Circumstances
Roy and Ed find out about the new contract.
As the Colonel’s head bent toward him, Ed shoved him off to arm’s length. “You can’t do that! This is a shounen series!” he hissed.
Arc: Humor
Under Cover
For the Put Ed In A Dress challenge. Secret missions, entertaining disguises, pissed off Alchemists. .
- Associated Fanart: Ed and Roy dancing by Moumusu.
Ed paused, pulling the bodice up, and poked at it suspiciously. “This,” he remarked very flatly, “is padded.”
Ever – Chapter Seven
Ed’s lessons turn to manipulation.
This was the easy part. Edward knew a challenge when he saw one, no matter the context. Roy watched the first reflex straightening of his spine, saw his eyes widen as he took in the actual wording of Roy’s challenge, saw them narrow and watched Edward’s mouth curve up in a scimitar smile.
Fiat Roomate
Ed has to deal with a housemate.
“All right. I can deal with her fixation on healthy food, Sensei was the same way. It’s probably a female thing.” Ed paused to glance suspiciously at Mustang. He could have sworn the man who terrorized hard-bitten generals every day and twice on Sundays had just squeaked.
Revenge
How Ryouma got so girl-clueless.
"Gabriel-sama?" Arariel leaned around the doorway, and raised her brows at the seal Gabriel had just completed. "Um. Someone due for a little divine punishment?"
"Eminently," Gabriel said, between her teeth.
Sight
A bit of Tezuka’s family background.
In one of the few speeches Kunimitsu’s father made that Kunimitsu’s grandfather approved of, the man declared, "Everything is about connections – who you know, you notices you, and especially who you can rely on." His grandfather had declared the rest of the speech to be garbage, but that was hardly unexpected.
Unexpected Guests
How Ryouma’s uncle came to be away from the temple.
Temples and their priests got all kinds of visitors, some of them pretty odd. But the last thing Konzen had expected, when he opened the door to answer the bell, was for a tangle of limbs to land on and hug him while crowing "Sanzou!"
Camoflage
Crowley under cover.
As far as cover went, it was nearly perfect. Sure, there were dangers, like the gimlet eye of the angel, who certainly suspected that something was not right, but couldn’t put his finger on what that something might be. Crowley could deal with that in his sleep, and frequently did.
On the Other Side of Town
Ryouma gets an offer.
Ryoma looked at the boy across from him skeptically. "Not that I think you’re lying, but remind me why you’re doing this again?"
"Call it sibling rivalry," Michael replied shortly.
Offers
Michael talks to Tezuka.
Tezuka was taking a break and drinking some water when he noticed the angel approaching.
On Playing with the Angelic Host
Tezuka’s rules about angels.
Tezuka adjusted his glasses and gave Ryoma the quiet, grave look that meant that the boy had done something that was not, as it were, directly forbidden, but that Ryoma certainly should have known better, given his buchou, the world, and the heavenly host. "Echizen," said Tezuka calmly, "What have I told you about dealing with the heavenly host?"
Unexpected Visitors
Michael encounters Setsuna at Fudoumine.
“I thought all of you left,” Setsuna continued. Despite his words, he was smiling easily, standing in his favorite slouched position. “So what’s up with you being here?”
“Belial is playing with souls, and I don’t want him to get a lot,” Michael replied shortly.
Parallel
Michael’s offer to Fudoumine.
The guy he was here to visit, Tachibana, seemed as pleased by the news as anything else. “So,” he said. “Yukimura will be playing at Nationals.” He practically glowed with anticipation.
“Yep,” Michael said.
“And you’re here because…?” the girl asked, eyes sharp.
Nine Tenths
Possible answers about Kirihara’s proclivities.
Niou’s eyes narrowed. “So,” he drawled, “it’s one of yours that makes him do that thing with the red eyes and the violence?”
Ministers of Grace
Lucifer passes through Seigaku and Hatter spots Fuji.
When the Lord of Hell and what had to be his strongest supporter appearedat the courts, Kunimitsu took a prompt and firm hold of Fuji’s arm.
Profession
Belial chats with Sakaki, who turns out to be an old ‘friend’.
Sakaki Tarou paused on his way across the grounds of Rikkai Dai to visit his contemporaries on staff, and watched the junior high tennis team practicing. This team was always worth watching, but this time something specific caught his attention. Something about them had changed, since the last time he’d observed these players. It was most notable in Yukimura-kun, and Tarou sighed faintly as he contemplated the inherent disorder of what he was seeing.
"Taken," a light voice stated next to his ear.
Great Minds
A Belial and Fuji moment.
Shuusuke took a precautionary step backwards. "Is there any particular reason I should ignore a friend’s warning in order to talk with you?"
Arrangements
Ryouma gets off on the wrong foot with Kurai.
Ryoma caught the demon girl looking around after Fudoumine practice. He estimated that he’d end up running about forty laps for this, but decided that it was probably worth it. “Hey, you,” he called.
Persuasion
Ryouma makes some suggestions to Lucifer.
Ryoma was sitting on the porch at home when a tall man strolled into the yard and stood in front of him. He decided that the man was probably someone that he could get along with…or, rather, someone that he wished played tennis.
Headaches
Tezuka finds out what Ryouma’s been up to.
Tezuka Kunimitsu decided that he was having a bad day when Echizen walked up to him with that look in his eye; the one that Echizen had picked up from Fuji.
Green Eyed
Raphael comes looking for Michael and gets a surprise.
He very nearly bypassed the first school, figuring it for a fluke, until the boy with glasses looked directly at him, sighed, and inquired, "We’re not interested, but thank you anyway." He eyed Raphael. "You might try Hyoutei."
Relatives
Tezuka talks to relatives about his problems.
“Pfft. You make me feel old. I’m Hiiragizawa Eriol, though you’re free to call me ‘uncle’ if you like.” Something about Eriol’s purely friendly smile made Tezuka uneasy. He wasn’t sure precisely why he wanted to have a wall at his back at the moment, but he forced himself to ignore the urge and go on.
In the Family
Belial introduces the Fujis to the Mudous.
Notes: Contains consensual sibling incest.
Yuuta sighed, resigned, and then had to take a second look at the person who had hailed his brother. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone dressed quite that flamboyantly outside a festival. Or, possibly, a circus. He was busy enough looking at the top hat that it took him a few moments to notice that his brother had paused beside the strange person, and was now standing on Yuuta’s other side.
Between him and the strangers. Yuuta took a closer look.
Regarding
A memo is mis-directed to Tsuzuki’s desk.
"To all demons rank of Brigadier or Duke," Tsuzuki read aloud, "from the domain of Beelzebub. Angelic response to recent demonic acquisitions among mortals are reaching undesirable levels. Any demons who are free are encouraged to go, forthwith, to Assiah (e.g. Earth, the mortal realm) and rectify this. Sec’y, Choronzon."
Hisoka was staring. "There is nothing more blind than bureaucracy," he declared with conviction. "They can’t possibly really think you’ll participate."
Tickets to Zimbabwe
Eriol visits Seigaku, much to Tezuka’s dismay.
Tezuka could have predicted that Eriol would walk right up to Fuji. He also could have predicted the sweet smile that would grace Eriol’s face when said meeting occurred. He had not, however, predicted that Fuji would smile and greet Eriol as if the man were an old friend.
A Small Problem
Aziraphale comes looking for Crowley.
It was a beautiful day: the sunlight was warm and the bleachers reasonably comfortable, and his host didn’t have a match with Atobe for at least another half hour. Crowley stretched and yawned, supremely content with just how good life was.
It really was a pity that things were about to get so complicated.
Cost
Tatsumi has a minor upset.
Tatsumi Seiichirou read the memo he had found in the middle of Tsuzuki’s desk. Then he read it again. He put it down, carefully, and walked, calmly, down the hall to Konoe’s office.
"I’m going to be gone this afternoon," he informed the department head, and teleported out before Konoe could do more than blink.
Mother Hen
Ooishi gets a taste of his own medicine.
Raphael snorted. "What is it with you warrior types that you never want to actually talk to a physician before it’s a crisis? Come here," pointing to the space in front of him, "and let me look at your wrist. You’ve been favoring it all day."
Family Reunion
The Messiah and the Adversary chat, and Lucifer drops in. Aziraphale and Crowley sweat.
The Adversary stared at the Messiah, frowning. The Messiah stared right back, also frowning.
"You’re not what I was expecting," Adam said, at last, feeling that a Messiah ought to be wearing a white bathrobe, or have a halo, or somehow demonstrate his difference from ordinary humans (perhaps funny-colored eyes?).
Better
Watari takes advantage of the situation.
Watari narrowed his eyes; there was only one reason why the workaholic would not be at his desk during the office hours: a Tsuzuki-related accident. Watari stalked to Tsuzuki’s desk and examined the mess for clues, until a memo on top of the file caught his eyes. The slight frown of concentration changed to a look of understanding, then that of fierce determination, and the next moment, he was gone from the office.
Saintly
Raphael earns the gratitude of Seigaku.
Just being an angel didn’t qualify Raphael as a particularly nice person. In fact, he’d be the first to admit that he wasn’t even a particularly good person.
Balance
Eriol visits Hyoutei and makes Atobe an offer.
Hiyoshi noticed the stranger first, and decided that he’d regret it for the rest of his life. This was especially true since the last time a stranger had appeared on the courts, Jirou had run off with him and there had been some business about an antichrist, the explanation for which Hiyoshi was determined to ignore.
The Dotted Line
Belial gets a tennis team.
"Absolutely no interfering in the games in any way, shape or form, or the whole deal’s off," Sanada declared, firmly.
Belial leaned hir chin in hir hand. "Doesn’t that conflict with the clause about injury-proofing, though?"
Echo
Kirihara has a problem with spillover.
No one had told him that he was signing up for this.
Interesting Times
Kurikara and Michael hit it off.
Kippei really did hope that at some point his days would become less interesting.
The Devil Went Down to Hyoutei
Mad Hatter tempts Ohtori and tweaks Sakaki’s nose.
Someone had claimed the practice room ahead of him; the plaintive notes of a violin filtered dimly through the closed door, flaunting his reserved 5:15 to 6:15 slot in Ohtori Choutarou’s face.
Cooperative Ventures
One Kurosaki meets another Kurosaki.
"Cousin." Hisoka planted his fists on his hips and glared up… and up… at the other young man. "Impossible."
Teacher
Yukimura meets his new magic teacher and said teacher’s housemate.
"So, tell me about these people."
It wasn’t really that Seiichi didn’t trust Belial. He did. He just also had a lively respect for his demon’s sense of humor.
Reconnaissance
Ukitake reports on disturbances in Tokyo.
Juushirou contemplated the blank page for a long time, marshaling his thoughts, before picking up his pen and beginning to write one of the most improbable reports in the history of Soul Society.
Home Again, Home Again
Konzen gets home and he and Ryouma finally meet.
Ryouma was fairly used to uproars around the house every now and then, especially when Nanako found his dad’s latest stash of magazines or one of his noisier senpai stopped by for a game.
This, however, sounded a little different.
This Time
Tezuka gets to high school and meets his rather unsettling new senpai.
At least there weren’t any supernatural beings hanging around this year.
Recruiting
Ryouma makes Moonlily an offer.
To whom it may concern. Echizen Ryouma proposes for those Grigori who feel an interest that they claim their own place in the emerging realm of heaven/hell.
Compromise
Karupin has some issues with Ryouma’s new realm.
Echizen Ryoma had two loves in his life. (Actually, he had three, though he would never admit it, at least not until the said third love stopped playing so damned hard to get.) Anyone from the Seishun Senior High tennis club could tell you the first one: tennis. Any of them could also tell you the second: his cat. So no one said anything when Karupin started to tag along on some of their practice days.
Hard to Get
Ryouma is still chasing Tezuka.
Dear Buchou,
Happy 40th. Heard you passed the Park Ranger certification; congratulations. Hope bears don’t eat you.
A Demon and Hir Boy
Kirihara in Hell.
"You… you… you ate Tash!" Jadis declared, pointing a shaking finger at Akaya. Or, possibly, at the cloud of smoke in front of him that had, until very recently, been one of Jadis’ inferior demons.
The Direct Approach
Ryouma finally catches Tezuka.
He hadn’t just been making excuses when he told Lily that he couldn’t come to Echizen’s “Hi, I’m Dead Too” party, as the man had called it.
The Sound of Music
Sanada gets enspelled and everyone gets a surprise.
Belial really couldn’t help but find it entertaining that Genichirou complained about Hell’s demons not being serious enough in their work.
"I mean, really," Genichirou was currently holding forth, "this is ridiculous, what am I doing here? I’m in the wrong story!"
Irony
Ryouma takes a vacation.
Ryouma nodded politely to the group that had gathered at his request. Several hundred years was enough to let someone get used to the same faces and personalities, he’d found, and so he knew almost every one of the assembled very, very well. Especially since he’d played tennis with them for several hundred years. He tugged at his cap, a habit that even death hadn’t been able to banish, and sighed.
Outtakes One
Author and Muse comments on the side, part one.
Outtakes Two
Author and Muse comments on the side, part two.