#ikesen mitsunari fanfic

[katriniac]

💜

Hi Yozzie!

Congratulations on your followers! I would love to request:

Mitsunari - because there can never be enough Mitsunari fic

Xenial - because I am curious to see how you do it

And: ☃

That last one might be too small to see, but it is a snowman.

Thank you in advance, and congratulations again!

Oooh so this was tough. Mitsunari and Xenial . . . hrm. And snowman. Well. Here goes! Approx. 1500 words of fluffiness and hospitality (or should I say omotenashi? ^_^ )

Mitsunari was pleased to spend the winter with his love in Sawayama. It promised to be a long, wet season and he looked forward to spending those cold days snuggled up with her and all the books he’d sent here to wait for him. 

The first few weeks went exactly as planned. He spent the days with his books while the chatelaine sewed and stitched. She even made a cute little rain coat for Kitty. And the nights, they spent in each other’s arms. It was perfect. No interruptions, everything in its place, planned out and scheduled. 

At least, until the day it snowed. 

Mitsunari didn’t notice the snow or the cold. He was reading a campaign account that detailed marching provisions. Hungry armies did not win wars, and so this was a topic close to his heart. The room around him disappeared and even the words of the text were gone. He was there, in the column of warriors as they scoured the countryside for food. And in the strategy tent, debating supply columns. 

Deep in thought, he only became tangentially aware of the room when the page slid sideways. Or, no, it was him. He was being pushed side to side. Rocking back and forth, with a pair of hands braced on his shoulder. 

“Mitsunari?”

He looked up, still trying to get his mind back from the hungry march to wherever he was. Sawayama. And whoever this was. The chatelaine. “Is something wrong?” He blinked up at her.

“No. Just - look! It’s snowing!” She smiled, her expression full of a childish excitement.

“Snow?” 

She pulled him up to standing and out of the room. 

He followed in a half-daze, neither fully with her or in his own head. The sense of disorientation increased the further they moved from his study. They went through a door onto a covered walkway. Mitsunari blinked in the sudden brightness, his eyes stinging. 

“Isn’t it beautiful?” The chatelaine leaned against him, snuggling into his side. 

The world finally shifted into place and Mitsunari looked down at her with a certain amount of surprise. She looked so happy that he had to smile too, even if he didn’t quite understand it. 

She pointed out toward the garden. “Everything looks different like this. It’s like magic.”

He followed her gaze and took in the garden. The ground was covered in a few inches of soft white snow. The bare branches and small patches of winter greenery were glazed with ice, shining in the diffuse light. 

“I was thinking maybe later, we can build a snowman together?” She tugged at his sleeve. “We could do a snowball fight and make a snow-fort!”

“I don’t think the volume of snow corresponds to your planned usage.” He pulled his glasses off and put them in their case. “A snow-fort requires a minimum volume of -” Mitsunari paused, doing the math in his head. Assuming she was his baseline measure, it would need to be at least half her height and wide enough to fit 2-3 of her . . .

“Mitsunari. Hey.” She touched his cheek lightly. “Don’t overthink it.”

He smiled at her, letting the calculation drop. Her hand was so warm and soft on his cheek. He leaned into the touch, allowing himself to enjoy it. Mitsunari reflected with some embarrassment that he’d first believed her a distraction. And now she was the reason for his focus. Her happiness the measurable outcome of his work. 

“Let’s wait until the snowfall stops, and then we can spend the day together.” The chatelaine batted her eyelashes at him and of course, he could not say no. 

The next morning dawned bright and cold. A perfect day for playing in the thick, white blanket of snow that covered everything in sight. There still wasn’t enough for a snow fort, but there was at least enough to make a decent sized snowman. 

Mitsunari attacked the project with precision. In order for the snowman to be approximately the same height as his love, the base would need to be slightly wider than a lunge-step, while the the second ball would be the diameter of his sword length. Perhaps a ramp would be a good idea, although lifting it where she could see him -

“You look so serious!” The chatelaine poked him in the shoulder as they rolled the bottom ball of snow into place. 

“I do? Oh!” He touched his face with cold fingers. “No, I’m definitely smiling.”

She laughed. “Well you are now!”

He felt his smile widen until his cheeks hurt. Her laughter filled his heart until it hurt. “Did I remember to tell you today that I love you?” 

Her eyes went wide. “I think so? Maybe when we woke up?”

“Then I should say it again. To be sure.” He brushed a kiss onto her cheek, as light as a snowflake. “I love you.”

She shivered with something other than cold. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes were warm. “You can’t just spring it on a girl like that! I have to prepare myself.”

“You do?” He blinked. “Then I will try to give you more warning next time.”

Her hug took him by surprise, and they nearly fell over into the snow. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. “Thank you for spending today with me.”

Mitsunari’s smile fell. Today. Yes. Since they’d come, he spent every day working. He hadn’t asked if she felt welcomed or happy, if she had everything she needed. He felt a sudden flush of shame. “Have you . . . been happy here?”

She looked up at him, confused. “Sure? Everyone is very nice. And since it’s just us, I have a lot of time to work on my projects.” She kissed his chin. “Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl.” 

He nodded, and allowed a smile to return to his face, but he still felt troubled. Mitsunari didn’t let that stop him from helping her finish the snowman. They rolled up the second ball (he did lift it in front of her, to appropriate coos of appreciation), and the third. 

The chatelaine used bright stones for his eyes and gave him a smile made from frozen leaves. She stuck a branch in the middle for his nose, and then put a hand to her hip. “I wish we had a carrot for the nose. I know you don’t like them, but the orange would be so pretty and bright.” She tapped her lip thoughtfully. “Maybe I can borrow a daikon from the kitchen. It might work better.”

“A daikon? That won’t show up against the snow.” Mitsunari tilted his head. “What about gobo?”

“Yeah. That could work.” She shrugged. “It’s fine. He looks great. I’ll just tie a hat on him and he will be perfect.” The chatelaine ran inside to find a hat and some ribbon. 

Mitsunari was still thinking about carrots. He despised them. But if it would bring her a bit of happiness . . . really, getting a carrot for their snowman was the least he could do. It would make the snowman more like ones she built in her time, and then she would feel more at home. Yes. This was what he must do.

By the time she returned, floppy straw hat in hand, he’d made up his mind. “Let’s go to the market.”

“What? Why?” She looked back at him as she tied the hat onto the ball of snow that served as the snowman’s head. 

“There is something we need to get.” He smiled at her and whatever she saw in his face made her cheeks heat. 

“You’re being awfully mysterious.” She finished with the hat and came back to his side. “Is it a new book? A letter waiting in town? Or . . . did someone come for a visit?”

Mitsunari chuckled. “None of those things. Just, we need to get . . . a carrot.” He said the last word with a little trepidation. “Not for eating. It won’t be allowed in the kitchen. It’s just for the snowman.”

It was her turn to giggle. “Mitsunari, you don’t need to do that. He’s perfect just the way he is.”

“Maybe. But it’s the only thing you’ve asked for since we got here. And if it will make you even a little happier, it is worth it.” 

“You really are angelic.” She sighed and took his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. “I don’t need a carrot to be happier. The thing I like best today is just getting to do something with you.”

Mitsunari rubbed his eyes, feeling an unexpected stinging. Was it tears? Happy tears? He turned his head to hide his face while he scrubbed them away. He never expected to matter so much to someone. “We should do this more often then.”

The chatelaine squeezed his hand gently. “We should! I don’t want to distract you from your work, but maybe, every few days? We could do something, just the two of us?”

He pulled her into his arms, unable to restrain the sudden surge of affection. “Yes. I want to do that. This, I mean.” Mitsunari kissed her then, with all the urgency and awkwardness and passion that was in him.

The chatelaine was a book of herself, infinitely complex and ever-changing. A book he could never tire of reading and would never reach the end of. He loved her more than anything else in this life, his beacon, partner, friend, and lover.

[the12thnightproject]

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

Mitsunari x OC; Nobunaga x Mai

Previous Chapter

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

From the Military Notes of Ishida Mitsunari…

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

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

But Okatsu still plans to leave.

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

But…

…wait…

… Where is every--?

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

That didn’t happen.

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

THWUMP!

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

He landed right where Aki was waiting for him.

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

THUNK.

Unconscious minions.

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

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

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

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

Holy fu-

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

He was not clinging to the tower.

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

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

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

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

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

Aki?

Dad?

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

And he was gone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But…

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

He could die.

He might already be dead.

I couldn’t cry now.

Not here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But… I wouldn’t be returning to Azuchi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Neither have I.

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

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

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

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

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

I took a deep breath.

And then another.

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

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

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

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

One of Mozumi’s pillow books?

I looked at the book.

I looked at Mitsunari.

He was still blushing.

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

Hey. Time travel. It could happen.

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

[fighting-and-drawing]

It came as no surprise to me that Mitsunari’s ability to aim was somewhat south of negative forty-two. His tosses got nowhere near the person he threw to, but that just added to the silliness of it. It went on this way for a good half hour or so, until I had the temari and Mitsunari ran straight toward me. I tossed it to Hikosane, but Mitsunari, distracted by the sudden appearance of Hideyoshi in the yard, was unable to stop his forward motion.

… and that’s how Mitsunari and I ended up in the ornamental fish pond.

-Chapter 11, A Mitsunari Night's Dream

Thank you, @the12thnightproject, for the commission of Katsu and Mitsunari! If anyone else would like a commission, feel free to check out the link here.

[Do NOT Repost; Likes and Reblogs appreciated]

[aquagirl1978]

Can you do a headcannon of what Masamune, Shingen, Kenshin, Nobunaga, Ieyasu, Kennyo, Mitsuhide and Mitsunari will react if the MC were to give them flowers instead of them giving her them?

It's Nobunaga's birthday, so here's some headcanons (with some other warlords). Hope you enjoy!

SUITOR'S REACTION WHEN READER GIFTED THEM FLOWERS (Masamune, Shingen, Kenshin, Nobunaga, Ieyasu, Kennyo, Mitsuhide, Mitsunari)

Masamune Date

He was surprised. No one had ever gifted him flowers before, let alone a lass as beautiful as you. When he first saw you with the bouquet, his initial thought was that they were for someone else. His hand found the hilt of his sword, ready for a fight for your love. But then you presented the bouquet to him. He placed the flowers in a vase in his room, a small part of him sad there was no battle for your love.

Shingen Takeda

Shingen was impressed. It was normally he who gifted the flowers, not the other way around. Flattered by your gift, he found himself enjoying this role-reversal, hoping to receive more thoughtful gifts from you in the future. As a thank you, Shingen took one of the blooms, broke off the stem, and tucked the flower behind your ear.

Kenshin Uesugi

Kenshin was afraid. Why were you holding those flowers - did they hurt you in some way? Ready with his trusty sword in hand to cut down the plant that dared harm his love, he blinked in surprise when you laughed and told him the flowers were a gift for him. After sheathing his sword, he asked for your help in putting the flowers in a vase.

Nobunaga Oda

Nobunaga was happy. It was his birthday, after all. After a day of receiving numerous, extravagant gifts, it was refreshing to receive something so beautifully simple from his lover. Or maybe it was because it was from you that it was his favorite gift that day. Now if only you had stashed some konpeito in the bouquet somewhere.

Ieyasu Tokugawa

Ieyasu was grumpy. Why did you have to give him flowers? Now he had to find a vase to put them in - did you think he had things like that handy in his bedroom? And make sure they had water. And get you a gift in return. Oh, why did you have to give him these silly, pretty flowers?

Kennyo

Kennyo was flattered. What a beautiful gift from his beautiful lover. He marveled over the pastel shades of the petals and the sense of serenity he felt just by looking at them. He placed the flowers in his bedroom (unlike some of the warlords in the Oda forces, Kennyo actually owned a vase) on a table near his bed so that every night when he went to bed, your flowers were the last thing he saw, and when he woke up in the morning, they were the first thing he saw.

Mitsuhide Akechi

Mitsuhide was mischievous. Mitsuhide was not used to receiving gifts, let alone a bouquet of flowers. Was this just an innocent gift? Were you rewarding him for the prank he pulled on Mitsunari the other day? He hoped it was for the latter - he would happily pull any number of pranks to bring a smile to your face.

Mitsunari Ishida

Mitsunari was flustered. Flowers? For him? Was this some kind of prank? (He's still getting over being pranked by Mitsuhide the other day). Once he got over his initial confusion and realized that these flowers were a genuine gift for him, he thanked you profusely for said bouquet. He particularly liked the various shades of purple in the bouquet and found a nice spot to display them in his room.

[bontu-the-l0ver]

A warrior kid

Nobunaga Oda, the king of the sixth heaven, he was walking on the streets of Azushi trying to relax and take some fresh air.

It didn't took long for Nobunaga to stop, he saw a little girl with her mother sleeping between two houses and some people around them.

- What is going on? - Nobunaga got close.

- Lord Nobunaga? The mother died and the kid doesn't want to go away from the corps. - A neighbor spoke.

- I see... And the father?

- He left a day ago to look for medicine but hasn't come back.

Nobunaga tougtht for a moment and took the kid away from the corps

- Lord Nobunaga, what are you doing? - Another Neighbor asked

- We can't just let the little kid alone. I will look for a place for her to stay.

The kid started crying.

- I want my mama!!!

- I'm sorry but your mama isn't able to take care of you... - Nobunaga said as calm as he could.

- Why not? - The kid asked calming down.

- She... She is asleep forever...

The kid stayed silent looking at her mother but eventually nodded. Nobunaga started to walk away with the kid in his arms.

---------------------------------------------------

Hideyoshi was discussing with Masumane.

- It's so cold... - Masamune groaned.

- It's winter after all. - Hideyoshi answered. - Anyways, Lord Nobunaga hasn't come back.

- I guess he has...

In that moment Nobunaga arrived to the room with the child on his arms that was still sobbing while hugging Nobunaga.

- What is this? - Hideyoshi asked confused.

- Seems like a child to me. - Masamune answered mocking him.

- I know she is a child but what is he doing with a child?

- I fond her, and we are going to find a place for her to live. - Nobunaga said.

- Lord Nobunaga, we are in war, we aren't an orphanage. - Hideyoshi answered.

- Hear me out! - Masamune shout. - Let's raise her to be a warrior.

- Are you stu! - Hideyoshi stopped because Nobunaga spoke.

- What a greet idea!

- Nooo!!! - Hideyoshi stopped them.

- What is a warrior? - The kid asked.

- See, she doesn't even know what a warrior is. - Hideyoshi argumented. - And she is too small and weak, she won't be able to hold a sword much less attack, and in top of that she is a female, she should be getting ready to be a wife in the future.

Masamune and Nobunaga looked at Hideyoshi then at the kid.

- If we feed her she will recover and kids grow fast. - Masamune answered.

- She is a kid! She isn't going to be able to lift a sword even with proper nutrition. - Hideyoshi said annoyed

- Then let's teach her how to use small knifes and raise her to be a spy! - Masamune said. - No one would expect a woman to be a spy for us!

- SHE IS A KID!!!

Hideyoshi trued to make some sense but Nobunaga seemed to like the idea of Masamune more than what Hideyoshi had to say. Mitsuhide entered the room.

- I hear some yelling. - Mitsuhide said.

- Mitsuhide, we are gonna raise her to be a spy! - Nobunaga held the kid to him.

- Ah? She is a kid... - Mitsuhide answered.

- Kids grow fast with proper food. - Masamune argumented.

- Okay I'm in. - Mitsuhide smirk.

- Noooooo!!! - Hideyoshi made a last attempt.

---------------------------------------------------

Nobunaga ordered Ieyasu to look over her health. Once they made sure she was healthy Masamune cook her food to recover her strength.

- What should we name her? - Masamune asked

- She probably has a name. - Hideyoshi answered.

- But she is now mine. - Nobunaga said.

Mitsunari entered the room.

- What are you doing?

- Trying to find a name for this kid. - Mitsuhide answered.

- What about Nobuko? - Mitsunari suggested.

- Nobuko! Yes! - Nobunaga seemed to agree

- But you want her to be a spy, right? - Mitsuhide said with a confused look. - Won't it blow her cover?

- Then we can give her another name as a cover. - Masamune said.

- What about Kyo? - Ieyasu suggested.

- What a nice idea! - Nobunaga said with a big smile.

While the grill was eating Hideyoshi got close to her.

- Little one what's your name? - Hideyoshi asked.

- Mai... - She answered as Hideyoshi cleaned her mouth.

- Well, welcome to your new home Mai.

[eventinelysplayground]

Praise Me

Kinktober Day 18: Praise Kink| A/B/O

Pairing: Mitsunari x Female Reader

This is another fic that I surprised myself with. I haven't finished Mitsunaris route yet I only got up to Chapter 4 I believe so it may not completely be in character for him but from the other routes, special events and what I did of his although he's very sweet he also has a bit of a naughty side to him. This fic is NSFW so minors do not interact. WC approx 1303.

“Yes, just like that. Such a good girl.”

You're on your hands and knees sucking deeply on Mitsunari's cock while he sits cross legged on a zabuton praising you.

“You always make me feel so good.”

He had never been shy about handing out praise or compliments to people and it was something you had always loved about it. When he started using them occasionally during your private time though, it stirred something in you. Something darker and more primal, something that grew more intense each time he did it.

Truthfully you had been embarrassed to bring it up to him at first almost deciding to forget it but he had been very receptive to your suggestion and now you were so glad you hadn't let your embarrassment win out.

“You've become so good at sucking my cock and you have the perfect mouth for it.”

You could feel the wetness between your legs growing and you rubbed your legs together as you began to flick your tongue over his slit.

“Mmm yes very good.”

You felt one of Mitsunari's hands come up and gently grab your hair as he moaned. You shifted yourself lower supported on one arm so you could free one of your hands. You ran your hand up his thigh letting your fingernails drag lightly along the sensitive skin and he shuddered slightly. You wrapped your hand around his balls and began to fondle them while continuing to suck his cock. You swished your tongue around his shaft as you moved lower down, your hand still fondling his balls, and his moans grew louder.

You slowly worked your way back up licking along the length of his cock so you could get some much needed air. You barely had time to take two breaths when Mitsunari tightened his grip on your hair and pushed your head back down as he bucked his hips towards you so that you deepthroated him. When he'd done this before your gag reflex would kick in making you cough and almost choke but you’d been working on controlling it in private lately.

“It appears you’ve been working hard on improving in your free time. You've done very well. I'm quite proud of you.”

Mitsunaris praise encourages you to keep deepthroating him on your own. He leans forward slightly and uses his free hand to grab your breast circling your nipple with his thumb and you let out a muffled moan.

“I love hearing the pretty sounds you make when your mouth is filled with my cock.”

His words only make you more excited and eager to please him so you start going faster, making sure not to stop your moans as you do so.

“You really know how to please me so well.”

You moan even more at that and you can taste his salty pre-cum. Between that and his praise you're soaking wet now and rubbing your legs together is no longer helping. You take your hand off his sack reaching between your legs but as soon as you do Mitsunaris hand grabs your elbow stopping you. His other hand leaves your hair and tenderly cups your chin.

“If my beautiful girl wants something, all you have to do is ask.”

You slowly drag your lips off his cock and sit back on your knees taking in a few much needed deep breaths. Mitsunari leans back on his hands, a mischievous smile on his face.

“It’s only appropriate to reward all your hard work, you have to be very specific with what you want though. Only bad girls make people guess at what they want after all and you're not a bad girl are you?”

Mitsunaris voice was husky and his lust filled eyes roamed over you making you gulp

“No!”

“No, what?”

“No, I'm not a bad girl.”

Mitsunaris smile got wider and he leaned forward again running the pad of his thumb along your lower lip.

“Then what are you, and what is it that you want?”

You let out a small shaky breath and then looked straight into Mitsunaris amethyst colored eyes.

“I'm a good girl, your good girl, and I want to fuck myself on your cock.”

He took your hand in his and gave the palm a light kiss.

“Then come here, my love.”

He lightly tugged on your hand but you didn't need the coaxing as you were already shuffling into his lap. You lowered yourself slowly onto him, your eyes falling shut as you finally felt his cock deep inside you. Mitsunari brought his lips to your neck and began to pepper your skin with the most tender kiss while his arms wrapped tightly around your waist. You slowly began to move up and down his length so that the wet noises of your arousal weren't so loud. You had learned he enjoyed the sensation of when you went to the extremes, taking all of him into you just to then slide so far off that just his tip remained inside your hot core.

You set a steady pace and it wasn't long before Mitsunari was moaning softly and his hands began to travel up your sides before they moved to your breasts and he began to massage and kiss them. You're getting closer to the edge and want to move faster, the speed of his lips and hands aren't helping either but you know how much he's enjoying it so you grip his shoulders and close your eyes to help you focus. You're so focused that you don't immediately register that the kisses have stopped and his hands have left your breasts and are back on your hips.

“You're so considerate of what I want.”

Mitsunari quickly pulled you down on him as he thrusted up making you moan.

“You're so good at riding my cock, even better than you are at sucking it. You really are perfect for me.”

His lips crash against yours in a hungry kiss, his tongue delving into your mouth. You want to move but he's still holding you firmly in place and you whine into the kiss.

“Mitsu…nari, please.”

You know you sound pathetic as you whimper your plea between kisses and you can feel him smile before he pulls away.

“Whatever my good girl wants.”

As soon as his hands are no longer holding you in place you begin moving again but much faster than before and it doesn't take long for the wave of ecstasy to wash over you. You feel your walls begin to flutter around his cock and you naturally slow your movements but Mitsunaris hands keep you moving as you cry out in pleasure. He pulls you down one last time as he thrusts up and you feel his cock twitch as it releases his warm cum inside you.

Both of you now satisfied you collapse against him completely worn out. He kisses your temple before gently leaning you back until you're laying on the floor and slowly removing his cock from you. Just as you're thinking about how much you want to sleep you hear the rustling of fabric before Mitsunari drapes his haori over you.

“Mmmm.”

You curl your legs into you and pull the haori up around your neck and you can hear Mitsunari laughing softly. He sits down beside you then gently lifts your head placing it in his lap and begins to stroke your hair.

“You deserve a rest after all of that, I really shouldn't be so greedy with you but I always seem to lose control when it comes to you. You're such a good girl putting up with my demands. Sleep well my love."

He kisses the top of your head and you smile to yourself utterly content as you let sleep take you.

Tag List: @nightghoul381, @queengiuliettafirstlady, @nani-nani-nani, @floydsteeth, @oda-princess

[the-secondborn-of-seven]

Witch of Penchant

Prologue: Part 1/4

Shingen x MC (Mai)

the thread of INSPIRATION | Next

Logline - A women in nuns clothes, with an unsettling resemblance to a fox, the witch of Honno-ji, has traveled back in time to an era she has already lived through. She accidentally saved the life of Nobunaga Oda, but now she wonders how else the past has changed.

2200-ish words

Nobunaga scolded him. “Let her be. Her name is Mizusaki Mai. Oh yes and she saved my life.”

Mitsuhide looked surprised, wide eyes, “You saved Oda-sama’s life…?” snakey smile, “And you’re such a slender thing. but it appears your courage makes up for it.” Mai rolled her eyes, returned an equally disturbing, but unusually toothy smile, scoffed, then continued scanning the scene.

This starts as you would expect it, a woman and man find themself at a lonely stone monument as the rain starts suddenly. Although, this is not an unusual spot for the woman to be; witches like her throughout time and space have been the protector of rifts, weak spots in the fabrics of reality. Mai sighed as the undergrad fell through the wormhole before she dived in after him. She would have liked to return him to his time more immediately, but he apparently distracted her enough that she appeared 4 years after him. Oh well…

Mai soon found her vision to be quickly obscured with streams of billowing hot smoke. The Honno-ji shrine came into view around her, currently in flames. An armor suited man sat asleep amidst the chaos. In the year 1582, betrayed by Akechi Mitsuhide, Oda Nobunaga committed seppuku amidst the fiery wreckage of Honno-ji. Or that was how the past played out when she successfully protected the rift from mortals. With the young man nowhere in sight, she infrured he fell into some time before, and the effects of such meant it was nothing like the first time she lived through it. 

A man (presumably Oda Nomunaga) dressed in a suit of ancient Japanese armor was sitting on the floor, head tilted down in sleep. Another man holding some kind of walking stick approached the unconscious man. As Mai’s watery eyes squinted in the smoke, she recognised the gleam as that of a sword. Sparks from the flaming paper walls illuminated the sharp edge of the raised metal blade.

With a sharp intake of the oxygenless air, the witch bellowed a wordless cry at the armored man. Typhoon force winds suddenly blew from her mouth, and the man slammed through the paper walls out of sight. The sword clattered to the ground in a cruel imitation of church bells. Mai heard him scramble for the blade before fleeing.

She hurried over to and crouched beside the unconscious man and shook him urgently. He finally woke, eyelids lifting lazily, ”Who are you?” he sputtered out into the smoke.

“No time for introductions. Come on, let’s get you out of here!” Mai said with a chuckling tone. Mortals were always so confident in their self importance.

"Take my hand!” He obeyed, grabbing her hand. She shifted her weight before hauling him to his feet.

Concerning shapes flitted by in the edges of the pair's vision. They were ignored in favor of an exit. The wooden stairs won’t hold much longer.

The exit came into view! The pair burst through the door, into the refreshing, blessed cool night air and barreled down the path, far from the smoke and flames.

The temple was being engulfed by uncontrollable flames. The man glanced at the destruction before his eyes came to rest on the women in front of him. “Someone tried to do away with me while I slept,” he began, “Audacious but foolish. Killing my guards and getting that close to me is another matter.” 

So those shapes had been guards-Mai sighed, she had been too distracted, if she didn’t cut this chain of distractions from her mind or the rift would fall to desecration and mortals would fall to harm.

The samurai (presumably Oda Nomunaga) meets her eyes, “You there. Woman. Let go of me.”

Mai chuckles, “Oh sorry.” She let go and pulled back. The man looked over her thoughtfully. He stared at her rakusu overtop a brightly colored kimono, the religious garment indicating her servitude to Buddhism. 

“You saved my life. You may be some girl the monks snuck in for amusement but I owe you my thanks.”

“The amusement of others is neither my intention nor my job, but you are welcome.”

Mai surveyed him for injury, but found none. His pale red eyes were unsettling, proud and brutal, hair a solid black. His clothes were finely made, he stood in black armor, with red tassels and a white under-haroi. As fine as the sword and as deadly as tanegashima hanging from his belt.

“What are you staring at? Surely you know who I am.”

“I really don’t.” And Mai really didn’t, it was best not to assume in this unfamiliar past.

“You saved me without knowing who I am? Not expecting reward or favor? … So be it I shall tell you my name. I am the man who rule all under the sun -”

Definitely Oda Nobunaga. “Actually, you don’t really need to tell me.” Mai started approaching the temple. She wanted to stabilize the rift before the fire watch came.

The samurai smirked, “You’re a curious woman. No one’s ever spoken so impudently to me before.” He let out a loud amused laugh that echoed far into the night before continuing, “You intrigue me, which is almost as worthy of praise as saving my life. I am the lord of Azuchi Castle and Daimyo of Owari, Oda Nobunaga.”

Devil King of the Sixth Heaven, Nobunaga Oda-and he was just in the burning Honno-ji temple-meaning…

“Pardon me for asking something strange but what year is it?”

Oda Nobunaga looked confused at the question, “It is 1582. Why?” Because in the year 1582 betrayed by Akechi Mitsuhide, Oda Nobunaga committed seppuku amidst the fiery wreckage of Honno-ji. Mai signed.

“I’ve given my name; now it’s your turn.”

Oda Nobunaga took a full step forward and took her chin in his hand, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Oof!”

That surprised her. Nobunaga’s face was almost touching Mai’s as he smirked.

“Give me your name.”

“Mizusaki. Mizusaki Mai.”

“A good name.”

“Glad you approve. Now let go of me.”

Mai brushed off his hand and would have continued walking towards the burning temple if she hadn't heard a large group coming their way.

A finely dressed samurai, with grey hair in a white coat, a black chest piece and long lavender hakamas,  ran to Nobunaga crying “Oyakata-sama, you’re safe!”

The man arrived at the front of a unit of soldiers, rushing toward the two.

“Mitsunari? Why are you here? Where is Hideyoshi?” Nobunaga said.

“Hideyoshi-sama sent me ahead. He should be here shortly.” He took in the sight of the burning temple with a frown.  “We received information about an assassination attempt. It appears to have been true. I had my men search the grounds but whoever it was had already fled.“ Mitsunari glanced at the women beside him, "If I may ask who is this? I saw the two of you leave the temple together.”

"Mai, present yourself to my subordinate." Nobunaga indicated Mitsunari with a nod and then waited. 

“I’m sorry, did I miss the part where I became a subordinate too? I don't have to follow your orders." 

Nobunaga glared, “Then you’re choosing to disobey me?”

“It seems to be hard not too when one is so set on things going his way.”

Mitsunari coughed before chiming in, “Please this is on me. It was rude of me not to introduce myself first. My name is Ishida Mitsunari. I serve at the side of Toyotomi Hideyoshi-sama, Oyakata-sama’s right hand man.”

"Nice to meet you. I’m Mizusaki Mai."

Nobunaga gestured to Mai once again, "I don’t know who she is, but she roused me and saw me to safety.”

“She did! I can’t thank you enough for protecting our lord’s life.“ Mistunari bowed enthusiastically deep in a show of thanks.

“But what brought you here tonight?” Mitunari continued his questions, “You dress like a nun, but your attire is quite unusual. Are you from abroad?”

“It was the gods’ lightning that guided me here. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a fire to be dealt with and a fox to strangle.”

“What?” “What?!” was the response from both men.

They stared in shock and then disbelief.

“You poor thing. The smoke from the fire was very disorientating, I'm sure.” Mitsunari grabbed her shoulder and began guiding her away from the smokey temple grounds.

Nobunaga laughed, “Are you claiming it was a kitsune who tried to kill me?”

“I never implied that is what the kitsune was plotting, only that I know he is involved.” One of them is referring to a wily bastard of a man, the other is referring to an actual mythical being.

Mistunari interrupted,  pushing the two further away, “Sit down over there and get some fresh air. Someone will bring you a change of clothes.” Mai’s sleeves were black with soot, and the hemline was burned several inches higher.

“Once you’re freshened up, you’ll feel much better.”

“Thank you.” Mai quickly bowed as a soldier approached with a bundle in his hands.

Mitsunari said, “Now let’s get you into these shall we, Ojou-sama? Prepare a tent!” before walking off to conduct the soldiers. Mai redressed in the yellow kimono, white obi, and orange haori. She changed into the clean white tabi before putting on her old geta again. Her hair clung to her back, the two braids at her temples not unwinding. Once she stepped out of the tent, Ishida-san guided her to the center of the hastily assembled camp.

“Wait, right here.“ he said, ”I’ll bring you a cup of good clean water to clear your throat. “ With him gone the only other person nearby was Nobunaga.

"You clean up well”

Mai glared as his eyes lingered in return. She turned and kept her gaze on the entrance waiting for Ishida-san to return. The smoke from the Temple started to clear. Ishida-san’s troops must have put out the fire. As she breathed the clearing air, someone parted the curtain and entered camp but it wasn’t Ishida-san.

A fox-like man, and Mai knew fox-like, approached, “Oyakata-sama. I see you are well.”

“Mitsuhide?” Nobunaga questioned his surprise appearance.

Him? The person who started this whole incident, no—the history is different this time, but how?

“I hurried when I heard about the attack,” Mitsuhide seemed not in the least bit hurried, “but it seems there was nothing for me to worry about.”

“You worry?” Nobunaga smirked, ”Don’t make me laugh. I’ve never even seen you sweat.”

Yet another person entered the camp. This, this was a man in a hurry. “Oyakata-sama! Are you injured?” He cried!

“The only injury I suffered is my pride in letting my assailant escape.” Nobunaga responded.

“I see.”

“And now Toyotomi Hideyoshi shows up!” Mai said offhandedly, she continued to study the temple ground from a distance.

“Aren’t we outspoken? Have we met?” the correctly assumed Hideyoshi said this pointedly.

Nobunaga scolded him. “Let her be. Her name is Mizusaki Mai. Oh yes and she saved my life.”

Mitsuhide looked surprised, wide eyes, “You saved Oda-sama’s life…?” snakey smile, “And you’re such a slender thing. but it appears your courage makes up for it.” Mai rolled her eyes, returned an equally disturbing, but unusually toothy smile, scoffed, then continued scanning the scene.

Hideyoshi asked, “Akechi-san, what are you doing here?”

And Mitsuhide returned a, “ I was wondering the same thing. I didn’t know you were in Kyoto. What about the campaign?”

“When I heard about the threat to our lord’s life I dropped everything to come here. But I never heard anything about you being in Kyoto.”

Mitsuhide frowned, “Are you implying something?”

“Can you swear before our daimyo that you weren’t plotting anything?” Hideyoshi barked out.

Mitsuhide didn’t answer him. The two locked eyes, tension filling the space between them. Hideyoshi is already suspicious that he is responsible for the attack.

Finally, Mitsuhide said, “All men have secrets in chaotic times. Are you saying you act with no ambition of your own?”

“Stop being evasive! Confess!” Hideyoshi said, his eyes flared. He gripped his sword, ready to draw. “If I find that you played any part in this attack on our lord, Akechi-san, I’ll show you no mercy.”

“It wasn’t him…” Mai said, still facing away, she began untangling her hair.

“What?”

Mai looked back and said, "I caught a glimpse of the man who attacked Nobu—um, Oda-sama, but the drape of his clothes was all wrong. And Mitsuhide is spotless.” The bells the man wore also reminded her of monks. “And we were both covered in soot.” He still smelled of soot actually.

"Mizusaki-san, was it? Stay out of this.” Hideyoshi said rudely, “We’ll settle things with you later and learn why you’ve schemed to get so close to Oyakata-sama.”

“Excuse you,” Mai snarked,“I’m a nun with no interest in scheming-” A lie. Two actually, she hasn’t been a nun in a long while.

Nobunaga said, “Enough, Hideyoshi. Regardless of what brings Mitsuhide here, I am alive and well.”

Hideyoshi bowed his head, "My apologies, Oyakata-sama.” He immediately let go of his sword, his hand relaxing somewhat.

Nobunaga turned to Mai, “Hideyoshi, Mitsuhide. Leave us. I have something to discuss with Mai-gozen.”

"With me?“ Gozen?

They stepped outside as Nobunaga approached. "Your discourteous manners aside, you saved my life. I’m intrigued by you. You’re a woman who carries fortune’s favor of that I’m certain.”

Mai’s eyes widened. Nobunaga had slipped one arm around her waist, pulling her possessively toward him, his voice close, “How would you like to rule the world at my side?”

“Apologies, but I really must go; I have my duties, and you have your nation to unite…” And with that prediction for the man, she fled towards the edges of camp. “What did you say to Me!” Nobunaga called after her. Toyotomi-san and Akechi-san called on her but she fled the small camp, racing into the forest.

tags: @ginshoujo, @gloriouspiratenacho,

[mynameiskan]

It has been such a loooong time since I last wrote a fanfic.

I need to be more productive so that I can put the plot I have imagined into words.

This is a small part of the fanfic I'm working on.

This is basically a fanfic series for my OC, Hoshino Hana, in Ikemen Sengoku setting (an alternate ending for Shingen route to be more precise). These short fics are about the time when Masamune, Ieyasu and Mitsunari are accidentally sent to modern day Japan along with Mai (ikesen MC), Shingen and Sasuke.

I keep the number of characters low because my writing skills are not good enough to handle a plot with too many characters. Besides, Masamune, Ieyasu and Mitsunari are my favourite characters from the Oda faction.

[writingwhimsey]

"I Do, My Love!" Story Event Round Two

Mitsunari

Pt 1: The Proposal

Pt 2: The Wedding

Pt 3: The Wedding NIght

Epilogue

Shingen

Pt 1: The Prposal

Pt 2: The Wedding

Pt3: The Wedding NIght

Epilogue

Kenshin

Pt 1: The Proposal

Pt 2: The Wedding

Pt 3: The Wedding NIght

Epilogue

[ikesenfantasy]

Ikemen Sengoku: What-If Collection Event - Warlord Pets

(Don't mind the photo) I wrote this fanfiction for fun where the warlords turn into their animal mascots. Since there wasn’t much spotlight for their beloved pets I thought I would write about them in a What-If Collection Event for April Fool’s Day on April 1st. Since the increase of the IkeSen roster I decided to take the time to add the additional six characters. So a total of all seventeen men in the IkeSen roster.

THE HERD PART 1

It was a pleasant evening like any other evening. Tomorrow everyone from the Usugi-Takeda forces along with Kennyo, Motonari & Kicho were going to visit Azuchi. Sasuke already visited me two days ago since Kenshin wanted to visit me. I thought we would all try something that will get everyone working together…or at least trying to. I already had some ideas but Sasuke hasn’t visited me to discuss it over with him. Maybe we’ll talk tomorrow.

“Ah the moon is so beautiful this evening; it would be nice to watch it with everyone. Time for bed.”

By the next morning I was the first in the war council room. Usually everyone would be here or I would be informed to show up but no one was here until the sliding door opened. I sat up straight but instead I got pounced.

“Oof! What in the world?”

It was then I felt something wet on my face. When I lifted up whatever was on top of me and tried to see who or what it was.

A TIGER?! SHOGETSU?!

“You were supposed to be at the manor with Masamune, what in the world are you doing here!? I better return you back to the manor as soon as possible or else Hideyoshi is going to blow a blood vessel.”

But the tiger was not the only animal that was in war council a whole colossal of animals flooded into the room. I didn’t even realize there was a monkey trying to attack the tiger that I was holding.

OH NO! Please no fighting!

I decided to stand up and try to reach for the monkey that was clinging to the back side of my kimono. But then I felt a nudge almost making me fall over. The perpetrator was a deer.

“OH GREAT! NOW IEYASU’S DEER WASABI!”

Circling around my ankle was a cat meowing and purring as if the fiasco I was in the middle of didn’t exist.

What is with all these animals? Something really isn’t right. The monkey on my back let out a yelp as it let go of my back who was trying to reach for the tiger. Now the monkey was flicking his tail that was sadly bitten by a fox. When the fox let go the monkey started chasing the fox. I better stop them.

I was so distracted by the chase I tripped over the cat and planted face first on the floor. A heard a soft snort and a boop from my cheek from a pig snout. What a mess. All of the Azuchi warlord pets are running amuck. I wonder why. I then heard the pig squeal as he ran off into a different direction being chased by something.

When I realized what happened I noticed a wolf chasing the poor piggy. On the wolf’s back was a squirrel. And behind them was a bear with a bunny and a hamster on its back chasing the other animals across the room.

Just when the wolf and bear were chasing after the pig and cat they nearly knocked over a jar. The peacock that flashed its feathers blocked their direction to the beautiful jar as if protecting something precious spooking any nearby it away.

I decided to try and chase after the animals stopping them from chasing each other around the room but it only made matters worse as the wolf started to fly into the air by a wallaby. A parrot flying overhead was shaking his head as the wolf collapsed on the ground after being air born by the wallaby’s kick.

The war council was in such disarray as animals were fighting among each other until I heard a loud scream that stopped the infighting and set all the animals on alert. They looked up and saw a hawk that was swarming around a lot more higher then the parrot. The hawk seated itself where Nobunaga would sit. Soon the animals that were most likely warlords from Azuchi began to position themselves in their spots. Now if I didn’t know better these were the warlords. How would they know to position themselves like their owners would sit. The parrot then landed just inches away from the hawk.

“Finally…now that they have settled down we can finally get down to business.” The parrot spoke.

I looked at the parrot who spoke and truly it sounded like Kicho and not Fuka. It was unbelievable. There was no way.

“N-no way…Kicho? Is that you?” I can’t believe I’m speaking to Kicho the parrot. Interesting ring to it if I do say so myself.

“Yes. It seems I’m the only one who can talk. Unlike the others. I don’t know what or how this happened. From the looks of it we all woke up this way.”

[le-chat-sofi]

Ieyasu during a very serious war conference thought about MC and said

Ieyasu: Last night, I was in my room thinking... Nobody knows the day after tomorrow, so we need to be prepared

Mitsunari: It's Saturday, my lord ＼(￣▽￣)／

Ieyasu: Nobody asked you! ╬ Ò﹏Ó

[ikeromantic]

Ikesen Boys React to Tattooed MC pt 6

Thank you again to @otomedad for this fantastic idea ^_^ This one has Mitsunari, Ranmaru, and Kyubei! Approx. 3000 words of tattoo and MC appreciation!

Mitsunari

You blink. Twice. Mitsunari is still standing in the doorway when your eyes open the second time. He’s still smiling, a book tucked under one arm. You scrabble for your kimono, draped on the bench across from you and manage to drape it over your damp skin. 

“Mitsunari!”

“Good morning!” He steps through the door as if it was no big deal to see you standing there in nothing but your skin. “I found this book and it reminded me of you. I thought you might like it.” He holds out the thin tome.

You look at the book and back up at his sweet, smiling face. You gesture toward the tub behind you. “Umm. Thanks? But I’m naked right now. And wet. Can you give it to me later?”

His eyes widen and for the first time since he opened the door, his gaze sweeps down your body and back up again. “Oh. Oh! Yes, we wouldn’t want to get the pages wet. You’re right, of course.” He glanced down again, at the kimono barely covering you from chest to knee, the thin fabric clinging to your skin. “Here, let me help dry you off.”

“That’s really ok. I can - I don’t need - Mitsunari!” You stumble over your words as he grabs a soft cloth and sets down the book. Your face is hot and your heart is pounding. You try to turn, to keep the modesty of the kimono between you, but Mitsunari can’t be so easily stopped.

“Your face is so -” he cuts off as his feet catch on a board and he tumbles forward. His hands catch on yours, and both of you end up on the floor. You are grateful that he somehow turned you so that he landed on the ground with you atop him. “Red?” He blinks. 

If he were anyone else, you’d think he did this on purpose. But it’s Mitsunari and he is so oblivious that you know he didn’t intend a thing by it. Now if you could convince your tummy to stop fluttering and your pulse to stop pounding . . . because this position is so . . . intimate. You feel frozen in place and like leaping out of your skin all at the same time. 

Mitsunari’s gaze narrows as his eyes light on the upper curve of your breast. “Is that irezumi? You have a tattoo! He reaches out, tracing the delicate lines of your peony tattoo. The flowers follow your natural curve so that the last blossom lands just above your heart. And that is where his hand stops as he looks up from the soft, pink blossoms to your eyes. 

You can’t move. You know you should stand but the feeling of his finger on your bare skin is electric. 

“Why are you holding your breath?” His wide, violet eyes search your face. 

“I-I’m not!” You gasp for a breath because you definitely were. With the moment broken, you manage to peel yourself off of him while positioning the kimono for maximum coverage. It drapes over your chest like a soft, silk blanket, and your inked skin buzzes under it, sensitized from Mitsunari’s touch. 

He stands, his clothes rumpled and damp now. “I didn’t know you had irezumi. It is beautiful.” His eyes sweep over you, widening slightly. Faint color touches his cheeks. His lips part and a slight, audible breath escapes. 

“Mitsunari -” You aren’t sure what to say. Scold him for walking in on you? Explain your tattoo? Thank him for the book? “They’re peonies. For a happy heart.” You pause again, and take a breath. “I’m glad you like them.”

“Yes. I . . . do.” He sounds out of breath. “I should go. I need to - I have to -” Mitsunari turns, almost tripping again. He knocks over a pile of drying cloths as he hurries out. 

You watch him go, a strange tightness in your chest.

Ranmaru

“Look at this one!” Ranmaru’s excited voice pulls your attention from the hairpins you are looking at to a carved jade and gold bracelet nearby. 

“Beautiful,” you say, looking at the carved stone, made to look like little flowers twined with golden vines. 

His attention has already moved on and he grabs your hand to bring you alongside him. “Oh and this one! The color would really suit you!” Ranmaru is pointing at another hair pin, this one more elaborate than the others. The slim pins hold a fall of delicate rose quartz that catch the light, glinting white and pink. 

You smile as his eyes meet yours. “It’s very pretty,” you agree. 

“They would look so nice in your hair. And look!” He lifts your hand to his chin, displaying the small, pinkish red peach tattooed at your wrist. “It would match!”

“Erm, yes,” you nod as you try to tug your hand down and cover the design with your sleeve. As much as you love your tattoo, you know in this age they aren’t common. 

Ranmaru isn’t letting you get away with hiding it though. Instead, he puts his thumb over it, rubbing your wrist in a small circle. “This is really pretty. I saw it when I met you. Remember?” He smiles brightly. “You stuck up for me.”

You nod, finding it a little hard to speak. Ranmaru is always so touchy-feely. It’s hard to remember sometimes that he doesn’t mean anything by it. A pleasant warmth washes up your arm from his touch and you do your best not to let it show. 

If he notices your reaction, he doesn’t give any sign. “You are always so nice. That’s why I decided right then that I wanted to be your friend.” His gaze drops back to your wrist. “So, can I ask you about this? Your little peach?”

“Y-yes?” You clear your throat, hoping you don’t sound like you feel. 

“Well? Where did you get it? Why did you get it?” His eyes are wide and innocent, though you detect a mischievous gleam in their depths. 

It takes you a moment to collect your thoughts and respond. “I got it in my, uhm, my home village. And I got it because I wanted to remember that I am strong. That I can protect myself.” Talking about it brings up a slew of unhappy memories. Bullying and teasing. The awfulness of your school years. 

Ranmaru must see something of those feelings in your expression because his smile fades. Then he brings your wrist to his lips and presses a quick kiss to it. 

You are pretty sure your heart almost bursts from the unexpected intimacy. His lips are warm and soft and the brush of them against your skin does all kinds of crazy things to your insides. Perhaps that was his intent, to wash away the bad memories under a deluge of cuteness. 

When he raises his head, his smile is back and twice as bright. “You really are strong. But I hope you know, I will be here to protect you too. Always.” 

There is something so genuine in the words that you don’t know how to react. You want to cry and hug him and get away all at once. Instead, you take a breath. “Thank you, Ranmaru. I’m glad you have my back. There’s no one I trust more.”

Something dark flits through the depths of his gaze. He looks away, but he keeps smiling. “I’m glad.” 

Days later, you find the rose quartz hair pin on your desk, with a small note. “You’re my favorite peach.”

Kyubei

You glare at Kyubei from your seat across the table. “What do you mean, I got it wrong?”

He shrugs uncomfortably and drops his gaze from yours. “The picture was painted by Kano Eitoku. You wrote -” He glances down at the paper, “Banksy. That isn’t the right answer.”

“I’m not an art major,” you huff, feeling a mix of embarrassment and exasperation. “Why does it matter if I know who painted what? I’m supposed to be a chatelaine. Cleaning and stuff, right?”

Kyubei sighs and you’d have to be blind and deaf not to see his exhaustion. You wonder if it’s your fault or if Mitsuhide is just running him ragged. “A good chatelaine can tell quality from the dross. And a noble lady would know this as well. I am not sure how you expect to pass as a princess if you don’t take your studies seriously.”

You rub a hand over your face. He’s right, of course. And even if he wasn’t, you can’t take your frustration out on him. Kyubei is just doing what he’s told. Which is what you’re supposed to be doing too. “Sorry.” You take the paper back from him, accidentally touching his hand as you do.

A slight flush heats his cheeks. “You don’t need to apologize. I - I shouldn’t have said that. If there’s any failure, it’s mine.”

“Kyubei, calm down. It’s fine. I’m not mad. It’s just hard to remember all this stuff.” You frown at the list of answers you wrote. Most of them are probably wrong. “Let’s go through it again.” You roll your sleeves up to keep them out of the ink.

His gaze returns to you, timidly, as if he isn’t sure whether or not you’re still annoyed. “Ok. If you like.” He clears his throat and looks down, the motion pausing as he notices the marks on your wrists. 

Your tattoos. You almost forget you have them. Geometric designs around your wrists and ankles, delicate and complex traceries that travel a little way up your forearm and calf. You love the way they look. At home, you’d show them off all the time but here, you’ve been cautious not to have them on display. 

Surprisingly, Kyubei says nothing about it, just launches into his lesson. You do your best to take careful notes this time. Writing the names of the current popular artists and poets, what they are known for. When he tests your knowledge at the end, you get nearly every question right.

You feel a rush of pleasure at his proud smile, and your heart does a tripping thud when he tells you, ‘good job.’

“Thanks,” you reply, reminding yourself that Kyubei is only here because he’s ordered to be. It’s not like he actually enjoys teaching you. 

He reaches out and puts a hand over yours. “You do very well when you focus. I should thank you, for giving me your time and attention.”

“You are a good teacher. I’m just - it’s a lot to remember all at once. Thank you for being patient with me.” You let your thumb brush the side of his palm.

The touch seems to draw his attention to where his hand rests and his eyes widen slightly. He pulls his hand back quickly, heat suffusing his cheeks. “Umm. Yes. I - I - it’s - we should -” Kyubei stumbles over his words as he stands. 

You watch, unsure what to make of this suddenly unsettled vassal. Usually, he’s the picture of appropriate. Serious, studious, and dutiful. Is he embarrassed about touching your hand? Curious, you reach out and take his hand again. “Should we?” You ask in your best bedroom voice, fluttering your eyelashes. 

His eyes go even wider, skin flushing to the roots of his hair. “I - I must. Go! Yes. Because. The lesson. It’s over.” Kyubei nearly falls in his haste to draw away from you. You let him go, though you’re tempted to keep hold of his hand just to see what he would do. 

Once he’s gone, you feel loneliness settle in again. The isolation of being a person outside the world at large. Belonging nowhere, with noone. You distract yourself for the rest of the afternoon with simple chores. It’s easy to ignore your feelings when you’re busy scrubbing the floors, dusting the shelves, and sweeping the halls.

Even with the distraction, you can’t stop thinking about your tutor. You start to feel a little guilty for teasing him. The poor guy has no choice but to train you, and you haven’t made that easy. Getting frustrated, not paying attention, and now today when you noticed him blushing you made it worse. 

You decide to go apologize once your work is done. After you put away your bucket and cleaning cloths, you grab some snacks from the kitchen and head over to his quarters in Mitsuhide’s manor. Kyubei doesn’t answer when you knock at his door. You could leave, but you decide to drop off the snacks and write him a note.

His room is surprisingly spartan. When you step inside, there is just a desk, and a small table stacked with papers held down by a flat, dark stone. No decorations, no sign anyone really lives here. You feel a spike of disappointment that this little adventure won’t tell you anything more about your tutor. 

You set the tray of snacks onto his desk and open a drawer to find something to write with. The drawer has odds and ends, including a pretty yatate. The slim pen compartment has a delicate jade inlay, and the ink box at the end bears the Akechi clan symbol. You lift it up, and the edge catches on something you didn’t see. A tiny mechanical switch hidden in the lip of the drawer. 

The bottom of the drawer makes a small pop as it opens. Sneaky, you think. And even though you know you shouldn’t snoop, you can’t help but look inside. A small notebook rests in the secret compartment. You pick it up and open to the last page with writing on it. 

She is clearly intelligent, but wholly ignorant of basic knowledge. I struggle to know what to teach her. Her accent, while lovely, places her nowhere I recognize. I also cannot place her features. Beautiful. Where is she from? The markings at her wrists and ankles may indicate Ainu heritage? <sketch of your wrist and ankle designs beneath>

Is this about you? You flip a few pages back.

Her perfume lingers in my nose. Tempting, like a sweet I know I cannot have. I asked again today to be reassigned. A common vassal should not instruct a princess. Again, the answer was no. Is my lord mocking me? Perhaps. He must know I am - no, he would not ask me to complete a task I cannot do. Besides, she has never looked at me as I look at her. 

“What are you doing in my room?”

The voice startles you. You drop the notebook. “Ah! Kyubei!” You know your cheeks are stained and your voice is unsteady. “I - I was bringing you a snack. And an apology.” You stand and point to the tray.

“Did you find . . . anything . . . in my desk?” He moves closer, his expression a tragic mask of embarrassed futility, made worse by a hint of hope.

“No!” You can’t help the way your gaze drops to the notebook you just let go of. His gaze follows.

Kyubei’s shoulders fall. “My observations.”

“Sorry.” You try for a smile. “I didn’t mean to be nosy.” Lie. “I mean, I guess I did but . . . I was just curious why you would hide a notebook.”

He lets out a long sigh. “Again, it is I that should apologize. I was tasked to keep watch over you and report anything of note to my lord. You have . . . every right to be angry.” Kyubei looks as if he is ready for a storm, his eyes downcast, his hands clenched.

That wasn’t the response you expected at all. He should be angry with you for snooping. “You - Kyubei, are you serious right now? You’re apologizing to me for coming into your room uninvited and looking through your things and -” you pause, “I mean, you did spy on me. But you said some really nice things.” 

“You - what?” His gaze snaps up, surprise evident in his features.

You can’t quite respond. Your breath catches as you see emotion in the depths of his dark gaze, a flicker of heat that has nothing to do with embarrassment. The words in his journal flit through your mind. 

Neither of you say anything for a long moment, the only sound is your shared breath and the quick-skip-stutter of your heartbeat. You clear your throat, trying to think of something to alleviate the tension between you. “So -” you start, and stop again. “Ai-ainu? M-my tattoos?”

Kyubei draws a breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Oh. That. Yes. Your ink reminds me of the northern people. I thought you might be from there but . . . I’m guessing you are not.”

You laugh, the sound a bit unsteady. “No. I’m not. I got these when I turned 18.” You show off your wrists, the geometric lines wrap your wrist and extend a little way down your forearm. “I liked the way they look. A bit like bracelets,” you grin, “or shackles, I guess.”

He takes advantage of your display to get a closer look. “They are very nice. You just got them because they were pretty?”

“That, and I like the meaning. Balance. Harmony. My place in, well, everything. I just really felt adrift and I wanted an anchor. So I got these to remind me every day. I belong. And since I came here, some days,” you pause, trying not to get emotional. The last thing you want to do is start crying. 

Kyubei reaches for you, his hand stopping just shy of your shoulder. “Is it alright if I - if you want - I could -”

You let yourself lean into the offered touch, his arm wrapping gently around your shoulder. 

“Thank you for telling me about your tattoos.” His cheek rests again the side of your head. “I hope you know. You do belong. Here. I like it that you’re here.” Kyubei’s voice is soft, barely audible.

A warmth flows through you, a comfort you didn’t expect or experience in a long time. There are questions to answer, but those can come later. You let yourself enjoy the moment. “Thanks, Kyubei. That means a lot.”

[the12thnightproject]

Chapter 18:  Mitsunari POV - The Anger Emergence. Mitsunari discovers jealousy. (Events from previous two chapters).

Mitsunari x OC; Nobunaga x Mai

Previous Chapter

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

CW: Snake

From the Military Notes of Ishida Mitsunari…

Camouflage versus concealment: Concealment is that act of hiding something, covering it up so that no one can see it. Camouflage is the use of color, pattern, shadow, light and dark to make something less visible, visually fooling the eye into not seeing something that is not hidden.

Personal comments: Until recently, my emotions were concealed not only everyone around me but also myself so well that they might not have existed at all. In the past few days, I have experienced fear, joy, anger, hope… and feelings that I did not know existed, never expected to experience; feelings that I do not even know how to categorize.

And now, I must learn how to camouflage them.

"Halt. Do not move." Instinctively, Mitsunari froze at the sound of authority in Hideyoshi’s voice, and in the process nearly overbalancing on the step. He tightened his arms around Okatsu. No, he refused to trip and fall, not when he had such an important bundle in his arms. Okatsu let out a dismayed sigh, and for a moment hid her face in his chest. Mitsunari wished he could pretend she was doing so because she wanted to be closer to him, but he knew her well enough to realize she was trying to avoid Hideyoshi’s eyes. "Did you not leave the mine early to rest your injury?”

How to respond? He didn’t want to lie to Hideyoshi. Not again. He didn’t want to lie any more than he had to… even presupposing he could come up with an effective story this quickly in any case.

Okatsu rescued him, lying as easily as she did everything else. "We did, and we did. We spent the afternoon in the garden, and Mitsunari let me rest my foot in his lap."

Hideyoshi didn’t look happy with that explanation. Did he not believe her? Mitsunari hurried to back up the story. "Yes. It was elevated."

There was a shocked little peeping noise from Okatsu. "My foot. It was elevated, as Mai instructed. It was very restful."

Without another word, Hideyoshi took Okatsu out of Mitsunari's arms. "I’ll carry her." The sudden emptiness left Mitsunari feeling bereft – and that emotion was replaced by something else when he saw her wrapped in Hideyoshi’s arms. It felt almost like … anger? He had an impulse to grab his sword and run Hideyoshi through.

Horrified, he squashed that impulse down.

Where had it come from?

He was still trying to puzzle that out when he caught Okatsu silently trying to tell him something. What? Save her? From Hideyoshi?

Her lips moved again.

He… still had no idea what she wanted him to do.

Her hand was resting on Hideyoshi’s shoulder. She waved it at him and he realized there was a paper tucked between her thumb and her palm. Where had she gotten pap- The note!

She wanted him to check on Hikosane. Mitsunari paused, not entirely sure he knew where to find him. In his room? In the garden?

Hideyoshi glanced over his shoulder. "What is wrong?"

Mitsunari told the most believable lie he had ever told in his life. "I’m going to go get a book."

Over the course of a long search, Mitsunari discovered that Hikosane was not in the gardens, not in the archives, and not in his room.  Nor was he in the armory… although one of the Genba maids and one of Mozumi’s personal guards were, and Mitsunari hastily retreated after stumbling through a long apology for interrupting them (he hadn’t been aware that particular activity could be performed standing up). Eventually, he tracked the boy down in the kitchens, where he was playing suguroku with a page.

Winning, in fact, and the page was more than happy to turn over his part of the game to Mitsunari and return to his duties. “Good luck, Lord Mitsunari. You may need it. Hikosane is very good at this game.”

Once the page had left, Mitsunari studied the board. “Hikosane, are you well?”

“Of course, Lord Mitsunari.” Hikosane smiled as he rolled a combination of numbers that allowed him to move more markers closer to the finish. “Why do you ask?”

“I am making conversation.” Mitsunari didn’t want to come right out and tell a small boy that he might be in danger. “Has anyone pushed you down the stairs recently? Or have you nearly been shot? Or stabbed? Or… been standing under something heavy that mysteriously fell?”

There. That would gently lead up to the topic, he thought.

“You believe I am in danger.” Hikosane stated it calmly, but his hands were shaking.

Perhaps… that had not been the best way to go about it after all. Okatsu was better with the child. She would know what to say. “Er. It is possible. Will you come with me to talk with Okatsu? We can come up with a plan to keep you safe from potential assassins.”

Hikosane swallowed loudly. “Assassins?”

Why had no one written a book on how to talk to small humans?

By the time Mitsunari returned to their quarters with Hikosane in tow, it was fully dark outside. Okatsu was lying on her stomach on the futon, puzzling over the note. She had a brush and a scroll, and it appeared she had been researching whether it was a code, for the scroll contained several lines of nonsense words. She sat up and set the materials aside when she saw them.

As soon as he crossed the threshold into the room, Hikosane got right to the point. “Mitsunari believes I’m in some danger.” Though Mitsunari appreciated directness (from any person, be they adult or child), given the way Okatsu was frowning at him, he must have done something wrong. Maybe he should have done a better job at keeping the information from Hikosane.  “He didn’t tell me in so many words. I guessed from the manner of questions he asked.”

“We don’t know.” Okatsu suddenly smiled at Hikosane, and Mitsunari realized he hadn’t seen her smile very often, but when she did smile, it felt like a sunrise. Unfortunately, the sun was rising on Hikosane, instead of Mitsunari. “We were given a message, but it was vague.”

Hikosane curled up next to Okatsu to read the note, and though this was only a child, Mitsunari felt again that same rush of anger he’d felt when Hideyoshi had scooped her into his arms. “I see. The truth is, I am in danger, I have always been in danger – this is something that has been told to me as long as I can recall. The question is, am I suddenly in more danger? Immediate danger.” His hand went to the child sized sword at his waist.

At the reminder that there were more important things to worry about that his own feelings, Mitsunari sat down too, ready to push emotion aside to deal with the problem. “Yes. That would be the dilemma. Have you experienced any unusual accidents in recent days?” When Hikosane shook his head, Mitsunari continued, “what about illness?”

“Last month, I became sick after something I ate. It tasted odd, so I only had one bite.” Hikosane shrugged. “However, that may have been an accident.”

Okatsu seemed thoughtful. “Was anyone else sick?”

“No… but.” Hikosane suddenly looked appalled and tears came to his eyes. “Two of the dogs died the next day.”

Poison. He could tell Okatsu was thinking the same thing.

Hikosane launched himself into Okatsu’s arms, hiding his face in her shoulder. And this time, Mitsunari didn’t feel angry at all. If anyone had earned the right to Okatsu’s hug, it was Hikosane.

Once the embrace ended, Okatsu asked him, “Are there people here who you trust – people you know will not try to harm you?”

He counted the names on his fingers “You. Mitsunari. My father – though I do not see him often. My sisters.”

It was unlucky for Hikosane that he only had sisters. Sisters who were like Shohime, instead of like Okatsu. An Okatsu sister would be a great advantage to the child. But at least her fiancée was young and likely able to protect Hikosane. “When Shohime marries Iekane, would you be able to go to them for long periods of time?”

Hikosane’s hands balled into fists. “I hate him! He smiles too much.”

“I thought smiling was a good thing?” Wasn’t it? Mitsunari realized he smiled a lot too. Was that wrong? But... “I like it when Okatsu smiles.”

“I do too.” Hikosane looked like he was about to crawl into Okatsu’s lap, and Mitsunari started to get that mixed up angry feeling again. “Iekane smiles when he means to frown. I don’t trust him. You do believe me, don’t you?”

“I do.” She ruffled his hair. “I … don’t like being around him either, so how about this? When he is around, come over to me and we can protect each other.”

Why didn’t she like Iekane… had the man also threatened Okatsu, or accosted her the way Mozumi had? Why hadn’t she told him? Did she not trust him yet? He wanted to pull her close, and comfort her somehow. But he couldn’t think of what would be the correct way to do so without being as free with her person as the other two men.

During his mental debate, Hikosane said something that Mitsunari missed. He hoped it hadn’t been important.

Hikosane bowed. “I should return to my room before someone looks for me.”

Since Okatsu stood up and seemed determined to accompany him, Mitsunari got to his feet as well. After all of this, he didn’t want her to have to return to their rooms by herself. There were too many potentially dangerous people about.

Hikosane took Okatsu’s hand, and then, to Mitsunari’s surprise, he discovered that Hikosane’s other hand had found its way into his own. Interesting. In a sense, Hikosane felt like a link in a chain that connected him to Okatsu. It felt… warm, also to be allowed into this circle of trust, and Mitsunari realized that even without the presence of Okatsu, he would like Hikosane for his own sake.

Once, they reached his room, Hikosane bowed again and thanked them, after a hastily covered yawn. He thunked down on his futon.

Mitsunari had half turned to leave, already mentally preparing to ask Okatsu what she knew about Iekane, when he heard the noise.

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

The blanket undulated, and his eyes focused on the snake that was already honing in on Hikosane. “Hiko! Do not move.” To Okatsu, he asked, “Mamushi?”

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

There was fear, and the urge to shield Okatsu, to shield Hikosane, and under that was the terror that he would not be able to save either of them. He pushed that away. A snake was a sword. Its actions were just as predictable as that of a warrior. It was threatened and it would strike where it deemed the closest threat was. Right now… that was Hikosane.

What tools did he have with him? Sword. And, Okatsu must be armed as well, he knew she never went anywhere without at least –

Yes, she was reaching for a knife she had strapped to her ankle. Was she as good with a throwing knife as she was with a bow and arrow? “Can you hit it?”

“I’m … I’m not sure.” She frowned at the snake, which still had its full attention on Hikosane.

If Okatsu threw the knife and missed, or didn’t do enough damage to the snake, it would bite Hikosane. If Mitsunari approached it with his sword, the snake might bite Hikosane before he could get to it. Therefore, they needed to divert the snake’s attention, first. In his mind, he could see how to accomplish that and the steps that immediately would need to follow.

Knife.

Roll.

Approach.

Sword.

Strike.

Kill.

“Hikosane – on the count of three, Okatsu will throw her knife behind and to the left of the snake. As soon as it turns to look at the knife, you are to roll to the right.” He spoke softly, trying not to agitate the snake further.

“One.”

“Two.”

“Three.”

With the calmness and skill of the best warriors, Okatsu sent her knife sailing over, and behind the snake. It bounced off the wall and clattered to the floor. The snake hissed and turned its head.

Hikosane rolled off the futon.

The snake turned back as if to strike, but Mitsunari knew where it was going, where it would be, and got his sword there first.

Even before the two halves of the snake hit the floor, Okatsu had Hikosane wrapped in a hug. “He is not staying in this room.”

“It is probably safer now than it ever will be. Whoever put this snake in here will be counting on no one coming in until morning.” But even as Hikosane spoke bravely, he looked at the dead snake with apprehension.

While she comforted Hikosane, Okatsu glanced around the room, possibly seeking additional deadly traps. Mitsunari took the opportunity to hold her hand again. “I forgot. You did say you are afraid of snakes.”

She shrugged slightly. “I’m not fond of things that can kill me. It’s good to be alert for that kind of thing.”

Though she had seemed less worried for herself, she had kept hold of his hand, and that made Mitsunari feel warm inside. Hopefully, this meant that she finally trusted him.

"You don't like Iekane.” Mitsunari made it a statement, not a question, though he kept his voice low. After a brief discussion, they had brought Hikosane back to their room, figuring he would be safest with them. He grabbed his night clothes and slipped behind the screen. "Is there a particular reason? Or a feeling?"

"Would that matter?" There was a note of challenge in her voice, that even Mitsunari could pick up on.

"I trust your feelings either way.” He struggled a bit with his sash, not wanting a repeat of the time he had gotten stuck in his clothing. Luckily, this time it wasn’t tangled or twisted around. He freed himself on his own and kicked his kimono out of the way. "But if he has actually done something, I would like to know what he is capable of."

Her hand whisked the kimono off the floor. "Remember when I said someone locked me in the crate? That was him."

The mixture of anger and confusion that he had felt earlier was nothing compared to the sheer rage that swept over him. For a moment, he couldn’t see or hear, it was all a whoosh of hot anger. If Iekane had been in front of him in that moment, Mitsunari would have cut him down faster than he had the snake.

Thwap!

Someone had punched at the screen.

It was him.

He’d punched it.

And then the need to assure himself, to confirm, that Okatsu was ok had him rushing out and yanking her into his arms. She was ok. She was alive. What had happened to her had happened years ago, and if he had anything to say about it, nothing would happen to her again. But Iekane had been here all day. She’d had ample opportunity to confide in Mitsunari. But… she hadn’t. "Why haven't you told anyone this?"

She mumbled something too quiet for him to hear, so he reluctantly let her go.

"I confronted him the other day. He said it was an accident." She shrugged. “That I had gotten confused. And meanwhile, he was robbed and unconscious for days. Eventually he was adopted by the previous daimyo… who apparently recently sickened and died. So. That’s where he’s been.”

As stories went, it sounded less than likely, but Okatsu knew Iekane better than Mitsunari did. "Do you believe him?" He realized he was still holding his night kimono, so he shrugged into it.

"It's a plausible explanation, but... no. I don't." Okatsu made a circular motion with her hand, and Mitsunari turned around. Then her hands came around his waist, and he was momentarily thrilled until he realized she was fixing his sash. "The problem is, without Aki- my lord- I have no way to prove it. It's his word against mine."

She slipped behind the screen to change, and to distract himself from the delicious sounds of silk fabric sliding across her body, Mitsunari instead pictured Iekane, and what he would do to him when he found him. "I will take your word. That being the situation, what are his skills? Lying and manipulation - poisoning- for its likely he killed the previous Daimyo. What else?"

"Pretty much anything I can do, so can he." There was a long pause, and a relieved sigh, and Mitsunari wondered what she was doing back there. Focus! Enemy. He concentrated on her words. "I'm a much better archer- he's better with a sword."

Then she emerged from behind the screen, and her hair was flowing all around her shoulders, still wavy from being confined in that elaborate hair-bundle she’d been wearing it in, and everything left his mind except … her.

"Your hair is pretty." He reached out to touch it, only remembering just in time that that would be an invasion of her person.

"Er. Thanks." She looked away from him, then her eyes grew big in surprise. Hikosane had fallen asleep across her futon. There was no room for anyone else.

That was… ok. She could sleep in his futon. Mitsunari could sleep on the floor, if needed. But it was probably for the best. He would stay up and attempt to figure out what to do about this Iekane problem. "You can take mine.  I will be awake formulating a strategy.

"You will not. You need sleep. We all do. Your strategy will be better after a good sleep." Okatsu was all business as she briskly climbed under the bedding. "There's enough room for two. I trust you."

She trusts me! But the sight of her, warm, flushed, her hair a bit disordered, and the thought of pressing up against her all night long almost overwhelmed him. No. Did he have that much control? "I am honored, but… You... should not." He didn’t even have enough control to refuse the offer. He carefully perched on the edge of the futon. "Perhaps a short nap."

"Even if you weren't the most trustworthy person I know, it's not like you would do anything with Hikosane in the room." Okatsu rolled onto her side, facing the window – they could, potentially lie down back-to-back.

A little hurt by her automatic dismissal of him, he lay down, keeping a hand space between them. “That is a good point, I suppose. Although an untrustworthy person might not care."

Was it that she found him trustworthy? Or did she not consider him worthy of sexual interest?

"Go to sleep, Mitsunari."

"Goodnight Okatsu." He reached over and squeezed her hand, just to remind her that even if he was “trustworthy,” he still was human.

He would be lucky if he slept at all.

In the end… he slept. Some. Okatsu was a restless sleeper, who talked in her sleep. Nothing that gave him any information about how she felt about him, unfortunately. Nothing even that made any sense, either, simply random phrases, like, ‘where’s my IC card?’ ‘missed the bus’ and ‘wiped-out on the half pipe.’

What did make sense though, was shortly after sunrise, she was relaxed, curled into him and once again, Mitsunari had that feeling that together, they simply fit, that they added up to something that was important and strong.

He couldn’t revel in that insight too long though. As she unconsciously burrowed closer, a physical need for her, to be inside her, flooded through him. It was almost painful in its intensity, and if he didn’t-

Oh. She was awake.

Was she aware?

Could she tell?

She was smiling though. If she could tell, perhaps it was ok?

"Good morning Okatsu." He said it as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb Hikosane, not wanting the moment to end. He put the palm on his hand on her cheek, the way he had done weeks ago when she was injured. The way he had done the first time he’d noticed they fit.

She didn’t move. Mitsunari didn’t either, waiting for a signal to do something, to move, either closer or away. Cautiously he lowered his head. If she didn’t want a kiss, surely she would say no, or move or…

She was going to let him kiss her!

"We have a problem! "Hikosane yelled from the doorway.

Okatsu leaped away from him, while Mitsunari got tangled up in the blankets, and in his frenzy to escape, banged his head against hers.

Hikosane was in danger, that was certain. But at the moment, he was in danger from Mitsunari.

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

[the12thnightproject]

Thank you! It's so perfectly Mitsunari and 'Okatsu'! Look at how they reflect in the fish pond!

I love this!

People, run and get into @fighting-and-drawing commission queue while it's still open.

It came as no surprise to me that Mitsunari’s ability to aim was somewhat south of negative forty-two. His tosses got nowhere near the person he threw to, but that just added to the silliness of it. It went on this way for a good half hour or so, until I had the temari and Mitsunari ran straight toward me. I tossed it to Hikosane, but Mitsunari, distracted by the sudden appearance of Hideyoshi in the yard, was unable to stop his forward motion.

… and that’s how Mitsunari and I ended up in the ornamental fish pond.

-Chapter 11, A Mitsunari Night's Dream

Thank you, @the12thnightproject, for the commission of Katsu and Mitsunari! If anyone else would like a commission, feel free to check out the link here.

[Do NOT Repost; Likes and Reblogs appreciated]

[not-krys]

It's that time again! Time to count up all the words and reflect upon the past year.

And, friends, let me just say I'm really super happy with this years numbers, probably the biggest numbers I've seen in a long time.

This year, I had a new years resolution to post at least 1 writing thing per month, no matter its finished state, thus putting out a lot of WIP Wednesdays this year.

But, along with doing all those WIP Wednesdays, I found I was finishing more writing things this year because of it and... it's kind of amazing to see the progress across this year.

For previous Writing Summaries: 2020 2021 2022

For this year's art summary, click here!

And, as always, my masterlist, to see all my fics in one place!

Now, without further ado, let's crunch some numbers!

------

Posted Works to tumblr/ao3: 10

-The Traveling Adventures of Mister Fox and Miss Mouse [IkeSen AU, Mitsuhide x fem!Reader]: 986

-Happy Birthday, Vincent [Ikemen Vampire, Vincent x Abby (OC), NSFW]: 856

-Family Picnic [Ikemen Vampire, Vincent x Abby (OC)]: 1,021

-No Time [Ikemen Prince, Rio x Clara (OC)]: 1,110

-Bittersweet [Obey Me, Lucifer x Miri (OC)]: 1,975

-The Traveling Adventures of Mister Fox and Miss Mouse Part 2 [Ikemen Sengoku, Mitsuhide x fem!Reader]: 2,487

-Birthday Carrots [Ikemen Prince, Nokto x Clara (OC)]: 221

-Reaching Out [Ikemen Vampire, Vincent x Abby (OC)]: 2599

-Kitchen Talks [Obey Me, Solomon & Miri (OC)]: 1,050

-First Kicks [Ikemen Vampire, Vincent x Abby (OC)]: 1,649

Total Word Count on Published Fanfics: 13,954

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Published WIPs (That were written in 2023 or Updated in 2023): 19

-Starvation [IkeSeries OCs; Houki, Abby, Maddie, Clara, Ophelia]: 1,716

-Love [IkeSeries and Obey Me OCs]: 2,449

-Grey [Ikemen Vampire; Shakespeare, Vincent x Abby (OC)]: 391

-No Time [Ikemen Prince, Ikemen Vampire; Rio x Clara, Arthur x Thea (OC)]: 1,012

-Nurture [Ikemen Revolution; Harr x Maddie (OC)]: 588

-Nurture [Ikemen Sengoku, Ikemen Vampire; Houki (OC) x Mitsunari, Ophelia (OC), Theo and Arthur, background Vincent x Abby (OC)]: 2,020

-Father [Ikemen Sengoku, Ikemen Vampire, Ikemen Prince, Obey Me; Houki (OC), Thea (OC) x Arthur x Theo, Vincent x Abby (OC), Clara (OC) & Mr. Akatsuki, Miri (OC) and Lucifer]: 2,375

-Flowers [Ikemen Vampire, Ikemen Revolution, Ikemen Prince; Abby (OC) & Vlad, Maddie (OC) & Loki, Clara (OC) & Silvio]: 1,227

-Introduction [Ikemen Sengoku, Ikemen Vampire, Ikemen Prince; Nobunaga & Houki (OC), Vincent & Abby (OC), Nokto & Clara (OC)]: 1,137

-Are You Challenging Me? [Ikemen Sengoku, Ikemen Vampire, Obey Me; Nobunaga & Houki (OC), Arthur & Isaac & Abby (OC), Lucifer & Miri (with minor appearances of other obey me characters]: 855

-Askbox Trick or Treat [Obey Me; Lucifer]: 254

-Askbox Trick or Treat [Ikemen Sengoku; Mitsuhide]: 157

-Askbox Trick or Treat [Ikemen Sengoku; Masamune]: 373

-Perfect Strangers [Ikemen Vampire; Comte]: 839

-Abandoned [Ikemen Prince, Obey Me; Clara (OC) & Rio, Leviathan & Miri (OC)]: 1,358

-Nobububu 2.0 [Ikemen Sengoku; Nobunaga]: 636

-Diavolo and Miri Snippet [Obey Me; Diavolo x Miri (OC)]: 389

-Unfinished Fictober 2023 Houki and Mitsunari [Ikemen Sengoku; Mitsunari x Houki (OC)]: 216

-Sugar and Spice and…? [Ikemen Vampire; Comte x Leonardo x Preg!Reader, NSFW]: 1,127

Total Word Count on Published WIPs (That were written or updated in 2023): 19,119

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Unpublished WIPs (that were written in 2023): 1

-A Second Glance Part 5: 1,147

Total Word Count on Creative Works for 2023: 34,220

------

Essays/Commentary/Asks/Etc: 21

-Ikemen Series Tier List: 225

-Fanfic Writer Asks (Lorei): 371

-Three Characters, One Number Ask (Lorei): 722

-Fic Writer Asks (Lorei): 679

-Fanfic Writer Asks (Emojis, Lorei): 295

-Fanfic Writer Asks (Emojis, Mo): 248

-Let's Get Real Fanfic Writers (Lorei): 396

-Let's Get Real Fanfic Writers Asks (Scummy): 520

-Who Do You Ship Me With (Mo): 82

-Why Do You Follow Me? (Lorei): 512

-Character Opinion (Lorei): 317

-Fanfic Writer Emoji Asks (Mo): 468

-4th Anniversary Questionaire Ikevamp Edition: 1252

-OC Number Asks (Anng): 728

-Send a 💌 and I'll tell you something I love about you (Lorei): 78

-Writer's Truth or Dare (Scummy): 226

-Different Universe, Same Universe 2023 Ask (Julie): 154

-Napo Birthday Asks 1: 160

-What Ideas get completed and posted? (Scummy): 199

-Getting a comment on my old fic: 214

-Uncommon Questions for Your OCs (Houki and Clara, original and my reblog): 799

Total Word Count on Essays, Commentary, Asks, etc: 8645

Total Word Count for 2023: 42,865

Thanks for all the good times this year and I hope we can bring this kind of energy into the new year too!

[krys-loves-otome]

A Second Glance, Part 4

Rating: Teen (the entire work is marked as Mature, so read the rest at your own risk)

Pairing: Hideyoshi x Preg!Reader

Summary: A look into the aftermath of Chapter 3. There's also a flashback scene at the beginning.

Warnings: Pregnancy, references to and going into light detail about a past character's death, Nobukatsu also has a potty mouth on him so if foul language is something that bothers you, it's here too.

Notes: Adding in a few more people to Nobunaga's family tree as IkeSen canon makes it a little sparse. Added in his nephews Nobukatsu and Nobutaka (who were originally two of his RL sons, but made nephews for the sake of this story) and his little sister Oichi with her daughter.

Part 1 || Part 3

Read A Second Glance all in one place on ao3!

My Fanfic Masterlist

And many thanks to @tsundere-mitsuhide and @scummy-writes for beta-reading for me!

-----

"Thank you for visiting with us, [Name]. It was a pleasure to meet with you again."

Warm rays of spring lit up the flower gardens Nobunaga was sitting in alongside his younger sister, Lady Oichi. He had decided to visit her when she had written to him about her new daughter. He also decided to drag you along for the ride. You both had been too busy to see each other lately, so he claimed the trip for your benefit as well, to cure your loneliness of the time spent apart.

Though the sentiment was nice, you couldn't help but feel the slightest twinge of jealousy (and some other feeling you didn't have a name for then) when you see the usually demonic and ruthless conqueror giving all his attention to the bouncing infant on his knee, letting her touch his cheeks while she giggled and babbled away happily.

"Thank you for inviting us, Lady Oichi," you say, watching as the smirking uncle and his little niece engaged in a fierce staring contest. "I'm surprised he responded to your letter so quickly."

Oichi laughed. "Just Oichi, dear, please."

She glanced at her older brother, a wistful look in her eye.

"Truth be told, I am glad we get along as well as we do. He will never admit to it, and he will call me a silly brat until we both have gray hair and wrinkles, but he has always been there for me when I needed him. He always cared even if he does not always show it."

Oichi frowned.

"Ever since the falling out at Father's funeral, I have not seen much of my other brothers and sister, since I chose to support Nobunaga. We haven't spoken much since then."

"How many other siblings do the two of you have? If I may ask?"

"My brother hasn't told you?"

"It's… never really come up in conversation."

She paused to think.

"As far as I'm aware, two brothers and another sister still live, aside from myself. All of them are older than me while they are all younger than Nobunaga. The most I've heard from my family outside of Nobunaga… was when our sister's sons had reached adulthood recently. I am considering visiting them so they can meet their new cousin."

"Good luck, if you decide to do so." You say, "At least to help patch up those relationships."

"Thank you," Oichi smiled, "I am glad my brother has found someone as kind and reassuring as you."

The heat in your cheeks flared lightly but you smiled along with her nonetheless. Nobunaga smirked, reaching across to bring you in closer to him.

Morning light and chipper birdsong strained Mitsuhide's eyes and ears, not helpful in the least for his pounding head. Though he was fortunate to have a fresh set of clothes and some strong-smelling tea coursing through him, it did little to alleviate his fatigue and overall mood. His feet dragged only a little bit on the hallway floor.

"Good morning, Lord Mitsuhide," Mitsunari, fresh as a spring daisy, greeted with a small nod.

"Morning," he returned half-heartedly, running a hand through his hair, "I'm sure you've heard that Hideyoshi called this emergency meeting because of what happened last night?"

"Yes, I've heard." Mitsunari frowned in thought, "Lord Hideyoshi asked me to look after Lady [Name] so suddenly last night, I didn't have much of a chance to ask him what was going on. All I know is what Lady [Name] knew of the situation."

"Well, the short of it was that there were assassins sent in the night. At least two of them, in fact."

"Two assassins? Lady [Name] had said you had killed one of them."

"The other was lurking nearby. My vassals found him and interrogated him."

"The first one could have had information as well," Mitsunari said, "Why did you-"

"I find men who wander around with unsheathed blades quite uncouth. Especially around unsuspecting little mice and monkeys."

Mitsunari blinked and cleared his throat.

"Then, what did you discover from the other assassin? The one your vassals caught?"

"He was under orders to capture Azuchi's castle chatelaine. Preferably alive but it wasn't a guarantee."

"Do you know who sent him?"

"Not him directly, but his… I guess we'll call him his 'dearly departed comrade', had an Oda insignia on his sword."

"An Oda insignia?" Mitsunari's eyes widened, "but that would mean-"

"Yes. Playtime with the Oda is over, I'm afraid."

"Over Lady [Name]?"

"She seems to have gained their attention without us noticing it. Lucky little Miss Popular."

"But, why?" Mitsunari asked, worried, "Why now? As far as I was aware, the Oda didn't acknowledge her existence, outside of Lady Oichi."

"It is a mystery. Someone must have noticed something was up, especially with Hideyoshi still sitting on his hands."

Mitsunari sighed, looking out at the chirping birds in the nearby trees. A chilly breeze ruffled their feathers, soon snuggling closer together for warmth in their nest.

"…It's been months now."

Mitsuhide gave a sad smile, to no notice of his companion.

"Grief is one of the hardest burdens to bear. Some just have a harder time letting it go than others."

"We can't keep holding it off forever."

"It's still in Hideyoshi's hands, whether we like it or not."

"Can't we just-"

"I've already tried with a threat to sweep the chatelaine away to my own castle. He… didn't take the threat too well." Mitsuhide laughed quietly, "he might have punched me then."

Mitsunari pursed his lips, frowning in thought. He looked Mitsuhide directly in his eyes.

"Would you have taken her if the chance was before you?"

Mitsuhide said nothing, still keeping his smile in place despite Mitsunari's hard stare. Only the bird chatter filled their silence.

After a beat, Mitsuhide chuckled quietly.

"It's getting late. Let's not keep our dear Hideyoshi waiting."

With a reluctant nod, Mitsunari turned away and entered the meeting room. Mitsuhide was slower to follow, watching the dripping icicles in the trees.

"The fox stealing the wife away while the husband sleeps?" he chuckled, his sad smile returning for a brief moment before his usual beguiling smirk took its place, "it’s a silly notion, Mitsunari. A story meant for children to warn them of the villains of the world. It couldn’t happen in real life, after all."

He turned away, facing forward. One of the birds flew away from the nearby nest, gliding into the distance.

Two identical sets of carnelian eyes glared at each other, the fire of anger hotter than any swordsmith's forge. A low guttural growl broke the silence along with a cup slammed on the table, splashing steaming tea.

"Why did you interfere, Nobutaka?!" snarled the scarred man before a poised man with long black hair tied in a low ponytail. "I almost had that bastard monkey! If you had just-"

"Murdering Hideyoshi was not part of the plan, Brother." Nobutaka said calmly, sipping his tea with furrowed eyebrows, "Our only goal in Azuchi was to capture the castle chatelaine. There was no need for bloodshed."

The scarred man, Nobukatsu Oda, huffed bitterly, scratching furiously at his short black hair.

"Why do you care so much about a castle's caretaker? What's so special about a wench that arranges flowers and sorts dainty napkins all day?"

"The fact that she was Uncle Nobunaga's chatelaine is curious. He never had one before, and then she suddenly appeared, as if from the heavens one day."

"Maybe he was really impressed with her decorating skills." Nobukatsu said sarcastically.

"Maybe you should learn to pay more attention," Nobutaka steepled his fingers, his glasses' chain glittering in the sunlight.

"Is it not strange that a woman with no social standing or noble heritage suddenly has the attention of not only Uncle Nobunaga, but his vassals and allies in Oshu and Mikawa? Even his enemies speak well of Uncle's castle caretaker. I find the matter quite intriguing."

"Are you really holding back on killing Hideyoshi just because of some woman you find 'intriguing'? That butt-monkey is still standing in our way of clan leadership! He is also the one stopping us from claiming what rightfully should be ours: Uncle Nobunaga's domain. What in all hells are you waiting for?"

"To see what the monkey does."

"…What?"

"Listen to me, Nobukatsu." He looked straight into his brother's eyes. "The fact that Hideyoshi is stalling for time is also peculiar. He could take the domain for himself, reaping the benefits and no one would bat an eye. But, he hasn't. He also refuses to relinquish it to anyone, Oda or otherwise. So, if he doesn't want to hand Azuchi over to anyone nor does he take the rule for his own benefit, why is he sitting on his hands, wasting everyone's time?"

Nobukatsu was quiet, grumbling as he tried to process his younger brother's implications.

"He's… waiting for the chatelaine… to do something? Since you keep bringing her up, she has to be important for some reason."

"You're catching on." Nobutaka chuckled, "I'm impressed."

"Enough mind games, snot-face. What are you getting at?"

"Again, Hideyoshi, as well as many others in Uncle's circle and outside of it, speak favorably about the castle chatelaine. Hideyoshi refuses to move forward with surrendering Uncle's domain or taking it for himself. My theory is that the chatelaine is carrying Uncle Nobunaga's child and that monkey is waiting to seize the child and name him as Uncle's posthumous heir."

"Wha-What gives that bastard the right to do that? He shouldn't interfere with-"

"Did I also mention that the chatelaine was named an Oda princess?"

"By who!?"

"Uncle Nobunaga, before his unfortunate passing."

"But, she wasn't related to any of us. She didn't wed him or was a named mistress. Hells, Uncle Nobunaga was never married so he couldn't have mistresses to fool around with."

"How quaint of you," Nobutaka continued, "but rumors have spread regardless. Other nobles claim the chatelaine an Oda princess, but can never substantiate their claims, other than what they heard from sources in Azuchi's castle, not from the clan itself."

"So, let me get this straight. You're saying that Uncle Nobunaga possibly knocked up his chatelaine and now Butt Monkey Hideyoshi is gonna try and claim the brat as Uncle Nobunaga's heir after he's already dead because the chatelaine has some fake princess title?"

"That's my theory on the matter."

"It's bullshit."

"I did not ask for your opinion."

"It's bullshit he thinks he can name some random bitch's accident as heir. Is there any proof the little punk's even Uncle Nobunaga's spawn? You did say the chatelaine was 'spoken of highly' in Uncle's circle. Could have screwed one of his vassals and claimed it was Uncle who did it. Could be Butt Monkey's kid for all we know."

"No one will know unless a child suddenly materializes, if my theory is correct."

Nobukatsu grumbled again, glancing out at the dripping icicles.

"So what do we do now, since you're so insistent about not killing the monkey."

"Right now, we wait to see how Hideyoshi responds to our little… message. Hopefully he's not dead, no thanks to you."

"I still think he's better off dead than you doing this song and dance you keep doing. Easier that way."

"I'm trying to be civil, to go about things the right way. Unlike you who bludgeons his way into getting what he wants."

"At least I'm getting results while you sit on your ass drinking tea and playing Go all day. Heh, it's no wonder I'm twenty minutes older than you; you had to sit and think about being born before the midwife pulled you out."

"And you're a crude, boorish oaf who has no patience for anyone." Nobutaka deadpanned "You're a terrible general with a short temper as well."

"And you're lucky you're my brother, else I have half a mind to cut out that tongue of yours."

"Oh, I feel so loved and appreciated in your presence, dear brother." Nobutaka stood, "now get out of my sight. Your entire existence disgusts me."

"Your face disgusts me."

"Your insults are as poor as your provinces."

"They're still bigger than yours."

"Get out of my castle before I throw you out myself!"

"That, I'd like to see." Nobukatsu laughed, standing up, "Go ahead and throw me out, you weakling brat!"

"My lords!" a voice spoke up in the doorway, a servant with a scroll in his hand, "a message has arrived from Azuchi."

"Hopefully good news," Nobutaka spat.

"I'm afraid not, sir," said the servant, handing over the scroll. "Lord Hideyoshi was quite displeased with your threat, as it were."

"Who cares what he thinks," Nobukatsu snorted, "Most aren't exactly itching to be taken out by assassins."

"At least we know he's still alive enough to be irritated." The younger brother read over the message, his eyebrows furrowed. "He also says to not threaten him or Azuchi's safety again, else he will have to take 'drastic actions.'

"Be more than what he's currently doing," Nobukatsu sighed, "now what?"

Nobutaka crumpled the paper in his hand and threw the ball into the fire behind him.

"I think if you want something done right, you'll have to do things yourself. I'm going to Azuchi to see that insufferable primate and Uncle's beloved chatelaine."

"What, to prove your pet theory right?"

"There's a reason the monkey keeps holding Uncle's legacy hostage. If he freely won't give it to us, I say we should go and take it from him."

"Great idea, I'm going with you."

"No, you're not."

"Someone has to save your scrawny ass if a fight breaks out."

"I'm more than capable of protecting myself, thank you."

"No, you're not."

"Says you."

"Says me who has saved your ass more times than he can count, which is pretty high."

"You just want to come along to impale your sword on someone."

"Would you rather I impale you instead?"

Nobutaka sighed.

"Fine, but no killing while we're in Azuchi. This is going to be a scouting mission of sorts. No bloodshed."

"Only if they provoke me first."

"As if that's a difficult task." he sighed, sending his servant away, "whatever will keep you quiet."

Nobutaka stood now, taking his tea cup and walked out of the room as his brother took the opposite direction.

"Azuchi and Uncle's legacy will be in the right hands soon," he said quietly, tightening his hold on his cup, "no matter what stands in my way. No stupid monkeys and certainly no upstart chatelaines will stop me from gaining what’s supposed to be mine."

Cooled tea slid between his fingers, his cup having cracked with the sheer strength of his grip. He threw it against the wall, a satisfying crash resounding in the otherwise silent halls.

Light puffs of smoke floated away into the evening sky, the stars just starting to turn visible. Hideyoshi closed his eyes, sitting on the veranda, the coming night chill not seeming to bother him. He leaned back, feeling every joint voice their discomfort.

With a sigh and another puff on his pipe, he finally noticed you standing a little ways away from him, bundled in a warm haori and holding another dark green one in your hands, neatly folded. Hideyoshi coughed loudly, frantically trying to put out his pipe, erratic smoke puffs escaping his mouth.

"[Name]!" he choked, "What are you doing up? Didn't I already tell you about good sleeping habits starting-"

"Yeah, last night," you said, "right before Mitsuhide gave me a week's worth of nightmare fuel."

"…Nightmare fuel?"

"A-anyway," you continued, "I didn't know how long you were going to be out here, so I brought you a jacket."

"You didn't have to, [Name], I would have been fine without one."

"It's still cold out, Hideyoshi. I'm… We're worried about you. Me and Mitsunari, that is." You handed it to him, standing at his side. "And… they're, they're worried too. We all are."

After a minute's pause, Hideyoshi reluctantly put it on, hiding his hands in the sleeves.

"It's still late," he said, "and it's been a long day. I won't be much longer, promise."

"…Can I stay just for a little longer?" You asked, "They… they've been getting restless lately, especially at night."

"Well, we certainly can't have that, can we?" Hideyoshi sat up straighter, pulling one side of his haori open. "If you're staying, I'm keeping you warm while you're out here. No buts, missy."

You smile and laugh, accepting his offer of shared warmth. You take careful, slow steps on the shallow stairs. Hideyoshi's arm reached out to steady you as you descended. Once you were settled beside him, his arm encircled your shoulders with a comfortable amount of his haori covering you.

"Warm enough?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you."

He nodded, turning his gaze back to the darkening sky, the stars becoming clearer and brighter.

"It's funny," he said quietly, "holding you like this to keep warm, it reminds me of my early days of serving Lord Nobunaga."

You looked up at him, hoping this was the famous story from your time, of Hideyoshi and Nobunaga's sandals.

"I was… young and overly eager to please him, as he had given me my second chance at life. I was about to do anything if it would please him."

He paused while you waited in anticipation, watching his cheeks turn pink in embarrassment.

"Including… putting his sandals in my kimono… to warm them for him."

You snickered while he sighed.

"It was a long time ago, [Name]."

"I think it was sweet of you, thinking of his comfort like that."

"He laughed and called me a stupid monkey."

"It wasn't stupid at all!" you giggled.

"Now you're just being nice, [Name]," Hideyoshi grumbled.

You snuggled in closer, pulling your shared haori closer.

"…I dreamed of him last night," you said softly, frowning, "I think he was trying to warn me."

"Warn you?"

"He tried to but… there wasn't any sound in the dream," you paused, "save for one. When… when he was struck from behind and…"

You shivered. Hideyoshi held you closer.

"I should apologize to you," Hideyoshi said, clenching his fist. "iIf I had been faster, stronger… I could have reached you sooner. Hearing you scream like that, fearing I was too late… seeing Lord Nobunaga falling to the ground… I didn't know what was happening anymore… just that I was seeing red."

"Hideyoshi…"

"You… you were clinging to him so tightly, refusing to let him go. I… I held both of you in my arms, his blood was coating both of us… I… I was ready to kill Masamune and Mitsuhide for trying to separate all of us… and Ieyasu because he was touching you… to remove you from us… I … that day still haunts me."

His eyes were hard, lost in the memory of that day. It had been hard on everyone, the hardest to the two of you. A hollow victory with the biggest loss to all involved. You reached for his hand, both of your chilled fingers seeming to bring him back to the present. He gave an apologetic smile.

"See, I really have kept you out here too long. Your hands are frozen!"

He slipped his arms out of his haori, giving his remaining warmth to you while rubbing his hands over yours.

"C'mon, let's get you inside," he insisted while standing up, "I'll make you some tea and we'll get you some warm covers to sleep under. Four should be good. Or would five be better?"

One hand over yours, the other at your back to keep you steady on the steps, Hideyoshi held you securely despite his frigid fingers, making sure you safely made it onto the landing first, making you temporarily taller than him.

You turned towards him, his nose and cheeks red from the cold, sure to be matching your own, much to Hideyoshi's dismay.

Before he could climb to your side, however, you leaned towards him, touching dry and cold-chapped lips together with his. The tobacco still lingered on him, you noticed.

Hideyoshi froze, eyes wide open in surprise. When you pulled back for air, though his cheeks were warmer, his eyes, once again, filled with sadness. He let out a breath.

"Inside, [Name]," he left no room for argument. "Now."