Recoilshipping

Recoilshipping is the slash ship between Ryoken Kogami and Takeru Homura from the Yu-Gi-Oh! fandom.

Ignis (arc)
In episode 59, it is made clear Ryoken is already fully aware of Soulburner's identity as Takeru Homura, another Lost Incident victim who is working with the Fire Ignis, Flame. However, the two do not properly meet until near the end of episode 83, when Ryoken, as Revolver, meets up with Playmaker's faction in Link VRAINS in order to request that they temporarily team up the Knights of Hanoi in the war against the the rogue Ignis. However, Takeru immediately refuses to cooperate with them, stating that the Hanoi ruined his life. He challenges Revolver to duel right then, claiming he wants revenge for his parents, as they died ten years ago when he was kidnapped by the Hanoi. Revolver agrees to this, and the two begin to duel, with Soulburner even agreeing in his heightened emotional state to let Revolver have Flame if he wins, much to Flame's ire.

Soulburner takes the first turn, immediately summoning out his ace monster, Salamangreat Heatleo. However, when Revolver's turn comes, immediately passes, surprising Soulburner and those observing the duel. Soulburner is angered by this, but he still takes his turn, summoning out Salamangreat Jack Jaguar, which gives him monsters with enough attack points to wipe out Revolver this turn. He declares that he doesn't care if Revolver won't fight and attacks Revolver directly with Heatleo. Just as he is about to attack with Jack Jaguar and finish the duel, however, he stops and screams into the sky before dropping to his knees, ending the duel.

Soulburner states that winning the duel like that wouldn't look cool and Revolver approaches him, asking if he's satisfied. Soulburner responds that he's not, as he doesn't even know Revolver's true identity and can't even properly duel him and asks what he's supposed to do. Revolver then calmly informs him that his name his Ryoken Kogami, and that he's the son of Kiyoshi Kogami, the man who started the Lost Incident. Soulburner makes it clear that he's still not satisfied, but Playmaker and Ai explain to him that Revolver was only eight years old during the Lost Incident, around their age at the time, and that he also reported the Incident to the police out of guilt, meaning that Revolver was the one that saved Soulburner and the other kids. The true perpetrator, Revolver's father, is dead and Revolver had no blame for what happened to Soulburner back then. Revolver reminds him that the truce will only be temporary and asks if he can keep his anger down until after the Light Ignis has been defeated. Soulburner eventually agrees on Flame's behest, but states that Revolver will pay if he's tricking them.

Later that day, Flame speaks to Takeru privately about Revolver's actions, pointing out that Revolver had no reason to request that Takeru meet with him since he was searching for a skilled programmer, which Takeru is not, and that he could've gotten Flame involved through Playmaker and had no need for Takeru. Takeru is confused, believing Revolver would need him since he's on Playmaker's team, but Flame tells him that Revolver knew Takeru would be angry with him, which would only make things more difficult for him. He explains up the real reason Revolver invited him: to apologize to Takeru. Takeru realizes that's why Revolver refused to make a move during their duel and Flame tells him that he believes humans don't tend to say their feelings out loud.

Later, when Windy challenges Soulburner and Flame to a duel within Mirror Link VRAINS, Flame states that he must only be fighting them because he's too scared to duel Revolver again after he beat him. This upsets Soulburner with the realization that that would mean Windy thinks him and Flame are weaker than Revolver.

At the end of the arc, when Takeru and Yusaku are reflecting on the events of their battles in Mirror Link VRAINS back at the hotdog truck, Takeru tells him that he never thought he'd team up with a Knight of Hanoi, in reference to Revolver, but asserts that he still hasn't accepted it since he came to Den City in the first place to deal with his destiny in regard to the Lost Incident. A bit later in their conversation, Ryoken interjects with Spectre and Takeru realizes when Yusaku addresses him as Revolver that he is Ryoken Kogami, Revolver's true identity. Takeru begins to glare at Ryoken when he states that there is no freedom for the Ignis and that he will show no mercy with them now that the Light Ignis has been defeated and they are no longer allies. Takeru stands up in anger, reminding him that they still haven't settled things, but Ryoken tells him he knows and that the time will come, leaving Takeru glaring at him as Ryoken and Spectre leave.

Fanon
Recoilshipping was a relatively minor ship due to their lack of interactions until they finally met in episode 83, establishing their dynamic of Takeru being angry with Ryoken over his past and Ryoken willing to take on that anger. It really took off after their rematch at the end of the series, with fans attaching to them due to the two coming together to face their trauma and Revolver being willing to respect Takeru's will on what he should do to atone moving forward.

On AO3, it is the second most written ship for Takeru and the third most written ship for Ryoken, with it being the fifth most written romantic ship out of everything in the Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS tag.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

FAN ART