From the Mud
Jan. 20th, 2026 01:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerCast of Characters (and Groups) (listed the Japanese way of surname first): Miyamoto Suna or Sunao (Xander), currently a low-level yakuza shimai of the Hisamatsu-gumi, a direct subsidiary of the Amaya-kai
Ikemoto Akiho (Warren), Matriarch of the Hisamatsu-gumi, a Direct Family of the Amaya-kai
Kumai Atae (Jesse), a higher ranking member of the Hisamatsu-gumi
Author's Notes: In this universe, Japan is run by the women. For once Miyamoto's not speaking in Kansai-ben at all, though she's definitely experiencing internalized nonbinary/enbyphobia. Given that Kumai’s irezumi includes the lotus, the fact that she’s using it as a metaphor is probably significant.
Even in this universe, Xander's a nerd that's watched B5.
Terms: gokudou-another term for yakuza
konbini-convenience store, but much fancier than in America
irezumi-Japanese-style tattoo
irezumi no youkai-tattoo spirits and the sign of a yakuza. Invoking gives you a battle aura and basically invites the full power of the spirit. Largely, this is done before combat. Drawing on it gives a lower and long-lasting effect.
chinpira-used in two different ways here; technically means local, small time gang members not affiliated with the yakuza, but can be used as an insult to deny a yakuza member the 'dignity' of acknowledging membership, can also be an insult to punks just looking for a fight
aneki-the female equivalent for Aniki, "older brother" (superior in the yakuza)
haiena-Japanese spelling of hyena (in Romanji obviously)
More author's notes: background notes
Main Points:
Buffy/Yakuza AU (Bloody Petals)
Chapter Summary: Suna (Xander)'s night turns around when Kumai (Jesse) steps in during an encounter.
Word Count: 1179
Rating: Teen
Warnings: Mostly hints, but Miyamoto's definitely dealing with nonbinaryphobia/enbyphobia. It's not clear that any of the others actually know, but the stress of keeping it secret and the internalized shame of the pull to live authentically are clearly bothering her.
Suna’s day was already crap enough. As one of the youngest shimai in the Hisamatsu, of course she’s the errand girl, kicked around, expected to light every cigarette and fill every glass, and put up with verbal abuse besides. And, humiliatingly, she feels tears prick at her eyes on the way to fetch food from the konbini. She wishes she was strong enough not to cry, but she’s only half-woman in her soul. No wonder she can’t do anything right.
And then two girls squatting and smoking decide to stand as she walks by. One pulls at her shorter haircut. “What do we have here, some little boy out to play yakuza?”
The other one laughs mockingly. It’s school cliques over again, and Suna has no time for this.
“Leave me alone.” She hopes it’s a growl, that her voice isn’t shaking and the tear streaks aren’t visible on her face. Given how successful it is in warding them away, it seems rather unlikely.
The other one gets even closer, in her face. “Or what? Like a chinpira like you’s gonna invoke on us. Your irezumi’s not even done yet. Go home and cry to your mama. She actually scares me, unlike you.”
And then a voice echoes from an alley. “Is this a private fight, or can anyone join?” Shockingly, Suna recognizes that voice—it’s Kumai-aneki, lounging casually against a wall, though what she could possibly be doing here Suna can’t imagine. Maybe this was some kind of twisted test. That’s not uncommon in the Hisamatsu-gumi. In which case, Suna’s surely failed, and this isn’t a rescue, so all she feels is dread.
Kumai-aneki’s menacing aura is clear even from here, even for those with little to no spiritual senses. The chinpira’s bravado fades quickly, in the face of that. “This isn’t a fight” the first one responds nervously.
Kumai-aneki walks out to meet them casually, dangerous smile without a single flaw. “Well, you’re sure right about that one. But any fight can be made better if you just try, and if you’ve heard one thing about the Hisamatsu, it’s that we know how to party. Even our lowest shimai, isn’t that right, Miyamoto-chan?”
Something stirs low and hateful in Suna’s gut, a dark, ugly feeling that could consume the whole world if not contained. She can’t remember anymore if that was there before or if the irezumi no youkai introduced it, but either way it’s enough to Some of it must show on her face, in her eyes, something not quite human, because the two stammer out apologies, bow, and make a run for it. The older gokudou waves, as if she was merely holding a door and politely indicating for Suna to go through first rather than practically setting an attack dog on some utterly unprepared civilians, and with a laugh Suna gives chase. There’s something cathartic about their wide-eyed terror and the initial screams. Still, they know this part of the city better than Suna, and they manage to lose her in a maze of twisting streets and back alleys, and she growls in defeat.
Kumai-aneki isn’t far behind. “Did you see where they went?” Suna demands, forgetting herself in the heat of the chase, but the older gokudou doesn’t take offense unlike so many of her peers, just smiles, having clearly enjoyed the chase.
“There’s a shortcut not far from here. They’re probably long gone by this point, but I’m glad to see you have some bite in you after all.” She pulls out a cigarette, and Suna, trained by the boot at this point, hurries to light it, but Kumai-aneki waves that off, too. “If you keep at it, you’ll beat those saps someday, kid.”
Suna crouches down, balancing on the balls of her feet. It’s better than falling to her knees in front of an aneki just because she has no sense of discipline or common sense. She’d put everything she had into the run and even then had accomplished nothing. “What do you mean?”
Kumai-aneki waves at the city with the hand holding the cigarette. “They’re all secure. They don’t know what it’s like, scrounging in the dirt, but you know. You’re the daughter of a murderer, right? So you don’t take anything for granted, and you’re willing to not fight fair. You just need a little push.”
Pretty words. They’d be encouraging if not for the fact that they’re complete and utter bullshit. “If I didn’t still have my pride, I wouldn’t be letting any of this get to me,” Suna corrects bitterly.
“Who said anything about pride? Of course you have your pride, and you need it anyway. Without pride, how would you strive for anything? Like the lotus blooming in the mud, it’s that struggle that gives your pride meaning.” Kumai-aneki speaks from personal experience, from the sound of it, and that’s a little surprising. “Why don’t you invoke your irezumi no youkai in any of the sparring?”
“It’d...it’d be disrespectful,” Suna stammers, not sure how to actually say that she’s not sure she’d know how to stop if she invoked. It’s hard enough to stay in control in moments like these, let alone with each new round of ink. More than anything she wants not to prove to anyone that a foreign haiena spirit choosing her won’t lead to the kind of possession that would require putting her down like a rabid dog, but you don’t go around saying such things out loud, much less to your own superiors. The excuse must sound as feeble to Kumai-aneki’s ears as it does her own, because that glimpse is skeptical.
“Or you’ve learned being underestimated is, itself, a useful trait,” the woman muses, Suna’s heart hammering in her throat and unable to confirm or deny. “Still, hiding in the shadows doesn’t get you noticed, and without ambition, without pride, you don’t climb the ranks. The key is to use your pride when it serves you, and to not be ruled by it. Natsukawa-chan and Akiyama-chan were your childhood friends, right? At this rate, even they are making a name for themselves. You wanna let them soar off without you?”
Suna really doesn’t know what to make of this encounter. She appreciates more than anything being rescued, but she’s not sure what Kumai-aneki wants from her and it’s making her anxious.
“I suspect Matriarch Ikemoto will be giving me my own Family soon. You’re wasted as a mere lapdog, and I’d like subordinates I can trust.” Those are motives Suna can understand—what was it G’kar had called it? Enlightened self-interest. She bows her head as Kumai-aneki pats her on the shoulder. “Well, I’d hurry if I were you—and clean up the blood. You caught yourself on a sign during the chase and didn’t even notice.”
On her return, Suna gets teased about not being able to even run an errand without finding a fight, but there’s some respect in the words for once, and Kumai-aneki winks when no one else is looking. Her day’s looking up after all.
Ikemoto Akiho (Warren), Matriarch of the Hisamatsu-gumi, a Direct Family of the Amaya-kai
Kumai Atae (Jesse), a higher ranking member of the Hisamatsu-gumi
Author's Notes: In this universe, Japan is run by the women. For once Miyamoto's not speaking in Kansai-ben at all, though she's definitely experiencing internalized nonbinary/enbyphobia. Given that Kumai’s irezumi includes the lotus, the fact that she’s using it as a metaphor is probably significant.
Even in this universe, Xander's a nerd that's watched B5.
Terms: gokudou-another term for yakuza
konbini-convenience store, but much fancier than in America
irezumi-Japanese-style tattoo
irezumi no youkai-tattoo spirits and the sign of a yakuza. Invoking gives you a battle aura and basically invites the full power of the spirit. Largely, this is done before combat. Drawing on it gives a lower and long-lasting effect.
chinpira-used in two different ways here; technically means local, small time gang members not affiliated with the yakuza, but can be used as an insult to deny a yakuza member the 'dignity' of acknowledging membership, can also be an insult to punks just looking for a fight
aneki-the female equivalent for Aniki, "older brother" (superior in the yakuza)
haiena-Japanese spelling of hyena (in Romanji obviously)
More author's notes: background notes
Main Points:
Buffy/Yakuza AU (Bloody Petals)
Chapter Summary: Suna (Xander)'s night turns around when Kumai (Jesse) steps in during an encounter.
Word Count: 1179
Rating: Teen
Warnings: Mostly hints, but Miyamoto's definitely dealing with nonbinaryphobia/enbyphobia. It's not clear that any of the others actually know, but the stress of keeping it secret and the internalized shame of the pull to live authentically are clearly bothering her.
Suna’s day was already crap enough. As one of the youngest shimai in the Hisamatsu, of course she’s the errand girl, kicked around, expected to light every cigarette and fill every glass, and put up with verbal abuse besides. And, humiliatingly, she feels tears prick at her eyes on the way to fetch food from the konbini. She wishes she was strong enough not to cry, but she’s only half-woman in her soul. No wonder she can’t do anything right.
And then two girls squatting and smoking decide to stand as she walks by. One pulls at her shorter haircut. “What do we have here, some little boy out to play yakuza?”
The other one laughs mockingly. It’s school cliques over again, and Suna has no time for this.
“Leave me alone.” She hopes it’s a growl, that her voice isn’t shaking and the tear streaks aren’t visible on her face. Given how successful it is in warding them away, it seems rather unlikely.
The other one gets even closer, in her face. “Or what? Like a chinpira like you’s gonna invoke on us. Your irezumi’s not even done yet. Go home and cry to your mama. She actually scares me, unlike you.”
And then a voice echoes from an alley. “Is this a private fight, or can anyone join?” Shockingly, Suna recognizes that voice—it’s Kumai-aneki, lounging casually against a wall, though what she could possibly be doing here Suna can’t imagine. Maybe this was some kind of twisted test. That’s not uncommon in the Hisamatsu-gumi. In which case, Suna’s surely failed, and this isn’t a rescue, so all she feels is dread.
Kumai-aneki’s menacing aura is clear even from here, even for those with little to no spiritual senses. The chinpira’s bravado fades quickly, in the face of that. “This isn’t a fight” the first one responds nervously.
Kumai-aneki walks out to meet them casually, dangerous smile without a single flaw. “Well, you’re sure right about that one. But any fight can be made better if you just try, and if you’ve heard one thing about the Hisamatsu, it’s that we know how to party. Even our lowest shimai, isn’t that right, Miyamoto-chan?”
Something stirs low and hateful in Suna’s gut, a dark, ugly feeling that could consume the whole world if not contained. She can’t remember anymore if that was there before or if the irezumi no youkai introduced it, but either way it’s enough to Some of it must show on her face, in her eyes, something not quite human, because the two stammer out apologies, bow, and make a run for it. The older gokudou waves, as if she was merely holding a door and politely indicating for Suna to go through first rather than practically setting an attack dog on some utterly unprepared civilians, and with a laugh Suna gives chase. There’s something cathartic about their wide-eyed terror and the initial screams. Still, they know this part of the city better than Suna, and they manage to lose her in a maze of twisting streets and back alleys, and she growls in defeat.
Kumai-aneki isn’t far behind. “Did you see where they went?” Suna demands, forgetting herself in the heat of the chase, but the older gokudou doesn’t take offense unlike so many of her peers, just smiles, having clearly enjoyed the chase.
“There’s a shortcut not far from here. They’re probably long gone by this point, but I’m glad to see you have some bite in you after all.” She pulls out a cigarette, and Suna, trained by the boot at this point, hurries to light it, but Kumai-aneki waves that off, too. “If you keep at it, you’ll beat those saps someday, kid.”
Suna crouches down, balancing on the balls of her feet. It’s better than falling to her knees in front of an aneki just because she has no sense of discipline or common sense. She’d put everything she had into the run and even then had accomplished nothing. “What do you mean?”
Kumai-aneki waves at the city with the hand holding the cigarette. “They’re all secure. They don’t know what it’s like, scrounging in the dirt, but you know. You’re the daughter of a murderer, right? So you don’t take anything for granted, and you’re willing to not fight fair. You just need a little push.”
Pretty words. They’d be encouraging if not for the fact that they’re complete and utter bullshit. “If I didn’t still have my pride, I wouldn’t be letting any of this get to me,” Suna corrects bitterly.
“Who said anything about pride? Of course you have your pride, and you need it anyway. Without pride, how would you strive for anything? Like the lotus blooming in the mud, it’s that struggle that gives your pride meaning.” Kumai-aneki speaks from personal experience, from the sound of it, and that’s a little surprising. “Why don’t you invoke your irezumi no youkai in any of the sparring?”
“It’d...it’d be disrespectful,” Suna stammers, not sure how to actually say that she’s not sure she’d know how to stop if she invoked. It’s hard enough to stay in control in moments like these, let alone with each new round of ink. More than anything she wants not to prove to anyone that a foreign haiena spirit choosing her won’t lead to the kind of possession that would require putting her down like a rabid dog, but you don’t go around saying such things out loud, much less to your own superiors. The excuse must sound as feeble to Kumai-aneki’s ears as it does her own, because that glimpse is skeptical.
“Or you’ve learned being underestimated is, itself, a useful trait,” the woman muses, Suna’s heart hammering in her throat and unable to confirm or deny. “Still, hiding in the shadows doesn’t get you noticed, and without ambition, without pride, you don’t climb the ranks. The key is to use your pride when it serves you, and to not be ruled by it. Natsukawa-chan and Akiyama-chan were your childhood friends, right? At this rate, even they are making a name for themselves. You wanna let them soar off without you?”
Suna really doesn’t know what to make of this encounter. She appreciates more than anything being rescued, but she’s not sure what Kumai-aneki wants from her and it’s making her anxious.
“I suspect Matriarch Ikemoto will be giving me my own Family soon. You’re wasted as a mere lapdog, and I’d like subordinates I can trust.” Those are motives Suna can understand—what was it G’kar had called it? Enlightened self-interest. She bows her head as Kumai-aneki pats her on the shoulder. “Well, I’d hurry if I were you—and clean up the blood. You caught yourself on a sign during the chase and didn’t even notice.”
On her return, Suna gets teased about not being able to even run an errand without finding a fight, but there’s some respect in the words for once, and Kumai-aneki winks when no one else is looking. Her day’s looking up after all.
