#mitsuhide angst

[otomefoxystar]

Finding the Light - Chapter 12

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku

Pairing Mistuhide X OC ( Evelyn)

TW: descriptions of being kidnapped

Everyone looked at Evelyn with worry, but they were all excited to see her nonetheless. She hugged each of them, but they were all gentle when they hugged her back. No one commented on her appearance, which was a nice reprieve. She was sure they were all questioning what happened and why she was so thin.

As soon as Nobunaga entered the room, everyone quieted down. “My lucky charm is back!” Nobunaga announced. She walked over to him, and he gathered her in his arms. “You’re too skinny. Has Mitsuhide been feeding you?” It was a nice reprieve until now. Of course, Nobunaga would say something. He always spoke his mind no matter who it would insult. “He’s been feeding me and taking really good care of me.”  Nobunaga’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why are you so nervous?” She cleared her throat. “It took a lot for me to come.” He looked her up and down, and she knew he wouldn’t let up. “You aren’t going to let me go until I tell you everything, are you?” A smile spread across his face. “Nope, so please do tell, why all the mystery? What’s going on with you?” 

Ieyasu cleared his throat. “Lord Nobunaga, maybe give her time to get settled.” Nobunaga chuckled. “She knows how I am. She should’ve expected that I would want answers.” Looking away from Ieyasu, she was met with crimson eyes surging with concern. “I can’t,” Nobunaga drew her into his strong arms. “You’re not sick; something happened, didn’t it?.” He squeezed her tighter. “I’ll tell you, just not here.” He pulled away and put his hand on her back.  “Okay” 

Nobunaga cleared his throat, and everyone’s attention turned to him. “Let’s start.” Evelyn sat in between Ieyasu and Masamune, and Ieyasu patted her head, then whispered in her ear, “You’re doing well.” She sighed, trying to relax. 

Nobunaga took his seat in facing them. “There’s a group of rebels terrorizing the townspeople. Masamune found where their camp is. We must go in there and persuade them to leave by any means necessary.” Nobunaga looked at Evelyn. “I think you should stay behind this time, Evelyn.” She gulped at the thought of being alone and clutched at the sleeves of her Kimono. Ieyasu grabbed her hand and squeezed tightly.

A knot formed in her stomach, making her feel sick.  “We’ll have dinner together, and in the morning, we’ll leave,” Nobunaga announced before he stood. Everyone stood along with him, and Nobunaga glanced over at Evelyn with a look of unease. “Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi, I need you two in the tenshu,” Nobunaga said as his eyes left her. Mitsuhide looked over to Evelyn and gave her a smile and a nod before he left her behind as he followed Nobunaga obediently along with Hideyoshi. Ieyasu turned to her. “Come get me if you need anything, okay?” She nodded, “I will,” and she exited the room with everyone else.

Evelyn reminisced about living there. She walked the gardens and chatted with Masamune and Mitsunari. The worry was written on their faces the whole time she was with them. Mitsunari had excused himself so he could start planning for their mission. Masamune wanted to make dessert for dinner; he invited her to bake with him, but she turned him down. She wanted to be alone; she didn’t want to see him look at her with worry.

She found herself in her room, and as she looked around, she remembered the night Mitsuhuide discovered something was wrong. He sat with her and wouldn’t leave until she ate. The very next day, he dragged her to his manor.

She was in such a low state, the trauma of what happened still so fresh. Images climbed into her mind, images she would rather forget. A large, warm hand covered her mouth. A firm chest pressed against her back as they held her arms behind her, making it impossible for her to escape. He dragged her behind the building into the alleyway. A moment later, she was blindfolded. Her heart rate quickened, and her chest felt tight. She had to distract herself and get out of that room. Tears trickled down her face as she walked the halls briskly to seek out Ieyasu and quickly wiped them away.

She found him in the infirmary sorting through his herbs. “Ieyasu.” He placed a jar down, looked toward her, and raised his eyebrows, noticing her puffy eyes. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked. “Being here brings back the worst memories. I just need a distraction.”

Ieyasu grimaced at her explanation; he wished she didn’t have to suffer. “Come in; you can help me alphabetize these herbs. She nodded and took a jar off the shelf, then placed a different jar in its place. “I’m going to tell everyone tonight at dinner what happened to me.” She said as she worked.

Ieyasu moved another jar and looked over to her. “You don’t have to.” She was quiet for a moment before glancing at Ieyasu. “I need to. Nobunaga’s going to leave me here alone. I don’t know if I can handle that.” Ieyasu turned to face her. “And you’re hoping he’ll take pity on you and let you come?” Ieyasu narrowed his eyes, “Are you really afraid of being alone? Or are you afraid of being without Mitsuhide?” He asked curtly.

“Both?” She wasn’t entirely sure of the answer herself. Ieyasu sighed, “You’ll have to learn to be on your own eventually.” She knew that. She had been thinking that the moment Nobunaga told her she had to stay. “I know and don’t know how I will do that.” Ieyasu sighed, “You just do.” She glared at him. “You want me to be alone when I can’t even sleep through the night? When I can’t stop crying when unwanted thoughts enter my mind reminding me of what happened, of how pathetic I am?” Ieyasu saw the tears fill her eyes, took the jar out of her hand, and placed it back on the shelf. He pulled her into his arms. “I forget sometimes what happened to you. I’m sorry if I was hard on you.” She hugged him back, placing her hands on his back. The rest of the afternoon passed, with Evelyn helping Ieyasu sort his medical supplies. 

A dark curtain was cast over the sky, indicating night had fallen, and Ieyasu walked with Evelyn to the dining hall. Mitsuhide walked in just as she was sitting down. He smiled and sat beside her. She saw how tired he looked and looked at Hideyoshi, who looked just as exhausted. Nobunaga must’ve been going hard on them both.

After their meal and as the alcohol flowed, Nobunaga motioned to her, “Fireball, come here.” Nobunaga said. She walked up to Nobunaga and sat next to him. “My lucky charm” He drapped his arm over her shoulders. He looked at her. “You have this sad aura around you. I haven’t even seen you smile.” She looked down. “I smile…Sometimes.” Masamune looked over to her. “Lass, you smile about everything; you had such a drive for life. Now, you just seem miserable. What has Mitsuhide done to you?” He hoped his little joke would make her smile. Instead, she glanced towards Mitsuhide, who was teasing Hideyoshi and Ieyasu, rolled his eyes at their antics. She looked back to Masamune, “He hasn’t done anything, I’m more concerned about what I’ve done to him.” Masamune grimaced. “That’s not what I meant.” She sighed. “I know Masamune, and I appreciate you trying.”

She couldn’t stand how they were all looking at her. She was going to tell them tonight anyway. No time was better than now. “I’ll tell you all what happened.” Nobunaga moved his arm to wrap his hand around hers. He knew she was nervous; somehow, Nobunaga always picked up on these things. 

Their attention was on her, and it was so silent that the leaves blowing in the wind were heard. “I went shopping one evening, I’ve done it thousands of times, and nothing was different. Everything was fine until it wasn’t. My mouth was covered, and I was dragged towards an alley where I was blindfolded. Then I was carried to some sort of room or building I don’t really know.

” Tears formed in her eyes as she saw all their expressions. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “My wrists were tied, and I couldn’t break free; I was blindfolded the whole time. Then they, I only know it was multiple men because of their voices. They…” Tears escaped her eyes, cascading down her cheeks. She wiped them away, and Nobunaga squeezed her hand. “They attacked me multiple times.” She wasn’t going to tell them how she was attacked, but she knew they all knew, but they all remained silent, even with the horror written on each of their faces. Even Mitsuhide and Ieyasu looked pained. Then she realized she had never told Mitsuhide how it happened and hadn’t told Ieyasu anything. 

She told Mitsuhide more personal details but never told him this part of the story. “They kept me till the morning; as they let me go, they told me, ‘Go back to your masters like the broken dog you are.’” The tears ran freely now, uncontrollable. Nobunaga shifted and took her in his arms, cocooning her safely into his chest as he rubbed her back soothingly. She cried, and everyone looked at them, stunned. Hideyoshi gave Mitsuhide a concerned look. Mitsuhide closed his eyes and nodded, showing Hideyoshi he knew what happened to her.

Finally, her tears dried, and she lifted her head from Nobunaga’s chest. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to. “He shook his head. “No, don’t apologize, cry if you need to cry. No one’s judging you.”  She wiped all her tears away and nodded as she pressed her lips together. “I’m going to go to take a bath and get some sleep.” Nobunaga nodded, “Sleep well,” She mustered a small smile. “I’ll try.” As soon as she left the room, Nobunaga adjusted his Kimono and ran his fingers through his hair.

Nobunaga turned to Mitsuhide, “How was she when all this first happened? You’ve been alone with her for months.” He sighed, “I’ll admit it was touch and go there for a while. I had to move her into my room because I didn’t trust that she wouldn’t hurt herself. She would hardly eat; it’s just been in the last month or so that she’s been eating a healthy amount. She’s finally putting on some weight. The nightmares haven’t stopped. She wakes up screaming. She’s made a lot of progress, though I’m teaching her self-defense. She’s shown interest in sewing again.” Nobunaga nodded. Not all is lost. It comes in small strides.

“This was not only an attack on her. This was an attack on us; they used her to get to us.” Nobunaga said, and Mitsunari cleared his throat. “If I may?” Nobunaga motioned for him to continue. “Do you think that perhaps the rebels did this to her?” Nobunaga gave him a hard nod. “I was thinking the same thing. We need to strike them down.”

Hideyoshi sighed. “I couldn’t agree more, but how will we know who did it? She heard their voices. Only she will know who did it.” Nobunaga raised an eyebrow, “Fair point, but can she handle it?” Mitsuhide cleared his throat. “She’s stronger than you think; she can handle it. It’ll be hard, but she can handle it.” Nobunaga took a drink of his sake. “Good. Then she comes. I’ll tell her in the morning.” Mitsuhide stood up. “I’ll tell her I was going to see her anyways; somebody needs to be there when she wakes up from her nightmares.” Masamune had his arms crossed, and he looked up at Mitsuhide. “You got your hands full with that lass, don’t you? Good luck.”  

“Are you taking care of yourself too, Mitsuhide?” Hideyoshi asked with concern. Mitsuhide smiled. “Of course, I couldn’t very well take care of her if I wasn’t at my best.” He stood up and sauntered off to her room. 

[ikeromantic]

Hi! Requesting for some Mitsuhide angst where the MC has an illness that slowly kills her

Happy new year!

Oooh slow melancholy angst! Let's do it! Approx. 900 words of sad kitsune.

Mitsuhide was afraid. The fear ate at his heart, leaving his chest nothing but an aching wound. A heavy weight sat in his low belly, cold and hard as ice. His mind raced, but on his face he wore a razor-sharp smile, and his eyes were impenetrable gold. 

"This herb, what did you say it was called?" He had ahold of the merchant's wrist, a casual grip that nonetheless pinned the man where he stood. 

The merchant's eyes were wide and fearful. "M-my lord. Dong quai. I-it's called dong quai!"

Mitsuhide nodded. "And you swear it helps the blood?"

"I-I'm not a physician b-but that's what they say. On the mainland." He tried to reclaim his hand but Mitsuhide's fingers were an iron cage.

"Let us hope you are not lying. If you are . . ." Mitsuhide left the end unspoken. He found that people's imaginations could conjure torments far worse than anything he might actually threaten. Besides, he had no plans to actually harm the man. If this herb worked, he would need the contact to buy more. And if it didn't - if it didn't, then nothing mattered anyway. He would seek out another cure. There must be a cure, if he could only find it.

The merchant shuddered, his face going pale and slightly green. "I would never! Never! Please!"

Mitsuhide let him go. "Just remember, I know how to find you." He left the market, hurrying back to his mansion. 

Kyubei met him at the gate. "No change, my lord. But she is awake."

"Good." Mitsuhide handed him the sachet of herbs. "Take these and have the physicians draft a tea. It is called dong quai. They should be familiar with it."

His vassal hurried off to do his bidding, leaving Mitsuhide alone to approach the bedroom. He paused at the door, looking in. His little one lay on a futon, a heavy blanket covering her. Her eyes were closed, the lids a bruised purple. Her lips were grey and her skin deathly pale. Small bruises speckled her throat and cheeks, and more hid beneath the cover. 

The sight of her like this was a physical pain. Hot and searing, as if cut wide and bleeding. For a moment, he felt as if he could not breathe. What trick of fate brought this woman 500 years to the past, to him, and then snatched her away again after cracking open his heart?

"Mitsuhide?" Her voice was barely audible. The whisper of a spirit, only tenuously connected to this material world.

He hurried to her side and knelt. "You're awake."

She smiled at him, a brightness in her eyes despite the strain. "I wanted to see you."

"Then it's good I'm here." He smiled back, feeling a dull pain in his cheeks and a stinging in his eyes. "I found another possible cure. The mainland have treatments we haven't tried yet." 

"Great." Her hand slipped from under the blanket, reaching for him. He took it, letting her cold fingers twine with his own. "I knew you would find something. You always do." 

The absolute trust in her gaze made him burn with shame. "Did you hear from Sasuke yet," he asked, changing the subject before his facade cracked.

She nodded, her eyes fluttering shut. For a moment, she struggled to breathe, gasping for air. Mitsuhide knew he could do nothing to ease her. He stroked the hair back from her head and waited for the episode to pass.

When she got her breath, she told him about the letter. "He says there's no - no sign. He can't say if the wormhole will reappear. Or when." She gestured toward the desk, and Mitsuhide got up to read the letter himself.

There were many words he didn't quite understand, but he got the gist of it. There was no guarantee the path back to her world would come again. That meant little chance they could hope for a cure that might exist 500 years from now. He was on his own, then. As he'd expected.

"It's alright," she said, still smiling at him. "I want to stay here."

Mitsuhide nodded slowly as he came to sit beside her again. "I know, little mouse." He did not say that he would sacrifice the life he wanted with her for the chance that she would live. That he would give his own life, that there was no life or number of lives he would not sacrifice to save her. "I came here to take care of you, so stop trying to comfort me."

"Can't help it." She squeezed his hand gently. "Is it ok if I sleep again? I think . . . I think I . . ." Her eyelids fluttered closed, though she fought it. The effort was too much. 

"Sleep. I'll be right here with you until you wake." Mitsuhide kissed her forehead. 

She made no reply, already slipping away to her dreams. He hoped they were good ones. Dreams of a world where their children played, where they grew old together, where her joy was not cut short. An unnoticed tear slipped from the corner of his eyes and left a trail down his cheek. Mourning for all that might have been and never would be. A tear for the loss he knew would rip a hole in his world, extinguishing the only light he had left.

[stellaepluviae]

“This happiness—

.....It's frightening.”

(She walks beside him on the path to Hell if it means she can spend the rest of her life with him.

And she's fearful—not of Hell itself, but of stumbling on the way there and slipping from his grasp.

Translation of 'out of context' ch. 2 [1/?] | Mitsuhide Sequel) ↓

‼️reblogs are welcome! / please do not repost elsewhere or take my translations as your own (i'll cry TT)‼️

Mitsuhide: "Mai....."

Hearing my name spoken sadly, I looked up—

Mai: (Huh? Why...?)

"Why do you have such a troubled look on your face?"

Mitsuhide: "I'm not sure what kind of face I should be making."

A wry smile forms on his lips.

Mitsuhide: "When I'm with you like this...I seem to lose my words."

His deep voice was forced, hearing it made my heart feel as if it were set aflame.

Sliding my arms around his broad back, I hugged him tightly.

Mitsuhide: "Goodness...I'm the right arm of Lord Nobunaga and you've rendered my greatest weapon useless. You've become quite formidable."

Mai: "Hehe....I owe it to my amazing instructor."

Mitsuhide: "What a fearsome student you are."

Between kisses and light hearted jokes, we built a dam across the endless stream of bittersweet emotions.

Mai: (I'm also at a loss for words. I can't seem to string anything together.)

(I love you. I love you so much.)

(I love you, no matter how much I say it, it will never be enough.)

If the peak of happiness exists, this is it. And yet, it makes my chest tighten to the point of gasping.

What is this pain I'm feeling?

As we embrace and desire for each other, my tears fall and refuse to dry.

The more I love what we have, the happier I feel.

(It's painful and sad.)

This happiness—

.....It's frightening.

As Mitsuhide's breathing grows more labored, I peered closely into his eyes.

I can feel it—he has the same fears as I do.

My heart aches again with sadness.

[freya-remy]

"You've always told me to question everything. I never thought that would include you as well."

"A painful irony. My own lessons coming back to haunt me."

"So, what now? How do you plan to fix this? Because if I'm being completely honest, I don't know if you're capable of fixing this if you continue as you always have."

"By.. being honest with you.. no lies.. no tricks.. no deceit. Just complete and utter honesty from this moment forward. It's all that I can offer you."

[silkkorchid]

So here is some interaction between Amaryllis and the Oda Forces (currently working on Useugi-Takeda at the moment)

Not sure if I wrote them in character 😅

CW: mention of self-harm, poison, arson(?) basically kitchen on fire, some angst in Ranmaru part

Amaryllis and her interactions with the Oda Forces

Nobunaga

“Do tell me m’lord, what made you summon me? Just to bring your stash?” Amaryllis securing the jar of konpeito in her hand that Hideyoshi previously hid.

“You must know that stealing is the best way to avoid being lectured by Hideyoshi,” Nobunaga snatched the jar before scuffing down the sweets.

“…understandable,” she murmurs while questioning how this man in front of her was able to unite the entirely of Japan under him.

“There is another reason why I summoned you,” Nobunaga turned to her, his tone tense.

“Is it regarding about the rumors of the Tiger of Kai and Dragon of Echigo being alive?”

“Yes, I want you to investigate that rumor to determine if it is true,” Nobunaga now standing up before watching the townspeople go on with their lives.

“Understood,” Amaryllis responds before leaving to allow Nobunaga to determine his next course of action.

Hideyoshi

“Dad! You can scare every man that comes to talk to me!” Amaryllis yelling at Hideyoshi, who scared the living heck at another poor guy for the 100th time.

“You are my daughter! Of course I can scare any man that I deem not worthy for your hand!” Hideyoshi yelled back.

“I swear to god you are going to be the reason why I can’t talk to anyone without you being overprotective of me!” Amaryllis turned her back to leave.

“Young lady! Do not have that attitude when I’m talking here! I-“

“Nhét lòng kiêu hãnh của ba lỗ đít ba!” (Shove your pride up to your butthole dad!) shortly after slamming the door behind her.

“W-what?” Hideyoshi confused on what Amaryllis said without realizing she is insulting him.

Mitsuhide

THWACK!

“I must say little fox, that wasn’t half bad,” Mitsuhide, a father-figure to her, with his shinai (bamboo sword) intercepted by Amaryllis’s shinai.

“I learn from the best after all father,” Amaryllis now jumping back to set distance between them.

“Then let’s see if that lessons will come in handy,” Mitsuhide now moving forward to close that gap only for Amaryllis to deflect his attack.

“I won’t be surprise this time nor will I let you win without giving it my all,” Amaryllis now adjusting her grip on her shinai before moving in to hopefully land a hit on Mitsuhide.

“!”

“You are getting better, but not good enough to beat me yet little fox,” Mitsuhide flung her shinai into the air before landing on the floor while his shinai point at her throat.

“Dang it… I thought I had it,” Amaryllis hung her head low at the defeat before walking to her fallen shinai to put it back.

“You have improved significantly, perhaps one day you will be able to defeat me. But for now, you will have to try harder,” Mitsuhide teased her while being proud of her improvement.

“…Father I swear to god, you are planning something aren’t you?” Amaryllis giving a side eye to Mitsuhide who is giving that signature smile.

Mitsunari

“Mitsunari I’m coming in- HOLY MOLY!” Amaryllis felt like she walked in a war zone thanks to how messy Mitsunari’s room looked.

“Oh! Amaryllis I didn’t knew you would be visiting me, lemme just find a good place to stop,” Mitsunari greeted her only to go back to the book; finding a stopping point.

“…Mitsunari, when was the last time you ate?” concern present in her voice on how someone she sees as her older brother is able to live in this state.

“Uhm… I think two or three days ago, I was really invested in this book. It talks about military strategies and foreign weapons! And oh it also-” only to be silenced by Amaryllis squishing his checks together.

“Mitsunari, you are taking a break. NO QUESTIONS!” Amaryllis says that with a commanding tone.

“Alright, after all, I was planning to take a break somewhere later in the day,” Mitsunari responds.

“First off, you need to eat some food. I’m going to Masamune for help,” Amaryllis stepping out to get food for her brother.

“Make sure there is no carrots in any of the food!” Mitsunari says as she leaves.

Masamune

“What makes you come to the kitchen today lass?” Masamune notice Amaryllis arrival.

“Getting some food for Mitsunari. He probably didn’t ate anything for three days straight,” as Amaryllis explain why she is here.

“THREE DAYS?! Man, that is a new record for him,” Masamune is in disbelief as how Mitsunari is still alive.

“So, you cooking for him?”

“Yeah, knowing you, you would probably slide in some carrots in his meals. Besides, I haven’t been able to be in the kitchen after that… ‘incident’,” with memories of Hideyoshi lecturing her after she set the kitchen on fire that time.

“PFFF- You were the one that set the kitchen on fire?! I wouldn’t have imagined knowing how great you are at so many things. Man I wished I could have seen it,” Masamune laughing at Amaryllis’s demise against Hideyoshi’s wrath.

“Please shut up, I don’t want to destroy any more dignity that I have left…” Amaryllis pleading with him while cooking.

“Still, can you recreate that fire?”

“OVER MY DEAD BODY MASAMUNE!”

Ieyasu

“I told you not to experiment on yourself, idiot,” Ieyasu says to Amaryllis who is definitely not listening.

“Ieyasu, I told it doesn’t hurt that m- OW! You didn’t had to tighten it so hard!” Amaryllis giving Ieyasu a death glare.

“Well, if it wasn’t melting perhaps I wouldn’t,” Ieyasu finishes wrapping Amaryllis’s arm.

“Tch. What a killjoy,” Amaryllis mumbles.

“I better not get another visit from Hideyoshi screaming about your skin melting off,” Ieyasu still grumpy about where Hideyoshi barged into his room telling him that Amaryllis’s skin is melting off.

“Why are you even experimenting poisons on yourself in the first place?” Ieyasu questions.

“Well, it’s kinda a habit of mine. I don’t know how to explain it but, I just like doing it. The feeling of being poisoned is mutual but I prefer building a immunity to it, even if it terrifies Hideyoshi,” Amaryllis smiling at the thought of her next experiment only to be whack in the head by Ieyasu.

“You are crazy, no delusional,” Ieyasu now a bit worried and terrified of his own medicine friend’s obsession. (He would die than to admit that he sees her as a friend)

Keiji

“Hey, Amaryllis,” Keiji stopping her in her tracks.

“What is it? Also it is very unlike you to say something in a serious tone than your joyful one,” Amaryllis turned to face Keiji.

“You know about my performance, but I came to ask you not to say anything about it to anyone,” Keiji going straight forward to it.

“If it about you playing two personality, one to please others while the other, is your true self. I will tell you, I won’t say anything about it. It must be hard to hide it from the others,” Amaryllis replied back.

“Heh, out of everyone else, you saw through me. What gave it away?” Keiji asked.

“Quite simple. It is how your eyes are, they are the reason why it gave you away,” Amaryllis gives a smile to him.

“My eyes?”

“Eyes are one way to look at the person’s heart or soul. You can tell when someone is hiding something or faking,” Amaryllis giving her answer to him.

“If you really want hide it, then why don’t you add some of your true personality to your fake? After all, a perfect lie is where there is some truth to it,” Amaryllis giving out advice to Keiji to act better.

“I will keep that advice in mind then,” Keiji grateful that she won’t say a soul about it.

Ranmaru

“Ama, do think we will ever get something like this?” Ranmaru asked Amaryllis who have her head on his shoulder, gazing at the garden in front of them.

“I don’t know… as long I’m part of the Oda Forces, anything can happen to me. I’m not free from the chances of getting killed or anything,” with her eyes being clouded by that fact.

“As long we are together, nothing will separate us. I lost you before, and I won’t lose you again,” Ranmaru tightened his hold on Amaryllis when recalling that day.

“What if, I forget you again… I-I don’t want to lose my memories about you again,” Amaryllis facing Ranmaru, her beloved and childhood friend.

“Then, just like before. I will help you find those memories,” Ranmaru says before placing his forehead against hers.

“Ranmaru… I will never forget how much you mean to me. I will always love you just how you were waiting for me to remember you,” a smile on her face with tears running down her face while saying how much she loves him.

“Same here, I will never forget how we met for the first time,” Ranmaru also breaking into a soft smile while wiping his beloved’s tears.

[syneilesis]

Writing requests open!

mechanics

Send me an ask with a prompt from the list linked below + fandom + character, and I'll write a ficlet of around 500 words.

particulars

Prompt theme: touching. Choose among the prompts here; by @/creativepromptsforwriting

I'll write for the following fandoms and characters:

Love and Deepspace: Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, Caleb

Ikemen Sengoku: Nobunaga, Kicho, Kanetsugu, Motonari, Ieyasu, Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi

Ikemen Vampire: Vlad, Comte, Arthur, Drake

Ikemen Prince: Chevalier, Clavis, Yves

Shinsengumi Wasurenagusa: Okita, Sano

Touken Ranbu: Mikazuki Munechika, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Heshikiri Hasebe

I only listed the characters I'm fairly confident in writing, or have written a decent amount before. I usually write character x reader (you), but if you want I can also write character x character.

If you'd like to do me a solid, I'd love to write for the following too:

PLAVE: Bamby/Eunho

Villains are Destined to Die: Callisto/Penelope

Who Made Me a Princess: Lucas/Athy

My Little Tyrant: Persilion/Lefie

Escape from the Daytime Drama: Eunwoo/Yeryeon

add-ons

I'll default to canon setting, but if you want it to be an AU, you can tell me. (Please note that if I'm not too familiar with an AU, I would revert to canon setting.)

I'll also default to sfw rating, but if the prompt is possible for a mature/explicit nsfw setup, I can write that too – at my own discretion, however. Just indicate if you're okay with me writing nsfw if ever. And if you're open to nsfw, please send an off-anon ask so I know that you're not a minor.

I have a tendency to write humor/crack and angst over happy/fluff, so if you have a preference feel free to tell me.

You can send as many asks as you like.

Answered asks will be tagged syn writes promptfic. Dividers by @/saradika-graphics.

Since I'm not sure if anyone would be interested lol, I'll leave the request open without a deadline for now. I'm a slow writer, but I'll do my best, so please bear with me!

[xxsycamore]

Congratulations on 1500 followers!!

Can I ask for platonic!Mitsuhide (ikesen) 🙏 please?

Thank you !!

cw: angst; mentions of blood and war

[🙏] 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙼𝚒𝚝𝚜𝚞𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗…

MITSUHIDE

It's an early morning; so early that none of the troops are yet up and the camp is unusually quiet. Not wanting to disturb anyone, you cautiously make your way towards a nearby water source, enjoying the colors of the eastern sky over your head. Even in moments of fear, the world can be beautiful, but you're going to keep this thought to yourself.

You didn't expect to find Mitsuhide by the water.

He's seated close to the shore, perfectly still and gazing somewhere in the distance. They always compare him to a fox, but in this moment, he reminds you more of a crane.

Even though cranes do have a little bit of the color red on them - and by the end of today- well, you don't want to paint the rest of this metaphor in your head.

Despite your worries, Mitsuhide doesn't react badly to you disturbing his solitude. It's like he sensed you coming near him long before you could even make out his figure in the meek twilight.

Even if the sun comes out early this time of the year, the mornings could be very cold, and especially here by the river. You stare at Mitsuhide's flushed hands, and can't help but gather them together between yours, giving your warmth to him.

Mitsuhide is looking right at you instead of the place where your hands meet. Like he's trying to figure you out. Like he's moments away from asking if you'd still be gingerly and readily giving your warmth when those hands get covered in blood. He doesn't say anything, but his hands also don't get any warmer. You guess he just has a lower body temperature like that. It doesn't make you any less enthusiastic about warming his hands up; neither this, nor what the Mitsuhide in your head tells you.

∎ Steal My Heart!! - xxsycamore’s 1500 followers celebration event | 💌 event masterlist

[the12thnightproject]

Chapter 44: A Better Offer - The Winter’s Solstice brings with it a new offer for Katsuko.

Mitsuhide x OC; Hideyoshi x MC (Mai)

All Chapters Archived on Ao3 

Logline - With Mai, Hideyoshi, and Aki missing, Mitsuhide and Katsuko reluctantly team up. Disguised as a merchant and his concubine, can they outsmart the man known as the God of Deceit?

Warnings - M rated chapter, minors DNI

The weather forecasters were correct after all. When we left the hospital (after a very awkward conversation with the police – thankfully smoothed over by Shingen’s fast-talking), the early evening had ushered in a cold front and a thunder snow squall that was probably sending meteorologists into raptures across the country. By the time I returned to the Mikumos’ house, it was snowing pretty steadily.

Sasuke suggested I spend the night in his place, guessing accurately that I was upset, and inaccurately that I would want company. But with Aki once again AWOL (this time voluntarily) I had some decisions to make… but only after allowing myself an evening of indulgence that included putting the turquoise streaks back into my hair, eating an entire bag of potato sticks, then for the grand finale:

Solo K-Pop Dance Party.

The Mikumos might be thoroughly enmeshed in the past, but they did at least own a flat screened television (that I imagined was only used to watch serious academic documentaries, TED talks, and historical dramas that would be highly critiqued for inaccuracies). I felt no guilt over polluting it with K-pop videos. The bands had changed in the years I had been gone, and the dance steps had gotten more complicated (far beyond Gangnam style), but I’d spent seven years in the Sengoku honing my martial arts and parkour skills. I could manage a few dance steps, right?

And even if I couldn’t, no one would ever know.

Nearly an hour later, I’d taken out my filial angst on a makeshift dance floor, singing as loudly as possible (if I didn’t know the lyrics, I made them up), stomping my feet, whipping my newly dyed hair and –

Bang Bang Bang

Could my conception of ‘loud’ could be trusted after seven years in feudal Japan? As the pounding on the front door continued, I hurried to the entry, prepared to beg the pardon of an irate neighbor. With an apologetic smile already on my face and a concessions speech on my lips, I opened the do –

Mitsuhide stood before me, flakes of snow decorating his kimono, and his hair backlit by the neighbor’s Christmas lights.

What? How?

“How did you –“

He stopped my words with one finger pressed against my lips. “Let me go first.”

Like I could stop him. Since his finger was still warm on my mouth, I nodded.

“You were already there.”

Where? Is that supposed mean something?

He took my hand and placed it on his chest… over his heart. “You thought there was no room for you, but in fact you’d already moved in. You’d filled every chamber with your mouth and your rebellions and your passions until I couldn’t turn around without tripping over another thing that I loved about you.”

BSOD

I couldn’t think of anything to say – which was probably for the best, because he crushed me to his chest in a hug so tight I thought we would fuse together. His fingers tangled in my hair, hair that was still damp from my post-dye shower, then he answered the question that had been in my head for the past month. “I believed I didn’t deserve-“

I pulled myself free. “Me? I ought to leave you out here to freeze for such a stupidly clichéd-“

“Deserve to be happy. Hideyoshi already gave me the self-sacrifice lecture, so you can spare your breath.” Then, as if he too had run out of words, he folded himself into me, his arms tight, his hands clutching my waist, breathing me in.

We stayed there, motionless, while once again, my brain struggled to compute the concept of a warlord where I had not expected a warlord to be, and my body opted out of the debate altogether and relaxed into his embrace, and heartbeat, and the scent of sandalwood and cinnamon. I was already there. I am already here.

Finally, the December wind that brought the snow and Mitsuhide to my door intruded with a gust that reminded me we were standing out in the open. I tugged him backward, into the shelter of the house, and secured the door behind him. “I have… many many questions.” Almost too many to organize my thoughts. And my body was just humming along, that prickly sensation of nerves now buzzing along, just overall basking in his presence.

“I expect you do, but again, Brat… Love, let me go first.” He waved his hand toward the back of the house, where the soundtrack of my prior mood played on. “What is that rather painful noise?”

Oh come on, it’s K-pop not death metal. “Music.”

Because at some point he had grabbed my hands, I let him keep them and led him into the living room.

He surveyed the television with curiosity, while I adjusted the volume to low… and after a moment of thought, changed to a satellite radio station that played Japanese classical music. “Better?”

“It will do. I imagine I shall find the progression of culture… interesting.” He took a cell phone out of his kimono, an unusually glittery pink one with a designer pattern on it. The charger cord dangled from the port. “Mai gave me this communication device, with detailed instructions on how to, er, charge and employ it.” He patted the front of his clothing and it crackled with the sound of paper. “And amongst your things, I found a note from Kenshin’s ninja with his ‘cell phone number’ on it and the time and location of the nearest wormhole.”

That’s right. Winter solstice. Honno-ji. Thundersnow.

Ah… I could figure out the rest. After landing in Honni-ji, he’d probably contacted Sasuke and… hm. I looked around the room, and located my own cell, which had been haphazardly flung into the sofa cushion during my dance party. Yep. Missed a text from Sasuke. It had only one word: Incoming. Followed by an eggplant emoji. “Why?”

“Surely you have worked that part out on your own.” He abandoned his examination of the room and pulled me back into his arms. “You are generally more perceptive than that.”

“I want to hear you say it.” I had not expected to hear an ‘I love you’ from him, but now that he was in front of me, I found those three words to be important.

His laugh warmed my ear. “If my memory serves me correctly, I have yet to hear an explicit declaration from you as well.”

“I didn’t think you wanted to hear that.” Not from me.

“As it happens, I find I do.” He tipped my chin up so that he could stare directly into my eyes, as if willing me to speak.

Are we actually arguing over who was going to say ‘I love you’ first?

I was about to offer a count of three simultaneous compromise when he laughed again. “You’re adorable when you’re being stubborn. I’m aware that there’s a part of you that would like me to suffer-“

“I didn’t say tha-“

“Do you still plan to argue with everything I say?”

I considered. “Possibly.”

“Then I’ll have to discover ways to keep your mouth better occupied. This should do it.” He swooped in for a hard and fast kiss, his behavior revealing the desperation I had never gotten from his spoken words. When I was breathless and holding onto him for balance, he whispered. “I love you. I must, for I’ve ceded the high ground and said it first.” He traced the outline of my lips with his finger.

“I love you.” Adding the ‘too’ seemed like it would cheapen my own response. “There is no high ground. Just…” I swirled my hand in the air. “This.”

There was absolutely high ground and we’d likely be jockeying for it for the rest of – “Er, what is next?” Had he come here to live with me in the modern world? Did he come here to take me to Azuchi? This time, I was not against the idea.

He dipped lower, and nibbled the corner of my mouth. “Hm, some of this.” I received another bone-melting kiss. “A bit of this as well.” His hand skimmed over my hip. “I don’t believe I’ll ever want to stop touching you.”

He hadn’t been this urgent, this – almost needy - that night in Sakai. If he had been holding back then, he was not doing so now. I could say that I was more than happy to put my thoughts away for the time being, but the truth of the matter was, they had already fled on their own accord, leaving the rest of me to enjoy the sensation of being sandwiched between Mitsuhide and the wall. “Don’t stop touching me.”

“Your time seems to require a rather excessive number of layers.” He snagged the top of the zipper of my hoodie, and easily figured out how to use it, pulling it down until the hollow of my throat was visible. “Ah, clever this…?”

“Zipper. And no one in this time is require to wear a sixteen layer court kimono.” Because he was taking too long with it, I shrugged out of my hoodie. All I had on underneath was a simple t-shirt and pajama pants that I had intended to sleep in.

“I wasn’t aware that you’d ever been required to wear an imperial kimono either, so the point is moot. And…” He dipped closer to whisper in my ear. “You are arguing again. I shall have to see if I can-“ he bit my earlobe, grazing it with both tongue and teeth, “do something about…” then a hard kiss just under my ear that coaxed a moan from my throat. “That will do nicely.”

He was doing it again. Falling into that pattern of controlled teasing. Granted, I was probably inviting it with my words. As much as I enjoyed these debates – this wasn’t how I wanted things now, not in this moment. I wanted him to lose control. To lose as much as I did.

So when he paused to breathe, while I still had the willpower to do so, I put my hand across his mouth, then ducked away. “Catch me!”

While he was processing that, I scooted past him, knowing that the surprise, my knowledge of the house’s layout, and speed would give me the advantage.

When he reached the bedroom, just a few seconds after me, I tackled him to the bed.

“I was under the impression that I was required to catch you.” He didn’t otherwise protest when I undid his obi and pushed his kimono aside. His body was no less beautiful for being nicked and scarred by various battles, all lean tight muscle that I’d not had a chance to admire last time.

“I lied.” Straddling him, I quickly yanked the shirt over my head, then grabbed his shoulders, hugging him, letting our bodies slide across each other. “Just so you know. This is where the begging starts.”

“You must be aware I could …. reverse this… situation in a moment, should I… desire.” His voice was huskier than normal, and the breathlessness between the words suggested he was ok with the way things were at the moment.

“I know.” I tugged on his hair, just a little. “So I am asking you to take everything you want, except – control.” Though I was still wearing pajama pants, I ground myself against him, and he hardened instantly.

Instead of fighting, or teasing, both of which I had expected him to do, he surprised me by holding me closer, hugging me to his chest. “It seems more apologies are in order.” For a long moment he was quiet, stroking me hair. It felt even more intimate than what we had been doing just a few seconds before. “That night in Sakai. I made you feel as if you were indeed the prostitute you were pretending to be. It was not intentional, but intentions don’t matter. Only the hurt.”

“You didn’t.” I angled my head to look at him directly. “You treated yourself like you were the prostitute.”

His eyes widened and I could see the moment my words registered as truth. He touched his forehead to mine. “I am not comfortable with seeking my own happiness.” His cheeks had reddened somewhat – that might have been the only tell that I had finally found an emotional core. “Knowing that I could bring you to pleasure was enough.”

“Can you credit that I might feel the same way? Or at least that I want things to be a little bit more,” I thought for a moment, trying to find the right word, “balanced.”

He took my hand in his, linking our fingers into a basket. “It seems I am still learning, or perhaps, understanding, more about you.”

“I’m not asking you to completely stop teasing me.” Left unsaid was the fact that I was unlikely to stop fighting with him either. “I can’t deny that it’s fun. Sometimes.”

My comment immediately brought back his smirk. “Hm, yes I did notice that at times you highly appreciate it. I was not aware your voice could reach that pitch.”

I let that one go – given that I’d basically thrown him a fast ball up the middle. “As long as you’re not using it to hide.”

“My automatic response would be to say fair enough.” He closed his eyes and was quite for a long moment. “However I have enough self-knowledge to admit it isn’t something I can easily stop.”

“Take it from someone who has acquired a fair number of physical skills. That, is why we practice.” Then I took the initiative to kiss him first again. We could just see where this ended up going.

Where it went was a short kiss that led to another tiny kiss. Kiss after kiss like a swarm of bright fireflies. Each a little slower and longer until they converged and extended into one deep kiss as he half rolled on top of me and fused his mouth to mine. Still, I was the one setting the pace. It was I who opened my mouth to him first, and my tongue that eagerly encouraged his.

Kissing, touching, we had given each other permission to explore our bodies. I wanted to map out every battle scar I found, pressing a light kiss on each one, knowing that the worst of them were invisible.

I traced a long slash that traveled down his hip, taking the opportunity to remove the rest of his clothes. “Katana?”

“Mm, yes. If I recall correctly, Kyubei half-carried me off the battlefield that afternoon.” When I made a move to kiss the wound, he stopped me. “Careful. I have no major objection to the direction this is taking, but right now I want your face next to mine. Please.”

Ok then. Since he had asked nicely, and since I did want to see his face too, I crawled back up his body. “Hello again.”

He rolled fully on top of me and I reveled in his hot weight pushing me down into the mattress as he poured his desire into a kiss. I don’t know what exactly was the key that had unlocked his desperation, but I rejoiced in the power of knowing that this, this at last, was for me. I wrapped my leg across his, trying to pull him closer. “I take it you approve, Brat?”

“Yes, please.” If that was begging, I didn’t care anymore. His need, the sharpness and frantic movements, yes please.

His sweat slick body glided over mine, as he settled between my legs, not to thrust inside, apparently not yet, but his erection sliding across me set those firefly sparks humming along every nerve ending.

“So perfectly formed.” His mouth latched onto my breast, sucking just hard enough that I shrieked and tugged his hair again.

Each tiny flick of his tongue had me arching against him. My hands, fingers, dug into his shoulders and he continued to lavish attention on my breasts. Each time I thought I’d hit the point where I couldn’t stand it any longer, he would switch to the other breast and the cycle would begin again.

“I could dine on you all day. And night.” His words were rough. Short. He’d lost that slightly removed from things smoothness that usually categorized his speech. I could believe that in this, he wasn’t trying to please me, he truly wanted to keep the taste of me in his mouth, on his tongue, a tongue that usually noticed no flavor.

If he did that, I’d probably pass out from overstimulation. I poked his forehead lightly and just pointed to my lips.

He laughed. “As you wish.” Then his mouth was on mine again.

As the infinite kiss continued, our bodies naturally came closer together, His hand rested on my hip, leisurely drifting to between my legs. I was so close…

“You did claim the high ground.” The murmur was soft in my ear, before he flipped onto his back, the movement carrying me over. In no time, he guided me on top of him. I was already so wet that it was easy to take his length inside.

For a moment, I didn’t move – I looked down at his face, those sharp cheekbones softened slightly by his blush, and that amber gaze warmed by affection, by love. That snarky knowing grin now replaced by a smile. Oh I knew that the wicked tease was still in there, and I knew there would be many times that I would welcome that man into me as well, just as I knew that there would be many times that he would purposefully bait my internal rebel.

But for the moment, both of those people had stepped aside – our worst impulses had been tamed, as we found a new rhythm, mutual sighs and groans signaling that we had tamed each other.

Later…

I awoke from a semi-daze as something feathery tickled my nose. I opened my eyes to discover it was a lock of my own hair. “Oh. For an instant, I thought you had brought one of those peacock feathers through the wormhole.”

“I did not. However if that is something that would be of interest, I’m certain your time has birds, does it not?” From the expression on his face, I understood that to mean that if he could find a feather, he would tease me with it everywhere, and the thought made my nerves zing with a ‘sounds fun, let’s try that.’ He laughed. “I take it that’s a yes.”

“I could be persuaded.” I batted his hand away though when he swooped in with another tickle.

“Interesting shade your hair has become.” He held it up to the light, and the turquoise streaks looked brighter in the glow of the hundred watt bulb.

“It’s temporary. Should wash out in a couple of weeks.” I’d learned my lesson from the last time – even though there would no longer be a Fume ready to chop my hair off. Not everyone appreciates bright blue-green streaks. Which, reminded me… I still needed to clean up the bathroom. I’d left it looking like a slaughter on the Vulcan home world.

“It suits you somehow. Hints at a bit of chaos below the surface.” He linked his hand with mine, then lifted our hands up to the light. “Or more accurately, it warns of the chaos.”

“That’s not fair.” I poked him with my free hand. “I always had a reason and a logic behind everything that I did.” Even if sometimes that reason was to provoke him. Still counts, right?

“I stand corrected. I might not have always agreed with what that logic was, but I cannot claim you were completely heedless.” He was quiet a moment, long enough to pause for me to recognize he was holding something back.

Taking the opportunity to toss his favorite words at him, I asked, “What aren’t you telling me?”

“One of those dark moments of self-reflection – acknowledging that your calculated risks allow for a high degree of that risk to your person than I am comfortable with, because I don’t like seeing you in danger… which was followed by the knowledge that I have and likely will take greater chances with my own safety.”

“We could take them together.” Before he could immediate reject that, I added, “Remember, you got two for one with me. Well, now that you’ve taught me how to pick locks, you get a concubine, a spy and a thief all in one person. Really, I should ask for a raise.”

“If you move your hand a bit lower, you’ll find one.” While I was still deciding whether to react to the pun, he guided my hand to his shaft, and when I lightly stroked him, I received an enthusiastic twitch in response. I should have guessed that he’d have excellent powers of recovery. “In all seriousness am I to understand that you do wish to return the next time the wormhole makes it possible?”

“In about a month, it should be possible, and yes, I had planned to go back with… er, Sasuke.” Hm, perhaps not the best idea to mention that Shingen had offered me a job.

Of course Mitsuhide, being Mitsuhide, noticed my hesitation, and immediately rolled on top of me. With one hand, he easily pinned my wrists over my head. “You’re hiding something.”

“Many things, probably, but-“ my words ended on a squeak when he started nibbling on my throat playfully, then tickled inside of my elbow, the one place I am vulnerable. In moments, I was squirming and laughing hopelessly. “Stop. Stop. I swear if this is the secret of your interrogation techniques, then I want to watch the next time you – eek!” He’d swiped the spot with his tongue.

“I seem to recall you telling me that you’re not ticklish.”

“I lied about that too.”

No escape now. Even though I tried to roll away, he had me cornered. “I believe I have not yet received an explanation, Brat.”

“Oooh. Downgraded back to brat.” I didn’t actually mind the nickname, but there was no way I would let him know that.

“I do mean it in the most affectionate of ways. Now. Stop trying to divert my attention. What. Aren’t. You. Telling. Me?” Each word was punctuated by a kiss.

“So, um, well, Sasuke is actually here with Takeda Shingen.” There was no surprise on his face. Huh. I guess he’d already known that. “And he offered me a job. I was thinking of seeing if I could upgrade that to an apprenticeship, and then, at some point, when I think I am ready, I would take over Aki’s network.” I mean, he’s got a network in every timeline, I suppose, and I would be taking away some of his workload. Besides… technically, I stand to inherit the family business someday anyway.

Mitsuhide stared down at me. “You are a terrifying woman. If I didn’t love you so much, I would be thoroughly intimidated.” No he wouldn’t. But it was nice to hear him say it. “I do hope you have abandoned this idea.”

“Make me a better offer.” It was a bluff since I hadn’t really had a chance to counter-offer Shingen’s initial job offer, but I’m certain he would have agreed.

“I offer this…” He kissed me long and slow, powerfully moving his lips over mine, this time demanding a response. When I was gasping and breathless he continued, “And this –“

He brushed his hand down the side of my body, all the way past my hips. For one tantalizing moment, he kept it there, just long enough to warm my inner thigh…

… then he drifted upward, long, lazy strokes … he’d already learned my body so well that he knew just how much pressure and rhythm would have me arching off the bed and pressing up into him.

“But, most importantly, my love,” he gazed down at me, amber-gold eyes glistening with something I didn’t recognize, something I had never seen from him, “you may have my heart. All of it. To do with as you wish.”

I couldn’t speak – only nod, and he squeezed me tighter as he slowly pushed inside me again. Less frantic. More wondering… exploring this new world.

We moved together, reveling in each other’s touch, in that oh you are here… it’s you… it’s me… it’s us… something different.

Wait, who is crying? Were those tears? His tears were more frightening than his anger, frightening in a ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ kind of way, but I never planned to run from him again. I hadn’t thought it possible, but I loved him more in that moment than ever before.

It’s ok. I’m here.

Our extended, intimate embrace finally crested and crashed into the night, then softly drifted into a cozy warmth. We were home.

The sound of snow against the window woke me just before sunrise. Mitsuhide was still asleep – not in that vampiric pose (I knew that had been just to freak me out), but on his side, arm flung over his face… oh, we never had managed to turn off the light. I got up and did so, not that it mattered as a soft glow from outside infused the room.

With a sudden urge for a glass of water, I pulled on my pajamas, then as I turned to leave the room, something crinkled under my foot. I had stepped on Mitsuhide’s kimono, which had somehow been flung to this side of the room.

What was crackling though? Sounded like paper. I knelt to see, and found Mai’s instructions. Curious to know what she would tell someone who was about to suddenly go into the future, I started to pick it up, then paused. Mitsuhide and I had both read each other’s mail before, and I doubted he would care if I read this letter. However, for my own sanity, I needed to stop being afraid of what Mai meant to him. I set it on the edge of the bed for him, then picked up his clothes, folded them, and put them on the bed too.

When I caught sight of the fat snowflakes swirling across the garden. I upgraded my plan for a cup of water to a cup of hot tea, and once it was ready, I settled on the couch to watch it pile up outside.

I could hear Mitsuhide padding around upstairs, but I figured if he needed help finding anything (or how to work them) he would call for me. I wasn’t ignoring him, or anything. It was just that I was pleasantly sore all over and at present too comfortable to move.

Indeed, when Mitsuhide did emerge, he was already dressed and holding the turquoise robe. “Yoshimoto gave me the things you’d left at Genba.” He smiled as I shrugged myself into it. “It pleases me to see you so happy in something I had made for you.”

“Do you want breakfast? Or tea?” There was still plenty of hot water in the kettle. But when I made a move to get up, he shook his head.

“Not at present.” He looked over the couch with the curious eye of someone cataloging the future, before scooting in behind me. In one fluid motion, he’d lifted me onto his lap, without spilling a drop of my tea.

We sat there, completely comfortable, watching the snow sweep through the garden. The neighbor’s Christmas lights were (of course) still on, glowing softly against the growing drifts. There would be things to figure out later, but for the moment it was to just sit here, and zen out at the sight and sound of snow, in the warmth of each other’s presence.

He put his hands on my feet. “You never remember your socks.”

“Well, I had meant to come back to bed after I got a cup of water, but- oh, you don’t have to do.” Too late to protest. He’d taken off his socks and put them on my feet.

“I told you before. I don’t feel cold like some people.” He gave my toes, now warming up in the soft material, a little tweak.

I wiggled my feet inside the socks. “Probably ought to at some point get you some modern clothing. Or at least a coat and boots.”

“Hm, that was in fact included on Mai’s list. She thought I should go shopping first and appear at your door dressed in a, hm, what did she call it, a nice designer suit.” He shifted around, then handed me the letter. “I must admit to some disappointment that you didn’t even attempt to read this one. Is the mystery already gone in our relationship?” He punctuated the teasing with a light kiss under my ear.

 “Um, technically, I read Aki’s mail, not yours, Mr. I-Kept-a-Letter-for-weeks.” Did I want to probe his feelings for Mai? Now? When we were feeling so cozy and relaxed?

“Your ability to rationalize matters never ceases to astound me.” His arms snaked around my waist as he held the letter open. Even without reading it, I could see that it was indeed a list of how-tos and instructions, complete with very detailed drawings. In her how to recharge the phone, she’d even drawn a map to where the most likely free outlets would be with little tab A/slot B arrows to demonstrate what went where.

There was even a little Sasuke chibi answering his phone, with his familiar expression of blank-face intent, but a thought bubble over his head revealing his inner fanboy was nerding out over a call from Mitsuhide.

Wow. I had known Mai was a good designer, but I had not been aware that translated so well to her drawing skills. “She’s very good.”

“Indeed. Were she not only the Azuchi chatelaine but also a seamstress, I could use her as a scout.” He set his chin on my shoulder.

“No, you wouldn’t endanger her like that. She’s too precious.” Easier to approach the question from the side.

“True. Hideyoshi would very likely dismantle me for the thought.”

Agreed, but that wasn’t what I meant. “To you.”

“My love, you may someday acquire the skills of a very good interrogator, but not yet, and for the purposes of this conversation, you will have better luck simply asking me what you want to know.” He softened the statement by pulling me backward until I was resting on his chest. He brought his hand up and began smoothing out my hair.

“Are you in love with her?” It seemed I had the ability to ask that after all.

“Dear me, haven’t I just spent the past night proving that it’s you I love?” That… didn’t exactly answer my question, something he must have immediately realized, for he continued, “Mai is very loveable and she awakened feelings I didn’t not know I was still capable of. I also believed that the Iife I led required a sacrifice. But in the end, I discovered that the person I could not sacrifice was you. I’d rather condemn my soul to darkness than give up even one more day with you.”

Where to begin to unpack that? I’d wished for reassurance, and gotten an entire monologue. “I don’t really agree that you’re the dark side, but thank you for being willing to face it.” I hoped he knew now that he’d never have to face it alone. It wouldn’t just be me helping him face it. It was clear that Hideyoshi and Mai would also be at his side.

Idly I flipped to the next page of Mai’s instructions, in which a cartoon labelled ‘Grand Romantic Gesture’ portrayed chibi Mitsuhide, wearing a modern suit, kneeling in front of a chibi version of myself. He held jewelry sized gift box in his hands. “She has very specific ideas about romance, but I’m more than happy with the lockpick set.” And with him. To punctuate that, I gave him a kiss.

“Dear me, that is rather a disappointment, for I do have another gift for you – however, it’s waiting in Sakai.” I caught a rather unusual amount of repressed emotion in his tone, and wondered at it.

I knew him well enough to know there was no use asking for details, although… “What would you have done if I’d said I planned to stay here?”

“Gone back in time to Sakai, picked up your present, and brought it to you at the next available opportunity.” He tapped on his lips with his finger. “Because it is a very good gift, if I do say so myself.”

Almost, I asked if it was a pony, but… that had been a private joke between myself and Aki. Which reminded me. “Aki’s gone again.” While I was safely cocooned in his arms, sheltered from my father’s actions, I brought Mitsuhide up to date with what had happened after I disappeared from Genba.

“When you and Iekane went over the edge-“ He trailed off, then rested his face on my shoulder. I could feel a tremor go through him, and that told me more than words could. That this man, known for his cool, dispassionate conversation, could be at a loss for words, was humbling. Maybe no words were necessary anyway. I closed my eyes and breathed him for a while.

Eventually he asked me. “Are you upset that he left you here?”

“More angry that he didn’t leave a note… but I sort of expected him to leave. It’s what he does.” And now that I knew there was only one of Aki, and he was trying to keep several Katsus alive, to prevent several Hikos from being murdered, to find several Toshiies and trying to keep an unknown number of timelines from crashing into each other… I understood.

But he still could have left me a damn note.

“I can’t promise that I’ll never have to leave you behind – temporarily – but I promise I will always come back.” His voice was so quiet I could barely hear him.

“You could always take Katsu with you.”

“We shall discuss that later.”

“Oh, you can be sure of that.”

Artwork by Butterfly n'' Lace: https://www.facebook.com/butterflynlace

@lorei-writes @selenacosmic @bestbryn @lyds323 @akitsuneswife @tele86

[otomefoxystar]

Finding the Light - Chapter 8

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku

Pairing : Mitsuhide X OC (Evelyn)

Genre: Fluff and Angst

Mitsuhide took Evelyn to town. It was a warm sunny day, and Mitsuhide was hopeful that they could find her some decent clothes to fight in. They came to a small restaurant. I've been told there is excellent food here. When she didn't answer, Mitsuhude looked at her, waiting for a reply. "Never mind," he said when she seemed so disinterested. "Are you hungry, Mitsuhide? If you're hungry, we can go." He raised his eyebrows, "What about you, Evelyn? Are you hungry?" She swallowed. "I will do my best to eat." He cocked his head to the side, "What, no arguing?" She shook her head, "Not today." She didn't want to ruin the day, not when he seemed so happy to take her shopping. He was in a good mood, and she didn't want to ruin it. He smiled and held out his arm for her to take, "Shall we?" She hooked her arm in his and nodded.

Once they were seated, she looked around nervously. "What is it?" She breathed out nervously. "This is the first time I've been in town since…" He nodded, understanding what she was saying. She was scared of seeing her attackers. "You're safe with me. They wouldn't dare encounter you when you're with me, and if they do? That'd be a mistake. I'll always protect you, little mouse." She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "I know, but I'm still freaking out a bit." Mitsuhide took her clenched hand. "Relax, I'm here." She unclenched her hand, and he cupped his hand around hers. Finally, she relaxed as Mitsuhide rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb.

She ordered soup, hoping it'd be easier to eat. "What are we getting today?" She asked with a curious edge to her voice. He cleared his throat from drinking a sip of water. "Well, you need pants and a shirt that are easier to move in." A twinkle lit in her eye. "What? "He paused as he took her in, but it wasn't worry or fear. It was a different emotion, one he hadn't seen from her in weeks. It was excitement, and he wanted to sigh at how good it felt to see a glimmer of her old self, but he restrained himself. "I could make that! All I need is some supplies, and I can make myself some clothes." Mitsuhide smiled. "You don't have to; I was going to have someone make them for you, but if that's what you want to do." She looked at him excitedly, "It is!" He chuckled, happy to see her face light up. He had no problem buying her what she needed if she was that excited by it.

When the food arrived, she took the spoon and stirred it. "I can do this," she whispered so quietly that Mitsuhide didn't hear. He was busy scooping up his food. Evelyn dipped the spoon into the liquid, raised it to her lips, and blew on it. Mitsuhide tried to ignore her but couldn't help but watch her.

Mitsuhide was finished quickly but patiently waited as she ate slowly and meticulously. he was in no hurry, and he wasn't about to rush her. Not when she was finally eating. "We can go." Mitsuhide shook his head. "Not a chance. I will wait until you have finished." He watched her pleased, but she put her spoon down. "I can't eat anymore."

"Are you full or just tired of eating? "I'm full enough; I don't want to push it." Mitsuhide smiled. "Probably wise, how do you feel?" Her lips turned up slightly, almost a smile, but not quite. It was close enough to a smile for Mitsuhide. "Better than how I've been feeling." She hadn't eaten much, but Mitsuhide was pleased nonetheless. Mitsuhide was about to praise her when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a man in green walking past.

"I'll be right back. I just saw someone I know." She got up and scurried off. She grabbed the man's shoulder, and when he turned around, he saw his friend, but she didn't look how she looked when he last saw her. "Evelyn? Where have you been? I've been worried." She hugged him, and he noticed how frail she felt. When she released him, he took a long look at her. "You look terrible," Evelyn shifted nervously. She wasn't ready to tell her best friend about what happened. "Are you sick?" She was about to speak when Mitsuhide walked up and stood next to her. Sasuke wanted to question her more about her health, but the sudden interruption had distracted him.

"Who is this?" Mitsuhide asked protectively, "I'm Sasuke. Evelyn and I are from the same town." Mitsuhide nodded, "Ah, I see." Mitsuhide now understood the connection between them. If they were from the same town, then they must be close. Sasuke bowed, and Mitsuhide returned the gesture. "Mitsuhide Akechi." Sasuke gave a knowing look. The traitor Mitsuhide Akechi is all Sasuke kept thinking. He had to remind himself that they had significantly altered the timeline, so he needed to stop worrying. It didn't stop him from planning to check on her, though.

Sasuke pushed up his glasses and looked at Evelyn, worry written on his face. You would have to be an idiot not to realize his thoughts. He put his hand on her arm, "Evelyn, can we speak alone for a moment?" Sasuke glanced at Mitsuhide as he said so. "Uh, yeah, I suppose." Mitsuhide squeezed her wrist to let her know she wasn't alone. She looked up at Mitsuhide. Mitsuhide granted her the privacy to speak with her friend. He stayed close by; he wanted to keep his word that he would protect her. He had no idea who this man was and if he was capable of protecting her or not.

"Is everything okay? I came to see you, and you were gone." She shook her head, "I'm not staying with Nobunaga right now. I'm staying with Mitsuhide at his manor." Sasuke eyed her carefully. "Are you safe?" She nodded, "I'm safe, Sasuke; I've been going through some stuff and needed to get away." Sasuke gave her a concerned look, "If you change your mind and decide you want to go back, I can figure it out. The most important thing is your health and well-being; I can tell you aren't doing well just by looking at you." She glanced down, then back up at her friend. "You know me too well." Sasuke shook his head, "it's not that. Something has changed in you. You're different somehow. It's not just your appearance. It's like the light you carry has been extinguished ."

She wondered how he could tell all that just by looking at her. He wasn't wrong; she had lost so much of her passion for life. She couldn't even get through the night without Mitsuhide being near. "I'll tell you, Sasuke. I promise I will, but right now, I can't. I've barely come to terms with what's happened myself." He pulled her in for a hug. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything if you aren't ready. I'll always be here for you. I just need to know you're safe." He stepped back, looking her in the eyes. "I'm safe." He smiled tenderly, "Good. That's all I need to know to put my heart at peace. Can I come see you sometime?" She nodded, "Yes, I only ask that you let me know beforehand."

Sasuke was shocked; she must be going through a lot. She would never have asked for him to schedule his visits before. If anything, she seemed appreciative of his visits; of course, he would comply. He just wanted her to be happy. He smiled at her again, "I can do that." He gave her another hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you soon," he said, turning to leave, waving goodbye as he walked away.

Evelyn just stood there, tears prickling in her eyes. Mitsuhide walked back over to her as soon as Sasuke walked away. "None of that. We're having a good time, right? No crying." Evelyn looked at Mitsuhide, trying to will the tears away, "He's really worried, and I couldn't tell him anything." Mitsuhide patted her head, "You are not ready, and that's okay. One day, you will be. I'm sure he understands that." Evelyn watched as Sasuke walked away. "I hope so."

"Come." He took her hand, and they bought fabrics and supplies she needed to make some clothes for herself. Seeing her interested in sewing again was a good thing; that is not something he would take away from her, so he could be patient and wait to train her. After a full day, Mitsuhide took her home, carrying the supplies for her as they walked back to his manor.

After arriving home, he placed everything they bought in the corner of his room and began doing some work he had neglected. Paperwork was tedious, but if this was what he had to do to help Evelyn, he wouldn't complain...Too much. Meanwhile, Evelyn had gotten into Mitsuhide's alcohol, exhausted and overwhelmed by everything from the day. It felt like too much stimulation in one day. However, she seldom drank by herself. She had always been a social drinker. She put two cups, a bottle of sake on a serving tray and an assortment of snacks for them to share. Although she wasn't entirely sure she would eat them, at least she had the option to eat if she needed to.

Next Chapter

[ikeromantic]

Hi hi! I'm here to make my request :3

Btw happy new year!

Can I ask for some Mitsuhide angst?

I love him but angst with him Is so so good qwq

So um my OC Hekima is really skilled at swordsmanship and other skills (she looks just like the canon MC just slightly darker brown hair and eyes)

Can i have a scenario where these two go out on a mission but something goes wrong and they both end up fighting the enemy where Hekima ends up getting severely injured? (No death please! I don't wanna inflict more pain on Mitsuhide than he already goes through qwq)

Thankyou so much!

Mmmm some angst and fluff for our favorite kitsune warlord ^_^ Approx 1600 words!

An alarm bell clanged from the watchtower. Guards and castle staff called out to each other as they poured from the barracks and sleeping quarters to investigate. Mitsuhide cursed silently. Despite his well-laid plan and contingencies, they’d been spotted. One of the castle maids just happened to fall down a set of stairs right when they’d been crossing the landing. She spotted them, screamed, and . . . here they were.

The only plan Mitsuhide had left was retreat. He glanced at Hekima beside him. Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her sword, ready. She didn’t seemed worried at all, which only served to worry him more. “We don’t want to have to fight our way out of this,” he whispered. “We can use the chaos to slip away before we’re noticed again.”

“We can,” she nodded, “but we’d be abandoning our mission. The whole point was to get in and sabotage their gunpowder. If we leave . . .” She didn’t need to finish her sentence. They both knew it would cost lives. 

Duty balanced on the scale against love. Mitsuhide took a breath. She was right. His mind furiously spun out the possible scenarios. He knew their troop strength, the layout of this castle, and the location of their target. He knew the variables in play. If they were careful, smart, and ruthless, maybe . . . maybe they could get it done and live to celebrate. It was possible. It had to be. 

“Alright, follow me.” 

They slipped along the shadowed eaves of buildings, using every dark corner to their advantage. It went smoothly, too smoothly, Mitsuhide thought as he and Hekima made it to the storage building where the black powder was stored. 

It was stone, and well away from the main building of the castle complex. There were no torches lit near it, but there was a guard still standing at watch by the door. The original plan had been to go in through the roof with the guard none the wiser. That might still work. Or would have if Hekima wasn’t already taking things into her own hands.

She strode forward, into the open. When the guard called a warning, Hekima lunged. Her sheathed sword slammed into the side of the guard’s head, and he crumpled. 

“Bloodthirsty little mouse,” Mitsuhide murmured. He helped drag the unconscious man into a dark corner. 

Hekima grinned. “Faster is better tonight. Besides, I didn’t kill him!” She gave him a brief, sweet kiss. Just enough to make him ache for more, not enough to slow them down.

Mitsuhide promised himself that after, when they were clear of danger, he would get her back for that tease. Afterall, he was supposed to be the one doing the teasing. 

The two of them slipped into the storage room and set their charges. It took only a few short moments. Then Mitsuhide lit the fuse, and they ran. And then stopped. Several guards were running toward them, swords raised. The ‘unconscious’ guard was in the lead, a swollen bruise on the side of his head.

They exchanged a look. Both knew the powder would blow soon. If they weren’t clear of the blast, they were dead. Mitsuhide drew his sword. “Change of plans. Fight, just keep moving.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” she laughed. 

He couldn’t help but smile at her brazen joy. His Hekima wasn’t afraid, even if she should have been. She trusted him, and she trusted her skill. Mitsuhide wasn’t going to be the one to let her down. 

The next few minutes were a chaos of shouting, groans, and the distinct sound of blades meeting flesh. Mitsuhide moved methodically, analyzing his options heartbeat to heartbeat. Guards fell, some dead, some only wounded, as his sword found its targets. And then, as quickly as it began, it was over and they were clear. 

Hekima was a step behind him, moving slower than usual, but moving. 

He grabbed her arm and hauled her forward, faster. “Come on. We need to make the wall before -” His words turned to a gasp as she looked at him, opened her mouth to say something, and then collapsed. Mitsuhide managed to keep her from hitting the ground. He lifted her and ran. His mind was a riot of worry and shame. He was supposed to protect her, his little mouse. I failed, he thought, and those words echoed again and again until they came with every beat of his heart. 

He wasn’t sure if she was still breathing. There was no time to stop and check. No time to be gentle either. The wall loomed, and behind them, the fire grew. Mitsuhide slung Hekima over his shoulder with a murmured apology. Then he flung himself at the wall, climbing it despite the burden of his unconscious lover. 

She made no sound as he clambered up the stone and did not stir.

At the top, he paused to adjust his grip on her. That mere half second meant he was still climbing when the first black powder barrel caught fire. The sound was so deep that Mitsuhide felt more than heard it. The air shivered, and the night lit up as bright as dawn. Bits of wood and stone clattered around him. The debris burned where it struck skin. His hair curled and smoked.

Mitsuhide landed on the ground outside the wall and kept running. They had to get far enough away to clear any pursuers. Hekima bounced against his shoulder. He could not help but notice the sticky-wet warmth of blood seeping into his clothes beneath her. 

“Hekima. Wake up. We made it.” He tried to get her attention as he ran, but she was still and silent. Fear knotted his insides and seized his heart. With every pounding step toward freedom, pain flared in his chest. She had to be alright. If she wasn’t . . . Mitsuhide refused to allow that thought to finish, as if in thinking it he could bring it to fruition. 

Once he made the cover of the forest, he sank down in the roots of a gnarled old pine tree. There, amidst the rotting needles, he gently set his beloved down. Her dark hair was mussed, having escaped the tight braid she kept it in on missions. Her eyes were closed, the lashes lying still against the dark circles beneath them. Pale cheeks, and grey lips showed no sign of life.

Mitsuhide could see the wound. A small puncture, just below her heart. Dark blood seeped from the hole in her armor. Her front was soaked with it, as was his shoulder, chest, and back. “Hekima,” he breathed her name like a prayer. Tears stung his eyes, hot and sharp as needles. He blinked them away. There wasn’t time to cry. His little mouse needed him.

He cut off her armor and the clothing beneath, revealing the gory stab wound. There was no way to know if the blow struck her heart, and nothing he could do if it had. Mitsuhide could only stop the bleeding, and hope. He tore a piece of his clothing off, and pressed it hard against the gash. 

“Come on,” he whispered, as he held it in place. “It’s going to be ok. I promise. You’re going to be alright.” Mitsuhide repeated the words again and again, a mantra as he waited for the blood to stop flowing. When it did, he used some strong wine from a flask to soak another piece of his unfortunate clothing, and wrapped the puncture tightly. 

Hekima looked so fragile, lying there. So still. 

He stroked the hair back from her face, touching her as much to reassure himself that she was alive as to comfort her. His hands shook and his chest ached as if he was the one with the stab wound. This was not the time to let his emotions overwhelm him though. There was still more to do.

Mitsuhide knew he needed to get her back to their allies. Ieyasu would be able to do more to help her. She would have rest and warmth and food. “I’m going to pick you up again,” he told her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “We’re going to get help. So you . . . you just - just -” he swallowed, trying to master himself. 

A man that could withstand torture, deprivation, hostility - a man who was a map of scars inside and out - reduced to tears over a woman. It would be funny, he reflected, if it were not him. Love did strange things to your heart. Made it stronger, and softer. “Just be ok,” he whispered.

He leaned down to kiss her lips, the barest brush of his skin to hers. He could feel the slightest flutter of her breath on his cheek. 

“Why . . . are you . . . crying?” Her eyes fluttered open. Her dark gaze was heavy with concern. 

Mitsuhide nearly fell over as he straightened. “Hekima!” He felt a sudden rush of emotions. Joy and shame and love and worry. A tempest in his chest and behind his eyes. He wiped at his cheeks, realizing he was crying.

She gave a small, pained smile. “Can’t . . . get rid . . .” 

He laughed and hugged her gently, mindful of her injury. “My little mouse. Making me worry. I’m going to wrap you in silk and lock you in your rooms.”

“K-kill . . . you . . .” She tried to laugh and coughed instead. 

Mitsuhide felt as if his heart might burst with love for her, and relief. He’d failed her, but she was tougher than he gave her credit for. Stronger. “We can talk about it after I get you back.” He cupped her cheek in one calloused, blood-stained palm. “I love you.”

“Love you,” she echoed. Her eyes were clouding with pain and exhaustion. In a moment, she would be out again. 

“Rest,” he told her. “I’ve got you.”

[stellaepluviae]

Full translation of Mitsuhide's route from the last IkeSen JP event (infiltration scenario as onmyoji + shikigami) is in my backlog.

Translation of the next premium story from his sequel + slices of angst will be up over the weekend.

(Day 9+ of chest congestion.....ಠ_ಠ)

[tiny-wooden-robot-fics]

Voyager - Four

Rating: Explicit Pairing: Oda Nobunaga (Ikemen Sengoku) x Original Female Character Characters: Oda Nobunaga (Ikemen Sengoku), Eri Davidson (Original Female Character of Color) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Grief/Mourning, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Eventual Smut, Eventual Romance, Slow Burn, Flirting (so much flirting), Teasing, Oda Nobunaga is a huge flirt and a huge tease, Angst with a Happy Ending, Pregnancy, Pregnant Sex, Slight Timeskip Near the End

Previous Chapter (Three): Lucky Charm | Next Chapter (Five): The Chatelaine of Azuchi

Chapter Masterlist

Summary:

"Have you any experience managing a household?"

"Lots," she says confidently. "I've been managing my own household for years now."

"And your husband?"

The question catches her off-guard. The bowl of broth in her hand slips slightly. She catches it, setting it down on the table. "I don't have a husband."

Read on AO3

Chapter Four: Journey to Azuchi

The next two days are two of the hardest days of Eri’s life. 

She has never ridden a horse before now, and being thrust into it without any preamble is jarring. She rides with Nobunaga, and even though her only job is to hold on to him to keep from falling, she is always exhausted and sore whenever they stop riding for the night. 

***

Date Masamune is the name of the warlord who cooks, Eri has discovered. He is a jovial man, devastatingly handsome with a dashing air that makes Eri think of a Disney prince. There is always an eyepatch covering his right eye, but the remaining, uncovered blue eye is bright with mischief and amusement. 

“Well, I don’t really need the help,” he tells Eri, when she offers to assist him in cooking for the camp that night. “But I won’t turn down an extra set of hands if you’re willing.” 

Gratefully, she nods at him. “I can’t fight,” she explains, “and I can barely even stay on a horse even when I’m not the one doing the work. If you let me help you, it will make me feel less useless.”

“Everyone has their value, Lass,” he says, flashing her a sympathetic smile. “If it weren’t for you saving the Lord’s life, our little caravan would be very different right now. But if helping me cook will make you feel better,” he goes on, “who am I to deny you?”

For the most part, Eri really is just a second set of hands for him. He’s like a whirling dervish as he spins from place to place, stirring a pot here, adding a spice there, frequently checking the soup to make sure it doesn’t boil over or burn. He has a comfortable, easy going way of chatting with her that doesn’t make her feel like she’s being put on the spot. She contemplates this deeply as she helps him distribute the food among the tents. I expected more of them to be weirded out by me, she thinks. But maybe Yasuke-San being here sort of paved the way for them to more willingly accept someone who looks like me without question. 

In truth, it seems most are confused, not about her skin color, but about her motives. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the warlord with the green armor, has made it abundantly clear that he still does not trust her and he thinks she has some ulterior motive for attaching herself to his Lord. Akechi Mitsuhide - the oily warlord with the golden eyes and white hair - frightens Eri and puts her on edge; he strikes her as the sort of man who is always up to no good. She tries to steer clear of him. 

The absent-minded and studious Ishida Mitsunari is always pleasant to her whenever they interact, but he is often absorbed in various reading material and rarely even notices her. Yasuke is kind and gentle, but very reserved, and a man of few words. 

Even Lord Oda himself has been surprisingly aloof.

She’d worried, the first night he’d summoned her to his tent, when he declared that she would be under his protection. He’d advised her to sleep in his tent that night, and Eri had been terrified that it meant he wanted something physical in return for his protection. She wasn’t sure how long she’d lain there in the corner of his tent, curled into a ball frozen with fear, before he spoke to her. 

“I do not wish to harm you,” he’d said, slight annoyance lacing his voice. “And forcing you would bring me no pleasure.” 

She’d breathed a sigh of relief then, hot tears clinging to her lashes as she closed her eyes. 

Still, traveling this way is unbelievably hard. She is tired from lack of sleep, sore from the riding, and filthy from the dust and dirt they’ve picked up along the roads they’ve ridden. I would sell half my soul right now for a hot bath and a warm, soft bed. 

“Date-San,” she starts, watching him ladle soup into a bowl and place it on a tray for Lord Oda, “how far are we from Azuchi now?” 

The one eyed man considers her question thoughtfully, and she can see him working out time frames in his mind. “I would say perhaps a half-day’s ride,” he answers finally. “If we leave at dawn tomorrow, it’s very likely we’ll reach home before the sun is too high in the sky.”

Relieved at the news, Eri flashes her first genuine smile in days. 

“Well, isn’t that like a ray of sunshine,” Date Masamune chuckles as he finishes arranging the tray of food. “Be careful with this, Lass,” he warns her. “Not only is it hot, but it’s heavy - I’ve got food for both you and Oda-Sama on there.”

She nods, carefully picking up the tray and balancing it in her arms. “Thank you,” she tells him quietly, sincerely. “For the food… and for letting me help.”

“Anytime, Kitten,” he smiles at her. “It’s nice to have the company while I work.” 

***

“Oda-Sama,” she calls at the entrance of the tent. The flap is open. “Excuse me, I’m coming in,” she adds, before ducking into the tent. 

He’s where he usually is at this time of day: reclining on his cushions with parchment spread around him, thoroughly engrossed in reading what’s written on the thin, yellowed pieces of paper. 

“I have food for you,” she offers hesitantly. 

“Yes, I see,” he replies, without looking up. “You may set it on the table there.”

She obliges him, then stands off to the side, waiting. 

Sensing her hovering presence, he looks up at her. “Is there something you’re waiting for?”

She shifts from one foot to the other. “Well, it just seems rude to start eating without you,” she starts. “And you should eat while it’s still warm.”

He raises one dark eyebrow at her, but says nothing, instead turning his attention back to the document in his hand. 

“Fine,” she mumbles, moving over to the table to sit. “Itadakimasu,” she says softly, before separating the food on the tray.

She is halfway through her meal when he seats himself across from her at the table. Surprised, Eri looks up at him. 

“Perhaps it’s still a little warm… hm?” He isn’t smiling as he looks at her, but the usual harshness with which he speaks to her is gone. He clasps his hands together. “Itadakimasu.”

They eat together in silence for a few minutes. Eri sneaks glances at him every once in a while, trying to guess what he’s thinking. 

“Valerie.” His voice startles her, and she jumps. 

“Yes,” she says uncertainly, looking up at him. 

He seems to be contemplating her. “What sort of skills do you have?”

What kind of question is that? 

“Skills?” She shakes her head. “Well, back home… where I’m from, I’m a teacher. I teach small children to read and write. I teach them about shapes and colors, and animals as well.” 

He looks at her with interest. “Is that so? Do you enjoy it?”

“Very much,” she answers immediately. “I’m not… exceptionally skilled at a lot of things. Just average at most things. But I enjoy what I do, and I love the children that I work with.”

He accepts this quietly with a nod. “Have you any experience managing a household?”

“Lots,” she says confidently. “I’ve been managing my own household for years now.”

“And your husband?”

The question catches her off-guard. The bowl of broth in her hand slips slightly. She catches it, setting it down on the table. “I don’t have a husband.”

Curiously, he stares openly at her. “Are you not of childbearing age?”

Heat flares in her chest. “Isn’t that an inappropriate thing to ask?” The question comes out sharper than she intends. 

Her question - and her obvious anger - seem to confuse him. “I merely wish to understand,” he tells her with a shrug. “I know nothing of the customs where you’re from. It occurred to me that perhaps the reason you were in the temple at Honno-ji was to escape some fate that you were not happy with.”

The statement makes her hesitate. “I don’t have a husband,” she repeats firmly, after a few seconds have passed. 

He looks as though he wants to press the issue more. He opens his mouth to speak again, but seems to change his mind. 

“I’m not exceptionally skilled at many things,” Eri says again, her eyes on her bowl and her hands folded in her lap. “But I’m a hard worker, and a fast learner.”

He nods. “When we arrive at Azuchi castle, I plan to make you my chatelaine.” 

What the hell is a chatelaine? Briefly, she looks away, her eyes searching for her purse. A quick Google search will tell me— The train of thought stops in its tracks when she remembers that her cell phone will most certainly not work in Sengoku Japan. 

She sighs. 

“Does the thought displease you that much?” He’s raising those dark eyebrows at her again, a challenge in his tone. 

“It isn’t that,” she admits. “I’m just not quite sure what a chatelaine is.”

“The Lady of the house,” he tells her. “Azuchi has not had one in many, many years.”

Confused, she shakes her head. “Isn’t that the sort of responsibility the actual Lady of the house would get?”

“I have no wife,” Lord Oda says simply. “And I have no plans to take one anytime soon. You will be the chatelaine of Azuchi castle. I will have Mitsunari explain to you what that entails.” That air of finality is in his voice again, and Eri bites back another sigh. 

She isn’t sure what kind of misalignment to the stars caused her current predicament. And she isn’t sure those same stars have any plans to re-align themselves and set things right so she can get back home. As much as she would like to protest this decision of the stern, cold warlord in front of her, she remembers that she is essentially at his mercy. 

At least until I can figure out what happened and whether or not there’s a possibility I’ll get sent back to my time. For now, being the chatelaine of Oda Nobunaga’s castle at Azuchi is my safest bet. 

“Alright,” she says finally. “Understood.”

***

True to Date Masamune’s words, the caravan arrives at Azuchi castle town in less than a half-day’s ride. There is a welcoming party at the gates of the castle, waiting to bestow well-wishes on Lord Oda and his vassals. Eri notes with interest the crowd of women that gather around and fawn over Toyotomi-San. He seems to be quite popular with the ladies. 

“Mitsunari will have a room prepared for you,” the Lord of Azuchi castle tells her as they dismount. “See him for your needs.” 

It’s as much of a dismissal as any, and as he turns away from her, Eri looks around for the warlord in question. She finds him near Toyotomi-San, in the thick of the crowd of admirers cooing over the tall warlord in green. Eri stands off to the side, unwilling to insert herself into the chaos. 

“There’s always a crowd of hens around that one, waiting their turn to peck at him.” The voice in her ear startles her, and she whirls around to find herself face-to-face with Akechi Mitsuhide. “If you want to talk to them, you’ll have to push your way in.” 

She looks up at him, trying to keep her face schooled into a neutral expression. This may be unfair of me, she thinks to herself, but the man makes me uncomfortable. “Thank you, Akechi-San,” she offers politely, bowing and turning slightly away from him, hoping her body language conveys her desire for him to keep moving and not try to prolong conversation with her. 

“Anything for the savior of my Liege Lord.” He flashes her a cryptic smile, and much to her relief, moves on. 

“My lady, is there something you need?” Yasuke-San has materialized in front of her, his kind face a welcome sight. 

“I was just… waiting to talk to Ishida-San,” she tells the quiet man, her eyes on the scene in front of her. “But it seems like he’s busy,” she adds with a laugh. She turns to look back at him. “Do all of the warlords live at Azuchi?” 

“Oh, no.” He shakes his head. “Most have their own, smaller estates nearby. Close enough to be present at Azuchi for Oda-Sama’s daily councils, but far enough to have their own households.”

Eri nods, looking up at the gorgeous castle in front of them. “It’s a beautiful place,” she remarks. 

“That it is.” He pauses for a moment, seeming to contemplate something. “Oda-Sama may seem like a cold, unfeeling man,” he says quietly, “but he is a good man and a fair Lord. You have nothing to fear under his care.” 

She absorbs his words, chewing on her lower lip thoughtfully. “If you don’t mind me asking,” she starts, “what is it like living in this place, with the color of your skin being different from everyone else’s?”

The question seems to surprise him, and she can see that he’s taking a minute to really and truly consider it. “I came to Azuchi three years ago,” he tells her. “No one was used to seeing people with my skin color here. When I arrived, it caused quite a spectacle. People crowded around to see the tall, dark-skinned samurai. I felt like traveling entertainment. Even now,” he goes on thoughtfully, “I think some don’t know what to make of me. They’ve gotten used to seeing me around, and they respect that I’m in Oda-Sama’s service, but they are still curious. They still stare, and some still ask intrusive, uncomfortable questions.”

Eri nods, understanding exactly how he feels. “And what about the other warlords? Do they treat you any differently?”

“No,” he answers immediately, flashing her a kind smile. “Oda-Sama is a fair, reasonable man. As such, he has chosen fair, reasonable men to be in his service. Toyotomi-San was suspicious of me at first, much as he has been of you… but that comes from his undying loyalty to his Lord, and does not reflect on you as a person. He will warm up to you once he sees you mean his Lord no harm.” 

She breathes a sigh of relief. “That makes me feel much better.”

He nods at her. “When you’ve been settled in Azuchi,” he starts, “please send word. My wife is foreign as well, and would love to entertain the company of another lady. I’m sure she would enjoy having you over for tea.”

“I would like that,” Eri smiles back. 

He bows to her politely before taking his leave, and as she watches him go, Eri thinks to herself that she may have just made her first friend in the Sengoku period.

Previous Chapter (Three): Lucky Charm | Next Chapter (Five): The Chatelaine of Azuchi

[kissmetwicekissmedeadly]

(stuff from motonari's route)

Actually it's kind of amusing when you're burnt out like me and you read a route super slowly. It's been more than an year now but im still on chapter 5 of motonari's route, so in my head I've been his prisoner for that long. When they had a war council now, i was like "oh. Mitsuhide will finally get suspicious of him. I believe in him. Cmon, it's been so long you gotta be noticing something isn't right!!" LMAO it's funny, it's almost as if im stuck with motonari and we're just living together but without the crazy angst and things happening all the time. It's like we're bored out of our minds in the moments when he's not acting upon his evil plots and we're playing silly sleepover games together to pass the time (it's funny because I'm having the prisoner collar on the whole time)

[spopsys-archive]

<3 | Ikemen Sengoku

<3 | Oda Nobunaga

| Touch starved MC (platonically and romantically)

Fluff/ comfort drabbles | Hideyoshi, Nobunaga and Mitsuhide (separate) | TW family mention, brief mentions/allusions to neglect

| MC who loves animals

Headcanon | Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi, Masamune and Yukimura (separate) | No TW

| What kind of ASMR they would do

Headcanon | Oda warlords (separate) | TW ASMR

| Thinking that MC is dead

Headcanon | Nobunaga and Mitsuhide (separate) | TW death, death of a loved one/ lover, unhealthy coping mechanisms, self blame, self hatred/ loathing, self neglect, intrusive thoughts, mentions/ suggestions of depression

| Semi-realism artist MC

Headcanon | Yoshimoto, Nobunaga, Shingen and Kenshin (separate) | TW minor possessiveness

| Hot and charming MC that's actually a demon

Headcanon | Nobunaga, Masamune and Yukimura (separate) | TW allusions to religion and hell

- — — — <3

<3 | Toyotomi Hideyoshi

| Touch starved MC (platonically and romantically)

Fluff/ comfort drabbles | Hideyoshi, Nobunaga and Mitsuhide (separate) | TW family mention, brief mentions/allusions to neglect

| MC who loves animals

Headcanon | Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi, Masamune and Yukimura (separate) | No TW

| What kind of ASMR they would do

Headcanon | Oda warlords (separate) | TW ASMR

| MC who is a trained knight

Headcanon | Lancelot, Mitsunari, Hideyoshi and Napoleon (separate) | TW mentions of fighting

| Emotional and dramatic MC

Headcanon | Mitsunari, Ranmaru, Shingen, Hideyoshi and leyasu (separate) | TW self doubt, crying

| MC secretly in a night fight club

Headcanon | Hideyoshi, Ranmaru and Kenshin (separate) | TW fighting, lying/ keeping secrets

| MC with imposter syndrome

Headcanon | Shingen, Hideyoshi and Mitsunari (separate) | TW self doubt, imposter syndrome

- — — — <3

<3 | Akechi Mitsuhide

| Don't make me leave

Angst fic | TW breakdowns, angst

| Touch starved MC (platonically and romantically)

Fluff/ comfort drabbles | Hideyoshi, Nobunaga and Mitsuhide (separate) | TW family mention, brief mentions/allusions to neglect

| MC who loves animals

Headcanon | Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi, Masamune and Yukimura (separate) | No TW

| What kind of ASMR they would do

Headcanon | Oda warlords (separate) | TW ASMR

| Thinking that MC is dead

Headcanon | Nobunaga and Mitsuhide (separate) | TW death, death of a loved one/ lover, unhealthy coping mechanisms, self blame, self hatred/ loathing, self neglect, intrusive thoughts, mentions/ suggestions of depression

| Cold and calculating MC

Headcanon | Mitsuhide, Kichou and Sasuke (separate) | TW mentions of corruption, mentions of plans to murder people/ murder plots, minor spoilers for Kichou

| Pushing MC away and becoming jealous when she gets close to another warlord

Headcanon | Kenshin and Mitsuhide (separate) | TW war/ fighting/ death/ threat mentions, jealousy

- — — — <3

<3 | Date Masamune

| Limit

Angst fic | TW hurricane/ destruction mention/ imagery, assumed unrequited love, mentions of playing with a person's feelings/ leading someone on, arguing, crying

| Lingering warmth

Fluff fic | TW food mention

| MC who loves animals

Headcanon | Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi, Masamune and Yukimura (separate) | No TW

| What kind of ASMR they would do

Headcanon | Oda warlords (separate) | TW ASMR

| Simplistic/ non-materialistic MC who doesn’t care about money

Headcanon | Oliver, Comte, Jean, Masamune and Zero (separate) | TW insecurity

| Hot and charming MC that's actually a demon

Headcanon | Nobunaga, Masamune and Yukimura (separate) | TW allusions to religion and hell

- — — — <3

<3 | Ishida Mitsunari

| What kind of ASMR they would do

Headcanon | Oda warlords (separate) | TW ASMR

| MC who is a trained knight

Headcanon | Lancelot, Mitsunari, Hideyoshi and Napoleon (separate) | TW mentions of fighting

| Pronoun and sexuality headcanons

Headcanon | Mitsunari, Kicho, leyasu and Keiji (separate) | No TW

| Emotional and dramatic MC

Headcanon | Mitsunari, Ranmaru, Shingen, Hideyoshi and leyasu (separate) | TW self doubt, crying

| MC with imposter syndrome

Headcanon | Shingen, Hideyoshi and Mitsunari (separate) | TW self doubt, imposter syndrome

- — — — <3

<3 | Tokugawa Ieyasu

| What kind of ASMR they would do

Headcanon | Oda warlords (separate) | TW ASMR

| Pronoun and sexuality headcanons

Headcanon | Mitsunari, Kicho, leyasu and Keiji (separate) | No TW

| Emotional and dramatic MC

Headcanon | Mitsunari, Ranmaru, Shingen, Hideyoshi and leyasu (separate) | TW self doubt, crying

- — — — <3

<3 | Mori Ranmaru

| What kind of ASMR they would do

Headcanon | Oda warlords (separate) | TW ASMR

| Emotional and dramatic MC

Headcanon | Mitsunari, Ranmaru, Shingen, Hideyoshi and leyasu (separate) | TW self doubt, crying

| MC secretly in a night fight club

Headcanon | Hideyoshi, Ranmaru and Kenshin (separate) | TW fighting, lying/ keeping secrets

- — — — <3

<3 | Maeda Keiji

| Pronoun and sexuality headcanons

Headcanon | Mitsunari, Kicho, leyasu and Keiji (separate) | No TW

- — — — <3

<3 | Uesugi Kenshin

| Come back to me

Comfort fic | TW dissociation, mentions of flashbacks

| Slow down

Comfort fic | TW dissociation, mentions of flashbacks, allusions to trauma

| Asthmatic MC

Headcanon | Kenshin and Shingen | TW asthma, asthma attack, suffocation, crying, panic/ panic attack

| Semi-realism artist MC

Headcanon | Yoshimoto, Nobunaga, Shingen and Kenshin (separate) | TW minor possessiveness

| MC secretly in a night fight club

Headcanon | Hideyoshi, Ranmaru and Kenshin (separate) | TW fighting, lying/ keeping secrets

| Pushing MC away and becoming jealous when she gets close to another warlord

Headcanon | Kenshin and Mitsuhide (separate) | TW war/ fighting/ death/ threat mentions, jealousy

- — — — <3

<3 | Takeda Shingen

| You don't need to be my soulmate

Fluff fic | TW bullying mention, insecurity mention

| Asthmatic MC

Headcanon | Kenshin and Shingen | TW asthma, asthma attack, suffocation, crying, panic/ panic attack

| Semi-realism artist MC

Headcanon | Yoshimoto, Nobunaga, Shingen and Kenshin (separate) | TW minor possessiveness

| Emotional and dramatic MC

Headcanon | Mitsunari, Ranmaru, Shingen, Hideyoshi and leyasu (separate) | TW self doubt, crying

| MC with imposter syndrome

Headcanon | Shingen, Hideyoshi and Mitsunari (separate) | TW self doubt, imposter syndrome

- — — — <3

<3 | Sanada Yukimura

| MC who loves animals

Headcanon | Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi, Masamune and Yukimura (separate) | No TW

| Hot and charming MC that's actually a demon

Headcanon | Nobunaga, Masamune and Yukimura (separate) | TW allusions to religion and hell

- — — — <3

<3 | Sarutobi Sasuke

| Cold and calculating MC

Headcanon | Mitsuhide, Kichou and Sasuke (separate) | TW mentions of corruption, mentions of plans to murder people/ murder plots, minor spoilers for Kichou

- — — — <3

<3 | Imagawa Yoshimoto

| Semi-realism artist MC

Headcanon | Yoshimoto, Nobunaga, Shingen and Kenshin (separate) | TW minor possessiveness

- — — — <3

<3 | Naoe Kanetsugu

None yet

- — — — <3

<3 | Kennyo

None yet

- — — — <3

<3 | Mori Motonari

None yet

- — — — <3

<3 | Kichou

| Next time

Gen fic | No TW

| Pronoun and sexuality headcanons

Headcanon | Mitsunari, Kicho, leyasu and Keiji (separate) | No TW

| Cold and calculating MC

Headcanon | Mitsuhide, Kichou and Sasuke (separate) | TW mentions of corruption, mentions of plans to murder people/ murder plots, minor spoilers for Kichou

- — — — <3

<3 | Mai (MC)

| A love better left unsaid

Angst fic | TW unrequited love

| MC who's very uncomfortable around men

Headcanon | Mai and Alice (separate) | TW allusions to misogyny, anxiety

| Mai as a warlord

Headcanon | TW war and all things pertaining to it, mentions of sedatives and drugs

- — — — <3

<3 | All

| Those are old traditions

Gen fic | TW mentions of drowning, mentions of fighting, mentions of manipulation (MC is a siren)

| What if MC was sent to the same time as Sasuke?

Headcanon | No TW

| Completely out of context things l've said or thought while playing the ikesen prologue

No TW

| Who I think would be the best brother

Headcanon | No TW

| Rating Ikesen characters based on how badly I want to fight them

TW mentions of fighting/ injury

| Rating Ikesen characters based on their shoes

No TW

[natimiles]

Ieyasu, Mistuhide and Mistunari being my favorites... I feel targeted HAUSHAUAHAHSUAHA.

I am small and too sarcastic for my own good.

I ENVY Mitsuhide's eyelashes SO MUCH and I'm really dramatic when I want to, but I don't read much angst.

And I think Mitsunari is an angel that need all the protection and hugs in the whole world. And Luka is my fave HAUAHAUAHAUAH

What your favorite Ikemen Sengoku character says about you (crack)

Tag yourself, I'm Masamune...

(Please don't take this seriously or get offended, this is just for fun.)

[sh0jun]

Sho I need to ask a question to you and answer it.

Am I fucked up if I somehow keep writing my oc, Amaryllis and Ranmaru angst? Cause I’m writing their interaction as them being lovers which was suppose to be all lovely and dovey , YET I MADE THE TONE TO BE SAD! Please, I really need to know if I’m fucked up inside or not if I keep writing angst on what supposed to be a love and comforting tone

Oh you poor thing :)

It's okay it's a coping mechanism of our brain <3

You know my oc hekima and Mitsuhide. They also have a good ending! A nice happy marriage

But I've made this earth shattering (for her) au that is going to tear lives apart

And no that doesn't make me fucked up

That means I love her dearly 😘

And that means you love Amaryllis dearly too. Because let's be honest. Which good story doesn't have a bit of angst? I mean if you wanna see a professional example you can just look at jujutsu kaisen (I'm not in the fandom but shit is happening there. A lot of shit)

Lemme send you my idea so you can see my point :)