#ic:sengo

[kowaindar0u]

[ with @nxmelessfighter ]

After two miserable years in captivity, Sengo is finally free.

Well...

It hasn't been quite that simple. But he's choosing to push that deep, deep down inside for the time being, because right now... He's walking!

Or... stumbling, really, like a newborn calf.

His strong, powerful tail, which made him agile as could be in the water, had instead split into these two clumsy legs in a process he could only describe as agonizing.

It would be a bit embarrassing, the reactions garnered from the few people out at this time, surely put off by his strange and struggling manner of movement (and definitely not by his sheer lack of clothing)-- but he's far too busy staring in wonder at everything around him.

So many of the buildings are dark, and their doors don't open when he tries to pull at their handles. But then he sees one with light coming from inside-- he spots the word 'pharmacy' which he can more or less infer the meaning of-- and excitedly rushes to the doors, using the wall for support... He pulls, and it opens!

Excited and almost overwhelmed by this new discovery, he clambers inside, wide ochre eyes darting back and forth across everything.

Shelves, boxes, bottles, bags, lights... So much! Oh, is that... food? He moves toward this aisle, haphazardly using shelves as a guide along the way, knocking off items with mumblings of "oops...! oh dear..."

There is a particularly shiny metallic bag that catches his eye, with 'chips' printed on it near the bottom... He doesn't know what they are, but if they're in such a pretty bag, they must be delicious, right?

He grabs the bag and haphazardly rips it open, half the bag's contents flying out and to the ground, and starts munching.

"Oh? Yummy...!"

[kowaindar0u]

To a certain point, Sengo isn't sure which fills him with more ecstasy-- the way he feels inside Saseki, or the saniwa's moans of his own pleasure. His breathing grows heavy in between their kisses, and his deeper growls rise into his own moans.

The uchigata's hold at Saseki's hip tightens as Saseki cries out, partly to keep that angle for him, but mostly involuntarily as he shudders at the sound.

"Ahnnn... Saseki..." he manages to let out a small, affectionate laugh in between thrusts, but the way he speaks, the tensnion in his voice, shows he's only just keeping it together. "Even your voice... gorgeous, music to grace my ears..."

He winces a little, even after the first time he feels him going inside, but the moment the feeling settles in, Saseki can't help but moan almost loudly as he feels Sengou moving his hips in what feels like a torturously loving motion.

Even amidst their heated desire, Sengou being so reverent and gentle with him makes the sage feel overwhelmed with love for his toudan. He's not fragile, per se, but the way the uchigatana is being gentle with him makes him feel loved even more than he already is.

Saseki's growing arousal becoming apparent, moaning wantonly at every thrust. He's in absolute bliss, feeling his beloved moving in and out of him that he himself can't help moving his hips together. Once or twice he steals a few deep kisses from Sengou, as if trying to heighten their desires even more.

A part of his mind is so tempted to touch himself, but that thought is entirely forgotten as Sengou hits him where it feels so good--

"Oooh~!"

Oh he feels like heaven, more so right then and there. Throwing everything away and giving himself to his lover like this… Getting more vocal by the second… Breathless gasps for more, more, more…

"M-Mura...masa--ahh~!"

[kowaindar0u]

❝ you've seen me at my worst but you're still here... ❞ (Saseki -> Sengou 🥺)

[ a tender glimpse beneath the surface ]

"My dearest aruji," Sengo rumbles softly, using a finger to gently tilt Saseki's chin up so their gazes meet. "Even your worst is still divine."

Charming words, but this touken danshi means them wholeheartedly.

"I adore you, Harumasa Saseki." A soft kiss to his lips. "Scars, Shinsengumi spirits, sugar addiction, and all-- and I'll stand firm on there being nothing that you could ever say, or do, or be, that would ever change that. You cannot possibly think you could get rid of me so easily, huhuhu..."

[kowaindar0u]

i never want to see a naked man again. (hana -> sengo i am so sorry)

[ MULAN (1998) PROMPTS ]

"My dearest aruji, I do apologize," Sengo insists-- genuine, even though there is a hint of amusement to his tone-- as he puts down the damp towel he'd dried with and quickly dons his yukata. Of course, he's not embarrassed, as some others might be-- he simply knows where his master's boundaries lie (certainly far from either of them being nude), and doesn't wish to cross them, even on accident.

"I assure you I didn't expect to run into you in the short time I was here."

He turns around, moving from the area he'd kept his things in while he'd showered, and over to a shelf many of the touken danshi used to keep various bath items.

"I had just forgotten to grab my camellia oil--" He plucks a small jar of it from the shelf and waves it a little to show her. "It's the best way to keep one's hair in top condition, you know. Ask Hachisuka-- did you notice his hair take on a new silkiness a while ago? That was because of my recommendation, huhuhu..."

[kowaindar0u]

[ with @nxmelessfighter | from here ]

Sengo watches in silence as Ookurikara lays the flowers down upon the spot.

For once, this is a silence he's sharing-- not one he feels the need to fill with awkward chatter just so it doesn't hang.

As he gazes at the flowers, he finds himself revisiting their time with the Tokugawa in his mind-- they had been through so much, so many years-- so many decades-- and upon returning home it seemed as if hardly any time had passed.

Sometimes he wished the lives of Honda Tadakatsu and Ii Naomasa had been much, much shorter.

Thinking of Nobuyasu, and now looking upon where Gohei's grave once was, he can't help but feel the seething prick of hate for one Tokugawa Ieyasu. Because of him, these two young men needlessly lost their lives. He would have gladly made good on the Muramasa reputation of being enemy to the Tokugawa should the need have arisen.

But... Nobuyasu (nor Gohei) wouldn't have wanted that, and Sengo... doesn't really understand. That boy had grown up to be far kinder and sweeter than Sengo feels he has the capacity to be. He--

He pulls himself out of those thoughts, just in time to blink clear his misty eyes.

"Ookurikara..." he says finally, as he takes a seat, kneeling there where he'd stood.

"Has Tsurumaru ever spoken to you about what happened, after you all had departed?"

[kowaindar0u]

[CAREFUL] (Sengou to Saseki 👉👈🥺) @zantedeschia-praesul

[ REASONS TO CARRY SOMEONE. ( A PROMPT LIST! ) ]

[ CAREFUL ]: sender gently lifts the receiver out of their seat and carries them carefully to bed after noticing they fell asleep and not wanting to waken them.

Again, aruji...? Huhu...

Sengo sighs to himself at the sight of his saniwa asleep at his desk-- still mostly sitting up, even, with pen in hand.

He pads over to him, giving his hair a few affectionate strokes, before eeever-so-gently pulling the pen from Saseki's loosened grasp and setting it aside. He then slowly pulls the chair back, and once he's sure he'll clear the desk, lifts him carefully from his spot, one arm tucked under his knees, the other around him to hold him close.

It's late, so thankfully the citadel is quiet by and large, enough that Sengo just has to tread lightly to bring his beloved saniwa to his quarters.

The hardest part, though, is getting him in bed without disturbing Saseki's sleep...

He crouches, finding himself oddly grateful for his own strength, as he manages to do so while keeping steady.

He lays Saseki so carefully on his bedding, and slips his arms out from under him with even more care, with a stark pause after to check whether it had jostled him enough to make him stir.

Finally, he pulls up the blankets to the saniwa's shoulders, and takes a moment to simply sit next to him, stroking his hair once again.

This is where Saseki should be sleeping. In his office... he's exhausted, and surely part of him could still be fighting to stay awake even when that battle is clearly lost. Here, in bed... he's peaceful, resting... and watching him brings Sengo peace as well.

[kowaindar0u]

[ with @nxmelessfighter | from here ]

Sengo isn't the most empathetic toudan, nor the most adept at comforting others. He doesn't tend to express himself in the usual ways and often isn't sure of the best ways to go about responding to other people expressing theirs. But still, he can be quite affectionate (sometimes more than others really prefer).

Still, though, by now even he has learned to notice when their saniwa is troubled in some way. And so, he offers consolation in the best way he knows how (he's long since learned it's usually best to ask first, at least).

He crouches down just a little and scoops up his precious master in his arms, hugging her firmly to him.

"Arujiii~," he trills, pressing his cheek against her head. "What's the matter?"

[kowaindar0u]

「 BARE 」 (Saseki -> Sengou) //RUNS @zantedeschia-praesul

[ 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐖 … ]

「 BARE 」 : for sender to undress in front of receiver

On this day, Sengo had proposed a sparring match with Saseki. Something to pull the Saniwa away for a long-overdue end to the evening's work, to shake him out of the rut that kind of work could be.

It's vastly different from that rather emotionally-charged spare they'd had some time ago now. It was fun, and much more easygoing.

But of course, Saseki is no slouch when it comes to wielding a blade himself, and so they kept each other on their toes. It was like this, until... Well, until they found themselves in position after position of close quarters, ones that might put any two swordsmen into a pull of tension, let alone ones that were already romantically and physically involved.

One thing had led to another, and in the midst of some of their heavier kissing they decided to move to Saseki's quarters. After securing the door, Sengo had half a mind to go straight to Saseki again, but instead... Sengo smirks and gracefully lounges himself on the bed, propped up on his elbows.

"Saseki..." He lifts a hand up, gesturing to him. "Clothes...off.*

[kowaindar0u]

"Huhuhuhu... I see how it is. Well. Should you ever change your mind or simply need a... substitute, you know where to find me."

"Sorry but not sorry. But also no offense to you that I'll only take offers from cute chicks. You just don't cut it for me."

Tsuru, must you pull your sword out?

[kowaindar0u]

Sengo places a sign on the door to Yuichi's office.

Aruji is hibernating!

it says.

Please do not disturb. Please see Sengo in his room instead for any usual saniwa business. Additionally, if you see our master up and about, please report it to Sengo and escort him back to his quarters (Aruji's direct orders).

[kowaindar0u]

[ for @zantedeschia-praesul | from here ]

Sengo smiles at the gesture from his saniwa, and reaches forward to return it, naturally accompanied by his typical deep giggle.

"We did, very much so," he reports, turning to survey the flowers Saseki had been tending to. "Though one can't expect any less with Monoyoshi-kun on the team. We even managed to find more koban than usual."

He crouches to get a better look at the flowers.

"It seems your hard work is bearing fruit now too, hm, aruji? Are--" Sengo stops short, perking up a little as he seems to spot something.

"Ah, a hummingbird!" he points to the little green blur flitting around the flowers. "Another fan of your work, no doubt!"

[kowaindar0u]

diary entry #15, with Yuichi AND Sengou ehek (@zantedeschia-praesul )

[ DEAR  DIARY          .    .    . ]

oho... let's see how this goes

15.     entry made featuring desire. (Yuichi)

[maybe dated after our current thread with them]

Dearest journal. You know, I hated you at first. It's still sort of awkward to write here like this, and I don't think I could survive the embarrassment if anyone else were to ever find you. There's a reason I keep you unlabeled, even in my personal room. Just... inconspicuous, yeah? But, here I am.

Likewise, I never thought I would ever be feeling this way about somebody, and lo and behold, you're the only one I dare to admit it to. Yes, of course, it's Nagasone. I know one of the previous times I wrote about him I said it wasn't anything uncouth, but... I don't know, maybe it is a little bit...uncouth.

God, even just writing that is so... ugh, I want to scream.

I... don't even really know what exactly I mean by that either. I've never really had this feeling, about anyone. I mean... I'm an adult. By now I've had... 'what-if' thoughts, right? By this age for a lot of people, this is nothing. It's normal, even. But until now, the thought has always just been... uncomfortable, mortifying... I mean, scary, yeah?

But I think...maybe what I'm feeling is that... with him, it might not be any of those things? Nothing is scary when I'm with him. I think I might even like it...?? I... I don't think I would be good at it, though? I seriously CANNOT believe I'm even writing this. What is this?? What am I doing? God. No, yeah, of course, he's... too sweet to hold it against me if that's the case. You're right. And I'm imagining that you're speaking back to me. Okay. Great. I knew writing about this was kind of a stupid idea huh?

Well. This entry here more than ever-- if you tell a soul, I'll... I don't know. Rip you apart or something. Use your imagination.

---

15.     entry made featuring desire. (Sengo)

[from before our thread with them]

I should probably be speaking with some of my more... insightful fellow touken danshi about this, but as per usual I'm not doing that. Instead, I'm writing in this journal. I think this is best. Others may describe me as mysterious, or perhaps too forward in certain regards, or maybe a mix of the two. But it all comes down to the fact that I simply... cannot seem to express my true self.

In general... the reason for that is... kind of a mystery. Surely there are many feelings the sharing of which is good for all involved, no? Perhaps it's that when I do try to express them, I do it...poorly. Incorrectly, maybe.

However... the reason I'm even scrawling on these pages today is something I feel for certain that is simply best kept hidden, relegated to my own mind. I only write here in hopes of relieving some of the ache it causes me. Perhaps this is what they call 'heartache'.

You see, little notebook, for some time I have been harboring this... longing, for my saniwa, my master, my-- ... Saseki. He is beautiful-- simultaneously so handsome, so pretty, and so adorable. He is strong, yet I have the feeling that he has faced considerable trials in his time as sage up til now, and while I haven't been privvy to the specifics, I just... I want to protect him. I know-- all touken danshi wish to protect their master. I know, but this... It's different. I want to protect him, I so, so badly want him close to me, more than close. I want to love him, and I wish, so fiercely and desperately, that he could love me in the same way, but...

I feel... I feel like it could never be. Even if I did find the audacity, the honesty within me... If I were to tell him, to spill all or any part of this as some bleeding-heart confession, I... I think it could only lead to discomfort, or worse. And I don't think I could handle doing that to him.

So... I will continue to simply serve him as touken danshi, to maintain an arm's-length friendship, and... as painfully as I yearn for something more, I will cherish and appreciate every aching second I spend with him.

Until next time, journal.

[kowaindar0u]

"Huhuhu... You needn't worry. I have every intention of taking very good care of our dearest saniwa."

"Aruji, make sure you have water breaks!"

[kowaindar0u]

*shivers*

"don't believe everything you hear. a hoe does get cold sometimes."

[kowaindar0u]

(sorry for not being sorry ;P) entry #15, for Sengou, Taikyuu AND Yuichi 👀 @zantedeschia-praesul

[ DEAR  DIARY          .    .    . ]

desire round 2 (and taikyuu) letz goooo

15.     entry made featuring desire. (Sengo)

Diary, diary, diary...

What can I say? I'm writing this with a very different mind than I wrote my previous entries. I can't say I'd ever thought I'd write for anything other than to try and ease the ache of my longing, but... Today is different.

The longing is not gone. It might be stronger now, actually, now that I dare to let myself feel it fully, but also with the tentative notion that... it seems to be reciprocated. 'Seems', simply because it feels dangerous, almost, to presume it's returned to the same extent.

Saseki... my master, my friend, the subject of my affection...

I can't say it came about in the way I would have liked. But I learned a lot about him, and... he learned something about me. Or... at least, about the way that I feel, and have felt, for so long. I tried so hard to keep it contained. I really did. I had kept it to myself for so long, and I was prepared to continue to do so indefinitely. But... he just knew, even before I could tell that he wished for my honesty.

He said that he wants for me to open up more to him. And I want to do that. I... want to be vulnerable for him, deep down I want him to see me for all that I am, not through the curse so cruelly inflicted upon him, but through me showing it to him. I'm vastly out of my depth when it comes to knowing how to do such a thing. I think I am so accustomed to stifling, ignoring, and pushing away so much that... I'm not sure I know what it is that I'm hiding. The rawest part of me that I can pinpoint is just... my desire for him. Physically, sexually, carnally, of course... but also... I want to protect him, to make him proud, listen to him. If he does so accept me, and my feelings, then... I will do everything I can to make him feel loved. I simply hope I am able.

Imagine. Me, a Muramasa blade, not just refraining from lending any credence to the rumors of the wicked curse, but... actively defying it, simply by following my heart's desires.

I have to laugh.

15.     entry made featuring desire. (Taikyuu)

[first entry]

a diary? are you kidding me? what am i supposed to write? not happeninG

[second entry]

"you know I always found journaling to be helpful when I'm dealing with something. some of my most raw, thoughtful writings come from things i write in my diary" GO TO HELL KASEN

[a few more "entries" seemingly written a line or two but furiously crossed out]

[the following entry is clearly written with a rapid, heavy hand]

I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HIM SOMETIMES I HATE THEM ALL

sure i'm a shinsengumi sword, too. harada was just as much of a member as they were. it's not that i feel left out. it's not that. and i don't hate yamatonokami. most of the time anyway. but there's something that happens to me when i see them all together. especially yamatonokami and kashuu or kane and kunihiro. i don't like spending time with them when they are together because whatever the fuck it is makes me so ANGRY i don't know what it is. i don't know what it is but it makes me want to rip open my chest and pull my heart out and it sometimes makes me question why aruji ever manifested me in the first place if it makes me feel something like this. it's not fucking FAIR why do they get to have each other. i see them on the battlefield and they're so in-sync with each other, like they understand what each other is going to do and then they laugh together and i want someone like that who understands me the most and i want to understand him...

it fucking hurts. i ... i miss... ? i miss him...? i can't remember his name. and i know sometimes i wished i was used as much as he was. but ... he hasn't shown up here yet and ... it's not fair. i want him here. i want him here i want him here i want him here

15.     entry made featuring desire. (Yuichi)

I'm back again. I should be sleeping. You should be minding your business. But here I am, answering the call to spill my thoughts to you.

But tomorrow Nagasone and I are spending the whole day together. Planned this time. As you can tell I have probably already thought about him so much over the past long while. But... after the last time we went to our garden I really am thinking about him so, so much, and in a somewhat different way than I was before that.

The way he brought me back from how far I was spiraling, the way he cares for me, the way he holds me, speaks to me, the way he touches me... It's really doing a number on me. Any moment of quiet, my mind is full of thoughts of him. How could it not be?

And... I know he knows that I love him. But it feels so farfetched to think that I might make him feel even a fraction of this... but the way he treats me... It's hard to not admit that ... maybe I do? And now THAT... That's a big thought. It's not bad. I like it. But it's a lot. Er... what I'm trying to say is it's a big deal. It... means a lot.

We spoke about something the last time we were there. I told him I wasn't ready for... going further. You know that. I told you. But you know what, journal...? If he still wants to... Maybe I am ready. Scratch that. Not maybe. I ... If we are as on the same page as I think we are, as I feel we are, then I think we both want to show each other more. I'm in good hands-- couldn't ask for better ones. Hands... arms... lips...

Oh. I've been trying not to think about that too much. I have things I need to be doing after all. I SHOULD be sleeping right now. But closing my eyes just puts me right back in our strange, beautiful, mystical cave, and THAT's not sleeping.

It's going to be a long night.

[kowaindar0u]

💭 (sengo), 🪽(sada), 💞(yuichi), 🗡️(yasu), 💔(fudou)

[ IN CHARACTER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS . ]

under the cut cause these shits are long again lol

💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — is there something or someone you find yourself thinking about more often than other things? if so, why do you think you do this?

If I must answer this... well. Of course I am always thinking of my dear master. Fond thoughts, to be sure, but also...there's always a little...niggling in the back of my mind. 'What-ifs', so to speak. And... during, and after returning from, our lengthy mission among the Tokugawa, my thoughts have been perhaps more occupied by that of those I spent that time with. Tonbokiri, Ookurikara, Ishikirimaru, Nikkari, and Monoyoshi-kun... Of course being a fellow Muramasa, Tonbokiri has always seemed to understand me more than anyone else. But even the rest of them, I... I suppose there is likely no way to spend so long with a group of people like that and not kindle some kind of bond with them-- at least that's how I feel. I don't know if their feelings toward me are any different than they were when we began. I just know that when they each left us, one by one, fulfilling their rightful end in that timeline... even though I knew they were simply returning home, it really felt as if a loved one had died. And then of course... there are Gohei and Nobuyasu. Two pure, innocent, kind souls who deserved far better than what they'd been given. I never expected to become so attached to a child of all things, but even though I did so from a distance compared to my fellow touken danshi there, I still feel like I helped raise that boy myself. I don't know if I would consider myself a parent, but... The hatred I harbor for that boy's real father is immeasurable. I think about them all so much. I still grieve them, I think, even though I'm not sure what to do with myself when it hits. Even my fellow touken danshi who returned before Tonbokiri and I... sometimes I still think or dream about their 'deaths' and... well. At least I can remind myself they're still here, alive.

🪽 WING — if you could choose to have one superpower for a day, what would it be and why? what would you do with it?

ANY SUPERPOWER? Oh man, that's a hard choice! But you know what, I think I would choose to be able to fly! How cool would that be, y'know?! Especially if you could go super fast, just zoom around in the air! Think about it!! Oho, also... Imagine the surprises I could give Tsurumaru! Just fly way up and then when I spot him, just dive-bomb him! Hehehe...

💞 REVOLVING HEARTS — who and/or what are you most grateful for in your life?

Ah... without a doubt, my touken danshi. Perhaps it's a bit cliche of me to say as a saniwa, but... I'd be remiss if I said anything else. My life with them is wildly different, in the best of ways, from what it was before I ever knew them, and... I could not and would not give them up or trade them for anything in the world, not a single one. Without them... well, I'm nothing.

🗡️ DAGGER — what is something or someone you know you can’t afford to lose? how far are you willing to go to make sure you don’t lose it/them?

Why would you ask me something stupid like that? Ugh. Fine. But you'd better not tell anyone what I'm about to say. Yamatonokami. I know that idiot feels the same about me, but I'd give my life for him. He's my brother. It's my job to try and protect him when I can. And... I guess it's my job to tolerate him, too, even outside of battle, so he doesn't ditch me, yeah? [in souyasu verse, there's also this lol] Yamatonokami... and Souza. He's... I don't know what it is. I don't know why he likes me the way he does, but... I'm glad he does. If anyone hurt him in any way... well. I don't think they'd see the light of day again, even if it means I don't either.

💔 BROKEN HEART — is there anyone in your life you wish you had a better relationship with? if so, how come? what makes this person important to you?

[he is probably a few glasses deep of amazake to be answering this lol] Mmm... I wish... I wish... Hasebe and I got along better... I wish we could interact without fighting and yelling and screaming... I don't even know why. I don't think he likes me at all. I want to like him, though... I want to get along with him. I think if I could manage to not make him hate me so much... maybe all of us Oda swords could get along better and be happier, yeah? But I just can't help myself around him, he always knows just what to say to get under my skin! Sigh...