#mitsun comes after him~~

[daeva-agas]

Hideyoshi’s Tenka birthday cutscene

Everyone’s gathered in the Main Hall to celebrate. Mitsunari says no one is allowed to leave the whole day, and everyone’s is like “are you serious”. Kanbei comments that it’s barely after noon, so like, the whole day is gonna be a long one.

Nobubu and Shibata sent gifts. Did Akechu and Inu send any? I hope they do. 

So I guess the “feeling gift packages to guess what’s inside” is the theme. Mitsunari hands Hideyoshi one, and says “the one from me is definitely something you like”.

Masanori notices that something’s off, but Kiyomasa shushed him (clearly whatever it is must be from Kiyomasa). Hideyoshi touches the gift. It’s fabric and has strings... it’s a fundoshi. Mitsun quickly assures him that ISN’T his present. Kiyomasa just laughs.

Kanbei gives it s feel, and is like... “wow this is REALLY skimpy, this will fall off easily”.

Hideyoshi: “then when can I even wear something like that D:”

Kiyomasa: “During the Big Battles *wink wink*” (bedroom ahem “wrestling”)

Kanbei says don’t, because it will be a bother if it comes off during battle. Masanori says “not THAT kind of battle” while blushing. Mitsunari gets mad, and Kiyomasa tells him he can give him one too. Mitsun doesn’t want one but Kiyomasa says “it’s matching Hideyoshi’s”

Mitsun starts considering it while Hide is like “hey you should be getting mad at this” LMAO. In this house lords do not appreciate fanboying vassals. Nobu doesn’t like Akechu fawning, Hide doesn’t like Mitsun fawning, Mitsun doesn’t like Sakon fawning. Simping is verbotten XD

Anyway, Hide says it looks like the year will be fun as always while the squad do their usual silly comments. Hide can needle everyone around, but he’s weak against Kiyomasa LOLOL. Kiyomasa is 1000000x more chaotic.

[ikesenhell]

Reunion

AMERICAN DREAM, Chapter 3. You can find all other IkeSen works of mine here. NOTES: Thanks to @missjudge-me for commissioning this! As always, I’m calling @a-shout-to-the-void IEYASU out in my work. 

---

Neither of them wanted to stop for the night, so they didn't. “It’s only, what, one day of straight driving?” He’d reasoned. She took over the Camaro and he snoozed in the passenger seat, lulled to sleep by ‘Journey of the Sorcerer’ by the Eagles humming under the droning road. Light streamed golden-orange through the windshield when he woke. 

“Hey there, sleepy,” she murmured. “Want some coffee?”

Masamune grunted assent, stretching out. “Fuck, it used to be a lot easier to sleep in the car.”

“We all used to be a lot younger.”

That was true. Still road-tired, he lolled his head to the side and rested it on her arm. She was warm and solid, scented like spices, the warm fabric of her flannel cushioning his forehead. Unbidden, he wondered what it would be like to wake up to her every day. 

Maryland was bright and sunny. They reached Ieyasu’s house around five a.m., a quaint, brick rancher in the outskirts of Baltimore. One very awake Mitsunari let them in (“I still haven’t recovered from jet lag and Tanzania’s time zone—hello!”) and they crashed in a heap on the plush grey couch. By noon, he woke to banging in the nearby kitchen. 

“Mitsunari, I said put that away, not dump it on the tiles—”

“—I’m so sorry, let me clean it up—”

“No! I don’t trust you with the damn broom, go sit down or find a turnip field and bury yourself in it again, clearly you’re underripe—”

Just like old times. Masamune grunted and rolled off the couch. She still napped on the other end, buried in decorative pillows and a blanket. “‘Yasu?”

Sure enough, the blonde peered grumpily from the nearby kitchen, dustpan in hand. Against the canary yellow walls, his green eyes were piercing. “Great, now you’re up. Now I have to deal with two idiots staggering around my kitchen.”

“Great to see you again, too. What’s going on?”

Mitsunari sheepishly set a tin on the counter. “I spilled green tea everywhere.”

“That was my fault,” Ieyasu groused. “I’m the idiot who forgot about Mitsunari’s inability to hold things. I can’t believe I forgot. Two years, and I went forgetting. What a wonderful two years it was, too.”

Either the other man didn't get the hint, or he looked straight past Ieyasu’s barbed tongue to the affection deep below the surface. “It was fun, getting to write you and send you pictures. You kept me very up to date.”

Masamune crowed with laughter, making his way to the refrigerator to poke around. “Did he now?”

Ears flaming, Ieyasu ducked behind the counter and scraped the scattered leaves from the tile. “He’s the only one who knows where the hell to find half of the reference books I needed for medical school and where to pirate them—”

“I swear Mitsuhide knows how to do that.”

Ieyasu didn't respond. Instead he dumped the leaves into the garbage. “Well, are you gonna stand out there and run your mouth, or should we get a move on and go to the grocery store while she’s still asleep? I figured we’d need some stuff before the others get here.”

Peering over the doorway with a bottle of orange juice, Masamune frowned. “Others?”

“Well, yeah, dumbass. You really didn't think we weren’t gonna get the other guys down here for a visit, did you?”

“On such short notice?”

Ieyasu froze, eyes wide and searching, desperately avoiding Masamune’s gaze. “I mean—can’t—are you the only person allowed to make spur of the moment choices?”

But Masamune turned his eyes slowly over to Mitsunari, finally understanding. “I’m pretty sure the Kitten and I weren’t the catalyst for inviting the others over…”

“I—no.” 

“Hey, Mitsun.” Masamune overrode the stuttering Ieyasu. “Was it your idea to come here?”

Mitsunari glanced up from his mug of tea. “No, Ieyasu kindly offered his house when he learned I was coming back.”

“Listen,” Ieyasu managed. “Listen, that disaster is our responsibility now. We can’t just pawn him off on the unsuspecting public.” 

“Right.” Grinning, Masamune swigged from the bottle of orange juice (ignoring Ieyasu’s annoyance) and shunted it back into the refrigerator. “Well, if the old crew is getting back together tonight, you’re damn right. Let’s get to the store.”

---

She was awake when they all came back, laden down with (“Entirely too fucking many,” Ieyasu complained) groceries. Her hair was slick from the shower, cheeks shiny with moisture and flushed from recent sleep. Masamune switched all his bags to one arm and pulled her in by the waist. 

“Mornin’, Sleeping Beauty.” He punctuated it with a kiss on her forehead. 

“Let me live.” Swatting him away, she grinned. “And you’ll never guess who I just let in—”

“Masamune!”

“God,” Ieyasu deadpanned, hoisting his bags onto the countertop. “Just letting strangers into my house.”

Mitsuhide chuckled, stirring some thick, soupy concoction in a glass. Masamune dreaded what it might be. “I’m strange?”

“Yes. Is this a trick question?”

“Good to see you again, brother.” Masamune fist bumped the other man. He hadn’t changed; if anything, age only accented the weirdest parts of him. It seemed like every year, Mitsuhide got lankier and more ethereal, white eyelashes too long to be human. 

“Ieyasu.” Nobunaga rounded the corner, holding aloft an opened container of protein powder. That explained the mysterious substance in Mitsuhide’s glass. “This stuff tastes like ass.”

Ieyasu rolled his eyes. “So you’ve tasted ass?”

Both Mitsuhide and Nobunaga cocked a mild brow. “Yes?”

“God damn, I didn't want to know—”

“It’s a popular request,” Mitsunari chimed in, shutting the garage door behind him. “It’s grown in popularity over the last—”

“What are we talking about?!” Hideyoshi emerged from the hall bathroom, wringing his wet hands and looking utterly alarmed. 

“No!” Ieyasu cupped his hands over his ears and fled to the other side of the kitchen. “I don’t want to hear any more from anyone about eating ass!”

Time was kind to them. Nobunaga had grown into the imperious smile he’d always worn, eyes flashing sharp over a long nose. Hideyoshi still possessed all of his world-weary charm, the faintest crease between his eyebrows. “New York is treating you guys alright, huh?” Masamune asked, planting himself on a barstool. 

“Of course,” Nobunaga laughed. “Why wouldn’t it?”

“Dunno. Figured that Hideyoshi might have an aneurysm about the subway system by now.”

Apparently he’d hit a nerve. Hideyoshi strangled the air. “Why is the L train always down—?”

“Alright!” She swept in, clasping Hideyoshi’s hands in hers, grinning like the summer in full bloom. The effect was immediate; all the other men relaxed, lounging around the kitchen. How did she do that? Masamune knew she was talking (her mouth was moving), but the words floated away. Hideyoshi looked so soft in her grip. God, he hoped Hideyoshi didn't try anything with her. 

Where the hell did that thought come from?

“Earth to Masa.” Ieyasu waved a hand. “Did you hear anything?”

“Nah. Wasn’t listening. What’s up?”

The blonde rolled his eyes. “I literally asked if you wanted to make burgers for the bonfire tonight.”

“Bonfire?” Mitsuhide smiled. “That sounds excellent.”

“No lighting anything on fire like last time,” Hideyoshi warned, his shoulders tensing again. “You almost burned down the house with Nobunaga inside!”

“I assure you, that wasn’t my fault. Would that you believed me.”

“Well who the fuck else was watching the fire—”

“If you two are gonna fight, I’m just gonna…” Masamune rolled up his sleeves and plucked her from the floor, flinging her over his shoulders. “Borrow the kitten as my personal assistant tonight. How about that?”

“We’ll get the firewood together then.” Nobunaga waved him off. “And let you two to it.”

Hideyoshi hovered still. “Do you need any help? I’m not a master chef or anything, but I can be a pair of hands.”

Masamune almost took him up on it. But then she pulled back her hair—a long, languid movement that showed the curve of her back—and he shook his head. “Nah. We’ll manage. You go do things about, like, fire safety.”

That was the magic sentence. Those hazel eyes went large, and Hideyoshi nodded, purpose renewed. “You’re right. Let me know if you change your mind.”

Just like that, the two of them were alone again. She tittered and slid the bag of golden potatoes to him. “Need these peeled, chef?”

“Nah. Just washed. Throw on some tunes, would you?”

Her grin should have warned him, but he still wasn’t prepared for Neon Trees to echo in the kitchen. Masamune grinned and slapped the ground beef onto the cutting board. “What a fucking throwback. Is that Habits?”

“Yeah!” She dumped all of the potatoes in the sink. “Do you remember dancing to this in the car?”

Did he ever. They used to take Hideyoshi’s hand-me-down mom van (the only car that would fit all of them) out to the Oda Family property on the river, parking it in the field and lounging on blow up mattresses they’d pooled for at Target. Everything played on those busted car speakers: Neon Trees, old Panic! At the Disco, Chevelle, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, Radiohead, Foo Fighters. Mitsuhide tricked Mitsunari and her into jumping in the water one night, and she was so mad and wet that Masamune stripped off all his clothes and put them on her, riding home in his boxers. 

“Yeah,” Masamune laughed. “I don’t think I ever got my pants back from you.”

“You got the pants back. I never gave you your hoodie back, though.”

“Shit, you’re right. Whatever happened to it?”

She hesitated over the sink, a funny, strangled smile on her mouth. “I turned it into a pillow.”

He froze. “Did you?”

“Yeah. Put it over a throw and tied the edges. I had it on my bed all the way through college.”

“Where is it now?”

She shrugged. After a long moment, she chuckled. “Would you judge me if I said I still had it?”

“No.” It wasn’t like him to stop, but he’d stopped, knife poised, a head of garlic ready for mincing and hands still. What did that mean? Savage pleasure surged in his stomach and he couldn’t place why. He’d always been protective of her. Right? Was that it? Just some misplaced neurons firing? “Not really, Kitten, no. I’m alright with that.” A beat. “It probably doesn’t fit me anymore anyway, you know? Might as well stay a pillow.”

Still she didn't look his way. Instead, she grabbed her phone and flipped on Caramelldansen, and he roared with laughter. “Hell!” 

As a unit, they flung down their utensils and danced. Adult bodies were different, but the chemistry was the same. He abandoned his station and flung her into his arms, the water still rushing down the drain over the potatoes. She squealed. 

“Could you guys not run up my water bill?” Ieyasu reemerged over the counter, knocking the faucet down. “If you’re gonna be distracted—”

“Sorry!” Her smile was infectious. “Let me just get back to those.”

His body cooled so quickly when she parted. Ieyasu hovered a moment longer, his green eyes boring into Masamune’s good one. 

“What?” He asked, cracking half the cloves open with a practiced hand. Ieyasu shook his head. 

“Nothing.”

[descendent-of-the-sixth-heaven]

[Koro: Ooo that sounds nice~!! Koro loves hot chocolate~! ^w^]

[Shingen: *chuckles and pats Koro’s head while smiling at Selena* That’s a wonderful idea, Bluebird~~]

{Asahi: *sees his annoyed face and giggles* It’s not that~ I was just confused~ Geez, you’re too cute sometimes, ya know~? *pokes his cheek*}

{Laddu: *ears droop* Mew… *sadly curls up in Masamune’s arms*}

{Kotsuki: Great! I’d love to know more about him! Oh, and you too, Mr. Sebastian! ^^}

{Sebastian: *bows* Thank you, my lady.}

{Arthur: Heh~}

*they all walk out towards the dining room*

Zeest: *passing by Jean, Napo, Kotsuki, Sebas, Arthur, Dazai, and Mitsun, while her eyes are shadowed over*

{Dazai: Ah, Jee-Chan~!}

Selena: heh, I can prepare a snack for you two, sandwiches with hot chocolate sounds good after having fun in the snow.

————

*Ieyasu blushes, turning away so that she doesn’t see it*

Ieyasu: whatever, here is your plate.

*He gives her her bowl full with the vegetable soup and pieces of fish*

————

Masamune: you know, Laddu, things can get difficult. But we can cheer her up eventually, we just got to find what happened to her.

————

*Jean immediately looked at her*

Jean: Zeest, are you feeling unwell?

Napoleon: it’s breakfast, will you be coming with us?

Mitsunari: oh, hi Zeest!

[little-lady-mimi]

Usagi Saizo

Shippo ni sawaritainara tsukamaete mi na Ninjin aji no dango? Mogu mogu 

[ If you want to touch the tail, try to catch it ]

[ Carrot flavored dango? Munch munch ]

Usagi Ieyasu

Nani? Shippo sawattara iyana wake?  Mimi ni sawattara… korosu yo? 

[ What? Why I hate it when my tail is being touched? ]  >_< Not sure about this, could it be “(You ask me) the reason I hate my tail is touched?” too?

[ Touch my ears and...I’ll kill you? ]

[blue-and-dog]

His Father’s Eyes (A Sengoku Basara One-Shot)

(Feat: Ishida Mitsunari)

(Alternative title: Mitsun & Son)

(Illustration is a commission by @nekkyousagi​)

Their small home was deep in the mountains. Hidden away from prying eyes. Or any eyes, really.

A small, humble hideaway. Away from the chaos of human society; away from pointing fingers and anguished screams for vengeance; away from pitying gazes.

Koromaru let out a soft grunt as he felt a wet nose nudge his cheek; opening his eyes, the boy found a furry white face staring back at him.


“Shiranui...” he whispered, reaching up and placing a hand on the dog’s head as he sat up, looking around the room. His mother, younger brother and younger sister were all still asleep; his father was missing. Then again, he rarely ever saw his father asleep in bed; whenever he saw him asleep, his father had usually nodded off in some odd place around the house. Carefully, Koromaru crept out of the room, Shiranui slowly padding after him; when he entered the main area of the home, he saw his father at the front door, in the process of closing it behind him; he had a small knife sheathed at his side, and a bow and quiver on his back.

He paused as he spotted his son over his shoulder.

“...did I wake you?” he asked. Koromaru shook his head. “...I’m going to check the traps. I won’t be long.”

“Can I come?” Koromaru asked gently. His father paused again.

“I suppose,” he finally replied. Koromaru smiled a bit at this, nodding to Shiranui as the pair followed his father out the door, closing it behind them.

Ishida Mitsunari. The Dark King. Long since gone into hiding with his family since the Tokugawa Shogunate had been established. If anything, he would have died on the battlefield, in his lord’s name, where he felt he belonged.

But...by that point, he already had other obligations.

Koromaru’s father rarely smiled or, quite frankly, changed expression. There was an almost defeated emptiness to him; though he was alive, and with a wife and a legacy, he seemed still very lost and aimless. Koromaru’s mother once confided in him that his father had lost a great deal.

What sorts of things did he lose, he had asked.

A lot of things that meant everything to him. When he is ready, he will tell you, she had replied.

As Koromaru trailed after his father, watching his lean frame in the morning sun peeking through the treetops, he almost seemed like a spent wick, or discarded torch—a flame that had long since been extinguished.

In that moment, Shiranui suddenly took off at a sprint, vanishing like the wind around the bend.

“Seems he found his breakfast,” Mitsunari remarked. Silence. Mitsunari glanced at Koromaru, then kept walking.

Did he just try to start a conversation...? Koromaru thought.

“....like the wolf from the story,” Koromaru spoke up; Mitsunari seemed to twitch, almost in surprise, then looked back at him again, “Shiranui in the story was so fast he could evade nearly anything.”

“...yes.”

A classic tale told many times by Koromaru’s mother, to the wide-eyed attention of her children; the tale of the mysterious white wolf who helped a hero defeat an eight-headed serpent.

“...father, do you like that story?” Koromaru asked.

“...I don’t really care for fairy tales,” Mitsunari replied as he stepped over a creek; Koromaru instead walked right through it, “Reality is enough for me.”

“Really? But you listen when mom tells the story to the rest of us....”

“There’s no harm in it. Besides, you all like it. Enough to name the dog after it, even.”

Come to think of it, Mitsunari was usually off to the side doing something else whenever his wife entertained the children. Preparing traps to place outside, looking out at the stars....or cleaning that sword.

It was something he treasured more than anything; Koromaru’s mother had warned him and his siblings many times to never touch or play with it. The one time Koromaru had grabbed it out of curiosity was the one time he saw the light of unbridled rage in his father’s eyes. He snatched the sword from his son’s hand with one violent swipe; his knuckles were white from his grip on the scabbard. But, in that moment, he grit his teeth, clenched his fist, lowered his head, and sent Koromaru out of the room with a single-worded command. When Koromaru saw him next, he was merely reminded not to touch his father’s things. His father’s eyes were dull again.

His recollection was broken by the sound of a faint snap; he looked down to see his father kneeling by a snare trap, picking up a now-dead rabbit.

“It’s a good size,” Mitsunari remarked to nobody in particular as he raised the rabbit to eye-level. He glanced to Koromaru, then looked up as he heard Shiranui’s footfalls; the dog came to a stop before him. “I take it you’re quite finished?”

The dog merely sneezed. Mitsunari snorted, then looked back to his son. “We’ll see if we can get some pheasants, too.”

“I don’t see them around here much...” Koromaru replied.

“There’s an area lower on the mountain. I usually prefer to go down there with just Shiranui, to flush them out. Typically the sun is barely up when I go down there...but we should be fine.”

There shouldn’t be anyone traveling around there, he thought. Please, please, let there be no prying eyes.

“Come on,” he continued, “I’ll show you, but you have to be quiet when we get there. They frighten easily.”

Koromaru had faintly seen a glimmer of something in his father’s eyes as he spoke more freely. Like he was letting his son in on his methods. A master passing down his wisdom. Mitsunari placed the dead rabbit in a sack, passing it to his son to carry.

Mitsunari began to lead Koromaru down a winding path, Shiranui bringing up the rear; the trip was made in (mostly) silence, until...

“Koro.” Mitsunari spoke up. Koromaru flinched, then looked at him in surprise. Mitsunari seemed briefly surprised at *his* surprise.

“Koro...?” Koromaru echoed.

“That’s what Tatsuhime calls you, isn’t it? Is there a problem?”

True, his younger sister preferred to shorten his name. But Mitsunari didn’t seem the type to use nicknames, so why...?

“N-no. It’s fine. What is it?”

“...why did you ask to come with me today? You’ve been up around the same time I was leaving many times before and you’ve never asked to come.”

The question caused Koromaru to pause for a moment. Then, he swallowed. “I....”

“...is something the matter?” Mitsunari stopped as well, turning to face his son.

“..no...it’s just...there’s so much I want to ask you...” he admitted. “I just...can never think of a good time...or something comes up...”

“You wanted to speak to me alone,” Mitsunari concluded. There was that glint of something in his eyes again. Surprise? Intrigue?

“...yeah.”

“...I see. Let’s see what we can catch, then I’ll see if I can answer your questions.”

The pair reached a clearing lower on the mountain, bathed in the morning sun; the brush was twitching with life. Mitsunari removed the bow from his back, nocking an arrow.

“Watch,” he whispered. He clicked his tongue; Shiranui was off in a flash, his white form cleaving through the brush as critters began to flee their shelter. A flash of feathers, and Mitsunari exhaled and fired; the arrow found its target, sending a pheasant crashing to the ground as Shiranui retrieved its carcass moments later, bringing it back to the pair. Mitsunari took the pheasant from Shiranui, looking back at Koromaru.

“Well?”

Koromaru blinked, then nodded. “...I wish I could hunt like that. You’re amazing.”

Mitsunari scoffed. “I’ve missed plenty of times. Archery isn’t my strong suit. Do you want to try?”

“Huh? But Shiranui already scared away the animals...”

“It’ll just be a practice shot.” Mitsunari held out the bow, staring hard at his son. Koromaru’s eyes met his piercing gaze; something had ignited in his father’s eyes. Fascination? A hint of excitement? After a moment’s hesitation, Koromaru took the bow.

“You’re going to aim for the knothole on that tree over there,” Mitsunari pointed, “Start by turning your body sideways.”

As Koromaru followed his father’s instruction, Mitsunari crouched behind him; he reached out and grabbed his son’s left foot. “Relax,” he instructed, as he adjusted Koromaru’s footing to a wider stance. Helping Koromaru nock an arrow, he took his son’s right hand. “You have to hold it with three fingers, tight as you can. You’re going to draw it until your right hand is behind your ear.”

“Okay,” Koromaru muttered, nodding once. Mitsunari guided his hands as he drew the bowstring, past his right ear.

“Steady,” Mitsunari whispered. “Exhale....and fire.”

Right as Koromaru released he string, he felt a burning hot pain at his ear, dropping the bow and grabbing his ear as he doubled over in pain.

“You held it too close to your ear,” Mitsunari stated as he picked up the bow, “A beginner mistake. Understandable, but I’m certain you won’t be making that mistake again. Take a few deep breaths.”

Koromaru did as he was told, breathing heavily, but finally deeply, until he stood up straight, wiping his eyes. He saw Mitsunari pulling the arrow out of the tree.

“You missed the knothole, but you did hit the tree. Not bad for a first shot.” Mitsunari walked over to his son, who was now trying to keep Shiranui from licking his face.

“Ah—!” Koromaru pushed the dog back. “Stop! Your breath smells like death!”

“Death smells far worse,” Mitsunari remarked, “Come on. We’re going home.”

“Yes....” Koromaru picked up the bag now containing the rabbit and pheasant. “Will this be enough?”

“It’ll be plenty. We still have to see what we can harvest, too. You’ll be helping me with that.”

His father was much more talkative than usual, now. With a brief whistle, Mitsunari nodded to Shiranui, who began to follow the pair back up the mountain path.

“Father,” Koromaru began, “can I ask you something?”

“Depends on what it is. But I did agree to answer whatever question you had, so go ahead.” Mitsunari didn’t look back, continuing to lead his son home.

“...are you sad?”

“...how do you mean?”

“...you never smile, and...your eyes always seem kind of....” he struggled for the word.

“Kind of what?”

“...empty.”

Mitsunari stopped walking at that, but didn’t turn around.

“...I’m not quite sure how to answer that, Koro.”

“...Mother said you’ve been through a lot and lost a lot, but...”

“...those are details you don’t need to know. They don’t matter now. But...just because I don’t smile, doesn’t mean I’m not content. I have you and your siblings, and I have your mother. There are few other things I could ask for.”

The answer seemed almost...half-hearted. But, there was still something there in his eyes, as he looked back at his son.

“When you become a man, there will come a day that there will be no one to give you instruction and guide you, and every decision you make will affect those around you. I have made decisions both good and bad. And people have suffered for it...perhaps rightfully so. Despite my attempts otherwise, sometimes these dark memories, these wretched reminders, come creeping back into the front of my mind, clawing their way back in front of my eyes. In those moments...I suppose I am sad.”

Koromaru listened to his father, frowning and dropping his shoulders a bit.

Then, Mitsunari spoke again.

“But, it’s funny.”

Koromaru tilted his head, as Mitsunari, in a rare moment of affection, placed a hand atop his boy’s head.

“Up until now, I hadn’t really thought about that today.”

Mitsunari pulled away, continuing up the path, Shiranui padding after him. Koromaru watched him in silence, then followed after.

To try and nurture that flicker in his father’s eyes.

[mitsunerokuyari]

Letter

Mitsune did not recieve mail like most individuals. Every once in a while he would get some from those he did jobs for or payment after completing a contract. For the both of them, Kihta received the most mail, much of it coming from her brother Koh’li. However, he recevied a letter that was unike anything else he had got before. It was sealed in paper only found in Doma, with a seal used by those that send mail from Shirogane.

This might come as a strange letter out of nowhere but I’ve been looking for you, Mitsune. I’ve been researching and looking for you for a long time and I wasn’t certain I would be able to. Our entire family has been searching ever since you disappeared on the night grandfather died. I want to meet you brother, and I hope we can soon. Just let me know when is best.

- Kiyomoro Rokuyari

Mitunse narrowed his eyes in disbelief as he peered over the letter. He leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes in thought as he started to get light headed. He put the letter back on the table before leaning over and peering to the open window. Was this a trap or was this really his family reaching out to him? He didn’t want to shut it out if it was true but he also did not want to be duped into some kind of trap.

Kihta looked to Mitsune and walked over to him, putting her hand on his shoulder before wrapping her arms around him, “Mitsune, are you okay?”

“It’s my brother. He’s alive...”

@nocturnedreaming​ mentions

[saizoswifey]

Holy Heck... I mean, is Ieyasu alright? I guess after the first death he must have been pretty shook and he hated the one that was beheaded but still... How, why is he like that?

he...

is not okay 

[ramble]

I’m about to get to the intrigue but I feel a fucking storm a’brewin. 

Nobunaga’s death shook him to his fucking core. Then Tadatsugu passed his one anchor aside from MC. Then he had to watch Hideyoshi die of illness and he tried to hide how hard that was for him but he couldn’t even bring himself to visit sick Hide and then after he passed he kept having visions/memories of Nobunaga talking about divine rule and what he(ieyasu) would do if he got it which was giving him anxiety to think like okay I can take this but even the person I looked up to even someone like him ended up dying without grasping it. 

Then Yasumasa dies in the battle that gained him divine rule finally. And he couldnt even celebrate he just emptily told MC that night in their room after coming home like “I won...” all softe and MC is like “Yes, you did” and hes like “thats good...im happy” but it was fucking void of all emotion at all like robotic he is numb AF and THENNN, of course, he had to take out Mitsun and he reeeeally didn’t want to do it (I mean earlier in the route he had captured Mitsunari and despite protests from his retainers to just kill him then he let Mitsunari go) it was so upsetting but Mitsunari was like its fine Ieyasu, you won the battle and are divine ruler fair and square just do it I’ll report back to Hideyoshi now (sob) and then after that was done Ieyasu came back home even more of a fucking empty shell and during their little victory feast MC notices Ieyasu is gone and she has a terrible feeling about this 

so she goes to his room and hears him basically wrecking his fucking room and ripping books apart like sobbing/breathing all heavy. This boy is having a fucking mental breakdown rn I feel so terrible for him I’m so nervous for the next part but I think MC has got this handled she’s going to be there for him and help him get through this hnnnnnng GDI 

[mythiica]

Congrats on all your followers ! Can I get a scenario or mini fic of a drunken MC after a really hard day or maybe they got in a fight and her having to be literally pulled away along with some smut? Nobunaga and Mitsunari or you choose which one. ❤️ you

Title: Drunk MC + Suggestive Mini Fics

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku

Character: Nobunaga Oda, Mitsuhide Ishida

Genre: Romance, smut

Warnings: honhonhon

Kinks: idk they dont do the hard bang bang but they almost xd

Intended Gender Audience: Female Audience

Word Count: nobu one = 980 words, mitsun = 1135 words

POV: second person w/ (Y/n)

Other comments: i ended up cutting the smutty smut short because i have a lot of other ;) requests and i dont wanna burn out LOL. still though, i hope you like it <3

Nobunaga Oda – Put the Sake Down

“My lord, we’re… having problems removing Lady (Y/n) from the dining hall. She has armed herself with a broken sake bottle, and we are worried that she might injure herself on accident.”

          Nobunaga looks up in disbelief and laughs. “Really?”

         The vassal nods enthusiastically. “She is asking for you.”

         “Is she now?”

         He stands from his spot and follows the worried vassal through the winding hallways. Even though the hall is still a few buildings away, he can hear you shouting.

         Nobunaga leans against the doorway of the dining hall and watches you swing around in circles, wielding a half shattered bottle in one hand. He did not really believe his vassal when they said that this was happening… but seeing it in real life… Nobunaga could barely contain himself.

         When you hear him laughing, you swing around and shoot him a deadly glare. “The hells are you laughing at?”

         He saunters forward despite his servants advising against it. “You, of course. You’re making a fool of yourself. Put the sake down and come down here.”

         Shocked by his words, you shove the bottle towards him and give Nobunaga your best threatening glare. “I’m not getting down! I’m the queen of this castle here,” you declare. “And don’t try to take that away from me.” To conclude your speech, you wave the glass at Nobunaga, and it comes dangerously close to his face. However, your movements are retarded by the alcohol in your system, so Nobunaga casually catches your wrist and pulls you down from the table. “Hey! No! Let me go!” you shriek as you try to squirm away from his grip

         “Now, now. If you’re the queen, that would suggest that you are mine,” Nobunaga replies with a sly smirk. “Afterall, I am the Devil King.”

         You relax your muscles and fall against Nobunaga’s chest. His warmth envelops you, so you bury your face into his clothing, trying to inhale his musky scent. He takes the bottle from your hand and gives it to a servant to throw away. “You’re so cozy… like a cuddly bear…”

         Nobunaga tries to pry you off, but you wrap your arms around his waist. You are surprisingly strong when you are drunk, so Nobunaga flicks your forehead. “Don’t drool on my clothes.”

         “But it will improve them,” you whine.          Sighing, Nobunaga hoists you up bridal style and walks you back to the tenshu. He places you down on his futon and wraps you in the blanket. When he turns to leave, you catch the edge of his haori and tug on it. So Nobunaga turns around and looks at you. “What is it?”

         You play with the fabric and give him a sad face. “I saw you talking with Lady Nōhime today… she is very beautiful.”

         Nobunaga raises an eyebrow.

         “And Hideyoshi said there…” you swallow, “are talks of marriage between the two of you.” You try to swallow your cries, but tears begin to trickle down your face. Sobs bubble in your chest and you pull his haori harder, trying to bring Nobunaga towards you. Realizing how weak you likely look, you hide your face in the futon and close your eyes.

         After a moment, you feel Nobunaga patting your head gently. You look up and nearly headbutt him in the face because he is so close to you. His caramel eyes are filled with emotion, and Nobunaga tucks his finger under your jaw to push your head upwards. “Don’t cry,” he whispers with a pleading voice. “Is that why you got drunk?”

        “Yes…” you confess sheepishly.

        Nobunaga exhales slowly and brings your hand – the hand he claimed from a game of go – to his lips. When he presses a kiss to your skin, all of your worries seem to melt away. “She came with a proposal on behalf of her father, but in actuality, Mitsuhide is investigating her. People talk, and there are whispers that she might in fact be a spy or an assassin.” He strokes your cheek comfortingly. “I don’t plan to marry her.”

        Relief washes over you and you nuzzle Nobunaga’s hand. “Good,” you mumble, still under the influence of the alcohol. “I really made a fool of myself, didn’t I?”

        Nobunaga laughs and nods. “Queen of the castle, eh? I don’t recall the wedding.”

        “What we- oh.”

        He presses his forehead against yours and tucks his arm around you. “Would you care to remind me how the night went?”

        You sit up slightly, pushing your hand against his chest. “You know that we didn’t actually get married, right?”

        Nobunaga’s fingers trill against the skin of your shoulder, and only now do you realize that the sleeves of your kimono have slipped far down – enough to reveal the top of your breasts. You would cover yourself, but Nobunaga pulls the hem down further and begins to kiss your collarbone. His lips are as hot as his finger tips that trace circles on your back. Electricity pulsates between the two of you, and suddenly, you feel sober.

        He tangles his fingers in your hair and pulls you down on top of him. As his knee separates your legs, you realize what he was getting at. Even if you did not actually wed, Nobunaga was going to show you that he preferred you over anyone else. Perhaps you had made a fool of yourself, but he didn’t seem to care. He kisses you deeply, his tongue slipping past your lips without hesitating.

        “N-Nobunaga,” you mutter breathlessly as he pulls back, a string of saliva hanging between the two of you. “Are you sure?”

        “Only if you are-”

        “Yes,” you reply quickly, lust burning in your lungs. You could see the same spark glinting in his beautiful eyes, and you know that he has plans to keep you up late into the night. Maybe teach you a lesson or two about making a fool of yourself in the dining hall.

Mitsunari Ishida – Cake Stealing Fairy (and other adventures)

When Mitsunari enters the kitchen, he is reading a book, so he nearly walks directly into you. Had you not jumped around with wide eyes at the last minute, Mitsunari surely would have actually stepped on you. Scared by your sudden ‘attack’, Mitsunari drops his book and screams.

         You are quick to cover his mouth with a hand though. “Shhh!!!” you insist. “If you’re too loud, you’re going to scare the yōsei.”He raises an eyebrow, and you remove your hand. However, instead of lowering your hand, you let your fingers linger on Mitsunari’s lips. “So soft…” you mumble.

         This makes Mitsunari flush a deep shade of red. “(Y/n)! Are you alright?” He clasps your hands together to keep you from squirming away. “Have you been drinking?”

         “No!” You hiccup. “I’m looking for the yōsei. I told you. She came in through the window and stole my cake.”

         Mitsunari pushes his glasses up his nose and catches a glimpse of the half empty bottle of sake on the table. He exhales and takes your hand. “There is no fairy. You are drunk. Come now, let us take you to bed. You need rest and some tea.” He pulls you toward the door, but you catch hold of the nearest table.

         “Your book!” you exclaim.

         “What about it?”

         “It’s not there anymore.”

         Mitsunari looks down, expecting to see the book simply kicked under the table, but it is not there. “What?”

         “I told you there is a yōsei!!!” You jump up and down. “It stole my cake and now it’s hiding. Help me find it, please Mitsunari. I’ve had a long day…” you plead with a slurred voice. “And that cake was going to make me happy. But now I don’t have it anymore!”

         “Alright, I will help you,” Mitsunari says to console you. “Where were you when the fairy took your cake?”

         “I was getting something to drink.”

         He looks around when he hears a chirp from above.

         “It’s the fairy!” you exclaim.

         A sparrow flies from the top of a cabinet to the window, and it is carrying Mitsunari’s book in its claws. You race towards it, only for the bird to fly out of the window and into the night. “No, come back! You ate my cake!”

         Mitsunari catches you before you fall over the edge, pulling you back to the ground. “Careful!” When you reel back, you press yourself against Mitsunari by accident. Under the influence of the alcohol, you thought it be a wonderful idea to kiss his soft lips. He flushes to a deep shade of red, but does not move away. “Uh… (Y-Y/n)?”

         “Your eyes are so pretty…”

         He clears his throat and wraps an arm around you. “Come now, let us go to bed.”

         “Your bed?!”

         “No. I’m taking you to your room.”

         “Aww…” you whine. “But I want to kiss you.. and your soft lips…”

         The entire walk to your room, you try your best to seduce him. “Are you blind?” you ask as you lean against the doorframe. You push your hip outwards in an attempt to intrigue him.

         Mitsunari covers his eyes. “No, princess, but you are not in the right mindset. You need to sleep.”

         Whining more, you stumble into your room and begin to strip your kimono from your skin. “Too hot..” you complain as the fabric slips from your shoulders. However, you had forgotten to undo one of the knots, so it does not fall past your waist. “Mitsuuu… can you help?”

         He sighs and steps inside and struggles to look everywhere but your breasts. Sure enough though, Mitsunari manages to undo the knot for you. “I’ll be taking my leave now,” he whispers before rushing out of the room.

         You catch his wrist before he has the chance to and pull him back towards you. “No, please.”

         Mitsunari realizes that your voice is different this time – there is no teasing lit woven into your words as a result of the sake. You sound more vulnerable… more desperate than before. “Is everything alright?”

         “I tried to tell you earlier, but you were too busy reading.”

         “Tell me what?”

         You sigh, blowing your hair away from your face. “I like you… a lot,” you confess with a giggle. “I have for a while, and I was going to tell you today, but you weren’t listening. So I decided to consult my therapist, Dr. Sake.” You lower your voice. “He’s a great listener.”

         Thousands of thoughts run rampant through his mind as he remembers the events from earlier that day. He groans at his obliviousness and opens his mouth to say something.

         “Wait, fuck, have my boobs been hanging out this entire time?” you realize, looking down at yourself. “Well this is awkward..”

         Mitsunari doesn’t know what to do – his extensive knowledge only really applies to war or espionage or weaponry. You were none of those things, so he felt greatly underprepared. Still, he did not want to let the moment go. Fueled by impulse, Mitsunari cups your face and kisses you. You moan into the kiss, quick to wrap your hands around him so that he does not rethink his choice.

          When you lean back, the both of you are out of breath, and you feel more sober all of a sudden. “W-What was that for?”

         He lets go of your cheeks and takes a step backwards. “I’m sorry, princess. I don’t know-”

         “Can you do it again? You taste nice… like ginger tea and honey.”

         Mitsunari does not know how to react to your forwardness. “I really should be going…” He does not want to go though. He wants to stay and kiss you again. Even after drinking sake, you smell so nice and calming. Mitsunari always loved it when you came to sit with him in his office, even if he never knew how to admit it.

         So he lingers in his spot, looking at you with big eyes, unsure how to proceed.

         You take the lead and wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him close for another kiss. This one is more steamy than the previous. Mitsunari locks his arm around you and guides you towards your futon. As you lie down and open your kimono, Mitsunari catches your hand. “Are you absolutely positive?”

         “I want you… even if I’m drunk and probably won’t remember.”

         Mitsunari smirks, something you have never seen before. “I will ensure that you don’t forget this,” he promises as he undoes the ties to his own haori. The fabric falls to the ground and he presses his body to yours, enveloping you in warmth. He kisses down your jaw and neck, leaving goosebumps in his wake as he explores your body.

         Indeed, you won’t be forgetting this any time soon.

[frywen-babbles]

Sounds of Silence pt11

Part1 | Part2 | Part3 | Part4 | Part5 | Part6 | Part7 | Part8 | Part9 | Part10

A/N: Thank you for the patience! Sorry for leaving you to suffer for so long ^^

***

He tried to study but failed spectacularly. None of the things he read stuck to him and he couldn't write even one word to the essay he was supposed to work on. He laid his head on his books, wailing in his misery when he heard the door open. He rushed to his door and swung it open.

"Hideyoshi!" he cried out before his door was even fully open, only to be greeted by baffled Hideyoshi and his booty call. "Oh, it's you," he dismissed the woman before he turned to Hideyoshi, "I need to talk to you."

"Okay, I'll just..."  Hideyoshi shot an apologetic look to his booty call and whispered something in her ear. She agreed to whatever he said and pulled him to a kiss Mitsunari thought would never end.

"Don't choke each other," he said surly, ready to be rid of the damn woman. She gave him the finger over Hideyoshi's shoulder before she let him go and smiled.

"I'll call you. Bye." She left as fast as she had the previous morning. Hideyoshi let out a disappointed sigh before he turned to Mitsunari.

"What do you need to talk about?"

"I kissed her!"

"Finally!" Hideyoshi exclaimed, only to earn a glare from Mitsunari.

"She pushed me away and said she's too old for me."

"Oh, please, she's what? Like a year older than you?" Hideyoshi laughed and walked to the kitchen to get a drink.

"No." Mitsunari shot back, annoyed Hideyoshi didn't seem to understand. He told Hideyoshi how old she had told him she was.

Hideyoshi spat out the water and coughed until he managed to wheeze, "What? She's how old? What the hell?"

Mitsunari slumped on a chair and covered his face. "I know..." he mumbled in his hands.

"What?" Hideyoshi asked when he managed to steady his breath.

"I said I know! How am I supposed to fix this?"

"Okay, okay." Hideyoshi sat down and took a deep breath before he levelled his gaze at Mitsunari, "I need to know you're absolutely sure about this. I care about her too and I'm not going to lift a finger if you're not serious."

"I..." Mitsunari fell silent. He had been so desperate to sort things out with her, to make sure she didn't hate him it never occurred him to think about what he wanted from their relationship. Did he want them to be friends? Lovers? He thought about it over and over again until he came to a conclusion.

"I think I'm in love with her..." he finally managed to say, his gaze firmly fixed on the table. He wanted to be her friend. But he couldn't help but want the sort of intimacy with her you only get with a lover.

"Okay," Hideyoshi said, his voice soft. Mitsunari looked up and saw his gentle smile turn into a mischevious one, "I'll try my best, but no promises!"

***

It was awkward at home, to put it mildly. Mitsunari busied himself with his studies, staying after classes to write reports in the university library, exhausting himself in the dojo.

She didn't come to sleep next to him. Not until one night when he was woken up by the sound of the television from the living room. He opened his door to see her sitting on the sofa buried under blankets, staring at the television.

"Oh!" She noticed him with a start and reached for the remote, "Was the sound on? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to wake up anyone..."

"If you can't sleep, you should come sleep next to me," Mitsunari offered, certain she'd refuse him. Her face softened in a smile and she nodded.

"Okay. I'd like that." She followed him to his room and curled on his bed next to him. He placed his arm around her like many nights before and felt all the tension drain from her body.

After that, things sort of returned to normal. But there was a distance between them that hadn't been there before and every time Mitsunari saw her with one of their friends, jealousy ate him alive. It shouldn't have. He had no right to feel jealous and yet he did and he hated himself for it.

Especially because the person she seemed to spend the most time with was Hideyoshi.

He heard her giggle in the living room and threw himself harder at studying to drown out the voices. It didn't help, he still heard her laugh and it stabbed him straight into his heart.

"Okay! You won!" she laughed when she said it and he couldn't help thinking about what they were playing. "Just one." She had started to speak to aloud to Hideyoshi every now and then and he absolutely hated hearing her sound so delighted when talking to somebody else.

His door opened and she called him from the door, "Mitsun?" She looked bashful, slight pink tinting her cheeks, but a bright smile pushed through, "Monkey talked me into it. One date. We'll see how it goes, okay?"

He stared at her for a moment, all thoughts frozen in his head. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. She actually agreed to go on a date with him. A date date? Like a real romantic date? With him?

"Manju-boy?" she asked, clearly confused. He realised he had been staring and stood up, taking a few hasty steps to close the distance between them.

"Yes!" he nodded solemnly and she smiled at him again,

"Great! I have the next Saturday off, is that okay?"

***

She had wanted to get ready in her apartment and Masanori had dropped her off. Mitsunari tried to focus on studying but all he could think about were the movie tickets he had already bought, about the museum he wanted to take her if she was interested, about the cafes and restaurants he had looked into that had had good reviews, about her smile, about seeing her all dolled up just for him and he found out he couldn't focus at all.

They had agreed he'd pick her up from her apartment, but he was there way too early. He stood in front of her apartment building, eyeing at the for once quiet European cafe debating if he should go in there or head for her apartment. He had almost reached her door, when it flung open and she dashed out, the door slamming to the wall. She crashed onto him full force sending him stumbling, but he managed to catch her in her arms, steadying them both.

It took only one look at her face to know something was wrong.

Horribly, horribly wrong.

***

@honeybeelily    @you-mass-effect-my-dragon-age    @han-pan    @masamunesmistress    @dreamfar628 @enchantress96 

[otome-reviews]

IkeSen: Tokugawa Ieyasu Dramatic Route Review [SPOILERS]

“I won’t let go of you. Not until the day I die.”

Between IkeSen’s Ieyasu and SLBP’s Ieyasu, I’ve always preferred IkeSen’s version, but only by a smidgen. So...I admittedly may have come into this route much more biased against him than I should be. 

Because if you’ve ever encountered Ieyasu in any main story or event, you probably know that this guy’s a bit of a misanthrope. And surprise surprise, in this route, MC and Ieyasu do not get off on the right foot. When MC is shipped off to Ieyasu’s castle to be watched after a failed escape attempt (tl;dr he saves her from some murderous ronin), the kid is a giant mega asshole about it (“Don’t get the wrong idea. I have no desire to be friends with you”).

But nevertheless, MC persists. She stays happy and friendly, even when he’s harsh during archery lessons, and goes out of his way to avoid her. And I guess that’s exactly what Ieyasu needs, because as time goes on, he definitely starts softening towards MC, without giving up his contrarian ways. He shows MC Wasabi, his “food reserve” aka his pet deer, lmao. He buys her earrings (while claiming the gift doesn’t mean anything). It takes a long time for the poor guy to embrace his growing feelings for MC, but even well before he does so, it’s clear that MC is special to him, somehow (“when I’m with you, MC, I feel like I’m going mad”).

Ieyasu strikes me as a pretty reactive guy, and his story definitely provides a ton of external catalysts for relationship development. Ieyasu gets captured. He gets grievously injured. MC gets captured (by Kenshin - definitely a route highlight, lmao). Ieyasu gets injured - again! Of all the IkeSen routes I’ve read to date, this one is probably the most dangerous for our poor couple, and each time something life-threatening takes place, the nature of MC and Ieyasu’s relationship changes again. It’s pretty freaking excellent writing!

Which is good, because to be very honest, I’m still not the biggest fan of the romance itself, or Ieyasu’s personality. MC has to try wayyy too hard in the beginning, imho (any sane woman would’ve probably given up immediately!). His obsessiveness and jealousy after getting together with MC is off-putting. I can barely tolerate Kenshin’s jealousy in his ES - and Ieyasu is way less funny about it. And on top of all that, there are aspects of Ieyasu’s character that I really wished the plot would expand on more. What is the origin/nature of Mitsun and Ieyasu’s odd “friendship”, and what does Ieyasu really feel about the guy? Ieyasu is supposed to be one of the three great unifiers of Japan - are there any aspects of his personality that would make him a good leader? 

It really speaks to how talented the IkeSen writers are, that regardless of all that, I still loved reading the route. Ieyasu has a lot of good or funny isolated moments (two words: angry nap, lmfao). The Dramatic Ending plot is probably the strongest IkeSen ending I’ve read to date (spoiler: MC has to Paul Revere it back to Azuchi to save Ieyasu’s life, and it is glorious). And as usual, I loved all the cameos from the other warlords!

Overall, do I recommend Ieyasu’s route? Yes, absolutely. Even if you’re like me and still not sold on his character after 13 episodes and an epilogue, you’re likely to enjoy the fast paced plot and adventure. And if you are charmed by our resident grumpy face, more power to you! Ieyasu’s route is excellently written, and there is something for everyone.

​Personality: 4/10. Ieyasu is a prickly porcupine/cat. It might be your cuppa tea, but it sure ain’t mine. Also he’s ever so slightly obsessive about MC.

Appearance: 6.5/10. He’s a cutie pie, and his grumpy face is adorable.

MC: 10/10. MC is a total badass! I also admire her persistence, which I do not possess, haha. 

Plot/Payoff: 10/10. Imho this is probably the best IkeSen plot I’ve read to date (and there are quite a few great ones out there!).

Personal enjoyment: 6.5/10. I don’t love Ieyasu and I really didn’t ship them, but his story was nonetheless a thrilling read!

Masterlist

[daeva-agas]

Continuation of monkey Hide AU

After he gets used to his human form he ends up being the normal mama Hide mode

It’s just that instead of slipping into coarse language every now and then he just starts babbling in gibberish because monkey

Also because actual monkey he hides Nobu’s candies in places that are Very Hard To Reach. Like the ceiling and support beams. Or just straight out in the ceiling itself. Sasuke gets confused about all the candies in the ceiling when he comes to spy (IDK since this is a fantasy AU the Kasugayama folks can be a rival cultivation sect or something)

Just because Nobubu can do the kungfu flying thingy doesn’t mean it’s fun having to fly around the room checking every pillar to see if the candy is there

Hmm wait but this is a fantasy land what about Shingen... 

Oh I know.

Shingen has malformed spiritual channels that causes abnormal energy flow and make him cough up blood often. Very hard to fix even with all the spiritual magic and potions.

I imagine Mitsun would be like... very skilled but too clumsy to fly on swords and fans like all the normal kungfu masters do so he has a flying giant basket or something (Mitsun: “It can even hold books so I can read on the journey. Hide: don’t read while flying you’ll bump into people)

Also... *gasp* THAT MEANS IN THIS UNIVERSE KUNGFU MONK KENNYO IS A THING

[ohtomatotome]

The Two Mitsus

Title: The Two Mitsus -- Or Mitsun Impossible

Characters: Mitsunari, Mitsuhide

Word count: 1.3k

Warnings: None

A/N: This was originally written for @destinedatmidnight for the @ikesencrypticcupid exchange in 2018. I’ve always thought Mitsunari, with his genius for strategy and his power of concentration, would be the perfect stake-out partner for Mitsuhide. So this little story was a fun way to show there’s more to him than meets the eye, and that his bumbling isn’t always by accident.

Mitsunari sat a table in a crowded tea house, holding a book in his hands. A bowl of steamed vegetables and a cup of tea sat on the table in front of him. Neither had been touched yet. The young waitress had come by a couple of times to see if he wanted them reheated, but he never acknowledged her, instead keeping his eyes solely on his book.

Mitsuhide entered the tea house. He didn’t seem to notice Mitsunari as he leisurely made his way towards a table where two scruffy men sat. He smoothly slid into the seat opposite them and gave them a crescent of a smile. The three of them began speaking in low voices.

Two or three minutes after Mitsuhide’s arrival, Mitsunari stood up, tucked the book under his arm, and balanced the bowl in one hand and his tea cup in the other. He passed by Mitsuhide’s table on his way towards the front entrance. He suddenly stumbled and the cup flew out of his hands, spilling tea all over the feet of one of the scruffy men.

“Oh! Oh no. I’m sorry, sir. Here, let me clean that up!” Mitsunari exclaimed. As he bent towards the edge of the table, a scrap of paper fell out of his kimono sleeve onto Mitsuhide’s lap.

Crouching under the table, Mitsunari dabbed at the man’s toes and sandals.

“Stop that!” He said angrily, adding in a low mutter, “Th-that tickles.”

The young waitress had rushed over when she heard the tea cup clatter on the wooden floor. She bent down to pick it up, then asked Mitsunari “Do you want a refill, sir?”

He stood up and replied “No, thank you. I don’t want any more tea. But I think I will finish these vegetables outside where the lighting is better for reading. And I apologize for making a mess.” He flashed his angelic smile at her.

The waitress’s lips curved upwards in an involuntary response to Mitsunari’s own dazzling smile. She shook her head in a dazed manner and said, “Don’t worry. Please come back any time.  Please. Come back. Any time. Please. Come. Back...” Her words repeated and drifted off as she stared dreamily at him.

Mitsuhide softly cleared his throat, fighting the temptation to roll his eyes.

Mitsunari bowed to the waitress, saying “I’m sorry” once more before heading outside. He sat down on a bench, balanced the bowl on his lap, and opened his book again.

About twenty minutes later much of the dining crowd exited the tea house, including the two men Mitsuhide had been talking with. Mitsunari had been picking through his bowl of vegetables when he suddenly discovered a big chunk of carrot in his chopsticks. He flung it away. The carrot splattered the back of one of the scruffy men.

He turned around, frowning at Mitsunari. “Did you just throw food at me?” he growled.

Mitsunari was peering into his bowl, but looked up when the man spoke to him. “Oh! Did that hit you? I apologize, sir. It was a carrot.”

The man took a step menacingly towards Mitsunari. “So?!”

Mitsunari looked innocently at the man. “Well, you see, I don’t like carrots. I wanted it far away from me. I hope it didn’t hurt.”

The man’s expression went from angry to bewildered. “Wha …? Hurt?” He huffed with annoyance, returned to his friend and they walked down the road.

As Mitsunari turned his head from the men to glance across the street, he saw a flash of indigo go in the same direction of the two men and then disappear from view. Mitsunari gave a little sigh of relief.

A moment later Mitsuhide came out of the tea house, pausing just long enough beside the bench for Mitsunari to pick up his book and stand up. They strolled through the village towards the castle.

After a while, Mitsunari broke the silence. “Everything you suspected was correct. They were planning on double-crossing you today after they collected your information.”

Mitsuhide gave a curt nod. “And thanks to you, I could play my part to alleviate any suspicion they had of me knowing their plan. ”

A grin broke out on Mitsunari’s face. “You’re very welcome, Lord Mitsuhide.”

“When I saw you had your head in a book, I was worried you hadn’t been paying attention to their conversation.” Mitsuhide muttered in a bored tone.

Flipping the book open in front of them, Mitsunari showed him blank page after blank page, then said “Quite right, quite right. If this had been a real book, I most likely would have been absorbed in it. So I brought a blank journal instead.” Tucking the book back under his arm, he asked brightly, “So when is the next mission?”

Mitsuhide didn’t miss a beat in replying. “I’m never using you again. Not after those theatrics.”

The happy grin turned into a smirk “Oh?” Mitsunari cast a calculating side-glance at Mitsuhide. “You mean ... the spilled tea?”

“Yes.” Mitsuhide said as dryly as possible, trying to keep the interest out of his eyes as he noticed Mitsunari’s unfamiliar expression.

Mitsunari dug a small glass vial from his sash and handed it to Mitsuhide, saying “I spilled that tea so I could have an excuse to get close enough to their feet in order to apply this oil to their sandals. This will enable Ranmaru to track them through the woods and over long distances. And it also allowed me to pass you the note warning you not to accept their invitation to the  massage parlor just now. They have a group of thugs waiting to kill you there.”

Mitsuhide rolled the vial between his smooth fingers, and raised his eyebrow skeptically. “I would not have gone with them anyway.” He tucked the vial into his sash. “But I appreciate the tip-off.”

They walked on in silence a few more minutes before Mitsuhide said in mild annoyance. “And what was that with the carrot? Why did you even order them if you hate them? Your little stunt could have ruined the plan.”

Mitsunari didn’t look remorseful or perturbed. Instead, that appraising look had once more entered his eyes and a slight smirk played at his lips again. “When I saw how crowded the tea house was, I made sure to order them to have on hand. I was worried that if our marks had left inside the crowd, Ranmaru wouldn’t know which men to tail. It was a precautionary measure. One that ended up being necessary, I might add.”

Mitsuhide stifled a “tch” before asking “But why did it have to be carrots? You could have thrown any vegetable at him.”

“Oh no,” replied Mitsunari in complete sincerity. “I despise carrots. I wanted the performance to feel as true as possible. And throwing any other food would have been wasteful.”

Mitsuhide was silent, his face briefly showing surprise -- an uncommon expression for him.  Another minute passed before he said “I had no idea Ranmaru gave you this oil beforehand.”

“He didn’t. I formulated it based on a few things I had read.” Mitsunari replied simply.

A look of appreciation flashed in Mitsuhide’s eyes before his usual fox-like look returned to them. “What would it take to have you concoct another batch of this oil?”

Mitsunari replied with a small tinge of self-satisfaction, “I delivered a small crate to both Ranmaru and your man Kyubei earlier this morning.”

A nod was all the reply Mitsuhide gave as they made their way back to the castle. As they passed under the gate and were about to go their separate ways, Mitsuhide said “I don’t like surprises. So ... no surprises next time.” He turned away to go up the castle steps.

Mitsunari grinned at Mitsuhide’s retreating back. “You mean there will be a next time, my lord? I get to be used on another mission?”

No answer came. But a rare look of genuine amusement and admiration crossed Mitsuhide’s face as he walked away.

[maddy-the-otome-hoe]

Heavily pregnant mc and Mitsun are in town shopping for baby clothes when a brute ronin shoves her out of his way. How does Mitsun react to this?

Ok I finally have time to answer this properly because man this is another big mood. 

It was normal for you to take walks around town during the day but today was special because Lord Mitsunari actually had time to join you. Holding tightly to your hand you both walked down the streets of town. “While we’re here why don’t we pick up some more clothes. I’m worried we won’t have enough.” His suggestion made your heart race and tears filled your eyes. “Good gracious woman. What in hells has you crying this time?” You hurriedly wiped your tears away and smiled at him.

“It just makes me really happy to see you getting ready for the baby. I love you so much.” Mitsunari couldn’t help but blush and look away from you. “Sorry. I know me being so emotional makes you uncomfortable. I’m just so happy.” Mitsunari gave you a soft smile as he handed you a handkerchief.

“Don’t be so daft. It’s not like you can control it. Now let’s hurry before the shop closes. You could pop at any moment and I’d like to be more than prepared for it if possible.” You nodded and began walking down the road with Mitsunari. The two of you were nearly to the shop when a rather large man came out of a shop. Mitsunari had assumed he would just go around the two of you. He never imagined the man tear himself between the two of you and throw you to the ground. Mitsunari instantly went to your side and checked you over. Several people gathered around now in concern. “Someone go to the castle and fetch some guards.” He looked to a woman standing by. “Stay with her please.” The woman nodded and kneeled beside you. Once he knew  you were alright he stood up and grabbed the man in a fit of rage. “How dare you put your filthy hands on her. You dullard of a bastard. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t strike you down where you stand.” The man didn’t even flinch at Mitsunari’s anger and you worried for your husband’s safety. When the man looked back at you his eyes were beyond cold.

“I don’t see the problem. It’s not like she can’t have more. And if the babe was that week in the womb it wasn’t fit for the world.” His words felt like a knife to your heart and your hands instantly went to your stomach. Tears began to fall down your face in worry for the baby you carried. Hearing you cry only fueled Mitsunari’s rage as his fist connected to the brutes jaw. The man tried to hit Mitsunari back but Mitsunari was ready for it. After several of his swings missed the man drew his sword and came at Mitsunari. Not able to watch you closed your eyes and prayed that Mitsunari would be alright. Your ears picked up the scraping sounds of metal followed by a loud thud. When you dared to open your eyes the brute that had shoved you to the ground was unconscious with his face in the dirt. Mitsunari put his sword away and went back to you. He noticed that you were trembling and crying. 

“Are you alright manju girl?” You nodded and he began to stroke your hair. He hated that people were watching but he knew that making you feel better was his first priority. When the guards arrived he explained what had happened. “When we get back to the castle send for the doctor to come to my chambers.” Now that his rage had subsided he couldn’t help but be  worried. You seemed to be uninjured, as well as the baby, but he was no doctor and he would not be taking any chances.

[thatlongspringnight]

Mistakes (Mitsunari/MC)

This is angst (with a happy ending I think.) and it got way out of hand (its like 5,000 words) 

But i had to get the idea out!~ 

I am pretty sure I’ll make a smutty epilogue, but this is safe. 

Special thanks to @han-pan for giving me ideas and listening to my ridiculousness, and helping me edit. <3

Tagging: @tinydadkanetsugu @frywen-babbles @jemchew @pseudofaux @dear-mrs-otome and really anyone else who wants to go through this emotional roller-coaster.

fic under the cut!

She was smiling, an excited grin on her face as she waited for his reaction.

Still, he felt faint, staring at the letter in his hands. It was like everything had gone silent, except for the sound of his blood pounding in his ears.

“I got accepted!” She had yelled, just moments ago, throwing her arms around him, pulling away to hand him the slip of paper. “I even beat out Tokugawa for it.”

Her words had fallen short of reaching him, too transfixed on the paper in his hand.

He couldn’t take his eyes off the words on the page. Vague memories of her mentioning study abroad surfaced in his mind.

She’d gotten accepted.

Details emerged. A golden opportunity, a full ride, a once in a lifetime chance.

A full year. She’d be gone a full year if she took it.

A year if she limited herself, it was fully possible she could be taken on as a resident. Then what would it be? Two years, five?

The rest of her life laid out before his eyes, without him in it.

His impassive look was failing, replaced with a simmering anger he couldn’t place. They hadn’t talked about this, not once, not really. Only in passing when she said she doubted she would get in.

Never planned for it, never gave him time to prepare. He wouldn’t be able to go with her, that wasn’t an option. He still had a year of school before he completed his degree.

“You’re taking it?” His voice was harsh, the words spilling out with an edge he couldn’t stop from bleeding in. Her smile faulted, confusion taking its place.

“Of course, I’m taking it.” She stepped back, arms crossing. “It’s a full ride for a year, Mitsunari. All I have to pay the cost of living.”

She couldn’t grasp what was wrong, that was obvious on her face.

Maybe she didn’t hear the sound of his world crashing around him.

“You’re just going to do this? No warning-“

“I told you about it when I applied, it’s not like I kept it a secret. “She bit back. “Unless you didn’t think I was capable-“

“Being capable and actually attending are two different things.”

“Mitsunari-“

His breathing was faster, his chest felt tight.

“You’re just going to pack up and leave for a year? Just like that?” His voice was loud in his own ears “This says you’ll need to be packed and leaving in two weeks.”

They were planning on moving in together in the fall, once his lease was up. They were going to adopt a cat. Hazy days spent relaxing together, talking about paint colors and

“I was on a waitlist, so it’s not like I was sure about anything.” She huffed.

A waitlist. If she was on a waitlist that meant-

“Did you-“He frowned. “Did you know you were on a waitlist?” That did it, she looked away, a pained expression on her face.

She had known. She knew and didn’t tell him. How long had she known? How long had she kept it from him? The pain in his chest took on a different note.

“Mitsun-“

“I’ll take that as a yes then.” His dry response. “What an interesting secret to keep.”

“I didn’t know, I didn’t want to tell you if I wasn’t sure-“

“Why? An attempt to spare my feelings? As though this isn’t worse?” She reached out to touch him and he pulled away. “I don’t know why I’m surprised.”

“What does that even mean?” She sounded frustrated. “Its not like we can’t make this work, lots of couples-“

“What makes you think I want to make it work?” The words left his mouth before he even realized he said them, and her eyes widened.  

“W-what?”

“Why would I want to be with someone so dishonest. Someone who treats me like a child.” Why would he want to be with someone who was just going to leave him? His thoughts darted back and forth, not making sense in his head.

“I wasn’t-“

“You sat with me two days ago talking about us moving in together!” He rounded on her. “Did you know then? Did you? You must have. Yet you sat there, letting me prattle on when you knew. Letting me hope like an idiot.”

“I didn’t-“

“Just stop!” He sounded wounded, he hated himself for it. “There is nothing left to say. There is nothing left at all.” He was at the door and she was teary eyed.

“We can work through it, though” She sounded helpless.

But he was already at the door.

He put her calls on silent. All but locked himself into his room, and no amount of prodding, pleading, or political plays from Hideyoshi could budge him.

Why was he doing this?

If he thought about it, he wasn’t sure he could name why. He wasn’t being reasonable, had no desire to be reasonable.

No amount of writing, and he had written pages at this point attempting to express himself, seemed to solve it.

And he knew why.

He was scared.

Scared of confronting this unknown, scared of not having control, scared of staying involved when in the end.

Well, in the end he knew how it would turn out, didn’t he?

 “Hideyoshi.” She sounded desperate, pleading on the other end of the phone.

“I know.” Hideyoshi was standing outside of his door, a calculated move, Mitsunari wagered, given that he had her on speaker phone. “I know, but he refuses.”

Mitsunari had never thought it was possible for him to be frustrated with Hideyoshi, until this moment. Of course, he wanted to open the door and take the phone.

Of course, he wanted to talk to her.

“I leave in two days.” He tightened his fists, the feeling vanishing. He didn’t want to talk to her.

 He could end this right now.

He could walk into that airport. Run, even.

 He could pull her close, kiss her hard and let it all be water under the bridge.

 The rain was soaking through his shirt, and he shivered.

He could- He could

Ask her to stay.

 He frowned at the thought.

No, she wouldn’t stay.

She would leave.

There was a pain in his chest and he felt like he couldn’t breathe. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing.

She was leaving no matter what.

 The flash of anger, stubborn and burnt, weighed down his chest. Catching the kindling of his own insecurities. She was breaking a promise.

The fire was burning now.

Memories of his father, a distant and dark figure, promising to visit, to be good to them.

He thought of those nights he cowered in the closet of the room he shared with his mother, he thought of the screaming, the stark sounds of thrown objects, the crying.

 Empty words.

 Memories of his mother, eyes filled with unshed tears, limp and listless as she laid on the couch. He could see her, clear as day, promising that she would take care of him.

Promising that she wouldn’t leave him like his father had.

 She had broken that promise too.

 Broken it, snapped it like a ribbon, like a rope around her neck.

 He could remember the sound of his own sobbing.

 He thought of the girl he loved, fiercely, and the broken promise that laid between them.

He could go up to her and end it for good, tell her that they wouldn’t work it out. The distance was just too much.

 She was leaving him, like she swore she wouldn’t. Promised over and over again as she lay under him, as she kissed him hotly.

Promises given in ecstasy, broken at his feet.

He rocked on his heels, time passed. Rain. It fell in the darkness and swallowed him whole. It cooled his heated blood. His feet wouldn��t move, couldn’t move.

 Something hot spilled down his cheeks, a stark contrast to the chilly rain.

What was he doing? Waiting for her like a child. Waiting for her like he had waited for his father, for his mother.

They would all leave him in the end.

A choked sound left his mouth, and he bit it back.

 He could see the plane, hear the heavy whir.

It was already too late.

 Hideyoshi found him there, in what seemed like an eternity later. He was frowning, and as much as Mitsunari tried his best, he couldn’t find it in himself to care.

“I hope you’re happy.” Hideyoshi mumbled, ushering him off. “Because she’s not.”

The first letter came two weeks later.

 And the next the day after. Like a flow of water. At least one a week. Mitsunari didn’t know what to do. At first, he considered opening them.

Then he thought about it. He knew himself. He knew his weaknesses. He didn’t want to read her explanations.

He didn’t want to try and make it work out.

Not right now.

But he couldn’t bring himself to throw them away, tossing them carelessly (or rather, filing them meticulously) in a small box hidden in his closet.

 Maybe one day he’d open them, but that day was not today.

 “Why don’t you go on a date?” Hideyoshi sat across from him, the light from the window spilling into the too-small apartment kitchen.

Mitsunari looked up, a little too quickly, breath in his throat.  

“What?”

“Go on a date, you know. A date. Find someone, take them out to dinner. It’s been three months since you broke up.”

“I don’t-“ He stopped abruptly, looking away. Three months, an unbearable amount of days. He had thrown himself into his studies, into his job.

He came home late to sleep and left early.

He cursed himself for his own feelings, he had been fine alone before he met her.

“Come on, it could be fun.”

“I don’t want to have fun.” He mumbled. “I don’t have time to waste on flighty, inconsequential would-be lovers.”

“Huh.” Hideyoshi shook his head. “I wonder if she feels the same way.”

He didn’t want to think about that. Didn’t want to think about her in the arms of another, smiling at another man. But that was why he had done this in the first place.

The panic swirled in his stomach, almost painful. No he didn’t dare address it. It made him want to throw up. Even now, he kept waiting, like he expected her to appear one day, on his doorstep, and wash it all away.

He took a breath, long and low. Trying to give himself some calm.

He needed to be reasonable.

And reasonably, it was inevitable.

She was going to find someone new, someone better than he could ever be. Someone who wouldn’t hold her back because of his own anxieties.

And it was better for the both of them.

He was willing to believe that. To believe that they were both better off, to shut himself off from his memories of his time with her, and his own mistakes, like he had shut away so many other things.

Until the letters stopped.

They had trickled down to one every week, sometimes two.

He didn’t even realize how he waited for them, for the ritual of putting them away.

The connection they gave him to her, even still.

He put away one particularly wrinkled envelope and waited for another to come.

But it didn’t.

A week bled by, then two, a third, and a fourth. A month until he was pacing in his room, staring at the letters in front of him, tucked neatly into a box.

He had finally crumbled, asking Hideyoshi if he had heard from her lately.

He had been met with a shrug, a sigh, and a no. Only serving to further his nerves. Was she okay? Had something happened?

Scenarios he hadn’t thought to consider tore him apart.

And then, as though he couldn’t control it, he tore open the first letter.

 Mitsunari,

 Its colder here then I was expecting.

Isn’t that an innocuous thing to say? I can picture the way you’re frowning as you read this.

But really, it is cold.

One of the professors made a comment that it was unseasonably cold, even.

I suppose I must have brought the icy chill with me, since it clings to me, seeps into my bones.

 “Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”

 Who said that? I figured if you went so far as to read my letter, I might as well have you brush up on your British lit.

 Anyway, I love you.

It was Oscar Wilde. Mitsunari sighed, setting down the letter.

It was Oscar Wilde and he could read the loneliness in her words.

 Mitsunari,

The flat I’m staying in is quiet, but basically on campus, which is good because everything here is so hectic.

So very hectic.

I’m more than a little overwhelmed.

I found a cute bookmark in the airport when we landed. It’s in envelope, as is my new phone number, that was a hassle to get.

 You know, if you decide you want to call me.

 I want you to call me, desperately.

Even if its just to fuss at me, or to tell me you hate me, or anything really.

I love you. I love you and I miss you, and I wish I could see you.

 But I’m not sorry I’m here.

 She wasn’t sorry she was there.

For some reason that didn’t sting like he thought it would.

He looked at the number on the paper, and the bookmark, a scenic foggy wood with something on the back.

He turned it around.

“How do I love thee, let me count the ways.” The words spilled from his lips, and he felt something in his throat.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s love poem.

He set it down, unable to look at it.

 Mitsun,

 There is a cat living in the alleyway next to my flat. He seems thin, a little worse-for-wear. I think he might be abandoned.

 I heard him meowing at me when I got back from class today, like he expected me to feed him.

So obviously I went down the street to a corner store and bought him some food.

He is very prickly, and he hissed at me when I set the food down.

 I know sending you this many letters in one week may seem a bit excessive.

But you told me that letters were always more welcome than emails.

I think you’re a romantic at heart, to think that.

 Are you glaring at the paper yet? I hope so.

 So maybe if I send you enough letters you’ll write back.

And we can try to be okay again?

 Just maybe?

 I love you

Mitsunari,

 Its been a full week since I got here.

It doesn’t really feel real to me.

The jet lag is pretty well gone, I think because I’ve been sleeping most of my days after I get home once I get back from class.

 I’m still feeding the outside cat, I think I should name him but I’m not sure what. He’s got beautiful eyes, blue like what I wish water looked like.

 He’s looking a little muddy, its been raining nonstop. I guess I probably look a little muddy too.

I wonder if I can get him to come inside. I think he’d be happier if he had a friend.

I think I’d be happier if I had a friend.

 Love you.

 Mitsun,

 I’m lonely.

Can I say that? Is that too much? I don’t mean to be blunt.

But I sat in front of my closet today and cried for what felt like forever because I accidentally packed one of your shirts and it smells like your cologne.

 I don’t really know what to do.

 I couldn’t even call home because of the time difference. I wish I could hear your voice.

 I love you, I miss you, I hope you’re doing well.

 He wanted to hear her voice too.

More at this moment than he ever had. His hand lingered over the phone, looking at the number she had sent him.

No, it was too late for that, wasn’t it?

Mitsunari,

 I let a week pass. I don’t know why.

I hope that you reply, you know. I still do. I know that letters take a long time, and you probably haven’t even gotten the letters I’ve been sending, yet. I know I’m being a little ridiculous.

I imagine a hundred different scenarios where my letters never reach you.

And you don’t know how much I love you, how much I want you to respond.

 Mr. Kitty let me pet him this morning. Also, I’m keeping up with my reading. There is quite a lot, along with much more hands-on lab-work.

 But it is worth it, I know. And I feel good doing it. I’m learning so much.

 Love you.

 Ishida,

 I talked to Hideyoshi earlier. He says that I don’t sound like myself.

He also said you aren’t acting like yourself.

 I’m sorry to say that that made me a little happier, I don’t know what I would have said had he told me that you were just fine. Happier without me.

 Please talk to me.

 Love you. Now and always.

 Mitsunari,

 The cat’s name is Haru, because he reminds me of the first white blossoms of spring.

 I found out that there is an international student’s group for the graduate programs. So, I think I might go.

It’s almost been a month since I got here.

 One month and two weeks since I talked to you

I love you

Mitsunari,

 How are you? I know the semester has already started. I hope your last set of classes are going well. You know, there is a graduate program here in library science.

 You could be one of those librarians that works in one of these centuries old libraries.

I could see you before the school year was out.

 It’s just a thought.

 I don’t plan on staying here.

 I just think you’d love it. Its cloudy all the time, and sweaters are always in fashion.

I would love to be here with you, too.

 I love you.

 Mitsun,

 I caught Haru!

He was really scared and he scratched me pretty good.

And that was even before I gave him a bath.

 He’s sleeping now.

 I took a picture of Haru and I with the polaroid, its in the letter.

Love you

She was smiling in the photo, leaning down next to the sleeping cat. Looking at her made his breath catch. She looked tired, even in the picture.

He had forgotten until he saw her face just how much he truly missed her. Missed the way her eyes lit up, missed the sound of her laugh.

He could conjure it even now.

He felt something in him break just a little.

Why had he given her up? Was it worth it?

 Mitsunari,

 I went to the international club today.

There is a guy from our university here!

Date something-or-another. I don’t really remember. We were in the same communications course ages ago.

He’s here for economics, though.

There are a few other students from the school here too, but I don’t know any of them just yet.

 I feel a little less lonely, but having friends from home isn’t quite the same as what I want.

 Love you

A man.

Mitsunari stared at the words for a while, his memories conjuring the two Date cousins that he had seen in passing.

The quiet one was still here, but the loud one?

He frowned, a flare of something in his blood. That Date was a womanizer.

And she was vulnerable.

A thought filtered through, that she was allowed to do whatever she pleased. But still.

 Mitsun,

 Haru knocked over my glass of water today while I was watching him.

I left you a blank postcard, a train pass, and some more pictures.

 I found an old pocket watch at an antique shop and I’ve slipped it in too.

 I love you much.

    Mitsunari,

 Its rained for three days straight and yesterday I napped most of the day. So that was lovely.

 I have culled some of my coffee habit with tea now, not green tea, that is still too healthy. But a strong black tea with milk and sugar is great on days where the sun doesn’t shine and all you want to do is nap.

I can hear you scoffing, because what’s the point in switching to something that is just as bad for you.

I miss that face you always make.

That’s all really.

 Love you

_________________

 Mitsunari,

 I heard that Toshiie proposed to his girlfriend. How wacky!

I feel like they just got together.

But then again, I guess they were friends growing up, so maybe they just felt like it was time.

Hideyoshi was heavily lamenting that, since he’s still single.

 I asked him about you and he evaded my question.

 Are you okay?

 Love you.

 Mitsunari,

 I stared at the paper for a little while.

It’s been two months.

60 days.

I know you’ve been getting these letters, HIdeyoshi ratted you out.

I guess my feelings are hurt, but I think…I think yours must be hurt worse.

I want you to know that my feelings haven’t changed. I love you.

I haven’t left you, not really. I’ll be back soon. Its just till June, its freshly October.

 Don’t make me wait that long to talk to you again, please.

 Love you

Mitsunari,

 Even if you do make me wait, I’ll wait.

 I’ll wait for you as long as it takes, if you still want me.

 I love you.

 That choked feeling wouldn’t leave him and maybe, just maybe, his vision was blurry.

He rubbed at his eyes. He wanted her to mean that, still even. He wanted to be waiting for him. So he could apologize. So he could make it right.

 Mitsunari,

 Some girls from the university and I went on a hike today. The weather is amazing and chilly, I adore it.

We pressed leaves into a scrap book after and I finally got around to using the espresso maker I bought.

No complaints from me, it’s been a great weekend.

 I took some photos of the scenery, enclosed here.

I think next weekend we’re going to go tour a castle. So that is exciting!

Hope you are well.

 I love you

 Mitsun,

 I’m sorry I’ve been so busy with school, but honestly, I have to say touring a castle isn’t as much fun as when we did it.

 I think you would have known more about the place then our tour guide, and you could have held my hand.

A win/win I think.

 But I stuck the brochure in here, so you can look at it. There are so many places here that I want to go to, I’ll be sure to keep you updated.

 Love you

Mitsunari,

 There was a thunderstorm last night and Haru cried and cried. Eventually he settled down and half-smothered me all night. He’s a good kitty, I think. Wary of strangers and not very trusting at first.

He really likes behind the ear scratches and only eats the fancy kind of cat food, so no wonder he was struggling so much outside.

He is soft and a little bit fluffy and I think he must be part Siamese or something, with those blue eyes.

 I’ll have to figure out the easiest way to move him back with me when the time comes.

I think you and Haru would get along really well, he even sleeps at the foot of my bed (when he isn’t smothering me).

 Love you

There was a dozen more along the same lines.

Little details here and there of the life she was learning to live without him.

She wrote about nonsensical things, serious things.

Always signing them “Love you.”

He read about her burgeoning friendship with Date, whose name, as it turned out, was Shigezane. He learned of nights of karaoke and pizza, late night confessions and her neighbor’s attempts to set her up with anyone and everyone.

 They got shorter as time went on, sadder, even among the little joys.

She asked him often how he was. She told him how much she missed him with increasing frequency.

 He cursed himself for all the nights he spent considering reading the letters and not.

He hated it, hated himself, more as he read those letters than he ever had.

He was a coward, nothing more than that.

There were two more, the last two.

 He was shaking, fear having stolen his anger from him. There had never been a reason to be angry in the first place.

 If anyone could have made it work it was her. Strong, beautiful, lovely her. Who took his misery and gave him back happiness.

 Mitsunari,

 I wish I would have done things differently.

I think at first I refused to see your side. I thought that for sure that you would come around quickly.

But I never asked myself why you were really hurt.

I only trivialized your pain before I left. Thinking that it would all be resolved before I got on the plane.

Now I think it must be too late.

I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I kept this a secret from you. It was selfish. It really was. I didn’t want to lose face if it didn’t work in my favor, but had I been in your shoes, I think I would have been angry too. More than angry, hurt.

I was too busy focused on my own success to even think about how it would affect you. About how I was pulling our lives, your life, out from under you.

How in one fell swoop I managed to ruin everything.

I’m sure you’re tired of these letters

Tired of me because I don’t know when to stop. I’m sorry about that too.

I’m asking for forgiveness. I want to know that you are happy, even if that happiness is without me.

I’ve been thinking that I might accept that position, and stay another year or two.

Mostly because I’m too scared to go back to a town that has a you that doesn’t want me.

 I know that is very selfish too.

 I love you.

 One more. He opened it too quickly, nicking his finger on the envelope. Blood stained the paper, but his eyes were too focused on the words

Mitsunari,

 This is my last letter.

I don’t know if you’ve read them all or if you’ve read none, but I think its time to stop.

For the both of us.

I don’t want to haunt you with my presence, I don’t want to constantly wonder about if you think of me.

Its snowing today, just like it was the first time we kissed.

 I’ll be accepting the job in March.

 You’re always on my mind.

 I love you, still.

 Mitsunari’s hands trembled, the last letter fluttering onto his bed.

She had been so hopeful, at first. Ever optimistic he would come to his senses. Holding on, still, somehow in the wake of his silence.

Of his childishness.

He had sat back, the tear stains on the paper made it almost seen translucent in the light of his room.

And he knew what he needed to do.

He needed to stop running.

 He called her, he called her six times and with every voicemail he became a little more erratic.

 The snow swirled around him, and he pulled his scarf over his mouth.

He was so close, he knew it. The university to one side of the street more than enough to serve as a guide. His steps stuttered and started again, he didn’t know what he would find.

He could only hope.

A voice stopped him in his tracks, so familiar he almost broke into a sprint.

“Shigezane, I don’t think so.”  It was her, and she laughed, a beautiful sound. Just ahead, a familiar head of dark hair.

Date Shigezane.

Standing at the door.

For a moment Mitsunari really did falter.

Only for a moment.

He’d come too far, he needed to say his piece. Even if she was dating someone else, even if she didn’t love him anymore.

None of that mattered.

He couldn’t leave it as it was between them.

If anything, he’d win her back.

He increased his stride, the snow sticking to his clothes, melting against his skin.

He heard the door close and Date step away. Impeccable timing.

For a long moment he stared at the door in front of him, before reaching out and knocking.

He fidgeted with the watch on his wrist, the anxious energy in his body all at once expended and resurrected when she opened the door.

“Shigezane what do you-“She looked up, her words trailing off as she started at him. “Mitsunari?” She looked as though she had seen a ghost. His name on her lips broke the dam inside of him and he surged forward, arms wrapping around her as he held her close.

“I- I’m sorry.” His voice sounded hoarse and distant to his own ears. “For everything. I want you to myself. And I’ve-“

“Shh” Her hand smoothed over his shoulder as she cradled his head with the other. He was aware of his own labored breathing, his own sobs shaking her body. “How did you get here?”

“Doesn’t matter.” He mumbled, face pressed against her neck “This is all my fault.-“

“Mitsunari.” She cut him off, “Why are you here?” She didn’t sound angry, but almost defeated.

“I shouldn’t have let you leave.” The words tumbled from his mouth. “I should have opened your letters. I shouldn’t have waited so long.”

She kissed him, interrupting him mid speech, mid-plan, just like she always did. It was soft, and it make his legs feel weak.

“Come home.” He murmured against her lips. “Come home to me.”

There was silence for a moment as she stared at him. His heart was beating out of time in his chest. She wasn’t going to say yes-

“Alright.” She nodded, brushing a piece of hair from his face. There were tears glistening in her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re here.” She whispered, catching herself at the end.

“I love you, you know.”

“I…I know.” His tense body relaxed against hers and for a moment they stood in silence.

“Mitsunari.” She shook her head, pulling away from him. “From now on, we- we have to talk about these things.”

“I know.” His response was rushed, “I’ll”

“We’ll figure it out together okay.” She was gentle, kind, like he hadn’t put her through hell.

“I’m sorry Mitsunari.”She kissed him again. “But seeing you again is worth the time we were apart.” 

And he agreed. 

[mitsunerokuyari]

Whimsy

Mitsune was always a playful flirt around people he liked. It usually involved some teasing, jokes, or even some rivalry between whoever he liked. Past the first and very dark evening they first met each other, things went rather well. It was a strange turn of events for the two of them to even meet, which was by pure chance. He was after a dangerous criminal and she was just curious and wanted to watch it all unfold. She got a little more than she bargained for when he ended the man in front of her eyes.

However, that didn’t deter Kihta. They met again after that, shortly after. After explaining the man was awful, Kihta understood why he did what he did. They even met a couple of more times after that, coming closer together and eventually becoming friends. They told awful jokes to each other and laughed about various things to keep their minds off of the dark things happening at the time. He’d flirt with her playfully from time to time even though deep down there was something more he yearned for.

After seeing him without his shirt on at a massive beach event, she started to fluster up every time he was around, especially when her brother asked what she thought of Mitsune. He didn’t agree on their union but it didn’t matter to either of them. Their personalities matched perfectly despite their backgrounds or even their race.When they were with each other, the problems of the world seemed to fade away and left them together to tell each other their silly jokes.

@nocturnedreaming​ mentions

[frywen-babbles]

Sounds of Silence pt12

A/N: TW: blood and mentions of violence

Part1 | Part2 | Part3 | Part4 | Part5 | Part6 | Part7 | Part8 | Part9 | Part10 | Part11

***

It took only one look at her face to know something was wrong.

Horribly, horribly wrong.

Her eyes were full of terror, and her makeup smudged all over her face, eyes red from crying. But that wasn't what caught his attention. It was all of the blood on her face, on her body, all of the cuts and bruises he didn't have time to look over.

He grasped her hand in his and ran, not turning to look even when he heard a shout behind them. There was no time to wait for the elevator. He led them down the stairs, the firm hold of his hand in hers keeping her from falling. Down, down, down they ran as he tried to come up with a plan.

Why at moments like this his brain was drawing a blank?

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes found the door to the European cafe. He took a firmer hold of her hand and swung the door open pulling her in after him to the empty cafe.

"Wel- Mitsun, oh my gods, what-"

"Hide us!" Mitsunari barked interrupting Oichi's friend. She stared at them, her eyes wide, frozen in horror at the sight before her. She blinked once before she pointed behind the counter and stepped out of the way.

"There! I'll call the police!"

He didn't even listen to Oichi's friend as he was already pulling her along with him, cramming both of them under the counter. He cradled her into his arms, feeling her shivers and shaky breaths. Only then Oichi's friends words registered to him.

"It was a cop who did this!" he hissed, his voice low just in case someone might hear.

Oichi's friend froze for the tiniest moment and he could see how a small tremble worked up from her fingers to the rest of her body.

"Okay... okay... I'll call backup, just... just stay there. Quiet." She lifted her phone to her ear, clearly calling someone as she turned the radio louder.

Mitsunari felt her struggle a bit in his arms and turned to look at her, lifting a finger to his lips. She looked at him and nodded, her hands taking a tight grip on his clothes.

"I need..." Oichi's friend started to speak on the phone, but just then he heard the door to the cafe slam open.

He clamped his hand over her mouth to make sure she stayed quiet, his palm coming slick with her blood. Her breath came out in small panicky huffs and she trembled grasping his arm tighter, her fingernails digging deep into his skin.

It was hard to hear what was said. His heart drummed in his chest so loud it nearly drowned all the sounds underneath it. Her eyes searched his, panic setting into her features, but he just held her still, his hand firmly over her mouth, listening to the conversation above.

"Welcome! What would you like to have today?" Oichi's friend greeted whoever had entered the cafe.

"Did a woman come here?" a bit out of breath male voice asked. The same voice which had shouted after them before.

"No, no one has been here for a while. It's been a quiet day." Mitsunari was surprised how even her voice sounded. He could see how her hand still holding the phone trembled under the counter, but none of it could be heard from the sound of her voice.

"You might have seen her, she lives in this building..." he proceeded to describe her, but Oichi's friend stayed unfazed.

"Sorry, I don't remember seeing her. Good luck with your search though."

"Can I see the back of the cafe? She might have slipped over there."

Mitsunari tightened his hold on her, trying to keep his breath even and quiet. He would see them if he came behind the counter. Did he have a reason to suspect they were hiding here? He could feel cold sweat rolling down his spine and a tiny part of him sent a prayer for them not to be found.

"I'm sorry, sir, I'm not allowed to let any unauthorised persons in the bakery. I could lose my job if I did that."

"Here, if you see her, call me immediately."

"I will, um, Inspector Satake. Is this police business? Should I be worried?"

"No need to worry, miss. She isn't a dangerous criminal. I just need to question her a bit about a case."

"Oh, alright. I'll keep an eye out, inspector. I hope you find her soon."

"Yes. Have a good day, miss."

As soon as the door closed behind Inspector Satake, Oichi's friend lifted her phone back to her ear, "Did you catch that?... Yeah... I'll be fine, I think... Oh, gods yes please ask him to come..."

He let go of her mouth, letting his muscles relax. He closed his eyes and drew a breath to calm down, but was brought back to the moment when she shook his arm hard enough to leave long scratches.

"Was it him? It was him, wasn't it? Why did you do that he'll kill you! He didn't see you did he? I need to-"

He pried her fingers off his arm and interrupted her blabbering, "I won't let him catch you."

"I haven't asked yet what happened... Okay, hold on a sec..." Oichi's friend covered her phone and turned to them, "Can you tell me what happened?"

"That was her ex. I think he might try to kill her." Mitsunari answered as steady as he could. Still, his voice was thick, trembling a bit and he held her hand a bit tighter. Somehow, saying it aloud made it more real, made the possibility that she might have been killed just moments before a reality. A reality he wasn't yet ready to face. Not when she was still clinging to his arm, her eyes wide with terror, her face and clothes covered in blood.

"And he... he did... this...?" Oichi's friend made a vague gesture towards her face.

"Yes."

Oichi's friend nodded solemnly and reached for some napkins. She crouched in front of her and gave her a friendly smile, handing the napkins to her.

"Here, there's quite a lot of blood..."

She took the offered napkins, her eyes turning to him.

"There's a lot of blood on your face..." he said pointing at his nose. She immediately brought some of the napkins to cover her face.

"Oh, I'm sorry... I didn't remember your friend was hard of hearing." Oichi's friend offered an apologetic smile before she returned to her phone call. "The cop was Mitsun's friend's ex, he's beaten her up pretty bad... Yeah, I know, but... Mitsun said he might try to kill her, Saizo. I can't just... I know... But I have to... Oh, I hadn't even thought of that... Thank you... I'll let them know... I love you, bye..." She grabbed some pen and paper and scribbled something down.

"I'm sorry, but you can't stay here, I can't let Mrs Tsuchida get into trouble." Oichi's friend handed him the paper in her hand, "Go to this address, tell the people there Mistress Utsusemi sent you and they'll help you. They'll be told in advance you're coming."

Mitsunari looked at the note in his hand, trying his hardest to ignore the blood smudge he had made with his fingers. He looked at the address and dug out his phone to type it in. It was only a few kilometres away, they should make it in 15 minutes if they ran most of the way.

"I'll show you to the back door, that way you should be able to slip out undetected."

"Thank you." Mitsunari offered Oichi's friend a curt nod before he stood up and helped her up, taking a firm hold of her hand again. Oichi's friend led them to the back and opened the door, peeking outside to make sure there was no one in sight.

"Mitsun! Call or at least text me when you get there, okay?" Oichi's friend reached to touch his arm when they passed her and when he looked at her there was a clear concern on her face.

"I will," he promised, for once not mocking her concern. He stepped to the alleyway, remembering the map from his phone, pulling her along. He held tight on her hand as they ran through the allies towards the right street.

A shout startled him, but he didn't slow down, only held tighter onto her hand. He didn't even dare to turn to look, he just ran and ran as fast as he could dragging her behind him, his lungs burning with every breath, the beating of his heart so loud in his ears it was drowning everything else underneath it.

A loud bang echoed at the almost empty alleyway.

She stumbled, but he held tight, never letting her hand slip from his as he pulled her to the last alley left before the final turn to the right street. They emerged to a busy walkway, but he didn't slow down. They weaved through the crowd until they reached the right address.

It was not what Mitsunari had expected.

They were in front of a nice restaurant, a 'closed' sign hanging on the door. He didn't have time to hesitate. He pulled the door open and pulled her in after him to the restaurant.

He leant to his knees to even his ragged breath, while she slumped on her knees to the floor out of breath and energy. The door closed behind him with a click only to leave an eerily quiet atmosphere.

When he finally managed to catch his breath and look up he saw several pairs of eyes fixed on him. Several pairs of eyes belonging to people looking more or less like members of the yakuza.

"Mistress Utsusemi sent us..." he said, the nickname finally making sense. What on earth had Oichi's friend caught herself in while she had been away?

His words finally managed to get some action. Someone hauled her to her feet and they were pushed to the floor behind the counter. He wrapped his arms protectively around her to soften her fall, his bottom hitting the floor hard.

He opened his mouth to ask something, but the woman standing next to them lifted a finger to her lips.

The bell above the door rang.

Mitsunari grasped her and pulled her to his chest, her whimper muffled on his clothing. Her hands reached around him and she held onto him so tight it hurt.

"Have you seen..." The words died out and an uncomfortable silence filled the restaurant.

"We're having a private gathering, officer. You may come back another day, we'd be happy to serve you."

The bell on the door rang again and the woman standing next to them sprung into action.

“You! Get some bandages!”

She crouched next to them her face much softer now. “Where are you hurt?” She asked, her voice soft and non-threatening. Mitsunari nudged her and she looked up at him.

“Is he gone?”

Before he had time to answer the woman next to them tapped her on her shoulder to get her attention. She jerked and twisted around her hands grasping hold of him. He held her a bit tighter, not sure what would happen next.

“You are safe now,” the woman signed slowly.

Was it over now? Reality started to hit him as he held her, trying to calm her down, but he pushed his feelings down. He had to stay strong, he would deal with this later. Much, much later, when he'd be alone.

He was startled by the sound of a door opening and when he looked up he saw the same silver-haired boy he had seen talking to her in the library. He... he felt like he should be more surprised than he was. Of course, somehow, the boy always following her around was a part of the yakuza too.

The boy looked surprised when he saw her. And then he turned his eyes on Mitsunari.

He had never seen anyone stare at him as coldly as he was now. He held her tighter, which made her look up at him. She followed his gaze to the boy and made a startled noise.

"Ah, Hotaru. Do you know her?" The woman next to them noticed the boy too, turning her attention to him.

"Teacher. At the library." Hotaru signed his answer to the spoken aloud question, never turning his gaze away from them.

"Oh... Oh!" The woman seemed to come to a realisation and turned her attention towards them. "Ma-tsu-ko. Raven," she introduced herself, "Thank you for always taking care of Firefly for us."

Matsuko moved between them and Hotaru and he got a small glimpse of the pout on Hotaru‘ slips.

"Where are you hurt? Is there something you need?" Matsuko asked. She turned to hide her signs from him, all he could see was that she spelt out something. Matsuko’s jaw tensed.

"That bastard..." she murmured between clenched teeth. "Come, let's get you looked over." Matsuko let her face relax again in a smile and she gave her hand to them, her palm up.

Mitsunari stood up and gave her his hand as well and she took it. When he helped her up, he noticed how cold and sweaty her hands were, how fast her pulse was, how fast and shallow her breath seemed.

He almost let go of her to ask if she felt okay enough to walk. Almost. Before he could, she swayed on her feet, her eyes glazed over and when he reached to catch her by her waist, his hands came wet and sticky.

He hugged her close to his chest, dreading to look at his hands.

Blood.

Lots and lots of blood, hidden by her black dress.

***

@honeybeelily    @you-mass-effect-my-dragon-age    @han-pan    @masamunesmistress    @dreamfar628 @enchantress96