tsukune

From Otaku to Weeaboo — The Hilarious Anime Synopsis Thread V.2

Kyoukai no Rinne
Money is blood. Money is love. Stingy is the way of life.

xxxHolic
Supernatural philosophy x Japanese folklore x over-the-top WafuGothic fashion have never been so sexually arousing.

Baybridge: Halcyon Days [Superpowers/Semi-Sandbox]

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^{@Mr Allen J & @tsukune}

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The lake that gave Baybridge its name, the buildings that lined the waterfront... Nothing seemed to have changed much in the three years Haruka Takashiro and Jennifer Caspin were away from the city.

What had changed, was the hearts of the people.

Not just in America. Everywhere that the two of them had been to, they were surrounded by fear, distrust, hatred... racism towards Metahumans. Which made their goal, to look for Jennifer's ex-employer Megan and their friend Cindy Keagan, much harder than expected.

And now, they were back to square one. Following the leads that had brought them around the world, their next destination was home. Back to this place where it had begun.

All the way to the DOVE Rally.

---

DOVE Rally | Regal Square, Prince Ed-Field_

For ages now, where ever Jennifer went, she just felt like a visitor. Even in Baybridge after Megan left her, it just felt like she was not permanent. While it was true that nobody knows what exactly the future held for them, it was a slow process where she finally accepted Baybridge as her home. She finally left Verthaven behind. The girl with the prehensile spine sighed as she quickly arrived in Haruka's vehicle. Heh... she sure owed a lot to him. Doing all of this, for her? In his position, Jennifer couldn't say that she wouldn't have done the same.

The drive had been pretty smooth. Too smooth, in fact. In all of Haruka's previous experiences, this was probably the prelude to something worse that would be happening soon. How ironic - to think that he was becoming as pessimistic as his own brother. And speaking of Shizuka, he should get around greeting his younger counterpart. He would have loved to give him a surprise of sorts, but he might have to give that stupid idea up, not when his twin was even harder to get hold of ever since his promotion in RAVEN.

Haruka chose to park the car a little further away from the DOVE Rally area. It would be harder to find a spot nearer to the event parameter; besides, no one knew they were coming back to Baybridge, not yet. He then turned to Jennifer. "Is Megan really going to show up at this rally?"

"There's a chance," Jennifer said, as she leaned back in the car. "Remember what her crew said? She was heading to Baybridge..."

She looked at the window for a moment.

"...And this looks like a place she'd be."

---

Black Fall, Pennsylvania
A few weeks ago_

Black Fall... Jennifer heard so much about this place, and would love to be here under different circumstances. At the moment, she had a mission.

She fell from a window, and landed on her knee. Two large lumps appeared at the end of her wrists, and two bone spears broke through her skin. The lights flashed on as her blue eyes scanned the room. The first thing she focused on was the hulking Nemesis. His attire had drastically changed. From a long coat and helmet to a more casual button-up where Jenny questioned just where he got it from. He had a mask that transferred chemicals to his mouth area. The brute faced her down, but he couldn't communicate, so Jennifer's business with him was rather minimal.

"...So, you're back, Missy." A man floated down from the sky with a blue aura... and it was Ray Drager, the annoying one with the telekinetic hands. He landed on top of the shipping container above her, and he looked down at her.

"Name's Jennifer," she answered, her voice laced with venom. "I have a question to ask you."

"Shoot, Jenny," Ray said, as he sat on the edge of the shipping crate, unaware of Jennifer's rather murderous plan B if she didn't get what she wanted.

She stared Ray down. "Where is Megan?"

"Yeah," Ray scoffed, and he grinned. "And here I was thinking I was the only person asking that question."

Jennifer narrowed her eyes, as Ray raised two fingers up in the air.

"Two years ago, Megan Jervious said she was investigating the Founding Family in Baybridge on her own... and never came back. Even when we went there on our own; couldn't find her."

"I don't believe you," Jennifer hissed.

"Well, I don't know what to tell you, then," Ray shrugged. "When you take into account she has the best shape-shifting in the damn world, the only way you'll find her..."

Ray trailed off, and Jennifer had to hold her tongue.

"...Is if she wants you to." Ray shrugged. "So, we just set up shop here in Black Fall, and let her do whatever the hell she wants. Honestly, it's better this way. Now, we can actually get something done..."

Jennifer rolled her eyes. Knowing Ray, he probably told the truth. There wasn't much reason for him to lie. After all, Megan was unpredictable. So far, this entire journey was pointless, and they were probably going for Cindy more than anything. If Megan was with the Family, then she needed answers from her; but like Ray said, the only way to find her was if she wanted to be found.

And that wasn't anything reliable.

Honestly, they should probably just head back to Baybridge. They wasted far too much time chasing after ghosts. Without a word, she whipped around and walked out the door.

"...Best of luck to ya'." Ray said.

---

Gantz OST - Track 3: Enlightened Radiation / Keimou Housha

Meanwhile...

Jennifer had told him that she would meet her 'old crew' on her own, and Haruka didn't even try to argue his way with her decision. It was for the best, that he should respect her wish to do what she had to do alone.

Besides, there was another thing he could do while Jennifer was away on her own business.

Find Cindy.

...Though, the leads they could get on their friend was even scarcer than the elusive Megan. The irony.

He dug his hands deeper into his windbreaker pockets. Sure, it seemed like a long-awaited chance for the two to finally take a break from all the melodrama of the place they thought they could call home, but it was hard to pretend they could enjoy this road trip, not when they had too many questions unanswered, too much burdens to bear.

He turned around a corner and slipped into an alleyway. A shortcut to get to where the slim ray of hope that might be able to lead their wild goose chase to somewhere.

However, he wasn't expecting to come face to face with a certain someone. His ghost.

"Oh? What a surprise!" That pretentious tone in Mandarin was nowhere enough to fool Haruka, not after what he had been through these few years. He narrowed his eyes at the voice so familiar that could make his ears bleed from the cringy sweetness.

"...What do you want this time?"

"Now, now, that's not how you should talk to your elders." Xing Huo clicked her tongue with mock disapproval at Haruka's passive-aggressiveness. "It appears that I still have much to teach my precious sons, hmm?"

The former Fire Spirit of Polaris didn't seem to have changed one bit in the three-year span. It was a mystery to Haruka as much as to anyone else how this woman was able to retain her youth. The young man could swear that she was definitely much older than she looked.

Even stranger that this time, Xing Huo wasn't showy about her fashion sense as usual. If she hadn't called out to him, he wouldn't have given a second glance at the dull trenchcoat she wore today. Obviously not some branded nonsense, just an ordinary piece of clothing that you could easily buy from any department store at a discounted price.

He narrowed his eyes at her.

Which only made the lady sigh, not without some dramatic effect. "After I've done so much to help you and your pitiful girlfriend, it's still not enough to earn your trust? No love?"

"Do I have to repeat myself and take those words out of your mouth every damn time we meet like this?"

"Uh, uh." Xing Huo wagged a finger before his face. "Patience is a virtue, especially at such a crucial time." Her blood-red lips curled into a smile. "I'm not as cruel as your birth mother, and I'm actually here to give you good news!"

She suddenly leaned forward, and Haruka felt her hand in his pocket, clasping around his fingers... and something hard. A micro SD card?

"When you have the free time, have a look at it - alone," she chuckled, winking at him. "It's not something for that rag doll you've been dragging around to see. You won't want her to see it if you want to keep that walking corpse to yourself forever." With another melodic laugh, she straightened up and strode off; soon she was gone in a blink of an eye.

Hands still in his pockets, Haruka clenched his fists, the small chip pressed into one of his palms.

---

Back to present time, DOVE Rally_

If what Jennifer had said about Megan was right, it'd be pointless for them to try searching for someone who didn't want to be found in a huge mob of people in this event. Haruka got out of the car, his eyes narrowed, a reflexive reaction due to brightness from the sun above his head. He waited for Jennifer to get off too, before he walked up to her. "We haven't really enjoyed ourselves throughout this road trip. I think this time we should try relaxing a bit, and have some fun."

That was all Jennifer really wanted at this time... just to have fun. Stop worrying about where Cindy, or Megan was, and finally live by her own terms.

He scratched the back of his head. "Well, just killing time together until Megan finally shows herself before us. What do you say?"

She smiled.

"...I'd love to."

From Otaku to Weeaboo — The Hilarious Anime Synopsis Thread V.2

Pokemon Sun & Moon (2017)
Where Ash takes a de-aging pill and finally goes to school - in a faux Hawaiian region.

Baybridge: Halcyon Days [Superpowers/Semi-Sandbox]

Take yo time. It's the same for me too. (Spring flu. The joy.)

I should fucking finish up Haru's post now that my fever is more or less gone.

Baybridge: Halcyon Days [Superpowers/Semi-Sandbox]

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^{@Mr Allen J & @tsukune}

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Gaying at the cake area, DOVE Rally
Regal Square, Prince Ed-Field_

Now it was Shizuka's turn to raise an eyebrow. Not only Quentin, but Maximilian too? He was as equally curious about this tall guy - who had just introduced himself as 'Daniel Forsythe' (weird surname that sounded like a swear word in some Asian dialect) - as the counterpart was towards him.

"No, I don't think we've met," Shizuka replied, agreeing. "I'm Shizuka. A pleasure to meet you." Giving up on the funnel cake because it looked more disgusting on closer look, he continued to focus his attention on Daniel. "Oh? So how are you acquainted to both Quentin and Maximilian, even having Max as your mentor?"

Shizuka, now I remember him.

Shizuka was someone both Max and Quentin spoke of, but never really met him. From the few times he went to headquarters, he never quite saw him as anymore than another agent. Strange how that works. Daniel shrugged, as he put his hand in his pocket.

"It's great to meet you, too."

He responded, but, his other question made him a bit worried. His eyes shot open a bit, before he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. He knew both Maximilian and Quentin were close to him, and he knew that Shizuka probably wasn't an idiot... so he wondered how he would react if he told him that he was the apprentice for a monster...

The silence had gone on far too long, and it became obvious that Daniel was uncomfortable, and was just looking for a way out... before the perfect response hit him, and he felt stupid for not coming up with it soon.

"There's a reason why I'm so close to RAVEN..." He scratched the back of his neck nervously, "...I just don't feel comfortable talking about it out here, with so many people."

Daniel's nervous body language didn't escape Shizuka's sharp eyes. He could tell that Daniel was hiding something, but he didn't call out to this boy just to intimidate him (even if he was shorter). Besides, he was supposed to be discreet about his duty today.

"Right," he said, glancing around to look for a more private spot... and bingo, there was a (conveniently) empty area around the corner just a short walk ahead from where they were. It was well hidden enough that barely anyone would go out of their way to purposely pass by there. "Are you in a rush? You can tell me more about it over there." He tilted his head in the direction of the deserted area.

As he began to lead the way towards the place, he felt a slight, invisible wave of sorts trying to prod his mind. He frowned, selectively turning his head intangible for a brief moment. Strange... why would a cerebral Metahuman be using their power to look for him, or even try to peek into his brain at this time?

"Not really," Daniel said as he followed Shizuka over. It felt strange telling someone outside of his little circle his past. He didn't know Shizuka that well, but if Max and Quentin trusted him, so did Daniel. He leaned up against the wall, and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, and gently placed it in his mouth. "...Don't tell Max or Quentin, please." He requested, as he put a thumb up, igniting it with a flame from his right hand.

He sighed.

"The reason why I'm so close to Max and Quentin is simple..." He started off. "I used to be apart of the Founding Family... their inner group of cultivators."

He paused for a moment, as he tried to gauge Shizuka's reaction.

"And... I became the apprentice of Blake Schmidt. Yes... I had a hand in some of their most inhuman actions, but I turned my back on that - and when I did, they turned their back on me. Reed saved me, but... now Maximilian wants to help me be a better person. To distance myself from that lifestyle, and become a RAVEN."

Shizuka crinkled his nose at the cigarette, but made no comment other than putting a little more distance between himself and Daniel, turning his head away so that he didn't have to breathe in the smoke that came puffing right into his face. Hearing Daniel's little story - the revelation that he was once a member of the Founding Fags, and even having Blake as his mentor before Maximilian came along - didn't garner any negative reaction the boy might be expecting from the Japanese agent. Instead, Shizuka only felt a pang of sympathy for him.

"It's not like you didn't have any remorse or humanity like those Blessed Bitches anyway," he said, shrugging. "Nobody's perfect - people do make mistakes in their life. Being able to realize and face those wrongdoings, and making an effort to become a better person is what's most important."

Daniel crossed his arms as he took in Shizuka's words. He basically said the same things that Max and Quentin told him. Daniel made mistakes, yeah. Long as he wasn't continuing to make those mistakes, then he could move on. He nodded his head.

Shizuka paused for a moment, considering the last line that Daniel had told him. "Even if Max might've seen some kind of potential in you or something, It's ultimately up to your own choice whether you want to become a RAVEN, or contribute to the society in other ways."

He let out a short laugh as he had to look up at Daniel to maintain any form of eye contact. "I mean, you ain't a kid, or anyone's underling anymore. I think you're old enough to decide what you really want to do from hereon. The people around you are merely your guides to show you the right path, but whether you want to walk down that path or not, is entirely up to you."

It felt weird, that he, of all people, would be giving any sort of advice to another person, to a mere stranger. Maybe age was finally catching up with him on the inside, even though he didn't aged much appearance wise.

"You can't go back to change history. Rather than running away from your past and trying to distance yourself from something that's already a part of you, learn to embrace it, and turn it into your strength to help you stay strong, become stronger. Otherwise you'd drown yourself in endless regret, and eventually lose your mind." Just like someone I used to know, he thought sarcastically, but not without a hint of affection.

Everything that Shizuka said made an impact on Daniel. He should embrace his past.

"The past is the past, yeah," Daniel answered. "I can't forget about the past... I used to be the shining example of everything the Family wanted me to be, but now... I'm my own person."

He flicked the cigarette to the ground, and crushed it underneath his boot before he faced Shizuka. "I get to choose who I want to be, and right now..."

He hopped off the wall, before he said, "...I want to be Daniel Forsythe, even if people will judge me for my past, that is who I am at my core.

"Thank you for the talk," Daniel said. "It helped."

Shizuka was a little taken aback when Daniel thanked him. He half expected to get shot down for being a nag - at least that was what he would usually get when he tried to be nice to people like Meifeng, or even his own twin.

"Uh, sure, I guess," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. A habitual gesture when he felt either annoyed or awkward. Though, he had to mention this before they parted ways.

"And... be careful. I've a feeling someone might be watching, or even targeting both of us. I dunno who or why, just a bad hunch."

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「 Lazy Day 」

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Final Fantasy Type-0 HD OST - A Day Like any Other / Day of the Sun

Wandering aimlessly around DOVE Rally site
Regal Square, Prince Ed-Field_

Reinald Young had been at the rally site early in the morning with the other "volunteers" - or rather, free labor in the form of his peers from Academy 61 - to put up the banners and decorations, preparing for the event. Including the main (and biggest) banner, which was hung at the entrance to welcome the crowd. It took Rein less than a day to complete that boring banner - he didn't need to put in too much work and effort when all he had to do was to make sure it looked professional... And thus, your usual, overused font types that valued readability over aesthetic appeal.

Well, the academy program students weren't here just to do unpaid work for this event. They were here for another reason: to show the public that not all Metahumans were dangerous like the Devil of Verthaven, or the Beast of Prague... even the maniacal Founding Family. Using superpowers did help to ease some of the preparation work: telekinetics could assist in putting up decorations in high places that would normally require ladders to reach, fire and ice manipulators were helping out at the food stalls with their handy abilities...

To show that as long as superpowers were used responsibly, it could benefit the people and society, and it didn't deserve the fear and hate the majority had been throwing at them all these years.

He was a little surprised - amused - at the turnout rate for this pro-Metahuman gathering, and one organized by DOVE at that. Metahuman regulation agencies such as DOVE and RAVEN had been under huge pressure ever since the Founding Family incident, blamed for various things that weren't even within their control, or even their fault in the first place. The fearful people had to put the blame somewhere, and DOVE/RAVEN was the most convenient source in Baybridge - or even the whole of North America - to make them feel a tad better, a false sense of control.

Of course, even if their way of treating the Metahuman community was a form of disgusting prejudice, Rein was aware that their fear was justifiable to some extent. There were abilities that had to be regulated, or even locked away for their potential impact on the world.

His power was one of such example. Although it didn't have obvious lethalness as physical or elemental abilities, it could upset the power balance of nations if he was used as a political tool. For now, his power wouldn't help much with the rally at the moment, so he was free to roam around the site, trying his best to enjoy himself. (Big crowds like this would make him nervous, to be honest.)

"Hey, Rein! Rein!" The Asian teen stopped in his tracks at the second time his name was called. It had been three years, and he should be used to this name. Not like the person who had raised their voice could notice the awkward delay - it was possible Rein didn't heard them the first time with all the noise around him.

Turning around, Rein came face to face with a panting girl. An African-American, with her long dark hair tied in a nice braided ponytail on the left side of her head. Both of them were wearing the same black T-shirt with the DOVE rally slogan printed on their back, to identify them as helpers at the event. He had seen her around the academy campus a few times, but he didn't make much effort to memorize names.

Rein gave the girl some time to catch her breath, then he asked, "Um... do you need me for something?"

"Yeah," she replied, still a little breathless. She swallowed, and went on, "Your power is clairvoyance, right? I need you to help me find someone. It's damn hard to search for him in a crowd like this."

Rein shrugged. "Uh, sure, I guess." He led the girl to the side, away from the throngs of people.

The girl then showed him her mobile screen. A picture of a dark-haired green-eyed boy about his age, his face a gay mix of strong European features with a girly look. She explained, "His name is Daniel Forsythe. He's also an academy student like us."

Rein raised an eyebrow. He hadn't seen this guy before in Academy 61. Maybe he was from a different campus? Though he was curious why she would be looking for this person, the Chinese boy said nothing and simply nodded, agreeing to help her.

He pulled his conscious away from the din around him, and the sound of chattering deadened, becoming more faraway. His mind slipped into his inner world - "Scape" - and the people around them were transformed into an endless corridor of colorful windows, the entrance to each and everyone of their subconscious. Their dormant dreams.

Daniel Forsythe, he thought to himself as he walked down the gallery, scrolling through the windows for the boy. He repeated the name a few times until he felt a feedback coming from his right. Turning his head, his narrowed his eyes and skimmed the windows until he found the source. On closer look, the target seemed to be talking to someone - an Asian man, but it was possible for the appearance of the person to be distorted by this Daniel guy's own perception. The pair seemed to me moving away from the crowd to a quieter area, just a few steps away from their current position.

However, when Rein switched his attention to the Asian man that Daniel had chatted with, he was surprised that he couldn't find this man's presence. Was Daniel talking to a ghost? That makes no sense. The only explanation he could come up with was that whoever the other person was, maybe they had the ability that allowed them to resist cerebral powers. If the ability wasn't passive, it was possible they might have felt his mental probing.

Returning back from his trance state, Rein's eyes refocused, and his vision was filled with the scene of the rally before him once more. Only to be suddenly blocked by the face of the girl, giving him a hard stare with those huge, dark eyes.

"How's it?"

"He's moving towards the empty stall near the dessert station," Rein spoke finally, but not without addressing the burning question on his mind. "Why are you looking for him?"

The girl didn't answer; she simply gave him a wink and brisked off, leaving a confused Rein to watch her disappearing into the crowd.

Tsukune Reservoir Chronicle

Saisei | Ren Haruno - WIP

"...What a drag."

V I T A L S

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Full Name
Haruno Ren
(春野　レン)

Aliases
"Rem" -- combination of his name, and 'mu' (meaning nothingness)
"Shorty" -- due to the fact that he's the smallest male student of his cohort
"Kunai Hell" -- based on his fighting style, and a pun on the popular Tohou Bullet Hell games
"Boy of Misfortune" -- mainly because how people who are too close to him end up being Aoi's punchbag

Gender
Male

Age
10

Rank
Genin

Nature
Wind

Parents
Haruno Hideki
Haruno Kazuha

C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N

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Appearance
Shorter than the village average at four foot three, it doesn't help that Ren's lean build only makes him seem even smaller than he already is. He also doesn't appear to be an outdoor type given his fair complexion, which makes him seem like a weak person in the eyes of his peers.

That aside, Ren looks nothing like his fraternal twin sister, Aoi. Rather, he's almost a splitting image of his father, Hideki -- especially the messy jet-black hair -- except the emerald green eyes he has inherited from his mother, Kazuha. Often seen in dark-colored garbs that reflect his mysterious, quiet nature, though some may say it's a way to keep himself out of sight -- and in turn, out of unnecessary troubles.

Personality

_{Astute・Stoic・Sardonic・Listless}

Although Ren and Aoi are twins, they are as different as day and night. Not just their appearance, but their personality too.

When asked, most people would tell you that Ren is a stoic boy for his age, taking after his father beyond mere looks: down to earth and diligent in his studies and chores, wasting no breath to strive for the best he can do. Though, it's an amusing clash with another side of him: while he has no qualms to go beyond his current capability, he has no interest in competing with others, preferring to stay out of everyone's way -- most importantly, from trouble. He doesn't like to get involved in things he deemed as 'troublesome', even less when it's built on stupid impulses. If he does get caught in such situations, he would rather find a way to wriggle himself out than to resolve the issue unless he feels motivated enough to help out. It doesn't help to grow up with a hyperactive and possessive sister... and Ren hopes to get the little bit of peace he has yearned for when the twins are going to be sorted under different genin teams.

Ren is also quite an introvert, often keeping to himself and thus giving off a secretive, mysterious aura. His mild-mannered and apathetic nature makes him appear more mature than his own age, setting him aside from his more rowdy, outgoing peers. If one can break through the quiet, impassive mask, you'd be surprised at his sardonic side with a dry sense of humor. It's hard to get along with him at first due to his somewhat unsociable front -- he just takes longer than most others to warm up to someone.

Ren is not an emotionless person; rather, he's merely awkward when it comes to expressing himself to others. He puts logic before emotions, preferring to reason rationally instead of using fists to get his point across. He may come off as insensitive and blunt, but he's still observant enough to understand the warning signs and take a step back from the rising heat.

While Ren has a lot of self-discipline, he's ultimately still a human -- a ten-year-old kid -- and there are things that can break his cool demeanor. For example, no matter how much he acts as if he doesn't like Aoi, he does care for her, and he will fight to protect her. Yes, as much as he has a decently long fuse for bullshits, he still inherits the 'Haruno fire' that has kept their small clan alive all this while: his bad side is as frightening as his devious sister... Or even comparable to Kazuha, who's already well-known throughout the village for her fiery, no-nonsense temper.

Personal History
One would expect that children born after the end of the Great Shinobi War would be growing up peacefully in the new era, but that didn't extend to the individual problems within the four walls of the respective clans. Not even minor clans like the Haruno were spared -- especially through Ren's eyes.

For one, he was born as a fraternal twin to his childhood nightmare in the form of his younger sister, Aoi. He spent most of his time before his debut at the academy with her, even training hard together under their mother. The twins were quick to learn that Kazuha was no forgiving sensei, sparing to effort to impart the basic of the basics in the Haruno clan: chakra control. Unlike the more prestigious clans with natural-born talent in this (case in point, the Hyuga), to the Haruno it was a means for the family's survival in the village (given their unimpressive chakra pool) and to condition themselves for dragged-out situations. Which was most of the time due to their genre of business: trading, from information to even secrets.

Ren had given up trying to escape from the clingy Aoi and simply concentrated on his training without a care for the world around him. By the time he was enrolled into the academy, he already had above-average chakra control for a kid of his age. Beneath his laid-back, disinterested facade, Ren was a closet hard worker, where his efforts were later paid off through his excellent academic results. Though, with his dislike for attention and would opt to erase his presence to avoid joining cliques, few were aware of his existence. Seeing his name near the top of the annual academy ranking list only raised questions among some of his peers: just who the hell's 'Haruno Ren'?

Of course, Ren wasn't completely invisible. Maybe it's too early to call them 'friends' right now, but at the very least he did made some acquaintances he could hold a conversation or two with. While he would be glad to be separated from Aoi once he's sorted to a genin team, there was another issue: he could no longer enjoy those days of solitude at his own pace, but he'd have to learn to work together with his new team -- whether he'd like them or not.

Clan History

WIP

Very little is known about the Haruno clan. The small size (roughly about thirty-odd or less?) and how the name won't strike a chord with most people when mentioned are indications of their overall reputation in Konohagakure. Formally recognized as a clan just last year, the Haruno clan is nothing more than a budding seedling among the many other clans in the village. They can be identified by their crest, a cherry blossom with a petal missing on the lower-right corner.

However, this is what the Haruno clan wants, and they intend to keep it that way, clan or not. They have no interest in much of Konoha's affairs and fuck political bullshits, content with minding their own business and maintaining a basic level of peace with the rest of the village. Trading is their main source of income, and it's common to see members of the clan entering and leaving Konoha for business on a frequent basis (even at odd hours). Outside of Konoha, they are better known as "Ichirin no Hana" rather than their actual surname, which is one of the reasons why most people don't react to the name Haruno.

However, cases of seemingly random assassination acts outside of Konoha put the Haruno under suspicion for a period of time. There were reports of the perpetrator(s?) bearing a strange emblem on their back - a single sakura petal - that mirrored the missing petal of the Haruno's clan crest... Besides the symbol, the killer took down their targets with ranged techniques, which was what the Haruno seemed to specialize in. In the end, the Haruno was let off the hook due to insufficient evidence but was put under watch for a month until it was certain they weren't responsible for the rogue assassinations. The probation had put a dent in their business as it limited their freedom to move in and out of Konoha, and also hurt their relationship with a few of their trade clients to some extent. The culprit was never caught, and the case was later filed as unsolved.

The nature of Haruno's trading business and the existence of any possible unique skills to the clan are unknown factors as much as the clan's presence itself within Konoha. Though, there are rumors that the Haruno mainly dealt with information exchange, working as neutral messengers for Konoha to keep in contact with other shinobi villages. While the clan possesses no outrageous hiden or kekkei genkai shenanigans, the members are said to have extraordinary chakra control (possibly rivaling the Hyuuga, but this may just be a rumor) and versatile use of ranged techniques.

T A L E N T S

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Tactician / Strategist
Ren is an intelligent boy -- and wise beyond his young age -- but where will his smarts be of an asset in his road as a ninja of Konohagakure? His general dislike for dealing with conflicts and troublesome situations have propelled him to use his brain to find better solutions to get things done and over with quickly and efficiently. Rather than charging head-first into a fight or battle like most of his hot-blooded peers, he prefers to observe and analyze his surroundings first, sometimes also testing the capabilities of his opponents. Then, he'll formulate a plan in his mind before he finishes his enemies with quick strikes to their weak points. Though, if it's nothing serious or life-threatening, Ren is content to simply trick his opponent to give him an opening to escape from them and leave him in his own peace.

This trait is also extremely important to the next bit -- or else he'd end up killing his own people by mistake.

Ranged Specialist
It's to no one's surprise that Ren is a shinobi who aces the art of ranged battles. The following traits discussed below are key skills to his repertoire, enabling him to turn typical close-combat weaponry into maneuverable projectiles. It also works well with his fighting style and chakra nature, allowing him to perform stealth and sneak attacks with ease, and manipulating the speed and force of his projectiles with Wind Release jutsu.

Refined Chakra Control
Under the strict tutelage of his mother, Kazuha, Ren counters the downside of his small chakra pool with extremely precise control, allowing him to perform jutsu with maximum efficiency and little to no wastage. It's possible that he's on par with those from the Hyuga clan, but it's difficult to determine given his secretive nature.

This trait also gives Ren an edge to resist against generic genjutsu, and to a lesser degree, a crude application of Chakra-Enhanced Strength (in which the latter is something Ren still can't control it well at his current age).

Chakra Flow / Chakra Thread Manipulation
While Ren may not have the same mastery in this compared to the aforementioned, you still won't want to underestimate him. For one, he can use wind jutsu to further sharpen the projectiles to increase their lethalness. This also forms the basis of other jutsu techniques he employs, which requires the use of Chakra Threads to manipulate the trajectory course of the thrown shuriken or kunai.

Besides using chakra threads to throw and control projectiles, he can use the threads as extended arms to grab any weapons around him -- or even off his opponents -- and maximize the arsenal of projectiles he can get his hands on. However, he still requires more training to be able to fully suppress the threads and make them completely invisible.

Alternatively, to conserve his chakra pool, he may opt to use the metal wires provided in standard ninja tool packs, but they are slower and less versatile in maneuverability compared to chakra threads.

Ninjutsu
A no-brainer to Ren that he has to excel in this to truly show the full potential of his fighting style and techniques. Although wind may not be the strongest nor fastest elemental nature, he spares no effort to master its use, combining with his outstanding chakra control for maximum utilization of what he's capable of.​

J U T S U

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S Rank

N/A

A Rank

N/A

B Rank

N/A

C Rank

Manipulating Attack Blades
^{To utilize this technique, Ren simply has to attach chakra threads to the weapons he's manipulating.}
Wind Release: Gale Palm
^{Mainly used to pack more punch into projectiles than as a standalone attack. Also possible to use it defensively to knock out flying shits at him.}

D Rank

Dynamic Entry
Manipulated Shuriken Technique
^{Can work with both physical wires or chakra strings.}
Temporary Paralysis Technique

E Rank

Academy Techniques

Custom Jutsu

Justu Name

Name
Text.

Rank
Text.

Range
Text.

Description
Text.

Unlight

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|| Toby Yazawa & Irvette Reimer ||

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Eisbeulf University, 8:58 AM

Day Two of college class was no different from yesterday, but at least the attention on Toby wasn't as intense. Maybe he needed a few more days to be able to blend in with the students here completely. He should be grateful to Meg for giving him a chance to go through the rest of his human routine he that was cut short due to an unfortunate incident that happened to him a year ago. Taking the usual seat near the top-end of the lecture hall, the young Asian man settled down with the laptop all booted up and ready before him on the table, but his mind was on the hunt with Meg last night:

Nighttime was the perfect time Toby would go out for a hunt. With the enhanced senses that came with vampirism, it wasn't much of a problem for him to feel his way around in the dark. However, tonight was different from usual.

He had been running after Meg through the woods for hours (at least that was what he felt, since he was pretty much dashing through the greens non-stop for a long time), but they had yet encounter a single animal, let alone their dinner - a bear.

"Hey, Meg," he called after his vampiric mentor. "Hold up a moment. Something doesn't feel... right."

"You sense it, too?" Meg suddenly stopped in her tracks, balancing herself on one of the bigger branches of a coniferous tree. "Even if humans might have been starting to poach around this region lately, it shouldn't have such a drastic effect on the ecosystem here in such a short time."

Toby scanned his surroundings, taking in the thick vegetation while looking out for anything suspicious. Other than the both of them, there wasn't any other creature - animal or human - within miles of his superpowered sight. Where could they have gone to? What's going on here?

"Speaking of which..." Meg spoke again, hopping down from the branch to the ground below. "In all my years I've lived in this town, the recent news has been strangely livelier than before."

"Huh?" Toby couldn't help feeling annoyed at Meg's overly laid-back attitude as he followed suit, landing next to her. "Why would you care about some news?" They'd probably be repeating the same old human mistakes over and over again, for eternity, he thought sarcastically.

Meg didn't seem to catch the irritation in his tone - or she just didn't care at all. "Unexpected encounters with stray wildlife, missing people... Sounds awfully busy for a small, secluded place like this, hmm?"

"How would I know?" Toby could only shrug in response. Eisbeulf wasn't his true hometown - Meg brought him here in order for his... new appearance to blend in with the humans better than where he had originally come from.

Meg turned to give him a look. "...Seems like you still have much to learn, my dear."

Before Toby could make a snide comeback at her, his nose caught something the scent of something - it wasn't as sweet as Irvette's, but he was already at the limit of his thirst. Ignoring the amused expression on the older vampire's face, Toby's instinct as a vampire kicked in, and in no time he had wrestled a wild deer to its knee, his teeth sinking into the fur and skin as he began to suck the poor animal dry.

"Hey, hey," Meg's chimed as she caught up behind him. "Take it easy. But I'm honestly amazed that you could hold out for this long without blood - and broke my record when I was still a newborn."

Toby wiped off the deer blood around the corner of his lips with a hand and stood up. "Whatever - I've won the bet, so you owe me a favor. Which I'm going to put you in my debt until I need to use it."

Meg rolled her eyes at him. "Is this how you talk to your mother?"

"Sister," Toby corrected her automatically, turning around to go back to their cottage house when Meg grabbed his arm to stop him. "What?"

"Well, well," Meg muttered with narrowed eyes. "I think I've found our supposed dinner... on the loose." Something in her serious expression told him that there was more to what she was saying...

In the end, Meg had him in her vice-like grip to prevent him from going after whatever Meg had felt with her 'power' and dragged him home. The lady vampire seemed vexed for the rest of the night, so Toby was glad to get out of the house as soon as he could. Facing a bunch of ignorant humans was much better than being anywhere near an irritated Meg now. He wondered what could have made his normally nonchalant benefactor so riled up all of a sudden, and for hours.

Though, that same girl next to him from yesterday was a different story altogether. Thanks to last night he now had more self-control over his hunger for human blood, but this one was oddly intoxicating. It was taking him all the mental power he could muster just to ignore her very existence. Not helping when her scent was testing the limit of his sanity.

---

As she'd woken up with the first blip of her alarm, Irvette arrived in her math class fully awake and alert. She had been rather on edge lately, especially at night. Although she figured it was just her being paranoid, Irvette always felt like she was being watched at night, like something was following her and hunting her down like in some thriller film.

It's just the first year spooks, Irvette told herself, reminding herself that it was just paranoia. Still she couldn't shake the feeling even though she did her best to ignore it. At least I still sleep fine.

Plopping down onto her seat, Irvette pulled out her notebook and pen, uncapping it and spinning in before looking at the boy next to her. "Morning Toby," she said brightly. "Ready for a morning of math?"

Speak of the devil. Toby didn't even need to look up from his laptop screen to know who was speaking to him. There could only be one person with that overpowering sweetness that almost made him lost his cool yesterday. And he prided himself for having better self-control than his century-old 'mother'.

"Morning," he responded back without looking at the speaker, determined to keep his unblinking eyes straight ahead at the screen. Though, he couldn't help trying to crack a joke at Irvette's next question. "Who wants to be ready for Math this early in the day? Unless you're a nerd for numbers." Then he smirked to himself.

"True," Irvette said, laughing lightly at the joke. The professor entered then, sliding the whiteboard down to begin scrawling down numbers for his lecture.

Toby was certainly not ready for class - the page on his screen had nothing to do with Math. Calculus was the least of his worries when Meg's queer reactions were still fresh on his mind. His companion wasn't kidding when she commented about how busy this supposedly quiet town seemed to be these few days. He didn't bother to hide the news article on his laptop monitor, because he was more concerned about this than some number theories he probably wouldn't need them in his daily life - for eternity.

Finally turning to Irvette, he asked her in a low voice, only enough for the girl to hear him, "Do you know... anything about last night?" He paused for a moment to choose his words carefully. "I heard there's a beast of sorts on loose in the residential area..."

"A beast?" Irvette echoed, eyes wide as she turned to the boy who'd shared the news. "No, I haven't heard anything about that. Is it... here? In Eisbeulf?"

Irvette's mind swirled back to the night before -- the ominous atmosphere, the rustling bushes, the creeping feeling that someone or something was following her. Was it... the beast? Irvette thought, thoughts skipping to the worst possibilities before she stopped herself. It shouldn't be -- why spare me then? She thought, refocusing on Toby.

Toby continued to watch Irvette closely. Seemed like she knew something - from the fleeting moment she looked away before she refocused on him again - but he wasn't sure.

"Mhm," he replied, still not taking his eyes off her. "Some said it's a bear. It's strange how wild animals are moving away from the woods to the town areas, isn't it?"

"Definitely out of the ordinary. Has anyone figured out why they're leaving the woods?" the girl asked, frowning. "Usually animals are smart enough to know to avoid areas where humans dwell."

See, Irvette. Nothing to be afraid of, it's just a lost bear wandering around. Nothing more, she thought to herself, trying to ease off the nervousness she felt. It worked, to a certain extent -- the nipping nervousness she felt receded to a light tapping that only bothered her when she thought deeply.

Toby couldn't help thinking back about Meg's words last night. He had a feeling that she wasn't talking about the bears or wildlife in this area. It sounded like something else, something more than just animals--

Hang on.

He remembered Meg telling him that the two of them were the only vampires in Eisbeulf. None of the covens would come here - or rather, they wouldn't want to risk coming here. For one, this town was packed with people around Irvette's age... A perfect place to feed on these young bloods, or even turn them into a powerful army of newborns. Those would be enough to get the dreaded Volturi coming down and ending this quiet town with a bloodbath.

Just like what had happened with the Cullens. Every vampire knew about their story, the battle at Washington for turning a girl Bella Swan into a vampire, and even giving birth to a hybrid - half-immortal - child.

He wondered why Meg was bold enough to bring him, who was still a newborn (until the end of the month), to this place. Maybe their allegiance wasn't with the Volturi? Some Asian vampire organization he didn't know?

He realized how little he knew about the woman who had saved his life, even if she granted this curse on him. Well, he had a very long life ahead to find out.

...If he and Meg could live long enough without getting eliminated by the Volturi.

Noticing Toby's brows furrow, Irvette turned to him and opened her mouth to ask if he was okay. The frown on the boy's face completed a portrait of conflict that made the girl hesitate to interrupt. Something from home? She wondered briefly, figuring that the boy needed some space to think. Focusing her attention on the professor, Irvette put her pen to paper.

Saisei: The Crimson Dawn

Moved to CS tab.

Baybridge: Halcyon Days [Superpowers/Semi-Sandbox]

---

---

「 In Motion 」

---

@Mr Allen J
DOVE Rally | Regal Square, Prince Ed-Field_

Similar to Meifeng, Shizuka was also part of the undercover squad, though less for the patrol work and more for the free food! This time, he tried to dress less casually: a dark midnight-blue coat with a lightweight RAVEN armor hidden underneath the nice clothes, still jeans but with boots instead of the usual sneakers. He had mentally turned off Reed's speech - not because the newly appointed director of DOVE was boring, but Shizuka had other things in mind.

Things that made this rally a waste of everybody's time unimportant, as far as he was concerned.

He could care less about his reputation among some of his co-workers as a professional slacker off desk work - he was never an office nerd anyway - but he did earn his place as the head of the intelligence department at his age. Promotion that came with both pros and cons. For one, he could take the necessary actions more promptly without having to wait for the retardedly long chain of command to reach him - just like old times - but it also came with much bigger responsibilities. A heavier burden to bear.

Intel was the thing that could make or break an organization like DOVE/RAVEN. With useful and timely information, they would be able to plan ahead and think of better strategies to save the situation; red herrings could potentially send everyone to an early death.

How troublesome.

Work woes aside, there was another reason for putting his mind elsewhere. Something more personal.

It had been a long time since he last saw - or even contacted - his twin, Haruka. He had hoped that his brother had been well, wondering when he would be coming back to Baybridge. That he wasn't giving Jennifer Caspin unnecessary troubles (and vice versa, of course).

Now that he was through with the main course, time for some desserts!

He made his way through the crowd towards the cake area. There were your standard, conventional fancy ones, but also the less appealing and funny-looking types. Well, it wouldn't hurt to give them a try - just a small piece for tasting.

As he went for the funnel cake, he bumped into a someone. A really tall man who was probably younger than Shizuka, but the height difference could easily reverse that around. Shizuka muttered a quick apology, but stopped to stare at this person.

"You look familiar..." Shizuka trailed off, then it clicked in his mind. "I think I've seen you somewhere before? With Quent - I mean Quentin Taylor."

---

Final Fantasy XV OST - Track 6: Encroaching Fear

One year ago | Somewhere in Ginza, Tokyo_

The most expensive district in the already costly city, Ginza was truly decked out with overpriced goods and services, reeking of filthy rich snobs drowning themselves in tobacco and booze. Fancy-looking shops and restaurants lined the street with bright lights that truly lived up to the nightlife of Tokyo, but that would be incomplete without a pretty hostess in your arms as you wobbled out from the red district, with numerous host clubs that could provide all the 'extra services' you would need as long as you had the money to pay for them.

Even with Japan being a country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world, that didn't mean zero crimes. Not in such a place where too much money, alcohol - even sex - were involved. Beneath all the materialistic glamor and sinful desires, that was where the darker truth lies. Law and justice had no place here; the underworld had their own set of rules, far more severe than some hypocritical court punishments. Especially when the stakes were much higher... where loyalty and trust would be tested to their literal limit.

Dealing with numerous classified information and intelligence exchange for as long as his time with RAVEN, Shizuka was fully aware of the danger in his field of work. Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if he had been marked by various organizations and syndicates for all the dark secrets kept inside his very head.

He brisked down the drizzling street, the black hoodie covering his head from the light rain, hiding his face from passersby as he strode through a meandering alleyway. If it wasn't for the tip that Ryu Koizumi, an agent friend he got along pretty well with from the Japanese Metahuman force Suzaku, had given him, Shizuka didn't want to be here. He'd be lying if he didn't feel one bit uncomfortable to be in such a place, seeing pairs of drunken geezers being towed around by women in glittering dresses and heavy makeups from the corner of his eye.

The sight of it was revolting.

He continued his way down the road towards the rendezvous point - a rundown rental apartment near the outskirts of the district - occasionally glancing around to make sure he wasn't being tailed. Sucking in a breath of cold, damp air, he pressed a palm to the wall, channeling his power across the wall and door.

...Seemed like this informant wasn't guarding at or anywhere near the doorway. Whipping out a gun before crashing into a suspicious place like this was pretty much standard cop procedure, even if bullets were useless against his ability. Still, it was best that he didn't provoke this broker unnecessarily, and so the concealable pistol around his ankle was left as it was.

He pulled back the hand, then he rapped against the metallic door three times. He could hear the sound of approaching footsteps, and the heaviness told him the person still had his shoes - maybe boots - on.

There was a pause, then a raspy voice spoke from beyond the door, "In the cicada's cry, no sign--"

"--Can foretell how soon it must die," Shizuka finished the haiku, the 'pass code' to identify each other as taught to him by Ryu. Poetry was his older twin's forte than to him, but he could feel an irony hidden in between those short, succinct lines.

There was another pause, and the door finally creaked open outwards, causing the agent to take a step back.

"Please come in."

The speaker was a man who appeared to be in his fifties, but he didn't even have as much gray hair as Shizuka used to have before the latter dyed them black (about a month ago). The wrinkles around the man's face deepened, seemingly surprised that his supposed client this time was a young man who could easily pass off as a teenager given how casually Shizuka had dressed for a meeting like this. However, those sharp, steely eyes didn't degenerate with his aging look as they studied Shizuka closely.

"Sorry for the disturbance," Shizuka muttered when the man closed the door behind him, careful to avoid direct eye contact with the man - unlike the Western society, direct eye contact from someone of less seniority were seen as rude, a form of disrespect. Once the formalities were done and over with, the young agent looked up to survey the interior.

The apartment was empty - not a single furniture was in sight sans the worn-out tatamis under their feet and a bag of trash at the back corner of the room. There were some graffitis on the peeling walls, ranging from childish scribbles to the more aggressive swearings that could be pretty much summarized to "FUCK U METAS".

The man waited for Shizuka to finish his check before leading the younger man to the middle of the room, gesturing for him to sit on the floor. "I have nothing to hide here," he chuckled. Then he tapped a finger to his temple, giving Shizuka a knowing smile.

Shizuka raised an eyebrow at the gesture, but otherwise he was impassive towards what the man was saying. "As they say, 'the most dangerous place is also the safest', huh?" He finally looked at the man in the eye. "I think it's time we get straight to the point. I believe Koizumi had already given you a brief."

"Of course, of course." The man bobbed his head, still smiling. "I apologize that I don't have any tea to serve you..." He gave Shizuka a small bow, but the younger agent raised a hand to stop him.

"Uh, I don't think that's necessary. I'm sorry, but we'll have to skip the formalities - time is running out. We both know that."

"...Very well." And the man stretched out a hand.

Shizuka hesitated for a moment but still clasped his hand around the man's in the end. His vision suddenly turned black, then it refocused. He was no longer in the room - or even in Japan anymore. The scenery around him felt much warmer, more humid - probably somewhere in the more southern parts of Asia. Though, sepia was the only type of shading that filled his sight. He knew that this wasn't teleportation - not even time-travel, for the matter - because he could still feel the man's rough hand in his.

"I can share part of my memories with other people through touch," the man's voice explained in his head. "This is how I'm able to exchange sensitive intel only to specific individuals I choose. After all, the stakes are much higher in our line of business, don't you think so?"

Without waiting for Shizuka's response, the man led the young agent through a blur of buildings before they paused for a short moment, enough for Shizuka to make out a street sign just in front of a fancy, European-style bungalow. Speeding through the gates, through the door, they reached a posh study room lined with wooden shelves filled with books. On the table just before the glass doors that led to a balcony beyond was a table strewn with papers. All written in Chinese. The man zoomed into one of them next to a photo frame.

Shizuka's eyes widened. Both at the picture in the photo frame, and the information on the magnified paper.

The vision disappeared when the man pulled his hand back, breaking the physical contact with Shizuka, and he stood up. "I guess that's it. I have returned the favor I owed to Inoue-san. I wish you all the best."

The two men parted ways and silence filled the apartment once more, all empty and deserted with no signs of any person around or within.

Ghost in the Shell was a good movie.

I haven't watched the Hollywood take on GitS since it's not out in my region yet, but I do plan on giving it a shot.

I've watched the 1995 movie, SAC and Arise (2015 reboot). GitS was one of the titles that piqued my interest in the cyberpunk genre, and I really enjoy it for the philosophical and psychological exploration of the characters and setting, of man versus computers. Even the director of Matrix cited GitS as one of the sources of inspiration to the trilogy.

So yep. I feel that I should give the live action a chance even if the "whitewashing" feels a bit odd to me, and the trailer shows numerous scenes similar the 1995 animated movie. It's going to be hard to watch it unbiased, but I know the CGI and actions won't disappoint at least.