyo, Japan
April 17. 1910
Our family has prospered for many generations under the bakufu, but at what cost? As the last of the cherry blossom petals fall from the sky, it reminds me of the renewal of our Empire. The great Goisshin and end of sakoku!
Under Emperor Meiji, Nippon has had wealth of heights never before seen. By opening the ports to our friends in the West it helped create prosperity all over our great Empire. The shoguns of the past have suffered the most under this new system. Chichi-ue is insistent on trades and negotiation and refuses to accept modernization.
I do not think chichi-ue would be most fond if he learned of the literature that has been brought into the Gakushujo. The periodicals with girls of skin equally as pale and their hair. Eyes the color of the sea. The books on the theories of public affairs, leadership, and governing of people. The stories of fields upon fields that are not green: a sea of yellow, a sky of pure blue. Where rice is not a national identity.
The older girls talk of attending to the study-abroad program in the United States of America. I fear the day upon which Ozawa-sensei asks chichi-ue for permission to send me upon that journey.
It’s not that I do not wish to join my friends in this voyage: to see a world beyond the coasts of Nippon; to meet those that do not speak my language; to eat foods that I am unfamiliar with. These are experiences I wish most to attend.
Chichi-ue has other plans for my life. He has arranged for me to meet a man, the son of someone he worked with many years ago. Haha-ue has been most opposed to those plans. She wishes for me to finish my education and continue my studies in the theory of public affairs. Haha-ue has not been able to stop chichi-ue’s decision for me to attend the omiai though. I realize she will not be able to stop him when he withdraws me from school.
We have fallen on hard times. Chichi-ue has taken the last of his fathers’ paintings to sell. Next will be haha-ue’s uchikake and then my kimonos. I expect soon, we will sell the house. This is why he has arranged the omiai. I have not yet laid my eyes upon my future betrothed, but I know of his name: Setsuna no Takemaru. I am told he is a handsome man. A prosperous man. It is said that of his past grandfathers served as a samurai under Nobunaga Oda himself. He is a man worthy of marriage according to chichi-ue.
Is this truly the life I wish to live? Am I to be traded off like cattle and prepared for slaughter?
Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
June 19, 1946
1309:28 PM
Inuyasha continues to tap his pen impatiently against the clipboard, silent. A film of dirt clings to her skin but it does not hide the color that drains from her face. Blue eyes stare up at him in unquestionable horror.
She must have a Western relative, to have eyes as piercing blue as hers are.
“Do you have that information now?” He asks again in Japanese as he waits for a response. Amber eyes look back down to his clipboard, eyeing the number of names that follow “Higurashi”. There was five other families on the list with whom he needed to speak to regarding land ownership.
Just before the end of the war, landholding kept a noose on those tenants that sought to earn an income. Should a tenant want to work on a landowners farm, it was required to give up all crops but that required for a family of a certain number to survive— and sometimes, less than. As rice grew in cost all over the country, landholders became very rich. That was not trickled down to those that worked the fields however, and the income gap increased with each passing season. Major land reforms helped bring equal distributions to those in a rural society.
In the wake of the war, instated programs by the United States helped dismantle large plantations into individual plots, sold dirt cheap. It helped to collectively allow more peasant farmers to own their own land and strengthen the growth of the agricultural business through diversifying crops.
“I’m sorry but my grandfather has that information secured. He is in the fields with Mama though, I won’t be able to get it right now…” His eyes snap back to her face as she speaks again.
“Okay, I would like you to take this…” Inuyasha shuffles through his papers until he finds the sheet of interest. He scribbles down an address first in English, on instinct, before recalling the situation. He scratches out the direction before re-writing the location in simplified kanji. He turns the clipboard in her direction.
“This is the location of my office.” Inuyasha circles the written address. “You will need to call the office to make an appointment first; here is the phone number.” He taps the right hand side of the page with his pen several times before underlining it. He practically rips the sheet from out of the clip board and thrusts it in her hands. As he does so, he notices a resolve settle in her eyes.
“I will do it.” She says simply.
And then.
“Are we done?”
He raises a thick eyebrow, surprised by the sudden dismissal. It is unusual for such occurrences— often, he was forced to bend himself time and time again in their manners and gestures. It was exhausting for him as he tried to learn and understand the culture. Especially as many of the islanders expected him to have already understood it.
Although an Issei, an immigrant-born Japanese-American, to his knowledge his mother never practiced any her Japanese culture. She only spoke Japanese in the house and was insistent that he only speak it with her and in the confines of their home. It was not until her passing that he realized how much memorabilia she hadsafeguarded, even from him.
His mother was an enigma he would never fully understand.
This country was equally a conundrum he found himself thrust into.
A hand waves in front of his face.
“Are you okay?” A look of concern flashes across her face, eyebrows knit together and mouth pursed in confusion.
Inuyasha frowns and practically glares at her, as if she were at fault for his situation.
“Just remember to call and make an appointment. You will lose your land if you do not complete this in a timely manner.” He points to the sheet of paper before turning on his heel and storming away.
Behind him, the woman’s face quickly changes from one of confusion to one of restrained anger. Her fingers clench tighter around the stick she holds and she bounds off to release the frustration.
This epic scene (from Portal Between Worlds by the amazing @neutronstarchild) is recalled by Kagome several times in the story where she thinks she sees a white-haired man come through a portal in central park. So iconic… so vivid. I am honoredto be able to capture this scene with my art!!!
Patreon reward for the Souper Natural tier. Thank you SO MUCH for your support!!!
I know it’s not Tuesday but I’m an impatient little bean, alright? lmfao. I feel like I need help updating my tag list, as some of the people on the list are never tagged properly so I took them off the list with the aim to bring them back at a later date in hopes that tumblr has figured itself out. In that, I’ve misplaced some people who wanted to be tagged and, if you like this and I can’t tag you, I will let you know and ask if you want to be DM’d instead, because idk what else to do.
Below is the current tag list as it stands! If you want to be tagged in any of my fics (I thought about branching out to other fandoms but rn I’ll just stick with IY), just give this post a little like!
I had wanted to have this finished for Valentine’s Day however, life happened. I had a lot of fun writing this story! I hope you enjoy it! (full nsfw image for your viewing pleasure on my pixiv and in the story) Please please heed the tags, very heavy sexual content, full consenting BDSM relationship.It be smooty
HUGE thank you to @fawn-eyed-girl for helping me get this story over the finish line! You’re a lifesaver ♥️
A little snippet of what’s to come:
- On his knees, Inuyasha stared up at her lovingly when she came before him. He felt himself leaning into her warmth as she lifted his shirt off. He obediently raised his arms for her and then let them fall back down to his sides. She trailed her delicate fingers across his shoulders, following the designs of his tattoos, making him shiver. “Do we feel like playing with a few ropes tonight, puppy?” -
So, following the lead of @dawnriderand@superpixie42, I am also responding to this terribly late, but I feel less bad about it lol. And I must thank both @clearwillowand@neutronstarchild for sending this to me. Thank you for thinking of me ❤️
I’ll first do my favourite 5 recent stories (2017-2022), and then my favourite 5 old stories (2007-2016).
1.Deductions: Writing this mystery was maybe the most fun I’ve ever had. It took two pages of a cloud chart, and a 12-tab excel sheet to make happen, but it happened. Sherlock!Inuyasha has my heart, and I can’t wait for you to read Revelations.
2.We Should Kiss: You’ll be surprised to know that this story is tied with Deductionsfor my most favourite story written of all time. I’ve never written a love story so pure. I ripped my own heart out while writing it. I know not everyone is into KagKik, and that’s cool, but if you just love love stories, you may (?) find it worth it.
3.Life Written Between Chicken Wings: The MirSan fic that consumed my soul. Done with the amazing @magnoliajades. It was her idea, so all credit for its conception goes to her. We are blessed.
4.Leverage: When I said I wanted to write a human-assassin-soulmate AU, I think most of you thought I was insane. Worth it, though.
5.Breathless: SMUT. SMUTSMUTSMUTSMUTSMUT. But truly, this is top five solely because of @nartistadigital. Have you seenthe art? Forget my writing.
6.Tell Me I’m Crazy: The story that had me return to writing after years away. Inuyasha’s friendships in this story were so important, and I treasure them most. Also: Naraku doing yoga in his underwear and thriving really just had to be told, you know?
7.What You’re Falling On: The fastest story I’ve ever written. Despite the storyline, it was only a romance. Plot be damned.
8.Happiness: Technically, all 3 stories in this universe kind of mush together here. I loaf it. I loaf it so, so much. This is, sadly, my kind of humour.
9.You’ve Got Mail: I’ve only ever received one flame in my 16 year fanfiction career. It was for this story. Too bad this somehow ended up being the most popular story I’ve ever published LOL. You can still read the flame. I do, every once in a while when I’m feeling nostalgic.
10.Imaginary: I owe so much to this story. It was the reason I even started to have a subscriber base. I will never, ever re-read it, but I am grateful to it nonetheless.
Chapter 90: Dirty Summary: Sometimes, all it takes is one word. A love story told in 100-word drabbles. Rating:M Tags: AU - Modern Setting, Romance, Fluff, Slice of Life, Meet Cute, They’re Both Idiots Your Honour
Kagome knew she was playing dirty. She had lured Inuyasha into a false sense of security. He thought she was working late, and a small, wicked part of her delighted in knowing he was so unsuspecting while she stared at his front door.
She’d learned his nose would catch on quick, so she knocked, holding her breath while the shuffle of feet drew nearer.
The lock went first, then the chain, then the door opened. But it wasn’t Inuyasha on the other side, and Kagome’s heart sank when she came face to face with a stranger who wasn’t her boyfriend.
So, Fansplaining just released the results of their survey of fanfic readers and the types of tropes/genres/tones they prefer in fic. The results are interesting (if occasionally relatively expected), and I even learned some terms (such as “imagine” which it turns out is just something we do all the time on tumblr lol), so I’m going to link to the article discussing this first in case ya’ll want to read it:
But one of the terms covered took me aback, and leads me to pose a question to ya’ll, because a.) it doesn’t use the term quitelike I thought it was used and b.) it’s actually relevant to a fic I’m working on and am starting to consider the future tags for (I might do clearer tags just to be on the safe side - but I’m still curious!).
The term in question is a genre descriptor often used as a tag on places like AO3 or tumblr: “darkfic”.
So my question - twofold, I guess - is this:
1.) if ya’ll use the term “darkfic” in tagging/labeling/describing your own work and/or the work of others, especially in Inuyasha fandom, how exactly do you use it?
and 2.) How do you assume others use it? Like, if something is TAGGED or described by its author as “darkfic”, especially if it doesn’t have many other tags to clarify beyond that, what would you assume about the fic?
I wish that ao3 had an option to filter warnings (and tbh certain authors) out like I will never ever want to read it and just seeing it puts me off so much that often I end up closing my browser because that content upsets me so much lmao
There is a way to do this but I can’t recall how to do it. it’s something you type into the box for “other filters” or something, I don’t remember. who knows??
It’s not a great option, and I don’t know if you can sort out authors that way, but it’s better than nothing if someone can reblog this with how to do it!
Alrighty friends! It takes some specificity, but you can do this. Let me show you how!
So I started with going to the Sherlock (TV) section of Ao3. On the right we find this lovely section! ((I know I’m going over things you already probably know, but I figure this post may go to new Ao3 users, so bear with me.))
Underneath this, I chose sort by Kudos, because that’s a quick way to find most popular fics, for the sake of this demonstration.
With those filters on, we end up with this being our first two results:
As you can see, we have Nature and Nurture by earlgreytea68, and The Internet Is Not Just For Porn by cyerus. So what if I am utterly sick of seeing earlgreytea68 on my list? Let’s pretend I’ve read all their fics, or that I just don’t like her, or whatever. I want this author out. I go to this section on the right:
In “Search within results” I type earlgreytea68 into the bar, with a minus sign in front. This gives me the following page, upon hitting the sort and filter button:
There goes earlgreytea68! But now I’ve decided that Crack is just not my thing, I’m sick of that, too, for heaven’s sake, I want something reasonable in my gay slash fanfiction about detectives that solve crimes about glowing dogs and irish megalomaniacs. Heaven forbid this get ridiculous.
Well, then I add this to my search:
Which gets rid of everything with that tag. My results are now:
Performance in a Leading Role is now my first result!
You can do this as many times as you want; the biggest problem I have is trying to filter out multi-worded tags. For example, “Secret Relationship” is hard to filter. Better to go with authors you dislike or with words like “DubCon”.
I hope this helps! Also remember that googling site:archiveofourown.org and then adding search terms will mean google searches Ao3 for you, and sometimes that works far better.
Good luck!
An excellent in-depth guide! Thank you!!
omg changed my whole ao3 rarepair game
An excellent guide to filtering on AO3!
You can filter out phrases by enclosing them in quotes. For example, if ABO and Hydra Trash Party are not your things, try:
-“alpha/beta/omega dynamics” -”hydra trash party”
I have more advice!
Say, you’re in your random fandom- I went with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, since I’ve been reading Iron Man stuff recently. Tony Stark is awesome.
But anyway, you’re on the page, and you see that there are 174,774 works! That is way too many for a casual afternoon’s browsing.
And you see that the first one is Peter Parker/Tony Stark and that is not your jam. It doesn’t work for you, or it squicks you, whatever. Wouldn’t life be easier if you could browse without seeing that pairing (or whatever pairing you don’t like)? You can!
First, click on that pairing tag(You may want to open this in another tab, actually.):
and it’ll take you to the page for that pairing tag. Click this button:
and then look at the address bar! The actual page is unimportant. Copy the numbers located here:
and go back to the original search page! Down on the side, in the same place you can get rid of other tags, type -relationship_ids:”the number you just copied”
Then hit ‘sort and filter’ annnd… magic!
The fics with that pairing are gone! You can also do multiple pairings, get rid of any tags you don’t like, and sort it by date or length or kudos, or whatever.
Enjoy.
I’d just like to add that these sorts of search modifiers ALSO WORK IN GOOGLE AND MOST RESEARCH DATABASES.
The more you know.
A helpful guide to filtering fic searches for our followers! :)
In a world of demon and human coexistence, Inuyasha doesn’t think he’ll ever find his mate. That is until he spots the raven-haired DJ at a local demon-friendly nightclub and becomes completely obsessed. But she has demons in her past and they’re getting close to resurfacing. Can Inuyasha help Kagome heal from her traumatic past? Will he be able to protect her from her own fears? And what happens when Inuyasha’s demon breaks through the surface to claim her as his, once and for all?
(18+ Only)
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Sneak Peak:
“I didn’t mean to hit you with the door.”
When I find nothing to reply with, I turn to my default settings. Being an asshole.
“Watch it next time, wench,” I mumble. My permanent scowl remains on my face, feigning boredom. On the outside, I’m a mask of complete indifference.
On the inside? I’m freaking the fuck out.
Her beautiful ocean orbs widen and her shock is palpable.
Then she really surprises me.
Plump lips twist into a snarl while she crosses her arms over her chest. I swallow the groan rising in my chest as her arms push her tits up.
“It’s Kagome. Ka-go-me. Not wench. ” She speaks low and enunciates every word like I’m a toddler. Her cheeks burn with anger.
Summary : Kagome is determined to survive her first year at Shikon University. All she has to do is focus on her studies and blend in enough to not to inadvertently draw the attention of the Kings : a group of demons that rule Shikon. But after an unfortunate reunion with the school’s star quarterback, her life will never be the same.
Here, have some more Hunger Games AU from a random point in the story I definitely have not mapped out yet at all or edited and may or may not have the time to continue. I’m feelin’ angsty.
The night before the games, the city lights were like nothing he’d ever seen. From the vantage point of their penthouse suite, he could see for miles, even beyond the limits of the Capitol. What he wouldn’t have given for a view like this back in 12; it would have made hunting a hell of a lot easier. He surveyed the lights throughout the dark city, able to pinpoint groups of people from the brightness and the noise. Parties. Celebrations for his inevitable demise; the richest of the richest eager to watch children of the poor murder each other. It made him sick if he thought about it too much, so he hugged his legs to his chest and closed his eyes. If he tuned it all out, only gave his attention to the breeze, he could almost picture he was back there, that the wind was whistling through the trees and not atop a tower. That any moment, he would turn around, Kikyo would be there behind him, bow and arrow taut, or maybe at home with Shippo, listening to a storm pass overhead in their cabin.
“Mind some company?”
He didn’t move, but he opened his eyes. He knew the voice well. Kagome had silently padded out onto the outcropping, her pajamas flimsy and probably not sufficient for this cold. If she was in the same mindset he was in, though, she probably didn’t notice. The whole day had been a haze. They were probably going to die within the next week at most; who could make space for feeling cold when they already felt so much fear? Her undereyes were dark and her hair was a wild tangle. She’d been tossing and turning, most likely. He felt a little bad about that, but couldn’t pinpoint why.
Wordlessly, she sat opposite him, leaning back into the wall. She folded her legs to her side and copied his gaze, staring out into the city.
“Couldn’t sleep either?” she asked.
“Don’t sleep well anyways. And the noise…”
She chuckled darkly. “Yeah. Me, too. I guess our untimely deaths are worth celebrating. Or something like that.”
He didn’t know what to say to that. He doubted there was anything he could say to that. They sat together in mirrored silence then, the whirring of the wind and cheers carried on the breeze. After a moment, he glanced over at her, her silhouette illuminated by the distant city lights. He had the errant thought that she looked as if she was glowing, almost. Like some warmth from within her gave her the light that outlined her profile. An inner brightness. A sun for a soul. Her eyes were closed as his had been, her eyelashes fanning over her soft cheeks.
How was he supposed to kill this girl? Everything in him, every fiber of his being, screamed at him to protect her at all costs. He had to protect this girl of light and warmth so that she could shine forever, so that she’d never dim. If not for him, at least for his district. If she survived, who knew what good she could do for the district? Besides, she’d make one hell of a victor.
But he couldn’t forget Shippo. The kid needed him. Actually needed him, for things like food and shelter. Kikyo couldn’t watch him forever, not when she also had Kaede to worry about. So he had to win, or at least, he had to try. He had to win the Hunger Games.
It was only then that he remembered what Totosai had said on the train, the three of them huddled at the dinner table to talk strategy, his glass of whiskey sloshing as the train jostled.
No one really ever wins the Hunger Games.
Staring at Kagome, he was starting to understand, starting to piece together how this could be. It was a lose-lose scenario, unless you were a psychopath. Either you die, or you kill someone you knew, someone you’d likely care at least a little about, coming from the same district. You’d lose yourself either way.
“Inuyasha?”
Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he realized he had been staring at her for a while. His cheeks reddened with a ridiculous embarrassment— at this point, weren’t they past the point of being shy, given what they were about to embark on?— but still. Whoops.
“Would you… can you promise me something?”
She was looking at him now, her brows furrowed; serious. This was something she had been thinking about for a while, it seemed. He frowned.
“What is it?”
“If something happens to me…” she chuckled in spite of herself. “Or when… can you make sure my mom and my little brother make it okay? I don’t want to burden you or anything, I just… since my dad died, the bakery’s been strapped for money, and I don’t know how they’re going to make it without my help. Souta’s barely eleven, and the thought of him entering his name multiple times, just for rations…” He could see the weariness in her gaze, the desperation in the purse of her plush lips, her clenched jaw. This was not easy for her to ask.
“What makes you so sure I’ll survive to help?”
“You will,” she said, turning her gaze back to the city. “You’ve got the best chances the district’s had in years; everyone knows it, even Totosai.”
He didn’t know what to say to that. Sure, he was handy with a sword, excellent at hand-to-hand combat, and proficient in just about every other weapon, but so were a lot of the Careers. Against one of them, the odds were pretty even, and certainly not “ever in his favor”. The only reason anyone was making a fuss about him at all was his decent scores and because he was from one of the outer districts. If anything, Kagome may have a better shot than him, just because she was so charming on screen; that was bound to get her sponsors. So he said what he felt he had to.
“You could still win, Kagome.”
“No.”
He almost jumped at the ferocity of her answer. She was glaring at him, her eyes blazing, her hands clenched. He had touched on a serious nerve.
“I have no chance, Inuyasha. Okay? None. So just. Please,” she said, her voice softening with her gaze. “Please promise me this. Don’t let them starve.”
“I won’t,” he said. And he meant it. “I won’t let them go hungry Kagome. I’d never let them go hungry.”
He wondered if, in that moment, she knew the true meaning behind his words, and why he would so easily make that promise. He wondered if she knew that he remembered the day she did not let himstarve.
And, for the first time since they arrived in the Capitol, she gave him a genuine smile. The kind he recognized from school; honest and true. It was close-lipped, still with a hint of sadness, but it was genuine. That inner light shining again. It made his heart constrict. It made his lungs deflate. It made his stomach churn.
It was then he knew the answer to that terrifying question: how was he supposed to kill this girl?
Well, I did a thing. Let me know if you think it’s worth expanding lol. ❤️NYNR
“Heymutt.” The brunette, the one named Koga, called from below. One of the Careers. District One. Fan-fucking-tastic. “You planning on stayin up there all night?”
Inuyasha looked at his surroundings. Actually, he did plan on staying up there all night. He was perched on a strong branch of a tall tree, surrounded by foliage and other branches, which made him feel a little bit protected. He could strap himself up there and spend at least one night up there, but in the morning, he’d have to find some food. He hadn’t been able to grab anything from the Cornucopia. And it was too late to start hunting— the simulation of the sun was already beginning to descend. Night was coming faster than he liked.
“Mutt? You go fucking deaf from the cannons? We know you’re up there.”
He groaned. That “mutt” nickname was going to stick, wasn’t it? It wasn’t like he hadn’t heard it his whole life back in District Twelve, but he had hoped he could avoid the taunt on Panem-wide television. Then again, it was probably only a matter of time— being a muttation and ending up in the Hunger Games wasn’t exactly something that had happened before.
Surrounding Koga on the ground were three others that he recognized as the other Careers. Ayame, the girl from One. Then there was Byakuya, the male from Two, and Kagura, the female from Two, and the only one that actually scared him. From the looks of it, not only had they all managed to get to the Cornucopia and survive the bloodbath, but they’d been able to gather a significant amount of supplies. They all had their respective weapons, with the exception of Koga’s claws, which he was thankful for. Would have made taunting him a very stupid mistake.
Buy Inuyasha couldn’t help himself, really. Not with those smug bastards eyeing him like he was their next meal.
“Bet ya can’t come up here and catch me.”
He watched from his perch as the Career dug his fingers into the bark, trying to get purchase on anything. Koga made it up the first few feet fast, and for a second, Inuyasha thought he had made a huge error in judgement. But soon enough, the self-proclaimed “Wolf” slipped on a piece of flimsy bark and fell back to the ground with a thud. Inuyasha laughed, hearty and loud. Looked like the bastard’s speed on the ground didn’t translate when climbing up a tree.
Koga growled from below, staring up at Inuyasha, having landed on his back. Ayame ran over to him, attempting to make sure he was okay, but he shrugged her off. The look in his eyes was livid. Above him, Kagura fanned out her throwing stars, smirking, her deadly aim giving him pause. Maybe he shouldn’t have pushed them. The girl from Two opened up her mouth to say something when someone else approached them.
It was her. Kagome. The girl from his district.
She was looking between the Careers and the ground carefully as she stepped lightly to join the group below him. And to his shock, none of them attacked her. Didn’t raise even so much as a finger when she approached. He frowned in confusion.
“We should make camp for the night. I’ve gathered as much as I can for any medicine we may need, and I shot a rabbit,” she said, holding up her kill in her left hand. The others watched as she reached them. Byakuya clapped her a little hard on the shoulder, causing her to stumble for a brief moment.
“First we have to decide what to do with your lover boy here,” Kagura sneered.
Right. Her “crush” on him. The one she’d declared on live broadcast throughout Panem.
Kagome glanced up at him from the ground. Her hair was tied back neatly, which is something he really should have considered doing himself. Sweat caused wispy tendrils to stick to the sides of her cheeks. Her face, smudged in dirt, a cut over her right eye, held the countenance of disinterest. No, not disinterest— apathy. A completely blank expression. Even her eyes, the brilliant blue he’d become accustomed to noticing even from across the training room, were neutral. Dispassionate. She saw him, to be sure, but it didn’t feel like she was actually seeinghim.
“I can try and shoot him down,” she said.
What? Inuyasha frowned and braced himself on the branch, familiar with her deadly aim. His stomach ached— was this what betrayal felt like? This was the girl with whom he’d walked into this hell with. Sure, they hadn’t really gotten along at first— nobody ever really got along with him no matter how hard they tried— but her friendliness, her kindness had seemed so sincere. Even Totosai had said it on the way to the Capitol, that she would be the one to get the sponsors, the one to charm the privileged Capitol citizens, the one to save their asses if they needed something like medicine or water or food from above. He wondered how this little turn of events would shatter that image of the sweet, kind girl from District 12. He felt shattered himself.
How stupid was I to even think…
It as those eyes, he thought. Those damn eyes, and the memories they brought back. When he was starving in the rain, and she’d thrown that crust of bread to him instead of feeding the pigs, she looked at him with those eyes. Really looked at him. Not like now.
She’d dropped the rabbit and her pack to her side. Deftly, she pulled an arrow back, and his heart skipped a beat. For a split second, he thought that was it. He was done for. So much for Totosai believing he could actually win the damn thing. He was sure Kaede would be disappointed. And he hoped Kikyo wasn’t watching, if only to spare her the shame.
But Kagome let the arrow loose, and it before he could blink he heard a thunk right next to his ear. It came so close to his head that it cut through a few pieces of his long, black hair, blowing the rest of it away and into his face. His eyes widened.
“Huh,” he heard Koga mutter below. “Thought you didn’t miss.”
“Too much foliage,” Kagome responded. She lowered her bow towards the ground.
“You sure you aren’t trying to spare him?” Byakuya said, narrowing his eyes.
Kagome shrugged, picked up the rabbit she had dropped, and sat down underneath one of the large adjacent trees. She pulled a knife out and began to peel the creature’s skin back.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, sounding detached. “He can’t stay up there forever. Either he stays up there and starves, or he comes down here and we kill him.”
“Can’t argue with that,” said Koga. “You hear that, mutt?” he yelled up at Inuyasha. “You’re as good as dead!”
Inuyasha pulled the arrow out from the tree and held it in front of his face. Definitely Capitol-made. Some sort of reinforced metal tip, not poisoned from what he could tell, but even the fletching on the end of the arrow were sharp enough to slice through skin. For this one time, and this time only, Inuyasha had to agree with Koga— Kagome didn’t miss. And she’d had a clear shot. The foliage line had been bullshit, but only someone who’d learned to survive in Twelve would know that.
So what the hell was she doing?
He looked down at the Career’s camp again. Kagome continued to peel the skin off the rabbit; the others had scattered about the surrounding area to find wood and anything for shelter. Just once, he could have sworn he caught her stealing a glance up at him, but before he could decide whether or not his eyes had been fooling him, she was focused back on the rabbit.
I had this already set up and ready to go, and then I got distracted helping my parents with their party this weekend. My apologies for the late posting!
They did not have to wait long for the livid man to come barrelling into the square. His hair was coming loose from its short braid with his violent gesturing while his beady eyes flashed. What was more alarming was the dark, ruddy stains marring the front of his tunic.
In his grasp was the head of some small livestock, maybe a goat, clearly torn off with flaps of skin and sinew dangling like bloody ribbons. A horn was gone; something with a smallish bite clearly having gnawed that part off.
**I also sneakily updated last time, so read chapter 19 first if you missed it! **
__________________________________
Summary:
What if the shikon jewel didn’t exist and Naraku never came to be? What if Kagome fell down the well anyway and met a gruff, young inu-hanyou. Would they still become friends? What would be their story?
Inuyasha knew what it was like, trying to find someone that understands—or at least,
wants to
. It was obvious she tried her best to not highlight her oddities when she was with the other villagers, and that included her comments about her home. It wasn’t easy for him to absorb all the foreign words and concepts, but Kagome explained carefully and he did his best to follow along.
What if the shikon jewel didn’t exist and Naraku never came to be? What if Kagome fell down the well anyway and met a gruff, young inu-hanyou. Would they still become friends? What would be their story?
Just when he’d calmed enough to plan out his next move, he felt the flare of reiki.
Without a doubt, it was Kikyou’s aura. The flare was not menacing but prominent enough to announce her presence. Which was probably smart of her to be honest… he was pissed.
What if the shikon jewel didn’t exist and Naraku never came to be? What if Kagome fell down the well anyway and met a gruff, young inu-hanyou. Would they still become friends? What would be their story?
It’s WIP Wednesday and I’ve gotten started on chapter 15 of ‘Learning to Live’, so take a little peek as to what the new chapter entails!
“Where am I?”
Though the words remained similar to before, dry and parched, they didn’t seem to be stolen from him, able to be heard loud and clear, “How did I get here?”
“So many questions,” Yakurōdokusen stated as he lifted a hand to stroke his beard, “Do you not know who I am? You are currently in the home of the Master of Potions! You should be so lucky!” He continued, tilting his chin some with a sense of arrogance and pride, “I found your limp, lifeless body washed up against one of my riverbanks. Why, if I hadn’t risked my neck trying to drag you back to my hut, you would have been—”
“I know who you are, old man,” Inuyasha interjected, his voice still rather hoarse but seemingly coming back with a familiar attitude that was unmistakingly his own.
That caused Yakurōdokusen to freeze, choking on his next words before she stammered into the question, “Uh, you—you do?”
A scoff left Inuyasha as he rolled his eyes, “We’ve met before, remember?”
“We have?” Yakurōdokusen blinked once, then twice in confusion, eyes as wide as they possibly could go as he tried to rack his memory.
“Jeez, I may’ve been drunk durin’ our visit, but apparently not nearly as you were, ya old drunkard!” Inuyasha exclaimed, watching as the Master of Potions released a hum of confusion as he scratched the top of his head in thought, as if to try and jog his memory.
“Hmm,” Yakurōdokusen pondered, “I think I’d remember if a boy with cat ears showed up—”
“Cat ears!?” Inuyasha exclaimed, “I’m half dog-demon, you senial nimrod! Dog. Demon! You’re lucky I’m paralyzed, or else you’d be seein’ the bottom of my foot up your ass!”
“Is that any way to speak to your elders?” Yakurōdokusen replied rather casually, only causing Inuyasha’s aggravation to climb.
Summary: A one-night stand that turned wrong… Sesshomaru never expected he’d take as a mate a frail human woman. Nor that she’d leave him the morning after—better yet, in the same night—with no clues whatsoever as to where to find her. Nor that it’d be his mother—like the little clever she-devil she is—that would drive them together again. Now Sesshomaru has a bond to get rid of… and a mate to resist. But the question is, can he? Better: does he want to? [SessRin x Kinktober 2021 x Told in Droubbles]
Summary: Beaten down from years of hate and discrimination, Inuyasha journeys to a town that he hopes will be a place to finally call home. As he learns what it means to be accepted and appreciated, he finds himself mesmerized by the voice and face of the most unlikely person, the town witch.
Mickis, you are an amazing person and a wonderful friend. @neutronstarchild and I put our heads together r to plot a story to show you how much we adore you!! The artwork for this chapter by @kalcia is absolutely amazing! We are releasing it now to make to make sure we get it to you on you birthday in your time zone, we hope you like it!
Summary: “Madame can see beyond what others can see.” Kagome looked at the golden paint the kindly old woman was offering, the paint that would complete the painting she had poured her soul into: Inuyasha. Her only respite from the life she was trapped in: a betrothal to one she does not love. But when she adds the final touches to her masterpiece, she finds that she must set her life on a new path, for herself, and for the soulmate that has waited for her to return to him for 400 years.
That’s right! The one that unintentionally started a spicy content war on Valentines Day 2020 is bringing the open-fandom event back again. There are a few new prompts for each event this year, as well as new shiny badges to collect!
Our Sugar event will be sweet, saucy, and sensual.
This is a chance for you to take things slow and sweet. Responses to the following prompts should start going live on 2/14/22 (according to your time zone). Can’t get it up in time? That’s ok! Just make sure you use the #iy sugar and spice so people can find it, and add it to our AO3 page.
Our prompts for 2022 are:
“Um, can I help you? Why are you staring at me?”
“I swear to god I won’t stop until you’re shaking.”
“I won’t say it twice. Strip down and get on your knees. Right now!”
“Home is too far away. No one’s going to see us here.”
“You can stay but your clothes must go.”
Our Spice event will be wicked, wanton, and wild.
This is a chance for you to exit your comfort zone and explore your wild side. Responses to the following prompts should start going live on 3/14/22 (according to your time zone). Just like our Sugar event, make sure you use the #iy sugar and spice so people can find it if you can’t post that day, and add it to our AO3 page.
Our Spice prompts for 2022 are:
“This better make me forget that you ripped my favorite shirt.”
“I love seeing you covered in my marks…”
“I’d hold onto something if I were you.”
“I’m either joining or watching, your pick.”
“If you leave the house wearing that then the second you come home I’m bending you over the bed.”
You can find the prompts for 2021 hereandhere, if these don’t tickle your fancy.
Feeling extra inspired by prompts for one event?
That’s ok! You don’t need to release a Sugar specific prompt during the Sugar event, or a Spice specific one during Spice. Inspiration is inspiration and who are we to fight it?
Do we need to use the prompts above to participate?
Not at all! They’re here just to get the juices flowing, but bonus points if you can make the bounce house work!Remember!Be sure to tag @inuyasha-sugar-and-spice so we can reblog all your sinfully delicious works, and use the #iy sugar and spice!Be sure to visit our page to collect your participation badges as well! You can use them on tumblr, post them into AO3, or save them just because!
Please note - all characters within your pairings for this event must be presented (mentally, physically, or otherwise) as 18 or older.
Have any questions? We’re here to immorally support you!
Shoot this tumblr an ask or reach out to @clearwillow directly, who will be tracking the tags and reblogging works for the events.
