#ikegen tamamo

[shatcey]

Long hair

I'm so glad I read Yoshi's route a second time. I missed that joke the first time I read it.

Oh, no, what should we do? Nasty wind ruined his hairstyle… You poor thing!

I've always been curious about how he fights with his hair down. Magic and fire are everywhere, not to mention that he fights with a sword. He should have lost half his hair in the first hour. I really thought he was using his magic to grow them back…

Braid them! I can help… sort of… I've done it for a long time, but it's like a bike, right? I'm sure it will suit you so well…

Yoshitsune's route

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🔝 𝕊𝕋𝔸ℝ𝕋 ℙ𝔸𝔾𝔼 🔝

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[dear-mrs-otome]

Tamamo - Main Story - Chp 01

Standard Disclaimer: I do this for fun. I don’t, and never would, claim to be proficient at JP. There will be mistakes herein. There will be dialogue I choose to smooth out or change, because it feels choppy just straight translating. There will be the occasional snarky aside and irreverence and just plain summarizing. If you’re looking for 100% pure accuracy, without commentary or localizing, this is not for you. If you don’t mind that…then proceed, and I hope you enjoy! And please, support your local localizer (they make this stuff look easy) and Cybird by playing the games and routes if/when they come to English.

If you are unfamiliar with the story of Ikemen Genjiden, I will direct you to read the excellent prologue summaries posted by @/sakura-samsura here - these are the updated ones that include the introductions of the newer characters as well. You may notice discrepancies between my character's onscreen name, Aya, and what I use in the translations, but given that Yoshino is the 'canon' name and I prefer writing that over 'MC' I will use it in these stories.

Done with all that? Then carry on, and meet our mischievous fox.

Outside the gates of the shogunate’s castle, Yoshino is reminding herself of her goals now: absorb enough magical mojo to fulfill her pact with Tamamo, and open her own apothecary business. With an enthusiastic cheer, she thanks the gathered men and says she looks forward to working with them and offers Yoritomo a respectful bow. 

Tamamo, looking on proudly, strokes her head and praises her energetic good cheer. “That’s just like my girl,” he declares, as she awkwardly thanks him.

He brushes it off, thanking her instead for her honest nature with a smile, and she can’t help blushing slightly under his compliments and his hand on her hair. 

Shigehira though voices his obvious mistrust of Tamamo, and the two bicker slightly as Tamamo mocks him back, clearly enjoying pushing the prickly man’s buttons.

Yoshino looks on, fretting, and tries to break up the squabble insisting they shouldn’t get off on the wrong foot if they’re all gonna be comrades.

Kagetoki cuts her off though. “Comrade’s a bit far. We’re just agreeing to use each other for our own ends, aren’t we?”

She’s appalled at his mercenary categorization, but Kagetoki insists it’s important to be clear about these sorts of things, leaving her stunned. 

At a word from Yoritomo, Morinaga threatens both Shigehira and Kagetoki and they both step back from him, clearly chastized...and she’s left wondering if this bizarre dynamic is what passes for the norm around the shogunate. Morinaga insists they’ll get to know each other better soon enough, no need to sweat the small stuff now, which only sours Shigehira’s mood even further. 

“Troublesome man…” Tamamo says at Shigehira’s continued suspicions. “Do you want to know who I am?” His eyes gleam gold, preternatural in the dim night light as he surveys each of them. “I am Tamamo, the Nine-Tailed Fox. Nothing more, nothing less. And I am most pleased to make your acquaintance, humans.”

They all look at him, stunned into silence, as Yoshino thinks that he really didn’t answer ANY question at all.

Shigehira grumbles as much aloud, and Kagetoki agrees. “The only thing we know for sure at this point is he’s a troublemaker.”

Yoritomo muses how the more tails a fox has, the higher its power - and he’s heard that the nine-tailed fox, a kyuubi, is a once-in-an-era being.

“Tamamo’s that big of a deal?!” Yoshino asks, stunned to realize exactly what sort of ayakashi she’s gotten herself tied to - and realizing it’s no wonder he’s got such a dignified air about him if he’s such an illustrious being. 

“Feel free to worship me,” Tamamo agrees with a genial smile, to her sputtering protest. “No matter then...give it time, and my greatness will come to you.” 

She wonders again at the circumstances that have led to him choosing HER of all people to ally himself with...as Kagetoki points out dryly in the background that currently Tamamo has nowhere near enough power left to assume that anyone would revere him.

The two bicker a little now too, Tamamo bristling slightly at Kagetoki’s implications while Kagetoki tells him the equivalent of ‘put up or shut up’ - that it’s not about what you’d done in the past but what you can still do that matters. “My power will eventually recover,” Tamamo reminds him.

“I certainly hope so, or else that’s a real problem,” Yoritomo interjects, looking around at the people gathered there, exuding the dignified confident air she’d expect of the shogun. “All of you, human or not, I have just one thing to say to you - do your job well.”

Tamamo assures him there’s no cause to worry there, and his self-assured smile only serves to highlight his beauty in the luminous moonlight...as Yoshino looks on, wondering if things will really be as simple as all that.

The next morning finds her and Tamamo invited to a meeting with Yoritomo. She’s trying to hustle Tamamo through the corridors, as he keeps getting distracted and gawking at different decorations and other things, strolling leisurely along as she frets.

He whines as they go about humans misguided priorities, and how looking at the art on the walls in infinitely preferable to going and staring at a bunch of dude’s faces. 

She scolds him again, saying they can’t keep Yoritomo waiting - the very idea terrifying her because he seems so stern. Tamamo assures her though they’re too valuable to Yoritomo for him to do anything to them.

“Even so, he could still say something terrible!” she insists, reminding Tamamo that Yoritomo IS the shogun and therefore basically the leader of everything they know. It illustrates the difference between ayakashi and human outlooks, she thinks.

Tamamo finally relents though and admits that it’s obvious Yoritomo has power and influence, if only because it’s illustrated by his rough, samurai-filled war-oriented castle still holding many valuable items of art and craft from all corners of the world. 

“It seems the samurai came to great power while I was sleeping in that stone,” he observes. “It’s fascinating to see the changes of the human world, isn’t it Yoshino?”

Finally, they make it to the gathering hall and find all of the shogun’s head retainers gathered there with Yoritomo - Kagetoki, Morinaga, and Shigehira, along with more than a dozen other samurai as well. 

“Bold of you to be late to the very first meeting,” Kagetoki snipes, and she wilts under the weight of the stares of all those gathered as she wonders if she dares try for an excuse. 

“Yoshino,” Tamamo says in a quiet voice only she can hear. “Just play along, and do as I do.”

Baffled, she watches as Tamamo steps forward and gracefully kneels, bowing his head. She hastens to copy him, as he begins to speak. “Unfamiliar with the place as I was, I found myself lost. I humbly beg your pardon, Lord Yoritomo.”

Yoshino blinks at the abrupt change in Tamamo, and looks around to see all of the samurai appear enraptured by Tamamo’s dazzling smile. 

“Of course, of course - please, take a seat,” Yoritomo replies, fake-charming smile plastered firmly on his own face as Tamamo thanks him.

He and Yoshino head towards the last open seats as the samurai speak up, asking Yoritomo who the newcomers are. Yoritomo introduces Tamamo as a man who’s traveled from China and has paused in his journeys to share his knowledge with the shogunate. 

Yoshino is startled by the smooth lie Yoritomo offers them, but the samurai all seem reassured that Tamamo’s strange air can be explained away by his foreignness. 

“Please forgive me in advance for any rudeness, given that I am not yet familiar with the culture here,” Tamamo demurs, to a chorus of reassurances from the gathered men, and Yoshino notices that - perhaps due to the words of Yoritomo - the vassals all seem to have defaulted to using the most respectful language with Tamamo. 

The men exchange more pleasantries and Yoshino is mostly just impressed with the slick improv of both Yoritomo and Tamamo on the spot - the two men bringing to mind to her a fox and a tanuki conversing, two shifty characters acting their parts so well. 

“What about the woman, then?” one of the samurai finally asks. “ She doesn’t look like a foreigner at all.”

She’s nervous all over again as the attention shifts her way once more, introducing herself and saying she is usually a healer and now she’s acting as Tamamo’s assistant. They all clearly are still suspicious of her obvious commoner status though, especially in comparison to Tamamo’s elegance, and she’s sweating bullets now…

Only for a sweet scent to tickle her nose as an arm comes around her shoulders and pulls her closer. She realizes it’s the smell of incense that always clings to Tamamo, just as her cheek comes to rest against his firm broad chest. “I fell in love the moment I laid eyes on this woman in Kamakura,” Tamamo proclaims. “So forgive my impertinence in asking for your consideration of her during our brief stay.”

Yoshino’s sputtering to herself, stunned at his wild story - love? At first sight?? - when Tamamo interrupts her thoughts. “Isn’t that right, Yoshino?”

“What? Y-yes,” she stammers in confused agreement. 

Tamamo goes on to say he needs some time to get used to living in their country, so please excuse Yoshino’s presence - he would consider it a great personal favor if they treated her kindly as well. The samurai are all so charmed and under Tamamo’s sway they agree immediately...and at Tamamo’s urging she manages to thank them all. 

He finally releases her and she marvels all over again to herself at how easily he pulls one over on people, and how quickly he has them eating out of his hand - so well, in fact, it’s almost scary.

With that, Yoritomo gets the meeting underway and she sits back to listen to the reports and discussion, before Tamamo quietly asks her what’s up. She thanks him for his quick intervention when she had faltered. He says no biggie, and fudging things a bit like that won’t hurt anyone since they’re not staying there forever. 

Shigehira calls them out for not paying attention and talking, but Tamamo just smiles nonplussed. “Forgive me. I was asking after a word I didn’t understand,” he smoothly lies, and Shigehira clams up sheepishly. 

Then, regular business finished, Morinaga segues them to the next  far more somber piece of business. “Minamoto no Yoshitsune is alive,” he tells the gathered men grimly. “From this moment on, the shogunate prepares for war.”

The stunning news ripples through the assembled men like wildfire, setting them abuzz with anxiety and apprehension until Kagetoki harshly tells them to be quiet and listen to what Yoritomo has to say. They immediately fall silent, and Yoritomo begins to explain the particulars - how Yoshitsune and his rebels have formed a base at the town of Hiraizumi, how they have been recruiting amongst the disenfranchised to swell their ranks, and that they plan to attack Kamakura. 

The mood goes immediately somber.

“It is imperative that I crush this movement, destroy it entirely. To protect what we have created,” Yoritomo tells them all gravely. “Which of you will take up their sword and fight at my side? Are there any among you that will brave the very gates of hell with me?”

“Yes! We will give our all for the shogunate!” the assembled men cry. “For Lord Yoritomo!”

As she watches, the men erupt in a fervor, battlelust written plain on their faces...and she realizes what a unimaginable place she’s found herself in, via circumstances utterly beyond her control. She glances over at Tamamo beside her, the source of all of this -

“I’m getting bored,” he proclaims, stifling a yawn, and she wonders if he’s truly that uninterested in human warfare. 

After the meeting she returns to her quarters, exhausted by the morning’s events, and ponders how out of place she feels here in the midst of all these samurai. All of her prior anxieties rise up to nip at her heels again, and just as she’s about to slide into another funk she hears Tamamo’s voice from outside, asking if she is in and if this is a good time.

Confused, she tells him it is and he sweeps in - with a veritable entourage of men and women burdened with trunks.

“Tamamo, who are all these people…?” she asks, baffled. 

He smiles and reassures her, as the boxes are opened and their contents removed and lined up - the room overflowing with a bounty of colorful kimonos and accessories in a matter of moments. Seeing her stunned expression, Tamamo grins like a mischievous boy who is quite proud of himself. “Surprised? I called in a clothing merchant.”

“Merchant?” she echoes, as an assembly of men bow before her. “Whatever for?”

The merchants fall all over themselves, obsequious towards Tamamo, as he thanks them for bringing their wares to him - then he turns to take Yoshino’s hand, pulling her smoothly to her feet. She’s caught in his magnetic golden gaze as he draws her nearer…

“Would you like me to undress you, Yoshino?”

Chapter 02 >>

[redheadkittys]

...more wigglewiggle 😆...

[apfleur]

Super belated countdown post for JP IkeGen’s 3rd anniversary. XD;;;

The last picture is the reward for users - 5 gacha tokens.

[Day 6 to Day 1]

[Day 13 to Day 7] - Post Link

[syneilesis]

when Tamamo asked you if you hate older men—

[omkookie]

✨Ikegen memes because you found Tamamo✨

[ga-yuu]

Round 2 - Demons...

[the-bird-and-the-flute]

Kagetoki's route - random spoilers part 1

chapters 1 - 5

I'm having so much fun reading this for real!

I did not expect to see such a chemistry between kagetoki and MC in the first chapters, but that's exactly what happened \o/

That boy has game! Let me tell you. His punishments are so good ahahahahah. MC is so lucky. When it's going to be my turn? 🥺 

You know, I thought he would be one of those strict boys who would push MC away, but, actually, MC is having a chance to interact with Kagetoki since the beginning as she is his servant XD

So far I love her personality. She is afraid of him, but at the same time, she frequently questions him even tho she knows he has good arguments for literally everything 🤣🤣🤣

I'm just reading the part she is talking with yoritomo and tamamo and I'm just literally dying hahaha. Tamamo is being dramatic (as usual) because yoritomo is 'forcing' him to work early in the morning providing info that according to yoritomo it will be useful to the shogunate.

His puppy fox eyes begging for help is so hilarious and cute.

And yoritomo is being a weirdo (as usual). MC was thinking that yoritomo is as strict as kagetoki, but like, she didn't dare to say that. Deadass yoritomo (with that stupid grin of his) tells her that he knows she was going to say sth rude.

when MC asked how he knew that, he said it's cuz he is the seii taishogun HAHAHAHAHAH

[ziankenvirus]

I've been playing Ikegen, and I've been brain storming ideas for an oc. It's been a while since I've done anything with ayakashi BUT.

I've been thinking about a Yuki-onna, and to self indulge-a Therodontasaurus shapeshifter 👀.

The mythology behind Yuki-onna has always intrigued me to be honest, and the idea of one as an oc would be funki. Mayhaps a friend of the mc Yoshino in the past of sorts, or fellow pharmacist.

As for the Thero, general idea of someone trying to survive comes to mind, maybe they're new to Japan and came upon it via a failed trading route from another country? Or maybe they came upon the country themself needing a new place to live? Going with the theme of survival perhaps things just weren't-enough in their former home, and they needed a new place to call home. Or maybe perhaps that very competition for survival got them kicked, chased. Gahhh that would be so funki I'm so tempted to self indulge and do that.

Tamamo has my heart in the meanwhile gyahh, I'd kill for this fox man.

Kurama isn't to bad lookin himself either, his personality has me 👀👌

I know not many like him but I can't help but already be smitten with him. Like helloooo?? Hedonistic and prideful bird boy, grrrrrr

[ask-misun-and-oc]

IkeSen vs IkeGen in 17th August competition

Note: By the way, yesterday is Independence Day in Indonesia. So congrats for Indonesia for 79 years. I hope no more drama and injustice in my country.

-GF Carrying Race -> Nobunaga and Mai vs Yoritomo and Yoshino

-Clog Race -> Hideyoshi, Masamune, Ranmaru vs Morinaga, Shigehira, Kagetoki

-Climbing Race -> Kenshin, Yukimura, Sasuke, Shingen vs Yoshitsune, Yoichi, Benkei, Sueharu

-Tennis Using Utensils -> Motonari and Mitsuhide vs Tamamo and Kurama

-Make Up Competition -> Mitsunari and Ieyasu vs Yasuchika and Akihito

-Water Splashing Competition -> Kennyo vs Ibuki

-Pillow Fight -> Kichou vs Rikka

Well, i'm sorry for Keiji, Yoshimoto, and Kanetsugu because IkeGen has no more character for the pair. Perhaps you can be the 'biduan' to entertain the supporters. (Just kidding)

Note:

-"Biduan" actually is a Diva or female singer. But in my country context, it's a sexy singer who sing dangdut music. I hate dangdut music because it's too vulgar. That's why i love J-Pop and K-pop (but it's male only).

- @ask-kennyo request a switch team because he hates Mitsuhide. I guess... i will switch it with @mourimotonariblog. Don't worry, old man. Just smacking water baloon with a stick with closed eyes. And for tennis using utensil, it's just like 'kemari' but you can use any utensil such as book, pan, broom, fan, even bottle to hit the ball.

-I revised the role for @ask-kanetsugu-naoe and @ keiji maeda as commentator, while @ask-yoshimoto is host for supporters (just like interacting the audience)

[nica-my-beloved]

Ikemen Men In Ikemen Series

(Ikepri, Ikevil, Ikegen)

Businessmen

Sueharu: "I love women."

Silvio: "Women are bitches."

Jude: "Women should be respected!"

The Kings

Gilbert: "I'm a King."

Akihito: "Me too."

William and Elbert: "So are we"

Poster bois

Leon: "Ofc that's me."

Yoritomo: "Originally it's me, but my brother gets more spotlight from fans."

William: "I'm a poster boi as well."

Leon and Yoritomo: (Why does he have white hair?)

Tsun Tsun bois

Yves: "Want some cake?"

Shigehira: *Ahem* "Not like I'm dying to eat it or anything. But since you asked, as a decent person I'll have some.......Mm....Ahhh, it's so delicious"*starry eyed*

Yves: *blushes* "Hey! Stop making that face! As if you're enjoying my cooking!"

The ZzzzzzZ

Luke: ".....zzz....Honey...."

Yoichi: "....zzz..Young..zzz...master..."

Harrison: ".....zzz....Liam...."

That guy

Nokto: "Hey, how is that girl!?"

Jin: "Yeah. She's cute but the boobs aren't big enough."

Sueharu: (At least I'm decent than these two-----Ah! Yoshino's boobs!)

Best big brothers

Luke: "I'm younger than Emma but I still treat her like my younger sister."

Harrison: "I'm not even a big brother type. I simply got added here because Kate thinks I am one.

Morinaga: "I want to see Yoshino as my little sister but I can't help it. I get these indecent thoughts about her sometimes."

Luke and Harrison: "You need help."

The most beautiful ones

Azel: "Hah. I'm a god. Of course I'm the most beautiful."

Tamamo: *flips his hair* "Hmph. Well I lived here for more than 800 years. I'm the most beautiful one."

Elbert: "..............................."

Alfons: "Lord Elbert. No." <- not included in this category, just came here to avoid potential murder.

The babies

Luke: "Believe it or not, I'm the youngest prince."

Ellis: "Nice to meet you guys too. I'm the youngest villain."

Shigehira: (Wow...they are so tall and...those muscles...)

Someone from the audience: "Don't worry Shigehira, Yoshino still loves you."

Shigehira: *blushes* "Shut up!"

The unreasonable brats

Kurama: *points his fan* "Hey! Give me everything you're wearing right now. Yes, those shiny necklaces, bracelet, rings and also the shiny items in this room. Actually, give me your whole palace. Give it all."

Silvio: "Huh!? Who the hell are you? A thief?"

Kurama: "How dare you call me a thief. Do you wanna die you bling bling covered sleazeball?"

Silvio: "Who the fuck told you that name!!?"

Kurama: "Hm? A girl looking like a brown rabbit."

Silvio: "That bitch! I'm gonna kill her for sure!"

The most loved ones

Yoshitsune: "I don't know why everyone loves me. They say I have a very innocent personality but I don't understand."*cutely tilts his head*

Jude: "I'm most popular because everyone here likes to be choked for some reason." *rests his head on his fists looking bored*

Gilbert: "Well, I'm here because I'm so handsome and everyone falls down on their knees as soon as they see me."

Yoshitsune: "Why is that?"

Jude: "Obviously because-----forget it. I was paid by a blonde guy to not taint your mind."

Chevalier: *ignoring all of them because he's listening to an audiobook*

The villains

Ibuki: "I heard you love manipulating people for fun."

Gilbert: "I heard that about you too. Looks like we're...."

Ibuki and Gilbert: "Kindred spirits" *fist bumps*

Ibuki: "I have a kid."

Gilbert: "I have raised a kid too."

Ibuki: "I have tried manipulating the evil fox princess to break her heart."

Gilbert: "I too have tried tainting little rabbit's heart."

Ibuki and Gilbert: "But I failed."

Ibuki and Gilbert: "........!"

Ibuki and Gilbert: "Hahahahaha!"

[shatcey]

He's definitely not a guard dog!

You're not really in a position to talk, you know. She was kidnapped on two different routes while you were literally next to her.

First on the Benkei route (it was dashing, I like this scene so very much) and here on the Yoshitsune route. So… YOU let it happen and don't even feel bad about it.

(Reproachfully shook my finger)

Bad pet! Bad, bad, bad!

A little note:

Foxes and wolves are from the same family. And they are all related to dogs.

Screenshot from Wiki

Actually I used to (and even still) thought of foxes as something between cats and dogs. But zoologists hold a different opinion.

Dividers @.blues-and-hues-png

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🔝 𝕊𝕋𝔸ℝ𝕋 ℙ𝔸𝔾𝔼 🔝

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[dear-mrs-otome]

Tamamo - Main Story - Chp 02

Standard Disclaimer: I do this for fun. I don’t, and never would, claim to be proficient at JP. There will be mistakes herein. There will be dialogue I choose to smooth out or change, because it feels choppy just straight translating. There will be the occasional snarky aside and irreverence and just plain summarizing. If you’re looking for 100% pure accuracy, without commentary or localizing, this is not for you. If you don’t mind that…then proceed, and I hope you enjoy! And please, support your local localizer (they make this stuff look easy) and Cybird by playing the games and routes if/when they come to English.

Yoshino is scandalized by Tamamo’s nonchalant offer, still reeling to catch up when he lets go of her and picks up a nearby obi, remarking on its beauty and asking her opinion. She agrees, and before she knows it Tamamo and the merchants are discussing all manner of clothing options and outfits for her.

She starts to protest, but is cut off by a finger from Tamamo, laid over her lips. “Hush now, and just leave everything to me.” His low voice scatters her thoughts, and he turns back to point out another combination, drawing compliments on his taste. 

Any other concerns she raises are immediately brushed aside by Tamamo, who insists he wants to see her in the nice clothes, and he turns her over to the merchants and staff who are happy to busy themselves dressing, rearranging ‘Lady Yoshino’s’ hair, and applying makeup.

Eagerly, they ask for her opinion after they finish, and she hesitates. “Um...it’s incredibly nice, but don’t you think it’s a bit too much for me?” She’s never worn such a beautiful, extravagant kimono before. 

“Ridiculous! It suits you perfectly,” they gush. “Isn’t that right, Lord Tamamo?”

“Yes,” he agrees with a smile, giving her such  slow once-over that her heart begins to flipflop. “Every bit as beautiful as I expected. It’s not as if your everyday appearance is lacking...but dressed like this, you’re even more lovely.”

She can’t keep the smile off her face at such flattery, as she searches for words to answer him. “Th-thank you. But I’m not sure that’s true.”

“Humility can sometimes be a shortcoming, no?” Tamamo reminds her, insisting once again that he’s not exaggerating when he says she is beautiful. As he does, he picks up a hair ornament of delicate tortoiseshell and cradles her face in one hand to steady it.

His proximity sets her nerves alight, as he slowly slides the piece into her hair, his fingers lingering for long moments. “There, good. That looks perfect.”

She says she has no idea, being unable to see it herself, and Tamamo insists that he be the judge of that - and tells the merchants they will take the hairpiece too. 

His words sweep her out of the fantasy and back to reality, remembering that there is no way she can afford any of these lovely garments or accessories. She wonders if Tamamo is even aware that humans exchange money for goods…

Only to be pulled out of her fretting by the merchant assuring them that what Tamamo has paid already will cover the hairpiece as well. He assures a shocked Yoshino that Tamamo has paid for everything, and as she look on in mute astonishment Tamamo and the merchant settle up and they politely take their leave.

“I have so many questions…” she begins, when everyone had finally shuffled out. “But most of all, why did you buy these new clothes?”

Tamamo insist though that it only makes sense if she’s going to be seen with him - and when she still protests he snags her by the waist and draws her close, a hand at her chin so that her gaze meets his as he reminds her that a good woman elevates the status of a man beside her...and now she fits the bill perfectly.

She only has time for a token complaint before he’s ushering the both of them out the door.

“Where are we going?” she manages, as they walk down the corridor, and he tells her they’re headed to town, his face alight with curiosity. She wonders aloud if it’s alright for them to go on their own, and Tamamo brushes aside the troublesome concept of ‘getting permission’. 

As they walk, she finally dares to voice the question that’s been nagging at her - it was real money he gave them, right? Not fake money that would turn into a leaf later or something? Tamamo laughs and says she’s been listening to old folktales too much, and she sags with relief.

“Oh, phew. I’m glad we didn’t commit some kind of crime or something…”

“Good grief, what exactly do you take me for?” His beautiful features crumple sadly, and guilt immediately stabs her as she hastens to apologize for her lack of understanding about ayakashi.

“Nothing to be done for it, you’re forgiven,” he replies, immediately cheered again.

She tries a different tactic, asking HOW he had money, and Tamamo tells her he’d negotiated pay from Yoritomo earlier in exchange for his ‘services’ as a ‘visitor from China’. She recalls that is their cover story for the vassals, but Tamamo corrects her - it could be true, in a way, given that he was born on the continent across the sea and made his way to Japan many many years ago.

“That’s amazing...all the way from across the sea!” she exclaims, thinking how it’s obvious once again just how experienced and worldly Tamamo is. 

“Yes. But this is my first time seeing Kamakura,” he tells her, brimming with curiosity as he eagerly pulls her in the direction of town again.

As they make it into Kamakura, they’re surrounded by the hustle and bustle of it all. They both marvel at the wealth of trade good from across the country and sea, and the array of foodstuffs. “Before I was sealed in the sesshou-seki* I was in the city of Kyoto, which was wonderful, but Kamakura has a charm all its own,” Tamamo observes. 

* -  the ‘sesshou-seki’ or ‘Killing Stone’ is the stone he was trapped in, referenced in the prologue and it is a real place to this day, in the Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

She tells him she’s envious he’s seen a place as distinguished as Kyoto and he discusses the difference between the two towns - one grand and steeped in age, the other vibrant and still full of potential. He’s so eager, she thinks how she can practically see his ears and tail twitching with excitement, despite their being hidden right now.

 

They wander town some more, Tamamo taking special note of the incense sellers, before they find themselves eventually at a tea shop, relaxing and sampling the sweets and tea available. They're both enjoying their food, as Tamamo tells her how ayakashi have no real need to eat - to them, it's just a pleasant diversion.

She's smiling and laughing, talking about how caught up in all the sights and sounds of Kamakura she'd gotten.

"I see...I'm glad," Tamamo smiles, and reaches out to cradle her cheek. "I'm happy you're feeling a little bit better." She stares at him in astonishment, and he goes on. "Did you not have a distraught expression at the shogun's manor?"

She's surprised and a little embarrassed that he saw all of that so easily, and she asks if that's perhaps why he wanted to go into town in the first place. He says he is in her debt after all, and doesn't want to see her under the weather.

She's touched that he was paying such close attention to her, and that it belies his seemingly mercurial and carefree nature. "Thank you, Tamamo," she tells him, smiling. 

He brushes it off cheerfully, as only natural that he'd be concerned over her, and then sobers to ask her what it was that had her so upset. She's hesitant at first, wondering if she can confide in him, but he seems so trustworthy that she finally does - telling him she'd been fretting over whether she'd ever be able to become friendly with the people of the shogunate.

He doesn't seem to see this as anything to be concerned over, and she wonders aloud if the thought doesn't bother him. 

"I choose to live alone," he tells her, seemingly unconcerned. "Ayakashi don't have friends."

"Oh really?" She looks at him curiously, thinking how even in the bright light of day outside of his extraordinary beauty Tamamo looks perfectly human. He seems very well acquainted with the ins and outs of humanity as well...but that doesn't necessarily mean he isn't something completely different inside. 

Still, though...whether he's ayakashi or human, she can't help feeling as if she wants to get to know him better.

"Ayakashi lives are much longer than humans. Live long enough, and you get tired of the company of others," Tamamo tells her. 

"How old are you?" she asks him.

"Around 800 years old. I stopped keeping track after that," he replies. 

“Eight hundred?!” she yelps, stunned, but he just seems confused by her surprise.

“There’s no need to be so shocked, unless of course…” Tamamo takes her hand and presses a kiss to her fingertips, heat radiating from the touch of his lips on her skin as she tries not to short circuit entirely. “You dislike older men?”

<< Chapter 01 | Chapter 03 >> (TBC)

[redheadkittys]

@liliasleftpinkytoe aaaaahhhhh you mean tamamo😏from ikemen genjiden(you can play this game only in jp)...

...he's a fox spirit, an ethereal trickster, the rare powerful nine-tailed fox whose life is saved by the mc and subsequently binds her soul to his in a pact...

...guys i think i have a light bright problem🙈(and this are only the ikemen bois)...

...bonus (and then we have the other side😁):..

...which haircolors makes you barkbarkwoof???...

[apfleur]

Event period: 17 Oct 2022 to 29 Oct 2022

[dark-frosted-heart]

What are your favorite ikeseries characters ? Sorry if this question was already asked!

*rolls out the list* 📜

Ikesen

Mitsuhide

Yoshimoto

Hideyoshi

Kanetsugu

Masamune

Kichou

Motonari

Kennyo

Kenshin

Ikerev

Harr

Zero

Sirius

Edgar

Dalim

Kyle

Oliver

Ikevamp

Faust

Comte

Leonardo

Arthur

Dazai

Sebastian

Theo

Ikepri

Clavis

Keith

Sariel

Azel

Matias

Silvio

Chevalier

Jin

Nokto

Ikevil

Roger

Jude

Alfons

Victor

Harrison

Never played Ikegen but I think these would be my faves

Kagetoki

Tamamo

Morinaga