#IkeSen fanfics

[tsundere-mitsuhide]

Tactical Decisions ch 15

Finally! Its been nearly a year as life has been extremely busy and I havent had much free time or brainspace to write. But I havent forgotten; thank you for waiting patiently for so long!

Beta’d as always by the lovely @ikemenfics, who I’d be lost without. Sneak peak under the cut. Full text on AO3.

 Fresh from the onsen, his hair drips sensually down his face, water droplets glistening off the skin exposed by his loosely-tied yukata. A towel drapes around his neck like a scarf. She swallows hard, throat drier than she expected.

     What are you, a teenager with a crush?  

 She forces herself to sit down quickly and grab a dumpling. She stuffs the whole thing in her mouth so fast it burns when she tries to chew it. She speedily grabs for some water in a comical attempt to cool her mouth off.

 Mitsuhide chuckles at her antics as he pours them both a cup of tea. It brings her attention back to him, which defeats her attempt at distraction.

Continue reading here.

[sasukeuchiha-24]

Sasuke | Itachi | Madara | Kakash

[reroseshi]

AAAAHHHHH MITSUHIDE WHY YOU GOTTA COCKBLOCK YOURSELF 😫😂😂 love this chapter!!

Entwined, Ch. 9

Part 9 of a multipart series. Mai has been reborn in the modern age after a full life in the Sengoku. The warlords as spirit animals find her again after 500 years of searching for her soul. Approx. 2700 words.

Part 1

Previous: Part 8

“Did you have a good chat with your friend?” Mai asked as they made their way down the beach. There were only a few people out and about. An old man sunning himself. A mom and her two children splashing in the surf. A one-eyed kitty sat on the nearby dock, tail swishing. They nearly had the whole beach all to themselves.

He gave her a sidelong look. “I did.”

“Thanks for the clothes, by the way. You didn’t need to buy all this for me.”

“Don’t worry about it. There is no other way I’d rather spend my money.” He gave her a warm smile. “I owe you for taking up your time this afternoon anyway.”

She shook her head. “No. No. I did need the break. And I haven’t been to the beach in awhile.”

Mitsuhide nodded instead of responding with one of his usual quips. 

There was so much in his expression that she could not read. Mai wanted to ask him about his teasing earlier. About his conversation with Motonari. And what he knew of her headaches and the strange dreams that invaded even her waking hours. The words were there on the tip of her tongue, but she found herself unable to speak them. As if some fear held her silent. Fear, perhaps, of learning a truth she wasn’t ready to accept, or hearing a lie she could not stomach. 

“Let’s swim,” she said instead. It was still a bit cool out to be in the water, but she didn’t care. A feeling of recklessness burst over her. A sudden desire to do something, anything. To move, even if that motion changed nothing about her situation.

“Alright, little mouse.” He ruffled her hair playfully, his humor back in full force. 

They found a spot to set their things and changed in the nearby dressing rooms. Mai was tempted to put back on the white and gold bathing suit just to see if it had the same effect a second time around, but self preservation won out and she wore the blue one instead. 

Mitsuhide was already waiting for her on a blanket spread over the sand. He was wearing a pair of loose swim trunks. They were white, with curling blue lines up the sides that emphasized how low they rode his hips. Her eyes were drawn to the line of soft, white-blond hair that led in a trail beneath his bellybutton to the waist band of the shorts. 

Mai felt her mouth go dry at the sight. There was something intolerably sexy about the V of a man’s hips, and on Mitsuhide it was . . . delicious was the only word that came to her mind. She had to take a breath and make her heart calm down. This was not the way she was supposed to feel about a client - or a friend. And he had someone else, she reminded herself. He just liked to tease her. 

He seemed to catch the look in her eyes as she saw him, and his smile grew wider. “Do you approve? I know I didn’t model for you at the shop, but I didn’t think I needed to. Men’s swim trunks are all the same, no?”

“No,” she said breathily and then coughed and said it again in a more normal tone. “The - the seams. The fit. Uhm.” Mai cleared her throat again. How did he have this effect? She saw countless men in their underwear during fittings and when taking measurements. And she’d had boyfriends. Not a lot, but enough to be immune to - to abs. And that pelvic V. And the delicate platinum hairs that caught the light. And that little freckle on his left hip . . .

“Uhm?” He laughed. “Technical sewing term?”

“Yep. Yeah.” Holy cats, she thought. This was entirely unfair. She wished she’d decided to come out in the white and gold suit, just to even things up. 

“You look great in that one.” Mitsuhide gave her an appreciative look. “The blue suits you.” 

“Mmm.” She noticed it matched the blue on his shorts. “It looks like we coordinated.”

“Oh? What a coincidence.” 

The way he said it made her doubt that very much, but she decided not to make anything out of it. He was just teasing her again. Flirting. He probably acted like that with a lot of girls he worked with. Nothing special. Mai told herself that, and almost believed it. But even with those thoughts swirling in her mind, she couldn’t help but feel special as he took her hand and led her out into the surf. 

The water wasn’t as cold as she’d expected it to be. A little cooler than the air, she thought, as it surged up her bare legs and splashed her thighs. She stumbled a bit as the tide pulled at her ankles.

“Careful little mouse. The currents can catch you if you aren’t paying attention.”

“I know. This is the same beach I used to come to with my parents. And I swim here sometimes with Asami and Kaiya.” She splashed him with her free hand, and he let go of her to splash her back. 

“Cruel vixen. I wasn’t going to start a war with you, but now you’ve done it.” He laughed and sent a jet of water toward her from his fist.

Mai tried to dodge but ended up catching most of it on her chest. “Oooh I am going to get you for that!” She sent a wave of water at him, which he didn’t even try to dodge. The droplets beaded and ran down his skin like little sunlit gems. Which wasn’t fair, she thought. Water absolutely did not do that on her skin. 

They kept the splash battle going until a wave got them both and knocked Mai completely into the water. Mitsuhide helped her up, chuckling as she spluttered. “In your state, I think it’s only fair to call a truce.”

“I accept,” she grinned, pushing her wet hair out of her face. 

After that, they floated for a bit, and swam, and then sat on the beach and talked about silly things. Favorite movies and music and what kind of pet they would get if they could have any pet in the world. 

“I’d get . . . a little mouse,” Mitsuhide grinned. 

“Oh come on. Be serious! You could have any animal in the world and you would want a mouse?” She rolled her eyes. “I can tell you’re teasing me again. God, you are so evil!”

“Evil? Never.” He laughed. “You are just underestimating how adorable a mouse can be. Brave, even though her little heart is pounding in fear. Her eyes, big and wide and gentle, her pink little nose wiggling. And her soft little feet!”

“You know, I almost believe you.” Mai sighed. 

Mitushide turned, stretching. He rolled his shoulders, the muscles of his back bunching and relaxing as they sent water droplets dancing down his skin. “So what about you,” he asked, looking at her over his shoulder. 

Mai pulled her eyes away with some effort. “I - I don’t know. I’ve always thought koalas were cute but they sleep all the time. I guess I’d want a pet I can cuddle and play with. Like a red panda. Or a fox. They’re cute.”

“A fox, hm? And what would you do with your little fox pet, if you had one?” His smile looked somehow smug, as if he’d wanted her to give that answer. 

“I don’t know. Take him for walks? Curl up with him in my lap and watch tv? Normal pet stuff.” She sighed. “I guess I should dream bigger. Like a bear or a tiger. Or a horse! I could ride him.”

“Overrated.” Mitsuhide sniffed. “Stick with the fox. You’ll have more fun. They are very playful animals.”

She laughed. “True.” Then Mai paused, a question bubbling out of her before she thought about it. “How did you know to make the marks you did? At the fitting?”

Mitsuhide shrugged. “Why is it so important to you?”

“Because those are - those are mine. I made them up in college so people couldn’t easily steal my designs. I’ve never taught them to anyone.” There was the tug again in her chest, insistent.

His eyes narrowed in thought. Mitsuhide replied with a flat tone, though his eyes shone. “I told you a master never reveals his secrets.”

“Oooh I should have known you wouldn’t be serious!” She growled in frustration. “Let me see if I can figure it out. Maybe . . . you studied them when I was doing the design and fittings for your play. That’s it, isn’t it?” It was the only thing that made sense to her, though Mai could not imagine someone putting in the time and effort to do so. And for what? So he could surprise her with it today? That was unhinged.

“I suppose that’s one theory.” He settled back, laying on the blanket to gaze up at the sky. 

“You are infuriating.”

He grinned, his eyes closing. “Thank you, little one. I do try.”

Mai huffed and lay back on her towel. The warm sun felt glorious on her skin after the cold ocean water. She closed her eyes and let herself relax. Worries about her dreams - and daydreams - could wait. Maybe she would see a doctor about it, and they could tell her what was happening to her. Perfectly solvable. Later. 

They lay like that for awhile, each lost in their own thoughts, close but not together. Almost, but not quite touching. A comfortable silence stretched between them for a time. Mitsuhide was the first to break it. “Tell me, little mouse. What is it that you want?”

“What?” Mai peered over at him. “That’s kind of a big question.”

He nodded, still laying with his eyes closed, expression unreadable. “Just in general. Lots of people want a career. Marriage. Kids. A nice house in a good part of town. So what is it you dream of?”

She wasn’t sure how he meant the question. Serious or teasing, playful or genuinely curious. But she took it seriously. “I used to think all I really wanted was to be a great clothing designer. To be respected in my field, make money . . . but . . . I kind of have that, for the most part.”

“And?” He prompted.

“It’s not everything I thought it would be? I mean, I still love making clothes. Taking an idea from design to completion and seeing the joy in my customer’s face is great. And I make enough to get by even if I’ll never be rich. It’s just, I think sometimes I do want something more.”

Mitsuhide turned his head to face her. “Like what?”

“Someone to share it with? I mean, I have friends and I’ve dated. It’s not like I’m a hermit.” Mai laughed. “I just think sometimes it would be nice to find someone that understands me and cares about me and . . . I guess I sound pretty pathetic, huh?”

“No.” He cleared his throat. “Not at all. I think that’s what most people want, even if they don’t admit it.”

She raised an eyebrow, “Even you, oh mysterious actor man?”

Mitsuhide grinned. “Even me.” He propped himself up on an elbow to face her. “Am I really so mysterious to you?”

“Absolutely.” She teased him and laughed again, but stopped as she noticed something melancholy in that golden gaze. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve known you forever,” she admitted, though she hadn’t meant to. “Not like . . . like anything weird. Just, when you’re around. It feels like you belong.”

He reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek in a caress too loving for a mere friend. Too familiar for any but a lover. 

Mai felt something hot and electric tremble through her nerves at his touch. She held herself completely still, her lips closed tight, for fear she might lean into it or make a sound. Then his hand was gone and he was standing up, brushing the bits of sand and sea salt from his skin.

“We should get back. It will be dinner soon and I have to get ready.” 

Whatever Mai felt, she thought it was pretty clear he didn’t. A bitter disappointment rushed in to fill the spaces of her chest that were warm only a moment ago. “Going on a date,” she sniped.

Mitsuhide’s usual grin fell a little and he shook his head. “No. Only one date a day for me.” He held out a hand and helped her up. “Just some industry people. The assistant to the regional cultural director, the mayor’s secretary. That kind of thing. Work related.” He shrugged.

“Oh.” She wasn’t sure how to react to that answer. She’d known he had some pull but those kinds of connections seemed beyond what your average actor would cultivate. Then it fully landed, what he’d said. One date a day. “Wait. Was this a date? Because -”

He laughed and tousled her hair. “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

“Are you seriously quoting Shakespeare as an answer?” She tried to frown at him but his expression was so ridiculous. That wide, sharp smile and his eyes so full of a pretend innocence. 

“If the bard said it first and better, I don’t know why I’d try to improve on the text.” He laughed. “Now are you going to help me pack up or am I carrying all this on my own?”

Mai gave him a sly grin. “Well, since this is a date, I suppose you’re on your own. Have to prove your manliness and all that.”

“Oh? Is it not well-proven already?” He skimmed a hand down his side and Mai couldn’t help the way her eyes tracked the movement. It wasn’t fair for him to be so pretty. So infuriatingly gorgeous. So . . .

She cleared her throat and forced her eyes up. “I’ll give you a point or two for that. But you should probably put on a shirt.” And then followed her own advice and put a cover-up on. 

“The struggles of modern day masculinity. Alas.” He easily packed and hefted the bundle of stuff they’d bought for the day. “At one time, I would have slaughtered my way through enemy lines to rescue you. That would have been proof enough. But there just aren’t enough decent opponents these days. And modern law tends to frown on the whole killing thing.”

“And that’s a good thing.” Mai laughed as she led the way back to the car. The one-eyed cat was still sitting on the dock. It watched as they passed, tail swishing. 

She did end up helping Mitsuhide load everything into the car. The drive back was short and pleasant, with Mitsuhide continuing to bemoan the modern state of manliness. Mai teased him and they both laughed. It felt good, she thought. Really good. The chemistry between them had her whole self humming, body and soul. 

When they reached her flat, he walked her to the door, bags in hand. “So, little mouse? Shall we do this again sometime?” He smiled down at her, one arm braced behind her against the door. If he set his other hand on the brick, she’d be trapped between him and the building, which didn’t bother her as much as it should. 

“Sure. But next time, let’s just plan it? That way it feels less like a kidnapping and more like hanging out with a friend.” 

“Is that what today felt like?” He tilted his head toward her, his platinum blonde hair falling in his face. A strand of it brushed her cheek. 

“Ah . . . I . . .” Her mind stuttered to a halt as he shifted closer. His breath tickled her cheek. She was sure he was about to kiss her. Her head tilted to match his, her lips pursed, her body leaning toward him. 

Mitsuhide set her bag into her hands. “Have a good night, little one.” 

“Y-you too?” She felt an almost physical weight of disappointment that he hadn’t kissed her. Or even tried to kiss her. Mai watched him drive off with a deep feeling of confusion. Had she misread him? Was he just teasing? Damn it. 

As she walked upstairs, the one thing that she was certain about was that she’d wanted to kiss Mitsuhide. Which meant there was something she needed to do. She pulled out her phone and texted Hideyoshi.

Hey! Can we talk?

[sasuke-naruto]

[queensakuradefender]

Reminder that Sasusaku is confirmed the strongest couple😘

Antis can cope

Along with our strongest kunoichi😫

[xxsycamore]

❝ CRADLE ❞

╰┈➤ Soon after you've had the "baby talk", Shingen already seems to be thinking ahead - but not all his thoughts are so innocent.

Shingen Takeda/f!Reader • rating: E (MDNI) • tags: Breeding; Mentions of Pregnancy; Nipple Play; Dirty Talk; Hand & Finger Kink; Body Worship • wordcount: 595 • masterlist

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ request by @writingwhimsey <3 thank you!

IKEMEN BREEDING SEASON - Prompt 5. Imagining you pregnant

"I'm glad that you liked the cradle. I can already see you gently rocking our child to sleep."

The very moment Shingen gave you a brief pause from kissing you breathless, you knew he had something to say. Another killer line perhaps, something awfully flirty or downright naughty, just anything that will make your heart skip a beat as he knows best.

Instead, he brings up the cradle. And somehow, the result is the same.

It's only been a handful of days since the baby talk. Your relationship with Shingen has been nothing but dynamic from the get-go, and yet still, the butterflies in your belly now can only be compared to the ones from those early days. Suddenly there's so much to be talked about. It's no wonder how the late-night talks have turned into comparisons between what childrearing looks like in your head versus that of Shingen's. The modern ways versus the old-school. The shocking lack of baby cradles in Sengoku times, at least as you know them. The passionate declaration of Shingen that he'll definitely make one for your future baby.

Future baby. Yet there it is, standing in your peripheral vision; the wooden cradle he presented you with tonight, just a couple of days after you first mentioned the peculiar piece of furniture.

"Of course I would." You take Shingen's hands in your own, for a good measure before they get up to no good feeling you up and preventing you from focusing on what you want to say - and then you place a kiss on each one. "You were the one who made it. And you did a great job, too."

You linger on his right hand a little longer, with purpose. You can see Shingen's eyes darken with lust as you take his thumb into your arm just briefly, provoking him.

"I can see that you're already imagining things, Shingen…"

Shingen smirks, but the raised corners of his mouth soon relax into a softer smile, and it stays there, even as he disrobes you. He finds you wet and willing between your legs - which grants you a quick look with those intoxicating ashy eyes, capable of expressing things dirtier than his mouth does - but still prefers to toy with you before sinking his arching cock inside you.

"Oh, I've been imagining things alright. You'd be surprised exactly how much I've been imagining things."

You decide to be bold, as if carried by your instincts which are telling you that you absolutely must have him tonight. Silly thing considering he's got the same plans in store for you. Yet still, you raise one of your legs up his shoulder, beckoning him, seducing him.

"Tell me more…"

Shingen wets his lips and gladly complies.

"I've been imagining you with child. The way I'd wake up to you every morning, slowly becoming aware of all the little changes. Be assured, princess, I will notice. Your body that I came to know better than my own, how could I fail to notice it becoming more beautiful? Your belly swelling up with the life we created. Your bosom filling out."

The last part he whispers against your chest, his voice becoming muffled as he darts out his tongue to wet your perky nipple. Your own mind gets creative, imagining how much Shingen will enjoy your swollen breasts, and your belly, and then you trail off to all the parts of you he worshipped and the ways in which he'll worship them when…

"Please make it true, Shingen. I need it."

And so does he.

Taglist: @arsnovacadenza @kimi00twin @g-kleran @thesirenwashere @devonares @galaxyprison   @starshards26 @thewitchofbooks @acethephoenix256 @ikevamp-shrine-2 @nad-zeta @crystal13unny @lordsister @ikemen-banshou   @themysticalbeing @otome-scribbles @rhodolitesrose @kpop-and-otome @queen-dahlia @kisara-16 @chaosangel767 @ikemenlibrary @queengiuliettafirstlady @aurora-morning @ikemenlover24 @mcofthemansion @joy-the-reader @katriniac @ikemen-writer @tele86 @lovely-bubb1es @aria-chikage @babyblue0t7 @rhodoliteschaos @shrimpy-kitsune @nightghoul381 @xbalayage @lucyw260 @kittygrimm88 @lokis-laugh @natimiles @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf @groovylita @raeraeks @ethereal-blossom Let me know if you want to be tagged/untagged!

[narutouzumaki-25]

Naruto Uzumaki 💛

[candied-boys]

📻Country Radio Themed Prompt List🐎

Y'all, it's rodeo season and I'm havin' a hot cowgirl summer!

I know there are at least a few of us out here who love a little small town, texas two-step, roll in the hay, tailgate party, coffee with a sunrise, dusty boots and sundresses kinda slow life. I know I can't stop putting my favs in situations whenever I listen to country music and I hope y'all hop on the bandwagon and join me for my first creation challenge!

So round up your fav cowboys and giddy up, gurl! We ride 'til the end of September! Radio playlists below👇

FAQ:

Can I submit something I already created if it fits the vibe?

HELL YEAH! Old content that fits the theme in anyway and new creations are all welcome! (Honestly even if it doesn't fit any of the prompts, I'll take any country content I can get so please reblog your works and tag me!)

How can I write for the country genre if I'm not familiar with it?

Don't sweat it! If you vibe with anything here that's more than enough! I tried to pick lyrics with a variety of themes - family, love, coming of age, angst, bad boys/girls etc. They all centre around a sense of connection and relationships - universally human themes.

We're all here playing games that locate the characters inside cultures outside of Japan and we're here writing for cultures outside our own when writing for these games, so don't be shy! Just let yourself have fun.

What should I do with lyrics?

Use the prompts however you like; Any and all types of content submissions are welcome — writing, drabbles, head canons, drawing, mood boards, playlists, whatever makes you say, "Hell yeah!"

Examples: You could use the lyrics directly as quotes, indirectly as the premise for the art. Anything! You could incorporate the lyrics from the rest of the song. There are a ton of great lines/ideas in the rest of each song. You're not restricted to these quotes. I just picked ones that speak to me or have a strong image. If you vibe with it and it inspires you, go for it!

What fandoms can I use with these prompts?

Any suitors from games by CYBIRD (Ikepri, Ikevamp, Ikerev, MidCin, Ikevil, Ikesen, Ikegen, Morganatic Idol, ANYTHING)

What kind of content is allowed?

Sfw, nsfw, dark, angst, fluff, suitor x suitor, selfship, oc x suitor — anything is fine. I only ask that you use Tumblr’s built-in content label system to mark content as mature when appropriate. Use tags and warnings as you see necessary.

What tags should I use?

#CountryRadioCC

please at me @candied-boys so I can add your work to a masterlist

Playlists:

Lyrics:

Heart Like A Truck - Lainey Wilson

I got a hankering for four wide tires

And I can't help it, it's the way I'm wired

'Fore you get too close

Boy, you need to know

Turn - Tyler Hubbard

The way she turns 501s into long, tan legs

She can turn a bad day around like she turns those heads

She can turn one little look into turnin' me on

Five more minutes into all night long

Fishin' in the Dark - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

And it don't matter if we sit forever

And the fish don't bite

Jump in the river and cool ourselves

From the heat of the night

I Grew Up On A Farm - The Reklaws

Why I gotta watch the sunrise

Job ain't ever done till it's done right

I'll tell you what makes me cry about a steel guitar

And why I gotta work so hard

Dirt Cheap - Cody Johnson

That little girl that used to swing right there

I still see her pink bow in her brown hair

Runnin' up after one of them long days

A big smile makin' every little worry fade

Use Me - Dallas Smith

I'll let you go like I always do

Won't hurt as bad 'cause I always knew

That I was just a chapter, no happily-ever-after

Old Dirt Roads - Owen Riegling

Come and find me down where the treeline ends

And the cattails grow

We can be free, livin' our dreams out

Singin' to the radio

American Kids - Kenny Chesney

Sister's got a boyfriend Daddy doesn't like

Now he's sittin' out back, 3030 in his lap

In the blue bug zapper light

Fast Car - Luke Combs

Won't have to drive too far

Just across the border and into the city

And you and I can both get jobs

Finally see what it means to be living

Long Hot Summer - Keith Urban

I wanna see your brown skin shimmer

In the sun for the first time

I gotta be the one who knows just what to do to you

To get me that smile

I Like It, I Love It - Tim McGraw

Spent 48 dollars last night at the county fair

I throwed out my shoulder, but I won her that teddy bear

Cowgirls - Morgan Wallen

And she got a cold heart but she got a warm smile

Cut from the same cloth, she kinda buck-wild

Little bit angel, whole lotta outlaw

She's trouble but I'll tell you right now, y'all

A banner for y'all:

Adorable horse dividers by @/plum98

[writingwhimsey]

Hi! 🤗 Congratulations on 400 followers🎉. I choose suitor as a dad from the fluff prompt list. Can I have Mitsuhide, Arthur and Clavis please?. I hope you have fun with this but no pressure🩷

Thank you darling! I love this one and I hope you do too!

400 Follower Celebration

Fluff headcanon: Suitors as fathers

Suitors: ikesen Mitsuhide, ikevamp Arthur, and ikepri Clavis

Only warning, you may get cavities from how sweet this is.

Mitsuhide

He’d never given much thought to becoming a father. Bringing a little one into this war torn world, adding another person who could be at risk of being pulled into his darkness? It didn’t seem right to put a child through that. And yet once he met you…and then when you told him you were pregnant…he was scared, but oh so happy.

Once your little one arrived, Mitsuhide fell in love instantly. He vowed that he would make the world a safer place for the little one your love had created. He would always protect and cherish your child. As your child grew, he made sure that they never wanted for anything. Never saw the horrors and hardships he, himself, had experienced. 

Though he makes sure your child doesn’t have to experience the same things he had, he still teaches them all the necessary skills they will need to survive…much like he had done with you when you first arrived. He is gentle yet firm while teaching your child all the important skills they’ll need to survive…though he does his best to make sure they never have to actually use these skills.

Arthur

With as much as he had played around, Arthur hadn’t really pictured himself settled down with a family. But then when you came into his life…into his heart he couldn’t help but to want those things. After months of trying, you finally tell him the good news that you’re pregnant, Arthur is over the moon with joy.

He is loving and supportive and doting throughout your pregnancy. He is a major support during the delivery of your child. And as soon as he sees the little one you two made together…he is completely head over heels for this child. He is the most loving and devoted father.

He helps you with the late night feedings, diaper changes, all of it. He doesn’t want to miss a second of fatherhood with this child you two share. As the child grows, he takes to making up bedtime stories to tell them. One of their favorite past times. He is fully involved in your child’s life and loves being a father.

Clavis

From the moment you two marry, Clavis can’t help but to tease you about having a child. Telling you the kingdom of Lecloch needs an heir. Deep down though, he really wants to be a father. Not because of having an heir or such, but because he genuinely wants to have a child with the woman he loves. He wants a family with you. And when that finally happens…he is ready to shout from the rooftops. There may or may not be a week long celebration in his “kingdom” once you announce the news.

During your pregnancy, Clavis is at your beck and call. He is overjoyed when your strange cravings are for his inventive cooking. He happily cooks for you. He dotes on you and loves speaking to your belly. During your labor and delivery, he is by your side the entire time holding your hand…he may make a joke or two trying to lighten the mood of the room, but when you give him that stern look…he knows.

As your child grows, Clavis is loving and attentive. He makes sure to be present in your family life. He never wants you or the child you share to doubt his love for you. He is determined to be a much better father than the one he had. Once the child is old enough, Clavis is teaching them all of his tricks and having them help with his pranks. When they are seen together the staff go, “And now there are two of them.” Clavis is fun, loving, and doting as a father. He absolutely treasures being a father and considers it the best title he has ever held.

Taglist: @oda-princess @zulablaise @violettduchess @kisara-16

@tele86 @otomewonderland @lovely-bubb1es @lucyw260

@queengiuliettafirstlady

[aquagirl1978]

And may I also request touches #2 with Mitsuhide? I love doting on that man so much!!

Thank you for this request - sorry it took me so long to get to 🥺

Blue Christmas - Mitsuhide Akechi x Reader (ikemen Sengoku)

A/N: Day 4 of my Twelve Days of Christmas. Also part of my New Year, New Celebration follower celebration.

Pairing: Mitsuhide Akechi x Reader

Prompt: running fingers through hair

Word Count: 562

Tags: fluff

It was a cold and blustery day in December as you strolled through the streets of Azuchi. Your hands were filled with bags brimming with gifts for all your friends, including an extra special one for Mitsuhide -- a small porcelain mouse. 

Christmas was one of your favorite holidays – the lights and the trees and the family dinner of fried chicken were just some of the things that made this holiday so special to you. You had thought this year would be bittersweet, as it was your first away from home, but it had been anything but so far. Christmas might not have come to Japan yet, but there was nothing stopping you from bringing the spirit of the holidays here.

 You had planned to sneak out that afternoon under the ruse of needing to go to the markets in search of new fabric – it was the perfect excuse to go shopping alone to get everyone’s gifts. 

And then you ran into Mitsuhide.

“Where’s this little mouse running off to this early?”

Close. So close to freedom. 

After you informed him that you were going to the market to pick up some new fabrics, you were shocked when he asked if he could join you. Of course you said yes – who would say no to their boyfriend – but now you were in the unenviable position of trying to evade the kitsune somewhere in the market as you purchased the presents.

As it turned out, Mitsuhide was meeting someone in the markets, so it was easy for you to shop in secret. After spending an inordinate amount of time perusing various shops to find the perfect gifts – down to Nobunaga’s favorite konpeito, sorry Hideyoshi – it was finally time to return home to the castle. 

One moment you were hurrying through the streets of the markets in Azuchi, and the next, you were lying flat on the ground. Cheeks warm with embarrassment, you sighed, your bags lying scattered on the ground around you. Your only saving grace was that no one you knew witnessed your fall.

Or so you thought.

Your stomach twisted in knots as you looked up into the crowd and spotted a familiar head of silver-white hair, suppressing a groan as he approached.

“Little mouse,” he said, offering you his hand in assistance. You slipped your hand in his; he easily pulled you up to a standing position. His eyes flickered over your figure, assessing any injuries. He reached out a hand, tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear. His hand lingered, his fingers grazing your still heated cheeks, his touch comforting. 

“You really do need to watch yourself,” he chided, his eyes fixed on a patch of ice on the ground. “It certainly would have been a blue Christmas if you had hurt yourself.” 

You turned to him, your eyes wide with awe. How did he know about Christmas? You hadn’t said a word about it as you were waiting until the 25th to surprise everyone. So who told him?

He gazed at you knowingly, his golden eyes twinkling like familiar Christmas lights. He huffed a small laugh, and as if he was reading your mind, he pulled you close to him in a warm embrace, his fingers running through your hair as he held your face close to his heart.

“Lucky for you, I was here to help.”

Tagging: @alixennial @redheadkittys @lordsisterxotome @kissmetwicekissmedeadly @chaosangel767 @ikehoe @kpop-and-otome @kisara-16 @lucyw260 @scorchieart @yarnnerdally @crypticbibliophile @tele86 @nightfoxqueen @judejazza @xbalayage @xenokiryu

[writtenbyrinnie]

kenshin | crimson˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

★彡kenshin x fem!reader

★彡word count: 1,431!

★彡unhealthy relationship, knife injury, eroguro, kenshin being his usual posessive self ٩( ᐛ )و and lots of blood lol

★彡 you 🫵🏻 try to go back to ur village after breaking up with kenshin (for plot #trusttt) but things dont go as planned...>:3

kenshin's normally stoic demeanor breaks completely at your words. his hand grasping your chin squeezes it slightly, enough to cause you to wince.

".. think i may have misheard you, my love. what did you say?" he says, his voice low and snarky.

"i...i-.." you grit your teeth, feeling uneasy from the start.

"i have to return to my village..."

his brows knitted at your words as his grip on you tightened further. despite the pain he was causing you, he was unable to control himself.

"..no, you dont. tell me why you're lying." he hissed, eyes narrowing as he took in your expression.

"im not lying. i need to return, and i won't be back once i do so." you replied, unable to meet his icy glare. 

he shook his head at your words. you could feel the anger building in his tone as he spoke, his voice cold and cruel.

"no. i forbid it. you aren't leaving."

"kenshin... please don't make this harder than it has to be... i already told you, we're done..." sighing with discomfort, you felt a familiar anxiety creeping up your back again. your words weren't getting to him at all.

"i don't think you understand. we're never done... you belong to me. and i don't permit you to leave. if you even attempt to leave, i will hunt you down. there's nowhere in this world you can go where i won't find you." he growled, forcing you to meet his gaze.

it was no use trying to reason with a madman. whatever this 'relationship' of yours was, it was nowhere near healthy or stable. this kind of love was destined to destroy you both. were you going to let it? after building up the courage to go against him, were you going to go back to those arms?

hesitantly, you pulled out the small knife carefully hidden in your sleeve; it was the one sasuke gave as a last resort. the same one you hoped you wouldn't have to use.

he looked down at the knife, utterly unbothered by the threat. instead of taking a step back, he stepped forward, pressing himself against the tip and letting it pierce the fabric and his skin slightly.

"..is that meant to scare me?" he says, the corners of his mouth twitching up into a wicked smirk.

"k-kenshin..." you stared with your eyes wide, unable to move as he practically trapped you against the wall with how close he had gotten.

barely noticing the tiny prick of pain it made in his skin, he looked up at your scared expression, his eyes burning angrily.

"what? you're having second thoughts?"

kenshin laughed at your fear. 

"you were so bold a minute ago. if you're going to threaten me, do it properly, woman. or are you not able to follow through?"

a few drops of blood stained his kimono.

"just let me go...i dont want this-..."

he brought a hand up and gripped the knife in your hands, his hand bleeding due to the sharp edge of the knife cutting into his palm. he dared to lean even closer to your face, his voice a low, dangerous growl.

"do you have any idea how easy it would be for me to break this pretty little wrist of yours? it seems you've forgotten... im your lord, you belong to me. there's no way ill let you go anywhere."

the sleeves of kenshins kimono stained crimson as he hissed, the slit in his hand and chest deepening as you continued to struggle against his powerful grip.

ignoring the pain, his eyes burned with anger. even you could see the crazed look in them.

"drop the knife."

he commanded. his tone hard like steel.

with a scowl, he grabbed the weapon from your hand, tossing it aside. pulling your hand up to his chest and using it to press against his wound. he brought his face even closer to yours, his eyes burning as he looked at you.

"...the more you struggle, the worse it will be for you. stop it."

the warm, coppery liquid trickled down onto your hands as you flinched with a mix of fear and disgust. 

his eyes narrowed as he looked down at your frightened expression. seeing your hands stained with his blood and your trembling form ignited something within him. gripping tight around your waist and pulling your body flush against his, his lips crashed down against yours in a desperate, possessive kiss.

he pressed you harder into the wall, molding his body against yours, his blood staining your clothes. he broke the kiss long enough to speak, his hot breath fanning against your skin. "you... aren't going anywhere..."

kenshin's eyelids had begun to feel a tad bit heavier as time passed, due to his blood loss. staring at your crimson stained clothes in fear, you yelled.

"this is so much blood...kenshin! we need to-.." 

you tried reaching over to the bandages, only to get stopped by kenshin himself. he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you back against himself and refusing to let you go. his grip tight around your body as he buried his face into your shoulder.

his voice was low and pained, as he spoke.

"i don't care."

he mumbled into your neck.

"stay. don't leave me."

you looked down, upset and worried sick for him, but also touched by his words. your resolve broke down as you gently placed a hand on his cheek, smearing the blood around as you caressed it.

"i won't leave...just...let me patch you up, please..?" you added, your voice barely above a whisper.

leaning into your touch against his cheek, he closed his eyes at the feeling. nodding slowly as he struggled to steady his breathing.

"...fine, just don't leave my sight."

he let out a low, pained huff as he reluctantly let go of you with one arm, allowing you some room to move.

as you went about your work, bandaging up his hand and putting pressure on his chest, he kept his body pressed tight against yours, his breath hot on your shoulder as he leaned his head down, nuzzling his face against you as he tried to control his need to pull you even closer.

"i can't let you go. please don't ask me to..." he muttered, his voice tight and gravelly.

the slit on his chest was pretty deep, making the subcutaneous fat layer underneath visible to you. crimson gushed out continuously as you helplessly kept applying pressure to slow it down.

kenshin grunted in pain, gripping your shoulders tightly. he took a few deep breaths, trying to stay calm. 

despite the pain, the close proximity of your body, combined with the sight of you covered in his blood, was doing things to him...

he leaned his head back against the wall, hissing between clenched teeth. his hands, gripping your shoulders, moved down to your hips, grasping tight enough to leave bruises on your soft skin. the pain and feeling of your hands touching his wound was almost more pleasurable than it was painful.

despite the fact that it was his blood staining your skin and clothes, he couldn't help but find the sight quite pleasant. all he could focus on was your hands on his skin, touching his body, and pressing into his wound. the pain... and the pleasure...were mixing together.

soon enough, his breathing slowly returned to normal as he glanced down at his chest. the bleeding had stopped, thanks to you. he looked up at you, examining your face and taking in the sight of you covered in blood. he pulled you closer against his body, completely ignoring the fact that both of you were covered in his blood.

"..you look beautiful."

that wicked smile of his, accompanied by a compliment, had your heart speeding up again. "youre sick in the head..."

kenshin laughed at your words, his eyes still roaming all over your face and body. pulling you even closer to him, he let his lips graze along your neck, tasting his own blood on your delicate skin.

he brought a hand up and grasped your chin, tilting your head up to look him directly in the eye. "i may be sick... but so are you, my love. you think I didn't notice?"

he pressed his body against yours, holding you captive.

"you love the feeling of my blood on you, don't you? you get excited just thinking of how it proves my body belongs to you."

he leaned in closer, his lips next to your ears.

"admit it."

really enjoyed writing this hehe :33333 i was looking forward to writing a eroguro-y? piece after seeing the love on my most recent drawing (tysm!!🌷) and kenshin seemed like a fitting character!

[sasukeuchiha-24]

Uchiha Sharingan

[ikeromantic]

Ikesen Boys React to Tattooed MC pt 1

This was an ask from @otomedad that I just had to write. I did some reading up on the history of tattooing in Japan and there was so much that I found super interesting. So! Here goes, starting with Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Masamune! Approx. 1500 words.

Nobunaga

“What’s this, fireball?”

You feel Nobunaga’s breath tickle your shoulder blade, his lips so close they almost brush your skin. For a moment, you don’t know what he means. It’s hard to think when parts of you are being ‘claimed’, afterall. But you smile as the memory comes back to you. Sitting on a stool, arms braced on the counter in front of you, with the buzz of the tattoo gun in your ear. “You like my koi?”

His fingers brush the inked design, tracing the outline of the leaping fish. “It is very well done.” He does not sound pleased, though he’s trying to hide it.

“You don’t.” A slight pout draws your lips out and down. 

Nobunaga stills behind you, so motionless that you don’t even feel him breathing. Just as you are about to break the silence, he wraps his arms around you, pulling your back against his chest. “It is part of you, so it is beautiful.” His chin rests on your shoulder, just above the tattoo in question. “Why did you receive this mark?”

There is an unexpected tension in his voice, and you laugh to ease it before explaining. “I got it after I graduated from design. It represents my struggles, and my determination.” You turn your head to kiss his cheek. 

He regards you with a serious expression, tense despite your affection. 

“Do you really hate it?” You can’t help how vulnerable you feel as you meet his carnelian gaze.

“I told you. It is beautiful, as you are. But . . .” He pauses, a slight grimace crossing his expression. “I do not like that someone marked you. Someone else claimed this -” He leans back to spread his hand over the koi. “Every part of you is mine.”

“Are you jealous of my tattoo artist?” You grin, unable to hold back. “You know I picked the design and the colors and everything, right? He was just some guy with a good flash book . . .”

Nobunaga’s frown does not ease, though you know that he’s aware this is ridiculous. 

You snuggle back against him. “Alright, alright. I understand. If you could do tattoos, I’d get one from you, ok?”

Something mischievous flickers in his gaze and a slight smile turns up the corners of his mouth. “Yes. This is acceptable.”

You aren’t sure what he’s accepting. Nobunaga can’t do tattoos, right? Right? Whatever questions you have disappear as his lips find that sensitive spot at the back of your neck. 

Hideyoshi

You roll up your sleeves to start working on the kitchen’s herb garden. The day is warm and sunny, promising a hot afternoon. It’s a good thing you’re starting early. 

About an hour into the weeding, Hideyoshi stops by with a tray of cool water and a wide straw hat. He kneels beside you. “You know it’s bad for your skin to be exposed to sunlight for so long. Even in the morning, you can’t -” He stops midword, his mouth hanging open.

“Hm?” You look up, dusting your hands off. Before you can ask anything else, Hideyoshi grabs your elbow.

“What is this?” 

You realize he’s pointing at the serpent tattoo on your forearm. The snake curls over itself in a complex circle, with the head pointing at your wrist and the tale toward your elbow. “Oh! Erm,” you give an embarrassed laugh. “That.”

“I knew you couldn’t be trusted.” Hideyoshi holds your arm up, inspecting it. “A thief. I should have guessed. What prefecture is this? Where are you really from?” The questions come lightning fast, his usual gentle lecturing tone replaced with a hard, brittleness that does not suit him at all.

“A thief? Are you serious right now?” You try to yank your arm back, going from bewildered to angry. 

Hideyoshi pulls you up to standing. “If you won’t answer my questions, maybe you’ll answer Mitsuhide’s.” He glares at you. “I can’t believe I - I called you my sister!” 

You take a breath, trying to hold in the tears suddenly threatening at the corners of your eyes. Sister. Why was this man so infuriating? First putting you in the sis-zone, and now accusing you. As if you hadn’t shared so many sweet moments. Almost-kisses. Holding hands. “Why are you freaking out about my tattoo?”

“It marks you as a criminal.” He sighs, looking away. “If you’ll come clean with me, maybe we can -”

“Come clean? Hideyoshi, I told you I’m not from here. In my ah, my village, people get tattoos because they like the way they look.” You wiggle your arm in his grasp. “This one means the cycle of life. Birth and death. Look at it!”

Hideyoshi slowly turns back to examine the mark on your arm. “It is . . . very finely done for a - a punishment.” He purses his lips. “And I do not know of a prefecture that uses a snake . . .”

You nod emphatically. “Exactly. And you know me. Hideyoshi?” Your tone brings his gaze to your face. 

He studies you for a moment. Then his grip loosens on your arm, the pad of his thumb stroking your inked flesh. “I may have, um, jumped to conclusions. My apologies.” A breath, then, “Sis.”

“Thanks.” You take your arm back, feelings still hurt. 

For a long moment, neither of you says anything. Then he drapes an arm over your shoulder, pulling you to his side. “Let me apologize properly, after work tonight. Stop by after your bath and I’ll rub some oil on your arms and legs.” Hideyoshi’s cheeks hold a faint heat. “A brother should care for his sister when she’s working so hard.”

You know he knows there’s nothing brotherly in the touches you share, but you nod in acquiescence. Then you pull away. “The garden won’t weed itself,” you say.

He grins. “I suppose not.” Hideyoshi’s hand takes yours before you can take a step. “It’s nice. Your tattoo. Once I really looked at it.”

“Thanks,” you smile back, feeling a little better. “I’m looking forward to my massage tonight.” You give him a cheeky wink. 

Masamune

You splash to the river’s surface, sputtering from the water in your mouth and nose. Masamune laughs beside you, his strong arm holding you up above the roiling surface of the water as the current pushes you both downstream.

“Maybe next time we should look for a bridge,” you shout to be heard over the river.

“Nah. Where’s the fun in that?” Masamune’s blue eye gleams with unfettered joy as he pulls you toward the opposite shore. 

Once you hit the bank and crawl out, you flop back onto the grassy hillside. “Fun? Not drowning is fun. And now I’m soaked.” You glance over to see Masamune already stripping down, laying his clothes out to dry. 

He grins when he sees your expression. “What’s the matter, kitten? Tiger got your tongue?”

“Pffft.” You sit up, ignoring the way your face heats. You shrug out of your kimono, very aware of how thin your linen underclothes are. Especially now that they are wet and clinging to your skin. 

Masamune’s appreciative look does not help. He grins unapologetically. “I should come out this way more often. Great view.”

You throw a clump of grass at him and jump up to run. He chases you, laughing, and catches you pretty quickly. 

His laughter stops with a sharp inhale. “Are you hurt?”

You realize that he’s noticed the ink on your side, a tiger in the midst of peonies. The red, pink, and orange probably look like a wound beneath the opaque cloth. “No, nothing like that.” You carefully tug the linen up to show him your tattoo. 

“Wow.” His eye is wide as he takes in the art piece. “Gorgeous.” His calloused finger brushes the skin on your side, sending a shiver across your belly and up your ribcage. “It’s like a painting.”

“Thanks.” You feel more than a little self conscious, but also gratified by his reaction. “It’s supposed to be, like, fragility and strength? Together?” You find yourself a little tongue tied, too focused on his warm hand touching you. 

Masamune finally looks up, catching your gaze. “It fits you, kitten. Strong and fragile.” His expression is more serious than you’re used to. A deeper emotion moves in the depths of his blue eye. 

The urge to kiss him is strong, but you resist. You tug the cloth back down and step away, heart beating frantically. Masamune likes to flirt, you think, that’s all. You wrack your brain for a witty comment and come up empty. 

He smiles, drops his hands. “Our clothes should dry out soon, and then we can continue on.”

“The temple better be awesome. You’ve talked it up too much to take anything less than.” Your destination is safer ground, you think, jumping right into the new topic.

Masamune laughs. “There’s not another like it anywhere.” Something about the way he says it makes you wonder if he means the temple you’re traveling to or something else. 

“Worth the trip then?”

He catches a bit of your damp hair and twirls it around a finger. “I’d say this trip is already worth it.”

[the12thnightproject]

Chapter 26 - Time Warped (Again). While Okatsu deals with the emotional fallout of recent events, Mozumi hosts a badly timed banquet, and Mitsunari consults another book.

Mitsunari x OC; Nobunaga x Mai

Previous Chapter

Logline - In order to protect a political alliance, Katusko and Mitsunari must pretend an engagement. But this “all business” arrangement is threatened by a coup against Nobunaga… and by feelings.

From the Military Notes of Ishida Mitsunari…

It is over. We succeeded in preventing Iekane’s forces from killing Nobunaga. Mitsuhide patted my shoulder and told me I had performed beyond his expectations. I’ve received word that Nobunaga plans to reward me for my service.

I should feel happy… We have won… and Okatsu kissed me. Perhaps as one might kiss a brother, however, her lips touched mine, which is the definition of a kiss.

But Okatsu still plans to leave.

No, that is a mischaracterization of the situation – Okatsu never planned to stay. This is something I knew. This is something I wanted. I no longer want this, but she will be with her family, she will return to a future that is peaceful and safer than here. I will be happy for her.

But…

…wait…

… Where is every--?

When Aki aimed his gun at the minion, I shut my eyes, waiting for images of my past to flash before me, as is foretold in popular fiction.

That didn’t happen.

Either I wasn’t going to die… or popular fiction was wrong. I had a bad feeling it was going to be the latter unless I took steps to avoid that fate. I opened my eyes again, knowing that as soon as Aki killed the minion, I would have to use that moment of distraction to act –

THWUMP!

With more power than grace, Mitsunari hauled himself over the edge of the tower and knocked the minion off his feet.  As a distraction, it worked wonderfully. I grabbed the war fan out of my kimono, jammed it into Iekane’s stomach, then flipped him over my body.

He landed right where Aki was waiting for him.

While Mitsunari was easily dispatching the minion, I grabbed Hikosane and yanked him out of the path of any stray bullet, sword, or –

THUNK.

Unconscious minions.

The second the minion hit the floor, Mitsunari had Hikosane and I in his arms, as far away from the Iekane and Aki’s fight as possible. At the moment, there wasn’t much else we could do except let Aki have his chance at Iekane. The two of them were evenly matched. Aki discarded the musket for his sword, and they battled across the perimeter of the tower, grimly trading hits, swords clanging against each other. Then Iekane backed up a step and pulled out a small rectangular object … was that a cell phone?

“No, you can’t it’s too-” Aki’s words were lost as he leaped at Iekane -

For a moment, out of the corner of my eye, I saw an odd aura – almost like the ones I used to get before a migraine headache. It felt like reality was rippling around me, almost as if the horizon was a curtain that was about to lift. I’ve… seen this before…

Then Aki’s forward motion took both of them over the railing of the tower.

Holy fu-

Mitsunari, Hikosane, and I rushed to the railing, and I was hoping against fate that I would find Aki clinging to the edge of the tower, and not in a broken heap on the ground below. Of course, he’d be clinging to the edge. This was Aki. Slippery. Wily. Acrobatic…

He was not clinging to the tower.

Nor was he – or Iekane – in a heap on the ground below.

In absence of their fight, the birdsong seemed unnaturally loud. None of us said anything to break the quiet. The three of us just stared over the edge, looking at… nothing.

We weren’t that far off the ground… a fall from the tower platform would have been survivable, although neither Aki nor Iekane would have had time to drag themselves into the woods, nor was there any evidence of two adult sized bodies having thudded to the ground.

It was as if they had never been there at all.

Finally, I pulled myself out of the shock, and rushed down the ladder and through the tower to the outside, barely aware that Mitsunari and Hikosane were right behind me.

Aki?

Dad?

Even in my head ‘dad’ didn’t sound right. Aki was… just…  Aki.

And he was gone.

Vanished somewhere between the tower platform and the soft, springy ground – a ground that clearly had not been crushed by two men thudding onto it.

“Where did they go?” Hikosane looked through the brush around the tower.

“Um, ninja tricks,” was all that I could come up with on the fly. I might have been able to formulate a better lie, but my attention was caught by something on the ground. A few stray leaves. Normally, exactly what you’d expect to find on the ground in the middle of a forest.

But they were late Autumn leaves. Maple leaves. Brown and gold where all the trees around us had yet to change color. Nor were any of them maple. I picked one up to examine it. Aside from being out of season, it was just a leaf.

“There may have been men waiting down here to help Iekane escape.” Mitsunari’s explanation to Hikosane sounded more plausible than mine. He glanced at the leaf I had in my hand and nodded.

Aki and Iekane had somehow, without a wormhole, gone elsewhere in time.

“We’re going to go after them, right?” Hikosane tugged on my arm. “Iekane and your father.”

Mitsunari sent a startled look my way – I guess he had missed that part of our drama. “Yes, of course I want to go after them, but now isn’t the time. I’ll need supplies and more arrows,” and a time machine. “Besides, right now we need to get you back to Genba, where I am sure your own father will be watching for you.”

We walked quietly back toward the castle, still alert to any remaining stragglers from Iekane’s crew that would be lurking, ready to jump scare our party. But Masamune and Ieyasu had been quite thorough in the mop-up detail. Masamune’s reputation alone might have been enough to send many those mercenaries running.

I felt a light touch on my shoulder and looked over to see Mitsunari looking at me steadily. “How are you?”

“A few bruises, that’s all.” Hopefully not another black eye. “Nothing that needs medical attention.”

“That was not what I was asking.” He glanced back over his shoulder, to where the tower was still visible in the distance.

Yes. I had been aware that he was really asking, ‘are you ok after watching your father apparently die?’ I had no answer to that. I wasn’t used to delving through my psyche. My mother’s emotions had strangled Toshiie and I for years – I’d never seen any reason to inflict mine on anyone else. Mitsunari was asking me to access the sort of things that were usually packed neatly away. I was afraid if I unpacked them, I would discover feelings that I couldn’t shove back into the suitcase.

But…

Aki’s disappearance… no, I wouldn’t think of him as dead. The man had always seemed indestructible. He wasn’t though. Aki was human. He aged. He could die.

He could die.

He might already be dead.

I couldn’t cry now.

Not here.

Mitsunari took my hands, and gently pulled me into an embrace. Then, with my face pressed against his chest, I cried, while Mitsunari simply held on, his fingers soft across my back.

We returned to the last thing I was in the mood for… another banquet. If Mozumi was humiliated that his wife had not only been cheating on him, but had been treasonously plotting to kill Nobunaga, he chose to pretend otherwise. Or maybe this was banquet was more along the lines of a plea to Nobunaga, the old, ‘hey, I’m sorry a member of the household tried to kill you, but look on the bright side, you didn’t die, so let’s party’ distraction technique.

The mood, at least, was far more subdued than the engagement banquet, and the ‘let’s entertain Nobunaga’ banquets. Most of Mozumi’s vassals were still on the coast, and the ones who had stayed behind, like Susumu, had lost friends and comrades in the struggle. While they were grateful enough to be fed, they (naturally) weren’t in a celebratory mood. Mozumi himself was seated only with Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, all three with their heads together in an intense discussion.

Mozumi didn’t look like he was pleading for his life, but his attitude was far more deferential than it had been a couple weeks ago. I wondered if they were trying to decide Lady Yone’s fate. Normally, she would have been sentenced to death for her treasonous acts, in fact, I was surprised that she had not already been executed. But Mai had pleaded for leniency, for the sake of her daughters, all of whom were under the age of ten. Last I heard, her punishment had yet to be determined.

On the other hand, the happiest person at the banquet was Shohime, who was in her element, alternately – or, well actually simultaneously – flirting with Keiji and Masamune. Both seemed happy enough to reciprocate. I wondered if they were getting her ‘beautiful, perfect, but dumb’ persona, or if now that Hikosane was safe from Lady Yone, Shohime was finally going to be able to allow her true self to emerge.

One person who had escaped the celebration was Mitsuhide, who had claimed that the sight of his injuries would put people off their food. Personally, I thought that unlikely – these men and women had seen far too much danger and battle to care. More likely, he didn’t feel social, or had decided to keep his presence on the down low.

Hikosane had also been able to escape the ‘banquet’ and was supposedly in his room – but I had a feeling he’d snuck out to the stables to hang out with Mitsuhide.

I would have like to have been able to get out of the feasting too – it would have been nice to be able to find a time and space in which to process the events of the few days. But since I was supposed to be an Oda Princess, I couldn’t suddenly claim to be mourning my father (long-dead in my fake backstory). Additionally, to avoid confusion, Hideyoshi had (reluctantly) decided to let the false engagement stand until we returned to Azuchi.

But… I wouldn’t be returning to Azuchi.

Travel in this century being what it was, I intended to part ways with the Oda and Mitsunari as soon as we left Genba. There wasn’t time for me to go all the way to Azuchi and then travel back up to the Togakushi shrine  – I would miss the wormhole if I did.

Until then I would pretend to be a happy, engaged Princess. As such, I looked over and smiled fondly at Mitsunari, who was happily catching up with Ieyasu (less than happy to be caught up with). Déjà vu, Mitsunari’s hand came close to knocking a bowl of soup into Ieyasu’s lap.

Ieyasu braced himself, that familiar scowl descending his face. Mitsunari slowed down, moved his bowl out of the way, and continued the conversation.

Startled, Ieyasu blinked. Then he frowned again – must be disappointed not to have anything to complain about. If I had been in a better mood myself, I would have laughed at him.

Yes, Mitsunari had changed. Well. A little. He was less clumsy. More confident. Oh, under that he was still the too literal absent minded, sweet genius that I …

…couldn’t possibly allow myself to think, to feel about in that way.

Suddenly, I could no longer stand to be in a room full of people and before I could think of any excuse, I jumped to my feet.

“Are you feeling alright, Okatsu?” Looking concerned, Mitsunari reached for my hand, but I was already backing away from the table.

“I’m fine. I thought I’d steal some dessert and take it up to Hikosane.” It was a stupid excuse – Hikosane probably had been fed the same meal we had. But I realized I did want to check in on the kid. “Oh, no stay put,” I added when Mitsunari moved to join me. “I know you haven’t seen Ieyasu in a while, and you want to spend time with your friend.”

Ieyasu sighed the sigh of a man facing a long evening.

Without allowing either of them to say another word, I hurried out of the banquet hall.

Eventually, I tracked Hikosane to the stables – just as I expected, he was pestering Mitsuhide and Kyubei to tell him about their adventures.

“Young man, you are one question away from becoming as annoying as – that one.” Mitsuhide indicated me with a nod of his head.

“Truly? I am honored by the comparison.” Hikosane gave a rather Mitsunari-esque response. Perhaps he had been spending too much time with both of us.

“That was in no way intended to be a compliment.” Mitsuhide stood up, signaling to us all that whatever patience he had was at its end.

“Huh, actually, I took it as a compliment too.” I held out my hand for Hikosane. “If I can annoy you, I must be doing something right.”

Kyubei hastily smothered a laugh, which earned him a look of doom from Mitsuhide.

“Anyway, I will be out of your … wig… soon enough. And you can sooth yourself with the knowledge that Hideyoshi hates me even more than you do.” Every time that man looked at me, his jaw twitched as if he were biting his tongue.

“There is that.” Mitsuhide then turned serious. “Neither I nor Hideyoshi hate you… far from it. You’re simply too volatile for my peace of mind. Doing the work that I, and by association, you, do, requires a certain cold calculation that at this point, you do not yet possess.” I opened my mouth to protest that (which… might have proven his point), but he continued, “And I would regret it if someday you were to acquire that skill.”

He turned back toward Kyubei, who, I belatedly noticed, was sitting in front of a partially completed shogi game – I suppose Hikosane had interrupted them. I wondered if Mitsuhide and Aki would ever get the chance to complete their long-running game. Hopefully, wherever Aki was, he was still alive and would be able to return to this time.

My expression must have been unusually unguarded, because Kyubei said, “Hikosane has told us what happened to Akihira. Do you think Iekane would take him prisoner?” Unspoken was the ‘or simply killed him elsewhere?’

“That’s certainly a possibility.” Or they could both be chasing after each other in a different timeline, but that wasn’t something I could bring up to this audience.

Reminded of his manners – or at least of macro-etiquette in this type of situation, Mitsuhide turned back to me. “I am truly sorry that you lost your mentor. I imagine you were close.”

“He’s her father!” Hikosane had not yet fully learned the lesson of keeping information private, but this likely wasn’t something that I would have been able to hide from Mitsuhide in the long run anyway. “Of course, they were close!”

That bombshell prompted mirror image raised single eyebrows from both Kyubei and Mitsuhide (yeesh, can everyone but me do that?). “Fascinating. That was information that had escaped me.”

I considered telling him that it had been a surprise to me as well, but it would do him no harm to believe that I had always known and had managed to keep it a secret from him. I also imagined I’d get some spy credit chips if he thought that I had grown up being trained by Aki. “Well. You can’t know everything.”

That, in my opinion, was a perfect exit line, so I gave Mitsuhide a version of his own mocking bow, and a more polite one to Kyubei, before leading Hikosane back to the castle.

Hikosane looked back over his shoulder toward the stables as we padded through the corridors of Genba. “I’m looking forward to knowing him better.”

“I don’t think anyone really knows him, aside from Kyubei.” The castle had quieted down for the night. Seemed like the banquet had ended earlier than usual, and people were heading off to bed.

“When Shohime and I are living at Azuchi, I will make it a point to learn as much as I can from and about him.” Hikosane’s voice held a solemn vow, but I was more interested in what he said, and not how.

“You’ll be living at Azuchi?” I slid open the door to his room, and automatically scanned it for samurais and snakes. The page waiting for Hikosane flinched under my stare and stepped backward, nearly tripping over the futon.

“It has not been formalized yet, but we went to Nobunaga and offered ourselves as hostages – no, it’s what I want – and Shohime too,” he added quickly before I could make a protest. “While you may not think it’s necessary, I wish to learn more about governing and I’ll learn more from Nobunaga than my own father.”

This was clearly true, and if his life was still in danger from Iekane, Azuchi was a safer place for him to be. “You’re right, you probably will.”

“I can learn from you too. I’ve never known a kuinochi princess before.” He bowed to me.

Neither have I.

“Hikosane, I’m going on a long journey first – to spend time with my brother and look for my father. I don’t know exactly when I’ll be returning to Azuchi.” Too many directions I wanted and needed to go. No matter where I ended up, part of my heart would be somewhere else.

He looked at me a long time, then ran to me and gave me a long hug. “I am certain I will see you again.”

“You’ll see me tomorrow.” I bowed to him. “Good night, Hiko.”

As he slid closed the door to his room, I wished I were not leaving. I would like to see this child grow up and become whatever it was he was to become. I even wanted to see what kind of damage Shohime would do to the Azuchi warlords.

Who knows… maybe she and Mitsunari would end up together after all. I wished that thought didn’t hurt as much as it did.

I took a deep breath.

And then another.

By the time I got back to our room, I had composed myself… until I opened the door to discover that Mitsunari had lost his mind.

He was …? I tilted my head to try and get a better perspective on what he was… he was… well, it looked like he was playing a game of invisible twister with an octopus.

When he saw me, he blushed, then lost his balance and collapsed in a heap, half on the cushion and half on the floor.

I rushed over to help him up. “Are you alright?” By which I meant both physically and mentally. He scrambled to toss something behind him. It, naturally, bounced off the wall. I put my hands up to avoid getting smacked in the face with it, and –

One of Mozumi’s pillow books?

I looked at the book.

I looked at Mitsunari.

He was still blushing.

For the first time in years, I could think of nothing to say. I might (possibly) have been blushing too. I simply handed the book back to him. My mind still blank, I considered whether I should just back out of the room, then re-enter and do a retake of the entire last five minutes.

Hey. Time travel. It could happen.

@lorei-writes @bestbryn @katriniac @lyds323 @briars7

[eventinelysplayground]

An Evening Snack

I started this fic for @lorei-writes and @wordycheeseblob wish upon an aide event with the passion prompt but I stalled half way through and just finished it recently. It's also different from the others I did for the event and not exactly what I wanted but close enough. I'm still not as comfortable with Ikesen yet but I'm getting there so it was good practice. Kyubei and Chimaki 'talk' about Mitsuhide and Mai over a snack. Pure fluff WC approx 865.

It was late at night and as always Kyubei was taking one last walk around the manor ensuring it was secure before retiring to his room for the day. As he completed the familiar routine he came to a pause at the entrance.

Is that-?

Hmm?

Is what what?

…No, it's nothing.

In truth Kyubei wasn't all that surprised to see the hairpin adorning Lady Mai's hair, in fact he had been praying he was right. Kyubei continued on his rounds, unaware he had started humming to himself until he reached his final stop at the gardens. In this spot too he found himself pausing and remembering the events of the day.

I was the one who delivered it to Lord Mitsuhide while he was imprisoned.

What?

I asked if he needed anything before he left. He said there was only one thing he absolutely had to get…I believe it was his intent to give it to you upon your return to Azuchi.

“Even though I had just been in the dungeons my heart was uplifted as soon as I saw that hairpin, and knowing that was the most important thing to him at that moment…”

Kyubei let out a long breath and was about to head back into the manor when he heard rustling in a nearby bush.

“Chimaki, have you come to visit again already? I'm afraid I have to inform you that neither the Lord or future Lady of the manor are at home right now.”

Chimaki’s tail flicked at Kyubei’s words.

“Lady of the manor.”

Sighing, Kyubei sat down on the steps and looked up into the night sky.

“My lord has always been alone in the shadows, never concerned with the consequences of the way he's chosen to live his life but now…Now he has finally found someone.”

Chimaki moved slightly towards Kyubei and sat down, looking up at him with big eyes. He laughed knowing what that meant and began to rummage around in his pocket finally pulling out a hand towel that held some rice balls.

“Is this what you're looking for?”

Chimaki let out a small chatter and her tail swished elegantly around her.

“Hehe I thought so, guess I know you pretty well now.”

Kyubei tossed one of the rice balls to Chimaki and she began to eat.

“I like to think I know Lord Mitsuhide well too, I've served him a long time after all. He’s always been passionate about the things he does, giving everything of himself in the process. So much so he doesn't even usually bother to take care of himself beyond the bare minimum. Now there is finally something he truly wants for himself, that makes him happy and is a better use for all his passion.”

Kyubei bit into his own rice ball.

“At first I wondered, just what it was he was planning with her. Never expected that it would be this, though I doubt he expected it either.”

Kyubei let out a soft chuckle and turned his attention up to the stars again.

“I worried about him, his way of life was going to end up killing him one way or another. I don't think he will be in such a hurry to sacrifice himself anymore. Did you know Chimaki, he has already declared his intent to marry her to Lord Nobunaga and Lord Hideyoshi?”

Chimaki looked up from her rice ball and blinked at Kyubei.

“I swear it's true, of course at the time he was using it as cover to keep his other deeds undiscovered or so he said anyways but as I said I know Lord Mitsuhide well.”

Kyubei gave Chimaki a cheeky smile and she seemed to smile back at him.

“His passion and kindness always come through in the end, you just need to know what to look for. I suspect Lady Mai has figured that out as well by now.”

The smile left Kyubeis face replaced by a worried frown.

“She is perfect for him, and the only one who is capable of saving Lord Mitsuhide from himself. I hate that she has to carry such a heavy burden alone…”

Kyubei sat silent for a moment then tossed his barely touched rice ball to Chimaki.

“He's so close, she's right there and all he needs to do is not let go of her.”

Kyubei sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. He closed his eyes and sat in silence for a long moment as Chimaki watched him curiously. Finally he let out another sigh before standing.

“She's survived him this long. All I need to do is have faith, right Chimaki?”

Chimaki stood stretching her front legs and letting out a small raspy bark.

“Exactly, it will all work out.”

Kyubei gave a small nod to Chimaki before he walked away. Chimaki watched and waited until Kyubei was gone and then she laughed while shaking her head.

Of course it will all work out silly man!

A sadly sweet smile flashed across Chimaki's face brought on by something she left unspoken.

We kitsune take care of our own after all, even if this one does happen to be human.