#Ikesennw reblog

[tsundere-mitsuhide]

Tactical Tales: An Unpleasant Conversation

I dont have a reason for why this sat in my Google Drive for so long. So Im just going to yeet it out into the void. AO3 link here.

“What is upsetting you, little mouse?”

“Mitsuhide, I’m not a mouse.”

“Oh, but you’re acting like one.”

Tazuki glares at him, with more intensity than he had expected. She’s as angry as water poured onto a hot pan. And he knows it.

[silversparkz]

For @ikesennw‘s ms paint event, here is a babey ﾍ(=￣∇￣)ﾉ

[batteryrose]

redraw of that nobunaga art i made a while ago since that was basically just a sketch that i colored experimented a lot on the shading here. drawing the flowers was suprisingly a lot of fun finally have the time and mood to draw again yay

[daeva-agas]

Still rough but I’m getting used to it :’D 

MS Paint is surprisingly capable of a lot of things

[ikesenhell]

Photo by @marinejelly!! Thank you so much!

---

BACK AT IT AGAIN FOR THE OC WEEK

Sera, in the framework of the canon IkeSen world, winds up with Kennyo. This, alarmingly, works. She has a way of bringing out the humor in him, and he has a calming effect on some of her brasher qualities. She likes the perspective that he has and is constantly there to push back on his more self destructive traits. They didnt fall for each other so much as discover that they were there already, already nesting perfectly against each other.

They fight about his more destructive traits. A lot. Sera is aware she's an easy target in her ignorance--there's plenty she doesn't understand or relate to about his quest for revenge--but she doesn't move. But, at the end of the day, they're always there to topple back over each other and hug. She's unrepentant in her weirdness and a stone wall when she wants to be. Kennyo, for his part, has quietly fallen for that.

[blossomoranges]

the "draw a terrible yet sexy ;) ikémen" MS Paint event has given me a new lease on life

kenshin has never looked better, with his one hand and floating body

[rainylune]

she's feeling a lil stressed right now, ok

[tarralin]

Games

Fox Hunt, Chapter Twelve

(Board gifted by @under-sengoku-skies)

TW: adult themes, mentions of combat/death, nudity, mild profanity

Thank you @xathia-89 @tsundere-mitsuhide @ikemenfics @mmscum for beta/proofing and helping me along with this chapter!

~☆~

The kimono crafter had a variety of shimmering sheer fabrics that fit her needs exactly. Her daily layers of fabric didn't allow for much improvisation but a lowered neck collar would allow the perfect peek-a-boo for her Sengoku edition of lingerie. And since Mitsuhide had effectively declared war, she had no qualms about digging out the hair elastics from her pack that had called the darkest part of the closet home since her arrival in Azuchi. Once her hair was secured in a ponytail-- and elastics concealed by several ribbons-- it was time to set out for war.

Daily duties as Chatelaine always started with checking in on the caretakers and rearranging workloads when needed in case of a servant’s absence. Thankfully, those were almost nonexistent since the attack. Hideyoshi had been in charge of the delivery schedules during recovery while Masa took over the renovation plans as best as he could without understanding any of her personal notes in written English. Hideyoshi was not thrilled with her being back at work so soon and less enthused about her wardrobe alterations, even if he would never say so aloud.

“It’s really no trouble for me,” Hideyoshi assured as he attempted to keep the reports from her. “I can handle these.”

“So can I!” When the pleads went unheard, she switched tactics. Rolling her shoulders and fluffing her collar to show just the teeniest more skin. “Well then, if everyone really does have everything under control, I guess I'll just take a stroll through town.”

“Town?” Color drained from his face as he froze in his stance, his eyes the only sign of life as they scanned across her appearance. “Would you like my haori?”

“Nah, I think some more sun would be good for my healing while I'm about. Or I could accompany Nobunaga and Ieyasu on their troop inspection...”

She was just turning toward the castle gate when his rushed footsteps stopped at her elbow. “Actually, that reminds me, I'm supposed to be with them on inspection today. Would you mind handling the incoming deliveries, Princess?”

Victory! Finally, something other than the same housework for the last few days. “It would be my pleasure, Hideyoshi.”

Her skin prickled with a familiar sensation as she trotted back to the farmer waiting to finish the transaction.  Mitsuhide had been in council with Nobunaga late into the night after his return yesterday, and there had been no sign of him that morning so far, but it was definitely his gaze she felt now. Her eyes were on double duty as they inspected the produce before her while roaming the courtyard for any flash of white. Hiding in the blind spots, huh?

Two more deliveries were scheduled that day but, through it all, the soft weight of his watchful gaze remained; no doubt waiting for an opportunity to catch her off guard. As soon as the last cart rolled away from the castle, she started down the path away from the one her gut told her he was most likely lurking.

Good luck hunting.

~*~

She knew Mitsuhide would seek her out early in the day. She was the victor in yesterday's game of chase, having successfully evaded his pursuit all over town and castle until evening. That was bound to push even his patience to its breaking point.

“Morning, Chatelaine.”

She had not expected the near heart attack awaiting her upon opening the door. The start nearly sent the tea in her hands dashing to the floor. One point to the kitsune to tie the score.

“Mitsuhide,” she greeted dryly. “I doubt you're here to wish me a good start to a busy day?”

“Don't think it's slipped my mind that you haven't given me that answer you promised.”

“We've both been rather occupied lately, in case you haven't noticed.” She made sure to purr her words over his ear as she brushed past his shoulder. And because I'm feeling extra dramatic… hair flip in your face!

She hadn't made it two steps before his sharp intake of air sent shivers to her toes. In the next instant, his fingers locked like a vise grip around her wrist and pulled her to the dark alcove leading to a seldom-used storage room. He made a show of pinning her wrist to the wall but left her enough room to twist out of his grasp if she wished.

She didn't.

“You play a dangerous game, Little Mouse.”

“Tis only the game we've played these last few days. And I've seen no sign of danger yet.”

He laughed openly at that and it took everything in her not to melt under such an attack. “Do you not consider this dangerous then?”

“Some goals take a little danger.”

Citrine orbs narrowed upon her before he pushed off the wall faster than he had pinned her there, lips tilting back to his usual casual smirk. “Nobunaga has asked me to finally question you on your previous… employment, now that you're feeling better.”

Really, Mitsuhide? You're going to try aversion? On me?

“Perfect! I happen to be finishing up my duties now and will be free for the rest of the evening. I had planned to turn in early, so you know where I'll be. Then we can finish this conversation as well.”

If he was annoyed in any way by her easy agreement, he showed none of it. Simply bowed in response and continued down the hall as if he hadn't just veered from his path.

With a smirk of her own, she continued onto her usual routine while planning her next move.

~*~

The moon had been shining for several hours by the time Mitsuhide stood outside her door. He never stated he would meet with her tonight, never actually planned to. This was supposed to be his move in the little game that had spanned the last few days. She was the one who should be coming to him now. What was he doing here?

Nevertheless, her door is where he found himself after his work kept him in the dungeons late again. What if the Harpy was already asleep? Buddha knew she needed her rest. He rapped softly upon the frame, but it may as well have been a bell alerting of an enemy invasion in the dead of night.

“Come in.”

Oh, waiting up for me, Harpy? You shouldn't have.

“I was starting to think you had forgotten about me.”

The greeting he received from the woman bundled in her futon held no trace of fatigue despite the hour. “With your sunny personality? I wouldn't dream of it.”

A snort in response as she rolled her eyes. “Well, have a seat. I'm eager to hear what it is Nobu wishes to learn that he couldn't ask me himself.”

“Oh, the usual, my dear. What you did before coming into his employ, how you possess the skills you do. Not to mention exactly how it was you ended up so conveniently at the temple that night.”

The Harpy remained a portrait of calm for her part, allowing neither voice nor eyes to betray the workings of her mind as he stared down into those ocean blue depths of hers. She’s proven to be exemplary in many other ways, why not in this as well?

“So this is an interrogation.” There was no question in her words now as she cautiously pulled the bulk of her hair over one shoulder.

Ah, there’s the nervous tick.

“Of course not, dear Chatelaine, just a lovely chat between comrades.”

She rolled her eyes to the ceiling once more before leveling them back to him. “Every time you call me that, it sounds like there's something else you want to use. What is it you really wish to call me?”

I'd like to call you mine... No. No, stop that. The last thing he needed was the distraction she tried to levy upon him. Clearing his head, he pulled the conversation back to the matter at hand. “We can't escape the unpleasantries with distractions this time, my dear.”

“Oh, alright,” she sighed in resignation and--

Seven Hells, Harpy! Mitsuhide averted his gaze to the floor as her blanket fluttered to the ground as she stood, revealing the woman wore nothing but her own skin to bed!

“Allow me a moment to dress- oh! How rude of me… Mitsuhide would you like some tea? I brewed a fresh pot not long ago.”

Oh? Trying to unsettle me, are you? Try again little Harpy. “Tea sounds lovely.”

He could hear the clatter of cups and tried not to imagine what the moonlight was doing to that porcelain skin. The trickle of the tea into cups meant he was not picturing those dark waves of hair being tossed over that defiant shoulder-- no, not him. And he most certainly was not envisioning the ripples that movement would have caused across that supple expanse of--

“Here we are,” she purred, plopping herself onto the same spot-- the same damned spot!-- he had fixed his gaze. Face! Focus on her face! The trek to her eyes proved to be sweet torture as-- again-- his once companionable shadows turned traitorous. Slivers of darkness danced lovingly across her collarbone in the places it finally conceded to moonbeams. Oh, how he wanted to toss away that tray and-

Dangerous territory, keep your focus! Damn it, Harpy! Why are you only now crossing your legs?!

“Oh, my dear Kitsune, if I didn’t know any better I’d think you’re blushing.”

“W-well,” words seemed to lodge in his throat on the way up. Did she really have to use that moniker in such a manner? “It’s a good thing you know better then.”

Tense silence filled the distance between them as he claimed his cup from the tray. For the life of him, he couldn’t understand why he was so disturbed. He had taken lovers in the past. He had even interrogated previous female spies under similar circumstances. The fastest course to the truth was through humiliation and nakedness seemed to do the trick usually. But, of course, the usual wouldn’t do for his Har—

No. No. Stop that. She’s not my anything.

“So…?”

“Hmm?” Did I miss a question?

“I thought I was being interrogated.”

Ah, that’s right. “As I said earlier, we’re just having a friendly chat.”

“Are we?”

“Yes.”

“Funny… you don’t seem very chatty right now. Though, you do seem to be in quite the friendly mood.” The pointed glance to his hakama only seemed to inflame him even more and he really needed to change his seating position to alleviate the tightening of his waistband, but the devilish curl to her lips solicited a low growl from him.

“What game are you playing here?”

“As I said earlier, it's the same one we’ve been playing these past several days, dear Kitsune, nothing has changed. Although, I do find it quite adorable you haven’t realized your true role.”

“What role?”

The sultry chuckle reverberating from her throat caused several pieces of him to clench in such desperate demand that he nearly doubled over to his knees right then. The Harpy seemed to be very aware of that fact as she leaned forward onto her own knees in a show of reaching for her own cup. “It wouldn’t be nearly as fun if I told you, now would it?”

Mitsuhide was on his feet and back in the hallway before he could even register the movement. Thank Buddha his reflexes were working, gods knew his brain wasn't.

The Harpy's cackling flowed from the room. “We'll chat some other time then?”

Mitsuhide didn't answer, only marched back to the dungeons in a sudden need to burn off the frustration of a failed interrogation.

~*~

The sun was setting when she perched upon the desk's edge to await her kitsune's arrival, grinning as she thought back to that morning.

Mitsuhide had been propped against the frame when she slid her door open.

“Ah, our lovely Chatelaine finally rises. Rest well?”

“Kitsune, you know I rise with the sun. And, yes, I think I slept quite well. Did you?”

“I had other matters to attend to.”

“So that's a ‘no’.” It was horrible of her-- she knew that-- but she couldn't help the small feeling of pride that swelled within her at the success of her plan.

His eyes were the same molten amber she remembered from the party weeks ago. “As much as I enjoy chasing a vexing little mouse, it is beyond time we have that conversation.”

She made no attempt to hide the giggles that bubbled as she continued down the end of the hall, preparing to deliver her final blow for the morning. “I really, really do find that adorable about you.”

He scoffed, just as any man she ever used the term on did. “And, pray tell, what is that?”

She paused at the end of the hall, turning slowly to ensure he saw her smirk fully when she spoke next. “You still think you're the cat.”

She thought that would have been the end of their interactions for the day, but then Nobu called her for a missive delivery just as the afternoon turned to evening. He didn't care for an immediate answer but still dictated her to watch the recipient read the letter, after which he instructed her to take the rest of the evening off. The timing of the task was more than perfect for a final surprise attack.

Mitsuhide's manor came into view just as town building shadows began to grow and blur together in the early evening sun. She slipped through the halls to his room and office easily without being spotted and got to work on her clothing. Stripping away the layers of the traditional garb, she stuffed the discarded garments into the pouch she carried and tugged the newest sheer fabric swatch into place. The sparkling blue transparent lining was the only pop of color under the plain white sleeping robe meticulously draped low across her shoulders.

The sun was almost set when the familiar click of his sandals on the floorboards echoed through the halls. She gulped down a quick sip of sake from the carafe she brought before pulling the bulk of her hair over one shoulder for good measure.

The surprised blink of his eyes alone was well worth the effort she put into the evening already. And is that a dry gulp I see you trying to hide?

“It appears a mouse has slipped past my attendants.” He made sure the door was properly latched before fully facing her, focusing intently above her neckline she noticed. “What brings you here in such a fashion?”

She lifted the letter up for his inspection in one hand while pouring two cups of sake with the other. “Nobu said it was urgent for you to see this. As for the fashion, well… one should always dress appropriately for battle, right?”

His chuckle lacked genuine humor as he paced to his desk cushion, accepting both letter and sake from her. “Now you speak of battle? Whatever happened to your technique of evasion and distraction these last few days? Almost makes me think you are unsure of what you want, Little Mouse.”

“Oh, if it were only that simple… No, my dear kitsune, I know what I want but I also know what I can and can't do.” She pushed from the desk to face him fully. His head tilted slightly as he waited for her to continue but his eyes were thin slits and his jaw ticked as he braced himself. After a slow inhale to steel her nerves, she conjured the words that had wreaked havoc within her since making the decision. “And I can't stay.”

There. It was out. Many say the truth hurts, but painful truths had always been a way of life and never bothered her. She'd always known Father only saw her as another weapon in his collection. Knew there was no point in planning a future outside of war and blood, with no family of her own because of it. Hell, after childhood, she never wanted one. Didn't want to risk passing on the same quiet insanity of her eldest brother or Father's cold cruelty onto a new generation.

This truth twisted and tore her insides as a shark would its prey.

This land had invaded her soul to conjure forgotten dreams she hadn't allowed herself to dally in since she was a child. Visions of a future where kimonos replaced kevlar, filled with sunsets and laughter instead of bloodshed or gunfire. But...

This was the past. There was no future here.

Mitsuhide planted his sake cup on the desktop with a thud before rising to his feet and bracing his hands on the window banister. “Why?”

She paced around the desk as softly as she spoke. “This has always been a temporary means of survival for me. I can acclimate and blend in when needed, but I can't live like this permanently. I can't keep holding my tongue, waiting on the sidelines as an errand girl. I don't belong here, Kitsune… no matter how much I wish I could.”

He pulled his gaze to hers as she propped herself as close as she dared, a sad but accepting smile decorating his features. “So, we remain only companions then.”

Her eyes darted to her feet at that. “If that's your choice, then--”

“My choice?”

She failed to hide her smirk at the genuine surprise in his voice. “I’m not so selfish as to make your decisions for you, nor noble enough to deny my own desires. Time is becoming a luxury that I don’t intend to waste on games or fantasies any longer. So whether I remain a companion or become something more, the choice is yours. As long as you promise to let me go, I don't see why we can't make the most of what little time we have left.”

“You've already planned your departure, then?”

A slow nod as she took his hand gently in hers. “I'm… to join a caravan in Kyoto that will take me home.”

“When?”

“Six weeks.”

His grip tightened as his forehead came to rest on hers. “If you truly wish to leave then I will not restrain you when the time comes, but don't think I won't do everything in my power to convince you otherwise.”

Her arms looped over his shoulders as his encircled her waist, closing the remaining distance between them while she grinned against his lips. “I wouldn't expect anything less.”

~*~

Mitsuhide couldn't remember the last time he slept so peacefully. He still woke hours before the sun, but never in recent memory had he awakened feeling so rested and ready to tackle his tasks.

The tasks would still wait, however.

If he thought his sleep was peaceful, hers would have to be a vision of perfection as she curled around a pillow with a soft smile and brow free of worry. The position allowed him to see the entirety of those peculiar prints that covered her back. In two opposing corners, there were depictions that matched her ‘dog tags’. Strange artwork of what appeared to be a type of head and foot armor claimed the other hip while a distinctive battle flag decorated the back of her right shoulder.

His fingers traced the print of her language as she would. When making notes to herself, her hand took a horizontal path beginning on the left. Most lines were broken into three parts with a sporadic few split in two or four segments.

She stirred under his ministrations and a contented sigh left her while she turned flat to her stomach, snuggling closer to his touch.

“They're names,” she whispered softly as not to disturb the quiet of the morning. He continued his trail over the markings as she explained. “That one is my brother Mark, who was more a father to me than our own. Macon is the one beside it, just like the dog tags I carry. The rest are the names of everyone who paid the ultimate price due to my ego.”

His hand froze in place over a printed line. “I don’t--”

“I was the youngest commander ever awarded the duty. Then I became the first female to lead a special operations task force. My head kept growing to where I ignored all instinct and chased the glory of high-risk missions. But all pride has a fall… many good men and women lost their lives because I failed them as a leader.” She gathered several loose tendrils of hair into a twist to reveal the entirety of print and artwork that covered her from shoulders to the end of her spine. “So, now, I carry their names with me always. I hope to lead a life that makes me worthy of their sacrifice since I was denied my place with them.”

She turned her eyes to the mattress as her hair tumbled back around her, but he caught the darkness stirring in those ocean depths. The same as Masamune when a fit arises. The same as Nobunaga after losing a regiment in battle. Oftentimes, Mitsuhide feared silently that his friends would fade to that darkness until their resolve won over the internal struggles and they discovered their own coping methods. Nobunaga with his vision of unity and Masamune with his thrill-seeking. His little Harpy’s methods seemed to lie in her need to always work. His questioning of the maids revealed she had remained in bed for only two more mornings after his departure before she was back to her usual routine.

But he could see there were still marks on her soul that no amount of work would heal.

His fingers continued their trails but with a new reverence for the meaning of the foreign language. His fingers graced over each name, each scar, each marking a new piece of the puzzle he thoroughly enjoyed solving. A shiver reverberated through her as he curled his tips to drag his knuckles back to her shoulders where he traded those for his lips at the nape of her neck, her sigh a whisper of Heaven itself.

“It was not your time, Dear One.” He laced his fingers through hers as he rose over her, his lips roaming up her neck and to the base of her jaw.

“It should have been. My soldiers… my brothers--”

“Ah, yes, what would they have to say if they heard this speech, hmm?”

Her eyes narrowed as she twisted to meet his gaze. “That's a low blow, even for you.”

“None lower than you inflict needlessly on yourself, Dearest.” He rested his forehead against hers, forcing her to hold eye contact. “I don't think I possess adequate enough terms to describe how utterly helpless I felt while you laid in that bed, assaulted by forces I couldn't touch. I may not be able to fight those enemies for you when you slumber but, if you let me, I can while you wake. Please, tell me, what haunts you so?”

For the first time in her residence, he caught a shimmer from the corner of her eye before she blinked it away. She steeled herself and turned fully in his arms to face him. “The peak of my arrogance led me to set up camp close to known enemy territory, but it was either that or extend our mission by days we couldn’t afford. Our enemy at the time wasn’t known for night raids and I thought we'd be safe...

“As soon as I heard the first screams, I knew it was a slaughter. Macon and Mark were attending the mission under my command, they found me at the beginning of the massacre and together we managed to kill off the first wave of raiders. We could have fled then, but RM and JR were still in camp somewhere. Macon wanted Mark and I to leave while he fought but no way in Hell were we going to let him go alone...

“We ran out of ammo for our guns quickly and had to rely on our knives. Three of us against dozens more coming in? I’m actually surprised we lasted as long as we did before being cornered.” A shudder tore through her, grip clenching in his as the memories fell from her.

“Macon fell first. We didn't see or hear the next fire team approach and he was shot down. Then Mark jumped in front of me, taking all the deadly hits for himself.” She paused again, choking down a sob that threatened to escape. He pulled her to him, holding her head on his shoulder when she forced herself to continue. “He was gone before I caught him in my arms— and God how I wanted to join them both. I managed to snatch a gun off an enemy but I was knocked out before I could pull the trigger on myself.

“I lost track of the days I was held captive in their camp until a key holder made the mistake of dropping the key to my chains and enabled my escape.

“I refused task force and troop leadership after that, choosing reconnaissance and asset retrieval instead. It was a good fit as it allowed me to stay active while still making a difference in the world. RM joined me but JR left the military completely and became a narcotics officer. Keeping busy helps keep the nightmares at bay.” She finished on a sigh, her face still buried in his shoulder.

Mitsuhide remained silent as he processed this new revelation, simply brushing his fingers through her hair. He had guessed she was a warrior, yes, but not a commander. Did it not make the most sense? All the rolled eyes at an imbecilic suggestion of troop leaders who tried to worm their way into Nobunaga's good graces. The numerous times he caught her biting back retorts during war councils… Thinking back to her first days, he scolded himself for not realizing it earlier. She took the reins of the castle so easily, was far too comfortable and experienced at instructing the firing team. That was the strength and power he noticed even then. And now, part of the source of that occasional dark cloud about her had been revealed.

Mitsuhide glanced to the window. Beyond the screen, the first signs of dawn were coloring the sky. Damn. There wouldn't be enough time to uncover any more of her past this morning.

Glancing back, her eyes held an edge of fear as she watched him work through his inner musings. A visible vulnerability he knew only he was allowed to see, one that would have surely brought him to his knees had he been standing. With a mind of their own, his lips landed on the top of her head while one hand tilted her chin toward him so he could continue to trail soft kisses over her features with a tenderness even he was unaware he possessed. Her hands tangled in his hair as his forehead rested on hers to gaze in her eyes once more. The dark, churning waves of fear were gone, replaced with glimmering waters of a perfect summer's day that he wished to spend eternity basking in.

He sighed as he brushed several stray strands from her face. “You'll be needed at the castle soon.”

Her groan of displeasure reflected his own feelings perfectly as she stared up to him pleadingly, fingers roaming his jaw and cheekbone as if she were trying to memorize them. “What if I call in sick? You can say I relapsed, opened my wound during questioning and you're caring for me.”

He chuckled. “I don't know what all that means but it sounds very tempting. However, the mother hen would come investigating your disappearance himself. I can almost see the horror on his face at my idea of ‘care’.”

He nipped at the sensitive skin behind the ear and her unrestrained laughter was another gift from Heaven. He cursed himself as he wrapped his arms around her once more. How could he have agreed to such ridiculous terms of surrender so easily? It would be excruciatingly painful to let her go when even the shadows sought her radiance willingly.

“Oh, Nobu's letter!” The sudden topic change pulled him from his musings as she reached a hand to the fallen and forgotten missive. “I'm to watch you read it.”

“Ah, yes, a supposedly urgent matter too, wasn't it?” He flashed his usual smirk her way as he peeled the paper open completely and scanned the words before shock wiped the expression from his features.

“What is it?” Her open worry for it's contents reminded him she knew nothing of Nobunaga's own scheming nature.

“There's no need to ‘call in sick’, my dear. It seems we've both lost our game to a third player.” The deep swell of laughter tumbling from him only seemed to worry her more. Handing the message over for her perusal, he knew the moment the she came to the same realization with a flutter of blinks and her own bark of incredulous laughter as she tossed it aside. Then those clear ocean orbs glittered like jewels caught in the sun as she pulled him to her.

~*~

Mitsuhide,

This will be the last opportunity I arrange for you two. Don't waste it.

And take tomorrow for yourselves.

~☆~

[ikesennw]

Here is another entry for the Ikesen Network’s very first Collab Event, where 2 creators worked together this month to create something. The theme is “Winter/Holiday”.

The Risks of Winter

Writer: @randomhomosapiens || Artist: @lonelyshepherds

“It’s not my fault”, she glared at him, her lips pursed into a severe line. “He started it, not me.”

“You’ll notice I didn’t make a single comment”, Mitsuhide answered, voicing said comments in the safety of his mind.

“Yes, but you thought it. Loudly.”

She gathered the cover around her head and stuck her tongue at him. She was wrapped in the soft fabric as much as in her childish pettiness.

“I’m not the childish one, here. I told you that Masamune started it.”

Oh, and she was getting quite good at reading him, much to his misfortune. There again, the glare - the piercing, heated glare - fed, perhaps, by that incipient fever that had her bedridden.

“ Listen. I’m a simple woman. Someone throws a snowball on my back, I throw a snowball in their face.”

Her cheeks and nose were a lovely red, and the stubbornness that carved on her frown made her look very kissable.

But-

“Achoo!”

Mitsuhide rejoiced in the precious blush that bloomed on her cheeks.

“You’re sick”, he smiled.

“I’m not!” She answered hastily, the red of her cheeks spreading over her neck. “I’m very not! I don’t just -achoo !- get sick like -achoo !- that …”

Mitsuhide held back a sigh, as he had done so often. He wondered for a brief moment where all those repressed breaths were leaving. Is that what Hideyoshi feels? Hmm… better not to dwell on that thought.

She was a young spirit, yet she made him feel old, sometimes - often more than he could count. It was a good thing that his hair could not whiten any more. But still, he felt that hot little laugh between his ribs, which threatened to spread out of him. That laugh, genuine and strangely innocent, rising from the younger parts of him, those parts he lost a long time ago.

And he cherished this myriad of feelings that she never ceased to make him feel. All these fractions of seconds that he spent living, here, somewhere else than in the void, than in these black corners of the castle, with the blood of another sticky on his skin.

Warm hands, on his cheeks, warm breath, on his nose, warm skin, against his, warm voice, in his ears, warmth, everywhere.

“Mitsuhide ? I’m right here.” Concern rose in her voice, he sensed it, from the dark corners of the labyrinth where he used to get lost.

And see, that was the thing with Mai.

She was a ridiculous figure- a paradox in herself, awfully easy to read, and in the meantime, full of surprises, sharp of the mind and tongue, and dreadfully oblivious at times. She smelled good too- and she was warm …

Maybe too warm.

He rested his broad palm on her forehead, delicately, as if cradling a newborn.

“You, my dear, are a sweet little liar, and a bad one with that.”

“Well”, she huffed “you could always teach me, couldn’t you?” She sighed. “I hate being sick. It’s boring and uncomfortable.”

He hummed, softly combing through the knots in her hair.

“Come now”, he said, resting his lips against her forehead, “ that can’t be entirely true.”

She blushed, feeling him smile against her head.

“A-ah? What are you up- to??”

He scooped her in his arms, cradling her delicate form against his chest.

“Hush now. Little girls need to rest.”

“Mitsu- hey ! Put me down, now!”

But he held her tight against him, hurrying his face in her lush curls.

“Just a few minutes …” his voice was a bit raspy- and he didn’t really care. Only her … if it was only with her …

Her features relaxed and she breathed gently.

It was her, she was here, he was here. There was light.

[bespectacledbun]

Ikesen Network SWEET♡HEART: Miss You

~

"I miss you."

Your breath fogged the glass of the window. Reaching out with a finger, you traced a drop of rain that was sliding down the pane. The line shifted and crackled; on the other end, Mitsunari sighed. "I know, honey. I miss you, too."

You curled up under the sheets, the absence of his warmth made all the more stark by the chills running through your body. You heard a meow; Kitty jumped up on the bed, nuzzling her face towards the phone in your hand.

You laughed. "Your little girl misses you too." Kitty pawed at Mitsunari's face on the screen. You knew Mitsunari's job often took him away from you, but it still hurt every time he left.

Mitsunari smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Princess. I'll be back in a few days." You hummed, closing your eyes to savor the sound of his voice.

"Come back soon, Nari. We miss you."

~

This is my contribution to the @ikesennw SWEET♡HEART event! My prompt was "miss you" so I made a moodboard and drabble for a long distance relationship with Mitsunari!

Check out the network page until the 27th to see the rest of the contributions~!

[tsundere-mitsuhide]

Tactical Decisions 7

I wrote half of this during Camp Nano in July, and Im happy to finally have it done. There is a lot that happens in this chapter that I feel is the pay-off the last two chapters have been building towards. So hopefully you find it satisfying! Though it does build the tension at the end, it will be resolved in the next chapter which is on its way to completion as well.

Big thank you to @silvanable for the beta; her comments were very helpful in completing this chapter! 

TW FOR VIOLENCE, BLOOD, AND NPC DEATH.

There is a fight scene, so if that kind of thing bothers you, please be careful reading this chapter.

AO3 link here.  Teaser below:

“Before Honno-ji, there is no record of the existence of any Tazuki in the land, my liege.”

“Tazuki is a woman of many secrets, it would seem.”

“Perhaps it's time we asked the source of the mystery?”

“Yes, no more secrets.”

[aromantic-misguide-to-romance]

What does the Fox say?

The secret of the fox Ancient mystery

[batteryrose]

nobunaga and his copy napoleon

they gonna conquer the world together \(” ´∀`)/

[yunohawkeye]

Oda Forces + ticklish MC

Nobunaga:

He probably finds out during a Make-Out-Session

You’re both trapped in the heat of the moment and he randomly let’s his hands roam up your torso with featherlight touches

He first was taken aback from your sudden squeal and jumping away but when he heard you laughing he put 1 and 1 together

“So you seem to be very sensitive over there. But no worries, I’ll take good care of you” he said with his usual grin plastered on his face

Prepare yourself

This one won’t go easy on you

You can count on many random tickle attacks while making out, during war councils or just walking by in the hallway

 sometimes they escalate into tickle wars between you both

He just loves to make his lucky charm squeak and squirm under him

Hideyoshi:

For him it’s gonna be a good morning kiss where he lets his fingers trace through your hair

But when he runs them lightly over your sensitive skin behind your ear you stiffen up and let out a loud high pitched squeak

He instantly freezes

Did he hurt you?

Do you have any kind of injury there?

Mamayoshi-mode avtivated

This man has instantly 1000 ideas of what could have caused you any kind of pain

But when you start laughing he relaxed again and when you tell him that you’re just quite ticklish there his all-known grin comes back up

“And here I was thinking I hurt you in some kind of way. But I have to admit that this sound you made was kind of cute. Maybe I could be able to hear it more often?”

From then on he tickles you from time to time, but always in a short, playful way and in private

Why should others have the privilege to hear those cute sounds of yours?

Masamune:

Uh oh...

That’s gonna be fun ^^

First of all, it didn’t happen by accident

He just randomly asked himself if you would be ticklish in any kind of way and the reaction he got when he tested it by randomly appearing behind you and squeezing your hips was like music to his ears

On the other hand when you were feeling his hands suddenly laying themselves on your hips made you squeak rather loudly and jump up in surprise

As soon as realization hit you, you pouted at a heavily laughing Masamune and playfully hit his chest

After 10 minutes of him almost dying of laughter and you trying to stare him to death he spoke up

“I was hoping to get a cute reaction from you, kitten. But this was way better than I imagined. Prepare yourself to get attacked like that again if your responses keep being so intruiging.”

Oh dear~

Prepare youself indeed ^^

He’s gonna tickle you at random times like Nobunaga and he really doesn’t care who’s watching 

But instead of just counting on luck to meet you in the hallway he will specifically search for you just to sneak up on you

And believe me, the One Eyed Dragon doesn’t know mercy when it comes to that

Mitsuhide

*!insert warning sign!*

Good luck with this one chatelaine... you’ll need it

Mitsuhide finds out by accident

He’ll find out while you two were cuddling with your head seated on his lap while slightly dozing off and his hands combing through your hair

He’ll let them slightly graze over your temples, your cheeks over to your neck.

But when you suddenly awoke with a loud squirm on your lips and your body stiffening for a second Mitsuhide couldn’t hide his amusement on his face

“My, my~ I didn’t know you were such a sensitive singing bird, lady chatalaine. I’m quite intruiged by it. I may make use of this lovely song of yours some time. Any objections~?“

As you tried to say something though he just tickled you again with his usual smirk on his lips

“I knew you wouldn’t hide this beatiful gift from me~“

This prick

But you still love him

Prepare for trouble and make it double with this one~

He’ll be like Masamune and tickle you on random occasions while still searching you out

If you’re talking to other warlords (preferably Hideyoshi) he’ll just walk up to you from behind and cut off your sentence by squeezing your hips or by letting his fingers run over your neck, causing you to jerk up and laugh

Hideyoshi is quite annoyed by it

Masamune on the other hand couln’t stop laughing for 10 minutes straight the first time your sneaky snake did that

But forgive him, he just wants to hear you laugh

Ieyasu

He’ll find out by letting his hands roam slowly over your almost completely sleeping figure after some exhausting nightly activities  ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

When his hand grazed over our lower back you suddenly jerked up while letting a high pitched squeak escape your lips

Slightly worried he’ll ask if you’re doing ok and what happened

After you told him that you are just extremely ticklish there he just let out a “tsk” and signaled you to come back into his arms

After you lay down again he’ll whisper in your ear (his face was hidden in your neck to hide his massive blush)

“You know... The sound you made wasn’t that terrible. And... I wouldn’t be completely disgusted by hearing it again...“

From then on he’ll sometimes tickle you there `by accident´... yeah sure...

But it’s always in a lovely way

He doesn’t tease you about it

Except he’s in an extremely playful mood

And he'll most probalby use it as a tool to cheer you up when you’re feeling down

Otherwise he’s pretty chill with it

Mitsunari

And last but not least - the angel boy!

He’ll find out when he’s coming home from a mission and you’re waiting outside at the gate for him

He’ll get off his horse and catch you running towards him in one of those cheesy  lifting-up-and-spinning-in-circles-kisses

And that’s where it happened

He didn’t catch you 100% and his grip slipped so his hands were under your shoulders which made you stiffen up and letting a quite loud squeal escape your mouth

Mitsunari stopped dead in his tracks

Did he hurt you or made you uncomfortable?

Angel boy is worried sick

But after he heard your laugh his frown vaished and made place for his angelic smile again

“Ah~ MC-sama seems to be quite ticklish~“

You certainly weren’t prepared what followed after that

“That’s good to know for the next time~“

With surprise written over your face you looked at Mitsunari who beamed as usual

But something was a little bit odd... This didn’t sound as innocent as before

Prepare yourself~

He may be an angel but we all know from Supernatural that they aren’t all as innocent as they seem  ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Otherwise Mitsunari isn’t the one to tease you but if he tickles you it’s either an accident for real or a little sensual addition to making you feel good -w-

This angel just wants the best for you~

Phew... this was my first scenario I did~

Hope you enjoyed!~

If you have any Ideas, requests are open ^^

[daeva-agas]

I know the MSPaint thing is supposed to be silly, but I saw someone draw pretty stuff with MSPaint on Youtube and I’m like CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Hhh I’m still a long way from catching up tho

[ikesenhell]

Spellbook

You can find all other IkeSen/IkeVamp works of mine here or become a Patron of mine! NOTES: This is for the @ikesennw Golden Week! I was stoked to get the prompt Spellbook; I hope you guys like it! Please check out the page for more great IkeSen content!

Autumn wind rushed down Azuchi’s hallways, bringing crisp leaves and the smell of campfires into the narrow spaces. They scraped against the paper screens and swept over the floor in search of a place to rest.

Many of them swirled along Mitsunari’s feet. He crouched over stack upon stack of ledgers and calculations. If focus could bend steel, then long ago his glasses would have cracked and the swords in the armory bent. He’d sat there for hours.

And yet he was no closer to a solution.

At last he admitted defeat. Flinging his glasses onto the table, Mitsunari cradled his face in his hands and sighed. They were in dire straits. Kennyo had convinced the Mori to ally against them. The ensuing blockade had them stretched so thin that they struggled for even the basics of troop supplies, and worse still, he couldn’t come up with a single solution. Hideyoshi relied on him. Nobunaga relied on him. They all relied on him for an answer--and he had nothing.

Forcing back the urge to cry, Mitsunari slipped away from the table and took a brisk walk around the library. He’d combed its contents so many times before that he could almost navigate it blindfolded. Desperate for comfort, he walked his hands over the bindings and read the labels aloud to himself. Treaty records. Prior troop movements. Battles long past. Fairy tales--

He stopped short over the last tome. Somehow it was new. How had he missed it? True, it was a simple thing of dark binding, the pale threads that kept it together a dusty yellow, but it was almost his own library. He knew all these books.

Well, no point in keeping a stranger. It was among the fairytales, so maybe this would be a bit of light reading while he tried to clear his head. Mitsunari freed it from the shelf and searched for a title, but none revealed itself. Odd. Still, some authors were strange in that sense. Maybe it was a misplaced book of poetry. Curious, he settled into his chair and cracked the first page.

RECIPE FOR DRAWING MONEY.

So it wasn’t a poem at all. Mitsunari scanned the instructions (bits of paper and green candles and herbs and a jar were required, as well as a specific day and time), his interest growing with every line. He’d heard of people who engaged in these practices before, if only in passing. Mostly he’d heard of them employing snakes or foxes as familiars for specific deeds--but he’d certainly never laid eyes on their books before. He hadn’t even known there was such a thing! Intrigued, he flipped the page.

RECIPE FOR IGNITING OLD LOVE.

Fascinating. It called for red blossoms, some cool river water, a bit of red silk, hair of your lover… Did this even work? He wondered if anyone had done a study on such a thing. He flipped through page after page, reading each of the titles and required objects and marveling at the steps. Clearly someone had done quite a bit of work in compiling this.

SUMMONS FOR DIVINE AID.

At this one he paused.

The directions required little. Focus (which he had in spades when he was given to it), white candles, a bit of paper to draw a sigil on, and an offering. After that it was a matter of meditation, which he’d done plenty of in the temple, envisioning what you needed, and making a direct appeal. All in all it was simple. And--ah, of course. There was the catch, scrawled in a small note across the margin of the page:

Be prepared to give something in exchange.

Mitsunari sat there a long, long time, reading and rereading the warning at the bottom. What would something even ask of him? He didn't have much. His mind? No, he couldn’t give that up. His sanity? Also too precious. He mused on the possibilities. So many variables--so many, and he couldn’t even decide if he believed it would even work.

But the Oda needed him, and he could provide nothing. If this was what it took to bring them a change, then it was worth looking into.

He smuggled the book out to his manor and quietly cleaned his room (which frightened the maids; one of them even asked if he was feeling alright, which confused him). On the fresh space he spread pieces of paper until it was covered, carefully copying the outlined circle onto the parchment. It was complicated, and he wasn’t completely certain of the meaning of the sigils, but that was what the directions called for. After triple-checking it, he lit the candles and assumed a Lotus position on the floor.

What did they need? Clearly in his mind he pictured the blockade breaking, the supplies running back into Azuchi, the pathways opening again. He pictured Hideyoshi and Masamune and Nobunaga and Ieyasu and Mitsuhide coming home safely from the battlefront, their forces in tow. And then--

Something made a loud snap.

He’d learned at the temple to ignore all outside influences when meditating, but it was such a singular sound that he cracked an eye. There, in the center of the parchment, sat a woman in a pink kimono.

“Hi!” She laughed.

“Hello!” Mitsunari was confused, but it didn't do to be rude to her. “I’m so sorry. I didn't see you come in.”

The woman shot him a bemused stare. “Of course not. You were focusing on bringing me.”

Oh. Oh. All at once he recovered his senses and scrambled upwards. “I’m so sorry! Forgive me. I thought--well, nevermind. Would you like some tea?”

“Tea? That sounds excellent.”

Mitsunari struggled his way through brewing a cup, offering it to the visitor with trembling hands. She accepted it, though after the first sip her expression grew curiously guarded.

“Nevermind that.” She set it to the side in her circle and cupped her face in her hands. “You needed me for help?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Please, call me Princess.” The woman--creature?--grinned at him. “Most people do after long enough. And you wanted me to break a blockade?”

“Yes, Princess. If it isn’t too much to ask.”

She hummed and tapped one long-nailed finger against her lip, appraising him. “It’s a bit of a situation you all are in, isn’t it? And for all of that pressure to mount on you. You poor dear. I don’t envy you one bit.”

Mitsunari faltered uncertainly. “It’s my honor to serve Lord Hideyoshi and Lord Nobunaga. I find great joy in it.”

“And such a gentleman, too.” Her smile was so gentle and sweet that Mitsunari relaxed despite himself. “Tell me, you sweet man, what would you give to see your people safe?”

“What would I give?” He echoed. “I’m not sure. I assessed the possibility you might ask me that question, but I don’t know what to give you that would be suitable. I need to keep my mind and my body so that I can continue helping.”

“Of course.” The princess almost seemed amused. “Then what would you grant?”

“I’m not certain what is of use to you.”

“Well then, it seems I have a blank slate to work with. Would you mind pulling away part of the circle?”

He obeyed immediately, though in retrospect he told himself it wasn’t wise to simply comply with the demands of something when you weren’t even sure what that thing was. The woman dusted herself off and rose, pattering over to him and taking his chin in her hand.

“Dear me,” she murmured, the lively smile rising to her lips. “You’re a virgin of all kinds, aren’t you?”

“I--” Mitsunari flushed red. “I won’t do you a disservice of denying it.”

“No? Well that’s polite of you.” Charmed, she ran a fingernail over his mouth. “I tell you what. I find you an enticing little thing.”

“Thank you.”

Apparently that only amused her more. Stifling a little laughter, she dipped low by his ear. “I tell you what, Ishida Mitsunari. I’ll help you out and break this blockade in exchange for one thing: I want three of your firsts.”

“My firsts?” He repeated. “I’m not sure I follow.”

“Simple.” Her smile was a thing of bewitching beauty. “In exchange for saving you all, I’ll take your first kiss, your first time in bed, and your first time in love. How does that sound?”

Mitsunari’s mind spun. It was almost unfair--he’d looked forward to those things so much, maybe even marrying the person he’d fallen for--and here she asked for all three in exchange for life. Maybe that was fair. Maybe that was a cost meriting exchange--

Especially since he would have none if they lost.

“Alright,” he murmured, his mouth dry. “You have my assent.”