[Fic] Eyeshield 21 - This Part

[dayofcaligula]

Title: This Part
Author: dayofcaligula
Ratings/Warnings: K, Karin's musings, lighthearted.
Pairing/Character(s): Unsui Kongo/Karin Koizumi
Fandom: Eyeshield 21
Disclaimer: I don't own Eyeshield 21 or any of its characters.
Summary: There was a subtle conflict in Karin's mind on how she is finally seeing her friendship with Unsui.
A/N: Timeline for this story is

Comments

[dayofcaligula]

And, there's also Karin testing the subject by generalizing it like what Unsui did. She knows that he knows that she knows what he meant. She's letting him do it on his own. In this story, for now, he didn't pursue it. Eventually, of course, he will tell her everything.

Also, the two of them love compromise. It was something that they discovered in their friendship along the way. With Unsui being Unsui, Karin has to find her ways to lessen his burden. When their relationship develops, it becomes a synergy, which I find to be very beautiful.

I am also thinking that their personalities causes their only problem: Unsui not being comfortable having Karin helping around when he knows he can do it on his own (and it disrupts his individuality/insert-Buddha-here). Karin, on the other hand, is challenged by her love of preoccupation. She didn't feel quite at ease at the fact that Unsui is now a part of it, something/someone so constant and something/someone that wouldn't change, like a detour to her unending maze - a glitch in her search for new things. Since she is extremely feminine and sensitive, I had her have the problem that she might love him so much that she'd forget her world and I think it is the otherwise of what is inherent in her nature to be.

What they had in the story is like an inside conversation. I don't think someone would get it automatically by just randomly joining in.

I only hope they are still, at the very least, in-character.

[cherry_tiger]

Hot damn, I love your third paragraph so much. Cause it's making me love this pairing so much more. You're totally right, Unsui doesn't want to depend on anyone, especially since he's trying to be his own person after stepping away from Agon's shadow. And I love what you have in mind for Karin, I never really thought of it that way and yet it totally makes sense! I can see her trying to just explore a new world for her to create new stories for her manga, and the fear that having someone to constantly love may limit that.

And I wouldn't worry too much about whether or not they're being in-character. As a lot of this happens after the manga, and it is basically fanon, a lot of this will go down to guess work anyways. If anything, you're definitely respecting the characters in what you develop for them and it fits them so well. Besides, it makes you (and us few readers) incredibly happy! And I think that matters. ^^

[dayofcaligula]

It's more of Unsui trying to be his own person and not trying to be a burden to other people because he's selfless just like that. He prefers to give and rejects receiving (and only accepts by virtue of dependent origination). Karin, on the other hand and by the end of the day, accepted her love for Unsui realizing that it's actually good to have a detour in her unending maze: for her not to get lost and have somewhere to return to (like a person to his/her home).

You are right. Given that the mangakas of ES21 didn't give us too much information on Unsui and Karin, I suppose it is more of another person's (I, in this instance) characterization trying to make a story out of them.

Btw, I have this multi-chapter AU story for them vaguely inspired by the manga Shamo, dark, but adding a little bit of ES21 characters to fit into it: Unsui taking his lost brother Agon's identity (an ex-convict, but it was Unsui who served the sentence as Agon disappeared) as the main man/fighter (action: karate/muay thai/hand-to-hand combat/boxing) in an underground combat arena of a gangster leader. Karin, a doctor and the daughter of the gangster leader, starts noticing that she's been treating (every after fight) another person who's obviously not Agon. He told her the secret, blah-blah-so-it-goes. I actually have an ending to this already, but I am very bad at prolonging my stories (I am also imagining the horror of writing about the action scenes) so I haven't had the time and the guts to really fix the problem. I do love the idea though that it makes me quite apprehensive! What do you think?

[cherry_tiger]

I definitely love the idea for your AU! I checked out Shamo for a bit too so I can get a better grasp of the whole fighting thing, and I can totally see how this could work, especially with Unsui taking over Agon's identity and with even the possibility of Agon coming back to haunt him. It sounds so fascinating and something I'd definitely check out!

Would you like some help to write the chapters out? Or I could beta for you if you want. I understand the frustration of writing action scenes. I'm kinda struggling with them myself currently, but I'm slowly, really slowly, developing it. So far so good and no complaints! But one can never be too sure, and mine's really fantasy based rather than one that involves martial arts (which I have very little info on, my sister took up Tae Kwan Do which is far from perfect for this story for me to use), so I may not be too much of an aid but I'll do my best to help out and see this happen! (It MUST happen!)

[dayofcaligula]

I don't want to reveal a lot of things, but I guess it's alright since it's a given that Agon will reappear. Also, I might not do it now, and not so soon even, but I would really like to know more of your input in my story. I'll contact you ever so often as soon as I get this fic machine in my head going (most likely by summer next year, when there is a school break)! Thank you! As I calculate it in my head, this is going to be a big project and I'm not sure I'm willing to invest a lot of time researching and doing something like this, but we'll see! I love Unsui/Karin enough so I guess that'll motivate me further.

For the mean time, have a happy new year!

[cherry_tiger]

Oh, I'm sorry if I revealed a bit too much. I was thinking Unsui HAS to face Agon at some point anyways if he ever wants to truly be "free". This same logic applies in ES21, where I seriously wish they'd show Enma facing Saikyoudai, cause not only do we get Sena facing Hiruma, Unsui also has to face Agon, which would be amazing to witness!

I'm still liking the idea for this though and yes, you're totally free to contact me! I'll definitely do my best to help you in any way I can! Be sure to write down whatever little ideas you have so that you don't lose track. It's all right if you don't follow them straight, but having those pointers and plans really help. Good luck! I'll definitely be here to support!

And yes, have a Happy New Year to you too! ^^

[dayofcaligula]

No worries! It's inescapable that Agon will reappear, anyway. By big project, I mean it as a challange of me writing a very long story per chapter, things I'm not really comfortable nor currently able to do. I'm sure I don't want to do something half-assed, but this is also why I'm uncertain on actually making it. Time is indeed gold and I don't want to waste it. Oh goodness, I'm just apprehensive.

As a new year's gift, I am going to continue their conversation (this happes after my first conversation comment). Warning, this can be really flully as I am currently sugar high:

"Then I'll get you the medicine that you'd need."

"I can do that... but seeing how this rain is getting worse, I guess you'd have to take it as well."

"I can't actually see anything, but your back..."

She sensed his worry when he lessened his phase for them, and looked at her seriously: "Are you starting to feel tired? Want me to carry you?"

"I say no to self-torture; like you said, we, the two of us, will get through this. Not just you."

"Fine, don't want me to end up thinking you're heavy?"

"That wasn't in my mind!" She defended, making herself sound mad, but felt appeased that he understood that she wanted to have this suffering of walking in the rain with him.

"You're actually very light." He said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"O-oh! The cockroach incident..." She finally said after thinking how he could've known, embarrassed. She remembered how much she had held on to him when she saw the said insect inside Enma University's amefuto clubroom. Unsui's teammates went for the kill, panicked over Karin's sudden outburst, but it got away. She also remembered how their manager slammed the door when she went out.

"I didn't think a person could ever be so afraid of harmless creatures until I witnessed your fear."

"I don't like the possibility of them crawling on my skin..."

"I was worried you didn't want to come back again after that."

"I had no choice." She wanted to say, it's not possible for her to go away anymore.

"Not after I said I found it and let it go out." He smiled playfully, and sneezed.

"Oh man! I knew it..." She felt his grip tighten, consoling her that he's fine. Instead of her gripping back, she let go and held his arm, so as to share warmth.

"We're here!" He declared, ignoring the inevitable sign of his weakness.

When she no longer felt the rain, they were already heading up in her building. When they reached the door, opening it afterwards and going in, she looked at them and said: "There's no way I'm going to let you get out now," looking at him, drenched wet from head to toe, and at herself, almost in the same condition, only she was covered by his sweatshirt, her drawings and body safe. She hurriedly went to get extra towels and gave it to him, some of it she draped around him.

.... I am thinking, is it actually physically possible to talk while walking in the rain? And, this is them being excessively close and it's too much?

Eventually, the rain did not stop and Unsui had to stay in. Neither of them slept, they just decided to do something productive the whole night/midnight/early morning (they know they can do more productive things when they're together) not really minding that tomorrow is a weekday (they wouldn't be able to see each other more often than during a weekend due to the distance, school, practice, etc.) and watched some amefuto game videos and its strategies, drawing, talking, eating, watching sports news/anything. No coffee.

Edit: you see now I have found a very healthy drug!

[cherry_tiger]

You'll do fine as long as you keep your head in it and some good support! I'll definitely be there for you when you need help with this. Just do what you can and never be afraid to take the plunge. You'll learn more by doing so than to regret never writing it at all! ^^

Oh my gosh, I LOVE this extra bit of them! They're both so concerned about each other, not wanting to trouble the other as much, and the whole cockroach incident is so amusing! Especially with Unsui carrying Karin and then letting the cockroach out... it sounds so much like him!

Well... I guess if they're just walking fast paced, it'd be okay. If they were running, it would be quite a stretch. XD

And them spending time together like that makes my little fangirl heart squeal with glee! They're just doing so much together, trying to use up whatever little time they have to get to know each other more. It's really sweet!

You writing this is a really good drug! One which I am totally having the pleasure of being able to read it myself! ^^

[dayofcaligula]

Unsui grew so concerned (finding it unusual for someone to get scared of little creatures) thinking Karin might feel uncomfortable coming back to their clubroom that she might not do her manga work properly when there so he handed it to himself the mission of searching for the cockroach and set it free (because he is just not going to kill the harmless).

When Karin saw the cockroach, she instinctively went to Unsui. So much love.

Also, they already know each other so it's just them trying to make most of the time that they have to do something productive and feel positive and love.

Thank you!